Three-Dimensional Gait Analysis and sEMG Measures for Robotic-Assisted Gait Training in Subacute Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

The efficacy of robotic-assisted gait training (RAGT) should be considered versatilely; among which, gait assessment is one of the most important measures; observational gait assessment is the most commonly used method in clinical practice, but it has certain limitations due to the deviation of subjectivity; instrumental assessments such as three-dimensional gait analysis (3DGA) and surface electromyography (sEMG) can be used to obtain gait data and muscle activation during walking in stroke patients with hemiplegia, so as to better evaluate the rehabilitation effect of RAGT.

Objective

This single-blind randomized controlled trial is aimed at analyzing the impact of RAGT on the 3DGA parameters and muscle activation in patients with subacute stroke and evaluating the clinical effect of improving walking function of RAGT.

Methods

This randomized controlled trial evaluated the improvement of 4-week RAGT on patients with subacute stroke by 3DGA and surface electromyography (sEMG), combined with clinical scales: experimental group (n = 18, 20 sessions of RAGT) or control group (n = 16, 20 sessions of conventional gait training). Gait performance was evaluated by the 3DGA, and clinical evaluations based on Fugl-Meyer assessment for lower extremity (FMA-LE), functional ambulation category (FAC), and 6-minute walk test (6MWT) were used. Of these patients, 30 patients underwent sEMG measurement synchronized with 3DGA; the cocontraction index in swing phase of the knee and ankle of the affected side was calculated.

Results

After 4 weeks of intervention, intragroup comparison showed that walking speed, temporal symmetry, bilateral stride length, range of motion (ROM) of the bilateral hip, flexion angle of the affected knee, ROM of the affected ankle, FMA-LE, FAC, and 6MWT in the experimental group were significantly improved (p < 0.05), and in the control group, significant improvements were observed in walking speed, temporal symmetry, stride length of the affected side, ROM of the affected hip, FMA-LE, FAC, and 6MWT (p < 0.05). Intergroup comparison showed that the experimental group significantly outperformed the control group in walking speed, temporal symmetry of the spatiotemporal parameters, ROM of the affected hip and peak flexion of the knee in the kinematic parameters, and the FMA-LE and FAC in the clinical scale (p < 0.05). In patients evaluated by sEMG, the experimental group showed a noticeable improvement in the cocontraction index of the knee (p = 0.042), while no significant improvement was observed in the control group (p = 0.196), and the experimental group was better than the control group (p = 0.020). No noticeable changes were observed in the cocontraction index of the ankle in both groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

Compared with conventional gait training, RAGT successfully improved part of the spatiotemporal parameters of patients and optimized the motion of the affected lower limb joints and muscle activation patterns during walking, which is crucial for further rehabilitation of walking ability in patients with subacute stroke. This trial is registered with ChiCTR2200066402.

INFLUENCE OF CORE STRENGTH TRAINING ON PELVIC GIRDLE STRENGTH IN TABLE TENNIS PLAYERS

ABSTRACT Introduction Core strength training has attracted much attention in modern competitive sports. Objective Study the effect of core strength training on pelvic girdle strength in table tennis players. Methods 50 students aged 12-14 from the table tennis club of an elementary school affiliated with a normal university were divided into a control group and an experimental group. They performed a one-week training of core strength exercises. Through a series of technical index tests, the data before and after using these strength training methods were obtained for comparative analysis. Results After the core strength training, there was no significant difference between the other four indices in the experimental group and the control group, except for the fact that there was a significant difference in the performance of running around the platform (P < 0.05). Conclusion After the experiment, the four indexes reflecting the strength of the core muscle group in the experimental group were significantly optimized, while the four indexes in the control group were not significant, showing that core strength training has a more significant effect on improving the strength of the core muscle group. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment outcomes.

Enantioselective N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Catalyzed Rearrangement of Enol ε-lactones

β-Lactones are common substructures in bioactive molecules. Herein, we developed an enantioselective N‑heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed rearrangement of enol ε-lactones for the construction of bicyclic β-lactones. The reaction works well for...

A novel membrane-bound interleukin-2 promotes NK-92 cell persistence and anti-tumor activity

A major challenge in natural killer (NK) cell immunotherapy is the limited persistence of NK cells in vivo. However, the proliferation of NK cells is dependent on cytokines such as interleukin-2 (IL-2). Although IL-2 is a critical cytokine for NK cell activation and survival, IL-2 administration in adoptive NK cell therapy can induce adverse toxicities. To improve the persistence of NK cells and attenuate the systemic toxicity of IL-2, we constructed a cell-restricted artificial IL-2, named membrane-bound IL-2 (mbIL-2), comprising human IL-2 and human IL-2Rα joined by a classic linker. We found that mbIL-2-activated NK-92 cells can survive and proliferate in vitro and in vivo, independent of exogenous IL-2, while mbIL-2-expressing NK-92 cells do not support bystander cell survival or proliferation. Additionally, mbIL-2 enhanced NK-92 cell-mediated antitumor activity by tuning the IL-2 receptor downstream signals and NK cell receptor repertoire expression. To conclude, our novel mbIL-2 improves NK-92 cell persistence and enhances NK-92 cell-mediated antitumor activity. NK-92 cells genetically modified to express the novel mbIL-2 with potential significance for clinical development.

Multifaceted roles of flavonoids mediating plant-microbe interactions

Plant-microbe interactions dynamically affect plant growth, health, and development. The mechanisms underpinning these associations are-to a large extent-mediated by specialized host-derived secondary metabolites. Flavonoids are one of the most studied classes of such metabolites, regulating both plant development and the interaction with commensal microbes. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the multiple roles of flavonoids in mediating plant-microbe interactions. First, we briefly summarize the general aspects of flavonoid synthesis, transport, and exudation in plants. Then, we review the importance of flavonoids regulating plant-microbe interactions and dynamically influencing the overall community assembly of plant-root microbiomes. Last, we highlight potential knowledge gaps in our understanding of how flavonoids determine the interactions between plants and commensal microbes. Collectively, we advocate the importance of advancing research in this area toward innovative strategies to effectively manipulate plant-microbiome composition, in this case, via flavonoid production and exudation in plant roots. Video Abstract.

Association between triglyceride-glucose index and worsening renal function in the elderly

Background

Triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a simple marker of insulin resistance. However, insufficient data is available on whether the TyG index is associated with worsening renal function (WRF) in the elderly. Therefore, this study was designed to explore the association between the TyG index and WRF based on a community elderly cohort.

Methods

In this study, 7,822 elderly (aged ≥ 65 years) adults from southern China were enrolled and divided into four groups according to the TyG index quartiles. The primary endpoint was incident chronic kidney disease (CKD), defined as incident estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 mL/min/1.73 m². Additional endpoints included a decline in eGFR of 30% and 40% during the follow-up period.

Results

During the median 2.04 year follow-up period, 1,541 (19.7%) participants developed CKD. After adjusting for confounding factors, multivariable Cox regression models revealed significant associations between TyG index and incident CKD (HR per SD increase, 1.21; 95% CI: 1.14-1.29), a decline in eGFR of 30% (HR per SD increase, 1.38; 95% CI: 1.26-1.50), and decline in eGFR of 40% (HR per SD increase, 1.42; 95% CI: 1.24-1.63). Furthermore, compared with those in Q1, participants in Q4 demonstrated a higher risk of developing CKD (HR, 1.59; 95% CI: 1.35-1.88). These positive associations remained consistent across different subgroup populations.

Conclusion

Our study suggests a positive and independent association between the TyG index and WRF in the elderly.

Evaluation of C-reactive protein as predictor of adverse prognosis in acute myocardial infarction after percutaneous coronary intervention: A systematic review and meta-analysis from 18,715 individuals

BACKGROUND

Proper prognostic biomarker is of great importance for clinical decision-making in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Although recently emerges plenty of novel inflammatory biomarkers, the canonical inflammatory mediator C-reactive protein still plays an important role in prognosing adverse post-infarction complications.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, and Medline were systematically searched from the establishment of databases up to December 2021, conforming with standards set forth by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement.

RESULTS

A total of 23 studies were eventually eligible for this meta-analysis, including 18,715 individuals. Our findings showed that elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) had a statistically significant superiority in predicting all-cause mortality (OR: 3.22, 95% CI: [2.71, 3.84], p < 0.00001), cardiovascular death (OR: 3.26, 95% CI: [2.30, 4.61], p < 0.00001), major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) (OR: 2.85, 95% CI [2.08, 3.90], p < 0.00001), heart failure (OR: 2.29, 95% CI: [1.48, 3.54], p = 0.0002), recurrent myocardial infarction (OR: 1.76, 95% CI: [1.28, 2.43], p < 0.001), and restenosis (OR: 1.71, 95% CI: [1.18, 2.47], p = 0.004). Subgroup analysis implies that CRP had better performance in predicting plenty of hospitalization and short-term (<12 months) adverse prognosis than long-term prognosis and Asian patients with elevated CRP were under more risk in adverse prognosis after PCI than Europeans.

CONCLUSION

Our meta-analysis suggests that CRP is a prospective predictor of the prognosis in patients with AMI undergoing PCI, especially in hospitalization and short-term and in the Asian group.

Metal-Organic Frameworks Functionalized Separators for Robust Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) are one of the promising energy storage systems, which consist of electrode materials, electrolyte, and separator. The first two have been significantly received ample development, while the prominent role of the separators in manipulating the stability of the electrode has not attracted sufficient attention. In this work, a separator (UiO-66-GF) modified by Zr-based metal organic framework for robust AZIBs is proposed. UiO-66-GF effectively enhances the transport ability of charge carriers and demonstrates preferential orientation of (002) crystal plane, which is favorable for corrosion resistance and dendrite-free zinc deposition. Consequently, Zn|UiO-66-GF-2.2|Zn cells exhibit highly reversible plating/stripping behavior with long cycle life over 1650 h at 2.0 mA cm^-2, and Zn|UiO-66-GF-2.2|MnO₂ cells show excellent long-term stability with capacity retention of 85% after 1000 cycles. The reasonable design and application of multifunctional metal organic frameworks modified separators provide useful guidance for constructing durable AZIBs.

Evaluating the economic impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on shipping and port industry: A case study of the port of Shanghai

The stability of shipping and port operations are crucial for international trade and global supply chain. However, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the shipping and port industry enormously in late 2019, and continues till now. It is important to identify the impacts of the pandemic on shipping and port operations and evaluate the potential economic impacts for better setting future development strategies and policies. A System Dynamics (SD) model is proposed to depict the impact transmission within the supply chain considering 5 sub-systems (shipping, port, transportation, manufacturing and social). Potential economic impacts which are represented by the shipping loss and port loss will be assessed. 6 scenarios with different epidemic durations and capacity recovery degrees have been set to investigate the economic impacts. The port of Shanghai, together with the container shipping business is selected as input for case study. Results indicate that in the first few months the port and carriers may suffer economic loss due to shrunken demand caused by COVID-19. But later carriers may enjoy an increase of income compared to non-pandemic scenario owing to strong recovery in most scenarios. Moreover, we found that manufacturing, transportation and port operation capacities would jointly affect the recovery process and economic impacts. The findings can facilitate policy makers in making port management and future industry development decisions.

DLnet With Training Task Conversion Stream for Precise Semantic Segmentation in Actual Traffic Scene

Many successful semantic segmentation models trained on certain datasets experience a performance gap when they are applied to the actual scene images, expressing weak robustness of these models in the actual scene. The training task conversion (TTC) and domain adaption field have been originally proposed to solve the performance gap problem. Unfortunately, many existing models for TTC and domain adaptation have defects, and even if the TTC is completed, the performance is far from the original task model. Thus, how to maintain excellent performance while completing TTC is the main challenge. In order to address this challenge, a deep learning model named DLnet is proposed for TTC from the existing image dataset-based training task to the actual scene image-based training task. The proposed network, named the DLnet, contains three main innovations. The proposed network is verified by experiments. The experimental results show that the proposed DLnet not only can achieve state-of-the-art quantitative performance on four popular datasets but also can obtain outstanding qualitative performance in four actual urban scenes, which demonstrates the robustness and performance of the proposed DLnet. In addition, although the proposed DLnet cannot achieve outstanding performance in real time, it can still achieve a moderate performance in real time, which is within an acceptable range.

ε-Benzylation via Cooperative Photoredox and N-Heterocyclic Carbene Catalysis

The ε-benzylation of γ-alkenyl-γ-oxidized enals via dual photoredox and N-heterocyclic carbene catalysis has been developed, affording the corresponding ε-benzyl-α,β-γ,δ-bisunsaturated esters in moderate to good yields with exclusive regioselectivities. The reaction is proposed via the generation of benzyl radical under photocatalysis, followed by its addition to an NHC-bound trienolate intermediate.

Properties of curcumin-loaded zein-tea saponin nanoparticles prepared by antisolvent co-precipitation and precipitation

The properties of nutraceutical-loaded biopolymer nanoparticles fabricated by antisolvent co-precipitation (ASCP) and precipitation (ASP) were compared. Curcumin-loaded zein-tea saponin nanoparticles were fabricated using both methods and then their structural and physicochemical properties were characterized. The diameter of the nanoparticles prepared by ASCP were smaller (120-130 nm) than those prepared by ASP (140-160 nm). The encapsulation efficiency of the ASCP-nanoparticles (80.0%) was higher than the ASP-ones (71.0%) at a zein-to-curcumin mass ratio of 3:1, which was also higher than previous studies. The storage and light stability of curcumin was higher in zein-saponin nanoparticles than in zein nanoparticles. All nanoparticles had good water dispersibility after freeze-drying and rehydration. This study shows that nanoparticles produced by antisolvent co-precipitation have superior properties to those produced by antisolvent precipitation. The co-precipitation method leads to a higher encapsulation efficiency, smaller particle size, and greater storage stability, which may be advantageous for some applications.

Efficient preparation of cellulose nanocrystals with a high yield through simultaneous acidolysis with a heat-moisture treatment

This study developed a novel method for the facile and efficient preparation of the cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) by using a simultaneous collaborative process combining sulfuric acid hydrolysis and heat-moisture treatment. In this work, we significantly reduced acid dosage compared to conventional acid solution hydrolysis methods to prepare CNCs. The weight of diluted sulfuric acid is no more than 25% on dry basis weight of microcrystalline cellulose. In a relatively short time (2 h), the yield could reach 93.68%, which is higher than the existing methods. The obtained CNCs displayed a normal rod-like shape (100 nm) and unusual spherical shape (10 nm) and showed high relative crystallinity ranged from 70.92% to 81.13%. The combination of acidolysis and heat-moisture treatment may be an economical and effective method for large-scale production of CNCs and provides a new method for preparing short CNCs, which can be used in membrane strengthening and food packages.

Flexible, Transparent, and Hazy Composite Cellulosic Film with Interconnected Silver Nanowire Networks for EMI Shielding and Joule Heating

An optical transparent and hazy film with admirable flexibility, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, and Joule heating performance meeting the requirements of optoelectronic devices is significantly desirable. Herein, a cellulose paper was infiltrated by epoxy resin to fabricate a transparent cellulose paper (TCP) with high transparency, optical haze, and favorable flexibility, owing to effective light scattering and mechanical enhancement of the cellulose network. Moreover, a highly connected silver nanowire (AgNW) network was constructed on the TCP substrate by the spray-coating method and appropriate thermal annealing technique to realize high electrical conductivity and favorable optical transmittance of the composite film at the same time, followed by coating of a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) layer for protection of the AgNW network. The obtained PDMS/AgNWs/TCP composite film features considerable optical transmittance (up to 86.8%) and haze (up to 97.7%), while satisfactory EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) (up to 39.1 dB, 8.2-12.4 GHz) as well as strong mechanical strength (higher than 41 MPa) were achieved. The coated PDMS layer prevented the AgNW network from falling off and ensured the long-term stability of the PDMS/AgNWs/TCP composite film under deformations. In addition, the multifunctional PDMS/AgNWs/TCP composite film also exhibited excellent Joule heating performance with low supplied voltages, rapid response, and sufficient stability. This work demonstrates a novel pathway to improve the performance of multifunctional transparent composite films for future advanced optoelectronic devices.

Heterostructured Ru/Ni(OH)2 Nanomaterials as Multifunctional Electrocatalysts for Selective Reforming of Ethanol

The electrochemical reforming of ethanol into hydrogen and hydrocarbons can reduce the electric potential energy barrier of hydrogen production from electrochemical water splitting, obtaining high value-added anode products. In this work, Ru/Ni(OH)₂ heterostructured nanomaterials were synthesized successfully by an in situ reduction strategy with remarkable multifunctional catalytic properties. In the hydrogen evolution reaction, Ru/Ni(OH)₂ exhibits a smaller overpotential of 31 mV to obtain a current density of 10 mA/cm², which is better than that of commercial Pt/C. Notably, such heterostructured Ru/Ni(OH)₂ nanomaterials also perform an outstanding catalytic selectivity toward an acetaldehyde product in the oxidation of ethanol. DFT calculations reveal that abundant Ru(0)-Ni(II) heterostructured sites are the key factor for the excellent performances. As a result, an ethanol-selective reforming electrolyzer driven by a 2 V solar cell is constructed to produce hydrogen and acetaldehyde in the cathodic and anodic part, respectively, via using Ru/Ni(OH)₂ heterostructured catalysts. This work provides a forward-looking technical guidance for the design of novel energy conversion systems.

Potentially inappropriate prescribing and its demographic and clinical correlates in older adults with atrial fibrillation: a population-based study

Introduction

Older adults with atrial fibrillation (AF) have an increased risk of comorbidities and often take a combination of medicines. Moreover, it is known that anticoagulants tend to be underprescribed or underdosed in older patients with AF. Thus, it is important to evaluate the overall quality of prescribing because potentially inappropriate prescribing is associated with serious adverse events.

Purpose

To assess the quality of prescribing and to analyze the association between potentially inappropriate prescribing with demographic and clinical variables in a Swedish urban older population with AF.

Methodology

The Swedish National Study on Aging and Care is an observational longitudinal population-based study (baseline: 2001–2004) of adults aged 60 years or older (n=3363). We used the Screening Tool of Older Persons Prescriptions/Screening Tool to Alert doctors to Right Treatment (STOPP/START) version 2 algorithms (1) to assess the quality of prescribing. STOPP and START criteria identify potentially inappropriately prescribed medications and medications that are omitted but should have been prescribed, respectively. We could apply 72% of the STOPP criteria and 50% of the START criteria to the dataset. A hurdle negative binomial regression model was fitted to investigate the association between STOPP/START and age, sex, polypharmacy, and functional status indicated by activities of daily living.

Results

We analyzed data on 293 participants with AF. STOPP and START criteria occurred in 53.6% and 63.5% of older patients with AF, respectively. The most frequently inappropriately prescribed drugs (STOPP) were anticoagulants (4.8%), hypnotic Z-drugs (19.1%), benzodiazepines (19.1%) and drugs contributing to anticholinergic burden (6.8%). The most frequently omitted drugs (START) were antiplatelets (26%), anticoagulants (26%), statins (14.3%), beta-blockers (17.7%), vitamin D (15.7%), calcium supplements (15.7%) and laxatives (16%).

Polypharmacy (≥5 drugs; OR 3.45; 95% CI 1.85–6.44) was significantly associated with higher odds of having at least one STOPP criterion (Table 1). Disability (OR 2.56; 95% CI 1.26–5.21) was significantly associated with higher odds of having at least one START criterion.

Among persons with at least one STOPP or START criterion, the estimated mean number of STOPP and START criterion were 2.35 (95% CI 1.36–4.09) and 2.49 (95% CI 1.48–4.21) times higher, respectively, in persons with high polypharmacy (&gt;10 drugs) compared to those without polypharmacy.

Conclusion

Potentially inappropriate prescribing and prescribing omissions were prevalent in this population of older adults with AF, beyond the well-known case of anticoagulants. Thorough multi-disciplinary medication reviews might improve quality of prescribing, especially in those with polypharmacy and functional impairment.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – EU funding. Main funding source(s): This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 899871.

The comorbidity network in older adults with atrial fibrillation: a Danish nationwide cohort study

Introduction

Individuals affected by atrial fibrillation (AF) often present with multiple comorbidities that challenge their clinical management and worsen the prognosis. Characterizing the network structure of comorbid chronic conditions in AF patients may provide insights to better tailor medical and care management.

Purpose

To examine and compare the network structure of comorbidities in older people with and without AF.

Methods

Cross-sectional data derived from the Danish National Patient Register (period 2012–2017) were examined. Patients 60+ years old by 1. January 2017 with AF were selected and matched by age and sex to non-AF controls. Chronic conditions coded according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision were retrieved and grouped into 60 clinically relevant disease categories for old age. Network analysis was applied to construct the disease networks and the centrality index of expected influence was measured to estimate the disease interconnectedness in each network. The difference in network structure and disease centrality between AF and non-AF patients was formally assessed through network comparison tests.

Results

A total of 96,117 AF patients (72 years old; 45% women) were identified and matched with 96,117 non-AF controls. The most prevalent chronic conditions in AF were hypertension (55.1%), large bowel diseases (36.4%) and ischemic heart disease (36.0%). A significant difference of global network structure was observed between AF and non-AF patients (p&lt;0.001) (Figure1). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depression, inflammatory arthropathy, chronic kidney disease and peripheral neuropathy had a higher connectivity with other diseases in the AF vs. non-AF patients (p&lt;0.001). By contrast, hypertension, heart failure and stroke were more interconnected in the non-AF patients (p&lt;0.001). Among AF patients, network differences were further observed between age categories (60–79 vs 80+ years) in male and female subgroups.

Conclusions

Older AF patients exhibited a complex network structure of chronic conditions that differed from age- and sex- matched non-AF patients. The network-based identification of highly co-morbid diseases in AF can improve our understanding of AF-related chronic conditions and potentially enhance prioritization and a personalized care for older patients with AF.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – EU funding. Main funding source(s): European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme

[Standardized diagnosis and treatment of undifferentiated connective tissue disease and mixed connective tissue disease]

Undifferentiated connective tissue disease (CTD) usually refers to patients who are presented with certain symptoms and signs related to CTD, and positive serological evidence of autoimmune diseases but don't fulfill any of the classification criteria for a certain CTD. Mixed CTD refers to patients who are presented with one or more clinical manifestations such as hand swelling, synovitis, myositis, Raynaud's phenomenon, and acrosclerosis. Patients with mixed CTD always have high-titer anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) of speckled pattern and high-titer anti-U₁ ribonuclear protein (RNP) antibody in serum, while with negative anti-Sm antibody. The update of diagnosis and treatment of undifferentiated CTD and mixed CTD lags behind other established CTD. There is a lack of evidence from randomized controlled trials or guidelines/recommendations on the treatment of undifferentiated CTD or mixed CTD. At present, the conventional therapy is mainly adopted according to the specific clinical manifestations of the disease. The standardized diagnosis and treatment of undifferentiated CTD and mixed CTD were drafted by the Chinese Rheumatology Association based on the previous guidelines and the progress of available evidence, so as to improve the management of these patients in China.

Asymmetric multifunctionalization of alkynes via photo-irradiated organocatalysis

Alkynes represent a family of pivotal and sustainable feedstocks for various industries such as pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and materials, and they are widely used as important starting materials for the production of a broad range of chemical entities. Nevertheless, efficient structural elaborations of alkynes in chemical synthesis, especially asymmetric multifunctionalization of alkynes, remain largely unexplored. It is thus imperative to develop new asymmetric synthetic approaches, making use of these richly available chemical feedstocks, and enabling their conversion to value-added chiral molecules. Here, we disclose our findings on highly enantioselective multifunctionalization of alkynes by merging photochemistry and chiral phosphoric acid catalysis. Our reported one-pot synthetic protocol is applicable to all types of alkyne substrates, incorporating all three reactants in a fully atom-economic fashion to produce optically enriched tetrasubstituted triaryl- and diarylmethanes, important structural scaffolds in medicinal chemistry and biological sciences.

Therapeutic efficacy of human adipose mesenchymal stem cells in Crohn's colon fibrosis is improved by IFN-γ and kynurenic acid priming through indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1 signaling

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic relapsing-remitting inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that are typically categorized into two subtypes: Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Although MSCs therapy has achieved encouraging outcomes in IBD therapy, objective responses are limited in colon fibrosis stenosis owing to the complicated microenvironment of CD and MSCs heterogeneity of quality. Here, we chose IFN-γ and kynurenic acid (KYNA) to overcome the low response and heterogeneity of human adipose-derived MSCs (hADSCs) to treat IBD and expand the therapeutic effects based on the excellent ability of IFN-γ and KYNA to promote indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1 (IDO-1) signaling, providing a potential protocol to treat IBD and fibrosis disease.

METHODS

hADSCs were isolated, cultured, and identified from human abdominal adipose tissue. The CD pathology-like acute colitis and chronic colon fibrosis rat model was induced by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzen sulfonic acid (TNBS). hADSCs were pretreated in vitro with IFN-γ and KYNA and then were transplanted intravenously at day 1 and 3 of TNBS administration in colitis along with at day 1, 15, and 29 of TNBS administration in chronic colonic fibrosis. Therapeutic efficacy was evaluated by body weights, disease activity index, pathological staining, real-time PCR, Western blot, and flow cytometry. For knockout of IDO-1, hADSCs were transfected with IDO-1-targeting small gRNA carried on a CRISPR-Cas9-lentivirus vector.

RESULTS

hADSCs treated with IFN-γ and KYNA significantly upregulated the expression and secretion of IDO-1, which has effectively ameliorated CD pathology-like colitis injury and fibrosis. Notably, the ability of hADSCs with IDO-1 knockout to treat colitis was significantly impaired and diminished the protective effects of the primed hADSCs with IFN-γ and KYNA.

CONCLUSION

Inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ- and KYNA-treated hADSCs more effectively alleviate TNBS-induced colitis and colonic fibrosis through an IDO-1-dependent manner. Primed hADSCs are a promising new strategy to improve the therapeutic efficacy of MSCs and worth further research.

A Review on 3D Zinc Anodes for Zinc Ion Batteries

Zinc ion batteries (ZIBs) have been gradually developed in recent years due to their abundant resources, low cost, and environmental friendliness. Therefore, ZIBs have received a great deal of attention from researchers, which are considered as the next generation of portable energy storage systems. However, poor overall performance of ZIBs restricts their development, which is attributed to zinc dendrites and a series of side reactions. Constructing 3D zinc anodes has proven to be an effective way to significantly improve their electrochemical performance. In this review, the challenges of zinc anodes in ZIBs, including zinc dendrites, hydrogen evolution and corrosion, as well as passivation, are comprehensively summarized and the energy storage mechanisms of the zinc anodes and 3D zinc anodes are discussed. 3D zinc anodes with different structures including fiberous, porous, ridge-like structures, plated zinc anodes on different substrates and other 3D zinc anodes, are subsequently discussed in detail. Finally, emerging opportunities and perspectives on the material design of 3D zinc anodes are highlighted and challenges that need to be solved in future practical applications are discussed, hopefully illuminating the way forward for the development of ZIBs.

First Measurement of the Z→μ^{+}μ^{-} Angular Coefficients in the Forward Region of pp Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV

The first study of the angular distribution of μ^{+}μ^{-} pairs produced in the forward rapidity region via the Drell-Yan reaction pp→γ^{*}/Z+X→ℓ^{+}ℓ^{-}+X is presented, using data collected with the LHCb detector at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.1  fb^{-1}. The coefficients of the five leading terms in the angular distribution are determined as a function of the dimuon transverse momentum and rapidity. The results are compared to various theoretical predictions of the Z-boson production mechanism and can also be used to probe transverse-momentum-dependent parton distributions within the proton.

Image Compression Using Stochastic-AFD Based Multisignal Sparse Representation

Adaptive Fourier decomposition (AFD) is a newly developed signal processing tool that can adaptively decompose any single signal using a Szegö kernel dictionary. To process multiple signals, a novel stochastic-AFD (SAFD) theory was recently proposed. The innovation of this study is twofold. First, a SAFD-based general multi-signal sparse representation learning algorithm is designed and implemented for the first time in the literature, which can be used in many signal and image processing areas. Second, a novel SAFD based image compression framework is proposed. The algorithm design and implementation of the SAFD theory and image compression methods are presented in detail. The proposed compression methods are compared with 13 other state-of-the-art compression methods, including JPEG, JPEG2000, BPG, and other popular deep learning-based methods. The experimental results show that our methods achieve the best balanced performance. The proposed methods are based on single image adaptive sparse representation learning, and they require no pre-training. In addition, the decompression quality or compression efficiency can be easily adjusted by a single parameter, that is, the decomposition level. Our method is supported by a solid mathematical foundation, which has the potential to become a new core technology in image compression.

Comprehensive bioinformatic analysis of MMP1 in hepatocellular carcinoma and establishment of relevant prognostic model

Matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1) encodes endopeptidases associated with degradation of multiple components of the extracellular matrix. This function has increasingly been considered to play a major proteolysis role in tumor invasion and metastasis. However, the relationship between MMP1 gene expression, tumor-immune microenvironment and prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma patients remains mostly unclear. This study focused on a comprehensive analysis of MMP1 in hepatocellular carcinoma, specifically the prognosis and tumor-immune microenvironment. MMP1 expression was analyzed using TCGA database and clinical samples. MMP1 associated mechanisms, pathways, mutations and prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma were evaluated. We also analyzed the tumor-immune microenvironment and corresponding treatments. Our research demonstrated that MMP1 expression was upregulated in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and correlated with poor survival. A prognostic model was established and its performance evaluated. We also found and report various correlations between MMP1 and immune-related cells/genes, as well the potential therapeutic agents. These findings indicate that MMP1 can potentially be a promising prognostic biomarker and indicator of the tumor-immune microenvironment status in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Profiling of d-alanine production by the microbial isolates of rat gut microbiota

d-alanine (d-Ala) and several other d-amino acids (d-AAs) act as hormones and neuromodulators in nervous and endocrine systems. Unlike the endogenously synthesized d-serine in animals, d-Ala may be from exogenous sources, e.g., diet and intestinal microorganisms. However, it is unclear if the capability to produce d-Ala and other d-AAs varies among different microbial strains in the gut. We isolated individual microorganisms of rat gut microbiota and profiled their d-AA production in vitro, focusing on d-Ala. Serial dilutions of intestinal contents from adult male rats were plated on agar to obtain clonal cultures. Using MALDI-TOF MS for rapid strain typing, we identified 38 unique isolates, grouped into 11 species based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. We then used two-tier screening to profile bacterial d-AA production, combining a d-amino acid oxidase-based enzymatic assay for rapid assessment of non-acidic d-AA amount and chiral LC-MS/MS to quantify individual d-AAs, revealing 19 out of the 38 isolated strains as d-AA producers. LC-MS/MS analysis of the eight top d-AA producers showed high levels of d-Ala in all strains tested, with substantial inter- and intra-species variations. Though results from the enzymatic assay and LC-MS/MS analysis aligned well, LC-MS/MS further revealed the existence of d-glutamate and d-aspartate, which are poor substrates for this enzymatic assay. We observed large inter- and intra-species variation of d-AA production profiles from rat gut microbiome species, demonstrating the importance of chemical profiling of gut microbiota in addition to sequencing, furthering the idea that microbial metabolites modulate host physiology.

Elevated islet prohormone ratios as indicators of insulin dependency in auto-islet transplant recipients

Pancreatic islet transplantation has therapeutic potential in type 1 diabetes and is also an established therapy in chronic pancreatitis. However, the long-term transplant outcomes are modest. Identifying indicators of graft function will aid the preservation of transplanted islets and glycemic control. We analyzed beta cell prohormone peptide levels in a retrospective cohort of total pancreatectomy autologous islet transplant patients (n = 28). Proinsulin-to-C-peptide (PI/C) and proIAPP-to-total IAPP (proIAPP/IAPP) ratios measured at 3 months post-transplant were significantly higher in patients who remained insulin dependent at 1 year follow-up. In an immuno-deficient mouse model of human islet transplantation, recipient mice that later became hyperglycemic displayed significantly higher PI/C ratios than mice that remained normoglycemic. Histological analysis of islet grafts showed reduced proportional insulin- and proinsulin-positive area, but elevated glucagon-positive area in grafts that experienced greater secretory demand. Increased prohormone convertase 1/3 was detected in glucagon-positive cells, and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) area was elevated in grafts from mice that displayed hyperglycemia or elevated plasma PI/C ratios, demonstrating intra-islet incretin production in metabolically challenged human islet grafts. These data indicate that in failing grafts, alpha cell prohormone processing is likely altered, and incomplete beta cell prohormone processing may be an early indicator of insulin dependency.

A nomogram for predicting overall survival in patients with follicular thyroid cancer after thyroidectomy: a SEER database analysis

Background

A good predictive model requires patient participation in prognostic counseling and subsequent clinical follow-up. We aimed to construct and validate a nomogram for predicting overall survival (OS) in patients with follicular thyroid cancer (FTC) after thyroidectomy.

Methods

This was a retrospective observational study. We screened 802 patients with initially diagnosed FTC from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database between 2010 and 2015. Then the patients were all divided into the training set and validation set randomly at a ratio of 7:3. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were used to analyze the influence of different variables on OS. The concordance index (C-index) and calibration curves were used to evaluate the precision of the nomogram.

Results

Univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated that four factors, namely age, grade, race, and M stage (all P<0.05), were independent predictors of OS in FTC patients. Based on these factors, a predictive model was established by using the training cohort and validated by the validation cohort. A good consistency between the actual OS and predicted OS was showed by the calibration curves. Moreover, compared with the traditional tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging system, the nomogram had better predictive ability for the survival of patients with FTC. The C-index of the nomogram in the training set and validation set had high consistency in evaluating the survival rate of patients with FTC [training set: C-index =0.904, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.883–0.925; validation set: C-index =0.835, 95% CI: 0.772–0.898; TNM: C-index =0.775, 95% CI: 0.732–0.818].

Conclusions

Based on several clinical variables, we established the first predictive model of FTC after thyroidectomy by using Cox multivariate analysis which provide a basis for each patient with prognosis and postoperative follow-up.

Targeted demethylation of the SLC5A7 promotor inhibits colorectal cancer progression

Background

SLC5A7 (solute carrier family 5 member 7), also known as choline transporter 1 (CHT1), is downregulated in colorectal cancer (CRC) and functions as a tumor suppressor. However, the mechanisms underlying the inactivation of SLC5A7 in CRC remain to be elucidated.

Results

In the present study, two broad-spectrum demethylation agents (azacitidine and decitabine) employed to treat CRC cells significantly upregulated SLC5A7 expression. Further results based on the CRC cohort and TCGA database indicated that SLC5A7 promoter methylation inversely correlated with SLC5A7 expression, and the status of SLC5A7 promotor methylation showed a promising prognostic value for patients with CRC. Next, the dCas9-multiGCN4/scFv-TET1CD-based precision demethylation system was constructed, which could significantly and specifically promote SLC5A7 expression in CRC cells through sgRNA targeting the SLC5A7 promoter. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that targeted demethylation of SLC5A7 by dCas9-multiGCN4/scFv-TET1CD-sgSLC5A7 inhibited tumor growth by stabilizing p53 and regulating downstream targets.

Conclusions

Collectively, DNA promoter methylation caused inactivation of SLC5A7 in CRC, and targeted demethylation of SLC5A7 might be a therapeutic target for CRC and other cancers.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13148-022-01308-5.

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma associated immune-gene signature as a novo risk factor for clinical prognosis prediction in hepatocellular carcinoma

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) has high mortality and a very poor prognosis. Both surgery and chemotherapy have a suboptimal therapeutic effect, and this caused a need to find new approaches such as immunotherapy. Therefore, it is essential to develop a new model to predict patient prognosis and facilitate early intervention. Our study screened out and validated the target molecules based on the TCGA-PAAD dataset. We established the risk signature using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis and used GSE62452 and GSE28735 to verify the accuracy and reliability of the model. Expanded application of PAAD-immune-related genes signature (-IRGS) on other datasets was conducted, and the corresponding nomograms were constructed. We also analyzed the correlation between immune-related cells/genes and potential treatments. Our research demonstrated that a high riskscore of PAAD-IRGS in patients with PAAD was correlated with poor overall survival, disease-specific survival and progression free interval. The same results were observed in patients with LIHC. The models constructed were confirmed to be accurate and reliable. We found various correlations between PAAD-IRGS and immune-related cells/genes, and the potential therapeutic agents. These findings indicate that PAAD-IRGS may be a promising indicator for prognosis and of the tumor-immune microenvironment status in PAAD.

In Situ Construction of a Liquid Film Interface with Fast Ion Transport for Solid Sodium-Ion Batteries

Solid sodium-ion batteries (SSIBs) are considered as one of the promising energy storage systems because of their high safety and high energy density. However, the sodium metal anode presents poor wettability with a solid electrolyte, resulting in high interface impedance and dendrite growth, which severely limits their application in practice. Herein, a novel liquid film (Na-BP) interface is constructed between sodium and solid electrolyte (Na₃Hf₂Si₂PO₁₂) with an excellent kinetic mass transfer ability and good fluidity, which could guarantee a close contact and fast charge transfer at interface. The symmetric cells with the designed interface show a high-rate and long-cycle performance and could cycle stably more than 1000 and 700 h at 0.2 and 0.5 mA cm^-2, respectively. The critical current density of the cells can reach 3.6 mA cm^-2 at room temperature, which is the highest value in similar works.

Identification of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Related Subtypes, Infiltration Analysis of Tumor Microenvironment, and Construction of a Prognostic Model in Colorectal Cancer

Simple Summary

Understanding how endoplasmic reticulum stress influences colorectal cancer progression and the composition of the tumor microenvironment is important for developing novel strategies in the treatment of colorectal cancer. In this study, we identified two endoplasmic reticulum stress-related subtypes of colorectal cancer with distinct prognosis and infiltration patterns in the tumor microenvironment. Besides, we constructed a prognostic model for predicting patients’ survival, which involved an endoplasmic reticulum stress-related 14-gene signature. Furthermore, by utilizing spatial transcriptomics data from two untreated colorectal cancer patients, we explored endoplasmic reticulum stress-related gene signatures at a subcellular level and found that colorectal cancer cells and regulatory T cells showed an evidently increased expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related gene signature, and cancer-associated fibroblasts might be the leading characteristic that distinguishes the endoplasmic reticulum stress-related subtypes of colorectal cancer. We suggest that targeting endoplasmic reticulum stress in colorectal cancer might reshape the exhausted tumor microenvironment and mitigate tumor progression.

Abstract

Recently, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been shown to influence tumor progression and immune cell function in the tumor microenvironment (TME). However, the underlying role of ER stress-related gene patterns in colorectal cancer (CRC) development remains unclear. We analyzed the ER stress-related gene patterns in 884 patients with CRC from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and evaluated the cell-infiltrating patterns in the TME. Two ER stress-related patterns were identified in patients with CRC that had distinct cell-infiltrating patterns in the TME and clinical characteristics. A risk score and nomogram based on 14 screened prognosis-correlated genes was built and validated to predict patient survival. Patients with a higher risk score were shown to have an unfavorable prognosis, and the risk score was associated with cell infiltration and drug sensitivity. Furthermore, spatial transcriptomics data were utilized to explore ER stress-related gene patterns in CRC tissues, and it was shown that ER stress phenotype involves in the formation of the immunosuppressive TME. This study demonstrated that ER stress-related gene patterns play a role in influencing the TME and predicting prognosis. These analyses of ER stress in the TME of CRC might deepen our understanding of CRC progression and immune escape and provide novel insights into therapeutic strategies.

ANGPTL4 Regulates Psoriasis via Modulating Hyperproliferation and Inflammation of Keratinocytes

Background: Psoriasis is characterized by keratinocyte proliferation and massive inflammatory leukocytes infiltration, affecting 0.14%–1.99% of the world’s population. Our aim was to identify novel potential therapeutic strategies for psoriasis.

Methods: Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed to identify gene modules that were closely related to psoriasis based on the GSE30999 dataset, which contained expression data from 85 patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis. Then, angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4), one of the most related hub genes, was selected for in vitro and in vivo functional assays. In our experiments, imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasiform dermatitis in mice and human keratinocytes (HaCaT) cells were used to study the potential roles and mechanisms of ANGPTL4 in psoriasis.

Results: WGCNA analysis revealed the turquoise module was most correlated with psoriasis, and ANGPTL4 is one of the most related hub genes that significantly upregulated in psoriasis lesions compared with non-lesional skin. Consistent with the bioinformatic analysis, the expression of ANGPTL4 was significantly upregulated in IMQ-induced psoriasiform skin of mice. Exogenous recombinant ANGPLT4 protein treatment could promote the proliferation and induce the expression of inflammatory cytokines in HaCaTs, whereas silencing of ANGPTL4 effectively inhibited these effects. Then we demonstrated that recombinant ANGPTL4 protein exacerbated psoriasiform inflammation and epidermal hyperproliferation in vivo. Mechanismly, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathways were involved in ANGPTL4-mediated regulation of proliferation and inflammation.

Conclusion: We found ANGPTL4 was significantly increased in IMQ-induced psoriasiform skin of mice. ANGPTL4 could promote keratinocyte proliferation and inflammatory response via ERK1/2 and STAT3 dependent signaling pathways in psoriasis.

Designing a Novel Electrolyte Na3.2 Hf2 Si2.2 P0.8 O11.85 F0.3 for All-Solid-State Na-O2 Batteries

Sodium-air battery has great development potential due to its high energy density and high safety. However, most previous works are based on liquid electrolyte or polymer electrolyte, which will inevitably result in safety hazards such as electrolyte leakage and sodium dendrite growth. Herein, an all-solid-state Na-O₂ battery based on a well-designed NASICON-type electrolyte Na_3.2 Hf₂ Si_2.2 P_0.8 O_11.85 F_0.3 , which has high ionic conductivity (2.39 × 10^-3 S cm^-1 ) and excellent chemical stability, is developed. Collaborating with the reasonable humidity of the atmosphere, the battery shows good cycle stability. This research demonstrates that NASICON-type electrolyte Na_3.2 Hf₂ Si_2.2 P_0.8 O_11.85 F_0.3 has good application potential for all-solid-state Na-O₂ batteries and lays a solid foundation on the material preparation and optimization for developing high-energy sodium-air batteries.

Transcriptomics and Network Pharmacology Reveal the Protective Effect of Chaiqin Chengqi Decoction on Obesity-Related Alcohol-Induced Acute Pancreatitis via Oxidative Stress and PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway

Obesity-related acute pancreatitis (AP) is characterized by increasing prevalence worldwide and worse clinical outcomes compared to AP of other etiologies. Chaiqin chengqi decoction (CQCQD), a Chinese herbal formula, has long been used for the clinical management of AP but its therapeutic actions and the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. This study has investigated the pharmacological mechanisms of CQCQD in a novel mouse model of obesity-related alcohol-induced AP (OA-AP). The mouse OA-AP model was induced by a high-fat diet for 12 weeks and subsequently two intraperitoneal injections of ethanol, CQCQD was administered 2 h after the first injection of ethanol. The severity of OA-AP was assessed and correlated with changes in transcriptomic profiles and network pharmacology in the pancreatic and adipose tissues, and further docking analysis modeled the interactions between compounds of CQCQD and their key targets. The results showed that CQCQD significantly reduced pancreatic necrosis, alleviated systemic inflammation, and decreased the parameters associated with multi-organ dysfunction. Transcriptomics and network pharmacology analysis, as well as further experimental validation, have shown that CQCQD induced Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant protein response and decreased Akt phosphorylation in the pancreatic and adipose tissues. In vitro, CQCQD protected freshly isolated pancreatic acinar cells from H₂O₂-elicited oxidative stress and necrotic cell death. The docking results of AKT1 and the active compounds related to AKT1 in CQCQD showed high binding affinity. In conclusion, CQCQD ameliorates the severity of OA-AP by activating of the antioxidant protein response and down-regulating of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in the pancreas and visceral adipose tissue.

Study of the doubly charmed tetraquark [Formula: see text]

Quantum chromodynamics, the theory of the strong force, describes interactions of coloured quarks and gluons and the formation of hadronic matter. Conventional hadronic matter consists of baryons and mesons made of three quarks and quark-antiquark pairs, respectively. Particles with an alternative quark content are known as exotic states. Here a study is reported of an exotic narrow state in the D0D0π+ mass spectrum just below the D*+D0 mass threshold produced in proton-proton collisions collected with the LHCb detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The state is consistent with the ground isoscalar [Formula: see text] tetraquark with a quark content of [Formula: see text] and spin-parity quantum numbers JP = 1+. Study of the DD mass spectra disfavours interpretation of the resonance as the isovector state. The decay structure via intermediate off-shell D*+ mesons is consistent with the observed D0π+ mass distribution. To analyse the mass of the resonance and its coupling to the D*D system, a dedicated model is developed under the assumption of an isoscalar axial-vector [Formula: see text] state decaying to the D*D channel. Using this model, resonance parameters including the pole position, scattering length, effective range and compositeness are determined to reveal important information about the nature of the [Formula: see text] state. In addition, an unexpected dependence of the production rate on track multiplicity is observed.