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The 2022 MW6.7 Menyuan earthquake ruptured the western end of the Tianzhu seismic gap, providing an opportunity to study the regional seismogenic characteristics and seismic hazards. Here we use interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) and seismic data to study the mainshock rupture, early afterslip and the second largest aftershock of the 2022 Menyuan earthquake sequences. Our modeling results show that the mainshock ruptured the Lenglongling fault and the Tuolaishan fault with a maximum slip of ∼3 m. Rapid postseismic transient deformation occurred at the center of the Lenglongling fault. Our afterslip modeling reveals that the majority of afterslip occurred in the deeper part of the Lenglongling fault. A high-angle conjugated faulting event is found at the middle section of the Lenglongling fault. We use the stress inversion to investigate the possible triggering mechanism of the conjugated rupture event. The results indicate the maximum principal stress direction is in ∼222°, forming a ∼22° angle between the conjugated fault of second largest aftershock and the mainshock. The calculated normal stress changes indicate the region is within a pull-apart stress field, which favors such a conjugated rupturing event. Our study will help understand the rupture behavior of such kind of conjugated fault in other regions.

Abstract Background Femoral neck system (FNS) has exhibited some drawbacks, such as non-fit of the plate with the lateral femoral cortex, postoperative pain, and the potential risk of subtrochanteric fractures. We have developed a low-profile FNS system that addresses some compatibility issues in FNS. In this study, we conducted finite element analysis on the 1-hole FNS (1 H-FNS), 2-holes FNS (2 H-FNS), and low-profile FNS (LP-FNS) and compared their biomechanical performance. Methods After the mesh convergence analysis, we established three groups of 1 H-FNS, 2 H-FNS, and LP-FNS. The interfragmentary gap, sliding distance, shear stress, and compressive stress and the bone-implant interface compression stress, stiffness, and displacement were determined under the neutral, flexion, or extension conditions of the hip joint, respectively. The stress and displacement of the femur after the implant removal were also investigated. Results (1) There were no obvious differences among the three FNS groups in terms of the IFM distance. However, the LP-FNS group showed less rotational angle compared with conventional FNS (neutral: 1 H-FNS, -61.64%; 2 H-FNS, -45.40%). Also, the maximum bone-implant interface compression stress was obviously decreased under the neutral, flexion, or extension conditions of the hip joint (1 H-FNS: -6.47%, -20.59%, or -4.49%; 2 H-FNS: -3.11%, 16.70%, or -7.03%; respectively). (2) After the implant removal, there was no notable difference in the maximum displacement between the three groups, but the maximum von Mises stress displayed a notable difference between LP-FNS and 1 H-FNS groups (-15.27%) except for the difference between LP-FNS and 2 H-FNS groups (-4.57%). Conclusions The LP-FNS may not only provide the same biomechanical stabilities as the 1 H-FNS and 2 H-FNS, but also have more advantages in rotational resistance especially under the neutral condition of the hip joint, in the bone-implant interface compression stress, and after the implant removal. In addition, the 1 H-FNS and 2 H-FNS have similar biomechanical stabilities except for the maximum von Mises stress after the implant removal. The femur after the LP-FNS removal not only is subjected to relatively little stress but also minimizes stress concentration areas.

Binomials have been relatively understudied compared to other types of multiword expressions (MWEs) in second language research, such as collocations and idioms. This study investigated English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners’ processing of English binomials and how it is influenced by interlexical factors (L1-L2 congruency and L1-lexicalization) and intralexical factors (word and binomial frequency, binomial reversibility, and binomial predictability). Forty Chinese EFL learners participated in a phrase acceptability judgment task of 64 target binomials (16 congruent L1-lexicalized, 16 congruent L1-nonlexicalized, and 32 incongruent) and 64 non-binomial controls. Results revealed that learners experienced difficulty judging the formulaicity of binomials. They processed binomial stimuli significantly faster than non-binomial baselines, demonstrating a binomial phrase effect. They also processed L1-L2 congruent items faster and more accurately than incongruent items, showing a robust congruency effect. The congruent items which are lexicalized in the L1 showed further processing advantage than the non-lexicalized items, indicating a graded congruency effect. Moreover, binomial reversibility and binomial predictability (measured with cloze probability) also showed significant effects. These findings highlight the need to distinguish and investigate different types of congruency, explore appropriate measures for MWE predictability, and to examine binomials focusing on their unique features.

Abstract Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a serious complication of diabetic patients which negatively affects their foot health. This study aimed to estimate the role and mechanism of the miR‐200 family in DNA damage of diabetic wound healing. Human foreskin fibroblasts (HFF‐1 cells) were stimulated with high glucose (HG). Db/db mice were utilized to conduct the DFU in vivo model. Cell viability was evaluated using 3‐(4,5‐dimethyl‐2‐thiazolyl)‐2,5‐diphenyl‐2‐H‐tetrazolium bromide assays. Superoxide dismutase activity was determined using detection kits. Reactive oxygen species determination was conducted via dichlorodihydrofluorescein‐diacetate assays. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay was used to evaluate 8‐oxo‐7,8‐dihydro‐2′deoxyguanosine levels. Genes and protein expression were analyzed by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, or immunohistochemical analyses. Luciferase reporter gene and RNA immunoprecipitation assays determined the interaction with miR‐200a/b/c‐3p and GLI family zinc finger protein 2 (GLI2) or ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase. HG repressed cell proliferation and DNA damage repair, promoted miR‐200a/b/c‐3p expression, and suppressed ATM and GLI2. MiR‐200a/b/c‐3p inhibition ameliorated HG‐induced cell proliferation and DNA damage repair repression. MiR‐200a/b/c‐3p targeted ATM. Then, the silenced ATM reversed the miR‐200a/b/c‐3p inhibition‐mediated alleviative effects under HG. Next, GLI2 overexpression alleviated the HG‐induced cell proliferation and DNA damage repair inhibition via miR‐200a/b/c‐3p. MiR‐200a/b/c‐3p inhibition significantly promoted DNA damage repair and wound healing in DFU mice. GLI2 promoted cell proliferation and DNA damage repair by regulating the miR‐200/ATM axis to enhance diabetic wound healing in DFU.

Cloud cover is a significant factor affecting the effectiveness of satellite-based Earth observations. Existing cloud detection algorithms primarily rely on imaging data from satellite sensors in the visible to near-infrared spectral range, making it challenging to achieve day-and-night cloud monitoring. Convolutional neural networks have shown outstanding performance in previous cloud detection algorithms due to their robust ability to extract local information. However, their inherent inductive bias limits their capacity to learn long-range semantic information. To address these challenges, we proposed SwinCloud, a U-shaped semantic segmentation network based on an enhanced Swin Transformer for cloud detection in the thermal infrared spectral range. Specifically, we augment the Swin Transformer's window attention module with a CNN-based parallel pathway to effectively model global-local information. We employ a feature fusion module before the final upsampling module in the decoder to better integrate low-level spatial information and high-level semantic information. On the Landsat-8 cloud detection dataset, our model outperforms state-of-the-art methods. When transferred to the SDGSAT-TIS cloud detection dataset, the mIOU of experiment results reaches 69.9%, demonstrating the strong transferability of SwinCloud across different sensors. We also applied SwinCloud to cloud detection in the visible bands of Landsat-8. The results demonstrated SwinCloud's generalization capability across different bands.

Alismatis Rhizoma (AR) is a crucial substance for discovering new triterpenoids to address hyperlipidemia and obesity. Currently, approximately 120 triterpenoids have been identified in AR, making the discovery of new triterpenoids increasingly challenging. Thus, based on the advantages of HPLC-HRMS, it was utilized to identify both reported and new triterpenoids, and then in-silico analysis was employed to predict the functions of these new triterpenoids. Twenty reported triterpenoids and four new triterpenoids (25-methoxy-16-oxo-11-anhydroalisol A, 25-methoxy-16-oxo-alisol A, 25-methoxy-16-oxo-alisol A 23-acetate, and 25-methoxy-16-oxo-alisol A 24-acetate) from AR were identified using HPLC-HRMS, and then KEGG analysis suggested four new triterpenoids might be activated the PPAR signaling pathway to relieve hyperlipemia. The results of PPI and molecular docking indicated PPARA might be the key targets for anti-hyperlipidemia of four new triterpenoids, of which 25-methoxy-16-oxo-11-anhydroalisol A has better binding activity with PPARA. Additionally, 25-methoxy-16-oxo-11-anhydroalisol A has more potential as a candidate drug because of its better absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and lower toxicity. Hence, our findings proved there are new triterpenoids with anti-hyperlipidemia medicinal potential in AR, thereby guiding the direction of future works and reducing the consumption of time and financial resources.

ABSTRACT Background Umbilical cord‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs) could alleviate diabetes‐induced injury. Hence, this investigation aimed to explore the role and mechanism of UCMSCs‐derived exosomal circHIPK3 (exo‐circHIPK3) in diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods HFF‐1 cells were cultured in high glucose (HG) medium or normal medium, and treated with UCMSCs‐derived exo‐circHIPK3 or miR‐20b‐5p mimics or Unc‐51‐like autophagy activating kinase 1 (ULK1) overexpression vector. The surface markers of UCMSCs were analyzed using a flow cytometer. The differentiation potential of UCMSCs was evaluated using oil red O staining, alizarin red staining and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining. Cell proliferation was determined by 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The miRNA expressions were analyzed by reverse transcription‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR). Protein levels were quantified by western blot. An immunofluorescence staining was used for observing LC3 expression. The interaction between miR‐20b‐5p and circHIPK3, and between miR‐20b‐5b and ULK1 were identified by a RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay and a luciferase reporter assay. Results Up‐regulation of circHIPK3 was found in UCMSCs‐derived exosomes. Exo‐circHIPK3 decreased the miR‐20b‐5p level while increasing the contents of ULK1 and autophagy‐related gene 13 (Atg13) in HG‐induced fibroblasts. In addition, exo‐circHIPK3 activated HG‐induced fibroblast autophagy and proliferation. Overexpressed miR‐20b‐5p promoted fibroblast injury by inhibiting cell autophagy via the ULK1/Atg13 axis in HG conditions of high glucose. Moreover, exo‐circHIPK3 enhanced autophagy and cell viability in HG‐induced fibroblasts through the miR‐20b‐5p/ULK1/Atg13 axis. Conclusion UCMSCs‐derived exosomal circHIPK3 promoted cell autophagy and proliferation and accelerated the fibroblast injury repair by the miR‐20b‐5p/ULK1/Atg13 axis.

Background: In thyroid cancers, a reduction in the expression of the sodium/iodide symporter (NIS) is observed concomitant with a diminution in cancer cell differentiation. The β-catenin/LEF-1 pathway emerges as a crucial regulatory pathway influencing the functional expression of NIS in human thyroid cancer cells. Further research is required to comprehensively elucidate the role of NIS overexpression in impeding the progression of thyroid cancer cells. Methods: Human papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) cell lines, specifically PTC-1 and KTC-1, were subjected to Scratch and Transwell assays, colony formation, and tumor sphere formation tests to investigate invasion and migration, focusing on the impact of NIS overexpression. The assessment involved the use of western blot to analyze the expression levels of β-catenin, NIS, CD133, SRY-related HMG box2 (Sox2), lymphoid enhancer-binding factor 1 (LEF-1), NANOG, octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (Oct4), aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family, member A1 (ALDH1A1), and epithelial cellular adhesion molecule (EpCAM). Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS version 20.0, and the graphs were developed using GraphPad Prism 7 (GraphPad Software, Inc.). Results: Our observations revealed that Nthy-ori-3-1 cell lines exhibited notably higher average expression levels of NIS, yet significantly lower levels of LEF-1 and β-catenin compared to PTC-1 and KTC-1 cell lines. Furthermore, the overexpression of β-catenin resulted in reduced binding of LEF-1 to NIF promotion but concurrently increased the expression of NIS. The downregulation of NIS markedly enhanced the expression of ALDH1A1, CD133, OCT4, Nanog, SOX2, and EpCam—all of which are targets within the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Conversely, the upregulation of NIS suppressed the expression of these proteins. Moreover, cells treated with β-catenin activators demonstrated an increased capability to form more spheroids and displayed heightened aggressiveness. Conversely, the NIS overexpression (OE) group exhibited suppressed abilities in invasion and colony formation. Conclusion: Thyroid cancer cells exhibit diminished expression of NIS, and the invasion and maintenance of stem cells in thyroid cancer cells were hindered by NIS OE through the inhibition of the β-catenin/LEF-1 pathway. Further research is warranted to comprehensively assess this outcome, which holds promise as a potential targeted treatment for thyroid cancer.

Abstract Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) was reported to be a risk factor of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infection. The application of bundled skin antiseptic preparation before CIED implantation decreased the risk of CIED infection, even in patients undergoing complex procedures. However, the effect of bundled skin antiseptic preparation to prevent CIED infection in patients with CKD was not tested. Methods Between July 2012 and December 2019, 1668 patients receiving CIEDs comprised this retrospective cohort study and were categorized into two groups by the diagnosis of CKD: group with CKD (n = 750, 45%) and group without CKD (n = 918, 55%). The primary outcome was clinical CIED infection, including major and minor infection, and the secondary outcomes were cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality. Propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to reduce selection bias between the study groups. Results During a 4-year follow-up period, 30 patients (1.8%) had a CIED infection. After PSM, the incidence of CIED infection was similar between the patients with CKD and without CKD (1.0% vs. 1.8%). The incidences of cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality were higher in patients with CKD compared to patients without CKD (6.5% vs. 3.0%, P = 0.009; 22.8% vs. 11.8%, P

Sentinel-1A/B data are crucial for retrieving numerical information about surface phenomena and processes. Coregistration of terrain observation by progressive scans (TOPS) data is a critical step in its application. TOPS data must be fundamentally co-registered with an accuracy of 0.001 pixels. However, various decorrelation factors due to natural vegetation and seasonal effects affect the coregistration accuracy of TOPS data. This paper proposed an enhanced spectral diversity coregistration method for dual-polarimetric (PolESD) Sentinel-1A/B TOPS data. The PolESD method suppresses speckle noise based on a unified non-local framework in dual-pol Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), and extracts the phase of the optimal polarization channel from the denoised polarimetric interferometric coherency matrix. Compared with the traditional ESD method developed for single-polarization data, the PolESD method can obtain more accurate coherence and phase and get more pixels for azimuth-offset estimation. In bare areas covered with low vegetation, the number of pixels selected by PolESD is more than the Boxcar method. It can also correct misregistration more effectively and eliminate phase jumps in the burst edge. Therefore, PolESD will help improve the application of TOPS data in low-coherence scenarios.

Abstract Aims The timely selection of severe heart failure (HF) patients for cardiac transplantation and advanced HF therapy is challenging. Peak oxygen consumption (VO2) values obtained by the cardiopulmonary exercise testing are used to determine the transplant recipient list. This study reassessed the prognostic predictability of peak VO2 and compared it with the Heart Failure Survival Score (HFSS) in the modern optimized guideline‐directed medical therapy (GDMT) era. Methods and results We retrospectively selected 377 acute HF patients discharged from the hospital. The primary outcome was a composite of all‐cause mortality, or urgent cardiac transplantation. We divided these patients into the more GDMT (two or more types of GDMT) and less GDMT groups (fewer than two types of GDMT) and compared the performance of their peak VO2 and HFSS in predicting primary outcomes. The median follow‐up period was 3.3 years. The primary outcome occurred in 57 participants. Peak VO2 outperformed HFSS when predicting 1 year (0.81 vs. 0.61; P = 0.017) and 2 year (0.78 vs. 0.58; P

BackgroundLeft bundle branch pacing (LBBP) is an emerging physiological pacing modality. Left ventricular (LV) myocardial work (MW) incorporates afterload and LV global longitudinal strain to estimate global and segmental myocardial contractility. However, the effect of LBBP on LV MW remains unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of LBBP on LV MW in patients receiving pacemaker for bradyarrhythmia.MethodsWe prospectively enrolled 70 bradycardia patients with normal LV systolic function receiving LBBP (n = 46) and non-selective His-bundle pacing (NS-HBP) (n = 24). For comparative analysis, patients receiving right ventricular pacing (RVP) (n = 16) and control subjects (n = 10) were enrolled. Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography was performed. The LV pressure-strain loop was non-invasively constructed to assess global LV MW.ResultsAfter 6-month follow-up, LBBP group (with >40% ventricular pacing during 6 months) had shorter peak strain dispersion (PSD) compared with RVP group, and higher LV global longitudinal strain compared with RVP group and NS-HBP group, but had no difference in left intraventricular mechanical dyssynchrony, including septal-to-posterior wall motion delay and PSD, compared with NS-HBP group. During ventricular pacing, LBBP group had higher global MW index (GWI) (2,189 ± 527 vs. 1,493 ± 799 mmHg%, P = 0.002), higher global constructive work (GCW) (2,921 ± 771 vs. 2,203 ± 866 mmHg%, P = 0.009), lower global wasted work (GWW) (211 ± 161 vs. 484 ± 281 mmHg%, P 40%), LBBP preserved more LV MW compared with NS-HBP and RVP. Further studies are warranted to assess the association between LV MW and long-term clinical outcomes in LBBP with high ventricular pacing burden.

Pyriclobenzuron 11 PBU – pyriclobenzuron.(PBU) is a novel molluscicide developed to control Pomacea canaliculate, and little information on its environmental fate has been published. In this study, the photolysis of PBU in an aqueous environment was simulated using a xenon lamp. Results showed that the photolysis of PBU in water followed first-order kinetics, exhibiting a t0.5 of 95.1 h and 83.6 h in Milli-Q water and river water, respectively. Two main photolysis products 22 PPs – photolysis products.(PPs) were detected by HPLC-UV and identified by UPLC-Q/TOF MS, which were formed via the hydroxylation and photocatalytic hydro-dehalogenation of PBU, respectively. The initial relative abundance of photolysis product 1 33 PP-1 – photolysis product 1.(PP-1) in Milli-Q water was 1.55 times higher than that in river water. PP-1 was detected at 26.5 % and 76.8 % of the maximum relative abundance in the river water and Milli-Q water after 720 h, respectively. Photolysis product 2 44 PP-2 – photolysis product 2.(PP-2) was stable in water because of its weak hydrophilicity. The PP-2 detected after 720 h in Milli-Q water and river water was 93.7 % and 93.5 % of the maximum relative abundance, respectively. Finally, ECOSAR software was used to evaluate the acute aquatic toxicity of PBU and its PPs, revealing that the PPs had lower toxicity levels to non-target aquatic organisms.

Abstract Metformin, the first line pharmacotherapy for type 2 diabetes has demonstrated favourable effects in prostate cancer (PCa) across a range of studies evaluating PCa patient outcomes amongst metformin users. However, a lack of rigorously conducted prospective studies has stalled clinical use in this setting. Despite multiple studies evaluating the mechanisms underpinning antitumour effects of metformin in PCa, to date, no reviews have compared these findings. This systematic review and meta‐analysis consolidates the mechanisms accounting for the antitumour effect of metformin in PCa and evaluates the antitumour efficacy of metformin in preclinical PCa studies. Data were obtained through Medline and EMBASE, extracted by two independent assessors. Risk of bias was assessed using the TOXR tool. Meta‐analysis compared in vivo reductions of PCa tumour volume with metformin. In total, 447 articles were identified with 80 duplicates, and 261 articles excluded based on eligibility criteria. The remaining 106 articles were assessed and 71 excluded, with 35 articles included for systematic review, and eight included for meta‐analysis. The mechanisms of action of metformin regarding tumour growth, viability, migration, invasion, cell metabolism, and activation of signalling cascades are individually discussed. The mechanisms by which metformin inhibits PCa cell growth are multimodal. Metformin regulates expression of multiple proteins/genes to inhibit cellular proliferation, cell cycle progression, and cellular invasion and migration. Published in vivo studies also conclusively demonstrate that metformin inhibits PCa growth. This highlights the potential of metformin to be repurposed as an anticancer agent, warranting further investigation of metformin in the setting of PCa.

Abstract Background To assess the effectiveness and toxicity of radiation dose escalation for locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LA-NPC) in patients with local and/or regional residual lesion(s) after standard treatment. Methods From November 2011 to November 2020, 259 LA-NPC patients who had local and/or regional residual lesion(s) after induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy (IC + CCRT) from our hospital were included. The total dose of primary radiotherapy (RT) was 68.1–74.25 Gy (median, 70.4 Gy). The boost doses were 4.0–18.0 Gy (median, 9 Gy), 1.8–2.0 Gy/fraction. Results For all patients, the 5-year local relapse-free survival was 90.2%, regional relapse-free survival was 89.1%, locoregional relapse-free survival (LRRFS) was 79.5%, distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) was 87.9%, failure-free survival (FFS) was 69.0%, and overall survival (OS) was 86.3%. LRRFS, DMFS, FFS, and OS in patients with age ≤ 65 versus > 65, plasma Epstein-Barr virus-deoxyribonucleic acid ≤ 500 versus > 500, T1–2 versus T3–4, N0–1 versus N2–3, and stage III versus stage IV showed no statistically significant differences. The interval between primary RT and boost was not a prognostic factor for LRRFS, DMFS, FFS, and OS. Males had a lower 3-year FFS rate than females (72.9% vs. 83.7%, P = 0.024). LA-NPCs with locally and regionally residual lesion(s) had the worst 3-year DMFS and OS rates compared with locally or regionally residual lesion(s) (77.7% vs. 98.8% vs. 87.4%, P = 0.014; 75.9% vs. 94.5% vs. 82.4%, P = 0.002). Conclusion Boost radiation was an option for LA-NPCs with locally and/or regionally residual lesions after receiving IC + CCRT. It warrants further prospective study. Trial registration: Retrospectively registered.

Abstract Background Vitamin K antagonists and different direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have different renal clearance rates. However, the impact of different stages of chronic renal impairment on the efficacy and safety of warfarin, dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients remains unclear. Methods This study enrolled AF patients from the Chang Gung Research Database. The study endpoints included thromboembolic events, major/fatal bleeding, gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). The risks of time to study endpoints between groups were compared using a Cox proportional hazards regression model with adjustment. Results This study enrolled 3525 patients with moderate renal impairment (30 ≤ creatinine clearance (CrCl)

As a new type of lightweight filling material, EPS (Expanded polystyrene) cement soil often faces the effects of chloride erosion and dry-wet cycles in engineering. Therefore, based on the Hopkinson pressure bar test, this study analyzes the dynamic mechanical properties of EPS cement soil specimens with different dry-wet cycles under different chloride environments. The main conclusions are as follows: Under the action of impact load, the stress-strain curve of EPS cement soil specimen is roughly divided into three stages, elastic deformation stage, strengthening stage and failure stage; the regression analysis of the results of dynamic compressive strength was carried out, and the expression of dynamic compressive strength with the concentration of sodium chloride solution and the number of dry-wet cycles was obtained. The correlation coefficient R2 > 0.98. The regression analysis of absorption energy and energy absorption efficiency was carried out respectively. It was found that after 15 dry-wet cycles in 30 g / L sodium chloride solution, the absorption energy and energy absorption efficiency reached the lowest, which were 15.19 J and 23.26 % respectively, which were 36.52 % and 34.28 % lower than those without dry-wet cycles. The impact toughness index of cement soil specimens decreases with the increase of the unmber of dry-wet cycle and sodium chloride solution concentration. Finally, the mechanism of strength change of cement soil specimens was analyzed from the microscopic point of view combined with SEM images.

Abstract Background Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a chronic infectious disease caused by diabetes mellitus (DM). Angiogenesis plays the decisive role in wound healing of DFU. Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) can ameliorate angiogenesis in DFU by exosomes. This study aims to determine the mechanism of exosomes from mmu_circ_0001052-modified ADSCs in angiogenesis of DFU. Methods HUVECs were induced by high glucose and mice stimulated using STZ injection during high-fat feeding, which were treated with exosomes derived from mmu_circ_0001052-modified ADSCs. Real-time PCR determined the expression of gene and western blot determined protein levels. Proliferation, migration, apoptosis and angiogenesis of HUVECs were studied by MTT assay, transwell test, flow cytometry and tube formation experiment, respectively. Histological lesion of wound was determined by HE staining. Results The expression of circ_0001052 was upregulated in ADSCs and miR-106a-5p elevated in high glucose-induced HUVECs. Exosomal mmu_circ_0001052 significantly accelerated wound healing in mice with DFU. Also, exosomal mmu_circ_0001052 evoked the reduction of miR-106a-5p and the elevation of FGF4 in high glucose-induced HUVECs and wound tissue of DFU mice. Exosomal mmu_circ_0001052 was determined to sponge miR-106a-5p that targeted FGF4 in DFU. In high glucose-induced HUVECs, exosomal mmu_circ_0001052 inhibited apoptosis and miR-106a-5p expression, and meanwhile promoted proliferation, migration, angiogenesis and expressions of FGF4, VEGF and p-p38/p38, which were reversed by miR-106a-5p elevation. Conclusion Mmu_circ_0001052 in ADSCs-derived exosomes promote angiogenesis of DFU via miR-106a-5p and FGF4/p38MAPK pathway. Graphical Abstract

BackgroundThe benefit of catheter ablation vs. medical treatment has been reported to be inconsistent in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) due to different enrollment criteria. This meta-analysis aimed to decipher the differential outcomes stratified by different left ventricular ejection fractions (LVEFs) and AF types.MethodsWe searched PubMed, Embase, ProQuest, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, ClinicalKey, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases for RCTs comparing medical treatment and catheter ablation in patients with AF and HF published before March 31, 2023. Nine studies were included.ResultsWhen patients were stratified by LVEF, improved LVEF and 6-min walk distance, less AF recurrence, and lower all-cause mortality in favor of catheter ablation were observed in patients with LVEF ≤50% but not in patients with LVEF ≤35%, and short HF hospitalization was observed in patients with LVEF ≤50% and LVEF ≤35%. When patients were stratified by AF types, improved LVEF and 6-min walk distance, better HF questionnaire score, and short HF hospitalization in favor of catheter ablation were observed both in patients with nonparoxysmal AF and mixed AF (paroxysmal and persistent) and less AF recurrence and lower all-cause mortality in favor of catheter ablation were observed in only patients with mixed AF.ConclusionsThis meta-analysis showed improved LVEF and 6-min walk distance, less AF recurrence, and lower all-cause mortality in favor of catheter ablation vs. medical treatment in AF patients with HF and LVEF of 36%–50%. Compared with medical treatment, catheter ablation improved LVEF and had better HF status in patients with nonparoxysmal AF and mixed AF; however, AF recurrence and all-cause mortality in favor of catheter ablation were observed in only HF patients with mixed AF.

Pymetrozine is used on potato (S. tuberosum) and Chrysanthemum morifolium (C. morifolium) to obtain greater yield and quality. However, pesticide use carries the potential for residues to remain and be detected on harvested crops. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate pesticide residues in S. tuberosum and C. morifolium products that are commercially available for human consumption and to assess the associated dietary risks. For this study, a total of 340 samples (200 S. tuberosum samples and 140 C. morifolium samples) were collected randomly from supermarkets and farmer’s markets. Residues of pymetrozine in S. tuberosum and C. morifolium were detected by using an established and validated QuECHERS-HPLC-MS / MS method, while a dietary risk assessment of pymetrozine in S. tuberosum and C. morifolium was performed using these data. The detection rates of pymetrozine in S. tuberosum and C. morifolium samples were 92.31% and 98.17%, respectively, with residues not more than 0.036 and 0.024 mg/kg, respectively. Based on these results, the dietary risk assessment indicated that the intake of pymetrozine residues in S. tuberosum and C. morifolium does not pose a health risk. This work improved our understanding of the potential exposure risk of pymetrozine in S. tuberosum and C. morifolium.

In this study, the fate of two pesticides commonly used on cowpeas, thiamethoxam and pyraclostrobin, during the preparation of home-made pickled cowpeas was investigated using an improved QuEChERS method combined with UHPLC-MS/MS. Although pesticide residues were primarily distributed on cowpea samples, some were transferred to brine. The dissipation half-life of thiamethoxam on cowpea samples was significantly shorter than that of pyraclostrobin due to thiamethoxam’s higher water solubility. Thiamethoxam demonstrated a half-life of 5.12 ± 0.66 days, whereas pyraclostrobin exhibited a longer half-life of 71.46 ± 7.87 days. In addition, the degradation half-lives of these two pesticides in the whole system (cowpea and brine) were 45.01 ± 4.99 and 70.51 ± 5.91 days, respectively. This result indicates that the pickling did not effectively promote the degradation of thiamethoxam and pyraclostrobin. The metabolite clothianidin of thiamethoxam was not produced throughout the pickling process, but the metabolite BF 500-3 of pyraclostrobin was detected in cowpea samples. The detection rates for thiamethoxam, pyraclostrobin, and BF 500-3 in the 20 market samples were 10%, 70%, and 45%, respectively. However, the risk quotient analysis indicated that the risk of dietary intake of thiamethoxam and pyraclostrobin in pickled cowpeas by Chinese consumers was negligible.

Aortic stenosis (AS) is the most prevalent valvular disease in the elderly population and the prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) increases in the elderly population. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) becomes an important treatment for patients with AS at high surgical risk. This metanalysis aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) and direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in patients with AF undergoing TAVR. We searched the different databases for articles published before January 31, 2022. In total, 7 studies including 25,255 patients were analyzed. Data on demographics, comorbidities, CHA2DS2-VASc score, Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) score, and incidences of all-cause mortality, major bleeding, intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), stroke, and thromboembolic events were obtained and analyzed. The VKA group had a lower CHA2DS2-VASc score (3.2 ± 1.2 vs 3.3 ± 1.2; P

Objective. The study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes between the patients receiving coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for the patients with symptomatic severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods. Between February 2007 and February 2020, a total of 745 patients who received coronary artery angiography for reduced LV ejection fraction (LVEF) 22, who received CABG (N = 47) and PCI (N = 69), were recruited for this study.Results. There was no significant difference in the incidence values of in-hospital course and those of in-hospital mortality, acute kidney injury, and postprocedural hemodialysis. There was no significant difference in the 1-yearfollow-up of recurrent MI, revascularization, or stroke between the groups. The 1-year heart failure (HF) hospitalization rate was significantly lower in the CABG group than in all patients of the PCI group (13.2% vs. 33.3%; p=0.035); however, there was no significant difference in the same variable between the CABG group and the complete revascularization subgroup (13.2% vs. 28.2%; p=0.160). The revascularization index (RI) was significantly higher in the CABG group than in all patients of the PCI group or complete revascularization subgroup (0.93 ± 0.12 vs. 0.71 ± 0.25; p

Timely response to earthquake characterization can facilitate earthquake emergency rescue and further scientific investigations. On June 1, 2022, MW 5.9 earthquake occurred in the southern area of the Longmenshan fault zone. This event also happened at the south end of the Dayi seismic gap and is the largest earthquake that has occurred in this seismic gap since the 1970 M 6.2 event. The slip-distribution model constrained by the seismic waveforms suggests a thrust-dominated faulting mechanism. The main slip occurs at a depth of ∼14 ​km, and the cumulative energy is released in the first 6 ​s. The variations of Coulomb stress caused by the mainshock show a positive change in the southwest area of the Dayi seismic gap, indicating possible activation of future earthquakes. In addition, we emphasize the importance of rapid estimation of deformation for near-field hazard delineation, especially when interferometric radar fails to image coseismic deformation in a high relief terrain.

Abstract Objective Long-term oral anticoagulant should be considered or recommended in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and CHA2DS2VASc score ≥ 1 for stroke prevention. Warfarin and different direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are metabolized differently by the kidney. The impact on renal function after long-term use of anticoagulants in the patients with AF remains unclear. This study aimed to compare DOACs and warfarin’s impact on the decline in renal function from a large cohort with AF. Methods This study included patients with nonvalvular AF from 2000 to 2018, mainly through the medical history (ICD code) of the Chang Gung Research Database. Baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), follow-up eGFR and the change in eGFR between 2-year eGFR and baseline eGFR were compared between different DOACs and warfarin after propensity score matching. The primary study endpoint was acute kidney injury (AKI). Results 3657 patients were enrolled in this study and the mean observation time was 3.3 ± 0.9 years. During the observation period, there was a significantly higher incidence of AKI during follow-up in the warfarin group than in the different DOAC groups before and after propensity score matching (before: warfarin vs. DOAC: 9.2% vs. 5.2%, p