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Highlights The advantages of biomass materials for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding are analyzed, the mechanism of EMI shielding is summarized, and the factors affecting EMI shielding are analyzed systematically. Various biomass materials (wood, bamboo, lignin, cellulose) were modified to obtain unique structures and improve EMI shielding performance. The problems encountered in the application of biomass materials for EMI shielding are summarized, and the potential development and application in the future are prospected.

Abstract This research aimed to systematically uncover the metastatic characteristics and survival rates of lung cancer subtypes and to evaluate the impact of surgery at the primary tumor site on cancer-specific survival in DM lung cancer. We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (2010–2019) to identify primary lung cancers with DM at presentation (M1). Kaplan–Meier (KM) survival curves were generated and compared utilizing log-rank tests. Cox regression methods were employed to determine hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals related to CSS factors. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was applied to reduce bias. We analyzed 77,827 M1 lung cancer cases, with 41.22% having DM at presentation. Bone metastasis was most common in ADC, ASC, SCC, LCC; brain in LCNEC; liver in SCLC. Lung was common in TC + AC and SCC. Long-term survival was best in TC + AC and worst in SCLC (p

Thermokarst lake formation accelerates permafrost degradation due to climate warming, thereby releasing significant amounts of carbon into the atmosphere, complicating hydrological cycles, and causing environmental damage. However, the energy transfer mechanism from the surface to the sediment of thermokarst lakes remains largely unexplored, thereby limiting our understanding of the magnitude and duration of biogeochemical processes and hydrological cycles. Therefore, herein, a typical thermokarst lake situated in the center of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) was selected for observation and energy budget modeling. Our results showed that the net radiation of the thermokarst lake surface was 95.1, 156.9, and 32.3 W m−2 for the annual, ice-free, and ice-covered periods, respectively, and was approximately 76% of the net radiation consumed by latent heat flux. Alternations in heat storage in the thermokarst lake initially increased from January to April, then decreased from April to December, with a maximum change of 48.1 W m−2 in April. The annual average heat fluxes from lake water to sediments were 1.4 W m−2; higher heat fluxes occurred during the ice-free season at a range of 4.9–12.0 W m−2. The imbalance between heat absorption and release in the millennium scale caused the underlying permafrost of the thermokarst lake to completely thaw. At present, the ground temperature beneath the lake bottom at a depth of 15 m has reached 2.0 °C. The temperatures and vapor-pressure conditions of air and lake surfaces control the energy budget of the thermokarst lake. Our findings indicate that changes in the hydrologic regime shifts and biogeochemical processes are more frequent under climate warming and permafrost degradation.

Abstract Background Postoperative thirst is one of the most intense, common and easily ignored subjective discomforts in patients after gynecological surgery. This study aimed to investigate whether early oral hydration on demand in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) after gynecological laparoscopy under general anesthesia can appease postoperative thirst and increase patient comfort. Methods Participants were randomized into the intervention and control groups. Patients in the intervention group were allowed to achieve early oral hydration on demand in the PACU if they were evaluated as fully conscious, with stable vital signs, grade 5 muscle strength, and well-recovered cough and swallowing reflex. However, the total amount of water intake throughout the entire study should not exceed 0.5mL/kg. During the study, the frequency of water intake, the total amount of water intake and adverse events were accurately recorded. The control group was managed according to the routine procedures and began to drink water 2 h after anesthesia. The intensity of thirst and subjective comfort in patients were assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) when they entered and left the PACU. Results No statistically significant differences were identified in age, height, weight, body mass index, pre-operative fasting time, duration of surgery, intraoperative fluid intake, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative urine volume, and thirst intensity and subjective comfort scores between the groups before intervention (P > 0.05). After intervention, the VAS score for thirst intensity in the intervention group significantly decreased (P

Abstract Background Difficult-to-treat Rheumatoid arthritis (D2T RA) is primarily characterised by failure of at least two different mechanism of action biologic/targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARDs) with evidence of active/progressive disease. While a variety of drugs have been used in previous studies to treat D2T RA, there has been no systematic summary of these drugs. This study conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials aimed at analyzing the efficacy and safety of individual therapeutic agents for the treatment of D2T RA and recommending the optimal therapeutic dose. Methods The English databases were searched for studies on the treatment of D2T RA published between the date of the database’s establishment and March, 2024. This study uses R 3.1.2 for data analysis, and the rjags package runs JAGS 3.4.0.20. The study fitted a stochastic effects Bayesian network meta-analysis for each outcome measure. Result A total of 42 studies were included in this study. Compared with placebo, the improvement of Disease Activity Score of 28 Joints (DAS28) score is ranked from high to low as tocilizumab, baricitinib and opinercept. The improvement of American College of Rheumatology 50 response (ACR50) score in patients with drug use was ranked from good to poor as follows: olokizumab, tocilizumab, adalimumab, baricitinib, and upadacitinib, and 8 mg/4w tocilizumab demonstrated the best efficacy. Notably, rituximab is generally the safest drug. Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors and T cell costimulation modulators are effective in D2T RA refractory to biologic DMARDs, while JAK inhibitors and interleukin-6 (IL-6) inhibitors show effectiveness in D2T RA refractory to csDMARDs. Conclusion Tocilizumab and rituximab have better efficacy and safety in the treatment of D2T RA, and the 8 mg/4w dose of tocilizumab may be the first choice for achieving disease remission.

In unconsolidated sandstone reservoirs, presence of numerous movable grains and a complex grain size composition necessitates a clear understanding of the physical clogging process for effective groundwater recharge in groundwater-source heat pump systems. To investigate this, a series of seepage experiments was conducted under in situ stress conditions using unconsolidated sandstone samples with varying grain compositions. The clogging phenomenon arises from the combined effects of grain migration and compaction, wherein the migration of both original and secondary crushed fine-grain particles blocks the seepage channels. Notably, grain composition influences the migration and transport properties of the grains. For samples composed of smaller grains, the apparent permeability demonstrates a transition from stability to decrease. In contrast, samples with larger grains experience a skip at the stability stage and directly enter the decrease stage, with a minor exception of a slight increase observed. Furthermore, a unique failure mode characterized by diameter shrinkage in the upper part of the sample is observed due to the combined effects of grain migration and in situ stress-induced compaction. These testing results contribute to a better understanding of the clogging mechanism caused by the coupled effects of grain migration and compaction during groundwater recharge in unconsolidated sandstone reservoirs used in groundwater-source heat pump systems.

Abstract Background The pathogenesis of noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis in adults is complex, and the relevant molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we constructed a panoramic map of bronchiectasis mRNA, explored the potential molecular mechanisms, and identified potential therapeutic targets, thus providing a new clinical perspective for the preventive management of bronchiectasis and its acute exacerbation. Methods The mRNA profiles of peripheral blood and bronchiectasis tissues were obtained through transcriptome sequencing and public databases, and bioinformatics methods were used to screen for differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The DEGs were then subjected to biological function and pathway analyses. Some DEGs were validated using a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in peripheral blood. Spearman’s correlation analysis was used to analyse the correlation between DEGs and clinical indicators. Results Based on transcriptome sequencing and public databases, the mRNA profile of bronchiectasis was determined. DEGs were obtained from the peripheral blood sequencing dataset (985 DEGs), tissue sequencing dataset (2919 DEGs), and GSE97258 dataset (1083 DEGs). Bioinformatics analysis showed that upregulated DEGs had enriched neutrophil-related pathways, and downregulated DEGs had enriched ribosome-related pathways. RT-qPCR testing confirmed the upregulated expression of VCAN, SESTD1, SLC12A1, CD177, IFI44L, SIGLEC1, and RSAD2 in bronchiectasis. These genes were related to many clinical parameters, such as neutrophils, C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin (P

ObjectiveTo evaluate the safety of co-vaccination with domestic 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) and split influenza virus vaccine (sFlu) in key populations aged 3 years and older and to provide a reference for formulating co-vaccination strategies. MethodsThe study participants were 5 502 healthy and unhealthy (with chronic diseases) volunteers (including 2 072 children aged 3 – < 8 years, 1 598 residents aged 8 – < 60 years, and 1 832 elderly aged 60 years and older) vaccinated simultaneously with one dose of PPSV23 (intramuscular injection into the deltoid muscle of the left upper arm) and one dose of sFlu (into the right upper arm) in 8 cities of Anhui province from October 2021 to February 2023. Active surveillance for adverse reactions within 28 days of co-vaccination with PPSV23 and sFlu was conducted among participants through active reporting via the Ark Immunization mobile application and telephone or home interviews by health care workers. Reported current/historic chronic diseases and observed adverse events after co-vaccination were categorized according to the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA) and the Guiding Principles for the Classification of Adverse Events in Clinical Trials of Preventive Vaccines issued by the National Medical Products Administration. ResultsThe prevalence of underlying chronic diseases was 1.45%, 100.00%, and 37.61% in participants aged 3 – < 8, 8 – < 60, and ≥ 60 years, respectively. All adverse events occurred within 7 days of co-vaccination, with an incidence rate of 2.67%. The incidence rates of grade 1, 2, and 3 adverse events were 1.62%, 0.93%, and 0.13%, respectively. The incidence rates of local and systemic adverse events were 2.25% and 1.00%, respectively. Local reactions were mainly pain at the vaccination site, while systemic reactions were mainly fever. The incidence of local adverse events was higher for PPSV23 than for sFlu when administered at the same time. The incidence rates of adverse reactions in participants aged 3 – < 8, 8 – < 60, and 60 years and older were 2.03%, 3.25%, and 2.89%, respectively, without significant difference (χ2 = 5.741, P > 0.05). The grades of adverse reactions in the participants of the three age groups were mainly grade 1 and 2. The overall incidence rate of adverse reactions in healthy participants was 2.32% and that in unhealthy participants was 3.15%, without significant difference between the two groups (χ2 = 3.530, P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in the incidence and severity of adverse events between the healthy and unhealthy participants aged 3 – < 8 years and 60 years and older (P > 0.05). ConclusionSimultaneous vaccination with domestic PPSV23 and sFlu has shown good safety in key populations of different ages, health status and simultaneous vaccination with the two vaccines is recommended.

Abstract Background Lung adenocarcinoma is a high-mortality rate cancer. Within this category, Lung mucinous adenocarcinoma (LMAC) is a rare and distinct subtype of lung adenocarcinoma necessitating further investigation. The study was launched to compare the difference of survival features between LMAC and lung non-mucinous adenocarcinoma (LNMAC) and to investigate the significance and demand for developing a new staging system tailored to LMAC. Methods This retrospective study assessed the suitableness of the current staging system for LMAC. It compared the overall survival (OS) between LMAC and LNMAC from 2004 to 2020 (LNMAC: 160,387; LMAC: 6,341) and instituted a novel classification framework for LMAC based on US population. Verification group consisting of patients from two Chinese medical centers from 2010 to 2018 (n = 392) was set to ascertain the applicability of this novel system. The primary endpoint was OS. To minimize the bias, propensity score match (PSM) was employed. Survival analysis and Log-rank test were executed to explore the survival features of LMAC. Results The results indicated that the existed staging system was not suitable for LMAC. Patients diagnosed with LMAC exhibited a superior OS compared to those with LNMAC in stage IA2 (P

Abstract Investigate the effect of long-term COVID-19 on maternal and fetal complications. A retrospective cohort study was conducted. A total of 623 pregnant women who delivered in Kunming First People's Hospital from November 1, 2022 to July 31, 2023 were selected. By employing statistical methods, we compared the associations between maternal and fetal complications in pregnant women with acute COVID-19 during pregnancy, long-term COVID-19, and non-COVID-19 pregnant women. In the final 623 samples, there were 209 pregnant women with acute COVID-19, 72 pregnant women with long-term COVID-19, and 342 pregnant women without COVID-19. The epidemiological and clinical characteristics of all subjects were similar. Pregnant individuals who developed long-term COVID-19 during their pregnancy had an increased risk of experiencing gestational hypertension (OR 3.344, 95% CI 1.544–7.243), gestational diabetes mellitus (OR 2.301, 95% CI 1.290–4.102), and fetal intrauterine growth restriction (OR 2.817, 95% CI 1.385–5.952). Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis showed that this association remained consistent even after adjusting for confounders and performing subgroup analyses. Other maternal and fetal complications, such as premature rupture of membranes, preterm delivery, neonatal asphyxia, and transfer of neonates to NICU, did not exhibit statistically significant associations. After linear regression analysis, the platelet count (β: − 0.127, 95% CI − 0.001–0.000) of pregnant women with long-term COVID-19 was slightly lower than that of non-COVID-19 pregnant women, and the other coagulation parameters were not statistically significant. The incidence of gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes mellitus and fetal intrauterine growth restriction in pregnant women with long-term COVID-19 is significantly increased, but it does not further increase the coagulation status.

Abstract Objective To investigate the distribution and activation of B-cell subpopulations in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis) and to analyze their correlation with disease remission. Methods Peripheral blood samples were collected from 23 adult healthy controls and 58 RA patients, 31 of whom were treated with JAKis and assessed during a 24-month follow-up. The number of peripheral B-cell subpopulations (including naive B cells, nonswitched memory B (NSMB) cells, switched memory B cells, and double-negative B cells), their activation, and phosphorylation of SYK and AKT upon B-cell receptor (BCR) stimulation in each population were analyzed by flow cytometry. Results Compared with that in healthy controls, the frequency of NSMB cells was significantly lower in new-onset untreated RA patients. However, expression of CD40, CD80, CD95, CD21low and pAKT significantly increased in these NSMB cells. Additionally, the number of NSMB cells correlated negatively with DAS28-ESR and IgG and IgA levels in these patients; expression of CD80, CD95 and CD21low on NSMB cells correlated positively with DAS28-ESR and IgG and IgA levels. After treatment with JAKis, the serum IgG concentration significantly decreased in RA patients in remission, but CD40, CD95 and pAKT levels in NSMB cells significantly decreased. Conclusion RA patients present different B-cell subpopulations, in which the frequency of NSMB cells is negatively associated with disease activity. However, treatment with JAKis can inhibit activation of NSMB cells, restore the balance of kinase phosphorylation, and facilitate disease remission in RA patients.

Abstract Introduction Alveolar echinococcosis (AE), caused by the larval forms of Echinococcus multilocularis, is a zoonotic disease affecting the liver, lungs, lymph nodes, kidneys, brain, bones, thyroid, and other organs. Diagnosing AE in a non-endemic area is usually challenging. With the rapid development and increasing application of sequencing techniques in recent years, metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) has become a powerful tool for diagnosing rare infectious diseases. Case Presentation A 45-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital for the presence of pulmonary shadows for more than 3 months. The lung computed tomography (CT) at a local hospital revealed scattered solid and quasi-circular nodules in the left upper lobe, left lower lobe, right middle lobe, and right lower lobe. The largest nodule was located in the dorsal part of the right lung, measuring 2.0 × 1.7 × 1.5 cm. Moreover, abdominal CT revealed one space-occupying lesion each in the left and right lobes. The pathological analysis of the lung biopsy specimen revealed infiltration of lymphocytes, plasma cells, and eosinophils in the alveolar wall and interstitial area. No pathogenic bacteria were observed in the sputum smear and culture tests. There were no parasite eggs in the stool. The mNGS of the lung puncture tissue revealed 6156 sequence reads matching E. multilocularis; thus, the condition was diagnosed as AE. Albendazole 400 mg was administered twice daily, and the patient was stable during follow-up. Conclusion This case emphasizes the role of mNGS in diagnosing AE. As a novel, sensitive, and accurate diagnostic method, mNGS could be an attractive approach for facilitating early diagnosis and prompt treatment of infectious diseases, especially when the infection was caused by rare pathogens.

Abstract Our study aimed to investigate the relationship between sleep–wake changes and depressive symptoms events among midlife women. We enrolled 1579 women aged 44–56 years who had no clinically relevant depressive symptoms at baseline. Depressive symptoms were assessed at each visit using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale. At the third and fourth follow-up visits, women reported their sleep habits. The sleep midpoint was defined as the time to fall asleep plus one-half of the sleep duration. Sleep–wake changes were determined by the difference in the midpoint of sleep between the third and fourth visits, which were 1 year apart. The median follow-up time was 7 years (range 1–7 years). Cox proportional hazard models were fitted to calculate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the incidence of depressive symptoms associated with sleep–wake changes. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, the hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) of depressive symptoms for severe sleep midpoint changes was 1.51 (1.12, 2.05) compared with mild sleep midpoint changes. This relationship remained statistically significant and changed little when additionally controlling for sleep duration, sleep quality, insomnia symptoms, use of sleep medications, use of nervous medications, glucose, insulin, lipids, dietary energy intake, and C-reactive protein. Our findings indicate that exposure to long-term severe sleep–wake changes increases the risk of depressive symptoms in midlife women.

Abstract Objective Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been associated with a range of adverse health outcomes, with pain being potentially one of them. This population-based cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the associations between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and pain in Chinese adults and evaluate whether physical activity and demographic and socioeconomic characteristics modify this associations. Methods Cross-sectional data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), were utilized in this study. A total of 9923 respondents with information on 12 ACE indicators and 15 self-reported body pains were included. Logistic regression models were used to assess associations of the ACEs and pain. Modification of the associations by physical activity, demographic and socioeconomic characteristics was assessed by stratified analyses and tests for interaction. Results Among the 9923 individuals included in the primary analyses, 5098 (51.4%) males and the mean (SD) age was 61.18 (10·.44) years. Compared with individuals with 0 ACEs, those who with ≥ 5 ACEs had increased risk of single pains and multiple pain. A dose–response association was found between the number of ACEs and the risk of pain (e.g. neck pain for ≥ 5 ACEs vs. none: OR, 1.107; 95% CI, 0.903–1.356; p

The drugs extending healthspan in clinic have always been searched. Nitazoxanide is an FDA-approved clinical antiprotozoal drug. Nitazoxanide is rapidly metabolized to tizoxanide after absorption in vivo. Our previous studies find that nitazoxanide and its metabolite tizoxanide induce mild mitochondrial uncoupling and activate cellular AMPK, oral nitazoxanide protects against experimental hyperlipidemia, hepatic steatosis, and atherosclerosis. Here, we demonstrate that both nitazoxanide and tizoxanide extend the lifespan and healthspan of Caenorhabditis elegans through Akt/AMPK/sir 2.1/daf16 pathway. Additionally, both nitazoxanide and tizoxanide improve high glucose-induced shortening of C. elegans lifespan. Nitazoxanide has been a clinical drug with a good safety profile, we suggest that it is a novel anti-aging drug.

In previous study we characterized the oncogenic role of long non-coding RNA MALAT1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), but the detailed mechanism remains obscure. Here we identified glyoxalase 1 (GLO1) as the most possible executor of MALAT1 by microarray screening. GLO1 is responsible for degradation of cytotoxic methylglyoxal (MGO), which is by-product of tumor glycolysis. Accumulated MGO may lead to glycation of DNA and protein, resulting in elevated advanced glycation end products (AGEs), while glyoxalase 1 detoxify MGO to alleviate its cytotoxic effect to tumor cells. GLO1 interfering led to accumulation of AGEs and following activation of DNA injury biomarkers, which lead to cell cycle arrest and growth inhibition. In silico analysis based on online database revealed abundant enrichment of histone acetylation marker H3K27ac in GLO1 promotor, and acetyltransferase inhibitor C646 declined GLO1 expression. Acetyltransferase KAT2B, which was also identified as a target of MALAT, mediated histone lysine acetylation of GLO1 promotor, which was confirmed by ChIP-qPCR experiment. Shared binding sites of miR-206 were found on MALAT1 and KAT2B mRNA. Dual-luciferase reporter assays confirmed interaction within MALAT1-miR-206-GLO1. Finally, we identified MALAT1 encapsuled by exosome from donor cells, and transferred malignant behaviors to recipient cells. The secreted exosomes may enter circulation, and serum MALAT1 level combined with traditional tumor markers showed potential power for ESCC diagnosis.

Abstract The phenomenon of rural in-migration is emerging as a significant trend in various global hotspots, playing a crucial role in reshaping these rural areas from social and spatial perspectives. The decision-making process for rural in-migrants regarding settlement is complex. Although previous studies have acknowledged that settlement intentions are influenced by social and environmental factors, such as the economy, natural environment, and public service facilities, many have relied on a stated-preference approach to measure migrants’ settlement intentions. This method may overlook the inherent complexity and fluidity of the decision-making process. Drawing upon the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this paper formulates questions aligned with the three stages of decision-making to examine the settlement intentions of rural in-migrants. Employing multiple linear regression analysis, the study assesses the impact of social and environmental factors on the settlement decisions of rural in-migrants in four villages surrounding Dali, a renowned rural destination in southwest China that attracts a diverse range of migrants. The findings highlight the pivotal role of public service facilities’ quality in rural villages in the decision-making process, particularly among those who have already formulated settlement plans. Additionally, the research reveals that female in-migrants place a heightened emphasis on the quality of these facilities. Furthermore, a higher level of education correlates with a broader diversity of influencing factors. As migrants age, a wider range of considerations comes into play, with the natural environment emerging as a key factor for older in-migrants. This article emphasizes the equal importance of continuously improving public service facilities, strengthening economic vitality, and protecting rural natural landscapes to support the development of rural communities.

Abstract Prolyl 4-hydroxylases (P4Hs) are a family of key modifying enzymes in collagen synthesis. P4Hs have been confirmed to be closely associated with tumor occurrence and development. However, the expression of P4Hs in head and neck cancer (HNSC) as well as its relationship with prognosis and tumor immunity infiltration has not yet been analyzed. We investigated the transcriptional expression, survival data, and immune infiltration of P4Hs in patients with HNSC from multiple databases. P4H1-3 expression was significantly higher in HNSC tumor tissues than in normal tissues. Moreover, P4HA1 and P4HA2 were associated with tumor stage, patient prognosis, and immune cell infiltration. P4HA3 was related to patient prognosis and immune cell infiltration. Correlation experiments confirmed that P4HA1 may serve as a prognosis biomarker and plays a role in the progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. These findings suggest that P4HA1-3 may be a novel biomarker for the prognosis and treatment of HNSC, which is expected to support the development of new therapies for patients with head and neck tumors and improve patient outcomes.

Abstract Interactions of tumor cells with immune cells in the tumor microenvironment play an important role during malignancy progression. We previously identified that GAS5 inhibited tumor development by suppressing proliferation of tumor cells in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Herein, we discovered a tumor-suppressing role for tumor cell-derived GAS5 in regulating tumor microenvironment. GAS5 positively coordinated with the infiltration of macrophages and T cells in NSCLC clinically, and overexpression of GAS5 promoted macrophages and T cells recruitment both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, GAS5 stabilized p53 by directly binding to MYBBP1A and facilitating MYBBP1A-p53 interaction, and enhanced p53-mediated transcription of IRF1, which activated type I interferon signaling and increased the production of downstream CXCL10 and CCL5. We also found that activation of type I interferon signaling was associated with better immunotherapy efficacy in NSCLC. Furthermore, the stability of GAS5 was regulated by NAT10, the key enzyme responsible for N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C) modification, which bound to GAS5 and mediated its ac4C modification. Collectively, tumor cell-derived GAS5 could activate type I interferon signaling via the MYBBP1A-p53/IRF1 axis, promoting immune cell infiltration and potentially correlating with immunotherapy efficacy, which suppressed NSCLC progression. Our results suggested GAS5 as a promising predictive marker and potential therapeutic target for combination therapy in NSCLC. A schematic diagram demonstrating the regulatory effect of GAS5 on immune cell infiltration by activating type I interferon signaling via MYBBP1A-p53/IRF1 axis in non-small cell lung cancer. IFN, interferon.

Abstract Increasing climate‐related extreme weather events and conflicts hinder safe water sanitation for vulnerable populations. In developing areas, centralized water systems are impractical due to high costs and poor infrastructure. Thus, technologies utilizing renewable energy like solar and mechanical energy for water treatment hold promise. It is critical to develop photocatalysts and piezoelectric/triboelectric catalysts that capture solar energy as well as mechanical energy to generate disinfectants to maximize energy utilization. The latest advancements in principles, materials, and processes utilizing solar and mechanical energy for water disinfection are highlighted in this review. First, we elucidate both direct and indirect mechanisms of sunlight‐mediated water disinfection, discuss the evolution of photocatalysts from simple UV absorption to visible‐light utilization, and even near‐infrared light exploitation to enhance solar spectrum utilization efficiency. Furthermore, we delve into the fundamental principles of piezoelectricity and triboelectricity relying on mechanical energy conversion as well as summarize the development of piezo/triboelectric catalysts from being driven by high‐frequency energy to utilizing low‐frequency mechanical energy from the environment. Finally, challenges and directions for efficient systems are outlined to inspire rational design strategies and accelerate the production of superior catalytic systems applicable across a broad range.

IntroductionAs a malignant hematological disease, the incidence of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has exhibited an upward trend in recent years. Nevertheless, certain limitations persist in the treatment of AML. Sperm-associated antigen 6 (SPAG6) has been implicated in the onset and progression of various human cancers, with its expression levels significantly elevated in AML. Consequently, we undertook a series of experiments to investigate the role and underlying mechanisms of SPAG6 in AML cell lines.MethodsIn the in vitro experiments of this study, DEPs and GO and KEGG enrichment analysis subsequent to SPAG6 down-regulation were detected by TMT. CCK8 was employed to determine cell viability. The levels of apoptosis and ROS were measured by flow cytometry. In the in vivo experiments, a xenografted tumor model was constructed, and the expression of SPAG6 and GSTP1 in tumor tissues was detected by IHC.ResultsUltimately, our findings indicated that over-expression of SPAG6 promoted cell growth and decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde levels. Furthermore, SPAG6 knockdown was found to diminish mitochondrial membrane potential and facilitate cell apoptosis. In vivo, SPAG6 could also promote tumor growth, suggesting that SPAG6 may serve as a pro-tumor factor. In addition, daunorubicin (DNR) may cause oxidative stress and initiate apoptosis, resulting in oxidative damage to AML cells. However, the overexpression of SPAG6 may attenuate the efficacy of DNR. This was due to SPAG6 promoted GSTP1 expression, thereby reducing ROS levels. Simultaneously, the elevation of GSTP1 and JNK complex may reduce the expression of p-JNK and inhibit the activation of JNK pathway, which might inhibit cell apoptosis.DiscussionIn conclusion, our experiments suggested that upregulated SPAG6 might mitigate the pro-apoptotic effects of DNR through ROS/JNK MAPK axis in a GSTP1-dependent manner.

The reliable operation of railway embankments traversing degrading permafrost regions is challenged by climate warming. This study examines performances of four main types of railway embankments on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in thermally stabilizing permafrost foundation over warm permafrost using numerical modelling and 10-year monitoring data. Then, a reinforcement measure that combines a thermal conductivity variable system (TCVS) was designed to improve the cooling capacity of the crushed-rock sloped embankment (CRSE) by countering the heat absorption of slopes during summers. A coupled thermal-fluid-solid model was built to simulate and assess the cooling performance and reinforcing capacity of the new design. Results show that the crushed-rock embankments can produce convection cooling on the permafrost subgrade but the performances vary with different structures. The CRSE has insufficient cooling capacity to withstand the underlying permafrost degradation in warm permafrost regions. The optimized CRSE that combines the TCVS can effectively cool the underlying warm permafrost and decrease the shady-sunny slope effect under a warming climate, and can be used as an effective reinforcement measure. This study confirms the application of air-cooled embankments in protecting permafrost subgrade and provides guidance for structural design of embankment traversing degrading permafrost.

BackgroundNumerous compelling observational studies have demonstrated a plausible correlation between the white blood cell count and the susceptibility to sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). Nevertheless, the exact causal relationship between these two factors remains ambiguous. The objective of our study was to assess the causal impact of white blood cell count on sudden sensorineural hearing loss through the implementation of a bidirectional and multivariable Mendelian randomization (MR) methodology.MethodsGenetic data pertaining to white blood cell count were acquired from the Blood Cell Consortium, encompassing a total of 563,946 subjects. Concurrently, summary data on sudden sensorineural hearing loss were sourced from a Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS), involving 196,592 participants, comprising 1,491 cases and 195,101 controls. The primary method employed for MR analysis was the Inverse Variance Weighted method (IVW), while sensitivity analysis utilized the Weighted Median method, MR-Egger method, and MR-PRESSO method.ResultsIn IVW method, genetically predicted elevated lymphocyte cell count demonstrates an effective reduction in the risk of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (odds ratio = 0.747, 95% CI = 0.565–0.987, p = 0.04). These findings remain consistent in multivariate MR analysis, even after adjusting for monocyte cell count and neutrophil cell count levels (odds ratio = 0.929, 95% CI = 0.867–0.995, p = 0.036). However, there is no discernible evidence supporting a direct causal relationship between monocyte cell count and neutrophil cell count levels and the occurrence of SSNHL.ConclusionWithin the normal range, higher lymphocyte cell count levels exhibit a potential protective effect against SSNHL. Meanwhile, no direct causal relationship are identified between monocyte cell count and neutrophil cell count levels and the risk of SSNHL.

Background: Clarithromycin plays an important role in eradicating Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori ) through quadruple therapy. However, there is limited research on whether different forms of clarithromycin dosage have similar efficacies against H. pylori. Objective: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of different forms of clarithromycin dosage in bismuth-containing quadruple therapy for eradicating H. pylori. Design: A single-center retrospective analysis comparing the efficacy of different forms of clarithromycin dosage in eradicating H. pylori. Methods: An analysis was conducted on patients diagnosed with H. pylori infection through the 13 C-urea breath test (13C-UBT) at Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, China from 2020 to 2022 who were treated with either a dispersible or sustained-release clarithromycin tablet (500 mg each), alongside amoxicillin (1000 mg), a standard dose of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), and bismuth citrate (220 mg), administered twice daily as part of bismuth-containing quadruple therapy. Treatment efficacy was assessed using 13C-UBT at least 4 weeks after treatment completion. The H. pylori eradication rate was the primary outcome of this study, and factors influencing it were analyzed. Results: Among 2094 screened patients, 307 with H. pylori infection (mean age, 41.8 ± 0.7 years; 43% men) received bismuth-containing quadruple therapy. Univariate analysis of the dispersible and sustained-release tablet groups revealed a lower eradication rate with the sustained-release tablet compared with the dispersible clarithromycin tablet regimen (75.26% (73/97) vs 95.26% (200/210), respectively; p

PurposeNeurofilament-light chain (NfL) is associated with neurodegenerative diseases, which are increasingly prevalent with aging. Vitamin K has been shown a neuroprotective effect. Therefore, we aimed to explore the potential relationship between dietary vitamin K intake and serum NfL.MethodsThis study was conducted on the 2013–2014 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a multi-site population-based study of the US general population. Serum NfL level was measured using a highly sensitive immunoassay. Dietary vitamin K intake was estimated from two-day dietary recall interviews, and its relationship with NfL was determined using linear regression models.ResultsThe study included a total of 1,533 participants with a median age of 46 years, comprising 801 women (52.2%) and 732 men (47.8%). The median dietary intake of vitamin K was 81.6 μg/d, and the median serum NfL was 12 pg./mL. After adjusting for potential confounding factors in the full model, individuals with higher dietary vitamin K intake had lower serum NfL levels (Q4 vs. Q1, β = −4.92, 95%CI: −7.66, −2.19, p = 0.002). A non-linear negative dose–response association is found between dietary vitamin K intake and serum NfL levels (P for non-linearity = 0.008); this association reaches a plateau when the dietary vitamin K intake is higher than 200 μg/d. According to the results of stratified analysis, the relationship between dietary vitamin K intake and serum NfL levels was stronger in the population of middle-aged and older adults.ConclusionThe present study suggested a negative association between dietary vitamin K intake and serum NfL levels in the general US population, especially in middle-aged and older adults. This study might offer a novel nutritional idea for the primary prevention and mechanism exploration of neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract Retrogressive thaw slumps (RTSs), formed by abrupt degradation of ice‐rich permafrost, are widely distributed on the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau, causing infrastructure damage and enhancing soil carbon emissions. We compiled annual RTS inventories across the plateau from 2016 to 2022 using a deep‐learning‐aided method to quantify the spatial‐temporal variations. We found that RTS‐affected locations increased from 1,592 to 3,805 in 2016–2022, which increased affected areas by 2.8 times from 1,714 to 6,507 ha. The most active initiation and expansion periods were in 2016–2017 and 2018–2019. RTSs tend to be clustered, showing local heterogeneity among clusters characterized by various responses toward high temperatures and precipitation and tendencies to be on different topography and vegetation types. This research reveals the rapid development, wide distribution and regional heterogeneity of RTS activities, serving as a crucial step toward understanding how RTSs respond to climate change and regional environmental varieties.

Objective This study harnesses the power of text mining to quantitatively investigate the causative factors of falls in adult inpatients, offering valuable references and guidance for fall prevention measures within hospitals.Methods Employing KH Coder 3.0, a cutting-edge text mining software, we performed co-occurrence network analysis and text clustering on fall incident reports of 2,772 adult patients from a nursing quality control platform in a particular city in Jiangsu Province, spanning January 2017 to December 2022.Results Among the 2,772 patients who fell, 80.23% were aged above 60, and 73.27% exhibited physical frailty. Text clustering yielded 16 distinct categories, with four clusters implicating patient factors, four linking falls to toileting processes, four highlighting dynamic interplays between patients, the environment, and objects, and another four clusters revealing the influence of patient-caregiver interactions in causing falls.Conclusion This study highlights the complex, multifactorial nature of falls in adult inpatients. Effective prevention requires a collaborative effort among healthcare staff, patients, and caregivers, focusing on patient vulnerabilities, environmental factors, and improved care coordination. By strengthening these aspects, hospitals can significantly reduce fall risks and promote patient safety.

Background & aims: Extracellular nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (eNAMPT) has long been recognized as an adipokine. However, the exact role of eNAMPT in alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and its relevance to brown adipose tissue (BAT) remain largely unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of eNAMPT on liver function and the underlying mechanisms involved in BAT-Liver communication. Methods: Serum eNAMPT levels were detected in the serum of both ALD patients and mice. Chronic and binge ethanol feeding was used to induce alcoholic liver injury in mice. An eNAMPT antibody, a coculture model of brown adipocytes and hepatocytes, and BAT-specific Nampt knockdown mice were used to investigate the role of eNAMPT in ALD. Results: Serum eNAMPT levels are elevated in ALD patients and are significantly positively correlated with the liver injury index. In ALD mice, neutralizing eNAMPT reduced the elevated levels of circulating eNAMPT induced by ethanol and attenuated liver injury. In vitro experiments revealed that eNAMPT induced hepatocyte ferroptosis through the TLR4-dependent mitochondrial ROS-induced ferritinophagy pathway. Furthermore, ethanol stimulated eNAMPT secretion from brown adipocytes but not from other adipocytes. In the coculture model, ethanol-induced release of eNAMPT from brown adipocytes promoted hepatocyte ferroptosis. In BAT-specific Nampt-knockdown mice, ethanol-induced eNAMPT secretion was significantly reduced, and alcoholic liver injury were attenuated. These effects can be reversed by intraperitoneal injection of eNAMPT. Conclusion: Inhibition of ethanol-induced eNAMPT secretion from BAT attenuates liver injury and ferroptosis. Our study reveals a previously uncharacterized critical role of eNAMPT-mediated BAT-Liver communication in ALD and highlights its potential as a therapeutic target.

Background: Although cadmium exposure had been demonstrated to be toxic to the nervous system, little was known about the link between cadmium exposure and axonal injury. Therefore, the present study aimed to reveal whether there was any correlation between blood cadmium and serum neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels in the general population. Methods: This study included 1040 participants with a median (IQR) age of 47 (35−60) years from the 2013–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Serum NfL levels were measured through immunoassay, and whole blood cadmium concentrations were detected by means of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Linear regression and restricted cubic spline model was applied to analyze the significance of relationship between blood cadmium and serum NfL levels. Results: In the full adjusted model, blood cadmium levels were found to be positively associated with serum NfL levels (Q4 vs Q1, β = 3.35, 95 %CI: 0.41, 6.30, p for trend = 0.014). A potential linear positive dose-effect relationship was discovered between blood cadmium and serum NfL levels (p for non-linearity = 0.15). According to the result of stratified analysis, the significant positive relationship between blood cadmium and serum NfL levels was present only in the population of middle-aged and older adults. Conclusion: The present study suggested a positive association between blood cadmium and serum NfL levels in the general US population.

BackgroundDue to the absence of biomarkers, the misdiagnosis of essential tremor (ET) with other tremor diseases and enhanced physiologic tremor is very common in practice. Combined radiomics based on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and three-dimensional T1-weighted imaging (3D-T1) with machine learning (ML) give a most promising way to identify essential tremor (ET) at the individual level and further reveal the potential imaging biomarkers.MethodsRadiomics features were extracted from 3D-T1 and DTI in 103 ET patients and 103 age-and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs). After data dimensionality reduction and feature selection, five classifiers, including the support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), logistic regression (LR), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) and multi-layer perceptron (MLP), were adopted to discriminate ET from HCs. The mean values of the area under the curve (mAUC) and accuracy were used to assess the model’s performance. Furthermore, a correlation analysis was conducted between the most discriminative features and clinical tremor characteristics.ResultsAll classifiers achieved good classification performance (with mAUC at 0.987, 0.984, 0.984, 0.988 and 0.981 in the test set, respectively). The most powerful discriminative features mainly located in the cerebella-thalamo-cortical (CTC) and visual pathway. Furthermore, correlation analysis revealed that some radiomics features were significantly related to the clinical tremor characteristics in ET patients.ConclusionThese results demonstrated that combining radiomics with ML algorithms could not only achieve high classification accuracy for identifying ET but also help us to reveal the potential brain microstructure pathogenesis in ET patients.

Due to the high melting point, exceptional mechanical properties, and remarkable corrosion resistance exhibited by Al5W, researchers have conducted extensive research on the structural characteristics of Al5W. To identify the lowest energy structures and find new structures, a combination of particle swarm optimization and first-principles calculations was employed to identify energy-favorable Al5W structures under ambient pressure. The experimental P63 phase and the previously predicted R3¯c phase were identified. Notably, a new R32-Al5W phase was proposed. A comparative analysis on the structural stability, elastic, thermodynamic, and electronic properties of these three Al5W phases were conducted. The results indicate that R32-Al5W exhibits favorable thermodynamic stability, with a predicted bulk modulus close to that of R3¯c-Al5W. All the three Al5W phases demonstrate brittle behavior. The P63-Al5W phase displays larger shear anisotropy in the (010) and (001) planes, while the R32-Al5W phase shows greater shear anisotropy on the (100) plane compared to other two phases. Furthermore, employing Clarke’s and Cahill’s models, the minimum thermal conductivity of Al5W phases was predicted, revealing a magnitude order of P63 > R3¯c > R32. Our calculated melting points also conform to this trend.

The Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) has experienced rapid environmental changes, including climate warming and wetting, since the 1980s. These environmental changes significantly impact the shallow soil hydrothermal conditions, which have key roles in land–atmosphere feedback and ecosystem functions. However, the spatial variations and responses of soil hydrothermal conditions to environmental changes over the QTP with permafrost (PF) and seasonal frost (SF) remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the spatial variations in soil temperature (ST) and soil moisture (SM) changes over the QTP from 2000 to 2020 using 99 in-situ sites with observations at 4 depths (i.e. 10, 40, 100 and 200 cm). The main environmental controlling factors were further identified using a calibrated statistical model. Results showed that significant (p

Retrogressive thaw slumps (RTSs) caused by the thawing of ground ice on permafrost slopes have dramatically increased and become a common permafrost hazard across the Northern Hemisphere during previous decades. However, a gap remains in our comprehensive understanding of the spatial controlling factors, including the climate and terrain, that are conducive to these RTSs at a global scale. Using machine learning methodologies, we mapped the current and future RTSs susceptibility distributions by incorporating a range of environmental factors and RTSs inventories. We identified freezing-degree days and maximum summer rainfall as the primary environmental factors affecting RTSs susceptibility. The final ensemble susceptibility map suggests that regions with high to very high susceptibility could constitute (11.6 ± 0.78)% of the Northern Hemisphere's permafrost region. When juxtaposed with the current (2000–2020) RTSs susceptibility map, the total area with high to very high susceptibility could witness an increase ranging from (31.7 ± 0.65)% (SSP585) to (51.9 ± 0.73)% (SSP126) by the 2041–2060. The insights gleaned from this study not only offer valuable implications for engineering applications across the Northern Hemisphere, but also provide a long-term insight into the potential change of RTSs in permafrost regions in response to climate change.

Abstract Background The pathogenesis of adult non-cystic fibrosis (CF) bronchiectasis is complex, and the relevant molecular mechanism remains ambiguous. Versican (VCAN) is a key factor in inflammation through interactions with adhesion molecules. This study constructs a stable panoramic map of mRNA, reveals the possible pathogenesis of bronchiectasis, and provides new ideas and methods for bronchiectasis. Methods Peripheral blood and tissue gene expression data from patients with bronchiectasis and normal control were selected by bioinformatics analysis. The expression of VCAN in peripheral blood and bronchial tissues of bronchiectasis were obtained by transcriptome sequencing. The protein expression levels of VCAN in serums were verified by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mRNA expression levels of VCAN in co-culture of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and bronchial epithelial cells were verified by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). In addition, the biological function of VCAN was detected by the transwell assay. Results The expression of VCAN was upregulated in the bronchiectasis group by sequencing analysis (P

Abstract Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), an acquired autoimmune disease, is characterized by immune-mediated platelet destruction. A biomarker is a biological entity that contributes to disease pathogenesis and reflects disease activity. Metabolic alterations are reported to be associated with the occurrence of various diseases. As metabolic biomarkers for ITP have not been identified. This study aimed to identify metabolism-related differentially expressed genes as potential biomarkers for pathogenesis of ITP using bioinformatic analyses.The microarray expression data of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database (GSE112278 download link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/query/acc.cgi?acc=GSE112278 ). Key module genes were intersected with metabolism-related genes to obtain the metabolism-related key candidate genes. The hub genes were screened based on the degree function in the coytoscape sofware. The key ITP-related genes were subjected to functional enrichment analysis. Immune infiltration analysis was performed using a single-sample gene set enrichment analysis algorithm to evaluate the differential infiltration levels of immune cell types between ITP patient and control. Molecular subtypes were identified based on the expression of hub genes. The expression of hub genes in the ITP patients was validated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. This study identified five hub genes (ADH4, CYP7A1, CYP1A2, CYP8B1, and NR1H4), which were be associated with the pathogenesis of ITP, and two molecular subtypes of ITP. Among these hub genes, CYP7A1 and CYP8B1 involved in cholesterol metabolism,were further verified in clinical samples.

Abstract Objective The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical value and potential prognostic significance of lung function assessment and Testin expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Methods The NSCLC patients were classified into three groups according to lung function: group of normal lung function, group of PRISm (preserved ratio impaired spirometry) (FEV1, forced expiratory volume during the first second

Abstract Protein kinases become an important source of potential drug targets. Developing new, efficient, and safe small-molecule kinase inhibitors has become an important topic in the field of drug research and development. In contrast with traditional wet experiments which are time-consuming and expensive, machine learning-based approaches for predicting small molecule inhibitors for protein kinases are time-saving and cost-effective, which are highly desired for us. However, the issue of sample scarcity (known active and inactive compounds are usually limited for most kinases) poses a challenge to the research and development of machine learning-based kinase inhibitors' active prediction methods. To alleviate the data scarcity problem in the prediction of kinase inhibitors, in this study, we present a novel Meta-learning-based inductive logistic matrix completion method for the Prediction of Kinase Inhibitors (MetaILMC). MetaILMC adopts a meta-learning framework to learn a well-generalized model from tasks with sufficient samples, which can fast adapt to new tasks with limited samples. As MetaILMC allows the effective transfer of the prior knowledge learned from kinases with sufficient samples to kinases with a small number of samples, the proposed model can produce accurate predictions for kinases with limited data. Experimental results show that MetaILMC has excellent performance for prediction tasks of kinases with few-shot samples and is significantly superior to the state-of-the-art multi-task learning in terms of AUC, AUPR, etc., various performance metrics. Case studies also provided for two drugs to predict Kinase Inhibitory scores, further validating the proposed method's effectiveness and feasibility. Scientific contribution Considering the potential correlation between activity prediction tasks for different kinases, we propose a novel meta learning algorithm MetaILMC, which learns a prior of strong generalization capacity during meta-training from the tasks with sufficient training samples, such that it can be easily and quickly adapted to the new tasks of the kinase with scarce data during meta-testing. Thus, MetaILMC can effectively alleviate the data scarcity problem in the prediction of kinase inhibitors.

Abstract Background Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a leading cause of vision loss in patients with diabetes. This study aimed to develop and evaluate an OCT-omics prediction model for assessing anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment response in patients with DME. Methods A retrospective analysis of 113 eyes from 82 patients with DME was conducted. Comprehensive feature engineering was applied to clinical and optical coherence tomography (OCT) data. Logistic regression, support vector machine (SVM), and backpropagation neural network (BPNN) classifiers were trained using a training set of 79 eyes, and evaluated on a test set of 34 eyes. Clinical implications of the OCT-omics prediction model were assessed by decision curve analysis. Performance metrics (sensitivity, specificity, F1 score, and AUC) were calculated. Results The logistic, SVM, and BPNN classifiers demonstrated robust discriminative abilities in both the training and test sets. In the training set, the logistic classifier achieved a sensitivity of 0.904, specificity of 0.741, F1 score of 0.887, and AUC of 0.910. The SVM classifier showed a sensitivity of 0.923, specificity of 0.667, F1 score of 0.881, and AUC of 0.897. The BPNN classifier exhibited a sensitivity of 0.962, specificity of 0.926, F1 score of 0.962, and AUC of 0.982. Similar discriminative capabilities were maintained in the test set. The OCT-omics scores were significantly higher in the non-persistent DME group than in the persistent DME group (p

Himalayan shrews of the genus Soriculus (Soricidae, Eulipotyphla), currently represented by four nominal species, are endemic to the Himalayas and the Gaoligong Mountains. In April 2022 and April 2023, a total of 10 specimens of Soriculus were collected from Beibeng and Damu, Medog County, Tibet, China. The morphology of the specimens was compared with the four recognised species of the genus Soriculus. Additionally, two mitochondrial (Cyt b and 12S) and three nuclear (APOB, BRCAI and RAG2) genes were sequenced to test the phylogenetic relationships of these specimens with the other species. Our results indicate that these specimens represent a distinct species, Soriculus beibengensis sp. nov., which is formally described here. The new species is distinguished from the other Soriculus species by the combination of darker pelages, smaller size, the relatively stubby nasal and the widened posterior processes of incisors. Phylogenetic analyses revealed the new species is sister to S. minor. The p–distance of Cyt b gene between S. beibengensis sp. nov. and other nominal Soriculus species ranges from 9.1–16.3%. This new species has a known distribution at an elevation of 1,500–2,125 m in Medog County, Tibet, China. The discovery of this new species from Medog County has important implications for interpreting small mammal biogeographic patterns in the eastern Himalaya and the mountain chains of south-west China.

Abstract Background This updated systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of perioperative corticosteroid administration versus placebo for esophageal cancer patients following scheduled esophagectomy. Methods We searched databases through June 30, 2023. We included articles on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing perioperative corticosteroid administration with placebo in esophageal cancer patients with esophagectomy. The outcomes were the death rate during hospitalization, length of hospital stay, and short-term complications. Risk ratios (RRs) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CIs) for each estimated effect size were applied for dichotomous outcomes, and the mean difference (MD) and corresponding 95% CIs for each estimated effect size were applied for continuous outcomes. We used GRADE to evaluate the quality of each of the outcome and the level of recommendations. Results Nine RCTs with 508 participants were included in this study. Severe outcomes, including the length of hospital stay, leakage, mortality during the hospitalization period in the corticosteroid group was comparable to that in the control group, but positive effects of corticosteroid administration were observed on the length of intensive care unit stay (MD -3.1, 95% CI − 5.43 to − 0.77), cardiovascular disorders (RR 0.44, 95% CI 0.21–0.94) and other general complications (RR 0.49, 95% CI 0.29–0.85). Conclusions Peri-operative intravenous corticosteroid administration may reduce cardiovascular disorders, other general complications and the length of ICU stay without carrying severe outcomes. More high quality RCTs are warranted to further investigate the effects of corticosteroids on postoperative mortality and complications for esophageal cancer patients with esophagectomy. Systematic review registration Cochrane, registration number: 196.

Abstract Objective The study aimed to explore the mechanism of artemisinin in treating primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) based on network pharmacology and experimental validation. Methods Relevant targets of the artemisinin and pSS-related targets were integrated by public databases online. An artemisinin-pSS network was constructed by Cytoscape. The genes of artemisinin regulating pSS were imported into STRING database to construct a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network in order to predict the key targets. The enrichment analyses were performed to predict the crucial mechanism and pathway of artemisinin against pSS. The active component of artemisinin underwent molecular docking with the key proteins. Artemisinin was administered intragastrically to SS-like NOD/Ltj mice to validate the efficacy and critical mechanisms. Results Network Pharmacology analysis revealed that artemisinin corresponded to 412 targets, and pSS related to 1495 genes. There were 40 intersection genes between artemisinin and pSS. KEGG indicated that therapeutic effects of artemisinin on pSS involves IL-17 signaling pathway, HIF-1 signaling pathway, apoptosis signaling pathway, Th17 cell differentiation, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and MAPK signaling pathway. Molecular docking results further showed that the artemisinin molecule had higher binding energy by combining with the key nodes in IL-17 signaling pathway. In vivo experiments suggested artemisinin can restored salivary gland secretory function and improve the level of glandular damage of NOD/Ltj mice. It contributed to the increase of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and the downregulated secretion of IL-17 in NOD/Ltj model. Conclusion The treatment of pSS with artemisinin is closely related to modulating the balance of Tregs and Th17 cells via T cell differentiation.

Abstract Objective Benzene, ethylbenzene, meta/para-xylene, and ortho-xylene, collectively referred to as benzene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BEX), constitute the main components of volatile organic aromatic compounds (VOACs) and can have adverse effects on human health. The relationship between exposure to BEX and hearing loss (HL) in the adult U.S. population was aimed to be assessed. Methods Cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for the years 2003–2004, 2011–2012, and 2015–2016 were analyzed. This dataset included complete demographic characteristics, pure-tone audiometry measurements, and volatile organic compound detection data from the NHANES database. A weighted multivariate logistic regression model was employed to investigate the associations between blood BEX concentrations HL, low-frequency hearing loss (SFHL), and high-frequency hearing loss (HFHL). Results 2174 participants were included, with weighted prevalence rates of HL, SFHL, and HFHL being 46.81%, 25.23%, and 45.86%, respectively. Exposure to benzene, ethylbenzene, meta/para-xylene, and ortho-xylene, and cumulative BEX concentrations increased the risk of hearing loss (odds ratios [ORs] were 1.36, 1.22, 1.42, 1.23, and 1.31, respectively; all P

Trombe wall and phase change materials (PCMs) are two effective ways to regulate indoor thermal comfort. However, Trombe wall surfers from overheating in summer and PCMs suffer from low heat transfer rate caused by the limited thermal conductivity. To compensate the shortcomings of the two methods, this paper proposed a Trombe wall system integrated with PCMs. Based on a light-weight building envelope in Changsha, China, the thermal comfort of 10 kinds of Trombe wall systems with PCMs with a melting temperature of 18–28 ℃ were studied. Taking the integrated indoor discomfort duration (ID), integrated indoor discomfort degree-hour (IDH), indoor air temperature (Tin), PCM liquid fraction (γ) and heat flux across wall (q) as evaluation indexes, the indoor thermal comfort was assessed in hot summer and cold winter region. Results show that the Trombe wall helped PCMs complete the phase change process effectively. Trombe wall with PCM25 next to the wall inner surface possessed the lowest annual ID and IDH, as 2877 h and 12,974 ℃· h, respectively. Compared with the values in a traditional building, the ID and IDH were reduced by 7.01% and 14.14%. In order to give full play to the heat storage and heat release of the Trombe wall with PCMs, PCMs with phase change temperature 7℃ lower than the peak ambient temperature in summer or 8℃ higher than the winter night temperature was recommended according to regional climate conditions.

Epidemiological investigation confirmed that the intake of dietary fiber (DF) is closely related to human health, and the most important factor affecting the physiological function of DF, besides its physicochemical properties, is the gut microbiota. This paper mainly summarizes the interaction between DF and gut microbiota, including the influence of DF on the colonization of gut microbiota based on its different physicochemical properties, and the physiological role of gut microbiota in destroying the complex molecular structure of DF by encoding carbohydrate-active enzymes, thus producing small molecular products that affect the metabolism of the host. Taking cardiovascular disease (Atherosclerosis and hypertension), liver disease, and immune diseases as examples, it is confirmed that some DF, such as fructo-oligosaccharide, galactooligosaccharide, xylo-oligosaccharide, and inulin, have prebiotic-like physiological effects. These effects are dependent on the metabolites produced by the gut microbiota. Therefore, this paper further explores how DF affects the gut microbiota’s production of substances such as short-chain fatty acids, bile acids, and tryptophan metabolites, and provides a preliminary explanation of the mechanisms associated with their impact on host health. Finally, based on the structural properties of DF and the large heterogeneity in the composition of the population gut microbiota, it may be a future trend to utilize DF and the gut microbiota to correlate host health for precision nutrition by combining the information from population disease databases.

How to precisely control and efficiently utilize the physical processes such as high temperature, high pressure, and shockwaves during the collapse of cavitation bubbles is a focal concern in the field of cavitation applications. The viscosity change of the liquid will affect the bubble dynamics in turn, and further affect the precise control of intensity of cavitation field. This study used high-speed photography technology and schlieren optical path system to observe the spatiotemporal evolution of shockwaves in liquid with different viscosities. It was found that as the viscosity of the liquid increased, the wave front of the collapse shockwave of the cavitation bubble gradually thickened. Furthermore, a high-frequency pressure testing system was used to quantitatively analyze the influence of viscosity on the intensity of the shockwave. It was found that the pressure peak of the shockwave in different viscous liquid was proportional to Lb (L represented the distance between the center of bubble and the sensor measuring point), and the larger the viscosity was, the smaller the value of b was. Through in-depth analysis, it was found that as the viscosity of the liquid increased, the proportion of the shockwave energy of first bubble collapse to the maximal mechanical energy of bubble gradually decreased. The proportion of the mechanical energy of rebounding bubble to the maximal mechanical energy of bubble gradually increased. These new findings have an important theoretical significance for the efficient utilization of ultrasonic cavitation.

Objective: Continuous research on the structure and function of intestinal microecology has confirmed the association between gut microbiota and the occurrence, development, and outcome of allergic diseases. Here, we explored the genetic causality between gut microbiota and rhinitis. Methods: We conducted a two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) study to investigate the genetic causal relationship between gut microbiota and allergic rhinitis and vasomotor rhinitis. Genetic variations in the human gut microbiota were obtained from the summary statistics of the MiBioGen study. Genome-wide summary statistics of rhinitis were obtained from the FinnGen consortium. The causal effect between gut microbiota and rhinitis was assessed using the inverse variance weighted, MR-Egger regression, and weighted median methods. In addition, sensitivity analyses were conducted using different methods, including maximum likelihood, simple mode, and weighted model methods. Results: The IVW approach revealed a causal association of the genus Ruminococcus gauvreauii group with an increased risk of allergic rhinitis (IVW Odds Ratio [OR = 1.26] [1.04, 1.53], p-value = 0.01645). In addition, the genus Fusicatenibacter (IVW OR = 1.20 [1.02, 1.41], p-value = 0.02868) was causally associated with an increased risk of vasomotor rhinitis. Conclusion: Gut microbiota belonging to different genera exert different effects on allergic rhinitis and vasomotor rhinitis, including reducing the risk of rhinitis, and increasing the risk of rhinitis. New insights into the mechanisms of underlying gut microbiota-associated rhinitis are provided. Level of evidence: Level 5.

Cnaphalocrocis medinalis granulovirus (CnmeGV), belonging to Betabaculovirus cnamedinalis, can infect the rice pest, the rice leaf roller. In 1979, a CnmeGV isolate, CnmeGV-EP, was collected from Enping County, China. In 2014, we collected another CnmeGV isolate, CnmeGV-EPDH3, at the same location and obtained the complete virus genome sequence using Illumina and ONT sequencing technologies. By combining these two virus isolates, we updated the genome annotation of CnmeGV and conducted an in-depth analysis of its genome features. CnmeGV genome contains abundant tandem repeat sequences, and the repeating units in the homologous regions (hrs) exhibit overlapping and nested patterns. The genetic variations within EPDH3 population show the high stability of CnmeGV genome, and tandem repeats are the only region of high genetic variation in CnmeGV genome replication. Some defective viral genomes formed by recombination were found within the population. Comparison analysis of the two virus isolates collected from Enping showed that the proteins encoded by the CnmeGV-specific genes were less conserved relative to the baculovirus core genes. At the genomic level, there are a large number of SNPs and InDels between the two virus isolates, especially in and around the bro genes and hrs. Additionally, we discovered that CnmeGV acquired a segment of non-ORF sequence from its host, which does not provide any new proteins but rather serves as redundant genetic material integrated into the viral genome. Furthermore, we observed that the host's transposon piggyBac has inserted into some virus genes. Together, dsDNA viruses could acquire non-coding genetic material from their hosts to expand the size of their genomes. These findings provide new insights into the evolution of dsDNA viruses.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases, yet effective treatment is lacking. Moreover, the underlying pathomechanisms of ALS remain unclear, with impaired mitophagy function being increasingly recognized as a contributing factor. FUN14 domain-containing protein 1 (FUNDC1) is an autophagy receptor localized to the outer mitochondrial membrane and a mitochondrial membrane protein that mediates mitophagy and therefore considered as important factor in neurodegenerative diseases. However, its specific role in ALS is not yet clear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the regulatory role of FUNDC1 in ALS and determine its regulatory mechanisms. ALS transgenic mice were obtained and maintained under standard conditions. Cell lines were generated by stable transfection with hSOD1G93A or control vectors. Mice received intrathecal injections of AAV9 vectors expressing FUNDC1 or EGFP. Motor function was assessed through behavioral tests, and histological and immunostaining analyses were performed. Colocalization analysis was conducted in transfected cells, and protein expression was evaluated via western blotting. We first observed that FUNDC1 was significantly downregulated in the spinal cord tissues of SOD1G93A mice. FUNDC1 overexpression considerably improved locomotor activity and prolonged survival time in SOD1G93A mice. Mechanistically, reduced expression of FUNDC1 resulted in decreased mitophagy, as indicated by decreased recruitment through LC3 in SOD1G93A mice and cellular models. Consequently, this led to increased mitochondrial accumulation and cell apoptosis, exacerbating the ALS phenotype. Furthermore, we identified transcription factor FOXD3 as an essential upstream factor of FUNDC1, resulting in reduced transcription of FUNDC1 in ALS lesions. This study suggests a novel strategy of targeting FUNDC1-mediated mitophagy for developing therapeutic interventions to mitigate disease progression and improve outcomes for ALS patients.