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BACKGROUND: Studies evaluating the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) for endometrial cancer (EC) are limited. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors as monotherapy for EC by conducting a meta-analysis. The predictive significance of MMR status, a biomarker for ICI response, also required further investigation. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted in English databases until September 2023. The analysis included objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), adverse events (AEs), and odds ratios (OR), along with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: There were twelve trials totaling 685 individuals. PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor monotherapy resulted in an ORR for 34% (95% CI = 24-44%) of the pooled EC patients. Subgroup analysis revealed a significantly higher ORR in dMMR EC (45%) compared to pMMR EC (8%), with an OR of 6.36 (95% CI = 3.64-11.13). The overall DCR was 42%, with dMMR EC at 51% and pMMR EC at 30% (OR = 2.61, 95% CI = 1.69-4.05). Grade three or higher adverse events (AEs) occurred in 15% of cases (95% CI = 9-24%) of the pooled incidence of AEs, which was 68% (95% CI = 65-72%). CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis provides significant evidence for the effectiveness of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors as monotherapy for EC. Notably, dMMR EC patients demonstrated superior treatment efficacy with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor immunotherapy. Further research is required to explore subclassifications of EC based on dMMR molecular subtypes, enabling improved treatment strategies and outcomes for EC patients.

IntroductionThe eating sounds of largemouth black bass (Micropterus salmoides) are primarily categorized into swallowing and chewing sounds, both intensities of which are closely correlated with fish density and feeding desire. Therefore, accurate recognition of these two sounds is of significant importance for studying fish feeding behavior.MethodsIn this study, we propose a method based on low-dimensional acoustic features for the recognition of swallowing and chewing sounds in fish. Initially, utilizing synchronous audio-visual means, we collect feeding sound signals and image signals of largemouth black bass. By analyzing the time-frequency domain features of the sound signals, we identify 15 key acoustic features across four categories including short-time average energy, average Mel-frequency cepstral coefficients, power spectral peak, and center frequency. Subsequently, employing nine dimensionality reduction algorithms, we select the Top-6 features from the 15-dimensional acoustic features and compare their precision in recognizing swallowing and chewing sounds using four machine learning models.ResultsExperimental results indicate that supervised feature pre-screening positively enhances the accuracy of largemouth black bass feeding feature recognition. Extracted acoustic features demonstrate global correlation and linear characteristics. When considering feature dimensionality and classification performance, the combination of feature dimensionality reduction and recognition model based on the random forest model exhibits the best performance, achieving an identification accuracy of 98.63%.DiscussionThe proposed method offers higher assessment accuracy of swallowing and chewing sounds with lower computational complexity, thus providing effective technical support for the research on precise feeding technology in fish farming.

Abstract Background The prevalence and mortality of bladder cancer (BLCA) present a significant medical challenge. While the function of senescence-related genes in tumor development is recognized, their prognostic significance in BLCA has not been thoroughly explored. Methods BLCA transcriptome datasets were sourced from the TCGA and GEO repositories. Gene groupings were determined through differential gene expression and non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) methodologies. Key senescence-linked genes were isolated using singular and multivariate Cox regression analyses, combined with lasso regression. Validation was undertaken with GEO database information. Predictive models, or nomograms, were developed by merging risk metrics with clinical records, and their efficacy was gauged using ROC curve methodologies. The immune response’s dependency on the risk metric was assessed through the immune phenomenon score (IPS). Additionally, we estimated IC50 metrics for potential chemotherapeutic agents. Results Reviewing 406 neoplastic and 19 standard tissue specimens from the TCGA repository facilitated the bifurcation of subjects into two unique clusters (C1 and C2) according to senescence-related gene expression. After a stringent statistical evaluation, a set of ten pivotal genes was discerned and applied for risk stratification. Validity tests for the devised nomograms in forecasting 1, 3, and 5-year survival probabilities for BLCA patients were executed via ROC and calibration plots. IC50 estimations highlighted a heightened responsiveness in the low-risk category to agents like cisplatin, cyclopamine, and sorafenib. Conclusions In summation, our research emphasizes the prospective utility of risk assessments rooted in senescence-related gene signatures for enhancing BLCA clinical oversight.

Ovarian cancer is a highly malignant gynecological cancer influenced by the immune microenvironment, metabolic reprogramming, and cellular senescence. This review provides a comprehensive overview of these characteristics. Metabolic reprogramming affects immune cell function and tumor growth signals. Cellular senescence in immune and tumor cells impacts anti-tumor responses and therapy resistance. Targeting immune cell metabolism and inducing tumor cell senescence offer potential therapeutic strategies. However, challenges remain in identifying specific targets and biomarkers. Understanding the interplay of these characteristics can lead to innovative therapeutic approaches. Further research is needed to elucidate mechanisms, validate strategies, and improve patient outcomes in ovarian cancer.

2-Methyl-1-butanol (2MB) and 3-Methyl-1-butanol (3MB) are microbial volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and found in indoor air. Here, we applied rice as a bioindicator to investigate the effects of these indoor microbial volatile pollutants. A remarkable decrease in germination percentage, shoot and root elongation, as well as lateral root numbers were observed in 3MB. Furthermore, ROS production increased by 2MB and 3MB, suggesting that pentanol isomers could induce cytotoxicity in rice seedlings. The enhancement of peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) activity provided evidence that pentanol isomers activated the enzymatic antioxidant scavenging systems, with a more significant effect observed in 3MB. Furthermore, 3MB induced higher activity levels of glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), and the GSH/GSSG ratio in rice compared to the levels induced by 2MB. Additionally, qRT-PCR analysis showed more up-regulation in the expression of glutaredoxins (GRXs), peroxiredoxins (PRXs), thioredoxins (TRXs), and glutathione S-transferases (GSTUs) genes in 3MB. Taking the impacts of pentanol isomers together, the present study suggests that 3MB exhibits more cytotoxic than 2MB, as such has critical effects on germination and the early seedling stage of rice. Our results provide molecular insights into how isomeric indoor microbial volatile pollutants affect plant growth through airborne signals.

As coastal waters face constraints such as the deterioration of the aquaculture environment and limitations on the scale of operation, aquaculture will move towards the deep and distant sea. Large-scale aquaculture vessels are a new method of deep-sea aquaculture, and improving the utilisation efficiency of aquaculture tanks to ensure the best growth conditions for fish inside while ensuring the efficient discharge of particulate matter in these tanks will affect the productivity of aquaculture and the profitability of aquaculture vessels. This study investigated the effects of the tank structure ratio on the flow field characteristics and particulate removal efficiency in the aquaculture tanks of an aquaculture vessel. Numerical simulations of the flow field characteristics in the aquaculture tanks of an 8000 t-class aquaculture vessel at anchor were conducted using the FLOW-3D software to quantitatively evaluate the effects of the corner ratio on the fishability of aquaculture tanks and the efficiency of particulate emission using the parameters related to flow velocity, turbulence intensity, capacity utilisation rate, and particulate removal efficiency. The simulation results show that the tanks with corner structures have better flow field characteristics, which include a higher flow velocity, turbulence intensity, and discharge effect. When the corner length is more than 1/3 of the tank length, increasing the corner distance does not significantly enhance the optimisation of the flow field characteristics in the tank. Overall, this study’s results provide a reference basis for the structural design and optimisation of aquaculture tanks in aquaculture vessels.

Students' attitudes towards science (SAS) is a prominent research area as evident in the science education literature. Many SAS studies incorporated science confidence (SC), science enjoyment (SE) and importance of science (IS) into the study of SAS. However, the incorporation of these constructs often depends on the subjective judgment of the researchers. This study examines the incorporation of the three constructs in the measure of SAS based on the Asian Student Attitudes Towards Science Class (ASATSC) instrument. A total of 1,133 7th to 11th graders from China completed a survey of the three constructs. Data was collectively assessed in terms of fit to the Rasch model that requires invariant and consistent response category functioning. Results indicated that SC was not correlated well with IS whilst SC and SE were consistent with each other in the measure of SAS. Recommendations were provided on how constructs on the measurement of SAS can be better designed.

Abstract Background Morphological and functional alterations in aging reproductive organs result in decreased male fertility. The epididymis functions as the transition region for post-testicular sperm maturation. And we have previously demonstrated that the epididymal initial segment (IS), a region of the reproductive tract essential for sperm maturation and capacitation, undergoes considerable histological changes and chronic immune activation in mice during aging. However, the local aging-associated cellular and molecular changes in the aged epididymal IS are poorly understood. Results We conducted single-cell RNA sequencing analysis on the epididymal IS of young (3-month-old) and old (21-month-old) mice. In total, 10,027 cells from the epididymal IS tissues of young and old mice were obtained and annotated. The cell composition, including the expansion of a principal cell subtype and Ms4a4b Hi Ms4a6b Hi T cells, changed with age. Aged principal cells displayed multiple functional gene expression changes associated with acrosome reaction and sperm maturation, suggesting an asynchronous process of sperm activation and maturation during epididymal transit. Meanwhile, aging-related altered pathways in immune cells, especially the “cell chemotaxis” in Cx3cr1 Hi epididymal dendritic cells (eDCs), were identified. The monocyte-specific expression of chemokine Ccl8 increased with age in eDCs. And the aged epididymal IS showed increased inflammatory cell infiltration and cytokine secretion. Furthermore, cell–cell communication analysis indicated that age increased inflammatory signaling in the epididymal IS. Conclusion Contrary to the general pattern of lower immune responses in the male proximal genital tract, we revealed an inflammaging status in mouse epididymal initial segment. These findings will allow future studies to enable the delay of male reproductive aging via immune regulation.

BackgroundKlinefelter’s syndrome (KS) was once considered infertile due to congenital chromosomal abnormalities, but the presence of focal spermatozoa changed this. The key to predict and promote spermatogenesis is to find targets that regulate focal spermatogenesis.ObjectiveTo explore the trend of fertility changes in KS patients at different ages and identify potential therapeutic targets.MethodsBibliometric analysis was used to collect clinical research data on KS from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) from 1992 to 2022. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 75 KS patients who underwent microscopic testicular sperm extraction (mTESE) from 2017 to 2022 in the real world. The reproductive hormones, testicular histopathology, androgen receptors, insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3) receptors and sperm recovery rate (SRR) were analyzed.ResultsMale infertility, dysplasia, Sertoli cells, Leydig cells, testosterone and spermatogenesis were the research focuses related to KS. Luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, and INSL3 were evaluation indicators of Leydig cell function that fluctuate with age. Testosterone and LH peaked at ages 13-19 and 30-45, while INSL3 only peaked at ages 13-19. 27 patients (27/75) recovered sperm through mTESE and experienced SRR peaks at the ages of 20, 28, 34, and 37. The SRR of fibrosis patients was 46.15%, fatty degeneration was 7.14%, and melanosis was 40.00%. The INSL3 and androgen receptors were highly expressed and roughly balanced in focal spermatogenesis.ConclusionAbnormal metabolism of Leydig cells led to imbalanced expression of INSL3 and androgen receptors, which might be a potential target for spermatogenesis in KS.

The present study conducted a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate the carbon emissions associated with large yellow croaker farming on Aquaculture Vessel “Conson No. 1”. The functional unit considered was 1 kg of fresh large yellow croakers delivered to a wholesaler. The life cycle of large yellow croaker farming on the aquaculture vessel was divided into five processes: feed production (FP), ship construction (SC), fingerling breeding (FB), adult fish farming (AF), and fish distribution (FD). Results showed that the carbon footprint (CF, kgCO2e/kg LW) for the complete life cycle amounted to 6.2170 kgCO2e/kg LW, while the CF per unit economic value of “Conson No. 1” large yellow croaker was estimated at 31 gCO2e/CNY. Among all processes, AF and FP had the highest CF contribution rates at 69.30% and 24.86%, respectively. Notably, energy consumption by aquaculture equipment on board emerged as the primary contributor across all sources of CF comparative analysis demonstrated that the CF of marine fish farming on the aquaculture vessel was lower than that of closed aquaculture systems’ average level and it was a viable option for implementing low-carbon aquaculture in the deep sea. In order to reduce energy consumption and promote a low-carbon economy in aquaculture vessels, several suggestions were proposed, including adjusting energy structure, enhancing energy efficiency, improving feed ratio, and optimizing feeding methods.