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Previous molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of ultraviolet (UV) laser ablation demonstrate the distinct dependence of material ejection on laser fluence and laser pulse duration. In this paper, we examine the pulse width dependence when the laser pulse widths are appropriate for the thermal confinement regime. We perform MD simulations of laser ablation with a laser pulse duration of 1 ns and compare with a pulse width of 150 ps as in previous simulations. The simulations confirm that the pulse width in thermal confinement regime does not dramatically influence the molecular ejection mechanism. The simulations reveal differentiations, however, in plume composition and the ablation threshold value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to analyze the causative factors of histological chorioamnionitis (HCA) in parturients with intrapartum fever, assess the implications for maternal and neonatal outcomes, and develop a predictive model to enhance clinical decision-making. A retrospective analysis was performed on 408 parturients with intrapartum fever at Fujian Provincial Maternal and Child Health Hospital from January 2022 to June 2023. Based on post-delivery placental pathology, the data were categorized into HCA (249 cases) and non-HCA groups (159 cases). Variables were first screened using univariate analysis, followed by multivariate logistic regression to identify high-risk factors and develop a predictive model. The model's accuracy was validated using Bootstrap resampling and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Significant differences were found between the HCA and non-HCA groups in terms of duration of premature rupture of membranes (≥24 hours), peak body temperature during labor (≥38°C), and levels of white blood cell count and C-reactive protein (CRP) at the onset of fever ( p < 0.05). The predictive model showed strong accuracy, with an ROC area under the curve of 0.715. Intrapartum fever linked with HCA markedly exacerbates maternal and neonatal outcomes. Key risk factors for HCA include a peak labor temperature ≥38°C, CRP levels at fever onset, and grade III contamination of amniotic fluid. The developed model accurately predicts the HCA risk, enabling enhanced clinical interventions.

The widespread use of flammable building materials severely threatens residential safety. Additionally, traditional fire-alarm systems may fail in complex fire environments due to power disruptions. It is crucial to enhance the flame retardancy of material while establishing effective fire detection and early warning systems. This study prepared a chitosan/gelatin (CG) and LiBr-modified CG (CG-LiBr) composite film using an environmentally friendly water evaporation method. We coated the CG-LiBr film with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), thus a flame-retardant and conductive PTFE-coated film-based triboelectric nanogenerator (PF-TENG) was developed. Notably, the CG-LiBr film exhibits outstanding alarm capabilities, with response times of 0.41 s at 100 °C and 0.4 s under flame attack. Compared to the initial CG, CG-LiBr shows a 24.4 % increase in char residue and a 62.1 % reduction in peak heat release rate. Furthermore, PF-TENG demonstrates excellent voltage output, achieving up to 60.8 V at a vertical contact-separation frequency of 5 Hz. Integrating CG-LiBr's exceptional dual-alarm function into fire protection suits and building materials, along with the development of a fire-alarm system featuring remote signal transmission capabilities, holds considerable promise for enhancing fire safety and developing intelligent early warning systems., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The management of chronic diabetic wounds remains a significant challenge due to persistent bacterial infections and impaired angiogenesis. Herein, we reported a nanocomposite hydrogel (M/P-SNO/G) incorporated with M/P-SNO nanoparticles engineered by supramolecular assembly of the photosensitizing mono-carboxyl corrole (MCC) and S-nitrosothiol-modified polyethylene glycol (mPEG-SNO) for synergistic photothermal therapy (PTT)/nitric oxide (NO) treatment of diabetic wounds. The strong π-π interaction among aggregated MCC in M/P-SNO enhances the optical absorption and photothermal ability, thereby facilitating the precise release of NO upon laser irradiation. The hydrogel matrix, composed of oxidized hyaluronic acid and carboxymethyl chitosan crosslinked by Schiff-base, demonstrates good injectability and self-healing characteristics, providing an ideal environment for wound repair. As expected, M/P-SNO/G exhibits a desirable photothermal performance and a controlled laser-responsive NO release, realizing enhanced bactericidal effect and anti-biofilm ability in vitro. In a full-thickness skin defect model on diabetic mice, M/P-SNO/G has proven effective in bacteria clearance and angiogenesis, significantly accelerating wound healing. This study presents a feasible supramolecular strategy to develop diabetic wound dressings with synergistic PTT/NO treatment. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Developing advanced dressings that simultaneously eliminate bacteria and accelerate wound recovery is essential for treating diabetic wounds. This study developed a nanocomposite hydrogel (M/P-SNO/G) featuring the synergistic effect of photothermal therapy (PTT) and nitric oxide (NO) treatment to accelerate infected diabetic wound healing. M/P-SNO nanoparticles within the hydrogel are self-assembled through the hydrophobic photosensitizing mono-carboxyl corrole (MCC) and the hydrophilic NO-releasing polymer (mPEG-SNO), where highly aggregated MCC molecules ensure superior photothermal performance. Meanwhile, the temperature increase induced by the photothermal effect activates NO release from the hydrogel. Under 660 nm laser irradiation, M/P-SNO/G demonstrates a PTT/NO synergy to effectively inhibit bacterial proliferation and promote angiogenesis, offering significant benefits in diabetic wound repair and further expanding the biomedical applications of corroles., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Immunometabolism is critical in the regulation of immunity and inflammation; however, the mechanism of preventing aberrant activation-induced immunopathology remains largely unclear. Here, we report that glyoxalase II (GLO2) in the glycolysis branching pathway is specifically downregulated by NF-κB signaling during innate immune activation via tristetraprolin (TTP)-mediated mRNA decay. As a result, its substrate S-D-lactoylglutathione (SLG) accumulates in the cytosol and directly induces D-lactyllysine modification of proteins. This nonenzymatic lactylation by SLG is greatly facilitated by a nearby cysteine residue, as it initially reacts with SLG to form a reversible S-lactylated thiol intermediate, followed by SN-transfer of the lactyl moiety to a proximal lysine. Lactylome profiling identifies 2255 lactylation sites mostly in cytosolic proteins of activated macrophages, and global protein structure analysis suggests that proximity to a cysteine residue determines the susceptibility of lysine to SLG-mediated D-lactylation. Furthermore, lactylation is preferentially enriched in proteins involved in immune activation and inflammatory pathways, and D-lactylation at lysine 310 (K310) of RelA attenuates inflammatory signaling and NF-κB transcriptional activity to restore immune homeostasis. Accordingly, TTP-binding site mutation or overexpression of GLO2 in vivo blocks this feedback lactylation in innate immune cells and promotes inflammation, whereas genetic deficiency or pharmacological inhibition of GLO2 restricts immune activation and attenuates inflammatory immunopathology both in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, dysregulation of the GLO2/SLG/D-lactylation regulatory axis is closely associated with human inflammatory phenotypes. Overall, our findings uncover an immunometabolic feedback loop of SLG-induced nonenzymatic D-lactylation and implicate GLO2 as a promising target for combating clinical inflammatory disorders., Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objectives: To analyze pregnancy outcomes and factors influencing early-onset intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP), offering insights to improve the management, diagnosis, and treatment of ICP during pregnancy., Methods: We categorized 127 pregnant women with ICP into two groups based on a gestational age cutoff of 28 weeks. The analysis centered on biochemical markers, pregnancy complications, and outcomes to identify factors influencing early-onset ICP., Results: We found that biochemical markers including alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin (DBIL), indirect bilirubin, and cholesterol were significantly lower in early-onset ICP compared to late-onset ICP. Importantly, premature birth rates were higher in the early-onset ICP group. Through univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses of these biochemical markers, GGT and DBIL emerged as significant predictive factors (OR=0.84 and 0.54)., Conclusions: Early-onset ICP is characterized by its early onset, prolonged duration, and a higher incidence of premature births compared to late-onset ICP, leading to adverse perinatal outcomes. This research underscores the protective role of GGT and DBIL in early-onset ICP., (© 2024 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.)

To enhance the effectiveness of integrating online and offline teaching, 1545 clinical and preventive medicine students from 2019 to 2021 were randomly allocated to two groups, A and B. The curriculum was divided into two segments. Initially, two groups were established for the first segment, covering an introduction to Biomolecular and Material Metabolism. The group A adopted a teaching strategy incorporating "massive open online course + a Social Media platform (WeChat) + Project/Problem-Based Learning + Flipped classroom", integrating online and offline methods. The group B followed conventional teaching practices. In the second course segment, which included molecular biology and clinical biochemistry, the two groups had their instructional format switched. Comparative analysis of student satisfaction, learning attitudes, and academic performance between the groups was conducted. The satisfaction survey indicated that the group which adopted the online and offline mode outperformed the conventional teaching group in satisfaction rate, satisfaction scores, excellence rate, and total scores. While both groups exhibited an improvement in learning attitudes, the teaching reform group showed a significantly higher level of enhancement. Furthermore, the reform group achieved superior overall average scores, basic average scores, comprehensive average scores, and an increased rate of excellence compared to the conventional group. The results demonstrate that adopting a blended teaching model significantly improved instructional quality and positively influenced students' engagement and attitudes in biochemistry and molecular biology studies., (© 2024 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.)

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID) characterized by chronic or recurrent gastrointestinal symptoms without organic changes, and it is also a common disorder of gut-brain interaction (DGBIs).. The symptoms of IBS not only affect the quality of life for individual patients but also place a significant burden on global healthcare systems. The lack of established and universally applicable biomarkers for IBS, along with the substantial variability in symptoms and progression, presents challenges in developing effective clinical treatments. In recent years, preclinical and clinical studies have linked the pathogenesis of IBS to alterations in the composition and function of the intestinal microbiota. Within the complex microbial community of the gut, intricate metabolic and spatial interactions occur among its members and between microbes and their hosts. Amid the multifaceted pathophysiology of IBS, the role of intestinal microenvironment factors in symptom development has become more apparent. This review aims to delve into the changes in the composition and structure of the gut microbiome in individuals with IBS. It explores how diet-mediated alterations in intestinal microbes and their byproducts play a role in regulating the pathogenesis of IBS by influencing the "brain-gut" axis, intestinal barrier function, immune responses, and more. By doing so, this review seeks to lay a theoretical foundation for advancing the development of clinical therapeutics for IBS.

Background: Long-term air pollution exposure and inflammation are considered to be associated with cognitive decline. However, whether air pollution exposure related cognitive decline is dependent on inflammation remains uncertain., Materials and Methods: The present study collected data from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) at baseline in 2011, with a follow up period in 2015. Concentration of air pollutants (particles with diameters ≤ 1.0 μm [PM 1 ], ≤ 2.5 μm [PM 2.5 ], ≤ 10 μm [PM 10 ], nitrogen dioxide [NO 2 ] and ozone [O 3 ]) were obtained from China High Air Pollutants (CHAP) dataset. Hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), a systemic inflammation marker, was measured in blood of subjects and cognitive function was assessed by standardized questionnaire., Results: A total of 6434 participants were included in the study. Lower exposure to PM 2.5 , PM 1 , PM 10 and NO 2 were associated with mitigated cognitive decline. The odds ratios (ORs) for air pollutants changes and cognitive decline and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were as follows: PM 2.5 -0.934(0.925, 0.943), PM 1 - 0.945 (0.935,0.955), PM 10 -0.977(0.972,0.982) and NO 2 -0.962(0.950,0.975), respectively. Hs-CRP showed no significant correlation with cognitive decline or change in levels of air pollution. The interaction regression analyses, both unadjusted and adjusted, did not uncover any significant correlation between hs-CRP and air pollution with respect to cognitive decline. Bootstrap test exhibited no significant mediating effect of hs-CRP on the relationship between any air pollutants and cognitive decline, the indirect effects of hs-CRP in conjunction with exposure to different air pollutants were all found to be non-significant, with the following bootstrap CIs and p-values: PM 2.5 -1.000([1.000,1.000], P = 0.480),PM 1 -1.000([1.000,1.000], P = 0.230),PM 10 -1.000([1.000,1.000], P = 0.650), O 3 -1.000([1.000,1.000], P = 0.470), ΔNO 2 -1.000([1.000,1.000], P = 0.830) ., Conclusion: Ambient air pollution exposure was linked to cognitive decline independent of hs-CRP level., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: This study was approved by Ethics Review Committee of Peking University. All subjects provided informed consent. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background and Objectives: Metabolic disease has become a global health concern, and insulin resistance (IR) is a crucial underlying mechanism in various metabolic diseases. This study aims to compare the ability of seven anthropometric indicators in predicting IR in the Chinese population, and to find more sensitive and simple anthropometric indicator for early identification of IR., Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study obtained participants' medical history, anthropometric indicators, and serum samples from three hospitals in China. Various anthropometric indicators were calculated, including body mass index (BMI), Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WtHR), conicity index (CI), A Body Shape Index (ABSI), body roundness index (BRI), abdominal volume index (AVI). The evaluation of IR is performed using the homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Logistic regression analysis examined the relationship between indicators and HOMA-IR. The ability of the anthropometric indicators to predict IR was analyzed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Additionally, a stratified analysis was performed to evaluate the ability of the indicators in different age and gender groups., Results: The study included 1,592 adult subjects, with 531 in the non-IR group and 1,061 in the IR group. After adjusting for confounding factors, the anthropometric indicators showed a positive correlation with IR in the general population and across different genders and age groups (OR > 1, p  < 0.05), except for ABSI. In the ROC curve analysis, WtHR and BRI had the highest AUC values of 0.711 for detecting IR. The optimal cut-off value for WtHR to diagnose IR was 0.53, while for BRI, it was 4.00. In the gender-stratified and age-stratified analysis, BMI, WtHR, BRI, and AVI all had AUC values >0.700 in females and individuals below 60., Conclusion: WtHR and BRI demonstrated a better ability to predict IR in the overall study population, making them preferred indicators for screening IR, and gender and age are important considerations. In the stratified analysis of different genders or age, BMI, WtHR, BRI, and AVI are also suitable for detecting IR in women or individuals under 60 years old in this study., Clinical Trial Registration: www.chictr.org.cn, ChiCTR2100054654., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Li, Liu, Liu, Peng, Liang, Tao, Liu, Cui, Ren, Zhou, Long, Fan, Lu and Liu.)

Blood lipid management is a key approach in the prevention of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Remnant cholesterol (RC) plays an important role in the development of multiple diseases via chronic inflammation. The aim of our study was to determine the relationship between RC and CKD and explore the role of inflammation in this relationship. The 7696 subjects from the Chinese Health and Nutrition Survey were divided into four subgroups according to the quartile of RC. The estimated glomerular filtration rate was calculated using the CKD Epidemiology Collaboration equation. Fasting RC was calculated as total cholesterol minus low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Logistic regression analysis was employed to evaluate the relationships between RC and CKD. Mediation analysis was undertaken to identify potential mediators of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and white blood cells (WBCs). Of all participants, the mean age was 51 years, and the male accounted for 47.8%. The multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (95% CIs) for the highest versus lowest quartile of remnant cholesterol were 1.40 (1.10-1.78, p for trend = 0.006) for CKD. RC and preinflammatory markers have combined effect on CKD. The preinflammatory state, presented by increased hs-CRP or WBCs, partially mediated the association between RC and CKD with proportion of 10.14% ( p  = 0.002) and 11.65% ( p  = 0.012), respectively. In conclusion, this study suggested a positive relationship between RC and CKD, which was partially mediated by preinflammatory state. These findings highlight the importance of RC and inflammation in renal dysfunction.IMPACT STATEMENT What is already known on this subject?: Dyslipidemia plays an important role in the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Remnant cholesterol (RC), as a triglyceride-rich particle, can contribute to target organ damage, primarily through inflammatory pathways. However, the relationship between RC and CKD in the community-dwelling population, particularly the role of inflammation, is not yet fully understood. What do the results of this study add?: This study shows that RC was significantly associated with CKD. RC and preinflammatory status exhibit a combined effect on CKD. Preinflammatory state, presented by increased high-sensitivity C-reactive protein or white blood cells, partially mediated the association between RC and CKD. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research?: The study provides us with a better understanding of the role of RC and inflammation in kidney dysfunction and raises the awareness of RC in the management of CKD.

Endogenous DNA damage occurs throughout the cell cycle, with cells responding differently at various stages. The base excision repair (BER) pathway predominantly repairs damaged bases in the genome. While extensively studied in interphase cells, it is unknown if BER operates in mitosis and how apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites, intermediates in the BER pathway that inhibit transcriptional elongation, are processed for post-mitotic gene reactivation. In this study, using an alkaline comet assay, we demonstrate that BER is inefficient in mitosis and that AP endonuclease 1 (APE1), a key BER enzyme, is required for the repair of damage post-mitosis. We previously demonstrated that APE1 is acetylated (AcAPE1) in the chromatin. Using high-resolution microscopy, we show that AcAPE1 remains associated with specific regions in the condensed chromatin in each of the phases of mitosis. This association presumably occurs via the binding of APE1 to the G-quadruplex structure, a non-canonical DNA structure predominantly present in the transcribed gene regions. Additionally, using a nascent RNA detection strategy, we demonstrate that the knockdown of APE1 delayed the rapid post-mitotic transcriptional reactivation of genes. Our findings highlight the functional importance of APE1 in the mitotic chromosomes to facilitate faster repair of endogenous damage and rapid post-mitotic gene reactivation in daughter cells.

Objectives: To identify the factors influencing spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB) and develop a prediction model for clinical practice., Methods: This retrospective study included a total of 130 pregnant women with spontaneous preterm birth or full-term delivery at Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital between January 2020 and December 2023. The SPTB group consisted of 50 women with spontaneous preterm birth, while the full-term group included 70 women with full-term deliveries. Logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the factors associated with clinical prognosis, and a nomogram prediction model for SPTB risk was constructed and validated., Results: Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified multiple pregnancies (95% CI: 1.415-8.926, P=0.006), abnormal fetal position (95% CI: 1.124-2.331, P=0.008), gestational diabetes (95% CI: 4.918-19.164, P=0.002), mode of conception (95% CI: 1.765-4.285,P=0.002), lower genital tract infection (95% CI: 1.076-2.867, P=0.032), and second trimester cervical length (95% CI: 1.071-2.991, P=0.031) as independent risk factors of SPTB. Using these six variables, a nomogram was developed to predict the incidence of SPTB, with an AUC value of 0.833 (95% CI: 0.665-0.847), demonstrating acceptable agreement between predicted and observed outcomes. Decision curve analysis (DCA) showed a good positive net benefit of the model., Conclusions: Multiple pregnancies, abnormal fetal position, gestational diabetes, mode of conception, lower genital tract infection, and second-trimester cervical length are independent risk factors for the onset of SPTB. In addition, the nomogram prediction model demonstrated good predictive performance, high accuracy, and clinical applicability., Competing Interests: None., (AJTR Copyright © 2024.)

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is an effective measure for the treatment of hematological disease. With the progress and wide use of allo-HSCT, post-transplant central nervous system complications (CNSC) have gotten more and more attention because of its poor prognosis and high mortality. Since there is no standard treatment for patients with immune-mediated CNSC currently, new treatments are needed to be developed urgently. Here, we attempted a novel therapy regimen of intrathecal tocilizumab injection in two pediatric patients with immune-mediated CNSC manifested as cytokine release syndrome (CRS) after haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (halpo-HSCT). In the two patients, persistent seizure symptoms could not be resolved 7 h after intravenous tocilizumab, while the symptoms were controlled rapidly only 2 hours or 1 hour after the first intrathecal injection of tocilizumab. Moreover, the level of interleukin 6 in the cerebrospinal fluid returned to normal after the fifth intrathecal injection. Even more appealing, no acute or chronic adverse reactions were observed during injection and subsequent follow-up. In conclusion, intrathecal tocilizumab seems to be more rapid and effective than intravenous administration for immune-mediated CNSC manifested as CRS in haplo-HSCT recipients. We recommend this treatment modality for further investigation., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Objective: Robust evidence has demonstrated that inflammation plays an important role in the occurrence and development of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). The serum uric acid (UA)/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio (UHR) has recently been recognized as a new biomarker for evaluating inflammatory and anti-inflammatory interactions. However, whether UHR is associated with AAA remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the association between UHR and presence of AAA., Methods: We prospectively performed a hospital-based and community-based AAA screening program using ultrasonography in 9,064 individuals at Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital and two communities in China. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the association between UHR and presence of AAA. In addition, the restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression method was used to visually investigate the dose-response relationship between UHR and the presence of AAA. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was conducted to adjust for baseline variations and diminish selection bias, and subgroup analysis was performed to investigate the consistency of the conclusions., Results: The prevalence of AAA was 2.45% (222/9,064) in the present study. The optimal cut-off value of UHR was 17.0%, which was selected according to the receiver operator characteristic curve. The prevalence of AAA was 3.96% in the high-UHR group (UHR ≥ 17%) and 1.54% in the low-UHR group (UHR < 17%) ( P  < 0.001). After adjusting for other relevant clinical covariates, UHR was independently associated with the presence of AAA, either as a continuous variable (odds ratio [OR] 1.03, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.01-1.05, P  < 0.001) or as a categorical variable (OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.18-2.26, P  = 0.003). The RCS curve showed a nonlinear dose-response relationship between UHR and the presence of AAA. Moreover, the positive correlation between UHR and the presence of AAA remained significant after PSM and subgroup analyses., Conclusions: UHR was positively associated with the presence of AAA, and there was a non-linear dose-response relationship between them. Thus, UHR may serve as a novel and reliable predictor of AAA., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2024 Li, Luo, Lin, Hu, Zhou, Xu, Zhou, Luo and Feng.)

Rice sheath blight (RSB), caused by Rhizoctonia solani , is a major economic threat to global rice crops. The genome of R. solani contains over 103 potential effectors, with most functions still unknown. Previous studies show that chloroplast plays a crucial role in RSB resistance. However, whether R. solani effectors target plant chloroplasts to promote the pathogen infection remains unclear. This study leveraged four RSB-resistant chloroplast proteins to identify five interacting secreted proteins from a 430-protein R. solani yeast library. These proteins, which localize to rice chloroplasts, were shown to cause cell death in Nicotiana benthamiana and rice protoplasts, suggesting that they potentially influence host cellular processes by targeting chloroplasts. Bioinformatic analysis indicates that these five putative effectors almost all contained conserved structures related to pathogenicity. This study provides a novel method for screening specific functional effectors and facilitates the further study of the pathogenic mechanisms of R. solani .

We disclose herein an efficient and facile method for the synthesis of SF 5 -containing isoquinolinediones with an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter via intramolecular pentafluorosulfanylation of acrylamides using SF 5 Cl as a pentafluorosulfanylation reagent. The protocol proceeds under mild reaction conditions and enjoys a broad substrate scope, wide functional group compatibility, and high atom- and step-economy. A radical mechanism involving the SF 5 radical cascade addition/cyclization of acrylamides is proposed.

Background: Chimeric antigen receptor engineered T cells (CAR-T) have demonstrated promising clinical efficacy in B-cell malignancies, and the approach has been extended to T-cell malignancies. However, the use of allogeneic T cells in CAR therapy poses a challenge due to the risk of graft-versus-host disease. Recently, natural killer (NK) cells have exhibited "off‑the‑shelf" availability. The nanobody-based CAR structures have attracted much attention for their therapeutic potential owing to the advantages of nanobody, including small size, optimal stability, high affinity and manufacturing feasibility. CD5, a common surface marker of malignant T cells, has three scavenger receptor cysteine-rich domains (D1-D3) in the extracellular region. The present study aims to construct "off‑the‑shelf" CAR-NK cells targeting the membrane-proximal domain of CD5 derived from nanobody against T-cell malignancies., Methods: Anti-CD5-D3 nanobody was screened by phage display technology, followed by constructing fourth-generation CAR plasmids ectopically producing IL-15 to generate CD5 CAR-NK cells derived from peripheral blood. And the second-generation CD5 CAR-T cells based on nanobody were generated, referred to as 5D.b CAR-T and 12 C.b CAR-T. Furthermore, CAR-NK cells without IL-15 (IL-15 △ CAR-NK) were generated to assess the impact on cytotoxicity of CAR-NK cells. Cytotoxic activity against CD5 + hematologic malignant cell lines and normal T cells was exerted in vitro and NOD/ShiLtJGpt-Prkdcem26Cd52Il2rgem26Cd22/Gpt mouse model transplanted with Jurkat-Luc cells was used to evaluate the antitumor efficacy of CD5 CAR-NK cells in vivo., Results: Two nanobodies (5D and 12 C) competed for binding to the epitope of CD5-D3. 12 C CAR-NK cells were superior to 5D CAR-NK cells in antitumor potential and 12 C.b CAR-T cells exhibited superior cytotoxic activity than 5D CAR-T cells ex vivo. So, 12 C was regarded as the optimal nanobody. 12 C CAR-NK cells and IL-15 △ CAR-NK cells exhibited robust cytotoxicity against CD5 + malignant cell lines and controlled disease progression in xenograft mouse model. 12 C CAR-NK cells demonstrated greater antitumor activity compared to that of IL-15 △ CAR-NK cells in vitro and in vivo., Conclusions: Taken together, the fourth-generation nanobody-derived anti-CD5 CAR-NK cells may be a promising therapeutic against T-cell malignancies., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Plant-based food consumption has increased substantially owing to its positive effects on human and global health. However, ensuring the quality and safety of plant-based foods remains a challenge. Diagnostic ultrasonic technology is widely used for rapid and nondestructive determination owing to its ability to penetrate optically opaque materials, strong directivity, rapid detection capabilities, low equipment costs, and ease of operation. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of diagnostic ultrasonic technology by summarizing the principles of food characterization, factors that influence detection accuracy and methods to mitigate their impact, composition of ultrasonic machine systems, and application of diagnostic ultrasound for monitoring plant-based foods. The detection principle of ultrasonic technology is based on empirical equations that establish a relationship between the ultrasonic and physicochemical indicators of food. To improve the detection accuracy, a compensation mechanism for the temperature and pressure should be established, measurement distances should be set in the far-field region, and liquid samples should be degassed. Furthermore, the sample platform design and the choice of detection mode depend on the nature of the food. Combining ultrasonic technology with machine learning techniques presents promising prospects for real-time process monitoring in the food and beverage industries.

PEG-enzyme nanocomplexes are prepared and stabilized in an oil-in-water-type emulsion for Pickering interfacial biocatalysis, and these nanocomplexes function as catalysts and emulsifiers at the emulsion interface. The nanocomplexes are self-assembled by cross-linking mPEG-ALD with lipase, without complicated synthesis steps, toxic chemical reagents, and external carriers. Moreover, the mild cross-linking process preserves the original structure of the enzyme, the retention rate of enzyme activity is 82.1%, and the nanocomplexes are used to emulsify biphasic aqueous-organic solution into Pickering emulsion. The system exhibits excellent reusability, with enzyme activity remaining at 86.05% after five cycles, providing a desirable eco-friendly platform for carrier-free Pickering interfacial biocatalysis.

Objective: To investigate the risk factors for premature rupture of membranes (PROM) and preterm birth in pregnant women following cervical conization. A nomogram model was developed and validated to predict the occurrence of PROM and preterm birth in this population., Methods: A total of 100 pregnant women who had undergone cervical conization between January 2014 and December 2023 were included. The participants were divided into two groups: 52 in the PROM group and 48 in the non-PROM group. Additionally, 43 cases were in the preterm birth group, and 57 were in the full-term group. Maternal age, body mass index (BMI) during pregnancy, and the conization method were recorded. A nomogram model was constructed to predict PROM and preterm birth, with the predictive performance evaluated using the area under the ROC curve (AUC), C-index, and decision curve analysis (DCA)., Results: Univariate and multivariate regression analyses identified pre-pregnancy obesity, advanced maternal age, time after conization, and second-trimester cervical length as significant risk factors for PROM and preterm birth. These factors were incorporated into a clinical nomogram. Calibration curves demonstrated excellent internal and external accuracy for the model. The AUC for the nomogram was 0.8746. DCA showed the clinical utility of the model when the threshold probability ranged from 20% to 60%., Conclusion: Pre-pregnancy obesity, advanced maternal age, time since conization (<12 months), and second-trimester cervical length (<25 mm) were identified as independent risk factors for predicting PROM and preterm birth in pregnant women after cervical conization., Competing Interests: None., (AJTR Copyright © 2024.)

Introduction: The role of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) in diabetes treatment is expanding; however, few studies have investigated the efficacy and safety of combining SGLT2is with insulin pump therapy. Notably, there is a scarcity of high-quality, multicentre, clinical trials. Therefore, we aim to conduct a prospective multicentre, randomised, controlled, study to investigate whether treatment of type 2 diabetes patients with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) combined with henagliflozin can reduce the time required for blood glucose control, decrease total insulin requirements, mitigate blood glucose fluctuations and enhance beta-cell function., Methods and Analysis: In this inpatient, open-label, multicentre, randomised, controlled trial, 200 patients with type 2 diabetes who have not received hypoglycaemic drugs will be randomly allocated at a 1:1 ratio to either the henagliflozin combined with CSII group or the CSII group. The efficacy and safety of treatment in both groups will be compared. We will use a real-time continuous glucose monitoring system for blood glucose monitoring. The primary aim of this study is to compare the time (% time in range (TIR)) in the range of 3.9~10.0 mmol/L blood glucose between the two treatment groups. The secondary outcome measures will include comparisons of the two treatment groups with respect to the (a) time at TIR >70%; (b) mean amplitude of glycaemic excursions; (c) time below range; (d) total insulin dosage; and (e) time above range., Ethics and Dissemination: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University and is to be conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and Good Clinical Practice. The study will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations., Trial Registration Number: NCT05677334., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Main Conclusion: Four cultivars of Paeonia lactiflora pollen have a different viability after cryopreservation, and that the difference of pollen viability is related to calcium ions and cell wall deposition. Cryopreservation is a vital technique for preserving germplasm resources, offering extensive application prospects. Understanding the factors influencing pollen viability after cryopreservation is crucial for the permanent preservation and exchange of pollen resources. This study investigated pollen from four Paeonia lactiflora cultivars with varying viability after cryopreservation, aiming to determine whether calcium ions (Ca 2+ ) and cell wall deposition affect these viability changes. The results showed that Ca 2+ -ATPase activity and cytoplasmic Ca 2+ of all four cultivars exhibited an increasing trend after cryopreservation; the calmodulin (CaM) content varied with cultivars. Correlation analysis showed that fresh pollen viability was significantly negatively correlated with cytoplasmic Ca 2+ content and positively correlated with Ca 2+ -ATPase activity, while pollen viability after cryopreservation exhibited a significantly negative correlation with cytoplasmic Ca 2+ content and a positive correlation with CaM content. The pollen cell wall of the cultivar 'Zi Feng Chao Yang' (ZFCY), which showed increased viability after cryopreservation, contained significantly higher levels of low-temperature tolerance-related phospholipids and proteins compared to other cultivars. Additionally, all cultivars maintained a clear Ca 2+ gradient at the tips of pollen tubes after cryopreservation, without significant callose accumulation. These findings suggest that differences in Ca 2+ signaling and cell wall components deposition influence changes in pollen viability after cryopreservation, and the Ca 2+ gradient and callose at the tip of pollen tubes are not responsible for preventing pollen tube growth., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Unintended pregnancy for female patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) raises the discussion of treatment choices due to the teratogenicity of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). We report 51 accidental pregnant CML chronic phase (CP) patients with TKI withdrawal immediately after pregnancy from December 2010 to February 2024 to observe the effect of short exposure to TKI on the fetus and the infant outcomes. 59 pregnancies resulted in 100% normal childbirth without birth abnormalities. The median TKI exposure duration was 4 (4-20) weeks in 58 pregnancies, and one pregnancy avoided TKI exposure due to treatment discontinuation of the patient with treatment-free remission (TFR). All newborns had normal birth weight except one premature infant with low birth weight less than the 10th percentile. Up to now, all the children are in good health. 13 (25.5%) and 30 (58.8%) patients had achieved major molecular response (MMR) and deep molecular response (DMR) at pregnancy, respectively. After TKI discontinuation, loss of MMR and complete hematologic response occurred in 6 (46.2%) and 2 (25.0%) patients at delivery, respectively. 38 patients resumed TKI treatment after delivery, and 13 patients without DMR loss sustained TFR after delivery. The median time to regain MMR and DMR were 3 (2-6) months and 6 (1-28) months, respectively. These results demonstrate that TKI discontinuation during pregnancy is feasible for CML-CP patients, and short TKI exposure of pregnant patients has little influence on children's growth and development., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and sociodemographic determinants of depression, anxiety, and stress among vocational college students. 1255 students participated in the cross-sectional study. The Chinese version of the 21-item the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) was used. Depression was reported in 37.6% of vocational college students, anxiety in 51.6%, and stress in 38.1%. Logistic regression results showed that a higher degree of depression, anxiety, and stress was associated with female, poor and moderate self-rated health status, from other provinces, poor self-rated family financial status and living off campus (P < .05). Junior and from one-parent or parentless family were more likely to experience depression and stress (P < .05). Additionally, the likelihood of having depression was higher in non-only-child students (P < .01) and rural family location was a risk factor for stress (P < .001). A higher prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was found in vocational college students. Timely and targeted psychological interventions should be taken., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Late acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is a complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) with little data regarding treatment and outcomes. There is no standard treatment for gastrointestinal (GI) late aGVHD, especially for steroid-refractory (SR) GI late aGVHD. Vedolizumab, a monoclonal antibody inhibiting the migration of both naive and activated lymphocytes into the GI endothelium, has been verified to be effective for SR GI aGVHD., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical efficacy and safety of vedolizumab as the second line for SR GI late aGVHD in seven patients after allo-HSCT., Results: Four patients received two doses of vedolizumab infusion, while three patients received only one dose of vedolizumab infusion. The complete response and partial response rates were 57.1% (4/7) and 42.9% (3/7), respectively. No patient progressed to chronic GVHD during the period of follow-up. There was no severe adverse event related to vedolizumab., Conclusion: Our data suggest that vedolizumab is expected to ameliorate SR GI late aGVHD. Further data on the treatment timing, efficacy, and safety of vedolizumab are warranted in prospective clinical trials., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (© The Author(s), 2024.)

Aims: Chronic pain is highly associated with anxiety. Electroacupuncture (EA) is effective in relieving pain and anxiety. Currently, little is known about the neural mechanisms underlying the comorbidity of chronic pain and anxiety and the EA mechanism. This study investigated a potential neural circuit underlying the comorbid and EA mechanisms., Methods: Spared nerve injury (SNI) surgery established the chronic neuropathic pain mouse model. The neural circuit was activated or inhibited using the chemogenetic method to explore the relationship between the neural circuit and mechanical allodynia and anxiety-like behaviors. EA combined with the chemogenetic method was used to explore whether the effects of EA were related to this neural circuit., Results: EA attenuated mechanical allodynia and anxiety-like behaviors in SNI mice, which may be associated with the activity of CaMKII neurons in the basolateral amygdala (BLA). Inhibition of BLA CaMKII -rACC induced mechanical allodynia and anxiety-like behaviors in sham mice. Activation of the BLA CaMKII -rACC alleviated neuropathic pain and anxiety-like behaviors in SNI mice. The analgesic and anxiolytic effects of 2 Hz EA were antagonized by the inhibition of the BLA CaMKII -rACC., Conclusion: BLA CaMKII -rACC mediates mechanical allodynia and anxiety-like behaviors. The analgesic and anxiolytic effects of 2 Hz EA may be associated with the BLA CaMKII -rACC., (© 2024 The Author(s). CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The current study revisits the urban/rural quality of life (QOL) disparity among the older adults in China. It aims to test the potential leisure activity mechanism. Data for this study come from the 2011 and 2014 wave of Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). Sample is restricted to the respondents who are 65 years old and older who are alive for both waves. Ordered logistic regression model is used to test the relationship between QOL and urban/rural residency. Mediation test is used to investigate the mediation effect of leisure activities. Findings from the analysis show that urban older adults have higher QOL, as well as higher frequency of participating leisure activities compare to their rural counterparts. Results also show that leisure activities, especially the cognitive stimulation activities mediate the relationship between urban/rural residency and QOL. The current study adds the role of leisure activities as an intervening variable between urban/rural residency and QOL among older adults in China. Policy application to reduce the QOL disparity through leisure activities is also discussed., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Despite prompt reperfusion, the risk of adverse clinical outcomes following ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) remains pronounced, owing partly to suboptimal reperfusion. However, coronary functional evaluation is seldom feasible during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). We aimed to examine the clinical implication of a simple coronary assessment based on single-angiographic view (μQFR) during PPCI in discriminating impaired coronary flow and adverse outcomes for STEMI., Methods: STEMI Patients undergoing successful PPCI were enrolled and followed up prospectively from 4 medical centers in China. Post-PPCI μQFR of culprit vessels were analyzed. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as a composite of cardiac death, non-fatal MI, ischemia-driven target-vessel revascularization and readmission for heart failure., Results: A total of 570 patients with STEMI were enrolled, and post-PCI μQFR was analyzable in 557 (97.7%) patients, with a median of 0.94. Patients with low post-PCI μQFR showed higher incidence of adverse outcomes than those with high μQFR, showing a 2.5-fold increase in the risk for MACE (hazard ratio: 2.51, 95% confidence intervals: 1.33 to 4.72; P = 0.004). Moreover, post-PCI μQFR significantly increased discriminant ability for the occurrence of MACE when added to traditional GRACE risk score for STEMI (integrated discrimination improvement: 0.029; net reclassification index: 0.229; P < 0.05)., Conclusions: A low μQFR of culprit vessel in PPCI is independently associated with worse clinical outcomes in patients with STEMI. The single-angiographic-view-based coronary evaluation is a feasible tool for discriminating poor prognosis and could serve as a valuable complement in risk stratification for STEMI., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Dr. Shengxian Tu is a consultant of Pulse Medical. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This retrospective study analysed 106 acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) patients undergoing autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) to assess the impact of multiple small-dose infusions of granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-mobilized haploidentical lymphocytes as post-ASCT maintenance therapy. Among them, 50 patients received lymphocyte maintenance therapy, 21 received alternative maintenance therapy, and 35 received no maintenance therapy. Patients receiving lymphocyte maintenance therapy demonstrated significantly higher overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) compared to those without maintenance therapy, with 4-year OS and DFS rates notably elevated. While there were no significant differences in recurrence rates among the three groups, lymphocyte maintenance therapy showcased particular benefits for intermediate-risk AML patients, yielding significantly higher OS and DFS rates and lower relapse rates compared to alternative maintenance therapy and no maintenance therapy. The study suggests that multiple small-dose infusions of G-CSF-mobilized haploidentical lymphocytes may offer promising outcomes for AML patients after ASCT, particularly for those classified as intermediate-risk. These findings underscore the potential efficacy of lymphocyte maintenance therapy in reducing disease relapse and improving long-term prognosis in this patient population., (© 2024 British Society for Haematology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Programmed cell death (PCD) is an important factor to reduces the viability of plant germplasm after cryopreservation. However, the pathways by which PCD occurs is not fully understood. To investigate whether there is a mitochondrial pathway for pollen PCD after cryopreservation, the pollen of Paeonia lactiflora two cultivars with different PCD levels after cryopreservation was used as test material and the changes of mitochondrial calcium ions (Ca 2+ ), structure, function and their relationship with PCD were compared. The results showed that compared with fresh pollen, the PCD of 'Feng Huang Nie Pan' was significantly reduced after cryopreservation. Their mitochondrial Ca 2+ content decreased by 74.27%, mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) opening reduced by 25.41%, mitochondrial membrane potential slightly decreased by 5.02%, cardiolipin oxidation decreased by 65.31%, and oxygen consumption remained stable, with a slightly ATP production increase. On the contrary, compared with fresh pollen, 'Zi Feng Chao Yang' showed severe PCD after cryopreservation. The decline in mitochondrial Ca 2+ -ATPase activity led to an accumulation of excessive Ca 2+ within mitochondria, triggering widespread opening of MPTP, significantly affecting mitochondrial respiration and energy synthesis. These results suggest the mitochondrial pathway of PCD exists in pollen cryopreservation., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest This manuscript has not been published or presented elsewhere in part or in entirety and is not under consideration by another journal. We have read and understood your journal’s policies, and we believe that neither the manuscript nor the study violates any of these. There are no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common respiratory disease that often coexists with malnutrition during acute exacerbation (AECOPD) and significantly affects the prognosis. Previous studies have shown that growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) levels promote appetite suppression, weight loss, and muscle weakness, and are markedly high in peripheral blood following inflammatory stimulation. However, it is still unknown whether serum GDF15 levels can be used to predict malnutrition in patients with AECOPD., Methods: A total of 142 patients admitted to the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Anshun People's Hospital between December 2022 and August 2023 were selected for this study. The participants were divided into two groups: malnutrition group ( n = 44) and non-malnutrition group ( n = 98) based on a body mass index (BMI) < 18.5 kg/m 2 , according to the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria. Serum GDF15 levels were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and compared between the two groups. Spearman correlation analysis was used to examine the association between serum GDF15 levels, baseline data, and clinical indicators. Binary logistic regression was used to identify the independent risk factors for AECOPD combined with malnutrition. The predictive value of serum GDF15, albumin (ALB), and a combination of these was evaluated to identify malnutrition in patients with AECOPD using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve., Results: Serum GDF15 levels in patients with malnutrition and AECOPD were significantly higher than those in patients without malnutrition, whereas the serum ALB levels were significantly lower than those in patients without malnutrition ( p < 0.001). Moreover, serum GDF15 levels were negatively correlated with BMI ( r = -0.562, p < 0.001), mid-arm circumference ( r = -0.505, p < 0.001), calf circumference ( r = -0.490, p < 0.001), total protein ( r = -0.486, p < 0.001), ALB ( r = -0.445, p < 0.001), and prognostic nutritional index ( r = -0.276, p = 0.001), and positively correlated with C-reactive protein ( r = 0.318, p < 0.001), COPD assessment test score ( r = 0.286, p = 0.001), modified medical research council classification ( r = 0.310, p < 0.001), and global initiative for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease grade ( r = 0.177, p = 0.035). Furthermore, serum GDF15 levels were an independent risk factor for malnutrition in patients with AECOPD (OR = 1.010, 95% CI, 1.003∼1.016). The optimal cut-off value of serum GDF15 level was 1,092.885 pg/mL, with a sensitivity of 65.90% and a specificity of 89.80%, while the serum ALB level was 36.15 g/L, with a sensitivity of 86.40% and a specificity of 65.00%, as well as a combined sensitivity of 84.10% and a specificity of 73.90%. Serum GDF15 and serum ALB levels had a good predictive ability (AUC = 0.856, AUC = 0.887), and the ROC revealed a greater combined prediction value for the two (AUC = 0.935)., Conclusion: Serum GDF15 levels could be used as a potential biomarker in the prediction of malnutrition in patients with AECOPD, offering a guidance for future clinical evaluation of malnutrition., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Shi, Yue, Tang, Wang, Hu and Tong.)

Objective: The majority of intrauterine devices (IUDs) inserted in China are tailless, requiring intrauterine manipulations for removal and causing pain. This study aimed to investigate the analgesic efficacy of lidocaine injection into a novel disposable injectable cervical dilator for IUD removal procedures., Study Design: A double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial was conducted with women aged 18-65 years old requesting outpatient IUD removal. The study randomly assigned participants to either lidocaine (injecting 5 ml of 2% lidocaine into the injectable cervical dilator) or placebo (injecting 5 ml of normal saline into the device) group. All participants received a standardized paracervical block. The primary outcome was pain reported during IUD removal on a 100 mm Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Intention-to-treat were conducted to evaluate the analgesic effectiveness of injecting lidocaine into the injectable cervical dilators., Results: We enrolled seventy-four eligible participants (37 in lidocaine group and 37 in placebo group). The results showed that the median intraoperative VAS score in the lidocaine group was lower than the placebo group (30.0 mm [IQR 20.0-46.0, n = 37] vs 46.0 mm [IQR 30.0-55.0, n = 37], p = 0.01. In subgroup analyses, among participants with IUD removal and without uterine manipulation and additional procedures, there was no statistically significant disparity observed in intraoperative VAS scores between the lidocaine and placebo group (15.0 mm [IQR 10.0-27.5, n = 8] vs 20.0 mm [IQR 20.0-40.0, n = 6]), p = 0.28). Among participants with an IUD removal necessitating intrauterine manipulations and without additional procedures, showing lower intraoperative VAS scores in lidocaine group (25.0 mm [IQR 15.0-40.5, n = 17]) compared to placebo group (46.0 mm [IQR 38.5-50.0, n = 23]), p < 0.01. Among participants with additional procedures in addition to IUD removal, there was no statistically significant disparity observed in intraoperative VAS scores between the lidocaine and placebo group (41.0 mm [IQR 32.5-57.5, n = 12] vs 45.0 mm [IQR 22.5-69.0, n = 8]), p = 0.97)., Conclusions: Injecting lidocaine into the novel disposable injectable cervical dilator for cervix dilation can significantly reduce pain during an IUD removal, particularly in patients necessitating intrauterine manipulations during IUD removal., Implications: When we have to perform intrauterine manipulations to remove an IUD, surgical pain and narrow cervical canal undoubtedly affect the implementation of the procedure. Injecting lidocaine into the injectable cervical dilator can achieve local anesthesia while dilating the cervix, and might reduce the choice of general anesthesia for IUD removal., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Coix seed is a nutrient-rich food and traditional Chinese medicine with anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Polysaccharides from Coix seed have been rarely investigated for structure and activities. In this study, the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects were investigated in vivo and in vitro . The results showed that Coix seed had a significant influence on reducing the number of writhing, increasing the pain threshold and alleviating the swelling degree caused by acute inflammation. Column chromatography was used to obtain two active compounds of Coix seed. Compound 1 was (1→6)-α-glucan with a molecular weight of 6.81 × 10 5  Da. The chemical connection of compound 2 was as follows: α-Frup (2→ [1)-α-Glcp (6] 5 →1)-α-Glcp (4→1)-α-Glcp, which was isolated in Coix seed for the first time. LPS-induced inflammation in RAW264.7 cells was well inhibited by compounds. These findings offered a preliminary investigation into the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of Coix seed, which may be helpful for application.

Microgels prepared from natural or synthetic hydrogel materials have aroused extensive attention as multifunctional cells or drug carriers, that are promising for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Microgels can also be aggregated into microporous scaffolds, promoting cell infiltration and proliferation for tissue repair. This review gives an overview of recent developments in the fabrication techniques and applications of microgels. A series of conventional and novel strategies including emulsification, microfluidic, lithography, electrospray, centrifugation, gas-shearing, three-dimensional bioprinting, etc. are discussed in depth. The characteristics and applications of microgels and microgel-based scaffolds for cell culture and delivery are elaborated with an emphasis on the advantages of these carriers in cell therapy. Additionally, we expound on the ongoing and foreseeable applications and current limitations of microgels and their aggregate in the field of biomedical engineering. Through stimulating innovative ideas, the present review paves new avenues for expanding the application of microgels in cell delivery techniques., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: Visceral obesity and the lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) have received increasing attention. However, the relationship between dynamic changes in visceral obesity and CVD has not been studied. We aimed to determine the association of visceral adiposity index (VAI) transition with CVD risk., Methods: A total of 5395 participants were recruited in 2011-2012 and followed up until 2018 from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. The cut-off value of the VAI was obtained by the receiver-operating characteristic curve. Participants were grouped based on VAI change patterns during the follow-up period (2011-2015): the low-low group, low-high group, high-low group, and high-high group. CVD was defined as a medical diagnosis of heart disease and/or stroke. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the correlation between VAI transition and CVD., Results: Over a median follow-up period of 7 years, 969 participants (17.9 %) developed CVD. VAI change patterns were significantly associated with CVD risk after adjustment for demographic characteristics and risk factors. The high-high group (hazard ratio (HR): 1.65, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.39-1.97) and the low-high group (HR: 1.29, 95 % CI: 1.04-1.61) were associated with a higher risk of CVD after adjusting for demographic characteristics and traditional risk factors compared to the low-low group, while the effect in the high-low group was not significant., Conclusions: VAI transition was significantly associated with the risk of CVD. Monitoring the dynamics of the VAI in public health practice would help prevent CVD., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest We declare that we have no financial or personal relationships with other individuals or organizations that could inappropriately influence our work and that there are no professional or other personal interests of any nature or kind in any product, service and/or company that could be construed as influencing the position presented in or the review of this manuscript., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Pollen, as the male gametophyte, carries half of plant genetic information and is an important source of germplasm. The cryopreservation of pollen can not only preserve germplasm, but also solve the problem of time and space barrier in crossbreeding. So it is of great significance to explore the mechanism of pollen viability maintenance after cryopreservation. In this paper, 10 cultivars of Paeonia lactiflora with different fresh pollen viability that did not change after cryopreservation were taken as objects and the effects of pollen inclusions such as soluble sugar, starch, soluble protein, free amino acids, and proline were explored. The results showed that: (1) The contents of pollen inclusions in the fresh pollen of 10 cultivars were different. After cryopreservation, the contents of starch and free amino acids significantly decreased in 10 cultivars, and the soluble sugar, soluble protein, and proline varied with cultivars. (2) Correlation analysis showed that fresh pollen viability was significantly positively correlated with the soluble sugar (R-values of 0.630) and starch content (R-values of 0.694) in fresh pollen. But after cryopreservation pollen viability was only significantly positively correlated with the starch content (R-values of 0.725). These results suggest that the effects of pollen inclusions on pollen vitality are different before and after cryopreservation. The fresh pollen with higher soluble sugar and starch is more vital. But after cryopreservation, the pollen with high starch content has higher viability. The maintenance of stable pollen viability after cryopreservation appears to be related to starch content or starch metabolism, which requires further to study for a final determination., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Society for Cryobiology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Species of the family Polycephalomycetaceae grow on insects or entomopathogenic fungi and are distributed from tropical to subtropical regions. This study proposed four new species of hyperparasitic fungi from China based on six molecular markers (ITS, SSU, LSU, TEF-1α , RPB1 and RPB2 ) phylogenetic analyses and morphological characteristics. The four new species, i.e. Pleurocordycepslitangensis , Polycephalomycesjinghongensis , Po.multiperitheciatae and Po.myrmecophilus , were described and illustrated. Pl.litangensis , exhibiting a hyperparasitic lifestyle on Ophiocordycepssinensis , differed from Pleurocordyceps other species in producing subulate β-phialides and ovoid or elliptic α-conidia. Po.jinghongensis was distinct from Polycephalomyces other species, being parasitic on Ophiocordyceps sp., as producing oval or long oval-shaped α-conidia and columns of β-conidia. Po.multiperitheciatae differed from Polycephalomyces other species as having synnemata with fertile head, linear β-conidia and parasitic on Ophiocordycepsmultiperitheciata . Po.myrmecophilus was distinct from Polycephalomyces other species, being parasitic on the fungus Ophiocordycepsacroasca , as producing round or ovoid α-conidia and elliptical β-conidia without synnemata from the colonies. These four species were clearly distinguished from other species in the family Polycephalomycetaceae by phylogenetic and morphological characteristics. The morphological features were discussed and compared to relevant species in the present paper., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Zuoheng Liu, Dexiang Tang, Yingling Lu, Juye Zhu, Lijun Luo, Tao Sun, Hong Yu.)

To investigate effects of metabolites and volatile compounds on the quality of Nuodeng ham, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-Q exactive orbitrap-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QE-MS), and gas chromatography-ion transfer spectroscopy (GC-IMS) were used to analyze the differences of free fatty acids, small molecule metabolites and volatile compounds of Nuodeng ham at different ripening stages (the first, second and third year sample). 40 free fatty acids were detected. 757 and 300 metabolites were detected in positive and negative ion modes, respectively. 48 differential metabolites (VIP ≥ 1.5, P < 0.05) might important components affecting flavor differences of Nuodeng ham. Metabolic pathways revealed that fermenting-ripening of ham was associated with 31 metabolic pathways, among, 19 pathways were significant (Impact > 0.01, P < 0.05). 58 volatile compounds were identified, combined with PCA and PLS-DA, 15 flavor markers were screened out. These findings provide a scientific basis for further research on the flavor formation mechanism of Nuodeng ham., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1) is involved in DNA repair and transcriptional regulation mechanisms. This multifunctional activity of APE1 should be supported by specific structural properties of APE1 that have not yet been elucidated. Herein, we applied atomic force microscopy (AFM) to characterize the interactions of APE1 with DNA containing two well-separated G-rich segments. Complexes of APE1 with DNA containing G-rich segments were visualized, and analysis of the complexes revealed the affinity of APE1 to G-rich DNA sequences, and their yield was as high as 53%. Furthermore, APE1 is capable of binding two DNA segments leading to the formation of loops in the DNA-APE1 complexes. The analysis of looped APE1-DNA complexes revealed that APE1 can bridge G-rich segments of DNA. The yield of loops bridging two G-rich DNA segments was 41%. Analysis of protein size in various complexes was performed, and these data showed that loops are formed by APE1 monomer, suggesting that APE1 has two DNA binding sites. The data led us to a model for the interaction of APE1 with DNA and the search for the specific sites. The implication of these new APE1 properties in organizing DNA, by bringing two distant sites together, for facilitating the scanning for damage and coordinating repair and transcription is discussed.

Background: Nephritis is a pivotal catalyst in chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. Although epidemiological studies have explored the impact of plasma circulating metabolites and drugs on nephritis, few have harnessed genetic methodologies to establish causal relationships., Methods: Through Mendelian randomization (MR) in two substantial cohorts, spanning large sample sizes, we evaluated over 100 plasma circulating metabolites and 263 drugs to discern their causal effects on nephritis risk. The primary analytical tool was the inverse variance weighted (IVW) analysis. Our bioinformatic scrutiny of GSE115857 (IgA nephropathy, 86 samples) and GSE72326 (lupus nephritis, 238 samples) unveiled anomalies in lipid metabolism and immunological characteristics in nephritis. Thorough sensitivity analyses (MR-Egger, MR-PRESSO, leave-one-out analysis) were undertaken to verify the instrumental variables' (IVs) assumptions., Results: Unique lipoprotein-related molecules established causal links with diverse nephritis subtypes. Notably, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) emerged as a protective factor for acute tubulointerstitial nephritis (ATIN) (OR1 = 0.84, [95% CI 0.78-0.90], p1 = 0.013; OR2 = 0.89, [95% CI 0.82-0.97], p2 = 0.007). Conversely, multivitamin supplementation minus minerals notably increased the risk of ATIN (OR = 31.25, [95% CI 9.23-105.85], p  = 0.004). Reduced α-linolenic acid (ALA) levels due to lipid-lowering drugs were linked to both ATIN (OR = 4.88, [95% CI 3.52-6.77], p  < 0.001) and tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) (OR = 7.52, [95% CI 2.78-20.30], p  = 0.042). While the non-renal drug indivina showed promise for TIN treatment, the use of digoxin, hydroxocobalamin, and liothyronine elevated the risk of chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis (CTIN). Transcriptome analysis affirmed that anomalous lipid metabolism and immune infiltration are characteristic of IgA nephropathy and lupus nephritis. The robustness of these causal links was reinforced by sensitivity analyses and leave-one-out tests, indicating no signs of pleiotropy., Conclusion: Dyslipidemia significantly contributes to nephritis development. Strategies aimed at reducing plasma low-density lipoprotein levels or ALA supplementation may enhance the efficacy of existing lipid-lowering drug regimens for nephritis treatment. Renal functional status should also be judiciously considered with regard to the use of nonrenal medications., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Shao, Yao, Weng, Wang, Liu, Zhang, Li, Wang, Tang, Ding and Xie.)

In order to better monitor the content of Fe 3+ and H 2 S in the biological environment, two new fluorescent probes were designed and synthesized. With the addition of Fe 3+ , the strong fluorescence emission of two probes was significantly quenched due to the paramagnetic effect of Fe 3+ . With the further addition of S 2- , the fluorescence intensity was quickly restored. Two probes showed high selectivity and strong sensitivity for the detection of Fe 3+ and S 2- , and the fluorescence intensity "ON-OFF-ON" was accompanied with the interaction process. At the same time, two probes displayed good anti-interference ability which was not interfered by the existence of other ions. In addition, two probes illustrated fast response time to Fe 3+ , S 2- and small cytotoxicity to cells. Therefore, two probes can provide a potential ideal tool for detecting Fe 3+ and H 2 S in organisms and the environment., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)