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In this work, we initially construct an implicit Euler difference scheme for a two-dimensional heat problem, incorporating both local and nonlocal boundary conditions. Subsequently, we harness the power of the discrete Fourier transform and develop an innovative transformation technique to rigorously demonstrate that our scheme attains the asymptotic optimal error estimate in the maximum norm. Furthermore, we derive a series of approximation formulas for the partial derivatives of the solution along the two spatial dimensions, meticulously proving that each of these formulations possesses superconvergence properties. Lastly, to validate our theoretical findings, we present two comprehensive numerical experiments, showcasing the efficiency and accuracy of our approach.

Infantile spasms (IS) is a neurological disorder causing mental and/or developmental retardation in many infants. Hypsarrhythmia is a typical symptom in the electroencephalography (EEG) signals with IS. Long-term EEG/video monitoring is most frequently employed in clinical practice for IS diagnosis, from which manual screening of hypsarrhythmia is time consuming and lack of sufficient reliability. This study aims to identify potential biomarkers for automatic IS diagnosis by quantitative analysis of the EEG signals. A large cohort of 101 IS patients and 155 healthy controls (HC) were involved. Typical hypsarrhythmia and non-hypsarrhythmia EEG signals were annotated, and normal EEG were randomly picked from the HC. Root mean square (RMS), teager energy (TE), mean frequency, sample entropy (SamEn), multi-channel SamEn, multi-scale SamEn, and nonlinear correlation coefficient were computed in each sub-band of the three EEG signals, and then compared using either a one-way ANOVA or a Kruskal-Wallis test (based on their distribution) and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The effects of infant age on these features were also investigated. For most of the employed features, significant ( ${p} < {0}.{05}$ ) differences were observed between hypsarrhythmia EEG and non-hypsarrhythmia EEG or HC, which seem to increase with increased infant age. RMS and TE produce the best classification in the delta and theta bands, while entropy features yields the best performance in the gamma band. Our study suggests RMS and TE (delta and theta bands) and entropy features (gamma band) to be promising biomarkers for automatic detection of hypsarrhythmia in long-term EEG monitoring. The findings of our study indicate the feasibility of automated IS diagnosis using artificial intelligence.

Abstract Lithospermeae Dumort., a tribe under the subfamily Boraginoidae, is a perennial herb containing approximately 470 species under 26 genera, primarily distributed in temperate and tropical regions. To gain a deeper understanding of the medicinal plants of Lithospermeae and better protect and develop plant medicinal resources, the phytochemistry, pharmacology, and traditional use of Lithospermeae with medicinal value were analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis was carried out based on the internal transcribed spacer sequence. Through spatial analysis and the species distribution model, the spatial distribution pattern of Lithospermeae medicinal plants was analyzed. Meanwhile, the relevant targets and pathways involved in the pharmacological effects of commonly used medicinal plants were predicted using network pharmacology to further explore the genetic origin of Lithospermeae and enrich the pharmaphylogeny of medicinal plants. In this study, the chemical composition, traditional efficacy, and modern pharmacological activity of Lithospermeae were collected for the first time and analyzed in combination with the geographical distribution model, molecular phylogeny, and network pharmacology. Based on our findings, the pharmaphylogeny of Lithospermeae was preliminarily discussed, providing the scientific basis for basic research regarding Lithospermeae. Concurrently, this study explored the relationship between the development of the regional medicinal plant industry and the protection of biodiversity. Furthermore, our findings provide direction and theoretical guidance for the study of the phylogenetic relationships in medicinal plants and the development of Lithospermeae medicinal plant resources.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction plays an essential role in the etiology of ischemic/hypoxic retinopathy caused by acute glaucoma. NADPH oxidase (NOX) 4 was discovered as one of the main sources of ROS in glaucoma. However, the role and potential mechanisms of NOX4 in acute glaucoma have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, the current study aims to investigate the NOX4 inhibitor GLX351322 that targets NOX4 inhibition in acute ocular hypertension (AOH)-induced retinal ischemia/hypoxia injury in mice. Herein, NOX4 was highly expressed in AOH retinas, particularly the retinal ganglion cell layer (GCL). Importantly, the NOX4 inhibitor GLX351322 reduced ROS overproduction, inhibited inflammatory factor release, suppressed glial cell activation and hyperplasia, inhibited leukocyte infiltration, reduced retinal cell senescence and apoptosis in damaged areas, reduced retinal degeneration and improved retinal function. This neuroprotective effect is at least partially associated with mediated redox-sensitive factor (HIF-1α, NF-κB, and MAPKs) pathways by NOX4-derived ROS overproduction. These results suggest that inhibition of NOX4 with GLX351322 attenuated AOH-induced retinal inflammation, cellular senescence, and apoptosis by inhibiting the activation of the redox-sensitive factor pathway mediated by ROS overproduction, thereby protecting retinal structure and function. Targeted inhibition of NOX4 is expected to be a new idea in the treatment of acute glaucoma.

To provide high-quality Astragalus mongholicus Bunge to domestic and foreign markets and maintain sustainable development of the A. mongholicus industry, Firstly, we evaluated the impact of environmental factors and planting areas on the A. mongholicus industry. The maximum entropy method (MaxEnt) was utilized to simulate the suitability distribution of A. mongholicus and establish the relationship between the active component contents of A. mongholicus and ecological factors through linear regression analysis. The random forest algorithm was subsequently used to perform feature selection and classification extraction on Sentinel-2 imagery covering the study area. Furthermore, the planting, processing, and sales of A. mongholicus in Guyang County were investigated, and the roles of stakeholders in the value chains were analyzed. The results demonstrated that precipitation of the warmest quarter, minimum temperature of the coldest month, standard deviation of seasonal temperature changes, range of mean annual temperature, and mean diurnal range [mean of monthly (max temp - min temp)] were the five environmental variables that contributed the most to the growth of A. mongholicus. The most influential factor on the distribution of high-quality A. mongholicus was the mean temperature of the coldest quarter. The classification results of image features showed that the planting areas of A. mongholicus was consistent with the suitable planting areas predicted by MaxEnt, which can provide data support to the relevant departments for the macro development of the A. mongholicus industry. In the production of A. mongholicus, 10 value chains were constructed, and the study demonstrated that the behavior of stakeholders, target markets, and the selected planting area had a significant impact on the quality of A. mongholicus.

Abstract. Background:. Shear wave elastography and strain elastography are two new ultrasonic techniques developed rapidly in recent years. Changes in tissue elasticity occur after normal tissue changes. Elastography technique transforms the elastic information of tissue into optical information for display. Thus more intuitive display of tissue elasticity. Due to the differences in principles and related imaging parameters between the two elastic imaging methods, and the acquisition and interpretation of image data in strain elastic imaging method largely depends on the experience of inspectors, and due to the significant differences between the techniques of inspectors, As a result, conflicting results have been obtained in different scholars’ studies on the accuracy comparison of the two elastography techniques in the diagnosis of breast tumors. This meta-analysis aims to compare the accuracy of the two elastography methods in the diagnosis of breast tumors, so as to provide more accurate diagnostic means for patients with breast tumors. The final results will show which elastography method is more accurate in the diagnosis of breast tumors, reduce unnecessary biopsies and provide a reference for clinical decision making. Methods:. We will examine published and unpublished randomized controlled trials, observational studies and abstracts without publication type or language restrictions, and search relevant literatures in PubMed, Web of Science, Wanfang Database, CNQI and other databases until December 30, 2020. The authors will independently search relevant literature records, scan titles and abstracts, full text, collect data and assess the risk of bias. Data will be analyzed by using Meta Disc1.4 software and Stata14.0 software. Heterogeneity tests and combined sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratio, diagnostic odds ratio, and area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve will be performed by using Meta Disc1.4 software. Stata14.0 software will be used for sensitivity analysis and publication bias test. Results:. The results of this systematic review will demonstrate the accuracy of the two elastography methods in the diagnosis of breast tumors. Discussion:. The results will provide useful evidence for the comparison of the diagnostic accuracy of shear wave elastography and strain elastography in breast tumors. Other:. This study was not funded. Register name: PROSPERO. Registration number: CRD42021251110.

Abstract Objective CDKL5-related disorders (CDD) is an epileptic encephalopathy resulted of gene mutations of CDKL5. This study aimed to explore the development process of CDD and to expand its mutation spectrum. Methods Clinic datawas collected about three infantile epileptic encephalopathy cases diagnosed at Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine. Next generation sequencing technology was used to find three de novo mutations of CDKL5. We searched published literatures about CDKL5 in pubmed and made an analysis about our clinic data and the related literatures. Results The three patients were all girls. Their average onset age of seizures was around 2 months, and all of them have intractable epileptic seizures, severe intellectual disability, and hypotension. Among them, two presented infantile spasm and high arrhythmia in EEG, and the other manifested clonic seizure and broad epileptiform discharge in EEG. Extracerebral space widening in cranial MRIs was demonstrated in two cases. Visual evoked potential was abnormal in two cases. Seizures were resistant to all kinds of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Gene tests showed three de novo mutations of CDKL5: one was a truncated mutation (c.2254A > T,P.R752X, stop279), which was pathogenic according to the ACMG guide, the other two were missense mutations (c.377G > T,p.Cys126Phe) and a frameshift mutation (c.362-362insG(p.Ala122GlyfsTer7), which were likely pathogenic according to the ACMG. Conclusions All three de novo mutations are first reported. Based on the combined related literature and the manifestations observed, we diagnosed the three children as CDKL5-related disorders, and concluded that the de novo CDKL5 mutations are the reason for their epilepsy.

Abstract Background FK506-binding protein 9 (FKBP9) is amplified in high-grade gliomas (HGGs). However, the roles and mechanism(s) of FKBP9 in glioma are unknown. Methods The expression of FKBP9 in clinical glioma tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The correlation between FKBP9 expression levels and the clinical prognosis of glioma patients was examined by bioinformatic analysis. Glioblastoma (GBM) cell lines stably depleted of FKBP9 were established using lentiviruses expressing shRNAs against FKBP9. The effects of FKBP9 on GBM cells were determined by cell-based analyses, including anchorage-independent growth, spheroid formation, transwell invasion assay, confocal microscopy, immunoblot (IB) and coimmunoprecipitation assays. In vivo tumor growth was determined in both chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) and mouse xenograft models. Results High FKBP9 expression correlated with poor prognosis in glioma patients. Knockdown of FKBP9 markedly suppressed the malignant phenotype of GBM cells in vitro and inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, FKBP9 expression induced the activation of p38MAPK signaling via ASK1. Furthermore, ASK1-p38 signaling contributed to the FKBP9-mediated effects on GBM cell clonogenic growth. In addition, depletion of FKBP9 activated the IRE1α-XBP1 pathway, which played a role in the FKBP9-mediated oncogenic effects. Importantly, FKBP9 expression conferred GBM cell resistance to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress inducers that caused FKBP9 ubiquitination and degradation. Conclusions Our findings suggest an oncogenic role for FKBP9 in GBM and reveal FKBP9 as a novel mediator in the IRE1α-XBP1 pathway.

Abstract Background Aberrant activation of β-catenin and Yes-associated protein (YAP) signaling pathways has been associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. The LIM domain protein Ajuba regulates β-catenin and YAP signaling and is implicated in tumorigenesis. However, roles and mechanism of Ajuba expression in HCC cells remain unclear. The E3 ligase Hakai has been shown to interact with other Ajuba family members and whether Hakai interacts and regulates Ajuba is unknown. Methods HCC cell lines stably depleted of Ajuba or Hakai were established using lentiviruses expressing shRNAs against Ajuba or Hakai. The effects of Ajuba on HCC cells were determined by a number of cell-based analyses including anchorage-independent growth, three dimension cultures and trans-well invasion assay. In vivo tumor growth was determined in a xenograft model and Ajuba expression in tumor sections was examined by immunohistochemistry. Co-immunoprecipitation, confocal microscopy and immunoblot assay were used to examine the expression and interaction between Ajuba and Hakai. Results Depletion of Ajuba in HCC cells significantly enhanced anchorage-independent growth, invasion, the formation of spheroids and tumor growth in a xenograft model, suggesting a tumor suppressor function for Ajuba in HCC. Mechanistically, Ajuba depletion triggered E-cadherin loss and β-catenin translocation with increased Cyclin D1 levels. In addition, depletion of Ajuba upregulated the levels of YAP and its target gene CYR61. Furthermore, siRNA-mediated knockdown of either β-catenin or YAP attenuated the pro-tumor effects by Ajuba depletion on HCC cells. Notably, Ajuba stability in HCC cells was regulated by Hakai, an E3 ligase for E-cadherin. Hakai interacted with Ajuba via its HYB domain and induced Ajuba neddylation, which was antagonized by the neddylation inhibitor, MLN4924, but not MG132. We further show that overexpression of Hakai in HCC cells markedly increased anchorage-independent growth, spheroid-formation ability and tumor growth in xenografts whereas Hakai depletion resulted in these opposite effects, indicating an oncogenic role for Hakai in HCC. Hakai also induced β-catenin translocation with increased levels of Cyclin D1. Conclusions Our data suggest a role for Ajuba and Hakai in HCC, and uncover the mechanism underlying the regulation of Ajuba stability.

Alkaloids are nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds typically isolated from plants. They represent one of the most important types of natural products because of their large number and structural diversity and complexity. Based on their chemical core structures, alkaloids are classified as isoquinolines, quinolines, indoles, piperidine alkaloids, etc. In-depth analyses of alkaloids have revealed their antibacterial activities. To date, due to the widespread use of antibiotics, the problem of drug-resistant bacterial infections has been gradually increasing, which severely affects the clinical efficacy of antibacterial therapies and patient safety. Therefore, significant research efforts are focused on alkaloids because they represent a potentially new type of natural antibiotic with a wide antibacterial spectrum, rare adverse reactions, and a low tendency to produce drug resistance. Their main antibacterial mechanisms include inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis, change in cell membrane permeability, inhibition of bacterial metabolism, and inhibition of nucleic acid and protein synthesis. This article reviews recent reports about the chemical structures and the antibacterial activities and mechanisms of alkaloids. The purpose is to solve the problem of bacterial resistance and to provide a certain theoretical basis and research ideas for the development of new antibacterial drugs.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and perfusion MRI were used to examine the spatiotemporal evolution of stroke lesions in adult macaques with ischemic occlusion. METHODS:Permanent MCA occlusion was induced with silk sutures through an interventional approach via the femoral artery in adult rhesus monkeys (n = 8, 10-21 years old). The stroke lesions were examined with high-resolution DWI and perfusion MRI, and T2-weighted imaging (T2W) on a clinical 3T scanner at 1-6, 48, and 96 hours post occlusion and validated with H&E staining. RESULTS:The stroke infarct evolved via a natural logarithmic pattern with the mean infarct growth rate = 1.38 ± 1.32 ml per logarithmic time scale (hours) (n = 7) in the hyperacute phase (1-6 hours). The mean infarct volume after 6 hours post occlusion was 3.6±2.8 ml (n = 7, by DWI) and increased to 3.9±2.9 ml (n = 5, by T2W) after 48 hours, and to 4.7±2.2ml (n = 3, by T2W) after 96 hours post occlusion. The infarct volumes predicted by the natural logarithmic function were correlated significantly with the T2W-derived lesion volumes (n = 5, r = 0.92, p = 0.01) at 48 hours post occlusion. The final infarct volumes derived from T2W were correlated significantly with those from H&E staining (r = 0.999, p < 0.0001, n = 4). In addition, the diffusion-perfusion mismatch was visible generally at 6 hours but nearly diminished at 48 hours post occlusion. CONCLUSION:The infarct evolution follows a natural logarithmic pattern in the hyperacute phase of stroke. The logarithmic pattern of evolution could last up to 48 hours after stroke onset and may be used to predict the infarct volume growth during the acute phase of ischemic stroke. The nonhuman primate model, MRI protocols, and post data processing strategy may provide an excellent platform for characterizing the evolution of acute stroke lesion in mechanistic studies and therapeutic interventions of stroke disease.

To help in the prevention of large-scale loss of agricultural production caused by crop pests, a visual analysis was performed on the main research areas, key countries, organizational cooperation, citation sources and current trends in pest research by searching the literature of Web of Science database and using CiteSpace 5.8.R3 and VOSviewer 1.6.18 software. Additionally, the effects and mechanisms of natural products with anti-insect activity were summarized through visual analysis. According to the bibliometric analysis, keywords such as mortality (232 occurrences), natural enemy (232 occurrences) and spinosad (110 occurrences) were common, and insecticides and natural enemies of pests were the main methods for killing pests. However, pesticide use exhibits numerous limitations. Co-occurring terms in visualization analysis mainly included residue (193 occurrences), detection (153 occurrences), degradation (133 occurrences), recovery (103 occurrences), pyrethroid (97 occurrences) and pesticide residues (65 occurrences). Thus, pesticides cannot fundamentally solve food security; pesticides also pollute the environment and endanger human health. Therefore, green and efficient pesticides that can replace synthetic pesticides are urgently needed. Natural products have recently gained attention in Brazil, China, the USA and other countries because they are green and pollution-free, and new natural pesticides have been developed. This visual analysis combined data mining with literature review and summarize the anti-pest activities and mechanisms of action of natural products. This information provides a foundation and ideas for researchers to study the application and development of natural products in pest control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the effects of different levels of allicin supplementation (0.00 % as control, 0.30 %, 0.45 %, 0.60 %, 0.75 %, and 0.90 %) on the growth performance, biochemical composition and immune capacity of ivory shells (Babylonia areolata) were investigated. Allicin supplementation in the daily diet significantly enhanced growth performance, with the highest specific growth rates observed at concentrations ranging from 0.75 % to 0.90 % (2.18–2.20 %/d), and the lowest feed conversion ratio (1.39) recorded at 0.60 %. Correspondingly, mRNA expression levels of two appetite-related genes, Orexin and Neuropeptide Y (NPY), in the hepatopancreas significantly increased, while the expression of the appetite-suppressing gene Leptin significantly decreased with increasing allicin supplementation. The amounts of almost all detected fatty acids significantly increased when ivory shells were fed diets supplemented with allicin, while their profiles varied, showing increases in C20:1n9 and C22:6n3 (DHA), and decreases in C16:0, C18:2n6, and C20:4n6 (ARA). Lipase activities in both the intestine and hepatopancreas significantly increased in the allicin-supplemented groups, with peak values observed at 0.90 % and 0.75 % allicin supplementation, respectively (3.64 U/g prot in the intestine and 9.52 U/g prot in the hepatopancreas). Allicin supplementation improved the antioxidant and antimicrobial abilities of ivory shells, leading to increased activities of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and lysozyme in the hepatopancreas, and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) contents. Similar trends were observed in mRNA levels of SOD, CAT and lysozyme genes. In conclusion, moderate allicin supplementation in artificial diets (approximately 0.75 %-0.90 %) can significantly enhance growth performance, increase muscle lipid content, and boost immune capabilities of ivory shells.

Abstract Background The workplace can play an important role in shaping the eating behaviors of U.S. adults. Unfortunately, foods obtained in the workplace tend to be low in nutritional quality. Questions remain about the best way to approach the promotion of healthy food purchases among employees and to what extent health promotion activities should be tailored to the demographic characteristics of the employees. The purpose of this study was to (1) assess the nutritional quality of lunchtime meal purchases by employees in cafeterias of a large organization, (2) examine associations between lunchtime meal quality selection and the demographic characteristics of employees, and (3) determine the healthfulness of foods and beverages offered in the cafeterias of this organization. Methods A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using secondary data from a food labeling study implemented in three worksite cafeterias. Demographic data was collected via surveys and meal data was collected using a photo capture system for 378 participants. The Healthy Eating Index 2015 (HEI-2015) was used to determine meal quality and a total score for the menu of options available in the cafeterias during the study period. Summary statistics were generated, and the analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the HEI-2015 scores between groups. Results The mean HEI-2015 total score for the menu items offered (n = 1,229) in the cafeteria during the study period was 63.1 (SD = 1.83). The mean HEI-2015 score for individual lunchtime meal observations (n = 378) was 47.1 (SD = 6.8). In general, HEI-2015 total scores were higher for non-smokers, individuals who self-identified as Asian, had higher physical activity levels, scored higher on numeracy and literacy assessments, and reported higher education levels, incomes, and health status. Conclusions The overall HEI-2015 scores indicate that the menu of options offered in the cafeterias and individual meal selections did not align with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and there were significant associations between average lunchtime meal quality scores and several demographic characteristics. These results suggest that healthy eating promotion activities in workplaces may need to be tailored to the demographic characteristics of the employees, and efforts to improve the food environment in the workplace could improve meal quality for all employees.

In contemporary times, tumors have emerged as the primary cause of mortality in the global population. Ongoing research has shed light on the significance of neurotransmitters in the regulation of tumors. It has been established that neurotransmitters play a pivotal role in tumor cell angiogenesis by triggering the transformation of stromal cells into tumor cells, modulating receptors on tumor stem cells, and even inducing immunosuppression. These actions ultimately foster the proliferation and metastasis of tumor cells. Several major neurotransmitters have been found to exert modulatory effects on tumor cells, including the ability to restrict emergency hematopoiesis and bind to receptors on the postsynaptic membrane, thereby inhibiting malignant progression. The abnormal secretion of neurotransmitters is closely associated with tumor progression, suggesting that focusing on neurotransmitters may yield unexpected breakthroughs in tumor therapy. This article presents an analysis and outlook on the potential of targeting neurotransmitters in tumor therapy.

Spondylus aurantius, a member of the Mollusca phylum, Bivalvia class, Pterioida order, and Spondylidae family, is an important economic marine bivalve species that is widely distributed along the warm-water coastal region in Guangdong and Hainan Province in China, and the Philippines. As an important marine commercial bivalve, wild S. aurantius individuals are often captured by local fishermen for their large adductor muscle, which makes delicious seafood, and for their beautiful shells, which are used for displays.According to the China Fishery Statistical Yearbook for 2022, the annual production of cultured mollusks exceeded 15 million tons, with oysters, scallops, and clams accounting for 78.23% of the total aquaculture yield. In southeast coastal provinces, such as Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan, the most common cultured mollusks include Hong Kong oysters (Crassostrea hongkongensis), Suminoe oysters (Crassostrea ariakensis), pearl oysters (Pinctada fucata martensii), and noble scallops (Chlamys nobilis). Generally, Hong Kong and Suminoe oysters cannot tolerate high salinity conditions and are often cultured near estuaries; the P. f. martensii industry is rapidly declining because of high mortality rates and nucleus rejection after transplantation in the process of pearl production; and noble scallop rearing, which is primarily practiced in net cages, and a considerable amount of labor is required to clean attachments. Therefore, there is an urgent need to investigate the cultivation of new bivalve species that can adapt to coastal areas with high temperatures and high salinity.Though S. aurantius is traditionally regarded as an edible mollusk, few studies have reported the artificial breeding of this species. In this study, wild adult S. aurantius with shell length of (12.00±1.25) cm and wet body weight of (100.00±5.04) g were selected as the research subjects to artificially ripen mature individuals, observe and compare the development of the embryo and juveniles at different temperatures (28 ℃ and 32 ℃), and study the effects of different substrates and water depths on the adhesion efficiency of juveniles. Our results were as follows: (1) Under artificial conditions, adult S. aurantius gonads could continue to develop and mature, with testes and ovaries filled with milky spermatozoa and orange eggs, respectively; (2) The method of "dry in the shade + flowing water + high temperature" successfully induced spawning and fertilization of S. aurantius; (3) The diameters of fertilized eggs were (130.1±0.3) µm, and the first unequal cleavage was observed 95 min after fertilization. These eggs then developed into multicellular stages (cleavage occurred at approximately 30-min intervals), blastula (after 4–5 h of fertilization), trochophore (after 10–12 h of fertilization), D-shaped larvae (after 25–28 h of fertilization), umbo larvae (after 6–7 d of fertilization), pediveliger (after 14–15 d of fertilization), and juvenile (after 25–27 h of fertilization); (4) Fertilized eggs could develop into the juvenile stage at both 28 ℃ and 32 ℃; however, the survival rates of fertilized eggs under higher temperatures were lower than of those cultured at 28 ℃, although the speed of S. aurantius embryonic development at 32 ℃ was higher than that at lower temperatures; (5) The density of juvenile S. aurantius in deep water (1–1.5 m depth) was evidently higher than that in shallow water (0–0.5 m depth) in an indoor seedling pond (P < 0.05); (6) Furthermore, the densities of juvenile S. aurantius were highest on the surfaces of Pinctada margaritifera shells, followed by S. aurantius shells > oyster shells > concrete reels > black shading nets > green polyethylene mesh sheets under indoor conditions, while the densities and growth rate of juvenile S. aurantius attached itself and oyster shells were better after one month culture in the natural coastal area of Wuzhizhou Island, Sanya. In this study, embryonic development in S. aurantius was observed for the first time. Furthermore, the breeding technology of S. aurantius, including the induction of gonadal maturation and spawning, the incubation of fertilized eggs, and the selection of substrates, was established for the first time under artificial conditions, which could contribute to the future large-scale breeding and cultivation of this species.

Objective To investigate the application value of blood lactic acid(Lac) and ROX index in the treatment of elderly patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD) by nasal humidification high-flow oxygen therapy(HFNC). Methods A total of 82 patients with AECOPD who visited the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of the Second Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital from March 2020 to March 2023 were selected as the study subjects and treated with HFNC.Patients were divided into effective(n=53) and ineffective(n=29) groups according to the continuous treatment of HFNC for 48 h.The clinical data and serum Lac and ROX indices were compared between the two groups,and the related factors affecting the ineffective treatment of HFNC were analyzed by a mlogistic regression model,the predictive value of blood Lac and ROX indices for the ineffective treatment of HFNC was analyzed by ROC curve. Results The age,acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ(APACHEⅡ) score,C-reactive protein(CRP),blood Lac before and 12 h after treatment in the ineffective group were all higher than those in the effective group(P

Abstract Background The results of human observational studies on the correlation between gut microbiota perturbations and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have been contradictory. This study aimed to perform the first systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the specificity of the gut microbiota in PCOS patients compared to healthy women. Methods Literature through May 22, 2023, was searched on PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Wiley Online Library databases. Unreported data in diversity indices were filled by downloading and processing raw sequencing data. Systematic review inclusion: original studies were eligible if they applied an observational case-control design, performed gut microbiota analysis and reported diversity or abundance measures, sampled general pre-menopausal women with PCOS, and are longitudinal studies with baseline comparison between PCOS patients and healthy females. Systematic review exclusion: studies that conducted interventional or longitudinal comparisons in the absence of a control group. Two researchers made abstract, full-text, and data extraction decisions, independently. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist was used to assess the methodologic quality. Hedge’s g standardized mean difference (SMD), confidence intervals (CIs), and heterogeneity (I 2) for alpha diversity were calculated. Qualitative syntheses of beta-diversity and microbe alterations were performed. Results Twenty-eight studies (n = 1022 patients, n = 928 control) that investigated gut microbiota by collecting stool samples were included, with 26 and 27 studies having provided alpha-diversity and beta-diversity results respectively. A significant decrease in microbial evenness and phylogenetic diversity was observed in PCOS patients when compared with control participants (Shannon index: SMD = − 0.27; 95% CI, − 0.37 to − 0.16; phylogenetic diversity: SMD = − 0.39; 95% CI, -− 0.74 to − 0.03). We also found that reported beta-diversity was inconsistent between studies. Despite heterogeneity in bacterial relative abundance, we observed depletion of Lachnospira and Prevotella and enrichment of Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, Lactobacillus, Fusobacterium, and Escherichia/Shigella in PCOS. Gut dysbiosis in PCOS, which might be characterized by the reduction of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing and bile-acid-metabolizing bacteria, suggests a shift in balance to favor pro-inflammatory rather than anti-inflammatory bacteria. Conclusions Gut dysbiosis in PCOS is associated with decreased diversity and alterations in bacteria involved in microbiota-host crosstalk. Trial registration PROSPERO registration: CRD42021285206, May 22, 2023.

Objective: Animal models of brain and spinal cord metastases of non-small cell lung cancer were established through the intracranial injection of PC-9 Luc cells with a brain stereotaxic device. This method provides a reliable modeling method for studying brain and spinal cord metastases of non-small cell lung cancer. Methods: PC-9 Luc cells at logarithmic growth stage were injected into the skulls of 5-week-old BALB/c nude mice at different cell volumes (30 × 104, 80 × 104) and different locations (using anterior fontanel as a location point, 1 mm from the coronal suture, and 1.5 mm from the sagittal suture on the right upper and right lower side of the skull). After 1 week of cell inoculation, fluorescence signals of tumor cells in the brain and spinal were detected using the IVIS Xenogen Imaging system. After 4 weeks, brain and spinal tissues from the nude mice were harvested. Following paraffin-embedded sectioning, HE staining was performed on the tissues. Results: The fluorescence signals revealed that both brain and spinal cord metastasis occurred in the mice where the cells were injected at the lower right side of the skull. There was only brain metastasis in the nude mice injected with 30 × 104 cells at the upper right side of the skull. Both brain and spinal cord metastasis occurred in the nude mice injected with 80 × 104 cells. The HE staining revealed that both brain and spinal cord metastasis occurred in the mice injected with different amounts of PC-9 Luc cells, consistent with the results detected using the IVIS Xenogen Imaging system, thereby demonstrating the reliability of detecting fluorescent signals in vivo to determine tumor growth. Conclusion: It is a reliable method to establish the animal model of brain and spinal cord metastases of non-small cell lung cancer by injecting different quantities of cells from different positions with a brain stereotaxic device. The IVIS Xenogen Imaging system has high reliability in detecting the fluorescence signals of brain and spinal cord metastatic tumors.

ABSTRACTParkinson’s disease (PD) is recognized as a multisystem disease concerning gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction and microbiota dysbiosis. However, the mechanism by which microbial dysbiosis contributes to pathogenesis of PD and the relationship between gut microbes and metabolites remain to be deeply elucidated. This study aims to explore the altered microflora and serum metabolites in PD mice and their role in PD etiology. Herein, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP, 30 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally to establish the PD mice model. 16S rRNA sequencing and ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with Q Exactive HF-X mass spectrometry were used to depict the profile of gut bacteria and metabolites. Phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states 2 analysis was performed to elucidate the functional link between the microbe-metabolite axis and PD. We confirmed the MPTP-induced dopaminergic (DA) neuron loss accompanied by the GI dysfunction. Higher abundances of Aerococcus, Staphylococcus, and Ruminococcaceae, and lower abundances of Lactobacillus, Lachnospiraceae, and Adlercreutzia were identified in PD mice. Meanwhile, the differential metabolites concerning “taurine and hypotaurine metabolism” were markedly downregulated in PD mice. Furthermore, Lactobacillus, Adlercreutzia, and taurine-related metabolites showed the most significant correlation with pathological and GI performance of PD mice. The abundances of microbial transporter and enzymes participating in the degeneration of taurine were disturbed in PD mice. More importantly, taurine supplement is protected from MPTP-induced motor deficits and DA neuron loss. The detection of disturbed taurine metabolism in PD mice suggests a mechanism whereby dysregulation of the microbiota-metabolism axis contributes to the etiology of MPTP-treated mice.IMPORTANCEPD is recognized as a multisystem disease concerning GI dysfunction and microbiota dysbiosis but still lacks ideal therapies. Recently, aberrant microbiota-derived metabolites are emerging as important participants in PD etiology. However, the alterations of gut microbiota community and serum untargeted metabolite profile have not been fully investigated in a PD mice model. Here, we discover sharply reduced levels of Lactobacillus and taurine in MPTP-treated mice. Moreover, Lactobacillus, Adlercreutzia, and taurine-related metabolites showed the most significant correlation with pathological and GI performance of PD mice. The abundances of microbial transporter and enzymes participating in the degeneration of taurine were disturbed in PD mice. Most importantly, taurine supplement ameliorates MPTP-induced motor deficits, DA neuron loss, and microglial activation. Our data highlight the impaired taurine-based microbiome-metabolism axis during the progression of PD and reveal a novel and previously unrecognized role of genera in modulating taurine metabolism.