UV-filter benzophenones suppress human, pig, rat, and mouse 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1: Structure-activity relationship and in silico docking analysis

Benzophenone chemicals (BPs) have been developed to prevent the adverse effects of UV radiation and they are widely contaminated. 11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (11β-HSD1) catalyze the conversion of inactive glucocorticoid to active glucocorticoid, playing critical role in many physiological function. However, the direct effect of BPs on human, pig, rat, and mouse 11β-HSD1 remains unclear. In this study, we screened the inhibitory strength of 12 BPs on 4 species, and performed the structure-activity relationship (SAR) and in silico docking analysis. The inhibitory potency of BPs was: for human 11β-HSD1, BP6 (IC50 = 18.76 μM) > BP8 (40.84 μM) > BP (88.89 μM) > other BPs; for pig 11β-HSD1, BP8 (45.57 μM) > BP6 (59.44 μM) > BP2 (65.12 μM) > BP (135.56 μM) > other BPs; for rat 11β-HSD1, BP7 (67.17 μM) > BP (68.83 μM) > BP8 (133.04 μM) > other BPs; and for mouse 11β-HSD1, BP8 (41.41 μM) > BP (50.61 μM) > other BPs. These BP chemicals were mixed/competitive inhibitors of these 11β-HSD1 enzymes. The 2,2'-dihydroxy substitutions in two benzene rings play a key role in enhancing the effectiveness of inhibiting 11β-HSD1, possibly via increasing hydrogen bond interactions. Docking analysis shows that these BPs bind to NADPH/glucocorticoid binding sites and forms hydrogen bonds with catalytic residues Ser and/or Tyr. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that BP chemicals can inhibit 11β-HSD1 from 4 species, and there are subtle species-dependent difference in the inhibitory strength and structural variations of BPs.

Effects of organochlorine pesticides on human and rat 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 activity: Structure-activity relationship and in silico docking analysis

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of 11 organochlorine pesticides on human and rat 17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (17β-HSD1) in human placental and rat ovarian microsome and on estradiol production in BeWo cells. The results showed that the IC50 values for endosulfan, fenhexamid, chlordecone, and rhothane on human 17β-HSD1 were 21.37, 73.25, 92.80, and 117.69 μM. Kinetic analysis revealed that endosulfan acts as a competitive inhibitor, fenhexamid as a mixed/competitive inhibitor, chlordecone and rhothane as a mixed/uncompetitive inhibitor. In BeWo cells, all insecticides except endosulfan significantly decreased estradiol production at 100 μM. For rats, the IC50 values for dimethomorph, fenhexamid, and chlordecone were 11.98, 36.92, and 109.14 μM. Dimethomorph acts as a mixed inhibitor, while fenhexamid acts as a mixed/competitive inhibitor. Docking analysis revealed that endosulfan and fenhexamid bind to the steroid-binding site of human 17β-HSD1. On the other hand, chlordecone and rhothane binds to a different site other than the steroid and NADPH-binding site. Dimethomorph binds to the steroid/NADPH binding site, and fenhexamid binds to the steroid binding site of rat 17β-HSD1. Bivariate correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between IC50 values and LogP for human 17β-HSD1, while a slight negative correlation was observed between IC50 values and the number of HBA. ADMET analysis provided insights into the toxicokinetics and toxicity of organochlorine pesticides. In conclusion, this study identified the inhibitory effects of 3-4 organochlorine pesticides and binding mechanisms on human and rat 17β-HSD1, as well as their impact on hormone production.

Nanocellulose-mediated conductive hydrogels with NIR photoresponse and fatigue resistance for multifunctional wearable sensors

The rapid development of hydrogels has garnered significant attention in health monitoring and human motion sensing. However, the synthesis of multifunctional conductive hydrogels with excellent strain/pressure sensing and photoresponsiveness remains a challenge. Herein, the conductive hydrogels (BPTP) with excellent mechanical properties, fatigue resistance and photoresponsive behavior composed of polyacrylamide (PAM) matrix, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yloxy-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (TOCNs) reinforcement and polydopamine-modified black phosphorus (BP@PDA) photosensitizer are prepared through a facile free-radical polymerization approach. The PDA adhered to the BP surface by π-π stacking promotes the optical properties of BP while also preventing BP oxidation from water. Through hydrogen bonding interactions, TOCNs improve the homogeneous dispersion of BP@PDA nanosheets and the mechanical toughness of BPTP. Benefiting from the synergistic effect of PDA and TOCNs, the conductive BPTP integrates superior mechanical performances, excellent photoelectric response and photothermal conversion capability. The BPTP-based sensor with high cycling stability demonstrates superior strain sensitivity (GF = 6.0) and pressure sensing capability (S = 0.13 kPa-1) to monitor various human activities. Therefore, this work delivers an alternative construction strategy for generating high-performance conductive hydrogels as multifunctional wearable sensors.

Metabolic habitat imaging with hemodynamic heterogeneity predicts individual progression-free survival in high-grade glioma

AIM

We design a feasibility study to obtain a set of metabolic-hemodynamic habitats for tackling tumor spatial metabolic patterns with hemodynamic information.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Preoperative data from 69 high-grade gliomas (HGG) patients with subsequent histologic confirmation of HGG were prospectively collected (January 2016 to March 2020) after concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). Four vascular habitats were automatically segmented by multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The metabolic information, either at enhancing or edema tumor regions, was obtained by two neuroradiologists. The relative habitat volumes were used for weight estimation procedures for computing the coefficients of a linear regression model using weighted least squares (WLS) for metabolite semiquantifications (i.e. the Cho/NAA ratio and the Cho/Cr ratio) at vascular habitats. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analyses are used to obtain the odds ratio (OR) and develop a nomogram using weighted estimators corresponding to each covariate derived from Cox regression coefficients.

RESULTS

There was a strongly correlation between perfusion indexes and the Cho/Cr ratio (rCBV, r=0.71) or Cho/NAA ratio (rCBV, r=0.66) at high-angiogenic enhancing tumor habitats (HAT) habitat. Compared isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation to their wild type, the IDH wild type had significantly decreased Cho/Cr ratio (IDH mutation: Cho/Cr ratio = 2.44 ± 0.33, IDH wildtype: Cho/Cr ratio = 2.66 ± 0.36, p=0.02) and Cho/NAA ratio (IDH mutation: Cho/Cr ratio = 4.59 ± 0.61, IDH wildtype: Cho/Cr ratio = 4.99 ± 0.66, p=0.022) at the HAT. The C-index for the median progression-free survival (PFS) prediction was 0.769 for the Cho/NAA nomogram and 0.747 for the Cho/Cr nomogram through 1000 bootstrapping validation.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that spatial metabolism combined with hemodynamic heterogeneity is associated with individual PFS to HGG patients post-CCRT.

Potent inhibition of human and rat 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 by curcuminoids and the metabolites: 3D QSAR and in silico docking analysis

Curcumin, an extensively utilized natural pigment in the food industry, has attracted considerable attention due to its potential therapeutic effects, such as anti-tumorigenic and anti-inflammatory activities. The enzyme 17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (17β-HSD1) holds a crucial position in oestradiol production and exhibits significant involvement in oestrogen-responsive breast cancers and endometriosis. This study investigated the inhibitory effects of curcuminoids, metabolites, and analogues on 17β-HSD1, a key enzyme in oestradiol synthesis. Screening 10 compounds, including demethoxycurcumin (IC50, 3.97 μM) and dihydrocurcumin (IC50, 5.84 μM), against human and rat 17β-HSD1 revealed varying inhibitory potencies. These compounds suppressed oestradiol secretion in human BeWo cells at ≥ 5-10 μM. 3D-Quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) and molecular docking analyses elucidated the interaction mechanisms. Docking studies and Gromacs simulations suggested competitive or mixed binding to the steroid or NADPH/steroid binding sites of 17β-HSD1. Predictive 3D-QSAR models highlighted the importance of hydrophobic regions and hydrogen bonding in inhibiting 17β-HSD1 activity. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the inhibitory effects and mode of action of curcuminoids, metabolites, and analogues on 17β-HSD1, which may have implications in the field of hormone-related disorders.

mPPTMP195 nanoparticles enhance fracture recovery through HDAC4 nuclear translocation inhibition

Delayed repair of fractures seriously impacts patients' health and significantly increases financial burdens. Consequently, there is a growing clinical demand for effective fracture treatment. While current materials used for fracture repair have partially addressed bone integrity issues, they still possess limitations. These challenges include issues associated with autologous material donor sites, intricate preparation procedures for artificial biomaterials, suboptimal biocompatibility, and extended degradation cycles, all of which are detrimental to bone regeneration. Hence, there is an urgent need to design a novel material with a straightforward preparation method that can substantially enhance bone regeneration. In this context, we developed a novel nanoparticle, mPPTMP195, to enhance the bioavailability of TMP195 for fracture treatment. Our results demonstrate that mPPTMP195 effectively promotes the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into osteoblasts while inhibiting the differentiation of bone marrow mononuclear macrophages into osteoclasts. Moreover, in a mouse femur fracture model, mPPTMP195 nanoparticles exhibited superior therapeutic effects compared to free TMP195. Ultimately, our study highlights that mPPTMP195 accelerates fracture repair by preventing HDAC4 translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, thereby activating the NRF2/HO-1 signaling pathway. In conclusion, our study not only proposes a new strategy for fracture treatment but also provides an efficient nano-delivery system for the widespread application of TMP195 in various other diseases.

Search for exotic decays of the Higgs boson to a pair of pseudoscalars in the μμbb and ττbb final states

A search for exotic decays of the Higgs boson (H ) with a mass of 125Ge V to a pair of light pseudoscalars a 1 is performed in final states where one pseudoscalar decays to two b quarks and the other to a pair of muons or τ leptons. A data sample of proton-proton collisions at s = 13 Te V corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138fb - 1 recorded with the CMS detector is analyzed. No statistically significant excess is observed over the standard model backgrounds. Upper limits are set at 95% confidence level (CL ) on the Higgs boson branching fraction to μ μ b b and to τ τ b b , via a pair of a 1 s. The limits depend on the pseudoscalar mass m a 1 and are observed to be in the range (0.17-3.3) × 10 - 4 and (1.7-7.7) × 10 - 2 in the μ μ b b and τ τ b b final states, respectively. In the framework of models with two Higgs doublets and a complex scalar singlet (2HDM+S), the results of the two final states are combined to determine upper limits on the branching fraction B ( H → a 1 a 1 → ℓ ℓ b b ) at 95% CL , with ℓ being a muon or a τ lepton. For different types of 2HDM+S, upper bounds on the branching fraction B ( H → a 1 a 1 ) are extracted from the combination of the two channels. In most of the Type II 2HDM+S parameter space, B ( H → a 1 a 1 ) values above 0.23 are excluded at 95% CL for m a 1 values between 15 and 60Ge V .

Association between secondhand smoke exposure and rheumatoid arthritis in US never-smoking adults: a cross-sectional study from NHANES

While smoking is widely acknowledged as a risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the connection between secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure and RA in never-smoking adults remains limited and inconsistent. This study aims to explore and quantify this association using serum cotinine levels. We conducted a cross-sectional study with 14,940 adults who self-report as never smokers, using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 1999 to 2018. Based on previous literature, SHS exposure was categorized into four groups according to serum cotinine levels. Compared to individuals in the unexposed group (serum cotinine < 0.05 ng/mL), the adjusted odds ratio (OR) for RA was 1.37 (95% CI 1.14-1.64, p = 0.001) in the low exposure group (serum cotinine at 0.05 to 0.99 ng/mL) after adjusting for covariates. However, no significant association was found in the moderate exposure group (serum cotinine at 1 to 10 ng/mL) or the heavy exposure group (serum cotinine ≥ 10 ng/mL). Furthermore, we detected a non-linear, positively saturated correlation between the cotinine levels after log2 transformation and RA, with a turning point at approximately - 2.756 ng/mL (OR = 1.163, 95% CI 1.073-1.261, p = 0.0002). The stability of the results was confirmed by subgroup analysis.

Enantioselective Hydrofunctionalization of Cyclobutenones: Total Synthesis of gem-Dimethylcyclobutane Natural Products

Cyclobutanes with a gem-dimethyl group are common motifs in natural products. However, strategies for constructing enantioenriched gem-dimethyl cyclobutanes are still underdeveloped. Herein, we report an enantioselective approach to synthesize a broad group of chiral 2,3-disubstituted cyclobutanones through sequential 1,4-conjugate addition/trapping/cross-coupling of readily available cyclobutenones. The intermediate 2-bromocyclobutanone provides a valuable synthetic handle for further coupling transformations. In addition, this strategy was successfully utilized to synthesize gem-dimethyl cyclobutane-containing natural products, including (+)-β-caryophyllene, (-)-raikovenal, (-)-1β,9αH-5-linoleoyloxy-4,5-secocaryophyllen-4-one, and (-)-rumphellanones A-C.

Determination of Spin-Parity Quantum Numbers of X(2370) as 0^{-+} from J/ψ→γK_{S}^{0}K_{S}^{0}η^{'}

Based on (10087±44)×10^{6}  J/ψ events collected with the BESIII detector, a partial wave analysis of the decay J/ψ→γK_{S}^{0}K_{S}^{0}η^{'} is performed. The mass and width of the X(2370) are measured to be 2395±11(stat)_{-94}^{+26}(syst)  MeV/c^{2} and 188_{-17}^{+18}(stat)_{-33}^{+124}(syst)  MeV, respectively. The corresponding product branching fraction is B[J/ψ→γX(2370)]×B[X(2370)→f_{0}(980)η^{'}]×B[f_{0}(980)→K_{S}^{0}K_{S}^{0}]=(1.31±0.22(stat)_{-0.84}^{+2.85}(syst))×10^{-5}. The statistical significance of the X(2370) is greater than 11.7σ and the spin parity is determined to be 0^{-+} for the first time. The measured mass and spin parity of the X(2370) are consistent with the predictions of the lightest pseudoscalar glueball.

Halogenated bisphenol A derivatives potently inhibit human and rat 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1: Structure-activity relationship and molecular docking

Chlorinated bisphenol A (BPA) derivatives are formed during chlorination process of drinking water, whereas bisphenol S (BPS) and brominated BPA and BPS (TBBPA and TBBPS) were synthesized for many industrial uses such as fire retardants. However, the effect of halogenated BPA and BPS derivatives on glucocorticoid metabolizing enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (11β-HSD1) remains unclear. The inhibitory effects of 6 BPA derivatives in the inhibition of human and rat 11β-HSD1 were investigated. The potencies for inhibition on human 11β-HSD1 were TBBPA (IC50, 3.87 μM) = monochloro BPA (MCBPA, 4.08 μM) = trichloro BPA (TrCBPA, 4.41 μM) > tetrachloro BPA (TCBPA, 9.75 μM) > TBBPS (>100 μM) = BPS (>100 μM), and those for rat 11β-HSD1 were TrCBPA (IC50, 2.76 μM) = MCBPA (3.75 μM) > TBBPA (39.58 μM) > TCBPA = TBBPS = BPS. All these BPA derivatives are mixed/competitive inhibitors of both human and rat enzymes. Molecular docking studies predict that MCBPA, TrCBPA, TCBPA, and TBBPA all bind to the active site of human 11β-HSD1, forming hydrogen bonds with catalytic residue Ser170 except TCBPA. Regression of the lowest binding energy with IC50 values revealed a significant inverse linear regression. In conclusion, halogenated BPA derivatives are mostly potent inhibitors of human and rat 11β-HSD1, and there is structure-dependent inhibition.

Pan-Asian adapted ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of patients with early breast cancer

The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Clinical Practice Guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of patients with early breast cancer were updated and published online in 2023, and adapted, according to previously established standard methodology, to produce the Pan-Asian adapted (PAGA) ESMO consensus guidelines for the management of Asian patients with early breast cancer. The adapted guidelines presented in this manuscript represent the consensus opinions reached by a panel of Asian experts in the treatment of patients with breast cancer representing the oncological societies of China (CSCO), Indonesia (ISHMO), India (ISMPO), Japan (JSMO), Korea (KSMO), Malaysia (MOS), the Philippines (PSMO), Singapore (SSO), Taiwan (TOS) and Thailand (TSCO), co-ordinated by ESMO and KSMO. The voting was based on scientific evidence and was independent of the current treatment practices, drug access restrictions and reimbursement decisions in the different Asian regions represented by the 10 oncological societies. The latter are discussed separately in the manuscript. The aim is to provide guidance for the optimisation and harmonisation of the management of patients with early breast cancer across the different regions of Asia, drawing on the evidence provided by both Western and Asian trials, whilst respecting the differences in screening practices, molecular profiling, as well as the age and stage at presentation. Attention is drawn to the disparity in the drug approvals and reimbursement strategies, between the different regions of Asia.

Perfluorotetradecanoic acid exposure to adult male rats stimulates corticosterone biosynthesis but inhibits aldosterone production

Perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTeDA) is a novel perfluoroalkyl substance that ubiquitously exists in the environment. However, whether PFTeDA affects adrenal cortex function remains unclear. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (age of 60 days) were daily administered with PFTeDA (0, 1, 5, and 10 mg/kg body weight) through gavage for 28 days. PFTeDA did not change body and adrenal gland weights. PFTeDA markedly elevated serum corticosterone level at 10 mg/kg but lowering serum aldosterone level at this dosage without influencing serum adrenocorticotropic hormone level. PFTeDA thickened zona fasciculata without affecting zona glomerulosa. PFTeDA remarkably upregulated the expression of corticosterone biosynthetic genes (Mc2r, Scarb1, Star, Cyp21, Cyp11b1, and Hsd11b1) and their proteins, whereas downregulating aldosterone biosynthetic enzyme Cyp11b2 and its protein, thereby distinctly altering their serum levels. PFTeDA markedly downregulated the expression of antioxidant genes (Sod1 and Sod2) and their proteins at 10 mg/kg. PFTeDA significantly decreased SIRT1/PGC1α and AMPK signaling while stimulating AKT1/mTOR signaling. Corticosterone significantly inhibited testosterone production by adult Leydig cells at >0.1 μM in vitro; however aldosterone significantly stimulated testosterone production at 0.1 nM. In conclusion, exposure to PFTeDA at male rat adulthood causes corticosterone excess and aldosterone deficiency via SIRT1/PGC1α, AMPK, and AKT1/mTOR signals, which in turn additively leads to testosterone deficiency.

Effects of Labor Analgesia on Pelvic Floor Function at 6 to 8 Weeks after Delivery: A Prospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

 The aim of the study is to determine whether the use of labor analgesia had a higher risk of pelvic floor functional problems after delivery.

STUDY DESIGN

 All primiparas who delivered at our hospital between June 2019 and May 2020 were enrolled in the study. They were divided into two groups according to their choices: delivery with labor analgesia (analgesia group, n = 76), and delivery without labor analgesia (nonanalgesia group, n = 78). The primary outcome of the study was to test the pelvic floor function by electromyography (EMG) at postpartum 6 to 8 weeks. Participants also completed questionnaires including Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI-20), International Consultation on Incontinent Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF), and Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS) at postpartum 6 to 8 weeks.

RESULTS

 Primiparas in the analgesia group experienced longer first and second stages of labor (p< 0.05), and had significantly higher PFDI-20 scores at postpartum 6 to 8 weeks (p< 0.05). But the differences in ICIQ-SF, OABSS scores, and Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) system between the two groups were not significant (p > 0.05). No statistically significant difference was found in class II and class I muscles, scores of pretest resting baseline, and posttest resting baseline between primiparas with or without labor analgesia (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

 Our results strongly confirmed that labor analgesia did not increase the risk of pelvic floor dysfunction up to 6 to 8 weeks after delivery, although symptom burden might be increased after labor analgesia.

KEY POINTS

· Labor analgesia did not increase risk of pelvic floor muscle dysfunction after delivery.. · There are longer first and second stages of labor in primiparas with labor analgesia.. · Primiparas with labor analgesia had more obvious subjective symptoms of PFD..

[Primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma with Sjögren's syndrome and positive cerebrospinal fluid Epstein-Barr virus: a case report and literature review]

The study presents an analysis of the diagnostic and treatment protocol for a patient with a first episode of nasopharyngeal carcinoma who also has Sjogren's syndrome and Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) positive cerebrospinal fluid, as detected through metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS). It reviews existing literature to examine the connections between EBV and various conditions including Sjogren's syndrome, encephalitis or meningitis, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma, emphasizing the importance of EBV positive cerebrospinal fluid. The study focuses on a case from the Eighth Medical Center of the General Hospital of the People's Liberation Army, where a patient was admitted with headaches as the primary symptom on March 3, 2021. This patient had a history of Sjogren's syndrome and was later diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The research involved reviewing both domestic and international databases for cases related to cerebrospinal fluid EBV positive encephalitis or meningitis, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. It aimed to aggregate data on demographics, initial symptoms, treatment methods, and patient outcomes. Findings suggest that positive cerebrospinal fluid EBV is linked to autoimmune diseases, viral encephalitis or meningitis, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma, albeit infrequently in the context of Sjogren's syndrome. Notably, EBV positive cerebrospinal fluid is commonly associated with recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma rather than initial episodes. The study concludes that for patients with an immune condition, exhibiting symptoms like headaches or cranial nerve issues, or in cases where nasopharyngeal carcinoma is suspected, early testing through cerebrospinal fluid mNGS or EBV DNA is recommended. This approach facilitates risk assessment, prognosis determination, and the creation of individualized treatment plans.

Carbon-chain length determines the binding affinity and inhibitory strength of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances on human and rat steroid 5α-reductase 1 activity

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used synthetic chemicals that persist in the environment and bioaccumulate in animals and humans. There is growing evidence that PFAS exposure adversely impacts neurodevelopment and neurological health. Steroid 5α-reductase 1 (SRD5A1) plays a key role in neurosteroidogenesis by catalyzing the conversion of testosterone or pregnenolone to neuroactive steroids, which influence neural development, cognition, mood, and behavior. This study investigated the inhibitory strength and binding interactions of 18 PFAS on human and rat SRD5A1 activity using enzyme assays, molecular docking, and structure-activity relationship analysis. Results revealed that C9-C14 PFAS carboxylic acid at 100 μM significantly inhibited human SRD5A1, with IC50 values ranged from 10.99 μM (C11) to 105.01 μM (C14), and only one PFAS sulfonic acid (C8S) significantly inhibited human SRD5A1 activity, with IC50 value of 8.15 μM. For rat SRD5A1, C9-C14 PFAS inhibited rat SRD5A1, showing the similar trend, depending on carbon number of the carbon chain. PFAS inhibit human and rat SRD5A1 in a carbon chain length-dependent manner, with optimal inhibition around C11. Kinetic studies indicated PFAS acted through mixed inhibition. Molecular docking revealed PFAS bind to the domain between NADPH and testosterone binding site of both SRD5A1 enzymes. Inhibitory potency correlated with physicochemical properties like carbon number of the carbon chain. These findings suggest PFAS may disrupt neurosteroid synthesis and provide insight into structure-based inhibition of SRD5A1.

Mouse model of Graves' orbitopathy induced by the immunization with TSHR A and IGF-1R α subunit gene

PURPOSE

The study aimed to establish a mouse model of Graves' disease (GD) with Graves' orbitopathy (GO; GD + GO) that can represent the clinical disease characteristics.

METHODS

A eukaryotic expression plasmid of insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) α subunit (pcDNA3.1/IGF-1Rα) and a thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) A subunit plasmid (pcDNA3.1/TSHR-289) were injected in female BALB/c mice followed by immediate electroporation to induce a GD + GO model. Grouping was performed according to the frequency of injection (2- to 4-week intervals) and type of injected plasmids: T: pcDNA3.1/TSHR-289( +), I: pcDNA3.1/IGF-1Rα( +), or co-injection T + I: pcDNA3.1/TSHR-289( +) and pcDNA3.1/IGF-1Rα( +). Serum TSH, T4, TSAb, TSBAb, body weight, and blood glucose levels were evaluated. Thyroid 99mTcO4- imaging and retrobulbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed, and bilateral eye muscle volumes were measured. Immunohistochemistry and hematoxylin-eosin staining were performed on the relevant tissues, and semi-quantitative analysis was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 60% of mice (3/5, one mouse died) in the T group developed GD + GO. In the T + I group, 83.3% of mice (5/6) developed GD + GO. Mice in the I group did not develop GD. Compared with the control group, serum T4, TSAb, and TSBAb of the mice in the GD + GO model groups were increased to varying degrees (P < 0.05), and serum TSH and body weight were significantly lower compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The thyroid uptake capacity of 99mTcO4- and the volume of eye muscle of mice in the GD + GO group were significantly higher compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The thyroid and retrobulbar muscles of these mice showed varying inflammatory infiltration and interstitial muscle edema. The severity of GD + GO in the co-injection group was not related to injection frequency; however, GD and ocular signs in co-injection mice were more severe compared to the T group.

CONCLUSIONS

We successfully induced a GD + GO mouse model by a repeated co-injection of pcDNA3.1/IGF-1Rα and pcDNA3.1/TSHR-289 plasmids. Injection of pcDNA3.1/IGF-1Rα alone failed to induce GD. Co-injection of two plasmids induced more severe GD + GO than pcDNA3.1/TSHR-289( +) alone.

[Semiparametric analysis of nonparametric proportional hazards models with mixed dependent censored data]

OBJECTIVE

To construct a nonparametric proportional hazards (PH) model for mixed informative interval-censored failure time data for predicting the risks in heart transplantation surgeries.

METHODS

Based on the complexity of mixed informative interval-censored failure time data, we considered the interdependent relationship between failure time process and observation time process, constructed a nonparametric proportional hazards (PH) model to describe the nonlinear relationship between the risk factors and heart transplant surgery risks and proposed a two-step sieve estimation maximum likelihood algorithm. An estimation equation was established to estimate frailty variables using the observation process model. Ⅰ-spline and B-spline were used to approximate the unknown baseline hazard function and nonparametric function, respectively, to obtain the working likelihood function in the sieve space. The partial derivative of the model parameters was used to obtain the scoring equation. The maximum likelihood estimation of the parameters was obtained by solving the scoring equation, and a function curve of the impact of risk factors on the risk of heart transplantation surgery was drawn.

RESULTS

Simulation experiment suggested that the estimated values obtained by the proposed method were consistent and asymptotically effective under various settings with good fitting effects. Analysis of heart transplant surgery data showed that the donor's age had a positive linear relationship with the surgical risk. The impact of the recipient's age at disease onset increased at first and then stabilized, but increased against at an older age. The donor-recipient age difference had a positive linear relationship with the surgical risk of heart transplantation.

CONCLUSION

The nonparametric PH model established in this study can be used for predicting the risks in heart transplantation surgery and exploring the functional relationship between the surgery risks and the risk factors.

[Shenqi Chongcao Formula ameliorates inflammatory response in rats with pulmonary fibrosis by activating the ASS1/src/STAT3 signaling pathway]

OBJECTIVE

To observe the effect of Shenqi Chongcao (SQCC) Formula on the ASS1/src/STAT3 signaling pathway in a rat model of lung fibrosis and explore its therapeutic mechanism.

METHODS

A total of 120 male SD rats were divided equally into 5 groups, including a blank control group with saline treatment and 4 groups of rat models of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis induced by intratracheal instillation of bleomycin. One day after modeling, the rat models were treated with daily gavage of 10 mL/kg saline, SQCC decoction (0.423 g/kg), pirfenidone (10 mL/kg), or intraperitoneal injection of arginine deiminase (ADI; 2.25 mg/kg, every 3 days) for 28 days. After the treatments, the lung tissues of the rats were collected for calculating the lung/body weight ratio, observing histopathology using HE and Masson staining, and analyzing the inflammatory cells in BALF using Giemsa staining. Serum chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) levels were measured with ELISA. The protein expressions of src, p-srcTry529, STAT3, and p-STAT3Try705 and the mRNA expressions of ASS1, src and STAT3 in the lung tissues were detected using Western blotting and RT-qPCR.

RESULTS

The neutrophil, macrophage and lymphocyte counts and serum levels of CCL2 and TGF-β1 were significantly lower in SQCC, pirfenidone and ADI treatment groups than in the model group at each time point of measurement (P < 0.05). P-srcTry529 and p-STAT3Try705 protein expression levels and ASS1, src, and STAT3 mRNA in the lung tissues were also significantly lower in the 3 treatment groups than in the model group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

SQCC Formula can alleviate lung fibrosis in rats possibly by activating the ASS1/src/STAT3 signaling pathway in the lung tissues.

Observation of Structures in the Processes e^{+}e^{-}→ωχ_{c1} and ωχ_{c2}

We present measurements of the Born cross sections for the processes e^{+}e^{-}→ωχ_{c1} and ωχ_{c2} at center-of-mass energies sqrt[s] from 4.308 to 4.951 GeV. The measurements are performed with data samples corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 11.0  fb^{-1} collected with the BESIII detector operating at the Beijing Electron Positron Collider storage ring. Assuming the e^{+}e^{-}→ωχ_{c2} signals come from a single resonance, the mass and width are determined to be M=(4413.6±9.0±0.8)  MeV/c^{2} and Γ=(110.5±15.0±2.9)  MeV, respectively, which is consistent with the parameters of the well-established resonance ψ(4415). In addition, we also use one single resonance to describe the e^{+}e^{-}→ωχ_{c1} line shape and determine the mass and width to be M=(4544.2±18.7±1.7)  MeV/c^{2} and Γ=(116.1±33.5±1.7)  MeV, respectively. The structure of this line shape, observed for the first time, requires further understanding.

Hierarchically core-shell structured nanocellulose/carbon nanotube hybrid aerogels for patternable, self-healing and flexible supercapacitors

The flexible and self-healing supercapacitors (SCs) are considered to be promising smart energy storage devices. Nevertheless, the SCs integrated with flexibility, lightweight, pattern editability, self-healing capabilities and desirable electrochemical properties remain a challenge. Herein, an all-in-one self-healing SC fabricated with the free-standing hybrid film (TCMP) composed of the 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yloxy-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (TOCNs) carried carbon nanotubes (CNTs), manganese dioxide (MnO2) and polyaniline (PANI) as the electrode, polyvinyl alcohol/sulfuric acid (PVA/H2SO4) gel as the electrolyte and dynamically cross-linked cellulose nanofibers/PVA/sodium tetraborate decahydrate (CNF/PB) hydrogel as the self-healing electrode matrix is developed. The TCMP film electrodes are fabricated through a facile in-situ polymerization of MnO2 and PANI in TOCNs-dispersed CNTs composite networks, exhibiting lightweight, high electrical conductivity, flexibility, pattern editability and excellent electrochemical properties. Benefited from the hierarchically porous structure and high mechanical properties of TOCNs, excellent electrical conductivity of CNTs and the desirable synergistic effect of pseudocapacitance induced by MnO2 and PANI, the assembled SC with an interdigital structure demonstrated a high areal capacitance of 1108 mF cm-2 at 2 mA cm-2, large areal energy density of 153.7 μWh cm-2 at 1101.7 μW cm-2. A satisfactory bending cycle performance (capacitance retention up to 95 % after 200 bending deformations) and self-healing characteristics (∼90 % capacitance retention after 10 cut/repair cycles) are demonstrated for the TCMP-based symmetric SC, delivering a feasible strategy for electrochemical energy storage devices with excellent performance, designable patterns and desirable safe lifespan.

Coupled-Channel Analysis of the χ_{c1}(3872) Line Shape with BESIII Data

We perform a study of the χ_{c1}(3872) line shape using the data samples of e^{+}e^{-}→γχ_{c1}(3872), χ_{c1}(3872)→D^{0}D[over ¯]^{0}π^{0}, and π^{+}π^{-}J/ψ collected with the BESIII detector. The effects of the coupled channels and the off-shell D^{*0} are included in the parametrization of the line shape. The line shape mass parameter is obtained to be M_{X}=(3871.63±0.13_{-0.05}^{+0.06})  MeV. Two poles are found on the first and second Riemann sheets corresponding to the D^{*0}D[over ¯]^{0} branch cut. The pole location on the first sheet is much closer to the D^{*0}D[over ¯]^{0} threshold than the other, and is determined to be 7.04±0.15_{-0.08}^{+0.07}  MeV above the D^{0}D[over ¯]^{0}π^{0} threshold with an imaginary part -0.19±0.08_{-0.19}^{+0.14}  MeV.

Observation of the Anomalous Shape of X(1840) in J/ψ→γ3(π^{+}π^{-}) Indicating a Second Resonance Near pp[over ¯] Threshold

Using a sample of (10087±44)×10^{6}  J/ψ events, which is about 45 times larger than that was previously analyzed, a further investigation on the J/ψ→γ3(π^{+}π^{-}) decay is performed. A significant distortion at 1.84  GeV/c^{2} in the line shape of the 3(π^{+}π^{-}) invariant mass spectrum is observed for the first time, which could be resolved by two overlapping resonant structures, X(1840) and X(1880). The new state X(1880) is observed with a statistical significance larger than 10σ. The mass and width of X(1880) are determined to be 1882.1±1.7±0.7  MeV/c^{2} and 30.7±5.5±2.4  MeV, respectively, which indicates the existence of a pp[over ¯] bound state.

Study of the f_{0}(980) and f_{0}(500) Scalar Mesons through the Decay D_{s}^{+}→π^{+}π^{-}e^{+}ν_{e}

Using e^{+}e^{-} collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 7.33  fb^{-1} recorded by the BESIII detector at center-of-mass energies between 4.128 and 4.226 GeV, we present an analysis of the decay D_{s}^{+}→π^{+}π^{-}e^{+}ν_{e}, where the D_{s}^{+} is produced via the process e^{+}e^{-}→D_{s}^{*±}D_{s}^{∓}. We observe the f_{0}(980) in the π^{+}π^{-} system and the branching fraction of the decay D_{s}^{+}→f_{0}(980)e^{+}ν_{e} with f_{0}(980)→π^{+}π^{-} measured to be (1.72±0.13_{stat}±0.10_{syst})×10^{-3}, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. The dynamics of the D_{s}^{+}→f_{0}(980)e^{+}ν_{e} decay are studied with the simple pole parametrization of the hadronic form factor and the Flatté formula describing the f_{0}(980) in the differential decay rate, and the product of the form factor f_{+}^{f_{0}}(0) and the c→s Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element |V_{cs}| is determined for the first time to be f_{+}^{f_{0}}(0)|V_{cs}|=0.504±0.017_{stat}±0.035_{syst}. Furthermore, the decay D_{s}^{+}→f_{0}(500)e^{+}ν_{e} is searched for the first time but no signal is found. The upper limit on the branching fraction of D_{s}^{+}→f_{0}(500)e^{+}ν_{e}, f_{0}(500)→π^{+}π^{-} decay is set to be 3.3×10^{-4} at 90% confidence level.

The impact of breast density notification on psychosocial outcomes in racial and ethnic minorities: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

High breast density is an independent risk factor for breast cancer and decreases the sensitivity of mammography. This systematic review synthesizes the evidence on the impact of breast density (BD) information and/or notification on women's psychosocial outcomes among women from racial and ethnic minority groups.

METHODS

A systematic search was performed in March 2023, and the articles were identified using CINHAL, Embase, Medline, and PsychInfo databases. The search strategy combined the terms "breast", "density", "notification" and synonyms. The authors specifically kept the search terms broad and did not include terms related to race and ethnicity. Full-text articles were reviewed for analysis by race, ethnicity and primary language of participants. Two authors evaluated the eligibility of studies with verification from the study team, extracted and crosschecked data, and assessed the risk of bias.

RESULTS

Of 1784 articles, 32 articles published from 2003 to 2023 were included. Thirty-one studies were conducted in the United States and one in Australia, with 28 quantitative and four qualitative methodologies. The overall results in terms of breast density awareness, knowledge, communication with healthcare professionals, screening intentions and supplemental screening practice were heterogenous across studies. Barriers to understanding BD notifications and intentions/access to supplemental screening among racial and ethnic minorities included socioeconomic factors, language, health literacy and medical mistrust.

CONCLUSIONS

A one-size approach to inform women about their BD may further disadvantage racial and ethnic minority women. BD notification and accompanying information should be tailored and translated to ensure readability and understandability by all women.

A framework for risk assessment of groundwater contamination integrating hydrochemical, hydrogeological, and electrical resistivity tomography method

Groundwater contamination have been widely concerned. To reliably conduct risk assessment, it is essential to accurately delineate the contaminant distribution and hydrogeological condition. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) has become a powerful tool because of its high sensitivity to hydrochemical parameters, as well as its advantages of non-invasiveness, spatial continuity, and cost-effectiveness. However, it is still difficult to integrate hydrochemical, hydrogeological, and ERT datasets for risk assessment. In this study, we develop a general framework for risk assessment by sequentially jointing hydrochemical, hydrogeological, and ERT surveys, while establishing petrophysical relationships among these data. This framework can be used in groundwater-contaminated site and help to delineate the distribution of contaminants. In this study, it was applied to a nitrogen-contaminated site where field ERT survey and borehole information provided valuable measurement data for validating the consistency of contamination and hydrogeological condition. Risk assessment was conducted based on the refined results by the establishment of relationship between conductivity and contaminants concentration withR 2 > 0.84 . The contamination source was identified and the transport direction was predicted with the good agreement ofR 2 = 0.965 between simulated and observed groundwater head, which can help to propose measures for anti-seepage and monitoring. This study thus enhances the reliability of risk assessment and prediction through a thought-provoking innovation in the realm of groundwater environmental assessment.

Novel sfericase protease improves amino acid digestibility of soybean meal and rapeseed meal in broiler chickens

1. Two experiments were conducted to explore the effects of an exogenous sfericase protease on the apparent ileal nutrient digestibility of soybean meal (SBM) and rapeseed meal (RSM) in broiler chickens.2. In each experiment, a total of 256 sixteen-day-old male Cobb 500 broilers were fed one of four semi-purified experimental diets, comprising two different batches (A and B) of samples for either SBM (Exp. 1) or RSM (Exp. 2) without or with an exogenous sfericase (0 or 30,000 NFP/kg). Each experimental diet was fed to eight replicate pens of broiler chickens from 16 to 21 d of age (eight birds per cage), and ileal digesta were collected for measuring the digestibility coefficients.3. In Exp. 1, the amino acid digestibility was greater (P < 0.05) in SBM B compared with SBM A for Arg and Val, and a similar trend (P < 0.1) was observed for Tyr, Leu and Thr. Exogenous sfericase increased (P < 0.10) digestibility of most of amino acids except Gly, His and Trp. There was an interaction between SBM source and sfericase, whereby digestibility of P, N and Asp was increased by sfericase for SBM B but not for SBM A. In Exp. 2, there was no interaction (P > 0.05) between RSM source and sfericase for ileal nutrient digestibility. Digestibility was greater in RSM A compared to RSM B for all non-essential AA and most essential AA (except for Trp), while the reverse was noted for Ca and P (P < 0.05). Exogenous sfericase increased (P < 0.1) digestibility for all amino acids except Cys and Met.4. In conclusion, the current studies showed that both SBM and RSM batches influenced amino acid digestibility. Sfericase protease supplementation increased amino acid digestibility for both SBM and RSM. The digestibility effects were greater in the SBM batch with low digestibility for N and Asp which was in line with an increase in P digestibility.

Palmitoylation of KSHV pORF55 is required for Golgi localization and efficient progeny virion production

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is a double-stranded DNA virus etiologically associated with multiple malignancies. Both latency and sporadic lytic reactivation contribute to KSHV-associated malignancies, however, the specific roles of many KSHV lytic gene products in KSHV replication remain elusive. In this study, we report that ablation of ORF55, a late gene encoding a tegument protein, does not impact KSHV lytic reactivation but significantly reduces the production of progeny virions. We found that cysteine 10 and 11 (C10 and C11) of pORF55 are palmitoylated, and the palmytoilation is essential for its Golgi localization and secondary envelope formation. Palmitoylation-defective pORF55 mutants are unstable and undergo proteasomal degradation. Notably, introduction of a putative Golgi localization sequence to these palmitoylation-defective pORF55 mutants restores Golgi localization and fully reinstates KSHV progeny virion production. Together, our study provides new insight into the critical role of pORF55 palmitoylation in KSHV progeny virion production and offers potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of related malignancies.

Non-invasive in-utero quantification of vascular reactivity in human placenta

OBJECTIVE

Placental vascular reactivity (PlVR) indicates the ability of the placental vasculature to match blood supply to fetal demand. Many pregnancy disorders alter the characteristics of PlVR, resulting in suboptimal oxygen delivery, although current understanding is limited by the lack of non-invasive, repeatable methods to measure PlVR in utero. Our objective was to quantify PlVR by measuring the placental response to transient changes in maternal carbon dioxide (CO2) using blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We hypothesized that PlVR will increase with gestational age to meet the changing demands of a growing fetus, and that PlVR will be driven by a maternal response to changes in CO2 concentration.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study of 35 women with a healthy singleton pregnancy, of whom 31 were included in the analysis. The median gestational age was 32.6 (range, 22.6-38.4) weeks. Pregnant women were instructed to follow audiovisual breathing cues during a MRI scan. Maternal end-tidal CO2 (EtCO2) was measured concurrently with resting placental BOLD MRI for a total of 7-8 min. Preprocessing of magnetic resonance images consisted of manual delineation of placental anatomy and motion correction. In each placental voxel, vascular reactivity was computed using a coherence-weighted general linear model between MRI signal and EtCO2 stimulus. Global PlVR was computed as the mean of voxel-wise PlVR values across the placenta.

RESULTS

PlVR, quantified by the placental response to induced, transient changes in maternal CO2, was consistently measured in utero using BOLD MRI. PlVR increased non-linearly with advancing gestational age (P < 0.001) and was higher on the fetal side of the placenta. PlVR was associated positively with fetal brain volume after accounting for gestational age. PlVR did not show any significant associations with maternal characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS

We present, for the first time, a non-invasive paradigm to quantify PlVR in ongoing human pregnancies without the use of exogenous gases or contrast agents. Our findings suggest that PlVR is driven by a fetal response to changes in maternal CO2. Ease of translation to the clinical setting makes PlVR a promising biomarker for the identification and management of high-risk pregnancies. © 2023 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Multichannel Doppler fiber-imager spectrometer for spatiotemporal characterization of high-intensity laser-driven plasmas

We demonstrate a flexible multichannel fiber-based imaging Doppler spectrometer to characterize plasmas in high intensity (≥1 × 1018 W/cm2) laser-plasma experiments at high repetition rates. This instrument collects data from ×21 different plasma locations combining optical fibers and a single imaging spectrometer. This diagnostic maps the plasma velocity evolution as a function of time with sub-pico-second resolution. Experimental results showing 2D velocity measurements of plasma with 20 μm spatial resolution are presented. Intensities of the order of 1018 W/cm2 were used to generate a plasma, while a much less intense, frequency doubled (400 nm), probe beam (1011 W/cm2) was used to measure the Doppler shift from the plasma critical surface. The instrument can be scaled to a larger number of channels (e.g., 100) still using a single spectrometer.

Observation of D^{+}→K_{S}^{0}a_{0}(980)^{+} in the Amplitude Analysis of D^{+}→K_{S}^{0}π^{+}η

We perform for the first time an amplitude analysis of the decay D^{+}→K_{S}^{0}π^{+}η and report the observation of the decay D^{+}→K_{S}^{0}a_{0}(980)^{+} using 2.93  fb^{-1} of e^{+}e^{-} collision data taken at a center-of-mass energy of 3.773 GeV with the BESIII detector. As the only W-annihilation-free decay among D to a_{0}(980) pseudoscalar, D^{+}→K_{S}^{0}a_{0}(980)^{+} is the ideal decay in extracting the contributions of the W-emission amplitudes involving a_{0}(980) and to study the final-state interactions. The absolute branching fraction of D^{+}→K_{S}^{0}π^{+}η is measured to be (1.27±0.04_{stat}±0.03_{syst})%. The branching fractions of intermediate processes D^{+}→K_{S}^{0}a_{0}(980)^{+} with a_{0}(980)^{+}→π^{+}η and D^{+}→π^{+}K[over ¯]_{0}^{*}(1430)^{0} with K[over ¯]_{0}^{*}(1430)^{0}→K_{S}^{0}η are measured to be (1.33±0.05_{stat}±0.04_{syst})% and (0.14±0.03_{stat}±0.01_{syst})%, respectively.

Observation of Significant Flavor-SU(3) Breaking in the Kaon Wave Function at 12<Q^{2}<25 GeV^{2} and Discovery of the Charmless Decay ψ(3770)→K_{S}^{0}K_{L}^{0}

We present cross sections for the reaction e^{+}e^{-}→K_{S}^{0}K_{L}^{0} at center-of-mass energies ranging from 3.51 to 4.95 GeV using data samples collected in the BESIII experiment, corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 26.5  fb^{-1}. The ratio of neutral-to-charged kaon form factors at large momentum transfers (12 Collapse

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Study of High-Transverse-Momentum Higgs Boson Production in Association with a Vector Boson in the qqbb Final State with the ATLAS Detector

This Letter presents the first study of Higgs boson production in association with a vector boson (V=W or Z) in the fully hadronic qqbb final state using data recorded by the ATLAS detector at the LHC in proton-proton collisions at sqrt[s]=13  TeV and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137  fb^{-1}. The vector bosons and Higgs bosons are each reconstructed as large-radius jets and tagged using jet substructure techniques. Dedicated tagging algorithms exploiting b-tagging properties are used to identify jets consistent with Higgs bosons decaying into bb[over ¯]. Dominant backgrounds from multijet production are determined directly from the data, and a likelihood fit to the jet mass distribution of Higgs boson candidates is used to extract the number of signal events. The VH production cross section is measured inclusively and differentially in several ranges of Higgs boson transverse momentum: 250-450, 450-650, and greater than 650 GeV. The inclusive signal yield relative to the standard model expectation is observed to be μ=1.4_{-0.9}^{+1.0} and the corresponding cross section is 3.1±1.3(stat)_{-1.4}^{+1.8}(syst)  pb.

Observation of WWγ Production and Search for Hγ Production in Proton-Proton Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV

The observation of WWγ production in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV with an integrated luminosity of 138  fb^{-1} is presented. The observed (expected) significance is 5.6 (5.1) standard deviations. Events are selected by requiring exactly two leptons (one electron and one muon) of opposite charge, moderate missing transverse momentum, and a photon. The measured fiducial cross section for WWγ is 5.9±0.8(stat)±0.8(syst)±0.7(modeling)  fb, in agreement with the next-to-leading order quantum chromodynamics prediction. The analysis is extended with a search for the associated production of the Higgs boson and a photon, which is generated by a coupling of the Higgs boson to light quarks. The result is used to constrain the Higgs boson couplings to light quarks.

[Surveillance of echinococcosis in Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from 2017 to 2022]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the echinococcosis surveillance results in Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from 2017 to 2022, so as to provide insights into formulation of echinococcosis control measures in the prefecture.

METHODS

Villagers were randomly sampled using a multistage sampling method from class I and II echinococcosis endemic counties in Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture from 2017 to 2022 for detection of human echinococcosis, while all patients undergoing ultrasound examinations in medical institutions in class III endemic counties received active echinococcosis screening. In addition, livestock in centralized slaughterhouses or slaughtering sites were screened for echinococcosis using the palpation and necropsy method, and fresh domestic dog feces samples were collected from randomly selected dog owners in each administrative village for detection of Echinococcus copro-antigen in domestic dogs. The trends in detection of human and livestock echinococcosis, detection of newly diagnosed human echinococcosis cases and detection of Echinococcus coproantigen in domestic dogs were analyzed in Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture from 2017 to 2022.

RESULTS

The mean detection rate of human echinococcosis was 0.13% (540/407 803) in Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture from 2017 to 2022, which appeared a tendency towards a decline over years (χ2trend = 1 217.21, P < 0.001), and the highest detection of newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases was seen in Hejing County (0.28%, 191/67 865). The detection of livestock echinococcosis appeared a tendency towards a decline over years from 2017 to 2022 (χ2trend = 147.02, P < 0.001), with the highest detection rate seen in Hejing County (3.44%, 86/2 500), and the detection of Echinococcus copro-antigen in domestic dogs appeared a tendency towards a decline over years from 2017 to 2022 (χ2trend = 302.46, P < 0.001), with the highest detection rate in Qiemo County (2.74%, 118/4 313).

CONCLUSIONS

The detection of human and livestock echinococcosis and dog feces antigens Echinococcus copro-antigen in domestic dogs all appeared a tendency towards a decline in Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from 2017 to 2022; however, there is still a high echinococcosis transmission risk in local areas. Sustainable integrated echinococcosis control is required in Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture.

Alignment Relation is What You Need for Diagram Parsing

As a knowledge carrier, the diagram is widely distributed in many aspects of human life, such as textbooks, architectural drawings, and documents. Different from natural images, representations of visual elements in the diagram are sparser, and similar visual representations can reflect dissimilar semantics. Thus, current methods fail to capture the visual elements with precise semantics. To address this issue, regarding the aligned visual and textual elements as pairs is the way to assign the precise semantics of textual elements to visual elements. We build the first diagram dataset named align diagram element (ADE), which includes annotations for alignment relations between visual and textual elements. And we propose a visual-textual alignment model (VTAM) including graph construction and optimal aligning phases. In the graph construction phase, the relational graphs are constructed between different elements with four relational operators. The relational operators are designed to measure the relations between different elements, according to distance, connection line, inclusion, and feature similarity. In the optimal aligning phase, the representation at each visual-textual pair is improved as a weighted sum of the representations on all relational graphs. Experimental results show that our VTAM achieves a significant improvement of 10.9% on mean test folds of the ADE dataset than the current best competitor. In order to explore the role of alignment relations in diagram parsing, we introduce VTAM to diagram-related tasks, such as diagram question answering (DQA). And we achieve 2.8% to 5.9% and 4.6% to 5.1% improvements on AI2D and Foodwebs after adding VTAM. Our dataset and code are released at: https://github.com/ADE-dataset/ADE-dataset.

New Structures in the J/ψJ/ψ Mass Spectrum in Proton-Proton Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV

A search is reported for near-threshold structures in the J/ψJ/ψ invariant mass spectrum produced in proton-proton collisions at sqrt[s]=13  TeV from data collected by the CMS experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 135  fb^{-1}. Three structures are found, and a model with quantum interference among these structures provides a good description of the data. A new structure is observed with a local significance above 5 standard deviations at a mass of 6638_{-38}^{+43}(stat)_{-31}^{+16}(syst)  MeV. Another structure with even higher significance is found at a mass of 6847_{-28}^{+44}(stat)_{-20}^{+48}(syst)  MeV, which is consistent with the X(6900) resonance reported by the LHCb experiment and confirmed by the ATLAS experiment. Evidence for another new structure, with a local significance of 4.7 standard deviations, is found at a mass of 7134_{-25}^{+48}(stat)_{-15}^{+41}(syst)  MeV. Results are also reported for a model without interference, which does not fit the data as well and shows mass shifts up to 150 MeV relative to the model with interference.

Investigation of the ΔI=1/2 Rule and Test of CP Symmetry through the Measurement of Decay Asymmetry Parameters in Ξ^{-} Decays

Using (10087±44)×10^{6}  J/ψ events collected with the BESIII detector, numerous Ξ^{-} and Λ decay asymmetry parameters are simultaneously determined from the process J/ψ→Ξ^{-}Ξ[over ¯]^{+}→Λ(pπ^{-})π^{-}Λ[over ¯](n[over ¯]π^{0})π^{+} and its charge-conjugate channel. The precisions of α_{Λ0} for Λ→nπ^{0} and α[over ¯]_{Λ0} for Λ[over ¯]→n[over ¯]π^{0} compared to world averages are improved by factors of 4 and 1.7, respectively. The ratio of decay asymmetry parameters of Λ→nπ^{0} to that of Λ→pπ^{-}, ⟨α_{Λ0}⟩/⟨α_{Λ-}⟩, is determined to be 0.873±0.012_{-0.010}^{+0.011}, where the first and the second uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. The ratio is smaller than unity more than 5σ, which signifies the existence of the ΔI=3/2 transition in Λ for the first time. Besides, we test for CP symmetry in Ξ^{-}→Λπ^{-} and in Λ→nπ^{0} with the best precision to date.

Measurement of the Centrality Dependence of the Dijet Yield in p+Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=8.16 TeV with the ATLAS Detector

ATLAS measured the centrality dependence of the dijet yield using 165  nb^{-1} of p+Pb data collected at sqrt[s_{NN}]=8.16  TeV in 2016. The event centrality, which reflects the p+Pb impact parameter, is characterized by the total transverse energy registered in the Pb-going side of the forward calorimeter. The central-to-peripheral ratio of the scaled dijet yields, R_{CP}, is evaluated, and the results are presented as a function of variables that reflect the kinematics of the initial hard parton scattering process. The R_{CP} shows a scaling with the Bjorken x of the parton originating from the proton, x_{p}, while no such trend is observed as a function of x_{Pb}. This analysis provides unique input to understanding the role of small proton spatial configurations in p+Pb collisions by covering parton momentum fractions from the valence region down to x_{p}∼10^{-3} and x_{Pb}∼4×10^{-4}.

Enhanced inhibition of human and rat aromatase activity by benzene ring substitutions in bisphenol A: QSAR structure-activity relationship and in silico docking analysis

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widely used plastic material, but its potential endocrine disrupting effect has restricted its use. The BPA alternatives have raised concerns. This study aimed to compare inhibitory potencies of 11 BPA analogues on human and rat placental aromatase (CYP19A1). The inhibitory potency on human CYP19A1 ranged from bisphenol H (IC50, 0.93 μM) to tetramethyl BPA and tetrabromobisphenol S (ineffective at 100 μM) when compared to BPA (IC50, 73.48 μM). Most of them were mixed/competitive inhibitors and inhibited estradiol production in human BeWo cells. Molecular docking analysis showed all BPA analogues bind to steroid active site or in between steroid and heme of CYP19A1 and form a hydrogen bond with catalytic residue Met374. Pharmacophore analysis showed that there were 4 hydrophobic regions for BPA analogues, with bisphenol H occupying 4 regions. Bivariate correlation analysis showed that LogP (lipophilicity) and LogS (water solubility) of BPA analogues were correlated with their IC50 values. Computerized drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics analysis showed that bisphenol H, tetrabromobisphenol A, and tetrachlorobisphenol A had low solubility, which might explain their weaker inhibition on estradiol production on BeWo cells. In conclusion, BPA analogues mostly can inhibit CYP19A1 and the lipophilicity determines their inhibitory strength.

Follistatin-like 1 protects against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by preventing mitochondrial dysfunction through the SIRT6/Nrf2 signaling pathway

Mitochondrial dysfunction and myocardial remodeling have been reported to be the main underlying molecular mechanisms of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. SIRT6 is a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent enzyme that plays a vital role in cardiac protection against various stresses. Moreover, previous studies have demonstrated that FSTL1 could alleviate doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by inhibiting autophagy. The present study investigated the probable mechanisms of FSTL1 on doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in vivo and in vitro. We confirmed that FSTL1 exerted a pivotal protective role on cardiac tissue in vivo and on doxorubicin-induced cell injury in vitro. Furthermore, FSTL1 can alleviate doxorubicin-induced mitochondrial dysfunction by inhibiting autophagy and apoptosis. Further studies demonstrated that FSTL1 can activate SIRT6 signaling by restoring the SIRT6 protein expression in doxorubicin-induced myocardial injury. SIRT6 activation elevated the protein expression of Nrf2 in doxorubicin-induced H9C2 injury. Treatment with the Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 partially antagonized the cardioprotective role of SIRT6 on doxorubicin-induced autophagy or apoptosis. These results suggested that the protective mechanism of FSTL1 on doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity may be related with the inhibition of autophagy and apoptosis, partly through the activation of SIRT6/Nrf2.

Comprehensive genomic profiling to identify actionable alterations for breast cancer brain metastases in the Chinese population

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer brain metastasis (BCBM) is a crucial issue in the treatment of breast cancer and is associated with poor prognosis. Therefore, novel therapeutic targets are urgently needed in clinical practice. In this study, we aimed to identify potential actionable targets in brain metastases (BMs) utilising the FoundationOne® CDx (F1CDx).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded archived specimens including 16 primary breast tumours (PTs), 49 BCBMs and 7 extracranial metastases (ECMs) from 54 patients who underwent surgery for BCBM were tested using F1CDx. Tumour-infiltrated lymphocytes (TILs) of BMs were also tested using haematoxylin-eosin staining.

RESULTS

The median tumour mutational burden (TMB) and TILs in BMs were 5.0 (range 0-29) mut/Mb and 1.0% (range 0%-5.0%), respectively. High TMB (≥10 mut/Mb) was detected in four cases (8%). Genomic alterations (GAs) were detected in all samples. The top-ranked somatic mutations in BMs were TP53 (82%), PIK3CA (35%), MLL2 (22%), BRCA2 (14%) and ATM (14%) and the most prevalent copy number alterations were ERBB2 (64%), RAD21 (36%), CCND1 (32%), FGF19 (30%) and FGF3 (30%). The most prevalent GAs were relatively consistent between paired PTs and BMs. Actionable GAs were detected in 94% of all BMs. Consistent rate in actionable GAs was 38% (6/16) between paired PTs/ECMs and BMs. Compared to matched PTs/ECMs, additional actionable GAs (BRAF, FGFR1, PTEN, KIT and CCND1) were discovered in 31% (5/16) of the BMs.

CONCLUSIONS

TMB and TILs were relatively low in BCBMs. Comparable consistency in actionable GAs was identified between BCBMs and matched PTs/ECMs. It was, therefore, logical to carry out genomic testing for BCBMs to identify potential new therapeutic targets when BCBM specimens were available, as ∼31% of samples carried additional actionable GAs.

Observation of D_{s}^{+}→η^{'}μ^{+}ν_{μ}, Precision Test of Lepton Flavor Universality with D_{s}^{+}→η^{(')}l^{+}ν_{l}, and First Measurements of D_{s}^{+}→η^{(')}μ^{+}ν_{μ} Decay Dynamics

By analyzing 7.33  fb^{-1} of e^{+}e^{-} annihilation data collected at center-of-mass energies between 4.128 and 4.226 GeV with the BESIII detector, we report the observation of the semileptonic decay D_{s}^{+}→η^{'}μ^{+}ν_{μ}, with a statistical significance larger than 10σ, and the measurements of the D_{s}^{+}→ημ^{+}ν_{μ} and D_{s}^{+}→η^{'}μ^{+}ν_{μ} decay dynamics for the first time. The branching fractions of D_{s}^{+}→ημ^{+}ν_{μ} and D_{s}^{+}→η^{'}μ^{+}ν_{μ} are determined to be (2.235±0.051_{stat}±0.052_{syst})% and (0.801±0.055_{stat}±0.028_{syst})%, respectively, with precision improved by factors of 6.0 and 6.6 compared to the previous best measurements. Combined with the results for the decays D_{s}^{+}→ηe^{+}ν_{e} and D_{s}^{+}→η^{'}e^{+}ν_{e}, the ratios of the decay widths are examined both inclusively and in several ℓ^{+}ν_{ℓ} four-momentum transfer ranges. No evidence for lepton flavor universality violation is found within the current statistics. The products of the hadronic form factors f_{+,0}^{η^{(')}}(0) and the c→s Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element |V_{cs}| are determined. The results based on the two-parameter series expansion are f_{+,0}^{η}(0)|V_{cs}|=0.452±0.010_{stat}±0.007_{syst} and f_{+,0}^{η^{'}}(0)|V_{cs}|=0.504±0.037_{stat}±0.012_{syst}, which help to constrain present models on f_{+,0}^{η^{(')}}(0). The forward-backward asymmetries are determined to be ⟨A_{FB}^{η}⟩=-0.059±0.031_{stat}±0.005_{syst} and ⟨A_{FB}^{η^{'}}⟩=-0.064±0.079_{stat}±0.006_{syst} for the first time, which are consistent with the theoretical calculation.

Evidence for Chiral Wobbler in Nuclei

Three ΔI=1 bands with the πg_{9/2}⊗νg_{9/2} configuration have been identified in _{35}^{74}Br_{39}. Angular distribution, linear polarization, and lifetime measurements were performed to determine the multipolarity, type, mixing ratio, and absolute transition probability of the transitions. By comparing these experimental observations with the corresponding fingerprints and the quantum particle rotor model calculations, the second and third lowest bands are, respectively, suggested as the chiral partner and one-phonon wobbling excitation built on the yrast band. The evidence indicates the first chiral wobbler in nuclei.

Murine IRF8 Mutation Offers New Insight into Osteoclast and Root Resorption

Interferon regulatory factor 8 (IRF8), a transcription factor expressed in immune cells, functions as a negative regulator of osteoclasts and helps maintain dental and skeletal homeostasis. Previously, we reported that a novel mutation in the IRF8 gene increases susceptibility to multiple idiopathic cervical root resorption (MICRR), a form of tooth root resorption mediated by increased osteoclast activity. The IRF8 G388S variant in the highly conserved C-terminal motif is predicted to alter the protein structure, likely impairing IRF8 function. To investigate the molecular basis of MICRR and IRF8 function in osteoclastogenesis, we generated Irf8 knock-in (KI) mice using CRISPR/Cas9 technique modeling the human IRF8G388S mutation. The heterozygous (Het) and homozygous (Homo) Irf8 KI mice showed no gross morphological defects, and the development of hematopoietic cells was unaffected and similar to wild-type (WT) mice. The Irf8 KI Het and Homo mice showed no difference in macrophage gene signatures important for antimicrobial defenses and inflammatory cytokine production. Consistent with the phenotype observed in MICRR patients, Irf8 KI Het and Homo mice demonstrated significantly increased osteoclast formation and resorption activity in vivo and in vitro when compared to WT mice. The oral ligature-inserted Het and Homo mice displayed significantly increased root resorption and osteoclast-mediated alveolar bone loss compared to WT mice. The increased osteoclastogenesis noted in KI mice is due to the inability of IRF8G388S mutation to inhibit NFATc1-dependent transcriptional activation and downstream osteoclast specific transcripts, as well as its impact on autophagy-related pathways of osteoclast differentiation. This translational study delineates the IRF8 domain important for osteoclast function and provides novel insights into the IRF8 mutation associated with MICRR. IRF8G388S mutation mainly affects osteoclastogenesis while sparing immune cell development and function. These insights extend beyond oral health and significantly advance our understanding of skeletal disorders mediated by increased osteoclast activity and IRF8's role in osteoclastogenesis.

Intranuclear assembly of leucine-rich peptides for selective death of osteosarcoma cells

Herein, we show a pair of leucine-rich L- and D-phosphopeptides which self-assemble into twisting nanofibers, whose secondary structures contain a strong β-sheet component after being dephosphorylated by alkaline phosphatase (ALP). While being incubated with ALP overexpressing osteosarcoma cells, both of the peptides self-assemble in the nuclei and induce cell death. The cell death involves multiple cell death modalities and occurs along with the disruption of cell membranes. Enzyme-instructed self-assembly (EISA) inhibits osteosarcoma cells and shows no side effect to other cells. In addition, the cancer cells hardly gain drug resistance after repeated treatment. This work reports a pair of EISA-based nanofibers to target cell nuclei, and also provides a novel chemotherapeutic agent to inhibit osteosarcoma cells without side effects and drug resistance.