CircRNAs involved in the red light of effect on follicle selection in pigeons

Red light (RL) can enhance egg production in poultry. CircRNAs play a crucial role by serving as transcriptional regulators. However, their role in influencing follicle development in White King pigeons remains unexplored. In this study, 54 paired White King pigeons were chosen and divided into RL and white light (WL) groups, each with 3 subgroups. The egg production of paired pigeons in each replicate was recorded for 45 d, and the characteristics of follicle development were monitored during the laying interval (LI). The granulosa cell layer from follicles of the second-largest follicle (F2) was collected, and high-throughput sequencing was performed to elucidate the molecular mechanism of follicle development in pigeons. The study confirmed that RL enhances egg production in pigeons. Additionally, under RL, the F2 follicle was selected, while under WL, small follicles were kept on the third day (LI3). A total of 5,510 circRNAs were identified across all samples, revealing differentially expressed circRNAs (DECs) in various comparisons: 627 in RF1 vs. WF1, 900 in RF2 vs. WF2, 606 in RF1 vs. RF2, and 937 in WF1 vs. WF2. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis indicated that host genes of DECs were enriched in pathways like steroid hormone biosynthesis, oocyte meiosis, GnRH signaling pathway, and apoptosis pathway. Moreover, circRNA_5497, circRNA_2016, and circRNA_3328 were common DECs across 4 groups, sharing miRNA binding sites with follicle selection-associated genes. In conclusion, our findings suggest that RL promotes egg production by stimulating follicle selection during LI, offering insights into the regulatory mechanisms of circRNAs in follicle selection under RL. This knowledge can help enhance the reproductive performance of pigeons.

Upgrade of DIII-D radial interferometer-polarimeter for large bandwidth, low noise, and toroidal mode number measurements

Near ion-cyclotron frequency (fci) fluctuations, such as those originating from Global and Compressional Alfvén Eigenmodes (GAEs/CAEs), are expected to be present in future fusion reactors but are not well understood due to the limited availability of core measurements in present-day tokamaks. The measurement bandwidth of the Radial Interferometer-Polarimeter (RIP) diagnostic has been upgraded from 1 to 5 MHz to detect these fluctuations in DIII-D. RIP adopts the three-wave technique for simultaneous polarimetric and interferometric measurements. Solid-state microwave sources operating at 650 GHz are used as probe beams and provide 5 MHz bandwidth for both polarimetric and interferometric measurements. Bandwidths of related hardware, including mixer amplifier, signal cable, and digital phase demodulator, are increased correspondingly. Measurement noise is minimized by reducing the time delay between reference and probe signals to nanosecond level and employing correlation-based techniques. Using the upgraded diagnostic, CAE/GAE-like bursting fluctuations are observed in neutral-beam heated plasmas with toroidal magnetic field Bφ ≈ 1 T. Current upgrades being undertaken would enable the evaluation of toroidal mode number for these modes. This work opens the possibility of better understanding near ion-cyclotron frequency fluctuations in fusion relevant plasmas.

Determining the optimal timing of adjuvant chemotherapy initiation after concurrent chemoradiotherapy in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Studies on several malignancies have suggested that the time to commencement of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) is associated with survival outcomes. There have, however, been no relevant reports of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This clinical study examined newly diagnosed patients between April 2017 and December 2020. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Inverse probability of treatment weighting was used to control for confounding factors. Cox models with restricted cubic splines, Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank tests were used to evaluate the relationship between AC timing and survival.

RESULTS

A total of 551 patients were identified [median age, 45 years (interquartile range 36-52 years); 383 (69.5%) male]. Restricted cubic splines demonstrated that the timing of AC initiation had a U-shaped association with PFS. The risk of disease progression decreased within 37 days and subsequently increased. From 37 to 90 days, each additional 7-day delay conferred worse PFS of 1.32 months {hazard ratio (HR): 1.14 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.28], P = 0.04}. The cut-off value of the receiver operating characteristic curve for initiation was 69.5 days. At a median follow-up of 48 months, the PFS was significantly better in patients initiated within 69.5 days [HR: 2.18 (95% CI 1.17-4.06), log-rank P = 0.009], with a higher 3-year rate [78.8% (95% CI 75.1% to 82.7%) versus 59.0% (95% CI 42.2% to 82.5%)] than beyond 69.5 days. Positive results were also observed in secondary endpoints. The initiation group was an independent prognostic factor [HR: 2.28 (95% CI 1.42-3.66), P < 0.001].

CONCLUSIONS

The optimal timing of AC initiation is ∼37 days after concurrent chemoradiotherapy in patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. A delay beyond 69.5 days is associated with compromised survival. Efforts should be made to address the reasons for delays and ensure the timely initiation of AC.

Baicalin Ameliorates Cartilage Injury in Rats With Osteoarthritis via Modulating miR-766-3p/AIFM1 Axis

The study aims to elucidate the therapeutic mechanism of Baicalin (BAI) in alleviating cartilage injury in osteoarthritic (OA) rat models, concentrating on its regulation of the miR-766-3p/AIFM1 axis. An OA rat model was developed with unilateral anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT). Interventions comprised of BAI treatment and intra-articular administration of miR-766-3p inhibitor. For evaluation, histopathological staining was conducted to investigate the pathological severity of knee cartilage injury. The levels of oxidative stress (OS) indicators including MDA, SOD, and GSH-Px, were quantified using colorimetric assays. Inflammatory factors (IFs; TNF-?, IL-1?, and IL-6) in knee joint lavage fluids were assessed using ELISA, while RT-PCR was employed to quantify miR-766-3p expression. TUNEL apoptosis staining was utilized to detect chondrocyte apoptosis, and western blotting examined autophagy-related markers (LC3, Beclin, p62), extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis-associated indices (COL2A, ACAN, MMP13), and apoptosis-inducing factor mitochondrion-associated 1 (AIFM1). Histological examination revealed a marked amelioration of cartilage injury in the BAI-treated OA rat models compared to controls. BAI treatment significantly reduced inflammation and OS of knee joint fluid, activated autophagy, and decreased chondrocyte apoptosis and ECM degradation. Interestingly, the inhibitory effects of BAI on these pathological markers were significantly decreased by the miR-766-3p inhibitor. Further assessment revealed that BAI efficiently promoted miR-766-3p expression while inhibiting AIFM1 protein expression. BAI potentially mitigates articular cartilage injury in OA rats, likely through modulation of miR-766-3p/AIFM1 axis. Keywords: Baicalin, microRNA, AIFM1, Osteoarthritisv, Rat.

[Optimization of the control strategy and research priorities to combat the resurgence of visceral leishmaniasis in China]

Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by Leishmania infection and transmitted by sandflies. There are three main forms of leishmaniasis, including cutaneous leishmaniasis, visceral leishmaniasis and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. China is mainly endemic for visceral leishmaniasis, which is a class C notifiable infectious disease in the country. Following concerted efforts, the transmission of visceral leishmaniasis had been controlled in most endemic foci of China by the end of 1958, with a few cases reported in western China. Due to global climate changes and population mobility, resurgence of visceral leishmaniasis has recently occurred in historical endemic areas of central and western China, which is characterized by gradual expansion of endemic areas and remarkable rebounding epidemics. Hereby, we summarize the national and global epidemiology and control strategy of visceral leishmaniasis, propose 8 key research areas and 12 key research topics for visceral leishmaniasis control, and recommend the establishment of the joint prevention and control mechanism of "human-animals-vectors" and the working mechanism of animal prevention for human diseases based on the One Health approach, so as to combat the resurgence of visceral leishmaniasis in China.

Study on the value of 3D visualization in differentiating IA and non-IA pulmonary ground-glass nodules

OBJECTIVE

To determine the most effective diagnostic markers and their associated thresholds for Ground-glass nodules (GGN) for identification of invasive adenocarcinoma (IA) and non-IA (including atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH), adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS), and minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA)), and to explore the application in preoperative surgical evaluation.

METHODS AND METHODS

A total of 126 cases, confirmed by pathology, were retrospectively analyzed. 70 cases were classified as the IA group, while the non-IA group consisted of cases of AAH, AIS, and MIA, with a total of 56 cases. The study compared the differences in demographic, morphological, and three-dimensional (3D) quantitative parameters between the two groups.

RESULTS

There were statistically significant differences in various signs such as air bronchogram, lobulation, pleural indentation, spiculation, shape, and margin between the two groups. Additionally, Statistical significance was observed in all 3D quantitative parameters for both groups. Notably, when 3D volume of lesions exceeded 447 mm3, the sensitivity to predict IA was 81% with specificity at 69%. Utilizing multivariate logistic regression analysis, it was identified that the independent predictive value in discriminating between IA and non-IA lies with both the 3D volume and solid proportion. Combining these two indexes significantly improved the prediction accuracy (AUC = 0.826).

CONCLUSIONS

Reasonable utilization of 3D visualization technology can effectively aid in distinguishing between IA and non-IA. When coupled with clinical data and CT signs, this technique holds vital importance in directing the evaluation of surgical interventions prior to surgery.

[The association between overweight/obesity and the risk of malignancy in Hürthle cell neoplasms of the thyroid]

Objective: To explore the association between obesity/overweight and the risk of malignancy in Hürthle cell neoplasms of the thyroid. Methods: The data of patients with complete data who were diagnosed with Hürthle cell neoplasms of the thyroid at the Third Hospital of Peking University from September 2016 to September 2023 were retrospectively collected. Based on postoperative pathological diagnosis, tumors were classified into thyroid Hürthle cell adenoma group and Hürthle cell carcinoma group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to explore the association between overweight/obesity and the risk of malignancy in Hürthle cell neoplasms of the thyroid. Results: A total of 102 patients (13 males and 89 females) were included, aged (48.7±13.1) years. There were 22 cases of thyroid Hürthle cell carcinoma and 80 cases of thyroid Hürthle cell adenoma. Univariate analysis showed that the rate of overweight/obesity in the Hürthle cell carcinoma group was higher than that in the adenoma group [73% (16/22) vs 46% (37/80), P=0.050]. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the overweight/obese patients had a higher risk of malignancy in Hürthle cell neoplasms of the thyroid compared with the non-overweight/obese patients (OR=3.170, 95%CI: 1.126-9.955, P=0.035). Sensitivity analysis excluding individuals with multiple tumors was consistent with the main study results (OR=2.878, 95%CI: 0.922-10.228, P=0.080). Conclusion: Overweight/obesity may be associated with a higher risk of malignancy in patients with Hürthle cell neoplasms of the thyroid.

Observation of Strong Nuclear Suppression in Exclusive J/ψ Photoproduction in Au+Au Ultraperipheral Collisions at RHIC

We report a measurement of exclusive J/ψ and ψ(2s) photoproduction in Au+Au ultraperipheral collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV using the STAR detector. For the first time, (i) the ψ(2s) photoproduction in midrapidity at the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider has been experimentally measured; (ii) nuclear suppression factors are measured for both the coherent and incoherent J/ψ production. At average photon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of 25.0 GeV, the coherent and incoherent J/ψ cross sections of Au nuclei are found to be 71±10% and 36±7%, respectively, of that of free protons. The stronger suppression observed in the incoherent production provides a new experimental handle to study the initial-state parton density in heavy nuclei. Data are compared with theoretical models quantitatively.

[Anemia incidence and influencing factors among children aged 0-6 years in Shannan city, Xizang Autonomous Region]

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and influencing factors of anemia children aged 0-6 years in Shannan city, Xizang Autonomous Region. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed to measure hemoglobin of 12 405 children aged 0-6 years in 12 counties (districts) of Shannan city, Xizang Autonomous Region and basic information including gender, age, ethnicity, address, local altitude, urban area, agricultural and pastoral areas, etc were collected. According to the altitude of the surveyed children's place of residence, anemia in children under the plain standard and the prevalence of anemia after adjusting for altitude were reported, and the influencing factors of anemia in these children were analyzed by Logistic regression methods. Results: Among the 12 405 children, 6 383 (51.46%) were males, 6 022 (48.54%) were females, 462 (3.72%) were newborns, 68 (0.55%) were 1 month old children, 153 (1.23%) were 4-<6 months old children, and 11 722 (94.49%) were 6 months to 6 years old children. The prevalence of anemia in children aged 0-6 years in Shannan city before altitude correction was 15.50%(1 923/12 405), and it was 57.84% (7 175/12 405) after altitude correction. The hemoglobin level in the children was (131±20) g/L. Univariate analysis showed that the anemia rate of males was higher than that of females (59.17% (3 777/6 383) vs.56.43% (3 398/6 022), P<0.05), the anemia rate of Tibetan children was higher than that of children of other ethnic groups (58.21% (6 992/12 011) vs.46.45% (183/394), P<0.05), the anemia rate of children in agricultural and pastoral areas was higher than that of urban children (58.75% (6 212/10 574) vs.(52.59% 963/1 831), P<0.05), and the anemia rate of children in higher-altitude areas was higher than that of children in high-altitude areas (67.98% (2 773/4 079) vs.52.87% (4 402/8 326), P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that girls (OR=0.89, 95%CI 0.83-0.96), children of other ethnic groups (OR=0.72, 95%CI 0.58-0.89), children aged 4-<6 months (OR=0.40, 95%CI 0.24-0.67) and children aged 6 months to 6 years (OR=0.59, 95%CI 0.43-0.82) were protective factors, and children who lived in agricultural and pastoral areas (OR=1.15, 95%CI 1.04-1.28) and children living at altitudes higher than 4 000 m areas (OR=1.88, 95%CI 1.73-2.04) were independent risk factors for the occurrence of anemia. Conclusions: The prevalence of anemia in children aged 0-6 years in Shannan city was still relatively high. It might be affected by factors such as sex, ethnicity, age of the children, place of residence and altitude where the children lived.

Observation of the antimatter hypernucleus H ¯ Λ ¯ 4

At the origin of the Universe, an asymmetry between the amount of created matter and antimatter led to the matter-dominated Universe as we know it today. The origins of this asymmetry remain unknown so far. High-energy nuclear collisions create conditions similar to the Universe microseconds after the Big Bang, with comparable amounts of matter and antimatter1-6. Much of the created antimatter escapes the rapidly expanding fireball without annihilating, making such collisions an effective experimental tool to create heavy antimatter nuclear objects and to study their properties7-14, hoping to shed some light on the existing questions on the asymmetry between matter and antimatter. Here we report the observation of the antimatter hypernucleusH ¯ Λ ¯ 4 , composed of aΛ ¯ , an antiproton and two antineutrons. The discovery was made through its two-body decay after production in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions by the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider15,16. In total, 15.6 candidateH ¯ Λ ¯ 4 antimatter hypernuclei are obtained with an estimated background count of 6.4. The lifetimes of the antihypernucleiH ¯ Λ ¯ 3 andH ¯ Λ ¯ 4 are measured and compared with the lifetimes of their corresponding hypernuclei, testing the symmetry between matter and antimatter. Various production yield ratios among (anti)hypernuclei (hypernuclei and/or antihypernuclei) and (anti)nuclei (nuclei and/or antinuclei) are also measured and compared with theoretical model predictions, shedding light on their production mechanisms.

Effects of rumen-protected 5-hydroxytryptophan on circulating serotonin concentration, behaviour, and mammary gland involution in goats

The risk of acquiring new intramammary infections is high at the end of lactation, especially for the high milk-producing dairy animals. Resistance to bacterial infection increases following the completion of mammary gland involution after milking cessation. The serotonin precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) could accelerate involution by increasing circulating serotonin levels, but ruminal microbes may degrade 5-HTP if orally administered to adult ruminants. It is unclear whether rumen-protected 5-HTP could effectively mediate circulating serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and therefore accelerate mammary gland involution in ruminants. Goats were used as a model in the current study to investigate the effects of rumen-protected 5-HTP on behaviour, 5-HT metabolism, and mammary involution in ruminants. In the first experiment, 16 female Dazu black goats were assigned to one of four groups in a randomised block design. The treatments included a basal diet plus 0, 4, 20, or 100 mg/kg BW of rumen-protected 5-HTP. Serum was collected at 0, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h after offering the rumen-protected 5-HTP in the morning feed, and the behaviours were monitored. In the second experiment, 12 female Dazu black goats (Somatic cell count < 250 000) were randomly assigned to the control (basal diet) or rumen-protected 5-HTP group (basal diet plus 20 mg/kg BW). Milk or mammary secretions were manually collected aseptically on d -1, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 around weaning. The results depicted that rumen-protected 5-HTP supplementation elevated circulating 5-HTP and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid concentrations, while 20 mg/kg BW of rumen-protected 5-HTP supplementation lowered the goats' locomotive activity. A high concentration of rumen-protected 5-HTP (100 mg/kg BW) increased serum alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase concentrations. Moreover, oral supplementation with 20 mg/kg BW of rumen-protected 5-HTP accelerated mammary gland involution and reduced feed intake in goats after weaning. These results demonstrate that oral supplementation with rumen-protected 5-HTP influences 5-HT metabolism and accelerates mammary gland involution after milking cessation in ruminants.

Small extracellular vesicles facilitate epithelial-mesenchymal transition in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps via the miR-375-3p/QKI axis

BACKGROUND

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). However, the involvement of small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) in EMT and their contributions to CRSwNP has not been extensively investigated.

METHODS

SEVs were isolated from nasal mucosa through ultracentrifugation. MicroRNA sequencing and reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction were employed to analyze the differential expression of microRNAs carried by sEVs. Human nasal epithelial cells (hNECs) were used to assess the EMT-inducing effect of sEVs/microRNAs. EMT-associated markers were detected by western blotting and immunofluorescence. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to determine the target gene of miR-375-3p. MicroRNA mimic, lentiviral, and plasmid transduction were used for functional experiments.

RESULTS

In line with the greater EMT status in eosinophilic CRSwNP (ENP), sEVs derived from ENP (ENP-sEVs) could induce EMT in hNECs. MiR-375-3p was elevated in ENP-sEVs compared to that in control and nonENP. MiR-375-3p carried by ENP-sEVs facilitated EMT by directly targeting KH domain containing RNA binding (QKI) at seed sequences of 913-919, 1025-1033, and 2438-2444 in 3’-untranslated region. Inhibition of QKI by miR-375-3p overexpression promoted EMT, which could be reversed by restoration of QKI. Furthermore, the abundance of miR-375-3p in sEVs was closely correlated with the clinical symptom score and disease severity.

CONCLUSIONS

MiR-375-3p-enriched sEVs facilitated EMT by suppressing QKI in hNECs. The association of miR-375-3p with disease severity underscores its potential as both a diagnostic marker and a therapeutic target for the innovative management of CRSwNP.

Sustained Effectiveness and Safety Over Time of Teriflunomide in Chinese Patients with Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis in the Greater Bay Area of China: Insights from Real-World Data

INTRODUCTION

The real-world data on the medium- to long-term effectiveness and safety of teriflunomide in Chinese patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) is limited. Therefore, this study aims to assess the treatment outcomes of teriflunomide in Chinese patients with MS over a medium- to long-term period.

METHODS

This cohort study was carried out in three tertiary hospitals and regional MS centers located in the Greater Bay Area of China. We obtained the historical clinical data of patients who underwent teriflunomide treatment for at least 6 months. The primary objective was to evaluate the proportion of patients achieving no evidence of disease activity (NEDA)-3 status, which is characterized by the absence of relapses, confirmed disability worsening, and new or enlarging MRI lesions, over time. Secondary objectives included assessing the proportion of patients meeting each NEDA-3 criterion, changes in motor and cognitive function, as well as the incidence of adverse events and treatment discontinuations.

RESULTS

A total of 160 patients with MS were enrolled, including 125 patients treated with teriflunomide for at least 1 year (≥ 1-year completers) and 71 patients treated for at least 2 years (≥ 2-year completers). A total of 85.63% of the overall population achieved clinical NEDA-3 status at 6 months of teriflunomide treatment, and 71.20% of ≥ 1-year completers achieved NEDA-3 status at 12 months of teriflunomide treatment. The median timed 25-foot walk test (T25FW), nine-hole peg test (9-HPT), and paced auditory serial addition test (PASAT) results were relatively stable before and after treatment.

CONCLUSION

Medium- to long-term MS disease activity, as indicated by NEDA-3 status, is well controlled in patients treated with continuous teriflunomide treatment in real-world settings.

Managing ischemic and necrotic incarcerated femoral hernia contents and their risk factors

PURPOSE

Incarcerated femoral hernia patients had high risk of hernia contents necrosis. We provide our experience of management ischemia and necrosis of hernia contents in emergency incarcerated femoral hernia patients, and to investigate its risk factors.

METHODS

This is a case-control study. Eighty-nine incarcerated femoral patients who underwent emergency surgery from January 2015 to December 2021 were included, and divided into normal group (60 cases) and ischemia/necrosis group (29 cases) according to the intraoperative condition of hernia contents. The surgical methods, intraoperative and postoperative conditions were compared between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of ischemia and necrosis of hernia contents.

RESULTS

Open preperitoneal tension-free repair was the most commonly used surgical methods (68.5%) for incarcerated femoral patients. The utilization rate of laparoscopic repair in the ischemia/necrosis group was lower than that in the normal group (13.8% vs. 20.0%, P = 0.475). The proportion of mesh placement in the normal group was significantly higher than that in the ischemia/necrosis group (98.3% vs 65.5%, P < 0.001). The hernia contents resection rate (55.2% vs 1.7%), operation time (90 vs 40 min), intraoperative bleeding (5 vs 2 ml), ICU admission rate (31.0% vs 1.7%), and hospital stay (7 vs 4 d) were significantly higher in the ischemia/necrosis group than those in normal group. Results of multivariate logistic regression showed that incarceration time more than 9 h (aOR = 19.3, 95%CI: 1.9-192.9) was an independent risk factor for ischemia and necrosis of hernia contents in emergency incarcerated femoral hernia patients.

CONCLUSION

Open tension-free repair was the most commonly used surgical methods for emergency incarcerated femoral hernia patients. Ischemia and necrosis of hernia contents will increase bowel resection rate and prolong operation and hospital stay. Long incarceration time is an independent risk factor for ischemia and necrosis of hernia contents.

A Chinese Family with Digenic TBP/STUB1 Spinocerebellar Ataxia

Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are inherited neurodegenerative diseases characterized by loss of balance, coordination, and slurred speech. Recently, a digenic mode of inheritance of TBP/STUB1 contributing to SCA was demonstrated. The clinical manifestations of SCATBP/STUB1 include not only ataxia but also obvious cognitive and behavioral impairment. Here, we describe a Chinese family with SCATBP/STUB1 and performed a literature search for similar cases. We identified a Chinese family with SCATBP/STUB1 and compare our clinical findings with other cases described in the literature so far. Four individuals in this family have been found to carry SCATBP/STUB1, of which three have clinical manifestations. A heterozygous deletion mutation in the STIP1-homologous and U-box containing protein 1 (STUB1) gene, NM_005861.4:c433_435del(p.K145del), was identified. The proband is a 34-year-old female with progressive dementia and dysarthria. The mother and uncle of the proband first presented with motor abnormalities and gradually developed cognitive impairment. The proband and her uncle showed cerebellar atrophy on MRI. The proband's brother carried digenic variants but was asymptomatic. SCATBP/STUB1 is a novel SCA subtype. The main clinical manifestations are motor, cognitive, and behavioral abnormalities. Brain MRI shows significant cerebellar atrophy and cortical thinning. The independent segregation of TBP and STUB1 alleles should be considered when evaluating patients with cognitive impairment and ataxia.

Design of radial interferometer-polarimeter for internal magnetic and density fluctuation measurements at multiple space-time scales in the National Spherical Torus Experiment-Upgrade (NSTX-U)

A Faraday-effect radial interferometer-polarimeter is designed for the National Spherical Torus Experiment-Upgrade (NSTX-U) to measure multiscale magnetic and density fluctuations critical to understanding fusion plasma confinement and stability, including those originating from magnetohydrodynamic instabilities, energetic particle-driven modes, and turbulence. The diagnostic will utilize the three-wave technique with 5 MHz bandwidth to simultaneously measure line-integrated magnetic and density fluctuations up to the ion-cyclotron frequency. Probe beams will be launched radially from the low-field side at the NSTX-U midplane, where the measured Faraday fluctuations mainly correspond to radial magnetic fluctuations that directly link to magnetic transport. A correlation technique will be employed to reduce the measurement noise to below 0.01° enabling detection of small amplitude fluctuations. Two toroidally displaced chords with 7° separation will be installed to measure toroidal mode numbers up to n = 25 for mode identification. Solid-state microwave sources operating at 321 μm (935 GHz) will be used to minimize the impact of the Cotton-Mouton effect.

The photosynthetic performance and photoprotective role of carotenoids response to light stress in intertidal red algae Neoporphyra haitanensis

Neoporphyra haitanensis, a red alga harvested for food, thrives in the intertidal zone amid dynamic and harsh environments. High irradiance represents a major stressor in this habitat, posing a threat to the alga's photosynthetic apparatus. Interestingly, N. haitanensis has adapted to excessive light despite the absence of a crucial xanthophyll cycle-dependent photoprotection pathway. Thus, it is valuable to investigate the mechanisms by which N. haitanensis copes with excessive light and to understand the photoprotective roles of carotenoids. Under high light intensities and prolonged irradiation time, N. haitanensis displayed reduction in photosynthetic efficiency and phycobiliproteins levels, as well as different responses in carotenoids. The decreased carotene contents suggested their involvement in the synthesis of xanthophylls, as evidenced by the up-regulation of lycopene-β-cyclase (lcyb) and zeaxanthin epoxidase (zep) genes. Downstream xanthophylls such as lutein, zeaxanthin, and antheraxanthin increased proportionally to light stress, potentially participating in scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS). When accompanied by the enhanced activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), these factors resulted in a reduction in ROS production. The responses of intermediates α-cryptoxanthin and β-cryptoxanthin were felt somewhere between carotenes and zeaxanthin/lutein. Furthermore, these changes were ameliorated when the organism was placed in darkness. In summary, down-regulation of the organism's photosynthetic capacity, coupled with heightened xanthophylls and APX activity, activates photoinhibition quenching (qI) and antioxidant activity, helping N. haitanensis to protect the organism from the damaging effects of excessive light exposure. These findings provide insights into how red algae adapt to intertidal lifestyles.

[Long-term outcomes of laparoscopic gastrectomy for locally advanced gastric cancer with serosa-invasion]

Objective: To evaluate the long-term outcomes and prognostic factors of locally advanced gastric cancer with serosa-invasion. Methods: This study is a retrospective cohort study. The clinical and pathological data of 495 patients with locally advanced gastric cancer with serosa-invasion who underwent laparoscopic radical gastrectomy in Department of General Surgery, the First Hospital Affiliated to Army Medical University from October 2012 to October 2018 was analyzed retrospectively. There were 356 males and 139 females with an age (M(IQR)) of 59 (16) years (range: 18 to 75 years). Observation indicators included postoperative results and long-term prognosis. The survival curve was drawn by the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate prognostic analysis was performed using the Cox proportional hazards model. Results: Among the 495 patients, a total of 57 patients (11.5%) were lost to follow-up, with a follow-up time of 89 (40) months (range: 23 to 134 months). The 5-year disease-free survival rate (DFS) and the 5-year overall survival rate (OS) were 56.0% and 58.2%, respectively. The 5-year DFS for patients with stage ⅡB, ⅢA, ⅢB, ⅢC were 71.2%, 60.5%, 51.6%, 33.3%, respectively. The 5-year OS for patients with stage ⅡB, ⅢA, ⅢB, ⅢC were 71.2%, 62.2%, 54.1%, 39.3%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that age >65 years (DFS: HR=1.402, 95%CI: 1.022 to 1.922, P=0.036; OS: HR=1.461, 95%CI: 1.057 to 2.019, P=0.022), lymph node dissection number less than 25 (DFS: HR=1.348, 95%CI: 1.019 to 1.779, P=0.036; OS: HR=1.376, 95%CI: 1.035 to 1.825, P=0.028), pathological stage Ⅲ (DFS: HR=2.131, 95%CI: 1.444 to 3.144, P<0.01; OS: HR=2.079, 95%CI: 1.406 to 3.074, P<0.01), and no postoperative chemotherapy (DFS: HR=3.127, 95%CI: 2.377 to 4.113, P<0.01; OS: HR=3.768, 95%CI: 2.828 to 5.020, P<0.01) were independent prognostic factors for the decrease in DFS and OS rates. Conclusions: Laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for locally advanced gastric cancer with serosa-invasion could achieve satisfactory long-term oncological outcomes. More lymph node dissection and standardized postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy are expected to further improve the prognosis of patients with locally advanced gastric cancer with serous invasion after laparoscopic radical surgery.

Diagnostic performance of transvaginal sonography vs. magnetic resonance imaging for rectovaginal septum deep infiltrating endometriosis: a head-to-head comparative meta-analysis

AIM

We aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of transvaginal sonography (TVS) versus magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in identifying deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) in the rectovaginal septum (RVS) of affected patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An extensive search was conducted in the PubMed, Embase databases to identify available publications up to November 2023. Studies evaluating the diagnostic perfor-mance of TVS and MRI for DIE in patients with rectovaginal septum involvement were all included. Sensitivity and specificity analyses employed the DerSi-monian and Laird method, complemented by the Freeman-Tukey double arc-sine trans-formation. Additionally, the study quality was rigorously evaluated using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) method.

RESULTS

The meta-analysis encompassed 8 articles with a total of 721 patients. It revealed that the overall sensitivity of TVS was 0.51 (95% CI: 0.31-0.72), contrasted with 0.74 (95% CI: 0.66-0.82) for MRI. This finding suggests a higher sensitivity of MRI compared to TVS (P=0.04). Conversely, the overall specificity was 0.97 (95%CI: 0.94-1.00) for TVS and 0.93 (95% CI: 0.84-0.99) for MRI, indicating a comparable level of specificity between the two modalities (P=0.22).

CONCLUSION

Our meta-analysis reveals that MRI exhibits higher sensitivity and comparable specificity to TVS in patients with DIE of the RVS. However, the limited number of articles included may affect the evidence of these results. Therefore, further d number of articles included may affect the evidence of these results. Therefore, further research with larger sample sizes and prospective designs is essential to validate these findings.

Upregulation of miR-424 inhibit retinal endothelial cells proliferation under high glucose condition via cyclin D1

INTRODUCTION

Diabetic retinopathy is characterised by retinal vascular impairment. A number of aberrant microRNAs (miRNAs) have a role in the pathophysiology of vascular dysfunction. However, the relevance of miR-424 in retinal vascular endothelial cell dysfunction during hyperglycemia stress remains unknown. The purpose of this study is to investigate this issue.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Rhesus macaque choroid retinal endothelial cell line (RF/6A) cells were cultivated in normal glucose (NG) and high glucose (HG) conditions. The mRNA expression of miR-424 and Cyclin D1 (CCND1) was quantified using qPCR, and the protein quantity of CCND1 was detected using Western Blot. miR-424 mimics, miR-424 inhibitors, miR-424 inhibitor+ siRNA-CCND1 or vehicle molecules were transfected into RF/6A cells. MTT test was used to assess cell proliferation, and flow cytometric analysis was used to assess cell cycle. The interaction between miR-424 and CCND1 was predicted using bioinformatics and validated using dual luciferase reporter analysis.

RESULTS

miR-424 was up-regulated, and cell viability was reduced in HG compared to NG. By reversing the expression of miR-424 in certain situations, the phenotypes can be changed. CCND1 has been identified as a miR-424 target gene, and it may be regulated at the transcriptional and translational levels. Manipulation of silencing CCND1 can counteract the effect of transfecting miR-424 inhibitor into RF/6A cells under HG such as proliferation stimulation.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that miR-424 plays an important role in hyperglycemia induced ARPE-19 cells damage, and it could be a new therapeutic target for DR by preventing retinal vascular cells from HG-induced injury.

Muscle cell-derived Ccl8 is a negative regulator of skeletal muscle regeneration

Skeletal muscles undergo robust regeneration upon injury, and infiltrating immune cells play a major role in not only clearing damaged tissues but also regulating the myogenic process through secreted cytokines. Chemokine C-C motif ligand 8 (Ccl8), along with Ccl2 and Ccl7, has been reported to mediate inflammatory responses to suppress muscle regeneration. Ccl8 is also expressed by muscle cells, but a role of the muscle cell-derived Ccl8 in myogenesis has not been reported. In this study, we found that knockdown of Ccl8, but not Ccl2 or Ccl7, led to increased differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts. Analysis of existing single-cell transcriptomic datasets revealed that both immune cells and muscle stem cells (MuSCs) in regenerating muscles express Ccl8, with the expression by MuSCs at a much lower level, and that the temporal patterns of Ccl8 expression were different in MuSCs and macrophages. To probe a function of muscle cell-derived Ccl8 in vivo, we utilized a mouse system in which Cas9 was expressed in Pax7+ myogenic progenitor cells (MPCs) and Ccl8 gene editing was induced by AAV9-delivered sgRNA. Depletion of Ccl8 in Pax7+ MPCs resulted in accelerated muscle regeneration after barium chloride-induced injury in both young and middle-aged mice, and intramuscular administration of a recombinant Ccl8 reversed the phenotype. Accelerated regeneration was also observed when Ccl8 was depleted in Myf5+ or MyoD+ MPCs by similar approaches. Our results suggest that muscle cell-derived Ccl8 plays a unique role in regulating the initiation of myogenic differentiation during injury-induced muscle regeneration.