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Yong Zou,1 Xi Chen,1 Jie Liu,2 Dong bo Zhou,1 Xiao Kuang,1 Jian Xiao,1 Qiao Yu,1 Xiaoxiao Lu,1 Wei Li,1 Bin Xie,1 Qiong Chen1 1Department of Geriatrics, Respiratory Medicine, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 2Department of Emergency, The First People’s Hospital of Changsha, Changsha, People’s Republic of China Abstract: COPD is a chronic airway inflammatory disease characterized mainly by neutrophil airway infiltrations. Interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-17 are the key mediators of neutrophilic airway inflammation in COPD. This study was undertaken to evaluate the serum IL-1β and IL-17 levels and associations between these two key mediators with clinical parameters in COPD patients. Serum samples were collected from 60 COPD subjects during the acute exacerbation of COPD, 60 subjects with stable COPD and 40 healthy control subjects. Commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits were used to measure the serum IL-1β and IL-17 concentrations. The association between serum IL-1β and IL-17 with FEV1% predicted, C-reactive protein, neutrophil percentage and smoking status (pack-years) was assessed in the COPD patients. We found that serum IL-1β and IL-17 levels in acute exacerbation of COPD subjects were significantly higher than that in stable COPD or control subjects and were positively correlated to serum C-reactive protein levels, neutrophil % and smoking status (pack-years) but negatively correlated with FEV1% predicted in COPD patients. More importantly, serum IL-1β levels were markedly positively associated with serum IL-17 levels in patients with COPD (P=0.741, P

In this paper, using bi-linear, multi-linear, and non-linear plastic strain models, the applicability of four typical wear models is studied to assess rail wheel wear, which include the Archard, Pearce, Usfd, and Braghin models. Firstly, the instantaneous wear of four models is calculated within a contact area, and an equivalent wear coefficient is used to express the proportional relationship between wear models quantitatively. A uniform expression of the wear models has been derived analytically, and the instantaneous wear rate based on the different wear models is evaluated under harmonic excitation. The rapid wear rate fluctuation for different wear models is then calculated under harmonic excitation, and the influence of speed on the wear fluctuation is studied. The results show that the four wear models have a similar result in calculating the instantaneous wear. In addition, the frequency characteristics of excitation can be accurately reflected in a general sense, and the degree of fluctuation is similar. However, the wear model does not fit the bi-linear plastic model well. It is observed that speed significantly affects the frequency and amplitude of wear fluctuation, the wear model can adapt well to the plastic model at high speed, and the wear depth increases with an increase in speed. This work has demonstrated that the wear model has poor adaptability with the bi-linear plastic model but can be successfully combined with multi-linear and non-linear plastic models to predict rail wheel wear during plastic deformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed at investigating the relationship between the weekend catch-up outdoor duration (WCOD) and prevalence of myopia among students in China., Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited participants in 107 schools (six cities, 30 districts) from China from May to June 2021. Demographic characteristics (age, grade, sex, ethnicity, BMI, resident, and parents' myopia), optically habits (bad writing habits, working/studying time per day, continuous working/studying time per day, and screen time per day) and outdoor duration (weekday and weekend) were obtained from questionnaire. WCOD was defined as outdoor time 1 h longer on weekends than on weekdays. Spherical equivalent (SE) of refractive error were measured with non-cycloplegic refraction. Adjusted multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between WCOD and prevalence of myopia., Results: Students with myopia had shorter WCOD compared with those without myopia (P < 0.001). Adjusted multivariate logistic regression analyses showed negative associations between WCOD and prevalence of myopia in Chinese students, especially in students with WCOD of 2-3 h (OR = 0.577, P < 0.001) and 3-4 h (OR = 0.571, P = 0.004) when the weekday outdoor duration was 0.5-1 h, as well as students with WCOD of 2-3 h (OR = 0.614, P = 0.003) when the weekday outdoor duration was 1-2 h. Similar results were observed in students with high myopia. Students with high myopia had shorter WCOD compared with those without high myopia (P = 0.001). Negative associations between WCOD and prevalence of high myopia were significant in students with WCOD of 1-2 h when the weekday outdoor duration was < 0.5 h (OR = 0.585, P = 0.007) and 0.5-1 h (OR = 0.537, P = 0.018)., Conclusion: Our study, for the first time, reported that a WCOD have a potential to reduce the prevalence of myopia and high myopia in Chinese students., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Patients diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma (STS) often present at intermediate to advanced stages, with inherently limited therapeutic options available. There is an urgent need to identify novel therapeutic targets. In this study, by screening STS data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype Tissue Expression (GTEx) databases, KIFC1 is identified as a potential biomarker and a promising therapeutic target for STS. Notably, a significant increase in KIFC1 levels, which exhibited a strong correlation with a poor prognosis in STS patients is observed. The findings revealed that knockout of KIFC1 suppressed STS growth both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, KIFC1 is found to regulate cellular senescence in STS, which has not been reported before. that targeting KIFC1 induced cellular senescence via interacting with FXR1, an RNA-binding protein is discovered, thereby further stabilizing MAD2L1 mRNA in an m6A-dependent manner. Additionally, the suppression of KIFC1 markedly diminished the growth of patient-derived xenografts (PDX) and triggered senescence. This study provides the first evidence that KIFC1 inhibition induces cellular senescence through MAD2L1, underscoring KIFC1 as a novel prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target for STS., (© 2024 The Author(s). Advanced Science published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

β-Ionone, sustainably derived from Petunia hybrida as a natural bioresource, was identified as a lead compound for integrated aphid management. A series of β-ionone derivatives containing ester groups were designed and synthesized for the purpose of discovering renewable botanical-based products. The odorant-binding protein (OBP) binding test indicated that β-ionone and its derivatives displayed binding affinities with Acyrthosiphon pisum OBP9 (ApisOBP9) and Harmonia axyridis OBP15 (HaxyOBP15). Bioactivity assays revealed that most β-ionone derivatives exhibited a higher repellent activity than that of β-ionone. β-Ionone and derivatives 4g and 4l displayed attractiveness to H. axyridis . Specifically, 4g was a highly promising derivative, possessing good repellent activity against A. pisum and attractiveness to H. axyridis . Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that integrating the hydrophobic ester group into the β-ionone framework strengthened the van der Waals interactions of 4g with ApisOBP9/HaxyOBP15, improving the binding affinity with OBPs and producing higher push-pull activity than β-ionone; 4g also had low toxicity toward nontarget organisms. Thus, 4g is a potential ecofriendly, botanical-based option for aphid management.

This study aimed to investigate the molecular epidemiological characteristics and drug sensitivity of Cryptococcus from HIV-infected patients and their relationship with patients' prognosis. Seventy-six strains were collected and identified to the species level by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry, confirmed by internal transcribed spacer sequencing. Multi-locus sequence typing was used for the typing of Cryptococcus, and its antifungal susceptibility was tested using FUNGUS 3. The clinical outcomes of the patients were reviewed at 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month follow-ups. All strains were Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii classified into seven sequence types (STs) dominated by ST5, ST31, and a new ST702 strain. The 6- and 9-month survival rates were highest for patients infected with ST31, ST32, and ST174. The antifungal resistant rates were 13.2%, 2.6%, and 1.4% for fluconazole, amphotericin B, and 5-fluorocytosine. Except itraconazole, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values and wild type (WT)/non-wild type (NWT) of Cryptococcus for antifungal drugs were not related to the clinical prognosis of HIV-infected patients with cryptococcal infection. ST5 was the main ST type, and the new ST702 type was found in a patient who died in a short period of time. Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii had a relatively high antifungal drug resistance rate to fluconazole. The WT strain accounted for the highest proportions for 5-fluorocytosine, amphotericin B, fluconazole, voriconazole, and itraconazole. The MIC values of Cryptococcus for first-line antifungal drugs showed no relationship with clinical prognosis, implying that MIC values cannot be used to predict the clinical outcome of these patients.

For a long time, intercropping and rotation of leguminous with non-leguminous crops is widely used to reduce the application of nitrogen fertilizer and increase yield in agroecosystems. At present, most researchers considered that this management measure is helpful for reducing fertilizer consumption and increasing its efficiency, as it can improve nutrient supply of legumestonon-legumes, the spatial nutrient utilization efficiency by enhancing soil spatial heterogeneity, and improve soil structure and disease resistance. However, current theories cannot fully explain the positive effect of crop rotation and inter-cropping systems involving legumes. A large amount of hydrogen (H 2 ) can be produced as an obligatory by-product of nitrogenase responsible for nitrogen (N 2 ) fixation in the root nodules of leguminous plants. Despite of substantial amounts of H 2 enriched in the rhizosphere of legumes, only a minor proportion of H 2 is found to leak to soil surface. Increasing evidence showed that most H 2 released in soil is immediately depleted in the surrounding of N 2 -fixing nodules by H 2 -oxidizing bacteria (HOB) thriving in soil. HOB can use H 2 as an electron donor to assimilate and fix CO 2 through redox reactions to synthesize cellular substances and consequently promote plant growth. To date, however, little is known about the biological mechanism and ecological process behind the "hydrogen fertilizer effect". Therefore, we review the H 2 -induced plant growth-promoting effects and its microbiological mechanisms. Our aims were to explore a new way for enhancing agroecosystem production, and to provide scientific basis for future utilization of H 2 in agricultural production practices.

Background: Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) is a significant contributor to community-acquired pneumonia among children. Since 1968, when a strain of M. pneumoniae resistant to macrolide antibiotics was initially reported in Japan, macrolide-resistant M. pneumoniae (MRMP) has been documented in many countries worldwide, with varying incidence rates. MRMP infections lead to a poor response to macrolide antibiotics, frequently resulting in prolonged fever, extended antibiotic treatment, increased hospitalization, intensive care unit admissions, and a significantly higher proportion of patients receiving glucocorticoids or second-line antibiotics. Since 2000, the global incidence of MRMP has gradually increased, especially in East Asia, which has posed a serious challenge to the treatment of M. pneumoniae infections in children and attracted widespread attention from pediatricians. However, there is still no global consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of MRMP in children., Methods: We organized 29 Chinese experts majoring in pediatric pulmonology and epidemiology to write the world's first consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric MRMP pneumonia, based on evidence collection. The evidence searches and reviews were conducted using electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, Medline, and the Cochrane Library. We used variations in terms for "macrolide-resistant", "Mycoplasma pneumoniae", "MP", "M. pneumoniae", "pneumonia", "MRMP", "lower respiratory tract infection", "Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection", "children", and "pediatric"., Results: Epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, early identification, laboratory examination, principles of antibiotic use, application of glucocorticoids and intravenous immunoglobulin, and precautions for bronchoscopy are highlighted. Early and rapid identification of gene mutations associated with MRMP is now available by polymerase chain reaction and fluorescent probe techniques in respiratory specimens. Although the resistance rate to macrolide remains high, it is fortunate that M. pneumoniae still maintains good in vitro sensitivity to second-line antibiotics such as tetracyclines and quinolones, making them an effective treatment option for patients with initial treatment failure caused by macrolide antibiotics., Conclusions: This consensus, based on international and national scientific evidence, provides scientific guidance for the diagnosis and treatment of MRMP in children. Further studies on tetracycline and quinolone drugs in children are urgently needed to evaluate their effects on the growth and development. Additionally, developing an antibiotic rotation treatment strategy is necessary to reduce the prevalence of MRMP strains., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Cryptococcosis is an invasive infection that commonly affects immunosuppressed individuals, especially patients with HIV infection. Cryptococcal infection in HIV-infected patients should be considered a major health concern because it is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of cryptococcal infections in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients to facilitate effective clinical management and improve patient outcomes., Methods: We reviewed and analyzed the clinical data and relevant laboratory test results of HIV-infected patients with positive cryptococcal cultures and reserved strains between 2013 and 2023 from Beijing Youan Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University. The clinical characteristics and laboratory test results of the patients were compared, and the correlation between parameters and the prognoses of the patients at different observation timepoints (3, 6, 9, and 12 months) was analyzed., Results: A total of 76 patients (70 males and six females; median age, 37 years) were included in this study. The results indicated that the later the initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) after the diagnosis of HIV infection (> 6 months), the higher the probability of death. Analysis of the correlation between the time of ART initiation and the timing of treatment for cryptococcal infections showed that the time of ART initiation was strongly related to survival at different timepoints. Initiation of ART time within 0-4 weeks, 4-6 weeks and more than 6weeks of starting treatment for Cryptococcus infection was associated with a lower mortality rate at 12-month, the 3-month, 6- and 9-month follow-up timepoint separately., Conclusions: Although cryptococcal infection in HIV-infected patients continues to be a challenging and intricate issue, ART is a key factor that affects its prognosis. The later ART is started, the worse the prognosis of the infection. The time of ART initiation and the timing of treatment for cryptococcal infections should be further refined and balanced based on different clinical courses. Thus, clinicians should pay closer attention to cryptococcal infections in patients with HIV infection and initiate ART based on the patient's clinical condition., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Dai, Lou, Yu, Chen and Lu.)

This study investigates the effects of climate change on the sediment loads of the Ping and Wang River basins and their contribution to the sediment dynamics of the lower Chao Phraya River basin in Thailand. The various climate models under different Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) scenarios are employed to project sediment loads in future. The findings indicate a significant increase in river flow approximately 20% in the Ping River (PR) and 35% in the Wang River (WR) by the mid-21st century and continuing into the distant future. Consequently, this is expected to result in sediment loads up to 0.33 × 10 6  t/y in the PR and 0.28 × 10 6  t/y in the WR. This escalation is particularly notable under the RCP 8.5 scenario, which assumes higher greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the research provides insights into the potential positive implications for the Chao Phraya Delta's coastal management. Without further damming in the Ping and Wang River basins, the anticipated rise in sediment supply could aid in mitigating the adverse effects of land subsidence and sea-level rise, which have historically caused extensive shoreline retreat in the delta region, particularly around Bangkok Metropolis. The paper concludes that proactive adaptation strategies are required to manage the expected changes in the hydrological and sediment regimes to protect vulnerable coastal zones and ensure the sustainable management of the Chao Phraya River Basin in the face of climate change., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Interfering with intratumoral metabolic processes is proven to effectively sensitize different antitumor treatments. Here, a tumor-targeting catalytic nanoplatform (CQ@MIL-GOX@PB) loading with autophagy inhibitor (chloroquine, CQ) and glucose oxidase (GOX) is fabricated to interfere with the metabolisms of tumor cells and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), then realizing effective antitumor chemodynamic therapy (CDT). Once accumulating in the tumor site with the navigation of external biotin, CQ@MIL-GOX@PB will release Fe ions and CQ in the acid lysosomes of tumor cells, the latter can sensitize Fe ions-involved antitumor CDT by blocking the autophagy-dependent cell repair. Meanwhile, the GOX component will consume glucose, which not only generates many H 2 O 2 for CDT but also once again decelerates the tumor repair process by reducing energy metabolism. What is more, the release of CQ can also drive the NO anabolism of TAMs to further sensitize CDT. This strategy of multiple metabolic regulations is evidenced to significantly improve the antitumor effect of traditional CDT nanoagents and might provide a new sight to overcome the bottlenecks of different antitumor treatments., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

With the widespread application of immune checkpoint inhibitors, chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy has shown promising efficacy in the treatment of various cancers. Especially gastric cancer, this strategy is gradually expanding from first-line treatment in advanced stages to perioperative management. Compared to neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone, the combined approach not only improves pathological regression but also leads to better downstaging, which is particularly significant in gastric cancer subsets that are HER2-positive, mismatch repair deficient, PD-L1 combined positive score ≥5, or EB virus-positive. This combined treatment has made it possible to reduce the extent of gastrectomy, perform function-preserving surgeries, or even consider non-surgical strategies. Currently, exploring the optimal protocols for combining immune checkpoint inhibitors with chemotherapy, identifying potential indications for function-preserving surgery, improving surgical methods, and developing non-surgical strategies represent key issues in the surgical management of gastric cancer in the era of immunotherapy.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) exhibits great application prospects in future clinical oncology due to its spatiotemporal controllability and good biosafety. However, the antitumor efficacy of PDT is seriously hindered by many factors, including tumor hypoxia, limited light penetration ability, and strong defense mechanisms of tumors. Considering that it is difficult to completely solve the first two problems, enhancing the lethality of antitumor PDT has become a good idea to extend its clinical application. Herein, we summarize the nanoplatform-involved strategies to effectively amplify the tumoricidal capability of current PDT and then discuss the present bottlenecks and prospects of the nanoplatform-based PDT sensitization strategies in tumor therapy. We hope this review will provide some references for others to design high-performance PDT nanoplatforms for tumor therapy.

Background: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage using electrocautery-enhanced (ECE) delivery of lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) is gradually being recognized as a viable palliative technique for malignant biliary obstruction after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) failure. However, most of the studies that have assessed its efficacy and safety were small and heterogeneous. Prior meta-analyses of six or fewer studies that were published 2 years ago were therefore underpowered to yield convincing evidence., Aim: To update the efficacy and safety of ECE-LAMS for treatment of biliary obstruction after ERCP failure., Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus databases from the inception of the ECE technique to May 13, 2022. Primary outcome measure was pooled technical success rate, and secondary outcomes were pooled rates of clinical success, reintervention, and adverse events. Meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model following Freeman-Tukey double-arcsine transformation in R software (version 4.1.3)., Results: Fourteen eligible studies involving 620 participants were ultimately included. The pooled rate of technical success was 96.7%, and clinical success was 91.0%. Adverse events were reported in 17.5% of patients. Overall reintervention rate was 7.3%. Subgroup analyses showed results were generally consistent., Conclusion: ECE-LAMS has favorable success with acceptable adverse events in relieving biliary obstruction when ERCP is impossible. The consistency of results across most subgroups suggested that this is a generalizable approach., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report having no relevant conflicts of interest for this article., (©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: This study aimed to compare the current Essen rabies post-exposure immunization schedule (0-3-7-14-28) in China and the simple 4-dose schedule (0-3-7-14) newly recommended by the World Health Organization in terms of their safety, efficacy, and protection., Methods: Mice were vaccinated according to different immunization schedules, and blood was collected for detection of rabies virus neutralizing antibodies (RVNAs) on days 14, 21, 28, 35, and 120 after the first immunization. Additionally, different groups of mice were injected with lethal doses of the CVS-11 virus on day 0, subjected to different rabies immunization schedules, and assessed for morbidity and death status. In a clinical trial, 185 rabies-exposed individuals were selected for post-exposure vaccination according to the Essen schedule, and blood was collected for RVNAs detection on days 28 and 42 after the first immunization., Results: A statistically significant difference in RVNAs between mice in the Essen and 0-3-7-14 schedule groups was observed on the 35th day ( P < 0.05). The groups 0-3-7-14, 0-3-7-21, and 0-3-7-28 showed no statistically significant difference ( P > 0.05) in RVNAs levels at any time point. The post-exposure immune protective test showed that the survival rate of mice in the control group was 20%, whereas that in the immunization groups was 40%. In the clinical trial, the RVNAs positive conversion rates on days 28 (14 days after 4 doses) and 42 (14 days after 5 doses) were both 100%, and no significant difference in RVNAs levels was observed ( P > 0.05)., Conclusion: The simple 4-dose schedule can produce sufficient RVNAs levels, with no significant effect of a delayed fourth vaccine dose (14-28 d) on the immunization potential., (Copyright © 2024 The Editorial Board of Biomedical and Environmental Sciences. Published by China CDC. All rights reserved.)

Background: Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS) is a rare genetic disorder caused by hemizygous microdeletion of contiguous genes on chromosome 7q11.23. Although the phenotype features extensive heterogeneity in severity and performance, WBS is not considered to be a predisposing factor for cancer development. Currently, hematologic cancers, mainly Burkitt lymphoma, are rarely reported in patients with WBS. Here in, we report a unique case of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a male child with WBS., Methods: This retrospective study analyzed the clinical data of this case receiving chemotherapy were analyzed. This is a retrospective study., Results: The patient, who exhibited a typical WBS phenotype and presented with hemorrhagic spots. Chromosomal genome-wide chip analysis (CMA) revealed abnormalities on chromosomes 7 and 9. The fusion gene STIL-TAL1 and mutations in BCL11B, NOTCH1, and USP7 have also been found and all been associated with the occurrence of T-cell leukemia. The patient responded well to the chemotherapy., Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of WBS in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. We want to emphasize that the occurrence of leukemia in this patient might be related to the loss of 7q11.23 and microdeletion of 9p21.3 (including 3 TSGs), but the relationship between WBS and malignancy remains unclear. Further studies are required to clarify the relationship between WBS and malignancy., Competing Interests: The authors declare that this study was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as potential conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

The patient was a male infant, born full-term, admitted to the hospital at 28 days of age due to jaundice for 20 days and abdominal distension for 15 days. The patient developed symptoms of jaundice, hepatosplenomegaly, massive ascites, and progressively worsening liver function leading to liver failure, severe coagulation disorders, and thrombocytopenia one week after birth. Various treatments were administered, including anti-infection therapy, fluid restriction, use of diuretics, use of hepatoprotective and choleretic agents, intermittent paracentesis, blood exchange, and intravenous immunoglobulin, albumin, and plasma transfusions. However, the patient's condition did not improve, and on the 24th day of hospitalization, the family decided to discontinue treatment and provide palliative care. Sequencing of the patient's liver tissue and parental blood samples using whole-exome sequencing did not identify any pathogenic variants that could explain the liver failure. However, postmortem liver tissue pathology suggested congenital hepatic fibrosis (CHF). Given the rarity of CHF causing neonatal liver failure, further studies on the prognosis and pathogenic genes of CHF cases are needed in the future. This article provides a comprehensive description of the differential diagnosis of neonatal liver failure and introduces a multidisciplinary diagnostic and therapeutic approach to neonatal liver failure.

Objective: To explore the clinical epidemiological characteristics of respiratory syncytial virus in children in Hubei Province from 2020 to 2023. Method: A single-center and cross-sectional study was used to analyze the clinical data of 3 271 children with respiratory syncytial virus infection in Wuhan Children's Hospital affiliated to Huazhong University of Science and Technology from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2023. Nonparametric rank sum test and χ 2 test were used for comparative analysis. Results: From July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2023, a total of 25 583 children were included in the analysis, of which 3 271(12.8%) children infected RSV. The detection rate was 16.3% in 2020-2021, 14.7% in 2021-2022 and 9.1% in 2022-2023. The detection rate decreased year by year ( χ 2 =222.054, P <0.05). From 2020 to 2023, there was an anti-seasonal epidemic of RSV in spring and autumn. The detection rate of RSV in infants under 1 year old was the highest, but the median ages of RSV positive children increased ( H =140.575, P <0.05). Pneumonia was the main clinical manifestation of RSV respiratory tract infection. Conclusion: The epidemiological characteristics of RSV in children in Hubei Province were different from those before. From 2020 to 2023, the detection rate of RSV decreased year by year. Besides winter, the prevalence of RSV could also be seen in spring and autumn. The median age of children infected with RSV increased after the epidemic. Pneumonia was the main clinical manifestation after RSV infection.

Osteoporosis (OP) is a bone disease associated with increasing age. Currently, the most common medications used to treat OP are anabolic agents, anti-resorptive agents, and medications with other mechanisms of action. However, many of these medications have unfavorable adverse effects or are not intended for long-term use, potentially exerting a severe negative impact on a patient's life and career and placing a heavy burden on families and society. There is an urgent need to find new drugs that can replace these and have fewer adverse effects. Quercetin (Que) is a common flavonol in nature. Numerous studies have examined the therapeutic applications of Que. However, a comprehensive review of the anti-osteoporotic effects of Que has not yet been conducted. This review aimed to describe the recent studies on the anti-osteoporotic effects of Que, including its biological, pharmacological, pharmacokinetic, and toxicological properties. The outcomes demonstrated that Que could enhance OP by increasing osteoblast differentiation and activity and reducing osteoclast differentiation and activity via the pathways of Wnt/β-catenin, BMP/SMAD/RUNX2, OPG/RANKL/RANK, ERK/JNK, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and transcription factors. Thus, Que is a promising novel drug for the treatment of OP., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Deng, Ding, Lu, Zhang, Du, Wang, Yang, Yin and Liu.)

Objective: The objective of this study is to explore the utilization of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology in evaluating the likelihood of identifying individuals with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC ≤10 mm) who are at high or low risk., Design: NGS was used to analyze 393 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues of PTC tumors, all of which were smaller than 15 mm., Results: The study found that bilateralism, multifocality, intrathyroidal spread, and extrathyroidal extension were present in 84 (21.4%), 153 (38.9%), 16 (4.1%), and 54 (13.7%) cases, respectively. Metastasis of cervical lymph nodes was identified in 226 (57.5%) cases and 96 (24.4%) cases with CLNM >5. Out of the total number of cases studied, 8 cases (2.3%) showed signs of tumor recurrence, all of which were localized and regional. Genetic alterations were detected in 342 cases (87.0%), with 336 cases revealing single mutations and 6 cases manifesting compound mutations. 332 cases (84.5%) had BRAF V600E mutation, 2 cases had KRAS Q61K mutation, 2 cases had NRAS Q61R mutation, 8 cases had RET/PTC1 rearrangement, 3 cases had RET/PTC3 rearrangement, and 1 case had TERT promoter mutation. Additionally, six individuals harbored concurrent mutations in two genes. These mutations were of various types and combinations: BRAF V600E and NRAS Q61R ( n  = 2), BRAF V600E and RET/PTC3 ( n  = 2), BRAF V600E and RET/PTC1 ( n  = 1), and BRAF V600E and TERT promoter ( n  = 1). The subsequent analysis did not uncover a significant distinction in the incidence of gene mutation or fusion between the cN0 and cN1 patient cohorts. The presence of BRAF V600E mutation and CLNM incidence rates were found to be positively correlated with larger tumor size in PTMC. Our data showed that gene mutations did not appear to have much to do with high-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). However, when we looked at tumor size, we found that if the tumor was at least 5 millimeters in size, there was a higher chance of it being at high risk for PTM ( P < 0.001, odds ratio (OR) = 2.55, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.57-4.14). Identification of BRAF V600E mutation was not demonstrated to be significantly correlated with advanced clinicopathological characteristics, although it was strongly associated with a bigger tumor diameter (OR = 4.92, 95% CI: 2.40-10.07, P < 0.001)., Conclusion: In clinical practice, BRAFV600E mutation does not consistently serve as an effective biomarker to distinguish high-risk PTMC or predict tumor progression. The size of the tumor has a significant correlation with its aggressive characteristics. PTMC with a diameter of ≤5 mm should be distinguished and targeted as a unique subset for specialized treatment., Competing Interests: Na Yan is an esteemed member of the Key Laboratory of Digital Technology in Medical Diagnostics of Zhejiang Province, Dian Diagnostics Group Co., Ltd. The remaining authors solemnly state that their research was undertaken devoid of any commercial or financial influence., (Copyright © 2024 Lei Jin et al.)

Volatile secondary metabolites of plants interact with environments heavily. In this work, characteristic components of Michelia yunnanensis essential oils (EOs) were isolated, purified and identified by column chromatography, GC-MS and NMR. Leaves of M. yunnanensis were collected monthly and extracted for EOs to investigate chemical and insecticidal activity variations as well as potential influencing environments. Different organs were employed to reveal distribution strategies of characteristic components. Results of insecticidal activities showed that all EOs samples exerted stronger contact activity to Lasioderma serricorne, but repellent effect was more efficient on Tribolium castaneum. One oxygenated sesquiterpene was isolated from EOs, basically it could be confirmed as (+)-cyclocolorenone (1). It exerted contact toxicity to L. serricorne (LD 50 = 28.8 μg/adult). Chemical analysis showed that M. yunnanensis leaves in reproductive period would produce and accumulate more 1 than in vegetative period. Moreover, reproductive organs (flowers and fruits) contained more 1 than vegetative organs (leaves and twigs). Partial correlation analysis indicated that temperature-related elements positively correlated with the relative content of 1.

Rationale: Improving the analytical performance of linear ion traps (LITs) is crucial for the advancement of high-performance LIT mass spectrometers. In this study, a double resonant excitation method was employed in an asymmetric LIT to achieve high ion unidirectional ejection efficiency and enhanced mass resolution., Methods: The asymmetric trapping field was generated by stretching one x electrode with a distance α. The double resonant excitation was achieved by applying an alternating voltage out of phase and a supplementary alternating voltage in phase to the x and y electrode pairs of the LIT, respectively. Numerical simulations of ion trajectories were performed to validate the effectiveness of this method., Results: The mass resolution of the asymmetric LIT with double resonant excitation could be improved to ~3800, which was over two times compared to that with only dipolar resonant excitation, while both reached ~90% in ion unidirectional ejection efficiency., Conclusions: By employing the double resonant excitation method, the mass resolution could be improved significantly in the asymmetric LIT, while maintaining a considerably high ion unidirectional ejection efficiency. This method might provide a general solution for enhancing ion detection efficiency and mass resolution of LIT mass spectrometers., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

A new electrophilic trifluoromethylselenolation reagent, N -trifluoromethylselenophthalimide (Phth-SeCF 3 ), was developed. A strategy for the synthesis of 4-trifluoromethylselenolated isoxazoles through electrophilic trifluoromethylselenolation cyclization has been established by using Phth-SeCF 3 as an electrophilic reagent. Moreover, this protocol has the features of broad substrate scope, good functional group tolerance, and high yields.

Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKTL), which is a rare form of mature T/NK cell lymphoma in children, currently lacks a standardized first-line treatment approach. However, a treatment protocol known as the "sandwich" regimen has been used in children newly diagnosed with ENKTL. This protocol combines the administration of methotrexate, ifosfamide, etoposide, pegaspargase, and dexamethasone (referred to as SMILE) with the addition of radiotherapy (RT). From September 2017 to December 2020, a total of five patients were included in the study, consisting of three males and two females. The median age of onset was 10.6 years (range, 9.8 to 14.0 years). Among the patients, four had nasal/nasopharyngeal disease at stage II, while one patient had extra nasal disease involving the skin at stage IV. The median EBV-DNA level in plasma was 1.68 × 10 3 copies/ml (range, 0.44 to 21.1 × 10 3 copies/ml). All the patients had good overall response after 2 cycles of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, including 4 of the patients who had a complete response and 1 of the patients with partial remission. The patient with stage IV received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation after the EBV-DNA level was elevated again during treatment. One patient in the low-risk group experienced grade 4 oral mucositis, while no other severe complications or treatment-related deaths were observed. The median follow-up period was 22 months (range, 5 to 57 months). All five patients successfully completed their treatment, with four patients achieving event-free survival, and one patient was lost to follow-up. The median OS time and EFS time was 33 months (range: 18-57 months) and 20 months (range: 5-47 months), respectively. The sandwich protocol has demonstrated a high response rate, good tolerance to chemotherapy, and no treatment-related fatalities. However, further confirmation is necessary through additional clinical studies involving larger sample sizes. Clinical trial registration number: Due to modified SMILE regimens with sandwiched radiotherapy yielded promising outcomes in children ENKTL, we have carried out a phase II multicenter clinical trial (ChiCTR220005954) for children ENKTL in China to further verify the efficacy and safety., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Traditionally, conventional microbiological culture methods have been used to detect pathogenic microorganisms in chronic osteomyelitis. However, these methods have been found to have a low detection rate, complicating the precise guidance of infection treatment. This study employed metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) to detect these microorganisms in chronic osteomyelitis with three main objectives: 1). Gain a deeper understanding of the composition of pathogenic microorganisms in chronic osteomyelitis. 2). Compare the microbial detection rates between mNGS and the standard culture methods used in laboratories to enhance the effectiveness of the traditional culture methods. 3). Explore the potential of mNGS in etiological diagnosis., Methods: Fifty clinically confirmed intraoperative bone tissue samples of chronic osteomyelitis from January 2021 to December 2021 were collected and subjected to mNGS and microbiological testing, respectively. The orthopaedic surgeon combined clinical manifestations and related examinations to determine the causative pathogens., Results: The culture method obtained 29 aerobic and parthenogenic anaerobic bacteria, 3 specific anaerobic bacteria, and 1 yeast-like fungus. Thirty-six aerobic and parthenogenic anaerobic bacteria, 11 specific anaerobic bacteria, and 1 yeast-like fungus were obtained by mNGS, and 2 Mycobacterium tuberculosis(MTB) strains were detected. However, there was no significant difference in the overall positive detection rate between mNGS and the culture method (P = 0.07), and the two were not statistically significant in detecting aerobic and partly anaerobic bacteria (P = 0.625). But, mNGS was significantly superior to culture in detecting anaerobic bacteria and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (P<0.05)., Conclusions: The mNGS method has enhanced our understanding of the distribution of pathogenic microorganisms in chronic osteomyelitis. Traditional culture methods help isolate and cultivate aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria, and fungi, and are also utilized for antibacterial drug sensitivity tests. However, mNGS has shown superior capabilities in detecting anaerobic bacteria, MTB, and mixed infection bacteria. This finding offers invaluable guidance for improving laboratory microbial culture and detection conditions. Hence, mNGS should be judiciously used for chronic osteomyelitis, and PCR can be implemented for certain difficult-to-culture microorganisms, such as MTB., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

The aim of the present study was to explore the effects of Dapagliflozin on renal fibrosis in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rats, and to determine the underlying mechanism of action. A total of 24 SPF male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: A normal (Control) group, model group (STZ-induced T2DM rats), Dapagliflozin group (STZ-induced T2DM rats treated with 1 mg/kg Dapagliflozin), and a metformin group (STZ-induced T2DM rats treated with 200 mg/kg metformin), with 6 rats per a group. Peripheral blood and renal tissues were collected from these rats, and the renal indices of each group were examined. The fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and serum creatinine (SCr) of rats were detected. After 24 h, the urine was collected and the urine protein levels were measured. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to detect histological changes in the rat kidney; Masson staining was used to observe the degree of fibrosis in rat renal tissues; and western blot was performed to determine the expression levels of α-smooth muscle actin (SMA), vimentin, E-cadherin, TGF-β1, Smad7, and p-Smad3 in rat renal tissues. Dapagliflozin effectively inhibited the increase in FBG and HbA1c levels in diabetic mice, reduced renal tissue damage, reduced the renal index values, reduced collagen deposition in the glomerulus and interstitial area, and reduced the proliferation of glomerular mesangial cells. In addition, Dapagliflozin significantly lowered the levels of BUN, SCr, and 24-h urine protein, decreased the protein expression of α-SMA, vimentin, TGF-β1, and p-Smad3, and increased the protein expression levels of E-cadherin and Smad7. Together, these results showed that Dapagliflozin alleviated renal fibrosis in STZ-induced T2DM rats, and its mechanism of action may be related to the inhibition of the TGF-β1/Smad pathway., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright: © Xue et al.)

Objective: To examine the feasibility of the modified gasless trans-subclavian approach endoscopic thyroidectomy for lateral neck dissection (LND) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Methods: The clinical data of 31 patients with PTC who underwent modified gasless trans-subclavian approach endoscopic LND in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Run Run Shaw Hospital, from January to October 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 2 males and 29 females, aged (32.6±8.3) years (range: 17 to 55 years). The maximum diameter of the primary thyroid lesion ( M (IQR)) was 1.06 (1.16) cm (range: 0.53 to 2.44 cm), and the maximum diameter of the metastatic lymph node was (1.04±0.37) cm (range: 0.44 to 1.88 cm). Operation time, postoperative hospital stay, number of lymph nodes dissected, and postoperative complications were recorded. Outpatient follow-up was conducted until November 30, 2022. Results: All operations were successfully completed with the endoscopy approach without conversion to open surgery. The operation time was 160 (20) minutes (range: 100 to 215 minutes), and the postoperative hospital stay was 4 (2) days (range: 2 to 14 days). The number of lymph nodes obtained by dissection in the central and lateral compartment of the neck was 11 (12) (range: 0 to 37) and 34.7±14.8 (range: 15 to 69), respectively. Temporary hypoparathyroidism occurred in 4 cases and all recovered within 1 month after the operation. One case suffered from recurrent laryngeal nerve injury (continuing followed up to assess whether it is a temporary injury). The complication of LND included 1 case of chylous leakage that was recovered with conservative treatment, 1 case of Horner syndrome returned to normal 3 months after surgery. During follow-up, there was no residual tumor or recurrence. Conclusion: The modified gasless trans-subclavian approach endoscopic LND for PTC is feasible, with a thorough dissection and concealed incision.

Here, an efficient leaving group-activated methylene alcohol strategy for the preparation of primary propargyl alcohols from terminal alkynes by employing the bulk industrial product rongalite as the C1 unit has been described. The reaction avoids the low-temperature reaction conditions and inconvenient lithium reagents required for the classical method of preparing primary propargylic alcohols. Preliminary mechanistic studies showed that the reaction may not proceed via formaldehyde intermediates, but through the direct nucleophilic attack of the terminal alkyne on the carbon atom of rongalite by activation through SO 2 - as a leaving group.

Background: Mucolipidosis type II (MLII), or I-cell disease, is a rare lysosomal storage disease (LSD) caused by variants in the GNPTAB gene. MLII patients exhibit clinical phenotypes in the prenatal or neonatal stage, such as marked dysmorphic features, cardiac involvement, respiratory symptoms, dysostosis multiplex, severe growth abnormalities, and mental and motor developmental abnormalities. The median age at diagnosis for MLII is 0.7 years, the median survival is 5.0 years, and the median age at death is 1.8 years. No cure for MLII exists., Methods: Sanger sequencing of the GNPTAB gene identified the compound heterozygous mutations c.673C > T in exon 7 and c.1090C > T in exon 9, which were novel double heterozygous mutations first reported in China. For the first time, we describe our experience in the use of HSCT for MLII. Our patient underwent HSCT with cells from a 9/10 human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched unrelated donor at 12 months of age. Myeloid neutrophil and platelet engraftment occurred on Days 10 and 11, respectively., Results: The patient's limb muscle tension was significantly reduced, and his gross and fine motor skills were improved four months after transplantation. DST(Developmental Screen Test) results showed that the patient's fine motor skills and mental development were improved compared with before HSCT., Conclusion: MLII is a very severe lysosomal storage disease, to date, only 3 cases have been reported on the use of HSCT to treat MLII. Our data show that HSCT is a potential way to prolong the life of patients and improve their quality of life. Due to the lack of comparable data and time, the exact benefit remains unclear in MLII patients. Longer-term follow-up and in-depth prospective studies are indispensable., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2023 He, Li, Lv, Tang, Sun, Zhu, Liu, Wu and Lu.)

The anchor drilling operations generate massive airborne dust particles in the tunnel heading face that raises the pneumoconiosis morbidity and explosion risk. In this paper, a full-scale tunnel physical model is constructed to study the effect of the wind velocity and drilling site position on the airborne dust regional pollution scope based on the actual anchor drilling craft. The research indicates that the four extensive vortex areas keep the dust suspension at 14 m from the heading face and make the deposition dust particle refloat. The average respirable dust rate reaches the maximum value at section 5 m and presents a gradual decline as the dust particle migrates along the outlet direction. Raising the wind velocity contributes to alleviating the airborne dust pollution in the anchor drilling operation. As the wind velocity increases from 3 to 24 m/s, the high dust concentration area and number higher than 200 mg/m 3 pose overall decrease trends, and the average dust concentration displays a linear decrease until 26.14-58.65 mg/m 3 around the anchor worker head. Moving the drilling site positions closer to the exhaust air duct aggravates the airborne dust pollution in the front breathing zone. As the anchor drilling operation switches from the return air side to the supply air side, the dust concentration area ascends by 59.4-84.4% in the personnel respiratory space., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Dysregulation of RNA-binding proteins (RBP) is one of the characteristics of cancer. Investigating the biological functions and molecular mechanisms of abnormal RBPs can help uncover new cancer biomarkers and treatment strategies. To identify oncogenic RBPs in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), we employed an in vivo CRISPR screen and a TNBC progression model, which revealed small nuclear ribonucleoprotein polypeptide C (SNRPC), a subunit of the U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle (U1 snRNP), as a key modulator of TNBC progression. SNRPC was frequently upregulated, which corresponded to poor prognosis in patients with TNBC. SNRPC ablation significantly impaired the proliferation, migration, and invasion of TNBC cells in vitro and in vivo. In addition, SNRPC was essential for the stability of U1 snRNP and contributed to the RNA Pol II-controlled transcriptional program. Knockdown of SNRPC decreased RNA Pol II enrichment on a subset of oncogenes (TNFAIP2, E2F2, and CDK4) and reduced their expression levels. Furthermore, SNRPC deletion was confirmed to inhibit TNBC progression partially through regulation of the TNFAIP2-Rac1-β-catenin signaling pathway. Taken together, this data suggests that SNRPC plays an oncogenic role in TNBC, is a marker of poor prognosis, and may be a valuable therapeutic target for patients with intractable TNBC., Significance: A functional CRISPR screen identifies SNRPC as an RNA-binding protein that promotes the aggressiveness of breast cancer by facilitating Pol II-controlled transcription of oncogenes., (©2023 American Association for Cancer Research.)

With the improvement of public requirements for the health status of aquatic ecosystems, there have been innovative assessment methods developed for aquatic ecosystems. In this study, benthic algae assemblages and water quality variables were analyzed to develop a benthic diatom-based index of biotic integrity (D-IBI) for the assessment of the aquatic environment in the Lalin River. In addition, using redundancy analysis (RDA) based on dominant species and physicochemical indexes, the ecological distribution characteristics of the benthic diatom community were revealed, and the key influencing factors were identified. The results showed that the benthic diatom community structure in the Lalin River basin had obvious spatial differences. The application of the index revealed that the water quality could be described as excellent condition in the upper reaches of the Lalin River, good to common condition in the middle of the sites, and moderate to poor condition in the downstream. The assessment further revealed that the main reason for the degradation of the Lalin River ecosystem was nutrient enrichment through agricultural land use.

Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease. Since the first human monkeypox case was detected in 1970, it has been prevalent in some countries in central and western Africa. Since May 2022, monkeypox cases have been reported in more than 96 non-endemic countries and regions worldwide. As of September 14, 2022, there have been more than 58,200 human monkeypox cases, and there is community transmission. The cessation of smallpox vaccination in 1980, which had some cross-protection with monkeypox, resulted in a general lack of immunity to monkeypox, which caused global concern and vigilance. As of September 14, 2022, there are four monkeypox cases in China, including three in Taiwan province and one in Hong Kong city. Previous foreign studies have shown that children are vulnerable to monkeypox and are also at high risk for severe disease or complications. In order to improve pediatricians' understanding of monkeypox and achieve early detection, early diagnosis, early treatment,  and early disposal, we have organized national authoritative experts in pediatric infection, respiratory, dermatology, critical care medicine, infectious diseases, and public health and others to formulate this expert consensus, on the basis of the latest "Clinical management and infection prevention and control for monkeypox" released by The World Health Organization, the "guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of monkeypox (version 2022)" issued by National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China and other relevant documents. During the development of this consensus, multidisciplinary experts have repeatedly demonstrated the etiology, epidemiology, transmission, clinical manifestations, laboratory examinations, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment, discharge criteria, prevention, disposal process, and key points of prevention and control of suspected and confirmed cases., (© 2022. Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine.)

Although iron-based metal-organic frameworks (Fe-MOFs) have displayed the photocatalytic activity, there is still abundant room for improving their photocatalytic performance through tuning the structures. In this work, four novel iron-based metal-organic frameworks (Fe-MOFs) were successfully synthesized via ligand modulation for better photocatalytic Cr(VI) reduction, in which MTBDC-TPT-Fe had the highest catalytic activity (MTBDC = 2,5-bis(methylthio)terephthalic acid, TPT = 2,4,6-tri(4-pyridyl)- 1,3,5-triazine). The boosted photocatalytic reduction may be mainly ascribed to the enhanced electron push-pull effect between iron-oxygen clusters and organic ligands. The introduction of -SCH 3 groups can enhance the light absorption and donate electrons to iron center under visible-light irradiation, meanwhile the separation and transfer of photogenerated charge carriers can be enhanced resulting from the electron-pulling effect when introducing TPT. Moreover, enhanced specific surface areas and positive skeleton charge due to the introduction of TPT may improve active sites exposure and Cr(VI) adsorption, thereby enhancing photocatalytic Cr(VI) reduction activity without the presence of any assisted scavengers. In addition, the photocatalytic mechanism (i.e. active species) were also studied and presented. This work confirmed an effective structure-performance regulation strategy on Fe-MOFs for photocatalytic Cr(VI) reduction., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: None.

Objective: This study aims to digitally obtain the morphological data of children's primary teeth in northwest China and evaluate the reliability of digitally obtaining the anatomical morphological data of primary teeth., Methods: A total of 308 extracted primary teeth and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of 407 primary teeth were collected in northwest China. Electronic digital Vernier callipers (accuracy: 0.01 mm) were used to measure the mesiodistal and buccolingual diameters and crown length of the extracted primary teeth and calculate the crown area and crown index. Each sample was scanned with an intraoral scanner (Trios2 3shape, Denmark), and the resulting stl format files were imported into Geomagic Wrap 2015 to measure the axial and buccolingual diameters and crown length. The crown area and crown index were then calculated. After verifying the accuracy of the CBCT image measurement, the CBCT image data of 407 samples were measured in SmartV software using the "measure length" function by referring to the coronal, sagittal, and horizontal planes to adjust the position of the reference line., Results: Northern Chinese have larger primary teeth than other populations (Japanese, white American, African, Icelander, Spanish, and Dominican Mestizo) but smaller primary teeth than native Australians. Compared to Indian primary teeth, northwest Chinese's primary teeth have larger diameters on the central axis and smaller diameters on the buccolingual surface. Male teeth are usually larger than female teeth. Compared with the results of Wang Huiyun's study, the axial and buccolingual diameters and crown length of all native tooth types in this total sample were significantly smaller at the 0.1% level, and only the axial diameters of the upper first molar and lower second molar and the crown length of the lower lateral incisor were significantly smaller at the 1% level. The results of the intraclass correlation coefficient of 308 extracted primary teeth expressed an excellent degree of agreement between the callipers and intraoral scanner for the following: mesiodistal diameter (0.956-0.991), buccolingual diameter (0.963-0.989), crown length [0.864-0.992, except for the upper canine (0.690)], crown index (0.850-0.975), and crown area (0.946-0.993)., Conclusion: The digital measurements of the intraoral scanner and CBCT image are in good agreement with the manual measurement of the Vernier calliper. The difference between the anatomical morphology size of the primary teeth measured in this study and the results of different populations could be due to different genetic backgrounds and environmental factors., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2022 Lu, Yang, Zhang, Wang, Du, Chen and Wang.)

A practical strategy for the synthesis of spiro[5.5]trienones-fused selenocyanates and spiro[4.5]trienones-fused selenocyanates through electrophilic selenocyanogen cyclization and dearomative spirocyclization is reported. This approach was conducted under mild conditions with broad substrate scope and good functional group tolerance. The utility of this procedure is exhibited in the late-stage functionalization of nature product and drug molecules.

It was generally believed that psittacosis pneumonia (pneumonia caused by Chlamydia psittaci ) was rarely combined with pleural effusion and the characteristics of pleural effusion were rarely reported in the domestic literature.Herein,we reported three cases of pleural effusion due to psittacosis pneumonia,with elevated level of adenosine deaminase and lymphocyte-predominant exudative pleural effusion.Further,we reviewed the psittacosis pneumonia reports with complete clinical and lung imaging data.The imaging manifestations included pulmonary consolidation and common occurrence of a small amount of pleural effusion.The patients of psittacosis pneumonia combined with pleural effusion had severe symptoms,obvious hypoxia,and increased risk of invasive ventilation.

Background: Misuse of disinfectants during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has led to several poisoning incidents. However, there are few clinical case reports on poisoning caused by improper mixing of household disinfectants., Aim: To summarize the clinical characteristics and treatment effects of chlorine poisoning caused by improper mixing of hypochlorite bleach with acidic cleaning agents., METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed baseline and clinical data, clinical symptoms, and treatment methods of seven patients with chlorine poisoning who were admitted to the National Army Poisoning Treatment Center., Results: Among the seven patients, the average poisoning time (exposure to admission) was 57 h (4-240 h). All patients were involved in cleaning bathrooms. Chest computed tomography scans revealed bilateral lung effusions or inflammatory changes in five patients. The partial pressure of oxygen decreased in six patients, and respiratory failure occurred in one. Five patients had different degrees of increase in white blood cell count. Humidified oxygen therapy, non-invasive mechanical ventilation, anti-inflammatory corticosteroids, antioxidants, and antibiotics were administered for treatment. The average length of hospital stay was 7 d (4-9 d). All seven patients recovered and were discharged., Conclusion: Improper mixing of household disinfectants may cause damage to the respiratory system due to chlorine poisoning. Corticosteroids may improve lung exudation in severe cases, and symptomatic supportive treatment should be performed early., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare that they have no competing interests., (©The Author(s) 2022. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have become increasingly popular in young generations in the United States. Because the adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with combustible cigarette smoking are well-recognized, many pregnant women switch to e-cigarettes believing that this alternative is low in toxic chemicals. However, most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which can easily pass through the placenta and accumulate to a high concentration in fetal blood circulation. Studies have also detected toxic metals (eg, lead, cadmium, and nickel) in e-cigarettes, and carbonyl compounds and flavorings, which are suggested to be irritative and even carcinogenic. There are questions that need to be answered about the risks of e-cigarette exposure during pregnancy. Unfortunately, research evaluating the association between maternal e-cigarette exposure and offspring health is scarce, especially with regard to human studies. Some evidence from laboratory and animal studies, although inconsistent, showed that maternal exposure to e-cigarette vapor may lead to restricted growth of offspring. E-cigarette exposure may also have an impact on the metabolic health of offspring, manifested as distorted glucose homeostasis and energy metabolism. In addition, in utero exposure may lead to defects in respiratory, vascular, and neurologic system development. For humans, investigations mostly focused on immediate birth outcomes such as small-for-gestational-age neonates, low birthweight, and preterm birth; however, the results were inconclusive. Research also suggests that maternal e-cigarette exposure may result in compromised neurodevelopment in newborns. In summary, current evidence is insufficient to rigorously evaluate the health impacts of maternal e-cigarette use on offspring development. Future investigations are warranted., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Rare earth elements (REEs) are increasingly used in the high-tech sectors in the world and are therefore called burgeoning contaminants. As diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) can be used to assess the bioavailability of inorganic matters, in this paper, we evaluated, for the first time, the ecotoxicology risks of REEs and their mixtures in river sediments of China's old industrial base by DGT. During our research, taking the Songhua River system (SRS) as an example, we detected its surficial sediments, of which the DGT-labile concentration of REEs (∑REEs) was 2.07-8.76 μg/L. As for the single toxicity, the risk quotient (RQ) values of Y at all sites were significantly greater than 1; while the values of Nd and Pr in some upstream reaches were all significantly greater than the threshold (1), indicating that these adverse effects of single REEs were not neglected. In terms of the combined toxicity of REEs mixtures, we carried out an assessment of the risks of probabilistic ecotoxicology, which showed that the SRS superficial sediments had a low probability of toxicity to aquatic organisms (0.54%)., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The atmospheric dust has a great negative impact on the societal harmonious development that starves for an efficient dust suppressant. This paper proposes a novel AES/polyacrylamide strengthen foam (APSF) to improve the dust trapping effectiveness. The APSF structure property and dust suppression capacity are studied and evaluated through the molecular dynamics simulation and experimental tests. The results express that APSF exhibits the stronger structure stability, superior water retention, and slower drainage performance than the traditional water-based foam (WBF). APSF dynamic simulation is studied by the relative concentration, radial distribution function, head group orientation, and mean square displacement. Research shows that APSF introduces water to thicken the hydration layer. The interaction strength between water and surfactant head groups is enhanced by 22.62 and 31.37% in the first and second hydrated water shells. APSF improves the sodium fatty alcohol ether sulfate (AES) orientation and weakens the diffusion of water molecules, which favors the foam stability. APSF exerts a better wettability on the coal dust through the wet settlement and contact angle tests. The APSF liquid film thickness reduces to 58.05 from 64.80 μm that is 3.14 times of WBF according to the foam liquid film decay experiment. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis indicates that there is an evident reinforcement on the coal surface absorption peak intensity of hydroxyl- and oxygen-containing functional groups treated by APSF. FTIR results are further determined by energy-dispersion spectrum analysis.