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AbstractContext Sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Rhodiola rosea L. (Crassulaceae) (RR) and its extracts have shown anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and lung-protective effects.Objective This study elucidates the molecular mechanisms of RR against sepsis-induced ALI.Materials and methods The pivotal targets of RR against sepsis-induced ALI and underlying mechanisms were revealed by network pharmacology and molecular docking. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were stimulated by 1 μg/mL lipopolysaccharide for 0.5 h and treated with 6.3, 12.5, 25, 50, 100, and 200 μg/mL RR for 24 h. Then, the lipopolysaccharide-stimulated HUVECs were subjected to cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), enzyme-linked immunosorbent, apoptosis, and Western blot analyses. C57BL/6 mice were divided into sham, model, low-dose (40 mg/kg), mid-dose (80 mg/kg), and high-dose (160 mg/kg) RR groups. The mouse model was constructed through caecal ligation and puncture, and histological, apoptosis, and Western blot analyses were performed for further validation.Results We identified six hub targets (MPO, HRAS, PPARG, FGF2, JUN, and IL6), and the PI3K-AKT pathway was the core pathway. CCK-8 assays showed that RR promoted the viability of the lipopolysaccharide-stimulated HUVECs [median effective dose (ED50) = 18.98 μg/mL]. Furthermore, RR inhibited inflammation, oxidative stress, cell apoptosis, and PI3K-AKT activation in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated HUVECs and ALI mice, which was consistent with the network pharmacology results.Discussion and conclusion This study provides foundational knowledge of the effective components, potential targets, and molecular mechanisms of RR against ALI, which could be critical for developing targeted therapeutic strategies for sepsis-induced ALI.

Rutelini is one of the largest tribes of Rutelinae, widely distributed but primarily in the New World. Recently, both larvae and adults of Parastasia ferrieri had been discovered in Liaoning Province of northeastern China from the Palearctic realm. The third-instar larvae of P. ferrieri were described using light and scanning electron microscopy in order to discover more morphological characters for larval taxonomy. The larvae of P. ferrieri exhibit remarkable features, including four protuberances on labrum, no helus on epipharynx, two scissorial teeth on each mandible, five stridulatory teeth plus a blunt protuberance on each maxilla, and the obtuse claws on the thoracic legs. The correlation between morphological features and feeding habits is briefly discussed.

Abstract Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) associated pain commonly predicts adverse events among patients. This clinical feature indicates the engagement of nociceptors on sensory neurons during the development of malignancy. However, it is yet to be determined if targeting oncometabolite-associated nociception processes can hinder OSCC progression. In this study, we reported that nociceptive endings infiltrating both clinical samples and mouse tumor xenografts were associated with poorer clinical outcomes and drove tumor progression in vivo, as evidenced by clinical tissue microarray analysis and murine lingual denervation. We observed that the OSCC microenvironment was characteristic of excessive adenosine due to CD73 upregulation which negatively predicted clinical outcomes in the TCGA-HNSC patient cohort. Notably, such adenosine concentrative OSCC niche was associated with the stimulation of adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) on trigeminal ganglia. Antagonism of trigeminal A2AR with a selective A2AR inhibitor SCH58261 resulted in impeded OSCC growth in vivo. We showed that trigeminal A2AR overstimulation in OSCC xenograft did not entail any changes in the transcription level of CGRP in trigeminal ganglia but significantly triggered the release of CGRP, an effect counteracted by SCH58261. We further demonstrated the pro-tumor effect of CGRP by feeding mice with the clinically approved CGRP receptor antagonist rimegepant which inhibited the activation of ERK and YAP. Finally, we diminished the impact of CGRP on OSCC with istradefylline, a clinically available drug that targets neuronal A2AR. Therefore, we established trigeminal A2AR-mediated CGRP release as a promising druggable circuit in OSCC treatment.

Objective The most common causes of plantar and heel pain are plantar fasciitis and calcaneal spurs, and they often co‐exist. Surgery is a recognized treatment for refractory plantar fasciitis. However, few studies have proposed treatment options for patients with metatarsophalangeal fasciitis with bone spurs. Accordingly, this study's purpose was to propose a four‐step surgical regimen, and to improve the surgical outcome of plantar fasciitis with osteophytes and to establish a procedure for surgical treatment. Methods Retrospective analysis of 45 patients suffering from plantar fasciitis with bone spurs from 2020 to 2023. All patients underwent a four‐step procedure, including plantar fascia release, calcaneal spur grinding, inflammatory tissue removal, and calcaneal burr decompression. The imaging parameters and functional scores were recorded before and after the operation. The objective evaluation included the measurement of calcaneal spur length on radiographs. Clinical evaluation included the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS), the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and the Foot and Ankle Outcome Scale (FAOS). Measurement data that conformed to normal distribution were expressed as (x2 ± s), and pre‐and postoperative AOFAS, FAOS, and VAS scores were compared using repeated‐measures ANOVA, and preoperative and postoperative spur lengths were compared using paired t‐tests. Results The 45 patients were followed up for 3 to 30 months, (17.72 ± 8.53) months, at final follow‐up, the patient's AOFAS score improved from preoperative (74.93 ± 5.56) to (94.78 ± 3.98), FAOS score increased from preoperative (76.42 ± 3.37) to (96.16 ± 2.74), the VAS score decreased from (3.18 ± 0.54) to (1.07 ± 1.20) (p

In recent years, knowledge regarding immune regulation has expanded rapidly, and major advancements have been made in immunotherapy for immune-associated disorders, particularly cancer. The programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) pathway is a cornerstone in immune regulation. It comprises PD-1 and its ligands mediating immune tolerance mechanisms and immune homeostasis. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that the PD-1 axis has a crucial immunosuppressive role in the tumor microenvironment and autoimmune diseases. PD-1 receptors and ligands on immune cells and renal parenchymal cells aid in maintaining immunological homeostasis in the kidneys. Here, we present a comprehensive review of PD-1 immunology in various kidney disorders, including renal cell carcinoma, glomerulonephritis, kidney transplantation, renal aging, and renal immune-related adverse events secondary to PD-1 immunotherapy.

Background: PM2.5 is a complex mixture, with water-soluble inorganic ions (WSII), mainly NH4+, SO42−, and NO3−, constituting major components. Early-life PM2.5 exposure has been shown to induce adverse health consequence but it is difficult to determine whether such an effect occurs prenatally (preconception, gestational) or postnatally in human studies. Methods: Four groups of C57BL/6 J mice were assigned to four exposure conditions: PM2.5 NO3−, PM2.5 SO42−, PM2.5 NH4+ and clean air, and exposure started at 4 weeks old. At 8 weeks old, mice bred within group. The exposure continued during gestation. After delivery, both the maternal and F1 mice (offspring) were kept in clean air without exposure to PM2.5. Respiratory function and pulmonary pathology were assessed in offspring mice at 8 weeks of age. In parallel, placenta tissue was collected for transcriptome profiling and mechanistic investigation. Results: F1 mice in PM2.5 NH4+, SO42- and NO3− groups had 32.2 % (p=6.0e-10), 30.3 % (p=3.8e-10) and 16.9 % (p=5.7e-8) lower peak expiratory flow (PEF) than the clean air group. Importantly, the exposure-induced lung function decline was greater in male than female offspring. Moreover, exposure to PM2.5 WSII before conception and during gestation was linked to increased airway wall thickness and elevated pulmonary neutrophil and macrophage counts in the offspring mice. At the molecular level, the exposure significantly disrupted gene expression in the placenta, affecting crucial functional pathways related to sex hormone response and inflammation. Conclusions: PM2.5 WSII exposure during preconception and gestational period alone without post-natal exposure substantially impacted offspring’s respiratory function as measured at adolescent age. Our results support the paradigm of fetal origin of environmentally associated chronic lung disease and highlight sex differences in susceptibility to air pollution exposure.

BackgroundFew studies have investigated the relationship between sarcopenia and the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), which are common complications in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. This study thus explored the association between sarcopenia and MACE in a prospective cohort with mediation analysis.MethodsAdult MHD patients in Jiangdu People’s Hospital in December 2019 were screened. The exposure was sarcopenia, as defined by the 2019 Asian Working Group. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of MACE, defined as the composite of all-cause mortality or hospital admission with a primary diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction, stroke, or heart failure during a 3-year follow-up period. Multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to test the association between sarcopenia and subsequent MACE incidence. Mediation analyses were used to investigate whether potential mediators influenced the association between sarcopenia and MACE.ResultsOf the 230 patients enrolled, 57% were male, with a median age of 57 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 50 to 66), and a median dialysis vintage of 67 months (IQR: 32 to 119). The prevalence of sarcopenia was 45.2%. The presence of sarcopenia was significantly correlated with age (Spearman’s r = 0.47, p

Abstract Background White Sponge Nevus (WSN) is traditionally considered a benign genetic disorder affecting the oral mucosa, primarily caused by pathogenic mutations in keratin 4 (KRT4) or keratin 13 (KRT13). Despite its benign nature, recent evidence has begun to question the malignant potential of WSN. Case presentation We report a case involving a 70-year-old man who presented with a white lesion on the right floor of his mouth. Initial diagnostic evaluations confirmed the lesion as WSN. Over a one-year follow-up, the lesion underwent malignant transformation, evolving into local epithelial moderate-to-severe dysplasia. Exome sequencing identified a novel insertion mutation in exon 1 of the KRT4 gene, resulting in a deletion-insertion amino acid mutation involving glycine. Single-cell RNA sequencing further revealed altered epithelial proliferation and differentiation dynamics within the lesion. Conclusions This case not only expands the known genetic spectrum of KRT4 mutations associated with WSN but also provides preliminary evidence suggesting the malignant potential of WSN. The novel pathogenic mutation in KRT4 is postulated to alter epithelial proliferation and differentiation, thereby raising concerns about the malignant transformation of WSN. Further studies are warranted to confirm these findings.

Abstract Background Cold hardiness is fundamental for amphibians to survive during the extremely cold winter on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. Exploring the gene regulation mechanism of freezing-tolerant Rana kukunoris could help us to understand how the frogs survive in winter. Results Transcriptome of liver and muscle of R. kukunoris collected in hibernation and spring were assisted by single molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing technology. A total of 10,062 unigenes of R. kukunoris were obtained, and 9,924 coding sequences (CDS) were successfully annotated. Our examination of the mRNA response to whole body freezing and recover in the frogs revealed key genes concerning underlying antifreeze proteins and cryoprotectants (glucose and urea). Functional pathway analyses revealed differential regulated pathways of ribosome, energy supply, and protein metabolism which displayed a freeze-induced response and damage recover. Genes related to energy supply in the muscle of winter frogs were up-regulated compared with the muscle of spring frogs. The liver of hibernating frogs maintained modest levels of protein synthesis in the winter. In contrast, the liver underwent intensive high levels of protein synthesis and lipid catabolism to produce substantial quantity of fresh proteins and energy in spring. Differences between hibernation and spring were smaller than that between tissues, yet the physiological traits of hibernation were nevertheless passed down to active state in spring. Conclusions Based on our comparative transcriptomic analyses, we revealed the likely adaptive mechanisms of R. kukunoris. Ultimately, our study expands genetic resources for the freezing-tolerant frogs.

Abstract Large-scale karst caves are the principal storage spaces for hydrocarbon resources in fracture–cavity carbonate reservoirs. Drilling directly into these caves is considered the ideal mode of development, but many wells do not effectively penetrate karst caves. Therefore, acid fracturing is employed to generate artificial fractures that can connect with these caves. However, there are no appropriate well test methods for fracturing wells in fracture–cavity reservoirs. This study establishes a novel pressure transient analysis model for such wells. A new mathematical model is proposed that couples linear flow in acid fracturing cracks with radial flow in the oil drainage area. The Laplace transform and Stehfest numerical inversion provided analytical solutions for the bottomhole pressure. Typical log–log well testing curves were plotted to analyze oil flow, which occurs in ten stages. During the flow stage in fracturing cracks, the pressure and pressure derivative curves are parallel lines with a slope of 0.5. In the stage of karst cave storage, the pressure derivative curve is a straight line with a slope of 1. A comparison with previous models confirmed the validity of the proposed model. The influence of key parameters on the behavior of typical curves is analyzed. A field case study of the proposed model was carried out. Parameters related to fracturing cracks and karst caves, such as the crack length and cave radius, were successfully estimated. The proposed model has great potential for determining formation parameters of fracture–cavity reservoirs.

As Internet technology continues to advance and as various social media platforms proliferate, consumers have gained the ability to distribute video content across a multitude of online channels. A vlog (video blog) is an online video documentary format used by vloggers (video bloggers) to record their daily lives and share their experiences with various products. In recent years, Vloggers who publish vlogs on social media have gained increasing popularity. The use of vlogs to convey product information has received widespread attention, leading an increasing number of companies to consider them part of their marketing mix and actively incorporate them into their marketing strategies. However, it is still unclear which factors influence consumer attitudes while watching vlogs. Therefore, it has become a focus of attention in both academia and the business world to clarify how vlog promotion content influences consumer attitudes and to use vlog promotion to improve consumer attitudes, thereby increasing consumers’ purchase intentions and achieving brand promotion objectives. The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the factors that influence consumer attitudes towards vlog promotion content. This article is based on the ABC attitude model theory, and data collected through an online questionnaire survey of Chinese consumers were analysed to statistically verify the relationship between consumers' purchase intentions and factors related to vlog content. The predictor variables included trust in vlog, vlogger popularity, vlogger personal appeal, understanding of vlogger advertised products, vlog content, and frequency of interaction between vlogger and fans. Path analysis revealed that two intermediate variables related to vlogger (cognition and emotion) had a positive impact, and a model was constructed to further examine their influence on consumer behaviour (dependent variable). The research findings of this study reveal that three key factors significantly influence consumer attitudes towards vlog promotion. These factors encompass the understanding of vlogger's advertised products, vlog’s content, and the frequency of interaction between vlogger and fans. For future vlog promotions, it is recommended to augment the vlogger's product knowledge and approachability. To create captivating vlog content, emphasis should be placed on enhancing its entertainment value, establishing personal connections with viewers, and encouraging shareability. Moreover, the vlogger should actively engage with dedicated fans, prioritize valuable fan comments, and foster harmonious relationships. Furthermore, the findings of this study demonstrate the effectiveness of vlog promotion for various brands and services, providing valuable insights into the content of promotional activities for different brands and services. This highlights the strategic significance of vlog promotion and its relevance in guiding promotional strategies.

Aims This study aims to explore the alterations of dendritic cells (DCs) subpopulations in ectopic endometrial lesions and unveil the underlying mechanisms.Materials and methods Patients with endometriosis (n = 81) and women without endometriosis (n = 19) were recruited in this study. Dendritic cells (DCs) in the endometrial samples were counted after immunohistochemistry staining. The proportion of myeloid DCs and plasmacytoid DCs was calculated by flow cytometry. Primary DCs were isolated from tissues, and the cell viability and apoptosis were examined by MTT assay and flow cytometry. Cytokines were detected by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Differentially expressed genes were filtered by analyzing two datasets that were downloaded from GEO database and detected by RT-qPCR in tissues and isolated DCs. The function of HSD11B1 was examined in an endometrial stromal cell-DCs co-culture system and in vitro cultured DCs.Results Reduced myeloid DCs and increased CD11c-CD304-DCs were found in ectopic endometrium compared to control endometrium and eutopic endometrium from endometriosis patients. Myeloid DCs isolated from ectopic endometrium expressed less CD80, CD83, CD86 and had reduced proliferation, increased apoptosis, and reduced cytokine production. The expression of HSD11B1 was significantly increased in both ectopic endometrium and isolated myeloid DCs. Overexpression of HSD11B1 in immature DCs could repress DCs maturation and cytokine production. Endometrial stromal cells overexpressing HSD11B1 secreted increased cortisol, which repressed DCs maturation.Conclusions HSD11B1 is upregulated in ectopic endometrial lesions, which may contribute to endometriosis through repressing myeloid DCs maturation.

This study demonstrates the successful fabrication of a multi-material 18Ni(300) maraging steel – CoCrMo alloy using laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF), which in its as-built state, displays suboptimal mechanical performance. Addressing this, we propose different heat treatments that mutually enhance the properties of both alloys. Comparative analysis of texture development, precipitation sequence and mechanical properties of the dual structures at different scales has been conducted. The results indicate the cooperative strengthening of intragranular γ–ϵ transformation in CoCrMo, and Ni3Ti precipitation in maraging steel. Adding the solution treatment also balanced the formation of acicular Ni3Ti clusters with (Fe, Ni, Co)2(Ti, Mo) precipitates, and revealed that chemical segregation influences austenite reversion. Initial evidence of local grain variant selection has been revealed in as-built samples due to thermal cycling and austenite reversion, which generates residual stresses, recoil forces and convective flow. Surprisingly, the missing variants can also be inherited after heat treatment with insufficient solution temperatures.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) among family caregivers of patients with cerebral infarction toward home-based care.MethodsThis web-based cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2023 and February 2024 at Yancheng Third People’s Hospital. A self-designed questionnaire was developed to collect demographic information, and assess the KAP among family caregivers of patients with cerebral infarction toward home-based care.ResultsA total of 761 questionnaires were included in the study. Among the participants, 453 (59.53%) were female, and 548 (72.01%) lived with the patients. The mean knowledge, attitudes and practices scores were 6.67 ± 1.73 (possible range: 0–9), 32.95 ± 2.46 (possible range: 9–45), and 28.64 ± 4.39 (possible range: 8–40), respectively. Path analysis showed the direct effect of knowledge on both attitudes (β = 0.885, p

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cancer type worldwide and accounts for the second highest rate of cancer-related mortality. Liver metastasis significantly contributes to the mortality associated with CRC, but the fundamental mechanisms behind it remain unclear. Signal-induced proliferation-associated protein 1 (SIPA1), a GTPase activating protein, has been shown to promote metastasis in breast cancer. In this study, our objective was to explore the role of SIPA1 in regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in CRC. The analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database revealed that the expression level of SIPA1 mRNA was notably upregulated and exhibited a positively correlated with EMT and STAT3 signaling pathways in CRC. Knockdown of SIPA1 impairs CRC cell proliferation and migration. Further studies on the reliance of SIPA1 on STAT3 signaling for EMT regulation have shown that SIPA1 stimulates the activation of STAT3, resulting in its nuclear translocation. The co-treatment of overexpressed SIPA1 with the STAT3 inhibitor STTITA has shown that SIPA1 regulates the expression of EMT-related markers through STAT3. Our study indicate that SIPA1 promotes CRC metastasis by activating the STAT3 signaling pathway, underscoring the potential of SIPA1 as a therapeutic target for metastatic CRC patients.

IntroductionImmunotherapies targeting T cells in solid cancers are revolutionizing clinical treatment. Novel immunotherapies have had extremely limited benefit for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Here, we characterized the immune microenvironment of t(8;21) AML patients to determine how immune cell infiltration status influenced prognosis.MethodsThrough multi-omics studies of primary and longitudinal t(8;21) AML samples, we characterized the heterogeneous immune cell infiltration in the tumor microenvironment and their immune checkpoint gene expression. Further external cohorts were also included in this research.ResultsCD8+ T cells were enriched and HAVCR2 and TIGIT were upregulated in the CD34+CD117dim%-High group; these features are known to be associated with immune exhaustion. Data integration analysis of single-cell dynamics revealed that a subset of T cells (cluster_2) (highly expressing GZMB, NKG7, PRF1 and GNLY) evolved and expanded markedly in the drug-resistant stage after relapse. External cohort analysis confirmed that the cluster_2 T-cell signature could be utilized to stratify patients by overall survival outcome.DiscussionIn conclusion, we discovered a distinct T-cell signature by scRNA-seq that was correlated with disease progression and drug resistance. Our research provides a novel system for classifying patients based on their immune microenvironment.

BackgroundClinical studies have indicated a comorbidity between sepsis and kidney diseases. Individuals with specific mutations that predispose them to kidney conditions are also at an elevated risk for developing sepsis, and vice versa. This suggests a potential shared genetic etiology that has not been fully elucidated.MethodsSummary statistics data on exposure and outcomes were obtained from genome-wide association meta-analysis studies. We utilized these data to assess genetic correlations, employing a pleiotropy analysis method under the composite null hypothesis to identify pleiotropic loci. After mapping the loci to their corresponding genes, we conducted pathway analysis using Generalized Gene-Set Analysis of GWAS Data (MAGMA). Additionally, we utilized MAGMA gene-test and eQTL information (whole blood tissue) for further determination of gene involvement. Further investigation involved stratified LD score regression, using diverse immune cell data, to study the enrichment of SNP heritability in kidney-related diseases and sepsis. Furthermore, we employed Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis to investigate the causality between kidney diseases and sepsis.ResultsIn our genetic correlation analysis, we identified significant correlations among BUN, creatinine, UACR, serum urate, kidney stones, and sepsis. The PLACO analysis method identified 24 pleiotropic loci, pinpointing a total of 28 nearby genes. MAGMA gene-set enrichment analysis revealed a total of 50 pathways, and tissue-specific analysis indicated significant enrichment of five pairs of pleiotropic results in kidney tissue. MAGMA gene test and eQTL information (whole blood tissue) identified 33 and 76 pleiotropic genes, respectively. Notably, genes PPP2R3A for BUN, VAMP8 for UACR, DOCK7 for creatinine, and HIBADH for kidney stones were identified as shared risk genes by all three methods. In a series of immune cell-type-specific enrichment analyses of pleiotropy, we identified a total of 37 immune cells. However, MR analysis did not reveal any causal relationships among them.ConclusionsThis study lays the groundwork for shared etiological factors between kidney and sepsis. The confirmed pleiotropic loci, shared pathogenic genes, and enriched pathways and immune cells have enhanced our understanding of the multifaceted relationships among these diseases. This provides insights for early disease intervention and effective treatment, paving the way for further research in this field.

Melon (Cucumis melo L.) is one of the most extensively grown horticulture crops of the world. Based on the morphological characters, melon was formerly divided into two subspecies, Cucumis melo ssp. melo and C. melo ssp. agrestis. However, the present methods are still inadequate to distinguish between them. The phylogenetic analysis based on chloroplast genome sequences could provide essential evidence for the classification of melon varieties. We sequenced the chloroplast genomes of nine different melon varieties by the Illumina Hiseq and performed bioinformatic analyses including repeat element analysis, genome comparison and phylogenetic analysis. The results showed that the melon chloroplast genome has a typical quadripartite structure that was conserved across the analyzed sequences. Its length ranges between 155, 558 and 156, 569 bp, with a total GC content varying from 36.7% to 37%. We found 127–132 genes in melon chloroplast genomes, including 85–87 protein-coding regions, 34–37 tRNA and 6-8 rRNA genes. The molecular structure, gene order, content, codon usage, long repeats, and simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were mostly conserved among the nine sequenced genomes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the chloroplast genome could clearly distinguish between C. melo ssp. melo and C. melo ssp. agrestis. This study not only provides valuable knowledge on melon chloroplasts, but also offers a theoretical basis and technical support for the genetic breeding of melons.

Abstract Background To observe morphologic and functional changes in meibomian glands in pediatric patients with and without lower eyelid epiblepharon. Methods In this prospective observation study, 55 eyes of 55 patients( 24 males, 31 females; mean age ± SD,9.82 ± 2.59 years; range 6–14 years) and 60 eyes of 60 controls ( 32 males, 28 females; mean age ± SD,10.57 ± 2.75 years; range 6–14 years) were included. The following tests were performed: eyelid margin abnormality by slit-lamp examination, measurement of noninvasive keratographic break-up time (NIKBUT), grading of absence of meibomian gland (meibography score) assessed with noncontact meibography, morphologic changes of meibomian glands (thinning, dilatation and distortion), tear production by the Schirmer 1 test, and grading of meibum quality and meibomian gland expressibility. Results The morphologic changes in meibomian glands were more common in the epiblepharon group (56.36%) than in the control group (28.33%) (p = 0.002). The meibum quality was worse in the epiblepharon group than in the control group (p = 0.009), and the NIKBUT was significantly shorter in the epiblepharon group than in the control group (p = 0.012). There was no significant difference in the Schirmer 1 test, meibomian gland expressibility, eyelid margin abnormality score or total meibography score between the two groups. Morphologic changes in the meibomian glands in the upper eyelids (38.18%) were more common than those in the lower eyelids (20%) (p = 0.036) in the epiblepharon group, and the meibography score was higher in the upper eyelids than in the lower eyelids (p = 0.001). Conclusion There are morphological and functional changes in meibomian glands in pediatric patients with lower eyelid epiblepharon. Although the inverted eyelashes were located in the lower eyelid, morphological changes in the meibomian glands were more common in the upper eyelid.

Abstract On 6 February 2023, two 7.8 magnitude earthquakes consecutively hit south-central Türkiye, causing great concern from all governments, the United Nations, academia, and all sectors of society. Analyses indicate that there is also a high possibility of strong earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.8 or above occurring in the western region of China in the coming years. China is a country that is highly susceptible to catastrophic disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and other natural calamities, which can cause significant damages to both human life and property, as well as widespread impacts on the society. Currently, China’s capacity for disaster prevention and control is still limited. In order to effectively reduce the impact of catastrophic disasters, ensure the safety of people’s lives and property to the greatest extent possible, maintain social stability in high-risk areas, and ensure high-quality and sustainable regional development, it is urgent to improve the seismic resistance level of houses and critical infrastructure in high earthquake risk zones and increase the earthquake-resistant design level of houses in high-risk fault areas with frequent seismic activities; significantly enhance the ability to defend against extreme weather and ocean disasters in economically developed areas along the southeastern coast, as well as the level of fortification in response to extreme meteorological and hydrological disasters of coastal towns/cities and key infrastructure; vigorously enhance the emergency response capacity and disaster risk prevention level in western and ethnic minority regions; comprehensively improve the defense level of residential areas and major infrastructure in high geological hazard risk zones with flash floods, landslides, and mudslides; systematically promote national disaster prevention and mitigation education; and greatly enhance the societal disaster risk reduction ability, including catastrophic insurance.

Abstract For the ecologically vulnerable Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), hypoxia is increasingly becoming an extremely important environmental risk factor that significantly affects the health of both humans and livestock in the plateau region, as well as hindering high-quality development. To focus on the problem of hypoxia, it is especially urgent to study the surface oxygen concentration (i.e., oxygen concentration). However, the existing research is not sufficient, and there is a lack of oxygen concentration data collected on the QTP. In this study, through the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research and field measurements, the oxygen concentration data and corresponding geographic environmental data were collected at 807 measurement points on the QTP from 2017 to 2022, and the spatiotemporal oxygen concentration patterns were estimated. This work filled the gaps in the measurement and research of oxygen concentrations on the QTP while providing data support for analyses of the influencing factors and spatiotemporal characteristics of oxygen concentrations, which is of great significance for promoting the construction of ecological civilization in the QTP region.

Limestone calcined clay cement (LC3), enhanced through reactions with volcanic ash and the interaction between limestone and clay, significantly improves the performance of cementitious materials. It has the potential to cut CO2 emissions by up to 30% and energy consumption in cement manufacture by 15% to 20%, providing a promising prospect for the large-scale production of low-carbon cement with a lower environmental effect. To effectively manufacture LC3 concrete, this study utilized limestone (15%), calcined clay (30%), and gypsum (5%) as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), replacing 50% of ordinary Portland cement (OPC). However, in regions abundant in sulfate, sulfate attack can cause interior cracking of concrete, reducing the longevity of the building. To address this issue, microcapsules containing microcrystalline wax, ceresine wax, and nano-CaCO3 encapsulated in epoxy resin were prepared and successfully incorporated into LC3 concrete. Sulfate resistance tests were conducted through sulfate dry–wet cycles, comparing samples with and without microcapsules. The findings revealed that the initial mechanical and permeability properties of LC3 concrete did not significantly differ from OPC concrete. LC3 concrete with added microcapsules (SP4) exhibited enhanced resistance to sulfate attack, reducing mass loss and compressive strength degradation. SEM images displayed a mesh-like structure of repair products in SP4. After 14 days of self-repair, SP4 exhibited a 44.2% harmful pore ratio, 98.1% compressive strength retention, 88.7% chloride ion diffusion coefficient retention, 91.12 mV maximum amplitude, and 9.14 mV maximum frequency amplitude. The experimental results indicate that the presence of microcapsules enhances the sulfate attack self-healing performance of LC3 concrete.

UAV thermal infrared remote sensing technology, with its high flexibility and high temporal and spatial resolution, is crucial for understanding surface microthermal environments. Despite DJI Drones’ industry-leading position, the JPG format of their thermal images limits direct image stitching and further analysis, hindering their broad application. To address this, a format conversion system, ThermoSwitcher, was developed for DJI thermal JPG images, and this system was applied to surface microthermal environment analysis, taking two regions with various local zones in Nanjing as the research area. The results showed that ThermoSwitcher can quickly and losslessly convert thermal JPG images to the Geotiff format, which is further convenient for producing image mosaics and for local temperature extraction. The results also indicated significant heterogeneity in the study area’s temperature distribution, with high temperatures concentrated on sunlit artificial surfaces, and low temperatures corresponding to building shadows, dense vegetation, and water areas. The temperature distribution and change rates in different local zones were significantly influenced by surface cover type, material thermal properties, vegetation coverage, and building layout. Higher temperature change rates were observed in high-rise building and subway station areas, while lower rates were noted in water and vegetation-covered areas. Additionally, comparing the temperature distribution before and after image stitching revealed that the stitching process affected the temperature uniformity to some extent. The described format conversion system significantly enhances preprocessing efficiency, promoting advancements in drone remote sensing and refined surface microthermal environment research.

Background Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most common cancers. Chemotherapy remains one dominant therapeutic strategy, while a substantial proportion of patients may develop chemotherapeutic resistance; therefore, it is particularly significant to identify the patients who could achieve maximum benefits from chemotherapy. Presently, four pyroptosis genes are reported to correlate with the chemotherapeutic response or prognosis of HNSCC, while no study has assessed the combinatorial predicting efficacy of these four genes. Hence, this study aims to evaluate the predictive value of a multi-gene pyroptosis model regarding the prognosis and chemotherapeutic responsiveness in HNSCC. Methods By utilizing RNA-sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas database and the Gene Expression Omnibus database, the pyroptosis-related gene score (PRGscore) was computed for each HNSCC sample by performing a Gene Set Variation Analysis (GSVA) based on four genes (Caspase-1, Caspase-3, Gasdermin D, Gasdermin E). The prognostic significance of the PRGscore was assessed through Cox regression and Kaplan–Meier survival analyses. Additionally, chemotherapy sensitivity stratified by high and low PRGscore was examined to determine the potential association between pyroptosis activity and chemosensitivity. Furthermore, chemotherapy sensitivity assays were conducted in HNSCC cell lines in vitro. Results As a result, our study successfully formulated a PRGscore reflective of pyroptotic activity in HNSCC. Higher PRGscore correlates with worse prognosis. However, patients with higher PRGscore were remarkably more responsive to chemotherapy. In agreement, chemotherapy sensitivity tests on HNSCC cell lines indicated a positive association between overall pyroptosis levels and chemosensitivity to cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil; in addition, patients with higher PRGscore may benefit from the immunotherapy. Overall, our study suggests that HNSCC patients with higher PRGscore, though may have a less favorable prognosis, chemotherapy and immunotherapy may exhibit better benefits in this population.

Abstract Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the oral mucosa, the mechanism of its inflammatory progression has not yet been fully elucidated. PA28γ plays a significant role in a variety of immune‐related diseases. However, the exact role of PA28γ in the pathogenesis of OLP remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated that PA28γ is overexpressed in epithelial cells and inflammatory cells of OLP tissues but has no significant relationship with OLP subtypes. Functionally, keratinocytes with high PA28γ expression could induce dendritic cell (DC) maturation and promote the T‐cell differentiation into Th1 cells in response to the immune response. In addition, we found that a high level of PA28γ expression is associated with high numbers of infiltrating mature DCs and activated T‐cells in OLP tissues. Mechanistically, keratinocytes with high PA28γ expression could promote the secretion of C–C motif chemokine (CCL)5, blocking CCL5 or/and its receptor CD44 could inhibit the induction of T‐cell differentiation by keratinocytes with high PA28γ expression. In conclusion, we reveal that keratinocytes with high expression of PA28γ in OLP can induce DC maturation and promote T‐cell differentiation through the CCL5‐CD44 pathway, providing previously unidentified mechanistic insights into the mechanism of inflammatory progression in OLP.

Fatty acids are one of the main sources of flavour in fermented Yu jiaosuan (YJS) in southwest China. Bacilli (50.18 %) and Oxyphotobacteria (32.70 %) were the dominant class. Lactiplantibacillus (40.51 %) and Weissella (20.43 %) were the dominant species in the inoculated fermented group (HY). The peroxide value (ZY: 0.025 g/100 g, HY: 0.016 g/100 g) and lipoxygenase (LOX) (ZY: 5.7654 U/min·g, HY: 3.3856 U/min·g) in the HY group were significantly lower compared with the natural fermentation group (ZY), while acid lipase activity (ZY: 0.3184 U/h·g, HY: 0.7075 U/h·g) and neutral lipase activity (ZY: 12.65443 U/h·g, HY: 20.25142 U/h·g) were significantly higher than the control sample. Totally 40 differential fatty acid metabolites were screened. Arachidonic acid metabolism, unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis and linoleic acid metabolism were potential metabolic pathways. Seven major bacterial species were closely associated with 15 differential fatty acid. This study contributes to the targeted production of fatty acid functional active substances of YJS.

Taxonomic uncertainties of rare species often hinder effective prioritization for conservation. One such taxonomic uncertainty is the 90-year-old enigma of Fagus chienii. F. chienii was previously only known from the type specimens collected in 1935 in Pingwu County of Sichuan Province, China, and has long been thought to be on the verge of extinction. However, morphological similarities to closely related Fagus species have led many to question the taxonomic status of F. chienii. To clarify this taxonomic uncertainty, we used the newly collected samples to reconstruct a molecular phylogeny of Chinese Fagus species against the phylogenetic backbone of the whole genus using seven nuclear genes. In addition, we examined nine morphological characters to determine whether F. chienii is morphologically distinct from its putatively closest relatives (F. hayatae, F. longipetiolata, and F. lucida). Both morphological and phylogenetic analyses indicated that F. chienii is conspecific with F. hayatae. We recommended that F. chienii should not be treated as a separate species in conservation management. However, conservation strategies such as in situ protection and ex situ germplasm preservation should be adopted to prevent the peculiar “F. chienii” population from extinction.

Larval mouthparts are significant organs for the individual development, morphologically related with feeding habits, and providing valuable characters for taxonomy and phylogenetic analysis. In previous studies, larval mouthparts revealed two identifying characters of Notodontidae. However, the evolutionary driving force and exact definition of these structures remain unsatisfactory. In this study, the larval mouthparts of Euhampsonia cristata (Butler, 1877), Fentonia ocypete (Bremer, 1861), Phalera assimilis (Bremer & Grey, 1853), Nerice davidi Oberthür, 1881, Cerura erminea (Esper, 1783) and Furcula furcula (Clerck, 1759) are morphologically observed and compared using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The larval mouthparts of the six species are commonly equipped with paired maxillary sacs, congruent with the previous descriptions. However, the larval mouthparts of N. davidi are peculiar for bearing toothed mandibles, providing an exception of Notodontidae. Otherwise, the mouthparts exhibit morphological differences on mandibles, spinnerets, labral notches, and setal arrangements among the six species. The morphological diversity and the related feeding and pupation habits are briefly discussed.

Abstract Background Activated phosphoinositide3-kinase (PI3K) δ syndrome 1 (APDS1) is a novel inborn errors of immunity (IEIs) caused by heterozygous gain of function mutations in PI3Kδ catalytic p110δ (PIK3CD). APDS1 has a spectrum of clinical manifestations. Recurrent respiratory infections, lymphoproliferation, hepatosplenomegaly, hyper-IgM syndrome and autoimmunity are the common symptoms of this disease. Case Presentation Patient 1 presented with recurrent respiratory infections, hepatosplenomegaly and hyper-IgM syndrome. Patient 2 developed early onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-like disease with resistant thrombocytopenia. c.3061 G > A and c.2314G > A variants in the PIK3CD gene were detected by whole exome sequencing in two patients respectively. c.2314G > A variant in PIK3CD gene of patient 2 is a newly report. After genetic diagnosis, two patients received sirolimus treatment and sirolimus alleviated clinical manifestations, including hepatosplenomegaly in patient 1 and thrombocytopenia in patient 2. Conclusion Genetics diagnosis should be considered in patients with complicated clinical manifestations with no or insufficient response to the conventional therapies. If whole exome sequencing suggests a variant in PIK3CD gene, sirolimus may relieve hepatosplenomegaly and resistant thrombocytopenia. This is the first report of c.2314G > A variant in PIK3CD gene.

Abstract Background Chronic active Epstein–Barr virus infection (CAEBV) and Epstein–Barr virus-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (EBV-HLH) are rare but life-threatening progressive diseases triggered by EBV infection. Glucocorticoid/immunosuppressants treatment is temporarily effective; however, most patients relapse and/or progress. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a potentially curative therapy; however, there are risks of transplantation-associated complications. Currently there is no standard treatment for CAEBV and EBV-HLH. Programmed death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitors have achieved a high response in many EBV-related diseases. Sintilimab (a recombinant human IgG4 monoclonal antibody against PD-1) disrupts the interaction between PD-1 and its ligand, leading to T cell reinvigoration. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on three children with CAEBV or EBV-HLH in the Children’s Hospital of Soochow University between 12 December 2020 and 28 November 2022. The efficacy of sintilimab was evaluated. Results Three patients, including two males and one female, were analyzed. Among them, two children were diagnosed with CAEBV with intermittent fever for more than four years, and one child was diagnosed with EBV-HLH. After sintilimab treatment and a mean follow-up of 17.1 months (range 10.0–23.3 months), patients 1 and 3 achieved a complete clinical response and patient 2 achieved a partial clinical response. All three children showed a > 50% decrease in EBV-DNA load in both blood and plasma. EBV-DNA copies in sorted T, B, and NK cells were also markedly decreased after sintilimab treatment. Conclusion Our data supported the efficacy of PD-1 targeted therapy in certain patients with CAEBV and EBV-HLH, and suggested that sintilimab could provide a cure for these diseases, without HSCT. More prospective studies and longer follow-up are needed to confirm these conclusions.

Listeria monocytogenes is a serious pathogen and can exacerbate harmful effects through the formation of biofilm. Inhibition of or reduction in L. monocytogenes biofilm is a promising strategy to control L. monocytogenes in the food industry. In our previous study, it was found that plantaricin Q7 produced by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Q7 could inhibit and reduce L. monocytogenes biofilm, but the specific mechanism remains unclear. In this study, the inhibitive and reduced activity of plantaricin Q7 on L. monocytogenes biofilm was investigated by metabolomics. The results showed that plantaricin Q7 inhibited the synthesis of L. monocytogenes biofilm mainly through purine metabolism and glycerol phospholipid metabolism, and the key differential metabolites included acetylcholine and hypoxanthine with a decrease in abundance from 5.80 to 4.85. In addition, plantaricin Q7 reduced the formed L. monocytogenes biofilm by purine metabolism and arginine biosynthesis, and the main differential metabolites were N-acetylglutamate and D-ribose-1-phosphate with a decrease in abundance from 6.21 to 4.73. It was the first report that purine metabolism and amino acid metabolism were the common metabolic pathway for plantaricin Q7 to inhibit and reduce L. monocytogenes biofilm, which could be potential targets to control L. monocytogenes biofilm. A putative metabolic pathway for L. monocytogenes biofilm inhibition and reduction by plantaricin Q7 was proposed. These findings provided a novel strategy to control L. monocytogenes biofilm in food processing.

Congenital hepatic fibrosis/Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (CHF/ARPKD) is an inherited neonatal disease induced by mutations in the PKHD1 gene and characterized by cysts and robust pericystic fibrosis in the liver and kidneys. The PCK rat is an excellent animal model that carries a Pkhd1 mutation and exhibits similar pathophysiology. We performed RNA-Seq analysis on liver samples from PCK rats over a time course of postnatal day (PND) 15, 20, 30, and 90 using age-matched Sprague Dawley (SD) rats as controls to characterize molecular mechanisms of CHF/ARPKD pathogenesis. A comprehensive gene expression analysis identified 1298 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between PCK and SD rats. The genes overexpressed in the PCK rats at PND30 and 90 were involved cell migration (e.g., Lamc2, Tgfb2, and Plet1), cell adhesion (e.g., Spp1, Adgrg1, and Cd44), and wound healing (e.g., Plat, Celsr1, Tpm1). Connective tissue growth factor (Ctgf) and platelet-derived growth factor (Pdgfb), two genes associated with fibrosis, were upregulated in PCK rats at all time points. Genes associated with MHC class I molecules (e.g., RT1-A2) or involved in ribosome assembly (e.g., Pes1) were significantly downregulated in PCK rats. Upstream regulator analysis showed activation of proteins involved tissue growth (MTPN) inflammation (STAT family members), chromatin remodeling (BRG1), reduction in fibrosis (SMAD7), and inhibition of proteins involved in hepatic differentiation (HNF4α). Immunofluorescence staining revealed that cyst wall epithelium cells also express hepatic progenitor cell markers. The increase in mRNAs of four top upregulated genes, including Reg3b, Aoc1, Tm4sf20, and Cdx2, was confirmed at the protein level using immunohistochemistry. In conclusion, these studies indicate that a combination of increased inflammation, cell migration, wound healing, decreased antifibrotic gene expression, and inhibition of hepatic function are the major underlying pathogenic mechanisms in CHF/ARPKD.

This paper focuses on studying the optimization problem of multi-agent systems (MAS) under undirected graph. To reduce the communication frequency among agents, a zero-gradient-sum (ZGS) algorithm based on dynamic event-triggered (DET) mechanism is investigated. The event-triggered condition of each agent only uses its own state information and the neighbor's state information at the previous triggering instants, without requiring continuous state information from the neighbor. In addition, the designed algorithm allows for the sampling period to be arbitrarily large. The Lyapunov method is utilized to derive the sufficient conditions that incorporate time delay and parameters. As the event is only checked at the periodic moment, zeno behavior can be directly excluded. Finally, numerical simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the theoretical results.

The immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI), anti-programmed cell death receptor-1 (PD-1) antibody, has gained widespread approval for treating various malignancies. Among the immune-related adverse reactions (irAEs) during ICI treatment, the lichenoid reaction is noteworthy. Sintilimab, a new PD-1 inhibitor, has secured approval in China for treating refractory non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and phase I/II clinical trials for other solid tumors are ongoing both domestically and abroad. This paper presents a case of a mucocutaneous lichenoid reaction associated with sintilimab therapy, its diagnosis, and management. Our study, using multiplex immunofluorescence staining, reveals localized infiltration of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in the subepithelial lamina propria region with upregulated PD-1 expression, implying an association between PD-1 expression upregulation and lichenoid reactions provoked by PD-1 monoclonal antibody. We provide a summary of clinical characteristics and treatment guidelines for lichenoid reactions induced by ICIs from previous reports, highlighting the success of a combined therapeutic regimen of oral antihistamines and topical corticosteroids in controlling symptoms without interrupting ICI treatment.

Yu jiangsuan (YJS) is a unique traditional fermented condiment in China. Physicochemical, bacterial communities, and non-volatile properties were examined in inoculation Autochthonous Weissella cibaria and Lactobacillus plantarum. The results indicated that inoculation samples did well in shortening fermentation time; amino acid nitrogen (AN) and TCA-soluble peptide contents of fermented YJS were 10.8% and 17.4% higher than those of naturally fermented YJS, respectively. However, its total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N), thiobarbituric acid (TBARS), and nitrite were only 74.3%, 87.2% and 83.6% of those of naturally fermented YJS. In addition, the dominant bacterial genera were Lactobacillus, Weissella and Pectobacterium, whose contributions were 41.2%, 20.3% and 5.5%, respectively. Moreover, 26 significantly differential metabolites were identified, and involved in 10 metabolic pathways. The decomposition of substrates and the formation of differential metabolites in YJS were primarily centered on the TCA cycle and the metabolism of carbohydrates. Therefore, this study is conducive to discovering the bacterial community structure and metabolite composition of probiotic inoculated YJS fermentation, as well as the potential value of core functional bacteria genera in controlling YJS production in industry.

Objective: Tumor cells hijack inflammatory mechanisms to promote their own growth. IL-6 is one of the major cytokines, and is frequently upregulated in tumors. The pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) generates the indispensable building blocks to produce various nucleotides. Here we aimed to determine whether and how PPP is timely tuned in response to IL-6 to support tumor growth. Methods: Protein expression was examined by immunoblot. Protein interaction was examined by immunoprecipitation. Tumor cell proliferation in in vitro culture was examined by BrdU assay and colony formation assay. Tumor cell proliferation in mouse xenograft model was examined by Ki-67 staining. Results: Here we show that the metabolic flux of PPP and enzymatic activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is rapidly induced under IL-6 treatment, without obvious changes in G6PD expression level. Mechanistically, Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) phosphorylates G6PD Y437 under IL-6 treatment, which accentuates G6PD enzymatic activity by promoting G6PD binding with its substrate G6P. Further, JAK2-dependent G6PD Y437 phosphorylation is required for IL-6-induced nucleotide biosynthesis and tumor cell proliferation, and is associated with the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Conclusions: Our findings report a new mechanism implicated in the crosstalk between tumor cells and inflammatory microenvironment, by which JAK2-dependent activation of G6PD governs nucleotide synthesis to support tumor cell proliferation, thereby highlighting its value as a potential anti-tumor target.

Abstract Mammalian sterile 20-like (Ste20-like) protein kinase 3 (MST3) or serine/threonine-protein kinase 24 (STK24) is a serine/threonine protein kinase that belongs to the mammalian STE20-like protein kinase family. MST3 is a pleiotropic protein that plays a critical role in regulating a variety of events, including apoptosis, immune response, metabolism, hypertension, tumor progression, and development of the central nervous system. The MST3-mediated regulation is intricately related to protein activity, post-translational modification, and subcellular location. Here, we review the recent progress on the regulatory mechanisms against MST3 and its-mediated control of disease progression.

Abstract Background Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is a curative therapy for hematologic malignancies and non-malignant disorders, such as aplastic anemia, fanconi anemia, and certain immune deficiencies. Post-transplantation kidney injury is a common complication and involves a wide spectrum of structural abnormalities, including glomerular (MSPGN, mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis; FSGS, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis; MPGN, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis; MCD, minimal change disease), vascular (TMA, thrombotic microangiopathy), and/or tubulointerstitial (TIN, tubulointerstitial nephritis; ATI, acute tubular injury). Renal biopsy is the gold-standard examination for defining multiple etiologies of kidney impairment. Although kidney injury following HSCT has been studied, little is known about the effects of allo-HSCT on renal pathology in pediatric patients. Methods We retrospectively analyzed renal biopsy specimens from children with kidney injury after allo-HSCT and correlated results with clinical data in the last 10 years. Results Among 25 children (18 males and 7 females), three patients had proteinuria indicating nephrotic syndrome (24-hour urinary total protein/weight > 50 mg/kg/d), nine patients had severely reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR 100µmol/l) and nine patients (36%) still had proteinuria. Conclusions This study evaluates histomorphologic findings from kidney biopsies of pediatric recipients following allo-HSCT. Detailed evaluation of renal biopsy samples is helpful to elucidate the nature of renal insult, and may potentially identify treatable disease processes.

Abstract Background The joint effect of folic acid (FA) supplements and maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) on gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has not been fully addressed. This study aimed to examine the joint effect of FA supplements and pre-pregnancy BMI on GDM. Methods Pregnant women at 4 to 14 weeks of gestation (n = 3186) were recruited during their first prenatal visit in Qingdao from May 1, 2019, to June 27, 2021. The main outcome was GDM at 24–28 weeks’ gestation. Screening was based on 75 g 2-hour oral glucose tolerance (OGTT), a fasting glucose ≥ 5.1 mmol/L, or a 1-hour result ≥ 10.0 mmol/L, or a 2-hour result ≥ 8.5 mmol/L. The interactive effect of FA supplements and pre-pregnancy BMI on GDM was examined using logistic regression analysis and ratio of odds ratios (ROR) was used to compare subgroup differences. Results Overall, 2,095 pregnant women were included in the analysis, and GDM incidence was 17.76%. Compared with women with pre-pregnancy BMI lower than 25.0 kg/m2 and FA-Sufficient supplements ≥ 400 µg/day (FA-S) population, the adjusted odds ratios (aORs) of FA-S and FA-Deficiency supplements

This paper proposes a switched capacitor-based soft-switching proportional dimming LED driver to address color-mixing LED applications. The driver utilizes a half-bridge switch structure and incorporates a switched capacitor to regulate the dual resonant network. This configuration facilitates current sharing across each resonant network and enables fixed proportion dimming between them. The common inductance leveraged in this design results in fewer switching devices, thereby enhancing efficiency. Furthermore, all switches and diodes achieve soft switching, contributing to high efficiency. Finally, this paper built a 19 W experimental prototype, and the maximum efficiency reached 95.56%, which verified the correctness and feasibility of the driver.

Iodine, primarily in the form of iodide (I−), is the bioavailable form for the thyroid in the human body. Both deficiency and excess intake of iodide can lead to serious health issues, such as thyroid disease. Selecting iodide ions among anions has been a significant challenge for decades due to interference from other anions. In this study, we designed and synthesized a new pincer-type acridine–triazole fluorescent probe (probe 1) with an acridine ring as a spacer and a triazole as a linking arm attached to two naphthol groups. This probe can selectively recognize iodide ions in a mixed solvent of THF/H2O (v/v, 9/1), changing its color from colorless to light yellow, making it suitable for highly sensitive and selective colorimetric and fluorescent detection in water systems. We also synthesized another molecular tweezer-type acridine–triazole fluorescent probe (probe 2) that exhibits uniform detection characteristics for iodide ions in the acetonitrile system. Interestingly, compared to probe 2, probe 1 can be detected by the naked eye due to its circulation effect, providing a simple method for iodine detection. The detection limit of probe 1 is determined to be 10−8 mol·L−1 by spectrometric titration and isothermal titration calorimetry measurements. The binding stoichiometry between probe 1 and iodide ions is calculated to be 1:1 by these methods, and the binding constant is 2 × 105 mol·L−1.

Rift Valley fever phlebovirus (RVFV) is a zoonotic mosquito-transmitted arbovirus, presenting a serious threat to humans and animals. Susceptible hosts are of great significance for the prevention of RVFV. Appropriate animal models are helpful to better understand the onset and development of diseases, as well as the control measures and vaccine research. This review focuses on the role of animal hosts in the maintenance of the virus, and summarizes the host range of RVFV. We list some common animal models in the process of RVFV research, which would provide some important insights into the prevention and treatment of RVFV, as well as the study of Rift Valley fever (RVF) pathogenesis and vaccines.

IntroductionChanges in the gut microbiota of patients with partial small intestinal obstruction (PSIO) have not been widely clarified. We aimed to explore bacterial diversity in a PSIO mouse model.MethodsA PSIO mouse model was established using male C57BL/6 mice, and feces samples from the distal ileum and ileum epithelium tissues were collected. MiSeq sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene was conducted to characterize microbiota diversity and composition. RNA sequencing for differences in transcriptomic programming of the ileum tissue was performed between the PSIO and (Control) Ctrl groups.ResultsBacterial diversity in the PSIO group was significantly lower than that in the controls. Pseudomonadota was predominant in the feces of the PSIO group. Unclassified_Muribaculaceae (p = 0.008) and Akkermansia (p = 0.007) were more abundant in the Ctrl group than those in the PSIO group. Furthermore, Escherichia_Shigella (p = 0.008) was more predominant in the feces of the PSIO group. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways related to metabolism were depleted in the PSIO group. Pathways associated with intestinal fibrosis, including extracellular matrix-receptor interaction, focal adhesion, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt signaling pathway and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta signaling pathway, which were enriched in ileum epithelial tissue in the PSIO group.ConclusionPSIO can lead to changes in the predominant intestinal bacterial groups. Depleted functional profiles of the gut microbiota were identified in the PSIO group. Functional pathways associated with intestinal fibrosis were activated by PSIO. The potential regulation by the microbiota needs to be explored in the future.

Integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) has been regarded as an effective tool for achieving sustainable development of coastal ecosystems and reducing potential human health risks, but questions remain regarding its research status and future directions. Therefore, a bibliometric analysis was conducted using screened 6151 publications collected from Web of Science Core Collection databases. An exponential increase trend of publications revealed the continuous and strong research interests for ICZM worldwide. The most high-yield country, institution, category, and journal were USA, NOAA, Environmental Sciences, and Ocean & Coastal Management, respectively. Regarding the number of publications, academic influence, and international collaboration, the developed countries occupied the predominant positions. Co-word analysis reveals eight important topics: challenge, service, management and planning, method and technology, development, process, area, and system. Relevant future directions of the ICZM field were proposed based on the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. This review addresses the question of what focal topics in the ICZM field and what should be focused on in future works by objective and quantitative methods. Our results provide valuable insights into the evolution of the ICZM field and the sustainable development of the coastal areas.

Abstract Background Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block can provide effective analgesia for abdominal surgery. However, it was questionable whether TAP had additional effect in the context of multimodal analgesia (MMA). Therefore, this study aimed to assess the additional analgesic effect of preoperative TAP block when added to MMA protocol in open gynecological surgery. Methods In this prospective, randomized-controlled trial, 64 patients scheduled for open gynecological surgery were randomized to receive preoperative TAP block (Study group, n = 32) or placebo (Control group, n = 32) in addition to MMA protocol comprising dexamethasone, acetaminophen, flurbiprofen and celecoxib, and rescued morphine analgesia. The primary outcome was rescued morphine within 24 h after surgery. Secondary outcomes included pain scores, adverse effects, quality of recovery measured by 40-item quality of recovery questionnaire score (QoR-40) at 24 h, and quality of life measured with short-form health survey (SF − 36) on postoperative day (POD) 30. Results The Study group had less rescued morphine than the control group within 24 h [5 (2–9) vs. 8.5 (5–12.8) mg, P = 0.013]. The Study group had lower pain scores at 1 h [3 (2–4) vs. 4 (3–5), P = 0.007], 2 h [3 (2–4) vs. 3.5 (3–5), P = 0.010] and 6 h [3 (2–3) vs. 3 (2.3–4), P = 0.028], lower incidence of nausea at 48 h (25.8% vs. 50%, P = 0.039), and higher satisfaction score [10 (10–10) vs. 10 (8–10), P = 0.041]. The SF-36 bodily pain score on POD 30 was higher in the Study group (59 ± 13 vs. 49 ± 16, P = 0.023). Conclusions Preoperative TAP block had additional analgesic effect for open gynecological surgery when used as part of multimodal analgesia. Rescued morphine within 24 h was significantly reduced and the SF-36 bodily pain dimension at 30 days after surgery was significantly improved. Trial registration www.chictr.org.cn (ChiCTR2000040343, on Nov 28 2020).

Enkianthus calophyllus was once treated as a synonym of E. serrulatus. However, field observations indicate that E. calophyllus is distinct from E. serrulatus but resembles E. perulatus in flowers, leaves, fruits and seeds. Hence, a taxonomic revision of these species was conducted based on morphological comparisons of flowers, leaves, fruits and seeds, as well as molecular analyses of nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) and six plastid DNA markers (psbA-trnH, rpl32-trnL, trnL-trnF, rps16-trnQ, psbJ-petA and matK). The morphological and molecular results reject the synonymization of E. calophyllus with E. serrulatus, and instead show it to be placed in a clade with E. perulatus. Based on molecular evidence and a reassessment of the morphology we synonymize E. calophyllus with the older name E. perulatus.

Osteosarcoma survival rates have been largely unchanged for several decades, and treatment response is variable. Here, the authors analyzed genomic, transcriptomic and epigenomic data from 121 osteosarcoma patients and identify subtypes related to treatment outcome.

TRIM7 has been demonstrated to have significant roles in promoting host defense against viral infections and regulating immune signaling pathways. As an E3 ubiquitin ligase, it catalyzes the ubiquitination of various substrates, including adaptor proteins (MAVS and STING) and transcription factors (NF-κB and IRF3), thereby exerting positive or negative regulation on immune signal pathways. However, viruses have developed immune evasion mechanisms to counteract TRIM7. Some viruses can inhibit TRIM7 function by targeting it for degradation or sequestering it away from its targets. Moreover, TRIM7 may even facilitate viral infection by ubiquitinating viral proteins, including envelope proteins that are critical for tissue and species tropism. A comprehensive understanding of the interaction between TRIM7 and antiviral immunity is crucial for the development of innovative treatments for viral diseases.

Ring finger protein 213 (RNF213) is a large E3 ubiquitin ligase with a molecular weight of 591 kDa that is associated with moyamoya disease, a rare cerebrovascular disease. It is located in the cytosol and perinuclear space. Missense mutations in this gene have been found to be more prevalent in patients with moyamoya disease compared with that in healthy individuals. Understanding the molecular function of RNF213 could provide insights into moyamoya disease. RNF213 contains a C3HC4-type RING finger domain with an E3 ubiquitin ligase domain and six AAA+ adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) domains. It is the only known protein with both AAA+ ATPase and ubiquitin ligase activities. Recent studies have highlighted the role of RNF213 in fighting against microbial infections, including viruses, parasites, bacteria, and chlamydiae. This review aims to summarize the recent research progress on the mechanisms of RNF213 in pathogenic infections, which will aid researchers in understanding the antimicrobial role of RNF213.