Cloning and functional analysis of ZmMADS42 gene in maize

Maize (Zea mays L.) is the most important cereal crop in the world. Flowering period and photoperiod play important roles in the reproductive development of maize. This study, investigated ZmMADS42, a gene that is highly expressed in the shoot apical meristem. Agrobacterium infection was used to successfully obtain overexpressed ZmMADS42 plants. Fluorescence quantitative PCR revealed that the expression of the ZmMADS42 gene in the shoot apical meristem of transgenic plants was 2.8 times higher than that of the wild-type(WT). In addition, the expression of the ZmMADS42 gene in the endosperm was 2.4 times higher than that in the wild-type. The seed width of the T2 generation increased by 5.35%, whereas the seed length decreased by 7.78% compared with that of the wild-type. Dissection of the shoot tips of transgenic and wild-type plants from the 7-leaf stage to the 9-leaf stage revealed that the transgenic plants entered the differentiation stage earlier and exhibited more tassel meristems during their vegetative growth period. The mature transgenic plants were approximately 20 cm shorter in height and had a lower panicle position than the wild-type plants. Comparing the flowering period, the tasseling, powdering, and silking stages of the transgenic plants occurred 10 days earlier than those of the wild-type plants. The results showed that the ZmMADS42 gene played a significant role in regulating the flowering period and plant height of maize.

Spark plasma sintered porous Ni as a novel substrate of Ni3Se2@Ni self-supporting electrode for ultra-durable hydrogen evolution reaction

Developing efficient and durable self-supporting catalytic electrodes is an important way for industrial applications of hydrogen evolution reaction. Currently, commercial nickel foam (NF)-based electrode has been widely used due to its good catalytic performance. However, the NF consisting of smooth skeleton surface and large pores not only exhibits poor conductivity but also provides insufficient space for catalyst decoration and sufficient adhesion, resulting in inadequate catalytic performance and poor durability of NF-based electrodes. In this paper, a novel three-dimensional porous Ni substrate with multangular skeleton surface and small pore structure was prepared by a modified spark plasma sintering technique, and subsequently Ni3Se2@Porous Ni electrode with a large number of Ni3Se2 nanosheets uniformly distributed on the surface was obtained by one-step in-situ selenization. The electrode exhibits outstanding conductivity and catalytic hydrogen evolution reaction, providing a low overpotential of 183 mV at a current density of 100 mA cm-2. Due to the strong interfacial bonding between Ni and Ni3Se2, the Ni3Se2@Porous Ni electrode shows strong durability, which can work stably at 85 mA cm-2 for more than 200 h. This work provides an effective strategy for the rational preparation of metal substrates for efficient and durable self-supporting catalytic electrodes.

What Are the Long-term Outcomes of Locking Plates for Nonosteoporotic Three-part and Four-part Proximal Humeral Fractures With a Minimum 10-year Follow-up Period?

BACKGROUND

Proximal humeral fractures (PHFs) often occur in elderly individuals who experience low-energy falls. Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of the proximal humerus is typically performed in young, active patients because of their good bone quality and high functional demands. Although good short-term results have been reported after ORIF in young patients, few studies have specifically evaluated long-term outcomes.

QUESTIONS/PURPOSES

(1) What are the long-term clinical outcomes scores and (2) radiologic outcomes of nonosteoporotic three-part and four-part PHFs treated with locking plates? (3) What complications occurred after treatment, and what factors are associated with poor postoperative functional outcomes scores and avascular necrosis (AVN) of the humeral head after ORIF?

METHODS

Between June 2005 and December 2012, we surgically treated 774 patients for displaced two-, three-, and four-part PHFs. Approximately 75% (581 of 774) underwent ORIF, 10% (77 of 774) underwent hemiarthroplasty, 7% (54 of 774) underwent intramedullary nailing, 5% (39 of 774) underwent reverse shoulder arthroplasty, and the remaining 3% (23 of 774) underwent other surgical treatments. We considered those who had ORIF as potentially eligible. Based on that criterion, 75% (581) were eligible. However, only patients with nonosteoporotic three- and four-part PHFs (cortical thickness of the proximal humeral diaphysis greater than 6 mm on a preoperative AP radiograph of the affected shoulder) and a minimum of 10 years of follow-up were included. Sixty-four percent (498 of 774) of the patients were excluded because of simple or osteoporotic fractures, 1% (7 of 774) were excluded because of ipsilateral limb multiple fractures, 0.3% (2 of 774) were excluded because of pathologic PHFs, and another 2% (13 of 774) were lost before the minimum study follow-up of 10 years, leaving 8% (61 of 774) for analysis here. The mean age at surgery was 45 ± 12 years, with a mean follow-up of 13 years. Fifty-seven percent (35 of 61) of the patients were men. Patient-reported outcomes were evaluated using the University of California Loas Angeles (UCLA) score (range 0 to 35; higher scores represent better shoulder function) and Constant score (range 0 to 100; higher scores represent better shoulder function) at least 10 years postoperatively. Postoperative radiographs were reviewed to assess the cortical bone thickness of the proximal humerus, neck-shaft angle, head-to-tuberosity distance, and radiologically confirmable complications. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate factors associated with poor postoperative functional scores (UCLA score ≤ 27 or Constant score ≤ 70) and AVN of the humeral head; the association between AVN and postoperative functional outcomes was also assessed.

RESULTS

At the most-recent follow-up, these patients had a mean UCLA score of 31 ± 3 and a Constant score of 88 ± 10. The mean neck-shaft angle was 133° ± 10°, and 23% (14 of 61) of patients experienced AVN of the humeral head during follow-up. Twenty-nine complications in 30% (18 of 61) of patients were reported. After controlling for potentially confounding variables such as age and gender, we found that the presence of greater tuberosity malposition (odds ratio 18 [95% confidence interval 2 to 167]; p = 0.01) and immediate postoperative neck-shaft angle less than 130° (OR 19 [95% CI 3 to 127]; p = 0.002) were associated with poor postoperative functional scores. Four-part PHFs (OR 13 [95% CI 2 to 82]; p = 0.008) and metaphyseal extension less than 8 mm (OR 7 [95% CI 1 to 35]; p = 0.03) were associated with AVN of the humeral head. For patients who met the criteria for anatomic reduction (achievement of all of the following three criteria: neck-shaft angle ≥ 130°, head-shaft displacement < 5 mm, and head-to-tuberosity distance greater than or equal to 3 mm and less than or equal to 20 mm), there were no differences in postoperative functional scores between patients with AVN and those without.

CONCLUSION

ORIF of nonosteoporotic proximal humeral fractures with locking plates led to favorable functional and radiologic outcomes at a minimum of 10 years of follow-up. When encountering complex PHFs in patients with good bone quality, every effort must be made to achieve an anatomic reduction of the fracture as far as possible, which may not reduce the risk of AVN (this occurred in nearly one-fourth of patients). However, good outcomes can usually be expected, even in patients with AVN. Because this was a retrospective study with a high risk of bias owing to sparse data, the factors associated with poor postoperative functional outcomes must be further investigated in large prospective studies.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, therapeutic study.

Sample size estimation for stratified cluster randomization trial with survival endpoint

Cluster randomization trials with survival endpoint are predominantly used in drug development and clinical care research when drug treatments or interventions are delivered at a group level. Unlike conventional cluster randomization design, stratified cluster randomization design is generally considered more effective in reducing the impacts of imbalanced baseline prognostic factors and varying cluster sizes between groups when these stratification factors are adopted in the design. Failure to account for stratification and cluster size variability may lead to underpowered analysis and inaccurate sample size estimation. Apart from the sample size estimation in unstratified cluster randomization trials, there are no development of an explicit sample size formula for survival endpoint when a stratified cluster randomization design is employed. In this article, we present a closed-form sample size formula based on the stratified cluster log-rank statistics for stratified cluster randomization trials with survival endpoint. It provides an integrated solution for sample size estimation that account for cluster size variation, baseline hazard heterogeneity, and the estimated intracluster correlation coefficient based on the preliminary data. Simulation studies show that the proposed formula provides the appropriate sample size for achieving the desired statistical power under various parameter configurations. A real example of a stratified cluster randomization trial in the population with stable coronary heart disease is presented to illustrate our method.

Cytosolic mtDNA-cGAS-STING axis contributes to sepsis-induced acute kidney injury via activating the NLRP3 inflammasome

BACKGROUND

NLRP3 inflammasome activation is significantly associated with sepsis-induced acute kidney injury (S-AKI). Cytosolic DNA derived from damaged mitochondria has been reported to activate NLRP3 inflammasome via upregulating the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) axis in nucleus pulposus cell and cardiomyocytes. However, the regulatory effect of mitochondria DNA (mtDNA)-cGAS-STING axis on the NLRP3 inflammasome in S-AKI remains unclear.

METHODS

In the current study, we established an in vivo model of S-AKI by intraperitoneally injecting male C57BL/6 J mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Next, selective cGAS inhibitor RU.521, and STING agonist DMXAA were intraperitoneally injected in the mice; then, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (CRE), urinary kidney injury molecular-1 (KIM-1), pathological changes, and infiltrated neutrophils were detected to assess kidney injury. We also performed western blot and immunofluorescence assays to evaluate STING, cGAS, TBK-1, p-TBK-1, IRF3, p-IRF3, NF-kB, p-NF-kB, NLRP3, cleaved caspase-1, caspase-1, GSDMD-N, and GSDMD expression levels in kidney tissues. IL-18 and IL-1β in renal tissue were identified by ELISA. In vitro, we treated HK-2 cells with LPS to establish a cell model of S-AKI. Furthermore, ethidium bromide (EtBr) was administered to deplete mitochondria DNA (mtDNA). LPS-induced cytotoxicity was evaluated by LDH release assay. Protein expression of cGAS, STING, and NLRP3 in was quantified by western blot. Cytosolic mtDNA was detected by immunofluorescence and q-PCR. Released IL-1β and IL-18 in HK-2 supernatants were detected by ELISA.

RESULTS

LPS injection induced S-AKI in mice, as evidenced by neutrophil infiltration, tubular vacuolation, and increased levels of serum creatinine (CRE), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and urinary KIM-1. In addition, LPS activated the cGAS-STING axis and NLRP3 inflammasome in vivo, illustrated by increased phosphorylation levels of TBK-1, IRF3, and NF-kB protein, increased ratio of cleaved caspase-1 to caspase-1 and GSDMD-N to GSDMD, and increased IL-1β and IL-18 levels. Moreover, the cGAS inhibitor RU.521 effectively attenuated NLRP3 inflammasome and S-AKI; however, these effects were abolished by treatment with the STING agonist DMXAA. Furthermore, cytosolic release of mtDNA and activation of the cGAS-STING-NLRP3 axis were observed in LPS-treated HK-2 cells. Inhibiting mtDNA replication by Ethidium Bromide (EtBr) treatment reduced cytosolic mtDNA accumulation and downregulated the cGAS-STING-NLRP3 axis, ameliorating the cytotoxicity induced by LPS.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that the cGAS-STING axis was triggered by cytosolic mtDNA and participated in the development of S-AKI by activating NLRP3 inflammasome. Reducing cytosolic mtDNA accumulation or inhibiting the cGAS-STING axis may be potential therapeutic targets for S-AKI.

Associations of body mass index trajectory, waist circumference trajectory, or both with type 2 diabetes mellitus risk in Chinese adults: The China-PAR project

AIMS

To identify the trajectories of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC), and assess the associations of BMI trajectory, WC trajectory, or the two combined, with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) risk in Chinese adults.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was based on a prospective project-the Prediction for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk in China (China-PAR). A total of 54 434 participants (39.21% men) who were measured on at least two occasions were included. Three slowly increasing trajectory patterns were identified for BMI, and four for WC, by latent mixed modelling. A nine-category variable was derived by combining the WC trajectory (low, moderate, moderate-high/high) and the BMI trajectory (low, moderate, high). Logistic regression models were applied to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

The risk of developing T2DM increased with elevated BMI or WC trajectory levels (all ptrend <0.001). The risks were 2.85 (2.59-3.14) for high BMI trajectory and 4.34 (3.78-4.99) for high WC trajectory versus low trajectory groups, respectively. The association was more pronounced among younger individuals (pinteraction <0.001). In the joint analysis, compared to participants with low WC and BMI trajectory, those with moderate-high/high WC combined with high BMI trajectory had the highest risk of T2DM (OR 3.96, 95% CI 3.48-4.50); even those who maintained moderate-high/high WC but low BMI trajectory showed a higher T2DM risk (OR 3.00, 95% CI 2.31-3.91).

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that simultaneous dynamic and continuous monitoring of BMI and WC may contribute more than single measurements to predicting T2DM risk and determining preventive strategies.

Exploring Pyroptosis-related Signature Genes and Potential Drugs in Ulcerative Colitis by Transcriptome Data and Animal Experimental Validation

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an idiopathic, relapsing inflammatory disorder of the colonic mucosa. Pyroptosis contributes significantly to UC. However, the molecular mechanisms of UC remain unexplained. Herein, using transcriptome data and animal experimental validation, we sought to explore pyroptosis-related molecular mechanisms, signature genes, and potential drugs in UC. Gene profiles (GSE48959, GSE59071, GSE53306, and GSE94648) were selected from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, which contained samples derived from patients with active and inactive UC, as well as health controls. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed on microarrays to unravel the association between UC and pyroptosis. Then, differential expressed genes (DEGs) and pyroptosis-related DEGs were obtained by differential expression analyses and the public database. Subsequently, pyroptosis-related DEGs and their association with the immune infiltration landscape were analyzed using the CIBERSORT method. Besides, potential signature genes were selected by machine learning (ML) algorithms, and then validated by testing datasets which included samples of colonic mucosal tissue and peripheral blood. More importantly, the potential drug was screened based on this. And these signature genes and the drug effect were finally observed in the animal experiment. GSEA and KEGG enrichment analyses on key module genes derived from WGCNA revealed a close association between UC and pyroptosis. Then, a total of 20 pyroptosis-related DEGs of UC and 27 pyroptosis-related DEGs of active UC were screened. Next, 6 candidate genes (ZBP1, AIM2, IL1β, CASP1, TLR4, CASP11) in UC and 2 candidate genes (TLR4, CASP11) in active UC were respectively identified using the binary logistic regression (BLR), least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), random forest (RF) analysis and artificial neural network (ANN), and these genes also showed high diagnostic specificity for UC in testing sets. Specially, TLR4 was elevated in UC and further elevated in active UC. The results of the drug screen revealed that six compounds (quercetin, cyclosporine, resveratrol, cisplatin, paclitaxel, rosiglitazone) could target TLR4, among which the effect of quercetin on intestinal pathology, pyroptosis and the expression of TLR4 in UC and active UC was further determined by the murine model. These findings demonstrated that pyroptosis may promote UC, and especially contributes to the activation of UC. Pyroptosis-related DEGs offer new ideas for the diagnosis of UC. Besides, quercetin was verified as an effective treatment for pyroptosis and intestinal inflammation. This study might enhance our comprehension on the pathogenic mechanism and diagnosis of UC and offer a treatment option for UC.

UBE2L3 expression in human gastric cancer and its clinical significance

PURPOSE

Gastric cancer (GC) is prevalent as one of the most common malignant tumors globally, with a particularly high incidence in China. The role of UBE2L3 in the initiation and progression of various cancers has been well documented, but its specific significance in GC is not yet fully elucidated. The objective of this study is to examine the expression and importance of UBE2L3 in human gastric cancer tissues.

METHODS

Immunohistochemical staining and survival analysis were conducted on 125 cases of GC. Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were employed to assess the expression of UBE2L3 in GC cell lines. Cell lines with UBE2L3 knockdown and overexpression were cultured through lentivirus transfection and subsequently assessed using Western blot analysis. The involvement of UBE2L3 in the proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis of GC cells was confirmed through in vitro experiments, and its capacity to facilitate tumor growth was also validated in in vivo studies.

RESULTS

The up-regulation of UBE2L3 expression was observed in GC, and its high expression was found to be significantly associated with the degree of differentiation (χ2 = 6.153, P = 0.0131), TNM stage (χ2 = 6.216, P = 0.0447), and poor overall survival. In vitro, UBE2L3 has been shown to enhance functions in GC cell lines, such as promoting proliferation and invasion, and inhibiting apoptosis. In vivo experiments have validated the role of UBE2L3 in promoting tumor growth.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of our study demonstrate the significant involvement of UBE2L3 in the pathogenesis and advancement of gastric cancer, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target.

[Association of triglyceride glucose index and risk of incident hypertension: a prospective cohort study]

Objective: To explore the relationship between the triglyceride glucose (TyG) index and the risk of developing hypertension among rural Chinese adults. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted from 2007 to 2008, involving 20 194 adults selected through random cluster sampling from a rural community in Luoyang City, Henan Province. Follow-ups were carried out in 2013-2014 and 2018-2020. After excluding participants with hypertension at baseline, those with missing TyG index data, individuals who passed away during follow-up, and those with incomplete hypertension status at the second visit, 9 802 participants were included in the analysis. Baseline and follow-up assessments included questionnaire interviews, physical measurements (including blood pressure), and blood sample collection for fasting lipid and glucose levels. Participants were divided into four groups according to TyG index quartiles, and a modified Poisson regression model was utilized to assess the association between TyG index quartiles and hypertension risk. Results: The study cohort comprised 9 802 participants with a median age of 48 (39, 57) years, including 3 803 males (38.80%). Participants were distributed across TyG index quartiles as follows: TyG<8.2 group (2 224 individuals), TyG 8.2-8.5 group (2 653 individuals), TyG 8.6-8.9 (2 441 individuals), and TyG≥9.0 (2 484 individuals). Over a follow-up period of (11.1±1.3) years, 3 378 subjects developed hypertension, resulting in a cumulative incidence of 34.46% (3 378/9 802). The risk of hypertension increased with higher TyG index quartiles (Ptrend<0.05). Compared to the TyG<8.2, the TyG 8.2-8.5 (RR=1.11, 95%CI 1.01-1.22, P=0.023), TyG 8.6-8.9 (RR=1.16, 95%CI 1.06-1.27, P=0.023), and TyG≥9.0 (RR=1.20, 95%CI 1.10-1.31, P=0.023) exhibited increased hypertension risk after adjusting for age, gender, educational level, and other potential confounders. Subgroup analyses based on gender and age at baseline yielded results consistent with the main analysis. Conclusions: The TyG index is positively correlated with the risk of developing hypertension in the rural adult population.

Systematic optimization and evaluation of culture conditions for the construction of circulating tumor cell clusters using breast cancer cell lines

BACKGROUND

Circulating tumor cell (CTC) clusters play a critical role in carcinoma metastasis. However, the rarity of CTC clusters and the limitations of capture techniques have retarded the research progress. In vitro CTC clusters model can help to further understand the biological properties of CTC clusters and their clinical significance. Therefore, it is necessary to establish reliable in vitro methodological models to form CTC clusters whose biological characteristics are very similar to clinical CTC clusters.

METHODS

The assays of immunofluorescence, transmission electron microscopy, EdU incorporation, cell adhension and microfluidic chips were used. The experimental metastasis model in mice was used.

RESULTS

We systematically optimized the culture methods to form in vitro CTC clusters model, and more importantly, evaluated it with reference to the biological capabilities of reported clinical CTC clusters. In vitro CTC clusters exhibited a high degree of similarity to the reported pathological characteristics of CTC clusters isolated from patients at different stages of tumor metastasis, including the appearance morphology, size, adhesive and tight junctions-associated proteins, and other indicators of CTC clusters. Furthermore, in vivo experiments also demonstrated that the CTC clusters had an enhanced ability to grow and metastasize compared to single CTC.

CONCLUSIONS

The study provides a reliable model to help to obtain comparatively stable and qualified CTC clusters in vitro, propelling the studies on tumor metastasis.

Cardiac MRI for clinical dilated cardiomyopathy: Improved diagnostic power via combined T1, T2, and ECV

INTRODUCTION

Early diagnosis of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) remains challenging. Cardiac MR can correlate myocardial changes with their pathological basis. There have been some previous studies on the effect of T1 mapping in DCM, but there is limited data on the incremental value of T2 mapping for DCM in routine clinical practice. This study will examine whether the combination of MRI T1 and T2 mapping offers greater advantages in the diagnosis of DCM.

METHODS

The study included 28 patients with DCM and 21 healthy controls. CMR evaluation included late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), T1 mapping, extracellular volume (ECV) fraction and T2 mapping. The DCM group was divided into LGE (+) and LGE (-) subgroups. The main modes of LGE are subendocardial, midwall, subepicardial, or transmural. T1 values, T2 values, and ECV in the 16 segments myocardial levels were measured by post-processing software. Student's t-tests or Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare between two groups, and one-way ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to compare between multiple groups, with p values corrected by Bonferroni. The difference was considered statistically significant at P < 0.05. ROC curve analysis was used to compare the area under the curve (AUC) of each index and its combined value, and the cut-off value, sensitivity and specificity were determined by Jordan's index.

RESULTS

Mean native myocardial T1, ECV and T2 were significantly higher in the DCM group compared to controls (p ≤ 0.001, respectively). The best cut-off values for T1, T2 and ECV to discriminate DCM from controls were 1184 ms, 40.9 ms and 29.2%, respectively. The AUC of T1, ECV and T2 were 0.87, 0.89, and 0.83, respectively. The combined AUC of the three values was 0.96.

CONCLUSION

Native T1 value and ECV overcome some of the limitations of LGE, and the T2 helps to understand the extent of myocardial damage. The combination of T1 and T2 mapping techniques can reveal fibrotic and oedematous changes in the early stages of DCM, providing a more comprehensive assessment of DCM and better guidance for individualised clinical management of patients.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

We suggest that the addition of T2 mapping to the routine CMR examination of patients with suspected DCM, and the combined assessment of T1mapping and T2 mapping can provide complementary information about the disease and improve the early diagnosis of DCM.

Efficacy of maxillary molar intrusion and quantification of related external apical root resorption - A comparison of two approaches

OBJECTIVE

This retrospective single-centre study aimed to compare the efficacy of maxillary second molar intrusion with two different approaches, miniscrew-assisted molar intrusion and traditional segmental archwire intrusion, and to compare orthodontically induced external apical root resorption (OIERR) during intrusion between two groups via cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 40 adult patients (33.6 ± 10.3 years old) with supraerupted maxillary second molars due to the loss of antagonistic teeth were recruited, with 20 patients in each group. A segmental archwire with adjacent teeth as an anchorage was used in the control group, and 60-100 g of intrusive force was applied by using miniscrews in the experimental group to intrude the overerupted molars. Full-volume CBCT was performed before and after intrusion, and the amount of intrusion and extent of OIERR of the overerupted molars were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

Supraerupted maxillary second molars could be successfully intruded in an average of 5 months. There was more intrusive movement of the buccal and palatal cusps in the mininscrew group than that in the segmental archwire group (P < .05). The intrusive amount of palatal cusp was 3.67 ± 1.13 mm in the miniscrew group and 2.38 ± 0.74 mm in the segmental archwire group. More palatal OIERR was observed in the miniscrew group (30.3 ± 11.6 mm3) than in the segmental archwire group (21.0 ± 8.66 mm3) (P = .0063). There was no significant difference in OIERR between the two groups for mesial and distal buccal roots (P > .05).

CONCLUSION

Miniscrews help effectively with supraerupted maxillary second molar intrusion, especially for palatal cusps. There was more OIERR in the palatal root when using miniscrews compared to the segmental archwire approach.

Demystifying the landscape of endometrial immune microenvironment in luteal-phase from cuprotosis: Implications for the mechanism and treatment of RPL

BACKGROUND

Adaptive changes in the endometrial immune microenvironment during the luteal phase are essential for pregnancy, and their abnormalities are associated with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Nevertheless, the specific mechanism is still unknown. Cuprotosis, an innovatively discovered type of programmed cell death, provides us with a pioneering perspective to decipher the landscape of luteal-phase endometrial immune microenvironment in RPL. This study aimed to analyze the immune landscape of luteal-phase endometrial microenvironment in RPL and explore the association of cuprotosis with it through integrative bioinformatics analysis.

METHODS

The microarrays involving the luteal phase endometrial tissue of RPL were obtained from the GEO database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of RPL were screened and key modules were detected by WGCNA. GO, KEGG, and GSEA immune enrichment analyses were performed on the DEGs in the most relevant modules to RPL. Then, the endometrial immune microenvironment landscape of RPL was analyzed, including immune infiltration analysis and correlation analysis between immune cells or immune functions. The interaction of cuprotosis-related genes (CRGs), the expression level between groups, the immune localization and their correlation with immune cells and immune function were analyzed. LASSO regression and Nomogram evaluated the diagnostic value of immune-related CRGS in RPL. Functional enrichment analysis was performed on the RPL signature CRGs. And RPL samples were grouped according to the expression of 7 RPL signature CRGs through unsupervised clustering analysis. After that, we analyzed the expression level of CRGs and immune infiltration, as well as performed immune function enrichment analysis in subtypes. In addition, we also screened potential drugs that might act on CRGs to improve the pathological mechanism of RPL.

RESULTS

In this study, we uncovered that DEGs and genes in key modules derived from weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) were involved in immune regulation. And the immune infiltration landscape of RPL was significantly different from healthy controls. Furthermore, six hub genes were screened from CRGs based on Cytohubba, and their expression profilings were verified in RPL and normal mouse samples. Besides, seven CRGs closely associated with the immune regulation of RPL were identified by Spearman correlation analysis, including SLC31A1, LIAS, DLD, DLAT, DBT, ATP7B, and ATP7A, named as immune-related CRGs. Furthermore, three subgroups clustered according to these seven genes showed significant differences in immune landscape, suggesting a remarkable effect of CRGs on immune regulation. Last but not least, we analyzed the regulation network of transcription factors, miRNAs, and CRGs, and screened potential compounds for the treatment of RPL by targeting CRGs.

CONCLUSIONS

The abnormal endometrial immune microenvironment in the luteal phase was associated with the pathomechanism of RPL, and cuprotosis was closely involved in the immune microenvironment in the luteal phase endometrium of RPL. Collectively, this study revealed the potential contribution of CRGs to the pathogenesis of RPL, providing a novel breakthroughs in insights into the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of RPL.

Dose-response associations of triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio and triglyceride-glucose index with arterial stiffness risk

BACKGROUND

The triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio and triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index are novel indexes for insulin resistance (IR). We aimed to evaluate associations of TG/HDL-C and TyG with arterial stiffness risk.

METHODS

We enrolled 1979 participants from the Rural Chinese Cohort Study, examining arterial stiffness by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Logistic and linear regression models were employed to calculate effect estimates. For meta-analysis, we searched relevant articles from PubMed, Embase and Web of Science up to August 26, 2023. The fixed-effects or random-effects models were used to calculate the pooled estimates. We evaluated dose-response associations using restricted cubic splines.

RESULTS

For cross-sectional studies, the adjusted ORs (95%CIs) for arterial stiffness were 1.12 (1.01-1.23) and 1.78 (1.38-2.30) for per 1 unit increment in TG/HDL-C and TyG. In the meta-analysis, the pooled ORs (95% CIs) were 1.26 (1.14-1.39) and 1.57 (1.36-1.82) for per 1 unit increment of TG/HDL-C and TyG. Additionally, both TG/HDL-C and TyG were positively related to PWV, with β of 0.09 (95% CI 0.04-0.14) and 0.57 (95% CI 0.35-0.78) m/s. We also found linear associations of TG/HDL-C and TyG with arterial stiffness risk.

CONCLUSIONS

High TG/HDL-C and TyG were related to increased arterial stiffness risk, indicating TG/HDL-C and TyG may be convincing predictors of arterial stiffness.

Extraction, structural characterization, and antioxidant activity of polysaccharides from three microalgae

Microalgal polysaccharides have received much attention due to their potential value in preventing and regulating oxidative damage. This study aims to reveal the mechanisms of regulating oxidative stress and the differences in the yield, structure, and effect of polysaccharides extracted from three microalgae: Golenkinia sp. polysaccharides (GPS), Chlorella sorokiniana polysaccharides (CPS), and Spirulina subsalsa polysaccharides (SPS). Using the same extraction method, GPS, CPS, and SPS were all heteropoly- saccharides composed of small molecular fraction: the monosaccharides mainly comprised galactose (Gal). Among the three, SPS had a higher proportion of small molecular fraction, and a higher proportion of Gal; thus it had a higher yield and higher antioxidant activity. GPS, CPS, and SPS all showed strong antioxidant activity in vitro, and showed strong ability to regulate oxidative stress, among which SPS was slightly higher. From the analysis of gene expression, the Nrf2-ARE signalling pathway was an important pathway for GPS, CPS, and SPS to regulate cellular oxidative stress. This study provides a theoretical foundation for further research on the utilization of microalgae polysaccharides and product development.

Nonvolatile Phase-Only Transmissive Spatial Light Modulator with Electrical Addressability of Individual Pixels

Active metasurfaces with tunable subwavelength-scale nanoscatterers are promising platforms for high-performance spatial light modulators (SLMs). Among the tuning methods, phase-change materials (PCMs) are attractive because of their nonvolatile, threshold-driven, and drastic optical modulation, rendering zero-static power, crosstalk immunity, and compact pixels. However, current electrically controlled PCM-based metasurfaces are limited to global amplitude modulation, which is insufficient for SLMs. Here, an individual-pixel addressable, transmissive metasurface is experimentally demonstrated using the low-loss PCM Sb2Se3 and doped silicon nanowire heaters. The nanowires simultaneously form a diatomic metasurface, supporting a high-quality-factor (∼406) quasi-bound-state-in-the-continuum mode. A global phase-only modulation of ∼0.25π (∼0.2π) in simulation (experiment) is achieved, showing ten times enhancement. A 2π phase shift is further obtained using a guided-mode resonance with enhanced light-Sb2Se3 interaction. Finally, individual-pixel addressability and SLM functionality are demonstrated through deterministic multilevel switching (ten levels) and tunable far-field beam shaping. Our work presents zero-static power transmissive phase-only SLMs, enabled by electrically controlled low-loss PCMs and individual meta-molecule addressable metasurfaces.

Spontaneous delayed migration or shortening after pipeline embolization device treatment of intracranial aneurysm: incidence, management, and risk factors

BACKGROUND

Studies reporting spontaneous delayed migration or shortening (SDMS) after treatment with the Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of SDMS after PED treatment, propose management strategies, and identify the risk factors contributing to its occurrence.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients with an intracranial aneurysm (IA) treated with PEDs at three institutions. SDMS was classified as type I or II based on whether the PED covered the aneurysm neck.

RESULTS

The total cohort comprised 790 patients. SDMS was identified in 24 (3.04%) patients. Eighteen of the 24 patients had type I SDMS and did not require retreatment, while the remaining six patients had type II SDMS and all received retreatment. Multivariate logistic regression showed that the difference between the proximal and distal parent artery diameters (DPAD) (adjusted OR 2.977; 95% CI 1.054 to 8.405; P=0.039) and device tortuosity index (DTI) (adjusted OR 8.059; 95% CI 2.867 to 23.428; P<0.001) were independent predictors of SDMS after PED treatment, while the difference in length (DL) (adjusted OR 0.841; 95% CI 0.738 to 0.958; P=0.009) and PED plus coiling (adjusted OR 0.288; 95% CI 0.106 to 0.785; P=0.015) were protective factors.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of SDMS after PED treatment of IA was 3.04%. For patients with type I SDMS with incomplete aneurysm occlusion we recommend continuous imaging follow-up while, for patients with type II SDMS, we recommend aggressive retreatment. The DPAD and DTI were independent risk predictors of SDMS after PED treatment, while the DL and PED plus coiling were protective factors.

Linking EMT Status of Circulating Tumor Cells to Clinical Outcomes in Lung Cancer

Background

Lung cancer (LC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with its prognosis influenced by complex biological factors.

Objective

This study delves into the clinical relevance of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and their Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) status in LC patients.

Methods

We enrolled 30 newly diagnosed LC patients and utilized the CanPatrol technique for the separation and categorization of CTCs from peripheral blood samples. Immunofluorescent staining identified epithelial (CK8/18/19, EpCAM), mesenchymal (Vimentin, Twist), and leukocyte (CD45) markers in these cells. Fluorescence microscopy analyzed the slides, and RECIST 1.1 criteria assessed treatment response. Spearman's method was used to correlate CTCs' EMT states with their count and clinical characteristics.

Results

Our findings reveal three distinct CTC groups: epithelial (E-CTCs), hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal (E/M-CTCs), and mesenchymal (M-CTCs). Significant statistical differences were observed in stages III-IV vs I-II, tumor sizes T3-T4 vs T1-T2, and in the presence or absence of distant metastasis and lymph node involvement. Notably, the count of E/M-CTCs was positively correlated with TNM staging, tumor size, lymph node, and distant metastasis. Changes in M-CTC count pre- and post-treatment closely mirrored disease progression and control, showing considerable consistency with RECIST criteria.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the EMT status of CTCs, especially E/M-CTCs, holds predictive value for LC staging, tumor size, and metastasis. Dynamic monitoring of M-CTCs can accurately reflect disease progression.

Brassica napus BnaA09.MYB52 enhances seed coat mucilage accumulation and tolerance to osmotic stress during seed germination in Arabidopsis thaliana

Seed coat mucilage plays an important role in promoting seed germination under adversity. Previous studies have shown that Arabidopsis thaliana MYB52 (AtMYB52) can positively regulate seed coat mucilage accumulation. However, the role of Brassica napus MYB52 (BnaMYB52) in accumulation of seed coat mucilage and tolerance to osmotic stress during seed germination remains largely unknown. We cloned the BnaA09.MYB52 coding domain sequence from B. napus cv ZS11, identified its conserved protein domains and elucidated its relationship with homologues from a range of plant species. Transgenic plants overexpressing BnaA09.MYB52 in the A. thaliana myb52-1 mutant were generated through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and used to assess the possible roles of BnaA09.MYB52 in accumulation of seed coat mucilage and tolerance to osmotic stress during seed germination. Subcellular localization and transcriptional activity assays demonstrated that BnaA09.MYB52 functions as a transcription factor. RT-qPCR results indicate that BnaA09.MYB52 is predominantly expressed in roots and developing seeds of B. napus cv ZS11. Introduction of BnaA09.MYB52 into myb52-1 restored thinner seed coat mucilage in this mutant to levels in the wild type. Consistently, expression levels of three key genes participating in mucilage formation in developing seeds of myb52-1 were also restored to wild type levels by overexpressing BnaA09.MYB52. Furthermore, BnaA09.MYB52 was induced by osmotic stress during seed germination in B. napus, and ectopic expression of BnaA09.MYB52 successfully corrected sensitivity of the myb52-1 mutant to osmotic stress during seed germination. These findings enhance our understanding of the functions of BnaA09.MYB52 and provide a novel strategy for future B. napus breeding.

Trajectory Planning on Rolling Locomotion of Spherical Movable Tensegrity Robots with Multi-Gait Patterns

Spherical movable tensegrity robots, resorting to the intrinsic hallmark of being lightweight and resilient, have exhibited tremendous potential in exploring unpredictable terrains and extreme environments where traditional robots often struggle. The geometry of spherical tensegrities is suitable for rolling locomotion, which guarantees the system to react to changing demands, navigate unexplored terrain, and perform missions even after suffering massive damage. The objective of this article is to enrich the type of spherical movable tensegrity robots with multiple kinematic gait patterns and to gain superior motion paths that are in conformity with the intrinsic features of structural rolling locomotion. Aiming at this purpose, three 12-rod spherical tensegrities with multi-gait patterns are investigated, and the dynamic simulation on independent (or evolutionary) gait patterns is conducted and testified on ADAMS. The routing spaces and the blind zones formed by single kinematic gait are compared to assess the suitability of the assigned kinematic gait pattern. Accordingly, we develop a trajectory planning method with the embedding of the steering control strategy into a modified rapidly exploring random tree (MRRT) algorithm to produce qualified marching routes. In the meantime, two momentous evaluation indictors, applicable to multi-gaits tensegrities, are introduced in searching the corresponding optimal gait patterns that conform to specified needs. The techniques are illustrated and validated in simulation with comparisons on several prototypes of tensegrity robots, indicating that the proposed method is a viable means of attaining marching routes on rolling locomotion of spherical movable tensegrity robots.

Effects of tree species and planting forms on the thermal comfort of campsites in hot and humid areas of China

Camping has become a popular outdoor activity in China. However, the long and scorching summers in China's hot and humid regions pose challenges for campsites in maintaining thermal comfort. Therefore, we explored the impact of tree species and planting methods on the thermal comfort of urban campsites in hot and humid areas using the ENVI-met model to simulate the conditions of the study area. The reliability of the model was validated by comparing the simulated values of air temperature (Ta) and relative humidity (RH) with field measurements. We conducted an in-depth analysis of common trees in hot and humid areas and analyzed the effects of five tree species and four tree planting forms on the microclimate of campsites in such areas, using the physiological equivalent temperature (PET) as the evaluation index of thermal comfort. The results indicated that: (1) trees with larger crown widths were most effective in improving outdoor thermal comfort. The ability of trees to regulate microclimate was more influenced by crown width than by leaf area index (LAI), and (2) trees planted in patches provided the highest level of thermal comfort, whereas single trees provided the lowest. However, relying solely on tree planting made it difficult to significantly reduce outdoor heat stress. Therefore, other methods such as increasing ventilation or mist spray should be adopted to modify camping area. This study provides a reference for the planting design of outdoor campsites in hot and humid regions of China.

TXNIP knockdown protects rats against bupivacaine-induced spinal neurotoxicity via the inhibition of oxidative stress and apoptosis

Bupivacaine (BUP) is an anesthetic commonly used in clinical practice that when used for spinal anesthesia, might exert neurotoxic effects. Thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) is a member of the α-arrestin protein superfamily that binds covalently to thioredoxin (TRX) to inhibit its function, leading to increased oxidative stress and activation of apoptosis. The role of TXNIP in BUP-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis remains to be elucidated. In this context, the present study aimed to explore the effects of TXNIP knockdown on BUP-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in the spinal cord of rats and in PC12 cells through the transfection of adeno-associated virus-TXNIP short hairpin RNA (AAV-TXNIP shRNA) and siRNA-TXNIP, respectively. In vivo, a rat model of spinal neurotoxicity was established by intrathecally injecting rats with BUP. The BUP + TXNIP shRNA and the BUP + Control shRNA groups of rats were injected with an AAV carrying the TXNIP shRNA and the Control shRNA, respectively, into the subarachnoid space four weeks prior to BUP treatment. The Basso, Beattie & Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor rating score, % MPE of TFL, H&E staining, and Nissl staining analyses were conducted. In vitro, 0.8 mM BUP was determined by CCK-8 assay to establish a cytotoxicity model in PC12 cells. Transfection with siRNA-TXNIP was carried out to suppress TXNIP expression prior to exposing PC12 cells to BUP. The results revealed that BUP effectively induced neurological behavioral dysfunction and neuronal damage and death in the spinal cord of the rats. Similarly, BUP triggered cytotoxicity and apoptosis in PC12 cells. In addition, treated with BUP both in vitro and in vivo exhibited upregulated TXNIP expression and increased oxidative stress and apoptosis. Interestingly, TXNIP knockdown in the spinal cord of rats through transfection of AAV-TXNIP shRNA exerted a protective effect against BUP-induced spinal neurotoxicity by ameliorating behavioral and histological outcomes and promoting the survival of spinal cord neurons. Similarly, transfection with siRNA-TXNIP mitigated BUP-induced cytotoxicity in PC12 cells. In addition, TXNIP knockdown mitigated the upregulation of ROS, MDA, Bax, and cleaved caspase-3 and restored the downregulation of GSH, SOD, CAT, GPX4, and Bcl2 induced upon BUP exposure. These findings suggested that TXNIP knockdown protected against BUP-induced spinal neurotoxicity by suppressing oxidative stress and apoptosis. In summary, TXNIP could be a central signaling hub that positively regulates oxidative stress and apoptosis during neuronal damage, which renders TXNIP a promising target for treatment strategies against BUP-induced spinal neurotoxicity.

Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome of the Libelloides sibiricus (Neuroptera, Ascalaphidae)

Libelloides sibiricus (Eversmann, 1850) is widely distributed in China, Korea and eastern Russia. To date, few studies have been conducted on this species, with the exception of morphological taxonomy studies. In this study, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Libelloides sibiricus, which is 15,811 bp in length, with an overall A + T content of 74.8%, encoding 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes, and a control region. The gene arrangement and components of L. sibiricus are identical to those of most other Neuropteran species. TAA is utilized as the termination codon for most PCGs and TAG for nd1, however, nd6 and atp6 used the incomplete termination codon TA- and cox1, cox2, nd5, cytb had termination codons consisting of only T-. In addition, we selected all known 59 species of Neuroptera from NCBI, and used Sialis hamata, Sialis melania, Sialis longidens and Sialis jiyuni (Megaloptera: Sialidae) as the outgroup. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that the mitogenome of L. sibiricus was the most closely related to L. macaronius and all the owlflies formed the monophyletic group within the superfamily Myrmeleontoidea.

Separation of carbohydrates using dynamically adsorbed borate stationary phase for hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography

In this work, a chromatographic method for the separation of carbohydrates was proposed. Tris-(hydroxymethyl)-amine (TRIS) functionalized silica-based hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) stationary was synthesized. The dynamically absorbed borate layer is generated by using borate buffer as a polar modifier due to the complexation of borate with TRIS ligand in the stationary phase. The chromatographic systems were analyzed by the linear solvation energy relationship model. The calculated system constants revealed the enhancement of anionic exchange by the addition of borate in the mobile phase system. In addition, ligand exchange is critical for the retention and elution order of sugars and sugar alcohols. Carbohydrates displayed prolonged retention with different selectivity profiles relating to their complexation coefficients with borate. Experiment results showed that the effect of borate in this chromatographic system was stable within the range of pH 3-7 and borate concentration of 5-15 mM. This work provides a complementary solution for the separation of carbohydrates. It can also be extended to the separation of glycosides.

Polydopamine-Based Resveratrol-Hyaluronidase Nanomedicine Inhibited Pancreatic Cancer Cell Invasive Phenotype in Hyaluronic Acid Enrichment Tumor Sphere Model

The dense storm microenvironment formed by an excessively cross-linked extracellular matrix, such as hyaluronic acid and collagens, serves as a major barrier that prevents drugs from reaching the deeper tumor. Current traditional two-dimensional (2D) cultures are not capable of modeling this drug delivery barrier in vitro. Thus, tumor spheroids have become increasingly important in cancer research due to their three-dimensional structure. Currently, various methods have been developed to construct tumor spheroids. However, there are still challenges, such as lengthy construction time, complex composition of added growth factors, and high cultivation costs. To address this technical bottleneck, our study combined the GelMA hydrogel system to develop a rapid and high-yield method for tumor spheroids generation. Additionally, we proposed an evaluation scheme to assess the effects of drugs on tumor spheroids. Building on the hyaluronic acid-rich pathological tumor microenvironment, we constructed a resveratrol-loaded nano-drug delivery system with tumor stroma modulation capability and used a three-dimensional (3D) tumor sphere model to simulate in vivo tumor conditions. This process was utilized to completely evaluate the ability of the nano-drug delivery system to enhance the deep penetration of resveratrol in the tumor microenvironment, providing new insights into future oncology drug screening, efficacy assessment, and drug delivery methods.

Reinvent Aliphatic Arsenicals as Reversible Covalent Warheads toward Targeted Kinase Inhibition and Non-acute Promyelocytic Leukemia Cancer Treatment

The success of arsenic in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) treatment is hardly transferred to non-APL cancers, mainly due to the low selectivity and weak binding affinity of traditional arsenicals to oncoproteins critical for cancer survival. We present herein the reinvention of aliphatic trivalent arsenicals (As) as reversible covalent warheads of As-based targeting inhibitors toward Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK). The effects of As warheads' valency, thiol protection, methylation, spacer length, and size on inhibitors' activity were studied. We found that, in contrast to the bulky and rigid aromatic As warhead, the flexible aliphatic As warheads were well compatible with the well-optimized guiding group to achieve nanomolar inhibition against BTK. The optimized As inhibitors effectively blocked the BTK-mediated oncogenic signaling pathway, leading to elevated antiproliferative activities toward lymphoma cells and xenograft tumor. Our study provides a promising strategy enabling rational design of new aliphatic arsenic-based reversible covalent inhibitors toward non-APL cancer treatment.

Case Report: A Rare Case of Iodixanol-Induced Anaphylactic Shock in Cerebral Angiography

Background

Adverse reactions induced by isoosmolar contrast medium (iodixanol) are mostly mild, with rashes and headaches being the most common. Although anaphylactic shock has been reported, no related incidents have been documented on cerebral angiography.

Objective

This article reports a serious case of anaphylactic shock possibly induced by iodixanol and provides an overview of the case report.

Case Summary

A 65-year-old female with persistent headaches for nearly six months and CTA examination revealed multiple intracranial aneurysms. After two treatments, she returned to the hospital for aneurysm of reexamination a month ago. Following a preoperative assessment, cerebral angiography was performed. Three minutes after the procedure, the patient experienced dizziness, increased heart rate, followed by hypotension (BP 90/43 mm Hg), a sudden drop-in heart rate (HR 68 bpm), and a drop in SpO2 to 92%. Intravenous dexamethasone for anti-allergic were administered immediately, along with therapy through oxygen-inhalation. However, the patient then developed limb convulsions, unresponsiveness, and was urgently given diazepam for sedation and sputum aspiration to maintain airway patency. Blood pressure decrease to 53/29 mm Hg, and SpO2 readings were unavailable. Intravenous dopamine to elevates blood pressure, and assists breathing by intubating in the endotracheal. After 3 minutes, as the blood pressure remained undetectable, intermittent intravenous epinephrine 1mg was administered to raise the blood pressure, gradually restoring it to 126/90 mm Hg, and SpO2 increased to 95%. The patient was diagnosed with iodixanol-induced anaphylactic shock and urgently transferred to the NICU for monitoring and treatment. The patient died despite immediate treatment.

Conclusion

A 65-year-old female developed serious anaphylactic shock during cerebral angiography after receiving iodixanol. Although iodixanol is considered one of the safest iodinated contrast mediums (ICM), clinicians should be aware of its the potential for serious hypersensitivity reactions that can lead to fatal and life-threatening events.

Molecular Mechanisms and Biological Characteristics of Botrytis cinerea Field Isolate Resistance to Pyrisoxazole in Liaoning Province

Botrytis cinerea is a broad-host-range necrotrophic phytopathogen responsible for serious diseases in leading crops worldwide. The novel sterol 14α-demethylase inhibitor (DMI) pyrisoxazole was recently registered for the control of tomato gray mold caused by B. cinerea in China. One hundred fifty-seven isolates of B. cinerea were collected from tomato greenhouses in 14 cities of Liaoning Province from 2016 to 2021 and examined for sensitivity to pyrisoxazole, with a mean EC50 value of 0.151 μg/ml. Three highly resistant isolates, XD-5, DG-4, and GQ-3, were screened, and the EC50 values were 0.734, 0.606, and 0.639 μg/ml with corresponding resistance factors of 12.88, 10.63, and 11.21, respectively. Compared with field-sensitive strains, the highly resistant isolate XD-5 exhibited fitness defects in traits, including mycelial growth, conidial production, and pathogenicity, but DG-4 and GQ-3 did not experience fitness costs. Positive cross-resistance was observed only between pyrisoxazole and the DMIs tebuconazole and prochloraz but not between pyrisoxazole and the non-DMIs iprodione, procymidone, pyrimethanil, fludioxonil, fluazinam, and fluopyram. Sequence alignment of the CYP51 gene indicated that three point mutations were observed in the highly resistant mutant, namely, V24I in XD-5, G461S in GQ-3, and R464K in DG-4. When exposed to pyrisoxazole, the induced expression levels of the ABC transporter AtrD and MFS transporter Mfs1 increased in the resistant isolates compared with those in the sensitive isolates, whereas the expression level of the CYP51 gene did not change significantly. Molecular docking suggested that the G461S and R464K mutations both led to a decrease in the binding energy between CYP51 and pyrisoxazole, whereas no change was found with the V24I mutation. Thus, two point mutations in the CYP51 protein combined with induced expression of the Mfs1 and AtrD genes appeared to mediate the pyrisoxazole resistance of the highly resistant mutants DG-4 and GQ-3, while the overexpression of the Mfs1 and AtrD genes was responsible for the highly resistant mutant XD-5.

Independent and joint associations of estimated cardiorespiratory fitness and its dynamic changes and obesity with the risk of hypertension: A prospective cohort

Our aim was to examine the independent and joint associations of estimated cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and its changes and obesity with risk of hypertension in a rural Chinese population. A prospective cohort including 9848 adults without hypertension at baseline was enrolled. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were estimated by logistic regression models. Restricted cubic splines were used to model the dose-response relationship. During 6 years follow-up, 2,019 individuals developed hypertension. A negative association between estimated CRF and hypertension incidence was observed, with the risk being 0.87 (0.84-0.90) per MET increment. For estimated CRF change, the risks of hypertension were 1.50 (1.27-1.77) and 0.75 (0.59-0.97) for decreasers and increasers, respectively, compared to maintainers. Joint analyses showed individuals in the overweight/obesity-fourth quartile of estimated CRF had a 2.08 times higher risk of hypertension than those in the normal weight-first quartile (Pinteraction < 0.05). Those overweight/obesity-decreasers had the highest risk (OR: 2.19, 95%CI: 1.71-2.81; Pinteraction < 0.05) compared to the normal-maintainers. Similar results for abdominal obesity were also observed. Estimated CRF and its dynamic changes showed a negative association with hypertension incidence in the rural Chinese population.

Variation in placentophagy in golden snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) reflects nutritional constraints

Golden snub-nosed monkeys show inconsistent frequency of placentophagy between wild and captive populations, with almost all births in the wild but around half of the births in captivity accompanied by the female's consumption of placenta. This aligns with nutritional demands-driven placentophagy, as captive populations are generally under less nutritional constraints for breeding females than the wild population. Placentophagy is probably adaptive in the wild and under positive selection due to nutritional benefits to both mothers and infants.

Field Implementation of Precision Livestock Farming: Selected Proceedings from the 2nd U.S. Precision Livestock Farming Conference

Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) involves the real-time monitoring of images, sounds, and other biological, physiological, and environmental parameters to assess and improve animal health and welfare within intensive and extensive production systems [...].

Volatile carbonyl metabolites analysis of nanoparticle exposed lung cells in an organ-on-a-chip system

The evaluation of nanoparticles (NPs) cytotoxicity is crucial for advancing nanotechnology and assessing environmental pollution. However, existing methods for NPs cytotoxicity evaluation suffer from limited accuracy and inadequate information content. In the study, we developed a novel detection platform that enables the identification of cellular carbonyl metabolites at the organ level. The platform is integrated with a cell co-culture lung organ chip (LOC) and a micropillar concentrator. Notably, our work represents the successful measurement of the amounts of cellular metabolites on LOC system. The volatile carbonyl metabolites (VCMs) generated by cells exposure to various types of NPs with different concentrations were captured and detected by high-resolution mass spectrometry (MS). Compared with conventional cell viability and reactive oxygen species (ROS) analysis, our method discerns the toxicological impact of NPs at low concentrations by analyzed VCM at levels as low as ppb level. The LOC system based metabolic gas detection confirmed that low concentrations of NPs have a toxic effect on the cell model, which was not reflected in the fluorescence detection, and the effect of NP material is more significant than the size effect. Furthermore, this method can distinguish different NPs acting on cell models through cluster analysis of multiple VCMs.

Predicting adverse events after thoracic endovascular aortic repair for patients with type B aortic dissection

The potential of adverse events (AEs) after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) in patients with type B aortic dissection (TBAD) has been reported. To avoid the occurrence of AEs, it is important to recognize high-risk population for prevention in advance. The data of 261 patients with TBAD who received TEVAR between June 2017 and June 2021 at our medical center were retrospectively reviewed. After the implementation of exclusion criteria, 172 patients were finally included, and after 2.8 years (range from 1 day to 5.8 years) of follow up, they were divided into AEs (n = 41) and non-AEs (n = 131) groups. We identified the predictors of AEs, and a prediction model was constructed to calculate the specific risk of postoperative AEs at 1, 2, and 3 years, and to stratify patients into high-risk (n = 78) and low-risk (n = 94) group. The prediction model included seven predictors: Age > 75 years, Lower extremity malperfusion (LEM), NT-proBNP > 330 pg/ml, None distal tear, the ratio between the diameter of the ascending aorta and descending aorta (A/D ratio) > 1.2, the ratio of the area of the false lumen to the total aorta (FL ratio) > 64%, and acute TEVAR, which exhibited excellent predictive accuracy performance and discriminatory ability with C statistic of 82.3% (95% CI 77.3-89.2%). The prediction model was contributed to identify high-risk patients of postoperative AEs, which may serve to achievement of personalized treatment and follow-up plans for patients.

Hybrid-Mechanism Synergistic Flexible Nb2O5@WS2@C Carbon Nanofiber Anode for Superior Sodium Storage

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have demonstrated remarkable development potential and commercial prospects. However, in the current state of research, the development of high-energy-density, long-cycle-life, high-rate-performance anode materials for SIBs remains a huge challenge. Free-standing flexible electrodes, owing to their ability to achieve higher energy density without the need for current collectors, binders, and conductive additives, have garnered significant attention across various fields. In this work, we designed and fabricated a free-standing three-dimensional flexible Nb2O5@WS2@C carbon nanofiber (CNF) anode based on a hybrid adsorption-intercalation-conversion mechanism of sodium storage, using electrospinning and hydrothermal synthesis processes. The hybrid structure, aided by synergistic effects, releases the advantages of all materials, demonstrating a superior rate performance (288, 248, 211, 158, 90, and 48 mA h g-1 at the current density of 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, and 10 A g-1, respectively) and good cycling stability (160 mA h g-1 after 200 cycles at 1 A g-1). This work provides certain guiding significance for future research on hybrid and flexible anodes of SIBs.

Identification and characterization of endogenous retroviruses upon SARS-CoV-2 infection

Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) derived from the long terminal repeat (LTR) family of transposons constitute a significant portion of the mammalian genome, with origins tracing back to ancient viral infections. Despite comprising approximately 8% of the human genome, the specific role of ERVs in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 remains unclear. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide identification of ERVs in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMCs) and primary lung epithelial cells from monkeys and mice, both infected and uninfected with SARS-CoV-2. We identified 405, 283, and 206 significantly up-regulated transposable elements (TEs) in hPBMCs, monkeys, and mice, respectively. This included 254, 119, 68, and 28 ERVs found in hPBMCs from severe and mild COVID-19 patients, monkeys, and transgenic mice expressing the human ACE2 receptor (hACE2) and infected with SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, analysis using the Genomic Regions Enrichment of Annotations Tool (GREAT) revealed certain parental genomic sequences of these up-regulated ERVs in COVID-19 patients may be involved in various biological processes, including histone modification and viral replication. Of particular interest, we identified 210 ERVs specifically up-regulated in the severe COVID-19 group. The genes associated with these differentially expressed ERVs were enriched in processes such as immune response activation and histone modification. HERV1_I-int: ERV1:LTR and LTR7Y: ERV1:LTR were highlighted as potential biomarkers for evaluating the severity of COVID-19. Additionally, validation of our findings using RT-qPCR in Bone Marrow-Derived Macrophages (BMDMs) from mice infected by HSV-1 and VSV provided further support to our results. This study offers insights into the expression patterns and potential roles of ERVs following viral infection, providing a valuable resource for future studies on ERVs and their interaction with SARS-CoV-2.

Olive oil intake and cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all-cause mortality: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies

Background: Currently, the reported links between olive oil intake and cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer morbidity and mortality, and all-cause mortality are inconsistent. The aim of this meta-analysis is to study the reported correlations of olive oil intake with CVD, coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke and cancer incidence and mortality, and all-cause mortality. Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched until March 7, 2024. Pooled relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by the random-effects model. Nonlinear dose-response relationships were modeled with restricted cubic splines. This study has been registered at PROSPERO (CRD42023419001). Results: Overall, 30 articles covering 2 710 351 participants were identified. Higher olive oil intake was linked with a reduced risk of CVD incidence (RR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.77, 0.93), CHD incidence (RR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.72, 0.99), CVD mortality (RR: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.67, 0.88), and all-cause mortality (RR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.81, 0.89). For a 10 g d-1 increment of olive oil intake, the risk of CVD incidence, stroke incidence, CVD mortality, and all-cause mortality decreased by 7%, 5%, 8%, and 8%, respectively. No association was found between olive oil intake and cancer incidence and mortality. Nonlinear relationships between olive oil intake and CVD and all-cause mortality were observed, with a reduced risk from intakes ranging from 0 to 18 g d-1 and 0 to 22 g d-1, respectively. Conclusion: Our study found that high olive oil intake was related to a lower risk of CVD and CHD incidence and CVD mortality and all-cause mortality.

Two-dimensional fullerene-based monolayer materials assembled by C80 and Sc3N@C80

Construction of two-dimensional (2D) materials using fullerenes as building blocks has attracted particular attention, primarily due to their ability to integrate desired functionalities into devices. However, realization of stable 2D phases of polymerized fullerenes remains a big challenge. Here, we propose two stable 2D monolayer phases with covalently bridged C80 cages, namely α-C80-2D and β-C80-2D, which are semiconductors with strong absorption in the long wave range and appreciable carrier mobility, respectively. The high stability originates from the bond energy released by the [2+2] cycloaddition polymerization of C80 is greater than the deformation energy of a cage. Starting from α-C80-2D, endohedral incorporation of the Sc3N molecule into each C80 cage leads to 2D semiconductors of α-Sc3N@C80-2D and α'-Sc3N@C80-2D, which possess exceptional stability and diverse physical properties, including unique electronic band structures, strong optical absorption in the visible (VIS) to near-infrared (NIR) regime, and anisotropic optical characteristics. Remarkably, a temperature-induced order-disorder transition in the α-Sc3N@C80-2D phase has been observed at elevated temperatures above 600 K. These findings expand the family of 2D carbon materials and provide useful clue for the potential applications of fullerene-assembled monolayer networks.

Partial denitrifying phosphorus removal coupling with anammox (PDPRA) enables synergistic removal of C, N, and P nutrients from municipal wastewater: A year-round pilot-scale evaluation

Applying anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) in municipal wastewater treatment plants (MWWTPs) can unlock significant energy and resource savings. However, its practical implementation encounters significant challenges, particularly due to its limited compatibility with carbon and phosphorus removal processes. This study established a pilot-scale plant featuring a modified anaerobic-anoxic-oxic (A2O) process and operated continuously for 385 days, treating municipal wastewater of 50 m3/d. For the first time, we propose a novel concept of partial denitrifying phosphorus removal coupling with anammox (PDPRA), leveraging denitrifying phosphorus-accumulating organisms (DPAOs) as NO2- suppliers for anammox. 15N stable isotope tracing revealed that the PDPRA enabled an anammox reaction rate of 6.14 ± 0.18 μmol-N/(L·h), contributing 57.4 % to total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) removal. Metagenomic sequencing and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing unveiled the co-existence and co-prosperity of anammox bacteria and DPAOs, with Candidatus Brocadia being highly enriched in the anoxic biofilms at a relative abundance of 2.46 ± 0.52 %. Finally, the PDPRA facilitated the synergistic conversion and removal of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus nutrients, achieving remarkable removal efficiencies of chemical oxygen demand (COD, 83.5 ± 5.3 %), NH4+ (99.8 ± 0.7 %), TIN (77.1 ± 3.6 %), and PO43- (99.3 ± 1.6 %), even under challenging operational conditions such as low temperature of 11.7 °C. The PDPRA offers a promising solution for reconciling the mainstream anammox and the carbon and phosphorus removal, shedding fresh light on the paradigm shift of MWWTPs in the near future.

Beta spending function based on conditional power in group sequential design

Conditional power (CP) serves as a widely utilized approach for futility monitoring in group sequential designs. However, adopting the CP methods may lead to inadequate control of the type II error rate at the desired level. In this study, we introduce a flexible beta spending function tailored to regulate the type II error rate while employing CP based on a predetermined standardized effect size for futility monitoring (a so-called CP-beta spending function). This function delineates the expenditure of type II error rate across the entirety of the trial. Unlike other existing beta spending functions, the CP-beta spending function seamlessly incorporates beta spending concept into the CP framework, facilitating precise stagewise control of the type II error rate during futility monitoring. In addition, the stopping boundaries derived from the CP-beta spending function can be calculated via integration akin to other traditional beta spending function methods. Furthermore, the proposed CP-beta spending function accommodates various thresholds on the CP-scale at different stages of the trial, ensuring its adaptability across different information time scenarios. These attributes render the CP-beta spending function competitive among other forms of beta spending functions, making it applicable to any trials in group sequential designs with straightforward implementation. Both simulation study and example from an acute ischemic stroke trial demonstrate that the proposed method accurately captures expected power, even when the initially determined sample size does not consider futility stopping, and exhibits a good performance in maintaining overall type I error rates for evident futility.

Time-domain sound field reconstruction using a rigid spherical microphone array

A time-domain approach for interior spherical near-field acoustic holography is proposed to achieve the low-delay reconstruction of time-domain sound fields using a rigid spherical microphone array. This reconstruction encompasses the incident pressure field, the incident radial particle velocity field, and the total pressure field, which includes scattering. The proposed approach derives time-domain radial propagators through the inverse Fourier transform of their frequency-domain counterparts. These propagators are then applied to the array measurements to obtain the time-domain spherical harmonic coefficients of the interior sound field. Given the fact that the time-domain radial propagators possess finite-time support and exhibit significant high-frequency attenuation characteristics, they can be efficiently implemented using finite impulse response (FIR) filters. The proposed approach processes the signal sample-by-sample through these FIR filters, avoiding a series of issues associated with time-frequency transformations in frequency-domain methods. As a result, the approach offers higher accuracy and lower latency in reconstructing non-stationary sound fields compared to its frequency-domain counterpart and thus holds greater potential for real-time applications. Additionally, owing to the scattering effect of the rigid sphere, the approach avoids the impact of spherical Bessel function nulls and does not require the measurement of particle velocities, which renders the measurements cost effective.

Genomic and transcriptomic analyses provide new insights into the allelochemical degradation preference of a novel Acinetobacter strain

A novel n-alkane- and phenolic acid-degrading Acinetobacter strain (designated C16S1T) was isolated from rhizosphere soil. The strain was identified as a novel species named Acinetobacter suaedae sp. nov. using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Strain C16S1T showed preferential degradation of three compounds: p-hydroxybenzoate (PHBA) > ferulic acid (FA) > n-hexadecane. In a medium containing two or three of these allelochemicals, coexisting n-hexadecane and PHBA accelerated each other's degradation and that of FA. FA typically hindered the degradation of n-hexadecane but accelerated PHBA degradation. The upregulated expression of n-hexadecane- and PHBA-degrading genes induced, by their related substrates, was mutually enhanced by coexisting PHBA or n-hexadecane; in contrast, expression of both gene types was reduced by FA. Coexisting PHBA or n-hexadecane enhanced the upregulation of FA-degrading genes induced by FA. The expressions of degrading genes affected by coexisting chemicals coincided with the observed degradation efficiencies. Iron shortage limited the degradation efficiency of all three compounds and changed the degradation preference of Acinetobacter. The present study demonstrated that the biodegradability of the chemicals, the effects of coexisting chemicals on the expression of degrading genes and the strain's growth, the shortage of essential elements, and the toxicity of the chemicals were the four major factors affecting the removal rates of the coexisting allelochemicals.

Current-use pesticides monitoring and ecological risk assessment in vegetable soils at the provincial scale

Pesticides represent one of the largest intentional inputs of potentially hazardous compounds into agricultural soils. However, as an important vegetable producing country, surveys on pesticide residues in soils of vegetable production areas are scarce in China. This study presented the occurrence, spatial distribution, correlation between vegetable types and pesticides, and ecological risk evaluation of 94 current-use pesticides in 184 soil samples from vegetable production areas of Zhejiang province (China). The ecological risks of pesticides to soil biota were evaluated with toxicity exposure ratios (TERs) and risk quotient (RQ). The pesticide concentrations varied largely from below the limit of quantification to 20703.06 μg/kg (chlorpyrifos). The situation of pesticide residues in Jiaxing is more serious than in other cities. Soils in the vegetable areas are highly diverse in pesticide combinations. Eisenia fetida suffered exposure risk from multiple pesticides. The risk posed by chlorpyrifos, which exhibited the highest RQs at all scenarios, was worrisome. Only a few pesticides accounted for the overall risk of a city, while the other pesticides make little or zero contribution. This work will guide the appropriate use of pesticides and manage soil ecological risks, achieving green agricultural production.

The impacts of exposure to risk factors during youth on the increasing global trend of early-onset pancreatic cancer

OBJECTIVES

An increasing trend of pancreatic cancer in young adults has emerged in some countries. This study aimed to investigate global trends of pancreatic cancer in young adults and explore the impact of exposure to risk factors on pancreatic cancer incidence during youth.

METHODS

Global and national data on pancreatic cancer incidence, disability-adjusted life-years, attributive mortality, and summary exposure values of risk factors were retrieved from the Global Burden of Disease 2019. The average annual percent change (AAPC) of incidence and mortality was calculated. Additionally, generalized additive models were applied to explore the non-linear associations between the levels and changes in the Human Development Index and AAPC.

RESULTS

Global pancreatic cancer incidence increased during various periods from 1990 to 2019, particularly in adults aged <45 years from 2010 to 2019, at an average annual increase rate of 0.7% (95% confidence interval: 0.4-1.0%). The AAPC of early-onset pancreatic cancer incidence from 2010 to 2019 was negatively correlated with Human Development Index levels in both 2010 and 2019 but positively correlated with Human Development Index acceleration. Significant increases in early-onset pancreatic cancer incidence were observed over this period in 32 of 88 countries, primarily in South America, North America, Oceania, and Africa. Early-onset pancreatic cancer mortality attributed to high body mass index and fasting plasma glucose increased, while that attributed to tobacco use declined.

CONCLUSIONS

An increasing trend has emerged in the global incidence and burden of early-onset pancreatic cancer over the last few decades. This rise may partly be attributed to global epidemics of high body mass index and fasting plasma glucose.

Comparison of conservative management, microsurgery only, and microsurgery with preoperative embolization for unruptured arteriovenous malformations: A propensity score weighted prospective cohort study

AIMS

To compare the efficacy and deficiency of conservative management (CM), microsurgery (MS) only, and microsurgery with preoperative embolization (E + MS) for unruptured arteriovenous malformations (AVMs).

METHODS

We prospectively included unruptured AVMs undergoing CM, MS, and E + MS from our institution between August 2011 and August 2021. The primary outcomes were long-term neurofunctional outcomes and hemorrhagic stroke and death. In addition to the comparisons among CM, MS, and E + MS, E + MS was divided into single-staged hybrid and multi-staged E + MS for further analysis. Stabilized inverse probability of treatment weighting using propensity scores was applied to control for confounders by treatment indication across the three groups.

RESULTS

Of 3758 consecutive AVMs admitted, 718 patients were included finally (266 CM, 364 MS, and 88 E + MS). The median follow-up duration was 5.4 years. Compared with CM, interventions (MS and E + MS) were associated with neurological deterioration. MS could lower the risk of hemorrhagic stroke and death. Multi-staged E + MS was associated with neurological deterioration and higher hemorrhagic risks compared with MS, but the hybrid E + MS operation significantly reduced the hemorrhage risk.

CONCLUSION

In this study, unruptured AVMs receiving CM would expect better neurofunctional outcomes but bear higher risks of hemorrhage than MS or E + MS. The single-staged hybrid E + MS might be promising in reducing inter-procedural and subsequent hemorrhage.

The association between blue light exposure and incidence of type 2 diabetes: A prospective study of UK biobank

BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is the most common type of diabetes. However, research on the relationship between blue light exposure and diabetes development is limited.

OBJECTIVE

The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between blue light exposure and T2D incidence and whether it is affected by sleep duration, physical activity, outdoor activity time, and genetic susceptibility.

METHODS

A total of 471,686 participants without diabetes were recruited from the UK Biobank cohort. T2D incidence was assessed using hospital inpatient records. Blue light exposure was calculated based on the time spent watching TV, using a computer, and playing computer games, which was determined using an online questionnaire. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess the survival relationship between blue light exposure and T2D, as well as the potential modification effects.

RESULT

A total of 18,738 cases of T2D were documented during the median follow-up of 13.04 years. After adjusting for potential confounders, the participants with heavy blue light exposure had a greater risk of T2D compared to those with mild blue light exposure (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.17, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.12-1.23). A significant association between blue light exposure and T2D risk was observed among the participants with heavy physical activity (HR = 1.39, 95%CI: 1.25-1.55), healthy sleep habits (HR = 1.23, 95%CI: 1.10-1.36), higher outdoor activity time (HR = 1.14, 95%CI: 1.07-1.22), or high genetic susceptibility (HR = 1.24, 95%CI: 1.14-1.35). However, this association became non-significant among the participants with low genetic susceptibility (HR = 1.05, 95%CI: 0.97-1.15).

CONCLUSION

The present study showed that blue light exposure is associated with a greater risk of T2D independent of classical T2D risk factors.

Data mining and safety analysis of traditional immunosuppressive drugs: a pharmacovigilance investigation based on the FAERS database

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study aimed to explore the new and serious adverse events(AEs) of Tacrolimus(FK506), cyclosporine(CsA), azathioprine(AZA), mycophenolate mofetil(MMF), cyclophosphamide(CTX) and methotrexate(MTX), which have not been concerned.

METHODS

The FAERS data from January 2016 and December 2022 were selected for disproportionality analysis to discover the potential risks of traditional immunosuppressive drugs.

RESULTS

Compared with CsA, FK506 has more frequent transplant rejection, and is more related to renal impairment, COVID-19, cytomegalovirus infection and aspergillus infection. However, CsA has a high infection-related fatality rate. In addition, we also found some serious and rare AE in other drugs which were rarely reported in previous studies. For example, AZA is closely related to hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma with high fatality rate and MTX is strongly related to hypofibrinogenemia.

CONCLUSION

The AEs report on this study confirmed that the results were basically consistent with the previous studies, but there were also some important safety signals that were inconsistent with or not mentioned in previous published studies.

EXPERT OPINION

The opinion section discusses some of the limitations and shortcomings, proposing the areas where more effort should be invested in order to improve the safety of immunosuppressive drugs.

Global, regional, and national burden of disorders affecting the nervous system, 1990-2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

BACKGROUND

Disorders affecting the nervous system are diverse and include neurodevelopmental disorders, late-life neurodegeneration, and newly emergent conditions, such as cognitive impairment following COVID-19. Previous publications from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor Study estimated the burden of 15 neurological conditions in 2015 and 2016, but these analyses did not include neurodevelopmental disorders, as defined by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-11, or a subset of cases of congenital, neonatal, and infectious conditions that cause neurological damage. Here, we estimate nervous system health loss caused by 37 unique conditions and their associated risk factors globally, regionally, and nationally from 1990 to 2021.

METHODS

We estimated mortality, prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), years of life lost (YLLs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), with corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs), by age and sex in 204 countries and territories, from 1990 to 2021. We included morbidity and deaths due to neurological conditions, for which health loss is directly due to damage to the CNS or peripheral nervous system. We also isolated neurological health loss from conditions for which nervous system morbidity is a consequence, but not the primary feature, including a subset of congenital conditions (ie, chromosomal anomalies and congenital birth defects), neonatal conditions (ie, jaundice, preterm birth, and sepsis), infectious diseases (ie, COVID-19, cystic echinococcosis, malaria, syphilis, and Zika virus disease), and diabetic neuropathy. By conducting a sequela-level analysis of the health outcomes for these conditions, only cases where nervous system damage occurred were included, and YLDs were recalculated to isolate the non-fatal burden directly attributable to nervous system health loss. A comorbidity correction was used to calculate total prevalence of all conditions that affect the nervous system combined.

FINDINGS

Globally, the 37 conditions affecting the nervous system were collectively ranked as the leading group cause of DALYs in 2021 (443 million, 95% UI 378-521), affecting 3·40 billion (3·20-3·62) individuals (43·1%, 40·5-45·9 of the global population); global DALY counts attributed to these conditions increased by 18·2% (8·7-26·7) between 1990 and 2021. Age-standardised rates of deaths per 100 000 people attributed to these conditions decreased from 1990 to 2021 by 33·6% (27·6-38·8), and age-standardised rates of DALYs attributed to these conditions decreased by 27·0% (21·5-32·4). Age-standardised prevalence was almost stable, with a change of 1·5% (0·7-2·4). The ten conditions with the highest age-standardised DALYs in 2021 were stroke, neonatal encephalopathy, migraine, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, diabetic neuropathy, meningitis, epilepsy, neurological complications due to preterm birth, autism spectrum disorder, and nervous system cancer.

INTERPRETATION

As the leading cause of overall disease burden in the world, with increasing global DALY counts, effective prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation strategies for disorders affecting the nervous system are needed.

FUNDING

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Identification and analysis of MATE protein family in Gleditsia sinensis

Many studies have shown that multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE) is a new secondary transporter family that plays a key role in secondary metabolite transport, the transport of plant hormones and disease resistance in plants. However, detailed information on this family in Gleditsia sinensis has not yet been reported. In the present study, a total of 45 GsMATE protein members were identified and analysed in detail, including with gene classification, phylogenetic evaluation and conserved motif determination. Phylogenetic analysis showed that GsMATE proteins were divided into six subfamilies. Additionally, in order to understand these members' regulatory roles in growth and development in G. sinensis , the GsMATEs expression profiles in different tissues and different developmental stages of thorn were examined in transcriptome data. The results of this study demonstrated that the expression of all MATE genes varies in roots, stems and leaves. Notably, the expression levels of GsMATE26 , GsMATE32 and GsMATE43 differ most in the early stages of thorn development, peaking at higher levels than in later stages. Our results provide a foundation for further functional characterisation of this important class of transporter family in G. sinensis .

Ginseng polysaccharides ameliorate ulcerative colitis via regulating gut microbiota and tryptophan metabolism

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is regarded as a recurring inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, for which treatment approaches remain notably limited. In this study, we demonstrated that ginseng polysaccharides (GPs) could alleviate the development of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC as reflected by the ameliorated pathological lesions in the colon. GPs strikingly suppressed the expression levels of multiple inflammatory cytokines, as well as significantly inhibited the infiltration of inflammatory cells. Microbiota-dependent investigations by virtue of 16S rRNA gene sequencing, antibiotic treatment and fecal microbiota transplantation illustrated that GPs treatment prominently restored intestinal microbial balance predominantly through modulating the relative abundance of Lactobacillus. Additionally, GPs remarkably influenced the levels of microbial tryptophan metabolites, diminished the intestinal permeability and strengthened intestinal barrier integrity via inhibiting the 5-HT/HTR3A signaling pathway. Taken together, the promising therapeutic potential of GPs on the development of UC predominantly hinges on the capacity to suppress the expression of inflammatory cytokines as well as to influence Lactobacillus and microbial tryptophan metabolites.