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The squeezed cross-bispectrum Bκ,Lyα between the gravitational lensing in the cosmic microwave background and the 1D Lyα forest power spectrum can constrain bias parameters and break degeneracies between σ8 and other cosmological parameters. We detect Bκ,Lyα with 4.8σ significance at an effective redshift zeff=2.4 using Planck PR3 lensing map and over 280,000 quasar spectra from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument's first-year data. We test our measurement against metal contamination and foregrounds such as Galactic extinction and clusters of galaxies by deprojecting the thermal Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect. We compare our results to a tree-level perturbation theory calculation and find reasonable agreement between the model and measurement.

We measure the clustering of Lyman Alpha Emitting galaxies (LAEs) selected from the One-hundred-square-degree DECam Imaging in Narrowbands (ODIN) survey, with spectroscopic follow-up from Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI). We use DESI spectroscopy to optimize our selection and to constrain the interloper fraction and redshift distribution of our narrow-band selected sources. We select samples of 4000 LAEs at z = 2.45 and 3.1 in 9 sq.deg. centered on the COSMOS field with median Lyα fluxes of ≈ 10-16 erg s-1 cm-2. Covariances and cosmological inferences are obtained from a series of mock catalogs built upon high-resolution N-body simulations that match the footprint, number density, redshift distribution and observed clustering of the sample. We find that both samples have a correlation length of r 0 = 3.0 ± 0.2 h-1 Mpc. Within our fiducial cosmology these correspond to 3D number densities of ≈ 10-3 h3 Mpc-3 and, from our mock catalogs, biases of 1.7 and 2.0 at z = 2.45 and 3.1, respectively. We discuss the implications of these measurements for the use of LAEs as large-scale structure tracers for high-redshift cosmology.

Highly multiplexed, fiber-fed spectroscopy is enabling surveys of millions of stars and galaxies. The performance of these surveys depends on accurately positioning fibers in the focal plane to capture target light. We describe a technique to measure the positioning accuracy of fibers by dithering fibers slightly around their ideal locations. This approach also enables measurement of the total system throughput and point-spread function delivered to the focal plane. We then apply this technique to observations from the Dark Energy Survey Instrument (DESI), and demonstrate that DESI positions fibers to within 0.″08 of their targets (5% of a fiber diameter) and achieves a system throughput within about 7% of expectations.

We present initial results from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) complete calibration of the colour–redshift relation (DC3R2) secondary target survey. Our analysis uses 230 k galaxies that overlap with KiDS-VIKING ugriZYJHKs photometry to calibrate the colour–redshift relation and to inform photometric redshift (photo-z) inference methods of future weak lensing surveys. Together with emission line galaxies (ELGs), luminous red galaxies (LRGs), and the Bright Galaxy Survey (BGS) that provide samples of complementary colour, the DC3R2 targets help DESI to span 56 per cent of the colour space visible to Euclid and LSST with high confidence spectroscopic redshifts. The effects of spectroscopic completeness and quality are explored, as well as systematic uncertainties introduced with the use of common Self-Organizing Maps trained on different photometry than the analysis sample. We further examine the dependence of redshift on magnitude at fixed colour, important for the use of bright galaxy spectra to calibrate redshifts in a fainter photometric galaxy sample. We find that noise in the KiDS-VIKING photometry introduces a dominant, apparent magnitude dependence of redshift at fixed colour, which indicates a need for carefully chosen deep drilling fields, and survey simulation to model this effect for future weak lensing surveys.

Chenchen Feng,1 Haotian Pan,2 Yanan Zhang,1,3 Zi Ye,1 Yiren Zhou,1 Hong Zou,4 Ke Wang1 1Acupuncture Anesthesia Clinical Research Institute, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 2School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China; 3National Engineering Research Center for Biochip, Shanghai Biochip Limited Corporation, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 4Engineering Laboratory for Nutrition, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Ke Wang, Acupuncture Anesthesia Clinical Research Institute, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 110, Gan he road, Shanghai, 200437, People’s Republic of China, Email wangke8430@163.com Hong Zou, Engineering Laboratory for Nutrition, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 500, Caobao Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200031, People’s Republic of China, Email hzhou01@sinh.ac.cnBackground: Neuropathic pain (NP) is a prevalent chronic condition frequently accompanied by adverse emotional states. Previous research has demonstrated the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) in mitigating neuropathic pain and its associated mood disorders. Recent studies have underscored a correlation between gut microbiota and both NP and negative emotional states. Nevertheless, the relationship between the modulation of gut microbiota by EA and the amelioration of NP remains inadequately understood.Methods: Mice were randomly assigned to one of the three groups: the Control (Con) group, the EA group, and the Chronic Constrictive Injury (CCI) group (n = 12 each). Starting from the 8th day post-CCI induction, the EA group underwent EA treatment once every two days, for a total of 20 sessions. To investigate the impact of gut microbiota on CCI mice, we employed a variety of methods, including various behavioral tests and 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequencing.Results: The results indicated that EA significantly ameliorated mechanical allodynia and emotional dysfunction induced by CCI in mice. Analysis through 16S rDNA sequencing revealed that the gut microbiota of NP model mice exhibited a marked increase in diversity. However, EA could partially reverse changes in the diversity of gut microbiota. The abundance of Alloprevotella, A2, Roseburia, Muribaculum, Ruminiclostridium, and Rikenella was increased, and the abundance levels of Bacteroides were decreased at the genus level in CCI mice. Following EA treatment, the relative abundance of Alistipes, A2, Roseburia, and Rikenella was decreased, whereas the relative abundance of Alloprevotella and Parabacteroides was increased in EA group when compared with the CCI group.Conclusion: These findings suggested that EA exerted a significant therapeutic effect on NP, potentially through modulation of the gut microbiota.Keywords: electroacupuncture, neuropathic pain, negative emotion, gut microbiota

Xinying Leng,1,* Rui Zhu,2,* Xian Ao,1 Ying Zhou,3 Kechun Zhang,4 Tian Hu,4 Jiaxin Wu,1 Zhaoqi Chen,1 Lixia Huang,1 Nanxuan Huang,1 Xinyuan Li,1 Ruaa Ahmed Alnour,1 Zhantu Xue,1 Xiangcai Zhang,1 Han Liu,1 Tuerhongjiang Axirejiang,5 Wujian Ke,1,2 Huachun Zou6 1Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China; 2The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China; 3Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China; 4Longhua District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China; 5The First People’s Hospital of Kashi Prefecture, Kashi, Xinjiang, People’s Republic of China; 6School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Huachun Zou, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China, Email zouhuachun@fudan.edu.cn Wujian Ke, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Email kewujianstauch@163.comBackground: Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) poses a growing public health concern due to the escalating antimicrobial resistance. We aimed to assess site-specific MG infection and its correlates and macrolide and fluoroquinolones mutations among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Shenzhen, China.Methods: Samples were obtained from different anatomic sites of MSM based on their sexual behavior. MG infection was detected using nested polymerase chain reaction (nested PCR). Identifying macrolide and fluoroquinolone resistance involved targeting the V region of the 23S rRNA, topoisomerase IV and DNA gyrase genes. Logistic regression was used to evaluate correlates of MG infection.Results: We collected 124 pharynx swabs, 132 urethral swabs, and 89 rectal swabs from 162 MSM participants based on their sexual behavior. MG was detected in 13.0% (21/162) of MSM. The prevalence of MG in the pharynx, urethra, and rectum was 9.7% (12/124), 6.1% (8/132), and 7.9% (7/89), respectively. Among the 21 MG-positive participants, 4.8% (1/21) were infected at all three sites, and 19.0% (4/21) were infected at two sites. Of the 27 MG-positive specimens, 22.2% (2/9) exhibited mutations at position A2071G, with A2071T being the predominant mutation in the 23S rRNA gene, accounting for 77.8% (7/9) of cases. Mutations in the parC and gyrA genes were detected in 33.3% (1/3) and 33.3% (2/6) of specimens, respectively.Conclusion: We observed a high prevalence of MG infections at different anatomic sites among the MSM population in Shenzhen, China. The high prevalence of macrolide and fluoroquinolone-resistant MG underscores the importance of implementing resistance-guided therapy, establishing surveillance networks, and exploring new antibiotics against MG.Keywords: antimicrobial resistance, Mycoplasma genitalium, MSM, macrolide, fluoroquinolone

Xi Liu,1,2,* Yu Zhou,3,* Ziyi Lu,1 Fenglin Yang,1 Yizhi Wang,4 Sijin Zhang,5 Jinwen Zhang,1 Hong Zou,6 Min Lin1 1Research Center of Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Minjiang University, Fuzhou, 350100, People’s Republic of China; 2Key Laboratory for Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, People’s Republic of China; 3Cancer Research Center & Jiangxi Engineering Research Center for Translational Cancer Technology, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330004, People’s Republic of China; 4School of Intelligent Science and Control Engineering, Jinling Institute of Technology, Nanjing, 211169, People’s Republic of China; 5Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, 510000, People’s Republic of China; 6Physical Education Department, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Min Lin; Hong Zou, Email minlin@mju.edu.cn; zou_hong0402@126.comIntroduction: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is linked to high rates of mortality and morbidity worldwide thereby posing a major public health problem. Evidences suggest that ferroptosis is the primary cause of AKI, while inhibition of monoamine oxidase A(MAOA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine were recognized as the defender of ferroptosis. Curcumin (Cur) is a natural polyphenol and the main bioactive compound of Curcuma longa, which has been found nephroprotection in AKI. However, the potential mechanism of Cur in alleviating AKI ferroptosis remains unknown.Objective: This study aims to investigate the effects of Cur on AKI ferroptosis.Methods: Folic acid (FA)-induced AKI mouse model and erastin/(rsl-3)-induced HK-2 model were constructed to assess the renoprotection of Cur. The nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics coupled network pharmacology approach was used to explore the metabolic regulation and potential targets of Cur. Molecular docking and enzyme activity assay was carried out to evaluate the effects of Cur on MAOA.Results: Our results showed that in vivo Cur preserved renal functions in AKI mice by lowering levels of serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, while in vitro ameliorated the cell viability of HK-2 cells damaged by ferroptosis. Mechanistic studies indicated that Cur protected AKI against ferroptosis via inhibition of MAOA thereby regulating 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan metabolism.Conclusion: Our study for the first time clarified that Cur might acts as a MAOA inhibitor and alleviates ferroptosis in AKI mice, laying a scientific foundation for new insights of clinical therapy on AKI.Keywords: acute kidney injury, curcumin, network pharmacology, metabolomics, monoamine oxidase A, ferroptosis

Fen Liu,1 Zhipeng Zhu,1 Huaxi Zou,2 Zhen Huang,1 Shengkai Xiao,1 Zhihua Li1 1School of Stomatology, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Jiangxi Provincial Clinical Research Center for Oral Disease, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Zhihua Li, School of Stomatology, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Jiangxi Provincial Clinical Research Center for Oral Disease, No. 49 FuZhou Road, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People’s Republic of China, Email lwlq323@163.comObjective: Autophagy plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of periodontitis, yet its precise involvement in the disease process remains elusive. The aim of the present study was thus to investigate the involvement of autophagy in the pathology of periodontitis. This investigation involved transcriptomic analysis of a broad range of human samples and complemented by in vitro experimentation.Materials and Methods: We analyzed the transcriptomes of human gingival tissues from individuals with periodontitis and health controls to identify the differential expression of autophagy-related genes (DEARGs) and to investigate their potential interactions and functional pathways. Additionally, protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were constructed to identify key functional modules and hub genes. Experimental validation of autophagy regulation in periodontitis and identification of key autophagy-regulating genes was accomplished through in vitro cellular experiments. Subsequently, a comprehensive analysis of immune cell infiltrate utilizing the CIBERSORT algorithm was performed. Finally, leveraging the DSigDB database, potential candidate drugs for periodontitis treatment targeting autophagy were predicted.Results: A total of 79 genes have been identified as DEARGs in periodontitis. An intricate interplay among the DEARGs and their impact on the regulatory mechanisms of autophagy within the context of periodontitis was observed. Subsequently, 10 hub genes were discerned through the establishment of a PPI network. Furthermore, dysregulated autophagic activity in periodontitis was validated, and 9 key genes (APP, KDR, IL1B, CXCL12, CXCR4, IL6, FOS, LCK, and SHC1) were identified through in vitro experiments. Our analysis unveiled an association between these genes and altered immune cell infiltration in periodontitis. Additionally, we predicted potential therapeutic agents such as curcumin, 27-hydroxycholesterol, and Trolox, showing promise in the treatment of periodontitis by modulating the autophagic process.Conclusion: This study identified nine key genes for autophagy regulation and potential therapeutic agents in periodontitis. These findings not only enhance our comprehension of the pathological mechanisms of periodontitis but also provide substantial evidence for the advancement of novel therapeutic strategies.Keywords: periodontitis, transcriptome, autophagy, key genes, diagnosis, database

Huishang Feng,1,2 Yeping Qin,3 Yuanwen Li,4 Shuo Li,5 Yuyi Zheng,6 Juntang Yan,6 Rongting Xu,6 Shulin Yu,7 Ru Liang,7 Jiayu Wang,7 Huiqin Zou6,7 1Department of Dermatology, Dongzhimen Hospital Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 2Second Clinical Medical School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Dermatology, Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Dermatology, Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Basic Products, China Mobile Communications Group Co., Ltd. Government and Enterprise Customer Branch in Beijing, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 6Ministry of Education Science and Technology Inspection Department, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 7School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Yuanwen Li, Department of Dermatology, Dongfang Hospital Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 6 Fangxingyuan Fengtai District, Beijing, 100078, People’s Republic of China, Tel/Fax +86-1067689620, Email 15810104902@163.com Huiqin Zou, Ministry of Education Science and Technology Inspection Department, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 11 Beisanhuan Donglu Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100029, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-1064287526, Fax +86-1064287502, Email huiqin.zou@bucm.edu.cnAim: The application of bibliometric analysis gives insights into research trend and future perspectives. This paper aims to understand the current status of studies on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD), and to investigate the cooperation network, hotspots and trends in the field.Methods: The original data were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection by searching for the topic “atopic dermatitis” and “traditional Chinese medicine” with the time span of 2004– 2023. Microsoft Excel was used to create statistical tables and charts, whereas CiteSpace and VOSViewer were applied for knowledge mapping.Results: In total, 252 publications were identified and downloaded. Current research on TCM treating AD is in the steady growth period. China has the largest number of publications, whereas the USA has the greatest international influence. Notably, the Arab Emirates, Malaysia, India and Bangladesh all have a high research impact but with a low amount of publications. Universities in Hong Kong China have the largest number of publications, but their interaction with other institutions is very poor. The top three most productive authors are all from Hong Kong, having a strong collaboration network with each other. The popular research topics in this field are “children” “cell” “activation” “nf kappa b” “inflammation” “asthma” “extract” “management” and “cytokine”. According to the analysis of leading co-cited journals and authors, “J ETHNOPHARMACOL” has the largest amount of citations whilst “AM J CHINESE MED” the strongest academic influence. The largest number of co-cited authors comes from “Hon Karn-Lun Ellis”, a well-known scholar from Hong Kong.Conclusion: TCM has been widely used in AD treatment, honored for its individualized therapeutic concepts of evidence-based treatment. The academic community must form a continuous and deep-going pattern to achieve higher international influence and a stronger research degree in this field.Keywords: atopic dermatitis, traditional Chinese medicine, bibliometrics, knowledge mapping, visual analysis

Haibin Zou,1 Fangfang Xi,1 Yuanyuan Fu,1 Jinhui Xu,1 Ping Zhang,1 Dongge Li,2 Heguo Luo1 1Department of Anesthesiology, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330006, People’s Republic of China; 2The Third Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330006, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Heguo Luo, Department of Anesthesiology, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330006, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 13807035516, Email ddjy121@163.comPurpose: Ciprofol, a new sedative anesthetic developed in China, offers rapid onset and recovery, reduced injection pain, and stable circulation. However, its effect on blood pressure during anesthesia induction in older adults remains unclear. To compare the effects of propofol and ciprofol on hypotension induced by general anesthesia in older adults.Patients and Methods: This prospective, single-center, double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical study enrolled 117 older adults undergoing surgery. Patients in the ciprofol group (group C) received an intravenous injection of ciprofol (0.3 mg/kg, n=57), while the propofol group (group P) received an intravenous injection of propofol (1.5 mg/kg, n=58). The primary outcome was the incidence of hypotension (mean arterial pressure (MAP) decreased by > 30% from baseline or MAP< 65 mmHg). Secondary outcomes included induction success rate (bispectral index (BIS) value ≤ 60 and Modified Observer’s Assessment of Alertness/Sedation Scale (MOAA/S) score ≤ 1), injection pain, number of drug additions, time to BIS 60, time to eyelash reflex disappearance, blood pressure changes, incidence of hypertension, tachycardia and BIS values before and after administration.Results: The incidence of induced hypotension was 26.3% (15/57) in group C and 48.3% (28/58) in group P (OR=0.383, 95% CI:175– 0.837, P =0.015). Group C had significantly lower injection pain incidence (5.3% vs 20.7%, OR=0.213, 95% CI: 0.057– 0.801, p=0.014). Both groups had a 100% induction success rate, with no significant difference in the number of additional doses. Post-intubation hypertension and tachycardia incidence were not significantly different. Group C showed less blood pressure decrease during induction and a deeper anesthesia level.Conclusion: Compared to propofol, ciprofol reduces the incidence of induced hypotension in older adults and maintains more stable blood pressure during induction. Additionally, ciprofol reduces injection pain and provides a good depth of anesthesia, making it a safe and effective option for anesthesia induction in older adults.Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: ChiCTR2200066053.Keywords: ciprofol, propofol, bispectral index, BIS, hypotension

Lanying Li,&ast; Xinyuan Zhang,&ast; Qian Li, Wen Zhong, Hua Zou Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children, Women and Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Wen Zhong; Hua Zou, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children, Women and Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, 120 Longshan Road, Yubei District, Chongqing, 400016, People’s Republic of China, Tel +8615823827032 ; +8613512371464, Email 23119401@qq.com; 1316933969@qq.comPurpose: Candida vaginitis is widely prevalent worldwide and is one of the common gynecological disorders. The aim of this study is to analyze the sensitivity of recurrent vulvovaginal (RVVC) candidiasis to antifungal drugs and its relationship with vaginal microbiota.Patients and Methods: We Isolated and cultured Candida from RVVC patients, mass spectrometry and broth microdilution method were used to identify and determine MIC values of antifungal drugs. Clinical medical records and vaginal microbiota of RVVC patients were also collected.Results: The main pathogens causing RVVC are predominantly Candida albicans (70.26%), but in recent years, there has been an increasing proportion of Candida glabrata(24.46%). However, only 15.70% of Candida albicans were sensitive to Voriconazole, 35.84% to Fluconazole and 25.60% to Itraconazole. No fluconazole-resistant Candida glabrata was found. Most Candida krusei strains were sensitive to voriconazole (81.80%). More important MIC values of triazoles were increased in Candida species, when exposed to clotrimazole. In addition, we found that the vaginal microecology of candida vaginitis and bacterial vaginitis was significantly different.Conclusion: Triazoles resistant Candida species have emerged, leading to the failure of empirical anti-infective therapy. At the same time, the vaginal microecology of candida vaginitis and bacterial vaginitis was significantly different. In addition, a new breakpoint for Candida from RVVC needs to be established.Keywords: triazole, Candida, vulvovaginal candidiasis, vaginal microbiota

We present the first eight months of data from our secondary target programme within the ongoing Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) survey. Our programme uses a mid-infrared and optical colour selection to preferentially target dust-reddened quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) that would have otherwise been missed by the nominal DESI QSO selection. So far, we have obtained optical spectra for 3038 candidates, of which ∼70 per cent of the high-quality objects (those with robust redshifts) are visually confirmed to be Type 1 QSOs, consistent with the expected fraction from the main DESI QSO survey. By fitting a dust-reddened blue QSO composite to the QSO spectra, we find they are well-fitted by a normal QSO with up to AV ∼4 mag of line-of-sight dust extinction. Utilizing radio data from the LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey (LoTSS) DR2, we identify a striking positive relationship between the amount of line-of-sight dust extinction towards a QSO and the radio detection fraction, that is not driven by radio-loud systems, redshift and/or luminosity effects. This demonstrates an intrinsic connection between dust reddening and the production of radio emission in QSOs, whereby the radio emission is most likely due to low-powered jets or winds/outflows causing shocks in a dusty environment. On the basis of this evidence, we suggest that red QSOs may represent a transitional 'blow-out' phase in the evolution of QSOs, where winds and outflows evacuate the dust and gas to reveal an unobscured blue QSO.

Xixuan Zhao,1– 4 Yining He,5 Juzhao Zhang,1– 3 Senlin Lin,1– 3 Haidong Zou,1– 4 Yingyan Ma1– 4 1Shanghai Eye Diseases Prevention & Treatment Center/ Shanghai Eye Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 2National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 3Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Eye Diseases, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 5Biostatistics Office of Clinical Research Unit, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Yingyan Ma; Haidong Zou, Email mYy_29@163.com; zouhaidong@sjtu.edu.cnAbstract: Myopia is increasingly prevalent in children. Its association with insufficient sleep has been studied, yielding inconsistent findings. This review aims to assess the association of insufficient sleep with myopia and myopia-related refractive parameters in children. A total of 657 articles were identified, of which 40 were included in the systematic review and 33 were included in the meta-analysis. Results showed that insufficient sleep was significantly associated with an increased prevalence of myopia (odds ratio [OR] = 1.59; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.31, 1.95; I2 = 99%), and an increased prevalence of high myopia (OR = 3.36; 95% CI = 1.26, 9.00; I2 = 96%). Shorter sleep duration was significantly linked to faster changes in axial length (AL) (β = 0.05; 95% CI = 0.02, 0.08; I2 = 0%). However, correlation between insufficient sleep and the incidence of myopia, spherical equivalent refraction, corneal curvature radius (CR) and AL/CR were insignificant. Moreover, the effect of insufficient sleep on premyopia and astigmatism was not well-studied. The results of this study suggest that insufficient sleep may be an important risk factor for the development of myopia in school-aged children. Therefore, in addition to ensuring sufficient outdoor activities and reducing near work, it is necessary to inform children and parents about the importance of adequate sleep to mitigate the risk of myopia.Keywords: insufficient sleep, myopia, children, axial length, refractive parameters

Ruien Chen,1,&ast; Huamei Zou,1,&ast; Xiuwen Ye,1,&ast; Bailing Xie,2 Aizhi Zhang,3 Lihua Mo,4 Yu Liu,4 Huanping Zhang,5 Gui Yang,1 Pingchang Yang2 1Department of Otolaryngology, Longgang Central Hospital affiliated to Guangzhou University of Chinese Traditional Medicine Shenzhen Clinical College, Shenzhen, 518116, People’s Republic of China; 2State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases Allergy Division at Shenzhen University and Institute of Allergy & Immunology, Shenzhen University School of Medicine, Shenzhen, 518055, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Critical Care Medicine, Second Hospital, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of General Medicine Practice, Third Affiliated Hospital, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518005, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Allergy Medicine, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, 030001, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Pingchang Yang; Gui Yang, Email pcy2356@163.com; guiyang1981@hotmail.comIntroduction: The therapeutic efficacy for airway allergies needs to be improved. Th2 polarization is a primary pathological feature of airway allergies. We constructed chimeric antigen-LgDNA (Lactobacillus rhamnosus DNA) nanoparticles (CAP-NPs). The effects of CAP-NPs on reconciling airway Th2 polarization were tested.Methods: In this study, disulfide bond-linked antigen-major histocompatibility complex II (MHC II)-LgDNA nanoparticles (NPs) were constructed and designated CAP-NPs. An airway Th2 polarization mouse model was established to test the effects of CAP-NPs on suppressing the Th2 response.Results: The CAP-NP components of ovalbumin (OVA), major histocompatibility complex II (MHC II), and LgDNA were confirmed in a series of laboratory tests. The CAP-NPs remained stable at pH7.2 for at least 96 h. In in vitro experiments, CAP-NPs bound to the surface of OVA-specific CD4+ T cells, which resulted in apoptosis of the antigen-specific CD4+ T cells. Removal of any of the three components from the NPs abolished the induction of apoptosis of antigen specific CD4+ T cells. CAP-NPs increased the expression of lysine-specific demethylase 5A (KDM5A) in CD4+ T cells. Histone H3K9 and the gene promoter of caspase 8 were demethylated by KDM5A, which led to transcription and expression of the caspase 8 gene. Administration of CAP-NPs significantly alleviated experimental airway Th2 polarization through activating the caspase 8-apoptosis signaling pathway.Discussion: In this paper, we constructed CAP-NPs that could induce antigen-specific CD4+ T cell apoptosis. Administration of CAP-NPs efficiently alleviated experimental airway Th2 polarization.Keywords: airway allergy, T cell, therapy, vaccine, nanoparticle

Jiaoquan Chen, Shanshan Ou, Weihong Wu, Hui Zou, Huaping Li, Huilan Zhu Department of Dermatology, Guangzhou Dermatology Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510095, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Huilan Zhu, Department of Dermatology, Guangzhou Dermatology Hospital, 56 Hengfu Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510095, People’s Republic of China, Email zhlhuilan@126.comBackground: Although omalizumab has shown success in treating chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) patients unresponsive to antihistamines, the exact mechanism of action and predictive markers of response remain unclear.Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between baseline levels of biomarkers and clinical parameters with omalizumab response and response rate in patients with CSU.Methods: This retrospective study included 82 adult CSU patients who received omalizumab 300mg every 4 weeks for 16 weeks between January 2022 and December 2023. Treatment response was assessed using UAS7 and DLQI scores at baseline and weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16. Responders were defined as patients achieving UAS7 < 7, with early and late responders categorized based on response within or after 4 weeks, respectively. Baseline clinical features and laboratory biomarkers were compared between responders and non-responders.Results: The overall response rate was 71.95% (59/82), with 23 early responders and 36 late responders. Responders had significantly lower baseline UAS7 (median: 28 vs 35, P < 0.01), DLQI (median: 8 vs 15, P < 0.001), and IL-17 levels (median: 0.53 vs 1.26 pg/mL, P < 0.001) compared to non-responders. Baseline UAS7 > 31, DLQI > 9.5, and IL-17 > 0.775 pg/mL predicted non-response with sensitivities of 78.26%, 100%, and 78.26%, and specificities of 67.8%, 59.32%, and 72.88%, respectively. ASST positivity and comorbid allergic diseases were associated with early response (P < 0.05). Adverse events were reported in 6.09% of patients, including mild injection site reactions and transient urticaria exacerbation, not requiring treatment discontinuation.Conclusion: This study suggests that omalizumab is an effective and safe treatment option for antihistamine-refractory CSU. Baseline UAS7, DLQI, ASST status, serum total IgE levels, and IL-17 may serve as potential predictors of omalizumab response. Notably, ASST positivity and comorbid allergic diseases were associated with an early response to treatment. These findings highlight the importance of considering individual patient characteristics when predicting the likelihood and timing of response to omalizumab in CSU.Keywords: Chronic spontaneous urticaria, omalizumab, response, early responder, late responder

Tong Chen,1– 4 Yu Liu,2,3 Shiquan Wu,2 Siyu Long,2 Ling Feng,4,5 Wenqian Lu,6 Wenya Chen,2 Guoai Hong,2 Li Zhou,2 Fang Wang,2 Yuechan Luo,2 Hequn Zou,2,4,6 Weihua Liu7 1Department of Nephrology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Kidney Disease, Chongqing Clinical Research Center of Kidney and Urology Diseases, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, 400037, People’s Republic of China; 2South China Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518116, People’s Republic of China; 3Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, National Regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Nephrology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Nephrology, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, People’s Republic of China; 6School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, People’s Republic of China; 7Department Nephrology of Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fujian, 350001, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Weihua Liu, Department Nephrology of Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fujian, 350001, People’s Republic of China, Email lwh10280465@163.com Hequn Zou, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, People’s Republic of China, Email zouhequn@cuhk.edu.cnBackground: Obesity and insulin resistance (IR) are positively associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Previous studies have identified triglyceride-glucose index (TyG) as a valuable surrogate of insulin resistance. Recently, new indicators combining TyG and simple anthropometric indices have emerged, The objective of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of TyG and newly TyG related indicators in detecting CKD and explore which indices were superior in associating with CKD in Chinese population.Methods: Correlation test, logistic regression analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were used to evaluate the optimal cut-off and value of TyG, TyG-body mass index (TyG-BMI), TyG-waist circumference (TyG-WC), TyG-waist to height ratio (TyG-WHtR) for predicting CKD.Results: TyG-WHtR, TyG-WC, and TyG-BMI correlated with several risk factors for CKD. After adjusting for confounders, TyG-WHtR and TyG-WC remained significantly associated with CKD, while TyG-BMI did not. The highest quartiles of TyG-WHtR and TyG-WC had 1.95- and 1.91-fold increased risk of CKD than the lowest quartiles (P< 0.05). TyG-WHtR had the largest AUC (0.687) for CKD detection, followed by TyG-WC (0.669), TyG (0.652), and TyG-BMI (0.648). A united model that involved TyG-WHtR and other risk variables had higher predictive performance (AUC=0.791) than a single TyG related indicator. However, TyG had the highest OR (2.713, 95% CI, 1.446– 5.090) for reduced eGFR in the fully adjusted model. A united model that involved TyG and WHtR separately had stronger predictive ability (AUC: 0.794) than the model that involved TyG-WHtR individually (AUC:0.791).Conclusion: This study found that TyG-WHtR had a better diagnostic value in the diagnosis of CKD, compared to other TyG related indicators, but none of the TyG related indicators showed a stronger association with CKD than TyG. Further research and more refined algorithms are needed to verify these new indicators.Keywords: chronic kidney disease, insulin resistance, obesity, TyG related indicators

We describe the spectroscopic data processing pipeline of the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), which is conducting a redshift survey of about 40 million galaxies and quasars using a purpose-built instrument on the 4 m Mayall Telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory. The main goal of DESI is to measure with unprecedented precision the expansion history of the universe with the baryon acoustic oscillation technique and the growth rate of structure with redshift space distortions. Ten spectrographs with three cameras each disperse the light from 5000 fibers onto 30 CCDs, covering the near-UV to near-infrared (3600-9800 Å) with a spectral resolution ranging from 2000 to 5000. The DESI data pipeline generates wavelength- and flux-calibrated spectra of all the targets, along with spectroscopic classifications and redshift measurements. Fully processed data from each night are typically available to the DESI collaboration the following morning. We give details about the pipeline's algorithms, and provide performance results on the stability of the optics, the quality of the sky background subtraction, and the precision and accuracy of the instrumental calibration. This pipeline has been used to process the DESI Survey Validation data set, and has exceeded the project's requirements for redshift performance, with high efficiency and a purity greater than 99% for all target classes.

The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) will precisely constrain cosmic expansion and the growth of structure by collecting ∼40 million extragalactic redshifts across ∼80% of cosmic history and one-third of the sky. The Emission Line galaxy (ELG) sample, which will comprise about one-third of all DESI tracers, will be used to probe the universe over the 0.6 < z < 1.6 range, including the 1.1 < z < 1.6 range, which is expected to provide the tightest constraints. We present the target selection for the DESI Survey Validation (SV) and Main Survey ELG samples, which relies on the imaging of the Legacy Surveys. The Main ELG selection consists of a g-band magnitude cut and a (g − r) versus (r − z) color box, while the SV selection explores extensions of the Main selection boundaries. The Main ELG sample is composed of two disjoint subsamples, which have target densities of about 1940 deg−2 and 460 deg−2, respectively. We first characterize their photometric properties and density variations across the footprint. We then analyze the DESI spectroscopic data that have been obtained from 2020 December to 2021 December in the SV and Main Survey. We establish a preliminary criterion for selecting reliable redshifts, based on the [O ii] flux measurement, and assess its performance. Using this criterion, we are able to present the spectroscopic efficiency of the Main ELG selection, along with its redshift distribution. We thus demonstrate that the Main selection 1940 deg−2 subsample alone should provide 400 deg−2 and 460 deg−2 reliable redshifts in the 0.6 < z < 1.1 and the 1.1 < z < 1.6 ranges, respectively.

A key component of the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) survey validation (SV) is a detailed visual inspection (VI) of the optical spectroscopic data to quantify key survey metrics. In this paper we present results from VI of the quasar survey using deep coadded SV spectra. We show that the majority (≈70%) of the main-survey targets are spectroscopically confirmed as quasars, with ≈16% galaxies, ≈6% stars, and ≈8% low-quality spectra lacking reliable features. A nonnegligible fraction of the quasars are misidentified by the standard spectroscopic pipeline, but we show that the majority can be recovered using post-pipeline “afterburner” quasar-identification approaches. We combine these “afterburners” with our standard pipeline to create a modified pipeline to increase the overall quasar yield. At the depth of the main DESI survey, both pipelines achieve a good-redshift purity (reliable redshifts measured within 3000 km s−1) of ≈99%; however, the modified pipeline recovers ≈94% of the visually inspected quasars, as compared to ≈86% from the standard pipeline. We demonstrate that both pipelines achieve a median redshift precision and accuracy of ≈100 km s−1 and ≈70 km s−1, respectively. We constructed composite spectra to investigate why some quasars are missed by the standard pipeline and find that they are more host-galaxy dominated (i.e., distant analogs of “Seyfert galaxies”) and/or more dust reddened than the standard-pipeline quasars. We also show example spectra to demonstrate the overall diversity of the DESI quasar sample and provide strong-lensing candidates where two targets contribute to a single spectrum.

The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) is carrying out a five-year survey that aims to measure the redshifts of tens of millions of galaxies and quasars, including 8 million luminous red galaxies (LRGs) in the redshift range 0.4 < z ≲ 1.0. Here we present the selection of the DESI LRG sample and assess its spectroscopic performance using data from Survey Validation (SV) and the first two months of the Main Survey. The DESI LRG sample, selected using g, r, z, and W1 photometry from the DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys, is highly robust against imaging systematics. The sample has a target density of 605 deg−2 and a comoving number density of 5 × 10−4 h3 Mpc−3 in 0.4 < z < 0.8; this is a significantly higher density than previous LRG surveys (such as SDSS, BOSS, and eBOSS) while also extending to z ∼ 1. After applying a bright star veto mask developed for the sample, 98.9% of the observed LRG targets yield confident redshifts (with a catastrophic failure rate of 0.2% in the confident redshifts), and only 0.5% of the LRG targets are stellar contamination. The LRG redshift efficiency varies with source brightness and effective exposure time, and we present a simple model that accurately characterizes this dependence. In the appendices, we describe the extended LRG samples observed during SV.