Effect of ursodeoxycholic acid on preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with liver transplantation: a multicenter retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Immunosuppressed recipients of liver transplantation (LT) are more likely to develop coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and may have an increased risk of developing worse outcomes.

AIM

To assess the effect of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) on preventing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in LT recipients.

DESIGN

Adult patients (aged ≥ 18 years) who underwent LT between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2022 were included and categorized into two groups according to their use of UDCA.

METHODS

The prevalence and severity of COVID-19 among transplantation patients between the UDCA and non-UDCA groups were estimated and compared.

RESULTS

Among the 897 LT patients who met the inclusion criteria, infection rate of SARS-CoV-2 was 78.4%, and the rate of severe illness was 5.1% from January 2022 to January 2023 in China. In the multivariate analysis, only UDCA treatment (P = 0.006) was found to be a protective factor against SARS-CoV-2 infection. After propensity score matching, the SARS-CoV-2 infection rate in the UDCA group was lower than that in the non-UDCA group (74.1% vs. 84.6%, P = 0.002). This rate was further reduced to 62.1% (P = 0.002) when the oral administration dose was >15 mg/kg/day. There was no difference in the rates of severe COVID-19 illness, ICU admission, or ventilation rate or length of hospital stay with or without UDCA treatment (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of UDCA in LT patients significantly reduced the SARS-CoV-2 infection rate and showed a dose-dependent protective effect.

Accuracy of patient-specific implants versus CAD/CAM splints with the mandible-first approach in bimaxillary orthognathic surgery for skeletal Class II malocclusion

This retrospective study aimed to compare the accuracy of patient-specific implants (PSI) versus mandible-first computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) splints for maxilla repositioning in orthognathic surgery of skeletal Class II malocclusion patients. The main predictor was the surgical method (PSI vs. splints), with the primary outcome being the discrepancy in maxilla centroid position, and secondary outcomes being translation and orientation discrepancies. A total of 82 patients were enrolled (70 female, 12 male; mean age 25.5 years), 41 in each group. The PSI group exhibited a median maxillary position discrepancy of 1.25 mm (interquartile range (IQR) 1.03 mm), significantly lower than the splint group's 1.98 mm (IQR 1.64 mm) (P < 0.001). In the PSI group, the largest median translation discrepancy was 0.74 mm (IQR 1.17 mm) in the anteroposterior direction, while the largest orientation discrepancy was 1.83° (IQR 1.63°) in pitch. In the splint group, the largest median translation discrepancy was 1.14 mm (IQR 1.37 mm) in the anteroposterior direction, while the largest orientation discrepancy was 3.03° (IQR 2.11°) in pitch. In conclusion, among patients with skeletal Class II malocclusion, the application of PSI in orthognathic surgery yielded increased precision in maxillary positioning compared to mandible-first CAD/CAM splints.

Fine mapping and analysis of a candidate gene controlling Phytophthora blight resistance in cucumber

Cucumber blight is a destructive disease. The best way to control this disease is resistance breeding. This study focuses on disease resistance gene mapping and molecular marker development. We used the resistant cucumber, JSH, and susceptible cucumber, B80, as parents to construct F2 populations. Bulked segregant analysis (BSA) combined with specific length amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF-seq) were used, from which we developed cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPs) markers to map the resistance gene. Resistance in F2 individuals showed a segregation ratio of resistance:susceptibility close to 3:1. The gene in JSH resistant cucumber was mapped to an interval of 9.25 kb, and sequencing results for the three genes in the mapped region revealed three mutations at base sites 225, 302, and 591 in the coding region of Csa5G139130 between JSH and B80, but no mutations in coding regions of Csa5G139140 and Csa5G139150. The mutations caused changes in amino acids 75 and 101 of the protein encoded by Csa5G139130, suggesting that Csa5G139130 is the most likely resistance candidate gene. We developed a molecular marker, CAPs-4, as a closely linked marker for the cucumber blight resistance gene. This is the first report on mapping of a cucumber blight resistance gene and will provideg a useful marker for molecular breeding of cucumber resistance to Phytophthora blight.

[Study on the relationship between hemoglobin glycosylation index and arteriosclerosis- related blood lipids]

Objective: To study the relationship between hemoglobin glycation index (HGI) and blood lipid indices such as low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), and plasma atherogenic index (AIP). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 16 049 participants from the Beijing Apple Garden community between December 2011 and August 2012. The subjects were divided into three groups based on the HGI quartile: low (n=5 388), medium (n=5 249), and high (n=5 412). The differences in blood lipid indicators between different HGI groups were compared and multivariate logistic regression model was established to analyze the association between HGI and dyslipidemia. And multivariate logistic regression model was established to analyze the relationship between HGI and blood lipid indicators in different glucose metabolism populations. Results: There were 16 049 participants in all (mean age: 56 years), including 10 452 women (65.1%). They were classified into normal glucose tolerance (9 093 cases), prediabetes (4 524 cases), and diabetes (2 432 cases) based on glucose tolerance status. In the general population, with the increase of HGI, LDL-C, non-HDL-C, and AIP gradually increased (all P values for trends were <0.05), and the proportion of abnormalities increased significantly (χ2=101.40, 42.91, 39.80; all P<0.001). A multivariate logistic regression model was established, which suggested a significant correlation between HGI and LDL-C, non-HDL-C, and AIP (all P<0.05), after adjusting for factors such as age, sex, fasting blood glucose, hypertension, body mass index, smoking, and alcohol consumption. In the overall population, normal glucose tolerance group, and diabetes group, HGI had the highest correlation with non-HDL-C (OR values of 1.325, 1.678, and 1.274, respectively); in the prediabetes group, HGI had a higher correlation with LDL-C (OR value: 1.510); and in different glucose metabolism groups, AIP and HGI were both correlated (OR: 1.208-1.250), but not superior to non-HDL-C and LDL-C. Conclusion: HGI was closely related to LDL-C, non HDL-C, and AIP in the entire population and people with different glucose metabolism, suggesting that HGI may be a predictor of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

A site-resolved two-dimensional quantum simulator with hundreds of trapped ions

A large qubit capacity and an individual readout capability are two crucial requirements for large-scale quantum computing and simulation1. As one of the leading physical platforms for quantum information processing, the ion trap has achieved a quantum simulation of tens of ions with site-resolved readout in a one-dimensional Paul trap2-4 and of hundreds of ions with global observables in a two-dimensional (2D) Penning trap5,6. However, integrating these two features into a single system is still very challenging. Here we report the stable trapping of 512 ions in a 2D Wigner crystal and the sideband cooling of their transverse motion. We demonstrate the quantum simulation of long-range quantum Ising models with tunable coupling strengths and patterns, with or without frustration, using 300 ions. Enabled by the site resolution in the single-shot measurement, we observe rich spatial correlation patterns in the quasi-adiabatically prepared ground states, which allows us to verify quantum simulation results by comparing the measured two-spin correlations with the calculated collective phonon modes and with classical simulated annealing. We further probe the quench dynamics of the Ising model in a transverse field to demonstrate quantum sampling tasks. Our work paves the way for simulating classically intractable quantum dynamics and for running noisy intermediate-scale quantum algorithms7,8 using 2D ion trap quantum simulators.

Highly Efficient and Scalable p-i-n Perovskite Solar Cells Enabled by Poly-metallocene Interfaces

Inverted p-i-n perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are easy to process but need improved interface characteristics with reduced energy loss to prevent efficiency drops when increasing the active photovoltaic area. Here, we report a series of poly ferrocenyl molecules that can modulate the perovskite surface enabling the construction of small- and large-area PSCs. We found that the perovskite-ferrocenyl interaction forms a hybrid complex with enhanced surface coordination strength and activated electronic states, leading to lower interfacial nonradiative recombination and charge transport resistance losses. The resulting PSCs achieve an enhanced efficiency of up to 26.08% for small-area devices and 24.51% for large-area devices (1.0208 cm2). Moreover, the large-area PSCs maintain >92% of the initial efficiency after 2000 h of continuous operation at the maximum power point under 1-sun illumination and 65 °C.

Plasma electron acceleration driven by a long-wave-infrared laser

Laser-driven plasma accelerators provide tabletop sources of relativistic electron bunches and femtosecond x-ray pulses, but usually require petawatt-class solid-state-laser pulses of wavelength λL ~ 1 μm. Longer-λL lasers can potentially accelerate higher-quality bunches, since they require less power to drive larger wakes in less dense plasma. Here, we report on a self-injecting plasma accelerator driven by a long-wave-infrared laser: a chirped-pulse-amplified CO2 laser (λL ≈ 10 μm). Through optical scattering experiments, we observed wakes that 4-ps CO2 pulses with <  1/2 terawatt (TW) peak power drove in hydrogen plasma of electron density down to 4 × 1017 cm-3 (1/100 atmospheric density) via a self-modulation (SM) instability. Shorter, more powerful CO2 pulses drove wakes in plasma down to 3 × 1016 cm-3 that captured and accelerated plasma electrons to relativistic energy. Collimated quasi-monoenergetic features in the electron output marked the onset of a transition from SM to bubble-regime acceleration, portending future higher-quality accelerators driven by yet shorter, more powerful pulses.

[Comparison of surgical outcomes between Kahook Dual Blade goniotomy and Trabectome surgery in patients with open-angle glaucoma]

Objective: To compare the medium-term therapeutic effects of Kahook Dual Blade (KDB) goniotomy and Trabectome surgery in the treatment of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Methods: This study was a non-randomized prospective interventional controlled clinical study. POAG patients who underwent KDB goniotomy or Trabectome surgery at Beijing Tongren Hospital from May 2017 to April 2022 were enrolled. The definition of successful surgery was postoperative average intraocular pressure (IOP)≤21 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) and IOP decrease≥20%. Follow-up visits were conducted on the 1st day, 1st week, 1st, 3rd and 6th month after surgery. The IOP value, the number of IOP-lowering medications, the proportion of surgical success (average IOP≤21 mmHg at 6 months), and complications were evaluated. Statistical methods included independent sample t-test, Mann-Whitney rank sum test, χ2 test, repeated measures two-factor analysis of variance, Bonferroni, Friedman M test, Wilcoxon, and Log-rank. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the cumulative success rate of each group. Results: Seventeen male patients (17 eyes) and 10 female patients (10 eyes) were included. The mean age was (39.9±17.7) years old. There were 11 patients in the KDB group and 16 patients in the Trabectome group. There was no significant difference in clinical baseline conditions between the two groups (P>0.05). The IOPs in the KDB and Trabectome groups at postoperative 1 week [(16.6±6.3) and (16.4±4.1) mmHg) and 6 months [(17.8±5.3) and (19.9±4.4) mmHg) were lower than those before surgery [(25.1±9.3) and (27.4±9.1) mmHg) (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the overall IOP between groups (P>0.05). The IOP reduction rates in the KDB and Trabectome groups were 23.4% and 19.0%, with no significant difference (P=0.674). The numbers of IOP-lowering medications used in the KDB and Trabectome groups at 3 months [2.0 (1.0, 4.0) and 2.0 (1.0, 2.3)] and 6 months [2.0 (0.0, 4.0) and 2.0 (1.0, 3.0)] after surgery were not significantly different from those before surgery [4.0 (2.0, 4.0) and 3.0 (2.0, 4.0)] (both P>0.05). There was no statistical significance in the overall number of IOP-lowering medications used between the two groups (P>0.05). There was also no statistically significant difference in the proportion of patients with an IOP decrease of≥20% and the proportion of patients whose mean postoperative IOP was≤21 mmHg (all P>0.05). The proportions of IOP≤21 mmHg in the KDB group and the Trabectome group at 6 months after surgery were 81.8% and 68.8% (P>0.05). Serious intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred in neither group. Conclusions: Both KDB trabeculotomy and Trabectome surgery can effectively reduce IOP and have a good safety profile in treating POAG, with the same number of IOP-lowering medications.

Genetic analysis and QTL mapping of seed hardness trait in a soybean (Glycine max) recombinant inbred line (RIL) population

Seed hardness is a critical quality trait impacting both the suitability of soybeans for consumption and their processing. The primary objective of this study was to explore the genetic foundations underlying seed hardness in soybeans. A 234 recombinant inbred line (RIL) population was evaluated for seed hardness across three years (2015 in Gansu, 2016, and 2017 in Hainan). Notably, the parent varieties, Zhonghuang35 and Jindou21, displayed significant differences in seed hardness. Also, the RIL population exhibited a wide range of genetic variation in seed hardness, with coefficients of variation between 70.53 % and 94.94 %. The frequency distribution of this trait conformed to a relatively normal distribution, making it suitable for QTL analysis. Six QTLs associated with seed hardness were identified with three located on chromosome 2 and three on chromosome 16. The major QTL, qHS-2-1, consistently exhibited the highest percentage of PVE and LOD in Gansu 2015, Hainan 2016, and Hainan 2017, suggesting its central role in determining seed hardness. Further investigation revealed four genes within the qHS-2-1 interval potentially related to seed hardness. GO enrichment analysis provided insights into their functions, including factors such as Glyma.02G307000, a pectin lyase-like superfamily protein, which could influence seed hardness through its role in pectin lyase enzyme activity. Expression analysis of these candidate genes demonstrated significant differences between the two parent varieties, further highlighting their potential role in seed coat hardness. This study offers valuable insights into the genetic mechanisms governing soybean seed coat hardness, providing a foundation for future research and crop improvement efforts.

Oroxin A alleviates early brain injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage by regulating ferroptosis and neuroinflammation

BACKGROUND

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), a severe subtype of stroke, is characterized by notably high mortality and morbidity, largely due to the lack of effective therapeutic options. Although the neuroprotective potential of PPARg and Nrf2 has been recognized, investigative efforts into oroxin A (OA), remain limited in preclinical studies.

METHODS

SAH was modeled in vivo through filament perforation in male C57BL/6 mice and in vitro by exposing HT22 cells to hemin to induce neuronal damage. Following the administration of OA, a series of methods were employed to assess neurological behaviors, brain water content, neuronal damage, cell ferroptosis, and the extent of neuroinflammation.

RESULTS

The findings indicated that OA treatment markedly improved survival rates, enhanced neurological functions, mitigated neuronal death and brain edema, and attenuated the inflammatory response. These effects of OA were linked to the suppression of microglial activation. Moreover, OA administration was found to diminish ferroptosis in neuronal cells, a critical factor in early brain injury (EBI) following SAH. Further mechanistic investigations uncovered that OA facilitated the translocation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2) from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, thereby activating the Nrf2/GPX4 pathway. Importantly, OA also upregulated the expression of FSP1, suggesting a significant and parallel protective effect against ferroptosis in EBI following SAH in synergy with GPX4.

CONCLUSION

In summary, this research indicated that the PPARg activator OA augmented the neurological results in rodent models and diminished neuronal death. This neuroprotection was achieved primarily by suppressing neuronal ferroptosis. The underlying mechanism was associated with the alleviation of cellular death through the Nrf2/GPX4 and FSP1/CoQ10 pathways.

CT venography combined with ultrasound-guided minimally invasive treatment for recurrent varicose veins: a pilot paired-design clinical trial

AIM

To compare 1-year outcomes of computed tomography venography (CTV) combined with ultrasound-guided minimally invasive treatment with ascending phlebography and ultrasound-guided treatment for recurrent varicose veins.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Consecutive patients with unilateral recurrent varicose veins were matched by gender, age, C classification, and degree of obesity, and randomised in a 1:1 ratio to receive either CTV (CTV group) or ascending phlebography (control group) combined with ultrasound-guided minimally invasive treatment. Patients were followed up by clinical and ultrasound examination. Follow-up was scheduled at 1 week, and 3, 6, and 12 months. The primary outcome measure was the Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS) at 12 months. Measures of secondary outcome included Chronic Insufficiency Venous International Questionnaire-20 (CIVIQ-20) score, recurrence of varicose vein or ulcer during 12 months, ulcer healing time, detection and location of treated veins.

RESULTS

Eighty patients were enrolled. Median VCSS in the CTV group was lower than it in the control group (p=0.04) and the CIVIQ-20 score was higher than the control group (p=0.02). By 12 months, no symptomatically recurrent varicose veins or ulcers had occurred. The ulcer healing time in CTV group was shorter (p<0.01). A greater number of patients had treated veins detected using CTV than by ascending venography (p=0.01), especially among patients with recurrence reflux veins in the groin, perineum, and vulva (p<0.01).

CONCLUSION

CTV combined with ultrasound may be more helpful than ascending phlebography combined with ultrasound to improve treatment efficacy for recurrent varices. These results should be verified by an future study with more patients and long-term follow-up.

Different microbial ecological agents change the composition of intestinal microbiota and the levels of SCFAs in mice to alleviate loperamide-induced constipation

Probiotics exert beneficial effects by regulating the intestinal microbiota, metabolism, immune function and other ways of their host. Patients with constipation, a common gastrointestinal disorder, experience disturbances in their intestinal microbiota. In the present study, we investigated the effectiveness of two microbial ecological agents (postbiotic extract PE0401 and a combination of postbiotic extract PE0401 and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei CCFM 2711) in regulating the makeup of the intestinal microbiota and alleviating loperamide hydrochloride-induced constipation in mice. We also preliminarily explored the mechanism underlying their effects. Both microbial ecological agents increased the abundance of the beneficial bacteria Lactobacilli and Bifidobacterium after administration and were able to relieve constipation. However, the degree of improvement in constipation symptoms varied depending on the makeup of the supplement. The postbiotic extract PE0401 increased peristalsis time and improved faecal properties throughout the intestinal tract of the host. PE0401 relieved constipation, possibly by modulating the levels of the constipation-related gastrointestinal regulatory transmitters mouse motilin, mouse vasoactive intestinal peptide, and 5-hydoxytryptamine in the intestinal tract of the host and by increasing the levels of the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) acetic acid, propionic acid, and isovaleric acid. It also increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium and reduced that of Faecalibaculum, Mucispirillum, Staphylococcus, and Lachnoclostridium, which are among the beneficial microbiota in the host intestine. Furthermore, PE0401 decreased the levels of constipation-induced host inflammatory factors. Therefore, the two microbial ecological agents can regulate the intestinal microbiota of constipation mice, and PE0401 has a stronger ability to relieve constipation.

Charge Management Enables Efficient Spontaneous Chromatic Adaptation Bipolar Photodetector

Solution-processed photodetectors have emerged as promising candidates for next-generation of visible-near infrared (vis-NIR) photodetectors. This is attributed to their ease of processing, compatibility with flexible substrates, and the ability to tune their detection properties by integrating complementary photoresponsive semiconductors. However, the limited performance continues to hinder their further development, primarily influenced by the difference of charge transport properties between perovskite and organic semiconductors. In this work, a perovskite-organic bipolar photodetectors (PDs) is introduced with multispectral responsivity, achieved by effectively managing charges in perovskite and a ternary organic heterojunction. The ternary heterojunction, incorporating a designed NIR guest acceptor, exhibits a faster charge transfer rate and longer carrier diffusion length than the binary heterojunction. By achieving a more balanced carrier dynamic between the perovskite and organic components, the PD achieves a low dark current of 3.74 nA cm-2 at -0.2 V, a fast response speed of <10 µs, and a detectivity of exceeding 1012 Jones. Furthermore, a bioinspired retinotopic system for spontaneous chromatic adaptation is achieved without any optical filter. This charge management strategy opens up possibilities for surpassing the limitations of photodetection and enables the realization of high-purity, compact image sensors with exceptional spatial resolution and accurate color reproduction.

Classification of breast edema on T2-weighted imaging for predicting sentinel lymph node metastasis and biological behavior in breast cancer

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether preoperative classification of breast edema on T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) is useful for predicting sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastasis and biological behavior in patients with early-stage breast cancer.

METHODS

This retrospective study involved 341 women with breast cancer who underwent breast MRI from January 2019 to March 2022. Breast edema was scored on a scale of 1-4 on T2WI (1, no edema; 2, peritumoral edema; 3, prepectoral edema; and 4, subcutaneous edema). A logistic regression model was employed for univariate and multivariate analyses. A clinicopathological model was established using independent influencing factors identified in the multivariate analyses, excluding breast edema score (BES). Subsequently, BES was incorporated into this model to establish a combined BES model. The AUC and Delong test were used to examine the additional predictive value of the BES.

RESULTS

Logistic regression analysis showed that breast edema was an independent risk factor for SLN metastasis. The combined BES model significantly improved the predictive performance of SLN metastasis compared with the clinicopathological model alone (AUC, 0.77 vs. 0.71; p=0.005). In addition, the BES was significantly positively correlated with the tumor diameter (p<0.001), histologic grade (p=0.001), Ki-67 index (p<0.001), and non-luminal subtypes (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

The BES on T2WI is useful for predicting SLN metastasis. A higher grade of breast edema is associated with breast cancer aggressiveness and increases the probability of SLN metastasis.

Emergence of Long-Range Angular Correlations in Low-Multiplicity Proton-Proton Collisions

This Letter presents the measurement of near-side associated per-trigger yields, denoted ridge yields, from the analysis of angular correlations of charged hadrons in proton-proton collisions at sqrt[s]=13  TeV. Long-range ridge yields are extracted for pairs of charged particles with a pseudorapidity difference of 1.4<|Δη|<1.8 and a transverse momentum of 1 Collapse

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[The Miao medicine Sidaxue alleviates rheumatoid arthritis in rats possibly by downregulating matrix metalloproteinases]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the inhibitory effect of Sidaxue, a traditional Miao herbal medicine formula, on articular bone and cartilage destruction and synovial neovascularization in rats with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA).

METHODS

In a SD rat model of CIA, we tested the effects of daily gavage of Sidaxue at low, moderate and high doses (10, 20, and 40 g/kg, respectively) for 21 days, with Tripterygium glycosides (GTW) as the positive control, on swelling in the hind limb plantar regions by arthritis index scoring. Pathologies in joint synovial membrane of the rats were observed with HE staining, and serum TNF-α and IL-1β levels were detected with ELISA. The expressions of NF-κB p65, matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1), MMP2 and MMP9 at the mRNA and protein levels in the synovial tissues were detected using real-time PCR and Western blotting. Network pharmacology analysis was conducted to identify the important target proteins in the pathways correlated with the therapeutic effects of topical Sidaxue treatment for RA, and the core target proteins were screened by topological analysis.

RESULTS

Treatment with GTW and Sidaxue at the 3 doses all significantly alleviated plantar swelling, lowered arthritis index scores, improved cartilage and bone damage and reduced neovascularization in CIA rats (P<0.05), and the effects of Sidaxue showed a dose dependence. Both GTW and Sidaxue treatments significantly lowered TNF-α, IL-1β, NF-κB p65, MMP1, MMP2, and MMP9 mRNA and protein expressions in the synovial tissues of CIA rats (P<0.05). Network pharmacological analysis identified MMPs as the core proteins associated with topical Sidaxue treatment of RA.

CONCLUSION

Sidaxue alleviates articular bone and cartilage damages and reduces synovial neovascularization in CIA rats possibly by downregulating MMPs via the TNF-α/IL-1β/NF-κB-MMP1, 2, 9 signaling pathway, and MMPs probably plays a key role in mediating the effect of Sidaxue though the therapeutic pathways other than oral administration.

First Measurement of the |t| Dependence of Incoherent J/ψ Photonuclear Production

The first measurement of the cross section for incoherent photonuclear production of J/ψ vector mesons as a function of the Mandelstam |t| variable is presented. The measurement was carried out with the ALICE detector at midrapidity, |y|<0.8, using ultraperipheral collisions of Pb nuclei at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV. This rapidity interval corresponds to a Bjorken-x range (0.3-1.4)×10^{-3}. Cross sections are given in five |t| intervals in the range 0.04<|t|<1  GeV^{2} and compared to the predictions by different models. Models that ignore quantum fluctuations of the gluon density in the colliding hadron predict a |t| dependence of the cross section much steeper than in data. The inclusion of such fluctuations in the same models provides a better description of the data.

Human-multimodal deep learning collaboration in 'precise' diagnosis of lupus erythematosus subtypes and similar skin diseases

BACKGROUND

Lupus erythematosus (LE) is a spectrum of autoimmune diseases. Due to the complexity of cutaneous LE (CLE), clinical skin image-based artificial intelligence is still experiencing difficulties in distinguishing subtypes of LE.

OBJECTIVES

We aim to develop a multimodal deep learning system (MMDLS) for human-AI collaboration in diagnosis of LE subtypes.

METHODS

This is a multi-centre study based on 25 institutions across China to assist in diagnosis of LE subtypes, other eight similar skin diseases and healthy subjects. In total, 446 cases with 800 clinical skin images, 3786 multicolor-immunohistochemistry (multi-IHC) images and clinical data were collected, and EfficientNet-B3 and ResNet-18 were utilized in this study.

RESULTS

In the multi-classification task, the overall performance of MMDLS on 13 skin conditions is much higher than single or dual modals (Sen = 0.8288, Spe = 0.9852, Pre = 0.8518, AUC = 0.9844). Further, the MMDLS-based diagnostic-support help improves the accuracy of dermatologists from 66.88% ± 6.94% to 81.25% ± 4.23% (p = 0.0004).

CONCLUSIONS

These results highlight the benefit of human-MMDLS collaborated framework in telemedicine by assisting dermatologists and rheumatologists in the differential diagnosis of LE subtypes and similar skin diseases.

Study of association between corneal shape parameters and axial length elongation during orthokeratology using image-pro plus software

BACKGROUND

The aim was to validate the correlation between corneal shape parameters and axial length growth (ALG) during orthokeratology using Image-Pro Plus (IPP) 6.0 software.

METHODS

This retrospective study used medical records of myopic children aged 8-13 years (n = 104) undergoing orthokeratology. Their corneal topography and axial length were measured at baseline and subsequent follow-ups after lens wear. Corneal shape parameters, including the treatment zone (TZ) area, TZ diameter, TZ fractal dimension, TZ radius ratio, eccentric distance, pupil area, and pupillary peripheral steepened zone(PSZ) area, were measured using IPP software. The impact of corneal shape parameters at 3 months post-orthokeratology visit on 1.5-year ALG was evaluated using multivariate linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

ALG exhibited significant associations with age, TZ area, TZ diameter, TZ fractal dimension, and eccentric distance on univariate linear regression analysis. Multivariate regression analysis identified age, TZ area, and eccentric distance as significantly correlated with ALG (all P < 0.01), with eccentric distance showing the strongest correlation (β = -0.370). The regressive equation was y = 1.870 - 0.235a + 0.276b - 0.370c, where y represents ALG, a represents age, b represents TZ area, and c represents eccentric distance; R2 = 0.27). No significant relationships were observed between the TZ radius ratio, pupillary PSZ area, and ALG.

CONCLUSIONS

IPP software proves effective in capturing precise corneal shape parameters after orthokeratology. Eccentric distance, rather than age or the TZ area, significantly influences ALG retardation.

First Measurement of η Meson Production in Neutrino Interactions on Argon with MicroBooNE

We present a measurement of η production from neutrino interactions on argon with the MicroBooNE detector. The modeling of resonant neutrino interactions on argon is a critical aspect of the neutrino oscillation physics program being carried out by the DUNE and Short Baseline Neutrino programs. η production in neutrino interactions provides a powerful new probe of resonant interactions, complementary to pion channels, and is particularly suited to the study of higher-order resonances beyond the Δ(1232). We measure a flux-integrated cross section for neutrino-induced η production on argon of 3.22±0.84(stat)±0.86(syst) 10^{-41}  cm^{2}/nucleon. By demonstrating the successful reconstruction of the two photons resulting from η production, this analysis enables a novel calibration technique for electromagnetic showers in GeV accelerator neutrino experiments.

[Effect of LAG3 deficiency on natural killer cell function and hepatic fibrosis in mice infected with Echinococcus multilocularis]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of LAG-3 deficiency (LAG3-/-) on natural killer (NK) cell function and hepatic fibrosis in mice infected with Echinococcus multilocularis.

METHODS

C57BL/6 mice, each weighing (20 ± 2) g, were divided into the LAG3-/- and wild type (WT) groups, and each mouse in both groups was inoculated with 3 000 E. multilocularis protoscoleces via the hepatic portal vein. Mouse liver and spleen specimens were collected 12 weeks post-infection, sectioned and stained with sirius red, and the hepatic lesions and fibrosis were observed. Mouse hepatic and splenic lymphocytes were isolated, and flow cytometry was performed to detect the proportions of hepatic and splenic NK cells, the expression of CD44, CD25 and CD69 molecules on NK cell surface, and the secretion of interferon γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10 and IL-17A.

RESULTS

Sirius red staining showed widening of inflammatory cell bands and hyperplasia of fibrotic connective tissues around mouse hepatic lesions, as well as increased deposition of collagen fibers in the LAG3-/-group relative to the WT group. Flow cytometry revealed lower proportions of mouse hepatic (6.29% ± 1.06% vs. 11.91% ± 1.85%, P < 0.000 1) and splenic NK cells (4.44% ± 1.22% vs. 5.85% ± 1.10%, P > 0.05) in the LAG3-/- group than in the WT group, and the mean fluorescence intensity of CD44 was higher on the surface of mouse hepatic NK cells in the LAG3-/- group than in the WT group (t = -3.234, P < 0.01), while no significant differences were found in the mean fluorescence intensity of CD25 or CD69 on the surface of mouse hepaticNK cells between the LAG3-/- and WT groups (both P values > 0.05). There were significant differences between the LAG3-/- and WT groups in terms of the percentages of IFN-γ (t = -0.723, P > 0.05), TNF-α (t = -0.659, P > 0.05), IL-4 (t = -0.263, P > 0.05), IL-10 (t = -0.455, P > 0.05) or IL-17A secreted by mouse hepatic NK cells (t = 0.091, P > 0.05), and the percentage of IFN-γ secreted by mouse splenic NK cells was higher in the LAG3-/- group than in the WT group (58.40% ± 1.64% vs. 50.40% ± 4.13%; t = -4.042, P < 0.01); however, there were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of the proportions of TNF-α (t = -1.902, P > 0.05), IL-4 (t = -1.333, P > 0.05), IL-10 (t = -1.356, P > 0.05) or IL-17A secreted by mouse splenic NK cells (t = 0.529, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

During the course of E. multilocularis infections, LAG3-/- promotes high-level secretion of IFN-γ by splenic NK cells, which may participate in the reversal the immune function of NK cells, resulting in aggravation of hepatic fibrosis.

Matrine Enhances the Antitumor Efficacy of Chidamide in CTCL by Promoting Apoptosis

BACKGROUND

Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma (CTCL) is a rare group of non-Hodgkin lymphoma originating from the skin, which is characterized by T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders. Chidamide, a Chinese original antineoplastic agent with independent intellectual property rights, and matrine, an extract of Chinese herbal medicine, both have been reported to exert effects on the treatment of tumors individually. However, chidamide combined with matrine has not been tested for the treatment of CTCL.

METHODS

Both HH and Hut78 CTCL cell lines were treated with chidamide (0.4 μmol/L), matrine (0.6 g/L), or chidamide combined with matrine for 24, 48, and 72 h. Cell viability was estimated by MTS assay at each time point. Flow cytometry was then conducted to detect cell apoptosis. The exact mechanism of chidamide combined with matrine on CTCL cells was detected by Western blotting and further validated in xenograft models of NOD/SCID mice.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Compared to the single drug, chidamide combined with matrine showed a more significant effect on proliferation inhibition and apoptosis induction on CTCL cells both in vitro and in vivo. The results from the in vitro and in vivo studies suggested that matrine could enhance the anti-tumor effect of chidamide by increasing the protein expression of cleaved caspase- 3 and decreasing the expression of E-cadherin, NF-κB, p-Bad, and Bcl-2 to activate apoptosis.

CONCLUSION

Our data have demonstrated chidamide combined with matrine to exhibit elevated antitumor activity in both CTCL cells and xenograft models of NOD/SCID mice, which may be a potential treatment option for CTCL.

Effectiveness of Ixekizumab in Chinese Patients with Moderate-Severe Plaque Psoriasis with Special Area Involvement: Subanalysis of a Prospective, Multicenter, Observational Real-World Study

INTRODUCTION

Ixekizumab, a monoclonal antibody against interleukin-17A, demonstrated effectiveness in the treatment of psoriasis in a Chinese real-world study that was consistent with previous randomized controlled trials. Here, we report further analyses from this study to explore the effectiveness of ixekizumab for treating patients with psoriasis and the involvement of special body areas (scalp, nail, joint, palmoplantar, or genital areas).

METHODS

A multicenter, prospective, observational, single-arm, post-marketing surveillance study was conducted in patients aged ≥ 18 years with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and prescribed with ixekizumab in 26 Chinese hospitals. Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) scores were compared between patients with versus without psoriasis in special body areas in the overall study population and across subgroups by body area.

RESULTS

In total, 612 patients were included. At baseline, most patients (93.6%) had psoriasis involvement in at least one special body area. Overall, patients with psoriasis in special body areas reported a worse quality of life (QoL) than those without. Patients with versus without psoriasis in special body areas achieved a comparable mean reduction from baseline in PASI score (10.9 vs. 9.2 at week 2, and 16.9 vs. 14.7 at week 12, respectively) and DLQI score (6.0 vs. 4.4 at week 2, and 9.9 vs. 7.5 at week 12, respectively); a similar proportion of patients also achieved PASI 50 at week 2, and PASI 75 and PASI 90 at week 12, and a DLQI (0/1) at weeks 2 and 12. Several significantly different results were reported between subgroups, the majority of which favored patients with special body area involvement.

CONCLUSION

Most patients had psoriasis involvement in a special body area which was associated with worse QoL. Ixekizumab is similarly effective in reducing disease severity and improving QoL in patients with plaque psoriasis across different special body areas.

Clinical outcomes of SMILE and WFG-LASIK used to treat myopia and astigmatism: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

To evaluate the safety, efficacy and postoperative visual quality of small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) and Wavefront-Guided Laser in situ keratomileusis (WFG-LASIK) and to analyze their efficacy in correcting astigmatism.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was performed using Cochrane Collaboration methodology. Databases searched included PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library and Web of Science. RevMan software version 5.3.0 was used for meta-analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 976 eyes were included in 8 studies, of which 539 eyes underwent SMILE and 437 eyes underwent WFG-LASIK. There were no statistically significant differences in the proportion of eyes achieving uncorrected distance visual acuity of 20/20 or better (P=0.18), the proportion of eyes within±0.50 diopter of target refraction postoperatively (P=0.10), or the postoperative magnitude of cylinder (P=0.10). Regarding the Alpins vector analysis of astigmatism, there was no statistically significant difference in the surgical magnitude of error (P=0.09) between the two groups. WFG-LASIK has a lower surgical angle of error (P= 0.002) and higher surgical correction index of cylinder (P=0.03) than SMILE. In terms of aberrations, higher order aberrations (P=0.46), spherical aberrations (P=0.22) and trefoil (P=0.56) were not statistically different, while WFG-LASIK induced less coma than SMILE surgery (P=0.02).

CONCLUSION

Both SMILE and WFG-LASIK are safe and effective ways to correct myopia and astigmatism. Compared with SMILE, WFG-LASIK has a lower surgical angle of error, higher surgical correction index of cylinder and induces less coma.