Repression of the SUMO-conjugating enzyme UBC9 is associated with lowered double minutes and reduced tumor progression

Double minutes (DMs), extrachromosomal gene fragments found within certain tumors, have been noted to carry onco- and drug resistance genes contributing to tumor pathogenesis and progression. After screening for SUMO-related molecule expression within various tumor sample and cell line databases, we found that SUMO-conjugating enzyme UBC9 has been associated with genome instability and tumor cell DM counts, which was confirmed both in vitro and in vivo. Karyotyping determined DM counts post-UBC9 knockdown or SUMOylation inhibitor 2-D08, while RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to measure DM-carried gene expression in vitro. In vivo, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) identified micronucleus (MN) expulsion. Western blot and immunofluorescence staining were then used to determine DNA damage extent, and a reporter plasmid system was constructed to detect changes in homologous recombination (HR) and non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) pathways. Our research has shown that UBC9 inhibition is able to attenuate DM formation and lower DM-carried gene expression, in turn reducing tumor growth and malignant phenotype, via MN efflux of DMs and lowering NHEJ activity to increase DNA damage. These findings thus reveal a relationship between heightened UBC9 activity, increased DM counts, and tumor progression, providing a potential approach for targeted therapies, via UBC9 inhibition.

Genome-wide analysis of LOG family genes in castor and RcLOG5 enhances drought, salt, and cold stress tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana

The gene encoding the specific phosphohydrolase LONELY GUY (LOG) plays an important role in the activation of cytokinin and the stress response in plant cells. However, the role of LOG genes in castor bean (Ricinus communis) has not been reported. In this study, we identified a total of nine members of the LOG gene family in the castor bean genome and investigated the upregulated expression of the RcLOG5 gene using transcriptome data analysis. We found that the RcLOG5 gene exhibited tissue-specific expression and was activated by polyethylene glycol, NaCl, low temperature, and abscisic acid stress. The subcellular localization results showed that the RcLOG5 gene is mainly located in the cytoplasm. Based on phenotypic and physiological indicators, namely root length, peroxidase activity, and malondialdehyde content, overexpression of the RcLOG5 gene not only improved the drought resistance, salt tolerance, and cold tolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis, but also shortened the dormancy period of the transgenic plants. Transcriptomic sequencing revealed that the overexpression of the RcLOG5 gene led to the enrichment of differentially expressed genes in the glutathione metabolism pathway in transgenic Arabidopsis. Moreover, the overexpression plants had higher levels of glutathione and a higher GSH/GSSG ratio under stress compared to the wild type. Therefore, we inferred that the RcLOG5 gene may be responsible for regulating cell membrane homeostasis by reducing the accumulation of reactive oxygen species through the glutathione pathway. Overall, the overexpression of the RcLOG5 gene positively regulated the stress resistance of transgenic Arabidopsis. This study provides valuable gene resources for breeding stress-tolerant castor bean varieties.

Lethal puncturing of planktonic Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria by magnetically-rotated silica hexapods

Planktonic bacterial presence in many industrial and environmental applications and personal health-care products is generally countered using antimicrobials. However, antimicrobial chemicals present an environmental threat, while emerging resistance reduces their efficacy. Suspended bacteria have no defense against mechanical attack. Therefore, we synthesized silica hexapods on an α-Fe2O3 core that can be magnetically-rotated to inflict lethal cell-wall-damage to planktonic Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Hexapods possessed 600 nm long nano-spikes, composed of SiO2, as shown by FTIR and XPS. Fluorescence staining revealed cell wall damage caused by rotating hexapods. This damage was accompanied by DNA/protein release and bacterial death that increased with increasing rotational frequency up to 500 rpm. Lethal puncturing was more extensive on Gram-negative bacteria than on Gram-positive bacteria, which have a thicker peptidoglycan layer with a higher Young's modulus. Simulations confirmed that cell-wall-puncturing occurs at lower nano-spike penetration levels in the cell walls of Gram-negative bacteria. This approach offers a new way to kill bacteria in suspension, not based on antimicrobial chemicals.

Development and validation of a nomogram model for predicting the risk of gallstone recurrence after gallbladder-preserving surgery

BACKGROUND

The high incidence of gallstone recurrence was a major concern for laparoscopic gallbladder-preserving surgery. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors for gallstone recurrence after gallbladder-preserving surgery and to establish an individualized nomogram model to predict the risk of gallstone recurrence.

METHODS

The clinicopathological and follow-up data of 183 patients who were initially diagnosed with gallstones and treated with gallbladder-preserving surgery at our hospital from January 2012 to January 2019 were retrospectively collected. The independent predictive factors for gallstone recurrence following gallbladder-preserving surgery were identified by multivariate logistic regression analysis. A nomogram model for the prediction of gallstone recurrence was constructed based on the selected variables. The C-index, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and calibration curve were used to evaluate the predictive power of the nomogram model for gallstone recurrence.

RESULTS

During the follow-up period, a total of 65 patients experienced gallstone recurrence, and the recurrence rate was 35.5%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the course of gallstones > 2 years [odds ratio (OR) = 2.567, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.270-5.187, P = 0.009], symptomatic gallstones (OR = 2.589, 95% CI: 1.059-6.329, P = 0.037), multiple gallstones (OR = 2.436, 95% CI: 1.133-5.237, P = 0.023), history of acute cholecystitis (OR = 2.778, 95% CI: 1.178-6.549, P = 0.020) and a greasy diet (OR = 2.319, 95% CI: 1.186-4.535, P = 0.014) were independent risk factors for gallstone recurrence after gallbladder-preserving surgery. A nomogram model for predicting the recurrence of gallstones was established based on the above five variables. The results showed that the C-index of the nomogram model was 0.692, suggesting it was valuable to predict gallstone recurrence. Moreover, the calibration curve showed good consistency between the predicted probability and actual probability.

CONCLUSIONS

The nomogram model for the prediction of gallstone recurrence might help clinicians develop a proper treatment strategy for patients with gallstones. Gallbladder-preserving surgery should be cautiously considered for patients with high recurrence risks.

An in-situ method for SERS substrate preparation and optimization based on galvanic replacement reaction

BACKGROUND

Various surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrate preparation methods have been reported, however, how to tune the "gap" between nanostructures to make more "hot spots" is still a barrier that restricts their application. The gap between nanostructures is usually fixed when the substrates are prepared. In other words, it is hard to tune interparticle distances for maximum electromagnetic coupling during substrate preparation process. Therefore, an in-situ substrate optimization method that could monitor the SERS signal intensity changes, i.e., to find the optimum gap width and particle size, during substrate preparation process is needed.

RESULTS

A method based on the galvanic replacement reaction (GRR) is proposed for the in-situ gap width tuning between nanostructures as well as for the optimization of SERS substrates. Noble metal nanoparticles (NPs) form and grow on the sacrificial templates' surface while noble metal ions are reduced by sacrificial metal (oxides) in GRR. Along with the fresh and clean NPs' surface generated, the gap between two noble metal NPs decreases with the growth of the NPs. To demonstrate this strategy, cuprous oxide/Ti (Cu2O/Ti) sacrificial templates were prepared, and then a GRR was carried out with HAuCl4. The real-time SERS detection during GRR show that the optimum reaction time (ORT) is 300 ± 30 s. Furthermore, SERS performance testing was conducted on the optimized substrate, revealing that the detection limit for crystal violet can reach 1.96 × 10-11 M, confirming the feasibility of this method.

SIGNIFICANCE AND NOVELTY

By monitoring the in-situ SERS signal of probes during GRR will obtain an "optimal state" of the SERS substrate with optimal gap width and particle size. The SERS substrate preparation and optimization strategy proposed in this article not only provides a simple, efficient, and low-cost method to fabricate surface-clean noble NPs but also paves the way for the in-situ optimization of NPs size and gap width between NPs which could achieve wider applications of SERS.

Resveratrol-loaded sulfated Hericium erinaceus β-glucan-chitosan nanoparticles: Preparation, characterization and synergistic anti-inflammatory effects

Resveratrol (RES) is a natural polyphenol with excellent biological activity. But the poor stability and bioavailability of RES severely limit its application. Thus, the resveratrol-loaded sulfated Hericium erinaceus β-glucan-chitosan nanoparticles (DS-CS-RES NPs) were prepared using electrostatic self-assembly to solve these problems in this study. The structure of DS-CS-RES NPs was spherical or sub spherical shape with small average particle size (191.07 nm), which was characterized by FT-IR, FS, XRD and TEM. DS-CS-RES NPs exhibited good stability and RES had a sustainable release from the nanoparticles in gastrointestinal digestion. Meanwhile, DS-CS-RES NPs could improve the inflammatory injury of LPS stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages by inhibiting the production of NO, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α. Furthermore, DS-CS-RES NPs had strong anti-inflammatory activity by regulating protein levels of NF-κB p65, STAT1 and TLR4 through NF-κB and JAK-STAT1 signaling pathway in vitro, and sulfated H. erinaceus β-glucan-chitosan nanoparticle (DS-CS NPs) and RES had synergistic anti-inflammatory effect. Overall, DS-CS NPs can serve as a potential green and safe functional carrier for encapsulating resveratrol, which can improve its anti-inflammatory activity. This work may be conducive to the development of functional carrier for encapsulating RES and applications of hydrophobic active molecules in functional foods or medicines.

How does patient-centered communication influence patient trust?: The roles of patient participation and patient preference

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of patient-centered communication, patient participation, and patient preference on patient trust in the context of China.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted involving 217 cancer patients in China. Mediation and moderation analyses were performed to examine the relationships among the study variables.

RESULTS

First, patient-centered communication increased patient participation in decision-making, which, in turn, enhanced patient trust. Second, patient-centered communication did not have a direct effect on patient trust. Third, patient preference for a passive role in decision-making weakened the relationship between patient participation and patient trust.

CONCLUSION

The results underscore the significant effect of facilitating patient participation in linking patient-centered communication to patient trust. However, medical communication should also respond to patients' preferred roles in the decision-making process.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Doctors should provide patients with opportunities to ask questions and express their concerns. In addition, they should evaluate patients' preferred degree of involvement before inviting them to contribute so as to respect their preferences and values.

TaTHI2 interacts with Ca2+-dependent protein kinase TaCPK5 to suppress virus infection by regulating ROS accumulation

Thiamine (vitamin B1) biosynthesis involves key enzymes known as thiazole moieties (THI1/THI2), which have been shown to participate in plant responses to abiotic stress. However, the role of THI1/THI2 in plant immunity remains unclear. In this study, we cloned TaTHI2 from wheat and investigated its function in Chinese wheat mosaic virus (CWMV) infection. Overexpression of TaTHI2 (TaTHI2-OE) inhibited CWMV infection, while TaTHI2 silencing enhanced viral infection in wheat. Interestingly, the membrane-localized TaTHI2 protein was increased during CWMV infection. TaTHI2 also interacted with the Ca2+-dependent protein kinase 5 (TaCPK5), which is localized in the plasma membrane, and promoted reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by repressing TaCPK5-mediated activity of the catalase protein TaCAT1. CWMV CP disrupted the interaction between TaTHI2 and TaCAT1, reducing ROS accumulation and facilitating viral infection. Additionally, transgenic plants overexpressing TaTHI2 showed increased seed number per ear and 1000-kernel weight compared to control plants. Our findings reveal a novel function of TaTHI2 in plant immunity and suggest its potential as a valuable gene for balancing disease resistance and wheat yield. Furthermore, the disruption of the TaTHI2-mediated plant immune pathway by CWMV CP provides further evidence for the evolutionary arms race between plants and viruses.

PENCIL imaging: A novel approach for neuromelanin sensitive MRI in Parkinson's disease

BACKGROUND

Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with the loss of neuromelanin (NM) and increased iron in the substantia nigra (SN). Magnetization transfer contrast (MTC) is widely used for NM visualization but has limitations in brain coverage and scan time. This study aimed to develop a new approach called Proton-density Enhanced Neuromelanin Contrast in Low flip angle gradient echo (PENCIL) imaging to visualize NM in the SN.

METHODS

This study included 30 PD subjects and 50 healthy controls (HCs) scanned at 3T. PENCIL and MTC images were acquired. NM volume in the SN pars compacta (SNpc), normalized image contrast (Cnorm), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were calculated. The change of NM volume in the SNpc with age was analyzed using the HC data. A group analysis compared differences between PD subjects and HCs. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and area under the curve (AUC) calculations were used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of NM volume and CNR in the SNpc.

RESULTS

PENCIL provided similar visualization and structural information of NM compared to MTC. In HCs, PENCIL showed higher NM volume in the SNpc than MTC, but this difference was not observed in PD subjects. PENCIL had higher CNR, while MTC had higher Cnorm. Both methods revealed a similar pattern of NM volume in SNpc changes with age. There were no significant differences in AUCs between NM volume in SNpc measured by PENCIL and MTC. Both methods exhibited comparable diagnostic performance in this regard.

CONCLUSIONS

PENCIL imaging provided improved CNR compared to MTC and showed similar diagnostic performance for differentiating PD subjects from HCs. The major advantage is PENCIL has rapid whole-brain coverage and, when using STAGE imaging, offers a one-stop quantitative assessment of tissue properties.

Shared manufacturing service evaluation based on intuitionistic fuzzy VIKOR

With the rise of the concept of sharing economy, the shared manufacturing model has gained widespread attention. The VIKOR shared manufacturing service evaluation approach is presented based on an intuitionistic fuzzy environment, which enables users to filter out acceptable shared manufacturing services from a wide pool of shared manufacturing services with similar functional qualities. Firstly, considering the QOS multi-indicator comprehensive evaluation of services by multiple stakeholders under the fundamental characteristics of shared manufacturing, the QOS evaluation index system is built from the two aspects of online and offline, which includes 2 first-level indicators and 10 second-level indicators. The paper also constructs a service recommendation model considering supply and demand constraints. Secondly, the intuitionistic fuzzy numbers are introduced to define the non-quantitative indexes, and the G1-method and variable-precision rough set theory are used for the assignment, and the maximum entropy theory is utilized to integrate the assignment method to obtain the combination weights. Thirdly, the VIKOR method based on intuitionistic fuzzy sets is used to evaluate and rank the shared manufacturing candidate services, in which the combined benefits and minimum regret values of the groups are solved based on the intuitionistic fuzzy number similarity. Finally, the reliability and feasibility of the algorithm are verified with a real case.

Deciphering the Prognostic Significance of MYD88 and CD79B Mutations in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Insights into Treatment Outcomes

BACKGROUND

The clinical and genetic characteristics, as well as treatment outcomes, of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients with different MYD88 and CD79B mutation status merit further investigation.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to investigate the distinctions in clinical manifestations, genetic characteristics, and treatment outcomes among MYD88-CD79Bco-mut, MYD88/CD79Bsingle-mut, and MYD88-CD79Bco-wt DLBCL patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Clinical and genetic characteristics, along with treatment outcomes among 2696 DLBCL patients bearing MYD88-CD79Bco-mut, MYD88/CD79Bsingle-mut, and MYD88-CD79Bco-wt treated with R-CHOP/R-CHOP-like regimens from the Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College and six external cohorts were analyzed. Potential molecular mechanisms were investigated through Gene Set Enrichment Analysis and xCell methodology.

RESULTS

In the MCD subtype, patients with MYD88-CD79Bco-mut showed comparable progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) compared to MYD88/CD79Bsingle-mut or MYD88-CD79Bco-wt. However, in the non-MCD subtype, patients with MYD88-CD79Bco-mut exhibited significantly inferior OS than MYD88/CD79Bsingle-mut or MYD88-CD79Bco-wt, while there was no significant OS difference between MYD88/CD79Bsingle-mut and MYD88-CD79Bco-wt (median OS: 68.8 [95% CI 22-NA] vs NA [95% CI 112-NA] vs 177.7 [95% CI 159-NA] months; MYD88-CD79Bco-mut vs MYD88/CD79Bsingle-mut: p = 0.02; MYD88-CD79Bco-mut vs MYD88-CD79Bco-wt: p = 0.03; MYD88/CD79Bsingle-mut vs MYD88-CD79Bco-wt: p = 0.33). Regarding patients with MYD88-CD79Bco-mut, there was no significant difference in PFS and OS between the MCD and non-MCD subtypes. Within the MYD88-CD79Bco-mut group, patients with PIM1mut had better PFS than PIM1wt (median PFS: 8.34 [95% CI 5.56-NA] vs 43.8 [95% CI 26.4-NA] months; p = 0.02). Possible mechanisms contributing to the superior PFS of PIM1mut patients may include activated lymphocyte-mediated immunity and interferon response, a higher proportion of natural killer T cells and plasmacytoid dendritic cells, as well as suppressed angiogenesis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition, along with lower fibroblast and stromal score.

CONCLUSIONS

In the MCD subtype, patients with MYD88-CD79Bco-mut showed comparable PFS and OS compared to MYD88/CD79Bsingle-mut or MYD88-CD79Bco-wt, while in the non-MCD subtype, they exhibited significantly inferior OS. There was no significant disparity in PFS and OS of MYD88-CD79Bco-mut between the MCD and non-MCD subtypes. The presence of PIM1mut within the MYD88-CD79Bco-mut group correlated with better PFS, which may result from an intricate interplay of immune processes and tumor microenvironment alterations.

Rice quality prediction and assessment of pesticide residue changes during storage based on Quatformer

Rice serves as a fundamental food staple for humans. Its production process, however, unavoidably exposes it to pesticides which may detrimentally impact its quality due to residues. Therefore, it is extremely necessary to monitor pesticide residues on rice during storage. In this research, the Quatformer model, which considers the effects of temperature and humidity on pesticide residues in rice grains, was utilized to forecast the amount of pesticide residues in rice grains during the storage process, and the predicted results were combined with actual observations to form a quality assessment index. By applying the K-Means algorithm, the quality of rice grains was graded and assessed. The findings indicated that the model had high prediction accuracy, and the MAE, MSE, MAPE, RMSE and SMAPE indexes were calculated to be 0.0112, 0.0814, 0.1057, 0.1055 and 0.0204, respectively. These findings provide valuable technical and theoretical support for planning storage conditions, enhancing pesticide residue decomposition, and monitoring rice quality during storage.

Regio- and Diastereoselective Hydrophosphination and Hydroamidation of gem-Difluorocyclopropenes

In this study, concise, efficient, and modular hydrophosphinylation and hydroamidation of gem-difluorocyclopropenes were disclosed in a mild and transition-metal-free pattern. Through this approach, phosphorus, and nitrogen-containing gem-difluorocyclopropanes were produced in moderate to good yields with excellent regio- and diastereoselectivity. Readily available gem-difluorocyclopropenes and nucleophilic reagents, along with inexpensive inorganic bases, were employed. Multiple synthetic applications, including gram-scale and derivatization reactions and modification of bioactive molecules, were subsequently elaborated.

OASL suppresses infectious bursal disease virus replication by targeting VP2 for degrading through the autophagy pathway

Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is an acute and fatal immunosuppressive disease caused by infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). As an obligate intracellular parasite, IBDV infection is strictly regulated by host factors. Knowledge on the antiviral activity and possible mechanism of host factors might provide the theoretical basis for the prevention and control of IBD. In this study, RNA-sequencing results indicated that many host factors were induced by IBDV infection, among which the expression levels of OASL (2´,5´-oligadenylate synthetase-like protein) was significantly upregulated. OASL overexpression significantly inhibited IBDV replication, whereas OASL knockdown promoted IBDV replication. Interestingly, the antiviral ability of OASL was independent of its canonical enzymatic activity, i.e., OASL targeted viral protein VP2 for degradation, depending on the autophagy receptor p62/SQSTM1 in the autophagy pathway. Additionally, the 316 lysine (K) of VP2 was the key site for autophagy degradation, and its replacement with arginine disrupted VP2 degradation induced by OASL and enhanced IBDV replication. Importantly, our results for the first time indicate a unique and potent defense mechanism of OASL against double-stranded RNA virus by interaction with viral proteins, which leads to their degradation.

IMPORTANCE

OASL (2´,5´-oligadenylate synthetase-like protein) exhibits broad-spectrum antiviral effects against single-stranded RNA viruses in mammals, potentially serving as a promising target for novel antiviral strategies. However, its role in inhibiting the replication of double-stranded RNA viruses (dsRNA viruses), such as infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), in avian species remains unclear. Our findings indicated a unique and potent defense mechanism of OASL against dsRNA viruses. It has been previously shown in mammals that OASL inhibits virus replication through increasing interferon production. The groundbreaking aspect of our study is the finding that OASL has the ability to interact with IBDV viral protein VP2 and target it for degradation and thus exerts its antiviral effect. Our results reveal the interaction between avian natural antiviral immune response and IBDV infection. Our study not only enhances our understanding of bird defenses against viral infections but can also inform strategies for poultry disease management.

Wavelength-Dependent Dynamics of the O(1D2) Channel in the 1Δu State Photodissociation of CO2

The wavelength-dependent dynamics of the O(1D2) channel, formed by photoexcitation of CO2 to the 1Δu state at 143.53-153.03 nm, is investigated by using the time-sliced velocity-mapped ion imaging method. The measured ionic peaks of the O(1D2) images are analyzed to determine the total kinetic energy release (TKER) spectra and image anisotropy parameters. The structures observed in the TKER spectra can be directly assigned to the ro-vibrational state distributions of the counter CO photofragments. Compared to those observed at 157 and 155 nm, the highly rotationally excited CO photofragments still obviously appear in v = 0 and 1, but the fraction of rotational excitations is significantly reduced. Conversely, the CO photofragments exhibit substantially higher vibrational excitations, implying that the nearly linear 21A' state also contributes to dissociation in addition to the bend configuration. The image anisotropy parameters display an extremely slow decreasing trend with an increase of the CO ro-vibrational state besides those for the highest ro-vibrationally excited CO photofragments. Nevertheless, the nonaxial recoil effect, suggested in previous photodissociation studies of CO2 and other triatomic molecular systems, is still appropriate to explain the observations of internal energy dependences of image anisotropy parameters.

Stereodivergent photobiocatalytic radical cyclization through the repurposing and directed evolution of fatty acid photodecarboxylases

Despite their intriguing photophysical and photochemical activities, naturally occurring photoenzymes have not yet been repurposed for new-to-nature activities. Here we engineered fatty acid photodecarboxylases to catalyse unnatural photoredox radical C-C bond formation by leveraging the strongly oxidizing excited-state flavoquinone cofactor. Through genome mining, rational engineering and directed evolution, we developed a panel of radical photocyclases to facilitate decarboxylative radical cyclization with excellent chemo-, enantio- and diastereoselectivities. Our high-throughput experimental workflow allowed for the directed evolution of fatty acid photodecarboxylases. An orthogonal set of radical photocyclases was engineered to access all four possible stereoisomers of the stereochemical dyad, affording fully diastereo- and enantiodivergent biotransformations in asymmetric radical biocatalysis. Molecular dynamics simulations show that our evolved radical photocyclases allow near-attack conformations to be easily accessed, enabling chemoselective radical cyclization. The development of stereoselective radical photocyclases provides unnatural C-C-bond-forming activities in natural photoenzyme families, which can be used to tame the stereochemistry of free-radical-mediated reactions.

Targeting DNMT3A-mediated oxidative phosphorylation to overcome ibrutinib resistance in mantle cell lymphoma

The use of Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors such as ibrutinib achieves a remarkable clinical response in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). Acquired drug resistance, however, is significant and affects long-term survival of MCL patients. Here, we demonstrate that DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A) is involved in ibrutinib resistance. We find that DNMT3A expression is upregulated upon ibrutinib treatment in ibrutinib-resistant MCL cells. Genetic and pharmacological analyses reveal that DNMT3A mediates ibrutinib resistance independent of its DNA-methylation function. Mechanistically, DNMT3A induces the expression of MYC target genes through interaction with the transcription factors MEF2B and MYC, thus mediating metabolic reprogramming to oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Targeting DNMT3A with low-dose decitabine inhibits the growth of ibrutinib-resistant lymphoma cells both in vitro and in a patient-derived xenograft mouse model. These findings suggest that targeting DNMT3A-mediated metabolic reprogramming to OXPHOS with decitabine provides a potential therapeutic strategy to overcome ibrutinib resistance in relapsed/refractory MCL.

Investigation on the Gas Emission Law of Water-Containing Coal across the Rank Range

Water commonly occurs in coal reservoirs, and it can block the gas flow channels. This has a significant influence on methane transportation within coal. To reveal the gas emission law of water-containing coal across the rank range, three typical coal samples with different coal ranks covering lignite to anthracite were selected in this work. The initial velocity of gas emission (ΔP) under the effect of moisture was measured, and the combination of scanning electron microscopy and mercury injection method was adopted to study the pores and fracture characteristics within coal. Distribution features of oxygen-containing groups in coal were explored by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The microscopic influence mechanism of the water content on ΔP in coal was also comprehensively elucidated. The experimental results show that the moisture content has an obvious inhibitory effect on the ΔP of coal, but the degree of influence on different coal rank samples was different. As the pore space of anthracite (sample XJ) is developed with numerous gas transportation channels, the ΔP has less changes at the lower moisture content (<4.36%). When the moisture content is >4.36%, a large number of water molecules will band together to form water clusters, hindering the gas release, thus greatly reducing the ΔP. However, the change of lignite (sample SL) shows an inverse trend to that of anthracite. Its ΔP is sensitive to the moisture content due to the small number of pores and low porosity. In addition, a great number of oxygen-containing groups in lignite can also provide good surface hydrophilicity for water molecules, and even a small amount of the moisture content (<3.21%) can block most of the pore and facture channels within coal, leading to the remarkable decrease in ΔP. For bituminous coal (sample ML), the distribution of pores and oxygen-containing groups is the most uniform, and the ΔP decreases linearly with the increase in the moisture content.

Antimony mobility in soil near historical waste rock at the world's largest Sb mine, Central China

Soil near waste rock often contains high concentrations of antimony (Sb), but the mechanisms that mobilize Sb in a soil closely impacted by the waste rock piles are not well understood. We investigated these mobility mechanisms in soils near historical waste rock at the world's largest Sb mine. The sequential extraction (BCR) of soil reveal that over 95 % Sb is present in the residual fraction. The leached Sb concentration is related to the surface protonation and deprotonation of soil minerals. SEM-EDS shows Sb in the soil is associated with Fe and Ca. Moreover, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) results show Sb is predominantly present as Sb(V) and is associated with Fe in the form of tripuhyite (FeSbO4) as well as edge- and corner-sharing complexes on ferrihydrite and goethite. Thus, Fe in soils is important in controlling the mobility of Sb via surface complexation and co-precipitation of Sb by Fe oxides. The initially surface-adsorbed Sb(V) or co-precipitation is likely to undergo a phase transformation as the Fe oxides age. In addition, Sb mobility may be controlled by small amounts of calcium antimonate. These results further the understanding of the effect of secondary minerals in soils on the fate of Sb from waste rock weathering and inform source treatment for Sb-contaminated soils.

Enantioselective and Regiodivergent Synthesis of Propargyl- and Allenylsilanes through Catalytic Propargylic C-H Deprotonation

We report a highly enantioselective intermolecular C-H bond silylation catalyzed by a phosphoramidite-ligated iridium catalyst. Under reagent-controlled protocols, propargylsilanes resulting from C(sp3)-H functionalization, as well the regioisomeric and synthetically versatile allenylsilanes, could be obtained with excellent levels of enantioselectivity and good to excellent control of propargyl/allenyl selectivity. In the case of unsymmetrical dialkyl acetylenes, good to excellent selectivity for functionalization at the less-hindered site was also observed. A variety of electrophilic silyl sources (R3SiOTf and R3SiNTf2), either commercial or in situ-generated, were used as the silylation reagents, and a broad range of simple and functionalized alkynes, including aryl alkyl acetylenes, dialkyl acetylenes, 1,3-enynes, and drug derivatives were successfully employed as substrates. Detailed mechanistic experiments and DFT calculations suggest that an η3-propargyl/allenyl Ir intermediate is generated upon π-complexation-assisted deprotonation and undergoes outer-sphere attack by the electrophilic silylating reagent to give propargylic silanes, with the latter step identified as the enantiodetermining step.

Association Between Iodine Status and Prevalence of Hypothyroidism, Autoimmune Thyroiditis, and Thyroid Nodule: a Cross-Sectional Study in Shandong Province, China

In this study, the aim was to investigate the correlation between varying levels of urinary iodine concentration (UIC) in adults and the occurrence of thyroid diseases, with the additional objective of determining the optimal iodine status level for adults. A cross-sectional study was conducted on adults from six areas with different drinking water iodine concentrations (WIC) without eating iodized salt in Heze and Jining counties, Shandong Province, China. A total of 1336 adults were included in this study, and drinking water samples, blood samples, urine samples, thyroid ultrasound, and a questionnaire were collected. UIC, free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroid hormone (FT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) and thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) were detected. There were no significant differences in the detection rates of hypothyroidism and thyroid autoimmunity (TAI) among the different median UIC groups (UIC < 100 μg/L, 100-199 μg/L, 200-299 μg/L, ≥ 300 μg/L). However, the detection rates of hypothyroidism were higher in the UIC < 100 μg/L group (16.67%) and the UIC ≥ 300 μg/L group (16.51%) compared to the other groups. The detection rate of TAI increased as UIC levels increased. The detection rate of thyroid nodule (TN) in the UIC < 100 μg/L group was significantly higher than that in the UIC 200-299 μg/L UIC group (χ2 = 10.814, P = 0.001). After adjusting confounding factors, it was found that low UIC (< 100 μg/L) was a risk factor for TN (OR 1.83, 95% CI [1.04-3.22]). Meanwhile, there no statistical difference between UIC 200 and 299 μg/L and UIC 100 and199 μg/L for OR of hypothyroidism, TAI, and TN. This study identified associations between different UIC levels and the prevalence of thyroid disorders, with low UIC (< 100 μg/L) posing a risk for TN, and the detection rate of TN and hypothyroidism was the lowest in UIC (200-299 μg/L) group. Therefore, the acceptable UIC range of 'adequate' iodine intake among adults can be widened from 100-199 µg/L to 100-299 µg/L.

Rapid quantification of grapeseed oil multiple adulterations using near-infrared spectroscopy coupled with a novel double ensemble modeling method

As a high-quality edible oil, grapeseed oil is often adulterated with low-price/quality vegetable oils. A novel ensemble modeling method is proposed for quantitative analysis of grapeseed oil adulterations combined with near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. The method combines Monte Carlo (MC) sampling and whale optimization algorithm (WOA) to build numerous partial least squares (PLS) sub-models, named MC-WOA-PLS. A total of 80 adulterated grapeseed oil samples were prepared by mixing grapeseed oil with soybean oil, palm oil, cottonseed oil, and corn oil with the designed mass percentages. NIR spectra of the 80 samples were measured in a transmittance mode in the range of 12,000-4000 cm-1. Parameters in MC-WOA-PLS including the number of latent variables (LVs) in PLS, iteration number of WOA, whale number, number of PLS sub-models, and percentage of training subsets were optimized. To validate the prediction performance of the model, root mean square error of calibration (RMSEC), root mean square error of cross-validation (RMSECV), root mean squared error of prediction (RMSEP), correlation coefficient (R), residual predictive deviation (RPD), and standard deviation (S.D.) were used. Compared with PLS, standard normal variate-PLS (SNV-PLS), uninformative variable elimination-PLS (UVE-PLS), Monte Carlo uninformative variable elimination-PLS (MCUVE-PLS), randomization test-PLS (RT-PLS), variable importance in projection-PLS (VIP-PLS), and WOA-PLS, MC-WOA-PLS achieves the best prediction accuracy and stability for quantification of the five pure oils in adulterated grapeseed oil samples.

Mechanically triggered on-demand degradation of polymers synthesized by radical polymerizations

Polymers that degrade on demand have the potential to facilitate chemical recycling, reduce environmental pollution and are useful in implant immolation, drug delivery or as adhesives that debond on demand. However, polymers made by radical polymerization, which feature all carbon-bond backbones and constitute the most important class of polymers, have proven difficult to render degradable. Here we report cyclobutene-based monomers that can be co-polymerized with conventional monomers and impart the resulting polymers with mechanically triggered degradability. The cyclobutene residues act as mechanophores and can undergo a mechanically triggered ring-opening reaction, which causes a rearrangement that renders the polymer chains cleavable by hydrolysis under basic conditions. These cyclobutene-based monomers are broadly applicable in free radical and controlled radical polymerizations, introduce functional groups into the backbone of polymers and allow the mechanically gated degradation of high-molecular-weight materials or cross-linked polymer networks into low-molecular-weight species.

Dendritic polymer prodrug-based unimolecular micelles for pH-responsive co-delivery of doxorubicin and camptothecin with synergistic controlled drug release effect

Combination chemotherapy has been recognized as a more powerful strategy for tumor treatment rather than the single chemotherapy. However, the interactive mechanism of the two hydrophobic chemotherapeutic drugs has not been explored by now. Aiming for a better synergistic effect, such interactive mechanism was investigated in the present work, by designing CPT@DOX-DPUTEA-PEG nanomedicine with encapsulated camptothecin (CPT) and conjugated doxorubicin (DOX). The synergistic controlled drug release effect was found for the two drugs loaded on the different sites of the dendritic polyurethane core. Synergism was achieved on the HepG2 cells with a combination index (CI) of 0.58 in the in vitro cellular experiments. The results demonstrated the promising application of the unimolecular micelles-based nanomedicine with independently loading of two hydrophobic chemotherapeutic drugs.

Evaluating and improving health equity and fairness of polygenic scores

Polygenic scores (PGSs) are quantitative metrics for predicting phenotypic values, such as human height or disease status. Some PGS methods require only summary statistics of a relevant genome-wide association study (GWAS) for their score. One such method is Lassosum, which inherits the model selection advantages of Lasso to select a meaningful subset of the GWAS single-nucleotide polymorphisms as predictors from their association statistics. However, even efficient scores like Lassosum, when derived from European-based GWASs, are poor predictors of phenotype for subjects of non-European ancestry; that is, they have limited portability to other ancestries. To increase the portability of Lassosum, when GWAS information and estimates of linkage disequilibrium are available for both ancestries, we propose Joint-Lassosum (JLS). In the simulation settings we explore, JLS provides more accurate PGSs compared to other methods, especially when measured in terms of fairness. In analyses of UK Biobank data, JLS was computationally more efficient but slightly less accurate than a Bayesian comparator, SDPRX. Like all PGS methods, JLS requires selection of predictors, which are determined by data-driven tuning parameters. We describe a new approach to selecting tuning parameters and note its relevance for model selection for any PGS. We also draw connections to the literature on algorithmic fairness and discuss how JLS can help mitigate fairness-related harms that might result from the use of PGSs in clinical settings. While no PGS method is likely to be universally portable, due to the diversity of human populations and unequal information content of GWASs for different ancestries, JLS is an effective approach for enhancing portability and reducing predictive bias.

A long non-coding RNA functions as a competitive endogenous RNA to modulate TaNAC018 by acting as a decoy for tae-miR6206

Increasing evidence indicates a strong correlation between the deposition of cuticular waxes and drought tolerance. However, the precise regulatory mechanism remains elusive. Here, we conducted a comprehensive transcriptome analysis of two wheat (Triticum aestivum) near-isogenic lines, the glaucous line G-JM38 rich in cuticular waxes and the non-glaucous line NG-JM31. We identified 85,143 protein-coding mRNAs, 4,485 lncRNAs, and 1,130 miRNAs. Using the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network and endogenous target mimic (eTM) prediction, we discovered that lncRNA35557 acted as an eTM for the miRNA tae-miR6206, effectively preventing tae-miR6206 from cleaving the NAC transcription factor gene TaNAC018. This lncRNA-miRNA interaction led to higher transcript abundance for TaNAC018 and enhanced drought-stress tolerance. Additionally, treatment with mannitol and abscisic acid (ABA) each influenced the levels of tae-miR6206, lncRNA35557, and TaNAC018 transcript. The ectopic expression of TaNAC018 in Arabidopsis also improved tolerance toward mannitol and ABA treatment, whereas knocking down TaNAC018 transcript levels via virus-induced gene silencing in wheat rendered seedlings more sensitive to mannitol stress. Our results indicate that lncRNA35557 functions as a competing endogenous RNA to modulate TaNAC018 expression by acting as a decoy target for tae-miR6206 in glaucous wheat, suggesting that non-coding RNA has important roles in the regulatory mechanisms responsible for wheat stress tolerance.

Correlation between congenital pelvic floor muscle development assessed by magnetic resonance imaging and postoperative defecation

OBJECTIVE

Children with congenital anorectal malformation (CAM) experience challenges with defecation. This study aims to assess defecation in preschool-age children with CAM and to evaluate the correlation between pelvic floor muscle developed assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and postoperative defecation.

METHODS

We collected clinical data and MRI results from 89 male children with CAM. The bowel function scores for children with Perineal (cutaneous) fistula, Rectourethral fistula(Prostatic or Bulbar), and Rectovesical fistula were computed. MRI scans were subjected to image analysis of the striated muscle complex (SMC). The association between pelvic floor muscle score and bowel function score was examined using the Cochran-Armitage Trend Test.

RESULTS

We observed that 77.4% of the SMC scores by MRI for Perineal fistula were good. The Rectourethral fistula SMC score was 40.6% for moderate and 59.4% for poor. The SMC score for Rectovesical fistula was 100% for moderate. Furthermore, 77.4% of patients with Perineal fistula had bowel function scores (BFS) ≥ 17 points. Among those with Rectourethral fistula and Rectovesical fistula, 12.5% and 0 had BFS ≥ 17 points, respectively. An analysis of muscle development and bowel function in patients with Rectovesical fistula, Rectourethral fistula, and Perineal fistula revealed a correlation between SMC development and BFS. Subgroup analysis showed that the Perineal fistula had statistical significance; however, the Rectourethral fistula and Rectovesical fistula were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

A correlation exists between pelvic floor muscle development and postoperative defecation in children with Perineal fistula.

Dynamic genomic changes in methotrexate-resistant human cancer cell lines beyond DHFR amplification suggest potential new targets for preventing drug resistance

BACKGROUND

Although DHFR gene amplification has long been known as a major mechanism for methotrexate (MTX) resistance in cancer, the early changes and detailed development of the resistance are not yet fully understood.

METHODS

We performed genomic, transcriptional and proteomic analyses of human colon cancer cells with sequentially increasing levels of MTX-resistance.

RESULTS

The genomic amplification evolved in three phases (pre-amplification, homogenously staining region (HSR) and extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA)). We confirm that genomic amplification and increased expression of DHFR, with formation of HSRs and especially ecDNAs, is the major driver of resistance. However, DHFR did not play a detectable role in the early phase. In the late phase (ecDNA), increase in FAM151B protein level may also have an important role by decreasing sensitivity to MTX. In addition, although MSH3 and ZFYVE16 may be subject to different posttranscriptional regulations and therefore protein expressions are decreased in ecDNA stages compared to HSR stages, they still play important roles in MTX resistance.

CONCLUSION

The study provides a detailed evolutionary trajectory of MTX-resistance and identifies new targets, especially ecDNAs, which could help to prevent drug resistance. It also presents a proof-of-principal approach which could be applied to other cancer drug resistance studies.

A two-layer circuit cascade-based DNA machine for highly sensitive miRNA imaging in living cells

Sensitive detection of microRNA (miRNA), one of the most promising biomarkers, plays crucial roles in cancer diagnosis. However, the low expression level of miRNA makes it extremely urgent to develop ultrasensitive and highly selective strategies for quantification of miRNA. Herein, a DNA machine is rationally constructed for amplified detection and imaging of low-abundance miRNA in living cells based on the toehold-mediated strand displacement reaction (TMSDR). The isothermal and enzyme-free DNA machine with low background leakage is fabricated by integrating two DNA circuits into a cascade system, in which the output of one circuit serves as the input of the other one. Once the DNA machine is transfected into breast cancer cells, the overexpressed miRNA-203 initiates the first-layer circuit through TMSDR, leading to the concentration variation of fuel strands, which further influences the assembly of hairpin DNA in the second-layer circuit and the occurrence of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) for fluorescence imaging. Benefiting from the cascade of the two-layer amplification reaction, the proposed DNA machine acquires a detection limit down to 4 fM for quantification of miR-203 and a 10 000-fold improvement in amplification efficiency over the single circuit. Therefore, the two-layer circuit cascade-based DNA machine provides an effective platform for amplified analysis of low-abundance miRNA with high sensitivity, which holds great promise in biomedical and clinical research.

The comparative study of two new Schiff bases derived from 5-(thiophene-2-yl)isoxazole as "Off-On-Off" fluorescence sensors for the sequential detection of Ga3+ and Fe3+ ions

Two new Schiff bases, TIC ((E)-N'-(2-hydroxybenzylidene)-5-(thiophene-2-yl)isoxazole-3-carbohydrazide) and TIE ((E)-N'-(3-ethoxy-2-hydroxybenzylidene)-5-(thiophene-2-yl)isoxazole-3-carbohydrazide), have been designed and synthesized as chemosensors for distinct recognition of Ga3+ and Fe3+ ions. TIE demonstrated a prominent "turn on" response characterized by clear distinguished fluorescence when coordination with Ga3+ ions in the DMSO/H2O buffer solution. In comparison, TIC also showed "turn on" response of blue fluorescence which was more selective and sensitive than that of TIE due to the steric hindrance of ethoxy group of TIE. The newly formed complexes TIC-Ga3+ and TIE-Ga3+ may act as selective "turn-off" fluorescent probes towards Fe3+ ions. Limits of detection of TIC and TIE towards Ga3+ ions were 7.8809 × 10-9 M and 2.6277 × 10-8 M, respectively. Limits of detection of TIC-Ga3+ and TIE-Ga3+ towards Fe3+ ions were 8.6562 × 10-9 M and 3.3764 × 10-7 M, respectively. The molar ratio of the complex between the sensor and Ga3+ or Fe3+ ions were all 1:2 determined through Job's Plot, mass spectrometry, and theoretical calculations. Both sensors were utilized for the determination of target ions in environment water samples, and the portable paper sensors for detecting Ga3+ ions have been successfully developed.

Siloxane-containing phosphine (oxide) ligands for enhanced catalytic activity of cobalt complexes for hydrosilylation reactions

A series of siloxane-containing phosphine (oxide) ligands have been designed and synthesized. These phosphine (oxide) ligands contain silicon atoms, which can impart better solubility in the relevant media, thereby improving certain catalytic performances. The hydrosilylation of olefins catalyzed by these metal phosphine (oxide) complexes has been conducted under mild reaction conditions.

Effect of postoperative intermittent boluses of subcostal quadratus lumborum block on pulmonary function recovery and analgesia after gastrectomy: a randomized controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Following the gastrectomy, the reduction in pulmonary function is partly attributed to postoperative pain. Subcostal quadratus lumborum block (QLB) has recently emerged as a promising component in multimodal analgesia. We aimed to assess the impact of intermittent boluses of subcostal QLB on pulmonary function recovery and analgesic efficacy after gastrectomy.

METHODS

Sixty patients scheduled for gastrectomy were randomly assigned to either control group (multimodal analgesia) or intervention group (intermittent boluses of subcostal QLB plus multimodal analgesia). Two primary outcomes included the preservation of forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) and the pain scores (0-10 cm visual analog score) on coughing 24 h postoperatively. We assessed the pulmonary function parameters, pain score, morphine consumption and number of rescue analgesia at a 24-h interval up to 72 h (Day1, Day2, Day3 respectively) as secondary outcomes.

RESULTS

59 patients were analyzed in a modified intention-to-treat set. The preservation of FEV1 (median difference: 4.0%, 97.5% CI: -5.7 to 14.9, P = 0.332) and pain scores on coughing (mean difference: 0.0 cm, 97.5% CI: -1.1 to 1.2, P = 0.924) did not differ significantly between two groups. In the intervention group, the recovery of forced vital capacity (FVC) was faster 72 h after surgery (interaction effect of group*(Day3-Day0): estimated effect (β) =0.30 L, standard error (SE) =0.13, P = 0.025), pain scores at rest were lower in the first 3 days (interaction effect of group*(Day1-Day0): β = - 0.8 cm, SE = 0.4, P = 0.035; interaction effect of group*(Day2-Day0): β = - 1.0 cm, SE = 0.4, P = 0.014; and interaction effect of group*(Day3-Day0): β = - 1.0 cm, SE = 0.4, P values = 0.009 respectively), intravenous morphine consumption was lower during 0-24 h (median difference: -3 mg, 95% CI -6 to -1, P = 0.014) and in total 72 h (median difference: -5 mg, 95% CI -10 to -1, P = 0.019), and the numbers of rescue analgesia was fewer during 24-48 h (median difference: 0, 95% CI 0 to 0, P = 0.043). Other outcomes didn't show statistical differences.

CONCLUSION

Postoperative intermittent boluses of subcostal QLB did not confer advantages in terms of the preservation of FEV1 or pain scores on coughing 24 h after gastrectomy. However, notable effects were observed in analgesia at rest and FVC recovery.

Surfactant-assisted molecular-level tunning of phenol-formaldehyde-based hard carbon microspheres for high-performance sodium-ion batteries

The phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resin is an economical precursor for spherical hard carbon (HC) anodes for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). However, achieving precise molecular-level control of PF-based HC microspheres, particularly for optimizing ion transport microstructure, is challenging. Here, a sodium linoleate (SL)-assisted strategy is proposed to enable molecular-level engineering of PF-based HC microspheres. PF microspheres are synthesized through the polymerization of 3-aminophenol and formaldehyde, initially forming oxazine rings and then undergoing ring-opening polymerization to create a macromolecular network. SL functions as both a surfactant to control microsphere size and a catalyst to enhance ring-opening polymerization and increase polymerization of PF resin. These modifications lead to reduced microsphere diameter, increased interlayer spacing, enhanced graphitization, and significantly improved electron and ion transfer. The synthesized HC microspheres exhibit a remarkable reversible capacity of 337 mAh/g, maintaining 96.9 mAh/g even at a high current density of 5.0 A/g. Furthermore, the full cell demonstrates a high capacity of 150 mAh/g, an energy density of 125.3 Wh kg-1, an impressive initial coulombic efficiency (ICE) of 930.3% at 1 A/g, and remarkable long-term stability over 3000 cycles. This study highlights the potential of surfactant-assisted molecular-level engineering in customizing HC microspheres for advanced SIBs.

PD-L1+ macrophages suppress T cell-mediated anticancer immunity

Recently, we showed that an autologous DC-based vaccine induces an increase in immunosuppressive PD-L1+ tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) both in the tumor and the tumor draining lymph nodes, thereby blunting the efficacy of therapeutic immunization. Only the combination of the DC vaccine with anti-PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibition, but not the use of antibodies targeting PD-1 alone, was able to set off CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)-mediated tumor suppression in mice. In sum, we delineated a PD-L1 checkpoint blockade-based strategy to avoid TAM-induced T cell exhaustion during DC vaccine therapy.

Predictors of the rapid progression in prodromal Parkinson's disease: a longitudinal follow-up study

INTRODUCTION

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by a prodromal phase preceding the onset of classic motor symptoms. The duration and clinical manifestations of prodromal PD vary widely, indicating underlying heterogeneity within this stage. This discrepancy prompts the question of whether specific factors contribute to the divergent rates of progression in prodromal PD.

METHODS

This study included prodromal PD patients from the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative. They were followed up to assess the disease progression. The data collected during the follow-up period were analyzed to identify potential predictors of rapid disease progression in prodromal PD.

RESULTS

In this study, 61 individuals with prodromal PD were enrolled. Among them, 43 patients presented with both RBD and hyposmia, 17 had hyposmia alone, and 1 had RBD alone at baseline. 13 (21.3%) prodromal PD participants exhibited rapid disease progression, with two of these cases advancing to non-neurological diseases. Significant differences were observed between the rapid progression group and no rapid progression group in terms of MDS-UPDRS II score and UPSIT score. Longitudinal analysis showed a significant increase in the MDS-UPDRS III score and MDS-UPDRS total score in the rapid progression group. Regression analyses identified the MDS-UPDRS II score and UPSIT score as predictors of rapid disease progression in prodromal PD.

CONCLUSION

Our study findings suggest that the MDS-UPDRS II score and UPSIT score may serve as clinical markers associated with rapid disease progression. Further research and development of precise biomarkers and advanced assessment methods are needed to enhance our understanding of prodromal PD and its progression patterns.

Establishment and validation of a multivariate logistic model for risk factors of thyroid nodules using lasso regression screening

Objective

This study aims to analyze the association between the occurrence of thyroid nodules and various factors and to establish a risk factor model for thyroid nodules.

Methods

The study population was divided into two groups: a group with thyroid nodules and a group without thyroid nodules. Regression with the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) was applied to the complete dataset for variable selection. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between various influencing factors and the prevalence of thyroid nodules.

Results

Based on the screening results of Lasso regression and the subsequent establishment of the Binary Logistic Regression Model on the training dataset, it was found that advanced age (OR=1.046, 95% CI: 1.033-1.060), females (OR = 1.709, 95% CI: 1.342-2.181), overweight individuals (OR = 1.546, 95% CI: 1.165-2.058), individuals with impaired fasting glucose (OR = 1.590, 95% CI: 1.193-2.122), and those with dyslipidemia (OR = 1.588, 95% CI: 1.197-2.112) were potential risk factors for thyroid nodule disease (p<0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for the Binary Logistic Regression Model is 0.68 (95% CI: 0.64-0.72).

Conclusions

advanced age, females, overweight individuals, those with impaired fasting glucose, and individuals with dyslipidemia are potential risk factors for thyroid nodule disease.

Chemical-toxicological insights and process comparison for estrogenic activity mitigation in municipal wastewater treatment plants

Efforts in water ecosystem conservation require an understanding of causative factors and removal efficacies associated with mixture toxicity during wastewater treatment. This study conducts a comprehensive investigation into the interplay between wastewater estrogenic activity and 30 estrogen-like endocrine disrupting chemicals (EEDCs) across 12 municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) spanning four seasons in China. Results reveal substantial estrogenic activity in all WWTPs and potential endocrine-disrupting risks in over 37.5 % of final effluent samples, with heightened effects during colder seasons. While phthalates are the predominant EEDCs (concentrations ranging from 86.39 %) for both estrogenic activity and major EEDCs (phthalates and estrogens), with the secondary and tertiary treatment segments contributing 88.59 ± 8.12 % and 11.41 ± 8.12 %, respectively. Among various secondary treatment processes, the anaerobic/anoxic/oxic-membrane bioreactor (A/A/O-MBR) excels in removing both estrogenic activity and EEDCs. In tertiary treatment, removal efficiencies increase with the inclusion of components involving physical, chemical, and biological removal principles. Furthermore, correlation and multiple liner regression analysis establish a significant (p < 0.05) positive association between solid retention time (SRT) and removal efficiencies of estrogenic activity and EEDCs within WWTPs. This study provides valuable insights from the perspective of prioritizing key pollutants, the necessity of integrating more efficient secondary and tertiary treatment processes, along with adjustments to operational parameters like SRT, to mitigate estrogenic activity in municipal WWTPs. This contribution aids in managing endocrine-disrupting risks in wastewater as part of ecological conservation efforts.

Docosahexaenoic Acid Modulates Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease by Suppressing Endocannabinoid System

SCOPE

Endocannabinoid signaling regulates energy homeostasis, and is tightly associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The study previously finds that supplementation of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has superior function to ameliorate NAFLD compared with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), however, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. The present study aims to investigate whether DHA intervention alleviates NAFLD via endocannabinoid system.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In a case-control study, the serum endocannabinoid ligands in 60 NAFLD and 60 healthy subjects are measured. Meanwhile, NAFLD model is established in mice fed a high-fat and -cholesterol diet (HFD) for 9 weeks. DHA or EPA is administrated for additional 9 weeks. Serum primary endocannabinoid ligands, namely anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidoniylglycerol (2-AG), are significantly higher in individuals with NAFLD compared with healthy controls. NAFLD model shows that serum 2-AG concentrations and adipocyte cannabinoid receptor 1 expression levels are significantly lower in DHA group compared with HFD group. Lipidomic and targeted ceramide analyses further confirm that endocannabinoid signaling inhibition has exerted deletion of hepatic C16:0-ceramide contents, resulting in down-regulation of de novo fatty acid synthesis and up-regulation of fatty acid β-oxidation related protein expression levels.

CONCLUSIONS

This work elucidates that DHA has improved NAFLD by suppressing endocannabinoid system.

Structure of brain grey and white matter in infants with spastic cerebral palsy and periventricular white matter injury

AIM

To investigate the possible covariation of grey matter volume (GMV) and white matter fractional anisotropy in infants with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) and periventricular white matter injury.

METHOD

Thirty-nine infants with spastic CP and 25 typically developing controls underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor imaging. Multimodal canonical correlation analysis with joint independent component analysis were used to capture differences in GMV and fractional anisotropy between groups. Correlation analysis was performed between imaging findings and clinical features.

RESULTS

Infants with spastic CP showed one joint group-discriminating component (i.e. GMV-fractional anisotropy) associated with regions in the cortico-basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical loop and in the corpus callosum compared to typically developing controls and one modality-specific group-discriminating component (i.e. GMV). Significant negative correlations were found between loadings in certain regions and the motor function score in spastic CP.

INTERPRETATION

In infants with spastic CP, covarying GMV-fractional anisotropy and altered GMV in specific regions were implicated in motor dysfunction, which confirmed that simultaneous GMV and fractional anisotropy changes underly motor deficits, but might also extend to sensory, cognitive, or visual dysfunction. These findings also suggest that multimodal fusion analysis allows for a more comprehensive understanding of the relevance between grey and white matter structures and its crucial role in the neuropathological mechanisms of spastic CP.

Seq2Sat and SatAnalyzer toolkit: Towards comprehensive microsatellite genotyping from sequencing data

Accurate and efficient microsatellite loci genotyping is an essential process in population genetics that is also used in various demographic analyses. Protocols for next-generation sequencing of microsatellite loci enable high-throughput and cross-compatible allele scoring, common issues that are not addressed by conventional capillary-based approaches. To improve this process, we have developed an all-in-one software, called Seq2Sat (sequence to microsatellite), in C++ to support automated microsatellite genotyping. It directly takes raw reads of microsatellite amplicons and conducts read quality control before inferring genotypes based on depth-of-read, read ratio, sequence composition and length. We have also developed a module for sex identification based on sex chromosome-specific locus amplicons. To allow for greater user access and complement autoscoring, we developed SatAnalyzer (microsatellite analyzer), a user-friendly web-based platform that conducts reads-to-report analyses by calling Seq2Sat for genotype autoscoring and produces interactive genotype graphs for manual editing. SatAnalyzer also allows users to troubleshoot multiplex optimization by analysing read quality and distribution across loci and samples in support of high-quality library preparation. To evaluate its performance, we benchmarked our toolkit Seq2Sat/SatAnalyzer against a conventional capillary gel method and existing microsatellite genotyping software, MEGASAT, using two datasets. Results showed that SatAnalyzer can achieve >99.70% genotyping accuracy and Seq2Sat is ~5 times faster than MEGASAT despite many more informative tables and figures being generated. Seq2Sat and SatAnalyzer are freely available on github (https://github.com/ecogenomicscanada/Seq2Sat) and dockerhub (https://hub.docker.com/r/rocpengliu/satanalyzer).

Efficacy and safety of mechanochemical ablation versus laser ablation in the treatment of primary great saphenous vein reflux: A randomized, open, parallel controlled clinical trial

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of a new mechanochemical ablation (MOCA) device versus endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) for primary great saphenous vein (GSV) reflux.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Prospectively analyze the demographics, treatment detail and outcomes data of 57 primary GSV reflux patients. Patients were randomly assigned to MOCA or EVLA group with random envelope method. Primary endpoint was 6-month closure rate of GSV. Secondary endpoint including technical success rate, the venous clinical severity score (VCSS), chronic venous insufficiency questionnaire (CIVIQ-20) score and visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain.

RESULTS

The procedures were well tolerated according to the VAS score. The 6-month closure rate was 85.71% in MOCA and 96.55% in EVLA group (p = .194). Significant changes were observed in regard of VCSS and CIVIQ-20 score at 6-month follow-up. Skin paresthesia occurred in 0 in MOCA and 5 in EVLA group.

CONCLUSION

The new MOCA device is safe and effective in treating primary great saphenous vein reflux. The 6-month closure rate is non-inferior compared with EVLA. However, the long-term results need further follow-up.

Predefined-time position tracking optimization control with prescribed performance of the induction motor based on observers

To solve the position control problem of the induction motor with parameter perturbations, load disturbances, and modeling errors, a predefined-time position tracking optimization control method with prescribed performance is proposed. In practice, the rotor flux linkage of the induction motor can't be measured, and a predefined-time sliding mode observer (PTSMO) is applied to accurately estimate it. Additionally, predefined-time disturbance observers (PTDOs) are employed to identify the uncertainties in the motor system. The position and flux linkage controllers are then designed by integrating the predefined-time control approach with the prescribed performance function method, realizing accurate tracking control of the induction motor within a predefined time. Next, the adaptive genetic algorithm (AGA) and the improved particle swarm optimization (IPSO) technique are combined to optimize the designed controllers, enhancing the convergence rate and steady-state accuracy of the induction motor. Finally, comparative analyses through simulations and dSPACE simulated experiments validate the efficacy of the proposed control method, highlighting its applicability in practical motor systems.

Structure and Electron Engineering for Nitrate Electrocatalysis to Ammonia: Identification and Modification of Active Sites in Spinel Oxides

Cobalt spinel oxides, which consist of tetrahedral site (AO4) and octahedral site (BO6), are a potential group of transition metal oxides (TMO) for electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reactions to ammonia (NRA). Identifying the true active site in spinel oxides is crucial to designing advanced catalysts. This work reveals that the CoO6 site is the dominant site for NRA through the site substitution strategy. The suitable electronic configuration of Co at the octahedral site leads to a stronger interaction between the Co d-orbital and the O p-orbital in O-containing intermediates, resulting in a high-efficiency nitrate-to-ammonia reduction. Furthermore, the substitution of metallic elements at the AO4 site can affect the charge density at the BO6 site via the structure of A-O-B. Thereafter, Ni and Cu are introduced to replace the tetrahedral site in spinel oxides and optimize the electronic structure of CoO6. As a result, NiCo2O4 exhibits the best activity for NRA with an outstanding yield of NH3 (15.49 mg cm-2 h-1) and FE (99.89%). This study introduces a novel paradigm for identifying the active site and proposes an approach for constructing high-efficiency electrocatalysts for NRA.

The burgeoning importance of PIWI-interacting RNAs in cancer progression

PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are a class of small noncoding RNA molecules that specifically bind to piwi protein family members to exert regulatory functions in germ cells. Recent studies have found that piRNAs, as tissue-specific molecules, both play oncogenic and tumor suppressive roles in cancer progression, including cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, chemoresistance and stemness. Additionally, the atypical manifestation of piRNAs and PIWI proteins in various malignancies presents a promising strategy for the identification of novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets in the diagnosis and management of tumors. Nonetheless, the precise functions of piRNAs in cancer progression and their underlying mechanisms have yet to be fully comprehended. This review aims to examine current research on the biogenesis and functions of piRNA and its burgeoning importance in cancer progression, thereby offering novel perspectives on the potential utilization of piRNAs and piwi proteins in the management and treatment of advanced cancer.

Serum Interleukin-1 Levels Are Associated with Intracranial Aneurysm Instability

Serum interleukin-1 (IL-1) are possibly indicative of the inflammation in the intracranial aneurysm (IA) wall. This study aimed to investigate whether IL-1 could discriminate the unstable IAs (ruptured intracranial aneurysms (RIAs) and symptomatic unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs)) from stable, asymptomatic UIAs. IA tissues and blood samples from 35 RIA patients and 35 UIA patients were collected between January 2017 and June 2020 as the derivation cohort. Blood samples from 211 patients with UIAs were collected between January 2021 and June 2022 as the validation cohort (including 63 symptomatic UIAs). Blood samples from 35 non-cerebral-edema meningioma patients (non-inflammatory control) and 19 patients with unknown-cause subarachnoid hemorrhage (hemorrhagic control) were also collected. IL-1β and IL-1.ra (IL-1 receptor antagonist) were measured in serum and IA tissues, and the IL-1 ratio was calculated as log10 (IL-1.ra/IL-1β). Based on the derivation cohort, multivariate logistic analysis showed that IL-1β (odds ratio, 1.48, P = 0.001) and IL-1.ra (odds ratio, 0.74, P = 0.005) were associated with RIAs. The IL-1 ratio showed an excellent diagnostic accuracy for RIAs (c-statistic, 0.91). Histological analysis confirmed the significant correlation of IL-1 between serum and aneurysm tissues. IL-1 ratio could discriminate UIAs from non-inflammatory controls (c-statistic, 0.84), and RIAs from hemorrhagic controls (c-statistic, 0.95). Based on the validation cohort, the combination of IL-1 ratio and PHASES score had better diagnostic accuracy for symptomatic UIAs than PHASES score alone (c-statistic, 0.88 vs 0.80, P < 0.001). Serum IL-1 levels correlate with aneurysm tissue IL-1 levels and unstable aneurysm status, and could serve as a potential biomarker for IA instability.

A novel ATP13A2 variant causing complicated hereditary spastic paraplegia

BACKGROUND

ATP13A2 is a monogenic causative gene of Parkinson's disease, whose biallelic mutations can result in Kufor-Rakeb syndrome. Biallelic mutations in ATP13A2 have also been reported in pure or complicated hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP). Here, we report clinical, neuroimaging, and genetic findings from a patient with a novel homozygous mutation in ATP13A2 presenting with HSP plus parkinsonism.

METHODS

Whole genome sequencing was performed on the patient, a 46-year-old Chinese woman from a consanguineous family, to identify the genetic cause. Furthermore, functional studies of the identified ATP13A2 mutation were conducted.

RESULTS

The patient initially presented with abnormal gait because of lower-limb spasticity and recurrent seizures. Parkinsonism (presenting as bradykinesia and rigidity) and peripheral neuropathy in lower limbs further evolved and resulted in her eventual use of a wheelchair. Symmetrically decreased dopamine transporter density was detected within the bilateral putamen and caudate nucleus in dopamine transporter-positron emission tomography. Genetic analysis revealed a novel homozygous missense mutation in ATP13A2 (c.2780 T > C, p.Leu927Pro), which was heterozygous in the patient's parents and son. Functional studies suggested that this mutation results in the reduced expression and altered subcellular localization of ATP13A2.

CONCLUSIONS

Our report broadens the genetic and phenotypic spectrum of ATP13A2-related HSP. Further research is needed to fully elucidate the mechanism linking ATP13A2 variants to HSP.

23-Hydroxybetulinic acid attenuates 5-fluorouracil resistance of colorectal cancer by modulating M2 macrophage polarization via STAT6 signaling

Macrophage polarization is closely associated with the inflammatory processes involved in the development and chemoresistance of colorectal cancer (CRC). M2 macrophages, the predominant subtype of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in a wide variety of malignancies, have been demonstrated to promote the resistance of CRC to multiple chemotherapeutic drugs, such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). In our study, we investigated the potential of 23-Hydroxybetulinic Acid (23-HBA), a significant active component of Pulsatilla chinensis (P. chinensis), to inhibit the polarization of M2 macrophages induced by IL-4. Our results showed that 23-HBA reduced the expression of M2 specific marker CD206, while downregulating the mRNA levels of M2 related genes (CD206, Arg1, IL-10, and CCL2). Additionally, 23-HBA effectively attenuated the inhibitory effects of the conditioned medium from M2 macrophages on apoptosis in colorectal cancer SW480 cells. Mechanistically, 23-HBA prevented the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of the STAT6 protein, resulting in the inhibition of IL-10 release in M2 macrophages. Moreover, it interfered with the activation of the IL-10/STAT3/Bcl-2 signaling pathway in SW480 cells, ultimately reducing M2 macrophage-induced resistance to 5-FU. Importantly, depleting STAT6 expression in macrophages abolished the suppressive effect of 23-HBA on M2 macrophage polarization, while also eliminating its ability to decrease M2 macrophage-induced 5-FU resistance in cancer cells. Furthermore, 23-HBA significantly diminished the proportion of M2 macrophages in the tumor tissues of colorectal cancer mice, simultaneously enhancing the anti-cancer efficacy of 5-FU. The findings presented in this study highlight the capacity of 23-HBA to inhibit M2 macrophage polarization, a process that contributes to reduced 5-FU resistance in colorectal cancer.

High-dose oxaliplatin induces severe hypersensitivity reactions and high recurrence rates during rechallenge in patients treated with hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy

AIM

To analyze the risk factors for oxaliplatin (OXA)-induced severe hypersensitivity reactions and identify the recurrence rate of the reactions after an OXA rechallenge in patients treated with hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC).

METHODS

Among the 2251 patients treated with HAIC (OXA), 84 patients with gastrointestinal cancer who displayed hypersensitivity reactions between May 2013 and May 2022 were included in this study. Among the 84 patients, 23 (27.4%) developed severe anaphylactic reactions (grade III/IV), and 61 (72.6%) developed grade I/II reactions. We explored the risk factors for severe OXA-induced hypersensitivity reactions. Twenty-seven patients with grade I/II reactions underwent retreatment (HAIC with OXA), and the recurrence rate of the hypersensitivity reactions was determined. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the risk factors for OXA-induced hypersensitivity reaction.

RESULTS

In the study, multivariate analysis indicated that the dose of OXA (odds ratio [OR] 3.077, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.106-8.558, p = 0.031) was an independent risk factor for OXA-induced severe hypersensitivity reactions. Twenty-seven patients with non-severe hypersensitivity reactions underwent retreatment HAIC with OXA and 14 (51.9 %) experienced HSR recurrence, including 2 (7.4 %) who experienced hypersensitivity shock.

CONCLUSIONS

The administration of OXA doses is a risk factor for OXA-induced severe hypersensitivity reactions in patients treated with HAIC (OXA). Rechallenging HAIC with OXA appears to be associated with a higher recurrence rate of the HSR.