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Periodontal disease is a highly prevalent disease worldwide that seriously affects people's oral health, including gingivitis and periodontitis. Although the current treatment of periodontal disease can achieve good control of inflammation, it is difficult to regenerate the periodontal supporting tissues to achieve a satisfactory therapeutic effect. In recent years, due to the good tissue regeneration ability, the research on Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) and MSC-derived exosomes has been gradually deepened, especially its ability to interact with the microenvironment of the body in the complex immunoregulatory network, which has led to many new perspectives on the therapeutic strategies for many diseases. This paper systematically reviews the immunomodulatory (including bone immunomodulation) properties of MSCs and their role in the periodontal inflammatory microenvironment, summarizes the pathways and mechanisms by which MSCs and MSC-EVs have promoted periodontal regeneration in recent years, lists potential areas for future research, and describes the issues that should be considered in future basic research and the direction of development of "cell-free therapies" for periodontal regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, known for its high altitude, geological history of plate collision, crustal uplift, and special ecology factors, provides an ideal environment for studying fungal biodiversity in extreme environmental conditions. Some species within the Conocybe, containing secondary metabolites such as psilocybin, phallotoxins, and amatoxins, have potential medicinal value for treating psychiatric disorders and for use in drug development. This study investigates Conocybe (Bolbitiaceae, Agaricales) on the Plateau, based on specimens collected over the past decade, using morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses. Seven species were identified, including four new species: C. alticola, C. alticoprophila, C. versicolor, and C. yadongensis. Molecular analyses, utilizing multi-gene sequence data (ITS, nrLSU, and tef-1α), support the taxonomic position of these new species within this genus as new species. Detailed descriptions, illustrations, photographs, line drawings, and comparisons with related species are provided for the new taxa. This study enriches the species diversity of Conocybe on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, further enhancing our understanding of fungal biodiversity in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mood instability, characterized by sudden and unpredictable mood shifts, is prevalent in psychiatric disorders and as a personality trait. Its association with gastrointestinal diseases has been recognized but remains poorly understood in terms of causality. Methods: This study aims to investigate the causal relationship between mood instability and a spectrum of gastrointestinal diseases by univariable and multivariable mendelian randomization analysis. The exposure and outcome data were retrieved from the IEU open GWAS database, the UK biobank and the FinnGen study. Instrumental variables were selected to meet relevance, independence, and exclusion restriction criteria. GWAS datasets for mood instability and 28 gastrointestinal diseases were utilized, incorporating diverse populations and genders. Univariable and multivariable Mendelian randomization analyses were conducted using R software. MR statistics from different datasets for the same disease were meta-analyzed to maximize the study population. Results: In univariable MR analysis, genetic predisposition to mood instability showed significant associations with increased risk for several gastrointestinal diseases, including: gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastric ulcer, acute gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome, internal hemorrhoids, cirrhosis, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis. In multivariable MR analysis, after adjusting for major depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, and schizophrenia, associations with the following gastrointestinal diseases remained statistically significant: internal hemorrhoids, cirrhosis, acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis. Conclusion: This study provides compelling evidence for a potential causal relationship between mood instability and certain gastrointestinal diseases underscoring the importance of considering mood instability as a potential risk factor for gastrointestinal diseases as well as the positive role of maintaining mood stability in the prevention of gastrointestinal disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a discrete air model (DAM) is developed to capture the discontinuous characteristics of air at different locations during the rapid filling process in long-range, large-scale water pipeline. By introducing the continuity and momentum equations of air and combining them with the water control equation and the interface continuity equation, an improved model based on the uniform air is derived. The accuracy of the model is verified by comparing it with experimental data and the results of the original uniform air model (UAM). Subsequently, a long-range, large-scale pipeline was considered to investigate the dynamic properties of air in large systems, which had not been covered in previous studies. Additionally, the influence of air dynamic characteristics on initial air volume affected by different air lengths and various pipe diameters in large systems – is further studied. Results show that an increased pipe diameter expands the contact area of the air–water interface, often resulting in the UAM underestimating the maximum peak pressure. The propagation process of transient waves in air is divided into three stages: propagation stage with multiple variation, maximum value stage with interface propulsive, and stability stage with several fluctuations, which corresponds to the pressure fluctuation curve. This explains the occurrence of small fluctuations and peaks in the curve. Therefore, the peak pressure simulated by the proposed DAM offers a better understanding of wave behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A robust comprehensive energy dissipation model is developed to investigate the rapid filling process of a T-shaped bifurcated pipeline with entrapped air pocket, while an experimental system is designed to validate the numerical model. In this work, a self-adapting heat transfer model is proposed to describe the energy exchange during transient event, fully considering the heat transfer of entrapped air pocket and hydraulic losses caused by steady friction and unsteady friction in the section of the filling water column. Importantly, the related heat transfer coefficient is variable and determined by mechanism formula of media characteristics, which is obviously different from the constant heat transfer coefficient in conventional model relying on the trial-and-error method and experimental data. Moreover, the second-order Godunov-type scheme is introduced to solve the governing equations of filling water column, while a virtual plug approach is proposed to track the air–water interface. The resulting predictions are compared to those obtained via a conventional empirical polytropic model and constant coefficient heat transfer model, and to experimental data. The proposed model accurately reproduces the experimental pressure oscillations. The results display that when an air pocket content exceeds a certain threshold (>1.7%), the comprehensive model using forced convection can reproduce the pressure fluctuations. When the air content is lower (<0.9%), the comprehensive model using natural convection can simulate pressure changes more accurately. The conventional empirical polytropic model underestimates the pressure damping. The constant coefficient heat transfer model previously cannot be employed if there is no experimental data to calibrate the constant coefficient, but now the constant coefficient can be obtained from the results of the proposed model. Significantly, the comprehensive model can directly and accurately simulate the energy dissipation during the rapid filling process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As global climate change and environmental challenges intensify, governments across the globe are increasingly concerned about the sustainable development of the energy industry, with the identification of risk spillover directions and characteristics among energy companies playing a pivotal role in effective risk management within the sector, particularly in the context of carbon neutrality. This study uses the TVP-VAR-DY (Time-Varying ParametereVector Auto RegressioneDynamic) model to comprehensively investigate the intricate transmission mechanisms of risk spillover effects among energy companies from both static and dynamic perspectives. The results indicate that: 1) A small number of coal energy companies are net risk spillover exporters, playing a crucial role in the risk spillover among similar energy companies. 2) There exist differences in the network topological structure characteristics of energy companies during different events, and different types of energy companies play different roles in the network. 3) In the context of carbon neutrality, cooperation between traditional energy companies and new energy companies has increasingly become a trend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare the accuracy of occlusal stabilization appliances fabricated by digital workflows to those fabricated by conventional workflows. Materials and Methods: In total, 10 volunteers were recruited in this single-blinded crossover study. All volunteers received two types of occlusal stabilization appliances: a digital additively manufactured stabilization splint (DS) and a conventionally fabricated splint (CS). The accuracy was assessed using a 4-point rating scale addressing two aspects of the occlusal appliances: occlusal contact and basic performance. In addition, silicone impression materials were used to assess the gap between the appliance and the maxillary arch to ensure an accurate fit. Differences were quantitatively assessed with Mann-Whitney U test and independent-sample t test. Results: The occlusal contact rating of DS (15.90 ± 1.73) was significantly higher than that of CS (14.10 ± 1.10, P < .05). The basic performance rating of DS (8.70 ± 0.48) was also significantly higher than that of CS (7.20 ± 0.92. P < .05). Quantitative evaluation of fit accuracy revealed a statistically significant difference (P < .05), with DS (636.29 ± 268.51 µm) being superior to CS (704.2 ± 306.05 µm). Conclusion: The stabilization splints fabricated with a digital workflow showed better accuracy than the conventionally fabricated splints in terms of occlusal contact, basic performance, and fit accuracy. Because this is a pilot study, formal trials with a completely digital fabrication workflow will be conducted in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A base promoted oxidative [4+2] annulation of pyrrole‐2‐carbaldehyde derivatives with o‐hydroxyphenyl propargylamines for the synthesis of highly substituted indolizines has been developed. Using DBN as base, a broad range of 5,6,7‐trisubstituted indolizines have been prepared in good to excellent yields under mild conditions, and many useful functional groups can be tolerated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Evidence of different smoking cessation interventions varies and has been assessed in many Cochrane reviews. We conducted an overview of these Cochrane reviews to summarize the effects of current interventions for smoking cessation. Methods: Nine databases were searched from their inception to October 2024, with no restrictions on language. Two authors independently extracted data from the same studies simultaneously, double checking after extraction. A second round of examination was conducted on all the extracted contents by another author. We employed a measurement tool to assess systematic reviews (AMSTAR-2) to evaluate the methodological rigor of the included systematic reviews (SRs), synthesized the GRADE results as reported, and conducted a narrative synthesis. The research protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023388884). Results: Seventy-one Cochrane reviews involving 3022 trials were included in this comprehensive analysis. The two predominant smoking cessation interventions were pharmacotherapy (24 SRs) and non-pharmacological therapy (31SRs). Overall, the methodological quality of all the reviews was good. Compared with placebo, the point effect size for each Cochrane review on relative risk (RR) regarding pharmacotherapies for prolonged abstinence rate ranged from 1.11 to 3.34, demonstrating high- or moderate-certainty evidence; whereas for non-pharmacological therapies, it varied from 0.79 to 25.38, but substantial heterogeneity was observed in most meta-analysis (I2>50%). Four studies investigating pharmacotherapies as interventions, adverse events were reported but no significant differences in outcomes were observed. Conclusions: Pharmacotherapy demonstrated some efficacy in promoting prolonged abstinence rate, while the effectiveness of different non-pharmacological interventions for smoking cessation varied widely, highlighting the need for further research on the integration of pharmacotherapy and non-pharmacological therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existing one-dimensional model is inadequate in predicting the dynamic interactions between hydraulic transients and inline air pockets in water pipelines, leading to underestimated pressure dissipation in the modeling results. In this study, a one-dimensional (1D)–three-dimensional (3D) coupling model was applied to analyze and explain the interactions between the hydraulic transients and inline air pockets observed in systematic laboratory experiments. In this model, the method of characteristics provides 1D modeling of hydraulic transients in the regions without the inline air pocket and the finite-volume method with volume of fluid approach provides 3D modeling of hydraulic transient interactions at the air pocket. The coupling between 1D and 3D models is achieved using the partly overlapped coupling method. The analysis of the transient velocity profile unveils unique velocity distributions on both sides of the air pocket due to reflection and transmission processes, which contribute to the compression and movement of the air pocket. The investigations of variation in the internal energy of the air pocket using the 1D–3D model demonstrate that the internal energy reduces in the slow compression process due to greater energy fluctuations and more rapid energy transfer between air and water, especially at the front of the air–water interface directly impacted by the incident wave. This explains why the existing 1D model underestimates the pressure damping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Butylparaben (BuP) is a ubiquitous preservative in cosmetics, foods, and medicine. As an emerging pollutant, it has gained wide attention in recent years. Because amphibians have both aquatic and terrestrial life stages and high skin permeability, they are sensitive to environmental changes. To assess the toxic effects of BuP on amphibians, the present study was conducted on the spot-legged tree frog (Polypedates megacephalus) tadpoles. In the present study, LC50 of BuP for 96 h exposures was 3509 µg/L. Then, the tadpoles were exposed to 0, 350 and 2100 µg/L BuP (hereafter named as CK, B1 and B2) for 12, 24 and 48 h, the oxidative stress and apoptosis in the liver were analyzed. The results showed that the content of MDA and activity of SOD and GSH-PX were increased with an increase in BuP exposure. BuP stress significantly altered the expression of Nrf2-Keap1 signal pathway genes. An increase in the expression of JAK-STAT signal pathway genes was observed with an increase in the exposure to BuP concentration at 24 and 48 h. In contrast, the expression of negative regulators of JAK-STAT signal pathway were significantly increased at 12 h and decreased at 24 and 48 h. A significant decrease in pro-apoptosis genes expression (Bax and Caspase3) were observed at 12 h but increased at 24 and 48 h, while the expression of anti-apoptosis gene (Bcl-2) decreased at 24 and 48 h. These results provide a valuable reference point for assessing the ecological and health risks associated with BuP in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the stability issue, It is difficult to prepare a silver nanocluster bearing functional sites, especially at a large scale. We report the synthesis and structure of a stable silver nanocluster bearing multiple surface aldehyde groups [Ag21(Ph2PO2)10(p‐CHOPhC≡C)6]SbF6, which allows for postsynthesis modification such as surface functionalization through aldimine condensation to give homochiral clusters. Remarkably, the preparation of this cluster can be done in ~90 % high yield at gram scale, which facilitates further studies and potential applications. Through DFT calculations and geometric structure analysis, the high stability of this cluster is attributed to the geometric closure and electronic structure. This is the first time that an effective one‐pot method has been developed to synthesize functional silver nanoclusters in high yield. The title cluster will be useful in the development of a variety of cluster‐based materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bursaphelenchus xylophilus is the pathogen of pine wilt disease, which can devastate the pine forest ecosystem. Usually, plant cells generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a defensive substance or signalling molecules to resist the infection of nematodes. However, little is known about how B. xylophilus effectors mediate the plant ROS metabolism. Here, we identified a pioneer B. xylophilus Prx3‐interacting effector 1 (BxPIE1) expressed in the dorsal gland cells and the intestine. Silencing of the BxPIE1 gene resulted in reduced nematode reproduction and a delay in disease progression during parasitic stages, with the upregulation of pathogenesis‐related (PR) genes PtPR‐3 (class Ⅳ chitinase) and PtPR‐9 (peroxidase). The protein–protein interaction assays further demonstrated that BxPIE1 interacts with a Pinus thunbergii class III peroxidase (PtPrx3), which produces H2O2 under biotic stress. The expression of BxPIE1 and PtPrx3 was upregulated during the infection stage. Furthermore, BxPIE1 effectively inhibited H2O2 generating from class III peroxidase and ascorbate can recover the virulence of siBxPIE1‐treated B. xylophilus by scavenging H2O2. Taken together, BxPIE1 is an important virulence factor, revealing a novel mechanism utilized by nematodes to suppress plant immunity. Summary statement: A pioneer B. xylophilus Prx3‐interacting effector 1 (BxPIE1) suppresses reactive oxygen species burst by interacting with the class III peroxidase (PtPrx3) in Pinus thunbergii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the stability issue, It is difficult to prepare a silver nanocluster bearing functional sites, especially at a large scale. We report the synthesis and structure of a stable silver nanocluster bearing multiple surface aldehyde groups [Ag21(Ph2PO2)10(p‐CHOPhC≡C)6]SbF6, which allows for postsynthesis modification such as surface functionalization through aldimine condensation to give homochiral clusters. Remarkably, the preparation of this cluster can be done in ~90 % high yield at gram scale, which facilitates further studies and potential applications. Through DFT calculations and geometric structure analysis, the high stability of this cluster is attributed to the geometric closure and electronic structure. This is the first time that an effective one‐pot method has been developed to synthesize functional silver nanoclusters in high yield. The title cluster will be useful in the development of a variety of cluster‐based materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) has a complex pathogenesis with an increasing prevalence and is one of the most intractable clinical challenges in the field of reproductive medicine. Quercetin (QCT) is an effective active ingredient extracted from Semen Cuscutae and Herba Taxilli used in traditional Chinese medicine for tonifyng the kidneys and promoting fetal restoration. Although QCT helps improve adverse pregnancy outcomes, the specific mechanism remains unclear. The trophoblast cell line HTR‐8/SVneo cultured in vitro was treated with different concentrations of QCT, and the cell counting kit‐8 assay, wound healing assay, transwell assay, and western blotting were used to evaluate the effects and mechanisms of QCT on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HTR‐8/SVneo cells, respectively. To assess the expression levels of miR‐149‐3p and AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT1), quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) and western blotting analysis were performed. A dual‐luciferase reporter assay was used to investigate the potential regulatory relationship between miR‐149‐3p and AKT1. Our results showed that QCT promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of trophoblast cells, promoted the expression of MMP2, MMP9, and vimentin, and downregulated the expression of E‐cadherin. Mechanistically, QCT downregulated the expression of miR‐149‐3p and upregulated the expression of AKT1, and miR‐149‐3p directly targets AKT1, negatively regulating its expression. Overexpression of miR‐149‐3p and silencing of AKT1 counteracted the promotional effects of QCT on trophoblast proliferation, migration, and invasion. Taken together, QCT regulates the migration and invasion abilities of HTR‐8/SVneo cells through the miR‐149‐3p/AKT1 axis, which may provide a promising therapeutic approach for RSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) materials have potential applications in information technology and bioimaging. However, the precise control of the afterglow in reversible manners remains challenging for organic matters. Here, we report a kind of organic RTP material fabricated by simple heating mixtures of tartaric acid (TA) and aromatic acids, which can switch their phosphorescence by laser. Those mixtures show tunable phosphorescence from indigo to orange with phosphorescence efficiency of up to 53.99% due to locking different organic luminogens by the TA-formed matrix through the non-covalent interactions. The afterglow of those materials lasts a few seconds and disappears by water fumigation, which can be repeated in response to wet/heat stimuli. With drop-casting those materials on glass slides, a laser-repatternable phosphorescence is achieved by facile laser direct writing and quenched by water cyclically. Those results open the opportunity for the design of smart stimuli-responsive phosphorescence materials from sustainable natural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Encarsia formosa Gahan (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) and entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are utilized for whitefly biological control, offering potential for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in both greenhouse and field settings. However, the impact of EPF on E. formosa remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the capacity of E. formosa to transmit Beauveria bassiana and Lecanicillium longisporum for controlling Bemisia tabaci MED nymphs in controlled laboratory conditions. We evaluated whether parasitoid exposure to EPF influences the wasp's biological parameters and its capability to locate whitefly nymphs in a Y-tube olfactometer. Finally, the number of Myzus persicae (Sulzer) infected by EPF in the same enclosure was estimated. Parasitism and host-feeding rates were higher in the control group (uninfected wasps) compared to the B. bassiana-treated parasitoids, while no significant difference was observed with the L. longisporum-treated group. The total number of dead nymphs (parasitized + infected + host feeding) was higher in the L. longisporum-treated group than in the control and B. bassiana-treated groups. Parasitoid development from egg to adult stage was not influenced by EPF treatment, yet the longevity of exposed wasps was reduced in both treatment groups. Olfactometer experiments indicated that short exposure to B. bassiana had minimal impact on parasitoid choices, whereas prolonged exposure weakened their ability to distinguish B. tabaci nymphs. Similar trends were observed with L. longisporum-treated E. formosa. These results contribute valuable insights to biological control strategies for B. tabaci and shed light on the biological and behavioral dynamics of pathogen-host-parasitoid interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Particle-based methods are widely applied in the resolving of complex multi-scale physical phenomena in various science and engineering areas. In order to handle the challenge of increasing computational complexity and declining concurrency for the pair-wised particle searching procedure in massive multi-scale particle-based simulations, a new parallel fast neighbor searching algorithm, which features high-concurrency and low memory footprint, is developed and demonstrated on both many-core CPU and GPU architectures. An inter-level interaction strategy based on the concept of hierarchical nested data structure is proposed to resolve the issue of racing condition in cross-level particle search. An asymmetric mapping method is developed to eliminate the full mapping of particles on each level, which reduces the memory consumption. A set of numerical experiments show that, the proposed algorithm can handle multi-scale problems with particle volume ratio up to 108. Compared with traditional algorithm, the proposed algorithm can achieve 2x-8x speedups and lower memory consumption. The GPUbased implementation of the algorithm achieves state-of-the-art computational efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is central to energy conversion technologies, but the high cost and scarcity of commercial noble metal catalysts limit their widespread application. Natural products exhibit great potential in preparing high‐performance electrocatalysts due to their cost‐effectiveness and sustainability. Here, a kind of 1D polymers [M‐EA (M═Co, Cu, Ni)] for oxygen evolution reaction via the complexation of ellagic acid (EA) with metal ions are reported. It is found that Ni‐EA displays a low overpotential (190 mV at 10 mA cm−2) and an ultralow Tafel slope (28 mV dec−1), with a production cost of only 3.6 × 10−2% of IrO2. Density functional theory investigations reveal the electrocatalytic mechanism of the OER. A rechargeable Zn‐Air battery using Ni‐EA+Pt/C as the air electrode shows a lower charging potential and better cycling stability than the IrO2+Pt/C‐based battery. This work provides a train for the development of state‐of‐the‐art OER catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pinus is an important economic tree species, but pine wilt disease (PWD) seriously threatens the survival of pine trees. PWD caused by Bursaphelenchus xylophilus is a major quarantine disease worldwide that causes significant economic losses. However, more information about its molecular pathogenesis is needed, resulting in a lack of effective prevention and treatment measures. In recent years, effectors have become a hot topic in exploring the molecular pathogenic mechanism of pathogens. Here, we identified a specific effector, BxNMP1, from B. xylophilus. In situ hybridization experiments revealed that BxNMP1 was specifically expressed in dorsal gland cells and intestinal cells, and RT–qPCR experiments revealed that BxNMP1 was upregulated in the early stage of infection. The sequence of BxNMP1 was different in the avirulent strain, and when BxNMP1-silenced B. xylophilus was inoculated into P. thunbergii seedlings, the disease severity significantly decreased. We demonstrated that BxNMP1 interacted with the thaumatin-like protein PtTLP-L2 in P. thunbergii. Additionally, we found that the β-1,3-glucanase PtGLU interacted with PtTLP-L2. Therefore, we hypothesized that BxNMP1 might indirectly interact with PtGLU through PtTLP-L2 as an intermediate mediator. Both targets can respond to infection, and PtTLP-L2 can enhance the resistance of pine trees. Moreover, we detected increased salicylic acid contents in P. thunbergii seedlings inoculated with B. xylophilus when BxNMP1 was silenced or when the PtTLP-L2 recombinant protein was added. In summary, we identified a key virulence effector of PWNs, BxNMP1. It positively regulates the pathogenicity of B. xylophilus and interacts directly with PtTLP-L2 and indirectly with PtGLU. It also inhibits the expression of two targets and the host salicylic acid pathway. This study provides theoretical guidance and a practical basis for controlling PWD and breeding for disease resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work investigated the effect of ZrB2 content on phase composition, relative density, microstructure, and mechanical performance of Si3N4 ceramics prepared by Si nitridation and hot‐pressing method. Si3N4 ceramics were fabricated using Si powder by nitridation and hot‐pressing process. Results showed that the addition of ZrB2 enhanced the transformation of α‐Si3N4 into β‐Si3N4 phase during nitridation, resulting in a greater fraction of β‐Si3N4 (above 90 wt.%) phase in Si3N4 ceramics with ZrB2 after hot‐pressing. In contrast, ceramics without ZrB2 had a lower ratio of β‐Si3N4 (40.4 wt.%). The use of 2.5 vol.% ZrB2 yielded a significant bimodal microstructure and increased fracture toughness to 5.0 ± 0.2 MPa·m1/2, but decreased Vickers hardness to 16.4 ± 0.5 GPa. However, increasing the ZrB2 content to 5 vol.% and 10 vol.% led to a massive formation of equiaxed coarse β‐Si3N4 grains and a significant decrease in Vickers hardness and fracture toughness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on phylogenetic analysis, Candolleomyces (Psathyrellaceae, Agaricales) was established with Psathyrella candolleana as the type species. The basidiomes range from small to large and are typically terrestrial, lignicolous, and rarely fimicolous. We analysed the Candolleomyces species collected during five years in China, and based on morphological and molecular data (nrITS, nrLSU, and tef-1α), we propose seven new Candolleomyces species viz. C. brevisporus, C. gyirongicus, C. lignicola, C. luridus, C. shennongdingicus, C. shennongjianus, and C. sichuanicus. Full descriptions, colour photographs, illustrations, phylogenetic analyses results, and comparisons with related Candolleomyces species of the new taxa are provided. This study enriches the species diversity of Candolleomyces in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) and bladder urothelial carcinoma (BLCA) both originate from uroepithelial tissue, sharing remarkably similar clinical manifestations and therapeutic modalities. However, emerging evidence suggests that identical treatment regimens may lead to less favorable outcomes in UTUC compared to BLCA. Therefore, it is imperative to explore molecular processes of UTUC and identify biological differences between UTUC and BLCA. Methods: In this study, we performed a comprehensive analysis using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on three UTUC cases and four normal ureteral tissues. These data were combined with publicly available datasets from previous BLCA studies and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data for both cancer types. This pooled analysis allowed us to delineate the transcriptional differences among distinct cell subsets within the microenvironment, thus identifying critical factors contributing to UTUC progression and phenotypic differences between UTUC and BLCA. Results: scRNA-seq analysis revealed seemingly similar but transcriptionally distinct cellular identities within the UTUC and BLCA ecosystems. Notably, we observed striking differences in acquired immunological landscapes and varied cellular functional phenotypes between these two cancers. In addition, we uncovered the immunomodulatory functions of vein endothelial cells (ECs) in UTUC, and intercellular network analysis demonstrated that fibroblasts play important roles in the microenvironment. Further intersection analysis showed that MARCKS promote UTUC progression, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining revealed that the diverse expression patterns of MARCKS in UTUC, BLCA and normal ureter tissues. Conclusion: This study expands our multidimensional understanding of the similarities and distinctions between UTUC and BLCA. Our findings lay the foundation for further investigations to develop diagnostic and therapeutic targets for UTUC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceracris kiangsu Tsai (C. kiangs) is a kind of forest pest, which can harm nearly 100 kinds of weeds and crops. In this study, based on 314 species distribution points of C. kiangsu which were obtained from Chinese herbaria, literatures and investigation, and data of three future climate scenarios presented by CMIP6, two niche models (Garp, Maxent) were used to predict the suitable area of C. kiangsu in China. The result shows that the main environmental factors affecting the distribution of C. kiangsu are precipitation of driest month (bio14) and min temperature of coldest month (bio6). No matter now and future, the potential distribution areas of C. kiangsu in China are mainly in the south of Qinling–Huaihe River. Under current scenarios, the areas of the total, highly, moderately and poorly suitable of C. kiangsu in China are 160.65 × 104 km2, 31.70 × 104 km2, 60.36 × 104 km2 and 68.59 × 104 km2 respectively. The southern Hubei, western Jiangxi and eastern Hunan are highly-suitable areas. Under SSP1-2.6 and SSP2-4.5 scenarios, both the total suitable area and the highly suitable show a decreasing tread in 2050s. Compared to the 2050s, the total suitable area will coninue to decease in 2090s under SSP1-2.6, while it will increase under SSP2-4.5. The highly suitable area will increase in both scenarios, and the increased percentage under SSP2-4.5 is greater than that under SSP1-2.6. Under SSP5-8.5 scenarios, the total suitable area will increase by 1.83% in the 2050s, and decrease by 1.17% in the 2090s. The highly suitable area in the 2050s and 2090s under this scenarios is larger than under current scenarios. No matter what the scenario, the southern part of Yunnan, the southeast of Sichuan and the southwest of Chongqing will become highly-suitable areas as the climate continues to warm and should be monitored more cosely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Russula is the largest genus in the Russulales and is widespread throughout the world. Almost all Russula species are known to be ectomycorrhizal with high ecological and edible values, and some are lethal poisonous. In this study, four new species belonging to the subgenus Russula crown clade are identified based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence from the Xizang Autonomous Region and other provinces of China. Morphologically, Russula paragraveolens (sect. Polychromae, subsect. Xerampelinae) is mainly characterised by a cherry red to blood red pileus centre, a reddish orange pileus margin; R. pseudograveolens (sect. Polychromae, subsect. Xerampelinae) is characterised by a violet brown to brownish red pileus centre, a pale red to pastel red pileus margin and short basidia; R. shigatseensis (sect. Flavisiccantes, subsect. Lepidinae) is characterised by a brownish orange to madder red pileus centre, pinkish red pileus margin, and having lateral branches or branches of hyphal terminations in pileipellis; R. yadongensis (sect. Tenellae, subsect. Laricinae) is characterised by a dark purplish red pileus centre with brownish purple tints and having isolated to clustered spines of spore ornamentations. Their distinct taxonomic status is confirmed by the positions of the four new species in both the ITS and 4-locus (nucLSU, mtSSU, rpb2, tef1) phylogenetic trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhanced invasion and migration of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells is the major cause of metastasis and poor prognosis in NSCLC. This study was conducted to investigate the role and mechanism of lncRNA KCNQ1OT1 in the proliferation, invasion, and migration of NSCLC cells. The expression of KCNQ1OT1 in NSCLC was analyzed in the StarBase database, and the target miRNA of KCNQ1OT1 as well as the target genes of the miRNA was predicted. Then, the mRNA expression levels of KCNQ1OT1, miR-496, and HMGB1 were detected in clinical tissue samples and cells by qRT-PCR assay. Besides, the protein levels of HMGB1 were detected by Western blot. MTT assay, transwell assay, and scratch assay were used to determine the proliferation, invasion, and migration ability of NSCLC cells, respectively. Correlation analysis was performed to assess the correlation between the expression of KCNQ1OT1, miR-496, and HMGB1 in clinical NSCLC samples. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was conducted to analyze the interaction between KCNQ1OT1 and miR-496 and between miR-496 and HMGB1. The database results showed that KCNQ1OT1 was highly expressed in NSCLC. Similarly, we found that the expression level of KCNQ1OT1 was significantly higher in NSCLC tissues and cells than that in the corresponding normal tissues and cells. The results of MTT assay, transwell assay, and scratch assay demonstrated that KCNQ1OT1 significantly enhanced the proliferation, invasion, and migration of NSCLC cells. Further mechanism exploration revealed that KCNQ1OT1 could sponge miR-496, and miR-496 directly targeted and regulated the expression of HMGB1. The expression of miR-496 and either KCNQ1OT1 or HMGB1 were negatively correlated in NSCLC, while the expression of KCNQ1OT1 and HMGB1 were positively correlated. Compared with normal paracancer tissues, miR-496 was much lower and HMGB1 was much higher expressed in NSCLC tissues. The results of cotransfection also further demonstrated that miR-496 inhibitor or sh-HMGB1 cotransfected with sh-KCNQ1OT1 could significantly decrease or increase the ability of sh-KCNQ1OT1 to inhibit the proliferation, invasion, and migration of H1299 cells, respectively. In conclusion, lncRNA KCNQ1OT1 promotes the invasion and migration of NSCLC cells through miR-496/HMGB1 signaling axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary Sjögren's Syndrome (pSS) is a complex autoimmune disorder characterized by exocrine gland dysfunction, leading to dry eyes and mouth. Despite growing interest in biologic therapies for pSS, FDA approval has proven challenging due to trial complications. This review addresses the absence of a molecular-target-based approach to biologic therapy development and highlights novel research on drug targets and clinical trials. A literature search identified potential pSS treatment targets and recent advances in molecular understanding. Overlooking extraglandular symptoms like fatigue and depression is a notable gap in trials. Emerging biologic agents targeting cytokines, signal pathways, and immune responses have proven efficacy. These novel therapies could complement existing methods for symptom alleviation. Improved grading systems accounting for extraglandular symptoms are needed. The future of pSS treatment may involve gene, stem-cell, and tissueengineering therapies. This narrative review offers insights into advancing pSS management through innovative biologic interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observational studies on the association between citrus fruit intake and risk of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) have reported inconsistent results. We quantitatively assessed this association by conducting a meta‐analysis. PubMed and Embase databases search was conducted including relevant studies published up to January, 2020. We included epidemiological studies that reported relative risks (RRs) or odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between citrus fruit intake and RCC risk. A total of eight epidemiological studies consisting of five cohort and three case‐control studies were included. The overall analysis showed a significantly reduced risk of RCC for high intake of citrus fruit (OR = 0.84, 95% CI 0.73–0.95). No heterogeneity was detected among the included studies (p = 0.497 for heterogeneity; I2 = 0). There was no significant publication bias by Begg's test (p = 0.266) or Egger's test (P = 0.578). A statistically significant association between citrus fruit intake and RCC was observed in case‐control studies (OR = 0.84, 95% CI 0.71–0.98), while no association was observed in cohort studies (OR = 0.84, 95% CI 0.64–1.05). In addition, the dose–response analysis indicated that the RCC risk reduced by 13% (95%CI 1.0%‐27%, p = 0.04 for heterogeneity) for each 100 grams per day increment of citrus fruit intake. In summary, our findings suggest an inverse association between citrus fruit intake and RCC incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pesticide use contributes to national food security. The dissipation pathways and degradation mechanisms of pesticides have been widely studied and pesticide residues have remained a focus of public concern. However, studies on the migration and transformation behaviors of pesticide residues in real-world greenhouse soils are insufficient. Therefore, in this study, we collected greenhouse soil from Shouguang, Shandong Province, and investigated the photodegradation and leaching of 17 common pesticides, which leave residues in the soil and are the most frequently used pesticides in Shouguang. The environmental behavior of pesticides in greenhouse soils will provide new information on pesticide residues in the real environment and provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of pesticide pollution in greenhouse soils. Results: The photodegradation of trifloxystrobin followed a first-order kinetic equation, whereas those of emamectin benzoate, chlorantraniliprole, buprofezin, difenoconazole, pyraclostrobin, boscalid, tebuconazole, isoprothiolane, metalaxyl, and oxadixyl followed second-order kinetics. The half-lives of 17 pesticides under light and dark conditions ranged from 2.5–104 (mean: 36.2) and 2.6–110 (mean: 31.4) days, respectively. The half-lives of emamectin benzoate, pyraclostrobin, and metalaxyl in the light were 86.6%, 68.5%, and 94.5% of their half-lives in the dark, respectively. Chlorantraniliprole, metalaxyl, nitenpyram, diethofencarb, acetamiprid, carbendazim, and oxadixyl were leached to ≥ 90% in aqueous solution. Six pesticides, avermectin B1A, emamectin benzoate, trifloxystrobin, difenoconazole, pyraclostrobin, and buprofezin, were difficult to leach from aqueous solutions. Conclusions: The degradation rate of some pesticides was higher in the light environment than in the dark. The leaching potential of the leachable pesticides was nitenpyram ≫ metalaxyl > acetamiprid > carbendazim > diethofencarb ≈ chlorantraniliprole > isoprothiolane > oxadixyl > boscalid ≈ tebuconazole > hexaconazole. Pesticides that are easy to leach but not easily degraded, such as chlorantraniliprole and metalaxyl, have a high potential risk of groundwater pollution, and additional degradation technologies should be used to reduce their pollution risk. The study of the photodegradation and vertical migration behavior of various pesticides is conducive to providing references for the agricultural use and pollution control of pesticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The species of Gymnopilus (Hymenogastraceae, Agricales) are commonly recognized as wood-decaying fungi. Certain members of this genus have been identified as psilocybin-producing mushrooms. Gymnopilus exhibits a diverse range and has a global distribution. In this study, a total of seventy-eight specimens were gathered from ten provinces in China. A comprehensive molecular phylogenetic analysis was conducted, employing gene sequences including ITS, nrLSU, nrSSU, rpb1, rpb2, and tef1-α. Additionally, morphological examinations were also carried out. The phylogenetic topology of Gymnopilus from this study generally agreed with previous studies and facilitated the identification of all those specimens. As a result, eleven species, including five newly discovered ones named Gy. gyirongensis, Gy. variisporus, Gy. tomentosiceps, Gy. tenuibasidialis, and Gy. aurantipileatus, were recognized. Significantly, four of the five newly identified species are native to the Xizang Autonomous Region, emphasizing their specialization in this distinctive habitat. This research contributes to our comprehension of Gymnopilus diversity and lays the groundwork for the conservation and sustainable utilization of Gymnopilus resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The basic medical education stage is not enough to support physicians to fully diagnose and evaluate polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The study aims to discover the difference in treatment choice between participants with different annual consultation number of PCOS, to promote lifelong learning, and drive balanced development within healthcare. Methods: This is a multicenter cross-sectional survey. Participants' basic information, knowledge of PCOS and treatment options were collected online. According to the annual consultation number of patients with PCOS, physicians were divided into three groups: 0– 50 people/yr, 50– 200 people/yr, and > 200 people/yr, and the results were derived from χ2 test, Fisher exact test, and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: The study analyzed 1689 questionnaires, and 1206 physicians (71.4%) received less than 50 women per year, 388 physicians (30.0%) with an annual number of 50– 200 women, and 95 physicians (5.6%) with patient turnover for more than 200 people. Reproductive endocrinologists generally have higher access to the clinic. As the number of visits increases, more and more physicians would perceive patients as more likely to have abnormal blood glucose and heavy weight. Physicians with large numbers of consultations are more likely to use Asian or Chinese standards to assess obesity. The multivariate analysis involved variables such as age, hospital level, specialty, and patient turnover annually, and more young doctors actively assessed lipid profile (odds ratio (OR) 1.56, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.16, 2.16)), and primary hospitals (OR 0.65 CI (0.44, 0.89)) chose OGTT for blood glucose assessment less than tertiary hospitals. Physicians in secondary hospitals are more aggressive in evaluating androgens. Conclusion: Our survey found differences in endocrine assessment, metabolic screening, and treatment in PCOS women in terms of the number of obstetrician-gynecologists who received different patient consultation numbers. The importance of continuing education for physicians is emphasized, to promote lifelong learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The study aimed to analyze the current status and reasons for the neglect of the psychological need of patients with common skin diseases. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in China using an online self-assessment questionnaire distributed via social media. Demographic, clinical and psychological data were collected, and the main outcomes, i.e., depression (evaluated using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire, PHQ-9) and anxiety (evaluated using Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, GAD-7). Multivariate regression analysis was used for the prediction of variates of mental health service seeking behaviors. Results: A total of 1,010 patients participated in the survey, and 273 (27.0%) patients met the "with need" criteria, i.e., having the need for mental health intervention but not being treated. In the multivariate regression model, income (OR = 0.80, 95%CI: 0.65-0.99), duration of disease (OR = 0.68, 95%CI: 0.49-0.95) and suicide ideation (OR = 2.10, 95%CI: 1.14-3.87) were significant factors. For patients who did not receive mental health care, the lack of knowledge about the availability of mental health services, lack of knowledge of where to seek help, concerns about the side effects of treatment, failure to seek treatment for severe skin diseases, and absence of current psychological distress were associated with their need for psychological intervention. Conclusion: This study examined the current status of the need for psychological intervention and the reasons why the need was unmet in patients with skin diseases. Due to the confusion and a lack of knowledge about their mental health issues, mental health services are often underutilized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The review and summary of research history on Aeropus Gistel from Mongolian Plateau were carried out. Simultaneously, the comparative observation was conducted on the male genitalia and forewing veins between Aeropus sibiricus (Linnaeus, 1767) and Aeropus licenti (Chang, 1939) distributed in the Mongolian Plateau. Mongolian Plateau is the main distribution area for Aeropus Gistel, where significant differences exists in the morphological characteristics of Epiphallus and Phallic complex between Aeropus sibiricus and Aeropus licenti, which is the reliable basis for identifying the two species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the effects of the working medium and external conditions, centrifugal pumps often produce complex gas–liquid two-phase flows during operation. The entrainment of gas can lead to a significant decrease in the pressure head of the centrifugal pump and a serious reduction in conveyance efficiency. Therefore, in the absence of visualization or noninvasive techniques, the question of how to predict and model the flow status inside the pump is a key issue that needs to be urgently addressed. Using experimental data for gas–liquid two-phase flows in centrifugal pumps, this paper proposes a flow pattern identification model based on one-dimensional pressure increment signals. This deep learning model consists of convolutional neural networks and bidirectional gated recurrent units. Bayesian optimization is used for automatic hyperparameter tuning, and under the premise of balanced data distribution, the model achieves an identification rate of 0.98 on the test set. Subsequently, addressing the issue of the uneven sample distribution in centrifugal pumps due to their poor gas-carrying capacity, a data augmentation model based on the conditional Wasserstein generative adversarial network with gradient penalty approach is proposed based on the predictive model. Finally, to establish a flow pattern identification method with good extrapolation capability, a transfer learning strategy that accounts for the domain adaptation problem is introduced to the dataset with variable speeds based on the previous two studies. This method achieves knowledge transfer from the source domain to the target domain with a recognition rate of over 0.988 without hyperparameter optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitiligo is a skin pigmentation disorder caused by melanocyte damage or abnormal function. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) can cause oxidative stress damage to melanocytes, which in turn induces vitiligo. Traditional treatments such as phototherapy, drugs, and other methods of treatment are long and result in frequent recurrences. Currently, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are widely used in the research of various disease treatments due to their excellent paracrine effects, making them a promising immunoregulatory and tissue repair strategy. Furthermore, an increasing body of evidence suggests that utilizing the paracrine functions of MSCs can downregulate oxidative stress in the testes, liver, kidneys, and other affected organs in animal models of certain diseases. Additionally, MSCs can help create a microenvironment that promotes tissue repair and regeneration in areas with oxidative stress damage, improving the disordered state of the injured site. In this article, we review the pathogenesis of oxidative stress in vitiligo and promising strategies for its treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photothermal therapy (PTT) ablates tumors by thermal effects of photothermal agents (PTAs), and attracts wide attention due to the non‐invasive characteristic. The ideal PTAs are expected to have high photothermal conversion effect under NIR irradiation, as well as targeting abilities and good biocompatibility satisfying the need of application in vivo. Nanoparticles (NPs) are commonly used as anti‐tumor materials, and plenty of researches on therapeutical NPs for PTT treatment have been developed. Among various building blocks for photothermal NPs, polymer materials for biomedical applications have great advantages due to their negligible toxicity, flexibility for functional modification, and ability to integrate multiple therapeutic strategies. This review focuses on the polymer materials utilized in photothermal NP designing, including their application as excellent carriers and powerful PTAs with great PTT effects. Furthermore, the synergy therapy based on polymeric nanoplatform for enhancing PTT therapeutic efficiency will be introduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitiligo is a skin pigmentation disorder caused by melanocyte damage or abnormal function. Reactive oxygen species Reactive oxygen species can cause oxidative stress damage to melanocytes, which in turn induces vitiligo. Traditional treatments such as phototherapy, drugs, and other methods of treatment are long and result in frequent recurrences. Currently, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are widely used in the research of various disease treatments due to their excellent paracrine effects, making them a promising immunoregulatory and tissue repair strategy. Furthermore, an increasing body of evidence suggests that utilizing the paracrine functions of MSCs can downregulate oxidative stress in the testes, liver, kidneys, and other affected organs in animal models of certain diseases. Addition-ally, MSCs can help create a microenvironment that promotes tissue repair and regeneration in are-as with oxidative stress damage, improving the disordered state of the injured site. In this article, we review the pathogenesis of oxidative stress in vitiligo and promising strategies for its treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disease in women of reproductive age, whose clinical characteristics are hyperandrogenism (HA), ovulatory dysfunction, and polycystic ovary, often accompanied by insulin resistance (IR) and metabolic abnormalities. Glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1Ra), such as exenatide, can bind to specific receptors on tissues such as the ovaries to improve the clinical phenotype of PCOS, while insulin-sensitizing agents, such as metformin, can also benefit to metabolic abnormalities in PCOS. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS) metabolomics revealed differences between the mechanisms of exenatide and metformin treatment of PCOS to some extent. Methods. In this study, 50 obese subjects with PCOS were randomly divided into the exenatide combined with metformin group (COM group, n = 28) and the metformin group (MF group, n = 22) for 12-week treatment. Before and after, serum samples were subjected to LC/MS analysis. Results. After treatment, there were 153 named differential metabolites in the COM group and 99 in the MF group. Most phosphatidylcholines (PC) and deoxycholic acid 3-glucuronide (DA3G) were significantly upregulated, while most glycerophosphoethanolamine (PE-NMe2), glycerophosphocholine (GPC), and threonine were downregulated in both groups. Only the decrease of neuromedin B, glutamate, and glutamyl groups and the increase of chenodeoxycholic acid sulfate docosadienoate (22: 2n6), and prostaglandin E2 have been observed in the COM group. In addition, salicylic acid and spisulosine increased and decanoylcarnitine decreased in the MF group. Both groups were enriched in glycerophospholipid, choline, and sphingolipid metabolism, while the COM group was especially superior in the glutamine and glutamate, bile secretion, and amino acid metabolism. Conclusion. Compared with metformin alone in the treatment of PCOS, the differential metabolites of the exenatide combined with metformin group are more extensive. The COM group may act on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis (HPO) and its bypass, regulate multiple metabolism pathways such as phospholipids, amino acids, fatty acids, carnitine, bile acids, and glucose directly or indirectly in obese PCOS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The study aimed to analyze the current status and reasons for the neglect of the psychological need of patients with common skin diseases. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in China using an online self-assessment questionnaire distributed via social media. Demographic, clinical and psychological data were collected, and the main outcomes, i.e., depression (evaluated using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire, PHQ-9) and anxiety (evaluated using Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, GAD-7). Multivariate regression analysis was used for the prediction of variates of mental health service seeking behaviors. Results: A total of 1,010 patients participated in the survey, and 273 (27.0%) patients met the “with need” criteria, i.e., having the need for mental health intervention but not being treated. In the multivariate regression model, income (OR = 0.80, 95%CI: 0.65–0.99), duration of disease (OR = 0.68, 95%CI: 0.49–0.95) and suicide ideation (OR = 2.10, 95%CI: 1.14–3.87) were significant factors. For patients who did not receive mental health care, the lack of knowledge about the availability of mental health services, lack of knowledge of where to seek help, concerns about the side effects of treatment, failure to seek treatment for severe skin diseases, and absence of current psychological distress were associated with their need for psychological intervention. Conclusion: This study examined the current status of the need for psychological intervention and the reasons why the need was unmet in patients with skin diseases. Due to the confusion and a lack of knowledge about their mental health issues, mental health services are often underutilized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effect of exenatide treatment on the composition of intestinal flora and metabolic pathways in patients with obesity with polycystic ovary syndrome. Patients with obesity with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) were distributed to two groups: one received exenatide combined with metformin (COM group, n = 14) and the other used metformin alone (MF group, n = 15). Fresh fecal specimens from the participants, including 29 patients with obesity with PCOS and 6 healthy controls, were collected for metagenomic sequencing. The effect of exenatide combination with metformin or metformin alone on the composition and function of intestinal flora in patients with obesity with PCOS were compared by bioinformatics analysis. The level of BMI, TT, HbA1c, and HDL-c was significantly improved in both groups. The MF and COM groups were abundant in Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Uroviricota, Actinobacteria, and Proteobacteria. Abundance of Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Hungatella, and certain probiotics like Phocaeicola and Anaerobutyricum significantly increased in both groups after treatment. Enriched microbial species in the MF and COM group were different. Clostridium, Fusobacterium, and Oxalobacter were the main bacteria in the post-MF group, while Lactococcus_garvieae, Clostridium_perfringens, and Coprococcus AF16_5 were the main bacteria in the post-COM group. The post-COM group had more probiotic species including Bifidobacterium, Prevotella, and Anaerobutyricum after treatment. Both exenatide combined with metformin and metformin monotherapy can improve metabolic and endocrine markers, and the diversity and abundance of gut microbiota in patients with obesity with PCOS. The effects of the combination and monotherapy agents on intestinal flora were consistent to some extent but also unique respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, to explore the effect of growth hormone changes on the related genes and regulatory roles of the turtle, PCR amplification, real-time fluorescence quantitative analysis, and enzyme cutting technology were used to clone and sequence the somatostatin (SS) gene, growth hormone receptor (GHR), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-I) sequence of Chinemys reevesii. The effects of human growth hormone on the mRNA expression of growth-axis-related genes SS, GHR, and IGF-1 in different sexes were observed. The study of the SS gene in turtles using real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR showed that the SS gene was mainly expressed in the nervous system and the digestive system, with the highest expression found in the brain, while the GHR gene and the IGF-I gene were expressed in all tissues of Chinemys reevesii. The SS gene was expressed in the brain, pituitary, liver, stomach, and intestine, with the highest expression in the brain and the lowest expression in the liver. Within 4 weeks of the injection of exogenous growth hormone, the expression level of the SS gene in the brain of both sexes first increased and then decreased, showing a parabolic trend, and the expression level of the experimental group was lower than that of the control group. After the injection of growth hormone (GH), the expression of the GHR gene in the liver of both sexes showed a significant increase in the first week, decreasing to the control group level in the second week, and then gradually increasing. Finally, a significant level of difference in the expression of the GHR gene was reached at 3 and 4 weeks. In terms of the IGF-I gene, the changing trend of the expression level in the liver was the same as that of the GHR gene. After the injection of exogenous growth hormone, although the expression of the SS gene increased the inhibition of the secretion of the GHR gene by the Reeves' turtle, exogenous growth hormone could replace the synthesis of GH and GHR, accelerating the growth of the turtle. The experiments showed that the injection of recombinant human growth hormone affects the expression of SS, GHR, and IGF-1 genes, and promotes the growth of the Reeves' turtle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]