Comparison evaluation pretreatments on the quality characteristics, oxidative stability, and volatile flavor of walnut oil

In this study, we applied various thermal pretreatment methods (e.g., hot-air, microwave, and stir-frying) to process walnut kernels, and conducted comparative analysis of the physicochemical properties, nutritional components, in vitro antioxidant activity, and flavor substances of the extracted walnut oil (WO). The results indicated that, thermal pretreatment significantly increased the extraction of total trace nutrients (e.g., total phenols, tocopherols, and phytosterols) in WO. The WO produced using microwave had 2316.71 mg/kg of total trace nutrients, closely followed by the stir-frying method, which yielded an 11.22% increase compared to the untreated method. The WO obtained by the microwave method had a higher Oxidative inductance period (4.05 h) and oil yield (2.48%). After analyzing the flavor in WO, we found that aldehydes accounted for 28.77% of the 73 of volatile compounds and 58.12% of the total flavor compound content in microwave-pretreated WO, these percentages were higher than those recorded by using other methods. Based on the comprehensive score obtained by the PCA, microwave-pretreatment might be a promising strategy to improve the quality of WO based on aromatic characteristics.

Identification of the key aroma compounds in flaxseed milk using stir bar sorptive extraction, aroma recombination, and omission tests

Flaxseed milk is a plant-based dairy alternative that is rich in nutrients. Due to the low concentration of odor compounds in flaxseed milk, it cannot be completely extracted. This poses significant challenges for analysis. Therefore, this study developed a method suitable for extracting volatile compounds from flaxseed milk and compared it with three other extraction methods. It was found that Stir Bar Sorptive Extraction had the best extraction performance, identifying 39 odorants. Flavor dilution factors ranged from 1 to 512, with higher values observed for esters. 13 key odor compounds were identified (odor activity value > 1) using the external standard method for quantification; these included four aldehydes, three pyrazines, two alcohols, two esters, and two other compounds. Pyrazine compounds exhibited the highest concentrations. Aroma recombination and omission experiments showed that nine key odorants contributed significantly to the flavor profile of flaxseed milk, imparting aroma of cucumber, green, mushroom, fruity, sweet, and coconut.

Unveiling the effect of the structural transformation of CoZn-MOF on BiVO4 photoanode for efficient photoelectrochemical water oxidation

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting has been widely investigated for solar-to-hydrogen conversion. However, issues like high charge recombination rate and slow surface water oxidation kinetics severely hinder its (PEC) conversion efficiency. Herein, we constructed MOF-derived CoOOH cocatalyst on BiVO4 photoanode, using a feasible electrochemical activation strategy. The BiVO4-based photoanode obtained shows a high photocurrent density of 3.15 mA/cm2 at 1.23 VRHE and low onset potential. Detailed experiments and theoretical calculations show that during the activation of CoZn-MOFs, there was a partial breakage of 2-methylimidazole (mIM) linker, an increase in the oxidation state of Cobalt ion (Co), and increased O2-. The high PEC performance is mainly attributed to the MOF-derived CoOOH, which provides rich active sites for hole extraction and reduces the overpotential for oxygen evolution reaction. Furthermore, when CoZnNiFe-LDHs were decorated on BiVO4 using the ions exchange method, the photocurrent density of BiVO4/CoZnNiFe-LDHs photoanode got to 4.0 mA/cm2 at 1.23 VRHE, accompanied with high stability. This study provides insights into understanding the key role played by the structural transformation of MOF cocatalyst in PEC water splitting processes.

A simple fluorescence detection of acetylcholinesterase with peroxidase-like catalysis from iodide

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is an important enzyme in the central and peripheral nervous system that regulates the balance of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. In this work, a simple, selective and sensitive fluorescence assay was developed toward AChE activity. A conventional AChE substrate acetylthiocholine iodide (ATCI) was applied. Instead directly rendering a signaling, it was found that free iodide ions was released during the enzymatic hydrolysis of ATCI. These ions further catalyzed the oxidation of non-emissive o-phenylenediamine (OPD) into a fluorescent product. This gave a response differed from frequently-adopted sulfhydryl- -based signals and thus minimized related interferences. All materials included in this process were directly available and no additional syntheses were required. Due to the extra iodide-based catalysis included, this scheme was capable of providing a sensitive response toward AChE in the range of 0.01-8 U/L, with a limit of detection at 0.006 U/L. This method was further extended onto chlorpyrifos as an exemplary AChE inhibitor, with a detection down to 3 pM.

Fully dispersed cobalt diatomic site with significantly improved Fenton-like catalysis performance for organic pollutant degradation

A novel strategy for better catalytic performance in terms of precisely tuning the metal atom number of active centers is gradually getting attention. In this paper, the Co atom pair sites on N-doped porous carbon was engineered. The binuclear Co2 site structure was identified by aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. As expected, the Co2NC display an outstanding Fenton-like catalysis activity in tetracycline degradation with turnover frequency exceeding 0.91 min-1 that is approximately 4 times higher than the conventional CoN4 site. The EPR tests indicated that the ROS strength stimulated by the binuclear site was much stronger than that of single site. Theoretical density functional theory calculations reveal that the optimized adsorption configuration is the O1 of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) interacting with two Co atoms, leading to stronger interaction effect and electron transfer for PMS comparing to single atom sites.

Endophytic bacteria for Cd remediation in rice: Unraveling the Cd tolerance mechanisms of Cupriavidus metallidurans CML2

The utility of endophytic bacteria in Cadmium (Cd) remediation has gained significant attention due to their ability to alleviate metal-induced stress and enhance plant growth. Here, we investigate C. metallidurans CML2, an endophytic bacterial strain prevalent in rice, showing resilience against 2400 mg/L of Cd(II). We conducted an in-depth integrated morphological and transcriptomic analysis illustrating the multifarious mechanisms CML2 employs to combat Cd, including the formation of biofilm and CdO nanoparticles, upregulation of genes involved in periplasmic immobilization, and the utilization of RND efflux pumps to extract excess Cd ions. Beyond Cd, CML2 exhibited robust tolerance to an array of heavy metals, including Mn2+, Se4+, Ni2+, Cu2+, and Hg2+, demonstrating effective Cd(II) removal capacity. Furthermore, CML2 has exhibited plant growth-promoting properties through the production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) at 0.93 mg/L, soluble phosphorus compounds at 1.11 mg/L, and siderophores at 22.67%. Supportively, pot experiments indicated an increase in root lengths and a decrease in Cd bioaccumulation in rice seedlings inoculated with CML2, consequently reducing Cd translocation rates from 43% to 31%. These findings not only contribute to the understanding of Cd resistance mechanisms in C. metallidurans, but also underscore CML2's promising application in Cd remediation within rice farming ecosystems.

Urchin-like CO2-responsive magnetic microspheres for highly efficient organic dye removal

CO2-responsive materials have emerged as promising adsorbents for the remediation of refractory organic dyes-contaminated wastewater without the formation of byproducts or causing secondary pollution. However, realizing the simultaneous adsorption-separation or complete removal of both anionic and cationic dyes, as well as achieving deeper insights into their adsorption mechanism, still remains a challenge for most reported CO2-responsive materials. Herein, a novel type of urchin-like CO2-responsive Fe3O4 microspheres (U-Fe3O4 @P) has been successfully fabricated to enable ultrafast, selective, and reversible adsorption of anionic dyes by utilizing CO2 as a triggering gas. Meanwhile, the CO2-responsive U-Fe3O4 @P microspheres exhibit the capability to initiate Fenton degradation of non-adsorbable cationic dyes. Our findings reveal exceptionally rapid adsorption equilibrium, achieved within a mere 5 min, and an outstanding maximum adsorption capacity of 561.2 mg g-1 for anionic dye methyl orange upon CO2 stimulation. Moreover, 99.8% of cationic dye methylene blue can be effectively degraded through the Fenton reaction. Furthermore, the long-term unresolved interaction mechanism of organic dyes with CO2-responsive materials is deciphered through a comprehensive experimental and theoretical study by density functional theory. This work provides a novel paradigm and guidance for designing next-generation eco-friendly CO2-responsive materials for highly efficient purification of complex dye-contaminated wastewater in environmental engineering.

Using machine learning to identify proteomic and metabolomic signatures of stroke in atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac arrhythmia, with stroke being its most detrimental comorbidity. The exact mechanism of AF related stroke (AFS) still needs to be explored. In this study, we integrated proteomics and metabolomics platform to explore disordered plasma proteins and metabolites between AF patients and AFS patients. There were 22 up-regulated and 31 down-regulated differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in AFS plasma samples. Moreover, 63 up-regulated and 51 down-regulated differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) were discovered in AFS plasma samples. We integrated proteomics and metabolomics based on the topological interactions of DEPs and DEMs, which yielded revealed several related pathways such as arachidonic acid metabolism, serotonergic synapse, purine metabolism, tyrosine metabolism and steroid hormone biosynthesis. We then performed a machine learning model to identify potential biomarkers of stroke in AF. Finally, we selected 6 proteins and 6 metabolites as candidate biomarkers for predicting stroke in AF by random forest, the area under the curve being 0.976. In conclusion, this study provides new perspectives for understanding the progressive mechanisms of AF related stroke and discovering innovative biomarkers for determining the prognosis of stroke in AF.

Optical coherence tomography angiography for the assessment of retinal microvasculature characteristics in preterm-born children: A systematic review and meta-analysis

This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in assessing retinal microvascular structural changes in preterm-born children and compare them with those in term-born children. The Web of Science Library, Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and Sino Med databases were searched systematically to extract studies published till April 25, 2023. Two independent reviewers searched all the literature and completed the data extraction and quality assessment. Mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the continuous estimates. STATA software (v15.1; StataCorp, College Station, TX) was used to analyze the data. Twelve published studies were eligible for inclusion in this study. The meta-analysis revealed that the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area of preterm-born children was remarkably smaller than that of term-born children, with the laser photocoagulation (LP)-ROP group showing the most pronounced reduction. The foveal superficial capillary plexus vessel density (SCP-VD) and deep capillary plexus vessel density (DCP-VD) were remarkably higher in the preterm-born group than in the control group, with variations in subgroups (LP-ROP, anti-VEGF-ROP, SR-ROP, and Pre-T-ROP). The parafoveal SCP-VD was remarkably lower in preterm-born children compared to that of the controls, while no significant difference was identified in the parafoveal DCP-VD. Preterm-born children had a smaller FAZ area, higher foveal SCP-VD and DCP-VD, and lower parafoveal SCP-VD compared to their term-born counterparts. The parafoveal DCP-VD did not differ substantially between preterm- and term-born children. OCTA is an effective modality for assessing alterations in the retinal microvasculature in preterm children.

Methionine restriction attenuates the migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells by inhibiting nuclear p65 translocation through TRIM47

The prevention and treatment of gastric cancer has been the focus and difficulty of medical research. We aimed to explore the mechanism of inhibiting migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells by methionine restriction (MR). The human gastric cancer cell lines AGS and MKN45 cultured with complete medium (CM) or medium without methionine were used for in vitro experiments. MKN45 cells were injected tail vein into BALB/c nude mice and then fed with normal diet or methionine diet for in vivo experiments. MR treatment decreased cell migration and invasion, increased E-cadherin expression, decreased N-cadherin and p-p65 expressions, and inhibited nuclear p65 translocation of AGS and MKN45 cells when compared with CM group. MR treatment increased IκBα protein expression and protein stability, and decreased IκBα protein ubiquitination level and TRIM47 expression. TRIM47 interacted with IκBα protein, and overexpression of TRIM47 reversed the regulatory effects of MR. TRIM47 promoted lung metastasis formation and partially attenuated the effect of MR on metastasis formation in vivo compared to normal diet group mice. MR reduces TRIM47 expression, leads to the degradation of IκBα, and then inhibits the translocation of nuclear p65 and the migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells.

Recent advances in the contribution of glucosinolates degradation products to cruciferous foods odor: factors that influence degradation pathways and odor attributes

As one of the most important vegetables and oils consumed globally, cruciferous foods are appreciated for their high nutritional value. However, there is no comprehensive knowledge to sufficiently unravel the "flavor mystery" of cruciferous foods. The present review provides a comprehensive literature on the recent advances regarding the contribution of glucosinolates (GSL) degradation products to cruciferous foods odor, which focuses on key GSL degradation products contributing to distinct odor of cruciferous foods (Brassica oleracea, Brassica rapa, Brassica napus, Brassica juncea, Raphanus sativus), and key factors affecting GSL degradation pathways (i.e., enzyme-induced degradation, thermal-induced degradation, chemical-induced degradation, microwave-induced degradation) during different processing and cooking. A total of 93 volatile GSL degradation products (i.e., 36 nitriles, 33 isothiocyanates, 3 thiocyanates, 5 epithionitriles, and 16 sulfides) and 29 GSL (i.e., 20 aliphatic, 5 aromatic, and 4 indolic) were found in generalized cruciferous foods. Remarkably, cruciferous foods have a distinctive pungent, spicy, pickled, sulfur, and vegetable odor. In general, isothiocyanates are mostly present in enzyme-induced degradation of GSL and are therefore often enriched in fresh-cut or low-temperature, short-time cooked cruciferous foods. In contrast, nitriles are mainly derived from thermal-induced degradation of GSL, and are thus often enriched in high-temperature, long-time cooked cruciferous foods.

Predicting central cervical lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma with Hashimoto's thyroiditis: a practical nomogram based on retrospective study

Background

In papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), preoperative ultrasonography frequently reveals the presence of enlarged lymph nodes in the central neck region. These nodes pose a diagnostic challenge due to their potential resemblance to metastatic lymph nodes, thereby impacting the surgical decision-making process for clinicians in terms of determining the appropriate surgical extent.

Methods

Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify independent risk factors associated with central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) in PTC patients with HT. Then a prediction model was developed and visualized using a nomogram. The stability of the model was assessed using ten-fold cross-validation. The performance of the model was further evaluated through the use of ROC curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis.

Results

A total of 376 HT PTC patients were included in this study, comprising 162 patients with CLNM and 214 patients without CLNM. The results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age, Tg-Ab level, tumor size, punctate echogenic foci, and blood flow grade were identified as independent risk factors associated with the development of CLNM in HT PTC. The area under the curve (AUC) of this model was 0.76 (95% CI [0.71-0.80]). The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive predictive value of the model were determined to be 88%, 51%, 67%, and 57%, respectively.

Conclusions

The proposed clinic-ultrasound-based nomogram in this study demonstrated a favorable performance in predicting CLNM in HT PTCs. This predictive tool has the potential to assist clinicians in making well-informed decisions regarding the appropriate extent of surgical intervention for patients.

Patient and public involvement (PPI) in systematic reviews: frequency, determinants, stages, barriers, and dissemination

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the frequency, determinants, stages, and barriers of patient and public involvement (PPI) in systematic reviews, and to explore its association with the dissemination of reviews.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING

We examined systematic reviews that required the inclusion of a PPI declaration, published in The BMJ between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2022. Multivariable analysis was used to assess the association between PPI and key variables. We investigated the association between PPI and the dissemination of reviews using Altmetric scores, citations, and full-text views.

RESULTS

A total of 217 systematic reviews were included, of which 56 (25.8%, 95% CI 20.0% to 31.6%) included PPI, with a steady increase from 5.9% (1/17) in 2015 to 44.4% (4/35) in 2022. Of the 217 systematic reviews, 160 (73.7%) involved methodologists as co-authors. Factors significantly associated with a higher proportion of PPI included the publication year after 2019 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.26 to 4.83), the involvement of methodologists (aOR 3.08; 95% CI 1.27 to 7.47), and being led by researchers from high-income countries (aOR 5.47; 95% CI 1.23 to 24.30). Reviews that included PPI had higher Altmetric scores per month (6.6 vs. 3.4, P=0.002) and more monthly full-text (1048.6 vs. 636.5, P<0.001) and PDF (217.7 vs. 129.0, P<0.001) views than reviews without PPI. However, there was no difference in the monthly citations (2.2 vs. 2.0, P=0.365) between reviews with and without PPI.

CONCLUSION

The proportion of systematic reviews reporting PPI in The BMJ has increased over time, possibly due to journal policies, but it still remains at a low level. Reviews led by researchers from high-income countries or involving methodologists are associated with a higher frequency of PPI within The BMJ. Furthermore, reviews incorporating PPI within The BMJ have a higher potential for broad dissemination.

Discovery of novel thiophene-3-carboxamide derivatives as potential VEGFR-2 inhibitors with anti-angiogenic properties

VEGFR-2 is an attractive target for the development of anti-tumor drugs and plays a crucial role in tumor angiogenesis. This study reports a series of novel thiophene-3-carboxamide derivatives based on PAN-90806 as VEGFR-2 inhibitors, among which compound 14d exhibits excellent anti-proliferative activity against HCT116, MCF7, PC3, and A549 cell lines, and has effective VEGFR-2 inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 191.1 nM. Additionally, CETSA results indicated that VEGFR-2 was a relevant target of compound 14d in the cell lines, and compound 14d could also inhibit VEGFR-2 protein phosphorylation in A549 cell line. Furthermore, compound 14d inhibited colony formation, cell migration, and HUVECs tube formation in a dose-dependent manner. The mechanism by which 14d induced cancer cell death involves blocking the cell cycle, increasing ROS production, inducing apoptosis, and dose-dependently reducing the levels of phosphorylated ERK and MEK. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations had shown that compound 14d could stably bind to the active site of VEGFR-2. These results confirmed that compound 14d might be a promising lead compound for anti-angiogenesis.

Lacticaseibacillus casei K11 exerts immunomodulatory effects by enhancing natural killer cell cytotoxicity via the extracellular regulated-protein kinase pathway

PURPOSE

Probiotics can serve as immunomodulators that regulate the activation of immune cells. This study aimed to screen potential probiotic strains that can enhance NK cell toxicity to improve host immunity.

METHODS

In this investigation, we examined three potential probiotic strains, namely Lactiplantibacillus plantarum YZX21 (YZX21), Bifidobacterium bifidum FL-276.1 (FL-276.1) and Lacticaseibacillus casei K11 (K11), to assess their capacity in modulating NK cytotoxicity both in vitro and in vivo, while elucidating the underlying mechanisms involved.

RESULTS

The findings demonstrated that K11 exhibited superior efficacy in enhancing NK cytotoxicity. Subsequent analysis revealed that K11 significantly augmented the secretion of perforin and granzyme B by NK cells through activation of receptors NKp30 and NKp46 via the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway. Furthermore, heat-inactivated K11 also enhanced NK cell activity to an extent comparable to live bacteria, with lipoteichoic acid from K11 identified as a crucial factor mediating the activation of NK cell cytotoxicity.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that K11 may have potential applications as probiotics or postbiotics for regulating NK cell cytotoxicity to enhance immunity.

Comparison of stress hyperglycemia ratio and glycemic gap on acute ICH in-hospital outcomes

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effect of different indicators on stress-induced hyperglycemia for predicting in-hospital outcomes of acute intracerebral hemorrhage.

METHODS

Using data from the Chinese Stroke Center Alliance database, which is a national, multicenter, prospective, and consecutive program. Stress-induced hyperglycemia was described as glycemic gap (GG, defined as fasting blood glucose [FBG] minus estimated average blood glucose) and stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR, defined as FBG-to-estimated average blood glucose ratio [SHR 1] or FBG-to-HbA1c ratio [SHR 2]). The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality, and the second outcome was hematoma expansion.

RESULTS

A total of 71,333 patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage were included. In multivariate analyses, the highest levels of GG (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.12-2.51), SHR 1 (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.15-2.60), and SHR 2 (OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.33-3.23) were associated with in-hospital death (all the p trends <0.01). Only the highest level of SHR 2 (OR 1.24 [1.02-1.51], p trend >0.05) was related to hematoma expansion. No association between GG or SHR 1 and hematoma expansion was observed. The areas under the ROC curve of GG, SHR 1, and SHR 2 for in-hospital mortality were 0.8808 (95% CI 0.8603-0.9014), 0.8796 (95% CI 0.8589-0.9002), and 0.8806 (95% CI 0.8600-0.9012). The areas under the ROC curve of SHR 2 for hematoma expansion were 0.7133 (95% CI 0.6964-0.7302).

INTERPRETATION

SHR (FBG-to-HbA1c ratio) was associated with both in-hospital death and hematoma expansion in intracerebral hemorrhage, and might serve as an accessory indicator for the in-hospital prognosis of intracerebral hemorrhage.

Ancient genome of the Chinese Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou

Emperor Wu (, Wudi) of the Xianbei-led Northern Zhou dynasty, named Yuwen Yong (, 543-578 CE), was a highly influential emperor who reformed the system of regional troops, pacified the Turks, and unified the northern part of the country. His genetic profile and physical characteristics, including his appearance and potential diseases, have garnered significant interest from the academic community and the public. In this study, we have successfully generated a 0.343×-coverage genome of Wudi with 1,011,419 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the 1240k panel. By analyzing pigmentation-relevant SNPs and conducting cranial CT-based facial reconstruction, we have determined that Wudi possessed a typical East or Northeast Asian appearance. Furthermore, pathogenic SNPs suggest Wudi faced an increased susceptibility to certain diseases, such as stroke. Wudi shared the closest genetic relationship with ancient Khitan and Heishui Mohe samples and modern Daur and Mongolian populations but also showed additional affinity with Yellow River (YR) farmers. We estimated that Wudi derived 61% of his ancestry from ancient Northeast Asians (ANAs) and nearly one-third from YR farmer-related groups. This can likely be attributed to continuous intermarriage between Xianbei royal families, and local Han aristocrats.1,2 Furthermore, our study has revealed genetic diversities among available ancient Xianbei individuals from different regions, suggesting that the formation of the Xianbei was a dynamic process influenced by admixture with surrounding populations.

Mapping Road Surface Type of Kenya Using OpenStreetMap and High-resolution Google Satellite Imagery

Identifying road surface types (paved or unpaved) can ensure road vehicle safety, reduce energy consumption, and promote economic development. Existing studies identified road surface types by using sensors mounted on mobile devices and high-resolution satellite images that are not openly accessible, which makes it difficult to apply them to large-scale (e.g., national or regional) study areas. Addressing this issue, this study developed a dataset of road surface types (paved and unpaved) for the national road network of Kenya, containing 1,267,818 road segments classified as paved or unpaved. To accomplish this, this study proposes a method that integrates crowdsourced geographic data (OpenStreetMap) and Google satellite imagery to identify road surface types. The accuracy, recall, and F1 score of the method were all above 0.94, validating the effectiveness of the method. The data sources of the method are freely available, and the method may be applied to other countries and regions. The dataset developed based on the method can provide data support and decision support for local governments to improve road infrastructure.

Observer-Based Neural Control of N-Link Flexible-Joint Robots

This article concentrates on the adaptive neural control approach of n -link flexible-joint electrically driven robots. The presented control method only needs to know the position and armature current information of the flexible-joint manipulator. An adaptive observer is designed to estimate the velocities of links and motors, and radial basis function neural networks are applied to approximate the unknown nonlinearities. Based on the backstepping technique and the Lyapunov stability theory, the observer-based neural control issue is addressed by relying on uplink-event-triggered states only. It is demonstrated that all signals are semi-globally ultimately uniformly bounded and the tracking errors can converge to a small neighborhood of zero. Finally, simulation results are shown to validate the designed event-triggered control strategy.

KLF10/CBS increases the sensitivity of gastric carcinoma cells to methionine restriction by promoting sulfur transfer pathway

Gastric cancer metastasis is a major cause of poor prognosis. Our previous research showed that methionine restriction (MR) lowers the invasiveness and motility of gastric carcinoma. In this study, we investigated the particular mechanisms of MR on gastric carcinoma metastasis. In vitro, gastric carcinoma cells (AGS, SNU-5, MKN7, KATO III, SNU-1, and MKN45) were grown in an MR medium for 24 h. In vivo, BALB/c mice were given a methionine-free (Met-) diet. Transwell assays were used to investigate cell invasion and migration. The amounts of Krüppel like factor 10 (KLF10) and cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) were determined using quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot. To determine the relationship between KLF10 and CBS, chromatin immunoprecipitation and a dual-luciferase reporter experiment were used. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to detect lung metastasis. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to determine cystathionine content. MR therapy had varying effects on the invasion and migration of gastric carcinoma cells AGS, SNU-5, MKN7, KATO III, SNU-1, and MKN45. KLF10 was highly expressed in AGS cells but poorly expressed in KATO III cells. KLF10 improved MR's ability to prevent gastric carcinoma cell invasion and migration. In addition, KLF10 may interact with CBS, facilitating transcription. Further detection revealed that inhibiting the KLF10/CBS-mediated trans-sulfur pathway lowered Met-'s inhibitory effect on lung metastasis development. KLF10 transcription activated CBS, accelerated the trans-sulfur pathway, and increased gastric carcinoma cells' susceptibility to MR.

Human midbrain dopaminergic progenitors

Human midbrain dopaminergic progenitors (mDAPs) are one of the most representative cell types in both basic research and clinical applications. However, there are still many challenges for the preparation and quality control of mDAPs, such as the lack of standards. Therefore, the establishment of critical quality attributes and technical specifications for mDAPs is largely needed. "Human midbrain dopaminergic progenitor" jointly drafted and agreed upon by experts from the Chinese Society for Stem Cell Research, is the first guideline for human mDAPs in China. This standard specifies the technical requirements, test methods, inspection rules, instructions for usage, labelling requirements, packaging requirements, storage requirements, transportation requirements and waste disposal requirements for human mDAPs, which is applicable to the quality control for human mDAPs. It was originally released by the China Society for Cell Biology on 30 August 2022. We hope that the publication of this guideline will facilitate the institutional establishment, acceptance and execution of proper protocols, and accelerate the international standardization of human mDAPs for clinical development and therapeutic applications.

Reinforcement learning-based consensus control for MASs with intermittent constraints

In this article, an adaptive optimal consensus control problem is studied for multiagent systems in the strict-feedback structure with intermittent constraints (the constraints appear intermittently). More specifically, by designing a novel switch-like function and an improved coordinate transformation, the constrained states are converted into unconstrained states, and the problem of intermittent constraints is resolved without requiring "feasibility conditions". In addition, using the composite learning algorithm and neural networks to construct the identifier, a simplified identifier-actor-critic-based reinforcement learning strategy is proposed to obtain the approximate optimal controller under the framework of backstepping. Meanwhile, with the aid of the nonlinear dynamic surface control technique, the issue of "explosion of complexity" in backstepping is removed, and the requirements for filter parameters are loosened. Based on Lyapunov stability theory, it is demonstrated that all signals in the closed-loop system are bounded. Finally, two simulation examples are used to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Human neural stem cells

'Human neural stem cells' jointly drafted and agreed upon by experts from the Chinese Society for Stem Cell Research, is the first guideline for human neural stem cells (hNSCs) in China. This standard specifies the technical requirements, test methods, test regulations, instructions for use, labelling requirements, packaging requirements, storage requirements, transportation requirements and waste disposal requirements for hNSCs, which is applicable to the quality control for hNSCs. It was originally released by the China Society for Cell Biology on 30 August 2022. We hope that publication of the guideline will facilitate institutional establishment, acceptance and execution of proper protocols, and accelerate the international standardization of hNSCs for clinical development and therapeutic applications.

The soybean lecithin-cyclodextrin-vitamin E complex nanoparticles stabilized Pickering emulsions for the delivery of β-carotene: Physicochemical properties and in vitro digestion

In this work, soybean lecithin (LC) was used to modify β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) with hydrophobic fat chains to become amphiphilic (LC-CD), and vitamin E (VE) was encapsulated in former modified β-CD complexes (LC-CD-VE), the new Pickering emulsions stabilized by LC-CD-VE and LC-CD complexes for the delivery of β-carotene (BC) were created. The surface tension, contact angle, zeta potential, and particle size were used to assess the changes in complexes nanoparticles at various pH values. Furthermore, LC-CD-VE has more promise as Pickering emulsion stabilizer than LC-CD because of the smaller particle size (271.11 nm), proper contact angle (58.02°), and lower surface tension (42.49 mN/m). The interactions between β-cyclodextrin, soybean lecithin, and vitamin E were confirmed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The durability of Pickering emulsions was examined at various volume fractions of the oil phase and concentrations of nanoparticles. Compared to the emulsion stabilized by LC-CD, the one stabilized by LC-CD-VE showed superior storage stability. Moreover, for the delivery of BC, Pickering emulsions stabilized by LC-CD and LC-CD-VE can outperform bulk oil and Tween 80 stabilized emulsions in terms of UV light stability, storage stability, and bioaccessibility. This work could offer fresh perspectives on stabilizer alternatives for Pickering emulsion delivery systems.

A pathway-based computational framework for identification of a new modal of multi-omics biomarkers and its application in esophageal cancer

BACKGROUND

The pathway-based strategy has been recently proposed for identifying biomarkers with the advantages of higher biological interpretability and cross-data robustness than the conventional gene-based strategy. However, its utility in clinical applications has been limited due to the high computational complexity and ill-defined performance.

OBJECTIVE

The current study presents a machine learning-based computational framework using multi-omics data for identifying a new modal of biomarkers, called pathway-derived core biomarkers, which have the advantages of both gene-based and pathway-based biomarkers.

METHODS

Machine-learning methods and gene-pathway network were integrated to select the pathway-derived core biomarkers. Multiple machine-learning algorithms were used to construct and validate the diagnostic models of the biomarkers based on more than 1400 multi-omics clinical samples of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

RESULTS

The results showed that the classifier models based on the new modal biomarkers achieved superior performance in the training datasets with an average AUC/accuracy of 0.98/0.95 and 0.89/0.81 for mRNAs and miRNA, respectively, higher than the currently known classifier models based on the conventional gene-based strategy and pathway-based strategy. In the testing cohorts, the AUC/accuracy increased by 6.1 %/7.3 % than the models based on the native gene-based biomarkers. The improved performance was further confirmed in independent validation cohorts. Specifically, the sensitivity/specificity increased by ∼3 % and the variance significantly decreased by ∼69 % compared with that of the native gene-based biomarkers. Importantly, the pathway-derived core biomarkers also recovered 45 % more previously reported biomarkers than the gene-based biomarkers and are more functionally relevant to the ESCC etiology (involved in 14 versus 7 pathways related with ESCC or other cancer), highlighting the cross-data robustness of this new modal of biomarkers via enhanced functional relevance.

CONCLUSIONS

The results demonstrated that the new modal of biomarkers not only have improved predicting performance and robustness, but also exhibit higher functional interpretability thus leading to the potential application in cancer diagnosis.

Phillygenin prevents osteoclast differentiation and bone loss by targeting RhoA

Forsythia suspensa tea is a popular traditional Chinese medicine decoction for its healthy and therapeutic benefits. However, its effects in bone metabolism were not clear. In recent study, we uncovered anti-osteoclastogenesis property of Phillygenin (Phi), a compound abundant in Forsythia suspensa leaves, and aimed to investigate the effect and mechanism of Phi on bone metabolism in vivo and in vitro. Lipopolysaccharides-induced murine calvaria osteolysis and ovariectomy-induced bone loss animal models were used to identify the bone-protective effect of Phi in vivo and micro-CT, pQCT, and TRAP staining were applied. We used CCK8, TUNEL, BrdU, and TRAP staining to evaluate the efficacy of Phi on the proliferation and formation of OCs in primary mBMMs. RNA sequence, activity-based protein profiling, molecular docking, G-LISA, and WB were used to inspect the target and underlying mechanism of Phi's actions in mBMMs. We found Phi significantly inhibited bone resorption in vivo and inhibited mBMMs osteoclastogenesis in vitro. Ras homolog gene family member A (RhoA) was identified as the direct target of Phi. It counteracted the effects of RhoA activator and acted as a RhoA inhibitor. By targeting RhoA, Phi modulated Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 1 (ROCK1) activity and regulated its downstream NF-κB/NFATc1/c-fos pathway. Furthermore, Phi depressed the disassembling of F-actin ring through cofilin and myosin1a. Our findings provided Phi as a potential option for treating bone loss diseases by targeting RhoA and highlighted the importance of F. suspensa as a preventive approach in bone disorders.

Macrophage depletion damages hematopoiesis partially through inhibition of cell homing and expansion after hematopoietic cell transplantation

Bone marrow macrophages (Mφ) are essential components of the bone marrow niche that regulate the function of hematopoietic stem cells. Poor graft function and inhibition of hematopoietic production can result from abnormal macrophage function; however, the underlying mechanism is unclear. Clodronate liposomes (Clo-Lip) have been used widely to deplete macrophages and study their functions. Our previous results showed that Clod-Lip-mediated clearance of macrophages plays a vital role in regulating hematopoietic reconstruction after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). In this study, using an isogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation model, we found that Clod-Lip-mediated clearance of macrophages suppressed hematopoietic reconstruction by inhibiting the homing process of hematopoietic cells. We also demonstrated that macrophage depletion inhibited the direct supportive effect of macrophages on hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells and erythroid differentiation but promoted the production of megakaryocytic progenitors ex vivo. We showed that macrophages increase CD49e expression on hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). However, CD49e inhibitors did not support the proliferative effect of macrophages on hematopoietic cells. In contrast, macrophage E-selectin/ intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) may be involved in directly regulating HSPCs. In conclusion, macrophage depletion with Clo-Lip partially disrupts bone marrow hematopoiesis after HCT by impeding donor cell homing and macrophage-HSPCs interactions.

QL1604 plus paclitaxel-cisplatin/carboplatin in patients with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer: an open-label, single-arm, phase II trial

OBJECTIVE

QL1604 is a highly selective, humanized monoclonal antibody against programmed death protein 1. We assessed the efficacy and safety of QL1604 plus chemotherapy as first-line treatment in patients with advanced cervical cancer.

METHODS

This was a multicenter, open-label, single-arm, phase II study. Patients with advanced cervical cancer and not previously treated with systemic chemotherapy were enrolled to receive QL1604 plus paclitaxel and cisplatin/carboplatin on day 1 of each 21-day cycle for up to 6 cycles, followed by QL1604 maintenance treatment.

RESULTS

Forty-six patients were enrolled and the median follow-up duration was 16.5 months. An 84.8% of patients had recurrent disease and 13.0% had stage IVB disease. The objective response rate (ORR) per Response Evaluation Criteria in Advanced Solid Tumors (RECIST) v1.1 was 58.7% (27/46). The immune ORR per immune RECIST was 60.9% (28/46). The median duration of response was 9.6 months (95% confidence interval [CI]=5.5-not estimable). The median progression-free survival was 8.1 months (95% CI=5.7-14.0). Forty-five (97.8%) patients experienced treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs). The most common grade≥3 TRAEs (>30%) were neutrophil count decrease (50.0%), anemia (32.6%), and white blood cell count decrease (30.4%).

CONCLUSION

QL1604 plus paclitaxel-cisplatin/carboplatin showed promising antitumor activity and manageable safety profile as first-line treatment in patients with advanced cervical cancer. Programmed cell death protein 1 inhibitor plus chemotherapy may be a potential treatment option for the patient population who have contraindications or can't tolerate bevacizumab, which needs to be further verified in phase III confirmatory study. Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04864782.

Assessment of rehabilitation following acute ischaemic stroke in China: a registry-based retrospective observational study

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to describe the frequency, determinants and outcomes for assessment of patients who had an acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) for rehabilitation during hospitalisation in China.

DESIGN

A registry-based retrospective observational study.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTINGS

Data regarding assessment or rehabilitation were extracted from the Chinese Stroke Center Alliance database from 1 August 2015 to 31 July 2019. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify patient and hospital characteristics associated with rehabilitation assessment during acute hospitalisation as well as discharge outcomes.

STUDY COHORT

We included 837 897 patients who had a stroke in this study with patient characteristics, admission location, medical history, hospital characteristics and hospital designation.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Rehabilitation assessment and discharge outcomes.

RESULTS

Among 837 897 patients who had a stroke admitted to 1473 hospitals, 615 991 (73.5%) underwent rehabilitation assessment. There were significant variations in the rates of rehabilitation assessment across hospitals (IQR 61.3% vs 92.9%). According to multivariate analysis, guideline recommended care delivery was associated with a higher rehabilitation assessment rate, whereas high/low body mass index, ambulation (OR 0.88; 95% CI 0.87 to 0.90), history of stroke (OR 0.94; 95% CI 0.93 to 0.95), coronary heart disease (OR 0.84; 95% CI 0.82 to 0.85) and atrial fibrillation (OR 0.91; 95% CI 0.89 to 0.94) were associated with a lower rate. Additionally, rehabilitation assessment during hospitalisation was significantly associated with lower in-hospital mortality (OR 0.38; 95% CI 0.35 to 0.41) and a higher probability of discharge to a rehabilitation centre (OR 2.66; 95% CI 2.5 to 2.82).

CONCLUSIONS

Nearly one-quarter of patients who had an AIS do not undergo documented rehabilitation assessment and compliance across hospitals varies. Thus, it is necessary to improve adherence to rehabilitation assessment to improve the quality of medical care for patients who had an AIS.

Regulatory mechanism of GA3 application on grape (Vitis vinifera L.) berry size

Gibberellin A3 (GA3) is often used as a principal growth regulator to increase plant size. Here, we applied Tween-20 (2%)-formulated GA3 (T1:40 mg/L; T2:70 mg/L) by dipping the clusters at the initial expansion phase of 'Red Globe' grape (Vitis vinifera L.) in 2018 and 2019. Tween-20 (2%) was used as a control. The results showed that GA3 significantly increased fruit cell length, cell size, diameter, and volume. The hormone levels of auxin (IAA) and zeatin (ZT) were significantly increased at 2 h (0 d) -1 d after application (DAA0-1) and remained significantly higher at DAA1 until maturity. Conversely, ABA exhibited an opposite trend. The mRNA and non-coding sequencing results yielded 436 differentially expressed mRNA (DE_mRNAs), 79 DE_lncRNAs and 17 DE_miRNAs. These genes are linked to hormone pathways like cysteine and methionine metabolism (ko00270), glutathione metabolism (ko00480) and plant hormone signal transduction (ko04075). GA3 application reduced expression of insensitive dwarf 2 (GID2, VIT_07s0129g01000), small auxin-upregulated RNA (SAUR, VIT_08s0007g03120) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase (ACS, VIT_18s0001g08520), but increased SAUR (VIT_04s0023g00560) expression. These four genes were predicted to be negatively regulated by vvi-miR156, vvi-miR172, vvi-miR396, and vvi-miR159, corresponding to specific lncRNAs. Therefore, miRNAs could affect grape size by regulating key genes GID2, ACS and SAUR. The R2R3 MYB family member VvRAX2 (VIT_08s0007g05030) was upregulated in response to GA3 application. Overexpression of VvRAX2 in tomato transgenic lines increased fruit size in contrast to the wild type. This study provides a basis and genetic resources for elucidating the novel role of ncRNAs in fruit development.

Transcriptomic profiling revealed immune-related signaling pathways in response to experimental infection of Leishmania donovani in two desert lizards from Northwest China

Little is known about the immune response of lizards to Leishmania parasties. In this study, we conducted the first liver transcriptome analysis of two lizards (Phrynocephalus przewalskii and Eremias multiocellata) challenged with L. donovani, endemic to the steppe desert region of northwestern China. Our results revealed that multiple biological processes and immune-related signaling pathways are closely associated with the immune response to experimental L. donovani infection in the two lizards, and that both lizards show similar changes to mammals in terms of immunity to Leishmania. However, the interspecific divergence of the two lizards leads to different transcriptomic changes. In particular, in contrast to P. przewalskii, the challenged E. mutltiocellata was characterized by the induction of down-regulation of most DEGs. These findings will contribute to the scarce resources on lizard immunity and provide a reference for further research on immune mechanisms in reptiles.

Atropisomeric Carboxylic Acids Synthesis via Nickel-Catalyzed Enantioconvergent Carboxylation of Aza-Biaryl Triflates with CO2

Upgrading CO2 to value-added chiral molecules via catalytic asymmetric C-C bond formation is a highly important yet challenging task. Although great progress on the formation of centrally chiral carboxylic acids has been achieved, catalytic construction of axially chiral carboxylic acids with CO2 has never been reported to date. Herein, we report the first catalytic asymmetric synthesis of axially chiral carboxylic acids with CO2, which is enabled by nickel-catalyzed dynamic kinetic asymmetric reductive carboxylation of racemic aza-biaryl triflates. A variety of important axially chiral carboxylic acids, which are valuable but difficult to obtain via catalysis, are generated in an enantioconvergent version. This new methodology features good functional group tolerance, easy to scale-up, facile transformation and avoids cumbersome steps, handling organometallic reagents and using stoichiometric chiral materials. Mechanistic investigations indicate a dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformation process induced by chiral nickel catalysis.

An IoT-based low-cost architecture for smart libraries using SDN

In the evolving landscape of smart libraries, this research pioneers an IoT-based low-cost architecture utilizing Software-Defined Networking (SDN). The increasing demand for more efficient and economical solutions in library management, particularly in the realm of RFID-based processes such as authentication, property circulation, and book loans, underscores the significance of this study. Leveraging the collaborative potential of IoT and SDN technologies, our proposed system introduces a fresh perspective to tackle these challenges and advance intelligent library management. In response to the evolving landscape of smart libraries, our research presents an Internet of Things (IoT)-based low-cost architecture utilizing SDN. The exploration of this architectural paradigm arises from a recognized gap in the existing literature, pointing towards the necessity for more efficient and cost-effective solutions in managing library processes. Our proposed algorithm integrates IoT and SDN technologies to intelligently oversee various library activities, specifically targeting RFID-based processes such as authentication, property circulation management, and book loan management. The system's architecture, encompasses components like the data center, SDN controllers, RFID tags, tag readers, and other network sensors. By leveraging the synergy between RFID and SDN, our innovative approach reduces the need for constant operator supervision in libraries. The scalability and software-oriented nature of the architecture cater to extensive library environments. Our study includes a two-phase investigation, combining practical implementation in a small-scale library with a simulation environment using MATLAB 2021. This research not only fills a crucial gap in current knowledge but also lays the foundation for future advancements in the integration of IoT and SDN technologies for intelligent library management.

Variation in the Floral Scent Chemistry of Nymphaea 'Eldorado', a Valuable Water Lily, with Different Flowering Stages and Flower Parts

Nymphaea 'Eldorado', a valuable water lily, is a well-known fragrant plant in China. Studying the temporal and spatial characteristics of the floral components of this plant can provide a reference for the further development and utilization of water lily germplasm resources. In this study, headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to explore the types and relative contents of floral components at different flowering stages (S1: bud stage; S2: initial-flowering stage; S3: full-flowering stage; S4: end-flowering stage) and in different floral organs of N. 'Elidorado', combined with the observation of the microscopic structure of petals. A total of 60 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were detected at different flowering stages, and there were significant differences in floral VOCs at different flowering stages and in different flower organs. The volatile compounds of N. 'Eldorado' can be divided into seven chemical classes,, namely, alkenes, alcohols, esters, aldehydes, ketones, alkanes, and others; the most common were alkenes and alkanes. A total of 39, 44, 47, and 42 volatile compounds were detected at S1, S2, S3, and S4. The VOCs present in high concentrations include benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, benzyl acetate, trans-α-bergamotene, α-curcumene, cis-α-farnesene, and so on. The types and total contents of volatiles at the full-flowering stage were higher than at other flowering stages. Comparing the VOCs in different parts of flower organs, it was found that the contents of alcohols, esters, and aldehydes were greatest in the petals, the alkenes in stamens were abundant with a relative content of up to 54.93%, and alkanes in the pistil were higher than in other parts. The types and total contents of volatiles in the stamens of N. 'Eldorado' were higher than those in other flower organs; they were the main part releasing fragrance. The observation of petal microstructure revealed that the size and quantity of the papillae on the epidermises of petals, the number of intracellular plastids, and the aggregates of floral components (osmophilic matrix granules) were significantly higher at the full-flowering stage than at the other flowering stages. This study suggested the main flowering stage and location at which the floral VOCs are released by N. 'Eldorado' and provided a reference for guiding the breeding of this water lily, exploring genetic patterns and developing related products.

LINC00909 up-regulates pluripotency factors and promotes cancer stemness and metastasis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma by targeting SMAD4

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic cancer stem cells are crucial for tumorigenesis and cancer metastasis. Presently, long non-coding RNAs were found to be associated with Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma stemness characteristics but the underlying mechanism is largely known. Here, we aim to explore the function of LINC00909 in regulating pancreatic cancer stemness and cancer metastasis.

METHODS

The expression level and clinical characteristics of LINC00909 were verified in 80-paired normal pancreas and Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma tissues from Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital cohort by in situ hybridization. RNA sequencing of PANC-1 cells with empty vector or vector encoding LINC00909 was experimented for subsequent bioinformatics analysis. The effect of LINC00909 in cancer stemness and metastasis was examined by in vitro and in vivo experiments. The interaction between LINC00909 with SMAD4 and the pluripotency factors were studied.

RESULTS

LINC00909 was generally upregulated in pancreatic cancer tissues and was associated with inferior clinicopathologic features and outcome. Over-expression of LINC00909 enhanced the expression of pluripotency factors and cancer stem cells phenotype, while knock-down of LINC00909 decreased the expression of pluripotency factors and cancer stem cells phenotype. Moreover, LINC00909 inversely regulated SMAD4 expression, knock-down of SMAD4 rescued the effect of LINC00909-deletion inhibition on pluripotency factors and cancer stem cells phenotype. These indicated the effect of LINC00909 on pluripotency factors and CSC phenotype was dependent on SMAD4 and MAPK/JNK signaling pathway, another downstream pathway of SMAD4 was also activated by LINC00909. Specifically, LINC00909 was localized in the cytoplasm in pancreatic cancer cells and decreased the stability the SMAD4 mRNA. Finally, we found over-expression of LINC00909 not only accelerated tumor growth in subcutaneous mice models, but also facilitated tumorigenicity and spleen metastasis in orthotopic mice models.

CONCLUSION

We demonstrate LINC00909 inhibits SMAD4 expression at the post-transcriptional level, which up-regulates the expression of pluripotency factors and activates the MAPK/JNK signaling pathway, leading to enrichment of cancer stem cells and cancer metastasis in pancreatic cancer.

Development of an immune-related diagnostic predictive model for oral lichen planus

Oral lichen planus (OLP) was a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology with a 1.4% chance of progressing to malignancy. However, it has been suggested in several studies that immune system disorders played a dominant role in the onset and progression of OLP. Therefore, this experiment aimed to develop a diagnostic prediction model for OLP based on immunopathogenesis to achieve early diagnosis and treatment and prevent cancer. In this study, 2 publicly available OLP datasets from the gene expression omnibus database were filtered. In the experimental group (GSE52130), the level of immune cell infiltration was assessed using MCPcounter and ssGSEA algorithms. Subsequently, differential expression analysis and gene set enrichment analysis were performed between the OLP and control groups. The resulting differentially expressed genes were intersected with immunologically relevant genes provided on the immunology database and analysis portal database (ImmPort) website to obtain differentially expressed immunologically relevant genes (DEIRGs). Furthermore, the gene ontology and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes analyses were carried out. Finally, protein-protein interaction network and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression analyses constructed a model for OLP. Receiver operating characteristic curves for the experimental and validation datasets (GSE38616) were plotted separately to validate the model's credibility. In addition, real-time quantitative PCR experiment was performed to verify the expression level of the diagnostic genes. Immune cell infiltration analysis revealed a more significant degree of inflammatory infiltration in the OLP group compared to the control group. In addition, the gene set enrichment analysis results were mainly associated with keratinization, antibacterial and immune responses, etc. A total of 774 differentially expressed genes was obtained according to the screening criteria, of which 65 were differentially expressed immunologically relevant genes. Ultimately, an immune-related diagnostic prediction model for OLP, which was composed of 5 hub genes (BST2, RNASEL, PI3, DEFB4A, CX3CL1), was identified. The verification results showed that the model has good diagnostic ability. There was a significant correlation between the 5 hub diagnostic biomarkers and immune infiltrating cells. The development of this model gave a novel insight into the early diagnosis of OLP.

Factors influencing traumatic brain injuries in maxillofacial fractures: A 12-year retrospective analysis of 2841 patients

BACKGROUND/AIM

Results of studies investigating the association between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and maxillofacial fractures (MFs) have varied considerably. The present study aimed to evaluate the correlation between TBIs and MFs, as well as the impact of age, sex, trauma mechanism, and season on TBIs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This 12-year retrospective study of 2841 patients used univariate and multivariate logistic regression to assess the association between MFs and other factors impacting TBIs.

RESULTS

Among 2841 patients, 1978 TBIs occurred in 829 (29.2%), with intracranial injuries (n = 828) is the most common. Of 829 patients with TBIs, 688 were male and 141 were female, corresponding to a male-to-female ratio of 4.9:1.0. The most common age group was 40-49 years (24.6%). Vehicles (including motor vehicles and electric vehicles) accidents were the primary causes of injuries. Multivariate regression analyses revealed an increased risk for TBIs among males (odds ratio [OR] 0.632, p < 0.001). Patients >40 years of age were at higher risk for TBIs, especially those ≥70 years (OR 3.966, p = 0.001). Vehicle accidents were a high-risk factor for TBIs (OR 6.894, p < 0.001), and winter was the most prevalent season for such injuries (OR 1.559, p = 0.002). Risk for TBI increased by 136.4% in combined midfacial and mandibular fractures (p = 0.016) and by 101.6% in multiple midfacial fractures (p = 0.045). TBIs were less common in single mandibular fractures, notably in single-angle fractures, with a risk of only 0.204-fold.

CONCLUSION

TBIs in MFs were significantly correlated with sex, age, aetiology, season and fracture location. Maxillofacial surgeons and emergency physicians must be aware of the possible association between TBIs and MFs to assess and manage this complicated relationship in a timely manner.

Efficacy of Evidence-based Nursing for Senile Cataract Complicated with Primary Angle-closure Glaucoma

Objective

To explore the efficacy and ocular indicator changes of evidence-based nursing in elderly patients with cataracts complicated with primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) after surgery.

Methods

100 elderly cataract patients combined with PACG treated in the People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region between February 2019 and October 2020 were included in the study and equally assigned to a control group and an experimental group by random draw. The control group adopted conventional nursing, and the experimental group intervened with evidence-based nursing. A thorough analysis was conducted based on the comparison of nursing effectiveness, nursing satisfaction, complication rate at 1, 2, and 3 weeks after surgery, QLI (Quality of Life Index), PSQI (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), SPEED (Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness), SEEQ (Salisbury Eye Evaluation Questionnaire), eyesight and intraocular pressure between two groups of patients.

Results

The evidence-based nursing was more effective in treating patients with senile cataracts and PACG after surgery compared with routine care (P = .002). The patients in the experimental group were more satisfied with evidence-based nursing than those in the other group (P < .001). The experimental group yielded a more desirable outcome than the control group in terms of the complication rate of patients of the two groups at 1 week, 2 weeks, and 3 weeks after surgery (P = .02, .003, < .001). In contrast to the group with routine care, the evidence-based nursing group obtained significantly higher scores of QLI (P < .001), but intensely lower results of PSQI (P < .001). Lower SPEED and SEEQ results of the experimental group were observed, as compared to the control group (P = .001, < .001). The patients in the experimental group enjoyed better eyesight and intraocular pressure after the evidence-based nursing in comparison with the control group (both P < .001). The group with evidence-based intervention garnered a more desirable result than the group with routine care about the complication rate at 1, 2, and 3 weeks after surgery, PSQI, SPEED, SEEQ and intraocular pressure.

Conclusion

Evidence-based nursing intervention reaped huge fruits in the improvement of the efficiency and quality of nursing work and also in the optimization of the ocular indicators of patients, which is highly applicable in clinical practice.

Identification and validation of stemness-based and ferroptosis-related molecular clusters in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly lethal malignancy with an extremely poor prognosis. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are considered to be responsible for the poor survival, recurrence and therapy resistance of PDAC. Ferroptosis plays a crucial role in the sustain and survival of CSCs. Here, we employed a rigorous evaluation of multiple datasets to identify a novel stemness-based and ferroptosis-related genes (SFRGs) signature to access the potential prognostic application. This work we retrieved RNA-sequencing and clinical annotation data from the TCGA, ICGC, GTEx and GEO database, and acquired 26 stem cell gene sets and 259 ferroptosis genes from StemChecker database and FerrDb database, respectively. Based on consensus clustering and ssGSEA analysis, we identified two expression patterns of CSCs traits (C1 and C2). Then, WGCNA analysis was implemented to screen out hub module genes correlated with stemness. Furthermore, differential expression analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, and the Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and Cox regression were performed to identify the SFRGs and to construct model. In addition, the differences in prognosis, tumor microenvironment (TME) components and therapy responses were evaluated between two risk groups. Finally, we verified the most influential marker ARNTL2 experimentally by western blot, qRT-PCR, sphere formation assay, mitoscreen assay, intracellular iron concentration determination and MDA determination assays. In conclusion, we developed a stemness-based and ferroptosis-related prognostic model, which could help predict overall survival for PDAC patients. Targeting ferroptosis may be a promising therapeutic strategy to inhibit PDAC progression by suppressing CSCs.

Factors and Their Impact on Treatment Effect of Acupuncture in Different Outcomes: A Meta-Regression of Acupuncture Randomized Controlled Trials

BACKGROUND

The effects of acupuncture have varied in different randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and there are many factors that influence treatment effect of acupuncture in different outcomes, with conflicting results.

OBJECTIVE

To identify factors and their impact on the treatment effect of acupuncture in different outcomes.

METHODS

Acupuncture RCTs were searched from 7 databases including Medline (PubMed), Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, VIP Database, and China Biology Medicine disc between January 1st, 2015 and December 31st, 2019. Eligible studies must compare acupuncture to no acupuncture, sham acupuncture, or waiting lists, and report at least 1 patient-important outcome. A multi-level meta-regression was conducted using a 3-level robust mixed model and univariate analyses were performed for all independent variables, even those excluded from the multivariable model due to collinearities. We used thresholds of 0.2 and 0.4 for the difference of standardized mean differences (SMDs), categorising them as small (<0.2), moderate (0.2-0.4), or large (>0.4) effects.

RESULTS

The pain construct analysis involved 211 effect estimates from 153 studies and 14 independent variables. High-frequency acupuncture treatment sessions produced larger effects compared to low-frequency sessions [large magnitude, the difference of adjusted SMDs 0.46, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.07 to 0.84; P=0.02]. The non-pain symptoms construct analysis comprised 323 effect estimates from 231 studies and 15 independent variables. Penetrating acupuncture showed moderately larger effects when compared to non-penetrating acupuncture (0.30, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.53; P=0.01). The function construct analysis included 495 effect estimates from 274 studies and 14 independent variables. Penetrating acupuncture and the flexible acupuncture regimen showed moderately larger effects, compared to non-penetrating acupuncture and fixed regimen, respectively (0.40, 95% CI 0 to 0.80; P=0.05; 0.29, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.53; P=0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

High-frequency acupuncture sessions appear to be a more effective approach to managing painful symptoms. Penetrating acupuncture demonstrated greater effect in relieving non-painful symptoms. Both penetrating acupuncture type and flexible acupuncture regimen were linked to significant treatment effects in function outcomes. Future studies should consider the factors that are significantly associated with the effects of acupuncture in patient-important outcomes.

Technical specifications for ethics review of human stem cell research

The rapid advancement of human stem cell research and its expansion into emerging areas has resulted in an escalation of ethical challenges associated with these studies. As a result, there has been a corresponding increase in both the volume and complexity of institutional ethics reviews, coupled with higher expectations for the quality of the review process. In response to these challenges, this standard provides a comprehensive outline of the fundamental principles, content, types, and procedures of ethics review, specifically focusing on non-clinical human stem cell research. Its purpose is to provide clear operational and procedural guidelines, as well as recommendations, for the ethics review of such studies. The document was originally published by the Chinese Society for Cell Biology on August 30, 2022. It is our hope that the publication of these guidelines will facilitate the integration of ethical considerations and evaluations in a structured manner throughout the entire process of stem cell research, ultimately fostering a healthy and orderly development of the field.

Development of a rapid quantitative method to differentiate MS1 vaccine strain from wild-type Mycoplasma synoviae

Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) is an economically important pathogen in the poultry industry. Vaccination is an effective method to prevent and control MS infections. Currently two live attenuated MS vaccines are commercially available, the temperature-sensitive MS-H vaccine strain and the NAD-independent MS1 vaccine strain. Differentiation of vaccine strains from wild-type (WT) strains is crucial for monitoring MS infection, especially after vaccination. In this study, we developed a Taqman duplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method to identify MS1 vaccine strains from WT strains. The method was specific and did not cross-react with other avian pathogens. The sensitivity assay indicated that no inhibition occurred between probes or between mixed and pure templates in duplex real-time PCR. Compared with the melt-based mismatch amplification mutation assay (MAMA), our method was more sensitive and rapid. In conclusion, the Taqman duplex real-time PCR method is a useful method for the diagnosis and differentiation of WT-MS and MS1 vaccine strains in a single reaction.

Clinical study of tirofiban compared to low molecular weight heparin in the antithrombotic treatment of progressive pontine infarction

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the efficacy and safety of tirofiban and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) in the treatment of patients undergoing acute progressive pontine infarction.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with acute progressive pontine infarction who were hospitalized in the Neurology Department from June 2021 to June 2023 were included in the study and randomly divided into two groups, namely the experimental group (tirofiban group) and the control group (LMWH group). All patients in both groups were required to receive conventional comprehensive treatment and dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin + clopidogrel at the beginning of admission. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score and Barthel Index (BI) were used to evaluate the neurological deficits on the first day of admission, the next day with stroke progression, and at discharge after treatment with tirofiban and LMWH, respectively in the two groups. The modified Rankin Scale was employed to assess prognosis on the 90th day after treatment. Clinical adverse events were followed up for 90 days, comparing the clinical efficacy and safety of the two treatment methods.

RESULTS

There was no statistical significance in NIHSS score and Barthel Index between the tirofiban group and the LMWH group on the first day of admission and the next day with stroke progression (p > 0.05). After stroke progression, tirofiban and LMWH were separately used for treatment in the two groups. We found that the NIHSS score of the tirofiban group was lower than that of the LMWH group, and the Barthel Index score was higher than that of the LMWH group at discharge (p < 0.05). After three months of follow-up, the mRS score of the tirofiban group was dramatically higher than that of the LMWH group (p < 0.05). No significant harmful or adverse reactions, such as bleeding events, were found in the two groups (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Tirofiban may be more effective and safer than LMWH in controlling the progression of acute pontine infarction, but further and large-sample studies are still needed to confirm this finding.

Melanin-Concentrating Hormone Is Associated With Delayed Neurocognitive Recovery in Older Adult Patients With Preoperative Sleep Disorders Undergoing Spinal Anesthesia

BACKGROUND

Aging and preoperative sleep disorders are the main risk factors affecting postoperative cognitive outcomes. However, the pathogenesis of delayed neurocognitive recovery after surgery remains ambiguous, and there is still a lack of potential biomarkers for delayed neurocognitive recovery in older adult patients with preoperative sleep disorders. Our study aimed to explore the relationship between melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) and delayed neurocognitive recovery early after surgery in older adult patients with preoperative sleep disorders.

METHODS

In this monocentric prospective observational study, 156 older adult patients (aged 65 years or older) with preoperative sleep disorders undergoing elective total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA) were included at an academic medical center in Inner Mongolia, China, from October 2021 to November 2022, and all patients underwent spinal anesthesia. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was applied to assess the preoperative sleep quality of all patients, and preoperative sleep disorders were defined as a score of PSQI >5. We measured the levels of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) MCH and plasma MCH of all patients. The primary outcome was delayed neurocognitive recovery early after surgery. All patients received cognitive function assessment through the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) 1 day before and 7 days after surgery (postoperative day 7 [POD7]). Delayed neurocognitive recovery was defined as a score of POD7 MoCA <26. The potential confounders included variables with P < .2 in the univariate logistic analysis, as well as the important risk factors of delayed neurocognitive recovery reported in the literature. Multivariable logistic regression model based on the Enter method assessed the association of MCH and delayed neurocognitive recovery in older adult patients with preoperative sleep disorders.

RESULTS

Fifty-nine (37.8%) older adult patients with preoperative sleep disorders experienced delayed neurocognitive recovery at POD7. Increase in CSF MCH levels (odds ratio [OR] for an increase of 1 pg/mL = 1.16, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-1.23, P < .001) and decrease in plasma MCH levels (OR for an increase of 1 pg/mL = 0.92, 95% CI, 0.86-0.98, P = .003) were associated with delayed neurocognitive recovery, after adjusting for age, sex, education, baseline MoCA scores, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade, and coronary heart disease (CHD).

CONCLUSIONS

In older adult patients with preoperative sleep disorders, MCH is associated with the occurrence of delayed neurocognitive recovery after surgery. Preoperative testing of CSF MCH or plasma MCH may increase the likelihood of identifying the high-risk population for delayed neurocognitive recovery in older adult patients with preoperative sleep disorders.

The Effect of Central Sensitization on Postoperative Neurocognitive Dysfunction in Hospitalized Elderly Patients: A Prospective Cohort Clinical Trial

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether central sensitization (CS) in elderly patients was a predictive risk factor for postoperative neurocognitive dysfunction (PNCD).

METHODS

One hundred and thirty-three aged patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) who received femoral nerve block and general anesthesia were recruited in this research and prospectively assigned into two groups according to the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) score: group C (n = 106, CSI score less than 40) and group CS (n = 27, CSI score higher than 40). Scores of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Confusion Assessment Method (CAM), Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and Quality of recovery-40 (QoR-40) questionnaires were assessed. Basic information and clinical records of all participants were also collected.

RESULTS

PNCD occurred in 24 (22.6%) of patients in group C and 16 (59.3%) in group CS (p < .05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that patients with CSI score ≥40 before surgery exhibited higher risk of PNCD after adjustment for other risk factors (p < .05). Compared to group C, the pre- and post-operative NRS scores, pain duration, the WOMAC score, and propofol consumptions for anesthesia induction were significantly increased in group CS (p < .05).

CONCLUSION

Hospitalized elderly patients with clinical symptoms of CS scores may have increased risk of PNCD following TKA.

Knockout and Replacement Gene Surgery to Treat Rhodopsin-Mediated Autosomal Dominant Retinitis Pigmentosa

Mutations in the rhodopsin (RHO) gene are the predominant causes of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (adRP). Given the diverse gain-of-function mutations, therapeutic strategies targeting specific sequences face significant challenges. Here, we provide a universal approach to conquer this problem: we have devised a CRISPR-Cas12i-based, mutation-independent gene knockout and replacement compound therapy carried by a dual AAV2/8 system. In this study, we successfully delayed the progression of retinal degeneration in the classic mouse disease model RhoP23H, and also RhoP347S, a new native mouse mutation model we developed. Our research expands the horizon of potential options for future treatments of RHO-mediated adRP.

Flavor precursors identification and thermal degradation mechanisms of glucoerucin in fragrant rapeseed oil

The degradation products of glucosinolates endow rapeseed oil with a characteristic aroma, however, the mechanism remains unclear. In this study, 29 individual glucosinolates were identified in six rapeseeds (Brassica napus) using widely targeted metabolism, including 22 aliphatic, 5 aromatic, and 2 indole glucosinolates. Characterization of thermally induced aromas from new precursors-glucoerucin was performed in different pH matrices via headspace-solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Six glucoerucin degradation were identified including 5-methylthio-pentanenitrile and dimethyl trisulfide et al. The results of thermal model showed that Glucoerucin could generate volatile 5-methylthio-pentanenitrile via dehydration and formed 1-isothiocyanato-4-(methylsulfanyl)butane via (394.9 μg/kg) by the Rosen rearrangement further product pungent odors 4-isothiocyanato-1-butene (5.6 μg/kg) at pH 5. Sulfur-containing compounds included dimethyl disulfide and dimethyl trisulfide can provide pungent and cabbage notes in matrices at pH 7 and 9. The results provide a new understanding in the forming mechanism of characteristic odor in fragrant rapeseed oil.