Air Leakage Characteristics of Gas Boreholes in Deep Coal Seams and Application of Short-Hole Grouting and Plugging

Drilling for gas extraction is widely used as the main approach to manage gas in mines. However, gas leakage during borehole extraction reduces the root cause of the effectiveness of gas extraction. Given that forming a normal hole in the prominent coal seam of the Qingdong Coal Mine is impossible and that air leakage leads to difficulties in prepumping gas in the coal seam, we selected coal seam 3# as the object of this study. First, qualitative analysis determined that the air leakage channel restricted effective gas extraction. Second, short-hole grouting and plugging were proposed to increase the concentration and efficiency of gas extraction from the coal wall, forming a barrier by blocking the fissure network in the plastic zone of the surrounding rock of the coal roadway and preventing the air inside the roadway from penetrating into the coal seam and gas extraction drill holes. Finally, evaluation of the gas extraction efficiency between the grouting test and comparison areas indicated that the initial gas extraction concentration of a single hole could reach 89% when the depth of the selected blocking hole was 15 m. Grouting slowly decreased the gas extraction concentration from 72 to 25%, which effectively improved the speed at which the gas content was reduced in the coal body. The study findings provide a field basis for similar mines to improve their gas extraction efficiency and extend their extraction time.

Sleep quality during pregnancy and fetal growth: A prospective cohort study

The aim of this study is to investigate the association between sleep quality during pregnancy and fetal growth. Pregnant women and their fetuses at 16-20 gestational weeks in Nantong Maternal and Child Health Hospital were recruited. Women were classified as having "good sleep quality" (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score ≤ 5) and "poor sleep quality" (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score > 5) according to the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores. The fetal growth was evaluated by three ultrasonographic examinations, birth weight and birth length. We used general linear model and multiple linear regression models to estimate the associations. A total of 386 pairs of mother and infant were included in the data analysis. After adjusting for gestational weight gain, anxiety and depression, fetuses in the good sleep quality group had greater abdominal circumference (p = 0.039 for 28-31+6 weeks gestation, p = 0.012 for 37-40+6 weeks gestation) and femur length (p = 0.014 for 28-31+6 weeks gestation, p = 0.041for 37-40+6 weeks gestation) at 28-31+6 weeks gestation and 37-40+6 weeks gestation, and increased femur length (p = 0.007) at 28-31+6 weeks gestation. Birth weights (p = 0.018) were positively associated with sleep quality. Poor sleep quality was associated with poor intrauterine physical development, decreased abdominal circumference and femur length, and lower birth weight after adjusting for confounding factors. Attention to the fetal growth of pregnant women with poor sleep quality has the potential to decrease the risk of adverse fetal outcomes.

NUP43 promotes PD-L1/nPD-L1/PD-L1 feedback loop via TM4SF1/JAK/STAT3 pathway in colorectal cancer progression and metastatsis

Programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) has a significant role in tumor progression and metastasis, facilitating tumor cell evasion from immune surveillance. PD-L1 can be detected in the tumor cell nucleus and exert an oncogenic effect by nuclear translocation. Colorectal cancer (CRC) progression and liver metastasis (CCLM) are among the most lethal diseases worldwide, but the mechanism of PD-L1 nuclear translocation in CRC and CCLM remains to be fully understood. In this study, using CRISPR-Cas9-based genome-wide screening combined with RNA-seq, we found that the oncogenic factor NUP43 impacted the process of PD-L1 nuclear translocation by regulating the expression level of the PD-L1 chaperone protein IPO5. Subsequent investigation revealed that this process could stimulate the expression of tumor-promoting factor TM4SF1 and further activate the JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway, which ultimately enhanced the transcription of PD-L1, thus establishing a PD-L1-nPD-L1-PD-L1 feedback loop that ultimately promoted CRC progression and CCLM. In conclusion, our study reveals a novel role for nPD-L1 in CRC, identifies the PD-L1-nPD-L1-PD-L1 feedback loop in CRC, and provides a therapeutic strategy for CRC patients.

The genome of Lespedeza potaninii reveals biased subgenome evolution and drought adaptation

Lespedeza potaninii, a xerophytic subshrub belonging to the legume family, is native to the Tengger Desert and is highly adapted to drought. It has important ecological value due to its drought adaptability, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we report a 1.24 Gb chromosome-scale assembly of the L. potaninii genome (contig N50=15.75 Mb). Our results indicate that L. potaninii underwent an allopolyploid event with two subgenomes, A and B, presenting asymmetric evolution and B subgenome dominance. We estimate that the two diploid progenitors of L. potaninii diverged around 3.6 MYA and merged around 1.0 MYA. We revealed that the expansion of hub genes associated with drought responses, such as the binding partner 1 of accelerated cell death 11 (ACD11) (BPA1), facilitated environmental adaptations of L. potaninii to desert habitats. We found a novel function of the BPA1 family in abiotic stress tolerance in addition to the known role in regulating the plant immune response, which could improve drought tolerance by positively regulating reactive oxygen species homeostasis in plants. We revealed that bZIP transcription factors could bind to the BPA1 promoter and activate its transcription. Our work fills the genomic data gap in the Lespedeza genus and the tribe Desmodieae, which should provide both theoretical support in the study of drought tolerance and in the molecular breeding of legume crops.

A panel of four plasma amino acids is a promising biomarker for newly diagnosed bladder cancer

BACKGROUND

Metastasis and recurrence are the main causes of death in post-operative bladder cancer (BC), emphasizing the importance of exploring early-stage diagnostic markers. Serum biomarkers constitute a promising diagnostic approach for asymptomatic stage cancer as they are non-invasive, have high accuracy and low cost.

AIMS

To correlate concentrations of plasma amino acids with BC progression to assess their utility as an early-stage diagnostic.

METHODS

Newly diagnosed BC patients (n = 95) and normal controls (n = 96) were recruited during the period from 1 December 2018 to 30 December 2020. General and food frequency questionnaires established their basic information and dietary intake data. Venous blood samples were collected from fasting subjects and used to detect levels of plasma amino acids by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Verification was performed on the GSE13507 transcriptome gene expression matrix of BC from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database.

RESULTS

Eleven amino acids have been identified as altered in the plasma of newly diagnosed BC patients compared to controls (P < 0.05). Adjusted by gender, education, smoking and other factors, plasma ornithine level (OR = 0.256, 95% CI: 0.104-0.630) is a protective factor for BC, plasma levels of methionine (OR = 3.460, 95% CI: 1.384-8.651), arginine (OR = 3.851, 95% CI: 1.542-9.616), and glutamate (OR = 3.813, 95% CI: 1.543-9.419) are all risk factors for BC. ROC analysis demonstrated that the combination of plasma ornithine, methionine, arginine and glutamate could accurately diagnose BC (AUC = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.747-0.833). In addition, the mRNA level of arginase 1 was decreased (P < 0.05), while the inducible nitric oxide synthase was increased significantly, which may be linked with the disturbance of arginine metabolism in BC patients. Further analysis of GEO database confirmed the role of arginine metabolism.

CONCLUSION

A biomarker panel containing four amino acids may provide a feasible strategy for the early diagnosis of BC. However, further validation is required through prospective studies.

Investigation of the Single-Particle Scale Structure-Activity Relationship Providing New Insights for the Development of High-Performance Batteries

As electric vehicles, portable electronic devices, and tools have increasingly high requirements for battery energy density and power density, constantly improving battery performance is a research focus. Accurate measurement of the structure-activity relationship of active materials is key to advancing the research of high-performance batteries. However, conventional performance tests of active materials are based on the electrochemical measurement of porous composite electrodes containing active materials, polymer binders, and conductive carbon additives, which cannot establish an accurate structure-activity relationship with the physical characterization of microregions. In this review, in order to promote the accurate measurement and understanding of the structure-activity relationship of materials, the electrochemical measurement and physical characterization of energy storage materials at single-particle scale are reviewed. The potential problems and possible improvement schemes of the single particle electrochemical measurement and physical characterization are proposed. Their potential applications in single particle electrochemical simulation and machine learning are prospected. This review aims to promote the further application of single particle electrochemical measurement and physical characterization in energy storage materials, hoping to achieve 3D unified evaluation of physical characterization, electrochemical measurement, and theoretical simulation at the single particle scale to provide new inspiration for the development of high-performance batteries.

The janus face of serotonin: Regenerative promoter and chronic liver disease aggravator

The progression of liver diseases, from viral hepatitis and fatty liver disease to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is the most representative series of pathological events in liver diseases. While serotonin (5-HT) primarily regulates brain functions such as psychology, mood, and appetite in the central nervous system (CNS), peripheral 5-HT plays a crucial role in regulating tumor development, glucose and lipid metabolism, immune function and inflammatory response related to liver diseases. These peripheral physiological processes involving 5-HT are the key mechanisms driving the development of these liver diseases. This study presents an overview of the existing literature, focusing on the role of 5-HT in HCC, cirrhosis, fatty liver disease, viral hepatitis, and liver injury. In summary, while 5-HT promotes liver regeneration, it can also contribute to the progression of chronic liver disease. These findings indicate the potential for the development and use of 5-HT-related drugs for the treatment of liver diseases, including HCC and cirrhosis.

[Opportunities and challenges in accurate early diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer/pulmonary nodules]

Lung cancer remains the most prevalent and lethal malignancy in our country. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for improving patient prognosis in lung cancer/pulmonary nodules. Recent advancements in non-invasive/minimally invasive liquid biopsy, multi-omics, and artificial intelligence technologies have significantly enhanced the accuracy of early lung cancer/pulmonary nodule diagnosis. However, an early diagnostic method with both high sensitivity and specificity is yet to be established. Furthermore, addressing the methods and extent of early precision surgery, local precision therapy, perioperative combined treatment, and postoperative recurrence and metastasis monitoring are urgent challenges in the early management of lung cancer/pulmonary nodules. Integrating the advantages of various treatment strategies and formulating personalized and precise treatment plans is key to further improving patient survival. In the future, while exploring new therapeutic strategies, it is necessary to continuously search for biomarkers to identify the population that will benefit from the treatment effectively. Additionally, large-sample randomized controlled clinical studies should be conducted to investigate the benefits of long-term patient survival under a diverse range of treatment strategies.

Hovendulcisic acid A-D: four novel ceanothane-type triterpenoids from Hovenia dulcis stems with anticancer properties

Sixteen ceanothane-type triterpenoids, including four new compounds-hovendulcisic acids A-D (1-4) -were purified from the stems of Hovenia dulcis Thunb. The structures of 1-4 were confirmed by comprehensive means including ECD and quantum chemical calculations. Putative biosynthetic pathways of 1-16 were proposed, and 3, 5, and 15 exhibited antitumor activity on A549 and MDA-MB-231 cells.

Prioritizing Organic Pollutants for Shale Gas Exploitation: Life Cycle Environmental Risk Assessments in China and the US

Environmental impacts associated with shale gas exploitation have been historically underestimated due to neglecting to account for the production or the release of end-of-pipe organic pollutants. Here, we assessed the environmental impacts of shale gas production in China and the United States using life cycle assessment. Through data mining, we compiled literature information on organic pollutants in flowback and produced water (FPW), followed by assessments using USEtox to evaluate end-of-pipe risks. Results were incorporated to reveal the life cycle risks associated with shale gas exploitation in both countries. China exhibited higher environmental impacts than the US during the production phase. Substantially different types of organic compounds were observed in the FPW between two countries. Human carcinogenic and ecological toxicity attributed to organics in FPW was 3 orders of magnitude higher than that during the production phase in the US. Conversely, in China, end-of-pipe organics accounted for approximately 52%, 1%, and 47% of the overall human carcinogenic, noncarcinogenic, and ecological impacts, respectively. This may be partially limited by the quantitative data available. While uncertainties exist associated with data availability, our study highlights the significance of integrating impacts from shale gas production to end-of-pipe pollution for comprehensive environmental risk assessments.

Injectable Thermosensitive Gel CH-BPNs-NBP for Effective Periodontitis Treatment through ROS-Scavenging and Jaw Vascular Unit Protection

Periodontitis, a prevalent inflammatory condition in the oral cavity, is closely associated with oxidative stress-induced tissue damage mediated by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. The jaw vascular unit (JVU), encompassing both vascular and lymphatic vessels, plays a crucial role in maintaining tissue fluid homeostasis and contributes to the pathological process in inflammatory diseases of the jaw. This study presents a novel approach for treating periodontitis through the development of an injectable thermosensitive gel (CH-BPNs-NBP). The gel formulation incorporates black phosphorus nanosheets (BPNs), which are notable for their ROS-scavenging properties, and dl-3-n-butylphthalide (NBP), a vasodilator that promotes lymphatic vessel function within the JVU. These results demonstrate that the designed thermosensitive gel serve as a controlled release system, delivering BPNs and NBP to the site of inflammation. CH-BPNs-NBP not only protects macrophages and human lymphatic endothelial cells from ROS attack but also promotes M2 polarization and lymphatic function. In in vivo studies, this work observes a significant reduction in inflammation and tissue damage, accompanied by a notable promotion of alveolar bone regeneration. This research introduces a promising therapeutic strategy for periodontitis, leveraging the unique properties of BPNs and NBP within an injectable thermosensitive gel.

MRI-based deep learning and radiomics for prediction of occult cervical lymph node metastasis and prognosis in early-stage oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: a diagnostic study

INTRODUCTION

The incidence of occult cervical lymph node metastases (OCLNM) is reported to be 20%-30% in early-stage oral cancer and oropharyngeal cancer. There is a lack of an accurate diagnostic method to predict occult lymph node metastasis and to help surgeons make precise treatment decisions.

AIM

To construct and evaluate a preoperative diagnostic method to predict occult lymph node metastasis (OCLNM) in early-stage oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OC and OP SCC) based on deep learning features (DLFs) and radiomics features.

METHODS

A total of 319 patients diagnosed with early-stage OC or OP SCC were retrospectively enrolled and divided into training, test and external validation sets. Traditional radiomics features and DLFs were extracted from their MRI images. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analysis was employed to identify the most valuable features. Prediction models for OCLNM were developed using radiomics features and DLFs. The effectiveness of the models and their clinical applicability were evaluated using the area under the curve (AUC), decision curve analysis (DCA) and survival analysis.

RESULTS

Seventeen prediction models were constructed. The Resnet50 deep learning (DL) model based on the combination of radiomics and DL features achieves the optimal performance, with AUC values of 0.928 (95% CI: 0.881-0.975), 0.878 (95% CI: 0.766-0.990), 0.796 (95% CI: 0.666-0.927) and 0.834 (95% CI: 0.721-0.947) in the training, test, external validation set1 and external validation set2, respectively. Moreover, the Resnet50 model has great prediction value of prognosis in patients with early-stage OC and OP SCC.

CONCLUSION

The proposed MRI-based Resnet50 deep learning model demonstrated high capability in diagnosis of OCLNM and prognosis prediction in the early-stage OC and OP SCC. The Resnet50 model could help refine the clinical diagnosis and treatment of the early-stage OC and OP SCC.

Research on aquatic microcosm: Bibliometric analysis, toxicity comparison and model prediction

Recently, aquatic microcosms have attracted considerable attention because they can be used to simulate natural aquatic ecosystems. First, to evaluate the development of trends, hotspots, and national cooperation networks in the field, bibliometric analysis was performed based on 1841 articles on aquatic microcosm (1962-2022). The results of the bibliometric analysis can be categorized as follows: (1) Aquatic microcosm research can be summarized in two sections, with the first part focusing on the ecological processes and services of aquatic ecosystems, and the second focusing on the toxicity and degradation of pollutants. (2) The United States (number of publications: 541, proportion: 29.5%) and China (248, 13.5%) are the two most active countries. Second, to determine whether there is a difference between single-species and microcosm tests, that is, to perform different-tier assessments, the recommended aquatic safety thresholds in risk assessment [i.e., the community-level no effect concentration (NOECcommunity), hazardous concentrations for 5% of species (HC5) and predicted no effect concentration (PNEC)] were compared based on these tests. There was a significant difference between the NOECcommunity and HC5 (P < 0.05). Moreover, regression models predicting microcosm toxicity values were constructed to provide a reference for ecological systemic risk assessments based on aquatic microcosms.

Neonicotinoid insecticides and metabolites levels in neonatal first urine from southern China: Exploring links to preterm birth

Neonicotinoids (NEOs) have indeed become the most widely used insecticides worldwide. Concerns have been raised about their potential impact on newborns due to maternal exposure and their unique neurotoxic mode of action. However, it is still poorly understood whether in utero exposure of pregnant women to environmental NEOs and their metabolites can cause carryover effects on vulnerable newborns and subsequent health consequences. In this study, we determined the concentrations of 13 NEOs and their metabolites in the first urine collected from 92 newborns, both preterm and full-term, in southern China during 2020 and 2021. NEOs and their metabolites were identified in 91 urine samples, with over 93% of samples containing a cocktail of these compounds, confirming their maternal-fetal transfer. N-desmethyl-acetamiprid, imidaclothiz, clothianidin and flonicamid were the most commonly detected analytes, with detection frequencies of 59-87% and medians of 0.024-0.291 ng/mL in the urine. The relative abundance of imidaclothiz was significantly higher in preterm newborns, those with head circumferences below 33 cm, birth lengths less than 47 cm, and weights below 2500 g (p < 0.05). When comparing newborns in the 2nd quartile of imidaclothiz concentrations with those in the 1st quartile, we observed a significant increase in the odds of preterm outcomes in the unadjusted model (odds ratio = 3.24, 95% confidence interval = 1.02-10.3). These results suggest that exposure to elevated concentrations of imidaclothiz may be associated with preterm birth.

Demystifying COVID-19 mortality causes with interpretable data mining

While COVID-19 becomes periodical, old individuals remain vulnerable to severe disease with high mortality. Although there have been some studies on revealing different risk factors affecting the death of COVID-19 patients, researchers rarely provide a comprehensive analysis to reveal the relationships and interactive effects of the risk factors of COVID-19 mortality, especially in the elderly. Through retrospectively including 1917 COVID-19 patients (102 were dead) admitted to Xiangya Hospital from December 2022 to March 2023, we used the association rule mining method to identify the risk factors leading causes of death among the elderly. Firstly, we used the Affinity Propagation clustering to extract key features from the dataset. Then, we applied the Apriori Algorithm to obtain 6 groups of abnormal feature combinations with significant increments in mortality rate. The results showed a relationship between the number of abnormal feature combinations and mortality rates within different groups. Patients with "C-reactive protein > 8 mg/L", "neutrophils percentage > 75.0 %", "lymphocytes percentage < 20%", and "albumin < 40 g/L" have a 2 × mortality rate than the basic one. When the characteristics of "D-dimer > 0.5 mg/L" and "WBC > 9.5 × 10 9 /L" are continuously included in this foundation, the mortality rate can be increased to 3 × or 4 × . In addition, we also found that liver and kidney diseases significantly affect patient mortality, and the mortality rate can be as high as 100%. These findings can support auxiliary diagnosis and treatment to facilitate early intervention in patients, thereby reducing patient mortality.

Deep Learning Bridged Bioactivity, Structure, and GC-HRMS-Readable Evidence to Decipher Nontarget Toxicants in Sediments

Identifying causative toxicants in mixtures is critical, but this task is challenging when mixtures contain multiple chemical classes. Effect-based methods are used to complement chemical analyses to identify toxicants, yet conventional bioassays typically rely on an apical and/or single endpoint, providing limited diagnostic potential to guide chemical prioritization. We proposed an event-driven taxonomy framework for mixture risk assessment that relied on high-throughput screening bioassays and toxicant identification integrated by deep learning. In this work, the framework was evaluated using chemical mixtures in sediments eliciting aryl-hydrocarbon receptor activation and oxidative stress response. Mixture prediction using target analysis explained <10% of observed sediment bioactivity. To identify additional contaminants, two deep learning models were developed to predict fingerprints of a pool of bioactive substances (event driver fingerprint, EDFP) and convert these candidates to MS-readable information (event driver ion, EDION) for nontarget analysis. Two libraries with 121 and 118 fingerprints were established, and 247 bioactive compounds were identified at confidence level 2 or 3 in sediment extract using GC-qToF-MS. Among them, 12 toxicants were analytically confirmed using reference standards. Collectively, we present a "bioactivity-signature-toxicant" strategy to deconvolute mixtures and to connect patchy data sets and guide nontarget analysis for diverse chemicals that elicit the same bioactivity.

Association between long-term ozone exposure and readmission for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation

The relationship between long-term ozone (O₃) exposure and readmission for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) remains elusive. In this study, we collected individual-level information on AECOPD hospitalizations from a standardized electronic database in Guangzhou from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2015. We calculated the annual mean O₃ concentration prior to the dates of the index hospitalization for AECOPD using patients' residential addresses. Employing Cox proportional hazards models, we assessed the association between long-term O₃ concentration and the risk of AECOPD readmission across several time frames (30 days, 90 days, 180 days, and 365 days). We estimated the disease and economic burden of AECOPD readmissions attributable to O₃ using a counterfactual approach. Of the 4574 patients included in the study, 1398 (30.6%) were readmitted during the study period, with 262 (5.7%) readmitted within 30 days. The annual mean O₃ concentration was 90.3 μg/m3 (standard deviation [SD] = 8.2 μg/m3). A 10-μg/m3 increase in long-term O₃ concentration resulted in a hazard ratio (HR) for AECOPD readmission within 30 days of 1.28 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09 to 1.49), with similar results for readmission within 90, 180, and 365 days. Older patients (aged 75 years or above) and males were more susceptible (HR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.10-1.61 and HR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.09-1.53, respectively). The population attributable fraction for 30-day readmission due to O₃ exposure was 29.0% (95% CI, 28.4%-30.0%), and the attributable mean cost per participant was 362.3 USD (354.5-370.2). Long-term exposure to elevated O₃ concentrations is associated with an increased risk of AECOPD readmission, contributing to a significant disease and economic burden.

Adipose c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase promotes angiotensin II-induced and deoxycorticosterone acetate salt-induced hypertension and vascular dysfunction by inhibition of adiponectin production and activation of SGK1 in mice

BACKGROUND

Adipose c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase 1/2 (JNK1/2) is a central mediator involved in the development of obesity and its complications. However, the roles of adipose JNK1/2 in hypertension remain elusive. Here we explored the role of adipose JNK1/2 in hypertension.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The roles of adipose JNK1/2 in hypertension were investigated by evaluating the impact of adipose JNK1/2 inactivation in both angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced and deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) salt-induced hypertensive mice. Specific inactivation of JNK1/2 in adipocytes significantly alleviates Ang II-induced and DOCA salt-induced hypertension and target organ damage in mice. Interestingly, such beneficial effects are also observed in hypertensive mice after oral administration of JNK1/2 inhibitor SP600125. Mechanistically, adipose JNK1/2 acts on adipocytes to reduce the production of adiponectin (APN), then leads to promote serum and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 (SGK1) phosphorylation and increases epithelial Na + channel α-subunit (ENaCα) expression in both renal cells and adipocytes, respectively, finally exacerbates Na + retention. In addition, chronic treatment of recombinant mouse APN significantly augments the beneficial effects of adipose JNK1/2 inactivation in DOCA salt-induced hypertension. By contrast, the blood pressure-lowering effects of adipose JNK1/2 inactivation are abrogated by adenovirus-mediated SGK1 overexpression in Ang II -treated adipose JNK1/2 inactivation mice.

CONCLUSION

Adipose JNK1/2 promotes hypertension and targets organ impairment via fine-tuning the multiorgan crosstalk among adipose tissue, kidney, and blood vessels.

Comparison of the efficacy and safety of benzbromarone and febuxostat in gout and hyperuricemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Urate-lowering therapy (ULT) is widely recognized as the primary treatment for hyperuricemia and gout. Xanthine oxidase inhibitors (XOI), particularly febuxostat, have gained popularity as a frontline approach. However, the divergent efficacy and safety between febuxostat and the traditional ULT drug, benzbromarone, remain poorly understood. This knowledge gap necessitates a comprehensive analysis and evidence update to guide drug selection for physicians and patients.

METHOD

We conducted a systematic analysis by extracting relevant clinical studies from four medical literature databases. Forest plots, funnel plots, sensitivity analysis, Egger's test, and subgroup analysis were utilized to compare relevant indicators.

RESULTS

The advantages and disadvantages of the two drugs were evaluated based on various indicators such as serum uric acid (SUA), triglyceride (TG), urinary uric acid (UUA), white blood cell count (WBC), total cholesterol (TC), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and serum creatinine (SC). Benzbromarone demonstrated better efficacy in rapidly reducing SUA levels and inhibiting inflammation for hyperuricemia and gout patients. Febuxostat was slightly less effective in lowering SUA, but there was no significant difference in its impact on liver and kidney function after long-term use.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the superiority of benzbromarone in rapidly reducing SUA and inhibiting inflammation. Febuxostat shows comparable effects on liver and kidney function after long-term use. These findings provide valuable insights for clinicians and patients in drug selection. Key Points • Benzbromarone stands out as a highly effective treatment for hyperuricemia and gout, offering rapid reduction of serum uric acid levels and potent anti-inflammatory effects. • When it comes to long-term use, febuxostat demonstrates comparable effects on liver and kidney function. This provides reassurance for patients who require extended treatment duration. • Moreover, our study goes beyond previous research by presenting a more comprehensive and detailed analysis.

[Retracted] Dexmedetomidine improves early postoperative neurocognitive disorder in elderly male patients undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomy

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.3892/etm.2020.9113.].

Maternal circadian rhythm disruption affects neonatal inflammation via metabolic reprograming of myeloid cells

Disruption of circadian rhythm during pregnancy produces adverse health outcomes in offspring; however, the role of maternal circadian rhythms in the immune system of infants and their susceptibility to inflammation remains poorly understood. Here we show that disruption of circadian rhythms in pregnant mice profoundly aggravates the severity of neonatal inflammatory disorders in both male and female offspring, such as necrotizing enterocolitis and sepsis. The diminished maternal production of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and the impaired immunosuppressive function of neonatal myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) contribute to this phenomenon. Mechanistically, DHA enhances the immunosuppressive function of MDSCs via PPARγ-mediated mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Transfer of MDSCs or perinatal supplementation of DHA relieves neonatal inflammation induced by maternal rhythm disruption. These observations collectively demonstrate a previously unrecognized role of maternal circadian rhythms in the control of neonatal inflammation via metabolic reprograming of myeloid cells.

High-fat diet impairs gut barrier through intestinal microbiota-derived reactive oxygen species

Gut barrier disruption is a key event in bridging gut microbiota dysbiosis and high-fat diet (HFD)-associated metabolic disorders. However, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. In the present study, by comparing HFD- and normal diet (ND)-treated mice, we found that the HFD instantly altered the composition of the gut microbiota and subsequently damaged the integrity of the gut barrier. Metagenomic sequencing revealed that the HFD upregulates gut microbial functions related to redox reactions, as confirmed by the increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in fecal microbiota incubation in vitro and in the lumen, which were detected using in vivo fluorescence imaging. This microbial ROS-producing capability induced by HFD can be transferred through fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) into germ-free (GF) mice, downregulating the gut barrier tight junctions. Similarly, mono-colonizing GF mice with an Enterococcus strain excelled in ROS production, damaged the gut barrier, induced mitochondrial malfunction and apoptosis of the intestinal epithelial cells, and exacerbated fatty liver, compared with other low-ROS-producing Enterococcus strains. Oral administration of recombinant high-stability-superoxide dismutase (SOD) significantly reduced intestinal ROS, protected the gut barrier, and improved fatty liver against the HFD. In conclusion, our study suggests that extracellular ROS derived from gut microbiota play a pivotal role in HFD-induced gut barrier disruption and is a potential therapeutic target for HFD-associated metabolic diseases.

Effects of microplastics on the structure and function of bacterial communities in sediments of a freshwater lake

As an emerging pollutant, microplastics (MPs) cause widespread concern around the world owing to the serious threat they pose to ecosystems. In particular, sediments are thought to be the long-term sink for the continual accumulation of MPs in freshwater ecosystems. Polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) have been frequently detected with large concentration variations in freshwater sediments from the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, one of the most economically developed regions in China, characterized by accelerated urbanization and industrialization, high population density and high plastics consumption. However, the impact of PE and PET on the sedimental bacterial community composition and its function has not been well reported for this specific region. Herein, PE and PET particles were added to freshwater sediments to assess the effects of different MP types on the bacterial community and its function, using three concentrations (500, 1500 and 2500 items/kg) per MP and incubations of 35, 105 and 175 days, respectively. This study identified a total of 68 phyla, 211 classes, 518 orders, 853 families and 1745 genera. Specifically, Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, Acidobacteriota, Actinobacteriota and Firmicutes were the top five phyla. A higher bacterial diversity was obtained in control sediments than in the MP-treated sediments. The presence of MPs, whether PET or PE, had significant impact on the bacterial diversity, community structure and community composition. PICRUSt2 and FAPOTAX predictions demonstrated that MPs could potentially affect the metabolic pathways and ecologically functional groups of bacteria in the sediment. Besides the MP-related factors, such as the type, concentration and incubation time, the physicochemical parameters had an effect on the structure and function of the bacterial community in the freshwater sediment. Taken together, this study provides useful information for further understanding how MPs affect bacterial communities in the freshwater sediment of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, China.