SARS-CoV-2 main protease cleaves MAGED2 to antagonize host antiviral defense

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the agent causing the global pandemic of COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 genome encodes a main protease (nsp5, also called Mpro) and a papain-like protease (nsp3, also called PLpro), which are responsible for processing viral polyproteins to assemble a functional replicase complex. In this study, we found that Mpro of SARS-CoV-2 can cleave human MAGED2 and other mammalian orthologs at Gln-263. Moreover, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV Mpro can also cleave human MAGED2, suggesting MAGED2 cleavage by Mpro is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism of coronavirus infection in mammals. Intriguingly, Mpro from Beta variant cleaves MAGED2 more efficiently than wild type, but Omicron Mpro is opposite. Further studies show that MAGED2 inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection at viral replication step. Mechanistically, MAGED2 is associated with SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein through its N-terminal region in an RNA-dependent manner, and this disrupts the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein and viral genome, thus inhibiting viral replication. When MAGED2 is cleaved by Mpro, the N-terminal of MAGED2 will translocate into the nucleus, and the truncated MAGED2 is unable to suppress SARS-CoV-2 replication. This work not only discovers the antiviral function of MAGED2 but also provides new insights into how SARS-CoV-2 Mpro antagonizes host antiviral response. IMPORTANCE Host factors that restrict severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection remain elusive. Here, we found that MAGED2 can be cleaved by SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) at Gln-263. SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV Mpro can also cleave MAGED2, and MAGED2 from multiple species can be cleaved by SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. Mpro from Beta variant cleaves MAGED2 more efficiently efficiently than wild type, but Omicron is the opposite. MAGED2 depletion enhances SARS-CoV-2 infection, suggesting its inhibitory role in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Mechanistically, MAGED2 restricts SARS-CoV-2 replication by disrupting the interaction between nucleocapsid and viral genomes. When MAGED2 is cleaved, its N-terminal will translocate into the nucleus. In this way, Mpro relieves MAGED2' inhibition on viral replication. This study improves our understanding of complex viral-host interaction and provides novel targets to treat SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Activated Expression of Rice DMR6-like Gene OsS3H Partially Explores the Susceptibility to Bacterial Leaf Streak Mediated by Knock-Out OsF3H04g

Downy Mildew Resistance 6-like (DMR6-like) genes are identified as salicylic acid (SA) hydroxylases and negative regulators of plant immunity. Previously, we identified two rice DMR6-like genes, OsF3H03g, and OsF3H04g, that act as susceptible targets of transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs) from Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola (Xoc), which causes bacterial leaf streak (BLS) in rice. Furthermore, all four homologs of rice DMR6-like proteins were identified to predominantly carry the enzyme activity of SA 5-hydroxylase (S5H), negatively regulate rice broad-spectrum resistance, and cause the loss of function of these OsDMR6s, leading to increased resistance to rice blast and bacterial blight (BB). Here, we curiously found that an OsF3H04g knock-out mutant created by T-DNA insertion, osf3h04g, was remarkedly susceptible to BLS and BB and showed an extreme reduction in SA content. OsF3H04g knock-out rice lines produced by gene-editing were mildly susceptible to BLS and reduced content of SA. To explore the susceptibility mechanism in OsF3H04g loss-of-function rice lines, transcriptome sequencing revealed that another homolog, OsS3H, had induced expression in the loss-of-function OsF3H04g rice lines. Furthermore, we confirmed that a great induction of OsS3H downstream and genomically adjacent to OsF3H04g in osf3h04g was primarily related to the inserted T-DNA carrying quadruple enhancer elements of 35S, while a slight induction was caused by an unknown mechanism in gene-editing lines. Then, we found that the overexpression of OsS3H increased rice susceptibility to BLS, while gene-editing mediated the loss-of-function OsS3H enhanced rice resistance to BLS. However, the knock-out of both OsF3H04g and OsS3H by gene-editing only neutralized rice resistance to BLS. Thus, we concluded that the knock-out of OsF3H04g activated the expression of the OsS3H, partially participating in the susceptibility to BLS in rice.

Immune-related gene IL17RA as a diagnostic marker in osteoporosis

Objectives: Bone immune disorders are major contributors to osteoporosis development. This study aims to identify potential diagnostic markers and molecular targets for osteoporosis treatment from an immunological perspective. Method: We downloaded dataset GSE56116 from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, and identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between normal and osteoporosis groups. Subsequently, differentially expressed immune-related genes (DEIRGs) were identified, and a functional enrichment analysis was performed. A protein-protein interaction network was also constructed based on data from STRING database to identify hub genes. Following external validation using an additional dataset (GSE35959), effective biomarkers were confirmed using RT-qPCR and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. ROC curves were constructed to validate the diagnostic values of the identified biomarkers. Finally, a ceRNA and a transcription factor network was constructed, and a Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis was performed to explore the biological functions of these diagnostic markers. Results: In total, 307 and 31 DEGs and DEIRGs were identified, respectively. The enrichment analysis revealed that the DEIRGs are mainly associated with Gene Ontology terms of positive regulation of MAPK cascade, granulocyte chemotaxis, and cytokine receptor. protein-protein interaction network analysis revealed 10 hub genes: FGF8, KL, CCL3, FGF4, IL9, FGF9, BMP7, IL17RA, IL12RB2, CD40LG. The expression level of IL17RA was also found to be significantly high. RT-qPCR and immunohistochemical results showed that the expression of IL17RA was significantly higher in osteoporosis patients compared to the normal group, as evidenced by the area under the curve Area Under Curve of 0.802. Then, we constructed NEAT1-hsa-miR-128-3p-IL17RA, and SNHG1-hsa-miR-128-3p-IL17RA ceRNA networks in addition to ERF-IL17RA, IRF8-IL17RA, POLR2A-IL17RA and ERG-IL17RA transcriptional networks. Finally, functional enrichment analysis revealed that IL17RA was involved in the development and progression of osteoporosis by regulating local immune and inflammatory processes in bone tissue. Conclusion: This study identifies the immune-related gene IL17RA as a diagnostic marker of osteoporosis from an immunological perspective, and provides insight into its biological function.

Dependences of Magnetic Properties on the Grain Size and Hard/Soft Magnetic Phase Volume Ratio for Ce2Fe14B/α-Fe and Nd2Fe14B/α-Fe Nanocomposites

The magnetic properties of magnetic nanocomposites consisting of hard and soft magnetic phases are dependent not only on the intrinsic properties but also on the grain structure and volume ratio of the two phases. In this study, we performed a systematic micromagnetic simulation on the magnetic properties of Ce2Fe14B/α-Fe and Nd2Fe14B/α-Fe nanocomposites. The volume fractions of the hard magnetic Nd2Fe14B or Ce2Fe14B phase were varied from 80% to 40%, and the grain sizes of the hard magnetic phase and the soft magnetic α-Fe phase were changed independently from 10 nm to 40 nm. The results show that when the grain size of both hard and soft phases is 10 nm and the volume fraction of the hard phase is 70%, the highest maximum magnetic energy product can be obtained in both Ce2Fe14B/α-Fe and Nd2Fe14B/α-Fe nanocomposites. The hard magnetic properties of Ce2Fe14B/α-Fe nanocomposite decrease significantly when the volume fraction of the α-Fe phase exceeds 30%. However, for the Nd2Fe14B/α-Fe system, this situation only occurs when the α-Fe volume fraction exceeds 40%. The reason for this is not only because of the low anisotropic field and the smaller exchange coupling length between the soft and hard magnetic phases, but also because of the lower saturation magnetization of the hard phase. The grain size has greater effects on the magnetic properties compared to the volume fraction of the hard magnetic phase. The main reason is that as the grain size increases, the remanence of the nanocomposite decreases sharply, which also leads to a rapid decrease in the maximum magnetic energy product. The simulation results on the effects of phase ratio and grain size have been verified by experiments on melt-spun Ce2Fe14B/α-Fe alloys with various compositions prepared by melt-spinning followed by annealing for various lengths of time. Due to the influence of demagnetization energy, the hard magnetic phase with high saturation magnetization is preferred for the preparation of high-performance nanocomposite magnets.

Preparation of Microcrystalline Cellulose/N-(2-aminoethyl)-3- Aminopropyl Methyl Dimethoxysilane Composite Aerogel and Adsorption Properties for Formaldehyde

Air pollution is related to the development of the national economy and people's livelihoods. Formaldehyde, as one of the main pollutants in the air, affects people's physical and mental health. In order to remove formaldehyde and better protect the health of residents, it is necessary to develop efficient adsorption materials. In this study, APMDS-modified cellulose composite aerogel microcrystalline was investigated. The adsorption of formaldehyde by the MCC/APMDS (Microcrystalline Cellulose/N-(2-aminoethyl)-3- Aminopropyl Methyl Dimethoxysilane) composite aerogel mainly relied upon the reaction of the protonated -NH3+ group in APMDS with formaldehyde to form a Schiff base to achieve the effect of deformaldehyde. Meanwhile, the modification of the aerogel reduced the pore volume and specific surface area, and the average pore size increased to 14.56 nm, which enhanced the adsorption capacity of formaldehyde, and the adsorption amount reached 9.52 mg/g. This study provides valuable information for the preparation of adsorbent materials with high formaldehyde adsorption capacity for air purification.

A Ku-Band Broadband Stacked FET Power Amplifier Using 0.15 μm GaAs pHEMT

To meet the application requirements of broadband radar systems for broadband power amplifiers, a Ku-band broadband power amplifier (PA) microwave monolithic integrated circuit (MMIC) based on a 0.15 µm gallium arsenide (GaAs) high-electron-mobility transistor (HEMT) technology is proposed in this paper. In this design, the advantages of the stacked FET structure in the broadband PA design are illustrated by theoretical derivation. The proposed PA uses a two-stage amplifier structure and a two-way power synthesis structure to achieve high-power gain and high-power design, respectively. The fabricated power amplifier was tested under continuous wave conditions, and the test results showed a peak power of 30.8 dBm at 16 GHz. At 15 to 17.5 GHz, the output power was above 30 dBm with a PAE of more than 32%. The fractional bandwidth of the 3 dB output power was 30%. The chip area was 3.3 × 1.2 mm² and included input and output test pads.

Sources, size-resolved deposition in the human respiratory tract and health risks of submicron black carbon in urban atmosphere in Pearl River Delta, China

Black carbon (BC) has a significantly negative impact on air quality, climate and human health. Here we investigated the sources and health effects of BC in urban area of the Pearl River Delta (PRD) based on online data measured by Aerodyne soot particle high-resolution time of flight aerosol mass spectrometer (SP-AMS). In urban PRD, BC particles mainly came from vehicle emissions especially heavy-duty vehicle exhausts (contributing 42.9 % of total BC mass concentration), long-range transport (27.6 %), and aged biomass combustion emissions (22.3 %). Indicated by source analysis using simultaneous aethalometer data, BC associated with local secondary oxidation and transport may also be originated from fossil fuel combustion, especially traffic sources in urban and surrounding areas. Size-resolved BC mass concentrations provided by SP-AMS, for the first time to our best knowledge, were used to calculate BC deposition in the human respiratory tract (HRT) of different populations (children, adults, and the elderly) by the Multiple-Path Particle Dosimetry (MPPD) model. We found that submicron BC was deposited more in the pulmonary (P) region (49.0-53.2 % of the total BC deposition dose), while less in the tracheobronchial (TB, 35.6-37.4 %) and head (HA, 10.7-13.9 %) regions. Adults suffered the highest BC deposition (1.19 μg day^-1) than the elderly (1.09 μg day^-1) and children (0.25 μg day^-1). BC deposition rate was greater at night (especially 18:00-24:00) than during the daytime. The maximum deposition in the HRT was found for BC particles around 100 nm, mainly in deeper respiratory regions (TB and P), which may cause more serious health effects. Adults and the elderly group are confronted with the notable carcinogenic risk of BC in the urban PRD, up to 29 times higher than the threshold. Our study emphasizes the need to control BC pollution in the urban area, especially nighttime vehicle emissions.

Integrating metabolomics and network pharmacology to assess the effects of quercetin on lung inflammatory injury induced by human respiratory syncytial virus

Quercetin (QR) has significant anti-respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) effects. However, its therapeutic mechanism has not been thoroughly explored. In this study, a lung inflammatory injury model caused by RSV was established in mice. Untargeted lung tissue metabolomics was used to identify differential metabolites and metabolic pathways. Network pharmacology was used to predict potential therapeutic targets of QR and analyze biological functions and pathways modulated by QR. By overlapping the results of the metabolomics and the network pharmacology analyses, the common targets of QR that were likely to be involved in the amelioration of RSV-induced lung inflammatory injury by QR were identified. Metabolomics analysis identified 52 differential metabolites and 244 corresponding targets, while network pharmacology analysis identified 126 potential targets of QR. By intersecting these 244 targets with the 126 targets, hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT1), thymidine phosphorylase (TYMP), lactoperoxidase (LPO), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and cytochrome P450 19A1 (CYP19A1) were identified as the common targets. The key targets, HPRT1, TYMP, LPO, and MPO, were components of purine metabolic pathways. The present study demonstrated that QR effectively ameliorated RSV-induced lung inflammatory injury in the established mouse model. Combining metabolomics and network pharmacology showed that the anti-RSV effect of QR was closely associated with purine metabolism pathways.

Anode-Free Lithium Metal Batteries Based on an Ultrathin and Respirable Interphase Layer

Anode-free lithium (Li) metal batteries are desirable candidates in pursuit of high-energy-density batteries. However, their poor cycling performances originated from the unsatisfactory reversibility of Li plating/stripping remains a grand challenge. Here we show a facile and scalable approach to produce high-performing anode-free Li metal batteries using a bioinspired and ultrathin (250 nm) interphase layer comprised of triethylamine germanate. The derived tertiary amine and LixGe alloy showed enhanced adsorption energy that significantly promoted Li-ion adsorption, nucleation and deposition, contributing to a reversible expansion/shrinkage process upon Li plating/stripping. Impressive Li plating/stripping Coloumbic efficiencies (CEs) of ~99.3% were achieved for 250 cycles in Li/Cu cells. In addition, the anode-free LiFePO4 full batteries demonstrated maximal energy and power densities of 527 Wh kg-1 and 1554 W kg-1, respectively, and remarkable cycling stability (over 250 cycles with an average CE of 99.4%) at a practical areal capacity of ~3 mAh cm-2, the highest among state-of-the-art anode-free LiFePO4 batteries. Our ultrathin and respirable interphase layer presents a promising way to fully unlock large-scale production of anode-free batteries.

Vertical evolution of the concentrations and sources of volatile organic compounds in the lower boundary layer in urban Beijing in summer

Exploring the vertical variations in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the atmosphere and quantifying the sources of VOCs at different heights can help control atmospheric photochemical pollution in summer. Here, VOCs were vertically detected at three heights (47 m, 200 m and 320 m) along a 325 m tower of the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, in the mornings (8:00) and afternoons (15:00) from May 19 to June 18, 2021. The VOC concentrations in Beijing in summer were 16.2 ± 5.6 ppbv, 14.7 ± 2.5 ppbv and 14.9 ± 3.8 ppbv at 47 m, 200 m and 320 m, respectively, and alkanes accounted for the largest proportion at all heights (>56%). The vertical gradients of the VOC concentrations and components did not significantly change, which was consistent with the summer observations of other stations in North China in recent years, but these results significantly differed from observations from more than a decade ago. To determine the reason for this, a classification based on atmospheric stability was performed, revealing that the vertical distribution of VOCs was uniform in convective and stable conditions and decreased with increasing height in neutral condition. With the transition of atmospheric stability from neutral to convective to stable, the contributions of fuel combustion sources and solvent use sources gradually increased, while those of biogenic sources and background sources gradually decreased. With increasing height, the contributions of background sources increased, those of biogenic sources, solvent use and gasoline vehicular emissions decreased, and those of fuel combustion and industrial emissions remained basically unchanged. The above results indicated that with air pollution treatment, the potential for reducing emissions of VOCs in Beijing has decreased. Therefore, regional joint prevention and control are the main ways to control VOC pollution in Beijing.

Photolysis frequency of nitrophenols derived from ambient measurements

Nitrophenols, a class of important intermediate products from the oxidation of aromatics, can participate in photochemistry and influence the atmospheric oxidative capacity. However, the reported photolysis frequencies of nitrophenols show considerable discrepancies. Here, measurements of nitrophenol, and methyl nitrophenol using a proton-transfer-reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometer (PTR-ToF-MS) at both urban and regional sites in southern China are used to constrain photolysis frequencies of nitrophenols. Considerable concentrations with a campaign average of 58 ± 32 ppt for nitrophenol and 97 ± 59 ppt for methyl nitrophenol were observed at the regional site. Based on the in-situ measurement dataset, a steady-state calculation was performed along with a zero-dimensional box model to analyze the budgets of nitrophenols. The result indicates that both primary emission and photolysis have significant impacts on nitrophenols. Primary emission contributes up to 88 % of the total nitrophenols production while photolysis accounts for up to 98 % of the total removal rate. The dominant sink of nitrophenols is photolysis with a rate of about 3.5 % ± 1.3 % of j_NO2 for nitrophenol and 2.4 % ± 1.0 % of j_NO2 for methyl nitrophenol. The results of this study suggest that using advanced mass spectrometry to accurately measure ambient nitrophenols, supplemented by an observation-based box model for budget analysis, provides an important indication for determining photolysis rate constants of nitrophenols.

The hydrogen bond between tryptophan and the host molecule induced fluorescence enhancement

Tryptophan is one of important anion acids in human body, therefore, its detection is particularly important. 3,5-bis (4-pyridyl)-4-amino-1,2,4-triazole (BPAT) organic molecule was designed to be used as fluorescence detectors to detect tryptophan molecules for the interaction between the host and the guest. The BPAT shows good sensitivity and selectivity toward tryptophan compared to other amino acid molecules. The limit of detection obtained from formula 3δ/Ksv is considered to be 5.43×10^-7 mol/L. We speculated that this change is mainly caused by the hydrogen bond between tryptophan and the host molecule BPAT. And the conjecture was verified by the controlled experiments with BPTA and TBZA as guest molecules.

[Compositional Characteristics of Volatile Organic Compounds in Typical Industrial Areas of the Pearl River Delta: Importance of Oxygenated Volatile Organic Compounds]

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are key components of tropospheric chemistry, of which industrial emissions are an important source of atmospheric VOCs. In this study, online measurements of 74 VOCs were made in a typical industrial area of the Pearl River Delta in southern China during the early summer of 2021. The mean volume mixing ratio of total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) was (81.9±45.4)×10^-9 during the campaign. Among them, oxygenated volatile organic compounds (OVOCs) accounted for the largest fraction of TVOC, with an average of 51.5%, followed by aromatics, accounting for 19.4% of TVOC. The proportion of OVOCs in TVOC gradually increased with the increase in TVOC concentration. Industry-related emissions were the main contributors to aromatics and OVOCs in this region. Aromatics and OVOCs were the two major contributors to the ozone formation potential (OFP), accounting for 56.4% and 26.7%, respectively. Furthermore, OVOCs also contributed 40.0% of the total ·OH reactivity from VOCs. Xylenes, toluene, acrolein, and ethyl acetate had a greater contribution to the formation of secondary pollution; thus, these species should be given priority for controlling secondary pollution. Our results underscore the severity of OVOCs pollution in industrial areas and the important roles of OVOCs in secondary pollution.

Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography in the identification of prostatic arterial anatomy in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia: prospective comparison with digital subtraction angiography

AIM

To evaluate the utility of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CE-MRA) for identifying prostatic artery (PA) anatomy in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) before PA embolisation (PAE), using digital subtraction angiography (DSA) as the reference standard.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 176 patients underwent pelvic CE-MRA at 3 T. DSA was performed within the following 7 days. Two interventional radiologists compared the CE-MRA findings with DSA findings to assess the anatomy of the PAs. The rates of correct identification of the origins and collaterals of the PAs by CE-MRA were calculated. The utility for predicting the optimal X-ray tube angle obliquity for visualising the origins of the PAs by CE-MRA was evaluated. An exact McNemar's test was used to compare the detection rates of the PAs and the collaterals with DSA versus CE-MRA. A two-sided p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Of the 376 PAs identified by DSA, CE-MRA correctly identified the origins of 369 vessels (98.1%), with a 1.9% false-negative rate and no false-positive results. Of the 57 total collaterals identified by DSA, CE-MRA identified 50 vessels correctly (87.7%), with a 12.3% false-negative rate and no false-positive results. No significant differences were observed between CE-MRA and DSA in the identification of the PA origins (p=0.824) and the collaterals (p=0.327). The optimal degree for an oblique projection to visualise the origins of the PAs could be predicted accurately (100%) by pre-procedural CE-MRA.

CONCLUSION

CE-MRA before PAE can reliably predict the PA anatomy and facilitate procedural planning.

Mechanochemical reclaiming and thermoplastic re-processing of waste Acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR)/poly (Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) insulation materials

Cross-linked acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR)/poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) blends are extensively served as commercial insulation foams. However, methods to reclaim the wasted NBR/PVC composites are usually inappropriate, causing severe pollution. Herein, we reported that the waste NBR/PVC composites powders (WNPP) with high thermal stability and degree of reclaiming were prepared by solid-state shear milling technology (S³M). Furthermore, the reclaimed products via thermoplastic re-processing had excellent mechanical properties, and the optimal stress and strain were increased by 208.2 % and 269.4 %, respectively, compared with the products made from virgin scraps. Through the investigation of each sample's molecular chains and thermal properties, it was found that when the cross-linked polar rubber-plastic composites are reclaimed, the molecular chains of the rubber phase would be close to each other. The interaction among polar groups would be enhanced, which is the main contributing factor limiting the movability of the polymer chains. And the interaction between the polar rubber and plastic phases would also increase, which is beneficial for the compatibility of the two phases. Moreover, there is a phase separation between the de-crosslinked continuous phase and the residual cross-linked network region for the re-processing products.

A comparative study of cognitive functions between schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder

Background

Schizophrenia (SZ) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are closely linked, have a high comorbidity rate, and their differential diagnosis is challenging in clinic. Some studies have found common cognitive deficits in some domains between them. The goal of this research was to compare the cognitive functions of SZ and OCD in order to offer a clinical foundation for differential diagnosis and treatment of the two disorders.

Methods

A control design was used in this study, which comprised 61 patients with SZ, 60 individuals with OCD, and 51 healthy controls (HC). We assessed patients' cognitive functions by testing six domains, including visual learning, reasoning and problem solving, verbal learning, attention/vigilance, speed of processing and working memory.

Results

The results showed that patients with SZ had cognitive impairments in all areas except attention/vigilance, while patients with OCD only had cognitive impairment in reasoning and problem-solving. Overall, patients with SZ did not perform as well as patients with OCD in all domains.

Conclusions

In terms of neurocognition, both of SZ and OCD patients have defects in reasoning and problem solving. In addition to this, SZ patients also performed worse than HC in other areas such as speed of processing, working memory, verbal learning and visual learning. On the overall level, cognitive performance is better in OCD patients than in SZ patients. The field of reasoning and problem solving can be used as a new goal to study the relationship and treatment strategies between them in the future.

Investigation of the relationships among respiratory syncytial virus infection, T cell immune response and intestinal flora

The aim of this work was to evaluate the relationships among respiratory syncytial virus infection, T cell immune response and intestinal flora. Peer-reviewed papers published in English were collected through extensive searches performed in PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases. The articles were reviewed to extract relevant information on the immune responses of Th1/Th2 and Treg/Th17 to respiratory syncytial virus infection in the body. RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus, RSV) infection leads to imbalance between Th1/Th2 and Treg/Th17 immune cells, resulting in Th2 or Th17 dominant immune responses, which can generate immune disorder and aggravate clinical symptoms. Intestinal micro-organisms play very important roles in maintaining stable immune environment, stimulating immune system maturation and balancing Th1/Th2 and Treg/Th17 immune systems in children. In our review of various papers from around the world, we speculated that the steady state of intestinal bacteria was disturbed after children got infected with RSV, resulting in intestinal flora disorder. Then, the imbalance between Th1/Th2 and Treg/Th17 immune cells was increased. Both intestinal flora disorder and RSV infection could cause cellular immunity imbalance of Th1/Th2 or Treg/Th17, eventually leading to disease deterioration and even a vicious cycle. Normal intestinal flora can maintain immune system stability, regulate the dynamic balance of Th1/Th2 and Treg/Th17 and prevent or mitigate adverse consequences of RSV infection. Because probiotics can improve intestinal barrier function and regulate immune response, they can effectively be used to treat children with recurrent respiratory tract infections. Using conventional antiviral therapy strategy supplemented with probiotics in the treatment of clinical RSV infection may be better for the body.

Comparison Between Different Approaches Applied in Pediatric Adenoidectomy: A Network Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

Adenoidectomy is a surgical procedure most frequently performed by otolaryngologists. However, there are no universally accepted guidelines for the choice of the surgical approach in specific circumstances. Therefore, a network meta-analysis (NMA) is needed to summarize existing studies and provide more evidence-based medical guidelines.

METHODS

A systematic search of the literature was conducted in the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, and EMBASE databases from inception to 31 July 2021. A network meta-analysis of operating time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative pain score, and incidence of postoperative residual tissue was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 20 studies with 2329 patients were included. Four common surgical approaches, including powered vacuum shaver adenoidectomy (PVSA), plasma field ablation adenoidectomy (PFAA), curettage adenoidectomy (CUA), and suction diathermy adenoidectomy (SDA), were compared for operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative pain score, and incidence of postoperative residual tissue. There were no significant differences between the surgical techniques for the 3 endpoints, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, and incidence of postoperative residual tissue. The data showed lower postoperative pain scores for PFAA than for CUA (MD = -3.45, 95% CI [-6.01, -0.95]). There were no significant differences in other surgical approaches for postoperative pain scores.

CONCLUSION

There were no significant differences between PVSA, PFAA, CUA, and SDA for operative time, intraoperative blood loss, and incidence of postoperative residual tissue. PFAA had advantages over CUA for postoperative pain scores.

125I seed implantation enhances arsenic trioxide-induced apoptosis and anti-angiogenesis in lung cancer xenograft mice

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Arsenic trioxide (ATO) exerts anticancer effects on lung cancer. However, the clinical use of ATO is limited due to its systemic toxicity and resistance of lung cancer cells. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of ATO, alone and in combination with ¹²⁵I seed implantation on tumor growth and proliferation in lung cancer xenograft mice, and investigate the possible molecular mechanisms.

METHODS

The transmission electron microscope observed the tumor ultrastructure of lung cancer xenograft mice. The proliferation index of Ki-67 and the number and morphology of tumor microvessels were detected with immunohistochemical staining. The protein and mRNA expression were examined by western blot and real-time PCR assay.

RESULTS

The in vivo results demonstrated that ATO combined with ¹²⁵I seed significantly inhibited tumor growth and proliferation, as well as promoted apoptosis, and decreased the Ki-67 index and microvessel density in lung cancer xenograft mice. Moreover, ATO combined with ¹²⁵I seed decreased the protein and mRNA expression levels of HIF-1α, VEGF, and BCL-2, and increased those of BAX and P53.

CONCLUSIONS

ATO combined with ¹²⁵I seed significantly inhibited tumor growth and proliferation in lung cancer, which may be accomplished by inhibiting tumor angiogenesis and inducing apoptosis.

Comparison of multiple treatment regimens in children with Helicobacter pylori infection: A network meta-analysis

Background

Multiple regimens have been widely used in the eradication treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection in children. However, there is a lack of comparison and evaluation of their effectiveness in different regions of the world.

Methods

Randomized controlled trials were retrieved. Review Manager 5.4, Stata SE 15 and R 4.0.4 statistical software were used to analyze date. The ranking probability is assessed according to the surfaces under cumulative ranking (SUCRA).

Results

163 studies were eligible for this study, involving 336 arms and 18,257 children, and 10 different interventions. The results showed that the eradication rates of sequential therapy with probiotics (SP), bismuth-containing quadruple (Quadruple) therapy, concomitant therapy and PCN therapy were at least 90%. Cumulative ranking showed that SP therapy had the best eradication effect (SUCRA 92.7%) whereas Bismuth-containing triple therapy (B) had the worst (SUCRA 3.5%). Subgroup analysis suggested that SP therapy ranked first in China and other regions, and the ranking of Triple therapy with probiotics therapy (TP) was equally stable (SUCRA 72.0% vs 76.4% respectively). The security of the SP and TP therapy had great advantages.

Conclusions

As for the eradication treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection in children, SP therapy ranks highest. SP and TP therapies are most safe.

Deciphering the sequential changes of monocytes/macrophages in the progression of IDD with longitudinal approach using single-cell transcriptome

Intervertebral disk degeneration (IDD) is a chronic inflammatory disease with intricate connections between immune infiltration and oxidative stress (OS). Complex cell niches exist in degenerative intervertebral disk (IVD) and interact with each other and regulate the disk homeostasis together. However, few studies have used longitudinal approach to describe the immune response of IDD progression. Here, we conducted conjoint analysis of bulk-RNA sequencing and single-cell sequencing, together with a series of techniques like weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), immune infiltration analysis, and differential analysis, to systematically decipher the difference in OS-related functions of different cell populations within degenerative IVD tissues, and further depicted the longitudinal alterations of immune cells, especially monocytes/macrophages in the progression of IDD. The OS-related genes CYP1A1, MMP1, CCND1, and NQO1 are highly expressed and might be diagnostic biomarkers for the progression of IDD. Further landscape of IVD microenvironment showed distinct changes in cell proportions and characteristics at late degeneration compared to early degeneration of IDD. Monocytes/macrophages were classified into five distinct subpopulations with different roles. The trajectory lineage analysis revealed transcriptome alterations from effector monocytes/macrophages and regulatory macrophages to other subtypes during the evolution process and identified monocytes/macrophage subpopulations that had rapidly experienced the activation of inflammatory or anti-inflammatory responses. This study further proposed that personalized therapeutic strategies are needed to be formulated based on specific monocyte/macrophage subtypes and degenerative stages of IDD.

A Novel Wideband Transition from LTCC Laminated Waveguide to Air-Filled Rectangular Waveguide for W-band Applications

In this paper, a novel wideband transition from a laminated waveguide (LWG) to an air-filled rectangular waveguide (RWG) is proposed for millimeter-wave integration solutions based on multilayer low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) technology. The integrated transition cavity is divided into several resonators by introducing five grounded via holes. Due to the magnetic wall existing in the symmetry plane, the equivalent circuit of the proposed transition can be simplified as a three-pole filter model to explain the working mechanism with wideband performance. A W-band integrated LWG-to-RWG transition is designed as an example using LTCC technology. Two back-to-back prototypes with different lengths are fabricated and measured. A measured 25.7% bandwidth from 76 GHz to 101 GHz can be achieved for return loss better than 14 dB. The average insertion loss of a single transition is about 0.5 dB. The compact structure and wideband performance give it potential in high-density millimeter-wave and terahertz packaging.

Ultrarapid and ultrasensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in COVID-19 patients via a 3D-printed nanomaterial-based biosensing platform

Rapid detection of antibodies during infection and after vaccination is critical for the control of infectious outbreaks, understanding immune response, and evaluating vaccine efficacy. In this manuscript, we evaluate a simple ultrarapid test for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in COVID-19 patients, which gives quantitative results (i.e., antibody concentration) in 10-12 s using a previously reported nanomaterial-based three-dimensional (3D)-printed biosensing platform. This platform consists of a micropillar array electrode fabricated via 3D printing of aerosolized gold nanoparticles and coated with nanoflakes of graphene and specific SARS-CoV-2 antigens, including spike S1, S1 receptor-binding domain (RBD) and nucleocapsid (N). The sensor works on the principle of electrochemical transduction, where the change of sensor impedance is realized by the interactions between the viral proteins attached to the sensor electrode surface and the antibodies. The three sensors were used to test samples from 17 COVID-19 patients and 3 patients without COVID-19. Unlike other serological tests, the 3D sensors quantitatively detected antibodies at a concentration as low as picomole within 10-12 s in human plasma samples. We found that the studied COVID-19 patients had higher concentrations of antibodies to spike proteins (RBD and S1) than to the N protein. These results demonstrate the enormous potential of the rapid antibody test platform for understanding patients' immunity, disease epidemiology and vaccine efficacy, and facilitating the control and prevention of infectious epidemics.