How does analyst coverage influence corporate social responsibility (CSR)? The governance- and information-based perspectives

Based on a sample of Chinese public manufacturing firms, this study empirically investigates whether and how analyst coverage drives corporate social responsibility (CSR) under different governance or information conditions. The results show that firms with greater analyst coverage take more social responsibility, representing magnified concerns and better CSR visibility for legitimacy and reputation. This relationship could be strengthened under high governance condition (high institutional ownership ratio, none CEO duality, low executive ownership) or low information situation (high earnings management and low accounting conservatism). These findings provide new evidence of information-based mechanism underlying the promotions of CSR in imperfect information environments.

Sulfur oxidation and reduction are coupled to nitrogen fixation in the roots of the salt marsh foundation plant Spartina alterniflora

Heterotrophic activity, primarily driven by sulfate-reducing prokaryotes, has traditionally been linked to nitrogen fixation in the root zone of coastal marine plants, leaving the role of chemolithoautotrophy in this process unexplored. Here, we show that sulfur oxidation coupled to nitrogen fixation is a previously overlooked process providing nitrogen to coastal marine macrophytes. In this study, we recovered 239 metagenome-assembled genomes from a salt marsh dominated by the foundation plant Spartina alterniflora, including diazotrophic sulfate-reducing and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. Abundant sulfur-oxidizing bacteria encode and highly express genes for carbon fixation (RuBisCO), nitrogen fixation (nifHDK) and sulfur oxidation (oxidative-dsrAB), especially in roots stressed by sulfidic and reduced sediment conditions. Stressed roots exhibited the highest rates of nitrogen fixation and expression level of sulfur oxidation and sulfate reduction genes. Close relatives of marine symbionts from the Candidatus Thiodiazotropha genus contributed ~30% and ~20% of all sulfur-oxidizing dsrA and nitrogen-fixing nifK transcripts in stressed roots, respectively. Based on these findings, we propose that the symbiosis between S. alterniflora and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria is key to ecosystem functioning of coastal salt marshes.

Preoperative prediction of perineural invasion of rectal cancer based on a magnetic resonance imaging radiomics model: A dual-center study

BACKGROUND

Perineural invasion (PNI) has been used as an important pathological indicator and independent prognostic factor for patients with rectal cancer (RC). Preoperative prediction of PNI status is helpful for individualized treatment of RC. Recently, several radiomics studies have been used to predict the PNI status in RC, demonstrating a good predictive effect, but the results lacked generalizability. The preoperative prediction of PNI status is still challenging and needs further study.

AIM

To establish and validate an optimal radiomics model for predicting PNI status preoperatively in RC patients.

METHODS

This retrospective study enrolled 244 postoperative patients with pathologically confirmed RC from two independent centers. The patients underwent pre-operative high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) between May 2019 and August 2022. Quantitative radiomics features were extracted and selected from oblique axial T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) and contrast-enhanced T1WI (T1CE) sequences. The radiomics signatures were constructed using logistic regression analysis and the predictive potential of various sequences was compared (T2WI, T1CE and T2WI + T1CE fusion sequences). A clinical-radiomics (CR) model was established by combining the radiomics features and clinical risk factors. The internal and external validation groups were used to validate the proposed models. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), DeLong test, net reclassification improvement (NRI), integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the model performance.

RESULTS

Among the radiomics models, the T2WI + T1CE fusion sequences model showed the best predictive performance, in the training and internal validation groups, the AUCs of the fusion sequence model were 0.839 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.757-0.921] and 0.787 (95%CI: 0.650-0.923), which were higher than those of the T2WI and T1CE sequence models. The CR model constructed by combining clinical risk factors had the best predictive performance. In the training and internal and external validation groups, the AUCs of the CR model were 0.889 (95%CI: 0.824-0.954), 0.889 (95%CI: 0.803-0.976) and 0.894 (95%CI: 0.814-0.974). Delong test, NRI, and IDI showed that the CR model had significant differences from other models (P < 0.05). Calibration curves demonstrated good agreement, and DCA revealed significant benefits of the CR model.

CONCLUSION

The CR model based on preoperative MRI radiomics features and clinical risk factors can preoperatively predict the PNI status of RC noninvasively, which facilitates individualized treatment of RC patients.

Remote sensing estimation of regional PM2.5 based on GTWR model -A case study of southwest China

Air pollution in China has becoming increasingly serious in recent years with frequent incidents of smog. Parts of southwest China still experience high incidents of smog, with PM2.5 (particulate matter with diameter ≤2.5 μm) being the main contributor. Establishing the spatial distribution of PM2.5 in Southwest China is important for safeguarding regional human health, environmental quality, and economic development. This study used remote sensing (RS) and geographical information system (GIS) technologies and aerosol optical depth (AOD), digital elevation model (DEM), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), population density, and meteorological data from January to December 2018 for southwest China. PM2.5 concentrations were estimated using ordinary least squares regression (OLS), geographic weighted regression (GWR) and geographically and temporally weighted regression (GTWR). The results showed that: (1) Eight influencing factors showed different correlations to PM2.5 concentrations. However, the R2 values of the correlations all exceeded 0.3, indicating a moderate degree of correlation or more; (2) The correlation R2 values between the measured and remote sensed estimated PM2.5 data by OLS, GWR, and GTWR were 0.554, 0.713, and 0.801, respectively; (3) In general, the spatial distribution of PM2.5 in southwest of China decreases from the Northeast to Northwest, with moderate concentrations in the Southeast and Southwest; (4) The seasonal average PM2.5 concentration is high in winter, low in summer, and moderate in spring and autumn, whereas the monthly average shows a "V" -shaped oscillation change.

BMAL1 alleviates myocardial damage in sepsis by activating SIRT1 signaling and promoting mitochondrial autophagy

BACKGROUND

Brain and muscle arnt-like protein-1 (BMAL1) deficiency is associated with myocardial dysfunction and suppressed sirtuin 1 (SIRT1). However, whether BMAL1 promotes mitophagy via SIRT1 to alleviate myocardial injury in sepsis remains unknown.

METHODS

An in vitro myocardial injury model was established using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated H9C2 cells. Knockdown or overexpression of genes was performed using plasmid transfection. Gene and protein expression was assessed by qRT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. Cell proliferation was evaluated using cell counting kit-8, and cellular apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were analyzed using flow cytometry. An in vivo myocardial injury model of sepsis was established by cecal ligation and puncture in rats. Myocardial function was characterized by analyzing the damage-associated proteins, inflammatory factors, ejection fraction, and fraction shortening.

RESULTS

sgBMAL1 significantly decreased BMAL1 levels and remarkably increased the sensitivity of H9C2 cells to LPS stimulation, consequently enhancing LPS-induced apoptosis, inflammation, and ROS levels. These effects were further attenuated by BMAL1 overexpression. BMAL1 knockdown inhibited the expression of SIRT1 and mitophagy-associated proteins. SIRT1 overexpression reversed the enhancement of shBMAL1 on cell proliferation and inflammation. In the rat model of sepsis, BMAL1 overexpression decreased the myocardial injury-associated proteins to recover the myocardial function and suppressed inflammatory activities by promoting mitophagy via SIRT1.

CONCLUSION

BMAL1 enhances mitophagy dependent on SIRT1, thereby alleviating myocardial injury in sepsis.

Mitochondrial pathway of programmed cell death in Paeonia lactiflora pollen cryopreservation

Programmed cell death (PCD) is an important factor to reduces the viability of plant germplasm after cryopreservation. However, the pathways by which PCD occurs is not fully understood. To investigate whether there is a mitochondrial pathway for pollen PCD after cryopreservation, the pollen of Paeonia lactiflora two cultivars with different PCD levels after cryopreservation was used as test material and the changes of mitochondrial calcium ions (Ca2+), structure, function and their relationship with PCD were compared. The results showed that compared with fresh pollen, the PCD of 'Feng Huang Nie Pan' was significantly reduced after cryopreservation. Their mitochondrial Ca2+ content decreased by 74.27%, mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) opening reduced by 25.41%, mitochondrial membrane potential slightly decreased by 5.02%, cardiolipin oxidation decreased by 65.31%, and oxygen consumption remained stable, with a slightly ATP production increase. On the contrary, compared with fresh pollen, 'Zi Feng Chao Yang' showed severe PCD after cryopreservation. The decline in mitochondrial Ca2+-ATPase activity led to an accumulation of excessive Ca2+ within mitochondria, triggering widespread opening of MPTP, significantly affecting mitochondrial respiration and energy synthesis. These results suggest the mitochondrial pathway of PCD exists in pollen cryopreservation.

Development and validation of a risk prediction model for community-acquired pressure injury in a cancer population: A case-control study

BACKGROUND

Patients with cancer are susceptible to pressure injuries, which accelerate deterioration and death. In patients with post-acute cancer, the risk of pressure injury is ignored in home or community settings.

OBJECTIVE

To develop and validate a community-acquired pressure injury risk prediction model for cancer patients.

METHODS

All research data were extracted from the hospital's electronic medical record system. The identification of optimal predictors is based on least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression analysis combined with clinical judgment. The performance of the model was evaluated by drawing a receiver operating characteristic curve and calculating the area under the curve (AUC), calibration analysis and decision curve analysis. The model was used for internal and external validation, and was presented as a nomogram.

RESULTS

In total, 6257 participants were recruited for this study. Age, malnutrition, chronic respiratory failure, body mass index, and activities of daily living scores were identified as the final predictors. The AUC of the model in the training and validation set was 0.87 (95 % confidence interval [CI], 0.85-0.89), 0.88 (95 % CI, 0.85-0.91), respectively. The model demonstrated acceptable calibration and clinical benefits.

CONCLUSIONS

Comorbidities in patients with cancer are closely related to the etiology of pressure injury, and can be used to predict the risk of pressure injury.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

This study provides a tool to predict the risk of pressure injury for cancer patients. This suggests that improving the respiratory function and nutritional status of cancer patients may reduce the risk of community-acquired pressure injury.

Polymer Engineering Enables High Linear Capacity Fiber Electrodes by Microenvironment Regulation

Unlike bulky and rigid traditional power systems, 1D fiber batteries possess appealing features such as flexibility and adaptability, which are promising for use in wearable electronic devices. However, the performance and energy density fiber batteries are limited by the contradiction between ionic transfer and robust structure of fiber electrodes. Herein, these problems are addressed via polymer engineering to regulate the microenvironment in electrodes, realizing high-linear-capacity thick fiber electrodes with excellent cycling performance. The porosity of the electrodes is regulated using polymer crosslink networks designed with various components, and lithium-ion transfer is optimized through ether-abundant polymer chains. Furthermore, reinforced covalent bonding with carbon nanotube networks is established based on the modified functional groups of polymer networks. The multiscale optimizations of the porous structure, ionic transportation, and covalent bonding network enhance the lithium-ion dynamics property and structural stability. Therefore, ultrahigh linear-capacity fiber electrodes (17.8 mAh m-1) can be fabricated on a large scale and exhibit excellent stability (92.8% after 800 cycles), demonstrating obvious superiority among the reported fiber electrodes. Moreover, this study highlights the high effectiveness of polymer regulation in fiber electrodes and offers new avenues for designing next-generation wearable energy-storage systems.

EZH2: The roles in targeted therapy and mechanisms of resistance in breast cancer

Drug resistance presents a formidable challenge in the realm of breast cancer therapy. Accumulating evidence suggests that enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), a component of the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), may serve as a key regulator in controlling drug resistance. EZH2 overexpression has been observed in breast cancer and many other malignancies, showing a strong correlation with poor outcomes. This review aims to summarize the mechanisms by which EZH2 regulates drug resistance, with a specific focus on breast cancer, in order to provide a comprehensive understanding of the underlying molecular processes. Additionally, we will discuss the current strategies and outcomes of targeting EZH2 using both single agents and combination therapies, with the goal of offering improved guidance for the clinical treatment of breast cancer patients who have developed drug resistance.

Two new sesterterpenoids from Atractylodes japonica Koidz. ex Kitam

Two new sesterterpenoids, atractylodes japonica terpenoid acid I (1) and atractylodes japonica terpenoid aldehyde I (2), were isolated from the rhizomes of Atractylodes japonica Koidz. ex Kitam together with ten known compounds (3-12). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of comprehensive spectroscopic analysis (1D/2D NMR, HRESIMS and IR). In addition, all of these isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against human gastric cancer cell MGC-803 and human hepatocellular cancer cell HepG-2. Most of them exhibited moderate to weak inhibitory effects with IC50 values in the range of 25.15-88.85 μM except for 9-12.

Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stromal cells improve myocardial fibrosis and restore miRNA-133a expression in diabetic cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a serious health-threatening complication of diabetes mellitus characterized by myocardial fibrosis and abnormal cardiac function. Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells (hUC-MSCs) are a potential therapeutic tool for DCM and myocardial fibrosis via mechanisms such as the regulation of microRNA (miRNA) expression and inflammation. It remains unclear, however, whether hUC-MSC therapy has beneficial effects on cardiac function following different durations of diabetes and which mechanistic aspects of DCM are modulated by hUC-MSC administration at different stages of its development. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of intravenous administration of hUC-MSCs on DCM following different durations of hyperglycemia in an experimental male model of diabetes and to determine the effects on expression of candidate miRNAs, target mRNA and inflammatory mediators.

METHODS

A male mouse model of diabetes was induced by multiple low-dose streptozotocin injections. The effects on severity of DCM of intravenous injections of hUC-MSCs and saline two weeks previously were compared at 10 and 18 weeks after diabetes induction. At both time-points, biochemical assays, echocardiography, histopathology, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were used to analyze blood glucose, body weight, cardiac structure and function, degree of myocardial fibrosis and expression of fibrosis-related mRNA, miRNA and inflammatory mediators.

RESULTS

Saline-treated diabetic male mice had impaired cardiac function and increased cardiac fibrosis after 10 and 18 weeks of diabetes. At both time-points, cardiac dysfunction and fibrosis were improved in hUC-MSC-treated mice. Pro-fibrotic indicators (α-SMA, collagen I, collagen III, Smad3, Smad4) were reduced and anti-fibrotic mediators (FGF-1, miRNA-133a) were increased in hearts of diabetic animals receiving hUC-MSCs compared to saline. Increased blood levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF, IL-1β) and increased cardiac expression of IL-6 were also observed in saline-treated mice and were reduced by hUC-MSCs at both time-points, but to a lesser degree at 18 weeks.

CONCLUSION

Intravenous injection of hUC-MSCs ameliorated key functional and structural features of DCM in male mice with diabetes of shorter and longer duration. Mechanistically, these effects were associated with restoration of intra-myocardial expression of miRNA-133a and its target mRNA COL1AI as well as suppression of systemic and localized inflammatory mediators.

Adult hair follicle stem cells differentiate into neuronal cells in explanted rat intestinal tissue

Hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) are adult stem cells located in the outer root sheath of the follicle bulge with high neural plasticity, which promise a potential for the stem cell therapy for neurological diseases. Hirschsprung's disease (HD) is characterized by the absence of ganglia in the distant bowel. In this study, we elucidated the capacity of HFSCs to differentiate into neuronal cells in the aganglionic colon from embryonic rat. HFSCs were isolated from adult Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and formed spheres that could be passaged. The cultured HFSCs expressed neural crest stem cells (NCSCs) markers such as SOX10, CD34, and nestin, which indicated their neural crest lineage. Subsequent differentiation assays demonstrated that these cells could give rise to neural progeny that expressed neuronal or glial markers. The aganglionic colon from the embryonic intestine was applied as in vitro explant to test the capacity of proliferation and differentiation of HFSCs. The HFSCs expressing GFP or RFP integrated in intestinal explants and maintained proliferative capacity. Moreover, the HFSCs differentiated into Tuj1- or S100β-positive cells in the cultured intestinal explants. The results proposed that the HFSCs might be an alternative source of neural stem cells for the HD therapy.

Ginsenoside Rg1 attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced chronic liver damage by activating Nrf2 signaling and inhibiting inflammasomes in hepatic cells

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) is a precious traditional Chinese medicine with multiple pharmacological effects. Ginsenoside Rg1 is a main active ingredient extracted from ginseng, which is known for its age-delaying and antioxidant effects. Increasing evidence indicates that Rg1 exhibits anti-inflammatory properties in numerous diseases and may ameliorate oxidative damage and inflammation in many chronic liver diseases.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Chronic inflammatory injury in liver cells is an important pathological basis of many liver diseases. However, its mechanism remains unclear and therapeutic strategies to prevent its development need to be further explored. Thus, our study is to delve the protective effect and mechanism of Rg1 against chronic hepatic inflammatory injuries induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The chronic liver damage model in mice was build up by injecting intraperitoneally with LPS (200 μg/kg) for 21 days. Serum liver function indicators and levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were examined by using corresponding Kits. Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E), Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), and Masson stains were utilized to visualize hepatic histopathological damage, glycogen deposition, and liver fibrosis. The nuclear import of p-Nrf2 and the generation of Col4 in the liver were detected by IF, while IHC was employed to detect the expressions of NLRP3 and AIM2 in the hepatic. The Western blot and q-PCR were used to survey the expressions of proteins and mRNAs of fibrosis and apoptosis, and the expressions of Keap1, p-Nrf2 and NLRP3, NLRP1, AIM2 inflammasome-related proteins in mouse liver. The cell viability of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) was detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 to select the action concentration of LPS, and intracellular ROS generation was detected using a kit. The expressions of Nuclear Nrf2, HO-1, NQO1 and NLRP3, NLRP1, and AIM2 inflammasome-related proteins in HepG2 cells were detected by Western blot. Finally, the feasibility of the molecular interlinking between Rg1 and Nrf2 was demonstrated by molecular docking.

RESULTS

Rg1 treatment for 21 days decreased the levels of ALT, AST, and inflammatory factors of serum IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in mice induced by LPS. Pathological results indicated that Rg1 treatment obviously alleviated hepatocellular injury and apoptosis, inflammatory cell infiltration and liver fibrosis in LPS stimulated mice. Rg1 promoted Keap1 degradation and enhanced the expressions of p-Nrf2, HO-1 and decreased the levels of NLRP1, NLRP3, AIM2, cleaved caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-6 in livers caused by LPS. Furthermore, Rg1 effectively suppressed the rise of ROS in HepG2 cells induced by LPS, whereas inhibition of Nrf2 reversed the role of Rg1 in reducing the production of ROS and NLRP3, NLRP1, and AIM2 expressions in LPS-stimulated HepG2 cells. Finally, the molecular docking illustrated that Rg1 exhibits a strong affinity towards Nrf2.

CONCLUSION

The findings indicate that Rg1 significantly ameliorates chronic liver damage and fibrosis induced by LPS. The mechanism may be mediated through promoting the dissociation of Nrf2 from Keap1 and then activating Nrf2 signaling and further inhibiting NLRP3, NLRP1, and AIM2 inflammasomes in liver cells.

[Exploration and practice of cardio-oncology]

With the improvement of oncology diagnosis and treatment, the survival time of cancer patients has been significantly prolonged, and the cancer therapy-related cardiovascular toxicity such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and surgery are becoming more and more prominent, and it is in this context that the germ of Cardio-Oncology exploration has come into being. The multidisciplinary Cardio-Oncology team aims to establish a multidisciplinary prevention and control system to assess patients' baseline risk factors, individualized monitoring, and weighing the risk-benefit ratio of cancer therapy. At present, the connotation of the discipline of Cardio-Oncology has been expanded horizontally and deepened vertically in China, and Cardio-Oncology treatment centers have blossomed all over the country. Moreover, international and domestic scholars continue to improve Cardio-Oncology guidelines and consensus through their own practice, and develop artificial intelligence software to help the development of the discipline. It is believed that in the future, with the training of Cardio-Oncologists and the output of high-quality clinical research evidence, cardiovascular safety of cancer patients can be ensured more scientifically and effectively.

[Exploration and validation of optimal cut-off values for tPSA and fPSA/tPSA screening of prostate cancer at different ages]

Objective: To determine the total and age-specific cut-off values of total prostate specific antigen (tPSA) and the ratio of free PSA divided total PSA (fPSA/tPSA) for screening prostate cancer in China. Methods: Based on the Chinese Colorectal, Breast, Lung, Liver, and Stomach cancer Screening Trial (C-BLAST) and the Tianjin Common Cancer Case Cohort (TJ4C), males who were not diagnosed with any cancers at baseline since 2017 and received both tPSA and fPSA testes were selected. Based on Cox regression, the overall and age-specific (＜60, 60-＜70, and ≥70 years) accuracy and optimal cut-off values of tPSA and fPSA/tPSA ratio for screening prostate cancer were evaluated with time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve (tdROC) and area under curve (AUC). Bootstrap resampling was used to internally validate the stability of the optimal cut-off value, and the PLCO study was used to externally validate the accuracy under different cut-off values. Results: A total of 5 180 participants were included in the study, and after a median follow-up of 1.48 years, a total of 332 prostate cancer patients were included. In the total population, the tdAUC of tPSA and fPSA/tPSA screening for prostate cancer were 0.852 and 0.748, respectively, with the optimal cut-off values of 5.08 ng/ml and 0.173, respectively. After age stratification, the age specific cut-off values of tPSA in the <60, 60-<70, and ≥70 age groups were 3.13, 4.82, and 11.54 ng/ml, respectively, while the age-specific cut-off values of fPSA/tPSA were 0.153, 0.135, and 0.130, respectively. Under the age-specific cut-off values, the sensitivities of tPSA screening for prostate cancer in males <60, 60-70, and ≥70 years old were 92.3%, 82.0%, and 77.6%, respectively, while the specificities were 84.7%, 81.3%, and 75.4%, respectively. The age-specific sensitivities of fPSA/tPSA for screening prostate cancer were 74.4%, 53.3%, and 55.9%, respectively, while the specificities were 83.8%, 83.7%, and 83.7%, respectively. Both bootstrap's internal validation and PLCO external validation provided similar results. The combination of tPSA and fPSA/tPSA could further improve the accuracy of screening. Conclusion: To improve the screening effects, it is recommended that age-specific cut-off values of tPSA and fPSA/tPSA should be used to screen for prostate cancer in the general risk population.

Post-traumatic growth in later-life cognitive function? Evidence from the 1976 Great Tangshan Earthquake

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to explore the long-term impacts of exposure to earthquake in adolescence on later-life cognitive function in China.

METHODS

Data were from the 2015 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Our analytical sample comprised 4394 participants aged 49 to 78 from two birth cohorts born between 1937 and 1966: exposed cohort during adolescence (born between 1952 and 1966), and non-exposed cohort during adolescence (born between 1937 and 1951). We defined earthquake exposure as the exposure severity of the 1976 Great Tangshan Earthquake (GTE). We selected community environmental characteristics as our key moderators. A difference-in-differences (DID) method was employed to estimate the long-term impact of the GTE on later-life cognitive function.

RESULTS

We found that exposure to the earthquake during adolescence resulted in higher scores of later-life cognitive function (for males: β = 2.18; 95% CI: 0.70-3.66; for females: β = 1.22; 95% CI: 0.11-2.33). For males, this impact was moderated by community environmental characteristics including the old-age allowance program (β = 3.07; 95% CI: 1.94-4.19) and the condition of basic community infrastructures (β = 1.52; 95% CI: 0.84-2.19).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study supports the post-traumatic growth theory. This finding suggest that individuals with early-life traumatic exposure need to be focused on. Additionally, improving the conditions of community infrastructures and establishing a community environment with comfort and security may be pretty important for promoting cognitive function and post-traumatic growth.

[Therapeutic efficacy analysis of endoscopic combined with serological diagnosis strategy and endoscopic in G1 and G2 gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms]

Objective: To investigate the endoscopic combined serological diagnosis strategy for G1 and G2 gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms (G-NENs), and to evaluate the safety, short-term, and long-term efficacy of two endoscopic treatment procedures: endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 100 consecutive patients with G-NENs who were hospitalized at the Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from January 2011 to October 2023. These patients underwent endoscopic treatment, and propensity score matching (PSM) was used to compare clinicopathological characteristics, as well as short-term and long-term efficacy of lesions in the EMR group and ESD group before and after treatment. Results: Among the 100 patients with G-NENs, the median age was 54 years old. Before surgery, 29 cases underwent endoscopic combined serological examination, and 24 of them (82.2%) had abnormally elevated plasma chromogranin A. The combined diagnostic strategy for autoimmune atrophic gastritis (AIG) achieved a diagnostic accuracy of 100%(22/22). A total of 235 G-NEN lesions were included, with 84 in the ESD group and 151 in the EMR group. The median size of the lesions in the ESD group (5.0 mm) was significantly larger than that in the EMR group (2.0 mm, P＜0.001). Additionally, the ESD group had significantly more lesions with pathological grade G2[23.8%(20/84) vs. 1.3%(2/151), P＜0.001], infiltration depth reaching the submucosal layer [78.6%(66/84) vs. 51.0%(77/151), P＜0.001], and more T2 stage compared to the EMR group[15.5%(13/84) vs. 0.7%(1/151), P＜0.001]. After PSM, 49 pairs of lesions were successfully matched between the two groups. Following PSM, there were no significant differences in the en bloc resection rate [100.0%(49/49) vs. 100.0%(49/49)], complete resection rate [93.9%(46/49) vs. 100.0%(49/49)], and complication rate [0(0/49) vs. 4.1%(2/49)] between the two groups. During the follow-up period, no recurrence or distant metastasis was observed in any of the lesions in both groups. Conclusions: The combination of endoscopy and serology diagnostic strategy has the potential to enhance the accuracy of diagnosing G1 and G2 stage G-NENs and their background mucosa. Endoscopic resection surgery (EMR, ESD) is a proven and safe treatment approach for G1 and G2 stage G-NENs.

MiRNA-148a-containing GMSC-derived EVs modulate Treg/Th17 balance via IKKB/NF-κB pathway and treat a rheumatoid arthritis model

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have demonstrated potent immunomodulatory properties that have shown promise in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the inherent heterogeneity of MSCs triggered conflicting therapeutic outcomes, raising safety concerns and limiting their clinical application. This study aimed to investigate the potential of extracellular vesicles derived from human gingival mesenchymal stem cells (GMSC-EVs) as a therapeutic strategy for RA. Through in vivo experiments using an experimental RA model, our results demonstrated that GMSC-EVs selectively homed to inflamed joints and recovered Treg and Th17 cells balance, resulting in the reduction of arthritis progression. Our investigations also uncovered miR-148a-3p as a critical contributor to the Treg/Th17 balance modulation via IKKB/NF-κB signaling orchestrated by GMSC-EVs, which was subsequently validated in a model of human xenograft versus host disease (xGvHD). Furthermore, we successfully developed a humanized animal model by utilizing synovial fibroblasts obtained from patients with RA (RASFs). We found that GMSC-EVs impeded the invasiveness of RASFs and minimized cartilage destruction, indicating their potential therapeutic efficacy in the context of RA patients. Overall, the unique characteristics, including reduced immunogenicity, simplified administration, and inherent ability to target inflamed tissues, position GMSC-EVs as a viable alternative for RA and other autoimmune diseases.

Targeting PRL phosphatases in hematological malignancies

INTRODUCTION

Phosphatase of regenerating liver (PRL) family proteins, also known as protein tyrosine phosphatase 4A (PTP4A), have been implicated in many types of cancers. The PRL family of phosphatases consists of three members, PRL1, PRL2, and PRL3. PRLs have been shown to harbor oncogenic potentials and are highly expressed in a variety of cancers. Given their roles in cancer progression and metastasis, PRLs are potential targets for anticancer therapies. However, additional studies are needed to be performed to fully understand the roles of PRLs in blood cancers.

AREAS COVERED

In this review, we will summarize recent studies of PRLs in normal and malignant hematopoiesis, the role of PRLs in regulating various signaling pathways, and the therapeutic potentials of targeting PRLs in hematological malignancies. We will also discuss how to improve current PRL inhibitors for cancer treatment.

EXPERT OPINION

Although PRL inhibitors show promising therapeutic effects in preclinical studies of different types of cancers, moving PRL inhibitors from bench to bedside is still challenging. More potent and selective PRL inhibitors are needed to target PRLs in hematological malignancies and improve treatment outcomes.

The association between oxidative balance score and frailty in adults across a wide age spectrum: NHANES 2007-2018

Background: Frailty has been one of the most serious global public health challenges we will ever face. Oxidative stress is associated with the pathogenesis of frailty, and may be accurately reflected by the oxidative balance score (OBS). However, there have been no studies examining the effect of OBS on frailty. Therefore, we aimed to explore the association between OBS and frailty and whether there was an interaction between the outcomes. Methods: 22 914 participants aged over 20 years taking part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in 2007-2018 were involved in the study. Sixteen dietary factors and four lifestyle factors were selected to score the OBS. A modified 36-item deficit cumulative frailty index (FI) was used to assess the degree of frailty. The association between OBS and frailty was analyzed using binary logistic regression. Subgroup analysis and interaction tests were used to investigate whether this association was stable across populations. Results: A negative association between OBS and the prevalence of frailty was found in this study. There was also an interaction between OBS and age in their association with frailty. High OBS was significantly and negatively associated with the prevalence of frailty in the 20-39 and 40-64 age groups. In addition, higher OBS combined with a population in the 20-39 age group resulted in a stronger negative association with frailty. Conclusion: High OBS was significantly associated with lower odds of frailty. An interaction existed between OBS and age. Individuals, especially in relatively young populations, are advised to increase OBS through greater intake of antioxidant nutrients and healthier lifestyles, thereby reducing the adverse effects of frailty.

Assessing the impact of agriculture, coal mining, and ecological restoration on water sustainability in the Mu Us Sandyland

Balancing water demand for socio-economic development and ecosystem stability presents a challenge for regional sustainable management, especially in drylands. Previous studies have indicated that large-scale ecological restoration projects (ERPs) lead to a decline in terrestrial water storage (TWS) in the Mu Us Sandyland (MUS). However, the effects of other human activities (e.g., cropland reclamation, coal mining) on water resources remain unclear, raising concerns regarding water crisis and human-natural system sustainability. Through the utilization of coal mine location data, we found that the impact of coal mass loss on the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) products cannot be ignored in MUS, especially in the coal-rich northeastern part. Combining these data with auxiliary datasets, we observed a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in TWS (-0.85 cm yr-1) and groundwater storage (GWS, -0.95 cm yr-1) in the MUS, with human activities accounting for 79.23 % of TWS and 90.45 % of GWS reductions, primarily due to increased agricultural and industrial water consumption. Agricultural water consumption increased 2.23 times from 2001 to 2020, attributed to enhanced water use intensity (62.6 %) and cropland expansion (37.4 %). Industrial water consumption in Shenmu, a representative coal county, experienced a 4.16-fold rise between 2001 and 2020. Despite these challenges, local governments have alleviated water stress, ensured food security, and increased household income by comprehensive management strategies, such as enhancing water-saving technology and enforcing stringent policies. Previous studies have overestimated the amount of water resources consumed by ERPs. However, ERPs has played a critical role in stabilizing the regional ecological environment and ensuring the region as a vital food and energy supplier. Our findings can guide for socio-economic development and water management policies in similar regions.

Detonation Performance of Insensitive Nitrogen-Rich Nitroenamine Energetic Materials Predicted from First-Principles Reactive Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Because of the excellent combination of high detonation and low sensitivity properties of the 1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethylene (FOX-7) energetic material (EM), it is useful to explore new energetic derivatives that start with the FOX-7 structure. However, most such derivatives are highly sensitive, making them unsuitable for EM applications. An exception is the new nitroenamine EM, 1,1-diamino-2-tetrazole-2-nitroethene (FOX-7-T) (synthesized by replacing a nitro group with a tetrazole ring), which exhibits good stability. Unfortunately, FOX-7-T shows an unexpected much lower detonation performance than FOX-7, despite its higher nitrogen content. To achieve an atomistic understanding of the insensitivity and detonation performance of FOX-7 and FOX-7-T, we carried out reactive molecular dynamics (RxMD) using the ReaxFF reactive force field and combined quantum mechanics MD (QM-MD). We found that the functional group plays a significant role in the initial decomposition reaction. For FOX-7, the initial decomposition involves only simple hydrogen transfer reactions at high temperature, whereas for FOX-7-T, the initial reaction begins at much lower temperature with a tetrazole ring breaking to form N2, followed by many subsequent reactions. Our first-principles-based simulations predicted that FOX-7-T has 34% lower CJ pressure, 15% lower detonation velocity, and 45% lower CJ temperature than FOX-7. This is partly because a larger portion of the FOX-7-T mass gets trapped into condensed phase carbon clusters at the CJ point, suppressing generation of gaseous CO2 and N2 final products, leading to reduced energy delivery. Our findings suggest that the oxygen balance is an important factor to be considered in the design of the next generation of high-nitrogen-containing EMs.

Radon and Lung Cancer: Current Status and Future Prospects

Beyond tobacco smoking, radon takes its place as the second most significant contributor to lung cancer, excluding hereditary and other biologically related factors. Radon and its byproducts play a pivotal role in exposing humans to elevated levels of natural radiation. Approximately 10-20% of lung cancer cases worldwide can be attributed to radon exposure, leading to between 3% and 20% of all lung cancer-related deaths. Nevertheless, a knowledge gap persists regarding the association between radon and lung cancer, impeding radon risk reduction initiatives globally. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the current state of research in epidemiology, cell biology, dosimetry, and risk modeling concerning radon exposure and its relevance to lung cancer. It also delves into methods for measuring radon concentrations, monitoring radon risk zones, and identifying priorities for future research.

A bamboo bHLH transcription factor PeRHL4 has dual functions in enhancing drought and phosphorus starvation tolerance

ROOTHAIRLESS (RHL) is a typical type of basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor (TF), which has been reported to participate in various aspects of plant growth and in response to stress. However, the functions of RHL subfamily members in moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) remain unknown. In this study, we identified 14 bHLH genes (PeRHL1-PeRHL14) in moso bamboo. Phylogenetic tree and conserved motif analyses showed that PeRHLs were clustered into three clades. The expression analysis suggested that PeRHL4 was co-expressed with PeTIP1-1 and PePHT1-1 in moso bamboo. Moreover, these three genes were all up-regulated in moso bamboo under drought stress and phosphate starvation. Y1H, DLR and EMSA assays demonstrated that PeRHL4 could activate the expression of PeTIP1-1 and PePHT1-1. Furthermore, overexpression of PeRHL4 could increase both drought and phosphate starvation tolerance in transgenic rice, in which the expression of OsTIPs and OsPHT1s was significantly improved, respectively. Overall, our results indicated that drought stress and phosphate starvation could induce the expression of PeRHL4, which in turn activated downstream genes involved in water and phosphate transport. Collectively, our findings reveal that PeRHL4 acting as a positive regulator contributes to enhancing the tolerance of moso bamboo under drought stress and phosphate starvation.

[Clinical analysis of 4 cases of acute nitrite food poisoning]

Nitrite has high toxicity and is commonly found in food poisoning. Poisoned patients may experience cyanosis of the skin and lips, nausea, vomiting, and difficulty breathing or coma may occur in severe cases. Four cases of nitrite poisoning patients who were transferred from primary hospitals to the Third Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, the First People's Hospital of Baiyin were reported. After symptomatic supportive treatment with special antidote methylene blue, oxygen inhalation, blood purification, etc., the patients recovered and were discharged after 4 days of treatment.

Synergistic effects of tetramethylpyrazine and astragaloside IV on spinal cord injury via alteration of astrocyte A1/A2 polarization through the Sirt1-NF-κB pathway

OBJECTIVE

Reactive astrocytes are hallmarks of traumatic spinal cord injury (T-SCI) and are associated with neuropathic pain (NP). Mediating the functional phenotype of reactive astrocytes helps neural repair and ameliorates NP in T-SCI. Here, we aimed to explore the role of tetramethylpyrazine (TMPZ) and astragaloside IV (AGS-IV) in astrocyte polarization and the underlying molecular mechanism in T-SCI.

METHODS

Primary cultured astrocytes from mice were treated with LPS or conditioned medium from "M1" polarized microglia (M1-CM), followed by TMPZ and/or AGS-IV administration. The expression levels of "A1" astrocyte-specific markers (including C3, GBP2, Serping1, iNOS), "A2" astrocyte-specific markers (including S100a10 and PTX3), Sirt1 and NF-κB were detected via western blotting. TNF-α and IL-1β levels were detected via ELISA. RT-PCR was used to evaluate OIP5-AS1 and miR-34a expression. si-OIP5-AS1 or the Sirt1 inhibitor EX-527 was administered to astrocytes. A spinal cord injury (SCI) model was constructed in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Alterations in astrocytic "A1/A2" polarization in the spinal cord tissues were evaluated.

RESULTS

LPS and M1-CM induced "A1" polarization of primary astrocytes. TMPZ and ASG IV could substantially reduce the expression of "A1"-related biomarkers but enhance "A2"-related biomarkers. OIP5-AS1 and Sirt1 levels were reduced in "A1"-polarized astrocytes, while miR-34a and p-NF-κB p65 were elevated. TMPZ and ASG IV enhanced OIP5-AS1 and Sirt1 levels and, in contrast, attenuated the changes in miR-34a and p-NF-κB p65 levels. Notably, the TMPZ and ASG IV combination had stronger effects on astrocyte polarization than the single treatment with TMPZ or ASG IV. OIP5-AS1 knockdown and Sirt1 inhibition both reversed the regulatory effects of TMPZ and ASG IV in astrocytic polarization. According to the in vivo experiments, the expression of "A1"-associated markers was enhanced in the spinal cords of SCI rats. The TMPZ and ASG IV combination reduced astrocytic "A1" polarization and enhanced astrocytic "A2" polarization. The expression of lncRNA OIP5-AS1 and Sirt1 was enhanced by TMPZ and ASG IV, while that of miR-34a and p-NF-κB p65 was inhibited.

CONCLUSION

The combination of TMPZ and ASG IV can ameliorate dysregulated astrocytic polarization induced by spinal cord injury by affecting the lncRNA OIP5-AS1-Sirt1-NF-κB pathway.

Clinical values of different specimen preparation methods for the diagnosis of lung cancer by EBUS-TBNA

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

EBUS-TBNA has emerged as an important minimally invasive procedure for the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of different specimen preparation from aspirates on the diagnosis of lung cancer.

METHODS

181 consecutive patients with known or suspected lung cancer accompanied by hilar / mediastinal lymphadenopathy underwent EBUS-TBNA from January 2019 to December 2022. Specimens obtained by EBUS-TBNA were processed by three methods: Traditional smear cytology of aspirates (TSC), liquid-based cytology of aspirates (LBC) and histopathology of core biopsies.

RESULTS

EBUS-TBNA was performed in 181 patients on 213 lymph nodes, the total positive rate of the combination of three specimen preparation methods was 80.7%. The diagnostic positive rate of histopathology was 72.3%, TSC was 68.1%, and LBC was 65.3%, no significant differences was observed (p = 0.29); however, statistically significant difference was noted between the combination of three preparation methods and any single specimen preparation methods (p = 0.002). The diagnostic sensitivity of histopathology combined with TSC and histopathology combined with LBC were 96.5 and 94.8%, the specificity was 95.0% and 97.5%, the PPV was 98.8% and 99.4%, the NPV was 86.4% and 81.2%, the diagnostic accuracy was 96.2% and 95.3%, respectively; The sensitivity and accuracy of above methods were higher than that of single specimen preparation, but lower than that of combination of three preparation methods.

CONCLUSION

When EBUS-TBNA is used for the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer, histopathology combined with TSC can achieve enough diagnostic efficiency and better cost-effectiveness.

Oncological Outcomes of Transoral Laser Microsurgery for Early Stage Glottic Cancer with Involvement of the Anterior Commissure

OBJECTIVES

To assess the value of carbon dioxide transoral laser microsurgery (CO2 TOLMS) for early-stage glottic cancer with special regard to involvement of the anterior commissure (AC).

STUDY DESIGN

Single-center retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Grade-A tertiary hospital.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of patients with early-stage (Tis-T2) glottic cancer who underwent CO2 TOLMS. All patients had at least 2 years of follow-up. The univariate and multivariate survival analyses were used to identify the risk factors for recurrence and the Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze OS and DSS rates.

RESULTS

A total of 102 patients were included in the study. Eleven patients (10.78%) had recurrence. The univariate analysis showed that the recurrence was associated with the AC classification, T staging, tumor size, and tobacco use (P < .05). However, on multivariate analysis, the AC classification was the only independent risk factor for recurrence (P < .001, HR = 3.179). AC classification were distributed as follows: 59 (57.84%) AC0, 29 (28.43%) AC1, 8 (7.84%) AC2, and 6 (5.88%) AC3, 2-year/5-year OS and DSS rates were progressively reduced in the AC0, AC1, AC2, and AC3 groups (P < .001). At the same T staging, the OS rates incrementally decreased as the level of involvement of the AC became higher (P = .004).

CONCLUSION

CO2 TOLMS is an effective treatment for early-stage glottic cancer. AC involvement is an independent risk factors for recurrence and poor prognosis. The AC classification system may be better at grading the prognosis of patients with early-stage glottic cancer and has prognostic value independent of T staging.

CircTMEM165 facilitates endothelial repair by modulating mitochondrial fission via miR-192/SCP2 in vitro and in vivo

Constitutive explorations indicate a correlation between circular RNAs (circRNAs) and cardiovascular diseases. However, the involvement of circRNAs in endothelial recuperation and in-stent restenosis (ISR) remains underexplored. CircTMEM165 has first been reported to be highly expressed in hypoxic human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Here, we identified that circTMEM165 was downregulated in ISR patients, inversely correlating with ISR severity. Functionally, circTMEM165 was found to be abundant in endothelial cells, inhibiting inflammation, and adhesion. Particularly, we first observed that circTMEM165 could alleviate HUVECs apoptosis and mitochondrial fission induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Mechanistically, circTMEM165, as a miR-192-3p sponge, enhancing SCP2 expression, which serves as a critical regulator of HUVECs biological functions. Moreover, in vivo, circTMEM165 attenuated intimal hyperplasia and facilitated repair following classic rat carotid artery balloon injury model. These findings investigated the circTMEM165-miR-192-3p-SCP2 axis as a critical determinant of endothelial health and a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for vascular disorders.

Observation of Structures in the Processes e^{+}e^{-}→ωχ_{c1} and ωχ_{c2}

We present measurements of the Born cross sections for the processes e^{+}e^{-}→ωχ_{c1} and ωχ_{c2} at center-of-mass energies sqrt[s] from 4.308 to 4.951 GeV. The measurements are performed with data samples corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 11.0  fb^{-1} collected with the BESIII detector operating at the Beijing Electron Positron Collider storage ring. Assuming the e^{+}e^{-}→ωχ_{c2} signals come from a single resonance, the mass and width are determined to be M=(4413.6±9.0±0.8)  MeV/c^{2} and Γ=(110.5±15.0±2.9)  MeV, respectively, which is consistent with the parameters of the well-established resonance ψ(4415). In addition, we also use one single resonance to describe the e^{+}e^{-}→ωχ_{c1} line shape and determine the mass and width to be M=(4544.2±18.7±1.7)  MeV/c^{2} and Γ=(116.1±33.5±1.7)  MeV, respectively. The structure of this line shape, observed for the first time, requires further understanding.

Evaluation of the Optimal Duration of Thumb Cupping Therapy for Frozen Shoulder by Thermal Metabolic Imaging

Objective

To evaluate the optimal duration of thumb cupping therapy for frozen shoulder (FS) by thermal metabolic imaging (TMI) and to provide clinical evidence.

Methods

From April 2022 to August 2023, 120 patients with FS who received thumb cupping therapy at our hospital were randomized into groups A, B, and C for 5, 10, and 15 minutes of cupping, respectively. The clinical efficacy, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, and shoulder range of motion (ROM) of the three groups were compared, and the skin blood flow and the incidence of adverse reactions during treatment were analyzed. Finally, the temperature difference improvement efficiency (i.e., higher TMI after treatment than before treatment) was compared among the three groups.

Results

Groups B and C showed higher overall clinical efficacy than group A (P < .05). After treatment, lower VAS scores were determined in groups B and C compared with group A, whereas the ROM values of groups A and C were smaller than those of group B Group C had the greatest skin blood flow and the highest incidence of adverse reactions (P < .05), while group B had the highest temperature difference improvement efficiency (P < .05).

Conclusions

Through TMI, it is confirmed that thumb cupping therapy with a duration of 10 min contributes to the highest efficacy and safety for patients with FS.

Enhanced interactions among gut mycobiomes with the deterioration of glycemic control

BACKGROUND

The gut mycobiome is closely linked to health and disease; however, its role in the progression of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains obscure. Here, a multi-omics approach was employed to explore the role of intestinal fungi in the deterioration of glycemic control.

METHODS

350 participants without hypoglycemic therapies were invited for a standard oral glucose tolerance test to determine their status of glycemic control. The gut mycobiome was identified through internal transcribed spacer sequencing, host genetics were determined by genotyping array, and plasma metabolites were measured with untargeted liquid chromatography mass spectrometry.

FINDINGS

The richness of fungi was higher, whereas its dissimilarity was markedly lower, in participants with T2DM. Moreover, the diversity and composition of fungi were closely associated with insulin sensitivity and pancreatic β-cell functions. With the exacerbation of glycemic control, the co-occurrence network among fungus taxa became increasingly complex, and the complexity of the interaction network was inversely associated with insulin sensitivity. Mendelian randomization analysis further demonstrated that the Archaeorhizomycetes class, Fusarium genus, and Neoascochyta genus were causally linked to impaired glucose metabolism. Furthermore, integrative analysis with metabolomics showed that increased 4-hydroxy-2-oxoglutaric acid, ketoleucine, lysophosphatidylcholine (20:3/0:0), and N-lactoyl-phenylalanine, but decreased lysophosphatidylcholine (O-18:2), functioned as key molecules linking the adverse effect of Fusarium genus on insulin sensitivity.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study uncovers a strong association between disturbance in gut fungi and the progression of T2DM and highlights the potential of targeting the gut mycobiome for the management of T2DM.

FUNDINGS

This study was supported by MOST and NSFC of China.

Evaluation of retinal and choroidal thickness changes in overweight and obese adults without ocular symptoms by swept-source optical coherence tomography

AIM

To evaluate the relationship of overweight and obesity with retinal and choroidal thickness in adults without ocular symptoms by swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT).

METHODS

According to the body mass index (BMI) results, the adults enrolled in the cross-sectional study were divided into the normal group (18.50≤BMI<25.00 kg/m2), the overweight group (25.00≤BMI<30.00 kg/m2), and the obesity group (BMI≥30.00 kg/m2). The one-way ANOVA and the Chi-square test were used for comparisons. Pearson's correlation analysis was used to evaluate the relationships between the measured variables.

RESULTS

This research covered the left eyes of 3 groups of 434 age- and sex-matched subjects each: normal, overweight, and obesity. The mean BMI was 22.20±1.67, 26.82±1.38, and 32.21±2.35 kg/m2 in normal, overweight and obesity groups, respectively. The choroid was significantly thinner in both the overweight and obesity groups compared to the normal group (P<0.05 for all), while the retinal thickness of the three groups did not differ significantly. Pearson's correlation analysis showed that BMI was significantly negatively correlated with choroidal thickness, but no significant correlation was observed between BMI and retinal thickness.

CONCLUSION

Choroidal thickness is decreased in people with overweight or obesity. Research on changes in choroidal thickness contributes to the understanding of the mechanisms of certain ocular disorders in overweight and obese adults.

Sensitive detection of HSP70 using a current-amplified biosensor based on antibody-loaded PS-AuNPs@Cys/Au modified ITO chip

A biosensing electrochemical platform for heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) has been developed by integrating a three-electrode indium tin oxide (ITO) on a chip. The platform includes modifications to the reference electrode and working electrode for the detection of HSP70. The new platform is constructed by assembly of HSP70 antibody on PS-AuNPs@Cys/Au indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode to create a high HSP70 sensitive surface. The PS-AuNPs@Cys/Au indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode is obtained by immersing the ITO electrode into the PS-AuNPs@Cys solution and performing constant potential deposition at -1.4 V (Ag/AgCl). The PS-AuNPs@Cys/Au film deposited on ITO glass provides a desirable substrate for the immobilization of the HSP70 antibody and improves the loading of antibody between PS-AuNPs@Cys/Au and the electrode resulting in a significant amplification. Under optimal conditions, the fabricated sensor demonstrates a linear range extending from 0.1 ng mL- 1 to 1000 ng mL- 1, with an impressive detection limit of 25.7 pg mL- 1 (S/N = 3). The developed immunoassay method successfully detected the HSP70 content in normal human blood samples and outperformed the ELISA method commonly used for clinical sample analysis.

Construction of atom co-sharing Bi/Bi4O5Br2 nanosheet heterojunction for plasmonic-enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic antibacterial activity

The rapid advancement of photodynamic therapy (PDT) antibacterial materials has led to promising alternatives to antibiotics for treating bacterial infections. However, antibacterial drugs have poor light absorption and utilization rates, which limits their practical application. Constructing two-dimensional (2D) heterojunctions from materials with matching photophysical properties has emerged as a highly effective strategy for achieving high-efficiency photo-antibacterial performance. Here, we designed and prepared an atom co-sharing Bi/Bi4O5Br2 nanosheet heterojunction by a simple in situ reduction. This heterojunction material combines outstanding biocompatibility with excellent bactericidal efficiency, which exceeded 90 % against Escherichia coli (a Gram-negative bacterium) and Staphylococcus aureus (a Gram-positive bacterium) under visible light irradiation, around nine-fold higher than that with pure Bi4O5Br2 nanosheets. The results suggest that localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of shared Bi atoms on the Bi4O5Br2 nanosheets promotes light utilization and the separation and transfer of photo-generated charges, thus producing more abundant reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can partake in the PDT antibacterial effect. Our study underscores the potential utility of LSPR-enhanced Bi-based nanosheet heterojunctions for safe and efficient PDT to combat bacterial infections.

Page A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study of gut microbiota and cerebral small vessel disease

BACKGROUND

The causal nature of gut microbiota and cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is still obscure regardless of evidence supporting their observational correlations.

OBJECTIVE

The primary objective of this research is to investigate the potentially pathogenic or protective causal impacts of specific gut microbiota on various neuroimaging subtypes of CSVD.

METHODS

We obtained the latest summary-level genome-wide databases for gut microbiota and nine CSVD traits. The univariable and multivariable Mendelian randomization (MR) studies were conducted to examine the possible causal link between exposure and outcome. Meanwhile, we conducted sensitivity analyses sequentially, containing the heterogeneity, pleiotropy, and leave-one-out analysis. Additionally, to clarify the potential bidirectional causality, the causality from CSVD traits to the identified gut microbiota was implemented through reverse MR analysis.

RESULTS

The univariable MR analysis identified 22 genetically predicted bacterial abundances that were correlated with CSVD traits. While conditioning on macronutrient dietary compositions, two suggestive relationships were retained using the multivariable MR analysis. Specifically, the class Negativicutes and order Selenomonadales exhibited a negative causal association with strictly lobar cerebral microbleeds, one neuroimaging trait of CSVD. There is insufficient evidence indicating the presence of heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy. Furthermore, the identified causal relationship was not driven by any single nucleotide polymorphism. The results of the reverse MR analysis did not reveal any statistically significant causality from CSVD traits to the identified gut microbiota.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study indicated several suggestive causal effects from gut microbiota to different neuroimaging subtypes of CSVD. These findings provided a latent understanding of the pathogenesis of CSVD from the perspective of the gut-brain axis.

Effect of 5:2 Regimens: Energy-Restricted Diet or Low-Volume High-Intensity Interval Training Combined With Resistance Exercise on Glycemic Control and Cardiometabolic Health in Adults With Overweight/Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes-A Three-Arm Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to examine the effects of a 5:2 regimens diet (2 days per week of energy restriction by formula diet) or an exercise (2 days per week of high-intensity interval training and resistance training) intervention compared with routine lifestyle education (control) on glycemic control and cardiometabolic health among adults with overweight/obesity and type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This two-center, open-label, three-arm, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial recruited 326 participants with overweight/obesity and type 2 diabetes and randomized them into 12 weeks of diet intervention (n = 109), exercise intervention (n = 108), or lifestyle education (control) (n = 109). The primary outcome was the change of glycemic control measured as glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) between the diet or exercise intervention groups and the control group after the 12-week intervention.

RESULTS

The diet intervention significantly reduced HbA1c level (%) after the 12-week intervention (-0.72, 95% CI -0.95 to -0.48) compared with the control group (-0.37, 95% CI -0.60 to -0.15) (diet vs. control -0.34, 95% CI -0.58 to -0.11, P = 0.007). The reduction in HbA1c level in the exercise intervention group (-0.46, 95% CI -0.70 to -0.23) did not significantly differ from the control group (exercise vs. control -0.09, 95% CI -0.32 to 0.15, P = 0.47). The exercise intervention group was superior in maintaining lean body mass. Both diet and exercise interventions induced improvements in adiposity and hepatic steatosis.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that the medically supervised 5:2 energy-restricted diet could provide an alternative strategy for improving glycemic control and that the exercise regimen could improve body composition, although it inadequately improved glycemic control.

Unusual immunosuppressive pyridine-containing bisnor- (c23), tetranor- (c21) and pentanor- (c20) sesterterpenoids from Tibetan Leucosceptrum canum

An unusual pyridine-containing sesterterpenoid, leucosceptrodine (1), and five new nor-leucosceptrane sesterterpenoids, including bisnor- (C23, 2), tetranor- (C21, 3) and pentanor- (C20, 4-6) skeletons, were isolated from the leaves of Tibetan Leucosceptrum canum. Their structures including their absolute configurations were determined by extensive spectroscopic analyses and quantum chemical calculations. A single crystal of one epimer (5) was crystallized from a pair of inseparable epimers, and its structure including its absolute configuration was determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The immunosuppressive activities of compounds 1-4 with different potencies were evaluated by inhibiting the secretion of cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 in LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages.

Ginsenoside Rg1 alleviates chronic inflammation-induced neuronal ferroptosis and cognitive impairments via regulation of AIM2 - Nrf2 signaling pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ginseng is a valuable herb in traditional Chinese medicine. Modern research has shown that it has various benefits, including tonifying vital energy, nourishing and strengthening the body, calming the mind, improving cognitive function, regulating fluids, and returning blood pressure, etc. Rg1 is a primary active component of ginseng. It protects hippocampal neurons, improves synaptic plasticity, enhances cognitive function, and boosts immunity. Furthermore, it exhibits anti-aging and anti-fatigue properties and holds great potential for preventing and managing neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs).

AIM OF THE STUDY

The objective of this study was to examine the role of Rg1 in treating chronic inflammatory NDDs and its molecular mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In vivo, we investigated the protective effects of Rg1 against chronic neuroinflammation and cognitive deficits in mice induced by 200 μg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 21 days using behavioral tests, pathological sections, Western blot, qPCR and immunostaining. In vitro experiments involved the stimulation of HT22 cells with 10 μg/ml of LPS, verification of the therapeutic effect of Rg1, and elucidation of its potential mechanism of action using H2DCFDA staining, BODIPY™ 581/591 C11, JC-1 staining, Western blot, and immunostaining.

RESULTS

Firstly, it was found that Rg1 significantly improved chronic LPS-induced behavioral and cognitive dysfunction in mice. Further studies showed that Rg1 significantly attenuated LPS-induced neuronal damage by reducing levels of IL-6, IL-1β and ROS, and inhibiting AIM2 inflammasome. Furthermore, chronic LPS exposure induced the onset of neuronal ferroptosis by increasing the lipid peroxidation product MDA and regulating the ferroptosis-associated proteins Gpx4, xCT, FSP1, DMT1 and TfR, which were reversed by Rg1 treatment. Additionally, Rg1 was found to activate Nrf2 and its downstream antioxidant enzymes, such as HO1 and NQO1, both in vivo and in vitro. In vitro studies also showed that the Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 could inhibit the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-ferroptosis effects of Rg1.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that Rg1 administration ameliorated chronic LPS-induced cognitive deficits and neuronal ferroptosis in mice by inhibiting neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. The underlying mechanisms may be related to the inhibition of AIM2 inflammasome and activation of Nrf2 signaling. These findings provide valuable insights into the treatment of chronic neuroinflammation and associated NDDs.

The alteration of the structure and macroscopic mechanical response of porcine patellar tendon by elastase digestion

Background: The treatment of patellar tendon injury has always been an unsolved problem, and mechanical characterization is very important for its repair and reconstruction. Elastin is a contributor to mechanics, but it is not clear how it affects the elasticity, viscoelastic properties, and structure of patellar tendon. Methods: The patellar tendons from six fresh adult experimental pigs were used in this study and they were made into 77 samples. The patellar tendon was specifically degraded by elastase, and the regional mechanical response and structural changes were investigated by: (1) Based on the previous study of elastase treatment conditions, the biochemical quantification of collagen, glycosaminoglycan and total protein was carried out; (2) The patellar tendon was divided into the proximal, central, and distal regions, and then the axial tensile test and stress relaxation test were performed before and after phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or elastase treatment; (3) The dynamic constitutive model was established by the obtained mechanical data; (4) The structural relationship between elastin and collagen fibers was analyzed by two-photon microscopy and histology. Results: There was no statistical difference in mechanics between patellar tendon regions. Compared with those before elastase treatment, the low tensile modulus decreased by 75%-80%, the high tensile modulus decreased by 38%-47%, and the transition strain was prolonged after treatment. For viscoelastic behavior, the stress relaxation increased, the initial slope increased by 55%, the saturation slope increased by 44%, and the transition time increased by 25% after enzyme treatment. Elastin degradation made the collagen fibers of patellar tendon become disordered and looser, and the fiber wavelength increased significantly. Conclusion: The results of this study show that elastin plays an important role in the mechanical properties and fiber structure stability of patellar tendon, which supplements the structure-function relationship information of patellar tendon. The established constitutive model is of great significance to the prediction, repair and replacement of patellar tendon injury. In addition, human patellar tendon has a higher elastin content, so the results of this study can provide supporting information on the natural properties of tendon elastin degradation and guide the development of artificial patellar tendon biomaterials.

Efficacy and safety of bispecific antibodies vs. immune checkpoint blockade combination therapy in cancer: a real-world comparison

Emerging tumor immunotherapy methods encompass bispecific antibodies (BSABs), immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), and adoptive cell immunotherapy. BSABs belong to the antibody family that can specifically recognize two different antigens or epitopes on the same antigen. These antibodies demonstrate superior clinical efficacy than monoclonal antibodies, indicating their role as a promising tumor immunotherapy option. Immune checkpoints are also important in tumor immunotherapy. Programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) is a widely acknowledged immune checkpoint target with effective anti-tumor activity. PD-1 inhibitors have demonstrated notable therapeutic efficacy in treating hematological and solid tumors; however, more than 50% of patients undergoing this treatment exhibit a poor response. However, ICI-based combination therapies (ICI combination therapies) have been demonstrated to synergistically increase anti-tumor effects and immune response rates. In this review, we compare the clinical efficacy and side effects of BSABs and ICI combination therapies in real-world tumor immunotherapy, aiming to provide evidence-based approaches for clinical research and personalized tumor diagnosis and treatment.

Expert consensus on pediatric orthodontic therapies of malocclusions in children

Malocclusion, identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of three major oral diseases, profoundly impacts the dental-maxillofacial functions, facial esthetics, and long-term development of ~260 million children in China. Beyond its physical manifestations, malocclusion also significantly influences the psycho-social well-being of these children. Timely intervention in malocclusion can foster an environment conducive to dental-maxillofacial development and substantially decrease the incidence of malocclusion or reduce the severity and complexity of malocclusion in the permanent dentition, by mitigating the negative impact of abnormal environmental influences on the growth. Early orthodontic treatment encompasses accurate identification and treatment of dental and maxillofacial morphological and functional abnormalities during various stages of dental-maxillofacial development, ranging from fetal stages to the early permanent dentition phase. From an economic and societal standpoint, the urgency for effective early orthodontic treatments for malocclusions in childhood cannot be overstated, underlining its profound practical and social importance. This consensus paper discusses the characteristics and the detrimental effects of malocclusion in children, emphasizing critical need for early treatment. It elaborates on corresponding core principles and fundamental approaches in early orthodontics, proposing comprehensive guidance for preventive and interceptive orthodontic treatment, serving as a reference for clinicians engaged in early orthodontic treatment.

Tripedal DNA Walker as a Signal Amplifier Combined with a Potential-Resolved Multicolor Electrochemiluminescence Strategy for Ultrasensitive Detection of Prostate Cancer Staging Indicators

A multicolor electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor based on a closed bipolar electrode (BPE) array was proposed for the rapid and intuitive analysis of three prostate cancer staging indicators. First, [Irpic-OMe], [Ir(ppy)2(acac)], and [Ru(bpy)3]2+ were applied as blue, green, and red ECL emitters, respectively, whose mixed ECL emission colors covered the whole visible region by varying the applied voltages. Afterward, we designed a simple Mg2+-dependent DNAzyme (MNAzyme)-driven tripedal DNA walker (TD walker) to release three output DNAs. Immediately after, three output DNAs were added to the cathodic reservoirs of the BPE for incubation. After that, we found that the emission colors from the anode of the BPE changed as a driving voltage of 8.0 V was applied, mainly due to changes in the interfacial potential and faradaic currents at the two poles of the BPE. Via optimization of the experimental parameters, cutoff values of such three indicators at different clinical stages could be identified instantly with the naked eye, and standard precision swatches with multiple indicators could be prepared. Finally, in order to precisely determine the prostate cancer stage, the multicolor ECL device was used for clinical analysis, and the resulting images were then compared with standard swatches, laying the way for accurate prostate cancer therapy.

Intestinal flora: New perspective of type 2 diabetes

Diabetes comprises a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia stemming from various factors. Current diabetes management primarily focuses on blood glucose control, yet it is inherently progressive, necessitating increased reliance on exogenous blood glucose control methods over time. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore novel intervention strategies addressing both diabetes and its complications. The human intestinal microbiota, often referred to as the "second genome", exhibits significant diversity and plays a pivotal role in insulin resistance, glucose and lipid metabolism, and inflammatory response. Notably, Li and Guo have elucidated the involvement of intestinal flora in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and proposed a novel therapeutic approach targeting intestinal microbes. This advancement enhances our comprehension of the multifaceted and multi-target regulation of T2DM by intestinal microflora, thereby offering fresh avenues for understanding its pathogenesis and clinical management. This letter briefly summarizes the role of intestinal flora in T2DM based on findings from animal experiments and clinical studies. Additionally, it discusses the potential clinical applications and challenges associated with targeting intestinal flora as therapeutic interventions.

Using strain to uncover the interplay between two- and three-dimensional charge density waves in high-temperature superconducting YBa2Cu3Oy

Uniaxial pressure provides an efficient approach to control charge density waves in YBa2Cu3Oy. It can enhance the correlation volume of ubiquitous short-range two-dimensional charge-density-wave correlations, and induces a long-range three-dimensional charge density wave, otherwise only accessible at large magnetic fields. Here, we use x-ray diffraction to study the strain dependence of these charge density waves and uncover direct evidence for a form of competition between them. We show that this interplay is qualitatively described by including strain effects in a nonlinear sigma model of competing superconducting and charge-density-wave orders. Our analysis suggests that strain stabilizes the 3D charge density wave in the regions between disorder-pinned domains of 2D charge density waves, and that the two orders compete at the boundaries of these domains. No signatures of discommensurations nor of pair density waves are observed. From a broader perspective, our results underscore the potential of strain tuning as a powerful tool for probing competing orders in quantum materials.

Structure and Properties of Epoxy Resin/Graphene Oxide Composites Prepared from Silicon Dioxide-Modified Graphene Oxide

In this study, graphene oxide (GO) was modified via electrostatic interactions and chemical grafting by silica (SiO2), and two SiO2@GO hybrids (GO-A and GO-B, respectively) with different structures were obtained and carefully characterized. Results confirmed the successful grafting of SiO2 onto the GO surface using both strategies. The distribution of SiO2 particles on the surface of GO-A was denser and more agglomerated, while it was more uniform on the surface of GO-B. Then, epoxy resin (EP)/GO composites were prepared. The curing mechanism of EP/GO composites was studied by differential scanning calorimetry and in situ infrared spectra spectroscopy. Results of tensile tests, hardness tests, dynamic mechanical analysis, and dielectric measurement revealed that EP/GO-B exhibited the highest tensile properties, with a tensile strength of 79 MPa, a 43% increase compared to raw EP. Furthermore, the addition of fillers improved the hardness of EP, and EP/GO-B showed the highest energy storage modulus of 1900 MPa. The inclusion of SiO2@GO hybrid fillers enhanced the dielectric constant, volume resistivity, and breakdown voltage of EP/GO composites. Among these, EP/GO-B displayed the lowest dielectric loss, relatively good insulation, and relatively high volume resistivity and breakdown voltage. A related mechanism was proposed.

Unveiling the breadmaking transformation: Structural and functional insights into Arabinoxylan

To understand the changes in arabinoxylan (AX) during breadmaking, multi-step enzyme digestion was conducted to re-extract arabinoxylan (AX-B) from AX-fortified bread. Their structural changes were compared using HPSEC, HPAEC, FT-IR, methylation analysis, and 1H NMR analysis; their properties changes in terms of enzymatic inhibition activities and in vitro fermentability against gut microbiota were also compared. Results showed that AX-B contained a higher portion of covalently linked protein while the molecular weight was reduced significantly after breadmaking process (from 677.1 kDa to 15.6 kDa); the structural complexity of AX-B in terms of the degree of branching was increased; the inhibition activity against α-amylase (76.81 % vs 73.89 % at 4 mg/mL) and α-glucosidase (64.43 % vs 58.08 % at 4 mg/mL) was improved; the AX-B group produced a higher short-chain fatty acids concentration than AX (54.68 ± 7.86 mmol/L vs 44.03 ± 4.10 mmol/L). This study provides novel knowledge regarding the structural and properties changes of arabinoxylan throughout breadmaking, which help to predict the health benefits of fibre-fortified bread and achieve precision nutrition.

Association between high or low-quality carbohydrate with depressive symptoms and socioeconomic-dietary factors model based on XGboost algorithm: From NHANES 2007-2018

BACKGROUND

Depressive symptoms are a serious public mental health problem, and dietary intake is often considered to be associated with depressive symptoms. However, the relationship between the quality of dietary carbohydrates and depressive symptoms remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between high and low-quality carbohydrates and depressive symptoms and to attempt to construct an integrated model using machine learning to predict depressive symptoms.

METHODS

A total of 4982 samples from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were included in this study. Carbohydrate intake was assessed by a 24-h dietary review, and depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ9). Variance inflation factor (VIF) and Relief-F algorithms were used for variable feature selection.

RESULTS

The results of multivariate linear regression showed a negative association between high-quality carbohydrates and depressive symptoms (β: -0.147, 95 % CI: -0.239, -0.056, p = 0.002) and a positive association between low-quality carbohydrates and depressive symptoms (β: 0.018, 95 % CI: 0.007, 0.280, p = 0.001). Subsequently, we used the XGboost model to produce a comprehensive depressive symptom evaluation model and developed a corresponding online tool (http://8.130.128.194:5000/) to evaluate depressive symptoms clinically.

LIMITATIONS

The cross-sectional study could not yield any conclusions regarding causality, and the model has not been validated with external data.

CONCLUSIONS

Carbohydrate quality is associated with depressive symptoms, and machine learning models that combine diet with socioeconomic factors can be a tool for predicting depression severity.

Protective effects and mechanism of chemical- and plant-based selenocystine against cadmium-induced liver damage

Although selenium (Se) and cadmium (Cd) often coexist naturally in the soil of China, the health risks to local residents consuming Se-Cd co-enriched foods are unknown. In the present study, we investigated the effects of chemical-based selenocystine (SeCys2) on cadmium chloride-induced human hepatocarcinoma (HepG2) cell injury and plant (Cardamine hupingshanensis)-derived SeCys2 against Cd-induced liver injury in mice. We found that chemical- and plant-based SeCys2 showed protective effects against Cd-induced HepG2 cell injury and liver damage in mice, respectively. Compared with Cd intervention group, co-treatment with chemical- or plant-based SeCys2 both alleviated liver toxicity and ferroptosis by decreasing ferrous iron, acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain (ACSL) family member 4, lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 3, reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxide levels, and increasing ACSL3, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α, solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) and glutathione and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) levels. In conclusion, chemical- and plant-based SeCys2 alleviated Cd-induced hepatotoxicity and ferroptosis by regulating SLC7A11/GPX4 signaling and lipid peroxidation. Our findings indicate that potential Cd toxicity from consuming foods grown in Se- and Cd-rich soils should be re-evaluated. This study offers a new perspective for the development of SeCys2-enriched agricultural products.