Search

Purpose: To explore the clinical characteristics of pediatric pelvic fracturs caused by traffic accidents and to analyze the accompanying injuries and complications. Methods: A total of 222 cases involved traffic accidents was enrolled in this case-control study. The data of children with pelvic fractures caused by traffic accidents who were admitted to our hospital from January 2006 to December 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. Sex, age, Tile classification, abbreviated injury scale score, injury severity score, mortality, and accompanying injuries were studied. The ANOVA was used for measurement data, and the non-parametric rank sum test was used for non-normally distributed data. The Fisher's exact probability method was used for the count data. Results: Of all enrolled cases, 140 are boys and 82 are girls, including 144 cases aged < 6 years, 65 aged between 6 and 12 years, and 13 aged > 12 years. Depending on the injury mechanism, there are 15 cases involving pedestrians vs. motorcycles (PVM), 91 cases involving pedestrians vs. passenger cars (PVC), 78 cases involving pedestrians vs. commercial vehicles (PVV), and 38 cases involving motor vehicles vs. motor vehicles (MVM). Associated injuries are reported in 198 cases (89.2%), primarily involving the abdomen injury in 144 cases (64.9%), and lower limb injury in 99 cases (44.6%). PVV injury involves longer hospital stay (p = 0.004). Intensive care unit admission rate is significantly higher in the MVM group than in other groups (p = 0.004). Head injury (p = 0.001) and face injury (p = 0.037) are more common in the MVM group, whereas abdominal injury (p = 0.048) and lower limb injury (p = 0.037) are more common in the PVV group. In the MVM group, the brain injury (p = 0.004) and femoral neck injury (p = 0.044) are more common. In the PVM group, the mediastinum (p = 0.004), ear (p = 0.009), lumbar vertebrae (p = 0.008), and spinal cord (p = 0.011) are the most vulnerable regions, while in the PVV group, the perineum (p 12 years have higher pelvic abbreviated injury scale scores (p = 0.019). There are significant differences in the classification of pelvic fractures among children < 6, 6 – 12, and > 12 years of age, with Tile C being more likely to occur in children > 12 years of age (p = 0.033). Children aged > 12 years are more likely to sustain injuries to the spleen (p = 0.022), kidneys (p = 0.019), pancreas (p

Abstract Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most common cancer and the third most common cause of cancer death globally, with high invasiveness, high recurrence rate, and poor prognosis. Multiple studies have shown that Metallothionein-1G (MT1G) is closely associated with oxidative stress, ferroptosis, and autophagy. However, the role and potential mechanisms of MT1G in GC have not been fully elucidated. This study aims to explore the biological functions and regulatory mechanisms of MT1G in GC. Perform bioinformatics analysis using the TCGA database to investigate the expression of MT1G in GC. RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of MT1G, ferroptosis related proteins, autophagy related proteins and ARNTL clock autophagy related proteins in Hgc27, MKN45 and AGS cell lines. Exploring the biological functions of MT1G overexpressing GC cell lines through wound healing and transwell experiments. Use specific fluorescence probes to examine mitochondrial membrane potential and Fe2+ fluorescence intensity. Using immunoprecipitation analysis (CO-IP) to elucidate the association between GC cell lines GPX4, SQSTM and ARNTL. Use flow cytometry to detect ROS expression. Observation of autophagy related morphological changes in cells using transmission electron microscopy. Compared with gastric mucosal cell lines, the expression of MT1G is decreased in three gastric cancer cell lines (Hgc27, MKN45 and AGS). Overexpression of MT1G inhibits the proliferation, migration, and invasion functions of GC cells, reduces SOD and GSH content, increases MDA content, cause the mitochondrial membrane potential to weaken and promote the transformation of JC-1 aggregates to JC-1 monomer, increases Fe2+, affects ROS, and reduces GPX4 and SLC7A11 protein expression, promoting ferroptosis. Overexpression of MT1G promotes the transformation of LC3B I to LC3B II, reduces SQSTM1 protein expression, and leads to the appearance of more autophagosomes and autolysosomes at low magnification. At high magnification, mitochondrial autophagy, endoplasmic reticulum autophagy, lipid droplet autophagy, and wrinkled mitochondrial cristae are observed, promoting autophagy. Overexpression of MT1G inhibits GPX4, thereby affecting SQSTM1 as a vector to promote ARNTL autophagy and EGLN2, promoting ARNTL clock autophagy through the GPX4/SQSTM1 axis. Our research findings elucidate that overexpression of MT1G promotes iron autophagy centered around ARNTL in GC cells via the GPX4/SQSTM1 axis, thereby inhibiting GC cell function and providing a new molecular mechanism and therapeutic target for the development of GC.

Facing the challenges of in-situ utilization of lunar regolith resources, applying an external electric field to manipulate lunar particles has become a promising method for space particle control, which mainly depends on the particle charging properties in the applied electric field. Using the surficial lunar regolith samples brought back from the Moon by the Chang’e-5 mission (CE5 LS), this work successively studied their charging properties, particle dynamics, and their collision damages to aerospace materials under the action of an external electric field in high-vacuum conditions. The results indicated that the charging process and electrostatic projection of lunar regolith particles under high-vacuum conditions were different from those under atmosphere conditions. The particle diameter range of CE5 LS used in the experiment is 27.7–139.0 μm. For electric field strength of 3–12 kV·cm−1, the charge obtained by CE5 LS is 4.8 × 10−15–4.7 × 10−13 C and the charge-to-mass ratio is 1.2 × 10−5–6.8 × 10−4 C·kg−1. The CE5 LS is easier to be negatively charged in an external electric field. Furthermore, significant damages were observed on the target impact surfaces, indicating severe influences of lunar regolith particles on aerospace materials. Our work contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of physical mechanisms controlling the lunar regolith shielding and utilization, and will inspire broad efforts to develop the lunar in-situ engineering solutions.

Abstract Background The NLRP3 inflammasome, a pivotal mechanism regulating inflammatory responses and featuring the pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) within the NOD-like receptor family, is widely recognized as a central pathogenic factor in cardiovascular diseases. The present study endeavors to delve into the correlation and potential interplay between the rs10754558 polymorphism of NLRP3 and the predisposition to hypertension among the Chinese adult population. Methods All the participants who came from a community in Bengbu, China were investigated by being interviewed with a questionnaire. Overall, 354 paired case–control participants were analyzed. Genomic DNA was extracted from 5ml venous blood using the Tiangen DNA extraction kit. The rs10754558 polymorphism of the NLRP3 gene was genotyped by TaqMan allelic discrimination real-time PCR.The association between the rs10754558 polymorphism and hypertension risk was investigated by a logistic regression analysis. Furthermore, an additive interaction analysis was conducted using related indicators, including the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI), attributable proportion due to interaction (AP), and synergy index (SI). Results Participants carrying the GG genotype were more likely to develop hypertension than participants carrying the CC genotype (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 2.16, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.33–3.52). A significant additive interaction between the NLRP3 polymorphism and obesity status concerning the risk of hypertension was observed, as estimated by all indicators: RERI (1.12, 95% CI: 0.70–1.5), AP (0.34, 95% CI: 0.14–0.53), and SI (1.92, 95% CI: 1.03–3.59). The values of RERI (1.74, 95% CI: 0.37–3.11), AP (0.46, 95% CI: 0.21–0.70), and SI (2.62, 95% CI: 1.18–5.83) showed that a significant interaction between the rs10754558 polymorphism and a family history of hypertension. Conclusions Our findings indicate a significant association between the NLRP3 rs10754558 polymorphism and the risk of hypertension in Chinese adults. Moreover, a notable additive interaction emerges between NLRP3 polymorphisms and obesity status, further amplifying the risk of hypertension.

Infected wounds pose a significant clinical challenge due to bacterial resistance, recurrent infections, and impaired healing. Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-based strategies have shown promise in eradicating bacterial infections. However, the excess ROS in the infection site after treatments may cause irreversible damage to healthy tissues. To address this issue, we developed bovine serum albumin-iridium oxide nanoclusters (BSA-IrOx NCs) which enable photo-regulated ROS generation and scavenging using near infrared (NIR) laser. Upon NIR laser irradiation, BSA-IrOx NCs exhibit enhanced photodynamic therapy, destroying biofilms and killing bacteria. When the NIR laser is off, the nanoclusters' antioxidant enzyme-like activities prevent inflammation and repair damaged tissue through ROS clearance. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed that BSA-IrOx NCs inhibit bacterial nitric oxide synthase, blocking bacterial growth and biofilm formation. Furthermore, the nanoclusters repair impaired skin by strengthening cell junctions and reducing mitochondrial damage in a fibroblast model. In vivo studies using rat infected wound models confirmed the efficacy of BSA-IrOx NCs. This study presents a promising strategy for treating biofilm-induced infected wounds by regulating the ROS microenvironment, addressing the challenges associated with current ROS-based antibacterial approaches.

Abstract Vaccination has been widely recognized as an effective measure for preventing infectious diseases. To facilitate quantitative research into the activation of adaptive immune responses in the human body by vaccines, it is important to develop an appropriate mathematical model, which can provide valuable guidance for vaccine development. In this study, we constructed a novel mathematical model to simulate the dynamics of antibody levels following vaccination, based on principles from immunology. Our model offers a concise and accurate representation of the kinetics of antibody response. We conducted a comparative analysis of antibody dynamics within the body after administering several common vaccines, including traditional inactivated vaccines, mRNA vaccines, and future attenuated vaccines based on defective interfering viral particles (DVG). Our findings suggest that booster shots play a crucial role in enhancing Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody levels, and we provide a detailed discussion on the advantages and disadvantages of different vaccine types. From a mathematical standpoint, our model proposes four essential approaches to guide vaccine design: enhancing antigenic T-cell immunogenicity, directing the production of high-affinity antibodies, reducing the rate of IgG decay, and lowering the peak level of vaccine antigen-antibody complexes. Our study contributes to the understanding of vaccine design and its application by explaining various phenomena and providing guidance in comprehending the interactions between antibodies and antigens during the immune process.

Abstract Objective Testicular tumor (TT) is a uncommon disease posing serious health problem. There are differences in some aspects between adult and pediatric TT. The study was to compare their differences of clinical and histological characteristics through the analysis of the long-term experiences in TT patients from two institutions. Materials and methods The clinical data of hospitalized patients was collected and analyzed retrospectively from January 2014 to January 2024 at a pediatric and an adult institution, respectively. The data included composition, gender, age, initial presentation, tumor size, tumor markers, pathological diagnosis. Results A total of 195 hospitalized patients were included. There were 135 children and 60 adult with TT, respectively. Of these children, patients were aged from 1 month to 14 years, with a mean age of 2.32 years. More cases (37.04%) were diagnosed at age younger than 1 years. 69 cases were left-sided, 65 cases were right-side and only 1 case was bilateral. Pediatric TTs mainly included 82 prepubertal teratomas, 37 had prepubertal yolk sac tumors and 3 mixed malignant germ tumors. Testicular surgeries included testicular-sparing surgery (TSS) (n = 73), radical orchiectomy (n = 60), and testicular biopsy (n = 2). There were 24 patients receiving postoperative chemotherapy. Adult TTs mainly contained 17 seminomas, 10 prepubertal teratomas,7 postpubertal teratomas, 6 stromal tumors and 3 embryonal carcinomas. The average age was 34.08 years. There were 29 right-sided, 27 left-sided and 4 bilateral tumors. TSS (n = 26), radical orchiectomy (n = 33), and testicular biopsy (n = 1) were performed in these TT patients. Only 6 patients received postoperative chemotherapy. The most common symptom was a painless scrotal mass at initial diagnosis in both groups. In addition, we found that significant differences were explored between histological type and age, tumor size (P

Objective To explore the inhibitory effect of berberine （BBR） on contrast-induced nephropathy （CIN） and clarify the underlying mechanism. Methods Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were utilized for constructing a rat CIN model. BBR treatment group （M+B） received a gavage of 200 mg/kg BBR while control group （Con） and model group （Mod） had an oral intake of the same volume of normal saline. Human kidney cortex proximal tubule epithelial cells （HK-2） were utilized for constructing a CIN cell model in vitro. No special treatment was offered to HK-2 cells in Con group. HK-2 cells in Mod group were treated with 50 g/L ioversol for 24 h and HK-2 cells in M+B group 50 g/L ioversol and 30 μmol/L BBR for 24 h. Akt agonist （SC79） and Akt inhibitor （MK2206） were utilized for confirming the effect of BBR on protein kinase B-forkhead box O3-nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 （Akt-Foxo3a-Nrf2） regulatory axis. Serum creatinine （Scr） detection and hematoxylin-eosin （HE） stain were employed for evaluating renal injury in rats. Annexin V-propidium iodide （annexin V-PI） stain was used for detecting cell apoptosis. And Western blot was utilized for detecting the protein expression of Akt-Foxo3a-Nrf2 axis.Results The level of Scr was higher in Mod group than that in Con group [（58.83 ± 7.96）μmol/L vs （23.52 ± 0.78）μmol/L，P＜0.05]. And it was lower in M+B group than that in Mod group [（39.64 ± 2.52）μmol/L vs （58.83 ± 7.96）μmol/L，P＜0.05]. HE stain indicated that kidney morphology was normal and renal tubular epithelial cells remained intact in Con group. In Mod group， structure of renal tubules was disarrayed with diffuse death of epithelial cells and obvious vacuolar degeneration of renal tubular epithelial cells. In M+B group， morphology of renal tubules was partially restored and vacuolar degeneration of renal tubule epithelial cells and cell death lessened. Western blot results indicated that， as compared with Con group， the expression of phospho-protein kinase B （p-Akt） was up-regulated in CIN rats and ioversol treated HK-2 cells. And the difference was statistically significant （P＜0.05）. In M+B group， the expression of p-Akt dropped as compared with Mod group （P＜0.05）. Annexin V-PI apoptosis assay indicated that， as compared with Con group， cell apoptosis spiked in Mod group [（12.65 ± 1.25）% vs （27.44 ± 0.73）%，P＜0.05]. As compared with Mod group， cell apoptosis declined in M+B group [（27.44 ± 0.73）% vs （24.81 ± 0.49）%，P＜0.05]. As compared with M+B group， cell apoptosis rose in BBR plus SC79 treatment group [（24.81 ± 0.49）% vs （27.50 ± 0.35）%，P＜0.05]. As compared with Mod group， cell apoptosis declined in MK2206 treatment group [（27.65 ± 0.56）% vs （25.20 ± 0.64）%，P＜0.05]. As compared with M+B group， MK2206 plus BBR further reduced ioversol-induced HK-2 cell apoptosis [（24.51 ± 0.52）% vs （21.24 ± 0.99）%，P＜0.05]. Conclusion BBR may suppress CIN in vivo and in vitro through regulating Akt-Foxo3a-Nrf2 axis in a p-Akt dependent mode.

Abstract Background The mindfulness level of hospitalized elderly is influenced by factors such as physical health, emotional resilience, and social support. However, little is known regarding the relationship between medical coping styles and mindfulness levels of hospitalized elderly. The aims of this study were to explore the association between medical coping styles and mindfulness levels in hospitalized elderly patients, with a focus on identifying actionable strategies to enhance patient well-being. Methods A survey of 253 elderly patients was conducted in the Department of Geriatrics of a 3 A hospital in Tangshan from September to November 2022 using the General Questionnaire, Medical Coping Style Scale (MCMQ), and Mindfulness-Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS). Results The average mindfulness level score of the hospitalized elderly was (59.71 ± 13.90), with a scoring rate of 66.34%, at a moderate mindfulness level. This study revealed a strong positive correlation (r = 0.725, P

Abstract Objective To evaluate the performance of a semi-automated artificial intelligence (AI) software program (CerebralDoc® system) in aneurysm detection and morphological measurement. Methods In this study, 354 cases of computed tomographic angiography (CTA) were retrospectively collected in our hospital. Among them, 280 cases were diagnosed with aneurysms by either digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and CTA (DSA group, n = 102), or CTA-only (non-DSA group, n = 178). The presence or absence of aneurysms, as well as their location and related morphological features determined by AI were evaluated using DSA and radiologist findings. Besides, post-processing image quality from AI and radiologists were also rated and compared. Results In the DSA group, AI achieved a sensitivity of 88.24% and an accuracy of 81.97%, whereas radiologists achieved a sensitivity of 95.10% and an accuracy of 84.43%, using DSA results as the gold standard. The AI in the non-DSA group achieved 81.46% sensitivity and 76.29% accuracy, as per the radiologists’ findings. The comparison of position consistency results showed better performance under loose criteria than strict criteria. In terms of morphological characteristics, both the DSA and the non-DSA groups agreed well with the diagnostic results for neck width and maximum diameter, demonstrating excellent ICC reliability exceeding 0.80. The AI-generated images exhibited superior quality compared to the standard software for post-processing, while also demonstrating a significantly reduced processing time. Conclusions The AI-based aneurysm detection rate demonstrates a commendable performance, while the extracted morphological parameters exhibit a remarkable consistency with those assessed by radiologists, thereby showcasing significant potential for clinical application.

This study was undertaken in order to evaluate the effects of different processing techniques, namely, enzyme-assisted cold-pressing, Soxhlet extraction and aqueous enzymatic extraction on the basic physicochemical properties, antioxidant activity, fatty acid composition, spectral characteristics and volatile flavor substances of corn germ oil. The results showed that the acid value and peroxide value of corn germ oil obtained by enzyme-assisted cold pressing were higher than those obtained by the other methods. The hydroxyl radical scavenging ability of the oil obtained by enzyme-assisted cold pressing was the highest, and there was no significant difference in the contents of linoleic acid, linolenic acid or unsaturated fatty acids oil among the three oil samples. The full spectrum analysis showed that the highest content of linolenic acid (conjugated trienoic acid) was found in the oil obtained by aqueous enzymatic extraction. The composition and relative content of volatile compounds in corn germ oil varied significantly with the different production processes. In summary, the processing methods can affect the physicochemical properties, antioxidant properties and flavor substances of corn germ oil, which provides a theoretical reference for the utilization of corn processing by-products and the moderate processing of corn germ oil.

Abstract This study aimed to establish a risk prediction nomogram model for anterolateral, mediolateral, and posterolateral ankle pain in runners with chronic ankle instability (CAI) and analyse the potential risk factors for pain at different ankle sites. Thirty recreational runners with CAI who reported ankle pain in the anterolateral, mediolateral, or posterolateral regions were recruited for this study. Kinematic, kinetic, and electromyographic data during running were collected using motion capture system, 3-D force platform, and surface electromyography system. These data were used to generate a dynamic nomogram. The results showed that anterolateral ankle pain in runners with CAI may be caused by insufficient gastrocnemius muscle strength (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.73–0.97), excessive ground reaction force (GRF, OR 2.64, 95% CI 1.25–6.22), and an increased percentage of ankle energy absorption (OR 9.11, 95% CI 1.50–77.79). Mediolateral ankle pain might be contributed by greater ankle inversion angle (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.01–1.00) and GRF (OR 2.13, 95% CI 1.17–4.31). Moreover, posterolateral ankle pain was predicted by increased ankle adduction angle (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.00–1.12), increased GRF (OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.07–4.80), and decreased dynamic stability (OR 0.20, 95% CI 0.05–0.68). To prevent ankle pain, runners with CAI should be encouraged to focus on improving the neuroreceptor sensitivity of the gastrocnemius muscles, and retraining their energy absorption patterns.

Abstract Background C-X-C receptor 4(CXCR4) is widely considered to be a highly conserved G protein-coupled receptor, widely involved in the pathophysiological processes in the human body, including fibrosis. However, its role in regulating macrophage-related inflammation in the fibrotic process of prostatitis has not been confirmed. Here, we aim to describe the role of CXCR4 in modulating macrophage M1 polarization through glycolysis in the development of prostatitis fibrosis. Methods Use inducible experimental chronic prostatitis as a model of prostatic fibrosis. Reduce CXCR4 expression in immortalized bone marrow-derived macrophages using lentivirus. In the fibrotic mouse model, use adenovirus carrying CXCR4 agonists to detect the silencing of CXCR4 and assess the in vivo effects. Results In this study, we demonstrated that reducing CXCR4 expression during LPS treatment of macrophages can alleviate M1 polarization. Silencing CXCR4 can inhibit glycolytic metabolism, enhance mitochondrial function, and promote macrophage transition from M1 to M2. Additionally, in vivo functional experiments using AAV carrying CXCR4 showed that blocking CXCR4 in experimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP) can alleviate inflammation and experimental prostate fibrosis development. Mechanistically, CXCR4, a chemokine receptor, when silenced, weakens the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway as its downstream signal, reducing c-MYC expression. PFKFB3, a key enzyme involved in glucose metabolism, is a target gene of c-MYC, thus impacting macrophage polarization and glycolytic metabolism processes.

Heading date is a critical physiological process in rice that is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. The photoperiodic pathway is a primary regulatory mechanism for rice heading, with key florigen genes Hd3a (Heading date 3a) and RFT1 (RICE FLOWERING LOCUS T1) playing central roles. Upstream regulatory pathways, including Hd1 and Ehd1, also significantly impact this process. This review aims to provide a comprehensive examination of the localization, cloning, and functional roles of photoperiodic pathway-related genes in rice, and to explore the interactions among these genes as well as their pleiotropic effects on heading date. We systematically review recent advancements in the identification and functional analysis of genes involved in the photoperiodic pathway. We also discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying rice heading date variation and highlight the intricate interactions between key regulatory genes. Significant progress has been made in understanding the molecular mechanisms of heading date regulation through the cloning and functional analysis of photoperiod-regulating genes. However, the regulation of heading date remains complex, and many underlying mechanisms are not yet fully elucidated. This review consolidates current knowledge on the photoperiodic regulation of heading date in rice, emphasizing novel findings and gaps in the research. It highlights the need for further exploration of the interactions among flowering-related genes and their response to environmental signals. Despite advances, the full regulatory network of heading date remains unclear. Further research is needed to elucidate the intricate gene interactions, transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms, and the role of epigenetic factors such as histone methylation in flowering time regulation. This review provides a detailed overview of the current understanding of photoperiodic pathway genes in rice, setting the stage for future research to address existing gaps and improve our knowledge of rice flowering regulation.

Cross-domain Ad Hoc network is a network that self-organizes nodes on different media and adapts to network topology. In cross-domain communication networks, direct measurement technology helps obtain accurate end-to-end network traffic information. However, the low computational power and low storage characteristics of some nodes in the cross-domain network hinder all nodes from running the network traffic measurement process. To address this issue, a network traffic measurement optimization method based on meta-learning and proximal policy optimization(PPO) was proposed. This method determined the set of nodes that performed network traffic measurement in the next time slot according to the network operating environment of the previous time slot, so as to perform the measurement process on as few nodes as possible to obtain as much network traffic information as possible. Three network datasets were used to verify the proposed method. The experimental results show that the traffic measurement optimization algorithm for cross-domain Ad Hoc networks based on meta-learning and reinforcement learning can effectively select the nodes with large traffic flow, with faster convergence speed and higher measurement efficiency.

Bacillus subtilis, a gram-positive bacterium commonly found in soil, is an excellent organism for plant biocontrol. B. subtilis KRS015, an endophyte isolated from the seed of Gossypium hirsutum ‘Zhongzhimian No. 2’, has been proven based on its antagonistic activity against diverse fungal pathogens of plants, including Verticillium dahliae, a fungal pathogen of Verticillium wilt in various plants such as cotton. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of B. subtilis KRS015. The size of the KRS015 genome is 4,331,506 bp. Fifteen gene clusters for antibiotics and secondary metabolites and 412 genes involved in plant–bacterial interactions were identified in this genome. These findings qualified the potential of B. subtilis KRS015 as a biocontrol agent and may help reveal the molecular basis of its antagonistic mechanisms. [Figure: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.

KRS022 was isolated from the rhizosphere soil of a healthy plant in a pathogen-infested cotton field in Xinjiang, China. Previous studies have demonstrated that KRS022 possesses the ability to trigger plant immune responses, inhibit the growth of various pathogenic fungi, including Verticillium dahliae, and promote plant growth. The antagonistic properties of KRS022 primarily stem from its bioactive metabolites. In this study, the high-quality genome of KRS022 was obtained. The KRS022 genome consists of a chromosome of 6,369,026 bp with 67.09% GC content and possesses 5,830 open reading frames, of which 5,186 genes were annotated, and 119 were ncRNA genes. Additionally, 11 gene clusters of secondary metabolites biosynthesis were predicted, involved in polyketide synthase, arylpolyene, NAGGN, beta-lactone, ranthipeptide, PiPP-like, redox cofactor, and non-ribosomal peptide-synthetase clusters. It could be useful to explore the biocontrol potential of P. tohonis, implying promising application of KRS022 to biological control. [Figure: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.

Abstract Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a urinary disorder that affects youthful to middle-aged men most frequently. It has been revealed that Th17/Treg imbalance is a crucial factor in the pathophysiological mechanisms behind this disease. However, this imbalance’s mechanisms are unknown. In the experimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP) mouse model, the NLRP3 inflammasome was turned on, IL-1β levels went up. Moreover, there exists a discernible positive association between the upsurge in IL-1β and the perturbation of Th17/Treg equilibrium. Additionally, we have revealed that IL-1β plays a vital role in promoting the differentiation of Naïve CD4+ T cells into the Th17 cells and enhances the conversion of Treg cells into Th17 cells. Further studies revealed that IL-1β promotes STAT3 phosphorylation, which is what causes Treg cells to become Th17 cells. All data strongly suggest that the NLRP3 inflammatory influence Th17 cell development and the conversion of Treg cells into Th17 cells through IL-1β, disrupting the Th17/Treg balance and exacerbating EAP inflammation. In this article, we provide new theories for the pathogenesis of CP/CPPS and propose new prevention and therapy methods.

Half-center oscillators are typical small circuits that are crucial for understanding CPG. The complex rhythms of CPG are closely related to certain diseases, such as epilepsy. This paper considered the influence of electromagnetic induction on the discharge mode of the half-center oscillators. First, we analyzed the response of individual firing neuron rhythms to electromagnetic induction when the slow-variable parameters vary. We also discussed the changes in the dynamic bifurcation structure when the intensity of electromagnetic induction varies. Furthermore, we determined the effects of mutually inhibitory and self-inhibitory synaptic parameters on the firing rhythm of the half-center oscillators. The different responses induced by electromagnetic induction interventions, showed that mutually inhibitory synapses modulate the firing rhythm weakly and self-inhibition synapses have a significant impact on firing rhythm. Finally, with the change of synaptic parameter values, the combined effects of autapse and mutually inhibitory synapses on the discharge rhythm of half-center oscillators were analyzed in symmetric and asymmetric autapse modes. It was found that the synchronous state of the half-center oscillators had a more robust electromagnetic induction response than the asynchronous state.

Abstract Because of the lack of good seedling positioning during vegetable grafting, there are issues such as high labor costs and long grafting time. This article proposes a negative pressure suction seedling positioning method for seed leaves based on the characteristic parameters of cucumber spike wood, and designs a flexible adsorption positioning mechanism for spike wood. Firstly, the ventral surface curve trajectories of cucumber cotyledons were extracted using Matlab software, and then a shape-adaptive design was applied to the attachment surface of the flexible suction positioning mechanism, and a computational fluid dynamics model of the airflow field was established. By combining Fluent simulation analysis with orthogonal experiments, the effect of suction hole diameter, vacuum negative pressure value, suction hole quantity, and suction hole depth on the adsorption effect of the suction head was analyzed, the main and secondary factors and operational indicators that affect the adsorption effect are evaluated. The optimal parameter combination: suction hole diameter of 1.5 mm, vacuum negative pressure value of 2 kPa, suction hole quantity of 42, and suction hole depth of 2 mm, has been found. A verification experiment was conducted on a test bench, and the experimental results show that the success rate of leaf absorption using the optimal parameter combination is 97.69%, which indicates that the suction head is designed reasonably and meets the requirements of grafting.

Abstract Demyelination due to autoreactive T cells and inflammation in the central nervous system are principal features of multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic and highly disabling human disease affecting brain and spinal cord. Here, we show that treatment with apelin, a secreted peptide ligand for the G protein-coupled receptor APJ/Aplnr, is protective in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of MS. Apelin reduces immune cell entry into the brain, delays the onset and reduces the severity of EAE. Apelin affects the trafficking of leukocytes through the lung by modulating the expression of cell adhesion molecules that mediate leukocyte recruitment. In addition, apelin induces the internalization and desensitization of its receptor in endothelial cells (ECs). Accordingly, protection against EAE major outcomes of apelin treatment are phenocopied by loss of APJ/Aplnr function, achieved by EC-specific gene inactivation in mice or knockdown experiments in cultured primary endothelial cells. Our findings highlight the importance of the lung-brain axis in neuroinflammation and indicate that apelin targets the transendothelial migration of immune cells into the lung during acute inflammation.

Abstract Background Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most prevalent cancer among males, emphasizing the critical need for precise diagnosis and treatment to enhance patient prognosis. Recent studies have extensively utilized urine exosomes from patients with cancer for targeted delivery. This study aimed to employ highly sensitive magnetic particle imaging (MPI) and fluorescence molecular imaging (FMI) to monitor the targeted delivery of an exosome-loaded platform at the tumour site, offering insights into a potential combined photothermal and magnetic thermal therapy regime for PCa. Results MPI and FMI were utilized to monitor the in vivo retention performance of exosomes in a prostate tumour mouse model. The exosome-loaded platform exhibited robust homologous targeting ability during imaging (SPIONs@EXO-Dye:66·48%±3·85%; Dye-SPIONs: 34·57%±7·55%, **P

Objective: To study the best purification method of Perilla flavone (PF), and to investigate its protective effect and potential mechanism on Paracetamol (APAP) - induced acute liver injury. Methods: Single factor experiments were used to determine the optimal conditions for the purification of PF by macroporous resin. BALB/c male mice were randomly divided into 6 groups, blank control group (CON), model group (MOD), diphenylene dibenzoate group (DDB), low dose group of PF (L-PF, 12.5 mg/kg), middle dose group of PF (M-PF, 25 mg/kg), and high dose group of PF (H-PF, 50 mg/kg). DDB and PF were given by continuous intragastric administration for 15 days according to the dosage. After the last administration for 1 h, APAP was injected intraperitoneally to establish liver injury model in each group except CON group. The serum levels of AST and ALT of mice were determined, and the levels of MDA, SOD, GSH, and GSH-PX in the liver of mice were tested. HE staining of the livers was performed to observe pathological changes. The expressions of Nrf2, Keap1 and HO-1 proteins in the livers were detected by Western Blot. Results: The optimal purification conditions were as follows: 10 g of D101 resin, 2.0 mg/mL of up-sampling solution, up-sampling volume of 30 mL, 50 mL of 80% ethanol solution elution. After purification, the flavonoid content was 70.32%±1.49%. Compared with CON group, the expressions of AST and ALT in the serum were significantly higher in MOD group (P

Abstract This study proposed a novel development mode combining boundary sealing and hot water injection to address the challenges of gas leakage, limited reservoir sensible heat, boundary water intrusion, and low productivity faced by challenging hydrate extraction, and the stimulation effect was numerically investigated with Shenhu hydrates as the geological background. The results showed that lower boundary permeability facilitated pressure propagation and achieved volumetric dissociation of hydrates, whereas insufficient formation energy resulted in substantial gas retention. Hot water injection was effective for stimulation, but open boundaries could not maintain the high injection pressure, leading to massive hot water losses and gas escapes. However, their combination achieved a synergistic stimulation like “1 + 1 > 2” because a piston water drive similar to secondary recovery in oil and gas development was formed. Relative to three-spot well patterns, the five-spot shortened the extraction cycle by 680 days and enhanced the gas-to-water ratio by 17%. Increasing injection pressure enhanced water yield more significantly while the improvement of gas yield was more significant by increasing hot water temperature. Overall, high-pressure and high-temperature injection was suggested for gas enhancement and water control. These findings provide important guidance for advancing the commercial development of challenging hydrates.

There has been renewed interest in using mitochondrial uncoupler compounds such as niclosamide and carbonyl cyanide p‐(trifluoromethoxy)phenylhydrazone (FCCP) for the treatment of obesity, hepatosteatosis and diseases where oxidative stress plays a role. However, both FCCP and niclosamide have undesirable effects that are not due to mitochondrial uncoupling, such as inhibition of mitochondrial oxygen consumption by FCCP and induction of DNA damage by niclosamide. Through structure–activity analysis, we identified FCCP analogues that do not inhibit mitochondrial oxygen consumption but still provided good, although less potent, uncoupling activity. We also characterized the functional role of the niclosamide 4′‐nitro group, the phenolic hydroxy group and the anilide amino group in mediating uncoupling activity. Our structural investigations provide important information that will aid further drug development.

In this work, thirty 2,4-diarylaminopyrimidine-based hydrazones were designed, synthesised, and their anti-thyroid cancer activity were explored. The majority of compounds exhibit moderate to excellent cytotoxic activity against FAK overexpressing TPC-1 cells, with IC50 values ranging from 0.113 to 1.460 μM. Among them, compound 14f displayed exceptional anti-proliferative effect against TPC-1 cells (IC50 = 0.113 μM) and potent FAK inhibitory potency (IC50 = 35 nM). In silico studies indicated that compound 14f could well bind to FAK (Focal Adhesion Kinase) and have favourable pharmacokinetic profiles. In addition, compound 14f could inhibit the phosphorylation of FAK at Tyr397, Tyr576/577 and Tyr925, and did not affect the expression level of FAK in TPC-1 cells. Compound 14f was also effective in inhibiting the proliferation and migration of thyroid cancer cells TPC-1. Thus, these novel 4-arylaminopyrimidine hydrazone derivatives exhibited potent anti-thyroid cancer activities through the inhibition of FAK.

Globally, the rise in the environmental awareness on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions has spurred the development of carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies, including membrane separation. Among the membrane separation technologies, dual-phase carbonate membrane is feasible for post-combustion carbon capture given its high thermal and chemical stabilities at high temperatures. The integration of carbon capture and dry reforming of methane (DRM) in a catalytic dual-phase carbonate membrane reactor to function as a single device for syngas production is an emerging area of research. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review on the progress of the dual-phase carbonate membranes and membrane reactors in carbon capture and syngas production. The working mechanism and performance of three types of carbonate membranes in CO2 separation from various aspects (i.e., material selection, membrane configuration, modifications on the materials, and operating conditions) are thoroughly examined. Additionally, an overview of the reactions involved (i.e., DRM, steam reforming of methane (SRM), and partial oxidation of methane (POM)) and catalyst design (i.e., nickel-based supported with metal oxides and zeolites) is provided. A detailed comparison of the performance of the catalytic dual-phase ceramic-carbonate membrane reactor using different types of catalysts for syngas production is presented. Finally, the review is concluded with a discussion of the challenges, recommendations, and future insights on the development of dual-phase carbonate membranes and membrane reactors.

Objectives Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a malignant tumor with high incidence and mortality rates worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between LINC-PINT polymorphisms and ESCC risk in the Hainan Han population.Methods A total of 391 patients with ESCC and 452 healthy controls were enrolled to evaluate the effect of LINC-PINT SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) on ESCC susceptibility. Associations were evaluated by calculating odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Multifactor dimensionality reduction analysis was performed to explore the association between SNP-SNP interactions and ESCC susceptibility. We further determined the correlation between clinical indicators and SNP in patients with ESCC.Results Our study showed that rs157916 (OR 0.63, p = 0.011) and rs157928 (OR 0.80, p = 0.021) were associated with a decreased risk of ESCC. Stratified analysis indicated that rs157916 could decrease the risk of ESCC in people aged >64 years, in males, and non-drinkers (OR 0.58, p = 0.042; OR 0.58, p = 0.010; OR 0.62, p = 0.025, respectively). Rs16873842 was related to a decreased risk of ESCC in males (OR 0.70, p = 0.015). Rs7801029 was associated with ESCC risk in females (OR 0.39, p = 0.033) and non-drinkers (OR 0.68, p = 0.040). Rs7781295 decreased the ESCC risk in smokers (OR 0.58, p = 0.046) and drinkers (OR 0.58, p = 0.046). In addition, rs157928 played a protective role in ESCC risk in females (OR 0.39, p = 0.033) and non-smokers (OR 0.32, p = 0.006). Additionally, the best predictive model for ESCC was a combination of rs157916, rs16873842, rs7801029, rs7781295, rs28662387, and rs157928.Conclusion Our study revealed that LINC-PINT polymorphisms were associated with ESCC risk.

Anti-interferon-γ autoantibodies (AIGAs) syndrome is susceptible to disseminated opportunistic infections due to increased AIGAs, but its clinical immunological characteristics remain unrecognized. We conducted a prospective cohort study between January 2021 and December 2023, recruiting patients with opportunistic infections who were categorized into AIGAs-positive and AIGAs-negative groups. Clinical immunological data and outcomes were documented. A subset of AIGAs-positive patients received glucocorticoid treatment, and its effectiveness was evaluated. A total of 238 patients were enrolled, with 135 AIGAs-positive and 103 AIGAs-negative patients. AIGAs-positive patients showed higher rates of multiple pathogen dissemination, shorter progression-free survival (PFS), and increased exacerbation frequency. They also showed elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), globulin (GLB), immunoglobulin (Ig)G, IgE, and IgG4 levels. Among the 70 AIGAs-positive patients monitored for at least six months, three subtypes were identified: high AIGAs titer with immune damage, high AIGAs titer without immune damage, and low AIGAs titer without immune damage. Of the 55 patients followed for 1 year, decreasing AIGAs titer and immune indices (GLB, IgG, IgE, IgG4) were observed. Among the 31 patients with high AIGAs titer and immune damage treated with low-dose glucocorticoids at the stable phase, reductions were observed in immune indices and AIGAs titer in 67.74% of cases. In summary, AIGAs-positive patients exhibit infectious and immunological characteristics. Elevated AIGAs, IgG, IgG4, and IgE indicate abnormal immune damages. AIGAs titer generally decrease over time. Stable-phase AIGAs-positive patients can be categorized into three subtypes, with those having high AIGAs titer and increased immune indices potentially benefitting from glucocorticoid treatment.

Background: Studies have shown that abnormal temperature at night is a risk factor for respiratory health. However, there is limited evidence on the impact of hot and cold nights on cause-specific diseases such as pneumonia, which is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children. Methods: We collected daily data on pneumonia hospitalisations in children under five years from 2011 to 2017 in three low-, middle- and high-income countries (Bangladesh, China, and Australia). The intensity of hot and cold nights was measured by excess temperature. A space–time-stratified case-crossover analysis was used to estimate the association between hot and cold nights and childhood pneumonia hospitalisations. We further estimated the fraction of childhood pneumonia hospitalisations attributable to hot and cold nights. Results: Both hot and cold nights were associated with an increased risk of hospitalisations for childhood pneumonia in low-, middle-, and high-income countries, with a greater disease burden from hot nights. Specifically, the fraction of childhood pneumonia attributable to hot nights was the largest in Australia [21.2%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 11.8%-28.1%], followed by Bangladesh (15.2%, 95% CI: 4.1%–23.8%) and China (2.7%, 95% CI: 0.4%-4.7%). Additionally, the fraction of childhood pneumonia attributable to cold nights was 1.3% (95% CI: 0.4%-2.0%) in Bangladesh and 0.4% (95% CI: 0.1%-0.7%) in China. Conclusion: This multi-country study suggests that hot and cold nights are not only associated with a higher risk of pneumonia hospitalisations in children but also responsible for substantial fraction of hospitalisations, with a greater impact from hot nights.

Human activity has transformed natural land use patterns and exerted a significant impact on the mechanisms underlying ecosystem service (ES) provisioning. This has disrupted the equilibrium between human development and ecological protection and hasled to further degradation of desert ecosystems endemic to arid regions. In this study, we employed the three SSP-RCP scenarios provided by CMIP6 to represent varying rates of development within the Tarim River Basin (TRB) and modeled land use in 2050 based on the coupled system dynamics (SD) + patch-generating land use simulation (PLUS) + InVEST model. A dynamic simulation of the trade-off/synergy between key land use types and ESs in the ecologically vulnerable areas of the TRB was performed to identify the impacts of the individual effects of single factors and the scale effects of multiple factors on ESs. The results showed that (1) in the SSP126, SSP245, andSSP585 scenarios, the ratio of outflows to inflows of converted unused land gradually increased in the following periods:79.28 %, 79.42 %, 79.54 %in 2020–2030; 96.19 %, 91.62 %, 66.07 %in 2030–2040; and 93.76 %, 91.65 %, 60.96 %in 2040–2050, respectively.(2) A high water yield (WY) was observed in the highland mountains; high habitat quality (HQ) was observed in the highland mountains, along the Tarim River, and around cities; high carbon storage (CS) was observed in the highland mountains, along the Tarim River, and in urban areas. (3) Under the three scenarios, WY, HQ, and CS were mainly affected by environmental factors, with the highest single-factor tests represented by temperature (0.594; 0.595; 0.596), precipitation(0.582; 0.589; 0.590); NDVI(0.312; 0.295; 0.299), soil erosion(0.227; 0.221; 0.219); and NDVI(0.298; 0.282; 0.310), soil erosion(0.122; 0.125; 0.132), respectively. Additionally, the interaction factors with the highest explanatory power for WY, HQ, and CS were precipitation ∪ NDVI (0.73); elevation ∪ NDVI (0.37); and soil ∪ NDVI (0.31), respectively. Moreover, the human aggregation level exerted positive (0.117), negative (−0.173), and negative (−0.286) impacts on WY, HQ, and CS, respectively. The results show that the combination of GeoDetector and the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) provides a complementary and creative framework for investigating the driving mechanisms of ecosystems.

This study aimed to assess the function of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on growth performance, food intake and glucose homeostasis of Micropterus salmoides fed carbohydrate (CHO)-enriched diets. The intracerebroventricular glucose + GABA co-injected fish had higher cumulative food intake, and expression of orexigenic genes (ghrelin and neuropeptide y (npy)) in the brain than those of the single glucose-injected group. In the feeding trial, M. salmoides (10.35 ± 0.05 g) were fed four feeds containing a control feed (10 % CHO, C) and three GABA contents [0 (HC), 50 (HC-G1), and 100 (HC-G2) mg kg−1, respectively] of high-CHO feed (20 % CHO) for 12 weeks. High CHO prominently (P < 0.05) decreased WGR, SGR, FI, p-Ampk protein content, and expression of ghrelin, npy, fbpase, pparα, cpt1α and aco1 compared with the control group, but the opposite was true for plasma glucose and triglyceride levels, tissue glycogen and lipid contents, and expression of proopiomelanocortin, leptin a, gk, pk, gs, chrebp, srebp1, fas and acc1. HC-G2 diets prominently (P < 0.05) up-regulated WGR, SGR, FI, p-Ampk protein content, and expression of ghrelin, npy, gk, pk, chrebp, srebp1, fas and acc1 compared with the HC group. Also, HC-G2 diets increased glucose tolerance of M. salmoides fed high-CHO diets after glucose loading. Overall, GABA improved the growth performance, food intake and glucose homeostasis of high-CHO-fed fish by the increase of appetite, glycolysis, glycogenesis and lipolysis, as well as the inhibition of gluconeogenesis and lipid synthesis.

The present study aims to investigate the unknown relationship between inhibitory control and repetitive subconcussion induced by the indirect brain impacts. We enrolled 28 parachuters exposed to repetitive subconcussion (SC) and 27 matched health controls (HC). Parachuters who have completed at least 70 actual parachuting (71–112 times) and at least 1500 simulated platform jumps (1500–4500 times) were included in the SC group. The SC group had a reduced accuracy rate in both the Stroop congruent and incongruent conditions. Larger N2 and N450 amplitudes were elicited in the frontal regions of the SC group, which indicate compensatory adaptations to the deficit in conflict monitoring. The reduced frontal resting-state EEG complexity in full-band (1–40 Hz) may demonstrate the frontal structural damage following the indirect brain impacts of repetitive subconcussion. Pearson correlation analysis showed that in the SC group, the frontal beta-band sample entropy values are positively correlated with the accuracy rate of the Stroop incongruent condition, suggesting the frontal beta-band sample entropy values may serve as potential electrophysiological markers of impaired inhibitory control after indirectly repetitive brain impacts. This study provides the robust evidence that repetitive subconcussion resulting from indirect brain impacts may lead to impairment of inhibitory control.