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Introduction: Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a transcription factor that performs various functions upon ligand activation. Several studies have explored the role of AhR expression in tumor progression and immune surveillance. Nevertheless, investigations on the distribution of AhR expression, specifically in cancer or immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME), remain limited. Examining the AhR expression and distribution in the TME is crucial for gaining insights into the mechanism of action of AhR-targeting anticancer agents and their potential as biomarkers., Methods: Here, we used multiplexed immunohistochemistry (mIHC) and image cytometry to investigate the AhR expression and distribution in 513 patient samples, of which 292 are patients with one of five solid cancer types. Additionally, we analyzed the nuclear and cytosolic distribution of AhR expression., Results: Our findings reveal that AhR expression was primarily localized in cancer cells, followed by stromal T cells and macrophages. Furthermore, we observed a positive correlation between the nuclear and cytosolic expression of AhR, indicating that the expression of AhR as a biomarker is independent of its localization. Interestingly, the expression patterns of AhR were categorized into three clusters based on the cancer type, with high AhR expression levels being found in regulatory T cells (Tregs) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)., Discussion: These findings are anticipated to serve as pivotal evidence for the design of clinical trials and the analysis of the anticancer mechanisms of AhR-targeting therapies., Competing Interests: Author SS-K was employed by the company JEUK Co., Ltd. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Kim, Lee, Han, Park, Han, Na, Kim, Yang, Baek, Kim, Hwang, Lee, Kang, Hong, Lim, Lee, Kim, Cho and Pyo.)

Although it is evident that PM 2.5 has serious adverse health effects, there is no consensus on what the biologically effective dose is. In this study, the intrinsic oxidative potential (OPm) and the extrinsic oxidative potential (OPv) of PM 2.5 were measured using three chemical assays including dithiothreitol (DTT), ascorbic acid (AA), and reduced glutathione (GSH), along with chemical compositions of PM 2.5 in South Korea. Among the three chemical assays, only OPm AA showed a statistically significant correlation with PM 2.5 while OPm GSH and OPm DTT were not correlated with PM 2.5 mass concentration. When the samples were categorized by PM 2.5 mass concentrations, the variations in the proportion of Ni, As, Mn, Cd, Pb, and Se to PM 2.5 mass closely coincided with changes in OPm across all three assays, suggesting a potential association between these elements and PM 2.5 OP. Multiple linear regression analysis identified the significant PM components affecting the variability in extrinsic OPv. OPv AA was determined to be significantly influenced by EC, K + , and Ba while OC and Al were common significant factors for OPv GSH and OPv DTT . It was also found that primary OC was an important variable for OPv DTT while secondary OC significantly affected the variability of OPv GSH ., 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.)

Incorporating functional organic linkers into supertetrahedral chalcogenolate cluster-based materials is an effective synthetic strategy to expand structural diversity and generate tunable optical and photoelectric properties arising from synergistic effects. Herein, a mixed ligand engineering approach was adopted to design a supertetrahedral cluster-based assembled material [(Cd 6 Ag 4 (SPh) 16 (TPPA)(BPE) 0.5 )·2DMF] n (denoted as SCCAM-3) with a 2D bilayer architecture and broader visible-light absorption. Interestingly, SCCAM-3 demonstrates a long-lived afterglow at 83 K and efficient photocatalytic activity for degrading tetracycline in water.

Noise-enhanced applications in open quantum walk (QW) has recently seen a surge due to their ability to improve performance. However, verifying the success of open QW is challenging, as mixed-state tomography is a resource-intensive process, and implementing all required measurements is almost impossible due to various physical constraints. To address this challenge, we present a neural-network-based method for reconstructing mixed states with a high fidelity (∼97.5%) while costing only 50% of the number of measurements typically required for open discrete-time QW in one dimension. Our method uses a neural density operator that models the system and environment, followed by a generalized natural gradient descent procedure that significantly speeds up the training process. Moreover, we introduce a compact interferometric measurement device, improving the scalability of our photonic QW setup that enables experimental learning of mixed states. Our results demonstrate that highly expressive neural networks can serve as powerful alternatives to traditional state tomography.

Photonic quantum computation plays an important role and offers unique advantages. Two decades after the milestone work of Knill-Laflamme-Milburn, various architectures of photonic processors have been proposed, and quantum advantage over classical computers has also been demonstrated. It is now the opportune time to apply this technology to real-world applications. However, at current technology level, this aim is restricted by either programmability in bulk optics or loss in integrated optics for the existing architectures of processors, for which the resource cost is also a problem. Here we present a von-Neumann-like architecture based on temporal-mode encoding and looped structure on table, which is capable of multimode-universal programmability, resource-efficiency, phase-stability and software-scalability. In order to illustrate these merits, we execute two different programs with varying resource requirements on the same processor, to investigate quantum signature of chaos from two aspects: the signature behaviors exhibited in phase space (13 modes), and the Fermi golden rule which has not been experimentally studied in quantitative way before (26 modes). The maximal program contains an optical interferometer network with 1694 freely-adjustable phases. Considering current state-of-the-art, our architecture stands as the most promising candidate for real-world applications., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Plant phytochromes, renowned phosphoproteins, are red and far-red photoreceptors that regulate growth and development in response to light signals. Studies on phytochrome phosphorylation postulate that the N-terminal extension (NTE) and hinge region between N- and C-domains are sites of phosphorylation. Further studies have demonstrated that phosphorylation in the hinge region is important for regulating protein-protein interactions with downstream signaling partners, and phosphorylation in the NTE partakes in controlling phytochrome activity for signal attenuation and nuclear import. Moreover, phytochrome-associated protein phosphatases have been reported, indicating a role of reversible phosphorylation in phytochrome regulation. Furthermore, phytochromes exhibit serine/threonine kinase activity with autophosphorylation, and studies on phytochrome mutants with impaired or increased kinase activity corroborate that they are functional protein kinases in plants. In addition to the autophosphorylation, phytochromes negatively regulate PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTORs (PIFs) in a light-dependent manner by phosphorylating them as kinase substrates. Very recently, a few protein kinases have also been reported to phosphorylate phytochromes, suggesting new views on the regulation of phytochrome via phosphorylation. Using these recent advances, this review details phytochrome regulation through phosphorylation and highlights their significance as protein kinases in plant light signaling., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (Copyright © 2024 Han, Kim and Kim.)

Precisely introducing topological defects is an important strategy in nanographene crystal engineering because defects can tune π-electronic structures and control molecular assemblies. The synergistic control of the synthesis and assembly of nanographenes by embedding the topological defects to afford two-dimensional (2D) crystals on surfaces is still a great challenge. By in-situ embedding ladder bipyrazinylene (LBPy) into acene, the narrowest nanographene with zigzag edges, we have achieved the precise preparation of 2D nonbenzenoid heteroacene crystals on Au(111). Through intramolecular electrocyclization of o-diisocyanides and Au adatom-directed [2+2] cycloaddition, the nonbenzenoid heteroacene products are produced with high chemoselectivity, and lead to the molecular 2D assembly via LBPy-derived interlocking hydrogen bonds. Using bond-resolved scanning tunneling microscopy, we determined the atomic structures of the nonbenzenoid heteroacene product and diverse organometallic intermediates. The tunneling spectroscopy measurements revealed the electronic structure of the nonbenzenoid heteroacene, which is supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The observed distinct organometallic intermediates during progression annealing combined with DFT calculations demonstrated that LBPy formation proceeds via electrocyclization of o-diisocyanides, trapping of heteroarynes by Au adatoms, and stepwise elimination of Au adatoms., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Introduction: To understand the immune system within the tumor microenvironment (TME) of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), it is crucial to elucidate the characteristics of molecules associated with T cell activation., Methods: We conducted an in-depth analysis using single-cell RNA sequencing data obtained from tissue samples of 19 NSCLC patients. T cells were classified based on the Tumor Proportion Score (TPS) within the tumor region, and molecular markers associated with activation and exhaustion were analyzed in T cells from high TPS areas., Results: Notably, tetraspanins CD81 and CD82, belonging to the tetraspanin protein family, were found to be expressed in activated T cells, particularly in cytotoxic T cells. These tetraspanins showed strong correlations with activation and exhaustion markers. In vitro experiments confirmed increased expression of CD81 and CD82 in IL-2-stimulated T cells. T cells were categorized into CD81 high CD82 high and CD81 low CD82 low groups based on their expression levels, with CD81 high CD82 high T cells exhibiting elevated activation markers such as CD25 and CD69 compared to CD81 low CD82 low T cells. This trend was consistent across CD3 + , CD8 + , and CD4 + T cell subsets. Moreover, CD81 high CD82 high T cells, when stimulated with anti-CD3, demonstrated enhanced secretion of cytokines such as IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2, along with an increase in the proportion of memory T cells. Bulk RNA sequencing results after sorting CD81 high CD82 high and CD81 low CD82 low T cells consistently supported the roles of CD81 and CD82. Experiments with overexpressed CD81 and CD82 showed increased cytotoxicity against target cells., Discussion: These findings highlight the multifaceted roles of CD81 and CD82 in T cell activation, cytokine production, memory subset accumulation, and target cell cytolysis. Therefore, these findings suggest the potential of CD81 and CD82 as promising candidates for co-stimulatory molecules in immune therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment within the intricate TME., Competing Interests: Author S-SK was employed by JEUK Institute for Cancer Research, JEUK Co., Ltd. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Na, Lee, Kim, Kim, Hwang, Kang, Baek, Lee, Yang, Han, Kim, Han, Kim, Kim, Jeon, Byeon, Lee, Lim, Hong, Pyo and Cho.)

Importance: Multiple pregnancy is relatively common in many countries and is associated with various pregnancy complications, including preterm birth, low birth weight, and congenital anomalies. In particular, a poorer prognosis has been reported when congenital anomalies overlap with other pregnancy complications in multiple pregnancy compared with singleton pregnancy., Objective: This study reviews the characteristics of congenital anomalies that occur in multiple gestations as compared with singleton pregnancies., Evidence Acquisition: An extensive manual search of major electronic databases was conducted in June 2023. This literature review provides a comprehensive coverage of the congenital anomalies in multiple pregnancy., Results: Most studies have shown that multiple gestations are associated with an increased risk of congenital anomalies compared with singleton pregnancies. In addition, higher rates of congenital anomalies and concordance have been observed in monozygotic versus dizygotic twins. The effect of assisted reproductive therapies on the risk of congenital anomalies appears to be smaller in multiple gestations than in singleton pregnancies., Conclusions: Multiple pregnancy is significantly associated with an increased risk of congenital anomalies., Relevance: This review provides obstetrical providers with the requisite knowledge to offer appropriate antenatal care and prenatal anomaly screening to patients with multiple pregnancies.

Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) screening for fetal aneuploidies is clinically available and exhibits better performance than conventional serum screening tests. However, data on the clinical performance of cfDNA screening in twin pregnancies are limited. In this review, we summarized the clinical performance and evaluated the feasibility of cfDNA screening in twin pregnancies based on recent studies and recommendations. The performance of cfDNA screening for trisomy 21 in twin pregnancies is similar to that in singleton pregnancies. Specifically, cfDNA screening has a higher detection rate and lower false-positive rate compared with conventional serum screening. Consequently, recent international guidelines from several academic communities have recommended that cfDNA screening for aneuploidy in twin pregnancies could be considered. Moreover, twin pregnancies can present with specific conditions, such as different zygosities and vanishing twins; therefore, individualized counseling and management are required. Further clinical studies with more twin pregnancies are required for a more accurate analysis.

High-capacity silicon (Si) materials hold a position at the forefront of advanced lithium-ion batteries. The inherent potential offers considerable advantages for substantially increasing the energy density in batteries, capable of maximizing the benefit by changing the paradigm from nano- to micron-sized Si particles. Nevertheless, intrinsic structural instability remains a significant barrier to its practical application, especially for larger Si particles. Here, a covalently interconnected system is reported employing Si microparticles (5 µm) and a highly elastic gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) through electron beam irradiation. The integrated system mitigates the substantial volumetric expansion of pure Si, enhancing overall stability, while accelerating charge carrier kinetics due to the high ionic conductivity. Through the cost-effective but practical approach of electron beam technology, the resulting 500 mAh-pouch cell showed exceptional stability and high gravimetric/volumetric energy densities of 413 Wh kg -1 , 1022 Wh L -1 , highlighting the feasibility even in current battery production lines., (© 2024 The Authors. Advanced Science published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Vancomycin is a frequently used antibiotic in intensive care units, and the patient's renal clearance affects the pharmacokinetic characteristics of vancomycin. Several advantages have been reported for vancomycin continuous intravenous infusion, but studies on continuous dosing regimens based on patients' renal clearance are insufficient. The aim of this study was to develop a vancomycin serum concentration prediction model by factoring in a patient's renal clearance. Children admitted to our institution between July 1, 2021, and July 31, 2022 with records of continuous infusion of vancomycin were included in the study. Sex, age, height, weight, vancomycin dose by weight, interval from the start of vancomycin administration to the time of therapeutic drug monitoring sampling, and vancomycin serum concentrations were analyzed with the linear regression analysis of the mixed effect model. Univariable regression analysis was performed using the vancomycin serum concentration as a dependent variable. It showed that vancomycin dose (p < 0.001) and serum creatinine (p = 0.007) were factors that had the most impact on vancomycin serum concentration. Vancomycin serum concentration was affected by vancomycin dose (p < 0.001) and serum creatinine (p = 0.001) with statistical significance, and a multivariable regression model was obtained as follows: Vancomycin serum concentration (mg/l) = -1.296 + 0.281 × vancomycin dose (mg/kg) + 20.458 × serum creatinine (mg/dl) (adjusted coefficient of determination, R 2 = 0.66). This prediction model is expected to contribute to establishing an optimal continuous infusion regimen for vancomycin.

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) can negatively affect infant well-being and child development. Although the frequency and risk factors of PPD symptoms might vary depending on the country and culture, there is limited research on these risk factors among Korean women. This study aimed to elucidate the potential risk factors of PPD throughout pregnancy to help improve PPD screening and prevention in Korean women., Methods: The pregnant women at 12 gestational weeks (GW) were enrolled from two obstetric specialized hospitals from March 2013 to November 2017. A questionnaire survey was administered at 12 GW, 24 GW, 36 GW, and 4 weeks postpartum. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and PPD was defined as a score of ≥ 10., Results: PPD was prevalent in 16.3% (410/2,512) of the participants. Depressive feeling at 12 GW and postpartum factors of stress, relationship with children, depressive feeling, fear, sadness, and neonatal intensive care unit admission of baby were significantly associated with a higher risk of PPD. Meanwhile, high postpartum quality of life and marital satisfaction at postpartum period were significantly associated with a lower risk of PPD. We developed a model for predicting PPD using factors as mentioned above and it had an area under the curve of 0.871., Conclusion: Depressive feeling at 12 GW and postpartum stress, fear, sadness, relationship with children, low quality of life, and low marital satisfaction increased the risk of PPD. A risk model that comprises significant factors can effectively predict PPD and can be helpful for its prevention and appropriate treatment., Competing Interests: The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose., (© 2024 The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences.)

Purpose: Pollen forecasting systems can provide information for coping with respiratory allergies. They estimate daily pollen production, dispersal, deposition, and removal based on daily weather conditions to predict daily pollen concentrations and provide allergy warnings. As of 2023, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) provides 2-day forecast of allergenic pollens. However, unlike these models, long-term analysis of annual observations of tree pollen reveal annual variations. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to develop annual prediction models for allergenic tree pollens based on long-term multi-site pollen and meteorological data., Methods: Daily pollen concentrations were observed using Hirst-type volumetric spore traps at nine sites in Korea from 1998 to 2021, and daily weather data from the closest KMA stations were utilized. Models were developed to predict the seasonal pollen integral of seven tree species based on monthly mean temperature, wind speed, and total precipitation using three variable selection methods: 1) the t -test based key variable screening followed by linear regression with stepwise procedure (TM), 2) direct linear regression with stepwise procedure from the full variable model (FM), and 3) LASSO regression from the full variable model (LM)., Results: Data obtained during 1998-2017 and 2018=2021 were utilized for model development and validation, respectively. The root mean squared error, mean absolute error, mean error, and coefficient of determination (R²) revealed that the TM models were best suited for actual forecasting, even though R² in the TM model was lower than those of the FM and LM models., Conclusions: The annual variation model in this study can be integrated with the daily pollen forecast model by controlling the annual pollen potential, and the accuracy of the daily forecast can be improved accordingly., Competing Interests: There are no financial or other issues that might lead to conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Korean Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology • The Korean Academy of Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Disease.)

Carbon black (CB) particles that can absorb from near ultraviolet to infrared rays are well dispersed into an isotropic dielectric liquid and their optical properties can be kept even under exposure to sunlight over a long time. The shutter which controls the position of CB particles by electrophoretic force can be applied to switchable light shutters for windows in buildings and automobiles for the purpose of energy savings. Here, a wideband light shutter with three terminal electrodes is proposed, exhibiting excellent dark (transmittance ≈1.4%) and transparent state (transmittance >60%). The device operates at a low field intensity of about 1 V µm -1 to obtain transparent state and its wide temperature range operation from -50 to 120 °C is confirmed while conventional liquid crystal-based shutter cannot perform such levels due to a limited temperature range in the nematic phase. In addition, haze is minimized in a transparent state by adopting an insulation layer over electrodes and a solution is found to keep a transparent state without applying power. It is believed that the proposed broadband shutter with fast response time could open a new chapter in switchable windows owing to its low power consumption and working in a wide temperature range., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Introduction: Frailty is a reduced physiological reserve condition associated with postoperative morbidity and mortality. The chart-derived frailty index (CFI) can measure frailty using demographic and laboratory values. We evaluated the association of preoperative CFI with 90-d mortality after burn surgery., Methods: This large retrospective study included burn intensive care unit (ICU) patients between 2012 and 2021 and calculated CFI using the sum of the following five variables: age >70 y, body mass index <18.5 kg/m 2 , hematocrit <35%, albumin <3.4 g/dL, and creatinine >2.0 mg/dL; high CFI was a score of 3-5. Postoperative 90-d mortality rate, major adverse cardiac events (MACE), pneumonia, continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) requirement, and prolonged ICU stay (>60 d) were evaluated., Results: Of 1118 patients, 147 (13.1%) had high CFI. High CFI patients had a higher 90-d mortality rate than did low CFI patients (38.8% versus 22.6%, P < 0.001). A high CFI was significantly associated with postoperative 90-d mortality (hazard ratio = 4.124, 95% confidence interval = 2.980-5.707, P < 0.001) in multivariate Cox regression analysis. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed significantly different postoperative 90-d mortality rates between patients with high and low CFIs (log-rank test, P < 0.001). Incidences of postoperative MACE, pneumonia, the need for CRRT, and prolonged ICU stay were significantly higher in patients with high CFIs than in those with low CFIs., Conclusions: Preoperative high CFI was associated with increased 90-d mortality, MACE, pneumonia, CRRT requirement, and ICU stay following burn surgery., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To analyze the differences of clinical manifestations and laboratory features between primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) patients with positive and negative anti-Sjögren's syndrome type B (SSB) antibody., Methods: The clinical data of pSS patients hospitalized in Department of Rheumato-logy and Immunology, Peking University Third Hospital were retrospectively analyzed to investigate the differences of clinical and laboratory features between anti-SSB positive and negative groups. The t test, Mann-Whitney U test, Chi-square test and Fisher's exact probability were used for analysis., Results: A total of 142 pSS patients were enrolled in this study, including 137 females and 5 males with a mean age of (54.8±13.3) years. The anti-SSB positive group included 44 patients accounting for 31.0% of the pSS patients. The anti-SSB positive pSS patients were younger at disease onset and at visit [age at visit: (50.9±14.5) years vs. (56.5±12.4) years; age at onset: (42.2±14.8) years vs . (49.5±15.3) years, P < 0.05]. The patients with anti-SSB positive more frequently presented with rash (29.5% vs . 14.3%, P < 0.05), enlargement of parotid glands (27.3% vs . 8.2%, P < 0.05), renal tubular acidosis (15.9% vs . 4.2%, P < 0.05), immune thrombocytopenia (9.1% vs . 1.0%, P < 0.05), rheumatoid factor (RF) positive (85.0% vs . 49.4%, P < 0.05), higher RF and antinuclear antibody (ANA) titers (median: 89.8 IU/mL vs . 20.5 IU/mL; median: 320 vs . 160, P < 0.05), anti-Sjögren's syndrome type A (SSA) antibody positive (97.7% vs . 64.3%, P < 0.05), elevation of γ globulin (71.4% vs . 38.5%, P < 0.05), higher levels of IgG (median: 21.0 g/L vs . 15.6 g/L, P < 0.05), higher proportions of CD3 - CD19 + cells [(21.0±11.9)% vs . (13.7±9.6)%, P < 0.05] and lower proportions of CD3 + cells [(67.2±14.4)% vs . (76.6%±13.1)%, P < 0.05] than those negative. However, the anti-SSB positive group was less likely to show anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMA)-M2 positivity (10.5% vs . 35.6%, P < 0.05). Glucocorticoids (90.9% vs . 73.5%, P < 0.05) and immunosuppressants (54.5% vs . 36.7%, P < 0.05) were more frequently used in anti-SSB positive pSS patients than those negative., Conclusion: The anti-SSB positive pSS patients were younger at disease onset while more frequently presenting with various symptoms, higher levels of other antibodies and activation of B cells than those negative. Glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants were more frequently used, indicating that anti-SSB positive group presented with a more severe clinal phenotype.

Objective: This study aims to explore the risk factors for stone remnants and recurrence after lateral decubitus percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), providing insights to enhance the stone-free rate and reduce the stone recurrence rate., Patients and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 356 patients with renal or upper ureteral stones who underwent lateral decubitus PCNL from January 2015 to August 2022. Among them, 271 patients had complete clinical and follow-up data. General clinical information, perioperative data, and follow-up data were collected. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for stone remnants and recurrence after lateral decubitus PCNL., Results: The stone-free rate after lateral decubitus PCNL was 88.6% (195/271), and the stone recurrence rate within three years was 28.1% (76/271). Stone size (p<0.001) and stone co-infection (p=0.047) were identified as independent risk factors for stone remnants after lateral decubitus PCNL. Multiple stones (p=0.003) were an independent risk factor for stone recurrence after lateral decubitus PCNL., Conclusions: Stone size and stone co-infection are independent risk factors for stone remnants after lateral decubitus PCNL. Multiple stones are an independent risk factor for stone recurrence after lateral decubitus PCNL.

Several studies have examined whether electroencephalography neurofeedback (EEG-NF), a self-regulatory technique where an individual receives real-time feedback on a pattern of brain activity that is theoretically linked to a target behaviour, can enhance episodic memory. The aim of this research was to i) provide a qualitative overview of the literature, and ii) conduct a meta-analysis of appropriately controlled studies to determine whether EEG-NF can enhance episodic memory. The literature search returned 46 studies, with 21 studies (44 effect sizes) meeting the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis. The qualitative overview revealed that, across EEG-NF studies on both healthy and clinical populations, procedures and protocols vary considerably and many studies were insufficiently powered with inadequate design features. The meta-analysis, conducted on studies with an active control, revealed a small-size, significant positive effect of EEG-NF on episodic memory performance (g = 0.31, p = 0.003), moderated by memory modality and EEG-NF self-regulation success. These results are discussed with a view towards optimising EEG-NF training and subsequent benefits to episodic memory., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Respiratory infectious diseases (RIDs) remain a pressing public health concern, posing a significant threat to the well-being and lives of individuals. This study delves into the incidence of seven primary RIDs during the period 2017-2021, aiming to gain deeper insights into their epidemiological characteristics for the purpose of enhancing control and prevention strategies., Methods: Data pertaining to seven notifiable RIDs, namely, seasonal influenza, pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), mumps, scarlet fever, pertussis, rubella and measles, in the mainland of China between 2017 and 2021 were obtained from the National Notifiable Disease Reporting System (NNDRS). Joinpoint regression software was utilized to analyze temporal trends, while SaTScan software with a Poisson probability model was used to assess seasonal and spatial patterns., Results: A total of 11,963,886 cases of the seven RIDs were reported during 2017-2021, and yielding a five-year average incidence rate of 170.73 per 100,000 individuals. Among these RIDs, seasonal influenza exhibited the highest average incidence rate (94.14 per 100,000), followed by PTB (55.52 per 100,000), mumps (15.16 per 100,000), scarlet fever (4.02 per 100,000), pertussis (1.10 per 100,000), rubella (0.59 per 100,000), and measles (0.21 per 100,000). Males experienced higher incidence rates across all seven RIDs. PTB incidence was notably elevated among farmers and individuals aged over 65, whereas the other RIDs primarily affected children and students under 15 years of age. The incidences of PTB and measles exhibited a declining trend from 2017 to 2021 (APC = -7.53%, P = 0.009; APC = -40.87%, P = 0.02), while the other five RIDs peaked in 2019. Concerning seasonal and spatial distribution, the seven RIDs displayed distinct characteristics, with variations observed for the same RIDs across different regions. The proportion of laboratory-confirmed cases fluctuated among the seven RIDs from 2017 to 2021, with measles and rubella exhibiting higher proportions and mumps and scarlet fever showing lower proportions., Conclusions: The incidence of PTB and measles demonstrated a decrease in the mainland of China between 2017 and 2021, while the remaining five RIDs reached a peak in 2019. Overall, RIDs continue to pose a significant public health challenge. Urgent action is required to bolster capacity-building efforts and enhance control and prevention strategies for RIDs, taking into account regional disparities and epidemiological nuances. With the rapid advancement of high-tech solutions, the development and effective implementation of a digital/intelligent RIDs control and prevention system are imperative to facilitate precise surveillance, early warnings, and swift responses., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Traditionally, the patient's head is placed in a neutral position with a chin-lift to facilitate light wand guided endotracheal intubation. However, our study found that the sniffing position was more effective. In this study, we aimed to compare the two positions of light wand guided endotracheal intubation., Methods: Sixty adult patients were included in the study, after obtaining informed consent, and were randomly assigned to one of two groups: a control group in a neutral position with a chin-lift (group C, n = 30) and a sniffing position group (group S, n = 30). In group C, the anesthesiologist inserted a light wand after lifting the patient's mandible using the thumb of their non-dominant hand inside the patient's mouth. In group S, a light wand was inserted after the patient's head was flexed with the neck extended. We assessed variables such as light-search time, number of intubation attempts, time to achieve intubation, and side effects including blood tinge on the endotracheal tube, hoarseness, sore throat, and anesthesiologist satisfaction., Results: The light-search and intubation times were shorter in group S than in group C. The incidence of blood tinge on the endotracheal tube was higher in group C than in group S. Anesthesiologist satisfaction was higher in group S than in group C., Conclusions: The sniffing position was more effective in facilitating light wand guided endotracheal intubation than the neutral position with a chin-lift.

Multiple myeloma (MM) presenting as multiple hypervascular nodular hepatic infiltration is rare. We report a case of liver involvement of MM in 62-year-old woman presenting as multiple hepatic nodules with arterial enhancement and delayed washout. As in our case, the inclusion of MM in the differential diagnosis of multiple hypervascular hepatic nodules should be considered despite of its rarity., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (© 2023 Published by Scientific Scholar on behalf of Journal of Clinical Imaging Science.)

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of vanishing twin (VT) on maternal serum marker concentrations and nuchal translucency (NT)., Methods: This is a secondary analysis of a multicenter prospective cohort study in 12 institutions. Serum concentrations of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A in the first trimester and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), total human chorionic gonadotrophin, unconjugated estriol, and inhibin A in the second trimester were measured, and NT was measured between 10 and 14 weeks of gestation., Results: Among 6,793 pregnant women, 5,381 women were measured for serum markers in the first or second trimester, including 65 cases in the VT group and 5,316 cases in the normal singleton group. The cases in the VT group had a higher median multiple of the median value of AFP and inhibin A than the normal singleton group. The values of other serum markers and NT were not different between the two groups. After the permutation test with adjustment, AFP and inhibin A remained significant differences. The frequency of abnormally increased AFP was also higher in the VT group than in the normal singleton group., Conclusion: VT can be considered as an adjustment factor for risk assessment in the second-trimester serum screening test., Competing Interests: All authors have no potential conflict of interest., (© 2023 The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences.)

(1) Background: This study investigated whether polo-like kinase 4 (PLK4) is a suitable therapeutic target or biomarker for lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). (2) Methods: We acquired LUAD data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database through the UCSC Xena data portal. Gene expression, clinical, survival, and mutation data from multiple samples were analyzed. Gene enrichment analysis, unsupervised clustering of PLK4 -related pathways, and differential gene expression analyses were performed. Additionally, correlations, t -tests, survival analyses, and statistical analyses were performed. (3) Results: PLK4 expression was higher in LUAD tissues than in normal tissues and was associated with poor prognosis for both overall and progression-free survival in LUAD. PLK4 was highly correlated with cell-proliferation-related pathways using Gene Ontology (GO) biological process terms. PLK4 expression and pathways that were highly correlated with PLK4 expression levels were upregulated in patients with LUAD with the TP53 mutation. (4) Conclusions: PLK4 expression affects the survival of patients with LUAD and is a potential therapeutic target for LUAD with TP53 mutations.

Lymph node metastasis is a frequent occurrence in a variety of tumour forms and poses an enormous challenge to cancer treatment. This process is critical to the development of the disease and is frequently linked to a poor prognosis. Over 90% of cancerous cells move through lymph nodes, making them important entry routes for the spread of cancer cells. The prognosis of cancer patients is significantly impacted by lymph node metastases, which also affects treatment choices. Targeting lymph node metastases presents numerous difficulties for conventional medication delivery techniques. It is still very difficult to selectively target cancer cells in lymph nodes without risking injury to healthy organs and unforeseen consequences. Additionally, systemic delivery of drugs is hampered by the slow flow rate of lymphatic vessels. Chemotherapeutic medicines' poor solubility and stability further reduce their effectiveness when taken orally. Additionally, the extracellular matrix that surrounds lymph node tumours is extensive, which makes it difficult for conventional pharmaceutical delivery systems to reach cancer cells. The development of nanocarriers for precise drug delivery to LNs has attracted a lot of interest to overcome these obstacles. Most solid tumours first spread through the lymphatic system, hence effective drug administration to these tissues is essential for better therapeutic results. Nanocarriers have several benefits, including the capacity to pass through barriers like blood-brain barriers and membranes to reach the lymphatic system. High medication dosages can be enclosed thanks to the physicochemical characteristics of nanocarriers, such as their higher surface-to-volume ratio. Additionally, ligands, antibodies, polymers, or biological molecules can be attached to nanocarrier surfaces to change their properties, allowing for the targeted delivery of lymph node epithelial cells. This use of nanocarriers for drug delivery maximizes on-target effects and related adverse effects while improving the effectiveness of medication delivery to target locations. More research and development in this field is needed to optimize nanocarrier design, increase targeting capabilities, and expand clinical applications for better cancer care., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Solid-state batteries (SSBs) have emerged as a promising alternative to conventional liquid electrolyte batteries due to their potential for higher energy density and improved safety. However, achieving high performance in SSBs is difficult because of inadequate contact and interfacial reactions that generate high interfacial resistance, as well as inadequate solid-solid contact between electrodes. These chronic issues are associated with inhomogeneous ion and electron transport networks owing to imperfect solid-solid interfacial contact. This study developed an optimal interfacial engineering strategy to facilitate an ion-electron transport network by designing an active material (NCM622) uniformly filled with a thin layer of a solid electrolyte (garnet-type Li 6.25 Ga 0.25 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 ) and conductive additives. The optimal composite electrode architecture enhanced the high capacity, high rate capability, and long-term cycle stability, even at room temperature, owing to the percolating network for facile ionic conduction that assured a homogeneous reaction. In addition to mitigating the mechanical degradation of the cathode electrode, it also reduced the crosstalk effects on the anode-solid electrolyte interface. Effectively optimizing the selection and use of conductive additives in composite electrodes offers a promising approach to addressing key performance-limiting factors in SSBs, including interfacial resistance and solid-solid contact issues. This study underscores the critical importance of cathode architecture design for achieving high-performance SSBs by ensuring that the interfaces are intact with solid electrolytes at both the cathode and anode interfaces while promoting uniform reactions. This study provides valuable insights into the development of SSBs with improved performance, which could have significant implications for a wide range of applications.

Background: Insertion and deletion (InDel) polymorphisms have considerable potential in the field of forensic genetics because of their low mutation rate and small amplicons. At present, InDel polymorphisms detection based on the technique of capillary electrophoresis is the main technique used in forensic DNA laboratory. However, this method is complicated and time-consuming, and is not suitable for rapid on-site paternity and personal identification. Next-generation sequencing analysis of InDels polymorphisms requires expensive instruments, large upfront reagent and supply costs, computational requirements and complex bioinformatics, increased the time to obtain results. Thus, there is an urgent need to establish a method to provide reliable, rapid, sensitive and economical genotyping for InDels., Method: A rapid InDels (32 InDels) panel was established using fluorogenic probes-based multiplex real-time PCR with microfluidic test cartridge and portable real-time PCR instrument. Then, we performed several validation studies including concordance, accuracy, sensitivity, stability, species specificity., Results: It showed that the complete genotypes could be obtained from ≥100 pg of input DNA and from a series of challenging samples with high accuracy and specificity within 90 min., Conclusion: This method provides a rapid and cost-effective solution for InDels genotyping and personal identification in portable format., 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 © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The removal of nitrogen from coal tar pitch (CTP) through the hydrodenitrogenation (HDN) of CTP and its molecular behavior were evaluated in the presence of NiMo/γ-alumina and CoMo/γ-alumina catalysts. Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure photoionization was used to analyze the complicated chemical classes and species of CTP and the treated products at the molecular level. Nitrogen species were qualitatively analyzed before and after hydrotreatment. A single-stage hydrotreatment with an HDN catalyst resulted in a high sulfur removal performance (85.6-94.7%) but a low nitrogen removal performance (26.8-29.2%). Based on relative abundance analyses of nitrogen and binary nitrogen species, C c H h -N n S s was the most challenging species to remove during HDN treatment. Furthermore, prior hydrodesulfurization was combined with HDN treatment, and the dual hydrotreatments yielded a significantly improved nitrogen removal performance (46.4-48.7%).

Purpose: The present study aimed to investigate the clinical prognostic significance of radiomics signature (R-signature) in patients with gastric neuroendocrine neoplasm (GNEN)., Methods and Materials: A retrospective study of 182 patients with GNEN who underwent dual-phase enhanced computed tomography (CT) scanning was conducted. LASSO-Cox regression analysis was used to screen the features and establish the arterial, venous and the arteriovenous phase combined R-signature, respectively. The association between the optimal R-signature with the best prognostic performance and overall survival (OS) was assessed in the training cohort and verified in the validation cohort. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis were used to identify the significant factors of clinicopathological characteristics for OS. Furthermore, the performance of a combined radiomics-clinical nomogram integrating the R-signature and independent clinicopathological risk factors was evaluated., Results: The arteriovenous phase combined R-signature had the best performance in predicting OS, and its C-index value was better than the independent arterial and venous phase R-signature (0.803 vs 0.784 and 0.803 vs 0.756, P<0.001, respectively). The optimal R-signature was significantly associated with OS in the training cohort and validation cohort. GNEN patients could be successfully divided into high and low prognostic risk groups with radiomics score median. The combined radiomics-clinical nomogram combining this R-signature and independent clinicopathological risk factors (sex, age, treatment methods, T stage, N stage, M stage, tumor boundary, Ki67, CD56) exhibited significant prognostic superiority over clinical nomogram, R-signature alone, and traditional TNM staging system (C-index, 0.882 vs 0.861, 882 vs 0.803, and 0.882 vs 0.870 respectively, P<0.001). All calibration curves showed remarkable consistency between predicted and actual survival, and decision curve analysis verified the usefulness of the combined radiomics-clinical nomogram for clinical practice., Conclusions: The R-signature could be used to stratify patients with GNEN into high and low risk groups. Furthermore, the combined radiomics-clinical nomogram provided better predictive accuracy than other predictive models and might aid clinicians with therapeutic decision-making and patient counseling., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Yang, Han, Cheng, Wang, Li, Zhao and Gao.)

Background/objectives: The diversity of meal provision places has increased in recent years and sodium intake can vary depending on where meals are eaten, particularly in large cities. In this study, an analysis of the recent trends in sodium intake was performed and a comparison of sodium intake level according to meal provision place among citizens of Seoul was performed., Subjects/methods: Data from a 24-h recall dietary intake survey from the 2010-2019 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) were used in order to determine the trends in sodium intake among citizens of Seoul, aged 3-74 years old. (n = 11,811). The trend of daily sodium intake was presented in absolute amount and proportion compared to the chronic disease risk reduction intake (CDRR) for each selected characteristic. A comparison of sodium intake level according to meal provision place by sex and age groups as a total amount per meal (mg), density per meal (mg/1,000 kcal), and proportion of the daily sodium intake was performed using the 2016-2019 KNHANES., Results: Sodium intake levels showed a downward trend from 2010-2019. The highest level of sodium intake was observed for subjects aged 30-49, and the level for males aged 30-49 was 202.8% higher than the CDRR. Results of the analysis of sodium intake per meal according to meal provision place showed that the highest sodium intake was in the order of restaurant meal (RM) > institutional foodservice (IF) > home meal (HM) > convenience food (CF). A higher sodium density (mg/1,000 kcal) was observed for IF compared with RM in most adults. Adults aged over 50 years old consumed more than half of the daily sodium in HM., Conclusion: Significant variation in the level of sodium intake was observed according to sex and age groups, therefore, different approaches and nutrition policies based on meal provision place are needed., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no potential conflicts of interests., (©2022 The Korean Nutrition Society and the Korean Society of Community Nutrition.)

Little is known regarding Korean preschooler dietary phytochemical index (DPIs). We used the 24 h recall data of 1196 participants aged 3-5 years from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to study the association between dietary food intake and obesity prevalence. The amount of dietary intake by food group was compared according to sex and DPI quartile. Multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using logistic regression models. The average total DPI and energy from phytochemical food groups were not significantly different according to sex, although boys had a higher total daily food intake. Different inclinations between DPI quartiles and amount of intake were observed in the food groups; specifically, beans showed a higher intake difference between Q1 and Q4 for boys than in the other food groups. The highest DPI quartile had a significantly lower obesity prevalence than the lowest DPI quartile in all models for boys only when obesity prevalence by weight percentile was analyzed (Model 3, OR: 0.287, 95% CI: 0.095-0.868, p for trend < 0.05). Our results suggest a high DPI could help prevent obesity in preschoolers.

Objective: To explore the genotyping characteristics of human fecal Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) and the relationships between antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and multidrug resistance (MDR) of E. coli in Miyun District, Beijing, an area with high incidence of infectious diarrheal cases but no related data., Methods: Over a period of 3 years, 94 E. coli strains were isolated from fecal samples collected from Miyun District Hospital, a surveillance hospital of the National Pathogen Identification Network. The antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates was determined by the broth microdilution method. ARGs, multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and polymorphism trees were analyzed using whole-genome sequencing data (WGS)., Results: This study revealed that 68.09% of the isolates had MDR, prevalent and distributed in different clades, with a relatively high rate and low pathogenicity. There was no difference in MDR between the diarrheal (49/70) and healthy groups (15/24)., Conclusion: We developed a random forest (RF) prediction model of TEM.1 + baeR + mphA + mphB + QnrS1 + AAC.3-IId to identify MDR status, highlighting its potential for early resistance identification. The causes of MDR are likely mobile units transmitting the ARGs. In the future, we will continue to strengthen the monitoring of ARGs and MDR, and increase the number of strains to further verify the accuracy of the MDR markers., (Copyright © 2023 The Editorial Board of Biomedical and Environmental Sciences. Published by China CDC. All rights reserved.)

Commonly, epidermal inclusion cysts (EICs) are benign cutaneous lesions that are lined with stratified squamous epithelium and may occur in all body parts, including the breasts. EICs in the breast (EICB) are commonly encountered clinically; it may be under-reported because of their mild and non-specific clinical presentation. Malignant transformation of EICs is extremely rare, occurring 0.011%-0.045%. Presently, we report a rare case of squamous cell carcinoma arising from an EICB of a woman with invasive ductal carcinoma., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyrights © 2023 The Korean Society of Radiology.)

Background: FLAIR-hyperintense lesions in anti-MOG-associated encephalitis with seizures (FLAMES) has been identified increasingly frequently in recent years. However, this rare MOG antibody disease may coexist with anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis (anti-NMDARe), in an overlap syndrome with unknown clinical features and prognosis., Methods: We report a new case of this overlap syndrome and present a systematic review of similar cases in the literature to provide information on the clinical presentation, MRI features, EGG abnormalities, treatment, and prognosis of patients with this rare syndrome., Results: A total of 12 patients were analyzed in the study. The most common clinical manifestations of FLAMES overlaid with anti-NMDARe were epilepsy (12/12), headache (11/12), and fever (10/12). Increases in intracranial pressure (median: 262.5 mmH 2 O, range: 150-380 mmH 2 O), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leukocyte count (median: 128×10 6 /L, range: 1-610×10 6 /L), and protein level (median: 0.48 g/L) were also observed. The median CSF anti-NMDAR antibody titer was 1:10 (1:1-1:32), while the median serum MOG antibody titer was 1:32 (1:10-1:1024). Seven cases exhibited unilateral cortical FLAIR hyperintensity, and five cases (42%) had bilateral cortical FLAIR hyperintensity, including four cases involving the bilateral medial frontal lobes. Of the 12 patients, five showed lesions at other sites (e.g., the brainstem, corpus callosum, or frontal orbital gyrus) before or after the development of cortical encephalitis. EEG showed slow waves in four cases, spike-slow waves in two cases, an epileptiform pattern in one case, and normal waves in two cases. The median number of relapses was two. Over a mean follow-up period of 18.5 months, only one patient experienced residual visual impairment, while the remaining 11 patients had good prognoses., Conclusion: FLAMES alone is difficult to distinguish from overlap syndrome based on clinical features. However, FLAMES with bilateral medial frontal lobe involvement suggests the presence of the overlap syndrome., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Yang, Yang, Han, Gao and Cao.)

Background: We have previously demonstrated that an aldo-keto reductase (AKR) from Echinochloa colona (EcAKR4-1) can metabolize glyphosate and confers glyphosate resistance. This study aims to investigate if the EcAKR4-1 orthologs from Lolium rigidum also play a role in glyphosate resistance in non-target-site based, glyphosate-resistant (R) L. rigidum populations from Western Australia., Results: The full-length L. rigidum AKR gene (LrAKR4C10) orthologous to EcAKR4-1, together with a distinct LrAKR1, were cloned from plants of a glyphosate-susceptible (S) (VLR1) and three glyphosate R L. rigidum populations (WALR50, WALR60 and WALR70). Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) results showed that basal expression levels of the two LrAKR genes did not differ between the R and S populations, but their expression was significantly induced by glyphosate (up to 4.3-fold) or 2,4-D treatment (up to 3.4-fold) in R populations. Escherichia coli cells transformed respectively with LrAKR4C10 and LrAKR1 were more tolerant to glyphosate. Rice (Oryza sativa) seedlings overexpressing each of the two LrAKR gene survived glyphosate rates that were lethal to the green fluorescence protein (GFP) control plants. Structural modeling predicts a similar way of glyphosate binding and detoxification by LrAKR4C10 and EcAKR4-1, but an alternative way of glyphosate binding by LrAKR1. Relatively lower capacity of the two LrAKRs in conferring glyphosate resistance than the known EcAKR4-1 was discussed in relation to structural interaction., Conclusion: Glyphosate-induced higher expression of the two LrAKR genes in L. rigidum populations contributes to a moderate level of glyphosate resistance likely through enhanced glyphosate metabolism. The herbicide 2,4-D can also induce the LrAKR expression, indicating the potential antagonistic effect of 2,4-D to glyphosate. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.)

Respiratory infectious diseases (RID) are the major public health problems threatening the people's lives and health.Infection control (IC) is one of the effective tools to contain the occurrence and spread of RID.We collected the articles and data on IC published since January 1,2018 and summarized the achievements,problems,and challenges of IC from administrative control,management control,environment and engineering control,and personal protection in the medical institutions and public places in China.The efforts for IC vary in different regions and medical institutions of different levels.There are still links to be improved for IC from administrative control,management control,environment and engineering control,and personal protection,especially in community-level medical institutions and public areas.It is urgent to strengthen the implementation of IC policies and conduct IC precisely according to local situations.We proposed the following suggestions.First,the existing IC products and tools should be applied to precisely implement the IC measures;second,modern high technology should be employed to develop efficient and convenient IC products and tools;finally,a digital or intelligent IC platform should be built for monitoring infections,so as to contain the occurrence and spread of RID.

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) mutations and to evaluate response to standard treatment and HER2-targeted agents., Materials and Methods: Using tissue and/or blood next-generation sequencing, we identified 44 patients with NSCLC harboring HER2 mutations who were treated at Severance Hospital between December 2016 and February 2021. Clinical data, including patient characteristics, mutation status, incidence of metastasis for distant lesions, and response to chemotherapy, were retrospectively analyzed., Results: The median age was 58 years, and 61% of the patients were female. Most patients (64%) were never-smokers. Adenocarcinoma was the most predominant subtype (98%). A total of 66% of the patients had extrathoracic metastatic lesions, and 32% had intracranial lesions at initial presentation. The median time to the development of brain metastasis was 15.6 months (range, 2.4 to 43.7). The most common type of HER2 mutation was 12 base pair in-frame insertion in exon 20, A775&#95;G776insYVMA. Of the 44 patients, two had concomitant driver mutations, one with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation (V769M), and one with BRAF mutation (V600E). Patients treated with pemetrexed-based chemotherapy (75%) had an overall response rate (ORR) and progression-free survival (PFS) of 30% and 8.3 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.9 to 12.7), respectively. The ORR and PFS of HER2-targeted agent treated patients (14%) were 0.0% and 1.9 months (95% CI, 0.1 to 2.8), respectively., Conclusion: Given its distinct characteristics and treatment responses, novel treatment strategies for HER2-mutant NSCLC should be developed promptly to improve survival outcomes of patients.

Graves' disease (GD) is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in the clinic, accounting for about 85% of all hyperthyroidisms. However, hyperthyroidism combined with OH has been rarely reported in the international community. We analyzed the clinical characteristics and pathogenesis of GD combined with orthostatic hypotension. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 2 GD combined with orthostatic hypotension cases diagnosed by Chinese and Western Medical Association Hospital of Southern Medical University from July to August 2018 and discussed their clinical characteristics, treatment methods, and pathogenesis. The main clinical manifestations of both two patients with hyperthyroidism were vertigo during postural changes or activities and relief from supine position and blood volume supplementation. Considering the lack of blood volume, the symptoms were alleviated after symptomatic treatment. The possibility of hyperthyroidism combined with orthostatic hypotension should be taken into consideration in clinical diagnosis and treatment., (© The Association of Military Surgeons of the United States 2022. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

The assembly of supertetrahedral chalcogenolate clusters (SCCs) and multifunctional organic linkers could lead to the formation of tunable structures and synergistic properties. Two SCC-based assembled materials (SCCAM-1 and -2) constructed by a triangular chromophore ligand, tris(4-pyridylphenyl)amine, were successfully synthesized and characterized. The SCCAMs demonstrate unusually long-lived afterglow at low temperatures (83 K) and efficient activities for the photocatalytic degradation of organic dye in water.

Glutathione S-transferase omega (GSTO) is an antioxidant enzyme involved in reducing oxidative stress. Recent studies suggest that polymorphic variants of GSTOs affect the onset age and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Although GSTO activity may affect the development and age dependency of several diseases, the mechanism by which GSTO inactivation in neurons regulates the susceptibility to neurodegenerative diseases is unclear. In the present study, GstO2 knockdown in Drosophila led to increased levels of Cabeza (Caz) protein in neurons in an age-dependent manner. Drosophila Caz is the ortholog of human FUS, which is associated with neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). We found that cytoplasmic Caz mislocalization and aggregation in neurons significantly increased after GstO2 knockdown in vivo . Downregulation of GstO2 decreased the solubility of the Caz protein in aging neurons. These findings demonstrate that GSTO is a critical modulator of the development of neurodegenerative diseases by regulating Caz localization and aggregation in the nervous system of Drosophila .

Soft actuators that execute diverse motions have recently been proposed to improve the usability of soft robots. Nature-inspired actuators, in particular, are emerging as a means of accomplishing efficient motions based on the flexibility of natural creatures. In this research, we present an actuator capable of executing multi-degree-of-freedom motions that mimics the movement of an elephant's trunk. Shape memory alloys (SMAs) that actively react to external stimuli were integrated into actuators constructed of soft polymers to imitate the flexible body and muscles of an elephant's trunk. The amount of electrical current provided to each SMA was adjusted for each channel to achieve the curving motion of the elephant's trunk, and the deformation characteristics were observed by varying the quantity of current supplied to each SMA. It was feasible to stably lift and lower a cup filled with water by using the operation of wrapping and lifting objects, as well as effectively performing the lifting task of surrounding household items of varying weights and forms. The designed actuator is a soft gripper that incorporates a flexible polymer and an SMA to imitate the flexible and efficient gripping action of an elephant trunk, and its fundamental technology is expected to be used as a safety-enhancing gripper that requires environmental adaptation.

Objective: To explore the efficacy and safety of coblation and pulsed radiofrequency on cervicogenic headache (CEH). Methods: A total of 118 patients with CEH who underwent coblation or pulsed radiofrequency in the Department of Pain Management at Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University from August 2018 to June 2020 was retrospectively collected. Patients were divided into the coblation group ( n =64) and the pulsed radiofrequency group ( n =54) according to different surgical methods. In the coblation group, there were 14 males and 50 females, aged 29-65 (49.8±10.2) years, while in the pulse radiofrequency group, there were 24 males and 30 females, aged 18-65 (41.7±14.8) years. Visual analogue scale (VAS) score, postoperative numbness in the affected areas and other complications were recorded and compared between the two groups at preoperative 3 d, and 1 month, 3 months and 6 months postoperatively. Results: The VAS score of the coblation group was (7.16±0.91), (3.67±1.13), (1.59±0.91), (1.66±0.84) and (1.56±0.90) before operation, and 3 days, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after surgery. Likewise, the VAS score of the pulsed radiofrequency group was (7.01±0.78), (1.58±0.88), (1.57±0.94), (3.71±1.08) and (6.92±0.83) at the aforementioned time points. There were statistically significant differences of VAS scores between the coblation group and the pulsed radiofrequency group at 3 days, 3 months and 6 months postoperatively (all P <0.001). Intra-group comparison revealed that VAS scores in the coblation group were significantly lower than those before surgery at all time points after surgery (all P<0.001), while VAS scores in the pulsed radiofrequency group were significantly decreased at 3 days, 1 month and 3 months after surgery ( P <0.001). The incidence of numbness was 72% (46/64), 61% (39/64), 6% (4/64) and 3% (2/62) in the coblation group and 7% (4/54), 7% (4/54), 2% (1/54) and 0 (0/54) in the pulsed radiofrequency group, respectively. At 3 days and 1 month after surgery, the incidence of numbness in the coblation group was higher than those in the pulsed radiofrequency group (both P <0.001). In the coblation group, one patient developed pharyngeal discomfort 3 days after surgery, which disappeared spontaneously 1 week after surgery without special treatment. One patient developed vertigo after getting up in the morning at 3 days postoperatively, and the possibility of transient cerebral ischemia was considered. In the pulsed radiofrequency group, one patient developed nausea and vomiting after operation, but spontaneous remission was observed after one hour without special treatment. Conclusions: Both coblation and pulsed radiofrequency are effective and safe in the treatment of CEH. But the VAS scores at 3 and 6 months after coblation is significantly lower than those of pulsed radiofrequency ablation group, and the efficacy is better in those undergoing coblation.

Rare autosomal trisomies (RATs) other than common aneuploidies can be detected using noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT). However, conventional karyotyping is insufficient for evaluating diploid fetuses with uniparental disomy (UPD) due to trisomy rescue. Using the diagnostic process for Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), we aim to describe the need for additional prenatal diagnostic testing for confirming UPD in fetuses diagnosed with RATs via NIPT and its clinical implications. NIPT was performed using the massively parallel sequencing (MPS) method, and all pregnant women with RATs underwent amniocentesis. After confirming the normal karyotype, short tandem repeat (STR) analysis, methylation-specific PCR (MS-PCR), and methylation-specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MS-MLPA) were performed to detect UPD. Overall, six cases were diagnosed with RATs. There was a suspicion of trisomies of chromosomes 7, 8, and 15 in two cases each. However, these cases were confirmed to have a normal karyotype using amniocentesis. In one of six cases, PWS caused by maternal UPD 15 was diagnosed using MS-PCR and MS-MLPA. We propose that in cases where RAT is detected by NIPT, UPD should be considered following trisomy rescue. Even if amniocentesis confirms a normal karyotype, UPD testing (such as MS-PCR and MS-MLPA) should be recommended for accurate assessment, as an accurate diagnosis can lead to appropriate genetic counseling and improved overall pregnancy management.

Background: The association between M segment splicing and pathogenicity remains ambiguous in human influenza A viruses. In this study, we aimed to investigate M splicing in various human influenza A viruses and characterize its physiological roles by applying the splicing inhibitor, herboxidiene., Methods: We examined the M splicing of human H1N1 and H3N2 viruses by comparing three H1N1 and H3N2 strains, respectively, through reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyses. We randomly selected M sequences of human H1N1, H2N2, and H3N2 viruses isolated from 1933 to 2020 and examined their phylogenetic relationships. Next, we determined the effects of single nucleotide variations on M splicing by generating mutant viruses harboring the 55C/T variant through reverse genetics. To confirm the importance of M2 splicing in the replication of H1N1 and H3N2, we treated infected cells with splicing inhibitor herboxidiene and analyzed the viral growth using plaque assay. To explore the physiological role of the various levels of M2 protein in pathogenicity, we challenged C57BL/6 mice with the H1N1 WSN wild-type strain, mutant H1N1 (55T), and chimeric viruses including H1N1 + H3wt and H1N1 + H3mut. One-tailed paired t-test was used for virus titer calculation and multiple comparisons between groups were performed using two-way analysis of variance., Results: M sequence splice site analysis revealed an evolutionarily conserved single nucleotide variant C55T in H3N2, which impaired M2 expression and was accompanied by collinear M1 and mRNA3 production. Aberrant M2 splicing resulted from splice-site selection rather than a general defect in the splicing process. The C55T substitution significantly reduced both M2 mRNA and protein levels regardless of the virus subtype. Consequently, herboxidiene treatment dramatically decreased both the H1N1 and H3N2 virus titers. However, a lower M2 expression only attenuated H1N1 virus replication and in vivo pathogenicity. This attenuated phenotype was restored by M replacement of H3N2 M in a chimeric H1N1 virus, despite low M2 levels., Conclusions: The discrepancy in M2-dependence emphasizes the importance of M2 in human influenza A virus pathogenicity, which leads to subtype-specific evolution. Our findings provide insights into virus adaptation processes in humans and highlights splicing regulation as a potential antiviral target., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

The occurrence, multi-index assessment, and sources of heavy metals in surface sediments of Zhelin Bay were investigated. Average heavy metal concentrations (mg/kg) were 81.89 (Cr), 770.76 (Mn), 16.81 (Co), 62.25 (Ni), 96.30 (Cu), 162.04 (Zn), and 73.40 (Pb), with the concentrations of studied seven heavy metals being significantly higher than their corresponding background values. Geo-accumulation index ( I geo ) and pollution load index (PLI) were implemented to assess degree of heavy metal contamination. The I geo and PLI indicated that Cr, Mn, Co, Zn, and Pb were slightly polluted, and Cu and Ni were moderately polluted in the region. Potential ecological risk index (RI) and mean possible effect level (PEL) quotient were conducted to assess ecological risk. The RI and mean PEL quotient demonstrated that surface sediments of Zhelin Bay were slight ecological risks and exhibited a 21% probability of toxicity. Principal component analysis (PCA) combined with the correlation analysis (CA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HAC) revealed that the heavy metal contamination in Zhelin Bay might originate from three type sources.

Purpose: This prospective study investigates the incidence, risk factors, biological markers, and predictors of acute gastrointestinal injury (AGI) in patients with stroke., Methods: The study involved a total of 98 patients with acute cerebrovascular disease were included. According to the ESICM, the definition of AGI in intensive care patients is classified as grade 0, I, II and III. Patients' demographics, serological indicators (e.g., urea nitrogen, albumin, D-lactate, α-GST, neutrophil count and lymphocyte count), relevant scores (NIHSS score, GCS score, APACHE II score), length of hospital stay as well as the 7-day and 28-day mortality were recorded., Results: In 98 patients, the incidence of AGI was 90.8 %. The APACHE II, NIHSS, GCS and Hs-mGPS scores significantly increased the odds of a higher AGI grade (P < 0.05). Also, current use of antibiotics and the presence of pneumonia significantly increased the probability of a higher AGI grade (P < 0.05). NLR, diabetes and dehydrating drugs increased the probability of AGI grade II and III (P < 0.05). Finally, an early commencement of endovascular treatment significantly reduced the incidence of AGI class III (P < 0.05). Patients with higher AGI grades had longer hospital stays and higher 28-day mortality (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: The degree of the neurological deficit in stroke patients (high NIHSS score, low GCS score) in this study was associated with the development of AGI. The patients' gastrointestinal barrier function continued to deteriorate during the week of onset. The APACHE II score, NRL score and HS-mGPS score have some predictive value for the occurrence of AGI in stroke patients., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest Statement The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

In recent years, many researchers have aimed to construct robotic soft grippers that can handle fragile or unusually shaped objects without causing damage. This study proposes a smart textile-composite actuator and its application to a soft robotic gripper. An active fiber and an inactive fiber are combined together using knitting techniques to manufacture a textile actuator. The active fiber is a shape memory alloy (SMA) that is wire-wrapped with conventional fibers, and the inactive fiber is a knitting yarn. A knitted textile structure is flexible, with an excellent structure retention ability and high compliance, which is suitable for developing soft grippers. A driving source of the actuator is the SMA wire, which deforms under heating due to the shape memory effect. Through experiments, the course-to-wale ratio, the number of bundling SMA wires, and the driving current value needed to achieve the maximum deformation of the actuator were investigated. Three actuators were stitched together to make up each finger of the gripper, and layer placement research was completed to find the fingers' suitable bending angle for object grasping. Finally, the gripping performance was evaluated through a test of grasping various object shapes, which demonstrated that the gripper could successfully lift flat/spherical/uniquely shaped objects.

Exceptional points (EPs), at which more than one eigenvalue and eigenvector coalesce, are unique spectral features of non-Hermiticity (NH) systems. They exist widely in open systems with complex energy spectra. We experimentally demonstrate the appearance of paired EPs in a periodical-driven degenerate optical cavity along the synthetic orbital angular momentum dimension with a tunable parameter. The complex-energy band structures and the key features of EPs, i.e., their bulk Fermi arcs, parity-time symmetry breaking transition, energy swapping, and half-integer band windings, are directly observed by detecting the wavefront angle-resolved transmission spectrum. Our results demonstrate the flexibility of using the photonic synthetic dimensions to implement NH systems beyond their geometric dimension and EP-based sensing.

Extensive research has been conducted for decades to elucidate the molecular and regulatory mechanisms for phytochrome-mediated light signaling in plants. As a result, tens of downstream signaling components that physically interact with phytochromes are identified, among which negative transcription factors for photomorphogenesis, PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTORs (PIFs), are well known to be regulated by phytochromes. In addition, phytochromes are also shown to inactivate an important E3 ligase complex consisting of CONSTITUTIVELY PHOTOMORPHOGENIC 1 (COP1) and SUPPRESSORs OF phyA-105 (SPAs). This inactivation induces the accumulation of positive transcription factors for plant photomorphogenesis, such as ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 (HY5). Although many downstream components of phytochrome signaling have been studied thus far, it is not fully elucidated which intrinsic activity of phytochromes is necessary for the regulation of these components. It should be noted that phytochromes are autophosphorylating protein kinases. Recently, the protein kinase activity of phytochrome A (phyA) has shown to be important for its function in plant light signaling using Avena sativa phyA mutants with reduced or increased kinase activity. In this review, we highlight the function of phyA as a protein kinase to explain the regulation of plant photoresponses by phyA.

Background & Aims: Fentanyl buccal tablets (FBTs) are a rapid-onset opioid indicated for breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP) and FBT titration is needed to optimize BTcP management. We aimed to predict which patients could tolerate a high dose of FBT (400 μg or more at a time)., Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed to assess the final FBT dose. The final FBT doses were compared according to the clinical features. The prediction accuracy of patients tolerant of 400 μg or higher FBT was compared using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. A risk scoring model based on the odds ratio (OR) was developed from the final multivariable model, and patients were assigned into two groups: low tolerance (0-1 point) and high tolerance (2-3 points)., Results: Among 131 patients, the most frequently effective dose of FBT was 200 μg (54%), followed by 100 μg (30%). The median value of morphine equivalent daily doses (MEDD) was 60 mg/day, and the most common daily use was 3-4 times/day. In multivariable analysis, male sex, younger age, and use of FBTs three or more times per day were independently associated with high-dose FBT. According to the risk scoring model, the patients with a final FBT of 400 μg or higher were significantly more in the high tolerance group (17%) compared to the low tolerance group (3%; p = 0.023)., Conclusions: According to the dose relationship between the final FBT dose and the clinical features, three factors (sex, age, daily use of FBT) were independently associated with the final dose of FBT. Our risk score model could help predict tolerance to high-dose FBT and guide the titration plan for BTcP., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest relevant to this article was not reported., (Copyright: © 2023 Kwon et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)