Generic heterostructure interfaces bound to Co9S8 for efficient overall water splitting supported by photothermal

The increase of reaction temperature of electrocatalysts and the construction of heterogeneous structures is regarded as an efficient method to improve the electrocatalytic water splitting activity. Here, we report an approach to enhance the local heat and active sites of the catalyst by building a heterostructure with Co9S8 to significantly improve its electrocatalytic performance. The as-fabricated Co9S8@Ce-NiCo LDH/NF electrode possesses a notable photothermal ability, as it effectively converts near-infrared (NIR) light into the local heat, owing to its significant optical absorption. Leveraging these favorable qualities, the prepared Co9S8@Ce-NiCo LDH/NF electrode showed impressive performance in both hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) (η100 = 144 mV) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) (η100 = 229 mV) under NIR light. Compared to the absence of the NIR light, the presence of NIR irradiation leads to a 24.6 % increase in catalytic efficiency for HER and a 15.8 % increase for OER. Additionally, other dual-functional electrocatalysts like NiCo-P, NiFeMo, and NiFe(OH)x also demonstrated significantly enhanced photothermal effects and improved catalytic performance owing to the augmented photothermal conversion when combined with Co9S8. This work offers novel pathways for the development of photothermal-electrocatalytic systems that facilitate economically efficient and energy-conserving overall water splitting processes.

[α2-macroglobulin alleviates glucocorticoid-induced avascular necrosis of the femoral head in mice by promoting proliferation, migration and angiogenesis of vascular endothelial cells]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the mechanism underlying the protective effect of α2-macroglobulin (A2M) against glucocorticoid-induced femoral head necrosis.

METHODS

In a human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) model with injuries induced by gradient concentrations of dexamethasone (DEX; 10-8-10-5 mol/L), the protective effects of A2M at 0.05 and 0.1 mg/mL were assessed by examining the changes in cell viability, migration, and capacity of angiogenesis using CCK-8 assay, Transwell and scratch healing assays and angiogenesis assay. The expressions of CD31 and VEGF-A proteins in the treated cells were detected using Western blotting. In BALB/c mouse models of avascular necrosis of the femoral head induced by intramuscular injections of methylprednisolone, the effects of intervention with A2M on femoral trabecular structure, histopathological characteristics, and CD31 expression were examined with Micro-CT, HE staining and immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTS

In cultured HUVECs, DEX treatment significantly reduced cell viability, migration and angiogenic ability in a concentration- and time-dependent manner (P<0.05), and these changes were obviously reversed by treatment with A2M in positive correlation with A2M concentration (P<0.05). DEX significantly reduced the expression of CD31 and VEGF-A proteins in HUVECs, while treatment with A2M restored CD31 and VEGF-A expressions in the cells (P<0.05). The mouse models of femoral head necrosis showed obvious trabecular damages in the femoral head, where a large number of empty lacunae and hypertrophic fat cells could be seen and CD31 expression was significantly decreased (P<0.05). A2M treatment of the mouse models significantly improved trabecular damages, maintained normal bone tissue structures, and increased CD31 expression in the femoral head (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

A2M promotes proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis of DEX-treated HUVECs and alleviates methylprednisolone-induced femoral head necrosis by improving microcirculation damages and maintaining microcirculation stability in the femoral head.

Intensification of rice flour gel structure by fermenting corresponding rice with Lactobacillus plantarum

In starch gel foods processing, lactic acid fermentation is an effective strategy to improve the quality of the gel. This study revealed the effects of Lactobacillus plantarum fermentation for rice on the textural and rheological properties of the corresponding gels. The hardness, adhesiveness and chewiness of the gel showed ascending trends with the forwarding of fermentation. The role of Lactobacillus plantarum on rheological properties of gel depended on fermentation time. As the time was within 3 days, the process reduced the viscoelastic of the gel, while as the time was for 5 days, the process enhanced the viscoelastic of the gel. During fermentation, amylose content increased from 21.56 ± 1.17% to 27.39 ± 0.63%, and crude protein content descended from 12.60 ± 0.44 g/100 g DW to 4.8 ± 0.49 g/100 g DW. Total organic acids were ascending in the whole process, and lactic acid (LA), acetic acid (AA) and citric acid (CA) made the dominant contribution. The enthalpy change (ΔH) of the rice flour fermented for 5 days was significantly (p < 0.05) increased to 9.90 ± 0.24 J/g, indicating the formation of more double helix structures. These organic acids may contribute to the formation of the pores on the surface of granules by hydrolyzing the components, which provides a channel for enzymes to enter the interior of granules. These results provide the basis for the development of fermented rice-based foods.

Young human plasma-derived extracellular vesicles rescue and reactivate IL-1β and TNF-α treated chondrocytes

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease that affects millions of individuals worldwide. Despite its prevalence, the exact causes and mechanisms behind OA are still not fully understood, resulting in a lack of effective treatments to slow down or halt disease progression. Recent research has discovered that extracellular vesicles (EVs) present in the circulation of young mice have a remarkable ability to activate musculoskeletal stem cells in elderly mice. Conversely, EVs derived from elderly mice do not exhibit the same potential, indicating that EVs obtained from young individuals may hold promise to activate aging cells in degenerative tissue. However, it remains unknown whether EVs derived from young individuals can also address cartilage degeneration caused by aging. In this study, we first evaluated EVs derived from young human plasma (YEVs) and EVs derived from old human plasma (OEVs) in an in vitro experiment using chondrocytes. The results revealed that YEVs effectively stimulated chondrocyte proliferation and migration, while OEVs from old plasma did not exhibit a similar effect. Given that OA represents a more complex inflammatory microenvironment, we further determine whether the benefits of YEVs on chondrocytes can be maintained in this context. Our findings indicate that YEVs have the ability to positively regulate chondrocyte function and protect them against apoptosis induced by IL-1β and TNF-α in an in vitro OA model. Furthermore, we discovered that lyophilized EVs could be stored under mild conditions without any alterations in their physical characteristics. Considering the exceptional therapeutic effects and the wide availability of EVs from young plasma, they hold significant promise as a potential approach to activate chondrocytes and promote cartilage regeneration in early-stage OA.

Biomass substrate-derived graphene-like N-doped porous carbon nanosheet-supported PtCo nanocatalyst for efficient and selective hydrogenation of unsaturated furanic aldehydes

Unsaturated furanic aldehydes are derived from lignocellulosic biomass resources and subsequently used to produce valuable chemicals. However, the highly efficient, selective hydrogenation of the biomass-derived unsaturated furan CO bond remains challenging. Here we report that graphene-like nitrogen doped porous carbon (GNPC) nanosheets are synthesized from carbon-rich, sustainable, and renewable biomass precursors (glucose, fructose and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, HMF) with high surface areas, large pore volumes and narrow mesopores. GNPC derived from HMF is an excellent catalyst support for PtCo nanoparticles with ultrafine nanoparticles size and homogeneous distributions. This catalyst is highly efficient for hydrogenation of biomass-derived furan-based unsaturated aldehydes, with high yields, to the corresponding unsaturated alcohols under mild conditions. This design strategy should further allow the development of selective, simple, green heterogeneous catalysts for challenging chemical transformations.

Expression characteristics and potential function of non-coding RNA in mouse cortical cells

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) play essential regulatory functions in various physiological and pathological processes in the brain. To systematically characterize the ncRNA profile in cortical cells, we downloaded single-cell SMART-Seq v4 data of mouse cerebral cortex. Our results revealed that the ncRNAs alone are sufficient to define the identity of most cortical cell types. We identified 1,600 ncRNAs that exhibited cell type specificity, even yielding to distinguish microglia from perivascular macrophages with ncRNA. Moreover, we characterized cortical layer and region specific ncRNAs, in line with the results by spatial transcriptome (ST) data. By constructing a co-expression network of ncRNAs and protein-coding genes, we predicted the function of ncRNAs. By integrating with genome-wide association studies data, we established associations between cell type-specific ncRNAs and traits related to neurological disorders. Collectively, our study identified differentially expressed ncRNAs at multiple levels and provided the valuable resource to explore the functions and dysfunctions of ncRNAs in cortical cells.

Detection of extreme hydrological droughts in the poyang lake basin during 2021-2022 using GNSS-derived daily terrestrial water storage anomalies

Poyang Lake is the largest freshwater lake in China, serving as a natural reservoir and playing a paramount role in climate regulation, ecological environment, and water resource management. However, in recent years, Poyang Lake has approached desiccation multiple times, with severe droughts becoming increasingly common. Consequently, precise quantification and analysis of the terrestrial water storage anomalies (TWSA) and drought characteristics of the Poyang Lake basin (PLB) are of profound scientific and practical significance. This paper, for the first time, utilizes data for the period 2021-2022 from 77 newly-established GNSS observation stations in the PLB to precisely determine its vertical crustal displacement, invert daily and monthly TWSA, and investigate extreme hydrological drought. The results reveal the following: 1) The annual amplitude range of vertical surface displacements at GNSS stations in the Poyang Lake basin is from 7 to 14 mm, with the most substantial seasonal vertical displacements occurring during the months of June and July; 2) monthly GNSS-TWSA maintains a commendable consistency with TWSA data obtained from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE), the Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS), and precipitation, with correlation coefficients of 0.67, 0.55, and 0.62, respectively; 3) at daily scale, the GNSS-derived Drought Severity Index (GNSS-DSI) accurately recorded the severity and intensity of eight drought events in the PLB during 2021-2022, in particular the period of extensive drought between October 2021 and February 2022, when drought intensity reaching a notable 1.03, which is classified as an extreme and prolonged drought event. Additionally, at local temporal scales, daily GNSS-DSI exhibits heightened sensitivity to drought signals. This study provides novel technological tools and datasets for multi-source satellite-based drought monitoring in the PLB.

The incidence of surgical site infections in China

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a common type of healthcare-associated infection. We performed a literature review to demonstrate the incidence of SSIs in mainland China based on studies since 2010. We included 231 eligible studies with ≥30 postoperative patients, comprising 14 providing overall SSI data regardless of surgical sites and 217 reporting SSIs for a specific site. We found that the overall SSI incidence was 2.91% (median; interquartile range: 1.05%, 4.57%) or 3.18% (pooled; 95% confidence interval: 1.85%, 4.51%) and the SSI incidence varied remarkably according to the surgical site between the lowest (median, 1.00%; pooled, 1.69%) in thyroid surgeries and the highest (median, 14.89%; pooled, 12.54%) in colorectal procedures. We uncovered that Enterobacterales and staphylococci were the most common types of micro-organisms associated with SSIs after various abdominal surgeries and cardiac or neurological procedures, respectively. We identified two, nine, and five studies addressing the impact of SSIs on mortality, the length of stay (LOS) in hospital, and additional healthcare-related economic burden, respectively, all of which demonstrated increased mortality, prolonged LOS, and elevated medical costs associated with SSIs among affected patients. Our findings illustrate that SSIs remain a relatively common, serious threat to patient safety in China, requiring more action. To tackle SSIs, we propose to establish a nationwide network for SSI surveillance using unified criteria with the aid of informatic techniques and to tailor and implement countermeasures based on local data and observation. We highlight that the impact of SSIs in China warrants further study.

The Impact of the Double School Shift System on Lifestyle Behaviors Among Mexican Adolescents

PURPOSE

Early school start times could adversely impact adolescent sleep duration. They could also impact other behaviors like diet and physical activity, either directly or indirectly through effects on sleep. We examined whether the double school shift system was associated with sleep, diet, and physical activity behaviors among Mexican adolescents.

METHODS

The analytic sample included 305 Mexican adolescents from a cohort study (on average 14.53 ± 1.75 years old and 51% male). Sleep and physical activity were measured with wrist actigraphy, while diet and other lifestyle behaviors were assessed with questionnaires. Regression analyses were conducted to compare lifestyle behaviors between the morning and afternoon school shifts, adjusting for potential confounders.

RESULTS

Adolescents attending the morning school shift (44%) had pronounced differences in sleep compared to those attending afternoon shift, including a 1.77-hour shorter sleep duration on weekdays (95% CI -1.55, -2.00), a 0.40-hour longer sleep duration on weekends (95% CI 0.10, 0.70), higher social jetlag (1.07 hours with a 95% CI of 0.87, 1.27), and an earlier chronotype. Morning shift students also had 0.85 hours longer sedentary time (95% CI 0.61, 1.10) and higher consumption of a meat and starchy food dietary pattern. Among boys only, morning shift was associated with a lower likelihood of smoking and higher consumption of a breakfast pattern.

DISCUSSION

Overall, attending a morning school shift was associated with shorter sleep, more social jetlag, greater sedentary time, and higher consumption of a meat and starchy diet. However, among boys, a few healthier behaviors were observed for the morning versus afternoon shift.

Heterosynaptic plasticity of the visuo-auditory projection requires cholecystokinin released from entorhinal cortex afferents

The entorhinal cortex is involved in establishing enduring visuo-auditory associative memory in the neocortex. Here we explored the mechanisms underlying this synaptic plasticity related to projections from the visual and entorhinal cortices to the auditory cortex in mice using optogenetics of dual pathways. High-frequency laser stimulation (HFS laser) of the visuo-auditory projection did not induce long-term potentiation. However, after pairing with sound stimulus, the visuo-auditory inputs were potentiated following either infusion of cholecystokinin (CCK) or HFS laser of the entorhino-auditory CCK-expressing projection. Combining retrograde tracing and RNAscope in situ hybridization, we show that Cck expression is higher in entorhinal cortex neurons projecting to the auditory cortex than in those originating from the visual cortex. In the presence of CCK, potentiation in the neocortex occurred when the presynaptic input arrived 200 ms before postsynaptic firing, even after just five trials of pairing. Behaviorally, inactivation of the CCK+ projection from the entorhinal cortex to the auditory cortex blocked the formation of visuo-auditory associative memory. Our results indicate that neocortical visuo-auditory association is formed through heterosynaptic plasticity, which depends on release of CCK in the neocortex mostly from entorhinal afferents.

Organic Thin Films Enable Retaining the Oxidation State of Copper Catalysts during CO2 Electroreduction

A key challenge in electrocatalysis remains controlling a catalyst's structural, chemical, and electrical properties under reaction conditions. While organic coatings showed promise for enhancing the selectivity and stability of catalysts for CO2 electroreduction (CO2RR), their impact on the chemical state of underlying metal electrodes has remained unclear. In this study, we show that organic thin films on polycrystalline copper (Cu) enable retaining Cu+ species at reducing potentials down to -1.0 V vs RHE, as evidenced by operando Raman and quasi in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. In situ electrochemical atomic force microscopy revealed the integrity of the porous organic film and nearly unaltered Cu electrode morphology. While the pristine thin film enhances the CO2-to-ethylene conversion, the addition of organic modifiers into electrolytes gives rise to improved CO2RR performance stability. Our findings showcase hybrid metal-organic systems as a versatile approach to control, beyond morphology and local environment, the oxidation states of catalysts and energy conversion materials.

Total iron binding capacity: an independent predictor of prognosis for pulmonary arterial hypertension in systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the role of parameters of iron metabolism in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

METHOD

This was a prospective observational study recruiting patients diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (SLE-PAH). Patients with other factors that might lead to PAH were excluded from the study. All patients were assessed for PAH every 1-3 months and were followed up for 6 months. The primary outcome was considered improved if the grade of risk stratification declined at the endpoint; otherwise, it was considered unimproved.

RESULTS

In total, 29 patients with SLE-PAH were included in this study. The mean of serum ferritin was higher than normal, and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) decreased in 48% of patients. Correlation analyses showed that serum iron (SI) was negatively correlated with World Health Organization functional class (WHO-FC) (r = -0.409, p = 0.028), and positively correlated with Six-Minute Walk Test distance (6MWD) (r = 0.427, p = 0.021) and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) (r = 0.388, p = 0.037). Primary outcomes improved in 12 patients at the endpoint, and univariate logistic regression analyses indicated that TIBC was associated with improved primary outcomes in patients with SLE-PAH (odds ratio 12.00, 95% confidence interval 1.90-75.72).

CONCLUSION

SI was negatively correlated with WHO-FC, and positively correlated with 6MWD and TAPSE. Furthermore, TIBC was associated with improved outcomes of patients with SLE-PAH, which could be an independent predictor of prognosis. Further research is needed to verify the findings.

Impacts of pregnancy and menopause on COVID-19 severity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 4.6 million women

BACKGROUND

Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is still a public health emergency of international concern. However, whether pregnancy and menopause impact the severity of COVID-19 remain unclear.

AIM

This study is performed to investigate the truth.

DESIGN

Study appraisal and synthesis follows PRISMA guideline. Meta-analysis is performed in random-effects model.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane database, Central, CINAHL, ClinicalTrials.gov, WHO COVID-19 database and WHO-ICTRP are searched until 28 March 2023.

RESULTS

In total, 57 studies (4 640 275 COVID-19 women) were analyzed. Pregnant women were at a lower risk of severe COVID-19, intensive care unit (ICU) admission and disease mortality compared to those nonpregnant women with comparable comorbidities. In contrast, pregnant women with more prepregnancy comorbidities were at a higher risk of severe COVID-19, ICU admission and invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). In addition, pregnant women with pregnancy complications had a significantly increased risk of severe COVID-19 and ICU admission. Menopause increased COVID-19 severity, IMV requirement and disease mortality. Hormone replacement therapy inhibited COVID-19 severity in postmenopausal women. Premenopausal and postmenopausal women had a lower chance of severe illness than age-matched men. The impact of pregnancy on COVID-19 severity was significant in Americans and Caucasians, whereas the effect of menopause on COVID-19 severity was only significant in Chinese.

CONCLUSIONS

Pregnancy and menopause are protective and risk factors for severe COVID-19, respectively. The protective role of pregnancy on COVID-19 is minimal and could be counteracted or masked by prepregnancy or pregnancy comorbidities. The administration of estrogen and progesterone may prevent severe COVID-19.

Nano wear particles and the periprosthetic microenvironment in aseptic loosening induced osteolysis following joint arthroplasty

Joint arthroplasty is an option for end-stage septic arthritis due to joint infection after effective control of infection. However, complications such as osteolysis and aseptic loosening can arise afterwards due to wear and tear caused by high joint activity after surgery, necessitating joint revision. Some studies on tissue pathology after prosthesis implantation have identified various cell populations involved in the process. However, these studies have often overlooked the complexity of the altered periprosthetic microenvironment, especially the role of nano wear particles in the etiology of osteolysis and aseptic loosening. To address this gap, we propose the concept of the "prosthetic microenvironment". In this perspective, we first summarize the histological changes in the periprosthetic tissue from prosthetic implantation to aseptic loosening, then analyze the cellular components in the periprosthetic microenvironment post prosthetic implantation. We further elucidate the interactions among cells within periprosthetic tissues, and display the impact of wear particles on the disturbed periprosthetic microenvironments. Moreover, we explore the origins of disease states arising from imbalances in the homeostasis of the periprosthetic microenvironment. The aim of this review is to summarize the role of relevant factors in the microenvironment of the periprosthetic tissues, in an attempt to contribute to the development of innovative treatments to manage this common complication of joint replacement surgery.

Impact of PRaG Therapy on Immune Microenvironment of Bilateral Subcutaneous Tumor Model of Colon Cancer

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Immune microenvironment is closely related to the efficacy of PD-1 inhibitors. The immune microenvironment contains a variety of immune cells, including effector T cells (cytotoxic CD8+T cells and effector CD4+T cells), dendritic cells (DC), and Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). The antitumor effects of PRaG therapy have been confirmed in bilateral subcutaneous transplantation tumor model of colon cancer. But the impact of PRaG therapy on immune microenvironment of such model is unclear. Therefore, the study continued to reveal the changes of immune microenvironment in mice.

MATERIALS/METHODS

80 male Balb/c mice aged 6-8 weeks were divided into five groups: control group, PD-1 inhibitor group, radiation group, radiation + PD-1 inhibitor group, and radiation + PD-1 inhibitor +GM-CSF (PRaG therapy) group. Bilateral subcutaneous tumor model of colon cancer in mice was constructed. 3×105 CT26.WT cells were inoculated subcutaneously in the right thigh root, and then the left thigh root 3 days later. Right subcutaneous tumor was selected for radiotherapy of 8 Gy×3. GM-CSF (100ng, i.p.) was given on the 1st day and PD-1 inhibitor (0.25mg/kg, i.p.) was given on the 2nd day after radiotherapy with one cycle every 3 days. On day 15, the spleen, left inguinal lymph node and left subcutaneous tumor of mice were collected. The proportion of immune cells was detected by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

Compared with other groups, PRaG therapy decreased the proportion of cDC1 in left inguinal lymph node, increased the proportion of cDC2 in left subcutaneous tumor and left inguinal lymph node. Moreover, PRaG therapy increased the proportion of CD8+ effector memory T cells and CD226+CD8+T cells in left inguinal lymph nodes. Finally, PRaG therapy increased the proportion of CD4+, CD8+ central memory T cells and CD69+CD8+T cells and reduced the proportion of M-MDSCs in spleen.

CONCLUSION

PRaG therapy can improve the immune microenvironment of spleen, unirradiated tumors and inguinal draining lymph nodes of bilateral subcutaneous tumor model of colon cancer in mice.

A Generalized Deep Learning Method for Synthetic CT Generation

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

The application of deep learning to generate synthetic CT (sCT) has been widely studied in radiotherapy. Existing methods generally involve data from two different image modalities, such as CBCT-CT or MRI-CT, the quality of sCT is adversely affected by source image quality. We propose a unique method of synthesizing MRI and CBCT into sCT based on single-modal CT for training, and call it SmGAN.

MATERIALS/METHODS

We used planning CT of a group of 35 head and neck cases to as training data. We then applied two different spatial transformations to the planning CT image to produce the transformed CT1 and CT2. And We used a random style enhancement technique (Shuffle Remap) to modify the image distribution of CT1 which we termed CT1+E. CT1+E was used to simulate the patient's "image of the day" while CT2 to simulate the "planning image". After feeding both CT1+E and CT2 into the generator, we obtained the sCT predicted by the generator. The generator was trained using the Mean Absolute Error (MAE) loss between sCT and CT1. In the actual clinical process, we use the patient's CBCT or MRI instead of CT1+E and the patient's planning CT instead of CT2 as the input of the generator. After processing, we get an sCT that can maintain the spatial position of the image taken on the day, while presenting features similar to the planning CT. The evaluation data we have includes 10 pairs of MRI-Def_CT and 10 pairs of CBCT-Def_CT Head and Neck patients. Def_CT is obtained from the planning CT based on the spatial position deformation of MRI and CBCT. To evaluate the accuracy of sCT based on MRI and CBCT with Def CT, we use a range of metrics, including Hounsfield Unit (HU) difference, peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), structural similarity (SSIM) and gamma pass rate. All results will be benchmarks against the advanced method RegGAN for comparison.

RESULTS

Compared to RegGAN, the results of SmGAN were significantly better. The mean absolute errors within the body were (44.7±216.2 HU vs. 36.7±131.4 HU) and (64.9±123.7 HU vs. 58.2±152.8 HU) for the CBCT-SCT and MRI-SCT, respectively (Table 1). In addition, experimental results show that SmGAN also outperforms RegGAN in dose calculation accuracy. For example, under the 10% threshold, SmGAN's gamma pass rate of 1mm and 1% is 0.926±0.02, compared with gamma rate of 0.896±0.02 for RegGAN.

CONCLUSION

We proposed a generalized deep learning model for synthetic CT generation, based on CBCT or MRI images. The proposed algorithm achieved high accuracy of dosimetric metrics, as well as excellent IMRT QA verification results. Compared to other existing synthetic CT generation methods, the proposed SmGAN required a single-modal image for training, which is considered as a major breakthrough in the industry, and is expected to have wide spread of clinical applications.

Mitigation of Dosimetric Uncertainty in MRI-Based Proton Planning Using Spot-Scanning Proton Arc (SPArc) Technique

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

MRI-based synthetic CT (SCT) images created using generative adversarial network (GAN) have been demonstrated to be feasible for intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) planning. However, dose calculation accuracy can be uncertain in some regions within/near the target of head and neck patients due to the local CT number estimation error or sharp dose fall-off. This study investigated the feasibility of using the SPArc technique to mitigate such dosimetric uncertainty.

MATERIALS/METHODS

A GAN using a 3D U-net as the generator and a 6-layer 3D convolutional neural network as the discriminator was trained with T1-weighted MR-CT image pairs from 162 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients (14 for validation). The generator was used to generate SCT images from MR images for 7 test patients. For each test patient, the CT image was used to create a SPArc plan and an IMPT plan with the same clinical objectives. The SPArc plans (control point frequency sampling, arc trajectory, etc.) were optimized using a previously developed iterative approach. The dose distributions of both SPArc plans and IMPT plans were re-calculated on the SCT images and compared to the one calculated on the CT images. The dosimetric uncertainty was quantified using the gamma index.

RESULTS

The 2%/2mm and 3%/3mm passing rates for SPArc plans were (96.9¡À2.7) % and (98.6¡À1.5) %, while the passing rates for IMPT plans were (94.0¡À3.9) % and (96.4+2.9) %. A significant reduction in dosimetric uncertainty was identified for SPArc plans (p ¡Ü0.021). Table 1 shows the passing rates for the 7 test individuals.

CONCLUSION

SPArc can mitigate the uncertainty of dose calculation in MRI-based proton planning. Further research needs to validate these findings on a larger patient cohort. The study paves the road map for using MRI for SPArc planning.

Multidetector CT-derived tricuspid annulus measurements predict tricuspid regurgitation reduction after transcatheter aortic valve replacement

AIM

To use multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT)-derived tricuspid annulus (TA) measurements to identify predictors for tricuspid regurgitation (TR) reduction after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), and to investigate the impact of TR change on prognosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective, single-centre study was conducted on consecutive patients who underwent TAVR with concomitant baseline mild or more severe TR from April 2012 to April 2022. TA parameters were measured using MDCT.

RESULTS

The study comprised 266 patients (mean age 74.2 ± 7.6 years, 147 men) and 45.1% had more than one grade of TR reduction at follow-up. Independent predictors of TR reduction at follow-up were distance between TA centroid and antero-septal commissure (odd ratio [OR] 0.776; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.672-0.896, p=0.001), baseline TR of moderate or worse (OR 4.599; 95% CI: 2.193-9.648, p<0.001), systolic pulmonary artery pressure (OR 1.018; 95% CI: 1.002-1.035, p=0.027), age (OR 0.955; 95% CI: 0.920-0.993, p=0.019), and pre-existing atrial fibrillation (OR 0.209; 95% CI: 0.101-0.433, p<0.001). Patients without TR reduction had higher rates of rehospitalisation (hazard ratio [HR] 0.642; 95% CI: 0.413-0.998, p=0.049).

CONCLUSIONS

The MDCT-derived TA parameter was predictive of TR reduction after TAVR. Persistent TR after TAVR was associated with higher rates of rehospitalisation.

Impact of PRaG Therapy on Peripheral Immune Cells of Subcutaneous Tumor Peritoneal Metastasis Model of Colon Cancer

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Immune cells in peripheral blood may be closely related to the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors. T cells originally present in tumors may have limited antitumor effects, and T cells that respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors may be derived from peripheral blood. Therefore, in this study, subcutaneous tumor peritoneal metastasis model of colon cancer was constructed to reveal the changes of T cells and their subsets (CD4+T cells, CD8+T cells, CD226+T cells), MDSCs and their subsets (G-MDSCs, M-MDSCs) in peripheral blood of mice after PRaG therapy.

MATERIALS/METHODS

A total of 90 male Balb/c mice aged 6-8 weeks were divided into five groups: control group, PD-1 inhibitor group, radiation group, radiation + PD-1 inhibitor group, and radiation + PD-1 inhibitor +GM-CSF (PRaG therapy) group. The subcutaneous tumor peritoneal metastasis model of colon cancer was constructed. 3×105 CT26.WT cells was inoculated subcutaneously at the right thigh root, and 5 days later, 1×105 CT26.WT cells was inoculated on the left side at the junction of the anterior superior iliac spine and the midabdominal line. The subcutaneous tumor was selected for radiotherapy of 8 Gy×3. GM-CSF (100ng, i.p.) was given on the 1st day and PD-1 inhibitor (0.25mg/kg, i.p.) was given on the 2nd day after radiotherapy with one cycle every 3 days. On day 22, the peripheral blood of mice was collected. The proportion of immune cells was detected by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

Compared with other groups, PRaG therapy decreased the proportion of CD4+T cells and increased the proportion of CD8+T cells. Moreover, PRaG therapy increased the proportion of CD226+CD4+T cells and CD226+CD8+T cells. Finally, PRaG therapy increased the proportion of M-MDSCs and decreased the proportion of G-MDSCs.

CONCLUSION

PRaG therapy can improve the immune microenvironment of peripheral blood of subcutaneous tumor peritoneal metastasis model of colon cancer in mice.

Radiation-Induced Nasopharyngeal Necrosis in Locally-Recurrent Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients after Re-Radiotherapy

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Re-radiotherapy (re-RT) is the main treatment for locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (lrNPC) patients, and commonly led to radiation-induced nasopharyngeal (NP) necrosis, which was lethal but rare study has focused on it. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cause and impact of radiation-induced NP necrosis in lrNPC patients who received re-RT.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Totally 252 lrNPC patients who received re-RT between January 2013 and December 2020 were retrospectively collected. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) no NP necrosis before re-RT; (2) complete medical records, including treatment, clinical and dosimetric information; (3) conventional fractionated radiotherapy. All patients received intensity-modulated radiotherapy ± chemotherapy. Radiation-induced NP necrosis was diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging and/or electronic nasopharyngoscopy. Dosimetric factors of the planning target volume of primary tumor (PTVp) were extracted from the dose-volume histogram (DVH), which was rescaled to an equivalent dose of 2 Gy per fraction (EQD 2 Gy) using a linear quadratic model. Logistic regression was used to identify the independent prognostic factors for generating the nomogram.

RESULTS

With a median follow-up of 44.63 months (inter-quartile range [IQR], 27.70 - 69.20 months), 47.6% of patients (120/252) occurred radiation-induced NP necrosis, which mostly happened within 1 year post re-RT (median [IQR], 5.83 [3.37 - 11.57] months). The 3-year overall survival was 83.0% vs 39.7% (P<0.001) in lrNPC patients with or without radiation-induced NP necrosis. Except for the fractionated dose, other dosimetric factors of PTVp were not significantly different between two groups, including D98 (dose to 98% of PTVp), D50, D2 and homogeneity index (Table 1). Furthermore, multivariate analysis showed that continuous variable age (HR [95% CI]: 1.04 [1.02 - 1.07], P = 0.003) and tumor volume (HR [95% CI]: 1.02 [1.01 - 1.03], P<0.001), and fractionated dose > 2.22 Gy (HR [95% CI]: 2.36 [1.32 - 4.21], P = 0.004) were independent factors in predicting radiation-induced NP necrosis, which yielded a C-index of 0.742 (95% CI, 0.682 - 0.803) for OS in the nomogram.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of radiation-induced NP necrosis was high in lrNPC patients who received re-RT. Patients with older age, larger tumor volume or receiving fractionated dose over 2.22 Gy were more easily to suffer NP necrosis, which need to explore novel treatment strategies to improve patients' survivals.

MRI Manifestations of Primary Intraspinal Synovial Sarcoma: A Case Report

Synovial sarcomas represent a highly malignant form of mesenchymal tumors. The incidence of synovial sarcomas in the spinal canal is exceptionally rare and has been scarcely reported.

Teaching Point

Comprehending the magnetic resonance imaging manifestations of intraspinal synovial sarcoma is important to prevent misdiagnosis.

[Preliminary experience of transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement using domestic balloon-expandable valve]

Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility and preliminary clinical results of transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (TPVR) with the domestically-produced balloon-expandable Prizvalve system. Methods: This is a prospective single-center observational study. Patients with postoperative right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) dysfunction, who were admitted to West China Hospital of Sichuan University from September 2021 to March 2023 and deemed anatomically suitable for TPVR with balloon-expandable valve, were included. Clinical, imaging, procedural and follow-up data were analyzed. The immediate procedural results were evaluated by clinical implant success rate, which is defined as successful valve implantation with echocardiography-assessed pulmonary regurgitation Collapse

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MESH Headings

• Male
• Humans
• Pulmonary Valve/surgery
• Heart Valve Prosthesis/adverse effects
• Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation
• Constriction, Pathologic/complications
• Constriction, Pathologic/surgery
• Prospective Studies
• Ventricular Outflow Obstruction/etiology
• Ventricular Outflow Obstruction/surgery
• Treatment Outcome
• Cardiac Catheterization/methods
• Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

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Grants

• 2022ZDZX0030 Sichuan Science and Technology Program

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Affiliation(s)

Z G Zhao Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
R T Li Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
X Wei Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
Y Peng Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
J F Wei Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
S He Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
Q Li Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
X Li Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
Y J Li Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
X Li Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
X Zhou Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
M X Zheng Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
G Chen Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
Q An Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
M Chen Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
Y Feng Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China

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Intense ultraviolet-visible-infrared full-spectrum laser

A high-brightness ultrabroadband supercontinuum white laser is desirable for various fields of modern science. Here, we present an intense ultraviolet-visible-infrared full-spectrum femtosecond laser source (with 300-5000 nm 25 dB bandwidth) with 0.54 mJ per pulse. The laser is obtained by sending a 3.9 μm, 3.3 mJ mid-infrared pump pulse into a cascaded architecture of gas-filled hollow-core fiber, a bare lithium niobate crystal plate, and a specially designed chirped periodically poled lithium niobate crystal, under the synergic action of second and third order nonlinearities such as high harmonic generation and self-phase modulation. This full-spectrum femtosecond laser source can provide a revolutionary tool for optical spectroscopy and find potential applications in physics, chemistry, biology, material science, industrial processing, and environment monitoring.

Sequence variety in the CC' loop of Siglec-8/9/3 determines the recognitions to sulfated oligosaccharides

Siglecs are important lectins found in different types of immune cells and function as regulatory molecules by recognizing self-associated glycans and converting extracellular interactions into signals for inhibiting immune cell functions. Although many Siglecs have been found to show broad specificities and recognize different types of sulfated oligosaccharides, Siglec-8 and Siglec-9 displayed a high degree of specificity for sialyl N-acetyllactosamine (sLacNAc) with sulfations at O6-positions of the galactose (6'-sulfation) and N-acetylglucosamine (6-sulfation), respectively. Siglec-3 was recently discovered to bind sLacNAc both sulfations. In addition to a conserved arginine residue for binding to sialic acid residue, the sequence variety in the CC' loop may provide binding specificities to sulfated oligosaccharides in Siglecs. Thus, the present study employed molecular models to study the impact of different residues in the CC' loops of Siglec-8/9/3 to the recognitions of 6-sulfations in Gal and/or GlcNAc of sLacNAc. The negatively charged residues in the CC' loop of Siglec-9 formed unfavorable electrostatic repulsions with the 6-sulfate in Gal and resulted no recognitions, in contrast to the favorable interactions formed between the positively charged residues in the CC' loop of Siglec-8 and the 6-sulfate in Gal resulting strong specificity. A two-state binding model was proposed for Siglec-3 recognizing 6-sulfations in Gal and GlcNAc of sLacNAc, as the neutral residues in the CC' loop of Siglec-3 could not form strong favorable interactions to lock the 6-sulfate in Gal within a single binding pose or strong unfavorable interactions to repel the 6-sulfate in Gal. The oligosaccharide adopted two distinctive binding poses and oriented the sulfate groups to form interactions with residues in the CC' loop and G-strand. The present study provided a structural mechanism for the sequence variety in the CC' loop of Siglec-8/9/3 determining the recognitions to the sulfated oligosaccharides and offered insights into the binding specificities for Siglecs.

In-plane reorientation induced single laser pulse magnetization reversal

Single Pulse All Optical Switching represents the ability to reverse the magnetization of a nanostructure using a femtosecond single laser pulse without any applied field. Since the first switching experiments carried out on GdFeCo ferrimagnets, this phenomena has been only recently extended to a few other materials, MnRuGa alloys and Tb/Co multilayers with a very specific range of thickness and composition. Here, we demonstrate that single pulse switching can be obtained for a large range of rare earth-transition metal multilayers, making this phenomenon much more general. Surprisingly, the threshold fluence for switching is observed to be independent of the laser pulse duration. Moreover, at high laser intensities, concentric ring domain structures are induced. These striking features contrast to those observed in Gd based materials pointing towards a different reversal mechanism. Concomitant with the demonstration of an in-plane magnetization reorientation, a precessional reversal mechanism explains all the observed features.

Breathable and Stretchable Organic Electrochemical Transistors with Laminated Porous Structures for Glucose Sensing

Dynamic glucose monitoring is important to reduce the risk of metabolic diseases such as diabetes. Wearable biosensors based on organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) have been developed due to their excellent signal amplification capabilities and biocompatibility. However, traditional wearable biosensors are fabricated on flat substrates with limited gas permeability, resulting in the inefficient evaporation of sweat, reduced wear comfort, and increased risk of inflammation. Here, we proposed breathable OECT-based glucose sensors by designing a porous structure to realize optimal breathable and stretchable properties. The gas permeability of the device and the relationship between electrical properties under different tensile strains were carefully investigated. The OECTs exhibit exceptional electrical properties (gm ~1.51 mS and Ion ~0.37 mA) and can retain up to about 44% of their initial performance even at 30% stretching. Furthermore, obvious responses to glucose have been demonstrated in a wide range of concentrations (10-7-10-4 M) even under 30% strain, where the normalized response to 10-4 M is 26% and 21% for the pristine sensor and under 30% strain, respectively. This work offers a new strategy for developing advanced breathable and wearable bioelectronics.

Microbe-driven elemental cycling enables microbial adaptation to deep-sea ferromanganese nodule sediment fields

BACKGROUND

Ferromanganese nodule-bearing deep-sea sediments cover vast areas of the ocean floor, representing a distinctive habitat in the abyss. These sediments harbor unique conditions characterized by high iron concentration and low degradable nutrient levels, which pose challenges to the survival and growth of most microorganisms. While the microbial diversity in ferromanganese nodule-associated sediments has been surveyed several times, little is known about the functional capacities of the communities adapted to these unique habitats.

RESULTS

Seven sediment samples collected adjacent to ferromanganese nodules from the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCFZ) in the eastern Pacific Ocean were subjected to metagenomic analysis. As a result, 179 high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) were reconstructed and assigned to 21 bacterial phyla and 1 archaeal phylum, with 88.8% of the MAGs remaining unclassified at the species level. The main mechanisms of resistance to heavy metals for microorganisms in sediments included oxidation (Mn), reduction (Cr and Hg), efflux (Pb), synergy of reduction and efflux (As), and synergy of oxidation and efflux (Cu). Iron, which had the highest content among all metallic elements, may occur mainly as Fe(III) that potentially functioned as an electron acceptor. We found that microorganisms with a diverse array of CAZymes did not exhibit higher community abundance. Instead, microorganisms mainly obtained energy from oxidation of metal (e.g., Mn(II)) and sulfur compounds using oxygen or nitrate as an electron acceptor. Chemolithoautotrophic organisms (Thaumarchaeota and Nitrospirota phyla) were found to be potential manganese oxidizers. The functional profile analysis of the dominant microorganisms further indicated that utilization of inorganic nutrients by redox reactions (rather than organic nutrient metabolism) is a major adaptive strategy used by microorganisms to support their survival in the ferromanganese nodule sediments.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides a comprehensive metagenomic analysis of microbes inhabiting metal-rich ferromanganese nodule sediments. Our results reveal extensive redundancy across taxa for pathways of metal resistance and transformation, the highly diverse mechanisms used by microbes to obtain nutrition, and their participation in various element cycles in these unique environments. Video Abstract.

Erratum: Multifunctional sponge scaffold loaded with concentrated growth factors for promoting wound healing

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105835.].

Comparison Between the Clinical Effect of Percutaneous Kyphoplasty for Osteoporosis Vertebral Compression Fracture Patient with or Without Sarcopenia: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background

Sarcopenia and osteoporosis vertebral compression fractures (OVCF) are common diseases that increase with age. This study aimed to investigate the effects of sarcopenia on OVCF patients after percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP).

Methods

Data of 101 patients who were treated with single-level PKP between January 2021 and March 2022 at Ningbo No.6 Hospital were enrolled. Forty-five OVCF patients with sarcopenia who met our inclusion criteria were included in the Sarcopenia-PKP group (SPKP group), and 56 patients in the Normal-PKP group (NPKP group). All clinical and radiological data were collected from medical records. Baseline characteristics, operation-related parameters (operation time, time to ambulation, hospital stay, surgery segment), clinical outcomes (visual analog score [VAS], Oswestry Disability Index [ODI], Japanese Orthopaedic Association Scores [JOA] of lumber), radiological outcomes (vertebral anterior height rate and local kyphosis angle), Macnab score, and complications were evaluated and compared.

Results

There were no significant differences in age, sex, surgical segment preoperative VAS score, ODI, or JOA between the two groups (P > 0.05). The SPKP group had a significantly lower body mass index (BMI), bone mineral density (BMD), and smooth muscle index (SMI) than the NPKP group (P < 0.05). Significantly longer hospital stays and time to ambulation in SPKP group than NPKP group (3.7±0.8 vs 3.4±0.5 and 2.0±0.8 vs 1.6±0.5, P < 0.05). In SPKP group, significantly better clinical outcomes at 6- and 12-months follow-up were observed in NPKP group than SPKP group (P < 0.05), and NPKP group showed significantly better in vertebral anterior height rates than SPKP group after 6-month follow-up (P < 0.05). Moreover, there were significantly more cases of complications in the SPKP group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Sarcopenia could reduce the clinical effect of percutaneous kyphoplasty, and furthermore. Related studies are needed to verify the effect of sarcopenia on OVCF patients.

[Construction of a dual fluorescent reporter system for tracing horizontal transfer of mcr-1-carrying plasmid]

The green fluorescent reporter gene was inserted into the gene interval of polymyxin resistant mcr-1-carrying plasmid (pSH13G841) by homologous recombination of suicide plasmid. At the same time, E. coli J53 with red fluorescent reporter gene was constructed. Using the ability of spontaneous conjugation of drug resistant plasmid (pSH13G841), pSH13G841-GFP plasmid was transferred into J53 RFP bacteria to construct a double fluorescent labeled donor bacterium. The two light-emitting systems could stably and spontaneously express fluorescence without mutual interference. The dual fluorescence report system constructed can be used for visual tracing horizontal transfer of mcr-1-carrying plasmid, the subsequent model can study the colonization, transfer and prognosis of drug-resistant bacteria/drug-resistant genes mcr-1 by using mouse in vivo imaging technology.

[Feasibility and safety of transseptal transcatheter mitral valve replacement for severe mitral regurgitation]

A prospective, single-center, single-arm, and open-design study was performed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of transseptal transcatheter mitral valve replacement in the treatment of severe mitral regurgitation. Patients with symptomatic moderate-severe or severe mitral regurgitation at high-surgical risk and anatomically appropriate for the HighLife transseptal mitral valve replacement (TSMVR) system in West China Hospital, Sichuan University from December 2021 to August 2022 were enrolled. Four patients (1 male and 3 females) with severe mitral regurgitation were included, with a median age of 68.5 (64.0-77.0) years and a median Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) score of 8.1% (6.4%-8.9%). Technical success was achieved in all the patients. There was no residual mitral regurgitation, paravalvular leakage, or left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Three major cardiovascular and cerebrovascular adverse events occurred within 30 days after the procedure, including ventricular tachycardia, iatrogenic atrial septal defect closure, and heart failure readmission. The current study preliminarily demonstrates that transcatheter mitral valve replacement using the HighLife system via the transseptal approach for severe mitral regurgitation is feasible and relatively safe.

[Corneal melt after intracorneal ring segment implantations: a case report]

A 50-year-old female patient presented to the Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, with complaints of right eye pain, tearing, and difficulty opening the eye for over a month after intrastromal corneal ring segment (ICRS) implantation 18 years prior in both eyes. Slit lamp examination revealed corneal stromal melting around the ICRS at the 3 to 4 o'clock position of the right eye, with fluorescein staining. Optical coherence tomography showed epithelial and superficial stromal layer defects in the area of the lesion. The patient was diagnosed with corneal melting after ICRS implantation in the right eye. Under general anesthesia, the corneal stromal ring was removed, and deep lamellar keratoplasty was performed. The patient had no discomfort and the corneal graft remained transparent after the surgery.

Three New Benzophenone Derivatives from Selaginella tamariscina

Six compounds including three new benzophenones, selagibenzophenones D-F (1-3), two known selaginellins (4-5) and one known flavonoid (6), were isolated from Selaginella tamariscina. The structures of new compounds were established by 1D-, 2D-NMR and HR-ESI-MS spectral analyses. Compound 1 represents the second example of diarylbenzophenone from natural sources. Compound 2 possesses an unusual biphenyl-bisbenzophenone structure. Their cytotoxicity against human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 and SMCC-7721 cells and inhibitory activities on lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 cells were evaluated. Compound 2 showed moderate inhibitory activity against HepG2 and SMCC-7721 cells, and compounds 4 and 5 showed moderate inhibitory activity to HepG2 cells. Compounds 2 and 5 also exhibited inhibitory activities on lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide (NO) production.

[Prevalence of parasitic infections in human stool samples from a hospital in Chenzhou City of Hunan Province]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prevalence of parasitic infections in human stool samples from a hospital in Chenzhou City, Hunan Province, so as to provide insights into the management of intestinal parasitic diseases.

METHODS

Stool samples were collected from patients admitted to a hospital in Chenzhou City from September 2020 to March 2021, subjected to physiological saline smearing and microscopy for detection of intestinal parasites. The prevalence of parasitic infections and the species of parasites were descriptively analyzed.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was 1.61% in the 10 728 stool samples, and there were 3 samples with mixed infections of two parasite species. A total of seven parasite species were identified, including Blastocystis hominis (162 cases, 1.55%), Giardia lamblia (5 cases, 0.05%), Dientamoeba fragilis (5 cases, 0.05%), Endolimax nana (one case, 0.01%), Iodamoeba bütschlii (one case, 0.01%), Strongyloides stercoralis (one case, 0.01%) and Trichomonas hominis (one case, 0.01%). The prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was significantly higher among women than in men (2.14% vs. 1.25%; χ² = 13.01, P < 0.01), and a high prevalence rate was seen among patients at ages of 20 to 30 years (2.99%) and 80 years and older (2.86%); however, no age-specific prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was detected (χ² = 12.45, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was low among patients admitted to a hospital in Chenzhou City, and gender-specific prevalence was found. Food-borne and opportunistic parasites were predominant intestinal parasites, including B. hominis, G. lamblia and D. fragilis.

Electroactive Microorganisms in Advanced Energy Technologies

Large-scale production of green and pollution-free materials is crucial for deploying sustainable clean energy. Currently, the fabrication of traditional energy materials involves complex technological conditions and high costs, which significantly limits their broad application in the industry. Microorganisms involved in energy production have the advantages of inexpensive production and safe process and can minimize the problem of chemical reagents in environmental pollution. This paper reviews the mechanisms of electron transport, redox, metabolism, structure, and composition of electroactive microorganisms in synthesizing energy materials. It then discusses and summarizes the applications of microbial energy materials in electrocatalytic systems, sensors, and power generation devices. Lastly, the research progress and existing challenges for electroactive microorganisms in the energy and environment sectors described herein provide a theoretical basis for exploring the future application of electroactive microorganisms in energy materials.

[Analysis on missed diagnosis or misdiagnosis of anomalous origin of left coronary artery from pulmonary artery by echocardiography from one single medical center]

Objectives: To analyze the reasons of missed diagnosis or misdiagnosis on anomalous origin of left coronary artery from pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) by echocardiography. Methods: This is a retrospective study. Patients with ALCAPA who underwent surgical treatment in Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from August 2008 to December 2021 were included. According to the results of preoperative echocardiography and surgical diagnosis, the patients were divided into confirmed group or missed diagnosis/misdiagnosis group. The results of preoperative echocardiography were collected, and the specific echocardiographic signs were analyzed. According to the experience of the doctors, the echocardiographic signs were divided into four types, namely clear displayed, vague/doubtful displayed, no display and no notice, and the display rate of each sign was calculated (display rate=number of clearly displayed cases/total number of cases×100%). By referring the surgical data, we analyzed and recorded the pathological anatomy and pathophysiological characteristics of the patients, and the rate of missed diagnosis/misdiagnosis of echocardiography in patients with different characteristics was compared. Results: A total of 21 patients were enrolled, including 11 males, aged 1.8 (0.8, 12.3) years (range 1 month to 47 years). Except for one patient with anomalous origin of left anterior descending artery, the others were all originated from the main left coronary artery (LCA). There were 13 cases of ALCAPA in infant and children, and 8 cases of adult ALCAPA. There were 15 cases in the confirmed group (diagnostic accuracy was 71.4% (15/21)), and 6 cases in the missed diagnosis/misdiagnosis group (three cases were misdiagnosed as primary endocardial fibroelastosis, two cases were misdiagnosed as coronary-pulmonary artery fistula; and one case was missed diagnosis). The working years of the physicians in the confirmed group were longer than those in the missed diagnosis/misdiagnosed group ((12.8±5.6) years vs. (8.3±4.7) years, P=0.045). In infants with ALCAPA, the detection rate of LCA-pulmonary shunt (8/10 vs. 0, P=0.035) and coronary collateral circulation (7/10 vs. 0, P=0.042) in confirmed group was higher than that in missed diagnosis/misdiagnosed group. In adult ALCAPA patients, the detection rate of LCA-pulmonary artery shunt was higher in confirmed group than that in missed diagnosis/misdiagnosed group (4/5 vs. 0, P=0.021). The missed diagnosis/misdiagnosis rate of adult type was higher than that of infant type (3/8 vs. 3/13, P=0.410). The rate of missed diagnosis/misdiagnosis was higher in patients with abnormal origin of branches than that of abnormal origin of main trunk (1/1 vs. 5/21, P=0.028). The rate of missed diagnosis/misdiagnosis in patients with LCA running between the main and pulmonary arteries was higher than that distant from the main pulmonary artery septum (4/7 vs. 2/14, P=0.064). The rate of missed diagnosis/misdiagnosis in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension was higher than that in patients without severe pulmonary hypertension (2/3 vs. 4/18, P=0.184). The reasons with an echocardiography missed diagnosis/misdiagnosis rate of≥50% included that (1) the proximal segment of LCA ran between the main and pulmonary arteries; (2) abnormal opening of LCA at the right posterior part of the pulmonary artery; (3) abnormal origin of LCA branches; (4) complicated with severe pulmonary hypertension. Conclusions: Echocardiography physicians' knowledge of ALCAPA and diagnostic vigilance are critical to the accuracy of diagnosis. Attention should be paid to the pediatric cases with no obvious precipitating factors of left ventricular enlargement, regardless of whether the left ventricular function is normal or not, the origin of coronary artery should be routinely explored.

Defective NCOA4-dependent ferroptosis in senescent fibroblasts retards diabetic wound healing

Cellular senescence describes a state of permanent proliferative arrest in cells. Studies have demonstrated that diabetes promotes the pathological accumulation of senescent cells, which in turn impairs cell movement and proliferation. Historically, senescence has been perceived to be a detrimental consequence of chronic wound healing. However, the underlying mechanism that causes senescent cells to remain in diabetic wounds is yet to be elucidated. Ferroptosis and ferritinophagy observed in diabetes are due to iron metabolism disorders, which are directly associated with the initiation and progression of diabetes. Herein, we reveal that senescent fibroblasts in diabetic wounds are resistant to ferroptosis and that impaired ferritinophagy may be a contributing cause. Further, the expression of NCOA4, a key factor that influences ferritinophagy, is decreased in both diabetic wound tissue and high glucose-induced senescent fibroblasts. Moreover, NCOA4 overexpression could render senescent fibroblasts more vulnerable to ferroptosis. A faster wound healing process was also linked to the induction of ferroptosis. Thus, resistance to ferroptosis impedes the removal of senescent fibroblasts; promoting ferritinophagy could reverse this process, which may have significant implications for the management of diabetic wounds.

[Different forms of free radial collateral artery perforator flaps for reconstruction after removal of oral tumors]

Objective: To investigate the efficacies of different forms of free radial collateral artery perforator flaps in repairing the defects after oral tumor surgeries. Methods: From May 2016 to March 2021, 28 patients (22 males, 6 females, aged 35-62 years) with oral tumors admitted by Hunan Cancer Hospital received the reconstructive surgeries with the free radial collateral artery perforator flaps after removal of oral tumors, including 24 cases of tongue cancer (11 cases of tongue marginal cancer, 9 cases of tongue belly cancer and 4 cases of tongue cancer involved in the floor of the mouth) and 4 cases of buccal and oral cancer. Four forms of radial collateral artery perforator flaps were used: single perforator flaps for 6 cases, double perforators flaps for 7 cases, flaps without perforator visualization for 10 cases and chimeric perforator myocutaneous flaps for 5 cases. The recipient vessels were the superior thyroid artery and superior thyroid vein, and if second concomitant vein available, it was anastomosed with internal jugular vein in end-to-side fashion. SPSS 20.0 statistical software was used to analyze the data. Results: The mean length of flaps was (9.7±0.4) cm, mean width (4.4±0.3) cm and mean thickness (1.1±0.4) cm. The mean length of the vascular pedicles was (7.1±0.6)cm (6.0-8.0 cm), the mean diameter of the radial accessory arteries was (1.1±0.3)mm (0.8-1.3 mm). Eleven cases(39.3%) had respectively one accompanying vein and 17 cases(60.7%) had respectively two accompanying veins, with the mean diameter of (1.1±0.3) mm (0.8-1.3 mm). All the 28 flaps survived, the donor and recipient wounds healed in one stage, the appearances of the flaps were satisfactory, only linear scars remained in the donor sites, and the upper arm functions were not significantly affected. Follow up for 12-43 months showed that the flaps were soft with partially mucosalization, the reconstructed tongue and buccal cavity were in good shape, and the swallowing and language functions were satisfactory. The swallowing and language functions were retained to the greatest extent in 3 cases with near total tongue resection, although the functions were still significantly affected. There was no local recurrence of the tumor during follow-up. One case had regional lymph node metastasis, and further lymph node dissection and comprehensive treatment were performed, with satisfactory outcomes. Conclusions: The vascular pedicle of the radial collateral artery perforator flap has a constant anatomy, which can be prepared in different forms to improve the safety of the operation and minimize the donor site damage. It is an ideal choice for the repair of small and medium-sized defects after oral tumor surgery.

Optimization of Destressing Parameters of Water Jet Slits in Rock Burst Coal Seams for Deep Mining

Mining in deep coal seams is characterized by high ground stress, often accompanied by coal and rock dynamic disasters such as rock bursts. High-pressure water jet slotting technology can relieve pressure and reduce the stress concentration on the coal seam, which is one of the effective pressure relief measures in rock burst coal seams for deep mining. Reasonable pressure relief parameters are an important influence on the effectiveness of pressure relief achieved by a high-pressure water jet. This paper uses theoretical analysis and numerical simulation to analyze the principle of high-pressure water jet pressure relief and rock burst prevention, and a theoretical calculation model of six key pressure relief parameters is constructed. The optimal values of each pressure relief parameter are obtained, and good pressure relief effect is achieved in a certain rock burst risk area. The research results showed that (1) parameters such as drilling spacing–slit radius, drilling depth–slit length, and slotting cutting spacing–slotting cutting width have a great influence on the pressure relief effect, and there is a significant interaction between the parameters, while the strength of the coal seam also has a significant effect on the selection of the parameters and the pressure relief effect. (2) The displacement, vertical stress, plastic zone, elastic energy, impact risk index, and the cost of pressure relief can be used to comprehensively evaluate the quality and economy of the pressure relief effect, and the optimal pressure relief parameters of high-pressure water jet slotting under specific physical force properties of the coal seam can be obtained. (3) High-pressure water jet technology with optimal pressure relief parameters was applied to No. 3 connecting the roadway in the 730 mining area of a mine studied, and field monitoring showed that indicators such as microseismic frequency, total energy, and spatial concentration significantly decreased. Moreover, the accuracy of the theoretical model of high-pressure water jet slotting pressure relief parameter optimization is reliable in the relevant technical parameters of coal seam slotting. It is believed that the model can be used to design the high-pressure water jet slotting pressure relief parameters in deep rock burst coal seams.

[Research advances of stem cell-based tissue engineering repair materials in promoting the healing of chronic refractory wounds on the body surface]

Repairing chronic refractory wounds on the body surface is a complex medical problem involving all stages of wound healing. In recent years, stem cells (SCs) and tissue engineering (TE) have brought hope for repairing chronic refractory wounds. SCs have excellent regenerative and paracrine effects; various TE strategies have the potential to repair chronic refractory wounds on the body surface and also improve the delivery efficiency of SCs. This article reviews the pathological characteristics of chronic refractory wounds, SCs used to repair chronic refractory wounds, and SC-based TE wound repair strategies.

High-power femtosecond regenerative amplifier based on Yb:CaYAlO4 dual-crystal configuration

A thermal lens insensitive regenerative amplifier (RA) with a dual Yb:CaYAlO₄ (Yb:CYA) crystal configuration for extending gain spectra is demonstrated for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. By orthogonalizing the orientation of two a-cut Yb:CYA crystals in one RA, the Q switched spectrum with a full width at half maximum of 15.4 nm is generated, which is 1.5 and 1.6 times of the Q switched spectral bandwidth with π- and σ-polarization, respectively. With chirped pulses injection, this RA can deliver laser pulses with an average power exceeding 10 W at the repetition rate of 20-800 kHz and pulse energy of 1.5 mJ at 1 kHz. This is the highest average power from the Yb:CYA RA to the best of our knowledge. Finally, compressed pulses of 163 fs with 92% overall efficiency are realized. Thanks to the heat insensitive cavity design and excellent thermodynamic properties of the Yb:CYA crystal, the output laser beam is close to the diffraction limit with an M² value of 1.07 × 1.07.

Combined Prediction Model of Gas Concentration Based on Indicators Dynamic Optimization and Bi-LSTMs

In order to accurately predict the gas concentration, find out the gas abnormal emission in advance, and take effective measures to reduce the gas concentration in time, this paper analyzes multivariate monitoring data and proposes a new dynamic combined prediction method of gas concentration. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient is applied for the dynamic optimization of prediction indicators. The time series and spatial topology features of the optimized indicators are extracted and input into the combined prediction model of gas concentration based on indicators dynamic optimization and Bi-LSTMs (Bi-directional Long Short-term Memory), which can predict the gas concentration for the next 30 min. The results show that the other gas concentration, temperature, and humidity indicators are strongly correlated with the gas concentration to be predicted, and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient is up to 0.92 at most. The average R² of predicted value and real value is 0.965, and the average prediction efficiency R for gas abnormal or normal emission is 79.9%. Compared with the other models, the proposed dynamic optimized indicators combined model is more accurate, and the missing alarm of gas abnormal emission is significantly alleviated, which greatly improves the early alarming accuracy. It can assist the safety monitoring personnel in decision making and has certain significance to improve the safety production efficiency of coal mines.

Correlation between capsule endoscopy classification and CT lymphangiography of primary intestinal lymphangiectasia

AIM

To investigate the correlation between capsule endoscopy (CE) classification of primary intestinal lymphangiectasia (PIL) and computed tomography (CT) lymphangiography (CTL).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 52 patients with diagnosed PIL were enrolled. All patients were examined using CTL and small intestinal CE before surgery. CE assessments included the morphology, scope, colour, and size of lesions. CTL assessments included intestinal wall, lymphatic vessel dilatation, lymph fluid reflux, and lymphatic fistula. Patients were divided into three groups according to type diagnosed by CE, and the CTL characteristics were analysed among the groups.

RESULTS

CE showed 15 patients with type I, 27 with II, and 10 with type III. Intestinal wall thickening was observed in 15 type I, 21 type II, and seven type III. Pericardial effusion was observed in only three type I patients; the difference among types was statistically significant (p=0.02). Abnormal contrast agent distribution in the intestinal wall and mesentery was observed in 15 type II patients, and the difference was significantly greater than that of types I and III (p=0.02). Abnormal contrast agent distribution in the abdominal cavity was observed in 12 type II, and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.03).

CONCLUSION

The CE PIL classification reflects the extent and scope of intestinal mucosa lesions; CTL more systematically demonstrates abnormal lymphatic vessels or reflux, and its manifestations of PIL are related to the CE classification. The combination of CTL with CE is useful for accurately evaluating PIL, and provides guidance for preoperative assessment and treatment management of PIL patients.

The role and molecular mechanism of gut microbiota in Graves' orbitopathy

PURPOSE

Graves' orbitopathy (GO) is an autoimmune orbital disorder. Gut microbiota dysfunction plays a vital role in autoimmune diseases, including Graves' disease (GD) and GO. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the change of gut microbiota in GD/GO using mouse model.

METHODS

The murine model of GD/GO was established by the challenge of adenovirus expressing thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor (TSHR) (Ad-TSHR). The histological changes of orbital and thyroid tissues were analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Masson staining, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining. The fecal samples were collected for 16S rRNA gene sequencing and bioinformatics analysis.

RESULTS

The GD/GO model was established successfully, as manifested as the broadened eyelid, exophthalmia and conjunctive redness, severe inflammatory infiltration among thyroid glands and between extraocular muscle space, hypertrophic extraocular muscles, elevated thyroxine (T4) and decreased TSH, and positive CD34, CD40, collagen I, and α-SMA staining. A total of 222 operational taxonomic units (OUTs) were overlapped between mice in the Ad-NC and Ad-TSHR groups. The microbial composition of the samples in the two groups was mainly Bacteroidia and Clostridia, and the Ad-NC group had a significantly lower content of Bacteroidia and higher content of Clostridia. KEGG orthology analysis results revealed differences in dehydrogenase, aspartic acid, bile acid, chalcone synthase, acetyltransferase, glutamylcyclotransferase, glycogenin, and 1-phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinase between two groups; enzyme commission (EC) analysis results revealed differences in several dehydrogenase, oxidase, thioxy/reductase between two groups; MetaCyc pathways analysis results revealed differences in isoleucine degradation, oxidation of C1 compounds, tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle IV, taurine degradation, and biosynthesis of paromamine, heme, colonic acid building blocks, butanediol, lysine/threonine/methionine, and histidine/purine/pyrimidine between two groups.

CONCLUSION

This study induced a mouse model of GD/GO by Ad-TSHR challenge, and gut microbiota characteristics were identified in the GD/GO mice. The Bacteroidia and Clostridia abundance was changed in the GD/GO mice. These findings may lay a solid experimental foundation for developing personalized treatment regimens for GD patients according to the individual gut microbiota. Given the potential impact of regional differences on intestinal microbiota, this study in China may provide a reference for the global overview of the gut-thyroid axis hypothesis.

[Analysis of the characteristics of retracted scientific papers in the field of global liver diseases published by Chinese scholars]

Objective: To analyze the characteristics of scientific papers in the field of global liver diseases published by Chinese scholars that were retracted for diverse reasons from the Retraction Watch database, so as to provide a reference to publishing-related papers. Methods: The Retraction Watch database was retrieved for retracted papers in the field of global liver disease published by Chinese scholars from March 1, 2008 to January 28, 2021. The regional distribution, source journals, reasons for retraction, publication and retraction times, and others were analyzed. Results: A total of 101 retracted papers that were distributed across 21 provinces/cities were retrieved. Zhejiang area (n = 17) had the most retracted papers, followed by Shanghai (n = 14), and Beijing (n = 11). The vast majority were research papers (n = 95). The journal PLoS One had the highest number of retracted papers. In terms of time distribution, 2019 (n = 36) had the most retracted papers. 23 papers, accounting for 8.3% of all retractions, were retracted owing to journal or publisher concerns. Liver cancer (34%), liver transplantation (16%), hepatitis (14%), and others were the main areas of retracted papers. Conclusion: Chinese scholars have a large number of retracted articles in the field of global liver diseases. A journal or publisher chooses to retract a manuscript after investigating and discovering more flawed problems, which, however, require further support, revision, and supervision from the editorial and academic circles.

Thickness-dependent loss-induced failure of an ideal ENZ-enhanced optical response in planar ultrathin transparent conducting oxide films

Ultrathin planar transparent conducting oxide (TCO) films are commonly used to enhance the optical response of epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) devices; however, our results suggest that thickness-dependent loss renders them ineffective. Here, we investigated the thickness-dependent loss of indium tin oxide (ITO) films and their effect on the ENZ-enhanced optical responses of ITO and ITO/SiO₂ multilayer stacks. The experimental and computational results show that the optical loss of ITO films increases from 0.47 to 0.70 as the thickness decreases from 235 to 52 nm, which results in a reduction of 60% and 45% in the maximum field enhancement factor of a 52-nm monolayer ITO and 4-layer ITO/SiO₂ multilayer stack, respectively. The experimental results show that the ENZ-enhanced nonlinear absorption coefficient of the 52-nm single-layer ITO film is -1.6 × 10³cm GW^-1, which is 81% lower than that of the 235-nm ITO film (-8.6 × 10³cm GW^-1), indicating that the thickness-dependent loss makes the ultrathin TCO films unable to obtain greater nonlinear responses. In addition, the increased loss reduces the cascading Berreman transmission valley intensity of the 4-layer ITO/SiO₂ multilayer stack, resulting in a 42% reduction in the ENZ-enhanced nonlinear absorption coefficient compared to the 235-nm ITO film and a faster hot electron relaxation time. Our results suggest that the thickness and loss trade-off is an intrinsic property of TCO films and that the low-loss ultrathin TCO films are the key to the robust design and fabrication of novel ENZ devices based on flat ultrathin TCO films.