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Abstract Background To investigate corneal higher-order aberrations (HOAs) and choroidal characteristics in myopic individuals and explore the association between HOAs and choroidal parameters. Methods Myopic participants were categorized into three groups based on axial lengths (ALs). We compared corneal HOAs, including spherical (Z4 0), comatic (Z3 − 1 and Z3 1), and trefoil (Z3 − 3 and Z3 3) aberrations, as well as choroidal vascularity index (CVI) and choroidal thickness (CT). Linear regression analysis was used to assess the relationships among corneal HOAs, CVI, CT, spherical equivalent, and AL. Results Groups 1, 2, and 3 included 105, 98, and 118 eyes, respectively. Group 3 exhibited lower spherical HOA root mean square and Z4 0 values than group 1(p

This study aimed to identify the lipid composition and the positional distribution of fatty acids in dried shrimp and to select differential lipids and investigate lipid changes and the lipid transformation mechanism during storage using lipidomics analysis. Results showed that a total of 790 lipids belonging to 7 major classes were identified, among which glycerophospholipids were the most abundant, followed by glycerolipids and sphingolipids. In phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), triglycerides (TG), and diglycerides (DG), saturated fatty acids were found to be mainly located at the sn-1 position, while unsaturated fatty acids, especially oleic acid, linoleic acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), were mainly distributed at the sn-2 position. Using multivariate statistical analysis, 151 differential lipids were selected, 121 of which were up-regulated and the remaining 30 were down-regulated, indicating that storage had a significant effect on the types and contents of lipids in dried shrimp. After storage for 20 days, the relative contents of lyso-phosphatidylcholine, lyso-phosphatidylethanolamine, and lyso-phosphatidylserine in dried shrimp increased, and the relative contents of PC, PE, and phosphatidylserine decreased significantly, indicating the occurrence of lipid transformation.

Abstract Background Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is common following surgery in elderly patients. The role of the preoperative gut microbiota in POCD has attracted increasing attention, but the potential underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This research aimed to investigate the impact of the preoperative gut microbiota on POCD. Methods Herein, we analyzed the preoperative gut microbiota of POCD patients through a prospective specimen collection and retrospective blinded evaluation study. Then, we transferred the preoperative gut microbiota of POCD patients to antibiotic-treated rats and established POCD model by abdominal surgery to explore the impact of the preoperative gut microbiota on pre- and postoperative cognitive function and systemic inflammation. The gut microbiota was analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing analysis. The Morris water maze test was performed to evaluate learning and memory abilities. The inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in the serum and hippocampus were measured by ELISA. Microglia were examined by immunofluorescence staining for Iba-1. Results Based on the decrease in the postoperative MMSE score, 24 patients were identified as having POCD and were matched with 24 control patients. Compared with control patients, POCD patients exhibited higher BMI and lower preoperative MMSE score. The preoperative gut microbiota of POCD patients had lower bacterial richness but a larger distribution, decreased abundance of Firmicutes and increased abundance of Proteobacteria than did that of control patients. Compared with rats that received preoperative fecal samples of control patients, rats that received preoperative fecal samples of POCD patients presented an increased abundance of Desulfobacterota, decreased cognitive function, increased levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in the serum, increased levels of TNF-α and greater microglial activation in the hippocampus. Additionally, correlation analysis revealed a positive association between the abundance of Desulfobacterota and the level of serum TNF-α in rats. Then, we performed abdominal surgery to investigate the impact of the preoperative gut microbiota on postoperative conditions, and the surgery did indeed cause POCD and inflammatory response. Notably, compared with rats that received preoperative fecal samples of control patients, rats that received preoperative fecal samples of POCD patients displayed exacerbated cognitive impairment; increased levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in the serum and hippocampus; and increased activation of microglia in the hippocampus. Conclusions Our findings suggest that the preoperative gut microbiota of POCD patients can induce preoperative and aggravate postoperative cognitive impairment and systemic inflammation in rats. Modulating inflammation by targeting the gut microbiota might be a promising approach for preventing POCD.

AIM: To determine the factors related to preoperative ocular characters that are predictive of insufficient vault (

AIM: To characterize the distribution of meibomian gland (MG) area loss (MGL) and its relationship with demographic characteristics, mites, and symptoms. METHODS: This retrospective observational study included patients who visited the Dry Eye Clinic of Shenzhen Eye Hospital between June 2020 and August 2021. General patient characteristics, ocular symptoms, Demodex test results of the eyelid edges, and the results of a comprehensive ocular surface analysis were collected. MGL was analyzed using Image J software. RESULTS: This study enrolled 1204 outpatients aged 20-80 (40.70±13.44)y, including 357 males (29.65%) and 847 females (70.35%). The patients were classified into mild (n=155; 12.87%), moderate (n=795; 66.03%), severe (n=206; 17.11%), and extremely severe (n=48; 3.99%) MGL groups. MGL was significantly larger in female than in male (P=0.006). The degree of MGL also significantly differed in age (P

Abstract Background Aberrant neuronal Sigma-1 receptor (Sig-1r)-mediated endoplasmic reticulum (ER)- mitochondria signaling plays a key role in the neuronal cytopathology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The natural psychedelic N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a Sig-1r agonist that may have the anti-AD potential through protecting neuronal ER-mitochondrial interplay. Methods 3×TG-AD transgenic mice were administered with chronic DMT (2 mg/kg) for 3 weeks and then performed water maze test. The Aβ accumulation in the mice brain were determined. The Sig-1r level upon DMT treatment was tested. The effect of DMT on the ER-mitochondrial contacts site and multiple mitochondria-associated membrane (MAM)-associated proteins were examined. The effect of DMT on calcium transport between ER and mitochondria and the mitochondrial function were also evaluated. Results chronic DMT (2 mg/kg) markedly alleviated cognitive impairment of 3×TG-AD mice. In parallel, it largely diminished Aβ accumulation in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. DMT restored the decreased Sig-1r levels of 3×TG-AD transgenic mice. The hallucinogen reinstated the expression of multiple MAM-associated proteins in the brain of 3×TG-AD mice. DMT also prevented physical contact and calcium dynamic between the two organelles in in vitro and in vivo pathological circumstances. DMT modulated oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and ATP synthase in the in vitro model of AD. Conclusion The anti-AD effects of DMT are associated with its protection of neuronal ER-mitochondria crosstalk via the activation of Sig-1r. DMT has the potential to serve as a novel preventive and therapeutic agent against AD.

Abstract Background Respiratory nurses faced tremendous challenges when the Omicron variant spread rapidly in China from late 2022 to early 2023. An in-depth understanding of respiratory nurses’ experiences during challenging times can help to develop better management and support strategies. The present study was conducted to explore and describe the work experiences of nurses working in the Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (PCCM) during the Omicron outbreak in China. Methods This study utilized a descriptive phenomenological method. Between January 9 and 22, 2023, semistructured and individual in-depth interviews were conducted with 11 respiratory nurses at a tertiary hospital in Wuhan, Hubei Province. A purposive sampling method was used to select the participants, and the sample size was determined based on data saturation. The data analysis was carried out using Colaizzi’s method. Results Three themes with ten subthemes emerged: (a) multiple stressors (intense workload due to high variability in COVID patients; worry about not having enough ability and energy to care for critically ill patients; fighting for anxious clients, colleagues, and selves); (b) mixed emotions (feelings of loss and responsibility; feelings of frustration and achievement; feelings of nervousness and security); and (c) a perceived social support system (team cohesion; family support; head nurse leadership; and the impact of social media). Conclusion Nursing managers should be attentive to frontline nurses’ needs and occupational stress during novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreaks. Management should strengthen psychological and social support systems, optimize nursing leadership styles, and proactively consider the application of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and products in clinical care to improve the ability of nurses to effectively respond to future public health crises.

Abstract Background Red blood cells (RBCs) transfusion is related to perioperative neurocognitive disorders. The toxic effect of free heme has been identified in many pathologies. However, the underlying mechanisms of RBCs transfusion or free heme in cognitive impairment have not been clearly explored. Therefore, this research was conducted to determine the mechanism of free heme-induced neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment. Methods Rats were received intraperitoneal injection of hemin alone or combined with intracerebroventricular injection of Hemopexin (HPX), and MWM test was conducted to measure cognitive function. The amount of heme-HPX complexes was evaluated by flow cytometry for CD91 + cells. The microglial inflammatory response in rat brain was observed by immunofluorescence staining of Iba-1, and the inflammatory factors of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in rat brain and BV2 cells were detected by ELISA analysis. Furthermore, neuronal apoptosis in HT22 cells alone and in HT22 + BV2 coculture system was detected by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence staining. Finally, western blot was conducted to detect TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB proteins in rat brain and BV2 cells treated with hemin or combined with pathway inhibitors. Additionally, the M1 surface marker CD86 was observed in BV2 cells to further confirm neuroinflammation. Results Intraperitoneal injection of hemin induced cognitive impairment, increase of CD91 + cells, up-regulation of TNF-α and IL-1β, down-regulation of IL-6, activation of microglia, and activation of the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway in rat brain. Significantly, intracerebroventricular injection of HPX reduced the above effects. Hemin induced boost of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in BV2 cells, as well as apoptosis in HT22 cells. Notably, when HT22 cells were cocultured with BV2 cells, apoptosis was significantly increased. Hemin also induced activation of the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway and increased the M1 surface marker CD86 in BV2 cells, and inhibiting this pathway reduced the inflammatory responses. Conclusions Free heme induces cognitive impairment, and the underlying mechanism may involve neuronal apoptosis and microglial inflammation via the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway. HPX may have potential therapeutic effects. Video Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of modified Xiaoyao powder for postpartum depression (PPD) by conducting a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods: The Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure Databases (CNKI), the Chinese Scientific Journals Database (VIP), Wanfang, Google Scholar, the SinoMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and PubMed databases were searched from their inception to April 25, 2023. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool was used to assess the quality of the trials. We applied the risk ratio to present dichotomous data and the mean difference to present continuous data. Data with similar characteristics were pooled for meta-analysis and heterogeneity was assessed using I2. Results: This review included 35 trials involving 2848 participants. The quality of the included studies was low (unclear randomization processes and insufficient reporting of blinding). Participants treated with modified Xiaoyao powder plus Western medicine showed lower Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) depression score than those who used Western medicine alone (mean difference = −2.15; 95% confidence interval:−2.52 to 1.78; P

Excessive fossil burning causes energy shortages and contributes to the environmental crisis. Light-driven thermocatalytic CO2 reduction by methane (CRM) provides an effective strategy to conquer these two global challenges. Ni-based catalysts have been developed as candidates for CRM that are comparable to the noble metal catalysts. However, they are prone to deactivation due to the thermodynamically inevitable coking side reactions. Herein, we reported a novel Co-Ni/SiO2 nanocomposite of Co cluster-modified Ni nanoparticles, which greatly enhance the catalytic durability for light-driven thermocatalytic CRM. It exhibits high production rates of H2 (rH2) and CO (rCO, 22.8 and 26.7 mmol min−1 g−1, respectively), and very high light-to-fuel efficiency (ƞ) is achieved (26.8%). Co-Ni/SiO2 shows better catalytic durability than the referenced catalyst of Ni/SiO2. Based on the experimental results of TG-MS, TEM, and HRTEM, we revealed the origin of the significantly enhanced light-driven thermocatalytic activity and durability as well as the novel photoactivation. It was discovered that the focused irradiation markedly reduces the apparent activation energy of CO2 on the Co-Ni/SiO2 nanocomposite, thus significantly enhancing the light-driven thermocatalytic activity.

Abstract Bacterial infection is a major threat to public health. Nanotechnology offers a solution by combining nanomaterials with antibacterial agents. The development of an effective nanocomposite against drug‐resistant bacteria such as methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is highly important yet challenging. Here, an anti‐MRSA core–shell structure is designed, containing antibacterial zeolitic imidazolate framework‐8 (ZIF‐8) as the core and bactericidal benzalkonium chloride (BAC) templated rough‐surface mesostructured silica nanocomposite (RMSN) as the shell. The resultant ZIF‐8@RMSN nanocomposite exhibits sustained release of BAC and zinc ions, effective disruption of the bacterial membrane, generation of oxidative damage of bacterial DNA, leakage of intracellular components, and finally bacterial death. Furthermore, the synergistic antibacterial mechanisms lead to enhanced biofilm elimination performance. In addition, the ZIF‐8@RMSN‐modified band‐aid effectively combats MRSA infection in vivo. This work has provided a promising nanocomposite against MRSA‐related infections.

Background/purpose: Since its inception, the Journal of Dental Sciences (JDS) has aimed to publish quality articles relevant to all fields in dentistry. The purpose of this study was to analyze the bibliometric characteristics and dissected associated factors correlated with citation counts of classic articles published in the JDS. Materials and method: Scopus® database was used to search the qualified articles published in JDS from 2009 to 2021. The bibliometric parameters, including journal impact factor (JIF), self-citation, study design, research field, geographic, country and institute of origin, inter-institute, inter-nation collaboration, keywords hotness and associated factors correlated with citation counts of classic articles were analyzed. Results: One hundred and eight articles from Scopus® database were eligible for analysis. The citation counts of classic articles ranged from 12 to 192, the average citation was 22.02. The most common study design was the in vitro/in vivo, followed by the cross-sectional study, and the major research field were Dental Materials. The most productive country and institute is Taiwan, and Chung Shan Medical University, respectively. The trend of inter-institute (71.03%) and inter-nation (11.22%) collaboration steadily increased since 2009. By using the multivariable linear regression model, Preventive and Community Dentistry in the research field significantly increased the citation counts. Conclusion: Despite its limitations, the escalating trends in JIFs, and JIFs without self-citations, and inter-nation and inter-institute collaboration of classic articles were noticed. Of all the dissected associated factors, Preventive and Community Dentistry in the research field significantly increased the citation counts of classic article.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of chlorhexidine (CHX) gel on inflammation-induced periodontal tissue destruction, osteoclastogenesis, subgingival microbiota, and on the modulation of the RANKL/OPG as well as inflammatory mediators during bone remodeling in vivo. Materials and methods: Ligation- and LPS injection-induced experimental periodontitis were created to investigate the effect of topical application of CHX gel in vivo. Alveolar bone loss, osteoclast number and gingival inflammation was evaluated by micro-CT, histological, immunohistochemistry and biochemical analysis. The composition of the subgingival microbiota was characterized by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results: Data shows significant decreases in the alveolar bone destruction in rats from ligation-plus-CHX gel group compared to ligation group. In addition, significant decreases in the number of osteoclasts on bone surface and the protein level of receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL) in gingival tissue were observed in rats from ligation-plus-CHX gel group. Moreover, data shows significantly decreased inflammatory cell infiltration and decreased expression of cyclooxygenase (COX-2) and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) in gingival tissue from ligation-plus-CHX gel group versus ligation group. Assessment of the subgingival microbiota revealed changes in rats with CHX gel application treatment. Conclusion: HX gel presents protective effect on gingival tissue inflammation, osteoclastogenesis, RANKL/OPG expression, inflammatory mediators, and alveolar bone loss in vivo, which may have a translational impact on the adjunctive use in the management of inflammation-induced alveolar bone loss.

Abstract Background Rotator cuff-related shoulder pain (RCRSP) is the most common cause of shoulder disorders. In China, manipulation has been used extensively for the treatment of patients with RCRSP. However, high-quality clinical evidence to support the therapeutic effect of manipulation is still limited. Methods A multicenter, participant-, outcome assessor-, and data analyst-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial will be conducted. A total of 280 participants with RCRSP will be recruited from three hospitals and randomly assigned to a five-step shoulder manipulation (FSM) group or a sham manipulation (SM) group. Each group will receive four weekly treatment sessions, with all participants performing exercises at home for 12 weeks. Assessments, namely the Constant–Murley score, visual analog scale, range of motion, and 36-Item Short Form Survey, will be made at baseline, 4, 12, 18, and 24 weeks. Adverse events during the study will also be recorded. Discussion This is a pragmatic clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of FSM in patients with RCRSP. The findings of this study will provide worthy clinical evidence for manual therapy for RCRSP. Trial registration China Registered Clinical Trial Registration Center ChiCTR2000037577. Registered on 29 August 2020.

The cultivation of safety culture within enterprises has evolved into a pivotal facet of overall safety progress, drawing increased attention from a myriad of businesses. With a comprehensive examination of relevant literature, 635 documents from both domestic and international sources were selected as the subjects of analysis. The developmental trends, both domestically and internationally, follow a generally consistent pattern, resembling an inverted “V” shape. The initial phase witnessed gradual development, followed by a substantial and rapid growth phase in the mid-term. In the later phase, a decline is observed. This study utilizes the CiteSpace software for keyword clustering analysis, employing the Log Likelihood Ratio (LLR) algorithm with default parameters to delve into the themes within the specific research field of enterprise safety culture. It was observed that domestic research predominantly centers on the practical perspective of mitigating accidents through the establishment of enterprise safety culture, while international research places greater emphasis on theoretical considerations, specifically focusing on the impact of safety culture atmospheres within enterprises on employees.

Abstract Objectives This study is to investigate the referral pattern and treatment modality of dentists in the management of peri-implant diseases between periodontists and non-periodontist dentists (NPDs). Materials and methods A total of 167 validated questionnaires were obtained from periodontists and NPDs, who had experience of placing implants for at least one year. Question I to IV asked how the dentist would respond if a patient came for treatment of their peri-implant diseases with four different scenarios according to resource of patient and disease severity. For each Scenario, dentists also replied which treatment procedures they would use if they decide to treat the patient. Results Periodontal training, resource of patient, and disease severity were shown to significantly influence the referral pattern and treatment modality in the management of peri-implant disease (p

In this paper, the 15 min refined power load data、daily temperature and precipitation data of Wuhan from 2013 to 2018 are used to calculate out and analyse the characteristic indexes of power load, with the internal composition and changing law being explored. The results show that: (1) the power load and the daily load peak-valley difference in Wuhan have been broken for new records in recent years, the duration and intensity of high temperature have the most significant impact on air conditioning load in summer. The power load shows obvious "double peak and double valley" characteristics with the season. (2) The power load is much higher in summer than in other seasons, followed by winter. The distributions of diurnal variation characteristics are "high in the day and low in the night" in four seasons. (3) The power load of working days and weekends is significantly higher than that in holidays, and the power load is slightly higher on weekdays than on weekends the morning peak load is the largest on workdays, while the evening peak load is the largest on weekends and holidays. (4) Meteorological factors have an important impact on the electricity consumption of the whole society, and the relationship between meteorological sensitive load and daily average temperature is most significant in summer. When the average temperature is higher than the initial and sensitive value, the power load increases more obviously with the temperature rise. (5) No matter there is precipitation or not, the relationship between meteorological sensitive load and daily average temperature in summer is very close. Without precipitation, the power load has the best correlation with daily average temperature; the correlation between meteorological sensitive load and daily average temperature shows a downward trend in a rainy day, which reflects that the physical processes and mechanisms of precipitation can affect temperature and hence power load.

PurposeThe relationship between diabetes mellitus and keratoconus remains controversial. This study aimed to assess the potential causal relationships among type 2 diabetes, glycemic traits, and the risk of keratoconus.MethodsWe used a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) design based on genome-wide association summary statistics. Fasting glucose, proinsulin levels, adiponectin, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and type 2 diabetes with and without body mass index (BMI) adjustment were used as exposures and keratoconus was used as the outcome. MR analysis was performed using the inverse-variance weighted method, MR-Egger regression method, weighted-mode method, weighted median method and the MR-pleiotropy residual sum and outlier test (PRESSO).ResultsResults showed that genetically predicted lower fasting glucose were significantly associated with a higher risk of keratoconus [IVW: odds ratio (OR) = 0.382; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.261–0.560; p = 8.162 × 10−7]. Genetically predicted lower proinsulin levels were potentially linked to a higher risk of keratoconus (IVW: OR = 0.739; 95% CI = 0.568–0.963; p = 0.025). In addition, genetically predicted type 2 diabetes negatively correlated with keratoconus (IVW: BMI-unadjusted: OR = 0.869; 95% CI = 0.775–0.974, p = 0.016; BMI-adjusted: OR = 0.880, 95% CI = 0.789–0.982, p = 0.022). These associations were further corroborated by the evidence from all sensitivity analyses.ConclusionThese findings provide genetic evidence that higher fasting glucose levels are associated with a lower risk of keratoconus. However, further studies are required to confirmed this hypothesis and to understand the mechanisms underlying this putative causative relationship.

Abstract Objectives Neuroinflammation has been suggested that affects the processing of depression. There is renewed interest in berberine owing to its anti-inflammatory effects. Herein, we investigated whether berberine attenuate depressive-like behaviors via inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation in mice model of depression. Methods Adult male C57BL/6N mice were administrated corticosterone (CORT, 20 mg/kg/day) for 35 days. Two doses (100 mg/kg/day and 200 mg/kg/day) of berberine were orally administrated from day 7 until day 35. Behavioral tests were performed to measure the depression-like behaviors alterations. Differentially expressed gene analysis was performed for RNA-sequencing data in the prefrontal cortex. NLRP3 inflammasome was measured by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, and immunofluorescence labeling. The neuroplasticity and synaptic function were measured by immunofluorescence labeling, Golgi–Cox staining, transmission electron microscope, and whole-cell patch-clamp recordings. Results The results of behavioral tests demonstrated that berberine attenuated the depression-like behaviors induced by CORT. RNA-sequencing identified that NLRP3 was markedly upregulated after long-term CORT exposure. Berberine reversed the concentrations of peripheral and brain cytokines, NLRP3 inflammasome elicited by CORT in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus were decreased by berberine. In addition, the lower frequency of neuronal excitation as well as the dendritic spine reduction were reversed by berberine treatment. Together, berberine increases hippocampal adult neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity induced by CORT. Conclusion The anti-depressants effects of berberine were accompanied by reduced the neuroinflammatory response via inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and rescued the neuronal deterioration via suppression of impairments in synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis.

Abstract Background To investigate short-term choroidal structural and vascular changes after epiretinal membrane (ERM) surgery. Methods In this retrospective study, 65 patients with unilateral ERM underwent pars plana vitrectomy combined with cataract surgery and were examined one day before surgery and one week, one month, and three months after surgery. Choroidal thickness (CT) and choroidal vascular index (CVI) were evaluated using horizontal enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) scans and were further calculated using semi-automatic algorithms using MATLAB R2017a. Results Preoperatively, CVI was higher in eyes with ERM (61.70 ± 5.17%) than in fellow eyes (59.99 ± 5.26%). CVI increased significantly at one week after surgery (62.14 ± 5.02%) and decreased at 1 and 3 months after surgery (60.76 ± 4.97% and 60.4 ± 4.83%, respectively). The change was pronounced in the nasal region (p

Modified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT) has shown beneficial effects on motor function improvement after brain injury, but the exact mechanism remains unclear. In this study, amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF) metrics measured by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging was obtained to investigate the efficacy and mechanism of mCIMT in a control cortical impact (CCI) rat model simulating traumatic brain injury. At 3 days after control cortical impact model establishment, we found that the mean ALFF (mALFF) signals were decreased in the left motor cortex, somatosensory cortex, insula cortex and the right motor cortex, and were increased in the right corpus callosum. After 3 weeks of an 8-hour daily mCIMT treatment, the mALFF values were significantly increased in the bilateral hemispheres compared with those at 3 days postoperatively. The mALFF signal values of left corpus callosum, left somatosensory cortex, right medial prefrontal cortex, right motor cortex, left postero dorsal hippocampus, left motor cortex, right corpus callosum, and right somatosensory cortex were increased in the mCIMT group compared with the control cortical impact group. Finally, we identified brain regions with significantly decreased mALFF values at 3 days postoperatively. Pearson correlation coefficients with the right forelimb sliding score indicated that the improvement in motor function of the affected upper limb was associated with an increase in mALFF values in these brain regions. Our findings suggest that functional cortical plasticity changes after brain injury, and that mCIMT is an effective method to improve affected upper limb motor function by promoting bilateral hemispheric cortical remodeling. mALFF values correlate with behavioral changes and can potentially be used as biomarkers to assess dynamic cortical plasticity after traumatic brain injury.

Abstract The human population has doubled in the last 50 years from about 3.7 billion to approximately 7.8 billion. With this rapid expansion, more people live in close contact with wildlife, livestock, and pets, which in turn creates increasing opportunities for zoonotic diseases to pass between animals and people. At present an estimated 75% of all emerging virus-associated infectious diseases possess a zoonotic origin, and outbreaks of Zika, Ebola and COVID-19 in the past decade showed their huge disruptive potential on the global economy. Here, we describe how One Health inspired environmental surveillance campaigns have emerged as the preferred tools to monitor human-adjacent environments for known and yet to be discovered infectious diseases, and how they can complement classical clinical diagnostics. We highlight the importance of environmental factors concerning interactions between animals, pathogens and/or humans that drive the emergence of zoonoses, and the methodologies currently proposed to monitor them—the surveillance of wastewater, for example, was identified as one of the main tools to assess the spread of SARS-CoV-2 by public health professionals and policy makers during the COVID-19 pandemic. One-Health driven approaches that facilitate surveillance, thus harbour the potential of preparing humanity for future pandemics caused by aetiological agents with environmental reservoirs. Via the example of COVID-19 and other viral diseases, we propose that wastewater surveillance is a useful complement to clinical diagnosis as it is centralized, robust, cost-effective, and relatively easy to implement.

Abstract Background Macrobrachium nipponense is an economically and ecologically important freshwater prawn that is widely farmed in China. In contrast to other species of marine shrimp, M. nipponense has a short sexual maturity period, resulting in not only high stocking densities, but also a reduced survival rate and increased risk of hypoxia. Therefore, there is an urgent need to study the molecular mechanisms underlying fast ovary maturation in this species. Results Comparative transcriptome analysis was performed using hepatopancreatic tissue from female M. nipponense across five ovarian maturation stages to explore differentially expressed genes and pathways involved in ovarian maturation. In total, 118.01 Gb of data were generated from 15 transcriptomes. Approximately 90.46% of clean reads were mapped from the M. nipponense reference genome. A comprehensive comparative analysis between successive ovarian maturation stages generated 230–5814 differentially expressed genes. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment was highly concentrated in the “biological process” category in all four comparison groups, and mainly focused on energy synthesis and accumulation, energy decomposition and transport. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment results showed that, among 20 significantly enriched KEGG pathways, nine were involved in the synthesis, degradation, and metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, and other nutrient intermediates, suggesting that the hepatopancreas has an important role in energy supply during ovarian maturation. Furthermore, the “Insect hormone biosynthesis” pathway was found to have a dominant role in the development of the ovary from immaturity to maturity, supporting the hypothesis that ecdysteroid- and juvenile hormone-signaling pathways have an important role in hepatopancreas regulation of ovarian maturation. Conclusion Taken together, this study sheds light on the role of the hepatopancreas in the molecular regulation of ovary maturation in M. nipponense. The present study provided new insights for understanding the mechanisms of reproductive regulation in crustaceans.

Abstract Despite the availability of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing in primary care, testing rates in China remain low. Social media is an inexpensive means of disseminating information and could facilitate hepatitis testing promotion. We evaluated the capacity of digitally crowdsourced materials to promote HBV/HCV testing uptake via a randomized controlled trial (identifier: ChiCTR1900025771), which enrolled 750 Chinese primary care patients. We randomized patients (1:1) to receive crowdsourced HBV/HCV promotion materials through social media or facility-based care without promotional materials for four weeks. Exposure to all intervention materials was associated with increased odds of HBV (aOR = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.09–3.00) and HCV (aOR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.29–2.99) testing compared to facility-based care. There was a significant reduction in hepatitis stigma among intervention group participants (HBV slope: −0.15, p

Summary: The molecular and pathogenic mechanisms of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) development are still unclear, which hinders the development of effective treatments. In this study, we report that DUSP4 is highly expressed in human ESCC and is negatively correlated with patient prognosis. Knockdown of DUSP4 suppresses cell proliferation and patient-derived xenograft (PDX)-derived organoid (PDXO) growth and inhibits cell-derived xenograft (CDX) development. Mechanistically, DUSP4 directly binds to heat shock protein isoform β (HSP90β) and promotes the ATPase activity of HSP90β by dephosphorylating HSP90β on T214 and Y216. These dephosphorylation sites are critical for the stability of JAK1/2-STAT3 signaling and p-STAT3 (Y705) nucleus translocation. In vivo, Dusp4 knockout in mice significantly inhibits 4-nitrochinoline-oxide-induced esophageal tumorigenesis. Moreover, DUSP4 lentivirus or treatment with HSP90β inhibitor (NVP-BEP800) significantly impedes PDX tumor growth and inactivates the JAK1/2-STAT3 signaling pathway. These data provide insight into the role of the DUSP4-HSP90β-JAK1/2-STAT3 axis in ESCC progression and describe a strategy for ESCC treatment.

AIM: To investigate the feasibility of teaching minimally invasive vitreoretinal surgery with a robot-assisted surgical system and a three-dimensional (3D) visualization system. METHODS: Enucleated porcine eyes were established as an animal model for removing foreign bodies. Forty medical students were recruited to remove foreign bodies to compare the traditional microscope and the 3D system. One junior resident performed the surgical task with manual and robot-assisted operations on 20 porcine eyes for each group. One senior surgeon evaluated the retinal invasion by a graded injury degree. The learning curve for minimally invasive vitreoretinal surgery was described. RESULTS: Compared with the robot-assisted group, the injury degree was higher in the manual group. For the first ten surgeries, the manual and robot-assisted groups had injuries of 2.60±1.35 (4 to 0) and 1.80±1.62 (4 to 0), respectively. For the last ten surgeries, the injury degrees were 1.90±1.20 (3 to 0) and 0.80±0.42 (1 to 0). Considering the manual and robot-assisted groups together, 95%, 75% and 60% of the students considered surgical manipulation with the 3D visualization system to be more comfortable, easier and clearer, respectively. CONCLUSION: The robot-assisted surgical system and 3D visualization system may have value in teaching minimally invasive vitreoretinal surgery.

AIM: To evaluate the macular microvasculature before and after surgery for idiopathic macular hole (MH) and the association of preoperative vascular parameters with postoperative recovery of visual acuity and configuration. METHODS: Twenty eyes from 20 patients with idiopathic MH were enrolled. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) images were obtained before, 2wk, 1, and 3mo after vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling. Preoperative foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area and perimeter and regional vessel density (VD) in both layers were compared according to the 3-month best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). RESULTS: The BCVA improved from 0.98±0.59 (logMAR, Snellen 20/200) preoperatively to 0.30±0.25 (Snellen 20/40) at 3mo postoperatively. The preoperative deep VD was smaller and the FAZ perimeter was larger in the 3-month BCVA

A multi-wavelength thulium-doped fiber laser incorporating a photonic crystal fiber (PCF) Sagnac loop was presented and experimentally demonstrated. In the laser cavity, the Sagnac loop mirror used a 0.5 m PCF as a comb filter. A nonlinear polarization rotation (NPR)-based 600 m single-mode fiber (SMF) was used to suppress the mode competition. By adjusting the polarization controllers (PCs), up to nine stable wavelength outputs near the 2 μm spectrum were obtained at room temperature with an optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) of up to 30 dB. The channel spacing of this fiber laser is 4.88 nm, and the 10 dB bandwidth encompasses 1950.39 to 1989.43 nm.

A switchable and tunable six-wavelength single-longitudinal mode (SLM) thulium-doped fiber laser in the 2050 nm band is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. Two cascaded sampled fiber Bragg gratings (SFBGs), acted as an integrated six-channel reflector, are to define the lasing wavelength channels in a multi-wavelength switchable fiber laser for the first time. The switchability of the fiber laser was realized by polarization-dependent loss modulation. SLM lasing in each channel was guaranteed by a novel passive dual-ring compound cavity (DRCC), composed of two symmetric 3 × 3 optical couplers (OCs). Six single-wavelength operations are easily obtained and switched, with the high optical signal-to-noise ratios of >71 dB, >72 dB, >62 dB for λ11–λ13 and > 65 dB, >61 dB, >59 dB for λ21–λ23, respectively. The maximum power and wavelength fluctuations are as low as 0.56 dB and 0.01 nm, respectively. The measured laser linewidths ranged from 7.5 to 9.2 kHz, calculated by the β-separation line method based on the measured frequency noise spectra. Nine switchable dual-wavelength operations with different wavelength intervals and two triple-wavelength operations were also obtained. Our proposed fiber laser has great potential in free-space optical communication.

A five-wavelength-switchable thulium-doped fiber laser with a fiber Bragg grating (FBG)-based five-channel transmitting Fabry-Pérot (F-P) filter and a multi-coupler based triple-ring cavity (CTRC) filter, is experimentally proposed. For the first time, a multi-channel F-P filter and specially-designed coupler-based compound cavity filter were combined to realize multi-wavelength-switchable operation, with single-longitudinal-mode (SLM) lasing for each wavelength channel in a 2 µm band fiber laser. The theoretical analysis of the CTRC filter and the principle for achieving SLM operation by corporately using the F-P filter and CTRC filter were presented in detail. The experimental results demonstrated the good performance of the proposed filters. Five lasing wavelengths (1941.13 nm, 1941.22 nm, 1941.30 nm, 1941.39 nm, and 1941.47 nm) were obtained with good switchability, and each operated in a stable SLM state. The OSNR of each lasing wavelength was higher than 50 dB, and the linewidths of all obtained wavelengths were less than 8 kHz.

Transverse mode instability (TMI) limits the power scaling of high-power fiber lasers and amplifiers. One method of mitigating TMI is to strip unwanted modes by bending the fiber. However, the bending-induced mode distortion will change the TMI coefficient and influences the TMI threshold. In this work, we analyzed the bending effects on the mode profiles by inducing different refractive index tilts corresponding to different bending radii. With these mode profiles and with different bending conditions, a modified TMI coefficient was calculated to analyze the bending effects on TMI for different fibers. The simulation results show that tighter bending can lead to a somewhat lower TMI coefficient and slightly improve the TMI threshold.

Introduction: CRISPR/Cas9 is a gene-editing technology which could specifically cleave dsDNA and induce target gene mutation. CRISPR/Cas9 has been widely used in gene functional studies in many fields, such as medicine, biology, and agriculture due to its simple design, low cost, and high efficiency. Although it has been well developed in model fish and freshwater fish for gene function analysis, it is still novel in the studies dealing with economic crustacean species.Methods: In this study, we established a CRISPR/Cas9 system based on microinjection for M. nipponense, an important economic crustacean aquaculture species. The vitellogenin (Vg) gene and the eyeless (Ey) gene were selected as the targeted genes for mutation. Two sgRNAs were designed for Mn-Vg and Mn-Ey gene editing, respectively.Results and Discussion: For sg-Vg-1, the gastrula survival ratio was 8.69%, and the final hatching ratio was 4.83%. The blastula mutant ratio was 10%, and the hatching individual mutant ratio was 30%. For sg-Vg-2, the gastrula survival ratio was 5.85%, and the final hatching ratio was 3.89%. The blastula mutant ratio was 16.67%, and no mutant sequences were detected in hatching individuals. For sg-Ey-1, the gastrula survival ratio was 6.25%, and the final hatching ratio was 2.34%. The blastula mutant ratio was 10.00%, and the hatching individual mutant ratio was 66.67%. For sg-Ey-2, the gastrula survival ratio was 6.00%, and the final hatching ratio was 2.67%. No mutant sequence was detected in both blastula stage and hatching individuals. There were no significant morphological changes observed in the Mn-Vg group. Two deformed types were detected in sg-Ey-1-injected embryos. An evident developmental delay of the compound eye was detected in Ey-sg1-H1 in the zoea stage. The compound eyes of the Ey-sg1-H2 embryo could not form well-defined spheres, and the whole compound eye appeared to diffuse at the end of the late zoea stage. The establishment of a gene-editing platform based on CRISPR/Cas9 will not only provide an efficient and convenient method for gene function analysis but also provide a powerful tool for molecular-assisted breeding of Macrobrachium nipponense.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of an intraoperative optical coherence tomography angiography (iOCTA) system integrated with a surgical microscope, and further investigate the real-time retinal vascular change in intraocular pressure fluctuation during surgery in rabbits.Methods: The feasibility of this system was confirmed through fundus angiography imaging in 12 rabbit eyes during simulated surgeries in 4 groups, 30 mmHg infusion pressure (IP), 60 mmHg IP, 100 mmHg IP, and control groups. The eyes were removed after seven days. Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) damage was analyzed histologically.Results: The OCTA technique can acquire images of retinal capillaries in rabbit eyes and quantitatively analyzing the vessel density. In the 30 mmHg IP group, there was no significant difference in the retinal vasculature during the operation. The OCTA signal and the RGCs decreased significantly in the 60 and 100 mmHg groups.Conclusions: The system can real-timely monitor the human retinal vasculature in high-resolution images and help surgeons to make decision during intraocular surgery.

Glioma is the most common primary malignant tumor of the adult central nervous system. It has high morbidity and poor survival. Myelin protein zero-like protein 1 (MPZL1) is a cell surface glycoprotein that activates numerous adhesion-dependent signaling pathways. MPZL1 plays important roles in human cancers that include metastatic process; however, it is not clear if MPZL1 plays a role in human glioma. Therefore, this study aimed to determine if silencing MPZL1 impacted the cell proliferative features of human glioma cells. First, MPZL1 expression was investigated in human glioma samples and tumor cell lines. Then the effects of small interfering RNA (siRNA)-targeting MPZL1 were analyzed on proliferation, colony formation, cell cycle progression, and invasion of human glioma cells. The results from this study demonstrated that MPZL1 was highly expressed in human glioma tissues and glioma cell lines. In addition, knockdown of MPZL1 significantly inhibited cell proliferation, colony formation, and invasiveness of glioma cells, and effectively induced cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase. Western blotting analysis indicated that silencing MPZL1 expression downregulated the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), WNT1, caspase-3, cyclin A1, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and upregulated p53. The results from this study suggest that MPZL1 might be a marker for tumors and could be a potential therapeutic target for human glioma.

Abstract Background Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders, but there is still no effective way to stop or slow its progression. Our previous studies demonstrated that extract of Cynomorium songaricum (ECS), a Chinese herbal medicine, had neuroprotective effects in AD models in vivo. However, the pharmacological mechanism of ECS in AD is still unclear. Methods To study the mechanisms of action of the effects of ECS on AD, we used Aβ25–35- and H2O2-exposed HT22 cells to mimic specific stages of AD in vitro. The mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), intracellular ATP, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), and expression levels of mitochondrial dynamics-related proteins in each group were examined. Furthermore, we explored the mechanisms by which ECS reduces the phosphorylation of Drp1 at Ser637 and the changes in the concentrations of intracellular calcium ions in the two models after FK506 intervention. Results The results showed that ECS significantly enhanced the MMP (P

Abstract Background This study investigated the prevalence of labial bone perforation (LBP) related to the associated anatomic factors in anterior mandibular region using a virtual immediate implant placement procedure. Methods Series qualified CBCT images of 149 participants (894 teeth) were selected to analyze the assigned anatomical parameters, including concavity depth, concavity angle, torque, and deep bone thickness. Four classes of crestal and radicular dentoalveolar bone phenotypes (CRDAPs) of mandibular anterior teeth were categorized according to the thickness of dentoalveolar bone at both crestal and radicular zones. Data were adjusted for categorical (gender and CRDAP) and continuous (age, cavity angle, cavity depth, and deep bone thickness) variables using a multivariable logistic regression analysis with generalized estimating equation method. Results The overall probability of LBP after virtual implant placement was 21.6%. There is statistically significant higher prevalence of LBP at canine (28.5%) and CRDAP class II (29.2%) regions (p < 0.001). After adjusting confounding variables, CRDAP class II and class IV regions are more likely to have LBP when compared with CRDAP class I (control) regions (p < 0.01). The risk of LBP at canine site is 6.31 times more likely than at the central incisor (control) (p < 0.01). Conclusions Using a virtual immediate implant placement technique, the prevalence of LBP is significantly higher at the mandibular canine site and thin radicular dentoalveolar phenotype in the anterior mandibular region.