Human lineage mutations regulate RNA-protein binding of conserved genes NTRK2 and ITPR1 involved in human evolution

Background

The role of human lineage mutations (HLMs) in human evolution through post-transcriptional modification is unclear.

Aims

To investigate the contribution of HLMs to human evolution through post-transcriptional modification.

Methods

We applied a deep learning model Seqweaver to predict how HLMs impact RNA-binding protein affinity.

Results

We found that only 0.27% of HLMs had significant impacts on RNA-binding proteins at the threshold of the top 1% of human common variations. These HLMs enriched in a set of conserved genes highly expressed in adult excitatory neurons and prenatal Purkinje neurons, and were involved in synapse organisation and the GTPase pathway. These genes also carried excess damaging coding mutations that caused neurodevelopmental disorders, ataxia and schizophrenia. Among these genes, NTRK2 and ITPR1 had the most aggregated evidence of functional importance, suggesting their essential roles in cognition and bipedalism.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that a small subset of human-specific mutations have contributed to human speciation through impacts on post-transcriptional modification of critical brain-related genes.

Haplotype function score improves biological interpretation and cross-ancestry polygenic prediction of human complex traits

We propose a new framework for human genetic association studies: at each locus, a deep learning model (in this study, Sei) is used to calculate the functional genomic activity score for two haplotypes per individual. This score, defined as the Haplotype Function Score (HFS), replaces the original genotype in association studies. Applying the HFS framework to 14 complex traits in the UK Biobank, we identified 3619 independent HFS-trait associations with a significance of p < 5 × 10-8. Fine-mapping revealed 2699 causal associations, corresponding to a median increase of 63 causal findings per trait compared with single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based analysis. HFS-based enrichment analysis uncovered 727 pathway-trait associations and 153 tissue-trait associations with strong biological interpretability, including 'circadian pathway-chronotype' and 'arachidonic acid-intelligence'. Lastly, we applied least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression to integrate HFS prediction score with SNP-based polygenic risk scores, which showed an improvement of 16.1-39.8% in cross-ancestry polygenic prediction. We concluded that HFS is a promising strategy for understanding the genetic basis of human complex traits.

Personalised follow-up and management schema for patients with screen-detected pulmonary nodules: A dynamic modelling study

BACKGROUND

Selecting the time target for follow-up testing in lung cancer screening is challenging. We aim to devise dynamic, personalized lung cancer screening schema for patients with pulmonary nodules detected through low-dose computed tomography.

METHODS

We developed and validated dynamic models using data of pulmonary nodule patients (aged 55-74 years) from the National Lung Screening Trial. We predicted patient-specific risk profiles at baseline (R0) and updated the risk evaluation results in repeated screening rounds (R1 and R2). We used risk cutoffs to optimize time-dependent sensitivity at an early decision point (3 months) and time-dependent specificity at a late decision point (1 year).

RESULTS

In validation, area under receiver operating characteristic curve for predicting 12-month lung cancer onset was 0.867 (95 % confidence interval: 0.827-0.894) and 0.807 (0.765-0.948) at R0 and R1-R2, respectively. The personalized schema, compared with National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guideline and Lung-RADS, yielded lower rates of delayed diagnosis (1.7% vs. 1.7% vs. 6.9 %) and over-testing (4.9% vs. 5.6% vs. 5.6 %) at R0, and lower rates of delayed diagnosis (0.0% vs. 18.2% vs. 18.2 %) and over-testing (2.6% vs. 8.3% vs. 7.3 %) at R2. Earlier test recommendation among cancer patients was more frequent using the personalized schema (vs. NCCN: 29.8% vs. 20.9 %, p = 0.0065; vs. Lung-RADS: 33.2% vs. 22.8 %, p = 0.0025), especially for women, patients aged ≥65 years, and part-solid or non-solid nodules.

CONCLUSIONS

The personalized schema is easy-to-implement and more accurate compared with rule-based protocols. The results highlight value of personalized approaches in realizing efficient nodule management.

Rev-erbα attenuates refractory periapical periodontitis via M1 polarization: An in vitro and in vivo study

AIM

Rev-erbα has been reported to regulate the healing of inflammatory lesions through its effect on the immune system in a variety of inflammatory disease. Moreover, the balance of macrophages polarization plays a crucial role in immune response and inflammatory progression. However, in refractory periapical periodontitis (RAP), the role of Rev-erbα in inflammatory response and bone resorption by regulating macrophage polarization remains unclarified. The aims of the present study were to investigate the expression of Rev-erbα in experimental RAP and to explore the relationship between Rev-erbα and macrophage polarization through the application of its pharmacological agonist SR9009 into the in vivo and in vitro experiments.

METHODOLOGY

Enterococcus faecalis-induced RAP models were established in SD rats. Histological staining and micro-computed tomography scanning were used to evaluate osteoclastogenesis and alveolar bone resorption. The expression of Rev-erbα and macrophage polarization were detected in the periapical tissues from rats by immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, and western blots. Furthermore, immunohistochemical staining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were performed to explore the relationship between Rev-erbα and inflammatory cytokines related to macrophage polarization.

RESULT

Compared to healthy periapical tissue, the expression of Rev-erbα was significantly down-regulated in macrophages from inflammatory periapical area, especially in Enterococcus faecalis-induced periapical lesions, with obvious type-1 macrophage (M1)-like dominance and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In addition, Rev-erbα activation by SR9009 could induce type-2 macrophage (M2)-like polarization in periapical tissue and THP1 cell line, followed by increased secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and TGF-β. Furthermore, intracanal application of SR9009 reduced the lesion size and promoted the repair of RAP by decreasing the number of osteoclasts and enhancing the formation of mineralized tissue in periapical inflammatory lesions.

CONCLUSIONS

Rev-erbα played an essential role in the pathogenesis of RAP through its effect on macrophage polarization. Targeting Rev-erbα might be a promising and prospective therapy method for the prevention and management of RAP.

[Incidence of postoperative complications in Chinese patients with gastric or colorectal cancer based on a national, multicenter, prospective, cohort study]

Objective: To investigate the incidence of postoperative complications in Chinese patients with gastric or colorectal cancer, and to evaluate the risk factors for postoperative complications. Methods: This was a national, multicenter, prospective, registry-based, cohort study of data obtained from the database of the Prevalence of Abdominal Complications After Gastro- enterological Surgery (PACAGE) study sponsored by the China Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgical Union. The PACAGE database prospectively collected general demographic characteristics, protocols for perioperative treatment, and variables associated with postoperative complications in patients treated for gastric or colorectal cancer in 20 medical centers from December 2018 to December 2020. The patients were grouped according to the presence or absence of postoperative complications. Postoperative complications were categorized and graded in accordance with the expert consensus on postoperative complications in gastrointestinal oncology surgery and Clavien-Dindo grading criteria. The incidence of postoperative complications of different grades are presented as bar charts. Independent risk factors for occurrence of postoperative complications were identified by multifactorial unconditional logistic regression. Results: The study cohort comprised 3926 patients with gastric or colorectal cancer, 657 (16.7%) of whom had a total of 876 postoperative complications. Serious complications (Grade III and above) occurred in 4.0% of patients (156/3926). The rate of Grade V complications was 0.2% (7/3926). The cohort included 2271 patients with gastric cancer with a postoperative complication rate of 18.1% (412/2271) and serious complication rate of 4.7% (106/2271); and 1655 with colorectal cancer, with a postoperative complication rate of 14.8% (245/1655) and serious complication rate of 3.0% (50/1655). The incidences of anastomotic leakage in patients with gastric and colorectal cancer were 3.3% (74/2271) and 3.4% (56/1655), respectively. Abdominal infection was the most frequently occurring complication, accounting for 28.7% (164/572) and 39.5% (120/304) of postoperative complications in patients with gastric and colorectal cancer, respectively. The most frequently occurring grade of postoperative complication was Grade II, accounting for 65.4% (374/572) and 56.6% (172/304) of complications in patients with gastric and colorectal cancers, respectively. Multifactorial analysis identified (1) the following independent risk factors for postoperative complications in patients in the gastric cancer group: preoperative comorbidities (OR=2.54, 95%CI: 1.51-4.28, P<0.001), neoadjuvant therapy (OR=1.42, 95%CI:1.06-1.89, P=0.020), high American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) scores (ASA score 2 points:OR=1.60, 95% CI: 1.23-2.07, P<0.001, ASA score ≥3 points:OR=0.43, 95% CI: 0.25-0.73, P=0.002), operative time >180 minutes (OR=1.81, 95% CI: 1.42-2.31, P<0.001), intraoperative bleeding >50 mL (OR=1.29,95%CI: 1.01-1.63, P=0.038), and distal gastrectomy compared with total gastrectomy (OR=0.65,95%CI: 0.51-0.83, P<0.001); and (2) the following independent risk factors for postoperative complications in patients in the colorectal cancer group: female (OR=0.60, 95%CI: 0.44-0.80, P<0.001), preoperative comorbidities (OR=2.73, 95%CI: 1.25-5.99, P=0.030), neoadjuvant therapy (OR=1.83, 95%CI:1.23-2.72, P=0.008), laparoscopic surgery (OR=0.47, 95%CI: 0.30-0.72, P=0.022), and abdominoperineal resection compared with low anterior resection (OR=2.74, 95%CI: 1.71-4.41, P<0.001). Conclusion: Postoperative complications associated with various types of infection were the most frequent complications in patients with gastric or colorectal cancer. Although the risk factors for postoperative complications differed between patients with gastric cancer and those with colorectal cancer, the presence of preoperative comorbidities, administration of neoadjuvant therapy, and extent of surgical resection, were the commonest factors associated with postoperative complications in patients of both categories.

n-Type boron β-diketone-containing conjugated polymers for high-performance room temperature ammonia sensors

Organic semiconductor (OSC) gas sensors with good mechanical flexibility have received considerable attention as commercial and wearable devices. However, due to poor resistance to moisture and low conductivity, the improvement in the sensing capability of individual OSCs is limited. Reported here is a promising pathway to construct a series of conjugated organic polymers (COPs) with well-defined pyrimidine (Py-COP) or boron β-diketone (BF-COP) units. Unlike traditional metal- or carbon-based hybrid materials, the developed COPs can provide abundant absorption sites for gaseous analytes. As a result, the as-prepared BF-COP results in an excellent sensing response of over 1500 (Ra/Rg) toward 40 ppm of NH3 at room temperature, which is the highest value among those of pristine COPs as n-type sensing materials. Notably, they can maintain their initial sensing responses for two months and 90% relative humidity resistance. Combining the results of in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and theoretical calculations, the β-diketone skeleton is found to activate the surface electronic environment, verifying that the electron-deficient B ← O groups are adsorption centers. The B/N-heterocyclic decoration effectively modulates the redox properties and electronic interactions, as well as perturbs charge transfer in typical π-conjugated COPs. These results offer insight into developing highly efficient OSC gas sensors, which potentially have broadened sensing applications in the areas of organoboron chemistry.

Vegetation-fire feedbacks increase subtropical wildfire risk in scrubland and reduce it in forests

Climate dictates wildfire activity around the world. But East and Southeast Asia are an apparent exception as fire-activity variation there is unrelated to climatic variables. In subtropical China, fire activity decreased by 80% between 2003 and 2020 amid increased fire risks globally. Here, we assessed the fire regime, vegetation structure, fuel flammability and their interactions across subtropical Hubei, China. We show that tree basal area (TBA) and fuel flammability explained 60% of fire-frequency variance. Fire frequency and fuel flammability, in turn, explained 90% of TBA variance. These results reveal a novel system of scrubland-forest stabilized by vegetation-fire feedbacks. Frequent fires promote the persistence of derelict scrubland through positive vegetation-fire feedbacks; in forest, vegetation-fire feedbacks are negative and suppress fire. Thus, we attribute the decrease in wildfire activity to reforestation programs that concurrently increase forest coverage and foster negative vegetation-fire feedbacks that suppress wildfire.

[Effects of immune responses mediated by topological structures of three-dimensional bioprinted scaffolds on hair follicle cycle in mice]

Objective: To explore the effects of the immune responses mediated by topological structures of three-dimensional bioprinted scaffolds on hair follicle cycle in mice. Methods: The study was an experimental research. The alginate-gelatin composite hydrogels were printed into scaffolds using a three-dimensional bioprinter and named T45 scaffolds, T60 scaffolds, and T90 scaffolds according to the 3 topological structures of the scaffolds (the rotation angles of the printhead during printing were 45°, 60°, and 90°, respectively), and the morphology of the three scaffolds was observed after cross-linking by naked eyes. Nine 8-week-old female C57BL/6J mice were divided into T45 group, T60 group, and T90 group, according to the random number table, with three mice in each group, and the T45, T60, and T90 scaffolds were subcutaneously implanted on the back of mice, respectively. On post implantation day (PID) 7, the hair growth in the dorsal depilated area of mice was observed, the thickness of the fiber capsule around the scaffolds was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining, and the expression levels of CD68, bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) protein in the tissue surrounding the scaffolds were observed by immunofluorescence staining. The samples of the above experiments were all 3. Results: The topological structures of the three scaffolds were all clear with high fidelity after cross-linking. On PID 7, the hair growth was obvious in the dorsal depilated area of mice in T45 group and T90 group, while hair growth was slow in the scaffold implantation area of mice in T60 group, which was significantly different from that of the unimplanted area. On PID 7, compared with (18±4) μm in T90 group, the thickness of both the fiber capsule around the scaffolds ((39±4) and (55±8) μm) of mice in T45 group and T60 group was significantly increased (P<0.05); the thickness of the fiber capsule around the scaffolds of mice in T60 group was also significantly increased compared with that in T45 group (P<0.05). On PID 7, the expression level of CD68 protein in the tissue surrounding the scaffolds of mice in T60 group was significantly higher than the levels in T45 group and T90 group (with both P values <0.05). The expression level of BMP-2 protein in the tissue surrounding the scaffolds of mice in T60 group was significantly higher than the levels in T45 group and T90 group (with both P values <0.05), and the expression level of BMP-2 protein in the tissue surrounding the scaffolds of mice in T45 group was significantly higher than that in T90 group (P<0.05). The expression level of TNF protein in the tissue surrounding the scaffolds of mice in T60 group was significantly lower than the levels in T45 group and T90 group (with both P values <0.05). Conclusions: Three-dimensional bioprinted scaffolds with different topological structures mediate different degrees of immune responses after being implanted in mice. A moderate immune response promotes hair growth in depilated area of mice, while an excessive immune response results inhibits the hair follicle entering into the anagen phase.

Scoparone from Artemisia capillaris Thunb. induces apoptosis in HepG2 cells via activation of both intracellular and extracellular pathways

Six separated compounds were identified from Artemisia capillaris Thunb., and they were 7-methoxycoumarin (1), 6,7-dimethoxycoumarin (2), 7-hydroxy-6-methoxycoumarin (3), quercetin (4), chlorogenic acid (5) and caffeic acid (6). Among them, 6,7-dimethoxycoumarin, as known as scoparone, was the most effective on scavenging ABTS free radicals (IC50 = 0.97 μΜ) and was then tested by cytotoxic activity and pro-apoptotic activity against HepG2 cells. Scoparone dose-dependently and time-dependently inhibited the cell proliferation. Furthermore, scoparone induced the expression of Bax, concurrently suppressing the expression of Bcl-2, resulting in a noteworthy elevation in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio to up-regulate Caspase-3 activity, thus inducing cell apoptosis via the intracellular pathway. Meanwhile, scoparone promoted the expression of Fas, FasL, FADD, Caspase-8 and Caspase-3, indicating that scoparone also triggered apoptosis via the extracellular pathway. In a word, scoparone demonstrated remarkable antitumor capability to induce apoptosis of HepG2 cells through both intracellular and extracellular pathways.

Rhesus monkeys exhibiting spontaneous ritualistic behaviors resembling obsessive-compulsive disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic and debilitating psychiatric disorder that affects ∼2%-3% of the population globally. Studying spontaneous OCD-like behaviors in non-human primates may improve our understanding of the disorder. In large rhesus monkey colonies, we found 10 monkeys spontaneously exhibiting persistent sequential motor behaviors (SMBs) in individual-specific sequences that were repetitive, time-consuming and stable over prolonged periods. Genetic analysis revealed severely damaging mutations in genes associated with OCD risk in humans. Brain imaging showed that monkeys with SMBs had larger gray matter (GM) volumes in the left caudate nucleus and lower fractional anisotropy of the corpus callosum. The GM volume of the left caudate nucleus correlated positively with the daily duration of SMBs. Notably, exposure to a stressor (human presence) significantly increased SMBs. In addition, fluoxetine, a serotonergic medication commonly used for OCD, decreased SMBs in these monkeys. These findings provide a novel foundation for developing better understanding and treatment of OCD.

Repeated methamphetamine exposure decreases plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in rhesus monkeys

Background

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is known to prevent methamphetamine (METH)-induced neurotoxicity and plays a role in various stages of METH addiction. However, there is a lack of research with longitudinal design on changes in plasma BDNF levels in active METH-dependent individuals.

Aims

The aim of the study was to investigate changes in BDNF levels during METH self-administration in monkeys.

Methods

This study measured plasma BDNF levels in three male rhesus monkeys with continuous METH exposure and four male control rhesus monkeys without METH exposure. Changes in plasma BDNF levels were then assessed longitudinally during 40 sessions of METH self-administration in the three monkeys.

Results

Repeated METH exposure decreased plasma BDNF levels. Additionally, plasma BDNF decreased with long-term rather than short-term accumulation of METH during METH self-administration.

Conclusions

These findings may indicate that the changes in peripheral BDNF may reflect the quantity of accumulative METH intake during a frequent drug use period.

Inferring the Effects of Protein Variants on Protein-Protein Interactions with Interpretable Transformer Representations

Identifying pathogenetic variants and inferring their impact on protein-protein interactions sheds light on their functional consequences on diseases. Limited by the availability of experimental data on the consequences of protein interaction, most existing methods focus on building models to predict changes in protein binding affinity. Here, we introduced MIPPI, an end-to-end, interpretable transformer-based deep learning model that learns features directly from sequences by leveraging the interaction data from IMEx. MIPPI was specifically trained to determine the types of variant impact (increasing, decreasing, disrupting, and no effect) on protein-protein interactions. We demonstrate the accuracy of MIPPI and provide interpretation through the analysis of learned attention weights, which exhibit correlations with the amino acids interacting with the variant. Moreover, we showed the practicality of MIPPI in prioritizing de novo mutations associated with complex neurodevelopmental disorders and the potential to determine the pathogenic and driving mutations. Finally, we experimentally validated the functional impact of several variants identified in patients with such disorders. Overall, MIPPI emerges as a versatile, robust, and interpretable model, capable of effectively predicting mutation impacts on protein-protein interactions and facilitating the discovery of clinically actionable variants.

Incidence and prevalence of alopecia areata in the Australian primary care setting: A retrospective analysis of electronic health record data

BACKGROUND

Alopecia areata (AA) is a common immune-mediated non-scarring hair loss, with a worldwide incidence between 0.57% and 3.8%. The incidence and prevalence of AA in the Australian general population have not been previously reported.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the incidence and prevalence of AA in Australia using primary care data. A secondary objective was to identify common demographic characteristics, comorbidities and treatment patterns among Australians living with AA.

METHODS

We analysed electronic health record data captured from a national clinical practice management software over a 10-year index period between 2011 and 2020 calendar years, inclusive. The incidence of new-onset AA and the prevalence of active records with AA were estimated. Differences in incidence by sociodemographic groups, and patterns of treatment were also evaluated.

RESULTS

There were 976 incident AA records. The incidence of new-onset AA in the total study cohort was 0.278 per 1000 person-years (95% CI 0.26-0.295). By age, the incidence was highest in the 19- to 34-year-old age bracket (0.503 per 1000 person-years: 95% CI 0.453-0.554). AA incidence was lower among females than males (IRR 0.763, p < 0.001, 95% CI 0.673-0.865). Among active records, 520 were prevalent AA records. AA point prevalence at 31/12/2020 was 0.13% (1.26 per 1000 persons; 95% CI 1.15-1.37).

CONCLUSION

This is the first study to describe the epidemiology (incidence and point prevalence) and management of AA in the Australian primary health-care population through large-scale database analysis. Incidence and prevalence findings were consistent with earlier estimates from other regions.

[Effects of RNA M6A demethylase ALKBH5 gene deficiency on morphology and function of cerebellum in aged mice]

Objective: To investigate the effects of RNA m6A demethylase ALKBH5 gene deficiency on cerebellar morphology and function in the aged mice, and to explore the role of ALKBH5 in cerebellar degeneration. Methods: Western blot was performed to detect the protein level of ALKBH5 in the cerebellum of wild-type mice of various ages. The expression of NeuN, Calbindin-D28K, MAP2, GFAP and other proteins in the cerebella of middle-aged (12-month-old) and aged (18-month-old) wild-type mice and ALKBH5^-/- mice was examined using immunohistochemistry. The balance beam test and gait analysis were performed to test the balance ability and motor coordination of the mice. Results: With aging of the mice, the expression of ALKBH5 in the cerebellum increased gradually in an age-dependent manner. In the aged mice, but not middle-aged mice, the body weight, whole brain weight and cerebellum weight of ALKBH5^-/- mice decreased by 15%, 10% and 21%, respectively (P<0.05). The expression of ALKBH5 in the Purkinje cells was much higher than that in other types of neural cells. Correspondingly, ALKBH5-deficiency caused 40% reduction in the number of Purkinje cells, as well as the length and density of neuronal dendrites in the aged mice (P<0.01). In addition, the time for the aged ALKBH5^-/- mice to pass the balance beam was 70% longer than that of the wild type mice of the same age, with unstable gaits (P<0.01). Conclusions: Gene deficiency of RNA m6A demethylase ALKBH5 causes cerebellar atrophy, Purkinje neuron loss and damage in the aged mice. These changes eventually affect mice's motor coordination and balance ability. These results suggest that imbalanced RNA m6A methylation may lead to neurodegenerative lesions in the cerebellum of mice.

Suvemcitug as second-line treatment of advanced or metastatic solid tumors and with FOLFIRI for pretreated metastatic colorectal cancer: phase Ia/Ib open label, dose-escalation trials

BACKGROUND

Suvemcitug (BD0801), a novel humanized rabbit monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor, has demonstrated promising antitumor activities in preclinical studies.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The phase Ia/b trials investigated the safety and tolerability and antitumor activities of suvemcitug for pretreated advanced solid tumors and in combination with FOLFIRI (leucovorin and fluorouracil plus irinotecan) in second-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer using a 3 + 3 dose-escalation design. Patients received escalating doses of suvemcitug (phase Ia: 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7.5 mg/kg; phase Ib: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 mg/kg plus FOLFIRI). The primary endpoint was safety and tolerability in both trials.

RESULTS

All patients in the phase Ia trial had at least one adverse event (AE). Dose-limiting toxicities included grade 3 hyperbilirubinemia (one patient), hypertension and proteinuria (one patient), and proteinuria (one patient). The maximum tolerated dose was 5 mg/kg. The most common grade 3 and above AEs were proteinuria (9/25, 36%) and hypertension (8/25, 32%). Forty-eight patients (85.7%) in phase Ib had grade 3 and above AEs, including neutropenia (25/56, 44.6%), reduced leucocyte count (12/56, 21.4%), proteinuria (10/56, 17.9%), and elevated blood pressure (9/56, 16.1%). Only 1 patient in the phase Ia trial showed partial response, [objective response rate 4.0%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.1% to 20.4%] whereas 18/53 patients in the phase Ib trial exhibited partial response (objective response rate 34.0%, 95% CI 21.5% to 48.3%). The median progression-free survival was 7.2 months (95% CI 5.1-8.7 months).

CONCLUSIONS

Suvemcitug has an acceptable toxicity profile and exhibits antitumor activities in pretreated patients with advanced solid tumors or metastatic colorectal cancer.

Lactobacillus coryniformis subsp. torquens inhibits bone loss in obese mice via modification of the gut microbiota

High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity results in bone loss associated with an imbalanced gut microbiota and altered immune status. Probiotics are live microorganisms that are beneficial to the host and are important in maintaining bone health and gut homeostasis. In this study, the probiotic Lactobacillus coryniformis subsp. torquens (T3L) was isolated from traditional yak milk cheese produced in Lhasa and showed distinct acid and bile salt resistance as potential probiotics. Our data indicated that T3L not only reversed HFD-induced gut dysbiosis, as indicated by decreased Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratios but also reduced bone loss. The anti-obesity, microbiome-modulating, and bone-protective effects were transmissible via horizontal faeces transfer from T3L-treated mice to HFD-fed mice. The protective effects of T3L on bone mass were associated with regulatory T (Treg) cell-mediated inhibition of osteoclast differentiation. Our data indicate that T3L is a regulator of the gut microbiota and bone homeostasis in an animal model.

Heterocyclic Modulated Electronic States of Alkynyl-Containing Conjugated Microporous Polymers for Efficient Oxygen Reduction

The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is a key process in green energy conversion technology. Heteroatom doping has been proven to be a prospective strategy to prepare metal-free carbon-based electrocatalysts, but such methods often suffer from uncontrollable catalyst frameworks and imprecise active sites. Herein, an organic heterocyclic strategy is adopted to modulate the charge redistribution of alkynyl-containing conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs) by introducing varied five-membered heterocyclic structures. Among these CMPs, the S, 2N-containing thiadiazole heterocyclic molecule (CMP-Tdz) with carbonized alginate materials (C_CA ) displays a remarkable quasi-four-electron-transfer ORR pathway, exhibiting an excellent half-wave potential (E_1/2 ) of 0.77 V, coupled with superior methanol tolerance and electrochemical stability, which are among the highest performance in the metal-free organic catalytic material systems. Density functional theory calculations prove that the high catalytic performance of these catalysts originates from the sp-hybridized C atom (site-2) which is activated by their adjacent heterocyclic structures. Importantly, the five-membered heterocyclic structures can also modulate the local charge distribution, and increase dipole moment, with significantly improved catalytic kinetics. This incorporation of chemically designed heterocyclic-containing alkynyl-CMPs provides a new approach to developing efficient metal-free carbon-based electrocatalysts for fuel cells.

Emergent Majorana zero-modes in an intrinsic anti-ferromagnetic topological superconductor Mn2B2 monolayer

Topological superconductors (TSCs) are an exotic field due to the existence of Majorana zero-modes (MZM) in the edge states that obey non-Abelian statistics and can be used to implement topological quantum computations, especially for two-dimensional (2D) materials. Here we predict manganese diboride (Mn₂B₂) as an intrinsic 2D anti-ferromagnetic (AFM) TSC based on the magnetic and electronic structures of Mn and B atoms. Once Mn₂B₂ ML enters a superconducting state, MZM will be induced by the spin-polarized helical gapless edge states. The Z₂ topological non-trivial properties are confirmed by Wannier charge centers (WCC) and the platform of the spin Hall conductivity near the Fermi level. Phonon-electron coupling (EPC) implies s-wave superconductivity and the critical temperature (T_c) is 6.79 K.

Metal-Free Carbon-Based Covalent Organic Frameworks with Heteroatom-Free Units Boost Efficient Oxygen Reduction

Accurate identification of carbon-based metal-free electrocatalyst (CMFE) activity and enhancing their catalytic efficiency for O₂ conversion is an urgent and challenging task. This study reports a promising strategy to simultaneously develop a series of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) with well-defined heterocyclic-free biphenyl or fluorenyl units. Unlike heteroatom doping, the developed method not only supplies methyl-induced molecular configuration to promote activity, but also provides a direct opportunity to identify heteroatom-free carbon active centers. The introduction of methyl groups (MGs) with reversible valence bonds into a pristine biphenyl-based COF results in an excellent performance with a half-wave potential of 0.74 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), which is among the highest values for CMFE-COFs as oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysts. Combined with in situ Raman spectra and theoretical calculations, the MG-bound skeleton (DAF-COF) is found to produce ortho activation, confirming the ortho carbon (site-5) adjacent to MGs as active centers. This may be attributed to the opening and binding of MGs, which effectively regulate the molecular configuration and charge redistribution, as well as improve charge transfer and reduce the energy barrier. This study provides insight into the design of highly efficient metal-free organic electrocatalysts via the regulation of valence bonds.

The Role of Sarcopenia in Overactive Bladder in Adults in the United States: Retrospective Analysis of NHANES 2011-2018

PURPOSE

To investigate the association between sarcopenia and overactive bladder (OAB) in a United States adult population from 2011 to 2018, and whether sarcopenia can predict the risk of OAB.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We analyzed data from the 2011-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in a cross-sectional study(NHANES) of 8746 participants, of whom 1213 were diagnosed with OAB, we analyzed correlations by sex, age, race, education level, marital status, household income-to-poverty ratio, hypertension, diabetes, strenuous work activity, moderate work activity, strenuous recreational activity, moderate recreational activity, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and uric acid levels using restricted cubic spline plots of dose-response curves, univariate and multivariate Logistic regression. Models based on sex, age, education, household income to poverty ratio, hypertension, diabetes, sarcopenia index, and cotinine were developed and evaluated using Nomogram, calibration curves, receiver operating characteristic curves, and clinical decision curves.

RESULTS

Of the 1213 OAB patients, 388 (32.0%) were male and 825 (68.0%) were female. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that sarcopenia index was negatively correlated with the prevalence of OAB (OR=0.084, 95% CI, 0.056 - 0.130, P <0.001;OR=0.456, 95%CI, 0.215-0.968, P= 0.0041). Dose curve analysis of the sarcopenia index and prevalence of OAB showed that the prevalence of OAB decreased significantly with increasing sarcopenia index. Sarcopenia was positively correlated with OAB (OR=2.400, 95%CI, 2.000 - 2.800, P <0.001;OR=1.46, 95%CI, 1.096 -1.953, P = 0.010). In addition, our model shows that sarcopenia can predict the prevalence of OAB (AUC = 0.750) and has some clinical decision-making implications.

CONCLUSION

Sarcopenia is positively associated with the risk of OAB in United States adults and can be used as a predictor of OAB prevalence.

[Soft tissue reconstruction strategy for sacral tumor resection]

Objective: To investigate the clinical strategy and effect of soft tissue reconstruction after sacral tumor resection in different planes. Methods: The data of 27 consecutive patients who underwent primary or secondary sacral tumor resection and soft tissue reconstruction from June 2012 to June 2021 at Dongnan Hospital of Xiamen University (the 909th Hospital) were retrospectively analyzed. There were 11 males and 16 females, aged (M(IQR)) (46.2±23.6) years (range: 16 to 72 years). Sacrospinous muscle, gluteus maximus and vertical rectus abdominis muscle flap were selected for soft tissue reconstruction according to the tumor site and the size of tissue defect. the postoperative follow-up was performed. The operative methods, intraoperative conditions, complications and disease outcomes were summarized. Results: Among the 27 patients with sacral tumor, the tumor plane was located in S₁ in 8 cases, S₂ in 5 cases and S₃ or below in 14 cases. There were 12 patients with tumor volume≤400 cm³ and 15 patients with tumor volume>400 cm³. Operation time was 100(90) minutes (range: 70 to 610 minutes), intraoperative blood loss was 800(1 600) ml (range: 400 to 6 500 ml). Soft tissue reconstruction was performed by transabdominal rectus abdominis transfer repair in 2 cases, extraperitoneal rectus abdominis transfer repair in 1 case, gluteus maximus transfer repair in 5 cases, gluteus maximus advancement repair in 13 cases, and sacrospinous muscle transfer repair in 6 cases. Postoperative complications occurred in 6 cases, including 1 case of incision infection, 4 cases of skin border necrosis, and 1 case of delayed infection due to fracture of internal fixator 3 years after operation, all of them were cured. The follow-up time was (35±21) months. Among the patients, 6 patients had recurrence, 2 patients with Ewing sarcoma died of lung metastasis 1 year after operation, 4 patients with metastatic cancer died of primary disease, and the remaining patients survived without disease. Conclusion: Choosing different soft tissue reconstruction strategies according to sacral tumor location and tissue defect size can effectively fill the dead space after sacral tumor resection, reduce postoperative complications and improve the prognosis of patients.

[Comparative study of gap balancing and measured resection technique in patients receiving staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty]

Objective: To compare the clinical outcomes of staged total knee arthroplasty (TKA) performed on both knees in the same patient using gap balancing (GB) and measured resection (MR) techniques, respectively. Methods: The clinical data of 57 patients undergoing bilateral staged TKA at the Xi'an Jiaotong University Affiliated Honghui Hospital from July 2018 to January 2020 were analyzed. Using the random number table, MR or GB technique was selected when patients underwent primary TKA, and contralateral procedure was done with another technique. The procedures were performed by one chief surgeon, and the same prosthesis was chosen for all the procedures. The two osteotomy techniques for TKA were compared in terms of surgical status, radiographic data, functional recovery and satisfaction rate. Results: Total of 57 patients, including 16 males and 41 females, were included in the study with a mean age of (68.5±4.6) years (59-79 years) at primary TKA. All patients were followed up for (29.6±4.5) months (22-39 months). The interval between the two procedures was (4.7±3.0) months (0.5-12.0 months). Postoperative drainage was less in the GB side when compared with that in the MR side [(93.6±22.2) ml vs (109.9±36.9) ml, P=0.003]. At the 1-month postoperative follow-up, the visual analogue scale (VAS) of pain was lower on the GB side (3.0±0.8) than on the MR side (3.5±1.2), the range of motion (ROM) was higher on the GB side (105.7°±8.2° vs 100.2°±7.5°), the Knee Society Score (KSS) was higher on the GB side (78.5±5.4 vs 74.2±6.3), and the Western Ontario and McMaster University (WOMAC) score was lower on the GB side (35.4±5.5 vs 38.0±6.3), there were significant differences in the up-mentioned indexes between the two groups (all P<0.05). However, the repeated-measures analysis of variance indicated that there was no significant difference in VAS score, ROM, KSS score and WOMAC score between the two techniques (all P>0.05). The satisfactory rate of GB technique was 84.2%(48/57), ant it was 86.0%(49/57) with MR technique (P=0.446). There was also no significant difference between the two techniques in terms of complications (P=0.754). Conclusion: Both the GB and MR technique result in good knee function with similar clinical outcomes in patients receiving TKA in both knees for osteoarthritis without significant deformity.

Locus-level antagonistic selection shaped the polygenic architecture of human complex diseases

BACKGROUND

We aimed to evaluate the potential role of antagonistic selection in polygenic diseases: if one variant increases the risk of one disease and decreases the risk of another disease, the signals of genetic risk elimination by natural selection will be distorted, which leads to a higher frequency of risk alleles.

METHODS

We applied local genetic correlations and transcriptome-wide association studies to identify genomic loci and genes adversely associated with at least two diseases. Then, we used different population genetic metrics to measure the signals of natural selection for these loci and genes.

RESULTS

First, we identified 2120 cases of antagonistic pleiotropy (negative local genetic correlation) among 87 diseases in 716 genomic loci (antagonistic loci). Next, by comparing with non-antagonistic loci, we observed that antagonistic loci explained an excess proportion of disease heritability (median 6%), showed enhanced signals of balancing selection, and reduced signals of directional polygenic adaptation. Then, at the gene expression level, we identified 31,991 cases of antagonistic pleiotropy among 98 diseases at 4368 genes. However, evidence of altered signals of selection pressure and heritability distribution at the gene expression level is limited.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that antagonistic pleiotropy is widespread among human polygenic diseases, and it has distorted the evolutionary signal and genetic architecture of diseases at the locus level.

A longitudinal study of COVID-19 disclosure stigma and COVID-19 testing hesitancy in the United States

Objectives

This study examines the relationship between COVID-19 disclosure stigma and COVID-19 testing hesitancy and assesses their changes between November 2020 and 2021.

Study design

This was a longitudinal cohort.

Methods

A total of 355 participants completed four study waves between November 2020 and November 2021. Factor analyses and Cronbach's alpha assessed the factor structure and internal consistency of the COVID-19 Disclosure Stigma scale. Paired t-tests and McNemar's Chi-squared test assessed change between the study waves. Multivariable logistic regression models examined the relationship between COVID-19 disclosure stigma and testing hesitancy at four study waves.

Results

COVID-19 disclosure stigma declined significantly between the last study waves (P = 0.030). The greatest disclosure concern was reporting a positive test to close contacts (range: 19%–21%) followed by disclosure to friends (range: 10%–15%) and family (range: 4%–10%). Over the course of the four study waves, COVID-19 testing hesitancy when symptomatic ranged from 23% to 30%. Older age, female gender, and having received a COVID-19 vaccine were associated with decreased odds of testing hesitancy. Greater COVID-19 disclosure stigma and more conservative political ideology showed a consistent relationship with increased odds of COVID-19 testing hesitancy.

Conclusions

Study findings suggest that many people anticipate feeling stigmatized when disclosing positive test results, especially to close contacts. A substantial percentage of study participants reported hesitancy to be tested when symptomatic. This study identifies a need for interventions that normalize COVID-19 testing (e.g. engaging leaders with conservative followings), provide strategies for disclosing positive results, and allow anonymous notification of potential COVID-19 exposure.

[Effects of in situ cross-linked graphene oxide-containing gelatin methacrylate anhydride hydrogel on wound vascularization of full-thickness skin defect in mice]

Objective: To prepare graphene oxide (GO)-containing gelatin methacrylate anhydride (GelMA) hydrogel and to investigate the effects of in situ photopolymerized GO-GelMA composite hydrogel in wound vascularization of full-thickness skin defect in mice. Methods: The experimental study method was used. The 50 μL of 0.2 mg/mL GO solution was evenly applied onto the conductive gel, and the structure and size of GO were observed under field emission scanning electron microscope after drying. Human skin fibroblasts (HSFs) were divided into 0 μg/mL GO (without GO solution, the same as below) group, 0.1 μg/mL GO group, 1.0 μg/mL GO group, 5.0 μg/mL GO group, and 10.0 μg/mL GO group treated with GO of the corresponding final mass concentration, and the absorbance value was detected using a microplate analyzer after 48 h of culture to reflect the proliferation activity of cells (n=6). HSFs and human umbilical vein vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) were divided into 0 μg/mL GO group, 0.1 μg/mL GO group, 1.0 μg/mL GO group, and 5.0 μg/mL GO group treated with GO of the corresponding final mass concentration, and the migration rates of HSFs at 24 and 36 h after scratching (n=5) and HUVECs at 12 h after scratching (n=3) were detected by scratch test, and the level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secreted by HSFs after 4, 6, and 8 h of culture was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method (n=3). The prepared GO-GelMA composite hydrogels containing GO of the corresponding final mass concentration were set as 0 μg/mL GO composite hydrogel group, 0.1 μg/mL GO composite hydrogel group, 1.0 μg/mL GO composite hydrogel group, and 5.0 μg/mL GO composite hydrogel group to observe their properties before and after cross-linking, and to detect the release of GO after soaking with phosphate buffer solution for 3 and 7 d (n=3). The full-thickness skin defect wounds were made on the back of 16 6-week-old female C57BL/6 mice. The mice treated with in situ cross-linked GO-GelMA composite hydrogel containing GO of the corresponding final mass concentration were divided into 0 μg/mL GO composite hydrogel group, 0.1 μg/mL GO composite hydrogel group, 1.0 μg/mL GO composite hydrogel group, and 5.0 μg/mL GO composite hydrogel group according to the random number table, with 4 mice in each group. The general condition of wound was observed and the wound healing rate was calculated on 3, 7, and 14 d of treatment, the wound blood perfusion was detected by laser Doppler flowmetry on 3, 7, and 14 d of treatment and the mean perfusion unit (MPU) ratio was calculated, and the wound vascularization on 7 d of treatment was observed after hematoxylin-eosin staining and the vascular density was calculated (n=3). The wound tissue of mice in 0 μg/mL GO composite hydrogel group and 0.1 μg/mL GO composite hydrogel group on 7 d of treatment was collected to observe the relationship between the distribution of GO and neovascularization by hematoxylin-eosin staining (n=3) and the expression of VEGF by immunohistochemical staining. Data were statistically analyzed with analysis of variance for repeated measurement, one-way analysis of variance, and Tukey's method. Results: GO had a multilayered lamellar structure with the width of about 20 μm and the length of about 50 μm. The absorbance value of HSFs in 10.0 μg/mL GO group was significantly lower than that in 0 μg/mL GO group after 48 h of culture (q=7.64, P<0.01). At 24 h after scratching, the migration rates of HSFs were similar in the four groups (P>0.05); at 36 h after scratching, the migration rate of HSFs in 0.1 μg/mL GO group was significantly higher than that in 0 μg/mL GO group, 1.0 μg/mL GO group, and 5.0 μg/mL GO group (with q values of 7.48, 10.81, and 10.20, respectively, P<0.01). At 12 h after scratching, the migration rate of HUVECs in 0.1 μg/mL GO group was significantly higher than that in 0 μg/mL GO group, 1.0 μg/mL GO group, and 5.0 μg/mL GO group (with q values of 7.11, 8.99, and 14.92, respectively, P<0.01), and the migration rate of HUVECs in 5.0 μg/mL GO group was significantly lower than that in 0 μg/mL GO group and 1.0 μg/mL GO group (with q values of 7.81 and 5.33, respectively, P<0.05 or P<0.01 ). At 4 and 6 h of culture, the VEGF expressions of HSFs in the four groups were similar (P>0.05); at 8 h of culture, the VEGF expression of HSFs in 0.1 μg/mL GO group was significantly higher than that in 0 μg/mL GO group and 5.0 μg/mL GO group (with q values of 4.75 and 4.48, respectively, P<0.05). The GO-GelMA composite hydrogels in the four groups were all red liquid before cross-linking, which turned to light yellow gel after cross-linking, with no significant difference in fluidity. The GO in the GO-GelMA composite hydrogel of 0 μg/mL GO composite hydrogel group had no release of GO at all time points; the GO in the GO-GelMA composite hydrogels of the other 3 groups was partially released on 3 d of soaking, and all the GO was released on 7 d of soaking. From 3 to 14 d of treatment, the wounds of mice in the 4 groups were covered with hydrogel dressings, kept moist, and gradually healed. On 3, 7, and 14 d of treatment, the wound healing rates of mice in the four groups were similar (P>0.05). On 3 d of treatment, the MPU ratio of wound of mice in 0.1 μg/mL GO composite hydrogel group was significantly higher than that in 0 μg/mL GO composite hydrogel group, 1.0 μg/mL GO composite hydrogel group, and 5.0 μg/mL GO composite hydrogel group (with q values of 10.70, 11.83, and 10.65, respectively, P<0.05 or P<0.01). On 7 and 14 d of treatment, the MPU ratios of wound of mice in the four groups were similar (P>0.05). The MPU ratio of wound of mice in 0.1 μg/mL GO composite hydrogel group on 7 d of treatment was significantly lower than that on 3 d of treatment (q=14.38, P<0.05), and that on 14 d of treatment was significantly lower than that on 7 d of treatment (q=27.78, P<0.01). On 7 d of treatment, the neovascular density of wound of mice on 7 d of treatment was 120.7±4.1 per 200 times of visual field, which was significantly higher than 61.7±1.3, 77.7±10.2, and 99.0±7.9 per 200 times of visual field in 0 μg/mL GO composite hydrogel group, 1.0 μg/mL GO composite hydrogel group, and 5.0 μg/mL GO composite hydrogel group (with q values of 12.88, 7.79, and 6.70, respectively, P<0.01), and the neovascular density of wound of mice in 1.0 μg/mL GO composite hydrogel group and 5.0 μg/mL GO composite hydrogel group was significantly higher than that in 0 μg/mL GO composite hydrogel group (with q values of 5.10 and 6.19, respectively, P<0.05). On 7 d of treatment, cluster of new blood vessels in wound of mice in 0.1 μg/mL GO composite hydrogel group was significantly more than that in 0 μg/mL GO composite hydrogel group, and the new blood vessels were clustered near the GO; a large amount of VEGF was expressed in wound of mice in 0.1 μg/mL GO composite hydrogel group in the distribution area of GO and new blood vessels. Conclusions: GO with mass concentration lower than 10.0 μg/mL had no adverse effect on proliferation activity of HSFs, and GO of 0.1 μg/mL can promote the migration of HSFs and HUVECs, and can promote the secretion of VEGF in HSFs. In situ photopolymerized of GO-GelMA composite hydrogel dressing can promote the wound neovascularization of full-thickness skin defect in mice and increase wound blood perfusion in the early stage, with GO showing an enrichment effect on angiogenesis, and the mechanism may be related to the role of GO in promoting the secretion of VEGF by wound cells.

Sensitivity Analysis of a Bench-Scale Pyrolysis Model for Composite Materials: A Case Study of Poly(lactic acid)/Melamine/Ammonium Polyphosphate

On the basis of a well-developed bench-scale pyrolysis model that relates material composition to flammability, this paper applied mathematical simulations to explore the model sensitivity for the prediction of fire behavior of composite materials. A pyrolysis model for poly(lactic acid) blended with melamine and ammonium polyphosphate as the reference material was selected as the case for analysis. The model input parameters for simulations include the heat of reaction, apparent activation energy, and pre-exponential factor of 15 reactions, as well as the thermal conductivity, emissivity coefficient, absorption coefficient, and density of 17 condensed-phase components. Each reaction-related or component-related parameter was adjusted from 80% of the model value to 120% with a 5% or 10% gradient. Finally, 826 simulation cases in total were calculated for analysis. Both the mass loss rate and the heat release rate of each case were calculated to characterize the sensitivity, which showed the same pattern. Finally, seven primary reactions and five key condensed-phase components with high sensitivity were identified. The predicted fire behaviors are highly related to the kinetics of the reactions between virgin components or reactions where virgin components play an important role in, including the pyrolysis of melted poly(lactic acid), the first step in the pyrolysis of melamine, the first step in the pyrolysis of ammonium polyphosphate, the reaction between melted poly(lactic acid) and melamine, the reaction between ammonium polyphosphate and melamine, and further decomposition of the generated new condensed-phase component. Particularly, the activation energy of these reactions is of sensitivity larger than 5% or 15%. The heat of decomposition of pyrolysis of melted poly(lactic acid) also showed a sensitivity of 2%-5%. The pre-exponential factor of all reactions showed a sensitivity of less than 2%, which can be ignored. Inputting the proper density is important for the prediction of fire behavior as the sensitivity is larger than 2%. The sensitivity of the milligram-scale model was also processed and compared. These simulations provided a fundamental understanding of the sensitivity of thermophysical and chemical properties and thus provide advanced insights into fire behavior modeling and new composite material design.

Single-Cell Transcriptomic Atlas of Gingival Mucosa in Type 2 Diabetes

The oral gingival barrier is a constantly stimulated and dynamic environment where homeostasis is often disrupted, resulting in inflammatory periodontal diseases. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) has been reported to be associated with gingival barrier dysfunction, but the effect and underlying mechanism are inconclusive. Herein, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of gingiva from leptin receptor-deficient mice (db/db) to examine the gingival heterogeneity in the context of T2D. Periodontal health of control mice is characterized by populations of Krt14⁺-expressing epithelial cells and Col1a1⁺-fibroblasts mediating immune homeostasis primarily through the enrichment of innate lymphoid cells. The db/db gingiva exhibited decreased epithelial/stromal ratio and dysfunctional barrier. We further observed stromal, particularly fibroblast immune hyperresponsiveness, linked to the recruitment of myeloid-derived cells at the db/db gingiva. Both scRNA-seq and histological analysis suggested the inflammatory signaling between fibroblasts and neutrophils as a potential driver of diabetes-induced periodontal damage. Notably, the "immune-like" stromal cells were wired toward the induction of gingival γδ T hyperresponsiveness in db/db mice. Our work reveals that the "immune-like" fibroblasts with transcriptional diversity are involved in the innate immune homeostasis at the diabetic gingiva. It highlights a potentially significant role of these cell types in its pathogenesis.

[A case of acute poisoning caused by oral administration of large dose hexazinone]

Hexazinone is a post-emergence herbicide/arboricides, and its acute poisoning has rarely been reported. Hexazinone is low-toxic to humans, but mass intake of hexazinone would still lead to organ impairment. This article analyzes a case of acute hexazinone poisoning from the poisoning treatment center of our hospital, and summarizes the symptoms and treatment effects of hexazinone poisoning, which is aimed at improving the comprehension, diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Genome-wide identification of the shared genetic basis of cannabis and cigarette smoking and schizophrenia implicates NCAM1 and neuronal abnormality

OBJECTIVES

Confirming the existence and composition of the shared genetic basis of Schizophrenia and cannabis and cigarette smoking has critical values for the clinical prevention and intervention of psychosis.

METHODS

To achieve this goal, we leveraged Genome-Wide summary statistics of Schizophrenia (n = 99,934), cigarette smoking (n = 518,633) and cannabis usage (n = 162,082). We applied Causal Analysis Using Summary Effect Estimates (CAUSE) and genomic structural equation modeling (GenomicSEM) to quantify the contribution of a common genetic factor of cannabis and cigarette smoking and schizophrenia (referred to as SCZ_SMO), then identified genome-wide loci that made up SCZ_SMO.

RESULTS

We estimated that SCZ_SMO explained 8.6% of Schizophrenia heritability (Z score <-2.5 in CAUSE, p<10^-20 in Genomic SEM). There were 20 independent loci showing association with SCZ_SMO at the genome-wide threshold of p<5 × 10^-8. At the top locus on chromosome 11, fine-mapping identified rs7945073 (posterior inclusion probability =0.12, p = 2.24 × 10^-32) as the top risk variants. Gene-level association and fine-mapping highlighted NCAM1, PHC2, and SEMA6D as risk genes of SCZ_SMO. Other risk genes were enriched in cortex, neuron, and dendritic spines (adjusted p<0.05). SCZ_SMO showed significant positive correlation (p<10^-6) with the genetic risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (r = 0.50), lifestyle problems (r = 0.83), social deprivation (r = 0.58) and all-cause pregnant loss (r = 0.60).

CONCLUSION

Our result provided new evidence on the shared genetic basis model for the association between Schizophrenia and smoking and provided genetic and biological insights into their shared mechanism.

[Differential diagnosis between pulmonary artery sarcoma and central chronic pulmonary thromboembolism:a preliminary study on CT signs]

Objective: To improve the diagnostic accuracy of pulmonary artery sarcoma, and to distinguish it from central chronic pulmonary thromboembolism using CT scans. Methods: In this retrospective study, two groups of pulmonary artery sarcoma (PAS group) and central chronic pulmonary thromboembolism (central CPTE group) confirmed by pathology at our hospital between August 2009 and July 2019 were enrolled, clinical features and pre-operative CT pulmonary artery manifestation were collected, and the key points of differential diagnosis were summarized. Results: The study was composed of 13 cases in the PAS group including 10 males (76.9%), with an average age of (45.4±15.5) years. There were 19 patients in the central CPTE group including 14 males (73.7%), with an average age of (38.6±14.1) years. There were no significant differences in gender and age between the two groups. Deep venous thrombosis in the lower extremities was significantly higher in the central CPTE group than in the PAS group (7/19 vs. 0/13, P=0.025), and the N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide value was higher in the central CPTE group than in the PAS group [674.50(261.70-1 977.70) vs. 66.00(28.10-505.50),P=0.001]. In CT pulmonary angiography, the involvement of the main pulmonary artery, and the proximal lesion showing an acute angle to the pulmonary artery wall were more common in the PAS group [11(84.6%) vs. 5(26.3%), P=0.003; 11(84.6%) vs. 2(10.5%), P<0.001, respectively]. The swelling index of the main pulmonary and the left/right main pulmonary arteries in the PAS group were significantly higher, as well as the dilatation in the lobar and segmental pulmonary arteries [1.19±0.17 vs. 0.99±0.19,P=0.006, 10(76.9%) vs. 2(10.5%), P<0.001, respectively]. The right ventricular transverse diameter/left ventricular transverse diameter (RVd/LVd) and pulmonary artery diameter/ascending aortic diameter ratio (Pad/Aod) were significantly lower in PAS group than those in the central CPTE group (0.97±0.19 vs. 1.23±0.35,P=0.020; 0.98±0.25 vs. 1.15±0.20,P=0.039). Conclusions: In CT pulmonary angiography, filling defects involving the main pulmonary artery and showing expansive growth were highly suggestive of pulmonary artery sarcoma. The history of deep venous thrombosis of the lower extremities was helpful for the diagnosis of chronic pulmonary embolism.

An Integrative Segmentation Framework for Cell Nucleus of Fluorescence Microscopy

Nucleus segmentation of fluorescence microscopy is a critical step in quantifying measurements in cell biology. Automatic and accurate nucleus segmentation has powerful applications in analyzing intrinsic characterization in nucleus morphology. However, existing methods have limited capacity to perform accurate segmentation in challenging samples, such as noisy images and clumped nuclei. In this paper, inspired by the idea of cascaded U-Net (or W-Net) and its remarkable performance improvement in medical image segmentation, we proposed a novel framework called Attention-enhanced Simplified W-Net (ASW-Net), in which a cascade-like structure with between-net connections was used. Results showed that this lightweight model could reach remarkable segmentation performance in the BBBC039 testing set (aggregated Jaccard index, 0.90). In addition, our proposed framework performed better than the state-of-the-art methods in terms of segmentation performance. Moreover, we further explored the effectiveness of our designed network by visualizing the deep features from the network. Notably, our proposed framework is open source.

[Related factors of postoperative complications of radical resection for adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction]

Adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction (AEG) is at a special anatomic site with obviously higher morbidity of postoperative complication than gastric cancers at other sites. Postoperative quality of life and survival rate are influenced by the occurrence of complications. Moreover, the perioperative complications are associated with multiple factors such as patient factors (advanced age, obesity and preoperative nutritional status), surgical factors (surgical route, surgical procedure, resection range and prophylactic multivisceral resection), tumor factors (size, stage) etc. Optimizing perioperative management and formulating standardized surgical methods are the key points to prevent postoperative complications of AEG. In conclusion, we should strive to ensure the radical resection and reduce the occurrence of postoperative complications in order to truly benefit patients.

The effectiveness and safety of liraglutide in treating overweight/obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: a meta-analysis

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of liraglutide/liraglutide + metformin in overweight/obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

METHODS

The related literatures published until April 2021 were searched in PubMed, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE and EmBase.

RESULTS

Six randomized controlled trials of 127 related articles were obtained through searching. Three articles compared liraglutide with metformin, and four articles compared liraglutide combined with metformin with metformin. Our meta-analysis suggests that liraglutide was superior to metformin only in weight loss [MD = - 2.74, 95% CI (- 4.29, - 1.18), P = 0.0006]. Compared with metformin group, the combination group had significant advantages in weight loss [MD = - 3.81, 95% CI (- 5.16, - 2.46), P < 0.001], BMI [MD = - 2.59, 95% CI (- 3.12, - 2.07), P < 0.001], waist circumference [MD = - 6.26, 95% CI (- 7.79, - 4.72), P < 0.001], fasting blood glucose [MD = - 0.59, 95% CI (- 0.74, - 0.44), P < 0.001] and fasting insulin [MD = - 1.52, 95% CI (- 2.69, - 0.35), P = 0.01], while the incidence of adverse reactions was relatively high [RR = 2.91, 95% CI (1.55, 5.46), P = 0.00009].

CONCLUSION

The present results indicate that liraglutide and metformin have the similar effects in the treatment of overweight/obese PCOS patients. Liraglutide combined with metformin is more effective than metformin in improving PCOS, but it is necessary to master the correct medication method to reduce the occurrence of adverse reactions.

De novo mutations identified by whole-genome sequencing implicate chromatin modifications in obsessive-compulsive disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic anxiety disorder with a substantial genetic basis and a broadly undiscovered etiology. Recent studies of de novo mutation (DNM) exome-sequencing studies for OCD have reinforced the hypothesis that rare variation contributes to the risk. We performed, to our knowledge, the first whole-genome sequencing on 53 parent-offspring families with offspring affected with OCD to investigate all rare de novo variants and insertions/deletions. We observed higher mutation rates in promoter-anchored chromatin loops (empirical P = 0.0015) and regions with high frequencies of histone marks (empirical P = 0.0001). Mutations affecting coding regions were significantly enriched within coexpression modules of genes involved in chromatin modification during human brain development. Four genes—SETD5, KDM3B, ASXL3, and FBL—had strong aggregated evidence and functionally converged on transcription’s epigenetic regulation, suggesting an important OCD risk mechanism. Our data characterized different genome-wide DNMs and highlighted the contribution of chromatin modification in the etiology of OCD.

Oxygen Reduction Activity of B←N-Containing Organic Molecule Affected by Asymmetric Regulation

Organic molecular catalysts have received great attention as they have the merits of well-controlled molecular structures for the development of catalytic chemistry. Herein, the electronic distribution of active sites is regulated by asymmetrically introducing S-heterocycle on one side of the molecular core. As a result, the asymmetric as-PYT and as-BNT show higher oxygen reduction performance than their symmetric counterparts without (s-PY, s-PY2T) or with two S-heterocycle units (s-BN, s-BN2T). Density functional theory calculations reveal that the carbon atoms (site-12) at symmetric s-BN and s-BN2T are the catalytic active sites, while for asymmetric as-BNT, it has changed to amino-N atom (site-14). Due to the non-uniform charge distribution and increased dipole moment of as-BNT caused by asymmetric molecular configuration, the kinetics of catalytic reaction has changed significantly. The catalytically active sites of specific N atoms are further verified experimentally and theoretically by using sterically hindered phenyl groups. This work provides a simple but efficient method to design metal-free oxygen reduction electrocatalysts.

Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals the epithelial cell heterogeneity and invasive subpopulation in human bladder cancer

Bladder cancer represents a highly heterogeneous disease characterized by distinct histological, molecular and clinical phenotypes, and a detailed analysis of tumor cell invasion and crosstalks within bladder tumor cells has not been determined. Here, we applied droplet-based single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to acquire transcriptional profiles of 36 619 single cells isolated from seven patients. Single cell transcriptional profiles matched well with the pathological basal/luminal subtypes. Notably, in T1 tumors diagnosed as luminal subtype, basal cells displayed characteristics of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and mainly located at the tumor-stromal interface as well as micrometastases in the lamina propria. In one T3 tumor, muscle-invasive tumor showed significantly higher expression of cancer stem cell markers SOX9 and SOX2 than the primary tumor. We additionally analyzed communications between tumor cells and demonstrated its relevance to basal/luminal phenotypes. Overall, our single-cell study provides a deeper insight into the tumor cell heterogeneity associated with bladder cancer progression.

A Comprehensive Evaluation of Cross-Omics Blood-Based Biomarkers for Neuropsychiatric Disorders

The identification of peripheral multi-omics biomarkers of brain disorders has long been hindered by insufficient sample size and confounder influence. This study aimed to compare biomarker potential for different molecules and diseases. We leveraged summary statistics of five blood quantitative trait loci studies (N = 1980 to 22,609) and genome-wide association studies (N = 9725 to 500,199) from 14 different brain disorders, such as Schizophrenia (SCZ) and Alzheimer's Disease (AD). We applied summary-based and two-sample Mendelian Randomization to estimate the associations between blood molecules and brain disorders. We identified 524 RNA, 807 methylation sites, 29 proteins, seven cytokines, and 22 metabolites having a significant association with at least one of 14 brain disorders. Simulation analyses indicated that a cross-omics combination of biomarkers had better performance for most disorders, and different disorders could associate with different omics. We identified an 11-methylation-site model for SCZ diagnosis (Area Under Curve, AUC = 0.74) by analyzing selected candidate markers in published datasets (total N = 6098). Moreover, we constructed an 18-methylation-sites model that could predict the prognosis of elders with mild cognitive impairment (hazard ratio = 2.32). We provided an association landscape between blood cross-omic biomarkers and 14 brain disorders as well as a suggestion guide for future clinical discovery and application.

The miR-1906 mimic attenuates bone loss in osteoporosis by down-regulating the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway

In this study, the ability of microRNA-1906 (miR-1906) to attenuate bone loss in osteoporosis was evaluated by measuring the effects of a miR-1906 mimic and inhibitor on the cellular toxicity and cell viability of MC3T3-E1 cells. Bone marrow-derived macrophage (BMM) cells were isolated from female mice, and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase signalling was performed in miR-1906 mimic-treated, receptor-activated nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclasts. In-vivo, osteoporosis was induced by ovariectomy (OVX). Rats were treated with 500 nmol/kg of the miR-1906 mimic via intrathecal administration for 10 consecutive days following surgery. The effect of the miR-1906 mimic on bone mineral density (BMD) in OVX rats was observed in the whole body, lumbar vertebrae and femur. Levels of biochemical parameters and cytokines in the serum of miR-1906 mimic-treated OVX rats were analysed. The mRNA expression of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88), p-38 and NF-κB in tibias of osteoporotic rats (induced by ovariectomy) was observed using quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Treatment with the miR-1906 mimic reduced cellular toxicity and enhanced the cell viability of MC3T3-E1 cells. Furthermore, osteoclastogenesis in miR-1906 mimic-treated, RANKL-induced osteoclast cells was reduced, whereas the BMD in the miR-1906 mimic-treated group was higher than in the OVX group of rats. Treatment with the miR-1906 mimic also increased levels of biochemical parameters and cytokines in the serum of ovariectomised rats. Finally, mRNA expression levels of TLR4, MyD88, p-38 and NF-κB were lower in the tibias of miR-1906 mimic-treated rats than in those of OVX rats. In conclusion, the miR-1906 mimic reduces bone loss in rats with ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis by regulating the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway.

1258 Computational Modelling Of 3D Printed Scaffolds for Heart Valve Regeneration

Aim

Prosthetic heart valve replacement remains the gold standard treatment for valvular heart disease. However, its durability is limited and there is thus a need to develop an understanding of the feasibility of alternative replacement therapies. 3-dimensional printing of heart valves has been explored due to its patient-specific design and control of desired biomechanical properties. Computational studies of the synthetic valves will contribute to optimisation of designs, as well as improved understanding of the biomechanical behaviour of the complex structures.

Method

Aortic valve dimensions at an average of 100mmHg were used for the computerised design of the valves. Fine Element Analysis modelling generated computational experiments alongside predicted results. Simulated radial pressures tests were conducted at pressures from 0mmHg to 140mmHg and compression tests were conducted at displacement levels between 0-10mm. A Young’s modulus of 0.5 MPa was used. All simulations were conducted in a quasi-static manner.

Results

As the radial pressure on the valves increased, the Mises stresses increased. The maxium Mises stress of the heart valve was 0.09MPa and 0.13MPa under the pressures of 90mmHg and 140mmHg respectively. As valve displacement increased, the Mises stress of the heart valves proportionally rose. In simulated radial pressures tests, the compressive force was 0.19N at 1mm compressive displacment and 1.8N at 10mm compressive displacment.

Conclusions

The simulations demonstrated that 3D-printed heart valve scaffolds can withstand simulated radial pressure and compression tests. A further mechanical tests of the printed scaffold and understanding of its response to hemodynamic dynamic flow is required for the continuity of further study.

A single-cell interactome of human tooth germ from growing third molar elucidates signaling networks regulating dental development

Background

Development of dental tissue is regulated by extensive cell crosstalk based on various signaling molecules, such as bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) pathways. However, an intact network of the intercellular regulation is still lacking.

Result

To gain an unbiased and comprehensive view of this dental cell interactome, we applied single-cell RNA-seq on immature human tooth germ of the growing third molar, discovered refined cell subtypes, and applied multiple network analysis to identify the central signaling pathways. We found that immune cells made up over 80% of all tooth germ cells, which exhibited profound regulation on dental cells via Transforming growth factor-β, Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and Interleukin-1. During osteoblast differentiation, expression of genes related to extracellular matrix and mineralization was continuously elevated by signals from BMP and FGF family. As for the self-renewal of apical papilla stem cell, BMP-FGFR1-MSX1 pathway directly regulated the G0-to-S cell cycle transition. We also confirmed that Colony Stimulating Factor 1 secreted from pericyte and TNF Superfamily Member 11 secreted from osteoblast regulated a large proportion of genes related to osteoclast transformation from macrophage and monocyte.

Conclusions

We constructed the intercellular signaling networks that regulated the essential developmental process of human tooth, which served as a foundation for future dental regeneration engineering and the understanding of oral pathology.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13578-021-00691-5.

Label propagation-based semi-supervised feature selection on decoding clinical phenotypes with RNA-seq data

BACKGROUND

Clinically, behavior, cognitive, and mental functions are affected during the neurodegenerative disease progression. To date, the molecular pathogenesis of these complex disease is still unclear. With the rapid development of sequencing technologies, it is possible to delicately decode the molecular mechanisms corresponding to different clinical phenotypes at the genome-wide transcriptomic level using computational methods. Our previous studies have shown that it is difficult to distinguish disease genes from non-disease genes. Therefore, to precisely explore the molecular pathogenesis under complex clinical phenotypes, it is better to identify biomarkers corresponding to different disease stages or clinical phenotypes. So, in this study, we designed a label propagation-based semi-supervised feature selection approach (LPFS) to prioritize disease-associated genes corresponding to different disease stages or clinical phenotypes.

METHODS

In this study, we pioneering put label propagation clustering and feature selection into one framework and proposed label propagation-based semi-supervised feature selection approach. LPFS prioritizes disease genes related to different disease stages or phenotypes through the alternative iteration of label propagation clustering based on sample network and feature selection with gene expression profiles. Then the GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were carried as well as the gene functional analysis to explore molecular mechanisms of specific disease phenotypes, thus to decode the changes in individual behavioral and mental characteristics during neurodegenerative disease progression.

RESULTS

Large amounts of experiments were conducted to verify the performance of LPFS with Huntington's gene expression data. Experimental results shown that LPFS performs better in comparison with the-state-of-art methods. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis of key gene sets shown that TGF-beta signaling pathway, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, immune response, and inflammatory response were gradually affected during the Huntington's disease progression. In addition, we found that the expression of SLC4A11, ZFP474, AMBP, TOP2A, PBK, CCDC33, APSL, DLGAP5, and Al662270 changed seriously by the development of the disease.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we designed a label propagation-based semi-supervised feature selection model to precisely selected key genes of different disease phenotypes. We conducted experiments using the model with Huntington's disease mice gene expression data to decode the mechanisms of it. We found many cell types, including astrocyte, microglia, and GABAergic neuron, could be involved in the pathological process.