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Abstract Purpose Pain following arthroscopic knee surgery remains a controversial clinical problem. Intra-articular (IA) glucocorticoid injections have demonstrated the potential to provide better analgesia in some orthopedic surgeries; however, due to the lack of studies, its role in knee arthroscopies remain unclear. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intra-articular glucocorticoids after arthroscopic knee surgery. Methods A systematic review was conducted according to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guideline, with literature search performed on Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. This systematic review has been registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; ID: CRD42024509749). Inclusion criteria included randomized controlled trials published in English comparing IA glucocorticoid to placebo in patients undergoing knee arthroscopy. Risk of bias for all included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration’s risk of bias tool. Clinical outcomes compared were pain score: visual analogue scale (VAS) or International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), time to first analgesia requirement, analgesia consumption, range of motion (ROM), patient satisfaction, and complications. Results A total of 7 studies (3 and 4 with evidence level I and II, respectively) involving 309 patients were included. All studies showed that IA glucocorticoids significantly decreased subjective pain scores. Three studies showed significantly longer duration to first postoperative analgesia use, while 6 showed significantly reduced postoperative analgesic administration with IA glucocorticoid use. Two studies showed significantly increased patient satisfaction with IA glucocorticoid (P = 0.001 and P = 0.01, respectively). No studies showed significant differences in complications such as nausea, vomiting, bradycardia, hypotension, or procedure-related adverse effects between the groups. Conclusion Current available randomized controlled trials suggest that IA glucocorticoids can significantly reduce postoperative pain, delay, and minimize postoperative analgesia use, and improve patient satisfaction. No postoperative complications or adverse events were reported, reflecting its safety as a postoperative analgesic modality.

Abstract Background In vertebrates, most protein-coding genes have a peak of GC-content near their 5′ transcriptional start site (TSS). This feature promotes both the efficient nuclear export and translation of mRNAs. Despite the importance of GC-content for RNA metabolism, its general features, origin, and maintenance remain mysterious. We investigate the evolutionary forces shaping GC-content at the transcriptional start site (TSS) of genes through both comparative genomic analysis of nucleotide substitution rates between different species and by examining human de novo mutations. Results Our data suggests that GC-peaks at TSSs were present in the last common ancestor of amniotes, and likely that of vertebrates. We observe that in apes and rodents, where recombination is directed away from TSSs by PRDM9, GC-content at the 5′ end of protein-coding gene is currently undergoing mutational decay. In canids, which lack PRDM9 and perform recombination at TSSs, GC-content at the 5′ end of protein-coding is increasing. We show that these patterns extend into the 5′ end of the open reading frame, thus impacting synonymous codon position choices. Conclusions Our results indicate that the dynamics of this GC-peak in amniotes is largely shaped by historic patterns of recombination. Since decay of GC-content towards the mutation rate equilibrium is the default state for non-functional DNA, the observed decrease in GC-content at TSSs in apes and rodents indicates that the GC-peak is not being maintained by selection on most protein-coding genes in those species.

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a common and serious postoperative complication in elderly patients, affecting cognitive function and quality of life. Its pathophysiology is complex, involving age-related cognitive decline, surgical and anesthetic factors, systemic and neuroinflammation, as well as genetic and environmental contributors. Comprehensive preoperative assessment and optimization, the selection of appropriate anesthetic agents, minimally invasive surgical techniques, and early postoperative rehabilitation and cognitive training are effective strategies to reduce the incidence of POCD. Recent research suggests that anti-inflammatory drugs and neuroprotective agents may be promising in preventing POCD. Additionally, non-pharmacological interventions, including cognitive and physical training, have shown positive effects. Future research directions should include large-scale clinical trials and mechanistic studies to further understand and manage POCD, along with integrating new findings into clinical practice. Continuous education and training for healthcare professionals are essential to ensure the effective application of the latest research findings in patient care. Through multidisciplinary collaboration and ongoing improvements, these efforts can significantly enhance the cognitive function and quality of life of elderly surgical patients.

Abstract Background Alpha-papillomavirus 9 (α-9) is a member of the human papillomavirus (HPV) α genus, causing 75% invasive cervical cancers worldwide. The purpose of this study was to provide data for effective treatment of HPV-induced cervical lesions in Taizhou by analysing the genetic variation and antigenic epitopes of α-9 HPV E6 and E7. Methods Cervical exfoliated cells were collected for HPV genotyping. Positive samples of the α-9 HPV single type were selected for E6 and E7 gene sequencing. The obtained nucleotide sequences were translated into amino acid sequences (protein primary structure) using MEGA X, and positive selection sites of the amino acid sequences were evaluated using PAML. The secondary and tertiary structures of the E6 and E7 proteins were predicted using PSIPred, SWISS-MODEL, and PyMol. Potential T/B-cell epitopes were predicted by Industrial Engineering Database (IEDB). Results From 2012 to 2023, α-9 HPV accounted for 75.0% (7815/10423) of high-risk HPV-positive samples in Taizhou, both alone and in combination with other types. Among these, single-type-positive samples of α-9 HPV were selected, and the entire E6 and E7 genes were sequenced, including 298 HPV16, 149 HPV31, 185 HPV33, 123 HPV35, 325 HPV52, and 199 HPV58 samples. Compared with reference sequences, 34, 12, 10, 2, 17, and 17 nonsynonymous nucleotide mutations were detected in HPV16, 31, 33, 35, 52, and 58, respectively. Among all nonsynonymous nucleotide mutations, 19 positive selection sites were selected, which may have evolutionary significance in rendering α-9 HPV adaptive to its environment. Immunoinformatics predicted 57 potential linear and 59 conformational B-cell epitopes, many of which are also predicted as CTL epitopes. Conclusion The present study provides almost comprehensive data on the genetic variations, phylogenetics, positive selection sites, and antigenic epitopes of α-9 HPV E6 and E7 in Taizhou, China, which will be helpful for local HPV therapeutic vaccine development.

In this paper, modal properties of the seated human body were identified from measured transmissibilities to the head, chest, lumbar spine L3, pelvis, hips and thighs with single-axis translational vibration; how they were affected by vibration direction and magnitude was quantitatively compared for the first time. To this end, eight subjects were exposed to fore-aft, lateral and vertical single-axis vibrations with three magnitudes at 0.4, 0.8 and 1.2 m/s 2 r.m.s., respectively. Three and five vibration modes were identified with fore-aft vibration and with vertical vibration in the sagittal plane, respectively, while three modes identified with lateral vibration were in the coronal plane. As the vibration magnitude increased from 0.4 to 1.2 m/s 2 r.m.s., the modal frequencies of the modes at 1.2, 2.2, 2.9 and 6.2 Hz, which contained the pitch, lateral movements, fore-aft movements and vertical movements of the upper body, respectively, were reduced to 1.0, 1.8, 2.3 and 5.8 Hz significantly, and the damping ratios of the modes identified at 0.8, 5.2 and 10.9 Hz were changed. High similarity was observed between the modal shapes identified with different vibration magnitudes.

Background: Gastric cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Triphenyl phosphate (TPP) is a prevalent flame retardant, but its health implications remain to be thoroughly understood. Objective: To explore the link between TPP exposure and gastric cancer by examining gene expression patterns and developing a predictive model. Methods: Gene expression data were sourced from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD). Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways were employed for analysis. Single-sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA) was used to obtain phosphate flame retardant-related scores. A predictive model was constructed through differential analysis, univariate COX regression, and LASSO regression. Molecular docking was performed to assess protein interactions with TPP. Results: ssGSEA identified scores related to phosphate flame retardants in gastric cancer, which had a strong association with immune-related traits. Several genes associated with TPP were identified and used to develop a prognostic model that has clinical significance. Molecular docking showed a high binding affinity of TPP with MTTP, a gene related to lipid metabolism. Pathway analysis indicated that TPP exposure contributes to gastric cancer through lipid metabolic processes. Conclusion: The study establishes a potential correlation between TPP exposure and gastric cancer onset, pinpointing key genes and pathways involved. This underscores the significance of environmental factors in gastric cancer research and presents a potential diagnostic tool for clinical application.

Magnetorheological (MR) dampers have significantly advanced automotive suspension systems by providing adaptable damping characteristics in response to varying road conditions and driving dynamics. This review offers a comprehensive analysis of the evolution and integration of MR dampers in semi-active suspension systems. Semi-active systems present an optimal balance by integrating the simplicity inherent in passive systems with the adaptability characteristic of active systems, while mitigating the substantial energy consumption. The fundamental principles of MR technology, the design of MR dampers, and the diverse control strategies employed to optimize suspension performance were examined. The classical, modern, and intelligent control methods, along with the related research, were emphasized. Based on the above-mentioned methods, the benefits of MR semi-active control were highlighted, while the challenges and future research directions in MR damper technology were also addressed. Through a synthesis of recent research findings and practical applications, this paper underscores the advancements in MR-based semi-active suspension systems and their promising prospects in the automotive industry.

BackgroundThe main functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) include functional dyspepsia (FD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which often present overlapping symptoms with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), posing a challenge for clinical diagnosis and treatment. The gut microbiota is closely associated with FGIDs and GERD, although the causal relationship has not been fully elucidated. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the potential causal relationship using bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.Materials and methodsThe genetic data of the 211 gut microbiota were obtained from the MiBioGen consortium (N = 14,306, from phylum to genus level) and species level of gut microbiota were acquired from the Dutch Microbiome Project (N = 7,738). For FD and IBS, we utilized the FinnGen consortium, whereas, for GERD data analysis, we obtained the IEU OpenGWAS project. The inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method was used as the primary method to calculate causal effect values. Sensitivity analyses were also performed to confirm the robustness of the primary findings of the MR analyses. Moreover, a reverse MR analysis was conducted to assess the likelihood of reverse causality.ResultsCombining the results of the preliminary and sensitivity analyses, we identified that 8 gut microbial taxa were associated with FD. Genus Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group (p = 3.63 × 10−3) and genus Terrisporobacter (p = 1.13 × 10−3) were strongly associated with FD. At the same time, we found that 8 gut microbial taxa were associated with IBS. Family Prevotellaceae (p = 2.44 × 10−3) and species Clostridium leptum (p = 7.68 × 10−3) display a robust correlation with IBS. In addition, 5 gut microbial taxa were associated with GERD using the IVW approach. In the reverse MR analysis, 2 gut microbial taxa were found to be associated with FD, 5 gut microbial taxa were found to be associated with IBS, and 21 gut microbial taxa were found to be associated with GERD.ConclusionThe study reveals the potential causal effects of specific microbial taxa on FD, IBS, and GERD and may offer novel insights into the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions.

BackgroundThe interaction between environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals, such as Bisphenol A (BPA), and their influence on cancer progression, particularly regarding the GOLPH3 gene in colorectal cancer, remains unclear.MethodsWe performed an integrated analysis of transcriptional profiling, clinical data, and bioinformatics analyses utilizing data from the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database and The Cancer Genome Atlas. The study employed ClueGO, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis, and Gene Set Variation Analysis for functional enrichment analysis, alongside experimental assays to examine the effects of BPA exposure on colorectal cancer cell lines, focusing on GOLPH3 expression and its implications for cancer progression.ResultsOur findings demonstrated that BPA exposure significantly promoted the progression of colorectal cancer by upregulating GOLPH3, which in turn enhanced the malignant phenotype of colorectal cancer cells. Comparative analysis revealed elevated GOLPH3 protein levels in cancerous tissues versus normal tissues, with single-cell analysis indicating widespread GOLPH3 presence across various cell types in the cancer microenvironment. GOLPH3 was also associated with multiple carcinogenic pathways, including the G2M checkpoint. Furthermore, our investigation into the colorectal cancer microenvironment and genomic mutation signature underscored the oncogenic potential of GOLPH3, exacerbated by BPA exposure.ConclusionThis study provides novel insights into the complex interactions between BPA exposure and GOLPH3 in the context of colorectal cancer, emphasizing the need for heightened awareness and measures to mitigate BPA exposure risks. Our findings advocate for further research to validate these observations in clinical and epidemiological settings and explore potential therapeutic targets within these pathways.

With the escalating challenges of climate change and the imperative for carbon neutrality, evaluating the carbon footprint of regional power systems becomes crucial. To address this issue, a low-carbon evaluation framework for regional power systems is developed. First, this study identifies the fundamental requirements that the index system for the low-carbon power system should follow and specifies the general direction for the index system’s creation. Second, an evaluation model for carbon reduction ability is proposed by considering generation side, grid side and load side of the power system. Then, a comparative evaluation model for the carbon reduction capability of multi-regional power systems is proposed to spatiotemporally compare the carbon reduction capability of different power systems. Next, a quantification method for the weights of low-carbon evaluation indicators is established based on the power system simulation of multi-scenario scheduling and index sensitivity analysis method. Finally, a low-carbon comprehensive score for regional power systems is created by combining the evaluation results of the system’s carbon reduction capacity with index weights. The practical research results in a region of Zhejiang province in China demonstrate that the proposed model can provide a reasonable and feasible evaluation plan for the low-carbon construction of regional power systems.

Abstract Background Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) is a pivotal protein in the plasma membrane. Studies on homozygous Cav-1 deficient mice revealed that Cav-1 is essential for endothelial function and angiogenesis in the retina. However, whether a reduction in Cav-1 content hampers the neurovascular unit (NVU) in the retina is unclear. Thus, this study examines the NVU in the retinas of heterozygous Cav-1 deficient (Cav-1+/−) mice and analyzes possible underlying mechanisms. Methods The vascular, glial and neuronal components in the retina were evaluated using retinal morphometry, whole mount retinal immunofluorescence staining, histological analysis and optical coherence tomography. In addition, immunoblotting and immunofluorescence staining, subcellular fractionation, biotin labeling of cell surface proteins, and proximity ligation assay were employed to detect expression and localization of proteins in the retina or endothelial cells (ECs) upon knockdown of Cav-1 with Cav-1 siRNA. Results Cav-1+/− retinas showed a significant reduction in pericyte coverage along with an increase in acellular capillaries compared to controls at 8 months of age, but not at 1 month. A significant loss and obvious morphological abnormalities of smooth muscle cells were observed in 8-month-old Cav-1+/− retinal arterioles. Macroglial and microglial cells were activated in the Cav-1+/− retinas. A transient significant delay in retinal angiogenesis was detected in Cav-1+/− retinas at p5, which was however no longer detectable at p10. The Cav-1+/− retinas displayed increased vascular permeability and a notable reduction in VEGFR2 content at 8 months. In vitro, siRNA-mediated knockdown experiments in ECs revealed that the loss of Cav-1 in ECs resulted in decreased levels of VEGFR2, VE-Cadherin and their interaction at the plasma membrane as well. Conclusion Our results indicate that a sufficient Cav-1 level over 50% of its normal abundance is vital for the proper localization of VEGFR2 and VE-cadherin, likely in a complex, at the plasma membrane, which is essential for the maintenance of normal NVU in the retina.

An isogeometric topology optimization (ITO) model for multi-material structures under thermal-mechanical loadings using neural networks is proposed. In the proposed model, a non-uniform rational B-spline (NURBS) function is employed for geometric description and analytical calculation, which realizes the unification of the geometry and computational models. Neural networks replace the optimization algorithms of traditional topology optimization to update the relative densities of multi-material structures. The weights and biases of neural networks are taken as design variables and updated by automatic differentiation without derivation of the sensitivity formula. In addition, the grid elements can be refined directly by increasing the number of refinement nodes, resulting in high-resolution optimal topology without extra computational costs. To obtain comprehensive performance from ITO for multi-material structures, a weighting coefficient is introduced to regulate the proportion between thermal compliance and compliance in the loss function. Some numerical examples are given and the validity is verified by performance analysis. The optimal topological structures obtained based on the proposed model exhibit both excellent heat dissipation and stiffness performance under thermal-mechanical loadings.

Abstract Background Human papillomavirus (HPV) 33 belongs to the Alphapapillomavirus 9 (α-9 HPV) species group, which also contains types 16, 31, 35, 52, 58 and 67. The purpose of this study was to investigate the genetic variations of HPV33 and to explore its carcinogenicity among women in Taizhou, Southeast China. Methods Exfoliated cervical cells were collected for HPV genotyping. Only single HPV33 infection cases were selected, and their E6 and E7 genes were sequenced using the ABI 3730xl sequencer and then analysed using MEGA X. Results From 2014 to 2020, a total of 185 single HPV33-positive specimens were successfully amplified. We obtained 15 distinct HPV33 E6/E7 variants, which were published in GenBank under accession numbers OQ672665-OQ672679. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all HPV33 E6/E7 variants belonged to lineage A, of which 75.7% belonged to lineage A1. Compared with CIN1, the proportion of sublineage A1 in CIN2/3 was higher, but there was no significant difference (76.5% vs. 80.6%, P > 0.05). Altogether, 20 single nucleotide substitutions were identified, of which 6 were novel substitutions, including T196G (C30G), A447T, G458T (R117L), G531A, A704A, and C740T. In addition, no significant trends were observed between the nucleotide substitutions of HPV33 E6/E7 variants and the risk of cervical lesions. Conclusion This study provides the most comprehensive data on genetic variations, phylogenetics and carcinogenicity of HPV33 E6/E7 variants in Southeast China to date. The data confirmed that cervical lesions among women in Taizhou are attributable to HPV33, which may be due to the high infection rate of sublineage A1 in the population.

Building information modeling (BIM) and finite element method (FEM) models have a wide range of applications in underground engineering design, construction, and operation and maintenance. This study employs a BIM-FEM framework to numerically simulate the impact of excavation on existing subway stations, using the Yanjiang New City Station TOD project as a case study. This framework simplifies the smooth integration of BIM and FEM models, automating functions such as assigning material properties, conducting construction simulations, and generating high-quality meshes. Simulation results reveal significant horizontal and vertical displacements in diaphragm walls, support structures, and subway station structures, with the greatest impacts occurring closest to the excavation site. The BIM-FEM framework is validated as an effective tool for designing foundation pit support structures, enhancing numerical modeling accuracy and efficiency in underground engineering. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the dynamic interactions between excavation and underground structures, informing the development of construction strategies and protective measures to ensure structural safety.

BackgroundGrowing evidence has well documented the close association between the gut microbiome and allergic respiratory disease, which has been notably represented by allergic asthma. However, it is unclear whether this association is a causal link. Therefore, we investigated the potential causal associations between the gut microbiome and allergic asthma or other allergic diseases.MethodsIn this study, we performed two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses by using the publicly available genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary data. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that significantly correlated were selected as instrumental variables. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was used to examine the potential causal gut microbial genera for allergic asthma and other allergic diseases. The robustness of the primary findings of the MR analyses was ensured by using different sensitivity analyses.ResultsCombining the findings from multiple analyses, the host genetic-driven increases in Butyricimonas at the genus level were positively correlated with the risk of allergic asthma. In addition, phylum Bacteroidetes and class Bacteroidia were also found to have negative associations with the risk of allergic asthma; genus Slackia was identified as having potential causal effects with allergic asthma. No clear evidence of pleiotropy and heterogeneity was observed in genus Butyricimonas. Butyricimonas was also found to have an association with allergic rhinitis, but not with other allergic diseases.ConclusionOur findings indicate that there are new gut microbial genera that were causally associated with the risk of allergic asthma and other allergic diseases, and offer novel insights into the pathogenesis of allergic respiratory diseases.

In the contemporary world, finance is crucial to economy and financial agglomeration has a lasting effect on the economic growth. The areas of financial agglomeration will influence the economy of the local parts throughout agglomeration effect, and have an impact on its spatially related parts. Based on Chinese inter-provincial panel data from 2007 to 2018, this study constructs an indicator system of financial agglomeration and measures provincial agglomeration levels to examine its impact on regional economic growth. The results show that, first, the level of financial agglomeration has a trend of steady change and presents a ladder-decreasing agglomeration pattern. Second, financial agglomeration could effectively promote the economic growth of local and spatially related regions. The development of the financial industry depended more on geographical distance, and the diffusion effect of financial agglomeration in the eastern, central, and western regions are in different stages. Finally, by summarizing the research conclusions, this study put forward some suggestions for China’s regional economic growth.

Combined with the requirements of low-carbon transformation of power system, this paper points out the existing problems in power and energy balance of new power system under the dual carbon target. The technical solutions for electric power balance are summarized from the perspectives of planning and operation. The concept of “carbon correlation” is proposed to quantitatively represent the matching degree between equipment characteristics and dual carbon paths, which can provide alternative reference for planning. Secondly, considering the uncertainty and uncontrollability of new energy, the operation level is divided into normal state and emergency state, so as to improve the resilience of the power system. Finally, seasonal energy storage planning is taken as an example1 to clarify its role in medium - and long-term power balance, and the results show that although seasonal storage increases the configuration cost of energy storage, it can reduce the operating cost and improve the economy of the system as a whole. The multi-stage low-carbon planning of multi-energy complementary comprehensive energy park is taken as example 2 to clarify the steps of carbon-energy collaborative planning. The results show that the multi-stage planning method can avoid the waste caused by the equipment in the early stage and make the time sequence of capacity expansion and load increase consistent. At the same time, the demand response method can be used to be more flexible and reasonable, and can further improve the economy of the system.

Strain engineering is effective to improve the carrier mobility of semiconductor materials. Here, the authors demonstrate lattice strain-induced mobility enhancement of an azobenzene compound under photoisomerization and its application in large-scale flexible organic field-effect transistors.

Abstract Surface defect detection is a vital process in industrial production and a significant research direction in computer vision. Although today’s deep learning defect detection methods based on computer vision can achieve high detection accuracy, they are mainly based on supervised learning. They require many defect samples to train the model, which is not compatible with the current situation that industrial defect sample is difficult to obtain and costly to label. So we propose a new unsupervised small sample defect detection model-ISU-GAN, which is based on the CycleGAN architecture. A skip connection, SE module, and Involution module are added to the Generator, enabling the feature extraction capability of the model to be significantly improved. Moreover, we propose an SSIM-based defect segmentation method that applies to GAN-based defect detection and can accurately extract defect contours without the need for redundant noise reduction post-processing. Experiments on the DAGM2007 dataset show that the unsupervised ISU-GAN can achieve higher detection accuracy and finer defect profiles with less than 1/3 of the unlabelled training data than the supervised model with the full training set. Relative to the supervised segmentation models UNet and ResUNet++ with more training samples, our model improves the detection accuracy by 2.84% and 0.41% respectively and the F1 score by 0.025 and 0.0012 respectively. In addition, the predicted profile obtained using our method is closer to the real profile than other models used for comparison.

Bamboo surface defect detection provides quality assurance for bamboo product manufacture in industrial scenarios, an integral part of the overall manufacturing process. Currently, bamboo defect inspection predominantly relies on manual operation, but manual inspection is very time-consuming as well as labor-intensive, and the quality of inspection is not guaranteed. A few visual inspection systems based on traditional image processing have been deployed in some factories in recent years. However, traditional machine vision algorithms extract features in tedious steps and have poor performance along with poor adaptability in the face of complex defects. Accordingly, many scholars are committed to seeking deep learning methods to accomplish surface defect detection. However, existing deep learning object detectors struggle with specific industrial defects when directly applied to industrial defect detection, such as sliver defects, especially for ones with extreme aspect ratios. To this end, this paper proposes an improved algorithm based on the advanced object detector YOLOV4-CSP, which introduces asymmetric convolution and attention mechanism. The introduction of asymmetric convolution enhances the feature extraction in the horizontal direction of the bamboo strip surface, improving the performance in detecting sliver defects. In addition, convolutional block attention module(CBAM), a hybrid attention module, which combines channel attention with spatial attention, is utilized to promote the representation ability of the model by increasing the weights of crucial channels and regions. The proposed model achieves outstanding performance in the general categories and excels in the hard-to-detect categories. Some enterprise’s bamboo strip dataset experiments verify that the model can reach 96.74% mAP for the typical six surface defects. Meanwhile, we also observe significant improvements when extending our model to aluminum datasets with similar characteristics.

Urbanization drives the concentration of innovation elements and knowledge diffusion, which is conducive to enhancing regional innovation capacity. To meet the developmental needs of the new era, China has released the National New Urbanization Plan (2014-2020) to test the effect of this policy on urban innovation. The 2014 comprehensive pilot project of China's new urbanization strategy is considered a quasi-natural experiment. This study examines relevant data from cities at the prefecture level and above from 2008 to 2019 using DID, PSM-DID, intermediary effect, and other methods. We established an empirical model to investigate the impact of new urbanization pilot policies on urban innovation. The results indicate that the new urbanization pilot policy can significantly promote an increase in urban innovation capacity. The heterogeneity of the impact of new urbanization pilot policies is evident in the improvements to urban grade, region, scale, etc. Regarding function mechanism, new urbanization can promote urban innovation through talent gathering, industrial gathering, income scale, and other effects. This paper posits the importance of summarizing the success of the pilot project of new urbanization and explores new urbanization to promote urban innovation from multiple perspectives. We put forth recommendations based on the experience of different cities to implement an urban innovation differentiation strategy in constructing new urbanization.

ObjectivesWe aimed to systematically assess the inter-reader agreement of the Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System Version (PI-RADS) v2.1 for the detection of prostate cancer (PCa).MethodsWe included studies reporting inter-reader agreement of different radiologists that applied PI-RADS v2.1 for the detection of PCa. Quality assessment of the included studies was performed with the Guidelines for Reporting Reliability and Agreement Studies. The summary estimates of the inter-reader agreement were pooled with the random-effect model and categorized (from slight to almost perfect) according to the kappa (κ) value. Multiple subgroup analyses and meta-regression were performed to explore various clinical settings.ResultsA total of 12 studies comprising 2475 patients were included. The pooled inter-reader agreement for whole gland was κ=0.65 (95% CI 0.56-0.73), and for transitional zone (TZ) lesions was κ=0.62 (95% CI 0.51-0.72). There was substantial heterogeneity presented throughout the studies (I2= 95.6%), and meta-regression analyses revealed that only readers’ experience (

The control accuracy of industrial robot depends on the comprehensive performance of RV reducer， which is the core component of industrial robot. At present， there is a lack of testing products for the performance of RV reducer in the market， the existing testing system has single function，which can't satisfy the requirements of industrial robot production and research. By analyzing the structure and working principle of RV reducer， the measurement method of performance parameters such as transmission error， transmission efficiency and torsional stiffness of RV reducer is intensively studied， an automatic measurement platform of RV reducer dynamic transmission performance is designed， it provides reference and basis for mechanical design and performance test of RV reducer.

Abstract Background Human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 accounts for a larger share of cervical cancer and has been a major health problem worldwide for decades. The progression of initial infection to cervical cancer has been linked to viral sequence properties; however, the role of HPV16 variants in the risk of cervical carcinogenesis, especially with longitudinal follow-up, is not fully understood in China. Methods We aimed to investigate the genetic variability of HPV16 E6 and E7 oncogenes in isolates from cervical exfoliated cells. Between December 2012 and December 2014, a total of 310 single HPV16-positive samples were selected from women living in the Taizhou area, China. Sequences of all E6 and E7 oncogenes were analysed by PCR-sequencing assay. Detailed sequence comparison, genetic heterogeneity analyses and maximum-likelihood phylogenetic tree construction were performed with BioEdit Sequence Alignment Editor and MEGA X software. Data for cytology tests and histological diagnoses were obtained from our Taizhou Area Study with longitudinal follow-up for at least 5 years. The relationship between HPV16 variants and cervical carcinogenesis risk was analysed by the chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test. Results In this study, we obtained 64 distinct variation patterns with the accession GenBank numbers MT681266-MT681329. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that 98.3% of HPV16 variants belong to lineage A, in which the A4 (Asian) sublineage was dominant (64.8%), followed by A2 (12.1%), A1 (11.4%), and A3 (10.0%). The A4 (Asian) sublineage had a higher risk of CIN2+ than the A1–3 (European) sublineages (OR = 2.69, 95% CI = 1.04–6.97, P

Abstract Background Telemedicine is increasingly utilized as an alternative to in person consultation. Current pandemic conditions are providing additional impetus to virtual care delivery. We compared both adolescent and caregiver (parent or guardian) attitudes towards telemedicine (here as tertiary center to remote health care location) as a crucial determinant of longer-term effectiveness. Methods This qualitative research study analyzed transcribed structured telephone interviews with both 11–18 year-old pediatric nephrology patients and their caregivers and performed a quantitative analysis of patient demographics, disease factors and distance to tertiary center vs. telemedicine center. Results The study was conducted in a medium-sized tertiary pediatric nephrology centre with a large catchment area of over 0.5 million square kilometers and 629,000 children and adolescents under 18 years of age. Eleven dyads of adolescents and caregivers were enrolled. Five adolescents were male. The mean age of the adolescents was 14.4 ± 2.5 years (range 11.2–18.0). The median distance to our tertiary center was 191 km (range 110–1378 km). Four adolescents lived more than 500 km from our tertiary center. The 11 adolescents had a total of 334 in person visits (mean 30 ± 25) and 86 telemedicine visits (mean 8 ± 7). A ratio of 2:1 telemedicine to in-person visits was favored; with caregivers more in favor of remote care than adolescents. Qualitative analysis found that experiences with telemedicine were distinguished by consultation-specific factors and contextual factors. Contextual factors (travel/cost savings) were valued for telemedicine by adolescents and caregivers. Consultation-specific factors, such as the ability to show the doctor physical symptoms, were more valued during in-person consultations, especially by adolescents. The overall visit type preference was related to the nature of the consultation. For regular check-ups, and for adolescents with less complex needs, participants felt that telemedicine offered a comparable experience to in-person visits. Adolescents with more complex conditions preferred in-person visits. Conclusions Indiscriminate transfer to chronic care predicated on mainly telemedicine approach is not compatible with user expressed attitudes (especially among adolescents). Accurately mapping models of care to these attitudes is an essential determinant of effective management and longer-term engagement with potentially life-long health challenges.

Abstract B10 cells are regulatory B cells capable of producing IL-10 for maintaining immune homeostasis. Dysregulation of B10 cells occurs in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Modulation or adoptive transfer of B10 cells is a promising therapeutic strategy. The short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), the metabolites of microbiota, play a critical role in maintaining immune homeostasis and are the potential drugs for the modulation of B10 cells. It is not clear whether and how SCFAs upregulate the frequency of B10 cells. Here, we found that SCFAs could promote murine and human B10 cell generation in vitro. Upregulation of B10 cells by butyrate or pentanoate was also observed in either healthy mice, mice with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis, or mice with collagen-induced arthritis. Moreover, SCFA treatment could ameliorate clinical scores of colitis and arthritis. Adoptive transfer of B cells pretreated with butyrate showed more alleviation of DSS-induced colitis than those without butyrate. A further study demonstrates that SCFAs upregulate B10 cells in a manner dependent on their histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitory activity and independent of the G-protein-coupled receptor pathway. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that the MAPK signaling pathway was enriched in B10 cells treated with butyrate. A study with inhibitors of ERK, JNK, and p38 MAPK demonstrated that activating p38 MAPK by butyrate is critical for the upregulation of B10 cells. Moreover, HDAC inhibitor has similar effects on B10 cells. Our study sheds light on the mechanism underlying B10 cell differentiation and function and provides a potential therapeutic strategy with SCFAs and HDAC inhibitors for inflammation and autoimmune diseases.

Abstract Background Tens of million cases of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) have occurred globally. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) attacks the respiratory system, causing pneumonia and lymphopenia in infected individuals. The aim of the present study is to investigate the laboratory characteristics of the viral load, lymphocyte subset and cytokines in asymptomatic individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection in comparison with those in symptomatic patients with COVID-19. Methods From January 24, 2020, to April 11, 2020, 48 consecutive subjects were enrolled in this study. Viral loads were detected by RT-PCR from throat-swab, sputum and feces samples. Lymphocyte subset levels of CD3 + , CD4 + , and CD8 + T lymphocytes, B cells and NK cells were determined with biological microscope and flow cytometric analysis. Plasma cytokines (IL2, IL4, IL5, IL6, IL8, IL10, TNF-α, IFN-α and IFN-γ) were detected using flow cytometer. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), Chi-square or Fisher's exact test and Pearson’s Correlation assay was used for all data. Results Asymptomatic (AS), mild symptoms (MS) and severe or critical cases (SCS) with COVID-19 were 11 (11/48, 22.9%), 26 (54.2%, 26/48) and 11 cases (11/48, 22.9%), respectively. The mean age of AS group (47.3 years) was lower than SCS group (63.5 years) (P

Nucleophosmin (NPM1) gene mutation induces a specific gene expression program leading to acute myeloid leukaemia. Here, the authors show that mutant NPM1 activates a HOXB locus-associated long non-coding RNA which is essential for its associated oncogenic transcriptional program and leukaemia development.

Stem cell-based therapy is a promising option for repair of injured tissue. Stem cells have homing characteristics and can be mobilized to the injury sites following activation, under the regulation of the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis. However, a sufficient level of stem cell aggregation and retention is essential for ensuring favorable repair outcomes. Problems related to stem cell delivery/recruitment efficiency and retention in the injury site are among the main challenges faced during in vivo studies on stem cell therapy. In this study, we designed an SDF-1(alpha) magnetic nanoparticle delivery system for stem cell recruitment. We expressed and purified a biotin-labeled SDF-1(alpha) protein and immobilized it on streptavidin-modified magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) through the streptavidin–biotin linkage, with an efficiency of approximately 14%. The physicochemical properties of the SDF-MNP in glycerol buffer were similar to those of the streptavidin-modified MNP. Further evidence suggested that SDF-MNP barely show cytotoxicity even at a concentration of 125 µg/ml MNP and have a promising chemotaxis effect on mesenchymal stem cells in vitro and in vivo. Our study provides a strategy for the assembly of magnetic nanoparticle carrier systems for protein factors, as well as preliminary evidence for the application of SDF-MNP in stem cell-based therapy for the regeneration of injured bone tissue.

PURPOSE: To determine the accuracy of a handheld ultrasound-guided optoacoustic tomography (US-OT) probe developed for human deep-tissue imaging in ex vivo assessment of tumor margins postlumpectomy. METHODS: A custom-built two-dimensional (2D) US-OT–handheld probe was used to scan 15 lumpectomy breast specimens. Optoacoustic signals acquired at multiple wavelengths between 700 and 1100 nm were reconstructed using model linear algorithm, followed by spectral unmixing for lipid and deoxyhemoglobin (Hb). Distribution maps of lipid and Hb on the anterior, posterior, superior, inferior, medial, and lateral margins of the specimens were inspected for margin involvement, and results were correlated with histopathologic findings. The agreement in tumor margin assessment between US-OT and histopathology was determined using the Bland–Altman plot. Accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of margin assessment using US-OT were calculated. RESULTS: Ninety margins (6 × 15 specimens) were assessed. The US-OT probe resolved blood vessels and lipid up to a depth of 6 mm. Negative and positive margins were discriminated by marked differences in the distribution patterns of lipid and Hb. US-OT assessments were concordant with histopathologic findings in 87 of 89 margins assessed (one margin was uninterpretable and excluded), with diagnostic accuracy of 97.9% (kappa = 0.79). The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were 100% (4/4), 97.6% (83/85), 66.7% (4/6), and 100% (83/83), respectively. CONCLUSION: US-OT was capable of providing distribution maps of lipid and Hb in lumpectomy specimens that predicted tumor margins with high sensitivity and specificity, making it a potential tool for intraoperative tumor margin assessment.

The reliability analysis system is currently evolving, and reliability analysis efforts are also focusing more on correctness and efficiency. The effectiveness of the active learning Kriging metamodel for the investigation of structural system reliability has been demonstrated. In order to effectively predict failure probability, a semi-parallel active learning method based on Kriging (SPAK) is developed in this study. The process creates a novel learning function called UA, which takes the correlation between training points and samples into account. The UA function has been developed from the U function but is distinct from it. The UA function improves the original U function, which pays too much attention to the area near the threshold and the accuracy of the surrogate model is improved. The semi-parallel learning method is then put forth, and it works since UA and U functions are correlated. One or two training points will be added sparingly during the model learning iteration. It effectively lowers the required training points and iteration durations and increases the effectiveness of model building. Finally, three numerical examples and one engineering application are carried out to show the precision and effectiveness of the suggested method. In application, evaluation efficiency is increased by at least 14.5% and iteration efficiency increased by 35.7%. It can be found that the proposed algorithm is valuable for engineering applications.

A train seat–human body coupled dynamics model was established to predict the ride comfort of high-speed trains. The train and track and the seat and human body were both coupled in the model. An on-site vibration experiment in a high-speed train was carried out to calibrate each part of the train seat–human body coupled dynamics model. Based on the evaluation method proposed by BS EN 12299:2009, the distribution of ride comfort in the carriage and the effect of seat cushion stiffness and damping on ride comfort were analyzed systematically. The results showed that the seats in the middle of the carriage had the best comfort performance, while those near the side wall and close to the position where the suspension force of the second series was acting were less comfortable. The seat cushion stiffness and damping had great effect on ride comfort.

Reciprocity is a basic property existing in wave phenomena characterized by complex transmission coefficients. Reciprocity in a duct describes the relationship between the direct response at the duct outlet to a source applied at the inlet and the reverse response at the inlet to a source at the outlet. The reciprocity has been adopted to simplify the methodology for predicting the reverse transmission coefficient from the direct coefficient and vice versa. The existing methods, however, cannot predict the complex form of the coefficient because they only consider the reciprocity in the moduli but neglect the reciprocity in the phases. The study on the reciprocity in a duct with a temperature gradient has hardly been seen. The present work derived a reciprocal equation with a time domain method to characterize the reciprocity in a duct with spatially varying temperature. In addition to considering the reciprocity in the moduli of the direct and reverse transmission coefficients, the proposed method invented a correction term to consider the reciprocity in their phases as well. The correction term was developed from the time delay between the incident and the transmitted pulses in the duct solved with the time domain method. The modified reciprocal equation using the correction term was derived and used to predict the reverse transmission coefficient for calculating exhaust noise of an engine connecting to the duct. The result has shown that the proposed time domain method is an effective approach to accurately describe the phase relationship of waves in flow ducts.

The high-speed train (HST) is one of the most important transport tools in China, and the sound quality of its interior noise affects passengers’ comfort. This paper proposes a HST sound quality model. The model combines Mel-scale frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCCs), the most popular spectral-based input parameter in deep learning models, with convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to evaluate the sound quality of HSTs. Meanwhile, two input channels are applied to simulate binaural hearing so that the different sound signals can be processed separately. The binaural MFCC-CNN model achieves an accuracy of 96.2% and outperforms the traditional shallow neural network model because it considers the time-varying characteristics of noise. The MFCC features are capable of capturing the characteristics of noise and improving the accuracy of sound quality evaluations. Besides, the results suggest that the time and level differences in sound signals are important factors affecting sound quality at low annoyance levels. The proposed model is expected to optimize the comfort of the interior acoustic environment of HSTs.

Exosomes are natural nanoscale bilayer phospholipid vesicles that can be secreted by almost all types of cells and are detected in almost all types of body fluids. Exosomes are effective mediators of cell–cell signaling communication because of their ability to carry and transfer a variety of bioactive molecules, including non-coding RNAs. Non-coding RNAs have also been found to exert strong effects on a variety of biological processes, including tumorigenesis. Many researchers have established that exosomes encapsulate bioactive non-coding RNAs that alter the biological phenotype of specific target cells in an autocrine or a paracrine manner. However, the mechanism by which the producer cells package non-coding RNAs into exosomes is not well understood. This review focuses on the current research on exosomal non-coding RNAs, including the biogenesis of exosomes, the possible mechanism of sorting non-coding RNAs, their biological functions, and their potential for clinical application in the future.

The aim of this study was to improve the quality of semen samples by using a novel double-tube (DT) method. The DT method was developed to select sperm and compared with traditional swim-up (SU) technique for 31 semen samples. Sperm DNA integrity were tested with TUNEL and SCSA. Content of antisperm antibodies (ASA) in the semen was measured by ELISA and MAR. Levels of the caspase-3 in the sperm were assessed by western blotting. After SU and DT, 15 couples and 16 couples were underwent IVF-ET. The number of RCDs, the percentage of SDF and DFI, ASA and the level of caspase-3 were significantly decreased after DT and SU ( p = .001 and p < .001). When the DT and SU compared, there were significant changes in the number of RCD, the percentage of SDF and DFI, ASA and the level of caspase-3 ( p < 0.05-0.001). There was a higher cleavage rate ( p = .017) and a lower abortion rate ( p < .05) in DT-IVF group than in SU-IVF group. DT selection yielded spermatozoa with low RCDs, DFI, ASA, and caspase-3 which would be benefit for ART.

This paper investigated an abnormal noise under idle condition and analyzed the mechanism of the noise based on the results of experiments and dynamics simulations. It is confirmed that knocking inside variable valve timing phaser is the source of the abnormal noise. The results of experiments show that half-order rhythm of the vibration and noise components around 1000 and 2100 Hz are different from the other dominant components, which is possible to involve the abnormal noise. Numerical analyses are conducted to simulate the process of the abnormal noise. It is found that the thickness of the blades of the variable valve timing rotor has significant influence on the abnormal noise. The simulation implies that increasing the thickness of the rotor blades will decrease the abnormal noise. When the thickness increases to 3.0 mm, the acoustic frequencies within 1000–1200 Hz have an average drop of 3.7 dB(A), and the acoustic frequencies within 2000–2200 Hz have an average drop of 12.5 dB(A). The results of verification experiments show that the amplitudes of the abnormal noise have obvious reduction, and the abnormal noise is basically eliminated under subjective evaluation.

Rectangular ducts used in the air-conditioning system of a high-speed train should be carefully designed to achieve optimal acoustic and flow performance. However, the theoretical analysis of the rectangular ducts with gradient cross-sections (RDGC) at frequencies higher than the one-dimensional cut-off frequency is rarely published. This paper has developed the three-dimensional analytical solutions to the wave equations of the expanding and shrinking RDGCs. Firstly, a homogeneous second-order variable coefficient differential equation is derived from the wave equations. Two coefficients of the solution to the differential equation are set to zero to ensure convergence. Secondly, the transfer matrices of the duct systems composed of multiple RDGCs are derived from the three-dimensional solutions. The transmission losses of the duct systems are then calculated from the transfer matrices and validated with the measurement. Finally, the acoustic performance and flow efficiency of the RDGCs with different geometries are discussed. The results show that the REC with double baffles distributed transversely has good performance in both acoustic attenuation and flow efficiency. This study shall provide a helpful guide for designing rectangular ducts used in high-speed trains.

This study investigates the effects of different pressures (200, 250, 300, 350, and 400 MPa) and durations (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 min) on the functional properties, secondary structure, and intermolecular forces of cowhide gelatin. Our results show that high hydrostatic pressure significantly affected the two, three, and four-level structures of gelatin and caused the contents of the α-helix and β-turn to decrease by 68.86% and 78.58%, respectively (p < 0.05). In particular, the gelatin at 300 MPa for 15 min had the highest gel strength, emulsification, solubility, and foaming of all the treatment conditions under study. The analysis of the surface hydrophobicity, sulfhydryl content, zeta potential, and Raman spectroscopy shows that at a pressure of 300 MPa (15 min), the hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions between collagen molecules are strongly destroyed, leading to changes in the tertiary and quaternary conformation of the protein and unfolding, with the electrostatic repulsion between protein particles making the decentralized state stable. In conclusion, moderate pressure and time can significantly improve the functional and structural properties of collagen, which provides theoretical support and guidance for realizing the high-value utilization of cowhide.

In this pilot study, we tested an ultrasound-guided optoacoustic tomography (US-OT) two-dimensional (2D) array scanner to understand the optoacoustic patterns of excised breastconserving surgery (BCS) specimens. We imaged 14 BCS specimens containing malignant tumors at eight wavelengths spanning 700−1100 nm. Spectral unmixing across multiple wavelengths allowed for visualizing major intrinsic chromophores in the breast tissue including hemoglobin and lipid up to a depth of 7 mm. We identified less/no lipid signals within the tumor and intense deoxy-hemoglobin (Hb) signals on the rim of the tumor as unique characteristics of malignant tumors in comparison to no tumor region. We also observed continuous broad lipid signals as features of negative margins and compromised lipid signals interrupted by vasculature as features of positive margins. These differentiating patterns can form the basis of US-OT to be explored as an alternate, fast and efficient intraoperative method for evaluation of tumor resection margins.

Luminescent copper nanoclusters (Cu NCs) have shown great potential in light-emitting devices (LEDs), chemical sensing, catalysis and biological fields. However, their practical use has been restricted by poor stability, and study on the stability of Cu NCs solid powder along with the mechanism is absent. In this study, stablized Cu NCs powder was first obtained by cation crosslinking method. Compared with the powder synthesized by solvent precipitation method, the stability of Cu NCs powder crosslinked by ionic inducer Ce3+ was enhanced around 100-fold. The storage time when the fluorescence intensity decreased to 85% (T85) was improved from 2 h to 216 h, which is the longest so far. The results of characterizations indicated that the aggregation structure was formed by the binding of Ce3+ with the capping ligands of Cu NCs, which helped in obtaining Ce-Cu NCs powder from aggregate precipitation in solution. Furthermore, this compact structure could avoid the destruction of ambient moisture resulting in long-lasting fluorescence and almost unchanged physical form. This demonstrated that phosphor, with excellent characteristics of unsophisticated synthesis, easy preservation and stable fluorescence, showed great potential in light sources, display technology and especially in latent fingerprints visualization on different substrates for forensic science.

The sulfur-iodine (SI) cycle holds great promise as an alternative large-scale process for converting water into hydrogen without CO2 emissions. A major issue regarding the long-term stability and activity of the catalysts is their poor sulfur deactivation resistance in the HI feeding process. In this work, the effect of Ru addition for enhancing the activity and sulfur resistance of SiO2-supported Ni catalysts in the HI decomposition reaction has been investigated. The presence of H2SO4 molecules in the HI results in severe sulfur deactivation of the Ru-free Ni/SiO2 catalysts by blocking the active sites. However, Ni–Ru/SiO2 catalysts show higher catalytic activity without sulfur-poisoning by 25% and exhibit more superior catalytic performance than the Ru-free catalyst. The addition of Ru to the Ni/SiO2 catalyst promotes the stability and activity of the catalysts. The experimental trends in activity and sulfur tolerance are consistent with the theoretical modeling, with the catalytic activities existing in the order Ni/SiO2 < Ni–Ru/SiO2. The effect of Ru on the improvement in sulfur resistance over Ni-based catalysts is attributed to electronic factors, as evidenced by theory modeling analysis and detailed characterizations.

Background/Aims: The purpose of this study is to explore the immunoregulatory role of microRNA-21 (miR-21) targeting of the TLR4/MyD88 signaling pathway in macrophages in response to Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) infection. Methods: After infection with BCG, mouse RAW246.7 cells were assigned into control, BCG, miR-21 mimic + BCG, mimic-negative control (NC) + BCG, miR-21 inhibitor + BCG, inhibitor-NC + BCG, BCG + TAK242 (an inhibitor of the TLR4 signaling pathway), and miR-21 inhibitor + TAK242 + BCG groups. Western blotting and qRT-PCR were used to detect the expression of miR-21, TLR4 and MyD88. The levels of TNF-a, IL-6 and IL-10 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cell viability was measured using an MTT assay. Cell apoptosis and necrosis rates were detected using flow cytometry. Results: Compared with the control group, miR-21 expression and levels of TNF-a, IL-6 and IL-10, as well as cell apoptosis and necrosis rates, were elevated, while expression of TLR4 and MyD88, as well as cell viability, were reduced in BCG infection groups. Compared with the BCG group, miR-21 expression was increased in the miR-21 mimic + BCG group but decreased in the miR-21 inhibitor + BCG and miR-21 inhibitor + TAK242 + BCG groups. The expression of TLR4 and MyD88, as well as the cell viability, were decreased, while levels of TNF-a, IL-6 and IL-10, as well as cell apoptosis and necrosis rates, were increased in the miR-21 mimic + BCG and TAK242 + BCG groups. The opposite trends were found in the miR-21 inhibitor + BCG group. Compared with the TAK242 + BCG group, the miR-21 inhibitor + TAK242 + BCG group had higher expression of TLR4 and MyD88 as well as higher cell viability and lower levels of TNF-a, IL-6, IL-10, cell apoptosis and necrosis rates. However, the miR-21 inhibitor + TAK242 + BCG group exhibited the opposite trends when compared with the miR-21 inhibitor + BCG group. Conclusion: Our results suggest that miR-21 can negatively modulate the TLR4/MyD88 signaling pathway, resulting in decreased cell viability, increased cell apoptosis and increased levels of inflammatory factors following BCG infection in macrophages.

It is postulated that high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) are diagnostic utilities for pleural effusion. This study was designed to explore the detection and significance of TNF-α and hs-CRP in the pleural effusion of patients with diabetes and pulmonary tuberculosis. A total of 60 patients with diabetes and pulmonary tuberculosis pleural effusion were selected as the study group, while 60 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis pleural effusion were considered as the control group. The expression of TNF-α and hs-CRP in the two groups was determined from pleural effusion by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression levels of TNF-α and hs-CRP in pleural effusion of the study group were significantly ( P