Cardioprotective potentials of myricetin on doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity based on biochemical and transcriptomic analysis

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a commonly used anthracycline in cancer chemotherapy. The clinical application of DOX is constrained by its cardiotoxicity. Myricetin (MYR) is a natural flavonoid widely present in many plants with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, MYR's beneficial effects and mechanisms in alleviating DOX-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC) remain unknown. C57BL/6 mice were injected with 15 mg/kg of DOX to establish the DIC, and MYR solutions were administrated by gavage to investigate its cardioprotective potentials. Histopathological analysis, physiological indicators assessment, transcriptomics analysis, and RT-qPCR were used to elucidate the potential mechanism of MYR in DIC treatment. MYR reduced cardiac injury produced by DOX, decreased levels of cTnI, AST, LDH, and BNP, and improved myocardial injury and fibrosis. MYR effectively prevented DOX-induced oxidative stress, such as lowered MDA levels and elevated SOD, CAT, and GSH activities. MYR effectively suppressed NLRP3 and ASC gene expression levels to inhibit pyroptosis while regulating Caspase1 and Bax levels to reduce cardiac cell apoptosis. According to the transcriptomic analysis, glucose and fatty acid metabolism were associated with differential gene expression. KEGG pathway analysis revealed differential gene enrichment in PPAR and AMPK pathways, among others. Following validation, MYR was found to alleviate DIC by regulating glycolipid metabolism and AMPK pathway-related genes. Our findings demonstrated that MYR could mitigate DIC by regulating the processes of oxidative stress, apoptosis, and pyroptosis. MYR is critical in improving DOX-induced myocardial energy metabolism abnormalities mediated by the AMPK signaling pathway. In conclusion, MYR holds promise as a therapeutic strategy for DIC.

Biochemical and molecular-level effects of co-exposure to chlorpyrifos and lambda-cyhalothrin on the earthworm (Eisenia fetida)

Farmland soil organisms frequently encounter pesticide mixtures presented in their living environment. However, the underlying toxic mechanisms employed by soil animals to cope with such combined pollution have yet to be explored. This investigation aimed to reveal the changes in cellular and mRNA levels under chlorpyrifos (CPF) and lambda-cyhalothrin (LCT) co-exposures in earthworms (Eisenia fetida). Results exhibited that the combination of CPF and LCT triggered an acute synergistic influence on the animals. Most exposures resulted in significant alterations in the activities of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD), caspase 3, and carboxylesterase (CarE) compared to the basal level. Moreover, when exposed to chemical mixtures, the transcription levels of four genes [heat shock protein 70 (hsp70), gst, sod, and calreticulin (crt)] also displayed more pronounced changes compared with their individual exposures. These changes in determined parameters indicated the occurrence of oxidative stress, cell death, detoxification dysfunction, and endoplasmic reticulum damage after co-exposure to CPF and LCT in E. fetida. The comprehensive examination of mixture toxicities of CPF and LCT at different endpoints would help to understand the overall toxicity they cause to soil invertebrates. The augmented deleterious effect of these pesticides in a mixture suggested that mixture toxicity assessment was necessary for the safety evaluation and application of pesticide mixtures.

Antibiotic resistance gene distribution in Shine Muscat grapes and health risk assessment of streptomycin residues in mice

Antibiotic residues and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in fruits and vegetables pose public health risks via the food chain, attracting increased attention. Antibiotics such as streptomycin, used directly on seedless grapes or introduced into vineyard soil through organic fertilizers. However, extensive data supporting the risk assessment of antibiotic residues and resistance in these produce remains lacking. Utilizing metagenomic sequencing, we characterized Shine Muscat grape antibiotic resistome and mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Abundant MGEs and ARGs were found in grapes, with 174 ARGs on the grape surface and 32 in the fruit. Furthermore, our data indicated that soil is not the primary source of these MGEs and ARGs. Escherichia was identified as an essential carrier and potential transmitter of ARGs. In our previous study, streptomycin residue was identified in grapes. Further short-term exposure experiments in mice revealed no severe physiological or histological damage at several environment-related concentrations. However, with increased exposure, some ARGs levels in mouse gut microbes increased, indicating a potential threat to animal health. Overall, this study provides comprehensive insights into the resistance genome and potential hosts in grapes, supporting the risk assessment of antibiotic resistance in fruits and vegetables.

Therapeutic application and potential mechanism of plant-derived extracellular vesicles in inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND

Plant-derived extracellular vesicles (PDEVs) are membrane vesicles characterized by a phospholipid bilayer as the basic skeleton that is wrapped by various functional components of proteins and nucleic acids. An increasing number of studies have confirmed that PDEVs can be a potential treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and can, to some extent, compensate for the limitations of existing therapies.

AIM OF REVIEW

This review summarizes the recent advances and potential mechanisms underlying PDEVs obtained from different sources to alleviate IBD. In addition, the review discusses the possible applications and challenges of PDEVs, providing a theoretical basis for exploring novel and practical therapeutic strategies for IBD.

KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW

In IBD, the crosstalk mechanism of PDEVs may regulate the intestinal microenvironment homeostasis, especially immune responses, the intestinal barrier, and the gut microbiota. In addition, drug loading enhances the therapeutic potential of PDEVs, particularly regarding improved tissue targeting and stability. In the future, not only immunotherapy based on PDEVs may be an effective treatment for IBD, but also the intestinal barrier and intestinal microbiota will be a new direction for the treatment of IBD.

Carbendazim residue in plant-based foods in China: Consecutive surveys from 2011 to 2020

Carbendazim, a widely used fungicide in China, has been found to have reproductive toxicity and mutagenic effects. However, information on the spatial-temporal variations of carbendazim residues in food in China is limited. Here, we investigated the presence of carbendazim in China's plant-based foods from 2011 to 2020, evaluated the spatial-temporal characteristics, and assessed the associated exposure risks in the Chinese diet. The results revealed a high detection frequency of carbendazim in fruits (26.4%) and high concentrations in vegetables (∼110 mg kg-1), indicating widespread misuse of the fungicide. The acute risks of consuming certain vegetables and cereals exceeded the recommended limits by up to 12 and 5 times, respectively. Although there has been a decline in carbendazim residue levels in food since the implementation of the Chinese government's action plan for zero growth of pesticide use in 2015, some provinces still exhibited high levels of carbendazim in multiple food categories, which were positively correlated with annual pesticide application. We highlight that carbendazim contamination reflects the broader issue of pesticide use in China. It emphasizes the need for committed and targeted national policies to reduce carbendazim residues in food and suggests that such measures could also regulate the use of other pesticides, given that pesticide abuse in China is not limited to specific types. We call for the re-evaluation of maximum residue limits of carbendazim, particularly in highly consumed foods such as cereals.

Correlation study between bone metabolic markers, bone mineral density, and sarcopenia

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the correlation between bone metabolism markers, bone mineral density (BMD), and sarcopenia.

METHODS

A total of 331 consecutive patients aged ≥ 60 years who were hospitalized between November 2020 and December 2021 were enrolled. Participants were divided into sarcopenia and non-sarcopenia groups according to the Asian Working Group on Sarcopenia criteria (AWGS, 2019). The clinical data, bone metabolism markers (β-CTX, N-MID, and TP1NP), and BMD were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

Age, β-CTX, and N-MID of the sarcopenia group were higher than those of the non-sarcopenia group (P < 0.05), but the BMD T values were lower than those of the non-sarcopenia group (P < 0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that increased femoral neck BMD (FNBMD) was a protective factor for sarcopenia, while increased β-CTX was a risk factor. Pearson/Spearman correlation analysis showed that the diagnostic indices of sarcopenia were positively correlated with FNBMD and negatively correlated with β-CTX and N-MID. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that BMI and FNBMD significantly positively affected muscle strength and appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM). The FNBMD significantly positively affected physical performance, while β-CTX significantly negatively affected muscle strength, ASM, and physical performance.

CONCLUSION

Increased FNBMD may be a protective factor against sarcopenia, and increased β-CTX may be a risk factor. The FNBMD significantly positively affected the diagnostic indices of sarcopenia, while β-CTX significantly negatively affected them. BMD and bone metabolism marker levels may be considered in early screening for sarcopenia.

Using CT imaging features to predict visceral pleural invasion of non-small-cell lung cancer

AIM

To examine the diagnostic performance of different models based on computed tomography (CT) imaging features in differentiating the invasiveness of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with multiple pleural contact types.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 1,573 patients with NSCLC (tumour size ≤3 cm) were included retrospectively. The clinical and pathological data and preoperative imaging features of these patients were investigated and their relationships with visceral pleural invasion (VPI) were compared statistically. Multivariate logistic regression was used to eliminate confounding factors and establish different predictive models.

RESULTS

By univariate analysis and multivariable adjustment, surgical history, tumour marker (TM), number of pleural tags, length of solid contact and obstructive inflammation were identified as independent risk predictors of pleural invasiveness (p=0.014, 0.003, <0.001, <0.001, and 0.017, respectively). In the training group, comparison of the diagnostic efficacy between the combined model including these five independent predictors and the image feature model involving the latter three imaging predictors were as follows: sensitivity of 88.9% versus 77% and specificity of 73.5% versus 84.1%, with AUC of 0.868 (95% CI: 0.848-0.886) versus 0.862 (95% CI: 0.842-0.880; p=0.377). In the validation group, the sensitivity and specificity of these two models were as follow: the combined model, 93.5% and 74.3%, the imaging feature model, 77.4% and 81.3%, and their areas under the curve (AUCs) were both 0.884 (95% CI: 0.842-0.919). The best cut-off value of length of solid contact was 7.5 mm (sensitivity 68.9%, specificity 75.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

The image feature model showed great potential in predicting pleural invasiveness, and had comparable diagnostic efficacy compared with the combined model containing clinical data.

Burnout and turnover intention of primary health care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic in China

OBJECTIVES

This study explored the changes and new characteristics of burnout and turnover intention of primary health care (PHC) providers during the COVID-19 pandemic in China.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a cross-sectional study.

METHODS

This study investigated 1326 PHC providers during the COVID-19 outbreak in 2022 in one district of Shanghai, China. Independent t-test or one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test were used to analyse the between-group variation of variables associated to burnout and turnover intention. Then, hierarchical regression analysis was used to further determine the impact of certain variables on burnout and turnover intention, the relationship of burnout on turnover intention and the possible moderating effect.

RESULTS

The results showed that there was no significant change in the prevalence of overall burnout of PHC providers compared to the pre-epidemic period; however, there was a significant increase in high-level burnout. No significant change in turnover intention at the moderate level and above was observed. During the COVID-19 pandemic, PHC providers who were older, married, local and had a higher skill level had higher burnout, while PHC providers who were male, unmarried, non-local and separated from their family had a higher turnover intention. It was shown that burnout, with its three sub-dimensions, was a good predictor of turnover intention. The impact of burnout on turnover intention was shown to be alleviated by certain variables, including being married, living locally and receiving benefit packages, including the preferential education policy for children and talent incentive policies.

CONCLUSIONS

Results from this study have highlighted the importance of paying attention to vulnerable groups of PHC providers, for example those who are separated from their families, during emergency situations. Various incentive tools could be comprehensively used to ensure the stability and efficiency of PHC human resources.

Discovery and remodeling of Vibrio natriegens as a microbial platform for efficient formic acid biorefinery

Formic acid (FA) has emerged as a promising one-carbon feedstock for biorefinery. However, developing efficient microbial hosts for economically competitive FA utilization remains a grand challenge. Here, we discover that the bacterium Vibrio natriegens has exceptional FA tolerance and metabolic capacity natively. This bacterium is remodeled by rewiring the serine cycle and the TCA cycle, resulting in a non-native closed loop (S-TCA) which as a powerful metabolic sink, in combination with laboratory evolution, enables rapid emergence of synthetic strains with significantly improved FA-utilizing ability. Further introduction of a foreign indigoidine-forming pathway into the synthetic V. natriegens strain leads to the production of 29.0 g · L-1 indigoidine and consumption of 165.3 g · L-1 formate within 72 h, achieving a formate consumption rate of 2.3 g · L-1 · h-1. This work provides an important microbial chassis as well as design rules to develop industrially viable microorganisms for FA biorefinery.

The occurrence of typical psychotropic drugs in the aquatic environments and their potential toxicity to aquatic organisms - A review

Psychotropic drugs (PDs) and their bioactive metabolites often persist in aquatic environments due to their typical physical properties, which made them resistant to removal by traditional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Consequently, such drugs and/or their metabolites are frequently detected in both aquatic environments and organisms. Even at low concentrations, these drugs can exhibit toxic effects on non-target organisms including bony fish (zebrafish (Danio rerio) and fathead minnows) and bivalves (freshwater mussels and clams). This narrative review focuses on the quintessential representatives of three different categories of PDs-antiepileptics, antidepressants, and antipsychotics. The data regarding their concentrations occurring in the environment, patterns of distribution, the degree of enrichment in various tissues of aquatic organisms, and the toxicological effects on them are summarized. The toxicological assessments of these drugs included the evaluation of their effects on the reproductive, embryonic development, oxidative stress-related, neurobehavioral, and genetic functions in various experimental models. However, the mechanisms underlying the toxicity of PDs to aquatic organisms and their potential health risks to humans remain unclear. Most studies have focused on the effects caused by acute short-term exposure due to limitations in the experimental conditions, thus making it necessary to investigate the chronic toxic effects at concentrations that are in coherence with those occurring in the environment. Additionally, this review aims to raise awareness and stimulate further research efforts by highlighting the gaps in the understanding of the mechanisms behind PD-induced toxicity and potential health risks. Ultimately, the study underscores the importance of developing advanced remediation methods for the removal of PDs in WWTPs and encourages a broader discussion on mitigating their environmental impacts.

Nano- and micro-polystyrene plastics interfered the gut barrier function mediated by exosomal miRNAs in rats

Microplastics (MPs) are widely distributed in the global environment, entering and accumulating in organisms in various ways and posing health threats. MPs can damage intestine; however, the mechanism by which MPs cause intestinal damage in rats is unclear. Here, rats were exposed to 50 nm PS-NPs or 5 μm PS-MPs for 4 weeks to evaluate the possible effects on intestinal barrier function and exosomal miRNAs expressions. The results showed that PS-NPs or PS-MPs disrupted the gut microbiota and affected gut barrier function at the biological level. In addition, PS-NPs and PS-MPs altered the composition of exosomal miRNAs in the intestinal and serum. Both PS-NPs and PS-MPs decreased the expression of miR-126a-3p in the intestinal and serum exosomes, which is an important signalling molecule involved in MPs induced gut barrier function disorder. More importantly, both in vitro and in vivo experiments indicated that miR-126a-3p was closely related to oxidative damage of intestinal cells through the PI3K-Akt pathway and eventually promote cell apoptosis by regulating the target gene of PIK3R2. Our study suggested that PS-NPs and PS-MPs could affect rat intestinal barrier function through an exosomal miRNA mediated pathway.

The Dissipation Behavior and Risk Assessment of Carbendazim Under Individual and Joint Applications on Peach (Amygdalus persica L.)

Dissipation, residue levels, and ingestion risks of carbendazim in peach (Amygdalus persica L.) were investigated with individual and joint applications in the present study. The dissipation kinetics of carbendazim, chlorpyrifos, prochloraz, and imidacloprid were evaluated by the first-order kinetics. When carbendazim was individually applied, the final residual concentration was 2.97 mg kg-1 and the half-life was 17.4 d. In the joint application of carbendazim with chlorpyrifos, prochloraz, and imidacloprid, the residual concentrations at 35 d after spraying were 7.16, 7.50, and 4.26 mg kg-1 and the half-lives were 30.8, 23.7, and 23.2 d, respectively, which showed an increase of 1.3-1.8 times compared with the single application of carbendazim. In addition, the effects of household processing of rinsing and peeling were investigated, and a high removal rate of 54.6% and 76.5% were found. Furthermore, the carbendazim ingestion risk assessment was conducted, which indicated that the acute health risk (aHI) and hazard quotient (HQ) of carbendazim were all within acceptable levels ranging from 21.7% to 40.9%. However, a higher ingestion risk of carbendazim was found under the joint application. This study provides some preliminary guidance for the joint application and risk assessment of carbendazim in peach, which is worth further investigation.

CREB3L2 Regulates Hemidesmosome Formation during Epithelial Sealing

The long-term success rate of dental implants can be improved by establishing a favorable biological sealing with a high-quality epithelial attachment. The application of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) holds promise for facilitating the soft tissue integration around implants, but the molecular mechanism is still unclear and the general application of MSC sheet for soft tissue integration is also relatively unexplored. We found that gingival tissue-derived MSC (GMSC) sheet treatment significantly promoted the expression of hemidesmosome (HD)-related genes and proteins in gingival epithelial cells (GECs). The formation of HDs played a key role in strengthening peri-implant epithelium (PIE) sealing. Further, high-throughput transcriptome sequencing showed that GMSC sheet significantly upregulated the PI3K/AKT pathway, confirming that cell adhesion and HD expression in GECs were regulated by GMSC sheet. We observed that the expression of transcription factor CREB3L2 in GECs was downregulated. After treatment with PI3K pathway inhibitor LY294002, CREB3L2 messenger RNA and protein expression levels were upregulated. Further experiments showed that overexpression or knockdown of CREB3L2 could significantly inhibit or promote HD-related genes and proteins, respectively. We confirmed that CREB3L2 was a transcription factor downstream of the PI3K/AKT pathway and participated in the formation of HDs regulated by GMSC sheet. Finally, through the establishment of early implant placement model in rats, we clarified the molecular function of CREB3L2 in PIE sealing as a mechanical transmission molecule in GECs. The application of GMSC sheet-implant complex could enhance the formation of HDs at the implant-PIE interface and decrease the penetration distance of horseradish peroxidase between the implant and PIE. Meanwhile, GMSC sheet reduced the length of CREB3L2 protein expression on PIE. These findings elucidate the potential function and molecular mechanism of MSC sheet regulating the epithelial sealing around implants, providing new insights and ideas for the application of stem cell therapy in regenerative medicine.

Prediction of Lymphopenia and Survival with Baseline Absolute Lymphocyte Count and Irradiated Dose to Immune Cells in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

This study aimed to investigate the effect of effective dose to immune cell (EDIC) combined with pre-radiotherapy (RT) absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) on treatment-related lymphopenia during RT and treatment outcome in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A subgroup analysis in patients who received consolidation immunotherapy was also conducted.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Between August 2008 and December 2021, 517 patients with locally advanced NSCLC treated with definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) were retrospectively analyzed. All patients had serial complete-blood-count tests at pre-, and during-CRT. Severe lymphopenia was defined as ALC < 0.5x109cells/L during RT. EDIC was calculated according to mean doses of the lung, heart and the total body. The patients were grouped according to high and low EDIC and pre-RT ALC and was assessed for its correlation with radiation induced lymphopenia and survival outcomes.

RESULTS

Of 517 eligible patients, most of the patients received weekly paclitaxel with carboplatin (90.3%) and 195 patients (37.7%) received consolidation immunotherapy following CRT. A median radiation dose of 63 Gy (IQR, 60-64.5) was delivered in 30 fractions. The optimal cutoff value of EDIC and pre-RT ALC for predicting severe lymphopenia were 2.89 Gy and 2.03x109cells/L, respectively. High risk group was defined as EDIC ≥ 2.89 Gy and pre-RT ALC < 2.03x109cells/L, low risk group as EDIC <2.89 Gy and pre-RT ALC ≥ 2.03x109cells/L, and intermediate group as EDIC ≥ 2.89 Gy and pre-RT ALC ≥ 2.03x109cells/L or EDIC < 2.89 Gy and pre-RT ALC < 2.03x109cells/L. The incidence of severe lymphopenia during RT in high, intermediate, and low risk group was 90.1%, 77.1%, and 52.3%, respectively (p<0.001). The risk groups were independent predictors for both progression-free survival (PFS) (p<0.001) and overall survival (OS) (p<0.001). The high-risk group had higher incidence of locoregional and distant recurrences (p<0.001). In the subset of patients who were treated with consolidation immunotherapy, the risk groups were predictive of severe lymphopenia (p = 0.001), PFS (p = 0.004), and OS (p = 0.012).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that the combination of EDIC and pre-RT ALC is a predictor for severe lymphopenia during RT, recurrence, and survival in patients with locally advanced NSCLC who received CRT. Moreover, the combination of EDIC and pre-RT ALC may serve as a potential biomarker for the benefit of maintenance immunotherapy.

Fluorapatite nanorod arrays with enamel-like bundle structure regulated by iron ions

Pigmented rodent tooth enamel is mainly composed of parallel hydroxyapatite nanorods and a small amount of organic matrix. These hydroxyapatite nanorods tend to be carbonated and contain traces of iron, fluorine, and magnesium. The pigmented rodent tooth enamel which contains trace iron is stronger and more resistant to acid corrosion than unpigmented rodent enamel, which could provide inspiration for the preparation and synthesis of high performance and corrosion resistant artificial materials. However, the regulatory role and mechanical enhancement of iron ions in enamel growth are unclear. Here, we synthesized enamel-like fluorapatite nanorod arrays in vitro using a mineralization technique at room-temperature. To investigate the regulatory effect of iron ions on the fluorapatite nanorod arrays (FAP-Fe), the phosphate solution is slowly transfused dropwise in the calcium ion solution, and different concentrations of iron ions are added to the calcium ion solution in advance. We demonstrated that fluorapatite nanorod arrays (FAP) can be epitaxially grown from amorphous calcium phosphate nanoparticles and iron ions can improve the microstructure of FAP nanorod arrays and obtain the same enamel bundle structure as the natural enamel. Moreover, high concentration of iron ions can inhibit the crystallization of fluorapatite. The FAP-Fe nanorod arrays controlled by 0.02 mM Fe3+ have good mechanical properties. Their hardness is 1.34 ± 0.02 GPa and Young's modulus is 65.3 ± 0.4 GPa, respectively. This work is helpful to understand the role of trace elements in natural enamel in the regulation of enamel formation and to provide a theoretical foundation for the preparation of high strength artificial composites, which can play a greater role in the fields of biological alternative materials, anti-oil coating, oil/water separation, anti-bioadhesion and so on.

Measurements of neutrino oscillation parameters from the T2K experiment using 3.6×1021 protons on target

The T2K experiment presents new measurements of neutrino oscillation parameters using 19.7 ( 16.3 ) × 10 20 protons on target (POT) in (anti-)neutrino mode at the far detector (FD). Compared to the previous analysis, an additional 4.7 × 10 20 POT neutrino data was collected at the FD. Significant improvements were made to the analysis methodology, with the near-detector analysis introducing new selections and using more than double the data. Additionally, this is the first T2K oscillation analysis to use NA61/SHINE data on a replica of the T2K target to tune the neutrino flux model, and the neutrino interaction model was improved to include new nuclear effects and calculations. Frequentist and Bayesian analyses are presented, including results on sin 2 θ 13 and the impact of priors on the δ CP measurement. Both analyses prefer the normal mass ordering and upper octant of sin 2 θ 23 with a nearly maximally CP-violating phase. Assuming the normal ordering and using the constraint on sin 2 θ 13 from reactors, sin 2 θ 23 = 0 . 561 - 0.032 + 0.021 using Feldman-Cousins corrected intervals, and Δ m 32 2 = 2 . 494 - 0.058 + 0.041 × 10 - 3 eV 2 using constant Δ χ 2 intervals. The CP-violating phase is constrained to δ CP = - 1 . 97 - 0.70 + 0.97 using Feldman-Cousins corrected intervals, and δ CP = 0 , π is excluded at more than 90% confidence level. A Jarlskog invariant of zero is excluded at more than 2 σ credible level using a flat prior in δ CP , and just below 2 σ using a flat prior in sin δ CP . When the external constraint on sin 2 θ 13 is removed, sin 2 θ 13 = 28 . 0 - 6.5 + 2.8 × 10 - 3 , in agreement with measurements from reactor experiments. These results are consistent with previous T2K analyses.

[Long term follow-up evaluation of combined surgery for congenital tibial pseudarthrosis in children]

Objective: To explore the long-term effect of combined surgery for the treatment of congenital tibial pseudarthrosis in children. Methods: The clinical data of 44 children with congenital tibial pseudarthrosis who underwent combined surgery (tibial pseudarthrosis tissue resection, intramedullary rod fixation, Ilizarov external fixator fixation, wrapped autologous iliac bone graft) from August 2007 to October 2011 at the Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, Hunan Children's Hospital were collected retrospectively. There were 33 males and 11 females. The age at the time of surgery was (3.7±2.2)years (range:0.6 to 12.4 years), including 25 cases under 3 years old and 19 cases above 3 years old.Among them, 37 cases were complicated with neurofibromatosis type 1.The operation status, postoperative complications and follow-up results were recorded. Results: The follow-up time after surgery was (10.9±0.7)years (range:10 to 11 years).Thirty-nine out of 44 patients (88.6%) achieved initial healing of tibial pseudarthrosis, with an average healing time of (4.3±1.1)months (range:3 to 10months).In the last follow-up, 36 cases (81.8%) had unequal tibial length, 20 cases (45.4%) had refractures, 18 cases (40.9%) had ankle valgus, 9 cases (20.4%) had proximal tibial valgus, and 11 cases (25.0%) had high arched feet.Nine cases (20.4%) developed distal tibial epiphyseal plate bridging.17 cases (38.6%) had abnormal tibial mechanical axis.Seven cases (15.9%) developed needle infection, and one case (2.3%) developed tibial osteomyelitis. 21 patients (47.7%) had excessive growth of the affected femur.Five patients (11.3%) had ankle stiffness, and 34 patients (77.2%) had intramedullary rod displacement that was not in the center of the tibial medullary cavity.Among them, 8 cases (18.1%) protruded the tibial bone cortex and underwent intramedullary rod removal.18 children have reached skeletal maturity, while 26 children have not been followed up until skeletal maturity. Conclusion: Combined surgery for the treatment of congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia in children has a high initial healing rate, but complications such as unequal tibia length, refracture, and ankle valgus occur during long-term follow-up, requiring multiple surgical treatments.

Mutational landscape of SWI/SNF complex genes reveal correlation to predictive biomarkers for immunotherapy sensitivity in lung adenocarcinoma patients

BACKGROUND

The search for prognostic biomarkers indicating sensitivity to immunotherapy in lung adenocarcinoma patients has zeroed in on genes in the switch/sucrose non-fermentable (SWI/SNF) pathway. The mutational profiles of key genes are not clearly defined, however, and no comparisons have been conducted on whether mutations in the genes involved provide the same predictive value.

METHODS

In this study, analysis of clinical factors, tumor mutation burden (TMB), chromosomal instability, and co-alterations was conducted for 4344 lung adenocarcinoma samples. Independent online cohorts (N = 1661 and 576) were used to supplement the analysis with survival and RNA-seq data.

RESULTS

Mutational burden and chromosomal instability analysis showed that ARID family mutations (including ARID1A, ARID1B, or ARID2 mutations) and SMARC family mutations (including SMARCA4 or SMARCB1 mutations) display different profiles from wild-type (WT) samples (TMB: ARID versus WT: P < 2.2 × 10^-16, SMARC versus WT: P < 2.2 × 10^-16; CIN: ARID versus WT: P = 1.8 × 10^-5, SMARC versus WT: P = 0.027). Both mutant groups have a higher proportion of transversions than transitions, whereas the ratio is more equal for wild-type samples. Survival analysis shows that patients with ARID mutations were more sensitive to immunotherapy treatment than wild-type and SMARC-mutated patients (P < 0.001 and P = 0.013, respectively), and multivariate Cox analysis reveals that the presence of ARID mutations is likely the main cause.

CONCLUSIONS

The research presented in this study shows that mutations in the ARID gene family, including ARID1A, ARID1B, and ARID2, are primarily responsible for the sensitive response to immunotherapy treatment in patients with lung adenocarcinoma.

[Application and research progress of autologous soft tissue substitute materials in gingival augmentation of natural teeth]

Subepithelial connective tissue or free gingival grafts are often used in traditional mucogingival surgery to treat gingival recession and keratinized gingival insufficiency. However, due to the disadvantages of autologous soft tissue grafts, such as the preparation of the second surgical site, the limited amount of tissue in the donor site, and postoperative discomfort for patients, the research on autologous soft tissue substitute materials has attracted extensive attention. A variety of donor-substitute materials from different sources are currently used in membranous gingival surgeries, including platelet-rich fibrin, acellular dermal matrix, xenogeneic collagen matrix, etc. This paper reviews the research progress and application of several different types of substitute materials in soft tissue augmentation for natural teeth, providing a reference for the application of autologous soft tissue substitutes in clinical gingival augmentation surgery.

Alloreactivity and autoreactivity converge to support B cell epitope targeting in transplant rejection

Antibody (Ab) responses against human leukocyte antigen (HLA) proteins mismatched between donor and recipient are leading cause of allograft loss in kidney transplantation. However, therapies targeting alloreactive B cell and Ab-secreting cell (ASC) are lacking, motivating the need to understand how to prevent and abrogate these alloresponses. Using molecular, structural, and proteomic techniques, we profiled the B cell response in a kidney transplant recipient with antibody-mediated rejection and graft loss. We found that this response spanned the rejected organ and peripheral blood, stimulated the differentiation of multiple B cell subsets, and produced a high-affinity, donor-specific, anti-HLA response. We found epitopic immunodominance that relied on highly exposed, solvent-accessible mismatched HLA residues as well as structural and biomolecular evidence of autoreactivity against the recipient's self-HLA allele. These alloreactive and autoreactive signatures converged in the recipient's circulating donor-specific Ab repertoire, suggesting that rejection requires both the recognition of non-self and breaches of tolerance to lead to alloinjury and graft loss.

[Optimized pathway to schistosomiasis elimination in China: a scrutiny using a marginal benefit approach]

Following concerted efforts for over 7 decades, great achievements have been gained in the national schistosomiasis control program of China. Currently, China is moving towards the stage of schistosomiasis elimination, when the major task is to make full use of available resources to improve schistosomiasis surveillance and response to sustainably consolidate gained schistosomiasis control achievements and prevent re-emerging schistosomiasis. There is therefore an urgent need for optimization of interventions for schistosomiasis elimination. Based on analysis of socioeconomic features at different stages of the national schistosomiasis control program in China, this review discusses the relationship between the needs of assessment of schistosomiasis elimination interventions and the optimized strategy of schistosomiasis elimination at different stages of the national schistosomiasis control program using a marginal benefit approach and proposes the optimized schistosomiasis elimination strategy that allows the highest marginal benefit with currently available schistosomiasis elimination costs, so as to provide the optimal strategic pathway to schistosomiasis elimination and facilitate the achievement of the targets set in Healthy China 2030.

Antimicrobial and the Resistances in the Environment: Ecological and Health Risks, Influencing Factors, and Mitigation Strategies

Antimicrobial contamination and antimicrobial resistance have become global environmental and health problems. A large number of antimicrobials are used in medical and animal husbandry, leading to the continuous release of residual antimicrobials into the environment. It not only causes ecological harm, but also promotes the occurrence and spread of antimicrobial resistance. The role of environmental factors in antimicrobial contamination and the spread of antimicrobial resistance is often overlooked. There are a large number of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and antimicrobial resistance genes in human beings, which increases the likelihood that pathogenic bacteria acquire resistance, and also adds opportunities for human contact with antimicrobial-resistant pathogens. In this paper, we review the fate of antimicrobials and antimicrobial resistance in the environment, including the occurrence, spread, and impact on ecological and human health. More importantly, this review emphasizes a number of environmental factors that can exacerbate antimicrobial contamination and the spread of antimicrobial resistance. In the future, the timely removal of antimicrobials and antimicrobial resistance genes in the environment will be more effective in alleviating antimicrobial contamination and antimicrobial resistance.

Downregulated FGFR3 Expression Inhibits In Vitro Osteogenic Differentiation of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells of Mice with TBXT Gene Mutation

We studied the effect of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) inhibitor BGJ-398 on the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM MSC) into osteoblasts in wild type (wt) mice and in animals with mutation in TBXT gene (mt) and possible differences in the pluripotency of these cells. Cytology tests showed that the cultured BM MSC could differentiate into osteoblasts and adipocytes. The effect of different BGJ-398 concentrations on the expression of FGFR3, RUNX2, SMAD1, SMAD4, SMAD5, SMAD6, SMAD7, and SMAD8 were studied by quantitative reverse transcription PCR. The expression of RUNX2 protein was evaluated by Western blotting. BM MSC of mt and wt mice did not differ in pluripotency and expressed the same membrane marker antigens. BGJ-398 inhibitor reduced the expression of FGFR3 and RUNX2. In BM MSC from mt and wt mice have similar gene expression (and its changing) in FGFR3, RUNX2, SMAD1, SMAD4, SMAD5, SMAD6, SMAD7, and SMAD8 genes. Thus, our experiments confirmed the effect of decreased expression of FGFR3 on osteogenic differentiation of BM MSC from wt and mt mice. However, BM MSC from mt and wt mice did not differ in pluripotency and are an adequate model for laboratory research.

Oxidative stress mediated immunosuppression caused by ammonia gas via antioxidant/oxidant imbalance in broilers

1. Ammonia is one of major air pollutants in intensive poultry houses, where it causes immunosuppression in broilers. Although previous studies have focused on a particular organ, data on multiple organs have not been reported.2. In the following work, broilers were exposed to environmental ammonia (0, 10, 20, and 40 mg/m³ from 1-21 d old; and 0, 15, 30, and 60 mg/m³ from 22-42 d old).3. Ammonia exposure reduced bird spleen index at 42 d and thymus index at 14, 28, 35 and 42 d, meaning that ammonia caused immunosuppression in birds. Moreover, high ammonia exposure down-regulated the expression of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in lung tissue at 21 d, as well as TLR4 in lung and tracheal mucosa at 42 d when analysed using qRT-PCR. It increased SIgA in saliva at 42 d when analysed by ELISA. Ammonia increased interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1β, interferon-α (IFN-α), and IFN-γ in serum at 28 d from the ELISA assay, which indicated that all of these factors took part in ammonia-immunosuppression in birds.4. Three antioxidants (CAT, SOD, T-AOC) decreased, and one oxidant MDA increased after ammonia exposure in the liver and blood, which indicated that ammonia caused oxidative stress via the imbalance of antioxidants/oxidants in birds.5. Correlation analysis showed that TLR4 and TLR15 in the tracheal mucosa were significantly positively related to IFN-γ and negatively related to IL-6. TLR2 in the lung was significantly positively related to IL-1β, and TLR2 in bird tracheal mucosa was negatively related to IL-6 in serum.6. The results suggested that oxidative stress mediated immunosuppression caused by ammonia gas via antioxidant/oxidant imbalance in broilers.

Joint toxic effects of thiamethoxam and flusilazole on the adult worker honey bees (Apis mellifera L.)

Insect pollinators are routinely exposed to a complex mixture of many pesticides. However, traditional environmental risk assessment is only carried out based on ecotoxicological data of single substances. In this context, we aimed to explore the potential effects when worker honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) were simultaneously challenged by thiamethoxam (TMX) and flusilazole (FSZ). Results displayed that TMX possessed higher toxicity to A. mellifera (96-h LC₅₀ value of 0.11 mg a. i. L^-1) than FSZ (96-h LC₅₀ value of 738 mg a. i. L^-1). Furthermore, the mixture of TMX and FSZ exhibited an acute synergistic impact on the pollinators. Meanwhile, the activities of SOD, caspase 3, caspase 9, and PPO, as well as the expressions of six genes (abaecin, dorsal-2, defensin-2, vtg, caspase-1, and CYP6AS14) associated with oxidative stress, immune response, lifespan, cell apoptosis, and detoxification metabolism were noteworthily varied in the individual and mixture challenges than at the baseline level. These data revealed that it is imminently essential to investigate the combined toxicity of pesticides since the toxicity evaluation from individual compounds toward honey bees may underestimate the toxicity in realistic conditions. Overall, the present results could help understand the potential contribution of pesticide mixtures to the decline of bee populations.

Hybrid Exercise Program Enhances Physical Fitness and Reverses Frailty in Older Adults: Insights and Predictions from Machine Learning

PURPOSE

The declining physical condition of the older adults is a pressing issue. Wu Qin Xi exercise, despite being low-intensity, is highly effective among older adults. Inspired by its characteristics, we designed a new exercise program for frail older adults, combining strength, endurance, and Wu Qin Xi. Furthermore, we employed machine learning to predict whether frailty can be reversed in older adults after the intervention.

METHODS

A total of 181 community-dwelling frail older adults aged 65 years or older participated in this single-center, randomized controlled study, with 54.7% (n=99) being female. The study assessed the effectiveness of several exercise modalities in reversing frailty. The Fried's frailty criterion was used to assess the degree of frailty of the subjects. Participants were assigned a three-digit code 001-163 and randomly assigned (1:1:1) by computer to three different groups based on the study participant number: the Wu Qin Xi group (WQX), the strength exercise mixed with endurance exercise training group (SE), and the WQXSE hybrid exercise group incorporated the above two. Body composition and frailty-related physical fitness factors were measured before and after a 24-week intervention. The measurements included Body height, Body mass, Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT), grip strength assessment (GS), 6min walk test (6 min WT), and 10 m maximum walk speed (10 m MWS). Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA to determine group and time interaction effects and machine learning models were used to predict program effectiveness.

RESULTS

A total of 163 participants completed the study, with 53.9% (n=88) of them being female. The two items, 10 m maximum walking speed (10 m MWS) and grip strength, were significantly affected by the interaction of group and time. Compared to the other two groups, the WQXSE group showed the most improvement in the item 10 m MWS. In addition, following 24 weeks of training, 68 (41.7%) of the initially frail older adults had reversed their frailty status. Among them, 19 (36.5%) were in the WQX group, 24 (44.4%) were in the WQXSE group, and 25 (43.9%) were in the SE group. The stacking model exhibited superior performance when compared to other algorithms.

CONCLUSION

A hybrid exercise regimen comprising the Wu Qin Xi routine and exercises focused on both strength and endurance holds the potential to yield greater improvements in the physical fitness of older adults, as well as reducing frailty. Leveraging a stacking model, it is possible to forecast the likelihood of older adults successfully reversing their frailty status following participation in a prevention exercise program.

Bromuconazole exposure induces cardiotoxicity and lipid transport disorder in larval zebrafish

Bromuconazole (BRO), as one of the typical triazole fungicides, has not been reported on its effects on aquatic organisms. In this study, zebrafish embryos were used as experimental objects to evaluate the toxicity of BRO. In the acute embryo toxicity test, it was observed that the heart rate and growing development were affected by BRO in a concentration-dependent manner, and the half-lethal concentration (LC50) of BRO at 96 h post-fertilization (hpf) was about 11.83 mg/L. Then, low concentrations of BRO (50 ng/L, 0.075 mg/L, 0.3 mg/L, 1.2 mg/L), which were set according to the LC50 and environmental related concentrations, were used to analyze the toxic effects on the different endpoints in larval zebrafish. Interestingly, the transcriptomic analysis found that most different expressed genes (DEGs) could be focused on the pathways of lipid metabolism, myocardial function, glycometabolism, indicating that heart function and lipid metabolism in larval zebrafish were disrupted by BRO. For supporting this idea, we re-exposed the transgenic zebrafish and WT zebrafish embryos, proved that BRO caused damage to heart development and lipid transport on morphological and genetic level, which was consistent with transcriptomic results. In addition, BRO exposure caused oxidative damage in the larvae. Taken together, BRO exposure could affect the myocardial contraction function and lipid transport in larval zebrafish, accompanied by disturbances in the level of oxidative stress, which was of great significance for improving the biotoxicological information of BRO.

[Efficacy analysis of high-sensitivity troponin I concentration and its changes in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction]

Objective: To explore the feasibility and accuracy of 0-1 h high sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) concentration and its changes in judging non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), and to investigate the feasibility of a simplified process. Methods: Patients with acute chest pain and suspected NSTEMI who were admitted to the emergency department of Fuwai Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University and Nanjing First Hospital from January 2017 to September 2020 were selected. Hs-cTnI test was carried out for the selected patients at the time of visit (0 h) and 1 h after visit. According to the 0-1 h hs-cTnI diagnostic process and threshold standard recommended by European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines in 2015, the laboratory adjudication was determined. Cardiologists who did not participate in the project design and did not know the results of hs-cTnI test performed the clinical judgment according to the routine diagnosis and treatment process of emergency department. Taking clinical judgment as the gold standard, the diagnostic efficacy of 0-1 h hs-cTnI concentration and its change recommended by the guidelines for judging NSTEMI in Chinese population was analyzed. The guide process was simplified. Under the condition of not considering the time of chest pain, the guideline threshold was used for test and judgement, and the diagnostic efficacy of the simplified process was evaluated. Results: A total of 1 534 patients were enrolled in the study, aged (62±12) years and 952 (62.1%) patients were male. Among them, 402 patients (26.2%) were clinically diagnosed as NSTEMI and 1 132 patients (73.8%) were diagnosed as non-NSTEMI. According to the diagnosis and determination process recommended by the guidelines, NSTEMI was excluded in 672 patients (42.8%), and 464 patients (30.2%) were diagnosed as NSTEMI. The consistency rate with clinical determination reached 92.4% (1 050/1 136), the sensitivity of excluding diagnosis was 99.5% (95%CI: 98.0%-99.9%), the negative predictive value was 99.7% (95%CI: 98.8%-99.9%), and the negative likelihood ratio was 0.008 (95%CI: 0.002-0.335). The diagnostic specificity was 92.6% (95%CI: 90.9%-94.0%), the positive predictive value was 81.9% (95%CI: 78.0%-85.2%), and the positive likelihood ratio was 12.739 (95%CI: 10.356-15.670). According to the simplified process, NSTEMI was excluded in 675 patients (44.0%), and 463 patients (30.2%) were diagnosed as NSTEMI. The consistency rate with clinical judgment was 92.4% (1 051/1 138), the sensitivity of exclusion diagnosis was 99.3% (95%CI: 97.6%-99.8%), the negative predictive value was 99.6% (95%CI: 98.6%-99.9%), and the negative likelihood ratio was 0.012 (95%CI: 0.004-0.389). The diagnostic specificity was 92.6% (95%CI: 90.9%-94.0%), the positive predictive value was 81.9% (95%CI: 78.0%-85.2%), and the positive likelihood ratio was 12.705 (95%CI: 10.328-15.630). There was no significant difference in diagnostic efficacy between the simplified process and the recommended process (all P>0.05). Conclusion: The diagnostic process for judging NSTEMI according to the 0-1 h hs-cTnI concentration and its change criteria recommended by the 2015 ESC guidelines is applicable in the Chinese population and remains highly accurate in judging NSTEMI without considering the duration of chest pain at the time of presentation.

Polystyrene microplastics exacerbate experimental colitis in mice tightly associated with the occurrence of hepatic inflammation

The potential health effects of microplastics (MPs) have become a public concern due to their ubiquitousness in the environment and life. Numerous studies have demonstrated that a high dose of MPs can adversely affect gastrointestinal health. However, few studies have focused on the impact of microplastics on patients' health with respect to gastrointestinal diseases. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has emerged as a global disease with a rapidly increasing incidence. IBD, a specific gastrointestinal illness characterized by acute, chronic inflammation and intestinal barrier dysfunction, might increase sensitivity to MPs exposure. Herein, we investigated the impact and mechanism of PS-MPs on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis. The results demonstrated that gavage with PS-MPs alone caused minimal effects on the intestinal barrier and liver status of mice. For mice with colitis, additional PS-MPs exposure caused a shorter colon length, aggravated histopathological damage and inflammation, reduced mucus secretion, and increased the colon permeability. Furthermore, PS-MPs exposure also increased the risk of secondary liver injury associated with inflammatory cell infiltration. These findings provide more histopathological evidence and suggest a need for more research on the health risk of MPs for sensitive individuals.

Transgenerational effects of co-exposure to cadmium and carbofuran on zebrafish based on biochemical and transcriptomic analyses

The combined toxicity of heavy metals and pesticides to aquatic organisms is still largely unexplored. In this study, we investigated the combined impacts of cadmium (Cd) and carbofuran (CAR) on female zebrafish (F0 generation) and their following F1 generation. Results showed that mixtures of Cd and CAR induced acute synergistic effects on both zebrafish adults of the F0 generation and embryos of the F1 generation. Combined exposure to Cd and CAR could obviously alter the hepatic VTG level of females, and the individual exposures increased the relative mRNA levels of vtg1 and vtg2. Through maternal transmission, co-exposure of Cd and CAR caused toxicity to 4-day-old larvae of the F1 generation, evidenced by the significant changes in T4 and VTG levels, CYP450 activity, and the relative transcriptional levels of genes related to the hormone, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. These effects were also reflected by the global gene expression pattern to 7-day-old larvae of F1 generation using the transcriptomic analysis, and they could also affect energy metabolism. Our results provided a more comprehensive insight into the transgenerational toxic impacts of heavy metal and pesticide mixtures. These findings highlighted that it was highly necessary to consider transgenerational exposures in the ecological risk assessment of chemical mixtures.

Scintillation light detection in the 6-m drift-length ProtoDUNE Dual Phase liquid argon TPC

DUNE is a dual-site experiment for long-baseline neutrino oscillation studies, neutrino astrophysics and nucleon decay searches. ProtoDUNE Dual Phase (DP) is a 6  ×  6  ×  6 m 3 liquid argon time-projection-chamber (LArTPC) that recorded cosmic-muon data at the CERN Neutrino Platform in 2019-2020 as a prototype of the DUNE Far Detector. Charged particles propagating through the LArTPC produce ionization and scintillation light. The scintillation light signal in these detectors can provide the trigger for non-beam events. In addition, it adds precise timing capabilities and improves the calorimetry measurements. In ProtoDUNE-DP, scintillation and electroluminescence light produced by cosmic muons in the LArTPC is collected by photomultiplier tubes placed up to 7 m away from the ionizing track. In this paper, the ProtoDUNE-DP photon detection system performance is evaluated with a particular focus on the different wavelength shifters, such as PEN and TPB, and the use of Xe-doped LAr, considering its future use in giant LArTPCs. The scintillation light production and propagation processes are analyzed and a comparison of simulation to data is performed, improving understanding of the liquid argon properties.

Investigation on knowledge level about rational use of antimicrobial drugs among pharmacists in medical institutions in Shanxi province, China

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the pharmacist's knowledge about rational use of antimicrobials in Shanxi of China, so as to find out the problems and provide support for the management of antimicrobials.

METHODS

A questionnaire survey was conducted, which included the basic information of the respondents, the basic knowledge about antimicrobial management and the related knowledge about antimicrobial drugs. SPSS 25.0 was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 462 pharmacists were investigated. The average score of the knowledge related to rational use of antimicrobials was 10.49 ± 4.05. It showed that the hospital type, grade, pharmacist's education, professional title and years of experience had effect on the pharmacist's knowledge level about antimicrobial drugs (P < 0.05). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that hospital grade and pharmacist's education were the main influencing factors (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Pharmacists have insufficient knowledge about the rational use of antibacterial drugs. It is essential to strengthen the training in management regulations and application of antibacterial drugs.

[Clinical characteristics and long-term follow-up results of radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of ventricular tachycardia in patients with arrhythmogenic left ventricular cardiomyopathy]

Objective: To investigate the acute and long-term outcome of catheter ablation for the treatment of ventricular tachycardia (VT) in patients with arrhythmogenic left ventricular cardiomyopathy (ALVC). Methods: This retrospective, cross-sectional study enrolled ALVC patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of VT at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2011 to December 2018 and collected their clinical characteristics and intraoperative electrophysiological examination. Patients were followed up every 6 months after radiofrequency ablation until August 2021. Echocardiographic results and VT recurrence post radiofrequency ablation were analysed. Results: Totally 12 patients were enrolled (mean age: (42±15) years, 11 males(11/12)). The mean of left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVDd) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were (51±5)mm and (65±5)%, respectively. Twelve VTs were induced in 10 patients during the electrophysiological study, and the mean tachycardia cycle length was (293±65) ms. Three-dimensional substrate mapping revealed the diseased area at endocardial site in one patient, at epicardial sites in the other 11 patients (involved endocardial sites in 2 cases) with the basal part near the mitral annulus being the predilection for the substrate (10/11). After the catheter ablation at the endocardial and epicardial sites respectively, the complete procedure endpoint was achieved in all patients (VT cannot be induced post ablation). The median follow-up time was 65 (25, 123) months. One patient was lost to follow-up, and the other 11 patients survived without VT. No significant cardiac function deterioration was detected by the echocardiographic examination ((51±5)mm vs. (52±5)mm, P>0.05 for LVDd, (65±5)% vs. (60±6)%, P>0.05 for LVEF) at the end of follow-up. Conclusion: After radiofrequency ablation, the complete procedure endpoint is achieved in ALVC patients, and the catheter ablation provides long-term ventricular tachycardia control during the long-term follow-up.

Probing ^{93m}Mo Isomer Depletion with an Isomer Beam

The isomer depletion of ^{93m}Mo was recently reported [Chiara et al., Nature (London) 554, 216 (2018)NATUAS0028-083610.1038/nature25483] as the first direct observation of nuclear excitation by electron capture (NEEC). However, the measured excitation probability of 1.0(3)% is far beyond the theoretical expectation. In order to understand the inconsistency between theory and experiment, we produce the ^{93m}Mo nuclei using the ^{12}C(^{86}Kr,5n) reaction at a beam energy of 559 MeV and transport the reaction residues to a detection station far away from the target area employing a secondary beam line. The isomer depletion is expected to occur during the slowdown process of the ions in the stopping material. In such a low γ-ray background environment, the signature of isomer depletion is not observed, and an upper limit of 2×10^{-5} is estimated for the excitation probability. This is consistent with the theoretical expectation. Our findings shed doubt on the previously reported NEEC phenomenon and highlight the necessity and feasibility of further experimental investigations for reexamining the isomer depletion under low γ-ray background.

[Safety and efficacy evaluation of laparoscopic and open hepatectomy for hepatolithiasis: a propensity score matched analysis]

Objective: To compare the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic and open hepatectomy for hepatolithiasis. Methods: Between January 2014 and May 2020, the clinicopathological data of 254 patients with hepatolithiasis who underwent laparoscopic or open hepatectomy at the First Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery,Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College were collected retrospectively. There were 74 males and 180 females with age of (56±8) years (range: 38 to 77 years). Of the 254 patients, 162 underwent laparoscopic surgery (laparoscopic group) and 92 underwent open surgery (open group). Propensity score matching(PSM) was performed to match baseline characteristics of the two groups,and then the perioperative results and follow-up efficacy were compared between the two groups. The t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, χ² test or Fisher's exact probability method was used to compare the perioperative data and follow-up results of the two groups after matching, respectively. Results: Each group had 63 patients after PSM with well-balanced baseline characteristics. There was no statistic difference in the type of hepatectomy,combined common bile duct exploration rate,T tube drainage placement rate,operation time,intraoperative transfusion rate,intraoperative accidental injury rate,initial and final stone clearance rate,and stone recurrence rate between the two groups. However,compared with the open hepatectomy group, the laparoscopic group had significantly lower intraoperative blood loss (M(IQR))(300(175)ml vs. 350(145)ml, Z=3.227,P=0.001),shorter postoperative hospital stay((10.6±4.1)days vs. (14.0±4.0)days,t=4.634,P<0.01),shorter time to postoperative oral intake ((1.8±1.1)days vs. (2.9±1.6)days, t=4.556, P<0.01), and lower postoperative complication rate (25.4%(16/63) vs. 49.2%(31/63), χ²=7.635, P=0.006). Conclusion: Laparoscopic hepatectomy is safe and effective for hepatolithiasis with the advantages of less intraoperative blood loss,lower postoperative complications and faster postoperative recovery.

Transcriptomic and targeted metabolomic analysis revealed the toxic effects of prochloraz on larval zebrafish

Prochloraz (PCZ), an imidazole fungicide, has been extensively used in horticulture and agriculture to protect against pests and diseases. To investigate the potential toxicity of PCZ on aquatic organisms, larval zebrafish, as a model, were exposed to a series of concentrations (0, 20, 100, and 500 μg/L) of PCZ for 7 days. With transcriptomic analysis, we found that exposure to high dose PCZ could produce 76 downregulated and 345 upregulated differential expression genes (DEGs). Bioinformatics analysis revealed that most of the DEGs were characterized in the pathways of glycolipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism and oxidative stress in larval zebrafish. Targeted metabolomic analysis was conducted to verify the effects of PCZ on the levels of acyl-carnitines and some amino acids in larval zebrafish. In addition, biochemical indicators related to glycolipid metabolism were affected obviously, manifested as elevated triglyceride (TG) levels and decreased glucose (Glu) levels in whole larvae. The expression levels of genes associated with glycolipid metabolism were affected in larvae after exposure to PCZ (PK, GK, PEPckc, SREBP, ACO). Interestingly, we further confirmed that PCZ could induce oxidative stress by the changing enzyme activities (T-GSH, GSSG) and upregulating several related genes levels in larval zebrafish. Generally, our results revealed that the endpoints related to glycolipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism and oxidative stress were influenced by PCZ in larval zebrafish.

Solvent-free synthesis of oleic acid-based wax esters using recyclable acidic deep eutectic solvent

Wax esters have been widely used in cosmetics and pharmaceutical products. Oleic acid wax esters can be used to replace spermaceti oil or jojoba oil. In this work, the acidic deep eutectic solvent (DES) composed of choline chloride and p-toluenesulfonic acid (1:4, mol/mol) was used as an efficient recyclable catalyst for the synthesis of oleic acid-based liquid wax esters through an esterification reaction. The esterification conversion of cetyl alcohol reached 99.1% under the following optimal reaction conditions: 5% DES as catalyst, molar ratio of fatty acid to alcohol of 1.3:1 and reaction temperature of 70 oC for 3h. The catalyst recovery experiments showed that this low-price acidic DES catalyst could be reused five times with uniform activity. Moreover, DES-catalyzed solvent-free esterification could be applied in the preparation of other oleic acid-based wax esters and excellent conversions (> 96%) could be obtained under such mild conditions.

Catechin from green tea had the potential to decrease the chlorpyrifos induced oxidative stress in larval zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Catechin is a biological compound in green tea (Camellia sinesis), which has anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and attenuated effects in different experimental models. Chlorpyrifos (CPF), a broad-spectrum organophosphate insecticide, has resulted in oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptosis in zebrafish. The goal of this study is to assess whether catechin can alleviate CPF-induced oxidative damage and apoptosis in the early developmental stage of zebrafish. According to the results, we observed that 200 μg/L CPF exposure could induce oxidative stress, ROS production and changing the antioxidant-related enzymes and genes in larval zebrafish. Interestingly, catechin had the potential to reduce the oxidative damage and cell apoptosis caused by CPF exposure in larval zebrafish at different endpoints. Especially, catechin could promote the contents of GSH and activity of GST in zebrafish larvae injured by CPF, suggesting that catechin could repair oxidative damage at a certain degree by regulating the activities and gene transcription of some key enzymes related to GSH pathway in zebrafish. In addition, at transcriptional levels, a high concentration of catechin exposure reduced the expression genes of Mn-SOD, Cat, gst, and GPX induced by CPF in larval zebrafish. These genes mainly reflected the degree of oxidative damage of zebrafish, which was basically consistent with the enzyme activity. Catechin also could reduce the transcription of p53 and bax, which are tightly related to the apoptosis induced by CPF in zebrafish larvae. The expression of genes was consistent with ROS production, which proved that catechin could alleviate the apoptosis induced by CPF. This study discovered that catechin had some antioxidant effects in aquatic animals to reduce the toxicity caused by pesticides and offered the scientific basis for the utilization and development of catechin.