Mouse Models for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The prognosis and survival rate of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have remained unchanged for years, and the pathogenesis of HNSCC is still not fully understood, necessitating further research. An ideal animal model that accurately replicates the complex microenvironment of HNSCC is urgently needed. Among all the animal models for preclinical cancer research, tumor-bearing mouse models are the best known and widely used due to their high similarity to humans. Currently, mouse models for HNSCC can be broadly categorized into chemical-induced models, genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs), and transplanted mouse models, each with its distinct advantages and limitations. In chemical-induced models, the carcinogen spontaneously initiates tumor formation through a multistep process. The resemblance of this model to human carcinogenesis renders it an ideal preclinical platform for studying HNSCC initiation and progression from precancerous lesions. The major drawback is that these models are time-consuming and, like human cancer, unpredictable in terms of timing, location, and number of lesions. GEMMs involve transgenic and knockout mice with gene modifications, leading to malignant transformation within a tumor microenvironment that recapitulates tumorigenesis in vivo, including their interaction with the immune system. However, most HNSCC GEMMs exhibit low tumor incidence and limited prognostic significance when translated to clinical studies. Transplanted mouse models are the most widely used in cancer research due to their consistency, availability, and efficiency. Based on the donor and recipient species matching, transplanted mouse models can be divided into xenografts and syngeneic models. In the latter, transplanted cells and host are from the same strain, making syngeneic models relevant to study functional immune system. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of the characteristics, establishment methods, and potential applications of these different HNSCC mouse models, aiming to assist researchers in choosing suitable animal models for their research.

A Novel Mechanism of MSCs Responding to Occlusal Force for Bone Homeostasis

Alveolar bone, as tooth-supporting bone for mastication, is sensitive to occlusal force. However, the mechanism of alveolar bone loss after losing occlusal force remains unclear. Here, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing of nonhematopoietic (CD45-) cells in mouse alveolar bone after removing the occlusal force. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and endothelial cell (EC) subsets were significantly decreased in frequency, as confirmed by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. The osteogenic and proangiogenic abilities of MSCs were impaired, and the expression of mechanotransducers yes associated protein 1 (Yap) and WW domain containing transcription regulator 1 (Taz) in MSCs decreased. Conditional deletion of Yap and Taz from LepR+ cells, which are enriched in MSCs that are important for adult bone homeostasis, significantly decreased alveolar bone mass and resisted any further changes in bone mass induced by occlusal force changes. Interestingly, LepR-Cre; Yapf/f; Tazf/f mice showed a decrease in CD31hi endomucin (Emcn)hi endothelium, and the expression of some EC-derived signals acting on osteoblastic cells was inhibited in alveolar bone. Mechanistically, conditional deletion of Yap and Taz in LepR+ cells inhibited the secretion of pleiotrophin (Ptn), which impaired the proangiogenic capacity of LepR+ cells. Knockdown in MSC-derived Ptn repressed human umbilical vein EC tube formation in vitro. More important, administration of recombinant PTN locally recovered the frequency of CD31hiEmcnhi endothelium and rescued the low bone mass phenotype of LepR-Cre; Yapf/f; Tazf/f mice. Taken together, these findings suggest that occlusal force governs MSC-regulated endothelium to maintain alveolar bone homeostasis through the Yap/Taz/Ptn axis, providing a reference for further understanding of the relationship between dysfunction and bone homeostasis.

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 .

Prophylactic Effects of n-Acethylcysteine on Inflammation-induced Depression-like Behaviors in Mice

Depression, affecting individuals worldwide, is a prevalent mental disease, with an increasing incidence. Numerous studies have been conducted on depression, yet its pathogenesis remains elusive. Recent advancements in research indicate that disturbances in synaptic transmission, synaptic plasticity, and reduced neurotrophic factor expression significantly contribute to depression's pathogenesis. In our study, we utilized adult male C57BL/6J mice. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) can induce both chronic and acute depression-like symptoms in mice, a widely used model for studying depression associated with inflammation. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) exhibits anti-inflammatory and ameliorative effects on depressive symptoms. This study sought to determine whether NAC use could mitigate inflammatory depressive behavior through the enhancement of synaptic transmission, synaptic plasticity, and increasing levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). In this study, we discovered that in mice modeled with depression-like symptoms, the expression levels of dendrites, BDNF, and miniature excitatory postsynaptic potential (mEPSC) in glutamatergic neurons, as well as the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid glutamate receptors (AMPARs) GluA1 and GluA2 subunits, were significantly decreased. These findings suggest an impairment in the synaptic transmission of glutamatergic neurons. Following treatment with NAC, the previously mentioned levels improved, indicating an enhancement in both synaptic transmission and synaptic plasticity. Our results suggest that NAC exerts a protective effect on mouse models of inflammatory depression, potentially through the enhancement of synaptic transmission and plasticity, as well as the restoration of neurotrophic factor expression. These findings offer vital animal experimental evidence supporting NAC's role in mitigating inflammatory depressive behaviors.

Determination of Spin-Parity Quantum Numbers of X(2370) as 0^{-+} from J/ψ→γK_{S}^{0}K_{S}^{0}η^{'}

Based on (10087±44)×10^{6}  J/ψ events collected with the BESIII detector, a partial wave analysis of the decay J/ψ→γK_{S}^{0}K_{S}^{0}η^{'} is performed. The mass and width of the X(2370) are measured to be 2395±11(stat)_{-94}^{+26}(syst)  MeV/c^{2} and 188_{-17}^{+18}(stat)_{-33}^{+124}(syst)  MeV, respectively. The corresponding product branching fraction is B[J/ψ→γX(2370)]×B[X(2370)→f_{0}(980)η^{'}]×B[f_{0}(980)→K_{S}^{0}K_{S}^{0}]=(1.31±0.22(stat)_{-0.84}^{+2.85}(syst))×10^{-5}. The statistical significance of the X(2370) is greater than 11.7σ and the spin parity is determined to be 0^{-+} for the first time. The measured mass and spin parity of the X(2370) are consistent with the predictions of the lightest pseudoscalar glueball.

Novel FOXM1 inhibitor STL001 sensitizes human cancers to a broad-spectrum of cancer therapies

Forkhead box protein M1 (FOXM1) is often overexpressed in human cancers and strongly associated with therapy resistance and less good patient survival. The chemotherapy options for patients with the most aggressive types of solid cancers remain very limited because of the acquired drug resistance, making the therapy less effective. NPM1 mutation through the inactivation of FOXM1 via FOXM1 relocalization to the cytoplasm confers more favorable treatment outcomes for AML patients, confirming FOXM1 as a crucial target to overcome drug resistance. Pharmacological inhibition of FOXM1 could be a promising approach to sensitize therapy-resistant cancers. Here, we explore a novel FOXM1 inhibitor STL001, a first-generation modification drug of our previously reported FOXM1 inhibitor STL427944. STL001 preserves the mode of action of the STL427944; however, STL001 is up to 50 times more efficient in reducing FOXM1 activity in a variety of solid cancers. The most conventional cancer therapies studied here induce FOXM1 overexpression in solid cancers. The therapy-induced FOXM1 overexpression may explain the failure or reduced efficacy of these drugs in cancer patients. Interestingly, STL001 increased the sensitivity of cancer cells to conventional cancer therapies by suppressing both the high-endogenous and drug-induced FOXM1. Notably, STL001 does not provide further sensitization to FOXM1-KD cancer cells, suggesting that the sensitization effect is conveyed specifically through FOXM1 suppression. RNA-seq and gene set enrichment studies revealed prominent suppression of FOXM1-dependent pathways and gene ontologies. Also, gene regulation by STL001 showed extensive overlap with FOXM1-KD, suggesting a high selectivity of STL001 toward the FOXM1 regulatory network. A completely new activity of FOXM1, mediated through steroid/cholesterol biosynthetic process and protein secretion in cancer cells was also detected. Collectively, STL001 offers intriguing translational opportunities as combination therapies targeting FOXM1 activity in a variety of human cancers driven by FOXM1.

Resumption of ovulation in anovulatory women with PCOS and obesity is associated with reduction of 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione concentrations

STUDY QUESTION

Is resumption of ovulation after a 6-month lifestyle intervention in women with PCOS and obesity associated with differential changes in endocrine and metabolic parameters (weight, insulin resistance, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), and androgens) compared to women with PCOS who remained anovulatory?

SUMMARY ANSWER

Resumption of ovulation after a 6-month lifestyle intervention in women with PCOS and obesity is associated with changes in serum 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione (11OHA4) concentrations.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

Lifestyle interventions have been shown to reduce clinical and biochemical hyperandrogenism in women with PCOS. Weight loss of 5-10% may reverse anovulatory status, thereby increasing natural conception rates. However, the mechanisms underlying why some women with PCOS remain anovulatory and others resume ovulation after weight loss are unclear. Reproductive characteristics at baseline and a greater degree of change in endocrine and metabolic features with lifestyle intervention may be crucial for ovulatory response.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

We used data and samples originating from an earlier randomized controlled trial (RCT), which examined the efficacy of a 6-month lifestyle intervention prior to infertility treatment compared to prompt infertility treatment on live birth rate in women with obesity. A total of 577 women with obesity (BMI > 29 kg/m2) were randomized between 2009 and 2012. Anovulatory women with PCOS who were allocated to the intervention arm of the original RCT (n = 95) were included in the current analysis.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

We defined women as having resumed ovulation (RO+) based on the following criteria: spontaneous pregnancy; or assignment to expectant management; or IUI in natural cycles as the treatment strategy after lifestyle intervention. Steroid hormones were measured using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Generalized estimating equations with adjustment for baseline measures and interaction between group and time was used to examine differences in changes of endocrine and metabolic parameters between RO+ (n = 34) and persistently anovulatory women (RO-, n = 61) at 3 and 6 months after intervention.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

At baseline, the mean ± SD age was 27.5 ± 3.6 years in the RO+ group and 27.9 ± 4.1 years in the RO- group (P = 0.65), and the mean ± SD weights were 101.2 ± 9.5 kg and 105.0 ± 14.6 kg, respectively (P = 0.13). Baseline AMH concentrations showed significant differences between RO+ and RO- women (median and interquartile range [IQR] 4.7 [3.2; 8.3] versus 7.2 [5.3; 10.8] ng/ml, respectively). Baseline androgen concentrations did not differ between the two groups. During and after lifestyle intervention, both groups showed weight loss; changes in 11OHA4 were significantly different between the RO+ and RO groups (P-value for interaction = 0.03). There was a similar trend for SHBG (interaction P-value = 0.07), and DHEA-S (interaction P-value = 0.06), with the most pronounced differences observed in the first 3 months. Other parameters, such as AMH and FAI, decreased over time but with no difference between the groups.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

No high-resolution transvaginal ultrasonography was used to confirm ovulatory status at the end of the lifestyle program. The small sample size may limit the robustness of the results.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

Reduction of androgen concentrations during and after lifestyle intervention is associated with recovery of ovulatory cycles. If our results are confirmed in other studies, androgen concentrations could be monitored during lifestyle intervention to provide individualized recommendations on the timing of resumption of ovulation in anovulatory women with PCOS and obesity.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

The study was supported by a grant from ZonMw, the Dutch Organization for Health Research and Development (50-50110-96-518). The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the UMCG received an unrestricted educational grant from Ferring Pharmaceuticals BV, The Netherlands. A.H. reports consultancy for the development and implementation of a lifestyle App MyFertiCoach developed by Ferring Pharmaceutical Company. All other authors have no conflicts to declare.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

The LIFEstyle RCT was registered at the Dutch trial registry (NTR 1530).

CT venography combined with ultrasound-guided minimally invasive treatment for recurrent varicose veins: a pilot paired-design clinical trial

AIM

To compare 1-year outcomes of computed tomography venography (CTV) combined with ultrasound-guided minimally invasive treatment with ascending phlebography and ultrasound-guided treatment for recurrent varicose veins.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Consecutive patients with unilateral recurrent varicose veins were matched by gender, age, C classification, and degree of obesity, and randomised in a 1:1 ratio to receive either CTV (CTV group) or ascending phlebography (control group) combined with ultrasound-guided minimally invasive treatment. Patients were followed up by clinical and ultrasound examination. Follow-up was scheduled at 1 week, and 3, 6, and 12 months. The primary outcome measure was the Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS) at 12 months. Measures of secondary outcome included Chronic Insufficiency Venous International Questionnaire-20 (CIVIQ-20) score, recurrence of varicose vein or ulcer during 12 months, ulcer healing time, detection and location of treated veins.

RESULTS

Eighty patients were enrolled. Median VCSS in the CTV group was lower than it in the control group (p=0.04) and the CIVIQ-20 score was higher than the control group (p=0.02). By 12 months, no symptomatically recurrent varicose veins or ulcers had occurred. The ulcer healing time in CTV group was shorter (p<0.01). A greater number of patients had treated veins detected using CTV than by ascending venography (p=0.01), especially among patients with recurrence reflux veins in the groin, perineum, and vulva (p<0.01).

CONCLUSION

CTV combined with ultrasound may be more helpful than ascending phlebography combined with ultrasound to improve treatment efficacy for recurrent varices. These results should be verified by an future study with more patients and long-term follow-up.

Fluorine-18 prostate-specific membrane antigen-1007-avid indeterminate bone lesions in prostate cancer: clinical and PET/CT features to predict outcomes and prognosis

AIM

To determine clinical and fluorine-18 prostate-specific membrane antigen-1007 (18F-PSMA-1007) integrated positron-emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) features that could be used to interpret indeterminate bone lesions (IBLs) and assess the prognosis of prostate cancer (PCa) in patients with IBLs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Consecutive patients who underwent PSMA PET/CT were analysed retrospectively. IBLs were identified as benign or malignant based on follow-up imaging and clinical management. Lesion- and patient-based assessments were performed to define features predictive of bone lesion results and determine clinical risk. Patients' prognosis was analysed based on clinical characteristics, including prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), respectively.

RESULTS

A total of 105 patients (mean age ± SD, 72.1 ± 8 years) were evaluated and 158 IBLs were identified. Fifty-three (33.5%), 36 (22.8%), and 69 (43.7%) IBLs were benign, malignant, and equivocal, respectively. Variables including location, maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax), and lymph node metastases (LNM) were related to the benignancy or malignancy of IBLs (p=0.046, p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). Regression analysis indicated that LNM, SUVmax, and location of IBLs could be predictors of lesion interpretation (p<0.001, p=0.002 and p=0.035). Patients with benign IBLs experienced the most considerable decreases in PSA and ALP levels.

CONCLUSIONS

LNM, SUVmax, and location may contribute to IBL interpretation. A rapid decrease in PSA and ALP levels might suggest a better prognosis for patients with benign IBLs.

Tislelizumab, a novel PD-1 monoclonal antibody in urothelial cancer: A real-world study

OBJECTIVE

Tislelizumab, a monoclonal antibody against programed death protein-1 (PD-1), has shown encouraging antitumor activity in urothelial cancer. This study was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of tislelizumab in urotelial cancer in a real-world setting.

METHODS

The study was a real-world retrospective study undertaken at Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, China. Eligible patients were ≥18 years. Patients received 200-mg tislelizumab monotherapy intravenously every 3 weeks until the disease progressed to intolerable toxicity. Outcomes included an objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and safety.

RESULTS

Between March 2020 and December 2022, 33 patients were enrolled. The median follow-up was 10.17 (IQR 5.73-12.47) months. Of all 33 patients, ORR and DCR were 30.30% (95% CI 15.6%-48.7%) and 42.42% (95% CI 25.48%-60.78%), respectively. The median PFS was 5.73 (95% CI 3.27-13.00) months, with a 12-month PFS rate of 31.90% (95% CI 19.20%-53.00%). The median OS was 17.7 (95% CI 12.80-not reach) months, with a 12-month OS rate of 67.50% (95% CI 52.70%-86.40%). Eleven (33.33%) and 8 (24.24%) experienced ≥grade 3 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) and immune-related Aes, respectively. No treatment-related deaths occurred.

CONCLUSION

The excellent efficacy and controllable safety of tislelizumab in locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer suggest that it may be a promising therapeutic option for this population.

[Pancreaticoduodenectomy combined with longitudinal pancreaticojejunostomy in the treatment of chronic pancreatitis: initial experience in 11 cases]

Objective: To investigate the surgical strategy for chronic pancreatitis complicated with suspected malignant lesions in the pancreatic head and pancreatolithiasis in the distal pancreas. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study. Clinical data from 11 patients with chronic pancreatitis who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy combined with longitudinal pancreaticojejunostomy(PD-L) were retrospectively collected(PD-L group) from the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University between December 2021 and September 2023. All patients were male with an age of (49.0±11.2) years(range:32 to 70 years). Their primary preoperative diagnoses included pancreatic lesions, chronic pancreatitis, pancreatolithiasis, and dilatation of the pancreatic duct. Data from 248 patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy(PD) during the same period were retrospectively collected(PD group). There were 157 males and 91 females in the PD group, with an age of (61.5±10.8) years(range:27 to 82 years). Among them, 87 cases were diagnosed as pancreatic cancer or chronic pancreatitis. The propensity score matching method was used to reduce confounding bias between the two groups. The caliper value of 0.1 was used and the 1∶4 nearest neighbor matching method was used for the matching. Comparisons between the two groups were made using the independent sample t test, Mann-Whitney U test or χ2 test,respectively. Results: After complete excision of the specimen during pancreaticoduodenectomy, the key surgical step of PD-L was longitudinal pancreaticojejunostomy in the remaining pancreas. Intraoperative blood loss in the PD-L group was lower than that in the PD group [M(IQR)](300(200)ml vs. 500(500)ml, respectively; P<0.05). Similarly, hospitalization days(21.0(7.0)days vs. 25.0(8.5)days) and postoperative hospitalization days(13.0(8.0)days vs. 17.0(5.0) days) were also lower in the PD-L group compared to the PD group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the operation time and postoperative complication rate between the two groups(P>0.05). In the PD-L group, the postoperative follow-up time was 5(5)months(range: 3 to 21 months). One case was lost for follow-up. Abdominal pain was relieved in 10 patients. Additionally, abdominal distension and steatosis were alleviated in 8 cases. Furthermore, 5 cases of diabetes mellitus showed improved control of HbA1c and fasting blood glucose levels after surgery. Conclusions: PD-L treatment can be used to treat chronic pancreatitis complicated by suspected malignant lesions in the pancreatic head and pancreatolithiasis in the distal pancreas. PD-L also has advantages in removing stones from the pancreatic duct and evaporation of pancreatic fluid. However, due to the single-center design and the small sample size of this study, further practice and long-term follow-up are still necessary.

CircNRCAM up-regulates NRCAM to promote papillary thyroid carcinoma progression

PURPOSE

Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma (PTC) is the most prevalent subtype of Thyroid Carcinoma (THCA), a type of malignancy in the endocrine system. According to prior studies, Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule (NRCAM) has been found to be up-regulated in PTC and stimulates the proliferation and migration of PTC cells. However, the specific mechanism of NRCAM in PTC cells is not yet fully understood. Consequently, this study aimed to investigate the underlying mechanism of NRCAM in PTC cells, the findings of which could provide new insights for the development of potential treatment targets for PTC.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Bioinformatics tools were utilized and a series of experiments were conducted, including Western blot, colony formation, and dual-luciferase reporter assays. The data collected indicated that NRCAM was overexpressed in THCA tissues and PTC cells. Circular RNA NRCAM (circNRCAM) was found to be highly expressed in PTC cells and to positively regulate NRCAM expression. Through loss-of-function assays, both circNRCAM and NRCAM were shown to promote the proliferation, invasion, and migration of PTC cells. Mechanistically, this study confirmed that precursor microRNA-506 (pre-miR-506) could bind with m6A demethylase AlkB Homolog 5 (ALKBH5), leading to its m6A demethylation. It was also discovered that circNRCAM could competitively bind to ALKBH5, which restrained miR-506-3p expression and promoted NRCAM expression.

CONCLUSION

In summary, circNRCAM could up-regulate NRCAM by down-regulating miR-506-3p, thereby enhancing the biological behaviors of PTC cells.

[A transcriptomic analysis of correlation between mitochondrial function and energy metabolism remodeling in mice with myocardial fibrosis following myocardial infarction]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the changes of mitochondrial respiratory function during myocardial fibrosis in mice with myocardial infarction (MI) and its correlation with the increase of glycolytic flux.

METHODS

Forty C57BL/6N mice were randomized into two equal groups to receive sham operation or ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery to induce acute MI. At 28 days after the operation, 5 mice from each group were euthanized and left ventricular tissue samples were collected for transcriptomic sequencing. FPKM method was used to calculate gene expression levels to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in MI mice, which were analyzed using GO and KEGG databases to determine the pathways affecting the disease process. Heat maps were drawn to show the differential expressions of the pathways and the related genes in the enrichment analysis. In primary cultures of neonatal mouse cardiac fibroblasts (CFs), the changes in mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis levels in response to treatment with the pro-fibrotic agonist TGF-β1 were analyzed using Seahorse experiment.

RESULTS

The mouse models of MI showed significantly increased diastolic and systolic left ventricular diameter (P < 0.05) and decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (P < 0.0001). A total of 124 up-regulated and 106 down-regulated DEGs were identified in the myocardial tissues of MI mice, and GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that these DEGs were significantly enriched in fatty acid metabolism, organelles and other metabolic pathways and in the mitochondria. Heat maps revealed fatty acid beta oxidation, mitochondrial dysfunction and increased glycolysis levels in MI mice. In the primary culture of CFs, treatment with TGF-β1 significantly reduced the basal and maximum respiratory levels and increased the basal and maximum glycolysis levels (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

During myocardial fibrosis, energy metabolism remodeling occurs in the CFs, manifested by lowered mitochondrial function and increased energy generation through glycolysis.

Observation of Structures in the Processes e^{+}e^{-}→ωχ_{c1} and ωχ_{c2}

We present measurements of the Born cross sections for the processes e^{+}e^{-}→ωχ_{c1} and ωχ_{c2} at center-of-mass energies sqrt[s] from 4.308 to 4.951 GeV. The measurements are performed with data samples corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 11.0  fb^{-1} collected with the BESIII detector operating at the Beijing Electron Positron Collider storage ring. Assuming the e^{+}e^{-}→ωχ_{c2} signals come from a single resonance, the mass and width are determined to be M=(4413.6±9.0±0.8)  MeV/c^{2} and Γ=(110.5±15.0±2.9)  MeV, respectively, which is consistent with the parameters of the well-established resonance ψ(4415). In addition, we also use one single resonance to describe the e^{+}e^{-}→ωχ_{c1} line shape and determine the mass and width to be M=(4544.2±18.7±1.7)  MeV/c^{2} and Γ=(116.1±33.5±1.7)  MeV, respectively. The structure of this line shape, observed for the first time, requires further understanding.

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.

Coupled-Channel Analysis of the χ_{c1}(3872) Line Shape with BESIII Data

We perform a study of the χ_{c1}(3872) line shape using the data samples of e^{+}e^{-}→γχ_{c1}(3872), χ_{c1}(3872)→D^{0}D[over ¯]^{0}π^{0}, and π^{+}π^{-}J/ψ collected with the BESIII detector. The effects of the coupled channels and the off-shell D^{*0} are included in the parametrization of the line shape. The line shape mass parameter is obtained to be M_{X}=(3871.63±0.13_{-0.05}^{+0.06})  MeV. Two poles are found on the first and second Riemann sheets corresponding to the D^{*0}D[over ¯]^{0} branch cut. The pole location on the first sheet is much closer to the D^{*0}D[over ¯]^{0} threshold than the other, and is determined to be 7.04±0.15_{-0.08}^{+0.07}  MeV above the D^{0}D[over ¯]^{0}π^{0} threshold with an imaginary part -0.19±0.08_{-0.19}^{+0.14}  MeV.

Observation of the Anomalous Shape of X(1840) in J/ψ→γ3(π^{+}π^{-}) Indicating a Second Resonance Near pp[over ¯] Threshold

Using a sample of (10087±44)×10^{6}  J/ψ events, which is about 45 times larger than that was previously analyzed, a further investigation on the J/ψ→γ3(π^{+}π^{-}) decay is performed. A significant distortion at 1.84  GeV/c^{2} in the line shape of the 3(π^{+}π^{-}) invariant mass spectrum is observed for the first time, which could be resolved by two overlapping resonant structures, X(1840) and X(1880). The new state X(1880) is observed with a statistical significance larger than 10σ. The mass and width of X(1880) are determined to be 1882.1±1.7±0.7  MeV/c^{2} and 30.7±5.5±2.4  MeV, respectively, which indicates the existence of a pp[over ¯] bound state.

A factorial-analysis-based Bayesian neural network method for quantifying China's CO2 emissions under dual-carbon target

Energy-structure transformation and CO2-emission reduction are becoming particularly urgent for China and many other countries. Development of effective methods that are capable of quantifying and predicting CO2 emissions to achieve carbon neutrality is desired. This study advances a factorial-analysis-based Bayesian neural network (abbreviated as FABNN) method to reflect the complex relationship between inputs and outputs as well as reveal the individual and interactive effects of multiple factors affecting CO2 emissions. FABNN is then applied to analyzing CO2 emissions of China (abbreviated as CEC), where multiple factors involve in energy (e.g., the consumption of natural gas, CONG), economic (e.g., Gross domestic product, GDP) and social (e.g., the rate of urbanization, ROU) aspects are investigated and 512 scenarios are designed to achieve the national dual carbon targets (i.e., carbon peak before 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060). Comparing to the conventional machine learning methods, FABNN performs better in calibration and validation results, indicating that FABNN is suitable for CEC simulation and prediction. Results disclose that the top three factors affecting CEC under the dual‑carbon target are GDP, CONG, and ROU; energy, economic and social contributions are 43.5 %, 34.6 % and 21.9 %, respectively. CEC reaches its carbon peak during 2027-2032 and achieve carbon neutrality during 2053-2057 under all scenarios. Under the optimal scenario (S195), the CO2-emission reduction potential is about 772.2 million tonnes and the consumptions of coal, petroleum and natural gas can be respectively reduced by 3.1 %, 9.9 % and 23.0 % compared to the worst scenario (S466). The results can provide solid support for national energy-structure transformation and CO2-emission reduction to achieve carbon-peak and carbon-neutrality targets.

Cross-subject brain entropy mapping

We present a method to map the regional similarity between resting state fMRI activities of different individuals. The similarity was measured using cross-entropy. Group level patterns were displayed based on the Human Connectome Project Youth data. While we only showed the cross-subject brain entropy (BEN) mapping results in this manuscript, the same concept can be directly extended to map the cross-sessional BEN and the cross-regional cross-subject or subject-session BEN.

[Clinicopathological characteristics and immune microenvironment of breast squamous cell carcinoma]

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics of breast squamous cell carcinoma and to analyze the relationship between its immune microenvironment tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and prognosis. Methods: Forty-four cases of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast diagnosed and treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China from January 2006 to July 2022 were selected. Their clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed. The cell composition of TILs was evaluated using immunohistochemistry (Mainly markers of B lymphocytes, T lymphocytes and plasma cells). The relationship between TILs and prognosis was also analyzed. Results: The 44 patients of breast squamous cell carcinoma were all female and all were invasive carcinoma. Eight cases (8/44, 18.2%) were squamous cell carcinoma, while 36 cases (36/44, 81.8%) were mixed squamous cell carcinoma. The mixed components included non-specific carcinoma and spindle cell metaplastic carcinoma (17 cases each). One case contained ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast and 1 case contained tubular carcinoma. The proportion of squamous cell carcinoma was 10% to 90%. The cases with pure squamous cell carcinoma often had a large cystic cavity, which was lined by atypical squamous epithelium, while infiltrating squamous cell carcinoma nests were seen in the breast tissue around the cystic cavity. Immunohistochemical staining showed that p63 and CK5/6 were expressed in the squamous cell carcinoma component, but ER, PR and HER2 were not, except for one case of HER2 1+. The positive rates of TRPS1 and PDL-1 were 76% and less than 1%, respectively. Fifteen cases were in the high TILs group (TILs≥30%) and 29 cases were in the low TILs group (TILs<30%). Twenty-three patients were followed up for 5 to 118 months. Among them, 12 died within 3 years and 9 were alive at the end of the follow up. There was no significant difference in TNM stage, TILs and prognosis between simple squamous cell carcinoma and mixed squamous cell carcinoma. Conclusions: Breast squamous cell carcinoma can be divided into simple squamous cell carcinoma and mixed squamous cell carcinoma. There are differences in gross findings and histology between the simple and mixed squamous cell carcinoma of the breast. Sufficient samples should be taken to avoid missing the diagnosis of a minor squamous component. The prognosis of patients with high TILs is significantly better than that of patients with low TILs. The expression rate of TRPS1 in primary squamous cell carcinoma of breast is high and helpful to the differential diagnosis from metastatic squamous cell carcinoma.

[Interpretation of myeloid neoplasms in the 5th WHO classification of haematolymphoid tumors]

The 5th edition of the WHO classification of haematolymphoid tumors β version had been released online, in which the section of myeloid neoplasms had undergone significant changes in the classification framework,standards of diagnosis and classification criteria. The principle of comprehensive diagnosis based on clinicopathologic multi-parameter was maintained, especially strengthening the priority importance of biological features in diagnosis and classification, and highlighting the biological characteristics of the disease and thus providing the basis for targeted treatment and prognostic evaluation. This article introduces the main updates and changes in the myeloid neoplasms of the 5th edition of the WHO haematolymphoid tumor classification, in order to better understand and guide clinical diagnosis and therapeutic treatment in the future.

Study of the f_{0}(980) and f_{0}(500) Scalar Mesons through the Decay D_{s}^{+}→π^{+}π^{-}e^{+}ν_{e}

Using e^{+}e^{-} collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 7.33  fb^{-1} recorded by the BESIII detector at center-of-mass energies between 4.128 and 4.226 GeV, we present an analysis of the decay D_{s}^{+}→π^{+}π^{-}e^{+}ν_{e}, where the D_{s}^{+} is produced via the process e^{+}e^{-}→D_{s}^{*±}D_{s}^{∓}. We observe the f_{0}(980) in the π^{+}π^{-} system and the branching fraction of the decay D_{s}^{+}→f_{0}(980)e^{+}ν_{e} with f_{0}(980)→π^{+}π^{-} measured to be (1.72±0.13_{stat}±0.10_{syst})×10^{-3}, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. The dynamics of the D_{s}^{+}→f_{0}(980)e^{+}ν_{e} decay are studied with the simple pole parametrization of the hadronic form factor and the Flatté formula describing the f_{0}(980) in the differential decay rate, and the product of the form factor f_{+}^{f_{0}}(0) and the c→s Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element |V_{cs}| is determined for the first time to be f_{+}^{f_{0}}(0)|V_{cs}|=0.504±0.017_{stat}±0.035_{syst}. Furthermore, the decay D_{s}^{+}→f_{0}(500)e^{+}ν_{e} is searched for the first time but no signal is found. The upper limit on the branching fraction of D_{s}^{+}→f_{0}(500)e^{+}ν_{e}, f_{0}(500)→π^{+}π^{-} decay is set to be 3.3×10^{-4} at 90% confidence level.

Romosozumab in patients who experienced an on-study fracture: post hoc analyses of the FRAME and ARCH phase 3 trials

Post hoc analysis of FRAME and ARCH revealed that on-study nonvertebral and vertebral fractures by Month 12 were less common in women initially treated with romosozumab versus placebo or alendronate. Recurrent fracture risk was also lower in romosozumab‑treated patients, and there were no fracture‑related complications. Results support continuing romosozumab treatment post‑fracture.

PURPOSE

Post hoc analysis evaluating efficacy and safety of romosozumab, administered in the immediate post‑fracture period, in the FRAME and ARCH phase 3 trials.

METHODS

In FRAME (NCT01575834) and ARCH (NCT01631214), postmenopausal women with osteoporosis were randomized 1:1 to romosozumab 210 mg monthly or comparator (FRAME, placebo; ARCH, alendronate 70 mg weekly) for 12 months, followed by antiresorptive therapy (FRAME, denosumab; ARCH, alendronate). In patients who experienced on-study nonvertebral or new/worsening vertebral fracture by Month 12, we report the following: fracture and treatment‑emergent adverse event (TEAE) incidence through 36 months, bone mineral density changes (BMD), and romosozumab timing. Due to the sample sizes employed, meaningful statistical comparisons between treatments were not possible.

RESULTS

Incidence of on-study nonvertebral and vertebral fractures by Month 12 was numerically lower in romosozumab- versus comparator-treated patients (FRAME, 1.6% and 0.5% versus 2.1% and 1.6%; ARCH, 3.4% and 3.3% versus 4.6% and 4.9%, respectively). In those who experienced on-study nonvertebral fracture by Month 12, recurrent nonvertebral and subsequent vertebral fracture incidences were numerically lower in patients initially treated with romosozumab versus comparator (FRAME, 3.6% [2/56] and 1.8% [1/56] versus 9.2% [7/76] and 3.9% [3/76]; ARCH, 10.0% [7/70] and 5.7% [4/70] versus 12.6% [12/95] and 8.4% [8/95], respectively). Among those with on-study vertebral fracture by Month 12, recurrent vertebral and subsequent nonvertebral fracture incidences were numerically lower with romosozumab versus comparator (FRAME, 0.0% [0/17] and 0.0% [0/17] versus 11.9% [7/59] and 8.5% [5/59]; ARCH, 9.0% [6/67] and 7.5% [5/67] versus 15.0% [15/100] and 16.0% [16/100], respectively). In patients with fracture by Month 12, no fracture‑related complications were reported in romosozumab-treated patients. BMD gains were numerically greater with romosozumab than comparators.

CONCLUSION

Data suggest support for the efficacy and safety of continuing romosozumab treatment following fracture.

TRIAL REGISTRATIONS

NCT01575834; NCT01631214.

[Advancements and controversies in conversion therapy for biliary tract malignant tumors with insufficient future liver remnant]

Due to the unique location and aggressive tumor biology,hilar cholangiocarcinoma,intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma,and gallbladder cancer often present with obstructive jaundice and require extensive liver resection,also exhibit high rates of recurrence and metastasis after radical excision. Therefore,surgeons should make treatment decisions based on the biliary anatomy of patients and the biological characteristics of tumors as it significantly affects patient's prognosis. Treatment strategy should be made to ensure the successful implementation of radical resection for biliary tract malignant tumors while maximizing the survival benefits of patients. Firstly,conversion of liver function by relieving jaundice technology and conversion of tumor biological characteristics through systematic therapy,followed by the conversion of future liver remnant. Currently,there are still controversies surrounding indications,methods,standards of relieving jaundice,and treatment plans,cycles,evaluation of therapeutic effects for systematic conversion therapy,and the standards and techniques of conversion therapy for future liver remnant.This article discusses these issues through literature analysis and the author's experience in the hope of resonating with colleagues.

Contrast-enhanced CT-based radiomics differentiate anterior mediastinum lymphoma from thymoma without myasthenia gravis and calcification

AIM

To explore the value of a radiomics model based on enhanced computed tomography (CT) in differentiating anterior mediastinal lymphoma (AML) and thymoma without myasthenia gravis (MG) and calcification.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present study analysed patients who were diagnosed histologically with AML and thymoma in three independent institutions. All pre-treatment patients underwent enhanced CT. In the training group of patients from institutions 1 (the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University) and 3 (the Yunnan Cancer Hospital), two radiologists independently analysed the enhanced CT images and performed manual segmentation of each tumour. Radiomics features were screened using interobserver interclass coefficient (ICC) analysis, feature correlation analysis, and L1 regularisation. The discriminative efficacy of the logistic regression model was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Validation group of patients from institution 2 (the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine) was used to validate the proposed models.

RESULTS

A total of 114 patients were enrolled in this study and 1,743 radiomics features were extracted from the enhanced CT images. After feature screening, the remaining 37 robust radiomics features were used to construct the model. In the training group, the AUC of the model was 0.987 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.976-0.999), the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 0.912, 0.946, and 0.924, respectively. In the validation group, the AUC of the model was 0.798 (95% CI: 0.683-0.913), the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 0.760, 0.700, and 0.743, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The radiomics model created provided effective information to assist in the selection of clinical strategies, thus reducing unnecessary procedures in patients with AML and guiding direct surgery in patients with thymoma to avoid biopsy.

Amplitude Analysis of the B^{0}→K^{*0}μ^{+}μ^{-} Decay

An amplitude analysis of the B^{0}→K^{*0}μ^{+}μ^{-} decay is presented using a dataset corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.7  fb^{-1} of pp collision data collected with the LHCb experiment. For the first time, the coefficients associated to short-distance physics effects, sensitive to processes beyond the standard model, are extracted directly from the data through a q^{2}-unbinned amplitude analysis, where q^{2} is the μ^{+}μ^{-} invariant mass squared. Long-distance contributions, which originate from nonfactorizable QCD processes, are systematically investigated, and the most accurate assessment to date of their impact on the physical observables is obtained. The pattern of measured corrections to the short-distance couplings is found to be consistent with previous analyses of b- to s-quark transitions, with the largest discrepancy from the standard model predictions found to be at the level of 1.8 standard deviations. The global significance of the observed differences in the decay is 1.4 standard deviations.

Observation of D^{+}→K_{S}^{0}a_{0}(980)^{+} in the Amplitude Analysis of D^{+}→K_{S}^{0}π^{+}η

We perform for the first time an amplitude analysis of the decay D^{+}→K_{S}^{0}π^{+}η and report the observation of the decay D^{+}→K_{S}^{0}a_{0}(980)^{+} using 2.93  fb^{-1} of e^{+}e^{-} collision data taken at a center-of-mass energy of 3.773 GeV with the BESIII detector. As the only W-annihilation-free decay among D to a_{0}(980) pseudoscalar, D^{+}→K_{S}^{0}a_{0}(980)^{+} is the ideal decay in extracting the contributions of the W-emission amplitudes involving a_{0}(980) and to study the final-state interactions. The absolute branching fraction of D^{+}→K_{S}^{0}π^{+}η is measured to be (1.27±0.04_{stat}±0.03_{syst})%. The branching fractions of intermediate processes D^{+}→K_{S}^{0}a_{0}(980)^{+} with a_{0}(980)^{+}→π^{+}η and D^{+}→π^{+}K[over ¯]_{0}^{*}(1430)^{0} with K[over ¯]_{0}^{*}(1430)^{0}→K_{S}^{0}η are measured to be (1.33±0.05_{stat}±0.04_{syst})% and (0.14±0.03_{stat}±0.01_{syst})%, respectively.

Observation of Significant Flavor-SU(3) Breaking in the Kaon Wave Function at 12<Q^{2}<25 GeV^{2} and Discovery of the Charmless Decay ψ(3770)→K_{S}^{0}K_{L}^{0}

We present cross sections for the reaction e^{+}e^{-}→K_{S}^{0}K_{L}^{0} at center-of-mass energies ranging from 3.51 to 4.95 GeV using data samples collected in the BESIII experiment, corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 26.5  fb^{-1}. The ratio of neutral-to-charged kaon form factors at large momentum transfers (12 Collapse

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Study of High-Transverse-Momentum Higgs Boson Production in Association with a Vector Boson in the qqbb Final State with the ATLAS Detector

This Letter presents the first study of Higgs boson production in association with a vector boson (V=W or Z) in the fully hadronic qqbb final state using data recorded by the ATLAS detector at the LHC in proton-proton collisions at sqrt[s]=13  TeV and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137  fb^{-1}. The vector bosons and Higgs bosons are each reconstructed as large-radius jets and tagged using jet substructure techniques. Dedicated tagging algorithms exploiting b-tagging properties are used to identify jets consistent with Higgs bosons decaying into bb[over ¯]. Dominant backgrounds from multijet production are determined directly from the data, and a likelihood fit to the jet mass distribution of Higgs boson candidates is used to extract the number of signal events. The VH production cross section is measured inclusively and differentially in several ranges of Higgs boson transverse momentum: 250-450, 450-650, and greater than 650 GeV. The inclusive signal yield relative to the standard model expectation is observed to be μ=1.4_{-0.9}^{+1.0} and the corresponding cross section is 3.1±1.3(stat)_{-1.4}^{+1.8}(syst)  pb.

What is hindering Chinese women from participating in combat sports?

With the awakening of female consciousness, women's participation in sports has gradually gained autonomy and agency. However, Chinese women still face numerous restrictions in combat sports, hindering the development of this industry. Based on years of practice and research experience in the field, we summarize some general and specific issues, such as stigmatization and the constraints of traditional Chinese thinking. These issues need attention and consideration in the pursuit of gender equality in sports in the future.

The changes in abdominal wall muscles following incisional hernia wall reconstruction

PURPOSE

The objective of incisional hernia surgery is to achieve the restoration of abdominal wall anatomical and physiological functions. This study aims to investigate the impact of abdominal wall reconstruction on abdominal muscle alterations by measuring the preoperative and postoperative changes in abdominal wall muscles in patients undergoing incisional hernia repair.

METHODS

For patients undergoing open incisional hernia abdominal wall reconstruction, preoperative and postoperative abdominal CT scans were analyzed at a minimum of 3 months post-surgery. 3D Slicer software was utilized for measuring preoperative and postoperative changes in abdominal cavity volume, abdominal muscle volume, as well as muscle volume, cross-sectional area, and abdominal circumference at specific levels. The acquired data were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS software.

RESULTS

A total of 40 patients meeting the inclusion criteria underwent open incisional hernia repair surgery. Some of these patients required component separation technique (CST) due to the larger size of the hernia sac. The abdominal muscles surrounding the hernia ring were defined as the "damaged group," while the remaining abdominal muscles were defined as the "undamaged group." Measurements revealed a significant increase in the volume of rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique, and transversus abdominis muscles in the damaged group. Similarly, there was a corresponding increase in the volume of rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique, and transversus abdominis muscles in the undamaged group.

CONCLUSIONS

After abdominal wall reconstruction in incisional hernia patients, not only is their anatomical structure restored, but the overall biomechanical integrity of the abdominal wall is also repaired. The damaged muscles are subjected to renewed loading, leading to the reversal of disuse atrophy and an increase in muscle volume.

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.

Surfactant-like Additives Assisted the Lateral Growth of Pentacene Films

Lateral growth of thin films is crucial for organic electronic devices, such as field-effect transistors. Here, we report a strategy to improve the lateral growth of pentacene films using rubrene as a surfactant-like additive. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images confirm the enhanced lateral growth with the presence of rubrene, resulting in smooth and enlarged molecule domains in the films in comparison to those without rubrene. Molecular dynamics simulations are conducted to explore the interlayer diffusion of pentacene molecules during the growth. With the rubrene molecules as surfactant-like additives, mean square displacement (MSD) analysis shows that the pentacene molecules have a descending diffusion coefficient of 2.0 × 10-5 cm2 s-1, which is greater than the ascending diffusion coefficient of 1.6 × 10-5 cm2 s-1. The more descending molecules lead to an enhanced lateral growth of pentacene films, which is in good agreement with the experiments. As a result, the pentacene films grown with rubrene exhibit a rapid increase in carrier mobility over thickness due to the well-connected domains resulting from enhanced lateral growth. This finding will provide a new strategy to modulate the morphology of organic films for high-performance devices.

[Analysis on personal protection in occupational population at high risk for brucellosis and influencing factor in China]

Objective: To understand the current status of personal protection in occupational population at high risk for brucellosis in China and provide evidence for the evaluation of implementation of National Brucellosis Prevention and Control Plan (2016-2020). Methods: Four counties in Shanxi Province and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region were selected to conduct a questionnaire survey in occupational population at high risk for brucellosis from December 2019 to July 2020 by using cross-sectional survey methods. Results: A total of 2 384 persons at high risk for brucellosis were surveyed, and the standardized utilization rate of personal protective equipment (PPE) was 20.13% (480/2 384). The utilization rate of glove, mask, rubber shoe, and work cloth were 38.26% (912/2 384), 31.80% (758/2 384), 32.01% (763/2 384) and 30.87% (736/2 384),respectively. There were significant differences in the utilization rate and standardized utilization rate of the four types of PPE among populations in different age, occupation, educational level and area groups (all P<0.001). The utilization rate and standardized utilization rate of PPE were lower in people over 60 years old, women, farmers, and those with lower educational level. The results of multivariate analysis showed that occupation and area were the influencing factors for the standardized utilization of PPE, the standardized utilization rates of PPE were higher in herdsmen and veterinarians. The standardized utilization rate of PPE in Yanggao County and Huocheng County was significantly higher than that in Zuoyun County and Hunyuan County. Conclusions: The utilization rate of the four types of PPE in occupational population at high risk for brucellosis was not high in China, and the standardized utilization rate was low, lower than the requirement in National Brucellosis Prevention and Control Plan, and there were significant differences among different areas. It is urgent to distribute PPE to occupational population at high risk for brucellosis and carry out health education about PPE utilization. Meanwhile, it is necessary to strengthen information exchange or sharing among different areas.

[Injury death spectrum in children aged 0-14 years and its urban-rural difference in Tianjin, 1999-2021]

Objective: To analyze the characteristics, change of injury death spectrum in children aged 0-14 years and its urban-rural difference in Tianjin. Methods: The incidence data of injury death in children aged 0-14 years in Tianjin from 1999 to 2021 were collected from the "Population Based Mortality Surveillance System in Tianjin". We calculated constituent ratio, crude and standardized mortality rates in different subgroups of the population and major injury subtypes, and compared the rural-urban differences. The Cochran-Armitage trend test was used to analyze temporal trends in cause-of-death component ratios. Joinpoint regression model was used to calculate average annual percent change (AAPC). Seasonal difference in injury mortality risk were expressed as mortality ratio and 95% confidence interval. Results: From 1999 to 2021, injury was the third cause of death in children aged 0-14 years in Tianjin. The percentage of children who died in health-care facilities in rural area was 31.08%, which was lower than 37.82% in urban area. There was a downward trend in the standardized mortality rate of injury in children (AAPC=-5.54%, P<0.001). The standardized mortality rates of drowning and road traffic injury declined in both urban area and rural area (P<0.001). The mortality rate of accidental poisoning decreased in rural area (AAPC=-8.09%, P<0.001), but showed no significant change trend in urban area (P>0.05). The standardized mortality rate of suicide showed no significant change trend in urban area, but there was an increasing trend in the standardized mortality rate of suicide in rural children aged 10-14 years (AAPC=4.58%). No significant change trend was observed in mortality rate of falls in urban and rural children (P>0.05). The injury mortality rate showed obvious seasonality in children in Tianjin. Overall injury death risk and risk for drowning-caused death were highest in summer in both urban area and rural area. The risk for road traffic injury-related death was highest in autumn in urban area and in summer in rural area. The risk for death caused by accidental poisoning was highest in winter in both urban area and rural area. Conclusions: In recent decades, the injury mortality rate in children aged 0-14 years in Tianjin showed a decreasing trend. There is still a significant difference in the injury mortality level between urban area and rural area, to which close attention needs to be paid in the future policy development.

Effects of ferritin heavy chain on oxidative stress, cell proliferation and apoptosis in geese follicular granulosa cells

1. The ferritin heavy chain (FHC) has a vital impact on follicular development in geese, due to its ability to regulate apoptosis of granulosa cells (GCs) and follicular atresia. However, its specific regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. The present study characterised how FHC regulates oxidative stress, cell proliferation and apoptosis in goose GCs by interfering with and overexpressing the FHC gene.2. After 72 h of interference with FHC expression, the activity of GCs decreased remarkably (p < 0.05), reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and the expression levels of antioxidant enzyme genes catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) increased significantly (p < 0.05). The overexpression of FHC for 72 h was found to significantly reduce the expression of CAT and SOD genes (p < 0.05).3. Interfering with FHC expression revealed that the expression levels of the cell proliferation gene Aurora kinase A (AURORA-A) were significantly decreased (p < 0.05), while the expression levels of the apoptosis genes B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) and cysteine aspartate-specific protease 8 (CASPASE 8) increased (p < 0.05). Further research has shown that, when interfering with FHC expression for 72 h, apoptosis rate increased by 1.19-fold (p < 0.05), but the current data showed a lower apoptosis rate after FHC overexpression by 59.41%, 63.39%, and 52.31% at three different treatment times (p < 0.05).4. In conclusion, FHC improved the antioxidant capacity of GCs, promotes GCs proliferation, and inhibits GCs apoptosis of ovarian follicles in Sichuan white geese.

Investigation of the ΔI=1/2 Rule and Test of CP Symmetry through the Measurement of Decay Asymmetry Parameters in Ξ^{-} Decays

Using (10087±44)×10^{6}  J/ψ events collected with the BESIII detector, numerous Ξ^{-} and Λ decay asymmetry parameters are simultaneously determined from the process J/ψ→Ξ^{-}Ξ[over ¯]^{+}→Λ(pπ^{-})π^{-}Λ[over ¯](n[over ¯]π^{0})π^{+} and its charge-conjugate channel. The precisions of α_{Λ0} for Λ→nπ^{0} and α[over ¯]_{Λ0} for Λ[over ¯]→n[over ¯]π^{0} compared to world averages are improved by factors of 4 and 1.7, respectively. The ratio of decay asymmetry parameters of Λ→nπ^{0} to that of Λ→pπ^{-}, ⟨α_{Λ0}⟩/⟨α_{Λ-}⟩, is determined to be 0.873±0.012_{-0.010}^{+0.011}, where the first and the second uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. The ratio is smaller than unity more than 5σ, which signifies the existence of the ΔI=3/2 transition in Λ for the first time. Besides, we test for CP symmetry in Ξ^{-}→Λπ^{-} and in Λ→nπ^{0} with the best precision to date.

Measurement of the Centrality Dependence of the Dijet Yield in p+Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=8.16 TeV with the ATLAS Detector

ATLAS measured the centrality dependence of the dijet yield using 165  nb^{-1} of p+Pb data collected at sqrt[s_{NN}]=8.16  TeV in 2016. The event centrality, which reflects the p+Pb impact parameter, is characterized by the total transverse energy registered in the Pb-going side of the forward calorimeter. The central-to-peripheral ratio of the scaled dijet yields, R_{CP}, is evaluated, and the results are presented as a function of variables that reflect the kinematics of the initial hard parton scattering process. The R_{CP} shows a scaling with the Bjorken x of the parton originating from the proton, x_{p}, while no such trend is observed as a function of x_{Pb}. This analysis provides unique input to understanding the role of small proton spatial configurations in p+Pb collisions by covering parton momentum fractions from the valence region down to x_{p}∼10^{-3} and x_{Pb}∼4×10^{-4}.

Fraction of χ_{c} Decays in Prompt J/ψ Production Measured in pPb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=8.16 TeV

The fraction of χ_{c1} and χ_{c2} decays in the prompt J/ψ yield, F_{χ_{c}→J/ψ}=σ_{χ_{c}→J/ψ}/σ_{J/ψ}, is measured by the LHCb detector in pPb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=8.16  TeV. The study covers the forward (1.5 Collapse

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Intraosseous schwannoma of the mandible: new case series, literature update, and proposal of a classification

Intraosseous schwannoma of the mandible is rare, with diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. The aims of this study were to report new cases of intraosseous schwannoma of the mandible and to propose a clinical classification, providing suggestions for treatment methods. The cases of 13 patients treated at the authors' hospital and 86 cases reported previously in the literature were reviewed. The most common clinical feature was facial swelling (60/93). The rate of cortical thinning or expansion was 44.8% (43/96); widening of the inferior alveolar nerve canal on radiographs was observed in 15 patients.

Imaging the Meissner effect in hydride superconductors using quantum sensors

By directly altering microscopic interactions, pressure provides a powerful tuning knob for the exploration of condensed phases and geophysical phenomena1. The megabar regime represents an interesting frontier, in which recent discoveries include high-temperature superconductors, as well as structural and valence phase transitions2-6. However, at such high pressures, many conventional measurement techniques fail. Here we demonstrate the ability to perform local magnetometry inside a diamond anvil cell with sub-micron spatial resolution at megabar pressures. Our approach uses a shallow layer of nitrogen-vacancy colour centres implanted directly within the anvil7-9; crucially, we choose a crystal cut compatible with the intrinsic symmetries of the nitrogen-vacancy centre to enable functionality at megabar pressures. We apply our technique to characterize a recently discovered hydride superconductor, CeH9 (ref. 10). By performing simultaneous magnetometry and electrical transport measurements, we observe the dual signatures of superconductivity: diamagnetism characteristic of the Meissner effect and a sharp drop of the resistance to near zero. By locally mapping both the diamagnetic response and flux trapping, we directly image the geometry of superconducting regions, showing marked inhomogeneities at the micron scale. Our work brings quantum sensing to the megabar frontier and enables the closed-loop optimization of superhydride materials synthesis.

Observation of D_{s}^{+}→η^{'}μ^{+}ν_{μ}, Precision Test of Lepton Flavor Universality with D_{s}^{+}→η^{(')}l^{+}ν_{l}, and First Measurements of D_{s}^{+}→η^{(')}μ^{+}ν_{μ} Decay Dynamics

By analyzing 7.33  fb^{-1} of e^{+}e^{-} annihilation data collected at center-of-mass energies between 4.128 and 4.226 GeV with the BESIII detector, we report the observation of the semileptonic decay D_{s}^{+}→η^{'}μ^{+}ν_{μ}, with a statistical significance larger than 10σ, and the measurements of the D_{s}^{+}→ημ^{+}ν_{μ} and D_{s}^{+}→η^{'}μ^{+}ν_{μ} decay dynamics for the first time. The branching fractions of D_{s}^{+}→ημ^{+}ν_{μ} and D_{s}^{+}→η^{'}μ^{+}ν_{μ} are determined to be (2.235±0.051_{stat}±0.052_{syst})% and (0.801±0.055_{stat}±0.028_{syst})%, respectively, with precision improved by factors of 6.0 and 6.6 compared to the previous best measurements. Combined with the results for the decays D_{s}^{+}→ηe^{+}ν_{e} and D_{s}^{+}→η^{'}e^{+}ν_{e}, the ratios of the decay widths are examined both inclusively and in several ℓ^{+}ν_{ℓ} four-momentum transfer ranges. No evidence for lepton flavor universality violation is found within the current statistics. The products of the hadronic form factors f_{+,0}^{η^{(')}}(0) and the c→s Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element |V_{cs}| are determined. The results based on the two-parameter series expansion are f_{+,0}^{η}(0)|V_{cs}|=0.452±0.010_{stat}±0.007_{syst} and f_{+,0}^{η^{'}}(0)|V_{cs}|=0.504±0.037_{stat}±0.012_{syst}, which help to constrain present models on f_{+,0}^{η^{(')}}(0). The forward-backward asymmetries are determined to be ⟨A_{FB}^{η}⟩=-0.059±0.031_{stat}±0.005_{syst} and ⟨A_{FB}^{η^{'}}⟩=-0.064±0.079_{stat}±0.006_{syst} for the first time, which are consistent with the theoretical calculation.

Causal effects of diabetic retinopathy on depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder in the European population: a Mendelian randomization study

PURPOSE

To verify the causal effects of diabetic retinopathy (DR) on depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder (BD).

METHODS

Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed to identify the causal relationships between DR and depression or anxiety or BD via using DR-related GWAS data (14,584 cases and 176,010 controls), depression-related GWAS data (59,851 cases and 113,154 controls), anxiety-related GWAS data (7016 cases and 14,745 controls) and BD-related GWAS data (41,917 cases and 371,549 controls). The inverse-variance weighted (IVW) model was adopted to estimate the causal relationship. The outcome was expressed as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS

The MR analysis results presented that DR was causally associated with a significantly increased risk of BD in the European population (IVW, OR = 1.06, 95%CI [1.03, 1.08], P = 2.44 × 10-6), while DR was unable to causally influence the risk of depression (IVW, OR = 1.01, 95%CI [0.99, 1.04], P = 0.32) and anxiety (IVW, OR = 0.97, 95%CI [0.89, 1.06], P = 0.48) in the European population. Subgroup analysis based on BD identified DR causally increased the risk of bipolar I disorder (BD I) but not bipolar II disorder (BD II). Sensitivity analysis results did not show any pleiotropy and heterogeneity in both groups of analyses, indicating that the results were stable and reliable.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the current MR analysis indicated a causal relationship between DR and BD in the European population, while there was no causal connection between DR and depression or anxiety. However, further research is needed to confirm these conclusions.

Complete chloroplast genomes of eight Artemisia species: Comparative analysis, molecular identification, and phylogenetic analysis

Artemisia L. is the largest genus in the Asteraceae, and well known for its high medicinal value. The morphological features of Artemisia species are similar, making taxonomic identification and evolutionary research difficult. We sequenced chloroplast genomes of eight Artemisia species, all of which are common adulterants of A. argyi. We used novel genetic data and compared these data to the published A. argyi chloroplast genome in to develop molecular markers for species identification and reconstructing phylogenetic relationships between Artemisia species. The eight chloroplast sequences were highly similar in gene order, content, and structure, encoding a total of 114 genes (82 protein-coding genes, 28 tRNAs, and four rRNAs). All species harboured similar repeat sequences and simple sequence repeats (SSRs), ranging from 47 to 49 and 38 to 40 repeats, respectively. In addition, we identified five hypervariable regions (rpl32-trnL, rps16-trnQ, petN-psbM, trnE-rpoB, and atpA-trnR) and ten variable coding genes (ycf1, psbG, rpl36, psaC, psaI, accD, psbT, ndhD, ndhE, and psbH), which can be used to develop chloroplast molecular markers. Finally, phylogenetic reconstructions based on six datasets produced similar topologies, revealing A. argyi is closely related to species often found as adulterants, as expected. Our research provides valuable new information on the evolution and phylogenetic relationships between Artemisia chloroplast genomes and identifies valuable molecular makers to distinguish it from closely related species.

[Expression of neutrophil extracellular traps and phagocytic functions among patients with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the expression of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and phagocytic function in the peripheral blood of patients with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE), and to examine their correlations with clinical inflamma tory indicators and liver functions.

METHODS

A total of 50 patients with HAE admitted to Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University from August 2022 to June 2023 were enrolled, while 50 age- and gender-matched healthy individuals from the Centre for Healthy Examinations of the hospital during the same period served as controls. The levels of NETs markers neutrophil myeloperoxidase (MPO) and neutrophil elastase (NE) were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Peripheral blood neutrophils were isolated using density gradient centrifugation, stimulated in vitro using phorbol 12-myristate 13 acetate (PMA), and the levels of MPO and citrullination histone H3 (CitH3) released by neutrophils were quantified using flow cytometry. The phagocytic functions of neutrophils were examined using flow cytometry. In addition, the correlations of MPO and NE levels with clinical inflammatory indicators and liver biochemical indicators were examined using Spearman correlation analysis among HAE patients.

RESULTS

The peripheral blood plasma MPO［(417.15 ± 76.08) ng/mL vs. (255.70 ± 80.84) ng/mL; t = 10.28, P < 0.05］, NE［(23.16 ± 6.75) ng/mL vs. (11.92 ± 3.17) ng/mL; t = 10.65, P < 0.05］and CitH3 levels［(33.93 ± 18.93) ng/mL vs. (19.52 ± 13.89) ng/mL; t = 4.34, P < 0.05］were all significantly higher among HAE patients than among healthy controls, and a lower phagocytosis rate of neutrophils was detected among HAE patients than among healthy controls［(70.85 ± 7.32)% vs. (94.04 ± 3.90)%; t = 20.18, P < 0.05］, and the ability to produce NETs by neutrophils was higher among HAE patients than among healthy controls following in vitro PMA stimulation. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the phagocytosis rate of neutrophils correlated negatively with platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), interleukin-6 (IL-6) level and C-reactive protein (CRP) level (rs = -0.515 to -0.392, all P values < 0.05), and the MPO and NE levels positively correlated with inflammatory markers NLR, PLR, CRP and IL-6 (rs = 0.333 to 0.445, all P values < 0.05) and clinical liver biochemical indicators aspartic transaminase, alanine aminotransferase, direct bilirubin and total bilirubin among HAE patients (rs = 0.290 to 0.628, all P values < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Excessive formation of NETs is found among HAE patients, which affects the phagocytic ability of neutrophils and results in elevated levels of inflammatory indicators. NETs markers may be promising novel biomarkers for early diagnosis, monitoring, and severity assessment of liver disease.

Observation of Cabibbo-Suppressed Two-Body Hadronic Decays and Precision Mass Measurement of the Ω_{c}^{0} Baryon

The first observation of the singly Cabibbo-suppressed Ω_{c}^{0}→Ω^{-}K^{+} and Ω_{c}^{0}→Ξ^{-}π^{+} decays is reported, using proton-proton collision data at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.4  fb^{-1}, collected with the LHCb detector between 2016 and 2018. The branching fraction ratios are measured to be B(Ω_{c}^{0}→Ω^{-}K^{+})/B(Ω_{c}^{0}→Ω^{-}π^{+})=[6.08±0.51(stat)±0.40(syst)]%,B(Ω_{c}^{0}→Ξ^{-}π^{+})/B(Ω_{c}^{0}→Ω^{-}π^{+})=[15.81±0.87(stat)±0.44(syst)±0.16(ext)]%. In addition, using the Ω_{c}^{0}→Ω^{-}π^{+} decay channel, the Ω_{c}^{0} baryon mass is measured to be M(Ω_{c}^{0})=2695.28±0.07(stat)±0.27(syst)±0.30(ext)  MeV, improving the precision of the previous world average by a factor of 4.

Search for New Phenomena in Two-Body Invariant Mass Distributions Using Unsupervised Machine Learning for Anomaly Detection at sqrt[s]=13 TeV with the ATLAS Detector

Searches for new resonances are performed using an unsupervised anomaly-detection technique. Events with at least one electron or muon are selected from 140  fb^{-1} of pp collisions at sqrt[s]=13  TeV recorded by ATLAS at the Large Hadron Collider. The approach involves training an autoencoder on data, and subsequently defining anomalous regions based on the reconstruction loss of the decoder. Studies focus on nine invariant mass spectra that contain pairs of objects consisting of one light jet or b jet and either one lepton (e,μ), photon, or second light jet or b jet in the anomalous regions. No significant deviations from the background hypotheses are observed. Limits on contributions from generic Gaussian signals with various widths of the resonance mass are obtained for nine invariant masses in the anomalous regions.