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This study aimed to utilize oyster resources more effectively and provide novel feasible methods for the production of oyster gel products. In this study, the gelation mechanism of whole oyster-soybean isolate protein composite gels was systematically analyzed. Moreover, the key factors of hydrophilic colloids that regulate thermally induced gel formation and their effects on the gel properties of thermally irreversible composite gels were determined. The rheological properties, gel strength, infrared spectroscopy, interaction force, and microstructure of whole oyster-soybean protein isolate composite gels prepared with different konjac glucan (KGM)/κ-carrageenan (κ-C) ratios (0:5, 2:3, 1:1, 3:2, 4:1, 5:0）and different amounts of Ca(OH)2 (0.4%, 0.6%, 0.8%, 0.9%, 1.0%) added were investigated. The results indicated that as the KGM/κ-C ratio and the amount of Ca(OH)2 increase, the gel properties of the composite gel were significantly improved, characterized by a higher gelation point and enhanced solid-like attributes. This improvement was primarily attributed to the strengthened intermolecular hydrogen bonding, which leaded to a more compact microstructure of the composite gel. The best performance under different conditions was observed when the gels were prepared with a KGM/κ-C ratio of 3:2 (m/m) and Ca(OH)2 addition of 0.8% (m/v).

Gene transcription is an essential process involved in all aspects of cellular functions with significant impact on biological traits and diseases. This process is tightly regulated by multiple elements that co-operate to jointly modulate the transcription levels of target genes. To decipher the complicated regulatory network, we present a novel multi-view attention-based deep neural network that models the relationship between genetic, epigenetic, and transcriptional patterns and identifies co-operative regulatory elements (COREs). We applied this new method, named DeepCORE, to predict transcriptomes in various tissues and cell lines, which outperformed the state-of-the-art algorithms. Furthermore, DeepCORE contains an interpreter that extracts the attention values embedded in the deep neural network, maps the attended regions to putative regulatory elements, and infers COREs based on correlated attentions. The identified COREs are significantly enriched with known promoters and enhancers. Novel regulatory elements discovered by DeepCORE showed epigenetic signatures consistent with the status of histone modification marks.

Electronic packaging is an essential branch of electronic engineering that aims to protect electronic, microelectronic, and nanoelectronic systems from environmental conditions. The design of electronic packaging is highly complex and requires the consideration of multi-physics phenomena, such as thermal transport, electromagnetic fields, and mechanical stress. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the multiphysics coupling of electric, magnetic, thermal, mechanical, and fluid fields, which are crucial for assessing the performance and reliability of electronic devices. The recent advancements in multi-scale simulation techniques are also systematically summarized, such as finite element methods at the macroscopic scale, molecular dynamics and density functional theory at the microscopic scale, and particularly machine learning methods for bridging different scales. Additionally, we illustrate how these methods can be applied to study various aspects of electronic packaging, such as material properties, interfacial failure, thermal management, electromigration, and stress analysis. The challenges and the potential applications of multi-scale simulation techniques in electronic packaging are also highlighted. Further, some future directions for multi-scale simulation techniques in electronic packaging are concluded for further investigation.

Abstract Background Socio-economic status is associated with self-harm at the individual and area level. In Canada, there is limited evidence on the relationship between area-level markers of socio-economic status and self-harm. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of small area-level material and social deprivation on rates of hospitalization due to self-harm. Methods Administrative data on hospitalizations from two databases in Canada (Discharge Abstract Database and Ontario Mental Health Reporting System) for the period April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2022, were analyzed. Rates of self-harm hospitalization and percentage of repeated admissions were estimated across quintiles of material and social deprivation. Rate ratios were computed to evaluate disparities. The rates were stratified by sex and age group; the percentage of repeated admissions were stratified by sex. Results In total, the study included 109,398 hospitalizations due to self-harm. Populations in more deprived areas had higher rates of self-harm hospitalizations than those in less deprived areas. The rate ratios for people who lived in the most deprived areas over the least deprived areas were 1.48 (95% CI: 1.38–1.58) and 1.71 (95% CI: 1.60–1.82) for material and social deprivation, separately. The largest disparity was among people aged 25–44 years for material and 45–64 years for social deprivation. Percentages of repeated self-harm hospitalizations were significantly higher in more deprived areas compared to less deprived areas for social deprivation, and among males but not females for material deprivation. Conclusions Both material and social deprivation were associated with self-harm hospitalization and repeated admissions; the disparity varied by subgroup and the deprivation components. This study demonstrated a need to consider interventions at the neighbourhood level and address both community and population-level conditions of social and material need.

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of dolutegravir plus lamivudine (DTG/3TC) in antiretroviral treatment (ART)-experienced people living with HIV (PLWH). A total of 303 PLWH in Shanghai, China, who switched from triple ART to DTG/3TC between January 2019 and June 2022, with a minimum ART duration of 6 months, were retrospectively enrolled. More than 95% of PLWH maintained viral suppression with no significant changes in CD4 counts 12 months after switching. Patients transitioning from non-tenofovir (TDF)-based regimens demonstrated more pronounced improvements in lipid profiles, while those previously on TDF-based regimens showed greater enhancements in bone metabolism.

Abstract Objective This study aims to establish EQ-5D-Y-3L population norms in Jiangsu, China by conducting a large-scale cross-sectional survey. Methods Children and adolescents aged 9–17 from three cities of Jiangsu Province were selected by multistage stratified random sampling to complete the EQ-5D-Y-3L instrument independently. Population norms for Jiangsu, China were determined by calculating statistics based on age and gender. Logistic and Tobit regression models were employed to explain the relationship between HRQoL and factors such as sociodemographic characteristics/recent acute symptoms (experienced fever/cough/sore throat/diarrhea in the past two weeks). Results Three cities yielded 37,574 valid samples (a sample validity rate of 95.4%). The EQ-5D-Y-3L utility values (mean ± SD) were 0.964 ± 0.085 for males and 0.958 ± 0.077 for females. Males scored 85.94 ± 19.62 and females scored 84.83 ± 18.45 on the VAS (mean ± SD), while the percentages of respondents reporting full health ranged from 58.3 to 78.8%. The dimension in which most respondents reported having no problems was “feeling worried, sad, or unhappy” (23.0%). And the lowest HRQoL was shown in the 14-year-old age group. Gender, age, board at school, and BMI were found to have an association with HRQoL. In addition, recent acute symptoms also correlate with some aspects of HRQoL. Conclusions This study established EQ-5D-Y-3L population norms in Jiangsu, China for the first time. These norms will support resource allocation decision-making and be used as a reference for health evaluation studies.

Abstract The relationship between depression and severe non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has not been clearly defined. We conducted a longitudinal cohort study and a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to assess the association of depression with severe NAFLD risk. We used individual data from the UK Biobank study with 481,181 participants, and summary data from published genome-wide association studies. The association between depression and severe NAFLD was assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. Two-sample MR for depression with NAFLD was conducted, the principal analysis employed the inverse variance weighted (IVW) approach. In the observational study, after a median follow-up of 13.46 years, 4,563 participants had severe NAFLD. In multivariable-adjusted model, participants with depression had an increased risk of severe NAFLD (hazards ratio:1.21, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.09–1.34), as compared to those without depression. In subgroup analyses, the association between depression and severe NAFLD risk was generally observed across different subgroups. For the MR, result also showed that genetically predicted depression was causally associated with a higher risk of NAFLD (odds ratio:1.55, 95%CI:1.10–2.19) in IVW. Our study revealed a prospective association of depression with severe NAFLD, thus potentially necessitating clinical monitoring of individuals with depression for severe NAFLD.

Liquid droplet impingement (LDI) treatment changes the roughness and introduces residual compressive stress on 321 stainless steel (SS). Compared to untreated 321 SS, 1 h of LDI treatment with 100, 150 and 175 m/s gradually increases the pitting potential of 321 SS, while 1 h of LDI treatment with 200 m/s decreased the pitting potential of 321 SS. The passive films grown on the 321 SS after LDI treatment with 100, 150 and 175 m/s show a decreased receptor density, an increased Cr content and an increased thickness, whereas a dense passive film with good corrosion resistance cannot be formed on the 321 SS after LDI treatment with 200 m/s. The effect of the change in surface state due to LDI treatment on the electrochemical passivation behavior is explained in detail.

Abstract At present, the characteristics of double-hit multiple myeloma (DHMM) are unknown. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data from 433 new diagnosed MM patients and found that DHMM have a higher β2-MG level and percentage of bone marrow plasma cell. Cox regression analysis showed that the prognosis of DHMM was not limited by clinical indicators. The abnormal proliferation of bone marrow in DHMM is obvious, and the proportion of poorly differentiated plasma cell is high. By collecting specimens from our center and performing flow cytometry to analyze the immunophenotypic and functional characteristics of lymphocyte subpopulations, we found that DHMM had a higher ratio of Tregs cells, and the proportion of iTregs cells was also significantly higher than non-DHMM (P

Abstract Background Coronary artery calcification is commonly found in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which may compromise the diagnostic accuracy of coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA). Computed tomography-derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR), which integrates coronary anatomy with functional assessment, holds the potential to become a powerful diagnostic tool for evaluating calcified lesions. Objective We aim to assess the prognostic value of CT-FFR for calcific lesions in patients with T2DM and unstable angina (UA). Methods We conducted a retrospective study involving 3,392 patients who were diagnosed with T2DM and UA who underwent coronary CTA, with at least one visible calcification site. Of those, 1,091 patients and 1,372 vessels were recommended by cardiovascular specialists and completed invasive coronary angiography (ICA) and invasive fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurements. Simultaneously, those patients also underwent CT-FFR measurements and were divided into two groups based on CT-FFR values: one group with CT-FFR > 0.80 and the other with CT-FFR ≤ 0.80. Demographics, clinical data, the diagnostic performance of CT-FFR, analysis of calcified lesions on CTA, and major adverse events during follow-up were recorded. Results The diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and the area under the curve (AUC) of CT-FFR were 84.8%, 84.6%, 85.1%, 84.7%, 85.0%, and 84.8%, respectively, per patient, and 82.2%, 80.3.2%, 81.8%, 79.7%, 81.1%, and 82.9% respectively, per vessel. For lesion and calcification characteristics, the degree of stenosis, lesion length, rate of bifurcation lesions, diffusive lesions, occlusion, calcium volume, and coronary artery calcification score (CACS) were significantly higher in the CT-FFR ≤ 0.8 group compared to the CT-FFR > 0.8 group. In contrast, the minimum cross-sectional area was smaller in the CT-FFR ≤ 0.8 group than in the CT-FFR > 0.8 group. Major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) at the 3-year follow-up was significantly higher in the CT-FFR ≤ 0.8 group compared to the CT-FFR > 0.8 group. The CT-FFR value is an independent predictor of MACCE at the 3-year follow-up. Conclusion CT-FFR demonstrated significant diagnostic performance using invasive FFR as the reference standard and proved to be an important predictive tool for assessing prognosis not only in calcified lesions but also in lesions with a CACS score of zero in patients with T2DM and UA. CT-FFR may serve as a valuable tool for guiding treatment decisions in these patients. Graphical abstract

Abstract Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a common genitourinary malignancy characterized by dysregulated cellular metabolism leading to aberrant glucose metabolism, fatty acid accumulation, and excessive reactive oxygen species production. ccRCC cells exhibit an augmented oxidative stress response. Complex interactions between iron metabolism and lipid homeostasis in ccRCC cells require a counteracting response that enables ferroptosis evasion and survival maintenance. Additionally, abnormal GA-binding protein transcription factor subunit alpha (GABPA) expression is associated with ccRCC occurrence and development, but its impact on ferroptosis-related molecular mechanisms remains unclear. Herein, we examined the impact of the GABPA–ACSL4 pathway on ferroptosis in ccRCC through bioinformatics analysis, as well as in vitro and in vivo experiments. In contrast to that in adjacent normal tissues, GABPA expression was significantly downregulated in ccRCC tissues, and this downregulation was linked to poor overall survival. Increased GABPA expression suppressed ccRCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Moreover, GABPA overexpression increased the susceptibility of ccRCC cells to ferroptosis. Additionally, GABPA directly bound to the promoter region of ACSL4, promoting ferroptosis. Thus, inducing the GABPA–ACSL4 pathway activates ferroptosis, inhibits proliferation or metastasis, and exerts anticancer activity in ccRCC. These findings have important implications for regulating ccRCC occurrence and development.

Abstract The rapid failure of organic coatings in deep-sea environments complicates accurate lifetime prediction. Given the rapid cracking characteristic on the coating surface in this environment, a comprehensive “performance-structure” failure model was established. Initially, a targeted image recognition approach containing convolutional neural network (CNN) and post-processing was constructed for the crack area detection. An overall precision of 82.81% demonstrated the network’s good accuracy. The length distribution and the statistical evolution of cracks were extracted from SEM images to obtain the kinetic equation of the cracks related to coating structure degradation. In addition, the kinetics of water diffusion and coating adhesion were examined, as they represent critical parameters of coating performance. Based on this achievement, a failure model incorporating three dominant factors was integrated by the gray relational analysis method. The average prediction error of the model was 2.60%, which lays the groundwork for developing image-based methods to predict coating life.

Introduction: The proportion of animal based foods in daily diet of consumers is constantly increasing, with chicken being highly favored due to its high protein and low fat characteristics. The consumption of chicken around the world is steadily increasing. Intramuscular fat (IMF) is a key indicator affecting meat quality. Object: High IMF content can contribute to improve the quality of chicken meat. The regulatory mechanism of IMF deposition in chicken is poorly understood, so its complete elucidation is essential to improve chicken meat quality. Method: Here, we performed whole genome resequencing on 516 yellow feather chickens and single-cell RNA sequencing on 3 63-day-old female JXY chickens. In addition, transcriptome sequencing techniques were also performed on breast muscle tissue of JXY chickens at different developmental stages. And 13C isotope tracing technique was applied. Results: In this study, a large-scale genetic analysis of an IMF-selected population and a control population identified fatty acid synthase (FASN) as a key gene for improving IMF content. Also, contrary to conventional view, de novo lipogenesis (DNL) was deemed to be an important contributor to IMF deposition. As expected, further analyses by isotope tracing and other techniques, confirmed that DNL mainly occurs in myocytes, contributing about 40% of the total fatty acids through the regulation of FASN, using the available FAs as substrates. Additionally, we also identified a relevant causal mutation in the FASN gene with effects on FA composition. Conclusion: These findings contribute to the understanding of fat metabolism in muscle tissue of poultry, and provide the feasible strategy for the production of high-quality chicken meat.

Abstract Background Although low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening effectively reduces LC mortality in high-risk individuals with a history of smoking in China, the feasibility and efficacy of lung cancer screening (LCS) in individuals who never smoked versus individuals who smoked remains unclear. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of prospective cohort studies at the National Cancer Center (NCC) in China from January 2006 to December 2022. A comprehensive LCS initiative was undertaken, involving 30,468 participants (54.5% male). Participants underwent LCS using LDCT. Potential malignancies were managed through joint consensus between patients and their physicians. Epidemiology, screening eligibility criteria, and LC detection rates and survival outcomes were compared between individuals who smoked and individuals who never smoked. Results Among 30,468 participants, 339 LCs were pathologically confirmed in 289 patients. The LC detection rate was 0.9% (289/30,468) overall, 0.8% in individuals who smoked (71/9,042), and 1.0% in individuals who never smoked (218/21,426). In individuals who smoked, LC detection rates were 0.5% (21/4516) and 1.1% (50/4526) in the

Abstract Background The burgeoning prevalence of food allergy-related diseases is closely associated with geographical allergen distribution and societal lifestyle paradigms. This study aims to shed light on the distribution patterns of specific IgE (sIgE) and total IgE (tIgE) reactivity to common food allergens in the Southern Chinese populace. Methods Employing an analytical technique spanning two decades, we conducted specific IgE and total IgE on serum samples harvested from patients with food allergy-related pathologies at First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from 2004 to 2023. This comprehensive examination of eight prototypical food allergens: egg white, milk, wheat, sesame, peanut, soybean, shrimp, and crab. Results Our analysis showed a 100% positivity rate for sIgE and an 86.54% positivity rate for tIgE. Milk had the highest positive response rate, followed by egg white and shrimp. Age-stratified data indicated that milk sensitization peaked in children aged 2 years or younger, while egg white sensitization peaked between 3 and 5 years of age. Sensitization rates for the remaining six allergens increased with age. Additionally, co-sensitization was observed between milk, egg white, crab, and shrimp with other allergens. Conclusion In common allergens of Southern China, egg white, milk, and shrimp ascend as the dominant subjects, underlining their imperative role in food allergy pathogenesis. This landscape-wide allergenic profiling, segregated across age clusters and enhanced by co-sensitization data, augments our power for early diagnosis and strategic intervention in food allergy diseases.

Abstract Background To explore the association of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) SNHG1/ miR-195 axis with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and islet function. Methods The expression of SNHG1 and miR-195 was measured in T2DM patients and in healthy subjects. Correlation between indciators was evaluated using Pearson correlation analysis. INS-1 cells were used to perform the cell function assays. Insulin secretion by INS-1 was detected using ELISA. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and flow cytometry was used to detect cell proliferation and apoptosis. Luciferase report assay was to used to verify the target of SNHG1. Results The expression of SNHG1 was increased and miR-195 level was decreased in the serum of T2DM patients. Both SNHG1 and miR-195 could be biomarkers for T2DM diagnosis. The fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and HbA1c were positively related to SNHG1 and negatively related to miR-195. SNHG1 inhibited insulin secretion, and cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis of INS-1 cells via binding to miR-195. Conclusions Detection of SNHG1 and miR-195 might predict T2DM. SNHG1 could suppress proliferation and insulin secretion, but promote apoptosis of INS-1 cells via sponging miR-195.

Abstract Background The presence of a mental illness is a known risk factor for suicide mortality and other suicide-related behaviours, including suicidal ideation. We examined prevalence of mental illnesses among adults with and without suicidal ideation in Canada during the pandemic. Data and methods We used pooled data from the 2020, 2021, & 2023 Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health to estimate the prevalence of moderate to severe symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder among adults who reported suicidal ideation, compared to those who did not report suicidal ideation. We also conducted the analyses across sociodemographic factors and COVID-19 pandemic-related experiences. Results Among adults in Canada who reported suicidal ideation, 83.0% also screened positive for at least one of the three mental illnesses. The prevalence of mental illnesses did not differ significantly across sociodemographic factors or pandemic-related experiences. In contrast, the prevalence of at least one mental illness among adults without suicidal ideation was much lower (21.2%), and this prevalence differed by sociodemographic factors and pandemic-related experiences. Interpretation During the COVID-19 pandemic, most adults in Canada with suicidal ideation had moderate to severe symptoms of mental illness.

This paper is concerned with almost sure exponential synchronization of multilayer complex networks with Markovian switching via aperiodically intermittent discrete observation noise. First, Markovian switching and multilayer interaction factors are taken into account simultaneously, which make our system more general compared with the existing literature. Meanwhile, the network architecture may be undirected or directed, and consequently, the adjacency matrix is symmetrical and asymmetrical. Second, the control strategy is based on aperiodically intermittent discrete observation noise, where the average control rate is integrated to depict the distributions of work/rest intervals of the control strategy from an overall perspective. Third, different from the work about th moment exponential synchronization of network systems, by utilizing M-matrix theory and various stochastic analysis techniques including the Itô formula, the Gronwall inequality, and the Borel-Cantelli lemma, some criteria on almost sure exponential synchronization of multilayer complex networks with Markovian switching have been constructed and the upper bound of the duration time has been also estimated. Finally, several numerical simulations are exhibited to validate the effectiveness and feasibility of our analytical findings.

In recent years, with the rapid development of big data and artificial intelligence technology, data-driven automatic driving vehicle lane change intention recognition has become an active research area in the transportation field. Numerous studies have reported innovative and practical research results. However, this field still presents common technical challenges, such as accurately identifying the lane change process, handling missing lane change labels, and addressing imbalanced data categories. These issues remain the focal points of current research. This paper aims to classify and organize various data-driven methods, mainly focusing on lane change intention recognition methods based on traditional machine learning, deep learning, and ensemble learning. In the academic community, two primary approaches exist for identifying lane change behavior. The first approach mainly focuses on the vehicle not crossing the lane line, which is suitable for early recognition of the driver’s intention to change lanes. The second approach focuses on the actual crossing of lane markings by vehicles, which is often considered the complete lane change process. In academic research on lane change intention annotation, the selection of fixed time windows and heading angle thresholds plays a crucial role in the accuracy of annotation. These parameters affect the accurate recognition of lane change behavior and are directly related to the stability and reliability of autonomous driving and intelligent transportation system performance. Therefore, researchers have conducted in-depth investigations on the impact of these two parameters on annotation accuracy. To identify the optimal fixed time window and heading angle threshold, researchers have used the grid search optimization algorithm. This method performs well in fixed driving scenarios by traversing all possible parameter combinations and selecting the optimal parameters according to preset evaluation criteria. However, in practical applications, driving scenarios often exhibit diversity and complexity. Different driving environments, road conditions, and driving styles can impact the recognition of lane change intentions. Therefore, achieving adaptive parameter adjustment so that the annotation algorithm maintains high accuracy across various driving scenarios remains a challenging problem. To address the issue of imbalanced data categories in lane changing, researchers adopt two strategies. The first strategy involves adjusting the data sampling method, and under-sampling and oversampling techniques are used to balance the number of samples in each category. The second strategy involves the use of classification models with strong adaptability to imbalanced data, such as ensemble learning algorithms or cost-sensitive learning models, to maintain good classification performance.

Abstract Background In locally advanced, operable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy (nICT) has shown results that are somewhat comparable to those of standard neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT). The impact of these neoadjuvant treatments on survival outcomes, however, has yet to be elucidated. Methods This study included 489 patients with locally advanced ESCC who underwent surgery at Sichuan Cancer Hospital after receiving neoadjuvant treatment between June 2017 and September 2023. Patients were categorized into nCRT and nICT groups based on whether they received neoadjuvant treatment. To mitigate potential biases and balance covariates between the two cohorts, 1:2 propensity score matching (PSM) was conducted using a caliper width of 0.05. Results After PSM, the baseline characteristics of the 360 patients remained balanced between the two groups. The findings indicated a superior pathological response in the nCRT group, as evidenced by significantly greater rates of complete response (32.87% vs 14.58%, P

Abstract The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is one of the critical brain areas for processing noxious information. Previous studies showed that peripheral nerve injury induced broad changes in the ACC, contributing to pain hypersensitivity. The neurons in layer 3 (L3) of the ACC receive the inputs from the mediodorsal thalamus (MD) and form the feedforward inhibition (FFI) microcircuits. The effects of peripheral nerve injury on the MD-driven FFI in L3 of ACC are unknown. In our study, we record the enhanced excitatory synaptic transmissions from the MD to L3 of the ACC in mice with common peroneal nerve ligation, affecting FFI. Chemogenetically activating the MD-to-ACC projections induces pain sensitivity and place aversion in naive mice. Furthermore, chemogenetically inactivating MD-to-ACC projections decreases pain sensitivity and promotes place preference in nerve-injured mice. Our results indicate that the peripheral nerve injury changes the MD-to-ACC projections, contributing to pain hypersensitivity and aversion.

Abstract Background Sarcopenia is an important indicator of ill health and is linked to increased mortality and a reduced quality of life. Age‐associated muscle mass indices provide a critical tool to help understand the development of sarcopenia. This study aimed to develop sex‐ and age‐specific percentiles for muscle mass indices in a Chinese population and to compare those indices with those from other ethnicities using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data. Methods Whole‐body and regional muscle mass was measured by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) in participants of the China Body Composition Life‐course (BCL) study (17 203 healthy Chinese aged 3–60 years, male 48.9%) and NHANES (12 663 healthy Americans aged 8–59 years, male 50.4%). Age‐ and sex‐specific percentile curves were generated for whole‐body muscle mass and appendicular skeletal muscle mass using the Generalized Additive Model for Location Scale and Shape statistical method. Results Values of upper and lower muscle mass across ages had three periods: an increase from age 3 to a peak at age 25 in males (with the 5th and 95th values of 41.5 and 66.4 kg, respectively) and age 23 in females (with the 5th and 95th values of 28.4 and 45.1 kg, respectively), a plateau through midlife (30s–50s) and then a decline after their early 50s. The age at which muscle mass began to decline was 52 years in men with the 5th and 95th percentile values of 43.5 and 64.6 kg, and 51 years in women with the 5th and 95th percentile values of 31.6 and 46.9 kg. Appendicular skeletal muscle mass decreased earlier than whole body muscle mass, especially leg skeletal muscle mass, which decreased slightly after age 49 years in both sexes. In comparison with their US counterparts in the NHANES, the Chinese participants had lower muscle mass indices (all P

With the development of the economy and technological progress, more and more animal-derived mesh products are being utilized in the medical field for tissue and organ repair and replacement. Owing to the complexity of their structure and production process, these animal-derived meshes still face several challenges in practical applications, such as insufficient mechanical strength, rapid degradation rates, and the detection of harmful leachable substances. Among these challenges, the production process is a key factor affecting product quality. This paper reviews the key aspects of the production process and quality control for animal-derived meshes in China, offering new insights for the quality control and regulatory oversight of such products.

Objective Shale generally contains water, and it is highly important to clarify the occurrence characteristics of adsorbed water in shale to improve the drainage effect of shale gas. Methods This study analysed shale cores from the JY11-4 and JY41-5 wells in the Jiaoshiba area of Fuling. The influence of high-pressure conditions on the occurrence characteristics of adsorbed water in shale was investigated using custom-designed frozen nitrogen adsorption experiments and nuclear magnetic resonance experiments. Results and Conclusion The results show that (1) under atmospheric pressure, the average volume of adsorbed water per unit mass calculated by the "weighing method" is 0.017 3 mL/g. The volume proportion of water in the micropores and mesopores (average of 90.94%) significantly exceeds that in the macropores (average of 9.06%). This may be because water molecules cannot occupy the adsorption sites in all the shale pores when the relative pressure is relatively low. Most water molecules condense in micropores and mesoporous pores, and only a few water molecules enter the macropores. In addition, the small and medium pores in clay-rich shale become "filled and blocked" by water molecules in the process of water adsorption. (2) Under a saturated water pressure of 30 MPa, the average adsorbed water volume per unit mass of the sample calculated by the "weighing method" is 0.021 6 mL/g. The volume proportions of water in the micropores and mesopores (average of 40.26%) is lower than that in macropores (average of 59.74%), which may be related to the fact that water molecules can occupy more adsorption sites on the inner surface of micropores and mesoporous pores under the action of capillary forces when the relative pressure is significantly increased. (3) Compared with normal pressure, high-pressure conditions increase the volume of water adsorbed per unit mass of shale (approximately 25% increase in the experiment), and the proportion of water volume in large pores is greater than that in micropores and mesoporous pores. (4) During hydraulic fracturing, the relative pressure of the reservoir increases significantly. Under the action of capillary forces, fracturing fluid may enter large pores that cannot enter under the pressure of the original reservoir to "relieve" the "unsaturated state" of the original shale reservoir. After fracturing is completed, the pressure around the reservoir is gradually released, and the fracturing fluid that originally enters the adsorption pores of the shale may have difficulty overcoming the capillary resistance at the pore, making it difficult to return.

Objective: To explore the application of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) in the perioperative period of lung transplantation. Methods: We retrospectively collected the clinical data of 27 lung transplant patients who underwent ERAS during the perioperative period, while 12 lung transplant patients receiving routine treatment served as controls. General information was collected, including the specific implementation plan of ERAS, the incidence of complications and survival rate during the perioperative period (0.05). The perioperative survival of the ERAS group was 81.5%, which was higher than the control group (66.7%), but there is no statistically significant difference. Comparison of post-extubation NRS scores, the ERAS group had lower NRS scores at 12 h (5.30 ± 0.14 vs 6.25 ± 0.75), 24 h (3.44 ± 0.64 vs 5.58 ± 0.9), 48 h (2.74 ± 0.66 vs 4.08 ± 0.79) and 72 h (1.11 ± 0.80 vs 2.33 ± 0.49) than the control group, the difference was statistically significant (p0.05). Conclusion: The ERAS can be applied to lung transplant patients to relieve postoperative pain, shorten postoperative tube time, and shorten postoperative stay. Perioperative pulmonary rehabilitation exercises are beneficial to reducing the occurrence of postoperative pulmonary complications.

Abstract Inflammation plays an important role in depression, and the neutrophil-to-albumin ratio (NPAR) is a cost-effective and readily available novel biomarker of inflammation. The association between NPAR and depression is unclear; therefore, to assess the relationship between NPAR and depression, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 33,768 participants ≥ 18 years of age from the 2005–2018 NHANES database. NPAR was calculated as Neutrophil percentage (in total WBC count) (%) × 100/Albumin (g/dL). Multivariate logistic regression models were used to test the independent association between NPAR and depression, adjusting for demographic factors, education, smoking status, alcohol consumption, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, body mass index, the ratio of income to poverty, and history of cardiovascular disease. Results showed that NPAR was significantly and positively associated with depression. When NPAR were analyzed as a categorical variable, there was a 20% increase in the prevalence of depression in the quartile with the highest NPAR compared to the quartile with the lowest NPAR (OR 1.20[95% CI 1.06, 1.36]). Smoothed curve fitting and threshold effect analyses also showed a positive association between NPAR and depression, with an inflection point for threshold and saturation effects of 12.65. NPAR was positively associated with the likelihood of developing depression when NPAR > 12.65 (OR 1.06[95% CI 1.04, 1.09]). The results of subgroup analyses and interaction tests indicated that smoking status had a significant effect on the relationship between NPAR and depression (P

Abstract Background The reference values of eNO have certain differences among people of different countries and races. We aimed to obtain the reference value of eNO in healthy children and adolescents (6–18 years old) in China and to explore the associations between the reference values with ages, gender, heights, BMI, and regions. Methods We measured FeNO50 levels in 5949 healthy Chinese children and adolescents, FeNO200 and CaNO levels in 658 participants from 16 provinces of 7 administrative areas in China aged 6–18. All persons were studied after obtaining informed consent from children and their parents. Results The mean FeNO50 of 5949 Chinese children and adolescents aged 6–18 years was 14.1 ppb, with a 95% confidence interval of 1-38.1 ppb. The mean FeNO200 of 658 persons was 6.9 ppb with a 95% upper confidence interval of 15.0 ppb, and the mean CaNO was 3.0 ppb with a 95% upper confidence interval of 11.2 ppb. In the 6–11 age group, age and height were correlated with the logarithm of FeNO50 (P 0.05). The logarithm of CaNO was correlated with gender (P

Abstract Background Rapid sequence intubation (RSI) is a crucial step in the resuscitation process for critically ill patients, and the judicious use of sedative drugs during RSI significantly influences the clinical outcomes of patients. Ketamine is a commonly used anesthetic sedative; however, its impact on the mortality of patients undergoing RSI has yielded inconsistent findings. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis investigating ketamine’s role in RSI to provide insights into selecting appropriate sedatives for critically ill patients. Methods In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we conducted a systematic search on MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, without restricting to randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or cohort studies. The search was performed from inception until Dec 12, 2023, with no language restrictions. All studies comparing the use of sedatives, including ketamine, and documenting in-hospital mortality were included in this study. Results A total of 991 studies were identified, out of which 15 studies (5 RCTs and 10 cohort studies) involving 16,807 participants fulfilled the inclusion criteria. No significant impact on in-hospital mortality was observed with the use of ketamine compared to other drugs during RSI (OR 0.90, 95%CI 0.72 to 1.12). Low-quality evidence suggested that ketamine might reduce mortality within the first seven days of hospitalization (OR 0.42, 95%CI 0.19 to 0.93), but it may also have a potential effect on prolonging ICU-free days at day 28 (MD -0.71, 95%CI -1.38 to -0.05). There were no significant differences in the results of the other RSI-related outcomes, such as physiological function and adverse events. Conclusions Based on existing studies, ketamine showed no significant difference compared to other sedatives in terms of in-hospital mortality, physiological impact, and side effects following RSI. However, it may reduce mortality within 7 days while probably prolong the length of stay in the ICU. Trial registration CRD42023478020.

Abstract PANoptosis is engaged in the program of immune response and carcinogenicity. Nonetheless, the actual impacts of PANoptosis on clinical management and oncology immunity in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are not fully grasped. RNA-seq-derived computations were conducted to sort out the molecular subtypes and elucidate the disparities based on PANoptosis molecules. Single-cell sequencing (scRNA-seq) tools including Cytotrace and Addmodulescore were extracted to characterize diversification potency and quantify the PANoptosis motion. Transcriptional factors were inferred by the pySCENIC package and Cellchat program scrutinized the intercellular exchange across cell compartments. The PANoptosis score system originated by incorporating 10 machine learning algorithms and 101 compositions to project clinical results and deteriorate tendencies. Circulatory PANoptosis-associated protein HSP90AA1 was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). HCC individuals could be categorized into low- and high-PANoptosis groups with diverse biogenic and pharmacotherapy heterogeneity. Individuals in the elevated PANoptosis subtype were characterized as “hot tumor” conveying the increased presence of immunogenicity while reiterating an explicit negative connection with tumor stemness. Compared to immune and stromal cells, cancerous cells showcased decreased PANoptosis and heightened PANoptosis malignant cell subgroups might be tied to a substantial level of genomic expression of SREBF2, JUND, GATAD1, ZBTB20, SMAD5 and implied a more aggressive potential. The PANoptosis index, derived from machine learning, has been established to provide succinct frameworks for predicting outcomes and clarified the noteworthy utility of conventional regimens, as the differentiated power of HCC occurred together with vascular invasion and hepatocellular adenoma (HCA). The experiment confirmed that the circulating HSP90AA1 was aberrantly augmented in HCC patients, thus demonstrating its potential as a discriminatory biomarker. We systematically deciphered the molecular and immune ecosystem traits of PANoptosis in bulk and scRNA-seq degrees, which may deliver advantageous insights for customized treatment, awareness of the pathological process and prognosis scrutiny for HCC patients.

Abstract In this study, pure V6O13 and nickel ion-doped V6O13 powders were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal-calcination method, and their broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties and mechanisms were investigated. The crystal structure, morphology, and chemical state of the powders were thoroughly analyzed by XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, and UV–Vis. Their antimicrobial properties and mechanisms were evaluated by the ring of inhibition, bio-SEM, live-dead cell staining, ROS detection, and protein leakage experiments. The results showed that nickel ion doping modulated the oxygen defects of V6O13, generating more reactive oxygen species and leading to more severe oxidative stress, resulting in a broad-spectrum and highly efficient antimicrobial effect. This study also revealed the antimicrobial mechanism based on oxygen defect -induced ROS production, which caused cellular oxidative stress damage, leading to leakage of intracellular substances and cell death. This study not only demonstrates the potential of V6O13 as an efficient antimicrobial agent but also provides a strong experimental basis and theoretical support for the engineering design and optimization of novel antimicrobial materials by modulating material defects through ion doping.

Abstract Background Several abdominal obesity indices including waist circumference (WC), waist–hip ratio (WHR), visceral adiposity index (VAI), lipid accumulation product (LAP), and Chinese visceral adiposity index (CVAI) were considered effective and useful predictive markers for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in general populations or diabetic populations. However, studies investigating the associations between these indices among postmenopausal women are limited. Our study aimed to investigate the associations of the five indices with incident CVD and compare the predictive performance of CVAI with other abdominal obesity indices among postmenopausal women. Methods A total of 1252 postmenopausal women without CVD at baseline were analyzed in our investigation based on a 10-year follow-up prospective cohort study. Link of each abdominal obesity index with CVD were assessed by the Cox regression analysis and the Kaplan–Meier curve. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn to compare the predictive ability for CVD. Results During the median follow-up of 120.53 months, 121 participants newly developed CVD. Compared to quartile 1 of LAP and CVAI, quartile 4 had increased risk to develop CVD after fully adjusted among postmenopausal women. When WC, VAI and CVAI considered as continuous variables, significant increased hazard ratios (HRs) for developing CVD were observed. The areas under the curve (AUC) of CVAI (0.632) was greatly higher than other indices (WC: 0.580, WHR: 0.538, LAP: 0.573, VAI: 0.540 respectively). Conclusions This study suggested that the abdominal obesity indices were associated with the risk of CVD excluded WHR and highlighted that CVAI might be the most valuable abdominal obesity indicator for identifying the high risk of CVD in Chinese postmenopausal women.

Background The incidence density of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and the effect of a healthy lifestyle on the risk of MAFLD remain unknown. We evaluated the prevalence and incidence density of MAFLD and investigated the association between healthy lifestyle and the risk of MAFLD. Methods A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 37,422 participants to explore the prevalence of MAFLD. A cohort analysis of 18,964 individuals was conducted to identify the incidence of MAFLD, as well as the association between healthy lifestyle and MAFLD. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) with adjustments for confounding factors. Results The prevalence of MAFLD, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and their comorbidities were 30.38%, 28.09%, and 26.13%, respectively. After approximately 70 thousand person-years of follow-up, the incidence densities of the three conditions were 61.03, 55.49, and 51.64 per 1,000 person-years, respectively. Adherence to an overall healthy lifestyle was associated with a 19% decreased risk of MAFLD (HR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.72 to 0.92), and the effects were modified by baseline age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). Subgroup analyses revealed that younger participants, men, and those with a lower BMI experienced more significant beneficial effects from healthy lifestyle. Conclusion Our results highlight the beneficial effect of adherence to a healthy lifestyle on the prevention of MAFLD. Health management for improving dietary intake, physical activity, and smoking and drinking habits are critical to improving MAFLD.

Abstract Background Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been considered a harmless yeast, but in recent years, increasing evidence has shown that it can cause disease in humans, especially invasive infections in infants/children and vulvovaginal infections in women. This study aimed to investigate the clinical information and antifungal susceptibility of clinical cases with S. cerevisiae and establish a foundation for the prevention and treatment of fungal infections. Methods This study was conducted from May 2018 to May 2023 at a national regional medical center in Southwest China for women and children. The demographic and clinical characteristics of patients isolated with S. cerevisiae were collected and analyzed. All the isolates were cultured on Sabouraud medium plates and identified by MALDI-TOF MS. The antifungal susceptibility of S. cerevisiae to 10 agents (amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, micafungin, caspofungin, terbinafine and 5-flucytosine) was determined via the microdilution broth method to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). Results A total of 75 cases of S. cerevisiae isolated from patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC, 44 cases), pneumonia (13 cases), or diarrhea (18 cases) were included after data review. The MICs of voriconazole and flucytosine for S. cerevisiae isolated from different body sites differed, with higher resistance in intestinal isolates. In this study, S. cerevisiae caused VVC, but there was no clear evidence that it was involved in pneumonia or diarrhea. Compared with those of Candida albicans, the primary pathogen of VVC, the MICs of fluconazole (11.96 ± 5.78 µg/mL vs. 67.64 ± 16.62 µg/mL, p = 0.002), itraconazole (0.77 ± 0.19 µg/mL vs. 2.31 ± 0.53 µg/mL, p = 0.008), voriconazole (0.22 ± 0.09 µg/mL vs. 5.02 ± 1.09 µg/mL, p

Abstract Background It is uncertain whether the weekend warrior pattern is associated with all-cause mortality among adults living with type 2 diabetes. This study explored how the ‘weekend warrior’ physical activity (PA) pattern was associated with all-cause mortality among adults living with type 2 diabetes. Methods This prospective cohort study investigated US adults living with type 2 diabetes in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Mortality data was linked to the National Death Index. Based on self-reported leisure-time and occupational moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), participants were categorized into 3 groups: physically inactive (

Abstract The combination of ASC22, an anti-PD-L1 antibody potentially enhancing HIV-specific immunity and chidamide, a HIV latency reversal agent, may serve as a strategy for antiretroviral therapy-free virological control for HIV. People living with HIV, having achieved virological suppression, were enrolled to receive ASC22 and chidamide treatment in addition to their antiretroviral therapy. Participants were monitored over 24 weeks to measure changes in viral dynamics and the function of HIV-specific CD8+ T cells (NCT05129189). 15 participants completed the study. At week 8, CA HIV RNA levels showed a significant increase from baseline, and the values returned to baseline after discontinuing ASC22 and chidamide. The total HIV DNA was only transiently increased at week 4 (P = 0.014). In contrast, integrated HIV DNA did not significantly differ from baseline. Increases in the proportions of effector memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells (TEM) were observed from baseline to week 24 (P = 0.034 and P = 0.002, respectively). The combination treatment did not succeed in enhancing the function of HIV Gag/Pol- specific CD8+ T cells. Nevertheless, at week 8, a negative correlation was identified between the proportions of HIV Gag-specific TEM cells and alterations in integrated DNA in the T cell function improved group (P = 0.042 and P = 0.034, respectively). Nine adverse events were solicited, all of which were graded 1 and resolved spontaneously. The combined treatment of ASC22 and chidamide was demonstrated to be well-tolerated and effective in activating latent HIV reservoirs. Further investigations are warranted in the context of analytic treatment interruption.

Using Taraxacum kok-saghyz Rodin (TKS) roots as the raw material, the liquid-solid ratio, ultrasonic power, extraction temperature, and extraction time were selected as experimental factors. On the basis of single factor experiments, the response surface methodology was used to optimize the ultrasonic-assisted extraction process of polyphenols from the TKS roots. The in vitro antioxidant and hypoglycemic activity of the polyphenols extracted from TKS roots were measured. The results showed that the optimal extraction conditions were liquid-solid ratio of 33:1 mL/g, ultrasonic power of 270 W, extraction temperature of 61 ℃, and extraction time of 31 min. Under these conditions, the yield of polyphenols from TKS roots was 1.46%±0.03%. The in vitro activity test showed that the half inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of polyphenol extracts on DPPH and ABTS+ radicals were 54.06 and 39.27 µg/mL, respectively, the IC50 values for α-amylase and α-glucosidase were 133.26 and 50.22 µg/mL, respectively. This indicated that the polyphenols from TKS roots had strong antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities in vitro. This study can provide theoretical basis for the comprehensive development and utilization of TKS.

Marine unbonded flexible pipes serve as the most essential equipment in offshore oil and gas exploration and exploitation. Axial compressive loads during installation or in service in the complex marine environment usually lead to buckling failure. A flexible pipe is a composite structure with multiple functional layers, of which the tensile armor layer plays a key role with regard to the response of the pipe subjected to axial loads. In this paper, a simplified three-dimensional finite element model is developed, focusing on the tensile layer and replacing the carcass layer, pressure sheath layer, and pressure armor layer by a cylindrical rigid body to reduce computational expense. By using this model, the buckling failure modes of the tensile armor layer (in particular the birdcaging phenomenon) are analyzed. Several key parameters that affect the stability of the flexible pipe under axial compression and torsion are emphasized, and their effects on its axial and torsional stiffness are compared and discussed. The results show that both the lay angle of the steel wires and the interlayer friction coefficient have a significant influence on the axial and torsional stiffness of the pipe, whereas the damaged length of the outer sheath has virtually no effect.

The natural bone structure exhibits a radial gradient with dense cortical bone externally and porous cancellous bone internally. However, previous studies proposing scaffold designs have predominantly focused on homogeneous porous structures. Moreover, no consensus exists on the optimal structure for gradient porous scaffolds. Our scaffold closely imitated the natural bone structure by incorporating a gradient of pillar diameters. Additionally, we introduced a inverse gradient structure and three uniform diameter pillar structures (400 μm, 600 μm, and 1000 μm) for comparative analysis. Mechanical testing revealed that the compressive strength and elastic modulus of the Ti6Al4V porous scaffolds gradually increased with an increase in pillar diameter. In vitro experiments demonstrated that both the biomimetic gradient and inverse gradient scaffolds promoted osteogenic differentiation, with higher ALP activity (alkaline phosphatase) and osteogenesis-related gene expression compared to the uniform pillar structure scaffolds. The in vivo experiments confirmed these results, highlighting the superior ability of the biomimetic gradient Ti6Al4V porous scaffold to induce new bone formation. Based on our findings, we suggest that the optimal porous structure should have fine-diameter pillars (approximately 400 μm) internally to enhance cell penetration, while coarse-diameter pillars (approximately 800 μm) should be used externally to increase the cell attachment area and enhance mechanical strength. Overall, our study contributes to the field of bone tissue engineering by providing a biomimetic scaffold design that closely imitates the structure of natural bone and promotes osteogenic activity.

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a chronic degenerative joint disease that occurs mostly in the elderly over the age of 60. Exercise therapy, represented by Tai Chi Chuan, has been proven to have good effective in relieving chronic pain caused by KOA. Long-term practice of Tai Chi Chuan can effectively improve knee and ankle proprioception, enhance dynamic stability and reduce the risk of falls in patients with KOA. However, there is no unified consensus on the specific mechanism of Tai Chi Chuan. Patients with KOA have obvious changes in their biomechanical characteristics. The changes in biomechanical parameters are the initial factors and pathological basis of KOA. This study explores the mechanical effects of Tai Chi Chuan on the knee joint of patients with KOA based on sports biomechanics and analyzes the potential mechanism of Tai Chi Chuan in improving KOA, in order to provide a theoretical basis for Tai Chi Chuan intervention in KOA. The theory of sports biomechanics involved in Tai Chi Chuan includes dynamic part, static part and kinematic part. From the perspective of sports biomechanics, the potential mechanism of Tai Chi Chuan to improve KOA includes four aspects: improving balance ability, improving stability (improving quadriceps muscle strength, coordinating muscle groups around the knee joint and reducing the medial load of the knee joint in patients with KOA), balancing intra-articular stress (reducing the peak stress of meniscus and cartilage, improving lower limb muscle strength and lower limb alignment) and reducing movement reaction force. However, there are still some inadequacies in Tai Chi Chuan practice, which may affect the analysis of sports biomechanics, specifically manifest in the following four aspects: (1) The training method for Tai Chi Chuan beginners may not be appropriate, which may increase the probability of muscle, ligament and joint injuries. (2) Tai Chi Chuan training movements are difficult. Subjects tend to have nonstandard movements when they learn in a short time, which easily affects the accuracy of research data. (3) The gradual increase of dropout rate is not conducive to data statistics. (4) Complete Tai Chi Chuan is time-consuming and difficult to analyze individually. At present, representative movements are mainly analyzed, and research on non-representative movements is scarce.

ObjectivesPyrophyllite, as a sealed pressure medium, has been widely used in high-pressure research for laboratories and industrial synthesis. A highly efficient pressure transfer medium can generate higher cell pressure at the same loading force. The use of a highly efficient pressure transfer medium reduces the risk of anvil rupture and production costs. Therefore, it is important to develop a suitable and efficient pressure-transmitting pyrophyllite.MethodsThe pressure calibration of four pyrophyllites from different localities at room temperature was conducted in a 6 × 8 MN multi-anvil large-volume press. The relationship between loading force and cell pressure at room temperature was established. The influence of mineral composition changes in pyrophyllite on pressure-transmitting efficiency was studied using X-ray diffraction.ResultsBy investigating the influence of mineral composition changes in pyrophyllite on pressure-transmitting efficiency, the results are as follows: (1) When achieving the same cell pressure, the required loading force for Pyrophyllite 4 is 10% lower than those for the other three pyrophyllites, indicating that Pyrophyllite 4 has the best pressure-transmitting efficiency. (2) As cell pressure increases, the relationship between cell pressure and loading force begins to deviate from linearity, and the pressure-transmitting efficiency of pyrophyllite gradually decreases. When the cell pressure exceeds 5.00 GPa, applying higher loading force does not significantly increase the cell pressure. (3) Higher hardness minerals (such as Diaspore, Boehmite) in pyrophyllite can effectively improve pressure-transmitting efficiency in the low-pressure stage (cell pressure 2.55-3.68 GPa). When the minerals in pyrophyllite undergo phase transformation to form new minerals with higher hardness (such as Muscovite and Kaolinite) in the high-pressure stage (cell pressure of 5.50 GPa), pressure-transmitting efficiency can be effectively improved.ConclusionsPyrophyllite 4 has better pressure-transmitting efficiency than Pyrophyllite 2 does in the high-pressure stage, but it is prone to failure in sealing due to the changes in mineral composition. However, Pyrophyllite 2 shows good elastic recovery effect and sealing performance and can stably complete compression and decompression work. Considering both pressure-transmitting efficiency and sealing effect, Pyrophyllite 2 has better application value and economic benefits.

Abstract Background Periodontal tissue loss is the main reason for tooth mobility and loss caused by periodontal disease. Dental follicle stem cells (DFSCs) have significant therapeutic potential in periodontal regeneration, which maybe mainly depends on their potent immunomodulatory capacity. Consequently, this study aims to elucidate the impact of implanted xenogenous DFSCs on innate immune responses during early and late stages in the periodontal defect repair period. Methods To trace and investigate the immunomodulation mechanisms of DFSCs in vivo, DFSCs were engineered (E-DFSCs) using lentiviral vectors expressing CD63-enhanced green fluorescent protein (CD63-EGFP) and β-Actin-mCherry protein (ACTB-mCherry) to exhibit green and red fluorescence. The biological characteristics and functions of E-DFSCs were verified by proliferation, differentiation, and co-culture experiments in vitro. In vivo, the periodontal regeneration capacity of E-DFSCs was detected by implantation of murine periodontal defect model, and the response of innate immune cells was detected at the 1st, 3rd, and 5th days (early stage) and 4th week (late stage) after implantation. Results In vitro assessments showed that E-DFSCs retain similar properties to their non-engineered counterparts but exhibit enhanced macrophage immunomodulation capability. In mice models, four-week micro-CT and histological evaluations indicated that E-DFSCs have equivalent efficiency to DFSCs in periodontal defect regeneration. At the early stage of repair in mice periodontal defect, fluorescence tracking showed that implanted E-DFSCs might primarily activate endogenous cells through direct contact and indirect actions, and most of these cells are myeloperoxidase-positive neutrophils. Additionally, compared with the control group, the neutrophilic infiltration and conversion of N2-type were significantly increased in the E-DFSC group. At the late stage of defect regeneration, more M2-type macrophages, fewer TRAP + osteoclasts, and an upregulated OPG/RANKL ratio were detected in the E-DFSC group compared to the control group, which indicated that immune balance tilts towards healing and bone formation. Conclusion The xenogenous implanted DFSCs can induce the N2 phenotype of neutrophils in the early stage, which can activate the innate immune mechanism of the host to promote periodontal tissue regeneration.

Abstract Purpose To summarize the abdominal computed tomography (CT) imaging and clinicopathological data of patients with SPNs of the pancreas and analyze the accuracy of preoperative CT diagnosis and features. Materials and methods Between June 2006 and June 2023, CT images of 120 histopathologically proven SPNs in the pancreas were retrospectively reviewed. Fifteen features, including age, sex, and CT-determined features, were included in a multiple stepwise regression analysis. The correlations between features and SPNs, including odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), were evaluated. Results Among the 120 patients, the diagnostic accuracy of CT was 43.3%. The baseline CT results of patients with a correct diagnosis and misdiagnosis revealed significant differences in sex (P = 0.043), age (P = 0.004), boundary (P = 0.037) and encapsulation (P = 0.002) between the two groups. The preoperative imaging diagnostic accuracy was significantly greater in females than in males (47.9% vs. 25.0%, P = 0.043). The immunohistochemical indices did not significantly differ between the two groups. The results of univariate analysis revealed significant differences in sex (P = 0.048), age (P = 0.014), tumor length (P = 0.023), tumor boundaries (P = 0.039) and capsule type (P = 0.003). The results of multivariate analysis revealed that encapsulation was closely related to the diagnostic accuracy of CT (P = 0.04). Conclusions The accuracy of CT in the diagnosis of SPNs is low, but a length‒diameter ratio of the tumor approaching 1.0, encapsulation and clear boundaries are important CT-determined features. The capsule is an independent CT predictor in the diagnosis of SPNs.

Abstract Backgroup The pathogenesis of shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS) is still unclear, and its questionable causal relationship with rotator cuff (RC) injury has led to confusion in treatment. The purpose of this study was to explore the bidirectional causal relationship between SIS and RC injury. Methods SIS and RC injury datasets downloaded from the IEU Open GWAS project and GWAS catalog databases. Inverse variance weighted (IVW), MR Egger, Weighted median, and Weighted mode were used in this Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Cochran’s Q test, leave-one-out, and funnel plot method were used to evaluate heterogeneity between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). MR-Egger regression was used to test the horizontal pleiotropy of this study. Results The IVW method (OR = 1.189, P = 0.0059) suggest the putative causal effect of RC injury on SIS. The results of MR Egger method (OR = 1.236, P = 0.2013), weighted median method (OR = 1.097, P = 0.2428) and weighted mode method (OR = 1.013, P = 0.930) showed no statistically significant (OR = 1.069071, P = 0.6173). Heterogeneity test and horizontal pleiotropy analysis suggested that there was no significant heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy in the results of this MR analysis. The reverse MR analysis showed heterogeneity, and the conclusion needs to be further explored. Conclusions The results of MR analysis support that RC injury may be causally associated with SIS.

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to describe our preliminary experience in the procedure of laparoscopic radical resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma and to evaluate its feasibility, safety, and clinical efficacy. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 44 patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma who underwent laparoscopic surgery at our hospital from August 2019 to September 2023. Clinical data were collected from these patients, including 13 cases of Bismuth type I, 17 cases of Bismuth type II, 5 cases of Bismuth type IIIa, and 9 cases of Bismuth type IIIb. Results Laparoscopic radical resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma was successfully performed in 38 patients (86.3%). Among the remaining patients, 3 required vascular reconstruction to complete radical surgery and were converted to laparotomies, while 3 others underwent T-tube drainage only due to unresectable metastases. The median operation time was 285 min (range, 190–450), and the median estimated blood loss was 360 mL (range, 260–1200). The postoperative hospital stay duration was 14.3 ± 3.6 days. No perioperative mortality was observed. Postoperative pathological examination revealed negative microscopic margins (R0) in 39 cases and positive microscopic margins (R1) in 2 cases. Postoperative complications occurred in 8 patients (18.1%), with 4 cases (9.0%) of Grade I, 3 cases (6.8%) of Grade II, 1 case (2.2%) of Grade IIIa, and no Grade IIIb or IV complications. The median overall survival for patients who underwent radical R0 resection was 30.4 months (range, 5.3–43.6). The Disease-free survival rates were 73.6% at 1 year, 61.2% at 2 years, and 40.1% at 3 years. Conclusion Total laparoscopic radical resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma can be performed safely, feasibly, and effectively by experienced surgeons after an accurate preoperative evaluation.

Abstract Background Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of lower extremity is a common complications after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk factors for DVT after TKA and analyze the expression of miR-199b-5p and nitric oxide (NO) before and after TKA, as well as their predictive value for DVT. Methods Basic clinical information of 121 patients with TKA was analyzed retrospectively. RT-qPCR was used to detect the relative expression level of miR-199b-5p in patients before and after TKA treatment. Based on the occurrence of DVT, patients were divided into DVT and non-DVT groups. Logistic regression analysis evaluated the risk factors of DVT. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve assessed the predictive value of postoperative miR-199b-5p level, preoperative NO level, and their combination in DVT. The target genes of miR-199b-5p and their functions were predicted and annotated using bioinformatics analysis. Results The level of miR-199b-5p after TKA was upregulated compared with that before TKA (P

Abstract Background Glioblastoma (GB) is recognized as one of the most aggressive brain tumors, with a median survival of 14.6 months. However, there are still some patients whose survival time was greater than 3 years, and the biological reasons behind this clinical phenomenon arouse our research interests. By conducting proteomic analysis on tumor tissues obtained from GB patients who survived over 3 years compared to those who survived less than 1 year, we identified a significant upregulation of SelK in patients with shorter survival times. Therefore, we hypothesized that SelK may be an important indicator related to the occurrence and progression of GBM. Methods Proteomics and immunohistochemistry from GB patients were analyzed to investigate the correlation between SelK and clinical prognosis. Cellular phenotypes were evaluated by cell cycle analysis, cell viability assays, and xenograft models. Immunoblots and co-immunoprecipitation were conducted to verify SelK-mediated ubiquitin-dependent degradation of CDK4. Results SelK was found to be significantly upregulated in GB samples from short-term survivors (≤ 1 year) compared to those from long-term survivors (≥ 3 years), and its expression levels were negatively correlated with clinical prognosis. Knocking down of SelK expression reduced GB cell viability, induced G0/G1 phase arrest, and impaired the growth of transplanted glioma cells in nude mice. Down-regulation of SelK-induced ER stress leads to a reduction in the expression of SKP2 and an up-regulation of β-TrCP1 expression. Up-regulation of β-TrCP1, thereby accelerating the ubiquitin-dependent degradation of CDK4 and ultimately inhibiting the malignant proliferation of the GB cells. Conclusion This study discovered a significant increase in SelK expression in GB patients with poor prognosis, revealing a negative correlation between SelK expression and patient outcomes. Further mechanistic investigations revealed that SelK enhances the proliferation of GB cells by targeting the endoplasmic reticulum stress/SKP2/β-TrCP1/CDK4 axis.

Abstract Background Fatigue affects nurses negatively and may influence life satisfaction. According to the stress process model, active coping might influence the impact of adverse conditions such as fatigue on well-being measures such as life satisfaction. However, no research examined the associations among nurses’ fatigue, coping styles, and life satisfaction. Methods The cross-sectional study was conducted in Liaoning Province, China. 482 effective questionnaires were collected (effective response rate of 80.3%). The questionnaire included Fatigue Scale-14, Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire and Satisfaction with Life Scale. The association among fatigue, coping styles and fatigue × coping styles interaction with life satisfaction was examined by hierarchical multiple regression analysis. The interaction was visualized by simple slope analysis. Results Mean score of life satisfaction was 22.74 ± 6.11. Active coping moderated the relationship between mental fatigue and life satisfaction. The impacts of mental fatigue on life satisfaction gradually decreased in the low (1 SD below the mean, β=-0.400, P