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Hongmei Yao,1 Yongqiang Pang,2 Yubin Chen,2 Nilu Si,2 Chao Wu,2 Zijing Wang,2 Yi Ren3 1Department of Cardiology, the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, TaiYuan City, 030001, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Internal Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, TaiYuan City, 030001, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Endocrinology, the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, TaiYuan City, 030001, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Yi Ren, Department of Endocrinology, the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, No. 85, Jiefang South Road, Yingze District, TaiYuan City, 030001, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-351-4639756, Email drrenyi@126.comIntroduction: Previous studies have identified diabetes as a risk factor for coronary heart disease. This study determined the correlation between the IL-6 gene − 572 G/C polymorphism and the incidence and severity of coronary heart disease in patients with diabetes.Methods: One hundred four patients with diabetes who were admitted to our hospital from January 2019 to December 2020 were retrospectively enrolled in the current study. These patients were divided into a diabetes only group (group A, 27 patients) and a diabetes complicated by coronary heart disease group (group B, 77 patients). Seventy patients in the latter group were further divided into low, medium, and high Syntax score groups based on coronary angiography results. A correlation analysis between IL-6, blood lipids, and the IL-6 − 572 G/C gene levels was performed.Results: The serum IL-6 level in patients with the IL-6-572G/C-GG genotype was higher than patients with the GC and CC genotypes. In patients with diabetes, the presence of the IL-6-572G/C-GG and GC genotypes was associated with a significantly increased risk of developing coronary heart disease. Patients with the IL-6-572G/C-GG genotype and diabetes were shown to have more severe coronary artery lesions compared to patients with the CC genotype. Moreover, the G allele of the IL-6-572G/C gene was linked to a higher risk of coronary heart disease and more severe coronary artery lesions in patients with diabetes compared to the C allele.Conclusion: The IL-6-572G/C gene polymorphism is associated with the incidence and severity of coronary heart disease in patients with diabetes.Keywords: IL-6, diabetes, coronary heart disease, gene polymorphism, coronary artery lesions

C15H10K2O6, orthorhombic, Pna21 (no. 33), a = 11.4410(13) Å, b = 3.9881(5) Å, c = 32.465(4) Å, V = 1481.3(3) Å3, Z = 4, R gt(F) = 0.0356, wR ref(F 2) = 0.0918, T = 296.15 K.

Background: A significant proportion of adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) experience speech, language and communication difficulties which are associated with poor physical and mental health outcomes. Speech and language therapy (SLT) interventions are an important way to address these communication difficulties, yet there is limited available evidence to provide information about the effectiveness of the different approaches used for this heterogeneous group. Aims: To review the evidence available for the effectiveness of SLT interventions aimed at improving communication for adults with ID. Methods & Procedures: A systematic search across relevant databases was performed. Information on methodological details of each relevant study, along with descriptions of the SLT interventions employed, were extracted and the Crowe Critical Appraisal Tool (CCAT) was used to assess quality. Findings were discussed in a narrative synthesis grouped by target communication skill. Outcomes & Results: A total of 10 relevant studies met the inclusion criteria. These were predominantly interventions aimed directly at adults with ID to improve speech, increase augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) use and develop interaction skills, with one study addressing work with carers. The included studies were all rated as low quality. There is weak preliminary evidence that SLT input can improve the communication skills of adults with ID. Conclusions & Implications: There is insufficient evidence to draw strong conclusions about the effectiveness of SLT in this population. Further high-level evidence across speech, language and communication domains is urgently needed.

C3H10CdNO9P3, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 9.1770(5) Å, b = 8.3742(4) Å, c = 15.4660(6) Å, β = 119.657(2)°, V = 1032.86(9) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0202, wRref(F2) = 0.0515, T = 296 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C3H10CdNO9P3, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 9.1770(5) Å, b = 8.3742(4) Å, c = 15.4660(6) Å, β = 119.657(2)°, V = 1032.86(9) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0202, wRref(F2) = 0.0515, T = 296 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study conducted the CO2-PTF coal experiment to further reveal the fracturing transformation mechanism of CO2 phase transition fracturing(CO2-PTF)coal. According to the CT scanning and 3D fracture reconstruction, we analyzed the fracture structure parameters of coal before and after CO2-PTF, and clarified the evolution characteristics of the three-dimensional fracture structure of coal induced by CO2-PTF. The research results indicated that after CO2-PTF, the total number of fractures in the coal sample decreased, while the total volume and surface area of fractures increased. The CO2-PTF generated fracture expansion and transformation effects where the small-scale fractures were expanded and transformed into larger scale fractures under the CO2-PTF pressure. The number, volume, and surface area of fractures of less than 1 000 μm in length were significantly reduced, while the volume and surface area of fractures of longer than 1 000 μm in length were significantly increased. The expansion and connection between fractures caused a decrease in their quantity. CO2-PTF improves the connectivity of the three-dimensional fracture in coal and is conducive to gas migration and production. This study offers new insights into and evaluation method for the effect of CO2-PTF, and could provide references for the research on fracture evolution characteristics in other unconventional natural gas reservoirs and their modifications.

C15H10K2O6, orthorhombic, Pna21 (no. 33), a = 11.4410(13) Å, b = 3.9881(5) Å, c = 32.465(4) Å, V = 1481.3(3) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0356, wRref(F2) = 0.0918, T = 296.15 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C15H10K2O6, orthorhombic, Pna21 (no. 33), a = 11.4410(13) Å, b = 3.9881(5) Å, c = 32.465(4) Å, V = 1481.3(3) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0356, wRref(F2) = 0.0918, T = 296.15 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract To evaluate the clinical efficacy and meniscus healing rates of the arthroscopically assisted tendon graft fixation of the medial meniscus posterior root tears (MMPRTs), and to identify some independent risk factors correlated with meniscal root healing status. We conducted a retrospective study with 129 patients who received arthroscopically assisted tendon graft fixation of the MMPRTs between January 2018 and September 2021. Functional recovery of the knee was evaluated and meniscal root healing status was assessed. The associations between different clinical factors and meniscal root healing status were analyzed. 98 (76.0%) patients had complete meniscal root healing with a minimum 2-year follow-up, and the Lysholm score, international knee documentation committee score, and visual analogue scale score were significantly improved at final follow-up (P 37.5 years, BMI > 24.5 kg/m2, preoperative meniscus extrusion > 2.7 mm and varus degree > 3.3° as independent risk factors correlated with incomplete meniscus root healing status.

The development and application of ambient ionization and miniature mass spectrometry have become the current research hotpot, which is capable of rapid, sensitive, on-site and real-time analysis of samples without complex sample pretreatment. In this study, a rapid on-site method using dielectric barrier discharge ionization (DBDI) and a miniature mass spectrometer was developed for the screening of prohibited substances in spray cosmetics. Helium gas was used as the discharge gas and 1 mm thick quartz glass was used as the dielectric barrier in a custom-made DBDI ion source. The two brass electrodes were 10 mm apart, both mounted outside the quartz glass. The inner diameter of the glass tube at the gas inlet and outlet was 1 mm. When the experiment was carried out, the DBDI ion source was placed 3 cm in front of the discontinuous atmospheric pressure interface (DAPI) of the miniature mass spectrometer. The spray cosmetic sample was placed 8 cm directly above the plasma beam generated by the DBDI. Without any sample pretreatment, once the sample spray valve was pressed, the sample microdroplets generated in the vertical direction collided with the plasma beam generated in the horizontal direction. In the region between the DBDI and the miniature mass spectrometer, the target substances were ionized by energy and charge transfer with the plasma beam, and then detected by the miniature mass spectrometer. The helium flow rate was set at an optimum value of 220 mL/min by a gas mass flow controller. Coupled with the miniature mass spectrometer, four prohibited colorants in disposable hair dye spray and four prohibited fragrances in spray lotion were screened. Based on the observed signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) of the most intense MS/MS fragment peaks and using S/N=3 as a criterion, the limits of detection (LODs) were estimated between 10 and 50 μg/kg for the eight prohibited substances. The entire analysis procedure could be completed within 1 min. The simplified analytical protocol can effectively solve the disadvantages of traditional analytical methods that are cumbersome and time-consuming. The proposed method is simple, rapid, sensitive, efficient, and suitable for rapid on-site screening of prohibited substances in spray cosmetics.

This study was conducted to investigate the change in activity and mounting behavior in Hanwoo (Korean Native Cattle) during the peri-estrus period and its application to estrus detection. A total of 20 Hanwoo cows were fitted with a neck-collar accelerometer device, which measured the location and acceleration of cow movements and recorded the number of instances of mounting behavior by the altitude data. The data were analyzed in three periods (24-, 6-, and 2-h periods). Blood samples were collected for 5 days after the prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) injection, and the concentrations of estradiol, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Activity and mounting behavior recorded over 2-h periods significantly increased as estrus approached and were more efficient at detecting estrus than over 24- and 6-h periods (p < 0.05). Endocrine patterns did not differ with the variation of individual cows during the peri-estrus period (p > 0.05). Activity was selected as the best predictor through stepwise discriminant analysis. However, activity alone is not enough to detect estrus. We suggest that a combination of activity and mounting behavior may improve estrus detection efficiency in Hanwoo. Further research is necessary to validate the findings on a larger sample size.

This study investigated the effects of corn resistant starch (RS) on the anti-obesity properties, nutrient digestibility, and blood parameters in healthy beagles. Four spayed and six castrated beagle dogs were divided into a control group (CON) with a diet comprising rice and chicken meal and a treatment group (TRT) with a diet comprising corn with an increased RS content by heating-cooling and chicken meal. All dogs in the CON and TRT groups were fed a 1.2-fold higher energy diet than the daily recommended energy requirement for 16 weeks. Throughout the study period, the body weight of dogs in CON increased, whereas no change in body weight was observed in TRT, resulting in a significant difference in body weight between the two groups at the end of the experiment. Moreover, a significant reduction in the apparent total tract digestibility was observed upon the analysis of dry matter, nitrogen-free extract, and organic matter in TRT compared with that in CON. The complete blood cell composition and biochemical parameters were within the reference range in both groups. A significant increase in the concentration of serum adiponectin was found in TRT at the end of the experiment. These results suggest that the corn RS may be beneficial for weight management owing to its reduced nutrient digestibility.

AbstractArenobufagin (ArBu) is a natural anticancer drug with good anti-tumor effects, but its clinical applications and drug development potential are limited due to its toxicity. The purpose of this study is to reduce the toxic side effects of ArBu and improve the efficacy of tumor treatment by incorporating it into poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly (lactide) co-polymer (PEG-PLA). ArBu@PEG-PLA micelles were prepared by a thin film hydration method. The optimized micelles were characterized by size, stability, drug loading, encapsulation rate, and drug release. The tumor-inhibition efficacy of the micelles was evaluated on A549 cells and tumor-bearing mice. The ArBu@PEG-PLA micelles have good drug-loading capacity, release performance, and stability. They can accumulate at the tumor site through the EPR effect. The micelles induce apoptosis through a mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Compared with the free ArBu, the ArBu@PEG-PLA micelles had lower toxicity and higher safety in the acute toxicity evaluation experiment. The in vivo anti-tumor experiment with tumor-bearing mice showed that the tumor-inhibition rate of ArBu@PEG-PLA micelles was 72.9%, which was 1.28-fold higher than that of free ArBu (57.1%), thus showing a good tumor treatment effect. This study indicates that ArBu@PEG-PLA polymeric micelles can significantly improve the toxicity and therapeutic efficacy of ArBu. These can lead to a new therapeutic strategy to reduce the toxicity of ArBu and enhance tumor treatment.

Abstract Background Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and targeted treatments have improved the health outcomes of patients with advanced melanoma. However, due to the high cost of novel therapies, it is crucial to evaluate their value by considering both effectiveness and cost. To compare the cost-effectiveness of these novel agents (atezolizumab-vemurafenib-cobimetinib, vemurafenib-plus-cobimetinib, dabrafenib-plus-trametinib, and encorafenib-plus-binimetinib) for first-line treatment of metastatic melanoma with the BRAFV600 mutation. Methods A patient-level model was developed to project the health outcomes of 4 strategies for patients with advanced melanoma. We estimated transition probabilities from the IMspire150 (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02908672), COMBI-AD (NCT01682083), and COLUMBUS (NCT01909453) trials using a parametric survival model. All health outcomes, including direct cost, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), were estimated from the US payer perspective. Lifetime cost, QALYs, life-years (LYs), and ICERs were calculated. Univariable and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed to test model robustness, along with multiple scenario analyses. Results Of the 4 competing strategies, atezolizumab-vemurafenib-cobimetinib produced the best health outcomes, and the vemurafenib-cobimetinib strategy was the least expensive option. Atezolizumab-vemurafenib-cobimetinib, dabrafenib-plus-trametinib, and vemurafenib-cobimetinib formed the cost-effective frontier, indicating that the ordered ICERs were $325,113/QALYs for dabrafenib-plus-trametinib vs. vemurafenib-cobimetinib strategies and $2,247,500/QALYs for atezolizumab-vemurafenib-cobimetinib vs. dabrafenib-plus-trametinib strategies. Encorafenib-plus-binimetinib was dominated by the other 3 competing strategies. The drug price and first-line utility significantly influenced the model utcomes. Conclusions For BRAF-mutant advanced melanoma, the vemurafenib-cobimetinib strategy could be considered the most cost-effective treatment at the willingness-to-pay threshold of $150,000.

Abstract Background Many surgeries have not reversed or prevented progressive symptomatic knee arthritis, and there is no consensus regarding the ideal repair or reconstruction technique for meniscal root treatment. Additionally, there is a lack of studies comparing the clinical efficacy evaluation of different repair techniques. The aim of the present study is to compare the clinical efficacy and healing rates of meniscus root in the treatment of medial meniscus posterior root tear (MMPRT) with the arthroscopically assisted meniscus root reconstruction with gracilis autograft and transtibial pull-out technique. Methods Patients with MMPRT (type II) who received treatment of posterior meniscus root attachment point through the tibial tunnel between January 2018 and April 2019 were included in this study. Patients were divided into 2 groups (arthroscopically assisted gracilis autograft reconstruction technique: 29 cases; transtibial pull-out technique group: 35 cases) according to the different treatment methods. The mean follow-up period was 26.9 ± 2.3 months. The demographics, functional recovery of the knee, and meniscus root healing rates (assessed using knee magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the final follow-up) were compared between the two groups. Results There was a statistically significant improvement in the Lysholm score, international knee documentation committee (IKDC) score, and visual analogue scale (VAS) score (P

Xenia effects describe the genetic contribution of pollen to seed phenotypes. Here the authors show that paternal imprinting of Ded1 contributes to the xenia effect in maize by setting the pace of endosperm development.

Abstract Background The aim of the present study was to compare the clinical efficacy of arthroscopic-assisted fixation using the Tight-rope system and clavicular hook plate fixation in the treatment of Neer IIB distal clavicle fractures. Methods We enrolled 48 consecutive patients with Neer IIB distal clavicle fractures who were treated at our institution from February 2016 and August 2020. These patients were divided into 2 groups based on the fixation method (16 cases with Tight-rope system and 32 cases with clavicular hook plate), and demographics and clinical characteristics of patients in different groups were compared. Results All 48 patients had functional outcome scores of the affected shoulder available at a mean of 23.8 ± 5.1 months, and there was a statistically significant improvement in the constant score, American shoulder and elbow surgeons (ASES) score, visual analogue scale (VAS) score at the end of follow-up (p

Bacterial leaf blight (BB) of rice, caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), threatens global food security and the livelihood of small-scale rice producers. Analyses of Xoo collections from Asia, Africa and the Americas demonstrated complete continental segregation, despite robust global rice trade. Here, we report unprecedented BB outbreaks in Tanzania. The causative strains, unlike endemic African Xoo, carry Asian-type TAL effectors targeting the sucrose transporter SWEET11a and iTALes suppressing Xa1. Phylogenomics clustered these strains with Xoo from Southern-China. African rice varieties do not carry effective resistance. To protect African rice production against this emerging threat, we developed a hybrid CRISPR-Cas9/Cpf1 system to edit all known TALe-binding elements in three SWEET promoters of the East African elite variety Komboka. The edited lines show broad-spectrum resistance against Asian and African strains of Xoo, including strains recently discovered in Tanzania. The strategy could help to protect global rice crops from BB pandemics.

This study was performed to development the alternative farrowing pen (AFP) and to investigate performance and behavior of lactating sows and their litter. A total of 64 multiparous sows were randomly divided into two groups and were allocated to farrowing crates (FCs) and AFPs. The AFPs contained a crate and support bars that could be folded to provide the sows with extra space on day 5 postpartum. Behavior was recorded by charge-coupled device cameras and digital video recorders, and the data were scanned every 2 min to obtain an instantaneous behavioral sample. Farrowing systems did not affect feed intake, back-fat thickness, litter size and piglet weight at birth and weaning (p > 0.05). In addition, there were no differences in the number of crushed piglets between the two farrowing systems (p > 0.05). However, the weaning-to-estrus interval was shorter in the sows of the AFPs than in thous of the FCs (p < 0.05). The sows spent most of their time lying down during the lactating period, at about 80% lateral recumbency and 10%–15% ventral recumbency. The only significant differences were in the feeding and drinking behavior between sows in the two farrowing systems (p < 0.05). The FC sows displayed more feeding and drinking behavior than the AFP sows, especially in the late lactating period (p < 0.05). Piglets in the FCs tended to spend more time walking than piglets in the AFPs (p < 0.05), whereas there were no differences in suckling and lying behavior between piglets in the two farrowing systems (p > 0.05). It is concluded that the AFPs with temporary crating until day 4 postpartum did not negatively affect performance and crushed piglet compared with the FCs. It also may improve animal welfare by allowing sows to move and turn around during the lactating period. Further research is needed to find suitable housing designs to enhance productivity and animal welfare.

Abstract Background Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a critical role in the pathogenesis of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH). The role of N7-methylguanosine (m7G) modification in lncRNAs has received increased attentions in recent years. However, the m7G-methylation of lncRNA in HPH has yet to be determined. We have therefore performed a transcriptome-wide analysis of m7G lncRNAs in HPH. Results Differentially-expressed m7Gs were detected in HPH, and m7G lncRNAs were significantly upregulated compared with non-m7G lncRNAs in HPH. Importantly, this was the first time that the upregulated m7G lncXR_591973 and m7G lncXR_592398 were identified in HPH. Conclusion This study provides the first m7G transcriptome-wide analysis of HPH. Importantly, two HPH-associated m7G lncRNAs were identified, although their clinical significance requires further validation.