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Xingyu Wan,1,2,* Tinglu Tao,1,2,* Jing Zhang,1,2,* Nan Li,1,2 Yang Gou,1,2 Wuchen Yang,1,2 Xiao Han,1,2 Shengwang Wu,1,2 Cheng Zhang,1,2 Xiangui Peng,1,2 Shuiqing Liu,1,2 Xi Zhang1– 4 1Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital of Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, People’s Republic of China; 2Chongqing Key Laboratory of Hematology and Microenvironment, Chongqing, 400037, People’s Republic of China; 3State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Chongqing, 400037, People’s Republic of China; 4Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Xiangui Peng, Email pxgpxg1964@tmmu.edu.cn; Shuiqing Liu, Email liushuiqing062@tmmu.edu.cnBackground: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a lethal malignancy of the bone marrow, characterized by rapid proliferation of immature myeloid cells, leading to insufficient hematopoiesis and immune activities. It is well known that AML is closely associated with various molecular and cytogenetic abnormalities. In addition, the long-standing view that non-genetic factors, including age, sex and season, are also associated with the occurrence and development of AML. However, effects of these factors on AML clinical characteristics remain incompletely understood. During clinical practice, we perceived an imbalance distribution of clinical characteristics (including FAB classification, gene mutations, lymphocyte-associated cytokine levels and lymphocyte-subset proportions) in different age, sex and season groups. In order to elucidate the correlations between these factors, we performed a comprehensive data collection and analysis of AML patients in our hospital from 2013 to 2023.Methods: Totally, 2798 newly diagnosed AML patients and 220 relapsed AML patients who were admitted to our hospital from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2023 were included for analysis. Chi-square test was conducted to analyze the correlation between categorical variables. T-tests and one-way ANOVA were employed to compare mean values across two and multiple groups respectively. Mann–Whitney U-tests and Kruskal–Wallis H-tests were employed to compare mean values across two and multiple groups respectively, when data did not show normal distribution. Logistic regression was used to analyze the correlation between dependent and independent variables. Log rank test was applied for survival analysis. Waterfall diagram and chord diagram of mutated genes were created using R4.3.3 and RStudio tools.Results: Overall, the distribution of age, sex and season in AML patients were unbalanced. The relationships among various mutated genes had two sides, co-existence or mutual exclusivity. Additionally, the FAB classification and gene mutation status varied significantly across the subgroups. The levels of cytokines and lymphocyte subsets altered significantly in AML patients, and were associated with prognosis and gene mutations.Conclusion: Age, sex and season have shown partial correlations with AML clinical characteristics, including FAB classification, gene mutations status, lymphocyte-associated cytokine levels and lymphocyte subset proportions. We hope these findings can contribute to a deeper understanding of AML.Keywords: acute myeloid leukemia, correlation analysis, mutated genes, FAB classification, cytokine, lymphocyte subset, age, sex, season

Lirong Zhang,1 Shaocong Zhao,1 Shuangyin Zhao,1 Hua Zheng,2 Yizhen Ke,1 Weichen Yang,1 Mingxing Lei3,4 1Department of Physical Education, Xiamen University of Technology, Xiamen, Fujian, 361024, People’s Republic of China; 2College of Physical Education and Health Science, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, 401331, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Orthopaedics, Hainan Hospital of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Sanya, 572013, People’s Republic of China; 4Nursing Department, The First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Lirong Zhang, Department of Physical Education, Xiamen University of Technology, No. 600, Ligong Road, Jimei District, Xiamen, 361024, Fujian, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 13806063882, Email 22674481@qq.com Mingxing Lei, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 18811772189, Email leimingxing2@sina.comBackground: Sedentary lifestyles among adolescents have been associated with various health concerns, particularly regarding psychological well-being and sleep quality. However, the associative relationship between sedentary behavior and these health outcomes remains unclear. This study aims to clarify the association between sedentary lifestyle and psychological and sleep health among adolescents through propensity scores matching analysis.Methods: A total of 2,846 adolescents from three universities participated in the study. Data on demographics, exercise habits, eating patterns, sedentary behavior, psychological health, sleep health, self-esteem, and social support were collected. A sedentary lifestyle was defined as sitting for more than six hours daily. Psychological health was assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale for anxiety and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for depression, while sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Self-esteem was evaluated with the Self-Esteem Scale (SES), and social support was measured using the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS). Propensity scores matching analysis was employed to investigate the associative relationship between sedentary lifestyles and the measured outcomes.Results: Prior to propensity scores matching, significant differences were observed in baseline characteristics between participants with and without sedentary lifestyles, including gender (P=0.01), dietary habits (P< 0.001), mobile device usage (P< 0.001), stress events (P=0.001), physical activity (P< 0.001), and chronic diseases (P=0.024). Participants with sedentary lifestyles exhibited higher scores on the GAD-7 (P< 0.001), PHQ-9 (P< 0.001), and PSQI (P< 0.001), along with lower self-esteem (SES, P=0.041) and social support (SSRS, P< 0.001) compared to their more active counterparts. Following propensity scores matching, no significant differences in baseline characteristics were found between the two groups (All P> 0.282), indicating a successful matching process. Post-matching analysis revealed that individuals with sedentary lifestyles had significantly higher GAD-7 (P=0.002), PHQ-9 (P=0.013), and PSQI scores (P=0.001) than those without sedentary lifestyles, while no significant differences were found in SES (P=0.755) and SSRS (P=0.676).Conclusion: Our findings indicate that a sedentary lifestyle is associated with poorer psychological health and sleep quality among adolescents, even after controlling for various demographic and lifestyle factors. These results underscore the importance of promoting physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior in this population to enhance their overall well-being.Keywords: sedentary lifestyle, psychological health, anxiety, depression, sleep health, propensity scores matching analysis

Di Shen,1,&ast; Xintian Cai,2,&ast; Junli Hu,2 Shuaiwei Song,1 Qing Zhu,2 Huimin Ma,2 Yingying Zhang,2 Rui Ma,2 Pan Zhou,2 Wenbo Yang,2 Jing Hong,2 Delian Zhang,2 Nanfang Li2 1Graduate School, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, People’s Republic of China; 2Hypertension Center of People’s Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Xinjiang Hypertension Institute, NHC Key Laboratory of Hypertension Clinical Research, Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Hypertension Research Laboratory, Xinjiang Clinical Medical Research Center for Hypertension (Cardio-Cerebrovascular) Diseases, Urumqi, Xinjiang, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Nanfang Li, Hypertension Center of People’s Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Xinjiang Hypertension Institute, NHC Key Laboratory of Hypertension Clinical Research, Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region “Hypertension Research Laboratory”, Xinjiang Clinical Medical Research Center for Hypertension (Cardio-Cerebrovascular) Diseases, No. 91 Tianchi Road, Urumuqi, Xinjiang, 830001, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 8564818, Email lnanfang2016@sina.comObjective: Hypertension development and progression are largely influenced by inflammation, which plays a critical role by activating the immune system and causing damage to the vascular endothelium. Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is also associated with chronic low-grade inflammation, which drives disease progression via metabolic imbalances and adipose tissue dysfunction. This study investigates the relationship between inflammatory indices and MAFLD in hypertensive patients and assesses the predictive accuracy of these indices for MAFLD.Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis involving 34,303 hypertensive patients from a Chinese hospital-based registry. The diagnosis of MAFLD was established using metabolic dysfunction criteria alongside evidence of hepatic steatosis confirmed through imaging. Complete blood counts were used to calculate inflammatory indices, including the monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), and aggregate index of systemic inflammation (AISI). To assess the relationship between inflammatory indices and MAFLD, multivariable logistic regression was performed with adjustments for potential confounders. The diagnostic performance of these indices was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under the curve (AUC) calculations.Results: Patients with MAFLD exhibited significantly elevated levels of all inflammatory indices compared to those without. After multivariable adjustment, each standard deviation increase in AISI, SIRI, and SII was associated with a 74%, 62%, and 58% increased odds of MAFLD, respectively. The AUC for AISI was 0.659, indicating moderate diagnostic accuracy. The AUCs for SIRI and SII were 0.626 and 0.619, respectively, while NLR, PLR, and MLR had lower AUCs of 0.593, 0.558, and 0.589, respectively.Conclusion: In hypertensive patients, inflammatory indices, especially AISI, show a strong association with MAFLD, indicating their potential utility in risk stratification within clinical settings. Further research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of these markers in the management of MAFLD. Keywords: metabolic-dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease, inflammatory indices, hypertension, diagnostic accuracy

Abstract BackgroundOften lacking immediate access to care providers, pregnant individuals frequently turn to web-based sources for information to address their evolving physical and mental health needs. Social media has gained increasing prominence as a source of news and information despite privacy concerns and unique risks posed to the pregnant population. ObjectivesThis study investigated the extent to which patients may be willing to disclose personal health information to social media companies in exchange for more personalized health content. MethodsWe designed and deployed an electronic survey to pregnant individuals worldwide electronically in 2023. We used the classical Internet Users’ Information Privacy Concerns (IUIPC) model to examine how privacy concerns modulate pregnant individuals’ behaviors and beliefs regarding risk and trust when using social media for health purposes. Results were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. ResultsAmong 317 respondents who initiated the survey, 84% (265/317) of the respondents remained in the study, providing complete responses. Among them, 54.7% (145/265) indicated willingness to provide their personalized health information for receiving personalized health content via social media, while 26% (69/265) were uncertain and 19.3% (51/265) were opposed. Our estimated IUIPC model results are statistically significant and qualitatively align with the classic IUIPC model for the general population, which was previously found in an e-commerce context. The structural model revealed that privacy concerns (IUIPC) negatively affected trusting beliefs (β=−0.408; PPPPPR ConclusionsWe find that more than half of the pregnant individuals are open to sharing their personal health information to receive personalized content about health via social media, although they have more privacy concerns than the general population. This study emphasizes the need for policy regarding the protection of health data on social media for the pregnant population and beyond.

Siyue Yang,1,&ast; Wenwen Yang,1,&ast; Hong Gao2 1The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Hong Gao, Email qtgh@vip.qq.com

Introduction: Diarrhea is a prevalent disease among calves, which significantly hinders their growth and development, thereby impacting farm productivity and revenue. This study aimed to investigate the impact of diarrhea on calf growth. Methods: Holstein male calves with similar birth weight (39.5 ± 4.2 kg) were included in this study, and key parameters such as fecal score, diarrhea incidence, and growth performance from birth to weaning were measured. Rectal fecal samples from both diarrheic (n = 24) and healthy calves (n = 24) aged 1–4 weeks were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and untargeted metabolomics. Results: Our findings indicated a high prevalence of diarrhea among calves between 1–4 weeks of age on pasture, which led to a marked decrease in growth performance, including average daily gain. At the genus level, the relative abundance of GCA-900066575 in one-week-old diarrheic calves was significantly higher; Escherichia-Shigella and Pseudoflavonifractor were more abundant in two-week-old calves; while Tyzzerella and Lachnospiraceae_UCG-004 increased significantly in four-week-old calves, and correlated negatively with average daily gain, suggesting that these bacteria may promote the occurrence of diarrhea. Correlation analysis revealed that fecal metabolites such as arachidonic acid, cis-vaccenic acid, oleic acid, choline, creatinine, and others were significantly negatively correlated with calf growth performance and were significantly increased in diarrheic calves. WGNCA identified that dark magenta module metabolites were significantly associated with diarrhea traits from 1–4 weeks. Thirteen metabolites, including glycerophospholipids (such as 1-stearoyl-2-hydroxy-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine), fatty acids (such as dodecanoic acid), and arachidonic acid, were positively correlated with GCA-900066575 , Escherichia-shigella , Tyzzerella , and Clostridium_butyricum , but negatively correlated with UBA1819 , Lachnoclostridium sp YL32 , and Clostridium_scindens. Discussion: Therefore, GCA-900066575 , Escherichia-shigella , Lachnospiraceae_UCG-004 , and Tyzzerella are likely key bacterial genera causing diarrhea in calves, while arachidonic acid, glycerol phospholipids, and fatty acids are critical metabolites associated with this condition. These alterations in the fecal microbiota and metabolite composition were found to be the principal contributors to growth retardation in diarrheic calves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To develop a machine learning-based clinical and/or radiomics model for predicting the primary site of brain metastases using multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Materials and methods: A total of 202 patients (87 males, 115 females) with 439 brain metastases were retrospectively included, divided into training sets (brain metastases of lung cancer [BMLC] n = 194, brain metastases of breast cancer [BMBC] n = 108, brain metastases of gastrointestinal tumor [BMGiT] n = 48) and test sets (BMLC n = 50, BMBC n = 27, BMGiT n = 12). A total of 3,404 quantitative image features were obtained through semi-automatic segmentation from MRI images (T1WI, T2WI, FLAIR, and T1-CE). Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to examine segmentation stability between two radiologists. Radiomics features were selected using analysis of variance (ANOVA), recursive feature elimination (RFE), and Kruskal–Wallis test. Three machine learning classifiers were used to build the radiomics model, which was validated using five-fold cross-validation on the training set. A comprehensive model combining radiomics and clinical features was established, and the diagnostic performance was compared by area under the curve (AUC) and evaluated in an independent test set. Results: The radiomics model differentiated BMGiT from BMLC (13 features, AUC = 0.915 ± 0.071) or BMBC (20 features, AUC = 0.954 ± 0.064) with high accuracy, while the classification between BMLC and BMBC was unsatisfactory (11 features, AUC = 0.729 ± 0.114). However, the combined model incorporating radiomics and clinical features improved the predictive performance, with AUC values of 0.965 for BMLC vs. BMBC, 0.991 for BMLC vs. BMGiT, and 0.935 for BMBC vs. BMGiT. Conclusion: The machine learning-based radiomics model demonstrates significant potential in distinguishing the primary sites of brain metastases, and may assist screening of primary tumor when brain metastasis is suspected whereas history of primary tumor is absent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Laser hemorrhoidoplasty (LHP) has emerged as a novel, minimally invasive technique for managing symptomatic hemorrhoids, gaining popularity among clinicians. Despite its increasing adoption, significant variations exist in the application of LHP across different practices. Purpose: The aim of these recommendations was to spell out some basic principles and recommendations for performing a standard LHP procedure. Methods: The Recommendation Development Group (RDG) consisting of surgeons with experience in LHP were invited to formulate recommendations for the procedure. The recommendations were generated following systematic literature research and discussion amongst experts (expert opinion) where no substantial literature was available. The developed recommendations were voted upon by a panelist via the Delphi process. Consensus was a priori defined as agreement of 75% and above, with strong consensus defined as 85% and above. Results: The RDG developed 21 recommendations that were voted upon by 49 panelists. Consensus was reached for all 21 recommendations after the first Delphi round, including 16 recommendations with strong consensus. Conclusion: The RDP offers a comprehensive suite of guidelines to enhance the safety and efficacy of standard LHP procedures. Out of 21 detailed recommendations, 16 reached strong consensus, collectively addressing the full spectrum of LHP procedures—from laser settings and preoperative preparations to perioperative strategies and postoperative care. This coherent framework is anticipated not only to standardize but also to refine the LHP technique across the board, thereby elevating the management of symptomatic hemorrhoidal disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The levels of capsaicin (CAP) and hydroxy-α-sanshool (α-SOH) are crucial for evaluating the spiciness and numbing sensation in spicy hotpot seasoning. Although liquid chromatography can accurately measure these compounds, the method is invasive. This study aimed to utilize hyperspectral imaging (HSI) combined with machine learning for the nondestructive detection of CAP and α-SOH in hotpot seasoning. Spectral reflectance within the range of 370-1030 nm was used to develop regression models to predict CAP and α-SOH content. The results indicated that the PSO-BPNN model was optimal for predicting CAP (R 2  = 0.9942) and α-SOH (R 2  = 0.9939). Feature selection algorithms and tallow model experiments identified characteristic wavelengths for CAP (740-800 nm and 850-940 nm) and α-SOH (450-550 nm, 650-700 nm, 740-800 nm, and 850-940 nm). These findings demonstrated the potential of HSI for rapid, precise, and nondestructive assessment of CAP and α-SOH levels in hotpot seasoning., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

To improve the toughness of the rice dough, protein transglutaminase (TGase) combined with sodium metabisulfite (SMB) modification was used. The influences of modification on rice dough and protein were investigated, and their physicochemical and structural characteristics were analyzed. Mechanical analysis results indicated that the tanδ and texture characteristics of the modified rice dough were close to those of the wheat dough. The content of weakly bound water increased after rice dough modification. The average particle size of the modified rice protein (MRP) increased. The α-helix and β-turn increased, the β-sheet of MRP was reduced. The hydrogen, ionic, and hydrophobic bond contents of the MRP were significantly higher than those of the unmodified rice protein (URP). The results showed that TGase combined with SMB changed the URP network structure, thereby effectively regulating the viscoelastic balance of the unmodified rice dough., 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.)

Rare earth elements, characterized by their high-energy d-shell and f-shell electrons, large charge density, and substantial atomic radius, theoretically offer enhanced electronic states near the Fermi level. Doping rare earth elements into electrode materials can improve the internal electronic conductivity of the material. However, there are relatively few studies and reports on the mechanisms of rare earth elements in optimizing LiNi x Co y Mn 1-x-y O 2 (NCM) materials. This study analyzes the feasibility of lanthanide doping through model construction and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The LiNi 0.56 Co 0.2 Mn 0.2 Ce 0.04 O 2 (1/24 Ce-doped NCM622) material, guided by first-principles calculations, can even achieve an energy density of 248 mA h g -1 as the cathode of lithium-ion batteries, which is almost the theoretical limit of the energy density of medium-content high-nickel ternary materials, reaching the level of eight-series high-nickel materials. At a rate of 0.1 C, the capacity retention rate can be 91.12 % after 300 cycles. This work introduces new development opportunities for NCM622 materials synthesized via a simple co-precipitation method in an air atmosphere and provides valuable insights into the role of rare earth elements in electrode material optimization., 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 Inc. All rights reserved.)

Coastal wetland ecosystems play a key role in the global carbon cycle and climate mitigation. The land conversion of coastal wetlands to paddy fields, an increasingly common practice to feed the growing population, has been shown to dramatically stimulate the methane emissions of (CH 4 ). However, the knowledge about how such wetland conversion affects the methane oxidation, a key process regulating methane emissions from coastal wetlands, is nearly unknown. In this study, a space-for-time substitution method was employed to investigate the impact of the conversion of coastal wetlands (dominated by Phragmites or mangrove (Kandelia and Bruguiera)) to paddy fields on the methane oxidation process on the eastern coast of China. Our results showed that the average CH 4 oxidation potential in the converted paddy soils significantly reduced by 28.4 % and 29.3 %, respectively, and the average abundance of methanotrophic pmoA gene decreased by 77.1 % and 81.9 %, respectively, compared to the original Phragmites and mangrove soils. Significant changes in the methanotrophic community composition were also found after converting Phragmites and mangrove wetlands to paddy fields. Structural equation modeling analysis suggested that the land conversion significantly affected the CH 4 oxidation potential by changing the soil physicochemical properties (pH, ammonium content, and nitrate content) and methanotrophic abundance. Overall this study showed significant alterations in CH 4 oxidation potential and community composition and abundance of methanotrophs caused by conversion of coastal wetlands to paddy fields, improving the knowledge of the underlying microbial mechanisms of land conversion on methane emissions., 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.)

Cisplatin (Cis), a potent chemotherapeutic agent, often causes acute kidney injury (AKI), limiting its clinical efficacy. RONS flares at the AKI site are a key factor in its progression. In this study, leveraging the advantages of cell membrane-coated biomimetic nanocarriers, we developed a multifunctional biomimetic nanodelivery system nano-RONS-sacrificial agent for AKI treatment. Ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1) was conjugated with curcumin (Cur) via 4-carboxyphenylboronic acid (4-PBA) and fucoidan (Fuc) to construct a ROS-responsive nanodelivery system (FPPF@Cur), which was further coated with M2 macrophage membranes (M2M) to form the multifunctional biomimetic nano-RONS-sacrificial agent (M2FPPF@Cur) designed for targeted delivery of Cur to injured kidneys. M2FPPF@Cur demonstrated rapid accumulation in the injured kidneys with selective uptake and prolonged retention in injured kidneys, the ROS-responsive mechanism facilitated controlled drug release at the AKI site, reducing off-target effects and enhancing therapeutic efficacy, effectively scavenging RONS, reducing lipid peroxidation, and targeting GPX4 protein to inhibit "ferroptosis storm". It suppressed the expression of inflammation-related NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway proteins and regulated the repolarization of macrophages from M1 to M2 phenotype to regulate inflammation. The results showed that injected M2FPPF@Cur specifically accumulated in the injured kidney and exerted good renoprotective effects ultimately preventing the progression of AKI., 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 © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Electrochemically upcycling polyvinyl chloride (PVC) into high-value small molecules represents a sustainable strategy for mitigating plastic pollution. Herein, a cost-effective self-supporting electrode with abundant vacancies, i.e., NiFe-layered double hydroxide nanoarrays in-situ grown on the surface of carbon paper (denoted as NiFe V -LDH/CP), is developed for the electro-Fenton degradation of PVC microplastics (MPs). The NiFe V -LDH catalyst shows a high selectivity of 76 % towards H 2 O 2 production via two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e - ORR). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the energy barrier of rate-determining step (*H 2 O 2 desorption) decreases over the vacancy-enriched NiFe V -LDH related to the pristine NiFeZn-LDH. The influence of vacancy concentration, reaction temperature and initial concentration of PVC MPs were systematically investigated. Under optimized conditions, the NiFe V -LDH/CP electrode exhibits an outstanding degradation performance of PVC MPs via direct cathodic reduction and oxidation by hydroxyl radicals. This work demonstrates that the electro-Fenton technology using LDH-based self-supporting electrodes is a promising and environmentally-friendly approach for waste plastic 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. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Long non‑coding (lnc)RNAs participate in colorectal cancer (CRC) occurrence and progression. The present study aimed to investigate whether lncRNA ABHD11‑AS1 regulates malignant biological behavior of CRC cells. Bioinformatic analysis, reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR and in situ hybridization revealed that ABHD11‑AS1 expression was decreased in CRC samples and associated with an unfavorable prognosis. ABHD11‑AS1 overexpression significantly decreased proliferation, migration and invasion of CRC cells, whereas ABHD11‑AS1 inhibition had the opposite effects. ABHD11‑AS1 interacted with EGFR to inhibit EGFR phosphorylation and attenuate EGFR/ERK signaling, which in turn suppressed the malignant biological behavior of CRC cells. The tumor suppressor function of ABHD11‑AS1 was attenuated by the EGFR agonist NSC228155. Finally, resveratrol (RSV) inhibited CRC cell proliferation, migration and invasion, which may be associated with RSV‑induced decrease in SPT6 homolog, histone chaperone and transcription elongation factor protein expression and increase in ABHD11‑AS1 transcript levels. ABHD11‑AS1 inhibited the phosphorylation of EGFR and decreased EGFR/ERK signaling by interacting with EGFR, thereby delaying the progression of CRC. The ABHD11‑AS1/EGFR/ERK axis may be a novel therapeutic target for preventing CRC progression.

Objectives: To explore the association between baseline Lp (a) levels and high-risk plaques, plaque volume, and plaque progression in patients with diabetes mellitus., Methods: Patients with diabetes mellitus and intermediate pretest probability of coronary artery disease (CAD) were prospectively enrolled. All patients underwent baseline coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), and patients with recurrent symptoms underwent mid-term follow-up CCTA. Plaque quantification and qualification were performed to compare coronary atherosclerosis features and plaque progression between the elevated and normal Lp (a) groups., Results: In this study, 1694 subjects (mean age: 62.0 ± 7.0 years; 1031 males) were enrolled for baseline analysis, and 246 subjects with repeat CCTA (mean interval of 2.3 ± 0.74 years) were included for follow-up analysis. The total plaque volume, noncalcified plaque volume, low attenuation plaque (LAP) volume, fibro-fatty plaque volume, and fibrotic plaque volume were higher in the elevated Lp (a) group than in the normal Lp (a) group at baseline (all p < 0.001). At follow-up, the elevated Lp (a) group showed a higher mean annual increase in LAP volume than the normal Lp (a) group (3.03 ± 22.26 mm 3 vs -3.09 ± 12.22 mm 3 ; p = 0.011). In multivariate linear regression analysis, elevated Lp (a) levels were associated with accelerated LAP volume progression after adjusting for confounders (Beta = 4.50, 95% confidence interval: 0.06-8.93; p = 0.045)., Conclusion: Elevated Lp (a) level in patients with diabetes mellitus was associated with high coronary artery plaque burden at baseline and LAP volume progression at follow-up., Key Points: Question The relationship between Lp (a) levels and coronary artery plaque volume and progression in patients with diabetes mellitus remains unclear. Findings Elevated Lp (a) level was associated with high total coronary plaque volume at baseline and low-attenuation plaque (LAP) volume progression at follow-up. Clinical relevance Elevated Lp (a) level in patients with diabetes mellitus was associated with high coronary artery plaque burden at baseline and LAP volume progression at follow-up, which supports the modulation of LAP level to improve prognosis., Competing Interests: Compliance with ethical standards. Guarantor: The scientific guarantor of this publication is Dr. Jiayin Zhang. Conflict of interest: The authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies, whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article. Statistics and biometry: No complex statistical methods were necessary for this paper. Informed consent: Written informed consent was obtained from all patients. Ethical approval: Institutional Review Board approval was obtained. Study subjects or cohorts overlap: No study subjects or cohorts have been previously reported. Methodology: Prospective Observational study Performed at one institution, (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to European Society of Radiology.)

Identification of ARID1A/ATR synthetic lethality led to ATR inhibitor phase II trials in ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC), a cancer of unmet need. Using multiple CRISPR-Cas9 mutagenesis and interference screens, we show that inactivation of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) subunits, including PPP2R1A, enhance ATRi sensitivity in ARID1A mutant OCCC. Analysis of a new OCCC cohort indicates that 52% possess oncogenic PPP2R1A p.R183 mutations and of these, one half possessed both ARID1A as well as PPP2R1A mutations. Using CRISPR-prime editing to generate new isogenic models of PPP2R1A mutant OCCC, we found that PPP2R1A p.R183W and p.R183P mutations cause ATRi-induced S phase stress, premature mitotic entry, genomic instability and ATRi sensitivity in OCCC tumour cells. p.R183 mutation also enhanced both in vitro and in vivo ATRi sensitivity in preclinical models of ARID1A mutant OCCC. These results argue for the assessment of PPP2R1A mutations as a biomarker of ATRi sensitivity., Competing Interests: Competing interests: CJL makes the following disclosures: receives and/or has received research funding from: AstraZeneca, Merck KGaA, Artios, Neophore. Received consultancy, SAB membership or honoraria payments from: FoRx, Syncona, Sun Pharma, Gerson Lehrman Group, Merck KGaA, Vertex, AstraZeneca, Tango Therapeutics, 3rd Rock, Ono Pharma, Artios, Abingworth, Tesselate, Dark Blue Therapeutics, Pontifax, Astex, Neophore, Glaxo Smith Kline, Dawn Bioventures, Blacksmith Medicines, FoRx Therapeutics, Ariceum. Has stock in: Tango, Ovibio, Hysplex, Tesselate. CJL is also a named inventor on patents describing the use of DNA repair inhibitors and stands to gain from their development and use as part of the ICR “Rewards to Inventors” scheme and also reports benefits from this scheme associated with patents for PARP inhibitors paid into CJL’s personal account and research accounts at the Institute of Cancer Research. SB makes the following disclosure: receives and/or has received research funding from: AstraZeneca. Received consultancy, SAB membership or honoraria payments from Abbvie, Astrazeneca, Biontech, Eisai, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Grey Wolf Therapeutics, Immunogen, Incyte, ITM Oncologics, Merck Sharpe Dohme, Mersana, Myriad, Oncxerna, Pharmaand, Seagen, Takeda. Verastem, Zymeworks., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Prunella vulgaris is a medicinal and edible homologous plant, commonly used as a folk medicine to treat diseases. The Prunella vulgaris polysaccharides (PVPs) are reported with the antioxidant activity. This work was designed to isolate, characterize, and test the antioxidant activity of purified PVPs from P. vulgaris. A new homogeneous polysaccharide (PVP-1) was prepared by the DEAE column from PVPs, and diverse chromatography/spectroscopy and chemical methods were simultaneously employed to characterize the fine structure of PVP-1. The results showed PVP-1 had a triple helix structure, and the repeating structural unit of PVP-1 was composed of →6)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(3,1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→ as the main chain, together with →6)-β-D-Galp-(1,3→1)-α-D-Araf-(5→1)-β-D-Galp-(4→1)-α-D-Galp-(2→ and →6)-β-D-Galp-(1,3→1)-α-D-GlcAp-(4→1)-α-D-Glcp-(4→1)-α-D-Galp as the branch chains. The main monosaccharides of PVP-1 were galactose (Gal, 41.25 %), galactose-OMe (Gal-OMe, 27.73 %), arabinose (Ara, 10.63 %), mannose (Man, 9.86 %), glucose (Glc, 3.88 %), glucuronic acid (GlcA, 2.86 %), ribose (Rib, 1.79 %), and xylose (Xyl, 1.76 %). In addition, the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) displayed that the surface of PVP-1 was rough and porous. PVP-1 gave the scavenging rates of the DPPH, ABTS, and hydroxyl radical lower than vitamin C at the same concentration, with the highest scavenging rate of DPPH radical at 82.71 % ± 4.19 % (5 mg/mL)., 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 B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study examines the impact of estrogenic compounds like bisphenol A (BPA), estradiol (E2), and zearalenone (ZEA) on human ovarian cancer, focusing on constructing a risk model, conducting gene set variation analysis (GSVA), and evaluating immune infiltration. Differential gene expression analysis identified 980 shared differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in human ovarian cells exposed to BPA, E2, and ZEA, indicating disruptions in ribosome biogenesis and RNA processing. Using the cancer genome atlas ovarian cancer (TCGA-OV) dataset, a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO)-based risk model was developed incorporating prognostic genes 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase like (HPDL), Thy-1 cell surface antigen (THY1), and peptidase inhibitor 3 (PI3). This model effectively stratified ovarian cancer patients into high-risk and low-risk categories, showing significant differences in overall survival, disease-specific survival, and progression-free survival. GSVA analysis linked HPDL expression to pathways related to the cell cycle, DNA damage, and repair, while THY1 and PI3 were associated with apoptosis, hypoxia, and proliferation pathways. Immune infiltration analysis revealed distinct immune cell profiles for high and low-expression groups of HPDL, THY1, and PI3, indicating their influence on the tumor microenvironment. The findings demonstrate that estrogenic compounds significantly alter gene expression and oncogenic pathways in ovarian cancer. The risk model integrating HPDL, THY1, and PI3 offers a strong prognostic tool, with GSVA and immune infiltration analyses providing insights into the interplay between these genes and the tumor microenvironment, suggesting potential targets for personalized therapies.

Background: Asthma is a common chronic condition with increasing prevalence. Diet, including dried fruit consumption, has been linked to asthma risk, but the mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigates how dried fruit consumption affects asthma risk, focusing on acetate as a potential mediator., Methods: We used Mendelian Randomization (MR) to analyze the relationships between dried fruit intake, acetate levels, and asthma. We applied three MR methods-Inverse-Variance Weighted (IVW), Weighted Median (WM), and MR-Egger-to determine causal effects., Results: Dried fruit intake was inversely associated with asthma risk (IVW: β = -0.506, p  = 0.0135) and positively associated with acetate levels (IVW: β = 0.269, p  < 0.0001). Higher acetate levels were also linked to lower asthma risk (IVW: β=-0.361, p  < 0.0001). Mediation analysis showed that acetate mediates approximately 19.22% of the effect of dried fruit on asthma risk., Conclusion: Dried fruit consumption reduces asthma risk, partly through increasing acetate levels. This acetate-mediated pathway accounts for about 20% of the effect, suggesting potential for dietary strategies in asthma prevention and management. Further research could enhance the understanding and applicability of these findings.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a metabolic liver disorder with severe complications. Mitochondrial dysfunction due to over-opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) in liver cells plays a central role in the development and progression of NAFLD. Restoring mitochondrial function is a promising strategy for NAFLD therapy. Herein, we designed and developed a microenvironment-induced programmable nanotherapeutic to restore mitochondrial function and ameliorate NAFLD. cyclosporine (Cyclosporine capsules) A (CsA), as a highly effective inhibitors of the opening of mPTP, was chosen in the present work. Nanotherapeutics were prepared by assembling two structurally simple multifunctional glucosamine derivatives: dextran-grafted galactose (Dex-Gal) and Dex-triphenylphosphine (Dex-TPP). Galactose units in the nanotherapeutics guide the hepatocyte-specific uptake. Detachment of galactose from acidic lysosomes via Schiff base cleavage exposes the TPP moieties, which subsequently steers the nanotherapeutics to escape from lysosomes and target mitochondria through an enhanced positive charge, enabling precise in situ drug delivery. Simultaneously, the nanotherapeutics improved mitochondrial dysfunction by inhibiting palmitic acid-induced opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore in HepG2 cells, maintaining mitochondrial membrane potential, and decreasing reactive oxygen species production. Furthermore, CsA@Dex-Gal/TPP accumulated in the livers of NAFLD mice, restored mitochondrial autophagy, regulated abnormalities in glucose and lipid metabolism, and improved hepatic lipid deposition. This study offers a new cascading strategy for targeting liver cell mitochondria to treat NAFLD and other mitochondria-associated diseases. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: We design microenvironment-induced programmable nanotherapeutics for NAFLD Nanotherapeutics has the capabilities of lysosomal escape and mitochondrial targeting Nanotherapeutics improves mitochondrial dysfunction and ameliorates NAFLD This study offers a new cascading strategy for other mitochondria-associated diseases., 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 © 2025. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

This study investigates the effects of ultrasound synergistic pH shift modification on the structural and functional properties of Hericium erinaceus (HE) proteins. The modification resulted in significant changes in the molecular structure of HE proteins, including increased solubility (49.69 % at pH 1.5 and 61.30 % at pH 12.5), enhanced surface hydrophobicity (from 721.00 to 3377.00), and the exposure of free sulfhydryl groups, which rose from 9.3 μmol/g in the control to 19.9 μmol/g at pH 12.5. The modification also led to a reduction in particle size, improving oil-holding capacity and foaming properties, with foaming stability increasing from 10.5 % to 60.3 % at pH 12.5. Furthermore, the emulsification activity was significantly enhanced (187.5 % at pH 12.5). Rheological analysis revealed that ultrasound-modified proteins exhibited improved flow stress and gelation properties, with a shear recovery rate of 65.71 %. In 3D printing applications, the modified HE proteins demonstrated better printability, structural stability, and mechanical integrity, attributed to the enhanced molecular interaction and gelation properties. These findings suggest that ultrasound-assisted pH shift modification effectively alters the structure and functionality of HE proteins, making them suitable for use as a versatile raw material in food applications, particularly in 3D food printing., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest. All data were generated in-house, and no paper mill was used. All authors agree to be accountable for all aspects of work ensuring integrity and accuracy., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background and Aims: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are precursors of cancer metastasis. However, how CTCs evade immunosurveillance during hematogenous dissemination remains unclear., Approach and Results: We identified CTC-platelet adhesions by single-cell RNA sequencing and multiplex immunofluorescence of blood samples from multiple cancer types. Clinically, CTC-platelet aggregates were associated with significantly shorter progression-free survival and overall survival in patients with HCC. In vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo assays demonstrated direct platelet adhesions gifted cancer cells with an evasive ability from NK cell killing by upregulating inhibitory checkpoint CD155 (PVR cell adhesion molecule), therefore facilitating distant metastasis. Mechanistically, CD155 was transcriptionally regulated by the FAK/JNK/c-Jun cascade in a platelet contact-dependent manner. Further competition assays and cytotoxicity experiments revealed that CD155 on CTCs inhibited NK-cell cytotoxicity only by engaging with immune receptor TIGIT, but not CD96 and DNAM1, another 2 receptors for CD155. Interrupting the CD155-TIGIT interactions with a TIGIT antibody restored NK-cell immunosurveillance on CTCs and markedly attenuated tumor metastasis., Conclusions: Our results demonstrated CTC evasion from NK-cell-mediated innate immunosurveillance mainly through immune checkpoint CD155-TIGIT, potentially offering an immunotherapeutic strategy for eradicating CTCs., (Copyright © 2024 American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.)

Improving flame retardancy and mechanical strength of lignin-containing polyurethane is a great challenge. In this study, lignin with favorable reactivity and dispersity was extracted from poplar using acid hydrotrope p-TsOH in EtOH. The extracted acid hydrotrope lignin (AHL) was subsequently functionalized with nitrogen and phosphorus (FHL) and reacted with isocyanate to fabricate a fire-retardant polyurethane (FHL-PU). The resulting FHL-PU exhibited a five-fold increase in fracture toughness and remarkable reprocessability, attributable to the dual cross-linked network formed by dynamic hydrogen bonds and carbamate bonds between AHL and PU. Furthermore, the FHL can effectively prevent the release of heat and smoke through mechanisms like forming a char layer at elevated temperatures, generating non-combustible gases and sequestering free radicals. As a result, the FHL led to a reduction in the peak heat release rate and total heat release of PU from 946.8 kW/m 2 and 86.9 MJ/m 2 to 383.5 kW/m 2 and 28.4 MJ/m 2 , respectively. This acid hydrotrope lignin modified polyurethane, holds tremendous potential for a wide range of practical applications., 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 © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Two-dimensional (2D) nanoarchitectonics involve the creation of functional material assemblies and structures at the nanoscopic level by combining and organizing nanoscale components through various strategies, such as chemical and physical reforming, atomic and molecular manipulation, and self-assembly. Significant advancements have been made in the field, with the goal of producing functional materials from these nanoscale components. 2D nanomaterials, in particular, have gained substantial attention due to their large surface areas which are ideal for numerous surface-active applications. In this review article, nanoarchitectonics of 2D nanomaterials based biomedical applications are discussed. We aim to provide a concise overview of how nanoarchitectonics using 2D nanomaterials can be applied to dental healthcare, with an emphasis on biosensing and drug delivery. By offering a deeper understanding of nanoarchitectonics with programmable structures and predictable properties, we hope to inspire new innovations in the dental bioapplications of 2D nanomaterials., 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 © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Combining machine learning with X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy is a promising solution for quantitatively analyzing heavy metal elements in soil. However, the implied linear and nonlinear interferences between spectral intensities and elemental concentrations are difficult to quantify by a single model, thus degrading the prediction performance for low-concentration elements. This paper presents a novel combined spectral variable selection and fusion modeling framework for quantitative analysis of heavy metal elements in soil XRF, which consists of the proposed Particle Swarm Optimization-based Competitive Adaptive Re-weighted Sampling (PSO-CARS) by adaptive decay strategy and Dual Principal Component Analysis-based broad learning system (BLS-Net). The proposed method is compared with advanced machine learning methods by predicting the concentrations of Cr, Cd, Cu, and Pb. The results show that PSO-CARS provides more efficient characteristic and auxiliary spectral variables for BLS-Net. BLS-Net precisely quantified concentrations of heavy metal elements by distinguishing between linear and nonlinear responses in spectra, resulting in average predictive coefficients of determination (R 2 ) exceeding 0.995 of the different elements. The proposed method is a competitive spectral quantitative fusion modeling solution, offering a more precise and reliable analysis of heavy metal elements., 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 B.V. All rights reserved.)

Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) holds vital significance for energy conversion and sustainable synthesis, but the scope of achievable reactions using active and durable electrocatalysts remains limited. Nearly all employed electrocatalyst surfaces undergo uncontrolled reconstruction processes during OER, resulting in inevitable uncertainties and randomness in the formation and evolution of the reconstituted layer. Most current efforts are confined to a single process or region, leaving the energy supply and microenvironment uncontrollable. Here, we propose a novel approach using alternating current (AC) for energy supply and nitrate ions for electrolyte engineering to optimize the reconstruction process of NiFeO x H y . The AC profile induces an opposite electrochemical process, significantly enhancing the stability of the newly formed reconstruction layer against reverse currents originating from the intermittent operation of the electrolyzer. Additionally, nitrate ions act as inducers, optimizing the microenvironment and facilitating the rational formation of the reconstruction layer. The combined energy and electrolyte engineering result in a well-defined reaction surface, promoting fast charge transfer, mass transfer, and abundant active sites for reducing OER kinetics. As a result, an anode based on the optimized catalysts achieves a 17.8 % increase in current density at 2.4 V (vs. reversible hydrogen electrode). For potential practical applications, the current density can be improved by 92 %, with long-term stability lasting up to 200 h under the condition of 1 A cm -2 . Moreover, the optimized catalysts remain stable even after intermittent operation at a current density of 1 A cm -2 for 1400 cycles. This work provides a unique strategy for surface reconstruction of energy-related catalysts, effectively manipulating their catalytic properties and functionalities., 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 Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Several studies have examined the effect of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) on COVID-19 and other infectious diseases in Australia and globally. However, to our knowledge none have sufficiently explored their impact on other infectious diseases with robust time series model. In this study, we aimed to use Bayesian Structural Time Series model (BSTS) to systematically assess the impact of NPIs on 64 National Notifiable Infectious Diseases (NNIDs) by conducting a comprehensive and comparative analysis across eight disease categories within each Australian state and territory, as well as nationally., Methods: Monthly data on 64 NNIDs from eight categories were obtained from the Australian National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System. The incidence rates for each infectious disease in 2020 were compared with the 2015-2019 average and then with the expected rates in 2020 using a BSTS model. The study investigated the causal effects of 2020 interventions and analysed the impact of government policy restrictions at the national level from January 2020 to December 2022., Results: During the COVID-19 pandemic interventions in Australia, there was a 38 % (95 % Credible Interval [CI] [9 %, 54 %]) overall relative reduction in incidence reported across all disease categories compared to the 2015-2019 average. Significant reductions were observed in bloodborne diseases: 20 % (95 % CI [10 %, 29 %]), respiratory diseases: 79 % (95 % CI [52 %, 91 %]), and zoonoses: 8 % (95 % CI [1 %, 17 %]). Conversely, vector-borne diseases increased by 9 % over the same period. Reductions and intervention effects varied by state and territory, with higher policy stringency linked to fewer cases for some diseases., Conclusions: COVID-19 NPIs also impacted the transmission of other infectious diseases, with varying effects across regions reflecting diverse outcomes in response strategies throughout Australia. The findings could inform public health strategies and provide scientific evidence to support the development of early warning systems for future disease outbreaks., 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 © 2025. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Understanding the composition of mercury (Hg) in the atmosphere is important for confirming its sources and to preventing and reduce the production. To explore the morphological distribution characteristics of wet Hg concentrations in Xi'an Shaanxi Province, China, total Hg (THg), dissolved Hg (DTHg), reactive Hg (RTHg) and particulate-bound Hg (PTHg) (Hg insoluble in water) were measured at 72 precipitation in Xi'an from September 2020 to July 2022, and their average concentrations were 3.035 ± 3.035, 1.352 ± 1.943, 0.414 ± 0.556, and 1.797 ± 1.681 ng L -1 , respectively. Hg in wet deposition was mainly affected by particulate matter, and the proportion of PTHg in THg ranged from 16% to 92%, with an average of 55%. The observed seasonal concentrations variation order of THg was: winter > spring > summer > autumn. Positive matrix factorization analysis showed that Hg in precipitations mainly originated from four sources, including coal burning, traffic emission, mineral dust, and industrial emissions, accounting for 14.9%, 27.6%, 13.1%, and 14.2% of THg, respectively. Backward trajectory analysis showed that the air mass from Northwest China was the main air pollution source in Xi'an. Converting the amount of PTHg in the atmosphere (PBM) absorbed by the human body inhalation into the amount of smoking, the amount of PBM absorbed in one day corresponds to a reduction from 0.61 cigarettes to 0.28 cigarettes, after each precipitation event, which means precipitations have a significant dilution effect on PBM in the atmosphere., 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 © 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Aims: This study aimed to elucidate clinically-relevant classifications of COPD using a targeted metabolomics approach focusing on signaling lipids., Materials and Methods: Using a targeted LC-MS/MS platform, 166 metabolites including free fatty acids, prostaglandins, isoprostanes, lysophospholipids, endocannabinoids, and bile acids were profiled in a cohort of 49 COPD patients. The study integrated metabolomic data with clinical parameters to identify key metabolites and related pathways for various COPD classification systems including Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) grading stages, Koninklijk Nederlands Genootschap voor Fysiotherapie (KNGF, Royal Dutch Society for Physiotherapy) profiles, and Systemic (SYS) subtypes and explored the association of these classification systems., Key Findings: The GOLD stages showed correlations with 15 metabolites, including lysophospholipids, oxylipins, and bile acids. KNGF profiles were linked to 13 metabolites, predominantly lysophospholipids, while SYS subtypes were associated with 9 metabolites, mainly oxylipins. A specific cluster of oxylipins, including HETEs and HDoHEs, was notably correlated to prognostic factors of COPD., Significance: This study identified distinct metabolic patterns associated with GOLD stages, KNGF profiles, and SYS subtypes. Additionally, the findings indicate that 14-HDoHE/DHA may serve as a potential biomarker for COPD exacerbation and suggest possible therapeutic targets for COPD, including pathways involving lipoxygenases, G-protein coupled receptors, and the Farnesoid X receptor., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) oligoclonal immunoglobulin G bands (IgG-OCBs) analysis plays a crucial role in diagnosis of various neurological disorders. However, the clinical significance of mirror pattern bands remains unclear, and their precise application is not well understood., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed a total of 7597 IgG-OCB records detected using isoelectric focusing from May 2020 and August 2023 at Huashan Hospital. Among these, 121 mirror pattern bands (62 type IV and 59 type V) were identified in patients with neurological disorders. Basic clinical data, including discharge diagnosis, gender, and age, were collected. Additionally, CSF and serum immunological parameters, as well as monoclonal protein (M protein) detection, were reviewed., Results: Although mirror pattern bands are rarely observed in neurological diseases, approximately half of these patterns were found in patients with peripheral neuropathy (PN). In the type IV group, 40.74 % of cases were associated with immune-mediated PN, while type V pattern was predominantly observed in cancer-related/lymphoproliferative PN, comprising 63.33 % of the cases. Patients with cancer-related or lymphoproliferative PN showed significantly higher IgG-CSF concentrations (p = 0.017) and 24-h intrathecal IgG synthesis rate (p = 0.022), indicating a stronger humoral immune response. Additionally, both patients with immune-mediated PN and cancer-related/lymphoproliferative PN exhibited abnormal intrathecal synthesis rate and moderate to severe blood-brain barrier impairment. Furthermore, the type V group also exhibited a high prevalence of M protein positivity., Conclusions: The differential immunological responses and distinct patterns of OCBs observed in our study underscore the critical role of OCB analysis in the diagnostic workup of PN., 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 © 2025. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Perceived control plays a crucial role in risk-taking behavior, but its neural effect on reward dynamics in risky and ambiguous decision making remains unclear. Here, we addressed this issue by measuring participants' (N = 40) EEG activity while they were performing a wheel-of-fortune task. Participants either made choices themselves (a high control condition) or followed the computer's choice (a low control condition) under risky or ambiguous decision contexts. Behavioral and rating data showed a stronger control effect in the risky compared to the ambiguous decision context. In parallel, we found an effect of perceived control on choice evaluation (indexed by the cue-P3) in the risky but not ambiguous context. However, the control effect was more pronounced during feedback anticipation (indexed by the stimulus-preceding negativity) and outcome appraisal (indexed by delta oscillation) in the ambiguous context compared to the risky context. Together, our findings suggest that experiencing control alters reward dynamics in uncertain decision making, with dissociable effects between risk and ambiguity., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflicts of interests., (Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Nudix hydrolase 15 (NUDT15) deficiency is strongly associated with thiopurine-induced myelosuppression. Currently, testing for NUDT15 deficiency is based on the genotyping of the most frequent and clinically characterized no-function variants, that is, *2, *3 and *9. The Hispanic/Latino-predominant variant NUDT15 *4 (p.R139H) is classified as "uncertain function" by the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium, because of insufficient data to ascertain its clinical actionability. In this study, we evaluated the association of NUDT15 *4 with mercaptopurine (6-MP) tolerance in a retrospective cohort of 1,399 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) of diverse ancestries. All patients were wildtype for thiopurine methyltransferase gene. Patients were treated with 6-MP in the context of ALL frontline clinical trials. The tolerated dose of 6-MP was used to assess drug toxicity during the maintenance phase of ALL therapy. Patients with NUDT15 *1/*4 (n = 16, all of whom self-identified as Hispanic/Latino) tolerated a significantly lower dose of 6-MP than did those with NUDT15 *1/*1: median [interquartile range] of 39.0 [21.2-52.8] mg/m 2 , vs. 62.2 [47.9-71.6] mg/m 2 , P value < 0.001. No patient homozygous for *4 was detected. In a separate retrospective validation study, six patients were identified as having NUDT15 *1/*4 by routine clinical pharmacogenetics testing and tolerated a 6-MP median dose of 38.7 mg/m 2 (IQR, 33.7-54.0), confirming the need for dose reduction attributed to the NUDT15 *4 variant. These results point to the need to include NUDT15 *4 in pharmacogenetics-guided thiopurine dosing algorithms., (© 2024 The Author(s). Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics © 2024 American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics.)

Purpose: Limited studies have examined the relationship between plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) and arterial stiffness progression. This study aimed to investigate the longitudinal association between baseline PAC and arterial stiffness progression in hypertensive patients., Patients and Methods: This was a longitudinal study conducted at the Hypertension Center of People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region between April 2020 and October 2023. The study included 1,138 hypertensive patients who had completed two measurements of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) over the study period. Arterial stiffness was quantified using baPWV, and progression was assessed by the baPWV change rate, calculated as the absolute difference between baseline and follow-up baPWV divided by the follow-up time in years. The primary outcome was the association between baseline PAC and baPWV change rate., Results: Multivariate linear regression analyses indicated that a 10-unit increase in baseline PAC was significantly associated with a 19.60 cm/s/year increase in baPWV change rate (95% CI, 9.93 to 29.21). This association remained significant after adjusting for potential confounders, including age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, and the use of antihypertensive medications. Multivariable restricted cubic splines analysis confirmed a significant dose-response relationship between baseline PAC and baPWW change rate (P for overall trend = 0.002)., Conclusion: Higher baseline PAC levels were associated with faster progression of arterial stiffness in hypertensive patients, suggesting a potential role for aldosterone in vascular health. These findings warrant further investigation.

Sulfated polysaccharides refer to polysaccharides containing sulfate groups on sugar units. In nature, sulfated polysaccharides are widely distributed in marine organisms, and the variation in sulfation sites, monosaccharide composition, and branched chain distribution among different species results in differences in the physicochemical properties and biological activities. From the latest perspective, this review summarized the types, structural characteristics, and potential health benefits of sulfated polysaccharides in marine foods. In recent years, marine-derived sulfated polysaccharides have been widely used as stabilizers and antimicrobial agents applied in nutraceutical delivery systems and food packaging, which depend on their interactions with food components. Hence, we outlined the non-covalent/covalent interactions of marine-derived sulfated polysaccharides with food components (e.g., proteins, polysaccharides, and polyphenols) as well as the application in food industry. Additionally, the prospects and potential development for sulfated polysaccharides are concluded, aiming to provide a deep understanding of marine-derived sulfated polysaccharides to promote the industrial application in food health., 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 © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: This article describes the study rationale and design of the real-world multicenter registry study iCaReMe China., Methods: iCaReMe China is a prospective, multicentric, observational registry study aiming to understand the real-world characteristics of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and/or hypertension (HTN) [combined chronic kidney disease (CKD)] and/or heart failure (HF) and/or CKD, which may provide some evidence for improving quality of care and outcomes of T2D and/or HTN and/or HF and/or CKD in China. A total of approximately 19,000 subjects will be recruited from 110 participating sites in China. Patients will be enrolled in four disease cohorts based on the primary disease conditions. The primary outcome is to describe the sociodemographic, clinical characteristics, disease management patterns, healthcare resource utilization, and clinical outcomes., Conclusion: iCaReMe China aims to describe the real-world characteristics and treatment patterns of patient with T2D and/or HTN (combined CKD) and/or HF and/or CKD. The data from this prospective registry study will facilitate a better understanding of management strategies, the variations across and within different regions, and associated patient outcomes in China., Trial Registration Number: ChiCTR2300073764., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of Interest: Investigators of this research received a modest fee to cover their clinical service, clinical work, data collection and reporting. Investigator declare no other conflicts of financial interest for participation in this research. Ethical Approval: The study will be conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences International Ethical Guidelines, the applicable International Conference for Harmonisation Good Clinical Practice Guidelines, and all applicable laws and regulations. The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board/Independent Ethics Committee of Peking University People’s Hospital and each participating center before patient recruitment. The ethics committee reference number of Peking University People’s Hospital is 2023PHB063-001. All subjects must sign an informed consent form prior to their participation in the study., (© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Healthcare Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: Effective methods for establishing an aged animal model of diabetes and glycemic fluctuation have rarely been investigated. The aim of the study was to explore the feasibility of inducing glycemic fluctuation in aged Sprague-Dawley rats and to evaluate the corresponding changes in cognitive function., Methods: Male rats aged 48 weeks were fed a high-fat and high-glucose diet and given streptozotocin intraperitoneally to establish a rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Then, glycemic fluctuation was induced via three different protocols: (1) intraperitoneal injection of glucose; (2) sequential fasting, insulin injection, and normal diet; and (3) intermittent intraperitoneal injections of glucose and insulin., Results: All three protocols were effective at inducing glycemic fluctuation in aged rats with T2DM, with successful modeling rates of 60 %, 90 %, and 70 %, respectively. Aged T2DM rats with glycemic fluctuation showed significant increases in glycemic variability compared with controls, including in the mean blood glucose, postprandial glycemic excursion, largest amplitude of glycemic excursion, and standard deviation of blood glucose values (all P < 0.05). Additionally, rats with glycemic fluctuation had more severe insulin resistance and dyslipidemia (P < 0.05). Morris water maze testing showed a trend of longer escape latency in the navigation test for rats in the glycemic fluctuation groups, suggesting impaired cognitive function. Pathological analysis showed degenerative changes in the CA1 hippocampal region of rats in the glycemic fluctuation groups. Finally, differential gene expression analysis revealed 1323 significantly altered genes in the GV group, with 691 upregulated and 632 downregulated. The dysregulated genes were predominantly associated with the axon guidance pathway and potassium channel regulation., Conclusions: The proposed protocols were effective at establishing an aged T2DM rat model with glycemic fluctuation, and rats with glycemic fluctuation exhibited diminished cognitive function., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Glucosamine (GlcN) is a widely utilized amino monosaccharide. It is traditionally synthesized from N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) via chemical processes that pose environmental threats. In pursuit of a greener alternative, our investigation explored biocatalysis with a Pantoea dispersa derived deacetylase (Pd-nagA), showcasing its efficacy as a catalyst in GlcN production. As a result, this work provides a comprehensive characterization of Pd-nagA, scrutinizes its enzymatic behavior, and delves into the deacetylation mechanism in detail. Heterologous expression methods were utilized for the production and isolation of Pd-nagA, followed by a kinetic evaluation highlighting its enzymatic activity. The complex interactions between the enzyme and its substrate were investigated by integrating classical molecular dynamics, quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics simulations, funnel metadynamics, and on-the-fly probability enhanced sampling techniques, thereby elucidating the precise deacetylation pathway. Rigorous computational analysis results demonstrated that Pd-nagA exhibited promising specificity and efficiency for GlcNAc with a high turnover rate. The catalytic residues central to the reaction were identified, and the underlying quantum reaction mechanism was detailed. Our findings suggest an approach to GlcN production using eco-friendly biocatalysis, positioning Pd-nagA at the forefront of industrial application not only because of its remarkable catalytic capabilities but also due to its potential for enzyme optimization., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Blind spot collisions are a critical and often overlooked threat to pedestrian safety, frequently resulting in severe injuries. This study investigates the impact of automated vehicles equipped with external human-machine interfaces (eHMIs) on pedestrian crossing behavior and safety, focusing on scenarios where AVs create mutual blind spots between pedestrians and adjacent traffic. A virtual reality experiment with 51 participants simulated crossing situations in front of yielding trucks with obstructed pedestrian visibility, featuring three eHMIs: 'Walk,' 'Don't Walk,' and 'Caution! Blind Spots'. Vehicles within the truck's blind spot exhibited proactive and reactive braking behaviors toward pedestrians. The results indicate that eHMI designs based on color, text, and symbols enhance pedestrian understanding. However, the 'Walk' eHMI, which ignores blind spot risks, may lead to dangerous crossing behaviors. In contrast, the 'Don't Walk' eHMI effectively reduced unsafe crossing behaviors, though yielding trucks sometimes caused pedestrian confusion. The 'Caution! Blind Spots' eHMI increased alertness but was not significantly more effective than the direct 'Don't Walk' instruction. This study provides empirical evidence for integrating dynamic environmental perception and hazard warnings into eHMI designs to raise road users' awareness of blind spots. The findings emphasize the importance of comprehensive strategies, including policy-making, education, and VR-based training, to ensure the effective deployment and public understanding of eHMIs in blind spot environments., 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 © 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Due to the neighborhood explosion phenomenon, scaling up graph neural networks to large graphs remains a huge challenge. Various sampling-based mini-batch approaches, such as node-wise, layer-wise, and subgraph sampling, have been proposed to alleviate this issue. However, intensive random sampling incurs additional overhead during training and often fails to deliver good performance consistently. To surmount these limitations, we propose Graph Batch Coarsening (GBC), a simple and general graph batching framework designed to facilitate scalable training of arbitrary GNN models. GBC preprocesses the input graph and generates a set of much smaller subgraphs to be used as mini-batches; then any GNN model can be trained only on those small graphs. This framework avoids random sampling completely and makes no extra change on the backbone GNN models including hyperparameters. To implement the framework, we present a graph decomposition method based on label propagation and a novel graph coarsening algorithm designed for training GNN. Empirically, GBC demonstrates superior performance in accuracy, training time and memory usage on various small to large-scale graphs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Zengfeng Huang reports financial support was provided by National Natural Science Foundation of China., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

A heptasaccharide was isolated from an active fraction of Trillium tschonoskii using HILIC and high-temperature PGC chromatography methods. UHPLC-Q/TOF-MS analysis gave this oligosaccharide a degree of polymerization (DP) of 7 and MS/MS showed that it has a six-carbon aldehyde glucan structure with the possible chain 1 → 4 connected. The structure was determined by series 1D and 2D NMR in two solvents D 2 O and DMSO‑d 6 . Using 1 H resonances of the -OH groups as the starting point and HSQC-TOCSY on the covalent structure definition for structural elucidation allowed this heptasaccharide to be uncovered. This heptasaccharide was elucidated as maltoheptaose via complete assignment of 1 H and 13 C with jigsaw H-C-OH pieces produced by HSQC-TOCSY at increasing mixing time. The significance of identifying maltoheptaose in Trillium tschonoskii indicates the high potential of -OH introducing strategy for other oligosaccharides' structural determination with relatively higher DP., 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.)