Knowledge, concerns, and vaccine acceptance related to Mpox (Monkeypox) among university students in North and Northeast China: An online cross-sectional study

The growing number of Mpox cases in China has posed a challenge to public health. The prevalence of men who have sex with men behaviors among students has been consistently increasing each year in China, accompanied by a high frequency of unprotected anal sex. As crowded places, schools are highly likely to cause an Mpox outbreak among students through long-term close contact. Understanding university students' perceptions about Mpox and willingness to vaccinate play a vital role in implementing preventive measures in schools. This study aimed to assess knowledge, concerns, and vaccine acceptance toward Mpox among university students in North and Northeast China. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 3831 university students from seven universities in North and Northeast China between September 10 and September 25, 2023. This study found a relative insufficiency in Mpox knowledge among university students (71.60%), with less than half expressing concern about the Mpox outbreak (39.57%), and the majority exhibiting a positive attitude to vaccination (76.30%). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that a good knowledge level was associated with age, study discipline, education level, and a high level of concern about Mpox. Male, elderly, or highly educated participants had a low level of concern about Mpox. Participants with a high level of knowledge toward Mpox were more likely to have the vaccination willingness. This study might help governments and schools to understand students' Mpox perceptions and vaccination intentions, enabling them to implement effective measures in addressing the issue of inadequate understanding regarding Mpox among university students.

"Active carbon" is more advantageous to the bacterial community in the rice rhizosphere than "stable carbon"

Carbon materials are commonly used for soil carbon sequestration and fertilization, which can also affect crop growth by manipulating the rhizosphere bacterial community. However, the comparison of the differences between active carbon (e.g., organic fertilizers) and stable carbon (e.g., biochar) on rhizosphere microdomains is still unclear. Hence, a trial was implemented to explore the influence of control (CK, no fertilizer; NPK, chemical fertilizer), organic fertilizer (CF-O, organic fertilizer; CF-BO, biochar-based organic fertilizer) and biochar material (CF-B, perishable garbage biochar; CF-PMB, pig manure biochar) on the diversity, composition, and interaction of rice rhizosphere bacterial community through 16 S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing. Our results demonstrate that organic fertilizer increases bacterial alpha-diversity compared to no-carbon supply treatment to the extend, whereas biochar has the opposite effect. The rhizosphere bacterial community composition showed pronounced variations among the various fertilization treatments. The relative abundance in Firmicutes decreased with organic fertilizer application, whereas that in Chloroflexi and Actinobacteria decreased with biochar application. Bacterial network analysis demonstrate that organic fertilizer enhances the complexity and key taxa of bacterial interactions, while biochar exhibits an opposing trend. The findings of our study indicate that organic fertilizer may contribute to a positive and advantageous impact on bacterial diversity and interaction in rice rhizosphere, whereas the influence of biochar is not as favorable and constructive. This study lays the foundation for elucidating the fate of the rhizosphere bacterial community following different carbon material inputs in the context of sustainable agricultural development.

A c-di-GMP binding effector STM0435 modulates flagellar motility and pathogenicity in Salmonella

Flagella play a crucial role in the invasion process of Salmonella and function as a significant antigen that triggers host pyroptosis. Regulation of flagellar biogenesis is essential for both pathogenicity and immune escape of Salmonella. We identified the conserved and unknown function protein STM0435 as a new flagellar regulator. The ∆stm0435 strain exhibited higher pathogenicity in both cellular and animal infection experiments than the wild-type Salmonella. Proteomic and transcriptomic analyses demonstrated dramatic increases in almost all flagellar genes in the ∆stm0435 strain compared to wild-type Salmonella. In a surface plasmon resonance assay, purified STM0435 protein-bound c-di-GMP had an affinity of ~8.383 µM. The crystal structures of apo-STM0435 and STM0435&c-di-GMP complex were determined. Structural analysis revealed that R33, R137, and D138 of STM0435 were essential for c-di-GMP binding. A Salmonella with STM1987 (GGDEF protein) or STM4264 (EAL protein) overexpression exhibits completely different motility behaviours, indicating that the binding of c-di-GMP to STM0435 promotes its inhibitory effect on Salmonella flagellar biogenesis.

Effect of sheep bone protein hydrolysate on promoting calcium absorption and enhancing bone quality in low-calcium diet fed rats

Calcium deficiency is prone to fractures, osteoporosis and other symptoms. In this study, sheep bone protein hydrolysates (SBPHs) were obtained by protease hydrolysis. A low-calcium-diet-induced calcium-deficiency rat model was established to investigate the effects of SBPHs on calcium absorption and intestinal flora composition. The results showed that an SBPHs + CaCl2 treatment significantly increased the bone calcium content, bone mineral density, trabecular bone volume, and trabecular thickness, and reduced trabecular separation, and changed the level of bone turnover markers (P < 0.05). Supplementation of SBPHs + CaCl2 can remarkably enhance the bone mechanical strength, and the microstructure of bone was improved, and the trabecular network was more continuous, complete, and thicker. Additionally, SBPHs + CaCl2 dietary increased the abundance of Firmicutes and reduced the abundance of Proteobacteria and Verrucomicrobiota, and promoted the production of short chain fatty acids. This study indicated that SBPHs promoted calcium absorption and could be applied to alleviate osteoporosis.

Targeted therapy of kidney disease with nanoparticle drug delivery materials

With the development of nanomedicine, nanomaterials have been widely used, offering specific drug delivery to target sites, minimal side effects, and significant therapeutic effects. The kidneys have filtration and reabsorption functions, with various potential target cell types and a complex structural environment, making the strategies for kidney function protection and recovery after injury complex. This also lays the foundation for the application of nanomedicine in kidney diseases. Currently, evidence in preclinical and clinical settings supports the feasibility of targeted therapy for kidney diseases using drug delivery based on nanomaterials. The prerequisite for nanomedicine in treating kidney diseases is the use of carriers with good biocompatibility, including nanoparticles, hydrogels, liposomes, micelles, dendrimer polymers, adenoviruses, lysozymes, and elastin-like polypeptides. These carriers have precise renal uptake, longer half-life, and targeted organ distribution, protecting and improving the efficacy of the drugs they carry. Additionally, attention should also be paid to the toxicity and solubility of the carriers. While the carriers mentioned above have been used in preclinical studies for targeted therapy of kidney diseases both in vivo and in vitro, extensive clinical trials are still needed to ensure the short-term and long-term effects of nano drugs in the human body. This review will discuss the advantages and limitations of nanoscale drug carrier materials in treating kidney diseases, provide a more comprehensive catalog of nanocarrier materials, and offer prospects for their drug-loading efficacy and clinical applications.

Bioactive compound schaftoside from Clinacanthus nutans attenuates acute liver injury by inhibiting ferroptosis through activation the Nrf2/GPX4 pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Clinacanthus nutans (Burm. f.) Lindau, a traditional herb renowned for its anti-tumor, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, has garnered considerable attention. Although its hepatoprotective effects have been described, there is still limited knowledge of its treatment of acute liver injury (ALI), and its mechanisms remain unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To assess the efficacy of Clinacanthus nutans in ALI and to identify the most effective fractions and their underlying mechanism of action.

METHODS

Bioinformatics was employed to explore the underlying anti-hepatic injury mechanisms and active compounds of Clinacanthus nutans. The binding ability of schaftoside, a potential active ingredient in Clinacanthus nutans, to the core target nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) was further determined by molecular docking. The role of schaftoside in improving histological abnormalities in the liver was observed by H&E and Masson's staining in an ALI model induced by CCl4. Serum and liver biochemical parameters were measured using AST, ALT and hydroxyproline kits. An Fe2+ kit, transmission electron microscopy, western blotting, RT-qPCR, and DCFH-DA were used to measure whether schaftoside reduces ferroptosis-induced ALI. Subsequently, specific siRNA knockdown of Nrf2 in AML12 cells was performed to further elucidate the mechanism by which schaftoside attenuates ferroptosis-induced ALI.

RESULTS

Bioinformatics analysis and molecular docking showed that schaftoside is the principal compound from Clinacanthus nutans. Schaftoside was shown to diminish oxidative stress levels, attenuate liver fibrosis, and forestall ferroptosis. Deeper investigations revealed that schaftoside amplified Nrf2 expression and triggered the Nrf2/GPX4 pathway, thereby reversing mitochondrial aberrations triggered by lipid peroxidation, GPX4 depletion, and ferroptosis.

CONCLUSION

The lead compound schaftoside counters ferroptosis through the Nrf2/GPX4 axis, providing insights into a novel molecular mechanism for treating ALI, thereby presenting an innovative therapeutic strategy for ferroptosis-induced ALI.

Porphyrin fluorescence imaging for real-time monitoring and visualization of the freshness of beef stored at different temperatures

This study presents a novel fluorescence imaging method for the real-time monitoring of beef quality deterioration and freshness. The fluorescence property of porphyrin in the form of heme can be used to characterize quality changes in beef during storage. Therefore, a fluorescence imaging system with an excitation light source of 440 nm and a CCD camera with a specific wavelength filter of 595 nm was constructed, and the porphyrin fluorescence images of beef samples stored at different temperatures were then collected. The quantitative model for predicting the microbial freshness indicator (TVC) of beef was built with the support vector machine regression (SVR) algorithm and produced satisfactory results with Rc2 and Rp2 of 0.858 and 0.812, respectively. The classification model based on the support vector machine (SVM) algorithm classified beef freshness into "fresh" and "spoiled", with calibration and prediction accuracy of 100 % and 90.9 %, respectively.

Interpersonal relationships and suicidal ideation among Chinese youths: A network analysis

BACKGROUND

Suicidal ideation is a noteworthy health problem that requires further study in the field of interpersonal relationships. The main scope of relationships include family, teachers, peers, and the Internet. However, few studies have considered the effects of interpersonal interactions. Based on the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide, this study explores the relation between different interpersonal relationships and suicidal ideation.

METHODS

A network analysis approach was used to test the relationships. Cross-sectional data (N = 1694; 52.1 % boys; Mage = 11.86 years, SD = 1.59) were collected from primary and secondary students in October-November 2022. Participants completed a survey including demographic part and questionnaires: Positive and Negative Suicide Ideation Inventory (PANSI), Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (INQ), Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES II), Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (IPPA), Student-Teacher Relationship Scale (STRS) and Facebook Intensity Scale (FIS).

RESULTS

All variables showed a significant correlation in this inferred network. Family, teacher-student, and peer relationships are protective against suicidal ideation. The closeness of the teacher-student relationship showed the highest strength centrality. However, online interpersonal relationship is a risk factor for suicide. Thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness are proximal factors of suicidal ideation that influenced all interpersonal relationships.

LIMITATIONS

The network analysis as a data-driven and exploratory method may be limited to provide exact cause and effect relationship.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that teacher-student connections may be more important than other relationships of young people. Improper peer and online interpersonal relationship could be risky for suicide. Further studies are needed to examine the role of these relationships elaborately.

An innovative method integrating run theory and DBSCAN for complete three-dimensional drought structures

Drought displays dynamic and uncertain spatiotemporal characteristics, thus it is typically not confined to fixed temporal-spatial boundaries. Existing drought clustering methods often involve spatially clustering drought points or grids into patches, subsequently connected over time to form three-dimensional structures. Despite this process being able to extract three-dimensional drought clusters, it is likely to overlook mild or relatively small, isolated drought patches. To overcome this limitation, this paper presented an effective method (named STD-CLUSTER) for identifying drought clusters with complete three-dimensional structures. The method initially employed run theory to extract drought events as "lines" and subsequently clustered these events using the Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN) algorithm. A case study on the 2006 flash drought in the Yangtze River Basin demonstrated that STD-CLUSTER successfully clustered drought events and ensured the integrity of drought clusters by considering small, isolated, or disconnected patches. Additionally, an in-depth analysis using STD-CLUSTER examined seasonal drought events in China from 1991 to 2022, identifying a total of 35 drought clusters. These clusters began and ended with small-area patches, exhibiting features of expansion, contraction, spread, merging, and splitting over time. Furthermore, seasonal changes significantly influenced the evolution of drought clusters, with affected area and severity increasing in spring and summer and decreasing in autumn and winter. The applicability of the proposed method extends beyond various geographical regions and time scales, providing effective support for comprehensively investigating the spatiotemporal evolution of drought.

An in-situ method for SERS substrate preparation and optimization based on galvanic replacement reaction

BACKGROUND

Various surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrate preparation methods have been reported, however, how to tune the "gap" between nanostructures to make more "hot spots" is still a barrier that restricts their application. The gap between nanostructures is usually fixed when the substrates are prepared. In other words, it is hard to tune interparticle distances for maximum electromagnetic coupling during substrate preparation process. Therefore, an in-situ substrate optimization method that could monitor the SERS signal intensity changes, i.e., to find the optimum gap width and particle size, during substrate preparation process is needed.

RESULTS

A method based on the galvanic replacement reaction (GRR) is proposed for the in-situ gap width tuning between nanostructures as well as for the optimization of SERS substrates. Noble metal nanoparticles (NPs) form and grow on the sacrificial templates' surface while noble metal ions are reduced by sacrificial metal (oxides) in GRR. Along with the fresh and clean NPs' surface generated, the gap between two noble metal NPs decreases with the growth of the NPs. To demonstrate this strategy, cuprous oxide/Ti (Cu2O/Ti) sacrificial templates were prepared, and then a GRR was carried out with HAuCl4. The real-time SERS detection during GRR show that the optimum reaction time (ORT) is 300 ± 30 s. Furthermore, SERS performance testing was conducted on the optimized substrate, revealing that the detection limit for crystal violet can reach 1.96 × 10-11 M, confirming the feasibility of this method.

SIGNIFICANCE AND NOVELTY

By monitoring the in-situ SERS signal of probes during GRR will obtain an "optimal state" of the SERS substrate with optimal gap width and particle size. The SERS substrate preparation and optimization strategy proposed in this article not only provides a simple, efficient, and low-cost method to fabricate surface-clean noble NPs but also paves the way for the in-situ optimization of NPs size and gap width between NPs which could achieve wider applications of SERS.

Oxalate anions-intercalated NiFe layered double hydroxide as a highly active and stable electrocatalyst for alkaline seawater oxidation

Seawater electrolysis is gaining recognition as a promising method for hydrogen production. However, severe anode corrosion caused by the high concentration of chloride ions (Cl-) poses a challenge for the long-term oxygen evolution reaction. Herein, an anti-corrosion strategy of oxalate anions intercalation in NiFe layered double hydroxide on nickel foam (NiFe-C2O42- LDH/NF) is proposed. The intercalation of these highly negatively charged C2O42- serves to establish electrostatic repulsion and impede Cl- adsorption. In alkaline seawater, NiFe-C2O42- LDH/NF requires an overpotential of 337 mV to gain the large current density of 1000 mA cm-2 and operates continuously for 500 h. The intercalation of C2O42- is demonstrated to significantly boost the activity and stability of NiFe LDH-based materials during alkaline seawater oxidation.

Janus membranes derived from multi-shelled hollow spheres coated electrospun PVA membranes as phase change composites for photothermal conversion

The development and preparation of multifunctional photothermal conversion materials has far-reaching significance for the utilization of solar energy resources in response to the energy crisis. Herein, we propose a Janus membrane for interfacial solar evaporation and phase change energy storage. The membranes were fabricated via combining the PVA film with multi-shelled hollow spheres (MHS). The membranes have asymmetric wettability, that is, one side is hydrophilic and the other side is hydrophobic. The as-resulted membranes obtain outstanding light absorption without further processing. According to these two advantages, the membranes were applied to solar evaporation. The evaporation rate of the membrane is 1.41 kg*m-2h-1 and the evaporation efficiency is 92.4 % under 1sun irradiation. Moreover, the membrane prepared by impregnating 1-Hexadecanamine (HDA) into MHS possesses excellent tensile strength (2.21 MPa) and photothermal conversion ability. The light-to-thermal conversion efficiency can reach 81.9 % under 1sun irradiation. Therefore, the membranes have broad application prospects in the field of photothermal conversion.

Physical properties, phenolic profile and antioxidant capacity of Java tea (Clerodendranthus spicatus) stems as affected by steam explosion treatment

Java tea (Clerodendranthus spicatus) has been favored for its various health benefits and abundance of phenolic substances. Steam explosion (SE) treatment was performed in the pretreatment of Java tea stems and the physical properties, phenolic profile and antioxidant capacity were investigated. Extraction kinetics study showed that the phenolics yields of Java tea stems treated at 2.4 MPa for 10 min reached the maximum in 40 min, which was approximately 3 times the yields of raw stems in 180 min. The antioxidant activities of the extracts of Java tea stems were also significantly increased after SE treatment (P < 0.05). In addition, 19 phenolics were detected in Java tea stems by HPLC/QTOF-MS/MS, and rosmarinic acid was found to be hydrolyzed to danshensu during the SE process. SE could be an efficient pretreatment technology to improve the extraction rates of phenolics and conversions of their high-value hydrolyzed products, which could facilitate further research of Java tea products.

Construction of photocatalytic coating for alleviating the shriveling of postharvest fruit cucumber after simulated transportation

The shriveling of fruit cucumber was commonly occurred during supply chain, photocatalyst exposed to UV light can endow the coatings with ethylene removal capacity to reduce the respiration of fruit and water loss. The study developed a novel photodynamic technology responsive photocatalytic coating with exceptional ultraviolet (UV) photocatalytic degradation of ethylene ability to decay the shriveling of postharvest fruit cucumber during supply chain. This coating involved the integration of Carbon dots (CDs)-loaded nano ZnO and the skillful selection of pullulan (Pul) and apple pectin (AP) matrix. The CDs/ZnO coatings boasted an impressive array of photocatalytic degradation of ethylene and adhesion properties, including high ethylene removal rates of 32.04 % in 60 min UV light stimulation. The decrease of cell-wall strength, degradation of the cell wall polysaccharides and water loss resulted in cucumber shriveling. Compared with CK sample, after UV-CDs/ZnO coating treatment, the higher firmness and cell wall polysaccharides were found in cucumbers with lower cell wall degrading enzymes activities, weight loss and water movement, which was associated with the decrease of respiration and ethylene accumulation. The UV-CDs/ZnO coatings possessed promising potential for alleviating the shriveling of postharvest fruit cucumber and applications in fruits preservation in the future.

PANoptosis-related signature in melanoma: Transcriptomic mapping and clinical prognostication

Programmed cell death plays a pivotal role in maintaining tissue homeostasis, and recent advancements in cell biology have uncovered PANoptosis-a novel paradigm integrating pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis. This study investigates the implications of PANoptosis in melanoma, a formidable skin cancer known for its metastatic potential and resistance to conventional therapies. Leveraging bulk and single-cell transcriptome analyses, machine learning modeling, and immune correlation assessments, we unveil the molecular intricacies of PANoptosis in melanoma. Single-cell sequencing identifies diverse cell types involved in PANoptosis, while bulk transcriptome analysis reveals key gene sets correlated with PANoptosis. Machine learning algorithms construct a robust prognostic model, demonstrating consistent predictive power across diverse cohorts. Patients with different cohorts can be divided into high-risk and low-risk groups according to this PANoptosis score, with the high-risk group having a significantly worse prognosis. Immune correlation analyses unveil a link between PANoptosis and immunotherapy response, with potential therapeutic implications. Mutation analysis and enrichment studies provide insights into the mutational landscape associated with PANoptosis. Finally, we used cell experiments to verify the expression and function of key gene PARVA, showing that PARVA was highly expressed in melanoma cell lines, and after PARVA is knocked down, cell invasion, migration, and colony formation ability were significantly decreased. This study advances our understanding of PANoptosis in melanoma, offering a comprehensive framework for targeted therapeutic interventions and personalized medicine strategies in combating this aggressive malignancy.

Patterns of unhealthy lifestyle and their associations with depressive and anxiety symptoms among Chinese young adults: A latent class analysis

BACKGROUND

There is little evidence on the association between patterns of unhealthy lifestyle and mental health among young adults.

METHOD

This study included a total of 28,978 young adults aged 18 to 44 years old in Guangdong province in south China, which was conducted from September to December in 2022. We used latent class analysis to classify the patterns of unhealthy lifestyle among young adults and used multiple logistic regression to explore their associations with depressive and anxiety symptoms.

RESULT

The weighted prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms were 28.0 % and 19.5 %, respectively. The cumulative effect of unhealthy lifestyles on depressive and anxiety symptoms was significant. Five patterns of unhealthy lifestyle were classified. Compared to the relatively healthy lifestyle class, the class with more unhealthy lifestyles (OR = 6.54, 95 % CI: 5.70-7.51) and insufficient sleep (OR = 6.16, 95 % CI: 4.92-7.70) had higher risk for depressive and anxiety symptoms. Meaningfully, having adequate mental health literacy could reduce the risk of depressive and anxiety symptoms from unhealthy lifestyle by half.

LIMITATIONS

The cross-section design study limited causal inferences, and the self-report information may lead to recall bias.

CONCLUSIONS

Unhealthy lifestyles have a negative impact on depressive and anxiety symptoms through independent, cumulative and combined effects, and they could be interrelated. Unhealthy lifestyle patterns differed in younger population by socio-demographic characteristics and mental health literacy. Health-care professionals and policymakers may provide programs to intervene multiple unhealthy lifestyles and improve mental health literacy by integrating healthy lifestyle education to promote youngers' mental health.

The effect of canagliflozin on gut microbiota and metabolites in type 2 diabetic mice

BACKGROUND

Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) represent a new type of hypoglycemic medicine that can cause massive loss of glucose from the urine, which have several benefits of reducing body weight and improving the prognosis of cardiovascular and kidney diseases. Although they are oral medicated hypoglycemic agents, their effects on the gut microbiome and function have been unclear.

OBJECTIVE

In order to describe the effects of canagliflozin on intestinal flora and metabolites, diabetic mice were randomized to receive canagliflozin or isoconcentration carboxymethylcellulose sodium by gavage for 8 weeks. Feces were collected for 16 S rRNA gene and LC-MS/MS analysis and enriched metabolic pathways through Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Liver, muscle, intestinal, fat were collected for qRT-PCR according to KEGG enriched metabolic pathways.

RESULTS

Our results showed that canagliflozin significantly increased GLP-1 level and impacted on the composition of gut microbiota and metabolites. It mainly increased Muribaculum, Ruminococcaceae_UCG_014, Lachnospiraceae-UCG-001, decreased ursodeoxycholic acids (UDCA) and hyodeoxycholic acids (HDCA), and increased fatty acids metabolites in feces.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, we analyzed the changes of intestinal microbial composition and metabolites in diabetic mice after canagliflozin intervention and found that canagliflozin influenced intestinal fatty acid and bile acid (BA) metabolism. This study will provide reference for subsequent SGLT2i and intestinal related research.

Mendelian randomization study on causal association of FAM210B with drug-induced lupus

OBJECTIVE

Due to the complexity of drug-induced lupus (DIL) pathogenesis, more susceptibility factors need to be discovered. FAM210B is a new mitochondrial protein whose function has not been fully elucidated. This study will explore whether there is a correlation between FAM210B and the risk of DIL.

METHODS

At first, we extracted three FAM210B genetic variants from the GTEx database (n = 948), and extracted their corresponding genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics from DIL (101 DIL cases and 218691 controls). Then, we performed a Mendelian randomization (MR) study to evaluate the causal association of the expression of FAM210B with DIL using inverse-variance weighted (IVW), the weighted median, MR-Egger, and MR-PRESSO test.

RESULTS

We successfully extracted three FAM210B single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs116032784, rs34361943 and rs33923703) from the GTEx_Analysis_v8_eQTL data that can reduce FAM210B expression. The results of the MR analysis showed that genetically reduced expression of FAM210B was significantly associated with increased risk of DIL in European ancestry based on the IVW method (β = 1.037, p = 0.001, odds ratio [OR] = 2.821, 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.495-5.322).

CONCLUSION

MR analysis showed a causal relationship between FAM210B expression and the risk of DIL disease. Our results suggested that FAM210B may be a marker that can mark susceptibility of DIL in the future. It provides evidence for the study of DIL, but its specific mechanism of action in DIL needs to be further studied. Key Points •This is the first MR analysis to examine the association between FAM210B and DIL. •The findings of this study suggested that reduced FAM210B expression is associated with the increased risk of DIL. •FAM210B may be a marker that can mark susceptibility of DIL in the future.

Monotherapy vs combination therapy in patients with Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether mortality is lower in patients with Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infection (BSI) who receive combination antimicrobial therapy than in those who receive monotherapy.

METHODS

Two authors independently searched for relevant articles in the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases through to August 10, 2023. Risk of bias was evaluated using the ROBINS-I tool. Possible sources of heterogeneity were evaluated by meta-regression using a mixed-effects model.

RESULTS

Among 8044 articles screened, there were 23 studies (3443 patients) that were eligible for meta-analysis. Meta-regression analysis identified the proportion of patients with carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) BSI to be a potential source of heterogeneity. Subgroup analysis showed that mortality on monotherapy was significantly higher when the proportion of patients with CRKP BSI was ≥50% (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.33-2.30) and significantly lower when this proportion was <50% (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.24-1.24). Overall mortality was significantly higher on tigecycline monotherapy (OR 2.86, 95% CI 1.46-5.59) than on combination therapy containing both these agents. There was a trend in favor of colistin/polymyxin B-containing combination therapy (OR 1.37, 95% CI 0.83-2.28).

CONCLUSIONS

Combination antimicrobial therapy can lower mortality in patients with CRKP but may not show a survival advantage over monotherapy when the proportion of patients with CRKP BSI is <50%. High-quality prospective observational studies are needed because of the high risk of bias and limited data in the studies performed to date.

Evaluating the Impact of Operative Team Familiarity on Cardiac Surgery Outcomes: A Retrospective Cohort Study of Medicare Beneficiaries

OBJECTIVE

To associate surgeon-anesthesiologist team familiarity (TF) with cardiac surgery outcomes.

BACKGROUND

TF, a measure of repeated team member collaborations, has been associated with improved operative efficiency; however, examination of its relationship to clinical outcomes has been limited.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included Medicare beneficiaries undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), or both (CABG+SAVR) between January 1, 2017, and September 30, 2018. TF was defined as the number of shared procedures between the cardiac surgeon and anesthesiologist within 6 months of each operation. Primary outcomes were 30- and 90-day mortality, composite morbidity, and 30-day mortality or composite morbidity, assessed before and after risk adjustment using multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS

The cohort included 113,020 patients (84,397 CABG; 15,939 SAVR; 12,684 CABG+SAVR). Surgeon-anesthesiologist dyads in the highest [31631 patients, TF median (interquartile range)=8 (6, 11)] and lowest [44,307 patients, TF=0 (0, 1)] TF terciles were termed familiar and unfamiliar, respectively. The rates of observed outcomes were lower among familiar versus unfamiliar teams: 30-day mortality (2.8% vs 3.1%, P =0.001), 90-day mortality (4.2% vs 4.5%, P =0.023), composite morbidity (57.4% vs 60.6%, P <0.001), and 30-day mortality or composite morbidity (57.9% vs 61.1%, P <0.001). Familiar teams had lower overall risk-adjusted odds of 30-day mortality or composite morbidity [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.894 (0.868, 0.922), P <0.001], and for SAVR significantly lower 30-day mortality [aOR 0.724 (0.547, 0.959), P =0.024], 90-day mortality [aOR 0.779 (0.620, 0.978), P =0.031], and 30-day mortality or composite morbidity [aOR 0.856 (0.791, 0.927), P <0.001].

CONCLUSIONS

Given its relationship with improved 30-day cardiac surgical outcomes, increasing TF should be considered among strategies to advance patient outcomes.

Role and action mechanisms of miR-149 and miR-31 in regulating function of pig cumulus cells and oocytes

Understanding the mechanisms for oocyte maturation and optimizing the protocols for in vitro maturation (IVM) are greatly important for improving developmental potential of IVM oocytes. The miRNAs expressed in cumulus cells (CCs) play important roles in oocyte maturation and may be used as markers for selection of competent oocytes/embryos. Although a recent study from our group identified several new CCs-expressed miRNAs that regulate cumulus expansion (CE) and CC apoptosis (CCA) in mouse oocytes, validation of these findings and further investigation of mechanisms of action in other model species was essential before wider applications. By using both in vitro and in vivo pig oocyte models with significant differences in CE, CCA and developmental potential, the present study validated that miR-149 and miR-31 improved CE and developmental potential while suppressing CCA of pig oocytes. We demonstrated that miR-149 and miR-31 targeted SMAD family member 6 (SMAD6) and transforming growth factor β2 (TGFB2), respectively, in the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling. Furthermore, both miR-149 and miR-31 increased CE and decreased CCA via activating SMAD family member 2 (SMAD2) and increasing the expression of SMAD2 and SMAD family member 4. In conclusion, the present results show that miR-149 and miR-31 improved CE and developmental potential while suppressing CCA of pig oocytes by activating the TGF-β signaling, suggesting that they might be used as markers for pig oocyte quality.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of lycoctonine derivatives with cardiotonic and calcium channels inhibitory activities

In our previous study, a screening of a variety of lycotonine-type diterpenoid alkaloids were screened for cardiotonic activity revealed that lycoctonine had moderate cardiac effect. In this study, a series of structurally diverse of lycoctonine were synthesized by modifying on B-ring, D-ring, E-ring, F-ring, N-atom or salt formation on lycoctonine skeleton. We evaluated the cardiotonic activity of the derivatives by isolated frog heart, aiming to identify some compounds with significantly enhanced cardiac effects, among which compound 27 with a N-isobutyl group emerged as the most promising cardiotonic candidate. Furthermore, the cardiotonic mechanism of compound 27 was preliminarily investigated. The result suggested that the cardiotonic effect of compound 27 is related to calcium channels. Patch clamp technique confirmed that the compound 27 had inhibitory effects on CaV1.2 and CaV3.2, with inhibition rates of 78.52 % ± 2.26 % and 79.05 % ± 1.59 % at the concentration of 50 μM, respectively. Subsequently, the protective effect of 27 on H9c2 cells injury induced by cobalt chloride was tested. In addition, compound 27 can alleviate CoCl2-induced myocardial injury by alleviating calcium overload. These findings suggest that compound 27 was a new structural derived from lycoctonine, which may serve as a new lead compound for the treatment of heart failure.

Gene delivery followed by ex vivo lung perfusion using an adeno-associated viral vector in a rodent lung transplant model

OBJECTIVE

Ex vivo lung perfusion has emerged as a platform for organ preservation, evaluation, and restoration. Gene delivery using a clinically relevant adeno-associated vector during ex vivo lung perfusion may be useful in optimizing donor allografts while the graft is maintained physiologically active. We evaluated the feasibility of adeno-associated vector-mediated gene delivery during ex vivo lung perfusion in a rat transplant model. Additionally, we assessed off-target effects and explored different routes of delivery.

METHODS

Rat heart-lung blocks were procured and underwent 1-hour ex vivo lung perfusion. Before ex vivo lung perfusion, 4e11 viral genome luciferase encoding adeno-associated vector 9 was administered via the left bronchus (Br group, n = 4), via the left pulmonary artery (PA group, n = 3), or directly into the circuit (Circuit group, n = 3). Donor lungs in the Control group (n = 3) underwent ex vivo lung perfusion without adeno-associated vector 9. Only the left lung was transplanted. Animals underwent bioluminescence imaging weekly before being killed at 2 weeks. Tissues were collected for luciferase activity measurement.

RESULTS

All recipients tolerated the transplant well. At 2 weeks post-transplant, luciferase activity in the transplanted lung was significantly higher among animals in the Br group compared with the other 3 groups (Br: 1.1 × 106 RLU/g, PA: 8.3 × 104 RLU/g, Circuit: 3.8 × 103 RLU/g, Control: 2.5 × 103 RLU/g, P = .0003). No off-target transgene expression was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

In this work, we demonstrate that a clinically relevant adeno-associated vector 9 vector mediates gene transduction during ex vivo lung perfusion in rat lung grafts when administered via the airway and potentially the pulmonary artery. Our preliminary results suggest a higher transduction efficiency when adeno-associated vector 9 was delivered via the airway, and delivery during ex vivo lung perfusion reduces off-target effects after graft implant.

Triisocyanate Derived Interlayer and High-Melting-Point Doping Promoter Boost Operational Stability of Perovskite Solar Cells

Formamidinium lead triiodide serves as the optimal light-absorbing layer in single-junction perovskite solar cells. However, achieving operational stability of high-efficiency n-i-p type devices at elevated temperatures remains challenging. In this work, we implemented effective surface modifications on microcrystalline perovskite films. This involved the nucleophilic addition of formamidinium cations and coordination of residual PbI2 with triphenylmethane triisocyanate as well as subsequent polymerization. The in situ growth of a cross-linking network chemically anchored on the perovskite film in this approach effectively reduced trap densities, favorably altered surface work function, suppressing interface charge recombination and thus enhancing cell efficiency. Coupled with a high-melting-point air-doping promoter, we fabricated n-i-p type perovskite solar cells surpassing 25 % efficiency, demonstrating excellent operational stability at 65 °C.

Impact of aerosol-boundary layer interactions on PM2.5 pollution during cold air pool events in a semi-arid urban basin

Global emission reductions still must address winter fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution in urban basins with enclosed terrains and frequent cold air pool (CAP) events when the temperatures within the basin are colder than above it. The effects of urban basin aerosol-boundary layer interactions on PM2.5 pollution during CAP events remain unclear. Intensive boundary layer observations in January 2021 and numerical models were used to investigate this issue in the semi-arid urban Lanzhou Basin of China. The results showed that CAPs formed because of the synoptic weather system that exacerbated the warming over the basin. The CAPs in this experiment were characterized by stronger temperature inversion (TI) layers in the vertical direction and lower relative humidity, lower wind speed, and weaker turbulence at the bottom of the basin compared to other conditions. The strong TI layers below the top of the basin inhibited the vertical dispersion of pollutants in the basin and concentrated the PM2.5 within a height of 0.3 km from the bottom of the basin. During CAP events, the proportion of elemental carbon in PM2.5 increased, whereas that of secondary inorganic species decreased. Aerosol absorption increased faster than scattering during CAP events. Therefore, the mean single scattering albedo decreased from 0.85 during non-CAP periods to 0.81 during CAP events. Radiosonde-sounding observations and numerical simulations indicated that aerosols accumulating in the lower basin heated the atmosphere during the daytime and facilitated boundary layer development via the "stove effect" (absorption aerosol heats lower atmosphere to promote boundary layer development). No significant "dome effect" (absorption aerosol heats the upper boundary layer to suppress boundary layer development) occurred during the two CAP events. These findings provide a theoretical basis for scientifically-guided PM2.5 pollution control in winter in isolated urban basins.

Unravelling CD4+ T cell diversity and tissue adaptation of Tregs in abdominal aortic aneurysms through single-cell sequencing

Immune cell infiltration is a significant pathological process in abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). T cells, particularly CD4+ T cells, are essential immune cells responsible for substantial infiltration of the aorta. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) in AAA have been identified as tissue-specific; however, the time, location, and mechanism of acquiring the tissue-specific phenotype are still unknown. Using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on CD4+ T cells from the AAA aorta and spleen, we discovered heterogeneity among CD4+ T cells and identified activated, proliferating and developed aorta Tregs. These Tregs originate in the peripheral tissues and acquire the tissue-specific phenotype in the aorta. The identification of precursors for Tregs in AAA provides new insight into the pathogenesis of AAA.

Oxidized sodium alginate hydrogel-mouse nerve growth factor sustained release system promotes repair of peripheral nerve injury

In recent years, mouse nerve growth factor (mNGF) has emerged as an important biological regulator to repair peripheral nerve injury, but its systemic application is restricted by low efficiency and large dosage requirement. These limitations prompted us to search for biomaterials that can be locally loaded. Oxidized sodium alginate hydrogel (OSA) exhibits good biocompatibility and physicochemical properties, and can be loaded with drugs to construct a sustained-release system that can act locally on nerve injury. Here, we constructed a sustained-release system of OSA-mouse nerve growth factor (mNGF), and investigated the loading and release of the drug through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and drug release curves. In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that OSA-mNGF significantly promoted the biological activities of RSC-96 cells and facilitated the recovery from sciatic nerve crush injury in rats. This observation may be attributed to the additive effect of OSA on promoting Schwann cell biological activities or its synergistic effect of cross-activating phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) through extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) signaling. Although the specific mechanism of OSA action needs to be explored in the future, the current results provide a valuable preliminary research basis for the clinical application of the OSA-mNGF sustained-release system for nerve repair.

Dioxane promoted photochemical O-alkylation of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds beyond carbene insertion into C-H and C-C bonds

A photochemical synthesis of enol ethers and furan-3(2H)-ones from 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and aryl diazoacetates has been developed. Significantly, 1,4-dioxane promoted O-alkylation of various 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds beyond previous carbene insertion into C-H and C-C bonds has been disclosed.

[Analysis of clinical characteristic of pediatric with progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type 3]

Objective: To analyze the clinical manifestations, pathology, and gene variant characteristics in children with progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type 3 (PFIC3). Methods: This retrospective study assessed the clinical manifestations, pathological features, gene variants, and prognosis data of 11 children with PFIC3 hospitalized in the Department of Hepatology, Fifth Medical Center, PLA General Hospital, from January 2015 to December 2022. Panel or whole exome sequencing was performed on the probands, followed by Sanger sequencing for verification within the family. Detected pathogenic variants were compared with known disease databases. Additionally, the new variants were predicted the deleteriousness and protein structure using relevant software to evaluate their pathogenicity. Results: Among the 11 PFIC3 children, 8 were boys and 3 were girls. The age of onset was 3.1 (0.2, 15.6) years. The main complaint of onset was different in the 11 patients;5 of them were abnormal liver function, 3 of them were liver and spleen enlargement, 2 of them were abdominal distension, and 1 of them was jaundice. alanine aminotransferase, asparate aminotransferase and r-glutamyltransferase increased in all the patients, which were(113±40), (150±44) and (270±156) U/L respectively. Moreover, direct bilirubin increased in 9 patients, and cholestasis was showed in 8 patients. All patients showed liver fibrosis on imaging, and 8 patients had cirrhosis. The pathological features of 8 cases by liver biopsy were as follows: 8 cases of fibrosis in the portal area, 7 cases of small bile duct hyperplasia, 4 cases of positive copper staining, and 5 cases of cirrhosis. A total of 17 ABCB4 gene variants were detected, including 9 new variants: c.589C>T(p.Q197X), c.1230+1G>A(Splicing), c.2914G>A(P.D972N), c.1058G>A(p.C353Y), c.956G>T(p.G319V), c.473T>A(p.L158Q), c.164T>C(p.L55S), c.2493G>C(p.R831S), and c.1150G>C(p.G384R). All 11 patients were treated with ursodeoxycholic acid and followed up for 5.1(0.6, 7.4) years. Among them, 4 cases of cirrhosis progressed continuously, 3 cases had liver transplantations, and the remaining 4 cases were stable after medical treatment. Conclusions: Children with PFIC3 have early onset, diverse clinical manifestations, rapid progression of fibrotic and cholestasis, as well as poor prognosis. Genetic testing helps to confirm the diagnosis.

Metagenomic analysis revealed highly diverse carbon fixation microorganisms in a petroleum-hydrocarbon-contaminated aquifer

As one of the ultimate products of hydrocarbon biodegradation, inorganic carbon always be used to evaluate hydrocarbon biodegradation rates in petroleum-hydrocarbon-contaminated (PHC) aquifers. The evaluation method was challenged because of the existence of carbon fixation microorganisms, which may uptake inorganic carbons and consequently cause the biodegradation rates to be underestimated. We wonder if there are carbon fixation microorganisms in PHC aquifers. Although an extremely limited number of carbon fixation microorganisms in PHC sites have been studied in previous studies, the vast majority of microorganisms that participate in carbon fixation have not been systematically identified. To systematically reveal carbon fixation microorganisms and their survival environmental conditions, high-throughput metagenomic sequencing technologies, which are characterized by culture-independent, unbiased, and comprehensive methods for the detection and taxonomic characterization of microorganisms, were introduced to analyze the groundwater samples collected from a PHC aquifer. Results showed that 1041 genera were annotated as carbon fixation microorganisms, which accounted for 49% of the total number of genera in the PHC aquifer. Carbon fixation genes involved in Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB), 3-hydroxy propionate (3HP), reductive tricarboxylic acid (rTCA), and Wood-Ljungdahl (WL) cycles accounted for 2%, 41%, 34%, and 23% of the total carbon fixation genes, respectively, and 3HP, rTCA, and WL can be deemed as the dominant carbon fixation pathways. Most of the identified carbon fixation microorganisms are potential hydrocarbon biodegraders, and the most abundant carbon fixation microorganisms, such as Microbacterium, Novosphingobium, and Reyranella, were just the most abundant microorganisms in the aquifer system. It's deduced that most of the microorganisms in the aquifer were facultative autotrophic, and undertaking the dual responsibilities of degrading hydrocarbons to inorganic carbon and uptaking inorganic carbon to biomass.

A multistep approach for exploring quality markers of Shengjiang Xiexin decoction by integrating plasma pharmacochemistry-pharmacokinetics-pharmacology

Shengjiang Xiexin decoction (SXD), a well-known traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), was used to alleviate delayed-onset diarrhea induced by the chemotherapeutic agent irinotecan (CPT-11). Our previous study showed that SXD regulated multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (Mrp-2) to alter the pharmacokinetics of CPT-11 and its metabolites. However, the pharmacodynamic constituents and the related quality markers of SXD are unclear. In this study, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS) was utilized to identify the prototypes and metabolites in rat plasma after oral administration of SXD. The pharmacokinetic markers (PK markers) were screened through quantification and semiquantification of SXD-related xenobiotics in plasma using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) combined with statistical analysis. Computational molecular docking was performed to assess the potential binding ability of the PK markers with the target Mrp-2. The results were verified by evaluating the impact on Mrp-2 function using Caco-2 cells. The quality markers were chosen from these PK markers based on the binding affinities with Mrp-2, the specificity and the traceability. As a result, a total of 142 SXD-related exogenous components, including 77 prototypes and 65 metabolites, were detected in rat plasma. Among these, 83 xenobiotics were selected as PK markers due to their satisfactory pharmacokinetic behaviors. Based on the characteristics of quality markers, the prototype-based PK markers were considered the indices of quality control for SXD, including baicalin, baicalein, wogonoside, wogonin, liquiritigenin, isoliquiritigenin, norwogonin, oroxylin A, dihydrobaicalin, chrysin, glycyrrhizic acid, glycyrrhetinic acid, oroxylin A 7-O-glucuronide, liquiritin and isoliquiritin. This study provided an interesting strategy for screening the quality markers involved in the pharmacokinetics of SXD and its action target, which offered important information for the modernization of SXD and other TCM formulae.

In Situ Atomic Reconstruction Engineering Modulating Graphene-Like MXene-Based Multifunctional Electromagnetic Devices Covering Multi-Spectrum

With the diversified development of big data, detection and precision guidance technologies, electromagnetic (EM) functional materials and devices serving multiple spectrums have become a hot topic. Exploring the multispectral response of materials is a challenging and meaningful scientific question. In this study, MXene/TiO2 hybrids with tunable conduction loss and polarization relaxation are fabricated by in situ atomic reconstruction engineering. More importantly, MXene/TiO2 hybrids exhibit adjustable spectral responses in the GHz, infrared and visible spectrums, and several EM devices are constructed based on this. An antenna array provides excellent EM energy harvesting in multiple microwave bands, with |S11| up to - 63.2 dB, and can be tuned by the degree of bending. An ultra-wideband bandpass filter realizes a passband of about 5.4 GHz and effectively suppresses the transmission of EM signals in the stopband. An infrared stealth device has an emissivity of less than 0.2 in the infrared spectrum at wavelengths of 6-14 µm. This work can provide new inspiration for the design and development of multifunctional, multi-spectrum EM devices.

The Quality of AI-Generated Dental Caries Multiple Choice Questions: A Comparative Analysis of ChatGPT and Google Bard Language Models

Statement of problem

AI technology presents a variety of benefits and challenges for educators.

Purpose

To investigate whether ChatGPT and Google Bard (now is named Gemini) are valuable resources for generating multiple-choice questions for educators of dental caries.

Material and methods

A book on dental caries was used. Sixteen paragraphs were extracted by an expert consultant based on applicability and potential for developing multiple-choice questions. ChatGPT and Bard language models were used to produce multiple-choice questions based on this input, and 64 questions were generated. Three dental specialists assessed the relevance, accuracy, and complexity of the generated questions. The questions were qualitatively evaluated using cognitive learning objectives and item writing flaws. Paired sample t-tests and two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to compare the generated multiple-choice questions and answers between ChatGPT and Bard.

Results

There were no significant differences between the questions generated by ChatGPT and Bard. Moreover, the analysis of variance found no significant differences in question quality. Bard-generated questions tended to have higher cognitive levels than those of ChatGPT. Format error was predominant in ChatGPT-generated questions. Finally, Bard exhibited more absolute terms than ChatGPT.

Conclusions

ChatGPT and Bard could generate questions related to dental caries, mainly at the cognitive level of knowledge and comprehension.

Clinical significance

Language models are crucial for generating subject-specific questions used in quizzes, tests, and education. By using these models, educators can save time and focus on lesson preparation and student engagement instead of solely focusing on assessment creation. Additionally, language models are adept at generating numerous questions, making them particularly valuable for large-scale exams. However, educators must carefully review and adapt the questions to ensure they align with their learning goals.

In-depth understanding of the effects of different molecular weight pullulan interacting with protein and starch on dough structure and application properties

This work clarified the positive effects of pullulan on dough structure and application properties varied with its molecular weight. Pullulan with different molecular weights were introduced into dough system to explore their intervention effects on structural and technological properties of dough as well as physical and digestion properties of biscuits. Results showed that HPL (pullulan with molecule weight of 100- 300 kDa) could increase the intermolecular collisions, prompt the protein aggregation and limit the water migration in dough system, resulting in an integrate, continuous and dense network structure of the gel with strengthened elasticity and weakened extensibility, which caused an increase in biscuit thickness, hardness and crispness. On the contrary, LPL (pullulan with molecule weight of 3- 100 kDa) could go against the formation of stable and elastic dough through breaking down cross-linkage between protein and starch so as to provide biscuits with decreased hardness and crispness during baking. Both HPL and LPL delayed starch pasting and retrogradation process while HPL had the stronger retarding effect on starch digestibility of biscuits than LPL. These findings dedicated to a better understanding of pullulan function in dough system and provide suggestions for fractionation applications of pullulan in food field.

Therapeutic progress in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma

Improvement in the therapeutics for multiple myeloma (MM) has been continuously developed owing to the application of novel drugs and technologies in the last 20 years. The standard first-line therapy for MM consists of a three-drug induction regimen based on immunomodulatory drugs and proteasome inhibitors combined with autologous stem cell transplantation. However, MM remains incurable; therefore, therapies for relapsed/refractory MM (RRMM) are emerging and evolving rapidly. This study aimed to summarize and review the results of RRMM trials over the past 5 years to provide a holistic overview and insights for practitioners in related fields and to provide additional ideas for clinical trialists. This study shows that daratumumab and isatuximab continue to significantly advance as treatment options. Additionally, novel antibody drugs, such as elotuzumab and selinexor, as well as bispecific antibodies, teclistamab and talquetamab, are currently undergoing clinical research with promising outcomes. However, chimeric antigen receptor-T cell therapy targeting B-cell maturation antigen remains the optimal approach for MM treatment.

Tissue factor pathway inhibitors disrupt structures of rhabdovirus/ranairidovirus and inhibit viral infection in Chinese perch, Siniperca chuatsi

Viral diseases have caused great economic losses to the aquaculture industry. However, there are currently no specific drugs to treat these diseases. Herein, we utilized Siniperca chuatsi as an experimental model, and successfully extracted two tissue factor pathway inhibitors (TFPIs) that were highly distributed in different tissues. We then designed four novel peptides based on the TFPIs, named TS20, TS25, TS16, and TS30. Among them, TS25 and TS30 showed good biosafety and high antiviral activity. Further studies showed that TS25 and TS30 exerted their antiviral functions by preventing viruses from invading Chinese perch brain (CPB) cells and disrupting Siniperca chuatsi rhabdovirus (SCRV)/Siniperca chuatsi ranairidovirus (SCRIV) viral structures. Additionally, compared with the control group, TS25 and TS30 could significantly reduce the mortality of Siniperca chuatsi, the relative protection rates of TS25 against SCRV and SCRIV were 71.25 % and 53.85 % respectively, and the relative protection rate of TS30 against SCRIV was 69.23 %, indicating that they also had significant antiviral activity in vivo. This study provided an approach for designing peptides with biosafety and antiviral activity based on host proteins, which had potential applications in the prevention and treatment of viral diseases.

Clinical and genetic study of ABCB4 gene-related cholestatic liver disease in China: children and adults

BACKGROUND

ABCB4 gene-related cholestatic liver diseases have a wide spectrum of clinical and genetic variations. The correlation between genotype and clinical phenotype still unclear. This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical and pathological characteristics of 23 patients with ABCB4 gene-related cholestatic liver diseases. Next-generation sequencing was used to identify the genetic causes.

RESULTS

The 23 included patients (15 children and 8 adults) were diagnosed as progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type 3 (PFIC3), drug-induced liver injury (DILI), cirrhosis cholestasis, cirrhosis, and mild liver fibrosis. Nineteen patients underwent liver pathological examination of the liver, exhibiting fibrosis, small bile duct hyperplasia, CK7(+), Cu(+), bile duct deletion, and cirrhosis. Thirty ABCB4 variants were identified, including 18 novel variants.

CONCLUSION

ABCB4 gene-related cholestatic liver diseases have a wide spectrum of clinical and genetic variations. Biallelic ABCB4 mutation carriers tended to severe PFIC3, which mostly occurs in children; while ABCB4 non-biallelic variants can lead to milder ICP, LACP, DILI or overlapping, mostly in adults. Thus, the ABCB4 genotype has a specific correlation with the phenotype, but there are exceptions. Non-biallelic null mutations can cause severe diseases. The mechanisms underlying this genetic phenotype require further investigation.

Analysis of mild and severe neonatal enterovirus infections in a Chinese neonatal tertiary center: a retrospective case-control study

PURPOSE

To compare the clinical characteristics, virus serotype, and outcome in cases of mild and severe enteroviral infection at a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit in China.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of cases hospitalized between June and August 2019. Samples (stool or throat swabs) were examined using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Positive cases were divided into two groups: mild infection and severe infection.

RESULTS

A total of 149 cases were assigned to one of two groups: mild infection (n = 104) and severe infection (n = 45). There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of sex, gestational age, birth weight, mode of delivery, and onset within 7 days. Clinical symptoms in both groups mostly resembled sepsis (fever, rash, poor feeding, and lethargy); however, there were significant variations in concomitant symptoms such as hepatitis, thrombocytopenia, encephalitis, coagulopathy, and myocarditis. Severe cases were more likely to have abnormal complete blood counts, biochemical parameters, and cerebrospinal fluid markers. The predominant serotypes implicated in neonatal enterovirus infections were echoviruses and Coxsackievirus B. Invasive ventilation, intravenous immunoglobulin, vasoactive medications, and blood product transfusions were often required, with high mortality rates among severe cases.

CONCLUSION

We found significant differences between mild and severe cases of neonatal enterovirus infection with respect to complications, laboratory findings, and enterovirus serotypes. It is crucial to exercise caution when newborns exhibit symptoms of sepsis, during an enterovirus outbreak. Anemia, thrombocytopenia, abnormal liver function, and coagulation dysfunction should be monitored closely as they could indicate the presence of a severe enteroviral infection.

Urinary haloacetic acid concentrations and thyroid function among women: Results from the TREE study

BACKGROUND

Disinfection byproducts (DBPs) have been shown to impair thyroid function in experimental models. However, epidemiological evidence is scarce.

METHODS

This study included 1190 women undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment from the Tongji Reproductive and Environmental (TREE) cohort from December 2018 to August 2021. Serum thyrotropin (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), and free thyroxine (FT4) were measured as indicators of thyroid function. FT4/FT3 and TSH/FT4 ratios were calculated as markers of thyroid hormone homeostasis. Dichloroacetic acid (DCAA) and trichloroacetic acid (TCAA), the two most abundant HAAs, in urine were detected to assess individual DBP exposures.

RESULTS

After adjusting for relevant covariates, positive associations were observed between urinary TCAA concentrations and serum TSH and TSH/FT4 levels (e.g., percent change = 5.82 %, 95 % CI: 0.70 %, 11.21 % for TSH), whereas inverse associations were found for serum FT3 and FT4 (e.g., percent change = -1.29 %, 95 % CI: -2.49 %, -0.07 % for FT3). There also was a negative association between urinary DCAA concentration and serum FT4/FT3 (percent change = -2.49 %, 95 % CI: -4.71 %, -0.23 %). These associations were further confirmed in the restricted cubic spline and generalized additive models with linear or U-shaped dose-response relationships.

CONCLUSION

Urinary HAAs were associated with altered thyroid hormone homeostasis among women undergoing ART treatment.

Ultrahigh energy storage in high-entropy ceramic capacitors with polymorphic relaxor phase

Ultrahigh-power-density multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) are critical components in electrical and electronic systems. However, the realization of a high energy density combined with a high efficiency is a major challenge for practical applications. We propose a high-entropy design in barium titanate (BaTiO3)-based lead-free MLCCs with polymorphic relaxor phase. This strategy effectively minimizes hysteresis loss by lowering the domain-switching barriers and enhances the breakdown strength by the high atomic disorder with lattice distortion and grain refining. Benefiting from the synergistic effects, we achieved a high energy density of 20.8 joules per cubic centimeter with an ultrahigh efficiency of 97.5% in the MLCCs. This approach should be universally applicable to designing high-performance dielectrics for energy storage and other related functionalities.

Efficacy and safety of dabigatran and rivaroxaban in atrial fibrillation patients with impaired liver function: a multicenter retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The efficacy and safety of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with impaired liver function (ILF) have not been sufficiently studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of DOACs for stroke prevention in patients with AF and ILF.

METHOD

This study was based on data from 15 centers in China, including 4,982 AF patients. The patients were divided into 2 subgroups based on their liver function status: patients with normal liver function (NLF)(n = 4213) and patients with ILF (n = 769). Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the risk of total bleeding, major bleeding, thromboembolism, and all-cause deaths in AF patients with NLF and ILF after taking dabigatran or rivaroxaban, respectively.

RESULTS

Among AF patients treated with dabigatran or rivaroxaban, patients with ILF were associated with significantly higher major bleeding, compared with NLF patients (aOR: 4.797; 95% CI: 2.224-10.256; P < 0.001). In patients with NLF, dabigatran (n = 2011) had considerably lower risk of total bleeding than rivaroxaban (n = 2202) (aOR: 1.23; 95% CI: 1.002-1.513; P = 0.049). In patients with ILF, dabigatran (n = 321) significantly favored lower risks of major bleeding compared with rivaroxaban(n = 448) (aOR: 5.484; 95% CI: 1.508-35.269; P = 0.026).

CONCLUSION

After using dabigatran or rivaroxaban, patients with ILF had remarkably increased risk of major bleeding compared with patients with NLF. In AF patients with NLF, dabigatran had the distinct strength of significantly reduced risk of total bleeding compared with rivaroxaban. In patients with AF and ILF, dabigatran use was associated with lower risk for major bleeding compared with rivaroxaban.

Systematic investigation of chemo-immunotherapy synergism to shift anti-PD-1 resistance in cancer

Chemo-immunotherapy combinations have been regarded as one of the most practical ways to improve immunotherapy response in cancer patients. In this study, we integrate the transcriptomics data from anti-PD-1-treated tumors and compound-treated cancer cell lines to systematically screen for chemo-immunotherapy synergisms in silico. Through analyzing anti-PD-1 induced expression changes in patient tumors, we develop a shift ability score to measure if a chemotherapy or a small molecule inhibitor treatment can shift anti-PD-1 resistance in tumor cells. By applying shift ability analysis to 41,321 compounds and 16,853 shRNA treated cancer cell lines transcriptomic data, we characterize the landscape of chemo-immunotherapy synergism and experimentally validated a mitochondrial RNA-dependent mechanism for drug-induced immune activation in tumor. Our study represents an effort to mechanistically characterize chemo-immunotherapy synergism and will facilitate future pre-clinical and clinical studies.

Ischemia-free liver transplantation improves the prognosis of recipients using Functioned Marginal Liver grafts

Background & Aims

The shortage of donor livers hinders the development of liver transplantations. This study aimed to clarify the poor outcomes of functioned marginal liver grafts (FMLs) and provide evidence for the improvement of ischemia-free liver transplantation (IFLT) on transplantation with FMLs.

Methods

Propensity score matching was used to control for confounding factors. The outcomes of the control group and FMLs were compared to demonstrate the negative impact of FMLs in liver transplantation patients. We compared the clinical improvements of the different surgical types. To elucidate the underlying mechanism, we conducted bioinformatic analysis based on transcriptome and single-cell profiles.

Results

FMLs showed a significantly higher Hazard Ratio (HR: 1.969, P = 0.018) than other marginal livers. A worse 90-days survival (12.3% vs. 5.0%, P = 0.007) was observed in patients who underwent FMLs. Patients receiving FMLs had a significant overall survival benefit after IFLT (10.4% vs. 31.3%, P = 0.006). Pyroptosis and inflammation are inhibited in patients who undergo IFLT. The infiltration of Natural Killer cells was lower in liver grafts from these patients. A positive relationship was observed between IL32 and Caspase 1 (R = 0.73, P = 0.01) and Gasdermin D (R = 0.84, P = 0.0012) in the bulk transcriptome profiles.

Conclusion

FMLs function as a more important negative prognostic parameter than other marginal livers do. IFLT might ameliorate liver injury in FMLs by inhibiting the infiltration of NK cells, consequently leading to the abortion of IL-32, which drives pyroptosis in monocytes and macrophages.

Biodegradation of microplastics derived from controlled release fertilizer coating: Selective microbial colonization and metabolism in plastisphere

Coated controlled-release fertilizers (CRFs) are widely used in agriculture, and the persistent presence of residual polymer coating has raised environmental concerns. This study investigates the underlying degradation dynamics of microplastics (MPs) derived from three typical materials used in CRFs, including polyethylene (PE), epoxy (EP), and polyurethane (PU), through a soil degradation test. The formation of surface biofilm, the succession process, and metabolic characteristics of microbial community are revealed by laser scanning confocal microscope, 16S rRNA sequencing, and non-targeted metabolomics analysis. The weight loss rates of PE, EP, and PU after 807 days of degradation were 16.70 %, 2.79 %, and 4.86 %, respectively. Significant secondary MPs were produced with tears and holes appeared in the coating cross sections and pyrolysis products were produced such as ethers, acids, and esters for PE; alkanes, olefins and their branched-chain derivatives for EP; and short-chain fatty acids and benzene molecules for PU. The coating surface selectively recruited the bacteria of Chujaibacter and Ralstonia and fungus of Fusarium and Penicillium, forming biofilm composed of lipids, proteins, and living cells. The metabolism of amino acids and polymers was enhanced to protect against MP-induced stress. The metabolites or intermediates of organic acids and derivatives, oxygen-contained organic compounds, and benzenoids on CRF surface increased significantly compared with soil, but there were no significant differences among different coating types. This study provides insights to the underlying mechanisms of biodegradation and microenvironmental changes of MPs in soil.

Structural elucidation, binding sites exploration and biological activities of bound phenolics from Radix Puerariae Thomsonii

Radix puerariae thomsonii (RPT) contains many phenolics and exhibits various health benefits. Although the free phenolics in RPT have been identified, the composition and content of bound phenolics, which account for approximately 20% of the total phenolic content, remain unknown. In this study, 12 compounds were isolated and identified from RPT-bound phenolic extracts, of which 2 were novel and 6 were reported first in RPT. ORAC and PSC antioxidant activities of 12 compounds, as well as their effects on alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), α-glucosidase, and α-amylase were evaluated. Genistein exhibited the highest ORAC activity, while daidzin demonstrated superior PSC activity. Five compounds, including two new compounds, exhibited the ability to activate both ADH and ALDH. All the compounds except 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid methyl ester and 2,4,4'-trihydroxydeoxybenzoin demonstrated inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase and α-amylase. Alkaline hydrolysis and stepwise enzymatic hydrolysis revealed that bound phenolics in RPT mainly exist within starch.

A water mediated multicomponent reaction for the synthesis of novel spirooxindole derivatives and their antifungal activity

A water mediated three-component reaction of isatin, 4-aminocoumarin, and 1,3-cyclodicarbonyl compounds is reported for the synthesis of spiro[chromeno[4,3-b]cyclopenta[e]pyridine-7,3'-indoline]trione and the spiro[chromeno[4,3-b]quinoline 7,3'-indoline]trione. Up to 27 different spirooxindole derivatives were synthesized by this method. The bioactivity of these spirooxindole derivatives was evaluated and they were found to show antifungal activity against Cercospora arachidicola, Physalospora piricola, Rhizoctonia cerealis, and Fusarium moniliforme.

Mitigating quality deterioration in chilled pork by combining cinnamaldehyde nanoemulsions and a high-voltage electrostatic field

Cinnamaldehyde nanoemulsion (CNE) was obtained through ultrasonication, using Tween 80 as an emulsifier. The CNE was then applied to chilled pork in conjunction with a high-voltage electrostatic field (HVEF) to mitigate quality deterioration during refrigerated storage. The particle size of CNE ranged from 60 to 150 nm and was positively correlated with the amount of added cinnamaldehyde. The polydispersity index and zeta potential of CNE ranged from 0.25 to 0.30 and - 12 to -11 mV, respectively, indicating a narrow size distribution and stability. The CNE released the odor specific to cinnamaldehyde to pork in the first 4 days of chilling; however, it had little effect on the taste. HVEF pretreatment reduced the initial total viable count (TVC) in pork by 1.14 log cycle. The combination of CNE with HVEF successfully slowed down the loss of moisture, decrease in pH, and accumulation of total volatile basic nitrogen in pork during refrigeration. Furthermore, it mitigated the increase in TVC of pork. Therefore, this integrated method appears to be suitable for extending the shelf life of chilled pork.

Pulsed Direct Current Arc-Induced Nanoelectrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

This study explores the innovative field of pulsed direct current arc-induced nanoelectrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DCAI-nano-ESI-MS), which utilizes a low-temperature direct current (DC) arc to induce ESI during MS analyses. By employing a 15 kV output voltage, the DCAI-nano-ESI source effectively identifies various biological molecules, including angiotensin II, bradykinin, cytochrome C, and soybean lecithin, showcasing impressive analyte signals and facilitating multicharge MS in positive- and negative-ion modes. Notably, results show that the oxidation of fatty acids using a DC arc produces [M + O - H]- ions, which aid in identifying the location of C═C bonds in unsaturated fatty acids and distinguishing between isomers based on diagnostic ions observed during collision-induced dissociation tandem MS. This study presents an approach for identifying the sn-1 and sn-2 positions in phosphatidylcholine using phosphatidylcholine and nitrate adduct ions, accurately determining phosphatidylcholine molecular configurations via the Paternò-Büchi reaction. With all the advantages above, DCAI-nano-ESI holds significant promise for future analytical and bioanalytical applications.

Progress of engineered bacteria for tumour therapy

Finding novel therapeutic modalities, improving drug delivery efficiency and targeting, and reducing the immune escape of tumor cells are currently hot topics in the field of tumor therapy. Bacterial therapeutics have proven highly effective in preventing tumor spread and recurrence, used alone or in combination with traditional therapies. In recent years, a growing number of researchers have significantly improved the targeting and penetration of bacteria by using genetic engineering technology, which has received widespread attention in the field of tumor therapy. In this paper, we provide an overview and assessment of the advancements made in the field of tumor therapy using genetically engineered bacteria. We cover three major aspects: the development of engineered bacteria, their integration with other therapeutic techniques, and the current state of clinical trials. Lastly, we discuss the limitations and challenges that are currently being faced in the utilization of engineered bacteria for tumor therapy.