Gender associations between phthalate exposure and biomarkers of oxidative stress: A prospective cohort study

Previous epidemiologic research has shown that phthalate exposure in pregnant women is related to adverse birth outcomes in a sex-specific manner. However, the biological mechanism of phthalate exposure that causes these birth outcomes remains poorly defined. In this research, we investigated the association between phthalate exposure and placental oxidative stress in a large population-based cohort study, aiming to initially explore the relationship between phthalate exposure and gene expression in placental oxidative stress in a sex-specific manner. Quantitative PCR was performed to measure the expression of placental inflammatory mRNAs (HO-1, HIF1α, and GRP78) in 2469 placentae. The multiple linear regression models were used to investigate the associations between mRNA and urinary phthalate monoesters. Phthalate metabolites monomethyl phthalate (MMP) and mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP) were positively correlated with higher HIF1α expression in placentae of male fetuses (p < .05). Mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP) increased the expression of HO-1, HIF1α, and GRP78 in placentae of male fetuses, and mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP) up-regulated the expression of HIF1α and GRP78. Additionally, mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP) was negatively correlated with HO-1, HIF1α, and GRP78 in placentae of female fetuses. Maternal phthalate exposure was associated with oxidative stress variations in placental tissues. The associations were closer in the placentas of male fetuses than in that of female ones. The placenta oxidative stress is worth further investigation as a potential mediator of maternal exposure-induced disease risk in children.

Methionine restriction attenuates the migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells by inhibiting nuclear p65 translocation through TRIM47

The prevention and treatment of gastric cancer has been the focus and difficulty of medical research. We aimed to explore the mechanism of inhibiting migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells by methionine restriction (MR). The human gastric cancer cell lines AGS and MKN45 cultured with complete medium (CM) or medium without methionine were used for in vitro experiments. MKN45 cells were injected tail vein into BALB/c nude mice and then fed with normal diet or methionine diet for in vivo experiments. MR treatment decreased cell migration and invasion, increased E-cadherin expression, decreased N-cadherin and p-p65 expressions, and inhibited nuclear p65 translocation of AGS and MKN45 cells when compared with CM group. MR treatment increased IκBα protein expression and protein stability, and decreased IκBα protein ubiquitination level and TRIM47 expression. TRIM47 interacted with IκBα protein, and overexpression of TRIM47 reversed the regulatory effects of MR. TRIM47 promoted lung metastasis formation and partially attenuated the effect of MR on metastasis formation in vivo compared to normal diet group mice. MR reduces TRIM47 expression, leads to the degradation of IκBα, and then inhibits the translocation of nuclear p65 and the migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells.

Tannic acid-poloxamer self-assembled nanoparticles for advanced atherosclerosis therapy by regulation of macrophage polarization

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a significant contributor to cardiovascular events. Advanced AS is particularly concerning, as it leads to the formation of high-risk vulnerable plaques. Current treatments for AS focus on antithrombotic and lipid-lowering interventions, which are effective in treating early-stage AS. Recent studies have shown that macrophage polarization plays a crucial role in the development of AS. This study presents a new biomedical application of natural tannic acid as an anti-inflammatory nanoplatform for advanced AS. Tannic acid-poloxamer nanoparticles (TPNP) are fabricated through self-assembly of tannic acid (TA) and poloxamer. TPNP has the potential to provide effective treatment for advanced AS. According to in vitro studies, TPNP has been found to suppress the inflammatory response in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages by scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS), downregulating the expression levels of inflammatory cytokines (such as interleukin-10 and tumor necrosis factor-α) and regulating polarization of macrophages. In vivo studies further reveal that TPNP can retard the development of advanced atherosclerotic plaques by reducing ROS production and promoting M2 macrophage polarization in the aorta of ApoE-/- mice. Overall, these findings suggest that TPNP could be used to develop natural multifunctional nanoplatforms for molecular therapy of AS and other inflammation-related diseases.

Ultrarobust Actuator Comprising High-Strength Carbon Fibers and Commercially Available Polycarbonate with Multi-Stimulus Responses and Programmable Deformation

Polymer-based actuators have gained extensive attention owing to their potential applications in aerospace, soft robotics, etc. However, poor mechanical properties, the inability of multi-stimuli response and programmable deformation, and the costly fabrication procedure have significantly hindered their practical application. Herein, these issues are overcome via a simple and scalable one-step molding method. The actuator is fabricated by hot-pressing commercial unidirectional carbon fiber/epoxy prepregs with a commodity PC membrane. Notable CTE differences between the CF and PC layers endow the bilayer actuator with fast and reliable actuation deformation. Benefiting from the high strength of CF, the actuator exhibits excellent mechanical performance. Moreover, the anisotropy of CF endows the actuator with design flexibility. Furthermore, the multifunction of CF makes the actuator capable of responding to thermal, optical, and electrical stimulation simultaneously. Based on the bilayer actuator, we successfully fabricated intelligent devices such as light-driven biomimetic flowers, intelligent grippers, and gesture-simulating apparatuses, which further validate the programmability and multi-stimuli response characteristics of this actuator. Strikingly, the prepared gripper possesses a grasping capacity approximately 31.2 times its own weight. It is thus believed that the concept presented paves the way for building next-generation robust robotics.

Cationic cellulose nanofibers/chitosan auxiliary-dominated win-win strategy for paper yarn with superior color and physical performances

The colored and high-saline effluents during the traditional dyeing process poses serious environmental challenge. In our study, an eco-friendly cationic cellulose nano-fiber/chitosan (CCNF/CS) binary versatile auxiliary was designed for the neutral salt-free dyeing and physical enhancement of paper by mixing with pulp simply. Profiting from the rich cationic binding sites of CCNF/CS (Charge density: 3749.67 μmol/g), under near neutral conditions (pH = 6.2), the maximum adsorption capacity of anionic GL (Direct fast turquoise blue GL) on paper with 0.5 % CCNF/CS reached 1865.06 mg/g with a desirable evenness (45.5 % and 92.1 % higher than that of CCNF and NaCl group, respectively), and the dye uptake was up to 97 %. The spontaneous adsorption behavior was aligned with the pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models, with a primary physical mechanism enhanced by chemical forces. The combination of strong electronic attraction, hydrogen bonding, and n-π stacking effects granted CCNF/CS an enhanced proficiency in anionic dye adsorption. In addition, the tensile strength of the resulting paper yarn with 0.5 % CCNF/CS increased to 52.47 MPa under the optimal parameters, deriving from the CCNF/CS-induced inter-fiber cohesion. Overall, our research provided a green promising approach for the innovative neutral salt-free dyeing and mechanical enhancement of paper.

The functional role of circRNA CHRC through miR-431-5p/KLF15 signaling axis in the progression of heart failure

Pathological myocardial hypertrophy is a common early clinical manifestation of heart failure, with non-coding RNAs exerting regulatory influence. However, the molecular function of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in the progression from cardiac hypertrophy to heart failure remains unclear. To uncover functional circRNAs and identify the core circRNA signaling pathway in heart failure, we construct a global triple network (microRNA, circRNA, and mRNA) based on the competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) theory. We observe that circRNA CHRC, within the ceRNA network, is down-regulated in both transverse aortic constriction (TAC) mice and Ang-II-treated primary mouse cardiomyocytes. Silencing circRNA CHRC increases cross-sectional cell area, atrial natriuretic peptide, and β-myosin heavy chain levels in primary mouse cardiomyocytes. Further screening reveals that circRNA CHRC targets the miR-431-5p/KLF15 axis implicated in heart failure progression in vivo and in vitro. Immunoprecipitation with anti-Ago2-RNA confirms the interaction between circRNA CHRC and miR-431-5p, while miR-431-5p mimics reverse Klf15 activation caused by circRNA CHRC over-expression. In summary, circRNA CHRC attenuates cardiac hypertrophy via sponging miR-431-5p to maintain the normal level of Klf15 expression.

KLF10/CBS increases the sensitivity of gastric carcinoma cells to methionine restriction by promoting sulfur transfer pathway

Gastric cancer metastasis is a major cause of poor prognosis. Our previous research showed that methionine restriction (MR) lowers the invasiveness and motility of gastric carcinoma. In this study, we investigated the particular mechanisms of MR on gastric carcinoma metastasis. In vitro, gastric carcinoma cells (AGS, SNU-5, MKN7, KATO III, SNU-1, and MKN45) were grown in an MR medium for 24 h. In vivo, BALB/c mice were given a methionine-free (Met-) diet. Transwell assays were used to investigate cell invasion and migration. The amounts of Krüppel like factor 10 (KLF10) and cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) were determined using quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot. To determine the relationship between KLF10 and CBS, chromatin immunoprecipitation and a dual-luciferase reporter experiment were used. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to detect lung metastasis. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to determine cystathionine content. MR therapy had varying effects on the invasion and migration of gastric carcinoma cells AGS, SNU-5, MKN7, KATO III, SNU-1, and MKN45. KLF10 was highly expressed in AGS cells but poorly expressed in KATO III cells. KLF10 improved MR's ability to prevent gastric carcinoma cell invasion and migration. In addition, KLF10 may interact with CBS, facilitating transcription. Further detection revealed that inhibiting the KLF10/CBS-mediated trans-sulfur pathway lowered Met-'s inhibitory effect on lung metastasis development. KLF10 transcription activated CBS, accelerated the trans-sulfur pathway, and increased gastric carcinoma cells' susceptibility to MR.

SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein impairs airway epithelial barrier function and exacerbates airway inflammation via increased intracellular Cl- concentration

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection disrupts the epithelial barrier and triggers airway inflammation. The envelope (E) protein, a core virulence structural component of coronaviruses, may play a role in this process. Pathogens could interfere with transepithelial Cl- transport via impairment of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), which modulates nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling. However, the pathological effects of SARS-CoV-2 E protein on airway epithelial barrier function, Cl- transport and the robust inflammatory response remain to be elucidated. Here, we have demonstrated that E protein down-regulated the expression of tight junctional proteins, leading to the disruption of the airway epithelial barrier. In addition, E protein triggered the activation of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2/4 and downstream c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling, resulting in an increased intracellular Cl- concentration ([Cl-]i) via up-regulating phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) expression in airway epithelial cells. This elevated [Cl-]i contributed to the heightened airway inflammation through promoting the phosphorylation of serum/glucocorticoid regulated kinase 1 (SGK1). Moreover, blockade of SGK1 or PDE4 alleviated the robust inflammatory response induced by E protein. Overall, these findings provide novel insights into the pathogenic role of SARS-CoV-2 E protein in airway epithelial damage and the ongoing airway inflammation during SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Addressing differences in cancer: a framework for synergistic programming in cancer prevention and control

Background

Cancer remains a leading cause of death worldwide and continues to disproportionately impact certain populations. Several frameworks have been developed that illustrate the multiple determinants of cancer. Expanding upon the work of others, we present an applied framework for cancer prevention and control designed to help clinicians, as well as public health practitioners and researchers, better address differences in cancer outcomes.

Methods

The framework was developed by the Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network's Health Behaviors Workgroup. An initial framework draft was developed based on workgroup discussion, public health theory, and rapid literature review on the determinants of cancer. The framework was refined through interviews and focus groups with Federally Qualified Health Center providers (n=2) and cancer patients (n=2); participants were asked to provide feedback on the framework's causal pathways, completeness, and applicability to their work and personal life.

Results

The framework provides an overview of the relationships between sociodemographic inequalities, social and structural determinants, and key risk factors associated with cancer diagnosis, survivorship, and cancer morbidity and mortality across the lifespan. The framework emphasizes how health-risk behaviors like cigarette smoking interact with psychological, psychosocial, biological, and psychosocial risk factors, as well as healthcare-related behavior and other chronic diseases. Importantly, the framework emphasizes addressing social and structural determinants that influence health behaviors to reduce the burden of cancer and improve health equity. Aligned with previous theory, our framework underscores the importance of addressing co-occurring risk factors and disease states, understanding the complex relationships between factors that influence cancer, and assessing how multiple forms of inequality or disadvantage intersect to increase cancer risk across the lifespan.

Conclusions

This paper presents an applied framework for cancer prevention and control to address cancer differences. Because the framework highlights determinants and factors that influence cancer risk at multiple levels, it can be used to inform the development, implementation, and evaluation of interventions to address cancer morbidity and mortality.

Physical activity attenuates the association of long-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide with sleep quality and its dimensions in Chinese rural older adults

BACKGROUND

Joint impacts of air pollution and physical activity (PA) on sleep quality remain unaddressed. We aimed to investigate whether PA attenuates the association of long-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) with sleep quality and its dimensions in older adults.

METHODS

This study included 3408 Chinese rural older adults. Annual NO2 was estimated using the Space-Time Extra-Trees model. PA was assessed by International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Sleep quality was evaluated using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scale. Linear regression models were used to assess the associations of long-term NO2 exposure and PA with sleep quality and its dimensions, and interaction plots were used to depict the attenuating effect of PA on associations of NO2 with sleep quality and its dimensions.

RESULTS

Three-year (3-y) average NO2 (per 0.64-μg/m3 increment) was positively associated with global PSQI (β = 0.41, 95 % CI: 0.23, 0.59), sleep duration (β = 0.16, 95 % CI: 0.11, 0.21), and habitual sleep efficiency (β = 0.22, 95 % CI: 0.17, 0.27), while PA was negatively associated with global PSQI (β = -0.33, 95 % CI: -0.46, -0.20) and five domains of PSQI other than sleep duration and sleep disturbances. The associations of NO2 with global PSQI, sleep duration, and habitual sleep efficiency were attenuated with increased PA (Pinteraction were 0.037, 0.020, and 0.079, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

PA attenuates the adverse impacts of long-term NO2 exposure on sleep quality, especially on sleep duration, and habitual sleep efficiency, in Chinese rural elderly people. Participating in PA should be encouraged in this population, and continued efforts are still needed to reduce air pollution.

Investigation of Flexural Bearing Behavior of Corroded RC Strengthened with U-Type TRC

In this study, the flexural bearing behavior of corroded reinforced concrete (RC) beams reinforced with U-type Textile Reinforced Concrete (TRC) was investigated using a four-point bending loading method. Nine test beams were produced: one original beam, three RC beams with corrosion alone, and five corroded beams strengthened with U-type TRC. The analysis focuses on assessing the impacts of the steel corrosion degree and the number of textile layers on various aspects of the bending behavior, such as failure modes, bearing capacity, and load displacement curves, in U-type TRC-strengthened corroded beams. The experimental results revealed three distinct failure modes in the U-type TRC-strengthened corroded beams. TRC effectively enhanced the bearing capacity. With sufficient textile layers, it can be restored to the level of the original RC beams. Moreover, in the cases of severe corrosion in RC beams, the bearing capacity increased more significantly. The TRC also enhanced the ductility. Finally, a calculation equation for the ultimate bearing capacity of U-type TRC-strengthened corroded beams was presented and validated, demonstrating consistent alignment with the experimental data.

Melatonin decreases GSDME mediated mesothelial cell pyroptosis and prevents peritoneal fibrosis and ultrafiltration failure

Peritoneal fibrosis together with increased capillaries is the primary cause of peritoneal dialysis failure. Mesothelial cell loss is an initiating event for peritoneal fibrosis. We find that the elevated glucose concentrations in peritoneal dialysate drive mesothelial cell pyroptosis in a manner dependent on caspase-3 and Gasdermin E, driving downstream inflammatory responses, including the activation of macrophages. Moreover, pyroptosis is associated with elevated vascular endothelial growth factor A and C, two key factors in vascular angiogenesis and lymphatic vessel formation. GSDME deficiency mice are protected from high glucose induced peritoneal fibrosis and ultrafiltration failure. Application of melatonin abrogates mesothelial cell pyroptosis through a MT1R-mediated action, and successfully reduces peritoneal fibrosis and angiogenesis in an animal model while preserving dialysis efficacy. Mechanistically, melatonin treatment maintains mitochondrial integrity in mesothelial cells, meanwhile activating mTOR signaling through an increase in the glycolysis product dihydroxyacetone phosphate. These effects together with quenching free radicals by melatonin help mesothelial cells maintain a relatively stable internal environment in the face of high-glucose stress. Thus, Melatonin treatment holds some promise in preserving mesothelium integrity and in decreasing angiogenesis to protect peritoneum function in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis.

Rhodium-catalyzed annulation of hydrazines with vinylene carbonate to synthesize unsubstituted 1-aminoindole derivatives

Herein, we describe rhodium-catalysed C-H bond activation for [3 + 2] annulation using hydrazide and vinylene carbonate, providing an efficient method for synthesising unsubstituted 1-aminoindole compounds. Characterised by high yields, mild reaction conditions, and no need for external oxidants, this transformation demonstrates excellent regioselectivity and a wide tolerance for various functional groups.

Upregulation of E-cadherin by the combination of methionine restriction and HDAC2 intervention for inhibiting gastric carcinoma metastasis

Invasion and metastasis are the leading causes of death in individuals with malignant tumors, including gastric cancer. In this study, we aim to explore the effect and related mechanisms of methionine restriction (MR) on gastric carcinoma metastasis. In the MR cell model, gastric carcinoma cells are cultured in the MR medium, and in the animal model, BALB/c nude rodents are administered with a methionine-free diet after receiving injections of MKN45 cells into the caudal vein. Transwell assay is used to detect cell invasion and migration. Chromatin immunoprecipitation is performed to investigate the levels of H3K9me2, H3K27Ac, and H3K27me3 in the E-cadherin promoter. The results show that MR inhibits gastric carcinoma cell migration, invasion, and lung metastasis. MR increases E-cadherin while reducing the H3K27me3 level in the E-cadherin promoter. E-cadherin expression in gastric carcinoma cells is adversely regulated by HDAC2. Overexpressing HDAC2 reduces the H3K27Ac level in the E-cadherin promoter, while interfering with HDAC2 increases the H3K27Ac level. HDAC2 interference under MR conditions further upregulates E-cadherin expression and inhibits gastric carcinoma cell migration, invasion, and lung metastasis. MR combined with HDAC2 interference promotes E-cadherin expression by mediating the methylation and acetylation of E-cadherin, thus inhibiting the invasion, migration, and lung metastasis of gastric carcinoma cells. Our study provides a new theoretical basis for the inhibitory effect of MR on gastric cancer.

Rapid and convenient synthesis of "green" ammonium-modified chitosan composite sponge with the existence of ascorbic acid for highly efficient removal of Congo red (CR)

In this study, a new green composite sponge made of chitosan and modified with ammonium ascorbate (ACS-CIT) was synthesized in just 10 min. Compared with CS-CIT (sponge prepared from acetic acid), ACS-CIT exhibits significantly enhanced adsorption performance for CR, with the saturated adsorption capacities increased from 353.667 to 1261.639 mg·g-1. The adsorption mechanism can be summarized as the generation of more hydrogen bonds, electrostatic attraction, and intra particle diffusion, revealing the addition of ascorbic acid introduced more hydroxyl groups, thereby enhancing the hydrogen bonding force, and the ammonium modification of chitosan improved the electrostatic attraction of the material, resulting in a significant increase in its adsorption capacity. Additionally, the prepared ACS-CIT showed excellent CR removal performance even in the presence of multiple interfering factors coexisting in the simulated wastewater, and the adsorption capacity remained stable after at least five cycles. Furthermore, the maximum bed capacity of ACS-CIT for CR is 1152.829 mg·g-1 under the given conditions of a flow rate of 1 mL·min-1, inlet concentration of 150 mg·L-1, a bed height of 1 cm respectively, and the breakthrough curve followed the Thomas model. The results indicated the eco-friendly and recyclable ACS-CIT is a promising adsorbent for CR dye removal in water.

Preparation of gelatin-chitosan bilayer film loaded citral nanoemulsion as pH and enzyme stimuli-responsive antibacterial material for food packaging

The responsive release of enzymes, pH, temperature, light and other stimuli is an effective means to reduce the loss of volatile active substances and control the release of active ingredients. The purpose of this study is to design a simple and rapid method to synthesize a multifunctional bilayer membrane, which has good mechanical properties, long-lasting pH and enzyme dual sensitive sustained release properties, and excellent antibacterial activity. The citral nanoemulsion was prepared by ultrasonic method, then the chitosan solution loaded with nanoemulsion was assembled on the gelatin film, and the uniform and smooth gelatin-chitosan bilayer film was successfully prepared. Compared with the control group, the bilayer film loaded with nanoemulsion showed better barrier performance, mechanical properties and antibacterial activity.

Competitive Formation Mechanism for Bidentate Passivation of Halogen Vacancies in Perovskite Based on 6-Chloropurine

For metal halide perovskite solar cells, bidentate passivation (BP) is highly effective, but currently, only passivation sites rather than molecular environments are being considered. Here, the authors report an effective approach for high-performance fully printable mesoscopic perovskite solar cells (FP-PSCs) through the BP strategy using the multidentate molecule 6-chloropurine (6-CP). By utilizing density functional theory (DFT) calculations, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) characterizations, the competition mechanism is identified of BP between the chlorine atom and neighboring nitrogen atom of the imidazole and pyrimidine rings. Through BP between the chlorine atom and adjacent nitrogen atom in imidazole, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the pristine samples is significantly enhanced from 16.25% to 17.63% with 6-CP. The formation of BP enhances interfacial hole selectivity and charge transfer, and suppresses nonradiative recombination, improving device stability under high humidity conditions. The competition mechanism of BP between two aromatic cycles provides a path for designing molecular passivants and selecting passivation pathways to approach theoretical limits.

ACTB may serve as a predictive marker for the efficacy of lenvatinib in patients with HBV-related early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma following partial hepatectomy: a retrospective cohort study

Background

The lack of effective biomarkers for the treatment of postoperative recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) persists despite lenvatinib therapy. This study aims to identify beta-actin (ACTB) as a predictive biomarker for lenvatinib that can facilitate individualized treatment for HCC.

Methods

This retrospective study included a subset of patients with HCC who underwent partial hepatectomy, with some receiving postoperative lenvatinib treatment and others not receiving lenvatinib treatment. A propensity score matching (PSM) analysis of patients who underwent treatment with or without lenvatinib following HCC partial hepatectomy was performed. Immunohistochemistry was employed to determine the levels of ACTB expression in HCC samples obtained from matched patients (n=225) enrolled in this study. The X-Tile was employed to determine the optimal cut-off point of ACTB levels for predicting time to recurrence (TTR). To assess the correlation between ACTB levels and lenvatinib efficacy, a subgroup analysis of TTR was conducted. A Cox regression model with an interaction term was utilized to assess the predictive significance of the model. Subsequently, a nomogram was developed and its discriminative ability and predictive accuracy were assessed using the concordance index (C-index) and calibration curve. For the investigation of the ACTB expression, HCC and para-tumoral normal tissues were employed. The patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model was utilized to validate the correlation between ACTB levels and lenvatinib responsiveness.

Results

After PSM, a total of 76 patients who underwent postoperative lenvatinib treatment were included in the analysis, with a median TTR of 24.35 months. Early-stage HCC patients with lower levels of ACTB exhibited a more favorable response to lenvatinib therapy compared to those with higher levels. The reduced expression of ACTB was indicative of the benefits of lenvatinib, as opposed to higher levels {hazard ratio (HR) =0.243 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.096-0.619], P<0.001, P value for interaction =0.014}. In approximately 81.8% of cases involving HCC patients, there was an observed increase in the expression of ACTB. Multivariate analysis of the lenvatinib cohort revealed Child-Pugh [HR =5.416 (95% CI: 1.390-21.104), P=0.015], Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage [HR =2.508 (95% CI: 1.116-5.639), P=0.026], and ACTB [HR =5.879 (95% CI: 2.424-14.259), P<0.001] score as independent factors for TTR, and all were included in the nomogram. The survival probability based on the calibration curve showed that the prediction of the nomogram was in good agreement with the actual observation. The C-index of the nomogram for predicting survival was 0.76 (95% CI: 0.71-0.84). Moreover, the PDXs derived from tumors exhibiting low levels of ACTB expression demonstrated a heightened sensitivity to lenvatinib treatment.

Conclusions

In patients with tumors treated with lenvatinib, low ACTB expression can predict a lower risk of recurrence. The validation of this potential biomarker in independent cohorts is necessary prior to its implementation for precision treatment stratification in patients undergoing partial hepatectomy for early-stage HCC.

Molecularly designed and synthesized of bright blue nitrogen-doped lignin-derived carbon dots applied in printable anti-counterfeiting

With the increased demand for green and sustainable development, the research of advanced biomass-based carbon dots (CDs) has drawn growing attention. Herein, a one-step green solvent integration strategy-assisted solvothermal method to preparing CDs from hydrolyzed lignin and ethylenediamine (EDA) in formamide (FA) was developed. The Schiff reaction between FA and EDA contributes to the formation of -C-N groups, further inducing the high photoluminescence quantum yield (up to 42.69 %)，obviously higher than NCDs prepared in H2O, EtOH and DMF systems (corresponding to H-NCDs, E-NCDs and D-NCDs, respectively). The analysis of structure, composition, photoluminescence (PL) behaviors and DFT calculations showed that F-NCDs have main blue fluorescent emission peak from 410 to 455 nm under 330-390 nm excitation due to the small sp2 structure in carbon core, and the large sp2 conjugated clusters and CO group related surface states leaded to the long wavelength emission. The F-NCDs with excellent optical properties was further used for preparing fluorescent film and invisible anti-counterfeiting ink, which exhibited outstanding fluorescence even at different temperatures and aging times. We provided a facile way for green facile preparation of lignin-based CDs and their sustainable anti-counterfeiting application.

Perineural invasion confers poorer clinical outcomes in patients with T1/T2 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: a single center, retrospective cohort study

Background

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) poses a significant clinical challenge, demanding a thorough understanding of prognostic indicators for effective patient management. Despite reports suggesting the impact of perineural invasion (PNI) on the prognosis of early-stage ICC patients, there has been a dearth of comprehensive research specifically targeting this subgroup. This study seeks to investigate the influence of PNI on survival outcomes in early-stage ICC patients and aims to enhance the prognostic value of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) T category.

Methods

A cohort of 268 early-stage (T1-T2N0M0) ICC patients, who underwent curative-intent resection (R0) between 2011 and 2015 at the Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, were enrolled in this study. Lasso and Cox regression analyses were employed to explore differences in clinical and prognostic data. Kaplan-Meier curves were generated to illustrate the clinical significance of the combination of PNI and T category.

Results

Among the 268 patients, 24.6% exhibited PNI. Patients with PNI demonstrated shorter recurrence-free survival (RFS) [median RFS: 16 months (interquartile range, 9.5-19 months)] and overall survival (OS) [median OS: 16.53 months (interquartile range, 10-25 months)]. PNI emerged as an independent risk factor for both RFS and OS in T1- and T2-stage patients (all P<0.05), whereas tumor size was only an independent risk factor for OS (P=0.004). PNI was associated with all prognostic markers for ICC patients, including gender, jaundice, cholangitis, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, cancer antigen 199 (CA199), preoperative serum albumin, and preoperative platelet count (all P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in RFS (P=0.270) and OS (P=0.360) between T2 patients without PNI and T1 patients with PNI.

Conclusions

This study underscores PNI as a robust prognostic factor in early-stage ICC, emphasizing the necessity of incorporating PNI into the AJCC T category for precise risk stratification. Clinically, understanding the impact of PNI on survival outcomes can guide tailored treatment strategies for early ICC patients.

Associations of 10 trace element levels in the whole blood with risk of three types of obesity in the elderly

BACKGROUND

Currently, over 2 billion people worldwide suffer from obesity, which poses a serious health risk. More and more attention is being given to the effects of trace elements on obesity in recent years. Synergistic or antagonistic interactions among these elements can adversely or positively impact human health. However, epidemiological evidence on the relationship between trace element exposure levels and obesity has been inconclusive.

METHODS

Baseline data of 994 participants from the Cohort of Elderly Health and Environment Controllable Factors were used in the present study. ICP-MS was used to measure the concentrations of 10 trace elements in the whole blood of the older population. Binary logistic regression, restricted cubic splines (RCS) models, and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models were employed to assess single, nonlinear, and mixed relationships between 10 trace element levels and three types of obesity based on body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and body fat percentage (BFP) in the elderly.

RESULTS

Based on BMI, WC and BFP, 51.8% of the included old population were defined as general overweight/obesity, 67.1% as abdominal obesity, and 36.2% as having slightly high/high BFP. After multivariable adjustment, compared with the lowest tertile, the highest tertile of blood selenium (Se) concentration was associated with an increased risk of all three types of obesity. Additionally, compared with the lowest tertile, higher tertiles of strontium (Sr) concentrations were associated with a lower risk of general overweight/obesity and having slightly high/high BFP, and the highest tertile of barium (Ba) was associated with a lower risk of having slightly high BFP, while higher tertiles of arsenic (As) concentrations were associated with an increased risk of having slightly high/high BFP, and the highest tertile of manganese (Mn) was associated with a higher risk of abdominal obesity. BKMR analyses showed a strong linear positive association between Se and three types of obesity. Higher blood levels of trace element mixture were associated with increased obesity risks in a dose-response pattern, with Se having the highest value of the posterior inclusion probability (PIP) within the mixture.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we found higher Se levels were associated with an elevated risk of obesity and high levels of Ba, Pb and Cr were associated with a decreased risk of obesity. Studies with larger samples are needed to confirm these findings.

Short-term effects of ambient PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 on internal metal/metalloid profiles in older adults: A distributed lag analysis in China

There is limited evidence linking exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM) with internal doses of metals and metalloids (metal(loid)s). This study aimed to evaluate the effects of short-term exposure to ambient PM on urine metal(loid)s among Chinese older adults. Biological monitoring data of 15 urine metal(loid)s collected in 3, 970 community-dwelling older adults in Fuyang city, Anhui Province, China, from July to September 2018, were utilized. PMs with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 1 µm (PM1), ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5), and ≤ 10 µm (PM10) up to eight days before urine collection were estimated by space-time extremely randomized trees (STET) model. Residential greenness was reflected by Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). We used generalized additive model (GAM) combined with distributed lag linear/non-linear models (DLMs/DLNMs) to estimate the associations between short-term PM exposure and urine metal(loid)s. The results suggested that the cumulative exposures to PM1, PM2.5, or PM10 over two days (lag0-1 days) before urine collection were associated with elevated urine metal(loid)s in DLMs, while exhibited linear or "inverted U-shaped" relationships with seven urine metal(loid)s in DLNMs, including Gallium (Ga), Arsenic (As), Aluminum (Al), Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca), Uranium (U), and Barium (Ba). Aforementioned results indicated robust rather than spurious associations between PMs and these seven metal(loid)s. After standardizations for three PMs, PM1 was the greatest contributor to U, PM2.5 made the greatest contributions to Ga, As, Al, and Ba, and PM10 contributed the most to Mg and Ca. Furthermore, the effects of three PMs on urine Ga, As, Al, Mg, Ca, and Ba were reduced when exposed to higher levels of NDVI. Overall, short-term exposures to ambient PMs contribute to elevated urinary metal(loid) levels in older adults, and three PMs exhibit various contributions to different urine metal(loid)s. Moreover, residential greenness may attenuate the effects of PMs on urine metal(loid)s.

[One case of acute severe nitrite poisoning with massive pulmonary thromboembolism]

This paper reported a case of acute severe nitrite poisoning with massive pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE), discussed the pathogenesis and summarized the treatment experience. Common symptoms of nitrite poisoning include headache, abdominal pain, shortness of breath, cyanosis, etc., which can be followed by encephalopathy, neurological dysfunction, hemolysis, etc. However, the cases of PTE are rare in clinical practice and are prone to missed diagnosis. Nitrite and methemoglobin may lead to vascular endothelial damage and promote thrombosis. In the diagnosis and treatment of acute severe nitrite poisoning patients, the targeted preventive measures should be taken.

Multimodal analysis reveals genes driving neuronal maturation in the primate prefrontal cortex

The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) is an evolutionarily derived cortical region in primates critical for high-level cognitive functions and implicated in various neuropsychiatric disorders. The cells that compose the dlPFC, especially excitatory and inhibitory neurons, undergo extensive maturation throughout midfetal and late-fetal development, during which critical neurodevelopmental events, such as circuit assembly and electrophysiological maturation of neurons, occur. Despite the relevance of neuronal maturation in several neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders, the molecular mechanisms underlying this process remain largely unknown. Here, we performed an integrated Patch-seq and single-nucleus multiomic analysis of the rhesus macaque dlPFC to identify genes governing neuronal maturation from midfetal to late-fetal development. Our multimodal analysis identified gene pathways and regulatory networks important for the maturation of distinct neuronal populations, including upper-layer intratelencephalicprojecting neurons. We identified genes underlying the maturation of specific electrophysiological properties of these neurons. Furthermore, gene knockdown in organotypic slices revealed that RAPGEF4 regulates the maturation of resting membrane potential and inward sodium current. Using this strategy, we also found that the knockdown of CHD8, a high-confidence autism spectrum disorder risk gene, in human slices led to deficits in neuronal maturation, via the downstream downregulation of several key genes, including RAPGEF4. Our study revealed novel regulators of neuronal maturation during a critical period of prefrontal development in primates and implicated such regulators in molecular processes underlying autism.

Fast Recovery Double-Network Hydrogels Based on Particulate Macro-RAFT Agents

Synthetic hydrogels struggle to match the high strength, toughness, and recoverability of biological tissues under periodic mechanical loading. Although the hydrophobic polymer chain of polystyrene (PS) may initially collapse into a nanosphere upon contact with water, it has the ability to be elongated when it is subjected to an external force. To address this challenge, we employ the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) method to design a carboxyl-substituted polystyrene (CPS) which can form a covalently cross-linked network with four-armed amino-terminated polyethylene glycol (4-armed-PEG-NH2), and a ductile polyacrylamide network is introduced in order to prepare a double-network (DN) hydrogel. Our results demonstrate that the DN hydrogel exhibits exceptional mechanical properties (0.62 kJ m-2 fracture energy, 2510.89 kJ m-3 toughness, 0.43 MPa strength, and 820% elongation) when a sufficient external force is applied to fracture it. Moreover, when the DN hydrogel is subjected to a 200% strain, it displays superior recoverability (94.5%). This holds a significant potential in enhancing the mechanical performance of synthetic hydrogels and can have wide-ranging applications in fields such as tissue engineering for hydrophobic polymers.

Integrated interactome and transcriptome analysis reveals key host factors critical for SARS-CoV-2 infection

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has seriously threatened global public health and caused huge economic losses. Omics studies of SARS-CoV-2 can help understand the interaction between the virus and host, thereby providing a new perspective in guiding the intervention and treatment of the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Since large amount of SARS-CoV-2 omics data have been accumulated in public databases, this study aimed to identify key host factors involved in SARS-CoV-2 infection through systematic integration of transcriptome and interactome data. By manually curating published studies, we obtained a comprehensive SARS-CoV-2-human protein-protein interactions (PPIs) network, comprising 3591 human proteins interacting with 31 SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins. Using the RobustRankAggregation method, we identified 123 multiple cell line common genes (CLCGs), of which 115 up-regulated CLCGs showed host enhanced innate immunity and chemotactic response signatures. Combined with network analysis, co-expression and functional enrichment analysis, we discovered four key host factors involved in SARS-CoV-2 infection: IFITM1, SERPINE1, DDX60, and TNFAIP2. Furthermore, SERPINE1 was found to facilitate SARS-CoV-2 replication, and can alleviate the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress induced by ORF8 protein through interaction with ORF8. Our findings highlight the importance of systematic integration analysis in understanding SARS-CoV-2-human interactions and provide valuable insights for future research on potential therapeutic targets against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Synthesis of Methyl-d3 Arene via Electrochemical Deuterodefluorination of Trifluoromethyl Arene

The methyl-d₃ group is a new isotopic functional group for medicine design. In this work, we report an electrochemical deuteration approach for converting aromatic trifluoromethyl to methyl-d₃ groups with deuterium water in common DMF. Yields up to 94%, D ratio up to 97%, and CD₃ incorporation up to 90% were achieved. A basic additive is the key factor enabling the highly chemoselective reaction.

Whole-Genome Sequencing and Comparative Genomics Analysis of a Newly Emerged Multidrug-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolate of ST967

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a common cause of hospital- and community-acquired infections globally, yet its population structure remains unknown for many regions, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Here, we report for the first-time whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of a multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae isolate, ARM01, recovered from a patient in Armenia. Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed that ARM01 was resistant to ampicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, ceftazidime, cefepime, norfloxacin, levofloxacin, and chloramphenicol. Genome sequencing analysis revealed that ARM01 belonged to sequence type 967 (ST967), capsule type K18, and antigen type O1. ARM01 carried 13 antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes, including blaSHV-27, dfrA12, tet(A), sul1, sul2, catII.2, mphA, qnrS1, aadA2, aph3-Ia, strA, and strB and the extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) gene blaCTX-M-15, but only one known virulence factor gene, yagZ/ecpA, and one plasmid replicon, IncFIB(K)(pCAV1099-114), were detected. The plasmid profile, AMR genes, virulence factors, accessory gene profile, and evolutionary analyses of ARM01 showed high similarity to isolates recovered from Qatar (SRR11267909 and SRR11267906). The date of the most recent common ancestor (MRCA) of ARM01 was estimated to be around 2017 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2017 to 2018). Although in this study, we report the comparative genomics analysis of only one isolate, it emphasizes the importance of genomic surveillance for emerging pathogens, urging the need for implementation of more effective infection prevention and control practices. IMPORTANCE Whole-genome sequencing and population genetics analysis of K. pneumoniae are scarce from LMICs, and none has been reported for Armenia. Multilevel comparative analysis revealed that ARM01 (an isolate belonging to a newly emerged K. pneumoniae ST967 lineage) was genetically similar to two isolates recovered from Qatar. ARM01 was resistant to a wide range of antibiotics, reflecting the unregulated usage of antibiotics (in most LMICs, antibiotic use is typically unregulated.) Understanding the genetic makeup of these newly emerging lineages will aid in optimizing antibiotic use for patient treatment and contribute to the worldwide efforts of pathogen and AMR surveillance and implementation of more effective infection prevention and control strategies.

The effect of phthalates exposure during pregnancy on asthma in infants aged 0 to 36 months: a birth cohort study

This cohort study sought to investigate the effects of phthalates exposure during pregnancy on offspring asthma and its association with placental stress and inflammatory factor mRNA expression levels. A total of 3474 pregnant women from the China Ma'anshan birth cohort participated in this study. Seven phthalate metabolites were detected in urine samples during pregnancy by solid phase extraction-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Placenta stress and inflammation mRNA expression were assessed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Early pregnancy may be the critical period when phthalates exposure increases the risk of asthma in infants and young children, and there is a certain gender difference in the risk of asthma in infants and young children. Moreover, through the placenta stress and inflammatory factor associated with infant asthma found anti-inflammatory factor of interleukin-10 (IL-10) mRNA expression will reduce the risk of 36-month-old male infant asthma. The expression of interleukin-4(IL-4) and macrophage (M2) biomarker cluster of differentiation 206(CD206) mRNA reduced the risk of asthma in 18-month-old female infants. Placental stress and inflammatory response were analyzed using mediating effects. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) showed a complete mediating effect between mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP) exposure in early pregnancy and asthma in 12-month-old males, and IL-10 also showed a complete mediating effect between mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP) exposure in early and late pregnancy and asthma in 36-month-old males. In summary, exposure to phthalates during pregnancy may contribute to the development of asthma in infants, which may be associated with placental stress and inflammation.

Increased hypertension risk for the elderly with high blood levels of strontium and lead

Hypertension has long been recognized as the global health burden. Heavy metal pollution may be one of the environmental risk factors of hypertension. However, the association remains unclear. We studied the levels of aluminum (Al), vanadium (V), manganese (Mn), arsenic (As), selenium (Se), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), titanium (Ti), lead (Pb) and cobalt (Co) in whole blood, and the relationship between trace element exposure and hypertension in the elderly community-based Chinese population. A total of 1013 participants from the west of Anhui Province in China were consecutively enrolled in this study in 2016. The general sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyles, disease history and physical examination information were collected by face-to-face survey and physical examination. The levels of ten trace elements were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Multivariable logistic regression model was used to assess the association of trace element exposure with the risk of hypertension. Results showed that the odds ratio of hypertension in the highest quartile was 1.811 (95% CI 1.175-2.790, P trend = 0.005) and 1.772 (95% CI 1.121-2.800, P trend = 0.022), respectively, after adjusting for potential confounders, as compared with the lowest quartile of blood Pb and Sr levels.

Inactivated vaccine-elicited potent antibodies can broadly neutralize SARS-CoV-2 circulating variants

A full understanding of the inactivated COVID-19 vaccine-mediated antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 circulating variants will inform vaccine effectiveness and vaccination development strategies. Here, we offer insights into the inactivated vaccine-induced antibody responses after prime-boost vaccination at both the polyclonal and monoclonal levels. We characterized the VDJ sequence of 118 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and found that 20 neutralizing mAbs showed varied potency and breadth against a range of variants including XBB.1.5, BQ.1.1, and BN.1. Bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) based on nonoverlapping mAbs exhibited enhanced neutralizing potency and breadth against the most antibody-evasive strains, such as XBB.1.5, BQ.1.1, and BN.1. The passive transfer of mAbs or their bsAb effectively protected female hACE2 transgenic mice from challenge with an infectious Delta or Omicron BA.2 variant. The neutralization mechanisms of these antibodies were determined by structural characterization. Overall, a broad spectrum of potent and distinct neutralizing antibodies can be induced in individuals immunized with the SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine BBIBP-CorV, suggesting the application potential of inactivated vaccines and these antibodies for preventing infection by SARS-CoV-2 circulating variants.

Utilizing Imine Bonds to Create a Self-Gated Mesoporous Silica Material with Controlled Release and Antimicrobial Properties

In recent years, silica nanomaterials have been widely studied as carriers in the field of antibacterial activity in food. Therefore, it is a promising but challenging proposition to construct responsive antibacterial materials with food safety and controllable release capabilities using silica nanomaterials. In this paper, a pH-responsive self-gated antibacterial material is reported, which uses mesoporous silica nanomaterials as a carrier and achieves self-gating of the antibacterial agent through pH-sensitive imine bonds. This is the first study in the field of food antibacterial materials to achieve self-gating through the chemical bond of the antibacterial material itself. The prepared antibacterial material can effectively sense changes in pH values caused by the growth of foodborne pathogens and choose whether to release antibacterial substances and at what rate. The development of this antibacterial material does not introduce other components, ensuring food safety. In addition, carrying mesoporous silica nanomaterials can also effectively enhance the inhibitory ability of the active substance.

A bacterial cellulose-based separator with tunable pore size for lithium-ion batteries

Bacterial cellulose (BC) lithium-ion batteries separators possess outstanding thermal dimensional stability and electrolyte wettability, but theirs nano diameter and high aspect ratio lead to poor porosity and pore size uniformity of dense BC separators, limiting the Li⁺ transmission in the separators. In this paper, chitosan (CS) with different molecular weight was grafted onto BC (named OBCS), and a high-performance OBCS separator with excellent pore structure and tunable pore size was prepared by simple suction filtration. The spacing and dispersion uniformity of OBCS were improved by the CS grafted on BC surface, thus improving the pore structure and porosity of OBCS separators. The results showed that the obtained OBCS separators not only have excellent physicochemical properties, but also exhibit higher electrochemical performances than the commercial polypropylene (PP) separator. This work provides a new feasible strategy for improving the pore structure and porosity of nanocellulose separators.

Selenium attenuates the association of co-exposure to arsenic, cadmium, and lead with cognitive function among Chinese community-dwelling older adults

The effects of interactions between the toxic and essential metal mixtures on cognitive function are poorly understood. This study aims to identify the joint association of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) with cognitive function in older adults and the moderating role of selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) in this association. This study included 1000 community-dwelling older adults. Cognitive function was assessed by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Blood concentrations of As, Cd, Pb, Se, Zn, and Cu were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Linear regression and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models were applied to assess the individual and joint associations of As, Cd, and Pb with cognitive function and to examine whether Se, Zn, and Cu (individually and as a mixture) modified these associations. In the adjusted single-metal models, both Cd (β = - 0.37, 95% CI: - 0.73 to - 0.01) and Pb (β = - 0.44, 95% CI: - 0.86 to - 0.02) were associated with MMSE scores, while Se (β = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.30 to 1.13) exhibited a positive relationship with MMSE scores. Univariate exposure-response functions from BKMR models showed similar results. Moreover, the toxic metal mixture (As, Cd, and Pb) exhibited a significant negative association with MMSE scores in a dose-response pattern, with Pb being the greatest contributor within the mixture. The negative association of Pb alone or the toxic metal mixture with MMSE scores became weaker at higher concentrations of Se within its normal range, especially when Se levels were greater than the median (89.18 μg/L). Our findings support that Se can attenuate the negative associations of exposure to single Pb or the As, Cd, and Pb mixtures with cognitive function. Future prospective studies are needed to replicate our findings.

Cancer functional states-based molecular subtypes of gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

The treatment of gastric cancer remains a challenge.

METHODS

We divided gastric cancer into three subtypes based on 14 cancer functional states. We investigated differences between subtypes through multi-omics data, especially at the single-cell level, which allowed us to analyze differences from the perspective of each type of cell rather than the whole.

RESULTS

The cluster 1 is characterized by high levels of tumor progression-related cancer functional status, worst survival outcomes, low metabolic level, high infiltration of immunosuppressive cells, high copy number variations (CNV), and low tumor mutational burden (TMB). The cluster 2 is characterized by low levels of tumor progression-related cancer functional status, favorable prognosis, moderate metabolic level, low immune cell infiltration, high CNV, and moderate TMB. Then, the cluster 3 is characterized by the high level of all cancer functional status, high metabolic level, low CNV, high TMB, high infiltration of immune cells with high cytotoxicity, and better response to immunotherapy. We also established a prognostic model based on cancer functional status and validated its robustness.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, our study identified gastric cancer subtypes and provided new insights into the clinical treatment of gastric cancer.

[Evaluation of uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic decortication in treatment of drug-resistant tuberculous empyema]

Objective: To examine the safety and efficacy of the uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic decortication in treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis empyema. Methods: From January 2018 to December 2020, 122 cases of tuberculous empyema treated by decortication in Department of Surgery, Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital were retrospectively analyzed, including 100 males and 22 females, aged(M(IQR)) 29.5(28.0) years (range: 13 to 70 years). According to the surgical approach and drug resistance, patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis who underwent uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic decortication were included in group A (n=22), and those who underwent thoracotomy decortication were included in group B (n=28). Drug-sensitive patients who underwent uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic decortication were included in group C (n=72). There was no statistical difference in the baseline data of the three groups (P>0.05). The operation, early postoperative recovery, and prognosis-related indicators were compared among three groups by Kruskal-Wallis test and χ² test by Mann-Whitney U test and Bonferroni method between groups A and B, groups A and C. Results: The intraoperative blood loss of group A, group B, and group C was 200(475) ml, 300(200) ml, and 225(300) ml, respectively. There was no significant difference in intraoperative hemorrhage (H=2.74, P=0.254) and treatment outcome (χ²=4.76, P=0.575) among the three groups. Compared with group B, the operation time of group A (302.5(187.5) minutes vs. 200.0(60.0) minutes, U=171.0, P=0.007) and postoperative pulmonary reexpansion duration (4.5(3.0) months vs. 3.0 (2.2) months, U=146.5, P=0.032) were longer, and the postoperative drainage duration (9.5(7.8) days vs. 13.0(10.0) days, U=410.0, P=0.044), and the postoperative hospitalization time (12.0(7.8) days vs. 14.5(4.8) days, U=462.2, P=0.020) were shorter. There was no significant difference in complications between group A and group B (63.6%(14/22) vs. 71.4%(20/28), χ²=0.34, P=0.558). Compared with group C, the postoperative drainage duration of group A (9.5(7.8) days vs. 7.0(4.0) days, U=543.5, P=0.031), the postoperative hospitalization time (12.0(7.8) days vs. 9.0(4.0) days, U=533.0, P=0.031) and postoperative pulmonary reexpansion duration (4.5(3.0) months vs. 3.0(2.0) months, U=961.5, P=0.001) were longer. The operation time (302.5(187.5) minutes vs. 242.5(188.8) minutes, U=670.5, P=0.278), and complications (63.6%(14/22) vs. 40.3%(29/72), χ²=3.70, P=0.054) were not different between group A and group C. Conclusions: For drug-resistant tuberculous empyema, the uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic decortication can achieve the same good therapeutic effect as drug-sensitive tuberculous empyema, and it is as safe as thoracotomy. At the same time, it has the advantage of minimally invasive and can accelerate the early postoperative recovery of patients.

Preference of Virtual Reality Games in Psychological Pressure and Depression Treatment: Discrete Choice Experiment

BACKGROUND

Virtual reality (VR) can be used to build many different scenes aimed at reducing study-related stress. However, only few academic experiments on university students for preference testing have been performed.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to assess the preference of VR games for stress and depression treatment using a discrete choice experiment (DCE).

METHODS

A total of 5 different attributes were selected based on the depression therapy parameters and attributes related to VR: (1) treatment modality; (2) therapy duration; (3) perceived remission rate; (4) probability of adverse events; and the (5) monthly cost of adding treatment to a discrete choice experiment. By comparing different attributes and levels, we could draw some conclusions about the depression therapy testing preference for university students; 1 university student was responsible for VR scene development and 1 for participant recruitment.

RESULTS

The utility value of different attributes for "0% Probability of adverse events" was higher than others (99.22), and the utility value of VR treatment as the most popular treatment method compared with counseling and medicine treatment was 80.95. Three parameter aspects (different treatments for depression) were statistically significant (P<.001), including "0%" and "50%" of "Probability of adverse events" and "¥500" (a currency exchange rate of ¥1 [Chinese yuan]=US $0.15 is applicable) of "The monthly cost of treatment." Most individuals preferred 12 months as the therapy duration, and the odds ratio of "12 months" was 1.095 (95% CI 0.945-1.270) when compared with the reference level (6 months). Meanwhile, the cheapest price (¥500) of depression therapy was the optimum choice for most students.

CONCLUSIONS

People placed great preference on VR technology psychological intervention methods, which indicates that VR may have a potential market in the treatment of psychological problems. However, adverse events and treatment costs need to be considered. This study can be used to guide policies that are relevant to the development of the application of VR technology in the field of psychological pressure and depression treatment.

Toxoplasma gondii infection triggers ongoing inflammation mediated by increased intracellular Cl- concentration in airway epithelium

Toxoplasma gondii is a widespread parasitic protozoan causing toxoplasmosis including pulmonary toxoplasmosis. As the first line of host defense, airway epithelial cells play critical roles in orchestrating pulmonary innate immunity. However, the mechanism underlying the airway inflammation induced by the T. gondii infection remains largely unclear. This study demonstrated that after infection with T. gondii, the major anion channel located in the apical membranes of airway epithelial cells, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), was degraded by the parasite-secreted cysteine proteases. The intracellular Cl^- concentration ([Cl^-]_i) was consequently elevated, leading to activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling via serum/glucocorticoid regulated kinase 1. Furthermore, the heightened [Cl^-]_i and activated NF-κB signaling could be sustained in a positive feedback regulatory manner resulting from decreased intracellular cAMP level through NF-κB-mediated up-regulation of phosphodiesterase 4. Conversely, the sulfur-containing compound allicin conferred anti-inflammatory effects on pulmonary toxoplasmosis by decreasing [Cl^-]_i via activation of CFTR. These results suggest that the intracellular Cl^- dynamically modulated by T. gondii mediates sustained airway inflammation, which provides a potential therapeutic target against pulmonary toxoplasmosis.

Associations Between Mild Cognitive Impairment and Whole Blood Zinc and Selenium in the Elderly Cohort

Some studies have shown that an imbalance in trace element homeostasis can lead to cognitive dysfunction, but data are lacking. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between whole blood zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), copper-zinc ratio (Cu/Zn), copper-selenium ratio (Cu/Se), and zinc-selenium ratio (Zn/Se) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in elderly Chinese individuals. The study was based on the Elderly Health and Controlled Environmental Factors Cohort in Lu'an, Anhui Province, China, from June to September 2016. The cognitive function of the elderly was determined by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and activities of daily living (ADL) scales. The concentrations of Zn, Cu, and Se in the whole blood were measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the associations between trace elements and MCI. A total of 1006 participants with an average age of 71.70 years old were included in this study. Compared with healthy people, MCI patients had higher whole blood Zn levels and lower Se levels, and Cu/Zn, Cu/Se, and Zn/Se were also significantly different. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that Zn, Cu/Se, and Zn/Se exposure in the third tertile was associated with an increased risk of MCI, while Se exposure in the third tertile was associated with a reduced risk of MCI. After adjustment for sex, age, marital status, BMI, and living status, whole blood Zn, Se, Cu/Zn, Cu/Se, and Zn/Se were significantly associated with MCI risk, especially in elderly women.

Association Between the Ratios of Selenium to Several Elements and Mild Cognitive Impairment in the Elderly

To investigate the relationship between the correlation ratios of selenium (Se) and other elements and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among older adults. A total of 1000 individuals participated in our research analysis. The concentrations of elements in whole blood were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to reflect their exposure levels. Participants' cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between elemental ratios and MCI. Se concentration was positively correlated with red blood cell count (r = 0.219, p < 0.001), haemoglobin level (r = 0.355, p < 0.001), haematocrit (r = 0.215, p < 0.001), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (r = 0.294, p < 0.001) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (r = 0.428, p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with red cell volume distribution width-standard deviation (r = -0.232, p < 0.001) and platelet distribution width (r = -0.382, p < 0.001). Compared with the normal group, the ratios of Se/vanadium (V), Se/lead (Pb) and Se/cadmium (Cd) in the whole blood of the MCI group were significantly lower (all p < 0.001), while the ratios of manganese (Mn)/Se and iron (Fe)/Se were higher (all p < 0.001). The increase in the ratios of Se/V, Se/Pb and Se/Cd is related to a decreased risk of MCI among older adults; contrarily, an increase in the ratios of Mn/Se and Fe/Se may be a risk factor for MCI.

Virtual versus jaw simulation in inlay preparation preclinical teaching: a randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

To investigate the effect of virtual simulation systems on the teaching of inlay experiments and to guide the experimental teaching of tooth preparation.

METHODS

Participants in their second semester of the junior year were selected to carry out the unified teaching and evaluation of dental preparation theory. The age varied from 18 to 22 years (19.96 ± 0.70) and the participants were randomly divided into four groups (n = 19) with a similar male-to-female ratio following CONSORT guidelines, including a jaw simulation model training group (Group J), a virtual simulation system training group (Group V), a jaw model training first followed by a virtual system training group (Group J-V), and a virtual system followed by a jaw model training group (Group V-J). The inlay tooth preparation assessment was performed on the extracted teeth. The data were analysed according to the assessment scores by a senior clinician. The subjective feelings of the students towards the system were evaluated using questionnaires.

RESULTS

The second theoretical scores of Group V-J (63.5 ± 2.89) and Group J-V (60.5 ± 3.25) were higher than those of Group V (57.5 ± 3.13) and Group J (58.0 ± 3.67). The experimental scores of Groups J-V and V-J (62.79 ± 2.84; 64.00 ± 2.85) were higher than those of Groups V and J (56.05 ± 3.39; 55.74 ± 2.53). The questionnaire survey illustrated that most students preferred the digital virtual simulation system (perfect assessment: 91.3%, accuracy: 82.6%, satisfaction: 52.2%).

CONCLUSION

Virtual simulation training can facilitate the teaching effect of tooth preparation in inlay experiments, and the teaching mode of Group V-J was the best. Therefore, this teaching mode is to be popularised.

Usefulness of four surrogate indexes of insulin resistance in middle-aged population in Hefei, China

OBJECTIVE

Previous study have shown that lipid accumulation product (LAP), visceral adiposity index (VAI), triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (TG/HDL-C) and triglycerides/glucose index (TyG index) could be simple clinical indicators of insulin resistance (IR) based on anthropometric and/or biochemical parameters. However, the rational and preferred surrogate marker of IR in different population has yet to be validated. The aim of this study was evaluating the practicability of the LAP, VAI, TG/HDL-C, and TyG in predicting IR in middle-aged Chinese population.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 569 Chinese participants (mean age was 48.5; man 67.7%), and each participant completed a questionnaire survey, anthropometric measurement, and biochemical testing. One-way ANOVAs, Chi-squared test, Pearson's correlation, and multiple logistic regression were used to evaluate the association between VAI, LAP, TG/HDL-C, and TyG with IR. To correctly discriminate individuals with insulin resistance, a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was conducted for each evaluated variable and the overall diagnostic accuracy was quantified using the area under the ROC curve (AUC). The AUC of evaluated variables were compared using a nonparametric approach. The optimal cut-off points were determined by the Youden's index, and the corresponding sensitivity and specificity were provided.

RESULTS

Significant positive correlation was identified between HOMA-IR with TG/HDL-C (r = 0.306), VAI (r = 0.217), LAP (r = 0.381), and TyG (r = 0.371), respectively (all p < .001). After adjustment for potential confounders of IR, compared with the lowest tertiles, odds ratio (95% CI) having IR in the highest tertiles of TG/HDL-C, VAI, LAP and TyG were 6.07 (2.89-12.71), 10.89 (4.37-27.13), 4.68 (2.00-10.92), and 12.20 (5.04-29.56). The area under ROC curves to predict HOMA-diagnosed IR was 0.773 for TG/HDL-C, 0.767 for VAI, 0.806 for LAP, and 0.800 for TyG, respectively. Among those, LAP showed the greatest value of AUC [0.806 (0.763-0.850)] and highest specificity (0.804).

CONCLUSION

Compared with other indicators, the LAP and TyG are simple, relatively accurate, clinically available surrogate markers of insulin resistance in middle-aged population in Hefei, China. Among 4 evaluated parameters, the LAP have the highest specificity and the TyG have the highest sensitivity.Key MessagesLAP and TyG could be used as simple and alternative methods to identify the individuals at risk for insulin resistance.LAP and TyG have relatively high predictive ability in diagnosis of IR compared with VAI and TG/HDL-C.No significant difference is observed between LAP and TyG in the ability of predicting insulin resistance.

The association between essential trace element mixture and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk among Chinese community-dwelling older adults

The evidence about the association of the essential trace element (ETE) mixture with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) amongst older adults is limited. This study aims to evaluate the associations of single ETEs and the ETE mixture with the 10-year ASCVD risks and its predicting factors in Chinese community-dwelling older adults. A total of 607 community-dwelling older adults were included in this study. Blood levels of vanadium (V), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), and selenium (Se) were assessed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The predicted 10-year ASCVD risk was calculated using the Prediction for ASCVD Risk in China (China-PAR) equations. Traditional linear regressions and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were used to assess the associations of single ETEs and the ETE mixture with the 10-year ASCVD risks and its predicting factors such as systolic blood pressure (SBP), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), diabetes, and waist circumference (WC). In linear regression models, blood Cr levels were negatively associated with the 10-year ASCVD risks after adjustment for covariates (β =  - 0.07, 95% CI =  - 0.11 ~  - 0.03); The 3th quartile (Q3) of Se levels was also associated with a lower 10-year ASCVD risks when compared with the lowest quartile (Q1) of Se levels (β_Q3 vs. _Q1: - 0.12, 95% CI =  - 0.22 ~  - 0.02). In BKMR models, the negative associations of Cr and Se with the 10-year ASCVD risks were observed. Higher blood levels of ETE mixture were associated with decreased 10-year ASCVD risks in a dose-response pattern, with Cr having the highest value of the posterior inclusion probability (PIP) within the mixture. Furthermore, a positive association between Cr and HDL-C and a negative association between Se and SBP were found in both linear regression and BKMR models. Cr and Se were negatively associated with the 10-year ASCVD risks, individually and as a mixture. ETE mixture showed a linear dose-response association with decreased 10-year ASCVD risks, with Cr being the most important component within the mixture. The negative association of the ETE mixture with the 10-year ASCVD risks may be attributed to Cr and Se, mainly mediated by HDL-C and SBP, respectively. Further cohort studies are needed to clarify this association.

Sensory and metabolite migration from tilapia skin to soup during the boiling process: fast and then slow

This study mainly studied sensory and metabolite migration from the skin to the soup in the boiling process of tilapia skin using content analysis, electronic nose technique, electronic tongue technique, and metabolomics technique based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry. The content changes, flavor changes, taste changes, metabolite numbers and differential metabolite numbers for both tilapia skin and soup mainly occurred in the initial 30 min. Moreover, the initial 10 min was the key period for the metabolite changes in the boiling process. Further, the differential metabolites in these three periods (0–10, 10–30, and 30–60 min) were identified to show the metabolites migration process. Six (adenine, gingerol, terephthalic acid, vanillin, pentanenitrile, and 2-pyrrolidinonede) and seven (butyramide, lysope(0:0/20:4(5z,8z,11z,14z)), lysope(22:6(4z,7z,10z,13z,16z,19z)/0:0), linoleic acid, N-acetylneuraminic acid, L-threose, and benzoin) chemicals were screened out in the differential metabolites of tilapia skin and soup, respectively, with Variable Importance in the Projection of >1 and p value of <0.05. This work would be beneficial to understand the sensory and metabolite migration in the preparation process of fish soup and provided a metabolomic analysis route to analyze metabolites migration in food.

[Mechanism of Leakage in Phosphatidylserine-Containing Membranes by Melittin]

Phosphatidylserine (PS) is an important apoptotic-cell surface signal that exists in bacterial and cancer cells. The mechanism by which melittin interacts with the PS membrane remains unclear. Here, we revealed this mechanism by using a dual-channel fluorescence microscope to observe the concentration-dependent process of pore formation in giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) that were exposed to melittin solution. We found that unsaturated PS membranes differed significantly from saturated PS membranes in different phases. This study provides a reference for research and development of anticancer drugs.

Search for Light Fermionic Dark Matter Absorption on Electrons in PandaX-4T

We report a search on sub-MeV fermionic dark matter absorbed by electrons with an outgoing active neutrino using the 0.63  tonne year exposure collected by the PandaX-4T liquid xenon experiment. No significant signals are observed over the expected background. The data are interpreted into limits to the effective couplings between such dark matter and the electron. For axial-vector or vector interactions, our sensitivity is competitive in comparison to existing astrophysical bounds on the decay of such a dark matter candidate into photon final states. In particular, we present the first direct detection limits for a vector (axial-vector) interaction which are the strongest in the mass range from 35 to 55 (25  to  45)  keV/c^{2} in comparison to other astrophysical and cosmological constraints.

Synthesis of Large-Area MXenes with High Yields through Power-Focused Delamination Utilizing Vortex Kinetic Energy

Evaluating the delamination process in the synthesis of MXenes (2D transition metal carbides and nitrides) is critical for their development and applications. However, the preparation of large defect-free MXene flakes with high yields is challenging. Here, a power-focused delamination (PFD) strategy is demonstrated that can enhance both the delamination efficiency and yield of large Ti₃ C₂ T_x MXene nanosheets through repetitive precipitation and vortex shaking processes. Following this protocol, a colloidal concentration of 20.4 mg mL^-1 of the Ti₃ C₂ T_x MXene can be achieved after five PFD cycles, and the yield of the basal-plane-defect-free Ti₃ C₂ T_x nanosheets reaches 61.2%, which is 6.4-fold higher than that obtained using the sonication-exfoliation method. Both nanometer-thin devices and self-supporting films exhibit excellent electrical conductivities (≈25 000 and 8260 S cm^-1 for a 1.8 nm thick monolayer and 11 µm thick film, respectively). Hydrodynamic simulations reveal that the PFD method can efficiently concentrate the shear stress on the surface of the unexfoliated material, leading to the exfoliation of the nanosheets. The PFD-synthesized large MXene nanosheets exhibit superior electrical conductivities and electromagnetic shielding (shielding effectiveness per unit volume: 35 419 dB cm² g^-1 ). Therefore, the PFD strategy provides an efficient route for the preparation of high-performance single-layer MXene nanosheets with large areas and high yields.