Structural features and substrate engagement in peptide-modifying radical SAM enzymes

In recent years, the biological significance of ribosomally synthesized, post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) and the intriguing chemistry catalyzed by their tailoring enzymes has garnered significant attention. A subgroup of bacterial radical S-adenosylmethionine (rSAM) enzymes can activate C-H bonds in peptides, which leads to the production of a diverse range of RiPPs. The remarkable ability of these enzymes to facilitate various chemical processes, to generate and harbor high-energy radical species, and to accommodate large substrates with a high degree of flexibility is truly intriguing. The wide substrate scope and diversity of the chemistry performed by rSAM enzymes raise one question: how does the protein environment facilitate these distinct chemical conversions while sharing a similar structural fold? In this review, we discuss recent advances in the field of RiPP-rSAM enzymes, with a particular emphasis on domain architectures and substrate engagements identified by biophysical and structural characterizations. We provide readers with a comparative analysis of six examples of RiPP-rSAM enzymes with experimentally characterized structures. Linking the structural elements and the nature of rSAM-catalyzed RiPP production will provide insight into the functional engineering of enzyme activity to harness their catalytic power in broader applications.

Treatment discontinuation in older people with multiple sclerosis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The aim of this review was to examine the evidence for disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) discontinuation in older people with multiple sclerosis (MS). We first summarized aging-associated biological changes that influence MS progression and DMT effectiveness, and then summarized recent evidence in evaluating clinical outcomes of discontinuing DMTs in older people with MS.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent findings provide mixed evidence regarding the outcomes of DMT discontinuation in older people with MS. Retrospective observational studies suggested older age and longer stable duration on DMT before DMT discontinuation were associated with lower risk of relapse in people with MS. However, one randomized clinical trial did not demonstrate the noninferiority of DMT discontinuation.

SUMMARY

The available clinical evidence examining DMT discontinuation in older people with MS remains inconclusive. More robust evidence from clinical trials and real-world data will be necessary to guide clinical decisions regarding DMT discontinuation in older people with MS.

Hippocampal subfields and thalamic nuclei associations with clinical outcomes in multiple sclerosis: An ultrahigh field MRI study

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have shown that thalamic and hippocampal neurodegeneration is associated with clinical decline in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). However, contributions of the specific thalamic nuclei and hippocampal subfields require further examination.

OBJECTIVE

Using 7 Tesla (7T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we investigated the cross-sectional associations between functionally grouped thalamic nuclei and hippocampal subfields volumes and T1 relaxation times (T1-RT) and subsequent clinical outcomes in MS.

METHODS

High-resolution T1-weighted and T2-weighted images were acquired at 7T (n=31), preprocessed, and segmented using the Thalamus Optimized Multi Atlas Segmentation (THOMAS, for thalamic nuclei) and the Automatic Segmentation of Hippocampal Subfields (ASHS, for hippocampal subfields) packages. We calculated Pearson correlations between hippocampal subfields and thalamic nuclei volumes and T1-RT and subsequent multi-modal rater-determined and patient-reported clinical outcomes (∼2.5 years after imaging acquisition), correcting for confounders and multiple tests.

RESULTS

Smaller volume bilaterally in the anterior thalamus region correlated with worse performance in gait function, as measured by the Patient Determined Disease Steps (PDDS). Additionally, larger volume in most functional groups of thalamic nuclei correlated with better visual information processing and cognitive function, as measured by the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). In bilateral medial and left posterior thalamic regions, there was an inverse association between volumes and T1-RT, potentially indicating higher tissue degeneration in these regions. We also observed marginal associations between the right hippocampal subfields (both volumes and T1-RT) and subsequent clinical outcomes, though they did not survive correction for multiple testing.

CONCLUSION

Ultrahigh field MRI identified markers of structural damage in the thalamic nuclei associated with subsequently worse clinical outcomes in individuals with MS. Longitudinal studies will enable better understanding of the role of microstructural integrity in these brain regions in influencing MS outcomes.

CD40L-Activated DC Promotes Th17 Differentiation and Inhibits Th2 Differentiation in Sepsis-Induced Lung Injury via cGAS-STING Signaling

Immune hemostasis due to an infection plays a vital role in sepsis-induced multiple organ dysfunction. Dendritic cells (DC) and T helper (Th) cells are the key members of the immune system maintaining immune homeostasis. This study aimed to explore the effect and mechanism of CD40L on the activation of DC and activated DC-induced Th2/Th17 differentiation. A CD40L knockout and cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) mouse model was established via cecal ligation. HE staining was used to evaluate the pathological changes. The gene expressions were studied using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), while a transwell system was used to perform the co-culture of DC and T-cells. Flow cytometry was performed to detect the subtype of T and DC cells. ELISA was used to assess the amount of inflammatory factors. CD40L was highly expressed in the plasma of CLP mice. Knock out of CD40L inhibited the activation of DC cell and Th17 differentiation while promoting the Th2 differentiation. The mechanistic investigations revealed that CD40L promoted the activation of cGAS-STING pathway. Rescue experiments indicated that CD40L mediated DC activation via cGAS-STING signaling. Moreover, co-culturing of CD and CD+4 T-cells demonstrated that silencing of CD40L in DC suppressed the DC activation and inhibited Th17 differentiation while promoting Th2 differentiation. These findings revealed a relationship between CD40L, DC activation, and Th2/Th17 differentiation balance in sepsis-induced acute lung injury for the first time. These findings are envisaged to provide novel molecular targets for sepsis-induced lung injury treatment.

Cryo-EM and Molecular Dynamics Simulations Reveal Hidden Conformational Dynamics Controlling Ammonia Transport in Human Asparagine Synthetase

How motions in enzymes might be linked to catalytic function is of considerable general interest. Recent advances in X-ray crystallography and cryogenic electron microscopy offer the promise of elucidating functionally relevant motions in proteins that are not easily amenable to study by other biophysical methods. Here we use 3D variability analysis (3DVA) on cryo-EM maps for wild type (WT) human asparagine synthetase (ASNS) and the R142I ASNS variant to identify conformational changes in the Arg-142 side chain, which mediates the formation of a catalytically relevant intramolecular tunnel. Our 3DVA results for WT ASNS are consistent with independent molecular dynamics (MD) simulations on a model generated from the X-ray structure of human ASNS. Moreover, MD simulations of computational models for the ASNS/β-aspartyl-AMP/MgPPi and R142I/β-aspartyl-AMP/MgPPi ternary complexes, suggest that the structural integrity of the tunnel is impaired in the R142I variant when β-aspartyl-AMP is present in the synthetase active site. The kinetic properties of the R142I ASNS variant support the proposed function of Arg-142. These studies illustrate the power of cryo-EM to identify localized motions and dissect the conformational landscape of large proteins. When combined with MD simulations, 3DVA is a powerful approach to understanding how conformational dynamics might regulate function in multi-domain enzymes possessing multiple active sites.

Exploring the Synthesis of Self-Organization and Active Motion

Proteins, genetic material, and membranes are fundamental to all known organisms, yet these components alone do not constitute life. Life emerges from the dynamic processes of self-organization, assembly, and active motion, suggesting the existence of similar artificial systems. Against this backdrop, our Perspective explores a variety of chemical phenomena illustrating how nonequilibrium self-organization and micromotors contribute to life-like behavior and functionalities. After explaining key terms, we discuss specific examples including enzymatic motion, diffusiophoretic and bubble-driven self-propulsion, pattern-forming reaction-diffusion systems, self-assembling inorganic aggregates, and hierarchically emergent phenomena. We also provide a roadmap for combining self-organization and active motion and discuss possible outcomes through biological analogs. We suggest that this research direction, deeply rooted in physical chemistry, offers opportunities for further development with broad impacts on related sciences and technologies.

Solving conformal defects in 3D conformal field theory using fuzzy sphere regularization

Defects in conformal field theory (CFT) are of significant theoretical and experimental importance. The presence of defects theoretically enriches the structure of the CFT, but at the same time, it makes it more challenging to study, especially in dimensions higher than two. Here, we demonstrate that the recently-developed theoretical scheme, fuzzy (non-commutative) sphere regularization, provides a powerful lens through which one can dissect the defect of 3D CFTs in a transparent way. As a notable example, we study the magnetic line defect of 3D Ising CFT and clearly demonstrate that it flows to a conformal defect fixed point. We have identified 6 low-lying defect primary operators, including the displacement operator, and accurately extract their scaling dimensions through the state-operator correspondence. Moreover, we also compute one-point bulk correlators and two-point bulk-defect correlators, which show great agreement with predictions of defect conformal symmetry, and from which we extract various bulk-defect operator product expansion coefficients. Our work demonstrates that the fuzzy sphere offers a powerful tool for exploring the rich physics in 3D defect CFTs.

A novel improved total variation algorithm for the elimination of scratch-type defects in high-voltage cable cross-sections

In the quality inspection process of high-voltage cables, several commonly used indicators include cable length, insulation thickness, and the number of conductors within the core. Among these factors, the count of conductors holds particular significance as a key determinant of cable quality. Machine vision technology has found extensive application in automatically detecting the number of conductors in cross-sectional images of high-voltage cables. However, the presence of scratch-type defects in cut high-voltage cable cross-sections can significantly compromise the precision of conductor count detection. To address this problem, this paper introduces a novel improved total variation (TV) algorithm, marking the first-ever application of the TV algorithm in this domain. Considering the staircase effect, the direct use of the TV algorithm is prone to cause serious loss of image edge information. The proposed algorithm firstly introduces multimodal features to effectively mitigate the staircase effect. While eliminating scratch-type defects, the algorithm endeavors to preserve the original image's edge information, consequently yielding a noteworthy enhancement in detection accuracy. Furthermore, a dataset was curated, comprising images of cross-sections of high-voltage cables of varying sizes, each displaying an assortment of scratch-type defects. Experimental findings conclusively demonstrate the algorithm's exceptional efficiency in eradicating diverse scratch-type defects within high-voltage cable cross-sections. The average scratch elimination rate surpasses 90%, with an impressive 96.15% achieved on cable sample 4. A series of conducted ablation experiments in this paper substantiate a significant enhancement in cable image quality. Notably, the Edge Preservation Index (EPI) exhibits an improvement of approximately 20%, resulting in a substantial boost to conductor count detection accuracy, thus effectively enhancing the quality of high-voltage cable production.

Rapamycin can alleviate the submandibular gland pathology of Sjögren's syndrome by limiting the activation of cGAS-STING signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Sjögren's Syndrome (SS) is also known as autoimmune exocrine gland disease. Previous studies have confirmed that adaptive immunity plays an important role in the development of this disease. But less is known about the role of the innate immune system.

METHODS

To identify the core pathways, and local infiltrated immune cells in the local immune microenvironment of SS. We verified the activation of these core genes and core signaling pathways in SS model mice by in vivo experiment and transcriptome sequencing.

RESULTS

Finally, we identified 6 core genes EPSTI1, IFI44L, MX1, CXCL10, IFIT3, and IFI44. All the 6 genes had good diagnostic value. Based on multi-omics sequencing results and experimental studies, we found that cGAS-STING signaling pathway is most relevant to the pathogenesis of SS. By in vivo experiments, we verified that autophagy is the key brake to limit the activation of cGAS-STING signaling pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

Maladaptive activation of autophagy and cGAS-STING signaling pathway are central contributors to the SG pathogenesis of pSS patient. Regulating autophagy by rapamycin may be a possible treatment for Sjögren's syndrome in the future.

An integrative pan-cancer analysis of the molecular characteristics of dietary restriction in tumour microenvironment

BACKGROUND

Dietary restriction (DR), a general term for dieting, has been demonstrated as an effective intervention in reducing the occurrence of cancers. Molecular activities associated with DR are crucial in mediating its anti-cancer effects, yet a comprehensive exploration of the landscape of these activities at the pan-cancer level is still lacking.

METHODS

We proposed a computational approach for quantifying DR-related molecular activities and delineating the landscape of these activities across 33 cancer types and 30 normal tissues within 27,320 samples. We thoroughly examined the associations between DR-related molecular activities and various factors, including the tumour microenvironment, immunological phenotypes, genomic features, and clinical prognosis. Meanwhile, we identified two DR genes that show potential as prognostic predictors in hepatocellular carcinoma and verified them by immunohistochemical assays in 90 patients.

FINDINGS

We found that DR-related molecular activities showed a close association with tumour immunity and hold potential for predicting immunotherapy responses in various cancers. Importantly, a higher level of DR-related molecular activities is associated with improved overall survival and cancer-specific survival. FZD1 and G6PD are two DR genes that serve as biomarkers for predicting the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

INTERPRETATION

This study presents a robust link between DR-related molecular activities and tumour immunity across multiple cancer types. Our research could open the path for further investigation of DR-related molecular processes in cancer treatment.

FUNDING

National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 82000628) and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao University Joint Laboratory of Interventional Medicine Foundation of Guangdong Province (Grant No. 2023LSYS001).

Remote programming in stage I sacral neuromodulation: a multicentre prospective feasibility study

OBJECTIVE

Sacral neuromodulation (SNM) has emerged as an effective therapy for refractory lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD). Remote programming holds promise in addressing the time and economic burdens associated with outpatient programming, especially for patients in the observation period following Stage I implant surgery (where the lead is implanted first without the pulse generator). The study aimed to explore the effectiveness and patient satisfaction of remote programming for Stage I SNM patients, and analyze the benefits patients gain from remote programming.

METHODS

This prospective study was conducted at multiple high-level clinical SNM centres in China. Patients requiring SNM implantation were enroled and divided into two groups based on patient preference: remote programming (RP) group and outpatient control (OC) group. Patient attitudes toward RP were assessed through questionnaires, and the degree of symptom improvement was compared between the two groups to explore the usability of RP.

RESULTS

A total of 63 participants from 6 centres were included in the study, with 32 belonging to the RP group. The remote programming system presents a high level of usability (98%) and willingness (satisfaction rate: 96.83%) in result of questionnaire. RP showed a significant advantage in improving patients' score of ICSI/ICPI (medianΔICSI/ICPI RP vs. OC= -13.50 vs -2, P =0.015). And slightly ameliorate urinary symptoms such as pain (medianΔVAS RP vs. OC= -1 vs 0, P = 0.164) and urgency (medianΔOBASS -2.5 vs. -1, P = 0.,229), but the difference was not statistically significant. RP did not significantly impact the quality of life of patients ( P =0.113), so do the rate of phase-two conversion ( P = 0.926) or programming parameters.

CONCLUSION

To the best of our knowledge, the presented study is the first multicenter research focusing on the remote programming of Stage I SNM patients. Through the clinical implementation and patient feedback, we demonstrate that remote programming is not inferior to in-person programming in terms of success rate, effectiveness, safety, and patient satisfaction.

Predictive effect of net water uptake on futile recanalisation in patients with acute large-vessel occlusion stroke

AIM

To determine whether net water uptake (NWU) based on automated software evaluation could predict futile recanalisation in patients with acute anterior circulation large-vessel occlusion (LVO).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with acute anterior circulation LVO undergoing mechanical thrombectomy in Jinling Hospital were evaluated retrospectively. NWU and other baseline data were evaluated by performing univariate and multivariate analyses. The primary endpoint was 90-day modified Rankin scale score ≥3. A nomogram to predict poor clinical outcomes was developed based on multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Overall, 135 patients who underwent thrombectomy with a TICI grade ≥2b were enrolled. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, the following factors were identified as independent predictors of futile recanalisation: age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.055, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.004-1.110, p=0.035), female (OR: 0.289, 95 % CI: 0.098-0.850, p=0.024), hypertension (OR: 3.182, 95 % CI: 1.160-8.728, p=0.025), high blood glucose level (OR: 1.36, 95 % CI: 1.087-1.701, p=0.007), admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (OR: 1.082, 95 % CI: 1.003-1.168, p=0.043), and NWU (OR: 1.312, 95 % CI: 1.038-1.659, p=0.023).

CONCLUSIONS

NWU based on Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography (CT) Score (ASPECTS) could be used to predict the occurrence of futile recanalisation in patients with acute anterior circulation LVO ischaemic stroke.

Preliminary analysis of stimulation parameters for sacral neuromodulation in different indications: A multi-center retrospective cohort study from China

BACKGROUND

Sacral neuromodulation (SNM) is an effective approach for treating lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD), and stimulation programming is essential for successful treatment. However, research on SNM programming for various indications is limited. Thus, we aimed to determine whether there were differences in the stimulation parameters for different SNM indications and the appropriate programming recommendations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Clinical data were retrospectively collected from patients with LUTD who underwent SNM and completed internal pulse generator (IPG) implantation. The parameters with the highest patient satisfaction or the most symptom improvement during the test period were considered optimal and used to set the programming after IPG implantation.

RESULTS

After screening, 282 patients were enrolled and categorized into four groups based on the following indications: refractory overactive bladder (OAB) (n=61), neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (nLUTD) (n=162), interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/BPS) (n=24), and idiopathic non-obstructive urinary retention (NOUR) (n=35). When analyzing the optimal stimulus parameters, disparities in the stimulation amplitude and pulse frequency were noted among the four groups. The stimulation amplitude in the nLUTD group was higher than that in the idiopathic NOUR group (P=0.013). Differences in pulse frequency were observed between the refractory OAB and nLUTD groups (P<0.001) and between the refractory OAB and idiopathic NOUR groups (P=0.001). No differences in the electrode configuration or pulse width settings existed among the four groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The stimulation parameters for SNM varied among the different indications. For the initial programming of stage I, most patients are recommended to start with stimulation amplitudes below 2 V, although patients with nLUTD may benefit from higher amplitudes. A standard pulse width of 210 μs is recommended for all patients. However, for individuals experiencing nLUTD or idiopathic NOUR, the pulse frequency can begin above the standard 14 Hz but not exceed 50 Hz.

Diagnostic value of adenohypophyseal MRI features in female children with precocious puberty

AIM

To evaluate the diagnostic value of adenohypophyseal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features for precocious puberty (PP) in female children and also to establish a non-invasive diagnostic approach in clinics.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 126 female children (37, 57, and 32 female children clinically diagnosed with central PP [CPP], incomplete PP [IPP], and controls, respectively) were enrolled in this study. Data were collected and analysed using analysis of variance. Pearson correlation and stepwise multivariate linear regression analysis were used to examine the association and build prediction models. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy.

RESULTS

The values of adenohypophysis volume (aPV), adenohypophysis height (aPH), and signal-intensity ratio (SIR), height, weight, and seven laboratory testing characteristics were correlated closely with the activation status of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad axis in the different groups (all p<0.05). Model 1 including aPV, weight, and aPH and Model 2 including SIR, aPV, and height were built to obtain predicted luteinising hormone (LH; R2 = 0.271) and LH/follicle stimulating hormone (FSH; R2 = 0.311). ROC analysis showed the predicted LH, predicted LH/FSH, and aPV were the top 3 best predictors in distinguishing CPP from controls (AUC = 0.969, 0.949, and 0.938) while predicted LH/FSH was the best predictor in distinguishing CPP from IPP and controls (AUC = 0.829 and 0.828).

CONCLUSION

The adenohypophysis volume itself and the prediction models including main adenohypophyseal MRI features increased diagnostic efficiency for PP and offered a non-invasive and credible diagnostic method.

Efficacy and safety of Tongxin formula after stent implantation for acute coronary syndrome: A multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to comprehensively evaluate both the efficacy and safety profile of integrating the Tongxin formula with optimal medical therapy (OMT) for patients experiencing acute coronary syndromes subsequent to coronary stenting, over the course of one year.

METHODS

We enrolled 150 patients diagnosed with acute coronary syndromes who had received stent placement within one month and exhibited a TCM syndrome characterized by Qi deficiency and blood stasis. This group comprised patients with unstable angina, non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. The participants were divided equally, allocating 75 to the Tongxin formula group and 75 to a placebo-controlled group. After undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) surgery, both groups received conventional Western medical care, including dual antiplatelet therapy and lipid-lowering medications. The placebo-controlled group received a placebo, while the Tongxin formula group were administered Tongxin formula granules orally. Both study cohorts were monitored for a duration of 6 months. The primary endpoints included the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events and the rate of lumen diameter reduction post-treatment in both groups, with the Seattle Angina Scale serving as a secondary assessment tool. Safety evaluations encompassed the measurement of liver and kidney function, coagulation parameters, and other relevant indicators.

RESULTS

The rate of adverse cardiovascular events in the placebo-controlled group was 42.46 % within a year of surgery, whereas it was 16.90 % in the Tongxin formula group (P < 0.05). Comparing the Tongxin formula group to the placebo-controlled group, there was a decrease in the frequency of unstable angina and readmission due to cardiovascular events (P < 0.05). Coronary angiography performed 6 months after surgery revealed that the Tongxin formula group had considerably less lumen loss than the placebo-controlled group in a number of segments, including the entire segment, within the stent, at the proximal end, and at the distal end (P < 0.05). Six months after surgery, the Seattle angina score was higher in the Tongxin formula group than in the placebo-controlled group (P < 0.05). There were no significant changes in indicators such as liver and renal function as well as coagulation indexes in both groups within the first 12 months after surgery (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Tongxin formula has been shown to lower the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events, minimize narrowing of blood vessel lumen, enhance clinical symptoms, and enhance the quality of life of patients following PCI surgery, all while maintaining a good safety profile.

Hydrogen-Deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry Identifies Local and Long-Distance Interactions within the Multicomponent Radical SAM Enzyme, PqqE

Interactions among proteins and peptides are essential for many biological activities including the tailoring of peptide substrates to produce natural products. The first step in the production of the bacterial redox cofactor pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) from its peptide precursor is catalyzed by a radical SAM (rSAM) enzyme, PqqE. We describe the use of hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) to characterize the structure and conformational dynamics in the protein-protein and protein-peptide complexes necessary for PqqE function. HDX-MS-identified hotspots can be discerned in binary and ternary complex structures composed of the peptide PqqA, the peptide-binding chaperone PqqD, and PqqE. Structural conclusions are supported by size-exclusion chromatography coupled to small-angle X-ray scattering (SEC-SAXS). HDX-MS further identifies reciprocal changes upon the binding of substrate peptide and S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to the PqqE/PqqD complex: long-range conformational alterations have been detected upon the formation of a quaternary complex composed of PqqA/PqqD/PqqE and SAM, spanning nearly 40 Å, from the PqqA binding site in PqqD to the PqqE active site Fe4S4. Interactions among the various regions are concluded to arise from both direct contact and distal communication. The described experimental approach can be readily applied to the investigation of protein conformational communication among a large family of peptide-modifying rSAM enzymes.

Emergent Superconductivity and Competing Charge Orders in Hole-Doped Square-Lattice t-J Model

The square-lattice Hubbard and closely related t-J models are considered as basic paradigms for understanding strong correlation effects and unconventional superconductivity (SC). Recent large-scale density matrix renormalization group simulations on the extended t-J model have identified d-wave SC on the electron-doped side (with the next-nearest-neighbor hopping t_{2}>0) but a dominant charge density wave (CDW) order on the hole-doped side (t_{2}<0), which is inconsistent with the SC of hole-doped cuprate compounds. We re-examine the ground-state phase diagram of the extended t-J model by employing the state-of-the-art density matrix renormalization group calculations with much enhanced bond dimensions, allowing more accurate determination of the ground state. On six-leg cylinders, while different CDW phases are identified on the hole-doped side for the doping range δ=1/16-1/8, a SC phase emerges at a lower doping regime, with algebraically decaying pairing correlations and d-wave symmetry. On the wider eight-leg systems, the d-wave SC also emerges on the hole-doped side at the optimal 1/8 doping, demonstrating the winning of SC over CDW by increasing the system width. Our results not only suggest a new path to SC in general t-J model through weakening the competing charge orders, but also provide a unified understanding on the SC of both hole- and electron-doped cuprate superconductors.

Expression and Clinical Significance of MAGE-A Proteins and mRNA in Lung Cancer Patients: A Retrospective Study

Objective

This study investigated the expression and clinical significance of Melanoma Associated Antigen (MAGE)-A proteins and mRNA in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted, and we selected a cohort of 88 NSCLC patients treated at our hospital from January 2015 to January 2020. Adjacent tissues were chosen as controls. The expression of MAGE-A proteins in lung cancer and adjacent tissues was assessed via Western blot, while MAGE-As mRNA expression was measured using RT-PCR.

Results

The relative expression levels of MAGE-A proteins and mRNA in NSCLC tissues were significantly higher than those in adjacent tissues (P < .05), with values of (0.343 ± 0.101) and (0.728 ± 0.112), respectively. Furthermore, MAGE-As protein expression was significantly higher in stage III - IV lung cancer compared to stage I - II (P < .05). No significant differences were observed in MAGE-A protein expression concerning gender, age, tumor diameter, pathological type, and differentiation degree (P > .05). The relative expression of MAGE-As mRNA was significantly higher in clinical stage III - IV and moderately differentiated lung cancer tissues compared to stage I - II and well-differentiated tissues (P < .05). No significant differences were found in MAGE-As mRNA expression concerning gender, age, tumor diameter, and pathological type (P > .05). Patients with high MAGE-As mRNA expression had a significantly shorter median overall survival of 33 months (95% CI: 31.64-34.36) compared to those with low MAGE-As mRNA expression (P < .05). However, no significant difference was observed in median overall survival between patients with high and low MAGE-As protein expression (P > .05).

Conclusions

In NSCLC, the up-regulation of MAGE-A proteins and mRNA is associated with clinical stage and differentiation degree, warranting further investigation.

Health economic analysis and medical cost analysis of children with severe hepatitis B in China: A retrospective study from 2016 to 2022

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis B poses a heavy burden for children in China, however, the national studies on the distributional characteristics and health care costs of children with severe hepatitis B is still lacking. This study aimed to analyze the disease characteristics, health economic effects, and medical cost for children with severe hepatitis B in China.

METHODS

Based on patient information in the Hospital Quality Monitoring System, cases with severe hepatitis B were divided into four groups according to age, and the etiology and symptoms of each group were quantified. The cost of hospitalization was calculated for cases with different disease processes, and severity of disease. The spatial aggregation of cases and the relationship with health economic factors were analyzed by Moran's I  analysis.

RESULTS

The total number of children discharged with hepatitis B from January 2016 to April 2022 was 1603, with an average age of 10.5 years. Liver failure cases accounted for 43.48% (697/1603,) of total cases and cirrhosis cases accounted for 11.23% (180/1603,). According to the grouping of disease progression, there were 1292 cases without associated complications, and the median hospitalization cost was $818.12. According to the spatial analysis, the aggregation of cases was statistically significant at the prefectural and provincial levels in 2019, 2020, and 2021 (all P <0.05). The number of severe cases was negatively correlated with gross domestic product (GDP, Moran's I <0) and percentage of urban population (Moran's I <0), and positively correlated with the number of pediatric beds per million population (Moran's I >0).

CONCLUSION

The number of severe hepatitis B cases is low in areas with high GDP levels and high urban population ratios, and health care costs have been declining over the years.

Clinical characteristics and risk factors of non-mild outcomes in patients with Omicron variant COVID-19 in Shanghai, China

INTRODUCTION

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant rapidly appeared in Shanghai, China in early March 2022. Although a few studies have analyzed the risk factors of the severe type, identifying risk factors for non-mild COVID-19 outcomes (general/severe/critical type) which occur with radiographic evidence of pneumonia is lacking.

METHODOLOGY

The COVID-19 patients admitted to a district-level designated hospital from April 26 to May 21 were enrolled in this retrospective study. The clinical manifestations and laboratory examinations were analyzed. Logistic regression was employed to evaluate risk factors for non-mild outcomes.

RESULTS

Of the 311 patients, 196 (63.0%) were mild and 115 (37.0%) were non-mild. Among them, 215 cases (69.1%) were unvaccinated. Male, ≥ 60 years age, and chronic kidney disease were risk factors of progressing to non-mild. Patients with more than two comorbidities were more likely to become non-mild, whereas two/booster doses vaccinated patients had a lower risk of developing to non-mild. The median negative conversion days (NCDs) were 12 days. Non-mild, > 2 comorbidities, delayed admission (> 3 days), and Paxlovid (Pfizer, Freiburg, Germany) treatment significantly lengthened the NCDs.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results call for special concern for full and booster vaccination of the elderly, which will effectively protect from progression of COVID-19 to non-mild state. In the meantime, symptomatic COVID-19 patients should be treated as soon as possible.

Improvements in the Appearance and Nutritional Quality of Tomato Fruits Resulting from Foliar Spraying with Silicon

Research on silicon (Si), an element considered beneficial for plant growth, has focused on abiotic and biotic stress mitigation. However, the effect of Si on tomato fruit quality under normal growth conditions remains unclear. This study investigated the effects of applying different levels of Si (0 mmol·L-1 [CK], 0.6 mmol·L-1 [T1], 1.2 mmol·L-1 [T2], and 1.8 mmol·L-1 [T3]) in foliar sprays on tomato fruit quality cultivated in substrates, and the most beneficial Si level was found. Compared to CK, exogenous Si treatments had a positive influence on the appearance and nutritional quality of tomato fruits at the mature green, breaker, and red ripening stages. Of these, T2 treatment significantly increased peel firmness and single-fruit weight in tomato fruits. The contents of soluble sugars, soluble solids, soluble proteins, and vitamin C were significantly higher, and the nitrate content was significantly lower in the T2 treatment than in the CK treatment. Cluster analysis showed that T2 produced results that were significantly different from those of the CK, T1, and T3 treatments. During the red ripening stage, the a* values of fruits in the T2 treatment tomato were significantly higher than those in the other three treatments. Moreover, the lycopene and lutein contents of the T2 treatment increased by 12.90% and 17.14%, respectively, compared to CK. T2 treatment significantly upregulated the relative gene expression levels of the phytoene desaturase gene (PDS), the lycopene ε-cyclase gene (LCY-E), and the zeaxanthin cyclooxygenase gene (ZEP) in the carotenoid key genes. The total amino acid content in tomato fruits in the T2 treatment was also significantly higher than that of CK. In summary, foliar spraying of 1.2 mmol·L-1 exogenous Si was effective in improving the appearance and nutritional quality of tomato fruits under normal growth conditions. This study provides new approaches to further elucidate the application of exogenous silicon to improve tomato fruit quality under normal conditions.

Effects of allicin on growth performance, antioxidant profile, and microbiota compared to monensin of growing goats

Allicin is a sulfur-containing compound extracted from raw garlic (Allium sativum L.). We compared the effect of allicin addition on growth performance, serum biochemical parameters, and rumen microbiota of goats compared to monensin. Twenty-four Anhui white goats were assigned randomly to one of three dietary treatments: 1) a basal diet (CON); 2) the basal diet with allicin addition at 750 mg per head per day (AC); 3) the basal diet with monensin addition at 30 mg per kg of diet (MS). Animals were fed for 8 weeks. Results showed the average daily gain, and feed efficiency was increased with allicin and monensin addition. Serum levels of IgG, total superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase were higher in the AC group than those in the CON and MS groups. The microbiota analysis revealed that monensin addition mainly affected genera related to carbohydrate and protein metabolism, and allicin mainly affected genera related to energy metabolism and intestinal health. In conclusion, allicin could improve growth performance and have advantages over monensin in improving the antioxidant capacity and immune function of goats. Allicin may be a potential alternative to monensin.

Roseomonas populi sp. nov., an acetate-degrading bacteria isolated from the stem of Populus tomentosa

Strain CN29T, isolated from the stem of 5- to 6-year-old Populus tomentosa in Shandong, China, was characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Cells of CN29T were Gram-stain negative, aerobic, nonspore-forming, and nonmotile coccoid. Growth occurred at 20-37 °C, pH 4.0-9.0 (optimum, pH 6.0), and with 0-1% NaCl (optimum, 1%). Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain CN29T was closely related to members of the genus Roseomonas and closest to Roseomonas pecuniae N75T (96.6%). This classification was further supported by phylogenetic analysis using additional core genes. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA‒DNA hybridization values between strain CN29T and Roseomonas populi CN29T were 82.7% and 27.8%, respectively. The genome size of strain CN29T was 5.87 Mb, with a G + C content of 70.9%. The major cellular fatty acids included summed feature 8 (C18:1 ω7c/C18:1 ω6c), C19:0 cyclo ω8c and C16:0. The major respiratory quinone was Q-10. The polar lipids were phosphatidylcholine, aminolipid, phosphatidylglycerol, and diphosphatidylglycerol. Strain CN29T can utilize acetate as a carbon source for growth and metabolism. Additionally, it contains acid phosphatase (2-naphthyl phosphate), which catalyzes the hydrolysis of phosphoric monoesters. The CN29T strain contains several genes, including maeB, gdhB, and cysJ, involved in carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycling. These findings suggest that the strain may actively participate in ecosystem cycling, leading to soil improvement and promoting the growth of poplar trees. Based on the phylogenetic, phenotypic, and genotypic characteristics, strain CN29T is concluded to represent a novel species of the genus Roseomonas, for which the name Roseomonas populi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CN29T (= JCM 35579T = GDMCC 1.3267T).

Nocturnal Bladder Function and Sleep in the Children with Refractory Nocturnal Enuresis: A Prospective Study

OBJECTIVE

To prospectively investigate the nocturnal bladder function and sleep in children with refractory primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (RPMNE).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifty-three children diagnosed with RPMNE and 30 controls who had upper urinary tract abnormality but without any voiding problems were included in the study. RPMNE patients underwent a standardized investigation protocol, including the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire, a 7-day bladder diary, and the simultaneous ambulatory urodynamic monitoring and polysomnography (PSG); controls were evaluated using the PSQI questionnaire and PSG.

RESULTS

The children with RPMNE were subdivided into the nocturnal detrusor overactivity (NDO) case group and the non-NDO case group. The children in the NDO case group had a higher percentage of total sleep time in light sleep and a lower percentage in the N3 sleep stage than those in the non-NDO case group and control group (P <.05). The cortical arousal index and PSQI scores of both RPMNE subgroups were higher compared to the control group (P <.05). The incidences of reduced nocturnal bladder capacity (NBC) in the NDO case group were higher than in the non-NDO case group (P <.05). The frequency of involuntary detrusor contractions during sleep was positively correlated with cortical arousal index in the NDO case group (r = 0.811, P <.0001).

CONCLUSION

In addition to the reduced NBC, the RPMNE is related to abnormal NDO, increased light sleep period, and cortical arousal dysfunction. Moreover, there is a certain correlation between the abnormal degrees of NDO and cortical arousal dysfunction.

Multidimensional dynamic prediction model for hospitalized patients with the omicron variant in China

Purpose

To establish dynamic prediction models by machine learning using daily multidimensional data for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.

Methods

Hospitalized COVID-19 patients at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from Nov 2nd, 2022, to Jan 13th, 2023, were enrolled in this study. The outcome was defined as deterioration or recovery of the patient's condition. Demographics, comorbidities, laboratory test results, vital signs, and treatments were used to train the model. To predict the following days, a separate XGBoost model was trained and validated. The Shapley additive explanations method was used to analyze feature importance.

Results

A total of 995 patients were enrolled, generating 7228 and 3170 observations for each prediction model. In the deterioration prediction model, the minimum area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) for the following 7 days was 0.786 (95% CI 0.721-0.851), while the AUROC on the next day was 0.872 (0.831-0.913). In the recovery prediction model, the minimum AUROC for the following 3 days was 0.675 (0.583-0.767), while the AUROC on the next day was 0.823 (0.770-0.876). The top 5 features for deterioration prediction on the 7th day were disease course, length of hospital stay, hypertension, and diastolic blood pressure. Those for recovery prediction on the 3rd day were age, D-dimer levels, disease course, creatinine levels and corticosteroid therapy.

Conclusion

The models could accurately predict the dynamics of Omicron patients' conditions using daily multidimensional variables, revealing important features including comorbidities (e.g., hyperlipidemia), age, disease course, vital signs, D-dimer levels, corticosteroid therapy and oxygen therapy.