Clinicopathological factors correlated with lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer: A retrospective cohort study involving 5606 patients

BACKGROUND

The identification of risk factors associated with lymph node metastasis (LNM) in gastric cancer will establish a crucial foundation for the implementation of endoscopic operation and multidisciplinary treatment program.

METHODS

5606 gastric cancer patients with comprehensive clinicopathological data were enrolled through systematic searching and rigorous screening. Of the 5606 patients, 1438 were diagnosed with early gastric cancer (EGC), which would be utilized for further analysis. Subsequently, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identified the risk factors.

RESULTS

The rates of LNM in T1a, T1b, T2, T3, T4a, and T4b stage gastric cancer were 7.0%, 19.4%, 48.4%, 77.1%, 83.8%, and 89.6% respectively. Female [odds ratio (OR)=1.559, P=0.032], lower tumor location (OR=1.773, P=0.023), tumor size >2cm (OR=2.007, P<0.001), mixed (OR=2.371, P=0.001) and undifferentiated histological types (OR=2.952, P<0.001), T1b stage (OR=2.041, P<0.001), presence of ulceration (OR=1.758, P=0.027), and lymphovascular invasion (LVI) (OR=5.722, P<0.001) were identified as independent risk factors for LNM in EGC. A nomogram was constructed using appropriate predictors to preoperatively predict the risk of LNM in EGC cases.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified the clinicopathological factors associated with LNM in EGC and developed a prediction model, thereby facilitating the integration of diverse treatment modalities in managing EGC patients.

Effects of age on lacrimal gland bioactive lipids

PURPOSE

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are a source of bioactive lipids regulating inflammation and its resolution.

METHODS

Changes in PUFA metabolism were compared between lacrimal glands (LGs) from young and aged C57BL/6 J mice using a targeted lipidomics assay, as was the gene expression of enzymes involved in the metabolism of these lipids.

RESULTS

Global reduction in PUFAs and their metabolites was observed in aged LGs compared to young controls, averaging between 25 and 66 % across all analytes. ꞷ-6 arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites were all reduced in aged LGs, where the changes in prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and lipoxin A4 (LXA4) were statistically significant. Several other 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) mediated metabolites were significantly reduced in the aged LGs, including D-series resolvins (e.g., RvD4, RvD5, and RvD6). Along with the RvDs, several ꞷ-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) metabolites such as 14-HDHA, neuroprotectin D1 (NPD1), Maresin 2 (MaR2), and MaR 1 metabolite (22-COOH-MaR1) were significantly reduced in aged LGs. Similarly, ꞷ-3 eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and its metabolites were significantly reduced in aged LGs, where the most significantly reduced was 18-HEPE. Using metabolite ratios (product:precursor) for specific metabolic conversions as surrogate enzymatic measures, reduced 12-LOX activity was identified in aged LGs.

CONCLUSION

In this study, global reduction of PUFAs and their metabolites was found in the LGs of aged female C57BL/6 J compared to young controls. A consistent reduction was observed across all detected lipid analytes except for ꞷ-3 docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) and its special pro-resolving mediator (SPM) metabolites in aged mice, suggesting an increased risk for LG inflammation.

Age-Related Differences in the Mouse Corneal Epithelial Transcriptome and Their Impact on Corneal Wound Healing

Purpose

Aging is a risk factor for dry eye. We sought to identify changes in the aged mouse corneal epithelial transcriptome and determine how age affects corneal sensitivity, re-epithelialization, and barrier reformation after corneal debridement.

Methods

Corneal epithelium of female C57BL/6J (B6) mice of different ages (2, 12, 18, and 24 months) was collected, RNA extracted, and bulk RNA sequencing performed. Cornea sensitivity was measured with an esthesiometer in 2- to 3-month-old, 12- to 13-month-old, 18- to 19-month-old, and 22- to 25-month-old female and male mice. The 2-month-old and 18-month-old female and male mice underwent unilateral corneal debridement using a blunt blade. Wound size and fluorescein staining were visualized and photographed at different time points, and a re-epithelialization rate curve was calculated.

Results

There were 157 differentially expressed genes in aged mice compared with young mice. Several pathways downregulated with age control cell migration, proteoglycan synthesis, and collagen trimerization, assembly, biosynthesis, and degradation. Male mice had decreased corneal sensitivity compared with female mice at 12 and 24 months of age. Aged mice, irrespective of sex, had delayed corneal re-epithelialization in the first 48 hours and worse corneal fluorescein staining intensity at day 14 than young mice.

Conclusions

Aged corneal epithelium has an altered transcriptome. Aged mice regardless of sex heal more slowly and displayed more signs of corneal epithelial defects after wounding than young mice. These results indicate that aging significantly alters the corneal epithelium and its ability to coordinate healing.

Iron retardation in lysosomes protects senescent cells from ferroptosis

Ferroptosis, an iron-triggered modality of cellular death, has been reported to closely relate to human aging progression and aging-related diseases. However, the involvement of ferroptosis in the development and maintenance of senescent cells still remains elusive. Here, we established a doxorubicin-induced senescent HSkM cell model and found that both iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation increase in senescent cells. Moreover, such iron overload in senescent cells has changed the expression panel of the ferroptosis-response proteins. Interestingly, the iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation does not trigger ferroptosis-induced cell death. Oppositely, senescent cells manifest resistance to the ferroptosis inducers, compared to the proliferating cells. To further investigate the mechanism of ferroptosis-resistance for senescent cells, we traced the iron flux in cell and found iron arrested in lysosome. Moreover, disruption of lysosome functions by chloroquine and LLOMe dramatically triggered the senescent cell death. Besides, the ferroitinophagy-related proteins FTH1/FTL and NCOA4 knockdown also increases the senescent cell death. Thus, we speculated that iron retardation in lysosome of senescent cells is the key mechanism for ferroptosis resistance. And the lysosome is a promising target for senolytic drugs to selectively clear senescent cells and alleviate the aging related diseases.

Irreversible Transmural Intestinal Necrosis in Acute Mesenteric Ischemia: Retrospective Cohort Study from a High-Volume Hospital

Background: Owing to the low incidence rate and nonspecific symptoms of acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI), the identification and prediction of irreversible transmural intestinal necrosis (ITIN) and extensive bowel resection (≥100 cm) (EBR) are difficult and critical. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors for ITIN and EBR in patients with AMI. Methods: The clinical data of 254 AMI patients were retrospectively analyzed. Furthermore, the incidence of ITIN and EBR were set as dependent variables, and relevant risk factors were screened using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. The comparisons of surgical characteristics and postoperative recovery outcomes between the EBR and control group were also conducted. Results: The presence of hemorrhagic (odds ratio [OR] = 28.356, P < .001) or other types ascites (OR = 13.051, P = .003), peritonitis (OR = 8.463, P = .005), intestinal diameter >2.35 cm (OR = 5.493, P = .020), and serum creatinine (CREA) >95 μmol/L (OR = 4.866, P = .048) were identified as independent risk factors for ITIN in patients with AMI. In addition, serum C-reactive protein (CRP) >15 mg/L (OR = 38.023, P = .006), and CREA >100 μmol/L (OR = 6.248, P = .035) were proved to be independently associated with EBR for ITIN cases. Compared to the control group, EBR significantly increased the likelihood of requiring enterostomy (P = .001), blood transfusion (P = .002), and transfer to intensive care unit (P = .016), while also prolonging the recovery time for intestinal function (P = .014). Conclusions: The presence of ascites, peritonitis, intestinal diameter >2.35 cm, and serum CREA >95 μmol/L were independently correlated with ITIN for AMI cases, while serum CRP >15 mg/L and CREA >100 μmol/L independently increased the risk of EBR.

Extended culture of 2D gastruloids to model human mesoderm development

Micropatterned human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) treated with BMP4 (2D gastruloids) are among the most widely used stem cell models for human gastrulation. Due to its simplicity and reproducibility, this system is ideal for high throughput quantitative studies of tissue patterning and has led to many insights into the mechanisms of mammalian gastrulation. However, 2D gastruloids have only been studied up to 48h. Here we extended this system to 96h. We discovered a phase of highly reproducible morphogenesis during which directed migration from the primitive streak-like region gives rise to a mesodermal layer beneath an epiblast-like layer. Multiple types of mesoderm arise with striking spatial organization including lateral mesoderm-like cells on the colony border and paraxial mesoderm-like further inside the colony. Single cell transcriptomics showed strong similarity of these cells to mesoderm in human and non-human primate embryos. However, our data suggest that the annotation of the reference human embryo may need to be revised. This illustrates that extended culture of 2D gastruloids provides a powerful model for human mesoderm differentiation and morphogenesis.

A low-cost, wireless, 4-channel EEG measurement system used in virtual reality environments

The combination of Virtual Reality (VR) technology and Electroencephalography (EEG) measurements has shown tremendous potential in the fields of psychology and neuroscience research. However, the majority of EEG measurement devices currently available are expensive, bulky, uncomfortable to wear, and difficult to integrate with VR headsets. These limitations have hindered the development of related research fields. This study describes a low-cost (60.07 USD), small-sized, wireless, high-precision, low-power consumption 4-channel EEG measurement system (NeuroVista) for frontal area EEG measurements, which can be used with a VR headset, enabling EEG measurements in VR environments. The system has an input-referred noise of less than 0.9480 μ V r m s , a common mode rejection ratio of over 96 dB, a measurement resolution of less than 0.1 μ V , a bandwidth of 0.5 ∼ 45 Hz, and works at a sampling rate of 250 Hz. It also supports metal dry electrodes and includes a built-in analog bandpass filter, right-leg drive circuit, and built-in digital lowpass filter and notch filter, which can reduce noise during measurement. Researchers can reconstruct the electrode system to measure regions of interest according to their needs.

Thrombolysis increases the risk of persistent headache attributed to ischemic stroke: A prospective observational study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Persistent headache attributed to ischemic stroke (PHPIS) is increasingly acknowledged and was added to the 2018 ICHD-3. Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) is a common treatment for acute ischemic stroke. It remains unknown whether this treatment influences the occurrence of a persistent poststroke headache. We aimed to describe the incidence and clinical characteristics of persistent headaches occurring after acute ischemic stroke in patients with or without IVT and explore the risk factors.

METHODS

A prospective observational study was performed between the 234 individuals who received IVT and 226 individuals without IVT in 5 stroke units from Wuhan, China. Subjects were followed for 6 months after stroke via a structured questionnaire.

RESULTS

Age, gender, vascular risk factors, and infarct location/ circulation distribution did not differ between the groups, although IVT group had higher initial NIHSS scores. At the end of the follow-up, 12.0% (55/460) of subjects reported persistent headaches after ischemic stroke. The prevalence of persistent headache was significantly higher in the IVT group than non-IVT group (15.4% vs. 8.4%, p = .021). Patients with younger age (p = .033; OR 0.97; 95% CI 0.939-0.997), female sex (p = .007; OR 2.40; 95% CI 1.269-4.520), posterior circulation infarct (p = .024; OR 2.19; 95% CI 1.110-4.311), and IVT (p = .005; OR 2.51; 95% CI 1.313-4.782) were more likely to develop persistent headache after ischemic stroke.

CONCLUSION

The potential influence of IVT should be considered when assessing persistent poststroke headache. Future studies will investigate the underlying mechanisms.

[Effects of cerium oxide nanoenzyme-gelatin methacrylate anhydride hydrogel in the repair of infected full-thickness skin defect wounds in mice]

Objective: To investigate the effects of cerium oxide nanoenzyme-gelatin methacrylate anhydride (GelMA) hydrogel (hereinafter referred to as composite hydrogel) in the repair of infected full-thickness skin defect wounds in mice. Methods: This study was an experimental study. Cerium oxide nanoenzyme with a particle size of (116±9) nm was prepared by hydrothermal method, and GelMA hydrogel with porous network structure and good gelling performance was also prepared. The 25 μg/mL cerium oxide nanoenzyme which could significantly promote the proliferation of human skin fibroblasts and had high superoxide dismutase activity was screened out. It was added to GelMA hydrogel to prepare composite hydrogel. The percentage of cerium oxide nanoenzyme released from the composite hydrogel was calculated after immersing it in phosphate buffer solution (PBS) for 3 and 7 d. The red blood cell suspension of mice was divided into PBS group, Triton X-100 group, cerium oxide nanoenzyme group, GelMA hydrogel group, and composite hydrogel group, which were treated with corresponding solution. The hemolysis of red blood cells was detected by microplate reader after 1 h of treatment. The bacterial concentrations of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Escherichia coli were determined after being cultured with PBS, cerium oxide nanoenzyme, GelMA hydrogel, and composite hydrogel for 2 h. The sample size in all above experiments was 3. Twenty-four 8-week-old male BALB/c mice were taken, and a full-thickness skin defect wound was prepared in the symmetrical position on the back and infected with MRSA. The mice were divided into control group without any drug intervention, and cerium oxide nanoenzyme group, GelMA hydrogel group, and composite hydrogel group applied with corresponding solution, with 6 mice in each group. The wound healing was observed on 3, 7, and 14 d after injury, and the remaining wound areas on 3 and 7 d after injury were measured (the sample size was 5). The concentration of MRSA in the wound exudation of mice on 3 d after injury was measured (the sample size was 3), and the blood flow perfusion in the wound of mice on 5 d after injury was observed using a laser speckle flow imaging system (the sample size was 6). On 14 d after injury, the wound tissue of mice was collected for hematoxylin-eosin staining to observe the newly formed epithelium and for Masson staining to observe the collagen situation (the sample size was both 3). Results: After immersion for 3 and 7 d, the release percentages of cerium oxide nanoenzyme in the composite hydrogel were about 39% and 75%, respectively. After 1 h of treatment, compared with that in Triton X-100 group, the hemolysis of red blood cells in PBS group, GelMA hydrogel group, cerium oxide nanoenzyme group, and composite hydrogel group was significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with that cultured with PBS, the concentrations of MRSA and Escherichia coli cultured with cerium oxide nanoenzyme, GelMA hydrogel, and composite hydrogel for 2 h were significantly decreased (P<0.05). The wounds of mice in the four groups were gradually healed from 3 to 14 d after injury, and the wounds of mice in composite hydrogel group were all healed on 14 d after injury. On 3 and 7 d after injury, the remaining wound areas of mice in composite hydrogel group were (29±3) and (13±5) mm2, respectively, which were significantly smaller than (56±12) and (46±10) mm2 in control group and (51±7) and (38±8) mm2 in cerium oxide nanoenzyme group (with P values all <0.05), but was similar to (41±5) and (24±9) mm2 in GelMA hydrogel group (with P values both >0.05). On 3 d after injury, the concentration of MRSA on the wound of mice in composite hydrogel group was significantly lower than that in control group, cerium oxide nanoenzyme group, and GelMA hydrogel group, respectively (with P values all <0.05). On 5 d after injury, the volume of blood perfusion in the wound of mice in composite hydrogel group was significantly higher than that in control group, cerium oxide nanoenzyme group, and GelMA hydrogel group, respectively (P<0.05). On 14 d after injury, the wound of mice in composite hydrogel group basically completed epithelization, and the epithelization was significantly better than that in the other three groups. Compared with that in the other three groups, the content of collagen in the wound of mice in composite hydrogel group was significantly increased, and the arrangement was also more orderly. Conclusions: The composite hydrogel has good biocompatibility and antibacterial effect in vivo and in vitro. It can continuously sustained release cerium oxide nanoenzyme, improve wound blood perfusion in the early stage, and promote wound re-epithelialization and collagen synthesis, therefore promoting the healing of infected full-thickness skin defect wounds in mice.

[Research progress of long-chain non-coding RNA in lipid metabolism reprogramming in primary hepatocellular carcinoma]

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver malignant tumor with complex pathogenesis and a poor prognosis. Metabolic reprogramming has been recognized as one of the important cancer markers, and the liver, as an important organ for lipid metabolism in the human body, plays an important role in the process of the occurrence and development of HCC. More and more evidence shows that long-chain non-coding RNA (lncRNA) can influence the lipid metabolism process by regulating key enzymes and transcription factors, as well as being involved in the occurrence and development of HCC. Therefore, explicating the mechanism of lncRNA in lipid metabolism reprogramming is conducive to providing new targets and strategies for the diagnosis and treatment and improving the prognosis of HCC patients. This article summarizes the latest research progress on the involvement of lncRNA in the reprogramming process of HCC lipid metabolism.

Surgical outcomes after reoperation for patients with recurrent presacral tumors: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Relevant reports on the surgical resection and prognosis of recurrent presacral tumors are limited. The objective of this study was to explore the outcomes associated with surgical resection of recurrent presacral tumors.

METHODS

The data of patients with recurrent presacral tumors who received surgical resection in our hospital between June 2009 and November 2018 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

Thirty-one patients, comprising 22 females and 9 males, with recurrent presacral lesions were included in our study. A posterior approach was utilized in 27 patients, an anterior approach in 1 patient, and a combined approach in 3 patients. Intraoperative complications occurred in 13 patients (41.9%), while postoperative complications occurred in 6 patients (19.4%). The length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in patients who underwent the posterior approach compared to those who underwent the anterior and combined approaches (P = 0.002). The operative time for the posterior approach was significantly shorter compared to both the anterior and combined approaches (P = 0.006). Temporary tamponade was performed for hemostasis in 4 patients, while staged resection was performed in 2 patients during the surgical treatment process. After a median follow-up period of 115.5 months, 5 patients with recurrent malignant presacral tumors succumbed to tumor recurrence after reoperation in our hospital.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical resection remains the mainstream treatment for recurrent presacral tumors. The outcomes for recurrent benign presacral tumors after surgery demonstrate favorable results, whereas further enhancements are required to improve the outcomes for recurrent malignant presacral tumors after surgery.

Identification of predictors for short-term recurrence: comprehensive analysis of 296 retroperitoneal liposarcoma cases

BACKGROUND

The short-term (≤ 1 year) recurrence (STR) is the primary determinant impacting both the life quality and survival duration in patients who have undergone surgical resection for retroperitoneal liposarcoma (RPLS), a condition with intricate and ambiguous pathogenesis. The purpose of this study was to analyze the risk factors associated with STR in cases of RPLS and primary retroperitoneal liposarcoma (PRPLS).

METHODS

For this retrospective observational study, a total of 296 RPLS cases were selected as research subjects, who experienced tumor recurrence during the follow-up period. The Local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and subsequently compared between groups utilizing the log-rank test. The subsequent analyses involved univariate and multivariate logistic regression to identify predictors of STR in RPLS cases. Additionally, a logistic regression model was constructed for PRPLS.

RESULTS

The 1-, 3-, and 5-year LRFS rates of the 296 RPLS cases were 51.7%, 16.9%, and 7.1%, respectively. In the univariate analysis, several factors were found to be associated with STR, including preoperative neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), smoking history, surgical frequency, combined organ excision, operative time, intraoperative bleeding, transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU), multiple primary tumors, tumor shape and capsule characteristics, histological subtype, and presence of tumor necrosis. The elevated preoperative NLR, surgical frequency of ≥ 3 times, transfer to the ICU, presence of multiple primary tumors, and tumor necrosis were identified as independent risk factors for STR in surgically resected RPLS. Conversely, diabetes, intact tumor capsule, and well-differentiated histological subtype appeared to be independent protective factors. Analysis for PRPLS revealed that tumor capsule and tumor necrosis were independent predictors of STR.

CONCLUSIONS

The elevated preoperative NLR, surgical frequency of ≥ 3 times, transfer to the ICU, presence of multiple primary tumors, tumor necrosis, and tumor capsule were expected to serve as predictive factors of STR for surgical resected RPLS and PRPLS.

Total versus proximal gastrectomy for proximal gastric cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy: a multicenter retrospective propensity score-matched cohort study

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to analyze and compare the short-term and long-term outcomes of proximal gastrectomy (PG) and total gastrectomy (TG) in patients with locally advanced proximal gastric cancer (GC) following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT).

METHOD

A multicenter retrospective cohort study and propensity score matching (PSM) were employed. The authors examined 367 patients with proximal GC who received NACT followed by PG ( n =164) or TG ( n =203) at two Chinese medical institutions between December 2009 and December 2022. Clinical and pathological parameters, postoperative complications, and 5-year overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were compared between the two groups. The dissection status and metastasis rate of each lymph node station were assessed.

RESULTS

After PSM, 80 patients were enrolled in both TG and PG group, and baseline characteristics were comparable between the groups (all P >0.05). The TG group had a higher total number of lymph nodes retrieved ( P <0.001) and longer operative time ( P =0.007) compared to the PG group. The incidence of Clavien-Dindo grade II or higher postoperative complications was similar between the TG group (21.3%, 17/80) and the PG group (17.5%, 14/80) ( P =0.689). The 5-year OS rates were 68.4 for the PG group and 66.0% for the TG group ( P =0.881), while the 5-year RFS rates were 64.8 and 61.9%, respectively ( P =0.571), with no statistically significant differences. Metastasis rates at lymph node stations #4d, #5, #6, and #12a were notably low in the TG group, with values of 2.74, 0.67, 1.33, and 1.74%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

For proximal GC patients following NACT, PG maintains comparable curative potential and oncological efficacy to TG, making it a safe option.

Heat stress-associated changes in the intestinal barrier, inflammatory signals, and microbiome communities in dairy calves

Recent studies indicate that heat stress pathophysiology is associated with intestinal barrier dysfunction, local and systemic inflammation, and gut dysbiosis. However, inconclusive results and a poor description of tissue-specific changes must be addressed to identify potential intervention targets against heat stress illness in growing calves. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate components of the intestinal barrier, pro- and anti-inflammatory signals, and microbiota community composition in Holstein bull calves exposed to heat stress. Animals (mean age = 12 wk old; mean body weight = 122 kg) penned individually in temperature-controlled rooms were assigned to (1) thermoneutral conditions (constant room temperature at 19.5°C) and restricted offer of feed (TNR, n = 8), or (2) heat stress conditions (cycles of room temperatures ranging from 20 to 37.8°C) along with ad libitum offer of feed (HS, n = 8) for 7 d. Upon treatment completion, sections of the jejunum, ileum, and colon were collected and snap-frozen immediately to evaluate gene and protein expression, cytokine concentrations, and myeloperoxidase activity. Digesta aliquots of the ileum, colon, and rectum were collected to assess bacterial communities. Plasma was harvested on d 2, 5, and 7 to determine cytokine concentrations. Overall, results showed a section-specific effect of HS on intestinal integrity. Jejunal mRNA expression of TJP1 was decreased by 70.9% in HS relative to TNR calves. In agreement, jejunal expression of heat shock transcription factor-1 protein, a known tight junction protein expression regulator, decreased by 48% in HS calves. Jejunal analyses showed that HS decreased concentrations of IL-1α by 36.6% and tended to decrease the concentration of IL-17A. Conversely, HS elicited a 3.5-fold increase in jejunal concentration of anti-inflammatory IL-36 receptor antagonist. Plasma analysis of pro-inflammatory cytokines showed that IL-6 decreased by 51% in HS relative to TNR calves. Heat stress alteration of the large intestine bacterial communities was characterized by increased genus Butyrivibrio_3, a known butyrate-producing organism, and changes in bacteria metabolism of energy and AA. A strong positive correlation between the rectal temperature and pro-inflammatory Eggerthii spp. was detected in HS calves. In conclusion, this work indicates that HS impairs the intestinal barrier function of jejunum. The pro- and anti-inflammatory signal changes may be part of a broader response to restore intestinal homeostasis in jejunum. The changes in large intestine bacterial communities favoring butyrate-producing organisms (e.g., Butyrivibrio spp.) may be part of a successful response to maintain the integrity of the colonic mucosa of HS calves. The alteration of intestinal homeostasis should be the target for heat stress therapies to restore biological functions, and, thus highlights the relevance of this work.

Transforming growth factor-β1 protects against white matter injury and reactive astrogliosis via the p38 MAPK pathway in rodent demyelinating model

In central nervous system (CNS), demyelination is a pathological process featured with a loss of myelin sheaths around axons, which is responsible for the diseases of multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica, and so on. Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1) is a multifunctional cytokine participating in abundant physiological and pathological processes in CNS. However, the effects of TGF-β1 on CNS demyelinating disease and its underlying mechanisms are controversial and not well understood. Herein, we evaluated the protective potential of TGF-β1 in a rodent demyelinating model established by lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) injection. It was identified that supplement of TGF-β1 evidently rescued the cognitive deficit and motor dysfunction in LPC modeling mice assessed by novel object recognition and balance beam behavioral tests. Besides, quantified by luxol fast blue staining, immunofluorescence, and western blot, administration of TGF-β1 was found to significantly ameliorate the demyelinating lesion and reactive astrogliosis by suppressing p38 MAPK pathway. Mechanistically, the results of in vitro experiments indicated that treatment of TGF-β1 could directly promote the differentiation and migration of cultured oligodendrocytes. Our study revealed that modulating TGF-β1 activity might serve as a promising and innovative therapeutic strategy in CNS demyelinating diseases.

[Research progress of non-coding RNA-encoding polypeptides in primary hepatocellular carcinoma]

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors, with rapid progression and a poor prognosis. More and more studies have shown that there are small open reading frames (sORFs) on the molecular sequences of a large number of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), which can encode conserved peptides that play an important role in controlling the occurrence and development of HCC. This article introduces the discovery, prediction, and validation methods of ncRNA-encoding polypeptides and reviews its research progress, with the aim of providing new targets and ideas for early-stage diagnosis, targeted therapy, and prognosis assessment of HCC.

Risk factors associated with lymph node metastasis in early-stage distal gastric cancer

OBJECTS

This study was designed to explore the risk factors of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in distal gastric cancer with early stage, and to provide reference for the choice of treatment protocols.

METHODS

In this retrospective observational study, 824 early distal gastric cancer (EDGC) cases who treated at our unit from 2010 to 2020 were selected as research objects. Subsequently, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to investigate the associations between LNM and clinicopathological features.

RESULTS

Of these 824 EDGC cases, 140 (17.0%) developed LNM, including 72 N1 stage and 68 N2-3 stage LNM. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified the tumor diameter ≥1.75 cm (odds ratio (OR) = 2.361, p < 0.001), tumor location (OR = 1.552, p = 0.046), histological classification (p = 0.004), tumor infiltration depth (OR = 2.154, p = 0.001), and vascular infiltration (OR = 4.354, p < 0.001) as independent predictors for LNM. Logistic regression analyses based on 756 N0-1 LNM cases identified the smoking history (OR = 0.507, p = 0.043), tumor diameter ≥1.75 cm (OR = 2.265, p = 0.010), tumor location (OR = 1.834, p = 0.036), histological classification (p = 0.018), tumor infiltration depth (OR = 1.939, p = 0.034), and vascular infiltration (OR = 3.225, p < 0.001) as independent predictors for N1 LNM. Moreover, preoperative hypoalbuminemia (OR = 7.087, p = 0.015), significant preoperative weight loss (OR = 2.724, p = 0.023), tumor diameter ≥1.75 cm (OR = 5.484, p = 0.001), multiple tumors (OR = 9.986, p = 0.038), histological classification (p = 0.029), and vascular infiltration (OR = 33.704, p < 0.001) were proved to be associated with LNM for T1a tumors.

CONCLUSIONS

The tumor diameter, location and infiltration depth, histological classification, and vascular infiltration were expected to be used as predictors of LNM in EDGC, and preoperative hypoalbuminemia, significant weight loss, tumor diameter and number, histological classification, and vascular infiltration were associated with LNM for T1a tumors.

A Cholecystokinin Analogue Ameliorates Cognitive Deficits and Regulates Mitochondrial Dynamics via the AMPK/Drp1 Pathway in APP/PS1 Mice

BACKGROUND

There are no drugs on the market that can reverse or slow Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression. A protease-resistant Cholecystokinin (CCK) analogue used in this study is based on the basic structure of CCK, which further increases the stability of the peptide fragment and prolongs its half-life in vivo. We observed a neuroprotective effect of CCK-8L in APPswe/PS1dE9 (APP/PS1) AD mice. However, its corresponding mechanisms still need to be elucidated.

OBJECTIVE

This study examined CCK-8L's neuroprotective effects in enhancing cognitive impairment by regulating mitochondrial dynamics through AMPK/Drp1 pathway in the APP/PS1 AD mice.

METHODS

Behavioural tests are applied to assess competence in cognitive functions. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was performed to observe the ultrastructure of mitochondria of hippocampal neurons, Immunofluorescent staining was employed to assay for Aβ1-42, APP, Adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and dynamin-related protein1 (Drp1). CRISPR/Cas9 was utilized for targeted knockout of the CCKB receptor (CCKBR) in the mouse APP/PS1 hippocampal CA1 region. A model of lentiviral vector-mediated overexpression of APP in N2a cells was constructed.

RESULTS

In vivo, experiments revealed that CCK analogue and liraglutide significantly alleviated cognitive deficits in APP/PS1 mice, reduced Aβ1-42 expression, and ameliorated l damage, which is associated with CCKBR activation in the hippocampal CA1 region of mice. In vitro tests showed that CCK inhibited mitochondrial fission and promoted fusion through AMPK/Drp1 pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

CCK analogue ameliorates cognitive deficits and regulates mitochondrial dynamics by activating the CCKB receptor and the AMPK/Drp1 pathway in AD mice.

A pre-oxidized Eu-probe doped into bio-MOF-1 for ascorbic acid emission "off-on" detection in human serum

Ascorbic acid (or widely known as vitamin C, VC) is an essential antioxidant and a free radical scavenger in human body. The appeal for reliable fluorescent nanosensors always promotes the development of VC probe. In this work, a pre-oxidized Eu-probe (denoted as Eu-NO9) was synthesized. Without VC, Eu-NO9 was nearly non-emissive owing to the inefficient ligand energy transfer (ET) to Eu ion (caused by mismatched ligand level and long distance to Eu, as revealed by single crystal analysis and emissive parameters). By adding VC, the pre-oxidized ligand was deoxidized and its ET to Eu ion became efficient (confirmed by electrochemical analysis), with Eu(III) red emission intensity obviously increased. Then Eu-NO9 was doped into a porous host bio-MOF-1 for ascorbic acid detection (denoted as Eu-NO9@MOF). The molecular sieving effect of bio-MOF-1 improved sensing selectivity, and bio-MOF-1 blue emission (421 nm) was applied as a reference for Eu(III) red emission. Linear working curves were obtained within a wide working region of 0-100 μM, with LOD of 1.7 μM. A short response time of 192 s at 25 °C was confirmed. Practical sensing plates were prepared and found applicable for VC detection in fresh human serum. The advantage of this work was the combination of a pre-oxidized probe and a porous host which gave emission "turn on" fluorescence sensing for VC with good selectivity, linear calibration curve and wide working region.

Gastrointestinal Fistula in Radical Distal Gastrectomy: Case-Control Study from a High-Volume Hospital

Background: Postoperative gastrointestinal fistula (PGF) is one of the main causes of abdominal infection and perioperative death. This study was designed to investigate the risk factors of PGF, anastomotic fistula (AF), and duodenal stump fistula (DSF) for patients who underwent radical distal gastrectomy. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective observational study, 2652 gastric cancer cases who received radical distal gastrectomy from 2010 to 2020 were selected as research subjects. Subsequently, we adopted the univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis as statistical method to screen the risk factors for PGF, AF, and DSF, respectively. Results: In univariate analysis, gender (P = .022), operative time (P = .013), intraoperative blood loss (P < .001), tumor diameter (P = .002), and tumor stage (P < .001) were related to PGF. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified the male (odds ratio [OR] = 2.691, P = .042), massive intraoperative hemorrhage (OR = 1.002, P = .008), and advanced tumor (OR = 2.522, P = .019) as independent predictors for PGF. Moreover, diabetes (OR = 4.497, P = .008) and massive intraoperative hemorrhage (OR = 1.003, P = .010) were proved to be associated with AF, while massive intraoperative hemorrhage (OR = 1.001, P = .050) and advanced tumor (OR = 6.485, P = .005) were independent risk factors of DSF. Conclusions: The gender, intraoperative hemorrhage, tumor stage, and diabetes were expected to be used as predictors of PGF for radical distal gastrectomy.

Effects of behaviour change on HFMD transmission

We propose a hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) transmission model for children with behaviour change and imperfect quarantine. The symptomatic and quarantined states obey constant behaviour change while others follow variable behaviour change depending on the numbers of new and recent infections. The basic reproduction number R 0 of the model is defined and shown to be a threshold for disease persistence and eradication. Namely, the disease-free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable if R 0 ≤ 1 whereas the disease persists and there is a unique endemic equilibrium otherwise. By fitting the model to weekly HFMD data of Shanghai in 2019, the reproduction number is estimated at 2.41. Sensitivity analysis for R 0 shows that avoiding contagious contacts and implementing strict quarantine are essential to lower HFMD persistence. Numerical simulations suggest that strong behaviour change not only reduces the peak size and endemic level dramatically but also impairs the role of asymptomatic transmission.

Tissue-resident alveolar macrophages reduce O3-induced inflammation via MerTK mediated efferocytosis

Lung inflammation, caused by acute exposure to ozone (O3) - one of the six criteria air pollutants - is a significant source of morbidity in susceptible individuals. Alveolar macrophages (AMØs) are the most abundant immune cells in the normal lung and their number increases following O3 exposure. However, the role of AMØs in promoting or limiting O3-induced lung inflammation has not been clearly defined. Here, we used a mouse model of acute O3 exposure, lineage tracing, genetic knockouts, and data from O3-exposed human volunteers to define the role and ontogeny of AMØs during acute O3 exposure. Lineage tracing experiments showed that 12, 24, and 72 h after exposure to O3 (2 ppm) for 3h all AMØs were tissue-resident origin. Similarly, in humans exposed to FA and O3 (200 ppb) for 135 minutes, we did not observe ~21h post-exposure an increase in monocyte-derived AMØs by flow cytometry. Highlighting a role for tissue-resident AMØs, we demonstrate that depletion of tissue-resident AMØs with clodronate-loaded liposomes led to persistence of neutrophils in the alveolar space after O3 exposure, suggesting that impaired neutrophil clearance (i.e., efferocytosis) leads to prolonged lung inflammation. Moreover, depletion of tissue-resident AMØ demonstrated reduced clearance of intratracheally instilled apoptotic Jurkat cells, consistent with reduced efferocytosis. Genetic ablation of MerTK - a key receptor involved in efferocytosis - also resulted in impaired clearance of apoptotic neutrophils followed O3 exposure. Overall, these findings underscore the pivotal role of tissue-resident AMØs in resolving O3-induced inflammation via MerTK-mediated efferocytosis.

A mixed-methods study of parents' social connectedness in a group-based parenting program in low-income communities

Group-based parent training (PT) is an evidence-based approach for strengthening parenting skills and reducing child behavior problems. However, there has been little research on the social connectedness (SC) formed among PT participants, particularly in low-income communities where parents may be more socially isolated. This study describes SC formed among parents in a group-based PT program implemented in their children's school and its association with changes in child behavior. Using a convergent mixed-methods design, data collection occurred between 2020 and 2022. Parents (n = 97) completed measures of their SC to other parents in their PT group and their child's behavior. Qualitative interviews with a representative subsample of parents (n = 17) were also conducted to understand parents' perceptions and experiences of SC within their PT group. Parents reported high levels of SC (M = 4.45 [range = 3.04-5 on scale of 1-5]; SD = 0.4). From baseline to postintervention, the number of children with child behavior problems significantly decreased (32.12%, 37.5% behavior intensity and problems, respectively). The magnitude of decline in child behavior problems was significantly related to parents' SC (b = -11.52, p = .02, SE = 4.99). Qualitative data confirmed high levels of SC, which parents linked to improvements in their parenting and children's behavior. Themes focused on the building of connections, committing to a safe space with parents who share similar goals, supporting one another, and gaining connections within the school environment and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results highlight the potential synergistic effects of SC formed in the context of group-based PT with implications for strengthening parenting skills and children's well-being. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

TNF is a critical cytokine in age-related dry eye disease

Aging is a complex biological process that is characterized by low-grade inflammation, called inflammaging. Aging affects multiple organs including eye and lacrimal gland. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a pleiotropic cytokine that participates in inflammation, activation of proteases such as cathepsin S, and formation of ectopic lymphoid organs. Using genetic and pharmacological approaches, we investigated the role of TNF in age-related dry eye disease, emphasizing the ocular surface and lacrimal gland inflammation. Our results show the increased protein and mRNA levels of TNF in aged lacrimal glands, accompanied by increased TNF, IL1β, IL-18, CCL5, CXCL1, IL-2, IL-2 receptor alpha (CD25), IFN-γ, IL-12p40, IL-17, and IL-10 proteins in tears of aged mice. Moreover, genetic loss of the Tnf-/- in mice decreased goblet cell loss and the development of ectopic lymphoid structures in the lacrimal gland compared to wild-type mice. This was accompanied by a decrease in cytokine production. Treatment of mice at an early stage of aging (12-14-month-old) with TNF inhibitor tanfanercept eye drops for eight consecutive weeks decreased cytokine levels in tears, improved goblet cell density, and decreased the marginal zone B cell frequency in the lacrimal gland compared to vehicle-treated animals. Our studies indicate that modulation of TNF during aging could be a novel strategy for age-related dry eye disease.

CREB3L2 Regulates Hemidesmosome Formation during Epithelial Sealing

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

Principal Component Analysis to Design Planning Target Volume in Oropharyngeal Cancers

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Standard translational shifts of the Clinical Target volume (CTV) to generate the Planning Target Volume (PTV) do not account for rotations. Head and neck positional misalignments derive in large part from rotations due to cervical spine arching and twisting in Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT). Translational expansions do not track rotations, yielding coverage envelopes that unnecessarily overlap with adjacent structures. This work examines whether principal component analysis of the motion along all 6 degrees of freedom may be used to produce a more favorable PTV.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Seventy-five CBCTs of ten oropharyngeal cases were included. The records of couch shifts needed to align individual bony structures (C1-5, mandible and mastoid) between the planning image and CBCTs were recorded. A Principal Component Analysis of the shifts was used to generate an ellipsoid inflation of each CTV vertex along 6 degrees of freedom. The result was compared to a 3D ellipsoid based translational expansion, and to a described ellipsoid based vertex expansion along 6 degrees of freedom, with axes oriented in parallel to the treatment reference frame.

RESULTS

Themean (x, y) shifts in mm needed to align individually bodies C1 - C5 were respectively (-0.4, 0.5), (+.5, -0.2), (+-0.2, -0.2), (-0.2, +0.4), and (-0.5, +0.7), the monophasic pattern showing acquired curvature along both axes during treatment and demanding a PTV for coverage. A PTV was constructed using a described 6D ellipsoidal based boundary point expansion aligned along the reference frame axis or using a new theory to align against the principal components of the motion. A cyclical one-out method was used to validate the PTV models. Selected confidence intervals yielded complete coverage in >80% weeks in 80% cases. Validation testing disclosed similar complete coverage in 83-86% weekly CBCTs in the test cases with either method. The PCA 6D PTV could yield less normal structure overlap. A one out method was used to test overlap avoidance from PTVs constructed from a population of weekly CBCTs drawn from seven cases with one excluded. PTVs were drawn around target and constrictors on an extraneous case and imaged on a CT slice. Both a rolling 'ball' expansion of the vertices that applies a 3D translational ellipsoid and a PTV constructed using a 6D ellipsoid aligned against the standard reference frame overlapped with all or nearly all the constrictors in all but one trial (1/7). The 6D ellipsoid aligned against the principal motion components spared >70% of a constrictor in all trials (7/7).

CONCLUSION

PTVs remain needed to ensure target coverage in head and neck radiotherapy even with daily CT accuracy because of acquired spinal curvatures resulting in rotational displacements. A described 6D ellipsoid oriented to the reference frame can yield good coverage, but with unneeded constrictor coverage. A PCA analysis yields a PTV with equally good coverage but able to spare 70% of a constrictor.

Conditional deletion of CD25 in the corneal epithelium reveals sex differences in barrier disruption

PURPOSE

IL-2 promotes activation, clonal expansion, and deletion of T cells. IL-2 signals through its heterotrimeric receptor (IL-2R) consisting of the CD25, CD122 and CD132 chains. CD25 knockout (KO) mice develop Sjögren Syndrome-like disease. This study investigates whether corneal CD25/IL-2 signaling is critical for ocular health.

METHODS

Eyes from C57BL/6 mice were collected and prepared for immunostaining or in-situ hybridization. Bulk RNA sequencing was performed on the corneal epithelium from wild-type and CD25KO mice. We generated a conditional corneal-specific deletion of CD25 in the corneal epithelium (CD25Δ/ΔCEpi). Corneal barrier function was evaluated based on the uptake of a fluorescent dye. Mice were subjected to unilateral corneal debridement, followed by epithelial closure over time.

RESULTS

In C57BL/6 mice, CD25 mRNA was expressed in ocular tissues. Protein expression of CD25, CD122, and CD132 was confirmed in the corneal epithelium. Delayed corneal re-epithelization was seen in female but not male CD25KO mice. There were 771 differentially expressed genes in the corneal epithelium of CD25KO compared to wild-type mice. While barrier function is disrupted in CD25Δ/ΔCEpi mice, re-epithelialization rates are not delayed.

CONCLUSIONS

All three chains of the IL-2R are expressed in the corneal epithelium. Our results indicate for the first time, deleting CD25 systemically in all tissues in the mouse and deleting CD25 locally in just the corneal epithelium compromises corneal epithelial barrier function, leading to dry eye disease in female mice. Future studies are needed to delineate the pathways used by IL-2 signaling to influence cornea homeostasis.

Early Outcomes of Different Reconstruction Procedures in Radical Distal Gastrectomy: A Retrospective Propensity Score Matching Study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the short-term effects of Billroth I (B-I), Billroth Ⅱ (B-Ⅱ), Billroth Ⅱ+Braun (B-B), and Roux-en-Y (R-Y) reconstruction procedures in radical distal gastrectomy using propensity score matching (PSM).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The clinical data of 1994 patients who underwent radical distal gastrectomy in the past 10 years were retrospectively analyzed. Subsequently, PSM analyses were performed 3 times on the 4 reconstruction procedures, and the matching capacity was set to 0.01. Data regarding control variables and outcome indicators obtained using PSM were compared and analyzed.

RESULTS

Compared with the other reconstruction procedures, patients in the B-I group had shorter operation time ( P =0.002), fewer abdominal drainage tubes ( P <0.001), and a lower risk of postoperative gastroparesis ( P =0.001) and gastrointestinal bleeding ( P =0.034), but tended to experience a longer postoperative indwelling time of bladder catheter ( P <0.001), gastrointestinal decompression ( P <0.001), fasting ( P =0.001), and hospital stays ( P =0.005). The B-B group tended to have fewer applications of the abdominal drainage tube ( P =0.014), a lower risk of postoperative gastrointestinal fistula ( P =0.040), shorter postoperative time of gastrointestinal decompression ( P =0.043), fasting ( P <0.001), and a shorter hospital stay ( P <0.001) than the R-Y group. Furthermore, the B-B group had a shorter postoperative time for gastrointestinal decompression ( P =0.014) and fasting ( P <0.001) than the B-Ⅱ group.

CONCLUSION

Billroth I reconstruction has the advantages of simple operation, short operative time, and few early complications, but tends to result in a long recovery time during postoperative hospitalization. The B-B operation is associated with faster postoperative recovery than the R-Y or B-Ⅱ operation.

Application of Iodine as a Catalyst in Aerobic Oxidations: A Sustainable Approach for Thiol Oxidations

Iodine is a well-known oxidant that is widely used in organic syntheses. Thiol oxidation by stoichiometric iodine is one of the most commonly employed strategies for the synthesis of valuable disulfides. While recent advancements in catalytic aerobic oxidation conditions have eliminated the need for stoichiometric oxidants, concerns persist regarding the use of toxic or expensive catalysts. In this study, we discovered that iodine can be used as a cheap, low-toxicity catalyst in the aerobic oxidation of thiols. In the catalytic cycle, iodine can be regenerated via HI oxidation by O2 at 70 °C in EtOAc. This protocol harnesses sustainable oxygen as the terminal oxidant, enabling the conversion of primary and secondary thiols with remarkable efficiency. Notably, all 26 tested thiols, encompassing various sensitive functional groups, were successfully converted into their corresponding disulfides with yields ranging from >66% to 98% at a catalyst loading of 5 mol%.

Type A personality, sleep quality, and cerebral small vessel disease: investigating the mediating role of sleep in a community-based study

Purpose

Type A behavior pattern (TABP) is a personality type characterized by rapid speech, impatience, competition, and hostility. Asymptomatic cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is often endemic in older adults. Individuals with TABP commonly experience suboptimal sleep quality, and a correlation exists between sleep disturbances and CSVD. We investigated the relationship between TABP and CSVD markers and further explored the mediating role of sleep quality in the relationship between TABP and CSVD.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey included 764 community-dwelling adults aged 55-85 years. The TABP Scale and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used to assess personality and sleep quality, respectively. Linear and logistic regression analyses were used to examine relationships between variables of interest. In addition, mediation analyses with bootstrapping were used to test whether sleep quality mediated the relationship between TABP and CSVD.

Results

Of the 764 participants [median age 65 (61-69) years, 59.9% female], the population with type A personality accounted for 44.8%. After adjusting for covariates, TABP scores (p = 0.03) and PSQI scores (p < 0.001) were significantly correlated with CSVD. In addition, sleep quality partially mediated the association between type A behavior and CSVD, and the mediating effect was 10.67%.

Conclusion

This study showed that type A behavior was a risk factor for CSVD among older community-dwelling adults and that sleep quality mediated the relationship between type A behavior and CSVD. Changing type A behavior may help improve sleep quality, which may in turn reduce the prevalence of CSVD.

Effects of Cathepsin S Inhibition in the Age-Related Dry Eye Phenotype

Purpose

Aged C57BL/6J (B6) mice have increased levels of cathepsin S, and aged cathepsin S (Ctss-/-) knockout mice are resistant to age-related dry eye. This study investigated the effects of cathepsin S inhibition on age-related dry eye disease.

Methods

Female B6 mice aged 15.5 to 17 months were randomized to receive a medicated diet formulated by mixing the RO5461111 cathepsin S inhibitor or a standard diet for at least 12 weeks. Cornea mechanosensitivity was measured with a Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer. Ocular draining lymph nodes and lacrimal glands (LGs) were excised and prepared for histology or assayed by flow cytometry to quantify infiltrating immune cells. The inflammatory foci (>50 cells) were counted under a 10× microscope lens and quantified using the focus score. Goblet cell density was investigated in periodic acid-Schiff stained sections. Ctss-/- mice were compared to age-matched wild-type mice.

Results

Aged mice subjected to cathepsin S inhibition or Ctss-/- mice showed improved conjunctival goblet cell density and cornea mechanosensitivity. There was no change in total LG focus score in the diet or Ctss-/- mice, but there was a lower frequency of CD4+IFN-γ+ cell infiltration in the LGs. Furthermore, aged Ctss-/- LGs had an increase in T central memory, higher numbers of CD19+B220-, and fewer CD19+B220+ cells than wild-type LGs.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that therapies aimed at decreasing cathepsin S can ameliorate age-related dry eye disease with a highly beneficial impact on the ocular surface. Further studies are needed to investigate the role of cathepsin S during aging.

Risk Factor Analysis of Gastroparesis Syndrome in 2652 Patients with Radical Distal Gastrectomy

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to investigate the risk factors of postoperative gastroparesis syndrome (PGS) in patients with gastric cancer who underwent radical distal gastrectomy.

METHODS

The clinical data of 2652 patients with gastric cancer who underwent radical distal gastrectomy in the past 10 years were retrospectively analyzed. Furthermore, the incidence of PGS was set as the dependent variable, and the risk factors for PGS were screened using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Risk factor analysis for the different digestive tract reconstruction methods was also performed.

RESULTS

Univariate analysis revealed that preoperative pyloric obstruction (p = 0.001), digestive tract reconstruction (p = 0.001), jejunum nutrition tube application (p = 0.001), intraperitoneal chemotherapy drug application (p = 0.002), age (≥ 66 years or < 66 years) (p = 0.042), operative time (≥ 184.5 min or < 184.5 min) (p = 0.049), and postoperative indwelling catheter time (≥ 4.5 days or < 4.5 days) (p = 0.045) were related to PGS. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that preoperative pyloric obstruction (odds ratio (OR) = 2.830, p = 0.004), application of a jejunum nutrition tube (OR = 3.309, p = 0.011), intraperitoneal chemotherapy (OR = 0.482, p = 0.010), and digestive tract reconstruction were independent risk factors for PGS.

CONCLUSION

This study identified risk factors associated with PGS, which could be further applied in clinical practice.

Current Knowledge about Headaches Attributed to Ischemic Stroke: Changes from Structure to Function

Headaches are common after ischemic stroke (IS). Unlike primary headaches, headaches attributed to IS have specific clinical features. This review describes the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, risk factors, and influence of IS headaches. Previous reports were summarized to show the correlations between headaches and structural lesions in the cerebral cortex, subcortical white matter, deep gray matter nuclei, brainstem, and cerebellum. However, the substantial heterogeneity of IS, subjective evaluations of headaches, and inadequate cohort studies make it difficult to explore the pathophysiology of headaches attributed to IS. In our recommendation, favorable imaging techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography, may provide new insights into mechanical studies of IS headaches from structure to function. It may also be helpful to extend the research field by targeting several shared signal transducers between headaches and IS. These markers might be neuropeptides, vasoactive substances, ion channels, or electrophysiologic changes.

Knockout of microglial Hv1 proton channel reduces neurotoxic A1 astrocytes and neuronal damage via the ROS/STAT3 pathway after spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes severe functional deficits and neuronal damage, accompanied by intense glial activation. The voltage-gated proton channel Hv1, selectively expressed on microglia, is associated with SCI progression. However, the effect of Hv1 on the phenotypes and functions of reactive astrocytes after SCI remains unclear. Here, we combined Hv1 knockout (Hv1^-/- ) mice and T10 spinal cord contusion to investigate the effects of microglial Hv1 on SCI pathophysiology and the phenotypes and functions of reactive astrocytes. After SCI, astrocytes proliferated and activated in the peri-injury area and exhibited an A1-dominant phenotype. Hv1 knockout reduced neurotoxic A1 astrocytes and shifted the dominant phenotype of reactive astrocytes from A1 to A2, enhancing synaptogenesis promotion, phagocytosis, and neurotrophy of astrocytes. Moreover, synaptic and axonal remodeling as well as motor recovery after SCI benefited from the improved astrocytic functions of Hv1 knockout. Furthermore, exogenous and endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) in astrocytes after SCI were reduced by Hv1 knockout. Our in vitro results showed that inhibition of ROS reduced the neurotoxic A1 phenotype in primary astrocytes via the STAT3 pathway. Similar to the effect of Hv1 knockout, the application of the ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine reduced SCI-induced neurotoxic A1 astrocytes in vivo. Based on the in vivo and vitro results, we elucidated that microglial Hv1 knockout promotes synaptic and axonal remodeling in SCI mice by decreasing neurotoxic A1 astrocytes and increasing neuroprotective A2 astrocytes via the ROS/STAT3 pathway. Therefore, the Hv1 proton channel is a promising target for the treatment of SCI.

Multidisciplinary treatment for locally advanced gastric cancer: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

Introduction

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of multidisciplinary treatment for patients with locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC) who underwent radical gastrectomy.

Patients and Methods

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effectiveness of surgery alone, adjuvant chemotherapy (CT), adjuvant radiotherapy (RT), adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT), neoadjuvant CT, neoadjuvant RT, neoadjuvant CRT, perioperative CT and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for LAGC were searched. Overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), recurrence and metastasis, long-term mortality, adverse events (grade ≥3), operative complications and R0 resection rate were used as outcome indicators for meta-analysis.

Results

Forty-five RCTs with 10077 participants were finally analysed. Adjuvant CT had higher OS (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.74, 95% credible interval [CI] = 0.66-0.82) and DFS (HR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.60-0.74) than surgery-alone group. Perioperative CT (odds ratio [OR] = 2.56, 95% CI = 1.19-5.50) and adjuvant CT (OR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.27-0.86) both had more recurrence and metastasis than HIPEC + adjuvant CT, while adjuvant CRT tended to have less recurrence and metastasis than adjuvant CT (OR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.29-2.42) and even adjuvant RT (OR = 1.83, 95% CI = 0.98-3.40). Moreover, the incidence of mortality in HIPEC + adjuvant CT was lower than that in adjuvant RT (OR = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.11-0.72), adjuvant CT (OR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.23-0.86) and perioperative CT (OR = 2.39, 95% CI = 1.05-5.41). Analysis of adverse events (grade ≥3) showed no statistically significant difference between any two adjuvant therapy groups.

Conclusion

A combination of HIPEC with adjuvant CT seems to be the most effective adjuvant therapy, which contributes to reducing tumour recurrence, metastasis and mortality - without increasing surgical complications and adverse events related to toxicity. Compared with CT or RT alone, CRT can reduce recurrence, metastasis and mortality but increase adverse events. Moreover, neoadjuvant therapy can effectively improve the radical resection rate, but neoadjuvant CT tends to increase surgical complications.

Asymmetry of Lacunae between Brain Hemispheres Is Associated with Atherosclerotic Occlusions of Middle Cerebral Artery

Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) commonly coexists with intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS). Previous studies have tried to evaluate the relationship between ICAS and CSVD; however, they have yielded varied conclusions. Furthermore, the methodology of these studies is not very rigorous, as they have evaluated the association between ICAS and CSVD of bilateral hemispheres rather than the affected hemisphere. Unilateral middle cerebral artery atherosclerotic occlusion (uni-MCAO) is a favorable model to solve this problem.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Patients with uni-MCAO were retrospectively observed. Imaging characteristics, including lacunae, white matter hyperintensities (WMH), enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVS), and cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), were compared between the hemisphere ipsilateral to the MCAO and the contralateral hemisphere.

RESULTS

A total of 219 patients (median age 57 years; 156 males) were enrolled. Compared with the contralateral side, increased quality of lacunae (median, IQR, 0, 2 vs. 0, 1; p < 0.001) and elevated CSVD score (median, IQR, 0, 1 vs. 0, 1; p = 0.004) were found in the occluded hemisphere. No significant differences were shown for WMH, EPVS, and CMBs.

CONCLUSIONS

Uni-MCAO has a higher prevalence of lacunae in the ipsilateral hemisphere. However, no interhemispheric differences in WMH, EPVS, or CMBs were found.

Differentially Expressed Tear Proteins in Sjögren's Syndrome Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to determine if there are significant differences in the concentrations of tear proteins in Sjögren's syndrome keratoconjunctivitis sicca (SS KCS) compared to healthy controls.

Methods

Tear samples were collected with unmarked Schirmer strips from 15 patients with SS KCS and 21 healthy controls. Tear protein was eluted and the concentration measured. Inflammatory mediators were assayed with a Raybiotech L-507 glass slide array and normalized by strip wetting length. All patients underwent an ocular surface exam to evaluate tear break-up time (TBUT), corneal fluorescein (CF) staining, and conjunctival (CJ) staining. The symptom assessment questionnaire in dry eye (SANDE) scores were collected for all patients.

Results

Two hundred fifty-three of the 507 tear proteins analyzed were significantly different in patients with SS compared to controls. Two hundred forty-one if the proteins were upregulated and 12 were downregulated. One hundred eighty-one differentially expressed proteins were significantly correlated with all four clinical parameters: TBUT, CF staining, CJ staining, and SANDE score.

Conclusions

These findings indicate that hundreds of factors can be assayed in tear proteins collected from a Schirmer strip. The results suggest tear protein concentrations are altered in patients with SS KCS compared to controls. The upregulated tear proteins correlated with clinical measures of dry eye symptoms and disease severity.

Translational Relevance

Tear proteins could serve as important biomarkers for studying pathogenesis and in clinical diagnosis and management of SS KCS.

Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy May Damage Renal Function and Cause Serum Electrolyte Disturbance: A Retrospective Observational Study

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of postoperative hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) on bone marrow hematopoiesis, liver and kidney function, and serum electrolytes for patients who underwent open radical gastrectomy, and investigate the variation tendency of above indicators.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The clinical data of 153 patients who underwent open radical gastrectomy were retrospectively analyzed and were divided into HIPEC group (n=83) and control group (n=70). Repeated analysis of variance was used to analyze the variation tendency of bone marrow hematopoiesis, liver and kidney function, and serum electrolytes in the HIPEC and control group, respectively, and then made a comparison between the 2 groups.

RESULTS

There were statistical differences in alanine aminotransferase ( P =0.034), phosphorus ( P+ ) ( P <0.05), potassium (K + ) ( P =0.023), sodium (Na + ) ( P <0.001), and chloride (Cl - ) ( P =0.008) between HIPEC and control group. All outcome indicators changed significantly over time ( P <0.05). No significant difference was found in hemoglobin, white blood cell, platelet, aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin, or uric acid between the 2 treatment groups at each time point. On the next day after HIPEC treatment, the levels of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and P+ were higher in the HIPEC group, whereas the calcium (Ca + ), magnesium (Mg + ), and K + levels of HIPEC group tended to be lower. However, the effects of HIPEC on alanine aminotransferase, Na + , and Cl - levels needed to be further explored.

CONCLUSIONS

HIPEC treatment after open radical gastrectomy has no significant effect on hematopoietic bone marrow and liver function but may damage renal function; reduce Ca + , Mg + , K + levels; and increase P+ level.

Si Photonics FMCW LiDAR Chip with Solid-State Beam Steering by Interleaved Coaxial Optical Phased Array

LiDAR has attracted increasing attention because of its strong anti-interference ability and high resolution. Traditional LiDAR systems rely on discrete components and face the challenges of high cost, large volume, and complex construction. Photonic integration technology can solve these problems and achieve high integration, compact dimension, and low-cost on-chip LiDAR solutions. A solid-state frequency-modulated continuous-wave LiDAR based on a silicon photonic chip is proposed and demonstrated. Two sets of optical phased array antennas are integrated on an optical chip to form a transmitter-receiver interleaved coaxial all-solid-state coherent optical system which provides high power efficiency, in principle, compared with a coaxial optical system using a 2 × 2 beam splitter. The solid-state scanning on the chip is realized by optical phased array without a mechanical structure. A 32-channel transmitter-receiver interleaved coaxial all-solid-state FMCW LiDAR chip design is demonstrated. The measured beam width is 0.4° × 0.8°, and the grating lobe suppression ratio is 6 dB. Preliminary FMCW ranging of multiple targets scanned by OPA was performed. The photonic integrated chip is fabricated on a CMOS-compatible silicon photonics platform, providing a steady path to the commercialization of low-cost on-chip solid-state FMCW LiDAR.

Correlation Analysis Between Demographic, Surgical, and Pathological Characteristics with Local Recurrence-Free Survival for Surgical Resected Retroperitoneal Liposarcoma

BACKGROUND

As the leading cause of mortality for retroperitoneal liposarcoma (RPLS) cases, postoperative recurrence has complicated and unclear risk factors. This study was conducted to explore the correlations between demographic, surgical, and pathological characteristics with local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) for surgical resected RPLS.

METHODS

RPLS cases that underwent radical operation were considered to be included in this analysis. LRFS rates were estimated based on the Kaplan-Meier method and were compared between groups by the log-rank test. Cox proportional hazard regression models were constructed to identified the predictors of LRFS. Subsequently, the independent predictors acquired from multivariate analyses were used to construct a nomogram.

RESULTS

348 RPLS cases who underwent radical operation were included. Of the 348 cases, 333 had tumor recurrence or with a follow-up period ≥5 years. Thus, 296 (88.9%) of the 333 cases had recurrent disease, and the median LRFS duration of 296 recurrence cases was 17.0 (95% confidence interval (CI) 13.2-20.8) months. Multivariate analysis identified the preoperative neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), surgical frequency, operative time, tumor shape, histological subtype, and tumor necrosis as independent predictors of LRFS. Based on above independent predictors, a nomogram was constructed to predict the 1-, 3-, and 5-year LRFS of surgical resected RPLS.

CONCLUSION

Elevated preoperative NLR, ≥2nd time surgical frequency, extended operation time, irregular tumor shape, no well-differentiated histological subtype, and tumor necrosis could be used as predictors of LRFS for surgical resected RPLS.

Induction of Innate Inflammatory Pathways in the Corneal Epithelium in the Desiccating Stress Dry Eye Model

Purpose

To determine whether 24-hour exposure to the desiccating stress (DS) dry eye model induces NF-kB and NLRP3 inflammasome pathways in the mouse cornea epithelium.

Methods

Six- to 8-week-old C57BL/6J mice were housed under normal humidity (nonstressed) or subjected to DS from a drafty, low-humidity environment combined with subcutaneous scopolamine four times/day for one day to suppress tear production (DS1). Cornea whole mounts were prepared for immunofluorescent staining, or the corneal epithelium was scraped for NF-kB p-p65 ELISA, Western blot, or real-time PCR to detect NF-kB and inflammasome pathway proteins and gene transcripts, respectively.

Results

NF-kB phospho-p65 protein, nuclear NF-kB p-p65, and expression of the NF-kB inducible cytokines (IL-12a, IL-12b, and lymphotoxin b [Ltb]) and chemokine (CCL-2) genes were significantly increased in DS1 compared to nonstressed control. NLRP3 protein and RNA transcripts significantly increased in DS1. NLRP3 and Caspase-1 immunostaining increased in the cornea epithelium at DS1. At DS1 there was no change in IL-18 and a decrease in IL-1β mRNA transcripts; however, levels of bound and total IL-18 protein increased at DS1, and the level of mature IL-1β increased from DS1 to DS5.

Conclusions

These findings indicate innate NF-kB and NLRP3 inflammasome inflammatory pathways are induced in the corneal epithelium within one day in the DS dry eye model. NF-kB activation was associated with increased expression of inflammatory mediators involved in dry eye. Induction of these pathways is accompanied by increased bound/total IL-18 and mature IL-1β.

Astrocyte-derived exosomes contribute to pathologies of NMOSD in rodent model

OBJECTIVE

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease that leads to severe disability. A large proportion of NMOSD patients are seropositive for aquaporin-4 autoantibodies (AQP4-IgG, named as NMO-IgG) targeting the AQP4, which is selectively expressed on astrocytes in central nervous system (CNS). This study tests the hypothesis that in response to NMO-IgG, the pathogenic astrocyte-derived exosomes are released and injure the neighboring cells.

METHODS

IgG purified from serum of either NMOSD patients or healthy controls were used to generate astrocyte-derived exosomes (AST-Exos^NMO versus AST-Exos^CON ) in cultured rat astrocytes. The exosomes were respectively delivered to cultured rat oligodendrocytes in vitro, tissue culture of rat optic nerve ex vivo, and rat optic nerve in vivo to evaluate the pathogenic roles of AST-Exos^NMO . The miRNA sequencing of AST-Exos and verification were performed to identify the key pathogenic miRNA. The custom-designed AAV antagonizing the key miRNA was evaluated for its therapeutic effects in vivo. Moreover, the serum levels of the key exosomal miRNA were measured between NMOSD patients and healthy controls.

RESULTS

AST-Exos^NMO led to notable demyelination both in cultured oligodendrocytes and optic nerve tissue. Exosomal miR-129-2-3p was identified as the key miRNA mediating the demyelinating pathogenesis via downstream target gene SMAD3. AAV antagonizing miR-129-2-3p protected against demyelination in NMOSD rodent model. The serum exosomal miR-129-2-3p level was significantly elevated in NMOSD patients and correlated with disease severity.

INTERPRETATION

Astrocytes targeted by NMO-IgG release pathogenic exosomes that could potentially be used as therapeutic targets, or disease monitoring biomarkers in NMOSD. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Regulatory T cells promote functional recovery after spinal cord injury by alleviating microglia inflammation via STAT3 inhibition

BACKGROUND

Immediately after spinal trauma, immune cells, and proinflammatory cytokines infiltrate the spinal cord and disrupt the focal microenvironment, which impedes axon regeneration and functional recovery. Previous studies have reported that regulatory T cells (Tregs) enter the central nervous system and exert immunosuppressive effects on microglia during multiple sclerosis and stroke. However, whether and how Tregs interact with microglia and modulate injured microenvironments after spinal cord injury (SCI) remains unknown.

METHOD

Regulatory T cells spatiotemporal characteristics were analyzed in a mouse contusion SCI model. Microglia activation status was evaluated by immunostaining and RNA sequencing. Cytokine production in injured spinal cord was examined using Luminex. The role of STAT3 in Treg-microglia crosstalk was investigated in a transwell system with isolated Tregs and primary microglia.

RESULTS

Regulatory T cells infiltration of the spinal cord peaked on day 7 after SCI. Treg depletion promoted microglia switch to a proinflammatory phenotype. Inflammation-related genes, such as ApoD, as well as downstream cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α were upregulated in microglia in Treg-depleted mice. STAT3 inhibition was involved in Treg-microglia crosstalk, and STAT3 chemical blockade improved function recovery in Treg-depleted mice.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that Tregs promote functional recovery after SCI by alleviating microglia inflammatory reaction via STAT3.

Effect of PCSK9 inhibition in combination with statin therapy on intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis: A high-resolution MRI study

Introduction

Intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) is a common cause of stroke worldwide. Evolocumab, a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type-9 inhibitor (PCSK9i), effectively lowers low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and produces favorable changes in coronary atherosclerosis. This study aimed to determine the effects of PCSK9i on intracranial plaques in moderate-intensity statin-treated individuals with ICAS.

Methods

This prospective, observational study monitored the imaging and clinical outcomes of individuals with ICAS who were consecutively treated with moderate-intensity statins with or without PCSK9i. Individuals underwent monthly visits and repeat high-resolution MRI (HR-MRI) at week 12. The primary outcome was a change in HR-MRI after 12 weeks of treatment and the secondary outcome was major vascular events during follow-up.

Results

Forty-nine individuals were studied (PCSK9i group: 26 individuals with 28 abnormal vascular regions; statin group: 23 with 27 regions). The PCSK9i group showed a significant reduction in the normalized wall index (0.83 vs. 0.86, p = 0.028) and stenosis degree (65.5 vs. 74.2%, p = 0.01). Similarly, a greater percentage of individuals with a good response to the efficacy of treatment were treated in the PCSK9i group than that in the statin group (75 vs. 44.4%, p = 0.021). The incidence of major vascular events was overall similar between the groups. The treatment options (OR = 8.441, p = 0.01) and prior diabetes (OR = 0.061, p = 0.001) were significantly associated with the efficacy of treatment.

Discussion

Statin and PCSK9i combination treatment stabilized intracranial atherosclerotic plaques more often compared to statins alone, as documented by HR-MRI. Further study is warranted to determine if combination treatment improves clinical outcomes in ICAS.

Sub-bandgap near-infrared photovoltaic response in Au/Al2O3/n-Si metal-insulator-semiconductor structure by plasmon-enhanced internal photoemission

Silicon sub-bandgap near-infrared (NIR) (λ > 1100 nm) photovoltaic (PV) response by plasmon-enhanced internal photoemission was investigated. The Si sub-bandgap NIR PV response, which remains unexploited in Schottky junction-like solar cell device, was examined using nanometer sized Au/Al₂O₃/n-Si junction arrays. This kind of metal-insulator-semiconductor structure was similar in functionality to Schottky junction in NIR absorption, photo-induced charge separation and collection. It showed that NIR absorption increased steadily with increasing volume of Au nanoparticles (NPs) till a saturation was reached. Simulation results indicated the formation of localized surface plasmon on the surfaces of Au NPs, which was correlated well with the observed NIR absorption. On the other hand, the NIR PV response was found sensitive to the amount and size of Au NPs and thickness of Al₂O₃. Chemical and field-effect passivation of n-Si by using Al₂O₃ and SiO₂ were used to optimize the NIR PV response. In the current configuration, the best PV conversion efficiency was 0.034% at λ = 1319 nm under illumination power of 0.1 W/cm².

Childhood Bereavement, Adverse and Positive Childhood Experiences, and Flourishing among Chinese Young Adults

Childhood bereavement (CB) resulting from a parent or primary caregiver death is associated with a range of adverse outcomes. Little is known about the association between CB and adult flourishing in the context of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and positive childhood experiences (PCEs). In a cross-sectional observational study, we examined how ACEs, PCEs, and adult flourishing differs by self-reported CB history among 9468 Chinese young adults (18-35 years), of which 4.3% experienced CB (n = 409). Data collection included convenience sampling among university students in Mainland China. Respondents voluntarily completed an online survey between August and November 2020. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regressions examined frequencies and differences in ACEs, PCEs, and flourishing by the history of CB controlling for a few demographic covariates. Bereaved individuals reported significantly higher ACEs and lower PCEs. The odds of experiencing emotional, physical, and sexual abuse as well as household substance abuse, parental mental illness, and parental incarceration ranged from 2.0-5.2 times higher for bereaved individuals. Bereaved participants also reported significant negative relationships with Flourishing Index (β = -0.35, t = -4.19, p < 0.001) and Secure Flourishing Index (β = -0.40, t = -4.96, p < 0.001). Consistent with previous research, our findings demonstrate the lasting effects of CB on well-being. We discuss study implications for ACEs and PCEs screening and surveillance as well as grief counseling to promote flourishing among bereaved youth in China and beyond.

Ectopic lymphoid structures in the aged lacrimal glands

Aging is a complex biological process in which many organs are pathologically affected. We previously reported that aged C57BL/6J had increased lacrimal gland (LG) lymphoid infiltrates that suggest ectopic lymphoid structures. However, these ectopic lymphoid structures have not been fully investigated. Using C57BL/6J mice of different ages, we analyzed the transcriptome of aged murine LGs and characterized the B and T cell populations. Age-related changes in the LG include increased differentially expressed genes associated with B and T cell activation, germinal center formation, and infiltration by marginal zone-like B cells. We also identified an age-related increase in B1+ cells and CD19+B220+ cells. B220+CD19+ cells were GL7+ (germinal center-like) and marginal zone-like and progressively increased with age. There was an upregulation of transcripts related to T follicular helper cells, and the number of these cells also increased as mice aged. Compared to a mouse model of Sjögren syndrome, aged LGs have similar transcriptome responses but also unique ones. And lastly, the ectopic lymphoid structures in aged LGs are not exclusive to a specific mouse background as aged diverse outbred mice also have immune infiltration. Altogether, this study identifies a profound change in the immune landscape of aged LGs where B cells become predominant. Further studies are necessary to investigate the specific function of these B cells during the aged LGs.