Search

Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a leading cause of high-level amputation in DM patients, with a low wound healing rate and a high incidence of infection. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays an important role in diabetes mellitus (DM) related complications. This study aims to explore the VEGF expression and its predictive value for prognosis in DFU, in order to provide basis for the prevention of DFU related adverse events. We analyzed 502 patients, with 328 in healing group and 174 in non-healing/recurrent group. The general clinical data and laboratory indicators of patients were compared through Spearman correlation analysis, ROC analysis and logistic regression analysis. Finally, the independent risk factors for adverse prognosis in DFU patients were confirmed. Spearman analysis reveals a positive correlation between the DFU healing rate and ABI, VEGF in wound tissue, and positive rate of VEGF expression, and a negative correlation with DM duration, FPG, HbA1c, TC, Scr, BUN, and serum VEGF. Further logistic regression analysis finds that the DM duration, FPG, HbA1c, ABI, serum VEGF, VEGF in wound tissue, and positive rate of VEGF expression are the independent risk factors for adverse prognosis in DFU (p < 0.05). DM duration, FPG, HbA1c, ABI, serum VEGF, VEGF in wound tissue, and positive rate of VEGF expression are the independent risk factors for prognosis in DFU patients. Patients with these risk factors should be screened in time, which is of great significance to prevent DFU related adverse events and improve outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The potential efficacy of metformin in breast cancer (BC) has been hotly discussed but never conclusive. This genetics-based study aimed to evaluate the relationships between metformin targets and BC risk. Methods: Metformin targets from DrugBank and genome-wide association study (GWAS) data from IEU OpenGWAS and FinnGen were used to investigate the breast cancer (BC)-metformin causal link with various Mendelian Randomization (MR) methods (e.g., inverse-variance-weighting). The genetic association between type 2 diabetes (T2D) and the drug target of metformin was also analyzed as a positive control. Sensitivity and pleiotropic tests ensured reliability. Results: The primary targets of metformin are PRKAB1, ETFDH and GPD1L. We found a causal association between PRKAB1 and T2D (odds ratio [OR] 0.959, P = 0.002), but no causal relationship was observed between metformin targets and overall BC risk (PRKAB1: OR 0.990, P = 0.530; ETFDH: OR 0.986, P = 0.592; GPD1L: OR 1.002, P = 0.806). A noteworthy causal relationship was observed between ETFDH and estrogen receptor (ER)-positive BC (OR 0.867, P = 0.018), and between GPD1L and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative BC (OR 0.966, P = 0.040). Other group analyses did not yield positive results. Conclusion: The star target of metformin, PRKAB1, does not exhibit a substantial causal association with the risk of BC. Conversely, metformin, acting as an inhibitor of ETFDH and GPD1L, may potentially elevate the likelihood of developing ER-positive BC and HER2-negative BC. Consequently, it is not advisable to employ metformin as a standard supplementary therapy for BC patients without T2D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, research on infrared and visible image fusion has mainly focused on deep learning‐based approaches, particularly deep neural networks with auto‐encoder architectures. However, these approaches suffer from problems such as insufficient feature extraction capability and inefficient fusion strategies. Therefore, this paper introduces a novel image fusion network to address the limitations of infrared and visible image fusion networks with auto‐encoder architectures. In the designed network, the encoder employs a multi‐branch cascade structure, and these convolution branches with different kernel sizes provide the encoder with an adaptive receptive field to extract multi‐scale features. In addition, the fusion layer incorporates a non‐local attention module that is inspired by the self‐attention mechanism. With its global receptive field, this module is used to build a non‐local attention fusion network, which works together with the l1${l}_1$‐norm spatial fusion strategy to extract, split, filter, and fuse global and local features. Comparative experiments on the TNO and MSRS datasets demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms other state‐of‐the‐art fusion approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Previous studies have demonstrated a correlation between the serum uric acid‐to‐high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (UHR) and insulin resistance (IR) in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, no existing studies have investigated the relationship between IR and UHR in the general population. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to investigate the correlation between UHR and IR in the general American population. Methods: A sample of 8,817 participants was selected from the 2013 to 2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR) was used to assess insulin resistance. Multiple logistic regression, generalized smooth curve fitting, and subgroup analysis were used to assess the association between IR and UHR. Results: Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated a significant correlation between insulin resistance and UHR, with odds ratios (OR) of 1.07 (95% CI = 1.03–1.11) in males and 1.18 (95% CI = 1.13–1.25) in females. A non‐linear relationship and saturation effect between IR risk and UHR were observed, characterized by an inverted L‐shaped curve and a critical inflection point at 8.82. It was found that the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of UHR was significantly larger (AUC = 0.703 for males and 0.747 for females, all P < 0.01) compared with the use of UA or HDL‐C alone. Subgroup analysis showed that this independent association remain consistent regardless of race, age, BMI, diabetes, moderate activities, education level, alcohol drinking, and gender. Conclusion: Elevated UHR demonstrates a significant correlation with insulin resistance, so it can be used as a potential indicator of insulin resistance within the American population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) remains a challenge worldwide. Here, we introduced a phase I trial of autologous RAK cell therapy in patients with mRCC whose cancers progressed after prior systemic therapy. Although RAK cells have been used in clinic for many years, there has been no dose-escalation study to demonstrate its safety and efficacy. Methods: We conducted a phase I trial with a 3 + 3 dose-escalation design to investigate the dose-related safety and efficacy of RAK cells in patients with mRCC whose cancers have failed to response to systemic therapy (ChiCTR1900021334). Results: Autologous RAK cells, primarily composed of CD8+ T and NKT cells, were infused intravenously to patients at a dose of 5 × 109, 1 × 1010 or 1.5 × 1010 cells every 28 days per cycle. Our study demonstrated general safety of RAK cells in a total of 12 patients. Four patients (33.3%) showed tumor shrinkage, two of them achieved durable partial responses. Peripheral blood analysis showed a significant increase in absolute counts of CD3+ and CD8+ T cells after infusion, with a greater fold change observed in naive CD8+ T cells (CD8+CD45RA+). Higher peak values of IL-2 and IFN-γ were observed in responders after RAK infusion. Conclusion: This study suggests that autologous RAK cell immunotherapy is safe and has clinical activity in previously treated mRCC patients. The improvement in peripheral blood immune profiling after RAK cell infusion highlights its potential as a cancer treatment. Further investigation is necessary to understand its clinical utility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To discover the populations of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from different layers of human maxillary sinus membrane (hMSM) and evaluate their osteogenic capability. Materials and Methods: hMSM was isolated into a monolayer using the combined method of physical separation and enzymatic digestion. The localization of MSCs in hMSM was performed by immunohistological staining and other techniques. Lamina propria layer‐derived MSCs (LMSCs) and periosteum layer‐derived MSCs (PMSCs) from hMSM were expanded using the explant cell culture method and identified by multilineage differentiation assays, colony formation assay, flow cytometry and so on. The biological characteristics of LMSCs and PMSCs were compared using RNA sequencing, reverse transcription and quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescence staining, transwell assay, western blotting and so forth. Results: LMSCs and PMSCs from hMSMs were both CD73‐, CD90‐ and CD105‐positive, and CD34‐, CD45‐ and HLA‐DR‐negative. LMSCs and PMSCs were identified as CD171+/CD90+ and CD171−/CD90+, respectively. LMSCs displayed stronger proliferation capability than PMSCs, and PMSCs presented stronger osteogenic differentiation capability than LMSCs. Moreover, PMSCs could recruit and promote osteogenic differentiation of LMSCs. Conclusions: This study identified and isolated two different types of MSCs from hMSMs. Both MSCs served as good potential candidates for bone regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyimide aerogel fibers (PAFs) have good thermal insulation due to their low density and ultra-high porosity. In this work, in order to further improve the temperature regulation performance of PAFs in extremely cold environments, a novel polyimide/CsxWO3 composite aerogel fiber (PCAF) was prepared by the freeze-spinning technology. The as-prepared PCAFs exhibit lightweight, high-strength and thermal insulation properties. Particularly, the outstanding near-infrared absorption of CsxWO3 could endow the PCAF textiles with excellent photothermal conversion and radiative heating under solar irradiation in cold environments. It was clarified that the photothermal conversion efficiency of the PCAF-8 can be increased by about 3 times compared with the pure PAF after exposure to infrared radiation for 100 s. This result indicates that the PCAFs possess excellent self-heating and photothermal temperature regulation performance, which are significantly different from PAF. The thermal insulation and self-heating of the PCAFs due to their porous structure and photothermal conversion can synergistically keep warm and inhibit human heat loss in the cold, reaching a kind of dual-channel thermal management mode. In addition, the CsxWO3 component with visible light transmission is helpful to maintaining the original color of the fiber, avoiding the dull and unappealing color of conventional photothermal coatings. Therefore, this work provides a new strategy for outdoor personal thermal management in cold weather, making PCAFs a promising solution for extreme weather applications beyond traditional PAFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Remnant cholesterol (RC) has been known as an important factor for the assessment of the metabolic syndrome (Mets) risk. However, the correlation between RC and hyperuricemia (HUA) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains unclear. This study aims to explore the correlation between RC and HUA in patients with T2DM. Methods: A total of 2956 patients with T2DM admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from 2020 to 2022 were included. The correlation between RC and HUA was evaluated with Spearman's correlation, multiple logistic regression, subgroup analyses, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves analyses and generalized smooth curve fitting. Total cholesterol (TC) < 5.18mmol/L was defined as normal TC. Results: RC was correlated with uric acid in patients with T2DM (Spearman's correlation coefficient = 0.279, P < 0.001). According to the multiple logistic regression analyses, there was an independent positive correlation between RC and HUA (OR = 1.63, 95%CI = 1.40, 1.90). In addition, a non-linear correlation between RC and HUA was identified. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of RC (0.658, 95%CI = 0.635, 0.681) was the largest compared with those of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and TC. Subgroup analyses showed a more significant positive correlation among females or normal TC groups. Conclusion: Elevated RC is correlated with HUA in patients with T2DM significantly and positively. RC is better in its predictability for HUA than that of conventional lipid indexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transformer‐based models have revolutionized single cell RNA‐seq (scRNA‐seq) data analysis. However, their applicability is challenged by the complexity and scale of single‐cell multi‐omics data. Here a novel single‐cell multi‐modal/multi‐task transformer (scmFormer) is proposed to fill up the existing blank of integrating single‐cell proteomics with other omics data. Through systematic benchmarking, it is demonstrated that scmFormer excels in integrating large‐scale single‐cell multimodal data and heterogeneous multi‐batch paired multi‐omics data, while preserving shared information across batchs and distinct biological information. scmFormer achieves 54.5% higher average F1 score compared to the second method in transferring cell‐type labels from single‐cell transcriptomics to proteomics data. Using COVID‐19 datasets, it is presented that scmFormer successfully integrates over 1.48 million cells on a personal computer. Moreover, it is also proved that scmFormer performs better than existing methods on generating the unmeasured modality and is well‐suited for spatial multi‐omic data. Thus, scmFormer is a powerful and comprehensive tool for analyzing single‐cell multi‐omics data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) is strongly correlated with the decreased deficiency of testosterone levels in males. The metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR) index is regarded as an innovative measure for the assessment on IR. The research aims to explore the correlation between the METS-IR index and the testosterone levels in males. Methods: In this study, a cross-sectional design was made through the data obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2013 to 2020. Besides, the METS-IR index was derived from serum triglyceride levels, fasting plasma glucose, HDL-C and BMI. Results: A total of 2082 participants were included in the final analysis. After controlling for confounding variables, it was found that METS-IR was independently and negatively correlated with testosterone levels (β = −3.88, 95% CI = −4.49, −3.27, P < 0.001). As shown by the generalized smooth curve fitting, METS-IR had a linear correlation with testosterone levels without threshold or saturation effects, which was consistently observed across all subgroups through stratified analysis (all P > 0.05). As revealed by the analysis on the ROC curve, the area under the curve (AUC) for the METS-IR index (0.732, 95% CI = 0.705, 0.760) was significantly larger than that of homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), TG/HDL ratio, triglyceride-glucose index (TyG) and body mass index (BMI). Conclusion: The findings suggest a negative relationship between the METS-IR index and the testosterone levels in male adults. Furthermore, the METS-IR index demonstrates superior predictive ability for testosterone deficiency in comparison to HOMA-IR, TG/HDL ratio, TyG and BMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipid oxidation and hypoxia can lead to oxidative damage in aquatic animals. This study explored the effects of Scoparia dulcis extracts (SDE) on lipid oxidation, fish growth performance, digestive ability, antioxidant capacity, and hypoxia tolerance ability. The results showed that SDE decreased malonaldehyde (MDA), conjugated diene (CD), and peroxide value (PO) in the linoleic acid and linolenic acid as well as in fish feed. Broken-line analysis revealed that the optimal acetone extract of S. dulcis (AE) supplements was 4.02, 4.01, and 4.01 g kg−1 determined from PO, CD, and MDA, respectively. Dietary AE supplementation increased feed intake and specific growth rate and activities of amylase, trypsin, and lipase as well as alkaline phosphatase in fish hepatopancreas and gut. Polynomial regression analysis showed that optimal dietary AE supplement was 3.61 g kg−1 diet determined from weight gain. Furthermore, dietary AE supplementation decreased MDA content and increased glutathione content and the activities of glutathione peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione reductase in fish digestive organs, gills, erythrocytes, and muscle. Dietary AE supplementation increased durative time (DT) and oxygen consumption rate (OCR) under hypoxia condition. Based on polynomial regression analysis, optimal dietary AE supplements were 4.73 and 4.60 g kg−1 diet determined from DT and OCR for hypoxia tolerance in fish, respectively. According to our current research, SDE's antioxidant capacity may be attribute to their phenolic chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-assembled peptide hydrogels possess remarkable biological activity and biocompatibility. When utilized for local drug delivery, they require enhanced mechanical properties and the ability to facilitate controlled release of drugs. Herein, we present the design and synthesis of a supramolecular hydrogel (Fmoc-GFFG/SBE-β-CD). The hydrogel incorporates host–guest interactions between a self-assembling peptide (Fmoc-GFFG) and cyclodextrin molecules (SBE-β-CD) to improve the viscoelastic strength of the hydrogel while maintaining biocompatibility. With remarkable shear-thinning properties, the Fmoc-GFFG/SBE-β-CD hydrogel exhibits enhanced in vivo retention time, thereby facilitating the development of an injectable drug delivery system. Using 10-hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) as a model drug, we develop a hydrogel system (Fmoc-GFFG/SBE-β-CD@HCPT) that capitalizes on the inclusion complex formation between SBE-β-CD and HCPT. The resulting composite hydrogels effectively prevent the agglomeration of drug molecules, ensuring the sustained release of HCPT while preserving its anticancer efficacy. The findings presented in this work establish a foundation for the broadening of peptide-based biomaterials and offer a promising avenue for the development of sophisticated drug delivery systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a key component for the success of the recently approved lecanemab and aducanumab. Patients with neuroinflammation-related conditions are associated with a higher risk for developing AD. Objective: Investigate the incidence of AD among patients with neuroinflammation-related conditions including epilepsy, hemorrhage stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS), and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods: We used Optum's de-identified Clinformatics Data Mart Database (CDM). We derived covariate-matched cohorts including patients with neuroinflammation-related conditions and controls without the corresponding condition. The matched cohorts were: 1) patients with epilepsy and controls (N = 67,825 matched pairs); 2) patients with hemorrhage stroke and controls (N = 81,510 matched pairs); 3) patients with MS and controls (N = 9,853 matched pairs); and 4) patients TBI and controls (N = 104,637 matched pairs). We used the Cox model to investigate the associations between neuroinflammation-related conditions and AD. Results: We identified that epilepsy, hemorrhage stroke, and TBI were associated with increased risks of AD in both males and females (hazard ratios [HRs]≥1.74, p < 0.001), as well as in gender- and race-conscious subpopulations (HRs≥1.64, p < 0.001). We identified that MS was associated with increased risks of AD in both males and females (HRs≥1.47, p≤0.004), while gender- and race-conscious subgroup analysis shown mixed associations. Conclusions: Patients with epilepsy, hemorrhage stroke, MS, and/or TBI are associated with a higher risk of developing AD. More attention on cognitive status should be given to older patients with these conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a wind interference effect between greenhouses in a group arrangement of solar greenhouse groups. To ensure the structural integrity of greenhouse groups situated in valleys, it becomes imperative to analyze both the wind pressure distribution patterns and the wind interference effects. This arises from the recognition that the wind load coefficients applicable to solar greenhouse groups nestled within valleys deviate from those observed in flat plains. The application of the contour modeling method facilitated a realistic reconstruction of the authentic topography within the study area. Subsequently, a wind field simulation was executed specifically for the constructed valley. The resultant wind field data for the studied valley area were then obtained. In the valley, nine solar greenhouses were systematically arranged in a three by three configuration. Special attention was directed towards assessing the surface wind pressures derived meticulously from the simulated wind field and wind direction angle of 0°. The findings elucidate the following: (a) The wind speed ratio exhibits a diminution on the leeward side of the mountain as compared to the windward side, with a notably reduced wind speed ratio observed in proximity to the mountain. (b) An amplification effect is discernible in the peripheral zone adjacent to the leading row of greenhouses, proximate to the incoming airflow. Particular emphasis is warranted regarding the reversal of wind direction observed in the secondary row of greenhouses positioned along the north wall and front roof, specifically at a wind angle of 0°, owing to the pronounced influence of interference effects. Hence, when undertaking the design and construction of a cluster of solar greenhouses within the valley terrain of Tibet, meticulous consideration must be directed towards both the meticulous calculation of wind loads within the periphery of the greenhouses and the judicious selection of the grouping's location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: It is demonstrated that elevated small dense low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (sdLDL‐C), and reduced high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) is associated with Metabolic dysfunction‐associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). This study aims to explore the relationship between sdLDL‐C to HDL‐C ratio (SHR) and MAFLD in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Materials and Methods: A cross‐sectional study was performed among 1904 patients with T2DM. Weighted multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the relationship between the SHR and the risk of MAFLD. In addition, this study used a two‐part linear regression model to identify threshold effects. Subgroup analysis, interaction tests and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were also carried out. Results: The overall MAFLD prevalence reached 48.1%. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that SHR was positively correlated with the risk of MAFLD (OR = 2.37, 95% CI = 1.80–3.12). Subgroup analysis stratified by age, gender, hypertension and BMI showed that there was a consistent positive correlation. A non‐linear relationship and saturation effect between SHR and MAFLD risk were identified, with an inverted L shaped curve and an inflection point at 1.02. The area under the curve (AUC) for SHR in the ROC analysis was significantly greater than sdLDL‐C and HDL‐C, with a sensitivity of 71.2% and a specificity of 62.1%. Conclusions: Elevated levels of SHR is independently associated with an increased risk of MAFLD in patients with T2DM. SHR may be taken as practical indicators to assess the risk of MAFLD in T2DM patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mineral assemblages containing Cu-Bi sulfosalts, Bi chalcogenides, and Ag-(Au) tellurides have been identified in the mid-Miocene Zhibula Cu skarn deposit, Gangdese Belt, southern Tibet. Different mineral assemblages from three locations in the deposit, including proximal massive garnet skarn, proximal retrogressed pyroxene-dominant skarn in contact with marble, and distal banded garnet–pyroxene skarn hosted in marble, are studied to constrain the evolution of the mineralization. Hypogene bornite contains elevated Bi (mean 6.73 wt.%) and co-exists in proximal andradite skarn with a second bornite with far lower Bi content, carrollite, Au-Ag tellurides (hessite, petzite), and wittichenite. This assemblage indicates formation at relatively high temperatures (>400 °C) and high fS2 and fTe2 during prograde-stage mineralization. Assemblages of Bi sulfosalts (wittichenite, aikinite, kupčíkite, and paděraite) and bismuth chalcogenides (e.g., tetradymite) in proximal pyroxene skarn are also indicative of formation at relatively high temperatures, but at relatively lower fTe2 and fS2 conditions. Within the reduced distal skarn (chalcopyrite–pyrrhotite-bearing) in marble, cobalt, and nickel occur as discrete minerals: cobaltite, melonite and cobaltic pentlandite. The trace ore mineral signature of the Zhibula skarn and the distributions of precious and critical trace elements such as Ag, Au, Co, Te, Se, and Bi support an evolving magmatic–hydrothermal system in which different parts of the deposit each define ore formation at distinct local physicochemical conditions. This is the first report of kupčíkite and paděraite from a Chinese location. Their compositions are comparable to other occurrences, but conspicuously, they do not form nanoscale intergrowths with one another. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Based on the quantitative and qualitative features of CT imaging, a model for predicting the invasiveness of ground-glass nodules (GGNs) was constructed, which could provide a reference value for preoperative planning of GGN patients. Materials and methods: Altogether, 702 patients with GGNs (including 748 GGNs) were included in this study. The GGNs operated between September 2020 and July 2022 were classified into the training group (n = 555), and those operated between August 2022 and November 2022 were classified into the validation group (n = 193). Clinical data and the quantitative and qualitative features of CT imaging were harvested from these patients. In the training group, the quantitative and qualitative characteristics in CT imaging of GGNs were analyzed by using performing univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, followed by constructing a nomogram prediction model. The differentiation, calibration, and clinical practicability in both the training and validation groups were assessed by the nomogram models. Results: In the training group, multivariate logistic regression analysis disclosed that the maximum diameter (OR = 4.707, 95%CI: 2.06–10.758), consolidation/tumor ratio (CTR) (OR = 1.027, 95%CI: 1.011–1.043), maximum CT value (OR = 1.025, 95%CI: 1.004–1.047), mean CT value (OR = 1.035, 95%CI: 1.008–1.063; P = 0.012), spiculation sign (OR = 2.055, 95%CI: 1.148–3.679), and vascular convergence sign (OR = 2.508, 95%CI: 1.345–4.676) were independent risk parameters for invasive adenocarcinoma. Based on these findings, we established a nomogram model for predicting the invasiveness of GGN, and the AUC was 0.910 (95%CI: 0.885–0.934) and 0.902 (95%CI: 0.859–0.944) in the training group and the validation group, respectively. The internal validation of the Bootstrap method showed an AUC value of 0.905, indicating a good differentiation of the model. Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness of fit test for the training and validation groups indicated that the model had a good fitting effect (P > 0.05). Furthermore, the calibration curve and decision analysis curve of the training and validation groups reflected that the model had a good calibration degree and clinical practicability. Conclusion: Combined with the quantitative and qualitative features of CT imaging, a nomogram prediction model can be created to forecast the invasiveness of GGNs. This model has good prediction efficacy for the invasiveness of GGNs and can provide help for the clinical management and decision-making of GGNs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the new era of building a socialist modernization country with the goal of promoting highquality development, we deeply analyze the knowledge system of the Introduction to Architecture course. This analysis is based on the cross-disciplinary specialties of local applied universities and the orientation of prioritizing employment and integrating industry and education. We propose the teaching reform of “theory-practice alternation” which is adapted to the current times and societal needs. Finally, we comprehensively summarize the effectiveness of curriculum construction, in order to provide theoretical references for the implementation of fostering character and civic virtue and deepening the reform of collaborative education mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the personalities, social avoidance and distress, and anxiety status of Chinese patients with and without objective halitosis, and investigate the association among these psychological disorders. Methods: Patients who complained of bad breath and diagnosed with objective halitosis were enrolled into the halitosis group, while patients without objective halitosis were enrolled into the control group. The questionnaires included the sociodemographic profile of the participants, Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), Social Avoidance and Distress Scale (SAD), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Results: A total of 280 patients were assigned into objective halitosis group (n = 146) and control group (n = 134). The extraversion subscales (E) score of the EPQ in the halitosis group were significantly lower than that in the control group (p = 0.001). The total SAD score and proportion of patients with anxiety symptoms in the BAI scale in the objective halitosis was significantly higher than that in the control group (p < 0.05). There was a negative correlation between the extraversion subscale and the total SAD score, Social Avoidance and Social Distress subscales (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Patients with objective halitosis have more introverted personality traits and are more likely to have social avoidance and distress than the nonhalitosis population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Metadherin (MTDH) and ubiquitin specific protease 7 (USP7) have been identified to involve in the tumorigenesis of cervical cancer (CC). USP7 is one of the deubiquitinating enzymes. Here, this study aimed to explore whether USP7 affected CC progression via interacting with MTDH and regulating its stability via deubiquitination. Methods: qRT-PCR and western blotting assays detected the levels of genes and proteins. Functional analysis was conducted using 5-ethynyl-2’-deoxyuridine (EdU), flow cytometry, transwell, and tube formation assays, respectively. Proteins between USP7 and MTDH were identified by co-immunoprecipitation assay. A mouse xenograft model was established for in vivo analysis. Results: MTDH was highly expressed in CC tissues and cells, silencing of MTDH suppressed CC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and macrophage M2 polarization. Mechanistically, USP7 directly bound to MTDH, and maintained its stability by removing ubiquitination on MTDH. CC tissues and cells showed high USP7 expression, and USP7 knockdown also inhibited CC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis and macrophage M2 polarization, and these effects mediated by USP7 knockdown were reversed by MTDH overexpression. Moreover, USP7 knockdown impeded CC growth in vivo by regulating MTDH. Conclusion: Collectively, USP7 promoted CC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and macrophage M2 polarization in vitro, as well as tumor growth in vivo by regulating MTDH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2) has gained significant attention in the scientific community. Few-layered MoS 2 demonstrates unique properties and potential applications. However, the synthesis of few-layered and high-purity 1T-MoS 2 is still a challenge. In this study, we successfully employed a hydrothermal method to synthesize few-layered and high-purity 1T-MoS 2. The purity of the material is controlled by a combination of sodium borohydride and ethanol. Notably, the few-layered 1T-MoS 2 exhibits exceptional performance as a supercapacitor, including the high specific capacitance (250.3 ​F ​g−1 at a current density of 1 ​A ​g−1) and excellent long-trem cycling stability (90.7 ​% after 5000 cycles). Meanwhile, the asymmetric device assembled by 6-FL-1T-MoS 2 and active carbon on carbon cloths exhibits excellent flexibility and high energy and power density (23.1 ​μWh cm−2 at 600 ​μW ​cm−2, 55 ​μWh cm−2 at 12000 ​μW ​cm−2). This work provides valuable insights into the synthesis of few-layered and high-purity 1T-MoS 2 , opening up new avenues for further research and applications. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with Fredholm properties of the one-sided coupled operator matrix M = A B 0 D I 0 L I by means of generalized Schur factorization and the associated space decompositions. For λ ∈ C , some sufficient conditions are given for λ - M to be Fredholm (resp. left or right Fredholm), and these conclusions are further used to determine the essential spectra of a delay equation and a wave equation with acoustic boundary conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium perchlorate-doped polypyrrole growing on titanium substrate (LiClO4-PPy/Ti) has been fabricated to act as electroactive electrode material for feasible electrochemical energy storage. A theoretical and experimental investigation is adopted to disclose the conductivity, electroactivity properties and interfacial interaction-dependent capacitance of LiClO4-PPy/Ti electrode. The experimental measurement results disclose that LiClO4-PPy/Ti reveals lower ohmic resistance (0.2226 Ω cm−2) and charge transfer resistance (2116 Ω cm−2) to exhibit higher electrochemical conductivity, a more reactive surface, and feasible ion diffusion to present higher double-layer capacitance (0.1930 mF cm−2) rather than LiClO4/Ti (0.3660 Ω cm−2, 65,250 Ω cm−2, 0.0334 mF cm−2). LiClO4-PPy/Ti reveals higher Faradaic capacitance caused by the reversible doping and dedoping process of perchlorate ion on PPy than the electrical double-layer capacitance of LiClO4/Ti caused by the reversible adsorption and desorption process of the LiClO4 electrolyte on Ti. Theoretical simulation calculation results prove that a more intensive electrostatic interaction of pyrrole N···Ti (2.450 Å) in LiClO4-PPy/Ti rather than perchlorate O···Ti (3.537 Å) in LiClO4/Ti. LiClO4-PPy/Ti exhibits higher density of states (57.321 electrons/eV) at Fermi energy and lower HOMO-LUMO molecule orbital energy gap (0.032 eV) than LiClO4/Ti (9.652 electrons/eV, 0.340 eV) to present the enhanced electronic conductivity. LiClO4-PPy/Ti also exhibits a more declined interface energy (−1.461 × 104) than LiClO4/Ti (−5.202 × 103 eV) to present the intensified interfacial interaction. LiClO4-PPy/Ti accordingly exhibits much higher specific capacitances of 0.123~0.0122 mF cm−2 at current densities of 0.01~0.10 mA cm−2 rather than LiClO4/Ti (0.010~0.0095 mF cm−2, presenting superior electroactivity and electrochemical capacitance properties. LiClO4-PPy/Ti could well act as the electroactive supercapacitor electrode for feasible energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigates the association of coffee consumption and odds of osteoporosis/osteopenia among individuals older than 50 years in the United States. In NHANES 2005–2014, drinking ≤ 2 cups(16 oz) of coffee per day can reduce the risk of osteoporosis/osteopenia at the femoral neck and lumbar spine in US adults. Previous epidemiological studies revealed that daily coffee intake reduced the incidence of a cluster of metabolic diseases, however, the link between coffee consumption and prevalence of osteoporosis/osteopenia still remain inconclusive and awaits further confirmation. Based on data collection from 2005 to 2014 survey cycles, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a sample size of 8789 participants aged 50 and above completing two nonconsecutive 24-h dietary recalls were eventually enrolled for analysis. Associations between coffee intake and BMD were assessed. A lower odds of having femoral neck osteopenia/osteoporosis (FOO) was observed in participants with moderate intake of coffee (≤ 2 cups per day), rather than other beverages (OR 0.83; 95% CI, 0.72–0.95; p = 0.01). Moreover, significant associations existed between daily caffeine intake and both FOO and lumbar-spine osteopenia/osteoporosis (LOO). Even after adjusting for decaffeinated coffee, tea, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), and coffee consumption, osteopenia and osteoporosis the odds remained lower at both femoral and neck levels. Our data suggest moderate habitual coffee intake (≤ 2 cups coffee/day) would have protective effects against osteoporosis/osteopenia of femoral neck and spine, among US adults over the age of 50. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of primary liver cancer, usually occurring in the background of chronic liver disease. HCC lethality rate is in the third highest place in the world. Patients with HCC have concealed early symptoms and possess a high-level of heterogeneity. Once diagnosed, most of the tumors are in advanced stages and have a poor prognosis. The sensitivity and specificity of existing detection modalities and protocols are suboptimal. HCC calls for more sophisticated and individualized therapeutic regimens. Liquid biopsy is non-invasive, repeatable, unaffected by location, and can be monitored dynamically. It has emerged as a useable aid in achieving precision malignant tumor treatment. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs), circulating nucleic acids, exosomes and tumor-educated platelets are the commonest components of a liquid biopsy. It possesses the theoretical ability to conquer the high heterogeneity and the difficulty of early detection for HCC patients. In this review, we summarize the common enrichment techniques and the clinical applications in HCC for different liquid biopsy components. Tumor recurrence after HCC-related liver transplantation is more insidious and difficult to treat. The clinical use of liquid biopsy in HCC-related liver transplantation is also summarized in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel preparation method (alkyne-based anionic method), had been used to prepare graphdiyne (GDY) with lamellar structure. Nanorods CoMoO 4 and nanosphere red phosphorus (P) was in situ loaded on the graphdiyne sheets using a morphology-modified method. Double S-type heterojunction of GDY/CoMoO 4 –P was built to improve the photocatalytic activity and stability. The hydrogen production of GDY/CoMoO 4 –P reached 14155.8 μmol g−1 h−1. The result of DFT theoretical calculation, ultraviolet and in-situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy characterization showed the construction of double S-type heterojunction accelerates the separation of photogenerated electrons/holes pairs and the transport of photogenerated electrons, enhance the absorption and utilization of light source. Through morphology control and heterojunction construction, the photocatalytic activity and stability was largely improved. This fully validates the feasibility that organic frameworks-GDY can be artificially constructed for photocatalytic hydrogen production. [Display omitted] • GDY/CoMoO 4 –P was successfully prepared by in situ deposition. • Design a ternary composite catalyst from the two aspects of morphology and band structure. • The addition of the GDY improves the redox ability of the entire system. • The recombination of photo-generated carriers was effectively suppressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative BOLD (qBOLD) MRI allows evaluation of oxidative metabolism of the brain based purely on an endogenous contrast mechanism. The method quantifies deoxygenated blood volume (DBV) and hemoglobin oxygen saturation level of venous blood (Yv), yielding oxygen extraction fraction (OEF), and along with a separate measurement of cerebral blood flow, cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) maps. Here, we evaluated our recently reported 3D qBOLD method that rectifies a number of deficiencies in prior qBOLD approaches in terms of repeat reproducibility and sensitivity to hypercapnia on the metabolic parameters, and in comparison to dual-gas calibrated BOLD (cBOLD) MRI for determining resting-state oxygen metabolism. Results suggested no significant difference between test-retest qBOLD scans in either DBV and OEF. Exposure to hypercapnia yielded group averages of 38 and 28% for OEF and 151 and 146 µmol/min/100 g for CMRO2 in gray matter at baseline and hypercapnia, respectively. The decrease of OEF during hypercapnia was significant (p ≪ 0.01), whereas CMRO2 did not change significantly (p = 0.25). Finally, baseline OEF (37 vs. 39%) and CMRO2 (153 vs. 145 µmol/min/100 g) in gray matter using qBOLD and dual-gas cBOLD were found to be in good agreement with literature values, and were not significantly different from each other (p > 0.1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Probiotics are a potentially effective therapy for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); IBD is linked to impaired gut microbiota and intestinal immunity. However, the utilization of an antibiotic cocktail (Abx) prior to the probiotic intervention remains controversial. This study aims to identify the effect of Abx pretreatment from dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis and to evaluate whether Abx pretreatment has an enhanced effect on the protection of Clostridium butyricum Miyairi588 (CBM) from colitis. Results: The inflammation, dysbiosis, and dysfunction of gut microbiota as well as T cell response were both enhanced by Abx pretreatment. Additionally, CBM significantly alleviated the DSS-induced colitis and impaired gut epithelial barrier, and Abx pretreatment could enhance these protective effects. Furthermore, CBM increased the benefit bacteria abundance and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) level with Abx pretreatment. CBM intervention after Abx pretreatment regulated the imbalance of cytokines and transcription factors, which corresponded to lower infiltration of Th1 and Th17 cells, and increased Th2 cells. Conclusions: Abx pretreatment reinforced the function of CBM in ameliorating inflammation and barrier damage by increasing beneficial taxa, eliminating pathogens, and inducing a protective Th2 cell response. This study reveals a link between Abx pretreatment, microbiota, and immune response changes in colitis, which provides a reference for the further application of Abx pretreatment before microbiota-based intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study we aimed to investigate the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in psoriasis patients, and outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection and associated risk factors. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from February 2023 to March 2023. Information was obtained with online questionnaire about psoriasis patients on demographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, SARS-CoV-2 infection and outcomes, vaccination, and routine protection against COVID-19. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore risk factors with SARS-CoV-2 infection and exacerbation of psoriasis. A total of 613 participants were recruited. 516 (84.2%) were infected, and associated factors were sex, working status, routine protection against COVID-19, COVID-19 vaccination, impaired nail, infection exacerbate psoriasis, and severity of psoriasis. Among the patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, 30 (5.8%) required hospitalization, 122 (23.6%) had psoriasis exacerbation due to SARS-CoV-2 infection, and associated factors were subtype of psoriasis, discontinuation of psoriasis treatment during SARS-CoV-2 infection, response following COVID-19 vaccination, and severity of psoriasis. Booster dose vaccination contributed a low probability of COVID-19 sequelae. COVID-19 vaccine's effectiveness was unsatisfactory, while booster dose vaccination reduced the occurrence of COVID-19 sequelae in psoriasis patients of Southwest China. Patients treated with psoriasis shown to be safe, without a higher incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection or COVID-19hospitalization compared to untreated patients. Stopping treatment during SARS-CoV-2 infection led to psoriasis exacerbation, so psoriasis treatment could be continued except severe adverse reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caring for children with cancer is stressful for parents and leads to psychological distress, which is mainly manifested as depressive symptoms and anxiety. This study explored the mediating role of resilience in the relationship between stress and psychological distress in parents of children with cancer. We recruited 258 parents of children with cancer in three tertiary hospitals in Mainland China. The results revealed that the mediating effect of resilience for the relationships between stress and depressive symptoms and between stress and anxiety accounted for 23.4% and 11.4%, respectively, of the total effect. Resilience was confirmed as a protective factor that can be incorporated into future intervention programmes to improve the psychological well-being of parents of children with cancer. Future studies could develop resilience training programmes to enhance the resilience of parents of children with cancer to alleviate parents' psychological distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aronia melanocarpa fruit contains a variety of active ingredients, such as phenolic acids, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, etc. Relevant in vivo and in vitro studies have concluded that it has beneficial effects in terms of treating dyslipidemia, hypertension, glucose metabolism disorders, etc. This article discusses the nutritional value and food processing of Aronia melanocarpa and reviews the chemical components of Aronia melanocarpa and the pharmacological activities of related substances in order to summarize the chemical characteristics of the fruit and its development prospects. The process optimization of juice production, the impact of antioxidant capacity, and the comprehensive utilization of pomace in feed are discussed. This article provides a reference for future comprehensive application research and product development of Aronia melanocarpa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel p-n heterojunction photocatalyst of CoMoO 4 /NiS-3 was constructed by electrostatic adsorption (In CoMoO 4 /NiS-3, the content of CoMoO 4 accounts for 30%). Through SEM and crystal structure, it can be seen that the composite catalyst has a starry flower morphology and is successfully synthesized. The fluorescence emission spectra show that CoMoO 4 /NiS-3 can accelerate the separation rate of photogenerated carriers. The electron transfer mechanism can be determined by ultraviolet characterization and electrochemical methods. Hydrogen evolution experiments can be observed that the amount of hydrogen evolution by the composite catalyst CoMoO 4 /NiS-3 is 225.1 μmol, which is 2.74 and 4.89 times higher than that of the CoMoO 4 and NiS catalysts, respectively. Through the control of the starry flower morphology and the contact interface of p-n heterojunction, the internal electric field is effectively constructed to inhibit the recombination rate of photogenerated carriers, which provides a powerful theoretical model for high performance hydrogen evolution reaction. The formation of p-n heterojunction effectively improves the transmission path of photogenerated carriers and greatly improves the performance of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. [Display omitted] • The p-n heterojunction between NiS and CoMoO 4 has good stability. • Dispersion of NiS on CoMoO 4 is important for the hydrogen evolution reaction activity. • The electron transport path and hydrogen evolution mechanism of CoMoO 4 /NiS composite catalyst are proposed. • High-efficiency hydrogen evolution is realized through CoMoO 4 /NiS heterojunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Immune dysregulation in individuals with long COVID has been detected. Differential diagnosis of diffuse infiltration on chest CT in long COVID is challenging. Case presentation: A 62-year-old man presented with a 10-month history of dyspnea after COVID-19 infection. Dyspnea became worse in the one month preceding presentation. The chest CT showed multifocal, subpleural, bilateral opacities due to long-COVID, and infiltration around the bronchovascular bundle in the bilateral lower lung field. The pathology for the transbronchial cryobiopsy (TBCB) first reported chronic inflammation (mainly interstitial pneumonia). The patient had positive results on tests for the antibody, RO-52+, EJ+. The presumptive diagnosis of connective tissue disease-interstitial lung disease was made. Prednisone and cyclophosphamide were given. At follow-up one month later, the chest CT showed new diffuse ground-glass infiltration. The previous TBCB specimen was re-evaluated. Foamy macrophages were found in the alveolar air space. Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining was performed. Numerous intracytoplasmic organisms were detected, with morphologic features consistent with those of Tropheryma whipplei. The patient recovered after intravenous ceftriaxone and oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. The final diagnosis was lung T. whipplei infection and long COVID-19. Conclusion: This is the first case report of Tropheryma whipplei infection in the lung of a patient with long COVID-19. T. whipplei should be considered as a potential pathogen for diffuse lung infiltration in the post-COVID-19 era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The p–n type Sm2WO6-Co9S8 heterojunction with two-dimensional coupling interface was successfully synthesized by electrostatic self-assembly. The unique rhombic morphology of Sm2WO6 and Co9S8 nanoparticles also effectively improve the light utilization efficiency. The intervention of Co9S8 enhances the visible light absorption capacity of m2WO6/Co9S8. The Sm2WO6/Co9S8 greatly increases the specific surface area and provides a rich reaction site. Recombination of photogenerated carriers in Sm2WO6/Co9S8 heterojunctions is effectively inhibited. The p–n type Sm2WO6-Co9S8 heterojunction results show that the optimized Sm2WO6/Co9S8 heterojunction exhibits significant hydrogen evolution activity, and the optimal Sm2WO6/Co9S8-25 composite has 117.5 μmol hydrogen evolution activity, it's close to four times Co9S8, close to 143 times Sm2WO6. The stability of the composite Sm2WO6/Co9S8 is the better. Under the built-in electric field induced by p–n heterojunction, using of p–n heterojunction interactions and electron transport modes, the Sm2WO6/Co9S8 can effectively achieve the remarkable effect of its internal carrier separation. This work also provides new opportunities for studying rare earth element tungstate photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing scarcity of resources, the search for green and available energy has become an urgent need. Among them, photocatalytic decomposition of water to hydrogen production has been widely studied. According to zeta potential and XRD characterization, NiCo2O4 and CuS were successfully reassembled by electrostatic self-assembly to construct S-scheme heterojunction induced by built-in electric site, which can accelerate the reaction. At the same time, under simulated visible light irradiation, the composite catalyst can rapidly decompose aqueous triethanolamine solution to produce hydrogen. The composite catalyst has high photocatalytic activity and shows a durable and efficient hydrogen generation effect. By studying the photogenerated carrier separation and transfer of the catalyst, the results show that the composite catalyst can accelerate the photogenerated carrier separation and transfer, so that it can participate in the photocatalytic reaction faster. It provides various insights into the construction of different heterojunctions in binary composite catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the effect of different local treatment strategies on survival outcomes in patients with Stage IVB cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma. Methods: Patients diagnosed with Stage IVB cervical SCC and adenocarcinoma between 2004 and 2015 were included from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Subgroup analysis was performed in those diagnosed between 2010 and 2015 and available for the sites of distant metastases. Results: In total, 706 patients were identified in this study, including 378 (53.5%) and 328 (46.5%) diagnosed in 2004–2009 and 2010–2015, respectively. There were 525 (74.4%) and 181 (25.6%) patients with SCC and adenocarcinoma, respectively. Moreover, 274 (38.8%) and 432 (61.2%) patients received hysterectomy and primary radiotherapy, respectively. The results of the multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that histology and local treatment strategies were not related to cause‐specific survival (CSS) and overall survival. In the SCC patients, patients who received primary radiotherapy had similar CSS (P = 0.312) and overall survival (P = 0.390) compared with those treated with surgery. In the adenocarcinoma patients, those who received primary radiotherapy had inferior CSS (P = 0.003) and overall survival (P < 0.001) compared with those treated with surgery. Similar results were found in those diagnosed 2004–2015 and 2010–2015 after propensity score matching. Conclusions: For patients with Stage IVB cervical cancer who received local therapy, surgery, and primary radiotherapy had similar survival in cervical SCC, whereas surgery had better survival outcomes compared with primary radiotherapy in those with cervical adenocarcinoma. Synopsis: Surgery and primary radiotherapy had similar outcomes in cervical SCC, whereas surgery had better outcomes than primary radiotherapy in those with cervical adenocarcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Berberine is a natural isoquinoline alkaloid with low toxicity, which exists in a wide variety of medicinal plants. Berberine has been demonstrated to exhibit potent prevention of indomethacin-induced gastric injury (GI) but the related mechanism remains unclear. In the present study, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based metabolomics was applied for the first time to investigate the alteration of serum metabolites in the protection of berberine against indomethacin-induced gastric injury in rats. Subsequently, bioinformatics was utilized to analyze the potential metabolic pathway of the anti-GI effect of berberine. The pharmacodynamic data indicated that berberine could ameliorate gastric pathological damage, inhibit the level of proinflammatory factors in serum, and increase the level of antioxidant factors in serum. The LC-MS-based metabolomics analysis conducted in this study demonstrated the presence of 57 differential metabolites in the serum of rats with induced GI caused by indomethacin, which was associated with 29 metabolic pathways. Moreover, the study revealed that berberine showed a significant impact on the differential metabolites, with 45 differential metabolites being reported between the model group and the group treated with berberine. The differential metabolites were associated with 24 metabolic pathways, and berberine administration regulated 14 of the 57 differential metabolites, affecting 14 of the 29 metabolic pathways. The primary metabolic pathways affected were glutathione metabolism and arachidonic acid metabolism. Based on the results, it can be concluded that berberine has a gastroprotective effect on the GI. This study is particularly significant since it is the first to elucidate the mechanism of berberine's action on GI. The results suggest that berberine's action may be related to energy metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammation regulation. These findings may pave the way for the development of new therapeutic interventions for the prevention and management of NSAID-induced GI disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a potential treatment strategy for melanoma. As a second-generation photosensitizer, Zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) has many advantages for anti-tumor PDTs, such as strong absorption in the red and near infrared regions, high photo and chemical stability, etc. However, ZnPc has a poor water solubility and is apt to aggregate due to the π-π interaction between molecules, which limits its applications. In this study, various solvents and surfactants were screened for dissolving ZnPc and preparing ZnPc@SDC-TPGS micelle and thermosensitive in situ gel. After the cytotoxic effects of thermosensitive gels on PDT were tested, the antitumor effects on PDT of them in mice by intratumoral injection were evaluated, including body weight, and tumor weight, volume and morphology. The cell death pathway and the relationship of reactive oxygen species yield with apoptotic rate of tumor cells induced by ZnPc in situ gel were investigated. The results were that N-methyl-pyrrolidone (NMP) mixed with 2 % SDC and aqueous solution containing 2 % TPGS and 2 % SDC were used to synthesize ZnPc@SDC-TPGS micelle and the thermosensitive in situ gel. The cytotoxic effects of thermosensitive gels showed good tumor suppression of ZnPc@SDC-TPGS in situ gel and no toxicity of the blank gel. Intratumoral injection in situ gel containing 3 µg ZnPc under irradiation demonstrated good tumor inhibition in mice with melanoma. Apoptosis has been established as the primary pathway of cell death, and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays a crucial role in cellular apoptosis induced by ZnPc@SDC-TPGS in situ gel. In conclusion, the intratumoral injection of ZnPc@SDC-TPGS thermosensitive in situ gel provides a promising local treatment option for melanoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mammalian testis and ovary possess special immunocompetence, which is central to provide protection against pathogens. However, the innate immune responses to immune challenges in lamprey gonads are poorly understood. In this study, we extracted RNA from testis and ovary tissues of lampreys at 0 hour, 8 hours and 17 days after lipopolysaccharides (LPS) stimulation and performed transcriptome sequencing. While the transcriptome profiles of the two tissues were different for the most part, genes LIP, LECT2, LAL2, GRN, ITLN, and C1q were found to be the most significantly up-regulated genes in both. Quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis confirmed that these genes were upregulated after stimulation. Furthermore, immunohistochemical staining showed that these genes in lamprey gonads are expressed in high quantities and have a specific distribution. Taken together, our results suggest that these genes could play an essential role in response of the gonads to LPS induction. This research establishes a basis for investigating the immune mechanism of vertebrate gonads and presents a fresh concept for gaining insight into the evolutionary development of jawless vertebrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Total demand suitably served and facility workload balance are two important considerations in location coverage. Previous work has dealt with workload balancing issues using a number of approaches, including imposing facility capacities and the use of multiple objectives focused on workload variation. However, a facility is usually restricted to a single service unit, inconsistent with strategies that allow for increased staffing such as multiple service units in dealing with higher levels of demand. This article proposes a new bi‐objective optimization model that maximizes total demand coverage and minimizes workload differences simultaneously while allowing more than one service unit to be co‐located at a site. Since the proposed model is strongly NP hard, a heuristic algorithm is developed for efficient solution. The model is applied to support postal delivery service planning. Results show that the proposed model offers improved performance compared to approaches that do not permit co‐location. The proposed algorithm is able to produce high‐quality solutions that evenly distribute allocated service demand, and does so much faster with higher‐quality solutions compared to exact solution approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extraction of plant polysaccharides often results in a large amount of proteins, which is hard to eliminate from the crude extract, and conventional approaches for deproteinization are time-consuming and often involve hazardous organic solvents. In this study, ionic liquid tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBABr) was used to create an ionic liquid aqueous two-phase system (ILATPS) for the separation of the polysaccharide (PcP) and protein extracted from the rhizome of Polygonatum cyrtonema. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was first applied to assess the feasibility of the ILATPS, and MgS�€�4 was determined to be the most suitable inorganic salt. By adopting the Taguchi experiment with an L9 (34) orthogonal array, it was found that the best condition for the efficient separation of crude PcP was at 25°C, with 1.5 g of TBABr, 15 mg of PcP, and 2.0 g of MgS�€�4, with the extraction efficiency for the protein and polysaccharide as 98.6% and 93.5%, respectively. The purified PcP was homogeneous, and its weight average molecular weight (Mw) was 7,554 Da. Monosaccharide composition analysis indicated the PcP comprised mannose, galactose, glucose, galacturonic acid, arabinose, and rhamnose at a molar ratio of 33:13: 8:3.5:2:1. This approach offers a practical tactic to purify polysaccharides of plant origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: High dietary intake of antioxidants reduces the risk of allergic sensitization in children. However, there was no sufficient evidence for the effect of dietary antioxidants intake on childhood eczema. Herein, this study aimed to explore the roles of different dietary antioxidants in childhood eczema. Methods: Data of 2305 children and adolescents aged < 18 years old were extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database in 2005–2006 in this cross-sectional study. The associations between dietary antioxidants intake and childhood eczema were explored using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, with odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analyses based on age and gender were also performed. Results: A total of 268 (11.6%) children had eczema. After adjusting for covariates, we found no significant associations between dietary intake of β-carotene, vitamin C, selenium (Se), and retinol and childhood eczema. However, compared with children and adolescents whose dietary zinc (Zn) intake < 7.47 mg, those who had dietary Zn intake level ≥ 11.83 mg seemed to have lower odds of eczema [OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.28–0.73]. In addition, subgroup analysis showed that especially in children and adolescents aged 1–11 years old, whatever the gender, a higher dietary intake level of Zn may benefit childhood eczema (all P < 0.05). Conclusion: We concluded dietary Zn intake was negatively associated with childhood eczema. Further studies are needed to explore the roles of dietary antioxidants intake in childhood eczema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RAD51D mutations have been implicated in the transformation of normal fallopian tube epithelial (FTE) cells into high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC), one of the most prevalent and aggressive gynecologic malignancies. Currently, no suitable model exists to elucidate the role of RAD51D in disease initiation and progression. Here, we established organoids from primary human FTE and introduced TP53 as well as RAD51D knockdown to enable the exploration of their mutational impact on FTE lesion generation. We observed that TP53 deletion rescued the adverse effects of RAD51D deletion on the proliferation, stemness, senescence, and apoptosis of FTE organoids. RAD51D deletion impaired the homologous recombination (HR) function and induced G2/M phase arrest, whereas concurrent TP53 deletion mitigated G0/G1 phase arrest and boosted DNA replication when combined with RAD51D mutation. The co-deletion of TP53 and RAD51D downregulated cilia assembly, development, and motility, but upregulated multiple HGSOC-associated pathways, including the IL-17 signaling pathway. IL-17A treatment significantly improved cell viability. TP53 and RAD51D co-deleted organoids exhibited heightened sensitivity to platinum, poly-ADP ribose polymerase inhibitors (PARPi), and cell cycle-related medication. In summary, our research highlighted the use of FTE organoids with RAD51D mutations as an invaluable in vitro platform for the early detection of carcinogenesis, mechanistic exploration, and drug screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CuMnO 2 /XMoO 4 (X=Ni, Co, Fe) is a novel high-efficiency photocatalyst, which was synthesized by electrostatic self-assembly method. Under visible light irradiation, by comparing with other eighth main group metals (Fe, Co), it was found by experimental study that adding 30 mg of CuMnO 2 to 100 mg of NiMoO 4 (CuMnO 2 /NiMoO 4 -30%), it has the best hydrogen evolution effect up to 300 μ mol, which is 1.49 and 2.88 times more effective than CuMnO 2 /CoMoO 4 and CuMnO 2 /FeMoO 4 respectively. Meanwhile, the hydrogen evolution yield of CuMnO 2 /NiMoO 4 was about 4 times that of CuMnO 2 and NiMoO 4. The photoelectrochemical and time-resolved fluorescence experiments confirmed the excellent charge separation efficiency of the composite catalyst, and the linear voltammetry curve showed that the composite catalyst had the characteristics of high current response. When CuMnO 2 is loaded on NiMoO 4 , CuMnO 2 /NiMoO 4 exhibits excellent photocatalytic activity due to the formation of Type I heterojunction, which promote charge transfer and effectively improve the separation of electrons and holes. This experiment provides a simple and feasible idea for the study of composite catalysts with high catalytic activity. • The heterojunction between CuMnO 2 and NiMoO 4 has good stability. • Dispersion of CuMnO 2 on NiMoO 4 is important for the HER activity. • Discussion on electron transfer path and hydrogen evolution mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic hydrogen production was a potential strategy to solve energy shortage and environmental pollution. One of the valuable research directions for improving photocatalytic efficiency was to prepare catalysts in an efficient and low-cost way. Lamellar Sm 2 WO 6 and dodecahedron Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-67 (ZIF-67) have been prepared successfully based on morphology control. Sm 2 WO 6 /ZIF-67 was prepared by a novel in situ growth scheme, which was confirmed by crystal structure, morphology and elemental composition analysis. The close interaction between Sm 2 WO 6 and ZIF-67 was confirmed by photoelectrochemical measurements. Based on the design of band structure, the S-type heterojunction was constructed. The research results of this paper provided a reference for exploring non-noble metal composite materials and demonstrated great potential in photocatalytic. [Display omitted] • The 3D nanostructured dodecahedron ZIF-67 is prepared. • Sm 2 WO 6 /ZIF-67 is prepared through the in situ growth method. • Sm 2 WO 6 /ZIF-67 photocatalytic hydrogen production activity is improved. • A S-scheme heterojunction is constructed for photocatalysis. • The photocatalysis is enhanced by adjusting the direction of electron transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rechargeable sodium–sulfur/selenium/iodine (Na–S/Se/I2) batteries are regarded as promising candidates for large‐scale energy storage systems, with the advantages of high energy density, low cost, and environmental friendliness. However, the electrochemical performances of Na–S/Se/I2 batteries are still restricted by several inherent issues, including the "shuttle effect" of polysulfides/polyselenides/polyiodides (PSs/PSes/PIs), sluggish kinetics of the conversion reactions at the cathodes, and Na dendrite growth at the anodes. Among these challenges, uncontrolled "shuttle effect" of PSs/PSes/PIs is a major contributing factor for the irreversible loss of active cathode materials and severe side reactions on Na metal anodes, leading to rapid failure of the batteries. Separator modification has been demonstrated to be an effective strategy to suppress the shuttling of PSs/PSes/PIs. Herein, the latest achievement in modifying separators for high‐performance Na–S/Se/I2 batteries is comprehensively reviewed. The reaction mechanisms of each battery system are first discussed. Then, strategies of separator modification based on the different functions for regulating the transportation of PSs/PSes/PIs are summarized, including applying electrostatic repulsive interaction, introducing conductive layers, improving sieving effects, enhancing chemisorption capability, and adding efficient electrocatalysts. Finally, future perspectives on the practical application of modified separators in high‐energy rechargeable batteries are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Liver fibrosis has been reported to be associated with hematoma expansion and mortality in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage. This study aimed to detect the association between liver fibrosis and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) in ischemic stroke after mechanical thrombectomy (MT).Methods: We retrospectively included patients with large artery occlusion in the anterior circulation and treated with MT at a single stroke center. The fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) was used to assess the severity of liver fibrosis. sICH was diagnosed according to the Heidelberg Bleeding Classification criteria. Multivariate logistic regression and restricted cubic spline analysis were conducted to examine the relationship between liver fibrosis and sICH.Results: Among the 578 patients (mean age, 70.1 years; 58.5% male) included in the study, 65 (11.2%) individuals were diagnosed with sICH. After adjusting for demographic characteristics and other potential confounders, a higher FIB-4 index was found to be independently associated with an increased risk of sICH (odds ratio: 1.306, 95% confidence interval: 1.127– 1.512, P=0.001). Similar results were obtained when analyzing FIB-4 as a categorical variable.Conclusion: This study demonstrated that there is a significant association between FIB-4 and the risk of sICH in patients with acute ischemic stroke who underwent MT. Therefore, liver fibrosis could serve as a valuable parameter in monitoring the risk of sICH following MT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers the L 1 -minimization problem for sparse signal and image reconstruction by using projection neural networks (PNNs). Firstly, a new finite-time converging projection neural network (FtPNN) is presented. Building upon FtPNN, a new fixed-time converging PNN (FxtPNN) is designed. Under the condition that the projection matrix satisfies the Restricted Isometry Property (RIP), the stability in the sense of Lyapunov and the finite-time convergence property of the proposed FtPNN are proved; then, it is proven that the proposed FxtPNN is stable and converges to the optimum solution regardless of the initial values in fixed time. Finally, simulation examples with signal and image reconstruction are carried out to show the effectiveness of our proposed two neural networks, namely FtPNN and FxtPNN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]