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BackgroundThe effectiveness of Tuina therapy has been confirmed in treating pain of patients with cervical spondylosis (CS), however, its therapeutic mechanism is still unclear. This study aimed to observe the changes of regional brain activity following Tuina therapy in patients with painful CS based on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data.MethodsA total of 27 patients with CS and 27 healthy subjects (HCs) were enrolled in this study. All patients received Tuina therapy every 2 days for 2 weeks. The clinical manifestations of patients were evaluated by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Neck Disability Index (NDI) before and after treatment. In addition, rs-fMRI data were collected and preprocessed in all patients before and after treatment, as well as HCs. HCs underwent a 1-time rs-fMRI scan, whereas CS patients underwent 2-times of rs-fMRI scan. The measure of regional homogeneity (ReHo) was calculated and compared between groups. Finally, relationships between altered brain regions and clinical characteristics were evaluated by Pearson’s correlation analysis.ResultsAfter Tuina therapy, VAS and NDI scores of patients decreased. Before treatment, CS patients showed higher ReHo values in the left middle temporal gyrus, left thalamus, right anterior and posterior cingulate gyrus, left inferior parietal gyrus and lower ReHo values in the right gyrus rectus when compared with HCs. After treatment, CS patients exhibited higher ReHo values in the left inferior temporal gyrus, right anterior and posterior cingulate gyrus, left inferior parietal gyrus and lower ReHo values in the right rectus gyrus when compared with HCs. CS patients after treatment demonstrated higher ReHo values in the left inferior occipital gyrus when compared with those before treatment. Positive correlations were found between ReHo values of the right rectus gyrus and VAS, NDI scores in CS patients before treatment. Differences of VAS scores between before and after treatment were negatively correlated with ReHo values of the left inferior temporal gyrus in CS patients after treatment.ConclusionThis study demonstrated the presence of asynchronous activity in certain brain regions in CS patients, which might be associated with pain and cervical spine dysfunction. Tuina therapy might modulate asynchronous activity of abnormal brain regions, which might contribute to the effectiveness of Tuina therapy in alleviating pain and cervical spine dysfunction in CS patients.

IntroductionBreast cancer is a heterogeneous disease comprising various molecular subtypes, including Luminal A, Luminal B, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) positive, and triple negative types, each with distinct biological characteristics and behaviors. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains a particularly challenging subtype worldwide. Our study aims to evaluate whether Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) parameters, clinical pathological features, and biochemical indicators serve as prognostic risk factors for TNBC. Additionally, we explore correlations between biochemical indicators and 18F-FDG PET/CT parameters.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of 95 TNBC patients who underwent preoperative 18F-FDG PET/CT examinations at Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from 2013 to 2018. Collected data included 18F-FDG PET/CT parameters, clinical and pathological features, and biochemical indicators. We used Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and multivariate Cox regression analysis to evaluate associations between 18F-FDG PET/CT parameters/biochemical indicators and disease free survival (DFS)/overall survival (OS). The log-rank test determined significant differences in survival curves, and the Spearman correlation coefficient analyzed correlations between quantitative variables. Visualization and analysis were performed using R packages.ResultsAmong 95 TNBC patients, mean standardized uptake value (SUVmean) was significantly correlated with DFS. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), α- L-fucosylase (AFU) and Creatine kinase (CK) were independent predictors of DFS, while Precursor albumin (PALB) and CK were independent predictors of OS. FBG showed correlations with SUVpeak and SUVmean, and CK was correlated with peak standardized uptake value (SUVpeak). Our results indicated that 18F-FDG PET/CT parameters and biochemical indicators may constitute a new prognostic model for TNBC patients post-surgery.DiscussionWe found that SUVmean, FBG, AFU and CK are predictive factors for DFS in TNBC patients post-surgery, while PALB and CK are predictive factors for OS, which prompts us to pay more attention to these indicators in clinical practice. Also 18F-FDG PET/CT parameters and biochemical indicators have potential utility in constituting a new prognostic model for TNBC patients post-surgery.

IntroductionLactococcus is a genus of lactic acid bacteria used in the dairy industry as a starter. Lactococci have been found to produce altogether more than 40 different bacteriocins, ribosomally synthesized antimicrobial proteins. All known Lactococcus spp. bacteriocins belong to classes I and II, which are mainly heat-resistant peptides. No class III bacteriocins, bigger heat-sensitive proteins, including phage tail-like bacteriocins, have been found from the Lactococcus spp. Unlike phage tail-like bacteriocins, prophage lysins have not been regarded as bacteriocins, possibly because phage lysins contribute to autolysis, degrading the host's own cell wall.MethodsWild-type Lactococcus lactis strain LAC460, isolated from spontaneously fermented idli batter, was examined for its antimicrobial activity. We sequenced the genome, searched phage lysins from the culture supernatant, and created knock-out mutants to find out the source of the antimicrobial activity.Results and discussionThe strain LAC460 was shown to kill other Lactococcus strains with protease- and heat-sensitive lytic activity. Three phage lysins were identified in the culture supernatant. The genes encoding the three lysins were localized in different prophage regions in the chromosome. By knock-out mutants, two of the lysins, namely LysL and LysP, were demonstrated to be responsible for the antimicrobial activity. The strain LAC460 was found to be resistant to the lytic action of its own culture supernatant, and as a consequence, the phage lysins could behave like bacteriocins targeting and killing other closely related bacteria. Hence, similar to phage tail-like bacteriocins, phage lysin-like bacteriocins could be regarded as a novel type of class III bacteriocins.

Goats with diverse economic phenotypic traits play an important role in animal husbandry. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying complex phenotypic traits are unclear in goats. Genomic studies of variations provided a lens to identify functional genes. In this study, we focused on the worldwide goat breeds with outstanding traits and used whole-genome resequencing data in 361 samples from 68 breeds to detect genomic selection sweep regions. We identified 210–531 genomic regions with six phenotypic traits, respectively. Further gene annotation analysis revealed 332, 203, 164, 300, 205, and 145 candidate genes corresponding with dairy, wool, high prolificacy, poll, big ear, and white coat color traits. Some of these genes have been reported previously (e.g., KIT, KITLG, NBEA, RELL1, AHCY, and EDNRA), while we also discovered novel genes, such as STIM1, NRXN1, LEP, that may be associated with agronomic traits like poll and big ear morphology. Our study found a set of new genetic markers for genetic improvement in goats and provided novel insights into the genetic mechanisms of complex traits.

Weissella strains are often detected in spontaneously fermented foods. Because of their abilities to produce lactic acid and functional exopolysaccharides as well as their probiotic traits, Weissella spp. improve not only the sensorial properties but also nutritional values of the fermented food products. However, some Weissella species have been associated with human and animal diseases. In the era of vast genomic sequencing, new genomic/genome data are becoming available to the public on daily pace. Detailed genomic analyses are due to provide a full understanding of individual Weissella species. In this study, the genomes of six Weissella paramesenteroides strains were de novo sequenced. The genomes of 42 W. paramesenteroides strains were compared to discover their metabolic and functional potentials in food fermentation. Comparative genomics and metabolic pathway reconstructions revealed that W. paramesenteroides is a compact group of heterofermentative bacteria with good capacity of producing secondary metabolites and vitamin Bs. Since the strains rarely harbored plasmid DNA, they did not commonly possess the genes associated with bacteriocin production. All 42 strains were shown to bear vanT gene from the glycopeptide resistance gene cluster vanG. Yet none of the strains carried virulence genes.

In this paper, the properties of superfine cement with different mesh sizes are observed from both macro and micro perspectives through laboratory tests, and the fluidity, stability, and mechanical properties of superfine cement are studied in depth. The results show that increasing the mesh size of superfine cement can reduce the influence of the water-cement ratio on slurry, reduce the fluidity of superfine cement, and enhance its stability. The strength of the superfine cement stone specimen will increase with the increase in cement mesh number, and the higher the mesh number, the shorter the time required for the superfine cement stone specimen to reach its maximum strength. Considering the performance, cost, and storage difficulty, the superfine cement with the mesh size of K700 is more cost-effective. Using K700 superfine cement grout can effectively reduce the impact of geostress on the surrounding rock of the roadway and inhibit the deformation and damage of the surrounding rock.

Laccases are multi-copper oxidases that use molecular oxygen as the electron acceptor to oxidize phenolic and indirectly also non-phenolic substrates by mechanisms involving radicals. Due to their eco-friendliness and broad substrate specificity, laccases span a wide range of biotechnological applications. We have heterologously expressed a laccase from the coprophilic basidiomycete Coprinopsis cinerea (CcLcc9) in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris. The recombinant CcLcc9 (rCcLcc9) oxidized 2,6-dimethoxyphenol in the neutral pH range, and showed thermostability up to 70°C. The rCcLcc9 efficiently oxidized veratryl alcohol to veratraldehyde in the presence of low molecular weight mediators syringyl nitrile, methyl syringate and violuric acid, which are syringyl-type plant phenolics that have shown potential as natural co-oxidants for lignocellulosic materials. In addition, rCcLcc9 is able to depolymerize biorefinery hardwood lignin in the presence of methyl syringate and syringyl nitrile as indicated by gel permeation chromatography, and infrared spectral and nucleic magnetic resonance analyses. Furthermore, we showed that several added-value aromatic compounds, such as vanillin, vanillic acid, syringaldehyde, syringic acid and p-hydroxybenzoic acid, were formed during sequential biocatalytic chemical degradation of biorefinery lignin, indicating that rCcLcc9 harbors a great potential for sustainable processes of circular economy and modern biorefineries.

Background: Regulated cell death (RCD) is a genetically controlled form of cell death that plays an important role in organogenesis, tissue remodeling, and pathogenesis of cancers. Transforming growth factor-beta-activation kinase 1 (TAK1) is a member of the serine/threonine protein kinase family, which can respond to internal and external stimuli and participate in inflammatory responses through multiple signaling pathways and cellular processes. In the last two decades, the regulatory roles of TAK1 at the crossroads of multiple RCD pathways, including apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, and PANoptosis were revealed by 801 articles retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database. To analyze global research trends and hotspots concerning the role of TAK1 in RCD, the bibliometric and visualized analysis were applied in the current study. Methods: The data for this bibliometrics study were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database. The search formula was (TS=(Apoptosis) OR TS=(pyroptosis) OR TS=(Necroptosis) OR TS=(PANoptosis) OR TS=(Autophagy) OR TS=(Ferroptosis) OR TS=(cuproptosis)) AND ((TS=(TAK1)) OR TS=(MAP3K7)). The co-occurrence and co-cited analysis on basic bibliometric parameters were conducted by VOSviewer. The dual-map overlay of journals, citation bursts, keyword timelines, and keyword bursts were analyzed by CiteSpace. Results: A total of 801 articles from 46 countries have been included in the analysis. The number of publications demonstrates a consistent increase from 1999 to 2024. The primary research institutions driving this field are Osaka University Notably, the Journal of Biological Chemistry stands out as the most popular journal in this domain. These publications collectively involve contributions from 4663 authors, with Jun Tsuji emerging as a prolific author. Jun Tsuji also gains the highest co-citation frequency. Emerging research hotspots are encapsulated by keywords, including apoptosis, NF-kB, inflammation, autophagy, and TNFa. Conclusion: This is the first bibliometric and visualized study to analyze the global trends and hotspots of TAK1 in RCD. Based on the analysis of 801 articles, the results provide a retrospective and comprehensive visualized view of the research hotspots and frontiers of TAK1 at the crossroads of multiple RCD signaling pathways and propose ideas for guiding their future investigations in molecular mechanisms and therapeutic strategies in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease comprising various molecular subtypes, including Luminal A, Luminal B, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) positive, and triple negative types, each with distinct biological characteristics and behaviors. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains a particularly challenging subtype worldwide. Our study aims to evaluate whether Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) parameters, clinical pathological features, and biochemical indicators serve as prognostic risk factors for TNBC. Additionally, we explore correlations between biochemical indicators and 18F-FDG PET/CT parameters. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 95 TNBC patients who underwent preoperative 18F-FDG PET/CT examinations at Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from 2013 to 2018. Collected data included 18F-FDG PET/CT parameters, clinical and pathological features, and biochemical indicators. We used Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and multivariate Cox regression analysis to evaluate associations between 18F-FDG PET/CT parameters/biochemical indicators and disease free survival (DFS)/overall survival (OS). The log-rank test determined significant differences in survival curves, and the Spearman correlation coefficient analyzed correlations between quantitative variables. Visualization and analysis were performed using R packages. Results: Among 95 TNBC patients, mean standardized uptake value (SUVmean) was significantly correlated with DFS. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), a-L-fucosylase (AFU) and Creatine kinase (CK) were independent predictors of DFS, while Precursor albumin (PALB) and CK were independent predictors of OS. FBG showed correlations with SUVpeak and SUVmean, and CK was correlated with peak standardized uptake value (SUVpeak). Our results indicated that 18F-FDG PET/CT parameters and biochemical indicators may constitute a new prognostic model for TNBC patients post-surgery. Discussion: We found that SUVmean, FBG, AFU and CK are predictive factors for DFS in TNBC patients post-surgery, while PALB and CK are predictive factors for OS, which prompts us to pay more attention to these indicators in clinical practice. Also 18F-FDG PET/CT parameters and biochemical indicators have potential utility in constituting a new prognostic model for TNBC patients postsurgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant growth and agricultural productivity was greatly limited by soil salinity and alkalization. The application of salt-tolerant rhizobacteria could effectively improve plant tolerance to saline-alkali stress. Micromonospora profundi TRM 95458 was obtained from the rhizosphere of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) as a moderate salt-tolerant rhizobacteria. A new osmotic compound (ABAGG) was isolated from the fermentation broth of M. profundi TRM 95458. The chemical structure of the new compound was elucidated by analyzing nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and high-resolution mass (HRMS) data. M. profundi TRM 95458 could convert glycerol into ABAGG. The accumulation of ABAGG varied depending on the amount of glycerol and glycine added to the fermentation medium. In addition, the concentration of NaCl affected the ABAGG content obviously. The highest yield of ABAGG was observed when the salt content of the fermentation medium was 10g/L. The study indicated that salt stress led to the accumulation of ABAGG using glycerol and glycine as substrates, suggesting ABAGG might aid in the survival and adaptation of the strain in saline-alkaline environments as a new osmotic compound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Lactococcus is a genus of lactic acid bacteria used in the dairy industry as a starter. Lactococci have been found to produce altogether more than 40 different bacteriocins, ribosomally synthesized antimicrobial proteins. All known Lactococcus spp. bacteriocins belong to classes I and II, which are mainly heat-resistant peptides. No class III bacteriocins, bigger heat-sensitive proteins, including phage tail-like bacteriocins, have been found fromthe Lactococcus spp. Unlike phage tail-like bacteriocins, prophage lysins have not been regarded as bacteriocins, possibly because phage lysins contribute to autolysis, degrading the host's own cell wall. Methods: Wild-type Lactococcus lactis strain LAC460, isolated from spontaneously fermented idli batter, was examined for its antimicrobial activity. We sequenced the genome, searched phage lysins from the culture supernatant, and created knock-outmutants to find out the source of the antimicrobial activity. Results and discussion: The strain LAC460 was shown to kill other Lactococcus strains with protease- and heat-sensitive lytic activity. Three phage lysins were identified in the culture supernatant. The genes encoding the three lysins were localized in different prophage regions in the chromosome. By knock-out mutants, two of the lysins, namely LysL and LysP, were demonstrated to be responsible for the antimicrobial activity. The strain LAC460 was found to be resistant to the lytic action of its own culture supernatant, and as a consequence, the phage lysins could behave like bacteriocins targeting and killing other closely related bacteria. Hence, similar to phage tail-like bacteriocins, phage lysin-like bacteriocins could be regarded as a novel type of class III bacteriocins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meningoencephalitis, an infectious disease affecting the nervous system, is primarily caused by a variety of pathogens. Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) have emerged as the leading causative agent of infections worldwide, but central nervous system infections resulting from NTM are infrequent in individuals with functioning immune systems. This case report highlights the diagnosis and treatment of a 26-year-old female patient who developed headaches 2 months post double eyelid surgery and was subsequently diagnosed with NTM meningoencephalitis through metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) analysis of cerebrospinal fluid. The patient underwent a comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic protocol, resulting in a positive clinical outcome.

ObjectiveMethicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in children has been on the rise, which poses a serious threat to their health and life in China. The purpose of this study was to determine the molecular characteristics, risk factors, and clinical outcomes of MRSA infections among critically ill pediatric patients.MethodsA retrospective case-control study was performed in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a tertiary university teaching hospital. All children infected with culture-positive S. aureus in the PICU between January 2016 and December 2021 were included. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify potential risk factors for MRSA infection and clinical outcomes of S. aureus infection. All S. aureus isolates were characterized based on antimicrobial resistance, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and Staphylococcal protein A (spa) typing.ResultsOf 3,974 patients admitted to the PICU, 280 were diagnosed with a S. aureus infection during the 6-year study period. Among them, 43.2% (121/280) were MRSA. All MRSA isolates showed significantly higher rates of resistance to penicillin, erythromycin, clindamycin and tetracycline than MSSA strains. The MRSA strains consisted of 45 spa types and 20 sequence types (STs) (20 clonal complexes), among which the most frequently represented were ST59-t437and ST398-t034. Multivariable logistic regression revealed vaginal delivery, respiratory failure, co-infection with a virus, C-reactive protein (CRP) > 8 mg/L as significant risk factors for MRSA infection. There was no significant difference in all-cause mortality during hospitalization between the MRSA group and the MSSA group. Furthermore, independent predictors for mortality in patients with S. aureus infections were the presence of hypoproteinemia, hematopathy, septic shock, respiratory failure, fever, and white blood cell (WBC) > 15.0 × 109/L.ConclusionsThe study revealed a high proportion of MRSA infections among critically ill pediatric patients, and found significant risk factors for MRSA infection and poor prognosis of S. aureus infection. Methicillin resistance did not contribute to the mortality in the current study. These findings will provide evidence-based practices to make the strategies of prevention and rational use of antibiotics for pediatric patients with S. aureus infection in the ICU.

BackgroundPredicting long-term survival in intensive care unit patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is crucial. This study aimed to develop a platelet-to-white blood cell ratio (PWR) incorporated nomogram for long-term survival prediction.MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on 1,728 ICH patients in the MIMIC-IV 2.2 database. The independent prognostic value of PWR for 1-year mortality was assessed. A nomogram was developed using LASSO and Cox regression to predict 1-year survival, incorporating PWR and other factors. The performance of the nomogram was evaluated through calibration curves, area under the curve, Delong test, net reclassification index, integrated discrimination improvement, and decision curve analysis.ResultsThe nomogram, which included age, weight, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, mechanical ventilation, glucose, red blood cell (RBC) count, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and PWR, showed good predictive performance for 1-year survival. The C-index was 0.736 (95% CI = 0.716–0.756) for the training set and 0.766 (95% CI = 0.735–0.797) for the testing set. Higher age and ventilation increased mortality risk, while higher weight, GCS score, RBC count, and PWR decreased risk. The nomogram outperformed conventional scores.ConclusionsA nomogram incorporating PWR as a prognostic factor accurately predicts long-term survival in ICH patients. However, validation in large-scale multicenter studies and further exploration of biomarkers are needed.

IntroductionDiarrhea is a common clinical condition that can potentially be fatal. Current treatment options often have side effects, such as constipation and vomiting, and there remains a need for more effective therapies. Pickled vegetables, a famous traditional food in China, have been suggested in clinical studies to alleviate diarrhea in children, particularly through the use of pickle water (PW). However, the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of PW on intestinal health remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the protective effects of PW on castor oil-induced diarrhea in ICR mice and to investigate its potential mechanisms.MethodsTo evaluate the antidiarrheal effects of PW, we used a castor oil-induced diarrhea model in ICR mice. Various indices were measured to assess the severity of diarrhea. After euthanizing the mice, oxidative stress markers in the ileum were assessed using biochemical methods, and the expression of tight junction-related proteins in the ileum was analyzed using Western blot. Additionally, 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing was used to evaluate the diversity and composition of the intestinal flora.ResultsThe results showed that PW supplementation reduced body weight without significantly affecting organ index and liver function in the castor oil-induced diarrhea mice. PW also effectively reduced the dilution rate, diarrhea index, average loose stool grade, propelling distance of carbon powder, and intestinal propulsive rate while improving the pathological abnormality in the ileum. Furthermore, PW enhanced the activities of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), and catalase (CAT) while reducing malonaldehyde (MDA) levels. PW also increased the expression of tight junction proteins zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and occludin in the ileum. Additionally, the analysis of 16S rDNA revealed that PW increased both α and β diversity, improved the composition of the intestinal flora, and restored it to a normal level.DiscussionCollectively, dietary PW administration ameliorates Castor oil-induced diarrhea by restoring tight junctions between intestinal mucosal cells, suppressing oxidative stress, and regulating the composition of intestinal flora. These findings suggest that PW may be a promising strategy for managing diarrhea.

BackgroundThe functional changes in alpha cells in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) with different residual beta cell functions remain poorly elucidated. The study aimed to investigate the relationship between glucagon secretion and C-peptide levels and to explore the relationship between glucagon response and glucose increment in respond to a secretagogue in a steamed bread meal tolerance test (BMTT) in T1D.MethodsThe study enrolled 43 adult patients with T1D and 24 healthy control subjects. Patients with T1D who underwent BMTT were divided into two groups based on peak C-peptide levels: C peptide low (CPL; C-peptide < 200 pmol/L; n=14) and high (CPH; C peptide ≥ 200 pmol/L; n=29). Plasma glucose, C-peptide, glucagon levels at 0, 30, 60, 120, and 180 min were measured. The glucagon response to the BMTT was defined by areas under the curve (AUC) as early (AUC0-30), late (AUC30-180), or total (AUC0-180) glucagon.ResultsCompared to healthy individuals, fasting plasma glucagon was lower and postprandial plasma glucagon level was increased in patients with T1D. Glucagon levels after BMTT between the CPL and CPH group showed significant group by time interaction. Peak glucagon and glucagon at 60-180 min, total and late glucagon response were higher in CPL than CPH group, while fasting glucagon and early glucagon response adjusted for glucose were comparable between CPL and CPH group. The higher late glucagon response and late glucagon response adjusted for glucose were associated with lower peak C-peptide in T1D. The higher late glucagon response and lower peak C-peptide were associated with the higher value of ▵glucose at 180 min.ConclusionStimulated C-peptide levels affect the paradoxical increase in postprandial glucagon secretion in patients with T1D, especially late glucagon response. The exaggerated postprandial glucagon secretion further stimulates the elevation of postprandial glucose in patients with T1D.

BackgroundAlthough the risk of prostate cancer (PCa) varies across different ages and genetic risks, it’s unclear about the effects of genetic-specific and age-specific prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening for PCa.MethodsWeighed and unweighted polygenic risk scores (PRS) were constructed to classify the participants from the PLCO trial into low- or high-PRS groups. The age-specific and PRS-specific cut-off values of PSA for PCa screening were determined with time-dependent receiver-operating-characteristic curves and area-under-curves (tdAUCs). Improved screening strategies integrating PRS-specific and age-specific cut-off values of PSA were compared to traditional PSA screening on accuracy, detection rates of high-grade PCa (Gleason score ≥7), and false positive rate.ResultsWeighted PRS with 80 SNPs significantly associated with PCa was determined as the optimal PRS, with an AUC of 0.631. After stratifying by PRS, the tdAUCs of PSA with a 10-year risk of PCa were 0.818 and 0.816 for low- and high-PRS groups, whereas the cut-off values were 1.42 and 1.62 ng/mL, respectively. After further stratifying by age, the age-specific cut-off values of PSA were relatively lower for low PRS (1.42, 1.65, 1.60, and 2.24 ng/mL for aged

IntroductionEnsuring high-quality race and ethnicity data within the electronic health record (EHR) and across linked systems, such as patient registries, is necessary to achieving the goal of inclusion of racial and ethnic minorities in scientific research and detecting disparities associated with race and ethnicity. The project goal was to improve race and ethnicity data completion within the Pediatric Rheumatology Care Outcomes Improvement Network and assess impact of improved data completion on conclusions drawn from the registry.MethodsThis is a mixed-methods quality improvement study that consisted of five parts, as follows: (1) Identifying baseline missing race and ethnicity data, (2) Surveying current collection and entry, (3) Completing data through audit and feedback cycles, (4) Assessing the impact on outcome measures, and (5) Conducting participant interviews and thematic analysis.ResultsAcross six participating centers, 29% of the patients were missing data on race and 31% were missing data on ethnicity. Of patients missing data, most patients were missing both race and ethnicity. Rates of missingness varied by data entry method (electronic vs. manual). Recovered data had a higher percentage of patients with Other race or Hispanic/Latino ethnicity compared with patients with non-missing race and ethnicity data at baseline. Black patients had a significantly higher odds ratio of having a clinical juvenile arthritis disease activity score (cJADAS10) of ≥5 at first follow-up compared with White patients. There was no significant change in odds ratio of cJADAS10 ≥5 for race and ethnicity after data completion. Patients missing race and ethnicity were more likely to be missing cJADAS values, which may affect the ability to detect changes in odds ratio of cJADAS ≥5 after completion.ConclusionsAbout one-third of the patients in a pediatric rheumatology registry were missing race and ethnicity data. After three audit and feedback cycles, centers decreased missing data by 94%, primarily via data recovery from the EHR. In this sample, completion of missing data did not change the findings related to differential outcomes by race. Recovered data were not uniformly distributed compared with those with non-missing race and ethnicity data at baseline, suggesting that differences in outcomes after completing race and ethnicity data may be seen with larger sample sizes.

AimPlant-derived nanovesicles have emerged as potential agents for combating tumors. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of Panax notoginseng-derived nanovesicles (PnNVs) on the proliferation and migration of squamous cell carcinoma. Additionally, we explored the relationship between plant tuber size and the physical properties, composition and bioactivity of these nanovesicles.MethodsWe isolated PnNVs from Panax notoginseng tubers of varying sizes: small-sized (s_PnNVs), medium-sized (m_PnNVs) and large-sized (l_PnNVs), and evaluated for size, potential, and morphology. Cellular uptake efficiency was assessed using confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. The ability of different PnNVs to inhibit oral squamous cell carcinoma cells was evaluated using plate cloning, CCK8 assay, and scratch healing assay. Off-target metabolomics was used to compare metabolic compounds of different PnNVs.ResultsOur findings revealed that s_PnNVs exhibited lower potential but had the highest cellular uptake efficiency, whereas m_PnNVs were characterized by the smallest size and lowest cellular uptake efficiency. Notably, m_PnNVs demonstrated the most effective inhibition of squamous cell carcinoma growth and migration. Compositional analyses showed that PnNVs were rich in proteins and contained lower levels of RNA, with l_PnNVs having the highest protein content. Furthermore, untargeted metabolomics analysis revealed a significant increase in the expression of specific antitumour-related metabolites in m_PnNVs compared to s_PnNVs and l_PnNVs.ConclusionOverall, our results underscore the influence of plant tuber size on the bioactivity of the nanovesicles from which they are derived, emphasizing its importance for experimental design and study reproducibility.

ObjectiveGasserian ganglion stimulation (GGS) is a neuromodulation technique that has been extensively applied in treating postherpetic trigeminal neuralgia. However, permanent implantation of GGS was preferred in most treatment approaches. Few studies have investigated temporary GGS for the treatment of acute/subacute herpetic trigeminal neuralgia. Moreover, previous research has reported lead dislocation when utilizing traditional electrodes, which was associated with poor pain relief. In GGS research, preventing the accidental displacement of lead following implantation has consistently been a primary objective.MethodsWe report a case of a 70-year-old woman with subacute herpetic trigeminal neuralgia who underwent temporary GGS for 14 days utilizing a sacral neuromodulation (SNM) quadripolar-tined lead. Computed tomography-guided percutaneous foramen ovale (FO) puncture and temporary SNM electrode implantation were performed during the surgery. A telephone interview was conducted to record a 12-month follow-up.ResultsAt admission, zoster-related trigeminal pain severity was assessed to be 9/10 on the visual analog scale (VAS). After a 14-day GGS treatment, the pain assessed on the VAS score reduced to 1/10 at discharge but increased to 4/10 at the 12-month follow-up after surgery. Additionally, the anxiety level improved from 58 points to 35 points on the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and the depression level improved from 62 points to 40 points on the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). The Physical Component Summary score of the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) increased from 33.9 to 47.0, and the Mental Component Summary (MCS) score of the SF-12 increased from 27.4 to 41.9.ConclusionTemporary GGS might be a potentially effective treatment for subacute herpetic trigeminal neuralgia, and an SNM electrode might be a good choice for reducing the risk of dislocation.

ObjectiveTo compare the effects of various sports exercise programs on the core symptoms of patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).MethodsWe searched the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP databases, Wanfang databases, Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases from their inception to February 2023 for randomized controlled trial that investigated the effect of sports exercise on the core symptoms of ASD. The overall risk of bias in the included literature was summarized using the revised Cochrane Randomized Trial Risk of Bias Tool (ROB2), and network meta-analysis was used to compare the intervention effects.ResultsA total of 30 studies involving 1,375 participants were included. The results showed that sports exercise programs, including 8–12 weeks of ball sports (SMD = −5.35, 95%CI: −7.57, −3.23), horse riding (SMD = −3.71, 95%CI: −6.18, −1.13), 8–12 weeks of comprehensive sports exercise (SMD = −2.17, 95%CI: −3.99, −0.44), and more than 12 weeks of comprehensive sports exercise (SMD = −3.75, 95%CI: −6.33, −1.24), significantly improved social interaction disorders. Furthermore, 8–12 weeks of ball sports (SMD = −4.36, 95%CI: 2.04, 6.73) and more than 12 weeks of comprehensive sports exercise (SMD = 3.65, 95%CI: 1.40, 6.08) significantly improved repetitive behaviors and restricted interests.ConclusionSports exercise can improve the core symptoms of ASD patients, and different symptoms show a selective response to different exercise elements.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42023455806.

Objective: Titanium implants are widely used in surgeries for their biocompatibility and mechanical properties. However, excessive titanium particle release can cause implant failure. This study explores Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) to coat commercially pure titanium (Cp-Ti) with TiO2, aiming to improve its frictional and corrosion resistance while reducing particle release. By comparing TiO2 films with varying ALD cycle numbers, we assess surface properties, particle release, friction, and corrosion performance, providing insights into mitigating particle release from implants.Methods: Cp-Ti surfaces were prepared and coated with TiO2 films of 100, 300, and 500 ALD cycles. Surface characterization involved SEM, EDX, and XRD. Friction was tested using SEM, nanoindentation, and ICP-MS. Corrosion resistance was evaluated through immersion tests and electrochemical analysis. Cytotoxicity was assessed using BMSCs.Results: Surface characterization revealed smoother surfaces with increased ALD cycles, confirming successful TiO2 deposition. Friction testing showed reduced friction coefficients with higher ALD cycles, supported by nanoindentation results. Corrosion resistance improved with increasing ALD cycles, as evidenced by electrochemical tests and reduced titanium release. Cytotoxicity studies showed no significant cytotoxic effects.Conclusion: ALD-coated TiO2 films significantly enhance frictional and corrosion resistance of titanium implants while reducing particle release. The study underscores the importance of ALD cycle numbers in optimizing film performance, offering insights for designing implants with improved properties.

Periodontal disease is the most common type of oral disease. Periodontal bone defect is the clinical outcome of advanced periodontal disease, which seriously affects the quality of life of patients. Promoting periodontal tissue regeneration and repairing periodontal bone defects is the ultimate treatment goal for periodontal disease, but the means and methods are very limited. Hydrogels are a class of highly hydrophilic polymer networks, and their good biocompatibility has made them a popular research material in the field of oral medicine in recent years. This paper reviews the current mainstream types and characteristics of hydrogels, and summarizes the relevant basic research on hydrogels in promoting periodontal tissue regeneration and bone defect repair in recent years. The possible mechanisms of action and efficacy evaluation are discussed in depth, and the application prospects are also discussed.

ObjectivesThe auditory spatial processing abilities mature throughout childhood and degenerate in older adults. This study aimed to compare the differences in onset cortical auditory evoked potentials (CAEPs) and location-evoked acoustic change complex (ACC) responses among children, adults, and the elderly and to investigate the impact of aging and development on ACC responses.DesignOne hundred and seventeen people were recruited in the study, including 57 typically-developed children, 30 adults, and 30 elderlies. The onset-CAEP evoked by white noise and ACC by sequential changes in azimuths were recorded. Latencies and amplitudes as a function of azimuths were analyzed using the analysis of variance, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression model.ResultsThe ACC N1’-P2’ amplitudes and latencies in adults, P1’-N1’ amplitudes in children, and N1’ amplitudes and latencies in the elderly were correlated with angles of shifts. The N1’-P2’ and P2’ amplitudes decreased in the elderly compared to adults. In Children, the ACC P1’-N1’ responses gradually differentiated into the P1’-N1’-P2’ complex. Multiple regression analysis showed that N1’-P2’ amplitudes (R2 = 0.33) and P2’ latencies (R2 = 0.18) were the two most variable predictors in adults, while in the elderly, N1’ latencies (R2 = 0.26) explained most variances. Although the amplitudes of onset-CAEP differed at some angles, it could not predict angle changes as effectively as ACC responses.ConclusionThe location-evoked ACC responses varied among children, adults, and the elderly. The N1’-P2’ amplitudes and P2’ latencies in adults and N1’ latencies in the elderly explained most variances of changes in spatial position. The differentiation of the N1’ waveform was observed in children. Further research should be conducted across all age groups, along with behavioral assessments, to confirm the relationship between aging and immaturity in objective ACC responses and poorer subjective spatial performance.SignificanceACCs evoked by location changes were assessed in adults, children, and the elderly to explore the impact of aging and development on these differences.

BackgroundPatients with age-related hearing loss (ARHL) often struggle with tracking and locating sound sources, but the neural signature associated with these impairments remains unclear.Materials and methodsUsing a passive listening task with stimuli from five different horizontal directions in functional magnetic resonance imaging, we defined functional regions of interest (ROIs) of the auditory “where” pathway based on the data of previous literatures and young normal hearing listeners (n = 20). Then, we investigated associations of the demographic, cognitive, and behavioral features of sound localization with task-based activation and connectivity of the ROIs in ARHL patients (n = 22).ResultsWe found that the increased high-level region activation, such as the premotor cortex and inferior parietal lobule, was associated with increased localization accuracy and cognitive function. Moreover, increased connectivity between the left planum temporale and left superior frontal gyrus was associated with increased localization accuracy in ARHL. Increased connectivity between right primary auditory cortex and right middle temporal gyrus, right premotor cortex and left anterior cingulate cortex, and right planum temporale and left lingual gyrus in ARHL was associated with decreased localization accuracy. Among the ARHL patients, the task-dependent brain activation and connectivity of certain ROIs were associated with education, hearing loss duration, and cognitive function.ConclusionConsistent with the sensory deprivation hypothesis, in ARHL, sound source identification, which requires advanced processing in the high-level cortex, is impaired, whereas the right–left discrimination, which relies on the primary sensory cortex, is compensated with a tendency to recruit more resources concerning cognition and attention to the auditory sensory cortex. Overall, this study expanded our understanding of the neural mechanisms contributing to sound localization deficits associated with ARHL and may serve as a potential imaging biomarker for investigating and predicting anomalous sound localization.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by synovial inflammation, cartilage destruction, pannus formation and bone erosion. Various immune cells, including macrophages, are involved in RA pathogenesis. The heterogeneity and plasticity of macrophages render them pivotal regulators of both the induction and resolution of the inflammatory response. Predominantly, two different phenotypes of macrophages have been identified: classically activated M1 macrophages exacerbate inflammation via the production of cytokines, chemokines and other inflammatory mediators, while alternatively activated M2 macrophages inhibit inflammation and facilitate tissue repair. An imbalance in the M1/M2 macrophage ratio is critical during the initiation and progression of RA. Macrophage polarization is modulated by various transcription factors, epigenetic elements and metabolic reprogramming. Curcumin, an active component of turmeric, exhibits potent immunomodulatory effects and is administered in the treatment of multiple autoimmune diseases, including RA. The regulation of macrophage polarization and subsequent cytokine production as well as macrophage migration is involved in the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effect of curcumin on RA. In this review, we summarize the underlying mechanisms by which curcumin modulates macrophage function and polarization in the context of RA to provide evidence for the clinical application of curcumin in RA treatment.

IntroductionEmergency drills are critical practices that can improve the preparedness for crisis situations. This study aims to comprehend the evaluation of emergency drill effectiveness by the staff at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Heilongjiang Province, China. It identifies potential factors that could influence the personnel’s appraisal of outcomes throughout the emergency drill procedure.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted among public health professionals from various CDCs in Heilongjiang, a northeastern Chinese province. The binary logistic regression analysis identified the factors associated with the CDC staff’s assessment of emergency drill efficacy, while the Interpretative Structural Modeling (ISM) elucidated the hierarchical structure among the influencing factors.Results53.3% (95% CI = 50.6–55.4) of participants perceived the emergency drills’ effectiveness as low. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that the following adverse factors associated with the emergency drills increased the risk of a lower evaluation: lack of equipment and poor facilities (OR = 2.324, 95% CI = 1.884–2.867), poor training quality (OR = 1.765, 95% CI = 1.445–2.115), low leadership focus (OR = 1.585, 95% CI = 1.275–1.971), insufficient training frequency (OR = 1.539, 95% CI = 1.258–1.882), low skill in designing emergency drill plans (OR = 1.494, 95% CI = 1.180–1.890), lack of funding (OR = 1.407, 95% CI = 1.111–1.781), and poor coordination between departments (OR = 1.335, 95% CI = 1.085–1.641). The ISM revealed the hierarchical relationship of the influential factors, which were classified into three levels: Surface, Middle and Bottom. The Surface Level factors were training frequency, training quality, leaders’ focus, and inter-departmental coordination. The Middle Level factors were equipment availability and skill in designing emergency drill plans. The Bottom Level factor was funding guarantee.DiscussionThis survey revealed that over half of the CDC staff rated the effectiveness of public health emergency drills as low. The Logistic-ISM Model results indicated that the evaluation of drill effectiveness was negatively influenced by insufficient facility and equipment support, financial constraints, lack of departmental coordination, and inadequate leadership attention. Among these factors, funding guarantee was the most fundamental one. Therefore, this calls for strategic decisions to increase funding for equipment, leadership training support, and effective emergency coordination.

PurposeTo describe a case of acute macular neuroretinopathy (AMN) associated with COVID-19 infection and a related literature review.MethodsA case from the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University was reported that could be linked to COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2 infection. We performed a comprehensive search on PubMed, retrieving articles containing information on AMN after COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2 infection. The key words used were ‘COVID-19’, ‘SARS-CoV-2’, ‘ophthalmic manifestations’, ‘acute macular neuroretinopathy’, and ‘paracentral scotomas’. The relevant data were extracted, charted, consolidated, and evaluated. Moreover, manual exploration of the reference lists of pertinent articles was carried out.ResultsWe describe the case of a 30-year-old young woman who developed bilateral AMN one day after being infected with COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2. She had severe visual impairment (20/2000 OD and 20/32 OS), and her vision recovered after taking oral corticosteroids. After reviewing the literature, we summarized 16 relevant reports and found that symptoms of AMN tend to arise 1 day to 1 month after COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2 infection. Contraceptive pills and other risk factors should be avoided to reduce the risk of adverse outcomes. Oral prednisone may be an effective treatment for those experiencing important vision loss.ConclusionSymptoms of AMN can arise 1 day to 1 month after COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2 infection. Ophthalmologists should remain vigilant about this disease, notably because patient characteristics may deviate from the norm.

ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the effects of mind-body exercise on risk factors of metabolic syndrome such as insulin resistance.MethodsWeb of Science, PubMed, The Cochrane Library, EBSCO host, Embase, China Knowledge Network, China Biomedical Literature Database, Wanfang, and VIP were searched for the period from the establishment of the database to 1 July 2023, and randomized controlled trials of mind-body exercise interventions in patients with metabolic syndrome were collected. We applied the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool RoB2 to evaluate the methodological quality of the included literature and used RevMan5.4 software and Stata15.1 for statistical analysis.ResultsA total of 14 randomized controlled trials with 1148 patients were included in this study. Meta-analysis showed that mind-body exercise significantly improved insulin resistance [SMD=-0.78, 95% CI: (-1.13, -0.43), P

BackgroundFluid intake in the elderly may influence urination behaviors and further influence their health status. This study investigated the behaviors of fluid intake, urination and their relationships among the elderly in China.MethodsStratified random sampling was used to recruit the elderly participants who met the inclusion criteria from five cities in China. Participants’ total fluid intake (TFI) level was investigated using a validated 7-day 24 h fluid intake questionnaire. Their urination behaviors in real time were also recorded using a validated 7-day 24 h urination behavior record.ResultsA total of 524 participants completed the study, including 233 males and 291 females. The average age was 69.7 years. The median daily TFI was 1,241 mL, with a frequency of 8.1 times per day. Approximately 73.3% of the participants did not reach the amount of adequate fluid intake (1.7 L for males and 1.5 L for females) recommended in China. Fluid intake in the morning, afternoon, and evening among participants was 594 mL, 305 mL and 342 mL, with a frequency of 3.0 times, 1.7 times, and 2.0 times, respectively. The median urination frequency was 7.4 times per day. The percentage of participants who urinated >7 times during the day was 44.3%. The percentage of participants who urinated ≥1 time at night was 77.5%. Age and BMI were not the main influence factors for fluid intake and urination behaviors. The preliminary analysis showed that higher TFI, plain water intake, dairy products intake, and fluid intake frequency were significantly associated with higher urination frequency (t = 6.553, p

ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between physical activity level, muscle strength, working memory and cognitive function in older adults.MethodsA cross-sectional research design was employed to recruit 120 older adults individuals aged 70 and above. Participants were asked to complete the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale. Data on variables such as grip strength and performance on the N-back task were collected. Data analysis involved the use of independent samples t-tests, χ2 tests, linear regression analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).ResultsThe detection rate of cognitive dysfunction in older adults was 53.211%; 1-back correct rate had an explanatory power of 11.6% for the cognitive function scores of older adults (R2 = 0.116, p

Soil salinity is a major factor threatening the production of crops around the world. Smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis L.) is a high-quality grass in northern and northwestern China. Currently, selecting and utilizing salt-tolerant genotypes is an important way to mitigate the detrimental effects of salinity on crop productivity. In our research, salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive varieties were selected from 57 accessions based on a comprehensive evaluation of 22 relevant indexes, and their salt-tolerance physiological and molecular mechanisms were further analyzed. Results showed significant differences in salt tolerance between 57 genotypes, with Q25 and Q46 considered to be the most salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive accessions, respectively, compared to other varieties. Under saline conditions, the salt-tolerant genotype Q25 not only maintained significantly higher photosynthetic performance, leaf relative water content (RWC), and proline content but also exhibited obviously lower relative conductivity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content than the salt-sensitive Q46 (p < 0.05). The transcriptome sequencing indicated 15,128 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in Q46, of which 7,885 were upregulated and 7,243 downregulated, and 12,658 DEGs in Q25, of which 6,059 were upregulated and 6,599 downregulated. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis showed that the salt response differences between Q25 and Q46 were attributed to the variable expression of genes associated with plant hormone signal transduction and MAPK signaling pathways. Furthermore, a large number of candidate genes, related to salt tolerance, were detected, which involved transcription factors (zinc finger proteins) and accumulation of compatible osmolytes (glutathione S-transferases and pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductases), etc. This study offers an important view of the physiological and molecular regulatory mechanisms of salt tolerance in two smooth bromegrass genotypes and lays the foundation for further identification of key genes linked to salt tolerance.

Gravel-mulched land in China suffers from poor natural resources and fragile ecological environment, posing a challenge to effective restoration of ecological function. Lonicera japonica, a traditional Chinese herb used for treating human diseases, is a highly adaptable and resilient plant species, can effectively improve the soil properties, and may have important implications for the ecology and economy of gravel-mulched land. A study was conducted in a gravel-mulched field to measure the impact of planting the L. japonica (including control (CK), 1-year, 2-year, and 4-year cultivation of plants) on (i) dynamic changes in soil nutrient and enzyme activity properties, and (ii) soil rhizosphere microbial community structure characteristics. We found that the concentration of soil organic carbon, available nitrogen, available phosphorus and available potassium in L. japonica soil after cultivation for 1–4 years increased by 11–409%. The urease, phosphatase and catalase activities were increased by 11–560%, with the highest nutrient concentration and enzyme activity in 4-year plants. The pH value gradually decreased after cultivation. The improved soil environments increased soil bacterial community diversity. Planting L. japonica significantly increased the bacterial ACE, Chao1 index, Simpson index, and Shannon-Wiener index. The Firmicutes, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were observed in dominant phyla. The relative abundance of eight genera, including Streptococcus, Veillonella and Rothia, was significantly reduced by more than 1%. Taken together, these soil indicators suggest that planting L. japonica in the short term would be a cost-effective strategy to combat soil degradation in a gravel-mulched ecosystem.

Background and aimsCarbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) has become a leading cause of nosocomial infections with an increasing impact on critically ill patients, yet there is limited data on contributing factors. This study was aim to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors, and clinical outcomes of CRAB infections among critically ill children in a tertiary university teaching hospital in China.MethodsFrom January 2016 to December 2021, all children diagnosed with nosocomial Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) infections in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) were identified through the computerized microbiology laboratory databases. Among them, children suffering from CRAB infection were designated as a case group, while children with carbapenem susceptible A. baumannii (CSAB) infection were assigned to a control group. This retrospective case-control study was based on two groups of patients to determine potential clinical factors contributing to CRAB infection and death among critically ill children via univariate and multivariate analyses.ResultsDuring the 6-year study period, a total of 372 episodes of nosocomial A. baumannii infection in the PICU were eligible and included in the study. These isolates displayed moderate or high rates of resistance to all tested antimicrobials except colistin. The overall prevalence of CRAB and MDRAB (multidrug-resistant A. baumannii) was 78.0% and 80.9%, respectively. Several risk factors found to significantly increase CRAB infection included receiving invasive operation (OR = 9.412, p = 0.001), gastric intubation (OR = 2.478, p = 0.026), prior carbapenems exposure (OR = 2.543, p = 0.003), severe pneumonia (OR = 3.235, p = 0.001), and hemoglobin 46U/L (OR = 2.015, p = 0.005), bone marrow aspiration (OR = 2.704, p = 0.008), lymphocyte

BackgroundWe aimed to explore the frequencies of islet β-cell autoantibodies and insulin resistance (IR) in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) and identify specific diabetes mellitus (DM) indicators as early predictors for dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON).MethodsNinety-eight TAO patients (57 DON and 41 non-DON patients) and 48 healthy control (HC) participants were recruited for this prospective cross-sectional study. Serum thyroxine, serum thyroid autoantibodies, serum humoral immune markers against islet β-cell, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting serum insulin (FINS), fasting c-peptide (FCP), and glycosylated hemoglobin A1 (HbA1c) were measured. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the correlation of patients’ age, body mass index (BMI), FPG, HbA1c, and related indexes of islet β-cell function to the occurrence of DON.ResultsThe DON group had higher FPG (P0.05). On univariate analysis, age (P=0.006), BMI (P=0.022), history of steroid use (P=0.014), FPG (P=0.013), and HbA1c (P=0.001) levels were significantly associated with the presence/absence of DON. In addition, after adjusting for potential confounds, the HbA1c level was an independent factor associated with DON (P=0.009, OR=4.012).ConclusionsHbA1c is an independent risk factor for DON. Given the interconnected link between thyroid dysfunction and DM, the use of HbA1c as a potential biomarker for DON warrants further investigation.

ObjectivePrevious research has primarily focused on the association between muscle strength and global cognitive function in older adults, while the connection between muscle strength and advanced cognitive function such as inhibition and working memory (WM) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship among muscle strength, WM, and task-related cortex hemodynamics.MethodsWe recruited eighty-one older adults. Muscle strength was measured using a grip and lower limb strength protocol. We measured the WM performance by using reaction time (RT) and accuracy (ACC) in the N-back task and the cortical hemodynamics of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) by functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).ResultsWe found positive correlations between grip strength (p

BackgroundWith the rapid changes in body image construction brought about by the upgrading of consumption in China, trend-seeking college students are faced with mental health problems brought about by the pursuit of the “ideal body type,” which cannot be ignored. This study aims to explore the relationship between body image construction and mental health among college students. This study utilized data from the Survey on Physical Activity and Mental Health of College Students. A total of 1,192 students were randomly selected as the survey sample, and 1,044 valid samples were obtained. The mean age of the respondents was 19.34 years.MethodsFirst, we categorized body image constructs into three categories based on the differences between subjective and objective body image: high acceptance, low acceptance, and consistency. Second, to ensure analytical rigor and minimize potential confounders, we used a generalized propensity score weighting model. Finally, we used a causal mediation framework to investigate the potential causal mechanisms between the independent variable (perceived body image bias) and the dependent variable (mental health) in order to better understand the “net effect.”Results(1) There is a significant correlation between college students’ body image perceptual bias and mental health, i.e., the higher the individual’s acceptance of his/her own body image, the higher the level of mental health, and vice versa. (2) Students in humanities and social sciences are more likely to have increased psychological burden due to poor negative body image. (3) In the mediation analysis, although the causal mediating effect of physical exercise was not significant, family and peer support in physical exercise played an important mediating role, especially the influence of peers was more significant.ConclusionThe construction of body image is a double-edged sword that can either promote positive individual development or lead to self-depreciation. Creating a positive climate for physical activity has a positive impact on college students’ mental health compared to participation in physical activity behaviors. While improving students’ media literacy on college campuses, it is important to enhance adaptive guidance to promote their physical and mental health and personal development.

Gluconeogenesis is closely related to the occurrence and development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Gentiopicroside (GPS) is the main active secoiridoid glycoside in Gentiana manshurica Kitagawa, which can improve chronic complications associated with diabetes and regulate glucose metabolism. However, the effects and potential mechanisms by which GPS affects T2DM understudied and poorly understood. In this study, we systematically explored the pharmacological effects of GPS on T2DM induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ) as well as explored its related mechanisms. The results showed that GPS supplementation discernibly decreased blood glucose levels, food intake and water consumption, ameliorated glucose intolerance, abnormal pyruvate tolerance, insulin resistance and dyslipidemia. Furthermore, GPS discernibly ameliorated pathological morphological abnormalities of the liver and pancreas, reduced hepatic steatosis and maintain the balance between α-cells and β-cells in pancreas. Moreover, GPS significantly inhibited gluconeogenesis, as evidenced by the suppressed protein expression of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and glucose 6-phosphatase (G6Pase) in the liver. Additionally, the results of Western blot analysis revealed that GPS increased p-PI3K, p-AKT, and p-FOXO1 expression levels, and decreased FOXO1 expression at protein level in the liver. Furthermore, the results of the immunostaining and Western blot analysis demonstrated that GPS supplementation increased the expression of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and occludin in the ileum. Collectively, these results indicate that GPS may inhibit hepatic gluconeogenesis by regulating the PI3K/AKT/FOXO1 signaling pathway and maintain intestinal barrier integrity, and ultimately improve T2DM. Together, these findings indicate that GPS is a potential candidate drug for the prevention and treatment of T2DM, and the results of our study will provide experimental basis for further exploration of the possibility of GPS as a therapeutic agent for T2DM.

The real-time sleep staging algorithm that can perform inference on mobile devices without burden is a prerequisite for closed-loop sleep modulation. However, current deep learning sleep staging models have poor real-time efficiency and redundant parameters. We propose a lightweight and high-performance sleep staging model named Micro SleepNet, which takes a 30-s electroencephalography (EEG) epoch as input, without relying on contextual signals. The model features a one-dimensional group convolution with a kernel size of 1 × 3 and an Efficient Channel and Spatial Attention (ECSA) module for feature extraction and adaptive recalibration. Moreover, the model efficiently performs feature fusion using dilated convolution module and replaces the conventional fully connected layer with Global Average Pooling (GAP). These design choices significantly reduce the total number of model parameters to 48,226, with only approximately 48.95 Million Floating-point Operations per Second (MFLOPs) computation. The proposed model is conducted subject-independent cross-validation on three publicly available datasets, achieving an overall accuracy of up to 83.3%, and the Cohen Kappa is 0.77. Additionally, we introduce Class Activation Mapping (CAM) to visualize the model’s attention to EEG waveforms, which demonstrate the model’s ability to accurately capture feature waveforms of EEG at different sleep stages. This provides a strong interpretability foundation for practical applications. Furthermore, the Micro SleepNet model occupies approximately 100 KB of memory on the Android smartphone and takes only 2.8 ms to infer one EEG epoch, meeting the real-time requirements of sleep staging tasks on mobile devices. Consequently, our proposed model has the potential to serve as a foundation for accurate closed-loop sleep modulation.

ObjectivesDespite the increasing use of computed tomography (CT), chest X-ray (CXR) remains the first-line investigation for suspected lung cancer (LC) in primary care. However, the associations of CXR trajectories, smoking and LC risk remain unknown.MethodsA total of 52,486 participants from the PLCO and 22,194 participants from the NLST were included. The associations of CXR trajectories with LC risk were evaluated with multivariable COX regression models and pooled with meta-analyses. Further analyses were conducted to explore the stratified associations by smoking status and the factors associated with progression and regression in CXR.ResultsCompared to stable negative CXR (CXRSN), HRs (95%CIs) of LC incidence were 2.88(1.50–5.52), 3.86(2.03–7.35), and 1.08(0.80–1.46) for gain of positive CXR (CXRGP), stable positive CXR (CXRSP), and loss of positive CXR (CXRLP), while the risk of LC mortality were 1.58(1.33–1.87), 2.56(1.53–4.29), and 1.05(0.89–1.25). Similar trends were observed across different smoking status. However, LC risk with CXRGP overweighed that with CXRSP among ever smokers [2.95(2.25–3.88) vs. 2.59(1.33–5.02)] and current smokers [2.33(1.70–3.18) vs. 2.26(1.06–4.83)]. Moreover, compared to CXRSN among never smokers, even no progression in CXR, the HRs(95%CIs) of LC incidence were 7.39(5.60–9.75) and 31.45(23.58–41.95) for ever and current smokers, while risks of LC mortality were 6.30(5.07–7.81) and 27.17(21.65–34.11). If participants gained positive CXR, LC incidence risk significantly climbed to 22.04(15.37–31.60) and 71.97(48.82–106.09) for ever and current smokers, while LC mortality risk climbed to 11.90(8.58–16.50) and 38.92(27.04–56.02). CXRLP was associated with decreased LC risk. However, even smokers lost their positive CXR, and the increased risks of LC incidence and mortality did not decrease to non-significant level. Additionally, smoking was significantly associated with increased risk of CXRGP but not CXRLP.ConclusionLC risk differed across CXR trajectories and would be modified by smoking status. Comprehensive intervention incorporating CXR trajectories and smoking status should be recommended to reduce LC risk.

The Acer truncatum Bunge, widely distributed in North China, shows excellent tolerance to low-P soils. However, little information is available on potential phosphate-solubilizing bacterial (PSB) strains from the A. truncatum rhizosphere. The objectives of this work were to isolate and characterize PSB from A. truncatum rhizosphere soil and to evaluate the effect of inoculation with the selected strain on A. truncatum seedlings. The strains were characterized on the basis of phenotypic characteristics, carbon source utilization pattern, fatty acid methyl esters analysis, 16S rRNA gene and the whole-genome sequence. A Gram-negative and rod-shaped bacterium, designated MQR6T, showed a high capacity to solubilize phosphate and produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and siderophores. The strain can solubilize tricalcium phosphate (TCP) and rock phosphate (RP), and the solubilization of TCP was about 60% more effective than RP. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene and whole-genome sequences revealed that strain MQR6T formed a distinct phyletic lineage as a new species within the genus Pantoea. The digital DNA-DNA hybridization value between strain MQR6T and the closely related strains was 19.5-23.3%. The major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16:1ω7c and/or C16:1ω6c), summed feature 8 (C18:1ω6c and/or C18:1ω7c), C14:0, C16:0, and C17:0 cyclo. Several genes related to IAA production, phosphonate transport, phosphate solubilization and siderophore biogenesis were found in the MQR6T genome. Furthermore, inoculation with the strain MQR6T significantly improved plant height, trunk diameter, dry weight and P accumulation in roots and shoot of A. truncatum seedlings compared to non-inoculated control. These plant parameters were improved even further in the treatment with both inoculation and P fertilization. Our results suggested that MQR6T represented a new species we named Pantoea rhizosphaerae, as a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium that can solubilize inorganic P and improve growth of A. truncatum seedlings, emerging as a potential strategy to improve A. truncatum cultivation.

ObjectiveThe aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to systematically investigate the intervention effect of physical exercise on disordered social communication in patients with autism spectrum disorders.MethodsThis systematic review and meta-analysis used the PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and Embase electronic databases to conduct a systematic search of literature describing randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effect of physical exercise on disordered social communication in autistic patients from the first year of inclusion to 21 January 2023.ResultsA total of 14 RCTs including 460 autistic patients were analyzed. A meta-analysis showed that physical exercise had a positive effect on social communication disorder (SMD = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.15, 0.74, p

Background: Although oxidative stress is known to contribute to cancer, and endogenous and exogenous antioxidants are thought to prevent tumorigenesis by suppressing oxidative stress-induced DNA damage, antioxidants have also been reported to show negative effects on tumor formation, necessitating characterization of the causal associations between antioxidants and cancer risk.Methods: In this study, Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis, primarily inverse-variance weighted MR, was used to assess the causal effect of six endogenous and five exogenous diet-derived antioxidants on the risk of six cancers. MR-Egger intercept test and Cochran’s Q statistic were utilized to assess pleiotropy and heterogeneity, respectively.Results: For endogenous antioxidants, a bidirectional two-sample MR analysis was conducted. Our findings suggested that serum albumin has a negative causal association with the risk of prostate cancer [odds ratio (OR) = 0.78, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.68–0.91, p = 0.001]. The risks of the six cancers showed no significant associations with endogenous antioxidants in the converse MR analysis. For exogenous antioxidants, the unidirectional two-sample MR analysis exhibited a nominal relationship between the serum retinol level and non-small-cell lung cancer risk (OR = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.11–0.76, p = 0.011).Conclusions: Thus, our study revealed the protective effects of genetic susceptibility to high circulating albumin levels on prostate cancer, providing potential targeted interventions for prostate cancer prevention.

Seeds are an indispensable part of the flowering plant life cycle and a critical determinant of agricultural production. Distinct differences in the anatomy and morphology of seeds separate monocots and dicots. Although some progress has been made with respect to understanding seed development in Arabidopsis, the transcriptomic features of monocotyledon seeds at the cellular level are much less understood. Since most important cereal crops, such as rice, maize, and wheat, are monocots, it is essential to study transcriptional differentiation and heterogeneity during seed development at a finer scale. Here, we present single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) results of over three thousand nuclei from caryopses of the rice cultivars Nipponbare and 9311 and their intersubspecies F1 hybrid. A transcriptomics atlas that covers most of the cell types present during the early developmental stage of rice caryopses was successfully constructed. Additionally, novel specific marker genes were identified for each nuclear cluster in the rice caryopsis. Moreover, with a focus on rice endosperm, the differentiation trajectory of endosperm subclusters was reconstructed to reveal the developmental process. Allele-specific expression (ASE) profiling in endosperm revealed 345 genes with ASE (ASEGs). Further pairwise comparisons of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in each endosperm cluster among the three rice samples demonstrated transcriptional divergence. Our research reveals differentiation in rice caryopsis from the single-nucleus perspective and provides valuable resources to facilitate clarification of the molecular mechanism underlying caryopsis development in rice and other monocots.

The pathogenic mechanisms of pancreatic cancer (PC) are still not fully understood. Ubiquitination modifications have a crucial role in tumorigenesis and progression. Yet, the role of MINDY2, a member of the motif interacting with Ub-containing novel DUB family (MINDY), as a newly identified deubiquitinating enzyme, in PC is still unclear. In this study, we found that MINDY2 expression is elevated in PC tissue (clinical samples) and was associated with poor prognosis. We also found that MINDY2 is associated with pro-carcinogenic factors such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), inflammatory response, and angiogenesis; the ROC curve suggested that MINDY2 has a high diagnostic value in PC. Immunological correlation analysis suggested that MINDY2 is deeply involved in immune cell infiltration in PC and is associated with immune checkpoint-related genes. In vivo and in vitro experiments further suggested that elevated MINDY2 promotes PC proliferation, invasive metastasis, and EMT. Meanwhile, actinin alpha 4 (ACTN4) was identified as a MINDY2-interacting protein by mass spectrometry and other experiments, and ACTN4 protein levels were significantly correlated with MINDY2 expression. The ubiquitination assay confirmed that MINDY2 stabilizes the ACTN4 protein level by deubiquitination. The pro-oncogenic effect of MINDY2 was significantly inhibited by silencing ACTN4. Bioinformatics Analysis and Western blot experiments further confirmed that MINDY2 stabilizes ACTN4 through deubiquitination and thus activates the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. In conclusion, we identified the oncogenic role and mechanism of MINDY2 in PC, suggesting that MINDY2 is a viable candidate gene for PC and may be a therapeutic target and critical prognostic indicator.