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Jiechenming Xiao,1 Dan Xu,1 Heng Yang,2 Huiping Mao1 1Department of Nursing, Taizhou First People’s Hospital, Taizhou, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Nursing, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine, and International School of Medicine, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Yiwu, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Huiping Mao, Email tzmaohuiping@163.comBackground and Purpose: Ageing has become one of the major global public issues and active ageing has become a global goal. Accurate and reproducible assessment tools are a prerequisite for robust and reliable measurement of active ageing and policy formulation. However, a broad scoping review describing the characteristics and heterogeneity of assessment tools for active ageing is lacking. This study aims to comprehensively portray current active ageing assessment tools and their features.Methods: We conducted a scoping review, focusing on the Active Ageing Assessment Tool, and searched seven databases: CNKI, WanFang, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, Medline, and Proquest. The research process adhered to the methodological framework of Arkey and O’Malley and the PRISMA-ScR specification. More so, we registered the research program with the Open Science Framework.Results: Ultimately, we included twenty-two pieces of literature. The development of the active ageing assessment tool predominantly occurred between 2012 and 2023, with a focus on foreign countries (16 studies). All included literature presented multidimensional Active ageing assessment tools. Eighteen studies examined active ageing assessment tools at the macro level, while four studies focused on the individual level. Also, fourteen out of the twenty-two studies were based on the World Health Organization’s Theoretical Framework for Active Ageing. The literature contained only two active ageing assessment tools designed for specific subgroups of older people.Conclusion: Future development of active ageing assessment tools should integrate more comprehensive concepts and social theories of active ageing. Additionally, there is a need to explore active ageing measurement tools tailored for diverse subgroups of the older adults at various levels.Keywords: ageing, active ageing, healthy ageing, scope review

Siyan Pang,1,2 Chenchen Geng,1,2 Zihan Fan,2 Min Hou,1,3 Huilan Mao,1,2 Shuang Tao,1,4 Jing Wang,1,4 Yulun Wu,1,2 Ke Wei,1,4 Yunhao Li,1,2 Liuyang Yan,1,2 Qingling Yang,1,4,5 Changjie Chen,1,4,5 Wenrui Wang1,2,6 1Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Research, Bengbu Medical University, Anhui, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Life Sciences, Bengbu Medical University, Anhui, People’s Republic of China; 3School of Basic Courses, Bengbu Medical University, Anhui, People’s Republic of China; 4Clinical Testing and Diagnose Experimental Center, Bengbu Medical University, Anhui, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bengbu Medical University, Anhui, People’s Republic of China; 6Department of Biotechnology, Bengbu Medical University, Anhui, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Wenrui Wang; Changjie Chen, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cancer Translational Medicine, Bengbu Medical University, 2600 Donghai Avenue, Bengbu, Anhui, 233030, People’s Republic of China, Email wenrui-wang1983@163.com; tochenchangjie@163.comBackground: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and one of the leading causes of cancer death worldwide. Ferroptosis, a promising mechanism of killing cancer cells, has become a research hotspot in cancer therapy. Simvastatin (SIM), as a potential new anti-breast cancer drug, has been shown to cause ferroptosis of cancer cells and inhibit breast cancer metastasis and recurrence. The purpose of this study is to develop a novel strategy boosting ferroptotic cascade for synergistic cancer therapy.Methods: In this paper, iron base form of layered double hydroxide supported simvastatin (LDHs-SIM) was synthesized by hydrothermal co-precipitation method. The characterization of LDHs-SIM were assessed by various analytical techniques, including ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Biological activity, ferroptosis mechanism and biocompatibility were analyzed through in vivo and in vitro analysis, so as to evaluate its therapeutic effect on breast cancer.Results: The constructed LDHs-SIM nanosystem can not only release SIM through mevalonate (MVA) pathway, inhibit the expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), inhibit the expression of SLC7A11 and reduce the synthesis efficiency of GSH, but also promote the accumulation of Fe2+ in cells through the release of Fe3+, and increase the intracellular ROS content. In addition, LDHs-SIM nanosystem can induce apoptosis of breast cancer cells to a certain extent, and achieve the synergistic effect of apoptosis and ferroptosis.Conclusion: In the present study, we demonstrated that nanoparticles of layered double hydroxides (LDHs) loaded with simvastatin were more effective than a free drug at inhibiting breast cancer cell growth, In addition, superior anticancer therapeutic effects were achieved with little systemic toxicity, indicating that LDHs-SIM could serve as a safe and high-performance platform for ferroptosis−apoptosis combined anticancer therapy.Keywords: layered double hydroxides, apoptosis, ferroptosis, simvastatin, breast cancer

Yi Yu,1,2,&ast; Zhong Zhong,1,2,&ast; Wenzhuo Yang,1,2 Jianwen Yu,1,2 Jianbo Li,1,2 Xingdi Guo,1,2 Jiasi Chen,3 Haiping Mao,1,2 Zhijian Li1,2 1Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, People’s Republic of China; 2NHC Key Laboratory of Clinical Nephrology (Sun Yat-Sen University) and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nephrology, Guangzhou, 510080, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Zhijian Li, Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, 58th Zhongshan Road II, Guangzhou, 510080, People’s Republic of China, Tel +8620 87335811, Fax +8620 87755766, Email lizhjian@mail.sysu.edu.cnBackground: Neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio (NPAR), a new inflammatory marker, has been shown to be associated with poor prognosis in patients with cardiovascular disease. However, limited evidence is available for its role in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Our study aimed at investigating the prognostic value of NPAR for mortality in PD patients.Patients and Methods: This was a single center retrospective cohort study. A total of 1966 PD patients were enrolled in our study from January 2006 to December 2016 and were followed up until December 2021. Patients were stratified into tertiles according to baseline NPAR levels. The associations between NPAR levels with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to compare the mortality predictive values of NPAR and other known biomarkers, such as NLR (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio), PLR (platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio), LHR (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio) and MLR (monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio).Results: During a median follow-up of 48.1 months, 503 (25.6%) patients died, in which cardiovascular disease (CVD) death dominated 50.3%. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that the highest NPAR tertile was significantly associated with a higher risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.51, 95% CI 1.14– 1.98; HR 1.57, 95% CI 1.07– 2.31; respectively) compared with tertile 1. The AUC values of NPAR were 0.62 (95% CI 0.60– 0.65, P < 0.001) for all-cause mortality and 0.61 (95% CI 0.57– 0.65, P < 0.001) for cardiovascular mortality.Conclusion: Our study showed that higher NPAR levels were independently associated with increased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in PD patients. Notably, our results demonstrated that NPAR exhibited superior predictive value for mortality compared to NLR, PLR, MLR, and LHR.Keywords: peritoneal dialysis, neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio, mortality, inflammation

Yuanping Deng,1 Jianchao Ni,2 Huapei Mao3 1Normal College, Jimei University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, People’s Republic of China; 2School of Aerospace Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, People’s Republic of China; 3School of Business, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Huapei Mao, School of Business, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325035, People’s Republic of China, Email huapeimao@163.comPurpose: The study aimed to investigate the relationships between early parental conflict, marital and parent-child relationships, and current depression among rural older adults, and to examine its gender differences.Methods: Using data obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) conducted in 2018, we selected 2347 adults aged 60 years and older in rural China and used a structural equation model to evaluate the mechanisms behind early parental conflict and current depression among such adults.Results: Early parental conflict impacted current depression among rural older adults, and marital and parent-child relationships played mediating roles in the mechanism. However, there were gender differences in the paths: early parental conflict directly impacted older males’ depression, but not among females; marital relationships acted as a mediator between early parental conflict and current depression among older females, but not among males.Conclusion: Among older adults in rural China, early parental conflict can affect current depression through the indirect path of marital relationships as well as the chain mediating path between marital and parent-child relationships.Keywords: early parental conflict, rural older adults, depression, marital relationships, parent-child relationships

Guanglan Li,1,2 Jing Yu,1,2 Simin Jiang,1,2 Kefei Wu,1,2 Yiping Xu,1,2 Xiaohui Lu,1,2 Yating Wang,1,2 Jianxiong Lin,1,2 Xiao Yang,1,2 Zhibin Li,3 Haiping Mao1,2 1Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China; 2NHC Key Laboratory of Clinical Nephrology (Sun Yat-sen University) and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nephrology, Guangzhou, 510080, China; 3Epidemiology Research Unit, Translational Medicine Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, ChinaCorrespondence: Haiping Mao, Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China, Email maohp@mail.sysu.edu.cnPurpose: The prognosis of patients receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD) is associated with inflammation. Systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) is one of inflammatory markers, and the role in predicting clinical outcomes in PD patients is unclear. We aimed to investigate the relationship between the SII and all-cause and cardiovascular-specific mortalities in patients undergoing PD.Patients and Methods: A total of 1419 PD patients from the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2019 were retrospectively included at baseline, and the patients were followed up until November 31, 2021. SII was calculated as platelet count×neutrophil count/lymphocyte count. Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to determine the relationship between SII levels and all-cause and cardiovascular-specific mortalities.Results: During follow-up (median period was 42 months), 321 patients died (171 died of cardiovascular disease). With adjustment for the potential confounding factors, each 1-SD increase in the SII was associated with 20.2% increase in all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.202, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.088– 1.327, P< 0.001) and 28.0% increase in cardiovascular-specific mortality (HR: 1.280, 95% CI: 1.126– 1.456, P< 0.001). High SII (vs low SII) was significantly associated with increased risks of all-cause mortality (HR: 1.391, 95% CI: 1.066– 1.815, P-value: 0.015) and cardiovascular-specific mortality (HR: 1.637, 95% CI: 1.185– 2.261, P-value: 0.003). Subgroups analyses showed similar results for those younger than 65-year-old only.Conclusion: Elevated SII level was independently associated with increased risks of all-cause and cardiovascular-specific mortalities in PD patients, especially for those younger than 65-year-old.Keywords: all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, peritoneal dialysis, systemic immune-inflammation index

Xin Qiao,1– 3,&ast; Jie Tang,1– 3,&ast; Lei Dou,1– 3 Shiyao Yang,1,3,4 Yuting Sun,1,3,4 Hongchen Mao,1– 3 Deqin Yang1– 3 1Department of Endodontics, Stomatological Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 401147, People’s Republic of China; 2Stomatological Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and Biomedical Sciences, Chongqing, 401147, People’s Republic of China; 3Chongqing Municipal Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Engineering of Higher Education, Chongqing, 401147, People’s Republic of China; 4Chongqing Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and Biomedical Sciences, Chongqing, 401147, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Deqin Yang, Department of Endodontics, Stomatological Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 426, Songshi North Road, Yubei District, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-23-8886-0060, Email yangdeqin@hospital.cqmu.edu.cnPurpose: Dental pulp stem cell-derived exosomes (DPSC-EXO), which have biological characteristics similar to those of metrocytes, have been found to be closely associated with tissue regeneration. Periodontitis is an immune inflammation and tissue destructive disease caused by plaque, resulting in alveolar bone loss and periodontal epithelial destruction. It is not clear whether DPSC-EXO can be used as an effective therapy for periodontal regeneration. The purpose of this study was not only to verify the effect of DPSC-EXO on reducing periodontitis and promoting periodontal tissue regeneration, but also to reveal the possible mechanism.Methods: DPSC-EXO was isolated by ultracentrifugation. Then it characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM), nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and Western Blot. In vitro, periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) were treated with DPSC-EXO, the abilities of cell proliferation, migration and osteogenic potential were evaluated. Furthermore, we detected the expression of IL-1β, TNF-αand key proteins in the IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway after simulating the inflammatory environment by LPS. In addition, the effect of DPSC-EXO on the polarization phenotype of macrophages was detected. In vivo, the experimental periodontitis in rats was established and treated with DPSC-EXO or PBS. After 4 weeks, the maxillae were collected and detected by micro-CT and histological staining.Results: DPSC-EXO promoted the proliferation, migration and osteogenesis of PDLSCs in vitro. DPSC-EXO also regulated inflammation by inhibiting the IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway during acute inflammatory stress. In addition, the results showed that DPSC-EXO could polarize macrophages from the M1 phenotype to the M2 phenotype. In vivo, we found that DPSC-EXO could effectively reduce alveolar bone loss and promote the healing of the periodontal epithelium in rats with experimental periodontitis.Conclusion: DPSC-EXO plays an important role in inhibiting periodontitis and promoting tissue regeneration. This study provides a promising acellular therapy for periodontitis.Keywords: exosome, anti-inflammatory, osteogenesis, periodontitis, macrophages, IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway

Meng Zhou,&ast; Fang Lu,&ast; Ling Jiang, Chen Chen, Si Chen, Luhan Geng, Rui Sun, Qing Li, Suyan Duan, Bo Zhang, Huijuan Mao, Changying Xing, Yanggang Yuan Department of Nephrology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Yanggang Yuan; Changying Xing, Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Province Hospital, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210029, Tel/Fax +86-25-6830-6462, Email ygyuan@njmu.edu.cn; cyxing62@126.comAim: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) continues to be devastating complication of diabetes mellitus. Immune response and inflammatory reaction play essential roles in the progression of DKD. But the specific mechanism of immune cells, and their act on renal innate cells remains unclear. This article focused on immune cells and their communication with renal innate cells to provide bioinformatic evidence for further understanding the immune mechanism in DKD.Methods: Data were analyzed to evaluate the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and their pathways in DKD patients and mice. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to explore the immune inflammation-related pathways. CIBERSORT was applied to evaluate the distribution of inflammatory cells in different states. Cell-type DEGs and their enrichment pathways were further explored in podocytes, proximal tubule cells and injured tubule cells. Cellchat was used to reveal the cellular communication between immune cells and renal innate cells in DKD.Results: GO and KEGG analysis showed that DEGs were mainly enriched in immune inflammation-related pathways. Monocytes, M2 macrophages and T cells were significantly increased in DKD samples, especially in renal tubule. ScRNA datasets showed that the immune cells number in DKD were significantly increased. Cell-type DEGs were involved in kidney growth and development. In DKD, the interaction numbers and strength between immune cells and innate cells were significantly increased. VISTANT, SPP1 and IGF signal flow were increased in DKD. SPP1-CD44, NRG1-ERBB4, NAMPT-INSR, and Igf1-Igf1r receptor ligand pairs were enhanced in DKD, which mediated the communication between immune-inflammatory cells and innate cells.Conclusion: Our study explored the pathogenesis of renal injury promoted by immunoinflammatory in DKD. VISTANT, SPP1, and IGF signaling pathways and SPP1-CD44, NRG1-ERBB4, NAMPT-INSR, and Igf1- Igf1r receptor ligand pairs might occupy essential place in the occurrence and progress of DKD.Keywords: diabetic kidney disease, immune cells, renal innate cells, bioinformatics

We describe the development and operation of a regenerative, cryogenically-formed discharge waveguide formed by freezing nitrous oxide gas onto the inner wall of a sapphire capillary. We demonstrate a technique for varying the channel diameter in situ and present guiding of low-power laser pulses through 6-cm long waveguides with channel diameters of 0.7, 0.8, and 1 mm. Measurements and simulations of the output laser fluence showed that the matched spot size could be adjusted with the thickness of the solid nitrous oxide layer.

Gaigai Bai,1,2 Yue Zhou,1,2 Qing Rong,1,2 Sijing Qiao,1,2 Hongluan Mao,1,2,&ast; Peishu Liu1,2,&ast; 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China; 2Shandong Engineering Laboratory for Urogynecology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Hongluan Mao; Peishu Liu, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, 107 Wenhua Xi Road, Jinan, Shandong, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-18560081988 ; +86-18560082027, Email peishuliu@126.com; hongluanmao@126.comPurpose: Nutritional and inflammatory states are crucial in cancer development. The purpose of this study is to construct a scoring system grounded on peripheral blood parameters associated with nutrition and inflammation and explore its value in stage, overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS) prediction for epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients.Patients and Methods: Four hundred and fifty-three EOC patients were retrospectively identified and their clinical data and relevant peripheral blood parameters were collected. The ratio of neutrophil to lymphocyte, lymphocyte to monocyte, fibrinogen to lymphocyte, total cholesterol to lymphocyte and albumin level were calculated and dichotomized. A scoring system named peripheral blood score (PBS) was constructed. Univariate and multivariate Logistic or Cox regression analyses were used to select independent factors; these factors were then used to develop nomogram models of advanced stage and OS, PFS, respectively. The internal validation and DCA analysis were performed to evaluate models.Results: Lower PBS indicated a better prognosis and higher PBS indicated inferior. High PBS is associated with advanced stage, high CA125, serous histological type, poor differentiation, and accompanied ascites. The logistic regression showed age, CA125, and PBS were independent factors for the FIGO III–IV stage. The nomogram models for advanced FIGO stage based on these factors showed good efficiency. FIGO stage, residual disease, and PBS were independent factors affecting OS and PFS, the nomogram models composed of these factors had good performance. DCA curves revealed the models augmented net benefits.Conclusion: PBS can be a noninvasive biomarker for EOC patients’ prognosis. The related nomogram models could be powerful, cost-effective tools to provide information of advanced stage, OS, and PFS for EOC patients.Keywords: inflammation, nutrition, ovarian cancer, predict model, peripheral blood

Hierarchical nanoporous carbons combining pore sizes of different length scales are highly important for separation processes. However, critical questions remain regarding the hierarchical structure regulation and the molecular mechanisms of gaseous adsorbate uptake and interactions within the hierarchical nanoporous carbons. These materials present characterization challenges in that there are no experimental techniques that can elucidate the molecular mechanisms of the organic compounds and CO2 within the materials. We deployed multidimensional solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to generate maps of guest-framework interactions as a function of adsorbate concentrations and adsorption times. The NMR spectra provide insight toward the design of effective hierarchical pore structures. Our materials show a high volatile organic compounds/CO2 physisorption capacity, which reveals promising application to carbon-capture strategies to mitigate global warming.

Wenwu Xiao,1 Huaichun Yang,1 Zhuangfu Wang,2 Haian Mao,1 Hongjiang Wang,1 Zengming Hao,1 Yao Zu,1 Chuhuai Wang1 1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 2Faculty of Population Health Sciences, Institute of Child Health I, University College London, London, UKCorrespondence: Chuhuai Wang, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 58 Zhongshan Er Road, Guangzhou, 510080, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 13316191023, Email wangchuh@mail.sysu.edu.cnAbstract: Low back pain is a major global public health problem, but the current intervention effect is not ideal. A large body of previous literature suggests that patients with chronic low back pain may have abnormal postural control, which is more evident in the dual task situation. In recent years, research on postural control in patients with low back pain under dual-task conditions has gradually become a hot topic. However, the results obtained from these studies were not entirely consistent. In this review, we summarized relevant studies on the performance of postural control in patients with low back pain under dual-task conditions, analyze it from the perspective of the theoretical model of dual-task interaction, the specific research paradigm of dual task, the performance of postural control, and the related factors affecting postural control performance, etc. It was reasonable to assume that patients with low back pain might have a certain degree of abnormal postural control, and this abnormality was affected by comprehensive factors such as age, cognitive resource capacity, attention needs, complex sensorimotor integration, external environment, etc. Furthermore, postural control performance in low back pain patients under dual-task conditions was further influenced by the nature and complexity of the different tasks. In general, the more attention resources were needed, the external environmental conditions were worse, and the age-related functions were degenerate, etc., the weaker posture control ability was. In short, a deeper understanding of postural control in patients with low back pain under dual-task conditions may shed light on more references for the rehabilitation and management of low back pain, as well as some new ideas for scientific research on cognition and postural control.Keywords: postural control, low back pain, dual-task, cognitive, motor

Density transition injection is an effective technique for controllably loading electrons into a trapped phase for laser plasma accelerators. One common technique to achieve the required fluid structure is to impinge a thin blade on the plume of a supersonic nozzle. Density transitions induced in this way are often assumed to be bow shocks and therefore sharp, but simulations and fluorescence measurements presented in this work show that in many cases of interest, the density transition accessible to a laser propagating transverse to the shock is an intercepting shock, and therefore, shock thickness and density vary with pressure, laser height, and blade position. The fluid dynamics of a supersonic nozzle impinged on by a thin, flat object are explored through simulations and relevant features are verified via planar laser-induced fluorescence measurements. The implications of the results for tuning electron beam injectors in laser plasma accelerators are discussed.

Porous graphitic framework (PGF) is a two-dimensional (2D) material that has emerging energy applications. An archetype contains stacked 2D layers, the structure of which features a fully annulated aromatic skeleton with embedded heteroatoms and periodic pores. Due to the lack of a rational approach in establishing in-plane order under mild synthetic conditions, the structural integrity of PGF has remained elusive and ultimately limited its material performance. Here, we report the discovery of the unusual dynamic character of the C=N bonds in the aromatic pyrazine ring system under basic aqueous conditions, which enables the successful synthesis of a crystalline porous nitrogenous graphitic framework with remarkable in-plane order, as evidenced by powder X-ray diffraction studies and direct visualization using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The crystalline framework displays superior performance as a cathode material for lithium-ion batteries, outperforming the amorphous counterparts in terms of capacity and cycle stability. Insertion of well-defined, evenly spaced nanoscale pores into the two-dimensional (2D) layers of graphene invokes exciting properties due to the modulation of its electronic band gaps and surface functionalities. A bottom-up synthesis approach to such porous graphitic frameworks (PGFs) is appealing but also remains a great challenge. The current methods of building covalent organic frameworks rely on a small collection of thermodynamically reversible reactions. Such reactions are, however, inadequate in generating a fully annulated aromatic skeleton in PGFs. With the discovery of dynamic pyrazine formation, we succeeded in applying this linking chemistry to obtain a crystalline PGF material, which has displayed high electrical conductivity and remarkable performance as a cathode material for lithium-ion batteries. We envision that the demonstrated success will open the door to a wide array of fully annulated 2D porous frameworks, which hold immense potential for clean energy applications. We report the unusual dynamic characteristics of the C=N bonds in the pyrazine ring promoted under basic aqueous conditions, which enables the successful synthesis of two-dimensional porous graphitic frameworks (PGFs) featuring fully annulated aromatic skeletons and periodic pores. The PGF displayed high electrical conductivity and remarkable performance as a cathode material for lithium-ion batteries, far outperforming the amorphous counterparts in terms of capacity and cycle stability.

The effects of Co addition on the chemical and electronic structure of PbTiO3 were explored both by theory and through experiment. Cobalt was incorporated into PbTiO3 during the sol-gel process with the X-ray diffraction (XRD) data of the resulting compounds confirming a perovskite structure for the pure samples. The XRD lines broadened and showed emerging cubic structure features as the Co incorporation increased. The changes in the XRD pattern were interpreted as double perovskite structure formation. 207Pb NMR measurements revealed a growing isotropic component in the presence of Co. Consistent with the experiments, density functional theory (DFT)-calculated chemical-shift values corroborate isotropic coordination of Pb, suggesting the formation of cubic Pb2CoTiO6 domains in the prepared samples. Hybrid functional first-principles calculations indicate formation of Pb2CoTiO6 with cubic structure and confirm that Co addition can decrease oxygen binding energy significantly. Experimental UV-vis spectroscopy results indicate that upon addition of Co, the band gap is shifted toward visible wavelengths as confirmed by energy band and absorption spectrum calculations. The oxygen binding energies were determined by temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) measurements. Upon addition of Co, TPR lines shifted to lower temperatures and new features appeared in the TPR patterns. This shift was interpreted as weakening of the oxygen-cobalt bond strength. The change in the electronic structure by the alterations of oxygen vacancy formation energy and bond lengths upon Co insertion is determined by DFT calculations.

Xue Huang,1,&ast; Yukun Zhang,1,&ast; Du He,1 Lin Lai,1 Jun Chen,1 Tao Zhang,2 Huilin Mao2 1Department of Medical Oncology, Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture Central Hospital, Enshi, 445000, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Pediatric Surgery, Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture Central Hospital, Enshi, 445000, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Tao Zhang, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture Central Hospital, No. 158 Wuyang Avenue, Enshi, People’s Republic of China, Email taozhang870214@163.com Huilin Mao, Enshi Tujia, and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Enshi, Hubei Province, 445000, People’s Republic of China, Email maohuilin2022@163.comPurpose: Although many factors determine the prognosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), cervical lymph node metastasis (CLNM) is one of the most terrible factors. In view of this, this study aimed to build a CLNM prediction model for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) with the help of machine learning algorithm.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 387 PTMC patients hospitalized in the Department of Medical Oncology, Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture Central Hospital from January 1, 2015, to January 31, 2022. Based on supervised learning algorithms, namely random forest classifier (RFC), artificial neural network(ANN), support vector machine(SVM), decision tree(DT), and extreme gradient boosting gradient(XGboost) algorithm, the LNM prediction model was constructed, and the prediction efficiency of ML-based model was evaluated via receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC) and decision curve analysis(DCA).Results: Finally, a total of 24 baseline variables were included in the supervised learning algorithm. According to the iterative analysis results, the pulsatility index(PI), resistance index(RI), peak systolic blood flow velocity(PSBV), systolic acceleration time(SAT), and shear wave elastography elastic index(SWEEI), such as average value(Emean), maximum value(Emax), and minimum value(Emix) were candidate predictors. Among the five supervised learning models, RFC had the strongest prediction efficiency with area under curve(AUC) of 0.889 (95% CI: 0.838– 0.940) and 0.878 (95% CI: 0.821– 0.935) in the training set and testing set, respectively. While ANN, DT, SVM and XGboost had prediction efficiency between 0.767 (95% CI: 0.716– 0.818) and 0.854 (95% CI: 0.803– 0.905) in the training set, and ranged from 0.762 (95% CI: 0.705– 0.819) to 0.861 (95% CI: 0.804– 0.918) in the testing set.Conclusion: We have successfully constructed an ML-based prediction model, which can accurately classify the LNM risk of patients with PTMC. In particular, the RFC model can help tailor clinical decisions of treatment and surveillance.Keywords: papillary thyroid microcarcinoma, cervical lymph node metastasis, shear wave elastography elastic index, machine learning algorithm, prediction model

Caihua Wu,1 Yongmin Liu,2 Kexing Wan,2 Yuye Lan,2 Min Jia,3 Lixue Lin,4 Shan Gao,1 Ke Chen,1 Jinmei Yang,1 Hui-Lin Pan,5 Man Li,2 Hongrong Mao1 1Department of Acupuncture, Wuhan First Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430030, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic medicine, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430030, People’s Republic of China; 3Clinical Laboratories, Wuhan First Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430030, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Rehabilitation, Wuhan First Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430030, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USACorrespondence: Hongrong Mao, Department of Acupuncture, Wuhan First Hospital, 215 Zhongshan Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430030, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-13277912052, Email 1838269751@qq.comPurpose: The ultrapotent transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) agonist resiniferatoxin (RTX) induces small-fiber sensory neuropathy, which has been widely used model of postherpetic neuralgia to study mechanisms of neuropathic pain and new analgesics. The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and mRNA expression profiles in spinal dorsal horn tissues of rats six weeks after RTX injection to identify new RNAs related to neuropathic pain.Methods: Microarray technology was applied to determine lncRNA expressions in spinal dorsal horn samples of adult rats 6 weeks after treatment with RTX or vehicle. The lncNA/mRNA co-expression network was constructed, and differential expression patterns of lncRNA and mRNA in RTX-treated rats were identified. Differential expressions of lncRNAs and mRNAs between RTX-treated samples and control samples were examined by RT-qPCR.Results: Microarray analyses showed that 745 mRNA and 139 lncRNAs were upregulated, whereas 590 mRNA and 140 lncRNAs were downregulated in spinal dorsal horn tissues after RTX exposure. TargetScan was used to predict mRNA targets for these lncRNAs, which showed that the transcripts with multiple predicted target sites were related to neurologically important pathways. In addition, differential expressions of lncRNA (ENSRNOG00000022535, ENSRNOG00000042027, NR_027478, NR_030675) and Apobec3b mRNA in spinal cord tissue samples were validated, which confirmed the microarray data. The association between NR_030675 and Apobec3b levels was confirmed, which may be related to neuropathic pain.Conclusion: Our study reveals lncRNA and mRNA of molecule targets that are enriched in the spinal cord dorsal horn and provides new information for further investigation on the mechanisms and therapeutics of neuropathic pain.Keywords: postherpetic neuralgia, lncRNAs, microarray, spinal dorsal horn

Jingying Wang, Yinghao Pan, Guangmin Wei, Hanxiao Mao, Rulan Liu, Xia Xiong, Jixiang Xu, Yuanmin He Department of Dermatology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Yuanmin He, Department of Dermatology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, No. 25 of Taiping Road, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, People’s Republic of China, Email heym88@163.comAbstract: Most patients are anxious about the skin lesions on the penis. This study reports a case of lichen nitidus on the penis and reviews related literature. A 40-year-old male has presented with small papules with skin color on the penis for one year. The patient was diagnosed with lichen nitidus, and tacrolimus cream and humectant were topically administered after diagnosis. The symptoms were alleviated after treatment. We first report a series of the cases with lichen nitidus on the penis, knowing the clinical and pathological manifestations of this disease can reduce misdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment.Keywords: Lichen nitidus, penis, pathological feature, treatment, prognosis

Xueyao Huang,1,2 Xuan Wei,1 Sijing Qiao,1,2 Xue Zhang,1,2 Rui Li,1 Shunxue Hu,3 Hongluan Mao,1,2 Peishu Liu1,2 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, People’s Republic of China; 2Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Pathology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Peishu Liu; Hongluan MaoDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, No. 107 Wen Hua Xi Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +8618560081988; Tel +8618560082027Email peishuliu@126.com; hongluanmao@126.comPurpose: The efficacy of post-surgery platinum-based chemotherapy, the primary choice for the treatment of ovarian cancer (OC), is greatly reduced by the development of drug-resistance. In this study, we investigated the association of expression low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR), two cholesterol metabolism-related proteins, in OC tissues and chemoresistance and patient prognosis.Methods: Survival analysis using LDLR and HMGCR expression in the ovarian cancer patients using the dataset of Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) was carried out online. A retrospective study was performed on 65 patients who had undergone surgery for ovarian cancer. In addition, patients were divided into 2 groups: platinum resistance group and platinum sensitivity group. Serum lipid metabolism data were collected and analyzed. Protein expressions of LDLR and HMGCR in ovarian cancer tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry.Results: Online survival analysis showed that patients with higher LDLR expression had poorer prognosis than those with lower LDLR expression in ovarian cancer cells, while a higher HMGCR expression was associated with better OC prognosis. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were lower in patients with higher LDLR levels (OS: P=0.046, DFS: P=0.009). Platinum-resistant patients had higher levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and cholesterol in serum as compared with platinum-sensitive patients (P< 0.001). Immunohistochemistry showed that LDLR expression was high and HMGCR was low in platinum-resistant patients.Conclusion: The expression of LDLR and HMGCR proteins, involved in the regulation of cholesterol metabolism and the plasma LDL and cholesterol levels were significantly different in platinum-resistant and platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer patients. We postulate that cholesterol metabolic reprogramming might play a role in platinum resistance in ovarian cancer.Keywords: LDLR, HMGCR, ovarian cancer, platinum resistance, cholesterol metabolism

Xue Zhang,1– 3 Xuan Wei,1– 3 Gaigai Bai,1– 3 Xueyao Huang,1– 3 Shunxue Hu,4 Hongluan Mao,1– 3 Peishu Liu1– 3 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People’s Republic of China; 2Key Laboratory of Gynecology Oncology of Shandong Province, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People’s Republic of China; 3Shandong Engineering Laboratory for Urogynecology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Pathology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Hongluan Mao; Peishu LiuDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, 107 Wenhua Xi Road, Jinan, Shandong, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail hongluanmao@126.com; peishuliu@126.comPurpose: Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy. Resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy affects the overall survival of patients. This study used an integrated bioinformatics to find the poorly understood molecular mechanisms underlying platinum resistance in ovarian cancer.Methods: Based on the RNA-seq data of tissues in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and RNA-seq data of cells from the Cancer Cell Encyclopedia (CCLE), we integrated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in ovarian cancer tissue and cells. After screening for DEGs related to platinum resistance, we conducted survival analysis and built protein interaction networks to identify genes that may affect prognosis and interact with each other. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) regression analysis was used to construct a predictive model. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to validate the results. Finally, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed on the expression of genes individually.Results: We found that ATPase Na+/K+ transporting subunit alpha 2 (ATP1A2), calsequestrin 2 (CASQ2) and ryanodine receptor 2 (RYR2) interacted with each other and could predict resistance to platinum-based therapy, correlating negatively with prognosis. Moreover, we constructed a predictive model based on nine genes, including ATP1A2 and CASQ2. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot validated the upregulation of these genes in ovarian cancer tissue samples and cell lines. The immunohistochemistry results also confirmed the prognostic value of ATP1A2, CASQ2 and RYR2. GSEA predicted that ATP1A2, CASQ2 and RYR2 may act on the KRAS and mTORC1 pathways and participate in metabolic reprogramming and regulation of calcium homeostasis in platinum-resistant cells.Conclusion: ATP1A2, CASQ2 and RYR2 were highly expressed in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. ATP1A2 and CASQ2 were related to the prognosis of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer patients. These genes might act on KARS and mTORC1 pathways and participate in metabolic reprogramming and regulation of calcium homeostasis in platinum-resistant cells.Keywords: ovarian cancer, platinum resistance, prognosis, metabolic reprogramming, calcium homeostasis

Litong Qi,1 Qiuling Zhang,2 Zeqi Zheng,3 Zhaohui Pei,4 Hong Mao,5 Tingbo Jiang,6 Dmitri Kazei,7 Elke Kahler,8 Yong Huo1 1Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, 100034, People’s Republic of China; 2The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang, 310015, People’s Republic of China; 3The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi, 330000, People’s Republic of China; 4The Third Hospital of Nanchang, Nanchang City, Jiangxi, 330000, People’s Republic of China; 5The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Wuhan City, Hubei, 430014, People’s Republic of China; 6The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou City, Jiangsu, 215006, People’s Republic of China; 7Abbott Healthcare Products BV, Weesp, 1381 CT, The Netherlands; 8Abbott Laboratories GmbH, Hannover, 30173, GermanyCorrespondence: Yong HuoDepartment of Cardiology, Peking University First Hospital, No. 8 Xishiku St. Xicheng District, Beijing, 100034, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 139 01333060Email huoyong@263.net.cnIntroduction: The lipid-modifying potential of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in Chinese patients is under-researched. We conducted a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group study of twice-daily treatment with OMACOR (OM3EE), a prescription-only formulation of highly purified ethyl esters of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in Chinese adult patients (≥ 18 years) who had elevated baseline fasting serum triglycerides (TG).Methods: Patients were stratified according to the severity of their hypertriglyceridemia (severe HTG, with baseline TG ≥ 500 and < 1000 mg/dL or moderate HTG, with baseline TG > 200 and < 500 mg/dL) or use of statins. Patients randomized to OM3EE therapy received 2 g/day for 4 weeks, then 4 g/day for 8 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint was the percentage change in fasting serum TG between baseline and the end of treatment in patients with severe HTG. The study was concluded after a planned interim analysis demonstrated a significant TG-lowering effect of OM3EE in that contingent (p=0.0019).Results: The mean TG end-of-treatment effect of OM3EE was – 29.46% (standard deviation 40.60%) in the severe HTG contingent compared with +0.26% (standard deviation 54.68%) in the placebo group. Corresponding changes were – 12.12% and – 23.25% in the moderate HTG and combination cohorts (vs +55.45% and +6.24% in relevant placebo groups). A dose-dependent reduction in TG was evident in all patient contingents. Safety and tolerability of OM3EE were in line with previous experience.Discussion: These data indicate that OMACOR therapy at a dose of 2– 4 g/day is an effective treatment for Chinese patients with raised TG levels and is well tolerated.Keywords: omega-3 PUFAs, hypertriglyceridemia, triglycerides, clinical trial, China, statin

Shuyuan Liu,1,2,&ast; Ling Xing,1,3,&ast; Qian Wang,4 Tianyu Xin,2 Handing Mao,1 Ye Tao,5 Jinbao Zhao,2 Xin Li,4 Cong Li,1 Qinghua Li,6 Yan Dou,7 Yixin Li,8 Wei Zhang,9 Bo Ning,10 Qing Song1 1Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 2Emergency Department, Sixth Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Emergency, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 4Emergency Department, Third Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 5Health Care Department, Beijing Huangsi Aesthetic Surgery Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 6Department of Intensive Care Unit, The 990th Hospital of Chinese PLA, Zhumadian, People’s Republic of China; 7Department of Intensive Care Unit, The 909th Hospital of Chinese PLA, Zhangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 8Department of Intensive Care Unit, The 910th Hospital of Chinese PLA, Quanzhou, People’s Republic of China; 9Emergency Department, The 900th Hospital of Chinese PLA, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China; 10Department of Intensive Care Unit, Air Force Medical Center of China, Beijing, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Bo NingDepartment of Intensive Care Unit, Air Force Medical Center of China, Beijing, 100142, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 15611161110Fax +86 1068410099Email boningbn@163.comQing SongMedical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, 100853, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 13911374534Fax +86 1068182255Email songqing_sq87@163.comObjective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the factors involved in the early stage of exertional heat stroke (EHS) that are associated with mortality.Methods: In this retrospective, case-control study, patients from 11 tertiary medical centers in China were enrolled from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2019. Demographic information, underlying diseases, ambient temperature, and relative humidity, clinical manifestations, initial body temperature, time from onset to diagnosis of EHS (including suspected), and the duration of body temperature > 38°C of all enrolled patients were recorded. The occurrence of organ dysfunction within 72 h was evaluated, and in-hospital deaths were recorded. The patients were subsequently divided into a survival group and a non-survival group. The “case” refers to patients in the non-survival group, while the “control” refers to patients without death.Results: Of the 214 hospitalized patients with EHS, 183 survived and 31 died, and the overall mortality was 14.49% (31/214). A binary logistic regression showed that only the duration of body temperature > 38°C (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.34– 2.42) and the number of organs damaged within 72 h of onset (OR 6.54, 95% CI 2.31– 18.56) were statistically significant in terms of risk of death in hospital (p < 0.05). A goodness of fit test produced a p-value of 0.76. According to receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis, the areas under the curve (AUC) were 0.989 (95% CI 0.978– 1.000; p < 0.05) and 0.936 (95% CI 0.896– 0.976; p < 0.05).Conclusion: Of the various factors involved in the early stage of the disease, the duration of high body temperature and the number of organs damaged within 72 h of onset were independent risk factors and predictors associated with death.Keywords: heat stroke, exertional, cooling, mortality

One of the most robust methods, demonstrated to date, of accelerating electron beams by laser-plasma sources is the utilization of plasma channels generated by the capillary discharges. Although the spatial structure of the installation is simple in principle, there may be some important effects caused by the open ends of the capillary, by the supplying channels etc., which require a detailed 3D modeling of the processes. In the present work, such simulations are performed using the code MARPLE. First, the process of capillary filling with cold hydrogen before the discharge is fired, through the side supply channels is simulated. Second, the simulation of the capillary discharge is performed with the goal to obtain a time-dependent spatial distribution of the electron density near the open ends of the capillary as well as inside the capillary. Finally, to evaluate the effectiveness of the beam coupling with the channeling plasma wave guide and of the electron acceleration, modeling of the laser-plasma interaction was performed with the code INF&RNO.

Control of the properties of laser-plasma-accelerated electron beams that were injected along a shock-induced density downramp through precision tailoring of the density profile was demonstrated using a 1.8 J, 45 fs laser interacting with a mm-scale gas jet. The effects on the beam spatial profile, steering, and absolute energy spread of the density region before the shock and tilt of the shock were investigated experimentally and with particle-in-cell simulations. By adjusting these density parameters, the electron beam quality was controlled and improved while the energy (30-180 MeV) and energy spread (2-11 MeV) were independently tuned. Simple models that are in good agreement with the experimental results are proposed to explain these relationships, advancing the understanding of downramp injection. This technique allows for high-quality electron beams with percent-level energy spread to be tailored based on the application.

In this paper, β-Ga2O3 thin films were grown on a p-Si substrate using the sol-gel method. Structural characterization of the films was performed using X-ray diffraction. Electrical parameters such as breakdown field, interface traps density (Dit), and series resistance (Rs) were investigated at room temperature. The interface trap density was found to be 1012 eV-1 cm-2 using the Hill-Coleman method. This result is valuable for MOS capacitor applications. Dielectric parameters were investigated in the wide frequency range (20 kHz-1 MHz) at room temperature. We observed that these parameters have a strong dependence on frequency and voltage.

An in situ diagnostic for verifying the spectral phase of an intense laser pulse at focus is presented. This diagnostic relies on measuring the effect of optical compression on ionization-induced blueshifting of the laser spectrum. Experimental results from the Berkeley Lab Laser Accelerator, a laser source rigorously characterized by conventional techniques, are presented and compared with simulations to illustrate the utility of this technique. These simulations show distinguishable effects from second-, third-, and fourth-order spectral phase.