Are All Gay Men at Risk of Developing HIV/AIDS? Why China's Mass HIV Testing Has Majorly Targeted Gay Men in the Era of Biomedicalization

Global HIV/AIDS responses have been increasingly biomedically dominated over the past years. In line with this shifting paradigm, China has prioritized mass HIV testing as a practical approach to controlling its HIV/AIDS epidemics among at-risk populations, especially gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM). This study analyzed why China's mass HIV testing mainly targeted gay men by understanding the perspectives of public health professionals, community-based organization (CBO) workers, and gay men. In addition, this study revealed the tensions and unintended consequences of HIV/AIDS prevention and the representation of gay men in China. The study involved fieldwork conducted in a major city in Eastern China from 2015 to 2019. Semi-structured interviews were held with participants from the three abovementioned groups (N = 25). The study identified four processes concerning why gay men are mainly targeted for HIV testing. Some public health professionals believe that being a gay man is equivalent to having HIV/AIDS risks. In addition, this study particularly noted tensions between public health professionals and gay men, including gay men-identified CBO workers, over whether mass HIV testing should target gay men or anyone who engaged in sexual risk behaviors. This study argued that a particular focus on gay men due to pursuing biomedical advances in HIV/AIDS prevention seems to have unintendedly stereotyped gay men based on the presumptions that they are at risk of developing HIV/AIDS. In addition, this study corresponded to the broader social scientific discussion concerning whether HIV/AIDS intervention should target specific sexual risk practices or sexual identity/population.

Giant Star-shaped meso-substituted Fluorescent Porphyrins with Fluorenyl-containing Arms Designed for Two-photon Oxygen Photosensitization

In the continuation of previous studies on carbon-rich meso-tetraarylporphyrins featuring 2,7-fluorene units at their periphery, the effect of changing the peripheral dendritic arms for linear arms on their oxygen-photosensitizing ability, their fluorescence and their two-photon absorption (2PA) properties is now analyzed. Thus, starburst porphyrins possessing up to twenty conjugated fluorenyl units were isolated and studied. More precisely, a series of five new free-base porphyrins featuring fully conjugated arms incorporating an increasing number of fluorenyl groups connected via 1,2-alkenyl spacers were synthesized, along with their Zn(II) complexes. Upon excitation in the arm-centred π-π* absorption band, an efficient energy transfer takes place from the peripheral fluorenyl units to the central porphyrin core, leading to intense red-light emission and oxygen photosensitization by the latter. More interestingly, while the linear optical properties of these porphyrins were only slightly improved compared to those of their dendrimer analogues for photodynamic therapy (PDT) or fluorescence imaging, their 2PA cross-sections were much more significantly boosted, evidencing the key role played by different structures on nonlinear optical properties. Finally, by comparison with other porphyrin-based two-photon photosensitizers reported in the literature, we show that these new "semi-disconnected" starburst systems exhibit a remarkable trade-off between intrinsic 2PA, fluorescence and oxygen photosensitization.

Phenolic Constituents from Black Quinoa Alleviate Insulin Resistance in HepG2 Cells via Regulating IRS1/PI3K/Akt/GLUTs Signaling Pathways

Quinoa is a nutrient-rich pseudocereal with a lower glycemic index and glycemic load. However, its therapeutic potency and underlying mechanism against insulin resistance (IR) have not been fully elucidated. In this work, network pharmacology was applied to screen IR targets and their related pathways. The efficacy and mechanism of black quinoa polyphenols (BQP) on IR improvement were evaluated and uncovered based on the IR model in vitro combined with molecular docking. Ten phenolic constituents of BQP were detected, and the network pharmacology results show that PI3K/Akt pathways are the main pathways in BQP against IR. The in vitro assay proved that BQP increases the glucose consumption and glycogen synthesis via upregulating insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1)/PI3K/Akt/glucose transporters (GLUTs) signaling pathways to alleviate IR. Rutin, resveratrol, and catechin show lower binding energy docking with IRS1, PI3K, Akt, and GLUT4 proteins, indicating better interactions. It might be an effective constituent against IR. Hence, BQP could become a potential functional food source for blood glucose management among insulin-resistant people.

Development and validation of a circulating tumor cells-related signature focusing on biochemical recurrence and immunotherapy response in prostate cancer

Background

Studies have shown that the circulating tumor cells (CTCs) play a key role for invasion and formation of distant metastases in prostate cancer (PCa). However, few CTCs-related genes (CRGs) have been developed for biochemical recurrence (BCR) prediction and clinical applications of PCa patients.

Materials and methods

Bioinformatics analysis with public PCa datasets were used to investigate the relationship between the differentially expressed CRGs and BCR. Lasso-COX regression analysis was used to constructed and validated a CRGs-based BCR prediction signature for PCa. Single-cell data were used to validate the expression levels of signature genes in different cell types and then explored the cell-cell communication relationships. Finally, the expression levels of signature genes were verified and the CRGs involved in immunotherapy response were further identified.

Results

Thirteen CRGs were differentially expressed and closely associated with BCR in PCa. Then we constructed and validated a BCR prediction signature for PCa patients based on 3 differentially expressed CRGs (EMID1, SPP1 and UBE2C), and the signature was an independent factor to predict BCR for PCa. Single-cell data showed the specific expression patterns of the signature genes, while the SPP1 pathway plays an important role in cell-cell communication. Further analyses suggested UBE2C was highly expressed in BCR group and high expression of UBE2C had a better response for patients who received immunotherapy. Moreover, the expression levels of UBE2C in CTCs were higher than other cells and tissues, indicated that UBE2C may affect the BCR event of PCa patients through CTCs.

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrated that CRGs were significantly associated with BCR and immunotherapy efficacy in PCa and CRGs may influence the BCR event through CTCs.

Clinical characteristics of solitary intrahepatic biliary cyst

Solitary intrahepatic biliary cyst (SIBC) is a rare disease, and due to the lack of adequate understanding of it, SIBC is often misdiagnosed as simple liver cyst (SLC), which in turn affects the therapeutic effect. In order to arouse more attention to SIBC, combined with clinical experience in our center, this study specifically screened 3 representative cases of SIBC, and conducted a comprehensive retrospective analysis of their clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment process. Combined with the relevant literature, the diagnosis and treatment process of SIBC is widely discussed.

RNAi-mediated knockdown of α-Spectrin depresses reproductive performance in female Bactrocera dorsalis

The female reproductive potential plays a crucial role in reproduction, population dynamics and population maintenance. However, the function of endogenous genes in undifferentiated germ cells has been largely unknown in Bactrocera dorsalis. In this study, the conservative analysis showed that α-Spectrin shared a similarity in B. dorsalis and other dipteral flies. Further, the differential expression of α-Spectrin was examined in B. dorsalis by RT-qPCR, and the expression pattern of α-Spectrin protein was identified in female adult ovaries by using immunostaining. During the development of ovary, the change on the number of undifferentiated germ cells was also characterized and analyzed. To understand the function of α-Spectrin in B. dorsalis ovary, the RNAi-based knockdown was conducted, and the RNAi efficiency was examined by RT-qPCR, western blot and bioassay. The results revealed that the α-Spectrin dsRNA could strikingly decrease the expression level of α-Spectrin in ovaries and diminish oviposition and ovary size as a consequence of downregulation of α-Spectrin. Overall, our study facilitates reproductive research on the function of conservative genes in B. dorsalis ovary, which may provide a new insight into seeking novel target genes for pest management control.

Single-cell RNA sequencing identifies eggplant as a regulator of germ cell development in Drosophila

Drosophila ovarian germline stem cells (GSCs) are a powerful model for stem cell research. In this study, we use single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), an RNAi screen and bioinformatic analysis, to identify genes involved in germ cell differentiation, including 34 genes with upregulated expression during early germ cell development and 19 genes that may regulate germ cell differentiation. Among these, a gene we have named eggplant (eggpl) is highly expressed in GSCs and downregulated in early daughter cells. RNAi knockdown of eggpl causes germ cell proliferation and differentiation defects. In flies fed a rich yeast diet, the expression of eggpl is significantly lower and knockdown or knockout of eggpl phenocopies a rich diet. In addition, eggpl knockdown suppresses the reduction in germ cell proliferation caused by inhibition of the insulin effector PI3K. These findings suggest that downregulation of eggpl links nutritional status to germ cell proliferation and differentiation. Collectively, this study provides new insights into the signaling networks that regulate early germ cell development and identifies eggpl as a key player in this process.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Dolichopus galeatus Loew, 1871 (Diptera: Dolichopodidae)

The long-legged fly Dolichopus galeatus Loew, 1871 belongs to the subfamily Dolichopodinae (Diptera: Dolichopodidae). This work presents the mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of D. galeatus for the first time. The mitogenome has a total length of 15,268 bp, 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, and 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs) that make up the genome. All genes have comparable positions and strands to those found in earlier reported fly mitogenomes. The nucleotide composition is tilted toward A and T, which account for 75.1% of the total. Phylogenetic approach shows that Lichtwardtia is the sister group of Dolichopus and that the Dolichopodidae are monophyletic.

2D-Layer-Structure Bi to Quasi-1D-Structure NiBi3 : Structural Dimensionality Reduction to Superior Sodium and Potassium Ion Storage

Layer-structured bismuth (Bi) is an attractive anode for Na-ion and K-ion batteries due to its large volumetric capacity and suitable redox potentials. However, the cycling stability and rate capability of the Bi anode are restricted by the large volume expansion and sluggish Na/K-storage kinetics. Herein, a structural dimensionality reduction strategy is proposed and developed by converting 2D-layer-structured Bi into a quasi-1D structured NiBi3 with enhanced reaction kinetics and reversibility to realize high-rate and stable cycling performance for Na/K-ion storage. As a proof of concept, the quasi-1D intermetallic NiBi3 with low formation energy, metallic conductivity, and 3D Na/K-ion diffusion pathways delivers outstanding capacity retention of 94.1% (332 mAh g-1 ) after 15 000 cycles for Na-ion storage, and high initial coulombic efficiency of 93.4% with improved capacity retention for K-ion storage. Moreover, investigations on the highly reversible Na/K-storage reaction mechanisms and cycling-driven morphology reconstruction further reveal the origins of the high reversibility and the accommodation to volume expansion. The finding of this work provides a new strategy for high-performance anode design by structural dimensionality manipulation and cycling-driven morphology reconstruction.

A novel bivalent anti-c-MET/PD-1 bispecific antibody exhibits potent cytotoxicity against c-MET/PD-L1-positive colorectal cancer

Previously, we generated a novel bispecific antibody (BsAb) simultaneously targeting both c-MET and PD-1 (PDCD1), which can bridge T cells and c-MET positive tumor cells. However, the specific mechanisms and antitumor activities of the BsAb against c-MET/PD-L1 (CD274) positive colorectal cancer (CRC) is not completely understood. In this study, in addition to the tumor intrinsic mechanism investigation with molecular biology assay in vitro, a humanized mouse model was used to evaluate antitumor activity of the BsAb in vivo. The BsAb could inhibit c-MET/PD-L1+ CRC cell migration and show strong antitumor activity against HCT116 tumors in mice, potentially by inducing the degradation of c-MET protein in a dose and time-dependent manner. The BsAb could suppress the phosphorylation of c-MET downstream proteins GRB2-associated-binding protein 1 (Gab1) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK). Considering the tumor extrinsic mechanism, the BsAb may promote phagocytosis of macrophage. Furthermore, the level of plasma exosomal-c-MET/PD-L1 is able to distinguish CRC patients from healthy controls. In summary, the BsAb exhibited potent anti-tumor activities by two distinguished mechanisms: inhibition of c-MET signal transduction and promotion of macrophage-mediated phagocytosis. Our BsAb may provide a novel therapeutic agent for patients with c-MET/PD-L1+ CRC, and the status of exosomal-c-MET/PD-L1 can serve as a biomarker to predict responsiveness to treatment of our BsAb.

Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 Receptor Deficiency Alleviates Angiotensin II-Induced Cardiac Fibrosis Through the Protein Kinase B/Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase/Nuclear Factor-κB Pathway

Background The renin-angiotensin system plays a crucial role in the development of heart failure, and Ang II (angiotensin II) acts as the critical effector of the renin-angiotensin system in regulating cardiac fibrosis. However, the mechanisms of cardiac fibrosis are complex and still not fully understood. IGF1R (insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor) has multiple functions in maintaining cardiovascular homeostasis, and low-dose IGF1 treatment is effective in relieving Ang II-induced cardiac fibrosis. Here, we aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism of IGF1R in Ang II-induced cardiac fibrosis. Methods and Results Using primary mouse cardiac microvascular endothelial cells and fibroblasts, in vitro experiments were performed. Using C57BL/6J mice and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated 9 (Cas9)-mediated IGF1R heterozygous knockout (Igf1r+/-) mice, cardiac fibrosis mouse models were induced by Ang II for 2 weeks. The expression of IGF1R was examined by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot. Mice heart histologic changes were evaluated using Masson and picro sirius red staining. Fibrotic markers and signal molecules indicating the function of the Akt (protein kinase B)/ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase)/nuclear factor-κB pathway were detected using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. RNA sequencing was used to explore IGF1R-mediated target genes in the hearts of mice, and the association of IGF1R and G-protein-coupled receptor kinase 5 was identified by coimmunoprecipitation. More important, blocking IGF1R signaling significantly suppressed endothelial-mesenchymal transition in primary mouse cardiac microvascular endothelial cells and mice in response to transforming growth factor-β1 or Ang II, respectively. Deficiency or inhibition of IGF1R signaling remarkably attenuated Ang II-induced cardiac fibrosis in primary mouse cardiac fibroblasts and mice. We further observed that the patients with heart failure exhibited higher blood levels of IGF1 and IGF1R than healthy individuals. Moreover, Ang II treatment significantly increased cardiac IGF1R in wild type mice but led to a slight downregulation in Igf1r+/- mice. Interestingly, IGF1R deficiency significantly alleviated cardiac fibrosis in Ang II-treated mice. Mechanistically, the phosphorylation level of Akt and ERK was upregulated in Ang II-treated mice, whereas blocking IGF1R signaling in mice inhibited these changes of Akt and ERK phosphorylation. Concurrently, phosphorylated p65 of nuclear factor-κB exhibited similar alterations in the corresponding group of mice. Intriguingly, IGF1R directly interacted with G-protein-coupled receptor kinase 5, and this association decreased ≈50% in Igf1r+/- mice. In addition, Grk5 deletion downregulated expression of the Akt/ERK/nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway in primary mouse cardiac fibroblasts. Conclusions IGF1R signaling deficiency alleviates Ang II-induced cardiac fibrosis, at least partially through inhibiting endothelial-mesenchymal transition via the Akt/ERK/nuclear factor-κB pathway. Interestingly, G-protein-coupled receptor kinase 5 associates with IGF1R signaling directly, and it concurrently acts as an IGF1R downstream effector. This study suggests the promising potential of IGF1R as a therapeutic target for cardiac fibrosis.

[Analysis of influencing factors and clinical value of anterior peritoneal reflection for patients with rectal cancer]

Objectives: To investigate the factors influencing the height of anterior peritoneal reflection (APR) for patients with rectal cancer, and to analyze the relationship between the APR and the lateral lymph node metastasis. Methods: Clinical data of 432 patients with tumor located within and below APR were retrospectively collected from the rectal cancer database at the Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital from August 2020 to September 2022. Ninty-eight non-rectal cancer patients were also enrolled as a control group. There were 308 males and 124 females in the tumor group, aged (M(IQR)) 62 (16) years (range: 24 to 85 years) and 53 males and 45 females in the control group, aged 60 (22) years (range: 27 to 87 years). The APR height, pelvis, and tumor-related parameters were measured by MRI. A multifactor linear regression model was established to analyze the dependent correlation factors of APR height. These factors of the two groups were matched by propensity score matching and their APR heights were compared after matching. An ordinal Logistic regression model was established to explore the relationship between APR-related parameters and radiographic lateral lymph node metastasis. Results: The APR height of the tumor group was (98.7±14.4) mm (range: 43.3 to 154.0 mm) and the control group was (95.1±12.7) mm (range: 68.0 to 137.9 mm). Multivariable linear regression revealed that the greater the weight (B=0.519, 95%CI: 0.399 to 0.640, P<0.01), the anterior pelvic depth (B=0.109, 95%CI: 0.005 to 0.213, P=0.039) and the smaller the bi-ischial diameter (B=-0.172, 95%CI:-0.294 to -0.049, P=0.006), the higher the APR height. The tumor group had a higher APR height than the control group after propensity score matching ((98.3±14.2) mm vs. (95.1±12.7) mm, t=-1.992, P=0.047). Ordinal Logistic regression indicated that the longer segment of the tumor invade the nonperitoneal rectum was an independent influencing factor of radiographic lateral lymph node metastasis (OR=1.016, 95%CI: 1.002 to 1.030, P=0.021), while the distance between the anal verge and the tumor was not (OR=0.986, 95%CI: 0.972 to 1.000, P=0.058). Conclusions: The higher the weight, the deeper and narrower the pelvis, the higher the APR height. There is a certain relationship between APR and lateral lymph node metastasis on imaging.

Characteristics of Chaotic Weak Reflection in Carbonate Fracture-Cavity Reservoirs: A Case Study of Ordovician Reservoirs in Block 10 of the Tahe Oilfield, Tarim Basin, China

The identification of carbonate reservoirs is a critical task in oil and gas exploration. Chaotic weak reflection is an important type of reflection characteristic in carbonate reservoirs. Widespread distribution of chaotic weak reflection has been observed in the Ordovician Yijianfang Formation in the Tahe area. However, there is still a lack of systematic research on the distribution, characteristics, reservoir space, and reservoir types of chaotic weak reflection in the Tahe area. To address this issue, this study conducted a comprehensive analysis of multiscale data and found that chaotic weak reflections are distributed within 100 ms below the top interface of the Middle Ordovician. Seismic profiles exhibit a "string of pearls" with a "tail" or "pearl-like" widening feature. On well logs, all three porosity curves exhibit localized peaks, with increases in acoustic (AC) and compensated neutron (CNL) and decreases in density (DEN), while the deep and shallow lateral resistivity (RD, RS) curves show positive amplitude differences. In the FMI, they are represented by dark sinusoidal curves and dark small patches. Based on these response characteristics, two types of reservoir spaces are identified for chaotic weak reflections: high-angle vertical fractures and caves with heights less than 7 m, which can form independent reservoirs or fracture-cavity complexes. Three types of reservoirs are distinguished: fracture, cavity, and cavity-fracture types.

Fast-Charging Sodium-Ion Batteries Enabled by Molecular-Level Designed Nitrogen and Phosphorus Codoped Mesoporous Soft Carbon

Soft carbons have attracted extensive interests as competitive anodes for fast-charging sodium-ion batteries (SIBs); however, the high-rate performance is still restricted by their large ion migration barriers and sluggish reaction kinetics. Herein, we show a molecular design approach toward the fabrication of nitrogen and phosphorus codoped mesoporous soft carbon (NPSC). The key to this strategy lies in the chemical cross-linking reaction between polyphosphoric acid and p-phenylenediamine, associated with pyrolysis induced in-situ self-activation that creates mesoporous structures and rich heteroatoms within the carbon matrix. Thanks to the enlarged interlayer spacing, reduced ion diffusion length, and plentiful active sites, the obtained NPSC delivers a superb rate capacity of 215 mAh g-1 at 10 A g-1 and an ultralong cycle life of 4,700 cycles at 5 A g-1. Remarkably, the full cell shows 99% capacity retention during 100 continuous cycles, and maximum energy and power densities of 191 Wh kg-1 and 9.2 kW kg-1, respectively. We believe that such a synthetic protocol could pave a novel venue to develop soft carbons with unique properties for advanced SIBs.

Identification of Biomarkers Affecting Cryopreservation Recovery Ratio in Ram Spermatozoa Using Tandem Mass Tags (TMT)-Based Quantitative Proteomics Approach

Sperm proteins play vital roles in improving sperm freezing resilience in domestic animals. However, it remains poorly defined which proteins regulate the freezing resilience of spermatozoa in rams (Ovis aries). Here, we compared the proteome of ram sperm with a high cryopreservation recovery ratio (HCR) with that of ram sperm with a low cryopreservation recovery ratio (LCR) using a tandem mass tag-based quantitative proteomics approach. Bioinformatic analysis was performed to evaluate differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). A total of 2464 proteins were identified, and 184 DEPs were screened. Seventy-two proteins were higher in the LCR group. One hundred and twelve proteins were more abundant in the HCR group, and they were mainly involved in the regulation of oxidative phosphorylation and thermogenesis pathways. Proteins in high abundance in the HCR group included the S100A family, such as S100A8, S100A9, S100A14, and S100A16, effectively controlling for CA²⁺ and maintaining flagella structure; HYOU1 and PRDX1, which participate in antioxidant protection and anti-apoptosis to prevent cell death; and HSP90B1, which maintains cell activity and immune response. Our results could help illuminate the molecular mechanisms underlying cryopreservation of ram semen and expand the potential direction of cryopreservation of high-quality semen.

Consistent Learning-Based Breast Tumor Segmentation and Its Application in Sentinel Lymph Node Metastasis Prediction

Accurate staging of lymph nodes provides crucial diagnostic information for breast cancer patients, where segmentation is of great importance by localizing and visualizing the breast tumor of interest. Nevertheless, current segmentation methods perform average when facing large span of tumor sizes, degraded image quality, blurred tumor boundaries, and resulting noise during manual annotation. Therefore, we develop a Multi-scale RepVGG-based Segmentation Network (MPSegNet) to segment breast tumor from MR images. In particular, we construct a consistent learning framework for the MPSegNet to alleviate the impact of noisy labels upon segmentation results. The rationale is that different views covering the same breast tumors are supposed to generate identical segmentation predictions. Then, we predict SLN metastasis given segmented breast tumors, where we evaluate the relationships between the predictive performance and tumor segmentations under different consistencies. The results show the superiority of our method over other state-of-the-art methods. A high consistency among multiple views can boost the segmentation performance during consistent learning. However, the optimal segmentation does not produce the best SLN metastatic prediction results, implying that the dependence of classification upon segmentation needs to be elaborately investigated further.Clinical Relevance- This study facilitates more accurate segmentation of breast tumors with consistent learning, and provides an initial analysis between tumor segmentation and subsequent prediction of SLN metastasis, which has potential significance for the precise medical care of breast cancer patients.

TSUnet-CC: Temporal Spectrogram Unet embedding Cross Channel-wise attention mechanism for MDD identification

Automatic detection of major depressive disorder (MDD) with multiple-channel electroencephalography (EEG) signals is of great significance for treatment of the mental diseases. In a U-net network, clear EEG signals are fed to obtain temporal feature tensor through encoder and decoder networks with several convolution operations. Moreover, the clear EEG signals can be converted into multi-scale spectrogram to obtain the rich saliency information and then the spectrogram feature tensor can be extracted by another symmetrical U-net. The temporal and spectrogram feature tensors can provide more comprehensive information, but may also contain redundant information, which may affect the detection of MDD. To deal with such issue, this paper proposed a novel Temporal Spectrogram Unet (TSUnet-CC), which embeds the cross channel-wise attention mechanism for multiple-channel EEGbased MDD identification. We make three novel contributions: 1) multi-scale saliency-encoded spectrogram using Fourierbased approach to capture rich saliency information under different scales, 2) TSUnet network using a symmetrical twostream U-net architecture that learns multiple temporal and spectrogram feature tensors in time and frequency domains, and 3) cross channel-wise block enabling the larger weights of key feature channels that contain MDD information. The leaveone-subject-out experiments show that our proposed TSUnetCC gains high performance with a classification accuracy up to 98.55% and 99.22% in eyes closed and eyes open datasets, which outperformed some state-of-the-art methods and revealed its clinical potential.

[Safety and feasibility of right colectomy via a transvaginal approach: early experience from a single center]

Objective: To investigate the safety and feasibility of performing right colectomy via a transvaginal approach. Methods: This was a retrospeltive cohort study. Data of 30 patients who had undergone transvaginal laparoscopic right colectomy (transvaginal group) and 23 women who had undergone laparoscopic right colectomy (laparoscopic group) from January 2019 to March 2022 in the Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital were collected retrospectively. The inclusion criteria for the transvaginal group were as follows: (1) post-menopausal woman; (2) transverse diameter of the tumor < 6 cm; and (3) diagnosis of benign polyps that were unresectable by endoscopy, mucinous tumors of the appendix, or confirmed right colon cancer not requiring D3 lymphadenectomy. The inclusion criteria for the laparoscopic group were as follows: (1) pathologically confirmed adenocarcinoma or high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia; (2) lesion located from the cecum to the right third of the transverse colon; and (3) clinically stage T1-4NanyM0. The exclusion criteria for the laparoscopic group were as follows: (1) distant metastasis discovered during surgical exploration; (2) multiple organ resection required or R0 resection not possible; or (3) conversion to open surgery required. Safety was evaluated on the basis of intra- and post-operative complications. Feasibility was assessed by postoperative recovery and quality of operative specimen. The body mass index was lower in the transvaginal than the laparoscopic group (22.0±3.1 kg/m2 vs. 24.1±2.6 kg/m2, t=2.617, P=0.012). Results: Among the 30 transvaginal laparoscopic right colectomies, 26 were pure transvaginal surgeries, three required laparoscopic assistance because of difficulties with anastomosis (n=2) or abdominal adhesions (n=1), and one required conversion to laparoscopic surgery because of vascular injury. Compared with the laparoscopic group, the transvaginal group had a longer surgery time (175.0 [147.5, 216.3] minutes vs. 120.0 [100.0, 120.0] minutes, U=63.000, P<0.001) and more blood loss (30.0 [10.0, 50.0] ml vs. 23.0 [10.0, 20.0] ml, U=208.000, P=0.011). The incidence of intraoperative complications (16.7% [5/30) vs. 0, P=0.061] was comparable between the two groups. In the transvaginal group, the sites of intraoperative injuries were bladder (n=3), ileocecal artery (n=1), and right uterine artery (n=1). The incidence of postoperative complications (20.0% [6/30] vs. 17.4% [4/23], χ2<0.001,P>0.999) was also comparable between the two groups. Clavien-Dindo grade III postoperative complications occurred in two patients in the transvaginal group (one patient had a pelvic hematoma that required embolization; the other had a vesico-vaginal fistula that required surgery). Postoperative visual analogue scale scores were significantly lower (P<0.001) in the transvaginal group. Times to first flatus, ambulation, and first intake and duration of postoperative hospital stay were comparable between the two groups (P>0.05). The proportion of specimens of moderate quality was 83.3% (25/30) in the transvaginal group and 100% (23/23) in the laparoscopic group; this difference is not significant (P=0.061). Among patients who underwent D2 lymph node dissection, the number of lymph nodes examined was comparable between the transvaginal (n=23) and laparoscopic groups (n=7) (18 [15, 27] vs. 20 [16, 29], U=69.500, P=0.589). Conclusion: Transvaginal right colon surgery is associated with less postoperative pain than laparoscopic surgery, but is not yet the preferred alternative because of the incidence of surgical complications.

Measurement of Direct-Photon Cross Section and Double-Helicity Asymmetry at sqrt[s]=510 GeV in p[over →]+p[over →] Collisions

We present measurements of the cross section and double-helicity asymmetry A_{LL} of direct-photon production in p[over →]+p[over →] collisions at sqrt[s]=510  GeV. The measurements have been performed at midrapidity (|η|<0.25) with the PHENIX detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. At relativistic energies, direct photons are dominantly produced from the initial quark-gluon hard scattering and do not interact via the strong force at leading order. Therefore, at sqrt[s]=510  GeV, where leading-order-effects dominate, these measurements provide clean and direct access to the gluon helicity in the polarized proton in the gluon-momentum-fraction range 0.02<x<0.08, with direct sensitivity to the sign of the gluon contribution.

Graphene-Based Materials for the Separator Functionalization of Lithium-Ion/Metal/Sulfur Batteries

With the escalating demand for electrochemical energy storage, commercial lithium-ion and metal battery systems have been increasingly developed. As an indispensable component of batteries, the separator plays a crucial role in determining their electrochemical performance. Conventional polymer separators have been extensively investigated over the past few decades. Nevertheless, their inadequate mechanical strength, deficient thermal stability, and constrained porosity constitute serious impediments to the development of electric vehicle power batteries and the progress of energy storage devices. Advanced graphene-based materials have emerged as an adaptable solution to these challenges, owing to their exceptional electrical conductivity, large specific surface area, and outstanding mechanical properties. Incorporating advanced graphene-based materials into the separator of lithium-ion and metal batteries has been identified as an effective strategy to overcome the aforementioned issues and enhance the specific capacity, cycle stability, and safety of batteries. This review paper provides an overview of the preparation of advanced graphene-based materials and their applications in lithium-ion, lithium-metal, and lithium-sulfur batteries. It systematically elaborates on the advantages of advanced graphene-based materials as novel separator materials and outlines future research directions in this field.

High-Performance Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries Based on Multidimensional V2 O3 Nanosheets@Single-Walled Carbon Nanohorns@Reduced Graphene Oxide Composite and Optimized Electrolyte

The drawbacks of poor electronic conductivity and structural instability during the cycling process limit the electrochemical property of vanadium-based cathode materials for aqueous zinc-ion batteries. In addition, continuous growth and accumulation of zinc dendrites can puncture the separator and cause an internal short circuit in the battery. In this work, a unique multidimensional nanocomposite is designed by a facile freeze-drying method with subsequent calcination, consisting of V₂ O₃ nanosheets and single-walled carbon nanohorns (SWCNHs) crosslinked together and wrapped by reduced graphene oxide (rGO). The multidimensional structure can largely enhance the structural stability and electronic conductivity of the electrode material. Besides, additive Na₂ SO₄ in the ZnSO₄ aqueous electrolyte not only prevents the dissolution of cathode materials but also suppresses the Zn dendrite growth. After considering the influence of additive concentration on ionic conductivity and electrostatic force for electrolyte, V₂ O₃ @SWCNHs@rGO electrode delivers a high initial discharge capacity of 422 mAh g^-1 at 0.2 A g^-1 and a high discharge capacity of 283 mAh g^-1 after 1000 cycles at 5 A g^-1 in 2 m ZnSO₄ + 2 m Na₂ SO₄ electrolyte. Experimental techniques reveal that the electrochemical reaction mechanism can be expressed as the reversible phase transformation between V₂ O₅ and V₂ O₃ with Zn₃ (VO₄ )₂ .

[S100A10 promotes proliferation and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma cells by activating the Akt-mTOR signaling pathway]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of expression levels of S100 calcium-binding protein A10 (S100A10) in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) on patient prognosis and the regulatory role of S100A10 in lung cancer cell proliferation and metastasis.

METHODS

Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression levels of S100A10 in LUAD and adjacent tissues, and the relationship between S100A10 expression and clinicopathological parameters and prognosis of the patients was statistically analyzed. The lung adenocarcinoma expression dataset in TCGA database was analyzed using gene enrichment analysis (GSEA) to predict the possible regulatory pathways of S100A10 in the development of lung adenocarcinoma. Lactate production and glucose consumption of lung cancer cells with S100A10 knockdown or overexpression were analyzed to assess the level of glycolysis. Western blotting, CCK-8 assay, EdU-594 assay, and Transwell assays were performed to determine the expression level of S100A10 protein, proliferation and invasion ability of lung cancer cells. A549 cells with S100A10 knockdown and H1299 cells with S100A10 overexpression were injected subcutaneously in nude mice, and tumor growth was observed.

RESULTS

The expression level of S100A10 was significantly upregulated in LUAD tissues as compared with the adjacent tissues, and an elevated S100A10 expression level was associated with lymph node metastasis, advanced tumor stage and distant organ metastasis (P < 0.05), but not with tumor differentiation or the patients' age or gender (P > 0.05). Survival analysis showed that elevated S100A10 expressions in the tumor tissue was associated with a poor outcome of the patients (P < 0.001). In the lung cancer cells, S100A10 overexpression significantly promoted cell proliferation and invasion in vitro (P < 0.001). GSEA showed that the gene sets of glucose metabolism, glycolysis and mTOR signaling pathway were significantly enriched in high expressions of S100A10. In the tumor-bearing nude mice, S100A10 overexpression significantly promoted tumor growth, while S100A10 knockdown obviously suppressed tumor cell proliferation (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

S100A10 overexpression promotes glycolysis by activating the Akt-mTOR signaling pathway to promote proliferation and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma cells.

Interface prompted highly efficient hydrogen evolution of MoS2/CoS2 heterostructures in a wide pH range

Interfacial electronic characteristics are crucial for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), especially in nanoscale heterogeneous catalysts. In this work, we found that the synergistic activation of CoS₂ and MoS₂ (2H-MoS₂ and 1T-MoS₂) greatly enhances the HER activity in a wide pH range compared to those of each component. The Gibbs free energies for hydrogen adsorption at interfacial Co sites are as low as -0.08 (-0.25) eV and -0.20 (0.01) eV for 2H-MoS₂/CoS₂ and 1T-MoS₂/CoS₂ heterostructures in acidic (alkaline) media, respectively, which are even superior to that of Pt(111) (-0.09 eV). Moreover, the theoretical exchange current density of MoS₂/CoS₂ can reach ∼1.98 × 10^-18 A site^-1 (∼8.43 A mg^-1). Experimentally, MoS₂/CoS₂ exhibits a greatly reduced overpotential of 54 (46) mV and a Tafel slope of 42 (50) mV dec^-1 under acidic (alkaline) conditions. The improved performance mainly originates from the synergistically activated interfacial Co atoms with better electron localization and local bonding. The interfacial effect enhances the electron conductivity and improves the H adsorption characteristics, making MoS₂/CoS₂ highly valuable as efficient HER electrocatalysts.

Synergistic effects of electroacupuncture and bone marrow stromal cells transplantation therapy in ischemic stroke

OBJECTIVE

Animal studies and clinical trials demonstrated the effectiveness of a combination of transplanted bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) and electroacupuncture (EA) treatment in improving neurological deficits. However, the ability of the BMSC-EA treatment to enhance brain repair processes or the neuronal plasticity of BMSC in ischemic stroke model is unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the neuroprotective effects and neuronal plasticity of BMSC transplantation combined with EA in ischemic stroke.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was used. Intracerebral transplantation of BMSC, transfected with lentiviral vectors expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP), was performed using a stereotactic apparatus after modeling. MCAO rats were treated with BMSC injection alone or in combination with EA. After the treatment, proliferation and migration of BMSC were observed in different groups by fluorescence microscopy. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry were performed to examine changes in the levels of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and nestin in the injured striatum.

RESULTS

Epifluorescence microscopy revealed that most BMSC in the cerebrum were lysed; few transplanted BMSC survived, and some living cells migrated to areas around the lesion site. NSE was overexpressed in the striatum of MCAO rats, illustrating the neurological deficits caused by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion. The combination of BMSC transplantation and EA attenuated the expression of NSE, indicating nerve injury repair. Although the qRT-PCR results showed that BMSC-EA treatment elevated nestin RNA expression, less robust responses were observed in other tests.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show that the combination treatment significantly improved restoration of neurological deficits in the animal stroke model. However, further studies are required to see if EA could promote the rapid differentiation of BMSC into neural stem cells in the short term.