Search for Narrow Trijet Resonances in Proton-Proton Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV

The first search for singly produced narrow resonances decaying to three well-separated hadronic jets is presented. The search uses proton-proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138  fb^{-1} at sqrt[s]=13  TeV, collected at the CERN LHC. No significant deviations from the background predictions are observed between 1.75 and 9.00 TeV. The results provide the first mass limits on a right-handed boson Z_{R} decaying to three gluons and on an excited quark decaying via a vector boson to three quarks, as well as updated limits on a Kaluza-Klein gluon decaying via a radion to three gluons.

Logistic regression model predicts early surgical site infection after spinal fusion: a retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to develop a diagnostic model for predicting early surgical site infection (SSI) based on postoperative inflammatory markers after spinal fusion surgery.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, we analysed the trends of inflammatory markers between SSI and non-SSI groups. The data were randomly divided into training cohort and validation cohort (ratio 7:3). The variables for SSI were analysed using stepwise logistic regression to develop the prediction model. To evaluate the model, we analysed its sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, as well as the area under the curve in the validation cohort. Calibration plots and decision curve analysis were employed to assess the calibration and clinical usefulness of the model.

FINDINGS

We observed significant changes in inflammatory markers on the seventh day after surgery. The prediction model included four variables on the seventh day after surgery: body temperature, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and neutrophil counts. After binary processing of these data, the simplified model achieved an area under the curve of 0.86 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.81-0.92) in the training cohort and 0.9 (95% CI: 0.82-0.98) in the validation cohort. Calibration plots and decision curve analysis demonstrated that the proposed model was effective for the diagnosis of SSI.

CONCLUSION

We developed and validated a prediction model for diagnosing early infection after spinal fusion.

Computational approaches identify a transcriptomic fingerprint of drug-induced structural cardiotoxicity

Structural cardiotoxicity (SCT) presents a high-impact risk that is poorly tolerated in drug discovery unless significant benefit is anticipated. Therefore, we aimed to improve the mechanistic understanding of SCT. First, we combined machine learning methods with a modified calcium transient assay in human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes to identify nine parameters that could predict SCT. Next, we applied transcriptomic profiling to human cardiac microtissues exposed to structural and non-structural cardiotoxins. Fifty-two genes expressed across the three main cell types in the heart (cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts) were prioritised in differential expression and network clustering analyses and could be linked to known mechanisms of SCT. This transcriptomic fingerprint may prove useful for generating strategies to mitigate SCT risk in early drug discovery.

Protocol for fiber photometry recording from deep brain regions in head-fixed mice

To exclude the influence of motion on in vivo calcium imaging, animals usually need to be fixed. However, the whole-body restraint can cause stress in animals, affecting experimental results. In addition, some brain regions are prone to bleeding during surgery, which lowers the success rate of calcium imaging. Here, we present a protocol for calcium imaging using heparin-treated fiber in head-fixed mice. We describe steps for stereotaxic surgery, including virus injection and optic fiber implantation, fiber photometry, and data analysis. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Du et al.1.

Out-of-focus spatial map imaging of magnetically deflected sodium ammonia clusters

This paper introduces out-of-focus spatial map imaging (SMI) as a detection method for magnetic deflection of molecular/cluster beams, using Nam(NH3)n to illustrate its capabilities. This method enables imaging of the complete spatial distribution, simplifying measurements and allowing for cluster-size-resolved analysis by shifting away from traditional in-focus SMI conditions. Incorporating out-of-focus SMI with TOF-MS and velocity map imaging into a single setup allows for direct assessment of clusters' magnetic moments without needing to pre-select velocities. Key findings include a slower relaxation for Na(NH3)4 compared to Na(NH3)3 and Na(NH3)5, unexpectedly high deflection for larger clusters up to Na(NH3)9, hinting at changes in cluster dynamics as the first solvation shell closes. The study also covers the first measurements of Na2(NH3)1 and Na3(NH3)n, showing distinct deflection behaviors and underscoring the improved capabilities of the new detection method.

[Application of the CRISPR/Cas system in gene editing and nucleic acid detection of parasitic diseases: a review]

CRISPR/Cas system, an adaptive immune system with clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, may interfere with exogenous nucleic acids and protect prokaryotes from external damages, is an effective gene editing and nucleic acid detection tools. The CRISPR/Cas system has been widely applied in virology and bacteriology; however, there is relatively less knowledge about the application of the CRISPR/Cas system in parasitic diseases. The review summarizes the mechanisms of action of the CRISPR/Cas system and provides a comprehensive overview of their application in gene editing and nucleic acid detection of parasitic diseases, so as to provide insights into future studies on parasitic diseases.

Search for Baryon Number Violation in Top Quark Production and Decay Using Proton-Proton Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV

A search is presented for baryon number violating interactions in top quark production and decay. The analysis uses data from proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, collected with the CMS detector at the LHC with an integrated luminosity of 138  fb^{-1}. Candidate events are selected by requiring two oppositely charged leptons (electrons or muons) and exactly one jet identified as originating from a bottom quark. Multivariate discriminants are used to separate the signal from the background. No significant deviation from the standard model prediction is observed. Upper limits are placed on the strength of baryon number violating couplings. For the first time the production of single top quarks via baryon number violating interactions is studied. This allows the search to set the most stringent constraints to date on the branching fraction of the top quark decay to a lepton, an up-type quark (u or c), and a down-type quark (d, s, or b). The results improve the previous bounds by 3 to 6 orders of magnitude based on the fermion flavor combination of the baryon number violating interactions.

Sleep quality according to chronotype in nurses working 8-hour shifts

BACKGROUND

To date, studies have been focused on sleep disturbances of nurses working during night shifts. There is a lack of understanding regarding the sleep quality of nurses working in the rapid rotation system for each type of shift work.

AIMS

To determine the relationship between chronotype and sleep quality according to shift type (i.e. day, evening and night shifts) in nurses working 8-hour rotating shifts.

METHODS

A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted from two tertiary hospitals in South Korea from December 2021 to September 2022, including nurses working 8-hour rotating shifts (N = 74). They completed questionnaires to measure general, occupational and sleep-related characteristics, chronotype, insomnia severity and daytime sleepiness. Additionally, sleep parameters were collected from actigraphy and sleep diaries for 7 days.

RESULTS

A total of 64% of nurses had an evening chronotype and 37% of nurses had an intermediate chronotype. Nurses had significantly less total sleep time and worsened sleep latency and efficiency during the day shift compared to other shift types. Compared to nurses with an intermediate chronotype, those with an evening chronotype had poorer sleep quality during day shift work.

CONCLUSIONS

Strategies to enhance nurses' sleep quality during day shifts should consider a two-level approach: individual approaches, such as improving sleep hygiene, and administrative approaches, such as establishing a chronotype-based shift system for scheduling.

Competing risk nomogram and risk classification system for evaluating overall and cancer-specific survival in neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix: a population-based retrospective study

OBJECTIVE

Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix (NECC) is a rare malignancy with poor clinical prognosis due to limited therapeutic options. This study aimed to establish a risk-stratification score and nomogram models to predict prognosis in NECC patients.

METHODS

Data on individuals diagnosed with NECC between 2000 and 2019 were retrieved from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database and then randomly classified into training and validation cohorts (7:3). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses evaluated independent indicators of prognosis. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis further assisted in confirming candidate variables. Based on these factors, cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) nomograms that predict survival over 1, 3, and 5 years were constructed. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the concordance index (C-index), and the calibration curve estimated the precision and discriminability of the competing risk nomogram for both cohorts. Finally, we assessed the clinical value of the nomograms using decision curve analysis (DCA).

RESULTS

Data from 2348 patients were obtained from the SEER database. Age, tumor stage, T stage, N stage, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery predicted OS. Additionally, histological type was another standalone indicator of CSS prognosis. For predicting CSS, the C-index was 0.751 (95% CI 0.731 ~ 0.770) and 0.740 (95% CI 0.710 ~ 0.770) for the training and validation cohorts, respectively. Furthermore, the C-index in OS prediction was 0.757 (95% CI 0.738 ~ 0.776) and 0.747 (95% CI 0.718 ~ 0.776) for both cohorts. The proposed model had an excellent discriminative ability. Good accuracy and discriminability were also demonstrated using the AUC and calibration curves. Additionally, DCA demonstrated the high clinical potential of the nomograms for CSS and OS prediction. We constructed a corresponding risk classification system using nomogram scores. For the whole cohort, the median CSS times for the low-, moderate-, and high-risk groups were 59.3, 19.5, and 7.4 months, respectively.

CONCLUSION

New competing risk nomograms and a risk classification system were successfully developed to predict the 1-, 3-, and 5-year CSS and OS of NECC patients. The models are internally accurate and reliable and may guide clinicians toward better clinical decisions and the development of personalized treatment plans.

Clinical efficacy and safety evaluation of Dermatophagoides farinae drops in the treatment of allergic rhinitis with epistaxis

Summary

Background. Epistaxis is frequently observed in allergic rhinitis (AR) patients. However, few studies focus on the outcome of epistaxis with treatment of AR patients. This study aimed to retrospectively analyze the efficacy and safety of AR patients with epistaxis treated with sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT). Methods. A total of 74 patients aged 4-60 years with house dust mite (HDM)-induced AR accompanied by epistaxis and who completed 1 year of SLIT treatment with standard Dermatophagoides farinae (D. farinae) drops were enrolled in this study. The symptom scores, total medication scores (TMS), combined symptom and medication score (CSMS), visual analog scales (VAS), and bleeding score (BS) were assessed, as well as the nasal endoscopic examinations were performed to observe nasal signs. Results. The levels of symptom scores, TMS, CSMS, VAS, and BS at 0.5 year and 1 year of SLIT treatment were significantly lower than those at the baseline (all p less than 0.01). Also, statistical differences were seen in CSMS (p less than 0.05) and VAS (p less than 0.01) between 0.5 year and 1 year. As expected, BS was positively correlated with CSMS (r = 0.617, 95% CI 0.517-0.699) and VAS (r = 0.777, 95% CI 0.719-0.822) at all three time points. Conclusions. SLIT with D. farinae drops was effective and safe for AR patients with epistaxis, resulting in improving the symptoms of rhinitis while relieving the symptoms of epistaxis.

Search for exotic decays of the Higgs boson to a pair of pseudoscalars in the μμbb and ττbb final states

A search for exotic decays of the Higgs boson (H ) with a mass of 125Ge V to a pair of light pseudoscalars a 1 is performed in final states where one pseudoscalar decays to two b quarks and the other to a pair of muons or τ leptons. A data sample of proton-proton collisions at s = 13 Te V corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138fb - 1 recorded with the CMS detector is analyzed. No statistically significant excess is observed over the standard model backgrounds. Upper limits are set at 95% confidence level (CL ) on the Higgs boson branching fraction to μ μ b b and to τ τ b b , via a pair of a 1 s. The limits depend on the pseudoscalar mass m a 1 and are observed to be in the range (0.17-3.3) × 10 - 4 and (1.7-7.7) × 10 - 2 in the μ μ b b and τ τ b b final states, respectively. In the framework of models with two Higgs doublets and a complex scalar singlet (2HDM+S), the results of the two final states are combined to determine upper limits on the branching fraction B ( H → a 1 a 1 → ℓ ℓ b b ) at 95% CL , with ℓ being a muon or a τ lepton. For different types of 2HDM+S, upper bounds on the branching fraction B ( H → a 1 a 1 ) are extracted from the combination of the two channels. In most of the Type II 2HDM+S parameter space, B ( H → a 1 a 1 ) values above 0.23 are excluded at 95% CL for m a 1 values between 15 and 60Ge V .

[Analysis of the effect and safety of lumen reshaping after endovascular repair of Stanford B type aortic dissection at different intervention times]

Objective: To Compare the effects and safety of lumen reshaping after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for Stanford B type aortic dissection (AD) at different intervention times. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 189 patients with Stanford type B aortic dissection treated with TEVAR at the Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical College from January 2016 to December 2020.Based on the time from onset to surgery, patients were divided into an early intervention group (≤14 days, n=127) and a delayed intervention group (>14 days, n=62).The diameters of the total aorta, true lumen and false lumen at different times and planes (S1 plane: at the bifurcation of the pulmonary artery; S2 plane: at the lower edge of the left atrium; S3 plane: at the upper edge of the celiac trunk) post-surgery were compared between the two groups, and the rate of change in diameters of true and false lumens across these planes was calculated. The patients were followed until December 1st, 2023, and the median follow-up time was 45(40, 49) months. The postoperative complications and survival of the two groups were compared. Results: The early intervention group comprised 86 men and 41 women, with an average age of (58.3±10.7) years. The delayed intervention group included 41 men and 21 women, with an average age of (58.5±9.2) years. Both groups had an operation success rate of 100%. Six months post-surgery, the early intervention group had an expansion rate of the true lumen diameter at planes S2 and S3 of 40.1%(25.5%, 56.1%) and 5.3%(-2.5%, 15.8%), respectively, which was superior to the delayed intervention group's 18.5%(10.6%, 39.8%) and 1.0%(-8.2%, 9.6%) (both P<0.05).The early intervention group had a reduction rate of the false lumen diameter at planes S1, S2, and S3 of -56.2%(-61.3%, -48.8%), -70.4%(-81.8%, -56.6%), and -5.4%(-17.4%, 0.1%), respectively, better than the delayed intervention group's -44.2%(-53.7%, -38.3%), -49.0%(-57.6%, -35.8%), and -3.1%(-6.7%, 1.8%) (all P<0.05).At plane S1, the true lumen diameter of patients in both groups showed an increasing trend over 36 months post-surgery, while the false lumen diameter showed a decreasing trend (both P<0.05).At plane S2, the true lumen diameter of patients in the early intervention group exhibited an increasing trend over 36 months post-surgery, and the false lumen diameter exhibited a decreasing trend (both P<0.05).At plane S3, the total aortic diameter of patients in the delayed intervention group showed a slight increasing trend over 36 months post-surgery (P<0.05).The overall survival time were 45.0 months (95%CI: 42.9-47.1) for patients in the early intervention group and 46.0 months (95%CI: 43.5-48.5) for those in the delayed intervention group, with no statistically significant difference observed (P>0.05).The incidence rates of complications such as aortic rupture, retrograde Type A dissection, new distal endograft dissection, endoleak, paraplegia, and others showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups (all P>0.05), with no cases of stent migration or deformation observed. Conclusion: Early intervention for Stanford type B aortic dissection provides a better aortic remodeling outcome than delayed intervention, with similar safety.

[Association between the clustering of adverse childhood experiences and sleep quality in middle-aged and older Chinese adults]

Objective: To examine the association between the clustering of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and sleep quality in middle-aged and older Chinese adults. Methods: Data were from the Life History Survey in 2014 and the third wave follow-up survey in 2015 of China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). A total of 10 824 participants aged 45 years and above were included in this study. According to the number of ACEs, the participants were divided into four groups: 0, 1, 2-3 and≥4 ACEs. The multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the association of ACEs clustering with inappropriate sleep duration and poor sleep quality in middle-aged and older adults. Results: Among the 10 824 participants with an average age of (60.83±9.06) years, 5 211 (48.14%) were males. About 6 111 participants (56.64%) had inappropriate sleep duration, and 3 640 participants (33.63%) had poor sleep quality. After adjusting for covariates including gender, age, residence, marital status, education, household consumption, BMI, smoking, drinking, and depression in adulthood, compared with the 0 ACE group, the risk of inappropriate sleep duration was significantly increased in the 2-3 ACEs group and≥4 ACEs group, while ORs (95%CIs) were 1.26 (1.12-1.41) and 1.43 (1.23-1.66), respectively. The risk of poor sleep quality in the 2-3 ACEs group and≥4 ACEs group was also significantly higher than that in the 0 ACE group, while ORs (95%CIs) were 1.28 (1.12-1.46) and 1.53 (1.29-1.80), respectively. Conclusion: ACEs clustering in childhood could negatively affect sleep duration and quality in middle-aged and older Chinese adults.

Emerging single-atom catalysts in the detection and purification of contaminated gases

Single atom catalysts (SACs) show exceptional molecular adsorption and electron transfer capabilities owing to their remarkable atomic efficiency and tunable electronic structure, thereby providing promising solutions for diverse important processes including photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, thermal catalysis, etc. Consequently, SACs hold great potential in the detection and degradation of pollutants present in contaminated gases. Over the past few years, SACs have made remarkable achievements in the field of contaminated gas detection and purification. In this review, we first provide a concise introduction to the significance and urgency of gas detection and pollutant purification, followed by a comprehensive overview of the structural feature identification methods for SACs. Subsequently, we systematically summarize the three key properties of SACs for detecting contaminated gases and discuss the research progress made in utilizing SACs to purify polluted gases. Finally, we analyze the enhancement mechanism and advantages of SACs in polluted gas detection and purification, and propose strategies to address challenges and expedite the development of SACs in polluted gas detection and purification.

The CsmiR397a-CsLAC17 module regulates lignin biosynthesis to balance the tenderness and gray blight resistance in young tea shoots

Lignin accumulation can enhance the disease resistance of young tea shoots (Camellia sinensis). It also greatly reduces their tenderness, which indirectly affects the quality and yield of tea. Therefore, the regulation of lignin biosynthesis appears to be an effective way to balance tenderness and disease resistance in young tea shoots. In this study, we identified a laccase gene, CsLAC17, that is induced during tenderness reduction and gray blight infection in young tea shoots. Overexpression of CsLAC17 significantly increased the lignin content in transgenic Arabidopsis, enhancing their resistance to gray blight and decreasing stem tenderness. In addition, we found that CsLAC17 was negatively regulated by the upstream CsmiR397a by 5'-RLM-RACE, dual-luciferase assay, and transient expression in young tea shoots. Interestingly, the expression of CsmiR397a was inhibited during tenderness reduction and gray blight infection of young tea shoots. Overexpression of CsmiR397a reduced lignin accumulation, resulting in decreased resistance to gray blight and increased stem tenderness in transgenic Arabidopsis. Furthermore, the transient overexpression of CsmiR397a and CsLAC17 in tea leaves directly confirms the function of the CsmiR397a-CsLAC17 module in lignin biosynthesis and its effect on disease resistance. These results suggest that the CsmiR397a-CsLAC17 module is involved in balancing tenderness and gray blight resistance in young tea shoots by regulating lignin biosynthesis.

Molecular tuning boosts asymmetric C-C coupling for CO conversion to acetate

Electrochemical carbon dioxide/carbon monoxide reduction reaction offers a promising route to synthesize fuels and value-added chemicals, unfortunately their activities and selectivities remain unsatisfactory. Here, we present a general surface molecular tuning strategy by modifying Cu2O with a molecular pyridine-derivative. The surface modified Cu2O nanocubes by 4-mercaptopyridine display a high Faradaic efficiency of greater than 60% in electrochemical carbon monoxide reduction reaction to acetate with a current density as large as 380 mA/cm2 in a liquid electrolyte flow cell. In-situ attenuated total reflectance surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy reveals stronger *CO signal with bridge configuration and stronger *OCCHO signal over modified Cu2O nanocubes by 4-mercaptopyridine than unmodified Cu2O nanocubes during electrochemical CO reduction. Density function theory calculations disclose that local molecular tuning can effectively regulate the electronic structure of copper catalyst, enhancing *CO and *CHO intermediates adsorption by the stabilization effect through hydrogen bonding, which can greatly promote asymmetric *CO-*CHO coupling in electrochemical carbon monoxide reduction reaction.

[A randomized controlled trial on the effect of early eschar dermabrasion combined with antimicrobial soft silicone foam dressing in the treatment of deep partial-thickness burn wounds in children]

Objective: To explore the effect of early eschar dermabrasion combined with antimicrobial soft silicone foam dressing (hereinafter referred to as foam dressing) in treating the deep partial-thickness burn wounds in children. Methods: This study was a randomized controlled trial. From June 2021 to December 2022, 78 pediatric patients with deep partial-thickness burns who met the inclusion criteria were admitted to the Department of Burns in Guiyang Steel Plant Employees Hospital. According to the random number table, the pediatric patients were divided into two groups, with 38 cases left in combined treatment group (with 20 males and 18 females, aged 26.00 (16.75, 39.75) months) and 39 cases in foam dressing group (with 21 males and 18 females, aged 19.00 (14.00, 31.00) months) after the exclusion of one dropped-out child in follow-up. The pediatric patients in combined treatment group underwent eschar dermabrasion of the wound within 48 hours after injury, the wound was covered with foam dressing after operation, and the dressing was replaced once every 7 days; for the pediatric patients in foam dressing group, the wound was sterilized within 48 hours after injury and covered with foam dressing, and the dressing was replaced once every 2 to 3 days. After the wound healing, the children in both groups were routinely applied with silicone gel twice a day for 3 weeks before started wearing elastic sleeves for more than 18 hours a day, and continuously for over than 6 months. The degree of pain during dressing change was evaluated using the children's pain behavior inventory FLACC. The adverse reactions during the treatment period, number of dressing changes, and wound healing time were observed and recorded. Six months after wound healing, the Vancouver scar scale (VSS) was used to evaluate the condition of the wound scar. Results: When changing dressing, the FLACC score for pain of pediatric patients in combined treatment group was 3.5 (2.0, 5.0), which was significantly lower than 6.0 (5.0, 8.0) in foam dressing group (Z=-5.40, P<0.05). During the treatment period, no adverse reactions such as wound edema, fluid accumulation, or peripheral skin rash allergies occurred in any pediatric patient in both groups. The number of dressing changes of pediatric patients in combined treatment group was 3 (3, 4) times, which was significantly less than 8 (7, 10) times in foam dressing group (Z=-7.58, P<0.05). The wound healing time of pediatric patients in combined treatment group was (19±5) days, which was significantly shorter than (25±6) days in foam dressing group (t=-4.48, P<0.05). Six months after wound healing, the VSS score for scar of pediatric patients in combined treatment group was 5 (2, 8), which was significantly lower than 7 (5, 10) in foam dressing group (Z=-3.05, P<0.05). Conclusions: Compared with using foam dressings alone, early eschar dermabrasion combined with foam dressings can reduce the number of dressing changes, alleviate the pain during dressing changes, and shorten the wound healing time in treating children with deep partial-thickness burns, and effectively alleviate scar hyperplasia by combining with anti-scar treatment post burns.

[Clinical features and temporal CT findings in patients with Branchio-Oto-Renal or Branchio-Oto Syndrome]

Objective: To assess the clinical features and CT diagnostic characteristics of Branchio-Oto-Renal or Branchio-Oto Syndrome. Methods: The temporal CT findings and clinical features observations of 13 patients with Branchio-Oto-Renal Syndrome (BORS) or Branchio-Oto Syndrome(BOS) confirmed by genetic testing were retrospectively analyzed. There were 8 males and 5 females, aged from 1 to 39 years, with a median age of 9 years, in which 3 pairs (6 cases) were parent-child relationship. Results: All of 13 cases had hearing loss and preauricular fistula, 11 cases accompanied by 2nd branchial fistulas. There were 20 ears of mixed hearing loss, 3 ears of sensorineural hearing loss, and 2 ears of conductive hearing loss. The mutation point of gene testing was located in EYA1 in 12 cases and SIX1 in 1 case. Twenty ears showed gradually narrowing of the diameter of basal turn, with hypoplasia in the second turn and aplasia in apical turn. There were irregular wall of vestibule and horizontal semicircular canal in 10 ears,widened vestibular in 7 ears, and vestibular fusion with horizontal semicircular canal in 3 ears. Three ears had an enlarged vestibular aqueduct, 8 ears showed enlargement of internal auditory canal. Seventeen ears had adhesion of malleolus to tympanic cavity. Six ears could not measured the incudostapedial joint angle by reason of tympanic inflammatory cover, 3 ears could not show incudostapedial joint, and 8 ears showed the incudostapedial joint angle more than 122°. Six ears showed poor oval window, and 1 ear had poor round window. Eighteen ears showed distended eustachian tube, and accompanied by tympanic or mastoiditis in 11 ears. Anterolateral shift of tympanum was found in 22 ears, 17 ears had low middle cranial fossa, and 3 ears had stenotic external auditory canal. Conclusions: Cochlear dysplasia, ossicular chain malformation and distended eustachian tube comprise the characteristic CT signs of BOS/BORS, which possesses versatile and complex CT findings. Temporal CT can accurately assess the important structures such as cochlea, ossicles, vestibule, semicircular canal, vestibular aqueduct and internal auditory canal. Combing with the clinical characteristics of bilateral, mixed hearing loss, preauricular fistula and branchial fistula can provide valuable information for early diagnosis and treatment.

Neofunctionalization of an OMT cluster dominates polymethoxyflavone biosynthesis associated with the domestication of citrus

Polymethoxyflavones (PMFs) are a class of abundant specialized metabolites with remarkable anticancer properties in citrus. Multiple methoxy groups in PMFs are derived from methylation modification catalyzed by a series of hydroxylases and O-methyltransferases (OMTs). However, the specific OMTs that catalyze the systematic O-methylation of hydroxyflavones remain largely unknown. Here, we report that PMFs are highly accumulated in wild mandarins and mandarin-derived accessions, while undetectable in early-diverging citrus species and related species. Our results demonstrated that three homologous genes, CreOMT3, CreOMT4, and CreOMT5, are crucial for PMF biosynthesis in citrus, and their encoded methyltransferases exhibit multisite O-methylation activities for hydroxyflavones, producing seven PMFs in vitro and in vivo. Comparative genomic and syntenic analyses indicated that the tandem CreOMT3, CreOMT4, and CreOMT5 may be duplicated from CreOMT6 and contributes to the genetic basis of PMF biosynthesis in the mandarin group through neofunctionalization. We also demonstrated that N17 in CreOMT4 is an essential amino acid residue for C3-, C5-, C6-, and C3'-O-methylation activity and provided a rationale for the functional deficiency of OMT6 to produce PMFs in early-diverging citrus and some domesticated citrus species. A 1,041-bp deletion in the CreOMT4 promoter, which is found in most modern cultivated mandarins, has reduced the PMF content relative to that in wild and early-admixture mandarins. This study provides a framework for reconstructing PMF biosynthetic pathways, which may facilitate the breeding of citrus fruits with enhanced health benefits.

Non-cardiac comorbid health outcomes and prevalence after myocardial infarction: an umbrella review

OBJECTIVE

There exists limited comprehensive evidence on the potential association between non-cardiac comorbidities and myocardial infarction (MI). Thus, we conducted an umbrella review of existing meta-analyses to provide a broad understanding of non-cardiac health outcomes associated with MI.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The primary focus on the prevalence of related health outcomes in patients with MI was systemically searched. Each original meta-analysis that was included had its methodological quality evaluated by a Measurement Tool Assessment Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR2). To evaluate the certainty in the evidence for each outcome, we employed GRADE and the Joanna Briggs Institute Prevalence Critical Appraisal Tool. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023458642).

RESULTS

We identified seven meta-analyses comprising 126 studies with 336,581 participants from 22 countries and five continents. The pooled prevalence of comorbidities in patients with MI was 39% anxiety [95% confidence interval (CI), 30-48; GRADE, very low certainty], 29% depression (95% CI, 23-36; very low certainty), 39% frailty (95% CI, 24-55; very low certainty), and 23% failure of returning to work (95% CI, 16-29; very low certainty). The diagnosis of MI was associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment (odds ratio, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.10-1.92; moderate certainty). Among frail patients, MI was associated with an increased risk of major bleeding (relative risk, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.08-3.45; low certainty) and mortality (relative risk, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.48-3.53; moderate certainty). However, we did not find any evidence of cancer risk associated with the development of MI.

CONCLUSIONS

Our umbrella meta-analysis provided comprehensive evidence of the association between MI and several non-cardiac health conditions. The robustness of our study is attributed to the integration of evidence across several studies, thus, these insights offer valuable treatment options for policymakers and physicians to develop personalized health strategies.

Control of defensive behavior by the nucleus of Darkschewitsch GABAergic neurons

The nucleus of Darkschewitsch (ND), mainly composed of GABAergic neurons, is widely recognized as a component of the eye-movement controlling system. However, the functional contribution of ND GABAergic neurons (NDGABA) in animal behavior is largely unknown. Here, we show that NDGABA neurons were selectively activated by different types of fear stimuli, such as predator odor and foot shock. Optogenetic and chemogenetic manipulations revealed that NDGABA neurons mediate freezing behavior. Moreover, using circuit-based optogenetic and neuroanatomical tracing methods, we identified an excitatory pathway from the lateral periaqueductal gray (lPAG) to the ND that induces freezing by exciting ND inhibitory outputs to the motor-related gigantocellular reticular nucleus, ventral part (GiV). Together, these findings indicate the NDGABA population as a novel hub for controlling defensive response by relaying fearful information from the lPAG to GiV, a mechanism critical for understanding how the freezing behavior is encoded in the mammalian brain.

Fluorogenic RNA Aptamer-Based Amplification and Transcription Strategy for Label-free Sensing of Methyltransferase Activity in Complex Matrixes

DNA methyltransferase is significant in cellular activities and gene expression, and its aberrant expression is closely linked to various cancers during initiation and progression. Currently, there is a great demand for reliable and label-free techniques for DNA methyltransferase evaluation in tumor diagnosis and cancer therapy. Herein, a low-background fluorescent RNA aptamer-based sensing approach for label-free quantification of cytosine-guanine (CpG) dinucleotides methyltransferase (M.SssI) is reported. The fluorogenic light-up RNA aptamers-based strategy exhibits high selectivity via restriction endonuclease, padlock-based recognition, and RNA transcription. By combining rolling circle amplification (RCA), and RNA transcription with fluorescence response of RNA aptamers of Spinach-dye compound, the proposed platform exhibited efficiently ultrahigh sensitivity toward M.SssI. Eventually, the detection can be achieved in a linear range of 0.02-100 U mL-1 with a detection limit of 1.6 × 10-3 U mL-1. Owing to these superior features, the method is further applied in serum samples spiked M.SssI, which delivers a recovery ranging from 92.0 to 107.0% and a relative standard deviation <7.0%, providing a promising and practical tool for determining M.SssI in complex biological matrices.