Activated Tim-3/Galectin-9 participated in the development of multiple myeloma by negatively regulating CD4 T cells

The interaction between Tim-3 on T cells and its ligand Galectin-9 negatively regulates the cellular immune response. However, the regulation of Tim-3/Galectin-9 on CD4 T cell subsets in multiple myeloma (MM) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the regulation of CD4 T cell subsets by the Tim-3/Galectin-9 pathway and clinical prognostic indicators in MM. Tim-3/Galectin-9 were detected by flow cytometry, PCR and ELISA in 60 MM patients and 40 healthy controls, and its correlation with clinical prognostic parameters was analyzed. The expressions of Tim-3 on CD4 T cells, Galectin-9 mRNA in PBMC and level of Galectin-9 protein in serum were significantly elevated in MM patients, especially those with poor prognostic indicators. In MM patients, Tim-3 was highly expressed on the surfaces of Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells, but lowly expressed on Treg. Moreover, level of cytokine IFN-γ in serum was negatively correlated with Tim-3+Th1 cell and Galectin-9mRNA, Galectin-9 protein level. In addition, cell culture experiments showed that the anti-tumor effect and the ability to secrete IFN-γ were restored by blocking the Tim-3/Galectin-9 pathway. In MM patients, Tim-3/Galectin-9 is elevated and associated with disease progression, by inhibiting the cytotoxic function of Th1, and also promoting Th2 and Th17 to be involved in immune escape of MM. Therefore, Tim-3/Galectin-9 may serve as a new immunotherapeutic target for MM patients.

Transmission of fluoroquinolones resistance among multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Shanghai, China: a retrospective population-based genomic epidemiology study

Fluoroquinolones (FQ) are essential for the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). The FQ resistance (FQ-R) rate in MDR-TB in China and its risk factors remain poorly understood. We conducted a retrospective, population-based genomic epidemiology study of MDR-TB patients in Shanghai, China, from 2009 to 2018. A genomic cluster was defined as strains with genetic distances ≤ 12 single nucleotide polymorphisms. The transmitted FQ-R was defined as the same FQ resistance-conferring mutations shared by ≥ 2 strains in a genomic cluster. We used multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify the risk factors for drug resistance. Among the total 850 MDR-TB patients included in the study, 72.8% (619/850) were male, the median age was 39 (interquartile range 28, 55) years, 52.7% (448/850) were migrants, and 34.5% (293/850) were previously treated patients. Most of the MDR-TB strains belong to the Beijing lineage (91.7%, 779/850). Overall, the genotypic resistance rate of FQ was 34.7% (295/850), and 47.1% (139/295) FQ-R patients were in genomic clusters, of which 98 (33.2%, 98/295) were presumed as transmitted FQ-R. Patients with treatment-naïve (aOR = 1.84; 95% CI: 1.09, 3.16), diagnosed in a district-level hospital (aOR = 2.69; 95% CI: 1.56, 4.75), and streptomycin resistance (aOR = 3.69; 95% CI: 1.65, 9.42) were significantly associated with the transmission of FQ-R. In summary, the prevalence of FQ-R among MDR-TB patients was high in Shanghai, and at least one-third were transmitted. Enforced interventions including surveillance of FQ drug susceptibility testing and screening among MDR-TB before initiation of treatment were urgently needed.

On secondary structure avoidance of codes for DNA storage

A secondary structure in single-stranded DNA refers to its propensity to undergo self-folding, leading to functional inactivity and irreparable failures within DNA storage systems. Consequently, the property of secondary structure avoidance (SSA) becomes a crucial criterion in the design of single-stranded DNA sequences for DNA storage, as it prohibits the inclusion of reverse-complement subsequences that contribute to such structures. This work is specifically focused on addressing the avoidance of secondary structures in single-stranded DNA sequences. We propose a novel sequence replacement approach, which successfully resolves the SSA problem under conditions where the stem exceeds a length of 2 log 2 ⁡ n + 2 , and the loop is of length k ≥ 4 . These parameters have been carefully chosen to closely resemble the real-world scenarios encountered in biochemical processes, enhancing the practical relevance of our study.

Detecting and quantifying Veillonella by real-time quantitative PCR and droplet digital PCR

Veillonella spp. are Gram-negative opportunistic pathogens present in the respiratory, digestive, and reproductive tracts of mammals. An abnormal increase in Veillonella relative abundance in the body is closely associated with periodontitis, inflammatory bowel disease, urinary tract infections, and many other diseases. We designed a pair of primers and a probe based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences of Veillonella and conducted real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) to quantify the abundance of Veillonella in fecal samples. These two methods were tested for specificity and sensitivity using simulated clinical samples. The sensitivity of qPCR was 100 copies/μL, allowing for the accurate detection of a wide range of Veillonella concentrations from 103 to 108 CFU/mL. The sensitivity of ddPCR was 11.3 copies/μL, only allowing for the accurate detection of Veillonella concentrations from 101 to 104 CFU/mL because of the limited number of droplets generated by ddPCR. ddPCR is therefore more suitable for the detection of low-abundance Veillonella samples. To characterize the validity of the assay system, clinical samples from children with inflammatory bowel disease were collected and analyzed, and the results were verified using isolation methods. We conclude that molecular assays targeting the 16S rRNA gene provides an important tool for the rapid diagnosis of chronic and infectious diseases caused by Veillonella and also supports the isolation and identification of Veillonella for research purposes. KEY POINTS: • With suitable primer sets, the qPCR has a wider detection range than ddPCR. • ddPCR is suitable for the detection of low-abundance samples. • Methods successfully guided the isolation of Veillonella in clinical sample.

Low concentration of peroxymonosulfate coupled with visible light triggers oxygen reactive species generation over constructed Bi25FeO40/BiOCl Z-scheme heterojunction for various tetracycline antibiotics removal

Photocatalytic peroxymonosulfate (PMS) oxidation systems demonstrate significant potential and promising prospects through the interconnection of photocatalytic and PMS oxidation for simultaneously achieving efficient pollutant removal and reduction of PMS dosage, which prevents resource wastage and secondary pollution. In this study, a Z-scheme Bi25FeO40/BiOCl (BOFC) heterojunction was constructed to carry out the photocatalytic PMS oxidation process for tetracyclines (TCs) pollutants at low PMS concentrations (0.08 mM). The photocatalytic PMS oxidation rate of Bi25FeO40/BiOCl composites for tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH), chlortetracycline (CTC), oxytetracycline (OTC) and doxycycline (DXC) reaches 86.6%, 83.6%, 86.7%, and 88.0% within 120 min. Simultaneously, the BOFC/PMS system under visible light (Vis) equally displayed the practical application prospects for the solo and mixed simulated TCs antibiotics wastewater. Based on the electron spin resonance (ESR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) valence band spectrum, a Z-scheme electron migration pathway was proposed to elucidate the mechanism underlying the performance enhancement of BOFC composites. Bi25FeO40 in BOFC composites can serve as active site for activating PMS by the formation of Fe3+/Fe2+ cycle. Toxicity estimation software tool (T.E.S.T.) and mung beans planting experiment demonstrates that BOFC/PMS/Vis system can reduce toxicity of TCs wastewater. Therefore, BOFC/PMS/Vis system achieves efficient examination in different water environments and efficient utilization of PMS, which displays a scientific reference for achieving environmentally-friendly and resource-saving handling processes.

Glycyrrhizic acid treatment ameliorates anxiety-like behaviour via GLT1 and Per1/2-dependent pathways

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

As a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, Glycyrrhiza.

URALENSIS

Fisch. (licorice root, chinese name: Gancao) has a variety of medicinal values and is widely used clinically. Its main active ingredient, glycyrrhizic acid (GA), is believed to have a neuroprotective effect. However, the underlying biological mechanisms of GA on stress-induced anxiety disorders are still unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To investigate the anti-anxiety effect of GA and its underlying mechanism.

METHODS

We selected the anxiety model induced by repeated chronic restraint stress (CRS) for 2 h on each of 7 consecutive days. GA (4, 20, 100 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally once daily for 1 week. The potential GA receptors were identified using whole-cell patches and computer-assisted docking of molecules. High-throughput RNA sequencing, adeno-associated virus-mediated gene regulation, Western blotting, and RT-qPCR were used to assess the underlying molecular pathways.

RESULTS

GA alleviate depression-like and anxiety-like behaviors in CRS mice. GA decreased synaptic transmission by facilitating glutamate reuptaking in mPFC. Meanwhile, long-term GA treatment increased the expression of clock genes Per1 and Per2. Suppressing both Per1 and Per2 abolished the anxiolytic effects of GA treatment.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that GA may be developed for the treatment of stress-induced anxiety disorders, and its mechanism is related to GLT1 and Per1/2-dependent pathways. This presents a novel approach to discovering potent therapeutic drugs.

Development and validation of a risk score nomogram model to predict the risk of 5-year all-cause mortality in diabetic patients with hypertension: A study based on NHANES data

Background

The present study aimed to develop and validate a prediction nomogram model for 5-year all-cause mortality in diabetic patients with hypertension.

Methods

Data were extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). A total of 3291 diabetic patients with hypertension in the NHANES cycles for 1999-2014 were selected and randomly assigned at a ratio of 8:2 to the training cohort (n = 2633) and validation cohort (n = 658). Multivariable Cox regression was conducted to establish a visual nomogram model for predicting the risk of 5-year all-cause mortality. Receiver operating characteristic curves and C-indexes were used to evaluate the discriminant ability of the prediction nomogram model for all-cause mortality. Survival curves were created using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by the log-rank test.

Results

The nomogram model included eight independent predictors: age, sex, education status, marital status, smoking, serum albumin, blood urea nitrogen, and previous cardiovascular disease. The C-indexes for the model in the training and validation cohorts were 0.76 (95% confidence interval: 0.73-0.79, p < 0.001) and 0.75 (95% confidence interval: 0.69-0.81, p < 0.001), respectively. The calibration curves indicated that the model had satisfactory consistency in the two cohorts. The risk of all-cause mortality gradually increased as the tertiles of the nomogram model score increased (log-rank test, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The newly developed nomogram model, a readily useable and efficient tool to predict the risk of 5-year all-cause mortality in diabetic patients with hypertension, provides a novel risk stratification method for individualized intervention.

The forced activation of asexual conidiation in Aspergillus niger simplifies bioproduction

Aspergillus niger is an efficient cell factory for organic acids production, particularly l-malic acid, through genetic manipulation. However, the traditional method of collecting A. niger spores for inoculation is labor-intensive and resource-consuming. In our study, we used the CRISPR-Cas9 system to replace the promoter of brlA, a key gene in Aspergillus conidiation, with a xylose-inducible promoter xylP in l-malic acid-producing A. niger strain RG0095, generating strain brlAxylP. When induced with xylose in submerged liquid culture, brlAxylP exhibited significant upregulation of conidiation-related genes. This induction allowed us to easily collect an abundance of brlAxylP spores (>7.1 × 106/mL) in liquid xylose medium. Significantly, the submerged conidiation approach preserves the substantial potential of A. niger as a foundational cellular platform for the biosynthesis of organic acids, including but not limited to l-malic acid. In summary, our study offers a simplified submerged conidiation strategy to streamline the preparation stage and reduce labor and material costs for industrial organic acid production using Aspergillus species.

The plasma-soluble CSF1R level is a promising prognostic indicator for pediatric Langerhans cell histiocytosis

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare hematologic neoplasm characterized by the clonal proliferation of Langerhans-like cells. Colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) is a membrane-bound receptor that is highly expressed in LCH cells and tumor-associated macrophages. In this study, a soluble form of CSF1R protein (sCSF1R) was identified by plasma proteome profiling, and its role in evaluating LCH prognosis was explored. We prospectively measured plasma sCSF1R levels in 104 LCH patients and 10 healthy children using ELISA. Plasma sCSF1R levels were greater in LCH patients than in healthy controls (p < .001) and significantly differed among the three disease extents, with the highest level in MS RO+ LCH patients (p < .001). Accordingly, immunofluorescence showed the highest level of membrane-bound CSF1R in MS RO+ patients. Furthermore, the plasma sCSF1R concentration at diagnosis could efficiently predict the prognosis of LCH patients treated with standard first-line treatment (AUC = 0.782, p < .001). Notably, dynamic monitoring of sCSF1R levels could predict relapse early in patients receiving BRAF inhibitor treatment. In vitro drug sensitivity data showed that sCSF1R increased resistance to Ara-C in THP-1 cells expressing ectopic BRAF-V600E. Overall, the plasma sCSF1R level at diagnosis and during follow-up is of great clinical importance in pediatric LCH patients.

Comparative genomics analysis and transposon mutagenesis provides new insights into high menaquinone-7 biosynthetic potential of Bacillus subtilis natto

This research combined Whole-Genome sequencing, intraspecific comparative genomics and transposon mutagenesis to investigate the menaquinone-7 (MK-7) synthesis potential in Bacillus subtilis natto. First, Whole-Genome sequencing showed that Bacillus subtilis natto BN-P15-11-1 contains one single circular chromosome in size of 3,982,436 bp with a GC content of 43.85 %, harboring 4,053 predicted coding genes. Next, the comparative genomics analysis among strain BN-P15-11-1 with model Bacillus subtilis 168 and four typical Bacillus subtilis natto strains proves that the closer evolutionary relationship Bacillus subtilis natto BN-P15-11-1 and Bacillus subtilis 168 both exhibit strong biosynthetic potential. To further dig for MK-7 biosynthesis latent capacity of BN-P15-11-1, we constructed a mutant library using transposons and a high throughput screening method using microplates. We obtained a YqgQ deficient high MK-7 yield strain F4 with a yield 3.02 times that of the parent strain. Experiments also showed that the high yield mutants had defects in different transcription and translation regulatory factor genes, indicating that regulatory factor defects may affect the biosynthesis and accumulation of MK-7 by altering the overall metabolic level. The findings of this study will provide more novel insights on the precise identification and rational utilization of the Bacillus subtilis subspecies for biosynthesis latent capacity.

Investigation of natural deep eutectic solvent for the extraction of crude polysaccharide from Polygonatum kingianum and influence of metal elements on its immunomodulatory effects

In this study, natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) was used to extract Polygonatum kingianum crude polysaccharide (PKCP) and response surface methodology (RSM) was designed to optimize the extraction procedure. The immunomodulatory effect of PKCP and the influence of metal elements on its immunomodulatory effect were further discussed. The optimum conditions for PKCP extraction were obtained by RSM optimization: NADES were synthesized with a 1:2 choline chloride-glycerol molar ratio, then extracted at a liquid-solid ratio of 16.6 mL g-1 and water content of 31.2 % for 60 min at 60 °C. This method was used for the extraction of PKCP, and the extraction efficiency was 29.69 %, which was 2.5 times greater than the conventional method of water extraction. In the concentration range of 200-800 μg mL-1, PKCP could activate macrophages, promoting NO secretion and mRNA expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in a dose-dependent way. NO secretion and cytokine expression were not affected when the metal elements were spiked to the equivalent of the metal elements contained in Polygonatum kingianum. When the content of metal elements was higher, the secretion of NO and the gene expression of iNOS were both decreased, which may affect the immunomodulatory effect of Polygonatum kingianum.

Protein from rapeseed for food applications: Extraction, sensory quality, functional and nutritional properties

The application of rapeseed protein in human foods is limited by residual antinutritive components and poor sensory quality. The effects of five extraction protocols on rapeseed protein yield, sensory, functional and nutritional properties were systematically evaluated in this study. In particular, the potential of weakly acidic salt (pH 6.5, 150 mmol·L-1 MgCl2) extraction as a mild method for recovering edible rapeseed protein was investigated compared with conventional alkali extraction. All salt-extracted proteins showed above 40 % extraction yield and low antinutritional factor contents. They also had ideal amino acid patterns and better in vitro gastroduodenal digestibility than alkaline-extracted proteins. Additionally, the lighter color and odor, as well as better solubility, emulsion activity, foaming property, and water/oil holding capacity were found in weakly acidic salt extraction-ultrafiltered proteins. These findings suggest that weakly acidic salt extraction-ultrafiltration could be used for obtaining edible rapeseed protein, while extraction yield should be improved for scale application.

Rapid and sensitive detection of nucleic acids using an RAA-CRISPR/Cas12b one-pot detection assay (Rcod)

Rapid, sensitive and specific methods are crucial for nucleic acid detection. CRISPR/Cas12b has recently been widely used in nucleic acid detection. However, due to its thermophagic property, DNA isothermal recombinase-aided amplification (RAA) and subsequent CRISPR/Cas12b detection require two separate reactions, which is cumbersome and inconvenient and may cause aerosol pollution. In this study, we propose an RAA-CRISPR/Cas12b one-pot detection assay (Rcod) for Bordetella pertussis detection without additional amplification product transfer steps. The time from sample processing to response time was less than 30 min using nucleic acid extraction-free method, and the sensitivity reached 0.2 copies/μL. In this system, Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris Cas12b protein (AacCas12b) exhibited strong and specific trans-cleavage activity at a constant temperature of 37 °C, while the cis-cleavage activity was weak. This characteristic reduces the interference of AacCas12b with nucleic acids in the system. Compared with real-time PCR, our Rcod system detected B. pertussis in 221 clinical samples with a sensitivity and specificity of 97.96 % and 99.19 %, respectively, with nucleic acid extraction-free method. The rapid, sensitive and specific Rcod system provides ideas for the establishment of CRISPR-based one-step nucleic acid detection and may aid the development of reliable point-of-care nucleic acid tests. IMPORTANCE: Pertussis is an acute respiratory infection caused by B. pertussis that is highly contagious and potentially fatal, and early diagnosis is essential for the treatment of whooping cough. In this study, we found that AacCas12b has high and strongly specific trans-cleavage activity at lower temperatures. A RAA-CRISPR/Cas12b one-step detection platform (Rcod) without interference with amplification was developed. In addition, the combination of Rcod and nucleic acid extraction-free method can quickly and accurately detect the qualitative detection of B. pertussis, and the detection results are visualized, which makes the pathogen nucleic acid detection and analysis process simpler, and provides a new method for the rapid clinical diagnosis of B. pertussis.

Nacre-inspired starch-based bioplastic with excellent mechanical strength and electromagnetic interference shielding

Bioplastics have aroused significant interest in researchers to relieve the serious environmental pollution caused by the ubiquity of petroleum-based plastics. However, it remains a great challenge to construct functional bioplastics with excellent mechanical strength, water resistance, and heat resistance. Inspired by the interesting structure of nacre, a novel starch-based bioplastic was prepared via a self-assembly technique, using 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxy-oxidized cellulose nanofibers modified starch, nano-montmorillonite, and reduced graphene oxide as raw materials. Due to the unique layered structure and rich interfacial interaction, the starch-based bioplastic exhibited excellent mechanical properties, while the tensile strength was up to 37.39 MPa. Furthermore, it represented outstanding water resistance, heat resistance, repairability, renewability and biodegradability. Especially, the starch-based bioplastic demonstrated a strong electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE), which was higher than 35 dB with a thickness of 0.5 mm. These powerful properties provided the possibility for functional applications of starch-based bioplastics.

[Retracted] miR‑885‑5p upregulation promotes colorectal cancer cell proliferation and migration by targeting suppressor of cytokine signaling

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.3892/ol.2018.8645.].

Bacterial community in the metal(loid)-contaminated marine vertical sediments of Jinzhou Bay: Impacts and adaptations

Metal(loid) discharge has led to severe coastal contamination; however, there remains a significant knowledge gap regarding its impact on sediment profiles and depth-resolved bacterial communities. In this study, geochemical measurements (pH, nutrient elements, total and bioavailable metal(loid) content) consistently revealed decreasing nitrogen, phosphorus, and metal(loid) levels with sediment depth, accompanied by reduced alpha diversity. Principal coordinate analysis indicated distinct community compositions with varying sediment depths, suggesting a geochemical influence on diversity. Ecological niche width expanded with depth, favoring specialists over generalists, but both groups decreased in abundance. Taxonomic shifts emerged, particularly in phyla and families, correlated with sediment depth. Microbe-microbe interactions displayed intricate dynamics, with keystone taxa varying by sediment layer. Zinc and arsenic emerged as key factors impacting community diversity and composition using random forest, network analysis, and Mantel tests. Functional predictions revealed shifts in potential phenotypes related to mobile elements, biofilm formation, pathogenicity, N/P/S cycles, and metal(loid) resistance along sediment profiles. Neutral and null models demonstrated a transition from deterministic to stochastic processes with sediment layers. This study provides insights into the interplay between sediment geochemistry and bacterial communities across sediment depths, illuminating the factors shaping these ecosystems.

Association of preoperative aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index with outcomes and tumour microenvironment among colorectal cancer with liver metastases

This study aims to investigate applicable robust biomarkers that can improve prognostic predictions for colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) patients receiving simultaneous resection. A total of 1323 CRLM patients from multiple centres were included. The preoperative aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI) level from blood of patients were obtained. Patients were stratified into a high APRI group and a low APRI group, and comparisons were conducted by analyzing progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and postoperative early recurrence. Tumour samples of CRLM were collected to perform single-cell RNA sequencing and multiplex immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence (mIHC/IF) to investigate the association of APRI levels and the tumour microenvironment of CRLM. Compared with APRI <0.33, PFS disadvantage (IPTW-adjusted HR = 1.240, P = 0.015) and OS disadvantage (IPTW- adjusted HR = 1.507, P = 0.002) of APRI ≥0.33 were preserved in the IPTW-adjusted Cox hazards regression analyses. An APRI ≥0.25 was associated with a significantly increased risk of postoperative early recurrence after adjustment (IPTW-adjusted OR = 1.486, P = 0.001). The external validation showed consistent results with the training cohort. In the high APRI group, the single-cell RNA sequencing results revealed a heightened malignancy of epithelial cells, the enrichment of inflammatory-like cancer-associated fibroblasts and SPP1+ macrophages associated with activation of malignant cells and fibrotic microenvironment, and a more suppressed-function T cells; mIHC/IF showed that PD1+ CD4+ T cells, FOXP3+ CD4+ T cells, PD1+ CD8+ T cells, FOXP3+ CD8+ T cells, SPP1+ macrophages and iCAFs were significantly increased in the intratumoral region and peritumoral region. This study contributed valuable evidence regarding preoperative APRI for predicting prognoses among CRLM patients receiving simultaneous resection and provided underlying clues supporting the association between APRI and clinical outcomes by single-cell sequencing bioinformatics analysis and mIHC/IF.

Ligand-engineering Cu-based catalysts to accelerate the electrochemical reduction of CO2

Two typical Cu-based complex catalysts with piperazine (PR) and p-phenylenediamine (pPDA) ligands were designed to elucidate whether the ligands can tailor the reduction behavior of the Cu species and thus modulate their electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (eCO2RR) activity. Specifically, Cu-PR underwent a significant in situ transformation into Cu nanoparticles enriched with a Cuδ+/Cu0 interface for high eCO2RR activity, compared to Cu-pPDA. This finding reveals the importance of ligand engineering in modulating the eCO2RR performance of Cu-based complexes.

A Novel Frameshift Mutation(HBA2:C.337delC) Associated With α-Thalassemia Trait Detected by Next-Generation Sequencing in Southern China

Here, we report a novel frameshift mutation caused by a single base deletion in exon 3 of the HBA2 gene (HBA2:c.337delC) detected by next-generation sequencing. The proband was a 26-year-old Chinese pregnant woman who originates from Hunan Province. Her mean corpuscular volume(MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) had a mild decrease. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) showed that both Hb A (97.8%) and Hb F (0.0%) values were within normal range, while the Hb A2 (2.2%) value was below normal. Sequence analysis of the α and β-globin genes revealed a novel single base deletion at codon 112 (HBA2:c.337delC) in the heterozygous state, which resulted in a mild phenotype of α-thalassemia.

Instance-Specific Model Perturbation Improves Generalized Zero-Shot Learning

Zero-shot learning (ZSL) refers to the design of predictive functions on new classes (unseen classes) of data that have never been seen during training. In a more practical scenario, generalized zero-shot learning (GZSL) requires predicting both seen and unseen classes accurately. In the absence of target samples, many GZSL models may overfit training data and are inclined to predict individuals as categories that have been seen in training. To alleviate this problem, we develop a parameter-wise adversarial training process that promotes robust recognition of seen classes while designing during the test a novel model perturbation mechanism to ensure sufficient sensitivity to unseen classes. Concretely, adversarial perturbation is conducted on the model to obtain instance-specific parameters so that predictions can be biased to unseen classes in the test. Meanwhile, the robust training encourages the model robustness, leading to nearly unaffected prediction for seen classes. Moreover, perturbations in the parameter space, computed from multiple individuals simultaneously, can be used to avoid the effect of perturbations that are too extreme and ruin the predictions. Comparison results on four benchmark ZSL data sets show the effective improvement that the proposed framework made on zero-shot methods with learned metrics.

Rapid detection of melamine by DNA Walker mediated SERS sensing technique based on signal amplification function

A new method is proposed for detecting typical melamine dopants in food using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) biosensing technology. Melamine specific aptamer was used as the identification probe, and gold magnets (AuNPs@MNPs) and small gold nanoparticles (AuNPs@MBA) were used as the basis for Raman detection. The Raman signal of the detection system can directly detect melamine quantitatively. Under optimized conditions, the detection of melamine was carried out in the low concentration range of 0.001-500 mg/kg, the enhancement factor (EF) was 2.3 × 107, and the detection limit was 0.001 mg/kg. The method is sensitive and rapid, and can be used for the rapid detection of melamine in the field environment.

Brain-Derived Exosomal CircRNAs in Plasma Serve as Diagnostic Biomarkers for Acute Ischemic Stroke

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS), commonly known as stroke, is a debilitating condition characterized by the interruption of blood flow to the brain, resulting in tissue damage and neurological deficits. Early diagnosis is crucial for effective intervention and management, as timely treatment can significantly improve patient outcomes. Therefore, novel methods for the early diagnosis of AIS are urgently needed. Several studies have shown that bioactive molecules contained in extracellular vesicles, especially circRNAs, could be ideal markers for the diagnosis of many diseases. However, studies on the effects of exosomes and their circRNAs on the development and prognosis of AIS have not been reported extensively. Therefore, we explored the feasibility of using circRNAs in plasma brain-derived exosomes as biomarkers for AIS. By high-throughput sequencing, we first identified 358 dysregulated circRNAs (including 23 significantly upregulated circRNAs and 335 significantly downregulated circRNAs) in the plasma brain-derived exosomes of the brain infarct patient group compared to those of the noninfarct control group. Five upregulated circRNAs (hsa_circ_0007290, hsa_circ_0049637, hsa_circ_0000607, hsa_circ_0004808, and hsa_circ_0000097) were selected for further validation via Real-Time Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR (qRT‒PCR) in a larger cohort based on the exclusion criteria of log2FC > 1, p < 0.05 and measurable expression. We found that the expression levels of hsa_circ_0007290, hsa_circ_0049637, hsa_circ_0000607, hsa_circ_0004808 and hsa_circ_0000097 were significantly upregulated in AIS patients and could serve as potential biomarkers for AIS with high specificity and sensitivity. Moreover, the expression levels of hsa_circ_0007290, hsa_circ_0049637, hsa_circ_0000607, hsa_circ_0004808 and hsa_circ_0000097 were also found to be positively correlated with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NISS) and modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores, which indicated that the presence of these circRNAs in plasma brain-derived exosomes could also determine the progression of AIS.

Inhibition of METTL3 in macrophages provides protection against intestinal inflammation

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is prevalent, and no satisfactory therapeutic options are available because the mechanisms underlying its development are poorly understood. In this study, we discovered that increased expression of methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) in macrophages was correlated with the development of colitis and that depletion of METTL3 in macrophages protected mice against dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis. Mechanistic characterization indicated that METTL3 depletion increased the YTHDF3-mediated expression of phosphoglycolate phosphatase (PGP), which resulted in glucose metabolism reprogramming and the suppression of CD4+ T helper 1 (Th1) cell differentiation. Further analysis revealed that glucose metabolism contributed to the ability of METTL3 depletion to ameliorate colitis symptoms. In addition, we developed two potent small molecule METTL3 inhibitors, namely, F039-0002 and 7460-0250, that strongly ameliorated DSS-induced colitis. Overall, our study suggests that METTL3 plays crucial roles in the progression of colitis and highlights the potential of targeting METTL3 to attenuate intestinal inflammation for the treatment of colitis.

A triggered DNA nanomachine with enzyme-free for the rapid detection of telomerase activity in a one-step method

BACKGROUND

Telomerase is considered a biomarker for the early diagnosis and clinical treatment of cancer. The rapid and sensitive detection of telomerase activity is crucial to biological research, clinical diagnosis, and drug development. However, the main obstacles facing the current telomerase activity assay are the cumbersome and time-consuming procedure, the easy degradation of the telomerase RNA template and the need for additional proteases. Therefore, it is necessary to construct a new method for the detection of telomerase activity with easy steps, efficient reaction and strong anti-interference ability.

RESULTS

Herein, an efficient, enzyme-free, economical, sensitive, fluorometric detection method for telomerase activity in one-step, named triggered-DNA (T-DNA) nanomachine, was created based on target-triggered DNAzyme-cleavage activity and catalytic molecular beacon (CMB). Telomerase served as a switch and extended few numbers of (TTAGGG)n repeat sequences to initiate the signal amplification in the T-DNA nanomachine, resulting in a strong fluorescent signal. The reaction was a one-step method with a shortened time of 1 h and a constant temperature of 37 °C, without the addition of any protease. It also sensitively distinguished telomerase activity in various cell lines. The T-DNA nanomachine offered a detection limit of 12 HeLa cells μL-1, 9 SK-Hep-1 cells μL-1 and 3 HuH-7 cells μL-1 with a linear correlation detection range of 0.39 × 102-6.25 × 102 HeLa cells μL-1 for telomerase activity.

SIGNIFICANCE

In conclusion, our study demonstrated that the triggered-DNA nanomachine fulfills the requirements for rapid detection of telomerase activity in one-step under isothermal and enzyme-free conditions with excellent specificity, and its simple and stable structure makes it ideal for complex systems. These findings indicated the application prospect of DNA nanomachines in clinical diagnostics and provided new insights into the field of DNA nanomachine-based bioanalysis.

Mitophagy and its regulatory mechanisms in the biological effects of nanomaterials

Mitophagy is a selective cellular process critical for the removal of damaged mitochondria. It is essential in regulating mitochondrial number, ensuring mitochondrial functionality, and maintaining cellular equilibrium, ultimately influencing cell destiny. Numerous pathologies, such as neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular disorders, cancers, and various other conditions, are associated with mitochondrial dysfunctions. Thus, a detailed exploration of the regulatory mechanisms of mitophagy is pivotal for enhancing our understanding and for the discovery of novel preventive and therapeutic options for these diseases. Nanomaterials have become integral in biomedicine and various other sectors, offering advanced solutions for medical uses including biological imaging, drug delivery, and disease diagnostics and therapy. Mitophagy is vital in managing the cellular effects elicited by nanomaterials. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the molecular mechanisms underpinning mitophagy, underscoring its significant influence on the biological responses of cells to nanomaterials. Nanoparticles can initiate mitophagy via various pathways, among which the PINK1-Parkin pathway is critical for cellular defense against nanomaterial-induced damage by promoting mitophagy. The role of mitophagy in biological effects was induced by nanomaterials, which are associated with alterations in Ca2+ levels, the production of reactive oxygen species, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and lysosomal damage.

Atorvastatin-induced intracerebral hemorrhage is inhibited by berberine in zebrafish

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), for which there are currently no effective preventive or treatment methods, has a very high fatality rate. Statins, such as atorvastatin (ATV), are the first-line drugs for regulating blood lipids and treating hyperlipidemia-related cardiovascular diseases. However, ATV-associated ICH has been reported, although its incidence is rare. In this study, we aimed to investigate the protective action and mechanisms of berberine (BBR) against ATV-induced brain hemorrhage. We established an ICH model in zebrafish induced by ATV (2 μM) and demonstrated the effects of BBR (10, 50, and 100 μM) on ICH via protecting the vascular network using hemocyte staining and three transgenic zebrafish. BBR was found to reduce brain inflammation and locomotion injury in ICH-zebrafish. Mechanism research showed that ATV increased the levels of VE-cadherin and occludin proteins but disturbed their localization at the cell membrane by abnormal phosphorylation, which decreased the number of intercellular junctions between vascular endothelial cells (VECs), disrupting the integrity of vascular walls. BBR reversed the effects of ATV by promoting autophagic degradation of phosphorylated VE-cadherin and occludin in ATV-induced VECs examined by co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP). These findings provide crucial insights into understanding the BBR mechanisms involved in the maintenance of vascular integrity and in mitigating adverse reactions to ATV.

Preparation of Hydrophilic Hyper-Cross-Linked Polystyrene Nanospheres with Antibacterial for Improved Water Lubrication Performance

The present study utilizes styrene as a raw material to prepare hyper-cross-linked polystyrene nanospheres (HPSs) through the Friedel-Crafts reaction, establishing stable covalent bond structures within the polymer chains. The hydrophilic polystyrene nanospheres─TMA@SHPSs were successfully synthesized via sulfonation and ion exchange reactions, demonstrating exceptional properties in reducing friction and wear. Compared with pure water, the addition of 4.0 wt % TMA@SHPSs results in a 62.2% reduction in the friction coefficient, accompanied by a significant decrease to 1.17 × 105 μm3 in wear volume. The results demonstrate that TMA@SHPSs, as water-based lubrication additives, generate composite protective films (tribo-chemical protective films and physical protective films) during the friction process, which effectively prevents direct contact between the friction pairs and achieves remarkable antifriction and antiwear effects. The results of the antimicrobial activity test indicate that TMA@SHPSs demonstrate exceptional antibacterial efficacy due to the bacteriostatic effect induced by hydration and the bactericidal properties of quaternary ammonium cations.

Seasonality in regional brain glucose metabolism

BACKGROUND

Daylength and the rates of changes in daylength have been associated with seasonal fluctuations in psychiatric symptoms and in cognition and mood in healthy adults. However, variations in human brain glucose metabolism in concordance with seasonal changes remain under explored.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, we examined seasonal effects on brain glucose metabolism, which we measured using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-PET in 97 healthy participants. To maximize the sensitivity of regional effects, we computed relative metabolic measures by normalizing the regional measures to white matter metabolism. Additionally, we explored the role of rest-activity rhythms/sleep-wake activity measured with actigraphy in the seasonal variations of regional brain metabolic activity.

RESULTS

We found that seasonal variations of cerebral glucose metabolism differed across brain regions. Glucose metabolism in prefrontal regions increased with longer daylength and with greater day-to-day increases in daylength. The cuneus and olfactory bulb had the maximum and minimum metabolic values around the summer and winter solstice respectively (positively associated with daylength), whereas the temporal lobe, brainstem, and postcentral cortex showed maximum and minimum metabolic values around the spring and autumn equinoxes, respectively (positively associated with faster daylength gain). Longer daylength was associated with greater amplitude and robustness of diurnal activity rhythms suggesting circadian involvement.

CONCLUSIONS

The current findings advance our knowledge of seasonal patterns in a key indicator of brain function relevant for mood and cognition. These data could inform treatment interventions for psychiatric symptoms that peak at specific times of the year.

Do housing prices affect individual physical health? Evidence from China

This study identifies the health effect of rising housing prices on individual physical health using the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) data. Exploiting exogenous housing prices, I find that rising housing prices adversely affect physical health status. Heterogeneity analyses yield interesting findings. First, the adverse effects of high housing prices are pronounced in the group owning only one house. Second, significant effects of housing prices on health for the group aged 20 to 45 are observed, with no effects for the elderly group above 45. Third, males are more sensitive to high housing prices due to the intensified competition and traditional gender norm in marriage markets. I also further investigate the channel through which housing prices affect individual physical health. The findings indicate that rising housing prices can damage individual physical health via lowering social status, reducing physical exercise time and increasing mental health risk.

[L-DEP regimen salvage therapy for refractory primary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis triggered by Epstein-Barr virus infection in 4 children]

Objective: To analyze the efficacy and safety of the L-DEP regimen (asparaginase, liposome doxorubicin, etoposide and methylprednisolone) as a salvage therapy for the refractory primary hemophagocytic lymphohistocytosis triggered by Epstein-Barr virus infection (EBV-pHLH) in children. Methods: In this retrospective case study, clinical and laboratory data before and after L-DEP regimen of 4 children diagnosed with EBV-pHLH in Beijing Children's hospital between January 2016 and June 2022 were collected, and the efficacy and safety of L-DEP regimen for the treatment of EBV-pHLH were analyzed. Results: Among 4 patients, there were 3 females and 1 male with the age ranged from 0.8 to 7.0 years. Two of them showed compound heterozygous mutations of PRF1, one with a heterozygous mutation of UNC13D, one homozygous mutation of ITK. Before the L-DEP therapy, all of them had anemia and a soaring level of soluble CD25, 3 patients had neutropenia and thrombopenia, 3 patients had a high level of ferritin, 3 patients had hypofibrinogenemia and 1 patient had hypertriglyceridemia. After receiving 1 or 2 cycles of L-DEP treatment, three achieved remission, including complete remission (1 case) and partial remission (2 cases), and the other one had no remission. The levels of blood cell counts, soluble CD25, triglyceride, fibrinogen and albumin were recovered gradually in 3 patients who got remission. All four patients underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) after L-DEP regimen, and three survived. All patients had no severe chemotherapy related complications. The main side effects were bone marrow suppression, infection and pancreatitis, which recovered after appropriate treatments, apart from one who died from severe infection after urgent HSCT. Conclusion: L-DEP regimen could be served as an effective and safe salvage treatment for refractory pediatric EBV-pHLH, and also provide an opportunity for patients to receive HSCT.

[Standardization of next-generation sequencing for detecting mutations associated with targeted therapy and immunotherapy based on dynamic pattern of expandable detection range]

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has laid the foundation for precision oncology care. NGS technologynot only represents an innovation in the methodology but also brings about a revolution in the concept of detecting gene alterations for targeted therapy and immunotherapy of cancers. As basic biomedical research and drug development progress, the landscape of biomarkers associated with gene alterations continues to evolve. Thus, the standardization of NGS-based gene alterations detection should take into account the characteristics of NGS methods and the gene alteration biomarkers. To be specific, whether employed as in vitro diagnostic products or laboratory-developed tests, the detection range can be expanded in response to changes in the clinical evidence level of biomarkers during the process of assay development and clinical application. Such adjustment needs the analytical validation results for supplemented genes or mutant sites within a predefined detection system, which will maximally fulfill the evolving clinical demands in cancer diagnosis and treatment, simultaneously mitigate potential risks effectively. This article primarily discusses the standardization pathway for NGS testing of gene alterations in cancer by focusing on the characteristics of NGS methods, gene alteration biomarkers, and the current status of the standardization of NGS application.

BCL9 is a Risk Factor of Neck Lymph Nodes Metastasis and Correlated with Immune Cell Infiltration in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

Purpose

B-cell lymphoma 9 (BCL9), a key transcription co-activator of the Wnt pathway, contributed to tumor progression and metastasis in various tumors, whereas, the role of BCL9 in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) has not been investigated.

Methods

We acquired PTC gene expression data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Fifty-nine PTC tissues were applied to validate the clinical significance of BCL9. Cell experiments were applied to investigate the role of BCL9. Bioinformatics analysis was employed to investigate the biological functions of BCL9.

Results

We found that BCL9 was higher expressed (P < 0.05) and an independent risk factor for lymph node metastasis (OR = 3.770, P = 0.025), as well as associated with poorer progression-free survival (PFS) (P = 0.049) in PTC. BCL9 knockdown inhibited proliferation and invasion of PTC cells. BCL9 was positively associated with the key genes of Wnt/β-catenin and MAPK pathway by co-expression analysis. GO, KEGG and GSEA analysis showed BCL9 might participated in PPAR, cAMP, and focal adhesion pathway. CIBERSORT analysis found BCL9 was negatively associated with CD8+ T cells and NK cell infiltration and positively with PD-L1 expression.

Conclusion

Therefore, BCL9 was associated with lymph node metastasis and shorter PFS of PTC, due to promotion of PTC cell proliferation and invasion, activation of Wnt/β-catenin and MAPK pathway, inhibition of CD8+ T and NK cell infiltration, and promotion of PD-L1 expression.

Highly sensitive humidity sensor based on composite film of partially reduced graphene oxide and bacterial cellulose

Breathing is an important physiological activity of human body, which not only reflects the state of human movement, but also is one of the important health indicators. Breathing can change the concentration of water molecules, so monitoring humidity has gradually become a hot topic in modern research. In this study, a humidity sensing composite film with high sensitivity and short response time was made by using the mixture of graphene oxide (GO) and bacterial cellulose (BC) with simple dry film-forming method. L-ascorbic acid was used as reducing agent to reduce GO and improve the conductivity of GO/BC composite film (BG). The influence of different BC contents and the different reduction degree on the resistance change rate of composite film was investigated in details. The maximum resistance change rate of partially reduced BG humidity sensitive composite film reached up to 94%, and the response and recovery time were 13 s and 47 s respectively. Furthermore, the sensor shows obvious resistance change in noncontact sensing test and different breathing states. This kind of humidity sensitive film with fast response and high sensitivity has great potential in human health monitoring and noncontact sensing, and is of great significance in promoting health detection and intelligent life.

External quality assessment for molecular detection of Ureaplasma urealyticum in China

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

A pilot external quality assessment (EQA) scheme for molecular detection of Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) was conducted by the National Center for Clinical Laboratories (NCCL) to evaluate the testing capabilities of clinical laboratories and the actual performance of DNA-based nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) and RNA-based NAATs when applied in clinical settings.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The EQA panel contained twelve lyophilized samples, including positive samples containing inactivated cell culture supernatants of UU at different concentrations and sterile saline for negative samples. The positive samples were further divided into three groups of high, moderate and low concentrations. The panels were distributed to the participants and the datasets were analyzed according to the qualitative results.

RESULTS

A total of 365 laboratories participated in the EQA scheme, and 360 results submitted by 338 laboratories were collected, of which 96.11 % (346/360) of the returned results and 95.86 % (324/338) of the laboratories were deemed competent. The positive percentage agreement (PPA) was ≥ 97.5 % for high and moderate concentration samples, but varied significantly for low concentration samples, decreasing from 86.94 % to 51.94 % as the sample concentration decreased. Additionally, for low concentration samples, RNA-based NAAT showed higher PPAs than DNA-based NAATs, but these results were specific to UU supernatants used in this study.

CONCLUSION

Most of UU detection assays employed by the participants were generally consistent with their estimated limit of detection (LOD), and the majority of participants can reliably detect UU samples with high and moderate concentrations, while the poor analytical performance for low concentration samples requires further improvement and optimization.

Diversity and potential host-interactions of viruses inhabiting deep-sea seamount sediments

Seamounts are globally distributed across the oceans and form one of the major oceanic biomes. Here, we utilized combined analyses of bulk metagenome and virome to study viral communities in seamount sediments in the western Pacific Ocean. Phylogenetic analyses and the protein-sharing network demonstrate extensive diversity and previously unknown viral clades. Inference of virus-host linkages uncovers extensive interactions between viruses and dominant prokaryote lineages, and suggests that viruses play significant roles in carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen cycling by compensating or augmenting host metabolisms. Moreover, temperate viruses are predicted to be prevalent in seamount sediments, which tend to carry auxiliary metabolic genes for host survivability. Intriguingly, the geographical features of seamounts likely compromise the connectivity of viral communities and thus contribute to the high divergence of viral genetic spaces and populations across seamounts. Altogether, these findings provides knowledge essential for understanding the biogeography and ecological roles of viruses in globally widespread seamounts.

Predictive value of postprandial C-peptide for utilizing multiple daily injection therapy in type 2 diabetes

PURPOSE

Multiple daily injection (MDI) insulin therapy is an effective method of glycemic control and appropriate assignment to MDI therapy could minimize the risks of hypoglycemia and weight gain. The aim of the present study was to identify factors associated with indication for MDI therapy in type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

METHODS

We recruited 360 participants with T2DM that were admitted to the Endocrinology Department of Peking University People's Hospital between August 2017 and July 2018. They first underwent intensive insulin therapy, then were switched to an optimized, simpler insulin treatment that aimed to maintain fasting blood glucose between 4.4 and 7.2 mmol/L, without episodes of hypoglycemia. The baseline characteristics of groups administering either MDI or basal/premix insulin were compared and multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to determine the odds ratios (ORs) for factors associated with MDI therapy. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were then used to identify independent predictors of MDI insulin regimen efficacy.

RESULTS

The mean age of the participants was 57.6 ± 12.9 years, and diabetes duration was 14.2 ± 8.2 years. Two hundred and sixty-seven participants administered basal/premix insulin and 93 underwent MDI therapy, of whom 61.8% and 46.2% were male, respectively (p = 0.01). The duration of diabetes was significantly longer in the MDI group (13.1 ± 7.7 years vs. 17.3 ± 8.7 years; p < 0.01). Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) was higher in the MDI group than in the basal/premix group (8.3 [6.7, 11.3] mmol/L vs. 7.2 [5.7, 9.3] mmol/L; p < 0.01), while the postprandial C-peptide concentration (PCP) was significantly lower in the MDI group (2.6 [1.8, 3.5] ng/mL) compared to the basal/premix group (3.6 [2.5, 6.2] ng/mL, p < 0.01. Multivariable logistic regression analysis suggested that diabetes duration and FPG were positively associated with MDI therapy: OR (95% confidence interval [CI]) 1.06 (1.02, 1.10) and 1.12 (1.02, 1.24), respectively. In addition, PCP was negatively associated with MDI therapy (0.72 [0.60, 0.86]). ROC analysis suggested that a PCP of < 3.1 ng/mL predicted MDI therapy with 59.6% sensitivity and 72.1% specificity.

CONCLUSION

The results of our study suggest that longer diabetes duration, higher FPG, and lower PCP were associated with necessity for MDI insulin regimen. These findings should assist with the personalization of insulin treatment.

Molecular Engineering for Modulating Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution of Fully Conjugated 3D Covalent Organic Frameworks

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have recently shown great potential for photocatalytic hydrogen production. Currently almost all reports are focused on two-dimensional (2D) COFs, while the 3D counterparts are rarely explored due to their non-conjugated frameworks derived from the sp3 carbon based tetrahedral building blocks. Here, we rationally designed and synthesized a series of fully conjugated 3D COFs by using the saddle-shaped cyclooctatetrathiophene derivative as the building block. Through molecular engineering strategies, we thoroughly discussed the influences of key factors including the donor-acceptor structure, hydrophilicity, specific surface areas, as well as the conjugated/non-conjugated structures on their photocatalytic hydrogen evolution properties. The as-synthesized fully conjugated 3D COFs could generate the hydrogen up to 40.36 mmol h-1 g-1. This is the first report on intrinsic metal-free 3D COFs in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution application. Our work provides insight on the structure design of 3D COFs for highly-efficient photocatalysis, and also reveals that the semiconducting fully conjugated 3D COFs could be a useful platform in clear energy-related fields.

Long-term outcomes of 1-2 cm rectal neuroendocrine tumors after local excision or radical resection: A population-based multicenter study

Objectives

Studies on rectal neuroendocrine tumors (R-NETs) that are 1-2 cm in size are limited, and the optimal treatment for these tumors is not well established.

Methods

Data from patients with primary localized R-NETs 1-2 cm in size were retrospectively collected from 17 large-scale referral medical centers in China. Long-term prognosis, quality of life (QOL), and fecal incontinence were evaluated, and the effects of local excision (LE) or radical resection (RR) were elucidated using propensity score matching (PSM).

Results

A total of 272 patients were included in this study; 233 underwent LE, and the remaining 39 underwent RR. Patients in the LE group showed lower tumor location, fewer postoperative Clavien-Dindo III-V complications, more G1 tumors, and lower tumor stage. There were no significant differences in the relapse-free survival or overall survival (OS) between the LE and RR groups after PSM. Patients in the LE group reported superior physical, role, emotional, social, and cognitive functions, global QOL, and Wexner fecal incontinence scores compared with those in the RR group (all P < 0.050). Eighteen (6.6%) patients had lymph node metastases. Multivariable analysis revealed that tumor location (odds ratio [OR] = 3.19, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-10.07, P = 0.010), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) > 1.80 (OR = 4.50, 1.46-15.89, P = 0.012), and T3-T4 (OR = 36.31, 95% CI 7.85-208.62, P < 0.001) were independent risk factor for lymph node metastasis.

Conclusions

R-NETs measuring 1-2 cm generally have a favorable prognosis, and there is no difference in postoperative survival between LE and RR. For patients without lymph node metastasis, LE should be the preferred choice; however, for patients with a higher tumor location, preoperative NLR >1.8 or T3/T4 tumors, RR should be considered.

Repurposing non-pharmacological interventions for Alzheimer's disease through link prediction on biomedical literature

Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI) have great potential to improve cognitive function but limited investigation to discover NPI repurposing for Alzheimer's Disease (AD). This is the first study to develop an innovative framework to extract and represent NPI information from biomedical literature in a knowledge graph (KG), and train link prediction models to repurpose novel NPIs for AD prevention. We constructed a comprehensive KG, called ADInt, by extracting NPI information from biomedical literature. We used the previously-created SuppKG and NPI lexicon to identify NPI entities. Four KG embedding models (i.e., TransE, RotatE, DistMult and ComplEX) and two novel graph convolutional network models (i.e., R-GCN and CompGCN) were trained and compared to learn the representation of ADInt. Models were evaluated and compared on two test sets (time slice and clinical trial ground truth) and the best performing model was used to predict novel NPIs for AD. Discovery patterns were applied to generate mechanistic pathways for high scoring candidates. The ADInt has 162,212 nodes and 1,017,284 edges. R-GCN performed best in time slice (MR = 5.2054, Hits@10 = 0.8496) and clinical trial ground truth (MR = 3.4996, Hits@10 = 0.9192) test sets. After evaluation by domain experts, 10 novel dietary supplements and 10 complementary and integrative health were proposed from the score table calculated by R-GCN. Among proposed novel NPIs, we found plausible mechanistic pathways for photodynamic therapy and Choerospondias axillaris to prevent AD, and validated psychotherapy and manual therapy techniques using real-world data analysis. The proposed framework shows potential for discovering new NPIs for AD prevention and understanding their mechanistic pathways.

Boosting genome editing in plants with single transcript unit surrogate reporter systems

CRISPR-Cas-based genome editing holds immense promise for advancing plant genomics and crop enhancement. However, the challenge of low editing activity complicates the identification of edited events. In this study, we introduce multiple Single Transcript Unit Surrogate Reporter (STU-SR) systems to enhance the selection of genome-edited plants. These systems utilize the same sgRNAs designed for endogenous genes to edit reporter genes, establishing a direct link between reporter gene editing activity and that of endogenous genes. Various strategies are employed to restore functional reporter genes post-genome editing, including efficient single strand annealing (SSA) for homologous recombination in STU-SR-SSA systems. STU-SR-BE systems leverage base editing to reinstate the start codon, enriching C-to-T and A-to-G base editing events. Our results showcase the effectiveness of these STU-SR systems in enhancing genome editing events in monocot rice, encompassing Cas9 nuclease-based targeted mutagenesis, cytosine base editing, and adenine base editing. The systems exhibit compatibility with Cas9 variants, such as the PAM-less SpRY, and are demonstrated to boost genome editing in Brassica oleracea, a dicot vegetable crop. In summary, we have developed highly efficient and versatile STU-SR systems for enrichment of genome-edited plants.

Hemicyanine-Phenothiazine Based Highly Selective Ratiometric Fluorescent Probes for Detecting Hypochlorite Ion in Fruits, Vegetables and Beverages

Hypochloric acid (HClO) is a reactive oxygen species (ROS) that functions as a bacteriostatic and disinfectant in food production. Excessive levels of ClO-, however, have been linked to various health issues, including cardiovascular diseases (Halliwell and Gutteridge in Oxford University press, USA, 2015), arthritis, and neurodegenerative diseases (Heinzelmann and Bauer in Biol Chem. 391(6):675-693, 2010). Therefore, synthesizing highly selective and sensitive probes for rapidly detecting endogenous ClO- in daily foods is currently a popular research topic (Kalyanaraman et al. in Redox Biol. 15:347-362, 2018; Winterbourn in Nat Chem Biol. 4(5):278-286, 2008; Turrens in J Physiol. 552(2):335-344, 2003). Thus, we have developed two highly selective ratiometric fluorescent probes (Probe1 and Probe2) based on indole-phenothiazine to detect ClO- in common vegetables, fruits and beverages qualitatively and quantitatively. Moreover, Both Probe1 and Probe2 have shown good specificity and stability, with high fluorescence intensity and long duration (Feng et al. in Adv Sci. 5:1800397, 2018; Wei et al. in Angew Chem. 131(14):4595-4599, 2019; Baruah et al. in J Mater Chem B, 2022).

A blood-brain barrier- and blood-brain tumor barrier-penetrating siRNA delivery system targeting gliomas for brain tumor immunotherapy

Glioma is recognized as the most infiltrative and lethal form of central nervous system tumors and is known for its limited response to standard therapeutic interventions, high recurrence rate, and unfavorable prognosis. Recent progress in gene and immunotherapy presents a renewed sense of optimism in the treatment of glioblastoma. However, the barriers to overcome include the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the blood-brain tumor barrier (BBTB), as well as the suppressive immune microenvironment. Overcoming these barriers remains a significant challenge. Here, we developed a lipid nanoparticle platform incorporating a dual-functional peptide (cholesterol-DP7-ACP-T7-modified DOTAP or DAT-LNP) capable of targeting glioma across the BBB and BBTB for brain tumor immunotherapy. This system was designed to achieve two key functions. First, the system could effectively penetrate the BBB during accumulation within brain tissue following intravenous administration. Second, this system enhances the maturation of dendritic cells, the polarization of M1 macrophages, and the activation of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells. This multifaceted approach effectively mitigates the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment of glioma and promotes robust antitumor immune responses. Overall, the intravenous administration of the delivery system designed in this study demonstrates significant therapeutic potential for glioma and holds promising applications in the field of cancer immunotherapy.

Mastigoneme structure reveals insights into the O-linked glycosylation code of native hydroxyproline-rich helices

Hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins (HRGPs) are a ubiquitous class of protein in the extracellular matrices and cell walls of plants and algae, yet little is known of their native structures or interactions. Here, we used electron cryomicroscopy (cryo-EM) to determine the structure of the hydroxyproline-rich mastigoneme, an extracellular filament isolated from the cilia of the alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The structure demonstrates that mastigonemes are formed from two HRGPs (a filament of MST1 wrapped around a single copy of MST3) that both have hyperglycosylated poly(hydroxyproline) helices. Within the helices, O-linked glycosylation of the hydroxyproline residues and O-galactosylation of interspersed serine residues create a carbohydrate casing. Analysis of the associated glycans reveals how the pattern of hydroxyproline repetition determines the type and extent of glycosylation. MST3 possesses a PKD2-like transmembrane domain that forms a heteromeric polycystin-like cation channel with PKD2 and SIP, explaining how mastigonemes are tethered to ciliary membranes.

Discovery of DNL343: A Potent, Selective, and Brain-Penetrant eIF2B Activator Designed for the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2B (eIF2B) is a key component of the integrated stress response (ISR), which regulates protein synthesis and stress granule formation in response to cellular insult. Modulation of the ISR has been proposed as a therapeutic strategy for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as vanishing white matter (VWM) disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) based on its ability to improve cellular homeostasis and prevent neuronal degeneration. Herein, we report the small-molecule discovery campaign that identified potent, selective, and CNS-penetrant eIF2B activators using both structure- and ligand-based drug design. These discovery efforts culminated in the identification of DNL343, which demonstrated a desirable preclinical drug profile, including a long half-life and high oral bioavailability across preclinical species. DNL343 was progressed into clinical studies and is currently undergoing evaluation in late-stage clinical trials for ALS.

Tobacco smoking negatively influences the achievement of greater than three-quarters reduction in psoriasis area and severity index after eight weeks of treatment among patients with psoriasis: Findings from a prospective study

INTRODUCTION

Smoking is an independent and modifiable risk factor for the onset and development of psoriasis; however, evidence on the association between tobacco smoking and psoriasis treatment efficacy is limited. This study aimed to explore the influence of smoking on treatment efficacy in a cohort of patients with psoriasis in Shanghai, China.

METHODS

Patients with psoriasis were recruited from the Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital between 2021 and 2022. The treatment for patients with psoriasis includes acitretin, methotrexate, narrow-band ultraviolet/benvitimod, and biologics. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, physical examination, and disease severity estimation at baseline, week four, and week eight. The achievement of a ≥75% reduction in psoriasis area and severity index (PASI75) score from baseline to week 8 was set as the primary outcome for treatment efficacy estimation. Data were analyzed using SAS 9.4.

RESULTS

A total of 560 patients with psoriasis were enrolled in this study, who were predominantly males (72.9%). The average age of patients was 48.4 years, and 38.8% of them were current smokers, 5.0% of them were former smokers. The median score of PASI among patients changed from 11.1 (interquartile range, IQR: 7.9-16.6) at baseline to 6.2 at week 4 and 3.1 at week 8, and 13.8% and 47.3% of patients with psoriasis achieved PASI75 at weeks 4 and 8, respectively. Logistic regression indicated that patients without tobacco smoking had a higher proportion of PASI75 achievement at week 8. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) was 11.43 (95% CI: 6.91-18.89), 14.14 (95% CI: 8.27-24.20), and 3.05 (95% CI: 1.20-7.76) for non-smokers compared with smokers, current smokers, and former smokers, respectively. Moreover, former smokers had higher PASI75 achievement than current smokers (AOR=3.37), and patients with younger smoking initiation age, longer smoking duration, and higher smoking intensity had lower PASI75 achievement.

CONCLUSIONS

Tobacco smoking was negatively associated with PASI75 achievement both in current and former smokers, and former smokers had higher PASI75 achievement than current smokers. The implementation of tobacco control measures is beneficial for improving treatment responses.

Bibliometric Analysis of Development Trends and Research Hotspots in the Study of Data Mining in Nursing Based on CiteSpace

Backgrounds

With the advent of the big data era, hospital information systems and mobile care systems, among others, generate massive amounts of medical data. Data mining, as a powerful information processing technology, can discover non-obvious information by processing large-scale data and analyzing them in multiple dimensions. How to find the effective information hidden in the database and apply it to nursing clinical practice has received more and more attention from nursing researchers.

Aim

To look over the articles on data mining in nursing, compiled research status, identified hotspots, highlighted research trends, and offer recommendations for how data mining technology might be used in the nursing area going forward.

Methods

Data mining in nursing publications published between 2002 and 2023 were taken from the Web of Science Core Collection. CiteSpace was utilized for reviewing the number of articles, countries/regions, institutions, journals, authors, and keywords.

Results

According to the findings, the pace of data mining in nursing progress is not encouraging. Nursing data mining research is dominated by the United States and China. However, no consistent core group of writers or organizations has emerged in the field of nursing data mining. Studies on data mining in nursing have been increasingly gradually conducted in the 21st century, but the overall number is not large. Institution of Columbia University, journal of Cin-computers Informatics Nursing, author Diana J Wilkie, Muhammad Kamran Lodhi, Yingwei Yao are most influential in nursing data mining research. Nursing data mining researchers are currently focusing on electronic health records, text mining, machine learning, and natural language processing. Future research themes in data mining in nursing most include nursing informatics and clinical care quality enhancement.

Conclusion

Research data shows that data mining gives more perspectives for the growth of the nursing discipline and encourages the discipline's development, but it also introduces a slew of new issues that need researchers to address.

Structural Isomeric Effect on Spin Transport in Molecular Semiconductors

Molecular semiconductor (MSC) is a promising candidate for spintronic applications benefiting from its long spin lifetime caused by light elemental-composition essence and thus weak spin-orbit coupling (SOC). According to current knowledge, the SOC effect, normally dominated by the elemental composition, is the main spin-relaxation causation in MSCs, and thus the molecular structure-induced SOC change is one of the most concerned issues. In theoretical study, molecular isomerism, a most prototype phenomenon, has long been considered to possess little difference on spin transport previously, since elemental compositions of isomers are totally the same. However, here in this study, quite different spin-transport performances are demonstrated in ITIC and its structural isomers BDTIC experimentally, for the first time, though the charge transport and molecular stacking of the two films are very similar. By further experiments of electron-paramagnetic resonance and density-functional-theory calculations, it is revealed that noncovalent-conformational locks (NCLs) formed in BDTIC can lead to enhancement of SOC and thus decrease the spin lifetime. Hence, this study suggests the influences from the structural-isomeric effect must be considered for developing highly efficient spin-transport MSCs, which also provides a reliable theoretical basis for solving the great challenge of quantificational measurement of NCLs in films in the future.

Identification of abnormal closed-loop pathways in patients with MRI-negative pharmacoresistant epilepsy

Epilepsy is a disorder of brain networks, that is usually combined with cognitive and emotional impairment. However, most of the current research on closed-loop pathways in epilepsy is limited to the neuronal level or has focused only on known closed-loop pathways, and studies on abnormalities in closed-loop pathways in epilepsy at the whole-brain network level are lacking. A total of 26 patients with magnetic resonance imaging-negative pharmacoresistant epilepsy (MRIneg-PRE) and 26 healthy controls (HCs) were included in this study. Causal brain networks and temporal-lag brain networks were constructed from resting-state functional MRI data, and the Johnson algorithm was used to identify stable closed-loop pathways. Abnormal closed-loop pathways in the MRIneg-PRE cohort compared with the HC group were identified, and the associations of these pathways with indicators of cognitive and emotional impairments were examined via Pearson correlation analysis. The results revealed that the abnormal stable closed-loop pathways were distributed across the frontal, parietal, and occipital lobes and included altered functional connectivity values both within and between cerebral hemispheres. Four abnormal closed-loop pathways in the occipital lobe were associated with emotional and cognitive impairments. These abnormal pathways may serve as biomarkers for the diagnosis and guidance of individualized treatments for MRIneg-PRE patients.

Macrophage-coated tumor cluster aggravates hepatoma invasion and immunotherapy resistance via generating local immune deprivation

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) represent a promising treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) due to their capacity for abundant lymphocyte infiltration. However, some patients with HCC respond poorly to ICI therapy due to the presence of various immunosuppressive factors in the tumor microenvironment. Our research reveals that a macrophage-coated tumor cluster (MCTC) signifies a unique spatial structural organization in HCC correlating with diminished recurrence-free survival and overall survival in a total of 572 HCC cases from 3 internal cohorts and 2 independent external validation cohorts. Mechanistically, tumor-derived macrophage-associated lectin Mac-2 binding protein (M2BP) induces MCTC formation and traps immunocompetent cells at the edge of MCTCs to induce intratumoral cytotoxic T cell exclusion and local immune deprivation. Blocking M2BP with a Mac-2 antagonist might provide an effective approach to prevent MCTC formation, enhance T cell infiltration, and thereby improve the efficacy of ICI therapy in HCC.