First determination of DNA virus and some additional bacteria from Melophagus ovinus (sheep ked) in Tibet, China

Melophagus ovinus (sheep ked) is one of the common ectoparasites in sheep. In addition to causing direct damage to the host through biting and sucking blood, sheep ked is a potential vector of helminths, protozoa, bacteria, and viruses. Sheep M. ovinus samples from three regions in Tibet were selected for DNA extraction. The 16S rDNA V3-V4 hypervariable region was amplified, after genomic DNA fragmentation, Illumina Hiseq libraries were constructed. The 16S rRNA sequencing and viral metagenomics sequencing were separately conducted on the Illumina Novaseq 6000 platform and molecular biology software and platforms were employed to analyze the sequencing data. Illumina PE250 sequencing results demonstrated that the dominant bacteria phylum in M. ovinus from Tibet, China was Proteobacteria, where 29 bacteria genera were annotated. The dominant bacterial genera were Bartonella, Wolbachia, and Arsenophonus; Bartonella chomelii, Wolbachia spp., and Arsenophonus spp. were the dominant bacterial species in M. ovinus from Tibet, China. We also detected Kluyvera intermedia, Corynebacterium maris DSM 45190, Planomicrobium okeanokoites, and Rhodococcus erythropolis, of which the relative abundance of Kluyvera intermedia was high. Illumina Hiseq sequencing results demonstrated that 4 virus orders were detected in M. ovinus from Tibet, China, and 3 samples were annotated into 29 families, 30 families, and 28 families of viruses, respectively. Virus families related to vertebrates and insects mainly included Mimiviridae, Marseilleviridae, Poxviridae, Ascoviridae, Iridoviridae, Baculoviridae, Hytrosaviridae, Nudiviridae, Polydnaviridae, Adomaviridae, Asfarviridae, Hepeviridae, Herpesviridae, and Retroviridae; at the species level, the relative abundance of Tupanvirus_soda_lake, Klosneuvirus_KNV1, and Indivirus_ILV1 was higher. African swine fever virus and many poxviruses from the family Poxviridae were detected, albeit their relative abundance was low. The dominant bacterial phylum of M. ovinus from Tibet, China was Proteobacteria, and the dominant bacterial genera were Bartonella, Wolbachia, and Arsenophonus, where 23 out of 29 annotated bacteria genera were first reported in M. ovinus. Kluyvera intermedia, Corynebacterium maris DSM 45190, Planomicrobium okeanokoites, and Rhodococcus erythropolis were detected for the first time. All DNA viruses detected in this study have been reported in M. ovinus for the first time.

Effects of Bu Shen Hua Zhuo formula on the LPS/TLR4 pathway and gut microbiota in rats with letrozole-induced polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders in gynecology. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is widely used for the treatment of PCOS in China. The Bu Shen Hua Zhuo formula (BSHZF), a TCM decoction, has shown great therapeutic efficacy in clinical practice. However, the mechanism underlying the BSHZF function in PCOS remains unclear. This study aimed to identify the potential mechanisms of action of BSHZF in the treatment of PCOS. PCOS-model rats treated with letrozole were administered different doses of BSHZF, metformin, and 1% carboxymethylcellulose. Serum sex hormones, fasting blood glucose, and fasting insulin levels were measured, and the morphology of the ovaries was observed in each group, including the normal group. The structure and abundance of the gut microbiota in rats were measured using 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and phospho-NF-κB p65 levels in the ovarian tissue of the rats were detected using Western blotting. Furthermore, the levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8 in the serum of rats were detected by ELISA. The results showed that BSHZF administration was associated with a decrease in body weight, fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, and testosterone and changes in ovarian morphology in PCOS-model rats. Moreover, BSHZF was associated with an increase in the α-diversity of gut microbiota, decrease in the relative abundance of Firmicutes, and increase in Lactobacillus and short chain fatty acid-producing bacteria (Allobaculum, Bacteroides, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014). Furthermore, BSHZF may promote carbohydrate and protein metabolism. In addition, BSHZF was associated with a decrease in the serum level of LPS and TLR4 expression, thereby inhibiting the activation of the NF-κB signaling-mediated inflammatory response in ovarian tissue. Therefore, the beneficial effects of BSHZF on PCOS pathogenesis are associated with its ability to normalize gut microbiota function and inhibit PCOS-related inflammation.

Effect of boron toxicity on pollen tube cell wall architecture and the relationship of cell wall components of Castanea mollissima Blume

Boron (B) is essential to plant development. However, excessive B is toxic to plants. This research was performed to evaluate the effects of B toxicity on cell wall architecture of Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima Blume) pollen tubes with emphasis on the relationship among pectins, cellulose, and callose. Results showed that 0.8 mM H₃BO₃ inhibited pollen germination and led to abnormal morphology of the pollen tubes. B toxicity also affected the distribution of cell wall components of the pollen tube. In control pollen tube, esterified and acid pectins were distributed unevenly, with the former mainly at the tip and the latter on the distal region. Cellulose was distributed uniformly on the surface with less at the tip; callose reduced gradually from base to sub-tip of the pollen tubes and no callose at the tip of the tube was detected. B toxicity led to the deposition of esterified and acid pectins, cellulose, and callose at the tip of the pollen tube. Results from scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy showed that B toxicity also altered pollen tube wall ultrastructure. The results from enzymatic treatment illustrated that there existed a close relationship among pectins, cellulose, and callose. B toxicity also altered the relationship. In a word, B toxicity altered deposition and relationship of pectins, cellulose, and callose of pollen tube wall.

Where to Invest Project Efforts for Greater Benefit: A Framework for Management Performance Mapping with Examples for Potato Seed Health

Policymakers and donors often need to identify the locations where technologies are most likely to have important effects, to increase the benefits from agricultural development or extension efforts. Higher-quality information may help to target the high-benefit locations, but often actions are needed with limited information. The value of information (VOI) in this context is formalized by evaluating the results of decision making guided by a set of specific information compared with the results of acting without considering that information. We present a framework for management performance mapping that includes evaluating the VOI for decision making about geographic priorities in regional intervention strategies, in case studies of Andean and Kenyan potato seed systems. We illustrate the use of recursive partitioning, XGBoost, and Bayesian network models to characterize the relationships among seed health and yield responses and environmental and management predictors used in studies of seed degeneration. These analyses address the expected performance of an intervention based on geographic predictor variables. In the Andean example, positive selection of seed from asymptomatic plants was more effective at high altitudes in Ecuador. In the Kenyan example, there was the potential to target locations with higher technology adoption rates and with higher potato cropland connectivity, i.e., a likely more important role in regional epidemics. Targeting training to high management performance areas would often provide more benefits than would random selection of target areas. We illustrate how assessing the VOI can contribute to targeted development programs and support a culture of continuous improvement for interventions.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license.

Accumulation of microplastics in greenhouse soil after long-term plastic film mulching in Beijing, China

Intensive use of plastic film and organic fertilizer in the greenhouse has resulted in microplastic contamination of soil. However, microplastic pollution in different types of greenhouses has not been reported so far. The contamination of microplastics in three different types of greenhouses (abandoned greenhouse, normal greenhouse, and simple greenhouse) were investigated. The abundance of microplastics in abandoned greenhouse reached as high as 2215.56 ± 1549.86 items kg^-1, followed by normal greenhouse (891.11 ± 316.71 items kg^-1), and simple greenhouse (632.50 ± 566.93 items kg^-1). The mean abundance of microplastic organic fertilizer, and irrigation water were 1486.67 ± 140.48 items kg^-1, and 4.2 items L^-1, respectively. The abundance of microplastics in the shallow soils of abandoned greenhouse (826.67 ± 261.02) and normal greenhouse (560.00 ± 52.92 items kg^-1) were lower than those in the deep soils (1073.33 ± 306.16 and 720.00 ± 111.36 items kg^-1), while the simple greenhouse showed the opposite result. Microplastic was found to be primarily fragment-shaped, white in color, and 0-1 mm in size, and the polymers of microplastics were polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE). White was the most frequently observed color in the abandoned greenhouse (46.1%) and normal greenhouse (32.2%), while the dominant color in the simple greenhouse was yellow (23.1%). This study provides first-hand data for the pollution characteristics of microplastics in different greenhouse soils and explores the primary sources of microplastics in the greenhouse soil.

Structural Distortion-Modulated Magnetic and Dielectric Properties in Nonstoichiometric Yb2-xTi2O7-δ Pyrochlore

Rare-earth titanate pyrochlores have attracted considerable attention for their unique magnetic frustration. Among those compounds, Yb₂Ti₂O₇, a candidate for quantum spin ice, has been extensively studied in its magnetic ground state. However, works on its dielectric property and structure-property relationship lag far more behind. Here, by preparing and investigating nonstoichiometric Yb_2-xTi₂O_7-δ (x = 0-0.15) ceramics, we demonstrate that the samples with x ≤ 0.05 maintain a single-pyrochlore phase, but the nonstoichiometry arouses significant structural distortion and increased oxygen vacancy. As a result, the ferromagnetism, indicated by a positive Curie-Weiss temperature, decreases almost linearly with increasing x value. Remarkably composition-dependent low-temperature dielectric relaxations have been observed. In addition, through introducing nonstoichiometry, the relaxor degree of dielectric behavior is enhanced, and the dielectric curve shows an altered shape. The origin of this dielectric relaxation is attributed to the increased structural distortion reflected by the changed bond length/angle, since there is no phase transition in 90-300 K. Our work gives a comprehensive view on the structural, magnetic, and dielectric properties of Yb₂Ti₂O₇, which is instructive for further work on pyrochlores.

FvWRKY48 binds to the pectate lyase FvPLA promoter to control fruit softening in Fragaria vesca

The regulatory mechanisms that link WRKY gene expression to fruit ripening are largely unknown. Using transgenic approaches, we showed that a WRKY gene from wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca), FvWRKY48, may be involved in fruit softening and ripening. We showed that FvWRKY48 is localized to the nucleus and that degradation of the pectin cell wall polymer homogalacturonan, which is present in the middle lamella and tricellular junction zones of the fruit, was greater in FvWRKY48-OE (overexpressing) fruits than in empty vector (EV)-transformed fruits and less substantial in FvWRKY48-RNAi (RNA interference) fruits. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that the expression of pectate lyase A (FvPLA) was significantly downregulated in the FvWRKY48-RNAi receptacle. We determined that FvWRKY48 bound to the FvPLA promoter via a W-box element through yeast one-hybrid, electrophoretic mobility shift, and chromatin immunoprecipitation quantitative polymerase chain reaction experiments, and β-glucosidase activity assays suggested that this binding promotes pectate lyase activity. In addition, softening and pectin degradation were more intense in FvPLA-OE fruit than in EV fruit, and the middle lamella and tricellular junction zones were denser in FvPLA-RNAi fruit than in EV fruit. We speculated that FvWRKY48 maybe increase the expression of FvPLA, resulting in pectin degradation and fruit softening.

A case of a death caused by an atrial-oesophageal-thoracic fistula after radiofrequency ablation of atrial fibrillation

The report is about a 49-year-old man with rheumatic heart disease and atrial fibrillation. He underwent mitral valve replacement, tricuspid valvuloplasty, and atrial fibrillation radiofrequency ablation in the hospital. He vomited blood on the 2nd postoperative day, and the bleeding gradually worsened thereafter. He had to have repeated drainage of large amounts of blood from his right thoracic cavity and digestive tract. He died suddenly after undergoing an oesophageal endoscopy on the 24th postoperative day. The autopsy revealed an atrial-oesophageal-thoracic fistula. By excluding the possibility of the fistula being caused by complications from nasoenteric feeding, tracheal intubation, and a foreign body ingestion, we determined that the atrial-oesophageal-thoracic fistula was a complication after radiofrequency ablation according to the finding of coagulation necrosis of the myocardial cells at the left atrium fistula. In addition, we also performed an elemental analysis on the radiofrequency ablation area and other cardiac tissues by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and found five metal elements, Cr, Cu, Zn, Mn, and Ti, which specifically existed in the radiofrequency ablation area. This finding has the potential to serve as new evidence for radiofrequency ablation and is a worthy direction of research.

A New Computational Deconvolution Algorithm for the Analysis of Forensic DNA Mixtures with SNP Markers

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) support robust analysis on degraded DNA samples. However, the development of a systematic method to interpret the profiles derived from the mixtures is less studied, and it remains a challenge due to the bi-allelic nature of SNP markers. To improve the discriminating power of SNPs, this study explored bioinformatic strategies to analyze mixtures. Then, computer-generated mixtures were produced using real-world massively parallel sequencing (MPS) data from the single samples processed with the Precision ID Identity Panel. Moreover, the values of the frequency of major allele reads (F_MAR) were calculated and applied as key parameters to deconvolve the two-person mixtures and estimate mixture ratios. Four custom R language scripts (three for autosomes and one for Y chromosome) were designed with the K-means clustering method as a core algorithm. Finally, the method was validated with real-world mixtures. The results indicated that the deconvolution accuracy for evenly balanced mixtures was 100% or close to 100%, which was the same as the deconvolution accuracy of inferring the genotypes of the major contributor of unevenly balanced mixtures. Meanwhile, the accuracy of inferring the genotypes of the minor contributor decreased as its proportion in the mixture decreased. Moreover, the estimated mixture ratio was almost equal to the actual ratio between 1:1 and 1:6. The method proposed in this study provides a new paradigm for mixture interpretation, especially for inferring contributor profiles of evenly balanced mixtures and the major contributor profile of unevenly balanced mixtures.

Effect of Wii Fit Exercise With Balance and Lower Limb Muscle Strength in Older Adults: A Meta-Analysis

Background

Falls and fall-related injuries are not uncommon among older adults and may lead to serious health deterioration and decreased quality of life. Numerous types of physical activity have been proposed to improve balance and strength in older adults with varying degrees of success. Nintendo's Wii Fit video exergame uses body movement as a game controller and provides real-time feedback for games designed to enhance balance and muscle strength. However, whether Wii Fit exercise improves the balance and lower limb muscle strength of older adults remains uncertain.

Objective

To evaluate the current literature by using meta-analyses to assess whether Wii Fit exercise is associated with improved balance and lower limb muscle strength in older adults.

Methods

We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang Data from inception to February 16, 2022, for relevant studies and conducted a manual search of the literature. Data extraction of the included studies were independently performed by two authors. The methodologic quality of each included study was assessed using the Physical Therapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. Meta-analyses were conducted using Review Manager 5.3.

Results

Of 991 articles initially identified, 10 articles (379 participants; aged ≥65 years, range 65–92 years; 188 participants in Wii Fit exercise groups, and 191 participants in control groups), including 8 randomized controlled trials, were assessed in this meta-analysis. The methodologic quality of the included studies evaluated with the PEDro average score was 6.4 and ranged from 5 to 8 points, indicating moderate quality. Compared with no exercise, Wii Fit exercise was associated with significant improved scores on the Berg Balance Scale, which evaluates functional balance (mean difference, 1.38; 95% CI, 0.61–2.16; I² = 31%; P = 0.0005) and on the Timed Up and Go test, which evaluates static and dynamic balance (standardized mean difference, −0.51; 95% CI,−0.88 to −0.14; I² = 52%; P = 0.007). However, for the three studies assessed, Wii Fit exercise did not significantly improve scores on the 30-s chair stand test, which evaluates the functional strength and endurance of the lower limb muscles (mean difference, 0.82; 95% CI, −0.14 to 1.77; z = 1.68; P = 0.09).

Conclusions

Our findings indicated that Wii Fit exercise is an effective approach to improve functional, static, and dynamic balance among older adults. Additional meta-analyzes with higher numbers of randomized controlled trials are suggested to confirm the benefits of Wii Fit exercise on balance in older adults, to establish whether functional strength and endurance of lower limb muscles are improved, and to explore the relationship between improved balance and fall prevention in this population.

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) reader IGF2BP2 promotes gastric cancer progression via targeting SIRT1

N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) modification acts as the most prevalent internal modification in eukaryotic mRNA. Emerging evidence shows the critical biological roles of m⁶A key enzymes in human cancers. However, the roles of m⁶A binding protein IGF2BP2 in gastric cancer (GC) progression are still unclear. In this study, we confirmed that IGF2BP2 was highly expressed in GC cell lines and tumor tissues. Knocking down of IGF2BP2 suppressed cell proliferation and migration, and repressed xenograft tumor growth in vivo, while IGF2BP2 overexpression promoted the proliferation and migration. Mechanistically, we identified that IGF2BP2 regulated GC the proliferation/migration through recognizing the m⁶A modification sites of SIRT1 mRNA. In general, our findings demonstrated a novel regulatory mechanism that IGF2BP2/SIRT1 axis modulated GC progression in an m⁶A-dependent manner, suggesting that m⁶A may be a therapeutic target for GC.

Efficacy and safety analysis of high-flow nasal cannula in children with bronchiolitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Oxygen therapy is one of the most common treatments for bronchiolitis, But traditional standard oxygen therapy is poorly tolerated by patients. Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) also has many contraindications. High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC), as a new method of adjunctive respiratory support, has received extensive attention in oxygen therapy in pediatric. In this meta-analysis, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of HFNC in the treatment of infant bronchiolitis.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, GeenMedical, Wanfang, and Weipu using the following keywords: children with respiratory diseases, infant bronchiolitis, bronchiolitis treatment, HFNCs, warming and humidifying high-flow, nasal catheter oxygen inhalation, and conventional oxygen therapy. The publication time was set from the establishment of the database to October 2021. Selected articles were randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies in which the patients were less than 16 years old and the experimental group was treated with HFNCs, and the control group was treated with nCPAP or conventional oxygen. After extracting the data, the study subjects were divided into HFNC treatment and control groups. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to assess the quality of the included literature, and RevMan 5.30 was used for meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Seven articles met the inclusion criteria. All articles described random sequence generation, four articles reported on allocation concealment, only two articles reported on the double-blind method. All articles described the complete blinding of outcome evaluation bias, outcome data bias, selective reporting bias, and other risk biases. The HFNC treatment group included 436 children, 405 children treated with nCPAP or standard oxygen therapy were included in the control. The results showed that the failure rate [relative risk (RR) is 0.57, 95% CI: 0.43-0.76], respiratory rate [mean difference (MD) is -7.43, 95% CI: -8.42 to -6.43], and social function (MD is 0.76, 95% CI: -0.32 to 1.83) of HFNC-treated children with bronchiolitis were significantly different to that of the control group patients.

DISCUSSION

HFNC treatment provides the same improvement in arterial oxygen partial pressure as standard oxygen therapy or transnasal positive airway pressure treatment, but it is significantly better at improving the respiratory rate of children with bronchiolitis.

Beta-Amylase and Phosphatidic Acid Involved in Recalcitrant Seed Germination of Chinese Chestnut

Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima), a species with recalcitrant seeds, is an important source of nuts and forest ecosystem services. The germination rate of recalcitrant seeds is low in natural habitats and decreases under conditions of desiccation and low temperature. The germination rate of cultivated Chinese chestnut seeds is significantly higher than that of wild seeds. To explore the reasons for the higher germination rate of cultivated seeds in Chinese chestnut, 113,524 structural variants (SVs) between the wild and cultivated Chinese chestnut genomes were detected through genome comparison. Genotyping these SVs in 60 Chinese chestnut accessions identified allele frequency changes during Chinese chestnut domestication, and some SVs are overlapping genes for controlling seed germination. Transcriptome analysis revealed downregulation of the abscisic acid synthesis genes and upregulation of the beta-amylase synthesis genes in strongly selected genes of cultivated seeds. On the other hand, hormone and enzyme activity assays indicated a decrease in endogenous ABA level and an increase in beta-amylase activity in cultivated seeds. These results shed light on the higher germination rate of cultivated seeds. Moreover, phosphatidic acid synthesis genes are highly expressed in seed germination stages of wild Chinese chestnut and may play a role in recalcitrant seed germination. These findings provide new insight into the regulation of wild seed germination and promote natural regeneration and succession in forest ecosystems.

Application of Fused Reality Holographic Image and Navigation Technology in the Puncture Treatment of Hypertensive Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Objective

Minimally invasive puncture and drainage (MIPD) of hematomas was the preferred option for appropriate patients with hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (HICH). The goal of our research was to introduce the MIPD surgery using mixed reality holographic navigation technology (MRHNT).

Method

We provided the complete workflow for hematoma puncture using MRHNT included three-dimensional model reconstruction by preoperative CT examination, puncture trajectory design, immersive presentation of model, and real environment and hematoma puncture using dual-plane navigation by wearing special equipment. We collected clinical data on eight patients with HICH who underwent MIPD using MRHNT from March 2021 to August 2021, including the hematoma evacuation rate, operation time, deviation in drainage tube target, postoperative complications, and 2-week postoperative GCS.

Result

The workflow for hematoma puncture using MRHNT were performed in all eight cases, in which the average hematoma evacuation rate was 47.36±9.16%, the average operation time was 82.14±15.74 min, and the average deviation of the drainage tube target was 5.76±0.80 mm. There was no delayed bleeding, acute ischemic stroke, intracranial infection, or epilepsy 2 weeks after surgery. The 2-week postoperative GCS was improved compared with the preoperative GCS.

Conclusion

The research concluded it was feasible to perform the MIPD by MRHNT on patients with HICH. The risk of general anesthesia and highly professional holographic information processing restricted the promotion of the technology, it was necessary for technical innovation and the accumulation of more case experience and verification of its superiority.

Effect of cryopreservation on A172 and U251 glioma cells infected with lentiviral vectors designed for CRISPR/Cas9-mediated aquaporin-8 knock-out

Among the three existing targeted gene editing technologies, zinc-finger nucleases, transcription activator-like effector nucleases, and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-CRISPR-associated 9 (CRISPR-Cas9), the latter is widely used owing to its simplicity, efficiency, and low cost. Here, we routinely infected A172 and U251 cells with lentiviral vectors, in which aquaporin-8 (AQP8) was knocked out using CRISPR/Cas9. Our results indicated that cryopreservation did not significantly alter the viral infection efficiency, but influenced AQP8 expression in the infected cells at both protein and mRNA levels compared with the non-cryopreserved samples. Further, AQP8 expression at protein and mRNA levels in recovered cryopreserved infected cells did not significantly differ from those in the blank and negative controls, indicating that the lentivirus was still infectious at low temperatures. However, it failed to release the AQP8-targeting guide RNA in the infected cells, or the guide RNA was released, but underwent changes that caused it to malfunction in the cells with CRISPR/Cas9-mediated AQP8 knock-out. Our findings possibly provide some insights into the reliability of lentiviruses as CRISPR/Cas9 vectors.

A Dual-Channel Intelligent Point-of-Care Testing System for Soluble Programmed Death-1 and Programmed Death-Ligand 1 Detection Based on Folding Paper-Based Immunosensors

Both programmed death-1 (PD-1) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) are important proteins in cancer immunotherapy. Soluble forms (sPD-1 and sPD-L1) have potential for determining treatment and prognosis monitoring. However, there is a lack of detection methods for point-of-care testing (POCT) of these two proteins, so a low-cost rapid detection platform is urgently needed. To solve this problem, a dual-channel electrochemical platform, including a folding paper-based immunosensor and a POCT system for rapid simultaneous detection of these two proteins was designed and fabricated. The immunosensor consists of a three-electrode system and a reaction cell. The surface of the working electrode was modified with nanocomposites synthesized from amine-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes, new methylene blue, and gold nanoparticles. Antibodies to sPD-1 and sPD-L1 were also immobilized on the working electrode surface. A differential pulse voltammetry electrochemical method was adopted. The immunosensor was able to detect sPD-1 and sPD-L1 in the ranges of 50 pg/mL to 50 ng/mL and 5 pg/mL to 5 ng/mL, respectively. The limits of detection were 10 and 5 pg/mL. Using this detection platform, sPD-1 and sPD-L1 in plasma were detected by both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the immunosensor, which has good application potential.

[Establishment of morphological reference values for the differential count of white blood cells in peripheral blood smear, as well as nucleated cells and megakaryocytes in bone marrow smear]

Objective: To establish the morphological reference values for the differential count of white blood cells in peripheral blood smear as well as nucleated cells and megakaryocytes in bone marrow smear. Methods: From April 2012 to June 2020, 4 221 healthy donors for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in Hebei Yanda Lu Daopei Hospital were selected. The median age was 36 (3-72) years old, including 2 520 males and 1 701 females. They were divided into four groups according to age: children group, with age≤14 years old [n=334, 11 (3-14) years old], youth group, with age >14 years old and <45 years old [n=2 855, 33 (15-44) years old], middle-aged adult group, with age ≥45 years old and < 60 years old [n=929, 49 (45-59) years old], and older adult group, with age ≥60 years old [n=103, 62 (60-72) years old]. Gender subgroups were established in each age group. According to different hematopoietic characteristics, the children group were divided into two subgroups: children group 1 [n=48, 6 (3-7) years old] and children group 2 [n=286, 11 (8-14) years old]. According to the clinical routine, 100 white blood cells in peripheral blood, 200 nucleated cells in bone marrow, and cell numbers/4.5 cm² for megakaryocytes were classified and counted. The results of cell count in different age and gender groups were compared, and the reference values of morphological classification were established for different groups with statistical or clinical significance. Results: Due to the existence of statistically significant differences between children and adult groups and different gender subgroups in adults (all P<0.05), the reference values were established for children group and adult gender subgroups. The counts of segmented neutrophils and lymphocytes in peripheral blood were 46.65(43.97-49.32)% and 44.00(10.60-65.10)% in children group 1, 50.73(49.50-51.96)% and 39.55 (38.36-40.74)% in children group 2, and 57.00 (39.00-75.23) % and 33.00 (17.00-52.00) % in adult group, respectively. Bone marrow segmented neutrophils, orthochromatic erythroblasts, and mature lymphocytes were 11.54 (10.68-12.41)%, 14.20 (13.19-15.21)%, and 23.99 (22.06-25.92)% in children group 1, 12.50 (7.00-21.50)%, 15.00(9.50-25.50)%, and 21.02 (20.24-21.81)% in children group 2, 13.50 (7.50-21.00)%, 16.50 (10.50-26.00)%, and 15.50 (7.50-26.00)% in adult male group, and 14.50 (8.00-24.50)%, 14.50 (9.00-23.00)%, and 17.50 (8.50-29.00)% in adult female group, respectively. The myelopoiesis/erythropoiesis ratio in children group, adult male group and adult female group was 1.86∶1 (1.14∶1-3.23∶1), 1.96∶1 (1.12∶1-3.19∶1), 2.22∶1 (1.30∶1-3.69∶1), respectively. The numbers of granular megakaryocytes and thromocytogenic megakaryocytes were 138 (25-567) cells/4.5cm² and 86 (13-328) cells/4.5 cm² in children group, and 92 (13-338) cells/4.5 cm² and 38 (3-162) cells/4.5 cm² in adult group, respectively. Conclusion: The morphological reference values for the differential count of white blood cells in peripheral blood smear as well as nucleated cells and megakaryocytes in bone marrow smear are successfully established, which is helpful to improve the application of morphological examination in disease screening, diagnosis and monitoring.

Exploring Lorentz Invariance Violation from Ultrahigh-Energy γ Rays Observed by LHAASO

Recently, the LHAASO Collaboration published the detection of 12 ultrahigh-energy γ-ray sources above 100 TeV, with the highest energy photon reaching 1.4 PeV. The first detection of PeV γ rays from astrophysical sources may provide a very sensitive probe of the effect of the Lorentz invariance violation (LIV), which results in decay of high-energy γ rays in the superluminal scenario and hence a sharp cutoff of the energy spectrum. Two highest energy sources are studied in this work. No signature of the existence of the LIV is found in their energy spectra, and the lower limits on the LIV energy scale are derived. Our results show that the first-order LIV energy scale should be higher than about 10^{5} times the Planck scale M_{Pl} and that the second-order LIV scale is >10^{-3}M_{Pl}. Both limits improve by at least one order of magnitude the previous results.

Clinical efficacy of probiotics on feeding intolerance in preterm infants: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The physiological organ system of premature infants is still very immature, so it is easy to result feeding intolerance. Therefore, effective probiotic supplementation plays a very important role and clinical research significance in promoting the growth and development of preterm infants, improving the quality of life and improving the occurrence of feeding intolerance. To explore the clinical effect of probiotics on feeding intolerance (FI) in preterm infants by meta-analysis.

METHODS

The PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE and MEDLINE literature databases were searched for relevant literature. The literature related to the clinical effect of probiotics on FI in preterm infants was published from January 2002 to January 2021. RevMan 5.3 was used to calculate the reinforcement mean difference (MD) and evaluate the publication bias.

RESULTS

Nine articles were included, involving a total of 1,244 preterm infants with FI. Through the sensitivity analysis of each excluded study, the results showed no significant differences. Compared with patients in the control group, the probiotics group had significant improvements (P<0.1) in the total intestinal feeding time (MD =-2.54, 95% CI: -3.57, -1.52, P<0.00001), weight gain (MD =23.81, 95% CI: 19.75, 27.81, P<0.00001), maximum enteral feeding (MD =6.41, 95% CI: 1.94, 10.88, P=0.005), hospital stay (MD =-5.18, 95% CI: -5.63, -4.74, P<0.00001), incidence of FI [odds rate (OR) =0.38, 95% CI: 0.27, 0.55, P<0.00001] and improvement in the gastrointestinal tract (OR =2.34, 95% CI: 1.07, 5.14, P=0.03).

DISCUSSION

Our study shows that the use of probiotics can promote the early growth of preterm infants and effectively improve the occurrence of FI in preterm infants.