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Abstract The E‐proteinoid 3 receptor (PTGER3), a member of the prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) subtype receptor, belongs to the G‐protein‐coupled superfamily of receptors. Animal studies have demonstrated its involvement in salt sensitivity by regulating sodium reabsorption. This study aimed to investigate the association between genetic variants of PTGER3 and salt sensitivity, longitudinal blood pressure (BP) changes, and the incidence of hypertension in Chinese adults. A chronic salt intake intervention was conducted involving 514 adults from 124 families in the 2004 Baoji Salt‐Sensitivity Study Cohort in northern China. These participants followed a 3‐day regular baseline diet, followed by a 7‐day low‐salt diet (3.0 g/d) and a 7‐day high‐salt diet (18 g/d), and were subsequently followed for 14 years. The findings revealed a significant relationship between the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs17482751 of PTGER3 and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) response to high salt intervention. Additionally, SNPs rs11209733, rs3765894, and rs2268062 were significantly associated with longitudinal changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP), DBP, and mean arterial pressure (MAP) during the 14‐year follow‐up period. SNP rs6424414 was significantly associated with longitudinal changes in DBP over 14 years. Finally, SNP rs17482751 showed a significant correlation with the incidence of hypertension over 14 years. These results emphasize the significant role of PTGER3 gene polymorphism in salt sensitivity, longitudinal BP changes, and the development of hypertension in the Chinese population.

Abstract Objective To assess the infiltration characteristics of tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) in buccal mucosa carcinoma (BMC) and the correlation of these features with clinicopathological factors. Materials and methods Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of TAM-related markers (CD68, CD163, CD206), CD8+ T cell markers, PD-L1, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in 46 patients with mucosal cancer after radical surgery. In addition, the correlation between TAM infiltration and clinical characteristics, PD-L1 expression, and EGFR expression was analysed. Results A high infiltration level of M2-polarized (CD206+) TAMs and M2-polarized (CD163+) TAMs was more common in stage T3–T4, N+, III–IV patients than in other patient groups (P

Cardiovascular disease is a significant cause of death in humans. Various models are necessary for the study of cardiovascular diseases, but once cellular and animal models have some defects, such as insufficient fidelity. As a new technology, organoid has certain advantages and has been used in many applications in the study of cardiovascular diseases. This article aims to summarize the application of organoid platforms in cardiovascular diseases, including organoid construction schemes, modeling, and application of cardiovascular organoids. Advances in cardiovascular organoid research have provided many models for different cardiovascular diseases in a variety of areas, including myocardium, blood vessels, and valves. Physiological and pathological models of different diseases, drug research models, and methods for evaluating and promoting the maturation of different kinds of organ tissues are provided for various cardiovascular diseases, including cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, and atherosclerosis. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the latest research progress in cardiovascular organ tissues, including construction protocols for cardiovascular organoid tissues and their evaluation system, different types of disease models, and applications of cardiovascular organoid models in various studies. The problems and possible solutions in organoid development are summarized.

Abstract Background The utilization of live yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, YE) in dairy cows is gaining traction in dairy production as a potential strategy to improve feed efficiency and milk yield. However, the effects of YE on dairy cow performance remain inconsistent across studies, leaving the underlying mechanisms unclear. Hence, the primary aim of this study was to investigate the impact of YE supplementation on lactation performance, ruminal microbiota composition and fermentation patterns, as well as serum antioxidant capacity and immune functions in dairy cows. Results Supplementation with YE (20 g/d/head) resulted in enhancements in dairy cow’s dry matter intake (DMI) (P = 0.016), as well as increased yields of milk (P = 0.002) and its components, including solids (P = 0.003), fat (P = 0.014), protein (P = 0.002), and lactose (P = 0.001) yields. The addition of YE led to significant increases in the concentrations of ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) (P = 0.023), acetate (P = 0.005), propionate (P = 0.025), valerate (P = 0.003), and total volatile fatty acids (VFAs) (P

Abstract Optical detection of magnetic field is appealing for integrated photonics; however, the light-matter interaction is usually weak at low field. Here we observe that the photoluminescence (PL) decreases by > 40% at 10 mT in rubrene microcrystals (RMCs) prepared by a capillary-bridge assembly method. The giant magneto-PL (MPL) relies on the singlet-triplet conversion involving triplet-triplet pairs, through the processes of singlet fission (SF) and triplet fusion (TF) during radiative decay. Importantly, the size of RMCs is critical for maximizing MPL as it influences on the photophysical processes of spin state conversion. The SF/TF process is quantified by measuring the prompt/delayed PL with time-resolved spectroscopies, which shows that the geminate SF/TF associated with triplet-triplet pairs are responsible for the giant MPL. Furthermore, the RMC-based magnetometer is constructed on an optical chip, which takes advantages of remarkable low-field sensitivity over a broad range of frequencies, representing a prototype of emerging opto-spintronic molecular devices.

Abstract Aging is a global challenge, marked in the lungs by function decline and structural disorders, which affects the health of the elderly population. To explore anti-aging strategies, we develop a dynamic atlas covering 45 cell types in human lungs, spanning from embryonic development to aging. We aim to apply the discoveries of lung’s development to address aging-related issues. We observe that both epithelial and immune cells undergo a process of acquisition and loss of essential function as they transition from development to aging. During aging, we identify cellular phenotypic alternations that result in reduced pulmonary compliance and compromised immune homeostasis. Furthermore, we find a distinctive expression pattern of the ferritin light chain (FTL) gene, which increases during development but decreases in various types of lung cells during the aging process.

With the increasing frequency of extreme rainfall events worldwide, urban flood in densely populated and economically vibrant urban areas has become a pressing issue drawing global attention. Catchments are fundamental units for understanding urban hydrological processes and managing flood. Current research often lacks an investigation into the importance and spatial differences of driving factors for urban flood at the catchment scale, particularly for different types of cities. This study uses 15 megacities in China as case studies and establishes a comprehensive system of driving factors. It categorizes cities based on population levels, climate zones, and spatial locations. The study begins with hotspot analysis to identify areas with high occurrences of urban inundation. Subsequently, it employs Geographic Weighted Regression (GWR), a spatial analysis technique, to unveil the mechanisms driving the spatial distribution of inundation points in different types of cities and the spatial heterogeneity of driving factors at the urban catchment scale. The research findings, based on multiple cities, demonstrate that urban inundation points exhibit clear spatial clustering characteristics. While impervious surfaces and urban buildings are generally more important than factors such as landscape patterns and population density, the importance and explanatory power of driving factors for the spatial distribution of urban inundation vary across different cities and even within different catchments of the same city. The categorization of cities based on population levels and spatial locations demonstrates stronger regularities in driving mechanisms compared to categorization based on climate zones. The study’s results further underscore the complex driving mechanisms behind the spatial distribution of urban inundation. This highlights the need for flood management strategies that consider both universal patterns of inundation occurrence and the specific characteristics of local driving factors to develop targeted and effective mitigation measures.

Background and objectivesLactose intolerance and coeliac disease are common clinical nutrient malabsorption disorders, with an unclear pathogenesis and limited therapeutic options. It is widely believed that the gut microbiota plays an important role in many digestive disorders, but its role in lactose intolerance and coeliac disease is not yet clear. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between gut microbiota and lactose intolerance and coeliac disease.Materials and methodsThis study utilized the genome-wide association study database to investigate the association between gut microbiota and lactose intolerance and coeliac disease using Mendelian randomization (MR). The robustness of our findings was confirmed through subsequent analyses including Cochrane’s Q statistic, MR-Egger Intercept Regression, MR-PRESSO Global Test and Leave-one-out methods.ResultsBy employing the inverse variance weighted method, we identified that family Veillonellaceae, genus Oxalobacter and Senegalimassilia were protective against lactose intolerance, whereas genus Anaerotruncus, Eubacterium rectale group and Ruminococcus2 were found to be risk factors for lactose intolerance. Regarding coeliac disease, class Bacilli and Gammaproteobacteria, family FamilyXIII and Veillonellaceae, genus Eisenbergiella, Lachnoclostridium, RuminococcaceaeUCG014 and Ruminococcus2 were identified as protective factors, while class Betaproteobacteria, genus Eubacterium xylanophilum group and Blautia were risk factors. Furthermore, reverse the MR analysis did not reveal any evidence of a causal relationship between lactose intolerance or coeliac disease and the bacteria identified in our study.ConclusionThis study provides novel insights into exploring the role of gut microbiota in lactose intolerance and coeliac disease; however, further experiments investigations are required to elucidate the specific underlying mechanisms.

Abstract Flexible electronics has emerged as a continuously growing field of study. Two‐dimensional (2D) materials often act as conductors and electrodes in electronic devices, holding significant promise in the design of high‐performance, flexible electronics. Numerous studies have focused on harnessing the potential of these materials for the development of such devices. However, to date, the incorporation of 2D materials in flexible electronics has rarely been summarized or reviewed. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop comprehensive reviews for rapid updates on this evolving landscape. This review covers progress in complex material architectures based on 2D materials, including interfaces, heterostructures, and 2D/polymer composites. Additionally, it explores flexible and wearable energy storage and conversion, display and touch technologies, and biomedical applications, together with integrated design solutions. Although the pursuit of high‐performance and high‐sensitivity instruments remains a primary objective, the integrated design of flexible electronics with 2D materials also warrants consideration. By combining multiple functionalities into a singular device, augmented by machine learning and algorithms, we can potentially surpass the performance of existing wearable technologies. Finally, we briefly discuss the future trajectory of this burgeoning field. This review discusses the recent advancements in flexible sensors made from 2D materials and their applications in integrated architecture and device design.

In the tumor microenvironment, transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) contributes to neutrophil development toward a pro-tumor phenotype; however, the molecular mechanism by which this occurs remains unclear. Therefore, we explored the role of TGF-β in N2 neutrophil polarization and the subsequent effect on oral leukoplakia/oral squamous cell carcinoma (OL/OSCC) cells. The TGF-β-stimulated N2 culture supernatant promoted the proliferation of OL/OSCC cells. Analysis of the N2 supernatant using a cytokine array revealed significantly upregulated expression of soluble forms of receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE). TGF-β was found to induce the expression of RAGE and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) in neutrophils. Additionally, MMP9 treatment could cleave RAGE and promote its secretion by neutrophils, thereby promoting cancer cell proliferation. In an established mouse model of oral cancer using 4NQO, RAGE were found to be highly expressed. Importantly, neutralizing antibodies against RAGE significantly inhibited oral cancer progression in mice. Analysis of clinical data from the TCGA database revealed that RAGE and MMP9 are highly expressed in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and that RAGE expression is significantly positively correlated with neutrophil infiltration. In conclusion, our results indicate that TGF-β promotes N2 neutrophil polarization through upregulation of soluble RAGE (sRAGE) secretion, leading to OSCC cell proliferation. Our findings also suggest that the sRAGE formed during N2 polarization may be a potential therapeutic target in OL/OSCC.

Abstract Background Observational studies have suggested an association between endometriosis and glycemic traits, but causality remains unclear. We used bidirectional and multivariate Mendelian randomization (MR) to examine the causal effect of glycemic traits on endometriosis and vice versa. Methods We obtained genome-wide association studies summary data of endometriosis and glycemic traits in our study. Inverse variance weighted (IVW), Weighted median, MR-Egger and Mendelian randomization pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO) were applied in bidirectional two-sample MR analyses. MVMR was implemented to estimate the causal effect for fasting insulin (FI), fasting glucose (FG), and glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) on endometriosis. To test the validity of our findings, a number of sensitivity analyses were conducted. Results The risk of endometriosis was significantly increased by genetically predicted T1DM (OR = 1.02, 95% CI 1.00-1.04, p = 0.0171, q = 0.0556) and GDM (OR = 1.01, 95% CI 1.01–1.02, p = 1.34 × 10− 8, q = 1.74 × 10− 7). Endometriosis had a suggestive association with HbA1c (Beta = 0.04, 95% CI 0.00-0.08, p = 0.0481, q = 0.1251). Using multivariate Mendelian randomization (MVMR), a significant causal effect of FI on genetically predicted endometriosis was found (OR = 2.18, 95% CI 1.16–4.09, p = 0.0154, q = 0.0547). Moreover, no causal associations between endometriosis and other glycemic traits were detected. Conclusion Our findings supported the significant causal associations of T1DM, GDM and FI with endometriosis, respectively. Additionally, a suggestive association was found of endometriosis on HbA1c. Importantly, our study may shed light on etiology studies and clinical management of endometriosis.

Abstract Wireless imaging, equipped with ultralow power wireless communications and energy harvesting (EH) capabilities, have emerged as battery-free and sustainable solutions. However, the challenge of implementing wireless colour imaging in wearable applications remains, primarily due to high power demands and the need to balance energy harvesting efficiency with device compactness. To address these issues, we propose a flexible and wearable battery-free backscatter wireless communication system specially designed for colour imaging. The system features a hybrid RF-solar EH array that efficiently harvests energy from both ambient RF and visible light energy, ensuring continuous operation in diverse environments. Moreover, flexible materials allow the working system to conform to the human body, ensuring comfort, user-friendliness, and safety. Furthermore, a compact design utilizing a shared-aperture antenna array for simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT), coupled with an optically transparent stacked structure. This design not only optimizes space but also maintains the performance of both communication and EH processes. The proposed flexible and wearable systems for colour imaging would have potentially applications in environmental monitoring, object detection, and law enforcement recording. This approach demonstrates a sustainable and practical solution for the next generation of wearable, power-demanding devices.

Abstract Recent studies have reported the role of the M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (M3R), a member of the G‐protein coupled receptor superfamily, encoded by the CHRM3 gene, in cardiac function and the regulation of blood pressure (BP). The aim of this study was to investigate the associations of CHRM3 genetic variants with salt sensitivity, longitudinal BP changes, and the development of hypertension in a Chinese population. We conducted a chronic dietary salt intervention experiment in a previously established Chinese cohort to analyze salt sensitivity of BP. Additionally, a 14‐year follow‐up was conducted on all participants in the cohort to evaluate the associations of CHRM3 polymorphisms with longitudinal BP changes, as well as the incidence of hypertension. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs10802811 within the CHRM3 gene displayed significant associations with low salt‐induced changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP), while rs373288072, rs114677844, and rs663148 exhibited significant associations with SBP and MAP responses to a high‐salt diet. Furthermore, the SNP rs58359377 was associated with changes in SBP and pulse pressure (PP) over the course of 14 years. Additionally, the 14‐year follow‐up revealed a significant association between the rs619288 polymorphism and an increased risk of hypertension (OR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.06‐2.87, p = .029). This study provides evidence that CHRM3 may have a role in salt sensitivity, BP progression, and the development of hypertension.

Abstract Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) shed from primary tumors must overcome the cytotoxicity of immune cells, particularly natural killer (NK) cells, to cause metastasis. The tumor microenvironment (TME) protects tumor cells from the cytotoxicity of immune cells, which is partially executed by cancer‐associated mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). However, the mechanisms by which MSCs influence the NK resistance of CTCs remain poorly understood. This study demonstrates that MSCs enhance the NK resistance of cancer cells in a gap junction‐dependent manner, thereby promoting the survival and metastatic seeding of CTCs in immunocompromised mice. Tumor cells crosstalk with MSCs through an intercellular cGAS‐cGAMP‐STING signaling loop, leading to increased production of interferon‐β (IFNβ) by MSCs. IFNβ reversely enhances the type I IFN (IFN‐I) signaling in tumor cells and hence the expression of human leukocyte antigen class I (HLA‐I) on the cell surface, protecting the tumor cells from NK cytotoxicity. Disruption of this loop reverses NK sensitivity in tumor cells and decreases tumor metastasis. Moreover, there are positive correlations between IFN‐I signaling, HLA‐I expression, and NK tolerance in human tumor samples. Thus, the NK‐resistant signaling loop between tumor cells and MSCs may serve as a novel therapeutic target.

BackgroundDesmoid tumor (DT) is a rare locally aggressive but non-metastatic mesenchymal soft tissue neoplasm that predominantly occurs in the abdominal wall, abdominal cavity, and extremities. Its occurrence in the mesentery is relatively uncommon.Case reportsThis article reports two cases of desmoid tumor treated at the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Weifang People’s Hospital. The first case was a 59-year-old male patient who had previously undergone surgery for esophagogastric junction cancer. Postoperatively, he developed an intra-abdominal mass that rapidly increased in size within three months. The second case was a 60-year-old male patient who incidentally discovered a mass in the left lower abdomen. Both patients underwent surgical treatment, and the postoperative pathological diagnosis was mesenteric desmoid tumor.ConclusionThe treatment of desmoid tumor remains challenging. Simple surgical resection often yields unsatisfactory outcomes, and the efficacy of adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy is also limited. Further research and clinical practice are necessary to improve diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, aiming to enhance patient survival and quality of life.

ObjectivesThis study aimed to analyze the influencing factors of hospitalization cost of hypertensive patients in TCM (traditional Chinese medicine, TCM) hospitals, which can provide a scientific basis for hospitals to control the hospitalization cost of hypertension.MethodsIn this study, 3,595 hospitalized patients with a primary diagnosis of tertiary hypertension in Tianshui City Hospital of TCM, Gansu Province, China, from January 2017 to June 2022, were used as research subjects. Using univariate analysis to identify the relevant variables of hospitalization cost, followed by incorporating the statistically significant variables of univariate analysis as independent variables in multiple linear regression analysis, and establishing the path model based on the results of the multiple linear regression finally, to explore the factors influencing hospitalization cost comprehensively.ResultsThe results showed that hospitalization cost of hypertension patients were mainly influenced by length of stay, age, admission pathways, payment methods of medical insurance, and visit times, with length of stay being the most critical factor.ConclusionThe Chinese government should actively exert the characteristics and advantages of TCM in the treatment of chronic diseases such as hypertension, consistently optimize the treatment plans of TCM, effectively reduce the length of stay and steadily improve the health literacy level of patients, to alleviate the illnesses pain and reduce the economic burden of patients.

Abstract Normoalbuminuria has recently been associated with increased cardiovascular risk, and vascular aging is proposed as the early manifestation of cardiovascular disease. Here, the authors aimed to examine the association of high‐normal albuminuria and vascular aging in a Chinese cohort. From our previously established cohort, 1942 participants with estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2 or urinary albumin‐creatinine ratio (UACR)

Short-circuit impedance is an important economic and technical index to test the cost, efficiency and operation safety of transformers. Increasing the short-circuit impedance of the transformer can reduce the influence of the transformer fault current on the system. The short-circuit impedance of a general power transformer is 4~7%. When the short-circuit impedance is too small, the short-circuit current is too large, which will cause harm to electrical equipment. This paper proposes a method to adjust the short-circuit impedance by adding magnetic shunts of different thicknesses between the high and low voltage windings of the transformer. Compared with other methods, this method does not change the structure of the transformer core and winding, and is simple and efficient. In this paper, a three-dimensional simulation model of a single-phase multi-winding transformer is established by Altair Flux to study the influence of the thickness of magnetic shunts on the short-circuit impedance of a transformer. The feasibility of the proposed method is verified by comparing the simulation with the measured values. The magnetic shunt is also introduced into the three-phase transformer. The result shows that adding magnetic shunts of different thicknesses between the high and low voltage windings of the transformer will change the distribution and size of the leakage of the magnetic field. The short-circuit impedance increases significantly with the increase in the thickness of the magnetic shunt, but a certain number of magnetic shunts have minimal effects on the efficiency of the transformer.

Global imperatives call for reduced water consumption in homogeneous, intensive farming systems, where farmland landscape heterogeneity significantly impacts anthropogenic, ecological, and socioeconomic factors. However, the impact of this heterogeneity on crop water footprint (WF) remains uncertain. To address this, this study assessed the WF at the landscape scale across 616 subplots (1 × 1 km) in a representative county of North China Plain from 2013 to 2019, integrating green (WFgreen), blue (WFblue), and gray (WFgray) water footprints. Results showed that the winter wheat–summer maize double cropping pattern (WM) exhibited the highest WFgreen, WFblue, and WFgray. Over six years, most subplots saw significant reductions in WFgreen, WFblue, WFgray, and WF. At the landscape scale, diversification (compositional heterogeneity), fragmentation, and spatial distribution (configurational heterogeneity) were assessed using Shannon’s diversity index (SHDI), edge density (ED), and effective mesh size (MESH), which exhibited average variations of 0.07, −3.16 m ha−1, and −5.86 m2, respectively. For WM patches, the percentage of landscape (PLAND) and MESH were used to evaluate diversification and spatial distribution, resulting in reductions of 1.14% and 2.32 m2, respectively. Regression analysis and structural equation modeling further illuminated the connections between the landscape pattern and WF, emphasizing the significant role of MESH in reducing WFblue and influencing crop diversity (p < 0.001). Therefore, spatial distribution, whether directly or through the mediation of diversification, demonstrated a more substantial overall impact on WF. Consequently, future research should prioritize investigating how spatial distribution influences crop choice and agronomic management in order to determine the optimal cropping patterns and field size that strike a balance between crop production and the water footprint. This study offers theoretical guidance and a scientific foundation for redesigning farmland landscapes to bolster water sustainability in intensive farming systems.

Cobalt oxides are known for their excellent heat transfer properties. The main component of cobalt oxides is the CoO2 monolayer, which exhibits high-temperature superconductivity caused by strong electron–phonon coupling (EPC). We here systematically investigate the structural stability, electronic structure, and magnetism of the CoO2 monolayer using first-principles and Monte Carlo simulations. On this basis, we further study the changes in the spin energy gap, magnetic axis direction, and other properties of the CoO2 monolayer with the changes in carrier concentration. By appropriately doping the CoO2 monolayer with holes, the magnetic axis direction of the CoO2 monolayer can be reversed, thereby enhancing its potential application in the field of spin electronic devices. Monte Carlo simulation is used to study the regulation of different factors on the magnetothermal properties of the CoO2 monolayer. Through the analysis of physical parameters such as Curie temperature (TC) and bandgap, we find that the appropriate carrier concentration and magnetic field can not only regulate the magnetothermal properties of materials but also further improve the efficiency of materials in low-temperature environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]