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Background: Consistent use of effective contraceptives is directly associated with a lower risk of unintended pregnancies, a significant public health burden in the U.S. The Asian American population is heterogeneous and fast-growing. However, patterns and disparities in contraceptive use among Asian American women, particularly within racial/ethnic subgroups, have been understudied, hindering effective family planning. Objectives: This study aimed to identify the prevalence of contraceptive use and its pattern in Asian American women using the 2015–2016 California Health and Interview Survey (CHIS) data, with a focus on different Asian ethnic subgroups. Study Design: A composite score of acculturation level (0–5) was created based on place of birth, years in the U.S., and language spoken at home. Data on demographics, self-rated health, contraceptive use, and related information were collected from women aged 18–44 years who were at risk of unintended pregnancy. Adjusted multivariable logistic regressions were conducted to examine contraceptive use and patterns in relation to race/ethnicity and other factors. Results: Over 18.20% of the overall sample (pop estimated N = 16,177,759) were Asian Americans, and among them, 24.62% were Chinese, followed by other Asian subgroups (28.83%), Filipina (25.49%), Korean (11.25%), and Vietnamese (9.80%). Overall, Filipina, Korean, and Vietnamese women were less likely to use contraception compared to their non-Hispanic White (NHW) peers, whereas acculturation level was positively associated with contraceptive use. Among different types of contraceptives, Filipina, Korean, and Vietnamese women were less likely to use long-acting reversible contraceptives compared to NHW. Such racial/ethnic disparities were not observed with less or moderately effective contraceptives. Conclusions: Patterns of contraceptive use and associated disparities varied among Asian American subgroups. Providers working with Asian American women should be aware of these racial disparities in contraceptive use and seek ways to address barriers to effective contraception use in this diverse population in order to provide culturally competent family planning services.

Sepsis, a life-threatening syndrome of organ damage resulting from dysregulated inflammatory response, is distinguished by overexpression of inflammatory cytokines, excessive generation of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (RONS), heightened activation of pyroptosis, and suppression of autophagy. However, current clinical symptomatic supportive treatment has failed to reduce the high mortality. Herein, we developed self-assembled multifunctional carbon monoxide nanogenerators (Nano CO), as sepsis drug candidates, which can release CO in response to ROS, resulting in clearing bacteria and activating the heme oxygenase-1/CO system. This activation strengthened endogenous protection and scavenged multiple inflammatory mediators to alleviate the cytokine storm, including scavenging RONS and cfDNA, inhibiting macrophage activation, blocking pyroptosis and activating autophagy. Animal experiments show that Nano CO has a good therapeutic effect on mice with LPS-induced sepsis, which is manifested in hypothermia recovery, organ damage repair, and a 50% decrease in mortality rates. Taken together, these results illustrated the efficacy of multifunctional Nano CO to target clearance of multiple mediators in sepsis treatment and act against other refractory inflammation-related diseases.

Abstract Background Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a novel tick-borne infectious disease with a high fatality rate. Although several nomograms based on demographic and laboratory data have been reported to predict the prognosis of SFTS in recent studies, baseline serum glycated albumin (GA)/albumin (ALB) ratio included risk model has not been evaluated for the prediction of clinical outcome. Methods A total of 214 SFTS patients with integral data admitted to our hospital from May, 2020 to November, 2022 were included in this study. SFTS infection was confirmed by real time fluorescent quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). The demographic characteristics, clinical and laboratory data were collected with in 24 h of admission and 1 to 2 days before discharge and were analysed retrospectively. Results Fiffty-seven patients (26.6%) died. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood glucose (GLU), GA/ALB ratio, neutrophil counts (NEU) and lymphocyte percentage (LYM%) were the independent risk factors for mortality. A nomogram by these factors was created using RMS package in the R program. Area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of this nomogram was 0.88 (95% CI: 0.83, 0.93). This model showed the excellent net benefit, as revealed by the decision curve analysis. GA/ALB ratios were also independent risk factors for poor out clinical come in subgroups of patients with hyperglycemia on admission and with diabetes history. Nomograms were constructed by the independent risk factors in the subgroups. AUCs of the nomograms in the subgroups showed high predictive values for adverse prognosis. Conclusions GA/ALB ratios were independent risk factors for mortality in all SFTS patients and subgroups of with hyperglycemia on admission and diabetes history. The nomograms including GA/ALB ratio had high predictive value for adverse clinical outcome.The nomograms provide a basis for clinical decision-making for the treatment of SFTS patients in different clinical settings.

Abstract Background Vascular calcification is a common vascular lesion associated with high morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular events. Antibiotics can disrupt the gut microbiota (GM) and have been shown to exacerbate or attenuate several human diseases. However, whether antibiotic-induced GM disruption affects vascular calcification remains unclear. Methods Antibiotic cocktail (ABX) treatment was utilized to test the potential effects of antibiotics on vascular calcification. The effects of antibiotics on GM and serum short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in vascular calcification mice were analyzed using 16 S rRNA gene sequencing and targeted metabolomics, respectively. Further, the effects of acetate, propionate and butyrate on vascular calcification were evaluated. Finally, the potential mechanism by which acetate inhibits osteogenic transformation of VSMCs was explored by proteomics. Results ABX and vancomycin exacerbated vascular calcification. 16 S rRNA gene sequencing and targeted metabolomics analyses showed that ABX and vancomycin treatments resulted in decreased abundance of Bacteroidetes in the fecal microbiota of the mice and decreased serum levels of SCFAs. In addition, supplementation with acetate was found to reduce calcium salt deposition in the aorta of mice and inhibit osteogenic transformation in VSMCs. Finally, using proteomics, we found that the inhibition of osteogenic transformation of VSMCs by acetate may be related to glutathione metabolism and ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis. After adding the glutathione inhibitor Buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) and the ubiquitination inhibitor MG132, we found that the inhibitory effect of acetate on VSMC osteogenic differentiation was weakened by the intervention of BSO, but MG132 had no effect. Conclusion ABX exacerbates vascular calcification, possibly by depleting the abundance of Bacteroidetes and SCFAs in the intestine. Supplementation with acetate has the potential to alleviate vascular calcification, which may be an important target for future treatment of vascular calcification.

AbstractContext Chinese medicine injections (CMIs) are widely used as adjuvant therapy for cervical cancer in China. However, the effectiveness of different types of CMIs remains uncertain.Objective To assess the effectiveness and safety of CMIs when used in conjunction with radiotherapy (RT) or concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT), particularly in combination with cisplatin (DDP), docetaxel plus cisplatin (DP), and paclitaxel plus cisplatin (TP).Materials and methods Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were searched in databases including CNKI, WanFang, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science from inception to September 2023. We calculated the risk ratio with a 95% confidence interval and the surface under the cumulative ranking area curve (SUCRA) for the clinical efficacy rate (CER), the efficacy rate by Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS), and the rates of leukopenia reduction (LRR) and gastrointestinal reactions (GRR).Results Forty-seven RCTs were included, including nine CMI types: Aidi, Fufangkushen, Huangqi, Kangai (KA), Kanglaite (KLT), Renshenduotang, Shenqifuzheng (SQFZ), Shenmai (SM), and Yadanzi. KLT and KA were likely optimal choices with radiotherapy for CER and KPS, respectively. KA and KLT were optimal choices with RT + DDP for CER and GRR, respectively. KLT was the likely optimal choice with RT + DP for CER and KA for both KPS and GRR. SM and SQFZ were the likely optimal choices with RT + TP for CER and LRR, respectively.Conclusions The optimal recommendation depends on whether CMIs are used with radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy. More high-quality RCTs are needed to confirm further and update the existing evidence.

Background: The prognosis and survival of patients with lung cancer are likely to deteriorate with metastasis. Using deep-learning in the detection of lymph node metastasis can facilitate the noninvasive calculation of the likelihood of such metastasis, thereby providing clinicians with crucial information to enhance diagnostic precision and ultimately improve patient survival and prognosis Methods: In total, 623 eligible patients were recruited from two medical institutions. Seven deep learning models, namely Alex, GoogLeNet, Resnet18, Resnet101, Vgg16, Vgg19, and MobileNetv3 (small), were utilized to extract deep image histological features. The dimensionality of the extracted features was then reduced using the Spearman correlation coefficient (r ≥ 0.9) and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator. Eleven machine learning methods, namely Support Vector Machine, K-nearest neighbor, Random Forest, Extra Trees, XGBoost, LightGBM, Naive Bayes, AdaBoost, Gradient Boosting Decision Tree, Linear Regression, and Multilayer Perceptron, were employed to construct classification prediction models for the filtered final features. The diagnostic performances of the models were assessed using various metrics, including accuracy, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. Calibration and decision-curve analyses were also performed. Results: The present study demonstrated that using deep radiomic features extracted from Vgg16, in conjunction with a prediction model constructed via a linear regression algorithm, effectively distinguished the status of mediastinal lymph nodes in patients with lung cancer. The performance of the model was evaluated based on various metrics, including accuracy, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value, which yielded values of 0.808, 0.834, 0.851, 0.745, 0.829, and 0.776, respectively. The validation set of the model was assessed using clinical decision curves, calibration curves, and confusion matrices, which collectively demonstrated the model's stability and accuracy Conclusion: In this study, information on the deep radiomics of Vgg16 was obtained from computed tomography images, and the linear regression method was able to accurately diagnose mediastinal lymph node metastases in patients with lung cancer.

Abstract Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (ISSHL) is a sudden onset, unexplained sensorineural hearing loss. Depression is a common mental disorder and a leading cause of disability. Here, We used a two-sample Mendelian randomization approach using pooled statistics from genome-wide association studies of ISSHL (1491 cases, 196,592 controls) and depression (23,424 cases, 192,220 controls) in European populations. This study investigated the bidirectional relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with depression and ISSHL using inverse variance weighting.Additional sensitivity analyses, such as Mendelian randomization-Egger (MR-Egger), weighted median estimates, and leave-one-out analysis, were performed to assess the reliability of the findings. Significant causal association between genetic susceptibility to ISSHL and depression in a random-effects IVW approach (OR = 1.037, 95% CI = 1.004–1.072, P = 0.030). In contrast, genetic depression was not risk factors for ISSHL (OR = 1.134, 95% CI = 0.871–1.475, P = 0.350). After validation by different MR methods and the sensitivity analysis, all of the above results are consistent. The evidence we have gathered suggests a causal relationship between ISSHL and depression. The presence of the former induces or further exacerbates the latter, whereas a similar situation does not exist when the latter is an influencing factor.

Abstract Adequate bowel cleansing is crucial for endoscopic diagnosis and treatment, and the recovery of gut microbiota after intestinal cleansing is also important. A hypertonic syrup predominantly comprising l-arabinose and d-xylose (20% xylo-oligosaccharides) can be extracted from the hemicellulose of corn husks and cobs. l-Arabinose and xylo-oligosaccharides have been reported to relieve constipation and improve the gut microbial environment. This study evaluated the bowel cleansing effect of the aforementioned syrup and its influence on the organism and intestinal microbiota after cleansing in comparison with polyethylene glycol-4000 (PEG-4000) in mice. Bowel cleansing was performed using syrup or PEG-4000 in C57BL/6J mice, and the effect of intestinal preparation and its influence on serum electrolytes and gut microbiota after bowel cleansing were evaluated. The volume of intestinal residual feces in the syrup group was significantly lower than that in the PEG-4000 group. Additionally, syrup disturbed serum electrolytes more mildly than PEG-4000. Alpha diversity in the gut microbiota was significantly higher in the syrup group than in the PEG-4000 group on the first day after bowel cleansing. However, no difference in beta diversity was observed between the two groups. Syrup increased the abundance of Bifidobacteria and Christensenella and decreased the abundance of Akkermansia in comparison with PEG-4000 on the first day after bowel cleansing. Thus, this syrup has potential clinical use as a bowel cleansing agent given the above effects, its benefits and safety, and better taste and acceptability.

Abstract Objectives At present, there are many limitations in the evaluation of lymph node metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma. Currently, there is a demand for a safe and accurate method to predict lymph node metastasis of lung cancer. In this study, radiomics was used to accurately predict the lymph node status of lung adenocarcinoma patients based on contrast-enhanced CT. Methods A total of 503 cases that fulfilled the analysis requirements were gathered from two distinct hospitals. Among these, 287 patients exhibited lymph node metastasis (LNM +) while 216 patients were confirmed to be without lymph node metastasis (LNM-). Using both traditional and deep learning methods, 22,318 features were extracted from the segmented images of each patient's enhanced CT. Then, the spearman test and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator were used to effectively reduce the dimension of the feature data, enabling us to focus on the most pertinent features and enhance the overall analysis. Finally, the classification model of lung adenocarcinoma lymph node metastasis was constructed by machine learning algorithm. The Accuracy, AUC, Specificity, Precision, Recall and F1 were used to evaluate the efficiency of the model. Results By incorporating a comprehensively selected set of features, the extreme gradient boosting method (XGBoost) effectively distinguished the status of lymph nodes in patients with lung adenocarcinoma. The Accuracy, AUC, Specificity, Precision, Recall and F1 of the prediction model performance on the external test set were 0.765, 0.845, 0.705, 0.784, 0.811 and 0.797, respectively. Moreover, the decision curve analysis, calibration curve and confusion matrix of the model on the external test set all indicated the stability and accuracy of the model. Conclusions Leveraging enhanced CT images, our study introduces a noninvasive classification prediction model based on the extreme gradient boosting method. This approach exhibits remarkable precision in identifying the lymph node status of lung adenocarcinoma patients, offering a safe and accurate alternative to invasive procedures. By providing clinicians with a reliable tool for diagnosing and assessing disease progression, our method holds the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes and enhance the overall quality of clinical practice.

Abstract Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a multifactorial disease in which abnormal growth factor activation and embryonic reawakening are considered important factors. Here we demonstrated that the aberrant activation of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β)/Rho kinase 1 (ROCK1) increased the stemness of BPH tissue by recruiting mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), indicating the important role of embryonic reawakening in BPH. When TGF-β/ROCK1 is abnormally activated, MSCs are recruited and differentiate into fibroblasts/myofibroblasts, leading to prostate stromal hyperplasia. Further research showed that inhibition of ROCK1 activation suppressed MSC migration and their potential for stromal differentiation. Collectively, our findings suggest that abnormal activation of TGF-β/ROCK1 regulates stem cell lineage specificity, and the small molecule inhibitor GSK269962A could target ROCK1 and may be a potential treatment for BPH. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Purpose Individualized medicine has become increasingly important in bladder cancer treatment, whereas useful biomarkers for prognostic prediction are still lacking. The current study, therefore, constructed a novel risk model based on pyroptosis- and immune-related long noncoding RNAs (Pyro-Imm lncRNAs) to evaluate the potential prognosis of bladder cancer. Methods Corresponding data of bladder cancer patients were downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The univariate Cox regression analysis, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis, and multivariate Cox regression analysis were employed to establish a predictive signature, which was evaluated by receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis and Kaplan–Meier analysis. Furthermore, the immune infiltration, immune checkpoints, and responses to chemotherapeutic drugs were analyzed with this model. Results Three Pyro-Imm lncRNAs (MAFG-DT, AC024060.1, AC116914.2) were finally identified. Patients in the low-risk group demonstrated a significant survival advantage. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) at 1, 3, and 5 years was 0.694, 0.709, and 0.736 respectively in the entire cohort. KEGG and GO analyses showed that the Wnt pathway plays a crucial role in the high-risk group. The risk score was significantly related to the degree of infiltration of different immune cells, the expression of multiple immune checkpoint genes, and the sensitivity of various chemotherapeutic drugs. Conclusion This novel signature provides a theoretical basis for cancer immunology and chemotherapy, which might help develop individualized therapy.

Abstract Millimeter-scale soft continuum robots offer safety and adaptability in transluminal procedures due to their passive compliance, but this feature necessitates interactions with surrounding lumina, leading to potential medical risks and restricted mobility. Here, we introduce a millimeter-scale continuum robot, enabling apical extension while maintaining structural stability. Utilizing phase transition components, the robot executes cycles of tip-based elongation, steered accurately through programmable magnetic fields. Each motion cycle features a solid-like backbone for stability, and a liquid-like component for advancement, thereby enabling autonomous shaping without reliance on environmental interactions. Together with clinical imaging technologies, we demonstrate the capability of navigating through tortuous and fragile lumina to transport microsurgical tools. Once it reaches larger anatomical spaces such as stomach, it can morph into functional 3D structures that serve as surgical tools or sensing units, overcoming the constraints of initially narrow pathways. By leveraging this design paradigm, we anticipate enhanced safety, multi-functionality, and cooperative capabilities among millimeter-scale continuum robots, opening new avenues for transluminal robotic surgery.

Taiping Houkui (TPHK) is prevalent green tea in China, its flavor quality is significantly influenced by different production regions. However, the key flavor compounds responsible for these discrepancies remain unclearly. Here, TPHK samples were produced from fresh leaves of ‘Shidacha 2’ cultivar planted in 14 distinct production regions. In 14 TPHK samples, a total of 33 non-volatile compounds were identified and quantified. Partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) reveal that theanine and glutamate were the main umami compounds, caffeine imparted with bitterness, which collectively contributed to the variation in the taste flavor of TPHK across different production regions. Furthermore, the profiles of 51 volatile compounds were determined, integrated PLS-DA with odor activity values of volatiles indicated that linalool (165.7–888.5) and geraniol (11.9–141.4) affecting the floral aroma of TPHK among different production regions. Our findings revealed the critical compounds that contributed to the effect of production regions on flavor quality of TPHK.

Abstract Osteoarthritis is a highly prevalent progressive joint disease that still requires an optimal therapeutic approach. Intermittent fasting is an attractive dieting strategy for improving health. Here this study shows that intermittent fasting potently relieves medial meniscus (DMM)‐ or natural aging‐induced osteoarthritic phenotypes. Osteocytes, the most abundant bone cells, secrete excess neuropeptide Y (NPY) during osteoarthritis, and this alteration can be altered by intermittent fasting. Both NPY and the NPY‐abundant culture medium of osteocytes (OCY‐CM) from osteoarthritic mice possess pro‐inflammatory, pro‐osteoclastic, and pro‐neurite outgrowth effects, while OCY‐CM from the intermittent fasting‐treated osteoarthritic mice fails to induce significant stimulatory effects on inflammation, osteoclast formation, and neurite outgrowth. Depletion of osteocyte NPY significantly attenuates DMM‐induced osteoarthritis and abolishes the benefits of intermittent fasting on osteoarthritis. This study suggests that osteocyte NPY is a key contributing factor in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis and intermittent fasting represents a promising nonpharmacological antiosteoarthritis method by targeting osteocyte NPY.

BackgroundChatGPT (OpenAI) has shown great potential in clinical diagnosis and could become an excellent auxiliary tool in clinical practice. This study investigates and evaluates ChatGPT in diagnostic capabilities by comparing the performance of GPT-3.5 and GPT-4.0 across model iterations. ObjectiveThis study aims to evaluate the precise diagnostic ability of GPT-3.5 and GPT-4.0 for colon cancer and its potential as an auxiliary diagnostic tool for surgeons and compare the diagnostic accuracy rates between GTP-3.5 and GPT-4.0. We precisely assess the accuracy of primary and secondary diagnoses and analyze the causes of misdiagnoses in GPT-3.5 and GPT-4.0 according to 7 categories: patient histories, symptoms, physical signs, laboratory examinations, imaging examinations, pathological examinations, and intraoperative findings. MethodsWe retrieved 316 case reports for intestinal cancer from the Chinese Medical Association Publishing House database, of which 286 cases were deemed valid after data cleansing. The cases were translated from Mandarin to English and then input into GPT-3.5 and GPT-4.0 using a simple, direct prompt to elicit primary and secondary diagnoses. We conducted a comparative study to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of GPT-4.0 and GPT-3.5. Three senior surgeons from the General Surgery Department, specializing in Colorectal Surgery, assessed the diagnostic information at the Chinese PLA (People’s Liberation Army) General Hospital. The accuracy of primary and secondary diagnoses was scored based on predefined criteria. Additionally, we analyzed and compared the causes of misdiagnoses in both models according to 7 categories: patient histories, symptoms, physical signs, laboratory examinations, imaging examinations, pathological examinations, and intraoperative findings. ResultsOut of 286 cases, GPT-4.0 and GPT-3.5 both demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy for primary diagnoses, but the accuracy rates of GPT-4.0 were significantly higher than GPT-3.5 (mean 0.972, SD 0.137 vs mean 0.855, SD 0.335; t285=5.753; P

Background: Existing deep learning methods, such as generative adversarial network (GAN) technology, face challenges when dealing with mixed datasets, which involve a combination of Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) and Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT). This issue significantly complicates the application of dose prediction in the field of radiotherapy. In this study, we propose a novel approach called beam channel GAN (Bc-GAN) to address the task of radiation dose prediction for mixed datasets. Bc-GAN introduces a dose prediction calculation method that requires less precision. By defining an approximate range for dose prediction, Bc-GAN limits the physical range of GAN prediction, resulting in more reasonable dose distribution predictions. Methods: We adopt a beam angle weighting method to determine the beam angle in the dose calculation. The dose of the beam with the highest weight is calculated using medical images and is then inputted into the artificial intelligence dose prediction model as the input channel. Additionally, we collect data from a total of 346 patients with Cervical Cancer (CC) for dataset. After cleaning the data, we exclude 51 cases with incomplete organ delineation, leaving us with 295 cases (IMRT: VMAT = 137:158) randomly divided into three sets: the training set, the validation set, and the test set, with proportions of 205:60:30, respectively. The assessment of model predictions was conducted via an analysis of dose distributions on the tomographic plane, dose volume histogram (DVH), and dosimetric parameters within the target zones and organs at risk (OAR). Results: After DVH analysis, minimal discrepancy was found between predicted and actual dose distributions in PTV and OAR. The predicted distribution aligned with clinical standards. Dosimetric parameters for PTV were generally lower in the predicted model, except for homogeneity index (HI) (0.238 ± 0.024, P = 0.017) and Dmax (53.599 ± 0.710 Gy, P = 1.8e-05). The prediction model varied in estimating doses for six organs. Specifically, small intestine showed higher V20 (67.92 ± 51.64 %, P = 0.019) and V30 (57.171 ± 1.213 %, P = 0.024) than manual planning. A similar trend was seen in colon's V30 (37.13 ± 61.14 %, P = 0.016). However, predicted bladder V30 (87.51 ± 41.44 %, P = 2.03e-16) was lower, indicating significant dosimetric differences. Conclusion: Overall, this study presents an innovative prediction method for CC in radiotherapy using the Bc-GAN model, addressing the challenges posed by different radiotherapy techniques. The proposed approach allows IMRT and VMAT in radiotherapy to be used as training sets, enabling the potential for large-scale engineering and commercialization applications of artificial intelligence (AI). The Bc-GAN-based prediction method for CC in radiotherapy not only reduces the amount of data needed for the training set but also expedites the model generation process. This approach can be applied to guide the development of clinical radiation therapy plans. Furthermore, future studies should consider extending the dose prediction method to encompass other types of tumors.

ObjectiveTo explore the trajectories of cognitive function development and predictive factors in disabled middle-aged and older adults.MethodsUtilizing data from 983 disabled middle-aged and older adults in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) from 2013 to 2020, latent growth mixture models were constructed to analyze the categories of cognitive function development trajectories and their predictive factors.ResultsThe cognitive function trajectories of the disabled middle-aged and older adults were classified into three categories: rapid decline (32.6%), Slow decline (36.1%), and Stable (31.2%). Multinomial logistic regression analysis identified age, gender, residence, education, marital status, household income, sleep duration, depression, hearing ability, and social participation as predictors of these trajectories.ConclusionThere is heterogeneity in the cognitive function development trajectories among disabled middle-aged and older adults. Healthcare professionals can implement targeted health management based on the characteristics of different groups to prevent the deterioration of cognitive function in this population.

Studies on the conditions and pollution routes of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in rivers can help provide countermeasures against the spread of ARB. This study focused on the pristine uppermost stream of a river, where Escherichia coli (E. coli) and enterococci were detected, although the stream flows through a pristine forest catchment. Antibiotic resistance of E. coli and enterococci isolated from the river water, riverbed sediment, and feces of waterside animals, such as birds and Mustelidae, were investigated throughout the year in the pristine uppermost sites. Antibiotic resistance was present in 1.4% (7/494) of the E. coli strains and 3.0% (24/812) of the enterococcal strains, and was low throughout the year. Although antibiotic resistance of bacteria isolated from feces was not detected in this watershed, the prevalence of multidrug-resistant E. coli was 0.4% (1/246) and 0.6% (1/172) in river water and riverbed sediment samples, respectively were observed. The presence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli was confirmed in river water samples, and genomic analysis revealed that the samples possessed the CTX-M-15 group. Multidrug-resistant strains and ESBL-producing strains were classified as phylogroups B1 and A, respectively, which are E. coli phenotypes isolated from wild animals. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis revealed analysis targeting enterococci that strains isolated from river water and bird feces were in the same cluster with 100% similarity. Therefore, bird feces are a source of enterococci in the uppermost stream of the river. Because multidrug-resistant bacteria and ESBL-producing bacteria were present in the pristine uppermost stream of the pristine river, urgent elucidation of the spreading routes of ARB is important.

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to compare the effects of various dietary selenium (Se) sources (0.5 mg/kg) on performance, meat quality, and antioxidant capacity in broilers as well as essential trace elements concentrations in their blood and tissues. A total of 360 one-day-old male yellow-feathered chickens (37.00 ± 0.17 g) were randomly allocated to 5 diet treatments: the basal diet (CON) and 4 diets supplemented with sodium selenite (SS), selenomethionine (SM), selenium-enriched yeast (SY), and nano-selenium (NS) for 56 d, respectively, with 6 replicates per treatment and 12 chickens per replicate. Dietary Se supplementation did not affect growth performance and carcass characteristics in broilers (P > 0.05). Supplemental SM enhanced the redness in the pectoral muscle compared to CON and NS (P < 0.05). Supplementation of SY and NS improved the concentrations of Se, copper, manganese, and zinc in the serum (P < 0.05). Supplemental SS also elevated the zinc content in the serum (P < 0.05). Broilers fed the SY diet showed increased Se content in the liver and pectoral muscle compared to those fed CON, SM, and NS diets (P < 0.05). Also, SY improved the pectoral muscle Se concentration compared to SS (P < 0.05). Besides, dietary Se supplementation increased the Se content in the thigh muscle (P < 0.05), with SY showing highest Se deposition. Dietary supplementation with SS, SM, and NS improved the activities of total superoxide dismutase and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in the serum (P < 0.05). Supplemental SY also elevated the T-AOC in the serum (P < 0.05). Additionally, SS and SM enhanced the T-AOC in the liver (P < 0.05). In conclusion, supplemental SM affected meat color. Supplementing diets with various Se sources increased antioxidant capacity and Se content in the thigh muscle of broilers, with SY showing a more pronounced deposition efficiency. Besides, diets supplemented with different Se sources had variable effects on the concentrations of essential trace elements in the serum and tissues of broilers.

BackgroundIncidence rates of autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and gender dysphoria (GD) are rising not only in the general population, but particularly among children, adolescents, and young adults with eating disorders (EDs). While ED rates have risen during the COVID pandemic, trends in co-occurring autism, ADHD, and GD have yet to be investigated in detail or at scale by way of large electronic medical record data.ObjectivesTo investigate trends in rates of co-occurring autism, ADHD, and GD among children, adolescents, and young adults with EDs in years prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsWe utilized a de-identified multinational electronic health records database (TriNetX) with 48,558 individuals aged 5-26 diagnosed with eating disorders (EDs) at least twice between 2017 and 2022. The primary predictor variable differentiated between the years of each person’s index (first) ED diagnosis (2017-2019 vs. 2020-2022). The primary outcome variable was the rate of new co-occurring psychiatric diagnoses of autism, ADHD, and GD in the year following each patient’s first ED diagnosis. We applied propensity score-matched multivariable logistic regressions to compare primary outcomes between 2017-2019 and 2020-2022.ResultsOur analysis included 17,445 individuals diagnosed with EDs in 2017-2019 (8% autism, 13.5% ADHD, 1.9% GD) and 31,113 diagnosed with EDs in 2020-2022 (8% autism, 14.6% ADHD, 3.2% GD). After 1:1 propensity score matching, 17,202 individuals from the 2017-2019 cohort were matched to peers mirroring the 2020-2022 cohort. Those diagnosed in 2020-2022 showed a 19% (aOR[95%CI]=1.19[1.07-1.33]), 25% (aOR=1.25[1.04-1.49]), and 36% (aOR=1.36[1.07-1.74]) increase in odds for autism, ADHD, and GD diagnoses, respectively, within the 365 days after the index EDs diagnosis, compared to the 2017-2019 cohort.DiscussionRates of autism, ADHD, and GD are significantly higher in individuals with ED in the post-pandemic 2020-2022 cohort in comparison to the pre-pandemic 2017-2019 cohort, even after controlling for baseline levels of co-occurring psychiatric diagnoses. Such findings reveal a critical gap in our current understanding of the totality of ways in which COVID-19 may have impacted the onset and clinical course of EDs, autism, ADHD, and GD among children, adolescents, and young adults.

IntroductionOur objective was to explore the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen in the treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss by conducting an umbrella review of all existing evidence.MethodsWe conducted an umbrella review, searching for related articles in the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus databases. The search period covered from the inception of each database until April 2024. We extracted authors, country of publication, time of publication, number of included studies and participants, interventions, summary of results, P-values, I2, relative risk (95% CI), and outcome measures. The methodological quality, evidence quality, and overlap rate of the included articles were assessed using AMSTAR 2, GRADE, and OVErviews (GROOVE).ResultsMethodological quality was assessed using AMSTAR 2. Of the nine included articles, two were assessed as “high,” three as “moderate,” two as “low,” and the remaining two as “very low.” The quality of evidence was assessed using the GRADE system. It was found that the quality of evidence in most of the studies was unsatisfactory. It was found that there was a slight overlap among the included articles. Six studies reported positive results (OR 1.37; 95% CI, 1.17–1.61; P = 0.04), with high heterogeneity observed (I2 = 63%). Egger's test indicated bias (P = 0.000101). Three studies reported negative results (MD 1.49; 95% CI, −0.32 to 3.29; P = 0.43; I2 = 0%), with no significant bias detected (P = 0.106) according to Egger's test.ConclusionHBO therapy is shown to be an effective treatment for SSNHL with fewer side effects. However, the methodological quality and evidence of the systematic reviews and meta-analysis included in this study were generally low. Therefore, more high-quality, large-scale, multi-center randomized controlled trials are needed in the future to verify the efficacy of HBO therapy for SSNHL.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero, identifier [CRD42024523651].

Smoking is by far one of the greatest public health threats and is recognized as an important predisposing factor for osteoporosis. Exposure to cigarette smoke (CS) has been reported to be associated with inflammation-associated diseases through the induction of pyroptosis. Nevertheless, the correlation between pyroptosis and bone loss induced by CS remains uninvestigated. Here, a mouse model of mainstream smoke exposure-induced osteoporosis was established. μCT, biomechanical testing, and immunohistochemical staining of bone tissue were used to assess the deleterious effects of CS on bone metabolism. In vitro, the effects of cigarette smoke extracts (CSE) on mouse primary bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were tested by cell viability assays, gene and protein expression assays, and alizarin red staining. The utilization of the pyroptosis inhibitor MCC950 served to confirm the critical role of BMSCs pyroptosis in CS-induced osteoporosis. Our results indicated that exposure to mainstream smoke led to a notable decrease in the quantity of osteoblasts and hindered the process of osteogenic differentiation in mice. Additionally, there was a significant increase in the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins in the bone marrow. The inhibitory effects of CSE on cell viability and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs were found to be dose-dependent in vitro. However, the presence of the pyroptosis inhibitor MCC950 significantly improved the impaired osteogenic differentiation and bone mineralization caused by CSE. These results highlight the crucial involvement of BMSCs pyroptosis in the development of bone loss induced by CS. In summary, the findings of this study provide novel evidence that CS exerts a detrimental effect on the process of osteogenesis in BMSCs through the induction of pyroptosis, ultimately leading to bone loss. Inhibition of pyroptosis effectively attenuated the toxicological effects of CS on BMSCs, providing a new target for preventing inflammatory osteoporosis.

Abstract Background Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) can undergo inadequate osteogenesis or excessive adipogenesis as they age due to changes in the bone microenvironment, ultimately resulting in decreased bone density and elevated risk of fractures in senile osteoporosis. This study aims to investigate the effects of osteocyte senescence on the bone microenvironment and its influence on BMSCs during aging. Results Primary osteocytes were isolated from 2-month-old and 16-month-old mice to obtain young osteocyte-derived extracellular vesicles (YO-EVs) and senescent osteocyte-derived EVs (SO-EVs), respectively. YO-EVs were found to significantly increase alkaline phosphatase activity, mineralization deposition, and the expression of osteogenesis-related genes in BMSCs, while SO-EVs promoted BMSC adipogenesis. Neither YO-EVs nor SO-EVs exerted an effect on the osteoclastogenesis of primary macrophages/monocytes. Our constructed transgenic mice, designed to trace osteocyte-derived EV distribution, revealed abundant osteocyte-derived EVs embedded in the bone matrix. Moreover, mature osteoclasts were found to release osteocyte-derived EVs from bone slices, playing a pivotal role in regulating the functions of the surrounding culture medium. Following intravenous injection into young and elderly mouse models, YO-EVs demonstrated a significant enhancement of bone mass and biomechanical strength compared to SO-EVs. Immunostaining of bone sections revealed that YO-EV treatment augmented the number of osteoblasts on the bone surface, while SO-EV treatment promoted adipocyte formation in the bone marrow. Proteomics analysis of YO-EVs and SO-EVs showed that tropomyosin-1 (TPM1) was enriched in YO-EVs, which increased the matrix stiffness of BMSCs, consequently promoting osteogenesis. Specifically, the siRNA-mediated depletion of Tpm1 eliminated pro-osteogenic activity of YO-EVs both in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions Our findings suggested that YO-EVs played a crucial role in maintaining the balance between bone resorption and formation, and their pro-osteogenic activity declining with aging. Therefore, YO-EVs and the delivered TPM1 hold potential as therapeutic targets for senile osteoporosis. Graphical abstract

Abstract Objective Prediction of lymph node metastasis (LNM) for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is critical for the treatment regimen and prognosis. We aim to develop and validate machine learning (ML)-based predictive models for LNM in patients with ICC. Methods A total of 345 patients with clinicopathological characteristics confirmed ICC from Jan 2007 to Jan 2019 were enrolled. The predictors of LNM were identified by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and logistic analysis. The selected variables were used for developing prediction models for LNM by six ML algorithms, including Logistic regression (LR), Gradient boosting machine (GBM), Extreme gradient boosting (XGB), Random Forest (RF), Decision tree (DT), Multilayer perceptron (MLP). We applied 10-fold cross validation as internal validation and calculated the average of the areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to measure the performance of all models. A feature selection approach was applied to identify importance of predictors in each model. The heat map was used to investigate the correlation of features. Finally, we established a web calculator using the best-performing model. Results In multivariate logistic regression analysis, factors including alcoholic liver disease (ALD), smoking, boundary, diameter, and white blood cell (WBC) were identified as independent predictors for LNM in patients with ICC. In internal validation, the average values of AUC of six models ranged from 0.820 to 0.908. The XGB model was identified as the best model, the average AUC was 0.908. Finally, we established a web calculator by XGB model, which was useful for clinicians to calculate the likelihood of LNM. Conclusion The proposed ML-based predicted models had a good performance to predict LNM of patients with ICC. XGB performed best. A web calculator based on the ML algorithm showed promise in assisting clinicians to predict LNM and developed individualized medical plans.

Abstract Objective This meta-analysis was conducted to assess the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy (PDT) as an adjunct to conventional mechanical debridement (CMD) for the management of peri-implant mucositis (p-iM). Methods We systematically searched four databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library) for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating PDT + CMD for p-iM from their inception to March 13, 2023. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software. Results Seven RCTs met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis revealed that PDT + CMD treatment was more effective than CMD alone in reducing probing depth (PD) (Mean Difference [MD]: -1.09, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: -1.99 to -0.2, P = 0.02) and plaque index (PI) (MD: -2.06, 95% CI: -2.81 to -1.31, P

Abstract Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis epitomize a class of insidious and relentless neurological conditions that are difficult to cure. Conventional therapeutic regimens often fail due to the late onset of symptoms, which occurs well after irreversible neurodegeneration has begun. The integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) further impedes efficacious drug delivery to the central nervous system, presenting a formidable challenge in the pharmacological treatment of NDDs. Recent scientific inquiries have shifted focus toward the peripheral biological systems, investigating their influence on central neuropathology through the lens of extracellular vesicles (EVs). These vesicles, distinguished by their ability to breach the BBB, are emerging as dual operatives in the context of NDDs, both as conveyors of pathogenic entities and as prospective vectors for therapeutic agents. This review critically summarizes the burgeoning evidence on the role of extracerebral EVs, particularly those originating from bone, adipose tissue, and gut microbiota, in modulating brain pathophysiology. It underscores the duplicity potential of peripheral EVs as modulators of disease progression and suggests their potential as novel vehicles for targeted therapeutic delivery, positing a transformative impact on the future landscape of NDD treatment strategies. Search strategy A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus from January 2000 to December 2023. The search combined the following terms using Boolean operators: “neurodegenerative disease” OR “Alzheimer’s disease” OR “Parkinson’s disease” OR “Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis” AND “extracellular vesicles” OR “exosomes” OR “outer membrane vesicles” AND “drug delivery systems” AND “blood-brain barrier”. MeSH terms were employed when searching PubMed to refine the results. Studies were included if they were published in English, involved human subjects, and focused on the peripheral origins of EVs, specifically from bone, adipose tissue, and gut microbiota, and their association with related diseases such as osteoporosis, metabolic syndrome, and gut dysbiosis. Articles were excluded if they did not address the role of EVs in the context of NDDs or did not discuss therapeutic applications. The titles and abstracts of retrieved articles were screened using a dual-review process to ensure relevance and accuracy. The reference lists of selected articles were also examined to identify additional relevant studies.

The yield stability of the neutron generator directly affects the accuracy of elemental analysis. This paper presents an industrial fully automatic neutron generator with a 48 mm neutron tube based on PLC to improve the stability and reliability of the neutron generator in industrial applications. By integrating a Kalman Filter with the PID algorithm in a PLC, the neutron yield of the generator is remarkably stabilized, achieving 1 × 108n/s. The neutron generator has been employed for industrial online elemental analysis. The results demonstrate that only a slight fluctuation of ±0.82 % exists in the neutron yield, and the reproducibility of the generator holds at a significant level of 0.05. This improved neutron generator can be applied to the online bulk analysis of carbon in coal-fired power stations and absolute measurement of neutron source emission rate.

Abstract Due to the highly conserved structure, animal mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) is widely used in classification, evolution, phylogeny, population genetic structure and other fields. We reported on the five circle multipartite mtDNAs of a newly described species of Globodera, Globodera vulgaris (Gv) from potatoes in China. The results showed that the mtDNA of Gv was obtained through second- and third-generation sequencing, with a total length of 42,995 bp. It contained 12 protein-coding genes, two rRNA genes and 17 tRNA genes, which were distributed in different subgenomic circles. Comparison of the differences in mtDNA among Gv, G. rostochiensis, G. pallida and G. ellingtonae showed that the size and arrangement of the genes in the mtDNA of the genus Globodera were variable and not conserved. The codon usage bias of the mitochondrial protein-coding gene of Gv showed that Gv might have originated from locally and more primitive group of existing Globodera. Based on the cytochrome c oxidase subunits I genes (COX1) and the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase subunits I genes (ND1), and the results showed that Gv was clustered with Globodera spp. according to the COX1 and ND1 in scmtDNA-V, while Gv was clustered with Meloidogyne spp. according to ND1 in scmtDNA-III. The results of this study provided a new basis for understanding the multipartite structure of mtDNA as a phylogenetic and taxonomic feature of the genus Globodera. The number of subgenomic circles is a diagnostic feature of species and the arrangement order and size of mitochondrial protein-coding genes also have important application value in species identification within the genus.

Abstract Background Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a prevalent disease affecting elderly men, with chronic inflammation being a critical factor in its development. Omentin-1, also known as intelectin-1 (ITLN-1), is an anti-inflammatory protein primarily found in the epithelial cells of the small intestine. This study aimed to investigate the potential of ITLN-1 in mitigating BPH by modulating local inflammation in the prostate gland. Methods Our investigation involved two in vivo experimental models. Firstly, ITLN-1 knockout mice (Itln-1 −/− ) were used to study the absence of ITLN-1 in BPH development. Secondly, a testosterone propionate (TP)-induced BPH mouse model was treated with an ITLN-1 overexpressing adenovirus. We assessed BPH severity using prostate weight index and histological analysis, including H&E staining, immunohistochemistry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In vitro, the impact of ITLN-1 on BPH-1 cell proliferation and inflammatory response was evaluated using cell proliferation assays and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results In vivo, Itln-1 −/− mice exhibited elevated prostate weight index, enlarged lumen area, and higher TNF-α levels compared to wild-type littermates. In contrast, ITLN-1 overexpression in TP-induced BPH mice resulted in reduced prostate weight index, lumen area, and TNF-α levels. In vitro studies indicated that ITLN-1 suppressed the proliferation of prostate epithelial cells and reduced TNF-α production in macrophages, suggesting a mechanism involving the inhibition of macrophage-mediated inflammation. Conclusion The study demonstrates that ITLN-1 plays a significant role in inhibiting the development of BPH by reducing local inflammation in the prostate gland. These findings highlight the potential of ITLN-1 as a therapeutic target in the management of BPH.

Abstract Glycerol-assisted instant catapult steam explosion (ICSE) of lignocellulose is an effective pretreatment method for enhancing sugar production compared to glycerol-free ICSE. In this study, glycerol-assisted ICSE of corn stover was studied in order to understand the reaction mechanisms and further optimize the process. Results showed that water extraction of corn stover prior to ICSE reduced pseudo-lignin formation. The combination of water extraction and glycerol-assisted ICSE led to the formation of lignin with a lower molecular weight (Mw) of 2851 g/mol than 3521 g/mole of that from the combination of water extraction and glycerol-free ICSE. 1H-13C NMR analysis revealed that glycerol likely reacted with lignin carboxylic OHs through esterification while etherification of aliphatic OHs was not observed in ICSE. These lignin analyses indicated that glycerol protected lignin from condensation/repolymerization during glycerol-assisted ICSE. Enzymatic hydrolysis results showed that without water extraction increasing glycerol usage from 0.2 kg/kg stover to 0.4 kg/kg stover improved glucan digestibility to 78% but further increase to 0.5 kg/kg stover reduced glucan digestibility. In addition, at the glycerol usage of 0.2–0.4 kg/kg stover, washing of pretreated stover for removal of glycerol and other biomass-derived compounds did not improve glucan digestibility compared to unwashed ones. Combination of water extraction and glycerol-assisted ICSE led to a high glucan digestibility of 89.7% and a total glucose yield of 25.5 g glucose/100 g stover, which were 30.1% and 7.5 g/100 g stover higher than those derived from glycerol-free ICSE of stover, respectively. Since glycerol is a low-cost carbon source, the resulting enzymatic hydrolysate that contained both glucose and glycerol may be directly used to produce bioproducts by microbial fermentation. Graphical Abstract

In the process of infecting plants, plant parasitic nematodes release a series of proteins that play an essential role in the successful infection and pathogenesis of plant cells and tissues through stylets or body walls. In this study, based on transcriptome data, a chorismate mutase gene of Radopholus similis (RsCM) was identified and cloned, which is a single copy gene specifically expressed in the oesophageal gland and highly expressed in juveniles and females. Transient expression of RsCM in tobacco leaves showed that it was localised in the cytoplasm and nucleus of tobacco leaf cells, which inhibited the pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) induced by flg22, including callose deposition and defence gene expression, and cell death induced by immune elicitors BAX, but could not inhibit cell death induced by immune elicitors Gpa2/RBP-1. The RNA interference (RNAi) transgenic tomato of RsCM obviously inhibited the infection, pathogenicity, and reproduction of R. similis. However, the resistance of the overexpression transgenic tomato of RsCM to R. similis infection was significantly reduced, and the expression levels of two salicylic acid (SA) pathway genes (PR1 and PR5) in roots infected by the nematode were significantly down-regulated, which indicated that RsCM might be involved in the inhibition of SA pathway. The results of this study demonstrate that RsCM suppresses the host immune system and might be a new target for the control of R. similis, which also provides new data for the function and mechanism of CM genes of migratory parasitic plant nematodes.

Aging increases the risks of various diseases and the vulnerability to death. Cellular senescence is a hallmark of aging that contributes greatly to aging and aging-related diseases. This study demonstrates that extracellular vesicles from human urine-derived stem cells (USC-EVs) efficiently inhibit cellular senescence in vitro and in vivo. The intravenous injection of USC-EVs improves cognitive function, increases physical fitness and bone quality, and alleviates aging-related structural changes in different organs of senescence-accelerated mice and natural aging mice. The anti-aging effects of USC-EVs are not obviously affected by the USC donors’ ages, genders, or health status. Proteomic analysis reveals that USC-EVs are enriched with plasminogen activator urokinase (PLAU) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP1). These two proteins contribute importantly to the anti-senescent effects of USC-EVs associated with the inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (P16INK4a), and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (P21cip1). These findings suggest a great potential of autologous USC-EVs as a promising anti-aging agent by transferring PLAU and TIMP1 proteins.

Abstract Identification of active sites in catalytic materials is important and helps establish approaches to the precise design of catalysts for achieving high reactivity. Generally, active sites of conventional heterogeneous catalysts can be single atom, nanoparticle or a metal/oxide interface. Herein, we report that metal/oxide reverse interfaces can also be active sites which are created from the coordinated migration of metal and oxide atoms. As an example, a Pd1/CeO2 single-atom catalyst prepared via atom trapping, which is otherwise inactive at 30 °C, is able to completely oxidize formaldehyde after steam treatment. The enhanced reactivity is due to the formation of a Ce2O3-Pd nanoparticle domain interface, which is generated by the migration of both Ce and Pd atoms on the atom-trapped Pd1/CeO2 catalyst during steam treatment. We show that the generation of metal oxide-metal interfaces can be achieved in other heterogeneous catalysts due to the coordinated mobility of metal and oxide atoms, demonstrating the formation of a new active interface when using metal single-atom material as catalyst precursor.

ABSTRACTBenign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a prevalent disease among middle-aged and elderly males, but its pathogenesis remains unclear. Dysbiosis of the microbiome is increasingly recognized as a significant factor in various human diseases. Prostate tissue also contains a unique microbiome, and its dysbiosis has been proposed to contribute to prostate diseases. Here, we obtained prostate tissues and preoperative catheterized urine from 24 BPH individuals, and 8 normal prostate samples as controls, which followed strict aseptic measures. Using metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS), we found the disparities in the microbiome composition between normal and BPH tissues, with Pseudomonas significantly enriched in BPH tissues, as confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Additionally, we showed that the prostate microbiome differed from the urine microbiome. In vitro experiments revealed that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Pseudomonas activated NF-κB signalling, leading to inflammation, proliferation, and EMT processes, while inhibiting apoptosis in prostatic cells. Overall, our research determines the presence of microbiome dysbiosis in BPH, and suggests that Pseudomonas, as the dominant microflora, may promote the progression of BPH through LPS activation of NF-κB signalling.

Background: Suicide is a leading cause of death in adolescents and young adults globally. Well-established risk factors for suicide are depression and past suicide attempts. People experiencing suicidality may represent a distinct neurobiological group of people with depression. Because converging evidence has implicated inflammation in depression, we sought to investigate relationships between suicidality and immune markers in youth experiencing diverse mood and anxiety symptoms. We hypothesized that adolescents with suicidality would exhibit a unique immune signature. Methods: Adolescents underwent semi-structured interviews and completed self-reported measures to assess psychopathology, including suicidality (suicidal ideation, plans, or attempts). Fasting blood samples were collected, cultured with and without lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to stimulate an inflammatory response, and analyzed for 41 immune analytes. To assess how immune function related to suicidality categorically and dimensionally, we conducted group comparisons and correlations while controlling for multiple comparisons using false discovery rate (FDR). To further uncover subtle immune-suicidality relationships, we employed a data-driven approach using factor analysis to extract major immune factors, each of which was subsequently correlated with suicidality measures. Results: Among 126 participants, 29 were healthy controls and 97 participants had internalizing symptoms; within the clinical group, 57 experienced suicidality. Three immune analytes differed between healthy controls, suicidal, and non-suicidal adolescents with internalizing symptoms in the LPS condition: Flt-3L (pFDR = 0.0246), GM-CSF (pFDR = 0.0246), and IFN-γ (pFDR = 0.0246). These analytes were negatively correlated with the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI): Flt-3L (ρ = −0.19, p = 0.04); GM-CSF (ρ = −0.26, p = 0.004); IFN-γ (ρ =−0.33, p = 0.0003). GM-CSF also negatively correlated with number of suicide attempts (ρ = −0.39, p = 0.003). Factor analysis reduced 41 analytes to several common immune factors across experimental conditions, with Flt-3L, GM-CSF, and IFN-γ all loading heavily onto immune factors that were hypoactive in suicidality. Through this data-driven approach, we detected further associations between suicidality and immune factors across all conditions. Conclusions: Peripheral immune function may be distinctly altered in adolescent suicidality. Future work should examine immune-suicidality relationships longitudinally.

Background: The expression profiles of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) during pupal development have been demonstrated to be vital in age estimation of forensic entomological study. Here, using forensically important Aldrichina grahami (Diptera: Calliphoridae), we aimed to explore the potential of intrapuparial stage aging and postmortem interval (PMI) estimation based on characterization of successive developmental transcriptomes and gene expression patterns. Methods: We collected A. grahami pupae at 11 successive intrapuparial stages at 20 °C and used the RNA-seq technique to build the transcriptome profiles of their intrapuparial stages. The DEGs were identified during the different intrapuparial stages using comparative transcriptome analysis. The selected marker DEGs were classified and clustered for intrapuparial stage aging and PMI estimation and then further verified for transcriptome data validation. Ultimately, we categorized the overall gene expression levels as the dependent variable and the age of intrapuparial A. grahami as the independent variable to conduct nonlinear regression analysis. Results: We redefined the intrapuparial stages of A. grahami into five key successive substages (I, II, III, IV, and V), based on the overall gene expression patterns during pupal development. We screened 99 specific time-dependent expressed genes (stage-specific DEGs) to determine the different intrapuparial stages based on comparison of the gene expression levels during the 11 developmental intrapuparial stages of A. grahami. We observed that 55 DEGs showed persistent upregulation during the development of intrapuparial A. grahami. We then selected four DEGs (act79b, act88f, up and ninac) which presented consistent upregulation using RT-qPCR (quantitative real-time PCR) analysis, along with consideration of the maximum fold changes during the pupal development. We conducted nonlinear regression analysis to simulate the calculations of the relationships between the expression levels of the four selected DEGs and the developmental time of intrapuparial A. grahami and constructed fitting curves. The curves demonstrated that act79b and ninac showed continuous relatively increasing levels. Conclusions: This study redefined the intrapuparial stages of A. grahami based on expression profiles of developmental transcriptomes for the first time. The stage-specific DEGs and those with consistent tendencies of expression were found to have potential in age estimation of intrapuparial A. grahami and could be supplementary to a more accurate prediction of PMI.

Objectives: To evaluate the neutralizing antibody (NAb) levels against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants BF.7, BQ.1, BQ.1.1, XBB.1, and XBB.1.5 after vaccination and natural infection. Methods: The NAbs against the different viral strains of 490 individuals with SARS-CoV-2 and 187 without SARS-CoV-2 in the Beijing COVID-19 outbreak during December 2022 to January 2023 were analyzed. Results: In uninfected individuals, limited levels of NAbs were produced against the prototype and variant strains after two doses vaccine but significantly increased after three or four doses of the vaccine. The infected individuals had high NAbs levels against the BF.7, BQ.1, and BQ.1.1 variants and moderate NAbs levels against the XBB.1 and XBB.1.5 variants. The highest NAbs levels were observed after two inoculation doses. The third and fourth doses vaccine did not result in a significant increase the NAbs levels. After the last dose of vaccination, the NAbs levels peaked at 12 months for the prototype and BF.7 and between 6 to 12 months for the BQ.1, BQ.1.1, XBB.1, and XBB.1.5 variants. Conclusions: The immune response decreases as the virus mutates. If booster vaccination is considered necessary, it is suggested for at least 6 months after infection.

Cyclic disturbance loading affects the continuous operation of concrete structures. This study aims to better understand the failure behavior of concrete structures under cyclic disturbance loading. This study combined acoustic emission (AE) and digital image correlation (DIC) technologies to study mechanical failure behavior and damage evolution of concrete materials under cyclic disturbance loading and unloading. The AE event time-frequency characteristics, surface principal strain program, and damage parameters of samples with different cyclic disturbance amplitudes were obtained by theoretical calculation. The results reveal that when minor disturbance amplitudes are applied, the elastic modulus of concrete specimens tends to increase. When the disturbance amplitude is too large, the elastic modulus of the specimens drops, leading to faster specimen failure. The AE characteristic parameters exhibit a Felicity effect after the sample is subjected to a cyclic disturbance loading. Moreover, the larger the amplitude of the disturbance load, the more frequent the low-frequency and high-amplitude events generated during the final rupture, the higher the concentration of the principal strain on the sample's surface, and the wider the crack band distribution. AE energy and Effective crack are consistent in characterizing damage, and the changing trend of these two damage parameters can better reflect the deterioration process of concrete. The research results will provide practical and theoretical insights for safely operating and maintaining concrete structures.

Aflatoxin is one of the most toxic biotoxins found in contaminated agricultural products. It has strong mutagenicity, carcinogenesis and teratogenicity to humans and animals. In this study, instant catapult steam explosion combined with ammonia water was examined for its potential to degrade aflatoxin B1 in peanut cake in order to improve its utilization as a toxic-free animal feed. Incubation of AFB1-containing peanut cake followed by processing with Instant Catapult Steam Explosion (ICSE) led to approximately 79.03 % degradation of AFB1, while the degradation of AFB1 was up to 91.48 % under the treatment of ICSE combined with 4 % NH₃·H₂O at 1.2 MPa in 200 s of process time. After treatment, nutrients in peanut cake were not significantly changed. The toxicity of AFB1 degradation products was evaluated and the results showed that the toxicity of these products were found to be substantially less than that possessed by AFB1. A low chemical pollution, efficient and toxic-free technology system of AFB1 degradation was established, which detoxify aflatoxin-contaminated biomass for sustainable and safe utilization of agricultural biomass as animal feed.

Accurate prediction of the prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is important for treatment. Lymph nodes metastasis is an important predictor for distant failure and regional recurrence in patients with NPC. Traditionally, subjective radiological evaluation increases concerns regarding the accuracy and consistency of predictions. Radiomics is an objective and quantitative evaluation algorithm for medical images. This retrospective analysis was conducted based on the data of 729 patients newly diagnosed with NPC without distant metastases to evaluate the performance of radiomics pretreatment using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-determined metastatic lymph nodes models to predict NPC prognosis with three delineation methods. Radiomics features were extracted from all lymph nodes (ALN), largest lymph node (LLN), and largest slice of the largest lymph node (LSLN) to generate three radiomics signatures. The radiomics signatures, clinical model, and radiomics-clinic merged models were developed in training cohort for predicting overall survival (OS). The results showed that LSLN signature with clinical factors predicted OS with high accuracy and robustness using pretreatment MR-determined metastatic lymph nodes (C-index [95 % confidence interval]: 0.762[0.760–0.763]), providing a new tool for treatment planning in NPC.

Objectives: N7-methylguanosine (m7G) plays a crucial role in mRNA metabolism and other biological processes. However, its regulators' function in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome (PSS) remains enigmatic. Methods: We screened five key m7G-related genes across multiple datasets, leveraging statistical and machine learning computations. Based on these genes, we developed a prediction model employing the extreme gradient boosting decision tree (XGBoost) method to assess PSS risk. Immune infiltration in PSS samples was analyzed using the ssGSEA method, revealing the immune landscape of PSS patients. Results: The XGBoost model exhibited high accuracy, AUC, sensitivity, and specificity in both training, test sets and extra-test set. The decision curve confirmed its clinical utility. Our findings suggest that m7G methylation might contribute to PSS pathogenesis through immune modulation. Conclusions: m7G regulators play an important role in the development of PSS. Our study of m7G-realted genes may inform future immunotherapy strategies for PSS.

Background: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has emerged to combat the global COVID-19 pandemic. However, no studies have been conducted to evaluate the attitudes, knowledge, and barriers of Chinese clinical and nursing students in implementing CAM during this period. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the attitude, knowledge, and barriers of Chinese clinical and nursing students in using CAM in the context of COVID-19. Methods: An online-based cross-sectional survey was carried out among Chinese medical students, majoring in clinical medicine or nursing, in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, and Zhengzhou, Henan Province from May to July 2022. A total of 402 clinical and 644 nursing students responded to a self-administered questionnaire through the Questionnaire Star and WeChat APPs. SPSS 25 (version 25) was used for data analysis. Proportions were compared by Chi-square test. Level of significance between groups was analyzed using independent student t-test and Mann-Whitney U test. Results: The average score of attitude was 46.63 (SD: 7.38) in clinical students and 49.84 (SD: 6.76) in nursing students. The top four most commonly used CAM treatments in China were proprietary Chinese medicine, diet therapy, decoction, and acupuncture and moxibustion (59.66 %, 22.28 %, 11.66 %, 9.85 %). The students had a good mastery of knowledge about CAM-based prevention and control of COVID-19 (mean score 7.36). The score of CAM knowledge in nursing students was significantly higher than that in clinical students (7.56 VS 7.04, P = 0.000). Gender, grade, previous use, age, and knowledge score could affect students’ attitude towards CAM. The main barriers in spreading CAM use included time-consumption, bad taste, and fear of treatment-related pain (24.5 %). Compared with clinical students, nursing students were more likely to recommend CAM to patients in the future (P = 0.002). Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing students were more positive towards CAM use, had a better mastery of CAM knowledge than clinical students. CAM is expected to provide better outcomes in COVID-19 patients. Future studies should focus on the changes in students’ attitudes over time and exploration of influencing factors on CAM use.

Abstract Background Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a progressive fibrosing interstitial pneumonia that leads to respiratory failure and other complications, which is ultimately fatal. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplant is a promising strategy to solve this problem, while the procurement of MSCs from the patient for autotransplant remains a challenge. Methods Here, we presented olfactory mucosa mesenchymal stem cells (OM-MSCs) from mouse turbinate and determined the preventing efficacy of allotransplant for PF. We demonstrated the antiinflammation and immunomodulatory effects of OM-MSCs. Flow cytometric analysis was used to verify the effect of OM-MSCs on monocyte-derived macrophage populations in the lung. Results Administration of OM-MSCs reduces inflammation, attenuates the matrix metallopeptidase 13 (MMP13) expression level and restores the bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis by assessing the architecture of lung, collagen type I; (COL1A1), actin alpha 2, smooth muscle, aorta (ACTA2/α-SMA) and hydroxyproline. This therapeutic effect of OM-MSCs was related to the increase in the ratio of nonclassical monocytes to proinflammatory monocytes in the lung. Conclusions This study suggests that transplant of OM-MSCs represents an effective and safe treatment for PF.

Abstract The signals received by very low-frequency/extremely low-frequency nonlinear receivers are frequently affected by intense atmospheric pulse noise stemming from thunderstorms and global lightning activity. Current noise processing algorithms designed for nonlinear channels within these frequency ranges, which are predicated on fractional p-order moment alpha stable distribution criteria (where 0

Non-invasive cerebral neuromodulation technologies are essential for the reorganization of cerebral neural networks, which have been widely applied in the field of central neurological diseases, such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and mental disorders. Although significant advances have been made in neuromodulation technologies, the identification of optimal neurostimulation parameters including the cortical target, duration, and inhibition or excitation pattern is still limited due to the lack of guidance for neural circuits. Moreover, the neural mechanism underlying neuromodulation for improved behavioral performance remains poorly understood. Recently, advancements in neuroimaging have provided insight into neuromodulation techniques. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy, as a novel non-invasive optical brain imaging method, can detect brain activity by measuring cerebral hemodynamics with the advantages of portability, high motion tolerance, and anti-electromagnetic interference. Coupling functional near-infrared spectroscopy with neuromodulation technologies offers an opportunity to monitor the cortical response, provide real-time feedback, and establish a closed-loop strategy integrating evaluation, feedback, and intervention for neurostimulation, which provides a theoretical basis for development of individualized precise neurorehabilitation. We aimed to summarize the advantages of functional near-infrared spectroscopy and provide an overview of the current research on functional near-infrared spectroscopy in transcranial magnetic stimulation, transcranial electrical stimulation, neurofeedback, and brain-computer interfaces. Furthermore, the future perspectives and directions for the application of functional near-infrared spectroscopy in neuromodulation are summarized. In conclusion, functional near-infrared spectroscopy combined with neuromodulation may promote the optimization of central neural reorganization to achieve better functional recovery from central nervous system diseases.

Condition monitoring of wind turbines is critical for increasing the reliability of the turbines and reducing their operation and maintenance costs. Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems have been widely regarded as a promising technique to monitor the health status of turbines due to their abundance and cost-effective operation data. However, SCADA data are fundamentally multivariate time series with inherent spatio-temporal correlations. Therefore, it is still difficult to extract such correlations and then accurately identify the health status. This paper proposes a novel multi-view spatio-temporal feature fusion approach (MVSTCNN) based on convolutional neural networks (CNN) for condition monitoring of wind turbines. Specifically, multiple CNN modules with convolutional kernels of varying sizes are designed to extract correlations among several sensor variables and the temporal dependency concealed in each variable in parallel. A main advantage of the proposed method is its capacity to capture multiscale local information and global information simultaneously in both temporal and spatial dimensions, which improves the performance of condition monitoring. Real SCADA data from a wind farm is utilized to evaluate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed approach. The SCADA data experiments demonstrate that the proposed approach is effective for early fault detection in wind turbines.

Abstract Helicotylenchus comprises a significant group of plant-parasitic nematodes that primarily feed on plant roots. This study focuses on the description of a newly discovered species, Helicotylenchus zenchengensis n. sp., from China. The distinguishing characteristic of this species, as observed under a microscope, is the absence of head annulation. The stylet, measuring between 23.8 and 29.3 μm, exhibits anteriorly flattened or indented stylet knobs. The elongated tail has a c value ranging from 15.8 to 22.6 and a c’ value between 1.9 and 2.4. It bears 15 to 18 tail annuli, presenting a conical shape with projections. The phasmids are located at the 4th to 10th body annulations posterior to the anus, while no males were observed. Three phylogenetic trees were constructed to determine the evolutionary relationships using the 18S rRNA, ITS, and 28S D2-D3 expansion segments of the newly discovered species and related Helicotylenchus sequences obtained from the database. Based on the ITS sequences, a phylogenetic tree revealed that H. zenchengensis n. sp. clustered with H. cuspicaudatus. However, it was distinguished from H. cuspicaudatus when examining the 18S and 28S rRNA sequences and morphological characteristics. Additionally, comprehensive and diagnostic tables for all known species of Helicotylenchus in China are provided for reference.

Abstract Objective Whether rheumatoid arthritis patients have an increased risk of cervical cancer remains controversial, and further research is needed on this clinical question. This study aims to investigate the association between rheumatoid arthritis and the susceptibility to cervical cancer by employing Mendelian randomization methodology, utilizing the extensive dataset from human genome-wide association data analysis. Methods The publicly accessible MR base database was utilized to obtain the complete genome, relevant research findings, and summarized data pertaining to rheumatoid arthritis and cervical cancer. Genetic tool variables, specifically single-nucleotide polymorphisms closely linked to rheumatoid arthritis, were chosen for analysis. Four methods, namely inverse variance weighted analysis, weighted median analysis, weighted mode, and MR-Egger regression, were employed. Statistical analysis was conducted to explore the potential association between rheumatoid arthritis and susceptibility to cervical cancer. Results The results of the inverse variance weighted analysis (OR = 1.096, 95% CI: 1.018–1.180, P = 0.015) indicate a significant causal relationship between rheumatoid arthritis and an increased risk of cervical cancer. Furthermore, the absence of horizontal pleiotropic effects (MR-Egger intercept = 0.00025, P = 0.574) and heterogeneity (QEgger = 2.239, I2Egger = 0.225, PEgger = 0.268, QIVW = 2.734, I2IVW = 0.220, PIVW = 0.999) suggests that the observed association is not influenced by confounding factors. Sensitivity analysis and other statistical methods also support the conclusion that genetic pleiotropy does not introduce bias to the findings. Conclusion There is a causal relationship between rheumatoid arthritis and the occurrence of cervical cancer. People with rheumatoid arthritis is one of the high-risk groups for early screening of cervical cancer. The IL-18 may play a significant role in elevating the risk of cervical cancer among rheumatoid arthritis patients.