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Jia Jie Lu, Munila Maimaiti, Huan Liu, Wei Dong Liu, Wen Jia Hui, Xiao Ling Huang, Feng Gao Department of Gastroenterology, People’s Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Feng GaoDepartment of Gastroenterology, People’s Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, No. 91 Tianchi Road, Urumqi, 830001, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail xjgf0991@163.comBackground: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is one of the main subtypes of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The incidence of UC in the Xinjiang region is relatively high in China and the manifestations of UC in Uyghur and Han patients are usually differential. This study aimed to identify potential biomarkers of UC.Methods: All miRNA and mRNA were extracted from the tissue samples obtained from participants in Xinjiang. Differential expression analysis was performed on all mRNAs and miRNAs. The target genes of miRNAs were predicted via three databases. The clusterProfiler package was used for GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis.Results: Preliminarily, four miRNAs and 15 genes were associated with the differential manifestations of UC in Uyghur and Han patients. Through the co-expression network construction and further screening in more samples, two miRNAs (hsa-miR-141-5p and hsa-miR-378a-5p) and three genes (ARNTL2, CLDN1 and SLC6A14) were found to be more crucial. These 15 genes were enriched in tight junction, NF-κB, and several other pathways.Conclusion: Two miRNAs (hsa-miR-141-5p and hsa-miR-378a-5p) and three genes (ARNTL2, CLDN1, and SLC6A14) associated with the differential manifestations of UC in Uyghur and Han population were identified, which were potential biomarkers.Keywords: ulcerative colitis, miRNA, biomarkers, Uyghur, Han

We report recent experimental results from HL-2A and KSTAR on ELM mitigation by supersonic molecular beam injection (SMBI). Cold particle deposition within the pedestal by SMBI is verified in both machines. The signatures of ELM mitigation by SMBI are an ELM frequency increase and ELM amplitude decrease. These persist for an SMBI influence time τI. Here, τI is the time for the SMBI influenced pedestal profile to refill. An increase in fELMSMBI/fELM0 and a decrease in the energy loss per ELM ΔWELM were achieved in both machines. Physical insight was gleaned from studies of density and vΦ (toroidal rotation velocity) evolution, particle flux and turbulence spectra, divertor heat load. The characteristic gradients of the pedestal density soften and a change in vΦ was observed during a τI time. The spectra of the edge particle flux Γ ∼ 〈ṽrñe〉 and density fluctuation with and without SMBI were measured in HL-2A and in KSTAR, respectively. A clear phenomenon observed is the decrease in divertor heat load during the τI time in HL-2A. Similar results are the profiles of saturation current density Jsat with and without SMBI in KSTAR. We note that τI/τp (particle confinement time) is close to ∼1, although there is a large difference in individual τI between the two machines. This suggests that τI is strongly related to particle-transport events. Experiments and analysis of a simple phenomenological model support the important conclusion that ELM mitigation by SMBI results from an increase in higher frequency fluctuations and transport events in the pedestal. © 2014 IAEA, Vienna.

Qualitatively novel results on non-locality phenomena in perturbative transport experiments are reported. Here, non-locality means a rapid response in the core follows an edge perturbation on a time scale far shorter than any standard approximation to the global, diffusive model confinement time. Sequential firing of supersonic molecular beam injection on the HL-2A tokamak sustained the increase in the core temperature in response to the edge perturbation. O-mode reflectometers are introduced to measure density fluctuations and show that the central turbulence is suppressed during nonlocallity, suggesting that the interpretation of the phenomenon due to the formation of an 'ITB-like' structure is plausible. ECH switch-off experiments on the HL-2A tokamak demonstrated that the non-local response is sensitive to the deposition location. Taken together, these results suggest that non-locality phenomena have several aspects in common which can be linked to certain simple, generic elements of tokamak turbulence physics. © 2011 IAEA, Vienna.

Objective: To observe the role and mechanism of CO-releasing molecule (CORM)-2 in lung injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion (IR) of hind limbs in rats.Methods: A rat model of lung injury induced by IR of hind limbs was established. A total of 40 Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (n equal to 8): sham, sham + CORM-2, IR, IR + CORM-2 and IR + dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Rats in the IR group received hind limb ischemia for 2 hours and reperfusion for 2 hours, rats in the sham group underwent sham surgery without infrarenal aorta occlusion, rats in the IR+CORM-2 group and in the sham + CORM-2 group were given CORM-2 (10 micromol/kg intravenous bolus) 5 minutes before reperfusion or at the corresponding time points, while rats in the IR + DMSO group was treated with the same dose of vehicle (DMSO) at the same time. The lung tissue structure, polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) count, wet-to-dry weight ratio (W/D), malondialdehyde (MDA) content, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression,IkBa degradation and nuclear factor (NF)-kB activity in the lungs were assessed.Results: As compared with the sham group, lung PMNs number, W/D, MDA content, MPO activity, ICAM-1 expression and NF-kB activity significantly increased in the IR group, but the level of IkBa decresed (P less than 0.01). Compared with the IR group, lung PMNs number, W/D, MDA content, MPO activity and ICAM-1 expression significantly decreased in the IR+COMR-2 group (P less than 0.01), while the level of IkBa increased.Conclusions: These data demonstrate that CORM-2 attenuates limb IR-induced lung injury through inhibiting ICAM-1 protein expression, NF-kB pathway and the leukocytes sequestration in the lungs following limb IR in rats, suggesting that CORM-2 may be used as a therapeutic agent against lung injury induced by limb IR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Newborn screening (NBS) for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA), and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) enables early diagnosis and intervention, significantly improving patient outcomes. Advances in real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology have been instrumental in facilitating their inclusion in NBS programs., Methods: We employed multiplex real-time PCR to simultaneously detect T-cell receptor excision circles (TRECs), kappa-deleting recombination excision circles (KRECs), and the absence of the survival motor neuron (SMN) 1 gene in dried blood spots from 103,240 newborns in Zhejiang Province, China, between July 2021 and December 2022., Results: Of all the samples, 122 were requested further evaluation. After flow cytometry evaluation and/or genetic diagnostics, we identified one patient with SCID, two patients with XLA, nine patients with SMA [one of whom also had Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome (WAS)], and eight patients with other medical conditions. The positive predictive values (PPVs) of NBS for SCID, XLA, and SMA were 2.44%, 2.78%, and 100%, respectively. The estimated prevalence rates in the Chinese population were 1 in 103,240 for SCID, 1 in 51,620 for XLA, and 1 in 11,471 for SMA., Conclusion: This study represents the first large-scale screening in mainland China using a TREC/KREC/SMN1 multiplex assay, providing valuable epidemiological data. Our findings suggest that this multiplex assay is an effective screening method for SCID, XLA, and SMA, potentially supporting the universal implementation of NBS programs across China., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

APETALA2/ethylene-responsive (AP2/ERF) plays crucial roles in resisting diverse stresses and in regulating plant growth and development. However, little is known regarding the structure and function of the AP2/ERF genes in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum). The AP2/ERF gene family may be involved in the development and maintenance of P. glaucum resilience to abiotic stresses, central to its role as a vital forage and cereal crop. In this study, PgAP2/ERF family members were identified and comprehensive bioinformatics analyses were performed, including determination of phylogenetic relationships, gene structures, conserved motifs, chromosomal localization, gene duplication, expression pattern, protein interaction network, and functional characterization of PgRAV_01 (Related to ABI3/VP1). In total, 78 PgAP2/ERF members were identified in the P. glaucum genome and classified into five subfamilies: AP2, ERF, DREB, RAV, and soloist. Members within the same clade of the PgAP2/ERF family showed similar gene structures and motif compositions. Six duplication events were identified in the PgAP2/ERF family; calculation of Ka/Ks values showed that purification selection dominated the evolution of PgAP2/ERFs. Subsequently, a potential interaction network of PgAP2/ERFs was generated to predict the interaction relationships. Additionally, abiotic stress expression analysis showed that most PgAP2/ERFs were induced in response to drought and heat stresses. Furthermore, overexpression of PgRAV_01 negatively regulated drought tolerance in Nicotiana benthamiana by reducing its antioxidant capacity and osmotic adjustment. Taken together, these results provide valuable insights into the characteristics and functions of PgAP2/ERF genes, with implications for abiotic stress tolerance, and will ultimately contribute to the genetic improvement of cereal crop breeding., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Abstract: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) shows promise as a regenerative modality for mild-to-moderate erectile dysfunction (ED). However, its efficacy in treating severe ED remains unknown. Blood samples from 8-week-old male rats were used to prepare PRP through a two-step centrifugation procedure, followed by chitosan activation and freeze thaw cycle. A hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy)-related ED model was established using a methionine-enriched diet, and an apomorphine (APO) test was conducted during the 4 th week. APO-negative rats were divided into two groups and were injected with PRP or saline every 2 weeks. Erectile function and histological analyses of the corpus cavernosum were performed during the 16 th week. The results revealed that erectile function was significantly impaired in rats with HHcy-related ED compared to that in age-matched rats but was improved by repeated PRP injections. Immunofluorescence staining revealed a reduction in reactive oxygen species and additional benefits on the recovery of structures within the corpus cavernosum in rats that received PRP treatment compared to those in the saline-injected control group. Therefore, PRP could enhance functional and structural recovery in a severe HHcy-related ED model. A notable strength of the present study lies in the use of a repeated intracavernous injection method, mirroring protocols used in human studies, which offers more reliable results for translating the findings to humans., (Copyright © 2024 Copyright: ©The Author(s)(2024).)

A new coumarin ( 1 ) and a new flavonoid ( 2 ) were isolated from the air-dried flower buds of Ochrocarpus longifolius , together with ten known compounds ( 3 - 12 ). The structures of two new compounds were established by 1D and 2D NMR and MS data. In addition, the new compound 2 showed significant proliferation inhibitory activity on Eca-109 and MGC-803 cells. The results of this study may enrich the diversity of compounds from O. longifolius and provide a basis for further research on its natural products and pharmacological activities.

Seven unreported compounds were isolated from dried flower buds of Ochrocarpus longifolius in this study, including an alkaloid ochrocaracid A (1), five coumarins ochrocarpins I (2), J (3), K (4), L (5), and M (6), and one styryl-2-pyranone compound iresinoacid (7) and nine known compounds (8-16). All these compounds were found in O. longifolius for the first time. Their structural elucidation was achieved through NMR, HR-ESI-MS, and ECD data. Additionally, a glucose uptake-promoting activity assay revealed that compounds 10 (128.21 μM) and 16 (123.15 μM) increased the glucose uptake capacity of L6 cells by 1.49-fold and 1.48-fold, respectively. These bioactive compounds could be potential candidates for further pharmaceutical applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Malnutrition can lead to an increased risk of blood transfusion in elderly patients. The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) is a tool used to assess nutritional status, but its predictive value for blood transfusion in elderly patients undergoing posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) is not well established. This study aimed to investigate the association between GNRI and the risk of perioperative blood transfusion in this population., Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on elderly patients aged 60 and above who underwent PLIF at Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital. Preoperative GNRI was calculated using height, weight, and serum albumin levels. The primary outcome was perioperative blood transfusion. Logistic regression analysis was performed, adjusting for potential confounders such as demographic characteristics, comorbidities, surgical factors, and laboratory tests., Results: A total of 1,246 elderly patients were included, with 144 (11.6%) requiring blood transfusion. After adjusting for all confounders, a lower GNRI was associated with a significantly higher risk of blood transfusion (OR = 2.4, 95% CI: 1.9-3.1, p < 0.001). Patients with a GNRI score below 92 had a significantly increased transfusion risk compared to those with normal GNRI scores (OR = 5.8, 95% CI: 3.7-9.1, p < 0.05). RCS analysis revealed a linear negative relationship between GNRI and transfusion risk., Conclusion: The GNRI is a strong predictor of perioperative blood transfusion risk in elderly patients undergoing PLIF. Preoperative nutritional assessment using GNRI may help identify high-risk patients, enabling tailored interventions to optimize outcomes., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

With the continuous improvement of people's understanding of healthy aging, how to age decently and healthily has become a new topic of human exploration. Various factors make sarcopenia and dysphagia very common in the elderly, and the concept of "sarcopenic dysphagia" was born. This review synthesizes and extends the current understanding of sarcopenic dysphagia, emphasizing novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, particularly emerging technologies and multidisciplinary approaches. We begin by discussing pathophysiology and overlap with malnutrition and oral frailty. Next, we explore cutting-edge diagnostic tools and treatment modalities, focusing on how recent technological advancements have reshaped clinical practices. This review highlights the significance of integrating care across specialties, including nutrition, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology, to offer holistic care. It is hoped that our review will contribute to further understanding of sarcopenic dysphagia and thus provide new insights into promoting healthy aging in the elderly.

Water is essential to the formation of intracontinental granites, but its origin remains elusive. Here we address this scientific problem by analyzing D/H isotopes of apatites, hydrous minerals in Jurassic and Early Cretaceous granites and basalts from eastern North China Craton, where water was previously interpreted as derived from subducting slab. Results reveal extremely low δD values in pristine Early Cretaceous granitic (-203‰ to -127‰) and basaltic (-197‰ to -107‰) apatites, contrasting with relatively high δD values (-137‰ to -47‰) in Jurassic granites. Given the depth-dependent D/H isotopic fractionation during slab dehydration and high-water contents in coeval primitive mafic magmas, the Early Cretaceous magma water is attributed to the stagnant slab within the mantle transition zone. Secular change in the depth of water aligns with steepening of subducting Paleo-Pacific plate from Jurassic to Early Cretaceous, demonstrating the potential of apatite H isotopes in tracing water origin in granites and basalts., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Gram-negative micro-flora dysbiosis occurs in multiple digestive tumors and is found to be the dominant micro-flora in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) micro-environment. The continuous stimulation of G- bacterium metabolites may cause tumorigenesis and reshape the micro-immune environment in ESCC. However, the mechanism of G- bacilli causing immune evasion in ESCC remains underexplored. We identified CC Chemokine receptor 1 (CCR1) as a tumor-indicating gene in ESCC. Interestingly, expression levels of CCR1 and PD-L1 were mutually up regulated after G- bacilli metabolites lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Firstly, we found CCR1 high expression level to be associated with poor overall survival in ESCC. Importantly, we found that high level expression of CCR1 up-regulated PD-L1 expression by activating MAPK phosphorylation in ESCC and induced tumor malignant behavior. Finally, we found that T cells exhaustion and cytotoxicity suppression were associated with CCR1 expression in ESCC, which were decreased after CCR1 inhibiting. Our work identifies CCR1 as a potential immune check point regulator of PD-L1 and may cause T cell exhaustion and cytotoxicity suppression in ESCC micro-environment and highlights the potential value of CCR1 as therapeutic target of immunotherapy. Implications: The esophageal microbial environment and its metabolites significantly affect the outcome of immunotherapy for ESCC.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a neurological disorder characterized by elevated intracranial pressure, affecting predominantly obese women of childbearing age. Early recognition and comprehensive management are vital for preventing severe complications, particularly vision loss. METHODS: This study reports a case of a 27-year-old woman who presented with chronic headaches and blurred vision. Notable findings included headaches that were intensified upon waking and exacerbated by activities that elevated intracranial pressure. The patient also reported nausea, vomiting, transient visual obscurations, and pulsatile tinnitus. After a clinical examination, she was given a diagnosis of IIH. RESULTS: The patient underwent a lumbar-peritoneal shunt procedure to alleviate her symptoms in conjunction with medication treatment. This case study highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in diagnosing and treating IIH. In particular, weight management emerged as a crucial preventive measure against IIH recurrence. CONCLUSION: A multidisciplinary team strategy can enhance outcomes and quality of life, accentuating the need for continued research into IIH recurrence, treatments, and wider implications., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 American Association of Neuroscience Nurses.)

Background: The relationship between quality of life and survival outcomes in esophageal cancer patients following curative resection is not well established. This study aimed to longitudinally assess quality of life indicators and their association with overall survival (OS) in these patients., Methods: A total of 232 patients were included in the study, and their quality of life was prospectively assessed at different time points using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) 30-item core quality of life questionnaire (QLQ-C30) and the disease-specific esophageal module (QLQ-OES18). The scores of QLQ indicators at each time point were summarized, and changes in postoperative assessment were compared with preoperative assessments. The association of deterioration in certain indicators with OS was evaluated at each time point using Cox univariable analysis. Further confirmation of independent variables was carried out using Cox multivariable analysis., Results: The study cohort comprised 62 females (26.7%), and 113 patients (48.7%) aged over 60 years. The median follow-up time was 80 months (range, 8-118 months). At 24 months after discharge, patients reported improvements in role function, fatigue, cognition function, emotional function, social function, insomnia, appetite loss, nausea and vomiting, constipation, financial status, trouble swallowing saliva, and pain related to esophageal cancer. However, physical function, dyspnea, diarrhea, global health status, choking when swallowing, trouble talking, and reflux remained compromised. Multivariable regression analysis revealed deterioration in role function, emotional function, and coughing difficulty at 6 months, and dyspnea, pain, and cognitive function at 24 months post-discharge were identified as independent prognostic factors for OS., Conclusions: Our findings underscore the importance of monitoring quality of life indicators in esophageal cancer patients as they may significantly influence survival outcomes. The identification of specific quality of life indicators as prognostic factors highlights the need for a patient-centered approach in clinical practice to enhance care and potentially improve survival., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://jtd.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/jtd-24-311/coif). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2024 AME Publishing Company. All rights reserved.)

Background: Blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown is associated with neurodegeneration and cognitive impairment. Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is also common in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH). Biomarkers in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may reflect the severity of neuropathological damage and indicate a relationship between BBB integrity and iNPH and its surgical outcome. We investigated the association of CSVD and comorbidity-related CSF biomarkers with shunt outcomes in iNPH., Materials and Methods: This prospective cohort study recruited 53 patients with iNPH, who were subgrouped by CSVD severity. CSF proteins were analyzed, including soluble platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β (sPDGFR-β), Alzheimer's disease biomarkers, neurofilament light chain (NfL), and triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (Trem2). We assessed symptom improvement, investigated its association with biomarkes levels, calculated protein cutoffs for surgical outcomes using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and compared model predictions using different proteins using hierarchical regression analysis., Results: Among patients with iNPH, 74% had comorbid CSVD. Patients with severe CSVD exhibited significantly higher sPDGFR-β levels (P=0.019) and better postoperative performance (β=0.332, t=2.174, P=0.039; r=0.573, P=0.001). Analysis of the predictive potential of the biomarkers showed that sPDGFR-β was predictive of surgical outcomes (area under curve=0.82, sensitivity=66.8%, specificity=94.7%). A Comparison of the models revealed a greater effect of sPDGFR-β (Adjusted R2=0.247, ∆R2=0.160, ∆F(1, 37)=8.238, P=0.007) on cognitive improvement., Conclusion: This study highlighted the relevance of CSF biomarkers in assessing CSVD severity and predicting iNPH surgical outcome. CSF shunt surgery may provide an alternative treatment for neurodegenerative diseases with BBB breakdown and dysfunctional CSF clearance., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

The peel of Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim, is considered one of the primary sources for Trichosanthis pericarpium in traditional Chinese medicine, exhibiting lipid-lowering properties. The impact on hyperlipidemia mice of the crude polysaccharide from the peel of T. Kirilowii (TRP) was investigated in this study. The findings revealed that TRP exhibited a significant improvement in hepatic lipid deposition. Moreover, it significantly decreased serum levels of TC, TG, and LDL-C, while concurrently increasing HDL-C. 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing technique revealed that TRP group exhibited an increased relative abundance of Actinobacteria, a down-regulated relative abundance of Ruminiclostridium, and an up-regulated relative abundance of Ileibacterium. Therefore, TRP might play a role in anti-hyperlipidemia through regulation of the intestinal milieu and enhancement of microbial equilibrium. Consequently, targeted fractionation of TRP resulted in the isolation of a homogeneous acidic polysaccharide termed TRP-1. The TRP-1 polysaccharide, with an average molecular weight of 1.00 × 10 4  Da, and was primarily composed of Rha, GlcA, GalA, Glc, Gal and Ara. TRP-1 possessed a backbone consisting of alternating connections between → 6)-α-Galp-(1 → 4)-α-Rhap-(1 → 6)-α-Galp-(2 → 6)-β-Galp-(1 → 6)-α-Galp-(2 → 6)-β-Galp-(1 → units and branched chain containing → 6)-α-Glcp-(1→, 2,4)-β-Glcp-(1, and → 4)-α-GlapA-(1→. Both TRP and TRP-1 exhibited significant disruption of cholesterol micelles, highlighting their potential as lipid-lowering agents that effectively inhibit cholesterol absorption pathways., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Members of the plant-specific B3 transcription factor superfamily play crucial roles in various plant growth and developmental processes. Despite numerous valuable studies on B3 genes in other species, little is known about the B3 superfamily in pearl millet., Methods and Results: Here, through comparative genomic analysis, we identified 70 B3 proteins in pearl millet and categorized them into four subfamilies based on phylogenetic affiliations: ARF, RAV, LAV, and REM. We also mapped the chromosomal locations of these proteins and analyzed their gene structures, conserved motifs, and gene duplication events, providing new insights into their potential functional interactions. Using transcriptomic sequencing and real-time quantitative PCR, we determined that most PgB3 genes exhibit upregulated expression under drought and high-temperature stresses, indicating their involvement in stress response regulation. To delve deeper into the abiotic stress roles of the B3 family, we focused on a specific gene within the RAV subfamily, PgRAV-04 , cloning it and overexpressing it in tobacco. PgRAV-04 overexpression led to increased drought sensitivity in the transgenic plants due to decreased proline levels and peroxidase activity., Discussion: This study not only adds to the existing body of knowledge on the B3 family's characteristics but also advances our functional understanding of the PgB3 genes in pearl millet, reinforcing the significance of these factors in stress adaptation mechanisms., Competing Interests: The reviewer KS declared a shared affiliation with the authors Y-HW, XY, B-YZ, W-JW, Z-FZ, X-LH, K-XO, T-XZ and F-XL to the handling editor at the time of review. The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wang, Ye, Zhao, Wang, Zhou, Zhang, Du, Song, Huang, Ouyang, Zhong and Liao.)

Catalytic asymmetric dearomatization (CADA) reactions have evolved into an efficient strategy for accessing chiral polycyclic and spirocyclic scaffolds from readily available planar aromatics. Despite the significant developments, the CADA reaction of naphthalenes remains underdeveloped. Herein, we report a Gd(III)-catalyzed asymmetric dearomatization reaction of naphthalene with a chiral PyBox ligand via visible-light-enabled [4 + 2] cycloaddition. This reaction features application of a chiral Gd/PyBox complex, which regulates the reactivity and selectivity simultaneously, in excited-state catalysis. A wide range of functional groups is compatible with this protocol, giving the highly enantioenriched bridged polycycles in excellent yields (up to 96%) and selectivity (up to >20:1 chemoselectivity, >20:1 dr, >99% ee). The synthetic utility is demonstrated by a 2 mmol scale reaction, removal of directing group, and diversifications of products. Preliminary mechanistic experiments are performed to elucidate the reaction mechanism.

Background: The midpoint transverse process to pleura (MTP) block, a novel technique for thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB), was first employed in laparoscopic renal cyst decortication., Case Summary: Thoracic paravertebral nerve block is frequently employed for perioperative analgesia during laparoscopic cyst decortication. To address safety concerns associated with TPVBs, we administered MTP blocks in two patients prior to administering general anesthesia for laparoscopic cyst decortication. The MTP block was performed at the T9 level under ultrasound guidance, with 20 mL of 0.5% ropivacaine injected. Reduced sensation to cold and pinprick was observed from the T8 to T11 dermatome levels. Immediately postoperative Numeric Pain Rating Scale scores were 0/10 at rest and on movement, with none exceeding a mean 24 h numeric rating scale > 3., Conclusion: MTP block was effective technique for providing postoperative analgesia for patients undergoing laparoscopic renal cyst decortication., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

With the rapid development of fully automatic operation (FAO) and location-based services, the evaluation criteria of average localization accuracy can no longer meet our demands, in favor of deterministic localization. However, most localization researches modeled localization performance function and enhanced it by minimizing average localization root mean square error (RMSE). The performance degradation in a small region was not considered. In this paper, we present a survey of deterministic localization and analyze the relationship between accuracy and certainty. In this paper, two common solutions of localization enhancement are presented and their localization certainties are discussed. Furthermore, we carry out related localization enhancement experiments in rail transit line and analyze their improvement on deterministic localization. The experimental results show that the overall localization performance is improved, while the deterministic localization requires the stricter solution to promote.

Background: Malancao (MLC) is a traditional Chinese medicine with a long history of utilization in treating ulcerative colitis (UC). Nevertheless, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying its efficacy remain elusive. This study leveraged ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with exactive mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QE-MS), network pharmacology, molecular docking (MD), and gene microarray analysis to discern the bioactive constituents and the potential mechanism of action of MLC in UC management., Aim: To determine the ingredients related to MLC for treatment of UC using multiple databases to obtain potential targets for fishing., Methods: This research employs UHPLC-QE-MS for the identification of bioactive compounds present in MLC plant samples. Furthermore, the study integrates the identified MLC compound-related targets with publicly available databases to elucidate common drug disease targets. Additionally, the R programming language is utilized to predict the central targets and molecular pathways that MLC may impact in the treatment of UC. Finally, MD are conducted using AutoDock Vina software to assess the affinity of bioactive components to the main targets and confirm their therapeutic potential., Results: Firstly, through a comprehensive analysis of UHPLC-QE-MS data and public database resources, we identified 146 drug-disease cross targets related to 11 bioactive components. The Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis highlighted that common disease drug targets are primarily involved in oxidative stress management, lipid metabolism, atherosclerosis, and other processes. They also affect AGE-RAGE and apoptosis signaling pathways. Secondly, by analyzing the differences in diseases, we identified key research targets. These core targets are related to 11 active substances, including active ingredients such as quercetin and luteolin. Finally, MD analysis revealed the stability of compound-protein binding, particularly between JUN-Luteolin, JUN-Quercetin, HSP90AA1-Wogonin, and HSP90AA1-Rhein. Therefore, this suggests that MLC may help alleviate intestinal inflammation in UC, restore abnormal lipid accumulation, and regulate the expression levels of core proteins in the intestine., Conclusion: The utilization of MLC has demonstrated notable therapeutic efficacy in the management of UC by means of the compound target interaction pathway. The amalgamation of botanical resources, metabolomics, natural products, MD, and gene chip technology presents a propitious methodology for investigating therapeutic targets of herbal medicines and discerning novel bioactive constituents., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Exploring keystone taxa affecting microbial community stability and host function is crucial for understanding ecosystem functions. However, identifying keystone taxa from humongous microbial communities remains challenging. We collected 344 rhizosphere and bulk soil samples from the endangered plant C. migao for 2 years consecutively. Used high-throughput sequencing 16S rDNA and ITS to obtain the composition of bacterial and fungal communities. We explored keystone taxa and the applicability and limitations of five methods (SPEC-OCCU, Zi-Pi, Subnetwork, Betweenness, and Module), as well as the impact of microbial community domain, time series, and rhizosphere boundary on the identification of keystone taxa in the communities. Our results showed that the five methods, identified abundant keystone taxa in rhizosphere and bulk soil microbial communities. However, the keystone taxa shared by the rhizosphere and bulk soil microbial communities over time decreased rapidly decrease in the five methods. Among five methods on the identification of keystone taxa in the rhizosphere community, Module identified 113 taxa, SPEC-OCCU identified 17 taxa, Betweenness identified 3 taxa, Subnetwork identified 3 taxa, and Zi-Pi identified 4 taxa. The keystone taxa are mainly conditionally rare taxa, and their ecological functions include chemoheterotrophy, aerobic chemoheterotrophy, nitrate reduction, and anaerobic photoautotrophy. The results of the random forest model and structural equation model predict that keystone taxa Mortierella and Ellin6513 may have an effects on the accumulation of 1, 4, 7, - Cycloundecatriene, 1, 5, 9, 9-tetramethyl-, Z, Z, Z-, beta-copaene, bicyclogermacrene, 1,8-Cineole in C. migao fruits, but their effects still need further evidence. Our study evidence an unstable microbial community in the bulk soil, and the definition of microbial boundary and ecologically functional affected the identification of keystone taxa in the community. Subnetwork and Module are more in line with the definition of keystone taxa in microbial ecosystems in terms of maintaining community stability and hosting function., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Photoexcitation electron donor-acceptor (EDA) complexes provide an effective approach to produce radicals under mild conditions, while the catalytic version of EDA complex photoactivation remains scarce. Herein, we report a visible-light-induced organophotocatalytic pathway for the cyanoalkylation of azauracils using inexpensive and readily available 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) as a catalytic electron donor. This synthetic method exhibits exceptional compatibility with various functional groups and presents 34 examples in high yields. The efficient cyanoalkylation offers an environmentally friendly and sustainable route toward enhancing the structural and functional diversity of azauracils.

Objective: To evaluate the virulence levels of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii ST191, ST195, and ST208, and to analyze the differences in virulence factors among these epidemic clones. Methods: The study involved the genomic sequencing of 233 Acinetobacter baumannii strains that were isolated from the Fifth Medical Center of the Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital (North Hospital) between 2011 and 2019. The genomic data was cross-referenced with the Virulence Factor Database (VFDB) to examine the presence of virulence genes in the strains. Furthermore, a Galleria mellonella infection survival model was used to evaluate the virulence levels of the strains, and the association between virulence levels and virulence genes was analyzed. Results: The study included 38 strains of the ST191 clone, 104 strains of the ST195 clone, and 91 strains of the ST208 clone. In the Galleria mellonella infection survival experiment, the average mortality rate for ST191 was 23.0%, with 3 (7.9%) highly virulent strains. For ST195, the average mortality rate was 53.0%, with 34 (32.7%) highly virulent strains. For ST208, the average mortality rate was 47.0%, with 20 (21.9%) highly virulent strains. There was a significant statistical difference in mortality rates between ST191 and ST195 ( χ 2 =13.9, P <0.001) as well as between ST191 and ST208 ( χ 2 =15.2, P <0.001). A comparison of the strains with the VFDB revealed significant differences in the virulence genes carried by the clones. Specifically, the type Ⅵ secretion system-related genes ( clpV/tssH, hcp/tssD, tagX, tssA, tssB, tssC, tssE, tssF, tssG, tssK, ssL, tssM ) and the sugar transferase gene ACICU&#95;RS00475 were found to be universally absent in ST191 strains (0%) while being prevalent in ST195 (100.0%) and ST208 (>82.0%) strains. Statistical analysis revealed an association between the mortality rate of the clones and the presence of virulence genes( clpV/tssH P <0.001, hcp/tssD P =0.001, tagX P <0.001, tssA P <0.001, tssB P =0.001, tssC P =0.001, tssE P= 0.001, tssF P =0.001, tssG P <0.001, tssK P <0.001, tssL P <0.001, tssM P =0.001, ACICU&#95;RS00475 P =0.001). Conclusion: Among the carbapenem-resistant epidemic clones of Acinetobacter baumannii , the ST191 clone shows lower mortality rates in Galleria mellonella , possibly because of the lack of type Ⅵ secretion system and sugar transferase genes.

The high theoretical energy density (1274 Wh kg -1 ) and high safety enable the all-solid-state Na-S batteries with great promise for stationary energy storage system. However, the uncontrollable solid-liquid-solid multiphase conversion and its associated sluggish polysulfides redox kinetics pose a great challenge in tunning the sulfur speciation pathway for practical Na-S electrochemistry. Herein, we propose a new design methodology for matrix featuring separated bi-catalytic sites that control the multi-step polysulfide transformation in tandem and direct quasi-solid reversible sulfur conversion during battery cycling. It is revealed that the N, P heteroatom hotspots are more favorable for catalyzing the long-chain polysulfides reduction, while PtNi nanocrystals manipulate the direct and full Na 2 S 4 to Na 2 S low-kinetic conversion during discharging. The electrodeposited Na 2 S on strongly coupled PtNi and N, P-codoped carbon host is extremely electroreactive and can be readily recovered back to S 8 without passivation of active species during battery recharging, which delivers a true tandem electrocatalytic quasi-solid sulfur conversion mechanism. Accordingly, stable cycling of the all-solid-state soft-package Na-S pouch cells with an attractive specific capacity of 876 mAh g S -1 and a high energy of 608 Wh kg cathode -1 (172 Wh kg -1 , based on the total mass of cathode and anode) at 60 °C are demonstrated., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Telomere shortening is an important sign and driving factor of aging, but its association mechanisms and causal effects with other aging-related biochemical hallmarks are largely unknown. This study first performed comprehensive genetic analyses (eg, shared genetic analysis, pleiotropic analysis, and gene enrichment analysis) to detect the underlying molecular mechanisms for the associations between telomere length (TL) and aging-related biochemical hallmarks. Then, further bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses investigated the causal effects between TL and other biochemical hallmarks. The genetic correlations were negative between TL and growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF15) (p = .024), C-reactive protein (p = .007), hemoglobin A1c (p = .007), and red blood cell (RBC) (p = .022), but positive between TL and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) (p = .002) and white blood cell counts (p = .007). The increased TL has causal effects on the low levels of GDF15 (p = 3.73E-06), sex hormone binding globulin (p = 6.30E-06), testosterone (p = 5.56E-07), fasting insulin (p = 2.67E-05), and RBC (p = 1.54E-05), but the higher levels of IGF-1 (p = 3.24E-07). In conclusion, the observed phenotypic correlations between TL and aging-related biochemical hallmarks may arise from a combination of shared genetic components and causal effects. Telomere length is regarded as a driving hallmark for aging-related biochemical hallmarks., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)