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Ling Hou,1,2,* Ke Su,1,* Jinbo Zhao,1 Ting He,2 Yuanhong Li1 1Cardiovascular Disease Center, Central Hospital of Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Enshi, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Central Hospital of Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Yuanhong Li, Email lyh0101@vip.163.comBackground: Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a leading cause of mortality worldwide, with atrial fibrillation (AF) being a common complication. Chronic inflammatory responses play a significant role in the relationship between coronary artery disease and AF. This study aims to investigate the value of the multi-inflammatory index (MII) in predicting the occurrence of atrial fibrillation in patients with coronary heart disease.Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients who visited our hospital from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2023, including a total of 1392 patients. Clinical data and laboratory results were collected. Feature selection was performed using the Boruta algorithm. Five machine learning models were constructed: Logistic Regression, Decision Tree, Elastic Net, Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM), and Multilayer Perceptron. Model performance was evaluated using five-fold cross-validation. SHAP values were utilized to analyze feature importance and model interpretability.Results: The study included 1302 patients without AF and 90 patients with AF. Patients with AF had significantly higher MII compared to those without AF (10.02 vs 4.79). Thirteen variables most related to AF occurrence were selected using the Boruta algorithm. The LightGBM model outperformed others, showing the highest accuracy and calibration in both training and test sets. In the training set, LightGBM achieved an AUC of 0.958, accuracy of 0.851, and sensitivity of 0.943, while in the testing set, it achieved an AUC of 0.757 and accuracy of 0.821. SHAP analysis indicated that age, heart rate, and MII were the primary predictors of AF occurrence.Conclusion: The LightGBM model demonstrated adequate sensitivity and accuracy. The multi-inflammatory index plays a crucial role in predicting atrial fibrillation in patients with coronary heart disease.Keywords: atrial fibrillation, coronary heart disease, multi-inflammatory index, machine learning models, light gradient boosting machine

Ling Hou,1,2,* Ke Su,1,* Ting He,1 Jinbo Zhao,1 Yuanhong Li1 1Cardiovascular Disease Center, Central Hospital of Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hubei University of Medicine, Enshi, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Central Hospital of Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Yuanhong Li, Email lyh0101@vip.163.comBackground: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the primary treatment for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, in-stent restenosis (ISR) remains a significant limitation to the efficacy of PCI. The cholesterol-to-lymphocyte ratio (CLR), a novel biomarker associated with inflammation and dyslipidemia, may have predictive value for ISR. Deep learning-based models, such as the multilayer perceptron (MLP), can aid in establishing predictive models for ISR using CLR.Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical and laboratory data from 1967 patients. The Boruta algorithm was employed to identify key features associated with ISR. An MLP model was developed and divided into training and validation sets. Model performance was evaluated using ROC curves and calibration plots.Results: Patients in the ISR group exhibited significantly higher levels of CLR and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) compared to the non-ISR group. The Boruta algorithm identified 21 important features for subsequent modeling. The MLP model achieved an AUC of 0.95 on the validation set and 0.63 on the test set, indicating good predictive performance. Calibration plots demonstrated good agreement between predicted and observed outcomes. Feature importance analysis revealed that the number of initial stent implants, hemoglobin levels, Gensini score, CLR, and white blood cell count were significant predictors of ISR. Partial dependence plots (PDP) confirmed CLR as a key predictor for ISR.Conclusion: The CLR, as a biomarker that integrates lipid metabolism and inflammation, shows significant potential in predicting coronary ISR. The MLP model, based on deep learning, demonstrated robust predictive capabilities, offering new insights and strategies for clinical decision-making.Keywords: cholesterol-to-lymphocyte ratio, deep learning, multilayer perceptron, Boruta algorithm, in-stent restenosis

Ling Hou,1,* Jinbo Zhao,2,* Ting He,1,* Yinhua Luo,3 Ke Su,2 Yuanhong Li,2 Ruiyang Zhu3 1Central Hospital of Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, People’s Republic of China; 2Cardiovascular Disease Center, Central Hospital of Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hubei University of Medicine, Enshi, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China; 3Center for Gene Diagnosis and Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Yuanhong Li, Cardiovascular Disease Center, Central Hospital of Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hubei University of Medicine, Enshi, 445400, People’s Republic of China, Email lyh0101@vip.163.com Ruiyang Zhu, Center for Gene Diagnosis and Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, People’s Republic of China, Email zhuruiyang@whu.edu.cnAbstract: Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is a necrotizing granulomatous vasculitis classified as an autoimmune small-vessel vasculitis. Clinically, approximately 80% of affected organs in GPA involve the upper/lower respiratory tract and kidneys, with cardiovascular system involvement being rare. Here, we report a case of a 50-year-old female patient who presented with sudden-onset chest pain lasting for 1 hour. The patient had normal body temperature, and markers of infection such as C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were within normal limits. Electrocardiography revealed ST-segment elevation in inferior, precordial, and posterior leads. Emergency coronary angiography showed no significant obstructive disease, prompting consideration of vasospastic angina given the patient’s recurrent chest pain symptoms and findings on laboratory and imaging studies. The patient underwent treatment including coronary vasospasm antagonists and immunomodulation, resulting in clinical improvement and subsequent discharge. During a 7-month follow-up period, the patient did not experience any further adverse cardiovascular events.Keywords: granulomatosis with polyangiitis, vasospastic angina, case report

Ling Hou,1,* Ke Su,2,* Ting He,1 Jinbo Zhao,2 Yuanhong Li2 1Central Hospital of Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China; 2Cardiovascular Disease Center, Central Hospital of Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hubei University of Medicine, Enshi, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Yuanhong Li, Email lyh0101@vip.163.comObjective: This study aims to investigate their correlation and predictive utility for in-stent restenosis (ISR) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Methods: We collected medical records of 668 patients who underwent PCI treatment from January 2022 to December 2022. Based on follow-up results (ISR defined as luminal narrowing ≥ 50% on angiography), all participants were divided into ISR and non-ISR groups. The XGBoost machine learning (ML) model was employed to identify the optimal predictive variables from a set of 31 variables. Discriminatory ability was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC), while calibration and performance of the prediction models were assessed using the Hosmer-Lemeshow (HL) test and calibration plots. Clinical utility of each model was evaluated using decision curve analysis (DCA).Results: In the XGBoost importance ranking of predictive factors, LMR and RC ranked first and fourth, respectively. The AUC of the entire XGBoost ML model was 0.8098, whereas the model using traditional stepwise backward regression, comprising five predictive factors, had an AUC of 0.706. The XGBoost model showed superior predictive performance with a higher AUC, indicating better discrimination and predictive accuracy for ISR compared to traditional methods.Conclusion: LMR and RC are identified as cost-effective and reliable biomarkers for predicting ISR risk in ACS patients following drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. LMR and RC represent cost-effective and reliable biomarkers for predicting ISR risk in ACS patients following drug-eluting stent implantation. Enhances the accuracy and clinical utility of ISR prediction models, offering clinicians a robust tool for risk stratification and personalized patient management.Keywords: Lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio, residual cholesterol, XGBoost, machine learning, in-stent restenosis, drug-eluting stent

Zhiyuan Wu,1,* Lili Hou,2,* Cheng Li,1,* Xiaohua Li,2 Ying Li1 1Department of Radio-Oncology, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Breast Surgery, Suzhou Wuzhong People’s Hospital, Suzhou, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this worksCorrespondence: Ying Li; Xiaohua Li, Email lisalee198812@163.com; xq810@163.comPurpose: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality among women. Radiotherapy can reduce recurrence and prolong survival of patients accepting breast-conserving surgery (BCS). This study aims to compare acute skin reactions in patients receiving hypofractionated versus conventional radiotherapy at a single institution and to summarize the relevant influencing factors.Methods: This study analyzed 152 patients who underwent either hypofractionated or conventional whole-breast irradiation (WBI) after BCS. Acute skin toxicity was assessed according to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) criteria. Predictive factors for acute skin toxicity were identified using multivariate analysis and visualized using a forest spot.Results: Grade 0 reactions occurred in 75.34% vs 70.89%, grade 1 in 16.44% vs 15.19%, grade 2 in 8.22% vs 12.66%, and grade 3 in 0% vs 1.27% of patients receiving hypofractionated and conventional WBI, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in acute skin reaction in patients treated with hypofractionated radiation compared with conventional radiation (P = 0.62). Multivariate analysis revealed that metastatic lymph nodes (P = 0.021), whole-breast planning target volume (PTV-WB) (P

Ling Hou,1,* Jinbo Zhao,2,* Ting He,2 Ke Su,2 Yuanhong Li2 1Department of Central Hospital of Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China; 2Cardiovascular Disease Center, Central Hospital of Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hubei University of Medicine, Enshi, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Yuanhong Li, Email lyh0101@vip.163.comIntroduction: Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a significant global health challenge, with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) being a primary revascularization method. In-stent restenosis (ISR) post-PCI, although reduced, continues to impact patient outcomes. Inflammation and platelet activation play key roles in ISR development, emphasizing the need for accurate risk assessment tools. The systemic inflammation aggregation index (AISI) has shown promise in predicting adverse outcomes in various conditions but has not been studied in relation to ISR.Methods: A retrospective observational study included 1712 patients post-drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. Data collected encompassed demographics, medical history, medication use, laboratory parameters, and angiographic details. AISI, calculated from specific blood cell counts, was evaluated alongside other variables using machine learning models, including random forest, Xgboost, elastic networks, logistic regression, and multilayer perceptron. The optimal model was selected based on performance metrics and further interpreted using variable importance analysis and the SHAP method.Results: Our study revealed that ISR occurred in 25.8% of patients, with a range of demographic and clinical factors influencing the risk of its development. The random forest model emerged as the most adept in predicting ISR, and AISI featured prominently among the top variables affecting ISR prediction. Notably, higher AISI values were positively correlated with an elevated probability of ISR occurrence. Comparative evaluation and visual analysis of model performance, the random forest model demonstrates high reliability in predicting ISR, with specific metrics including an AUC of 0.9569, accuracy of 0.911, sensitivity of 0.855, PPV of 0.81, and NPV of 0.948.Conclusion: AISI demonstrated itself as a significant independent risk factor for ISR following DES implantation, with an escalation in AISI levels indicating a heightened risk of ISR occurrence.Keywords: coronary artery disease, percutaneous coronary intervention, Systemic inflammation aggregation index, machine learning models, In-stent restenosis

Lin Wang,1,2 Fulan Wang,1,2 Hong Qin,2 Li Hou,2 Shiqiong Zhu,3 Fang He,2 Chao Zeng2 1Department of Nursing, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, People’s Republic of China; 2Gynecology Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, People’s Republic of China; 3Gynecology Department, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610031, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Fulan Wang, Department of Nursing, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-13012370558, Email WFL3076@163.comBackground: Bladder dysfunction is a common complication following radical hysterectomy, affecting patients’ QOL. Exploring interventions, particularly IC continuity care, is crucial for identifying strategies to enhance postoperative outcomes. This study aimed to assess the impact of continuous intermittent catheterization (IC) care on bladder function recovery and quality of life (QOL) in patients undergoing radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer.Methods: The primary outcome measured was the time to bladder function recovery, with secondary outcomes comprising EORTC QLQ-C30 assessments at 3 and 6 months post-surgery, as well as EORTC QLQ-CX24 evaluations. Meanwhile, urinary complications, readmissions, and outpatient follow-up were also compared.Results: Among the 128 participants, with 64 in each group, indwelling catheterization durations were similar. However, the IC continuity care group exhibited significantly shorter IC duration and bladder recovery time. This group demonstrated superior QOL, lower occurrence rates post-IC, reduced urethral injuries, and higher readmission and outpatient follow-up rates.Conclusion: This study underscores continuous IC care emerges as a beneficial intervention, facilitating accelerated bladder function recovery and improved QOL in patients following radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer.Keywords: intermittent urethral catheterization, cervical cancer, urinary bladder neurogenic dysfunction, continuity of patient care, rehabilitation

Kunjie Zheng,1– 3 Xiaolong Li,1– 3 Yihua Rong,2 Xuejing Wang,4 Liping Hou,2 Wei Gu,2 Xiaoyu Hou,3 Yunpeng Guan,5 Lifang Liu,6 Jianlin Geng,2 Guangyao Song1,3 1Department of Internal Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Endocrinology, Hengshui People’s Hospital, Hengshui, Hebei, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Endocrinology, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People’s Republic of China; 4Hengshui People’s Hospital Statistical Office, Hengshui, Hebei, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Endocrinology, Shijiazhuang People’s Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, People’s Republic of China; 6Department of Endocrinology, Baoding First Central Hospital, Baoding, Hebei, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Guangyao Song, Department of Endocrinology, Hebei General Hospital, 348 Heping West Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, 050051, People’s Republic of China, Email sguangyao2@163.comPurpose: Elevated serum gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) is an independent marker of the activation of systemic inflammation, while conditions associated with elevated triglyceride (TG) levels, such as type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, obesity, and metabolic syndrome, are associated with an increased inflammatory burden. Moreover, serum liver enzymes (GGT, alanine aminotransferase [ALT], aspartate aminotransferase [AST], and alkaline phosphatase [ALP]) are associated with metabolic syndrome and its components, including hypertriglyceridemia. However, the relationship between liver enzymes and postprandial hypertriglyceridemia (PHTG) remains unclear. Therefore, in this study we conducted oral fat tolerance tests (OFTTs) to understand the differences in serum liver enzyme levels among individuals with different lipid tolerance levels and their correlation with PHTG.Patients and Methods: For the OFTT, we enrolled 202 non-diabetic volunteers whose fasting triglyceride (TG) levels were less than 1.7 mmol/L in this case-control study. The participants were categorized into two groups according to the TG levels at the 0- and 4-h OFTT: a postprandial normal TG (PNTG) group and a PHTG group. Routine fasting serum biochemical indices, liver enzyme (GGT, ALT, AST, and ALP) levels, and 0- and 4-h OFTT lipid levels were assessed.Results: The PHTG group had significantly higher serum GGT and ALT levels and a lower AST/ALT ratio than those in the PNTG group. However, no significant difference was observed in AST and ALP levels compared with the PNTG group. After adjusting for major confounders, logistic regression analysis indicated a significant correlation between serum GGT and PHTG (odds ratio = 1.168, P < 0.001), but not with ALT level, AST level, AST/ALT ratio, and ALP level. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that the serum GGT level was an effective predictor of PHTG.Conclusion: Serum GGT levels are significantly associated with PHTG risk and serve as an effective biomarker for early identification.Keywords: gamma-glutamyl transferase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, inflammation, triglyceride, oral fat tolerance test

Lu Hou,1,&ast; Jing Zhang,2,&ast; Jing Liu,3 Chang Chen,1 Xuezheng Gao,4 Limin Chen,4 Zhenhe Zhou,1,3 Hongliang Zhou5 1Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Wuxi Mental Health Center of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi City, 214151, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Psychiatry, Huaian Third People’s Hospital, Huaian City, 223021, People’s Republic of China; 3School of Humanities and Management Science, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu City, 241000, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Mental Health Center of Jiangnan University, Wuxi City, 214151, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Psychology, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi City, 214151, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Zhenhe Zhou, Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Wuxi Mental Health Center of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi City, 214151, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-1-335-811-8986, Fax +86-510-83219366, Email zhouzh@njmu.edu.cn Hongliang Zhou, Department of Psychology, the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi City, 214151, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-1-536-525-1126, Fax +86-510-85808820, Email Hongliangzh2022@hotmail.comPurpose: Nicotine withdrawal is a multifaceted physiological and psychological process that can induce a spectrum of mood disturbances. Gaining a more nuanced understanding of how pure nicotine withdrawal influences cognitive control functions may provide valuable insights for the enhancement of smoking cessation programs. This study investigated changes in inhibitory control function in smokers after 2-hour nicotine withdrawal using the event-related potential (ERP) technique.Participants and Methods: 28 nicotine dependence (ND) patients and 28 health controls (HCs) completed a smoking-cued Go/No-go task containing two different types of picture stimuli, smoking-cued and neutral picture stimuli. We analyzed the behavioral and ERP data using a mixed model Repeated Measure Analysis of Variance (ANOVA).Results: No-go trials accuracy rate (ACC) at baseline (time 1) was lower in the ND group compared to HCs with smoking-cued stimuli, and No-go trials ACC after 2-hour nicotine withdrawal (time 2) was not lower in the ND group compared to HCs. When confronted with smoking-cued stimuli, the No-go trials ACC was higher in time 2 than in time 1 in the ND group. For the ERP component, the No-go N2 amplitudes in the ND group with smoking-cued stimuli were lower than that of HCs, whereas after 2-hour nicotine withdrawal, the ND group’s No-go N2 amplitudes higher than that at time 1, and did not differ from that of HCs. No-go P3 amplitudes were not significantly different between the two groups.Conclusion: Evidenced from ERP data, ND patients have an inhibitory control dysfunction in the face of smoking cues, which is mainly manifested in the early stage of response inhibition rather than in the late stage. Two-hour nicotine withdrawal improves inhibitory control dysfunction in ND patients. The No-go N2 component is an important and sensitive neuroelectrophysiological indicator of inhibitory control function in ND patients.Keywords: nicotine dependence, inhibitory control, 2-hour nicotine withdrawal, event-related potentials, Go/No-go task

Hao Zou,1 Jianrong Liu,1 Dongxu Jiang,2 Linlin Hou,3 Weiliang Wang,4 Linlin Zhang5 1Nursing Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Medical University, Shanxi, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Nursing, Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang, People’s Republic of China; 3Nursing Department, The second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Shanxi, People’s Republic of China; 4Nursing Department, Xuzhou Medical university, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Nursing, School of Pharmacy, Changzhou University, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Jianrong Liu; Linlin Zhang, Email 1548708192@qq.com; zhanglinlin1971@163.comPurpose: To test a hypothetical pathway model to estimate the links between health literacy, social support, illness perception, and disease management self-efficacy.Methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted from June to October 2022, involved the recruitment of 210 patients with chronic diseases at two primary care facilities. Participants completed the Health Literacy Management Scale, Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease 6-Item Scale, Social Support Rating Scale and Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire. We used the PROCESS macro for R to determine the hypothetical pathway model.Results: The direct effect of health literacy on self-efficacy was significant (β=0.1792, 95% CI: 0.0940– 0.2644), and social support played a partial mediating role between health literacy and self-efficacy (ES=0.0761, 95% CI: 0.0398– 0.1204). Illness perception moderated the relationship between social support and self-efficacy (β=− 0.0153, 95% CI: − 0.0268- − 0.0039).Conclusion: Proposed a conceptual model including the mediating effect of social support and the moderating effect of illness perception, which helps to clarify the underlying mechanisms between health literacy and self-efficacy.Keywords: health literacy, self efficacy, moderated mediation analysis

Chang Chen,1 Qian Mei,2 Qi Liu,3 Meichen Lu,4 Lu Hou,1 Xiaohong Liu,3 Xuezheng Gao,3 Limin Chen,3 Zhenhe Zhou,1– 4 Hongliang Zhou5 1Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Wuxi Mental Health Center of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi City, People’s Republic of China; 2School of Humanities and Management Science, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu City, People’s Republic of China; 3Grade 2021 Class 3, First Clinical Medical College of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou City, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Mental Health Center of Jiangnan University, Wuxi City, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Psychology, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi City, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Zhenhe Zhou, Wuxi Mental Health Center, No. 156, Qianrong Road, Binhu District, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-1-335-811-8986, Fax +86-510-83219366, Email zhouzh@njmu.edu.cn Hongliang Zhou, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, No. 200, Huihe Road, Binhu District, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-1-536-525-1126, Fax +86-510-85808820, Email Hongliangzh2022@hotmail.comPurpose: Schizophrenia patients show impaired conditional reasoning. This study was to investigate event-related potential (ERP) characteristics of the conditional reasoning in schizophrenia.Patients and methods: Participants included 24 schizophrenia patients and 30 normal controls (NCs), and the measurements of ERPs were conducted during the Wason selection task.Results: Results showed that NCs consistently outperformed schizophrenia patients in terms of accuracy. Among the different rule types of the task, the precautionary type experiment yielded the highest accuracy rates. In contrast, both the descriptive and abstract type experiments resulted in lower accuracy. The RTs of the abstract type experiment were the shortest among the four experiments. In the abstract type of the Wason selection task, the NCs exhibited higher amplitudes for both the N1 and P2 components compared to the schizophrenia patients. At the parietal lobe, the N2 amplitudes were higher for the social contract type of the task compared to the precautionary version. At the frontal lobe, the N2 amplitudes were highest for the abstract type of the task. In the abstract type, the N2 amplitude at the parietal lobe was higher than that at the central lobe. The NCs displayed lower amplitudes for both the P3 and slow wave compared to the schizophrenia patients. Differences were observed between the NC and schizophrenia groups in terms of the latencies for N1, P2, N2, P3 and slow wave components across different experiment types and regions of interest.Conclusion: In conclusion, the observed ERP patterns provide valuable insights into the neural mechanisms underlying the Wason selection task, highlighting the differences between NCs and patients with schizophrenia.Keywords: event-related potential, wason selection task, schizophrenia, conditional reasoning, neural mechanism

This review assesses interventions to reduce loneliness in Chinese older adults, analyzing 36 studies involving 3965 participants. Focusing on individuals aged 50 and over, the meta-analysis reveals a significant overall effect size (Hedges' g = 0.937, 95% CI [0.71,1.16], p<0.001), highlighting the effectiveness of psychological and mixed-method approaches. Despite promising results, methodological concerns suggest cautious interpretation. Future research should aim to refine intervention quality and examine the impact of technology-supported methods on loneliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We determined the probabilities of finding diffusing Si atoms in faulted and unfaulted half-unit cells on the Si(111)-(7 × 7) surface. An adsorbed Si atom on the surface at room temperature moved in the half-unit cells. The atom was adsorbed via atom manipulation and located via under-sampled scanning tunneling microscopy. Images of the half-unit cells with the diffusing Si atom and images of the clean surface were superimposed via image processing to calculate differences used to determine the Si atom positions at room temperature. There were different probabilities for Si atom diffusion in faulted and unfaulted half-unit cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. The objective of this study was to investigate the protective effects of a peptidoglycan produced by Limosilactobacillus reuteri against aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) induced toxicity in vitro and in vivo in broiler chicks. 2. Toxin adsorption experiments were carried out firstly in vitro. These experiments indicated that the absorption efficiency of the peptidoglycan for AFB1 was 64.3–75.9%. 3. In the in vivo experiments, Hy-Line Brown chicks were fed a diet containing AFB1 at 71.43 µg/kg with and without peptidoglycan supplementation at concentrations of 100, 200, or 300 g/kg feed from 0–42 d of age. 4. The peptidoglycan supplementation in AFB1-contaminated diets resulted in significant improvements in terms of average daily gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, white blood cell count, haemoglobin content, glutathione peroxidase activity, immunoglobulin (Ig) A, IgG, IgM and Newcastle disease virus antibody titres (p < 0.05) and diminished liver steatosis. 5. In conclusion, peptidoglycan supplementation alleviated AFB1-induced toxicity through adsorbing toxins and improving growth performance, antioxidant ability, immunity and liver pathological changes in chicks. The optimal supplemental dose was 200 mg/kg in feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, titled "EP09.77: Prenatal diagnosis of a rare congenital right subclavian artery-Superior vena cava fistula," discusses a rare type of arteriovenous fistula called the right subclavian artery (RSA)-Superior vena cava (SVC) fistula. The authors report the first diagnosis of this condition in a fetus in the uterus and highlight the challenges in distinguishing it from another condition called supra-cardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC). The article provides important clues for differentiation, such as simultaneous dilation of the innominate artery and superior vena cava, bidirectional blood flow signal within the aortic arch, and a biphasic unidirectional spiculated blood flow spectrum at the confluence. The authors of the article are L. Yang, L. Hou, H. He, and L. Zhou. [Extracted from the article]

Lithium metal battery with high specific energy and high safety is crucial for the next-generation energy storage technologies. However, the poor thermal stability, lower mechanical performance, and poor electrochemical performance of the commercially available polyethylene (PE) separator hinders the development of high-specific lithium metal batteries. Herein, a functional PE separator is prepared by innovative coating the TiNb 2 O 7 microspheres with oxygen vacancies on the surface of PE (denoted as TNO -x -PE). The porosity, contact angle, electrolyte uptake rate, thermal shrinkage rate, mechanical properties, conductivity as well as lithium ions transference number of the TNO -x modified PE separator are all improved. The favorable TNO -x is beneficial for facilitating fast Li + migration and impeding anions transfer, guiding the uniform distribution of lithium-ion flux. Consequently, the lithium symmetric cells with TNO -x -PE separator can be stably cycled more than 1600 h at 1 mA cm -2 , and the initial capacity of the LFP/Li cells with TNO -x -PE separator is as high as 139.8 mAh g -1 , and after 500 cycles, the capacity retention rate is still 99.5%. This work may provide a new idea to construct a multi-functional separator with high safety and superior electrochemical performance and promote the development of LMBs., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

The fungal pathogen Setosphaeria turcica (S. turcica) causes northern corn leaf blight (NCLB), resulting in significant yield and economic losses in maize. To elucidate the metabolic pathways essential for its pathogenicity, we investigated the metabolome of S. turcica during appressorium development, a critical stage for host infection. Our analysis indicated a substantial enrichment of sphingosine and related compounds during this phase. The application of chemical inhibitors to disrupt sphingolipid metabolism confirmed their pivotal role in appressorium formation and pathogenicity. Additionally, silencing of the serine palmitoyl transferase (Spt) core subunit gene StLCB2 led to significant alterations in fungal morphology and growth, accompanied by changes in cell membrane integrity, surface hydrophobicity, melanin, and sphingosine synthesis. These findings underscore the importance of sphingolipids in the pathogenicity of S. turcica and suggest that targeting specific components of the sphingolipid pathway could aid in developing novel fungicides or genetically engineered maize varieties with increased resistance to NCLB., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Cervical cancer (CC) remains a real public health problem in low- and middle-income countries, where technical resources and competent personnel are insufficient. Persistent cervix infection by high-risk human papillomavirus (Hr-HPV) is the main cause of CC development. In the current study, we examined the distribution of Hr-HPV in the general healthy Malian population using cervicovaginal self- sampling. A total of 354 women were recruited, with a median age of 34 ± 11.37 years, IQR (27-43). We found that 100% of participants agreed to self-sample at the health center. For result announcement 99.2% expressed their preference to be contacted by cell phone. Furthermore, 100% of study participants showed their willingness to undergo confirmatory CC test in case of Hr-HPV test proved positive, and to receive treatment in the event of the presence of cervical lesions. The overall prevalence of Hr-HPV was 21.2% (95% CI: 17-25.8). HPV31/35/33/52/58 with 11.9% (95% CI: 8.7-15.7) and HPV39/68/56/66 with 5.9% (95% CI: 3.7-8.9) were the most common Hr-HPV subtypes. We noted that Hr-HPV genotypes were more prevalent among women under 25 years, 36.1% (N = 61). In addition, the distribution of Hr-HPV was statistically associated with age, W = 12,374, p = 0.015. Our data showed that 25.3% (N = 19) of Hr-HPV-positive women were tested positive by VIA/VILI. Among the 19 VIA/VILI-positive women, histological examination showed that 4 were CIN1, 4 were CIN2, and 2 were CIN3 grades. In addition, the median age of participants with CIN2 and CIN3 was statistically higher than the median of those with CIN1 grade, 25 years IQR (21-26.75) versus 50 years, IQR (40.25-55), W = 24, p = 0.009. In sum, end-users are very satisfied with the cervicovaginal self-sampling device for identifying HR-HPV genotypes as part of CC screening. In addition, it enables hospital practitioners to take the necessary action after triaging women according to their HR-HPV genotype., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors have not disclosed any competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) can be rationally designed with functional organic ligands to improve the electrochemical responsiveness of the electrode toward certain medicinal compounds. In this study, we synthesized a COF-Ni electrocatalyst material, which is formed by covalent coupling of electron-rich 2,3,6,7-tetrakis (4-formylphenyl) tetrakis (4-imidazolyl) (TTF-4CHO) and hole-rich 5,10,15,20-tetrakis (4-aminophenyl) porphyrin nickel(II) (TAPP-Ni). The reasonable electron transfer path design, the large specific surface area of the COF and the physical properties of ordered nanopores, as well as the Ni-N 4 bond as a highly active catalytic center, allow the COF-Ni material modified electrode to exhibit excellent sensing performance for acetaminophen (ACOP). The detection limit for ACOP is as low as 47.6 nM, with a linear range of 1-1500 μM, which is better than for most of the reported sensors. With superior interference resistance and good stability performance, COF-Ni is a highly suited electrode modification material for real-world sample detection, which provided a new perspective for application of COF materials in drug analysis.

Abstract: Genetic studies have identified numerous regions associated with plasma fibrinogen levels in Europeans, yet missing heritability and limited inclusion of non-Europeans necessitates further studies with improved power and sensitivity. Compared with array-based genotyping, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data provide better coverage of the genome and better representation of non-European variants. To better understand the genetic landscape regulating plasma fibrinogen levels, we meta-analyzed WGS data from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) program (n = 32 572), with array-based genotype data from the Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology Consortium (n = 131 340) imputed to the TOPMed or Haplotype Reference Consortium panel. We identified 18 loci that have not been identified in prior genetic studies of fibrinogen. Of these, 4 are driven by common variants of small effect with reported minor allele frequency (MAF) at least 10 percentage points higher in African populations. Three signals (SERPINA1, ZFP36L2, and TLR10) contain predicted deleterious missense variants. Two loci, SOCS3 and HPN, each harbor 2 conditionally distinct, noncoding variants. The gene region encoding the fibrinogen protein chain subunits (FGG;FGB;FGA) contains 7 distinct signals, including 1 novel signal driven by rs28577061, a variant common in African ancestry populations but extremely rare in Europeans (MAFAFR = 0.180; MAFEUR = 0.008). Through phenome-wide association studies in the VA Million Veteran Program, we found associations between fibrinogen polygenic risk scores and thrombotic and inflammatory disease phenotypes, including an association with gout. Our findings demonstrate the utility of WGS to augment genetic discovery in diverse populations and offer new insights for putative mechanisms of fibrinogen regulation.

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are the precursors of germline that are specified at embryonic stage. Recent studies reveal that humans employ different mechanisms for PGC specification compared with model organisms such as mice. Moreover, the specific regulatory machinery remains largely unexplored, mainly due to the inaccessible nature of this complex biological process in humans. Here, we curate and integrate multi-omics data, including 581 RNA-seq, 54 ATAC-seq, 45 ChIP-seq, and 69 single-cell RNA-seq samples from different stages of human PGC development to recapitulate the precisely controlled and stepwise process, presenting an atlas in the human PGC database (hPGCdb). With these uniformly processed data and integrated analyses, we characterize the potential key transcription factors and regulatory networks governing human germ cell fate. We validate the important roles of some of the key factors in germ cell development by CRISPRi knockdown. We also identify the soma-germline interaction network and discover the involvement of SDC2 and LAMA4 for PGC development, as well as soma-derived NOTCH2 signaling for germ cell differentiation. Taken together, we have built a database for human PGCs (http://43.131.248.15:6882) and demonstrate that hPGCdb enables the identification of the missing pieces of mechanisms governing germline development, including both intrinsic and extrinsic regulatory programs., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest We declare that we have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Leaves play a critical role in plant growth and development, directly influencing crop yield through their essential functions in photosynthesis and respiration. This study employed inheritance analysis and gene mapping of an F 2 population derived from a cross between a spontaneous yellow-green leaf tomato mutant and a wild-type tomato line. The findings conclusively demonstrated that the yellow-green leaf trait is controlled by a single recessive gene. Subsequent fine-mapping localized this gene to a 270-kb region on chromosome 12 of the reference Heinz 1706 genome. Annotation and functional characterization of genes within this region indicated Solyc12g009470 ( yg-2 ) as the primary candidate gene influencing the yellow-green phenotype trait. Sequencing analysis revealed a 49-bp deletion in the first exon of yg-2 , resulting in suppressed yg-2 expression. This functional role was further confirmed through Solyc12g009470 gene editing in tomatoes. Moreover, comparative analyses of photosynthetic pigments and chloroplast ultrastructure revealed notable differences between the mutant and the wild-type lines. Furthermore, the mutant exhibited reduced photosynthetic rate and yield-related agronomic traits. These findings provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying yellow-green leaf formation in tomatoes., Competing Interests: Competing interestsThe authors declare no competing interests., (© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2024. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

The discovery of CRISPR-Cas systems has paved the way for advanced gene editing tools. However, traditional Cas discovery methods relying on sequence similarity may miss distant homologs and aren't suitable for functional recognition. With protein large language models (LLMs) evolving, there is potential for Cas system modeling without extensive training data. Here, we introduce CHOOSER (Cas HOmlog Observing and SElf-processing scReening), an AI framework for alignment-free discovery of CRISPR-Cas systems with self-processing pre-crRNA capability using protein foundation models. By using CHOOSER, we identify 11 Casλ homologs, nearly doubling the known catalog. Notably, one homolog, EphcCasλ, is experimentally validated for self-processing pre-crRNA, DNA cleavage, and trans-cleavage, showing promise for CRISPR-based pathogen detection. This study highlights an innovative approach for discovering CRISPR-Cas systems with specific functions, emphasizing their potential in gene editing., Competing Interests: Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Premature infants are more prone to brain injuries owing to incomplete nervous system development and poor adaptation outside the mother's body. Without timely intervention, premature infants with brain injuries often develop intellectual disabilities, causing significant burdens on families and the society. Multiple studies have shown that gut dysbiosis can affect the nervous system, and vice versa. This study aimed to explore the changes in gut microbiota of typical premature infants and those with brain injuries on the third and seventh days after birth using 16 S rRNA technology., Methods: Fecal samples from typical premature infants (non-brain injury group, n = 17) and those with brain injuries (brain injury group, n = 21) were collected on days 1, 3, and 7 after birth for 16 S rRNA sequencing. Alpha diversity analysis was used to evaluate the diversity of gut microbiome. LEfSe and DESeq2 were used to analyze of the microorganisms' characteristics and differentiate the microorganisms between the two groups., Results: At the phylum level, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria were the dominant flora in both groups. At the genus level, the proportion of Enterococcus in fecal samples of the brain injury group was higher than that of the non-brain injury group on day three after birth; however, the opposite was observed on day seven. Rothia and Lactobacillales were characteristic bacteria of the non-brain injury group on days three and seven after birth, whereas Enterococcus and Bifidobacteria were characteristic bacteria of the brain injury group on days three and seven after birth, respectively. Three days after birth, the Shannon and Simpson indices of the non-brain injury group were significantly higher than those of the brain injury group., Conclusion: Premature infants with brain injuries have a unique gut microbiota that is different from that of typical premature infants, indicating correlation between brain injuries and gut microbiota., Competing Interests: Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Affiliated Hospital of Beichuan Medical College (No. 2020ER038-1). All methods were carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations. Informed consent was obtained from each guardian. Consent for publication Not applicable. Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Effective angiogenesis is essential for creating complex vascular networks in tissue engineering; however, there is a scarcity of safe and potent pro-angiogenic factors. Although a decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) offers excellent biocompatibility and is widely used in tissue engineering as a pro-angiogenic additive, its conventional extraction technique resulting in significant loss of bioactivity limits clinical potential. The dorsal dermal tissue has rich blood perfusion and its dECM is rich in angiogenic factors. In this study, the dECM components from the dorsal dermis of mice (DD) were produced to enhance in vitro and in vivo pro-angiogenic abilities using a novel physical method. Morphological studies showed no significant difference between DD-wild-type (DD-wt) and DD-wild-type-newborn (DD-wtn), and there was also no difference in DNA or RNA concentration. In addition, DD-wtn outperformed DD-wt in maintaining the stemness of MSCs, promoting inflammatory response and facilitating endothelial cell differentiation. It is of greater significance to note that the dermal combined fibrous capsule thickness is greater in the DD-wt treated group than in the DD-wtn group. Furthermore, the number of blood vessels in the subcutaneously implanted scaffold with DD-wtn increased by 233%. Consequently, our current finding provides a promising strategy to produce a novel pro-angiogenic bioink additive for enhancing vascularization in 3D bioprinting.

Objectives: While metabolic imbalances have been observed in individuals with epilepsy, the direct involvement of specific metabolites in the development of the condition remains underexplored. A comprehensive analysis of the causality between cerebrospinal fluid metabolites (CSF) and epilepsy is pivotal in discovering innovative therapeutic interventions and prophylactic approaches., Methods: Summary data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of CSF metabolites and epilepsy subtypes were obtained separately. A total of 338 CSF metabolites were investigated as exposures, and 11 epilepsy phenotypes were examined as the outcomes. A two sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach was utilized to explore the causal influence of these metabolites on epilepsy. Causality was primarily estimated through inverse variance weighted (IVW) analysis, complemented by a range of sensitivity analyses to ensure result stability. Additionally, reverse MR analysis was performed to explore the possibility of bidirectional causality., Results: The IVW method, reinforced by sensitivity analyses, pinpointed 17 CSF metabolites with causal implications for six epilepsy phenotypes. After False Discovery Rate (FDR) multiple testing correction, two metabolites (Methylmalonate and Gamma-glutamyl-alpha-lysine) were found to have robust causal links to epilepsy (p < 0.05 and FDR<0.05). The other 15 metabolites exhibited suggestive evidence of a causal association (p < 0.05 and FDR>0.05)., Significance: This study highlights CSF metabolites that could serve as valuable biomarkers and may be critical in developing targeted treatments and preventing epilepsy., Plain Language Summary: This study explores how certain chemicals in the brain fluid might influence the development of epilepsy, aiming to find new ways to treat or prevent it. Researchers looked at the relationship between 338 cerebrospinal fluid metabolites and 11 types of epilepsy using genetic data. They found that 17 of these chemicals could potentially cause six types of epilepsy. Two of these chemicals were strongly linked to epilepsy, suggesting they could be important for creating specific treatments or prevention strategies., (© 2024 The Author(s). Epilepsia Open published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International League Against Epilepsy.)

Objectives: To investigate how post-traumatic growth (PTG) and moral sensitivity influence service behaviour among healthcare workers (HCWs) in mainland China post-COVID-19, with a focus on the mediating role of moral sensitivity., Design: Cross- sectional survey design., Setting: This study was conducted in 27 provinces across mainland China, from 16 March to 2 April 2023., Participants: 1,193 HCWs, including 378 physicians and 815 nurses, were selected using convenience and snowball sampling methods., Methods: The survey included the Post-traumatic Growth Inventory-Chinese version (PTGI-C), the Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire-Revised Chinese Version (MSQ-R-CV) and a service behaviour scale. Structural equation modelling was employed to analyse the data, focusing on the associations between PTG, moral sensitivity, and service behaviours., Results: The study found significant associations between PTG and moral sensitivity (r=0.49, p<0.01), with both factors positively influencing HCWs' service behaviours. Specifically, PTG had a direct effect on service behaviours ( β =0.172, p<0.01) and an indirect effect through moral sensitivity ( β =0.333, p<0.01), with moral sensitivity mediating 65.8% of PTG's impact on service behaviours. The model explained 56.0% of the variance in service behaviours, indicating a substantial influence of these psychological factors on professional conduct., Conclusions: The findings highlight the significant role of PTG and moral sensitivity in shaping the service behaviours of HCWs in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study suggests that enhancing PTG and moral sensitivity through targeted interventions could improve HCWs' service delivery and resilience, emphasising the importance of incorporating psychological and ethical training into healthcare practices to prepare for future public health crises., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Ednrb is specifically required to develop neural crest (NC) stem cell-derived lineages. However, it is still unknown why Ednrb signaling is only needed for the early development of melanoblasts in the skin and eye. We show that Ednrb is required for the proliferation of melanoblasts during early mouse development. To understand the mechanism of melanoblast proliferation, we found that the gene absent in melanoma 2 (Aim2) is upregulated in Ednrb-deficient NC cells by RNA-sequencing analysis. Consequently, the knockdown or knockout of Aim2 partially rescued the proliferation of Ednrb-deficient melanoblasts. Conversely, the overexpression of Aim2 in melanoblasts suppressed their proliferation. We further show that Ednrb signaling could act through the microRNA miR-196b to block the suppression of melanoblast proliferation by Aim2 in primary NC cell cultures. These results reveal the Ednrb-Aim2-AKT axis in regulating melanocyte development and suggest that Ednrb signaling functions as a negative regulator of Aim2, which inhibits the proliferation of melanoblasts in early development. These findings uncover a previously unreported role for Aim2 outside the inflammasome, showing that it is a significant regulator controlling NC stem cell-derived lineage development., Competing Interests: Competing interests The authors declare no competing or financial interests., (© 2024. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.)

Recently, great efforts have been made to advance the pilot-scale and engineering-scale applications of Fenton-like processes using various nano-metal catalysts (including nanosized metal-based catalysts, smaller nanocluster catalysts, and single-atom catalysts, etc.). This step is essential to facilitate the practical applications of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for these highly active nano-metal catalysts. Before large-scale implementation, these nano-metal catalysts must be converted into the effective catalyst modules (such as catalytic membranes, fluidized beds, or polypropylene sphere suspension systems), as it is not feasible to use suspended powder catalysts for large-scale treatment. Therefore, the pilot-scale and engineering applications of nano-metal catalysts in Fenton-like systems in recent years is exciting. In addition, the combination of life cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic analysis (TEA) can provide a useful support tool for engineering scale Fenton-like applications. This paper summarizes the designs and fabrications of various advanced modules based on nano-metal catalysts, analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of these catalytic modules, and further discusses their Fenton-like pilot scale or engineering applications. Concepts of future Fenton-like engineering applications of nano-metal catalysts were also discussed. In addition, current challenges and future expectations in pilot-scale or engineering applications are assessed in conjunction with LCA and TEA. These challenges require further technological advances to enable larger scale engineering applications in the future. The aim of these efforts is to increase the potential of nanoscale AOPs for practical wastewater treatment., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)