Search for exotic decays of the Higgs boson to a pair of pseudoscalars in the μμbb and ττbb final states

A search for exotic decays of the Higgs boson (H ) with a mass of 125Ge V to a pair of light pseudoscalars a 1 is performed in final states where one pseudoscalar decays to two b quarks and the other to a pair of muons or τ leptons. A data sample of proton-proton collisions at s = 13 Te V corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138fb - 1 recorded with the CMS detector is analyzed. No statistically significant excess is observed over the standard model backgrounds. Upper limits are set at 95% confidence level (CL ) on the Higgs boson branching fraction to μ μ b b and to τ τ b b , via a pair of a 1 s. The limits depend on the pseudoscalar mass m a 1 and are observed to be in the range (0.17-3.3) × 10 - 4 and (1.7-7.7) × 10 - 2 in the μ μ b b and τ τ b b final states, respectively. In the framework of models with two Higgs doublets and a complex scalar singlet (2HDM+S), the results of the two final states are combined to determine upper limits on the branching fraction B ( H → a 1 a 1 → ℓ ℓ b b ) at 95% CL , with ℓ being a muon or a τ lepton. For different types of 2HDM+S, upper bounds on the branching fraction B ( H → a 1 a 1 ) are extracted from the combination of the two channels. In most of the Type II 2HDM+S parameter space, B ( H → a 1 a 1 ) values above 0.23 are excluded at 95% CL for m a 1 values between 15 and 60Ge V .

MRI-based radiomics model to preoperatively predict mesenchymal transition subtype in high-grade serous ovarian cancer

AIM

To develop a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based radiomics model for the preoperative identification of mesenchymal transition (MT) subtype in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred and eighty-nine patients with histopathologically confirmed HGSOC were enrolled retrospectively. Among the included patients, 55 patients were determined as the MT subtype and the remaining 134 were non-MT subtype. After extracting a total of 204 features from T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) and contrast-enhanced (CE)-T1WI images, the Mann-Whitney U-test, Spearman correlation test, and Boruta algorithm were adopted to select the optimal feature set. Three classifiers, including logistic regression (LR), support vector machine (SVM), and random forest (RF), were trained to develop radiomics models. The performance of established models was evaluated from three aspects: discrimination, calibration, and clinical utility.

RESULTS

Seven radiomics features relevant to MT subtypes were selected to build the radiomics models. The model based on the RF algorithm showed the best performance in predicting MT subtype, with areas under the curves (AUCs) of 0.866 (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 0.797-0.936) and 0.852 (95 % CI: 0.736-0.967) in the training and testing cohorts, respectively. The calibration curves, supported with Brier scores, indicated very good consistency between observation and prediction. Decision curve analysis (DCA) showed that the RF-based model could provide more net benefit, which suggested favorable utility in clinical application.

CONCLUSION

The RF-based radiomics model provided accurate identification of MT from the non-MT subtype and may help facilitate personalised management of HGSOC.

Environmental-friendly, flexible silk fibroin-based film as dual-responsive shape memory material

Bio-based shape memory materials have attracted wide attention due to their biocompatibility, degradability and safety. However, designing and manufacturing wearable bio-based shape memory films with excellent flexibility and toughness is still a challenge. In this work, silk fibroin substrate with a β-sheet structure was combined with a tri-block shape memory copolymer to prepare a transparent composited shape memory film. The silk fibroin-based film showed a dual-responsive shape memory function, which can respond to both temperature and water stimuli. This film has a sensitive water-responsive shape memory, which starts deforming after exposure to water for 3 s and fully recovers in 30 s. In addition, the composite film shows highly stretchable (>300 %) and could maintain its high tensile properties after 5 cycles of regeneration. The films also exhibited rapid degradation ability. This study provides new insights for the design of dual-responsive shape memory materials by combining biocompatible matrix and multi-block SMP to simultaneously enhance the mechanical properties, which can be used for intelligent packaging, medical supplies, soft actuators and wearable devices.

Observation of WWγ Production and Search for Hγ Production in Proton-Proton Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV

The observation of WWγ production in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV with an integrated luminosity of 138  fb^{-1} is presented. The observed (expected) significance is 5.6 (5.1) standard deviations. Events are selected by requiring exactly two leptons (one electron and one muon) of opposite charge, moderate missing transverse momentum, and a photon. The measured fiducial cross section for WWγ is 5.9±0.8(stat)±0.8(syst)±0.7(modeling)  fb, in agreement with the next-to-leading order quantum chromodynamics prediction. The analysis is extended with a search for the associated production of the Higgs boson and a photon, which is generated by a coupling of the Higgs boson to light quarks. The result is used to constrain the Higgs boson couplings to light quarks.

New Structures in the J/ψJ/ψ Mass Spectrum in Proton-Proton Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV

A search is reported for near-threshold structures in the J/ψJ/ψ invariant mass spectrum produced in proton-proton collisions at sqrt[s]=13  TeV from data collected by the CMS experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 135  fb^{-1}. Three structures are found, and a model with quantum interference among these structures provides a good description of the data. A new structure is observed with a local significance above 5 standard deviations at a mass of 6638_{-38}^{+43}(stat)_{-31}^{+16}(syst)  MeV. Another structure with even higher significance is found at a mass of 6847_{-28}^{+44}(stat)_{-20}^{+48}(syst)  MeV, which is consistent with the X(6900) resonance reported by the LHCb experiment and confirmed by the ATLAS experiment. Evidence for another new structure, with a local significance of 4.7 standard deviations, is found at a mass of 7134_{-25}^{+48}(stat)_{-15}^{+41}(syst)  MeV. Results are also reported for a model without interference, which does not fit the data as well and shows mass shifts up to 150 MeV relative to the model with interference.

The conservation of allelic DNA methylation and its relationship with imprinting in maize

Genomic imprinting refers to allele-specific expression of genes depending on parental origin, and it is regulated by epigenetic modifications. Intraspecific allelic variation for imprinting has been detected; however, the intraspecific genome-wide allelic epigenetic variation in maize and its correlation with imprinting variants remain unclear. Here, three reciprocal hybrids were generated by crossing Zea mays inbred lines CAU5, B73, and Mo17 in order to examine the intraspecific conservation of the imprinted genes in the kernel. The majority of imprinted genes exhibited intraspecific conservation, and these genes also exhibited interspecific conservation (rice, sorghum, and Arabidopsis) and were enriched in some specific pathways. By comparing intraspecific allelic DNA methylation in the endosperm, we found that nearly 15% of DNA methylation existed as allelic variants. The intraspecific whole-genome correlation between DNA methylation and imprinted genes indicated that DNA methylation variants play an important role in imprinting variants. Disruption of two conserved imprinted genes using CRISPR/Cas9 editing resulted in a smaller kernel phenotype. Our results shed light on the intraspecific correlation of DNA methylation variants and variation for imprinting in maize, and show that imprinted genes play an important role in kernel development.

Search for Scalar Leptoquarks Produced via τ-Lepton-Quark Scattering in pp Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV

The first search for scalar leptoquarks produced in τ-lepton-quark collisions is presented. It is based on a set of proton-proton collision data recorded with the CMS detector at the LHC at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138  fb^{-1}. The reconstructed final state consists of a jet, significant missing transverse momentum, and a τ lepton reconstructed through its hadronic or leptonic decays. Limits are set on the product of the leptoquark production cross section and branching fraction and interpreted as exclusions in the plane of the leptoquark mass and the leptoquark-τ-quark coupling strength.

[Pathogenic agents causing acute respiratory tract infections in pediatric patients in Spring, 2023, in Beijing]

Objective: To explore the pathogenic agents of acute respiratory infection (ARI) in children in Beijing. Methods: In the cross-sectional study, 3 groups of children from different departments were enrolled from Feb 6th, 2023 (6th week) to May 28th (21th week), 2023, including influenza-like case group from emergency department for nucleic acid testing of influenza virus (Flu) and human metapneumovirus (HMPV), the outpatient ARI group under nucleic acid testing for Flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus (ADV), and parainfluenza virus (PIV), and the inpatient ARI group under nucleic acid testing for Flu, RSV, HMPV, ADV, human bocavirus (HBoV), Rhinovirus (Rh), PIV, coronavirus (HCoV), Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mp) and Chlamydia pneumonia (Cp). Results: There were 320 influenza-like cases enrolled, including 192 males and 128 females, aged 4.7 (3.6, 6.9) years, and 117 cases (36.6%) positive for Flu A, which contained similar proportion of pandemic H1N1 (H1N1) 47.0% (55/117) and H3N2 53.0% (62/117), and 13 cases for HMPV 4.1% (13/320). The rate of Flu reached its peak at the 10th week, with H1N1 as the predominant one from the 6th to 9th week (10.0%-50.0%) and then H3N2 from the 10th to 16th week (15.0%-90.0%). HMPV was detected from the 15th week 5.0% (1/20), and then reached to 30.0% (6/20) at the 20th week. In the outpatient ARI group, 7 573 were enrolled, including 4 131 males and 3 442 females, aged 4.0 (2.1, 5.3) years, and the highest positive rate for RSV 32.9% (2 491/7 573), followed by Flu A 12.1% (915/7 573). The dominant one was Flu A in weeks 6-14 (23.2%-74.7%), then RSV in the 15th week 24.8% (36/145). In the inpatient ARI group, 1 391 patients were enrolled, including 804 males and 587 females, aged 3.3 (0.4, 5.8) years, and the highest positive rate for Rh 18.7% (260/1 391), followed by RSV 12.4% (173/1 391), Flu A 10.2% (142/1 391, of which 116 cases (81.7%) were H1N1, and 26 cases (18.3%) were H3N2) and HMPV 3.1% (43/1 391). H1N1 was detected from the 7th week 10% (6/60), to peak in the 11th week 31.8% (21/66). H3N2 was detected from the 8th week 1.5% (1/68), and then kept in low level. The proportion of H1N1 among Flu was 81.7% (116/142) in the inpatient ARI group. RSV was detected from 12th week 1.3% (1/80), reaching 30.4% (35/115) at 19th week. The positive rate of HMPV reached 12.1% (14/116) at 21th week. Conclusions: In the spring of 2023, the first one in Beijing is the Flu epidemic, with H1N1 being the predominant one in the early stage and H3N2 in the later stage. Then, there is a postponed RSV epidemic and an increased HMPV detection. In addition, nucleic acid testing for outpatient children should be strengthened to provide early warning of epidemics.

Bioactive cytochalasans from the desert soil-derived fungus Chaetomium madrasense 375 obtained via a chemical engineering strategy

The chemical engineering of natural extracts has emerged as an effective strategy for the production of diverse libraries of chemicals, making it integral to drug discovery. A chemical engineering strategy based on the epoxidation and ring-opening reactions was used to prepare diversity-enhanced extracts of Chaetomium madrasense 375. Eleven unnatural cytochalasan derivatives (1-11) with unique functional groups, such as amine and isoxazole, were isolated and characterized from these chemically engineered extracts of C. madrasense 375. The identification of these new structures was accomplished through comprehensive spectroscopic analysis, supplemented by synthetic considerations. Notably, compounds 5 and 13-16 displayed potent phytotoxic effects on Arabidopsis thaliana, while compounds 1, 2, 5, 10, and 12 demonstrated inhibitory activities on LPS-induced NO production in RAW264.7 cells. Among them, compound 1 was found to be able to inhibit the upregulated expression of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein induced by LPS, while also decreasing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6) and influencing the phosphorylation of p38, ERK1/2, and JNK at 100 μM. Our findings demonstrate that the chemical engineering of natural product extracts can be an efficient technique for the generation of novel bioactive molecules.

Search for Inelastic Dark Matter in Events with Two Displaced Muons and Missing Transverse Momentum in Proton-Proton Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV

A search for dark matter in events with a displaced nonresonant muon pair and missing transverse momentum is presented. The analysis is performed using an integrated luminosity of 138  fb^{-1} of proton-proton (pp) collision data at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV produced by the LHC in 2016-2018. No significant excess over the predicted backgrounds is observed. Upper limits are set on the product of the inelastic dark matter production cross section σ(pp→A^{'}→χ_{1}χ_{2}) and the decay branching fraction B(χ_{2}→χ_{1}μ^{+}μ^{-}), where A^{'} is a dark photon and χ_{1} and χ_{2} are states in the dark sector with near mass degeneracy. This is the first dedicated collider search for inelastic dark matter.

Gemological characteristics and inclusions of green rutilated quartz from Huanggangliang, Inner Mongolia

Normally, various minerals exist in quartz as inclusions. In this study, methods such as gem microscopy, polarizing microscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) were used to systematically study the gemological characteristics and inclusions in green rutilated quartz from Inner Mongolia. Results show that the sample appears green due to the chaotic distribution of green inclusions in the shape of hair filaments. Combined with the chemical composition, the inclusions are Ca-Fe-rich amphiboles with compositions very close to those of the end-member ferro-actinolite. According to the principle of amphibole nomenclature, the inclusions are named ferro-actinolite in the subclass of calc-alkaline amphiboles with a few named ferro-hornblende. Results suggested that the inclusions in green rutilated quartz were formed during the late stage of quartz crystallization. This work provides a new theoretical basis for the study of green rutilated quartz in Huanggangliang, Inner Mongolia.

Luminosity determination using Z boson production at the CMS experiment

The measurement of Z boson production is presented as a method to determine the integrated luminosity of CMS data sets. The analysis uses proton-proton collision data, recorded by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC in 2017 at a center-of-mass energy of 13Te V . Events with Z bosons decaying into a pair of muons are selected. The total number of Z bosons produced in a fiducial volume is determined, together with the identification efficiencies and correlations from the same data set, in small intervals of 20pb - 1 of integrated luminosity, thus facilitating the efficiency and rate measurement as a function of time and instantaneous luminosity. Using the ratio of the efficiency-corrected numbers of Z bosons, the precisely measured integrated luminosity of one data set is used to determine the luminosity of another. For the first time, a full quantitative uncertainty analysis of the use of Z  bosons for the integrated luminosity measurement is performed. The uncertainty in the extrapolation between two data sets, recorded in 2017 at low and high instantaneous luminosity, is less than 0.5%. We show that the Z boson rate measurement constitutes a precise method, complementary to traditional methods, with the potential to improve the measurement of the integrated luminosity.

Effects of empagliflozin on progression of chronic kidney disease: a prespecified secondary analysis from the empa-kidney trial

BACKGROUND

Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors reduce progression of chronic kidney disease and the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in a wide range of patients. However, their effects on kidney disease progression in some patients with chronic kidney disease are unclear because few clinical kidney outcomes occurred among such patients in the completed trials. In particular, some guidelines stratify their level of recommendation about who should be treated with SGLT2 inhibitors based on diabetes status and albuminuria. We aimed to assess the effects of empagliflozin on progression of chronic kidney disease both overall and among specific types of participants in the EMPA-KIDNEY trial.

METHODS

EMPA-KIDNEY, a randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial, was conducted at 241 centres in eight countries (Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the UK, and the USA), and included individuals aged 18 years or older with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 20 to less than 45 mL/min per 1·73 m2, or with an eGFR of 45 to less than 90 mL/min per 1·73 m2 with a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) of 200 mg/g or higher. We explored the effects of 10 mg oral empagliflozin once daily versus placebo on the annualised rate of change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR slope), a tertiary outcome. We studied the acute slope (from randomisation to 2 months) and chronic slope (from 2 months onwards) separately, using shared parameter models to estimate the latter. Analyses were done in all randomly assigned participants by intention to treat. EMPA-KIDNEY is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03594110.

FINDINGS

Between May 15, 2019, and April 16, 2021, 6609 participants were randomly assigned and then followed up for a median of 2·0 years (IQR 1·5-2·4). Prespecified subgroups of eGFR included 2282 (34·5%) participants with an eGFR of less than 30 mL/min per 1·73 m2, 2928 (44·3%) with an eGFR of 30 to less than 45 mL/min per 1·73 m2, and 1399 (21·2%) with an eGFR 45 mL/min per 1·73 m2 or higher. Prespecified subgroups of uACR included 1328 (20·1%) with a uACR of less than 30 mg/g, 1864 (28·2%) with a uACR of 30 to 300 mg/g, and 3417 (51·7%) with a uACR of more than 300 mg/g. Overall, allocation to empagliflozin caused an acute 2·12 mL/min per 1·73 m2 (95% CI 1·83-2·41) reduction in eGFR, equivalent to a 6% (5-6) dip in the first 2 months. After this, it halved the chronic slope from -2·75 to -1·37 mL/min per 1·73 m2 per year (relative difference 50%, 95% CI 42-58). The absolute and relative benefits of empagliflozin on the magnitude of the chronic slope varied significantly depending on diabetes status and baseline levels of eGFR and uACR. In particular, the absolute difference in chronic slopes was lower in patients with lower baseline uACR, but because this group progressed more slowly than those with higher uACR, this translated to a larger relative difference in chronic slopes in this group (86% [36-136] reduction in the chronic slope among those with baseline uACR <30 mg/g compared with a 29% [19-38] reduction for those with baseline uACR ≥2000 mg/g; ptrend<0·0001).

INTERPRETATION

Empagliflozin slowed the rate of progression of chronic kidney disease among all types of participant in the EMPA-KIDNEY trial, including those with little albuminuria. Albuminuria alone should not be used to determine whether to treat with an SGLT2 inhibitor.

FUNDING

Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly.

Impact of primary kidney disease on the effects of empagliflozin in patients with chronic kidney disease: secondary analyses of the EMPA-KIDNEY trial

BACKGROUND

The EMPA-KIDNEY trial showed that empagliflozin reduced the risk of the primary composite outcome of kidney disease progression or cardiovascular death in patients with chronic kidney disease mainly through slowing progression. We aimed to assess how effects of empagliflozin might differ by primary kidney disease across its broad population.

METHODS

EMPA-KIDNEY, a randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial, was conducted at 241 centres in eight countries (Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the UK, and the USA). Patients were eligible if their estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 20 to less than 45 mL/min per 1·73 m2, or 45 to less than 90 mL/min per 1·73 m2 with a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) of 200 mg/g or higher at screening. They were randomly assigned (1:1) to 10 mg oral empagliflozin once daily or matching placebo. Effects on kidney disease progression (defined as a sustained ≥40% eGFR decline from randomisation, end-stage kidney disease, a sustained eGFR below 10 mL/min per 1·73 m2, or death from kidney failure) were assessed using prespecified Cox models, and eGFR slope analyses used shared parameter models. Subgroup comparisons were performed by including relevant interaction terms in models. EMPA-KIDNEY is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03594110.

FINDINGS

Between May 15, 2019, and April 16, 2021, 6609 participants were randomly assigned and followed up for a median of 2·0 years (IQR 1·5-2·4). Prespecified subgroupings by primary kidney disease included 2057 (31·1%) participants with diabetic kidney disease, 1669 (25·3%) with glomerular disease, 1445 (21·9%) with hypertensive or renovascular disease, and 1438 (21·8%) with other or unknown causes. Kidney disease progression occurred in 384 (11·6%) of 3304 patients in the empagliflozin group and 504 (15·2%) of 3305 patients in the placebo group (hazard ratio 0·71 [95% CI 0·62-0·81]), with no evidence that the relative effect size varied significantly by primary kidney disease (pheterogeneity=0·62). The between-group difference in chronic eGFR slopes (ie, from 2 months to final follow-up) was 1·37 mL/min per 1·73 m2 per year (95% CI 1·16-1·59), representing a 50% (42-58) reduction in the rate of chronic eGFR decline. This relative effect of empagliflozin on chronic eGFR slope was similar in analyses by different primary kidney diseases, including in explorations by type of glomerular disease and diabetes (p values for heterogeneity all >0·1).

INTERPRETATION

In a broad range of patients with chronic kidney disease at risk of progression, including a wide range of non-diabetic causes of chronic kidney disease, empagliflozin reduced risk of kidney disease progression. Relative effect sizes were broadly similar irrespective of the cause of primary kidney disease, suggesting that SGLT2 inhibitors should be part of a standard of care to minimise risk of kidney failure in chronic kidney disease.

FUNDING

Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, and UK Medical Research Council.

Probing Small Bjorken-x Nuclear Gluonic Structure via Coherent J/ψ Photoproduction in Ultraperipheral Pb-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV

Quasireal photons exchanged in relativistic heavy ion interactions are powerful probes of the gluonic structure of nuclei. The coherent J/ψ photoproduction cross section in ultraperipheral lead-lead collisions is measured as a function of photon-nucleus center-of-mass energies per nucleon (W_{γN}^{Pb}) over a wide range of 40 Collapse

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Controlling the Fluorescence Behavior of Hydrophobic Pigments by Supramolecular Self-Assembling on Organic Layered Silicate Minerals

This research focused on the supramolecular self-assembly of organic fluorescent molecules on organically modified layered silicate minerals to design and prepare layered nanocomposites with excellent fluorescence properties. Aromatic hydrocarbons are hydrophobic and poorly loaded on the hydrophilic surface of layered silicate minerals, but they are easily captured by an organically modified mineral surface. Montmorillonite (MMT) and saponite (SAP), typical 2:1 type layered silicate minerals with different octahedral cations, were modified with the cationic surfactant octadecyl trimethylammonium chloride (OTAC) and loaded with pyrene (an aromatic hydrocarbon dye) with different molar ratios to the cationic surfactant by supramolecular self-assembling to construct fluorescent nanocomposites. The effect of pyrene concentration and the octahedral cation of the 2:1 type layered silicate minerals on photoluminescence properties was investigated. The fluorescence spectra of the nanocomposites prepared under low pyrene concentrations showed two bands at around 400 and 470 nm, corresponding to the monomer and excimer emissions; the band intensity of the excimer shoots up with the increase of pyrene concentration, reflecting different contributions from monomer and dimer species and the formation of radical aggregates. The excellent heat resistance of the layered silicate structure can effectively protect pyrene molecules from external environmental influences.

Hollow MIL-125 Nanoparticles Loading Doxorubicin Prodrug and 3-Methyladenine for Reversal of Tumor Multidrug Resistance

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a key factor in chemotherapy failure and tumor recurrence. The inhibition of drug efflux and autophagy play important roles in MDR therapy. Herein, a multifunctional delivery system (HA-MIL-125@DVMA) was prepared for synergistically reverse tumor MDR. Tumor-targeted hollow MIL-125-Ti nanoparticles were used to load the doxorubicin-vitamin E succinate (DV) prodrug and 3-methyladenine (3-MA) to enhance reverse MDR effects. The pH-sensitive DV can kill tumor cells and inhibit P-gp-mediated drug efflux, and 3-MA can inhibit autophagy. HA-MIL-125@DVMA had uniformly distributed particle size and high drug-load content. The nanoparticles could effectively release the drugs into tumor microenvironment due to the rapid hydrazone bond-breaking under low pH conditions, resulting in a high cumulative release rate. In in vitro cellular experiments, the accumulation of HA-MIL-125@DVMA and HA-MIL-125@DV in MCF-7/ADR cells was significantly higher than that in the control groups. Moreover, the nanoparticles significantly inhibited drug efflux in the cells, ensuring the accumulation of the drugs in cell cytoplasm and causing drug-resistant cells' death. Importantly, HA-MIL-125@DVMA effectively inhibited tumor growth without changes in body weight in tumor-bearing mice. In summary, the combination of the acid-sensitive prodrug DV and autophagy inhibitor 3-MA in a HA-MIL-125 nanocarrier can enhance the antitumor effect and reverse tumor MDR.

[The applications and challenges of combined monitoring of macro/micro-circulation and mitochondrial homeostasis in early warning of perioperative organ injury]

Perioperative organ injury is a leading risk factor for mortality in surgical patients. Given the current limitations in the timeliness and accuracy of markers for perioperative organ injury, this article proposes a comprehensive early-warning assessment system that jointly monitors the macro-circulation, micro-circulation, and mitochondrial homeostasis. Macro-circulation monitoring allows for real-time evaluation of key indicators such as blood pressure and cardiac output, while micro-circulation monitoring aids in assessing the status of microvascular perfusion. Monitoring of mitochondrial homeostasis provides timely insights into cellular energy metabolism. These three facets are interconnected and collectively determine the balance between tissue oxygenation and energy supply and demand. This article will elucidate commonly used monitoring methods and clinically valuable assessment models within this system, offering theoretical and technical guidance to deepen our understanding of the pathological processes of perioperative organ injury, enhance surgical safety and success rates, and improve patient prognosis and quality of life.

The Predictive Value of Circulating Exosomal PD-L1 in Cervical Cancer Immunotherapy

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression was wildly used as a predictor of immune Check-Point Inhibitors (ICIs) efficiency. However, emerging results showed that PD-L1 was of great heterogeneity in sampling time and site. Recently, some studies found that exosomal PD-L1(ExoPD-L1) was related to ICIs response. In this study, we aimed to explore the predictive value of ExoPD-L1 in ICIs treatment of cervical cancer (CC) for the first time.

MATERIALS/METHODS

A total of 40 primarily diagnosed CC patients who accepted radical radiotherapy (RT) from March 2021 to October 2022 were included. The consecutive tumor sample were collected before and during RT. Another 37 advanced CC patients who accepted ICIs combination therapy from June 2020 to October 2022 were enrolled in this study. Blood samples were collected from each participant before and during treatment. Exosomes were derived by differential centrifugation, which was further identified by Western blot (WB) (CD9/TSG101/Calnexin), transmission electron microscope analysis and nanoparticle tracking analysis. ExoPD-L1 detection was conducted by enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA). The knockout of PD-L1 was conducted via CRISPR/Cas9 assay and the overexpress of PD-L1 was conducted by lentiviral transfection. CD8+ T cells were extracted from murine spleen by CD8+ T Cell Isolation Kit. Immune cells and cytokines markers were detected by multicolor flow cytometry.

RESULTS

The consecutive detection of PD-L1 showed a dynamic change during RT. Compared with the level before RT, PD-L1 expression elevated in most patients (87.5%, 35/40) after RT. And the responders (n = 18) had elevated ExoPD-L1 level at the first two circles in the ICIs combination therapy (P<0.001). Whereas the level of pre-treatment ExoPD-L1 couldn't stratified clinical responders and non-responders (P = 0.181). The median follow-up time was 14.13 months. The mPFS in increased group vs. decreased group: not reach vs.11.02 months (P = 0.025, HR: 0.218, 0.052-0.913). Continuous blood sampling of mice models also found that effective therapeutic intervention could increase ExoPD-L1 in the early stage. The combination of exosome inhibitor GW4869 and anti-PD-1 further inhibited tumor growth. Mice were injected with external ExoPD-L1OE and ExoPD-L1KO. The results showed that ExoPD-L1OE suppressed body immunity and promoted tumor growth. The results of flow cytometry showed that ExoPD-L1OE inhibited CD8+ T cells from releasing interferon-and granzyme B. And ExoPD-L1OE also suppressed the CD8+ T cells proliferation in murine spleen. The coculture of CD8+ T cells and exosomes in vitro also confirmed the above conclusion.

CONCLUSION

Compared with unstable and impressionable tumoral PD-L1, ExoPD-L1 seems to be better predictor for the efficacy of immunotherapy in CC, which was with easy accessibility and continuation. Exosome PD-L1 played an immunosuppressive role by inhibiting the proliferation and functional factor release of CD8+ T cell.

Camrelizumab with Chemoradiotherapy for Locally Advanced Biliary Tract Cancer: Preliminary Results from A Phase II Study

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

For locally advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC), capecitabine-based chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is commonly used but has limited benefits. Immunotherapy is potentially effective for BTC and may be synergized with CRT. Followed by gemcitabine and cisplatin (GP) consolidation chemotherapy (CT), we evaluated the safety and efficacy of combined camrelizumab and capecitabine-based CRT for locally advanced BTC.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Patients had stage II-III (T4N0M0, T1-4N+M0) BTC (per the 7th [2010] edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system) were eligible for CRT (capecitabine plus [50-60 Gy] radiotherapy), to be followed by GP CT. Camrelizumab was given concurrently with CRT. Safety was defined as the incidence and severity of adverse events (AEs), while efficacy was defined as overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR).

RESULTS

Ten patients completed the planned treatment. None experienced grade ≥3 treatment-related AEs during CRT. Grade ≥3 immune-related AEs occurred in 2 of 10 patients (20%) only during GP CT. The mean OS time was 18.2 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 12.9m-23.5m) while the median OS time was 14.1 months (95% CI 10.1m-18.1m). OS rates were 100%, 59%, 44% at 6 months, 1 year and 2 years, respectively. The ORR was 30% while the DCR was 90%. Two patients (20%) obtained OS over 2 years with partial response (25.9m, 29.1m). Median PFS time was 14.1 months (95% CI 9.3m-18.9m).

CONCLUSION

Camrelizumab in combination with concurrent CRT was well tolerated and did not impair delivery of CRT in patients with locally advanced BTC.

Maintenance Therapy for Recurrent or Metastatic Cervical Cancer: A Multicenter, Cohort Study

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Maintenance therapy with alternative agents after chemotherapy was shown to improve the overall survival in some advanced cancers such as breast cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer and so on. However, maintenance therapy is not accepted as the standard treatment for recurrent/metastatic cervical cancer. Aim of this study is to elucidate the efficacy of maintenance therapy in cervical cancer and to explore the factors associated with the prognosis of recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer.

MATERIALS/METHODS

In this multicenter cohort study, we retrospectively collected patients with a diagnosis of either recurrent or stage IVB cervical cancer to receive first-line chemotherapy with or without maintenance therapy. Patients did not have disease progression with first-line chemotherapy and were divided into maintenance therapy group (Arm A) and conventional chemotherapy group (Arm B). Information on clinical characteristics, metastasis information, treatment outcome and survival of patients was collected using an electronic medical record system. The endpoints of the study were OS and PFS. Data were analyzed for general characteristics and survival using statistical software, and the results were considered statistically significant at P < 0.05.

RESULTS

Between January 2019 and July 2021, a total of 270 patients were enrolled from 6 institutions in China. 26 patients were excluded because of short treatment cycles (less than 3 cycles). Finally, a total of 66 patients in Arm A and 178 patients in Arm B were analyzed for survival. The addition of maintenance significantly prolonged overall survival. Overall survival at 3 year was 50.1% in Arm A and 27.8% in Arm B (median overall survival, ≥36 months vs. 22 months; P<0. 001). The median progression-free survival was 21 months in Arm A and 14 months in Arm B (P = 0.025). Univariate survival analysis showed that age, maintenance therapy, combined radiotherapy, and number of extra-pelvic metastases were associated with PFS. Further multifactorial analysis showed that maintenance therapy, combined radiotherapy, and number of extra-pelvic metastases were independent prognostic factors for patients with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer.

CONCLUSION

The addition of maintenance therapy significantly prolonged overall survival as well as progression-free survival in patients with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer and did not increase the incidence of serious adverse events. It is time to consider maintenance therapy as the standard treatment after conventional chemotherapy for recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer, rather than waiting for disease progression.

Impact of FAPI-PET/CT on Target Volume Definition in Radiation Therapy of Locally Advanced Biliary Tract Cancer: Compared with MRI/CT

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

A new radioactive positron emission tomography (PET) tracer uses inhibitors of fibroblast activation protein (FAPI) to visualize FAP-expressing cancer associated fibroblasts. Significant FAPI-uptake has recently been demonstrated in biliary tract cancer (BTC) patients. Target volume delineation for radiation therapy still relies on often less precise conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) registered with computed tomography (CT) imaging, especially in locally advanced BTC patients. The need for improvement in precise tumor detection and delineation led us to innovatively use the novel FAPI-PET/CT for radiation treatment planning.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Gross tumor volumes (GTVs) of five locally advanced BTC cases were contoured under FAPI-PET/CT method. MRI/CT was used to delineate tumors additionally. The differentiation in target definition was analyzed between FAPI-PET/CT-based GTVs and the manually MRI/CT-based GTVs.

RESULTS

Target definition differed significantly between different imaging methods with mean dice similarity coefficients of 0.5527, mean Jaccard similarity coefficients of 0.4296 and mean volumetric overlap difference of 0.5704, while the mean volumes and standard deviations of GTVs were 18.12±15.10 cm3 and 38.44±24.72 cm3, based on FAPI-PET/CT and MRI/CT respectively (P = 0.102). There was a discordance and difference between the volumes of FAPI-GTVs-based GTVs and the manually contoured GTVs based on MRI/CT.

CONCLUSION

Due to its high tumor to background contrast, FAPI-PET/CT seems to be a superior imaging modality compared to the current gold standard MRI/CT in BTC. For the first time, we demonstrate how FAPI-PET/CT could facilitate target definition and increases accuracy in radiation oncology in BTC. Limited to the sample size, we still need more large-scale data to support this view.

Effect of MTA3 Inhibition of Glutamine Synthetase-Mediated Glutaminolysis on Radiosensitivity of Patients with Esophageal Cancer

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Metastasis-associated protein 3 (MTA3) can serve as a tumor suppressor in many cancer types. However, the role of MTA3 in radiosensitivity of patients with esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) remains unclear. We thus investigated the function of MTA3 in radiosensitivity for ESCC, one of the most common digestive cancers.

MATERIALS/METHODS

The colony formation assay and nude mice xenograft tumor assay were performed to investigate the effect of MTA3 on radiosensitivity in ESCC. Glutamine consumption assay kit and glutamate production assay kit were used to assess the glutaminolysis. Glutaminase (GLS) Activity Assay Kit and Glutamine Synthetase (GS) Activity Assay Kit were used to analyze the activity of specific metabolic enzymes dominate glutaminolysis. The regulatory mechanism of glutaminolysis by MTA3 was confirmed using Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay and Gaussia luciferase assay. The expression levels of MTA3 and GS in ESCC primary tissues were evaluated using immunohistochemistry. Survival curves were plotted with the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by log-rank test.

RESULTS

The colony formation assay showed that MTA3 depletion and overexpression caused significantly higher and lower clonogenic survival after different doses of irradiation (IR), respectively. When these cells were subcutaneously injected into nude mice, the tumors derived from the cells with MTA3 overexpression and MTA3 knockdown were significantly smaller and bigger after IR, respectively. These findings suggest that MTA3 can enhance radiosensitivity in vitro and in vivo. Meanwhile, overexpressed and knockdown MTA3 can repress and expedite glutamine consumption and glutamate production uniformly, respectively. To determine how MTA3 acts on glutaminolysis, the activity of two specific metabolic enzymes dominate this metabolism, GS and GLS, were evaluated. It found that overexpressed and knockdown MTA3 can restrain and enhance the activity of GS, respectively, but have less effect on GLS. Moreover, the decreased radiosensitivity mediated by MTA3 knockdown is significantly increased when treated with GS inhibitor, suggesting that GS plays a crucial role in MTA3-mediated radiosensitivity enhancement. Mechanistically, Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay and Gaussia luciferase assay showed that MTA3 was recruited to the promoter of GS and suppressed GS transcription. However, knockdown of GATA3 abolished MTA3's repressive effect on GS and inhibited the MTA3's occupation on the promoter region of GS. These results collectively demonstrated that, in ESCC cells, MTA3 is recruited by GATA3 to inhibit GS expression, then ultimately represses glutaminolysis and enhances radiosensitivity. Finally, we showed that the ESCC patients in the MTA3low/GShigh group is significantly associated with shorter overall survival.

CONCLUSION

MTA3 is capable of enhancing radiosensitivity through downregulating GS and MTA3low/GShigh might be a potential prognostic factor for ESCC patients.

Refining the TNM M1 Subcategory for De Novo Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

To refine oligometastatic disease (OMD) and construct M1 categories for de novo metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (dmNPC) MATERIALS/METHODS: We included 504 patients who received chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy between 2010-2019 from two centers (training and validation cohort). Multivariable analyses were used to evaluate the prognostic value of OMD and metastatic organs, which were then used to construct M1 categories RESULTS: The median follow-up for the training and validation cohorts were 46 and 57 months, respectively. OMD (≤ 2 metastatic organs and ≤ 5 metastatic lesions) had the highest C-index compared to the other models in both cohorts. Multivariable analyses, in which both OMD and liver metastases did not coexist, revealed that OMD (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.110 and 1.598) and liver metastases (HR = 1.572 and 1.452) were prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) in both cohorts. Based on OMD and liver metastases, patients with dmNPC were divided into M1a (OMD without liver metastases) and M1b (OMD with liver metastases or polymetastatic disease). The 3-year OS of the M1a patients was better than that of the M1b patients in both cohorts (both p < 0.001). In the anti-PD1 mAb and chemotherapy cohorts, patients with M1ahad a significantly better median progression-free survival than those with M1b (p < 0.001) CONCLUSION: OMD with ≤ 2 metastatic organs and ≤ 5 metastatic lesions is an appropriate definition for dmNPC. M1 subcategories constructed based on OMD and liver metastases improved prognostic evaluation for patients with dmNPC who received chemotherapy or antiPD1 mAb treatment.

Selectively Irradiation of the Supraclavicular Area in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Treated with Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

The application of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) has significantly improved the locoregional control and overall survival of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), but how to deescalate the intensity of treatment to further reduce the side effects while ensuring the efficacy is the main concern of clinicians. Decreasing radiation volume is one of the hot research topics. Whole-neck irradiation is recommended for patients with cervical lymph node involvement, which includes levels IVb and Vc. Since the implementation of IMRT in our clinic, patients with only upper cervical lymph node invasion have not been irradiated in the levels IVb and Vc, and the regional control rate is comparable to that of other centers. This study intends to retrospectively analyze the feasibility of omitting levels IVb and Vc in patients with only upper cervical lymph node invasion, and provide a basis for the revision of international guideline for the delineation of the clinical target volume (CTV).

MATERIALS/METHODS

Patients with histologically confirmed NPC who completed IMRT successfully at our attending group between January 2014 to March 2018 were candidates for this study. Other eligibility criteria for analysis were as follows: (1) The first patient without distant metastasis; (2) Only patients with upper cervical lymph node invasion (only N1, N2, because the maximum diameter of the upper neck 6cm diagnosed as N3 patients were not included) (AJCC staging system, 8th edition); (3) Having complete baseline imaging data; (4) Over 3 months of follow-up; (5) Patients without previous history of malignant tumor and secondary cancer. According to the delineation of CTV in our protocol for patients with stage N1 and N2, levels IVb and Vc are not irradiated (i.e., retaining the original supraclavicular area). The main endpoints of the study were regional recurrence-free survival (RRFS) and recurrence rates in levels IVb and Vc.

RESULTS

In all, 363 patients with NPC and median follow-up of 61.9 months (range, 3.67-93.3) met the study inclusion criteria and comprise the dataset for the analysis. The overall survival, survival without local recurrence, survival without regional recurrence, and survival without distant metastasis at 3 and 5 years were 94.6% and 91.1%, 97.7% and 96.5%, 98.6% and 98.0%, 93.5% and 91.1%. At the final follow-up, 11 cases showed regional recurrence, and only one case (0.28%) showed recurrence in regions IVb and Vc, which were field recurrences, while the rest were intra-field recurrences.

CONCLUSION

Omitting levels Ⅳb and Ⅴc IMRT should be safe and feasible for patients who only had involvement of upper neck LNs. Further well-designed multicenter prospective trials should be conducted to confirm our results and further optimize the recommendation of the International Guideline.

Structures and Biological Activities of Secondary Metabolites from the Trichoderma genus (Covering 2018-2022)

Trichoderma, a genus with more than 400 species, has a long history of use as an industrial bioreactor, biofertilizer, and biocontrol agent. It is considered a significant source of secondary metabolites (SMs) that possess unique structural features and a wide range of bioactivities. In recent years, numerous secondary metabolites of Trichoderma, including terpenoids, polyketides, peptides, alkaloids, and steroids, have been identified. Most of these SMs displayed antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and antifungal effects. This review focuses on the structural diversity, biological activities, and structure-activity relationships (SARs) of the SMs isolated from Trichoderma covered from 2018 to 2022. This study provides insights into the exploration and utilization of bioactive compounds from Trichoderma species in the agriculture or pharmaceutical industry.

Observation of the Rare Decay of the η Meson to Four Muons

A search for the rare η→μ^{+}μ^{-}μ^{+}μ^{-} double-Dalitz decay is performed using a sample of proton-proton collisions, collected by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC with high-rate muon triggers during 2017 and 2018 and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 101  fb^{-1}. A signal having a statistical significance well in excess of 5 standard deviations is observed. Using the η→μ^{+}μ^{-} decay as normalization, the branching fraction B(η→μ^{+}μ^{-}μ^{+}μ^{-})=[5.0±0.8(stat)±0.7(syst)±0.7(B_{2μ})]×10^{-9} is measured, where the last term is the uncertainty in the normalization channel branching fraction. This work achieves an improved precision of over 5 orders of magnitude compared to previous results, leading to the first measurement of this branching fraction, which is found to agree with theoretical predictions.

Patient satisfaction with humanistic nursing in Chinese secondary and tertiary public hospitals: a cross-sectional survey

Background

Humanistic care pertains to the abilities, attitudes, and behaviors central to patient-centered care, contributing to patients' sense of safety and wellbeing. This study aimed to assess the satisfaction of patients with humanistic nursing care in Chinese secondary and tertiary public hospitals.

Methods

A national cross-sectional survey was conducted across 30 provinces and 83 hospitals in China. Patient satisfaction with humanistic care was assessed using the Methodist Health Care System Nurse Caring Instrument (NCI), which encompasses 20 items across 12 dimensions. Each item was rated on a 7-point Likert scale, yielding a total score of 140. Multiple linear regression analysis was employed to identify factors associated with patients' satisfaction.

Results

Moderate satisfaction (mean score 91.26 ± 13.14) with humanistic nursing care was observed among the 17,593 participants. Factors significantly associated with patient satisfaction included age, hospital type, presence of children, educational attainment, place of residence, family monthly income, and medical insurance type.

Conclusion

The study findings highlight the importance of tailored interventions, evidence-based practice guidelines, and patient-centered care in improving patients' satisfaction with humanistic nursing care. Continuous emphasis on nursing education and professional development is crucial for enhancing humanistic care and patient satisfaction.

Ionic liquid-based ultrasonic-assisted extraction coupled with HPLC to analyze isoquercitrin, trifolin and afzelin in Amygdalus persica L. flowers

This study aimed to establish a method for the simultaneous determination of isoquercitrin, trifolin and afzelin in A. persica flowers by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ionic liquid as extractant and ultrasonic-assisted extraction. The effects of ionic liquid concentration, solid-liquid ratio, number of crushing mesh, ultrasonic time, extraction temperature, and ultrasonic power on the extraction yield of three target compounds were investigated using the extraction yield of target analytes as the index. According to the results of single factor experiment, the Box-Behnken design-response surface methodology (BBD) was used to optimize the extraction method and compared with the traditional extraction method. The results showed that, calibration curves had excellent linearity (R2 > 0.9990) within the test ranges. In combination with other validation data, this method demonstrated good reliability and sensitivity, and can be conveniently used for the quantification of isoquercitrin, trifolin and afzelinin A. persica flowers. And the contents of isoquercitrin, trifolin and afzelin were 64.08, 20.55 and 75.63 μg/g, respectively. The optimal process obtained by BBD was as follows: ionic liquid concentration was 1.0 mol/L, solid-liquid ratio was 1:40 g/ml, mesh sieve was 50 mesh, ultrasonic time was 40 min, extraction temperature was 50 °C, and ultrasonic power was 400 W. Under the optimal conditions, the theoretical predicted total extraction yield of the three target compounds was 159.77 μg/g, which was close to the actual extraction value (160.26 μg/g, n = 3), this result indicating that the optimal process parameters obtained by response surface methodology analysis were accurate and reliable. The method was simple, accurate and rapid for determination the contents of three active ingredients in A. persica flowers.

Azimuthal Correlations within Exclusive Dijets with Large Momentum Transfer in Photon-Lead Collisions

The structure of nucleons is multidimensional and depends on the transverse momenta, spatial geometry, and polarization of the constituent partons. Such a structure can be studied using high-energy photons produced in ultraperipheral heavy-ion collisions. The first measurement of the azimuthal angular correlations of exclusively produced events with two jets in photon-lead interactions at large momentum transfer is presented, a process that is considered to be sensitive to the underlying nuclear gluon polarization. This study uses a data sample of ultraperipheral lead-lead collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 0.38  nb^{-1}, collected with the CMS experiment at the LHC. The measured second harmonic of the correlation between the sum and difference of the two jet transverse momentum vectors is found to be positive, and rising, as the dijet transverse momentum increases. A well-tuned model that has been successful at describing a wide range of proton scattering data from the HERA experiments fails to describe the observed correlations, suggesting the presence of gluon polarization effects.

Development and validation of a multiphase CT radiomics nomogram for the preoperative prediction of lymphovascular invasion in patients with gastric cancer

AIM

To develop a nomogram to predict lymphovascular invasion (LVI) in gastric cancer by integrating multiphase computed tomography (CT) radiomics and clinical risk factors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred and seventy-two gastric cancer patients (121 training and 51 validation) with preoperative contrast-enhanced CT images and clinicopathological data were collected retrospectively. The clinical risk factors were selected by univariate and multivariate regression analysis. Radiomic features were extracted and selected from the arterial phase (AP), venous phase (VP), and delayed phase (DP) CT images of each patient. Clinical risk factors, radiomic features, and integration of both were used to develop the clinical model, radiomic models, and nomogram, respectively.

RESULTS

Radiomic features from AP (n=6), VP (n=6), DP (n=7) CT images and three selected clinical risk factors were used for model development. The nomogram showed better performance than the AP, VP, DP, and clinical models in the training and validation datasets, providing areas under the curves (AUCs) of 0.890 (95% CI: 0.820-0.940) and 0.885 (95% CI:0.765-0.957), respectively. All models indicated good calibration, and decision curve analysis proved that the net benefit of the nomogram was superior to that of the clinical and radiomic models throughout the vast majority of the threshold probabilities.

CONCLUSIONS

The nomogram integrating multiphase CT radiomics and clinical risk factors showed favourable performance in predicting LVI of gastric cancer, which may benefit clinical practice.

Vacancy-Enhanced Self-Reduction of Eu in Pyrophosphate Phosphor

The self-reduction mechanism in pyrophosphate phosphors is currently explained through nonequivalent substitution for charge compensation. Nevertheless, the impact of oxygen vacancies on the self-reduction enhancement requires further investigation. Herein, heterovalent Ba_1-xZn_1-yP₂O₇:xEu^2+/3+, yMg phosphors with rigid structures were prepared through conventional solid-phase technology in air. The cation substitution strategy leads to different chemistry electronegativity and adjustable crystal field environments and creates vacancy defects. Crystal structure and component analysis indicate the gradual phase segregation change from BaZnP₂O₇ to BaMgP₂O₇ with increasing Mg²⁺ content. The CIE coordinates that are tuned from (0.514, 0.334) to (0.326, 0.152) and realize color-tunable emission from red-orange to blue-violet can be used as multicolor functional materials. Besides, the phosphor demonstrates its maximum S_a of 0.4725% K^-1 (498 K) and S_r of 1.376% K^-1 (423 K). These results demonstrate that the phosphors have the potential for contactless optical temperature measurement and anticounterfeiting. This work not only investigates the self-reduction of the Eu³⁺ → Eu²⁺ phenomenon but also provides a supplementary explanation and data support to complete the effect of the oxygen vacancy on self-reduction.

Measurement of the mass dependence of the transverse momentum of lepton pairs in Drell-Yan production in proton-proton collisions at s=13TeV

The double differential cross sections of the Drell-Yan lepton pair (ℓ + ℓ - , dielectron or dimuon) production are measured as functions of the invariant mass m ℓ ℓ , transverse momentum p T ( ℓ ℓ ) , and φ η ∗ . The φ η ∗ observable, derived from angular measurements of the leptons and highly correlated with p T ( ℓ ℓ ) , is used to probe the low-p T ( ℓ ℓ ) region in a complementary way. Dilepton masses up to 1Te V are investigated. Additionally, a measurement is performed requiring at least one jet in the final state. To benefit from partial cancellation of the systematic uncertainty, the ratios of the differential cross sections for various m ℓ ℓ ranges to those in the Z mass peak interval are presented. The collected data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 36.3fb - 1 of proton-proton collisions recorded with the CMS detector at the LHC at a centre-of-mass energy of 13Te V . Measurements are compared with predictions based on perturbative quantum chromodynamics, including soft-gluon resummation.

Pyroptosis orchestrates immune responses in endometriosis

Endometriosis is a refractory and recurrent gynecological condition which affects about 10 % of reproductive-age women. The dysfunctional immune system is a well-established element in disease pathogenesis. Pyroptosis, a novel form of inflammatory cell death, has been revealed to be strongly connected with immune responses in tumors. Nevertheless, its relationship with microenvironment characteristics and clinical features in endometriosis is unclear. Here, we performed bioinformatics analysis on published data in humans and revealed a significant but neglected role of pyroptosis in endometriosis. Samples with higher PyrScores were generally accompanied with more aggressive disease features, such as EMT, angiogenesis and immune disorders. We further confirmed in animal models that pyroptosis exacerbated immune dysfunction by recruiting activated immune cell including macrophages, DC, neutrophils, CD8+ Tcm and Tregs with unregulated CCL2, CCL3, CXCL2 and CXCL3. Collectively, pyroptosis is a distinctive feature of endometriosis. Our work provides insights into further studies targeting pyroptosis for molecular typing and individualized precise therapy.

Ractopamine does not rescue Halothane and Rendement Napole metabolism postmortem

The objective of this study was to determine if ractopamine (RAC) impacts postmortem muscle metabolism and subsequent pork quality in Halothane (HAL) and Rendement Napole (RN) mutant pigs. All RAC fed pigs had increased (P < 0.04) L* values. HAL and RN mutants muscle had lower (P < 0.01) pH values but RAC feeding had no effect. RN mutants had higher and lower (P < 0.05) muscle pH and temperatures, respectfully at 15 min and RN mutant pigs had greater (P < 0.0001) glycogen initially but lactate levels similar to wild type (WT) pigs at 24 h. RAC lowered (P < 0.05) glycogen in RN mutants but not in HAL mutated or WT pig muscle. These data show RAC feeding changes postmortem energy metabolism but does not change pH and pork quality hallmark of two major pig gene mutations and supports our contention that ultimate meat quality traits and their biochemical drivers may be more complex than originally reasoned.

Characterization of Genes That Exhibit Genotype-Dependent Allele-Specific Expression and Its Implications for the Development of Maize Kernel

Heterosis or hybrid vigor refers to the superior phenotypic traits of hybrids relative to their parental inbred lines. An imbalance between the expression levels of two parental alleles in the F1 hybrid has been suggested as a mechanism of heterosis. Here, based on genome-wide allele-specific expression analysis using RNA sequencing technology, 1689 genes exhibiting genotype-dependent allele-specific expression (genotype-dependent ASEGs) were identified in the embryos, and 1390 genotype-dependent ASEGs in the endosperm, of three maize F1 hybrids. Of these ASEGs, most were consistent in different tissues from one hybrid cross, but nearly 50% showed allele-specific expression from some genotypes but not others. These genotype-dependent ASEGs were mostly enriched in metabolic pathways of substances and energy, including the tricarboxylic acid cycle, aerobic respiration, and energy derivation by oxidation of organic compounds and ADP binding. Mutation and overexpression of one ASEG affected kernel size, which indicates that these genotype-dependent ASEGs may make important contributions to kernel development. Finally, the allele-specific methylation pattern on genotype-dependent ASEGs indicated that DNA methylation plays a potential role in the regulation of allelic expression for some ASEGs. In this study, a detailed analysis of genotype-dependent ASEGs in the embryo and endosperm of three different maize F1 hybrids will provide an index of genes for future research on the genetic and molecular mechanism of heterosis.

Association between sarcopenia and prediabetes among non-elderly US adults

AIM

To explore the specific association between sarcopenia and prediabetes based on large population samples.

METHODS

A total of 16,116 U.S. adults aged 20-59 with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was identified from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES). Sarcopenia was defined according to appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) adjusted for body mass index (BMI). Multivariable binary logistic regression models were used to ascertain odds ratios (ORs) for developing prediabetes. Stratified analyses were also performed.

RESULTS

Prevalence of prediabetes was higher in the sarcopenia group (n = 1055) compared with the non-sarcopenia group (n = 15,061) (45.50% vs 28.74%, P < 0.001). Sarcopenia was strongly associated with an increased risk of prediabetes after full adjustment (OR = 1.21, 95CI%: 1.05, 1.39, P = 0.009). In the stratified analysis, this association remained significant independent of obesity, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. When sarcopenia subjects combined with obesity especially central obesity, the risk of prediabetes was the highest (OR = 2.63, 95CI%: 2.22, 3.11, P < 0.001). Furthermore, a greater proportion of any of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) individuals was observed in the sarcopenia group compared to the non-sarcopenia group among prediabetes population (41.72% vs 24.06%, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Sarcopenia was positively associated with prevalent prediabetes especially IGT in the non-elderly. Moreover, synergistic interactions between the sarcopenia and obesity could greatly increase the risk of prediabetes.

Peimine Inhibits MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell Growth by Modulating Inflammasome Activation: Critical Roles of MAPK and NF-κB Signaling

OBJECTIVE

Peimine (PM) is a bioactive compound obtained from Fritillaria. It has been documented that PM exhibits potent antitumor properties against multiple cancers. However, the antitumor properties of PM in breast cancer and its associated mechanisms have not been clarified.

METHODS

Proliferation and apoptosis of MCF-7 and MCF-10A cells were detected by CCK8, colony formation, and flow cytometry assays. Cytotoxicity was measured by Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage assay. The level of IL-1β and IL-18 were detected with ELISA kits. Western blotting and real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction were performed to analyze the expression of proteins and genes related to the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway and Endoplasmic reticulum stress.

RESULTS

The doses of PM (5, 10, and 20 μM) inhibited cell viability significantly, apoptotic induction, and inflammasome activation in breast cancer cells in vitro. Inflammasome components were decreased, including the apoptosisassociated speck like protein containing a CARD (ASC) and NOD-like receptor pyrindomain-containing protein3 (NLRP3), as well as the inhibition of caspase-1 and interleukin-1β activation. Moreover, inflammasome inhibitors suppressed cell growth and induced apoptosis, implying that PM suppresses the growth of breast cancer cells through regulating inflammasome. Mechanistically, PM inhibited the activity of inflammasome by alleviating endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and by down-regulating the expression of multiple proteins in transcription factor nuclear factor- κB (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signaling pathways.

CONCLUSION

These findings show that PM suppresses the growth of breast cancer cells by inhibiting inflammasome activation, to a certain extent, by primarily acting on the MAPK/NF-κB pathway's inactivation-dependent mechanisms.

Measurements of the associated production of a W boson and a charm quark in proton-proton collisions at s = 8 TeV

Measurements of the associated production of a W boson and a charm ( c ) quark in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV are reported. The analysis uses a data sample corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 19.7 fb - 1 collected by the CMS detector at the LHC. The W bosons are identified through their leptonic decays to an electron or a muon, and a neutrino. Charm quark jets are selected using distinctive signatures of charm hadron decays. The product of the cross section and branching fraction σ ( pp → W + c + X ) B ( W → ℓ ν ) , where ℓ = e or μ , and the cross section ratio σ ( pp → W + + c ¯ + X ) / σ ( pp → W - + c + X ) are measured in a fiducial volume and differentially as functions of the pseudorapidity and of the transverse momentum of the lepton from the W boson decay. The results are compared with theoretical predictions. The impact of these measurements on the determination of the strange quark distribution is assessed.

Reminiscence therapy involved care programs as an option to improve psychological disorders and patient satisfaction in elderly lung cancer patients: A randomized, controlled study

Objective

Reminiscence therapy (RT) is frequently used with elderly patients to improve their psychological status, but a few studies have examined its application in lung cancer patients. This study explored whether a reminiscence therapy-involved care program (RTICP) could improve cognitive functions, anxiety, depression, patient satisfaction, and survival in elderly lung cancer patients.

Materials and Methods

This randomized, controlled study enrolled 138 elderly post-operative lung cancer patients into two groups, an RTICP group (n = 69) and a usual care program (UCP) group (n = 69), for a 12-month intervention period and a follow-up period. During the 12-month intervention, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for anxiety (HADS-A) and depression (HADS-D), patient satisfaction, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) were evaluated.

Results

MMSE and patient satisfaction were elevated in the RTICP group compared to the UCP group at month (M) 12. Additionally, RTICP reduced HADS-A at M6, M9, and M12 and the anxiety rate at M9, HADS-D at M9, and M12 compared to UCP, whereas the depression rate was no different between the two groups at any time (all P > 0.050). Moreover, DFS and OS were no different between the two groups (all P > 0.050).

Conclusion

RTICP, considered as an optional psychological intervention, enhances cognitive functions, alleviates anxiety and depression feelings, and elevates satisfaction among elderly lung cancer patients.

[Comparison study for the proportion of underdiagnosed zonulopathy in angle closure glaucoma]

Objective: To analyze the proportion and clinical characteristics of underdiagnosed zonulopathy in angle closure glaucoma (ACG) patients and to explore the related risk factors. Methods: Case-control study. Continuous cases of ACG patients who underwent phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens implantation and goniosynechialysis surgery [ACG group, including acute angle closure glaucoma (AACG) and chronic angle closure glaucoma (CACG)] from November 1, 2020 to October 31, 2021 and age-related cataract patients who underwent phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens implantation surgery in the same period (control group) were included. The diagnosis of zonulopathy was determined according to the intraoperative signs such as wrinkles of the anterior capsule during continuous circular capsulorhexis. The proportion of zonulopathy, preoperative diagnosis rate of zonulopathy, demographic characteristics, anterior chamber depth (ACD), axis length, difference of ACD in both eyes (ACD of the contralateral eye minus ACD of the operated eye) were compared between the two groups. The related risk factors were explored. The paired t-test (comparison between two groups of normally distributed data), non-parametric test (comparison between two groups of non-normally distributed data), Chi-square test (categorical variables), univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used. Results: There were 104 ACG patients (104 eyes), including 63 AACG patients (63 eyes) and 41 CACG patients (41 eyes), and 117 controls (117 eyes). There was no significant difference in age (P=0.29) and gender (P=0.07) between the two groups. The ACG group had shallower anterior chamber (P<0.001), shorter axial length (P<0.001) and more ACD difference in both eyes (P<0.001). In the ACG group, the proportion of zonulopathy was 46.2% (48/104), which was significantly higher than that (6.0%, 7/117) in the control group (P<0.001). In the control group, only zonular laxity was found, while in the ACG group, besides the predominant zonular laxity (68.8%, 33/48), there was zonular dehiscence (31.3%, 15/48). The eyes with AACG (57.1%, 36/63) had a higher proportion of zonulopathy than those with CACG (29.3%, 12/41) (P=0.006). In the ACG group, only 14 cases (29.8%) were diagnosed preoperatively according to slit lamp examination and/or ultrasound biomicroscopy. The proportion of underdiagnosed zonulopathy was 70.8% in the ACG group (34/48). A smaller ACD was found to be related to the zonulopathy in the ACG group. All AACG cases with an ACD ≤2.0 mm and CACG cases with an ACD ≤1.9 mm had zonulopathy. Multivariate logistic regression showed that the ACD difference in both eyes (P=0.025) and the diagnosis of ACG (AACG vs. cataract, P<0.001; CACG vs. cataract, P=0.023) were independent risk factors associated with zonulopathy. Conclusions: The proportion of underdiagnosed zonulopathy among ACG patients is high. Better preoperative diagnostic methods for zonulopathy are needed. Zonulopathy is common in ACG patients, especially in AACG patients, suggesting that zonulopathy may be related to the pathogenesis of ACG. The shallower the ACD, the riskier the zonulopathy. ACD differences between two eyes and ACG types (including AACG and CACG) were related risk factors of zonulopathy.(This article was published ahead of print on the Online-First Publishing Platform for Excellent Scientific Researches of Chinese Medical Association Publishing House on March 11, 2022).

Andrographolide restored production performances and serum biochemical indexes and attenuated organs damage in Mycoplasma gallisepticum-infected broilers

1. This study aimed to study the preventive and therapeutic effects of andrographolide (Andro) during Mycoplasma gallisepticum HS strain (MG) infection in ArborAcres (AA) broilers.2. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Andro against MG was measured. Broiler body weight, feed efficiency, morbidity, cure rate and mortality were recorded during the experiment. Air sac lesion scores and immune organ index were calculated. Expression of pMGA1.2 in lung tissue and serum biochemical indices were examined. Histopathological examinations of immune organs, liver, trachea and lung tissue were conducted by Haematoxylin and Eosin stain.3. MIC was 3.75 μg/mL and Andro significantly inhibited the expression of pMGA1.2 (P ≤ 0.05). Compared with control MG-infected group, Andro low-dose and high-dose prevention reduced the morbidity of chronic respiratory disease in 40.00% and 50.00%, respectively. Mortality of C, D and E group was 16.67%, 10.00% and 6.67%, respectively. Cure rate of E, F, G and H group was 92.00%, 92.86%, 93.33% and 100.0%, respectively. Compared with control MG-infected group, Andro treatment significantly increased average weight gain (AWG), relative weight gain rate (RWG) and feed conversion rate (FCR) at 18 to 24 days (P ≤ 0.05). Compared with control group, Andro alone treatment significantly increased AWG in broilers (P ≤ 0.05).4. Compared with control MG-infected group, Andro significantly attenuated MG-induced air sac lesion, immune organs, liver, trachea and lung damage in broilers. Andro alone treatment did not induce abnormal morphological changes in these organs in healthy broilers. Serum biochemical analysis results showed, comparing with control MG-infected group, Andro significantly decreased the content of total protein, albumin, globulin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin, urea, creatinine, uric acid, total cholesterol, and increased the albumin/globulin ratio and content of alkaline phosphatase, apolipoprotein B and apolipoprotein A-I in a dose-dependent manner (P ≤ 0.05).5. Andro could act as a potential agent against MG infection in broilers.