Discovery of Covalent Lead Compounds Targeting 3CL Protease with a Lateral Interactions Spiking Neural Network

Covalent drugs exhibit advantages in that noncovalent drugs cannot match, and covalent docking is an important method for screening covalent lead compounds. However, it is difficult for covalent docking to screen covalent compounds on a large scale because covalent docking requires determination of the covalent reaction type of the compound. Here, we propose to use deep learning of a lateral interactions spiking neural network to construct a covalent lead compound screening model to quickly screen covalent lead compounds. We used the 3CL protease (3CL Pro) of SARS-CoV-2 as the screen target and constructed two classification models based on LISNN to predict the covalent binding and inhibitory activity of compounds. The two classification models were trained on the covalent complex data set targeting cysteine (Cys) and the compound inhibitory activity data set targeting 3CL Pro, respected, with good prediction accuracy (ACC > 0.9). We then screened the screening compound library with 6 covalent binding screening models and 12 inhibitory activity screening models. We tested the inhibitory activity of the 32 compounds, and the best compound inhibited SARS-CoV-2 3CL Pro with an IC50 value of 369.5 nM. Further assay implied that dithiothreitol can affect the inhibitory activity of the compound to 3CL Pro, indicating that the compound may covalently bind 3CL Pro. The selectivity test showed that the compound had good target selectivity to 3CL Pro over cathepsin L. These correlation assays can prove the rationality of the covalent lead compound screening model. Finally, covalent docking was performed to demonstrate the binding conformation of the compound with 3CL Pro. The source code can be obtained from the GitHub repository (https://github.com/guzh970630/Screen_Covalent_Compound_by_LISNN).

Photochromism and single-component white light emission from a metalloviologen complex based on 1,5-naphthyridine

Metalloviologens, as emerging electron-transfer photochromic compounds, have shown intriguing properties such as radiochromism, photochromism and photoconductance. However, only a limited number of them have been reported so far. Exploration of new metalloviologens is strongly desired. Herein, we report a new solvothermally synthesized metalloviologen complex [CdCl2(ND)2]n (1, ND = 1,5-naphthalenes) that exhibits photochromic and intrinsic white light emission properties. Density functional theory calculation results reveal that the photochromism could be assigned to photoinduced electron transfer from chlorine atoms to ND molecules. The photoinduced charge-separated states are heat/air stable, attributed to the delocalization of ND and strong intermolecular π-π interactions. Besides, complex 1 consistently emits intrinsic white light when excited with 340-370 nm UV light, achieving high color rendering index (CRI) values (82.54-94.04). By adjusting the excitation wavelength, both "warm" and "cold" white light emission can be produced, making it suitable for the application of a white light emitting diode (WLED). Thus, this work demonstrates that the ND-based metalloviologen is not only helpful in producing photochromism, but also beneficial for creating white-light emission.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel 3C-like protease inhibitors as lead compounds against SARS-CoV-2

Background: The epidemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 swept the world in 2019. The 3C-like protease (3CLpro) of SARS-CoV-2 plays a key role in viral replication, and its inhibition could inhibit viral replication. Materials & methods: The virtual screen based on receptor-ligand pharmacophore models and molecular docking were conducted to obtain the novel scaffolds of the 3CLpro. The molecular dynamics simulation was also carried out. All compounds were synthesized and evaluated in biochemical assays. Results: The compound C2 could inhibit 3CLpro with a 72% inhibitory rate at 10 μM. The covalent docking showed that C2 could form a covalent bond with the Cys145 in 3CLpro. Conclusion: C2 could be a potent lead compound of 3CLpro inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2.

In Situ-Derived N-Doped ZnO from ZIF-8 for Enhanced Ethanol Sensing in ZnO/MEMS Devices

Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) gas sensors have numerous advantages such as compact size, low power consumption, ease of integration, etc., while encountering challenges in sensitivity and high resistance because of their low sintering temperature. This work utilizes the in situ growth of Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 (ZIF-8) followed by its conversion to N-doped ZnO. The results obtained from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicate that the in situ derivation of ZIF-8 facilitates the adhesion of ZnO particles, forming an island-like structure and significantly reducing the interfaces between these particles. Furthermore, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, elemental mapping, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis confirm the conversion of ZIF-8 to ZnO, the successful incorporation of N atoms into the ZnO lattice, and the creation of more oxygen vacancies. The ZIF-8-derived N-doped ZnO/MEMS sensor (ZIF (3)-ZnO/MEMS) exhibits remarkable gas sensitivity for ethanol detection. At an operating temperature of 290 °C, it delivers a substantial response value of 80 towards 25 ppm ethanol, a 13-fold enhancement compared with pristine ZnO/MEMS sensors. The sensor also exhibits an ultra-low theoretical detection limit of 11.5 ppb to ethanol, showcasing its excellent selectivity. The enhanced performance is attributed to the incorporation of N-doped ZnO, which generates abundant oxygen vacancies on the sensor's surface, leading to enhanced interaction with ethanol molecules. Additionally, a substantial two-order-of-magnitude decrease in the resistance of the gas-sensitive film is observed. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the design and fabrication strategies applicable to high-performance MEMS gas sensors in a broader range of gas sensing.

Bridging the Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Catalysis by Supramolecular Metal-Organic Cages with Varied Packing Modes

Integrating the advantages of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis has proved to be an optimal strategy for developing catalytic systems with high efficiency, selectivity, and recoverability. Supramolecular metal-organic cages (MOCs), assembled by the coordination of metal ions with organic linkers into discrete molecules, have performed solvent processability due to their tunable packing modes, endowing them with the potential to act as homogeneous or heterogeneous catalysts in different solvent systems. Here, the design and synthesis of a series of stable {Cu3} cluster-based tetrahedral MOCs with varied packing structures are reported. These MOCs, as homogeneous catalysts, not only show high catalytic activity and selectivity regardless of substrate size during the CO2 cycloaddition reaction, but also can be easily recovered from the reaction media through separating products and co-catalysts by one-step work-up. This is because that these MOCs have varied solubilities in different solvents due to the tunable packing of MOCs in the solid state. Moreover, the entire catalytic reaction system is very clean, and the purity of cyclic carbonates is as high as 97% without further purification. This work provides a unique strategy for developing novel supramolecular catalysts that can be used for homogeneous catalysis and recycled in a heterogeneous manner.

Research on the tilt-to-length coupling noise suppression method inside the gravitational wave detection telescope

As an integral component of the laser interferometry measurement system, the tilt-to-length (TTL) coupling noise inside the telescope stands out as a critical noise factor that requires meticulous consideration. In the TianQin project, the non-geometric TTL-coupled noise inside the telescope should be less than 0.22 pm/Hz1/2. Additionally, the wavefront aberration RMS at the small pupil of the telescope needs to be better than 0.0065 λ. These requirements set for the telescope are exceptionally stringent. To address this challenge, this study aims to relax the wavefront aberration requirements by mitigating non-geometric TTL coupling noise, while ensuring the non-geometric TTL coupling noise remains below 0.22 pm/Hz1/2. By controlling the coupling aberration proportion, the wavefront aberration RMS at the small pupil of the telescope can be relaxed to 0.014 λ. Alternatively, optimizing the Gaussian beam waist radius can relax the wavefront aberration RMS to 0.016 λ. By simultaneously utilizing two optimization methods, the wavefront aberration at the small pupil of the telescope can be reduced to 0.033 λ, resulting in an impressive success rate of 91.15% in meeting the noise requirements.

Designer Lithium Reservoirs for Ultralong Life Lithium Batteries for Grid Storage

The minimization of irreversible active lithium loss stands as a pivotal concern in rechargeable lithium batteries, particularly in the context of grid-storage applications, where achieving the utmost energy density over prolonged cycling is imperative to meet stringent demands, notably in terms of life cost. Departing from conventional methodologies advocating electrode prelithiation and/or electrolyte additives, a new paradigm is proposed here: the integration of a designer lithium reservoir (DLR) featuring lithium orthosilicate (Li4SiO4) and elemental sulfur. This approach concurrently addresses active lithium consumption through solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation and mitigates minor yet continuous parasitic reactions at the electrode/electrolyte interface during extended cycling. The remarkable synergy between the Li-ion conductive Li4SiO4 and the SEI-favorable elemental sulfur enables customizable compensation kinetics for active lithium loss throughout continuous cycling. The introduction of a minute quantity of DLR (3 wt% Li4SiO4@S) yields outstanding cycling stability in a prototype pouch cell (graphite||LiFePO4) with an ampere-hour-level capacity (≈2.3 Ah), demonstrating remarkable capacity retention (≈95%) even after 3000 cycles. This utilization of a DLR is poised to expedite the development of enduring lithium batteries for grid-storage applications and stimulate the design of practical, implantable rechargeable batteries based on related cell chemistries.

[Incidence and mortality of endometrial cancer in China, data from China Cancer Registry Annual Report, 2004-2017]

Objective: To analysis the incidence rate and mortality rate of endometrial cancer in China from 2004 to 2017 according to the data from China Cancer Registry Annual Report. Methods: The incidence and mortality data of endometrial cancer were extracted from the China Cancer Registry Annual Report 2004 to 2017, and the incidence, mortality, number of new cases, number of deaths were extracted according to the region (national, urban, rural and eastern, middle and western areas) and the age composition of population to estimate the incidence and mortality of endometrial cancer nationwide. The age-standardized incidence rate and mortality rate were calculated based on the Chinese standard population in 2000 (ASIRC, ASIRW) and Segi's world population (ASMRC, ASMRW). Join Point regression was used to calculate the annual percentage change of morbidity rate, and Cochran-Armitage trend test was used to analyze the changing trend of morbidity and mortality. Results: From 2004 to 2017, the number of women covered by the China Cancer Registry Annual Report has increased from 35 571 657 to 215 201 995, and the total population of the covered areas has increased from 5.53% to 31.39%. The crude incidence rate of endometrial cancer increased from 6.20/100 000 to 10.06/100 000, and showed an upward trend over time (P<0.001). After adjusting for age, ASIRC increased from 5.75/100 000 in 2004 to 6.79/100 000 in 2017, and ASIRW increased from 5.60/100 000 in 2004 to 6.56/100 000 in 2017, both showing an upward trend over time (all P<0.001). The crude incidence rates in urban area and rural area were respectively 10.89/100 000 and 9.25/100 000 in 2017, and the ASIRC was higher in urban than rural areas (7.14/100 000 vs 6.43/100 000) after adjusting for age. The ASIRW was higher in eastern areas than middle areas and western areas (7.16/100 000 vs 6.44/100 000 vs 5.60/100 000). The incidence rate in rural areas showed more significant growth than urban areas [annual percent change (APC): 3.2% vs 0.7%, P<0.001]. The age-specific incidence rate increased with age and reached a peak in the age group of 50-54 years (25.70/100 000). Incidence rate in the under-40 age group increased more in rural areas than in urban areas (69.84% vs-7.09%). From 2004 to 2017, the age-standardized mortality rate shows a decreasing trend, with the ASMRC from 1.83/100 000 to 1.47/100 000, and the ASMRW from 1.81/100, 000 to 1.46/100, 000. There was no significant difference between urban and rural areas in mortality of endometrial cancer. Age-specific mortality rates increased with age, reaching a peak in the age group 85 years and older (13.16/100 000). Conclusions: Recent years, there was an increasing incidence rate of endometrial cancer in China. Especially in rural areas, the incidence rate of endometrial cancer is increasing rapidly in young women under 40 years of age. There were differences between urban and rural areas and regions in the incidence rate of endometrial cancer. The incidence rates of endometrial cancer in some high-income cities have occupied the first place of female reproductive system malignant cancers. The age-standardized mortality rate of endometrial cancer shows a decreasing trend.

Targeting the TGF-β signaling pathway: an updated patent review (2021-present)

INTRODUCTION

The TGF-β signaling pathway is a complex network that plays a crucial role in regulating essential biological functions and is implicated in the onset and progression of multiple diseases. This review highlights the recent advancements in developing inhibitors targeting the TGF-β signaling pathway and their potential therapeutic applications in various diseases.

AREA COVERED

The review discusses patents on active molecules related to the TGF-β signaling pathway, focusing on three strategies: TGF-β activity inhibition, blocking TGF-β receptor binding, and disruption of the signaling pathway using small molecule inhibitors. Combination therapies and the development of fusion proteins targeting multiple pathways are also explored. The literature search was conducted using the Cortellis Drug Discovery Intelligence database, covering patents from 2021 onwards.

EXPERT OPINION

The development of drugs targeting the TGF-β signaling pathway has made significant progress in recent years. However, addressing challenges such as specificity, systemic toxicity, and patient selection is crucial for their successful clinical application. Targeting the TGF-β signaling pathway holds promise as a promising approach for the treatment of various diseases.

Optimized design of a gravitational wave telescope system based on pupil aberration

The telescope is vital for accurate gravitational wave detection in the TianQin project. It must meet criteria like a geometric tilt-to-length (TTL) coupling noise c o e f f i c i e n t≤0.02√2n m/µr a d and wavefront R M S≤λ/30. Analyzing the pupil aberration's impact on geometric TTL noise, we devised an optimization method using the chief ray spot diagram's standard deviation. Implementing this in Zemax with a ZPL macro, we designed an optical system meeting TianQin's requirements. The system has a maximum geometric TTL noise coefficient of 0.0250 nm/µrad over the science FOV and a wavefront RMS of 0.0111λ, confirming the method's feasibility.

Analysis of alignment requirements for off-axis resonant cavity based on coupling efficiency

The optical path length stability of the off-axis four-reflection telescope is one of the key technical indicators for the TianQin gravitational wave detection system. In the MHz observation band, the telescope must exhibit an optical path length stability of 0.4p m/H z 1/2. As a feasible solution, the optical path length stability measurement of the off-axis four-reflection telescope based on the Pound-Drever-Hall (PDH) technique imposes stringent requirements on the alignment of the off-axis resonant cavity (ORC). Taking the off-axis two-reflection prototype as the research object, we propose a Monte Carlo analysis-based method for ORC alignment precision analysis. By considering misalignment as an intermediate function, we establish a relationship between the coupling efficiency of the ORC and the wavefront aberration of the telescope. The research results show that by considering the combined effects of multiple misalignment couplings of the primary and secondary mirrors, when the detected telescope wavefront aberration is better than 0.068λ (λ=1064n m) with a probability of 98%, the ORC coupling efficiency can achieve greater than 40% with a probability of 97.13%, which can be used as the main reference indicator for system misalignment analysis. This method simplifies the alignment difficulty of the target under test and can provide alignment reference for subsequent resonant cavities with internal off-axis telescopes.

A Diffusive Artificial Synapse Based on Charged Metal Nanoparticles

We show that a diffusive memristor with analogue switching characteristics can be achieved in a layer of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) functionalized with charged self-assembled monolayers (deprotonated 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid). The nanoparticle core and the anchored stationary charges are jammed within the layer while the mobile counterions [N(CH3)4+] can respond to the electric field and spontaneously diffuse back to the initial positions upon removal of the field. This metal nanoparticle device is set-step free, energy consumption efficient, mechanically flexible, and analogous to bio-Ca2+ dynamics and has tunable conductance modulation capabilities at the counterion concentrations. The gradual resistive switching behavior enables us to implement several important synaptic functions such as potentiation/depression, spike voltage-dependent plasticity, spike duration-dependent plasticity, spike frequency-dependent plasticity, and paired-pulse facilitation. Finally, on the basis of the paired-pulse facilitation characteristics, the metal nanoparticle diffusive artificial synapse is used for edge extraction with exhibits excellent performance.

Study on the Physical and Rheological Characterisation of Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)/Recycled Crumb Rubber (RCR) on Asphalt Binders

Recycled crumb rubber (RCR) is considered a reliable asphalt modifier and a solution to the problem of scrap tyre recycling. RCR-modified asphalt (RCRMA) typically has good low-temperature performance and storage stability. However, the pre-treatment of crumb rubber (CR) impairs its physical properties, resulting in poor high-temperature performance, which limits the industrial application of RCRMA. In this study, low-density polyethylene (LDPE) composite RCR was used to modify asphalt, and LDPE/RCR-composite-modified asphalt (L-RCRMA) was produced to compensate for the deficiencies in the high-temperature performance of RCRMA. The comprehensive physical properties of L-RCRMA were elucidated using tests such as the conventional properties, rotational viscosity, and rheological tests. The results showed that the incorporation of LDPE improved the high-temperature stability and rutting resistance of the asphalt, but an excessive amount of LDPE impaired the low-temperature performance and storage stability of L-RCRMA. Therefore, it is necessary to control the amount of LDPE to balance the performance of the asphalt. On this basis, we recommend a dosage of 20% for RCR and 1.5% for LDPE.

Proper doses of brassinolide enhance somatic embryogenesis in different competent Korean pine cell lines during embryogenic callus differentiation

Somatic embryogenesis of Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis Sieb. Et Zucc.), an ecologically and econimically very important conifer species, was hindered by the gradually weakens and fast runaway of the embryogenicity and embryo competence of the embryogenic callus. Brassinolide (BL) has shown the enhancing capability of somatic embryo regeneration. For checking the function of BL in this issue, we applied different concentrations of BL to Korean pine callus materials exhibiting different embryogenic capacities and subsequently monitored the physiological alterations and hormone dynamics of the embryogenic callus. Our study revealed that calli with different embryogenic strengths responded differently to different concentrations of BL, but the effect after the addition of BL was very uniform. The addition of BL during the proliferation phase of embryogenic callus may help to stimulate the biological activity of callus during the proliferation process and improve the level of cell metabolism, which is accompanied by a reduction in storage substances. BL could reduce the level of endogenous auxin IAA in embryogenic callus and increase the level of abscisic acid to regulate cell division and differentiation. In addition, the MDA content in the callus was significantly decreased and the activity of antioxidant enzymes was significantly increased after the addition of BL. During the proliferation of embryogenic callus, BL was added to participate in the metabolism of phenylpropane in the cells and to increase the activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and the content of lignin in the cells. We deduced that the proper doses of BL for Korean pine embryogenic callus culture were as follow: calli with low, high and decreasing embryogenicity were subcultured after the addition of 0.75 mg/L, 0.35 mg/L, 2.00 mg/L BL, respectively, during proliferation culture stage.

CsPbBr3 Perovskite Nanocrystals for Photocatalytic [3+2] Cycloaddition

Visible-light-induced halide-exchange between halide perovskite and organohalide solvents has been studied in which photoinduced electron transfer from CsPbBr3 nanocrystals (NCs) to dihalomethane solvent molecules produces halide anions via reductive dissociation, followed by a spontaneous anion-exchange. Photogenerated holes in this process are less focused. Here, for CsPbBr3 in dibromomethane (DBM), we discover that Br radical (Br⋅) is a key intermediate resulting from the hole oxidation. We successfully trapped Br⋅ with reported methods and found that Br⋅ is continuously generated in DBM under visible light irradiation, hence imperative for catalytic reaction design. Continuous Br⋅ formation within this halide-exchange process is active for photocatalytic [3+2] cycloaddition for vinylcyclopentane synthesis, a privileged scaffold in medicinal chemistry, with good yield and rationalized diastereoselectivity. The NC photocatalyst is highly recyclable due to Br-based self-healing, leading to a particularly economic and neat heterogeneous reaction where the solvent DBM also acts as a co-catalyst in perovskite photocatalysis. Halide perovskites, notable for efficient solar energy conversion, are demonstrated as exceptional photocatalysts for Br radical-mediated [3+2] cycloaddition. We envisage such perovskite-induced Br radical strategy may serve as a powerful chemical tool for developing valuable halogen radical-involved reactions.

Prognostic value of the baseline magnetic resonance score in patients with acute posterior circulation ischaemic stroke after mechanical thrombectomy

AIM

To investigate the prognostic value of the composite posterior circulation Acute Stroke Prognosis Early Computed tomography (CT) Score (ASPECTS)-Collaterals (pcASCO) score, which combines diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) posterior circulation ASPECTS (pcASPECTS) and the magnetic resonance angiography (MRA)-collateral circulation score at baseline among patients with acute posterior circulation ischaemic stroke after mechanical thrombectomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with acute posterior circulation ischaemic stroke who underwent mechanical thrombectomy were analysed retrospectively. The DWI-pcASPECTS and MRA-collateral circulation score before treatment and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 90 days after treatment were used as the endpoints. An mRS ≤2 was defined as a good prognosis, and an mRS ≥3 was defined as a poor prognosis. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyse independent predictors of functional outcome 90 days after mechanical thrombectomy.

RESULTS

Mechanical thrombectomy was performed in 57 patients; 38 patients had a good prognosis, 19 patients had a poor prognosis, and 33 patients were successfully recanalised. Univariate logistic regression found that National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (OR: 1.18, p<0.001), pcASPECTS (OR: 1.91, p=0.028) and pcASCO score (OR: 0.51, p=0.001) were factors of good functional outcome. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) analysis showed that the diagnostic efficiency of the NIHSS and pcASCO was better (AUC = 0.88, 0.83, p<0.05) than that of the pcASPECTS (AUC = 0.65). The prediction model was established by age, NIHSS, and pcASCO, and the diagnostic efficiency of the prediction model was better (AUC = 0.94).

CONCLUSIONS

The composite MR-pcASCO score can be used as an important predictor of the prognosis of patients with acute posterior circulation ischaemic stroke after mechanical thrombectomy.

Lifestyle and Socioeconomic Transition and Health Consequences of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias in Global, from 1990 to 2019

BACKGROUND

Previous studies only focused on changes in the global age-specific incidence and mortality for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, failed to distinguish between cohort and period effects, and did not discuss risk factors separately.

METHODS

In this study, Alzheimer's disease disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) data to estimate the burden by gender, age, locations, and social-demographic status for 21 regions from 1990 to 2019. Additionally, trend analysis was performed using the age-period-cohort (APC) model and Join-point model.

RESULTS

In most regions, indicators (incidence, mortality, and DALYs) increased steadily with socio-demographic index(SDI) increased. The age effects for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias showed a significant increase from 40 to 95 years. The cohort effects rate ratios (RRs) had a rapid reduction attributed to smoking, high fasting plasma glucose, and high body mass index (BMI).

CONCLUSIONS

Countries in middle-low and low SDI regions have higher levels of risk factor exposure. As a result, rapid and effective government responses are necessary to control dementia risk factors and reduce the disease burden in these countries.

Cerebrospinal fluid drainage and chronic hydrocephalus in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients with intraventricular hemorrhage

Background

Patients with intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) are at a higher risk of developing hydrocephalus and often require external ventricular drainage or long-term ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery.

Objective

To investigate whether cerebrospinal fluid drainage in patients with IVH due to aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) reduces the incidence of chronic hydrocephalus.

Method

A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with aSAH treated at our hospital between January 2020 and December 2022. The first analysis compared patients with and without IVH, while the second analysis compared IVH patients with and without chronic hydrocephalus. The third analysis compared IVH patients who underwent in different drainage methods which is lumbar drainage (LD) or external ventricular drainage (EVD). The primary outcome measure was the incidence of chronic hydrocephalus.

Result

Of the 296 patients hospitalized with aSAH, 108 (36.5%) had IVH, which was associated with a significantly higher incidence of chronic hydrocephalus compared to patients without IVH (49.1% vs. 16.5%, p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that IVH was independently associated with the formation of chronic hydrocephalus (OR: 3.530, 95% CI: 1.958-6.362, p < 0.001). Among the 108 IVH patients, 53 (49.1%) developed chronic hydrocephalus. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the Hunt Hess grade at admission (OR: 3.362, 95% CI: 1.146-9.863, p = 0.027) and postoperative cerebrospinal fluid drainage (OR: 0.110, 95% CI: 0.036-0.336, p < 0.001) were independent risk factors for the development of chronic hydrocephalus in IVH patients. Among all IVH patients who underwent cerebrospinal fluid drainage, 45 (75%) received continuous lumbar puncture drainage, and 15 (25%) received external ventricular drainage. Univariate analysis did not show a statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of postoperative chronic hydrocephalus (p = 0.283). However, multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested that the drainage methods of LD and EVD might be associated with the development of chronic hydrocephalus.

Conclusion

The presence of IVH increases the risk of chronic hydrocephalus in patients with aSAH, and postoperative cerebrospinal fluid drainage appears to reduce this risk. The specific effects of lumbar puncture drainage and ventricular drainage on the incidence of chronic hydrocephalus require further investigation.

Rapid calculation method for backscattered light of a space gravitational-wave detection telescope

Stray light is a key issue that must be considered in the TianQin telescope. To solve the problem of a long simulation time and the inability of the simulation results to be fed back to guide the optical design, we propose a fast estimation method for stray light based on the FOV with high accuracy. Compared to other models, the error between our model and the software simulation results is smaller, within one order of magnitude. Based on this method, we obtain the optical component target of the TianQin telescope and propose an optimization method to reduce stray light, which can be verified by analyzing the optimized optical design.

Comparison of safety and effectiveness between robotic and laparoscopic major hepatectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Robotic platform has been increasingly applied in major hepatectomy. However, the role or advantage of robotic approach comparing with laparoscopic approach in major hepatectomy remains controversial. This meta-analysis compares perioperative outcomes of robotic major hepatectomy (RMH) to laparoscopic major hepatectomy (LMH) for hepatic neoplasms.

METHODS

PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were searched to identify comparative studies compared RMH versus LMH for hepatic neoplasms. The search timeframe was set before May 2023. Main outcomes were mortality, overall morbidities, serious complications, and conversion to open surgery. Secondary outcomes were operative time, intraoperative blood loss, blood transfusion, postoperative length of hospital stay, R0 resection, reoperation, and readmission. Studies were evaluated for quality by Cochrane risk of bias tool or Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Data were pooled as odds ratio (OR) or mean difference (MD). This study was registered at PROSPERO (CRD42023410951).

RESULTS

Twelve retrospective cohort studies concerning total 1657 patients (796 RMH, 861 LMH) were included. Meta-analyses showed no significant differences in mortality (OR=1.23, 95% CI=0.50-2.98, P =0.65), overall postoperative complications (OR=0.83, 95% CI=0.65-1.06, P =0.14), operative time (MD=6.47, 95% CI=-14.72 to 27.65, P =0.55), blood transfusion (OR=0.77, 95% CI=0.55-1.08, P =0.13), R0 resection (OR=1.45, 95% CI=0.91-2.31, P =0.12), reoperation (OR=0.76, 95% CI=0.31-1.88, P =0.56), and readmission (OR=0.63, 95% CI=0.28-1.44, P =0.27) between RMH and LMH. Incidence of serious complications (OR=0.60, 95% CI=0.40-0.90, P =0.01), conversion to open surgery (OR=0.41, 95% CI=0.27-0.63, P <0.0001), blood loss (MD=-91.42, 95% CI=-142.18 to -40.66, P =0.0004), and postoperative hospital stay (MD=-0.64, 95% CI=-0.78 to -0.49, P <0.00001) were reduced for RMH versus LMH.

CONCLUSIONS

RMH is associated with comparable short-term surgical outcomes and oncologic adequacy compared to LMH when performed by experienced surgeons at large centres. RMH may result in reduced major morbidities, conversion rate, blood loss, and hospital stay, but these results were volatile. Further randomized studies should address the potential advantages of RMH over LMH.

Polarization-sensitive UV photodetector based on ReSe2/GaN mixed-dimensional heterojunction

Polarization-sensitive photodetectors in the ultraviolet (UV) region have been favored for their great meaning in the field of military and civilian. UV photodetectors based on GaN have aroused much attention due to high photocurrent and high sensitivity. However, the dependence on external power sources and the limited sensitivity to polarized UV light significantly impede the practical application of these photodetectors in UV-polarized photodetection. Herein, a polarization-sensitive UV photodetector based on ReSe2/GaN mixed-dimensional van der Waals (vdWs) heterojunction is proposed. Owing to the high-quality junction and type-II band alignment, the responsivity and specific detectivity reach values of 870 mA/W and 6.8 × 1011 Jones, under 325 nm illumination, respectively. Furthermore, thanks to the strong in-plane anisotropy of ReSe2, the device is highly sensitive to polarized UV light with a photocurrent anisotropic ratio up to 6.67. The findings are expected to bring new opportunities for the development of highly sensitive, high-speed and energy-efficient polarization-sensitive photodetectors.

Therapeutic effect of folic acid combined with decitabine on diabetic mice

AIM

To evaluate the therapeutic effect of folic acid combined with decitabine on diabetic mice.

METHODS

The diabetic model of db/db mice were randomly divided into model group, folic acid group, decitabine group, folic acid combined with decitabine group, and C57 mice as normal control group. The density of retinal blood vessels and retinal thickness were detected by fundus photography and optical coherence tomography, respectively. Pathological changes of retina were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The homocysteine (Hcy) in serum was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) was used to detect apoptosis in retinal tissue. Evans blue dye was used to detect the permeability of retinal blood vessels. The platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (CD31) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) protein were detected by Western blot. The 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) and 4-hydroxynonanine (4-HNE) were detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

The density of retinal blood vessels, retinal thickness, retinal vascular permeability and the proportion of apoptotic cells of retinal tissue in the model group increased significantly than control group (P<0.05). The Hcy in serum and the levels of CD31, VEGFR, 3-NT, and 4-HNE in retinal tissue increased significantly in the model group (P<0.01). Folic acid and decitabine both reversed these changes significantly, and the combination of the folic acid and decitabine worked best.

CONCLUSION

The combination of folic acid and decitabine has a more significant protective effect on the retina in diabetic mice.

[Analysis of clinical presentation and genetic characteristics of malignant infantile osteopetrosis]

Objective: To investigate the clinical presentation and genetic characteristics of malignant infantile osteopetrosis. Methods: This was a retrospective case study. Thirty-seven children with malignant infantile osteopetrosis admitted into Beijing Children's Hospital from January 2013 to September 2022 were enrolled in this study. According to the gene mutations, the patients were divided into the CLCN7 group and the TCIRG1 group. Clinical characteristics, laboratory tests, and prognosis were compared between two groups. Wilcoxon test or Fisher exact test were used in inter-group comparison. The survival rate was estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method and the Log-Rank test was used to compare the difference in survival between groups. Results: Among the 37 cases, there were 22 males and 15 females. The age of diagnosis was 0.5 (0.2, 1.0) year. There were 13 patients (35%) and 24 patients (65%) with mutations in CLCN7 and TCIRGI gene respectively. Patients in the CLCN7 group had an older age of diagnosis than those in the TCIRGI group (1.2 (0.4, 3.6) vs. 0.4 (0.2, 0.6) years, Z=-2.60, P=0.008). The levels of serum phosphorus (1.7 (1.3, 1.8) vs. 1.1 (0.8, 1.6) mmol/L, Z=-2.59, P=0.010), creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB) (457 (143, 610) vs. 56 (37, 82) U/L, Z=-3.38, P=0.001) and the level of neutrophils (14.0 (9.9, 18.1) vs. 9.2 (6.7, 11.1) ×109/L, Z=-2.07, P=0.039) at diagnosis were higher in the CLCN7 group than that in the TCIRG1 group. However, the level of D-dimer in the CLCN7 group was lower than that in the TCIRGI group (2.7 (1.0, 3.1) vs. 6.3 (2.5, 9.7) μg/L, Z=2.83, P=0.005). After hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, there was no significant difference in 5-year overall survival rate between the two groups (92.3%±7.4% vs. 83.3%±7.6%, χ²=0.56, P=0.456). Conclusions: TCIRGI gene mutations are more common in children with osteopetrosis. Children with TCIRGI gene mutations have younger age, lower levels of phosphorus, CK-MB, and neutrophils and higher level of D-dimer at the onset. After hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, patients with CLCN7 or TCIRGI gene mutations have similar prognosis.

pH Switchable Nanozyme Platform for Healing Skin Tumor Wound Infected with Drug-Resistant Bacteria

Nanozymes capable of generating reactive oxygen species have recently emerged as promising treatments for wounds infected with drug-resistant bacteria, possessing a reduced possibility of inducing resistance. However, the therapeutic effect is limited by a shortage of endogenous oxy-substrates and undesirable off-target biotoxicity. Herein, a ferrocenyl coordination polymer (FeCP) nanozyme, featuring pH switchable peroxidase (POD)- and catalase (CAT)-like activity is incorporated with indocyanine green (ICG) and calcium peroxide (CaO2 ) to fabricate an H2 O2 /O2 self-supplying system (FeCP/ICG@CaO2 ) for precise treatment of bacterial infections. At the wound site, CaO2 reacts with water to generate H2 O2 and O2 . Acting as a POD mimic under an acidic bacterial microenvironment, FeCP catalyzes H2 O2 into hydroxyl radicals to prevent infection. However, FeCP switches to CAT-like activity in neutral tissue, decomposing H2 O2 into H2 O and O2 to prevent oxidative damage and facilitate wound healing. Additionally, FeCP/ICG@CaO2 shows photothermal therapy capability, as ICG can emit heat under near-infrared laser irradiation. This heat assists FeCP in fully exerting its enzyme-like activity. Thus, this system achieves an antibacterial efficiency of 99.8% in vitro for drug-resistant bacteria, and effectively overcomes the main limitations of nanozyme-based treatment assays, resulting in satisfactory therapeutic effects in repairing normal and special skin tumor wounds infected with drug-resistant bacteria.

Domino Reactions Enabling Sulfur-Mediated Gradient Interphases for High-Energy Lithium Batteries

Silicon (Si)-based anodes are currently considered a feasible solution to improve the energy density of lithium-ion batteries owing to their sufficient specific capacity and natural abundance. However, Si-based anodes exhibit low electric conductivities and large volume changes during cycling, which could easily trigger continuous breakdown/reparation of the as-formed solid-electrolyte-interphase (SEI) layer, seriously hampering their practical application in current battery technology. To control the chemoelectrochemical instability of the conventional SEI layer, we herein propose the introduction of elemental sulfur into nonaqueous electrolytes, aiming to build a sulfur-mediated gradient interphase (SMGI) layer on Si-based anodes. The SMGI layer is generated through the domino reactions (i.e., electrochemical cascade reactions) involving the electrochemical reductions of elemental sulfur followed by nucleophilic substitutions of fluoroethylene carbonate, which endows the corresponding SEI layer with strong elasticity and chemomechanical stability and enables rapid transportation of Li+ ions. Consequently, the prototype Si||LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 cells attain a high-energy density of 622.2 W h kg-1 and a capacity retention of 88.8% after 100 cycles. Unlike previous attempts based on sophisticated chemical modifications of electrolyte components, this study opens a new avenue in interphase design for long-lived and high-energy rechargeable batteries.

Modeling Gamma Knife Radiosurgical Toxicity for Multiple Brain Metastases

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Dosing for single fraction radiosurgery has traditionally relied on tumor measurements from a single maximum diameter. Most protocols recommend setting dosing criteria based on assumed risk of radionecrosis roughly correlating with tumor size. However, the risk of radionecrosis after radiosurgery is best modeled by a function of dose and volume treated, with the largest body of evidence supporting the use of brain tissue receiving ≥12 Gy in one fraction (V12, i.e., > 10.9 cm3). Here we show that tumor surface area (SA) and second order dimensions are superior predictors for Gamma Knife radiosurgical toxicity and can be used to estimate V12.

MATERIALS/METHODS

A total of 1217 brain metastases from 245 patients treated with a prescribed dose from 13 to 27 Gy in one fraction were retrospectively reviewed. Eight independent modeling parameters were considered; 3 geometric tumor characteristics: SA, volume (V), and largest axial dimension (LAD) and 5 treatment planning variables: prescription dose (Rx), coverage, selectivity, gradient index, and number of shots. Linear regression and power-law formulations were performed to determine which parameters were the most accurate predictors of V12. The power model is dependent on a conceptualized "pseudo surface area" (PSA), defined as the surface area of a sphere with a diameter of LAD of a lesion (PSA = π*LAD2). At the aggregate patient level, the model predicts total brain V12 by summing the V12 values for each singular lesion only by using LAD and Rx as input variables.

RESULTS

Tumor SA was the best univariate linear predictor of V12 (adjR2 = 0.770), followed by LAD (adjR2 = 0.755) and V (adjR2 = 0.745). The SA predictive model improves for lesions that have high sphericity > 0.85 (adjR2 = 0.837), with a measure of 1 indicating a perfect sphere. Using bivariable regression analysis, we formulated a single term power model that even more accurately predicts for V12 (V12 = 0.0137 * Rx1.5 * LAD2, adjR2 = 0.906) and is proportional to PSA. At the patient level, this model also accurately predicts for total brain V12 (adjR2 = 0.896) and V12 > 10.9 cm3 (Sensitivity = 99.1%, Specificity = 90.5%).

CONCLUSION

Conceptually, SA univariately predicts for V12 more accurately than other tumor physical dimensions or treatment planning parameters, while the best bivariable power model involves PSA. We provide a preplan model for brain metastases that can help better estimate radionecrosis risk, determine prescription doses given a target V12, and provide safe dose escalation strategies without the use of any planning software.

Initial Experience with the Commercial Electron FLASH Research Extension

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

The purpose of this study was to introduce a new commercial electron FLASH system that has the potential to become widely available for FLASH researchers globally. In this study, we first present the initial acceptance and commissioning tests for the FLASH system, and second, we highlight preliminary FLASH effect results from our cell studies.

MATERIALS/METHODS

A linear accelerator was converted into a commercial research platform with the FLASH Research Extension, enabling the generation of a powerful 16 MeV electron FLASH beam. The dosimetric and stability tests were conducted using various dosimeters (i.e., radiochromic film, optically stimulated luminescent dosimeters (OSLDs), and a plane-parallel ionization chamber). To evaluate the FLASH effect, normal and cancer cell lines were FLASH irradiated using different pulse repetition frequencies (PRF) of 18 pulses/s and 180 pulses/s.

RESULTS

The electron FLASH mode was able to generate over 1 Gy per pulse at the isocenter and a dose rate of up to 690 Gy/s near the accessory mount of the Linac gantry head. The charge collected by the plane-parallel ionization chamber at the highest PRF (i.e., 180 pulses/s) showed a linear relationship with the delivered number of pulses (i.e., 1 to 99 pulses) with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.9996. The absorbed dose measured using radiochromic film and OSLDs agreed within 3%, on average, and followed an inverse square law as the source-to-axis distance (SAD) varied for which the R2 values were 0.9972 and 0.9955 for radiochromic film and OSLDs, respectively. The profile of the FLASH beam was symmetrical but was not as flat as the conventional 16 MeV electron beam due to the use of a thinner custom scattering foil to reduce the degradation of the ultra-high dose rate. The depth-dose curve beyond the build-up region for the FLASH beam was similar to the conventional 16 MeV electron beam for which the range at 50% the maximum dose (R50) agreed within 0.5 mm. The FLASH beam output remained consistent over a 4-month period with a variation of 2.5%, on average. The FLASH sparing effect was observed in vitro for healthy human pancreatic cells. Furthermore, we observed that the highest PRF beam (180 pulses/s) was more effective at destroying pancreatic cancerous cells while minimizing damage to healthy cells compared to the lowest PRF beam (18 pulses/s).

CONCLUSION

The novel commercial FLASH Research Extension system was dosimetrically characterized for pre-clinical FLASH research, and preliminary in vitro results demonstrated the FLASH effect. Given the prevalence of linear accelerators, this new commercial system has the potential to greatly increase the access to FLASH research.

Characteristics of Two mcr-1-Harboring IncHI2 Plasmids from Clinical Salmonella Isolates in Jiaxing City

Salmonella is a primary cause of foodborne diseases, and the increasing prevalence of mcr-1-carrying plasmids, which confer colistin resistance to Salmonella, poses significant global health concerns. As the frequency of occurrence of the mcr-1 gene is increasing globally, we studied the prevalence of mcr-1 in clinical Salmonella isolates by analyzing 195 clinical strains isolated in 2020. Of the 195 Salmonella isolates, 41 isolates were resistant to colistin. We found mcr-1 in two strains (Salmonella Typhimurium ZJJX20006 and Salmonella Kentucky ZJJX20014), which we analyzed in detail via whole-genome sequencing and antibiotic susceptibility testing. Two strains displayed resistance to ampicillin, ampicillin-sulbactam, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and cotrimoxazole, while ZJJX20006 displayed resistance to colistin and ZJJX20014 was sensitive. Genomic analysis revealed that these strains had plasmid-encoded mcr-1 in IncHI2 plasmids, which were not similar to the mcr-1-IncX4 identified in 2016. These two strains also harbored other drug resistance genes, including blaOXA-1 and blaCTX-M-14. Our findings may help clarify the molecular mechanisms of mcr-1 dissemination among Salmonella strains in Jiaxing City and offer insights into the evolution of mcr-1 in Salmonella.

Induction Immunochemotherapy Followed by Definitive Chemoradiotherapy for Unresectable Locally Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (cCRT) followed by immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) consolidation is the current standard of care for unresectable locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC). However, most patients diagnosed with unresectable LA-NSCLC will not meet the criteria for adjuvant ICIs in the real world. Theoretically, adjusting the ICIs from the consolidation phase to the induction setting could greatly improve the patient' s compliance to receive ICIs therapy. Consequently, we performed this study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of induction ICIs and chemotherapy followed by definitive CRT for unresectable LA-NSCLC.

MATERIALS/METHODS

A total of 102 unresectable stage III NSCLC patients who received neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy followed by definitive CRT between 2019 and 2022 were identified. The primary endpoint of this study was to determine the efficacy of this treatment pattern, including overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS). Disease control rate (DCR) and toxicities were the secondary objective.

RESULTS

The median age was 64 years (range 34-81), including 58 (56.9%) squamous cell carcinoma and 37 (36.3%) non-squamous cell carcinoma patients. There were 34 (33.3%), 39 (38.2%) and 29 (28.4%) patients with stage IIIA, IIIB and IIIC disease, respectively. The DCR at the end of induction immunochemotherapy was 87.3%. The median PFS was 20.4 months (95% CI, 15.7-25.1), with PFS rates of 90.1% at 6 months, 70.4% at 1 year, 55.2% at 18 months and 41.9% at 2 years. The rates of OS were 92.8%, and 76.2% at 1 year, and 2 years, respectively, and the median OS was not reached. For patients without progression before CRT, the median OS was also not reached, and the median PFS was 21.3 months. Patients receiving concurrent CRT manifested significantly better OS, compared with sequential CRT (12-month OS, 89.4% vs. 100.0%; 24-month OS, 70.2% vs. 87.3%; P = 0.030). Patients with PD-L1 expression of 50% or more manifested significantly higher partial response rate (70.4% vs. 45.3%, P = 0.033), along with better survival (median PFS, 17.3 months vs. NR, P = 0.034; median OS, 26.5 months vs. NR, P = 0.037), compared to those less than 50%. Treatment was well tolerated, with an incidence of 4.9% for grade 3 or greater pneumonitis or radiation pneumonitis (RP). The most common severe (grade ≥3) adverse events were hematologic toxicities and no unexpected treatment related toxicities occurred.

CONCLUSION

Induction immunochemotherapy followed by definitive CRT showed promising efficacy and tolerable toxicities for unresectable LA-NSCLC, especially for those with tumoral PD-L1 expression over 50%.

Commissioning and Initial Validation of Commercial Treatment Planning System for the Electron FLASH Research Extension

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of commissioning the 16 MeV electron FLASH beam in a commercial treatment planning system (TPS) for pre-clinical research purposes. The delivery system consisted of a new commercial solution for which a linear accelerator was modified into a FLASH Research Extension platform. Additionally, preliminary radiation biology results were highlighted to showcase the future use of this system.

MATERIALS/METHODS

To commission a commercial electron Monte Carlo (MC) for dose calculation of a 16 MeV FLASH beam in the TPS, radiochromic film was used to measure the vendor-required beam data, e.g., profiles and percent depth dose (PDD) curves for cone sizes of 6 × 6 cm2, 10 × 10 cm2, and 15 × 15 cm2 as well as an in-air profile for a 40 × 40 cm2 open field (no cone). Once the electron MC beam model was generated, additional measurements were collected for validation and compared against the calculated dose from the TPS. A treatment planning comparison between the newly commissioned FLASH beam and the conventional electron beam was conducted. Specifically, the dose-volume histograms (DVHs) for target volumes and organs at risk were investigated for skin cancer cases previously treated with conventional electron beams. Lastly, the FLASH dose distribution predicted by the electron MC for an in vitro cell study setup was validated with radiochromic film measurements, and initial radiobiology tests were conducted using FLASH and conventional dose-rate electron beams.

RESULTS

The electron MC calculated dose for the 16 MeV electron FLASH beam agreed with measured PDDs within 1% for all field sizes. The beam profile characteristics, such as penumbra, shape, and full width at half maximum, demonstrated good agreement with less than 0.5 mm difference between the TPS and measurements. There were noticeable differences in the profiles of large fields between the FLASH and conventional dose-rate beam models due to the more forward-peaked FLASH beam. For treatment planning, Regarding DVH, the FLASH dose-rate plan provided comparable plan quality to the conventional dose-rate plan, achieving adequate coverage for the target volumes and sparing the healthy organs and tissues. The electron MC dose prediction for the FLASH beam was also found to be in good agreement with the film measurements of the in vitro cell study setup. Furthermore, the FLASH beam was observed to be more effective with a 20 % increase in killing pancreatic cancer cells compared to the conventional dose rate.

CONCLUSION

The study successfully incorporated the 16 MeV electron FLASH Research Extension into the commercial TPS using electron Monte Carlo for dose calculation. This will be valuable for pre-clinical cell and animal studies. This research also enables FLASH treatment planning studies, a key component for the future implementation of FLASH into clinical care. Further research is necessary to incorporate the radiation biology effect of FLASH into the treatment planning system.

Effect and mechanism of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor on the improvement of elderly essential hypertension-induced vascular endothelial function impairment based on the JAK/STAT pathway

OBJECTIVE

Our research was designed to figure out the influence and mechanism of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor on the improvement of elderly essential hypertension-induced vascular endothelial function impairment based on the JAK/STAT pathway.

METHODS

Eighty-six elderly patients with essential hypertension were randomized into a control group (oral Amlodipine Besylate Tablets) and an observation group (oral Amlodipine Besylate Tablets + HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor atorvastatin calcium). Patients in both groups were treated with the drug for 12 weeks. Blood pressure, serum levels of inflammatory factors, and vascular endothelial function indicators, and levels of blood lipids were measured. The modeled rats were treated with atorvastatin calcium and a JAK/STAT pathway inhibitor (AG490), and the levels of cardiac function-related indices, left ventricular mass index, lipid levels, serum inflammatory factors and vascular endothelial function-related indices were detected in each group.

RESULTS

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor improved blood pressure levels, lipid levels, serum inflammatory factor levels and cardiac function in elderly patients with essential hypertension. Both HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor and AG490 improved blood pressure levels, lipid levels, serum inflammatory factor levels and cardiac function in SHR rats. Both HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor and AG490 decreased p-JAK2/JAK2 and p-STAT3/STAT3 expression levels.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrates that HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor improves elderly essential hypertension-induced vascular endothelial function impairment by blocking the JAK/STAT pathway.

[The consistency of skeletal muscle mass measured by CT at L1 and L3 levels and the correlation of skeletal muscle density at L1 level with prognosis in dialysis patients]

Objective: To investigate the consistency of skeletal muscle mass by CT at 1st lumbar vertebrae (L1) and 3rd lumbar vertebrae (L3) levels and the correlation of skeletal muscle density (SMD) at L1 level with prognosis in dialysis patients. Methods: A total of 1 020 patients who underwent initial dialysis and had CT examination data in four centers (Zhongda Hospital Affiliated to Southeast University, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Taizhou People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University and the Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University) from January 2014 to December 2019 were retrospectively collected. The skeletal muscle index (SMI) and SMD at L1 and L3 CT images were measured and calculated in patients with both L1 and L3 level CT images. The consistency of SMI and SMD at L1 and L3 levels was analyzed, and the cut-off value of SMI and SMD at L1 level for predicting all-cause mortality and their correlation with the prognosis of dialysis patients were studied. Cox regression model was used to analyze the risk factors for all-cause death and cardiac death. Results: A total of 383 patients had both L1 and L3 level images, including 233 males and 150 females. The average SMD value of 16 samples (4.2%) exceeded the 95% consistency limit range (-8.71 to 7.75 HU), and the average SMI value of 15 samples (3.9%) exceeded the 95% consistency limit range (-20.45 to 9.53 HU). The optimal cut-off value of SMD at L1 level for predicting all-cause mortality was 36.46 HU and the area under curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.658 (95%CI: 0.596-0.721, P<0.001), with the sensitivity and specificity of 83.8% and 57.5%, respectively. SMI at L1 level was not significantly associated with all-cause mortality (P=0.299). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that low SMD at L1 level was associated with all-cause mortality (HR=2.861, 95%CI: 1.576-5.193, P=0.001) and cardiac death (HR=3.771, 95%CI:1.462-9.724, P=0.006). Conclusions: SMD at L1 levelis consistent with SMD at L3 level and can be used to evaluate muscle mass. Low SMD is a risk factor for mortality in dialysis patients.

Four levels of in-sensor computing in bionic olfaction: from discrete components to multi-modal integrations

Sensing and computing are two important ways in which humans attempt to perceive and understand the analog world through digital devices. Analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) discretize analog signals while the data bus transmits digital data between the components of a computer. With the increase in sensor nodes and the application of deep neural networks, the energy and time consumption limit the increment of data throughput. In-sensor computing is a computing paradigm that integrates sensing, storage, and processing in one device without ADCs and data transfer. According to the integration degree, herein, we summarize four levels of in-sensor computing in the field of artificial olfactory. In the first level, we show that different functions are conducted by using discrete components. Next, the data conversion and transfer are exempt within the in-memory computing architecture with necessary data encoding. Subsequently, in-sensor computing is integrated into a single device. Finally, multi-modal in-sensor computing is proposed to improve the quality and reliability of the classification results. At the end of this minireview, we provide an outlook on the use of metal nanoparticle devices to achieve such in-sensor computing for bionic olfaction.

Multifunctional Crystalline Coordination Polymers Constructed from 4,4'-Bipyridine-N,N'-dioxide: Photochromism, White-Light Emission, and Photomagnetism

Multifunctional photochromic coordination polymers (CPs) have shown great potential in many areas, like molecular switches, anticounterfeiting, magnetics, and optoelectronics. Although multifunctional photochromic CPs can be obtained by introducing photoresponsive functional units or by exploiting the synergy effect of each component, relatively limited photochromic ligands hinder the development of various multifunctional photochromic CPs. In this work, we reported two multifunctional coordination polymers {[Zn(bpdo)(fum)(H2O)2]}n (1) and {[Mn(bpdo)(fum)(H2O)2]}n (2) based on an easily accessible but underestimated photoactive molecule 4,4'-bipyridine-N,N'-dioxide (bpdo). Compound 1 exhibits photochromism and white-light emission with an ultra-high color rendering index (CRI) of 92.1. Interestingly, compound 1 could emit intrinsic white light in the crystalline state upon UV irradiation both before and after photochromism. Meanwhile, compound 2 displays photochromic and photomagnetic properties, induced by the photogenerated radicals via a photoinduced electron transfer mechanism.

[Research progress of vitamin D in inflammatory skin disease]

It is well known that vitamin D is engaged in calcium and phosphorus metabolism. However, vitamin D also plays an important role in other aspects over the past decades, such as immune response. Vitamin D has thus aroused the interest of the scientific community, especially the field of dermatology. The major source of vitamin D comes from the exposure of the skin to ultraviolet B. In turn, vitamin D regulates the proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes, prevents opportunistic infection, and regulates the inflammatory response and immune response of the skin. Acne, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and other inflammatory skin diseases have been found to have a certain relationship with vitamin D. This article review the correlation between vitamin D and inflammatory skin diseases.

Expression and Function of VEGFRs in Normal Epidermis and Psoriatic Lesional Keratinocytes

The study aimed to explore the expression and function of VEGFRs in normal epidermis and keratinocytes of psoriatic lesions. In this study, the expression and role of VEGFRs in keratinocytes were examined using examples from psoriatic and healthy individuals. The experiment was completed by immunofluorescence analysis, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and real-time quantitative RT-PCR after the skin of nonlesional, adjacent, and lesional skin was excised. Observations indicated that in non-lesional psoriatic areas and adjacent lesional areas of the skin of psoriasis patients, the fluorescent signals of VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 were strongly labelled with keratinocytes, and in psoriatic lesions, keratinocytes were present throughout the entire thickness of the epidermis, with the exception of the stratum corneum. The distribution of VEGFR-3 in psoriatic nonlesional and adjacent lesional skin was consistent with that in normal epidermis, whereas all layers of the epidermis of psoriatic lesions expressed VEGFR-3. The mRNA expression levels of VEGFR-1,2,3 steadily increased from the normal epidermis to the psoriatic nonlesional, adjacent lesional, and perilesional areas, with the lesional epidermis' keratinocytes exhibiting the greatest levels of mRNA expression. Ca ions upregulate VEGFR-1,2,3 mRNA and protein expression in keratinocytes of nonlesional areas of psoriasis. VEGFRs protein expression and cortical IOD values of psoriatic and normal population cells showed a positive correlation. Hence, in comparison to normal epidermal keratinocytes, psoriatic lesional regions' keratinocytes considerably enhanced their expression of VEGFR-1,2,3 mRNA and protein. The overexpression of VEGFR-1,2,3 in psoriatic lesions may be encouraged by VEGF and Ca þ ions.

Chiral Perovskite Nanocrystals for Asymmetric Reactions: A Highly Enantioselective Strategy for Photocatalytic Synthesis of N-C Axially Chiral Heterocycles

Catalytic approaches to generate enantiospecific chiral centers are the major premise of modern organic chemistry. Heterogeneous catalysis is responsible for the vast majority of chemical transformations, yet the direct employment of chiral solid catalysts for asymmetric synthesis is mostly overlooked. Here, we demonstrated that a heterogeneous metal-halide perovskite nanocrystal (NC) catalyst is active for asymmetric organic synthesis under visible-light activation. Chiral 1-phenylethylamine (PEA)-hybridized perovskite PEA/CsPbBr3 NC photocatalysts exhibit an enantioselective (up to 99% enantiomer excess, ee) avenue to produce N-C axially chiral N-heterocycles, i.e., N-arylindoles from N-arylamine photo-oxidation. Mechanistic investigation indicated a discriminated prochiral binding of the N-arylamine substrates onto the chiral-NC surface with ca. -2.4 kcal/mol enantiodifferentiation. Our perovskite NC heterogeneous catalytic system not only demonstrates a promising strategy to address the long-term challenges in atroposelective pharmaceutical scaffold synthesis but also paves the road to directly employ chiral solids for asymmetric synthesis.

[Effect of the varicella vaccination on the clinical characteristics of herpes zoster cases aged 20 years and under]

To discuss the effect of varicella vaccination on the clinical characteristics of herpes zoster (shingles) cases aged 20 years and under, and analyze its clinical features. Based on the Yichang Health Big Data Platform, a descriptive study was conducted to collect the information of cases aged 20 years and under in three medical institutions of Yichang Central People's Hospital, Yichang First People's Hospital and Yichang Second People's Hospital from March 2019 to September 2020. According to the history of varicella vaccine, cases were divided into vaccination group and non-vaccination group, and their clinical features and outcomes were compared. The results showed that 46 shingles cases, aged from 7 to 20 years old, were included in this study. 26 males (56.5%), 20 females (43.5%), 15 cases in vaccination group (32.6%) and 31 cases in non-vaccination group (67.4%). 28 cases had thoracic involvement, followed by lumbar (n=8), cranial (n=7) involvements and extremities (n=7). The spread of herpes skin area: 2 cases involved too large area, 21 cases of 10 cm×10 cm, 14 cases of 5 cm×5 cm, 9 cases of 1 cm×1 cm. Herpes number: 26 cases had 10-49 herpes, followed by <10 herpes (n=9), uncountable herpes (n=7) and 50-99 herpes (n=4). The clinical course[M(Q₁,Q₃)] lasted 20.5 (13.5,24.8) d averagely, 5 cases had postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) and 1 case had respiratory complications. Shingles decrustation time was significantly shorter in vaccination group (Z=-2.01, P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in other characteristics by vaccination. In conclusion, the number and spread of shingles in most children and adolescents are less, and the complications such as PHN are less. Varicella vaccination can reduce the decrustation time and relieve shingles cases with some clinical symptoms.

Sensitive electrochemical measurement of nitric oxide released from living cells based on dealloyed PtBi alloy nanoparticles

Nitric oxide (NO), as a vital signaling molecule related to different physiological and pathological processes in living systems, is closely associated with cancer and cardiovascular disease. However, the detection of NO in real-time remains a difficulty. Here, PtBi alloy nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized, dealloyed, and then fabricated to NP-based electrodes for the electrochemical detection of NO. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and nitrogen physical adsorption/desorption show that dealloyed PtBi alloy nanoparticles (dPtBi NPs) have a porous nanostructure. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry results exhibit that the dPtBi NP electrode possesses unique electrocatalytic features such as low charge transfer resistance and large electrochemically active surface area, which lead to its excellent NO electrochemical sensing performance. Owing to the higher density of catalytical active sites formed PtBi bimetallic interface, the dPtBi NP electrode displays superior electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of NO with a peak potential at 0.74 V vs. SCE. The dPtBi NP electrode shows a wide dynamic range (0.09-31.5 μM) and a low detection limit of 1 nM (3σ/k) as well as high sensitivity (130 and 36.5 μA μM^-1 cm^-2). Moreover, the developed dPtBi NP-based electrochemical sensor also exhibited good reproducibility (RSD 5.7%) and repeatability (RSD 3.4%). The electrochemical sensor was successfully used for the sensitive detection of NO produced by live cells. This study indicates a highly effective approach for regulating the composition and nanostructures of metal alloy nanomaterials, which might provide new technical insights for developing high-performance NO-sensitive systems, and have important implications in enabling real-time detection of NO produced by live cells.

[Development and validation of risk prediction model for new-onset cardiovascular diseases among breast cancer patients: Based on regional medical data of Inner Mongolia]

OBJECTIVE

To develop and validate a three-year risk prediction model for new-onset cardiovascular diseases (CVD) among female patients with breast cancer.

METHODS

Based on the data from Inner Mongolia Regional Healthcare Information Platform, female breast cancer patients over 18 years old who had received anti-tumor treatments were included. The candidate predictors were selected by Lasso regression after being included according to the results of the multivariate Fine & Gray model. Cox proportional hazard model, Logistic regression model, Fine & Gray model, random forest model, and XGBoost model were trained on the training set, and the model performance was evaluated on the testing set. The discrimination was evaluated by the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC), and the calibration was evaluated by the calibration curve.

RESULTS

A total of 19 325 breast cancer patients were identified, with an average age of (52.76±10.44) years. The median follow-up was 1.18 [interquartile range (IQR): 2.71] years. In the study, 7 856 patients (40.65%) developed CVD within 3 years after the diagnosis of breast cancer. The final selected variables included age at diagnosis of breast cancer, gross domestic product (GDP) of residence, tumor stage, history of hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and cerebrovascular disease, type of surgery, type of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In terms of model discrimination, when not considering survival time, the AUC of the XGBoost model was significantly higher than that of the random forest model [0.660 (95%CI: 0.644-0.675) vs. 0.608 (95%CI: 0.591-0.624), P < 0.001] and Logistic regression model [0.609 (95%CI: 0.593-0.625), P < 0.001]. The Logistic regression model and the XGBoost model showed better calibration. When considering survival time, Cox proportional hazard model and Fine & Gray model showed no significant difference for AUC [0.600 (95%CI: 0.584-0.616) vs. 0.615 (95%CI: 0.599-0.631), P=0.188], but Fine & Gray model showed better calibration.

CONCLUSION

It is feasible to develop a risk prediction model for new-onset CVD of breast cancer based on regional medical data in China. When not considering survival time, the XGBoost model and the Logistic regression model both showed better performance; Fine & Gray model showed better performance in consideration of survival time.

Strong interlayer coupling in p-Te/n-CdSe van der Waals heterojunction for self-powered photodetectors with fast speed and high responsivity

Self-driven photodetectors, which can detect optical signals without external voltage bias, are highly attractive in the field of low-power wearable electronics and internet of things. However, currently reported self-driven photodetectors based on van der Waals heterojunctions (vdWHs) are generally limited by low responsivity due to poor light absorption and insufficient photogain. Here, we report p-Te/n-CdSe vdWHs utilizing non-layered CdSe nanobelts as efficient light absorption layer and high mobility Te as ultrafast hole transporting layer. Benefiting from strong interlayer coupling, the Te/CdSe vdWHs exhibit stable and excellent self-powered characteristics, including ultrahigh responsivity of 0.94 A W^-1, remarkable detectivity of 8.36 × 10¹² Jones at optical power density of 1.18 mW cm^-2 under illumination of 405 nm laser, fast response speed of 24 µs, large light on/off ratio exceeding 10⁵, as well as broadband photoresponse (405-1064 nm), which surpass most of the reported vdWHs photodetectors. In addition, the devices display superior photovoltaic characteristics under 532 nm illumination, such as large V_oc of 0.55 V, and ultrahigh I_sc of 2.73 µA. These results demonstrate the construction of 2D/non-layered semiconductor vdWHs with strong interlayer coupling is a promising strategy for high-performance and low-power consumption devices.

Structure-Property Relationship of Macrocycles in Organic Photoelectric Devices: A Comprehensive Review

Macrocycles have attracted significant attention from academia due to their various applications in organic field-effect transistors, organic light-emitting diodes, organic photovoltaics, and dye-sensitized solar cells. Despite the existence of reports on the application of macrocycles in organic optoelectronic devices, these reports are mainly limited to analyzing the structure-property relationship of a particular type of macrocyclic structure, and a systematic discussion on the structure-property is still lacking. Herein, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of a series of macrocycle structures to identify the key factors that affect the structure-property relationship between macrocycles and their optoelectronic device properties, including energy level structure, structural stability, film-forming property, skeleton rigidity, inherent pore structure, spatial hindrance, exclusion of perturbing end-effects, macrocycle size-dependent effects, and fullerene-like charge transport characteristics. These macrocycles exhibit thin-film and single-crystal hole mobility up to 10 and 26.8 cm² V^-1 s^-1, respectively, as well as a unique macrocyclization-induced emission enhancement property. A clear understanding of the structure-property relationship between macrocycles and optoelectronic device performance, as well as the creation of novel macrocycle structures such as organic nanogridarenes, may pave the way for high-performance organic optoelectronic devices.

Study on the Low-Temperature Pre-Desulfurization of Crumb Rubber-Modified Asphalt

Waste tires can be ground as crumb rubber (CR) and incorporated into asphalt pavement for efficient resource utilization. However, due to its thermodynamic incompatibility with asphalt, CR cannot be uniformly dispersed in the asphalt mix. In order to address this issue, pretreating the CR with desulfurization is a common way to restore some of the properties of natural rubber. The main technique of desulfurization and degradation is dynamic desulfurization, requiring a high temperature that may lead to asphalt fires, aging, and the volatilization of light substances, generating toxic gases and resulting in environmental pollution. Therefore, a green and low-temperature controlled desulfurization technology is proposed in this study to exploit the maximum potential of CR desulfurization and obtain high-solubility "liquid waste rubber" (LWR) close to the ultimate regeneration level. In this work, LWR-modified asphalt (LRMA) with superior low-temperature performance and processability, stable storage, and less susceptibility to segregation was developed. Nevertheless, its rutting and deformation resistance deteriorated at high temperatures. The results showed that the proposed CR-desulfurization technology could produce LWR with 76.9% solubility at a low temperature of 160 °C, which is close to or even better than the finished products produced at the preparation temperature of TB technology, i.e., 220-280 °C.

Reducing brassinosteroid signalling enhances grain yield in semi-dwarf wheat

Modern green revolution varieties of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) confer semi-dwarf and lodging-resistant plant architecture owing to the Reduced height-B1b (Rht-B1b) and Rht-D1b alleles¹. However, both Rht-B1b and Rht-D1b are gain-of-function mutant alleles encoding gibberellin signalling repressors that stably repress plant growth and negatively affect nitrogen-use efficiency and grain filling^2-5. Therefore, the green revolution varieties of wheat harbouring Rht-B1b or Rht-D1b usually produce smaller grain and require higher nitrogen fertilizer inputs to maintain their grain yields. Here we describe a strategy to design semi-dwarf wheat varieties without the need for Rht-B1b or Rht-D1b alleles. We discovered that absence of Rht-B1 and ZnF-B (encoding a RING-type E3 ligase) through a natural deletion of a haploblock of about 500 kilobases shaped semi-dwarf plants with more compact plant architecture and substantially improved grain yield (up to 15.2%) in field trials. Further genetic analysis confirmed that the deletion of ZnF-B induced the semi-dwarf trait in the absence of the Rht-B1b and Rht-D1b alleles through attenuating brassinosteroid (BR) perception. ZnF acts as a BR signalling activator to facilitate proteasomal destruction of the BR signalling repressor BRI1 kinase inhibitor 1 (TaBKI1), and loss of ZnF stabilizes TaBKI1 to block BR signalling transduction. Our findings not only identified a pivotal BR signalling modulator but also provided a creative strategy to design high-yield semi-dwarf wheat varieties by manipulating the BR signal pathway to sustain wheat production.

Interpenetrating 3D Covalent Organic Framework for Selective Stilbene Photoisomerization and Photocyclization

The selective photoisomerization or photocyclization of stilbene to achieve value upgrade is of great significance in industry applications, yet it remains a challenge to accomplish both of them through a one-pot photocatalysis strategy under mild conditions. Here, a sevenfold interpenetrating 3D covalent organic framework (TPDT-COF) has been synthesized through covalent coupling between N,N,N,N-tetrakis(4-aminophenyl)-1,4-benzenediamine (light absorption and free radical generation) and 5,5'-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole-4,7-diyl)bis[2-thiophenecarboxaldehyde] (catalytic center). The thus-obtained sevenfold interpenetrating structure presents a functional pore channel with a tunable photocatalytic ability and specific pore confinement effect that can be applied for selective stilbene photoisomerization and photocyclization. Noteworthily, it enables photogeneration of cis-stilbene or phenanthrene with >99% selectivity by simply changing the gas atmosphere under mild conditions (Ar, Sele_Cis. > 99%, Sele_Phen. < 1% and O₂, Sele_Cis. < 1%, and Sele_Phen. > 99%). Theoretical calculations prove that different gas atmospheres possess varying influences on the energy barriers of reaction intermediates, and the pore confinement effect plays a synergistically catalytic role, thus inducing different product generation. This study might facilitate the exploration of porous crystalline materials in selective photoisomerization and photocyclization.

Chloroform-infiltrated photonic crystal fiber with high-temperature sensitivity

The temperature sensor is the core part of the temperature measurement instrument, and its performance directly determines the temperature measurement accuracy. Photonic crystal fiber (PCF) is a new type of temperature sensor with extremely high potential. In this paper, we propose a high-performance, structurally simple, liquid-filled PCF temperature sensor, which is based on a SMF-PCF-SMF (single mode fiber, SMF) sandwich structure. By adjusting the structural parameters of the the PCF, it is possible to obtain optical properties that are superior to those of ordinary optical fibers. This allows for more obvious responsive changes of the fiber transmission mode under small external temperature changes. By optimizing the basic structure parameters, a new PCF structure with a central air hole is designed, and its temperature sensitivity is -0.04696 nm/°C. When filling the air holes of PCFs with temperature-sensitive liquid materials, the response of the optical field against the temperature fluctuations can be effectively enhanced. The Chloroform solution is used to selectively infiltrate the resulting PCF owing to its large thermo-optical coefficient. After comparing various filling schemes, the calculation results show that the highest temperature sensitivity of -15.8 nm/°C is finally realized. The designed PCF sensor has a simple structure, high-temperature sensitivity, and good linearity showing great application potential.

Autophagy in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury

Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI) is a major complication of liver resection or liver transplantation that can seriously affect patient's prognosis. There is currently no definitive and effective treatment strategy for HIRI. Autophagy is an intracellular self-digestion pathway initiated to remove damaged organelles and proteins, which maintains cell survival, differentiation, and homeostasis. Recent studies have shown that autophagy is involved in the regulation of HIRI. Numerous drugs and treatments can change the outcome of HIRI by controlling the pathways of autophagy. This review mainly discusses the occurrence and development of autophagy, the selection of experimental models for HIRI, and the specific regulatory pathways of autophagy in HIRI. Autophagy has considerable potential in the treatment of HIRI.