Leukocyte telomere length in children born following blastocyst-stage embryo transfer

Perinatal and childhood adverse outcomes associated with assisted reproductive technology (ART) has been reported, but it remains unknown whether the initial leukocyte telomere length (LTL), which is an indicator of age-related phenotypes in later life, is affected. Here, we estimated the LTLs of 1,137 individuals from 365 families, including 202 children conceived by ART and 205 children conceived spontaneously from two centers of the China National Birth Cohort, using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data. One-year-old children conceived by ART had shorter LTLs than those conceived spontaneously (beta, -0.36; P = 1.29 × 10^-3) after adjusting for plurality, sex and other potential confounding factors. In particular, blastocyst-stage embryo transfer was associated with shorter LTL (beta, -0.54, P = 2.69 × 10^-3) in children conceived by ART. The association was validated in 586 children conceived by ART from five centers using different LTL quantification methods (that is, WGS or qPCR). Blastocyst-stage embryo transfer resulted in shorter telomere lengths in mice at postnatal day 1 (P = 2.10 × 10^-4) and mice at 6 months (P = 0.042). In vitro culturing of mice embryos did not result in shorter telomere lengths in the late cleavage stage, but it did suppress telomerase activity in the early blastocyst stage. Our findings demonstrate the need to evaluate the long-term consequences of ART, particularly for aging-related phenotypes, in children conceived by ART.

Therapeutic potential of plant iridoids in depression: a review

CONTEXT

Depression is a mental disorder characterized by low mood, reduced interest, impaired cognitive function, and vegetative symptoms such as sleep disturbances or poor appetite. Iridoids are the active constituents in several Chinese classical antidepressant formulae such as Yueju Pill, Zhi-Zi-Hou-Po Decoction, Zhi-Zi-Chi Decoction, and Baihe Dihuang Decoction. Parallel to their wide usages, iridoids are considered potential lead compounds for the treatment of neurological diseases.

OBJECTIVE

The review summarizes the therapeutic potential and molecular mechanisms of iridoids in the prevention or treatment of depression and contributes to identifying research gaps in iridoids as potential antidepressant medication.

METHODS

The following key phrases were sought in PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Internet (CNKI) without time limitation to search all relevant articles with in vivo or in vitro experimental studies as comprehensively as possible: ('iridoid' or 'seciridoid' or 'depression'). This review extracted the experimental data on the therapeutic potential and molecular mechanism of plant-derived iridoids for depression.

RESULTS

Plant iridoids (i.e., catalpol, geniposide, loganin), and secoiridoids (i.e., morroniside, gentiopicroside, oleuropein, swertiamarin), all showed significant improvement effects on depression.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Iridoids exert antidepressant effects by elevating monoamine neurotransmitters, reducing pro-inflammatory factors, inhibiting hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hyperactivity, increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptors, and elevating intestinal microbial abundance. Further detailed studies on the pharmacokinetics, bioavailability, and key molecular targets of iridoids are also required in future research, ultimately to provide improvements to current antidepressant medications.

Low-Dose Anti-Thymocyte Globulin Plus Low-Dose Posttransplant Cyclophosphamide as an Effective Regimen for Prophylaxis of Graft Versus Host Disease After Haploidentical Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation With Maternal/Collateral Related Donors

Maternal and collateral donors were associated with a higher incidence of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) after haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haplo-HSCT). A more effective regimen for GvHD prophylaxis after haplo-HSCT with maternal/collateral donors needed to be explored. A retrospective study was performed on 62 patients after haploidentical peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (haplo-PBSCT) with maternal/collateral donors, which included 35 patients with low-dose antithymocyte globulin (ATG) plus low-dose posttransplant cyclophosphamide-based (low-dose ATG/PTCy-based) and 27 with ATG-based regimens for GvHD prophylaxis. The 180-day cumulative incidences (CIs) of grades II-IV and III-IV acute GvHD (aGvHD) were 17.7% and 6.8% in low-dose ATG/PTCy-based group, which were significantly lower than that in ATG-based group (55.4% and 31.9%) (P = 0.003 for grade II-IV and P = 0.007 for III-IV aGvHD). In low-dose ATG/PTCy-based group, the 1-year overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) were 80.0%and 80.4%, which were higher than that in ATG-based group with OS of 59.4% and RFS of 62.0%. In multivariate analysis, the low-dose ATG/PTCy-based regimen significantly reduced the risk of grade II-IV (HR = 0.357; P = 0.049) and grade III-IV aGvHD (HR = 0.190; P = 0.046) as an independent risk factor. The results suggested that the low-dose ATG/PTCy-based regimen could effectively prevent the occurrence of aGvHD after haplo-PBSCT with maternal/collateral donors compared with the ATG-based regimen.

Endoscopic surgery versus craniotomy in the treatment of spontaneous intracerebral hematoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH) has high morbidity and mortality, with no clear standard of treatment available. Compared with the craniotomy approach, neuroendoscopy is a relatively minimally invasive treatment method, and may be an efficient alternative. Therefore, this meta-analysis aimed to assess the clinical efficacy of neuroendoscopy and craniotomy in SICH patients.

METHODS

The electronic databases Web of Science, PubMed, EmBase, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched. According to the PRISMA template, we finally selected and analyzed 14 eligible studies that evaluated neuroendoscopy versus craniotomy. Primary outcomes included operation time, intraoperative blood loss volume, evacuation rate, residual hematoma, complications, hospital stay duration, clinical outcomes, and other parameters.

RESULTS

A total of 4 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 10 retrospective studies (non-RCTs) involving 1652 patients were included in the final analysis. In the neuroendoscopy (NE) group, operation time (p < 0.00001), intraoperative blood loss volume (p < 0.0001), hematoma evacuation rate (p = 0.0002), complications (p < 0.00001), hospitalization days (p = 0.004), and mortality (p < 0.0001) were significantly different from those of the craniotomy (C) group, with a higher rate of good recovery compared with the craniotomy group (P < 0.00001).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that patients with SICH and physicians may benefit more from neuroendoscopic surgery than craniotomy.

One Dimensional Twisted Van der Waals Structures Constructed by Self-Assembling Graphene Nanoribbons on Carbon Nanotubes

Twisted van der Waals heterostructures were recently found to possess unique physical properties, such as superconductivity in magic angle bilayer graphene. Owing to the nonhomogeneous stacking, the energy of twisted van der Waals heterostructures are often higher than their AA or AB stacking counterpart, therefore, fabricating such structures remains a great challenge in experiments. On the other hand, one dimensional (1D) coaxial van der Waals structures has less freedom to undergo phase transition, thus offer opportunity for fabricating the 1D cousin of twisted bilayer graphene. In this work, we show by molecular dynamic simulations that graphene nanoribbons can self-assemble onto the surface of carbon nanotubes driven by van der Waals interactions. By modifying the size of the carbon nanotubes or graphene nanoribbons, the resultant configurations can be controlled. Of particular interest is the formation of twisted double walled carbon nanotubes whose chiral angle difference can be tuned, including the 1.1° magic angle. Upon the longitudinal unzipping of such structures, twisted bilayer graphene nanoribbons can be obtained. As the longitudinal unzipping of carbon nanotubes is a mature technique, we expect the strategy proposed in this study to stimulate experimental efforts and promote the fast growing research in twistronics.

Faster Macular Vessel Density Loss in More Advanced Primary Open Angle Glaucoma Eyes

PURPOSE

The aim of the study was to characterize and compare the longitudinal changes of macular vessel density (VD) in primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) eyes across different disease stages.

METHODS

This is a sub-analysis of a prospective cohort study. A total of 103 eyes (53 eyes in the mild stage, 50 eyes in the moderate-to-advanced stage) of 75 POAG patients followed for more than 1 year with at least 2 qualified optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography (OCTA) images were included. The rates of macular VD change were determined by linear regression and compared using the generalized linear mixed models between groups. Mixed effect models were used to evaluate the demographic and ocular parameters associated with the VD loss rate.

RESULTS

With a mean follow-up time of 2.36 years, the rates of macular VD change were significantly different from zero in both groups. The rates of macular VD loss were significantly faster in moderate-to-advanced-stage group than in mild-stage group in whole image (-2.46%/year vs. -1.47%/year, p = 0.002);, superior hemifield (-2.42%/year vs. -1.30%/year, p = 0.001); parafovea (-2.35%/year vs. -1.26, p = 0.001); superior (-2.20%/year vs. -1.01%/year, p = 0.002), nasal (-2.41%/year vs. -1.04%/year, p = 0.001), inferior (-2.46%/year vs. -1.43%/year, p = 0.018), and temporal sectors (-2.32%/year vs. -1.58%/year, p = 0.012). Baseline mean deviation and OCT parameters were associated with the rates of macular VD loss.

CONCLUSIONS

OCTA measurements could detect vascular deterioration over time in POAG eyes at different stages. The rates of macular VD loss were significantly faster in more advanced POAG eyes.

Integrated plasma pharmacochemistry and network pharmacology to explore the mechanism of Gerberae Piloselloidis Herba in treatment of allergic asthma

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Gerberae Piloselloidis Herba (GPH), a commonly used traditional medicine in China, is derived from Gerbera piloselloides (Linn.) Cass. It is featured by its special bioactivities as antitussive, expectorant, anti-asthma, anti-bacterial, anti-tumor, uterine analgesia, and immunity-enhancing. With a long history of medication in ethnic minority areas in China, it is often used as an effective treatment for cough and sore throat as well as allergic asthma. Although our previous investigation also has discovered GPH performed effective treatment on allergic asthma, its underlying mechanism remains unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This research aims to reveal the pharmacological mechanism of GPH in the treatment for allergic asthma through combination of plasma pharmacology and network pharmacology.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Firstly, the components of GPH in blood samples were identified using UHPLC- Q-Orbitrap HRMS. An interaction network of "compound-target-disease" was constructed based on the compounds confirmed in blood and on their corresponding targets of allergic asthma acquired from disease gene databases, predicting the possible biological targets and potential signal pathways of GPH with the network pharmacology analysis. Then, a molecular docking between the blood ingredients and the core targets was carried out using the Autodock Vina software. Subsequently, after establishing a mouse model with allergic asthma induced by ovalbumin (OVA), the effect of GPH on allergic asthma was evaluated by analyzing a series of indicators including behavior, lung pathological changes, inflammatory factors in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Finally, the key pathway and targets predicted by network pharmacology and molecular docking were further verified using Western blot analysis.

RESULTS

Eleven chemical constituents (such as arbutin, neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, etc.) were identified through the analysis of plasma samples, on which basis a total of 142 genes intersecting GPH and allergic asthma were collected by network pharmacology. After performing enrichment analysis of these genes in gene ontology (GO) and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG), it was found that arbutin-related targets mainly focused on phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signal pathway, while luteolin and marmesin -related targets tended to locate at Interleukin-17 (IL-17) signal pathway. Meanwhile, the findings of molecular docking suggested that such components as arbutin, luteolin and marmesin entering into blood had good binding with the core targets related to PI3K/Akt and IL-17 pathways. In addition, GPH improved the OVA-induced asthma symptoms, the alveolar septa thickening and the infiltration of inflammatory cell around bronchi and bronchioles as well as reduced the levels of IgE, IL-8 and TNF-α in serum or BALF. Furthermore, GPH could inhibit the phosphorylation level of Akt and the expression of PI3K, an efficacy supported by the findings by way of Western blot which suggests that GPH in the treatment of allergic asthma was linked to PI3K/Akt signal pathway.

CONCLUSION

In this study, a comprehensive strategy to combine the UPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS with network pharmacology was employed to clarify the mechanism of GPH against allergic asthma, a finding where GPH may inhibit PI3K/Akt signal pathway to protect mice from OVA-induced allergic asthma. This study provides a deeper understanding of the pharmacological mechanism of GPH in treatment of asthma, offering a scientific reference for further research and clinical application of GPH in terms of allergic asthma.

Anti-tumor effects of P-LPK-CPT, a peptide-camptothecin conjugate, in colorectal cancer

To explore highly selective targeting molecules of colorectal cancer (CRC) is a challenge. We previously identified a twelve-amino acid peptide (LPKTVSSDMSLN, namely P-LPK) by phage display technique which may specifically binds to CRC cells. Here we show that P-LPK selectively bind to a panel of human CRC cell lines and CRC tissues. In vivo, Gallium-68 (⁶⁸Ga) labeled P-LPK exhibits selective accumulation at tumor sites. Then, we designed a peptide-conjugated drug comprising P-LPK and camptothecin (CPT) (namely P-LPK-CPT), and found P-LPK-CPT significantly inhibits tumor growth with fewer side effects in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, through co-immunoprecipitation and molecular docking experiment, the glutamine transporter solute carrier 1 family member 5 (SLC1A5) was identified as the possible target of P-LPK. The binding ability of P-LPK and SLC1A5 is verified by surface plasmon resonance and immunofluorescence. Taken together, P-LPK-CPT is highly effective for CRC and deserves further development as a promising anti-tumor therapeutic for CRC, especially SLC1A5-high expression type.

A peptide that specifically targets amino acid transporter SLC1A5 in colorectal cancer cells is identified and conjugated with camptothecin to show selective cytotoxicity to colorectal cancer cells in preclinical models.

Multi-Jet Fusion 3D Voxel Printing of Conductive Elastomers

3D voxel printing enables the fabrication of parts with site-specific materials and properties at voxel-scale resolution, while the current research mainly focuses on the variations in mechanical properties and colors. In this work, the design and fabrication of voxelated conductive elastomers using Multi Jet Fusion 3D voxel printing actualized by a newly developed multifunctional agent (MA) are investigated. The MA, mainly consisting of carbon nanotubes and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate, serves as an infrared-absorbing colorant, a reinforcement, and a conductive filler simultaneously. By controlling the drop-on-demand dispensing of the agents on thermoplastic polyurethane powder, the electrical conductivity across a single printed part can be tailored over a wide range from 10^-10 to 10^-1 S cm^-1 at a voxel resolution of ≈100 µm. Assembly-free strain sensors comprising conductive sensing layers and insulating frames are fabricated to demonstrate the capability of the technique in manufacturing all-printed wearable devices.

Comparison of TGSE-BLADE DWI, RESOLVE DWI, and SS-EPI DWI in healthy volunteers and patients after cerebral aneurysm clipping

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging is prone to have susceptibility artifacts in an inhomogeneous magnetic field. We compared distortion and artifacts among three diffusion acquisition techniques (single-shot echo-planar imaging [SS-EPI DWI], readout-segmented EPI [RESOLVE DWI], and 2D turbo gradient- and spin-echo diffusion-weighted imaging with non-Cartesian BLADE trajectory [TGSE-BLADE DWI]) in healthy volunteers and in patients with a cerebral aneurysm clip. Seventeen healthy volunteers and 20 patients who had undergone surgical cerebral aneurysm clipping were prospectively enrolled. SS-EPI DWI, RESOLVE DWI, and TGSE-BLADE DWI of the brain were performed using 3 T scanners. Distortion was the least in TGSE-BLADE DWI, and lower in RESOLVE DWI than SS-EPI DWI near air-bone interfaces in healthy volunteers (P < 0.001). Length of clip-induced artifact and distortion near the metal clip were the least in TGSE-BLADE DWI, and lower in RESOLVE DWI than SS-EPI DWI (P < 0.01). Image quality scores for geometric distortion, susceptibility artifacts, and overall image quality in both healthy volunteers and patients were the best in TGSE-BLADE DWI, and better in RESOLVE DWI than SS-EPI DWI (P < 0.001). Among the three DWI sequences, image quality was the best in TGSE-BLADE DWI in terms of distortion and artifacts, in both healthy volunteers and patients with an aneurysm clip.

Monobody adapter for functional antibody display on nanoparticles for adaptable targeted delivery applications

Vascular endothelial cells (ECs) play a central role in the pathophysiology of many diseases. The use of targeted nanoparticles (NPs) to deliver therapeutics to ECs could dramatically improve efficacy by providing elevated and sustained intracellular drug levels. However, achieving sufficient levels of NP targeting in human settings remains elusive. Here, we overcome this barrier by engineering a monobody adapter that presents antibodies on the NP surface in a manner that fully preserves their antigen-binding function. This system improves targeting efficacy in cultured ECs under flow by >1000-fold over conventional antibody immobilization using amine coupling and enables robust delivery of NPs to the ECs of human kidneys undergoing ex vivo perfusion, a clinical setting used for organ transplant. Our monobody adapter also enables a simple plug-and-play capacity that facilitates the evaluation of a diverse array of targeted NPs. This technology has the potential to simplify and possibly accelerate both the development and clinical translation of EC-targeted nanomedicines.

Puffball-Inspired Microrobotic Systems with Robust Payload, Strong Protection, and Targeted Locomotion for On-Demand Drug Delivery

Microrobots are recognized as transformative solutions for drug delivery systems (DDSs) because they can navigate through the body to specific locations and enable targeted drug release. However, their realization is substantially limited by insufficient payload capacity, unavoidable drug leakage/deactivation, and strict modification/stability criteria for drugs. Natural puffballs possess fascinating features that are highly desirable for DDSs, including a large fruitbody for storing spores, a flexible protective cap, and environmentally triggered release mechanisms. This report presents a puffball-inspired microrobotic system which incorporates an internal chamber for loading large drug quantities and spatial drug separation, and a near-infrared-responsive top-sealing layer offering strong drug protection and on-demand release. These puffball-inspired microrobots (PIMs) display tunable loading capacities up to high concentrations and enhanced drug protection with minimal drug leakage. Upon near-infrared laser irradiation, on-demand drug delivery with rapid release efficiency is achieved. The PIMs also demonstrate translational motion velocities, switchable motion modes, and precise locomotion under a rotating magnetic field. This work provides strong proof-of-concept for a DDS that combines the superior locomotion capability of microrobots with the unique characteristics of puffballs, thereby illustrating a versatile avenue for development of a new generation of microrobots for targeted drug delivery.

Evaluating the long-term survival benefits of high intensity focused ultrasound ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus: a single center retrospective study

AIMS

To evaluate the long-term survival benefits of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) combined with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT).

METHODS

The data of patients with HCC-PVTT treated with HIFU from January 2014 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients received HIFU ablation for both PVTT and liver tumor in one session. Perioperative adverse events (AEs) were recorded, and follow-up was performed postoperatively. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis.

RESULTS

Median follow-up was 13.75 ± 1.31 months. A total of 144 patients (male/female: 122/22, age: 54.15 ± 11.84 years old) were included in the study. A total of 267 liver tumors (tumor number: 1.87 ± 1.65, range 1-10) were treated with HIFU. The mean ± SD diameter of viable liver tumors was 100.98 ± 61.65 mm. The reported postoperative AEs of HIFU were skin edema (93.75%), local pain (69.44%) and fever (7.64%). There was no liver failure, gastrointestinal bleeding or perioperative death. The median overall survival (OS) time was 14 months, while the cumulative survival rates of 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 years were 79.0%, 58.6%, 33.3% and 5.9%, respectively. The median OS of PVTT types I, II and III was 22, 13 and 14 months, respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

HIFU is a minimally invasive method for HCC-PVTT with fewer complications, which could prolong the OS. Patients with PVTT type III could benefit more from HIFU, compared to types I and II.

Comparative pharmacokinetics of eleven components from active part of Gerberae Piloselloidis Herba after oral administration in control and asthmatic mice

Gerberae Piloselloidis Herba, a traditional Chinese medicine, is often employed to treat such lung-related diseases as coughs, asthma and pulmonary carbuncles in southwest China. Our previous study demonstrated that its active fraction, prepared from Gerberae Piloselloidis Herba, exerts an obvious beneficial effect on asthma. However, the pharmacokinetics of its major constituents remain unclear. Therefore, an UPLC-ESI-MS/MS method was successfully established to simultaneously perform the pharmacokinetics of main 11 components of the active fraction between normal and ovalbumin-induced asthmatic mice. Compared to normal group, in asthmatic mice the peak concentration of arbutin, marmesin, caffeoylquinic acids and flavonoid glycosides clearly increased, while for luteolin it significantly declined; the area under the curve for arbutin and luteolin showed an increase, but the values of marmesin, caffeoylquinic acids and flavonoid glycosides revealed a decline; the peak time for arbutin, caffeoylquinic acids and flavonoid glycosides decreased, while for marmesin and luteolin it significantly augmented; apart from marmesin, the half-life for all compounds shortened significantly. It is indicated that the pathology of asthma could lead to an alteration in the pharmacokinetic profiles of the 11 components in plasma, providing a reference for further exploration of the pharmacodynamic basis of the anti-bronchial effect of Gerberae Piloselloidis Herba. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Free and Forced Vibration Analyses of Functionally Graded Graphene-Nanoplatelet-Reinforced Beams Based on the Finite Element Method

The finite element method (FEM) is used to investigate the free and forced vibration characteristics of functionally graded graphene-nanoplatelet-reinforced composite (FG-GPLRC) beams. The weight fraction of graphene nanoplatelets (GPLs) is assumed to vary continuously along the beam thickness according to a linear, parabolic, or uniform pattern. For the FG-GPLRC beam, the modified Halpin-Tsai micromechanics model is used to calculate the effective Young's modulus, and the rule of mixture is used to determine the effective Poisson's ratio and mass density. Based on the principle of virtual work under the assumptions of the Euler-Bernoulli beam theory, finite element formulations are derived to analyze the free and forced vibration characteristics of FG-GPLRC beams. A two-node beam element with six degrees of freedom is adopted to discretize the beam, and the corresponding stiffness matrix and mass matrix containing information on the variation of material properties can be derived. On this basis, the natural frequencies and the response amplitudes under external forces are calculated by the FEM. The performance of the proposed FEM is assessed, with some numerical results obtained by layering method and available in published literature. The comparison results show that the proposed FEM is capable of analyzing an FG-GPLRC beam. A detailed parametric investigation is carried out to study the effects of GPL weight fraction, distribution pattern, and dimensions on the free and forced vibration responses of the beam. Numerical results show that the above-mentioned effects play an important role with respect to the vibration behaviors of the beam.

4D Printing of Freestanding Liquid Crystal Elastomers via Hybrid Additive Manufacturing

Liquid crystal elastomers (LCE) are appealing candidates among active materials for 4D printing, due to their reversible, programmable and rapid actuation capabilities. Recent progress has been made on direct ink writing (DIW) or Digital Light Processing (DLP) to print LCEs with certain actuation. However, it remains a challenge to achieve complicated structures, such as spatial lattices with large actuation, due to the limitation of printing LCEs on the build platform or the previous layer. Herein, a novel method to 4D print freestanding LCEs on-the-fly by using laser-assisted DIW with an actuation strain up to -40% is proposed. This process is further hybridized with the DLP method for optional structural or removable supports to create active 3D architectures in a one-step additive process. Various objects, including hybrid active lattices, active tensegrity, an actuator with tunable stability, and 3D spatial LCE lattices, can be additively fabricated. The combination of DIW-printed functionally freestanding LCEs with the DLP-printed supporting structures thus provides new design freedom and fabrication capability for applications including soft robotics, smart structures, active metamaterials, and smart wearable devices.

Nucleoporin 85 interacts with influenza A virus PB1 and PB2 to promote its replication by facilitating nuclear import of ribonucleoprotein

Transcription and replication of the influenza A virus (IAV) genome take place in the nucleus of infected cells, which rely on host factors to aid viral ribonucleoprotein (vRNP) to cross the nuclear pore complex (NPC) and complete the bidirectional nucleocytoplasmic trafficking. Here, we showed that nucleoporin 85 (NUP85), a component of NPC, interacted with RNP subunits polymerase basic 1 (PB1) and polymerase basic 2 (PB2) in an RNA-dependent manner during IAV infection. Knockdown of NUP85 delayed the nuclear import of vRNP, PB1 and PB2, inhibiting polymerase activity and ultimately suppressing viral replication. Further analysis revealed that NUP85 assisted the binding of PB1 to nuclear transport factor Ran-binding protein 5 (RanBP5) and the binding of PB2 to nuclear transport factor importin α1 and importin α7. We also found that NUP85 expression was downregulated upon IAV infection. Together, our study demonstrated that NUP85 positively regulated IAV infection by interacting with viral PB1 and PB2, which may provide new insight into the process of vRNP nuclear import and a novel target for effective antivirals.

A global dataset for prevalence of Salmonella Gallinarum between 1945 and 2021

Pullorum disease and fowl typhoid are among the most significant poultry diseases worldwide. However, the global burden of these diseases remains unknown. Most importantly, the parameters contributing to the prevalence of Salmonella Gallinarum variants are not well documented. Therefore, in this study, we present a systematic review and meta-analysis of the global prevalence of Salmonella Gallinarum during 1945–2021. In total, 201 studies were identified for qualitative analysis (>900 million samples). The meta-analysis was subjected to over 183 screened studies. The global prevalence of S. Gallinarum (percentage of positive samples in total samples) was 8.54% (95% CI: 8.43–8.65) and showed a V-shaped recovery over time. Pullorum disease is most common in Asia, particularly in eastern China. Further investigations on chicken origin samples revealed significant differences in S. Gallinarum prevalence by gender, breed, raising mode, economic use, and growth stage, indicating a critical role of vertical transmission. Together, this study offered an updated, evidence-based dataset and knowledge regarding S. Gallinarum epidemics, which might significantly impact decision-making policy with targeted interventions.

Measurement(s)	S. Gallinarum positive samples
Technology Type(s)	Serological test • Molecular method (PCR) • Plate culture and identification • Biochemical test
Factor Type(s)	biovar • time • geographic sampling site • reservoir of bacteria • chicken breed • raising mode • economic use • growth stage • gender
Sample Characteristic - Organism	Animal
Sample Characteristic - Location	world

Research on Positioning Method in Underground Complex Environments Based on Fusion of Binocular Vision and IMU

Aiming at the failure of traditional visual slam localization caused by dynamic target interference and weak texture in underground complexes, an effective robot localization scheme was designed in this paper. Firstly, the Harris algorithm with stronger corner detection ability was used, which further improved the ORB (oriented FAST and rotated BRIEF) algorithm of traditional visual slam. Secondly, the non-uniform rational B-splines algorithm was used to transform the discrete data of inertial measurement unit (IMU) into second-order steerable continuous data, and the visual sensor data were fused with IMU data. Finally, the experimental results under the KITTI dataset, EUROC dataset, and a simulated real scene proved that the method used in this paper has the characteristics of stronger robustness, better localization accuracy, small size of hardware equipment, and low power consumption.

Electronic property modulation in two-dimensional lateral superlattices of monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides

Fabricating lateral heterostructures (HSs) and superlattices (SLs) provides a unique degree of freedom for modulating the physical properties of two-dimensional (2D) materials by varying the chemical component, geometric size and interface structure in the ultra-thin atomic thickness limit. While a variety of 2D lateral HSs/SLs have been synthesized, especially for transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), how such structures affect quantitatively the physical properties of 2D materials has not yet been established. We herein explore electronic property modulation in 2D lateral SLs of monolayer TMDs through first-principles high-throughput calculations. The dependence of the electronic structure, bandgap, carrier effective masses, charge density overlap on chemical components, interface type, and sub-lattice size of lateral TMD-SLs are investigated. We find that by comparison with their random alloy counterparts, the lateral TMD-SLs exhibit generally type-II band alignment, a wider range of bandgap tunability, larger carrier effective masses, and stronger electron-hole charge separation tendency. The bandgap variation with a sub-lattice size shows larger bowing parameters for the SLs with heterogeneous anions, by comparison with the homogeneous anion cases. A similar behavior is observed for the SLs with an armchair-type interface, by comparison with the zigzag-type interface cases. Further analyses reveal that the underlying physical mechanism can be attributed to the synergistic interplay among the band offset of sub-lattices, quantum confinement effect, and existing internal strain.

Performance of 2D BLADE turbo gradient- and spin-echo diffusion-weighted imaging in the quantitative diagnosis of recurrent temporal bone cholesteatoma

BACKGROUND

Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) has become an important tool for the detection of cholesteatoma. The purpose of this study was to explore the value of 2D BLADE turbo gradient- and spin-echo imaging (TGSE BLADE) DWI in the quantitative diagnosis of recurrent temporal bone cholesteatoma (CS).

METHODS

From March 2018 to October 2021, 67 patients with suspected recurrence of temporal bone CS after assessment by clinical otorhinolaryngologists who had undergone previous ear surgery for CS were prospectively evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Two radiologist assessed images independently. Quantitative parameters such as signal intensity ratio (SIR) calculated using, as a reference, the inferior temporal cortex (SIRT) and the background noise (SIRN), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value, and ADC ratio (with pons as reference) measured on TGSE BLADE sequences were assessed. Using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, the optimal threshold and diagnostic performance for diagnosing recurrent CS were determined. Pair-wise comparison of the ROC curves was performed using the area under the ROC curve (AUC).

RESULTS

Finally, 44 patients were included in this study, including 25 CS and 19 non-cholesteatoma (NCS). Mean SIRT and mean SIRN on TGSE BLADE DWI were significantly higher for CS than NCS lesions (p < 0.001). Meanwhile, mean ADC values and mean ADC ratios on ADC maps were significantly lower in the CS group than in the NCS group (p < 0.001). According to ROC analysis, the diagnostic efficacy of quantitative parameters such as SIRT (AUC = 0.967), SIRN (AUC = 0.979), ADC value (AUC = 1.0), and ADC ratio (AUC = 0.983) was significantly better than that of qualitative DWI (AUC = 0.867; p = 0.007, 0.009, 0.011 and 0.037, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Residual/recurrent temporal bone CS can be accurately detected using quantitative evaluation of TGSE BLADE DWI.

Dysregulation of Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses in Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infection with Delayed Viral Clearance

Asymptomatic infection with SARS-CoV-2 is a major concern in the control of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many questions concerning asymptomatic infection remain to be answered, for example, what are the differences in infectivity and the immune response between asymptomatic and symptomatic infections? In this study, based on a cohort established by the Wuchang District Health Bureau of Wuhan in the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan in 2019, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the clinical, virological, immunological, and epidemiological data of asymptomatic infections. The major findings of this study included: 1) the asymptomatic cohort enrolled this study exhibited low-grade but recurrent activity of viral replication; 2) despite a lack of overt clinical symptoms, asymptomatic infections exhibited ongoing innate and adaptive immune responses; 3) however, the immune response from asymptomatic infections was not activated adequately, which may lead to delayed viral clearance. Given the fragile equilibrium between viral infection and host immunity, and the delayed viral clearance in asymptomatic individuals, close viral monitoring should be scheduled, and therapeutic intervention may be needed.

The RalGAPα1-RalA signal module protects cardiac function through regulating calcium homeostasis

Sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase SERCA2 mediates calcium re-uptake from the cytosol into sarcoplasmic reticulum, and its dysfunction is a hallmark of heart failure. Multiple factors have been identified to modulate SERCA2 activity, however, its regulation is still not fully understood. Here we identify a Ral-GTPase activating protein RalGAPα1 as a critical regulator of SERCA2 in cardiomyocytes through its downstream target RalA. RalGAPα1 is induced by pressure overload, and its deficiency causes cardiac dysfunction and exacerbates pressure overload-induced heart failure. Mechanistically, RalGAPα1 regulates SERCA2 through direct interaction and its target RalA. Deletion of RalGAPα1 decreases SERCA2 activity and prolongs calcium re-uptake into sarcoplasmic reticulum. GDP-bound RalA, but not GTP-bound RalA, binds to SERCA2 and activates the pump for sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium re-uptake. Overexpression of a GDP-bound RalAS28N mutant in the heart preserves cardiac function in a mouse model of heart failure. Our findings have therapeutic implications for treatment of heart failure.

Curriculum Pre-Training Heterogeneous Subgraph Transformer for Top- N Recommendation

To characterize complex and heterogeneous side information in recommender systems, heterogeneous information network (HIN) has shown superior performance and attracted much research attention. In HIN, the rich entities, relations and paths can be utilized to model the correlations of users and items, such a task setting is often called HIN-based recommendation . Although HIN provides a general approach to modeling rich side information, it lacks special consideration on the goal of the recommendation task. The aggregated context from the heterogeneous graph is likely to incorporate irrelevant information, and the learned representations are not specifically optimized according to the recommendation task. Therefore, there is a need to rethink how to leverage the useful information from HIN to accomplish the recommendation task.

To address the above issues, we propose a Curriculum pre-training based HEterogeneous Subgraph Transformer (called CHEST ) with new data characterization , representation model and learning algorithm . Specifically, we consider extracting useful information from HIN to compose the interaction-specific heterogeneous subgraph, containing highly relevant context information for recommendation. Then, we capture the rich semantics ( e.g., graph structure and path semantics) within the subgraph via a heterogeneous subgraph Transformer, where we encode the subgraph into multi-slot sequence representations. Besides, we design a curriculum pre-training strategy to provide an elementary-to-advanced learning process. The elementary course focuses on capturing local context information within the subgraph, and the advanced course aims to learn global context information. In this way, we gradually capture useful semantic information from HIN for modeling user-item interactions. Extensive experiments conducted on four real-world datasets demonstrate the superiority of our proposed method over a number of competitive baselines, especially when only limited training data is available.

Spatiotemporal regulation of insulin signaling by liquid–liquid phase separation

Insulin signals through its receptor to recruit insulin receptor substrates (IRS) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) to the plasma membrane for production of phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP3) from phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2], which consequently activates protein kinase B (PKB). How insulin signals transduce from the plasma membrane into the cytoplasm is not clearly understood. Here we show that liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) plays a critical role in spatiotemporal control of insulin signaling through regulating multiple components including IRS1. Both protein concentration and insulin stimulation can drive the formation of intracellular IRS1 condensates through LLPS. Components including PI(4,5)P2, p85-PI3K and PDK1 are constitutively present in IRS1 condensates whereas production of PIP3 and recruitment of PKB in them are induced by insulin. Thus, IRS1 condensates function as intracellular signal hubs to mediate insulin signaling, whose formation is impaired in insulin resistant cells. Collectively, these data reveal an important function of LLPS in spatiotemporal control of insulin signaling.

Isobavachalcone disrupts mitochondrial respiration and induces cytotoxicity through ROS accumulation and Akt suppression

Isobavachalcone (IBC) is one of the flavonoid components in Fructus Psoraleae, and has been found multiple pharmacological effects. However, the hepatotoxicity of IBC has been overlooked and not been carefully studied. We aim to find out the cytotoxicity of IBC on HepG2 cells, and explore the underlying mechanisms. HepG2 cells were treated with IBC for 24 h, then MTT assay and LDH assay were used to detect the cell viability. The apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were reflected by the flow cytometry. Using Seahorse Analyzer, we measured the mitochondrial respiratory capacity. The expression of oxidative stress and mitochondrial apoptosis-related proteins were determined by Western blot. The results showed that IBC induced the cell death and apoptosis of HepG2 cells. IBC initiated the accumulation of ROS in cells and impaired the mitochondrial function, triggered apoptosis and suppressed the phosphorylation of Akt. Additionally, scavenging ROS by the antioxidant N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) reduced IBC-induced mitochondria damage and increased Akt phosphorylation. Taken together, IBC caused mitochondrial damage and induced hepatotoxicity by ROS accumulation and Akt suppression. Targeting oxidative stress and depressing mitochondrial damage may provide a theoretical basis for the treatment and prevention of IBC-induced hepatotoxicity in clinic.

Inorganic Crystal Structure Prototype Database Based on Unsupervised Learning of Local Atomic Environments

Recognition of structure prototypes from tremendous known inorganic crystal structures has been an important subject beneficial for materials science research and new materials design. The existing databases of inorganic crystal structure prototypes were mostly constructed by classifying materials in terms of the crystallographic space group information. Herein, we employed a distinct strategy to construct the inorganic crystal structure prototype database, relying on the classification of materials in terms of local atomic environments (LAEs) accompanied by unsupervised machine learning method. Specifically, we adopted a hierarchical clustering approach onto all experimentally known inorganic crystal structure data to identify structure prototypes. The criterion for hierarchical clustering is the LAE represented by the state-of-the-art structure fingerprints of the improved bond-orientational order parameters and the smooth overlap of atomic positions. This allows us to build up a LAE-based Inorganic Crystal Structure Prototype Database (LAE-ICSPD) containing 15,613 structure prototypes with defined stoichiometries. In addition, we have developed a Structure Prototype Generator Infrastructure (SPGI) package, which is a useful toolkit for structure prototype generation. Our developed SPGI toolkit and LAE-ICSPD are beneficial for investigating inorganic materials in a global way as well as accelerating the materials discovery process in the data-driven mode.

A Hybrid Imaging Platform(CT/PET/FMI) for Evaluating Tumor Necrosis and Apoptosis in Real-Time

Multimodality imaging is an advanced imaging tool for monitoring tumor behavior and therapy in vivo. In this study, we have developed a novel hybrid tri-modality system that includes two molecular imaging methods: positron emission computed tomography (PET) and fluorescence molecular imaging (FMI) and the anatomic imaging modality X-ray computed tomography (CT). The following paper describes the system development. Also, its imaging performance was tested in vitro (phantom) and in vivo, in Balb/c nude mice bearing a head and neck tumor xenograft treated with novel gene therapy [a new approach to the delivery of recombinant bacterial gene (IL-24-expressing strain)]. Using the tri-modality imaging system, we simultaneously monitored the therapeutic effect, including the apoptotic and necrotic induction within the tumor in vivo. The apoptotic induction was examined in real-time using an 18F-ML-10 tracer; the cell death was detected using ICG. A CT was used to evaluate the anatomical situation. An increased tumor inhibition (including tumor growth and tumor cell apoptosis) was observed in the treatment group compared to the control groups, which further confirmed the therapeutic effect of a new IL-24-expressing strain gene therapy on the tumor in vivo. By being able to offer concurrent morphological and functional information, our system is able to characterize malignant tissues more accurately. Therefore, this new tri-modality system (PET/CT/FMI) is an effective imaging tool for simultaneously investigating and monitoring tumor progression and therapy outcomes in vivo.

Simultaneous Fractionation, Desalination, and Dye Removal of Dye/Salt Mixtures by Carbon Cloth-Modified Flow-electrode Capacitive Deionization

The critical challenges of using electromembrane processes [e.g., electrodialysis and flow-electrode capacitive deionization (FCDI)] to recycle resources (e.g., water, salts, and organic compounds) from wastewater are the fractionation of dissolved ionic matter, the removal/recovery of organic components during desalination, and membrane antifouling. This study realized the simultaneous fractionation, desalination, and dye removal/recovery (FDR) treatment of dye/salt mixtures through a simple but effective approach, that is, using a carbon cloth-modified FCDI (CC-FCDI) unit, in which the carbon cloth layer was attached to the surface of each ion-exchange membrane (IEM). The IEMs and carbon-based flow-electrodes were responsible for the fractionation and desalination of dye and salt ions, while the carbon cloth layers contributed to the active membrane antifouling and dye removal/recovery by the electrosorption mechanism. Attributed to such features, the CC-FCDI unit accomplished the effective FDR treatment of dye/salt mixtures with wide ranges of salt and dye concentrations (5-20 g L^-1 NaCl and 200-800 ppm methylene blue) and different dye components (cationic and anionic dyes) under various applied voltages (1.2-3.2 V). Moreover, the active membrane antifouling by virtue of the carbon cloth facilitated the excellent and sustainable FDR performance of CC-FCDI. The removal/recovery of dyes from the carbon cloth strongly depends on the characteristics of dye molecules, the surface properties of the carbon cloth, and the local pH at the IEM/CC interfaces. This study sheds light on the strategies of using multifunctional layer-modified FCDI units to reclaim resources from various high-salinity organic wastewater.

[Intermediate-risk prostate cancer treated with exclusive external irradiation: Focus on anatomical sites of recurrence in two French trials]

PURPOSE

Retrospective description of anatomical sites of relapse based on (18F)-choline PET-CT, (68Ga)-prostatic specific-membrane antigen PET-CT, bone scan, and prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From two French prospective cohorts, patients treated with exclusive radiotherapy for an intermediate-risk cancer were identified during their follow-ups. They were included if they presented a rising of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) associated with the realization of an imaging showing the sites of recurrences.

RESULTS

Two hundred and sixty-three patients were included. After a median follow-up of 76 months (interquartile range [IQR] 67-95), 65 patients had biochemical recurrence and positive imaging. The median nadir PSA was 0.6ng/mL and the median PSA at recurrence was 3.4ng/mL. A single lesion was found in 48% of cases, 2 to 4 lesions in 43% of cases and more than 4 lesions in 9% of cases. The sites of relapse identified were prostate (37/65), prostate only (19/65), seminal vesicles (9/65) Pelvic nodes (35/65), extrapelvic nodes (15/65) and bone (13/65).

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of relapses presented as a single lesion localized in the pelvis.

Entropy-Driven Stabilization of Multielement Halide Double-Perovskite Alloys

Currently, a major obstacle restricting the commercial application of halide perovskites is their low thermodynamic stability. Herein, inspired by the high-stability high-entropy alloys, we theoretically investigated a variety of multielement double-perovskite alloys. First-principles calculations show that the entropy contribution to Gibbs free energy, which offsets the positive enthalpy contribution by up to 35 meV/f.u., can significantly enhance the material stability of double-perovskite alloys. We found that the electronic properties of bandgaps (1.04-2.21 eV) and carrier effective masses (0.34 to greater than 2 m₀) of the multielement double-perovskite alloys can be tuned over a wide range. Meanwhile, the parity-forbidden condition of optical transitions in the Cs₂AgInCl₆ perovskite can be broken because of the lower symmetry of the configurational disorder, leading to enhanced transition intensity. This work demonstrates a promising strategy by utilizing the alloy entropic effect to further improve the material stability and optoelectronic performance of halide perovskites.

High on-treatment platelet reactivity is associated with poor outcomes after ischemic stroke: A meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

High on-treatment platelet reactivity (HTPR) determined by platelet function assays is present in certain patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). However, it is unclear whether HTPR is associated with poor clinical outcomes. Our study aimed to investigate the relationship of HTPR with recurrent vascular events in ischemic stroke or TIA.

METHODS

Pubmed (MEDLINE), EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were searched for eligible studies from inception to January 1, 2022. Stata 17.0 software was used to calculate the risk ratio (RR). Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the source of heterogeneity. A random-effects model was used when heterogeneity was present. Primary endpoint of the meta-analysis was the risk ratio of recurrent vascular events in HTPR Patients. While stroke and TIA, all-cause death, early neurological deterioration, early new ischemic lesions, and stroke severity measured by National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores at admission were also pooled.

RESULTS

Thirty articles (7995 patients) were eligible including 28 cohort studies and 2 prospective case-control studies. The prevalence of HTPR varied from 5.9% to 60%. HTPR was associated with an increased risk of recurrent vascular events (RR = 2.94, 95% CI 2.04-4.23), stroke recurrence (RR = 2.05; 95% CI 1.43-2.95), and all-cause mortality (RR = 2.43; 95% CI 1.83-3.22). Subgroup analysis showed that HTPR determined by optical aggregometry, Verify-Now system and 11dh TXB2 is related to a higher risk of recurrent vascular events (RR = 3.53, 95% CI 1.51-9.40; RR = 2.16, 95% CI 1.02-4.56; RR = 3.76, 95% CI 1.51-9.40, respectively). Moreover, patients with HTPR had an increased incidence of early neurological deterioration (RR = 2.75; 95% CI 1.76-4.30) and higher NIHSS scores at admission (Mean difference 0.19, 95% CI 0.01-0.36).

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis demonstrates HTPR is associated with higher risk of recurrent vascular events, early neurological deterioration and increased severity in patients with ischemic stroke and TIA. HTPR measured by platelet function assays may guide the use of antiplatelet agents in ischemic stroke and TIA.

Effect of the stiffness of interparticle bonds on properties of delocalized nonlinear vibrational modes in an fcc lattice

Delocalized nonlinear vibrational modes (DNVMs) supported in crystal lattices are exact solutions to the equations of motion of particles that are determined by the symmetry of the lattices. DNVMs exist for any vibration amplitudes and for any interparticle potentials. It is important to know how the properties of DNVMs depend on the parameters of interparticle potentials. In this work, we analyze the effect of the Morse potential stiffness on the properties of one-component DNVMs in a face-centered cubic (fcc) lattice. In particular, the frequencies, kinetic and potential energy, mechanical stress, and elastic constants of DNVMs in a large range of vibration amplitudes are considered. Frequency-amplitude dependency obtained for the Morse crystal is compared with that obtained earlier for copper by using the potentials of the many-body embedded atom method. The properties of DNVMs are mainly dictated by their symmetry and are less influenced by the interparticle potentials. It is revealed that at low and high stiffness of interparticle bonds, different sets of DNVMs have frequencies above the phonon band. This is important to predict the possible types of discrete breathers supported by the fcc lattice. The results obtained in the work enrich the understanding of the influence of interparticle potentials on the properties of the studied family of exact dynamic solutions.

MicroRNA-4463 facilitates the development of colon cancer by suppression of the expression of PPP1R12B

PURPOSE

In the present work, we investigated the expression pattern of miR-4463 in the non-metastasis and metastasis colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and its regulation axis.

METHODS

RT-qPCR assay was performed to assess miR-4463 expression in the serum and tissues of patients with non-metastasis and metastasis, and in the CRC cell lines. MTT assay, colony formation assay, transwell assay, and flow cytometry assay were used to examine the role of miR-4463 in CRC cell viability, proliferation, and migration. Bioinformatic analysis was used to identify the potential target gene of miR-4463, and the targeting relationship between miR-4463 and PPP1R12B was verified in vitro using dual luciferase assay. Western blotting assay was used to determine the protein level of the target gene PPP1R12B in CRC cells under the transfections of miR-4463 mimic, inhibitor and vectors overexpressing PPP1R12B.

RESULTS

miR-4463 was markedly increased in the non-metastasis CRC tissues, and increased even higher in the metastasis CRC tissues, while miR-4463 expression had no significant difference in serum from non-metastasis and metastasis CRC samples. Besides, miR-4463 was upregulated in CRC cell lines. Functionally, miR-4463 promoted CRC cell proliferation, migration, and inhibiting cell apoptosis. Further analysis revealed that the miR-4463/PPP1R12B axis was responsible for the role of this miRNA.

CONCLUSION

We reported the roles of miR-4463 in CRC proliferation and migration, supporting that miR-4463 could be a potential predictive diagnostic marker for colon cancer.

HEMlets PoSh: Learning Part-Centric Heatmap Triplets for 3D Human Pose and Shape Estimation

Estimating 3D human pose from a single image is a challenging task. This work attempts to address the uncertainty of lifting the detected 2D joints to the 3D space by introducing an intermediate state - Part-Centric Heatmap Triplets (HEMlets), which shortens the gap between the 2D observation and the 3D interpretation. The HEMlets utilize three joint-heatmaps to represent the relative depth information of the end-joints for each skeletal body part. In our approach, a Convolutional Network (ConvNet) is first trained to predict HEMlets from the input image, followed by a volumetric joint-heatmap regression. We leverage on the integral operation to extract the joint locations from the volumetric heatmaps, guaranteeing end-to-end learning. Despite the simplicity of the network design, the quantitative comparisons show a significant performance improvement over the best-of-grade methods (e.g., 20 percent on Human3.6M). The proposed method naturally supports training with "in-the-wild" images, where only weakly-annotated relative depth information of skeletal joints is available. This further improves the generalization ability of our model, as validated by qualitative comparisons on outdoor images. Leveraging the strength of the HEMlets pose estimation, we further design and append a shallow yet effective network module to regress the SMPL parameters of the body pose and shape. We term the entire HEMlets-based human pose and shape recovery pipeline HEMlets PoSh. Extensive quantitative and qualitative experiments on the existing human body recovery benchmarks justify the state-of-the-art results obtained with our HEMlets PoSh approach.