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Jiale Xu,&ast; Musen Xu,&ast; Xin Gao, Jiahang Liu, Jingchao Sun, Ruiqi Ling, Xuchen Zhao, Xifeng Fu, Shaojian Mo, Yanzhang Tian Department of Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Yanzhang Tian, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, No. 99, Longcheng Street, Xiaodian District, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, People’s Republic of China, Phone/Fax +86-13903512030, Email tyz2030@163.comObjective: To analyze the influence of diabetes mellitus on the clinical outcomes of moderately severe acute pancreatitis (MSAP) and severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).Methods: This retrospective study included patients diagnosed with MSAP and SAP at Shanxi Bethune Hospital from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2021. Clinical data were collected, including patient demographics, 24-hour laboratory indicators, and inflammation indices. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to compare outcomes before and after matching. Patients were randomized into training and validation sets (7:3) to develop and validate a clinical prediction model for infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN).Results: Among 421 patients, 79 had diabetes at admission. Before PSM, diabetic patients had higher incidences of peripancreatic fluid (71% vs 47%, p< 0.001) and IPN (48% vs 10%, p< 0.001), higher surgical intervention rates (24% vs 12%, p=0.008), and significant differences in abdominocentesis (22% vs 11%, p=0.014). After PSM, 174 patients were matched, and the diabetes group still showed higher incidences of peripancreatic fluid (69% vs 47%, p=0.008), IPN (48% vs 11%, p< 0.001), and surgical intervention rates (27% vs 13%, p=0.037). Diabetes, modified CT severity index (MCTSI), serum calcium, and HDL-c were identified as independent risk factors for IPN. The prediction model demonstrated good predictive value.Conclusion: In MSAP and SAP patients, diabetes mellitus can exert an influence on their clinical outcome and is an independent risk factor for IPN. The alignment diagram and web calculator constructed on the basis of diabetes mellitus, modified CT severity index (MCTSI), serum calcium and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) have good predictive value and clinical guidance for the occurrence of IPN in MSAP and SAP.Keywords: acute pancreatitis, diabetes, propensity score matching, predictive model

Roland Ling,1 Eva-Maria Borkenstein,2 Andreas F Borkenstein2 1The Medical Eye Clinic, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Exeter, UK; 2Privatklinik der Kreuzschwestern Graz, Private Practice Borkenstein & Borkenstein, Graz, AustriaCorrespondence: Andreas F BorkensteinPrivatklinik der Kreuzschwestern Graz, Private Practice Borkenstein & Borkenstein, Graz 8010, AustriaTel +43 316 331 3880Email crustalith@gmx.atObjective: The objective of this study was to assess the rate of posterior capsule opacification (PCO), under “real-life” conditions, as measured by rates of Nd:YAG laser intervention, rather than from a controlled study from which patients with conditions predisposing to PCO have been excluded.Methods and Analysis: This was a retrospective, multicenter study in an unselected consecutive cohort of patients undergoing surgery for senile cataract. Patients aged 18 years and older, previously implanted with the CT LUCIA 611P IOL, were contacted at 12, 18 and 24 months to ascertain if they had received Nd:YAG laser treatment. There was an additional assessment at 36 months at the Austrian centre.Results: A total of 200 patients were recruited at two centers. Laser capsulotomy rates were 4.5% at 1 year and 10% by year 2 and 12% by year 3. Three Nd:YAG capsulotomies, carried out at other external centers, were performed for reasons other than PCO, including astigmatism, epiretinal membrane and ARMD. If these patients are excluded, the true rate of Nd:YAG carried out for PCO at 1 year was 3.5% and at 2 years was 8.5%.Conclusion: It is critical to ensure that Nd:YAG capsulotomies are being performed only for the correct clinical reason. Carrying out unnecessary procedures places the patient at risk of adverse events, is a cost to the healthcare system, and is likely to have no direct visual benefit for the patient. In PCO studies, it should be a requirement to document the fibrosis grade to confirm that Nd:YAG capsulotomy was correctly indicated.Keywords: Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy, PCO, cataract, CT LUCIA 611P

Juliang Zhang,1,* Ting Wang,1,* Changjiao Yan,1 Meiling Huang,1 Zhimin Fan,2 Rui Ling2 1Department of Thyroid, Breast and Vascular Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710032, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Rui Ling; Zhimin Fan Email lingruiaoxue@126.com; fanzhimn@163.comBackground: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) was introduced over 30 years ago, but the application of SLNB in China is unclear. This study aimed to explore the real-world implementation of SLNB among early-stage breast cancer patients in China.Methods: A multi-center, retrospective study was conducted among primary breast cancer patients from 37 hospitals in China in 2018. Their clinical data were collected and analyzed, including the implementation status of SLNB in China, subsequent processing of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) containing metastases, and the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) on SLNB.Results: SLNB surgery was performed on 43.5% of early-stage breast cancer patients in China and 11,942 patients who underwent SLNB were enrolled in this study. The majority of SLNBs were performed using a single mapping agent. A combination of blue dye and radiotracer or fluorescence imaging was used in only 14.9% of patients. The mean (SD) number of resected SLNs was 4.0 (2.1). For the patients with 1 or 2 positive SLNs, 83.0% of them continued to receive axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), while others did not. For the patients with three or more positive SLNs, 97.2% of them continued to receive ALND, among which 82.9% accepted radiotherapy simultaneously. Of the patients who underwent SLN surgery, 5.5% (654/11,942) were receiving NAC. Among them, 51.9% received SLNB before NAC, and the rest received SLNB after NAC. In biopsy-proven positive nodes, 64.7% positive SLNs turned negative after NAC.Conclusion: SLNB has been promoted in China, but it is not widely used compared to in developed countries. Furthermore, the usage of the dual tracer technique in SLNB is not high. Chinese breast surgeons are more conservative regarding the omission of ALND in 1 or 2 SLNs-positive patients.Keywords: sentinel lymph node, early-stage breast cancer, real word data

Behçet’s disease is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects multiple organs and systems. It is characterized by recurrent oral and genital ulcers. A previous study reported that the IL-17A inhibitor secukinumab can improve the skin and mucosal manifestations in patients with refractory Behçet’s disease. Additionally, secukinumab has been shown to effectively improve neurological symptoms when administered for Behçet’s disease. However, we report a case where Behçet’s disease occurred after the treatment of psoriasis with the IL-17A inhibitor ixekizumab. To summarize its clinical characteristics and treatment experience, we consulted relevant domestic and international literature and conducted a literature review. We concluded that anti-IL-17A treatment may lead to the development of Behçet’s disease. The reported cases are more likely to occur in middle-aged men with varying onset times. The main manifestations include oral and vulvar mucosal ulcers. Furthermore, the gut microbiota may be involved in paradoxical Behçet’s disease.

Introduction Patients undergoing surgical procedures are often prone to developing acute stress disorder (ASD) postoperatively. Presently, oxytocin nasal spray has shown significant potential in the treatment of stress-related neuropsychiatric diseases. However, there are few reports on the use of oxytocin nasal spray in postoperative ASD, a condition that can potentially develop into a high-risk factor for post-traumatic stress disorder. This study aims to investigate the effect of pretreatment with oxytocin nasal spray on postoperative ASD in patients with accidental trauma and fracture to provide new clinical insights for the prevention of postoperative ASD.Methods and analysis This study is a single-centre, double-blind, randomised controlled clinical trial. The trial aims to recruit 328 patients with accidental traumatic fractures who underwent surgical treatment. Participants will be randomly categorised into two groups: a control group (0.9% normal saline nasal spray, 1 mL) and an oxytocin group (oxytocin nasal spray, 1 mL/40 IU) at a ratio of 1:1 using the random number table method. The primary outcome is the incidence of ASD on postoperative days 1–3. Secondary outcomes include patient resilience, anxiety, depression and pain scores on postoperative days 1–3. The exploratory results include the concentrations of stress response indicators such as malondialdehyde, cortisol and superoxide dismutase in the saliva before the first intervention and on days 1–3 after surgery.Ethics and dissemination The trial was approved by the clinical research ethics committee of the General Hospital of the Western Theater Command (identifier: 2024EC3-ky014). The findings of this trial will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal and in national or international paediatric research to guide future practice.Trial registration number ChiCTR2400082612.

This study investigates the enhancement of gelatin (GEL) films using hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) for edible film packaging applications. Although GEL is biocompatible and cost-effective, its limited mechanical strength presents significant challenges for practical applications. The findings indicate that CMC effectively increases tensile strength (TS), while HPMC improves elongation at break (EAB) and hydrophilicity. Notably, the composite modification with HPMC and CMC proves to be more effective than individual modifications. The optimal HPMC/CMC ratio of 3:7 resulted in blend films that exhibited the highest TS and lowest water vapor permeability (WVP). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis revealed enhanced hydrogen bonding between the polymers, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) confirmed a more uniform structure with improved thermal stability in the blend films. These results suggest that optimizing the HPMC/CMC ratio in gelatin-based films can significantly enhance their mechanical, barrier, and thermal properties, providing new possibilities for their application as food packaging materials.

Abstract Background Pulmonary abscesses resulting from epididymitis caused by extended spectrum β-lactamase-producing hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBL-hvKp) in a nondiabetic patient are extremely uncommon. The infection caused by this disseminated drug-resistant bacteria, which is generally considered an intractable case, poses a potential challenge in clinical practice. Case presentation In this case report, we present the clinical course of a 71-year-old male patient with epididymitis, who subsequently developed cough and dyspnea following anti-infection treatment. Imaging examinations revealed severe pneumonia and pulmonary abscess. The infection of ESBL-hvKp in the epididymis led to bacteremia and subsequent lung lesions. Due to poor response to anti-infection therapy, the patient required an extended duration of anti-infection treatment and ultimately chosed to discontinue treatment. Conclusions Acute epididymitis caused by ESBL-hvKP infection can result in the spread of the infection through the bloodstream, leading to severe pneumonia and lung abscess. Given the critical condition of the patient, even with active anti-infection treatment, there is a risk of treatment failure or potentially fatal outcomes.

Summary: The effects of dexmedetomidine in adults undergoing cardiac surgery are inconsistent. We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis to analyse the effects of peri‐operative dexmedetomidine in adults undergoing cardiac surgery. We searched MEDLINE via Pubmed, EMBASE, Scopus and Cochrane for relevant randomised controlled trials between 1 January 1990 and 1 March 2022. We used the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology checklist to assess study quality and the GRADE approach to certainty of evidence. We assessed the sensitivity of results to false data. We used random‐effects meta‐analyses to analyse the primary outcomes: durations of intensive care and tracheal intubation. We included 48 trials of 6273 participants. Dexmedetomidine reduced the mean (95%CI) duration of intensive care by 5.0 (2.2–7.7) h, p = 0.001, and tracheal intubation by 1.6 (0.6–2.7) h, p = 0.003. The relative risk (95%CI) for postoperative delirium was 0.58 (0.43–0.78), p = 0.001; 0.76 (0.61–0.95) for atrial fibrillation, p = 0.015; and 0.49 (0.25–0.97) for short‐term mortality, p = 0.041. Bradycardia and hypotension were not significantly affected. Trial sequential analysis was consistent with the primary meta‐analysis. Adjustments for possible false data reduced the mean (95%CI) reduction in duration of intensive care and tracheal intubation by dexmedetomidine to 3.6 (1.8–5.4) h and 0.8 (0.2–1.4) h, respectively. Binary adjustment for methodological quality at a Joanna Briggs Institute score threshold of 10 did not alter the results significantly. In summary, peri‐operative dexmedetomidine reduced the durations of intensive care and tracheal intubation and the incidence of short‐term mortality after adult cardiac surgery. The reductions in intensive care stay and tracheal intubation may or may not be considered clinically useful, particularly after adjustment for possible false data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale and objectives: To describe MRI characteristics of ureteral endometriosis (UE) in identifying intrinsic involvement of the ureteric wall and predicting complex procedures. Methods: Thirty-three UE lesions in 30 patients treated for UE over a 20-year period were reviewed. A systematic analysis of 13 MRI (ureteric wall thickening, circumference, T1 signal, T2 signal, ureterectasis, lateral parametrial endometriosis (LPE), rectal endometriosis, the foregoing three-characteristic diameter, ovarian endometriomas, adenomyosis, paraurethral endometriosis) and 5 clinical (age, BMI, CA125, creatinine and rAFS stage) characteristics was performed. MRI results were compared to histology and surgical procedure performed (simple versus complex ureteral procedures). Results: Twenty-five extrinsic and 8 intrinsic UE were pathologically identified. Twenty lesions underwent a simple procedure, and 12 underwent a complex procedure, with 1 ureteroscopic biopsy. There were significant differences in the characteristics of ureteric wall thickening, the diameter of dilated ureter and LPE, rectal endometriosis and adenomyosis between extrinsic and intrinsic UE (p

Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) technology enables personalized customization of medical implants. However, the clinical titanium alloy is biologically inert and can't address bacterial infections. It has been proved that Copper (Cu) -bearing titanium alloys exhibit excellent antibacterial ability and potentials for clinical application. However, it still unclear that the effect of Cu content on the comprehensive properties of LPBF-produced titanium alloy which usually has high strength but poor ductility and corrosion resistance caused by its α′ martensite. This study systematically investigates the effects of Cu content (x = 2, 5, 8 wt%) on the microstructure, mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, antibacterial properties, and cytrocompatibility of the LPBF-produced Ti-xCu alloys. These results prove that the LPBF produced Ti–5Cu alloy possesses the optimal comprehensive performance and has promising clinical application prospects as implant materials.

Abstract Serum amyloid A1 (SAA1), an inflammation-related molecule, is associated with the malignant progression of many tumors. This study aimed to investigate the role of SAA1 in the progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and its molecular mechanisms. The expression of SAA1 in ESCC tissues and cell lines was analyzed using bioinformatics analysis, western blotting, and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT‒qPCR). SAA1-overexpressing or SAA1-knockdown ESCC cells were used to assess the effects of SAA1 on the proliferation, migration, apoptosis of cancer cells and the growth of xenograft tumors in nude mice. Western blotting, immunofluorescence and RT‒qPCR were used to investigate the relationship between SAA1 and β-catenin and SAA1 and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P)/sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1PR1). SAA1 was highly expressed in ESCC tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of SAA1 significantly promoted the proliferation, migration and the growth of tumors in nude mice. Knockdown of SAA1 had the opposite effects and promoted the apoptosis of ESCC cells. Moreover, SAA1 overexpression promoted the phosphorylation of β-catenin at Ser675 and increased the expression levels of the β-catenin target genes MYC and MMP9. Knockdown of SAA1 had the opposite effects. S1P/S1PR1 upregulated SAA1 expression and β-catenin phosphorylation at Ser675 in ESCC cells. In conclusion, SAA1 promotes the progression of ESCC by increasing β-catenin phosphorylation at Ser675, and the S1P/S1PR1 pathway plays an important role in its upstream regulation.

Br J Ophthalmol 2004;88:474-477. doi: 10.1136/bjo.2003.026179 Aims: To study the risk factors for suprachoroidal haemorrhage (SCH) complicating cataract surgery in the United Kingdom. Methods: 109 cases of SCH complicating cataract [...]

Background: The treatment of oral leukoplakia (OLK) with aminolaevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) is widespread. Nonetheless, there is variation in efficacy. Therefore, this study constructed a model for predicting the short-term efficacy and recurrence of OLK after ALA-PDT. Methods: The short-term efficacy and recurrence of ALA-PDT were calculated by statistical analysis, and the relevant influencing factors were analyzed by Logistic regression and COX regression model. Finally, prediction models for total response (TR) rate, complete response (CR) rate and recurrence in OLK patients after ALA-PDT treatment were established. Features from pathology sections were extracted using deep learning autoencoder and combined with clinical variables to improve prediction performance of the model. Results: The logistic regression analysis showed that the non-homogeneous (OR: 4.911, P: 0.023) OLK and lesions with moderate to severe epithelial dysplasia (OR: 4.288, P: 0.042) had better short-term efficacy. The area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of CR, TR and recurrence predict models after the ALA-PDT treatment of OLK patients is 0.872, 0.718, and 0.564, respectively. Feature extraction revealed an association between inflammatory cell infiltration in the lamina propria and recurrence after PDT. Combining clinical variables and deep learning improved the performance of recurrence model by more than 30 %. Conclusions: ALA-PDT has excellent short-term efficacy in the management of OLK but the recurrence rate was high. Prediction model based on clinicopathological characteristics has excellent predictive effect for short-term efficacy but limited effect for recurrence. The use of deep learning and pathology images greatly improves predictive value of the models.

Abstract Background Microcirculatory perfusion disorder and inflammatory response are critical links in acute kidney injury (AKI). We aim to construct anti‐vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1(VCAM‐1) targeted microbubbles (TM) to monitor renal microcirculatory perfusion and inflammatory response. Methods TM carrying VCAM‐1 polypeptide was constructed by biological coupling. The binding ability of TM to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was detected. Bilateral renal ischemia–reperfusion injury (IRI) models of mice were established to evaluate microcirculatory perfusion and inflammatory response using TM. Thirty‐six mice were randomly divided into six groups according to the different reperfusion time (0.5, 2, 6, 12, and 24 h) and sham‐operated group (Sham group). The correlation of TM imaging with serum and histopathological biomarkers was investigated. Results TM has advantages such as uniform distribution, regular shape, high stability, and good biosafety. TM could bind specifically to VCAM‐1 molecule expressed by tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α)‐treated HUVECs. In the renal IRI‐AKI model, the area under the curve (AUC) of TM significantly decreased both in the renal cortical and medullary after 2 h of reperfusion compared with the Sham group (p

Background: Ropivacaine (Rop) is a local anesthetic that is widely used but is also potentially harmful. Quercetin (Quer) is a flavonoid component found in many plants and traditional Chinese medicines. It possesses anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and neuroprotective properties as a pharmaceutical. In Rop-induced neurotoxicity, the functions and molecular basis of Quer remain unclear. Methods: Cell viability and proliferation were assessed using CCK-8 and 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) incorporation assays, respectively. Apoptosis and autophagy were defined by both morphological criteria and markers such as caspase3 cleavage and monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining. Western blot and immunofluorescence staining were evaluated. The target proteins were then predicted using molecular docking and validated at the cellular and protein levels. Results: Quer was shown to significantly reduce Rop-induced viability inhibition and apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, Quer reduced Rop-induced cytotoxicity by stimulating autophagy in SH-SY5Y cells by targeting the Pim1 protein, which was accomplished via the AMPK/mTOR pathway. Conclusion: Quer relieved Rop-induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells through upregulating Pim1 and enhancing autophagy, indicating that Quer may have potential therapeutic applications in the treatment of Rop-induced neurotoxicities.

Introduction Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common vascular complication of diabetes mellitus and a leading cause of vision loss worldwide. Endothelial cell (EC) heterogeneity has been observed in the pathogenesis of DR. Elucidating the underlying mechanisms governing EC heterogeneity may provide novel insights into EC-specific therapies for DR.Research design and methods We used the single-cell data from the Gene Expression Omnibus database to explore EC heterogeneity between diabetic retinas and non-diabetic retinas and identify the potential genes involved in DR. CCK-8 assays, EdU assays, transwell assays, and tube formation assays were conducted to determine the role of the identified gene in angiogenic effects.Results Our analysis identified three distinct EC subpopulations in retinas and revealed that Mitochondria-localized glutamic acid-rich protein (Mgarp) gene is potentially involved in the pathogenesis of DR. Silencing of Mgarp significantly suppressed the proliferation, migration, and tube formation capacities in retinal endothelial cells.Conclusions This study not only offers new insights into transcriptomic heterogeneity and pathological alteration of retinal ECs but also holds the promise to pave the way for antiangiogenic therapy by targeting EC-specific gene.

In this study, the fresh leaves of Yun kang 10 with one bud and two or three leaves in spring, summer and autumn were used as raw materials. After anaerobic treatment, white tea was processed by the same process. The quality differences of white tea made from raw materials in three seasons after anaerobic treatment were explored by sensory evaluation, physical and chemical composition determination and UHPLC-MS/MS high-throughput detection technology to detect the content of amino acid components. The results showed that there were significant differences in the quality of white tea in the three seasons. The dry tea of white tea in spring was bright green in color. The aroma was strong, lasting, high and intensive, and had a variety of aroma types such as flowery, honey, tip aroma, medicinal and the fragrance of unique process. The taste was strong, fresh, sweet and brisk. The color of tea soup was bright yellow. Infused leaf was soft and bright. The quality of sensory was the best. The contents of amino acids, soluble sugar, caffeine, water extract and flavonoids of white tea were the highest in spring, and the content of tea polyphenols white tea was the highest in summer. A total of twenty amino acids were detected, of which 18 amino acids were significantly different (P

The Yellow River basin (YRB) is a major ecological functional area in China, and its ecological safety development and change have extremely significant impacts on the natural environment and human society. However, existing studies on the YRB lack spatiotemporal characteristics analysis and prediction of ecological safety with vegetation as the core. Therefore, this study proposes to construct an ecological safety index (ESI) of the YRB based on the comprehensive multidimensional ecological safety evaluation system “vigor-pressure-state-response,” using the normalized difference vegetation index, vegetation carbon sink indicator parameters, temperature, precipitation, the digital elevation model, population density, and the per capita gross domestic product from 2000 to 2020. The spatiotemporal characteristics of the ESI were then analyzed for the YRB, and a long-term and short-term memory network model was constructed to predict the ESI trend of the YRB over the next 10 years. According to the results, from 2000 to 2020, the ESI of the YRB showed a fluctuating upward trend, and the annual average of the ESI changed abruptly in 2015 due to drastic changes in hazardous areas. The ESI in most areas of the YRB showed a significant upward trend, the stability of ESI changes was weak in some areas, and the overall spatial distribution showed significant positive spatial agglomeration characteristics. Further, the response of ESI to landscape complexity in different reaches of the YRB varied. Most of the middle reaches were positively correlated with landscape complexity, while most of the upper and lower reaches were not significantly or negatively correlated. Notably, over the next 10 years, YRB's ESI growth will slow down, with areas with degradation increasing, areas with significant growth decreasing, and areas currently showing stability improvement.

The yellow river basin (YRB) plays a crucial role in maintaining national ecological security, and controlling desertification is a critical factor in strengthening the foundation for the high-quality development of the basin. However, there are fewer studies on the spatiotemporal patterns of desertification change in different regions of the YRB, and the mechanisms affecting desertification change are not yet clear. The objective of this article was to construct a desertification difference index (DDI) to characterize the degree of desertification in the YRB based on surface Albedo and normalized difference vegetation index. We analyzed the spatiotemporal patterns of desertification in different regions of the YRB. We used geographical detector and correlation analyses to screen out the main drivers affecting desertification change. We found that the DDI increased significantly at a rate of 0.5 × 10−3/a from 2001 to 2021, indicating a slowing down trend of desertification in the YRB. The spatial concentration of desertification was a high degree of agglomeration and significant spatial autocorrelation. Precipitation (PRE) and surface radiation were the primary factors influencing desertification in the YRB. The most important factor influencing desertification in the upstream of the YRB and midstream of the YRB areas was PRE. However, human footprint has exacerbated desertification in the downstream of the YRB. This article aims to reveal the driving mechanisms behind desertification in the YRB. The objective is to provide a reference for combating desertification and improving the ecological environment in the region.

In order to explore the role of exogenous bacteria in the fermentation process of Pu-erh tea and its impact on tea quality, the present study aimed to explore the differences in metabolite changes during fermentation of Pu-erh tea treated with different bacterial strains. To achieve this, non-targeted metabolomics technology was employed, which was combined with multivariate statistical analysis and differential heat maps. The study analyzed the flavonoids, alkaloids, and terpenoids present in the tea samples. The H group was found to have a fruity and sweet aroma, a bright red soup color, and a strong and sweet taste. The A group had a strong floral and honey aroma, a bright red soup color, and a strong and sweet aftertaste. The R group had a fruity and milky aroma, a bright yellow soup color, and a strong but astringent and bitter taste. These differences in quality were found to be related to the levels of metabolites such as malvidin, genkwanin, catechins, caffeine, and lactucin. The study provided preliminary insights into the differences in metabolite content during the fermentation of Pu-erh tea with different bacterial strains, which can have varying effects on the taste, aroma, and soup color of the tea. The findings of this study could provide theoretical assistance for future Pu-erh tea fermentation.