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Abstract Background Preeclampsia is a severe obstetric disorder that significantly affects the maternal and neonatal peri-partum safety and long-term quality of life. However, there is limited research exploring the common mechanisms and potential clinical significance between early-onset preeclampsia and full-term preeclampsia from an immunological perspective. Methods In this study, data analysis was conducted. Initially, immune-related co-expressed genes involving both subtypes of preeclampsia were identified through Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA). Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were further employed to investigate the shared pathways regulated by immune-related genes. Binary logistic regression identified co-expressed genes with diagnostic value for preeclampsia, and a diagnostic model was constructed. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) predicted the potential biological functions of the selected genes. Lasso and Cox regression analyses identified genes closely associated with gestational duration, and a risk score model was established. A 4-gene feature, immune-related gene model for predicting the risk of preterm birth in preeclamptic pregnant women, was developed and validated through qPCR experiments. Immune cell infiltration analysis determined differences in immune cell infiltration between the two subtypes of preeclampsia. Results This study identified 4 immune-related co-expressed genes (CXCR6, PIK3CB, IL1RAP, and OSMR). Additionally, diagnostic and preterm birth risk prediction models for preeclampsia were constructed based on these genes. GSEA analysis suggested the involvement of these genes in the regulation of galactose metabolism, notch signaling pathway, and RIG-I like receptor signaling pathway. Immune pathway analysis indicated that the activation of T cell co-inhibition could be a potential intervention target for immunotherapy in early-onset preeclampsia. Conclusion Our study provides promising insights into immunotherapy and mechanistic research for preeclampsia, discovering novel diagnostic and intervention biomarkers, and offering personalized diagnostic tools for preeclampsia.

Abstract Background Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have demonstrated superior clinical efficacy in prolonging overall survival (OS) as the second-line treatment for advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), and were recommended by the guidelines. However, it remains uncertain which ICI is the most cost-effective. This study assessed the cost-effectiveness of ICIs as the second-line treatment for ESCC based on the perspective of the Chinese healthcare system. Methods A network meta-analysis (NMA) was performed to obtain the Hazard ratios (HRs) for indirect comparisons. A three-state Markov model with a 10-year time horizon was conducted to assess the cost-effectiveness. The state transition probabilities were calculated with Kaplan-Meier (KM) curves data from clinical trial and HRs from the NMA. Utilities and costs were derived from local charges or previously published studies. Univariate and probabilistic sensitivity analyses (PSA) were performed to examine model robustness. The results were assessed based on the total costs, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). Results Five clinical trials (ATTRACTION-3, ESCORT, KEYNOTE-181, ORIENT-2, RATIONALE-302) with a total of 1797 patients were included in the NMA. The NMA showed that both camrelizumab and tislelizumab received relatively high rankings for progression-free survival (PFS) and OS. Compared with sintilimab, treatment with tislelizumab and camrelizumab gained 0.018 and 0.034 additional QALYs, resulting in incremental ICERs of $75,472.65/QALY and $175,681.9/QALY, respectively. Nivolumab and pembrolizumab produced lower QALYs and greater costs, suggesting that both were dominated in comparison to sintilimab. HRs and health state utilities were the most influential parameters in most univariate sensitivity analyses of paired comparisons. PSA results suggested that sintilimab had an 84.4% chance of being the most cost-effective treatment regimen at the WTP threshold of $38,223.34/QALY. In the scenario analysis, sintilimab would no longer be cost-effective, if the price of camrelizumab was assumed to decrease by 64.6% or the price of tislelizumab was assumed to decrease by 16.9%. Conclusions and relevance Among the five potential competing ICIs, sintilimab was likely to be the most cost-effective regimen as the second-line treatment for locally advanced or metastatic ESCC in China.

Abstract In the pursuit of cost reduction and enhanced construction efficiency in the mechanical connection of reinforcing bars within precast assembled concrete structures, a novel-reinforcing bar connection joint is introduced. This innovative solution entails the utilization of 40Cr alloy steel tubing and the implementation of a hot forging high-precision rolling process to fabricate a series of new rebar joint specimens. Through unidirectional tensile testing, the failure modes of the specimens and the variations in load–displacement curves were meticulously analyzed. The investigation delved into the intricacies of the joint connection mechanism, scrutinizing the influence of three pivotal structural design parameters—namely the embedded length of the rebar, the sleeve thickness, and the clamp thickness—on the ultimate bearing capacity of the joint. The findings indicate that an embedded rebar length ranging from 1.5 to 1.75 times the nominal rebar diameter ensures a tensile strength ratio of the joint to the standard rebar tensile strength not less than 1.1. Notably, the sleeve thickness emerged as a significant factor impacting connection performance, while the clamp thickness exhibited negligible effects on specimen performance. Furthermore, an augmented internal thread angle was found to enhance shear resistance. The optimal design parameters encompass an outer sleeve diameter of 78 mm, a large end clamp diameter of 65 mm, and an internal thread angle of 60°. The proposed single taper sleeve locking-type joint, characterized by a rational structural design, aligns with the stipulations of Grade I joints outlined in the industry standard JG/J 107–2016. This novel joint design is well-suited for the mechanical connection of large-diameter rebars, offering a promising avenue for advancing construction practices in precast assembled concrete structures.

BackgroundSleep problem is a common complication of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Extensive preclinical studies have been performed to investigate the AD pathology. However, the pathophysiological consequence of AD complicated by sleep problem remains to be further determined.PurposeTo investigate brain metabolism and perfusion in an AD mouse model complicated by sleep problem, and subsequently identify potential imaging markers to better understand the associated pathophysiology.MethodsWe examined the oxygen extraction fraction (OEF), cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2), and cerebral blood flow (CBF) using state-of-the-art MRI techniques in a cohort of 5xFAD model mice. Additionally, neuroinflammation, indicated by activated microglia, was assessed using histology techniques. Sleep fragmentation (SF) was utilized as a representative for sleep problems.ResultsSF was associated with significant increases in OEF (P = 0.023) and CMRO2 (P = 0.029), indicating a state of hypermetabolism. CBF showed a significant genotype-by-sleep interaction effect (P = 0.026), particularly in the deep brain regions such as the hippocampus and thalamus. Neuroinflammation was primarily driven by genotype rather than SF, especially in regions with significant interaction effect in CBF measurements.ConclusionThese results suggest that brain metabolism and perfusion measurements are promising markers for studying the co-pathogenesis of AD and SF.

Abstract The spread of prion‐like protein aggregates is a common driver of pathogenesis in various neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related Tauopathies. Tau pathologies exhibit a clear progressive spreading pattern that correlates with disease severity. Clinical observation combined with complementary experimental studies has shown that Tau preformed fibrils (PFF) are prion‐like seeds that propagate pathology by entering cells and templating misfolding and aggregation of endogenous Tau. While several cell surface receptors of Tau are known, they are not specific to the fibrillar form of Tau. Moreover, the underlying cellular mechanisms of Tau PFF spreading remain poorly understood. Here, it is shown that the lymphocyte‐activation gene 3 (Lag3) is a cell surface receptor that binds to PFF but not the monomer of Tau. Deletion of Lag3 or inhibition of Lag3 in primary cortical neurons significantly reduces the internalization of Tau PFF and subsequent Tau propagation and neuron‐to‐neuron transmission. Propagation of Tau pathology and behavioral deficits induced by injection of Tau PFF in the hippocampus and overlying cortex are attenuated in mice lacking Lag3 selectively in neurons. These results identify neuronal Lag3 as a receptor of pathologic Tau in the brain，and for AD and related Tauopathies, a therapeutic target.

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch), a significant traditional Chinese herbal medicine, has been extensively utilized in China to treat various ailments. Natural bioactive coumarins, glycycoumarin, glycyrin, and 3-O-methylglycyrol, were isolated from licorice, and they exhibited various pharmacological properties. In this report, we have accomplished the total synthesis of glycycoumarin, glycyrin, and 3-O-methylglycyrol in 5–7 linear steps from commercially available 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzaldehyde with yields of 12.3–21.2%. Additionally, their anti-inflammatory activities were studied and compared. Glycycoumarin, glycyrin, and 3-O-methylglycyrol exhibited different levels of anti-inflammatory activities, with glycyrin being the most potent. Mechanistic studies indicated that glycyrin exerted its anti-inflammatory properties by inhibiting the activation of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, making it a potential anti-inflammatory lead compound for further optimization and discovery of new agents.

BackgroundSystemic immune-inflammatory biomarkers including systemic immune inflammation index (SII), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) have been demonstrated to be associated with the risk and severity of various liver diseases. However, studies on their role and clinical significance in metabolic diseases, especially in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), are limited and results are inconsistent.Methods10821 adults aged 20 years or older were enrolled in this cross-sectional study, sourced from six cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Survey-weighted logistic regression was employed to investigate the correlation between systemic immune-inflammatory biomarkers (SII, NLR, PLR, and LMR) and NAFLD risk. Restricted cubic spline regression models and segmented regression models were used to describe nonlinear relationships and threshold effects. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were also conducted.ResultsAfter adjusting for all confounding variables, there was a significant positive association observed between ln-transformed SII (OR= 1.46, 95% CI: 1.27-1.69, P

ABSTRACTBorrelia burgdorferi, the pathogen of Lyme disease, differentially produces many outer surface proteins (Osp), some of which represent the most abundant membrane proteins, such as OspA, OspB, and OspC. In cultured bacteria, these proteins can account for a substantial fraction of the total cellular or membrane proteins, posing challenges to the identification and analysis of non-abundant proteins, which could serve as novel pathogen detection markers or as vaccine candidates. Herein, we introduced serial mutations to remove these abundant Osps and generated a B. burgdorferi mutant deficient in OspA, OspB, and OspC in an infectious 297-isolate background, designated as OspABC− mutant. Compared to parental isolate, the mutant did not reflect growth defects in the cultured medium but showed differential mRNA expression of representative tested genes, in addition to gross changes in cellular and membrane protein profiles. The analysis of differentially detectable protein contents of the OspABC− mutant, as compared to the wild type, by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, identified several spirochete proteins that are dominated by proteins of unknown functions, as well as membrane transporters, chaperons, and metabolic enzymes. We produced recombinant forms of two of these represented proteins, BBA34 and BB0238, and showed that these proteins are detectable during spirochete infection in the tick-borne murine model of Lyme borreliosis and thus serve as potential antigenic markers of the infection.IMPORTANCEThe present manuscript employed a systemic approach to identify non-abundant proteins in cultured Borrelia burgdorferi that are otherwise masked or hidden due to the overwhelming presence of abundant Osps like OspA, OspB, and OspC. As these Osps are either absent or transiently expressed in mammals, we performed a proof-of-concept study in which their removal allowed the analysis of otherwise less abundant antigens in OspABC-deficient mutants and identified several immunogenic proteins, including BBA34 and BB0238. These antigens could serve as novel vaccine candidates and/or genetic markers of Lyme borreliosis, promoting new research in the clinical diagnosis and prevention of Lyme disease.

Abstract Background 17α-hydroxylase deficiency, which is caused by a CYP17A1 gene mutation, is a rare type of congenital adrenocortical hyperplasia that mainly manifests as hypertension, hypokalaemia and sexual dysplasia. To date, few pregnancies associated with this syndrome have been reported. Case presentation We describe a 35-year-old Chinese woman with nonclassical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NCCAH) due to 17α-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase deficiency who achieved pregnancy after in vitro fertilization (IVF) and frozen-thawed embryo transfer. She had secondary amenorrhea since she was 27, and subsequently, high level of progesterone in the follicular phase was found during a blood test. A compound heterozygous mutation was found in the CYP17A1 gene, c.1263G > A and c.985_987delinsAA. The patient was given standardized treatment with dexamethasone. Due to ovulation disorder, IVF was performed. She underwent whole embryo vitrification freezing. Frozen-thawed embryo transplantation was performed following the artificial cycle protocol of endometrium preparation, resulting in a singleton pregnancy. At 39 weeks and 1 day of gestation, caesarean section was performed due to the breech position of the foetus. Conclusion A high level of progesterone reduces endometrial receptivity. Standardized treatment with dexamethasone and frozen-thawed embryo transfer with an artificial cycle protocol of endometrium preparation should be the choice for infertile female patients with CYP17A1 deficiency.

Ultrasonic surface rolling process (USRP) has the potential to improve the surface mechanical properties of metal components with platelike or cylindrical macrostructure, but its effect on spherical surfaces remains to be studied in depth. In order to investigate the effect of USRP on the surface roughness, hardness and wear resistance of a spherical joint bearing made of GCr15 bearing steel, ultrasonic rolling strengthening was carried out on a spherical bearing surface under various conditions. The surface roughness and hardness variations of samples before and after strengthening were investigated. It was found that the USRP strengthening process can effectively enhance the surface properties of GCr15 spherical bearing materials, reduce the surface roughness by more than 45%, and increase the surface hardness by more than 10%. Friction and wear tests were carried out before and after ultrasonic rolling. The results show that the friction coefficient of the bearing surface can be reduced by 28%, and that the wear volume can be reduced by 29%. The variation in the friction coefficient correlated to the variance of wear volume as the reinforcement changes.

Abstract Background A premature luteinizing hormone (LH) surge refers to an endogenous LH peak that occurs before follicle maturation or human chorionic gonadotropin injection in the process of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. The effect of premature LH surge on pregnancy outcomes in fresh embryo transfer cycles is still controversial. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of a premature LH surge without elevated progesterone levels on the cumulative pregnancy rate (CPR) and cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) of patients during a flexible GnRH antagonist protocol. Methods A total of 730 infertile women undergoing IVF/ICSI were recruited for this retrospective study. Only women who either delivered a live infant or had no remaining frozen embryos after a single stimulation cycle were included in the analysis. During the study period, each patient underwent a flexible GnRH antagonist protocol. Women were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of a premature LH surge. The primary outcome measures were the CPR and CLBR per ovarian stimulation cycle. The secondary outcome measures were the number of oocytes retrieved, fertilization rate, good-quality embryo rate, and clinical pregnancy rate. Results Ninety-one women (12.47%) experienced a premature LH surge without elevated progesterone levels, and the other 639 (87.53%) women were assigned to the control group. The numbers of oocytes retrieved and fertilization rate were significantly greater in the premature LH surge group than in the control group. There was no significant difference between groups in the good-quality embryo rate, clinical pregnancy rate or live birth rate in the fresh embryo transfer cycle. The primary outcome measures, the CPR and CLBR per ovarian stimulation cycle, were not significantly different between the premature LH surge group and the control group. According to the analysis stratified by ovarian response (normal or high), there were no significant differences in pregnancy outcomes between the groups with and without a premature LH surge. Conclusions The retrospective study demonstrated that the patients experiencing a transient premature LH surge without progesterone elevation had equivalent pregnancy outcomes with those without a premature LH surge on a flexible GnRH antagonist protocol. The present conclusions need to be further validated in a prospective well-designed large-scale study.

The panel vector autoregression (PVAR) model preserves the advantages of the vector autoregression model while expanding its time series to the spatial direction, which can effectively solve the problem of individual heterogeneity using panel data. It is derived from econometrics but has been applied interdisciplinarily because of its advantages in metrology. Given its increasingly important role in econometrics and interdisciplinary applications, a systematic review based on the bibliometric tool was conducted by screening 292 articles related to PVAR from the Web of Science. First, a descriptive analysis of the related articles was conducted to identify the current research status of PVAR. It reveals that macroeconomic effects, economic growth and environmental protection, and model adaptation are the primary topics in PVAR-related research. Then, the study classifies PVAR models into three categories and summarizes the four estimation methods within the knowledge domain. Having clarity on the different categories and estimation methods enhances the practical utility of the PVAR model. Finally, to gain insight into the knowledge evolution of PVAR, this study discusses how research hotspots in the field have evolved over time. This analysis provides a historical perspective and allows researchers to anticipate future trends and emerging areas of interest within PVAR. Based on these findings, this study identifies three research opportunities that can guide future investigations in the field of PVAR. This study aims to foster extension applications of the model in econometric research and highlight its potential for interdisciplinary applications.

Background. Global and regional transpulmonary pressure (PL) during one-lung ventilation (OLV) is poorly characterized. We hypothesized that global and regional PL and driving PL (ΔPL) increase during protective low tidal volume OLV compared to two-lung ventilation (TLV), and vary with body position.Methods. In sixteen anesthetized juvenile pigs, intra-pleural pressure sensors were placed in ventral, dorsal, and caudal zones of the left hemithorax by video-assisted thoracoscopy. A right thoracotomy was performed and lipopolysaccharide administered intravenously to mimic the inflammatory response due to thoracic surgery. Animals were ventilated in a volume-controlled mode with a tidal volume (VT) of 6 mL kg−1 during TLV and of 5 mL kg−1 during OLV and a positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) of 5 cmH2O. Global and local transpulmonary pressures were calculated. Lung instability was defined as end-expiratory PL

ABSTRACT: Introduction and Objectives: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may be diagnosed using the GAAP and ASAP models; our goal was to verify and evaluate their diagnostic effectiveness compared to alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP), and AFP & DCP for both HCC and HCC caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Patients and Methods: GAAP and ASAP models were validated and compared using a retrospective investigation of 938 patients from our hospital between July 2020 and July 2021. Results: Both the GAAP and ASAP models had better diagnostic efficacy than AFP, DCP, AFP & DCP. The GAAP model achieved better performance in section A for the detection of HCC and in section C for the detection of HBV-HCC than the ASAP model. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed that the GAAP and ASAP models were well-calibrated for the diagnoses of these two groups. To be more specific, the area under curve (AUC) of the GAAP model for HCC detection in section A was 0.862 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.838-0.883], and that of the ASAP model was 0.850 [95% CI: 0.826-0.872]. The AUC of the GAAP model for HBV-HCC detection in section C was 0.897 [95% CI: 0.872-0.918], and that of the ASAP model was 0.878 [95% CI: 0.852-0.902]. Conclusions: The GAAP model was more accurate and reliable than the AFP, DCP, AFP and DCP, as well as the ASAP model in section A for the detection of HCC and in section C for the detection of HBV-HCC.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a complex multifactorial disease characterized by increased pulmonary vascular resistance and pulmonary vascular remodeling (PVR), with high morbidity, disability, and mortality. The abnormal proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) is the main pathological change causing PVR. At present, clinical treatment drugs for PH are limited, which can only improve symptoms and reduce hospitalization but cannot delay disease progression and reduce survival rate. In recent years, numerous studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine monomers (TCMs) inhibit excessive proliferation of PASMCs resulting in alleviating PVR through multiple channels and multiple targets, which has attracted more and more attention in the treatment of PH. In this paper, the experimental evidence of inhibiting PASMCs proliferation by TCMs was summarized to provide some directions for the future development of these mentioned TCMs as anti-PH drugs in clinical.

Social resilience is a key factor in disaster management, but compared to resilience in other fields, research on social resilience is still limited to assessment or evaluation, and there is still a lack of dynamic and procedural research, which is also a challenge. This article constructs a causal feedback model and a system dynamics model of social resilience during the COVID-19 epidemic, so as to analyze the dynamic characteristics and improvement path of social resilience. After verifying the effectiveness of the model, model simulation is conducted and the following important conclusions are drawn: social resilience dynamically changes during the research cycle and is influenced by social entity behavior and social mechanisms; The sensitivity factors for the two variables that measure social resilience, namely panic degree and damage degree, are the real-time information acquisition of public and the epidemic awareness of local government, respectively. Therefore, the path to enhancing social resilience should be pursued from both the public and government perspectives, including improving the public's ability to access real-time information, increasing the timeline of government information disclosure, and enhancing local governments' understanding and awareness of the epidemic.

Abstract Subcutaneous insulin resistance syndrome caused by obesity, induration at the injection site, skin temperature and other factors is common clinically, whereas resistance events caused by edema are relatively rare. This article introduced a case of a woman with type 2 diabetes mellitus with heart failure edema. Her blood glucose control was significantly associated with the level of edema. Excluding other factors, it can be concluded that edema might lead to subcutaneous insulin resistance syndrome, even if the edema at the injection site is not obvious.

Abstract Background Characterizing the impacts of postoperative opioid use on total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients may help optimize the pain management after TKA. The aim of the study is to examine the prevalence and risk factors for opioid use with an enhanced-recovery programme after primary TKA. Methods We identified 361 patients undergoing TKA, and separated those on the basis of whether to receive opioid use after surgery. Themultivariate logistic regression model was used to identify independent risk factors for opioid use after primary TKA. Length of stay (LOS) and postoperative complications were also recorded and compared. Results The prevalence of opioid use after primary TKA was 23.0%. The significant risk factor was the longer operative time (OR [odds ratio] = 1.017, 95% CI [confidence interval] = 1.001 to 1.032, p = 0.034) and the protective factor was the utilization of tranexamic acid(OR= 0.355, 95% CI = 0.161 to 0.780, p = 0.010). In addition, the LOS was longer in opioid group (p < 0.05). Conclusion Considering the adverse health effects of opioid use, strategies need to be developed to prevent persistent opioid use after TKA. Reducing operative time and the application of tranexamic acid could lower the risk of opioid use with an enhanced-recovery programme after primary TKA.

IntroductionTransformation from lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) to small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is one of the mechanisms responsible for acquired EGFR-TKIs resistance. Although it rarely happens this event determines a rapid disease deterioration and needs specific treatment.Patient and methodWe report a case of 75-year-old LUAD female with a p.L858R mutation in Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) who presented with SCLC transformation after responding to first line osimertinib treatment for only 6 months. To understand the underlying molecular mechanism, we retrospectively sequenced the first (LUAD) and the second (SCLC) biopsy using a 56 multi-gene panel. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining and Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) was applied to confirm the genetic aberrations identified.ResultsEGFR p.E709A and p.L858R, Tumor Protein p53 (TP53) p.A159D and Retinoblastoma 1 (RB1) c.365-1G>A were detected in both the diagnostic LUAD and transformed SCLC samples. A high copy number gain for Proto-Oncogene C-Myc (MYC) and a Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase Alpha (PIK3CA) p.E545K mutation were found in the transformed sample specifically. Strong TP53 staining and negative RB1 staining were observed in both LUAD and SCLC samples, but FISH only identified MYC amplification in SCLC tissue.ConclusionWe consider the combined presence of MYC amplification with mutations in TP53 and RB1 as drivers of SCLC transformation. Our results highlight the need to systematically evaluate TP53 and RB1 status in LUAD patients to offer a different therapeutic strategy.

Abstract Background Postoperative moderate and severe anemia (PMSA) has been a serious perioperative complication in primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, the ideal cutoff values to predict PMSA is still undetermined. The aim of this study was (1) to identify the risk factors associated with PMSA and (2) to establish the cutoff values of preoperative hemoglobin (HB) associated with increased PMSA in primary TKA. Methods We identified 474 patients undergoing primary TKA and separated those in which PMSA (HB was less than 110 g/L on postoperative day 1 and 3) was developed from those without PMSA. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify independent risk factors for PMSA. Area under the receiver-operator curve (AUC) was used to determine the best-supported preoperative HB cutoff across all the patients. Results The PMSA rate in primary TKA was 53.2%. Significant risk factors were lower preoperative HB (OR [odds ratio] = 1.138, 95% CI [confidence interval] = 1.107–1.170, p

Background: Preeclampsia (PE) is one of the leading causes of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Placental oxidative stress has been identified as a major pathway to the development of PE. Ferroptosis is a new form of regulated cell death that is associated with iron metabolism and oxidative stress, and likely mediates PE pathogenesis. The aim of the study was to identify the key molecules involved in ferroptosis to further explore the mechanism of ferroptosis in PE.Methods: Gene expression data and clinical information were downloaded from the GEO database. The limma R package was used to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and intersected with ferroptosis genes. The GO and KEGG pathways were then analyzed. Next, hub genes were identified via weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Receiver operating curves (ROCs) were performed for diagnostic and Pearson’s correlation of hub genes and clinicopathological characteristics. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis were used to verify the expression of hub genes.Results: A total of 3,142 DEGs were identified and 30 ferroptosis-related DEGs were obtained. In addition, ferroptosis-related pathways were enriched by GO and KEGG using DEGs. Two critical modules and six hub genes that were highly related to diagnosis of PE were identified through WGCNA. The analysis of the clinicopathological features showed that NQO1 and SRXN1 were closely correlated with PE characteristics and diagnosis. Finally, Western blot and immunohistochemistry analysis confirmed that the expression of the SRXN1 protein in the placental tissue of patients with PE was significantly elevated, while the expression of NQO1 was significantly decreased.Conclusions: SRXN1 and NQO1 may be key ferroptosis-related proteins in the pathogenesis of PE. The study may provide a theoretical and experimental basis for revealing the pathogenesis of PE and improving the diagnosis of PE.

Abstract Ixodes scapularis ticks transmit multiple pathogens, including Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, and encode many proteins harboring epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domains. We show that I. scapularis produces multiple orthologs for Bm86, a widely studied tick gut protein considered as a target of an anti-tick vaccine, herein termed as Is86. We show that Is86 antigens feature at least three identifiable regions harboring EGF-like domains (termed as EGF-1, EGF-2, and EGF-3) and are differentially upregulated during B. burgdorferi infection. Although the RNA interference-mediated knockdown of Is86 genes did not show any influences on tick engorgement or B. burgdorferi sensu stricto persistence, the immunization of murine hosts with specific recombinant EGF antigens marginally reduced spirochete loads in the skin, in addition to affecting tick blood meal engorgement and molting. However, given the borderline impact of EGF immunization on tick engorgement and pathogen survival in the vector, it is unlikely that these antigens, at least in their current forms, could be developed as potential vaccines. Further investigations of the biological significance of Is86 (and other tick antigens) would enrich our knowledge of the intricate biology of ticks, including their interactions with resident pathogens, and contribute to the development of anti-tick measures to combat tick-borne illnesses.

Abstract Background There are many progesterone (P) elevation-related indicators for predicting pregnancy outcomes, including the serum P, P-to-oestradiol ratio (P/E2), P-to-follicle index (PFI), and P-to-mature oocyte index (PMOI); however, due to inconsistencies in study populations and controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) protocols among studies, these indicators are controversial. Moreover, no researchers have included these four commonly used indicators in one study to compare their predictive efficacies. The objective of this study was to compare the predictive value of P-related indicators for pregnancy outcomes of women undergoing the short-acting GnRH agonist long protocol. Methods A total of 612 infertile women undergoing IVF/ICSI were recruited for this study. Serum samples were obtained on the morning of HCG injection for serum P and E2 measurements. Transvaginal ultrasound was performed to determine the follicle count (≥ 14 mm in diameter). The number of mature oocytes was observed in the embryo laboratory after oocyte retrieval. Results In cases of P

Considering the low thermal efficiency, high excess air coefficient and low load rate of the in-service water jacketheater of Shengli Oilfield, the relationship of the load rate, excess air coefficient and fouling resistance with the thermalefficiency of the water jacket heater was calculated with the calibration and air-conditioning calculation software for waterjacket heater, and on this basis, the fouling resistance of the in-service water jacket heater was calculated reversely. Accordingto the calculation, the dissipation heat loss increases and the exhaust heat loss decreases with a decrease of load, but thetotal heat loss varies a little. So, the load rate has little effect on the thermal efficiency of water jacket heater. The exhausttemperature increases with a rise of excess air coefficient, and under the combined action of two factors, a considerabledecrease in thermal efficiency of water jacket heater will be caused. The fouling resistance of the in-service water jacketheater increases obviously, which makes the exhaust temperature and water bath temperature significantly higher than thedesign values, further resulting in the decrease in thermal efficiency of water jacket heater. Thus, the key measures to improvethe efficiency of water jacket heater are developed, including timely cleaning the fouling, replacing the boiler water regularly, installing flue gas analyzer, and replacing automatic regulating burner.

Background The effect of body mass index (BMI) on blood loss in simultaneous bilateral total hip arthroplasty (SBTHA) was still undetermined. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the blood loss, transfusion and incidence of complications in normal, overweight, and obese patients undergoing SBTHA. Methods A total of 344 patients following SBTHA were enrolled into this study. The patients were assigned into three groups on the basis of their BMI, including normal (BMI 18.0–24.9 kg/ m 2 ), overweight (BMI 25.0–29.9 kg/ m 2 ), or obese group (BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/ m 2 ). The primary outcome was total blood loss (TBL), and secondary outcomes were intraoperative blood loss, drain volume, ratio of TBL and patient’s blood volume (PBV), transfusion rate and volume, hemoglobin and hematocrit drop, length of stay, expenses, and complications. Results The PBV and TBL increased significantly along with the elevated BMI ( p < 0.001; p = 0.019, respectively). There was no significant difference in intraoperative blood loss, drain volume, transfusion volume, length of stay, expenses, or incidence of complications among the three groups. In addition, the transfusion rate in normal group was higher than that in overweight (58.3% vs 39.6%, p = 0.001) and obese group (58.3% vs 31.9%, p = 0.001). The maximum hemoglobin drop in obese group was the highest ( p = 0.001). Conclusion Obesity could increase perioperative blood loss but not increase transfusion risk in the setting of SBTHA. Conversely, obese and overweight patients maybe have lower transfusion need compared with normal patients because of more blood volume. In addition, obesity did not affect the incidence of complications.

Rice disease has serious negative effects on crop yield, and the correct diagnosis of rice diseases is the key to avoid these effects. However, the existing disease diagnosis methods for rice are neither accurate nor efficient, and special equipment is often required. In this study, an automatic diagnosis method was developed and implemented in a smartphone app. The method was developed using deep learning based on a large dataset that contained 33,026 images of six types of rice diseases: leaf blast, false smut, neck blast, sheath blight, bacterial stripe disease, and brown spot. The core of the method was the Ensemble Model in which submodels were integrated. Finally, the Ensemble Model was validated using a separate set of images. Results showed that the three best submodels were DenseNet-121, SE-ResNet-50, and ResNeSt-50, in terms of several attributes, such as, learning rate, precision, recall, and disease recognition accuracy. Therefore, these three submodels were selected and integrated in the Ensemble Model. The Ensemble Model minimized confusion among the different types of disease, reducing misdiagnosis of the disease. Using the Ensemble Model to diagnose six types of rice diseases, an overall accuracy of 91% was achieved, which is considered to be reasonably good, considering the appearance similarities in some types of rice disease. The smartphone app allowed the client to use the Ensemble Model on the web server through a network, which was convenient and efficient for the field diagnosis of rice leaf blast, false smut, neck blast, sheath blight, bacterial stripe disease, and brown spot.

Mining the key genes involved in the balance of rice salt tolerance is extremely important for developing salt-tolerant rice varieties. A library of japonica mutants was screened under salinity conditions to identify putative salt stress-responsive genes. We identified a highly salt-sensitive mutant ss3 and used a map-based cloning approach to isolate the gene SS3, which encodes mannose-1-phosphate guanylyltransferase. Under salt treatment, ss3 mutants have decreased ascorbic acid (AsA) content and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels compared with the wild type (WT). Exogenous AsA restored the salt tolerance of ss3 plants, indicating that inhibition of AsA synthesis was an important factor in the salt sensitivity of the mutant. Functional complementation using the WT allele rescued the mutation, and transcription of SS3 was induced by salt stress. Vector SS3p:SS3 was constructed containing the 1086 bp coding sequence of SS3. Under salinity conditions, transgenic seedlings expressing SS3p:SS3 had improved salt tolerance relative to WT, as demonstrated by better growth status, higher chlorophyll content, a lower level of Na+, and a reduced Na+/K+ ratio. Further investigation revealed that several senescence- and autophagy-related genes were expressed at lower levels in salt-stressed transgenic lines compared to WT. These results demonstrate the positive impact of SS3 on salt tolerance in rice through the regulation of AsA synthesis and ROS accumulation, and indicate that SS3 is a valuable target for genetic manipulation.

Abstract Background In general, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is positively associated with antral follicle count (AFC). However, there is often discordance between the AMH level and AFC in clinical practice. In cases of discordance, which indicator should be chosen to predict ovarian response and subsequently develop an ovulation induction protocol? The objective of this study was to investigate which indicator was more accurate in predicting ovarian response and pregnancy outcomes when the AMH level and AFC were discordant. Methods A total of 1121 infertile women undergoing IVF/ICSI were recruited in this study. During the study period, patients were subjected to individualized controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) protocols according to specific characteristics. The AMH levels and AFCs were measured on days 2–3 of the menstrual cycle. Serum samples were obtained to determine AMH levels. Transvaginal ultrasound was performed to determine the AFC. All patients were divided into four groups: Group A had AFCs and AMH levels in the normal range; Group B had normal AFCs and low AMH levels; Group C had low AFCs and normal AMH levels; and Group D had low AFCs and AMH levels. Results Two hundred three women (18.11%) showed discordant AFCs and AMH levels. In the two groups with discordant AFCs and AMH levels, namely, Group B and Group C, the oocyte yield, good-quality embryo rate and clinical pregnancy rate were significantly higher in Group B than in Group C. The incidence of poor ovarian response (POR) was significantly lower in Group B than in Group C. According to the stratified analysis of age, for the three categories above the age of 30, oocyte yield was higher in Group B than in Group C. In all age categories, the clinical pregnancy rate was higher in Group B than in Group C. Conclusions Our study demonstrated that approximately one in five patients in clinical practice showed discordance between AFCs and AMH levels. In view of the AFC being better than AMH for predicting POR, the AFC should be the preferred indicator for predicting ovarian response to subsequently develop an optimal individualized COH protocol.

Abstract Background The prevalence of CGG repeat expansion mutation in FMR1 gene varies among different populations. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of this mutation in women of reproductive age from northern China. Methods A total of 11,891 pre-conceptional or pregnant women, including 5037 pregnant women and 7357 women with the history of spontaneous abortion or induced abortion due to delayed growth of the embryos, were recruited. The number of CGG repeats in FMR1 was measured by the TRP-PCR method. We also offered genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis to the women carrying pre-mutation or full mutation alleles. Results The prevalence of pre-mutation in reproductive women in northern China was 1/410, higher than that in southern China and Korea but lower than that in western countries. We also found that the prevalence of pre-mutation was relatively high (1/320) in women with abortion history. Conclusion Screening for CGG repeat expansion mutation in FMR1 should be recommended to the women with the history of spontaneous abortion or induced abortion due to delayed growth of the embryos.

Aggregation of misfolded α-synuclein (α-syn) is the major component of Lewy bodies and neurites in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and related α-synucleinopathies. Some α-syn mutations (e.g., A53T) in familial PD recapitulate the α-syn pathology in transgenic mice, which supports the importance of pathologic α-syn in driving the pathogenesis of α-synucleinopathies. Lymphocyte activation gene 3 (Lag3) is a receptor of α-syn fibrils facilitating pathologic α-syn spread; however, the role of Lag3 in mediating the pathogenesis in α-syn transgenic mice is not clear. Here, we report that depletion of Lag3 in human α-syn A53T transgenic (hA53T) mice significantly reduces the level of detergent-insoluble α-syn aggregates and phosphorylated ser129 α-syn, and inhibits activation of microglia and astrocytes. The absence of Lag3 significantly delays disease progression and reduces the behavioral deficits in hA53T transgenic mice leading to prolonged survival. Taken together, these results show that Lag3 contributes to the pathogenesis in the α-syn A53T transgenic mouse model.

Previous research has revealed the influence of reward associations on attentional selection and control. The attentional network can be divided into three components according to its function: Alerting, orienting, and executive control. In the current research, we used training-test procedure and attention network test variant to investigate the effects of color-based reward associations on alerting (Experiment 1), orienting (Experiment 2), executive control (Experiment 3), as well as the interactions among these three networks (Experiment 4). The findings were as follows: Compared with colors previously associated with low reward, colors previously associated with high reward trigger stronger alerting and orienting effects (Experiments 1 and 2), and they had stronger interference effects when functioning as features of flanker distractor (Experiment 3). More importantly, reward associations had only a positive impact on the interaction of orienting by executive control but not on the interaction of alerting by executive control (Experiment 4). In summary, reward associations have different effects on the three attentional networks and can enhance the interaction of orienting by executive control.

Aiming at breaking down the bottleneck problems of different scale of poultry farms, the low profitability of poultry farming, and backward information management in China, a safe and efficient information management system for poultry farming was designed. This system consists of (1) a management system application layer, (2) a data service layer, and (3) an information sensing layer. The information sensing layer obtains and uploads production and farming information through the wireless sensor network built in the poultry house. The use of a cloud database as an information storage carrier in the data service layer eliminates the complex status of deploying local server clusters, and it improves the flexibility and scalability of the system. The management system application layer contains many sub-function modules including poultry disease detection functions to realize the visual management of farming information and health farming; each module operates independently and cooperates with each other to form a set of information management system for poultry farming with wide functional coverage, high service efficiency, safety, and convenience. The system prototype has been tested for the performance of wireless sensor network and cloud database, and the results show that the prototype is capable of acquiring and managing poultry farming information.

UV Resistance Locus 8 (UVR8), an ultraviolet-B (UV-B; 280–315 nm) photoreceptor, participates in the regulation of various plant growth and developmental processes. UV-B radiation is an important factor enhancing the production of active components in medicinal plants. To-date, however, studies on UV-B photoreceptors have largely focused on Arabidopsis, and the functions of UVR8 in medicinal plants are still largely unknown. In the present study, a homolog of Arabidopsis UVR8, CmUVR8, was isolated from Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat, and its structure and function were analyzed in detail. Protein sequence analysis showed that CmUVR8 contained nine conserved regulators of chromosome condensation 1 repeats, seven conserved bladed propellers, one C27 region, three “GWRHT” motifs and several crucial amino acid residues (such as 14 Trps and 2 Args), similar to AtUVR8. 3-D structural analysis of CmUVR8 indicated that its structure was similar to AtUVR8. Heterologous expression of CmUVR8 could rescued the deficient phenotype of uvr8-6, a mutant of UVR8 in Arabidopsis, indicating the role of CmUVR8 in the regulation of hypocotyl elongation and HY5 gene expression under UV-B irradiation. Moreover, CmUVR8 regulates UV-B-induced expression of four flavonoids biosynthesis-related genes and the UV-B-induced accumulation of flavonoids. Furthermore, the interaction between CmUVR8 and CmCOP1 were confirmed using a yeast two-hybrid assay. These results indicated that CmUVR8 plays important roles in UV-B signal transduction and the UV-B-induced accumulation of flavonoids, as a counterpart of AtUVR8.

The spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi is the causative agent of Lyme disease, the most common tick-borne disease in the US and Europe. No potent human vaccine is currently available. The innate immune complement system is vital to host defense against pathogens, as complement activation on the surface of spirochetes results in bacterial killing. Complement system is inhibited by the complement regulator factor H (FH). To escape killing, B. burgdorferi produces an outer surface protein CspZ that binds FH to inhibit complement activation on the cell surface. Immunization with CspZ alone does not protect mice from infection, which we speculate is because FH-binding cloaks potentially protective epitopes. We modified CspZ by conjugating to virus-like particles (VLP-CspZ) and eliminating FH binding (modified VLP-CspZ) to increase immunogenicity. We observed greater bactericidal antibody titers in mice vaccinated with modified VLP-CspZ: A serum dilution of 1:395 (modified VLP-CspZ) vs 1:143 (VLP-CspZ) yielded 50% borreliacidal activity. Immunizing mice with modified VLP-CspZ cleared spirochete infection, as did passive transfer of elicited antibodies. This work developed a novel Lyme disease vaccine candidate by conjugating CspZ to VLP and eliminating FH-binding ability. Such a strategy of conjugating an antigen to a VLP and eliminating binding to the target ligand can serve as a general model for developing vaccines against other bacterial infectious agents.

Ginkgo leaves are raw materials for flavonoid extraction. Thus, the timing of their harvest is important to optimize the extraction efficiency, which benefits the pharmaceutical industry. In this research, we compared the transcriptomes of Ginkgo leaves harvested at midday and midnight. The differentially expressed genes with the highest probabilities in each step of flavonoid biosynthesis were down-regulated at midnight. Furthermore, real-time PCR corroborated the transcriptome results, indicating the decrease in flavonoid biosynthesis at midnight. The flavonoid profiles of Ginkgo leaves harvested at midday and midnight were compared, and the total flavonoid content decreased at midnight. A detailed analysis of individual flavonoids showed that most of their contents were decreased by various degrees. Our results indicated that circadian rhythms affected the flavonoid contents in Ginkgo leaves, which provides valuable information for optimizing their harvesting times to benefit the pharmaceutical industry.

The flavonoids in the extracts of Ginkgo leaves have been shown to have great medical value: thus, a method to increase the flavonoid contents in these extracts is of significant importance for human health. In the present study, we investigated the changes in flavonoid contents and the corresponding gene expression levels in post-harvest Ginkgo leaves after various treatments. We found that both ultraviolet-B and NaCl treatment induced flavonoid accumulation. However, gene expression analysis showed that the increases in flavonoid contents were achieved by different pathways. Furthermore, post-harvest Ginkgo leaves responded differently to NaCl treatment compared with naturally grown leaves in both flavonoid contents and corresponding gene expression. In addition, combined treatment with ultraviolet-B and NaCl did not further increase the flavonoid contents compared with ultraviolet-B or NaCl treatment alone. Our results indicate the existence of a novel mechanism in response to NaCl treatment in post-harvest Ginkgo leaves, and provide a technique to increase flavonoid content in the pharmaceutical industry.

In recent decades, the advancements in layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly technology have provoked increasing interest in the preparation of multilayer polyelectrolyte membranes with excellent performance. In the current study, a novel nanofiltration (NF) membrane was prepared by pressure-driven layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly of polyethylenimine (PEI) and polyacrylicacid (PAA) on a porous substrate with chemical crosslinking. The effect of deposition pressure on separation performance of the prepared membranes was studied. The surface morphology, hydrophilicity and the charge property of the dynamically-deposited membranes were compared with those prepared by static adsorption. The characterization results showed that dynamic deposition process resulted in a smoother membrane surface with improved hydrophilicity. The mechanism of water-path formation was proposed to interpret the effect of pressure on the membrane performance. Glutaraldehyde (GA) was used as a crosslinker to reduce the number of polyelectrolyte bilayers for obtaining good separation performance. The rejections of different inorganic salts of the dynamically-deposited NF membrane were also investigated.

Lyme disease spirochetes demonstrate strain- and species-specific differences in tissue tropism. For example, the three major Lyme disease spirochete species, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. garinii, and B. afzelii, are each most commonly associated with overlapping but distinct spectra of clinical manifestations. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, the most common Lyme spirochete in the U.S., is closely associated with arthritis. The attachment of microbial pathogens to cells or to the extracellular matrix of target tissues may promote colonization and disease, and the Lyme disease spirochete encodes several surface proteins, including the decorin- and dermatan sulfate-binding adhesin DbpA, which vary among strains and have been postulated to contribute to strain-specific differences in tissue tropism. DbpA variants differ in their ability to bind to its host ligands and to cultured mammalian cells. To directly test whether variation in dbpA influences tissue tropism, we analyzed murine infection by isogenic B. burgdorferi strains that encode different dbpA alleles. Compared to dbpA alleles of B. afzelii strain VS461 or B. burgdorferi strain N40-D10/E9, dbpA of B. garinii strain PBr conferred the greatest decorin- and dermatan sulfate-binding activity, promoted the greatest colonization at the inoculation site and heart, and caused the most severe carditis. The dbpA of strain N40-D10/E9 conferred the weakest decorin- and GAG-binding activity, but the most robust joint colonization and was the only dbpA allele capable of conferring significant joint disease. Thus, dbpA mediates colonization and disease by the Lyme disease spirochete in an allele-dependent manner and may contribute to the etiology of distinct clinical manifestations associated with different Lyme disease strains. This study provides important support for the long-postulated model that strain-specific variations of Borrelia surface proteins influence tissue tropism.

Ixodes scapularis is the specific arthropod vector for a number of globally prevalent infections, including Lyme disease caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. A feeding-induced and acellular epithelial barrier, known as the peritrophic membrane (PM) is detectable in I. scapularis. However, whether or how the PM influences the persistence of major tick-borne pathogens, such as B. burgdorferi, remains largely unknown. Mass spectrometry-based proteome analyses of isolated PM from fed ticks revealed that the membrane contains a few detectable proteins, including a predominant and immunogenic 60 kDa protein with homology to arthropod chitin deacetylase (CDA), herein termed I. scapularis CDA-like protein or IsCDA. Although IsCDA is primarily expressed in the gut and induced early during tick feeding, its silencing via RNA interference failed to influence either the occurrence of the PM or spirochete persistence, suggesting a redundant role of IsCDA in tick biology and host-pathogen interaction. However, treatment of ticks with antibodies against IsCDA, one of the most predominant protein components of PM, affected B. burgdorferi survival, significantly augmenting pathogen levels within ticks but without influencing the levels of total gut bacteria. These studies suggested a preferential role of tick PM in limiting persistence of B. burgdorferi within the vector. Further understanding of the mechanisms by which vector components contribute to pathogen survival may help the development of new strategies to interfere with the infection.

Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterial pathogen of Lyme borreliosis, differentially expresses select genes in vivo, likely contributing to microbial persistence and disease. Expression analysis of spirochete genes encoding potential membrane proteins showed that surface-located membrane protein 1 (lmp1) transcripts were expressed at high levels in the infected murine heart, especially during early stages of infection. Mice and humans with diagnosed Lyme borreliosis also developed antibodies against Lmp1. Deletion of lmp1 severely impaired the pathogen's ability to persist in diverse murine tissues including the heart, and to induce disease, which was restored upon chromosomal complementation of the mutant with the lmp1 gene. Lmp1 performs an immune-related rather than a metabolic function, as its deletion did not affect microbial persistence in immunodeficient mice, but significantly decreased spirochete resistance to the borreliacidal effects of anti-B. burgdorferi sera in a complement-independent manner. These data demonstrate the existence of a virulence factor that helps the pathogen evade host-acquired immune defense and establish persistent infection in mammals.

Borrelia burgdorferi, the pathogen of Lyme disease, cycles in nature through Ixodes ticks and mammalian hosts. At least five Complement Regulator-Acquiring Surface Proteins (BbCRASPs) are produced by B. burgdorferi, which are thought to assist spirochetes in host immune evasion. Recent studies established that BbCRASP-2 is preferentially expressed in mammals, and elicits robust antibody response in infected hosts, including humans. We show that BbCRASP-2 is ubiquitously expressed in diverse murine tissues, but not in ticks, reinforcing a role of BbCRASP-2 in conferring B. burgdorferi defense against persistent host immune threats, such as complement. BbCRASP-2 immunization, however, fails to protect mice from B. burgdorferi infection and does not modify disease, as reflected by the development of arthritis. An infectious BbCRASP-2 mutant was generated, therefore, to examine the precise role of the gene product in spirochete infectivity. Similar to wild type B. burgdorferi, BbCRASP-2 mutants remain insensitive to complement-mediated killing in vitro, retain full murine infectivity and induce arthritis. Quantitative RT-PCR assessment indicates that survivability of BbCRASP-2-deficient B. burgdorferi is not due to altered expression of other BbCRASPs. Together, these results suggest that the function of a selectively expressed B. burgdorferi gene, BbCRASP-2, is not essential for complement resistance or infectivity in the murine host.