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Silicon (Si) and boron (B) are a class of elements called metalloids, which have properties like metals and non-metals. Si is classified as a quasi-essential element, while B is a micronutrient element for plants. Nowadays, numerous discoveries have shown the analogy of silicon and boron in plant nutrition. In this minireview, the molecular mechanisms for the transport of these two metalloids are compared. We also discussed the chemical forms of Si and B and their functional similarity in response to environmental stresses in plants. In conclusion, it can be proposed that cell wall-bound silicon rather than silica might partially replace boron for plant growth, development, and stress responses, and the underlying mechanism is the Si contribution to B in its structural function.

Limited evidence is available regarding the impact of ambient inhalable particulate matter (PM) on mental disorder (MD) or dementia-related deaths, particularly PM1, PM1–2.5, and coarse particles (PM2.5–10). Moreover, individual confounders have rarely been considered. In addition, evidence from low-pollution areas is needed but is inadequate. Using death records from the Death Registration System during 2015–2021 in Ningde, a coastal city in southeast China, we combined a conditional quasi-Poisson model with a distributed lag nonlinear model to estimate the nonlinear and lagged associations of PM exposure with MD or dementia-related deaths in Ningde, China, comprehensively controlling for individual time-invariant confounders using a time-stratified case-crossover design. The attributable fraction and number were calculated to quantify the burden of MD or dementia-related deaths that were related to PMs. We found J-shaped relationships between MD or dementia-related deaths and PMs, with different thresholds of 13, 9, 19, 33 and 12 μg/m3 for PM1, PM1–2.5, PM2.5, PM10 and PM2.5–10. An inter-quartile range increase for PM1, PM1–2.5, PM2.5, PM10 and PM2.5–10 above the thresholds led to an increase of 31.8% (95% confidence interval, 14.3–51.9%), 53.7% (22.4–93.1%), 32.6% (15.0–53.0%), 35.1% (17.7–55.0%) and 25.9% (13.0–40.3%) in MD-related deaths at lag 0–3 days, respectively. The associations were significant in the cool season rather than in the warm season and were significantly greater among people aged 75–84 years than in others. The fractions of MD-related deaths attributable to PM1, PM1–2.5, PM2.5, PM10 and PM2.5–10 were 5.55%, 6.49%, 7.68%, 10.66%, and 15.11%, respectively; however, only some of them could be protected by the concentrations recommended by the World Health Organisation or China grade I standard. Smaller associations and similar patterns were observed between PMs and dementia-related death. These findings suggest stricter standards, and provide evidence for the development of relevant policies and measures.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to analyze the patterns of life events (LEs) and defense mechanisms in outpatients with depression and investigate the mediating role of defense mechanisms in the association between LEs and depressive symptoms in a psychosomatic outpatient sample in China.Materials and methodsAll of 2,747 outpatients (aged 18–65) from psychosomatic department were investigated in this study. LEs, depressive symptoms, and defense mechanisms were assessed by the Life Events Scale (LES), Patient-Health-Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and the Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ), respectively.ResultsBased on the optimal cut-off point of PHQ-9, 1840 (67.0%) patients had a PHQ-9 score of 10 or higher (depression group), and 907 (33.0%) had a score below 10 (non-depression group). The scores of Negative Life Events (NLEs), immature and intermediate defense mechanisms in the depression group were significantly higher than those in the non-depression group, while the scores of mature defense mechanisms were the opposite (p

Abstract Neuroinflammation is associated with poor outcomes in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). Recent studies have demonstrated that stimulator of interferon genes (Sting) plays a key role in inflammatory diseases. However, the role of Sting in SCI remains unclear. In the present study, it is found that increased Sting expression is mainly derived from activated microglia after SCI. Interestingly, knockout of Sting in microglia can improve the recovery of neurological function after SCI. Microglial Sting knockout restrains the polarization of microglia toward the M1 phenotype and alleviates neuronal death. Furthermore, it is found that the downregulation of mitofusin 2 (Mfn2) expression in microglial cells leads to an imbalance in mitochondrial fusion and division, inducing the release of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), which mediates the activation of the cGas‐Sting signaling pathway and aggravates inflammatory response damage after SCI. A biomimetic microglial nanoparticle strategy to deliver MASM7 (named MSNs‐MASM7@MI) is established. In vitro, MSNs‐MASM7@MI showed no biological toxicity and effectively delivered MASM7. In vivo, MSNs‐MASM7@MI improves nerve function after SCI. The study provides evidence that cGas‐Sting signaling senses Mfn2‐dependent mtDNA release and that its activation may play a key role in SCI. These findings provide new perspectives and potential therapeutic targets for SCI treatment.

Background: Bispecific antibody (BsAb)-based cancer immunotherapy has provided new avenues for the treatment of various malignancies. The approval of Blinatumomab has encouraged further investigation into these treatments, and a series of preclinical and clinical trials have been conducted, together with the publication of numerous articles. Here, the knowledge structure of BsAb-based cancer immunotherapy is summarized using bibliometric analysis to provide in-depth insight into current research trends and foci. Methods: The studies included in the bibliometric analysis of BsAbs in cancer immunotherapy were retrieved from the online Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) database on April 16th, 2023. Visualization analysis was performed with the help of CtieSpace (version 6.2.2.msi [64-bit]), VOSviewer (version 1.6.19), R (version 4.2.1), and the Bibliometric analysis platform (R-based online data processing tool). Results: A total of 1750 papers were identified. Analysis of annual publications and total citations indicated that publications have increased steadily over the past few decades. The USA, followed by Germany, had largest number of publications, making significant contributions to the field. The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center received the highest number of citations (n = 3769). However, its collaboration and cooperation with different institutions require further strengthening. MAbs and Clinical Cancer Research published the most papers, while Blood and Cancer Research were the most commonly co-cited journals. DM Goldenberg from the USA published the most articles with the highest H-index (34), and the most co-cited author (2137 citations) was PA Baeuerle; both these authors have distinguished achievements in this field. Analysis of co-cited references and keywords showed that the hotspots and research focus on the use of BsAbs for solid tumors have increased rapidly while the application of BsAb immunotherapy in hematologic malignancies has expanded significantly. The hot topics in the field included cytokine release syndrome, the efficacy and safety of BsAbs, resistance mechanisms, and the exploration and optimization of combination therapies. Conclusion: Cancer immunotherapies based on BsAbs are a hot topic in research. Current studies focus on the construction and optimization of BsAb structure, as well as their combination with other treatment modalities to improve their efficacy and overcome resistance. Furthermore, it is expected that the ongoing investigation of BsAb-based immunotherapy for solid tumors will bear fruit with significant clinical application prospects in the near future.

ObjectivePatient safety management systems in general hospitals require a comprehensive tool for assessing the expectations of inpatients across different wards. This study aimed to develop and psychometrically validate a new scale, the hospitalized patients’ expectations for treatment scale-clinician version (HOPE-C), to meet this requirement.MethodsWe interviewed 35 experts and 10 inpatients while developing the HOPE-C scale. The scale was initially designed with three dimensions: clinicians’ expectations regarding doctor-patient communication, clinicians’ expectations regarding treatment outcome, and clinicians’ expectations regarding disease management. We recruited 200 inpatients from a general hospital in China. At the same time, 51 clinicians were assigned to the enrolled patients who completed the HOPE-C to examine the reliability, validity, and psychometric characteristics of the questionnaire. We applied item analysis, assessed construct validity, evaluated internal consistency, and conducted a test-retest reliability analysis over 7 days.ResultsBoth exploratory and confirmatory analyses supported a 2-dimensional structure, comprising doctor-patient communication expectations and treatment outcome expectations, with favorable model fit parameters (root mean square residual [RMR] = 0.042, root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = 0.049, comparative fit index [CFI] = 0.989, Tucker-Lewis index [TLI] = 0.984). Item analysis demonstrated appropriate item design (r = 0.744–0.961). The scale exhibited strong internal consistency, with Cronbach’s α values of 0.884, 0.816, and 0.840 for the overall scale, the doctor-patient communication expectation subscale, and the treatment outcome expectation subscale, respectively. The 7-day test-retest reliability was 0.996 (p < 0.001).ConclusionOur findings suggest that the HOPE-C is a reliable and valid assessment tool for measuring the expectations of inpatients in general hospitals. It effectively identifies patients’ expectations concerning doctor-patient communication and treatment outcomes.

Objectives: The prevalence of G6PD deficiency has not been reported in Yangjiang, a western city in Guangdong province. This study aims to investigate the molecular characteristics of G6PD deficiency in this region.Methods: Blood samples were collected from adults at a local hospital to screen for G6PD deficiency. The deficient samples were subjected to further analysis using PCR and reverse dot blot to determine the specific G6PD variants.Results: Among the 3314 male subjects, 250 cases of G6PD deficiency were found using the G6PD enzyme quantitative assay, resulting in a prevalence of 7.54% (250/3314) in the Yangjiang region. The prevalence of G6PD deficiency in females was 3.42% (176/5145). Out of the 268 cases of G6PD deficiency tested for G6PD mutations, reverse dot blot identified 20 different G6PD variants. The most common G6PD variant was c.1388G>A (81/268), followed by c.1376G>T (48/268), c.95A>G (32/268), c.1024C>T (9/268), c.392G>T (7/268), and c.871G>A/c.1311C>T (6/268). It was observed that c.871G>A was always linked to the polymorphism of c.1311C>T in this population.Conclusion: This investigation into G6PD deficiency in this area is expected to significantly improve our understanding of the prevalence and molecular characterization of this condition.

Background: There is growing evidence indicating a connection between fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and depressive symptoms. Metabolic risk factors are critical determinants of depressive symptoms. However, the mediating role of these factors on the association between PM2.5 and depressive symptoms remains elusive. We aimed to investigate whether and to what extent metabolic risk factors mediated the link between long-term PM2.5 exposure and depressive symptoms. Methods: This study comprised 7794 individuals aged between 30 and 79 years who participated in two waves of the on-site surveys in the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort. Ambient PM2.5 concentrations were assessed utilizing a random forest method based on satellite data. We employed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 to assess depressive symptoms at wave 2, and the overall as well as three sub-domain symptom scores (emotional, neurovegetative, and neurocognitive symptoms) were calculated. Three metabolic risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia, were considered. Mediation analyses were conducted to assess the indirect effects of PM2.5 on depressive symptoms through metabolic risk factors. Results: We found a positive association between chronic exposure to ambient PM2.5 and overall depressive symptoms as well as the three sub-domains. In mediation analyses, metabolic risk factors partially mediated the associations of PM2.5 on depressive symptoms. The natural indirect effects (RR, 95% CI) of PM2.5 on overall, emotional, neurovegetative, and neurocognitive symptoms mediated through metabolic risk factors were 1.004(1.001, 1.007), 1.004 (1.001, 1.008), 1.004 (1.001, 1.007), and 1.003(0.999, 1.007), respectively. Larger indirect effects were found in elderly participants (mediated proportion, 29.3%), females (13.3%), and people who did not consume alcohol (19.6%). Conclusions: Metabolic risk factors may act as mediators in the relationship between chronic PM2.5 exposure and depression. Treatment of metabolic risk factors may be an opportunity to reduce the burden of depression caused by long-term exposure to PM2.5.

Objective: We examined the relationships between infants’ growth trajectories and prenatal exposure to air pollution, which is still under-investigated. Methods: A birth cohort study was constructed using medical records of pregnant women and infants born between 2015 and 2019 in Foshan, China. Using satellite-based spatial-temporal models, prenatal exposure to air pollutants including particulate matter with an aerodynamic dimension of < 2.5 µm (PM2.5), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone (O3) was assessed at each woman's residence. Latent class growth modeling was used to identify trajectories of physical (body length and weight) growth and neurodevelopment, which were repeatedly measured within 1 year after birth. Logistic regression models were used to investigate the associations between prenatal exposure to air pollution and the risks of growth disorders, adjusting for an array of potential confounders. Results: We identified two growth trajectories for body length [normal: 3829 (93%); retardation: 288 (7%)], three for weight [normal: 2475 (59.6%); retardation: 390 (9.4%); overgrowth: 1287 (31%)], and two for neurodevelopment [normal: 956 (66.1%); retardation: 491 (33.9%)]. For exposure over whole pregnancy, SO2 was associated with an increased risk of body length retardation (OR for per 1 µg/m3 increment: 1.09, 95%CI: 1.01–1.17); PM2.5 (OR: 1.05, 95%CI: 1.03–1.07), SO2 (OR: 1.15, 95%CI: 1.08–1.22), and NO2 (OR: 1.05, 95%CI: 1.03–1.07) were positively associated with neurodevelopmental retardation. Such associations appeared stronger for exposures over the first and second trimesters. No significant associations were detected for weight growth. Conclusions: Maternal exposure to air pollution during pregnancy was associated with higher risks of impairments in both physical growth, particularly body length, and neurodevelopment.

Monosynaptic viral tracers are essential tools for dissecting neuronal connectomes and for targeted delivery of molecular sensors and effectors. Viral toxicity and complex multi-injection protocols are major limiting application barriers. To overcome these barriers, we developed an anterograde monosynaptic H129Amp tracer system based on HSV-1 strain H129. The H129Amp tracer system consists of two components: an H129-dTK-T2-pacFlox helper which assists H129Amp tracer's propagation and transneuronal monosynaptic transmission. The shared viral features of tracer/helper allow for simultaneous single-injection and subsequent high expression efficiency from multiple-copy of expression cassettes in H129Amp tracer. These improvements of H129Amp tracer system shorten experiment duration from 28-day to 5-day for fast-bright monosynaptic tracing. The lack of toxic viral genes in the H129Amp tracer minimizes toxicity in postsynaptic neurons, thus offering the potential for functional anterograde mapping and long-term tracer delivery of genetic payloads. The H129Amp tracer system is a powerful tracing tool for revealing neuronal connectomes.

Background Since most infants are usually discharged before age 48–72 hours, peak bilirubin levels will almost always occur after discharge. Parents may be the first to observe the onset of jaundice after discharge, but visual assessment is unreliable. The jaundice colour card (JCard) is a low-cost icterometer designed for the assessment of neonatal jaundice. The objective of this study was to evaluate parental use of JCard to detect jaundice in neonates.Methods We conducted a multicentre, prospective, observational cohort study in nine sites across China. A total of 1161 newborns ≥35 weeks of gestation were enrolled in the study. Measurements of total serum bilirubin (TSB) levels were based on clinical indications. The JCard measurements by parents and paediatricians were compared with the TSB.Results JCard values of parents and paediatricians were correlated with TSB (r=0.754 and 0.788, respectively). The parents’ and paediatricians’ JCard values 9 had sensitivities of 95.2% vs 97.6% and specificities of 84.5% vs 71.7% for identifying neonates with TSB ≥153.9 µmol/L. The parents’ and paediatricians’ JCard values 15 had sensitivities of 79.9% vs 89.0% and specificities of 66.7% vs 64.9% for identifying neonates with TSB ≥256.5 µmol/L. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of parents for identifying TSB ≥119.7, ≥153.9, ≥205.2, and ≥256.5 µmol/L were 0.967, 0.960, 0.915, and 0.813, respectively, and those of paediatricians were 0.966, 0.961, 0.926 and 0.840, respectively. The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.933 between parents and paediatricians.Conclusion The JCard can be used to classify different levels of bilirubin, but it is less accurate with high bilirubin levels. The JCard diagnostic performance of parents was slightly lower than that of paediatricians.

ObjectiveThe study sought to explore the relationship between high psychological stress levels related to delivery and postpartum mental disorders.MethodsA total of 284 parturients were included in the study from July 2021 to January 2022. The stress level at 1 month postpartum was assessed by the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). Parturients with an IES-R score ≤ 9 were included in the low psychological stress level group, and those with an IES-R score > 9 were included in the high psychological stress level group. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Union Physio-Psycho-Social Assessment Questionnaire (UPPSAQ-70), Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) and Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) were conducted at 42 ± 7 days postpartum to assess the mental health of parturients.The parturients’ mental health after birth was assessed by the EPDS, UPPSAQ-70, and SCL-90. Semi-structured diagnostic interviews were conducted at 42 ± 7 days postpartum by using the M.I.N.I.ResultsThe incidence rate of postpartum mental disorders was 20.42% (58/284), the incidence rates of postpartum depression, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder were 17.96% (51/284), 11.97% (34/284), 4.58% (13/284) and 1.41% (4/284), respectively, and the comorbidity rate was 58.62% (34/58). A history of mental disorders and pregnancy complications were risk factors for postpartum depression (p = 0.028, p = 0.040, respectively); a history of mental disorders, a lack of physical exercise, partner violence and pregnancy complications were risk factors for postpartum anxiety disorders (p = 0.003, p = 0.007, p = 0.031, p = 0.048, respectively); and the delivery of female infants was a risk factor for postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder (p = 0.022).The risk of postpartum depression, anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder was 9.125 times (95% CI = 3.900 ~ 21.349, p

Background: The real-world safety profile of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines remains incompletely elucidated. Methods: We performed a nationwide post-market safety surveillance analysis in Singapore, on vacinees aged 5 years and older, through mid-September 2022. Observed-over-expected (O/E) analyses were performed to identify potential safety signals among eight shortlisted adverse events of special interest (AESIs): strokes, cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT), acute myocardial infarction, myocarditis/pericarditis, pulmonary embolism, immune thrombocytopenia, convulsions and appendicitis. Self-controlled case series analyses (SCCS) were performed to validate signals of concern, occurring within 42 days of vaccination. Findings: Elevated risks were observed on O/E analyses for the following AESIs: myocarditis/pericarditis, [rate ratio (RR): 3.66, 95 % confidence interval (95 % CI): 2.71 to 4.94], appendicitis [RR: 1.14 (1.02 to 1.27)] and CVT [RR: 2.11 (1.18 to 3.77)]. SCCS analyses generated corroborative findings: myocarditis/pericarditis, [relative incidence (RI): 6.96 (3.95 to 12.27) at 1 to 7 days post-dose 2], CVT [RI: 4.30 (1.30 to 14.20) at 22 to 42 days post-dose 1] and appendicitis [RI: 1.31 (1.03 to 1.67) at 1 to 7 days post-dose 1]. Booster dose 1 continued to be associated with higher rates of myocarditis/pericarditis on O/E analysis [RR: 2.30, (1.39 to 3.80) and 1.69, (1.11 to 2.59)] at 21- and 42-days post-booster dose 1, respectively. Males aged 12 to 17 exhibited highest risks of both myocarditis/pericarditis [RI: 6.31 (1.36 to 29.3)] and appendicitis [RI: 2.01 (1.12 to 3.64)] after primary vaccination. Similarly, CVT was also predominantly observed in males aged above 50 (11 out of 16 cases), within 42-days of vaccination. Interpretation: Our data suggest that myocarditis/pericarditis, appendicitis and CVT are associated with primary vaccination using COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. Males at specific ages exhibit higher risks for all three AEs identified. The risk of myocarditis/pericarditis continues to be elevated after booster dose 1.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a multifaceted endocrine and metabolic syndrome with complex origins and pathogenesis that has not yet been fully elucidated. Recently, the interconnection between gut microbiota and metabolic diseases has gained prominence in research, generating new insights into the correlation between PCOS and gut microbiota composition. However, the causal link between PCOS and gut microbiota remains relatively unexplored, indicating a crucial gap in current research. Methods: We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis using summary statistics obtained from the MiBioGen Consortium's extensive genome-wide association studies (GWAS) meta-analysis, focusing on the gut microbiota. Summary statistics for PCOS were acquired from the FinnGen Consortium R7 release data. Various statistical approaches, including inverse variance weighted, MR-Egger, maximum likelihood, weighted model, and weighted median, have been employed to investigate the causal association between the gut microbiota and PCOS. Additionally, we performed a reverse causal analysis. Cochran's Q statistic was used to assess the heterogeneity of the instrumental variables. Regarding the relationships between PCOS and specific genera within the gut microbiota, a significance level of P

The acute myocardial infarction (AMI) outcomes have been extensively linked with ambient particulate matter (PM). However, whether a smaller particle has greater impact and the consequent attributable burden associated with PM of different sizes remain unclear. We conducted a multi-province cross-sectional study among AMI patients using the inpatient discharge datasets from four Chinese provinces (Shanxi, Sichuan, Guangxi, and Guangdong) from 2014 to 2019. Ambient PM exposure for each patient was assessed using the ChinaHighAirPollutants dataset. We employed the mixed-effects logistic regression models to evaluate the association of PM of different sizes (PM1, PM2.5, PM10) on in-hospital case fatality. The potential reducible fractions in in-hospital case fatality were estimated through counterfactual analyses. Of 177,749 participants, 125,501 (70.6 %) were male and the in-hospital case fatality rate was 4.9%. For short-term (7-day average) exposure, the odds ratios (ORs) for PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 (per 10 µg/m3) were 1.052 (95 % confidence interval [CI], 1.032–1.071), 1.026 (95 % CI, 1.014–1.037), and 1.016 (95% CI, 1.008–1.024), respectively. The estimated ORs for long-term exposure (annual average) were 1.303 (95 % CI, 1.252–1.356) for PM1, 1.209 (95 % CI, 1.178–1.241) for PM2.5, 1.157 (95 % CI, 1.134–1.181) for PM10. Short-term exposure to PM1 showed the highest potential reducible fraction (8.5 %, 95 % CI, 5.0–11.7 %), followed by PM2.5 and PM10, while the greatest potential reducible fraction of long-term exposure was observed in PM10 (30.9 %, 95 % CI, 27.2–34.4%), followed by PM2.5 and PM1. In summary, PM with smaller size had a more pronounced impact on in-hospital AMI case fatality, with PM1 exhibiting greater effects than PM2.5 and PM10. Substantial health benefits for AMI patients could be achieved by mitigating ambient PM exposure.

There is limited evidence linking exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM) with internal doses of metals and metalloids (metal(loid)s). This study aimed to evaluate the effects of short-term exposure to ambient PM on urine metal(loid)s among Chinese older adults. Biological monitoring data of 15 urine metal(loid)s collected in 3, 970 community-dwelling older adults in Fuyang city, Anhui Province, China, from July to September 2018, were utilized. PMs with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 1 µm (PM1), ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5), and ≤ 10 µm (PM10) up to eight days before urine collection were estimated by space–time extremely randomized trees (STET) model. Residential greenness was reflected by Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). We used generalized additive model (GAM) combined with distributed lag linear/non-linear models (DLMs/DLNMs) to estimate the associations between short-term PM exposure and urine metal(loid)s. The results suggested that the cumulative exposures to PM1, PM2.5, or PM10 over two days (lag0-1 days) before urine collection were associated with elevated urine metal(loid)s in DLMs, while exhibited linear or “inverted U-shaped” relationships with seven urine metal(loid)s in DLNMs, including Gallium (Ga), Arsenic (As), Aluminum (Al), Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca), Uranium (U), and Barium (Ba). Aforementioned results indicated robust rather than spurious associations between PMs and these seven metal(loid)s. After standardizations for three PMs, PM1 was the greatest contributor to U, PM2.5 made the greatest contributions to Ga, As, Al, and Ba, and PM10 contributed the most to Mg and Ca. Furthermore, the effects of three PMs on urine Ga, As, Al, Mg, Ca, and Ba were reduced when exposed to higher levels of NDVI. Overall, short-term exposures to ambient PMs contribute to elevated urinary metal(loid) levels in older adults, and three PMs exhibit various contributions to different urine metal(loid)s. Moreover, residential greenness may attenuate the effects of PMs on urine metal(loid)s.

ABSTRACTEpithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the most lethal gynecological cancer, which remains a threat to female health at all ages. Hypotheses for EOC development include the continuous presence of inflammation, in which microbiota and inflammatory cytokines participate in cancer-related signaling pathway activation. Hedgehog (Hh) signaling is prominent for EOC progression, and interacts with inflammation response related to gut microbiota (GM). However, the precise roles of GM during this process are unknown. Here, we showed that the GM from patients with EOC differed from that of healthy women and had GM dysbiosis. We found that EOC modeling may lead to GM changes in mice, and it restored after the administration of GM from healthy controls, while GM from patients with EOC further exacerbated GM dysbiosis. Furthermore, we found that GM from EOC markedly promoted tumor progression and activated Hh signaling; meanwhile, it increased the extent of inflammation and activated NF-κB signaling, but GM from healthy controls improved them. Our results demonstrate how GM dysbiosis promoted EOC progression by activating Hh signaling mediated by TLR4/NF-κB signaling. We anticipate our assay to be a new thought for exploring the role of GM in EOC development. Furthermore, improving GM dysbiosis is a novel therapeutic approach for delaying EOC development.

AbstractBackground & Aims Individuals with high blood pressure (BP) have varying risks of cardiovascular events due to other coexisting factors. We aimed to identify the predictors of long-term absence of coronary artery calcium (CAC) in individuals with high BP, which is an indicator of healthy arterial aging and can guide preventive strategies.Methods We analyzed data from participants with high BP (≥120/80 mm Hg) in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis who had baseline CAC = 0 and underwent a second CAC scanning after 10 years. We used multivariable logistic regression to evaluate the association between various risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and long-term CAC = 0. We also calculated the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) to predict the phenotype of healthy arterial aging in this population.Results We included 830 participants (37.6% male, mean ± SD age of 59.4 ± 8.7 years). During follow-up, 46.5% of participants (n = 386) had CAC = 0, and they were younger and had fewer metabolic syndrome components. Adding ASCVD risk factors to the demographic model (age, sex, and ethnicity) moderately increased the predictive value for long-term CAC = 0 (AUC: demographic model + ASCVD risk factors vs. demographic model alone, 0.653 vs. 0.597, p

Based on the MOD16A3GF data, spatial regression analysis was conducted to explore the trends of the annual change of AET and the characteristics of its spatial distribution in Mu Us Sandy Land between 2001 and 2020. Combined meteorological data and NDVI data to analyze its effects on AET by trend analysis and correlation coefficient. The results showed that (1) The AET exhibited significant regional differences in Mu Us Sandy Land, with an overall low northwest and high southeast distribution pattern; (2) The AET showed a rapid upward trend from 2001 to 2020, with an average rate of change of 5.68 mm·a-1; (3) The correlation coefficient between AET and precipitation was 0.74, and there was no obvious correlation with temperature; (4) AET was consistent with the NDVI spatial distribution and interannual variation curves. Under the combined influence of precipitation and NDVI, AET increased significantly in Mu Us Sandy Land from 2001 to 2020. Precipitation was the main factor affecting climatic conditions of AET, and NDVI was the dominant factor affecting AET in the same period. This provides a theoretical basis and scientific basis for the conservation and protection of ecological water source in Mu Us Sandy Land. HIGHLIGHTS Mu Us Sandy Land is a key area in China for implementing ecological engineering.; The spatial and temporal patterns of AET, hydrothermal conditions, and vegetation changes were studied.; The average annual water surface evaporation monitored at eight weather stations was counted.; The annual average NDVI and ET were divided into six levels.; The climatic conditions are not the main factor of AET variation.;

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is associated with urolithiasis as it causes hypercalciuria and hypocitraturia. However, the influence of different subtypes of PA on urinary stone formation remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the association between aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) and the burden of urolithiasis in patients with PA. In the present study, we enrolled 312 patients with PA from a prospectively maintained database, of whom 179 had APA. Clinical, biochemical, and imaging data (including the presence, volume, and density of urinary stones on abdominal computed tomography) were compared between groups, with employment of propensity score matching (PSM) analysis to balance possible confounding factors. Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to estimate the acute renal colic event during follow-up. After PSM for age, sex, serum calcium, phosphate, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and uric acid, the APA and non-APA groups had 106 patients each. Patients with APA had higher serum intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) (79.1 ± 45.0 vs 56.1 ± 30.3, P < 0.001) and a higher prevalence of urolithiasis (27.4% vs 12.3%, P = 0.006) than non-APA patients. During follow-up, a higher incidence of acute renal colic events was noted in the APA group than the non-APA group (P = 0.011); this association remained significant (P = 0.038) after adjustment for age and sex in Cox-regression analysis. Our data suggest that APA is associated with a heavier burden of urolithiasis and higher incidence of renal colic events compared to the non-APA subtype of PA.

Abstract Ophthalmic inflammatory diseases, including conjunctivitis, keratitis, uveitis, scleritis, and related conditions, pose considerable challenges to effective management and treatment. This review article investigates the potential of advanced nanomaterials in revolutionizing ocular anti-inflammatory drug interventions. By conducting an exhaustive analysis of recent advancements and assessing the potential benefits and limitations, this review aims to identify promising avenues for future research and clinical applications. The review commences with a detailed exploration of various nanomaterial categories, such as liposomes, dendrimers, nanoparticles (NPs), and hydrogels, emphasizing their unique properties and capabilities for accurate drug delivery. Subsequently, we explore the etiology and pathophysiology of ophthalmic inflammatory disorders, highlighting the urgent necessity for innovative therapeutic strategies and examining recent preclinical and clinical investigations employing nanomaterial-based drug delivery systems. We discuss the advantages of these cutting-edge systems, such as biocompatibility, bioavailability, controlled release, and targeted delivery, alongside potential challenges, which encompass immunogenicity, toxicity, and regulatory hurdles. Furthermore, we emphasize the significance of interdisciplinary collaborations among material scientists, pharmacologists, and clinicians in expediting the translation of these breakthroughs from laboratory environments to clinical practice. In summary, this review accentuates the remarkable potential of advanced nanomaterials in redefining ocular anti-inflammatory drug therapy. We fervently support continued research and development in this rapidly evolving field to overcome existing barriers and improve patient outcomes for ophthalmic inflammatory disorders. Graphical Abstract

Background: Identifying patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) is often performed in epidemiological studies using electronic health records (EHR), but currently available algorithms have features that limit their generalizability. Methods: We developed a rule-based algorithm to determine DM status using the nationally aggregated EHR database. The algorithm was validated on two chart-reviewed samples (n = 2813) of (a) patients with atrial fibrillation (AF, n = 1194) and (b) randomly sampled hospitalized patients (n = 1619). Results: DM diagnosis codes alone resulted in a sensitivity of 77.0% and 83.4% in the AF and random hospitalized samples, respectively. The proposed algorithm combines blood glucose values and DM medication usage with diagnostic codes and exhibits sensitivities between 96.9% and 98.0%, while positive predictive values (PPV) ranged between 61.1% and 75.6%. Performances were comparable across sexes, but a lower specificity was observed in younger patients (below 65 versus 65 and above) in both validation samples (75.8% vs. 90.8% and 60.6% vs. 88.8%). The algorithm was robust for missing laboratory data but not for missing medication data. Conclusions: In this nationwide EHR database analysis, an algorithm for identifying patients with DM has been developed and validated. The algorithm supports quantitative bias analyses in future studies involving EHR-based DM studies.

Abstract Ischemia–reperfusion injury occurs after reperfusion treatment for patients suffering myocardial infarction, however the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood and effective pharmacological interventions are limited. Here, we report the identification and characterization of the FDA-approved drug disulfiram (DSF) as a cardioprotective compound. By applying high-throughput chemical screening, we found that DSF decreased H2O2-induced cardiomyocyte death by inhibiting Gasdermin D, but not ALDH1, in cardiomyocytes. Oral gavage of DSF decreased myocardial infarct size and improved heart function after myocardial ischemia–reperfusion injury in rats. Therefore, this work reveals DSF as a potential therapeutic compound for the treatment of ischemic heart disease.

In this paper, the deformation behavior and microstructure evolution of 300M steel are comprehensively studied by using the split-Hopkinson pressure bar technology, with an emphasis on the analytical estimate of material flow and microstructure distribution subjected to high strain rate. It is found that the grains have been significantly refined due to dynamic recrystallization (DRX) and major continuous DRX supplemented by few discontinuous ones governs the microstructure evolution. The dislocation activities associated with the angle change of grain boundaries and mechanical twinning dominate the deformation mechanism of 300M steel under high strain rate. Besides, nanoparticles in the form of carbide precipitation are uniformly distributed in the deformed zone, which strengthens the material by pinning the dislocations. A thermo-mechanical coupled analytical model considering dynamic recovery and dynamic recrystallization was innovatively developed, based on which the distribution of grain size and microhardness was predicted. The results indicated that the flow behavior described by the models and the calculated grain size as well as microhardness are proven to agree well with the results of experimental analysis.

Abstract Background There is limited evidence supporting a relationship of ambient particulate matter (PM), especially PM1, with hospital admissions, hospital costs, and length of hospital stay (LOS) due to cardiovascular disease (CVD). We used a generalized additive model (GAM) to estimate the associations of these indicators due to CVD for each 10 μg/m3 increase in the level of PM1, PM2.5, and PM10, and the attributable risk caused by PM on CVD was determined using the WHO air quality guidelines from 2005 and 2021. Results For each 10 μg/m3 increase in the level of each PM and for a 0-day lag time, there were significant increases in daily hospital admissions for CVD (PM1: 1.006% [95% CI 0.859, 1.153]; PM2.5: 0.454% [95% CI 0.377, 0.530]; PM10: 0.263% [95% CI 0.206, 0.320]) and greater daily hospital costs for CVD (PM1: 523.135 thousand CNY [95% CI 253.111, 793.158]; PM2.5: 247.051 thousand CNY [95% CI 106.766, 387.336]; PM10: 141.284 thousand CNY [95% CI 36.195, 246.373]). There were no significant associations between PM and daily LOS. Stratified analyses demonstrated stronger effects in young people and males for daily hospital admissions, and stronger effects in the elderly and males for daily hospital costs. Daily hospital admissions increased linearly with PM concentration up to about 30 µg/m3 (PM1), 60 µg/m3 (PM2.5), and 90 µg/m3 (PM10), with slower increases at higher concentrations. Daily hospital costs had an approximately linear increase with PM concentration at all tested concentrations. In general, hospital admissions, hospital costs, and LOS due to CVD were greater for PM2.5 than PM10, and the more stringent 2021 WHO guidelines indicated greater admissions, costs, and LOS due to CVD. Conclusions Short-term elevation of PM of different sizes was associated with an increased risk of hospital admissions and hospital costs due to CVD. The relationship with hospital admissions was strongest for men and young individuals, and the relationship with hospital costs was strongest for men and the elderly. Smaller PM is associated with greater risk.

Abstract The transition of a country or a whole society to sustainability is a long-term goal that involves a society’s willingness to carry out such a change and the governance structure to support it. Understanding the role of the governance structure in enabling or constraining the change dynamics of societal values can more effectively foster desired transitions. This paper aims to reveal the co-evolutionary dynamics in the transition processes of the societal value of water resources and the network configurations of water governance in Australia and China in different socioecological contexts. Newspapers were used to track societal value and structural change in water governance. One mainstream newspaper was selected from each country, spanning a timeframe of 175 years in Australia and 72 years in China. The key finding is that the transition in societal value in both countries followed a similar sigmoid function. The value transition process in both countries benefited from a centralized governance structure, particularly in the take-off stage of the transition.

Abstract In this article, a novel design method is proposed based on characteristic mode theory (CMT). Based on the proposed method, a linearly polarised dual‐band wearable antenna with double‐layered substrates sandwiched by three layers of copper circle patches is designed and optimised step by step. The structure and excitation position of the antenna are obtained by progressively tailoring a classical circle patch antenna. Firstly, the characteristic mode analysis is performed on the middle‐layer planar circle patch to find the modes that can be excited in the designed frequency band. Secondly, the configuration of the middle layer is adjusted step by step based on the modal current distributions to realise the mode shift. Then, the top circle patch is changed to a metasurface to increase the number of modes and expand the mode bandwidth. Finally, the location of the excitation port is selected based on the modal electric fields to successfully obtain the desired performance of the antenna. The prototype of the proposed antenna with a radius of 2.6 cm fed by a single probe is fabricated and experimentally verified. The antenna operates in the 2.45 and 5 GHz bands, and the measured 10 dB impedance bandwidths on the two bands are 1.2% and 39.7%, respectively, which agrees well with the expectation predicted by the CMT. It should be noted that the desired antenna performance is achieved by step‐by‐step derivation using the CMT, rather than applying the theory to illustrate the working principle of antennas. The proposed design method can be broadly employed to various antenna designs.

Abstract Due to climate warming, ice sheets around the world are losing mass, contributing to changes across terrestrial landscapes on decadal time spans. However, landscape repercussions on climate are poorly constrained mostly due to limited knowledge on microbial responses to deglaciation. Here, we reveal the genomic succession from chemolithotrophy to photo- and heterotrophy and increases in methane supersaturation in freshwater lakes upon glacial retreat. Arctic lakes at Svalbard also revealed strong microbial signatures form nutrient fertilization by birds. Although methanotrophs were present and increased along lake chronosequences, methane consumption rates were low even in supersaturated systems. Nitrous oxide oversaturation and genomic information suggest active nitrogen cycling across the entire deglaciated landscape, and in the high Arctic, increasing bird populations serve as major modulators at many sites. Our findings show diverse microbial succession patterns, and trajectories in carbon and nitrogen cycle processes representing a positive feedback loop of deglaciation on climate warming.

The effective and efficient refractive index of a multilayer optical waveguide is computed by taking into account the various order modes of the waveguide, such as the Quasi-Transverse Electric/Transverse Magnetic (Quasi-TE/TM) mode. According to the effective refractive index method, the effective refractive index of the Quasi-TE/TM mode is calculated from the electromagnetic field curve distribution calculated for each mode in the 6-layer loss optical waveguide compute the effective refractive index each order of TE/TM mdes. Further, we analyze the dependence of the waveguide properties on the structure. We conclude that the mode effective refractive index and mode order do not decrease monotonicallythe lossy waveguide mode is more prevalent. The research work in this paper can be used as the theoretical basis for the design, fabrication and application of practical optical waveguide devices.

AIM: To evaluate the applicability of Chinese dry eye questionnaire in college students using the ocular surface disease index(OSDI)questionnaire as a reference.METHODS: Cross-sectional study. A total of 711 college students from Nanyang Medical College were enrolled in the study and assessed for dry eye condition using OSDI questionnaire and Chinese dry eye questionnaire. The response rate of each question in the two questionnaires was counted. Cronbach α was calculated to evaluate the internal consistency of both questionnaires. Correlation between the total scores of the two questionnaires was analyzed to evaluate the criterion validity. Based on OSDI scores, the discriminant validity of Chinese dry eye questionnaire was evaluated; receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves was plotted for Chinese dry eye questionnaire scores, area under the ROC curve(AUC)was calculated, and diagnostic thresholds and corresponding sensitivity and specificity were also analyzed.RESULT: The response rates of the 12 questions on the OSDI questionnaire were 33.2%-100.0%, while it was 100.0% for each question on the Chinese dry eye questionnaire. The Cronbach α values of OSDI questionnaire and Chinese dry eye questionnaire were 0.905 and 0.789, respectively. The Chinese dry eye questionnaire score was positively correlated with the OSDI score(rs=0.712, P