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Abstract Constant-frequency ultrasonic treatment helped to improve seed germination. However, variable-frequency ultrasonic treatment on maize seed germination were rarely reported. In this study, maize seeds were exposed to 20–40 kHz ultrasonic for 40 s. The germination percentage and radicle length of maize seeds increased by 10.4% and 230.5%. Ultrasonic treatment also significantly increased the acid protease, α-amylase, and β-amylase contents by 96.4%, 73.8%, and 49.1%, respectively. Transcriptome analysis showed that 11,475 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found in the ultrasonic treatment and control groups, including 5,695 upregulated and 5,780 downregulated. Metabolic pathways and transcription factors (TFs) were significantly enriched among DEGs after ultrasonic treatment. This included metabolism and genetic information processing, that is, ribosome, proteasome, and pyruvate metabolism, sesquiterpenoid, triterpenoid, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and oxidative phosphorylation, as well as transcription factors in the NAC, MYB, bHLH, WRKY, AP2, bZIP, and ARF families. Variable-frequency ultrasonic treatment increased auxin, gibberellin, and salicylic acid by 5.5%, 37.3%, and 28.9%, respectively. Abscisic acid significantly decreased by 33.2%. The related DEGs were upregulated and downregulated to varying degrees. Seed germination under the abiotic stress conditions of salt stress (NaCl solution), drought (PEG solution), and waterlogging (water-saturated sand bed) under ultrasonic treatment were promoted, radicle length was significantly increased by 30.2%, 30.5%, and 27.3%, respectively; and germination percentage by 14.8%, 20.1%, and 21.6%, respectively. These findings provide new insight into the mechanisms through ultrasonic to promote maize seed germination.

Abstract Background Lung cancer (LC), characterized by high incidence and mortality rates, presents a significant challenge in oncology. Despite advancements in treatments, early detection remains crucial for improving patient outcomes. The accuracy of screening for LC by detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath remains to be determined. Methods Our systematic review, following PRISMA guidelines and analyzing data from 25 studies up to October 1, 2023, evaluates the effectiveness of different techniques in detecting VOCs. We registered the review protocol with PROSPERO and performed a systematic search in PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science. Reviewers screened the studies’ titles/abstracts and full texts, and used QUADAS-2 tool for quality assessment. Then performed meta-analysis by adopting a bivariate model for sensitivity and specificity. Results This study explores the potential of VOCs in exhaled breath as biomarkers for LC screening, offering a non-invasive alternative to traditional methods. In all studies, exhaled VOCs discriminated LC from controls. The meta-analysis indicates an integrated sensitivity and specificity of 85% and 86%, respectively, with an AUC of 0.93 for VOC detection. We also conducted a systematic analysis of the source of the substance with the highest frequency of occurrence in the tested compounds. Despite the promising results, variability in study quality and methodological challenges highlight the need for further research. Conclusion This review emphasizes the potential of VOC analysis as a cost-effective, non-invasive screening tool for early LC detection, which could significantly improve patient management and survival rates.

The Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) is an important component in regional and global carbon budgets. Southeastern China has experienced vegetation greening and climate change. Yet, it remains unclear how these changes have impacted GPP in this region. As one of six special national parks in China with complex topography, high biodiversity, and little destructive human activities to the ecosystems, the Wuyi Mountain region is selected to study these impacts. In this study, we use a hydroecological model (BEPS-TerrainLab V2.0) to simulate the spatial and temporal variations of GPP in the Wuyi Mountain region over 2001–2018. We quantitatively separate the effects of vegetation greening and climate change on the trend and interannual variation in GPP through sensitivity experiments. The results show a significant increasing trend in Leaf Area Index (LAI) in the region over 2001–2018 (0.06 m2 m−2 yr−1, p

Abstract Background This study aimed to explore the expression, molecular mechanism and its biological function of potassium two pore domain channel subfamily K member 1 (KCNK1) in bladder cancer (BC). Methods We integrated large numbers of external samples (n = 1486) to assess KCNK1 mRNA expression levels and collected in-house samples (n = 245) for immunohistochemistry (IHC) experiments to validate at the KCNK1 protein level. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis was performed to further assess KCNK1 expression and cellular communication. The transcriptional regulatory mechanisms of KCNK1 expression were explored by ChIP-seq, ATAC-seq and ChIA-PET data. Highly expressed co-expressed genes (HECEGs) of KCNK1 were used to explore potential signalling pathways. Furthermore, the immunoassay, clinical significance and molecular docking of KCNK1 were calculated. Results KCNK1 mRNA was significantly overexpressed in BC (SMD = 0.58, 95% CI [0.05; 1.11]), validated at the protein level (p

Abstract Background Colonization of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterale (CRE) is considered as one of vital preconditions for infection, with corresponding high morbidity and mortality. It is important to construct a reliable prediction model for those CRE carriers with high risk of infection. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted in two Chinese tertiary hospitals for patients with CRE colonization from 2011 to 2021. Univariable analysis and the Fine-Gray sub-distribution hazard model were utilized to identify potential predictors for CRE-colonized infection, while death was the competing event. A nomogram was established to predict 30-day and 60-day risk of CRE-colonized infection. Results 879 eligible patients were enrolled in our study and divided into training (n = 761) and validation (n = 118) group, respectively. There were 196 (25.8%) patients suffered from subsequent CRE infection. The median duration of subsequent infection after identification of CRE colonization was 20 (interquartile range [IQR], 14–32) days. Multisite colonization, polymicrobial colonization, catheterization and receiving albumin after colonization, concomitant respiratory diseases, receiving carbapenems and antimicrobial combination therapy before CRE colonization within 90 days were included in final model. Model discrimination and calibration were acceptable for predicting the probability of 60-day CRE-colonized infection in both training (area under the curve [AUC], 74.7) and validation dataset (AUC, 81.1). Decision-curve analysis revealed a significantly better net benefit in current model. Our prediction model is freely available online at https://ken-zheng.shinyapps.io/PredictingModelofCREcolonizedInfection/ . Conclusions Our nomogram has a good predictive performance and could contribute to early identification of CRE carriers with a high-risk of subsequent infection, although external validation would be required.

Abstract Background Pelvic floor myofascial pain is one of the pelvic floor dysfunction diseases disturbing women after delivery. There is a lack of objective standardization for the diagnosis of pelvic floor myofascial pain due to the various symptoms and the dependence on the palpating evaluation. Ultrasound imaging has the advantages of safety, simplicity, economy and high resolution, which makes it an ideal tool for the assistant diagnosis of pelvic floor myofascial pain and evaluation after treatment. Methods This is a retrospective case-control study including women accepting evaluation of pelvic floor function at 6 weeks to 1 year postpartum. They were divided into pelvic floor myofascial pain group and normal control group. A BCL 10–5 biplane transducer was applied to observed their puborectalis. The length, minimum width, area, deficiency, deficiency length, deficiency width, deficiency area, rate of deficiency area, local thickening,angle between the tendinous arch of levator ani muscle and puborectalis of corresponding puborectalis in different groups were observed and measured. Results A total of 220 postpartum women participated in the study, with 77 in the pelvic floor myofascial pain group and 143 in the normal control group. The Intraclass correlation coefficient value was over 0.750, and Kappa ranged from 0.600 to 0.800. puborectalis deficiency (adjusted odds ratio = 11.625, 95% confidence interval = 4.557–29.658) and focal thickening (adjusted odds ratio = 16.891, 95% confidence interval = 1.819–156.805) were significantly associated with higher odds of having postpartum pelvic floor myofascial pain. Grayscale or the angle between the arch tendineus levator ani and puborectalis measurements on the pain side tended to be smaller than on the non-pain side in patients with unilateral puborectalis or iliococcygeus pain (P

Abstract High spatial‐resolution detection is essential for biomedical applications and human‐machine interaction. However, as the sensor array density increases, the miniaturization will lead to interference between adjacent units and deterioration in sensing performance. Here, inspired by the cochlea's sensing structure, a high‐density flexible pressure sensor array featuring with suspended sensing membrane with sensitivity‐enhanced customized channels is presented for crosstalk‐free and high‐resolution detection. By imitating the basilar membrane attached to spiral ligaments, a sensing membrane is fixed onto a high‐stiffness substrate with cavities, forming a stable braced isolation to provide an excellent crosstalk‐free capability (crosstalk coefficient: 47.24 dB) with high‐density integration (100 units within 1 cm2). Similar to the opening of ion channels in hair cells, the wedge‐type expansion of the embedded cracks introduced by stress concentration structures enables a high sensitivity (0.19 kPa−1) and a large measuring range (400 kPa). Finally, it demonstrates promising applications in distributed displays and the condition monitoring of medical‐surgical intubation.

The pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains elusive. The initiation of joint degeneration is characterized by the loss of self-tolerance in peripheral joints. Ferroptosis, a form of regulated cell death, holds significant importance in the pathophysiology of inflammatory arthritis, primarily due to iron accumulation and the subsequent lipid peroxidation.The present study investigated the association between synovial lesions and ferroptosis-related genes using previously published data from rheumatoid patients. Transcriptome differential gene analysis was employed to identify ferroptosis-related differentially expressed genes (FRDEGs). To validate FRDEGs and screen hub genes, we used weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Subsequently, immune infiltration analysis and single cell analysis were conducted to investigate the relationship between various synovial tissues cells and FRDEGs. The findings were further confirmed through reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), immunohistochemical staining, and immunofluorescence techniques.Upon intersecting DEGs with ferroptosis-related genes, we identified a total of 104 FRDEGs. Through the construction of a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, we pinpointed the top 20 most highly concentrated genes as hub genes. Subsequent analyses using ROC curve and WGCNA validated eight FRDEGs: TIMP1, JUN, EGFR, SREBF1, ADIPOQ, SCD, AR, and FABP4. Immuno-infiltration analyses revealed significant infiltration of immune cell in RA synovial tissues and their correlations with the FRDEGs. Notably, TIMP1 demonstrated a positive correlation with various immune cell populations. Single-cell sequencing date of RA synovial tissue revealed predominant expression of TIMP1 is in fibroblasts. RT–qPCR, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence analyses confirmed significant upregulation of TIMP1 at both mRNA and protein levels in RA synovial tissues and fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS).The findings provide novel insights into pathophysiology of peripheral immune tolerance deficiency in RA. The dysregulation of TIMP1, a gene associated with ferroptosis, was significantly observed in RA patients, suggesting its potential as a promising biomarker and therapeutic target.

This study was conducted to examine the effects of agricultural subsidies on the technical efficiency of agricultural production technology and on factor input. It utilized a random frontier production function, instrumental variable method, and threshold regression model. The data used for this analysis consisted of 609 field yield measurements from the National Rapeseed Industry Technology System in 2020. The findings indicate that agricultural subsidies have a substantial impacts and it increases the technical efficiency of production process. Specifically, these subsidies encourage the use of land resources while inhibiting the use of chemical fertilizers. However, this does not have a significant effect on the utilization of labor and capital resources. Furthermore, the impact of agricultural subsidies on production technology efficiency varies depending on the scale of the farming operation. The subsidies significantly enhance the production technology efficiency of farmers with a business scale of less than 0.67 ha, but do not significantly improve the production technology efficiency of farmers with a business scale exceeding 0.67 ha. To optimize the effectiveness of agricultural subsidy policy, three methods and recommendations are proposed: increasing the overall amount of subsidies, expanding and diversifying the types of subsidies, and refining the process of disbursing subsidies.

Abstract Dual-parameter pressure-temperature sensors are widely employed in personal health monitoring and robots to detect external signals. Herein, we develop a flexible composite dual-parameter pressure-temperature sensor based on three-dimensional (3D) spiral thermoelectric Bi2Te3 films. The film has a (000l) texture and good flexibility, exhibiting a maximum Seebeck coefficient of −181 μV K–1 and piezoresistance gauge factor of approximately −9.2. The device demonstrates a record-high temperature-sensing performance with a high sensing sensitivity (−426.4 μV K−1) and rapid response time (~0.95 s), which are better than those observed in most previous studies. In addition, owing to the piezoresistive effect in the Bi2Te3 film, the 3D-spiral deviceexhibits significant pressure-response properties with a pressure-sensing sensitivity of 120 Pa–1. This innovative approach achieves high-performance dual-parameter sensing using one kind of material with high flexibility, providing insight into the design and fabrication of many applications, such as e-skin.

Abstract Background Albuminuria, the presence of excess of protein in urine, is a well-known risk factor for early kidney damage among diabetic/prediabetic patients. There is a complex interaction between physical activity (PA) and albuminuria. However, the relationship of specific-domain PA and albuminuria remained obscure. Methods Albuminuria was defined as urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) > 30 mg/g. PA was self-reported by participants and classified into transportation-related PA (TPA), occupation-related PA (OPA), and leisure-time PA (LTPA). Weighted logistic regression was conducted to compute the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Restricted cubic spline (RCS) was used to evaluate the dose–response of PA domains with the risk of albuminuria. Results A total of 6739 diabetic/prediabetic patients (mean age: 56.52 ± 0.29 years) were enrolled in our study, including 3181 (47.20%) females and 3558 (52.80%) males. Of them, 1578 (23.42%) were identified with albuminuria, and 5161(76.58%) were without albuminuria. Diabetic/prediabetic patients who adhered the PA guidelines for total PA had a 22% decreased risk of albuminuria (OR = 0.78, 95%CI 0.64–0.95), and those met the PA guidelines for LTPA had a 28% decreased of albuminuria (OR = 0.72, 95%CI 0.57–0.92). However, OPA and TPA were both not associated with decreased risk of albuminuria. RCS showed linear relationship between the risk of albuminuria with LTPA. Conclusions Meeting the PA guideline for LTPA, but not OPA and TPA, was inversely related to the risk of albuminuria among diabetic/prediabetic patients. Additionally, achieving more than 300 min/week of LTPA conferred the positive effects in reducing albuminuria among diabetic/prediabetic patients.

Introduction This study evaluates the association between passive smoking, specifically secondhand smoke (SHS) and thirdhand smoke (THS) exposure, and sleep quality in a hypertensive population. Methods We enrolled 1427 eligible hypertensive patients from a 2022 national survey cross-sectional in China. Data on tobacco smoke exposure and sleep were collected via questionnaires. Multiple logistic regression and linear regression were employed to assess the relationship between passive smoking and sleep quality characteristics, as well as the correlation between passive smoking exposure characteristics and sleep quality. Results Among 589 hypertensive patients with no tobacco smoke exposure, 679 exposed to SHS, and 159 exposed to THS, SHS exposure was associated with a higher risk of poor sleep quality, even after adjusting for potential confounding factors (β=0.10; 95% CI: 0.32–0.95). No significant relationship was observed between THS exposure and sleep quality. SHS exposure was associated with various sleep quality characteristics, including shorter sleep duration (AOR=1.71; 95% CI: 1.06–2.76) and increased frequency of 1–2 sleep disturbances per week (AOR=1.68; 95% CI: 1.25–2.26). Individuals exposed to SHS were more likely to experience poorer subjective sleep quality (AOR=1.53; 95% CI: 1.07–2.21) and have sleep efficiency

Abstract Background Clinically, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the main treatment for primary ovarian insufficiency (POI). However, HRT may increase the risk of both breast cancer and cardiovascular disease. Exosomes derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (hUC-MSC) have been gradually applied to the therapy of a variety of diseases through inflammation inhibition, immune regulation, and tissue repair functions. However, the application and study of hUC-MSC exosomes in POI remain limited. Methods Here, we first constructed four rat animal models: the POI-C model (the “cyclophosphamide-induced” POI model via intraperitoneal injection), the POI-B model (the “busulfan-induced” POI model), the POI-U model (the “cyclophosphamide-induced” POI model under ultrasonic guidance), and MS model (the “maternal separation model”). Second, we compared the body weight, ovarian index, status, Rat Grimace Scale, complications, and mortality rate of different POI rat models. Finally, a transabdominal ultrasound-guided injection of hUC-MSC exosomes was performed, and its therapeuticy effects on the POI animal models were evaluated, including changes in hormone levels, oestrous cycles, ovarian apoptosis levels, and fertility. In addition, we performed RNA-seq to explore the possible mechanism of hUC-MSC exosomes function. Results Compared with the POI-C, POI-B, and MS animal models, the POI-U model showed less fluctuation in weight, a lower ovarian index, fewer complications, a lower mortality rate, and a higher model success rate. Second, we successfully identified hUC-MSCs and their exosomes, and performed ultrasound-guided intraovarian hUC-MSCs exosomes injection. Finally, we confirmed that the ultrasound-guided exosome injection (termed POI-e) effectively improved ovarian hormone levels, the oestrous cycle, ovarian function, and fertility. Mechanically, hUC-MSCs may play a therapeutic role by regulating ovarian immune and metabolic functions. Conclusions In our study, we innovatively constructed an ultrasound-guided ovarian drug injection method to construct POI-U animal models and hUC-MSC exosomes injection. And we confirmed the therapeutic efficacy of hUC-MSC exosomes on the POI-U animal models. Our study will offer a better choice for new animal models of POI in the future and provides certain guidance for the hUC-MSCs exosome therapy in POI patients. Graphical abstract The schema of construction of different animal models, extraction and identifying hUC-MSCs and exosomes, therapy of ultrasound-guided hUC-MSCs exosome injection. Note: POI: premature ovarian insufficiency; hUC-MSCs: Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells; POI-C: POI-cyclophosphamide; POI-B: POI-cyclophosphamide + Busulfan; POI-U: POI-Ultrasonic guidance cyclophosphamide injection; MS: POI-Maternal separation. POI-e: ultrasound-guided hUC-MSCs exosome injection; AMH: Anti-müllerian hormone; LH: Luteinizing hormone; FSH: Follicle-stimulating hormone; DA: dopamine; T: Testosterone; PRL: prolactin; GnRH: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone.

Abstract Background Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) acts critical roles on cell growth, proliferation, and metastasis in various cancers. However, the relationship between ERs and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) prognoses still remains unclear. Methods The consensus clustering analysis of ERS-related genes and the differential expression analysis between clusters were investigated in LUSC based on TCGA database. Furthermore, ERS-related prognostic risk models were constructed by LASSO regression and Cox regression analyses. Then, the predictive effect of the risk model was evaluated by Kaplan–Meier, Cox regression, and ROC Curve analyses, as well as validated in the GEO cohort. According to the optimal threshold, patients with LUSC were divided into high- and low- risk groups, and somatic mutations, immune cell infiltration, chemotherapy response and immunotherapy effect were systematically analyzed. Results Two ERS-related clusters were identified in patients with LUSC that had distinct patterns of immune cell infiltration. A 5-genes ERS-related prognostic risk model and nomogram were constructed and validated. Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox regression analysis showed that ERS risk score was an independent prognostic factor (p

Background Both the trauma of endometrium and hysteroscopic adhesiolysis can lead to a high rate of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) in women with intrauterine adhesion (IUA). This study analysed the impact of time interval from adhesiolysis to pregnancy on PAS in IUA women.Methods Patients diagnosed with IUA who underwent adhesiolysis in Anhui Women and Children’s Medical Centre between January 2016 and December 2020 were included in this case-series study. Clinical data were obtained from electronic medical records and telephone interviews.Results Among a total of 102 IUA women with successful pregnancies, 8 (7.8%) suffered from miscarriages with PAS, and 94 (92.2%), 47 with PAS and 47 without PAS, had successful delivery. The total prevalence of PAS in pregnant women with IUA was 53.9% (55/102). The average time from adhesiolysis to pregnancy in the PAS group was significantly longer than in the non-PAS group (14.2 ± 5.7 vs. 10.3 ± 4.4 months, p = 0.000). Regression analysis showed that AFS grade (OR = 7.40, 95% CI 1.38–39.73, p = 0.020) and adhesiolysis to pregnancy interval time between 12 and 24 months (OR = 12.09, 95% CI 3.76–38.83, p = 0.000) were closely related to PAS. A Kaplan–Meier analysis showed the median interval time to PAS was 16.00 months (95% CI 15.11–16.89).Conclusions We assume that prolonged adhesiolysis to pregnancy interval may be considered a significant risk factor for PAS in IUA women.

Abstract Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia and invasive pulmonary aspergillosis are both life‐threatening opportunistic fungal infections. There are only few reports of coinfection by these two fungi in the literature, and Aspergillus fumigatus is the predominant Aspergillus species in the coinfection. We report here the first case of coinfection by Aspergillus terreus and P. jirovecii pneumonia and caspofungin can be an appropriate choice for salvage treatment of the coinfection. A 51‐year‐old man with a history of immune thrombocytopenia treated with prednisone over 2 months was admitted to emergency intensive care unit for acute respiratory failure and a cavity was found on chest computed tomography. Therefore, his trachea was immediately intubated. The patient was treated with a large spectrum of antibiotic regimen, consisting initially of imipenem/cilastatin, moxifloxacin and fluconazole followed by fluconazole, imipenem/cilastatin, vancomycin, trimethoprim–sulphamethoxazole (TMP‐SMZ) and azithromycin. When the polymerase chain reaction analysis of the bronchoalveolar lavage sample revealed P. jirovecii and A. terreus, all the antibiotics were stopped except TMP‐SMZ, and voriconazole was added. Two weeks later, the patient showed clinical improvement but radiological deterioration. Consequently, caspofungin was started for salvage therapy, then the patient showed gradual clinical improvement. He was discharged with oral voriconazole and TMP‐SMZ. The antifungal treatment was continued for 6 months until complete radiological absorption. In conclusion, early bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage fluid should be considered in order to diagnose and treat promptly in those treated with corticosteroids combined with immunocompromised and caspofungin could be an appropriate choice for salvage treatment of coinfection by P. jirovecii and A. terreus.

The transitory emergence of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in infants is important for the homeostasis of the immune system in early life. The composition and functional heterogeneity of MDSCs in newborns remain elusive, hampering the understanding of the importance of MDSCs in neonates. In this study, we unraveled the maturation trajectory of polymorphonuclear (PMN)-MDSCs from the peripheral blood of human newborns by performing single-cell RNA sequencing. Results indicated that neonatal PMN-MDSCs differentiated from self-renewal progenitors, antimicrobial PMN-MDSCs, and immunosuppressive PMN-MDSCs to late PMN-MDSCs with reduced antimicrobial capacity. We also established a simple framework to distinguish these distinct stages by CD177 and CXCR2. Importantly, preterm newborns displayed a reduced abundance of classical PMN-MDSCs but increased late PMN-MDSCs, consistent with their higher susceptibility to infections and inflammation. Furthermore, newborn PMN-MDSCs were distinct from those from cancer patients, which displayed minimum expression of genes about antimicrobial capacity. This study indicates that the heterogeneity of PMN-MDSCs is associated with the maturity of human newborns.

BackgroundThis study aimed to explore the regulatory effect of anserine on HUVEC cell injury and thrombosis in deep venous thrombosis (DVT) rats, and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms.MethodsNon-targeted metabolomics data analyses were conducted using an ultra-performance liquid chromatography system Vanquish UHPLC and mass spectrometer to detect plasma metabolism profiles. The transcriptome sequencing and gene intervention experiments were performed to verify the regulatory effect. Further in vivo and in vitro experiments were performed. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the levels of P-selectin, E-selectin, and vWF, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed to observe thrombotic and inflammatory cell infiltration, flow cytometry and TUNEL assays were performed to detect apoptosis, and qPCR and WB assays were conducted to determine the gene and protein expression.ResultsAnserine alleviated HUVECs injury, reduced adhesion molecule expression, and inflammation. It decreased P-selectin, E-selectin, vWF, THBD, TFPI levels, and apoptosis while promoting NOS3, ET-1, and NO release in HUVECs. In DVT rats, anserine reduced P-selectin, E-selectin, vWF, thrombosis, cell infiltration, apoptosis, and promoted NO release. Transcriptome sequencing and gene intervention confirmed anserine’s regulation of the PI3K-Akt pathway and coagulation via MYB. CARNMT1, a regulatory enzyme for anserine metabolism, increased anserine content, inhibiting coagulation, thrombosis, cell infiltration, and promoting NO release in rats.ConclusionThis study confirmed anserine could alleviate DVT by improving the inflammatory response, inhibiting blood agglutination, and promoting vasodilation, providing new potential therapeutic targets, important scientific evidence for the development of DVT management, and new clues for an in-depth understanding of its molecular mechanisms.

Background: This study aimed to explore the expression level and transcriptional regulation mechanism of Extra Spindle Pole Bodies Like 1 (ESPL1) in bladder cancer (BC). Methods: A multicentre database of samples (n = 1391) was assayed for ESPL1 mRNA expression in BC and validated at the protein level by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of in-house samples (n = 202). Single-cell sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis and enrichment analysis explored ESPL1 distribution and their accompanying molecular mechanisms. ATAC-seq, ChIP-seq and Hi-C data from multiple platforms were used to investigate ESPL1 upstream transcription factors (TFs) and potential epigenetic regulatory mechanisms. Immune-related analysis, drug sensitivity and molecular docking of ESPL1 were also calculated. Furthermore, upstream microRNAs and the binding sites of ESPL1 were predicted. The expression level and early screening efficacy of miR-299-5p in blood (n = 6625) and tissues (n = 537) were examined. Results: ESPL1 was significantly overexpressed at the mRNA level (p

This paper studies the blade cooling under the co-effect of external film extraction and internal impingement cooling with crossflow diverters. The influence of spanwise angle (α) and diameter (Df) of film hole on flow and cooling performance are analyzed when the impingement jet Reynolds number ranges (Rei) from 15,000 to 45,000. From the results, if a row of film holes is set on the target surface of an impingement cooling with crossflow diverters, the overall cooling effectiveness will be greatly improved, especially the pressure side. When the α ranges from 35° to 115°, no matter pressure side or suction side, the film jet injection towards blade hub is more beneficial to cooling, and the smaller the α, the more beneficial. When the Df ranges from 0.25 mm to 1.00 mm, at suction side, as Df increases, overall cooling effectiveness gradually increases; at pressure side, when the Df ranges from 0.25 mm to 0.75 mm, overall cooling effectiveness increases, but if the Df continues to increase, it will decrease, which means the Df of 0.75 mm can obtain the most excellent cooling performance. This study provides a theoretical basis for the comprehensive application of film extraction, impingement cooling, and crossflow diverters in blade cooling design.

Abstract The progression of prostate cancer (PCa) leads to poor prognosis. However, the molecular mechanism of PCa is still not completely clear. This study aimed to elucidate the important role of centromere protein A (CENPA) in PCa. Large numbers of bulk RNA sequencing (RNA‐seq) data and in‐house immunohistochemistry data were used in analysing the expression level of CENPA in PCa and metastatic PCa (MPCa). Single‐cell RNA‐seq data was used to explore the expression status of CENPA in different prostate subpopulations. Enrichment analysis was employed to detect the function of CENPA in PCa. Clinicopathological parameters analysis was utilised in analysing the clinical value of CENPA. The results showed that CENPA was upregulated in PCa (standardised mean difference [SMD] = 0.83, p = 0.001) and MPCa (SMD = 0.61, p = 0.029). CENPA was overexpressed in prostate cancer stem cells (CSCs) with androgen receptor (AR) negative compared to epithelial cells with AR positive. CENPA may influence the development of PCa through affecting cell cycle. Patients with nodal metastasis had higher expression level of CENPA. And patients with high CENPA expression had poor disease‐free survival. Taken together, Overexpression of CENPA may influence the development of PCa by regulating cell cycle and promoting metastasis.

Abstract Background Psychiatric nurses play a crucial role in treating and supporting adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in China. However, few studies have explored their experiences and challenges. Objectives The aim of this qualitative study was to describe the challenges experienced by psychiatric nurses when working with adolescents having NSSI behaviors. Methods This was a descriptive qualitative study using phenomenological approach. 18 psychiatric nurses from psychiatric wards were recruited from a tertiary hospital from Changsha, Hunan province, China. In-depth interview was performed for each participant collecting information about their feelings and experiences taking care of NSSI adolescents. ATLAS.ti 8 was used to enter data and perform thematic analysis following the six-phased process described by Braun and Clarke. Results Two main themes and five sub-themes were summarized in this study. Nurses experienced both (1) Internal challenges (Lacking knowledge and skills to deal with NSSI adolescents and Feeling hard and stressful working with NSSI adolescents) and (2) External barriers (Unrealistic high expectations from family and schools, Uncooperative parents and Little help from communities and schools). Conclusions Psychiatric nurses had to face with their own negative feelings, insufficient knowledge and skills, alongside with pressures and little help from family, schools and communities when working with NSSI adolescents. Targeted training programs of treating NSSI adolescents and their supporting systems be performed in nurses, furthermore, family, schools and societies should also be raised.

Background: Combined Oxidative Phosphorylation Deficiency 23 (COXPD23) is a rare mitochondrial disease caused by mutations in the GTPBP3 gene. The rare incidence of the disease and the high clinical heterogeneity pose challenges in making a precise diagnosis. Investigations into the rare COXPD23 patients are of pathophysiological and etiological value. In this study, we investigated the genotype-phenotype relationship in a COXPD23 patient from a Manchu family, with GTPBP3 mutations. Methods: Routine physical examinations, laboratory assays and imaging analyses were performed. The metabolic profiles of amino acids in blood, acylcarnitine in blood and organic acids in urine were used to determine the presence of inherited metabolic diseases. Genetic variations in the family were investigated using whole-exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing. Splicing disruption by a mutation was predicted and verified using a minigene assay. Results: The patient presented with severe lactic acidosis, neurological symptoms, multiple symmetrical lesions in the brain and serious mitochondrial energy metabolism disturbances. The c.689A > C (p.Q230P) and c.809-1_809delinsA compound heterozygous mutations were detected in GTPBP3. The novel c.809-1_809delinsA mutation was located at the splicing site of exon 7 and intron 6 and multiple tools predicted that it would disrupt the normal splicing. The minigene assay proved that the novel mutation resulted in two aberrant transcripts that created premature termination codons. Conclusions: The clinical manifestations, brain imaging change, mitochondrial metabolism disturbances and the detection and validation of the GTPBP3 mutations expand the profile of COXPD23 and the pathogenic mutation spectrum. Our study improves the understanding of the pathophysiology and etiology of COXPD23.

Background: Hemoglobin A1c has been widely used to diagnose and monitor diabetes. However, the accuracy of HbA1c analysis can be significantly affected by hemoglobin variants, leading to falsely low or elevated levels and misdiagnosis or inappropriate diabetes management. Case report: In this study, we present the case of a 23-year-old man with undetectable HbA1c levels during his annual checkup by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and capillary electrophoresis (CE). To investigate the reason for HbA1c absence, Sanger sequencing, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification assay (MLPA), long-read single molecule real-time sequencing (SMRT) and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (MS) were performed, and the proband was identified as compound heterozygous of β-thalassemia with Hb G-Taipei (HBB:c.68A > G) and Hb Lepore-Boston-Washington (NG_000007.3:g.63632_71046del). Conclusion: The combination of these molecular technologies including MLPA, long-read SMRT sequencing and MALDI-TOF MS is beneficial for identifying rare hemoglobin variants. This case also provides essential evidence for uncovering the effect of compound heterozygosity for Hb Lepore-Boston-Washington and Hb G-Taipei on hematological phenotypes and HbA1c analysis.

The assessment of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) is crucial for evaluating overall antioxidant potential, predicting the risk of chronic diseases, guiding dietary and nutritional interventions, and studying the effectiveness of antioxidants. However, achieving rapid TAC assessment with high sensitivity and stability remains a challenge. In this study, Ce/Fe-MOF with abundant oxygen vacancies was synthesized using microplasma for TAC determination. The microplasma synthesis method was rapid (30 min) and cost-effective. The presence of oxygen vacancies and the collaboration between iron and cerium in Ce/Fe-MOF not only enhanced the catalyst's efficiency but also conferred multiple enzyme-like properties: peroxidase-like, oxidase-like, and superoxide dismutase mimetic activities. Consequently, a simple colorimetric assay was established for TAC determination in vegetables and fruits, featuring a short analysis time of 15 min, a good linear range of 5–60 μM, a low detection limit of 1.3 μM and a good recovery of 91 %-107 %. This method holds promise for rapid TAC assessment in agricultural products.

Glass fiber reinforced cement (GRC) incorporating foam has good thermal insulation. Micro pores not only lowered the strength of the cement matrix but also changed the friction between the fiber and the matrix. It has an influence on modulus of rupture (MOR) and fracture energy of GRC. In this work, the effect of the glass fiber and foam contents of GRC on the MOR and fracture energy were evaluated using four-point flexural tests. The results show that glass fiber content has little influence on MOR of GRC. However, the MOR decreased significantly with increasing foam content. The empirical formula summarized by experiments can well characterize the relationship between the MOR and density of foamed GRC. The content of glass fiber and foam has a significant influence on the fracture energy of GRC. The fracture energy of foamed GRC decreased with the decrease of dry bulk density, and the decrease was fast and then slow.

Background: Considering the therapeutic difficulties and mortality associated with bloodstream infection (BSI), it is essential to investigate other potential factors affecting mortality in critically ill patients with BSI and examine the utility of the quick Pitt bacteremia (qPitt) score to improve the survival rate. Objectives: To improve the predictive accuracy of the qPitt scoring system by evaluating the five current components of qPitt and including other potential factors influencing mortality in critically ill patients with BSI. Design: This was a retrospective cohort study. Methods: Medical information from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV database was used in this retrospective cohort study. The risk factors associated with mortality were examined using a multivariate logistic regression model. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to assess the discriminatory capability of the prediction models. Results: In total, 1240 eligible critically ill patients with BSI were included. After adjustment for age, community-onset BSI, indwelling invasive lines, and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) ⩽ 8, acute kidney injury (AKI) was identified as a notable risk factor for 14-day mortality. Except for altered mental status, the four other main components of the original qPitt were significantly associated with 14-day mortality. Hence, we established a modified qPitt (m-qPitt) by adding AKI and replacing altered mental status with GCS ⩽ 8. The AUCs for m-qPitt and qPitt were 0.723 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.683–0.759] and 0.708 (95% CI: 0.669–0.745) in predicting 14-day mortality, respectively. Moreover, m-qPitt also had acceptable performance and discrimination power [0.700 (95% CI: 0.666–0.732)] in predicting 28-day mortality. Conclusion: AKI significantly influenced the survival of critically ill patients with BSIs. Compared with the original qPitt, our new m-qPitt was proven to have a better predictive performance for mortality in critically ill patients with BSI. Further studies should be conducted to validate the practicality of m-qPitt.

Abstract Ti3C2Tx Quantum dots (QDs)/L‐Ti3C2Tx fiber electrode (Q3M7) with high capacitance and excellent flexibility is prepared by a wet spinning method. The assembled units Ti3C2Tx nanosheets (NSs) with large size (denoted as L‐Ti3C2Tx) is obtained by natural sedimentation screen raw Ti3AlC2, etching, and mechanical delamination. The pillar agent Ti3C2Tx QDs is fabricated by an ultrasound method. Q3M7 fiber electrode gave a specific capacitance of 1560 F cm−3, with a capacity retention rate of 79% at 20 A cm−3, and excellent mechanical strength of 130 Mpa. A wide temperature all‐solid‐state the delaminated montmorillonite (F‐MMT)/Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) flexible hydrogel (DHGE) (F‐MMT/PVA DHGE) Q3M7 fiber supercapacitor is assembled by using Q3M7 fiber as electrodes and F‐MMT/PVA DHGE as electrolyte and separator. It showed a volume specific capacitance of 413 F cm−3 at 0.5 A cm−3, a capacity retention of 97% after 10 000 cycles, an energy density of 36.7 mWh cm−3 at a power density of 311 mW cm−3, and impressive capacitance and flexibility over a wide temperature range of −40 to 60 °C. This work provides an effective strategy for designing and assembling wide temperature all‐solid‐state fiber supercapacitors with optimal balance of capacitive performance and flexibility.

BackgroundRadiomics, an emerging field, presents a promising avenue for the accurate prediction of biomarkers in different solid cancers. Lung cancer remains a significant global health challenge, contributing substantially to cancer-related mortality. Accurate assessment of Ki-67, a marker reflecting cellular proliferation, is crucial for evaluating tumor aggressiveness and treatment responsiveness, particularly in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).MethodsA systematic review and meta-analysis conducted following the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy studies (PRISMA-DTA) guidelines. Two authors independently conducted a literature search until September 23, 2023, in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. The focus was on identifying radiomics studies that predict Ki-67 expression in lung cancer. We evaluated quality using both Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) and the Radiomics Quality Score (RQS) tools. For statistical analysis in the meta-analysis, we used STATA 14.2 to assess sensitivity, specificity, heterogeneity, and diagnostic values.ResultsTen retrospective studies were pooled in the meta-analysis. The findings demonstrated that the use of computed tomography (CT) scan-based radiomics for predicting Ki-67 expression in lung cancer exhibited encouraging diagnostic performance. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC) in training cohorts were 0.78, 0.81, and 0.85, respectively. In validation cohorts, these values were 0.78, 0.70, and 0.81. Quality assessment using QUADAS-2 and RQS indicated generally acceptable study quality. Heterogeneity in training cohorts, attributed to factors like contrast-enhanced CT scans and specific Ki-67 thresholds, was observed. Notably, publication bias was detected in the training cohort, indicating that positive results are more likely to be published than non-significant or negative results. Thus, journals are encouraged to publish negative results as well.ConclusionIn summary, CT-based radiomics exhibit promise in predicting Ki-67 expression in lung cancer. While the results suggest potential clinical utility, additional research efforts should concentrate on enhancing diagnostic accuracy. This could pave the way for the integration of radiomics methods as a less invasive alternative to current procedures like biopsy and surgery in the assessment of Ki-67 expression.

Leaders in green supply chains are increasingly focusing on improving strategic synergy with followers through shareholding strategies. By constructing Stackelberg models, we explore the operational mechanisms in two models, manufacturer-led and retailer-led, which have forward and backward shareholding strategies, respectively. Compared with non-shareholding models, we find that the retailer's pricing becomes more sensitive to changes in the market environment after applying shareholding strategies, while the manufacturer's pricing depends on its power status. Interestingly, leaders and entire supply chains prefer shareholding strategies, while followers prefer shareholding strategies in good market environment or in bad market environment with their shares held by leaders below certain thresholds. Moreover, both forward and backward shareholding strategies can effectively promote carbon emissions reduction. Improving manufacturers' technology spillover positively impacts pricing and carbon emissions reduction and profits, and a reasonable shareholding ratio can encourage manufacturers to increase the level of technology spillover. Finally, a two-part tariff contract can effectively coordinate the vertical shareholding supply chain. The results provide decision guidance for managers in applying shareholding strategies to build a strategic alliance to improve firms' economic and environmental performance.

Strategic cooperation has garnered significant attention in business. In this study, we explored the operating mechanisms of supply chains utilizing three Stackelberg models, in the following ascending order of cooperation level: price only, marketing cost sharing, and cross-shareholding. Further, we investigated the impact of cooperation on prices, marketing efforts, and profits, and analyzed the strategic cooperation preferences of different supply chain members. The results show that the influence of the level of cooperation on the wholesale and selling price is nonlinear. Interestingly, increased levels of cooperation do not always result in better outcomes. The marketing cost-sharing strategy aggravates the marketing burden on retailers. In contrast, the cross-shareholding strategy not only increases the total marketing effort level, but also efficiently reduces the burden of marketing on retailers. Moreover, all cooperation strategies solely benefit manufacturers rather than retailers, and not all of them improve the supply chain’s performance. Finally, the cross-shareholding cooperation strategy only maximizes the consumer surplus and social welfare under certain conditions. Overall, our study describes the operational mechanisms of diverse cooperative strategies and provides managerial guidance for those seeking to enhance marketing efforts and economic and social performance using a cooperation strategy.

Pervious planting concrete (PPC) is in line with the concept of ecological environmental protection. However, due to its own porous structure, it is difficult to obtain excellent mechanical properties and water permeability at the same time, which hinders its promotion and application. In this paper, natural gravel (NG), ordinary Portland cement (OPC), polyvinyl alcohol latex powder (PVAP) and polycarboxylate superplasticizer (PS) were used to prepare the PPC, and its mechanical properties and water permeability were studied. Three kinds of plants were planted in the PPC and their planting properties were studied. At the same time, the effect of Bacillus on the planting properties was studied. The results show that when the water–binder ratio (W/B) was 0.28 and the PVAP content was 0.8%, both the mechanical properties and water permeability of the PPC were optimal. The compressive strength and permeability coefficient were 14.2 MPa and 14.48 mm/s, respectively. The mechanical properties and water permeability of PPC prepared with 10~20 mm NG were better than those prepared with 5~10 mm NG. Among the three plants, the germination rate and growth of Elymus dahuricus Turcz (EDT) were the best. The incorporation of Bacillus can optimize its planting properties and promote the effective combination between plants and the PPC substrate.

Abstract Background Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is an uncommon heterogeneous subtype of B cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma, and clinical features in MCL appear regional characteristics. MCL treatment opinions are not uniform between countries or regions within Asia and China, and Asian patient‐specific data for MCL treatment are fewer. The study aims to explore the clinical characteristics, treatment patterns and prognosis of MCL patients in China. Methods A total of 805 patients diagnosed with MCL between April 1999 and December 2019 at 19 comprehensive hospitals in China were included in this retrospective analysis. Kaplan‐Meier method coupled with the log‐rank test was used for univariate analysis, and COX proportional hazards model was used for multivariate analysis (MVA). p < 0.05 was consided statistically significant. All outputs were produced using R version 4.1.0. Results The median age of the cohort was 60.0 years with a male‐to‐female ratio of 3.36:1. Five‐year progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 30.9% and 65.0%, respectively. High‐intermediate/high‐risk group according to MIPI‐c, without high‐dose cytarabine, lack of Auto‐SCT as consolidation and maintenance treatment and SD/PD in initial treatment remained statistically relevant to poor PFS on MVA, and ki67 ≥50%, B symptoms, high‐intermediate/high risk group according to MIPI‐c, without high‐dose cytarabine, lack of maintenance treatment, SD/PD in initial treatment and relapse/refractory state were independently associated with poorer OS on MVA. Conclusions First‐line high dose cytarabine exposure, auto‐SCT as consolidation therapy obtained survival benefits in Chinese population. Our study further confirmed the value of maintenance treatment and explored the application of new drug treatment and bendamustine in R/R MCL patients.

Abstract Background and objective Integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine (ITCWM), as a representative type of complex intervention, is commonly used for the treatment of angina pectoris (AP) in clinical practice. However, it is unclear whether the details of ITCWM interventions, such as rationale for selection and design, implementation and potential interactions for different therapies, were adequately reported. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the reporting characteristics and quality in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of AP with ITCWM interventions. Methods Through a search of 7 electronic databases, we identified RCTs of AP with ITCWM interventions published in both English and Chinese from 1st Jan 2017 to 6th Aug 2022. The general characteristics of included studies were summarized, further, the quality of reporting was assessed based on three Checklists, including the CONSORT with 36 items (except for one item 1b about abstract), the CONSORT for abstracts (17 items), and a self-designed ITCWM-related checklist (21 items covering rationale and details of interventions, outcome assessment and analysis). The quality of RCTs published in English and Chinese, as well as journals and dissertations were also compared. Results A total of 451 eligible RCTs were included. For the reporting compliance, the mean score (95% Confidence Interval) of the CONSORT (72 scores in total), CONSORT for abstract (34 scores in total), and ITCWM-related (42 scores in total) checklists was 27.82 (27.44–28.19), 14.17 (13.98–14.37) and 21.06 (20.69–21.43), respectively. More than half items were evaluated as poor quality (reporting rate

Abstract A 14-year-old male patient who suffered from limb numbness, fatigue, and hypokalemia was considered Graves’ disease (GD) complicated with thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) at the first diagnosis. Although with the treatment of antithyroid drugs, he developed severe hypokalemia and rhabdomyolysis (RM). Further laboratory tests revealed hypomagnesemia, hypocalciuria, metabolic alkalosis, hyperrenin, and hyperaldosteronemia. Genetic testing revealed compound heterozygous mutations in the SLC12A3 gene (c.506-1G > A, c.1456G > A) encoding the thiazide-sensitive sodium-chloride cotransporter, which presented a definitive diagnosis of Gitelman syndrome (GS). Moreover, gene analysis revealed his mother diagnosed with subclinical hypothyroidism due to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis carried the c.506-1G > A heterozygous mutation in the SLC12A3 gene and his father carried the c.1456G > A heterozygous mutation in the SLC12A3 gene. His younger sister who had hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia carried the same compound heterozygous mutations as the proband and was diagnosed with GS as well, but with a much milder clinical presentation and better treatment outcome. This case suggested the potential relationship between GS and GD, clinicians should strengthen the differential diagnosis to avoid missed diagnosis.

Abstract Background CVB5 can cause respiratory infections. However, the molecular epidemiological information about CVB5 in respiratory tract samples is still limited. Here, we report five cases in which CVB5 was detected in sputum sample of pneumonia children patients from Kunming, Southwest China. Methods CVB5 isolates were obtained from sputum samples of patients with pneumonia. Whole-genome sequencing of CVB5 isolates was performed using segmented PCR, and phylogenetic, mutation and recombination analysis. The effect of mutations in the VP1 protein on hydration were analyzed by Protscale. The tertiary models of VP1 proteins were established by Colabfold, and the effect of mutations in VP1 protein on volume modifications and binding affinity were analyzed by Pymol software and PROVEAN. Results A total of five CVB5 complete genome sequences were obtained. No obvious homologous recombination signals comparing with other coxsackie B viruses were observed in the five isolates. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the five CVB5 sputum isolates were from an independent branch in genogroup E. Due to the mutation, the structure and spatial of the VP1 protein N-terminus have changed significantly. Comparing to the Faulkner (CVB5 prototype strain), PROVEAN revealed three deleterious substitutions: Y75F, N166T (KM35), T140I (KM41). The last two of the three deleterious substitutions significantly increased the hydrophobicity of the residues. Conclusions We unexpectedly found five cases of CVB5 infection instead of rhinoviruses infection during our routine surveillance of rhinoviruses in respiratory tract samples. All five patients were hospitalized with pneumonia symptoms and were not tested for enterovirus during their hospitalization. This report suggests that enterovirus surveillance in patients with respiratory symptoms should be strengthened.

The application of mycorrhizal fungi as a bioaugmentation technology for phytoremediation of heavy metal (HM) contaminated soil has attracted widespread attention. In order to explore whether the adaptation of Pinus massoniana (P. massoniana) to metal polluted soil depends on the metal adaptation potential of their associated ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECMF), we evaluated the cadmium (Cd) tolerance of 10 ecotypes of Cenococcum geophilum (C. geophilum) through a membership function method, and P. massoniana seedlings were not (NM) or inoculated by Cd non-tolerant type (JaCg144), low-tolerant (JaCg32, JaCg151) and high-tolerant (JaCg205) isolates of C. geophilum were exposed to 0 and 100 mg·kg-1 for 3 months. The result showed that, each ecotype of C. geophilum significantly promoted the growth, photosynthesis and chlorophyll content, proline (Pro) content and the activity of peroxidase (POD) of P. massoniana seedlings, and decreased malonaldehyde (MDA) content and catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. The comprehensive evaluation D value of the tolerance to Cd stress showed that the order of the displaced Cd resistance of the four ecotypic mycorrhizal P. massoniana was: JaCg144 > JaCg151 > JaCg32 > JaCg205. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the Sig. value of the comprehensive evaluation (D) values of the strains and mycorrhizal seedlings was 0.077 > 0.05, indicating that the Cd tolerance of the the C. geophilum isolates did not affect its regulatory effect on the Cd tolerance of the host plant. JaCg144 and JaCg151 which are non-tolerant and low-tolerant ecotype significantly increased the Cd content in the shoots and roots by about 136.64-181.75% and 153.75-162.35%, indicating that JaCg144 and JaCg151 were able to effectively increase the enrichment of Cd from the soil to the root. Transcriptome results confirmed that C. geophilum increased the P. massoniana tolerance to Cd stress through promoting antioxidant enzyme activity, photosynthesis, and lipid and carbohydrate synthesis metabolism. The present study suggests that mental-non-tolerant ecotypes of ECMF can protect plants from Cd pollution, providing more feasible strategies for ectomycorrhizal-assisted phytoremediation.

IntroductionAcute pancreatitis is a common gastrointestinal disease. The mortality of patients affected by severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) remains high. It is unclear whether high-dose intravenous vitamin C (HDIVC) therapy could improve the prognosis of these patients. The current prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study will explore the effect of high-dose intravenous vitamin C therapy on the prognosis in patients with moderately severe and severe acute pancreatitis.Methods and designA total of 418 participants with moderately severe and severe acute pancreatitis who meet the eligible criteria will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive treatment with HDIVC (200 mg/kg/24 h) or placebo (saline) for a period of 7 days. The primary outcome is 28-day mortality in these patients. The secondary outcomes include organ functions and interventions, laboratory tests, healthcare, and 90-day mortality.Ethics and disseminationThis protocol was approved by the institutional ethics board of the Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China (Registration Number: 2019-90). The report of the study will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at conferences, both nationally and internationally.Clinical trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR1900022022). Version 1.5.

Abstract Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) still remains a life‐threatening disorder with poor prognosis. The right ventricle (RV) adapts to the increased afterload by a series of prognostically significant morphological and functional changes, the adaptive nature should also be understood in the context of ventricular interdependence. We hypothesized that left ventricle (LV) underfilling could serve as an important imaging marker for identifying maladaptive changes and predicting clinical outcomes in PAH patients. We prospectively enrolled patients with PAH who underwent both cardiac magnetic resonance and right heart catheterization between October 2013 and December 2020. Patients were categorized into four groups based on their LV and RV mass/volume ratio (M/V). LV M/V was stratified using the normal value (0.7 g/mL for males and 0.6 g/mL for females) to identify patients with LV underfilling (M/V ≥ normal value), while RV M/V was stratified based on the median value. The primary endpoint was all‐cause mortality, and the composite endpoints included all‐cause mortality and heart failure‐related readmissions. A total of 190 PAH patients (53 male, mean age 37 years) were included in this study. Patients with LV underfilling exhibited higher NT‐proBNP levels, increased RV mass, larger RV but smaller LV, lower right ventricular ejection fraction, and shorter 6‐min walking distance. Patients with LV underfilling had a 2.7‐fold higher risk of mortality than those without and LV M/V (hazard ratio [per 0.1 g/mL increase]: 1.271, 95% confidence interval: 1.082–1.494, p = 0.004) was also independent predictors of all‐cause mortality. Moreover, patients with low LV M/V had a better prognosis regardless of the level of RV M/V. Thus, LV underfilling is an independent predictor of adverse clinical outcomes in patients with PAH, and it could be an important imaging marker for identifying maladaptive changes in these patients.

Although successful educational practices (SEPs) in higher education institutions have well-established student outcomes, the vast majority do not meet physical education standards in schools. Despite the promising nature of policy initiatives supporting schools, there is scant evidence of how these SEPs affect student outcomes. This review aimed to determine the status of the literature and the type of evidence regarding school SEPs. Several studies have demonstrated that these SEPs contribute directly or indirectly to improving student outcomes. Three objectives were examined and synthesized in our review of SEP research findings. The first goal is to identify different types of impacts on students in schools. The second goal is to provide educators, principals, and policymakers with a unified and comprehensive framework. Lastly, we provide suggestions for future SEP research. The review identified 45 studies that met our inclusion criteria. Our reviewed studies documented impacts on the individual level. It encompasses both students' instrumental abilities and their sense of self-esteem and motivation. Secondly, improving interpersonal relationships, reducing conflict, and increasing group cohesion are important components at the group level. Finally, there are factors at the community level, including absenteeism reduction, parental involvement, and changes in attitudes toward school. Current research supports the effectiveness of successful school practices. It stresses the importance of implementing policies to maximize student outcomes. Finally, the review concludes by discussing findings implications and future research directions.

Abstract Almost 50% of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) patients progressed from Barrett’s esophagus (BE). EAC is often diagnosed at late stages and is related to dismal prognosis. However, there are still no effective methods for stratification and therapy in BE and EAC. Two public datasets (GSE26886 and GSE37200) were analyzed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between BE and EAC. Then, a series of bioinformatics analyses were performed to explore potential biomarkers associated with BE-EAC. 27 up- and 104 down-regulated genes were observed between GSE26886 and GSE37200. The GO and KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that the DEGs were highly involved in tumorigenesis. Subsequently, Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) were performed to explore the potential genes related to BE-EAC, which were validated in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and 5 up-regulated genes (MYO1A, ACE2, COL1A1, LGALS4, and ADRA2A) and 3 down-regulated genes (AADAC, RAB27A, and P2RY14) were found in EAC. Meanwhile, ADRA2A and AADAC could contribute to EAC pathogenesis and progression. MYO1A, ACE2, COL1A1, LGALS4, ADRA2A, AADAC, RAB27A, and P2RY14 could be potential novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in BE-EAC.

Abstract Background Carney complex (CNC) is a rare multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome characterized by mucocutaneous lentigines/ blue nevi, cardiac myxoma and endocrine overactivity. Here, we report a CNC case with PRKAR1A gene mutation characterized by left atrial adenomyxoma to explore the diagnosis and treatment of CNC. Case presentation A 42-year-old woman with a history of cardiac tumour surgery presented with typical features of Cushing syndrome, including central obesity, buffalo hump, mild facial plethora, purple striae on the lower abdomen, and spotty skin pigmentation. Left atrial adenomyxoma and thyroid papillary carcinoma were identified by postoperative histologic assays. Genetic screening revealed a pathogenic germline heterozygous mutation of c.682C > T (p.R228X) in exon 7 of the PRKAR1A gene. The clinical features and normal ACTH levels suggest this patient suffered the ACTH-independent primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease (PPNAD) with cyclic hypercortisolism or ACTH-dependent Cushing syndrome. Conclusion CNC is uncommon, however, if a patient develops clinical features involving multiple endocrine and non-endocrine tumors, especially Cushing syndrome and cardiac myxoma, CNC should be considered. Genetic analysis is recommended in patients with suspected CNC.

Microbial dysbiosis has an increasingly appreciated impact on carcinogenesis, and the cervicovaginal microbiome plays a critical role in microenvironmental inflammation. Here, we investigated the involvement of the female genital tract Peptostreptococcus species in gynecological cancer via indoleacrylic acid (IAA). IAA production from Peptostreptococcus species and the effect of bacterial culture on tumor growth in vivo were examined. The impact of IAA on cytokine production and indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) expression in an endometrial cancer (EC) cell line, as well as their effect on Treg and Teff cells, and M1 and M2 macrophage populations were examined in EC patients and tumor-grafted mice. Clinically, Peptostreptococcus species abundance, IAA, and IDO1 expression were verified in EC patients. The results showed that IAA production was induced in the uteri of BALB/c nude mice by Peptostreptococcus species transplantation, and the intratumoral injection of a conditioned medium from Peptostreptococcus cultures into tumor-grafted mice promoted tumor growth. IL-10 expression was upregulated by IAA; IFN-γ expression was increased by IL-10. IFN-γ induced IDO1 expression in the EC cell line. The co-culture of IDO1-expressing EC cells with peripheral blood mononuclear cells upregulated the Treg proportion and decreased the M1/M2 ratio. Clinically, P. anaerobius was more abundant amongst the uterine microbiota of EC patients than the control. The IAA, IDO1, and kynurenine/tryptophan ratios were all higher in EC tissue, and the M1/M2 ratio was lower. Our study sheds light on the link between IDO1 induction and uterine Peptostreptococcus dysbiosis and provides a potential rationale for the role of Peptostreptococcus species in immune tolerance induction in type I endometrial cancer.

The greening trend in consumer markets and the marketization and financialization of carbon emission rights have begun to revitalize carbon assets. However, solitary efforts and the spillover of environmental protection effects still hamper enterprises’ enthusiasm for carbon emission reduction. To tackle this challenge, two vertical cooperation mechanisms, cost cooperation and alliance cooperation, are proposed. The mathematical models and solutions are developed for both of the two mechanisms, and their values and applicability are explored, respectively. In addition, the impact of fluctuations in consumer markets, financial markets, and carbon markets on cooperation is examined. The results show that both cooperation models effectively motivate enterprises to enhance carbon reduction and boost market demand. However, cost cooperation may result in inflated product prices and even weaken the profitability of the supply chain. In contrast, alliance cooperation can enhance product price performance and effectively increase supply chain profits. Concerning environmental performance, the initial market is better suited for alliance cooperation, whereas cost cooperation fits the mid-to-late market. The higher financing costs of the financial market and the trading price of the carbon market will strengthen the applicability of cost cooperation. This study offers managerial insights for collaborative decision-making in the context of a multi-market cross-section.

The impact of drought stress on plant growth in arid regions is a critical concern, necessitating the exploration of strategies to enhance plant drought resistance, particularly during the early stages of drought stress. This study focuses on the ectomycorrhizal fungus Cenococcum geophilum, renowned for its extensive genetic diversity and broad host compatibility, making it a crucial ally for host plants facing external stresses. We utilized Pinus massoniana seedlings inoculated with different ecotypic strains of C. geophilum under drought stress. The results showed that the inoculation of most strains of C. geophilum enhanced the drought resistance of P. massoniana seedlings under the early stages of drought stress, by influencing the water content, photosynthesis, accumulation of osmotic adjustment substances, and antioxidant enzyme activities in both shoots and roots of seedlings. Transcriptome analysis showed that mycorrhizal seedlings mainly regulated energy metabolism and reduction–oxidation reaction to resist early drought stress. Notably, the level of drought resistance observed in mycorrhizal seedlings was irrespective of the level of drought tolerance of C. geophilum strains. This study contributes essential data for understanding the drought response mechanisms of mycorrhizal P. massoniana seedlings inoculated by distinct C. geophilum ecotypes and guidance on selecting candidate species of ectomycorrhizal fungi for mycorrhizal afforestation in drought areas.

ABSTRACT Background: Autophagy can inhibit the survival of intracellular microorganisms including Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway plays a crucial role. This study investigated the association between PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway autophagy-related gene polymorphisms and pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) susceptibility. Methods: KEGG pathway and gene ontology (GO) databases were searched for genes belonging to the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and autophagy pathways. Thirty SNPs in nine genes were identified and tested for their associations with tuberculosis in 130 patients with PTB and 271 controls. We constructed genetic risk scores (GRSs) and divided the participants into 3 subgroups based on their GRSs:0-5, 6-10, and 11-16. Results: This analysis revealed that the AKT1 (rs12432802), RPTOR (rs11654508, rs12602885, rs2090204, rs2589144, and rs2672897), and TSC2 (rs2074969) polymorphisms were significantly associated with PTB risk. A decreasing trend was observed (P trend 0.020), in which a lower GRS was associated with a higher risk of PTB ([6-10] vs. [0-5]: OR (95%CI) 0.590 (0.374-0.931); [11-16] vs. [0-5]: OR (95%CI) 0.381 (0.160-0.906)). Conclusions: Polymorphisms in AKT1, RPTOR, and TSC2 may influence susceptibility to PTB.

Background: Folic acid and zinc supplements have been used to treat male infertility, but their efficacy is still debated. Objective: To systematically evaluate the effects of folic acid and folic acid plus zinc supplements on sperm characteristics and pregnancy outcomes of infertile men. Methods: An online systematic search was performed using PubMed, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE databases from inception to August 1, 2022. The goal was to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that used folic acid or folic acid plus zinc to improve sperm characteristics of infertile men. Data were extracted by two investigators who independently screened the literature and assessed for quality according to the criteria. The meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software. Results: A total of 8 RCT studies involving 2168 patients were included. The results showed that compared with the controls, folic acid significantly increased sperm motility (MD, 3.63; 95% CI, −1.22 to 6.05; P = 0.003), but did not affect the sperm concentration (MD, 2.53; 95% CI, −1.68 to 6.73; P = 0.24) and sperm morphology (MD, −0.02; 95% CI, −0.29 to 0.24; P = 0.86) in infertile men. Folic acid plus zinc did not affect sperm concentration (MD, 1.87; 95% CI, −1.39 to 5.13; P = 0.26), motility (MD, 1.67; 95% CI, −1.29 to 4.63; P = 0.27), and morphology (MD, −0.05; 95% CI, −0.27 to 0.18; P = 0.69) in infertile men. Secondary results showed that compared with a placebo, folic acid alone had a higher rate of pregnancy in transferred embryos (35.6% vs. 20.4%, P = 0.082), but the difference was not significant. Folic acid plus zinc did not affect pregnancy outcomes. Conclusions: Based on the meta-analysis, no significant improvements in sperm characteristics with folic acid plus zinc supplements were seen. However, folic acid alone has demonstrated the potential to improve sperm motility and in vitro fertilization-intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF–ICSI) outcomes. This indicates that folic acid supplements alone may be a viable treatment option for male infertility.