Escherichia coli and HPV16 coinfection may contribute to the development of cervical cancer

Persistent human papillomavirus HPV infection is a necessary but insufficient condition for cervical cancer. Microorganisms are crucial environmental factors in cancers susceptibility and progression, recently attracting considerable attention. This study aimed to determine the infection status and relationship between high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) and lower genital tract infectious pathogens in cervical cancer and its precursors. From a retrospective and a prospective cohort analysis, Escherichia coli (E. coli) dominated the pathogens isolated from cervical discharges, and an isolation rate uptrend has been shown recently. HPV16 and E. coli's coinfection rate gradually increased with the severity of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. The adhesion and invasion abilities of the isolated E. coli to HPV16-positive SiHa cells were evaluated in vitro. The TCGA database and cervical tissues samples analysis showed that IL-10 was upregulated in cervical cancer. IL-10 expression levels increased in tissue samples with the severity of cervical cancer and its precursors with HPV16 and E. coli coinfection. Although no significant changes in IL-10 production were observed in the co-culture supernatant, we hypothesized that Treg immune cells in the tumour microenvironment might be responsible for the local IL-10 upregulation, according to our data showing Foxp3 upregulation and an upward trend with the cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grading to cancer and tumours with E. coli and HPV16 coinfection. Our data provide insights into the possible role of E. coli in cervical cancer progression and suggest that the application of HPV and E. coli screening programs may be an effective strategy to relieve the burden of cervical cancer and its precursor lesions.

Parents' knowledge and attitudes towards extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and their post-traumatic stress symptoms

This cross-sectional study, conducted between January 2020 and July 2023, aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) among parents with children undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment. Out of 201 valid questionnaires collected, the median knowledge score was 3.00, the mean attitude score was 27.00 ± 3.20, and the mean PTSS score was 3.50 ± 1.54. Logistic regression identified associations between PTSS and parents with lower education levels, particularly junior high school and high school/technical secondary school education, as well as those occupied as housewives. Structural equation modeling highlighted direct effects, such as the impact of residence on education, education on employment status, and associations between knowledge, attitude, PTSS, employment status, monthly income, and parental demographics. The findings indicated inadequate knowledge and suboptimal attitudes among parents, especially those with lower education levels, emphasizing the need for educational resources. Furthermore, addressing parental PTSS through psychosocial support and screening was deemed essential, providing valuable insights for tailored interventions in this context.

CHES1 modulated tumorigenesis and senescence of pancreas cancer cells through repressing AKR1B10

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), is characteristic by a heterogeneous tumor microenvironment and gene mutations, conveys a dismal prognosis and low response to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Here, we found that checkpoint suppressor 1 (CHES1) served as a tumor repressor in PDAC and was associated with patient prognosis. Functional experiments indicated that CHES1 suppressed the proliferation and invasion of PDAC by modulating cellular senescence. To further identify the downstream factor of CHES1 in PDAC, label-free quantitative proteomics analysis was conducted, which showed that the oncogenic Aldo-keto reductase 1B10 (AKR1B10) was transcriptionally repressed by CHES1 in PDAC. And AKR1B10 facilitated the malignant activity and repressed senescent phenotype of PDAC cells. Moreover, pharmaceutical inhibition of AKR1B10 with Oleanolic acid (OA) significantly induced tumor regression and sensitized PDAC cells to gemcitabine, and this combined therapy did not cause obvious side effects. Rescued experiments revealed that CHES1 regulated the tumorigenesis and gemcitabine sensitivity through AKR1B10-mediated senescence in PDAC. In summary, this study revealed that the CHES1/AKR1B10 axis modulated the progression and cellular senescence in PDAC, which might provide revenues for drug-targeting and senescence-inducing therapies for PDAC.

TEAD1, MYO7A and NDUFC2 are novel functional genes associated with glucose metabolism in BXD recombinant inbred population

AIM

The liver is an important metabolic organ that governs glucolipid metabolism, and its dysfunction may cause non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia, etc. We aimed to systematic investigate the key factors related to hepatic glucose metabolism, which may be beneficial for understanding the underlying pathogenic mechanisms for obesity and diabetes mellitus.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) phenotypes and liver transcriptomes of BXD mice under chow and high-fat diet conditions were collected from GeneNetwork. QTL mapping was conducted to pinpoint genomic regions associated with glucose homeostasis. Candidate genes were further nominated using a multi-criteria approach and validated to confirm their functional relevance in vitro.

RESULTS

Our results demonstrated that plasma glucose levels in OGTT were significantly affected by both diet and genetic background, with six genetic regulating loci were mapped on chromosomes 1, 4, and 7. Moreover, TEAD1, MYO7A and NDUFC2 were identified as the candidate genes. Functionally, siRNA-mediated TEAD1, MYO7A and NDUFC2 knockdown significantly decreased the glucose uptake and inhibited the transcription of genes related to insulin and glucose metabolism pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study contributes novel insights to the understanding of hepatic glucose metabolism, demonstrating the impact of TEAD1, MYO7A and NDUFC2 on mitochondrial function in the liver and their regulatory role in maintaining in glucose homeostasis.

Reconstructing Randomly Masked Spectra Helps DNNs Identify Discriminant Wavenumbers

Nondestructive detection methods, based on vibrational spectroscopy, are vitally important in a wide range of applications including industrial chemistry, pharmacy and national defense. Recently, deep learning has been introduced into vibrational spectroscopy showing great potential. Different from images, text, etc. that offer large labeled data sets, vibrational spectroscopic data is very limited, which requires novel concepts beyond transfer and meta learning. To tackle this, we propose a task-enhanced augmentation network (TeaNet). The key component of TeaNet is a reconstruction module that inputs randomly masked spectra and outputs reconstructed samples that are similar to the original ones, but include additional variations learned from the domain. These augmented samples are used to train the classification model. The reconstruction and prediction parts are trained simultaneously, end-to-end with back-propagation. Results on both synthetic and real-world datasets verified the superiority of the proposed method. In the most difficult synthetic scenarios TeaNet outperformed CNN by 17%. We visualized and analysed the neuron responses of TeaNet and CNN, and found that TeaNet's ability to identify discriminant wavenumbers was excellent compared to CNN. Our approach is general and can be easily adapted to other domains, offering a solution to more accurate and interpretable few-shot learning.

E3 ubiquitin ligase BCA2 promotes breast cancer stemness by up-regulation of SOX9 by LPS

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most malignant subtype of breast cancer. Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) are believed to play a crucial role in the carcinogenesis, therapy resistance, and metastasis of TNBC. It is well known that inflammation promotes stemness. Several studies have identified breast cancer-associated gene 2 (BCA2) as a potential risk factor for breast cancer incidence and prognosis. However, whether and how BCA2 promotes BCSCs has not been elucidated. Here, we demonstrated that BCA2 specifically promotes lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced BCSCs through LPS induced SOX9 expression. BCA2 enhances the interaction between myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88 (MyD88) and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and inhibits the interaction of MyD88 with deubiquitinase OTUD4 in the LPS-mediated NF-κB signaling pathway. And SOX9, an NF-κB target gene, mediates BCA2's pro-stemness function in TNBC. Our findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms by which BCA2 promotes breast cancer and potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of breast cancer.

USP3: Key deubiquitylation enzyme in human diseases

Ubiquitination and deubiquitylation are pivotal posttranslational modifications essential for regulating cellular protein homeostasis and are implicated in the development of human diseases. Ubiquitin-specific protease 3 (USP3), a member of the ubiquitin-specific protease family, serves as a key deubiquitylation enzyme, playing a critical role in diverse cellular processes including the DNA damage response, cell cycle regulation, carcinogenesis, tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Despite notable research efforts, our current understanding of the intricate and context-dependent regulatory networks governing USP3 remains incomplete. This review aims to comprehensively synthesize existing published works on USP3, elucidating its multifaceted roles, functions, and regulatory mechanisms, while offering insights for future investigations. By delving into the complexities of USP3, this review strives to provide a foundation for a more nuanced understanding of its specific roles in various cellular processes. Furthermore, the exploration of USP3's regulatory networks may uncover novel therapeutic strategies targeting this enzyme in diverse human diseases, thereby holding promising clinical implications. Overall, an in-depth comprehension of USP3's functions and regulatory pathways is crucial for advancing our knowledge and developing targeted therapeutic approaches for human diseases.

Case report: A case of anti-glycine receptor encephalomyelitis triggered by post-transplant or COVID-19 infection?

Even though long-term immunosuppressant drugs (ISD) are employed to inhibit immune system activity, enhancing graft functionality and patient survival in solid organ transplantation (SOT), these transplants often lead to immune complications, with post-transplant autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) being uncommon. Here, we detail the case of a 66-year-old woman who underwent a renal transplantation 8 months prior, who was admitted with subacute onset of encephalomyelitis, accompanied by headaches, paraplegia, weakness, vomiting, and abdominal pain, with a positive COVID-19 nasopharyngeal swab test 1 month before admission. MRI scans of the brain revealed multiple lesions in the white matter of the bilateral deep frontal lobe, the left temporal lobe and insula lobe. Additionally, there were multiple short segment lesions in the spinal cord and subdural hematoma at T1, T6-T7 posterior. The serum revealed a positive result for GlyR-IgG. Following the administration of corticosteroid and intravenous immunoglobulin, there was a significant improvement in the patient's symptoms within 2 weeks, and her brain MRI showed a reduction in the lesion. Despite its rarity, we believe this to be the inaugural documentation of anti-GlyR encephalomyelitis occurring during renal transplantation. A full panel of antibodies for autoimmune encephalomyelitis is the key leading to the diagnosis.

The effects of environmental factors on the synthesis of water-soluble Monascus red pigments via submerged fermentation: a review

Monascus pigments (MPs) have been used as natural food pigments for many years. There is a high demand for Monascus red pigments (MRPs) to enhance color and for antibacterial and cancer prevention therapies in food and medicine. Most MRPs are not water soluble, and the yield of water-soluble MRPs is naturally low. On the other hand, water-soluble MRP is more cost effective for application in industrial mass production. Therefore, it is important to improve the yield of water-soluble MRPs. Environmental factors have a significant influence on the synthesis of water-soluble MRPs, which is crucial for the development of industrial production of water-soluble MRPs. This review introduces the biosynthetic pathways of water-soluble MRPs and summarizes the effects of environmental factors on the yield of water-soluble MRPs. Acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) is a precursor for MPs synthesis. Carbon and nitrogen sources and the carbon/nitrogen ratio can impact MP production by regulating the metabolic pathway of acetyl-CoA. Optimization of fermentation conditions to change the morphology of Monascus can stimulate the synthesis of MPs. The appropriate choice of nitrogen sources and pH values can promote the synthesis of MRPs from MPs. Additives such as metal ions and non-ionic surfactants can affect the fluidity of Monascus cell membrane and promote the transformation of MRPs into water-soluble MRPs. This review will lay the foundation for the industrial production of water-soluble MRPs. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Artificial kagome lattices of Shockley surface states patterned by halogen hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks

Artificial electronic kagome lattices may emerge from electronic potential landscapes using customized structures with exotic supersymmetries, benefiting from the confinement of Shockley surface-state electrons on coinage metals, which offers a flexible approach to realizing intriguing quantum phases of matter that are highly desired but scarce in available kagome materials. Here, we devise a general strategy to construct varieties of electronic kagome lattices by utilizing the on-surface synthesis of halogen hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (XHOFs). As a proof of concept, we demonstrate three XHOFs on Ag(111) and Au(111) surfaces, which correspondingly deliver regular, breathing, and chiral breathing diatomic-kagome lattices with patterned potential landscapes, showing evident topological edge states at the interfaces. The combination of scanning tunnelling microscopy and noncontact atomic force microscopy, complemented by density functional theory and tight-binding calculations, directly substantiates our method as a reliable and effective way to achieve electronic kagome lattices for engineering quantum states.

Copper-Catalyzed Domino-Double Annulation of o-Aminobenzamides with 2-Iodoisothiocyanates for the Synthesis of 12H-Benzo[4,5]thiazolo[2,3-b]quinazolin-12-ones

A facile and efficient copper-catalyzed domino-double annulation strategy was developed from easily accessible o-aminobenzamides and 2-iodoisothiocyanates, which affords a direct pathway for the synthesis of tetracyclic fused 12H-benzo[4,5]thiazolo[2,3-b]quinazolin-12-ones in moderate to good yields without the addition of ligands, bases, and external oxidants. The reaction involves a C-N bond cleavage and the formation of a C-N/C-S bond in one step with the advantages of using an inexpensive copper catalyst and easy operation. Mechanistic studies suggest that this transformation proceeds via intermolecular condensation of o-aminobenzamides with 2-iodoisothiocyanates, followed by an intramolecular Ullmann-type cross-coupling cyclization reaction.

Innovative principle of implant-oriented fibula placement in mandibular reconstruction using double-barrel fibula and simultaneous implants: A technical note

Simultaneous or secondary inserted implants with double-barrel fibula to reconstruct the mandible have become a common method. However, difficulties in later restoration caused by placement errors of fibula or incipiently placed implants have also been reported in some studies. This note describes a novel technique of implant-oriented guide plates helpful for mandible ablation, fibula segmentation and positioning, and implant placement. We design a series of guide plates especially an implant-fibula placing guide plate, and record and fix the relative spatial positions of the remaining teeth, the simultaneous implants and upper fibula. During surgery, the placement of upper fibula is oriented towards appropriate placement of implants. Therefore, the position of upper fibula can meet the requirements of simultaneous implant as much as possible. Within the limits of present observation, we believe that this technique may increase the manipuility while reducing the errors and the risk of complications.

Association between phthalates and sleep problems in the U.S. adult females from NHANES 2011-2014

There is little research on the relationship between phthalates exposure and sleep problems in adult females, with existing studies only assessing the association between exposure to individual phthalates with sleep problems.     We aimed to analyse the relationship between phthalates and sleep problems in 1366 US females aged 20 years and older from the 2011-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) by age stratification. Multivariate logistic regression showed that the fourth quartile of MECPP increased the risk of sleep problems in females aged 20-39 compared with the reference quartile (OR: 1.87, 95% CI: 1.14, 3.08). The WQS index was significantly associated with the sleep problems in females aged 20-39. In the BKMR, a positive overall trend between the mixture and sleep problems in females aged 20-39. In this study, we concluded that phthalates might increase the risk of sleep problems in females aged 20-39.

Roflumilast: Modulating neuroinflammation and improving motor function and depressive symptoms in multiple sclerosis

BACKGROUND

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease causing central nervous system demyelination, often associated with depression. Current treatments for MS do not effectively address both physical disability and depression. Roflumilast, a phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor with anti-inflammatory properties, has shown promise for autoimmune diseases.

METHODS

We used an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) rat model to study roflumilast's effects. Motor dysfunction and depression symptoms were assessed, and histopathological analysis evaluated its anti-inflammatory properties. Flow cytometry examined the drug's impact on brain microglia. TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels in hippocampal tissue were assessed using ELISA kits.

RESULTS

Roflumilast improved motor dysfunction and depression symptoms in EAE rats. Histopathological analysis revealed reduced inflammation, demyelination, and axonal loss in the spinal cord. Roflumilast suppressed microglial cell activation and conversion to pro-inflammatory M1-type cells. Flow cytometry showed roflumilast inhibited inflammatory marker expression in microglia and their activation in the hippocampus. IL-6 was identified as a roflumilast target for suppressing hippocampal inflammation.

LIMITATIONS

This study used an animal model and did not assess long-term or potential side effects of roflumilast treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Roflumilast holds promise as a treatment for depression and motor impairment in MS. Its anti-inflammatory properties, reducing inflammation and inhibiting microglial activation, suggest its potential for MS therapy. However, further research is needed to evaluate long-term effects and safety in MS patients.

Association between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and infertility in U.S. women: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2016

Although there is a body of research indicating the potential impact of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exposure on male infertility, the understanding of how PAH might affect female infertility is still limited. This study aimed to evaluate associations of PAHs, both individually and as a mixture, with female infertility using multiple logistic regression, Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR), and quantile g-computation (QGC) models based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013-2016. The study included 729 female participants. Multiple logistic regression results indicated that there was a significant association between the third tertile of 2-hydroxy fluorene (2-OHFLU) and female infertility, and the OR was 2.84 (95% CI: 1.24-6.53, P value = 0.015) compared with the first tertile after adjusting for the potential covariates. The BKMR model revealed a positive overall trend between mixed PAH exposure and female infertility, particularly when the mixture was at or above the 55th percentile, where 2-hydroxynaphthalene (2-OHNAP) and 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHPYR) were the primary influences of the mixture. The univariate exposure-response function indicated positive associations between individual PAH exposure, specifically 2-OHNAP, 2-OHFLU, and 1-OHPYR, and female infertility. The QGC model also indicated a positive trend between exposure to a mixture of PAHs and female infertility, although it did not reach statistical significance (OR = 1.33, 95%CI: 0.86-2.07), with 1-OHPYR having the greatest positive effect on the outcome. This study suggested that exposure to PAHs may be associated with female infertility and further research is needed to consolidate and confirm these findings.

Vascularized fascial flap for reconstruction of combined oral mucosa-mandibular defects: The multi-modal biological assessment

OBJECTIVE

The reconstruction of composite defects in the oral and maxillofacial region using vascularized fascial flaps, such as the fibular, iliac, and temporal fascial flaps, has gained increasing attention among surgeons. However, there remains uncertainty regarding the suitability of fascial flaps as transplants, as well as their healing processes and outcomes, due to their non-mucosal nature. This study aims to comprehensively assess the biological aspects of vascularized fascial flaps at clinical, histological, and genetic levels, with the goal of providing essential biological references for their clinical application.

STUDY DESIGN

This study enrolled three patients who underwent reconstruction of combined oral mucosa-mandibular defects using fibular vascularized fascial flaps between 2020 and 2023. Data regarding changes in the appearance of the fascial flaps, bulk-RNA sequencing, and histological slices of initial fascia, initial gingiva, and transformed fascia were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

Within three months, the fascial flaps exhibited rapid epithelial coverage and displayed distinct characteristics resembling mucosa. High-throughput RNA sequencing analyses and histological slices revealed that the transformed fascia exhibited tissue structures similar to mucosa and demonstrated unique advantages in promoting blood vessel formation and reducing scarring through the high-level expression of relevant genes.

CONCLUSION

These findings emphasize the potential and feasibility of utilizing vascularized fascial flaps for oral mucosa reconstruction, establishing their unique advantage as transplant materials, and providing significant biological information and references for their selection and clinical application.

A nomogram prediction of implant apical non-coverage on bone-added transcrestal sinus floor elevation: A retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To identify the risk indicators and develop and validate a nomogram prediction model of implant apical non-coverage by comprehensively analyzing clinical and radiographic factors in bone-added transcrestal sinus floor elevation (TSFE).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 260 implants in 195 patients receiving bone-added TSFE were included in the study. The population was divided into a development (180 implants) and a validation (80 implants) cohort. According to 6 months post-surgery radiographic images, implants were categorized as "apical non-coverage" or "apical covered." The association of risk factors including clinical and radiographic parameters with implant apical non-coverage was assessed using regression analyses. A nomogram prediction model was developed, and its validation and discriminatory ability were analyzed.

RESULTS

The nomogram predicting bone-added TSFE's simultaneously placed implant's apex non-coverage after 6 months. This study revealed that sinus angle, endo-sinus bone gain, implant protrusion length, graft contact walls, and distal angle were predictors of implant apical non-coverage. The generated nomogram showed a strong predictive capability (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.845), confirmed by internal validation using 10-fold cross-validation (Median AUC of 0.870) and temporal validation (AUC = 0.854). The calibration curve and decision curve analysis demonstrated good performance and high net benefit of the nomogram, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The clinical implementation of the present nomogram is suitable for predicting the apex non-coverage of implants placed simultaneously with bone-added TSFE after 6 months.

Immune Epitopes of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein and Considerations for Universal Vaccine Development

Despite the success of global vaccination programs in slowing the spread of COVID-19, these efforts have been hindered by the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 strains capable of evading prior immunity. The mutation and evolution of SARS-CoV-2 have created a demand for persistent efforts in vaccine development. SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein has been the primary target for COVID-19 vaccine development, but it is also the hotspot of mutations directly involved in host susceptibility and virus immune evasion. Our ability to predict emerging mutants and select conserved epitopes is critical for the development of a broadly neutralizing therapy or a universal vaccine. In this article, we review the general paradigm of immune responses to COVID-19 vaccines, highlighting the immunological epitopes of Spike protein that are likely associated with eliciting protective immunity resulting from vaccination in humans. Specifically, we analyze the structural and evolutionary characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein related to immune activation and function via the TLRs, B cells, and T cells. We aim to provide a comprehensive analysis of immune epitopes of Spike protein, thereby contributing to the development of new strategies for broad neutralization or universal vaccination.

Fast needling combined with occupational therapy for hand dysfunction of spastic cerebral palsy : a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

To compare the clinical effect of fast needling (without needle retaining), needle retaining acupuncture combined with occupational therapy and simple occupational therapy for hand dysfunction of spastic cerebral palsy in children.

METHODS

A total of 75 children with spastic cerebral palsy were randomly divided into an occupational therapy group (25 cases), a fast needling group (25 cases, 1 case dropped out) and a needle retaining group (25 cases, 1 case dropped out). The patients in the occupational therapy group were only treated with occupational therapy for 20 min each time. The patients in the fast needling group were treated with acupuncture (without needle retaining) combined with occupational therapy, and the needle retaining group was treated with acupuncture (needle retaining) combined with occupational therapy, and acupuncture was taken at Hegu (LI 4), Houxi (SI 3), Yuji (LU 10), Waiguan (SJ 5), Jianyu (LI 15) and so on. The needles were retained for 30 min in patients of the needle retaining group. All the above treatments were performed once a day, 5 times a week for 12 weeks. The scores of fine motor function measure (FMFM) and Peabody developmental motor scale 2 (PDMS-2) were observed in patients of the three groups before and after treatment, and the safety of the fast needling group and the needle retaining group was compared.

RESULTS

After treatment, the scores of FMFM and PDMS-2 in patients of the three groups were higher than those before treatment (P<0.01), and the scores of FMFM and PDMS-2 in the fast needling group and the needle retaining group were higher than those in the occupational therapy group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The incidence of acupuncture abnormalities in the fast needling group was 0.3% (5/1 440), which was lower than 1.4% (20/1 440) in the needle retaining group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Acupuncture combined with occupational therapy has better clinical effect than occupational therapy alone in improving hand dysfunction in children with spastic cerebral palsy, and there is no statistical difference in effect between fast needling acupuncture and needle retaining acupuncture, but fast needling has better safety than needle retaining acupuncture.

Systems genetics analysis reveals the common genetic basis for pain sensitivity and cognitive function

BACKGROUND

There is growing evidence of a strong correlation between pain sensitivity and cognitive function under both physiological and pathological conditions. However, the detailed mechanisms remain largely unknown. In the current study, we sought to explore candidate genes and common molecular mechanisms underlying pain sensitivity and cognitive function with a transcriptome-wide association study using recombinant inbred mice from the BXD family.

METHODS

The pain sensitivity determined by Hargreaves' paw withdrawal test and cognition-related phenotypes were systematically analyzed in 60 strains of BXD mice and correlated with hippocampus transcriptomes, followed by quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping and systems genetics analysis.

RESULTS

The pain sensitivity showed significant variability across the BXD strains and co-varies with cognitive traits. Pain sensitivity correlated hippocampual genes showed a significant involvement in cognition-related pathways, including glutamatergic synapse, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Moreover, QTL mapping identified a genomic region on chromosome 4, potentially regulating the variation of pain sensitivity. Integrative analysis of expression QTL mapping, correlation analysis, and Bayesian network modeling identified Ring finger protein 20 (Rnf20) as the best candidate. Further pathway analysis indicated that Rnf20 may regulate the expression of pain sensitivity and cognitive function through the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, particularly through interactions with genes Ppp2r2b, Ppp2r5c, Col9a3, Met, Rps6, Tnc, and Kras.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated that pain sensitivity is associated with genetic background and Rnf20-mediated PI3K-Akt signaling may involve in the regulation of pain sensitivity and cognitive functions.

Exogenous γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Enhanced Response to Abiotic Stress in Hypsizygus marmoreus by Improving Mycelial Growth and Antioxidant Capacity

γ-Aminobutyric (GABA) acid is a nutrient and signaling molecule existing in many plants, participating in the regulation of metabolism and various physiological activities. Two strains of Hypsizygus marmoreus (a white variety and a brown variety) were investigated to study the impact of exogenous GABA on mycelial growth and the response to stress. Mycelial growth, microscopic morphology, antioxidant profile, and gad2 expression in H. marmoreu were investigated under salt, dehydration, or cold stress. The results indicated that 5 mM GABA stimulated mycelial growth under standard cultivation conditions, whereas GABA addition over 10 mM hindered the growth. Under salt, dehydration, or cold stress, treatment with 5 mM GABA significantly enhanced the mycelial growth rate and density of both H. marmoreus strains by promoting front hyphae branching. Meanwhile, the activities of key antioxidant enzymes such as peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were enhanced by GABA, thereby augmenting the defensive network against abiotic stress. Additionally, gad2 expression and GABA concentration were increased under abiotic stresses as a resistance regulation response. The exogenous addition of GABA strengthened the upregulation of gad2 expression and GABA production. These findings indicated that exogenously adding low concentrations of GABA effectively enhanced the mycelial growth and antioxidant profile of H. marmoreus, thereby improving its resistance against stresses.

[Comparing the prognostic value of 3 diagnostic criteria of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants]

Objective: To compare the prognostic value of 3 diagnostic criteria of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants with gestational age<32 weeks. Methods: The retrospective cohort study was conducted to collect the clinical data of 285 preterm infants with BPD admitted to the Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University from January 2019 to September 2021, who were followed up regularly after discharge. The primary composite adverse outcome was defined as death or severe respiratory morbidity from 36 weeks of corrected gestational age to 18 months of corrected age, and the secondary composite adverse outcome was defined as death or neurodevelopmental impairment. According to the primary or secondary composite adverse outcomes, the preterm infants were divided into the adverse prognosis group and the non-adverse prognosis group. The 2001 National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) criteria, 2018 NICHD criteria, and 2019 Neonatal Research Network (NRN) criteria were used to diagnose and grade BPD in preterm infants. Chi-square test, Logistic regression analysis, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Delong test were used to analyze the prognostic value of the 3 diagnostic criteria. Results: The 285 preterm infants had a gestational age of 29.4 (28.1, 30.6) weeks and birth weight of 1 230 (1 000, 1 465) g, including 167 males (58.6%). Among 285 premature infants who completed follow-up, the primary composite adverse outcome occurred in 124 preterm infants (43.5%), and the secondary composite adverse outcome occurred in 40 preterm infants (14.0%). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that severe BPD according to the 2001 NICHD criteria, gradeⅡand Ⅲ BPD according to the 2018 NICHD criteria and grade 2 and 3 BPD according to the 2019 NRN criteria were all risk factors for primary composite adverse outcomes (all P<0.05). ROC curve showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of the 2018 NICHD criteria and 2019 NRN criteria were both higher than that of the 2001 NICHD criteria (0.70 and 0.70 vs. 0.61, Z=4.49 and 3.35, both P<0.001), but there was no significant difference between the 2018 NICHD and 2019 NRN criteria (Z=0.38, P=0.702). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the secondary composite adverse outcomes were all associated with grade Ⅲ BPD according to the 2018 NICHD criteria and grade 3 BPD according to the 2019 NRN criteria (both P<0.05). ROC curve showed that the AUC of the 2018 NICHD criteria and 2019 NRN criteria were both higher than that of the 2001 NICHD criteria (0.71 and 0.71 vs. 0.58, Z=2.93 and 3.67, both P<0.001), but there was no statistically significant difference between the 2018 NICHD and 2019 NRN criteria (Z=0.02, P=0.984). Conclusion: The 2018 NICHD and 2019 NRN criteria demonstrate good and comparable predictive value for the primary and secondary composite adverse outcomes in preterm infants with BPD, surpassing the predictive efficacy of the 2001 NICHD criteria.

PdMo bimetallene nanozymes for photothermally enhanced antibacterial therapy and accelerated wound healing

Although antibacterial platforms involving nanozymes have been extensively investigated, there are still problems of poor reactive oxygen species generation efficiency and obstinate bacterial biofilms. Developing a nanozyme-photothermal therapy nanoplatform with superior sterilization effects and minimal side effects would be a good alternative for completely eliminating bacteria and biofilms. Herein, an ultrathin PdMo bimetallene nanozyme with a planar topology and boosted metal utilization, exhibiting excellent photothermal and peroxidase-like activity, is designed for synergistic nanozyme-photothermal sterilization applications and accelerated wound healing. The superior catalytic activity of PdMo bimetallene nanozymes could convert a biosafe concentration of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into large quantities of toxic hydroxyl radicals (•OH) under laser irradiation, enhancing bacterial membrane permeability and thermal sensitivity for efficient removal of bacteria and biofilms. In addition, PdMo bimetallene presents a good wound-healing ability according to the results of fibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition with minor side effects. This work would provide an innovative avenue for developing metallene-based nanozymes for biomedical applications.

A further specification of the effects of font emphasis on reading comprehension: Evidence from event-related potentials and neural oscillations

The attention hypothesis, which assumes that font emphasis captures readers' attention, is usually used to explain the mechanism by which such emphasis operates. This study further delineates the attention hypothesis by investigating the ways in which font emphasis captures attention and its effects on the integration of emphasized information into the previous context. We computed event-related potentials and frequency band-specific electroencephalographic power changes occurring while participants read sentences containing critical words that were either emphasized (i.e., displayed in a color different from the other words in the sentence) or not (i.e., shown in the same color as the rest of the sentence) and semantically congruent with prior words or not. The results showed that the emphasized words (as compared to control words) elicited a reduced N1 and increased P2, indicating that font emphasis reduced familiarity-based visuo-orthographic processing and instead increased controlled attentional processing. We also observed greater P300 and power decreases in the alpha and beta frequency range in response to critical words in the emphasized condition, suggesting that font emphasis enhances focal attention to promote a fuller integration of information into the sentence context. Furthermore, relative to the control condition, the emphasized condition induced delta and theta power increases for the incongruent words. These results suggest that font emphasis increases the efficiency of glyph processing, which facilitates lexical access.

[Application status and progress of intraoperative nerve monitoring in pelvic autonomic nerve preserving radical resection of rectal cancer]

The current treatment strategy for rectal cancer is a comprehensive treatment centered on surgery. The application of total mesorectal excision (TME) has significantly reduced the local recurrence rate and improved the survival prognosis, but a series of pelvic organ dysfunction caused by pelvic autonomic nerve injury during the operation will reduce the postoperative quality of life of patients. Pelvic autonomic nerve preserving (PANP) radical proctectomy has emerged, but the biggest challenge in the implementation process of this technology is the accurate identification of nerves. A series of studies have shown that pelvic intraoperative autonomic monitoring (pIONM) can effectively assist surgeons to identify nerves, The purpose of this article is to introduce the function of pelvic autonomic nerve, the clinical manifestation of postoperative pelvic dysfunction and its relationship with nerve injury, the key points of implementing PANP, and the current situation and research progress of pIONM technology application.

Multibranched flower-like ZnO anchored on pectin/cellulose nanofiber aerogel skeleton for enhanced comprehensive antibacterial capabilities

In this study, F-ZnO NPs were used as antibacterial agents, mussel bionic dopamine exerted its adhesive action to immobilize F-ZnO NPs on the pectin/CNF aerogel skeleton. Fruit and vegetable antimicrobial mats with safety, long duration of action and high efficiency were prepared and its potential application has been investigated. The results showed that a dopamine layer was deposited on the surface of the CNF, which promoted the tight adhesion of the F-ZnO NPs to the aerogel skeleton. The F-ZnO@D-CNF aerogel exhibited a slow release of zinc ions, with the first two days being 0.40 ± 0.16 and 1.01 ± 0.13 mg/mL. The aerogel was light, can stand on the petals without collapsing, has regular and uniform pore structure, good tensile/compressive properties and high antibacterial/anti-fungal properties. Strawberries packaged with F-ZnO@D-CNF aerogel exhibited an extended shelf life of 5 days. Additionally, the strawberries maintained a soluble solid content of 6.9 ± 0.82 % and a Vc content of 44.67 ± 3.51 mg/100 g. The weight loss, color and firmness were also notably superior to the other four groups. The final concentration of zinc ions in strawberries was 3.71 ± 0.28 μg/g, which is far below the recommended dietary intake.

[Situational analysis of periodontal disease burden for adults in China from 1990 to 2019 and its incidence trend prediction]

Objective: To analyze the burden and changing trends of periodontal disease in adults of the mainland of China from 1990 to 2019, and to predict the incidence trends of periodontal disease in the next 25 years, with a goal to provide a basis for reducing the burden of periodontal disease and formulating relevant prevention and treatment measures. Methods: Data on the incidence, prevalence, and disability adjusted life years (DALY) rate of periodontal disease among adults in the mainland of China from 1990 to 2019 were extracted from the global burden of disease study 2019 (GBD 2019) database. The estimated annual percent change (EAPC) was used to estimate the temporal trend of periodontal disease, and the age-period-cohort model (APC) was used to predict the age-standardized incidence of periodontal disease in Chinese adults from 2020 to 2044. Results: From 1990 to 2019, the incidence, prevalence, and DALY rate of adult periodontal disease in the mainland of China showed an increasing trend, with EAPCs of 0.3 (95%CI: 0.1-0.6), 0.5 (95%CI: 0.1-0.8), and 0.5 (95%CI: 0.1-0.8), respectively. The incidence and prevalence of periodontitis among the population aged 35-39 years old and 40-44 years old increased the most significantly, with EAPCs of 0.8 and 0.7, respectively, whereas the change in periodontal disease prevalence tended to be stable and the increase trend in prevalence was lower in the elderly group (EAPC=0.4). The incidence (EAPC=2.1), prevalence (EAPC=2.6) and DALY rate (EAPC=2.6) of periodontal disease in females increased more than those in males (EAPC=1.9, 2.4, and 2.4, respectively), of which the prevalence had exceeded that of males in 2019. The APC model predicted that the prevalence of periodontal disease in the period of 2020-2044 in China would still be on an upward trend, and the increase rate would be higher in females than in males. Conclusions: The burden of periodontal disease among adults in China had been increasing over the past 30 years, especially among young and middle-aged adults as well as females, and the incidence of periodontal disease will continue to increase over the next 25 years.

The value of MRI in predicting hepatocellular carcinoma with cytokeratin 19 expression: a systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

To evaluate the overall diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), different image features, and different image analysis methods in predicting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with cytokeratin 19 (CK19) expression.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic literature search was performed to identify studies using MRI to predict HCC with CK19 expression between 2012 and 2023. Data were extracted to calculate the pooled sensitivity and specificity. Overall diagnostic performance was assessed using areas under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Subgroup analyses were conducted for specific image features and according to image analysis methods (traditional image feature, radiomics, and combined methods). Z-test statistics was used to analyse the differences in diagnostic performance between combined and individual methods.

RESULTS

Eleven studies with 14 datasets (1,278 lesions from 1,264 patients) were included. The overall pooled sensitivity, specificity, and AUC with corresponding 95% confidence intervals were estimated to be 0.72 (0.55, 0.85), 0.88 (0.80, 0.93), and 0.89 (0.86, 0.91) for MRI in predicting HCC with CK19 expression. Combined methods had higher sensitivity than image feature methods (0.86 versus 0.54, p=0.001), with no difference in specificity (0.85 versus 0.87, p=0.641). There were no significant differences between radiomics and combined methods regarding sensitivity (p=0.796) and specificity (p=0.535), respectively.

CONCLUSION

MRI shows moderate sensitivity and high specificity in identifying HCC with CK19 expression. The application of radiomics can improve the sensitivity of MRI in identifying HCC with CK19 expression.

Efficacy and safety of Orelabrutinib-based regimens in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a single-center retrospective analysis

Currently, combining chemotherapy with Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKi) has demonstrated significant effectiveness in treating patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Orelabrutinib is a second-generation BTK inhibitor, and presently, there have been few reports of Orelabrutinib being used to treat DLBCL. We conducted a retrospective investigation to explore the safety and efficacy of Orelabrutinib in combination with chemotherapy or immunotherapy. The study comprised 19 patients with a median age of 61 years. The overall response rate (ORR) was 89.5% with a complete response (CR) rate of 73.7% and a partial response rate (PR) of 15.8%. The estimated 2-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 78.6% (95%CI, 59.8%-100%) and 72.2% (95% CI, 52.4%-99.6%), respectively, with a median follow-up time of 11 months (range 2-24). The most prevalent grade 3 or 4 adverse events (AEs), neutropenia (52.6%), anemia (36.8%), thrombocytopenia (26.3%), febrile neutropenia (26.3%), and lung infection (10.5%), were the most common. Our results reveal that Orelabrutinib is an effective therapy for DLBCL patients. Furthermore, our first investigation of the Orelabrutinib application lays a foundation for larger retrospective studies.

Lead and cadmium co-exposure modified PC12 viability and ER stress: study from a 3 × 3 factorial design

Background

Although exposure to individual metal does exhibit its toxicity, combined exposures provide a more effective representation of the toxic effects of different heavy metal exposures on public health as well as ecosystems. Furthermore, there are few studies on composite exposure to low concentrations of heavy metals, which is more consistent with real-life exposure. The purpose of this study was to explore the neurotoxicity induced by combined exposure to low concentrations of Lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) and the potential interaction of their mixture in vitro.

Methods

PC12 cells were incubation with the corresponding concentration of cadmium chloride and/or lead acetate. Viability of PC12 cells was measured by CCK8 assay after 12, 24 and 48h incubation. Next, We measured the ROS, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and apoptosis produced by different treated cells using ROS assay kit, JC-1 MMP assay kit and annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide (PI) apoptosis assay kit, respectively. Expression of proteins related to PI3K/AKT and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in PC12 cells were tested by western blotting. Our study was the first to analyze the interaction between Pb and Cd using a 3 × 3 factorial design approach to observe neurotoxicity.

Results

The results showed that the combined exposure of them was more cytotoxic than the single metal. The activation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and several parameters related to oxidative stress and ER stress were significantly altered in combined exposure to low concentrations of Pb and Cd compared with the Pb or Cd. Regarding apoptosis and ER stress, a synergistic interaction between Pb and Cd was evident. Moreover, evoked ER stress as a mechanism involved in the apoptosis of PC12 cells by the combined exposure to Pb and Cd.

Conclusion

The present study provides a theoretical basis used for the toxicological assessment of metal mixtures induced neurotoxicity of concern in terms of public health, and more effective control measures should be taken for the environmental pollution caused by various mixed heavy metals discharged from industry and agriculture.

Association of systemic inflammatory markers and tertiary lymphoid structure with pathological complete response in gastric cancer patients receiving preoperative treatment: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Assessment of systemic and local immune responses is crucial in determining the efficacy of cancer interventions. The identification of specific factors that correlate with pathological complete response (pCR) is essential for optimizing treatment decisions.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, a total of 521 patients diagnosed with gastric adenocarcinoma who underwent curative gastrectomy following preoperative treatment were reviewed. Of these patients, 463 did not achieve pCR (non-pCR) and 58 achieved pCR. Clinicopathological factors were evaluated to identify predictors for pCR using a logistic regression model. Additionally, a smaller cohort (n=76) was derived using propensity score matching to investigate local immune response, specifically the features of tertiary lymphoid structure (TLS) using H&E staining, immunohistochemistry, and multiplex immunofluorescence.

RESULTS

The multivariate regression analysis demonstrated a significant association between low systemic inflammatory status and pCR, as evidenced by reduced levels of the combined systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (SII+NLR) (odds ratio: 3.33, 95% CI: 1.79-6.17, P<0.001). In the smaller cohort analysis, distinct TLS characteristics were correlated with the presence of pCR. Specifically, a higher density of TLS and a lower proportion of PD1+ cells and CD8+ cells within TLS in the tumor bed were strongly associated with pCR.

CONCLUSION

Both systemic and local immune profile were associated with pCR. A low level of SII+NLR served as an independent predictor of pCR, while distinct TLS features were associated with the presence of pCR. Focusing on the immune profile was crucial for optimal management of gastric cancer patients receiving preoperative treatment.

[Study on formulation and revision of detection methods of "Standards for indoor air quality (GB/T 18883-2022)" in China]

The formulation and revision of the detection methods of indoor air quality standards is an important, rigorous and delicate endeavor. This paper introduced the formulation and revision of the detection methods of the standards for indoor air quality (GB/T 18883-2022), focusing on the revision process, revision principles, main adjustments and technical points of some key indicators to facilitate users to better understand and apply the detection methods in standards for indoor air quality (GB/T 18883-2022).

[Study on formulation and revision of standard limits for radon in "Standards for indoor air quality (GB/T 18883-2022)" in China]

Public exposure to radon has attracted increasing public concern. The newly issued "Standards for indoor air quality (GB/T 18883-2022)" has revised the radiological parameters of radon. This study analyzed and discussed the relevant technical contents about the derivation of radon limit, including the distribution level for indoor radon, exposure pathway, health effects, and the process for establishing the standard limits. Specific implementation and evaluation suggestions are also proposed.

FoxO1 knockdown inhibits RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis by blocking NLRP3 inflammasome activation

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to elucidate the connection between osteoclastic forkhead transcription factor O1 (FoxO1) and periodontitis and explore the underlying mechanism by which FoxO1 knockdown regulates osteoclast formation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A conventional ligature-induced periodontitis model was constructed to reveal the alterations in the proportion of osteoclastic FoxO1 in periodontitis via immunofluorescence staining. Additionally, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed to explore the underlying mechanisms of FoxO1 knockdown-mediated osteoclastogenesis, followed by western blotting, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

FoxO1+ osteoclasts were enriched in the alveolar bone in experimental periodontitis. Moreover, FoxO1 knockdown led to impaired osteoclastogenesis with low expression of osteoclast differentiation-related genes, accompanied by an insufficient osteoclast maturation phenotype. Mechanistically, RNA-seq revealed that the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome signaling pathways were inhibited in FoxO1-knockdown osteoclasts. Consistent with this, MCC950, an effective inhibitor of the NLRP3 inflammasome, substantially attenuated osteoclast formation.

CONCLUSIONS

FoxO1 knockdown contributed to the inhibition of osteoclastogenesis by effectively suppressing NF-κB signaling and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. This prospective study reveals the role of FoxO1 in mediating osteoclastogenesis and provides a viable therapeutic target for periodontitis treatment.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection of an unexpected symptomatic esophageal mass: intramural esophageal hematoma

A 53-year-old man with a history of hypertension was hospitalized with retrosternal pain during eating for 1-month duration. He had no previous history of symptoms related to his upper gastrointestinal tract. Physical examination was unremarkable. The patient was diagnosed as intramural esophageal hematoma (IEE) and no symptoms was observed in 12 months follow-up.

Immune Epitopes of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein and Considerations for Universal Vaccine Development

Despite the success of global vaccination programs in slowing the spread of COVID-19, these efforts have been hindered by the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 strains capable of evading prior immunity. The mutation and evolution of SARS-CoV-2 have created a demand for persistent efforts in vaccine development. SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein has been the primary target for COVID-19 vaccine development, but it is also the hotspot of mutations directly involved in host susceptibility and immune evasion. Our ability to predict emerging mutants and select conserved epitopes is critical for the development of a broadly neutralizing therapy or a universal vaccine. In this article, we review the general paradigm of immune responses to COVID-19 vaccines, highlighting the immunological epitopes of Spike protein that are likely associated with eliciting protective immunity resulting from vaccination. Specifically, we analyze the structural and evolutionary characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein related to immune activation and function via the toll-like receptors (TLRs), B cells, and T cells. We aim to provide a comprehensive analysis of immune epitopes of Spike protein, thereby contributing to the development of new strategies for broad neutralization or universal vaccination.

Exploring the mechanism of aloe-emodin in the treatment of liver cancer through network pharmacology and cell experiments

Objective: Aloe-emodin (AE) is an anthraquinone compound extracted from the rhizome of the natural plant rhubarb. Initially, it was shown that AE exerts an anti-inflammatory effect. Further studies revealed its antitumor activity against various types of cancer. However, the mechanisms underlying these properties remain unclear. Based on network pharmacology and molecular docking, this study investigated the molecular mechanism of AE in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and evaluated its therapeutic effect through in vitro experiments. Methods: CTD, Pharmmapper, SuperPred and TargetNet were the databases to obtain potential drug-related targets. DisGenet, GeneCards, OMIM and TTD were used to identify potential disease-related targets. Intersection genes for drugs and diseases were obtained through the Venn diagram. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses of intersecting genes were conducted by the website of Bioinformatics. Intersection genes were introduced into STRING to construct a protein-protein interaction network, while the Cytoscape3.9.1 software was used to visualize and analyze the core targets. AutoDock4.2.6 was utilized to achieve molecular docking between drug and core targets. In vitro experiments investigated the therapeutic effects and related mechanisms of AE. Results: 63 overlapped genes were obtained and GO analysis generated 3,646 entries by these 63 intersecting genes. KEGG analysis mainly involved apoptosis, proteoglycans in cancer, TNF signaling pathway, TP53 signaling pathway, PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, etc. AKT1, EGFR, ESR1, TP53, and SRC have been identified as core targets because the binding energies of them between aloe-emodin were less than -5 kcal/Mol.The mRNA and protein expression, prognosis, mutation status, and immune infiltration related to core targets were further revealed. The involvement of AKT1 and EGFR, as well as the key target of the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, indicated the importance of this signaling pathway in the treatment of HCC using AE. The results of the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and flow analysis demonstrated the therapeutic effect of AE. The downregulation of EGFR, PI3KR1, AKT1, and BCL2 in mRNA expression and PI3KR1, AKT,p-AKT in protein expression confirmed our hypothesis. Conclusion: Based on network pharmacology and molecular docking, our study initially showed that AE exerted a therapeutic effect on HCC by modulating multiple signaling pathways. Various analyses confirmed the antiproliferative activity and pro-apoptotic effect of AE on HCC through the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. This study revealed the therapeutic mechanism of AE in the treatment of HCC through a novel approach, providing a theoretical basis for the clinical application of AE.

Effects of cadmium exposure on metabolism, antioxidant defense, immune function, and the hepatopancreas transcriptome of Cipangopaludina cathayensis

Cadmium (Cd) is a common contaminant in aquatic environments. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying Cd toxicity in the freshwater snail Cipangopaludina cathayensis (Heude, 1890). This study to investigate the toxic effects of Cd on the standard metabolism, antioxidant activities, immune function, and hepatopancreas transcriptome profiles of C. cathayensis. C. cathayensis was exposed to 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, or 1.5 mg/L Cd for 3 h, with results showing that Cd significantly inhibited oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion and disrupted the respiratory metabolism of C. cathayensis. In addition, the O:N ratio dropped below 7, indicating that C. cathayensis may rely exclusively on proteins as an energy source under Cd stress. To understand how Cd impacts the antioxidant activities, immune function, and transcriptional profiles, C. cathayensis were exposed to 0.5 (low exposure, L14) or 1.5 (high exposure, H14) mg/L Cd for 14 days. Our results indicate that Cd exposure leads to oxidative stress and immunosuppression, with the latter effect being larger for exposure to higher Cd concentrations. A total of 2172 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by transcriptome analysis of the hepatopancreas, of which 885 were upregulated and 1287 were downregulated. Gene ontology and KEGG analyses revealed that the DEGs in the H14 group are enriched for energy generation terms and the "oxidative phosphorylation" pathway, respectively. Therefore, up-regulation of energy metabolism may be an adaptive strategy under Cd stress. Moreover, several genes involved in antioxidant activity were downregulated, whereas genes related to reactive oxygen species generation were upregulated. In addition, many immunity-related genes were identified within the DEGs, indicating that Cd toxicity may affect immune defense. Further, DEGs in the H14 group were enriched for disease-associated pathways. Taken together, our results indicate that Cd exposure leads to metabolic disorders, oxidative stress, and immunosuppression and thus may potentially contribute to disease outbreaks.

Effect and mechanism of hydrogen-rich bath on mice with imiquimod-induced psoriasis

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether hydrogen-rich bath has therapeutic effect on psoriasis and its molecular mechanism. Mice with imiquimod-induced psoriasis were established and divided into groups. The mice were respectively treated with hydrogen-rich water bath and distilled water bath. The changes of skin lesions and PSI scores of mice were compared after their treatments. HE staining was used to observe the pathological feature. The changes of inflammatory indexes and immune factors were analysed by ELISA and immunohistochemical staining. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content was measured by the thiobarbituric assay (TBA) method. By naked eye, the severity of skin lesions in hydrogen-rich water bath group was lower than that in distilled water bath group, and the psoriasis severity index (PSI) was lower (p < 0.01). The results of HE staining showed that the mice with distilled water bath had more abnormal keratosis, thickening of the spinous layer and prolongation of the dermal process, and more Munro abscess than the mice with hydrogen-rich water bath. During the course of disease, the overall levels and peaks of IL-17, IL-23, TNF-α, CD3+ and MDA in mice with hydrogen-rich bath were lower than those in mice with distilled water bath (p < 0.05). In the skin, the mice treated with the hydrogen-rich water bath also had lower peak of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) levels. It is concluded that hydrogen-rich water bath can inhibit psoriasis inflammation and oxidative stress, relieve psoriasis skin lesions and accelerate the end of abnormal skin proliferation state, which shows a therapeutic and improving effect on psoriasis.

Artesunate ameliorates ligature-induced periodontitis by attenuating NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated osteoclastogenesis and enhancing osteogenic differentiation

Periodontitis, arguably the greatest common infective chronic inflammatory disease, is characterized by an imbalance of the host immune system and excessive osteoclastogenesis activity with severe alveolar bone loss. Nevertheless, in consideration of the harmful effects of repeated treatment, more sensible intervention drugs for periodontitis need to be developed. Artesunate (ART), derived from Artemisia annua L., has shown remarkable pharmacokinetic and clinical value, as well as anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects in various immune and chronic diseases due to its endoperoxide group. However, the role of ART in mediating periodontitis-induced alveolar bone resorption has not been examined. In this study, ART treatment effectively ameliorated ligature-induced periodontitis via attenuating osteoclast formation in a dose-dependent manner. Mechanistically, RNA-seq revealed that ART dramatically reduced the enrichment of NLRP3 inflammasome-related genes. Concordant with our study, MCC950, a specific inhibitor of NLRP3 inflammasome, also greatly restrained osteoclastogenesis, suggesting that ART suppressed osteoclast formation by blocking NLRP3 inflammasome activation. In addition to regulating osteoclastogenesis, ART significantly enhanced osteogenic differentiation by alleviating the expression of cytokines in inflammatory conditions. Our data shed light on the probably potential mechanism of ART treatment for the intervention of periodontitis.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Patients with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Regarding Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction

Self-monitoring of blood glucose levels and changes in diet and lifestyle play important roles in the management of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Methods

This cross-sectional study enrolled patients with GDM at Hangzhou Women's Hospital, China, between September 1, 2022, and October 26, 2022. A questionnaire was designed that included the following dimensions: demographic/clinical information, knowledge, attitude and practice. Correlations between knowledge, attitude and practice scores were evaluated using Spearman correlation analysis. Factors associated with practice score ≥14/16 were identified using multivariate logistic regression.

Results

The analysis included 499 women with GDM and a mean age of 31.22±3.89 years. The average knowledge, attitude and practice score were 11.55±3.04, 34.23±4.06 and 10.7±2.87 points, respectively. Knowledge score was positively correlated with attitude score (r=0.318, P<0.001) and practice score (r=0.351, P<0.001); attitude and practice scores were also positively correlated (r=0.209, P<0.001). Multivariate analysis identified higher knowledge score (odds ratio [OR], 1.138; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.042-1.244; P=0.004) and higher attitude score (OR, 1.137; 95% CI, 1.060-1.219; P<0.001) as independently associated with good practice (ie, practice score ≥14 points).

Conclusion

The results provide important insights into the knowledge, attitudes and practices of women with GDM in China regarding GDM and its management. These findings may facilitate the development and implementation of education and training programs to improve the self-management of GDM by women in China.

[Study on the association between air pollution and respiratory disease of primary school students in Chongqing City]

To analyze the association between exposure to air pollution and respiratory disease of primary school students in Chongqing City. Eight districts and counties were randomly selected based on the air pollution situation in Chongqing City. In each selected district and county, one primary school was randomly selected. A questionnaire survey was conducted on all primary school students in Grades 3-5 by the end of 2019. Air quality data from the nearest environmental monitoring sites were collected. A logistic regression model was used to analyze the impact of the living environment, lifestyle and air pollution on the respiratory disease of surveyed students. This study included 5 918 primary school students, with a prevalence rate of respiratory disease of 21.54%. The prevalence rates of boys and girls were 23.38% and 19.59%, respectively. The average Air quality index (AQI) of the surveyed school was 67, and the rates of exceeding standards of PM10, PM2.5, NO2 and O3 were 1.16%, 6.92%, 0.99% and 5.65%, respectively. The level of SO2 and CO did not exceed the standard. After adjusting for relevant factors, logistic regression analysis showed that primary school students in areas with high exposure to air pollution (OR=2.52), using air pollution related-chemicals at home (OR=1.47), passive smoking (OR=1.27), and keeping pets at home (OR=1.18) had a higher risk of respiratory disease (all P<0.05). In addition, the average annual values of AQI (OR=1.18), PM10 (OR=1.20), PM2.5 (OR=1.35), and NO2 (OR=1.11) increased the risk of respiratory diseases in primary school students (all P<0.05). In conclusion, the respiratory disease of primary school students in Chongqing City is related to the living environment, behavior habits and ambient air quality. The increased exposure concentration of PM10, PM2.5 and NO2 in air pollutants can lead to an increased risk of respiratory disease among primary school students.

Correction: Magazine et al. Mutations and Evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein. Viruses 2022, 14, 640

In the original publication [...].

Effects of Quillaja Saponin on Physicochemical Properties of Oil Bodies Recovered from Peony (Paeonia ostii) Seed Aqueous Extract at Different pH

Peony seeds, an important oil resource, have been attracting much attention because of α-linolenic acid. Oil bodies (OBs), naturally pre-emulsified oils, have great potential applications in the food industry. This study investigated the effects of extraction pH and Quillaja saponin (QS) on the physicochemical properties of peony oil body (POB) emulsions. POBs were extracted from raw peony milk at pH 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, and 7.0 (named pH 4.0-, 5.0-, 6.0-, and 7.0-POBs). All POBs contained extrinsic proteins and oleosins. The extrinsic proteins of pH 4.0- and pH 5.0-POB were 23 kDa and 38 kDa glycoproteins, the unknown proteins were 48 kDa and 60 kDa, while the 48 kDa and 38 kDa proteins were completely removed under the extraction condition of pH 6.0 and 7.0. The percentage of extrinsic proteins gradually decreased from 78.4% at pH 4.0-POB to 33.88% at pH 7.0-POB, while oleosin contents increased. The particle size and zeta potential of the POB emulsions decreased, whereas the oxidative stability, storage stability, and pI increased with the increasing extraction pH. QS (0.05~0.3%) increased the negative charges of all the POB emulsions, and 0.1% QS significantly improved the dispersion, storage, and the oxidative stability of the POB emulsions. This study provides guidance for selecting the proper conditions for the aqueous extraction of POBs and improving the stability of OB emulsions.

Effect of Heat Treatment on the Digestive Characteristics of Different Soybean Oil Body Emulsions

Soybean oil body (SOB) emulsions were prepared using OBs extracted at pH 11.0 and pH 7.0. The pH 11.0-SOB comprised oleosins, whereas pH 7.0-SOB comprised extrinsic proteins and oleosins. All SOB emulsions were heated at 60-100 °C for 15 min. Heating may lead to the release of extrinsic proteins from the surface of pH 7.0-SOB due to heat-induced denaturation. The total proportion of α-helix and β-sheets gradually decreased from 77 (unheated) to 36.2% (100 °C). During stomach digestion, the extrinsic protein hydrolysis of heated pH 7.0-SOB emulsions was fast between 60 and 80 °C, and it then slowed between 90 and 100 °C; heating inhibited the oleosin hydrolysis of pH 7.0- and 11.0-SOBs. Heat treatment promoted aggregation and coalescence, and it resulted in increased particle sizes for all emulsions. Larger aggregates were found in heated pH 7.0-SOB emulsions, and larger oil droplets were found in heated pH 11.0-SOB emulsions. After intestinal digestion, the droplets of all SOB emulsions gradually dispersed, and particle sizes decreased. Different heating temperatures had lesser effects on particle sizes and microstructures. Lipolysis was affected by the extraction pH and heating. For pH 11.0-SOB emulsions, the FFA release tendency was greatly affected by the heating temperature, and heating to 80 °C resulted in the highest FFA release (74%). However, all pH 7.0-SOB emulsions had similar total FFA releases. In addition, the droplet charges of heated pH 7.0-SOB emulsions were lower than those of unheated pH 7.0-SOB emulsions in both the intestine and stomach phases; however, the charge changes in different pH 11.0-SOB emulsions showed the opposite tendency. This study will offer guidance regarding the application of SOB emulsions in food.

Insertion sequence transposition inactivates CRISPR-Cas immunity

CRISPR-Cas immunity systems safeguard prokaryotic genomes by inhibiting the invasion of mobile genetic elements. Here, we screened prokaryotic genomic sequences and identified multiple natural transpositions of insertion sequences (ISs) into cas genes, thus inactivating CRISPR-Cas defenses. We then generated an IS-trapping system, using Escherichia coli strains with various ISs and an inducible cas nuclease, to monitor IS insertions into cas genes following the induction of double-strand DNA breakage as a physiological host stress. We identified multiple events mediated by different ISs, especially IS1 and IS10, displaying substantial relaxed target specificity. IS transposition into cas was maintained in the presence of DNA repair machinery, and transposition into other host defense systems was also detected. Our findings highlight the potential of ISs to counter CRISPR activity, thus increasing bacterial susceptibility to foreign DNA invasion.

Ubiquitous Superconducting Diode Effect in Superconductor Thin Films

The macroscopic coherence in superconductors supports dissipationless supercurrents that could play a central role in emerging quantum technologies. Accomplishing unequal supercurrents in the forward and backward directions would enable unprecedented functionalities. This nonreciprocity of critical supercurrents is called the superconducting (SC) diode effect. We demonstrate the strong SC diode effect in conventional SC thin films, such as niobium and vanadium, employing external magnetic fields as small as 1 Oe. Interfacing the SC layer with a ferromagnetic semiconductor EuS, we further accomplish the nonvolatile SC diode effect reaching a giant efficiency of 65%. By careful control experiments and theoretical modeling, we demonstrate that the critical supercurrent nonreciprocity in SC thin films could be easily accomplished with asymmetrical vortex edge and surface barriers and the universal Meissner screening current governing the critical currents. Our engineering of the SC diode effect in simple systems opens the door for novel technologies while revealing the ubiquity of the Meissner screening effect induced SC diode effect in superconducting films, and it should be eliminated with great care in the search for exotic superconducting states harboring finite-momentum Cooper pairing.

Star-shaped incision technique for gingiva patients treated with implant-supported fixed prosthesis

To evaluate the modified star-shaped incision on gingival sulcus for reducing horizontal food impaction around implant-supported restoration. Total 24 patients receiving bone-level implant placement were enrolled, a star-shaped incision was made on the gingiva sulcus before the placement of zirconia crown. Follow-up examination was carried out 3 and 6 months after final restoration, respectively. Assessment of soft tissue includes papilla height, modified plaque index, modified sulcus bleeding index, periodontal depth, gingival biotype and gingival margin level. Marginal bone level was measured on periapical radiographs. Only 1 patient complained about the horizontal food impaction. Both the mesial and distal papilla almost filled the entire proximal space, in good harmony with the adjacent papillae. No recession of the gingival margin was found around the crown even in the patients with thin gingival biotype. Other parameters of soft tissue including modified plaque index, modified sulcus bleeding index and periodontal depth remained low during the whole follow-up visit. The resorption of marginal crestal bone was less than 0.6 mm during the first 6 month, and there was no significant difference among baseline, 3-month and 6-month visit. The modified star-shaped incision on the gingiva sulcus maintained the gingival papilla height and reduced the occurrence of horizontal food impaction, and no recession of the gingiva margin was found around implant-supported restoration.

Revealing Intramolecular Isotope Effects with Chemical-Bond Precision

Isotope substitution of a molecule not only changes its vibrational frequencies but also changes its vibrational distributions in real-space. Quantitatively measuring the isotope effects inside a polyatomic molecule requires both energy and spatial resolutions at the single-bond level, which has been a long-lasting challenge in macroscopic techniques. By achieving ångström resolution in tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS), we record the corresponding local vibrational modes of pentacene and its fully deuterated form, enabling us to identify and measure the isotope effect of each vibrational mode. The measured frequency ratio ν_H/ν_D varies from 1.02 to 1.33 in different vibrational modes, indicating different isotopic contributions of H/D atoms, which can be distinguished from TERS maps in real-space and well described by the potential energy distribution simulations. Our study demonstrates that TERS can serve as a non-destructive and highly sensitive methodology for isotope detection and recognition with chemical-bond precision.

Characterization, Recombinant Production, and Bioactivity of a Novel Immunomodulatory Protein from Hypsizygus marmoreus

A novel fungal immunomodulatory protein (FIP), identified as FIP-hma, was discovered in the genome of an edible mushroom Hypsizygus marmoreus. Bioinformatics analysis suggested FIP-hma contained the cerato-platanin (CP) conserved domain and was categorized into Cerato-type FIP. In phylogenetic analysis, FIP-hma was clustered into a new branch of the FIP family, displaying large system divergence from most of the other FIPs. The higher gene expression of FIP-hma was observed during the vegetative growth stages than that during the reproductive growth stages. In addition, the cDNA sequence of FIP-hma was cloned and successfully expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli) BL21(DE3). The recombinant protein of FIP-hma (rFIP-hma) was neatly purified and isolated by Ni-NTA and SUMO-Protease. The iNOS, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α levels of RAW 264.7 macrophages were upregulated by rFIP-hma, indicating its activation of an immune response by regulating central cytokines. No cytotoxic effects were observed in an MTT test. The findings of this work discovered a novel immunoregulatory protein from H. marmoreus, provided a systematic bioinformatic profile, suggested an effective approach for its heterologous recombinant production, and reported its potent immunoregulatory activity in macrophages. This study sheds light on the physiological function research of FIPs and their further industrial utilization.