[Relationship between gut microbiota and its metabolite dysregulation and postoperative cognitive dysfunction in elderly male C57BL/6J mice after laparotomy exploration]

Objective: To explore the relationship between gut microbiota and its metabolite dysregulation and postoperative cognitive dysfunction in elderly male C57BL/6J mice after laparotomy exploration. Methods: A total of 48 specific pathogen-free (SPF) male C57BL/6J mice, aged 16-17 months, were divided into two groups by random number table method: control group (n=24) and operation group (n=24). Mice in the operation group were induced with 1.4% isoflurane for 15 minutes, followed by a 10 minutes exploratory laparotomy anesthetized with 1.4% isoflurane and 100% oxygen, and anesthesia continued for 2 hours after surgery. Mice in control group were put in 100% oxygen for 2 hours. Feces and venous blood samples of both groups were collected 48 hours after surgery. Changes in the abundance and diversity of intestinal bacteria in the feces were detected by 16S rDNA gene sequencing. Functional changes of fecal metabolic profiles were detected by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS) metabolomics and differential metabolite functions were analyzed. The serum level of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were detected by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The cognitive function of the mice was detected by Morris water maze test 3 days after operation. Results: The postoperative escape latency of mice in control group and operation group was (22.0±4.9) and (35.0±5.1) s, and the target quadrant residence time was (26.0±3.7) and (16.0±2.9) s, respectively. Compared with the control group, the postoperative escape latency of mice in the operation group was prolonged (P=0.035), and the residence time in the target quadrant was reduced (P=0.006). The difference of intestinal flora between the two groups was comparable. The expression levels of Escherichia coli, shigella and clostridium in the operation group were up-regulated, while the expression levels of rumen bacteria and butyricobacteria were down-regulated. Fecal metabolic profiles of mice in control group and operation group were obtained by LC/MS, and 14 and 21 different metabolites were screened in positive and negative ion modes, respectively. The different metabolites in positive ion mode were glutamic acid, 2-indoleic acid, kynuuric acid and glyceraldehyde. The negative ion pattern differential metabolites are methionine, aspartic acid, L-threonine, tyrosyl-threonine and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid. The identified differential metabolite pathways are mainly involved in amino acid, fatty acid and tryptophan metabolism and nucleotide synthesis. There were no significant differences in serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion: The dysregulated changes of gut microbiota and its metabolites are correlated with the occurrence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction in elderly male C57BL/6J mice. Anesthesia and surgery alter the structure of mice intestinal bacteria on the level of abundance, and change the metabolic balance and feces metabolomic phenotype.

[The effect of deep neuromuscular block combined with low pneumoperitoneum pressure on postoperative pain in patients undergoing laparoscopic radical colorectal surgery]

Objective: To investigate the effect of deep neuromuscular blockade (DNMB) combined with low pneumoperitoneum pressure anesthesia strategy on postoperative pain in patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery. Methods: This study was a randomized controlled trial. One hundred and twenty patients who underwent laparoscopic colorectal surgery at Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from December 1, 2022 to May 31, 2023 were selected and randomly divided into two groups by random number table method. Moderate neuromuscular blockade [train of four stimulations count (TOFC)=1-2] was maintained in patients of the control group (group C, n=60) and pneumoperitoneum pressure level was set at 15 mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa). DNMB [post-tonic stimulation count (PTC)=1-2] was maintained in patients of the DNMB combined with low pneumoperitoneum pressuregroup (group D, n=60) and pneumoperitoneum pressure level was set at 10 mmHg. The primary measurement was incidence of moderate to severe pain at 1 h after surgery. The secondary measurements the included incidence of moderate to severe pain at 1, 2, 3, 5 d and 3 months after surgery, the incidence of rescue analgesic drug use, the doses of sufentanil in analgesic pumps, surgical rating scale (SRS) score, the incidence of postoperative residual neuromuscular block, postoperative recovery [evaluated with length of post anesthesia care unit (PACU) stay, time of first exhaust and defecation after surgery and length of hospital stay] and postoperative inflammation conditions [evaluated with serum concentration of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 at 1 d and 3 d after surgery]. Results: The incidence of moderate to severe pain in group D 1 h after surgery was 13.3% (8/60), lower than 30.0% (18/60) of group C (P<0.05). The incidence of rescue analgesia in group D at 1 h and 1 d after surgery were 13.3% (8/60) and 4.2% (5/120), respectively, lower than 30.0% (18/60) and 12.5% (15/120) of group C (both P<0.05). The IL-1β level in group D was (4.1±1.8)ng/L at 1 d after surgery, which was lower than (4.9±2.6) ng/L of group C (P=0.048). The IL-6 level in group D was (2.0±0.7)ng/L at 3 d after surgery, which was lower than (2.4±1.1) ng/L of group C (P=0.018). There was no significant difference in the doses of sufentanil in analgesic pumps, intraoperative SRS score, incidence of neuromuscular block residue, time spent in PACU, time of first exhaust and defecation after surgery, incidence of nausea and vomiting, and length of hospitalization between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion: DNMB combined with low pneumoperitoneum pressure anesthesia strategy alleviates the early-stage pain in patients after laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

[Analysis of 9 patients with adolescence-onset methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase deficiency]

Objective: To explore the diagnosis and treatment of adolescence-onset methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) deficiency. Methods: This was a retrospective case study. Nine patients with adolescence-onset MTHFR deficiency were diagnosed at Peking University First Hospital from January 2016 to December 2022, and followed up for more than 1 year. Their general information, clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, cranial images, MTHFR gene variants, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome were analyzed retrospectively. Results: The 9 patients came from 8 families. They had symptoms at age of 8.0 years to 17.0 years and diagnosed at 9.0 years to 17.5 years. Eight were male and 1 was female. Two patients were brothers, the elder brother developed abnormal gait at 17.0 years; and the younger brother was then diagnosed at 15.0 years of age and treated at the asymptomatic stage, who was 18.0 years old with normal condition during this study. The main manifestations of the 8 symptomatic patients included progressive dyskinesia and spastic paralysis of the lower limbs, with or without intellectual decline, cognitive impairment and behavioral abnormalities. Totally, 15 variants of MTHFR gene were identified in the 9 patients, including 8 novel variants. Five patients had brain image abnormalities. Increased plasma total homocysteine level (65-221 μmol/L) was found in all patients, and decreased to 20-70 μmol/L after treatment with betaine and calcium folinate. Besides, the 8 symptomatic patients had their behavior and cognitive problems significantly improved, with a legacy of lower limb motor disorders. Conclusions: Late-onset MTHFR deficiency can occur in adolescence. The diagnosis is usually delayed because of non-specific clinical symptoms. The test of blood total homocysteine could be used as a selective screening test. Eight novel varients of MTHFR gene were identified. Timely treatment can improve clinical condition significantly, and pre-symptomatic treatment may prevent brain damage.

Remifentanil for tracheal intubation without neuromuscular blocking drugs in adult patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

There is increasing interest in the use of short-acting opioids such as remifentanil to facilitate tracheal intubation. The aim of this systematic review was to determine the efficacy and safety of remifentanil for tracheal intubation compared with neuromuscular blocking drugs in adult patients. We conducted a systematic search for randomised controlled trials evaluating remifentanil for tracheal intubation. Primary outcomes included tracheal intubation conditions and adverse events. Twenty-one studies evaluating 1945 participants were included in the analysis. Use of remifentanil (1.5-4.0 μg.kg-1 ) showed no evidence of a difference in tracheal intubation success rate compared with neuromuscular blocking drugs (risk ratio (95%CI) 0.97 (0.94-1.01); six studies; 1232 participants; I2 28%; p = 0.16; moderate-certainty evidence). Compared with neuromuscular blocking drugs, the use of remifentanil (2.0-4.0 μg.kg-1 ) makes little to no difference in terms of producing excellent tracheal intubation conditions (risk ratio (95%CI) 1.16 (0.72-1.87); two studies; 121 participants; I2 31%, p = 0.54; moderate-certainty of evidence). There was no evidence of an effect between remifentanil (2.0-4.0 μg.kg-1 ) and neuromuscular blocking drugs for bradycardia (risk ratio (95%CI) 0.44 (0.01-13.90); two studies; 997 participants; I2 81%; p = 0.64) and hypotension (risk ratio (95%CI) 1.05 (0.44-2.49); three studies; 1071 participants; I2 92%; p = 0.92). However, the evidence for these two outcomes was judged to be of very low-certainty. We conclude that remifentanil may be used as an alternative drug for tracheal intubation in cases where neuromuscular blocking drugs are best avoided, but more studies are required to evaluate the haemodynamic adverse events of remifentanil at different doses.

Phase II clinical trial of neoadjuvant anti-PD-1 (toripalimab) combined with axitinib in resectable mucosal melanoma

BACKGROUND

The outcome of patients with resectable mucosal melanoma is poor. Toripalimab combined with axitinib has shown impressive results in metastatic mucosal melanoma with an objective response rate of 48.3% and a median progression-free survival of 7.5 months in a phase Ib trial. It was hypothesized that this combination administered in the neoadjuvant setting might induce a pathologic response in resectable mucosal melanoma, so we conducted this trial.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This single-arm phase II trial enrolled patients with resectable mucosal melanoma. Patients received toripalimab 3 mg/kg once every 2 weeks (Q2W) plus axitinib 5 mg two times a day (b.i.d.) for 8 weeks as neoadjuvant therapy, then surgery and adjuvant toripalimab 3 mg/kg Q2W starting 2 ± 1weeks after surgery for 44 weeks. The primary endpoint was the pathologic response rate according to the International Neoadjuvant Melanoma Consortium recommendations.

RESULTS

Between August 2019 and October 2021, 29 patients were enrolled and received treatment, of whom 24 underwent resection. The median follow-up time was 34.2 months (95% confidence interval 20.4-48.0 months). The pathologic response rate was 33.3% (8/24; 4 pathological complete responses and 4 pathological partial responses). The median event-free survival for all patients was 11.1 months (95% confidence interval 5.3-16.9 months). The median overall survival was not reached. Neoadjuvant therapy was tolerable with 8 (27.5%) grade 3-4 treatment-related adverse events and no treatment-related deaths. Tissue samples of 17 patients at baseline and after surgery were collected (5 responders and 12 nonresponders). Multiplex immunohistochemistry demonstrated a significant increase in CD3+ (P = 0.0032) and CD3+CD8+ (P = 0.0038) tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes after neoadjuvant therapy, particularly in pathological responders.

CONCLUSIONS

Neoadjuvant toripalimab combined with axitinib in resectable mucosal melanoma demonstrated a promising pathologic response rate with significantly increased infiltrating CD3+ and CD3+CD8+ T cells after therapy.

[Prioritizing the integrated management of cancer pain to comprehensively enhance the diagnosis and treatment proficiency in cancer pain]

As one of the most common complications of cancer or its treatment, cancer-related pain can negatively affect the functional status and quality of life of patients. Pain management for cancer patients in China started later than that in developed countries. After 30 years of efforts by health authorities and medical professionals, cancer pain management in China has made great progress. However, with the accelerated aging of the Chinese population, the increasing incidence of cancer, the prolonged survival of cancer patients, and the strengthening of people's expectations for high-quality life, there is still a gap between the development level of cancer pain management in China and the actual health needs of cancer patients. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the current state and future challenges facing the integrated management of cancer pain in China. Simultaneously, it offers a prospective outlook on future developments, thereby furnishing vital information for professionals engaged in the field of cancer pain management.

Estrogen as a guardian of auditory health: Tsp1-CD47 axis regulation and noise-induced hearing loss

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to analyze the role of estrogen in noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and uncover underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

An ovariectomized Sprague-Dawley rat model (OVX) was constructed to investigate the hearing threshold and auditory latency before and after noise exposure using the auditory brainstem response (ABR) test. The morphological changes were assessed using immunofluorescence, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Proteomics and bioinformatics were used to analyze the mechanism. The findings were further verified through western blot and Luminex liquid suspension chip technology.

RESULTS

After noise exposure, OVX rats exhibited substantially elevated hearing thresholds. A conspicuous delay in ABR wave I latency was observed, alongside increased loss of outer hair cells, severe collapse of stereocilia and pronounced deformation of the epidermal plate. Accordingly, OVX rats with estrogen supplementation exhibited tolerance to NIHL. Additionally, a remarkable upregulation of the thrombospondin 1 (Tsp1)-CD47 axis in OVX rats was discovered and verified.

CONCLUSIONS

OVX rats were more susceptible to NIHL, and the protective effect of estrogen was achieved through regulation of the Tsp1-CD47 axis. This study presents a novel mechanism through which estrogen regulates NIHL and offers a potential intervention strategy for the clinical treatment of NIHL.

Use of TSAR, Thermal Shift Analysis in R, to identify Folic Acid as a Molecule that Interacts with HIV-1 Capsid

Thermal shift assay (TSA) is a versatile biophysical technique for studying protein interactions. Here, we report a free, open-source software tool TSAR (Thermal Shift Analysis in R) to expedite and automate the analysis of thermal shift data derived either from individual experiments or large screens of chemical libraries. The TSAR package incorporates multiple, dynamic workflows to facilitate the analysis of TSA data and returns publication-ready graphics or processed results. Further, the package includes a graphic user interface (GUI) that enables easy use by non-programmers, aiming to simplify TSA analysis while diversifying visualization. To exemplify the utility of TSAR we screened a chemical library of vitamins to identify molecules that interact with the capsid protein (CA) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Our data show that hexameric CA interacts with folic acid in vitro.

Engineering anisotropy in 2D transition metal dichalcogenides via heterostructures

Two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors featuring low-symmetry crystal structures hold an immense potential for the design of advanced optoelectronic devices, leveraging their inherent anisotropic attributes. While the synthesis techniques for transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have matured, a promising avenue emerges: the induction of anisotropy within symmetric TMDs through interlayer van der Waals coupling engineering. Here, we unveil the creation of heterostructures (HSs) by stacking highly symmetric MoSe2 with low-symmetry ReS2, introducing artificial anisotropy into monolayer MoSe2. Through a meticulous analysis of angle-dependent photoluminescence (PL) spectra, we discern a remarkable anisotropic intensity ratio of approximately 1.34. Bolstering this observation, the angle-resolved Raman spectra provide unequivocal validation of the anisotropic optical properties inherent to MoSe2. This intriguing behavior can be attributed to the in-plane polarization of MoSe2, incited by the deliberate disruption of lattice symmetry within the monolayer MoSe2 structure. Collectively, our findings furnish a conceptual blueprint for engineering both isotropic and anisotropic HSs, thereby unlocking an expansive spectrum of applications in the realm of high-performance optoelectronic devices.

[Safety of double and a half layered esophagojejunal anastomosis in radical gastrectomy: A prospective, multi-center, single arm trial]

Objective: To evaluate the safety of double and a half layered esophagojejunal anastomosis in radical gastrectomy. Methods: This prospective, multi-center, single-arm study was initiated by the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University in June 2021 (CRAFT Study, NCT05282563). Participating institutions included Nanyang Central Hospital, Zhumadian Central Hospital, Luoyang Central Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Henan Polytechnic University, First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University, Luohe Central Hospital, the People's Hospital of Hebi, First People's Hospital of Shangqiu, Anyang Tumor Hospital, First People's Hospital of Pingdingshan, and Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) gastric adenocarcinoma confirmed by preoperative gastroscopy;(2) preoperative imaging assessment indicated that R0 resection was feasible; (3) preoperative assessment showed no contraindications to surgery;(4) esophagojejunostomy planned during the procedure; (5) patients volunteered to participate in this study and gave their written informed consent; (6) ECOG score 0-1; and (7) ASA score I-III. Exclusion criteria were as follows: (1) history of upper abdominal surgery (except laparoscopic cholecystectomy);(2) history of gastric surgery (except endoscopic submucosal dissection and endoscopic mucosal resection); (3) pregnancy or lactation;(4) emergency surgery for gastric cancer-related complications (perforation, hemorrhage, obstruction); (5) other malignant tumors within 5 years or coexisting malignant tumors;(6) arterial embolism within 6 months, such as angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, and cerebrovascular accident; and (7) comorbidities or mental health abnormalities that could affect patients' participation in the study. Patients were eliminated from the study if: (1) radical gastrectomy could not be completed; (2) end-to-side esophagojejunal anastomosis was not performed during the procedure; or (3) esophagojejunal anastomosis reinforcement was not possible. Double and a half layered esophagojejunal anastomosis was performed as follows: (1) Open surgery: the full thickness of the anastomosis is continuously sutured, followed by embedding the seromuscular layer with barbed or 3-0 absorbable sutures. The anastomosis is sutured with an average of six to eight stitches. (2) Laparoscopic surgery: the anastomosis is strengthened by counterclockwise full-layer sutures. Once the anastomosis has been sutured to the right posterior aspect of the anastomosis, the jejunum stump is pulled to the right and the anastomosis turned over to continue to complete reinforcement of the posterior wall. The suture interval is approximately 5 mm. After completing the full-thickness suture, the anastomosis is embedded in the seromuscular layer. Relevant data of patients who had undergone radical gastrectomy in the above 12 centers from June 2021 were collected and analyzed. The primary outcome was safety (e.g., postoperative complications, and treatment). Other studied variables included details of surgery (e.g., surgery time, intraoperative bleeding), postoperative recovery (postoperative time to passing flatus and oral intake, length of hospital stay), and follow-up conditions (quality of life as assessed by Visick scores). Result: [1] From June 2021 to September 2022,457 patients were enrolled, including 355 men and 102 women of median age 60.8±10.1 years and BMI 23.7±3.2 kg/m2. The tumors were located in the upper stomach in 294 patients, mid stomach in 139; and lower stomach in 24. The surgical procedures comprised 48 proximal gastrectomies and 409 total gastrectomies. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was administered to 85 patients. Other organs were resected in 85 patients. The maximum tumor diameter was 4.3±2.2 cm, number of excised lymph nodes 28.3±15.2, and number of positive lymph nodes five (range one to four. As to pathological stage,83 patients had Stage I disease, 128 Stage II, 237 Stage III, and nine Stage IV. [2] The studied surgery-related variables were as follows: The operation was successfully completed in all patients, 352 via a transabdominal approach, 25 via a transhiatus approach, and 80 via a transthoracoabdominal approach. The whole procedure was performed laparoscopically in 53 patients (11.6%), 189 (41.4%) underwent laparoscopic-assisted surgery, and 215 (47.0%) underwent open surgery. The median intraoperative blood loss was 200 (range, 10-1 350) mL, and the operating time 215.6±66.7 minutes. The anastomotic reinforcement time was 2 (7.3±3.9) minutes for laparoscopic-assisted surgery, 17.6±1.7 minutes for total laparoscopy, and 6.0±1.2 minutes for open surgery. [3] The studied postoperative variables were as follows: The median time to postoperative passage of flatus was 3.1±1.1 days and the postoperative gastrointestinal angiography time 6 (range, 4-13) days. The median time to postoperative oral intake was 7 (range, 2-14) days, and the postoperative hospitalization time 15.8±6.7 days. [4] The safety-related variables were as follows: In total, there were 184 (40.3%) postoperative complications. These comprised esophagojejunal anastomosis complications in 10 patients (2.2%), four (0.9%) being anastomotic leakage (including two cases of subclinical leakage and two of clinical leakage; all resolved with conservative treatment); and six patients (1.3%) with anastomotic stenosis (two who underwent endoscopic balloon dilation 21 and 46 days after surgery, the others improved after a change in diet). There was no anastomotic bleeding. Non-anastomotic complications occurred in 174 patients (38.1%). All patients attended for follow-up at least once, the median follow-up time being 10 (3-18) months. Visick grades were as follows: Class I, 89.1% (407/457); Class II, 7.9% (36/457); Class III, 2.6% (12/457); and Class IV 0.4% (2/457). Conclusion: Double and a half layered esophagojejunal anastomosis in radical gastrectomy is safe and feasible.

Enhanced Homogeneity of Moiré Superlattices in Double-Bilayer WSe2 Homostructure

Moiré superlattices have emerged as a promising platform for investigating and designing optically generated excitonic properties. The electronic band structure of these systems can be qualitatively modulated by interactions between the top and bottom layers, leading to the emergence of new quantum phenomena. However, the inhomogeneities present in atomically thin bilayer moiré superlattices created by artificial stacking have hindered a deeper understanding of strongly correlated electron properties. In this work, we report the fabrication of homogeneous moiré superlattices with controllable twist angles using a 2L-WSe2/2L-WSe2 homostructure. By adding extra layers, we provide additional degrees of freedom to tune the optical properties of the moiré superlattices while mitigating the nonuniformity problem. The presence of an additional bottom layer acts as a buffer, reducing the inhomogeneity of the moiré superlattice, while the encapsulation effect of the additional top and bottom WSe2 monolayers further enhances the localized moiré excitons. Our observations of alternating circularly polarized photoluminescence confirm the existence of moiré excitons, and their characteristics were further confirmed by theoretical calculations. These findings provide a fundamental basis for studying moiré potential correlated quantum phenomena and pave the way for their application in quantum optical devices.

Pressure-Induced Dynamic Tuning of Interlayer Coupling in Twisted WSe2/WSe2 Homobilayers

Moiré superlattices induced by twisted van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures or homostructures have recently gained significant attention due to their potential to generate exotic strong-correlation electronic and phonon phenomena. However, the lack of dynamic tuning for interlayer coupling of moiré superlattices hinders a thorough understanding and development of the moiré correlation state. Here, we present a dynamic tuning method for twisted WSe2/WSe2 homobilayers using a diamond anvil cell (DAC). We demonstrate the powerful tuning of interlayer coupling and observe an enhanced response to pressure for interlayer breathing modes and the rapid descent of indirect excitons in twisted WSe2/WSe2 homobilayers. Our findings indicate that the introduction of a moiré superlattice for WSe2 bilayers gives rise to hybridized excitons, which lead to the different pressure-evolution exciton behaviors compared to natural WSe2 bilayers. Our results provide a novel understanding of moiré physics and offer an effective method to tune interlayer coupling of moiré superlattices.

[Analysis on the vaccination coverage of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in China from 2017 to 2021]

Objective: To explore the vaccination coverage of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) in China from 2017 to 2021. Methods: Using the reported number of PCV13 administrated doses from 2017 to 2021 and the population data from 31 provinces in China, which were collected by the Immunization Program Information System and summarized data at different levels (prefecture, provincial, and national). Collecting batch release data of PCV13 during the same period through the official website of the National Institutes for Food and Drug Control. The average coverage level of PCV13 was calculated by comparing the number of PCV13 vaccinations reported annually to the number of births in that year, and the spatial auto-correlation analysis was conducted in 2021 at the prefecture level. The coverage of PCV13 vaccination was estimated by the total vaccine doses administered each year divided by the number of newborn in the year, as of the administrated dose number per 100 people. Results: From March 2017 to December 2020, the total batch release of PCV13 was 20.06 million, with a total of 71.54, 384.75, 475.45, and 10.8886 million doses each year. During the same period, PCV13 reported doses were 20.2369 million and the vaccination doses from 2017 to 2021 were 4.08, 170.46, 407.52, 599.77, and 8.4185 million doses, respectively. From 2017 to 2021, the ratio of PCV13 doses administrated per 100 infants in each year was 0.25, 10.26, 23.81, 38.16, and 69.90 doses per 100 people, respectively. The range of the ratio in each province increased from 3.85 doses in 2017 to 264.41 doses per 100 people in 2021. The spatial auto-correlation analysis results showed that based on prefecture-level cities, there was spatial clustering in a certain area of PCV13 coverage from 2017 to 2021, and the spatial correlation in 2021 was the highest. The hotspot analysis showed that the hotspot areas with high coverage levels of PCV13 were concentrated in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai, Fujian and their surrounding areas. The cold spots with low vaccine coverage were concentrated in Yunnan, Qinghai, Tibet, and their surrounding areas. Conclusion: The average coverage level of PCV13 is low in China with significant regional differences.

Stroke Risk in Survivors of Head and Neck Cancer: A Descriptive Epidemiologic Cohort Study

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Survivors of head and neck cancer (HNC) have an increased risk of stroke. However, the evidence on the risk of stroke in various subpopulations of HNC defined by patient, disease and treatment factors remains unclear. This study aimed to determine whether age-standardized incidence rate ratios (SIRs) and risk differences (SIRDs) of stroke varied across different subpopulations of survivors of HNC.

MATERIALS/METHODS

We used data from the national stroke and cancer registries to identify all cases of HNC who developed their first stroke after HNC diagnosis from January 2005 to December 2020. We estimated the SIRs and SIRDs of stroke in various subgroups of HNC defined by patient, disease and treatment factors using the Singapore general population as the reference group.

RESULTS

A total of 8839 cases of HNC were identified and 308 cases (3.4%) developed stroke after HNC diagnosis at median follow up of 42.5 months (interquartile range 15.0 - 94.5 months). The overall SIR and SIRD were 2.46 (95% CI 2.21 - 2.74) and 4.11 cases per 1000 person-years (PY) (95% CI 3.37 - 4.85). The SIR and SIRD were higher among those post five years from HNC diagnosis compared to those with 5 or fewer years from HNC diagnosis (SIR: 3.92 (3.36 - 4.58) vs 1.84 (1.59 - 2.14), SIRD: 6.64 (5.26 - 8.03) vs 2.65 (1.80 - 3.50) cases per 1000 PY). The SIR was highest for those less than 40 years old (< 40 years: 30.55; 40 - 49 years: 5.84; 50 - 59 years: 3.13; 60 - 69 years: 2.38, 70 - 79 years: 1.53, > = 80 years: 1.41) while SIRD was highest for those with age 80 years and above (< 40 years: 2.16; 40 - 49 years: 3.44, 50 - 59 years: 4.25, 60 - 69 years: 5.55, 70 - 79 years: 4.16, > = 80 years: 6.14). Among those who had treatment within 6 months of HNC diagnosis, the SIR and SIRD were significantly higher among those who had primary radiation treatment approach (radiation only, radiation and chemotherapy) (SIR: 3.01 (2.64 - 3.43), SIRD: 5.12 (4.18 - 6.29) cases per 1000 PY) compared to primary surgery treatment approach (surgery only, surgery and radiation, surgery and chemotherapy and radiation) (SIR: 1.64 (1.31 - 2.05), SIRD: 1.84 (0.92 - 3.67)).

CONCLUSION

The risk of stroke varied across different subpopulations of survivors of HNC with higher risk observed in those surviving five years post HNC diagnosis, less than 40 years old or received primary radiation treatment approach within 6 months from HNC diagnosis. A risk based prophylactic measures for stroke should be considered for different subpopulations of survivors of HNC.

Effects of Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) Guided Care vs. Usual Care on Overall Survival (OS) and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) for Older Adults with Cancer: A Systematic Review of Randomized Trials (RCTs)

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

There is evidence from RCTs demonstrating that our current models of CGA guided care can reduce treatment related toxicity effectively. However, it is unclear if CGA guided care can improve OS and HRQL. We aimed to determine the effect of CGA guided care compared with usual care on OS and HRQL.

MATERIALS/METHODS

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL and CINAHL from date of inception to October 2022 for RCTs comparing CGA guided care with usual care for patients with cancer who were 60 years old and greater on OS and HRQL. We assessed the risk of bias using Cochrane ROB 2 tool. We performed the meta-analysis using random-effects models. The I2 statistic was adopted to assess heterogeneity between studies. We adopted the Synthesis without meta-analysis approach for data not amenable for meta-analysis. The certainty of evidence was rated using the GRADE approach. This study is registered with Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

RESULTS

We found 15 eligible RCTs including 3507 participants. There are variations in types of CGA used with 4 trials using CGA to recommend oncology treatment regimen and 10 trials making no recommendation on oncology treatment. The implementation of CGA recommendations were carried out by a geriatrician in 14 trials, but by the primary oncologist in 1 trial. Six, five and four RCTs were judged to have low, unclear and high risk of bias respectively. Eleven and six RCTs reported OS and HRQL outcomes respectively. There was no significant difference between CGA guided and usual care for OS (Hazard Ratio 1.02, 95% CI (0.90 to 1.15), I2 = 0%; moderate certainty). There was significant variation in the measurement of HRQL in terms of instruments, summary measures and time points. EORTC QLQ C30 and ELD 14 were used in 3 RCTs. The effects of CGA guided care on HRQL were inconsistent. Two trials using FACT-G or Elderly Functional Index (ELFI) reported significant improvement in HRQL at 3 and 6 months post randomization. Meta-analysis of the mean difference in the change of the EORTC QLQ C30 and E14 HRQL scores relative to baseline at 6 months post randomization demonstrated no significant difference between CGA guided and usual care for HRQL across various domains (moderate certainty evidence).

CONCLUSION

The current models of CGA guided care did not improve OS and had variable effects on HRQL when compared to usual care in older patients with cancer. The inconsistent effects of CGA guided care on HRQL suggest that CGA guided care may have more significant effects on the social and functional outcomes domains, aspects of HRQL that is predominantly measured in FACT-G and ELFI score respectively. There is also heterogeneity in how CGAs are performed and implemented. Future research should focus on developing new models of CGA guided care to improve OS and HRQL.

Evolution of magnetic surfboards and spin glass behavior in (Fe1-pGap)2TiO5

The unusual anisotropy of the spin glass (SG) transition in the pseudobrookite system Fe2TiO5has been interpreted as arising from an induced, van der Waals-like, interaction among magnetic clusters. Here we present susceptibility (χ) and specific heat data (C) for Fe2TiO5diluted with non-magnetic Ga, (Fe1-pGap)2TiO5, for disorder parameterp= 0, 0.11, and 0.42, and elastic neutron scattering data forp= 0.20. A uniform suppression ofTgis observed upon increasingp, along with a value ofχTgthat increases asTgdecreases, i.e.dχ(Tg)/dTg<0We also observeCT∝T2in the low temperature limit. The observed behavior places (Fe1-pGap)2TiO5in the category of a strongly geometrically frustrated SG.

[Analysis of factors influencing the success rate of organoid culture in 1231 cases of colorectal cancer]

Objective: To investigate the risk factors for organoid culture failure in colorectal cancer. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study. Tumor specimens were obtained from 1130 patients with colorectal cancer who had undergone surgery or biopsy and had no other concurrent malignancies at Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University from December 2021 to November 2022. Organoid culture was performed on 1231 tumor tissue samples. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the factors that might have influenced the rate of successful organoid culture of colorectal cancer tissue samples. Results: The median (range) duration of organoid culture was 7 (3-12) days. The overall rate of successful culture was 76.3% (939/1231). The rate of successful organoid cultures varied according to the sampling site, malignant ascites having the highest success rate (96.4%, 27/28), followed by liver metastases (83.1%, 54/65), lung metastases (8/10), primary tumors (76.0%, 816/1074), omental metastases (10/14), peritoneal metastases (61.5%, 16/26), ovarian metastases (3/5), and lymph node metastases (5/9). The difference in rates of successful organoid culture between primary tumors and malignant ascites was statistically significant (P=0.012), whereas none of the other rates of successful organoid culture success differed significantly (all P>0.05). The rate of successful organoid culture was 96.4% (27/28) for malignant ascites obtained by abdominal puncture, 76.5% (864/1130) for surgical specimens, and 65.8% (48/73) for endoscopic biopsies; these differences are statistically significant (χ2=10.773, P=0.005). The rate of successful organoid culture was 62.5% (40/64) in the neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy group, which is significantly lower than in the non-adjuvant (76.9%, 787/1023) and chemotherapy groups (77.8%, 112/144) (χ2=7.134, P=0.028). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that endoscopic biopsy (OR=0.557, 95%CI: 0.335-0.924, P=0.024) and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (OR=0.483, 95%CI: 0.285-0.820, P=0.007) were independent risk factors for failure of organoid culture of colorectal cancer samples. Malignant ascites (OR=8.537, 95%CI:1.154-63.131,P=0.036) and abdominal puncture (OR=8.294, 95% CI: 1.112-61.882, P=0.039) were identified as independent protective factors. Conclusions: The rate of successful organoid culture was influenced by the sampling site, sampling method, and chemoradiotherapy. The rate of successful organoid culture was lower for endoscopic biopsies and in patients receiving preoperative neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, and higher for malignant ascites. We consider that culture of malignant ascites is preferable when peritoneal metastases are suspected.

Observation of optical anisotropy and a linear dichroism transition in layered silicon phosphide

The investigation of in-plane two-dimensional (2D) anisotropic materials has garnered significant attention due to their exceptional electronic, optical, and mechanical characteristics. The anisotropic optical properties and angle-dependent photodetectors based on 2D anisotropic materials have been extensively studied. However, novel in-plane anisotropic materials still need to be explored to satisfy for distinct environments and devices. Here, we report the remarkable anisotropic behavior of excitons and demonstrate a unique linear-dichroism transition of absorption between ultraviolet and visible light in layered silicon phosphide (SiP) through the analysis of polarization photoluminescence (PL) and absorbance spectra. Its high absorption linear dichroism ratio of 1.16 at 388 nm, 1.15 at 532 nm, and 1.19 at 733 nm is revealed, suggesting the brilliant non-isotropic responses. The robust periodic variation of the A₁ and A₂ Raman modes in 2D SiP materials allows for the determination of their crystal orientation. Furthermore, the presence of indirect excitons with phonon sidebands in the temperature-dependent PL spectra exhibits non-monotonic energy shifts with increasing temperature, which is attributed to an enhanced electron-phonon interaction and thermal expansion. Our findings provide valuable insights into the fundamental physical properties of layered SiP and offer guidelines for designing polarization-sensitive photodetectors and angle-dependent devices based on 2D anisotropic materials.

[Wu Shou and his work Shang Han Yun Yao Quan Shu published in the Ming Dynasty]

Wu Shou was a doctor in a medical family in Qiantang, Zhejiang in the Ming Dynasty. He was promoted as a medical officer in the local government and the Imperial Academy of Medicine. His work, considered a masterpiece Shang Han Yun Yao Quan Shu was published around 1505. The series consisted of four volumes. The main content of the book focused on the taxonomy study to the Treatise on Febrile Diseases (Shang Han Lun). Wu Shou was politically accused of being a person who pursued fame and fortune but lacked medical skills because of the conflicts and contradiction between medical officials and the political service system in the period of the Chenghua and Hongzhi in the Ming Dynasty. However, his medical and academic thinking and skills for typhoid treatment shown in the book demonstrated that they were not as awful as what was described at that time.

Localization-enhanced moiré exciton in twisted transition metal dichalcogenide heterotrilayer superlattices

The stacking of twisted two-dimensional (2D) layered materials has led to the creation of moiré superlattices, which have become a new platform for the study of quantum optics. The strong coupling of moiré superlattices can result in flat minibands that boost electronic interactions and generate interesting strongly correlated states, including unconventional superconductivity, Mott insulating states, and moiré excitons. However, the impact of adjusting and localizing moiré excitons in Van der Waals heterostructures has yet to be explored experimentally. Here, we present experimental evidence of the localization-enhanced moiré excitons in the twisted WSe₂/WS₂/WSe₂ heterotrilayer with type-II band alignments. At low temperatures, we observed multiple excitons splitting in the twisted WSe₂/WS₂/WSe₂ heterotrilayer, which is manifested as multiple sharp emission lines, in stark contrast to the moiré excitonic behavior of the twisted WSe₂/WS₂ heterobilayer (which has a linewidth 4 times wider). This is due to the enhancement of the two moiré potentials in the twisted heterotrilayer, enabling highly localized moiré excitons at the interface. The confinement effect of moiré potential on moiré excitons is further demonstrated by changes in temperature, laser power, and valley polarization. Our findings offer a new approach for localizing moiré excitons in twist-angle heterostructures, which has the potential for the development of coherent quantum light emitters.

[Epidemiological distribution of genotypes and sub-genotypes of hepatitis B virus in 15 ethnic groups in China]

Objective: To understand the distribution of genotypes and sub-genotypes of HBV in different ethnic groups in China. Methods: The HBsAg positive samples were selected by stratified multi-stage cluster sampling from the sample base of national HBV sero-epidemiological survey in 2020 for the amplification of S gene of HBV by nested PCR. A phylogeny tree was constructed to determine the genotypes and sub-genotypes of HBV. The distribution of genotypes and sub-genotypes of HBV were analyzed comprehensively by using laboratory data and demographic data. Results: A total of 1 539 positive samples from 15 ethnic groups were successfully amplified and analyzed, and 5 genotypes (B, C, D, I and C/D) were detected. The proportion of genotype B was higher in ethnic group of Han (74.52%, 623/836), Zhuang (49.28%, 34/69), Yi (53.19%, 25/47), Miao (94.12%, 32/34), Buyi (81.48%, 22/27). The proportions of genotype C were higher in ethnic groups of Yao (70.91%, 39/55). Genotype D was the predominant genotype in Uygur (83.78%, 31/37). Genotype C/D were detected in Tibetan (92.35%,326/353). In this study, 11 cases of genotype I were detected, 8 of which were distributed in Zhuang nationality. Except for Tibetan, sub-genotype B2 accounted for more than 80.00% in genotype B in all ethnic groups. The proportions of sub-genotype C2 were higher in 8 ethnic groups, i.e. Han, Tibetan, Yi, Uygur, Mongolian, Manchu, Hui and Miao. The proportions of sub-genotype C5 were higher in ethnic groups of Zhuang (55.56%, 15/27) and Yao (84.62%, 33/39). For genotype D, sub-genotype D3 was detected in Yi ethnic group and sub-genotype D1 was detected in both Uygur and Kazak. The proportions of sub-genotype C/D1 and C/D2 in Tibetan were 43.06% (152/353) and 49.29% (174/353). For all the 11 cases of genotype I infection, only sub-genotype I1 was detected. Conclusions: Five genotypes and 15 sub-genotypes of HBV were found in 15 ethnic groups. There were significant differences in the distribution of genotypes and sub-genotypes of HBV among different ethnic groups.

Strain-tunable valley polarization and localized excitons in monolayer WSe2

Monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have a crystalline structure with broken spatial inversion symmetry, making them promising candidates for valleytronic applications. However, the degree of valley polarization is usually not high due to the presence of intervalley scattering. Here, we use the nanoindentation technique to fabricate strained structures of WSe₂ on Au arrays, thus demonstrating the generation and detection of strained localized excitons in monolayer WSe₂. Enhanced emission of strain-localized excitons was observed as two sharp photoluminescence (PL) peaks measured using low-temperature PL spectroscopy. We attribute these emerging sharp peaks to excitons trapped in potential wells formed by local strains. Furthermore, the valley polarization of monolayer WSe₂ is modulated by a magnetic field, and the valley polarization of strained localized excitons is increased, with a high value of up to approximately 79.6%. Our results show that tunable valley polarization and localized excitons can be realized in WSe₂ monolayers, which may be useful for valleytronic applications.

Strong Interlayer Coupling in Twisted Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Moiré Superlattices

Moiré superlattices in twisted van der Waals materials offer a powerful platform for exploring light-matter interactions. The periodic moiré potentials in moiré superlattices can induce strongly correlated quantum phenomena that depend on the moiré potential associated with interlayer coupling at the interface. However, moiré superlattices are primarily prepared by mechanical exfoliation and manual stacking, where the transfer methods easily cause interfacial contamination, and the preparation of high-quality bilayer 2D materials with small twist angles by growth methods remains a significant challenge. In this work, WSe₂ /WSe₂ homobilayers with different twist angles by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), using a heteroatom-assisted growth technique, are synthesized. Using low-frequency Raman scattering, the uniformity of the moiré superlattices is mapped to demonstrate the strong interfacial coupling of the CVD-fabricated twist-angle homobilayers. The moiré potential depths of the CVD-grown and artificially stacked homostructures with twist angles of 1.5° are 115 and 45 meV (an increase of 155%), indicating that the depth of moiré potential can be modulated by the interfacial coupling. These results open a new avenue to study the modulation of moiré potential by strong interlayer coupling and provide a foundation for the development of twistronics.

[Application of augmented reality navigation in laparoscopic and robot-assisted liver surgery]

In recent years, laparoscopic surgery and robotic surgery have been widely used, and various intraoperative image navigation systems have also developed rapidly. However, the liver itself has a complex vessel and duct system, which increase the difficulty of liver surgery. The augmented reality image navigation system combines the three-dimensional reconstructed image of the liver with the real liver anatomy, which presents the specific relationship between the tumor location and the surrounding vessels for the surgeon. Compared with other intraoperative image navigation methods, augmented reality has its unique advantages. This paper provides an overview of current advances in registration technology in augmented reality image navigation system, and focuses on its applications in liver surgery, including laparoscopic surgery and robotic surgery. Finally, the technological problems and difficulties still faced at present are summarized, and future directions worth studying in this field are proposed.

[The sources and spread of Zhong Jing Quan Shu related to Zhang Qingzi]

The original version and title of Zhong Jing Quan Shu referred to the collection of four books - Shang Han Lun, Zhu Jie Shang Han Lun, Shang Han Lei Zheng and Jin Gui Yao Lue Fang Lun, published by Zhao Kaimei in the Ming Dynasty. Then, Zhang Qingzi Shang Han Lun was written by Zhang Qingzi. After that, a Japanese scholar compiled a new collection based on Zhong Jing Quan Shu held in the Cabinet Library in Japan consisting of three books - Shang Han Lei Zheng, JinGui Yao Lue Fang Lun and Zhang Qingzi Shang Han Lun. The preface and content in this collection was adjusted for some practical purposes and was published in the second year of Manji in Japan (1659). This book, Zhang Qingzi Shang Han Lun was based on Shang Han Lun from the early and mid-Edo period of Japan. It was then returned to China in the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty. It was soon republished by Deng in Chengdu, with Yun Qi Zhang Jue Lu and Shang Han Ming Li Lun, added as a collection of five books with the same name Zhang Zi Qing Shang Han Lun, being popular in the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China. This book was understood to be from Zhong Jing Quan Shu published by Zhao Kaimei during this period. These two books were distinguished from each other when Shang Han Lun published in the Song Dynasty, drew people's attention. However, Zhang Qingzi Shang Han Lun was still believed valuable for both clinical and literature studies.

Robotic versus laparoscopic left colectomy with complete mesocolic excision for left-sided colon cancer: a multicentre study with propensity score matching analysis

BACKGROUND

Robotic surgery for right-sided colon and rectal cancer has rapidly increased; however, there is limited evidence in the literature of advantages of robotic left colectomy (RLC) for left-sided colon cancer. The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of RLC versus laparoscopic left colectomy (LLC) with complete mesocolic excision (CME) for left-sided colon cancer.

METHODS

Patients who had RLC or LLC with CME for left-sided colon cancer at 5 hospitals in China between January 2014 and April 2022 were included. A one-to-one propensity score matched analysis was performed to decrease confounding. The primary outcome was postoperative complications occurring within 30 days of surgery. Secondary outcomes were disease-free survival, overall survival and the number of harvested lymph nodes.

RESULTS

A total of 292 patients (187 males; median age 61.0 [20.0-85.0] years) were eligible for this study, and propensity score matching yielded 102 patients in each group. The clinical-pathological characteristics were well-matched between groups. The two groups did not differ in estimated blood loss, conversion to open rate, time to first flatus, reoperation rate, or postoperative length of hospital stay (p > 0.05). RLC was associated with a longer operation time (192.9 ± 53.2 vs. 168.9 ± 52.8 minutes, p=0.001). The incidence of postoperative complications did not differ between the RLC and LLC groups (18.6% vs. 17.6%, p = 0.856). The total number of lymph nodes harvested in the RLC group was higher than that in the LLC group (15.7 ± 8.3 vs. 12.1 ± 5.9, p< 0.001). There were no significant differences in 3-year and 5-year overall survival or 3-year and 5-year disease-free survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to laparoscopic surgery, RLC with CME for left-sided colon cancer was found to be associated with higher numbers of lymph nodes harvested and similar postoperative complications and long-term survival outcomes.

Moiré Enhanced Potentials in Twisted Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Trilayers Homostructures

The exploration of moiré superlatticesholds promising potential to uncover novel quantum phenomena emerging from the interplay of atomic structure and electronic correlation . However, the impact of the moiré potential modulation on the number of twisted layers has yet to be experimentally explored. Here, this work synthesizes a twisted WSe₂ homotrilayer using a dry-transfer method and investigates the enhancement of the moiré potential with increasing number of twisted layers. The results of the study reveal the presence of multiple exciton resonances with positive or negative circularly polarized emission in the WSe₂ homostructure with small twist angles, which are attributed to the excitonic ground and excited states confined to the moiré potential. The distinct g-factor observed in the magneto-optical spectroscopy is also shown to be a result of the confinement of the exciton in the moiré potential. The moiré potential depths of the twisted bilayer and trilayer homostructures are found to be 111 and 212 meV, respectively, an increase of 91% from the bilayer structure. These findings demonstrate that the depth of the moiré potential can be manipulated by adjusting the number of stacked layers, providing a promising avenue for exploration into highly correlated quantum phenomena.

[Challenges to global pertussis prevention and control]

Pertussis is an acute, highly infectious respiratory disease caused by Bordetella pertussis, and is one of the leading causes of infant disease and death worldwide. The pertussis vaccine has been used in the expanded program on immunization globally since 1974 and the vaccination coverage remains high. In recent years, the pertussis incidence rate increased, even pertussis outbreaks occurred, in more and more countries or areas after years with low incidence level. The disease burden of pertussis has been seriously underestimated, and the prevention and control of pertussis is facing many challenges. This article reviews the epidemic status of pertussis worldwide, the factors affecting the reemergence of pertussis, and the challenges in the prevention and control to provide a reference for prevention and control of pertussis.

Effect of intravesical mitomycin compared with gemcitabine on the treatment non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: A meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of intravesical mitomycin compared with gemcitabine on the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

METHODS

A systematic literature search up to November 2021 was done and 6 studies included 389 subjects with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer at the start of the study; 197 of them were provided with intravesical-mitomycin and 192 with intravesical gemcitabine. The studies reported the relationships about the effect of intravesical mitomycin compared with gemcitabine on the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. We calculated the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to assess the effect of intravesical mitomycin compared with gemcitabine on the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer using the dichotomous method with a random or fixed-effect model.

RESULTS

Intravesical mitomycin had significantly higher recurrence rates (OR, 2.41; 95% CI, 1.43-4.08, p=0.001) and chemical cystitis (OR, 4.39; 95% CI, 2.27-8.51, p<0.001) compared to intravesical gemcitabine in subjects with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. However, intravesical mitomycin had no significant difference in its effect on hematuria (OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 0.68-4.33, p=0.26), skin reaction (OR, 2.04; 95% CI, 0.59-7.07, p=0.26), and liver and kidney functions damage (OR, 1.96; 95% CI, 0.35-10.96, p=0.44) compared to intravesical gemcitabine in subjects with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Intravesical mitomycin had significantly higher recurrence rates and chemical cystitis and no significant difference in its effect on hematuria, skin reaction, and liver and kidney functions damage compared to intravesical gemcitabine in subjects with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Further studies are required to validate these findings.

Interplay between post-myocardial infarction ejection fraction and atrial fibrillation: implications for ischemic stroke

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Singapore Ministry of Health’s National Medical Research Council

Background

There are little data on the interplay between post-acute myocardial infarction (MI), left ventricular systolic dysfunction and atrial fibrillation (AF) and the impact on subsequent acute ischemic stroke (AIS), particularly among patients with moderately reduced ejection fraction (EF).

Purpose

We aimed to study the association between low EF, AF and the risk and severity of AIS.

Methods

This study linked national, population-based data from the Singapore Myocardial Infarction Registry with the Singapore Stroke Registry from 2007 to 2018. The EF and AF status were recorded during the index MI hospitalization. Patients were grouped based on an EF of ≥50% or &lt;50%. An additional grouping of patients with AMI in 2008 to 2018 and EF of ≥50% (normal EF), 40-49% (mildly reduced EF) or &lt;40% (reduced EF) was done. The primary outcome of interest was the risk of developing an AIS after an AMI. The secondary outcome of interest was the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) across the different strata of EF among AMI patients with subsequent AIS.

Results

There were 64512 patients available for analysis. The median age was 65.7 and 69.5% were male. The median duration from MI to AIS was 16.9 (IQR 1.6-46.1) months. Low EF &lt;40% was independently associated with subsequent AIS (adjusted HR 1.18, 95% CI 1.10-1.27), as was EF 40-49% (adjusted HR 1.16, 95% CI 1.06-1.27). Among patients with AF, EF&lt;50% was not a statistically significant predictor of AIS (adjusted HR 1.08, 95% CI 0.96-1.23). In patients without AF, the mildly reduced EF group had an increased aHR of AIS of 1.18 (95% CI 1.06-1.31), but not those with AF (aHR 1.03, 95% CI 0.87-1.23). The cubic spline curves of continuous EF against relative hazard for stroke stratified by presence of AF is shown in Figure 1. Patients with low EF without AF had highest median NIHSS score during subsequent AIS (EF &lt;40% NIHSS 6-9; EF 40-49% NIHSS 4; EF ≥50% NIHSS 4).

Conclusions

Reduced and moderately reduced EF post-MI was independently associated with subsequent AIS and was associated with increased AIS severity in patients without AF but not in those with AF. Further research is needed to mitigate the risk of late AIS among post-MI patients with reduced EF along with AF.

Impact of meltwater flow intensity on the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of microbial mats in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica

The meltwater streams of the McMurdo Dry Valleys are hot spots of biological diversity in the climate-sensitive polar desert landscape. Microbial mats, largely comprised of cyanobacteria, dominate the streams which flow for a brief window of time (~10 weeks) over the austral summer. These communities, critical to nutrient and carbon cycling, display previously uncharacterized patterns of rapid destabilization and recovery upon exposure to variable and physiologically detrimental conditions. Here, we characterize changes in biodiversity, transcriptional responses and activity of microbial mats in response to hydrological disturbance over spatiotemporal gradients. While diverse metabolic strategies persist between marginal mats and main channel mats, data collected from 4 time points during the austral summer revealed a homogenization of the mat communities during the mid-season peak meltwater flow, directly influencing the biogeochemical roles of this stream ecosystem. Gene expression pattern analyses identified strong functional sensitivities of nitrogen-fixing marginal mats to changes in hydrological activities. Stress response markers detailed the environmental challenges of each microhabitat and the molecular mechanisms underpinning survival in a polar desert ecosystem at the forefront of climate change. At mid and end points in the flow cycle, mobile genetic elements were upregulated across all mat types indicating high degrees of genome evolvability and transcriptional synchronies. Additionally, we identified novel antifreeze activity in the stream microbial mats indicating the presence of ice-binding proteins (IBPs). Cumulatively, these data provide a new view of active intra-stream diversity, biotic interactions and alterations in ecosystem function over a high-flow hydrological regime.

A highly efficient indirect ELISA and monoclonal antibody established against African swine fever virus pK205R

African swine fever (ASF) is a contagious infectious disease with high lethality which continuously threatens the global pig industry causing huge economic losses. Currently, there are no commercially available vaccines or antiviral drugs that can effectively control ASF. The pathogen of ASF, ASF virus (ASFV) is a double-stranded DNA virus with a genome ranging from 170 to 193 kb and 151 to 167 open reading frames in various strains, which encodes 150-200 proteins. An effective method of monitoring ASFV antibodies, and specific antibodies against ASFV to promote the development of prevention techniques are urgently needed. In the present study, pK205R of ASFV was successfully expressed in mammalian cells using a suspension culture system. An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on the purified pK205R was established and optimized. The monoclonal antibody (mAb) against pK205R recognized a conservative linear epitope (²VEPREQFFQDLLSAV¹⁶) and exhibited specific reactivity, which was conducive to the identification of the recombinant porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) expressing pK205R. The ELISA method efficiently detected clinical ASFV infection and revealed good application prospects in monitoring the antibody level in vivo for recombinant PRRSV live vector virus expressing the ASFV antigen protein. The determination of the conserved linear epitope of pK205R would contribute to further research on the structural biology and function of pK205R. The indirect ELISA method and mAb against ASFV pK205R revealed efficient detection and promising application prospects, making them ideal for epidemiological surveillance and vaccine research on ASF.

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.

The Indirect ELISA and Monoclonal Antibody against African Swine Fever Virus p17 Revealed Efficient Detection and Application Prospects

Since 2018, the outbreak and prevalence of the African swine fever virus (ASFV) in China have caused huge economic losses. Less virulent ASFVs emerged in 2020, which led to difficulties and challenges for early diagnosis and control of African swine fever (ASF) in China. An effective method of monitoring ASFV antibodies and specific antibodies against ASFV to promote the development of prevention techniques are urgently needed. In the present study, ASFV p17 was successfully expressed in CHO cells using a suspension culture system. An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on purified p17 was established and optimized. The monoclonal antibody (mAb) against p17 recognized a conservative linear epitope (3TETSPLLSH11) and exhibited specific reactivity, which was conducive to the identification of recombinant porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) expressing p17. The ELISA method efficiently detected clinical ASFV infection and effectively monitored the antibody levels in vivo after recombinant PRRSV live vector virus expressing p17 vaccination. Overall, the determination of the conserved linear epitope of p17 would contribute to the in-depth exploration of the biological function of the ASFV antigen protein. The indirect ELISA method and mAb against ASFV p17 revealed efficient detection and promising application prospects, making them ideal for epidemiological surveillance and vaccine research on ASF.

Cuproptosis-associated lncRNAs discern prognosis and immune microenvironment in sarcoma victims

Cuproptosis is a fresh form of the copper-elesclomol-triggered, mitochondrial tricarboxylic acid (TCA) dependent cell death. Yet, the subsumed mechanism of cuproptosis-associated lncRNAs in carcinoma is not wholly clarified. Here, We appraised 580 cuproptosis-associated lncRNAs in sarcoma and thereafter construed a module composing of 6 cuproptosis lncRNAs, entitled CuLncScore, utilizing a machine learning methodology. It could outstandingly discern the prognosis of patients in parallel with discriminating tumor immune microenvironment traits. Moreover, we simulate the classification system of cuproptosis lncRNAs by unsupervised learning method to facilitate differentiation of clinical denouement and immunotherapy modality options. Notably, Our Taizhou cohort validated the stability of CuLncScore and the classification system. Taking a step further, we checked these 6 cuproptosis lncRNAs by Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to ascertain their authenticity. All told, our investigations highlight that cuproptosis lncRNAs are involved in various components of sarcoma and assist in the formation of the tumor immune microenvironment. These results provide partial insights to further comprehend the molecular mechanisms of cuproptosis lncRNAs in sarcoma and could be helpful for the development of personalized therapeutic strategies targeting cuproptosis or cuproptosis lncRNAs.

Spermidine Alleviates Intrauterine Hypoxia-Induced Offspring Newborn Myocardial Mitochondrial Damage in Rats by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress and Regulating Mitochondrial Quality Control

Background

Intrauterine hypoxia (IUH) increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases in offspring. As a reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger, polyamine spermidine (SPD) is essential for embryonic and fetal survival and growth. However, further studies on the SPD protection and mechanisms for IUH-induced heart damage in offspring are required.

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the preventive effects of prenatal SPD treatment on IUH-induced heart damage in newborn offspring rats and its underlying mitochondrial-related mechanism.

Methods

The rat model of IUH was established by exposure to 10% O₂ seven days before term. Meanwhile, for seven days, the pregnant rats were given SPD (5 mg.kg^-1.d^-1; ip). The one-day offspring rats were sacrificed to assess several parameters, including growth development, heart damage, cardiomyocytes proliferation, myocardial oxidative stress, cell apoptosis, and mitochondrial function, and have mitochondrial quality control (MQC), including mitophagy, mitochondrial biogenesis, and mitochondrial fusion/fission. In in vitro experiments, primary cardiomyocytes were subjected to hypoxia with or without SPD for 24 hours.

Results

IUH decreased body weight, heart weight, cardiac Ki67 expression, the activity of SOD, and the CAT and adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) levels and increased the BAX/BCL2 expression, and TUNEL-positive nuclei numbers. Furthermore, IUH also caused mitochondrial structure abnormality, dysfunction, and decreased mitophagy (decreased number of mitophagosomes), declined mitochondrial biogenesis (decreased expression of SIRT-1, PGC-1α, NRF-2, and TFAM), and led to fission/fusion imbalance (increased percentage of mitochondrial fragments, increased DRP1 expression, and decreased MFN2 expression) in the myocardium. Surprisingly, SPD treatment normalized the variations in the IUH-induced parameters. Furthermore, SPD also prevented hypoxia-induced ROS accumulation, mitochondrial membrane potential decay, and the mitophagy decrease in cardiomyocytes.

Conclusion

Maternal SPD treatment caused IUH-induced heart damage in newborn offspring rats by improving the myocardial mitochondrial function via anti-oxidation and anti-apoptosis, and regulating MQC.

Layer-dependent excitonic valley polarization properties in MoS2-WS2 heterostructures

In this work, we investigate the polarization of the excitonics valley in MoS₂-WS₂ heterostructures using circular polarization-resolved photoluminescence. The valley polarization is the largest (≈28.45%) in the 1L-1L MoS₂-WS₂ heterostructure and the polarizability of A_WS2 decreases as the number of WS₂ layers increases. We further observed a redshift of exciton XMoS₂- in MoS₂-WS₂ heterostructures with the increase of WS₂ layers, which is attributed to the displacement of the MoS₂ band edge, indicating the layer-sensitive optical properties of the MoS₂-WS₂ heterostructure. Our findings shed light on the understanding of exciton behavior in multilayer MoS₂-WS₂ heterostructures that may promote their potential applications in optoelectronic devices.

[Double-edged sword of opioids in the treatment of cancer pain: hyperalgesia]

Hyperalgesia is an occult complication during the treatment of cancer pain, not only related to opioids, but also pertaining to the tumor itself and cancer therapeutic drugs. Yet it is often ignored by clinicians. Patients with cancer pain who were treated with opioids often have sensory abnormalities presented with reduced pain threshold and increased sensitivity to nociceptive stimuli. This phenomenon is clinically called opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH). However, due to the complexity of pathogenesis and the lack of clinical diagnostic criteria, the pain management of cancer patients is still facing great challenges. Therefore, this article focuses on the clinical diagnosis, pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of hyperalgesia related to cancer pain treatment, in order to provide a basis for optimal use of opioids in the future.

[Comparison of time series and case-crossover analyses in environmental epidemiology]

Time-series and case-crossover are two main study designs in environmental epidemiology. However, due to the differences in design principles and model construction between the two analyses, the results of the two analyses may not be consistent. Herein, we examined the short-term effect of cold spells on cardiovascular mortality in Nanjing using both time series and case-crossover analyses, aiming to provide a basis for the selection of appropriate research design in environmental epidemiology.

[Preclinical evaluation of a veno-venous bypass device for liver transplantation based on the principle of magnetic levitation drive]

Objective: To explore the performance of a self-made venous-venous bypass (VVB) device for liver transplantation based on the principle of magnetic levitation drive. Methods: Experimental study was conducted from August 2020 to January 2022. Eight Bama minipigs underwent VVB of hepatic portal vein-femoral vein-internal jugular vein after occlusion of hepatic portal vein and inferior vena cava. The animals were divided into two groups according to the VVB devices used during VVB. A self-made VVB device was used in group A(n=5),and an imported VVB device was used in group B(n=3). The hemodynamic changes of the two groups of animals were compared at 6 time points including before vascular occlusion, during vascular occlusion, 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes after the start of VVB, and 30 minutes after vascular opening. In addition,the changes of blood compatibility indexes,intestinal injury indexes,kidney injury indexes and internal environment indexes of the two groups of animals at each time point were compared. The independent samples t test was used for the quantitative data between the two groups with non-repeated measures,and the repeated measures analysis of variance was used for the quantitative data between the two groups with repeated measures. Results: During the VVB of the two devices,the venous drainage was sufficient,and the main manifestations were that the color of the intestine of the Bama miniature pig was ruddy, the peristalsis was normal, and the urine output was normal. There were no significant differences in hemodynamics,blood injure indexes,intestinal injury indexes,kidney injury indexes,neutropil gelatinase-associated lipocalin,and internal environment indexes(all P>0.05).The indexes at 30 minutes after vascular opening in the group A and the group B were as follows:mean arterial pressure were (71.0±7.7)mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) and (74.0±8.7)mmHg,central venous pressure were (7.0±1.4)cmH₂O(1 cmH₂O=0.098 kPa) and (7.7±0.6)cmH₂O,heart rate were (131±10) beats/minutes and (132±8)beats/minutes; red blood cell count were (6.43±0.89)×10¹²/L and (6.32±0.58)×10¹²/L,hemoglobin were (108.4±5.9)g/L and (110.0±3.5)g/L,free hemoglobin were (78.28±3.96)mg/L and (78.08±4.54)mg/L; intestinal fatty acid binding protein were (2.27±0.49)μg/L and (2.40±0.78)μg/L;creatinine were (68.30±9.77)μmol/L and (79.90±26.91)μmol/L,blood urea nitrogen were (3.94±1.39)mmol/L and (3.45±0.65)mmol/L;neutropil gelatinase-associated lipocalin were (4.02±0.53) μg/L and (3.86±0.23)μg/L;pH value were 7.27±0.04 and 7.23±0.03,lactic acid were (6.18±2.62)mmol/L and (4.30±0.50)mmol/L,concentrations of Na⁺ were (136.3±3.0)mmol/L and (137.6±1.6) mmol/L,concentrations of K⁺ were (3.89±0.42) mmol/L and (3.98±0.17)mmol/L,concentrations of Ca²⁺ were (1.40±0.03)mmol/L and(1.40±0.04)mmol/L;all indexes in the two group had no differences(all P>0.05). Conclusion: The self-made venous bypass device can be safely and effectively applied to VVB of Bama minipigs,and achieves the same performance as the imported venous bypass device.

[Phenotypes and genotypes of 78 patients with propionic acidemia]

Objective: Propionic acidemia is a rare inherited metabolic disorder caused by propionyl CoA carboxylase (PCC) deficiency. This study aims to analyze the clinical characteristics and gene variations of Chinese patients with propionic acidemia, and to explore the correlation between clinical phenotypes and genotypes. Methods: Single-center, retrospective and observational study. Seventy-eight patients of propionic acidemia (46 males and 32 females) from 20 provinces and autonomous regions were admitted from January 2007 to April 2022. Their age of initial diagnosis ranged from 7 days to 15 years. The clinical manifestations, biochemical and metabolic abnormalities, genetic variations, diagnosis, treatment and outcome were studied. Chi-Square test or Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis. Results: Among 78 cases, 6 (7.7%) were identified by newborn screening; 72 (92.3%) were clinically diagnosed after onset, and the age of onset was 2 hours after birth to 15 years old; 32 cases had early-onset disease and 40 cases had late-onset disease. The initial manifestations included lethargy, hypotonia, vomiting, feeding difficulties, developmental delay, epilepsy, and coma. Among the 74 cases who accepted gene analysis, 35 (47.3%) had PCCA variants and 39 (52.7%) had PCCB variants. A total of 39 PCCA variants and 32 PCCB variants were detected, among which c.2002G>A and c.229C>T in PCCA and c.838dupC and c.1087T>C in PCCB were the most common variants in this cohort. The variants c.1228C>T and c.1283C>T in PCCB may be related to early-onset type. The variants c.838dupC, c.1127G>T and c.1316A>G in PCCB, and c.2002G>A in PCCA may be related to late-onset disease. Six patients detected by newborn screening and treated at asymptomatic stage developed normal. The clinically diagnosed 72 cases had varied complications. 10 (12.8%) cases of them died. 62 patients improved after metabolic therapy by L-carnitine and diet. Six patients received liver transplantation because of recurrent metabolic crisis. Their clinical symptoms were markedly improved. Conclusion: The clinical manifestations of propionic acidemia are complex and lack of specificity. Newborn screening and high-risk screening are keys for early treatment and better outcome. The correlation between the genotype and phenotype of propionic acidemia is unclear, but certain variants may be associated with early-onset or late-onset propionic acidemia.

[Interpretation of defeating meningitis by 2030: a global road map]

Meningitis is a life-threatening disease. In order to reduce its threat to public health, the World Health Assembly indorsed a resolution in 2020 for urgent global action to prevent and control meningitis. Defeating Meningitis by 2030: a Global Roadmap was officially launched by the World Health Organization in 2021. We interpreted some key information of the roadmap from the aspects of coverage, objectives and pillar strategies, providing ideas for further strengthening the prevention and control of bacterial meningitis in China.

Observation of moiré excitons in the twisted WS2/WS2 homostructure

Moiré superlattices offer a fascinating platform for designing the properties of optical excitons. The moiré pattern can generate an ordered exciton array in space, making it possible for topological excitons and quantum emitters. Recently, evidence of moiré excitons in the twisted heterostructures of TMDs has been widely reported. However, to date, the capture and investigation of moiré excitons in the twisted homostructure (T-HS) remain elusive. Here, we report the observation of moiré excitons in the WS₂/WS₂ T-HS with a twist angle of about 1.5°. The PL spectrum of the T-HS region shows many small peaks with nearly constant peak spacing, which is attributed to the reconstructed moiré potential generated by the reconstructed moiré pattern to confine the intralayer excitons, thereby forming an ordered moiré exciton array. Furthermore, we have studied the influence of temperature and laser power on the moiré excitons as well as the valley polarization of the moiré excitons. Our results provide a promising prospect for further exploration of artificial excitonic crystals and quantum emitters of TMD moiré patterns.