Simultaneous determination of heavy metal concentrations and toxicities by diffusive gradient in thin films containing Acinetobacter whole-cell bioreporters (Bio-DGT)

Heavy metal contaminations may cause severe toxic impacts to ecological systems and human health. Measurements of metals' bioavailable concentrations and toxicities simultaneously and in-situ in environments can advance the understanding of their hazardous effects. The diffusive gradients in thin-films (DGT) is an in-situ technique can measure metal speciation and labile concentrations, but cannot yet provide the direct toxicity information. The whole-cell bioreporter Acinetobacter baylyi ADPWH_recA was successfully incorporated into the DGT device to develop a novel technique, Bio-DGT, for assessing the toxicity of metals at the same time of measuring their labile concentrations. The bioassay used in Bio-DGT can sense the mixture toxicity from multiple contaminants and the DGT can assist in identifying which toxicants may be causing the toxicity. Cadmium was used as the model metal to test the performance of Bio-DGT in waters and soils. The masses of Cd accumulated in Bio-DGT increased linearly and theoretically with time for 7 days deployment, indicating little influences from bioreporter cells on DGT performance. A positive relationship between bioluminescent signals towards Cd demonstrated the sensitive and active bioreporters' response. The sensitive of Bio-DGT, indicated by Cd concentrations causing the response, is 0.01 mg/L. The stable response from Bio-DGT under various conditions (pH 4-8, ionic strengths 0.01-0.5 M) and 30 days storage time suggest the applicability of the technique in real environments. The deployment of Bio-DGT in contaminated soils demonstrated that Cd toxicity was regulated by labile concentration, showing its potential application for the risk assessment of heavy metal contaminations, and its further feasibility in using Bio-DGT for measuring integration of multiple contaminants' effects and simultaneously determine the main toxicity driver(s).

Enhanced phosphate removal from water by hydrated neodymium oxide-based nanocomposite: Performance, mechanism, and validation

Phosphorus (P) control has been recognized as an imperative task to mitigate water eutrophication and settle the imminent shortage of P resources. Despite intensive effort put into this matter, it is still generally challenging for the current methods to remove and even potentially recover phosphorus (as phosphate) from complicated water matrices. To this end, we proposed a novel nanocomposite via coupling polystyrene anion exchanger (PsAX) with hydrated neodymium oxide (HNdO) nanoparticle for selective removal of phosphate. The developed nanocomposite, i.e., HNdO-PsAX, exhibited quite stable and efficient phosphate adsorption over a wide pH range of 3.0-10.0 with the maximum adsorption capacity as 85.4 mg P/g. It also showed satisfied anti-interference against various competing substances; notably, HNdO-PsAX obviously outperformed Phoslock, a commercial lanthanum-based adsorbent exclusively for phosphate sequestration, particularly under the interference of bicarbonate and humic acid, which were admitted as the paralyzing factors for Phoslock. The superior affinity of HNdO-PsAX towards phosphate, driven by the specific Nd-P inner-sphere complexation as evidenced by XPS, FT-IR, and the lattice evolution of HNdO nanoparticle, renders the nanocomposite eminently suitable for sequestrating trace phosphate. Fixed-bed treatment validated that HNdO-PsAX was capable of treating ∼11,800 bed volume of a simulated wastewater (from 2.0 to below 0.5 mg P/L), approximately 12 times higher than that of the previously reported Fe-based nanocomposite (HFO-PsAX, ∼ 900 BV); also, a satisfactory outcome in treating authentic municipal wastewater by HNdO-PsAX and the feasibility of regenerating the exhausted one by a binary NaOH-NaCl solution were recognized. This work provides a new potion of enhanced phosphorous control for surface water and wastewater.

Cold stress induces malformed tomato fruits by breaking the feedback loops of stem cell regulation in floral meristem

Fruit malformation is a major constrain in fruit production worldwide resulting in substantial economic losses. The farmers for decades noticed that the chilling temperature before blooming often caused malformed fruits. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this phenomenon is unclear. Here we examined the fruit development in response to cold stress in tomato, and demonstrated that short-term cold stress increased the callose accumulation in both shoot apical and floral meristems, resulting in the symplastic isolation and altered intercellular movement of WUS. In contrast to the rapidly restored SlWUS transcription during the recovery from cold stress, the callose removal was delayed due to obstructed plasmodesmata. The delayed reinstatement of cell-to-cell transport of SlWUS prevented the activation of SlCLV3 and TAG1, causing the interrupted feedback inhibition of SlWUS expression, leading to the expanded stem cell population and malformed fruits. We further showed that the callose dynamics in response to short-term cold stress presumably exploits the mechanism of bud dormancy during the seasonal growth, involving two antagonistic hormones, abscisic acid and gibberellin. Our results provide a novel insight into the cold stress regulated malformation of fruit.

MiRNA-206 Affects the Recovery of Sciatic Function by Stimulating BDNF Activity through the Down-regulation of Notch3 Expression

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects and mechanisms of microRNA 206 (miRNA-206) on neurological recovery through Notch receptor 3 (Notch3).

METHODS

The sciatic functional index (SFI), nerve conduction velocity (NCV), tricipital muscle wet weight (TWW) and cross-sectional area of the muscular fiber, and grip strength of posterior limbs were detected by establishing a model of the sciatic nerve to evaluate the effect of sciatic nerve injury model. miRNA-206 expression in the model was detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), to regulate the effects of miRNA-206 on the proliferation of gastrocnemius myocytes by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8).

RESULTS

SFI of the model established by immediate epineurium suture after sciatic nerve resection was in the range of -150% to -100% and TWW, the average area of gastrocnemius myocytes, the NCV, and the grasping power of the hind limbs in the model were all lower than those in the normal group. And in the model, TWW, the average area of gastrocnemius myocytes, NCV, and grip strength of posterior limbs were lower in the normal group, which verified the successful establishment of the model.

CONCLUSION

Over-expression of miRNA-206 can down-regulate Notch3 expression, and then stimulate brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) activity to promote the repair and functional recovery of sciatic nerve injury.

Folate shapes plant root architecture by affecting auxin distribution

Folate (vitamin B9) is important for plant root development, but the mechanism is largely unknown. Here we characterized a root defective mutant, folb2, in Arabidopsis, which has severe developmental defects in the primary root. The root apical meristem of the folb2 mutant is impaired, and adventitious roots are frequently found at the root-hypocotyl junction. Positional cloning revealed that a 61-bp deletion is present in the predicted junction region of the promoter and the 5' untranslated region of AtFolB2, a gene encoding a dihydroneopterin aldolase that functions in folate biosynthesis. This mutation leads to a significant reduction in the transcript level of AtFolB2. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis showed that the contents of the selected folate compounds were decreased in folb2. Arabidopsis AtFolB2 knockdown lines phenocopy the folb2 mutant. On the other hand, the application of exogenous 5-formyltetrahydrofolic acid could rescue the root phenotype of folb2, indicating that the root phenotype is indeed related to the folate level. Further analysis revealed that folate could promote rootward auxin transport through auxin transporters and that folate may affect particular auxin/indole-3-acetic acid proteins and auxin response factors. Our findings provide new insights into the important role of folic acid in shaping root structure.

A HD-ZIP transcription factor specifies fates of multicellular trichomes via dosage-dependent mechanisms in tomato

Hair-like structures are shared by most living organisms. The hairs on plant surfaces, commonly referred to as trichomes, form diverse types to sense and protect against various stresses. However, it is unclear how trichomes differentiate into highly variable forms. Here, we show that a homeodomain leucine zipper (HD-ZIP) transcription factor named Woolly controls the fates of distinct trichomes in tomato via a dosage-dependent mechanism. The autocatalytic reinforcement of Woolly is counteracted by an autoregulatory negative feedback loop, creating a circuit with a high or low Woolly level. This biases the transcriptional activation of separate antagonistic cascades that lead to different trichome types. Our results identify the developmental switch of trichome formation and provide mechanistic insights into the progressive fate specification in plants, as well as a path to enhancing plant stress resistance and the production of beneficial chemicals.

Error analysis and realization of a phase-modulated diffraction grating used as a displacement sensor

A grating-based interferometric cavity produces coherent diffraction light field in a compact size, serving as a promising candidate for displacement measurement by taking advantage of both high integration and high accuracy. Phase-modulated diffraction gratings (PMDGs) make use of a combination of diffractive optical elements, allowing for the diminishment of zeroth-order reflected beams and thus improving the energy utilization coefficient and sensitivity of grating-based displacement measurements. However, conventional PMDGs with submicron-scale features usually require demanding micromachining processes, posing a significant challenge to manufacturability. Involving a four-region PMDG, this paper establishes a hybrid error model including etching error and coating error, thus providing a quantitative analysis of the relation between the errors and optical responses. The hybrid error model and the designated process-tolerant grating are experimentally verified by micromachining and grating-based displacement measurements using an 850 nm laser, confirming the validity and effectiveness. It is found the PMDG achieves an energy utilization coefficient (the ratio of the peak-to-peak value of the ±1st order beams to the 0th-order beam) improvement of nearly 500% and a four-fold reduction in 0th-order beam intensity compared with the traditional amplitude grating. More importantly, this PMDG maintains very tolerant process requirements, and the etching error and coating error can be up to 0.5 µm and 0.6 µm, respectively. This offers attractive alternatives to the fabrication of PMDGs and grating-based devices with wide process compatibility. This work first systematically investigates the influence of fabrication errors and identifies the interplay between the errors and the optical response for PMDGs. The hybrid error model allows further avenues for the fabrication of diffraction elements with practical limitations of micromachining fabrication.

Physical- and Chemical-Dually ROS-Responsive Nano-in-Gel Platforms with Sequential Release of OX40 Agonist and PD-1 Inhibitor for Augmented Combination Immunotherapy

Combination immunotherapy synergizing the PD-1 blockade with OX40 agonism has become a research hotspot, due to its enormous potential to overcome the restricted clinical objective response suffered by monotherapy. Questions of timing and sequence have been important aspects of immunotherapies when considering immunologic mechanisms; however, most of the time the straightforward additive approach was taken. Herein, our work is the first to investigate an alternative timing of aOX40 and aPD-1 treatment in melanoma-bearing mice, and it demonstrates that sequential administration (aOX40 first, then aPD-1 following) provided superior antitumor benefits than concurrent treatment. Based on that, to further avoid the limits suffered by solution forms, we adopted pharmaceutical technologies to construct an in situ-formed physical- and chemical-dually ROS-responsive nano-in-gel platform to implement sequential and prolonged release of aPD-1 and aOX40. Equipped with these advantages, the as-prepared (aPD-1NCs&aOX40)@Gels elicited augmented combination immunity and achieved great eradication of both primary and distant melanoma tumors in vivo.

Effectiveness of telehealth interventions on psychological outcomes and quality of life in community adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Physical distancing and contact restrictions have been implemented in most countries and territories due to the rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2. This has caused physical, emotional, and psychological distress for adults living in the community. Diversified telehealth interventions have been widely applied in health care and have proven to be cost-effective and well accepted by patients and health professionals. Currently, the effectiveness of telehealth interventions on psychological outcomes and quality of life among community adults during the COVID-19 pandemic remains unclear. A literature search was conducted using PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library from 2019 to October 2022. Twenty-five randomized controlled trials with 3228 subjects were finally included in this review. Two independent reviewers performed the screening, extraction of key data points, and appraisal of the methodological quality. There were positive effects of telehealth interventions on anxiety, stress, loneliness, and well-being among community adults. Participants who were women or older adults were more likely to recover from negative emotions, increase well-being, and improve quality of life. The real-time and interactive interventions and remote cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) may be better choices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the findings of this review, health professionals have more options and alternatives for delivering telehealth interventions in the future. Rigorously designed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with higher statistical power and long-term follow-up should be conducted in the future to strengthen the currently weak evidence.

Studying the Organization of the Actin Cytoskeleton in the Multicellular Trichomes of Tomato

Trichomes are unique polarized cells of the plant epidermis that provide an excellent model system for studying the plant cytoskeleton. Unlike Arabidopsis trichomes that are unicellular with a typical three-branch shape, the trichomes in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) are multicellular with additional morphology and function diversity. Technically, it is hard to image tomato trichomes at the subcellular level because of their size and because they can be easily damaged. Here, we describe the methods we have used for the visualization and quantification of cytoskeletal arrangements in tomato trichomes which are at different developmental stages, using both live-cell imaging and phalloidin staining after fixation.

MoLrp1-mediated signaling induces nuclear accumulation of MoMsn2 to facilitate fatty acid oxidation for infectious growth of the rice blast fungus

Fatty acid β-oxidation is critical for fatty acid degradation and cellular development. In the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, fatty acid β-oxidation is reported to be important mainly for turgor generation in the appressorium. However, the role of fatty acid β-oxidation during invasive hyphal growth is rarely documented. We demonstrated that blocking peroxisomal fatty acid β-oxidation impaired lipid droplet (LD) degradation and infectious growth of M. oryzae. We found that the key regulator of pathogenesis, MoMsn2, which we identified previously, is involved in fatty acid β-oxidation by targeting MoDCI1 (encoding dienoyl-coenzyme A [CoA] isomerase), which is also important for LD degradation and infectious growth. Cytological observations revealed that MoMsn2 accumulated from the cytosol to the nucleus during early infection or upon treatment with oleate. We determined that the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein MoLrp1, which is also involved in fatty acid β-oxidation and infectious growth, plays a critical role in the accumulation of MoMsn2 from the cytosol to the nucleus by activating the cyclic AMP signaling pathway. Our results provide new insights into the importance of fatty acid oxidation during invasive hyphal growth, which is modulated by MoMsn2 and its related signaling pathways in M. oryzae.

[Femtosecond laser-assisted open astigmatic keratotomy versus non-open astigmatic keratotomy for astigmatism correction in cataract surgery]

Objective: To compare the effects of femtosecond laser-assisted astigmatic keratotomy (FSAK) with and without a manual opening for correction of low to moderate corneal astigmatism at the time of cataract surgery. Methods: It was a prospective cohort study. Patients undergoing cataract surgery from June 2021 to June 2022 at the Army Specialty Medical Center were consecutively enrolled. To correct low to moderate astigmatism, they had combined FSAK with the corneal epithelium manually opened or not according to their own decisions. Pentacam HR corneal topography was performed at 3 months after surgery. The main indicators were target induced astigmatism, surgically induced astigmatism, difference vector, correction index and angle of error. The independent samples t-test was used for continuous variables conforming to a normal distribution, the Mann-Whitney U-test for those not conforming to a normal distribution, and the Chi-square test for categorical variables. Results: There were 51 patients (61 eyes), including 27 patients (31 eyes) receiving combined open FSAK and 24 patients (30 eyes) with non-open keratotomy. No statistical difference was found between the two groups of patients in terms of age, gender and mean follow-up time (P>0.05). The target induced astigmatism was 1.10(0.80, 1.50) D in patients with open keratotomy and 1.30(0.98, 1.73) D in patients with non-open keratotomy (Z=1.729, P=0.084). The surgically induced astigmatism was 0.70 (0.59, 1.25) D and 0.42 (0.20, 0.66) D (Z=-3.571, P<0.001), the difference vector was (0.51±0.31) D and (1.21±0.44) D (t=-7.238, P<0.001), the correction index was 0.78±0.32 and 0.38±0.25 (t=5.386, P<0.001), and the angle of error was -1.08°±10.76° and 5.93°±46.98° (t=0.809, P=0.422) in the two groups, respectively. Conclusion: Open FSAK can achieve better astigmatism correction and less postoperative residual astigmatism than non-open FSAK in cataract surgery.

CDC42 Might Be a Molecular Signature of DWI-FLAIR Mismatch in a Nonhuman Primate Stroke Model

No definitive blood markers of DWI-FLAIR mismatch, a pivotal indicator of salvageable ischemic penumbra brain tissue, are known. We previously reported that CDC42 and RHOA are associated with the ischemic penumbra. Here, we investigated whether plasma CDC42 and RHOA are surrogate markers of DWI-FLAIR mismatch. Sixteen cynomolgus macaques (3 as controls and 13 for the stroke model) were included. Guided by digital subtraction angiography (DSA), a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was established by occluding the middle cerebral artery (MCA) with a balloon. MRI and neurological deficit scoring were performed to evaluate postinfarction changes. Plasma CDC42 and RHOA levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The stroke model was successfully established in eight monkeys. Based on postinfarction MRI images, experimental animals were divided into a FLAIR (-) group (N = 4) and a FLAIR (+) group (N = 4). Plasma CDC42 in the FLAIR (-) group showed a significant decrease compared with that in the FLAIR (+) group (p < 0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed for plasma RHOA. The FLAIR (-) group showed a milder neurological function deficit and a smaller infarct volume than the FLAIR (+) group (p < 0.05). Therefore, plasma CDC42 might be a new surrogate marker for DWI-FLAIR mismatch.

Effect of exogenous galectin-9, a natural TIM-3 ligand, on the severity of TNBS- and DSS-induced colitis in mice

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a complex pathogenesis that is yet to be completely understood. However, a strong correlation between Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling and IBD has been observed. T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing-3 (Tim-3) has been reported to regulate TLR4/NF-κB by interacting with Galectin-9 (Gal-9), and recombinant Gal-9 can activate Tim-3; however, its potential properties in IBD and the underlying mechanism remain unclear. This study aimed to determine how Gal-9 affects experimental colitis in mice. Dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) and 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) were used to establish colitis in mice, and the severity of the illness was assessed based on body weight, colon length, and histology. Therefore, we explored the effects of Gal-9 treatment on colitis. Furthermore, we analyzed the effect of Gal-9 on the expression of Tim-3 and TLR4/NF-κB pathway in colonic tissues and the serum levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6. Tim-3 expression in the colon was notably decreased in mice with TNBS-induced colitis, whereas TLR4/NF-kB expression was significantly increased. Intraperitoneal injection of Gal-9 dramatically decreased the disease activity index and attenuated the level of intestinal mucosal inflammation in TNBS-induced colitis mice (p < 0.05). Intraperitoneal administration of Gal-9 significantly increased Tim-3 expression in the colon and decreased the serum concentrations of IFN-γ, IL-1β, and IL-6. Additionally, Gal-9 treatment significantly downregulated the expression of TLR4 signaling pathway-related proteins. In contrast, Gal-9 did not reduce the severity of DSS-induced colitis. In summary, exogenous Gal-9 increased Tim-3 expression, inhibited the TLR4/NF-κB pathway, and alleviated TNBS-induced colitis in mice but not DSS-induced colitis in mice, revealing its potential therapeutic ramifications for IBD.

Co-pyrolysis of biomass and phosphate tailing to produce potential phosphorus-rich biochar: efficient removal of heavy metals and the underlying mechanisms

Application of biochar to treat heavy metal polluted wastewater has received increasing attention; however, the immobilization ability of pristine biochar for metal ions is still limited. In this study, phosphate tailing was co-pyrolyzed with sawdust and peanut shell to acquire phosphorus-rich biochars with high removal rates for Cd, Zn, Pb, and Cu. Meanwhile, the improvement mechanisms by phosphate tailing were clarified by XRD, FTIR, SEM-EDS, BET-N₂, and model fitting. Results showed that after phosphate tailing impregnation, surface area of sawdust, and peanut shell biochars increased from to 11.6 m² g^-1, and from 43.5 to 53.4 m² g^-1, respectively. Functional groups of -COOH and CO₃^2- on biochar increased and the P₂O₇^4- newly generated. Besides, large amounts of Ca(PO₃)₂ and Ca₂P₂O₇ crystals were detected in biochar ash. As for sawdust biochar, loading of phosphate tailing raised the sorption rates of Cd, Zn, Pb, and Cu by 0.35, 0.61, 1.10, and 2.64 times, respectively, as for peanut shell biochar, it was raised by 0.12, 0.47, 0.11, and 1.98 times, respectively. The sorption isotherms by phosphate tailing-loaded biochars were better fitted to Langmuir (R² = 0.85-1.00) than Freundlich model (R² = 0.58-0.91). Heavy metals could bind with -OH and -COOH on phosphate tailing-loaded biochars, meanwhile generated phosphorus-rich precipitation with PO₃^- and P₂O₇⁴⁺, including Cd₂P₂O₇, Cd(PO₃)₂, Zn (PO₃)₂, Pb (PO₃)₂, Pb₂P₂O₇, Cu(PO₃)₂, and Cu₂P₂O₇. This study proposed an innovative method to produce phosphorus-rich biochars by loading phosphate tailing for highly efficient removal of heavy metals from water bodies, and also realized the resource utilization of phosphate tailing, which was of great significance to reduce environmental pollution.

Factors Influencing Self-Management of Schizophrenia: A Cross-Sectional Study

The purpose of the current study was to (a) understand the influencing factors of self-management in schizophrenia, (b) explore the relationship between social support and self-management, and (c) explore the intermediary role of coping modes between social support and self-management. From May to December 2020, a total of 320 community-dwelling persons with schizophrenia were recruited and completed self-report questionnaires. Spearman's correlation analysis was used to determine the relationship between the three variables and the bootstrap method was used to test the intermediary hypothesis. Results showed that 21.9% of persons with schizophrenia had low social support, 78.1% had medium social support, and convalescent persons with schizophrenia had high social support. Self-management was positively correlated with social support (r = 0.372, p < 0.05), confrontation coping mode (r = 0.576, p < 0.05), and avoidance coping mode (r = 0.204, p < 0.05), and negatively correlated with resignation coping mode (r = -0.057, p < 0.05). Confrontation and avoidance coping modes have a mediating effect between social support and self-management. Mental health nurses should understand the influence of social support and coping modes on self-management, and help persons with schizophrenia find social resources, build confidence, and confront the disorder positively. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 61(2), 19-26.].

FUT8-AS1/miR-944/Fused in Sarcoma/Transcription Factor 4 Feedback Loop Participates in the Development of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma through Activation of Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway

As a common type of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a lethal and deforming disease. Long noncoding RNAs have emerged as critical modulators in different malignancies. However, the role of fucosyltransferase 8 antisense RNA 1 (FUT8-AS1) in OSCC still remains elusive. In this study, quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot were used for the measurement of RNAs and proteins. Mechanism assays explored the putative correlation among genes. In vitro assays evaluated the changes in OSCC cell malignant phenotype, whereas in vivo assays highlighted the influence of FUT8-AS1 on tumor growth. FUT8-AS1, aberrantly up-regulated in OSCC tissues and cells, could exacerbate OSCC cell malignant behaviors. The cancerogenic property of FUT8-AS1 in OSCC was further confirmed via animal experiments. Furthermore, FUT8-AS1 enhanced the expression of transcription factor 4 (TCF4) via sponging miR-944 and recruiting fused in sarcoma (FUS), thus affecting OSCC cell biological behaviors via modulation on Wnt/β-catenin signaling activity. In addition, TCF4 was validated as the transcriptional activator of FUT8-AS1. To conclude, TCF4-mediated FUT8-AS1 could exacerbate OSCC cell malignant behaviors and facilitate tumor growth via modulation on miR-944/FUS/TCF4.

Association between Plasma Big Endothelin-1 Level and The Severity of Coronary Artery Disease in Patients with Non-ST Segment-Elevated Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND

Early risk stratification with simple biomarkers is essential in patients with non-ST segment-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI).

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the association between plasma big endothelin-1 (ET-1) level and the SYNTAX score (SS) in patients with NSTEMI.

METHODS

A total of 766 patients with NSTEMI undergoing coronary angiography were recruited. Patients were divided into three groups: low SS (≤22), intermediate SS (23-32), and high SS (>32). Spearman correlation, smooth curve fitting, logistic regression, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were performed to evaluate the association between plasma big ET-1 level and the SS. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

There was a significant correlation between the big ET-1 and the SS (r=0.378, p<0.001). The smoothing curve indicated a positive correlation between the plasma big ET-1 level and the SS. The ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve was 0.695 (0.661-0.727) and the optimal cutoff of plasma big ET-1 level was 0.35pmol/l. Logistic regression showed that elevated big ET-1 was an independent predictor of intermediate-high SS in patients with NSTEMI, whether entered as a continuous variable [OR (95% CI): 1.110 (1.053-1.170), p<0.001] or as a categorical variable [OR (95% CI): 2.962 (2.073-4.233), p<0.001].

CONCLUSION

In patients with NSTEMI, the plasma big ET-1 level was significantly correlated with the SS. Elevated plasma big ET-1 level was an independent predictor for intermediate-high SS.

A global perspective on risk factors for frailty in community-dwelling older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Frailty has become an important determinant of a series of adverse health outcomes. We explored the risk factors for frailty in older adults in the community from a global perspective and explore whether there are ethnic differences in these risk factors.

METHODS

The systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42022323342) was searched using six electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PsycINFO (EBSCO) and CINAHL (EBSCO) from inception to October 2021. We assessed study eligibility by inclusion and excluded criteria. Cohort studies included were assessed according to the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Cross-sectional studies were assessed by the bias risk evaluation standard recommended by the Agency for Health care Research and Quality. The results were reported by a narrative synthesis and pooled analyses. Statistical analyses were performed in Review Manager 5.3 software.

RESULTS

We reviewed 10870 studies, and 62 studies were included. The results showed a significant association between multidomain risk factors and the frailty of global older adults, including demographic factors, health-related factors, and physical factors. Marital status, depression, risk of malnutrition, history of falls and disease-related symptoms are also risk factors for frailty among older people in Asia.

CONCLUSION

Multiple domain factors were associated with frailty among older people around the world. Compared with the rest of the world, Asian populations are exposed to more risk factors for frailty. Therefore, health care providers should consider the characteristics of risk factors for frailty in this region when formulating intervention measures related to frailty.

Screening of Q-markers for the wine-steamed Schisandra chinensis decoction pieces in improving allergic asthma

BACKGROUND

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) posits that Chinese medicinal materials can only be clinically used after being processed and prepared into decoction pieces. Schisandra Chinensis Fructus (derived from the dried and mature fruits of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill.) has been used as a traditional antiasthmatic, kidney strengthening, and hepatoprotective agent for 2000 years. The results of previous research show that decoction pieces of wine-steamed Schisandra chinensis (WSC) are more effective than raw decoction pieces of Schisandra chinensis (RSC) for treating cough and asthma. Steaming with wine was demonstrated to promote the dissolution of ingredients. However, the relationship between the changes in the components of the decoction pieces of WSC and the therapeutic effect remains unclear.

METHODS

The efficacies of decoctions of RSC and WSC were compared using allergic asthma rats. The potential bioactive components in the serum of the WSC treatment group and the changes in the chemical composition of the RSC decoction pieces before and after wine steaming were determined by ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC H-CLASS XEVO TQD) to speculate quality markers (Q-markers) related to the efficacy of WSC, which were subsequently verified based on a zebrafish inflammation model.

RESULTS

Steaming RSC decoction pieces with wine was found to promote improvement of allergic asthma. Reverse tracing of 22 components detected in the serum of the high dose group of WSC (WSC-H) resulted in 12 ingredients being finally designated as potential effective components. Among these ingredients, 5 components, Schisandrin, Schisandrol B, Schisandrin A, Schisandrin B, and Gomisin D, had higher dissolution rates than RSC after steaming with wine. Validation by an inflammatory zebrafish model showed that these 5 ingredients had a dose-dependent effect and were therefore Q-markers for WSC in the treatment of allergic asthma.

CONCLUSION

In this study, changes in the components of decoction pieces of RSC and WSC and Q-markers related to WSC efficacy were identified, providing valuable information for expanding the application of WSC and establishing a specific quality standard for WSC.

Searching for the true origin of the red fluorescence of leaf-derived carbon dots

We report for the first time that the red fluorescence of leaf-derived carbon dots is derived from chlorophyll, and a possible formation structure is proposed. By controlling the solvothermal reaction temperature, the new luminescence center of CDs can be adjusted. This work provides unprecedented insights into the luminescence mechanism of biomass-derived CDs.

Modes and Mechanisms of Pacific Decadal-Scale Variability

The modes of Pacific decadal-scale variability (PDV), traditionally defined as statistical patterns of variance, reflect to first order the ocean's integration (i.e., reddening) of atmospheric forcing that arises from both a shift and a change in strength of the climatological (time-mean) atmospheric circulation. While these patterns concisely describe PDV, they do not distinguish among the key dynamical processes driving the evolution of PDV anomalies, including atmospheric and ocean teleconnections and coupled feedbacks with similar spatial structures that operate on different timescales. In this review, we synthesize past analysis using an empirical dynamical model constructed from monthly ocean surface anomalies drawn from several reanalysis products, showing that the PDV modes of variance result from two fundamental low-frequency dynamical eigenmodes: the North Pacific-central Pacific (NP-CP) and Kuroshio-Oyashio Extension (KOE) modes. Both eigenmodes highlight how two-way tropical-extratropical teleconnection dynamics are the primary mechanisms energizing and synchronizing the basin-scale footprint of PDV. While the NP-CP mode captures interannual- to decadal-scale variability, the KOE mode is linked to the basin-scale expression of PDV on decadal to multidecadal timescales, including contributions from the South Pacific.

Nursing Home Residents' Perceptions of Challenges and Coping Strategies during COVID-19 Pandemic in China

Older people in nursing homes are at a high risk of being infected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). They also experienced nursing home lockdowns that harm their psychological wellbeing. Better support for this vulnerable population requires understanding their perceptions of challenges and coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted using semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis approach was used to analyze the data. Participants were recruited from six nursing homes in three cities in Hunan Province, China. Fourteen nursing home residents participated in the study. Four themes were identified from interviews and described as: mental stress and coping strategies, self-regulation to respond to lockdown, the lack of social connection and coping strategies, and the need for medical care services and coping strategies. This study revealed that nursing home residents perceived stress during the nursing home lockdown, but they reported initiating activities to maintain health and connections with their families and peers. Resilience improvement interventions are necessary to enable residents' autonomy and develop their resilience in coping with difficulties and hardship during crises. The findings also indicate that a supportive environment with interactions from families, peers, and staffs played a key role in enabling residents' positive health and wellbeing during the lockdown.

Highly Sensitive, Stretchable, and Robust Strain Sensor Based on Crack Propagation and Opening

Soft and stretchable strain sensors have been attracting significant attention. However, the trade-off between the sensitivity (gauge factor) and the sensing range has been a major challenge. In this work, we report a soft stretchable resistive strain sensor with an unusual combination of high sensitivity, large sensing range, and high robustness. The sensor is made of a silver nanowire network embedded below the surface of an elastomeric matrix (e.g., poly(dimethylsiloxane)). Periodic mechanical cuts are applied to the top surface of the sensor, changing the current flow from uniformly across the sensor to along the conducting path defined by the open cracks. Both experiment and finite element analysis are conducted to study the effect of the slit depth, slit length, and pitch between the slits. The stretchable strain sensor can be integrated into wearable systems for monitoring physiological functions and body motions associated with different levels of strain, such as blood pressure and lower back health. Finally, a soft three-dimensional (3D) touch sensor that tracks both normal and shear stresses is developed for human-machine interfaces and tactile sensing for robotics.

Neuregulin-1β increases glucose uptake and promotes GLUT4 translocation in palmitate-treated C2C12 myotubes by activating PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

Insulin resistance (IR) is a feature of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) accompanied by reduced glucose uptake and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) translocation by skeletal muscle. Neuregulin-1β (NRG-1β) is essential for myogenesis and the regulation of skeletal muscle metabolism. Neuregulin-1β increases insulin sensitivity, promotes glucose uptake and glucose translocation in normal skeletal muscle. Here, we explored whether Neuregulin-1β increased glucose uptake and GLUT4 translocation in palmitate (PA)-treated C2C12 myotubes. After C2C12 myoblasts differentiated into myotubes, we used palmitate to induce cellular insulin resistance. Cells were incubated with or without Neuregulin-1β and glucose uptake was determined using the 2-NBDG assay. The expression level of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) was measured via immunofluorescence and Western blotting. MK2206, an inhibitor of AKT, was employed to reveal the important role played by AKT signaling in PA-treated C2C12 myotubes. We then established an animal model with T2DM and evaluated the effects of Neuregulin-1β on body weight and the blood glucose level. The GLUT4 level in the gastrocnemius of T2DM mice was also measured. NRG-1β not only increased glucose uptake by PA-treated myotubes but also promoted GLUT4 translocation to the plasma membrane. The effect of NRG-1β on PA-treated C2C12 myotubes was associated with AKT activation. In T2DM mice, Neuregulin-1β not only improved diabetes-induced weight loss and diabetes-induced hyperglycemia, but also promoted GLUT4 translocation in the gastrocnemius. In summary, Neuregulin-1β increased glucose uptake and promoted translocation of GLUT4 to the plasma membrane in PA-treated C2C12 myotubes by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Effect of CaO Sourced from CaCO3 or CaSO4 on Phase Formation and Mineral Composition of Iron-Rich Calcium Sulfoaluminate Clinker

The performance of iron-rich calcium sulfoaluminate (IR-CSA) cement is greatly affected by mineral composition and mineral activity in the clinker. This study aims to identify the effect of CaO sources, either CaCO₃ or CaSO₄, on the phase formation and mineral composition of the IR-CSA clinker. Targeted samples were prepared with different proportions of CaCO₃ and CaSO₄ as CaO sources at 1300 °C for 45 min. Multiple methods were used to identify the mineralogical conditions. The results indicate that the mineral composition and performance of the IR-CSA clinker could be optimized by adjusting the CaO source. Both Al₂O₃ and Fe₂O₃ tend to incorporate into C₄A_3-xF_xS¯ with an increase in CaSO₄ as a CaO source, which leads to an increased content of C₄A_3-xF_xS¯ but a decreased ferrite phase. In addition, clinkers prepared with CaSO₄ as a CaO source showed much higher x value in C₄A_3-xF_xS¯ and higher compressive strength than clinker prepared with CaCO₃ as the sole CaO source. The crystal types of both C₄A_3-xF_xS¯ and C₂S were also affected, but showed different trends with the transition of the CaO source. The findings provide a possible method to produce IR-CSA cement at a low cost through cooperative utilization of waste gypsum and iron-bearing industrial solid wastes.

A retrospective case series of the treatment of spontaneous quadriceps tendon rupture in patients with uremia and secondary hyperparathyroidism

Background

Spontaneous quadriceps tendon rupture (QTR) is a rare complication of uremia. Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is considered the leading cause of QTR in uremia patients. QTR in patients with uremia and SHPT are treated with active surgical repair along with the treatment of SHPT using medication or parathyroidectomy (PTX). The impact of PTX for SHPT on tendon healing remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to introduce surgical procedures for QTR and to determine the functional recovery of the repaired quadriceps tendon (QT) after PTX.

Methods

Between Jan 2014 and Dec 2018, eight uremia patients underwent PTX after a ruptured QT was repaired by figure-of-eight trans-osseous sutures with an overlapping tightening suture technique. Biochemical indices were measured before and one year after PTX to evaluate the control of SHPT. The changes in bone mineral density (BMD) were determined by comparing x-ray images at pre-PTX and during follow-up. The assessment of the functional recovery of the repaired QT was conducted at the last follow-up using multiple functional parameters.

Results

Eight patients (fourteen tendons) were retrospectively evaluated at an average follow-up of 3.46 ± 1.37 years after PTX. ALP and iPTH levels one year after PTX were significantly lower than at pre-PTX (P = 0.017, P < 0.001, respectively). Although there was no statistical differences compared to pre-PTX, serum phosphorus levels decreased and returned to normal one year after PTX (P = 0.101). BMD significantly increased at the last follow-up compared to pre-PTX. The average Lysholm score was 73.5 ± 11.07 and the average Tegner activity score was 2.63 ± 1.06. The active knee ROM after repair averaged an extension of 2.85 ± 3.78° to a flexion angle of 113.21 ± 10.12°. The quadriceps muscle strength was grade IV and the mean Insall-Salvati index was 0.93 ± 0.10 in all of the knees with tendon ruptures. All patients were able to walk without external help.

Conclusions

Figure-of-eight trans-osseous sutures with an overlapping tightening suture technique is an economical and effective treatment for spontaneous QTR in patients with uremia and SHPT. PTX may promote tendon-bone healing in patients with uremia and SHPT.

The effectiveness of wearable activity trackers for increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary time in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Traditional interventions such as education and counseling are successful in increasing physical activity (PA) participation, but are usually labor and resource intensive. Wearable activity trackers can objectively record PA and provide feedback to help users to achieve activity goals and are an increasingly popular tool among adults used to facilitate self-monitoring of PA. However, no reviews systematically explored the roles of wearable activity trackers in older populations.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Scopus from inception to September 10, 2022. Randomized controlled trials were included. Two reviewers independently conducted study selection, data extraction, risk of bias, and certainty of evidence assessment. A random-effects model was used to evaluate the effect size.

Results

A total of 45 studies with 7144 participants were included. A wearable activity tracker was effective in increasing daily steps (standard mean differences (SMD) = 0.59, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.44, 0.75)), weekly moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) (SMD = 0.54, 95% CI (0.36, 0.72)), and total daily PA (SMD = 0.21, 95% CI (0.01, 0.40)) and reducing sedentary time (SMD = -0.10, 95% CI (-0.19, -0.01)). Subgroup analysis showed that the effectiveness of wearable activity trackers for daily steps was not influenced by participants and intervention features. However, wearable activity trackers seemed more effective in promoting MVPA of participant's age <70 than participant's age ≥70. In addition, wearable activity trackers incorporated with traditional intervention components (e.g. telephone counseling, goal setting, and self-monitoring) could better promote MVPA than alone use. Short-term interventions potentially achieve better MVPA increase than long-term.

Conclusion

This review showed that wearable activity trackers are an effective tool to increase PA for the old population and also favor reducing sedentary time. When used together with other interventions, wearable activity trackers can achieve better MVPA increase, especially in the short term. However, how to more effectively improve the effectiveness of wearable activity trackers is an important direction of future research.

Investigating Partially Discordant Results in Phase 3 Studies of Aducanumab

OBJECTIVES

Efficacy and safety results from the EMERGE (NCT02484547) and ENGAGE (NCT02477800) phase 3 studies of aducanumab in early Alzheimer's disease (AD) have been published. In EMERGE, but not in ENGAGE, high-dose aducanumab demonstrated significant treatment effects across primary and secondary endpoints. Low-dose aducanumab results were consistent across studies with non-significant differences versus placebo that were intermediate to the high-dose arm in EMERGE. The present investigation examined data from EMERGE and ENGAGE through post-hoc analyses to determine factors that contributed to discordant results between the high-dose arms of the two studies.

DESIGN

EMERGE and ENGAGE were 2 phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group studies.

SETTING

EMERGE and ENGAGE were 2 global multicenter studies involving 348 sites in 20 countries.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants in EMERGE and ENGAGE were aged 50 to 85 years and had mild cognitive impairment or mild AD dementia with confirmed amyloid pathology. The randomized and dosed population (all randomized patients who received at least one dose of study treatment) included 1638 patients in EMERGE and 1647 in ENGAGE.

INTERVENTION

In EMERGE and ENGAGE, participants were randomized to receive low- or high-dose aducanumab or placebo (1:1:1) once every 4 weeks.

MEASUREMENTS

In this paper, 4 areas were investigated through post-hoc analyses to understand the discordance in the high-dose arms of the EMERGE and ENGAGE studies: baseline characteristics, amyloid-related imaging abnormalities, non-normality of the data, and dosing/exposure to aducanumab.

RESULTS

Post-hoc analyses showed that outcomes in the ENGAGE high-dose group were affected by an imbalance in a small number of patients with extremely rapid progression and by lower exposure to the target dose of 10 mg/kg. These factors were confounded and present in early enrolled patients but were not present in later-enrolled patients who were randomized to the target dosing regimen of 10 mg/kg after titration. Neither baseline characteristics nor amyloid-related imaging abnormalities contributed to the difference in results between the high-dose arms.

CONCLUSIONS

Results were consistent across studies in later enrolled patients in which the incidence of rapidly progressing patients was balanced across treatment arms.

Three new Zn(ii) coordination polymers for highly selective and sensitive detection of Fe3+

In this work, three novel Zn(ii)-CPs with diverse structures and fascinating topologies can be highly selective and sensitive luminescent sensors for detection of Fe3+.

Bioinspired Impact-Resistant and Self-Monitoring Nanofibrous Composites

Lightweight and impact-resistant materials with self-monitoring capability are highly desired for protective applications, but are challenging to be artificially fabricated. Herein, a scalable-manufactured aramid nanofiber (ANF)-based composite combining these key properties is presented. Inspired by the strengthening and toughening mechanisms relying on recoverable interfaces commonly existing in biological composites, mechanically weak but dense hydrogen bonds are introduced into the ANF interfaces to achieve simultaneously enhanced tensile strength (300 MPa), toughness (55 MJ m^-3 ), and impact resistance of the nanofibrous composite. The achieved mechanical property combination displays attractive advantages compared with that of most of previously reported nanocomposites. Additionally, the nanofibrous composite is designed with a capability for real-time self-monitoring of its structural safety during both quasi-static tensile and dynamic impact processes, based on the strain/damage-induced resistance variations of a conductive nanowire network inside it. These comprehensive properties enable the present nanofibrous composite with promising potential for protective applications.

Circular RNA 0000157 depletion protects human bronchial epithelioid cells from cigarette smoke extract-induced human bronchial epithelioid cell injury through the microRNA-149-5p/bromodomain containing 4 pathway

BACKGROUND

Circular RNA (circRNA) has been reported to regulate respiratory diseases. In the study, we aimed to elucidate the role of circ_0000157 in smoke-related chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the inner mechanism.

METHODS

COPD-like cell injury was induced by treating human bronchial epithelioid cells (16HBE) with cigarette smoke extract (CSE). The expression of circ_0000157, miR-149-5p, bromodomain containing 4 (BRD4), BCL2-associated x protein (Bax) and B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) was analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) or Western blotting. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to detect interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels. Malondialdehyde (MDA) production was detected by a lipid peroxidation MDA assay kit. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was analyzed by a SOD activity assay kit.

RESULTS

Circ_0000157 and BRD4 expression were upregulated, while miR-149-5p expression was downregulated in the blood of smokers with COPD and CSE-induced 16HBE cells compared with control groups. CSE treatment inhibited 16HBE cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress; however, these effects were remitted when circ_0000157 expression was decreased. In addition, circ_0000157 acted as a miR-149-5p sponge and regulated CSE-caused 16HBE cell damage by targeting miR-149-5p. The overexpression of BRD4, a target gene of miR-149-5p, attenuated the inhibitory effects of miR-149-5p introduction on CSE-induced cell damage. Further, circ_0000157 modulated BRD4 expression by associating with miR-149-5p in CSE-treated 16HBE cells.

CONCLUSION

Circ_0000157 knockdown ameliorated CSE-caused 16HBE cell damage by targeting the miR-149-5p/BRD4 pathway, providing a potential therapeutic strategy for clinic intervention in COPD.

Role of Exosomal Non-Coding RNA in the Tumour Microenvironment of Genitourinary System Tumours

In recent years, genitourinary system tumors are common in people of all ages, seriously affecting the quality of life of patients, the pathogenesis and treatment of these diseases are constantly being updated and improved. Exosomes, with a lipid bilayer that enable delivery of their contents into body fluids or other cells. Exosomes can regulate the tumor microenvironment, and play an important role in tumor development. In turn, cellular and non-cellular components of tumor microenvironment also affect the occurrence, progression, invasion and metastasis of tumor. Non-coding RNAs have been shown to be able to be ingested and released by exosomes, and are seen as a potential tool in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Here, we summarize the effect of non-coding RNAs of exosome contents on the tumor microenvironment of genitourinary system tumor, expound the significance of non-coding RNAs of exosome in the occurrence, development, diagnosis and treatment of cancers.

Prediction model for cognitive frailty in older adults: A systematic review and critical appraisal

Background

Several prediction models for cognitive frailty (CF) in older adults have been developed. However, the existing models have varied in predictors and performances, and the methodological quality still needs to be determined.

Objectives

We aimed to summarize and critically appraise the reported multivariable prediction models in older adults with CF.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO, CINAHL, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang Databases were searched from the inception to March 1, 2022. Included models were descriptively summarized and critically appraised by the Prediction Model Risk of Bias Assessment Tool (PROBAST).

Results

A total of 1,535 articles were screened, of which seven were included in the review, describing the development of eight models. Most models were developed in China (n = 4, 50.0%). The most common predictors were age (n = 8, 100%) and depression (n = 4, 50.0%). Seven models reported discrimination by the C-index or area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) ranging from 0.71 to 0.97, and four models reported the calibration using the Hosmer-Lemeshow test and calibration plot. All models were rated as high risk of bias. Two models were validated externally.

Conclusion

There are a few prediction models for CF. As a result of methodological shortcomings, incomplete presentation, and lack of external validation, the models' usefulness still needs to be determined. In the future, models with better prediction performance and methodological quality should be developed and validated externally.

Systematic review registration

www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero, identifier CRD42022323591.

Release of hepatitis B virions is positively regulated by glucose-regulated protein 78 through direct interaction with preS1

In this study, we investigated the mechanism of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-enveloped particle release. Specifically, we used preS1 as a bait protein to screen host proteins using mass spectroscopy, with the results of immunofluorescence, western blot, co-immunoprecipitation, isothermal titration calorimetry, and pull-down assays identifying glucose-regulated protein (GRP)78 as a specific target for preS1 binding. We employed transcriptome sequencing, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and particle gel assays to investigate the mechanism of GRP78-mediated positive regulation of HBV-enveloped particle release. Additionally, we performed phage-display, surface plasmon resonance, and molecular-docking assays to assess peptides inhibiting enveloped-particle release. We found that HBV upregulated GRP78 expression in liver cell lines and the serum of patients with chronic hepatitis B. Furthermore, GRP78 promoted the release of HBV-enveloped particles in vitro and in vivo within an HBV transgenic mouse model. Moreover, we identified interactions of preS1 peptides with GRP78 via hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions, which effectively inhibited its interaction with HBV-enveloped particles and their subsequent release. These findings provide novel insights regarding HBV virion release, and demonstrated that GRP78 interacted with preS1 to positively regulate the release of HBV-enveloped particles, suggesting GRP78 as a potential therapeutic target for inhibiting HBV infection.

The effects of microglia-associated neuroinflammation on Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is defined as a severe chronic degenerative neurological disease in human. The pathogenic mechanism of AD has been convincingly elucidated by the "amyloid cascade hypothesis" with the main focus of the pathological accretion of β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides outside the cell. However, increasing evidence suggests that this hypothesis is weak in explaining the pathogenesis of AD. Neuroinflammation is crucial in the development of AD, which is proven by the elevated levels of inflammatory markers and the identification of AD risk genes relevant to the innate immune function. Here, we summarize the effects of microglia-mediated neuroinflammation on AD, focusing on the temporal and spatial changes in microglial phenotype, the interactions among microglia, Aβ, tau, and neurons, and the prospects and recent advances in neuroinflammation as a diagnostic and therapeutic target of AD.

Investigating Pose Representations and Motion Contexts Modeling for 3D Motion Prediction

Predicting human motion from historical pose sequence is crucial for a machine to succeed in intelligent interactions with humans. One aspect that has been obviated so far, is the fact that how we represent the skeletal pose has a critical impact on the prediction results. Yet there is no effort that investigates across different pose representation schemes. We conduct an indepth study on various pose representations with a focus on their effects on the motion prediction task. Moreover, recent approaches build upon off-the-shelf RNN units for motion prediction. These approaches process input pose sequence sequentially and inherently have difficulties in capturing long-term dependencies. In this paper, we propose a novel RNN architecture termed AHMR (Attentive Hierarchical Motion Recurrent network) for motion prediction which simultaneously models local motion contexts and a global context. We further explore a geodesic loss and a forward kinematics loss for the motion prediction task, which have more geometric significance than the widely employed L2 loss. Interestingly, we applied our method to a range of articulate objects including human, fish, and mouse. Empirical results show that our approach outperforms the state-of-the-art methods in short-term prediction and achieves much enhanced long-term prediction proficiency, such as retaining natural human-like motions over 50 seconds predictions. Our codes are released.

A Multicentre Clinical Study of Sarcoma Personalised Treatment Using Patient-Derived Tumour Xenografts

AIMS

Medication for advanced sarcomas has not improved for three decades. Patient-derived tumour xenografts (PDTX) are a promising solution for developing new therapies and real-time personalised medicine because of their highly effective prediction of drug efficacy. However, there is a dearth of PDTX models for sarcomas due to the scarcity and heterogeneity of the disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A multicentre clinical collaborative study (ChiCTR-OOC-17013617) was carried out. Fresh patient tumour tissues via resection or biopsy were used for the PDTX set-up. The standard medical care chosen by the physician was given to the patient, in parallel with testing on multiple regimens. The outcomes of patients' responses and PDTX tests were compared. Comprehensive analyses were carried out to assess the clinical value of PDTX for the treatment of sarcomas. Living tissues from successfully engrafted cases were deposited into a repository.

RESULTS

Forty-two cases, including 36 bone sarcomas and six soft-tissue sarcomas, were enrolled; the overall engraftment rate was 73.8%. Histopathological examination showed a 100% consistency between primary tumours and tumour grafts. The engraftment rate was independent of age, gender and sampling methods, but was associated with subtypes of tumour. The outgrowth time of tumour grafts could be associated with prognosis. Major somatic mutations in tumour grafts occurred primarily in common tumour driver genes. Poor prognosis was associated with the KMT2C mutation. A drug efficacy test showed complete concordance between the PDTX model and patients' responses in 17 regimens.

CONCLUSION

PDTX is an ideal preclinical model for sarcomas because of its faithful preservation of the heterogeneity of the disease, a satisfactory engraftment rate and high accuracy in its prediction of drug efficacy.

Association of heartbeat complexity with survival in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients

Background

Previous studies have shown that the predictive value of traditional linear (time domain and frequency domain) heart rate variability (HRV) for the survival of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is controversial. Nonlinear methods, based on the concept of complexity, have been used to evaluate HRV, providing a new means to reveal the physiological and pathological changes in HRV. This study aimed to assess the association between heartbeat complexity and overall survival in patients with advanced NSCLC.

Methods

This study included 78 patients with advanced NSCLC (mean age: 62.0 ± 9.3 years). A 5-min resting electrocardiogram of advanced NSCLC patients was collected to analyze the following HRV parameters: time domain indicators, i.e., standard deviation of the normal-normal intervals (SDNN) and root mean square of successive interval differences (RMSSD); frequency domain indicators, i.e., total power (TP), low frequency power (LF), high frequency power (HF), and the ratio of LF to HF (LF/HF); nonlinear HRV indicators characterizing heartbeat complexity, i.e., approximate entropy (ApEn), sample entropy (SampEn), and recurrence quantification analysis (RQA) indexes: mean diagonal line length (Lmean), maximal diagonal line length (Lmax), recurrence rate (REC), determinism (DET), and shannon entropy (ShanEn).

Results

Univariate analysis revealed that the linear frequency domain parameter HF and nonlinear RQA parameters Lmax, REC, and DET were significantly correlated with the survival of advanced NSCLC patients (all p < 0.05). After adjusting for confounders in the multivariate analysis, HF, REC, and DET were found to be independent prognostic factors for the survival of patients with advanced NSCLC (all p < 0.05).

Conclusion

There was an independent association between heartbeat complexity and survival in advanced NSCLC patients. The nonlinear analysis method based on RQA may provide valuable additional information for the prognostic stratification of patients with advanced NSCLC and may supplement the traditional time domain and frequency domain analysis methods.

Constraints on Heavy Decaying Dark Matter from 570 Days of LHAASO Observations

The kilometer square array (KM2A) of the large high altitude air shower observatory (LHAASO) aims at surveying the northern γ-ray sky at energies above 10 TeV with unprecedented sensitivity. γ-ray observations have long been one of the most powerful tools for dark matter searches, as, e.g., high-energy γ rays could be produced by the decays of heavy dark matter particles. In this Letter, we present the first dark matter analysis with LHAASO-KM2A, using the first 340 days of data from 1/2-KM2A and 230 days of data from 3/4-KM2A. Several regions of interest are used to search for a signal and account for the residual cosmic-ray background after γ/hadron separation. We find no excess of dark matter signals, and thus place some of the strongest γ-ray constraints on the lifetime of heavy dark matter particles with mass between 10^{5} and 10^{9}  GeV. Our results with LHAASO are robust, and have important implications for dark matter interpretations of the diffuse astrophysical high-energy neutrino emission.

Gut microbiota and calcium balance

Microorganisms living on the surface and inside the human body play an important role in the physiological activities of the human body. The largest microecosystem in the human body is the gut microbiome. Calcium disorders are found in many diseases. For example, patients with chronic renal insufficiency present with secondary hyperparathyroidism, which is caused by a calcium imbalance in the body. In addition, calcium dysregulation may affect lipid metabolism in the liver through the calmodulator pathway, leading to cirrhosis, etc. Currently, a considerable number of probiotics have been proven to enhance the body's absorption of calcium. This paper reviews the effects of intestinal flora and related factors such as short-chain fatty acids, estrogen, immune factors and vitamin D on calcium balance.

Cu(BF4)2/AC-Catalyzed Synthesis of N-Substituted Anilines, N-Substituted 1,6-Naphthyridin-5(6H)-one, and Isoquinolin-1(2H)-one

Herein, we report practical Cu(BF₄)₂/activated carbon-catalyzed amination of various anilines, isoquinolinone, and naphthyridinone with aryl boronic acids. The ultrasonic and rotary evaporation treatment of the mixture of aq. Cu(BF₄)₂ and activated carbon in methanol afforded a novel Cu(II)-catalyst, which is air-stable and can be effectively applied in the Chan-Lam coupling reaction. The products of N-arylation were isolated in good to excellent yields at low catalytic loading. And Cu(BF₄)₂/AC also showed good reusability.

Population dynamics and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella Derby ST40 from Shenzhen, China

Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Derby (S. Derby) is one of the most common serotypes responsible for salmonellosis in humans and animals. The two main sequence types (ST) observed in China are ST40 and ST71, with ST40 presently being the most common in Shenzhen. Recent years have seen an increasing number of cases of salmonella caused by ST40 S. Derby, but the epidemiology is not clear. We gathered 314 ST40 S. Derby isolates from food and patient samples for 11 years in Shenzhen; 76 globally prevalent representative strains were also collected. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) combined with drug resistance phenotyping was used to examine population structural changes, inter-host associations, drug resistance characteristics, and the food-transmission risks of ST40 S. Derby in Shenzhen over this period. The S. enterica evolutionary tree is divided into five clades, and the strains isolated in Shenzhen were primarily concentrated in Clades 2, 4, and 5, and thus more closely related to strains from Asian (Thailand and Vietnam) than European countries. Our 11-year surveillance of S. Derby in Shenzhen showed that Clades 2, 4, and 5 are now the dominant epidemic branches, and branches 2 and 5 are heavily multi-drug resistant. The main resistance pattern is ampicillin-tetracycline-ciprofloxacin-chloramphenicol-nalidixic acid-streptomycin-sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim. This may lead to a trend of increasing resistance to ST40 S. Derby in Shenzhen. Using a segmentation of ≤3 SNP among clone clusters, we discovered that Clades 2 and 4 contained multiple clonal clusters of both human- and food-derived strains. The food-derived strains were mainly isolated from pig liver, suggesting this food has a high risk of causing disease outbreaks in Shenzhen.

Bandwidth Optimization of MEMS Accelerometers in Fluid Medium Environment

There is a constraint between the dynamic range and the bandwidth of MEMS accelerometers. When the input acceleration is comparatively large, the squeeze film damping will increase dramatically with the increase in the oscillation amplitude, resulting in a decrease in bandwidth. Conventional models still lack a complete vibration response analysis in large amplitude ratios and cannot offer a suitable guide in the optimization of such devices. In this paper, the vibration response analysis of the sensing unit of an accelerometer in large amplitude ratios is first completed. Then, the optimal design of the sensing unit is proposed to solve the contradiction between the dynamic range and the bandwidth of the accelerometer. Finally, the results of the vibration experiment prove that the maximum bandwidth can be achieved with 0~10g external acceleration, which shows the effectiveness of the design guide. The new vibration analysis with the complete model of squeeze film damping is applicable to all sensitive structures based on vibration, not limited to the MEMS accelerometer studied in this thesis. The bandwidth optimal scheme also provides a strong reference for similar structures with large oscillation amplitude ratios.

Indoor partitioning and potential thirdhand exposure to carbonyl flavoring agents added in e-cigarettes and hookah tobacco

Flavoring agents added to the e-cigarettes and hookah tobacco have increased the attractiveness of novel nicotine products. Many widely used flavorings are carbonyls, which are toxic to humans. In an indoor environment, residents can be exposed to such harmful flavorings previously emitted to the surrounding environment, through a process termed thirdhand exposure. The recent discovery of a large volume of indoor reservoirs emphasizes the importance of indoor partitioning, which is responsible for thirdhand exposure. Indoor partitioning can be expressed with partitioning coefficients, such as Henry's law solubility constant (H). However, reliable H values for many key flavorings are currently lacking. To better understand their environmental behavior, this study experimentally determined the effective Henry's law constant (Hcps,eff) using the inert gas stripping (IGS) method. Further, the influence of the hydration process for target flavorings was quantified using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) spectroscopy. We found that hydration of α-dicarbonyls (diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione) enhanced their Hcps,eff from their intrinsic Henry's law constant (Hcps) by a factor of 3.52 and 2.88, respectively. The two-dimensional partitioning plots were employed to simulate the indoor phase distribution and evaluate the pathways of human exposure. Our findings show that the indoor partitioning of many harmful flavorings is highly sensitive to temperature and the size of indoor reservoirs, indicating that residents are likely to experience third-hand exposure.