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Abstract Objectives To investigate the value of vascular morphology on high frame rate contrast-enhanced ultrasound (H-CEUS) and CEUS Li-RADS in predicting microvascular invasion (MVI), Ki-67 expression and recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods This retrospective study enrolled 78 patients with single HCC diagnosed by postoperative pathology between January 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022. All patients underwent ultrasound and H-CEUS examination before operation. H-CEUS image features and CEUS Li-RADS were compared in different MVI status and Ki-67 level. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to select independent variables for MVI. Differences in recurrence among different H-CEUS image features, MVI status and Ki-67 level were further analyzed. Results Tumor shape, vascular morphology, LR-M category, necrosis and AFP level were different between the MVI-positive group and MVI-negative group (p

Abstract GWASs have linked the 3p21.1 locus, which is associated with the expression levels of NEK4, to bipolar disorder. Here, we use integrative analyses of GWAS statistics and eQTL annotations to establish that elevated NEK4 expression in the hippocampus is associated with an increased risk of bipolar disorder. To further study this association, we generate transgenic male mice that conditionally overexpress NEK4 in the pyramidal neurons of the adult forebrain, or use AAV to overexpress NEK4 in the dorsal hippocampus. Compared to the control mice, male mice of both strains exhibit a shift from a diurnal anxiety state to a nocturnal normal or anxiolytic-like state. Overexpression of NEK4 also affects the circadian fluctuations in dendritic spine morphology and synaptic structure. Furthermore, we show that treatment with lithium ameliorates the effects of NEK4 overexpression in male mice. We then perform phosphoproteomic analyses to demonstrate that the diurnal and nocturnal phosphoproteomic profiles of male control and NEK4 overexpressing mice are different. These results suggest that male mice with different NEK4 expression levels may recapitulate some of the core features observed in patients with bipolar disorder, indicating that interruption of the homeostatic dynamics of synapses may underlie the emotional swings in bipolar disorder.

Abstract The NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in microglia is intimately linked to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Although NLRP3 inflammasome activity is regulated by cellular metabolism, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Here, we found that under the pathological conditions of AD, the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in microglia is accompanied by increased glutamine metabolism. Suppression of glutaminase, the rate limiting enzyme in glutamine metabolism, attenuated the NLRP3 inflammasome activation both in the microglia of AD mice and cultured inflammatory microglia. Mechanistically, inhibiting glutaminase blocked the anaplerotic flux of glutamine to the tricarboxylic acid cycle and amino acid synthesis, down-regulated mTORC1 signaling by phosphorylating AMPK, which stimulated mitophagy and limited the accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species, ultimately prevented the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes in activated microglia during AD. Taken together, our findings suggest that glutamine metabolism regulates the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome through mitophagy in microglia, thus providing a potential therapeutic target for AD treatment.

Abstract Background The increasing problems of drug and radiotherapy resistance in cervical cancer underscores the need for novel methods for its management. Reports indicate that the expression of MPC1 may be associated with the tumor microenvironment and the occurrence of ferroptosis in cervical cancer. The objective of this study was to visually illustrate the prognostic significance and immunological characterization of MPC1 in cervical cancer. Methods The expression profile and prognostic significance of MPC1 were analyzed using various databases, including UALCAN, TIMER2, GEPIA2, and Kaplan–Meier Plotter. TISIDB, TIMER2, and immunohistochemical analysis were used to investigate the correlation between MPC1 expression and immune infiltration. GO enrichment analysis, KEGG analysis, Reactome analysis, ConsensusPathDB, and GeneMANIA were used to visualize the functional enrichment of MPC1 and signaling pathways related to MPC1. The correlation analysis was carried out to examine the relationship between MPC1 and Ferroptosis gene in TIMER 2.0, ncFO, GEPIA Database and Kaplan–Meier Plotter. Results We demonstrated that the expression levels of MPC1 in cervical cancer tissues were lower than those in normal cervical tissues. Kaplan–Meier survival curves showed shorter overall survival in cervical cancer patients with low levels of MPC1 expression. The expression of MPC1 was related to the infiltrating levels of tumor-infiltrating immune cells in cervical cancer. Moreover, MPC1 expression was associated with the iron-mediated cell death pathway, and several important ferroptosis genes were upregulated in cervical cancer cells. Furthermore, after knocking down MPC1 in HeLa cells, the expression of these genes decreased. Conclusion These findings indicate that MPC1 functions as a prognostic indicator and plays a role in the regulation of the ferroptosis pathway in cervical cancer.

Objective: To investigate whether the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in oocytes and embryos affects pregnancy outcomes for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (ET) as well as is related to the vertical transmission of HBV to children. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: A university-affiliated fertility center. Patient(s): This study included 167 couples with at least 1 hepatitis B surface antigen–seropositive partner. These couples underwent in vitro fertilization–ET, and the discarded oocytes and embryos had been tested for HBV. Couples with HBV-positive oocytes or embryos were categorized as the positive group, whereas those couples with HBV-negative oocytes and embryos served as the negative group. Intervention(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): Pregnancy outcomes and the rate of children’s HBV infection. Result(s): The pregnancy outcomes of fresh and frozen ETs were not associated with the presence of HBV in the oocytes and embryos. Of the 106 infants born, 1 child whose mother tested positive for hepatitis B surface antigen but had negative oocytes and embryos was infected with HBV. Additionally, 26.09% of children who had been administered passive immunization and active vaccinations did not reach protective levels of anti-HBV antibodies (hepatitis B surface antibodies) and became nonresponders. The negative rate of children’s hepatitis B surface antibody was associated with the presence of HBV in oocytes and embryos (odds ratio, 3.01; 95% confidence interval, 1.04–9.25). Conclusion(s): The presence of HBV in oocytes and embryos did not affect pregnancy outcomes or result in the vertical transmission of HBV to the offspring of HBV carriers. Follow-up is needed for HBV-vaccinated children with an HBV-infected parent. Booster vaccinations are necessary for continued protection.

The dynamics of a four-dimensional fractional-order (FO) dynamical system from the viewpoint of spectral entropy (SE), C0 complexity, and algorithm 0–1 are presented in detail in this article. The efficiency of these algorithms in the existence of chaos for FO systems has been investigated as well as other methods such as Lyapunov exponents, Lyapunov dimension, and bifurcation diagrams. With Hamilton’s energy analysis for the 4D FO system, it is found that chaotic behavior is more dependent on energy consumption. Therefore, it is necessary to design a negative feedback control to reduce energy consumption and suppress chaotic behavior. Finally, we obtain the global Mittag-Leffler positive invariant sets (GMLPISs) and global Mittag-Leffler attractive sets (GMLASs) of the introduced system. Numerical results indicate the effectiveness of complexity and chaos detection methods as well as bound calculation.

Abstract Eosinophils, traditionally associated with allergic phenomena, play a pivotal role in inflammatory responses. Despite accumulating evidence suggesting their pro-inflammatory function upon activation, the underlying mechanisms governing eosinophil activation remain incompletely characterized. In this study, we investigate the local activation of pulmonary and colon eosinophils within the inflammatory microenvironment. Leveraging transcriptional sequencing, we identify TGF-β as a putative regulator of eosinophil activation, leading to the secretion of granule proteins, including peroxidase. Genetic deletion of TGF-β receptors on eosinophils resulted in the inhibition of peroxidase synthesis, affirming the significance of TGF-β signaling in eosinophil activation. Using models of HDM-induced asthma and DSS-induced colitis, we demonstrate the indispensability of TGF-β-driven eosinophil activation in both disease contexts. Notably, while TGF-β signaling did not significantly influence asthmatic inflammation, its knockout conferred protection against experimental colitis. This study delineates a distinct pattern of eosinophil activation within inflammatory responses, highlighting the pivotal role of TGF-β signaling in regulating eosinophil behavior. These findings deepen our comprehension of eosinophil-related pathophysiology and may pave the way for targeted therapeutic approaches in allergic and inflammatory diseases.

Abstract Achilles tendon reconstruction is an effective method of repairing Achilles tendon rupture defects. We introduce a new approach for Achilles tendon reconstruction using transversal calcaneal anchored autogenous semitendinosus tendon graft. The study aimed to evaluate the clinical role of this new Achilles tendon reconstruction. We retrospectively enrolled patients who underwent Achilles tendon reconstruction using transversal calcaneal anchored autogenous semitendinosus tendon graft for acute Achilles tendon rupture defects from 2016 to 2021. The clinical and radiological results were assessed at the preoperative and the final postoperative follow-up with Visual Analog Score (VAS) scores, American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores and Achilles tendon Total Rupture Scores (ATRS). Besides, at the last postoperative follow-up, the difference in ankle range of motion between the two side of the patients and the incidence of postoperative complications were recorded. Results revealed patients had significantly lower VAS and higher AOFAS and ATRS (P

Abstract Purpose Sleep disorders are becoming more prevalent in hospitalized patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We aimed to investigate the risk factors for sleep disorders in hospitalized patients with AMI, then develop and validate a prediction nomogram for the risk of sleep disorders. Methods Clinical data were collected from patients with AMI hospitalized in our hospital from January 2020 to June 2023. All patients were divided into the training group and the validation group with a ratio of 7:3 in sequential order. The LASSO regression analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to screen potential risk factors for sleep disorders. The concordance index (C-index), calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were plotted. Results A total of 256 hospitalized patients with AMI were enrolled. Patients were divided into the training group (180) and the validation group (76) according to a scale of 7:3. Of the 256 patients, 90 patients (35.16%) suffered from sleep disorders, and 33 patients (12.89%) needed hypnotics. The variables screened by LASSO regression included age, smoking, NYHA class, anxiety status at admission, depression status at admission, and strangeness of environment. A nomogram model was established by incorporating the risk factors selected. The C-index, calibration curve, and DCA showed good predictive performance. Conclusions We identified six clinical characteristics as predictors of sleep disorders in hospitalized patients with AMI. It helps nurses make appropriate decisions in clinical practice.

Abstract Over the past decade, escalating extreme weather events have significantly affected New South Wales (NSW), Australia, with unprecedented droughts and intense fires. Yet, the impact on water quality and purification processes remains insufficiently studied. This research focuses on the immediate changes in NSW's environmental water quality and issues in water purification unit operations following the 2019 bushfires. Water samples and maintenance records from affected catchments, intakes, purification units, and reservoirs were analysed. Compared to control samples, post-bushfire water exhibited high turbidity. Sediment and ash shock loads posed significant threats to aquatic ecosystems. Elevated turbidity, suspended sediments, pH, and alkalinity were major concerns for water purification. Raw water samples showed turbidity exceeding 195 NTU, with flocculation and sedimentation most impacted. Immediate measures included sediment traps, aeration, pre-chlorination, and inline monitoring. These findings inform strategies to mitigate bushfire impacts on water quality and optimise water purification in fire-prone regions.

Abstract Background Rickettsia and related diseases have been identified as significant global public health threats. This study involved comprehensive field and systematic investigations of various rickettsial organisms in Yunnan Province. Methods Between May 18, 2011 and November 23, 2020, field investigations were conducted across 42 counties in Yunnan Province, China, encompassing small mammals, livestock, and ticks. Preliminary screenings for Rickettsiales involved amplifying the 16S rRNA genes, along with additional genus- or species-specific genes, which were subsequently confirmed through sequencing results. Sequence comparisons were carried out using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST). Phylogenetic relationships were analyzed using the default parameters in the Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis (MEGA) program. The chi-squared test was used to assess the diversities and component ratios of rickettsial agents across various parameters. Results A total of 7964 samples were collected from small mammals, livestock, and ticks through Yunnan Province and submitted for screening for rickettsial organisms. Sixteen rickettsial species from the genera Rickettsia, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Neoehrlichia, and Wolbachia were detected, with an overall prevalence of 14.72%. Among these, 11 species were identified as pathogens or potential pathogens to humans and livestock. Specifically, 10 rickettsial organisms were widely found in 42.11% (24 out of 57) of small mammal species. High prevalence was observed in Dremomys samples at 5.60%, in samples from regions with latitudes above 4000 m or alpine meadows, and in those obtained from Yuanmou County. Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis were broadly infecting multiple genera of animal hosts. In contrast, the small mammal genera Neodon, Dremomys, Ochotona, Anourosorex, and Mus were carrying individually specific rickettsial agents, indicating host tropism. There were 13 rickettsial species detected in 57.14% (8 out of 14) of tick species, with the highest prevalence (37.07%) observed in the genus Rhipicephalus. Eight rickettsial species were identified in 2375 livestock samples. Notably, six new Rickettsiales variants/strains were discovered, and Candidatus Rickettsia longicornii was unambiguously identified. Conclusions This large-scale survey provided further insight into the high genetic diversity and overall prevalence of emerging Rickettsiales within endemic hotspots in Yunnan Province. The potential threats posed by these emerging tick-borne Rickettsiales to public health warrant attention, underscoring the need for effective strategies to guide the prevention and control of emerging zoonotic diseases in China. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is a common occurrence in advanced cancer and is often linked with a poor prognosis. Eosinophils were reported to involve in the development of MPE. However, the role of eosinophils in MPE remains unclear. To investigate this, we conducted studies using both human samples and mouse models. Increased eosinophil counts were observed in patients with MPE, indicating that the higher the number of eosinophils is, the lower the LENT score is. In our animal models, eosinophils were found to migrate to pleural cavity actively upon exposure to tumor cells. Intriguingly, we discovered that a deficiency in eosinophils exacerbated MPE, possibly due to their anti-tumor effects generated by modifying the microenvironment of MPE. Furthermore, our experiments explored the role of the C-C motif chemokine ligand 11 (CCL11) and its receptor C-C motif chemokine receptor 3 (CCR3) in MPE pathology. As a conclusion, our study underscores the protective potential of eosinophils against the development of MPE, and that an increase in eosinophils through adoptive transfer of eosinophils or increasing their numbers improved MPE.

Abstract Background Variations exist in the response of patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) to ustekinumab (UST) treatment, but the underlying cause remains unknown. Our objective was to investigate the involvement of immune cells and identify potential biomarkers that could predict the response to interleukin (IL) 12/23 inhibitors in patients with CD. Methods The GSE207022 dataset, which consisted of 54 non-responders and 9 responders to UST in a CD cohort, was analyzed. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and subjected to Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was used to screen the most powerful hub genes. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the predictive performances of these genes. Single-sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA) was used to estimate the proportions of immune cell types. These significantly altered genes were subjected to cluster analysis into immune cell-related infiltration. To validate the reliability of the candidates, patients prescribed UST as a first-line biologic in a prospective cohort were included as an independent validation dataset. Results A total of 99 DEGs were identified in the integrated dataset. GO and KEGG analyses revealed significant enrichment of immune response pathways in patients with CD. Thirteen genes (SOCS3, CD55, KDM5D, IGFBP5, LCN2, SLC15A1, XPNPEP2, HLA-DQA2, HMGCS2, DDX3Y, ITGB2, CDKN2B and HLA-DQA1), which were primarily associated with the response versus nonresponse patients, were identified and included in the LASSO analysis. These genes accurately predicted treatment response, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.938. T helper cell type 1 (Th1) cell polarization was comparatively strong in nonresponse individuals. Positive connections were observed between Th1 cells and the LCN2 and KDM5D genes. Furthermore, we employed an independent validation dataset and early experimental verification to validate the LCN2 and KDM5D genes as effective predictive markers. Conclusions Th1 cell polarization is an important cause of nonresponse to UST therapy in patients with CD. LCN2 and KDM5D can be used as predictive markers to effectively identify nonresponse patients. Trial registration: Trial registration number: NCT05542459; Date of registration: 2022-09-14; URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov .

Abstract Background The herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.) is extensively cultivated in China due to its root being used as a traditional Chinese medicine known as ‘Radix Paeoniae Alba’. In recent years, it has been discovered that its seeds incorporate abundant unsaturated fatty acids, thereby presenting a potential new oilseed plant. Surprisingly, little is known about the full-length transcriptome sequencing of Paeonia lactiflora, limiting research into its gene function and molecular mechanisms. Results A total of 484,931 Reads of Inserts (ROI) sequences and 1,455,771 full-Length non-chimeric reads (FLNC) sequences were obtained for CDS prediction, TF analysis, SSR analysis and lncRNA identification. In addition, gene function annotation and gene structure analysis were performed. A total of 4905 transcripts were related to lipid metabolism biosynthesis pathway, belonging to 28 enzymes. We use these data to identify 10 oleosin (OLE) and 5 diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) gene members after de-redundancy. The analysis of physicochemical properties and secondary structure showed them similarity in gene family respectively. The phylogenetic analysis showed that the distribution of OLE and DGAT family members was roughly the same as that of Arabidopsis. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT–PCR) analyses revealed expression changes in different seed development stages, and showed a trend of increasing and then decreasing. Conclusion In summary, these results provide new insights into the molecular mechanism of triacylglycerol (TAG) biosynthesis and storage during the seedling stage in Paeonia lactiflora. It provides theoretical references for selecting and breeding oil varieties and understanding the functions of oil storage as well as lipid synthesis related genes in Paeonia lactiflora.

Abstract Temporal information in event streams plays a critical role in event‐based video frame interpolation as it provides temporal context cues complementary to images. Most previous event‐based methods first transform the unstructured event data to structured data formats through voxelisation, and then employ advanced CNNs to extract temporal information. However, voxelisation inevitably leads to information loss, and processing the sparse voxels introduces severe computation redundancy. To address these limitations, this study proposes a point‐image fusion network (PIFNet). In our PIFNet, rich temporal information from the events can be directly extracted at the point level. Then, a fusion module is designed to fuse complementary cues from both points and images for frame interpolation. Extensive experiments on both synthetic and real datasets demonstrate that our PIFNet achieves state‐of‐the‐art performance with high efficiency.

BackgroundLiposarcoma (LPS) is a kind of malignancy of soft tissue usually found in the retroperitoneal, limb, or neck region, and some may be detected with delayed symptoms (pain or palpable mass), and less frequently occurs in organs of the digestive system. In contrast, Dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLPS) is a common histological subtype of LPS. The present study reported a case of dedifferentiated liposarcoma originating in the gallbladder. Differentiated liposarcoma originating from the gallbladder is rarely reported.Case descriptionA 64-year-old female patient presented to our hospital with a painless abdominal mass. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed that the gallbladder had lost its normal shape, and a 9.1 cm × 7.1 cm × 12.1 cm mass was seen in the area of the gallbladder fossa and the right upper abdomen below it, which had an irregular morphology, inhomogeneous density, and nodular calcification, with marked inhomogeneous enhancement on enhancement scan. Preoperative tumor markers and liver function indicators were not abnormal. With suspicion of a giant malignant tumor of the gallbladder, she underwent a cholecystectomy combined with abdominal mass resection. After surgery, the tumor and gallbladder, were completely resected, and postoperative pathological results confirmed the diagnosis of dedifferentiated liposarcoma deriving from gallbladder. After surgery, the patient and his family refused to continue treatment. After 15 months follow-up, the patient remains asymptomatic and does not show any signs of recurrence. And she is now under continued follow - up.ConclusionsTreatment of dedifferentiated liposarcoma is still at exploratory stage, and a lack of clinical evidence for this condition might hinder access to clinical trials and studies. Currently, the treatment of choice for dedifferentiated liposarcoma remains radical resection. In the available clinical studies, there are no robust data to support clinical use of neoadjuvant and adjuvant radiochemotherapy. As with other diseases, the use of radiotherapy and chemotherapy before and after surgery may be a potential future treatment.

Background: No head-to-head trial directly compares the effectiveness of vedolizumab (VDZ) and infliximab (IFX) in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) who were naïve to biologic therapy. Objectives: We aimed to compare the clinical and endoscopic effectiveness of VDZ and IFX in biologic-naïve patients with UC in real-world settings. Design: It was a multicenter, observational, real-world cohort study conducted at five centers. Methods: Patients diagnosed with UC and treated with either IFX or VDZ as their first-line biologic therapy were retrospectively enrolled. Steroid-free remission, clinical response, clinical remission, and endoscopic healing at week 14 and week 52 were compared between the two groups after propensity score weighting. Results: A total of 199 patients (117 VDZ and 82 IFX) were included in the study. There were no significant differences in steroid-free remission (64.6% vs 56.1%, p = 0.224), clinical response (83.4% vs 73.4%, p = 0.086), or clinical remission (69.4% vs 60.1%, p = 0.174) at week 14. However, VDZ showed better results in steroid-free remission (67.5% vs 44.4%, p = 0.004), clinical response (69.7% vs 47.1%, p = 0.005), and clinical remission (67.5% vs 44.4%, p = 0.004) at week 52. In terms of endoscopic healing, VDZ was similar to IFX at week 14 (25.7% vs 17.4%, p = 0.185), but VDZ had a significantly higher rate at week 52 (29.5% vs 11.8%, p = 0.027). VDZ was found to be superior to IFX in therapeutic continuation (hazard ratio = 0.339, 95% CI: 0.187–0.614, p

Two laboratory-scale steel tube and concrete four-leg lattice prototypes were designed for use as wind turbine towers using optimized gimbaled wrapped ball-sheet- type nodes. Repeated load tests were performed on the prototype tower for several weeks to evaluate its damage modes, strength, stiffness, etc., and the numerical simulation was conducted. The results showed that the damage mainly included strength damage to the pylon, flexural damage to the top cross web and cracks at the bottom of the loading plate welded to the steel pipe. In addition, the web-tower stiffness ratio and ultimate bearing capacity of the tower improved to varying degrees. It is recommended that the web-tower stiffness ratio be between 0.05 and 0.07. When the connection between the ball column and the node plate changes from a high-strength bolt connection to a welded connection, the ultimate load-carrying capacity of the tower model increases by an average of approximately 8%.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of human mortality worldwide. Despite Western medicine having made encouraging results in the clinical management of CVD, the morbidity, mortality, and disability rates of the disease remain high. Modern pharmacology has confirmed that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), characterized by its multi-component, multi-target, and integrity, plays a positive and important role in the prevention and treatment of various CVDs in China, which has notable advantages in stabilizing disease, improving heart function, and enhancing the quality of life. Importantly, TCM is gradually being accepted by the international community due to its low cost, high safety, versatile bioactivity, and low toxicity. Unfortunately, comprehensive studies on the therapeutic effect of TCM on CVD and its mechanisms are very limited, which may restrict the clinical application of TCM in CVD. Therefore, this review is performed to analyze the pathogenesis of CVD, including inflammatory response, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, dysbiosis of gut microbiota, etc. Moreover, we summarized the latest progress of TCM (formulas, extracts, and compounds) in curing CVD according to published literature from 2018 to 2023, as well as its mechanisms and clinical evidence. In conclusion, this review is expected to provide useful information and reference for the clinical application of TCM in the prevention and treatment of CVD and further drug development of CVD.

BackgroundThe prognostic significance of Treg and Th17 cells, as well as their ratio (Th17/Treg), in cervical cancer remains a topic of debate. Our study aimed to clarify their association with patient survival and clinical outcomes in cervical cancer through a comprehensive meta-analysis.Materials and methodsWe conducted a comprehensive search in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science to identify eligible studies. Studies related to cervical cancer and involving Treg cells or Th17 cells were included. For prognostic analysis, we collected Hazard Ratio values of patient survival. For studies focusing on clinical characteristics, we selected mean and standard deviation values for further analysis. This study was registered at PROSPERO (ID:CRD42024546507).ResultsOut of the 2949 records initially retrieved, we ultimately included 21 studies in our analysis. High levels of Treg cells were found to be correlated with shorter survival in patients with cervical cancer. Subgroup analysis revealed that the prognostic effect of Treg cells on cervical cancer was not influenced by their source or definition. However, analyses of different survival measures indicated that only Overall Survival showed a correlation with Treg cell levels. Additionally, Treg cells were associated with clinical staging. High-grade Th17 cells were associated with lymphatic metastases and advanced clinical stage. The Th17/Treg ratio was found to be elevated in both cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer patients compared to controls.DiscussionDespite limitations such as heterogeneity among selected studies and inadequate subgroup analyses, our study contributes to a deeper understanding of the significance of Treg cells in the onset and progression of cervical cancer. It also provides valuable insights for future research in immunotherapy.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42024546507.

This article investigates the complex dynamics of ammonia as an alternative fuel within the ambit of China's strategic initiatives aimed at attaining carbon neutrality. Given ammonia's distinctive characteristics as a fuel, this analysis delves into the nascent development status and the multifaceted challenges confronting this sector within China. Through a comprehensive examination of the plethora of new energy policies promulgated by the Chinese government, this article underscores the initial phase of accelerated growth in the ammonia fuel domain. The imposition of carbon emission restrictions, coupled with the momentum generated by technological innovations, positions green ammonia as an efficacious solution for hydrogen storage and utilization, thereby fostering a symbiotic relationship with the hydrogen energy industry chain. The proactive policy framework adopted by China significantly enhances the pivotal role of ammonia fuel technology, making it one of the principal technological pathways for China to realize its carbon neutrality ambitions in the future.

Abstract The dehydrogenation adjacent to an electron-withdrawing group provides an efficient access to α,β-unsaturated compounds that serving as versatile synthons in organic chemistry. However, the α,β-desaturation of aliphatic imines has hitherto proven to be challenging due to easy hydrolysis and preferential dimerization. Herein, by employing a pre-fluorination and palladium-catalyzed dehydrogenation reaction sequence, the abundant simple aliphatic amides are amendable to the rapid construction of complex molecular architectures to produce α,β-unsaturated imines. Mechanistic investigations reveal a Pd(0)/Pd(II) catalytic cycle involving oxidative H–F elimination of N-fluoroamide followed by a smooth α,β-desaturation of the in-situ generated aliphatic imine intermediate. This protocol exhibits excellent functional group tolerance, and even the carbonyl groups are compatible without any competing dehydrogenation, allowing for late-stage functionalization of complex bioactive molecules. The synthetic utility of this transformation has been further demonstrated by a diversity-oriented derivatization and a concise formal synthesis of (±)-alloyohimbane.

Abstract Visual information is important for accurate spatial coding and memory-guided navigation. As a crucial area for spatial cognition, the medial entorhinal cortex (MEC) harbors diverse spatially tuned cells and functions as the major gateway relaying sensory inputs to the hippocampus containing place cells. However, how visual information enters the MEC has not been fully understood. Here, we identify a pathway originating in the secondary visual cortex (V2) and directly targeting MEC layer 5a (L5a). L5a neurons served as a network hub for visual processing in the MEC by routing visual inputs from multiple V2 areas to other local neurons and hippocampal CA1. Interrupting this pathway severely impaired visual stimulus-evoked neural activity in the MEC and performance of mice in navigation tasks. These observations reveal a visual cortical-entorhinal pathway highlighting the role of MEC L5a in sensory information transmission, a function typically attributed to MEC superficial layers before.

Abstract Proficient reading requires critical phonological processing skill that interacts with both genetic and environmental factors. However, the precise nature of the relationships between phonological processing and genetic and environmental factors are poorly understood. We analyzed data from the Genes, Reading and Dyslexia (GRaD) Study on 1419 children ages 8–15 years from African-American and Hispanic-American family backgrounds living in North America. The analyses showed that phonological awareness mediated the relationship between DCDC2-READ1 and reading outcomes when parental education and socioeconomic status was low. The association between READ1 and reading performance is complex, whereby mediation by phonological awareness was significantly moderated by both parental education and socioeconomic status. These results show the importance of home environment and phonological skills when determining associations between READ1 and reading outcomes. This will be an important consideration in the development of genetic screening for risk of reading disability.

Ni-based single-crystal superalloys are normally prepared by directional solidification. Due to different solidification sequences, Ni-based single-crystal superalloys exhibit a typical dendritic arm structure, and the element segregation in the dendritic arm can affect the high temperature mechanical properties of the alloy. Solid solution treatment has a certain extent to reduce the inter-dendritic and dendritic arm between the concentrations of the elements, thereby changing the alloy micro-nano view parameters to improve the high temperature mechanical properties of the alloy. In this study, nanoindentation experiments were carried out on the inter-dendritic and dendritic arm of the cast and solid solution samples. The micromechanical parameters were calculated. The amounts of changes in elemental concentration were discussed with the results of the energy dispersive spectroscopy and electron probe microanalysis, so as to analyse the relationship between the micromechanical parameters and the changes in elemental concentration. The results show that solid solution treatment has a significant impact on the elastic modulus, with an increase of 114.7% of the inter-dendritic region and an increase of 142.7% of the dendritic arm. However, solid solution treatment has little effect on the hardness, with no significant change in the hardness of the inter-dendritic region and an increase of 43.86% of the dendritic arm. Solid solution treatment has a more significant effect on improving the segregation behavior of Al and Co elements, with the segregation coefficients of Al and Co elements in the inter-dendritic region decreasing and increasing by 36% and 19%, and the segregation coefficients of Al and Co elements in the dendritic arm region decreasing and increasing by 29% and 34%.

The perforated drip irrigation emitter (PDIE) is a novel drip irrigation emitter incorporating multiple energy dissipation mechanisms, chiefly hedging, deflection, and friction. To characterize the influences of structural parameters and vortices on the hydraulic performance of PDIE, the discharge exponent, discharge rate, and emitter unit constant were analyzed via hydraulic performance experiments and numerical simulation. The key findings are: (1) Discharge exponents of PDIE ranged from 0.478 to 0.515; average high-pressure hydraulic performance exceeded low pressure by 4.882%. (2) The four key structural parameters impacted hydraulic performance from large to small as follows: the width of the perforation (a), the angle of the scalariform perforation plate (α), the distance of the two perforations (b), and the length of the channel cavity (c). Among them, the discharge exponent changes significantly with a and α. (3) Vortex-retaining PDIE exhibited a lower emitter discharge exponent versus vortex-removed versions. However, vortices increase discharge rate and reduce energy consumption of PDIE. After optimization, the emitter discharge exponent of the PDIE with the reserved vortex is 0.461, which is relatively improved by 3.556%. This study can provide a theoretical reference for the structural design of new drip irrigation emitters and functional analysis of vortices. HIGHLIGHTS The hydraulic performance of the perforated drip irrigation emitterr is optimized.; Key structural parameters and the vortex were explored for their effects on the hydraulic performance of the perforated drip irrigation emitter.; By retaining vortices and adjusting key structural parameters, the hydraulic performance of PDIE can be optimized.; The emitter of PDIE with better hydraulic performance is put forward.;

Objective Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can exist in groundwater for a long time, thus causing harm to human body. Methods To characterize the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) pollution in the organic-contaminated phreatic zone beneath a decommissioned oil refinery in Northwest China, investigations and sample testing were carried out and possible health risks were assessed in the study area. Results A total of 18 VOCs were detected in the groundwater at the site, with detection rates ranging from 6.25% to 56.25%. Benzene and 1, 2, 4-trimethylbenzene were the main characteristic pollutants, with adetection rate being 56.25%, both of which exceeded the class Ⅲ standard of the Groundwater Quality Standard (GB/T14848-2017) in China by 50%. The pollutants at the site mainly originated from the vertical seepage from the former liquefied gas storage tank area and the former diesel oil irrigation area, indicating that these two areas may be the main pollution sources of groundwater at the site. The distribution of pollutants was influenced by hydrogeological conditions and groundwater flow direction, with pollution occurring in groundwater downstream of the site.The results of the health risk assessment showed a predominant health risk posed by drinking water. 83.3% of the points had a cancer risk (CR) value greater than 10-6, indicating a possible cancer risk. The CR value for GW11 located in the residual oil tank area was greater than 10-4, indicating a significant cancer risk. 50% of the points had a hazard quotient (HQ) greater than 1, which would pose a noncarcinogenic risk and influence human health. Conclusion Therefore, the attention and control of regional drinking water issues should be strengthened in the future.

The comprehensive detection and identification of active ingredients in complex matrices is a crucial challenge. Liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) is the most prominent analytical platform for the exploration of novel active compounds from complex matrices. However, the LC-HRMS-based analysis workflow suffers from several bottleneck issues, such as trace content of target compounds, limited acquisition for fragment information, and uncertainty in interpreting relevant MS2 spectra. Lycibarbarspermidines are vital antioxidant active ingredients in Lycii Fructus, while the reported structures are merely focused on dicaffeoylspermidines due to their low content. To comprehensively detect the new structures of lycibarbarspermidine derivatives, a “depict” strategy was developed in this study. First, potential new lycibarbarspermidine derivatives were designed according to the biosynthetic pathway, and a comprehensive database was established, which enlarged the coverage of lycibarbarspermidine derivatives. Second, the polarity-oriented sample preparation of potential new compounds increased the concentration of the target compounds. Third, the construction of the molecular network based on the fragmentation pathway of lycibarbarspermidine derivatives broadened the comprehensiveness of identification. Finally, the weak response signals were captured by data-dependent scanning (DDA) followed by parallel reaction monitoring (PRM), and the efficiency of acquiring MS2 fragment ions of target compounds was significantly improved. Based on the integrated strategy above, 210 lycibarbarspermidine derivatives were detected and identified from Lycii Fructus, and in particular, 170 potential new compounds were structurally characterized. The integrated strategy improved the sensitivity of detection and the coverage of low-response components, and it is expected to be a promising pipeline for discovering new compounds.

Abstract Because of recent developments in wireless communication, sensor technology, and computing technology, researchers have recently shown a significant amount of interest in the Internet of Vehicles (IoV), which has become feasible as a result of these improvements. Because of the distinctive characteristics of IoV, such as the varied compute and communication capacities of network nodes, it is difficult to process jobs that are time-sensitive. The purpose of this study is to investigate the ways in which cloud computing may collaborate with the IoV to make the processing of time-sensitive procedures easier. We propose a vehicle design that makes advantage of cloud computing as a means of accomplishing this goal. Increasing the proportion of time-sensitive jobs that are ultimately completed was the motivation behind the development of the offloading model that we devised. Taking this into perspective, we present an adaptive task offloading and transmission method. Taking into account the ever-changing requirements and constraints on the available resources, this algorithm dynamically organizes all of the tasks into separate cloud link lists on the cloud. Following that, the tasks contained within each list are distributed in a cooperative manner to a number of different nodes, with the characteristics of those nodes being taken into consideration. Following the presentation of the simulation model, we carried out an experimental investigation into the effectiveness of the model that was proposed. It is abundantly evident that the proposed model is effective, as indicated by the findings.

Abstract Background Little attention has been paid to the pathophysiological changes in the natural history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The destructions of the small airways were visualized on thoracic micro-computed tomography scan. We investigated whether small airway inflammation (SAI) was the risk for the development of COPD. Methods A total of 1062 patients were enrolled and analyzed in the study. The partitioned airway inflammation was determined by exhaled nitric oxide (NO) of FnNO, FeNO50, FeNO200, and calculated CaNOdual. Both FeNO200 and CaNOdual were compared to detect the promising predictor for peripheral airway/alveolar inflammation in COPD. The correlation between exhaled NO and white cell classification was evaluated to determine the inflammation type during the development of COPD. Results Exhaled NO levels (FnNO, FeNO50, FeNO200, and CaNOdual) were the highest in the COPD group compared with all other groups. Furthermore, compared with controls, exhaled NO levels (FeNO50, FeNO200, and CaNOdual) were also significantly higher in the emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and smoking groups. FeNO200 was found to be a promising predictor for peripheral airway/alveolar inflammation (area under the curve [AUC] of the receiver operating characteristic [ROC] curve, area under the curve [AUC] = 0.841) compared with CaNOdual (AUC ROC = 0.707) in COPD. FeNO200 was the main risk factor (adjusted odds ratio, 2.191; 95% CI, 1.797–2.671; p = 0.002) for the development of COPD. The blood eosinophil and basophil levels were correlated with FeNO50 and FeNO200. Conclusion The complete airway inflammations were shown in COPD, whereas SAI was the main risk factor for the development of COPD, which might relate to eosinophil and basophil levels.

In this work, the Mg97Y2Zn (at%) alloys have been processed by the rotary-die (RD) ECAP technique under different temperature or pass conditions to tailor the microstructure and mechanical properties. The results reveal that the DRX ratio (VDRX) increases with the increase of ECAP pass or temperature, weakening the texture intensity. The refinement of DRXed grains saturates after 9 passes of ECAP at 350 °C, while the size of DRXed grains (dDRX) monotonically decreases with the reduction of temperature from 400 °C to 300 °C in the case of the same pass number (9P). The combination of fine dDRX, large VDRX, and directionally arranged LPSO phases along the extrusion direction endows the 350 °C–9P alloy with the optimum strength and ductility synergy, exhibiting the tensile yield strength (TYS) of 267 MPa, ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 318 MPa, and elongation of 10.3%. However, the larger VDRX, weaker texture, less low-angle grain boundaries combine to improve the elongation (14.7%) of the 400 °C–9P alloy at the expense of the TYS (231 MPa) and UTS (303 MPa). This paper provides useful information to optimize the RD-ECAP parameters for the fabrication of high-performance Mg97Y2Zn alloys.

We obtained Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from a peripheral blood sample of a 19-year-old male schizophrenia patient and successfully established induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line using non-integrated reprogramming technology. This cell line possesses the correct karyotype, shape of an embryonic stem cell, the ability to express particular pluripotency markers, and the capacity to differentiate into three germ layers in vitro. This cell line will serve as an in vitro model for upcoming studies on the etiology of schizophrenia and the creation of novel treatment.

Background Within Diagnosis Related Groups, based on service capability, efficiency, and quality safety assessment, clinical pharmacists contribute to promoting rational drug utilisation in healthcare institutions. However, a deficiency of pharmacist involvement has been observed in the total parenteral nutrition support to patients following haematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) within DRGs.Methods This study involved 146 patients who underwent HCT at the Department of Haematology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, spanning from January 2020 to December 2022.Results Patients were allocated equally, with 73 in the control group and 73 in the pharmacist-involved group: baseline characteristics showed no statistics significance, including age, body mass index, nutrition risk screening-2002 score, liver and kidney function, etc. Albumin levels, prealbumin levels were significantly improved after a 7-day TPN support (34.92 ± 4.24 vs 36.25 ± 3.65, P = 0.044; 251.30 ± 95.72 vs 284.73 ± 83.15, P = 0.026). The body weight was increased after a 7-day support and before discharge (58.77 ± 12.47 vs 63.82 ± 11.70, P = 0.013; 57.61 ± 11.85 vs 64.92 ± 11.71, P

Sepsis is a syndrome precipitated by immune dysregulation in response to infection, and represents a pivotal factor in global mortality attributed to diseases. The recent consensus delineates sepsis as a perilous state of organ dysfunction arising from the host’s maladaptive reaction to infection. It masks the complexity and breadth of the immune mechanisms involved in sepsis, which is characterized by simultaneous hyperinflammation and immunosuppression. Sepsis is highly correlated with the dysregulation of immune response, which is mainly mediated by various immune cells and their interactions. This syndrome can lead to a plethora of complications, encompassing systemic inflammatory response, metabolic disturbances, infectious shock, MODS, and DIC. Furthermore, more research studies have been conducted on sepsis in the past few years. The pathological characteristics of sepsis have been improved or treated by targeting signaling pathways like NF-B, JAK–STAT, PI3K-Akt, and p38-MAPK. Combined drug therapy is better than single drug therapy for sepsis. This article will review the latest progress in the pathogenesis and treatment of sepsis.

IntroductionStudies on the use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) for preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE) in hospitalized cancer patients are lacking. Therefore, we conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of DOACs versus low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) for the primary prevention of VTE in hospitalized cancer patients.MethodsClinical outcomes included thrombosis, VTE, other thrombosis, all bleeding, major bleeding, nonmajor bleeding, and all-cause death. A 1:1 cohort of rivaroxaban and LMWH patients was created by propensity score matching.ResultsA total of 2,385 cancer patients were included in this study. During the 3-month follow-up period, 129 (5.4%) thrombosis events occurred, 63 (2.7%) of which were VTEs and 66 (2.8%) of which were other thrombosis events. All bleeding occurred in 163 (6.8%) patients, 68 (2.9%) had major bleeding, and 95 (4.0%) had nonmajor bleeding. All-cause deaths occurred in 113 (4.7%) patients. After adjusting for various confounders, the incidence of thrombosis and other thromboses was significantly lower in the rivaroxaban group than in the LMWH group [OR 0.543, 95% CI (0.343–0.859), p = 0.009; OR 0.461, 95% CI (0.241–0.883), p = 0.020]. There were no significant differences in incidence of VTE, total bleeding, major bleeding, nonmajor bleeding, or all-cause death.ConclusionIn oncology patients receiving thromboprophylaxis, rivaroxaban has a lower incidence of thrombosis and other thrombosis and a similar incidence of VTE as LMWH and does not increase the risk of bleeding. Rivaroxaban may be an attractive alternative to LMWH for preventing VTE in hospitalized cancer patients.

Integrated with deep learning algorithms, machine vision techniques have emerged as a robust method for the swift and non-destructive assessment of crop moisture status across extensive agricultural landscapes. Within the agricultural sector, where water serves as a crucial resource, especially for cash crops such as cotton, precise monitoring of water status in fields is paramount. This study presents a novel approach for the evaluation of thermal imagery of cotton crops to predict their water status. The research focused on the application of a methodology that harnesses deep learning architectures in tandem with extant local irrigation practices. A considerable dataset, comprising approximately 5200 images, was collected under conditions of submembrane drip irrigation conditions. Cross-validation was employed to evaluate five deep learning models: VGG16, ResNet-18, MobilenetV3, DenseNet-201, and CSPdarknet53 for training and testing purposes. Experimental outcomes indicated that the MobilenetV3 model outperformed other deep learning architectures. It demonstrated exceptional capability in identifying cotton water stress classes, achieving an F1 value of 0.9990, with an average processing time of 44.85 ms. These results underscore the effectiveness of utilizing deep learning algorithms for accurately assessing water stress in cotton under mulched drip irrigation. This establishes a foundational basis for the development of a precise, cost-effective, and real-time monitoring system for the management of water in cotton fields.

MUC21, also known as Epiglycanin, is a high-molecular-weight glycoprotein with transmembrane mucin properties. It consists of a tandem repeat domain, a stem domain, a transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic tail. MUC21 is expressed is observed in normal tissues in organs like the thymus, testes, lungs, and large intestine. Research has shown that MUC21 is expressed in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, lung adenocarcinoma, glioblastoma, thyroid cancer, melanoma, and various other malignant tumors in distinctive manner. Additionally, tumor invasion, metastasis, and poor prognosis are linked to it. Some researchers believe that MUC21 has the potential to become a new target in cancer treatment. This review aims to deliver a comprehensive overview of the glycosylation, function, and research progress of MUC21 in multiple types of cancer and infectious diseases.

Background: Borrelia miyamotoi is a spirochete species transmitted via hard ticks. Following its discovery in Japan, this pathogen has been detected around the world, and is increasingly confirmed as a human pathogen causing febrile disease, namely relapsing fever. Its presence has been confirmed in the Northeast China. However, there is little information regarding the presence of B. miyamotoi and other hard-tick-borne relapsing fever spirochetes in southern China including Yunnan province, where tick and animal species are abundant and many people both inhabit and visit for recreation. Methods: For the present study, we collected samples of ticks, wildlife, and domestic animal hosts from different counties in Yunnan province. Nucleic acids from samples were extracted, and the presence of B. miyamotoi and other relapsing fever spirochetes was confirmed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the 16S rRNA specific target gene fragment. The positive samples were then amplified for partial genome of the flaB and glpQ genes. Statistical differences in its distribution were analyzed by SPSS 20 software. Sequence of partial 16S rRNA, flaB and glpQ genome were analyzed and phylogenetic trees were constructed. Results: A total of 8260 samples including 2304 ticks, 4120 small mammals and 1836 blood of domestic animal hosts were collected for screening for infection of B. miyamotoi and other relapsing fever spirochetes. Cattle and sheep act as the main hosts and Rhipicephalus microplus, Haemaphysalis nepalensis, H. kolonini and Ixodes ovatus were identified as the important vector host with high prevalence or wide distribution. Only one Mus caroli (mouse) and one Sorex alpinus (shrew) were confirmed positive for relapsing fever spirochetes. Evidence of vertical transmission in ticks was also confirmed. Two known strains of B. miyamotoi and one novel relapsing fever spirochetes, B. theileri-like agent, were confirmed and described with their host adaptation, mutation, and potential risk of spreading and spillover for human beings. Conclusions: Our results provide new evidence of relapsing fever spirochetes in vector and animal hosts in Yunnan province based on large sample sizes, and offer guidance on further investigation, surveillance and monitoring of this pathogen.

Ischemic stroke is a serious cerebrovascular condition. Isobavachalcone (ISO) has been documented to exhibit an anti-inflammatory effect across a variety of diseases; however, its protective impact on ischemic stroke remains unexplored. In this study, we evaluated the influence of ISO in both transient middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (tMCAO/R) rat models and oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) cell models. We observed that pretreatment with 50 mg/kg ISO diminished the volume of brain infarction, reduced brain edema, and ameliorated neurological deficits in rats. A reduction in Nissl bodies was noted in the tMCAO/R group, which was reversed following treatment with 50 mg/kg ISO. TUNEL/NeuN double staining revealed a decrease in TUNEL-positive cells in tMCAO/R rats treated with ISO. Furthermore, ISO treatment suppressed the expression of cleaved caspase-3 and BAX, while elevating the expression of BCL-2 in tMCAO/R rats. The levels of CD86 and iNOS were elevated in tMCAO/R rats; conversely, ISO treatment enhanced the expression of CD206 and Arg-1. Additionally, the expression of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β was elevated in tMCAO/R rats, whereas ISO treatment counteracted this effect. ISO treatment also increased the expression of TGF-β and IL-10 in the ischemic penumbra of tMCAO/R rats. It was found that ISO treatment hindered microglial M1 polarization and favored M2 polarization. Histone Deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) is the downstream target protein of ISO, with ISO treatment resulting in decreased HDAC1 expression in both tMCAO/R rats and OGD/R-induced cells. Overexpression of HDAC1 was shown to promote microglial M1 polarization and inhibit M2 polarization in OGD/R+ISO cells. Overall, ISO treatment mitigated brain damage following ischemic stroke by promoting M2 polarization and attenuated ischemic injury by repressing HDAC1 expression.

Abstract X-chromosomal genetic variants are understudied but can yield valuable insights into sexually dimorphic human traits and diseases. We performed a sex-stratified cross-ancestry X-chromosome-wide association meta-analysis of seven kidney-related traits (n = 908,697), identifying 23 loci genome-wide significantly associated with two of the traits: 7 for uric acid and 16 for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), including four novel eGFR loci containing the functionally plausible prioritized genes ACSL4, CLDN2, TSPAN6 and the female-specific DRP2. Further, we identified five novel sex-interactions, comprising male-specific effects at FAM9B and AR/EDA2R, and three sex-differential findings with larger genetic effect sizes in males at DCAF12L1 and MST4 and larger effect sizes in females at HPRT1. All prioritized genes in loci showing significant sex-interactions were located next to androgen response elements (ARE). Five ARE genes showed sex-differential expressions. This study contributes new insights into sex-dimorphisms of kidney traits along with new prioritized gene targets for further molecular research.

Abstract As the core component of solid-state batteries, neither current inorganic solid-state electrolytes nor solid polymer electrolytes can simultaneously possess satisfactory ionic conductivity, electrode compatibility and processability. By incorporating efficient Li+ diffusion channels found in inorganic solid-state electrolytes and polar functional groups present in solid polymer electrolytes, it is conceivable to design inorganic-organic hybrid solid-state electrolytes to achieve true fusion and synergy in performance. Herein, we demonstrate that traditional metal coordination compounds can serve as exceptional Li+ ion conductors at room temperature through rational structural design. Specifically, we synthesize copper maleate hydrate nanoflakes via bottom-up self-assembly featuring highly-ordered 1D channels that are interconnected by Cu2+/Cu+ nodes and maleic acid ligands, alongside rich COO− groups and structural water within the channels. Benefiting from the combination of ion-hopping and coupling-dissociation mechanisms, Li+ ions can preferably transport through these channels rapidly. Thus, the Li+-implanted copper maleate hydrate solid-state electrolytes shows remarkable ionic conductivity (1.17 × 10−4 S cm−1 at room temperature), high Li+ transference number (0.77), and a 4.7 V-wide operating window. More impressively, Li+-implanted copper maleate hydrate solid-state electrolytes are demonstrated to have exceptional compatibility with both cathode and Li anode, enabling long-term stability of more than 800 cycles. This work brings new insight on exploring superior room-temperature ionic conductors based on metal coordination compounds.

Abstract Background Oxaliplatin resistance usually leads to therapeutic failure and poor prognosis in colorectal cancer (CRC), while the underlying mechanisms are not yet fully understood. Metabolic reprogramming is strongly linked to drug resistance, however, the role and mechanism of metabolic reprogramming in oxaliplatin resistance remain unclear. Here, we aim to explore the functions and mechanisms of purine metabolism on the oxaliplatin-induced apoptosis of CRC. Methods An oxaliplatin-resistant CRC cell line was generated, and untargeted metabolomics analysis was conducted. The inosine 5ʹ-monophosphate dehydrogenase type II (IMPDH2) expression in CRC cell lines was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and western blotting analysis. The effects of IMPDH2 overexpression, knockdown and pharmacological inhibition on oxaliplatin resistance in CRC were assessed by flow cytometry analysis of cell apoptosis in vivo and in vitro. Results Metabolic analysis revealed that the levels of purine metabolites, especially guanosine monophosphate (GMP), were markedly elevated in oxaliplatin-resistant CRC cells. The accumulation of purine metabolites mainly arose from the upregulation of IMPDH2 expression. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) indicated high IMPDH2 expression in CRC correlates with PURINE_METABOLISM and MULTIPLE-DRUG-RESISTANCE pathways. CRC cells with higher IMPDH2 expression were more resistant to oxaliplatin-induced apoptosis. Overexpression of IMPDH2 in CRC cells resulted in reduced cell death upon treatment with oxaliplatin, whereas knockdown of IMPDH2 led to increased sensitivity to oxaliplatin through influencing the activation of the Caspase 7/8/9 and PARP1 proteins on cell apoptosis. Targeted inhibition of IMPDH2 by mycophenolic acid (MPA) or mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) enhanced cell apoptosis in vitro and decreased in vivo tumour burden when combined with oxaliplatin treatment. Mechanistically, the Wnt/β-catenin signalling was hyperactivated in oxaliplatin-resistant CRC cells, and a reciprocal positive regulatory mechanism existed between Wnt/β-catenin and IMPDH2. Blocking the Wnt/β-catenin pathway could resensitize resistant cells to oxaliplatin, which could be restored by the addition of GMP. Conclusions IMPDH2 is a predictive biomarker and therapeutic target for oxaliplatin resistance in CRC.

In order to construct a new type of immobilized enzyme catalytic system, poly (glycidyl methacrylate) was used as a support, and was modified with dopamine/polyethyleneimine by the mussel-inspired co-deposition method. The resulted material was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy spectroscopy (EDS), Zeta potential and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR), respectively. Then, the resulted material was applied for the immobilization of lipase, which was fermented via Candida parapsilosis CICC 33470. The characterization and enzymatic properties of immobilized enzyme were also investigated. The optimal immobilized conditions were the immobilization temperature of 30 ℃, the immobilization pH of 7.0, the immobilization time of 5 h and the immobilization initial enzyme acticity of 337.76 U/mL, together with the carrier addition of 0.2 g. It was indicated that the maximum enzyme activity reached 484.42±5.97 U/g-support, as the optimal reaction temperature, reaction pH and reaction time were 50 ℃, 8.0 and 10 min, respectively. In addition, the immobilized lipase exhibited excellent stability, and it kept 39.22% of original enzyme activity after eight reuse cycles. Furthermore, when the immobilized lipase was used to catalyze the esterification reaction of levulinic acid and lauryl alcohol, the conversion rate could reach 75.94%. It was illuminated that the modified poly (glycidyl methacrylate) could serve as a good support for lipase immobilization, and the results provided basic data for expanding the application areas of lipase in the future.

Abstract The role of inflammation in disease promotion is significant, yet the precise association between a newly identified inflammatory biomarker and insulin resistance (IR) and mortality remains uncertain. We aim to explore the potential correlation between systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and these factors. We used data from 2011 to 2016 of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, and multivariate logistic regression and restricted cubic spline were employed. Subgroup and interaction analysis were conducted to recognize the consistency of the results. The association between SII and mortality was described by survival analysis. 6734 participants were enrolled, of whom 49.3% (3318) exhibited IR and 7.02% experienced mortality. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that individuals in the highest quartile (Q4) of SII had a significantly increased risk of IR compared to those in the lowest quartile (Q1). We then identified a linear association between SII and IR with an inflection point of 407, but may be influenced by gender. Similarly, compared to Q1, people whose SII at Q4 showed a higher all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. It showed a significant association between SII and both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, but the results need to be interpreted with caution.

Abstract Dysfunction in the mesocortical pathway, connecting the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to the prefrontal cortex, has been implicated in chronic pain. While extensive research has focused on the role of dopamine, the contribution of glutamatergic signaling in pain modulation remains unknown. Using in vivo calcium imaging, we observe diminished VTA glutamatergic activity targeting the prelimbic cortex (PL) in a mouse model of neuropathic pain. Optogenetic activation of VTA glutamatergic terminals in the PL alleviates neuropathic pain, whereas inhibiting these terminals in naïve mice induces pain-like responses. Importantly, this pain-modulating effect is independent of dopamine co-release, as demonstrated by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene deletion. Furthermore, we show that VTA neurons primarily project to excitatory neurons in the PL, and their activation restores PL outputs to the anterior cingulate cortex, a key region involved in pain processing. These findings reveal a distinct mesocortical glutamatergic pathway that critically modulates neuropathic pain independent of dopamine signaling.

Abstract Background Accurate clinical structural variant (SV) calling is essential for cancer target identification and diagnosis but has been historically challenging due to the lack of ground truth for clinical specimens. Meanwhile, reduced clinical-testing cost is the key to the widespread clinical utility. Methods We analyzed massive data from tumor samples of 476 patients and developed a computational framework for accurate and cost-effective detection of clinically-relevant SVs. In addition, standard materials and classical experiments including immunohistochemistry and/or fluorescence in situ hybridization were used to validate the developed computational framework. Results We systematically evaluated the common algorithms for SV detection and established an expert-reviewed SV call set of 1,303 tumor-specific SVs with high-evidence levels. Moreover, we developed a random-forest-based decision model to improve the true positive of SVs. To independently validate the tailored ‘two-step’ strategy, we utilized standard materials and classical experiments. The accuracy of the model was over 90% (92–99.78%) for all types of data. Conclusion Our study provides a valuable resource and an actionable guide to improve cancer-specific SV detection accuracy and clinical applicability.

Abstract Background There are accumulating type 2 diabetes patients who have osteoporosis simultaneously. More effective therapeutic strategies should be discovered. Biochanin A (BCA) has been indicated that can play a role in improving metabolic disorders of type 2 diabetes and preventing osteoporosis. But whether BCA can treat type 2 diabetic osteoporosis has not been studied. Purpose To investigate if the BCA can protect against type 2 diabetic osteoporosis and clarify the mechanism. Methods Micro-CT and histology assays were performed to detect the trabecular bone and analyze the bone histomorphology effect of BCA. CCK-8 assay was performed to detect the toxicity of BCA. TRAcP staining, immunofluorescence and hydroxyapatite resorption assay were used to observe osteoclasts differentiation and resorptive activity. Molecular docking provided evidence about BCA regulating the MAPK axis via prediction by the algorithm. QRT-PCR and Western Blotting were utilized to detect the expression of osteoclastogenesis-related markers and MAPK signaling pathway. Results Accumulation of bone volume after BCA treatment could be found based on the 3D reconstruction. Besides, there were fewer osteoclasts in db/db mice treated with BCA than db/db mice treated with saline. In vitro, we found that BCA hadn’t toxicity in osteoclasts precursor, but also inhibited differentiation of osteoclasts. Further, we found that BCA suppresses osteoclastogenesis via ROS/MAPK signaling pathway. Conclusion BCA can prevent type 2 diabetic osteoporosis by restricting osteoclast differentiation via ROS/MAPK signaling pathway.

Abstract Background Ultrasound (US) has been widely used in screening and differential diagnosis of gallbladder wall thickening (GWT). However, the sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing wall-thickening type gallbladder cancer are limited, leading to delayed treatment or overtreatment. We aim to explore the value of high frame rate contrast enhanced ultrasound (H-CEUS) in distinguishing wall-thickening type gallbladder cancer (malignant) from GWT mimicking malignancy (benign). Methods This retrospective study enrolled consecutive patients with non-acute GWT who underwent US and H-CEUS examination before cholecystectomy. Clinical information, US image and H-CEUS image characteristics between malignant and benign GWT were compared. The independent risk factors for malignant GWT on H-CEUS images were selected by multivariate logistic regression analysis. The diagnostic performance of H-CEUS in determining malignant GWT was compared with that of the gallbladder reporting and data system (GB-RADS) score. Results Forty-six patients included 30 benign GWTs and 16 malignant GWTs. Only mural layering and interface with liver on US images were significantly different between malignant and benign GWT (P

Chemotherapy is one of the major approaches for the treatment of metastatic lung cancer, although it is limited by the low tumor delivery efficacy of anticancer drugs. Bacterial therapy is emerging for cancer treatment due to its high immune stimulation effect; however, excessively generated immunogenicity will cause serious inflammatory response syndrome. Here, we prepared cancer cell membrane-coated liposomal paclitaxel-loaded bacterial ghosts (LP@BG@CCM) by layer-by-layer encapsulation for the treatment of metastatic lung cancer. The preparation processes were simple, only involving film formation, electroporation, and pore extrusion. LP@BG@CCM owned much higher 4T1 cancer cell toxicity than LP@BG due to its faster fusion with cancer cells. In the 4T1 breast cancer metastatic lung cancer mouse models, the remarkably higher lung targeting of intravenously injected LP@BG@CCM was observed with the almost normalized lung appearance, the reduced lung weight, the clear lung tissue structure, and the enhanced cancer cell apoptosis compared to its precursors. Moreover, several major immune factors were improved after administration of LP@BG@CCM, including the CD4+/CD8a+ T cells in the spleen and the TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-4 in the lung. LP@BG@CCM exhibits the optimal synergistic chemo-immunotherapy, which is a promising medication for the treatment of metastatic lung cancer.

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to review clinical features of adolescent malignant germ cell tumors (MGCTs) in Beijing and analyze the peculiar characteristics of this age group. Methods Clinical characteristics, pathological presentations, and survival outcomes of 34 patients were analyzed retrospectively. Results Of 34 patients, 12 girls and 22 boys, 18 (52.9%) had an extra‐cranial tumor, including one testicular tumor, five ovarian tumors, one sacrococcygeal tumor, and 11 mediastinal tumors. Histologically, we found immature teratomas (n = 6), yolk sac tumors (n = 5), mixed malignant tumors (n = 5), an embryonic carcinoma (n = 1), and seminoma (n = 1). Three‐year event‐free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were 48.8% and 62.9%, respectively. Another 16 (47.1%) patients had an intracranial tumor, including nine in the pineal region, five in the suprasellar region, one in basal ganglia, and one in cerebellopontine. All patients had localized disease and an excellent outcome with 3‐year EFS and OS of 93.7% and 100%, respectively. Conclusions Adolescent MGCTs are rare with a strong dependence on gender, and the mediastina and pineal region are the most common tumor locations. The prognosis is promising compared with that of other adolescent tumors and MGCTs in other age groups. MGCTs in mediastina have a tendency to companion with other hematological malignancies, and the prognosis is extremely poor in these patients.