GLP-1 modulated the firing activity of nigral dopaminergic neurons in both normal and parkinsonian mice

The spontaneous firing activity of nigral dopaminergic neurons is associated with some important roles including modulation of dopamine release, expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), as well as neuronal survival. The decreased neuroactivity of nigral dopaminergic neurons has been revealed in Parkinson's disease. Central glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) functions as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator to exert multiple brain functions. Although morphological studies revealed the expression of GLP-1 receptors (GLP-1Rs) in the substantia nigra pars compacta, the possible modulation of GLP-1 on spontaneous firing activity of nigral dopaminergic neurons is unknown. The present extracellular in vivo single unit recordings revealed that GLP-1R agonist exendin-4 significantly increased the spontaneous firing rate and decreased the firing regularity of partial nigral dopaminergic neurons of adult male C57BL/6 mice. Blockade of GLP-1Rs by exendin (9-39) decreased the firing rate of nigral dopaminergic neurons suggesting the involvement of endogenous GLP-1 in the modulation of firing activity. Furthermore, the PKA and the transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) 4/5 channels are involved in activation of GLP-1Rs-induced excitatory effects of nigral dopaminergic neurons. Under parkinsonian state, both the exogenous and endogenous GLP-1 could still induce excitatory effects on the surviving nigral dopaminergic neurons. As the mild excitatory stimuli exert neuroprotective effects on nigral dopaminergic neurons, the present GLP-1-induced excitatory effects may partially contribute to its antiparkinsonian effects.

Targeting SMAD3 Improves Response to Oxaliplatin in Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Models by Impeding DNA Repair

PURPOSE

TGFβ signaling is implicated in the progression of most cancers, including esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Emerging evidence indicates that TGFβ signaling is a key factor in the development of resistance toward cancer therapy.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

In this study, we developed patient-derived organoids and patient-derived xenograft models of EAC and performed bioinformatics analysis combined with functional genetics to investigate the role of SMAD family member 3 (SMAD3) in EAC resistance to oxaliplatin.

RESULTS

Chemotherapy nonresponding patients showed enrichment of SMAD3 gene expression when compared with responders. In a randomized patient-derived xenograft experiment, SMAD3 inhibition in combination with oxaliplatin effectively diminished tumor burden by impeding DNA repair. SMAD3 interacted directly with protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), a key regulator of the DNA damage repair protein ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM). SMAD3 inhibition diminished ATM phosphorylation by enhancing the binding of PP2A to ATM, causing excessive levels of DNA damage.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results identify SMAD3 as a promising therapeutic target for future combination strategies for the treatment of patients with EAC.

Hollow Metal-Organic Framework/MXene/Nanocellulose Composite Films for Giga/Terahertz Electromagnetic Shielding and Photothermal Conversion

With the continuous advancement of communication technology, the escalating demand for electromagnetic shielding interference (EMI) materials with multifunctional and wideband EMI performance has become urgent. Controlling the electrical and magnetic components and designing the EMI material structure have attracted extensive interest, but remain a huge challenge. Herein, we reported the alternating electromagnetic structure composite films composed of hollow metal-organic frameworks/layered MXene/nanocellulose (HMN) by alternating vacuum-assisted filtration process. The HMN composite films exhibit excellent EMI shielding effectiveness performance in the GHz frequency (66.8 dB at Ka-band) and THz frequency (114.6 dB at 0.1-4.0 THz). Besides, the HMN composite films also exhibit a high reflection loss of 39.7 dB at 0.7 THz with an effective absorption bandwidth up to 2.1 THz. Moreover, HMN composite films show remarkable photothermal conversion performance, which can reach 104.6 °C under 2.0 Sun and 235.4 °C under 0.8 W cm-2, respectively. The unique micro- and macro-structural design structures will absorb more incident electromagnetic waves via interfacial polarization/multiple scattering and produce more heat energy via the local surface plasmon resonance effect. These features make the HMN composite film a promising candidate for advanced EMI devices for future 6G communication and the protection of electronic equipment in cold environments.

Correlation of epicardial adipose tissue and inflammatory indices in patients with STEMI and implications for atrial arrhythmias

BACKGROUND

Epicardial adipose tissue(EAT) is associated with inflammation in previous studies but is unknown in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction(STEMI).This study investigated the correlation between epicardial fat and inflammatory cells obtained by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and the effect on atrial arrhythmias in patients with STEMI.

METHODS

This was a single-center, retrospective study. We consecutively selected patients who all completed CMR after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) from January 2019 to December 2022 and then had regular follow-ups at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. The enrolled patients were grouped according to the presence or absence of atrial arrhythmia and divided into atrial and non-atrial arrhythmia groups.

RESULTS

White blood cell, neutrophil, lymphocyte, C-reactive protein, EATV, LVES, LVED were higher in the atrial arrhythmia group than in the non-atrial arrhythmia group, and LVEF was lower than that in the non-atrial arrhythmia group (p < 0.05); EATV was significantly positively correlated with each inflammatory indices (white blood cell: r = 0.415 p < 0.001, neutrophil:r = 0.386 p < 0.001, lymphocyte:r = 0.354 p < 0.001, C-reactive protein:r = 0.414 p < 0.001); one-way logistic regression analysis showed that risk factors for atrial arrhythmias were age, heart rate, white blood cell, neutrophil, lymphocyte, C-reactive protein, EATV, LVES, LVED; multifactorial logistic regression analysis showed that neutrophil, lymphocyte, C-reactive protein, EATV, and LVES were independent risk factors for atrial arrhythmias; ROC analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) for neutrophil was 0.862; the AUC for lymphocyte was 1.95; and the AUC for C-reactive protein was 0.862. reactive protein was 0.852; AUC for LVES was 0.683; and AUC for EATV was 0.869.

CONCLUSION

In patients with STEMI, EAT was significantly and positively correlated with inflammatory indices; neutrophil, lymphocyte, C-reactive protein, EATV, and LVES were independent risk factors for atrial arrhythmias and had good predictive value.

A chromosome-level genome assembly of the spider mite Tetranychus piercei McGregor

Despite the rapid advances in sequencing technology, limited genomic resources are currently available for phytophagous spider mites, which include many important agricultural pests. One of these pests is Tetranychus piercei (McGregor), a serious banana pest in East Asia exhibiting remarkable tolerance to high temperature. In this study, we assembled a high-quality genome of T. piercei using a combination of PacBio long reads and Illumina short reads sequencing. With the assistance of chromatin conformation capture technology, 99.9% of the contigs were anchored into three pseudochromosomes with a total size of 86.02 Mb. Repetitive elements, accounting for 14.16% of this genome (12.20 Mb), are predominantly composed of long-terminal repeats (30.7%). By combining evidence of ab initio prediction, transcripts, and homologous proteins, we annotated 11,881 protein-coding genes. Both the genome and proteins have high BUSCO completeness scores (>94%). This high-quality genome, along with reliable annotation, provides a valuable resource for investigating the high-temperature tolerance of this species and exploring the genomic basis that underlies the host range evolution of spider mites.

Short-term association of particulate matter and cardiovascular disease mortality in Shanghai, China between 2003 and 2020

Objective

Evidence regarding the effects of particulate matter (PM) pollutants on cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality remains limited in Shanghai, China. Our objective was to thoroughly evaluate associations between PM pollutants and CVD mortality.

Methods

Daily data on CVD mortality, PM (PM10 and PM2.5) pollutants, and meteorological variables in Shanghai, China were gathered from 2003 to 2020. We utilized a time-series design with the generalized additive model to assess associations between PM pollutants and CVD mortality. Additionally, we conducted stratified analyses based on sex, age, education, and seasons using the same model.

Results

We found that PM pollutants had a significant association with CVD mortality during the study period. Specifically, there was a 0.29% (95%CI: 0.14, 0.44) increase in CVD mortality for every 10 μg/m3 rise in a 2-day average (lag01) concentration of PM10. A 0.28% (95% CI: 0.07, 0.49) increase in CVD mortality was associated with every 10 μg/m3 rise in PM2.5 concentration at lag01. Overall, the estimated effects of PM10 and PM2.5 were larger in the warm period compared with the cold period. Furthermore, males and the older adult exhibited greater susceptibility to PM10 and PM2.5 exposure, and individuals with lower education levels experienced more significant effects from PM10 and PM2.5 than those with higher education levels.

Conclusion

Our findings suggested that PM pollutants have a substantial impact on increasing CVD mortality in Shanghai, China. Moreover, the impacts of air pollution on health may be altered by factors such as season, sex, age, and educational levels.

Identification of KRAS mutation-associated gut microbiota in colorectal cancer and construction of predictive machine learning model

Gut microbiota has demonstrated an increasingly important role in the onset and development of colorectal cancer (CRC). Nonetheless, the association between gut microbiota and KRAS mutation in CRC remains enigmatic. We conducted 16S rRNA sequencing on stool samples from 94 CRC patients and employed the linear discriminant analysis effect size algorithm to identify distinct gut microbiota between KRAS mutant and KRAS wild-type CRC patients. Transcriptome sequencing data from nine CRC patients were transformed into a matrix of immune infiltrating cells, which was then utilized to explore KRAS mutation-associated biological functions, including Gene Ontology items and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways. Subsequently, we analyzed the correlations among these KRAS mutation-associated gut microbiota, host immunity, and KRAS mutation-associated biological functions. At last, we developed a predictive random forest (RF) machine learning model to predict the KRAS mutation status in CRC patients, based on the gut microbiota associated with KRAS mutation. We identified a total of 26 differential gut microbiota between both groups. Intriguingly, a significant positive correlation was observed between Bifidobacterium spp. and mast cells, as well as between Bifidobacterium longum and chemokine receptor CX3CR1. Additionally, we also observed a notable negative correlation between Bifidobacterium and GOMF:proteasome binding. The RF model constructed using the KRAS mutation-associated gut microbiota demonstrated qualified efficacy in predicting the KRAS phenotype in CRC. Our study ascertained the presence of 26 KRAS mutation-associated gut microbiota in CRC and speculated that Bifidobacterium may exert an essential role in preventing CRC progression, which appeared to correlate with the upregulation of mast cells and CX3CR1 expression, as well as the downregulation of GOMF:proteasome binding. Furthermore, the RF model constructed on the basis of KRAS mutation-associated gut microbiota exhibited substantial potential in predicting KRAS mutation status in CRC patients.IMPORTANCEGut microbiota has emerged as an essential player in the onset and development of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the relationship between gut microbiota and KRAS mutation in CRC remains elusive. Our study not only identified a total of 26 gut microbiota associated with KRAS mutation in CRC but also unveiled their significant correlations with tumor-infiltrating immune cells, immune-related genes, and biological pathways (Gene Ontology items and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways). We speculated that Bifidobacterium may play a crucial role in impeding CRC progression, potentially linked to the upregulation of mast cells and CX3CR1 expression, as well as the downregulation of GOMF:Proteasome binding. Furthermore, based on the KRAS mutation-associated gut microbiota, the RF model exhibited promising potential in the prediction of KRAS mutation status for CRC patients. Overall, the findings of our study offered fresh insights into microbiological research and clinical prediction of KRAS mutation status for CRC patients.

Early manifestation of hypophosphatemic rickets in goslings: a potential role of insufficient muscular adenosine triphosphate in motility impairment of early P-deficient geese

We aimed to determine the onset time of hypophosphatemic rickets and investigate the mechanism of motility impairment through adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production in goslings. Two hundred and sixteen 1-day-old male Jiangnan white geese were randomly divided into 3 groups, with 6 replicates and 12 geese per replicate. Birds were fed on 3 diets: a control diet (nonphytic phosphorus, NPP, 0.38%), a P-deficient diet (PD; NPP, 0.08%), and a high P diet (HP; NPP, 0.80%) for 14 d. Subsequently, all birds were shifted to the control diet for an additional 14 d. The cumulative incidence of lameness increased significantly (P < 0.01) starting on d 4, reaching over 80% on d 7 and 100% on d 12 in the PD group. Drinking and eating frequency decreased from d 4 and d 5, respectively, in the PD group compared to the other groups (most P < 0.01). The PD group exhibited shorter and narrower beaks, higher (worse) curvature scores of the beak and costochondral junctions, swelling caput costae, and dirtier feathers since d 4, in contrast to the control and HP groups (most P < 0.01). The HP had bigger (P < 0.05) beak and sternum sizes than the control groups on d 4 to 11. Leg muscle ATP levels were lower (P < 0.01 or 0.05) on d 4 to 11; in contrast, adenosine diphosphate (d 7-11) was higher in PD compared to the control (P < 0.05). Leg muscle ATP level had positive linear (R2 > 0.40) correlations (r > 0.60) with eating and drinking frequencies on d 7 and 11 (P < 0.01). Bone stiffness, feather cleanliness, and ATP levels recovered (P > 0.05) to the control level, whereas bone size did not recover (P < 0.05) in PD and HP after eating the control diet for 2 wk. The onset time of hypophosphatemic rickets was around 4 d in goslings, and insufficient leg muscle ATP was related to the impaired motility observed in early P-deficient geese.

Apatinib Plus Toripalimab (Anti-PD1 Therapy) as Second-Line Therapy in Patients With Advanced Gastric or Esophagogastric Junction Cancer: Results From a Randomized, Open-Label Phase II Study

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to assess the activity of apatinib plus toripalimab in the second line for patients with advanced gastric or esophagogastric junction cancer (GC/EGJC).

METHODS

In this open-label, phase II, randomized trial, patients with advanced GC/EGJC who progressed after first-line chemotherapy were enrolled and received 250 mg apatinib per day plus 240 mg toripalimab on day 1 per 3 weeks (arm A) or physician's choice of chemotherapy (PC, arm B). The primary endpoint of this study was the 1-year survival rate. Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), overall response rate (ORR), and safety were assessed as secondary endpoints.

RESULTS

Twenty-five patients received apatinib plus toripalimab while 26 were enrolled in arm B. The 1-year survival rates of the 2 groups were 43.3% and 42.3%, respectively (P = .903). The PFS was 2.77 versus 2.33 months (P = .660). The OS was 8.30 versus 9.88 months (P = .539). An objective response was reported in 20.0% of patients in arm A compared to 26.9% in arm B (P = .368), respectively. A total of 6 (24.0%) patients experienced adverse events of grade ≥ 3 in arm A, while 9 (34.6%) patients suffered from adverse events of grade ≥ 3 in arm B. No drug-related deaths occurred in either group.

CONCLUSION

Toripalimab plus apatinib treatment in second-line therapy of advanced GC/EGJC showed manageable toxicity but did not improve clinical outcomes relative to PC treatment (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04190745).

Chirality-Induced Crystallization and Defect Passivation of Perovskites: Toward High-Performance Solar Cells

As an additive for perovskites, in addition to functional groups, the steric configuration of molecules is worthy of consideration because it influences perovskite crystallization, thus determining whether defect passivation is effective without any side effects. In this work, the chiral molecules l- and d-pyroglutamic acid (l-PA and d-PA) were chosen as additives for perovskite passivators to reveal the reasons for the differences in passivation between amino acids with different steric configurations. Functional groups, such as the C═O groups and N-H groups of l-PA and d-PA, can passivate the perovskite defects. However, l-PA exhibited a more distorted steric configuration, while d-PA was more planar, leading to differences in the distances between the two C═O groups. Taking the Pb-Pb bond length as a reference, the shorter distance between the two C═O groups of l-PA distorts the perovskite lattice structure, which results in poor device stability. Conversely, the similar distance between the two C═O groups of d-PA promoted the preferred orientational growth of the perovskite. Finally, the d-PA-doped device accomplished an excellent efficiency of 24.11% with an improved open-circuit voltage of 1.17 V. Furthermore, the efficiency of the unencapsulated d-PA-doped device was maintained at 93% in N2 for more than 3000 h and 74% after 500 h of operation at maximum power point tracking under continuous illumination.

Graphene Failure under MPa: Nanowear of Step Edges Initiated by Interfacial Mechanochemical Reactions

The low wear resistance of macroscale graphene coatings does not match the ultrahigh mechanical strength and chemical inertness of the graphene layer itself; however, the wear mechanism responsible for this issue at low mechanical stress is still unclear. Here, we demonstrate that the susceptibility of the graphene monolayer to wear at its atomic step edges is governed by the mechanochemistry of frictional interfaces. The mechanochemical reactions activated by chemically active SiO2 microspheres result in atomic attrition rather than mechanical damage such as surface fracture and folding by chemically inert diamond tools. Correspondingly, the threshold contact stress for graphene edge wear decreases more than 30 times to the MPa level, and mechanochemical wear can be described well with the mechanically assisted Arrhenius-type kinetic model, i.e., exponential dependence of the removal rate on the contact stress. These findings provide a strategy for improving the antiwear of graphene-based materials by reducing the mechanochemical interactions at tribological interfaces.

Visible-Light-Driven Z-Type Pg-C3N4/Nitrogen Doped Biochar/BiVO4 Photo-Catalysts for the Degradation of Norfloxacin

Antibiotics cannot be effectively removed by traditional wastewater treatment processes, and have become widespread pollutants in various environments. In this study, a Z-type heterojunction photo-catalyst Pg-C3N4 (PCN)/Nitrogen doped biochar (N-Biochar)/BiVO4 (NCBN) for the degradation of norfloxacin (NOR) was prepared by the hydrothermal method. The specific surface area of the NCBN (42.88 m2/g) was further improved compared to BiVO4 (4.528 m2/g). The photo-catalytic performance of the catalyst was investigated, and the N-Biochar acted as a charge transfer channel to promote carrier separation and form Z-type heterojunctions. Moreover, the NCBN exhibited excellent performance (92.5%) in removing NOR, which maintained 70% degradation after four cycles. The main active substance of the NCBN was •O2-, and the possible degradation pathways are provided. This work will provide a theoretical basis for the construction of heterojunction photo-catalysts.

AtPIP1;4 and AtPIP2;4 Cooperatively Mediate H2O2 Transport to Regulate Plant Growth and Disease Resistance

The rapid production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a hallmark of plants' successful recognition of pathogen infection and plays a crucial role in innate immune signaling. Aquaporins (AQPs) are membrane channels that facilitate the transport of small molecular compounds across cell membranes. In plants, AQPs from the plasma membrane intrinsic protein (PIP) family are utilized for the transport of H2O2, thereby regulating various biological processes. Plants contain two PIP families, PIP1s and PIP2s. However, the specific functions and relationships between these subfamilies in plant growth and immunity remain largely unknown. In this study, we explore the synergistic role of AtPIP1;4 and AtPIP2;4 in regulating plant growth and disease resistance in Arabidopsis. We found that in plant cells treated with H2O2, AtPIP1;4 and AtPIP2;4 act as facilitators of H2O2 across membranes and the translocation of externally applied H2O2 from the apoplast to the cytoplasm. Moreover, AtPIP1;4 and AtPIP2;4 collaborate to transport bacterial pathogens and flg22-induced apoplastic H2O2 into the cytoplasm, leading to increased callose deposition and enhanced defense gene expression to strengthen immunity. These findings suggest that AtPIP1;4 and AtPIP2;4 cooperatively mediate H2O2 transport to regulate plant growth and immunity.

Stress-induced mucin 13 reductions drive intestinal microbiome shifts and despair behaviors

Depression is a prevalent psychological condition with limited treatment options. While its etiology is multifactorial, both chronic stress and changes in microbiome composition are associated with disease pathology. Stress is known to induce microbiome dysbiosis, defined here as a change in microbial composition associated with a pathological condition. This state of dysbiosis is known to feedback on depressive symptoms. While studies have demonstrated that targeted restoration of the microbiome can alleviate depressive-like symptoms in mice, translating these findings to human patients has proven challenging due to the complexity of the human microbiome. As such, there is an urgent need to identify factors upstream of microbial dysbiosis. Here we investigate the role of mucin 13 as an upstream mediator of microbiome composition changes in the context of stress. Using a model of chronic stress, we show that the glycocalyx protein, mucin 13, is selectively reduced after psychological stress exposure. We further demonstrate that the reduction of Muc13 is mediated by the Hnf4 transcription factor family. Finally, we determine that deleting Muc13 is sufficient to drive microbiome shifts and despair behaviors. These findings shed light on the mechanisms behind stress-induced microbial changes and reveal a novel regulator of mucin 13 expression.

Molecular Mechanisms of Iron Transport and Homeostasis Regulated by Antarctic Krill-Derived Heptapeptide-Iron Complex

In this study, the molecular mechanisms of iron transport and homeostasis regulated by the Antarctic krill-derived heptapeptide-iron (LVDDHFL-iron) complex were explored. LVDDHFL-iron significantly increased the hemoglobin, serum iron, total iron binding capacity levels, and iron contents in the liver and spleen to normal levels, regulated the gene expressions of iron homeostasis, and enhanced in vivo antioxidant capacity in iron-deficiency anemia mice (P < 0.05). The results revealed that iron ions within LVDDHFL-iron can be transported via the heme transporter and divalent metal transporter-1, and the absorption of LVDDHFL-iron involved receptor-mediated endocytosis. We also found that the transport of LVDDHFL-iron across cells via phagocytosis was facilitated by the up-regulation of the high mobility group protein, heat shock protein β, and V-type proton ATPase subunit, accompanied by the regulatory mechanism of autophagy. These findings provided deeper understandings of the mechanism of LVDDHFL-iron facilitating iron absorption.

[The application of artificial intelligence in prehospital treatment of spinal cord trauma]

The spinal cord trauma induced by production and accidents in the current society has the characteristics of complicated injuries and difficult treatment, which is an important cause of death and disability of the wounded. With the development of computer technology, artificial intelligence (AI) has been widely used in the field of trauma treatment. The application of AI to assist pre-hospital rescue personnel in rapid and accurate identification and emergency treatment of fatal concomitant injuries, the examination of spinal cord function, spinal stabilization, the transport and evacuation of wounded, and supportive treatment can improve the efficiency of spinal cord trauma treatment and reduce the rate of death and disability.

Structure, physicochemical properties, and biological activities of protein hydrolysates from Zanthoxylum seed

BACKGROUND

Zanthoxylum seed, as a low-cost and easily accessible plant protein resource, has good potential in the food industry. But protein and its hydrolysates from Zanthoxylum seed are underutilized due to the dearth of studies on them. This study aimed to investigate the structure and physicochemical and biological activities of Zanthoxylum seed protein (ZSP) hydrolysates prepared using Protamex®, Alcalase®, Neutrase®, trypsin, or pepsin.

RESULTS

Hydrolysis using each of the five enzymes diminished average particle size and molecular weight of ZSP but increased random coil content. ZSP hydrolysate prepared using pepsin had the highest degree of hydrolysis (24.07%) and the smallest molecular weight (<13 kDa) and average particle size (129.80 nm) with the highest solubility (98.9%). In contrast, ZSP hydrolysate prepared using Alcalase had the highest surface hydrophobicity and foaming capacity (88.89%), as well as the lowest foam stability (45.00%). Moreover, ZSP hydrolysate prepared using Alcalase exhibited the best hydroxyl-radical scavenging (half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50 ) 1.94 mg mL-1 ) and ferrous-ion chelating (IC50 0.61 mg mL-1 ) activities. Additionally, ZSP hydrolysate prepared using pepsin displayed the highest angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition activity (IC50 0.54 mg mL-1 ).

CONCLUSION

These data showed that enzyme hydrolysis improved the physicochemical properties of ZSP, and enzymatic hydrolysates of ZSP exhibited significant biological activity. These results provided validation for application of ZSP enzymatic hydrolysates as antioxidants and antihypertensive agents in the food or medicinal industries. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Catastrophic cascade of failures in interdependent hypergraphs

The failures of individual agents can significantly impact the functionality of associated groups in interconnected systems. To reveal these impacts, we develop a threshold model to investigate cascading failures in double-layer hypergraphs with interlayer interdependence. We hypothesize that a hyperedge disintegrates when the proportion of failed nodes within it exceeds a threshold. Due to the interdependence between a node and its replica in the other layer, the disintegrations of these hyperedges could trigger a cascade of events, leading to an iterative collapse across these two layers. We find that double-layer hypergraphs undergo abrupt, discontinuous first-order phase transitions during systemic collapse regardless of the specific threshold value. Additionally, the connectivity measured by average cardinality and hyperdegree plays a crucial role in shaping system robustness. A higher average hyperdegree always strengthens system robustness. However, the relationship between system robustness and average cardinality exhibits non-monotonic behaviors. Specifically, both excessively small and large average cardinalities undermine system robustness. Furthermore, a higher threshold value can boost the system's robustness. In summary, our study provides valuable insights into cascading failure dynamics in double-layer hypergraphs and has practical implications for enhancing the robustness of complex interdependent systems across domains.

Dual-layer spectral detector CT: A noninvasive preoperative tool for predicting histopathological differentiation in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

PURPOSE

To predict histopathological differentiation grades in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) before surgery with quantitative and qualitative variables obtained from dual-layer spectral detector CT (DLCT).

METHODS

Totally 128 patients with histopathologically confirmed PDAC and preoperative DLCT were retrospectively enrolled and categorized into the low-grade (LG) (well and moderately differentiated, n = 82) and high-grade (HG) (poorly differentiated, n = 46) subgroups. Both conventional and spectral variables for PDAC were measured. The ratio of iodine concentration (IC) values in arterial phase(AP) and venous phase (VP) was defined as iodine enhancement fraction_AP/VP (IEF_AP/VP). Necrosis was visually assessed on both conventional CT images (necrosis_con) and virtual mono-energetic images (VMIs) at 40 keV (necrosis_40keV). Forward stepwise logistic regression method was conducted to perform univariable and multivariable analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the DeLong method were used to evaluate and compare the efficiencies of variables in predicting tumor grade.

RESULTS

Necrosis_con (odds ratio [OR] = 2.84, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13-7.13; p < 0.001) was an independent predictor among conventional variables, and necrosis_40keV (OR = 5.82, 95% CI: 1.98-17.11; p = 0.001) and IEF_AP/VP (OR = 1.12, 95% CI:1.07-1.17; p < 0.001) were independent predictors among spectral variables for distinguishing LG PDAC from HG PDAC. IEF_AP/VP (AUC = 0.754, p = 0.016) and combination model (AUC = 0.812, p < 0.001) had better predictive performances than necrosis_con (AUC = 0.580). The combination model yielded the highest sensitivity (72%) and accuracy (79%), while IEF_AP/VP exhibited the highest specificity (89%).

CONCLUSION

Variables derived from DLCT have the potential to preoperatively evaluate PDAC tumor grade. Furthermore, spectral variables and their combination exhibited superior predictive performances than conventional CT variables.

Biogenic manganese oxides promote metal(loid) remediation by shaping microbial communities in biological aqua crust

Biological aqua crust (biogenic aqua crust-BAC) is a potentially sustainable solution for metal(loid) bioremediation in global water using solar energy. However, the key geochemical factors and underlying mechanisms shaping microbial communities in BAC remain poorly understood. The current study aimed at determining the in situ metal(loid) distribution and the key geochemical factors related to microbial community structure and metal(loid)-related genes in BAC of a representative Pb/Zn tailing pond. Here we showed that abundant metal(loid)s (e.g. Pb, As) were co-distributed with Mn/Fe-rich minerals (e.g. biogenic Mn oxide, FeOOH) in BAC. Biogenic Mn oxide (i.e. Mn) was the most dominant factor in shaping microbial community structure in BAC and source tailings. Along with the fact that keystone species (e.g. Burkholderiales, Haliscomenobacter) have the potential to promote Mn ion oxidization and particle agglomeration, as well as Mn is highly associated with metal(loid)-related genes, especially genes related to As redox (e.g. arsC, aoxA), and Cd transport (e.g. zipB), biogenic Mn oxides thus effectively enhance metal(loid) remediation by accelerating the formation of organo-mineral aggregates in biofilm-rich BAC system. Our study indicated that biogenic Mn oxides may play essential roles in facilitating in situ metal(loid) bioremediation in BAC of mine drainage.

Identification of key gene expression associated with quality of life after recovery from COVID-19

Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) is a persistent complication of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection that includes symptoms, such as fatigue, cognitive impairment, and respiratory distress. These symptoms severely affect the quality of life of patients after their recovery from COVID-19. In this study, a group of machine learning algorithms analyzed the whole blood RNA-seq data from patients with different PASC levels. The purpose of this analysis was to identify the gene markers associated with PASC and the special expression patterns for different PASC levels. By comparing the quality of life of patients after the acute phase of COVID-19 and before the disease, samples in the dataset were divided into three groups, namely, "Better," "The Same," and "Worse." Each patient was represented by the expression levels of 58,929 genes. The machine learning-based workflow included six feature-ranking algorithms, incremental feature selection (IFS), and four classification algorithms. The feature ranking algorithms were in charge of assessing feature importance, whereas IFS with classification algorithms were used to extract essential genes and to construct efficient classifiers and classification rules. The expression of top genes in the results was associated with the immune response to viral infection, which is supported by the published literature. For example, patients with low CCDC18 expression and high CPED1 expression had good quality of life, whereas those with low CDC16 expression had poor quality of life.

Prevotella histicola Prevented Particle-Induced Osteolysis via Gut Microbiota-Dependent Modulation of Inflammation in Ti-Treated Mice

Wear particles generated from total joint replacements induce chronic osteolysis mediated by inflammatory upregulation, which leads to implant failure. Recent studies have suggested an important role of the gut microbiota in modulating the host's metabolism and immune system, leading to alterations in bone mass. Following gavage with P. histicola, micro-CT and HE staining revealed that osteolysis was significantly reduced in titanium (Ti)-treated mice. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed an increased macrophage (M)1/M2 ratio in the guts of Ti-treated mice, which decreased when P. histicola was added. P. histicola was also found to upregulate the tight junction proteins ZO-1, occludin, claudin-1, and MUC2 in the gut, reduce the levels of inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α, primarily in the ileum and colon, and decrease the expression of IL-1β and TNF-α and increase the level of IL-10 in the serum and cranium. Furthermore, P. histicola treatment resulted in a significant downregulation of CTX-1, RANKL, and RANKL/OPG. These findings demonstrate that P. histicola significantly mitigates osteolysis in Ti-treated mice by improving intestinal microbiota that repairs intestinal leakage and reduces systemic and local inflammation which in turn inhibits RANKL expression for bone resorption. P. histicola treatment may thus be therapeutically beneficial for particle-induced osteolysis.

Development and validation of clinical-radiomics analysis for preoperative prediction of IDH mutation status and WHO grade in diffuse gliomas: a consecutive L-[methyl-11C] methionine cohort study with two PET scanners

PURPOSE

Determination of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) genotype is crucial in the stratification of diagnosis and prognostication in diffuse gliomas. We sought to build and validate radiomics models and clinical features incorporated nomogram for preoperative prediction of IDH mutation status and WHO grade of diffuse gliomas with L-[methyl-11C] methionine ([11C]MET) PET/CT imaging according to the 2016 WHO classification of tumors of the central nervous system.

METHODS

Consecutive 178 preoperative [11C]MET PET/CT images were retrospectively studied for radiomics analysis. One hundred six patients from PET scanner 1 were used as training dataset, and 72 patients from PET scanner 2 were used for validation dataset. [11C]MET PET and integrated CT radiomics features were extracted, respectively; three independent predictive models were built based on PET features, CT features, and combined PET/CT features, respectively. The SelectKBest method, Spearman correlation analysis, Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression, and machine learning algorithms were applied for feature selection and model building. After filtering the satisfactory predictive model, key clinical features were incorporated for the nomogram establishment.

RESULTS

The combined [11C]MET PET/CT radiomics model, which consisted of four PET features and eight integrated CT features, was significantly associated with IDH genotype (p < 0.0001 for both training and validation datasets). Nomogram based on the [11C]MET PET/CT radiomics score, patients' age, and dichotomous tumor location status showed satisfactory discrimination capacity, and the AUC was 0.880 (95% CI, 0.726-0.998) in the training dataset and 0.866 (95% CI, 0.777-0.956) in the validation dataset. In IDH stratified WHO grade prediction, the final radiomics model consists of four PET features and two CT features had reasonable and stable differential efficacy of WHO grade II and III patients from grade IV patients in IDH-wildtype patients, and the AUC was 0.820 (95% CI, 0.541-1.000) in the training dataset and 0.766 (95% CI, 0.612-0.921) in the validation dataset.

CONCLUSION

[11C]MET PET radiomics features could benefit non-invasive IDH genotype prediction, and integrated CT radiomics features could enhance the efficacy. Radiomics and clinical features incorporation could establish satisfactory nomogram for clinical application. This non-invasive predictive investigation based on our consecutive cohort from two PET scanners could provide the perspective to observe the differential efficacy and the stability of radiomics-based investigation in untreated diffuse gliomas.

Force-controlled release of small molecules with a rotaxane actuator

Force-controlled release of small molecules offers great promise for the delivery of drugs and the release of healing or reporting agents in a medical or materials context1-3. In polymer mechanochemistry, polymers are used as actuators to stretch mechanosensitive molecules (mechanophores)4. This technique has enabled the release of molecular cargo by rearrangement, as a direct5,6 or indirect7-10 consequence of bond scission in a mechanophore, or by dissociation of cage11, supramolecular12 or metal complexes13,14, and even by 'flex activation'15,16. However, the systems described so far are limited in the diversity and/or quantity of the molecules released per stretching event1,2. This is due to the difficulty in iteratively activating scissile mechanophores, as the actuating polymers will dissociate after the first activation. Physical encapsulation strategies can be used to deliver a larger cargo load, but these are often subject to non-specific (that is, non-mechanical) release3. Here we show that a rotaxane (an interlocked molecule in which a macrocycle is trapped on a stoppered axle) acts as an efficient actuator to trigger the release of cargo molecules appended to its axle. The release of up to five cargo molecules per rotaxane actuator was demonstrated in solution, by ultrasonication, and in bulk, by compression, achieving a release efficiency of up to 71% and 30%, respectively, which places this rotaxane device among the most efficient release systems achieved so far1. We also demonstrate the release of three representative functional molecules (a drug, a fluorescent tag and an organocatalyst), and we anticipate that a large variety of cargo molecules could be released with this device. This rotaxane actuator provides a versatile platform for various force-controlled release applications.

Hyperactivation of β-catenin signal in hepatocellular carcinoma recruits myeloid-derived suppressor cells through PF4-CXCR3 axis

The high mutation rate of CTNNB1 (37 %) and Wnt-β-catenin signal-associated genes (54 %) has been notified in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The activation of Wnt-β-catenin signal pathway was reported to be associated with an immune "desert" phenotype, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here we mainly employed orthotopic HCC models to explore on it. Mass cytometry depicted the immune contexture of orthotopic HCC syngeneic grafts, unveiling that the exogenous expression of β-catenin significantly increased the percentage of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and decreased the percentage of CD8+ T-cells. Flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry further confirmed the findings. The protein microarray analysis, Western blot and PCR identified PF4 as its downstream regulating cytokine. Intratumorally injection of cytokine PF4 enhanced the accumulation of MDSCs. Knockout of PF4 abolished the effect of β-catenin on recruiting MDSCs. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that β-catenin increases the mRNA level of PF4 via binding to PF4's promoter region. In vitro chemotaxis assay and in vivo administration of specific inhibitors identified CXCR3 on MDSCs as receptor for recruiting PF4. Lastly, the significant correlations across β-catenin, PF4 and MDSCs and CD8+ T-cells infiltration were verified in HCC clinical samples. Our results unveiled HCC tumor cell intrinsic hyperactivation of β-catenin can recruit MDSC through PF4-CXCR3, which contributes to the formation of immune "desert" phenotype. Our study provided new insights into the development of immunotherapeutic strategy of HCC with CTNNB1 mutation. SIGNIFICANCE: This study identifies PF4-CXCR3-MDSCs as a downstream mechanism underlying CTNNB1 mutation associated immune "desert" phenotype.

Rev-erbα attenuates refractory periapical periodontitis via M1 polarization: An in vitro and in vivo study

AIM

Rev-erbα has been reported to regulate the healing of inflammatory lesions through its effect on the immune system in a variety of inflammatory disease. Moreover, the balance of macrophages polarization plays a crucial role in immune response and inflammatory progression. However, in refractory periapical periodontitis (RAP), the role of Rev-erbα in inflammatory response and bone resorption by regulating macrophage polarization remains unclarified. The aims of the present study were to investigate the expression of Rev-erbα in experimental RAP and to explore the relationship between Rev-erbα and macrophage polarization through the application of its pharmacological agonist SR9009 into the in vivo and in vitro experiments.

METHODOLOGY

Enterococcus faecalis-induced RAP models were established in SD rats. Histological staining and micro-computed tomography scanning were used to evaluate osteoclastogenesis and alveolar bone resorption. The expression of Rev-erbα and macrophage polarization were detected in the periapical tissues from rats by immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, and western blots. Furthermore, immunohistochemical staining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were performed to explore the relationship between Rev-erbα and inflammatory cytokines related to macrophage polarization.

RESULT

Compared to healthy periapical tissue, the expression of Rev-erbα was significantly down-regulated in macrophages from inflammatory periapical area, especially in Enterococcus faecalis-induced periapical lesions, with obvious type-1 macrophage (M1)-like dominance and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In addition, Rev-erbα activation by SR9009 could induce type-2 macrophage (M2)-like polarization in periapical tissue and THP1 cell line, followed by increased secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and TGF-β. Furthermore, intracanal application of SR9009 reduced the lesion size and promoted the repair of RAP by decreasing the number of osteoclasts and enhancing the formation of mineralized tissue in periapical inflammatory lesions.

CONCLUSIONS

Rev-erbα played an essential role in the pathogenesis of RAP through its effect on macrophage polarization. Targeting Rev-erbα might be a promising and prospective therapy method for the prevention and management of RAP.

Pregnancy outcomes in Chinese women with mechanical heart valves receiving warfarin treatment throughout pregnancy: 14-year experience

OBJECTIVE

The purpose was to evaluate pregnancy outcomes and risk factors associated with fetal complications in Chinese pregnant women with mechanical heart valves (MHVs) taking low-dose warfarin, aiming to fill in the research gap of this area.

METHODS

Between June 2010 and Aug 2023, 122 patients with MHVs who had 151 pregnancies and received warfarin throughout pregnancy were included. We compared them with 302 paired pregnancies without warfarin treatment. Binary logistic regression analyses were performed to explore risk predictors of fetal complications.

RESULTS

Pregnancy loss rate was 37.1 % in women taking warfarin, compared to only 4.6 % for those without warfarin exposure in pregnancy (RR = 8.00, 95 % CI: 4.61-13.90). In pregnant women with MHVs, there were 34 spontaneous abortions, 22 stillbirths and 1 neonatal malformation. In the first, second and third pregnant trimesters of women with MHVs, fetal complication incidences were 19.2 %, 9.9 % and 8.0 %, respectively. 86.0 % of fetal complications occurred in women taking a warfarin dose ≤5 mg/d, accounting for 94.0 % of the total population. The newborns' birth weight, gestational age and 1-minute Apgar score were significantly lower in pregnancies treated with warfarin compared to those without warfarin exposure. Only 2.0 % of postpartum hemorrhage and no thrombosis or maternal mortality data were collected in pregnant women on warfarin in this study.

CONCLUSION

Most Chinese pregnant women take a warfarin daily dose ≤5 mg and they might have only around 60 % chance of giving birth to a live baby without maternal complications.

Artificial Heterointerfaces with Regulated Charge Distribution of Ni Active Sites for Urea Oxidation Reaction

In contrast to the thermodynamically unfavorable anodic oxygen evolution reaction, the electrocatalytic urea oxidation reaction (UOR) presents a more favorable thermodynamic potential. However, the practical application of UOR has been hindered by sluggish kinetics. In this study, hierarchical porous nanosheet arrays featuring abundant Ni-WO3 heterointerfaces on nickel foam (Ni-WO3/NF) is introduced as a monolith electrode, demonstrating exceptional activity and stability toward UOR. The Ni-WO3/NF catalyst exhibits unprecedentedly rapid UOR kinetics (200 mA cm-2 at 1.384 V vs. RHE) and a high turnover frequency (0.456 s-1), surpassing most previously reported Ni-based catalysts, with negligible activity decay observed during a durability test lasting 150 h. Ex situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations elucidate that the WO3 interface significantly modulates the local charge distribution of Ni species, facilitating the generation of Ni3+ with optimal affinity for interacting with urea molecules and CO2 intermediates at heterointerfaces during UOR. This mechanism accelerates the interfacial electrocatalytic kinetics. Additionally, in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy provides deep insights into the substantial contribution of interfacial Ni-WO3 sites to UOR electrocatalysis, unraveling the underlying molecular-level mechanisms. Finally, the study explores the application of a direct urea fuel cell to inspire future practical implementations.

New radiofrequency ablation procedure for selective reduction in complicated monochorionic twin or triplet pregnancy using multistep, incremental expansion technique

OBJECTIVE

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is the preferred approach for selective reduction in complex monochorionic (MC) multiple pregnancies owing to the ease of operation and minimal invasiveness. To optimize the RFA technique and reduce the risk of adverse pregnancy outcome resulting from the heat-sink effect of RFA therapy, we used an innovative RFA method, in which an electrode needle was expanded incrementally and stepwise. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety profile of this novel multistep incremental expansion RFA method for selective fetal reduction in MC twin and triplet pregnancies.

METHODS

This was a single-center retrospective cohort study of all MC multiple pregnancies undergoing RFA between March 2016 and October 2022 at our center. The multistep RFA technique involved the use of an expandable needle, which was gradually expanded during the RFA procedure until cessation of umbilical cord blood flow was achieved. The needle used for the single-step RFA method was fully extended from the start of treatment.

RESULTS

In total, 132 MC multiple pregnancies underwent selective reduction using RFA, including 50 cases undergoing multistep RFA and 82 cases undergoing single-step RFA. The overall survival rates were not significantly different between the multistep and single-step RFA groups (81.1% vs 72.3%; P = 0.234). Similarly, the rates of preterm prelabor rupture of the membranes within 2 weeks after RFA, procedure-related complications, spontaneous preterm delivery and pathological findings on cranial ultrasound, as well as gestational age at delivery and birth weight, did not differ between the two groups. However, there was a trend towards a prolonged procedure-to-delivery interval following multistep RFA compared with single-step RFA (median, 109 vs 99 days; P = 0.377). Moreover, the fetal loss rate within 2 weeks after RFA in the multistep RFA group was significantly lower than that in the single-step RFA group (10.0% vs 24.4%; P = 0.041). The median ablation time was shorter (5.3 vs 7.8 min; P < 0.001) and the median ablation energy was lower (10.2 vs 18.0 kJ; P < 0.001) in multistep compared with single-step RFA. There were no significant differences in neonatal outcomes following multistep vs single-step RFA.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall survival rates were similar between the two RFA methods. However, the multistep RFA technique was associated with a lower risk of fetal loss within 2 weeks after RFA. The multistep RFA technique required significantly less ablation energy and a shorter ablation time compared with single-step RFA in selective fetal reduction of MC twin and triplet pregnancies. Additionally, there was a trend towards a prolonged procedure-to-delivery interval with the multistep RFA technique. © 2023 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

SMPDL3B is palmitoylated and stabilized by ZDHHC5, and its silencing aggravates diabetic retinopathy of db/db mice: Activation of NLRP3/NF-κB pathway

Abnormal inflammation of vascular endothelial cells occurs frequently in diabetic retinopathy (DR). Sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase acid-like 3B (SMPDL3B) is a lipid raft enzyme and plays an anti-inflammatory role in various diseases but its function in DR-related vascular endothelial dysfunction remains unknown. We first found that SMPDL3B expression was upregulated from week 10 to 18 in the retinal tissues of db/db mice. Particularly, the high expression of SMPDL3B was mainly observed in retinal vascular endothelium of DR mice. To interfere retinal SMPDL3B expression, adeno-associated viruses 2 (AAV-2) containing SMPDL3B specific shRNA (1233-1253 bp) were injected into the vitreous cavity of db/db mice. SMPDL3B silencing exacerbated the spontaneous DR by further activating the NF-κB/NLRP3 pro-inflammatory pathway. In vitro, human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRVECs) were infected with SMPDL3B-shRNA lentiviruses and then stimulated with 30 mM glucose (HG) for 24 h. SMPDL3B-silenced HRVECs secreted more interleukin-1β and had enhanced nuclear p65 translocation. Notably, HG treatment induced the palmitoylation of SMPDL3B. Zinc finger DHHC-type palmitoyltransferase 5 (ZDHHC5) is a palmitoyltransferase that catalyzes the palmitoylation of its substrates, HG exposure increased the interaction between ZDHHC5 and SMPDL3B in HRVECs. 2-BP, a palmitoylation inhibitor, accelerated the protein degradation of SMPDL3B, whereas palmostatin B, a depalmitoylation inhibitor, decreased its turnover rate in HRVECs. Collectively, the present study suggests a compensatory increase of SMPDL3B in HG-treated HRVECs and the retinal tissues of DR mice, indicating that SMPDL3B may be a potential target for DR treatment.

Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced MRI based radiomics combined with clinical variables in stratifying hepatic functional reserve in HBV infected patients

PURPOSES

To evaluate radiomics from Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced MR combined with clinical variables for stratifying hepatic functional reserve in hepatitis B virus (HBV) patients.

METHODS

Our study included 279 chronic HBV patients divided 8:2 for training and test cohorts. Radiomics features were extracted from the hepatobiliary phase (HBP) MR images. Radiomics features were selected to construct a Rad-score which was combined with clinical parameters in two models differentiating hepatitis vs. Child-Pugh A and Child-Pugh A vs. B/C. Performances of these stratifying models were compared using area under curve (AUC).

RESULTS

Rad-score alone discriminated hepatitis vs. Child-Pugh A with AUC = 0.890, 0.914 and Child-Pugh A vs. B/C with AUC = 0.862, 0.865 for the training and test cohorts, respectively. Model 1 [Rad-score + clinical parameters for hepatitis vs. Child-Pugh A] showed AUC = 0.978 for the test cohort, which was higher than ALBI [albumin-bilirubin] and MELD [model for end-stage liver disease], with AUCs of 0.716, 0.799, respectively (p < 0.001, < 0.001). Model 2 [Rad-score + clinical parameters for Child-Pugh A vs. B/C] showed AUC of 0.890 in the test cohort, which was similar to ALBI (AUC = 0.908, p = 0.760), and higher than MELD (AUC = 0.709, p = 0.018).

CONCLUSION

Rad-score combined with clinical variables stratifies hepatic functional reserve in HBV patients.

How Do Muscle Function and Quality Affect the Progression of KOA? A Narrative Review

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is widely recognized as a chronic joint disease characterized by degeneration of knee cartilage and subsequent bone hyperplasia. However, it is important to acknowledge the significant role of muscles in the development and progression of KOA. Muscle function (MF) and muscle quality (MQ) are key factors in understanding the involvement of muscles in KOA. Quantitative indices such as muscle mass, muscle strength, muscle cross-sectional area, muscle thickness, and muscle fatigue are crucial in assessing MF and MQ. Despite the growing interest in KOA, there is a scarcity of studies investigating the relationship between muscles and this condition. This review aims to examine the commonly used indices and measurement methods for assessing MF and MQ in clinical settings, while also exploring the association between muscles and KOA. Furthermore, this article highlights the importance of restoring MF and MQ to enhance symptom management and improve the quality of life for patients with KOA.

[Preliminary application of indocyanine green fluorescence imaging technology in nasal endoscopic tumor surgery]

Objective:To preliminarily study the practical value of Indocyanine green（ICG） molecular fluorescence imaging technology in nasal endoscopic tumor surgery. Methods:Five patients with tumors related to nasal sinuses, orbital wall and skull base in the Department of Otolaryngology head and Neck Surgery, General Hospital of Xinjiang Military Command from December 2022 to April 2023 were enrolled. Among them, 3 were benign tumors and 2 were malignant tumors. All patients underwent surgery under the guidance of ICG molecular fluorescence imaging. ICG was administered intravenously through cubital vein at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg 12 to 24 h before surgery. Tumors were labeled by fluorescence imaging during the operation. surgeons cleared the tumor tissue strictly according to the labeled range and depth, malignant tumors were further expanded and cleaned according to pathology results. Results:All 5 patients achieved accurate tumor localization with the aid of fluorescence imaging technology. Resections were performed with reference to fluorescent labeling boundaries, all patients achieved complete tumor cleanup or negative margins. Conclusion:For tumor-related surgery under nasal endoscopy, ICG molecular fluorescence imaging technology can not only achieve accurate real-time positioning, but also provide evidence for surgeons to judge tumor boundaries. Therefore, we believe that the technology should have certain practical value in nasal endoscopic tumor surgery.

Lentinan-loaded GelMA hydrogel accelerates diabetic wound healing through enhanced angiogenesis and immune microenvironment modulation

Diabetic wound healing is a substantial clinical challenge, characterized by delayed angiogenesis and unresolved inflammation. Lentinan, a polysaccharide extracted from shiitake mushrooms, has the potential to regulate both macrophage polarization and angiogenesis, though this aspect remains inadequately explored. To facilitate lentinan's clinical utility, we have developed a GelMA hydrogel encapsulated with lentinan (10 μM), offering a controlled release mechanism for sustained lentinan delivery at the wound site. Application of the lentinan-encapsulated delivery system topically significantly expedites wound closure compared to control groups. Furthermore, histological examination demonstrates enhanced neovascularization and reduced inflammation in lentinan-treated wounds, as evidenced by increased M2 macrophage infiltration. Moreover, our results indicated that lentinan-induced AMPK activation promotes DAF16 expression, enhancing the resistance of macrophages and HUVECs to oxidative stress in high-glucose environments, thereby promoting M2 macrophage polarization and angiogenesis. All these findings underscore lentinan's capacity to modulate macrophage polarization and angiogenesis via the AMPK/DAF16 pathway, ultimately facilitating the healing of diabetic wounds.

Molecular mapping and candidate gene identification of two major quantitative trait loci associated with silique length in oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.)

Rapeseed is a significant global source of plant oil. Silique size, particularly silique length (SL), impacts rapeseed yield. SL is a typical quantitative trait controlled by multiple genes. In our previous study, we constructed a DH population of 178 families known as the 158A-SGDH population. In this study, through SL QTL mapping, we identified twenty-six QTL for SL across five replicates in two environments. A QTL meta-analysis revealed eight consensus QTL, including two major QTL: cqSL.A02-1 (11.32-16.44% of PVE for SL), and cqSL.C06-1 (10.90-11.95% of PVE for SL). Based on biparental resequencing data and microcollinearity analysis of target regions in Brassica napus and Arabidopsis, we identified 11 candidate genes at cqSL.A02-1 and 6 candidate genes at cqSL.C06-1, which are potentially associated with silique development. Furthermore, transcriptome analysis of silique valves from both parents on the 14th, 21st, and 28th days after pollination (DAP) combined with gene function annotation revealed three significantly differentially expressed genes at cqSL.A02-1, BnaA02G0058500ZS, BnaA02G0060100ZS, and BnaA02G0060900ZS. Only the gene BnaC06G0283800ZS showed significant differences in parental transcription at cqSL.C06-1. Two tightly linked insertion-deletion markers for the cqSL.A02-1 and cqSL.C06-1 loci were developed. Using these two QTL, we generated four combinations: A02SGDH284C06158A, A02SGDH284C06SGDH284, A02158AC06158A, and A02158AC06SGDH284. Subsequent analysis identified an ideal QTL combination, A02158AC06SGDH284, which exhibited the longest SL of this type, reaching 6.06 ± 0.10 cm, significantly surpassing the other three combinations. The results will provide the basis for the cloning of SL-related genes of rapeseed, along with the development of functional markers of target genes and the breeding of rapeseed varieties.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11032-024-01464-x.

Thinned young apple powder prevents obesity-induced neuronal apoptosis via improving mitochondrial function of cerebral cortex in mice

Mitochondrial dysfunction is one of the triggers for obesity-induced neuron apoptosis. Thinned young apple is getting more attention on account of the extensive biological activities because of rich polyphenols and polysaccharides. However, the neuroprotective effect of thinned young apple powder (YAP) is still unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the preventive effect of YAP on obesity-induced neuronal apoptosis. C57BL/6J male mice were divided into 5 groups, control (CON), high fat diet (HFD), HFD + orlistat (ORL), HFD + low-dose young apple powder (LYAP) and HFD + high-dose young apple powder (HYAP) groups and intervened for 12 weeks. It was found that the YAP effectively reduced body weight gain. Importantly, the levels of pro-apoptosis protein were lower in LYAP and HYAP groups than the HFD group, such as Bak/Bcl2 and cleaved caspase3/caspase3. Pathway analysis based on untargeted metabolomics suggested that YAP alleviated obesity-induced neuronal apoptosis by three main metabolic pathway including arginine metabolism, citrate cycle (TCA cycle) and glutathione metabolism. Meanwhile, YAP improved the protein expression of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex, maintained the homeostasis of TCA cycle intermediates, protected the balance of mitochondrial dynamics and alleviated lipid accumulation. In addition, the levels of several antioxidants in cerebral cortex were higher in HYAP group than the HFD group like superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). In summary, YAP supplementation suppressed neuronal apoptosis in the cerebral cortex of HFD-induced obesity mice by improving mitochondrial function and inhibiting oxidative stress.

Global cross-cultural validation of a brief measure for identifying potential suicide risk in 42 countries

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the P4 suicide screener in a multinational sample. The primary goal was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the scale and investigate its convergent validity by analyzing its correlation with depression, anxiety, and substance use.

STUDY DESIGN

The study design is a cross-sectional self-report study conducted across 42 countries.

METHODS

A cross-sectional, self-report study was conducted in 42 countries, with a total of 82,243 participants included in the final data set.

RESULTS

The study provides an overview of suicide ideation rates across 42 countries and confirms the structural validity of the P4 screener. The findings indicated that sexual and gender minority individuals exhibited higher rates of suicidal ideation. The P4 screener showed adequate reliability, convergence, and discriminant validity, and a cutoff score of 1 is recommended to identify individuals at risk of suicidal behavior.

CONCLUSIONS

The study supports the reliability and validity of the P4 suicide screener across 42 diverse countries, highlighting the importance of using a cross-cultural suicide risk assessment to standardize the identification of high-risk individuals and tailoring culturally sensitive suicide prevention strategies.

The structural characteristics and physicochemical properties of mung bean protein hydrolysate of protamex induced by ultrasound

BACKGROUND

The limited physicochemical properties (such as low foaming and emulsifying capacity) of mung bean protein hydrolysate restrict its application in the food industry. Ultrasound treatment could change the structures of protein hydrolysate to accordingly affect its physicochemical properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ultrasound treatment on the structural and physicochemical properties of mung bean protein hydrolysate of protamex (MBHP). The structural characteristics of MBHP were evaluated using tricine sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, laser scattering, fluorescence spectrometry, etc. Solubility, fat absorption capacity and foaming, emulsifying and thermal properties were determined to characterize the physicochemical properties of MBHP.

RESULTS

MBHP and ultrasonicated-MBHPs (UT-MBHPs) all contained five main bands of 25.8, 12.1, 5.6, 4.8 and 3.9 kDa, illustrating that ultrasound did not change the subunits of MBHP. Ultrasound treatment increased the contents of α-helix, β-sheet and random coil and enhanced the intrinsic fluorescence intensity of MBHP, but decreased the content of β-turn, which demonstrated that ultrasound modified the secondary and tertiary structures of MBHP. UT-MBHPs exhibited higher solubility, foaming capacity and emulsifying properties than MBHP, among which MBHP-330 W had the highest solubility (97.32%), foaming capacity (200%), emulsification activity index (306.96 m2  g-1 ) and emulsion stability index (94.80%) at pH 9.0.

CONCLUSION

Ultrasound treatment enhanced the physicochemical properties of MBHP, which could broaden its application as a vital ingredient in the food industry. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Potato starch/naringenin complexes for high-stability Pickering emulsions: Structure, properties, and emulsion stabilization mechanism

In this study, potato starch (PS)/naringenin (NAR) complex was prepared, and its properties and emulsification behavior were evaluated. The experimental results demonstrated that NAR successfully formed a complex with PS molecules through hydrogen bonds and other non-covalent interactions. The emulsifying capacity (ROV) of PS/NAR complex with 16 % composite ratio was 0.9999, which was higher than PS (ROV = 0.3329) (p < 0.05). Based on particle property analysis and molecular dynamics simulation, the mechanism of improving the emulsification performance might be the action of the benzene ring of NAR and intermolecular hydrogen bonding. In addition, the stability of the Pickering emulsions with PS/NAR complexes as emulgators was significantly improved. The emulsifying and rheological behavior of starch-based Pickering emulsions could be adjusted by changing the proportion of the complexes. Results demonstrated that the PS/NAR complexes might be a prospective stabilizer of Pickering emulsions based on starch material and might expand the use of PS in edible products.

The evaluation of catechins reducing heterocyclic aromatic amine formation: Structure-activity relationship and mechanism speculation

The favorable inhibitory effect of tea polyphenols on heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) has been confirmed in many past studies. The objective of this study was to investigate the structure-activity relationship of catechins that act as inhibitors of HAA formation in chemical models. Two kinds of quantitative structure-activity relationship models for catechin-inhibiting-HAA were established. We chose two kinds of HAAs including 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) and 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx), and five catechins including epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epicatechin gallate (ECG), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin (EC), and catechin (C). The inhibitory effect of five catechins were in the following order: EGCG > ECG > EGC > C > EC. Thereinto, EGCG and ECG showed dramatically better inhibition on the formation of PhIP and MeIQx, especially EGCG. Further, the mechanisms of catechin-inhibiting-HAA were speculated by correlation analysis. The free radical-scavenging ability was predicted to be the most relevant to the inhibitory effect of ECG, EGC, EC and C on HAAs. Differently, the phenylacetaldehyde-trapping ability might be the more important mechanism of EGCG inhibiting PhIP in chemical model system. This study may bring a broader idea for controlling the formation of HAAs according to the structure of catechins.

Structural, functional and antioxidant properties of Lentinus edodes protein hydrolysates prepared by five enzymes

The purpose of this study was to investigate structural, functional and antioxidant properties of Lentinus edodes protein hydrolysates (LEPHs) by alcalase, protamex, trypsin, papain and neutrase. Structural and functional properties were determined using gel electrophoresis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, laser scattering, fluorescence spectroscopy, emulsifying properties etc. Antioxidant activities were detected by Fe2+ chelating, hydroxyl and DPPH radical scavenging assays. Enzymatic hydrolysis destroyed secondary and tertiary structures of Lentinus edodes protein, decreased its molecular weight and particle size, particularly hydrolysate prepared by alcalase with the highest hydrolytic degree (32.86 ± 0.98 %), the smallest particle (130.77 ± 1.85 nm) and molecular weight (5.86 kDa). Moreover, alcalase hydrolysate exhibited the highest emulsifying stability, the strongest hydroxyl radical scavenging activity and Fe2+ chelating ability among LEPHs. Whilst trypsin hydrolysate displayed the highest DPPH radical scavenging, foaming and fat absorption capacity. These results provided basis for LEPH as ingredients to be used for food industry.

Associations between sleep problems and cardiometabolic risk in maintenance hemodialysis patients: A multicenter study

The incidence of cardiovascular disease is increasing around the world, and it is one of the main causes of death in chronic kidney diseases patients. It is urgent to early identify the factors of cardiometabolic risk. Sleep problems have been recognized as a risk factor for cardiometabolic risk in both healthy people and chronic patients. However, the relationship between sleep problems and cardiometabolic risk has not been clearly explored in hemodialysis patients. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between sleep problems and cardiometabolic risk in 3025 hemodialysis patients by a multicenter study. After adjusting for confounders, binary logistic regression models showed that hemodialysis patients reported sleep duration greater than 7 h were more likely to be with hypertension, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypercholesterolemia. Patients reported sleep duration less than 7 h were more likely to be with hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia, but the risks of hyperglycemia and Low HDL-cholesterol were decreased. Poor sleep quality was negatively correlated to low HDL cholesterol and hypertriglyceridemia. Moreover, gender-based differences were explained.

Phase behavior of the gelation process of myofibrillar protein-curdlan blended system: Discussion based on rheology and gel properties

The phase behavior in protein-polysaccharide blended systems is the main factor affecting the physical properties of composite gels; however, the phase behavior at room temperature and during heated gelation is lacking discussion. In this research, extracted grouper myofibrillar protein (MP) and curdlan (CUR) were used as models for the MP-CUR blended system. The phase behavior of the MP-CUR blended system was analyzed using rheology and microstructure analysis, and the accuracy of the phase behavior analysis was verified by measuring the physical indices such as gel properties of the MP-CUR composite gels. At room temperature, MP and CUR showed good co-solubility, so the blended system with 0.8% CUR content obtained the best apparent viscosity, structural recoverability, and other rheological properties. After heating gelation, MP and CUR had strong thermodynamic unaffinity leading to phase separation, and the best storage modulus was obtained for the MP-CUR blended system with 0.6% CUR content. Therefore, it is concluded that 0.6% CUR content is the critical concentration for the MP-CUR blended system. The results were also confirmed by the best gel properties of 0.6% CUR composite gel when the physical properties of the composite gel were determined. The phase behavior evaluation was used to determine the appropriate polysaccharide concentrations as a means to improve the physicochemical properties of the composite gels and to exploit the value of polysaccharides in protein-based food applications.

Reversible non-volatile electronic switching in a near-room-temperature van der Waals ferromagnet

Non-volatile phase-change memory devices utilize local heating to toggle between crystalline and amorphous states with distinct electrical properties. Expanding on this kind of switching to two topologically distinct phases requires controlled non-volatile switching between two crystalline phases with distinct symmetries. Here, we report the observation of reversible and non-volatile switching between two stable and closely related crystal structures, with remarkably distinct electronic structures, in the near-room-temperature van der Waals ferromagnet Fe5-δGeTe2. We show that the switching is enabled by the ordering and disordering of Fe site vacancies that results in distinct crystalline symmetries of the two phases, which can be controlled by a thermal annealing and quenching method. The two phases are distinguished by the presence of topological nodal lines due to the preserved global inversion symmetry in the site-disordered phase, flat bands resulting from quantum destructive interference on a bipartite lattice, and broken inversion symmetry in the site-ordered phase.

Assembled/Disassembled Modular Scaffolds for Multicellular Tissue Engineering

The behavior of tissue resident cells can be influenced by the spatial arrangement of cellular interactions. Therefore, it is of significance to precisely control the spatial organization of various cells within multicellular constructs. It remains challenging to construct a versatile multicellular scaffold with ordered spatial organization of multiple cell types. Herein, a modular multicellular tissue engineering scaffold with ordered spatial distribution of different cell types is constructed by assembling varying cell-laden modules. Interestingly, the modular scaffolds can be disassembled into individual modules to evaluate the specific contribution of each cell type in the system. Through assembling cell-laden modules, the macrophage-mesenchymal stem cell (MSC), endothelial cell-MSC, and chondrocyte-MSC co-culture models are successfully established. The in vitro results indicate that the intercellular cross-talk can promote the proliferation and differentiation of each cell type in the system. Moreover, MSCs in the modular scaffolds may regulate the behavior of chondrocytes through the nuclear factor of activated T-Cells (NFAT) signaling pathway. Furthermore, the modular scaffolds loaded with co-cultured chondrocyte-MSC exhibit enhanced regeneration ability of osteochondral tissue, compared with other groups. Overall, this work offers a promising strategy to construct a multicellular tissue engineering scaffold for the systematic investigation of intercellular cross-talk and complex tissue engineering.

Optimizing the indication of initial radioiodine oncolytic treatment for metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer by diagnostic 131I scan

AIM

As a classic theranostic radiopharmaceutical, radioiodine (131I) has been utilized in the management of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) for more than 8 decades, and the refinement of its clinical practice has been raised recently. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of a diagnostic (Dx) 131I scan in optimizing the indication of initial radioiodine oncolytic treatment (ROT) for metastatic DTC by predicting therapeutic outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 100 patients (Dx positive, n=29; Dx negative, n=71) were eligible for patient-based analysis. The matching rate was 83.0% between the Dx and the post-therapeutic scans (kappa = 0.648, P<0.001). The biochemical remission rate and structural shrinkage rate induced by the initial ROT in the Dx-positive group were, respectively, greater than those in the Dx-negative group (83.3% vs. 17.4%, P<0.001; 37.9% vs. 4.2%, P<0.001). Notably, the predictive values of positive Dx scans for ROT responsiveness and negative Dx scans for ROT nonresponsiveness reached up to 89.7% and 84.5%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

This Dx scan approach seems viable in characterizing the 131I-avidity of metastatic DTC and plays a pivotal role in optimizing the indication of initial ROT for metastatic DTC.

SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein impairs airway epithelial barrier function and exacerbates airway inflammation via increased intracellular Cl- concentration

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection disrupts the epithelial barrier and triggers airway inflammation. The envelope (E) protein, a core virulence structural component of coronaviruses, may play a role in this process. Pathogens could interfere with transepithelial Cl- transport via impairment of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), which modulates nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling. However, the pathological effects of SARS-CoV-2 E protein on airway epithelial barrier function, Cl- transport and the robust inflammatory response remain to be elucidated. Here, we have demonstrated that E protein down-regulated the expression of tight junctional proteins, leading to the disruption of the airway epithelial barrier. In addition, E protein triggered the activation of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2/4 and downstream c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling, resulting in an increased intracellular Cl- concentration ([Cl-]i) via up-regulating phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) expression in airway epithelial cells. This elevated [Cl-]i contributed to the heightened airway inflammation through promoting the phosphorylation of serum/glucocorticoid regulated kinase 1 (SGK1). Moreover, blockade of SGK1 or PDE4 alleviated the robust inflammatory response induced by E protein. Overall, these findings provide novel insights into the pathogenic role of SARS-CoV-2 E protein in airway epithelial damage and the ongoing airway inflammation during SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Light-driven phase transition of diffractive optical elements based on liquid crystal elastomers

Diffractive optical element is advantageous for miniaturization, arraying and integration of optical systems. They have been widely used in beam shaping, diffractive imaging, generating beam arrays, spectral optimization and other aspects. Currently, the vast majority of diffractive optics are not tunable. This limits the applicability and functionality of these devices. Here we report a tunable diffractive optical element controlled by light in the visible band. The diffractive optical element consists of a square gold microarray deposited on a deformable substrate. The substrate is made of a liquid crystal elastomer. When pumped by a 532 nm laser, the substrate is deformed to change the crystal lattice. This changes the far-field diffraction pattern of the device. The proposed concept establishes a light-controlled soft platform with great potential for tunable/reconfigurable photonic devices, such as filters, couplers, holograms and structural color displays.

COVID-19 vaccination affects short-term anti-coagulation levels in warfarin treatment

Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 have been recommended across the world, yet no study has investigated whether COVID-19 vaccination influences short-term warfarin anti-coagulation levels. Patients on stable warfarin treatment who received anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination were prospectively enrolled and followed up for three months. INR values less than 10 days before vaccination (baseline), 3-5 days (short-term) and 6-14 days (medium-term) after vaccination were recorded as INR0, INR1, and INR2, respectively. The variations of INR values within individuals were compared, and the linear mixed effect model was used to evaluate the variations of INR values at different time points. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine covariates related to INR variations after COVID-19 vaccination. Vaccination safety was also monitored. There was a significant difference in INR values between INR0 and INR1 (2.15 vs. 2.26, p = 0.003), yet no marked difference was found between INR0 and INR2. The linear mixed effect model also demonstrated that INR variation was significant in short-term but not in medium-term or long-term period after vaccination. Logistic regression analysis showed that no investigated covariates, including age, vaccine dose, genetic polymorphisms of VKORC1 and CYP2C9 etc., were associated with short-term INR variations. Two patients (2.11%) reported gingival hemorrhage in the short-term due to increased INR values. The overall safety of COVID-19 vaccines for patients on warfarin was satisfying. COVID-19 vaccines may significantly influence warfarin anticoagulation levels 3-5 days after vaccination. We recommend patients on warfarin to perform at least one INR monitoring within the first week after COVID-19 vaccination.