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Co-infection with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and Haemophilus parasuis (HPS) has severely restricted the healthy development of pig breeding. Exploring disease resistance of non-coding RNAs in pigs co-infected with PRRSV and HPS is therefore critical to complement and elucidate the molecular mechanisms of disease resistance in Kele piglets and to innovate the use of local pig germplasm resources in China. RNA-seq of lungs from Kele piglets with single-infection of PRRSV or HPS and co-infection of both pathogens was performed. Two hundred and twenty-five differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs (DElncRNAs) and 30 DEmicroRNAs (DEmiRNAs) were identified and characterized in the PRRSV and HPS co-infection (PRRSV–HPS) group. Compared with the single-infection groups, 146 unique DElncRNAs, 17 unique DEmiRNAs, and 206 target differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the PRRSV–HPS group. The expression patterns of 20 DEmiRNAs and DElncRNAs confirmed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were consistent with those determined by high-throughput sequencing. In the PRRSV–HPS group, the target DEGs were enriched in eight immune Gene Ontology terms relating to two unique DEmiRNAs and 16 DElncRNAs, and the unique target DEGs participated the host immune response to pathogens infection by affecting 15 immune-related Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment pathways. Notably, competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks of different groups were constructed, and the ssc-miR-671-5p miRNA was validated as a potential regulatory factor to regulate DTX4 and AEBP1 genes to achieve innate antiviral effects and inhibit pulmonary fibrosis by dual-luciferase reporter assays. These results provided insight into further study on the molecular mechanisms of resistance to PRRSV and HPS co-infection in Kele piglets.

Abstract Background Logsplitter Injury is a type of high-energy ankle fracture dislocation. The mechanism of injury has not been described in detail. A detailed understanding of the radiological features and pathological changes can further guide treatment. Methods Between April 2009 and December 2018, a retrospective analysis was conducted on 62 patients with Logsplitter injury. The study analysed the characteristics of fibular injury, tibial injury, syndesmosis injury, medial injury and lateral ligament injury on preoperative X-ray and CT scans. The incidence of the different injury types was summarised. The correlation between Logsplitter injuries and the mechanisms causing them were analysed using the Lauge-Hansen classification of ankle fractures. Results The study provides data on the types of fractures observed. Of the total fractures, 98.4% were open fractures. The fibula injuries were classified as no fracture (1.6%), transverse or short oblique fractures (61.3%), butterfly fragments (25.8%), and comminuted fractures (11.3%). The tibial injuries included compression of lateral articular surfaces (38.7%) and posterior compressions (6.5%). Medial injuries, including medial malleolar fractures, accounted for 87.1%, and deltoid ligament rupture accounted for 12.9%. The study found that injuries to the syndesmosis consisted of simple ligament ruptures (11.3%), Tillaux fractures (8.1%), Volkmann fractures (43.5%), and Tillaux and Volkmann fractures (37.1%). In 12.9% of cases, there was a complete rupture of the lateral collateral ligament. Based on the Lauge-Hansen classification, 87.1% of injuries were pronation-abduction injuries, while 8.1% were pronation and external rotation injuries, and 1.6% were supination external rotation injuries. Furthermore, 3.2% of cases could not be classified. Conclusion The pathoanatomic characteristics of Logsplitter injury are diverse, with some cases accompanied by collateral ligament injury. It is important to note that these evaluations are objective and based on current results. The most common injury mechanism is vertical violence combined with abduction, although in some cases, it may be a vertical combined external-rotation injury. Level of evidence (4) case series. Trial registration This study has been approved by the ethical research committee of the Honghui Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, under the code: 202,003,002.

Abstract Background Early prognosis evaluation is crucial for decision-making in cardiogenic shock (CS) patients. Dynamic lactate assessment, for example, normalized lactate load, has been a better prognosis predictor than single lactate value in septic shock. Our objective was to investigate the correlation between normalized lactate load and in-hospital mortality in patients with CS. Methods Data were extracted from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC)-IV database. The calculation of lactate load involved the determination of the cumulative area under the lactate curve, while normalized lactate load was computed by dividing the lactate load by the corresponding period. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed, and the evaluation of areas under the curves (AUC) for various parameters was performed using the DeLong test. Results Our study involved a cohort of 1932 CS patients, with 687 individuals (36.1%) experiencing mortality during their hospitalization. The AUC for normalized lactate load demonstrated significant superiority compared to the first lactate (0.675 vs. 0.646, P

Background The "Fourteenth Five-Year Plan for Healthy Aging" proposes to promote the realization of healthy aging, which not only requires the elderly to be healthy, but also pays attention to the security. With the deepening of the aging society, there is a significant gap in the level of participation of the current pension insurance system for urban and rural residents in various provinces. Under this background, it is of great significance to study the endowment insurance system. Objective To describ the spatial distribution of the basic old-age insurance participation level of urban and rural residents in 31 provinces in China from 2013 to 2020, to observe the spatial correlation and difference of the participation level among provinces, to analyze the relevant influencing factors, and to provide suggestions for the government and medical and health administrative departments to formulate the old-age insurance policy. Methods The data for this study is sourced from the China Statistical Yearbook from 2014 to 2021. The level of participation in urban and rural residential insurance is calculated based on the ratio of the number of urban and rural residents participating in basic pension insurance by region in the public management, social security, and social organization modules to the end of year population in the population clump. The various indicators of influencing factors are all from the 2014-2021 China Statistical Yearbook. Using ArcGIS 10.8 statistical analysis software, the basic pension insurance participation levels of urban and rural residents in 31 provinces were matched with provincial administrative divisions in China. Descriptive research and analysis were conducted on the differences in pension insurance participation levels among 31 provinces. Using methods such as global spatial autocorrelation and Getis Ord Gi * local hotspots, the spatial correlation and hot and cold spots of participation levels were studied, Study the relevant influencing factors by combining geographic detectors. Results Overall, from 2013 to 2020, the number and level of urban and rural resident insurance participants in China had been continuously increasing year by year; from a vertical structure perspective, there were significant differences in the level of insurance participation among provinces; from a horizontal perspective, from 2013 to 2020, the growth rate of most provinces was positive. The participation level of basic pension insurance for urban and rural residents in 31 provinces of China from 2013 to 2020 had spatial correlation. The central provinces were hot areas, while Shanghai is a cold area. The influencing factors on the participation rate were economic development factors, social development factors, policy factors, and cultural and educational factors in descending order. Conclusion The overall level of participation in basic pension insurance for residents has been increasing year by year, but there are differences in the level of participation and growth rate among provinces. The level of economic development is an important factor affecting the level of participation in basic pension insurance for residents.

In the context of a warming climate, glacial debris flows will inevitably increase under the coupled effect of increased temperature and precipitation. However, the extent of future losses is unclear due to the complexity of modelling glacial debris flow processes. This study integrated the degree-day model, the TRIGRS model, and the LS-RAPID model to assess increasing risk in the future period (2071–2100) under the SSP2-4.5 scenario compared to the present. A fatal glacial debris flow in the Tianmo Gully that occurred on September 4, 2007 (hereafter referred to as “the event”) was taken as an example. By the 2090s, compared to the event, the contribution of temperature to the occurrence of glacial debris flows was projected to increase significantly, from 77.05 % to 89.68 % under the SSP2-4.5 scenario. Combining meltwater and precipitation, the study reproduced the propagation of the event and simulated the future extreme debris flow event. Although the section of National Highway 318 (G318) below Tianmo Gully was relocated and reconstructed 150 m away from the historic sedimentary fan, a section of 88.46 m remained at risk of inundation in the future. The maximum height of the debris flow dam in the Parlung Zangbo River could reach up to 34.50 m, doubling the height of the event. Debris removal from the road is estimated to take 1 day, resulting in a projected loss of tourism revenue amounting to RMB 17.82 million. Without relocation, the clearing time would take up to 3 days. The economic benefit of rerouting the section was projected at RMB 13.81 million. The mechanisms of glacial debris flow in Parlung region are similar. Both the concept of model integration and the comparison of the simulation results are of great importance for risk assessments under global warming.

The initial investment for a buried pipe system using soil as a seasonal thermal storage medium is costly and not suitable for small rural buildings. To promote the cost-effective heating in rural areas, this study proposes a novel seasonal thermal storage system utilizing water and soil as thermal storage medium with copper rods to enhance thermal transfer between water tank and the surrounding soil. An experimental platform was established to discuss the temperature variation characteristics and investigate the thermal performance under different operating modes and experimental parameters. The results show that the temperature of the soil without copper rods is linearly related to the depth, while the highest temperature at the end of the copper rods occurs at the middle depth. The soil with short copper rods exhibits the most rapid thermal storage response and a relatively shorter thermal extraction response time. Intermittent operation can significantly enhance the thermal extraction rate and outlet temperature of the thermal storage unit, whereas the energy storage efficiency decreases with the extension of the downtime. The soil contribution rate of the thermal storage unit is influenced by the operational duration, initial temperature of the water tank and outdoor ambient temperature.

A novel combined cooling, heating and power (CCHP) system is proposed based on mixture consisting of CO2 and organic fluids to meet the seasonal energy demand in buildings. Thermodynamic model was constructed based on the laws of thermodynamics, and seasonal operation modes were also established. Techno-economic performance was analyzed and the performance of mixture consisting of CO2 and organic fluids compared with CO2 and pure organic fluids. Results show that the temperature of the turbine inlet in trans-critical power cycle should be 10 °C lower than the heat source temperature, with the turbine inlet pressure being approximately 1.4 times as large as critical pressure. Turbine inlet temperature is negatively correlated to the payback period and levelized energy cost while turbine inlet pressure is positively correlated to the system economic performance. The carbon dioxide content is negatively correlated to net power output, thermal efficiency and exergy efficiency, while coefficient of performance will hit the bottom with the carbon dioxide content, except CO2/Propane. For the carbon dioxide content is between 5 % and 10 %, the system overall performance is also close to optimal value. In general, CO2/R134a (0.10/0.90) and CO2/R1234ze(E) (0.10/0.90) is recommendable.

Abstract Objective Catalpol (CAT) has various pharmacological activities and plays a protective role in cerebral ischemia. It has been reported that CAT played a protective role in cerebral ischemia by upregulaing NRF1 expression. Bioinformatics analysis reveals that NRF1 can be used as a transcription factor to bind to the histone acetyltransferase KAT2A. However, the role of KAT2A in cerebral ischemia remains to be studied. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the role of CAT in cerebral ischemia and its related mechanism. Methods In vitro, a cell model of oxygen and glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) was constructed, followed by evaluation of neuronal injury and the expression of METTL3, Beclin-1, NRF1, and KAT2A. In vivo, a MCAO rat model was prepared by means of focal cerebral ischemia, followed by assessment of neurological deficit and brain injury in MCAO rats. Neuronal autophagy was evaluated by observation of autophagosomes in neurons or brain tissues by TEM and detection of the expression of LC3 and p62. Results In vivo, CAT reduced the neurological function deficit and infarct volume, inhibited neuronal apoptosis in the cerebral cortex, and significantly improved neuronal injury and excessive autophagy in MCAO rats. In vitro, CAT restored OGD/R-inhibited cell viability, inhibited cell apoptosis, LDH release, and neuronal autophagy. Mechanistically, CAT upregulated NRF1, NRF1 activated METTL3 via KAT2A transcription, and METTL3 inhibited Beclin-1 via m6A modification. Conclusion CAT activated the NRF1/KAT2A/METTL3 axis and downregulated Beclin-1 expression, thus relieving neuronal injury and excessive autophagy after cerebral ischemia.

Abstract Background The SelectSecure™ 3830 lead is an innovative, lumenless, and thin active fixed lead with a nonretractable screw-in tip and a diameter of 4.1 Fr, making it the thinnest pacing lead available. Its high anti-extrusion properties and durability have shown favorable outcomes in cardiac pacing, especially in pediatric patients. The superfine design and easy implantation of the lead have rendered it a preferred choice in children, particularly in cases of congenital heart disease. Case presentation This case series presents two infant patients who underwent transvenous endocardial pacing using the SelectSecure™ 3830 lead, along with a comprehensive literature review on the topic. The study followed the patients for 5 years and 3 years, respectively, and observed stable pacing parameters, indicating a positive therapeutic outcome and safety. This article discusses the optimal age and body shape for transvenous lead implantation in infants and highlights the advantages and disadvantages of endocardial and epicardial pacing approaches. Although endocardial pacing offers several benefits such as minimal trauma, short hospital stay, and longer battery life, it may not be suitable for intracardiac shunts, and venous occlusion remains a concern. On the other hand, epicardial pacing may be considered for children with challenging endocardial access but comes with higher risk of lead failure and coronary artery compression. This study emphasizes the importance of careful follow-up in pediatric patients with pacing, as lead failure can occur in young patients owing to growth and development, leading to syncope and battery depletion. The article also underscores the significance of selecting the appropriate pacing location to minimize the impact of cardiac function, with right ventricular septal pacing emerging as a preferable option. Conclusions The SelectSecure™ 3830 lead presents a promising solution for transvenous endocardial pacing in pediatric patients with high degree atrioventricular block and bradycardia, ensuring safe and effective pacing as they grow and develop.

The zoonosis caused by Nocardia is increasing seriously. But commonly used antibiotic drugs often lead to resistance. N. seriolae dUTPase (NsdUTPase) plays a key role in the proliferation of Nocardia, and was regarded as a potent drug target. However, there was little report about the NsdUTPase inhibitors. In this study, we discovered a series of novel NsdUTPase inhibitors to fight against Nocardia. The first crystal structure of NsdUTPase was released, and a structure-based computational design was performed. Compounds 4b and 12b exhibited promising activities towards NsdUTPase (IC50 = 0.99 μM and 0.7 μM). In addition, they showed satisfied anti-Nocardia activity (MIC value ranges from 0.5 to 2 mg/L) and low cytotoxicity, which were better than approved drugs oxytetracycline and florfenicol. Molecular modelling study indicated that hydrophobic interaction might be the main contribution for ligand binding. Our results suggested that NsdUTPase inhibitors might be a useful way to repress Nocardia.

Summary: Autophagy enhancement in septic liver injury can play a protective role. Nerveless, the mechanism of autophagy-mediated septic liver injury needs further investigation. Our study demonstrated that in septic condition, GLI Family Zinc Finger 2 (GLI2) was elevated, whereas peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) was downregulated. Suppressing GLI2 or synovialapoptosis inhibitor 1 (SYVN1) in LPS-exposed cells increased PPARα levels, enhanced cell viability and autophagy, while inhibiting apoptosis. LPS enhanced the GLI2-SYVN1 promoter binding. SYVN1 fostered ubiquitin-mediated degradation of PPARα. IGF2BP3 stabilized GLI2 mRNA by targeting its m6A site. Silencing IGF2BP3 led to decreased GLI2 and SYVN1 but increased PPARα levels, promoting cell survival and autophagy, while repressing apoptosis. This was counteracted by SYVN1 overexpression. In cecal ligation and puncture mice, IGF2BP3, SYVN1, or GLI2 knockdown ameliorated liver damage and augmented autophagy. In summary, IGF2BP3 enhanced GLI2 stability, overexpressed GLI2 subsequent promoted SYVN1 levels by interacting with its promoter, leading to ubiquitinated degradation of PPARα, thereby inhibiting PPARα-mediated autophagy and then exacerbating liver injury in sepsis.

OSU-03013 is a structurally modified analog of celecoxib. This study probed the antitumor activity of OSU-03013 on colon cancer (CC) and explored its possible mechanism. CCK-8 method was used to evaluate the activity of OSU-03013 on CC cell SW480 and normal colon epithelial cell FHC, and the anti-proliferation effect of OSU-03013 was detected by CCK-8 and colony formation assay. In addition, flow cytometry and Annexin V-FITC/PI were applied to detect apoptosis of SW480 cells, and Transwell was to detect cell migration and invasion. β-catenin, c-myc, and Wnt1 genes were assessed by RT-qPCR, and E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and β-catenin, c-myc, mTOR, p-mTOR, and Wnt1 proteins were detected by Western Blot. OSU-03013 had dose-dependent and time-dependent antitumor activity on SW480 cells, which can promote tumor cell apoptosis, up-regulate E-cadherin, and down-regulate β-catenin, c-myc, Wnt1, and N-cadherin. OSU-03013 has anti-tumor activity on CC cells. The anti-cancer mechanism of OSU-03013 is achieved by inhibiting the activation of Wnt pathway genes and inhibiting tumor invasion and metastasis. This study provides a scientific basis for the clinical application of OSU-03013 in the treatment of CC.

Abstract Accurate identification and localization of multiple abnormalities are crucial steps in the interpretation of chest X-rays (CXRs); however, the lack of a large CXR dataset with bounding boxes severely constrains accurate localization research based on deep learning. We created a large CXR dataset named CXR-AL14, containing 165,988 CXRs and 253,844 bounding boxes. On the basis of this dataset, a deep-learning-based framework was developed to identify and localize 14 common abnormalities and calculate the cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) simultaneously. The mean average precision values obtained by the model for 14 abnormalities reached 0.572-0.631 with an intersection-over-union threshold of 0.5, and the intraclass correlation coefficient of the CTR algorithm exceeded 0.95 on the held-out, multicentre and prospective test datasets. This framework shows an excellent performance, good generalization ability and strong clinical applicability, which is superior to senior radiologists and suitable for routine clinical settings.

Abstract Background There are a variety of determinants that are key to functional disability of older adults. However, little is known regarding the relationship between cognitive frailty and disability among older people. The aims of this study were to examine the associations between cognitive frailty and its six components with instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) functioning in community-dwelling older adults. Methods A total of 313 community-dwelling older adults (aged ≥ 65 years) were recruited from eight community centers in central China. Cognitive frailty was operationalized using the Mini-Mental State Examination for the evaluation of cognitive status and the Fried criteria for the evaluation of physical frailty. The outcome was functional disability assessed by the IADL scale. The association between cognitive frailty, as well as its components, and IADL limitations was identified by conducting binary logistic regression analysis. Results The prevalence of cognitive frailty was 8.9% in this study. The results showed that cognitive frailty (OR = 22.86) and frailty without cognitive impairment (OR = 8.15) were associated with IADL limitations. Subdimensions of cognitive frailty, exhaustion, weakness, low physical activity and cognitive impairment components were independently associated with IADL limitations. Conclusion Cognitive frailty was associated with a higher prevalence of disability. Interventions for improving cognitive frailty should be developed to prevent IADL disability among community-dwelling older adults in China.

Abstract Background The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has seriously impacted the mental and sexual health of the general population. Patients dealing with infertility constitute a unique subset within society, susceptible to heightened sensitivity amid pressures and crises. However, to the best of our knowledge, the impact of the different stages of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental and sexual health of patients with infertility has not been investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the mental and sexual health of patients with infertility during different stages of the COVID-19 pandemic (during the lockdown, when controls were fully liberalized, and during the post-pandemic era). Methods This prospective before-and-after study was conducted between April and May 2022 (during the lockdown), December and January 2023 (when controls were fully liberalized), and May and August 2023 (during the post-pandemic era). This study explored the sexual and mental health of women with infertility during the three stages of the COVID-19 pandemic using standardized mental health and sexual function questionnaires. The Chi-square test was used to compare categorical data, and the ANOVA test was used to compare numerical data. Results Patients had the highest 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) and 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scores and the highest rates of anxiety and depression during the immediate full-release phase. During the complete liberalization phase, patients had the lowest Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) scores and the highest incidence of sexual dysfunction. Conclusion This study is the first one to report the repercussions of COVID-19 on the mental and sexual well-being of individuals experiencing infertility across various phases of the pandemic. Upon the complete lifting of control measures, close to 99% of participants exhibited varying degrees of anxiety and depression. Our research underscores that individuals with infertility faced elevated levels of anxiety, depression, and sexual dysfunction during the phase of full liberalization of COVID-19 control measures, in stark contrast to the periods of lockdown and the post-pandemic era.

To carry out cell counting, it is common to use neural network models with an encoder-decoder structure to generate regression density maps. In the encoder-decoder structure, skip connections are usually used to retain detailed features. However, skip connections introduce to the encoder multiple reverse propagation paths; the backward propagation gradients along these paths exhibit significant semantic differences, which affect the encoder’s training process and may lead to adverse effects. To remedy this problem, we propose a path-gradient controlling network for cell counting. First, a novel reverse gradient control module is proposed to balance the impact on the encoder of the backward propagation signal from the skip connections. Second, to eliminate noise in the feature maps of the encoder output, the convolutional and channel attention modules are used on the shallowest layer’s skip connection. Finally, we utilise depthwise convolution to reduce information loss during the downsampling process, and we use depthwise separable transposed convolution as the upsampling method to mitigate overfitting. Experiments demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms state-of-the-art techniques such as MSCA-UNet, Two-Path Net, SAU-Net, and Cell-Net in terms of the mean absolute error (MAE) metric on four publicly available cell-counting benchmark datasets. Our model performs better on the synthetic bacterial (VGG) dataset (1.9 ± 0.1) than does the MSCA-UNet (2.0 ± 0.2). On the Modified Bone Marrow (MBM) dataset, our model (3.7 ± 0.2) outperforms SAU-Net (5.7 ± 1.2). On the human subcutaneous adipose tissue (ADI) dataset, our model, with (8.9 ± 0.3), surpasses MSCA-UNet with (9.8 ± 0.7). On the Dublin Cell Counting (DCC) dataset, our model achieves (2.4 ± 0.2) and outperforms SAU-Net with (3.0 ± 0.3). The source code of our method is available at https://github.com/mona-aliye/PGC-Net.

Abstract Hand gesture segmentation is an essential step to recognize hand gestures for human–robot interaction. However, complex backgrounds and the variety of gesture shapes cause low semantic segmentation accuracy in the existing lightweight methods because of imprecise features and imbalance between branches. To remedy the above problems, we propose a new segmentation structure for hand gestures. Based on the structure, a novel tri-branch lightweight segmentation network (BLSNet), is proposed for gesture segmentation. Corresponding to the structure parts, three branches are employed to achieve local features, boundaries and semantic hand features. In the boundary branch, to extract multiscale features of hand gesture contours, a novel multi-scale depth-wise strip convolution (MDSC) module is proposed based on gesture boundaries for directionality. For hand boundary details, we propose a new boundary weight (BW) module based on boundary attention. To identify hand location, a semantic branch with continuous downsampling is used to address complex backgrounds. We use the Ghost bottleneck as the building block for the entire BLSNet network. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed network, corresponding experiments have been conducted based on OUHANDS and HGR1 datasets, and the experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method is superior to contrast methods.