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Background: Early water intake has gained widespread attention considering enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS). In the present systematic evaluation and meta-analysis, we assessed the effects of early water intake on the incidence of vomiting and aspiration in adult patients who received general anaesthesia on regaining consciousness during the resuscitation period. Objective: To systematically analyse the results of randomised controlled trials on early postoperative water intake in patients who underwent different types of surgery under general anaesthesia, both at home and abroad, to further explore the safety and application of early water intake and provide an evidence-based foundation for clinical application. Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: To perform the systematic evaluation and meta-analysis, we searched the Web of Science, CINAHL, Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Sinomed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, and Vipshop databases to identify randomised controlled trial studies on early water intake in adult patients who received general anaesthesia. Results: Herein, we included 10 publications with a total sample size of 5131 patients. Based on statistical analysis, there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of vomiting (odds ratio [OR] = 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.58–1.12]; p = 0.20; I-squared [I2] = 0%) and aspiration (OR = 0.78; 95%CI [0.45–1.37]; p = 0.40; I2 = 0%) between the two groups of patients on regaining consciousness post-general anaesthesia. Conclusion: Based on the available evidence, early water intake after regaining consciousness post-anaesthesia did not increase the incidence of adverse complications when compared with traditional postoperative water abstinence. Early water intake could effectively improve patient thirst and facilitate the recovery of gastrointestinal function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Elevated urinary albumin‐to‐creatinine ratio (UACR) was associated with increased mortality in general population and diabetic patients. However, whether the association remains similar in the subjects with different status of glucose metabolism was unclear. The optimal level of UACR in predicting mortality also remained unknown. This study aims to investigate the relationship between UACR with all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality in population with different status of glucose metabolism and explore the predictive cutoff point of UACR. Methods: Six thousand three hundred and eighty‐six community‐dwelling individuals aged ≥45 years were enrolled and followed for an average of 5.3 years. Cox proportional hazards model was performed to analysis the association of baseline UACR and all‐cause as well as cardiovascular mortality according to the status of glucose metabolism. Receiver operating characteristic curve was plotted to explore the optimal predictive cutoff point of UACR. Results: With UACR increasing, both the prevalence of all‐cause and cardiovascular death increased. Cox analyses showed baseline UACR independently predicted the risk of all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality in the patients with prediabetes mellitus (pre‐DM) and diabetes mellitus (DM) but not in subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT). When divided by quartiles of UACR, the cumulative survival rate decreased acrossing the quartiles. Compared to the subjects with lowest quartile of UACR, participants with UACR ≥7.40 mg/gCr had a higher risk of all‐cause mortality, and participants with UACR ≥16.60 mg/gCr had an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality in all hyperglycemia subjects. The optimal predictive cutoff point of UACR was about 17 mg/gCr. Conclusion: UACR was an independent predictor of all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality in population with pre‐DM and DM but not in the subjects with NGT. The optimal predictive cutoff point of UACR is about 17 mg/gCr, which was far below the diagnostic cutoff point of microalbuminuria. Earlier interventions of albuminuria should be initiated from very early stage of hyperglycemia to reduce the burden of death in all patients whose glucose metabolism are impaired. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a prevalent pregnancy-specific complication that presents with maternal itching and elevated serum bile acid levels. ICP is associated with unfavorable pregnancy outcomes, severely decreasing the pregnant woman's quality of life. Timely identification of ICP is crucial for effective management and improved outcomes. Methods: We collected urine samples from 8 patients with ICP and 8 healthy individuals. We used Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) to detect metabolite expression levels, then conducted a series of bioinformatic analyses to explore the potential biological meanings of differentially expressed metabolites, and preliminarily discovered several candidate biomarkers. To validate these candidate biomarkers, we performed Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) detection and analyzed their diagnostic values using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: Untargeted metabolomics data showed that 6129 positive peaks and 6218 negative peaks were extracted from each specimen. OPLS-DA analysis and the heat map for cluster analysis showed satisfactory capability in discriminating ICP specimens from controls. Subsequent analysis extracted 64 significantly differentially expressed metabolites, which could be potential biomarkers for diagnosis of ICP. Based on the KEGG enrichment analyses, six candidate biomarkers were preliminarily identified. Two most promising biomarkers (3-hydroxypropionic acid and uracil) were validated by targeted metabolomics analyses with the area under the curve (AUC) of 0.920 and 0.850 respectively. Conclusion: Based on preliminary screening from untargeted metabolomics and subsequent validation through targeted metabolomics, 3-hydroxypropionic acid and uracil were identified as promising diagnostic biomarkers for ICP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: It has been well recognized that sarcopenia is closely related with osteoporosis, while the relationship between bone mass at different sites and muscle mass remains largely unexplored. This study aims to explore the relationship between bone mass at different sites and skeletal muscle mass in older adults. Methods: A total of 228 patients over 65 years old were enrolled in this study, and then 180 valid participants with accessible dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanning data and absence of malignant tumors, mobility disorders, serious liver and kidney disease, and cardiac insufficiency were selected (138 male and 42 female). These individuals were further divided into control group and low skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) group. DXA scanning was used to access skeletal muscle mass and bone mass. SMI or body mass index was defined as appendicular muscle mass or weight divided by squared height, respectively. Low SMI <7.0 kg/m2 in male or <5.4 kg/m2 in female was defined as low SMI; while the bone density score at or below 2.5 standard deviations (T-score) below normal peak bone values, was regarded as osteoporosis. Results: The average age of enrolled patients was 82.72 years; the ratios of osteoporosis, low SMI, and low SMI with osteoporosis were 48.8%, 23.3%, and 15.0%, respectively. Compared with the control group, the prevalence of osteoporosis was higher, and the total bone mass and bone mass at various sites including limbs, spine, and pelvis, were all lower in low SMI group. Correlation analysis showed that SMI was positively related with total bone mass and bone mass at various sites. Covariance analysis showed that only total bone mass and appendicular bone mass decreased with decreasing SMI. After multiple adjustment, osteoporosis was positively related with the prevalence of low SMI, as evidenced by logistic regression analysis (odds ratio = 1.33, 95% confidential interval: 1.04–3.24, p = 0.045). Furthermore, compared with the highest quartile of appendicular bone mass, the lowest quartile was related with the increasing prevalence of low SMI (odds ratio = 7.29, 95% confidential interval: 1.21–67.45, p = 0.042). Conclusion: Compared with the other sites, the bone mass reduction at limbs of older adults was positively associated with skeletal muscle loss. It may be more beneficial to increase bone mass at the limbs for improved sarcopenia prevention and therapy. Further investigations are needed to explore the effects of other confounders (e.g., energy, calcium and vitamin D intake, and physical activity) on the osteoporosis and sarcopenia in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. It has been reported that more than half of breast cancer (BC) could be identified as HER2-low-positive, which might be a distinct subtype. But the results are controversial. We aim to compare the survival outcomes between HER2-low-positive and HER2-0 BC with Asian women based on HR status or Ki-67 index. Methods. Between January 2009 and December 2017, HER2-nonamplified BC in our single institute was identified. Patients were classified as HER2-low and HER2-0 cohort. Clinical characteristics were compared between these two groups and survival outcomes were calculated by the Kaplan–Meier method. We also performed subgroup analysis according to Ki-67 index and hormone-receptor (HR) status. Results. Of the 2,230 included patients, 536 presented with HER2-0, and 1,694 with HER2-low positive. After a median follow-up of 85 months (range: 1–152 months), the 8-year OS, BCSS, and RFS of the overall cohort were 91%, 95%, and 89%, respectively. In comparison with the HER2-0 cohort, majority of HER2-low-expression BC concurrently presented with HR positive (82.3% vs. 69%, P < 0.001). There was no significant survival difference between the two groups in terms of OS, BCSS, and RFS (all p > 0.05). We then performed subgroup analysis according to HR status and Ki-67 index (<14% vs. ≥14%). Our results indicated that there was no significant survival difference between HER2-low-positive and HER2-0 tumors regardless of HR status (p > 0.05), while OS (p = 0.026) and BCSS (p = 0.052) of HER2-0 BC with high Ki-67 index were significantly poorer than that of HER2-low positive with high Ki-67, but not for RFS (p = 0.17). Conclusion. Among early stage HER2-nonamplified BC, no significant survival difference could be found between HER2-low positive and HER2-0 cohort regardless of HR status. Survival outcomes of HER2-low positive with high Ki-67 seem to be poorer than that of HER2-0 tumors with high Ki-67 index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Previous studies have presented inconsistent results on the relationship between serum uric acid and skeletal muscle mass (SMM). We aimed to explore whether a higher serum uric acid level was associated with low SMM in the Chinese population. Methods We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 6595 subjects aged 45 years or older. They were tested for fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, uric acid, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and estimated glomerular filtration rate. SMM was accessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry using two approaches: weight-adjusted appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM)% and ASM/BMI (body mass index (kg/m2)). Low SMM was defined as a cut-off point of ASM/BMI<0.789 for men and<0.512 for women. Results Compared with their normal group, patients with hyperuricemia had lower ASM% (29.33±2.33 vs 30.03±2.34 for males and 24.71±1.99 vs 25.19±2.07 for females, P<0.01) and ASM/BMI (0.83±0.10 vs 0.85±0.10 for male and 0.60±0.07 vs 0.62±0.07 for female), with a higher prevalence of the associated low SMM in both sexes (35.2 vs 26.5% for male and 10.5 vs 5.9% for female, P<0.01). Pearson analysis showed that ASM% and ASM/BMI were negatively correlated with SUA (male: ASM/BMI, r=−0.097, ASM%, r=−0.146; female: ASM/BMI, r=−0.151, ASM%, r=−0.157; all P<0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed a positive association of hyperuricemia with adjusted risk of low SMM association. Conclusions In a middle-aged and elderly Chinese population, hyperuricemia is independently and positively associated with low SMM and can vary by age and gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipid A plays a crucial role in Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Previously we have reported the diversity of secondary acylation of lipid A in V. parahaemolyticus and four V. parahaemolyticus genes VP_RS08405 , VP_RS01045 , VP_RS12170 , and VP_RS00880 exhibiting homology to the secondary acyltransferases in Escherichia coli. In this study, the gene VP_RS12170 was identified as a specific lipid A secondary hydroxy-acyltransferase responsible for transferring a 3-hydroxymyristate to the 2′-position of lipid A. Four E. coli mutant strains WHL00, WHM00, WH300, and WH001 were constructed, and they would synthesize lipid A with different structures due to the absence of genes encoding lipid A secondary acyltransferases or Kdo transferase. Then V. parahaemolyticus VP_RS12170 was overexpressed in W3110, WHL00, WHM00, WH300, and WH001, and lipid A was isolated from these strains and analyzed by using thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The detailed structural changes of lipid A in these mutant strains with and without VP_RS12170 overexpression were compared and conclude that VP_RS12170 can specifically transfer a 3-hydroxymyristate to the 2′-position of lipid A. This study also demonstrated that the function of VP_RS12170 is Kdo-dependent and its favorite substrate is Kdo-lipid IV A. These findings give us better understanding the biosynthetic pathway and the structural diversity of V. parahaemolyticus lipid A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It has been revealed that B7H4 is negatively correlated with PDL1 and identifies immuno-cold tumors in glioma. However, the application of the B7H4-PDL1 classifier in cancers has not been well testified. Methods: A pan-cancer analysis was conducted to evaluate the immunological role of B7H4 using the RNA-sequencing data downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and multiplexed quantitative immunofluorescence (QIF) were performed to validate the primary results revealed by bioinformatics analysis. Results: The pan-cancer analysis revealed that B7H4 was negatively correlated with PDL1 expression and immune cell infiltration in CeCa. In addition, patients with high B7H4 exhibited the shortest overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) while those with high PDL1 exhibited a better prognosis. Multiplexed QIF showed that B7H4 was mutually exclusive with PDL1 expression and the B7H4-high group exhibited the lowest CD8 + T cell infiltration. Besides, B7H4-high predicted highly proliferative subtypes, which expressed the highest Ki67 antigen. Moreover, B7H4-high also indicated a lower response to multiple therapies. Conclusions: Totally, the B7H4-PDL1 classifier identifies the immunogenicity and predicts proliferative subtypes and limited therapeutic options in CeCa, which may be a convenient and feasible biomarker in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tanshinone IIa (TanIIa), an ingredient of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae, has an anticancer effect on various solid tumors with high efficiency and low toxicity. Nonetheless, the underlying role of TanIIa in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) remains unclear. Here, we revealed that TanIIa drastically inhibited NB4 cell viability with an IC50 value of 31.25 μmol/L. Using flow cytometry apoptosis assay, we identified that TanIIa dose-dependently exacerbated NB4 cell apoptosis. Mechanistically, TanIIa upregulated apoptotic factor levels, namely, cleaved-caspase 9, cleaved-caspase 3, and cleaved-PARP-1. Moreover, we noticed that TanIIa dose-dependently suppressed the PI3K/Akt/mTOR axis. This axis not only functions as an essential antiapoptotic modulator but also serves as a suppressant regulator of autophagy. Correspondingly, we detected the levels of autophagic marker, namely, LC3B, which were increased after the TanIIa treatment. Furthermore, the autophagy inhibitor Baf-A1 could effectively reverse the TanIIa-induced apoptosis, manifesting that TanIIa eliminated NB4 cells in an autophagy-dependent manner. In conclusion, tanshinone IIa exerts anti-APL effects through triggering autophagy and apoptosis in NB4 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Pantana phyllostachysae Chao causes a decline in Moso bamboo leaf biomass. • The biomass anisotropic growth model needs to take into account vegetation health. • Vegetation physicochemical parameters are important in Moso bamboo biomass estimation. • Remote sensing inversion of Moso bamboo biomass needs to consider pest factors. Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) stands as a pivotal economic bamboo species globally, holding substantial potential for carbon sequestration. Accurate estimation of aboveground biomass (AGB) in Moso bamboo forests is crucial due to its close ties with the ecosystem's carbon cycle. Despite the maturation of monitoring techniques for Pantana phyllostachysae Chao, a significant pest of Moso bamboo, its interplay with AGB in these forests remains enigmatic. This study addressed this gap by categorizing P. phyllostachysae 's impact on Moso bamboo forests into four levels: healthy, mild damage, moderate damage, and severe damage. By scrutinizing field data, we delved into the shifts in Moso bamboo leaf biomass under P. phyllostachysae stress. Leveraging Sentinel-2A/B imagery, we extracted diverse correlation factors, including original wave bands, vegetation indices, texture attributes, and vegetation's physical and chemical parameters. Subsequently, machine learning algorithms-namely, random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), and extreme gradient boosting (XGB) were employed to achieve remote sensing inversion of AGB in Moso bamboo forests, accounting for the presence of insect pests. We analyzed the response of Moso bamboo biomass sensitive factors and to further clarify the changes of AGB of Moso bamboo forests under insect pest stress at the remote sensing level ultimately. The results showed that (1) the degree of Moso bamboo leaf biomass damage was positively related to the damage level, which gradually increased from 15.15 % to 59.42 %; (2) the RF algorithm excelled in estimating Moso bamboo forest AGB, particularly in May, and inclusion of insect pest considerations enhanced AGB estimation accuracy; (3) among the four factor types, Band information and vegetation indices emerged as most impactful, and Band5, Band11, Band12, NDVI68a and MSAVI were selected the most often; (4) at the remote sensing level, AGB in Moso bamboo forests significantly varies under P. phyllostachysae stress. Healthy areas demonstrate an AGB of 66.9037 Mg ha−1, while heavily affected regions drop to 52.6591 Mg ha−1. It can be seen that combining pest factors for Moso bamboo biomass estimation solves the problem of rough biomass estimation, and this study provides a more promising method for forest growth monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Thyroid dysfunction is closely associated with skeletal muscle weakness. However, data on the optimal serum range of thyroid hormones for maintaining muscle strength in the elderly is lacking.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis in male elderly inpatients from the Geriatric Department of Zhongshan Hospital (affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, China). Serum biochemical parameters and thyroid hormones were detected for each participant. Hand grip (HG) was measured, with low hand grip defined as HG <26 kg according to the standard of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the effects of different serum thyroid hormone levels on HG.Results: The majority of the subjects were euthyroid. The prevalence of low hand grip was 48.5%. Stratified by the free thyroxine (FT4) quartiles, the results showed HG was the highest in the third quartile. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that compared with those in the first quartile, subjects in the third quartile of FT4 had a significantly lower risk of low hand grip (OR = 0.133, 95%CI: 0.020-0.610, p = .009), after adjusting potential confounding factors.Conclusion: In elderly male inpatients, maintaining a narrower serum range of thyroid hormone might be needed to protect skeletal muscle strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between resveratrol and histone acetylation in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has not yet been reported. To explore the functional role of resveratrol in RCC. Functional experiments were performed to determine proliferatio n of ACHN cells with treatment of resveratrol (0, 7.8125, 15.625, 31.25 and 62.5 μg/mL, for 12, 24 and 48 h of culture) or 0.1 μM SAHA. The enzyme activities of MMP-2/-9 were measured by gelatine zymography and histone acetylation by Western blot. When the cells were treated with 15.625, 31.25 and 62.5 μg/mL resveratrol, ACHN cells viability was 73.2 ± 3.5%, 61.4 ± 3.1%, 50.2 ± 4.7% for 12 h, 62.7 ± 4.5%, 52.4 ± 5.5%, 40.2 ± 3.8% for 24 h, and 60.8 ± 3.7%, 39.4 ± 5.1%, 37.6 ± 2.7% for 48 h, and the wound closure (%) of migration was increased from 0.6 to 0.7, 0.85, 0.9 for 12 h and from 0.23 to 0.3, 0.48, 0.59 for 24 h. The invasion rate was 8.5 ± 0.9%, 7.4 ± 0.3% and 5.8 ± 0.6%, and cell cycle was arrested at G1 from 42.5 ± 2.9% to 55.3 ± 5.7%, 59.8 ± 3.4%, 68.7 ± 4.6%. MMP-2/-9 expression (p < 0.05) was inhibited by resveratrol. The protein levels of histone acetylation (p < 0.01) was increased by resveratrol. Our results suggest that these effects might be related to a high level of histone acetylation, and resveratrol can be considered as an alternative treatment for RCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Herbal remedies are becoming increasingly popular for the treatment of depression. Recently, accumulating evidences reveal a positive effect of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in relieving depressive symptoms. The objective of this meta-analysis was to assess the safety and efficacy of saffron in treating mild to moderate depression by synthesizing all available data.Materials and Methods: Relevant studies were retrieved from electronic databases and cross-checking of reference lists. Eligible trials were carefully reviewed, and necessary data were extracted. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression or Beck Depression Inventory scores, response rate, remission rate, and adverse effects were compared between saffron and placebo or saffron and antidepressants to assess the efficacy of saffron for depression.Results: Twelve studies were included in the meta-analysis. Overall results showed that saffron possessed better efficacy in the improvement of depressive symptoms when compared with placebo, whereas saffron was as effective as synthetic antidepressants. No significant difference was detected in the incidence of adverse effects between saffron and placebo or between saffron and antidepressants.Conclusions: Saffron could be considered as an alternative to synthetic antidepressants in the treatment of mild to moderate depression. However, multicenter trials with larger sample size, longer treatment duration, and different ethnic groups are required to verify our results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer (BC) is the second-leading factor of mortality for women globally and is brought on by a variety of genetic and environmental causes. The conventional treatments for this disease have limitations, making it difficult to improve the lifespan of breast cancer patients. As a result, extensive research has been conducted over the past decade to find innovative solutions to these challenges. Targeting of the antitumor immune response through the immunomodulatory checkpoint protein B7 family has revolutionized cancer treatment and led to intermittent patient responses. B7-H3 has recently received attention because of its significant demodulation and its immunomodulatory effects in many cancers. Uncontrolled B7-H3 expression and a bad outlook are strongly associated, according to a substantial body of cancer research. Numerous studies have shown that BC has significant B7-H3 expression, and B7-H3 induces an immune evasion phenotype, consequently enhancing the survival, proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance of BC cells. Thus, an innovative target for immunotherapy against BC may be the B7-H3 checkpoint. In this review, we discuss the structure and regulation of B7-H3 and its double costimulatory/coinhibitory function within the framework of cancer and normal physiology. Then we expound the malignant behavior of B7-H3 in BC and its role in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and finally focus on targeted drugs against B7-H3 that have opened new therapeutic opportunities in BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• HE-D and DE-D were stable; most regions showed a relatively concurrent development of DE and HE. • D of the two subsystems differed in different regions with "high in the east and low in the west." • CCD fluctuated relatively steadily with differences of "high in the northern and coastal regions". • "HE benefits" and number of academic papers are the primary influencing dimension and factor in HE. • "DE input" and popularity rate of mobiles are the primary influencing dimension and factor in DE. Analyzing the coupling coordination interactions of higher education (HE) and digital economy (DE) to achieve sustainable growth is crucial. Thus, we constructed the coupling coordination interaction mechanism and the comprehensive evaluation system of the two subsystems to measure their coordination interactions; then, we processed the temporal-spatial analysis of the development status and the coupling coordination degree (CCD) in the case of China. Furthermore, we used the gray correlation model to determine the primary influencing factors and proposed differentiated policymaking suggestions. We found that: (1) the development status of higher education (HE-D) was more stable than that of the digital economy (DE-D), which showed a slight upward trend; besides, there were noticeable spatial differences for HE-D and DE-D. (2) The temporal changes of CCD were not noticeable. (3) Expenditure on research activities in HE and the number of patents were the significant factors affecting DE; the popularity rate of mobile phones and the number of employees in the DE industry were the significant factors affecting HE; besides, HE's output benefits and DE's input was more influential in the coordination relations. Furthermore, we also put forward targeted, specific, and differentiated policymaking suggestions, which can guide policymakers to formulate regional sustainable development policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer has been confirmed to have lipid disorders in the tumour microenvironment. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) is a ligand-activated transcriptional factor that belongs to the family of nuclear receptors. PPARα regulates the expression of genes involved in fatty acid homeostasis and is a major regulator of lipid metabolism. Because of its effects on lipid metabolism, an increasing number of studies have investigated the relationship of PPARα with breast cancer. PPARα has been shown to impact the cell cycle and apoptosis in normal cells and tumoral cells through regulating genes of the lipogenic pathway, fatty acid oxidation, fatty acid activation, and uptake of exogenous fatty acids. Besides, PPARα is involved in the regulation of the tumour microenvironment (anti-inflammation and inhibition of angiogenesis) by modulating different signal pathways such as NF-κB and PI3K/AKT/mTOR. Some synthetic PPARα ligands are used in adjuvant therapy for breast cancer. PPARα agonists are reported to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and endocrine therapy. In addition, PPARα agonists enhance the curative effects of targeted therapy and radiation therapy. Interestingly, with the emerging role of immunotherapy, attention has been focused on the tumour microenvironment. The dual functions of PPARα agonists in immunotherapy need further research. This review aims to consolidate the operations of PPARα in lipid-related and other ways, as well as discuss the current and potential applications of PPARα agonists in tackling breast cancer. [Display omitted] • PPARα regulates the expression of genes involved in fatty acid homeostasis in breast cancer. • PPARα impacts the cell cycle and apoptosis in normal cells and tumoral cells. • PPARα agonists influence various treatment schemes for breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It has been acknowledged that the tumour immune microenvironment (TIME) plays a critical role in determining therapeutic responses and clinical outcomes in breast cancer (BrCa). Thus, the identification of the TIME features is essential for guiding therapy and prognostic assessment for BrCa. Methods: The heterogeneous cellular composition of the TIME in BrCa by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). Two subtype-special genes upregulated in the tumour-rich subtype and the immune-infiltrating subtype were extracted, respectively. The CRABP2/CD69 signature was established based on CRABP2 and CD69 expression, and its predictive values for the clinical outcome and the neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAT) responses were validated in multiple cohorts. Moreover, the oncogenic role of CRABP2 was explored in BrCa cells. Results: Based on the heterogeneous cellular composition of the TIME in BrCa, the BrCa samples could be divided into the tumour-rich subtype and the immune-infiltrating subtype, which exhibited distinct prognosis and chemotherapeutic responses. Next, we extracted CRABP2 as the biomarker for the tumour-rich subtype and CD69 as the biomarker for the immune-infiltrating subtype. Based on the CRABP2/CD69 signature, BrCa samples were re-divided into three subtypes, and the CRABP2highCD69low subtype exhibited the worst prognosis and the lowest chemotherapeutic response, while the CRABP2lowCD69high subtype showed the opposite results. Furthermore, CARBP2 functioned as a novel oncogene in BrCa, which promoted tumour cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and CRABP2 inhibition triggered the activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). Conclusion: The CRABP2/CD69 signature is significantly associated with the TIME features and could effectively predict the clinical outcome. Also, CRABP2 is determined to be a novel oncogene, which could be a therapeutic target in BrCa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder with a core feature of cognitive impairments. Previous studies showed that patients with focal epilepsy have deficits in both theory of mind (ToM) and executive function (EF). However, there are few studies of ToM in patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE), especially in populations with pediatric epilepsy. The aim of this study was to examine the characteristics of ToM and EF, including some of their subcomponents, and explore the relationship between them in Chinese children with IGE. Materials and methods We recruited 54 children and adolescents with IGE as the experimental subjects and 37 typically developing children and adolescents as control subjects. Both groups completed ToM tests, namely, second-order false belief tasks (FBTs) and faux pas tasks (FPTs). Their caregivers completed the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) at the same time. Results Children and adolescents with IGE displayed worse performance on some of the FBTs and FPTs than healthy controls ( p < 0.01). They also exhibited widespread EF deficits, comprising eight subcomponents ( p < 0.05). Pearson's correlation analysis revealed that several subcomponents of EF (inhibition, emotional control, initiation, working memory, and monitoring) were unequally correlated with FBT and FPT. Regression analysis showed that ToM had associations with inhibition, working memory, and duration of seizures. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that children with newly diagnosed epilepsy displayed significant deficits in FBT, FPT, and distinct subscales of EF. Conclusions Our results revealed significant impairments in ToM and EF in children and adolescents with IGE compared with healthy controls. We found significant correlations between ToM and two subcomponents of EF (inhibition and working memory) in children with IGE. Additionally, the duration of seizures affected ToM in patients but was a less powerful predictor than the two subcomponents of EF. Even for children with new-onset seizures and without medication, the deficits in ToM and some distinct subscales of EF were apparent. This result has clinical implications for both nonpharmaceutical therapies and cognitive rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the impact of cytochrome P450 (CYP) genetic polymorphisms CYP2B6, CYP2C19, and CYP3A5 on mRNA expression, cyclophosphamide/4-hydroxycyclophosphamide pharmacokinetics, and treatment outcomes of the R-CHOP regimen (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) in Chinese patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, 567 cases were investigated. Plasma concentrations of cyclophosphamide/4-hydroxycyclophosphamide were determined using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and pharmacokinetic parameters calculated. The frequencies of CYP2B6*1/*29 and CYP2B6*1/*30 were 18 (3.2%) and 30 (5.3%), respectively. Liver samples with CYP2B6*29/*30, CYP2C19*2, CYP2B6*6, or CYP3A5*3 had significantly lower target mRNA expression. Samples with CYP2B6*6 and/or CYP2C19*2 had lower exposure to 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide, whereas those with CYP2B6*1G/*1H had higher exposure. Multivariate model showed that samples with CYP2C19*2 or CYP2B6 785A>raG had worse treatment response than samples with CYP3A5*3. CYP2C19*2, CYP2B6*6, CYP2B6*29, and CYP2B6*30 were protective factors for toxicity in the multivariate model. The best model for gene-gene interactions for treatment response contained CYP2C19*2, CYP2B6 785A>G, and CYP3A5*3 (cross-validation consistency [CVC], 8/10; P = .0035). The best prediction model for grade 2-4 toxicities had CYP2C19*2, CYP2B6 785A>G, and 516 G>T (CVC, 10/10; P < .0001). In previous reports, we were the first to report that the frequency of copy-number variations in CYP2B6 is higher among Chinese than among other ethnic populations. Genetic variations in CYP2B6, CYP2C19, and CYP3A5 dramatically affected the mRNA expression of proteins, the pharmacokinetics of 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide, and the R-CHOP treatment response in Chinese subjects. Patients carrying CYP3A5*3 were more likely to have a better treatment response, whereas patients with CYP2C19*2 or CYP2B6 516G>T, or CYP2B6 785A>G had higher tolerance to treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The KYH 8 - C 2/ m structure has buckled "H 3 " units, KYH 14 - Cmmm structure, the rich H atoms form a cage-like structure. • We explored its synthesis path of K + 5/2H 2 + YH 3 → KYH 8 , K + 11/2H 2 + YH 3 → KYH 14. • The electrical properties, phonon spectra and superconductivity of KYH 8 and KYH 14 were discussed. • The T c of KYH 8 - C 2/ m and KYH 14 - Cmmm were predicted to be 163.7 K and 167.1 K at 300 GPa, respectively. The search for high-T c superconductors under high pressure has been a hot research topic. In this work, the structures under high pressure of ternary hydrogen-rich compounds KYH n (n = 3-8, 10, 12 and 14) were searched by genetic algorithm method combined with the density function theory (DFT) method. The results showed that KYH 8 and KYH 14 demonstrate good stability and possess superconductivity. The KYH 8 - C 2/ m structure has buckled "H 3 " units and heavy atom with layered arrangement. For the KYH 14 - Cmmm structure, the rich H atoms form a cage-like structure with the K atom at the center. The electron-phonon coupling (EPC) calculations indicated that the T c 's of KYH 8 - C2m are 111.3, 122.0 and 163.7 K at 200, 250 and 300 GPa, respectively. The KYH 14 - Cmmm was predicted to have a T c of 167.1 K at 300 GPa, and the strong EPC might be resulted mainly from the high-frequency vibrations of the H atoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Intestinal microbiota affects human health and aging. The composition of intestinal microbiota and inflammation indices in elderly Chinese, especially centenarians, is unclear. Objective: This study aimed to explore the relationships between intestinal microbiota and inflammation in healthy housebound elders in Shanghai, China. Methods: We enrolled 156 differently aged adults and assigned them into 4 groups: those aged 35–64 years were assigned into Group AD; 65–79 years into Group YO; 80–94 years into Group MO; and 95–102 years into Group VO. Results: The diversity of intestinal microbiota in Group VO was significantly reduced compared with that of the other 3 groups. Bacteroidetes abundance in Group VO was significantly lower than that in Groups AD, YO, or MO; Proteobacteria abundance showed the opposite trend. Akkermansia, Bifidobacterium, and Lactobacillus abundance in Group VO was significantly higher than that in the other 3 groups; Anaerostipes, Butyricicoccus, and Faecalibacterium abundance showed the opposite trend. Solobacterium abundance in Group VO was significantly lower than that in the other 3 groups; Campylobacter, Porphyromonas, Escherichia, and Pseudomonas abundance showed the opposite trend. Plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-6, and IL-8 in Group VO were significantly higher than those in Groups AD, YO, and MO, while those in Group MO were significantly higher than those in Groups AD and YO. IL-1β and IL-10 plasma levels were not significantly different among the 4 groups. Proteobacteria abundance was positively correlated with TNF-α and IL-8 levels, while Campylobacter abundance was positively correlated with those of TNF-α and IL-6. Anaerostipes and Faecalibacterium abundance was negatively correlated with TNF-α and IL-6 levels. Conclusions: The diversity of intestinal microbiota in the oldest participants (centenarians) decreased significantly, with several beneficial bacterial strains showing increased or decreased abundance; harmful bacterial species showed a similar trend. Our oldest participants (centenarians) demonstrated significantly increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which may be related to inflammaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The members of the classic B7 family regulate the immune microenvironment of several malignant tumors. However, the potential relationship between the B7 family and the breast cancer (BrCa) tumor immune microenvironment has remained elusive. In the present study, we provide a comprehensive explanation of the expression, clinical significance, mutation, and immune cell infiltration of B7 family molecules in BrCa. First, we recruited 10 patients with BrCa surgery from the Wuxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital and performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis to investigate the distribution of B7 family members in multiple immune cell subsets. We focused on B7-2, B7-H3, and B7-H5 molecules of the B7 family and constructed tumor microarrays by self-recruiting patients to perform multiple immunohistochemical (mIHC) analyses and study tumor expression of B7-2, B7-H3, B7-H5 and CD8+ immune cell infiltration. B7-H5 displayed a strong correlation with CD8+ immune cell infiltration. In summary, B7-H5 provides a new perspective for the identification of immunothermal subtypes of BrCa and could function as a switch to reverse BrCa from an "immunologically cold" state to an "immunologically hot" state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent years have witnessed an increasing focus on rural revitalization (RR). In order to explore the current status and the coordinated growth of different aspects of RR, this paper first constructs a new 5E framework with a comprehensive index system; then analyzes the overall development status (ODS) and the coordinated development status of 5 dimensions (CDS) of 30 regions in China from 2006 to 2020 temporally and spatially with entropy weight and the technique for order preference by similarity to the ideal solution method; thirdly forecasts the CDS in the next four years and proposed targeted and differentiated development suggestions. Some key results are: (1) ODS was relatively stable with significant spatial variations. (2) CDS of the five dimensions fluctuated relatively mildly, and villages of the coastal areas were higher than those in the inland areas. (3) CDS will be generally similar to the past temporally and spatially in the future. (4) Different regions should take targeted and feasible measures to achieve benign coordinated growth among dimensions of RR, and the national authority should take supportive actions comprehensively. • The 5E framework is easier to spread and enriches rural revitalization theories. • The coordinated development status helps to understand the dynamic evolvement. • The differentiated measures are insightful references to make decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abnormal gestational weight gain (GWG) has been increasing globally, up to 47% of all pregnancies. Multiple studies have focused on the association between GWG and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in the offspring, however with inconsistent results. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate associations between excessive or insufficient GWG and offspring's neurodevelopmental outcomes. Meta-analysis of these 23 studies using a random-effects model revealed associations between excessive GWG and neurodevelopmental disorders (ASD & ID & ADHD together: OR=1.12 [95% CI 1.06–1.19]), ASD (OR=1.18 [95% CI 1.08–1.29]), ADHD (OR=1.08 [95% CI 1.02–1.14]), ASD with ID (OR=1.15 [95% CI 1.01–1.32]), and ASD without ID (OR=1.12 [95% CI 1.06–1.19]). Insufficient GWG was associated with higher risk for ID (OR=1.14 [95% CI 1.03–1.26]). These results emphasize the significant impact, though of small effect size, of GWG across multiple neurodevelopmental disorders. It is important to note that these results do not establish causality. Other factors such as genetic factors, gene-environment interactions may confound the relationship between GWG and neurodevelopmental outcomes. To better understand the role of GWG in neurodevelopmental disorders, future studies should consider using genetically sensitive designs that can account for these potential confounders. • GWG above or below IOM guideline recommendations increases likelihood of offspring's neurodevelopmental disorders. • Young mothers and those of normal pre-pregnancy weight with excessive GWG in particular have a higher neurodevelopmental disorders likelihood in offspring. • The increased likelihood cuts across different neurodevelopmental disorders as autism and ADHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

White matter hyperintensity (WMH) is associated with vascular hemodynamic alterations and reflects white matter injury. To date, the sex difference of tract‐specific WMH and the relationship between high blood pressure (BP) and tract‐specific WMH remain unclear. We recruited 515 subjects from the Shanghai Changfeng study (range 53–89 years, mean age 67.33 years). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) were collected and used to calculate pulse pressure (PP). Magnetic resonance T1 and T2 FLAIR images were acquired to measure WMH and calculate WMH index. The ANCOVA test was performed to test the difference between sexes, and the linear regression model was used to examine the associations between BP and WMH index. Men showed higher WMH index than women in all white matter tracts (p <.001, respectively) except for the bilateral superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) and its left temporal part (tSLF). High SBP and PP was associated with a lower WMH index on the left corticospinal tract (CST), SLF, tSLF and right cingulum in hippocampus (p ≤.001, respectively) in women, while high DBP was associated with a higher WMH index on the bilateral CST (left p <.001; right p =.001), left inferior longitudinal fasciculus (p <.001) and inferior fronto‐occipital fasciculus (p =.002) in men. Men tend to have more WMH compared to women. A high SBP/PP relates to a lower WMH burden in women. This suggests that women could benefit from higher blood pressure in older age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most bamboos die after flowering, and the molecular mechanisms responsible for flowering is poorly understood. The MIKCc-type MADS-box family gene is involved in the flowering process. To explore the mechanism of the MIKCc-type MADS-box gene and phytohormone regulation in the flowering of Dendrocalamus latiflorus Munro (D. latiflorus), characterized by extremely rapid growth and widely cultivated woody bamboo, we initially did a genome-wide analysis of the MIKCc-type MADS-box gene in D. latiflorus. In the meantime, transcriptome analysis was performed using the floral organs. A total of 170 MIKCc-Type MADS-Box genes were identified and divided into 15 categories. The cis-acting element analysis in promoters regions revealed that MIKC-type MADS-box family genes were associated with hormones, including auxin, abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellin (GA) and jasmonic acid (JA), which was found at 79, 476, 96, 486 sites and cover 61, 103, 73, 128 genes. Genome synteny analysis showed subgenome AA and BB were better than CC and obtained 49, 40, 39 synteny genes compared with Oryza sativa (O. sativa). In transcriptome analysis of floral organs, the enriched pathway from DEGs included circadian, vernalization and gibberellin pathways associated with the flowering process. We found that the jasmonic acid synthesis gene is highly expressed in the pistil, which may be the cause of Ma bamboo pollen abortion. The expression profile showed that most MIKC-type MADS-box genes exhibited high expression in flower organs. The consequences of this study will provide insight into the irregular flowering and low pollen counts of Ma bamboo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamboo groves predominantly thrive in tropical or subtropical regions. Assessing the efficacy of remote sensing data of various types in extracting bamboo forest information from bright and shadow areas is a critical issue for achieving precise identification of bamboo forests in complex terrain. In this study, 34 features were obtained from Sentinel-1 SAR and Sentinel-2 optical images using the Google Earth Engine platform. The normalized shaded vegetation index (NSVI) was then employed to segment the bright and shadow woodlands. Different features from diverse data sources were evaluated to extract bamboo forest information in the bright and shadow areas, then use the random forest (RF) classification algorithm to extract bamboo forest. The results showed that (1) the red-edge and short-wave infrared bands of Sentinel-2 optical images and their corresponding vegetation indices are significant in bamboo forest information extraction. (2) The dissimilarity and homogeneity of Sentinel-2 texture features in the bright area and dissimilarity in the shadow area, the Sentinel-1 backscatter features in the bright area and the VV and VH in the bright area and VV-VH in the shadow area have some variability between bamboo and nonbamboo forests, which can be used as effective features for bamboo forest extraction. (3) The combination of spectral, texture and backscatter features yields the highest overall classification accuracy and Kappa coefficient, at 87.96% and 0.7435, respectively. This study has the potential for remote sensing refinement of bamboo forest identification in complex terrain areas by utilizing subregion classification methods combined with optical and radar image features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: End-stage renal disease is associated with a high risk of cardiovascular events. It is unknown, however, whether mild-to-moderate kidney dysfunction is causally related to coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke.Methods: Observational analyses were conducted using individual-level data from 4 population data sources (Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration, EPIC-CVD [European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition-Cardiovascular Disease Study], Million Veteran Program, and UK Biobank), comprising 648 135 participants with no history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes at baseline, yielding 42 858 and 15 693 incident CHD and stroke events, respectively, during 6.8 million person-years of follow-up. Using a genetic risk score of 218 variants for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), we conducted Mendelian randomization analyses involving 413 718 participants (25 917 CHD and 8622 strokes) in EPIC-CVD, Million Veteran Program, and UK Biobank.Results: There were U-shaped observational associations of creatinine-based eGFR with CHD and stroke, with higher risk in participants with eGFR values <60 or >105 mL·min-1·1.73 m-2, compared with those with eGFR between 60 and 105 mL·min-1·1.73 m-2. Mendelian randomization analyses for CHD showed an association among participants with eGFR <60 mL·min-1·1.73 m-2, with a 14% (95% CI, 3%-27%) higher CHD risk per 5 mL·min-1·1.73 m-2 lower genetically predicted eGFR, but not for those with eGFR >105 mL·min-1·1.73 m-2. Results were not materially different after adjustment for factors associated with the eGFR genetic risk score, such as lipoprotein(a), triglycerides, hemoglobin A1c, and blood pressure. Mendelian randomization results for stroke were nonsignificant but broadly similar to those for CHD.Conclusions: In people without manifest cardiovascular disease or diabetes, mild-to-moderate kidney dysfunction is causally related to risk of CHD, highlighting the potential value of preventive approaches that preserve and modulate kidney function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A natural product Cytisine N -isoflavone (CNI) identified from a medicinal plant. • Two of the CNI derivatives tested to serve as promising EGFR/HER2 dual inhibitors. • Molecular mechanism of action of CNI s clarified by molecular dynamics simulations. • Rational design scheme suggested toward next-stage optimization of CNI compounds. Aberrant signaling of EGFR (ErbB) family members, in particular epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2), is associated with the occurrence and development of many types of human malignancies (e.g., breast, lung, and gastric cancers), and dual targeting of EGFR/HER2 by small-molecular inhibitors has proven to be an effective therapeutic approach for treating these cancers. Herein we extracted and isolated from the medicinal plant Sophora alopecuroides L. a new natural product, dubbed Cytisine N -methylene-(4′,7-dihydroxy-3′-methoxy)-isoflavone (CNI1) that features a unique molecular framework. Our biochemical kinase assay suggested that one of its derivative CNI3 exhibited the best, micromolar (μM) inhibition activities against the EGFR (IC 50 of 1.1 μM; K i of 0.6 μM) and HER2 (IC 50 of 3.5 μM; K i of 1.8 μM) kinases. By contrast, another derivative CNI4 was most potent in inhibiting the EGFR-overexpressing A431 cancer cell line (IC 50 of 45.5 μM) and the HER2-overexpressing BT-474 cancer cell line (IC 50 of 32.9 μM), while the respective cellular activities of Lapatinib (a marketed drug) were 24.9 and 20.3 μM under the same assay condition. Moreover, both CNI3 and CNI4 showed desirable anti-metastatic efficacy in another two breast cancer models (viz., MDA-MB-231 and 4T1). In addition, we explored the inhibitory mechanisms of the CNI s against EGFR and HER2 by molecular dynamics simulation and revealed a novel mode of action that engages the cytisine and chromone moieties in CNI s. By combining structure- and ligand-based analysis, we further rationally engineered a new CNI compound that exhibits considerably improved cytotoxicity against both types of A431 and BT-474 cancer cells. Our study demonstrates the CNI compounds as a new class of EGFR/HER2 dual inhibitors and paves a way for their further development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is known as a tumor suppressor and lowly expressed in most cancers. The expression pattern and role of ACE2 in breast cancer (BC) have not been deeply elucidated. Methods: A systematic pan-cancer analysis was conducted to assess the expression pattern and immunological role of ACE2 based on RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The correlation of ACE2 expression and immunological characteristics in the BC tumor microenvironment (TME) was evaluated. The role of ACE2 in predicting the response to therapeutic options was estimated. Moreover, the pharmacodynamic effect of angiotensin-(1–7) (Ang-1–7), the product of ACE2, on chemotherapy and immunotherapy was evaluated on the BALB/c mouse BC model. In addition, the plasma samples from BC patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy were collected and subjected to the correlation analysis of the expression level of Ang-1–7 and the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Results: ACE2 was lowly expressed in BC tissues compared with that in adjacent tissues. Interestingly, ACE2 was shown the highest correlation with immunomodulators, tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs), cancer immunity cycles, immune checkpoints, and tumor mutation burden (TMB) in BC. In addition, a high level of ACE2 indicated a low response to endocrine therapy and a high response to chemotherapy, anti-ERBB therapy, antiangiogenic therapy and immunotherapy. In the mouse model, Ang-1–7 sensitized mouse BC to the chemotherapy and anti-PD-1 immunotherapy, which revealed its significant anti-tumor effect. Moreover, a high plasma level of Ang-1–7 was associated with a better response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Conclusions: ACE2 identifies immuno-hot tumors in BC, and its enzymatic product Ang-1–7 sensitizes BC to the chemotherapy and immunotherapy by remodeling the TME. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescence is a developmental epoch characterized by massive neural circuit remodeling; thus, the brain is particularly vulnerable to environmental influences during this period. Excessive high-fat diet (HFD) consumption, which is very common among adolescents, has long been recognized as a potent risk factor for multiple mood disorders, including depression and anxiety. However, the precise mechanisms underlying the influences of HFD consumption in adolescence on emotional health are far from clear. In the present study, C57BL/6 mice were fed a control diet (CD) or HFD for about 4 weeks from postnatal day (P) 28 to P60, spanning most of the adolescence period, and then subjected to behavioral assessments and histological examinations. HFD mice exhibited elevated levels of depression and anxiety, decreased hippocampal neurogenesis, and excessive microglial activation in the ventral hippocampus. Furthermore, in HFD-fed mice, microglia showed increased DCX+ inclusions, suggesting aberrant microglial engulfment of newborn neurons in HFD-fed adolescents. To our knowledge, this is the first observation suggesting that the negative effects of HFD consumption in adolescence on emotion and neuroplasticity may be attributed at least in part to aberrant microglial engulfment of nascent neurons, extending our understanding of the mechanism underlying HFD-related affective disorders in young people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Programmed cell death is intricately linked to various physiological phenomena such as growth, development, and metabolism, as well as the proper function of the pancreatic β cell and the migration and invasion of trophoblast cells in the placenta during pregnancy. Traditional and recently identified programmed cell death include apoptosis, autophagy, pyroptosis, necroptosis, and ferroptosis. In addition to cancer and degenerative diseases, abnormal activation of cell death has also been implicated in pregnancy related diseases like preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, fetal growth restriction, and recurrent miscarriage. Excessive or insufficient cell death and pregnancy related diseases may be mutually determined, ultimately resulting in adverse pregnancy outcomes. In this review, we systematically describe the characteristics and mechanisms underlying several types of cell death and their roles in pregnancy related diseases. Moreover, we discuss potential therapeutic strategies that target cell death signaling pathways for pregnancy related diseases, hoping that more meaningful treatments will be applied in clinical practice in the future. [Display omitted] • The crosstalk between cell death and pregnancy related diseases is illustrated. • The dysregulation of cell death closely correlates with pregnancy related diseases. • Medications targeting cell death pathways hold promise for clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stigma is a key determinant of mental health among patients with epilepsy (PWE). In prior work, many PWE have been found to exhibit impaired executive function (EF) and to lack sufficient social support. This study was developed to explore factors that may influence stigma in PWE with a focus on the associations among EF, social support, and stigma in this patient population. A questionnaire was administered to 121 patients with primary epilepsy as a means of collecting clinical and demographic details. The severity of EF impairment, social support levels, and stigma were analyzed using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult (BRIEF-A), the Social Support Rating Scale, and the Kilifi Stigma Scale for Epilepsy-Chinese (KSSE-C). Descriptive analyses were used to evaluate demographic details, and parameters associated with stigma were identified through multiple linear stepwise analyses. Spearman's correlation analyses and moderated mediation analyses were utilized to examine relationships between impaired EF, social support, and stigma. Significant mediation effects were identified using the SPSS PROCESS macro via a bootstrap approach. Up to 95.9% of the 121 PWE in this study were affected by stigma, with differneces in stigma being associated with long-term residence (urban or rural), family monthly income, disease control status (controlled or uncontrolled), and medication types. Multiple stepwise linear regression analyses revealed that the number of years of education (t = - 4.58, P < 0.001), family monthly income per capita (t = −3.43, P = 0.001), and age of first episode (t = −2.71, P = 0.008) for PWE were negatively correlated with stigma scores, while long-term residence (t = 2.79, P = 0.006), course of disease (t = 3.65, P < 0.001), disease control (t = 2.79, P = 0.006), and types of medication (t = 2.73, P = 0.007) were positively correlated with stigma scores. Impaired EF was found to be significantly associated with stigma (β = 0.64, P < 0.001), and social support was able to mediate the association between stigma and impaired EF (β = 0.64, P < 0.001). Non-parametric bootstrap analysis results revealed the indirect impact of EF through social support (95% bootstrap CI = 0.11, 0.22), with the indirect influence of social support accounting for 44.3% of the overall effect of stigma. These results offer new insight into the interactive mechanisms that underlie stigma and EF, in addition to clarifying the ability of social support to mediate this relationship. These data thus highlight valuable theoretical and methodological approaches to preventing stigma in PWE, suggesting that stigma in PWE can be effectively reduced by bolstering EF, and social support plays a mediating effect in this context. • Executive function (EF) is an important factor affecting stigma among patients with epilepsy (PWE). • EF, social support, and stigma are closely related in PWE. • Social support as a mediator between stigma and EF in PWE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The relationship between the pathological classification and recurrence of duodenal papillary adenomas (DPAs) has not been elucidated. We studied the clinicopathological characteristics of DPAs with different pathological types and conducted long-term follow-up to explore its prognosis and identify methods for appropriate clinical management of DPAs. Methods: In total, 95 DPA cases confirmed by postoperative pathology were enrolled, of which 58 underwent endoscopic papillectomy (EP) and 37 underwent pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). The cases were classified into three anatomical and two histomorphological types according to the histopathology and location of endoscopic features. We analyzed the clinicopathological characteristics of DPAs with different pathological types and investigated the factors associated with recurrence in the EP subgroup. Results: Although EP was associated with fewer adverse events, the complete resection rate was significantly lower (72.4% vs. 100.0%, p < 0.001) and the recurrence rate significantly higher than with PD (16.3% vs. 0.0%, p < 0.001). Among eight EP cases with recurrence, six had intra-DPA (75%). A positive resection margin (HR 23.67, 95% CI 6.42–87.27; p < 0.001) and MUC2-negative status (HR 3.47, 95% CI 1.16–10.40; p = 0.026) were independent risk factors for recurrence after EP. Conclusion: We identified different pathological types within DPAs, which presented varying clinicopathological features. The majority of peri-DPAs and mixed-DPAs were of the intestinal type histologically and EP is the primary recommendation. However, intra-DPA was mainly of the pancreaticobiliary type, which tends to get positive resection margins; thus, surgical resection is more suitable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: The PNPLA3 and TM6SF2 gene variants have been found to cause NAFLD with a favourable cardiovascular risk profile. Aims: To investigate the effects of the NAFLD risk alleles on the all‐cause and cause‐specific mortality in 5581 Chinese adults. Methods: The genome‐wide genotypes were detected using a genotyping array and serum lipoprotein profiles were examined using 1H NMR platform. Liver fat content (LFC) was measured using a quantitative ultrasound method. The vital status was determined using official registration data. Results: Genome‐wide association analysis showed that a series of variants in PNPLA3 were associated with LFC, including rs738409 C>G variant (P = 8.6 × 10−7). Further analyses validated the associations of TM6SF2 rs58542926 C>T and MBOAT7 rs641738 C>T variants with NAFLD. During 29 425.1 person‐years of follow‐up, the overall mortality was 816 per 100 000 person‐years, where 299 deaths were attributable to cardiovascular disease and 85 to liver disease. The PNPLA3 rs738409 C>G variant was independently associated with increased liver‐specific mortality (P for trend = 0.034) but reduced cardiovascular mortality (P for trend = 0.047). A composite genetic‐predisposition score of PNPLA3, TM6SF2, and MBOAT7 risk alleles presented similar opposite effects on liver‐specific and cardiovascular mortality. Moreover, interactions of the NAFLD risk alleles with adiposity for liver‐specific mortality were found (Pinteraction < 0.05). The reduced serum VLDL1 concentration was responsible for the increased liver‐specific mortality related to NAFLD risk alleles. Conclusion: The PNPLA3 rs738409 C>G variant and its combination with TM6SF2 rs58542926 C>T and MBOAT7 rs641738 C>T variants increase liver‐specific mortality but reduce cardiovascular mortality in overweight/obese Chinese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dendrocalamus latiflorus Munro is a woody clumping bamboo with rapid shoot growth. Both genetic transformation and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR‐associated protein 9 (Cas9) gene editing techniques are available for D. latiflorus, enabling reverse genetic approaches. Thus, D. latiflorus has the potential to be a model bamboo species. However, the genome sequence of D. latiflorus has remained unreported due to its polyploidy and large genome size. Here, we sequenced the D. latiflorus genome and assembled it into three allele‐aware subgenomes (AABBCC), representing the largest genome of a major bamboo species. We assembled 70 allelic chromosomes (2, 737 Mb) for hexaploid D. latiflorus using both single‐molecule sequencing from the Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) Sequel platform and chromosome conformation capture sequencing (Hi‐C). Repetitive sequences comprised 52.65% of the D. latiflorus genome. We annotated 135 231 protein‐coding genes in the genome based on transcriptomes from eight different tissues. Transcriptome sequencing using RNA‐Seq and PacBio single‐molecule real‐time long‐read isoform sequencing revealed highly differential alternative splicing (AS) between non‐abortive and abortive shoots, suggesting that AS regulates the abortion rate of bamboo shoots. This high‐quality hexaploid genome and comprehensive strand‐specific transcriptome datasets for this Poaceae family member will pave the way for bamboo research using D. latiflorus as a model species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the effects of different light spectra (white light; WL, blue light; BL and red light; RL) on the root morphological traits and metabolites accumulation and biosynthesis in Sarcandra glabra. We performed transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling by RNA-seq and ultra-performance liquid chromatography−electrospray ionization−tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS), respectively. When morphological features were compared to WL, BL substantially increased under-ground fresh weight, root length, root surface area, and root volume, while RL inhibited these indices. A total of 433 metabolites were identified, of which 40, 18, and 68 compounds differentially accumulated in roots under WL (WG) vs. roots under BL (BG), WG vs. roots under RL (RG), and RG vs. BG, respectively. In addition, the contents of sinapyl alcohol, sinapic acid, fraxetin, and 6-methylcoumarin decreased significantly in BG and RG. In contrast, chlorogenic acid, rosmarinyl glucoside, quercitrin and quercetin were increased considerably in BG. Furthermore, the contents of eight terpenoids compounds significantly reduced in BG. Following transcriptomic profiling, several key genes related to biosynthesis of phenylpropanoid-derived and terpenoids metabolites were differentially expressed, such as caffeic acid 3-O-methyltransferase) (COMT), hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA shikimate hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (HCT), O-methyltransferase (OMT), and 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate synthetase (DXS). In summary, our findings showed that BL was suitable for growth and accumulation of bioactive metabolites in root tissue of S. glabra. Exposure to a higher ratio of BL might have the potential to improve the production and quality of S. glabra seedlings, but this needs to be confirmed further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intrinsic capacity (IC) is a novel view focusing on healthy aging. The effect of IC on adverse outcomes in older hospitalized Chinese adults is rarely studied.Objectives: This study focused on investigating the impact of IC domains on the adverse health outcomes including new activities of daily living (ADL) dependency, new instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) dependency, and mortality over a 1-year follow-up.Methods: In a retrospective observational population-based study, a total of 329 older hospitalized patients from Zhejiang Hospital in China were enrolled and completed 1-year follow-up. The 5 domains of IC including cognition, locomotion, sensory, vitality, and psychological capacity were assessed at admission. The IC composite score was calculated based on these domains, and the higher IC composite score indicated the greater amount of functional capacities reserved. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to explore the association between IC at baseline and 1-year adverse outcomes.Results: During the 1-year follow-up, 69 patients (22.5%) experienced new ADL dependency, 103 patients (33.6%) suffered from new IADL dependency, and 22 patients (6.7%) died. After adjusting for age, sex, education level, comorbidities, and polypharmacy, low Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores at admission predicted 1-year new ADL dependency (odds ratio [OR] = 2.31, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12-4.78) and new IADL dependency (OR = 2.15, 95% CI: 1.14-4.04) among older hospitalized patients, but no significance was obtained between IC domains and mortality. Higher IC composite score at admission was associated with decreased risks of 1-year new ADL dependency (OR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.40-0.70) and new IADL dependency (OR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.61-0.95), and 1-year mortality (OR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.31-0.74) after adjustment for the possible confounders.Conclusions: Loss of ICs at admission predicted adverse health outcomes including new ADL and IADL dependency and mortality 1 year after discharge among older hospitalized patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information which relates to peculiar vibration of Al filter's transmission intensity in the vicinity of aluminum's Lb absorption edge. What Al filter's transmission spectrum is measured in; Details on the evident vibration of transmission intensity in the vicinity of aluminum's Lb absorption edge.

Porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3) was initially reported in 2016 in the United States of America. Since then, the virus has been detected on swine farms in Poland, South Korea, and China using PCR. However, a serological survey of PCV3 in pig populations has never been conducted. In this study, for the first time, we established an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) assay and performed a national retrospective serological survey for PCV3. Our results showed that the PCV3-postive rate increased from 22.35% to 51.88% between 2015 and 2017. The above results suggest PCV3 has spread widely in China with increased positive rates since 2015. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transmission characteristics are studied for hybrid structures combining defects and multiple heterostructures. It is shown that the nontransmission frequency range can be substantially enlarged and the phenomenon of multiple-channeled filtering can be realized by adjusting the number, position, and size of the defects. One, two, and three channeled filters are considered in the structures. Examples are studied theoretically by transfer matrix methods. © 2004 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the study "Stereoselective Synthesis of Chiral α,Β-Unsaturated tert-Butyl Sulfoxides Derivatives by the Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons Reaction" by Z. Su and colleagues is presented.

Aims The aim of the study was to investigate the combined impact of genetic polymorphisms in key pharmacokinetic genes on plasma concentrations and clinical outcomes of cyclophosphamide (CPA) in Chinese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods One hundred and eighty nine Chinese SLE patients treated with CPA induction therapy (200 mg, every other day) were recruited and adverse reactions were recorded. After 4 weeks induction therapy, 128 lupus nephritis (LN) patients continued to CPA maintenance therapy (200-600 mg week-1) for 6 months, and their clinical outcomes were recorded. Blood samples were collected for CYP2C19, CYP2B6, GST and PXR polymorphism analysis, as well as CPA and its active metabolite (4-hydroxycyclophosphamide (4-OH-CPA)) plasma concentration determination. Results Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that CYP2B6 -750 T > C ( P < 0.001), −2320 T > C ( P < 0.001), 15582C > T ( P = 0.017), CYP2C19*2 ( P < 0.001) and PXR 66034 T > C ( P = 0.028) accounted for 47% of the variation in 4-OH-CPA plasma concentration. Among these variants, CYP2B6 -750 T > C and CYP2C19*2 were selected as the combination genetic marker because these two SNPs contributed the most to the inter-individual variability in 4-OH-CPA concentration, accounting for 23.6% and 21.5% of the variation, respectively. Extensive metabolizers (EMs) ( CYP2B6 -750TT, CYP2C19*1*1) had significantly higher median 4-OH-CPA plasma concentrations (34.8, 11.0 and 6.6 ng ml-1 for EMs, intermediate metabolizers (IMs) and poor metabolizers (PMs), P < 0.0001), higher risks of leukocytopenia (OR = 7.538, 95% CI 2.951, 19.256, P < 0.0001) and gastrointestinal toxicity (OR = 7.579, 95% CI 2.934, 19.578, P < 0.0001), as well as shorter median time to achieve complete remission (13.2, 18.3 and 23.3 weeks for EMs, IMs and PMs, respectively, P = 0.026) in LN patients than PMs ( CYP2B6 -750CC, CYP2C19*2*2) and IMs. Conclusions Our findings have indicated that genetic markers of drug metabolizing enzymes could predict the 4-hydroxylation, adverse reactions and clinical efficacy of CPA. This is a necessary first step towards building clinical tools that will help assess clinical benefit and risk before undergoing CPA treatment in Chinese SLE patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• IQGAP1 is overexpressed and immunologically correlated in most cancers. • IQGAP1 responds to EGF stimulation and binds to EGFR. • IQGAP1 mediates PD-L1 expression via regulating the phosphorylation of STAT1 and STAT3. IQ motif containing GTPase activating protein 1 (IQGAP1) is a scaffold protein to transduce multiple signals from the extracellular microenvironment. However, whether IQGAP1 mediates EGF-induced cancer progression has been not observed. In this research, we explored the immunological correlations of IQGAP1. IQGAP1 was up-regulated in most cancer and related to poor prognosis in ovarian cancer. In addition, IQGAP1 was correlated with immune-related genes and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. IQGAP1 was a novel EGF-response gene, which was up-regulated by EGF. As the downstream of EGFR, IQGAP1 mediated EGF-induced proliferation, migration and invasion of tumor cells and was essential for EGF-induced PD-L1 expression as well. Mechanically, IQGAP1 interacted with STATs and mediated their phosphorylation. Furthermore, Curcumin inhibited EGFR/IQGAP1 axis to down-regulate PD-L1 and suppress cancer progression. To sum up, IQGAP1 responds to EGF stimulation and mediates EGF-induced phosphorylation of STATs, which is a novel promising target for blocking the EGF-induced cancer progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The reflective phase shift of multilayer mirror is one important property required in EUV lithography and attosecond pulses experiments. The reflective phase shift of the periodic Mo/Si multilayer mirror was characterized by combining the reflectivity with total electron yield signal at the synchrotron radiation in Hefei. The multilayer was fabricated using direct current magnetic sputtering method. Using the wavelet transform approach, the period and each layer thickness were obtained, the small angle X-ray reflective data from X-ray diffractometer were fitted using these data as the mutilayer's initial structure. The TEY signal of the multilayer is coincided with the surface electron field of the multilayer. A thick Si layer was used to eliminate the effect of the multilayer's surface layer on the TEY signal. The retrieved difference in reflected phase from the incident phase was obtained combining the reflectivity with the total electron yield signal and it is similar with the calculated phase shift of the multilayer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Design, fabrication and characterization of aperiodic tungsten/carbon (W/C) multi-layer mirror were studied. W/C multi-layer was designed as a broad-angle reflective supermirror for Cu–Kα line (λ=0.154nm) in the grazing incident angular range (0.9–1.1°) using simulated annealing algorithm. To deposit the W/C depth-graded multi-layer mirror accurately, we introduce an effective layer growth rate as a function of layer thickness. This method greatly improves the reflectivity curve compared to the conventional multi-layer mirror prepared with constant growth rate. The deposited multi-layer mirror exhibits an average reflectivity of 19% over the grazing incident angle range of 0.88–1.08° which mainly coincides with the designed value. Furthermore, the physical mechanisms were discussed and the re-sputtering process of light-atom layers is accounted for the modification of layer thicknesses which leads to the effective growth rates. Using this calibration method, the aperiodic multi-layer mirrors can be better fabricated for X-ray optics. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Recent development of multilayer mirror and its applications in extreme ultraviolet (EUV), soft X-ray ranges in China was reviewed in this paper. Three types of multilayer mirrors were developed with special performance for dense plasma diagnostics, EUV astronomical observation. Firstly, dual-periodic W/B4C multilayer mirror was designed for Kirkpatrick–Baez (K–B) microscopy working at TiKα line (4.75keV), which is highly reflective both at hard X-ray (CuKα line at 8.05keV) and soft X-ray (4.75keV). Using this mirror, the K–B system can be aligned conveniently in air using hard X-ray instead of in vacuum. The second mirror is aperiodic Mg/SiC multilayer, also a bi-functional mirror with high reflectivity for He-II emission line (30.4nm) but suppressing He-I emission line (58.4nm) in astronomy observation, which will replace the traditional combination of periodic multilayer and the fragile film filter. This will be more safe in satellite launching. The third mirror is Mo/Si periodic multilayer, depositing on a parabolic substrate with diameter of 230mm, which is designed for EUV telescope for imaging of solar corona by selecting Fe-XII emission (19.5nm). The uniformity of lateral layer thickness distribution is within ±0.3% along the diameter of mirror, measured by X-ray reflectometry. The measured peak reflectivity is 42% at the wavelength of 19.5nm. All these multilayer mirrors were prepared by using magnetron sputtering system in our group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Hard X-ray imaging by a spherical compound refractive lens is presented. The lens is composed of 123 biconcave microlenses with a size of 200μm in diameter. Each microlens was formed by the epoxy between two bubbles, which were injected into an epoxy-filled glass capillary. The focal length of the lens is 114mm at 8.05keV. The light source was obtained by using a copper anode X-ray tube without a filter. The lens can be achieved a spatial resolution of 5μm with field of view of about 700μm, and 1–3μm resolution may be obtainable by using monochromator and diaphragm. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]