Immune regulation and the tumor microenvironment in anti-PD-1/PDL-1 and anti-CTLA-4 therapies for cancer immune evasion: A bibliometric analysis

This study aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis, employing visualization tools to examine literature pertaining to tumor immune evasion related to anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy from 1999 to 2022. A special emphasis is placed on the interplay between tumor microenvironment, signaling pathways, immune cells and immune evasion, with data sourced from the Web of Science core collection (WoSCC). Advanced tools, including VOSviewer, Citespace, and Scimago Graphica, were utilized to analyze various parameters, such as co-authorship/co-citation patterns, regional contributions, journal preferences, keyword co-occurrences, and significant citation bursts. Out of 4778 publications reviewed, there was a marked increase in research focusing on immune evasion, with bladder cancer being notably prominent. Geographically, China, the USA, and Japan were the leading contributors. Prestigious institutions like MD Anderson Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Fudan University, and Sun Yat Sen University emerged as major players. Renowned journals in this domain included Frontiers in Immunology, Cancers, and Frontiers in Oncology. Ehen LP and Wang W were identified as prolific authors on this topic, while Topalian SL stood out as one of the most cited. Research current situation is notably pivoting toward challenges like immunotherapy resistance and the intricate signaling pathways driving drug resistance. This bibliometric study seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of past and current research trends, emphasizing the potential role of tumor microenvironment, signaling pathways and immune cells in the context of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and tumor immune evasion.

Lipidomics studies reveal dynamic changes in polar lipids of developing endosperm of oat and wheat varieties with differing oil contents

Polar lipids have biosynthetic pathways which intersect and overlap with triacylglycerol biosynthesis; however, polar lipids have not been well characterized in the developing endosperms of oat with high oil accumulation. The polar lipids in endosperms of oat and wheat varieties having different oil contents were analyzed and compared at different developmental stages. Our study shows that the relative contents of polar lipid by mass were decreased more slowly in wheat than in oat. Phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine were the major phospholipids, which showed similar abundance and gradual decreases during endosperm development in oat and wheat, while lysophospholipids were noticeably higher in oat. Monogalactosyldiacylglycerol showed a gradual increase in wheat and a decrease in oat during endosperm development. The relative contents of some polar lipid species and their unsaturation index were significantly different in their endosperms. These characteristics of polar lipids might indicate an adaption of oat to accommodate oil accumulation.

Post-acute ischemic stroke hyperglycemia aggravates destruction of the blood-brain barrier

JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202406000-00039/inline-graphic1/v/2023-10-30T152229Z/r/image-tiff

Post-acute ischemic stroke hyperglycemia increases the risk of hemorrhagic transformation, which is associated with blood-brain barrier disruption. Brain microvascular endothelial cells are a major component of the blood-brain barrier. Intercellular mitochondrial transfer has emerged as a novel paradigm for repairing cells with mitochondrial dysfunction. In this study, we first investigated whether mitochondrial transfer exists between brain microvascular endothelial cells, and then investigated the effects of post-acute ischemic stroke hyperglycemia on mitochondrial transfer between brain microvascular endothelial cells. We found that healthy brain microvascular endothelial cells can transfer intact mitochondria to oxygen glucose deprivation-injured brain microvascular endothelial cells. However, post-oxygen glucose deprivation hyperglycemia hindered mitochondrial transfer and exacerbated mitochondrial dysfunction. We established an in vitro brain microvascular endothelial cell model of the blood-brain barrier. We found that post-acute ischemic stroke hyperglycemia reduced the overall energy metabolism levels of brain microvascular endothelial cells and increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier. In a clinical study, we retrospectively analyzed the relationship between post-acute ischemic stroke hyperglycemia and the severity of hemorrhagic transformation. We found that post-acute ischemic stroke hyperglycemia serves as an independent predictor of severe hemorrhagic transformation. These findings suggest that post-acute ischemic stroke hyperglycemia can aggravate disruption of the blood-brain barrier by inhibiting mitochondrial transfer.

Role of sulfatide-reactive vNKT cells in promoting lung Treg cells via dendritic cell modulation in asthma models

Our previous studies have showed that sulfatide-reactive type II NKT (i.e. variant NKT, vNKT) cells inhibit the immunogenic maturation during the development of mature lung dendritic cells (LDCs), leading todeclined allergic airway inflammation in asthma. Nonetheless, the specific immunoregulatory roles of vNKT cells in LDC-mediated Th2 cell responses remain incompletely understood. Herein, we found that administration of sulfatide facilitated the generation of CD4+FoxP3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells in the lungs of wild-type mice, but not in CD1d-/- and Jα18-/- mice, after ovalbumin or house dust mite exposure. This finding implies that the enhancement of lung Treg cells by sulfatide requires vNKT cells, which dependent on invariant NKT (iNKT) cells. Furthermore, the CD4+FoxP3+ Treg cells induced by sulfatide-reactive vNKT cells were found to be associated with PD-L1 molecules expressed on LDCs, and this association was dependent on iNKT cells. Collectively, our findings suggest that in asthma-mimicking murine models, sulfatide-reactive vNKT cells facilitate the generation of lung Treg cells through inducing tolerogenic properties in LDCs, and this process is dependent on the presence of lung iNKT cells. These results may provide a potential therapeutic approach to treat allergic asthma.

CT venography combined with ultrasound-guided minimally invasive treatment for recurrent varicose veins: a pilot paired-design clinical trial

AIM

To compare 1-year outcomes of computed tomography venography (CTV) combined with ultrasound-guided minimally invasive treatment with ascending phlebography and ultrasound-guided treatment for recurrent varicose veins.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Consecutive patients with unilateral recurrent varicose veins were matched by gender, age, C classification, and degree of obesity, and randomised in a 1:1 ratio to receive either CTV (CTV group) or ascending phlebography (control group) combined with ultrasound-guided minimally invasive treatment. Patients were followed up by clinical and ultrasound examination. Follow-up was scheduled at 1 week, and 3, 6, and 12 months. The primary outcome measure was the Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS) at 12 months. Measures of secondary outcome included Chronic Insufficiency Venous International Questionnaire-20 (CIVIQ-20) score, recurrence of varicose vein or ulcer during 12 months, ulcer healing time, detection and location of treated veins.

RESULTS

Eighty patients were enrolled. Median VCSS in the CTV group was lower than it in the control group (p=0.04) and the CIVIQ-20 score was higher than the control group (p=0.02). By 12 months, no symptomatically recurrent varicose veins or ulcers had occurred. The ulcer healing time in CTV group was shorter (p<0.01). A greater number of patients had treated veins detected using CTV than by ascending venography (p=0.01), especially among patients with recurrence reflux veins in the groin, perineum, and vulva (p<0.01).

CONCLUSION

CTV combined with ultrasound may be more helpful than ascending phlebography combined with ultrasound to improve treatment efficacy for recurrent varices. These results should be verified by an future study with more patients and long-term follow-up.

Passive trapping of biomolecules in hotspots with all-dielectric terahertz metamaterials

Electromagnetic metamaterials feature the capability of squeezing photons into hotspot regions of high intensity near-field enhancement for strong light-matter interaction, underpinning the next generation of emerging biosensors. However, randomly dispersed biomolecules around the hotspots lead to weak interactions. Here, we demonstrate an all-silicon dielectric terahertz metamaterial sensor design capable of passively trapping biomoleculars into the resonant cavities confined with powerful electric field. Specifically, multiple controllable high-quality factor resonances driven by bound states in the continuum (BIC) are realized by employing longitudinal symmetry breaking. The dielectric metamaterial sensor with nearly 15.2 experimental figure-of-merit enabling qualitative and quantitative identification of different amino acids by delivering biomolecules to the hotspots for strong light-matter interactions. It is envisioned that the presented strategy will enlighten high-performance meta-sensors design from microwaves to visible frequencies, and serve as a potential platform for microfluidic sensing, biomolecular capture, and sorting devices.

Artesunate-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles resist esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by inducing Ferroptosis through inhibiting the AKT/mTOR signaling

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a severe malignancy with high incidence and mortality rate in China, while the application of standard chemotherapeutic drugs for ESCC meets the barriers of high toxicity and multiple drug resistance (MDR). In recent years, the anticancer effects of artesunate (ART), a Chinese medicine monomer have gained extensive attentions due to its characteristics of low toxicity, high potency, and reversal of MDR. In this study, we develop the artesunate-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNART) to overcome the poor water solubility and bioavailability of ART, further improving the efficiency of ART on ESCC treatment. Especially mentioned, SLNART is shown to present marked inhibitory effects on ESCC development based on the induction of ferroptosis by two pathways included upregulating TFR to increase Fe2+ ions and inhibiting the AKT/mTOR signaling to downregulate GPX4. Collectively, this study is the first to pave a promising approach for ESCC therapy based on a strategy of developing SLNART to induce ferroptosis by mediating Fe2+ ions and AKT/mTOR signaling.

Investigation of Basolateral Targeting Micelles for Drug Delivery Applications in Polycystic Kidney Disease

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a complex disorder characterized by uncontrolled renal cyst growth, leading to kidney function decline. The multifaceted nature of ADPKD suggests that single-pathway interventions using individual small molecule drugs may not be optimally effective. As such, a strategy encompassing combination therapy that addresses multiple ADPKD-associated signaling pathways could offer synergistic therapeutic results. However, severe off-targeting side effects of small molecule drugs pose a major hurdle to their clinical transition. To address this, we identified four drug candidates from ADPKD clinical trials, bardoxolone methyl (Bar), octreotide (Oct), salsalate (Sal), and pravastatin (Pra), and incorporated them into peptide amphiphile micelles containing the RGD peptide (GRGDSP), which binds to the basolateral surface of renal tubules via integrin receptors on the extracellular matrix. We hypothesized that encapsulating drug combinations into RGD micelles would enable targeting to the basolateral side of renal tubules, which is the site of disease, via renal secretion, leading to superior therapeutic benefits compared to free drugs. To test this, we first evaluated the synergistic effect of drug combinations using the 20% inhibitory concentration for each drug (IC20) on renal proximal tubule cells derived from Pkd1flox/-:TSLargeT mice. Next, we synthesized and characterized the RGD micelles encapsulated with drug combinations and measured their in vitro therapeutic effects via a 3D PKD growth model. Upon both IV and IP injections in vivo, RGD micelles showed a significantly higher accumulation in the kidneys compared to NT micelles, and the renal access of RGD micelles was significantly reduced after the inhibition of renal secretion. Specifically, both Bar+Oct and Bar+Sal in the RGD micelle treatment showed enhanced therapeutic efficacy in ADPKD mice (Pkd1fl/fl;Pax8-rtTA;Tet-O-Cre) with a significantly lower KW/BW ratio and cyst index as compared to PBS and free drug-treated controls, while other combinations did not show a significant difference. Hence, we demonstrate that renal targeting through basolateral targeting micelles enhances the therapeutic potential of combination therapy in genetic kidney disease.

Synthesis of N-H Aziridines from Unactivated Olefins Using Hydroxylamine-O-Sulfonic Acids as Aminating Agent

Herein, we presented a practical methodology for the intermolecular aziridination of alkenes, using HOSA as the aminating agent, alongside pyridine or piperidine as the base, within HFIP solvent system. Notably, this approach showcases excellent reactivity, especially with nonactivated alkenes, and facilitates the transformation of various alkenes substrates, including mono-, di-, tri, and tetra-substituted alkenes, into aziridines with moderate to excellent yield. This method presents a promising avenue for synthesizing aziridines from a wide range of alkenes, featuring the benefits of straightforward operation, mild reaction conditions, extensive substrate compatibility, and scalability.

Tumor-suppressive miR-4732-3p is sorted into fucosylated exosome by hnRNPK to avoid the inhibition of lung cancer progression

BACKGROUND

Aberrant fucosylation observed in cancer cells contributes to an augmented release of fucosylated exosomes into the bloodstream, where miRNAs including miR-4732-3p hold promise as potential tumor biomarkers in our pilot study. However, the mechanisms underlying the sorting of miR-4732-3p into fucosylated exosomes during lung cancer progression remain poorly understood.

METHODS

A fucose-captured strategy based on lentil lectin-magnetic beads was utilized to isolate fucosylated exosomes and evaluate the efficiency for capturing tumor-derived exosomes using nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and qRT-PCR were performed to determine the levels of miR-4732-3p in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissue samples. A co-culture system was established to assess the release of miRNA via exosomes from NSCLC cells. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and miRNA pull-down were applied to validate the interaction between miR-4732-3p and heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (hnRNPK) protein. Cell functional assays, cell derived xenograft, dual-luciferase reporter experiments, and western blot were applied to examine the effects of miR-4732-3p on MFSD12 and its downstream signaling pathways, and the impact of hnRNPK in NSCLC.

RESULTS

We enriched exosomes derived from NSCLC cells using the fucose-captured strategy and detected a significant upregulation of miR-4732-3p in fucosylated exosomes present in the serum, while its expression declined in NSCLC tissues. miR-4732-3p functioned as a tumor suppressor in NSCLC by targeting 3'UTR of MFSD12, thereby inhibiting AKT/p21 signaling pathway to induce cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase. NSCLC cells preferentially released miR-4732-3p via exosomes instead of retaining them intracellularly, which was facilitated by the interaction of miR-4732-3p with hnRNPK protein for selective sorting into fucosylated exosomes. Moreover, knockdown of hnRNPK suppressed NSCLC cell proliferation, with the elevated levels of miR-4732-3p in NSCLC tissues but the decreased expression in serum fucosylated exosomes.

CONCLUSIONS

NSCLC cells escape suppressive effects of miR-4732-3p through hnRNPK-mediated sorting of them into fucosylated exosomes, thus supporting cell malignant properties and promoting NSCLC progression. Our study provides a promising biomarker for NSCLC and opens a novel avenue for NSCLC therapy by targeting hnRNPK to prevent the "exosome escape" of tumor-suppressive miR-4732-3p from NSCLC cells.

Direct contact between tumor cells and platelets initiates a FAK-dependent F3/TGF-β positive feedback loop that promotes tumor progression and EMT in osteosarcoma

Platelets have received growing attention for their roles in hematogenous tumor metastasis. However, the tumor-platelet interaction in osteosarcoma (OS) remains poorly understood. Here, using platelet-specific focal adhesion kinase (FAK)-deficient mice, we uncover a FAK-dependent F3/TGF-β positive feedback loop in OS. Disruption of the feedback loop by inhibition of F3, TGF-β, or FAK significantly suppresses OS progression. We demonstrate that OS F3 initiated the feedback loop by increasing platelet TGF-β secretion, and platelet-derived TGF-β promoted OS F3 expression in turn and modulated OS EMT process. Immunofluorescence results indicate platelet infiltration in OS niche and we verified it was mediated by platelet FAK. In addition, platelet FAK was proved to mediate platelet adhesion to OS cells, which was vital for the initiation of F3/TGF-β feedback loop. Collectively, these findings provide a rationale for novel therapeutic strategies targeting tumor-platelet interplay in metastatic OS.

An pair of an atypical NLR encoding genes confer Asian soybean rust resistance in soybean

Asian soybean rust (ASR), caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi, is a devastating disease that is present in all major soybean-producing regions. The limited availability of resistant germplasm has resulted in a scarcity of commercial soybean cultivars that are resistant to the disease. To date, only the Chinese soybean landrace SX6907 has demonstrated an immune response to ASR. In this study, we present the isolation and characterization of Rpp6907-7 and Rpp6907-4, a gene pair that confer broad-spectrum resistance to ASR. Rpp6907-7 and Rpp6907-4 encode atypic nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) proteins that are found to be required for NLR-mediated immunity. Genetic analysis shows that only Rpp6907-7 confers resistance, while Rpp6907-4 regulates Rpp6907-7 signaling activity by acting as a repressor in the absence of recognized effectors. Our work highlights the potential value of using Rpp6907 in developing resistant soybean cultivars.

Potential global distribution of Setaria italica, an important species for dryland agriculture in the context of climate change

Setaria italica (S. italica, Linnaeus, 1753) is a drought-resistant, barren-tolerant, and widely adapted C-4 crop that plays a vital role in maintaining agricultural and economic stability in arid and barren regions of the world. However, the potential habitat of S. italica under current and future climate scenarios remains to be explored. Predicting the potential global geographic distribution of S. italica and clarifying its ecological requirements can help promote sustainable agriculture, which is crucial for addressing the global food crisis. In this study, we predicted the potential global geographic distribution of S. italica based on 3,154 global distribution records using the Maxent model and ArcGIS software. We assessed the constraints on its potential distribution based on the contribution of environmental factors variables. The predictive accuracy of the Maxent model was evaluated using AUC values, TSS values, and Kappa statistics, respectively. The results showed that the Maxent model had a high prediction accuracy, and the simulation results were also reliable; the total suitable habitats of S. italica is 5.54×107 km2, which mainly included the United States (North America), Brazil (South America), Australia (Oceania), China, India (Asia), and the Russian Federation (Europe). The most suitable habitat of S. italica was 0.52×107 km2, accounting for 9.44% of the total areas, mainly in the United States, India, the Russian Federation, and China. Soil and precipitation (driest monthly precipitation, hottest seasonal precipitation) are the most critical factors limiting the potential distribution of S. italica. Compared with the modern potential distribution, we predict that the four future climate change scenarios will result in varying reductions in the possible geographic ranges of S. italica. Overall, climate change may significantly affect the global distribution of S. italica, altering its worldwide production and trade patterns.

Estimation of the tumor size at cure threshold among adult patients with adrenocortical carcinoma: A populational-based study

Background

The prognostic significance of tumor size with adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) patients has not yet been thoroughly evaluated. Our objective was to investigate the influence of tumor size on prognostic value in adult ACC patients.

Methods

The Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program (SEER) was employed to identify adult ACC patients who had been diagnosed from 2004 to 2015. The "X-Tile" program determined the optimal cutoff value of tumor size. Cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survive (OS) were estimated. The survival outcomes and risk factors were analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier methods and the multivariable cox regression respectively.

Results

A total 426 adult ACC patients were included. Univariable and multivariable cox analysis revealed age, larger tumor size and metastasis as consistent predictors of lower CSS and OS. The optimal cutoff value of tumor size was identified as 8.5 cm using X-tile software, and Kaplan-Meier method showed dramatic prognostic difference between patients with larger tumors (＞8.5 cm) and smaller tumors (≤8.5 cm) (log-rank test, P < 0.001). Subgroup analyses revealed no statistical significance and a consistent proportionate effect of tumor size on CSS and OS across all eight pre-specified subgroups. Interestingly, an additional subgroup analysis showed that ACC patients could not benefit from chemotherapy in terms of CSS and OS.

Conclusion

The study suggests that tumor size is a crucial prognostic factor in ACC patients and a cutoff value 8.5 cm might indicate a poor outcome. Given the limitations of the available data, it is challenging to conclusively determine the benefit of chemotherapy in adult ACC patients across different tumor size ranges.

Current advances and future directions in combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma

The low incidence of combined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CCA) is an important factor limiting research progression. Our study extensively included nearly three decades of relevant literature and assembled the most comprehensive database comprising 5,742 patients with cHCC-CCA. We summarized the characteristics, tumor markers, and clinical features of these patients. Additionally, we present the evolution of cHCC-CCA classification and explain the underlying rationale for these classification standards. We reviewed cHCC-CCA diagnostic advances using imaging features, tumor markers, and postoperative pathology, as well as treatment options such as surgical, adjuvant, and immune-targeted therapies. In addition, recent advances in more effective chemotherapeutic regimens and immune-targeted therapies were explored. Furthermore, we described the molecular mutation features and potential specific markers of cHCC-CCA. The prognostic value of Nestin has been proven, and we speculate that Nestin will also play a role in classification and diagnosis. However, further research is needed. Moreover, we believe that the possibility of using machine learning liquid biopsy for preoperative diagnosis and establishing a scoring system are directions for future research.

A machine learning algorithm based on circulating metabolic biomarkers offers improved predictions of neurological diseases

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

A machine learning algorithm based on circulating metabolic biomarkers for the predictions of neurological diseases (NLDs) is lacking. To develop a machine learning algorithm to compare the performance of a metabolic biomarker-based model with that of a clinical model based on conventional risk factors for predicting three NLDs: dementia, Parkinson's disease (PD), and Alzheimer's disease (AD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) algorithm was used to construct a metabolic biomarker-based model (metabolic model), a clinical risk factor-based model (clinical model), and a combined model for the prediction of the three NLDs. Risk discrimination (c-statistic), net reclassification improvement (NRI) index, and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) index values were determined for each model.

RESULTS

The results indicate that incorporation of metabolic biomarkers into the clinical model afforded a model with improved performance in the prediction of dementia, AD, and PD, as demonstrated by NRI values of 0.159 (0.039-0.279), 0.113 (0.005-0.176), and 0.201 (-0.021-0.423), respectively; and IDI values of 0.098 (0.073-0.122), 0.070 (0.049-0.090), and 0.085 (0.068-0.101), respectively.

CONCLUSION

The performance of the model based on circulating NMR spectroscopy-detected metabolic biomarkers was better than that of the clinical model in the prediction of dementia, AD, and PD.

[Application and optimization of CRISPRi to the biology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis]

Tuberculosis, caused by infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), remains a global public health challenge. Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) strains make tuberculosis more difficult to control. New tools to study the biology of MTB can identify novel targets for drug discovery. Recently, the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats interference (CRISPRi) combined with next-generation sequencing has provided many novel insights into the physiology and genetics of MTB. This review summarizes the application and optimization of CRISPRi in MTB biology.

Regulation of Hard Segment Cluster Structures for High-performance Poly(urethane-urea) Elastomers

Elastomers are widely used in daily life; however, the preparation of degradable and recyclable elastomers with high strength, high toughness, and excellent crack resistance remains a challenging task. In this report, a polycaprolactone-based poly(urethane-urea) elastomer is presented with excellent mechanical properties by optimizing the arrangement of hard segment clusters. It is found that long alkyl chains of the chain extenders lead to small and evenly distributed hard segment clusters, which is beneficial for improving mechanical properties. Together with the multiple hydrogen bond structure and stress-induced crystallization, the obtained elastomer exhibits a high strength of 63.3 MPa, an excellent toughness of 431 MJ m-3 and an outstanding fracture energy of 489 kJ m-2, while maintaining good recyclability and degradability. It is believed that the obtained elastomer holds great promise in various application fields and it contributes to the development of a sustainable society.

Targeting the MCP-GPX4/HMGB1 Axis for Effectively Triggering Immunogenic Ferroptosis in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Induction of ferroptosis can inhibit cancer cells in vitro, however, the role of ferroptosis in treatment in vivo is controversial. The immunosuppressive cells activated by the ferroptotic tumor cells can promote the growth of residual tumor cells, hindering the application of ferroptosis stimulation in tumor treatment. In this study, a new strategy is aimed to be identified for effectively triggering immunogenic ferroptosis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and simultaneously stimulating antitumor immune responses. Toward this, several molecular and biochemical experiments are performed using patient-derived organoid models and a KPC mouse model (LSL-KrasG12D /+, LSL-Trp53R172H/+, Pdx-1-Cre). It is observed that the inhibition of macrophage-capping protein (MCP) suppressed the ubiquitin fold modifier (UFM)ylation of pirin (PIR), a newly identified substrate of UFM1, thereby decreasing the transcription of GPX4, a marker of ferroptosis, and promoting the cytoplasmic transportation of HMGB1, a damage-associated molecular pattern. GPX4 deficiency triggered ferroptosis, and the pre-accumulated cytosolic HMGB1 is released rapidly. This altered release pattern of HMGB1 facilitated the pro-inflammatory M1-like polarization of macrophages. Thus, therapeutic inhibition of MCP yielded dual antitumor effects by stimulating ferroptosis and activating antitumor pro-inflammatory M1-like macrophages. The nanosystem developed for specifically silencing MCP is a promising tool for treating PDAC.

Multilevel Heterogeneous Interfaces Enhanced Polarization Loss of 3D-Printed Graphene/NiCoO2/Selenides Aerogels for Boosting Electromagnetic Energy Dissipation

Heterointerface engineering is an attractive approach to modulating electromagnetic (EM) parameters and EM wave absorption performance. However, the weak interfacial interactions and poor impedance matching would lead to unsatisfactory EM absorption performance due to the limitation of the construction materials and design strategies. Herein, multilevel heterointerface engineering is proposed by in situ growing nanosheet-like NiCoO2 and selenides with abundant interface structures on 3D-printed graphene aerogel (GA) skeletons, which strengthens the interfacial effect and improves the dielectric polarization loss. Benefiting from the features of substantially enhanced polarization loss and optimized impedance matching, the graphene/S-NiCoO2/selenides (G/S-NCO/Se) have achieved brilliant EM wave absorption performance with a strong reflection loss (RL) value of -60.7 dB and a broad effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 8 GHz, which is about six times greater than that of the graphene aerogel (-9.8 dB). Moreover, it is further confirmed by charge density differences and off-axis electron holography that a large amount of polarized charge accumulates at the interface, leading to significant polarization relaxation behaviors. This work provides a deep understanding of the effect of a multilevel heterogeneous interface on dielectric polarization loss, which injects a fresh and infinite vitality for designing high-efficiency EM wave absorbers.

Dicyanoisophorone-based near-infrared fluorescent probe with large Stokes shift for the monitoring and bioimaging of hypochlorite

Hypochlorite (ClO-), as one of reactive oxygen species (ROS), is closely linked to various illnesses and is essential for the proper functioning of immune system. Hence, monitoring and assessing ClO- levels in organisms are extremely important for the clinical diagnosis of ClO--related disorders. In this study, a novel ClO--selective fluorescent probe, DCP-ClO, was synthesized with dicyanoisophorone-xanthene unit as parent fluorophore, which displayed excellent selectivity towards ClO-, near-infrared emission (755 nm), large Stokes shift (100 nm), real-time response to ClO-, high sensitivity (LOD = 3.95 × 10-8 M), and low cytotoxicity. The recognition mechanism of DCP-ClO towards ClO- was confirmed to be a typical ICT process by HPLC-MS, HR-MS, 1H NMR and theoretical calculations. Meanwhile, DCP-ClO demonstrated remarkable efficacy in monitoring ClO- levels in water samples and eye-catching ability in imaging endogenous/exogenous ClO- in living organisms, which verified its potential as a powerful tool for the recognition of ClO- in complex biological systems.

Biofunctional lipid nanoparticles for precision treatment and prophylaxis of bacterial infections

The lack of bacterial-targeting function in antibiotics and their prophylactic usage have caused overuse of antibiotics, which lead to antibiotic resistance and inevitable long-term toxicity. To overcome these issues, we develop neutrophil-bacterial hybrid cell membrane vesicle (HMV)-coated biofunctional lipid nanoparticles (LNP@HMVs), which are designed to transport antibiotics specifically to bacterial cells at the infection site for the effective treatment and prophylaxis of bacterial infection. The dual targeting ability of HMVs to inflammatory vascular endothelial cells and homologous Gram-negative bacterial cells results in targeted accumulation of LNP@HMVs in the site of infections. LNP@HMVs loaded with the antibiotic norfloxacin not only exhibit enhanced activity against planktonic bacteria and bacterial biofilms in vitro but also achieve potent therapeutic efficacy in treating both systemic infection and lung infection. Furthermore, LNP@HMVs trigger the activation of specific humoral and cellular immunity to prevent bacterial infection. Together, LNP@HMVs provide a promising strategy to effectively treat and prevent bacterial infection.

Yield-related quantitative trait loci identification and lint percentage hereditary dissection under salt stress in upland cotton

Salinity is frequently mentioned as a major constraint in worldwide agricultural production. Lint percentage (LP) is a crucial yield-component in cotton lint production. While the genetic factors affect cotton yield in saline soils are still unclear. Here, we employed a recombinant inbred line population in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and investigated the effects of salt stress on five yield and yield component traits, including seed cotton yield per plant, lint yield per plant, boll number per plant, boll weight, and LP. Between three datasets of salt stress (E1), normal growth (E2), and the difference values dataset of salt stress and normal conditions (D-value), 87, 82, and 55 quantitative trait loci (QTL) were detectable, respectively. In total, five QTL (qLY-Chr6-2, qBNP-Chr4-1, qBNP-Chr12-1, qBNP-Chr15-5, qLP-Chr19-2) detected in both in E1 and D-value were salt related QTL, and three stable QTL (qLP-Chr5-3, qLP-Chr13-1, qBW-Chr5-5) were detected both in E1 and E2 across 3 years. Silencing of nine genes within a stable QTL (qLP-Chr5-3) highly expressed in fiber developmental stages increased LP and decreased fiber length (FL), indicating that multiple minor-effect genes clustered on Chromosome 5 regulate LP and FL. Additionally, the difference in LP caused by Gh_A05G3226 is mainly in transcription level rather than in the sequence difference. Moreover, silencing of salt related gene (GhDAAT) within qBNP-Chr4-1 decreased salt tolerance in cotton. Our findings shed light on the regulatory mechanisms underlining cotton salt tolerance and fiber initiation.

Gastric paraganglioma: a case report and review of literature

Paragangliomas (PGLs) are rare neuroendocrine tumors which overproduce catecholamines (CAs). They are extra-adrenal, catecholamine-secreting tumors occurring outside the adrenal glands. Gastric PGLs originating from extra-adrenal paraganglia are exceptionally rare, and their presentation in geriatric patients further adds to the complexity of diagnosis and management. A 72-year-old male patient presented with enduring left upper abdominal pain and anemia persisting for over a year, and hypertension for six months. Physical examination revealed epigastric discomfort and pallor. Computed tomography scans revealed enlarged lymph nodes in the lesser curvature of the stomach and thickening of the gastric antrum wall with concavity. The patient underwent three cycles of neoadjuvant therapy before radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer. These imaging findings were confirmed during surgery and intraoperative blood pressure was in fluctuation. After the successful resection of the tumor, postoperative pathology confirmed paraganglioma. During postoperative examination, it was observed that the patient's CAs and their metabolites had returned to within the normal range. Combined with the existing ten literatures, we retrospective report the clinical and pathological characteristics and treatment strategies of the rare gastric paraganglioma.

Data-Driven Distributed Predictive Control for Voltage Regulation and Current Sharing in DC Microgrids With Communication Constraints

The use of nonideal communication networks makes communication constraints become a topical issue in the research of dc microgrids. How to design a distributed secondary control scheme for voltage recovery and accurate current sharing in islanded dc microgrids subject to communication constraints is of interest in this article. In order to restore the bus voltage to the rated value, a nonlinear element is first introduced into the primary control layer. Then, the closed-loop system of primary control is modeled as a data-driven time-varying linear system. Based on the established model, considering communication constraints, a distributed secondary predictive control strategy is developed to achieve accurate current sharing. While actively compensating for network delays and packet losses, the proposed method renders mathematical physical models unnecessary for the traditional predictive control, and simultaneously completes the multitask in dc microgrids. Finally, several case studies are conducted on a hardware microgrid experimental platform, which not only verifies the effectiveness of the designed data-driven predictive control strategy but also tests microgrid properties such as the plug-and-play ability.

An Easy and Effective Method for Evaluating the Position of Conus Medullaris: Counting the Number of Vertebral Ossification Center Below the End of Conus Medullaris

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to ascertain the conus medullaris position by counting the number of ossification centers in the vertebral bodies below the conus medullaris endpoint (N) and assess its utility in screening for closed spinal dysraphism and tethered cord syndrome.

METHODS

A total of 900 normal fetuses and 146 fetuses with closed spinal dysraphism or tethered cord syndrome were included in this study. The N values were tallied and compared along the spinal longitudinal plane. The receiver operating characteristic curve was utilized, and the cut-off value of N was analyzed.

RESULTS

The counting of N was successfully performed in 856 normal and 146 abnormal fetuses. In the normal group, an increase in N with gestational age was observed. Specifically, in the subgroup of 17-20 wk fetuses, N was ≥6 in 117 out of 131 cases. This figure increased to 211 out of 213 in 21-24 wk and 512 out of 512 in 25-41 wk, respectively. Cases with N ≥7 accounted for 715 out of 856 fetuses in the 17-41 wk range. In the abnormal group, N was less than 7 in 152 out of 163 fetuses, showing statistical differences between the two groups. With a cut-off value of 6.5, specificity and sensitivity reached 93.3% and 83.5%.

CONCLUSIONS

The counting of N was found to be a straightforward and efficient method for evaluating the position of the conus medullaris.

The mediating role of academic support perception in the relationship between emotional intelligence and bullying behaviours in clinical practice: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Bullying behaviours experienced by nursing interns in clinical practice are a considerable and serious concern. Understanding the factors that influence such behaviours in clinical practice is crucial for developing effective preventive measures and fostering a supportive learning environment.

PURPOSE

This study aims to investigate the prevalence and influencing factors of bullying behaviours experienced by nursing interns and examine the mediating role of academic support perception in the relationship between emotional intelligence and bullying behaviours in clinical practice.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study that used convenience sampling. A socio-demographic information questionnaire, Bullying Behaviours in Nursing Education Scale, Wong and Law's Emotional Intelligence Scale, and Academic Support in the Practicum Scale were used to collect data from nursing interns (n = 813) at seven tertiary hospitals in Changsha, China. Binary logistic regression and mediating analyses were used to explore the factors influencing bullying behaviours in nursing practice and examine the potential mediating role of academic support perception.

RESULTS

The prevalence of bullying behaviours in clinical practice among 813 nursing interns was 82.7 %. Binary logistic regression analyses indicated that attitude toward the nursing profession, emotional intelligence, and academic support perception were significantly associated with bullying behaviours in clinical practice. Academic support perception (β = 0.375, p < 0.001) played a significant mediating role in the relationship between emotional intelligence and bullying behaviours in clinical practice, accounting for 55.7 % of the total effect.

CONCLUSION

Nursing educators and administrators should recognise that improving emotional intelligence and enhancing academic support perception among nursing interns can reduce the occurrence of bullying behaviours in clinical practice.

Negative Photoconductivity of Fe3GeTe2 Crystal with Native Heterostructure for Ultraviolet to Terahertz Ultra-Broadband Photodetection

Gaining insight into the photoelectric behavior of ferromagnetic materials is significant for comprehensively grasping their intrinsic properties and broadening future application fields. Here, through a specially designed Fe3GeTe2/O-Fe3GeTe2 heterostructure, first, the broad-spectrum negative photoconductivity phenomenon of ferromagnetic nodal line semimetal Fe3GeTe2 is reported that covers UV-vis-infrared-terahertz bands (355 nm to 3000 µm), promising to compensate for the inadequacies of traditional optoelectronic devices. The significant suppression of photoexcitation conductivity is revealed to arise from the semimetal/oxidation (sMO) interface-assisted dual-response mechanism, in which the electron excitation origins from the semiconductor photoconductivity effect in high-energy photon region, and semimetal topological band-transition in low-energy photon region. High responsivities ranging from 103 to 100 mA W-1 are acquired within ultraviolet-terahertz bands under ±0.1 V bias voltage at room temperature. Notably, the responsivity of 2.572 A W-1 at 3000 µm (0.1 THz) and the low noise equivalent power of 26 pW Hz-1/2 surpass most state-of-the-art mainstream terahertz detectors. This research provides a new perspective for revealing the photoelectric conversion properties of Fe3GeTe2 crystal and paves the way for the development of spin-optoelectronic devices.

DHCR24 Insufficiency Promotes Vascular Endothelial Cell Senescence and Endothelial Dysfunction via Inhibition of Caveolin-1/ERK Signaling

Endothelial cells (ECs) senescence is critical for vascular dysfunction, which leads to age-related disease. DHCR24, a 3β-hydroxysterol δ 24 reductase with multiple functions other than enzymatic activity, has been involved in age-related disease. However, little is known about the relationship between DHCR24 and vascular ECs senescence. We revealed that DHCR24 expression is chronologically decreased in senescent human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and the aortas of aged mice. ECs senescence in endothelium-specific DHCR24 knockout mice was characterized by increased P16 and senescence-associated secretory phenotype, decreased SIRT1 and cell proliferation, impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation, and elevated blood pressure. In vitro, DHCR24 knockdown in young HUVECs resulted in a similar senescence phenotype. DHCR24 deficiency impaired endothelial migration and tube formation and reduced nitric oxide (NO) levels. DHCR24 suppression also inhibited the caveolin-1/ERK signaling, probably responsible for increased reactive oxygen species production and decreased eNOS/NO. Conversely, DHCR24 overexpression enhanced this signaling pathway, blunted the senescence phenotype, and improved cellular function in senescent cells, effectively blocked by the ERK inhibitor U0126. Moreover, desmosterol accumulation induced by DHCR24 deficiency promoted HUVECs senescence and inhibited caveolin-1/ERK signaling. Our findings demonstrate that DHCR24 is essential in ECs senescence.

Correlation between Disc Imaging Observations and Clinical Efficacy after Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy: A 1-Year Follow-up Study

OBJECTIVE

The connection between alterations in the disc structure following percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) and symptoms in patients postsurgery has not been reported yet. The purpose of the present study was to discuss the potential correlation between the changes in the morphological characteristics of various reference surfaces of the intervertebral disc after percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) and clinical outcomes, to identify the morphological parameters that affect efficacy and provide an evidence-based foundation for assessing postoperative efficacy.

METHODS

From October 2019 to October 2021, after percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD), 98 individuals were enrolled. MRI DICOM data of the lumbar spine were obtained before and after surgery, specifically around 3 months. The morphological parameters of the operated and adjacent segments of the discs were measured using T2-weighted images from three reference planes. Outcomes were assessed using the Oswestry disability index (ODI), visual analogue pain scores for the back and leg (VAS-back/VAS-leg), Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores, and recovery rates. Postoperative changes in disc parameters and outcomes were compared between patients with different severity and types of LDH based on the MSU staging. Patients completed the questionnaire during outpatient follow-up appointments 3, 6, and 12 months after the surgery. The follow-up period was 14.69 ± 4.21 months, ranging from 12 to 24 months.

RESULTS

Parameters such as area and circumference of intervertebral discs in the cross-section were not associated with the change in the efficacy index. Postoperatively, a negative correlation between the variation of the disc height, disc height index, and protrusion distance and the difference in VAS scores for low back pain at 3 and 6 months was observed among the two sagittal change parameters. Differences between changes in disc imaging parameters and postoperative efficacy were not statistically significant between various types of lumbar disc herniation.

CONCLUSION

For the patients after percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy, the changes in parameters such as disc area and circumference in the cross-sectional plane are not associated with efficacy, and the changes in disc height and herniation distance in the sagittal plane provide a morphologic basis for the assessment of short-term postoperative efficacy. In addition, the changes in disc morphologic parameters and postoperative efficacy do not differ between various types of lumbar disc herniation.

Achromobacter species (sp.) outbreak caused by hospital equipment containing contaminated water: risk factors for infection

BACKGROUND

Nosocomial outbreaks of urinary tract infections caused by Achromobacter spp. have been rare in recent decades.

AIM

To identify the origin of an Achromobacter sp. outbreak, conduct multi-modal infection control measures, and finally to stop the outbreak. To this end, an epidemiological outbreak investigation and risk factor analysis were performed.

METHODS

Achromobacter sp. was detected in 22 patients in our urology wards and six environmental cultures of specimens obtained from the operating rooms. Strains isolated were submitted for antimicrobial susceptibility testing. An on-site epidemiological investigation, evaluation of patient medical records, and environmental sampling were performed to identify the source of the outbreak, and implementation of infection control intervention. A case-control study was performed to analyse the potential risk factors.

FINDINGS

Environmental sampling showed that the source of the infection for 22 patients was an ISA-IIIA-type medical pressurizer containing contaminated water. A case-control analysis showed that the risk factors for infection were: diagnosis of kidney/ureteral stones, surgery, placement of a double-J stent, and history of hospitalization in the past three months.

CONCLUSION

It was concluded that the outbreak occurred in patients who underwent internal lithotripsy and double-J stent placement, due to contact transmission with the contaminated sensor and connecting tubes of the ISA-IIIA-type medical pressurizer.

The Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Infection on the Length of Stay in the Neuro-ICU:A Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study in Eight Neuro-ICU, China Between February and April 2023

Purpose

The SARS-CoV-2 infection cases are increasing rapidly in neuro-intensive care units (neuro-ICUs) at the beginning of 2023 in China. We aimed to characterize the prevalence, risk factors, and prognosis of critically ill patients treated in neuro-ICUs.

Materials and Methods

In the prospective, multicenter, observational registry study, critically ill patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and traumatic brain injury (TBI) admitted to eight Chinese neuro-ICUs between Feb 16, 2023, to Apr 30, 2023 were enrolled for the study. Mortality and ICU stay day were used as the primary outcomes.

Results

131 patients were finally included and analyzed (mean age 60.36 years [SD 13.81], 64.12% male, 39.69% SARS-CoV-2 infected). The mortality is higher in the SARS-CoV-2 infection group without statistical signification (7.69% vs 5.06%, p>0.05). The length of stay (LOS) in neuro-ICUs was significantly longer among the SARS-CoV-2 infection patients (7(1-12) vs 4(1-8), p<0.01), with increased viral pneumonia occurrence (58.54% vs 7.32%, p<0.01). SARS-CoV-2 infection, surgery, and low GCS scores were independent risk factors for prolonged LOS, and respiratory/renal failure were independent risk factors for death.

Conclusion

Based on the present neuro-ICU cohort, SARS-CoV-2 infection was a significant risk for the prolonged LOS of neuro-critically ill patients.

Trial Registration

Registered with Chictr.org.cn (ChiCTR2300068355) at 16 February 2023, Prospective registration. https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=188252.

Identification of a targeted ACSL4 inhibitor to treat ferroptosis-related diseases

Ferroptosis is a form of iron-dependent, lipid peroxidation-driven regulatory cell death that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple diseases, including organ injury, ischemia/reperfusion, and neurodegenerative diseases. However, inhibitors that directly and specifically target ferroptosis are not yet available. Here, we identify the compound AS-252424 (AS) as a potent ferroptosis inhibitor through kinase inhibitor library screening. Our results show that AS effectively inhibits lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis in both human and mouse cells. Mechanistically, AS directly binds to the glutamine 464 of ACSL4 to inhibit its enzymatic activity, resulting in the suppression of lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis. By using nanoparticle-based delivery systems, treatment with AS-loaded nanoparticles effectively alleviate ferroptosis-mediated organ injury in mouse models, including kidney ischemia/reperfusion injury and acute liver injury (ALI). Thus, our results identify that AS is a specific and targeted inhibitor of ACSL4 with remarkable antiferroptosis function, providing a potential therapeutic for ferroptosis-related diseases.

Exploring the potential of VGLL3 methylation as a prognostic indicator for intracranial aneurysm with gender-specific considerations

DNA methylation is widely recognized to play a role in intracranial aneurysm (IA) pathogenesis. We investigated the levels of methylation of vestigial-like 3 (VGLL3) in IA and explored its potential as a prognostic indicator. A total of 48 patients with IA and 48 healthy controls were included in the present study. Methylation levels of CpG sites were assessed using bisulfite pyrosequencing, and levels of VGLL3, TEAD, and YAP in the blood were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction testing. VGLL3 methylation was significantly higher in controls than in IA patients (P=0.001), and this phenomenon was more pronounced in females (P<0.001). Compared with the control group, the expression levels of VGLL3 and TEAD in the blood of IA patients were significantly increased, while YAP was significantly decreased. VGLL3 methylation was positively correlated with HDL (P=0.003) and female Lpa concentration (r = 0.426, P=0.03), and was also negatively correlated with age (P=0.003), APOE (P=0.005), and VGLL3 mRNA expression (P<0.001). Methylation and mRNA expression of VGLL3 may serve as indicators of IA risk in females (AUC = 0.810 and 0.809). VGLL3 methylation may participate in the pathogenesis of IA by regulating the expression of the VGLL3/TEAD/YAP pathway, and its gene methylation and expression levels have IA risk prediction value.

Measurements of All-Particle Energy Spectrum and Mean Logarithmic Mass of Cosmic Rays from 0.3 to 30 PeV with LHAASO-KM2A

We present the measurements of all-particle energy spectrum and mean logarithmic mass of cosmic rays in the energy range of 0.3-30 PeV using data collected from LHAASO-KM2A between September 2021 and December 2022, which is based on a nearly composition-independent energy reconstruction method, achieving unprecedented accuracy. Our analysis reveals the position of the knee at 3.67±0.05±0.15  PeV. Below the knee, the spectral index is found to be -2.7413±0.0004±0.0050, while above the knee, it is -3.128±0.005±0.027, with the sharpness of the transition measured with a statistical error of 2%. The mean logarithmic mass of cosmic rays is almost heavier than helium in the whole measured energy range. It decreases from 1.7 at 0.3 PeV to 1.3 at 3 PeV, representing a 24% decline following a power law with an index of -0.1200±0.0003±0.0341. This is equivalent to an increase in abundance of light components. Above the knee, the mean logarithmic mass exhibits a power law trend towards heavier components, which is reversal to the behavior observed in the all-particle energy spectrum. Additionally, the knee position and the change in power-law index are approximately the same. These findings suggest that the knee observed in the all-particle spectrum corresponds to the knee of the light component, rather than the medium-heavy components.

Study of High-Transverse-Momentum Higgs Boson Production in Association with a Vector Boson in the qqbb Final State with the ATLAS Detector

This Letter presents the first study of Higgs boson production in association with a vector boson (V=W or Z) in the fully hadronic qqbb final state using data recorded by the ATLAS detector at the LHC in proton-proton collisions at sqrt[s]=13  TeV and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137  fb^{-1}. The vector bosons and Higgs bosons are each reconstructed as large-radius jets and tagged using jet substructure techniques. Dedicated tagging algorithms exploiting b-tagging properties are used to identify jets consistent with Higgs bosons decaying into bb[over ¯]. Dominant backgrounds from multijet production are determined directly from the data, and a likelihood fit to the jet mass distribution of Higgs boson candidates is used to extract the number of signal events. The VH production cross section is measured inclusively and differentially in several ranges of Higgs boson transverse momentum: 250-450, 450-650, and greater than 650 GeV. The inclusive signal yield relative to the standard model expectation is observed to be μ=1.4_{-0.9}^{+1.0} and the corresponding cross section is 3.1±1.3(stat)_{-1.4}^{+1.8}(syst)  pb.

Cardioid oscillator-based pattern generator for imitating the time-ratio-asymmetrical behavior of the lower limb exoskeleton

Introduction

Periodicity, self-excitation, and time ratio asymmetry are the fundamental characteristics of the human gait. In order to imitate these mentioned characteristics, a pattern generator with four degrees of freedom is proposed based on cardioid oscillators developed by the authors.

Method

The proposed pattern generator is composed of four coupled cardioid oscillators, which are self-excited and have asymmetric time ratios. These oscillators are connected with other oscillators through coupled factors. The dynamic behaviors of the proposed oscillators, such as phase locking, time ratio, and self-excitation, are analyzed via simulations by employing the harmonic balance method. Moreover, for comparison, the simulated trajectories are compared with the natural joint trajectories measured in experiments.

Results and discussion

Simulation and experimental results show that the behaviors of the proposed pattern generator are similar to those of the natural lower limb. It means the simulated trajectories from the generator are self-excited without any additional inputs and have asymmetric time ratios. Their phases are locked with others. Moreover, the proposed pattern generator can be applied as the reference model for the lower limb exoskeleton controlling algorithm to produce self-adjusted reference trajectories.

Shexiang Tongxin dropping pills protect against ischemic stroke-induced cerebral microvascular dysfunction via suppressing TXNIP/NLRP3 signaling pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Patients with ischemic stroke (IS) often continue to exhibit cerebral microcirculatory dysfunction even after receiving thrombolytic therapy. Enhancing the function of cerebral microvascular endothelia represents a pivotal advancement in the therapeutic strategy for ischemic microcirculatory disturbances. A traditional Chinese medicinal formulation named Shexiang Tongxin Dropping Pills (STDP), has been clinically employed to ameliorate microcirculatory abnormalities. Existing literature attests to the beneficial role of STDP on endothelial cells (ECs). Nevertheless, specific impacts and underlying mechanisms of STDP in rectifying IS-induced cerebral microvascular dysfunction warrant further exploration.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This investigation seeks to delineate the effects of STDP on cerebral microvascular endothelial damage induced by ischemic stroke and to elucidate the underlying mechanism involved.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion (MCAO/R) technique was employed to established ischemic stroke model in mice. The therapeutic efficacy of STDP on cerebral microvascular function was assessed through laser speckle contrast imaging, behavioral assays, and histological evaluations. Biochemical markers in the brain tissue, including GSH, SOD, MDA, and ROS, were quantified using specific assay kits. In vitro study, oxygen-glucose deprivation and reperfusion (OGD/R) was performed in bEnd.3 cells. The cytoprotective potential of STDP was then evaluated by measuring cell viability, LDH activity, endothelial permeability, and oxidative stress parameters. Important targets in critical pathway were verified by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence both in mice brain slices and bEnd.3 cells.

RESULTS

STDP decrease brain infarct size, repaired microvascular cerebral blood flow and attenuated neurological deficiency in MCAO/R mice. Moreover, STDP abolished MCAO/R-induced oxidative stress which was reflected by rescuing GSH content, restoration of SOD activity and T-AOC, reduction of MDA and ROS. Ex vivo, STDP increased cerebral microvascular endothelial cells viability, abolished oxidative stress and decreased their permeability after ODG/R. Mechanistically, STDP significantly suppressed endothelial ROS-TXNIP mediated the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in vivo and in vitro.

CONCLUSION

STDP improves ischemic stroke-induced cerebral microcirculatory deficits by regulating cerebral microvascular endothelial ROS/TXNIP/NLRP3 signaling pathway.

Virome survey of the bat, Rhinolophus affinis, in Hainan Province, China

Bats are important mammal reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens. However, due to research limitations involving species, locations, pathogens, or sample types, the full diversity of viruses in bats remains to be discovered. We used next-generation sequencing technology to characterize the mammalian virome and analyze the phylogenetic evolution and diversity of mammalian viruses carried by bats from Haikou City and Tunchang County in Hainan Province, China. We collected 200 pharyngeal swab and anal swab samples from Rhinolophus affinis, combining them into nine pools based on the sample type and collection location. We subjected the samples to next-generation sequencing and conducted bioinformatics analysis. All samples were screened via specific PCR and phylogenetic analysis. The diverse viral reads, closely related to mammals, were assigned into 17 viral families. We discovered many novel bat viruses and identified some closely related to known human/animal pathogens. In the current study, 6 complete genomes and 2 partial genomic sequences of 6 viral families and 8 viral genera have been amplified, among which 5 strains are suggested to be new virus species. These included coronavirus, pestivirus, bastrovirus, bocavirus, papillomavirus, parvovirus, and paramyxovirus. The primary finding is that a SADS-related CoV and a HoBi-like pestivirus identified in R. affinis in Hainan Province could be pathogenic to livestock. This study expands our understanding of bats as a virus reservoir, providing a basis for further research on the transmission of viruses from bats to humans.

Combined detection of serum IL-6 and CEA contributes to the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma in situ

Background

Effective discrimination of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) in situ (AIS) from benign pulmonary nodules (BPN) is critical for the early diagnosis of AIS. Our pilot study in a small cohort of 90 serum samples has shown that serum interleukin 6 (IL-6) detection can distinguish AIS from BPN and health controls (HC). In this study, we intend to comprehensively define the diagnostic value of individual and combined detection of serum IL-6 related to the traditional tumor markers carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cytokeratin 19 fragment (CYFRA21-1) for AIS.

Methods

The diagnostic performance of serum IL-6 along with CEA and CYFRA21-1 were evaluated in a large cohort of 300 serum samples by a chemiluminescence immunoassay and an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. A training set comprised of 65 AIS, 65 BPN, and 65 HC samples was used to develop the predictive model for AIS. Data obtained from an independent validation set was applied to evaluate and validate the predictive model.

Results

In the training set, the levels of serum IL-6 and CEA in the AIS group were significantly higher than those in the BPN/HC group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in serum CYFRA21-1 levels between the AIS group and the BPN/HC group (P> 0.05). Serum IL-6 and CEA levels for AIS patients showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.622 with 23.1% sensitivity at 90.7% specificity, and an AUC of 0.672 with 24.6% sensitivity at 97.6% specificity, respectively. The combination of serum IL-6 and CEA presented an AUC of 0.739, with 60.0% sensitivity at 95.4% specificity. The combination of serum IL-6 and CEA showed an AUC of 0.767 for AIS patients, with 57.1% sensitivity at 91.4% specificity in the validation set.

Conclusions

IL-6 shows potential as a prospective serum biomarker for the diagnosis of AIS, and the combination of serum IL-6 with CEA may contribute to increased accuracy in AIS diagnosis. However, it is worth noting that further research is still necessary to validate and optimize the diagnostic efficacy of these biomarkers and to address potential sensitivity limitations.

Resistance model of an active capsule endoscope in a peristaltic intestine

In the past studies, the resistance of magnetically controlled capsules running through the small intestine has been modeled assuming that the small intestine was a circular tube with a constant diameter. Peristalsis is an important character of the human gastrointestinal system, and it would result in some changes in the diameter of the intestine, meaning that the existing resistance models would no longer be applicable. In this paper, based on the assumption that intestinal peristalsis is actually a sinusoidal wave, a resistance model of the capsule running in the peristaltic intestine is established, and then it is validated experimentally. The model provides a realistic foundation for the optimization and control of the magnetically controlled endoscopy.

Optimization and Application of the QuEChERS-UHPLC-QTOF-MS Method for the Determination of Broflanilide Residues in Agricultural Soils

In this study, the separation conditions of UHPLC-QTOF-MS and the extraction conditions of QuEChERS were optimized. The analytical process for determining Broflanilide residues in different soil types was successfully established and applied to its adsorption, desorption, and leaching in soil. Broflanilide was extracted from soil with acetonitrile and purified using PSA and MgSO4. The modified UHPLC-QTOF-MS method was used for quantification. The average recovery of Broflanilide was between 87.7% and 94.38%, with the RSD lower than 7.6%. In the analysis of adsorption, desorption, and leaching quantities in four soil types, the RSD was less than 9.2%, showing good stability of the method, which can be applied to determine the residue of Broflanilide in different soils.

Pembrolizumab in patients from China with microsatellite instability-high/mismatch repair deficient tumors: KEYNOTE-158

Aim: To evaluate pembrolizumab in patients of Chinese descent with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H)/deficient mismatch repair (dMMR) tumors enrolled in KEYNOTE-158 (Cohort L). Methods: Patients with MSI-H/dMMR advanced tumors received pembrolizumab 200 mg IV Q3W. Primary end point was overall response rate (ORR). Secondary end points were duration of response (DOR), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: 24 patients were enrolled (20 were evaluable for efficacy). With median follow-up of 12.4 months, the ORR was 70%. DOR, PFS and OS were all not reached. A total of 19 (79%) patients had a treatment-related adverse event (AE; grade ≥3 in 4 [17%]), and 8 (33%) had an immune-mediated AE (grade ≥3 in (4 [17%]). Conclusion: Pembrolizumab provided meaningful and durable responses with manageable safety. These results are consistent with those reported for the global trial.

Maternal dietary fat during lactation shapes single nucleus transcriptomic profile of postnatal offspring hypothalamus in a sexually dimorphic manner in mice

Maternal overnutrition during lactation predisposes offspring to develop metabolic diseases and exacerbates the relevant syndromes in males more than females in later life. The hypothalamus is a heterogenous brain region that regulates energy balance. Here we combined metabolic trait quantification of mother and offspring mice under low and high fat diet (HFD) feeding during lactation, with single nucleus transcriptomic profiling of their offspring hypothalamus at peak lacation to understand the cellular and molecular alterations in response to maternal dietary pertubation. We found significant expansion in neuronal subpopulations including histaminergic (Hdc), arginine vasopressin/retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor β (Avp/Rorb) and agouti-related peptide/neuropeptide Y (AgRP/Npy) in male offspring when their mothers were fed HFD, and increased Npy-astrocyte interactions in offspring responding to maternal overnutrition. Our study provides a comprehensive offspring hypothalamus map at the peak lactation and reveals how the cellular subpopulations respond to maternal dietary fat in a sex-specific manner during development.

Microwave-assisted DES fabrication of lignin-containing cellulose nanofibrils and its derived composite conductive hydrogel

Deep eutectic solvents (DES) have been regarded as green solvents in the biorefinery of lignocellulosic biomass, but long duration time has severely limited efficiency. The microwave-assisted DES pretreatment along with enzymatic hydrolysis and high-pressure homogenization process was proposed to produce lignin-containing cellulose nanofibrils (LCNF) from corncob. Benefiting from microwave-assisted DES pretreatment, the duration time was greatly shortened; meanwhile the effects of different kinds of DES on the resultant LCNF were investigated. The results showed that, the microwave-assisted DES fabricated LCNF (M-LCNF) was successfully obtained, exhibiting good nano size, thermal stability, colloidal stability, and fluorescence. M-LCNF was further introduced into phytic acid (PA) enhanced poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (P(AM-co-AA)) network and constructed composite conductive hydrogels (PLP). The obtained hydrogels exhibited good mechanical strength, UV blocking ability, fluorescence, and conductivity. A simple battery assembled with the resultant PLP as electrolyte had an out voltage of 2.41 V. The composite conductive hydrogel showed good sensing performance towards different stimuli (e.g., stretching and compression) and human motions in real time. It is expected that this research would provide an alternative way for green fabrication of LCNF and potential application of LCNF in flexible sensors.

Expression of human Ras-related protein Rab39B variant T168K in Caenorhabditis elegans leads to motor dysfunction and dopaminergic neuron degeneration

Human RAB39B gene is related to familial early-onset Parkinson disease. In early adulthood, men with the RAB39B c.503C > A (Thr168Lys, p. T168K) mutation develop typical tremor, bradykinesia, and alpha-synuclein accumulation. We investigated the pathological mechanism of RAB39B T168K in a Caenorhabditis elegans model. In early adult C. elegans, RAB39B T168K led to dopaminergic neuron degeneration that presented as disrupted dendrites and blunt neuronal cells. Abnormal dopamine secretion was inferred from a decline in motor function and a positive basal slowing phenotype. Dopamine-associated tests confirmed that synthesis and recycling of dopamine were normal. The RAB39B T168K mutation might impair dopamine vesicular transmission from the presynaptic membrane to the synaptic gap in dopaminergic neurons. The release-dependent feedback mechanism in neurotransmitters regulates the balance of receptor activities. Protein-protein interactions network analysis revealed that RAB39B may also function in lysosomal degradation and autophagy. Impaired disposal of misfolded α-synuclein eventually leads to protein aggregation. Thus, like other members of the Rab family, RAB39B may be involved in vesicular transport associated with dopamine secretion and α-synuclein clearance.

A parametric design framework for the mass customization of bicycle helmet

Cluster analysis of 3D head shapes plays a crucial role in the mass customization design of products related to the head. Head shapes exhibit variations across different races, and designing helmets exclusively for Chinese individuals cannot solely rely on or reference foreign head models. Currently, research on cluster analysis of Chinese head shapes is limited, especially concerning shape variances. To address this, we developed an improved k-medoids algorithm and integrated Cluster Validity Index as an assessment metric. This enabled us to cluster 339 Chinese young males aged 18 to 30 into 7 groups based on their head shapes. By comparing our improved algorithm to the traditional k-medoids method, we affirmed its superiority in achieving higher sample participation rates and reducing inter-cluster sample disparities. To simplify the helmet design and editing process, and to improve the efficiency of mass customization, we have developed a parametric modeling program for bicycle helmets based on the head shape clustering results. Results from the Helmet Fit Index and stress simulation analysis demonstrate that our approach significantly enhances helmet fit and wearer comfort.

Global analysis of T-cell groups reveals immunological features and common antigen targets of digestive tract tumors

BACKGROUND

T cells are key players in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), as they can recognize and eliminate cancer cells that express neoantigens derived from somatic mutations. However, the diversity and specificity of T-cell receptors (TCRs) that recognize neoantigens are largely unknown, due to the high variability of TCR sequences among individuals.

METHODS

To address this challenge, we applied GLIPH2, a novel algorithm that groups TCRs based on their predicted antigen specificity and HLA restriction, to cluster the TCR repertoire of 1,702 patients with digestive tract cancer. The patients were divided into five groups based on whether they carried tumor-infiltrating or clonal-expanded TCRs and calculated their TCR diversity. The prognosis, tumor subtype, gene mutation, gene expression, and immune microenvironment of these groups were compared. Viral specificity inference and immunotherapy relevance analysis performed for the TCR groups.

RESULTS

This approach reduced the complexity of TCR sequences to 249 clonally expanded and 150 tumor-infiltrating TCR groups, which revealed distinct patterns of TRBV usage, HLA association, and TCR diversity. In gastric adenocarcinoma (STAD), patients with tumor-infiltrating TCRs (Patients-TI) had significantly worse prognosis than other patients (Patients-nonTI). Patients-TI had richer CD8+ T cells in the immune microenvironment, and their gene expression features were positively correlated with immunotherapy response. We also found that tumor-infiltrating TCR groups were associated with four distinct tumor subtypes, 26 common gene mutations, and 39 gene expression signatures. We discovered that tumor-infiltrating TCRs had cross-reactivity with viral antigens, indicating a possible link between viral infections and tumor immunity.

CONCLUSION

By applying GLIPH2 to TCR sequences from digestive tract tumors, we uncovered novel insights into the tumor immune landscape and identified potential candidates for shared TCRs and neoantigens.