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Using density functional theory calculations, we investigated the magnetization and magnetic anisotropy of O2, H, and OH adsorbates on diamond surfaces. Our findings reveal that these adsorbates possess significant magnetic moments, with O2 having 2.0 μB and H and OH having 1.0 μB, respectively. Furthermore, they exhibit a non-negligible exchange coupling with the spin of the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center positioned a few layers beneath the surface. Given the extremely small magnetic anisotropy energies of all of these systems (

Perovskite SrTiO3 (STO) is an attractive photocatalyst for solar watersplitting, but suffers from a limited photoresponse in the ultraviolet spectralrange due to its wide band gap. By means of hybrid density functional theorycalculations, we systematically study engineering its band gap via doping 4dand 5d transition metals M (M=Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Irand Pt) and chalcogen elements Y (Y=S and Se). We find that transition metaldopant M either has no effect on STO band gap or introduces detrimental mid-gapstates, except for Pd and Pt that are able to reduce the STO band gap. Incontrast, doping S and Se significantly reduces STO's direct band gap, thusleading to appreciable optical absorption transitions in the visible spectralrange. Our findings provide that Pd, S and Se doped STO are potential promisingphotocatalysts for water splitting under visible light irradiation, therebyproviding insightful theoretical guides for experiments to improve thephotocatalytic activity of STO.

The anomalous Hall effect (AHE), and magnetic and electronic transport properties were investigated in a series of amorphous transition metal thin films - FexSi1-x, FexGe1-x, CoxGe1-x, CoxSi1-x, and Fe1-yCoySi. The experimental results are compared with density functional theory calculations of the density of Berry curvature and intrinsic anomalous Hall conductivity. In all samples, the longitudinal conductivity (σxx), magnetization (M), and Hall resistivity (ρxy) increase with increasing transition metal concentration; due to the structural disorder σxx is lower in all samples than a typical crystalline metal. In the systems with Fe as the transition metal (including Fe1-yCoySi), the magnetization and AHE are large and in some cases greater than the crystalline analog. In all samples, the AHE is dominated by the intrinsic mechanism, arising from a nonzero, locally derived Berry curvature. The anomalous Hall angle (AHA) (=σxy/σxx) is as large as 5% at low temperature. These results are compared with the AHAs reported in a broad range of crystalline and amorphous materials. Previous work has shown that in a typical crystalline ferromagnet the Hall conductivity (σxy) and σxx are correlated and are usually either both large or both small, resulting in an AHA that decreases with increasing σxy. By contrast, the AHA increases linearly with increasing σxy in the amorphous systems. This trend is attributed to a generally low σxx, while σxy varies and can be large. In the amorphous systems, σxx and σxy are not coupled, and there may thus exist the potential to further increase the AHA by increasing σxy.

The amorphous iron-germanium system (a-FexGe1-x) lacks long-range structural order and hence lacks a meaningful Brillouin zone. The magnetization of a-FexGe1-x is well explained by the Stoner model for Fe concentrations x above the onset of magnetic order around x=0.4, indicating that the local order of the amorphous structure preserves the spin-split density of states of the Fe-3d states sufficiently to polarize the electronic structure despite k being a bad quantum number. Measurements reveal an enhanced anomalous Hall resistivity ρxyAH relative to crystalline FeGe; this ρxyAH is compared to density-functional theory calculations of the anomalous Hall conductivity to resolve its underlying mechanisms. The intrinsic mechanism, typically understood as the Berry curvature integrated over occupied k states but shown here to be equivalent to the density of curvature integrated over occupied energies in aperiodic materials, dominates the anomalous Hall conductivity of a-FexGe1-x (0.38≤x≤0.61). The density of curvature is the sum of spin-orbit correlations of local orbital states and can hence be calculated with no reference to k space. This result and the accompanying Stoner-like model for the intrinsic anomalous Hall conductivity establish a unified understanding of the underlying physics of the anomalous Hall effect in both crystalline and disordered systems.

Point contact Andreev reflection spectroscopy has been utilized to determine the spin polarization of both amorphous and crystalline FexSi1-x (0.58

Point contact Andreev reflection spectroscopy has been utilized to determine the spin polarization of both amorphous and crystalline FexSi1-x (0.58

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.077002.

A major obstacle to using superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) as qubits is flux noise. We propose that the heretofore mysterious spins producing flux noise could be O_{2} molecules adsorbed on the surface. Using density functional theory calculations, we find that an O_{2} molecule adsorbed on an α-alumina surface has a magnetic moment of ~1.8 μ_{B}. The spin is oriented perpendicular to the axis of the O-O bond, the barrier to spin rotations is about 10 mK. Monte Carlo simulations of ferromagnetically coupled, anisotropic XY spins on a square lattice find 1/f magnetization noise, consistent with flux noise in Al SQUIDs.

Off-stoichiometry, epitaxial FexSi1-x thin films (0.5 < x < 1.0) exhibit D03 or B2 chemical order, even far from stoichiometry. Theoretical calculations show the magnetic moment is strongly enhanced in the fully chemically disordered A2 phase, while both theoretical and experimental results show that the magnetization is nearly the same in the B2 and D03 phases, meaning partial chemical disorder does not influence the magnetism. The dependencies of the magnetic moments are directly and nonlinearly linked to the number of Si atoms, primarily nearest neighbor but also to a lesser extent (up to 10%) next nearest neighbor, surrounding Fe, explaining the similarities between B2 and D03 and the strong enhancement for the A2 structure. The calculated electronic density of states shows many similarities in both structure and spin polarization between the D03 and B2 structures, while the A2 structure exhibits disorder broadening and a reduced spin polarization.

Off-stoichiometry, epitaxial FexSi1-x thin films (0.5 < x < 1.0) exhibit D03 or B2 chemical order, even far from stoichiometry. Theoretical calculations show the magnetic moment is strongly enhanced in the fully chemically disordered A2 phase, while both theoretical and experimental results show that the magnetization is nearly the same in the B2 and D03 phases, meaning partial chemical disorder does not influence the magnetism. The dependencies of the magnetic moments are directly and nonlinearly linked to the number of Si atoms, primarily nearest neighbor but also to a lesser extent (up to 10%) next nearest neighbor, surrounding Fe, explaining the similarities between B2 and D03 and the strong enhancement for the A2 structure. The calculated electronic density of states shows many similarities in both structure and spin polarization between the D03 and B2 structures, while the A2 structure exhibits disorder broadening and a reduced spin polarization.

We report that anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) and anomalous Hall conductivity (AHC) in the Pd1-xPtx/Y3Fe5O12 (YIG) bilayers could be tuned by varying the Pt concentration (x) and also temperature (T). In particular, the AHC at low T changes its sign when x increases from 0 to 1, agreeing with the negative and positive AHC predicted by our ab initio calculations for the magnetic proximity (MP)-induced ferromagnetic Pd and Pt, respectively. The AMR ratio is enhanced by ten times when x increases from 0 to 1. Furthermore, the AMR of PdPt/YIG bilayers shows similar T-dependence as the magnetic susceptibility of the corresponding bulk Pd/Pt, also indicating the MP effect as the origin of the AMR. The present work demonstrates that the alloying of Pt and Pd not only offers tunable spin-orbit coupling but also is useful to reveal the nature of the AMR and AHC in Pt/YIG bilayers, which are useful for spintronics applications.

Amorphous FexSi1-x thin films exhibit a striking enhancement in magnetization compared to crystalline films with the same composition (0.45 < x < 0.75), and xray magnetic circular dichroism reveals an enhancement in both spin and orbital moments in the amorphous films. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reproduce this enhanced magnetization and also show a relatively large spinpolarization at the Fermi energy, also seen experimentally in Andreev reflection. Theory and experiment show that the amorphous materials have a decreased number of nearest neighbors and reduced number density relative to the crystalline samples of the same composition; the associated decrease in Fe-Si neighbors reduces the hybridization of Fe orbitals, leading to the enhanced moment.

Amorphous FexSi1-x thin films exhibit a striking enhancement in magnetization compared to crystalline films with the same composition (0.45 < x < 0.75), and xray magnetic circular dichroism reveals an enhancement in both spin and orbital moments in the amorphous films. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reproduce this enhanced magnetization and also show a relatively large spinpolarization at the Fermi energy, also seen experimentally in Andreev reflection. Theory and experiment show that the amorphous materials have a decreased number of nearest neighbors and reduced number density relative to the crystalline samples of the same composition; the associated decrease in Fe-Si neighbors reduces the hybridization of Fe orbitals, leading to the enhanced moment.

Developing two-dimensional (2D) hybrid nanosheet arrays integrating inorganic and organic components is highly significant for third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) applications. Herein, an oriented 2D porphyrin-based MOF (ZnTPyP(Co)) thin film composed of vertically stacked ultrathin nanosheets was fabricated via the liquid-phase epitaxial (LPE) layer-by-layer (LBL) method. The prepared ZnTPyP(Co) thin film exhibits an outstanding third-order NLO response with a high third-order nonlinear susceptibility of ∼2.63 × 10 -7 esu, which is ascribed to the hybrid nanosheet array structure. Additionally, experimental Z-scan measurement and theoretical calculations also demonstrate that the substitution of Co metal ions in the porphyrinic core can increase the level of delocalization of the porphyrinic group and contribute to the material's enhanced NLO properties. These findings not only provide new film candidates for NLO application but also highlight the potential of 2D MOF nanosheets in advanced optical devices.

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of short-peptide exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) therapy in inducing remission during active Crohn's disease (CD) in children, as well as changes in physical growth and nutritional indicators before and after treatment., Methods: A prospective study included 43 children with active CD who were admitted to the Department of Gastroenterology, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2017 to January 2024. The participants were randomly divided into a medication treatment group (13 children) and a short-peptide + medication treatment group (30 children). The changes in the Pediatric Crohn's Disease Activity Index (PCDAI) scores, physical growth, and nutritional indicators before and after treatment were analyzed in both groups., Results: The PCDAI scores in the short-peptide + medication treatment group were lower than those in the medication treatment group after treatment ( P <0.05). The Z-scores for weight-for-age, body mass index, and albumin levels were higher in the short-peptide + medication treatment group compared to the medication treatment group ( P <0.05). In the patients with moderate to severe CD, total protein levels in the short-peptide + medication treatment group were significantly higher than those in the medication treatment group ( P <0.05)., Conclusions: Short-peptide EEN therapy can induce clinical remission in children with active CD and promote their physical growth while improving their nutritional status.

Designing high-performance binder-free electrochemical electrodes is crucially important toward supercapacitors. In this paper, a Zn/N-doped porous carbon film coating on flexible carbon nanotubes (ZIF-8@CT-800) derived from the epitaxial Zn-MOF film growth on cotton textile was successfully fabricated via a combination of the liquid-phase epitaxial (LPE) method and calcination treatments. The ZIF-8@CT-800 serves directly as a self-supported electrode for supercapacitors and exhibits a high areal capacitance of 930 mF·cm -2 at a current density of 1 mA·cm -2 and a good recyclability of 86% after 2000 cycles. The excellent supercapacitor property is ascribed to the unique structural design of ZIF-8@CT-800, which provides appropriate channels for enhanced electronic and ionic transport as well as increased surface area for accessing more electrolyte ions. This work will provide significant guidance for designing MOF-derived porous carbon to construct flexible binder-free electrode materials with high electrochemical performance.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of preemptive analgesia with ibuprofen on postoperative pain following single posterior tooth implantation, aiming to provide a clinical reference for its application. Methods: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel-group trial was conducted. A total of 82 participants were included in the trial, meeting the eligibility criteria from April 2022 to April 2024 at the Capital Medical University School of Stomatology (40 cases), Beijing TianTan Hospital, Capital Medical University (22 cases), Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University (20 cases). Participants were randomly assigned in a 1∶1 ratio to either the ibuprofen group or the control group, with each group comprising 41 individuals. Participants in the ibuprofen group received 300 mg of sustained-release ibuprofen capsules orally 15 min before surgery, while the control group received a placebo. Both groups received the same postoperative analgesic regimen for 3 days. Pain scores were assessed using the Numerical rating scale (NRS) at 30 min, 4 h, 6 h, 8 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h postoperatively, and the additional use of analgesic medication was recorded from days 4 to 6 postoperatively. Results: A total of 82 participants were initially enrolled in the study, with 7 dropouts (4 from the control group and 3 from the ibuprofen group), resulting in 75 participants (37 in the control group and 38 in the ibuprofen group) completing the trial. There were no reports of adverse events such as nausea or vomiting among the participants. The ibuprofen group exhibited significantly lower pain scores at 4 h, 6 h and 8 h [1.0 (0.0, 2.0), 1.0 (0.0, 2.0), 1.5 (0.0, 3.0) ] postoperatively compared to the control group 4 h, 6 h and 8 h [2.0 (1.0, 3.0), 3.0 (1.5, 4.0), 2.0 (1.0, 4.0)] ( Z =-1.99, P =0.047; Z =-3.01, P =0.003; Z =2.10, P =0.036). The proportions of patients requiring additional analgesic medication between days 4 and 6 post-surgery were 18.4% (7/38) in the ibuprofen group and 27.0% (10/37) in the control group, with no significant difference (χ 2 =0.79, P =0.373). The median additional medication usage postoperatively was [0.0 (0.0, 0.0) pills] in the ibuprofen group and [0.0 (0.0, 1.0) pills] in the control group, with no significant difference ( Z =-0.78, P =0.439). Conclusions: Preemptive analgesia with ibuprofen effectively reduces postoperative pain following tooth implantation, representing a safe and effective perioperative pain management strategy.

Objectives: The current work aimed to provide a comprehensive single-cell landscape of lupus nephritis (LN) kidneys, including immune and non-immune cells, identify disease-associated cell populations and unravel their participation within the kidney microenvironment., Methods: Single-cell RNA and T cell receptor sequencing were performed on renal biopsy tissues from 40 patients with LN and 6 healthy donors as controls. Matched peripheral blood samples from seven LN patients were also sequenced. Multiplex immunohistochemical analysis was performed on an independent cohort of 60 patients and validated using flow cytometric characterisation of human kidney tissues and in vitro assays., Results: We uncovered a notable enrichment of CD163 + dendritic cells (DC3s) in LN kidneys, which exhibited a positive correlation with the severity of LN. In contrast to their counterparts in blood, DC3s in LN kidney displayed activated and highly proinflammatory phenotype. DC3s showed strong interactions with CD4 + T cells, contributing to intrarenal T cell clonal expansion, activation of CD4 + effector T cell and polarisation towards Th1/Th17. Injured proximal tubular epithelial cells (iPTECs) may orchestrate DC3 activation, adhesion and recruitment within the LN kidneys. In cultures, blood DC3s treated with iPTECs acquired distinct capabilities to polarise Th1/Th17 cells. Remarkably, the enumeration of kidney DC3s might be a potential biomarker for induction treatment response in LN patients., Conclusion: The intricate interplay involving DC3s, T cells and tubular epithelial cells within kidneys may substantially contribute to LN pathogenesis. The enumeration of renal DC3 holds potential as a valuable stratification feature for guiding LN patient treatment decisions in clinical practice., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Triggering ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of cell death, has recently emerged as an approach for treating cancer. A better understanding of the role and regulation of ferroptosis is needed to realize the potential of this therapeutic strategy. Here, we observed extensive activation of ferroptosis in hepatoma cells and human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases. Patients with low to moderate activation of ferroptosis in tumors had the highest risk of recurrence compared to patients with no or high ferroptosis. Upon encountering ferroptotic liver cancer cells, aggregated macrophages efficiently secreted proinflammatory IL1β to trigger neutrophil-mediated sinusoidal vascular remodeling, thereby creating favorable conditions for aggressive tumor growth and lung metastasis. Mechanistically, hyaluronan fragments released by cancer cells acted via an NF-κB-dependent pathway to upregulate IL1β precursors and the NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages, and oxidized phospholipids secreted by ferroptotic cells activated the NLRP3 inflammasome to release functional IL1β. Depleting either macrophages or neutrophils or neutralizing IL1β in vivo effectively abrogated ferroptosis-mediated liver cancer growth and lung metastasis. More importantly, the ferroptosis-elicited inflammatory cellular network served as a negative feedback mechanism that led to therapeutic resistance to sorafenib in HCC. Targeting the ferroptosis-induced inflammatory axis significantly improved the therapeutic efficacy of sorafenib in vivo. Together, this study identified a role for ferroptosis in promoting HCC by triggering a macrophage/IL1β/neutrophil/vasculature axis., Significance: Ferroptosis induces a favorable tumor microenvironment and supports liver cancer progression by stimulating an inflammatory cellular network that can be targeted to suppress metastasis and improve the efficacy of sorafenib., (©2024 American Association for Cancer Research.)

Objective: To evaluate the impact of preemptive analgesia with ibuprofen on postoperative pain following the extraction of impacted mandibular third molars in a Chinese population, aiming to provide a clinical reference for its application. Methods: This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel-group trial was conducted from April 2022 to October 2023 at the Capital Medical University School of Stomatology (40 cases), Beijing TianTan Hospital, Capital Medical University (22 cases), and Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University (20 cases). It included 82 patients with impacted mandibular third molars, with 41 in the ibuprofen group and 41 in the control group. Participants in the ibuprofen group received 300 mg of sustained-release ibuprofen capsules orally 15 min before surgery, while the control group received a placebo. Both groups were instructed to take sustained-release ibuprofen capsules as planned for 3 days post-surgery. Pain intensity was measured using the numerical rating scale at 30 min, 4 h, 6 h, 8 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h after surgery, and the use of additional analgesic medication was recorded during days 4 to 6 postoperatively. Results: All 82 patients completed the study according to the protocol. No adverse events such as nausea, vomiting, or allergies were reported in either group during the trial. The ibuprofen group exhibited significantly lower pain scores at 4 h [2.0 (1.0, 4.0) vs . 4.0 (3.0, 5.0)] ( Z =-3.73, P <0.001), 6 h [2.0 (1.0, 4.0) vs . 5.0(2.5, 6.0)] ( Z =-3.38, P <0.001), and 8 h [2.0 (1.0, 4.0) vs . 5.0 (2.0, 6.0)] ( Z =-2.11, P =0.035) postoperatively compared to the control group. There were no statistically significant differences in pain scores between the groups at 30 min, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h postoperatively ( P >0.05). Additionally, 11 out of 41 patients (26.8%) in the ibuprofen group and 23 out of 41 patients (56.1%) in the control group required extra analgesic medication between days 4 and 6 post-surgery, with the ibuprofen group taking significantly fewer additional pills [0.0 (0.0, 1.0) vs . 1.0 (0.0, 3.0)] ( Z =-2.81, P =0.005). Conclusions: A pain management regimen involving 300 mg of oral sustained-release ibuprofen capsules administered 15 minutes before surgery and continued for 3 d postoperatively effectively reduces pain levels and the total amount of analgesic medication used after the extraction of impacted mandibular third molars. Considering its efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness, ibuprofen is recommended as a first-line drug for perioperative pain management, enhancing patient comfort during diagnosis and treatment in a feasible manner.

Background: Liver injury is common in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Excessive autophagy often leads to an imbalance of homeostasis in hepatocytes, which induces lipid peroxidation and mitochondrial iron deposition and ultimately leads to ferroptosis. Our previous study found that milk fat globule epidermal growth factor 8 (MFG-E8) alleviates acinar cell damage during SAP via binding to αvβ3/5 integrins. MFG-E8 also seems to mitigate pancreatic fibrosis via inhibiting chaperone-mediated autophagy., Aim: To speculate whether MFG-E8 could also alleviate SAP induced liver injury by restoring the abnormal autophagy flux., Methods: SAP was induced in mice by 2 hly intraperitoneal injections of 4.0 g/kg L-arginine or 7 hly injections of 50 μg/kg cerulein plus lipopolysaccharide. mfge8 -knockout mice were used to study the effect of MFG-E8 deficiency on SAP-induced liver injury. Cilengitide, a specific αvβ3/5 integrin inhibitor, was used to investigate the possible mechanism of MFG-E8., Results: The results showed that MFG-E8 deficiency aggravated SAP-induced liver injury in mice, enhanced autophagy flux in hepatocyte, and worsened the degree of ferroptosis. Exogenous MFG-E8 reduced SAP-induced liver injury in a dose-dependent manner. Mechanistically, MFG-E8 mitigated excessive autophagy and inhibited ferroptosis in liver cells. Cilengitide abolished MFG-E8's beneficial effects in SAP-induced liver injury., Conclusion: MFG-E8 acts as an endogenous protective mediator in SAP-induced liver injury. MFG-E8 alleviates the excessive autophagy and inhibits ferroptosis in hepatocytes by binding to integrin αVβ3/5., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article., (©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Magnetic anastomosis substantially shortens the duration of vascular anastomosis. We aimed to apply magnetic anastomosis technology (MAT) to donor liver implantations in pig orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Twenty healthy adult pigs were randomly divided into donors and recipients, and major vascular anastomosis was performed using MAT during OLT. Recipient liver and kidney function was measured pre-surgery and 12, 24 and 72 h post-surgery. Vascular anastomoses examinations were performed using ultrasound or angiography weekly post-surgery, and pathological examinations of vascular anastomoses were performed during autopsy after animal euthanasia. All recipients survived 24 h after surgery, which is considered as successful transplantation. Anhepatic duration was only 13 min, and no anastomotic obstruction or stenosis, magnetic displacement and anastomotic angulation, or distortion was found upon postoperative examinations of major liver vasculature. Aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and total bilirubin serum levels increased considerably postoperatively. The follow-up period for this study was 1 year, and the median survival time of all recipients was 115 d (interquartile range = 11-180 d). The main causes of death were liver failure, immune rejection, infection, and arterial anastomotic bleeding. Moreover, vascular anastomoses healed well with a survival time of more than two weeks. We developed a novel magnetic device to create a fast and safe technique to perform major vascular anastomoses in pig liver transplantations. Additionally, the liver graft implantation using MAT considerably shortened the recipient warm ischemia time, which will reduce the extent of ischemia-reperfusion injury. We conclude that MAT is an effective method for donor liver fast implantation in OLT in pigs., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background and Aims: N6-methyladenosine (m 6 A) is the most common post-transcriptional modification of RNA in eukaryotes, which has been demonstrated to play important roles in various biological processes. However, its roles in fulminant hepatitis remain largely unknown. In the current study, YTHDF1 expression was found to be significantly downregulated in the livers among patients, as well as murine models with fulminant hepatitis versus normal controls. Thus, we hypothesized that YTHDF1 protects against fulminant hepatitis and investigated the underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods: Fulminant hepatitis was induced by D-GalN/LPS in conventional YTHDF1 knockout (YTHDF1 -/- ) mice, hepatocyte-specific YTHDF1 overexpression (AAV8- YTHDF1) mice, and corresponding control mice. Primary hepatocytes were cultured and subjected to LPS insult in vitro . Hepatic histology, cell death, oxidative stress and mitochondrial function were examined to assess liver damage. The molecular mechanisms of YTHDF1 function were explored using multi-omics analysis. Results: Ablation of YTHDF1 exacerbated hepatic apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and increased the number of aberrant mitochondria, while YTHDF1 overexpression resulted in the opposite effects. Multiomics analysis identified MFG-E8 as the direct target of YTHDF1. YTHDF1 augmented the translation of MFG-E8 in an m 6 A-dependent manner without effect on its mRNA expression, thereby restoring mitochondrial function. Additionally, administration of MFG-E8 almost completely reversed the YTHDF1 deficiency-mediated exacerbation of liver injury. Conclusions: The current study suggested that the m 6 A reader YTHDF1 alleviates cell death, enhances antioxidant capacity and restores mitochondrial function in fulminant hepatitis by promoting MFG-E8 protein translation in an m 6 A-dependent manner., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists., (© The author(s).)

The reinvigoration of anti-tumor T cells in response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy is well established. Whether and how ICB therapy manipulates antibody-mediated immune response in cancer environments, however, remains elusive. Using tandem mass spectrometric analysis of modification of immunoglobulin G (IgG) from hepatoma tissues, we identified a role of ICB therapy in catalyzing IgG sialylation in the Fc region. Effector T cells triggered sialylation of IgG via an interferon (IFN)-γ-ST6Gal-I-dependent pathway. DC-SIGN + macrophages represented the main target cells of sialylated IgG. Upon interacting with sialylated IgG, DC-SIGN stimulated Raf-1-elicited elevation of ATF3, which inactivated cGAS-STING pathway and eliminated subsequent type-I-IFN-triggered antitumorigenic immunity. Although enhanced IgG sialylation in tumors predicted improved therapeutic outcomes for patients receiving ICB therapy, impeding IgG sialylation augmented antitumorigenic T cell immunity after ICB therapy. Thus, targeting antibody-based negative feedback action of ICB therapy has potential for improving efficacy of cancer immunotherapies., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In order to reduce the vulnerability, the responses to shock waves for booster explosives JO9C, JH14, JH6, and insensitive RDX were evaluated using shock wave partition loading test. To explain the experimental results, molecular dynamics simulation, intermolecular interaction and bond dissociation energy (BDE), and shock initiation pressures were evaluated using the B3LYP, MP2 (full), and M06-2X methods with the 6-311 +  + G(2df,2p) basis set. The order of the responsivity is JO9C > JH14 > JH6 > insensitive RDX. The binding energies follow the order of JH14* ≈ JO9C* < insensitive RDX* < JH6*. The interaction energies and BDEs are in RDX∙∙∙(CH 3 COOCa) +  > RDX∙∙∙CH 3 COOH > RDX∙∙∙CH 2 FCH 2 F. Thus, it can be inferred that for the RDX-based explosives, the stronger the binding energy, intermolecular interaction, and BDE are, the more insensitive the booster is, and thus, the larger energy has to be consumed to overcome the above three kinds of energies during the initiation process, leading to the smaller energy output and weaker response. However, it should be noted that it is mainly the density and the type of explosive that influence the depth of the dent produced on the steel witness block. The essence of the responses to shock waves is revealed by the reduced density gradient, atoms in molecules, and surface electrostatic potentials. HIGHLIGHTS: • Response of booster to shock wave was evaluated by shock wave partition loading test. • Responsivity to shock wave is explained by binding energy, intermolecular interaction, and BDE. • Shock initiation pressures were evaluated. • Essence of responses to shock wave is revealed by RDG, AIM and ESP., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Although laparoscopic technology has achieved rapid development in the surgical field, it has not been applied to liver transplantation, primarily because of difficulties associated with laparoscopic vascular anastomosis. In this study, we introduced a new magnetic-assisted vascular anastomosis technique and explored its application in laparoscopic liver transplantation in pigs., Methods: Two sets of magnetic vascular anastomosis rings (MVARs) with different diameters were developed. One set was used for anastomosis of the suprahepatic vena cava (SHVC) and the other set was used for anastomosis of the infrahepatic vena cava (IHVC) and portal vein (PV). Six laparoscopic orthotopic liver transplantations were performed in pigs. Donor liver was obtained via open surgery. Hepatectomy was performed in the recipients through laparoscopic surgery. Anastomosis of the SHVC was performed using hand-assisted magnetic anastomosis, and the anastomosis of the IHVC and PV was performed by magnetic anastomosis with or without hand assistance., Results: Liver transplants were successfully performed in five of the six cases. Postoperative ultrasonographic examination showed that the portal inflow was smooth. However, PV bending and blood flow obstruction occurred in one case because the MVARs were attached to each other. The durations of loading of MVAR in the laparoscope group and manual assistance group for IHVC and PV were 13 ± 5 vs. 5 ± 1 min (P < 0.01) and 10 ± 2 vs. 4 ± 1 min (P < 0.05), respectively. The durations of MVAR anastomosis in the laparoscope group and manual assistance group for IHVC and PV were 5 ± 1 vs. 1 ± 1 min (P < 0.01), and 5 ± 1 vs. 1 ± 1 min (P < 0.01), respectively. The anhepatic phase was 43 ± 4 min in the laparoscope group and 23 ± 2 min in the manual assistance group (P < 0.01)., Conclusions: Our study showed that magnetic-assisted laparoscopic liver transplantation can be successfully carried out in pigs., Competing Interests: Competing interest No benefits in any form have been received or will be received from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article., (Copyright © 2022 First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine in China. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

We explored the effects of C:N ratio in root exudates of Robinia pseudoacacia plantations on soil nutrient cycling and microbial activity on the Loess Plateau. We collected in-situ soil from the R. pseudoacacia plantations with essentially identical habitat conditions and growing time of 15, 25, 35, and 45 years. By adding root exudates with different C:N ratios (N only, C:N=10, C:N=50, C:N=100, C only) to the soil and using deionized water as a control, we analyzed the effects of C:N ratio of root exudates on the physicochemical properties of elements such as carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, soil pH, and soil respiration. The results showed that: 1) Organic carbon content was positively correlated with the C:N ratio of root exudates. Soil organic carbon (SOC) decomposition was faster when root exudates C:N=10. Higher C:N ratio of root exudates (C:N=100) could inhibit SOC decomposition, but only C addition had no significant effect on SOC. 2) Different root exudate C:N produced no significant influence on the total nitrogen. The addition of carbon promoted microbial uptake of ammonium nitrogen, while the addition of nitrogen promoted the nitrification of ammonium nitrogen. As the C:N ratio of root exudates increased, soil ammonium nitrogen content decreased. 3) The addition of nitrogen would reduce soil pH and increase soil total phosphorus content. 4) Soil respiration of R. pseudoacacia plantations was positively correlated with the C:N ratio of root exudates. With the increases of C:N ratio, the promoting effect of root exudates on soil respiration at 25 and 35 years R. pseudoacacia plantations was stronger. In conclusion, higher C:N ratio of root exudates will significantly promote the effect on soil respiration of R. pseudoacacia plantations. Our results improved the understan-ding of the root-soil-microbial interactions in forests.

Rectal cancer is a life‑threatening disease worldwide. Chemotherapy resistance is common in rectal adenocarcinoma patients and has unfavorable survival outcomes; however, its related molecular mechanisms remain unknown. To identify genes related to the initiation and progression of rectal adenocarcinoma, three datasets were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. In total, differentially expressed genes were analyzed from 294 tumor and 277 para-carcinoma samples from patients with rectal cancer. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes functions were investigated. Cytoscape software and MicroRNA Enrichment Turned Network were applied to construct a protein-protein interaction network of the dependent hub genes and related microRNAs. The Oncomine database was used to identify hub genes. Additionally, Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis was applied to determine the RNA expression level. Tumor immune infiltration was assessed using the Tumor Immune Estimation Resource database. The expression profiles of hub genes between stages, and their prognostic value, were also evaluated. During this study, data from The Cancer Genome Atlas were utilized. In rectal adenocarcinoma, four hub genes including CXCL1, CXCL2, CXCL3, and GNG4 were highly expressed at the gene and RNA levels. The expression of CXCL1, CXCL2, and CXCL3 was regulated by has-miR-1-3p and had a strong positive correlation with macrophage and neutrophil. CXCL2 and CXCL3 were differentially expressed at different tumor stages. High expression levels of CXCL1 and CXCL3 predicted poor survival. In conclusion, the CXCL1 and CXCL3 genes may have potential for prognosis and molecular targeted therapy of rectal adenocarcinoma.

To investigate the surgical effect of hip arthroscopic labrum reconstruction. A retrospective study was performed on the clinical data of 12 patients who underwent hip arthroscopic labrum reconstruction in our department from September 2017 to February 2021 and were followed up for 5-46 months, with an average of 21.5 months. All the patients had a hip joint space of more than 2 mm, and Tonnis grade less than level Ⅱ. These 12 patients underwent arthroscopic debridement of hyperplastic synovium, femoral head and neck and/or acetabular osteoplasty, and labrum reconstruction using autograft iliotibial band or gracilis tendon. After the surgery, we conducted follow-up and data collection, recorded the satisfaction of the patients and occurrence of complications, as well as the cartilage lesion of hip joint observed under the arthroscopy. We compared the alpha angle of Dunn X-ray film, center-edge angle (CE angle) of AP X-ray film, modified Harris hip score (mHHS score), hip outcome score (HOS), international hip outcome tool 12 score (iHOT12 Score), and visual analogue scale (VAS scale) before and after the arthroscopic operation, to assess clinical symptom relief and joint function recovery. The 12 patients were followed up for 5-46 (21.5±12.8) months. The VAS scale were (5.3±2.5) and (2.5±1.4) before and after the surgery, showing significant decrease ( P =0.018). The mHHS score were (60.6±22.2) and (83.1±5.8) before and after the surgery, showing significant increase ( P =0.003). The patient satisfaction was high (7.8±2.0) (range: 0-10). None of the 12 patients had serious complications, revision surgery, or total hip replacement at the end of the last follow-up. Autologous tendon transplantation for reconstruction of acetabular labrum under arthroscopy can improve the clinical symptoms and joint function of patients with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), which is a safe and effective treatment.

Immune checkpoint blockade is considered a breakthrough in cancer treatment. However, with the low response rates and therapeutic resistance of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the challenges facing the application of this treatment are tremendous. Liver fibrosis is a key driver of tumor immune escape, the underlying mechanism has never been clarified. This study sought to explore the role of liver fibrosis in regulating tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and inducing tumor immunosuppression. Ninety-nine fixed HCC tissue samples were used to analyze the association between liver fibrosis and immune escape using immunohistochemistry. In HCC patients, low FIB-4 values and high CD8 + T cell infiltration were correlated with prolonged survival. Elevated expression of immune checkpoints and attenuated antitumor immunity were observed in CCl 4 -induced mice liver fibrosis models and human fibrotic livers compared to control group. GOLM1 levels were increased in livers of patients with fibrosis and mice in response to CCl 4 -induced liver fibrosis. CD8 + T cell infiltrations were significantly decreased and PD-L1 expression was significantly increased in tumor tissues from hepatocyte-specific GOLM1 transgenic mice (Alb/GOLM1 mice) inducing chemical carcinogenesis compared to their corresponding control WT mice. GOLM1 induced PD-L1 expression via EGFR pathway activation. EGFR inhibitors, especially together with anti-PD-L1 therapy, improved the efficacy of immunotherapy in HCC. These findings illustrate the importance of liver fibrosis-induced immunosuppression as a tumor-promoting mechanism. GOLM1, which is highly upregulated in the fibrotic liver, regulates tumor microenvironmental immune escape via the EGFR/PD-L1 signaling pathway. EGFR blockade may bolster the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors for HCC treatment., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The hip joint is the largest weight-bearing joint in the body and is surrounded by dense capsules and thick muscles. Hip arthroscopic techniques are suitable for the treatment of hip-related conditions. These minimally invasive techniques have rapidly developed in China since 2007. Moreover, they have been used in the treatment of gluteal muscle contracture, snapping hip syndrome, femoral acetabular impingement, acetabular labral injury, hip labral calcification, synovial chondroma, osteoid osteoma, synovitis, osteonecrosis of the femoral head, and developmental dysplasia of the hip. This technique has showed its advantage in the total debridement of lesions, precision treatment, and less trauma. However, we lack understanding of the overall development of arthroscopic techniques in China. This review illustrates the recent development of hip arthroscopic techniques in China and related research progress., (© 2021 The Authors. Orthopaedic Surgery published by Chinese Orthopaedic Association and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

Background: Whether to use a T-tube for biliary anastomosis during orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) remains a debatable question. Some surgeons chose to use a T-tube because they believed that it reduces the incidence of biliary strictures. Advances in surgical techniques during the last decades have significantly decreased the overall incidence of postoperative biliary complications. Whether using a T-tube during OLT is still associated with the reduced incidence of biliary strictures needs to be re-evaluated., Aim: To provide an updated systematic review and meta-analysis on using a T-tube during adult OLT., Methods: In the electronic databases MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, the Cochrane Library, the Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group Controlled Trails Register, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, we identified 17 studies (eight randomized controlled trials and nine comparative studies) from January 1995 to October 2020. The data of the studies before and after 2010 were separately extracted. We chose the overall biliary complications, bile leaks or fistulas, biliary strictures (anastomotic or non-anastomotic), and cholangitis as outcomes. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to describe the results of the outcomes. Furthermore, the test for overall effect (Z) was used to test the difference between OR and 1, where P ≤ 0.05 indicated a significant difference between OR value and 1., Results: A total of 1053 subjects before 2010 and 1346 subjects after 2010 were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled results showed that using a T-tube reduced the incidence of postoperative biliary strictures in studies before 2010 ( P = 0.012, OR = 0.62, 95%CI: 0.42-0.90), while the same benefit was not seen in studies after 2010 ( P = 0.60, OR = 0.76, 95%CI: 0.27-2.12). No significant difference in the incidence of overall biliary complications ( P = 0.37, OR = 1.41, 95%CI: 0.66-2.98), bile leaks ( P = 0.89, OR = 1.04, 95%CI: 0.63-1.70), and cholangitis ( P = 0.27, OR = 2.00, 95%CI: 0.59-6.84) was observed between using and not using a T-tube before 2010. However, using a T-tube appeared to increase the incidence of overall biliary complications ( P = 0.049, OR = 1.49, 95%CI: 1.00-2.22), bile leaks ( P = 0.048, OR = 1.91, 95%CI: 1.01-3.64), and cholangitis ( P = 0.02, OR = 7.21, 95%CI: 1.37-38.00) after 2010. A random-effects model was used in biliary strictures (after 2010), overall biliary complications (before 2010), and cholangitis (before 2010) due to their heterogeneity ( I 2 = 62.3%, 85.4%, and 53.6%, respectively). In the sensitivity analysis (only RCTs included), bile leak ( P = 0.66) lost the significance after 2010 and a random-effects model was used in overall biliary complications (before 2010), cholangitis (before 2010), bile leaks (after 2010), and biliary strictures (after 2010) because of their heterogeneity ( I 2 = 92.2%, 65.6%, 50.9%, and 80.3%, respectively)., Conclusion: In conclusion, the evidence gathered in our updated meta-analysis showed that the studies published in the last decade did not provide enough evidence to support the routine use of T-tube in adults during OLT., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare no conflicts of interest related to this article., (©The Author(s) 2021. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to permanent loss of motor and sensory function due to the complex mechanisms of the external microenvironment and internal neurobiochemistry that restrict neuronal plasticity and axonal regeneration. Chemokine CXCL12 was verified in regulating the development of central nervous system (CNS) and repairing of CNS disease. In the present study, CXCL12 was downregulated in the spinal cord after SCI. SCI also induced gliosis and loss of synapse. Intrathecal treatment of CXCL12 promoted the functional recovery of SCI by inducing the formation of neuronal connections and suppressing glia scar. To confirm whether CXCL12 promoted synapse formation and functional neuronal connections, the primary cortical neurons were treated with CXCL12 peptide, the synapse was examined using Immunofluorescence staining and the function of synapse was tested using a whole-cell patch clamp. The results indicated that CXCL12 peptide promoted axonal elongation, branche formation, dendrite generation and synaptogenesis. The electrophysiological results showed that CXCL12 peptide increased functional connections among neurons. Taken together, the present study illustrated an underlying mechanism of the development of SCI and indicated a potential approach to facilitate functional recovery of spinal cord after SCI., (Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To explore the clinical efficacy and advantages of five-in-one comprehensive limb salvage technologies for the treatment of severe diabetic foot ulcer (DFU). Approach: Clinical data for 120 patients with severe DFU treated between January 2012 and December 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. The control group (48 cases) was treated with traditional therapies, including controlling blood sugar, improving microcirculation, preserving nerve function, and dressing changes, whereas the experimental group (72 cases) was treated with traditional therapy combined with additional techniques, such as early and thorough debridement, negative pressure wound therapy, revascularization, and skin graft or flap. Ankle-brachial index (ABI), transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TcPO 2 ), wound healing rate, healing time, ulcer recurrence rate, and amputation rate were recorded. Results: Compared with the control group, the experimental group significantly improved wound healing rate (93.1% vs. 72.9%; p  < 0.01), decreased wound healing time (16.2 ± 5.4 days vs. 32.2 ± 7.8 days; p  < 0.05), reduced major limb amputation rate (1.4% vs. 10.4%, p  < 0.05), and ulcer recurrence rate (5.6% vs. 14.6%; p  < 0.05). There were no significant differences in amputation rate between experimental and control group (29.2% vs. 33.3%, p  = 0.628). After revascularization, the revascularization group showed significantly improved ABI (0.75 ± 0.21 vs. 0.35 ± 0.16, p  < 0.05) and TcPO 2 (36 ± 6 mmHg vs. 15 ± 4 mmHg, p  < 0.05). Innovation: We propose a five-in-one comprehensive treatment method, which provides a multidisciplinary cooperative model for comprehensive medical and surgical treatments for DFU. Conclusion: The five-in-one comprehensive limb salvage treatment technologies played a vital role in enhancing the healing rate of severe DFU, shortening the healing time, and reducing the rate of recurrence and major amputation, thus improving the overall quality of life.

Background: Although previous studies have confirmed the feasibility of magnetic compression anastomosis (MCA), there is still a risk of long-term anastomotic stenosis. For traditional MCA devices, a large device is associated with great pressure, and eventually increased leakage., Aim: To develop a novel MCA device to simultaneously meet the requirements of pressure and size., Methods: Traditional nummular MCA devices of all possible sizes were used to conduct ileac anastomosis in rats. The mean (± SD) circumference of the ileum was 13.34 ± 0.12 mm. Based on short- and long-term follow-up results, we determined the appropriate pressure range and minimum size. Thereafter, we introduced a novel "fedora-type" MCA device, which entailed the use of a nummular magnet with a larger sheet metal., Results: With traditional MCA devices, the anastomoses experienced stenosis and even closure during the long-term follow-up when the anastomat was smaller than Φ5 mm. However, the risk of leakage increased when it was larger than Φ4 mm. On comparison of the different designs, it was found that the "fedora-type" MCA device should be composed of a Φ4-mm nummular magnet with a Φ6-mm sheet metal., Conclusion: The diameter of the MCA device should be greater than 120% of the enteric diameter. The novel "fedora-type" MCA device controls the pressure and optimizes the size., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare no conflicts of interest related to this article., (©The Author(s) 2020. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) is a complex pathological process involved intrarenal and systemic inflammation caused by renal hypoperfusion, nephrotoxic drugs and urinary obstruction. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a marker of inflammation reflecting the progress of many diseases. However, whether NLR at admission can predict the occurrence of AKI after surgery in the intensive care unit (ICU) remains unknown., Aim: To clarify the relationship between NLR and the occurrence of AKI in patients with gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary surgery in the ICU., Methods: A retrospective analysis of 282 patients receiving surgical ICU care after gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary surgery in our hospital from December 2014 to December 2018 was performed., Results: Postoperative AKI occurred in 84 patients (29.79%) in this cohort. NLR by the multivariate analysis was an independent risk factor for occurrence of postoperative AKI in patients with gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary surgery in the ICU. In this cohort, receiver operating characteristic curves of AKI occurrence showed that the optimal cut-off value of NLR was 8.380. NLR was found to be significantly correlated with the white blood cell count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, arterial lactate and dialysis ( P < 0.05). Additionally, NLR value at admission was higher in AKI patients compared with the non-AKI patients and increased with the severity of AKI. Patients with NLR ≥ 8.380 exhibited significantly higher incidences of postoperative AKI and severe AKI than patients with NLR < 8.380 (AKI: 38.12% vs 14.85%, P < 0.001; severe AKI: 14.36% vs 1.98%, P = 0.001)., Conclusion: NLR at admission is a predictor of AKI occurrence in patients with gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary surgery in ICU. NLR should be included in the routine assessment of AKI occurrence., (©The Author(s) 2020. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)-mediated oncolytic therapy is a promising cancer treatment modality. However, viral tropism is considered to be one of the major stumbling blocks to the development of HSV-1 as an anticancer agent., Methods: The surface of oncolytic HSV-1 G207 was covalently modified with folate-poly (ethylene glycol) conjugate (FA-PEG). The specificities and tumor targeting efficiencies of modified or unmodified G207 particles were analyzed by a real-time polymerase chain reaction at the level of cell attachment and entry. Immune responses were assessed by an interleukin-6 release assay from RAW264.7 macrophages. Biodistribution and in vivo antitumoral activity after intravenous delivery was evaluated in BALB/c nude mice bearing subcutaneous KB xenograft tumors., Results: FA-PEG-HSV exhibited enhanced targeting specificity for folate receptor over-expressing tumor cells and had lower immunogenicity than the unmodified HSV. In vivo, the FA-PEG-HSV group revealed an increased anti-tumor efficiency and tumor targeting specificity compared to the naked HSV., Conclusions: These results indicate that folate-conjugated HSV G207 presents a folate receptor-targeted oncolytic virus with a potential therapeutic value via retargeting to tumor cells., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Platelet-derived growth receptor α (PDGFRα) is a key factor in many pathophysiological processes. The expression level of PDGFRα is significantly elevated in the early stage of liver development and maintained at a lower level in adult normal livers. In this study, we constructed a liver-specific PDGFRαD842 mutant transgenic (TG) mice model to explore the effect of continuous activation of PDGFRα on liver regeneration and hepatocarcinogenesis. 14-day-old TG and wild-type (WT) mice were intraperitoneally injected with diethylnitrosamine (DEN) at a dose of 25 μg/g body weight. Two-month-old male TG and WT mice were subjected to partial hepatectomy (PH). The liver tissues were collected for further analysis at different time points. Overexpression of PDGFRα D842V and its target genes, Akt, c-myc and cyclin D1 in hepatocytes with no overt phenotype versus WT mice were compared. Unexpectedly, a dramatic decrease in hepatocyte proliferation was noted after PH in TG versus WT mice, possibly due to the downregulation of hepatocyte growth factor receptor (MET) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). No TG mice developed HCC spontaneously after 14 months follow-up. However, TG mice were more resistant to DEN-induced hapatocarcinogenesis at 6, 10, and 12 months of age, showing delayed hepatocyte proliferation and apoptosis, lower tumor incidence, smaller size and fewer number, compared with age-matched WTs, partially through downregulation of MET and EGFR. In conclusion, continuous activation of PDGFRα signaling by expression of PDGFRα D842V does not promote, but inhibit hepatic regeneration and hepatocarcinogenesis, possibly through compensatory downregulation of MET and EGFR., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists., (© The author(s).)

To improve the survivability of probiotics under the harsh conditions, a novel double-layered vehicle, which was developed by a one-step coaxial electrospinning procedure, was here used to encapsulate the probiotics. The morphology characterization analysis revealed that the electrospun fiber had a beaded morphology and core-shell structure. Probiotic cells were successfully encapsulated in the fibers (10 7 CFU/mg) and exhibited an oriented distribution along the fiber. Additionally, the encapsulation of core-shell fiber mat enhanced the tolerance of probiotic cells to simulated gastrointestinal conditions and no significant loss of viability was found (p > 0.05). Besides that, the encapsulated cells exhibited better thermal stability under heat moisture treatment, lower loss of viability (0.32 log CFU/mL) was occurred when compared with the free cells or encapsulated cells in uniaxial fiber mat. In conclusion, this double-layered vehicle presents a great potential in probiotic encapsulation and improving their resistant ability to the harsh conditions., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Magnetic compression anastomosis (MCA) has been appreciated as an innovative alternative to manual suturing in vascular reconstruction. However, magnetic devices have limitations in their applications. The present study aimed to introduce a newly developed magnetic device for end-to-end vascular anastomosis. Twenty male New Zealand rabbits were randomly assigned to receive end-to-end postcaval vein anastomosis using either a newly designed MCA device (Group MCA) or continuous-interrupted suturing (Group CIS). The anastomotic patency was evaluated by Doppler or venography immediately, 1 week, and 12 weeks after surgery. Anastomotic quality was evaluated gross and microscopic histological study 12 weeks after surgery. The procedure was successfully performed and all animals survived until sacrifice. The duration of surgery and anastomosis time in Group MCA were significantly shorter compared to Group CIS (all p < 0.001), and the incidence of anastomotic patency and postoperative morbidity were comparable between the two groups (all p > 0.05). Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that anastomotic intima from Group MCA was much smoother with more regularly arranged endothelial cells than from compared to the Group CIS. A novel MCA device was successfully applied in rabbit vascular anastomosis. We demonstrated the reliability and effectiveness of this newly developed MCA in this study.

Background: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is often associated with intestinal injury, which in turn exaggerates the progression of AP. Our recent study has shown that a low level of serum irisin, a novel exercise-induced hormone, is associated with poor outcomes in patients with AP and irisin administration protects against experimental AP. However, the role of irisin in intestinal injury in AP has not been evaluated., Aim: To investigate the effect of irisin administration on intestinal injury in experimental AP., Methods: AP was induced in male adult mice by two hourly intraperitoneal injections of L-arginine. At 2 h after the last injection of L-arginine, irisin (50 or 250 μg/kg body weight) or 1 mL normal saline (vehicle) was administered through intraperitoneal injection. The animals were sacrificed at 72 h after the induction of AP. Intestinal injury, apoptosis, oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress were evaluated., Results: Administration of irisin significantly mitigated intestinal damage, reduced apoptosis, and attenuated oxidative and ER stress in AP mice. In addition, irisin treatment also effectively downregulated serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 levels and alleviated injury in the pancreas, liver and lung of AP mice., Conclusion: Irisin-mediated multiple physiological events attenuate intestinal injury following an episode of AP. Irisin has a great potential to be further developed as an effective treatment for patients with AP., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare no conflicts of interest related to this article., (©The Author(s) 2019. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Clinically, tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) is lack of effective surgical strategies. One reason is due to the lack of appropriate animal models of acquired TEF, which is usually complex and difficult. Recently, the magnetic compression technique has been applied for digestive tract anastomosis or vascular anastomosis in animals. In this study, an animal model of TEF in dogs was developed by using the magnetic compression technique, hoping to provide a new method for mimicking TEF., Aim: To establish a TEF model in dogs by using the magnetic compression technique., Methods: Six male beagles were used as models with two Nd-Fe-B permanent magnets for TEF. The parent magnet and the daughter magnet were placed in the cervical esophagus and trachea, respectively. The anterior wall of the esophagus and the posterior wall of the trachea were compressed when the two magnets coupled. After 4-6 d, the necrotic tissue between the two magnets fell off and the parent and daughter magnets disengaged from the target location, leaving a fistula. Gastroscopy/bronchoscopy, upper gastrointestinal contrast study, and histological analysis were performed., Results: The establishment of the TEF model in all six beagles was successful. The average time of magnet placement was 4.33 ± 1.11 min (range, 3-7 min). Mean time for the magnets to disengage from the target location was 4.67 ± 0.75 d (range, 4-6 d). TEFs were observed by gastroscopy/bronchoscopy and esophageal angiography. The gross anatomical structure of the esophagus and the trachea was in good condition. There was no esophageal mucosa or pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium at the site of the fistula according to histological analysis., Conclusion: It is simple, feasible, and minimally invasive to use the magnetic compression technique for the establishment of the TEF model in dogs., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interests.