Modular probe integrating with quantum dots based versatile platform for sensitive and label-free biomarker detection

Multiplexed analysis of biomarkers in a single sample tube is essential for accurate diagnosis and therapy of diseases. However, the existing detection platforms suffer from many drawbacks, such as low specificity, limited applicable sceneries, and complicated operation. Hence, it is highly important to develop a versatile biomarker detection platform that can be used for disease diagnosis and pathophysiological research. In this study, we provide a versatile method for detecting biomarkers using dual-loop probes and quantum dots (QDs). This approach utilizes a dual-loop probe that consists of a recognition module for identifying specific targets, a template recognition module for initiating subsequent chain replacement cycles, and a signal module for facilitating the fixation of QDs on the 96-well plate. The lower limit of detection for miRNA-21 is determined to be at the aM level. Furthermore, this design may be easily expanded to simultaneously detect several targets, such as miRNA and C-reactive protein. The experimental results demonstrated the successful construction of the versatile biomarkers detection platform, and indicated that the sensitive and versatile platform has significant potential in the areas of bio-sensing, clinical diagnostics, and environmental sample analysis.

Real-world evidence from a retrospective study on suicide during depression: clinical characteristics, treatment patterns and disease burden

BACKGROUND

Suicide stands as both a primary symptom and the direst outcome of major depressive disorder (MDD). The scarcity of effective treatment strategies makes managing MDD patients with suicide especially challenging. Hence, it is crucial to investigate disease characteristics and efficacious therapeutic strategies for these patients, drawing insights from disease databases and real-world data.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, MDD patients hospitalized between January 2013 and December 2020 were investigated using Electronic Health Records (EHR) data from Beijing Anding Hospital. The study enrolled 4138 MDD patients with suicidal ideation or behavior (MDS) and 3848 without (MDNS). Demographic data, clinical attributes, treatment approaches, disease burden, and re-hospitalization within one year of discharge were extracted and compared.

RESULTS

Patients in the MDS group were predominantly younger and female, exhibiting a higher prevalence of alcohol consumption, experiencing frequent life stress events, and having an earlier onset age. Re-hospitalizations within six months post-discharge in the MDS group were significantly higher than in the MDNS group (11.36% vs. 8.91%, p < 0.001). Moreover, a more considerable fraction of MDS patients underwent combined electroconvulsive therapy treatment (56.72% vs. 43.71%, p < 0.001). Approximately 38% of patients in both groups were prescribed two or more therapeutic regimes, and over 90% used antidepressants, either alone or combined. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) were the predominant choice in both groups. Furthermore, antidepressants were often prescribed with antipsychotics or mood stabilizers. When medication alterations were necessary, the favoured options involved combination with antipsychotics or transitioning to alternative antidepressants. Yet, in the MDS group, following these initial modifications, the addition of mood stabilizers tended to be the more prioritized alternative.

CONCLUSIONS

MDD patients with suicidal ideation or behaviour displayed distinctive demographic and clinical features. They exhibited intricate treatment patterns, a pronounced burden of illness, and an increased likelihood of relapse.

Genetic determinants of micronucleus formation in vivo

Genomic instability arising from defective responses to DNA damage1 or mitotic chromosomal imbalances2 can lead to the sequestration of DNA in aberrant extranuclear structures called micronuclei (MN). Although MN are a hallmark of ageing and diseases associated with genomic instability, the catalogue of genetic players that regulate the generation of MN remains to be determined. Here we analyse 997 mouse mutant lines, revealing 145 genes whose loss significantly increases (n = 71) or decreases (n = 74) MN formation, including many genes whose orthologues are linked to human disease. We found that mice null for Dscc1, which showed the most significant increase in MN, also displayed a range of phenotypes characteristic of patients with cohesinopathy disorders. After validating the DSCC1-associated MN instability phenotype in human cells, we used genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screening to define synthetic lethal and synthetic rescue interactors. We found that the loss of SIRT1 can rescue phenotypes associated with DSCC1 loss in a manner paralleling restoration of protein acetylation of SMC3. Our study reveals factors involved in maintaining genomic stability and shows how this information can be used to identify mechanisms that are relevant to human disease biology1.

Bifunctional 3D POM-based coordination polymers for improved pseudocapacitance and catalytic oxidation performance

Developing novel high-efficiency supercapacitors as energy storage devices to solve the energy crisis is of vital significance. Meanwhile, designing highly active and selective oxidation catalysts for various sulfides is desirable but still a big challenge. To work out these problems, three novel 3D POM-based coordination polymers (POMCPs), formulated as [{Ag6(pytz)4}{SiMo12O40}] (1), [{Cu3(pytz)4}{SiMo12O40}]·5.5H2O (2) and [{Cu6(pytz)6}{SiMo12O40}]·2H2O (3) (pytz = 4-(5-(4-pyridyl)-1H-tetrazole)), are successfully prepared via a one-step synthetic strategy by changing different temperatures under hydrothermal or solvothermal conditions. In compounds 1 and 2, {SiMo12}, as 9-capped and 2-capped polyoxoanions, are engaged among the 2D Ag/Cu-organic sheets to generate the novel 3D POM-based coordination polymers. In addition, 1D Cu-organic chains are combined with 3-capped {SiMo12} polyoxoanions to construct 2D POM-based coordination polymers in 3. To our delight, as electrode materials for supercapacitors, the three compounds exhibit excellent specific capacitances of 261.76 F g-1, 248.82 F g-1 and 156.47 F g-1 at 0.5 A g-1, respectively. Besides, they can effectively and selectively catalyze the oxidation of various sulfides to sulfoxides.

Waste milk humification product can be used as a slow release nano-fertilizer

The demand for milk has increased globally, accompanied by an increase in waste milk. Here, we provide an artificial humification technology to recycle waste milk into an agricultural nano-fertilizer. We use KOH-activated persulfate to convert waste milk into fulvic-like acid and humic-like acid. We mix the product with attapulgite to obtain a slow-release nano fulvic-like acid fertilizer. We apply this nano-fertilizer to chickweeds growing in pots, resulting in improved yield and root elongation. These results indicate that waste milk could be recycled for agricultural purposes, however, this nano-fertilizer needs to be tested further in field experiments.

Inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling by monensin in cervical cancer

The challenging clinical outcomes associated with advanced cervical cancer underscore the need for a novel therapeutic approach. Monensin, a polyether antibiotic, has recently emerged as a promising candidate with anti-cancer properties. In line with these ongoing efforts, our study presents compelling evidence of monensin's potent efficacy in cervical cancer. Monensin exerts a pronounced inhibitory impact on proliferation and anchorage-independent growth. Additionally, monensin significantly inhibited cervical cancer growth in vivo without causing any discernible toxicity in mice. Mechanism studies show that monensin's anti-cervical cancer activity can be attributed to its capacity to inhibit the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, rather than inducing oxidative stress. Monensin effectively reduces both the levels and activity of β-catenin, and we identify Akt, rather than CK1, as the key player involved in monensin-mediated Wnt/β-catenin inhibition. Rescue studies using Wnt activator and β-catenin-overexpressing cells confirmed that β-catenin inhibition is the mechanism of monensin's action. As expected, cervical cancer cells exhibiting heightened Wnt/β-catenin activity display increased sensitivity to monensin treatment. In conclusion, our findings provide pre-clinical evidence that supports further exploration of monensin's potential for repurposing in cervical cancer therapy, particularly for patients exhibiting aberrant Wnt/β-catenin activation.

Host response of Nicotiana benthamiana to the parasitism of five populations of root-lesion nematode, Pratylenchus coffeae, from China

In a recent survey of nematodes associated with tobacco in Shandong, China, the root-lesion nematode Pratylenchus coffeae was identified using a combination of morphology and molecular techniques. This nematode species is a serious parasite that damages a variety of plant species. The model plant benthi, Nicotiana benthamiana, is frequently used to study plant-disease interactions. However, it is not known whether this plant species is a host of P. coffeae. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the parasitism and pathogenicity of five populations of the root-lesion nematode P. coffeae on N. benthamiana.N. benthamiana seedlings with the same growth status were chosen and inoculated with 1,000 nematodes per pot. At 60 days after inoculation, the reproductive factors (Rf = final population densities (Pf)/initial population densities (Pi)) for P. coffeae in the rhizosphere of N. benthamiana were all more than 1, suggesting that N. benthamiana was a good host plant for P. coffeae.Nicotiana. benthamiana infected by P. coffeae showed weak growth, decreased tillering, high root reduction, and noticeable brown spots on the roots. Thus, we determined that the model plant N. benthamiana can be used to study plant-P. coffeae interactions.

[The expression of autophagy-related proteins in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with lupus nephritis is upregulated and related to kidney damage]

Objective To identify the relationship between nephritis activity, autophagy and inflammation in patients with SLE. Methods Western blot analysis was used to detect the expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) and P62 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of SLE patients with lupus nephritis and non-lupus nephritis patients. Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interferon γ (IFN-γ) in the serum of SLE patients were determined by ELISA. The correlation between LC3II/LC3I ratio and SLE disease activity score (SLEDAI), urinary protein, TNF-α and IFN-γ levels was analyzed by Pearson method. Results The expression of LC3 was increased and P62 was decreased in SLE patients. TNF-α and IFN-γ were increased in the serum of SLE patients. LC3II/LC3I ratio was positively correlated with SLEDAI (r=0.4560), 24 hour urine protein (r=0.3753), IFN-γ (r=0.5685), but had no correlation with TNF-α (r=0.04 683). Conclusion Autophagy is found in PBMCs of SLE, and the autophagy is correlated with renal damage and inflammation in patients with lupus nephritis.

Hormonal and inflammatory signatures of different mood episodes in bipolar disorder: a large-scale clinical study

BACKGROUND

Bipolar disorder (BD) is characterized by intensive mood fluctuations. While hormones imbalance plays important role in the mood swings, it is unknown whether peripheral hormones profiles could differentiate the manic and depressive mood episodes in BD. In this study, we investigated the changes of various hormones and inflammatory markers across distinct mood episodes of BD in a large clinical study to provide mood episode-specific peripheral biomarkers for BD.

METHODS

A total of 8332 BD patients (n = 2679 depressive episode; n = 5653 manic episode) were included. All patients were in acute state of mood episodes and need hospitalization. A panel of blood tests were performed for levels of sex hormones (serum levels of testosterone, estradiol, and progesterone), stress hormones (adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol), and an inflammation marker (C-reactive protein, CRP). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the discriminatory potential of the biomarkers for mood episodes.

RESULTS

In overall comparison between mood episodes, the BD patients expressed higher levels of testosterone, estradiol, progesterone, and CRP (P < 0.001) and lower adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) level (P < 0.001) during manic episode. The episode-specific changes of testosterone, ACTH, and CRP levels remained between the two groups (P < 0.001) after correction for the confounding factors including age, sex, BMI, occupation, marital status, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, psychotic symptoms, and age at onset. Furthermore, we found a sex- and age-specific impact of combined biomarkers in mood episodes in male BD patients aged ≥ 45 years (AUC = 0.70, 95% CI, 0.634-0.747), not in females.

CONCLUSIONS

While both hormone and inflammatory change is independently associated with mood episodes, we found that the combination of sex hormones, stress hormones and CRP could be more effective to differentiate the manic and depressive episode. The biological signatures of mood episodes in BD patients may be sex- and age-specific. Our findings not only provide mood episode-related biological markers, but also better support for targeted intervention in BD treatments.

A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, duloxetine-controlled, non-inferiority trial of desvenlafaxine succinate extended-release in patients with major depressive disorder

BACKGROUND

Desvenlafaxine and duloxetine are selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. Their efficacy has not been directly compared using statistical hypotheses. This study evaluated the non-inferiority of desvenlafaxine extended-release (XL) to duloxetine in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).

METHODS

In this study, 420 adult patients with moderate-to-severe MDD were enrolled and randomly assigned (1:1) to receive 50 mg (once daily [QD]) of desvenlafaxine XL (n = 212) or 60 mg QD of duloxetine (n = 208). The primary endpoint was evaluated using a non-inferiority comparison based on the change from baseline to 8 weeks in the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD₁₇) total score. Secondary endpoints and safety were evaluated.

RESULTS

Least-squares mean change in HAM-D₁₇ total score from baseline to 8 weeks was -15.3 (95% confidence interval [CI]: -17.73, -12.89) in the desvenlafaxine XL group and - 15.9 (95% CI, -18.44, -13.39) in the duloxetine group. The least-squares mean difference was 0.6 (95% CI: -0.48, 1.69), and the upper boundary of 95% CI was less than the non-inferiority margin (2.2). No significant between-treatment differences were found in most secondary efficacy endpoints. The incidence of the most common treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) was lower for desvenlafaxine XL than for duloxetine for nausea (27.2% versus 48.8%) and dizziness (18.0% versus 28.8%).

LIMITATIONS

A short-term non-inferiority study without a placebo arm.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that desvenlafaxine XL 50 mg QD was non-inferior to duloxetine 60 mg QD in efficacy in patients with MDD. Desvenlafaxine had a lower incidence of TEAEs than duloxetine did.

Implementation effect of China's green finance pilot policy based on synthetic control method: a green innovation perspective

In order to develop green finance and realize the coordinated development of the environment and economy, China established green finance reform and innovation pilot zones in 2017. Green innovation has problems such as low financing utilization rate and lack of market competitiveness. The green finance pilot policies (GFPP) based on government management provide solutions to these problems. It is of great significance to measure and provide feedback on the implementation effect of GFPP in China for policy-making and green development. This article focuses on the influence of the construction of GFPP by using the five pilot zones as the study area and constructs the green innovation level indicator. Based on the synthetic control method, it chooses provinces that do not carry out the pilot policy as a control group. After that, assign weights to the control region to fit a synthetic control group with resembling characteristics to simulate the five pilot provinces without implementing the policy. Then, compare it with its current policy effect and highlight the policy implementation effect on green innovation. The placebo test and robustness test were conducted to prove the reliability of the conclusions. The results show that since the implementation of GFPP, the level of green innovation in the five pilot cities has shown an overall rising trend. Furthermore, we found that the balance of credit and investment in science and technology has a negative moderating effect on the implementation of GFPP, while the per capita GDP has a significant positive moderating effect.

Prognostic Value of Four Preimplantation Malnutrition Estimation Tools in Predicting Heart Failure Hospitalization of the Older Diabetic Patients with Right Ventricular Pacing

OBJECTIVES

The prognostic value of preimplantation nutritional status is not yet known for older diabetic patients that received right ventricular pacing (RVP). The study aimed to investigate the clinical value of the four malnutrition screening tools for the prediction of heart failure hospitalization (HFH) in older diabetic patients that received RVP.

DESIGN

Retrospective observational cohort study.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

This study was conducted between January 2017 and January 2018 at the Fuwai Hospital, Beijing, China, and included older (age ≥ 65 years) diabetic patients that received RVP for the first time Measurements: The Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), Naples Prognostic Score (NPS), and the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score were used to estimate the preimplantation nutritional status of the patients. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were performed to investigate the association between preimplantation malnutrition and HFH.

RESULTS

Overall, 231 older diabetic patients receiving RVP were included. The median follow-up period after RVP was 53 months. HFH was reported for 19.9% of the included patients. Our results showed preimplantation malnutrition for 18.2%, 15.2%, 86.6% and 66.2% of the included patients based on the PNI, GNRI, NPS, and CONUT score, respectively. The cumulative rate of HFH during follow-up period was significantly higher for patients in the preimplantation malnutrition group based on the PNI (log-rank = 13.0, P = 0.001), GNRI (log-rank = 8.5, P = 0.01), and NPS (log-rank = 15.7, P < 0.001) compared to the normal nutrition group, but was not statistically significant for those in the preimplantation malnutrition group based on the CONUT score (log-rank = 2.7, P = 0.3). As continuous variables, all the nutritional indices showed significant correlation with HFH (all P < 0.05). However, multivariate analysis showed that only GNRI was independently associated with HFH (HR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.937-0.997, P = 0.032). As categorical variables, PNI, GNRI, and NPS showed significant correlation with HFH. After adjustment of confounding factors, moderate-to-severe degree of malnutrition was an independent predictor of HFH based on the PNI (HR = 4.66, 95% CI: 1.03-21.00, P = 0.045) and GNRI (HR = 3.02, 95% CI: 1.02-9.00, P = 0.047).

CONCLUSION

Preimplantation malnutrition was highly prevalent in older diabetic patients that received RVP. The malnutrition prediction tools, PNI and GNRI, showed significant prognostic value in accurately predicting HFH in older diabetic patients with RVP.

Discharge readiness after remimazolam versus propofol for colonoscopy: A randomised, double-blind trial

BACKGROUND

Remimazolam is an ultrashort-acting benzodiazepine that is potentially a practical option for procedural sedation in colonoscopy.

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that remimazolam could provide a noninferior discharge time to propofol for ambulatory colonoscopy.

DESIGN

A prospective, randomised, double-blind, noninferiority clinical trial.

SETTING

Ambulatory endoscopy centre.

PATIENTS

A total of 132 adult participants undergoing ambulatory colonoscopy were enrolled.

INTERVENTIONS

Participants were randomly assigned in a 1 : 1 ratio to receive propofol or remimazolam for sedation.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was discharge time after a colonoscopy, assessed using the Modified Postanaesthetic Discharge Scoring System scale. Secondary outcomes included induction time, emergence time, the extent of recovery upon arrival in the postanaethesia care unit, fatigue, endoscopist and patient satisfaction and adverse events.

RESULTS

The median discharge time was 24 min in the remimazolam group versus 21 min in the propofol group, with a difference of 2 min [95% confidence interval (CI), 0 to 4 min], meeting the criteria for noninferiority. Injection pain occurred in 11 of 66 (17%) participants receiving remimazolam versus 32 of 66 (49%) participants receiving propofol ( P  < 0.001); hypotension occurrence was 20% versus 47%, ( P  < 0.001), respectively, and bradycardia 6% versus 20%, ( P  = 0.019), respectively. Compared with propofol, the patient satisfaction score was higher in the remimazolam group ( P  < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

For sedation in ambulatory colonoscopy, compared with propofol, remimazolam provides a noninferior discharge time. Furthermore, remimazolam is associated with less injection pain, lower risks of hypotension and bradycardia, and improved patient satisfaction.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, identifier: ChiCTR2100048678.

The Resolution Rate of Pulmonary Embolism on CT Pulmonary Angiography: a Prospective Study

PURPOSE

To prospectively assess the rate of clot resolution from CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This prospective cohort study included 290 patients (136 men, 154 women; mean age, 51.9 years) with acute PE. All patients had a CTPA at the presentation and had at least one follow-up within 6 months (mean 72.7 days). Sixty-four percent of patients had follow-up scans for research purposes within a pre-determined period (between 28 and 184 days; mean, 78.27 days) and 36 % had (between 2 and 184 days; mean, 62.78 days) for a clinical indication. The volume of each clot was measured using a semi-automated quantification program. The resolution rate was evaluated by interval-censored analysis.

RESULTS

The overall estimated probability of complete resolution was 42 % at 7 days, 56 % at 10 days, and 71 % at 45 days. Achieving complete resolution was significantly faster in patients with peripheral clots (HR: 1.78; CI: 1.05-3.03, p = 0.032) but slower in patients with consolidation and history of venous thromboembolism (VTE), (HR: 0.37; CI: 0.18-0.79, p = 0.01 and HR: 0.57; CI: 0.35-0.91, p = 0.019, respectively). Although the patients with cancer showed a faster resolution rate (HR: 1.67; CI: 1.05-2.68, p = 0.032), the mortality rate was significantly higher than non-cancer patients.

CONCLUSION

The resolution rate of clot burden in acute PE was associated with patients' clinical presentation variables and CTPA imaging biomarkers. This information may be incorporated into designing a prediction rule and determining the appropriate duration of anticoagulation therapy in patients with acute PE.

A machine learning model for predicting patients with major depressive disorder: A study based on transcriptomic data

Background

Identifying new biomarkers of major depressive disorder (MDD) would be of great significance for its early diagnosis and treatment. Herein, we constructed a diagnostic model of MDD using machine learning methods.

Methods

The GSE98793 and GSE19738 datasets were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, and the limma R package was used to analyze differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in MDD patients. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed to identify potential molecular functions and pathways. A protein-protein interaction network (PPI) was constructed, and hub genes were predicted. Random forest (RF) and artificial neural network (ANN) machine-learning algorithms were used to select variables and construct a robust diagnostic model.

Results

A total of 721 DEGs were identified in peripheral blood samples of patients with MDD. GO and KEGG analyses revealed that the DEGs were mainly enriched in cytokines, defense responses to viruses, responses to biotic stimuli, immune effector processes, responses to external biotic stimuli, and immune systems. A PPI network was constructed, and CytoHubba plugins were used to screen hub genes. Furthermore, a robust diagnostic model was established using a RF and ANN algorithm with an area under the curve of 0.757 for the training model and 0.685 for the test cohort.

Conclusion

We analyzed potential driver genes in patients with MDD and built a potential diagnostic model as an adjunct tool to assist psychiatrists in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of MDD.

[The assistant effects of porcine fibrin sealant in improving stone clearance rate in flexible ureteroscopy lithotripsy in ex vivo porcine kidney model]

Objectives: To investigate the feasibility of using a porcine fibrin sealant to wrap and remove kidney calculi fragments through an isolated porcine kidney model. Methods: In the isolated porcine kidney stone model (implanted with 100 mg, air dried, ≤1 mm human stone fragments, n=6;implanted with 100 mg, air dried, ≤3 mm human stone fragments, n=6), the ureteral soft mirror combined with the 12/14Fr UAS was used to test the effect of stone extraction using only two stone extraction methods: basket extraction (control group, ≤1 mm stone fragments, n=3; ≤3 mm stone fragments, n=3) and basket-sealant extraction (test group, ≤1 mm stone fragments, n=3; ≤3 mm stone fragments, n=3). Compare the stone removal rate and operation time of the two stone retrieval methods. The sealant was put into urine of normal human and observed. Results: Porcine Fibrin Sealant can form a gel in saline and urine and adhere and wrap stone fragments. The time of procedures of test (basket-sealant) and control (basket) group in kidneys implanted with ≤ 1 mm stone fragments were (14.0±4.2) and (29.0±0.7)min (P<0.05) stone clearance rates were (90.9±1.4)% and (48.4±15.7)% (P<0.05), respectively. In kidneys implanted with ≤ 3 mm fragments, time of procedures were (12.8±4.0) and (30.0±0)min (P<0.05) Stone clearance rates were (91.1±5.0)% and (20.7±8.0)% (P<0.05). The Sealant dissolves by itself in normal human urine and normal saline at 37 ℃ for 24 hours. Conclusion: The appropriate concentration of Porcine Fibrin Sealant assisted stone retrieval may become a new method for removing small stone fragments in retrograde intrarenal surgery.

Characterization of the source(s) of lipocalin-2 mediating dietary obesity-induced hypertension

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): This work was supported by the grants from the General Research Funds (17117017 and 17121714) and Collaborative Research Funds (C7037-17W) of Research Grant Council, the Areas of Excellence Scheme (AoE/M-707/18) of University Grants Committee

Title: Characterization of the source(s) of lipocalin-2 mediating dietary obesity-induced hypertension.

Introduction

Obesity upregulates lipocalin-2 (Lcn2), a pro-inflammatory adipokine, which in turn induces vascular and metabolic abnormalities. In mice, deletion of the Lcn2 alleles has protective effects against obesity-induced vascular and metabolic dysfunctions.

Purpose

The present study investigated the sources of lipocalin-2 production as a mediator of dietary obesity-associated perivascular adipose tissue dysfunction and hypertension.

Methods

The wild type (WT) littermates or mice with whole body knockout (LKO), adipose tissue (Adn-Cre)-, kidney (Wt1-Cre)-, liver (Alb-Cre)-, and granuloid cells (Lys-Cre)-selective deletion of the Lcn2 alleles were implanted with radio-telemetry transmitters at eight-weeks of age. Blood pressure was recorded at least four 12/12 light-dark cycles every four weeks for mice fed either standard chow (STC) or high fat diet (HFD). Wire myography was performed to evaluate the functional properties of mesenteric arteries, in the presence or absence of surrounding perivascular adipose tissues. Quantitative PCR, Western blotting as well as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were also performed to measure Lcn2 expression in tissues and blood respectively.

Results

Compared to STC, HFD feeding increased systolic, diastolic, mean arterial and pulse pressure in WT mice. The amount of Lcn2 expressed in perivascular adipose tissues and present in blood were also higher in HFD-fed WT mice when compared to those fed with STC. Whole body deletion of Lcn2 alleles attenuated HFD- induced increase in blood pressure. Liver-selective deletion of Lcn2 alleles abolished the effect of HFD feeding on blood pressure, decreased Lcn2 expression in perivascular adipose tissues, and the concentration of Lcn2 in blood. Both whole body- and liver-specific deletion of Lcn2 alleles enhanced the anti-contractile activity of perivascular adipose tissues and abolished HFD-induced adipose tissue dysfunction. However, deletion of Lcn2 alleles selectively in adipose tissues, but not Wt1-Cre and Lys-Cre, partially mitigated the effects of HFD on perivascular adipose tissue function and blood pressure regulation.

Conclusion

Lcn2 derived from different tissues are distinctively implicated in dietary obesity-induced perivascular adipose tissue dysfunction and hypertension.

Efficacy of systemic lidocaine in postoperative delirium in elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery: study protocol for a multicentre, prospective, double-blind, randomised, parallel-group, superiority, placebo-controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Systemic lidocaine may reduce pain intensity and accelerate postoperative recovery. However, the efficacy of systemic lidocaine in cognitive function has not been established. This study protocol is designed to clarify the effectiveness of lidocaine in postoperative delirium (POD) in elderly patients scheduled for elective laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This is a prospective, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial. One thousand and twenty elderly patients will be randomly allocated in a ratio of 1:1 to receive either systemic lidocaine (a bolus of 1.5 mg/kg, followed by an infusion of 1.5 mg/kg/hour until the end of the surgery) or identical volumes and rates of 0.9% saline. The primary outcome measure is the prevalence of POD during the first 5 postoperative days. Secondary outcomes include emergence agitation, the area under the curve of the Numeric Rating Scale pain scores over 48 hours, postoperative 48-hour cumulative opioid consumption, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), recovery of bowel function, quality of recovery, and patient satisfaction with postoperative analgesia.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The Ethical Committee of the Fujian Provincial Hospital approved the study protocol (ref: K2021-06-018). Other participating subcentres must also obtain ethics committee approval before the start of the study. We will obtain written informed consent from each patient before they are randomised. This study will be presented at scientific conferences and submitted to international journals.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ChiCTR2100050314.

Dual Functions of MDP Monomer with De- and Remineralizing Ability

Methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (MDP) has been speculated to induce mineralization, but there has been no convincing evidence of its ability to induce intrafibrillar mineralization. Polymers play a critical role in biomimetic mineralization as stabilizers/inducers of amorphous precursors. Hence, MDP-induced biomimetic mineralization without polymer additives has not been fully verified or elucidated. By combining 3-dimensional stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy, surface zeta potentials, contact angle measurements, inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with circular dichroism, we show that amphiphilic MDP can not only demineralize dentin by releasing protons as an acidic functional monomer but also infiltrate collagen fibrils (including dentin collagen), unwind the triple helical structure by breaking hydrogen bonds, and finally immobilize within collagen. MDP-bound collagen functions as a huge collagenous phosphoprotein (HCPP), in contrast to chemical phosphorylation modifications. HCPP can induce biomimetic mineralization itself without polymer additives by alternatively attracting calcium and phosphate through electrostatic attraction. Therefore, we herein propose the dual functions of amphiphilic MDP monomer with de- and remineralizing ability. MDP in the free state can demineralize dentin substrates by releasing protons, whereas MDP in the collagen-bound state as HCPP can induce intrafibrillar mineralization. The dual functions of MDP monomer with de- and remineralization properties might create a new epoch in adhesive dentistry and preventive dentistry.

69 Hot Saline Irrigation for Haemostasis in Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Aim

The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of existing evidence on the role of hot saline irrigation (HSI) in patients undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) and its impact on the visibility of the surgical field (VSF).

Method

A search of PubMed, Cochrane, Ovid (including Embase, Medline and Allied and Complementary Medicine Database) databases as well as Google Scholar was performed.

Results

Three randomised control trials (RCT) were included. All three were pooled into meta-analysis which demonstrated a statistically significant better VSF (MD -0.51; 95% CI -0.84, -0.18; P = 0.003), a reduction in total blood loss (TBL) (MD -56.40ml; 95% CI -57.30. -55.51; P = &lt;0.0001) and a reduction in operating time (OT) (MD -7.01mins; 95% CI 9.02mins; 95% CI -11.76, -6.28; P = &lt;0.0001) during FESS in the HSI group compared with the room temperature irrigation control group. Further subgroup analysis of studies that did not use topical vasoconstrictors showed a significant reduction in TBL and OT. There were no reported adverse events related to HSI.

Conclusions

This is the first systematic review that addresses HSI for haemostasis in FESS. The results suggest that HSI in FESS for chronic rhinosinusitis may significantly improve VSF, reduce TBL by 20% and decrease OT by 9 minutes. HSI is cheap and a readily available intervention with a low risk of morbidity and adverse events. However, there are limitations of the study due to significant heterogeneity of methods, quality, and size of the studies.

The heterogeneous time and income effects in Kuznets curves of municipal solid waste generation: comparing developed and developing economies

In rapidly developing countries, it is imperative to study the changes in municipal solid waste (MSW) generation for planning waste management and treatment. This study took the largest 11 economies in the world as cases, comprising half of the global population, analyzed the variations of definition of MSW among these economies. Based on the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis and using parametric model, Feasible General Least Squares (FGLS) regression, and nonparametric models, Generalized Additive Mixed Models (GAMMs), it was expected that the change features and its socioeconomic drivers of total MSW generation and per capita MSW (PCMSW) since the 1960s would be determined. Efforts were also made to find the turning/stabilizing point in the relationship between PCMSW and per capita gross domestic product (PCGDP) in each economy. It shows that population has the most important impact on total MSW, however, the economic indicators might be ignored. The United States and Germany have the highest PCMSW generation, while China and India indicate the lowest. The turning/stabilizing point in the relationship between PCMSW and PCGDP perfermed in most developed economies, Singapore and Korea reached the turning point around 1990, while for other developed economies it was 2000. Germany came to a stabilizing point in 1990, and with some arbitrary, so did the United States. The developing economies seem to be still in their early stage of the potential EKC. In developed economies, heterogeneous time effects on PCMSW seem to be more significant than heterogeneous income effects, which is contrary to developing economies.

Atovaquone at clinically relevant concentration overcomes chemoresistance in ovarian cancer via inhibiting mitochondrial respiration

The poor outcomes in ovarian cancer necessitate new treatments. Strategies to interfere with oxidative phosphorylation have been recently highlighted for the treatment of ovarian tumors. Atovaquone, an approved antimicrobial drug, has demonstrated anti-cancer potential and ability in disrupting mitochondrial function. Here, we investigated the efficacy of atovaquone as single drug and its combination with cisplatin in ovarian cancer. We show that atovaquone at clinically achievable concentrations is active against ovarian cancer bulky and stem-cell like cells via inhibiting growth and colony formation, and inducing caspase-dependent apoptosis. In contrast, atovaquone either does not or inhibits normal cells in a less extent than in ovarian cancer cells. Mechanism studies using multiple independent approaches demonstrate that atovaquone acts on ovarian cancer cells via decreasing mitochondrial complex III which results in mitochondrial respiration inhibition, energy reduction and oxidative stress. In line with in vitro findings, atovaquone alone at non-toxic dose is effective in inhibiting ovarian cancer growth in vivo, and its combination with cisplatin is synergistic. Our study suggests that atovaquone is a promising candidate to the treatment of ovarian cancer. Our work also supports the notion that mitochondrial respiration is a therapeutic target in ovarian cancer.

Abnormalities of intrinsic brain activity in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): A protocol for systematic review and meta analysis of resting-state functional imaging

BACKGROUND

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders affecting up to 11.5% of the general global population. The brain-gut axis has been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis of IBS. Several studies confirmed that intrinsic brain abnormalities existed in patients with IBS. But, studies of abnormal regional homogeneity (ReHo) in IBS have reported inconsistent results. The objective of this protocol is to conduct a meta-analysis using the Seed-based d mapping software package to identify the most consistent and replicable findings of ReHo in IBS patients.

METHOD

We will search the following three electronic databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science. The primary outcome will include the peak coordinates and effect sizes of differences in ReHo between patients with IBS and healthy controls from each dataset. The secondary outcomes will be the effects of age, illness severity, illness duration, and scanner field strength. The SDM approach was used to conduct voxel-wise meta-analysis. Whole-brain voxel-based jackknife sensitivity analysis was performed to conduct jackknife sensitivity analysis. A random effects model with Q statistics is used to conduct heterogeneity and publication bias between studies and meta-regression analyses were carried out to examine the effects of age, illness severity, illness duration, and scanner field strength.

RESULTS

The results of this paper will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication.

CONCLUSION

This research will determine the consistent pattern of alterations in ReHo in IBS patients.

Long-term Clinical Performance of Composite Resin or Ceramic Inlays, Onlays, and Overlays: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Composite resin or ceramic inlays, onlays, and overlays can achieve high long-term survival and success rates.

SUMMARY

Sirt1 suppresses MCP-1 production during the intervertebral disc degeneration by inactivating AP-1 subunits c-Fos/c-Jun

OBJECTIVE

The anti-inflammatory effect of Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) during intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) has been widely confirmed. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) activation is the initiating inflammatory response associated with the IDD. However, whether Sirt1 suppresses MCP-1 in the intervertebral disc is unclear.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The MCP-1 and Sirt1 protein expression in the degenerated and non-degenerated NP tissues were compared by immunohistochemistry (IHC). We induced nucleus pulposus (NP) cell degeneration by IL-1β and mediated cellular Sirt1 expression through the Sirt1 activator resveratrol (Res) or inhibitor Nicotinamide (Nico). In addition, the inhibitors of MCP-1 and Activator protein 1 (AP-1) were also used in cell culture. The function of NP cells was determined by the type II collagen and Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. We assessed the Sirt1 and MCP-1 expression by the Reverse Transcription-quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR). The AP-1 activity was valued by the phosphorylation of its components c-Fos, and c-Jun.

RESULTS

Both in vivo and in vitro experimental results indicated that MCP-1 was upregulated in the degenerated condition, which was opposite to Sirt1 expression. Res suppressed AP-1, the phosphorylation of c-Fos/c-Jun, and the MCP-1 expression. On the contrary, Sirt1 downregulation by Nico aggravated the phosphorylation of c-Fos/c-Jun and MCP-1 expression. However, the MCP-1 suppression did not affect the Sirt1 and AP-1 levels. The destruction of AP-1 activation also inhibited MCP-1 expression but not Sirt1. The upregulation of Sirt1 and suppression of MCP-1 improved the type II collagen expression and cell viability, which was injured by IL-1β.

CONCLUSIONS

Sirt1 suppresses the MCP-1 production in the degenerated NP cells by suppressing the phosphorylation of the AP-1 subunits c-Fos and c-Jun.

Interactions between dietary fiber and ferulic acid change the aggregation of glutenin, gliadin and glutenin macropolymer in wheat flour system

BACKGROUND

Glutenin macropolymer (GMP), glutenin and gliadin proteins are important indicators of the baking quality of dough. This study investigated the impacts of wheat bran and a mixture of ferulic acid (FA) and dietary fiber (DF) on the constitution of gluten proteins. Addition of wheat bran (100 and 150 g kg^-1 ) into gluten decreased the gliadin/glutenin ratio, while the addition of different amounts of FA + DF (C1 group: 20 g kg^-1 FA and 60 g kg^-1 DF; C2 group: 30 g kg^-1 FA and 90 g kg^-1 DF) had the opposite effect.

RESULTS

The GMP contents of wheat bran groups (B1 group: 100 g kg^-1 ; B2 group: 150 g kg^-1 ) were similar to that of the control group, and disulfide bond contents were increased. However, both GMP and disulfide bond contents of FA + DF groups significantly decreased. The GMP gel properties and microstructures were destroyed after addition of wheat bran and FA + DF. The wheat bran and FA + DF additives induced different effects on the thermal properties and secondary structures of glutenin, gliadin and GMP.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that the interaction mechanism of bran fractions and gluten proteins is not only related to the physicochemical properties of the additives, but also to interactions between the additives and the components of gluten protein. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

MiRNA-206 suppresses the metastasis of osteosarcoma via targeting Notch3

To investigate the role of microRNA-206 (miRNA-206) in the malignant progression of osteosarcoma and the underlying mechanism, expression pattern of miRNA-206 in osteosarcoma tissues and cell lines was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Correlation between miRNA-206 level and prognosis of osteosarcoma patients was analyzed. Regulatory effects of miRNA-206 on the proliferation and metastasis of U2OS and MG63 cells were evaluated by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), Transwell and wound healing assay. Through dual-luciferase reporter gene assay, the target gene of miRNA-206 was verified. A series of rescue experiments were conducted to explore the role of miRNA-206/Notch3 in regulating the malignant progression of osteosarcoma. MiRNA-206 was downregulated in osteosarcoma tissues and cell lines, and its level was correlated to poor prognosis and distant metastasis of osteosarcoma patients. Overexpression of miRNA-206 attenuated the proliferative and metastatic abilities of osteosarcoma cells, and miRNA-206 knockdown obtained the opposite trends. Notch3 was verified to be the target gene of miRNA-206, which was upregulated in osteosarcoma and accelerated osteosarcoma cells to proliferate and metastasize. Finally, rescue experiments showed that Notch3 overexpression partially reversed the regulatory effects of miRNA-206 on cellular behaviors of osteosarcoma cells. MiRNA-206 is downregulated in osteosarcoma. Overexpression of miRNA-206 accelerates osteosarcoma cells to proliferate and metastasize by targeting Notch3, thus accelerating the malignant progression of osteosarcoma.

Modeling Water Quality in Watersheds: From Here to the Next Generation

In this synthesis, we assess present research and anticipate future development needs in modeling water quality in watersheds. We first discuss areas of potential improvement in the representation of freshwater systems pertaining to water quality, including representation of environmental interfaces, in-stream water quality and process interactions, soil health and land management, and (peri-)urban areas. In addition, we provide insights into the contemporary challenges in the practices of watershed water quality modeling, including quality control of monitoring data, model parameterization and calibration, uncertainty management, scale mismatches, and provisioning of modeling tools. Finally, we make three recommendations to provide a path forward for improving watershed water quality modeling science, infrastructure, and practices. These include building stronger collaborations between experimentalists and modelers, bridging gaps between modelers and stakeholders, and cultivating and applying procedural knowledge to better govern and support water quality modeling processes within organizations.

LncRNA CASC15 promotes migration and invasion in prostate cancer via targeting miR-200a-3p

OBJECTIVE

Prostate cancer (PC) is one of the most ordinary malignant cancers. Recent researches have proved that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) act as an important role in cancers. Our study aims to explore the function of lncRNA CASC15 in the tumor metastasis of PC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Real Time-quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) was utilized to detect CASC15 expression in 50 PC patients. Besides, the wound healing assay and transwell assay were performed to identify the biological behavior changes of PC cells after CASC15 was silenced in PC cells. In addition, the potential mechanism was also explored using the luciferase assay.

RESULTS

CASC15 expression level was significantly higher in PC tissues and cell lines. Results of wound healing assay and transwell assay revealed that cell migrated ability and invaded ability were suppressed via silence of CASC15 in PC cells. Furthermore, the expression of miR-200a-3p was upregulated via silence of CASC15 in PC cells. Luciferase assay showed that miR-200a-3p was a direct target of CASC15 in PC. In addition, miR-200a-3p expression was negatively correlated with CASC15 expression in PC tissues. Rescue experiments also revealed that the inhibition of PC migration and invasion by silence of CASC15 could be reversed through knockdown of miR-200a-3p.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study uncovers that CASC15 could enhance cell migration and invasion of PC cells by sponging miR-200a-3p, which might be applied as a novel therapeutic target for PC patients.

LncRNA CASC15 promotes migration and invasion in prostate cancer via targeting miR-200a-3p

Since this article has been suspected of research misconduct and the corresponding authors did not respond to our request to prove originality of data and figures, "LncRNA CASC15 promotes migration and invasion in prostate cancer via targeting miR-200a-3p, by C. Zhang, G.-X. Wang, B. Fu, X.-C. Zhou, Y. Li, Y.-Y. Li, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2019; 23 (19): 8303-8309-DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_201910_19141-PMID: 31646560" has been withdrawn. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. https://www.europeanreview.org/article/19141.

Increasing frequency and severity of odontogenic infection requiring hospital admission and surgical management

Odontogenic infections can become life-threatening if not managed in a timely manner, and they increase the physical cost of treatment to the patient and the financial cost to the public health system. We investigated the number of admissions to a Queensland tertiary hospital within a decade, and differences in the patients' characteristics, severity at presentation, and clinical outcomes. We compared patients with odontogenic infections who were taken to theatre at the Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital (RBWH) between January 2003 and December 2004 with those treated between January 2013 and December 2014, a total of 292. Data on demographics, presentation, previous history, antimicrobial treatment, and admissions, were collated and analysed. There were no significant differences in demographics. In the 2013/2014 group there was a two-fold increase in infections related to lower third molars (p=0.001), a 50% increase in trismus (p=0.001), and a 20% increase in submandibular swelling (p=0.010). The percentage of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) was three and a half times higher in the 2013/2014 group (p=0.001). The presentation of odontogenic infections has increased in the decade from 2003/2004 to 2013/2014. Measures of the severity of disease have increased, while the basic characteristics of the patients have remained constant. Improved primary preventative measures and early interventions are therefore needed to alleviate the burden that these infections place on the public health system.

Driving forces of impervious surface in a world metropolitan area, Shanghai: threshold and scale effect

Shanghai is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world, during the rapid urbanization of the past decades, impervious surface expanded dramatically and became a main factor influencing surface water quality. Thus, exploring the driving forces of impervious surface has great implications in such metropolitan area. In this study, an impervious surface coefficient method (ISC) was used to measure the percentage of total impervious area (PTIA) of Shanghai; regression analysis was conducted to define the relationship between PTIA and three socio-economic factors, population density, unit area gross domestic product, and unit area industrial output at the city and district scale. Results showed that the industrial land use generated the highest ISC value, followed by high-density residential. Strong correlations were showed between PTIA and socio-economic indicators, in which population density was the most significant. Threshold effect was presented that when population density was higher than 15000 per/km², this relationship would become less significant and PTIA remained stable. Similar effects were found when unit area gross domestic product exceeded 125 million yuan/km². Scale effect was also discussed that the relationship was more significant at city scale than district. An improved understanding of the threshold effect and scale effect will help guide future urban planning and design new urban ecosystem policies.

Oral cancer-associated tertiary lymphoid structures: gene expression profile and prognostic value

Tertiary lymphoid structure (TLS) provides a local and critical microenvironment for both cellular and humoral immunity and supports effective antigen presentation and lymphocyte activation. However, the gene expression profile and prognostic significance of TLS in oral cancer remain largely unrevealed. In this study, we found the presence of both intratumoral and peritumoral TLSs in a series of 65 patients with oral cancer treated by surgical resection, with positive detection rates of 33.8 and 75.4%, respectively. The presence of intratumoral TLSs, but not peritumoral TLSs, was significantly associated with decreased P53 and Ki67 scores (P = 0·027 and 0·047, respectively). The survival analyses revealed that oral cancer patients with higher grades of TLSs was associated with improved disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) (P = 0·037 and 0·031, respectively). Gene expression profiling analysis of the cytokines and chemokines responsible for lymph-node neogenesis identified a three-up-regulated-gene set, i.e. IL7, LTB and CXCL13, which was shown to be correlated with human oral cancer-associated TLSs. This study provides a framework for better understanding of oral cancer-associated TLSs and for delineating future innovative prognostic biomarkers and immune therapeutic strategies for oral cancer.

Material inter-recycling for advanced nitrogen and residual COD removal from bio-treated coking wastewater through autotrophic denitrification

For wastewaters containing high strength sulfide and nitrogen (e.g. coking wastewater), sulfide might be precipitated and recovered using ferrous salt. This study systematically investigated the feasibility of recovered and precipitated FeS (comparing to commercial FeS minerals) to support autotrophic denitrification for advance nitrogen removal from bio-treated coking wastewater in fluidized bed reactors. The reactor with precipitated FeS could achieve simultaneous removal of NO₃^--N and inert COD with high efficiencies of around 96.3% and 30.5%, at NO₃^--N and COD loading rates of 4.18 mg·L^-1·h^-1 and 8.06 mg·L^-1·h^-1, respectively. Whereas, the performance of commercial FeS reduced gradually and irreversibly after two days, which became completely ineffective after 40 days. Thiobacillus and Rhodanobacter dominated the biomass, which played a key role in the FeS-based denitrification process. This material inter-recycling concept benefits an advance and more sustainable treatment of wastewaters with high strength sulfide and nitrogen.

Three decades of inequality in neonatal and early childhood mortality in singleton births in Scotland

Background

Socioeconomic inequality in child mortality highlights opportunities for policies to reduce child deaths.

Methods

We used singleton birth, death and maternity records from Scotland, 1981-2011, to examine mortality rate differences by age across deprivation quintiles over time. We measured the difference between the most and least deprived quintiles (Q5-Q1) and the slope index of inequality (SII) across all quintiles-measures of the absolute deprivation gap, providing an indication of the public health impact.

Results

Q5-Q1 remained relatively constant from 1990 onwards for early neonates, widened in the mid-2000s for late neonates, increased in the 1990 s then decreased in the 2000 s in the post-neonates and declined over time in early childhood. The trend over time in SII showed no significant change for early neonates (P = 0.440), significant decrease for post-neonates (P = 0.010) and early childhood (P = 0.043), and significant increase for late neonates (P = 0.011).

Conclusions

Over three decades, the absolute deprivation gap in mortality widened in late neonates but stabilized or declined at other ages. This may reflect improved survival beyond the early neonatal period of babies with conditions related to socioeconomic inequality such as prematurity. Monitoring birth cohort data could enhance understanding of this vulnerable group.

Serum Stem Cell Factor Level Predicts Decline in Kidney Function in Healthy Aging Adults

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Stem cell factor (SCF), the ligand of the c-kit receptor, actively participates in the organ reconstruction and fibrosis associated with various diseases, including kidney disease. However, it remains unclear whether SCF plays a role in kidney aging.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, AND MEASUREMENTS

In the present study, we measured the serum SCF level, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and other biological parameters in a Chinese Han group of 892 subjects, and explored the relationship between SCF level and renal function during aging; we sought to define novel biomarkers of kidney aging.

RESULTS

Multiple linear regression was used to select potential indicators of decline in renal function. Only age, SCF level, and 25% maximum expiratory flow (25% MEF) were significant predictors after redundancy analysis (|r| > 0.70 and P < 0.05). Multiple linear regression showed that the relationship among eGFR, SCF level, and age could be described as follows: eGFR = 154.486 - (0.846 × age) - (0.011 × SCF level).

CONCLUSIONS

We found no between-gender difference in the effect of SCF on kidney aging. In conclusion, the SCF level is an ideal biomarker of renal aging and may help to predict changes in eGFR during aging.

Simultaneous removal of thiocyanate and nitrogen from wastewater by autotrophic denitritation process

Pollutants containing sulfur as electron donors will play an important role in the energy-saving denitritation process when organic carbon source was insufficient in wastewater. However, thiocyanate (SCN^-), a hazardous pollutant, has not been characterized in denitritation. In this study, the effects of key environmental factors on removal of thiocyanate and nitrogen were investigated in denitritation. The results showed that the maximum removal efficiency of nitrogen was observed in complete removal of thiocyanate and nitrite. The elemental sulfur was observed prior to complete depletion of thiocyanate. The efficiency of denitritation was promoted by NaHCO₃ and weakly-alkaline environment. In the sludge containing dominant Thiobacillus genus, nitrite was reduced in the conversion of thiocyanate into elemental sulfur and further into sulfate. The stoichiometric ratio of NO₂^--N to SCN^--N was close to 2.0 when thiocyanate was converted completely into sulfate, which verified complete removal of thiocyanate and nitrite at the NO₂^--N/SCN^--N ratio of 2.0.

Identification of circular RNAs hsa_circ_0044235 in peripheral blood as novel biomarkers for rheumatoid arthritis

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a new class of RNAs that can be used as biomarkers in clinical blood samples. However, little is known about circRNAs' diagnostic values for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, the hsa_circ_0054189, hsa_circ_0008675, hsa_circ_0082689, hsa_circ_0082688, hsa_circ_0010932, hsa_circ_0002473 and hsa_circ_0044235 in peripheral blood were determined by quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (qRT–PCR). For hsa_circ_0044235, only one abnormal expression circRNAs in peripheral blood was selected as a targeted circRNA to explore the diagnostic value for RA. Our work demonstrated that the hsa_circ_0044235 in peripheral blood was decreased significantly in RA patients. The hsa_circ_0044235 in peripheral blood from RA patients did not correlate with C‐reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), rheumatoid factor (RF), anti‐citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) or disease activity score 28 (DAS28). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis suggested that the hsa_circ_0044235 in peripheral blood has significant value in the diagnosis of RA. The risk score based on hsa_circ_0044235 in peripheral blood also distinguished significantly the patients with RA from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study suggests that the hsa_circ_0044235 in peripheral blood may be a potential biomarker of patients with RA.

Emotional working memory in patients with major depressive disorder

Objective

This study was performed to examine the working memory (WM) encoding and retrieval abilities in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and determine whether a mood-congruent memory effect is present.

Methods

The modified Sternberg WM paradigm with positive, negative, and neutral emotional pictures was used to investigate the WM abilities of 26 patients with MDD and 26 healthy controls (HCs).

Results

No significant difference in picture WM was found between the MDD and HC groups; however, the accuracy of picture position WM was significantly lower and the response time was significantly longer in the MDD than HC group, regardless of the picture or position WM. Additionally, in the MDD group, the accuracy of negative picture/position WM was significantly higher than that of positive picture/position WM.

Conclusions

These results suggest that in patients with MDD, spatial WM impairment was more severe than object WM. In addition, these patients’ WM retrieval was impaired, resulting in a decrease in WM retrieval ability, which may be an important cause of the slow thought in patients with MDD. Moreover, patients with depression have a mood-congruent memory effect, which may be an important factor in the occurrence and maintenance of depression.