Buoyant Metal-Organic Framework Corona-Driven Fast Isolation and Ultrasensitive Profiling of Circulating Extracellular Vesicles

Accurately assaying tumor-derived circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) is fundamental in noninvasive cancer diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring but limited by challenges in efficient EV isolation and profiling. Here, we report a bioinspired buoyancy-driven metal-organic framework (MOF) corona that leverages on-bubble coordination and dual-encoded surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) nanotags to streamline rapid isolation and ultrasensitive profiling of plasma EVs in a single assay for cancer diagnostics. This integrated bubble-MOF-SERS EV assay (IBMsv) allows barnacle-like high-density adhesion of MOFs on a self-floating bubble surface to enable fast isolation (2 min, near 90% capture efficiency) of tumor EVs via enhanced EV-MOF binding. Also, IBMsv harnesses four-plexed SERS nanotags to profile the captured EV surface protein markers at a single-particle level. Such a sensitive assay allows multiplexed profiling of EVs across five cancer types, revealing heterogeneous EV surface expression patterns. Furthermore, the IBMsv assay enables cancer diagnosis in a pilot clinical cohort (n = 55) with accuracies >95%, improves discrimination between cancer and noncancer patients via an algorithm, and monitors the surgical treatment response from hepatocellular carcinoma patients. This assay provides a fast, sensitive, streamlined, multiplexed, and portable blood test tool to enable cancer diagnosis and response monitoring in clinical settings.

Spatial-temporal trends in leprosy burden and its associations with socioeconomic and physical geographic factors: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of our study was to assess the multiscalar changes in leprosy burden and its associated risk factors over the last three decades.

STUDY DESIGN

We conducted an in-depth examination of leprosy's spatial-temporal trends at multiple geographical scale (global, regional, and national), utilizing information from Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD 2019).

METHODS

Incidence and the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) in age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) of leprosy were determined, with countries categorized based on leprosy incidence changes. We examined socioeconomic and physical geography influences on leprosy incidence via Spearman correlation analysis, using ternary phase diagrams to reveal the synergetic effects on leprosy occurrence.

RESULTS

Globally, incident cases of leprosy decreased by 27.86% from 1990 to 2019, with a reduction in ASIR (EAPC = -2.53), yet trends were not homogeneous across regions. ASIR and EAPC correlated positively with sociodemographic index (SDI), and an ASIR growth appeared in high SDI region (EAPC = 3.07). Leprosy burden was chiefly distributed in Tropical Latin America, Oceania, Central Sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia. Negative correlations were detected between the incidence of leprosy and factors of SDI, GDP per capita, urban population to total population, and precipitation, whereas the number of refugee population, temperature, and elevation showed opposite positive results.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite a global decline in leprosy over the past three decades, the disparities of disease occurrence at regional and national scales still persisted. Socioeconomic and physical geographic factors posed an obvious influence on the transmission risk of leprosy. The persistence and regional fluctuations of leprosy incidence necessitate the ongoing dynamic and multilayered control strategies worldwide in combating this ancient disease.

[Role of innate lymphoid cells in oral squamous cell carcinoma microenvironment]

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common oral malignancy. It has a high incidence, strong invasion ability, easy metastasis, poor curative effect, and poor prognosis. Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are an important part of immune cells located in the mucosal barrier, which play an important role in the occurrence, development and outcome of tumors. ILCs are the key cells for decoding the regulatory mechanism of tumor microenvironment and the signatures for tumor progression. This paper reviewed the latest progress on ILCs, summarized the possible characteristics and functions of ILCs in the microenvironment of OSCC, and explored the relationship between ILCs and the occurrence, development and immunotherapy of OSCC.

Exosome-tuned MOF signal amplifier boosting tumor exosome phenotyping with high-affinity nanostars

The natural phospholipid structure imparts exosomes with not only cargo protection, but rich sites for coordination with metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) to assemble functional nanocomplexes, such as signal amplifiers. Here, we exploit exosomes to tune MOF signal amplifiers (Exo-MOF) for ultrasensitive phenotyping of tumor-derived exosomes (tExo) based on self-driven coordination assembly and high-affinity nanostars. Exo-MOF leverages the specific coordination interaction between exosome and MOF that cages abundant redox molecules to assemble a super-redox signal amplifier. Moreover, the dispersed immuno-magnetic nanostars, which are assembled with antibodies on the surface of Au nanostars-coated magnetic nanoparticles, allow for rapid capturing of target tExo, addressing the limited mass transfer on electrode surface. Both Exo-MOF and high-affinity nanostars orchestrate the ultrahigh sensitivity (1 particle per 100 μL, higher than that no Exo-MOF by at least 10-fold), specificity and speed of the sensor in tExo detection. Such a sensitive strategy allows profiling tExo across seven cancer types, and revealing the distinct exosomal surface expression patterns. Further, the Exo-MOF sensor accurately distinguishes cancer patients from healthy individuals in a clinical cohort, and provides new opportunities for functional materials assembly and precision diagnostics.

Prevalence, antibiotic resistance and molecular characterization of Staphylococcus aureus in ready-to-eat fruits and vegetables in Shanghai, China

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is one of the foodborne pathogens. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of S. aureus in ready-to-eat (RTE) fruits and vegetables in Shanghai, China. We evaluated antibiotic resistance patterns and genetic diversity of isolates through whole genome sequencing. Our findings demonstrated that out of 143 market samples, 47 (32.87%) tested positive for S. aureus, with the prevalence rates ranging from 10% to 57.14% among 12 types of RTE fruits and vegetables. Most isolates were resistant to trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole, oxacillin, and ampicillin. We identified a total of 15 antibiotic resistance genes associated with resistance to 6 antibiotics, such as fosfomycin, fluoroquinolone, and β-lactam. Adhesion genes and enterotoxin genes, including icaA, icaB, icaC, set, seg, and sec, were also identified. Seven multi-locus sequence types (MLST) were detected, two of which were novel (ST7208 and ST7986). Notably, ST705-t529 (34.04%) and ST6-t701 (27.79%) represented the predominant types of S. aureus. Furthermore, three of the isolates were confirmed to be methicillin-resistant S. aureus by mecA genes. Taken together, our results highlight the high prevalence of S. aureus in RTE fruits and vegetables, posing a potential threat to food safety, particularly due to its high level of antibiotic resistance.

CRISPR/dCas9-Mediated Specific Molecular Assembly Facilitates Genotyping of Mutant Circulating Tumor DNA

Breakthroughs in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis are critical in tumor liquid biopsies but remain a technical challenge due to the double-stranded structure, extremely low abundance, and short half-life of ctDNA. Here, we report an electrochemical CRISPR/dCas9 sensor (E-dCas9) for sensitive and specific detection of ctDNA at a single-nucleotide resolution. The E-dCas9 design harnesses the specific capture and unzipping of target ctDNA by dCas9 to introduce a complementary reporter probe for specific molecular assembly and signal amplification. By efficient homogeneous assembly and interfacial click reaction, the assay demonstrates superior sensitivity (up to 2.86 fM) in detecting single-base mutant ctDNA and a broad dynamic range spanning 6 orders of magnitude. The sensor is also capable of measuring 10 fg/μL of a mutated target in excess of wild-type ones (1 ng/μL), equivalent to probing 0.001% of the mutation relative to the wild type. In addition, our sensor can monitor the dynamic expression of cellular genomic DNA and allows accurate analysis of blood samples from patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer, suggesting the potential of E-dCas9 as a promising tool in ctDNA-based cancer diagnosis.

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

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

Experimental Validation of a Kinetic Ballooning Mode in High-Performance High-Bootstrap Current Fraction Fusion Plasmas

We report the observation of a set of coherent high frequency electromagnetic fluctuations that leads to a turbulence induced self-regulating phenomenon in the DIII-D high bootstrap current fraction plasma. The fluctuations have frequency of 130-220  kHz, the poloidal wavelength and phase velocity are 16-30  m^{-1} and ∼30  km/s, respectively, in the outboard midplane with the estimated toroidal mode number n∼5-9. The fluctuations are located in the internal transport barrier (ITB) region at large radius and are experimentally validated to be kinetic ballooning modes (KBM). Quasilinear estimation predicts the KBM to be able to drive experimental particle flux and non-negligible thermal flux, suggesting its significant role in regulating the ITB saturation.

[Diagnosis status and genetic characteristics analysis of Fanconi anemia in China]

Objective: To analyze the clinical and molecular diagnostic status of Fanconi anemia (FA) in China. Methods: The General situation, clinical manifestations and chromosome breakage test and genetic test results of 107 pediatric FA cases registered in the Chinese Blood and Marrow Transplantation Registry Group (CBMTRG) and the Chinese Children Blood and Marrow Transplantation Registry Group (CCBMTRG) from August 2009 to January 2022 were analyzed retrospectively. Children with FANCA gene variants were divided into mild and severe groups based on the type of variant, and Wilcoxon-test was used to compare the phenotypic differences between groups. Results: Of the 176 registered FA patients, 69 (39.2%) cases were excluded due to lack of definitive genetic diagnosis results, and the remaining 107 children from 15 hospitals were included in the study, including 70 males and 37 females. The age at transplantation treatment were 6 (4, 9) years. The enrolled children were involved in 10 pathogenic genes, including 89 cases of FANCA gene, 7 cases of FANCG gene, 3 cases of FANCB gene, 2 cases of FANCE gene and 1 case each of FANCC, FANCD1, FANCD2, FANCF, FANCJ, and FANCN gene. Compound heterozygous or homozygous of loss-of-function variants account for 69.2% (72/104). Loss-of-function variants account for 79.2% (141/178) in FANCA gene variants, and 20.8% (37/178) were large exon deletions. Fifty-five children (51.4%) had chromosome breakage test records, with a positive rate of 81.8% (45/55). There were 172 congenital malformations in 80 children.Café-au-Lait spots (16.3%, 28/172), thumb deformities (16.3%,28/172), polydactyly (13.9%, 24/172), and short stature (12.2%, 21/172) were the most common congenital malformations in Chinese children with FA. No significant difference was found in the number of congenital malformations between children with severe (50 cases) and mild FANCA variants (26 cases) (Z=-1.33, P=0.185). Conclusions: FANCA gene is the main pathogenic gene in children with FA, where the detection of its exon deletion should be strengthened clinically. There were no phenotypic differences among children with different types of FANCA variants. Chromosome break test is helpful to determine the pathogenicity of variants, but its accuracy needs to be improved.

Effects of antibiotic-induced resistance on the growth, survival ability and virulence of Salmonella enterica

Salmonella enterica is an important foodborne pathogen that constitutes a major health hazard. The emergence and aggravation of antibiotic-resistant Salmonella has drawn attention widely around the world. Conducting a risk assessment of antibiotic-resistant foodborne pathogens throughout the food chain is a pressing requirement for ensuring food safety. The growth, survival capability, and virulence of antibiotic-resistant Salmonella represent crucial biological characteristics that play an important role in microbial risk assessment. In this study, eight antibiotic-sensitive S. enterica strains were induced by Ampicillin (Amp) and Ciprofloxacin (CIP), respectively, and AMP-resistant and CIP-resistant mutants were obtained. The growth characteristics under different temperatures (25, 30, 35 °C), viability after exposure to heat (55, 57.5, 60 °C) and acid (HCl, pH = 3.0), the virulence potential (adhesion and invasion to Caco-2 cells, biofilm formation and motility) and the lethality in a model species (Galleria mellonella) were evaluated and compared for S. enterica strains before and after antibiotic exposure. The induction by AMP and CIP are likely to promote cross-antibiotic resistance to their antibiotic classes, β-lactams and quinolones, as well as some compound antibiotics. It was observed that generally the antibiotic-induction-resistant strains showed decreased growth ability and lower heat resistance, although the differences were not significant at all the conditions tested. The AMP-resistant strains were significantly less acid resistance than the sensitive and the CIP-resistant ones, while exhibiting increased biofilm formation ability. In general, the antibiotic-induced resistance did not significantly affect the motility, adherence, or invasion ability of Caco-2 cells. However, CIP-resistant strains displayed lower lethality in G. mellonella infection, whereas AMP-resistant strains did not, and even two strains improved lethality. The study of the biological characteristics of antibiotic-resistant S. enterica is essential in better understanding the microbial risks to both the food chain and human health, thereby facilitating a more accurate risk assessment.

Distribution-based maximum likelihood estimation methods are preferred for estimating Salmonella concentration in chicken when contamination data are highly left-censored

Salmonella is a common chicken-borne pathogen that causes human infections. Data below the detection limit, referred to as left-censored data, are frequently encountered in the detection of pathogens. The approach of handling the censored data was regarded to affect the estimation accuracy of microbial concentration. In this study, a set of Salmonella contamination data was collected from chilled chicken samples using the most probable number (MPN) method, which consisted of 90.42% (217/240) non-detect values. Two simulated datasets with fixed censoring degrees of 73.60% and 90.00% were generated based on the real-sampling Salmonella dataset for comparison. Three methodologies were applied for handling left-censored data: (i) substitution with different alternatives, (ii) the distribution-based maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) method, and (iii) the multiple imputation (MI) method. For each dataset, the negative binomial (NB) distribution-based MLE and zero-modified NB distribution-based MLE were preferable for highly censored data and resulted in the least root mean square error (RMSE). Replacing the censored data with half the limit of quantification was the next best method. The mean concentration of Salmonella monitoring data estimated by the NB-MLE and zero-modified NB-MLE methods was 0.68 MPN/g. This study provided an available statistical method for handling bacterial highly left-censored data.

Exposure of Salmonella enterica serovar 1,4,[5],12:i:- to benzalkonium chloride leads to acquired resistance to this disinfectant and antibiotics

AIMS

Disinfectants such as benzalkonium chloride (BC), extensively used in animal farms and food-processing industries, contribute to the development of adaptive and cross-resistance in foodborne pathogens, posing a serious threat to food safety and human health. The purpose of this study is to explore whether continuous exposure of Salmonella enterica serovar 1,4,[5],12:i:- (S. 1,4,[5],12:i:-) to sublethal concentrations of BC could result in acquired resistance to this agent and other environmental stresses (e.g. antibiotics, heat, and acid).

METHODS AND RESULTS

BC tolerance increased in all tested strains after exposure to gradually increasing concentrations of BC, with increases in minimum inhibitory concentrations between two and sixfold. The survival rate of BC-adapted strains was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of their wild-type (non-adapted) counterparts in lethal concentrations of BC. In addition, significant reductions (P < 0.05) in zeta potential were observed in BC-adapted strains compared to wild-type ones, indicating that a reduction in cell surface charge was a cause of adaptative resistance. More importantly, two BC-adapted strains exhibited increased antibiotic resistance to levofloxacin, ceftazidime, and tigecycline, while gene mutations (gyrA, parC) and antibiotic efflux-related genes (acrB, mdsA, mdsB) were detected by genomic sequencing analysis. Moreover, the tolerance of BC-adapted strains to heat (50, 55, and 60°C) and acid (pH 2.0, 2.5) was strain-dependent and condition-dependent.

CONCLUSIONS

Repeated exposure to sublethal concentrations of BC could result in the emergence of BC- and antibiotic-resistant S. 1,4,[5],12:i:- strains.

Incidence and characteristics of aspiration pneumonia in adults in Beijing, China, 2011-2017

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to estimate aspiration pneumonia (AP) incidence and describe comorbid characteristics and mortality in Beijing, China.

STUDY DESIGN

A historical cohort study was conducted based on medical claim records.

METHODS

Patients admitted with a primary diagnosis of AP were identified from approximately 12 million adults who enrolled in the Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance program in Beijing, China, from January 2011 to December 2017. The incidences of AP and pneumonia with risk factors for aspiration (PRFA) were estimated by a Poisson distribution. The estimated annual percentage change was reported to represent the average percentage change in incidence per year. Characteristics and 6-month and 1-year all-cause mortality rates for AP and suspected AP patients were described and compared with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).

RESULTS

The incidence rates of hospitalized AP and PRFA were 9.4 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.6, 11.3) and 102.9 (95% CI: 95.8, 110.3) per 100,000 person-years, respectively. The incidences increased rapidly with age and were stable across the observed years. Patients with AP and PRFA possessed a greater burden of comorbidities than CAP (mean age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity indices for AP: 7.72, PRFA: 7.83, and CAP: 2.84). The 6-month and 1-year all-cause mortality rates for those with AP and PRFA were higher than those for patients with CAP (6-month mortality, AP: 35.2%, PRFA: 21.8%, CAP: 11.1%; 1-year mortality, AP: 42.7%, PRFA: 26.6%, CAP: 13.2%).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of AP and PRFA in Beijing was reported, presenting a full picture of the disease burden. The results provide baseline information for AP prevention.

Antimicrobial function of yeast against pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms via either antagonism or encapsulation: A review

Contaminations of pathogenic and spoilage microbes on foods are threatening food safety and quality, highlighting the importance of developing antimicrobial agents. According to different working mechanisms, the antimicrobial activities of yeast-based agents were summarized from two aspects: antagonism and encapsulation. Antagonistic yeasts are usually applied as biocontrol agents for the preservation of fruits and vegetables via inactivating spoilage microbes, usually phytopathogens. This review systematically summarized various species of antagonistic yeasts, potential combinations to improve the antimicrobial efficiency, and the antagonistic mechanisms. The wide applications of the antagonistic yeasts are significantly limited by undesirable antimicrobial efficiency, poor environmental resistance, and a narrow antimicrobial spectrum. Another strategy for achieving effective antimicrobial activity is to encapsulate various chemical antimicrobial agents into a yeast-based carrier that has been previously inactivated. This is accomplished by immersing the dead yeast cells with porous structure in an antimicrobial suspension and applying high vacuum pressure to allow the agents to diffuse inside the yeast cells. Typical antimicrobial agents encapsulated in the yeast carriers have been reviewed, including chlorine-based biocides, antimicrobial essential oils, and photosensitizers. Benefiting from the existence of the inactive yeast carrier, the antimicrobial efficiencies and functional durability of the encapsulated antimicrobial agents, such as chlorine-based agents, essential oils, and photosensitizers, are significantly improved compared with the unencapsulated ones.

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

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

Emergence of a Hybrid IncI1-Iα Plasmid-Encoded blaCTX-M-101 Conferring Resistance to Cephalosporins in Salmonella enterica Serovar Enteritidis

The increasing resistance to cephalosporins in Salmonella poses a serious threat to public health. In our previous study, the bla_CTX-M-101 gene, a new bla_CTX-M variant, was first reported in Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis). Here, we further analyzed the genome characterization, transferability, and resistance mechanism of one S. Enteritidis isolate (SJTUF14523) carrying bla_CTX-M-101 from an outpatient in 2016 in Xinjiang, China. This strain was a multidrug resistance (MDR) isolate and exhibited resistance to ceftazidime (MIC = 64 μg/mL), cefotaxime (MIC = 256 μg/mL), and cefepime (MIC = 16 μg/mL). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that SJTUF14523 had a close relationship to another S. Enteritidis isolate from the United States. In the presence of plasmid p14523A, there were 8- and 2133-fold increases in the MICs of cephalosporins in Escherichia coli C600 in the conjugation. Gene cloning results indicated that bla_CTX-M-101 was the decisive mechanism leading to ceftazidime and cefotaxime resistance that could make the MICs break through the resistance breakpoint. Plasmid sequencing revealed that the bla_CTX-M-101 gene was located on an IncI1-Iα transferable plasmid (p14523A) that was 85,862 bp in length. Sequence comparison showed that p14523A was a novel hybrid plasmid that might have resulted from the interaction between a homologous region. Furthermore, we found a composite transposon unit composed of ISEcp1, bla_CTX-M-101, and orf477 in p14523A. ISEcp1-mediated transposition was likely to play a key role in the horizontal transfer of bla_CTX-M-101 among plasmids in S. Enteritidis. Collectively, these findings underline further challenges in the prevention and control of antibiotic resistance posed by new CTX-M-101-like variants in Salmonella.

Bioorthogonal Microbubbles with Antifouling Nanofilm for Instant and Suspended Enrichment of Circulating Tumor Cells

Integrating clinical rare cell enrichment, culture, and single-cell phenotypic profiling is currently hampered by the lack of competent technologies, which typically suffer from weak cell-interface collision affinity, strong nonspecific adsorption, and the potential uptake. Here, we report cells-on-a-bubble, a bioinspired, self-powered bioorthogonal microbubble (click bubble) that leverages a clickable antifouling nanointerface and a DNA-assembled sucker-like polyvalent cell surface, to enable instant and suspended isolation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) within minutes. Using this biomimetic engineering strategy, click bubbles achieve a capture efficiency of up to 98%, improved by 20% at 15 times faster over their monovalent counterparts. Further, the buoyancy-activated bubble facilitates self-separation, 3D suspension culture, and in situ phenotyping of the captured single cancer cells. By using a multiantibody design, this fast, affordable micromotor-like click bubble enables suspended enrichment of CTCs in a cohort (n = 42) across three cancer types and treatment response evaluation, signifying its great potential to enable single-cell analysis and 3D organoid culture.

Temporal Structures in Electron Spectra and Charge Sign Effects in Galactic Cosmic Rays

We present the precision measurements of 11 years of daily cosmic electron fluxes in the rigidity interval from 1.00 to 41.9 GV based on 2.0×10^{8} electrons collected with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) aboard the International Space Station. The electron fluxes exhibit variations on multiple timescales. Recurrent electron flux variations with periods of 27 days, 13.5 days, and 9 days are observed. We find that the electron fluxes show distinctly different time variations from the proton fluxes. Remarkably, a hysteresis between the electron flux and the proton flux is observed with a significance of greater than 6σ at rigidities below 8.5 GV. Furthermore, significant structures in the electron-proton hysteresis are observed corresponding to sharp structures in both fluxes. This continuous daily electron data provide unique input to the understanding of the charge sign dependence of cosmic rays over an 11-year solar cycle.

[Therapeutic efficacy of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome in 60 children]

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS), and to analyze the factors related to the outcomes. Methods: The clinical data of 60 children with WAS received HSCT in Shanghai Children's Medical Center from January 2006 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. All cases were treated with a myeloablative conditioning regimen with busulfan and cyclophosphamide, and a graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prevention regimen based on cyclosporine and methotrexate. Implantation, GVHD, transplant-related complications, immune reconstitution and survival rate were observed. Survival analysis was performed by Kaplan-Meier method, and Log-Rank method was used for univariate comparison. Results: The 60 male patients had main clinical features as infection and bleeding. The age at diagnosis was 0.4 (0.3, 0.8) years, and the age at transplantation was 1.1 (0.6, 2.1) years. There were 20 cases of human leukocyte antigen matched transplantation and 40 mismatched transplantation; 35 patients received peripheral blood HSCT, and 25 cord blood HSCT. All cases were fully implanted. The incidence of acute GVHD (aGVHD) was 48% (29/60) and only 2 (7%) developed aGVHD of grade Ⅲ; the incidence of chronic GVHD (cGVHD) was 23% (13/56), and all cases were limited. The incidence of CMV and EBV infection was 35% (21/60) and 33% (20/60) respectively; and 7 patients developed CMV retinitis. The incidence of sinus obstruction syndrome was 8% (5/60), of whom 2 patients died. There were 7 cases (12%) of autoimmune hemocytopenia after transplantation. Natural killer cells were the earliest to recover after transplantation, and B cells and CD4⁺T cells returned to normal at about 180 days post HSCT. The 5-year overall survival rate (OS) of this group was 93% (95%CI 86%-99%), and the event free survial rate (EFS) was 87% (95%CI 78%-95%). EFS of non-CMV reactivation group is higher than that of CMV reactivation group (95% (37/39) vs.71% (15/21), χ²=5.22, P=0.022). Conclusions: The therapeutic efficacy of HSCT for WAS is satisfying, and the early application of HSCT in typical cases can achieve better outcome. CMV infection is the main factor affecting disease-free survival rate, which can be improved by strengthening the management of complications.

Bottom-Up Signal Boosting with Fractal Nanostructuring and Primer Exchange Reaction for Ultrasensitive Detection of Cancerous Exosomes

Exosomes are emerging as promising biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, yet sensitive and accurate quantification of tumor-derived exosomes remains a challenge. Here, we report an ultrasensitive and specific exosome sensor (NPExo) that initially leverages hierarchical nanostructuring array and primer exchange reaction (PER) for quantitation of cancerous exosomes. This NPExo uses a high-curvature nanostructuring array (bottom) fabricated by single-step electrodeposition to enhance capturing of the target exosomes. The immuno-captured exosome thus provides abundant membrane sites to insert numerous cholesterol-DNA probes with a density much higher than that by immune pairing, which further allows PER-based DNA extension to assemble enzyme concatemers (up) for signal amplification. Such a bottom-up signal-boosting design imparts NPExo with ultrahigh sensitivity up to 75 particles/mL (i.e., <1 exosome per 10 μL) and a broad dynamic range spanning 6 orders of magnitude. Furthermore, our sensor allows monitoring subtle exosomal phenotypic transition and shows high accuracy in discrimination of liver cancer patients from healthy donors via blood samples, suggesting the great potential of NPExo as a promising tool in clinical diagnostics.

Primer exchange reaction-amplified protein-nucleic acid interactions for ultrasensitive and specific microRNA detection

Protein-nucleic acid interactions are not only fundamental to genetic regulation and cellular metabolism, but molecular basis to artificial biosensors. However, such interactions are generally weak and dynamic, making their specific and sensitive quantitative detection challenging. By using primer exchange reaction (PER)-amplified protein-nucleic acid interactions, we here design a universal and ultrasensitive electrochemical sensor to quantify microRNAs (miRNAs) in blood. This PER-miR sensor leverages specific recognition between S9.6 antibodies and miRNA/DNA hybrids to couple with PER-derived multi-enzyme catalysis for ultrasensitive miRNA detection. Surface binding kinetic analysis shows a rational K_d (8.9 nM) between the miRNA/DNA heteroduplex and electrode-attached S9.6 antibody. Based on such a favorable affinity, the programmable PER amplification enables the sensor to detect target miRNAs with sensitivity up to 90.5 aM, three orders of magnitude higher than that without PER in routine design, and with specificity of single-base resolution. Furthermore, the PER-miR sensor allows detecting multiple miRNAs in parallel, measuring target miRNA in lysates across four types of cell lines, and differentiating tumor patients from healthy individuals by directly analyzing the human blood samples (n = 40). These advantages make the sensor a promising tool to enable quantitative sensing of biomolecular interactions and precision diagnostics.

Exome-wide screening identifies novel rare risk variants for bone mineral density

Bone mineral density (BMD) is an independent risk factor of osteoporosis-related fractures. We performed gene-based burden tests to assess the association between rare variants and BMD, and identified several BMD candidate genes.

PURPOSE

BMD is highly heritable and a major predictor of osteoporotic fractures, but its genetic basis remains unclear. We aimed to identify rare risk variants contributing to BMD.

METHODS

Utilizing the newly released UK Biobank 200,643 exome dataset, we conducted a gene-based exome-wide association study in males and females, respectively. First, 100,639 males and 117,338 females with BMD values were included in the polygenic risk scores (PRS) analysis. Among individuals with lower 30% PRS, cases were individuals with top 10% BMD, and individuals with bottom 10% BMD were the controls. Considering the effects of vitamin D (VD), individuals with the highest 30% VD concentration were selected for VD-BMD analysis. After quality control, 741 males and 697 females were included in the BMD analysis, and 717 males and 708 females were included in the VD-BMD analysis. The variants were annotated by ANNOVAR software, then BMD and VD-BMD qualified variants were imported into the SKAT R-package to perform gene-based burden tests, respectively.

RESULTS

The gene-based burden test of the exonic variants identified genome-wide candidate associations in ANKRD18A (P = 1.60 × 10^-5, P_{Bonferroni adjust} = 2.11 × 10^-3), C22orf31 (P = 3.49 × 10^-4, P_{Bonferroni adjust} = 3.17 × 10^-2), and SPATC1L (P = 1.09 × 10^-5, P_{Bonferroni adjust} = 8.80 × 10^-3). For VD-BMD analysis, three genes were associated with BMD, such as NIPAL1 (P = 1.06 × 10^-3, P_{Bonferroni adjust} = 3.91 × 10^-2).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggested that rare variants contribute to BMD, providing new sights for broadening the genetic structure of BMD.

Effect of ultrasound on keratin valorization from chicken feather waste: Process optimization and keratin characterization

Chicken feather (CF) has been deemed as one of the main poultry byproducts with a large amount produced globally. However, the robust chemical nature of chicken feathers has been limiting in its wide-scale utilization and valorization. The study proposed a strategy of keratin regeneration from chicken feather combining ultrasound and Cysteine (Cys)-reduction for keratin regeneration. First, the ultrasonic effect on feather degradation and keratin properties was systematically explored based on Cys-reduction. Results showed that the feather dissolution was significantly improved by increasing both ultrasonic time and power, and the former had a greater impact on keratin yield. However, the treatment time over 4 h led to a decrease of keratin yield, producing more soluble peptides, > 9.7 % of which were < 0.5 kDa. Meanwhile, prolonging time decreased the thermal stability with weight loss at a lower temperature and amino acids content (e.g., Ser, Pro and Gly) of keratin. Conversely, no remarkable damage in chemical structure and thermal stability of regenerated keratin was observed by only increasing ultrasonic power, while the keratin solubility was notably promoted and reached 745.72 mg·g^-1 in NaOH (0.1 M) solution (400 W, 4 h). The regenerated keratin under optimal conditions (130 W, 2.7 h, and 15 % of Cys) possessed better solubility while without obvious damage in chemical structure, thermal stability, and amino acids composition. The study illustrated that ultrasound physically improved CF degradation and keratin solubility without nature damage and provided an alternative for keratin regeneration involving no toxic reagent, probably holding promise in the utilization and valorization of feather waste.

A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review of Listeria monocytogenes Response to Sanitizer Treatments

Listeria monocytogenes is a ubiquitous organism that can be found in food-related environments, and sanitizers commonly prevent and control it. The aim of this study is to perform a meta-analysis of L. monocytogenes response to sanitizer treatments. According to the principle of systematic review, we extracted 896 records on the mean log-reduction of L. monocytogenes from 84 publications as the dataset for this study. We applied a mixed-effects model to describe L. monocytogenes response to sanitizer treatment by considering sanitizer type, matrix type, biofilm status, sanitizer concentration, treatment time, and temperature. Based on the established model, we compared the response of L. monocytogenes under different hypothetical conditions using forest plots. The results showed that environmental factors (i.e., sanitizer concentration, temperature, and treatment time) affected the average log-reduction of L. monocytogenes (p < 0.05). L. monocytogenes generally exhibited strong resistance to citric acid and sodium hypochlorite but had low resistance to electrolyzed water. The planktonic cells of L. monocytogenes were less resistant to peracetic acid and sodium hypochlorite than the adherent and biofilm cells. Additionally, the physical and chemical properties of the contaminated or inoculated matrix or surface also influenced the sanitizer effectiveness. This review may contribute to increasing our knowledge of L. monocytogenes resistance to sanitizers and raising awareness of appropriate safety precautions.

U-shaped association between dietary thiamine intake and new-onset diabetes: a nationwide cohort study

BACKGROUND

The association between dietary thiamine intake and the risk of diabetes remains unknown.

AIM

We aimed to evaluate the relation of dietary thiamine intake with new-onset diabetes and examine possible effect modifiers.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

METHODS

A total of 16 272 participants who were free of diabetes at baseline were enrolled from China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS). Dietary nutrients intake information was collected by 3-day dietary recalls in addition to using a 3-day food-weighed method to assess cooking oil and condiment consumption. New-onset diabetes was defined as a fasting blood glucose ≥7.0 mmol/l or a glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥6.5% (48 mmol/mol) or diagnosed by a physician during the follow-up.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up duration of 9.0 years, new-onset diabetes occurred in 1101 participants. Overall, the association between dietary thiamine intake and new-onset diabetes followed a U-shape (P for non-linearity <0.001). Consistently, when thiamine intake was assessed as quartiles, compared with those in the 2-3 quartiles (0.75 to 1.10 mg/day), the significantly higher risks of new-onset diabetes were found in participants in the first quartile [adjusted hazard ratio (HR), 1.33; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.10, 1.61] and the fourth quartile (adjusted HR, 1.39; 95% CI: 1.17, 1.67). Similar results were found when further adjusting for the intake of other major nutrients or food groups; or using the propensity score weighting to control the imbalance of covariates.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggested that there was a U-shape association between dietary thiamine intake and new-onset diabetes in general Chinese adults, with a minimal risk at 0.75-1.10 mg/day.

Investigating the mechanism of interactive regulation of B-cell lymphoma-2/Beclin 1 through electroacupuncture intervention during reperfusion in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in a rat model

To observe the regulation of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2)/Beclin 1 interaction through electroacupuncture (EA) intervention during reperfusion and to investigate the EA mechanism of apoptosis-autophagy interactive regulation against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI). A total of 48 adult Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into the sham-operated group (group Sham), the model group (group Model), the EA group (group EA), and the JNK inhibitor (SP600125) group (group JNK), with 12 rats in each group. Biospecimens were collected randomly from six rats in each group four hours after reperfusion. Evans Blue and triphenyl tetrazolium chloride double-staining were applied to observe each group's myocardial damage area and risk area. We collected 4 ml of blood by abdominal aortic method to detect serum troponin cTnI level by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). For the remaining six in each group, a part of myocardial tissue below the ligation line was stored in 4% paraformaldehyde for immunohistochemistry and TUNEL staining; the other amount of myocardial tissue was detected by Western blotting to determine the expression levels of Bcl-2, Beclin1, and the phosphorylation levels of Thr69, Ser70, and Ser87 in Bcl-2. In results: electroacupuncture (EA) intervention during reperfusion significantly reduced the myocardial infarction area, cTnI level, and myocardial apoptosis, upregulated Bcl-2 expression, downregulated Beclin 1 expression and inhibited phosphorylation levels of Thr69, Ser70, and Ser87 in Bcl-2. We concluded that EA effectively inhibited apoptosis by upregulating Bcl-2 expression and inhibiting the phosphorylation of Thr69, Ser70, and Ser87 in Bcl-2. This reduced the separation of Bcl-2 and Beclin 1, restrains excessive autophagy, alleviates MIRI, and has a protective effect on myocardial tissue.

[The surveillance analysis of the adverse events following immunization of the domestic 13-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine in Zhejiang Province]

To evaluate the safety of the domestic 13-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine-tetanus toxoid protein (PCV13-TT) after its licensure. The adverse event following immunization (AEFI) and the vaccination data of PCV13-TT in Zhejiang province from July 2020 to October 2021 were collected from national adverse event following immunization surveillance system and Zhejiang provincial immunization information system. Descriptive epidemiological method was used for this analysis. From July 2020 to October 2021, 302 317 doses of PCV13-TT were administered in children under 6 years old in Zhejiang Province and 636 AEFI case reports were received, with a reporting rate of 21.04 per 10 000 doses. Of these AEFI cases, 97.17% were mild vaccine product-related reaction (20.54 per 10 000 doses) and 95.44% occurred in the 0-1 d after vaccination (20.08 per 10 000 doses). The most common clinical diagnoses of AEFI included fever (224 cases), redness (204 cases), and induration (190 cases), while allergic rash (11 cases) was the most common diagnosis among the abnormal reactions. In conclusion,the present results bolstered that the domestic PCV13-TT was generally well tolerated in children under 6 years old in Zhejiang Province.

Molecular characterization and antibiotic resistance of Salmonella enterica serovar 1,4,[5],12:i:- environmental isolates from poultry farms

Salmonella enterica serovar 1,4,[5],12:i:- (S. 1,4,[5],12:i:-) has been recognized as an emerging foodborne pathogen in recent years. It can cause human salmonellosis predominated by the contamination of animal-derived foods such as raw poultry and pork. This study aimed to characterize the genetic diversity, plasmid replicon types, and antibiotic resistance of 15 S. 1,4,[5],12:i:- environmental isolates collected from two poultry farms using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), multilocus sequence typing (MLST), polymerase chain reaction-based replicon typing, and minimum inhibitory concentration approach. Ten different PFGE genotypes were detected, indicating a high diversity among these S. 1,4,[5],12:i:- isolates. Three sequence types (ST19, ST1544, ST34) were identified by MLST. Among them, ST1544 was first detected in S. 1,4,[5],12:i:- environmental isolates from poultry farms. All isolates were resistant to cefazolin, cefotetan, tobramycin, amikacin, and gentamicin, but susceptible to piperacillin-tazobactam, aztreonam, ceftazidime, cefepime, and ertapenem. Five incompatibility groups (Inc) of plasmids were identified, including IncFIIs (66.7%), IncHI2 (20%), IncI1 (6.7%), IncN (6.7%), and IncQ (6.7%). Among these, 80% of isolates carried at least one plasmid replicon type, and 20% of isolates carried multiple plasmid replicon types. Interestingly, the multidrug-resistant isolate 263 carried numerous resistance genes (i.e., qnrS, aac(6’)-Ib-cr, blaTEM, blaCTX-M-9, blaOXA-1, sul1, sul2, sul3, floR, and mcr-1) and class I integronase gene intI1, which possessed both IncHI2 and IncQ plasmids, suggesting that resistance genes may be horizontally transferred by the combination of IncHI2 and IncQ plasmids. Collectively, antibiotic-resistant S.1,4,[5],12:i:- isolates were first found in poultry farm environments in China, and its surveillance should be strengthened to prevent its further spread from poultry farms to foods.

Integrated 2D beam emission spectroscopy diagnostic at the Huan-Liuqi-2A (HL-2A) tokamak

Two newly developed, eight-channel, integrated Beam Emission Spectroscopy (BES) detectors have been installed at Huan-Liuqi-2A tokamak, which extends the existing 16 single-channel modular BES system with additional 16 spatial channels. The BES collects the Doppler-shifted Balmer D_α emission with a spatial resolution of 1 cm (radial) × 1.5 cm (poloidal) and a temporal resolution of 0.5 µs to measure long-wavelength (k_⊥ρ_i < 1) density fluctuations. Compared to the modular BES, the dark noise of the integrated BES is reduced by 50%-60% on average. The signal-to-noise ratio of the integrated BES system is optimized by the high light throughput front-end optics, high quantum efficiency photodiodes, high-gain, low-noise preamplifiers, and sufficient cooling capacity provided by the thermoelectric cooling (TEC) units that maintain the detectors at -20 °C. Crosstalk between channels that share the same optical system is found to be negligible. High-quality density fluctuation data enables 2D (radial-poloidal) imaging of turbulence, which allows for multi-channel spectral analysis, multi-channel cross-correlation analysis and velocimetry analysis. Preliminary results show that BES successfully captures the spatiotemporal features of the local turbulence and obtains statistically consistent turbulence characterization results.

Detecting the Mechanism of Action of Antimicrobial Peptides by Using Microscopic Detection Techniques

Increasing antibiotic resistance has shifted researchers’ focus to antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as alternatives to antibiotics. AMPs are small, positively charged, amphipathic peptides with secondary helical structures. They have the ability to disrupt the bacterial membrane and create wedges due to electrostatic differences. Water molecules enter the pathogens through those wedges and disrupt their normal cellular functioning, eventually causing the death of the pathogens. Keeping in mind the importance of AMPs, this review compiles recent data and is divided into three parts. The first part explains the AMP structure and properties, the second part comprises the spectroscopy techniques currently used for evaluating the AMP-bacterial targeting mechanism as well as its structure and safety; and the third part describes the production of AMPs from an animal source (whey protein). Most of the peptides that were used in recent studies have been either the precursors of a natural peptide or synthetic peptides with some modifications, but data on the exploitation of dairy protein are scarce. Among the little-studied milk proteins and peptides, in the last three years, whey protein has been studied the least based on the reported data. Because whey protein is a leftover part of cheese making that often drains out as cheese waste, causing soil and environmental pollution, today, the need of the hour is to produce safe AMPs from whey protein. The use of whey protein that is based on hydrolyzing lactic acid bacteria with some structural modifications can increase AMPs’ potency, stability, and safety, and it can also help to avoid soil and environmental pollution as a result of whey drainage.

[Comparison and thoughts of the training system for thoracic surgeons]

There is no unified thoracic surgery training system in China, neither in the trainee selection or evaluation, nor in the training curriculum or the graduation requirements. A literature review was performed for available publications regarding international thoracic surgical training. A brief comparison was made regarding the thoracic surgery residency programs in China, Japan, United States and United Kingdom, including training pathway, recruitments, training content, performance assessment and academic experience. In conclusion, there are four key aspects worth noting. Firstly, an effective residency programme is invaluable to specialty training, and effort should be made to create a unified training programme that allows trainee to progress from residency to specialty training smoothly. Secondly, flexibility and personalization should be allowed in higher specialty training, so that trainee can develop their subspecialty interests. Thirdly, a unified clinical curriculum, selection and standardized income should be promoted to minimalize the variation of training outcome between provinces. Fourthly, additional training and time should be allowed for trainee who wants to pursue an academic career, and academic outcomes should be evaluated alongside with the standard clinical training.

[Placenta-specific virulence factors involved in Listeria monocytogenes infection]

Listeria monocytogenes (LM) is a food-borne pathogen that can cause listeriosis. Pregnant women are main target population of listeriosis due to pregnancy-associated immune deficiency and unique intracellular infection ability of LM to non-phagocytic cells. LM can cross the placental barrier and cause significant harm to the fetus, including premature birth, miscarriage and even stillbirth. The role of placenta-specific virulence factors is particularly important for researchers to understand how it crosses the placental barrier and infects the fetus during LM infection. This review started by describing the listeriosis in pregnant women, followed by summarizing the advances in understanding the LM vertical transplacental infection and the mechanism of LM colonization in the placenta. Finally, recent advances in identifying placenta-specific virulence factors involved in LM infections were presented, with the aim to facilitate the control of LM transplacental infection and the improvement of food safety.

Properties of Daily Helium Fluxes

We present the precision measurement of 2824 daily helium fluxes in cosmic rays from May 20, 2011 to October 29, 2019 in the rigidity interval from 1.71 to 100 GV based on 7.6×10^{8} helium nuclei collected with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) aboard the International Space Station. The helium flux and the helium to proton flux ratio exhibit variations on multiple timescales. In nearly all the time intervals from 2014 to 2018, we observed recurrent helium flux variations with a period of 27 days. Shorter periods of 9 days and 13.5 days are observed in 2016. The strength of all three periodicities changes with time and rigidity. In the entire time period, we found that below ∼7  GV the helium flux exhibits larger time variations than the proton flux, and above ∼7  GV the helium to proton flux ratio is time independent. Remarkably, below 2.4 GV a hysteresis between the helium to proton flux ratio and the helium flux was observed at greater than the 7σ level. This shows that at low rigidity the modulation of the helium to proton flux ratio is different before and after the solar maximum in 2014.

Relation of BMI and waist circumference with the risk of new-onset hyperuricemia in hypertensive patients

BACKGROUND

We aimed to evaluate the relationship of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) with the risk of new-onset hyperuricemia, and examine possible effect modifies in general hypertensive patients.

METHODS

A total of 10 611 hypertensive patients with normal uric acid (UA) concentrations (<357 μmol/l) at baseline were included from the UA sub-study of the China Stroke Primary Prevention Trial. The primary outcome was new-onset hyperuricemia, defined as a UA concentration ≥417 μmol/l in men or ≥357 μmol/l in women at the exit visit.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up duration of 4.4 years, 1663 (15.7%) participants developed new-onset hyperuricemia. When analyzed separately, increased BMI (≥25 kg/m2, quartile 3-4; OR, 1.46; 95% CI: 1.29-1.65), or increased WC (≥85 cm for females, quartile 3-4; OR, 1.24; 95% CI: 1.08-1.42; and ≥84 cm for males, quartile 3-4; OR, 1.30; 95% CI: 1.01-1.67) were each significantly associated with higher risk of new-onset hyperuricemia. When WC was forced into the model with BMI simultaneously, its significant association with new-onset hyperuricemia disappeared in females (<85 vs. ≥85 cm; OR, 0.96, 95% CI: 0.81-1.13) or males (≥84 vs. <84 cm; OR, 1.13; 95% CI: 0.84-1.52); however, BMI was still significantly related with new-onset hyperuricemia (≥25 vs. <25 kg/m2; OR, 1.48; 95% CI: 1.27-1.73). Moreover, the positive BMI & new-onset hyperuricemia association was more pronounced in participants with higher time-averaged on-treatment systolic blood pressure (median: <138.3 vs. ≥138.3 mmHg; P-interaction = 0.041).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher BMI, but not WC, is significantly and independently associated with an increased risk of new-onset hyperuricemia among hypertensive patients.

A sustainable and efficient recycling strategy of feather waste into keratin peptides with antimicrobial activity

The study aimed to propose an efficient and eco-friendly strategy to improve the utilization of feather waste and converting it into high-valued antimicrobial products. Under the synergistic effect of instant catapult steam explosion (ICSE) (1.5 MPa-120 s), over 90% of chicken feather powder (CFP) was degraded into soluble peptides via keratinolysis within 3 h, about 90% of which were smaller than 3 kDa, indicating an overwhelming advantage than general proteolysis. Importantly, the keratinolysis hydrolysate of CFP was able to inhibit E. coli growth, among which the fraction < 3 kDa exhibited highest antimicrobial activity with a minimal inhibitory concentration of 30 mg/mL. Compared to other fractions, the fraction < 3 kDa contained higher content of hydrophobic amino acids (364.11 mg/g), in which about 79% of peptides had more than 60% hydrophobic ratio, potentially contributing to its antimicrobial activity. ICSE-keratinolysis process holds potential in reducing both protein resource waste and environmental pollution by valorizing feathers into antimicrobial product.

Total bone mineral density is inversely associated with stroke: a family osteoporosis cohort study in rural China

BACKGROUND

The relationship of osteoporosis and stroke is still not fully clarified. Apart from the well-known risk factors for stroke, bone mineral density (BMD) has gained more interest in recent years.

AIM

To further elucidate the relationship between BMD and stroke risk, a prospective cohort study in the Chinese rural population was conducted.

DESIGN

Retrospective analysis of a family osteoporosis cohort.

METHODS

Our subjects were selected from an osteoporosis cohort conducted in Anqing, China. All participants underwent a questionnaire assessment, clinical examinations and laboratory assessments. During the follow-up period, the number of people who had a stroke was recorded. Generalized estimating equation regression analysis was performed to determine the significance of the association between BMD and stroke.

RESULTS

A total of 17868 people were included. A two-way interaction test of sex and BMD on stroke was significant (P = 0.002). There was a significant difference in BMD and stroke morbidity in the male group (P = 0.003). When BMD was assessed as quartiles and the lowest quartile was used as reference, a significantly lower risk for stroke was observed in Q2-4. Notably, no significant difference was observed in female participants with adjusted odds ratio (P > 0.05). The P-value for interaction was calculated. The body mass index (P = 0.014) and waist-to-hip ratio (P = 0.027) were found to be significantly associated with BMD and stroke risk in female participants.

CONCLUSIONS

In Chinese rural areas, total BMD may negatively correlated with stroke, especially in men.

Antibiotic Resistance of Salmonella Typhimurium Monophasic Variant 1,4,[5],12:i:- in China: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Antibiotic resistance in Salmonella is a global public health problem. Salmonella enterica serovar 1,4,[5],12:i:- (S. 1,4,[5],12:i:-), a monophasic variant of Salmonella Typhmurium, is one of the leading Salmonella serovars in several countries. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of antibiotic resistance to this serovar in China through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nineteen eligible studies during 2011–2021 were included. A total of 4514 isolates from humans, animals, foods, and the environment were reported, which mainly concerned isolates found in Guangdong, Guangxi, Jiangsu, and Shanghai. A random-effects model was used to estimate the pooled resistance rate of S. 1,4,[5],12:i:-. Rates were found to be very high (values ≥ 75%) for tetracycline, ampicillin, sulfisoxazole, and streptomycin; high (50–75%) for nalidixic acid, amoxicillin–clavulanic acid, and chloramphenicol; and moderate (25–50%) for trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole, kanamycin, trimethoprim, and gentamicin. The rates of resistance to ciprofloxacin, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, cefepime, ceftazidime, and colistin were low (values ≤ 25%), but of great concern in terms of their current clinical importance. Furthermore, a high multidrug resistance rate (86%, 95% CI: 78–92%) was present in S. 1,4,[5],12:i:-, with the ASSuT pattern largely dominating. Subgroup analysis results showed that the high heterogeneity of resistance rates was not entirely dependent on isolated sources. Taken together, the severity of antibiotic resistance in S. 1,4,[5],12:i:- urgently requires the rational use of antibiotics in future infection control and antibiotic stewardship programs.

Leaf Intracellular Water Transport Rate Based on Physiological Impedance: A Possible Role of Leaf Internal Retained Water in Photosynthesis and Growth of Tomatoes

Water consumed by photosynthesis and growth rather than transpiration accounts for only 1-3% of the water absorbed by roots. Leaf intracellular water transport rate (LIWTR) based on physiological impedance (Z) provides information on the transport traits of the leaf internal retained water, which helps determine the intracellular water status. Solanum lycopersicum plants were subjected to five different levels of relative soil water content (SWC R ) (e.g., 100, 90, 80, 70, and 60%) for 3 months. The leaf water potential (ΨL), Z, photosynthesis, growth, and water-use efficiency (WUE) were determined. A coupling model between gripping force and physiological impedance was established according to the Nernst equation, and the inherent LIWTR (LIWTR i ) was determined. The results showed that LIWTR i together with Ψ L altered the intracellular water status as water supply changed. When SWC R was 100, 90, and 80%, stomatal closure reduced the transpiration and decreased the water transport within leaves. Net photosynthetic rate (P N) was inhibited by the decreased stomatal conductance (g s ) or Ψ L , but constant transport of the intracellular water was conducive to plant growth or dry matter accumulation. Remarkably, increased LIWTR i helped to improve the delivery and WUE of the retained leaf internal water, which maintained P N and improved the WUE at 70% but could not keep the plant growth and yields at 70 and 60% due to the further decrease of water supply and Ψ L . The increased transport rate of leaf intracellular water helped plants efficiently use intracellular water and maintain growth or photosynthesis, therefore, adapting to the decreasing water supply. The results demonstrate that the importance of transport of the leaf intracellular water in plant responses to water deficit by using electrophysiological parameters. However, the LIWTR in this research is not directly linked to the regulation of photosynthesis and growth, and the establishment of the direct relationship between leaf internal retained water and photosynthesis and growth needs further research.

[Magnetic resonance imaging quantitative analysis of knee joint injury and cartilage before and after long-distance march and training for college students]

Objective: To assess the effects of long-distance march and training on acute knee injury and knee cartilage sub-regions of college students using quantitatively magnetic resonance imaging analysis. Methods: Twenty-seven young male students from freshman classes in the Army Military Medical University were enrolled in September 2019, aged from 17 to 20 (19.48±0.14) years, participated in the whole 8-day, 240 km long-distance march and training. Three-dimensional quantitative MRI was performed on the right knee using high-field MRI before (baseline) and 1 day after (follow-up) march. The assessment indexes included: meniscus and cartilage injury(5-point scale), bone marrow and ligament injury, and joint effusion(3-point scale). Using semi-automatic cartilage segmentation and 3D data post-processing techniques, a total of 21 sub-regions of cartilage volume and thickness were measured in the medial and lateral femur, medial and lateral tibia. Paired-samples t-test was used to compare the changes in quantitative cartilage indices of the knee joint before and after march. Results: In terms of acute knee injuries, medial and lateral meniscus injuries (grade 1-3) occurred in 8 and 9 college students, respectively compared with those before march. Anterior cruciate ligaments injury occurred in 4 college students and developed from grade 0 to grade 1. Bone marrow edema occurred in 10 students and developed from grade 0 to grade 2, and in 5 students from grade 0 to grade 1. Joint effusion occurred in 5 college students and developed from grade 1 to grade 2 (all P<0.05). In terms of quantitative analysis of cartilage subregion of knee joint, the volume of central region of femoral pulley increased [(1.84±0.32) mm³ vs (1.67±0.29) mm³] and the volume of central region of medial femoral condyle decreased [(1.18±0.21) mm³ vs (1.26±0.17) mm³] compared with that before march (all P<0.05); The cartilage thickness of 11 cartilage subregion [(1.37±0.27) mm vs (1.53±0.18) mm], [(1.42±0.25) mm vs (1.54±0.17) mm], [(1.53±0.20) mm vs (1.62±0.20) mm], [(1.72±0.28) mm vs (1.83±0.28) mm], [(1.84±0.45) mm vs (2.04±0.42) mm], [(2.20±0.58) mm vs (2.46±0.50) mm], [(1.74±0.19) mm vs (1.85±0.21) mm] [(1.45±0.21) mm vs (1.58±0.16) mm], [(1.81±0.22) mm vs (1.91±0.15) mm], [(1.44±0.13) mm vs (1.53±0.15) mm] was thinner than that before march (all P<0.05). The T₂ values of 7 cartilage subregion [(40.57±26.23) ms vs (67.10±47.46) ms], [(80.10±20.56) ms vs (98.42±23.58) ms], [(87.92±24.95) ms vs (108.84±29.24) ms], [(50.49±19.18) ms vs (76.97±37.16) ms], [(38.89±15.82) ms vs (69.70±40.16) ms] [(55.84±24.53) ms vs (106.35±50.01) ms] and [(72.38±36.64) ms vs (105.31±39.34) ms] were lower than those before march, while the T₂ values of the two subregions of patellar cartilage [(102.13±44.47) ms vs (72.20±28.37) ms], [(97.42±44.86) ms vs (76.67±51.64) ms] were higher than those before march (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in other cartilage subareas (P>0.05). Conclusions: Long distance hiking will lead to acute injury of knee joint of young college students. The thickness of cartilage subregion of knee joint showed a thinning trend as a whole, while the volume and T₂ values showed different trends.

Relations of Variety and Quantity of Dietary Proteins Intake from Different Sources with Mortality Risk: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort

OBJECTIVES

The relations of variety and quantity of dietary proteins intake from different sources with mortality risk were still controversial. We aimed to examine the associations of variety and quantity of different sourced proteins with all-cause mortality risk in adults and older adults.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

17,310 participants (mean age was 44.0 [SD: 15.9] years and 51.0% were females) with utilizable data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey were included. Dietary intake was collected using three consecutive 24-h dietary recalls combined with a household food inventory. The variety score of protein sources was defined as the number of proteins consumed at the appropriate level, accounting for both types and quantity of proteins. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

Over a median follow-up of 9.0 years, 1324 (7.6%) death cases were reported. There were reversed J-shaped relationships of percentages energy from total protein, and protein from legume with all-cause mortality; U-shaped relationships of proteins from unprocessed red meat, processed red meat, poultry and whole grain with all-cause mortality; L-shaped relationships of proteins from egg and fish with all-cause mortality; and a reversed L-shaped relationship of protein from refined grain with all-cause mortality (all P values for nonlinearity < 0.001). Moreover, there was a significant inverse association between the variety score of protein sources with overall mortality risk (per score increment, HR, 0.69; 95%CI, 0.66-0.72).

CONCLUSIONS

Greater variety of proteins with appropriate quantity from different food sources was associated with significantly lower risk of mortality in Chinese adults and older adults.

Dietary Iron Intake and New-Onset Hypertension: A Nationwide Cohort Study from China

OBJECTIVES

The relationship of dietary iron intake with the risk of hypertension remains uncertain. We aimed to investigate the prospective association between dietary iron intake and new-onset hypertension among Chinese adults.

DESIGN

A nationwide cohort study.

SETTING

Using data from seven rounds of the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) from 1997 to 2015.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 12,245 participants without hypertension at baseline were included in this study.

EXPOSURES

Dietary intake was measured by three consecutive 24-h dietary recalls combined with a household weighing inventory.

MEASUREMENTS

The study outcome was new-onset hypertension, defined as systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg or diagnosed by physician or currently under antihypertensive treatment during the follow-up.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 6.1 years, 4,304 (35.1%) participants developed hypertension. Overall, there was a U-shaped association between dietary total iron intake and new-onset hypertension (P for nonlinearity <0.001), with the lowest risk observed at 18.2-<22.1 mg/day (quintile 2-3). Similarly, a U-shaped association between dietary nonheme iron intake and new-onset hypertension was found (P for nonlinearity <0.001), with the lowest risk at 17.4-<21.3 mg/day (quintile 2-3). However, the association between dietary heme iron intake and new-onset hypertension followed a L-shape (P for nonlinearity <0.001), and a significantly lower risk of new-onset hypertension was found in participants with quintile 2-5 of dietary heme iron intake (adjusted HR, 0.75; 95% CI: 0.68, 0.82), compared with those in quintile 1 (<0.25 mg/day).

CONCLUSIONS

The association between dietary iron and new-onset hypertension was nonlinear in Chinese adults, following a U-shape for total or nonheme iron intake, and a L-shape for heme iron intake.

Periodicities in the Daily Proton Fluxes from 2011 to 2019 Measured by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station from 1 to 100 GV

We present the precision measurement of the daily proton fluxes in cosmic rays from May 20, 2011 to October 29, 2019 (a total of 2824 days or 114 Bartels rotations) in the rigidity interval from 1 to 100 GV based on 5.5×10^{9} protons collected with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer aboard the International Space Station. The proton fluxes exhibit variations on multiple timescales. From 2014 to 2018, we observed recurrent flux variations with a period of 27 days. Shorter periods of 9 days and 13.5 days are observed in 2016. The strength of all three periodicities changes with time and rigidity. The rigidity dependence of the 27-day periodicity is different from the rigidity dependences of 9-day and 13.5-day periods. Unexpectedly, the strength of 9-day and 13.5-day periodicities increases with increasing rigidities up to ∼10  GV and ∼20  GV, respectively. Then the strength of the periodicities decreases with increasing rigidity up to 100 GV.

Resistance-Nodulation-Cell Division (RND) Transporter AcrD Confers Resistance to Egg White in Salmonella enterica Serovar Enteritidis

The excellent survival ability of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) in egg white leads to outbreaks of salmonellosis frequently associated with eggs and egg products. Our previous proteomic study showed that the expression of multidrug efflux RND transporter AcrD in S. Enteritidis was significantly up-regulated (4.06-fold) in response to an egg white environment. In this study, the potential role of AcrD in the resistance of S. Enteritidis to egg white was explored by gene deletion, survival ability test, morphological observation, Caco-2 cell adhesion and invasion. It was found that deletion of acrD had no apparent effect on the growth of S. Enteritidis in Luria-Bertani (LB) broth but resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in resistance of S. Enteritidis to egg white and a small number of cell lysis. Compared to the wild type, a 2-log population reduction was noticed in the ΔacrD mutant with different initial concentrations after incubation with egg white for 3 days. Furthermore, no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the adhesion and invasion was found between the wild type and ΔacrD mutant in LB broth and egg white, but the invasion ability of the ΔacrD mutant in egg white was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than that in LB broth. This indicates that acrD is involved in virulence in Salmonella. Taken together, these results reveal the importance of AcrD on the resistance of S. Enteritidis to egg white.