Patterned graphene: An effective platform for adsorption, immobilization, and destruction of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro

To address the ongoing challenges posed by the SARS-CoV-2 and potentially stronger viruses in the future, the development of effective methods to fabricate patterned graphene (PG) and other precisely functional products has become a new research frontier. Herein, we modeled the "checkerboard" graphene (CG) and stripped graphene (SG) as representatives of PG, and studied their interaction mechanism with the target protein (Mpro) by molecular dynamics simulation. The calculation results on the binding strength and the root mean square deviation values of the active pocket revealed that PG is an effective platform for adsorption, immobilization, and destruction of Mpro. Specifically, CG is found to promote disruption of the active pocket for Mpro, but the presence of "checkerboard" oxidized regions inhibits the adsorption of Mpro. Meanwhile, the SG can effectively confine Mpro within the non-oxidized strips and enhances their binding strength, but doesn't play well on disrupting the active pocket. Our work not only elucidates the biological effects of PGs, but also provides guidance for their targeted and precise utilization in combating the SARS-CoV-2.

Association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D with cardiovascular mortality and kidney outcome in patients with early stages of CKD

PURPOSE

While serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) deficiency is prevalent in chronic kidney disease (CKD), the effects of 25(OH)D deficiency on cardiovascular mortality and kidney outcomes in patients with early-stage CKD remain incompletely understood.

METHODS

This multicenter retrospective cohort study included adult patients with stages 1-3 CKD from 19 medical centers across China between January 2000 and May 2021. The primary outcome was cardiovascular mortality. The secondary study outcome included CKD progression (defined as a sustained > 40% eGFR decrease from baseline or progress to end-stage kidney disease), and annual percentage change of eGFR.

RESULTS

Of 9229 adults with stages 1-3 CKD, 27.0% and 38.9% had severe (< 10 ng/mL) and moderate (10 to < 20 ng/mL) serum 25(OH)D deficiency, respectively. Compared with patients having 25(OH)D ≥ 20 ng/mL, a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.90, 95% CI 1.37-2.63), CKD progression (HR 2.20, 95% CI 1.68-2.88), and a steeper annual decline in eGFR (estimate - 7.87%; 95% CI - 10.24% to - 5.51% per year) was found in those with serum 25(OH)D < 10 ng/mL. Similar results were obtained in subgroups and by sensitivity analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

25(OH)D deficiency is associated with increased risks of cardiovascular mortality and CKD progression in patients with early-stage CKD. Studies are needed to determine whether early intervention for 25(OH)D deficiency could improve the prognosis of patients with early-stage CKD.

Atomic Manipulation to Create High-Valent Fe4+ for Efficient and Ultrastable Oxygen Evolution at Industrial-Level Current Density

Manipulating the electronic structure of a catalyst at the atomic level is an effective but challenging way to improve the catalytic performance. Here, by stretching the Fe-O bond in FeOOH with an inserted Mo atom, a Fe-O-Mo unit can be created, which will induce the formation of high-valent Fe4+ during the alkaline oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The highly active Fe4+ state has been clearly revealed by in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy, which can both enhance the oxidation capability and lead to an efficient and stable adsorbate evolution mechanism (AEM) pathway for the OER. As a result, the obtained Fe-Mo-Ni3S2 catalyst exhibits both superior OER activity and outstanding stability, which can achieve an industrial-level current density of 1 A cm-2 at a low overpotential of 259 mV (at 60 °C) and can stably work at the large current for more than 2000 h. Moreover, by coupling with commercial Pt/C, the Fe-Mo-Ni3S2∥Pt/C system can be used in the anion exchange membrane cell to acquire 1 A cm-2 for overall water splitting at 1.68 V (2.03 V for 4 A cm-2), outperforming the benchmark RuO2∥Pt/C system. The efficient, low-cost, and ultrastable OER catalyst enabled by manipulating the atomic structure may provide potential opportunities for future practical water splitting.

Features and efficacy of triple-targeted therapy for patients with EGFR-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer with acquired BRAF alterations who are resistant to epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors

BACKGROUND

The recommended first-line treatment for advanced epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients is EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs). BRAF alterations have been identified as resistance mechanisms. We aimed to identify features of and subsequent treatment strategies for such patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted a systematic literature review of NSCLC patients harboring acquired BRAF alterations. Additionally, BRAF-altered NSCLC patients who progressed from EGFR-TKIs at West China Hospital of Sichuan University were screened. Patient characteristics, treatment options, and outcomes were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 104 patients were included, 2 of whom came from our center. Seventy-five patients (72.1%) harbored BRAF mutations (57 class I mutations, 7 class II mutations, 9 class III mutations, and 2 non-class I-III mutations), and 29 (27.9%) harbored BRAF fusions. Eighteen patients received triple-targeted therapy, including prior EGFR-TKIs plus dabrafenib and trametinib, and 23 patients received other treatments. The median progression-free survival was significantly longer in patients receiving triple-targeted therapy than in those receiving other treatments (8.0 versus 2.5 months, P < 0.001). Similar findings were observed in patients with BRAF mutations (9.0 versus 2.8 months, P = 0.004), particularly in those with BRAF class I mutations (9.0 versus 2.5 months, P < 0.001). A potential benefit was also observed among patients with BRAF fusions (5.0 versus 2.0 months, P = 0.230). Twenty patients (48.8%) experienced adverse events. Dose reduction of RAF or MEK inhibitor was required in five patients (12.2%). Five patients (12.2%) permanently discontinued treatment (three on triple-targeted therapy; one on prior EGFR-TKI plus vemurafenib; one on prior EGFR-TKI plus trametinib).

CONCLUSIONS

BRAF alterations, specifically BRAF mutations and BRAF fusions, facilitate resistance to EGFR-TKIs. Triple-targeted therapy is effective and safe for patients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC with acquired BRAF alterations, mainly among patients with BRAF class I mutations and potentially in patients with BRAF fusions.

[Analysis of the accuracy between orthopedic robot-assisted and traditional manual pedicle screw placement techniques in adult degenerative scoliosis posterior surgery]

Objective: To comparing the accuracy of pedicle screw placement in posterior surgery for adult degenerative scoliosis (ADS) between robotic-assisted and traditional freehand techniques. Methods: This retrospective study included 92 patients with ADS who underwent posterior spinal surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (Jiangsu Province Hospital) between March 2019 and December 2023. There were 19 males and 73 females with a mean age of (63.6±9.8) years. The patients were divided into two groups based on the technique used for pedicle screw placement: robot-assisted group (34 cases) and manual group (58 cases). Operative duration, intraoperative blood loss, facet joint violation, postoperative complications, magnitude of curve correction, visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores preoperatively, 1 week postoperatively, and 1 month postoperatively were compared and analyzed between the two groups. The Gertzbein-Robbins classification criteria was used to assess the accuracy of screw placement. Results: Differences in baseline data, operative duration, intraoperative blood loss, magnitude of curve correction, and VAS and ODI scores preoperatively, 1 week postoperatively, and 1 month postoperatively between the two groups exhibited no statistically significant differences (all P>0.05). The accuracy of pedicle screw placement in the robot-assisted group was significantly higher than that in the manual group [90.9% (416/458) vs 80.1% (697/870), P<0.001]. In terms of surgical segments, in T1-T12 and L1-S1 segments, the accuracy of pedicle screw placement in the robot group were both significantly higher than those in the control group [91.5% (130/142) vs 77.8% (186/239), P=0.001; 90.3% (271/300) vs 80.8% (502/621), P<0.001]. However, no significant differences was observed in the accuracy of S2-alar-iliac (S2AI) screw placement between the two groups [90.0%(9/10) vs 93.8%(15/16), P=0.727]. Moreover, no significant differences was found in the deviation direction of the cortical screw penetration between both groups (P=0.133). Significant differences were observed in the accuracy of screw placement between the Nash Moe 2 and 3 vertebral bodies in the robot group compared with those in the control group [88.9% (88/99) vs 71.0% (115/162), P=0.001; 89.2% (83/93) vs 60.2% (68/113), P<0.001]. Additionally, the incidence and grade of facet joint violation in the manual group were both significantly higher than those in the robot-assisted group (both P<0.001). No statistically significant differences was identified in postoperative complications between the two groups (P=0.841). Conclusion: It suggests that robot-assisted pedicle screw placement in posterior surgery for patients with ADS can significantly improve the accuracy of screw placement and reduce the incidence of facet joint violation.

IL-17A disrupts the nasal mucosal epithelial barrier in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis by activating the ERK/STAT3 pathway

BACKGROUND

The mucosal epithelial barrier, the first line of immune defense, is vulnerable to allergens, pathogens, and inflammatory cytokines, contributing to CRS development. Our previous studies found high interleukin-17A(IL-17A) expression correlated with CRS severity and low glucocorticoid efficacy. The role of IL-17A in disrupting the nasal mucosal epithelial barrier leading to CRS remains unclear. We aimed to investigate how IL-17A promoting epithelial barrier damage and identify new treatment targets for CRS.

METHODOLOGY

Nasal tissue samples from 36 CRSwNP, 34 CRSsNP, and 39 controls were examined for the expression of IL-17A and tight junction (TJ) proteins using qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. The integrity of TJs and signaling pathways activation were observed using western blot, immunofluorescence, TEER and FITC-FD4, transmission electron microscopy before and after IL-17A stimulation in human primary nasal epithelial cells (hNECs). Concurrently, studies were also conducted in an CRS mouse model induced by anti-IL-17A neutralizing antibody administration.

RESULTS

TJs expression in the nasal mucosa of CRS patients was lower than in controls. IL-17A stimulation reduced TJs expression and TEER while increasing hNECs permeability. Inhibition of the (ERK/STAT3) pathway reversed the downregulation of TJs and the disruption of the epithelial barrier induced by IL-17A stimulation. In the CRS mouse model, anti-IL-17A antibody treatment rescued the nasal mucosal epithelial barrier.

CONCLUSIONS

IL-17A disrupts the nasal mucosal epithelial barrier by activating the ERK/STAT3 pathway in patients with CRS.

[Short-term results of a multicenter study based on a modified N7 induction regimen combined with arsenic trioxide in the treatment of children with high-risk neuroblastoma]

Objective: To analyze the short-term clinical efficacy and safety of arsenic trioxide (ATO) combined with a modified N7 induction regimen in the treatment of children with high-risk neuroblastoma (NB). Methods: This study was a prospective, single-arm, multicenter phase Ⅱ clinical study. Sixty-seven high-risk NB children from eight units of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Wuhan Children's Hospital of Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Hainan General Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Kunming Children's Hospital, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, and Guangdong Provincial Agricultural Reclamation Center Hospital were enrolled from January 2019 to August 2023 and were treated with ATO combined with a modified N7 induction regimen. The efficacy and adverse effects at the end of induction chemotherapy were assessed and analyzed, and the differences in the clinical characteristics were further compared between the treatment-responsive and treatment-unresponsive groups by using the Fisher's exact test. Results: Among 67 high-risk NB children, there were 40 males (60%) and 27 females (40%), with the age of disease onset of 3.5 (2.6, 4.8) years. Primary NB sites were mostly in retroperitoneum (including adrenal gland) (56/67, 84%) and the common metastases sites at initial diagnosis were distant lymph node in 25 cases (37%),bone in 48 cases (72%),bone marrow in 56 cases (84%) and intracalvarium in 3 cases (4%). MYCN gene amplification were detected in 28 cases (42%). At the end of induction, 33 cases (49%) achieved complete remission, 29 cases (43%) achieved partial remission, 1 case (1%) with stable disease, and 4 cases (6%) were assessed as progressive disease (PD). The objective remission rate was 93% (62/67) and the disease control rate was 94% (63/67). The percentage of central system metastases at the initial diagnosis was higher in the treatment-unresponsive group than in the treatment-responsive group (2/5 vs. 2% (1/62), P=0.013), whereas the difference in MYCN gene amplification was not statistically significant between two groups (3/5 vs.40% (25/62), P=0.786). Grade Ⅲ or higher adverse reactions during the induction chemotherapy period were myelosuppression occurred in 60 cases (90%), gastrointestinal symptoms occurred in 33 cases (49%), infections occurred in 20 cases (30%), hepatotoxicity occurred in 4 cases (6%), and cardiovascular toxicity occurred in 1 case (2%). There were no chemotherapy-related deaths. Conclusion: ATO combined with N7-modified induction regimen had a superiority in efficacy and safety, which deserved further promotion in clinical practice.

Isolated non-immune-mediated second-degree atrioventricular block in the fetus: natural history and predictive factors for spontaneous recovery

OBJECTIVES

To determine the clinical course of fetal isolated non-immune-mediated second-degree atrioventricular block (AVB) and the factors associated with spontaneous recovery in these cases.

METHODS

Fetuses with isolated non-immune-mediated second-degree AVB were recruited prospectively between 2014 and 2022. These fetuses were divided into two groups: those which recovered spontaneously and those which did not. Maternal and fetal characteristics and intrauterine and postnatal outcomes were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

The study cohort included 20 fetuses with isolated non-immune-mediated second-degree AVB, diagnosed at a median gestational age of 22.0 (range, 17.0-35.0) weeks. In 12 fetuses, 1:1 atrioventricular conduction was restored spontaneously in utero and there was no recurrence during the postnatal follow-up period. In the remaining eight fetuses, second-degree AVB was maintained and, in six of these, the pregnancy was terminated on parental request. Of the two liveborn children who had persistent second-degree AVB prenatally, one had progressed to complete AVB at the latest follow-up, at the age of 34 months, but was asymptomatic, without heart enlargement or dysfunction. The other child progressed to complete AVB after delivery and was diagnosed with type-2 long QT syndrome. This infant died aged 2 months. Fetuses in the group that recovered spontaneously had earlier gestational age at diagnosis (median, 20.0 (range, 17.0-26.0) vs 24.5 (range, 18.0-35.0) weeks; P = 0.004) and higher atrial rate at diagnosis (median, 147 (range, 130-160) vs 138 (range, 125-149) bpm; P = 0.006) in comparison with the group that did not recover spontaneously. The best cut-off values for prediction of failure to recover spontaneously were 22.5 weeks' gestational age at diagnosis and 144 bpm atrial rate at diagnosis, with sensitivities of 87.5% and 75.0%, respectively, and specificities of 92.0% and 87.5%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The outcome of 60% of fetuses with isolated non-immune-mediated second-degree AVB was favorable. Earlier gestational age and higher atrial rate at diagnosis were associated with spontaneous reversion to normal sinus rhythm. Prenatal genetic testing should be performed in cases with persistent AVB, to exclude heritable disorders including long QT syndrome. These findings provide important information for clinical management and prenatal counseling in these cases. © 2024 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

[Gastrointestinal involvement in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome: A case series and systematic review]

Objective: To explore the clinical and genetic characteristics of patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) and gastrointestinal involvement. Methods: We retrospectively collected the clinical data of patients with EDS and gastrointestinal involvement from the electronic medical records at Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) from January 2003 to September 2023. Additionally, we conducted a systematic review by searching cases with EDS and gastrointestinal involvement in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library databases from January 2000 to September 2023. Results: Ninety-four patients with EDS and gastrointestinal involvement were retrieved, including five patients from PUMCH and 89 patients from 80 published articles. The average age of patients was (29±14) years. The most common manifestation of gastrointestinal involvement was gastrointestinal perforation (n=46, 48.9%), followed by functional gastrointestinal symptoms (n=33, 35.1%), and digestive arterial disorders (n=10, 10.6%). The most common clinical subtype was vascular-EDS (vEDS) (n=50, 53.2%) followed by hypermobile-EDS (hEDS) (n=20, 21.3%). The most frequent genetic mutation occurred in the COL3A1 gene (n=30, 31.9%). Among patients with vEDS, gastrointestinal manifestations included gastrointestinal perforation (n=33, 66.0%), arterial lesions (n=9, 18.0%), and functional gastrointestinal symptoms (n=7, 14.0%). Among patients with hEDS, gastrointestinal manifestations included functional gastrointestinal symptoms (n=18, 90.0%), visceral prolapse (n=3, 15.0%) and intestinal volvulus (n=1, 5.0%). Conclusions: The most common subtypes of gastrointestinal involvement in EDS were vEDS and hEDS. Patients with hEDS mainly presented with functional gastrointestinal symptoms, whereas those with vEDS primarily showed gastrointestinal perforation and digestive arterial disorders.

Exploring the use of ChatGPT/GPT-4 for patient follow-up after oral surgeries

Since 2023, ChatGPT has been leading a research boom in large language models. Research on the applications of large language models in various fields is also being explored. The aim of this study was to explore the use of ChatGPT/GPT-4 for post-surgery patient follow-up after oral surgery. Thirty questions that are the most commonly asked or may be encountered during follow-up and in daily practice were collected to test ChatGPT/GPT-4's responses. A standard prompt was used for each question. The responses given by ChatGPT/GPT-4 were evaluated by three experienced oral and maxillofacial surgeons to assess the suitability of this technology for clinical follow-up, based on the accuracy of medical knowledge and rationality of the advice in ChatGPT/GPT-4's responses. ChatGPT/GPT-4 achieved full marks in terms of both the accuracy of its medical knowledge and the rationality of its recommendations. Additionally, ChatGPT/GPT-4 was able to accurately sense patient emotions and provide them with reassurance. In conclusion, ChatGPT/GPT-4 could be used for patient follow-up after oral surgeries, but this should be done with careful consideration of the technology's current limitations and under the guidance of healthcare professionals.

A metastable pentagonal 2D material synthesized by symmetry-driven epitaxy

Most two-dimensional (2D) materials experimentally studied so far have hexagons as their building blocks. Only a few exceptions, such as PdSe2, are lower in energy in pentagonal phases and exhibit pentagons as building blocks. Although theory has predicted a large number of pentagonal 2D materials, many of these are metastable and their experimental realization is difficult. Here we report the successful synthesis of a metastable pentagonal 2D material, monolayer pentagonal PdTe2, by symmetry-driven epitaxy. Scanning tunnelling microscopy and complementary spectroscopy measurements are used to characterize this material, which demonstrates well-ordered low-symmetry atomic arrangements and is stabilized by lattice matching with the underlying Pd(100) substrate. Theoretical calculations, along with angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, reveal monolayer pentagonal PdTe2 to be a semiconductor with an indirect bandgap of 1.05 eV. Our work opens an avenue for the synthesis of pentagon-based 2D materials and gives opportunities to explore their applications such as multifunctional nanoelectronics.

Age-related T1 mapping, fat fraction, diffusion and perfusion parameters of the lumbar vertebrae in healthy children under 3.0 T MRI

AIM

Compare the T1 mapping, fat fraction, diffusion and perfusion parameters of the lumbar vertebrae of different age groups to establish normal values for healthy children and observe the trends in these parameters with age.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 146 healthy children (0-14 years) were included in this prospective study and underwent 3.0 T lumbar MRI examination. The study cohort was divided into five age groups (Group A ∼ E) according to development milestones in children. T1 mapping, Dixon and IVIM (intravoxel incoherent motion)sequence images were used to measure the parameters of lumbar vertebrae 2-4.

RESULTS

The normal values of each parameter were measured and compared across different age groups. The T1 value was negatively correlated with age (r=-0.619, p<0.001). The fat fraction (FF%) was positively correlated with age (r=0.635, p<0.001). There was a negative correlation between the D value and age (r=-0.406, p<0.001). The D∗ value was positively correlated with age (r=0.54, p<0.001). The f value was positively correlated with age (r=0.775, p<0.001). The inflexion points of the T1 value and FF% curves were at approximately 3 years old (36 months).The inflexion points of the IVIM-related parameter curves were approximately 5 years old (60 months).

CONCLUSION

The age-dependent differences in the vertebral body parameters of this pediatric cohort suggest changes in the bone marrow composition and cellular structure of the vertebral body during physiological growth in children. The establishment of normal values of children's lumbar spine can facilitate the clinical study of diseases.

Observation of New Charmonium or Charmoniumlike States in B^{+}→D^{*±}D^{∓}K^{+} Decays

A study of resonant structures in B^{+}→D^{*+}D^{-}K^{+} and B^{+}→D^{*-}D^{+}K^{+} decays is performed, using proton-proton collision data at center-of-mass energies of sqrt[s]=7, 8, and 13 TeV recorded by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9  fb^{-1}. A simultaneous amplitude fit is performed to the two channels with contributions from resonances decaying to D^{*-}D^{+} and D^{*+}D^{-} states linked by C parity. This procedure allows the C parities of resonances in the D^{*±}D^{∓} mass spectra to be determined. Four charmonium or charmoniumlike states are observed decaying into D^{*±}D^{∓}: η_{c}(3945), h_{c}(4000), χ_{c1}(4010), and h_{c}(4300), with quantum numbers J^{PC} equal to 0^{-+}, 1^{+-}, 1^{++}, and 1^{+-}, respectively. At least three of these states have not been observed previously. In addition, the existence of the T_{c[over ¯]s[over ¯]0}^{*}(2870)^{0} and T_{c[over ¯]s[over ¯]1}^{*}(2900)^{0} resonances in the D^{-}K^{+} mass spectrum, already observed in the B^{+}→D^{+}D^{-}K^{+} decay, is confirmed in a different production channel.

Evaluating GreenFeed and respiration chambers for daily and intraday measurements of enteric gaseous exchange in dairy cows housed in tie-stalls

The objective of this study was to evaluate the GreenFeed (GF) and respiration chambers (RC) for daily and intraday measurements of the enteric gaseous exchange, as well as the metabolic heat production, lying behavior, and feed intake (FI) rate of dairy cows at these 2 respective housing conditions [tie-stall barn (TS) vs. RC] during the summer periods. Sixteen multiparous lactating dairy cows were recruited and arranged in a randomized complete block design with a baseline period established for each cow. Cows were given a basal diet (CON) for a baseline period of 7 d and were then fed a 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP)-containing feed for the subsequent 26 d as experimental period. During both the baseline and the last 7 d of treatment period, gaseous exchanges of each animal were measured in the TS using GF for 8 6-hourly staggered measurements over 3 d, immediately followed by the measurement in RC for 2 d. Corresponding DMI, milk yield, and behavior parameters (e.g., lying behavior and FI rate) in TS and RC were recorded. The correlation coefficients of CH4 and H2 using raw data were 0.84 and 0.85, respectively. For all gases, correlation coefficients between GF and RC on individual cow level decreased when the marginal fixed effects (e.g., inhibitor and breed) were corrected by a mixed model. There were no differences in daily CH4 production or intensity between GF and RC (442 vs. 443 g CH4/d or 16.6 vs. 16.2 g CH4 /kg MY). However, greater CH4 yield was measured by GF than RC (19.0 vs. 17.8 g CH4/kg DMI), driven by a lower DMI (23.3 vs. 24.6 kg/d) when cows were housed in TS sampled by GF compared with cows being housed and sampled in RC. The correlations for CO2 production and O2 consumption were moderate and expected due to the variation associated with the mild heat stress condition during GF measurements in the TS (Thermal humidity index (THI) 56 vs. 68), as indicated by the reduced lying time (-2.1 h/d). At the intraday level, there was an interaction between techniques and hour-of-day for CH4 production, as indicated by the discrepancies in post-prandial CH4 emissions between techniques. In summary, this set of results showed that there were strong positive correlations for CH4 and H2 emissions between GF and RC based on individual cow data. However, such relationship should be interpreted with caution, given the data clustering resulting from the use of inhibitor 3-NOP. On treatment level, these 2 techniques detected similar inhibitor effect on the estimated daily CH4 emissions. The intraday patterns of CH4 and H2 production captured by GF provided a close approximation for those measured by RC. Nevertheless, potential underestimation may occur, especially following fresh feed delivery. For measuring CO2 production and O2 consumption, the GF captured similar intraday variations to those in the RC. However, the estimated daily production and consumption were not directly comparable, which was expected due to the variable thermal conditions during the summer. Further evaluations under the same weather conditions are warranted.

[Determination of 22 elements in whole blood by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry]

Objective: To establish a method for the simultaneous determination of 22 elements, including beryllium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, calcium, magnesium, barium, cobalt, cadmium, copper, zinc, arsenic, selenium, titanium, strontium, nickel, molybdenum, tin, antimony, thallium and lead, in whole blood by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) . Methods: In September 2023, the analysis conditions were determined by optimizing the detection mode of the instrument, the pretreatment mode and the dilution factor of the samples, etc. Whole blood samples were diluted with a mixture of 0.1% nitric acid and 0.05% triton X-100, and centrifuged at 2000 r/min by high-speed centrifuge for 2 min. The supernatant was taken into inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer to determine the content of 22 elements, and the detection limit and precision of the method were analyzed. Results: The 22 elements had a good linear relationship in their respective measurement ranges (r=0.9991-0.9999), the detection limit ranged from 0.003 μg/L to 0.012 mg/L. The intra-batch precision ranged from 0.5% to 7.2%, the inter-batch precision ranged from 0.4% to 9.4%, and the average recoveries ranged from 80.6% to 114.9%. Conclusion: ICP-MS method has a good effect on the determination of 22 elements in whole blood. The method is fast and simple, and can be used for clinical detection of multiple elements in whole blood.

[A nomogram prediction model for individualized prediction of the risk of covert (minimal) hepatic encephalopathy occurrence in patients with liver cirrhosis]

Objective: To construct an individualized nomogram prediction model for predicting the risk of the occurrence of covert hepatic encephalopathy (CHE) in patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods: 325 cases of liver cirrhosis admitted from January 2020 to December 2022 were selected as the study subjects. Patients were divided into training (n=213) and validation (n=112) sets using a cluster randomization method. The risk factors for CHE occurrence in patients with cirrhosis in the training set were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression. A prediction model related to the nomogram was established. Results: Independent risk factors for the occurrence of CHE in patients with cirrhosis were a history of hepatic encephalopathy, co-infection, gastrointestinal bleeding, severe ascites, prothrombin time ≥16 seconds, high total bilirubin, and high blood ammonia levels (P<0.05). Nomogram model validation results: The model had a net benefit for the training and validation sets, with C-indices of 0.830 (95%CI: 0.802-0.858) and 0.807 (95%CI: 0.877-0.837), respectively, within the range of 0-96%. The calibration curves of both sets were evenly close to the ideal curves. The AUCs for the ROC curves in both sets were 0.827 (95%CI: 0.796-0.858) and 0.811 (95%CI: 0.787-0.836), respectively. Conclusion: Patients with cirrhosis have many risk factors for CHE occurrence. The nomogram model constructed based on these risk factors possesses a good predictive value for assessing CHE occurrence in cirrhotic patients.

Perfluoroalkyl-modified covalent organic frameworks for continuous photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide synthesis and extraction in a biphasic fluid system

H2O2 photosynthesis represents an appealing approach for sustainable and decentralized H2O2 production. Unfortunately, current reactions are mostly carried out in laboratory-scale single-phase batch reactors, which have a limited H2O2 production rate (<100 μmol h-1) and cannot operate in an uninterrupted manner. Herein, we propose continuous H2O2 photosynthesis and extraction in a biphasic fluid system. A superhydrophobic covalent organic framework photocatalyst with perfluoroalkyl functionalization is rationally designed and prepared via the Schiff-base reaction. When applied in a home-built biphasic fluid photo-reactor, the superhydrophobicity of our photocatalyst allows its selective dispersion in the oil phase, while formed H2O2 is spontaneously extracted to the water phase. Through optimizing reaction parameters, we achieve continuous H2O2 photosynthesis and extraction with an unprecedented production rate of up to 968 μmol h-1 and tunable H2O2 concentrations from 2.2 to 38.1 mM. As-obtained H2O2 solution could satisfactorily meet the general demands of household disinfection and wastewater treatments.

Disordered gut microbiota in postmenopausal stage amplifies intestinal tight junction damage to accelerate atherosclerosis

The causes and characteristics of gut microbiota abnormalities and whether microbiota manipulation can prevent atherosclerosis in the postmenopausal stage remain to be determined. Aortic oestrogen receptor expression, histological changes and gut microbiota in women before and after menopause were detected. Serum oestrogen levels, systemic inflammation, intestinal oestrogen receptor expression and histological changes, atherosclerosis, and gut microbiota in low density lipoprotein deletion (LDLR-∕-) female mice before and after ovariectomy were tested. This study examined aortic oestrogen receptor expression, histological changes, and gut microbiota in women before and after menopause, and tested serum oestrogen levels, systemic inflammation, intestinal oestrogen receptor expression, histological changes, atherosclerosis, and gut microbiota in low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout (LDLR-∕-) female mice before and after ovariectomy. We demonstrated that the downregulation of oestrogen and oestrogen receptors after menopause promotes gut microbiota disturbance in both women and female mice. We found that gut microbiota disturbance amplifies the intestinal barrier damage and aggravates systemic inflammation, thereby promoting atherosclerosis in female mice. Faecal microbiota transplantation and antibiotics inhibit the proinflammatory properties of gut microbiota and prevent atherosclerosis by reducing intestinal barrier damage in postmenopausal mice. Together, our study highlights the causes of gut microbiota disturbances and the role of microbiota manipulation in preventing atherosclerosis in postmenopausal stage.

Search for Rare b→dℓ^{+}ℓ^{-} Transitions at Belle

We present the results of a search for the b→dℓ^{+}ℓ^{-} flavor-changing neutral-current rare decays B^{+,0}→(η,ω,π^{+,0},ρ^{+,0})e^{+}e^{-} and B^{+,0}→(η,ω,π^{0},ρ^{+})μ^{+}μ^{-} using a 711  fb^{-1} data sample that contains 772×10^{6}  BB[over ¯] events. The data were collected at the ϒ(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e^{+}e^{-} collider. We find no evidence for signal and set upper limits on branching fractions at the 90% confidence level in the range (3.8-47)×10^{-8} depending on the decay channel. The obtained limits are the world's best results. This is the first search for the channels B^{+,0}→(ω,ρ^{+,0})e^{+}e^{-} and B^{+,0}→(ω,ρ^{+})μ^{+}μ^{-}.

Search for Time-Dependent CP Violation in D^{0}→π^{+}π^{-}π^{0} Decays

A measurement of time-dependent CP violation in D^{0}→π^{+}π^{-}π^{0} decays using a pp collision data sample collected by the LHCb experiment in 2012 and from 2015 to 2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 7.7  fb^{-1}, is presented. The initial flavor of each D^{0} candidate is determined from the charge of the pion produced in the D^{*}(2010)^{+}→D^{0}π^{+} decay. The decay D^{0}→K^{-}π^{+}π^{0} is used as a control channel to validate the measurement procedure. The gradient of the time-dependent CP asymmetry ΔY in D^{0}→π^{+}π^{-}π^{0} decays is measured to be ΔY=(-1.3±6.3±2.4)×10^{-4}, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic, which is compatible with CP conservation.

[Establishing reference ranges of serum vitamin K in healthy children]

Objective: To establish and validate reference intervals of serum vitamin K for healthy children in China. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2020 to May 2023, involving 807 healthy children aged 0 to 14 years, selected by stratified random sampling based on the population distribution of children in eastern, central, western, and northeastern China. Sample collection was carried out in 16 hospitals across 12 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities. Basic information of the children was collected using a standardized self-design questionnaire. Serum levels of vitamin K1 and vitamin K2 (menaquinone-4 (MK-4), menaquinone-7 (MK-7)) were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The reference intervals was established by direct approach. The children were divided into different groups by age. Inter-group comparisons were conducted using the Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric test, and the reference intervals (P2.5-P97.5) were determined using non-parametric methods. Screening 40 healthy children for small sample validation based on age groups within the reference range(25 from eastern, 10 from central, and 5 from western regions). Results: The age of the 807 children was 5.00 (2.00, 9.81) years, and 495 (61.3%) were males and 312 (38.7%) females. Reference intervals were established for 795 children, of whom 303 children were aged 1 month to 3 years and 492 were aged 4 to 14 years. The reference intervals for serum vitamin K1 were 0.09-4.54 μg/L for children aged 1 month to 3 years, and 0.10-1.73 μg/L for 4-14 years. For MK-7, the intervals were 0.07-1.42 μg/L for 1 month to 3 years and 0.19-2.03 μg/L for 4-14 years. The reference intervals for MK-4 in children aged 1 month to 14 years were 0-0.42 μg/L. The measured values of serum vitamin K1, MK-4, and MK-7 in the validation samples did not exceed the reference limit in more than 2 samples. Conclusion: Reference intervals for vitamin K1, MK-4, and MK-7 in healthy children aged 1 month to 14 years have been established and validated, and can be used to assess vitamin K nutritional status in children.

Association of gut microbiota with acute kidney injury: a two-sample Mendelian randomisation and case-control study

Epidemiologic studies have implicated the gut microbiota in acute kidney injury (AKI), but the causal relationship is unclear. Using Mendelian randomisation, we explored the causal role of gut microbiota in the development of acute kidney injury after excluding confounding and reverse causality. Mendel randomised (MR) study was conducted using data from intestinal microbiota and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) disease of acute kidney injury and the sequencing data of case-control study confirmed this finding. The summary statistics of intestinal microbiota (n = 13,266) conducted by MiBioGen Alliance was taken as the exposure, while the statistics of acute kidney injury obtained from FinnGen Alliance data (2,383 cases and 212,841 controls) were taken as the results. A total of 42 patients were included in this case-control study. Evidence for the protective causal associations of the genus Flavonifractor id.2059 with AKI was found in inverse variance weighting (odds ratio = 0.48 [95% confidence interval, 0.32-0.72]; P = 0.0003). Additionally, a case-control study showed that the relative abundance of the genus Flavonifractor id.2059 ( P = 0.0169) in septic non-AKI patients was higher than that in septic AKI patients. Compared with S-AKI patients who died within 28 days, the relative abundance of the genus Flavonifractor id.2059 in surviving patients was higher ( P = 0.0281). Phylogenetic analysis showed that OTU68 and HQ455040.1334-739 (genus Flavonifractor, Genetic similarity: 100%), as well as OTU2271 and LT598575.1365-770 (genus Pseudoflavonifractor, Genetic similarity: 100%), have closest genetic ties. Correlation analysis showed that the genus Flavonifractor id.2059 was related to the creatinine value (Spearman correlation: -0.379, P = 0.013). The present study demonstrates that the genus Flavonifractor id.2059 is associated with a reduced risk of AKI, revealing potential implications for the prevention and treatment of acute kidney injury.