[Retracted] MicroRNA‑329‑3p targets MAPK1 to suppress cell proliferation, migration and invasion in cervical cancer

Following the publication of the above article, a concerned reader drew to the Editor's attention that certain of the Transwell cell migration and invasion assay data featured in Figs. 5C and 6C were strikingly similar to data appearing in different form in other articles written by different authors at different research institutes that had already been published elsewhere prior to the submission of this paper to Oncology Reports, or were submitted for consideration for publication at around the same time. In view of the fact that certain of these data had already apparently been published prior to the submission of this article for publication, the Editor of Oncology Reports has decided that this paper should be retracted from the Journal. The authors were asked for an explanation to account for these concerns, but the Editorial Office did not receive a reply. The Editor apologizes to the readership for any inconvenience caused. [Oncology Reports 37: 2743‑2750, 2017; DOI: 10.3892/or.2017.5555].

Controllable synthesis of high-entropy alloys

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) involving more than four elements, as emerging alloys, have brought about a paradigm shift in material design. The unprecedented compositional diversities and structural complexities of HEAs endow multidimensional exploration space and great potential for practical benefits, as well as a formidable challenge for synthesis. To further optimize performance and promote advanced applications, it is essential to synthesize HEAs with desired characteristics to satisfy the requirements in the application scenarios. The properties of HEAs are highly related to their chemical compositions, microstructure, and morphology. In this review, a comprehensive overview of the controllable synthesis of HEAs is provided, ranging from composition design to morphology control, structure construction, and surface/interface engineering. The fundamental parameters and advanced characterization related to HEAs are introduced. We also propose several critical directions for future development. This review can provide insight and an in-depth understanding of HEAs, accelerating the synthesis of the desired HEAs.

Associations of Plasma and Fecal Metabolites with Body Mass Index and Body Fat Distribution in Children

CONTEXT

Childhood obesity continues to be a critical public health concern with far-reaching implications for the well-being.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the association between metabolites in plasma and feces and indicators including body mass index (BMI), BMI for age Z score (BMIZ), and body fat distribution among children aged 6-9 years in China.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study enrolled 424 healthy children, including 186 girls and 238 boys. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to determine the body fat content and regional fat distribution. Plasma and fecal metabolites were analyzed using targeted metabolomic technologies.

RESULTS

A total of 200 plasma metabolites and 212 fecal metabolites were accurately quantified via ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). By using Orthogonal Projections to Latent Structures Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA) and random forest model, we discovered that 9 plasma metabolites and 11 fecal metabolites were associated with different weight statuses. After adjusting for potential covariates and false discovery rate (FDR) correction, multiple linear regression analyses revealed that plasma metabolites (fumaric acid, glycine, l-glutamine, methylmalonic acid, and succinic acid) and fecal metabolites (protocatechuic acid) were negatively associated (β: -1.373--0.016, pFDR: <0.001-0.031; β: -1.008--0.071, pFDR: 0.005-0.033), while plasma metabolites (isovaleric acid, isovalerylcarnitine, l-glutamic acid, and pyroglutamic acid) and fecal metabolites (3-aminoisobutanoic acid, butyric acid, N-acetylneuraminic acid, octanoylcarnitine, oleoylcarnitine, palmitoylcarnitine, stearoylcarnitine, taurochenodesoxycholic acid, and taurodeoxycholic acid) exhibited positive associations with BMI, BMIZ, and body fat distribution (β: 0.023-2.396, pFDR: <0.001; β: 0.014-1.736, pFDR: <0.001-0.049).

CONCLUSION

Plasma and fecal metabolites such as glutamine may serve as a potential therapeutic target for the development of obesity.

Layer-by-layer coated probiotics with chitosan and liposomes exhibit enhanced therapeutic effects for DSS-induced colitis in mice

Probiotic therapy has emerged as a promising approach for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, offering advantages in terms of safety and convenience. However, oral probiotics encounter significant challenges, including exposure to a hostile gastric environment with low pH, bile salts, elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and damage to the protective mucus layer. These factors reduce probiotic survival rates and limit their physiological activity. To address these challenges, we developed a layer-by-layer coated probiotics with curcumin-loaded liposome and polymer. Through DSS-induced colitis mice experiments, we demonstrated that the coated probiotics exhibited an improved survival rate in the gastrointestinal tract and enhanced adhesion to the intestinal mucosa. Furthermore, multi-layered coated probiotics exhibited remarkable efficacy in alleviating colitis by efficiently repairing the gut barrier, modulating gut microbial homeostasis, and reducing bacterial motility at sites of colonic inflammation. Our innovative approach holds promise for effectively treating gastrointestinal diseases.

A new test for trait mean and variance detects unreported loci for blood-pressure variation

Variability in quantitative traits has clinical, ecological, and evolutionary significance. Most genetic variants identified for complex quantitative traits have only a detectable effect on the mean of trait. We have developed the mean-variance test (MVtest) to simultaneously model the mean and log-variance of a quantitative trait as functions of genotypes and covariates by using estimating equations. The advantages of MVtest include the facts that it can detect effect modification, that multiple testing can follow conventional thresholds, that it is robust to non-normal outcomes, and that association statistics can be meta-analyzed. In simulations, we show control of type I error of MVtest over several alternatives. We identified 51 and 37 previously unreported associations for effects on blood-pressure variance and mean, respectively, in the UK Biobank. Transcriptome-wide association studies revealed 633 significant unique gene associations with blood-pressure mean variance. MVtest is broadly applicable to studies of complex quantitative traits and provides an important opportunity to detect novel loci.

On-site monitoring of nandrolone in cattle farming samples by portable atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry with ambient sampling

Nandrolone (NT) is a type of androgen anabolic steroid that is often illegally used in cattle farming, leading to unpredictable harm to human health via the food chain. In this study, a rapid detection method for NT in the samples of cattle farming was established using a portable mass spectrometer. The instrument parameters were optimized, including a thermal desorption temperature of 220 °C, a pump speed of 30 %, an APCI ionization voltage of 3900 v, and an injection volume of 6 μL. The samples of bovine urine, feed, sewage, and tissue were selected, and extracted using a solution of methanol:acetonitrile (1:1, v/v), followed by spiking a NT standard solution (1000 ng·mL-1) and ionization through the APCI ion source for detection. The results showed that NT could not be detected in beef and feed due to the complexity of the matrix, while clear signals of NT ions were observed in bovine urine and sewage samples, with LODs of 1000 and 100 ng·mL-1, respectively. Furthermore, quantitative analysis was attempted, and a good linear relationship (R2 = 0.9952) was observed for NT in sewage within the range of 100 to 1000 ng·mL-1. At spiked levels of 100, 500, 1000 and 2000 ng mL-1, the recovery rates ranged from 74.3 % to 92.8 %, with a relative standard deviation (n = 6) of less than 15 %. In conclusion, this detection method offers the advantages of simplicity, rapidity, strong timeliness, and specificity, making it suitable for on-site detection. It can be used for qualitative screening of nandrolone in bovine urine and quantitative analysis of nandrolone in sewage.

Fabrication of Large-Area Multi-Stimulus Responsive Thin Films via Interfacially Confined Irreversible Katritzky Reaction

Fabrication of large-area thin films through irreversible reactions remains a formidable task. This study reports a breakthrough strategy for in situ synthesis of large-area, free-standing, robust and multi-stimulus responsive thin films through a catalyst-free and irreversible Katritzky reaction at a liquid-liquid interface. The as resulted films are featured with adjustable thickness of 1-3 μm and an area up to 50 cm2. The thin films exhibit fast photo-mechanical motions (a response time of ca 0.1 s), vapor-mechanical motions, as well as photo-chromic and solvato-chromic behaviors. It was revealed that the reason behind the observable motions is proton transfer from the imine groups to the carbonyl structures within the film induced by photo- and/or dimethyl sulfoxide-stimulus. In addition, the films can harvest anionic radicals and the radicals as captured can be efficiently degraded under UV light illumination. This study provides a new strategy for fabricating smart thin films via interfacially confined irreversible Katritzky reaction.

Maximizing carbon sequestration potential in Chinese forests through optimal management

Forest carbon sequestration capacity in China remains uncertain due to underrepresented tree demographic dynamics and overlooked of harvest impacts. In this study, we employ a process-based biogeochemical model to make projections by using national forest inventories, covering approximately 415,000 permanent plots, revealing an expansion in biomass carbon stock by 13.6 ± 1.5 Pg C from 2020 to 2100, with additional sink through augmentation of wood product pool (0.6-2.0 Pg C) and spatiotemporal optimization of forest management (2.3 ± 0.03 Pg C). We find that statistical model might cause large bias in long-term projection due to underrepresentation or neglect of wood harvest and forest demographic changes. Remarkably, disregarding the repercussions of harvesting on forest age can result in a premature shift in the timing of the carbon sink peak by 1-3 decades. Our findings emphasize the pressing necessity for the swift implementation of optimal forest management strategies for carbon sequestration enhancement.

Synthesis of Ultrathin High-Entropy Oxides with Phase Controllability

High-entropy oxides (HEOs) with an ultrathin geometric structure are especially expected to exhibit extraordinary performance in different fields. The phase structure is deemed as a key factor in determining the properties of HEOs, rendering their phase control synthesis tempting. However, the disparity in intrinsic phase structures and physicochemical properties of multiple components makes it challenging to form single-phase HEOs with the target phase. Herein, we proposed a self-lattice framework-guided strategy to realize the synthesis of ultrathin HEOs with desired phase structures, including rock-salt, spinel, perovskite, and fluorite phases. The participation of the Ga assistor was conducive to the formation of the high-entropy mixing state by decreasing the formation energy. The as-prepared ultrathin spinel HEOs were demonstrated to be an excellent catalyst with high activity and stability for the oxygen evolution reaction in water electrolysis. Our work injects new vitality into the synthesis of HEOs for advanced applications and undoubtedly expedites their phase engineering.

Polyphenols synergistic drugs to ameliorate non-alcoholic fatty liver disease via signal pathway and gut microbiota: A review

BACKGROUND

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common chronic liver disease with an increasing incidence worldwide. Single drug therapy may have toxic side effects and disrupt gut microbiota balance. Polyphenols are widely used in disease intervention due to their distinctive nutritional properties and medicinal value, which a potential gut microbiota modulator. However, there is a lack of comprehensive review to explore the efficacy and mechanism of combined therapy with drugs and polyphenols for NAFLD.

AIM OF REVIEW

Based on this, this review firstly discusses the link between NAFLD and gut microbiota, and outlines the effects of polyphenols and drugs on gut microbiota. Secondly, it examined recent advances in the treatment and intervention of NAFLD with drugs and polyphenols and the therapeutic effect of the combination of the two. Finally, we highlight the underlying mechanisms of polyphenol combined drug therapy in NAFLD. This is mainly in terms of signaling pathways (NF-κB, AMPK, Nrf2, JAK/STAT, PPAR, SREBP-1c, PI3K/Akt and TLR) and gut microbiota. Furthermore, some emerging mechanisms such as microRNA potential biomarker therapies may provide therapeutic avenues for NAFLD.

KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW

Drawing inspiration from combination drug strategies, the use of active substances in combination with drugs for NAFLD intervention holds transformative and prospective potential, both improve NAFLD and restore gut microbiota balance while reducing the required drug dosage. This review systematically discusses the bidirectional interactions between gut microbiota and NAFLD, and summarizes the potential mechanisms of polyphenol synergistic drugs in the treatment of NAFLD by modulating signaling pathways and gut microbiota. Future researches should develop multi-omics technology to identify patients who benefit from polyphenols combination drugs and devising individualized treatment plans to enhance its therapeutic effect.

Decline in Cancer Diagnoses during the 'Zero COVID' Policy in Hong Kong: Indirect Spillover Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

AIMS

Despite a largely successful 'zero COVID' policy in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted routine cancer services in the city of Hong Kong. The aims of this study were to examine the trends in cancer incidence before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and estimate missed cancer diagnoses.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We used population-based data from the Hong Kong Cancer Registry 1983-2020 to examine the trends of age- and sex-standardised cancer incidence before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. We applied: (i) the annual average percentage change (AAPC) calculated using the Joinpoint regression model and (ii) the autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model to forecast cancer incidence rates in 2020. Missed cancer diagnoses in 2020 were estimated by comparing forecasted incidence rates to reported rates. A subgroup analysis was conducted by sex, age and cancer site.

RESULTS

The cancer incidence in Hong Kong declined by 4.4% from 2019 to 2020 (male 8.1%; female 1.1%) compared with the long-term AAPC of 0.5% from 2005 to 2019 (95% confidence interval 0.3, 0.7). The gap between the reported and forecasted incidence for 2020 ranged from 5.1 to 5.7% (male 8.5%, 9.8%; female 2.3%, 3.5%). We estimated 1525-1596 missed cancer diagnoses (ARIMA estimate -98, 3148; AAPC 514, 1729) in 2020. Most missed diagnoses were in males (ARIMA 1361 [327, 2394]; AAPC 1401 [1353, 1460]), with an estimated 479-557 missed cases of colorectal cancer (ARIMA 112, 837; AAPC 518, 597) and 256-352 missed cases of prostate cancer (AAPC 231, 280; ARIMA 110, 594).

CONCLUSION

The incidence of new cancer diagnoses declined in 2020 contrary to the long-term increase over the previous decades. Significantly lower diagnoses than expected were observed in males, particularly for colorectal and prostate cancers. Fewer reported cancer cases indicate missed diagnoses and could lead to delayed treatment that could impact future health outcomes.

Characterization and stability assessment of polyphenols bound to Lycium barbarum polysaccharide: Insights from gastrointestinal digestion and colon fermentation

Polysaccharides and polyphenols are biologically active components that coexist in Lycium barbarum fruit, and there may be interactions between them that affect the release of each other. In this study, polyphenols bound to L. barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) were characterized, and the stability of bound phenolics (BP) was assessed by gastrointestinal digestion and colon fermentation. The results showed that a total of 65 phytochemicals such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, and coumarins were identified by UPLC-MS/MS. Quantitative analysis revealed that the major phenolic constituents were rutin, p-coumaric acid, catechin, ferulic acid, protocatechuic acid, and gallic acid, and their contents were 58.72, 24.03, 14.24, 13.28, 10.39, and 6.7 mg GAE/100 g DW, respectively. The release of BP by gastric digestion and gastrointestinal digestion was 9.67 % and 19.39 %, respectively. Most polyphenols were greatly affected by gastric digestion, while rutin was released in small intestine. The BP were fully released (49.77 %) and metabolized by gut microorganisms, and a considerable number of intermediates and end-products were detected, such as phloroglucinol, phenylacetic acid, and phenyllactic acid. Microbiomics data emphasized the positive impact of LBP on gut bacteria of Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, and Clostridioides. These findings could deepen our understanding of the bioavailability and biological fate of BP and also provide reference data for nutrient release and utilization of L. barbarum as a whole.

Interfacially Confined Dynamic Reaction Resulted to Fluorescent Nanofilms Depicting High-Performance Ammonia Sensing

Sensing materials innovation plays a crucial role in the development of high-performance film-based fluorescent sensors (FFSs). In our current study, we present the innovative fabrication of four fluorescent nanofilms via interfacially confined dynamic reaction of a specially designed fluorescent building block, a new boron-coordinated compound (NI-CHO), with a chosen one, benzene-1,3,5-tricarbohydrazide (BTH). The nanofilms as prepared are robust, uniform, flexible, and thickness tunable, at least from 40 to 1500 nm. The fabricated FFSs based on Film 3, one of the four nanofilms, shows highly selective and fully reversible response to NH3 vapor with an experimental detection limit of <0.1 ppm and a response time of 0.2 s. The unprecedented high performance of the nanofilm is ascribed to the specific quenching of its fluorescence emission owing to formation of an excited-state complex between the sensing unit and the analyte molecule. Efficient mass transfer also contributes to the high performance owing to the porous adlayer structure of the nanofilm. This work provides an example to show how to develop a high-performance sensing film via controlling the film's structure, especially the thickness.

[Research advances of collagen-based biomaterials in wound repair]

Acute or chronic wounds are common clinical problems. Collagen, with advantages including rich sources, impeccable biocompatibility, and inherent biodegradability, has been widely used in fundamental research and clinical treatment of wound repair with broad prospects of clinical applications. This article provided a brief overview of the role of collagen in various biological processes related to wound healing and also outlined the sources of collagen. Furthermore, the article summarized the application and recent research advancements of collagen-based wound dressings in the field of wound repair.

Evaluation of Lipid Oxidation Characteristics in Salmon after Simulation of Cold Chain Interruption Using Rapid Evaporation Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Temperature fluctuations occurring during the cold chain logistics of salmon contribute to lipid oxidation. This study aimed to simulate cold chain interruption through freeze-thaw operations and evaluate the lipidomics data from salmon samples subjected to different numbers of freeze-thaw cycles by using rapid evaporative ionization mass spectrometry (REIMS) combined with an intelligent surgical knife (iKnife). The results indicated significant differences in the relative abundance of characteristic ions among the samples (p < 0.05). A total of 34 ions with variable importance for the projection values ≥1 were identified as potential biomarkers, including m/z 719.4233 ([PCC36:5-NH(CH3)3]-), m/z 337.3134 ([FAC22:1]-), m/z 720.4666 ([PEC35:6-H]-), m/z 309.2780 ([FAC20:1]-), m/z 777.4985 ([PCC40:4-NH(CH3)3]-), m/z 745.4421 ([PCC38:6-NH(CH3)3]-/[PEC38:6-NH3]-), m/z 747.4665 ([PCC38:5-NH(CH3)3]-/[PEC38:5-NH3]-), etc. The degree of lipid oxidation was found to be associated with the number of freeze-thaw cycles, exhibiting the most significant alterations in the relative abundance of lipid ions in the 8T samples. Additionally, sensory evaluation by the CIE-L*a*b* method and volatile analysis by headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry demonstrated significant differences (p < 0.05) in color and odor among the salmon samples, with a correlation to the number of freeze-thaw cycles. The primary compounds responsible for alterations in salmon odor were aldehydes with lower odor thresholds. In summary, the iKnife-REIMS method accurately differentiated salmon muscle tissues based on varying levels of lipid oxidation, thus expanding the application of REIMS.

The single-cell modification strategies for probiotics delivery in inflammatory bowel disease: A review

Oral probiotic therapy has become an increasingly attractive method for treating various diseases, including intestinal barrier dysfunction, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and colorectal cancer due to its safety and convenience. However, only a few probiotics after oral gavage can survive the acidic and bile salt conditions of the gastrointestinal tract and colonize the colon to have a nutritional effect on the host. To address these challenges, encapsulation technology has been applied to protect probiotics from harsh gastrointestinal conditions, improve gut adhesion, and reduce immunogenicity. In addition, some of the functional polysaccharides are used to endow probiotics with exogenous functions as prebiotics. In this review, we systematically introduced the advancements of emerging single-cell modification strategies for probiotics in IBD applications. Additionally, we discussed the limitations and perspectives of single-cell modification strategies for probiotics. This review contributed to the development of probiotic delivery systems with higher therapeutic efficacy against colitis.

[Strategies and advances in laboratory tests for primary liver cancer]

Primary liver cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, its early diagnosis and early treatment are of great clinical importance. The main detection tools for liver cancer include serological indicators, imaging tests and risk assessment models. With the advancement of technology and research, the sensitivity and specificity of laboratory tests for liver cancer have been substantially improved, but there are still false negatives and low rates of early diagnosis. For different causes and prevalence regions, each country has developed its clinical practice guidelines to guide risk groups for effective prevention, early diagnosis and standardized treatment. It is important to establish a liver cancer diagnosis strategy that is suitable for China's national conditions, concerning the guidelines for the vigilance and prevention of liver cancer. In this article, the advantages and disadvantages of liver cancer-related tests and the impact of future development trends on laboratory strategies are explained from the perspective of laboratory testing strategies, to provide theoretical support for the practical application of liver cancer diagnostic strategies.

Gene Co-Expression Analysis of Multiple Brain Tissues Reveals Correlation of FAM222A Expression with Multiple Alzheimer's Disease-Related Genes

Background

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia in the elderly marked by central nervous system (CNS) neuronal loss and amyloid plaques. FAM222A, encoding an amyloid plaque core protein, is an AD brain atrophy susceptibility gene that mediates amyloid-β aggregation. However, the expression interplay between FAM222A and other AD-related pathway genes is unclear.

Objective

Our goal was to study FAM222A's whole-genome co-expression profile in multiple tissues and investigate its interplay with other AD-related genes.

Methods

We analyzed gene expression correlations in Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) tissues to identify FAM222A co-expressed genes and performed functional enrichment analysis on identified genes in CNS system.

Results

Genome-wide gene expression profiling identified 673 genes significantly correlated with FAM222A (p < 2.5×10-6) in 48 human tissues, including 298 from 13 CNS tissues. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that FAM222A co-expressed CNS genes were enriched in multiple AD-related pathways. Gene co-expression network analysis for identified genes in each brain region predicted other disease associated genes with similar biological function. Furthermore, co-expression of 25 out of 31 AD-related pathways genes with FAM222A was replicated in brain samples from 107 aged subjects from the Aging, Dementia and TBI Study.

Conclusion

This gene co-expression study identified multiple AD-related genes that are associated with FAM222A, indicating that FAM222A and AD-associated genes can be active simultaneously in similar biological processes, providing evidence that supports the association of FAM222A with AD.

Integrated global assessment of the natural forest carbon potential

Forests are a substantial terrestrial carbon sink, but anthropogenic changes in land use and climate have considerably reduced the scale of this system1. Remote-sensing estimates to quantify carbon losses from global forests2-5 are characterized by considerable uncertainty and we lack a comprehensive ground-sourced evaluation to benchmark these estimates. Here we combine several ground-sourced6 and satellite-derived approaches2,7,8 to evaluate the scale of the global forest carbon potential outside agricultural and urban lands. Despite regional variation, the predictions demonstrated remarkable consistency at a global scale, with only a 12% difference between the ground-sourced and satellite-derived estimates. At present, global forest carbon storage is markedly under the natural potential, with a total deficit of 226 Gt (model range = 151-363 Gt) in areas with low human footprint. Most (61%, 139 Gt C) of this potential is in areas with existing forests, in which ecosystem protection can allow forests to recover to maturity. The remaining 39% (87 Gt C) of potential lies in regions in which forests have been removed or fragmented. Although forests cannot be a substitute for emissions reductions, our results support the idea2,3,9 that the conservation, restoration and sustainable management of diverse forests offer valuable contributions to meeting global climate and biodiversity targets.

Clinical characteristics, treatment options, and prognosis of myeloid sarcoma: analysis using the SEER database

BACKGROUND

Myeloid sarcoma (MS) is a very rare hematologic disorder. This study analyzes the early treatment options for patients with different types of MS and explores the prognostic factors of MS.

METHODS

Patients aged 15 years and older with MS in the SEER database (diagnosed from 2000 to 2018) were selected, excluding those with an unknown first course of treatment, an unknown location of disease, and less than 1 month of follow-up. Statistical methods used a chi-square test to compare clinical characteristics; Kaplan-Meier analysis to compare survival differences; and Cox proportional risk models to identify prognostic factors affecting overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

Data were collected from 472 patients: 244 patients with isolated myeloid sarcoma (IMS) and 228 patients with non-isolated myeloid sarcoma (non-IMS). IMS patients mostly chose local treatment, while non-IMS patients mostly chose chemotherapy. There was a significant difference in OS between IMS patients treated with combined treatment and those without treatment. For non-IMS, treated patients had longer OS than untreated, but the difference was not statistically significant. Among adult patients, those younger than 60 years had a better prognosis. Patients with the urinary system, digestive system, reproductive system and chest and abdomen as the initial site had a better prognosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Early combination therapy in IMS patients had a longer OS, and chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy/surgery should be the treatment of choice. For non-IMS patients, early combination therapy did not show a significant advantage. Age and location of first presentation were independent factors affecting MS patients' long-term prognosis.

Gene-educational attainment interactions in a multi-population genome-wide meta-analysis identify novel lipid loci

Introduction: Educational attainment, widely used in epidemiologic studies as a surrogate for socioeconomic status, is a predictor of cardiovascular health outcomes. Methods: A two-stage genome-wide meta-analysis of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), and triglyceride (TG) levels was performed while accounting for gene-educational attainment interactions in up to 226,315 individuals from five population groups. We considered two educational attainment variables: "Some College" (yes/no, for any education beyond high school) and "Graduated College" (yes/no, for completing a 4-year college degree). Genome-wide significant (p < 5 × 10-8) and suggestive (p < 1 × 10-6) variants were identified in Stage 1 (in up to 108,784 individuals) through genome-wide analysis, and those variants were followed up in Stage 2 studies (in up to 117,531 individuals). Results: In combined analysis of Stages 1 and 2, we identified 18 novel lipid loci (nine for LDL, seven for HDL, and two for TG) by two degree-of-freedom (2 DF) joint tests of main and interaction effects. Four loci showed significant interaction with educational attainment. Two loci were significant only in cross-population analyses. Several loci include genes with known or suggested roles in adipose (FOXP1, MBOAT4, SKP2, STIM1, STX4), brain (BRI3, FILIP1, FOXP1, LINC00290, LMTK2, MBOAT4, MYO6, SENP6, SRGAP3, STIM1, TMEM167A, TMEM30A), and liver (BRI3, FOXP1) biology, highlighting the potential importance of brain-adipose-liver communication in the regulation of lipid metabolism. An investigation of the potential druggability of genes in identified loci resulted in five gene targets shown to interact with drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration, including genes with roles in adipose and brain tissue. Discussion: Genome-wide interaction analysis of educational attainment identified novel lipid loci not previously detected by analyses limited to main genetic effects.

Early life exposure to F-53B induces neurobehavioral changes in developing children and disturbs dopamine-dependent synaptic signaling in weaning mice

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have shown that F-53B exposure may be neurotoxic to animals, but there is a lack of epidemiological evidence, and its mechanism needs further investigation.

METHODS

Serum F-53B concentrations and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) were evaluated in 314 growing children from Guangzhou, China, and the association between them were analyzed. To study the developmental neurotoxicity of F-53B, experiments on sucking mice exposed via placental transfer and breast milk was performed. Maternal mice were orally exposed to 4, 40, and 400 μg/L of F-53B from postnatal day 0 (GD0) to postnatal day 21 (PND 21). Several genes and proteins related to neurodevelopment, dopamine anabolism, and synaptic plasticity were examined by qPCR and western blot, respectively, while dopamine contents were detected by ELISA kit in weaning mice.

RESULTS

The result showed that F-53B was positively associated with poor WCST performance. For example, with an interquartile range increase in F-53B, the change with 95 % confidence interval (CI) of correct response (CR), and non-perseverative errors (NPE) was -2.47 (95 % CI: -3.89, -1.05, P = 0.001), 2.78 (95 % CI: 0.79, 4.76, P = 0.007), respectively. Compared with the control group, the highest exposure group of weaning mice had a longer escape latency (35.24 s vs. 51.18 s, P = 0.034) and a lesser distance movement (34.81 % vs. 21.02 %, P < 0.001) in the target quadrant, as observed from morris water maze (MWM) test. The protein expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and growth associated protein-43 (GAP-43) levels were decreased, as compared to control (0.367-fold, P < 0.001; 0.366-fold, P < 0.001; respectively). We also observed the upregulation of dopamine transporter (DAT) (2.940-fold, P < 0.001) consistent with the trend of dopamine content (1.313-fold, P < 0.001) in the hippocampus.

CONCLUSION

Early life exposure to F-53B is associated with adverse neurobehavioral changes in developing children and weaning mice which may be modulated by dopamine-dependent synaptic plasticity.

The global biogeography of tree leaf form and habit

Understanding what controls global leaf type variation in trees is crucial for comprehending their role in terrestrial ecosystems, including carbon, water and nutrient dynamics. Yet our understanding of the factors influencing forest leaf types remains incomplete, leaving us uncertain about the global proportions of needle-leaved, broadleaved, evergreen and deciduous trees. To address these gaps, we conducted a global, ground-sourced assessment of forest leaf-type variation by integrating forest inventory data with comprehensive leaf form (broadleaf vs needle-leaf) and habit (evergreen vs deciduous) records. We found that global variation in leaf habit is primarily driven by isothermality and soil characteristics, while leaf form is predominantly driven by temperature. Given these relationships, we estimate that 38% of global tree individuals are needle-leaved evergreen, 29% are broadleaved evergreen, 27% are broadleaved deciduous and 5% are needle-leaved deciduous. The aboveground biomass distribution among these tree types is approximately 21% (126.4 Gt), 54% (335.7 Gt), 22% (136.2 Gt) and 3% (18.7 Gt), respectively. We further project that, depending on future emissions pathways, 17-34% of forested areas will experience climate conditions by the end of the century that currently support a different forest type, highlighting the intensification of climatic stress on existing forests. By quantifying the distribution of tree leaf types and their corresponding biomass, and identifying regions where climate change will exert greatest pressure on current leaf types, our results can help improve predictions of future terrestrial ecosystem functioning and carbon cycling.

Network pharmacological and molecular docking verification of the mechanism of Osteoking in preventing deep vein thrombosis of lower limb

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to predict the mechanism of Osteoking in preventing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the lower limb by network pharmacology and molecular docking.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The relevant active components and targets of Osteoking were collected through the TCMSP database, and the relevant disease targets of DVT were collected through the GeneCards, OMIM, and DisGeNET databases. The intersecting gene targets of Osteoking and DVT were obtained using Venny 2.1.0 software. PPI network construction and core target selection using Cytoscape 3.9.0 software. The Metascape database was used for GO and KEGG enrichment analysis of relevant targets. Finally, the molecular docking of the main active components and key targets was carried out.

RESULTS

There are 361 potential targets and 71 core targets of Osteoking in preventing deep vein thrombosis of the lower limb. Signal pathways are involved in various diseases such as cancer, diabetic complications, atherosclerosis, and more. Some of the most common pathways include AGE-RAGE signaling pathway and Calcium signaling pathway. Molecular docking results showed that the main active components of Osteoking had relatively stable binding activities with the key targets.

CONCLUSIONS

Osteoking can play a role through multiple targets and multiple signal pathways to prevent the formation of deep venous thrombosis of the lower limb after fracture.

bglG Regulates the Heterogeneity Driven by the Acid Tolerance Response in Lacticaseibacillus paracasei L9

The acid tolerance of lactic acid bacteria is crucial for their fermentation and probiotic functions. Acid adaption significantly enhances the acid tolerance of strains, and the phenotypic heterogeneity driven by the acid tolerance response (ATR) contributes to this process by providing a selective advantage in harsh environments. The mechanism of heterogeneity under the ATR is not yet clear, but individual gene expression differences are recognized as the cause. In this study, we observed four heterogeneous subpopulations (viable, injured, dead, and unstained) of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei L9 (L9) induced by acid adaption (pH 5.0, 40 min) using flow cytometry. The viable subpopulation represented a significantly superior acid tolerance to the injured subpopulation or total population. Different subpopulations were sorted and transcriptomic analysis was performed. Five genes were found to be upregulated in the viable subpopulation and downregulated in the injured subpopulation, and bglG (LPL9_RS14735) was identified as having a key role in this process. Using salicin (glucoside)-inducing gene expression and gene insertion mutagenesis, we verified that bglG regulated the heterogeneity of the acid stress response and that the relevant mechanisms might be related to activating hsp20. This study provides new evidence for the mechanism of the ATR and may contribute to the theoretical basis of improving the acid tolerance of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei L9.

Temporal Structures in Positron Spectra and Charge-Sign Effects in Galactic Cosmic Rays

We present the precision measurements of 11 years of daily cosmic positron fluxes in the rigidity range from 1.00 to 41.9 GV based on 3.4×10^{6} positrons collected with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) aboard the International Space Station. The positron fluxes show distinctly different time variations from the electron fluxes at short and long timescales. A hysteresis between the electron fluxes and the positron fluxes is observed with a significance greater than 5σ at rigidities below 8.5 GV. On the contrary, the positron fluxes and the proton fluxes show similar time variation. Remarkably, we found that positron fluxes are modulated more than proton fluxes with a significance greater than 5σ for rigidities below 7 GV. These continuous daily positron fluxes, together with AMS daily electron, proton, and helium fluxes over an 11-year solar cycle, provide unique input to the understanding of both the charge-sign and mass dependencies of cosmic rays in the heliosphere.

Efficacy of Postoperative Radiotherapy for Patients with New N2 Descriptors of Subclassification in Completely Resected Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Real-World Study

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Patients with N2 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were heterogeneous groups and required further stratification. The International Society for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) added new descriptors of three sub-stages for stage N2 NSCLC: N2 at a single station without N1 involvement (N2a1), N2 at a single station with N1 involvement (N2a2), and N2 at multiple stations (N2b). This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) for patients with these N2 descriptors.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Patients with histologically confirmed NSCLC after complete resection and divided into PORT group and non-PORT group. The primary endpoint was DFS. The second endpoints were overall survival (OS) and locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRFS). Propensity-score matching (PSM) of baseline characteristics between the PORT and non-PORT groups was used for validation.

RESULTS

Totally 1832 patients were enrolled, including 308 N2a1 patients, 682 N2a2 patients, and 842 N2b patients. The median follow-up time was 50.1 months. The survival outcomes of the PORT and non-PORT groups before PSM were shown in Table 1. For patients with N2a1, PORT could not improve the DFS (median DFS of the PORT group and the non-PORT group: not reached vs. 46.8 months, P = 0.41), OS (P = 0.85), or LRFS (P = 0.32), which were consistent with the multivariate analysis and data after the PSM. For patients with N2a2, PORT significantly improved the DFS (median DFS 29.7 vs. 22.2 months, P = 0.02), OS (P = 0.03), and LRFS (P = 0.01). The multivariate analysis and data after the PSM confirmed the benefits in DFS and LRFS, but no benefit was observed in OS (multivariate analysis: HR 0.79, P = 0.18; median OS after PSM: 103.7 vs. 63.1 months, P = 0.34). For patients with N2b, PORT could not improve the DFS (median DFS 20.6 vs. 21.2 months, P = 0.39) but significantly improved the OS (P<0.001) and LRFS (P<0.001). However, the multivariate analysis showed that PORT significantly improved DFS (HR 0.81, P = 0.03), consistent with the data after the PSM (median DFS 20.6 and 17.6 months, P = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

PORT significantly improved the DFS and LRFS in patients with N2a2 and significantly improved the DFS, LRFS, and OS in patients with N2b. Patients with N2a1 could not benefit from PORT.

Effect of PD-L1 Expression for the PD-1/L1 Inhibitors on Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: A Meta-analysis Based on Randomised Controlled Trials

AIMS

As PD-L1 expression has been proposed as one of the cancer biomarkers for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the predictive value of tumour proportional score (TPS) in the effect of immunotherapy [programmed death protein-1/ligand 1 (PD-1/L1) inhibitors] for NSCLC is worth exploring further. Here, we aimed to summarise the outcomes of current NSCLC randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and explore the predictive value of TPS in clinical immunotherapy, including immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) with or without chemotherapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RCTs published by PubMed, Medline, Embase and Scopus before February 2023 comparing immunotherapy (PD-1/L1 with or without other therapy) versus a control group in advanced or metastatic NSCLC were included to assess the prognosis according to the patients' TPS with 1% and 50% as the thresholds. The primary endpoints were overall survival and progression-free survival.

RESULTS

In total, 28 RCTs containing 17 266 participants with advanced or metastatic NSCLC were included in this meta-analysis. Statistical results showed that compared with TPS <1%, ≥1% or within 1-49%, patients with TPS ≥50% benefited more significantly from the immunotherapy. A subgroup analysis showed that when TPS was <1%, ≥1% or within 1-49%, ICIs + chemotherapy had better efficacy than ICIs alone; PD-1 (such as pembrolizumab) inhibitors had better efficacy than PD-L1 inhibitors (such as atezolizumab).

CONCLUSION

The efficacy of immunotherapy (PD-1/L1 inhibitors) for advanced or metastatic NSCLC is influenced by TPS.

Role and Modality of Combining Radiotherapy with Immunotherapy in Stage III-IV Unresectable Small Cell Lung Cancer

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

The combination of radiotherapy and immunotherapy was rarely reported in the management of small cell lung cancer (SCLC). We retrospectively assessed the role and modality of this combination in Stage III-IV unresectable SCLC.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Patients with stage III and IV SCLC were enrolled according to AJCC 8th edition. Both efficacy and safety of immunotherapy combined with radiotherapy were evaluated. Thereinto, patients received first-line chemo-immunotherapy and sequential thoracic consolidation radiotherapy (TCRT) were further evaluated. Survival and descriptive analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2021, 51 patients were included in our analysis. Median follow-up was 28.0 months (95% CI 22.8-33.2). Patients received radiotherapy in treatment course had a prolonged 2-year overall survival (OS). And in the first-line immunotherapy cohort of 27 patients, the addition of TCRT significantly improved 2y-OS (72.22% vs. 13.89%, p = 0.0048), 2y-locoregional recurrence free survival (LRRFS) (90.00% vs 48.00%, p = 0.011), and 2y-distance progression free survival (DPFS) (66.67% vs. 16.67%, p = 0.039). Subgroup analyses showed that TCRT rendered superior outcomes regardless of brain metastases. Dose-escalation (45 Gy/15f) and earlier radiotherapy seemed to improve the benefit. Of 70.37% (19/27) patients experienced disease progression in the TCRT evaluation cohort, 63.16% (12/19) patients failed in brain. A tendency toward better OS and superior brain metastases free survival (BMFS) were observed after receiving prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI). Finally, the most common grade 2 or higher toxic effects were pneumonitis in all patients (11.76% of immune-related vs. 7.84% of radiation related).

CONCLUSION

Earlier addition of TCRT to immunotherapy could significantly improve survival and extracranial control for stage IIIA-IVB unresectable SCLC patients, with no increased risk of adverse events. In the era of immunotherapy, PCI may still be a recommended strategy. Further investigation is warranted.

Dosimetric Analysis of Proton Beam Therapy vs. Photon Radiotherapy for Cardiac Tumors with or without Deep Inspiratory Breath Holding: A Case Report

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Proton beam therapy (PBT) has been demonstrated to deliver equivalent dosimetric radiation with the benefit of improved sparing of organs at risk (OAR). Deep inspiration breath holding (DIBH) is a commonly used method for reducing the radiation dose to the heart and lungs. However, few studies have ever reported the usage of DIBH combined with proton beam therapy in cardiac tumors. The purpose of this case report is to compare the dosimetric differences between photon radiotherapy and proton radiation therapy (PBT) with or without deep inspiration breath holding.

MATERIALS/METHODS

A 66-year-old female patient with cardiac tumors was recruited, and the prescribed dose of radiotherapy for cardiac tumors was 95%PGTV 50Gy/2.5Gy/20f. Two simulation CT scans were collected during free breath (FB) and DIBH. And the target area was delineated on deep inspiratory breath holding image (DIBH-CT) and free breathing image (FB-CT). The target area of FB-CT was modified by referring to the ten-time phases of 4D-CT. Finally, IMRT, VMAT and PBT plans (DIBH-IMRT, DIBH-VAMT, DIBH-PBT, FB-IMRT, FB-VAMT, FB-PBT) were generated on the above images, and the organs at risk were limited as follows: lungs V20 ≤20%, lungs mean ≤11 Gy, heart V30 ≤40%, coronary artery mean ≤26 Gy, spinal cord ≤30 Gy, and left breast mean ≤5 Gy.

RESULTS

All of the six plans satisfied most of the treatment planning goals. DIBH resulted in a dose reduction in all organs at risk including the heart, lungs, coronary artery (CA), spinal cord and breasts, when compared with FB using IMRT, VMAT, or PBT. Compared with the FB, DIBH provided a significant reduction in the mean dose of coronary artery (CA mean for DIBH-IMRT vs FB-IMRT = 28.32 Gy vs 42.66 Gy, CA mean for DIBH-VMAT vs FB-VAMT = 26.44Gy vs 40.85Gy, CA mean for DIBH-PBT vs FB-PBT = 27.71Gy vs 39.51Gy). Similarly, when compared with IMRT or VMAT in either FB or DIBH, PBT reduced radiation doses for all of the OAR. In comparison, the difference was less significant between IMRT and VMAT technique. Pitmen compared with IMRT and VMAT, reduced significantly the max dose of spinal cord, lungs V5, breast-L/R mean. Totally, DIBH-PBT was observed sufficient dose coverage and better sparing of organs at risk.

CONCLUSION

PBT combined with DIBH technique gained an advantage in the sparing of OAR for cardiac tumors, especially in coronary protection. The possibility of broader application of PBT with DIBH in clinical practice is currently being evaluated and further studies are needed.

Chaperoning the driver of filovirus egress to a dead end

Ebola virus (EBOV) and Marburg virus (MARV) are zoonotic, virulent pathogens that cause sporadic and global outbreaks of severe hemorrhagic fever. Reemergence of these filoviruses remains a global public health threat, highlighting the need for novel countermeasures to control and treat future disease outbreaks. The EBOV VP40 matrix protein drives virion assembly and egress. We recently reported that BAG3 and HSPA/HSP70, two central components of chaperone-assisted selective autophagy (CASA), target VP40 for autophagic sequestration and degradation, thereby inhibiting virus egress and spread. In addition, we found that expression of the EBOV glycoprotein (GP) activates MTORC1, the gateway regulator of autophagy. Notably, pharmacological suppression of MTORC1 signaling by rapamycin activates autophagy and blocks filovirus egress. These findings highlight the MTORC1-CASA axis as a regulator of filovirus egress and suggest new opportunities for antiviral development and intervention.

The Causes of Death and Conditional Survival for Long-Term Survivors of Thymoma

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Data on the morality cause for long-time survival of thymoma is limited. The previous study hinted that thymoma may be a chronic disease rather than a curable cancer. we performed a large-scale retrospective analysis to assess long-term cause of death in patients with thymoma.

MATERIALS/METHODS

This study reviewed thymoma patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between January1975 and December 2016.Conditional survival and annual hazard rates was calculated with Kaplan-Meier, and cause-specific mortality was performed using Fine-Gray competing risks analysis.

RESULTS

Of 3105 patients were identified (median [range] age,58 (18-93), years), 1615 (52.0%) were male,1028(33.1%) were 65 years or older and 1360(43.8%)patients was at locally advanced (IIB-III) disease. The 10-year overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) rates were 55.5% (95% CI, 53.4-57.6%) and 74.4% (95% CI, 72.4-76.3%) respectively. Smoothed hazard showed that the annual overall death hazard of death increased steadily, but the hazard of thymoma-related death began to decline at about 4 years and is exceeded by other causes at death. However, the annual risk of death by thymoma remain about 1-2% at 5-25 years. Similarly, the conditional OS increased slowly with increased survival time however the cancer-specific survival based decreased slowly. The cumulative incidence of the most common causes of death was 23.1% for thymoma, 5.4% for heart of disease, and 3.9% for the second cancer in 10 years, 28.5%,8.3 and 7.0% in 15 years, and 31.8%,11.8% and 10.8% in 25 years. After 5 years of survival, the death of heart was the main cause of non-thymoma death. The 10-years survivors' older patients (≥65 years) or with radiotherapy suffered more heart specific death (adjust P< 0.001, P = 0.015, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The risk of cancer-specific death and other causes of death shift over time for patients with thymoma. The non-cancer cause, especially heart diseases which may be the vital competing cause of death, increased with prolongation of survival time.

Study of the ^{22}Mg Waiting Point Relevant for X-Ray Burst Nucleosynthesis via the ^{22}Mg(α,p)^{25}Al Reaction

The ^{22}Mg(α,p)^{25}Al reaction rate has been identified as a major source of uncertainty for understanding the nucleosynthesis flow in Type-I x-ray bursts. We report a direct measurement of the energy- and angle-integrated cross sections of this reaction in a 3.3-6.9 MeV center-of-mass energy range using the MUlti-Sampling Ionization Chamber (MUSIC). The new ^{22}Mg(α,p)^{25}Al reaction rate is a factor of ∼4 higher than the previous direct measurement of this reaction within temperatures relevant for x-ray bursts, resulting in the ^{22}Mg waiting point of x-ray burst nucleosynthesis flow to be significantly bypassed via the (α,p) reaction.

Native diversity buffers against severity of non-native tree invasions

Determining the drivers of non-native plant invasions is critical for managing native ecosystems and limiting the spread of invasive species1,2. Tree invasions in particular have been relatively overlooked, even though they have the potential to transform ecosystems and economies3,4. Here, leveraging global tree databases5-7, we explore how the phylogenetic and functional diversity of native tree communities, human pressure and the environment influence the establishment of non-native tree species and the subsequent invasion severity. We find that anthropogenic factors are key to predicting whether a location is invaded, but that invasion severity is underpinned by native diversity, with higher diversity predicting lower invasion severity. Temperature and precipitation emerge as strong predictors of invasion strategy, with non-native species invading successfully when they are similar to the native community in cold or dry extremes. Yet, despite the influence of these ecological forces in determining invasion strategy, we find evidence that these patterns can be obscured by human activity, with lower ecological signal in areas with higher proximity to shipping ports. Our global perspective of non-native tree invasion highlights that human drivers influence non-native tree presence, and that native phylogenetic and functional diversity have a critical role in the establishment and spread of subsequent invasions.

[The application value of shear wave dispersion and shear wave elastography combined with serological indicators in the evaluation of liver fibrosis]

Objective: To explore the application value of shear wave dispersion (SWD) and shear wave elastography (SWE) combined with serological indicators in the evaluation of liver fibrosis. Methods: A total of 219 patients with liver disorders who underwent liver biopsy were prospectively collected in Huashan Hospital, Fudan University from January 2021 to September 2022, including 130 males and 89 females, aged from 18 to 76 (42±12) years. All patients underwent SWD and SWE examinations before liver biopsy. Serological indicators including alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alkaline phosphatase(ALP)) and γ-glutamyl transpeptadase (GGT) were also collected. Based on pathological diagnosis of liver fibrosis stage (from S0 to S4), the distribution of dispersion slope and liver elastic modulus at different fibrosis stages were analyzed in all patients. All patients were divided 7: 3 into training set (156 cases) and validation set (63 cases) in chronological order. In training set, factors influencing liver fibrosis≥S2 stage and S4 stage were analysed using binary logistic regression. The predictive models were established for diagnosing liver fibrosis≥S2 stage and S4 stage by using R language, and the models were evaluated by the area under curve (AUC) and calibrated for validation. Results: The dispersion slope and elastic modulus increased with the severity of fibrosis, with statistically significant differences in different fibrosis stages (both P<0.001). In training set, dispersion slope, elastic modulus, ALT, AST, and GGT were influential factors in liver fibrosis≥S2 stage and S4 stage(both P<0.05), and prediction models were constructed based on these indicators. In training set, the AUCs of the predictive model, SWD and SWE for diagnosingliver fibrosis≥S2 stage were 0.743 (95%CI: 0.665-0.821), 0.709 (95%CI: 0.628-0.790) and 0.725 (95%CI: 0.647-0.804), respectively; for diagnosing liver fibrosis S4 stage, the AUCs were 0.988 (95%CI: 0.968-1.000), 0.908 (95%CI: 0.852-0.963) and 0.974 (95%CI: 0.945-1.000), respectively. In validation set, the AUC of the predictive model, SWD and SWE for diagnosing liver fibrosis≥S2 stage were 08.735 (95%CI: 0.612-0.859), 0.658 (95%CI:0.522-0.793) and 0.699 (95%CI:0.570-0.828), respectively; for diagnosing liver fibrosis S4 stage, the AUC were 0.976 (95%CI: 0.937-1.000), 0.872 (95%CI: 0.757-0.988) and 0.948 (95%CI: 0.889-1.000), respectively. The calibration curves of the prediction models were consistent in the training and validation sets. Conclusion: The predictive model of SWD and SWE combined with serological indicators is helpful in the diagnosis of stage of liver fibrosis non-invasively.

Contrasting effects of filamin A and B proteins in modulating filovirus entry

Ebola (EBOV) and Marburg viruses (MARV) cause severe hemorrhagic fever associated with high mortality rates in humans. A better understanding of filovirus-host interactions that regulate the EBOV and MARV lifecycles can provide biological and mechanistic insight critical for therapeutic development. EBOV glycoprotein (eGP) and MARV glycoprotein (mGP) mediate entry into host cells primarily by actin-dependent macropinocytosis. Here, we identified actin-binding cytoskeletal crosslinking proteins filamin A (FLNa) and B (FLNb) as important regulators of both EBOV and MARV entry. We found that entry of pseudotype psVSV-RFP-eGP, infectious recombinant rVSV-eGP-mCherry, and live authentic EBOV and MARV was inhibited in filamin A knockdown (FLNaKD) cells, but was surprisingly enhanced in filamin B knockdown (FLNbKD) cells. Mechanistically, our findings suggest that differential regulation of macropinocytosis by FLNa and FLNb likely contributes to their specific effects on EBOV and MARV entry. This study is the first to identify the filamin family of proteins as regulators of EBOV and MARV entry. These findings may provide insight into the development of new countermeasures to prevent EBOV and MARV infections.

Association of gut microbiota, plasma and fecal metabolite profiles with intellectual development in school-age children

Background

Little is known about how the gut microbiota and metabolic profiles are related to cognitive outcomes in young children until now. It was hypothesized that the gut microbiota, the plasma and fecal metabolites significantly correlated with intelligence quotient (IQ) in school-age children in current study.

Methods

This cross-sectional study enrolled 452 children aged 6-9 years old. IQ was measured using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition. Fecal microbiota, plasma and fecal metabolites were analyzed using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and targeted metabolomic technologies, respectively.

Results

Restricted maximum likelihood (REML) analyses showed that microbiota composition and fecal metabolites were associated with neither subscale nor full-scale IQ (P: 0.059-0.500). However, plasma metabolites were significantly correlated with the processing speed (P=0.008). In multiple regression analysis after adjusting for confounders and multiple test correction, benzoic acid, azelaic acid, adipic acid, suberic acid and malonic acid selected by the multivariate methods with unbiased variable selection were positively associated with processing speed index (PSI) [Pfalse discovery rate (FDR): 0.006-0.024], whereas pyruvic acid was negatively associated with the PSI and full-scale IQ (PFDR: 0.014-0.030).

Conclusions

In normal school-age children, certain plasma metabolites concentrations but not the gut microbiota composition nor fecal metabolites are correlated with intelligence.

Spatial database of planted forests in East Asia

Planted forests are critical to climate change mitigation and constitute a major supplier of timber/non-timber products and other ecosystem services. Globally, approximately 36% of planted forest area is located in East Asia. However, reliable records of the geographic distribution and tree species composition of these planted forests remain very limited. Here, based on extensive in situ and remote sensing data, as well as an ensemble modeling approach, we present the first spatial database of planted forests for East Asia, which consists of maps of the geographic distribution of planted forests and associated dominant tree genera. Of the predicted planted forest areas in East Asia (948,863 km2), China contributed 87%, most of which is located in the lowland tropical/subtropical regions, and Sichuan Basin. With 95% accuracy and an F1 score of 0.77, our spatially-continuous maps of planted forests enable accurate quantification of the role of planted forests in climate change mitigation. Our findings inform effective decision-making in forest conservation, management, and global restoration projects.

[Epidemiological characteristics of imported malaria cases after malaria elimination in Yixing City of Jiangsu Province]

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the epidemiological characteristics of imported malaria cases after malaria elimination in Yixing City, Jiangsu Province, so as to provide reference for malaria prevention and control in grassroots healthcare institutions.

METHODS

All data pertaining to malaria cases reported in Yixing City from 2016 to 2022 were retrieved from Chinese Disease Control and Prevention Information System, and the data pertaining to vector monitoring and human malaria parasite infections from 2016 to 2022 were collected for a descriptive statistical analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 14 imported malaria cases were reported in Yixing City from 2016 to 2022, including 12 cases with Plasmodium falciparum malaria, one case with P. vivax malaria and one case with P. ovale malaria, and all cases acquired infections in Africa and then returned to Yixing City. Malaria cases were reported across 2016 to 2022 except in 2020 and 2021. Malaria cases were predominantly reported during the period between December and February of the next year, and workers were the predominant occupation. The institutions where malaria was initially diagnosed included county-level general hospitals, county-level disease prevention and control institutions and grassroots healthcare centers, and there were 10 cases with definitive diagnosis of malaria on the day of initial diagnosis, with a 64.29% (9/14) correct rate of initial diagnosis. There were 5 cases diagnosed with severe malaria, and the standardized response rate was 100.00% following the "1-3-7" surveillance and response strategy. Of all malaria vectors, only Anopheles sinensis was monitored in Yixing City from 2016 to 2022, and all humans were tested negative for blood smears exceptimportedmalariacases.

CONCLUSIONS

The correct rate of initial malaria diagnosis was not high in healthcare institutions in Yixing City from 2016 to 2022, and there are still multiple challenges for prevention of re-establishment of imported malaria.

Liquid metal for high-entropy alloy nanoparticles synthesis

High-entropy alloy nanoparticles (HEA-NPs) show great potential as functional materials^1-3. However, thus far, the realized high-entropy alloys have been restricted to palettes of similar elements, which greatly hinders the material design, property optimization and mechanistic exploration for different applications^4,5. Herein, we discovered that liquid metal endowing negative mixing enthalpy with other elements could provide a stable thermodynamic condition and act as a desirable dynamic mixing reservoir, thus realizing the synthesis of HEA-NPs with a diverse range of metal elements in mild reaction conditions. The involved elements have a wide range of atomic radii (1.24-1.97 Å) and melting points (303-3,683 K). We also realized the precisely fabricated structures of nanoparticles via mixing enthalpy tuning. Moreover, the real-time conversion process (that is, from liquid metal to crystalline HEA-NPs) is captured in situ, which confirmed a dynamic fission-fusion behaviour during the alloying process.

SS-31 alleviated nociceptive responses and restored mitochondrial function in a headache mouse model via Sirt3/Pgc-1α positive feedback loop

Migraine is the second highest cause of disability worldwide, bringing a huge socioeconomic burden. Improving mitochondrial function has promise as an effective treatment strategy for migraine. Szeto-Schiller peptide (SS-31) is a new mitochondria-targeted tetrapeptide molecule that has been shown to suppress the progression of diseases by restoring mitochondrial function, including renal disease, cardiac disease, and neurodegenerative disease. However, whether SS-31 has a therapeutic effect on migraine remains unclear. The aim of this study is to clarify the treatment of SS-31 for headache and its potential mechanisms. Here we used a mouse model induced by repeated dural infusion of inflammatory soup (IS), and examined roles of Sirt3/Pgc-1α positive feedback loop in headache pathogenesis and mitochondrial function. Our results showed that repeated IS infusion impaired mitochondrial function, mitochondrial ultrastructure and mitochondrial homeostasis in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis (TNC). These IS-induced damages in TNC were reversed by SS-31. In addition, IS-induced nociceptive responses were simultaneously alleviated. The effects of SS-31 on mitochondrial function and mitochondrial homeostasis (mainly mitochondrial biogenesis) were attenuated partially by the inhibitor of Sirt3/Pgc-1α. Overexpression of Sirt3/Pgc-1α increased the protein level of each other. These results indicated that SS-31 alleviated nociceptive responses and restored mitochondrial function in an IS-induced headache mouse model via Sirt3/Pgc-1α positive feedback loop. SS-31 has the potential to be an effective drug candidate for headache treatment.

Properties of Cosmic-Ray Sulfur and Determination of the Composition of Primary Cosmic-Ray Carbon, Neon, Magnesium, and Sulfur: Ten-Year Results from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer

We report the properties of primary cosmic-ray sulfur (S) in the rigidity range 2.15 GV to 3.0 TV based on 0.38×10^{6} sulfur nuclei collected by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer experiment (AMS). We observed that above 90 GV the rigidity dependence of the S flux is identical to the rigidity dependence of Ne-Mg-Si fluxes, which is different from the rigidity dependence of the He-C-O-Fe fluxes. We found that, similar to N, Na, and Al cosmic rays, over the entire rigidity range, the traditional primary cosmic rays S, Ne, Mg, and C all have sizeable secondary components, and the S, Ne, and Mg fluxes are well described by the weighted sum of the primary silicon flux and the secondary fluorine flux, and the C flux is well described by the weighted sum of the primary oxygen flux and the secondary boron flux. The primary and secondary contributions of the traditional primary cosmic-ray fluxes of C, Ne, Mg, and S (even Z elements) are distinctly different from the primary and secondary contributions of the N, Na, and Al (odd Z elements) fluxes. The abundance ratio at the source for S/Si is 0.167±0.006, for Ne/Si is 0.833±0.025, for Mg/Si is 0.994±0.029, and for C/O is 0.836±0.025. These values are determined independent of cosmic-ray propagation.

[Association between vitamin D level and blood eosinophil count in healthy population and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its association with blood eosinophil count in healthy population and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

METHODS

We analyzed the data of a total 6163 healthy individuals undergoing routine physical examination in our hospital between October, 2017 and December, 2021, who were divided according to their serum 25(OH)D level into severe vitamin D deficiency group (< 10 ng/mL), deficiency group (< 20 ng/mL), insufficient group (< 30 ng/mL) and normal group (≥30 ng/mL). We also retrospectively collected the data of 67 COPD patients admitted in our department from April and June, 2021, with 67 healthy individuals undergoing physical examination in the same period as the control group. Routine blood test results, body mass index (BMI) and other parameters were obtained from all the subjects, and logistic regression models were used to investigate the association between 25(OH)D levels and eosinophil count.

RESULTS

The overall abnormal rate of 25(OH)D level (< 30 ng/mL) in the healthy individuals was 85.31%, and the rate was significantly higher in women (89.29%) than in men. Serum 25(OH)D levels in June, July, and August were significantly higher than those in December, January, and February. In the healthy individuals, blood eosinophil counts were the lowest in severe 25(OH)D deficiency group, followed by the deficiency group and insufficient group, and were the highest in the normal group (P < 0.05). Multivariable regression analysis showed that an older age, a higher BMI, and elevated vitamin D levels were all risk factors for elevated blood eosinophils in the healthy individuals. The patients with COPD had lower serum 25(OH)D levels than the healthy individuals (19.66±7.87 vs 26.39±9.28 ng/mL) and a significantly higher abnormal rate of serum 25(OH)D (91% vs 71%; P < 0.05). A reduced serum 25(OH)D level was a risk factor for COPD. Blood eosinophils, sex and BMI were not significantly correlated with serum 25(OH)D level in patients with COPD.

CONCLUSION

Vitamin D deficiency is common in both healthy individuals and COPD patients, and the correlations of vitamin D level with sex, BMI and blood eosinophils differ obviously between healthy individuals and COPD patients.

Comprehensive Screening for EPA/DHA-Structured Phospholipids in Aquatic Products by a Specific Precursor Ion Scanning-Based HILIC-MS/MS Method

Comprehensive screening for functional substances from natural resources is always a hot research topic. Eicosapentaenoic acid- (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-structured phospholipids (PL_EPA/DHA) have versatile cardiovascular benefits as well as superior bioavailability. Herein, the abundance of PL_EPA/DHA in 16 aquatic products was specifically and selectively screened using a recently developed precursor ion scan-driven hydrophilic interaction chromatography-mass spectrometry (PreIS-HILIC/MS) method with the fatty acyl moieties of EPA (m/z 301.6) and DHA (m/z 327.6) locked. The aim focused on the characteristics and differences in the varieties and contents of EPA/DHA-structured phosphatidylcholine (PC_EPA/DHA) and EPA/DHA-structured phosphatidylethanolamine (PE_EPA/DHA) molecular species. A total of 80 PL_EPA/DHA molecules were identified in these natural sources, including 47 PC_EPA/DHA and 33 PE_EPA/DHA. After analysis, PC 16:0/20:5 and PC 16:0/22:6 are present in all aquatic products and at high levels. Antarctic krill was found to be the best resource of PL_EPA/DHA in total (2574.69 μg·g^-1), followed by mackerel (2330.11 μg·g^-1), salmon (2109.91 μg·g^-1), and Farrer's scallop (1883.59 μg·g^-1), while abalone contained the lowest level of PL_EPA/DHA (310.44 μg·g^-1). Besides, sea cucumber and sea bass contained the highest contents of EPA-structured and DHA-structured ether phospholipids, respectively, which could be highly recommended as dietary sources of special functional phospholipids. Finally, the multiple discrepancies between the 16 aquatic products were revealed by multivariate statistical analysis. These findings improve the awareness of the composition and content of PL_EPA/DHA contained in aquatic products, providing a reference for their integrated development.

Differential correlation between time in range and eGFR or albuminuria in type 2 diabetes

INTRODUCTION

As a CGM-derived indicator, 'time in range' (TIR) is emerging as a key indicator for accurate assessment of glycaemic control. However, there is few report focusing on the correlation of TIR with albumuria and renal fuction. The aim of this work was to investigate whether TIR, as well as nocturnal TIR and hypoglycaemic events is related to the presence and severity of albuminuria and decrease of eGFR in type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A total of 823 patients were enrolled in this study. All patients received continuous glucose monitoring, TIR indicating the percentage of time that blood glucose was in the range of 3.9-10.0 mmol/L. The Spearman analysis was applied to analyze the relationship between TIR (or nocturnal TIR) and ACR. Logistic regression was used to explore whether TIR (or nocturnal TIR) is an independent risk factor for albuminuria.

RESULTS

The prevalence of albuminuria decreased with increasing TIR quartiles. Binary logistic regression revealed that TIR as well as nocturnal TIR was obviously related to the presence of albuminuria. Multiple regression analysis found that only nocturnal TIR was obviously related to the severity of albuminuria. In our study, eGFR was significantly associated with the number of hypoglycemic events.

CONCLUSIONS

In T2DM patients, TIR and nocturnal TIR is associated with the presence of albuminuria independent of HbA1c and GV metrics. Nocturnal TIR shows better correlation than TIR. The role of TIR especially nocturnal TIR in the evaluation of diabetes kidney disease should be emphasized.

Tomato defence against Meloidogyne incognita by jasmonic acid-mediated fine-tuning of kaempferol homeostasis

Jasmonic acid (JA) is involved in the modulation of defence and growth activities in plants. The best-characterized growth-defence trade-offs stem from antagonistic crosstalk among hormones. In this study, we first confirmed that JA negatively regulates root-knot nematode (RKN) susceptibility via the root exudates (REs) of tomato plants. Omics and toxicological analyses implied that kaempferol, a type of flavonol, from REs has a negative effect on RKN infection. We demonstrated that SlMYB57 negatively regulated kaempferol contents in tomato roots, whereas SlMYB108/112 had the opposite effect. We revealed that JA fine-tuned the homeostasis of kaempferol via SlMYB-mediated transcriptional regulation and the interaction between SlJAZs and SlMYBs, thus ensuring a balance between lateral root (LR) development and RKN susceptibility. Overall, this work provides novel insights into JA-modulated LR development and RKN susceptibility mechanisms and elucidates a trade-off model mediated by JA in plants encountering stress.