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With the development of science over the years, people have increasingly realized the importance of science communication. Unfortunately, very little research has focused on helping medical students develop the capabilities of science communication. To improve medical students' science communication and evaluate the effectiveness of New Media through mobile clients in health science communication, a competition was held among medical undergraduates. Outstanding works were selected for publication on our official health science communication WeChat account. Furthermore, the participants volunteered to complete a questionnaire survey to help us assess students' awareness of science communication. Our analysis revealed that students had a strong willingness to serve society and to participate in science communication work. Students generally agreed that science communication work had excellent effects on professional knowledge and related skills. In addition, the correlation results showed that the greater students' willingness to participate in health science communication was, the greater their sense of gain. New Media effectively expand the influence of students' popular science works. Our findings suggest that competition in science communication has a positive impact on enhancing students' awareness and capabilities in science communication. In addition, New Media are an effective way to improve students' scientific communication efficiency. However, we also noted that students' participation rate and enthusiasm for scientific communication were not high. Further research is needed to determine the reasons for this situation and potential strategies to further improve students' science communication.

Abstract The Youjiang Basin is the main area of the Middle Devonian shale gas resources in southern China, with complex geological conditions, diverse stratigraphic structures, low level of exploration and limited hydrocarbon geological data. In this study, a method is proposed for evaluating the regional shale gas preservation conditions, by which it is easy to obtain information (using available data from regional geological maps) and to process data (processed by computer software). This method was applied to the evaluation of the preservation conditions of the Middle Devonian shale gas in the Youjiang Basin. Information extracted from geologic maps includes exposed stratum, magmatic rock distribution, stratigraphic occurrence and surface fracture distribution. Evaluation criteria for three indexes (stratigraphy index, dip angle index and fracture index) were established to classify the preservation conditions into five types from good to bad. Based on the calculated values of comprehensive index (CI), the comprehensive evaluation each area: 11621.23 km2 for CI of 0.7–1.0, 37162.67 km2 for CI of 0.5–0.7, 57784.43 km2 for CI of 0.3–0.5, 69303.77 km2 for CI of 0.1–0.3, and 69303.77 km2 for CI of 0.0–0.1, accounting for 3.19%, 10.19%, 15.84%, 18.99% and 51.80% of the whole area, respectively. These results are highly consistent with the actual exploration discoveries, showing that in the northern and central parts of the Guizhong Basin, the southern part of the Xidamingshan Uplift, and the northern part of the Qiannan Basin, there are large areas with good shale gas preservation conditions.

Abstract Background This study explores the relationship between serum uric acid(UA) levels and depression. UA is the final product of purine metabolism in the human body, possessing certain physiological functions such as blood pressure regulation, antioxidation, DNA protection, and anti-aging, thereby drawing attention for its potential role in preventing and treating depression. Methods This cross-sectional study includes 32,424 participants aged ≥ 20 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted between 2005 and 2018, generating a nationally representative database. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Serum uric acid concentration was measured using the uricase-peroxidase coupled method, and participants were divided into quartiles of serum uric acid concentration. Weighted data were calculated according to analysis guidelines. The association between serum uric acid and depressive symptoms was analyzed using weighted multivariable logistic regression models and restricted cubic spline regression analyses. Subgroup analyses were also performed. Results Among 32,424 participants, 3,421 were defined as having depressive symptoms. The crude prevalence of depressive symptoms was 10.5% (weighted prevalence: 9.086% [95% confidence interval: 9.032–9.139%]). Compared with the first quartile, individuals with higher UA levels had a decreased risk of depressive symptoms by 9% (OR: 0.910, 95% CI: 0.797–10.40), 14.6% (OR: 0.854, 95% CI: 0.741–0.983), and 20.5% (OR: 7795, 95% CI: 0.680–0.930), respectively. Further restricted cubic spline regression analysis revealed a nonlinear association between UA and depressive symptoms, with an inflection point of 319.72 µmol/L. Subgroup multivariable weighted logistic regression analysis found that the association between UA and the risk of depressive symptoms remained consistent across all subgroups, demonstrating high stability and reliability. Conclusion This study emphasizes a significant nonlinear negative correlation between serum uric acid and depressive symptoms. This suggests that proper control of serum uric acid levels may play a role in preventing and treating depression.

Aiming at the problem of coal at the lower part of multi-weak bedding down-dipping soft rock slope, from the perspective of controllable slope deformation risk and the maximization of resource recovery, based on the analysis of geological data and weak layer layers, combined with the controlled mining of a single weak layer technology, a technology for controlled mining of multi-weak bedding down-dipping soft rock slope was proposed; taking the northern slope of Zhanihe Open-pit Mine as the engineering background, and based on the limit equilibrium theory, the stability of the northern slope was analyzed, and the controlled mining scheme for multi-weak strata controlled down-dipping soft rock slope is studied. Research shows that through the implementation of multi-weak layer down-dipping soft rock slope control mining technology, internal discharge of materials can be increased in the deep part of the stope to form an “intermediate bridge” process, the deep weak layer can form a “overburden”, and the whole slope can form a “support”, so as to ensure that the slope sliding along each weak layer can be controlled, and the multi-weak layer down-dipping soft rock slope can achieve efficient coal recovery and the stability control of creep deformation.

Abstract Background Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the major complication of diabetes concomitant with gut dysbiosis and glycometabolic disorder, which are strongly associated with bile acid (BA) metabolism. Yet studies investigating the BA metabolism involving in DKD pathogenesis are limited. This study aimed to explore the metabolomic profiling of BAs in DKD and analyze its association with DKD progression. Methods An ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was established to quantify BAs in the plasma, fecal and urine samples of patients with DKD or T2DM and healthy individuals (n = 30 for each group). The key BAs associated with DKD were identified by orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) and receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Polynomial regression and Pearson’s correlation analyses were performed to assess the correlation between the key BAs and the clinical indicators reflecting DKD progression. Results Metabolomic profiling of 50 kinds of BAs presented the markedly step-wise alterations of BAs in plasma and feces as well as the little in urine of patients with DKD. Eight kinds of BAs in the plasma, eight kinds in the feces and three kinds in the urine were abnormally expressed, accompanying with the increased conjugated/unconjugated ratios of cholic acid, deoxycholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid, ursodeoxycholic acid and hyocholic acid in the plasma, and of cholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid in the feces. Moreover, the increased plasma level of glycochenodeoxycholic acid, and the increased fecal levels of glycolithocholic acid, 7-ketodeoxycholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid-3-β-D-glucuronide are strongly correlated with the clinical indicators reflecting DKD progression, including eGFR, 24 h urinary protein and 24 h urinary microalbumin. Conclusions Our study for the first time disclosed the specific alterations of BA metabolism reflecting the step-wise progression of DKD, providing the basis for early identification and therapeutical strategies for DKD.

Abstract Objective This study aims to evaluate the real-world effectiveness of applying different levels of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) guidelines to video-assisted thoracic day surgery (VATS). The goal is to determine the optimal degree of ERAS protocols and management requirements to improve postoperative recovery outcomes. Methods It was designed as a single-centre, prospective pragmatic randomized controlled trial (PRCT), including patients who underwent VATS at the Day Surgery Center of West China Hospital, between January 2021 and November 2022. Patients were divided into Group A and Group B through convenience sampling to implement different levels of ERAS management protocols. Data collection included the baseline characteristics (gender, age, marital status, education level, BMI, PONV risk score, ASA classification), surgery-related indicators (type of surgery, pathological results, hospitalization costs, duration of surgery, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative rehydration volume), postoperative recovery indicators (postoperative chest tube duration time, time to first postoperative ambulation and urination, postoperative complications, follow-up condition), pain-related indicators (pain threshold score, pain score at 6 h postoperatively, bedtime, and predischarge), psychological state indicators (anxiety level), Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) scores, and social support scores. Propensity score matching (PSM) was utilized and statistical analyses were conducted using R version 4.4.1. Comparisons of categorical variables were performed using the χ² test, while comparisons of continuous variables were conducted using ANOVA or the Kruskal-Wallis rank-sum test. A significance level of α = 0.05 was set for statistical tests. Result A total of 340 patients were included, with 187 in Group A and 153 in Group B. After propensity score matching (PSM), there were 142 patients in Group A and 105 in Group B, with no significant baseline differences. Group A had a significantly higher proportion of chest tube removals within 24 h postoperatively (P

Abstract Objective To investigate the role of Parkin overexpression-induecd mitophagy in alleviating acute lung injury of exertional heat stroke(EHS) rats. Methods Eighty SD rats were divided into four groups: Control group (CON group), Control Parkin overexpression group (CON + Parkin group), exertional heat stroke group (EHS group), and exertional heat stroke Parkin overexpression group (EHS + Parkin group). Adeno-associated virus carrying the Parkin gene was intravenously injected into the rats to overexpress Parkin in the lung tissue. An exertional heat stroke rat model was established, and survival curves were plotted. Lung Micro-CT was performed, and lung coefficient and pulmonary microvascular permeability were measured. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays(ELISA) were used to determine the levels of interleukin-6(IL-6), interleukin-1β(IL-1β), Tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), and reactive oxygen species(ROS). The morphology of mitochondria in type II epithelial cells of lung tissue was observed using transmission electron microscopy. The apoptosis of lung tissue, the level of mitophagy, and the co-localization of Pink1 and Parkin were determined using immunofluorescence. The expression of Pink1, Parkin, MFN2, PTEN-L, PTEN, p62, and microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) in rat lung tissue was measured by western blot. Results Compared with the CON group, there were more severe lung injury and more higher levels of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α in EHS rats. Both of the LC3-II/LC3-I ratio and the co-localization of LC3 and Tom20 in the lung tissue of EHS rats decreased. Compared with the EHS group, the survival rate of rats in the EHS + Parkin overexpression group was significantly increased, lung coefficient and pulmonary microvascular permeability were reduced, and pathological changes such as exudation and consolidation were significantly alleviated. The levels of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and ROS were significantly decreased; the degree of mitochondrial swelling in type II alveolar epithelial cells was reduced, and no vacuolization was observed. Lung tissue apoptosis was reduced, and the colocalization fluorescence of Pink1 and Parkin, as well as LC3 and Tom20, were increased. The expression of Parkin and LC3-II/LC3-I ratio in lung tissue were both increased, while the expression of P62, Pink1, MFN2, and PTEN-L was decreased. Conclusion Pink1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy dysfunction is one of the mechanisms underlying acute lung injury in rats with EHS, and activation of Parkin overexpression induced-mitophagy can alleviate acute lung injury caused by EHS.

Abstract Robot-assisted surgery has evolved into a crucial treatment for prostate cancer (PCa). However, from its appearance to today, brain-computer interface, virtual reality, and metaverse have revolutionized the field of robot-assisted surgery for PCa, presenting both opportunities and challenges. Especially in the context of contemporary big data and precision medicine, facing the heterogeneity of PCa and the complexity of clinical problems, it still needs to be continuously upgraded and improved. Keeping this in mind, this article summarized the 5 stages of the historical development of robot-assisted surgery for PCa, encompassing the stages of emergence, promotion, development, maturity, and intelligence. Initially, safety concerns were paramount, but subsequent research and engineering advancements have focused on enhancing device efficacy, surgical technology, and achieving precise multi modal treatment. The dominance of da Vinci robot-assisted surgical system has seen this evolution intimately tied to its successive versions. In the future, robot-assisted surgery for PCa will move towards intelligence, promising improved patient outcomes and personalized therapy, alongside formidable challenges. To guide future development, we propose 10 significant prospects spanning clinical, research, engineering, materials, social, and economic domains, envisioning a future era of artificial intelligence in the surgical treatment of PCa.

Abstract Background Hemoglobin-to-red blood cell distribution width ratio (HRR) had great predictive value for the prognosis of malignant tumors and cardiovascular disease. However, its predictive value for the occurrence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in elderly intertrochanteric fracture patients remains unclear. This study aims to analyze the correlation between the early postoperative HRR and the risk of postoperative AKI in elderly intertrochanteric fracture patients. Methods We reviewed the medical records of 307 elderly intertrochanteric fracture patients in this single-center retrospective cohort study. We performed univariate analysis on the relevant parameters, and parameters with significant differences were included in the following logistic regression model for multivariate analysis. Then, we used a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to evaluate the predictive value of the early postoperative HRR level for AKI in elderly intertrochanteric fracture patients. Patients were divided into a high HRR group and a low HRR group according to the cutoff point determined by ROC curve analysis. Subsequently, the relevance between postoperative HRR and AKI was further determined using propensity score matching (PSM) and inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). Results The area under the curve of the early postoperative HRR for predicting postoperative AKI was 0.714 (95% CI: 0.618–0.809). The cutoff value was 5.44. The sensitivity was 72.7%, and the specificity was 70.8%. Patients were divided into low HRR (⩽ 5.44) and high HRR (> 5.44) groups according to the cutoff value. PSM and IPTW analysis indicated that the risk of AKI in the low HRR group was significantly higher than that in the high HRR group in both the matched cohort (OR = 6.914, 95% CI: 1.714–46.603, p = 0.016) and the weighted group (OR = 2.784, 95% CI: 1.415–5.811, p = 0.040). Conclusions Early postoperative HRR is an accurate, accessible, and economical blood test parameter that can predict the risk of postoperative AKI in elderly patients with femoral intertrochanteric fracture.

Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) constitutes one of the primary diseases affecting Brassica rapa, severely impacting its production and resulting in crop failures in various regions worldwide. Recent research has demonstrated the significance of plant translation initiation factors, specifically the eIF4E and eIF4G family genes, as essential recessive disease resistance genes. In our study, we conducted evolutionary and gene expression studies, leading us to identify eIF(iso)4E.c as a potential TuMV-resistant gene. Leveraging CRISPR/Cas9 technology, we obtained mutant B. rapa plants with edited eIF(iso)4E.c gene. We confirmed eIF(iso)4E.c confers resistance against TuMV through phenotypic observations and virus content evaluations. Furthermore, we employed ribosome profiling assays on eif(iso)4e.c mutant seedlings to unravel the translation landscape in response to TuMV. Interestingly, we observed a moderate correlation between the fold changes in gene expression at the transcriptional and translational levels (R2 = 0.729). Comparative analysis of ribosome profiling and RNA-seq data revealed that plant–pathogen interaction, and MAPK signaling pathway–plant pathways were involved in eIF(iso)4E.c-mediated TuMV resistance. Further analysis revealed that sequence features, coding sequence length, and normalized minimal free energy, influenced the translation efficiency of genes. Our study highlights that the loss of eIF(iso)4E.c can result in a highly intricate translation mechanism, acting synergistically with transcription to confer resistance against TuMV.

Abstract Background Cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke have been linked to a higher risk of dementia. We examined whether high levels of cognitive reserve (CR) can attenuate the increased dementia risk and brain pathologies associated with CMDs. Methods Within the UK Biobank, 216,178 dementia-free participants aged ≥ 60 were followed for up to 15 years. Baseline CMDs and incident dementia were ascertained from medical records, medication use, and medical history. Latent class analysis was used to generate an indicator of CR (low, moderate, and high) based on education, occupational attainment, confiding in others, social contact, leisure activities, and television watching time. A subsample (n = 13,663) underwent brain MRI scans during follow-up. Volumes of total gray matter (GMV), hippocampus (HV), and white matter hyperintensities (WMHV) were ascertained, as well as mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) in white matter tracts. Results At baseline, 43,402 (20.1%) participants had at least one CMD. Over a mean follow-up of 11.7 years, 6,600 (3.1%) developed dementia. The presence of CMDs was associated with 57% increased risk of dementia (HR 1.57 [95% CI 1.48, 1.67]). In joint effect analysis, the HRs of dementia for people with CMDs and moderate-to-high CR and low CR were 1.78 [1.66, 1.91] and 2.13 [1.97, 2.30]), respectively (reference: CMD-free, moderate-to-high CR). Dementia risk was 17% lower (HR 0.83 [0.77, 0.91], p

Abstract Background Chemokine ligand 14, which has a C–C motif (CCL14), mediates the immunological milieu around tumors. However, its role in the progression of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is still unknown. Our objectives were to study the association between CCL14 and tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) as well as the predictive significance of CCL14 in LUAD. Methods The expression of CCL14 in LUAD was examined by using the Oncomine, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), The University of Alabama at Birmingham CANcer data analysis Portal (UALCAN), and Human Protein Atlas databases. To determine the prognostic significance of CCL14 in LUAD, researchers used the Kaplan‒Meier plotter and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA, version 2). We utilized TIMER and GEPIA2 to investigate the connection between CCL14 and TIICs. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to test for functional enrichment of genes. We used RT‒qPCR to measure CCL14 expression and Cell Counting Kit-8, Transwell, and wound healing assays to investigate the biological role of CCL14. Results The prognosis of patients with LUAD was worse when CCL14 expression was low. Statistical analysis revealed that CCL14 mRNA expression was significantly greater in lung epithelial cells than in LUAD cell lines in vitro. Enhancing CCL14 expression reduced cell migration, invasion, and proliferation. The results of the immune infiltration research showed that CCL14 and TIICs were positively correlated. Different immune infiltration patterns associated with CCL14 were also shown by TIIC markers. According to GSEA, histone deacetylases, G2/M checkpoints, and Notch signaling pathways were associated with low CCL14 expression. Conclusions CCL14 is anticipated to emerge as a prognostic marker and therapeutic target for LUAD due to its role in regulating TIICs, suggesting that it may be an antioncogene.

Abstract The present study investigates the efficacy of newly developed Zr-based metal–organic frameworks, specifically MIP-206, and its amine-modified counterpart, MIP-206-NH2, for the re-covery of antimony (Sb) from both synthetic and actual mining wastewater. Batch method studies were employed to examine the effect of waste media pH, Sb concentration, process kinetics, and the performance of the regeneration solution. MIP-206-NH2 exhibited impressive separation capabilities, achieving 102.18 mg/g and 63.23 mg/g for Sb (V) and Sb (III), respectively. In contrast, the pristine MIP-206 reached maximum values of 26.26 mg/g for Sb (V) and 16.95 mg/g for Sb (III). The separation process was well-described by the Langmuir equation, and the kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order model. Although the amine modification resulted in a decrease in the surface area of MIP-206 from 1345.21 to 1169.86 m2/g, SEM and XRD analyses confirmed that the structural integrity of MIP-206-NH2 remained unchanged. In terms of reusability, MIP-206-NH2 maintained up to 90% of its separation performance over 9 cycles, while MIP-206 demonstrated effectiveness for 7 cycles. The regeneration solution exhibited a capacity of approximately 0.63 mol/L for Sb (V) and 0.71 mol/L for Sb (III). Furthermore, MIP-206 and MIP-206-NH2 demonstrated successful application in selectively separating Sb from real mining wastewater.

High Mountain Asia (HMA) shows a remarkable warming tendency and divergent trend of regional precipitation with enhanced meteorological extremes. The rapid thawing of the HMA cryosphere may alter the magnitude and frequency of nature hazards. We reviewed the influence of climate change on various types of nature hazards in HMA region, including their phenomena, mechanisms and impacts. It reveals that: 1) the occurrences of extreme rainfall, heavy snowfall, and drifting snow hazards are escalating; accelerated ice and snow melting have advanced the onset and increased the magnitude of snowmelt floods; 2) due to elevating trigger factors, such as glacier debuttressing and the rapid shift of thermal and hydrological regime of bedrock/snow/ice interface or subsurface, the mass flow hazards including bedrock landslide, snow avalanche, ice-rock avalanches or glacier detachment, and debris flow will become more severe; 3) increased active-layer detachment and retrogressive thaw slumps slope failures, thaw settlement and thermokarst lake will damage many important engineering structures and infrastructure in permafrost region; 4) multi-hazards cascading hazard in HMA, such as the glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) and avalanche-induced mass flow may greatly enlarge the destructive power of the primary hazard by amplifying its volume, mobility, and impact force; and 5) enhanced slope instability and sediment supply in the highland areas could impose remote catastrophic impacts upon lowland regions, and threat hydropower security and future water shortage. In future, ongoing thawing of HMA will profoundly weaken the multiple-phase material of bedrock, ice, water, and soil, and enhance activities of nature hazards. Compounding and cascading hazards of high magnitude will prevail in HMA. As the glacier runoff overpasses the peak water, low flow or droughts in lowland areas downstream of glacierized mountain regions will became more frequent and severe. Addressing escalating hazards in the HMA region requires tackling scientific challenges, including understanding multiscale evolution and formation mechanism of HMA hazard-prone systems, coupling thermo‒hydro‒mechanical processes in multi-phase flows, predicting catastrophes arising from extreme weather and climate events, and comprehending how highland hazards propagate to lowlands due to climate change.

Abstract Global warming has a severe impact on the flowering time and yield of crops. Histone modifications have been well-documented for their roles in enabling plant plasticity in ambient temperature. However, the factor modulating histone modifications and their involvement in habitat adaptation have remained elusive. In this study, through genome-wide pattern analysis and quantitative-trait-locus (QTL) mapping, we reveal that BrJMJ18 is a candidate gene for a QTL regulating thermotolerance in thermotolerant B. rapa subsp. chinensis var. parachinensis (or Caixin, abbreviated to Par). BrJMJ18 encodes an H3K36me2/3 Jumonji demethylase that remodels H3K36 methylation across the genome. We demonstrate that the BrJMJ18 allele from Par (BrJMJ18Par) influences flowering time and plant growth in a temperature-dependent manner via characterizing overexpression and CRISPR/Cas9 mutant plants. We further show that overexpression of BrJMJ18Par can modulate the expression of BrFLC3, one of the five BrFLC orthologs. Furthermore, ChIP-seq and transcriptome data reveal that BrJMJ18Par can regulate chlorophyll biosynthesis under high temperatures. We also demonstrate that three amino acid mutations may account for function differences in BrJMJ18 between subspecies. Based on these findings, we propose a working model in which an H3K36me2/3 demethylase, while not affecting agronomic traits under normal conditions, can enhance resilience under heat stress in Brassica rapa.

Owing to their disadvantages of broadband discontinuity, infinite value, or incapability of distinguishing cross-polarization conversions from co-polarization conversions, the traditional linear polarization discrimination methods relating to the phase difference Δφ, the ellipticity angle β, or the axial ratio are inapplicable to the software-based optimal design of broadband cross-polarization conversion metasurfaces (CPMs) consisting of subblocks. Therefore, we introduce the pseudo ellipticity angle β' to characterize the cross-polarization conversion. And based upon the coding metasurfaces and β', this work first employs the Python-programmed binary particle swarm optimization algorithm to accomplish the optimal design of reflective broadband CPMs. Then, the obtained CPM is further simplified by reprocessing the relatively isolated subblocks, which results in the final CPM. The simulated results show that the final CPM realizes the broadband cross-polarization conversion with β' ≥ 0.4π and a relative bandwidth of 36.1 % from 11.66 GHz to 16.79 GHz. Moreover, the measured results are in excellent agreements with the simulated ones, which validates the proposed design method. It advances the broadband CPMs design from manual to automated method.

Despite increasing evidences has highlighted the importance of mitochondria-lipid droplet (LD) coupling in maintaining lipid homeostasis, little progress in unraveling the role of mitochondria-LD coupling in hepatic lipid metabolism has been made. Additionally, diallyl disulfide (DADS), a garlic organosulfur compound, has been proposed to prevent hepatic steatosis; however, no studies have focused on the molecular mechanism to date. To address these gaps, this study investigated the systemic control mechanisms of mitochondria-LD coupling regulating hepatic lipid metabolism, and also explored their function in the process of DADS alleviating hepatic steatosis. To this end, an animal model of lipid metabolism, yellow catfish Pelteobagrus fulvidraco were fed four different diets (control, high-fat, DADS and high-fat + DADS diet) in vivo for 8 weeks; in vitro experiments were conducted to inhibit Mfn2/Atgl-mediated mitochondria-LD coupling in isolated hepatocytes. The key findings are: (1) the activations of hepatic LDs lipolysis and mitochondrial β-oxidation are likely the major drivers for DADS alleviating hepatic steatosis; (2) the underlying mechanism is that DADS enhances mitochondria-LD coupling by promoting the interaction between mitochondrion-localized Mfn2 with LD-localized Atgl, which facilitates the hepatic LDs lipolysis and the transfer of fatty acids (FAs) from LDs to mitochondria for subsequent β-oxidation; (3) Mfn2-mediated mitochondrial fusion facilitates mitochondria to form more PDM, which possess higher β-oxidation capacity in hepatocytes. Significantly, the present research unveils a previously undisclosed mechanism by which Mfn2/Atgl-mitochondria-LD coupling relieves hepatic LDs accumulation, which is a conserved strategy from fish to tetrapod. This study provides another dimension for mitochondria-LD coupling and opens up new avenues for the therapeutic interventions in hepatic steatosis.

Compared to traditional resources, user-side resources are of various types and have more significant uncertainty about their regulatory capacity, leading to difficulties in coordinating decisions about their simultaneous participation in the electric energy and peaking ancillary services markets. This paper proposes a joint bidding decision-making method for the day-ahead electricity energy and peak shaving auxiliary service market based on distributed robust opportunity constraints, which addresses the problem of difficulty in using an accurate probability density distribution to represent the uncertainty process of user-side resources. Firstly, a data-driven method for characterizing the uncertainty of load regulation capacity is investigated, and fuzzy sets are constructed without assuming specific probability distributions of random variables. Then, to minimize the risk expectation of the joint bidding cost on the customer side, a bidding strategy that considers the uncertainty is proposed. Finally, an example simulation verifies the reasonableness and effectiveness of the proposed joint bidding method, and the results show that the constructed model overcomes the problem of over-conservatism of the robust model, and the computational adaptability is better than that of the stochastic model, which achieves a better balance between robustness and economy.

Key Clinical Message The poppy seed test is a valuable, cost‐effective, and sensitive initial diagnostic investigation to identify the presence of colovesical fistula, particularly for clinicians in remote or rural areas with lack of access to specialist radiologic, endoscopic, surgical, or urological support. The poppy seed test therefore may act as a bridge toward the commencement of appropriate referral pathways for the management of colovesical fistula. Abstract The diagnosis of colovesical fistula is resource intensive, often requiring a combination of radiological investigation and endoscopy. The poppy seed test is a non‐invasive and cost‐effective alternative that has been demonstrated to identify presence of colovesical fistula with high sensitivity. There is however a noticeable paucity of recommendations for the poppy seed test in the diagnostic approach to colovesical fistula due to significant advancements in alternative radiologic and endoscopic technologies. Despite this, in resource‐challenged areas with lack of specialist support, the poppy seed test is a cost‐effective, accessible and safe test that can be performed to confirm the presence of colovesical fistula. We report a case of a 79‐year‐old man with a past history of colorectal cancer managed surgically with adjuvant chemoradiotherapy who develops noisy micturition, pneumaturia, and fecaluria 22 years after treatment. Given the suspicion of colovesical fistula, computed tomography imaging and cystoscopy were performed which was unable to demonstrate an overt fistula. The poppy seed test was utilized and demonstrated presence of poppy seeds in the urine, confirming the presence of a fistula. The patient was referred to a specialist surgical center for consideration of further management. The poppy seed test is a valuable initial diagnostic investigation for clinicians in remote or rural areas with lack of access to specialist radiologic, endoscopic, surgical, or urological support in confirming the presence of a colovesical fistula and initiating referral pathways for the management of this condition.

Abstract Zero‐dimensional (0D) hybrid manganese halides have gained wide attention for the various crystal structures, excellent optical performance and scintillation properties compared with 3D lead halide perovskite nanocrystals. In this work, a new family of 0D hybrid manganese halides of A2MnBr4 (A = BzTPP, Br‐BzTPP, and F‐BzTPP) based on discrete [MnBr4]2− tetrahedral units is reported as highly efficient lead‐free scintillators. Excited by UV or blue light, these hybrids emit bright green light originating from the d–d transition of Mn2+ with near‐unity PLQY (99.5%). Significantly, high PLQY and low self‐absorption render extraordinary radioluminescence properties with the highest light yield of 80,100 photons MeV−1, which reached the climax of present hybrid manganese halides and surpassed most commercial scintillators. The radioluminescence intensity features a linear response to X‐ray doses with a detection limit of 30 nGyair s−1, far lower than the requirement of medical diagnostic (5.5 µGyair s−1). X‐ray imaging demonstrates ultrahigh spatial resolution of 14.06 lp mm−1 and short afterglow of 0.3 ms showcasing promising application prospects in radiography. Overall, we demonstrated new hybrid manganese halides as promising scintillators for advanced applications in X‐ray imaging with multiple superiorities of nontoxicity, facile‐assembly process, high irradiation light yield, excellent resolution, and stability.

ZCL-278 is a selective small molecule specifically inhibiting the Cdc42-intersectin interaction, yet its in-vivo pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties against renal diseases had not been determined. Thus, our study explored the absorption, distribution and excretion of ZCL-278 as well as its pharmacological efficacy against chronic kidney disease (CKD). With the optimized detection method, absolute oral bioavailability of ZCL-278 was determined as 10.99 % in male and 17.34 % in female rats. ZCL-278 was rapidly and abundantly distributed in various tissues, especially the kidney and heart, while few excreted through urine and feces. In the adenine-induced CKD mice, the increased plasma creatinine and urea, the decreased body weight as well as the renal pathological alterations, including vacuolization of renal tubular epithelial cells, granular degeneration, cell flattening, luminal dilation, and cylindruria, were significantly ameliorated after ZCL-278 administration. Moreover, ZCL-278 could also reverse the increased intensities of renal inflammation and fibrosis in the CKD mice. These results clarified the pharmacokinetics of ZCL-278 in rats and preliminarily indicated that ZCL-278 has favorable pharmacodynamic properties for CKD primed for lead development and optimization, warranting further drug development.

Glyphosate is the active ingredient in the herbicide (i.e., Roundup, Touchdown and Erasure), the safety of which has become a social concern. Hawthorn-leaf flavonoid (HF) possesses various biological functions, including antioxidant, regulating lipid metabolism and intestinal microbiota. Whether HF could reduce the health risk of pure glyphosate to birds remain unknown. The experiment aimed to evaluate the effects of pure glyphosate (25 mg/kg added to water) on the intestinal health and microbiota of chicks and the protective roles of HF (60 mg/kg added to the diet). Exposure to glyphosate decreased growth performance, ileal morphology structure, and antioxidant capacity, and increased the serum level of lipid and pro-inflammatory factors. 16S rRNA sequencing indicated that glyphosate decreased bacterial richness and the abundance of Lactobacillus, and increased proportions of pathogens in the ileum. Metabolomic results revealed that glyphosate increased the level of the cholic acid and fatty acids in the ileac digesta. Meanwhile, glyphosate down-regulated the protein expression associated with lipid transport, antioxidant and tight junction in the ileal mucosal tissue, and up-regulated the pro-inflammatory, oxidative stress proteins. However, dietary HF supplementation effectively mitigated the adverse effects of glyphosate and improved intestinal health of chicks. Therefore, dietary HF can ameliorate the harmful effects of glyphosate on birds, which highlights the potential application of HF in reducing the health risks.

Background: Vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) are prevalent in patients with osteoporosis and pose significant health risks. Although chronic low-grade inflammation plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis, the relationship between various inflammatory indices and the occurrence of fractures remains unclear. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the correlation between multiple inflammatory indices, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII), and systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI), and VCFs, to explore the significance of these indices in clinical application. Methods: Clinical data of 310 patients diagnosed with osteoporosis from November 2020 to June 2023 in the hospital were collected. The general conditions between fracture and non-fracture groups were described. Spearman analysis and binary logistic regression analysis were used to assess the relationship between inflammatory indices and VCFs. Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of these inflammatory indices for VCFs. Results: VCFs were diagnosed in 43.55 % of patients with osteoporosis. NLR(ρ = 0.169, P=0.003), MLR(ρ = 0.293, P

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the effects of quercetin on cholesterol metabolism and cisplatin sensitivity in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell line (CAL27) and investigate the potential molecular mechanisms. Methods: CAL27 cells were exposed to quercetin or cisplatin after upregulation or downregulation of AGR2. The expression of proteins and genes associated with cholesterol metabolism were assessed. The levels of cholesterol and LDL were also measured, and the cisplatin sensitivity of CAL27 cells was analyzed. Results: RNA high-throughput sequencing revealed that after treatment with quercetin, the expression of AGR2 was significantly reduced in cisplatin-resistant CAL27 cells (CAL-27R), which was associated with lipid metabolism. AGR2 deletion ameliorated but its overexpression exacerbated cisplatin resistance and cholesterol metabolism, evidenced by changes in SQLE, HMGCS, LDLR, and n-SREBP2 expression and cholesterol and LDL levels. Moreover, AGR2 promoted cisplatin resistance by activating the AKT signaling pathway and enhancing SREBP2-mediated cholesterol metabolism. Quercetin increased cisplatin sensitivity by repressing cholesterol metabolism but suppressed the AGR2/AKT/SREBP2 signaling pathway in a concentration-dependent manner. These effects were partly reversed by AGR2 overexpression and AKT activation. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that quercetin inhibits cholesterol metabolism and cisplatin resistance in CAL27 cells by modulating the AGR2/AKT/SREBP2 axis.

BackgroundPrevious studies have investigated the association between the haptoglobin rs72294371 polymorphism and coronary artery disease (CAD) risk, but the results are controversial and uncertain. Therefore, this study aimed to systematically review the literature on haptoglobin polymorphism and susceptibility to CAD.MethodsPubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Wanfang databases were used to identify relevant studies from their inception to April 2024. The pooled odds ratio (OR) with corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to assess the strength of the association. An OR value greater than one suggested an increased risk; otherwise, it suggested a protective risk.ResultsA total of 15 studies comprising 8,632 individuals (2,988 cases and 5,644 controls) were included. In the current meta-analysis, a significant association between haptoglobin polymorphism and CAD was found under recessive model (OR:0.74, 95% CI:0.60–0.92), dominant model (OR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.71–0.95), homozygote model (OR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.53–0.92), and allelic genetic model (OR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.69–0.94). In the analysis stratified by ethnicity, a statistically significant association was observed in Asians rather than Caucasian population.ConclusionThis meta-analysis indicates that haptoglobin polymorphism is associated with CAD susceptibility, especially in Asians.

Severe pneumonia (SP) is a prevalent respiratory ailment characterized by high mortality and poor prognosis. Current scoring systems for pneumonia are not only time-consuming but also exhibit limitations in early SP prediction. To address this gap, this study aimed to develop a machine-learning model using inflammatory markers from peripheral blood for early prediction of SP. A total of 204 pneumonia patients from seven medical centers were studied, with 143 (68 SP cases) in the training cohort and 61 (32 SP cases) in the test cohort. Clinical characteristics and laboratory test results were collected at diagnosis. Various models including Logistic Regression, Random Forest, Naïve Bayes, XGBoost, Support Vector Machine, and Decision Tree were built and evaluated. Seven predictors—age, sex, WBC count, T-lymphocyte count, NLR, CRP, TNF-α, IL-4/IFN-γ ratio, IL-6/IL-10 ratio—were selected through LASSO regression and clinical insight. The XGBoost model, exhibiting best performance, achieved an AUC of 0.901 (95 % CI: 0.827 to 0.985) in the test cohort, with an accuracy of 0.803, sensitivity of 0.844, specificity of 0.759, and F1_score of 0.818. Indeed, SHAP analysis emphasized the significance of elevated WBC counts, older age, and elevated CRP as the top predictors. The use of inflammatory biomarkers in this concise predictive model shows significant potential for the rapid assessment of SP risk, thereby facilitating timely preventive interventions.

Background High cognitive reserve (CR) has been related to lower dementia risk, but its association with heart disease (HD) is unknown. We aimed to explore the relation of CR to HD and cardiac structure and function. Methods and Results Within the UK Biobank, 349 907 HD‐free participants were followed up. A composite CR indicator involving education/occupation attainment/television viewing time/confiding frequency/social connection frequency/variety of leisure activities was generated, and further categorized into low/moderate/high levels. Incident HD, including coronary HD, cardiac arrhythmia, and heart failure, was ascertained on the basis of medical records. During the follow‐up, a subsample (n=31 182) underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging to assess ventricular structure and function. Data were analyzed using Cox regression, Laplace regression, and linear regression. Compared with low CR, the hazard ratio and 95% CI of any HD for high CR was 0.78 (0.75–0.80) (including 0.68 [0.66–0.71] for coronary HD, 0.91 [0.87–0.95] for cardiac arrhythmia, and 0.63 [0.58–0.68] for heart failure). Furthermore, high CR was associated with delayed HD onset by 1.59 (95% CI, 1.37–1.82) years compared with low CR. In cardiac magnetic resonance imaging data analysis, compared with low CR, high CR was associated with larger left ventricular end‐diastolic volume (β, 0.13 [95% CI, 0.09–0.17]), left ventricular end‐systolic volume (β, 0.05 [95% CI, 0.01–0.10]), left ventricular stroke volume (β, 0.16 [95% CI, 0.12–0.21]), and left ventricular ejection fraction (β, 0.08 [95% CI, 0.03–0.13]). Conclusions High CR is associated with favorable HD health. Our findings suggest that the beneficial effect of CR is not limited to dementia but also HD.

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common neurosurgical disease in emergency rooms with poor prognosis, imposing severe burdens on patients and their families. Evidence indicates that piracetam and compound porcine cerebroside and ganglioside injection (CPCGI) can improve cognitive levels in TBI patients to enhance functional prognosis, but there is still a research gap regarding the efficacy of CPCGI. This study aims to determine the effectiveness and safety of CPCGI in improving cognitive and functional outcomes in TBI patients. Methods: This study is a multicenter, randomized, parallel-group, double-blind trial aiming to recruit 900 adult patients with mild to moderate TBI. After providing informed consent, 600 patients will be randomly assigned to the CPCGI group (20 ml/d, for 14 days), and 300 patients will be randomized to the piracetam group as a control (20 ml/d, for 14 days), followed up for 3 months after treatment. The primary outcome is the change in the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score from baseline after 3 months. The main secondary outcome measures include Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores, Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended (GOS-E), and the Barthel Index at 1 and 3 months. Discussion: This multi-center clinical trial aims to provide high-quality evidence on the efficacy and safety of CPCGI in improving cognitive and functional outcomes in mild to moderate TBI patients. Trial registration: ChiCTR2000040466, date of registration: November 28, 2020.

Abstract Background LncRNAs regulate tumorigenesis and development in a variety of cancers. We substantiate for the first time that LINC00606 is considerably expressed in glioblastoma (GBM) patient specimens and is linked with adverse prognosis. This suggests that LINC00606 may have the potential to regulate glioma genesis and progression, and that the biological functions and molecular mechanisms of LINC00606 in GBM remain largely unknown. Methods The expression of LINC00606 and ATP11B in glioma and normal brain tissues was evaluated by qPCR, and the biological functions of the LINC00606/miR-486-3p/TCF12/ATP11B axis in GBM were verified through a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments. The molecular mechanism of LINC00606 was elucidated by immunoblotting, FISH, RNA pulldown, CHIP-qPCR, and a dual-luciferase reporter assay. Results We demonstrated that LINC00606 promotes glioma cell proliferation, clonal expansion and migration, while reducing apoptosis levels. Mechanistically, on the one hand, LINC00606 can sponge miR-486-3p; the target gene TCF12 of miR-486-3p affects the transcriptional initiation of LINC00606, PTEN and KLLN. On the other hand, it can also regulate the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway to mediate glioma cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis by binding to ATP11B protein. Conclusions Overall, the LINC00606/miR-486-3p/TCF12/ATP11B axis is involved in the regulation of GBM progression and plays a role in tumor regulation at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels primarily through LINC00606 sponging miR-486-3p and targeted binding to ATP11B. Therefore, our research on the regulatory network LINC00606 could be a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of GBM. Graphical Abstract LINC00606 is highly expressed in GBM patients with carcinogenic function and correlated with poor prognosis. LINC00606 regulates glioblastoma progression by sponging miR-486-3p and interacting with ATP11B.

Objective To provide a neuroimaging basis for exploring the role of the prefrontal cortex in human urinary control function. Methods Hemodynamic data from the prefrontal cortex of the brain during the task of pelvic floor muscle contraction from 20 healthy female volunteers were collected using functional near-infrared spectroscopy （fNIRS） under two different states of bladder filling and emptying， and these data were processed accordingly to compare the differences in the activation state among different brain compartments of the prefrontal cortex by analyzing the Beta values corresponding to the relative amount of changes in the concentration of oxyhemoglobin extracted from each individual channel. Results A total of 30 channels were activated during bladder filling， whereas 8 channels were activated during bladder emptying （all P < 0.05）， including 7 co-activated channels. The prefrontal cortex activation was more significant during bladder filling than bladder emptying， and the activation was predominantly in the right prefrontal cortex， with the differences mainly in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and frontopolar cortex （all P < 0.05）. Conclusions The prefrontal cortex can be activated by pelvic floor muscle contraction. Under the state of bladder filling， the prefrontal cortex may perceive the pressure change of the bladder through neural reflex activity and thus participate in the regulation of the voluntary pelvic floor muscle contraction， plays a role in human urinary control function. The right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex region possibly plays a more significant role in this process.

Abstract Background Medical students face a heavy burden as they are tasked with acquiring a vast amount of medical knowledge within a limited time frame. Self-directed learning (SDL) has become crucial for efficient and ongoing learning among medical students. However, effective ways to foster SDL ability among Chinese medical students are lacking, and limited studies have identified factors that impact the SDL ability of medical students. This makes it challenging for educators to develop targeted strategies to improve students’ SDL ability. This study aims to assess SDL ability among Chinese medical students and examine the effects of career calling and teaching competencies on SDL ability, as well as the possible mechanisms linking them. Methods Data were collected from 3614 respondents (effective response rate = 60.11%) using cross-sectional online questionnaires and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 22.0. The questionnaire comprised a Demographic Characteristics Questionnaire, Self-directed Learning Ability Scale (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.962), Teaching Competencies Scale, and Career Calling Scale. Results The average SDL ability score of Chinese medical students was 3.68 ± 0.56, indicating a moderate level of SDL ability. The six factors of the Self-directed Learning Ability Scale—self-reflection, ability to use learning methods, ability to set study plans, ability to set studying objectives, ability to adjust psychological state, and willpower in studying—accounted for 12.90%, 12.89%, 12.39%, 11.94%, 11.34%, and 8.67% of the variance, respectively. Furthermore, career calling was positively associated with SDL learning ability (β = 0.295, p

Abstract Severe heterogeneity within glioblastoma has spurred the notion that disrupting the interplay between multiple elements on immunosuppression is at the core of meaningful anti-tumor responses. T cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains (TIGIT) and its glioblastoma-associated antigen, CD155, form a highly immunosuppressive axis in glioblastoma and other solid tumors, yet targeting of TIGIT, a functionally heterogeneous receptor on tumor-infiltrating immune cells, has largely been ineffective as monotherapy, suggesting that disruption of its inhibitory network might be necessary for measurable responses. It is within this context that we show that the usurpation of the TIGIT − CD155 axis via engineered synNotch-mediated activation of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived natural killer (NK) cells promotes transcription factor-mediated activation of a downstream signaling cascade that results in the controlled, localized blockade of CD73 to disrupt purinergic activity otherwise resulting in the production and accumulation of immunosuppressive extracellular adenosine. Such “decoy” receptor engages CD155 binding to TIGIT, but tilts inhibitory TIGIT/CD155 interactions toward activation via downstream synNotch signaling. Usurping activities of TIGIT and CD73 promotes the function of adoptively transferred NK cells into intracranial patient-derived models of glioblastoma and enhances their natural cytolytic functions against this tumor to result in complete tumor eradication. In addition, targeting both receptors, in turn, reprograms the glioblastoma microenvironment via the recruitment of T cells and the downregulation of M2 macrophages. This study demonstrates that TIGIT/CD155 and CD73 are targetable receptor partners in glioblastoma. Our data show that synNotch-engineered pluripotent stem cell-derived NK cells are not only effective mediators of anti-glioblastoma responses within the setting of CD73 and TIGIT/CD155 co-targeting, but represent a powerful allogeneic treatment option for this tumor.

This experiment aimed to discuss and reveal the effect and mechanism of mannanase on intestinal inflammation in broilers triggered by a soybean meal diet. In this experiment, 384 Arbor Acres broilers at 1 d old were randomly divided into 3 treatment groups. The broilers were fed a corn-soybean meal basal diet, a low-energy diet (metabolizable energy reduced by 50 kcal/kg), and a low-energy diet supplemented with 100 mg/kg mannanase for 42 d. The low-energy diet increased feed conversion ratio from 0 to 42 d, reduced ileal villus height and villus height-to-crypt depth ratio and upregulated the expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in the ileum (P

The aroma-active compounds (AACs) of traditional vinegars are formed through complexed pathways. Moreover, their source is not clear yet. The composition of AACs throughout the entire process of Shanxi aged vinegar (SAV) production from the raw materials, alcohol fermentation (AF), acetic acid fermentation (AAF), fumigation and aging stages were analyzed. A total of 121 AACs were determined by GC × GC-O-TOF-MS, of which 88 were identified by GC–MS/MS. There were 27 and 41 AACs (FD ≥ 400) detected in before-aging and after-aging SAV, respectively. Furthermore, it can be concluded the AAF and fumigation were the main sources of AACs. Also, the AAF was the main source of the compounds with caramel, creamy, floral, fruity, sour, cheesy notes, while the compounds owned roasted, nutty, spicy and woody aromas mainly came from fumigation. Finally, the potential transformation pathway of AACs was mapped and discussed. Overall, GC × GC-O-TOF-MS was a useful technique to enrich the AACs of SAV.

Exposure to environmental chemicals is prevalent. While previous studies reported associations between multiple chemical exposures and metabolic syndrome (MetS), they did not comprehensively account for correlations among exposures. We used machine learning methods including Boruta algorithm and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, combined with weighted quartiles sum (WQS) regression to investigate the associations of phenols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), metals, and phthalates with MetS and its components. Data were drawn from the 2005–2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The mean (standard deviation (SD)) age of 2596 participants was 48.4 (17.9) years. After adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, race/ethnicity, marital status, education, poverty income ratio, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol, higher 2-Phenanthrene (2-PHE) and mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP) concentrations were associated with a higher odds of the MetS (odds ratio (OR) = 4.26, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 2.40–7.58 per ng/mL, and 3.24, 1.75–6.02 per ng/L, respectively). WQS index for environmental chemicals was positively associated with the MetS (OR = 1.31, 95 % CI 1.09–1.57). Moreover, we observed consistent and stronger positive associations with MetS (OR = 1.54, 95 % CI 1.04–2.30) in current smokers. Exposure to phenols, PAHs, metals, and phthalates was positively associated with an increase in metabolic syndrome and its components, which was more pronounced in current smokers.

Background Indigo naturalis is effective against psoriasis. Indigo, indirubin and tryptanthrin, the main active components of indigo naturalis, have anti-inflammatory properties.Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of indigo naturalis and its active components in the treatment of psoriasis.Methods Seven databases were searched for studies of indigo naturalis and its active components for the treatment of psoriasis.Results The findings demonstrated a higher response rate in the Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) formula groups than in the control group for Psoriasis Area and Severity Index 60 (PASI60) (Rate difference [RD] = 0.22, p

ABSTRACTA total of 240 laying ducks at 24 wk of age were randomly assigned to 4 groups with 6 replicates of 10 layers each according to a completely randomized design. The control group were fed a basic diet, and three treatment groups were fed a basic diet supplemented with 2%, 4% and 6% Artemisia argyi powder (AAP). The adaption period was 7 d and the main experimental period was 35 d. The addition of 2% and 4% AAP increased ALR and PLR, while decreased FCR (P 0.05) ADFI compared to the control group. Supplementation with AAP enhanced (P 0.05). Compared to the control, the concentrations of PUFA and DPA in the 4% AAP and 6% AAP groups were increased (P

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a common chronic microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus. Although studies have indicated the therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for DKD, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Herein, we explored the renoprotective effect of placenta-derived MSCs (P-MSCs) and the potential mechanism of SIRT1/FOXO1 pathway-mediated autophagy in DKD. The urine microalbumin/creatinine ratio was determined using ELISA, and renal pathological changes were detected by special staining techniques. Immunofluorescence was used for detecting the renal tissue expression of podocin and nephrin; immunohistochemistry for the renal expression of autophagy-related proteins (LC3, Beclin-1, SIRT1, and FOXO1); and western blotting and PCR for the expression of podocyte autophagy- and pathway-related indicators. We found that P-MSCs ameliorated renal tubular injury and glomerular mesangial matrix deposition and alleviated podocyte damage in DKD rats. PMSCs enhanced autophagy levels and increased SIRT1 and FOXO1 expression in DKD rat renal tissue, whereas the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine significantly attenuated the renoprotective effect of P-MSCs. P-MSCs improved HG-induced Mouse podocyte clone5(MPC5)injury, increased podocyte autophagy, and upregulated SIRT1 and FOXO1 expression. Moreover, downregulation of SIRT1 expression blocked the P-MSC-mediated enhancement of podocyte autophagy and improvement of podocyte injury. Thus, P-MSCs can significantly improve renal damage and reduce podocyte injury in DKD rats by modulating the SIRT1/FOXO1 pathway and enhancing podocyte autophagy.

ObjectiveTo preliminarily explore the risk factors for post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans (PIBO) complicating adenovirus pneumonia (ADVP) in children through a meta-analysis.MethodsA systematic search was conducted on three English-language databases (PubMed, Web of Science and The National Library of Medicine) and two Chinese-language databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure and the Wanfang Database) between database inception and 1 January 2023. Data analysis was conducted using Stata 15.1 software.ResultsA total of 10 articles, reporting 14 risk factors, were included in the analysis, with 8 risk factors taken into consideration. Through the meta-analysis, 5 risk factors were identified for PIBO complicating ADVP in paediatric patients: hypoxaemia [odds ratio (OR) = 9.37, 95% CI: 4.22, 20.77, p

This study introduces the concept of nonlocal effect into a monoatomic mass–spring periodic structure, leading to unique characteristics of dispersion curves. Through the incorporation of the second neighboring nonlocal effect, we have observed the emergence of negative group velocity and specific points with zero group velocity (ZGV) within the dispersion curves. By harnessing the distinctive property of ZGV, we successfully attained the localization of transmission at specific frequencies, leading to a rainbow trapping effect. Notably, with the appropriate tuning of the third neighboring nonlocal effect, we observe that multi-frequency can be localized at predetermined positions. Waves under these frequencies are trapped at the same location, demonstrating a multi-frequency rainbow trapping phenomenon. The results from this research provide a novel perspective on elastic wave manipulation in periodic structures, with potential implications for the design of advanced materials and devices.

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is characterized by complex pathogenesis and poor prognosis; therefore, an exploration of novel etiological factors may be beneficial. Despite glycemic control, the persistence of transient hyperglycemia still induces vascular complications due to metabolic memory. However, its contribution to DKD remains unclear. Using single-cell RNA sequencing data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, we clustered 12 cell types and employed enrichment analysis and a cell‒cell communication network. Fibrosis, a characteristic of DKD, was found to be associated with metabolic memory. To further identify genes related to metabolic memory and fibrosis in DKD, we combined the above datasets from humans with a rat renal fibrosis model and mouse models of metabolic memory. After overlapping, NDRG1, NR4A1, KCNC4 and ZFP36 were selected. Pharmacology analysis and molecular docking revealed that pioglitazone and resveratrol were possible agents affecting these hub genes. Based on the ex vivo results, NDRG1 was selected for further study. Knockdown of NDRG1 reduced TGF-β expression in human kidney-2 cells (HK-2 cells). Compared to that in patients who had diabetes for more than 10 years but not DKD, NDRG1 expression in blood samples was upregulated in DKD patients. In summary, NDRG1 is a key gene involved in regulating fibrosis in DKD from a metabolic memory perspective. Bioinformatics analysis combined with experimental validation provided reliable evidence for identifying metabolic memory in DKD patients.

Objectives: The association of the dietary inflammatory potential with cancer risk remains uncertain. We examined the relationship of the dietary inflammatory potential with risk of overall and site-specific cancers and explored its sex and age differences. Design: A community-based longitudinal study. Setting: Participants from the UK Biobank completed baseline surveys during 2006–2010 and were followed for up to 15 years to detect incident cancer. Participants: 170,899 cancer-free participants with dietary data available (mean age: 55.73 ± 7.95, 54.10% female). Measurements: At baseline, dietary intake was assessed with a 24-h dietary record for up to 5 times. The inflammatory diet index (IDI) was calculated to assess the dietary inflammatory potential as a weighted sum of 31 food groups (including 14 anti-inflammatory and 17 pro-inflammatory) based on plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels, and tertiled as low (indicating low-inflammatory diet), moderate, and high IDI (as reference). Overall and site-specific cancers were ascertained via linkage to routine hospital admission, cancer registry, and death certificate data. Data were analyzed using Cox regression and Laplace regression. Results: During the follow-up (median 10.32 years, interquartile range: 9.95–11.14 years), 18,884 (11.05%) participants developed cancer. In multi-adjusted Cox regression, low IDI scores were associated with decreased risk of rectal cancer (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval, CI] 0.76 [0.61, 0.94]), thyroid cancer [0.45 (0.27, 0.74)], lung cancer [0.73 (0.61, 0.88)]. However, the association between IDI score and the risk of overall cancer was not significant. Laplace regression analysis showed that 10th percentile differences (95% CIs) of cancer onset time for participants with low IDI scores was prolonged by 1.29 (0.32, 2.27), 1.44 (0.58, 2.30), and 2.62 (0.98, 4.27) years for rectal cancer, thyroid cancer, and lung cancer, respectively, compared to those with high IDI scores. Stratified analysis revealed that low IDI scores were associated with a lower risk of rectal cancer (p interaction between IDI score and sex = 0.035) and lung cancer in males, but not in females, and with a reduced risk of thyroid cancer in females, but not in males. Moreover, low IDI scores were associated with a reduced risk of rectal cancer and lung cancer in the participants aged ≥60 years, but not in those

In an arid region, water shortage limits agricultural development, and worse, soil salinization is accompanied by soil moisture drought. In this region, hydraulic lift occurs due to the drying upper layer caused by high precipitation and the wet lower layer. Hydraulic lift is defined as water redistribution from wetter, deeper soil layers to drier, shallower soil layers near the soil surface through the plant roots. To examine the effects of water and salt stresses on tomato yield and fruit quality under the condition of hydraulic lift, a 2year experiment was conducted. Different water and salt treatments were designed, including three water levels (W1, W2 and W3 indicating soil moisture contents of 60%–70%, 50%–60% and 40%–50% of the field capacity, respectively) and four salt levels (S0, S1, S2 and S3 indicating NaCl addition of 0%, 0.2%, 0.4% and 0.6% of the dry soil weight, respectively) of the upper pot, and water and salt levels of control treatment (CK) were W1 and S0, respectively. The yield under other treatments significantly decreased by 4.59%–58.39% and 5.12%–62.96% in 2018 and 2019, respectively, compared with that under CK, and the yield under W1S1 treatment had no significance with that under CK in 2018. The firmest fruit quality was observed in the plant under W3S1 treatment, and the percentage increases were 28.67% and 28.89% in both years compared with that under CK. Water, salt stress and their interactions had significant effects on tomato taste quality and vitamin C. Tomato taste quality and vitamin C decreased under the W3 and S3 treatments. In both years, the total magnitudes of hydraulic lift during the entire growth period were higher under the W1S2 treatment (65.20% and 76.06%, respectively) than that under CK. Whereas yield and total magnitudes of hydraulic lift were significantly both correlated with single fruit weight, single fruit volume, fruit shape index and taste qualities, no correlations were observed between hydraulic lift and yield. Mild waterdeficit and salt stresses could improve tomato quality with negligible yield loss, and hydraulic lift had positive effects on fruit quality. Principal component analysis revealed that the combination of W1 and S1 treatments increased fruit quality and total hydraulic lift magnitudes with an acceptable yield decline. These results are important for tomato production in arid saline-alkali region where hydraulic lift is positively corelated with fruit quality and famers may consider this trait to resist drought and soil salinization. Future studies focusing on the effects of the internal mechanisms of hydraulic lift caused by changes in sap flow on tomato quality and yield are warranted.

BackgroundThe dietary protein proportion may be crucial in triggering overweight and obesity among children and adolescents.MethodsCross-sectional data from 4,336 children and adolescents who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES) between 2011 and March 2020 were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Restricted cubic splines assessed the nonlinear relationships between dietary protein intake and the prevalence of overweight and obesity.ResultsAdjusted logistic regression models showed that each 1% increase in dietary protein proportion was associated with a 4% higher risk of overweight and obesity (OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01–1.07). A nonlinear relationship was noted in children aged 6–11 years (P

This study aims to broaden the current knowledge on the effect of entrepreneurial commitment on entrepreneurial performance. Specifically, this study investigates how entrepreneurial commitment affects entrepreneurial performance through the mediation effect of family-work conflict, and the moderation effect of organization-family support. Using survey data collected from 246 China’s entrepreneurs, this study finds that entrepreneurial commitment affects entrepreneurial performance through family-work conflict/enhancement. In addition, organization-family support has a negatively moderating effect on the relationship of family-work conflict and entrepreneurial performance, and a positively moderating effect on the relationship of family-work enhancement and entrepreneurial performance. This study contributes theoretically to the literature on the relationship of entrepreneurial commitment and entrepreneurial performance through family-work conflict/enhancement, which can help entrepreneurs balance the entrepreneur and family identities.

Abstract Energy loss in perovskite grain boundaries (GBs) is a primary limitation toward high‐efficiency perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Two critical strategies to address this issue are high‐quality crystallization and passivation of GBs. However, the established methods are generally carried out discretely due to the complicated mechanisms of grain growth and defect formation. In this study, a combined method is proposed by introducing 3,4,5‐Trifluoroaniline iodide (TFAI) into the perovskite precursor. The TFAI triggers the union of nano‐sized colloids into microclusters and facilitates the complete phase transition of α‐FAPbI3 at room temperature. The controlled chemical reactivity and strong steric hindrance effect enable the fixed location of TFAI and suppress defects at GBs. This combination of well‐crystallized perovskite grains and effectively passivated GBs leads to an improvement in the open circuit voltage (Voc) of PSCs from 1.08 V to 1.17 V, which is one of the highest recorded Voc without interface modification. The TFAI‐incorporated device achieved a champion PCE of 24.81%. The device maintained a steady power output near its maximum power output point, showing almost no decay over 280 h testing without pre‐processing.

Due to their inherent defects, circular polarization discrimination methods involving amplitude-phase or axial ratio are obstacles of the computer software-based optimal design of broadband linear-to-circular (LTC) polarization conversion metasurfaces. Therefore, based on the proposed circular polarization discrimination method relating to ellipticity angle β, this study exploits Python-programmed elitist preserving genetic algorithm to optimally design a reflective-type broadband LTC polarization conversion metasurface. The simulation results demonstrate that the final metasurface can realize the wideband LTC polarization conversion; the measured results are in excellent agreement with the simulations, thus validating the proposed design method. It provides an efficient alternative for broadband LTC polarization conversion metasurface designs, which drives the development of the design of LTC polarization conversion metasurfaces from manual methods towards automation. And this work can be applied in antenna designs, optical devices, and remote sensing.