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Abstract Background To analyze the impact of the time of natural cessation of the umbilical cord on maternal and infant outcomes in order to explore the time of clamping that would be beneficial to maternal and infant outcomes. Methods The study was a cohort study and pregnant women who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Qilu Hospital of Shandong University from September 2020 to September 2021. Analysis using Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test, Pearson’s Chi-squared test, generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) and repeated measures ANOVA. If the difference between groups was statistically significant, the Bonferroni test was then performed. A two-sided test of P 0.05). The weight of the newborns in the three groups was (3316.27 ± 356.70) g, (3387.26 ± 379.20) g, and (3455.52 ± 363.78) g, respectively, and the number of days of cord detachment was 12.00 (8.00, 15.75) days, 10.00 (7.00, 15.00) days and 9.00 (7.00, 13.00) days, respectively, as the time of natural cessation of the cord increased. The neonatal lymphocyte ratio, erythrocyte pressure, and hemoglobin reached a maximum in the 61–89 s group at (7.41 ± 2.16) %, (61.77 ± 8.17) % and (194.52 ± 25.84) g/L, respectively. Lower incidence of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in the 61–89 s group compared to the ≥90s group 0 vs 4.8 (P

Abstract Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious traumatic disease of the central nervous system and leads to incomplete or complete loss of the body’s autonomous motor and sensory functions, seriously endangering human health. Recently, exosomes have been proposed as important substances in cell-to-cell interactions. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived exosomes exert good therapeutic effects and play a crucial role in neurological damage repair. However, the detailed mechanisms underlying their effects remain unknown. Herein, we found that compared to SCI rats, those subjected to umbilical cord MSC (UC-MSC)-derived exosomes injection showed an improved motor ability. Nevertheless, the transcriptome of BV2 microglia in different treatment groups indicated that the action pathway of exosomes might be the NF-κB/MAPK pathway. Additionally, exosomes from UC-MSCs could inhibit P38, JNK, ERK, and P65 phosphorylation in BV2 microglia and SCI rat tissues. Moreover, exosomes could inhibit apoptosis and inflammatory reaction and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production of BV2 microglia in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, UC-MSCs-derived exosomes might protect SCI in rats by inhibiting inflammatory response via the NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathway, representing novel treatment targets or approaches for SCI.

Abstract Background This case report documents a case of malignant pheochromocytoma manifested as vision changes with lung metastasis and recurrence. Case presentation A 10-year-old Han Chinese girl presented with vision changes and was eventually diagnosed with pheochromocytoma by contrast-enhanced computed tomography, urine vanillylmandelic acid. After medication for hypertension and surgery, clinical symptoms disappeared. Malignant pheochromocytoma with lung metastasis was confirmed histologically using the Pheochromocytoma of the Adrenal Gland Scaled Score scoring system and genetically with succinate dehydrogenase complex iron sulfur subunit B mutation, and 3 months later, unplanned surgery was performed because of the high risks and signs of recurrence. She is asymptomatic as of the writing of this case report. Our patient’s case highlights the importance of considering a diagnosis of malignant pheochromocytoma, and long-term follow-up for possible recurrence. Conclusion Although there are well-recognized classic clinical manifestations associated with pheochromocytoma, atypical presentation, such as vision changes in children, should be considered. In addition, malignant pheochromocytoma children with a high Pheochromocytoma of the Adrenal Gland Scaled Score and succinate dehydrogenase complex iron sulfur subunit B mutation require a long-term follow-up or even unplanned surgery because of the higher risk of recurrence.

Water-soluble lignin-carbohydrate complex (LCC) rich in polysaccharides exhibits benign in vitro antioxidant activities and distinguishes high biocompatibility from lignin-rich LCC and lignin. However, the antioxidant activity of water-soluble LCCs remains to be improved and its structure-antioxidant relationship is still uncertain. Herein, structurally diversified water-soluble LCCs were isolated under different ball-milling pretreatment durations (4, 6, 8 h), extraction pathways (homogeneous and heterogeneous), and isolation routines (water extracts and residues after water extraction). Their structures were characterized by wet chemistry, chromatography and spectroscopies. Antioxidant activities were evaluated by ferric reducing antioxidant power and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals scavenging rate (RDPPH). Results show that altering ball-milling duration and isolation procedures cause varied structures and antioxidant activities of the water-soluble LCCs. Specifically, prolonging ball-milling duration to 8 hours and homogeneous extraction can enhance their antioxidant activity through releasing more phenolic structures and promoting the extraction of high-molecular-weight LCCs via reducing mass-transfer resistance, respectively. As a result, the RDPPH of water-soluble LCCs reaches up to 97.35%, which is associated with the arabinan content with statistical significance (P < 0.05). This study provides new insights into the structure-antioxidation relationship of herbaceous LCC as potential antioxidants.

Abstract How cells coordinate cell cycling with cell survival and death remains incompletely understood. Here, we show that cell cycle arrest has a potent suppressive effect on ferroptosis, a form of regulated cell death induced by overwhelming lipid peroxidation at cellular membranes. Mechanistically, cell cycle arrest induces diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT)–dependent lipid droplet formation to sequester excessive polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that accumulate in arrested cells in triacylglycerols (TAGs), resulting in ferroptosis suppression. Consequently, DGAT inhibition orchestrates a reshuffling of PUFAs from TAGs to phospholipids and re-sensitizes arrested cells to ferroptosis. We show that some slow-cycling antimitotic drug–resistant cancer cells, such as 5-fluorouracil–resistant cells, have accumulation of lipid droplets and that combined treatment with ferroptosis inducers and DGAT inhibitors effectively suppresses the growth of 5-fluorouracil–resistant tumors by inducing ferroptosis. Together, these results reveal a role for cell cycle arrest in driving ferroptosis resistance and suggest a ferroptosis-inducing therapeutic strategy to target slow-cycling therapy-resistant cancers.

ObjectThe aim of the study was to investigate the safety, effectiveness, and peripheral nerve protection in ultrasound-guided microwave ablation (US-guided-MWA) for vascular malformations (VMs) closely related to peripheral nerve.Materials and methodsFrom August 2019 to February 2022, 31 patients with 39 VMs received US-guided-MWA. All lesions were confirmed to be closely related to the peripheral nerve by imaging evaluation. Hydrodissection was applied to protect surrounding normal tissue, including peripheral nerves. The patients were followed up at 1day, 2 days, 3 days, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months after operation. Measurements of lesion volume, volume reduction ratio (VRR), sensory and functional abnormalities of adjacent nerves, number of treatments, complication details, personal satisfaction, recurrence, and symptom improvement were recorded.ResultsAmong the 39 VMs, the maximum volume is 128.58ml, while the minimum volume is 0.99ml. After a mean follow-up of 13.06 ± 4.83 months, the mean numerical rating scale (NRS) score decreased from 5.13 ± 1.65 to 0.53 ± 0.83 (P

Background: Endometrial cancer (EC) is the leading gynecological cancer worldwide, yet current EC screening approaches are not satisfying. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the feasibility and capability of DNA methylation analysis in cervical Papanicolaou (Pap) brush samples for EC detection. Methods: We used quantitative methylation-sensitive PCR (qMS-PCR) to determine the methylation status of candidate genes in EC tissue samples, as well as cervical Pap brushes. The ability of RASSF1A and HIST1H4F to serve as diagnostic markers for EC was then examined in cervical Pap brush samples from women with endometrial lesions of varying degrees of severity. Results: Methylated RASSF1A and HIST1H4F were found in EC tissues. Further, methylation of the two genes was also observed in cervical Pap smear samples from EC patients. Methylation levels of RASSF1A and HIST1H4F increased as endometrial lesions progressed, and cervical Pap brush samples from women affected by EC exhibited significantly higher levels of methylated RASSF1A and HIST1H4F compared to noncancerous controls ( P

Abstract Background An international pandemic of severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. A large number of patients with chest trauma were infected with COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the management of chest trauma. Objective The present observational study was conducted to evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of chest trauma patients with or without COVID-19 infection. Methods A multicenter observational study was performed at three Chinese hospitals between November 1, 2022, and January 31, 2023. All enrolled patients were diagnosed with chest trauma. We analyzed data from existing medical records, including all baseline data and prognostic follow-up data, such as 30-day mortality, hospital stays, hospitalization costs, and complications. Results All 375 eligible patients completed the follow-up. There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics between chest trauma combined with COVID-19 (p > 0.05). Chest trauma combined with COVID-19 infection may lead to higher 30-day mortality (16.36% vs. 7.14%, p = 0.005), longer hospital stays (22.5 ± 5.9 vs. 12.8 ± 4.2, p

In order to find culturable bacteria resources and antibacterial activity strain in the rhizosphere soil of mangrove plants from the Maowei Sea, the rhizosphere soil of five mangrove plants(Rhizophora stylosa, Talipariti tiliaceum, Sonneratia apetala, Aegiceras corniculatum, and Pluchea indica) was cultured by enrichment media and then isolated the culturable bacteria. The culturable bacteria were purified by six different isolation media. The diversity of culturable bacteria was analyzed by the 16S rRNA gene sequence information. Antimicrobial activities (Staphylococcus epidermidis, methicillin-resistant S. aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) of the culturable bacteria were analyzed by disk diffusion method. The results were as follows: (1) A total of 120 strains were isolated from seven rhizosphere soil samples of mangrove plants which could be classified into 35 families and 47 genera, among which five potential new species were obtained. The dominant genus was Streptomyces (14.2%). (2) It was found that the crude extracts of nine strains had antibacterial activity against at least one pathogen. The results indicate that there are abundant culturable bacteria and potential new antibiotics resources in the mangrove rhizosphere soils from the Maowei Sea.

Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. is an essential spice and medicinal plant in China. Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. has a distinct bitterness due to 7-methoxylcoumarin. The bitterness of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. restricted the development and utilization of its products. This study aimed to explore the masking effect and mechanism of whey protein isolate on the bitterness of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim.. The masking mechanism of the bitterness of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. by whey protein isolate was investigated using the method of sensory evaluation, electronic tongue and molecular docking technique with Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. oleoresin as the matrix. The results indicated that whey protein isolate could significantly mask the bitterness of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. oleoresin. Furthermore, there was a mass concentration-effect relationship between bitterness reduction values of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. oleoresin and the additive amount of whey protein isolate. When the dosage of whey protein isolate was 1.00% and the concentration of Zanthoxylum bungeanum oleoresin was 0.5%, the reduction value of ΔBI was 1.8, indicating that the bitterness masking effect was good. The molecular docking model showed that 7-methoxycoumarin and β-lactoglobulin had 20 docking conformations in cluster 2, and the lowest binding free energy was −5.90 kcal/mol. Hence, cluster 2 was the most likely binding region for their interaction. It could be concluded that whey protein isolate could mask the bitterness of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. oleoresin by binding to 7-methoxycoumarin and preventing it from binding to bitter receptors. The results may provide a reference for the taste correction of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. products.

Using density functional theory combined with the first principles calculation method of non-equilibrium Green’s function (NEGF-DFT), we studied the thermoelectric (TE) characteristics of one-dimensional γ-graphdiyne nanoribbons (γ-GDYNRs). The study found that the thermal conductivity of γ-GDYNRs has obvious anisotropy. At the same temperature and geometrical size, the lattice thermal conductivity of zigzag-edged γ-graphdiyne nanoribbons (γ-ZGDYNRs) is much lower than that of armchair-edged γ-graphdiyne nanoribbons (γ-AGDYNRs). We disclose the underlying mechanism for this intrinsic orientation. That is, γ-AGDYNRs have more phonon dispersion over the entire frequency range. Furthermore, the orientation dependence increases when the width of the γ-GDYNRs decreases. These excellent TE properties allow armchair-edged γ-graphdiyne nanoribbons with a planar width of 1.639 nm (γ-Z(2)GDYNRs) to have a higher power factor and lower thermal conductivity, ultimately resulting in a significantly higher TE conversion rate than other γ-GDYNR structures.

Astragalus membranaceus saponins are the main components of A. membranaceus, a plant widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. Recently, research on the anti-cancer effects of A. membranaceus saponins has received increasing attention. Numerous in vitro and in vivo experimental data indicate that A. membranaceus saponins exhibit significant anti-cancer effects through multiple mechanisms, especially in inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and induction of apoptosis, etc. This review compiles relevant studies on the anti-cancer properties of A. membranaceus saponins from various databases over the past two decades. It introduces the mechanism of action of astragalosides, highlighting their therapeutic benefits in the management of cancer. Finally, the urgent problems in the research process are highlighted to promote A. membranaceus saponins as an effective drug against cancer.

In this study, to better understand the reaction mechanism between inorganic salts and nitrocellulose, CaCO3 and Li2CO3 were evaluated with respect to their effects on the thermal degradation of NC in nitrogen atmosphere using TG/DSC at three different heating rates (2, 5, 10 K/min). The numerical relationship between activation energy (E) and conversion rate was obtained by FWO and KAS method, and it was discovered that CaCO3 could improve the thermal stability of NC. Activation energy values were calculated by Kissinger method, and it was found that NC that contain Li2CO3 had the highest activation energy while NC containing CaCO3 had the lowest E value. By combining the thermal analysis data with Malek method, the most probable mechanism model of thermal degradation is obtained as Šesták-Berggren model, which expression is f(α) = αm (1 - α)n. As a result of this study, there are certain guiding principles that can be applied to the pyrolysis reaction model and to the actual production process of nitrocellulose.

Basilepta melanopus is a pest that severely affects oil tea plants, and the Notch signaling pathway plays a significant role in the early development of insect ovaries. In this study, we explored the function of the notch gene within the Notch signaling pathway in the reproductive system of B. melanopus. The functional domains and expression patterns of Bmnotch were analyzed. Bmnotch contains 45 epidermal growth factor-like (EGF-like) domains, one negative regulatory region, one NODP domain and one repeat-containing domain superfamily. The qPCR reveals heightened expression in early developmental stages and specific tissues like the head and ovaries. The RNA interference (RNAi)-based suppression of notch decreased its expression by 52.1%, exhibiting heightened sensitivity to dsNotch at lower concentrations. Phenotypic and mating experiments have demonstrated that dsNotch significantly impairs ovarian development, leading to reduced mating frequencies and egg production. This decline underscores the Notch pathway’s crucial role in fecundity. The findings advocate for RNAi-based, Notch-targeted pest control as an effective and sustainable strategy for managing B. melanopus populations, signifying a significant advancement in forest pest control endeavors.

Gypsophila huashanensis Y. W. Tsui & D. Q. Lu (Caryophyllaceae) is an endemic herb species to the Qinling Mountains in China. In this study, we characterized its whole plastid genome using the Illumina sequencing platform. The complete plastid genome of G. huashanensis is 152,457 bp in length, including a large single-copy DNA region of 83,476 bp, a small single-copy DNA region of 17,345 bp, and a pair of inverted repeat DNA sequences of 25,818 bp. The genome contains 130 genes comprising 85 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. Evolutionary analysis showed that the non-coding regions of Caryophyllaceae exhibit a higher level of divergence than the exon regions. Gene site selection analysis suggested that 11 coding protein genes (accD, atpF, ndhA, ndhB, petB, petD, rpoCl, rpoC2, rps16, ycfl, and ycf2) have some sites under protein sequence evolution. Phylogenetic analysis showed that G. huashanensis is most closely related to the congeneric species G. oldhamiana. These results are very useful for studying phylogenetic evolution and species divergence in the family Caryophyllaceae.

Abstract Introduction Multiple rib fractures (≥ 3 displaced rib fractures and/or flail chest) are severe chest trauma with high morbidity and mortality. Rib fixation has become the first choice for multiple rib fracture treatment. However, the timing of surgical rib fixation is unclear. Materials and methods The present study explored whether early rib fracture fixation can improve the outcome of multiple rib fractures. The present research included patients who were hospitalized in three Jiangsu hospitals following diagnosis with multiple rib fractures. Patients received early rib fracture fixation (≤ 48 h) or delayed rib fracture fixation (> 48 h) utilizing computer-based random sequencing (in a 1:1 ratio). The primary outcome measures included hospital length of stay, intensive care unit (ICU) stay, mechanical ventilation, inflammatory cytokine levels, infection marker levels, infection, and mortality. Results A total of 403 individuals were classified into two groups, namely, the early group (n = 201) and the delayed group (n = 202). Patients belonging to the two groups had similar baseline clinical data, and there were no statistically significant differences between them. Early rib fracture fixation greatly decreased the length of stay in the ICU (4.63 days vs. 6.72 days, p

Summary: Wood, with its inherent hierarchical structure, presents opportunities for creating eco-friendly and cost-effective alternatives to petroleum-based plastics. We introduced a top-down and polymer-free method for engineering natural balsa wood into transparent wood film, demonstrating its potential use in food packaging windows. The wood was delignified and then proceeded with 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy oxidation to soften the wood structure and introduce carboxyl groups. A robust and transparent wood film was produced by drying the wood under ambient condition without the need for additional polymers or mechanical force. Curcumin was also integrated into the wood using vacuum impregnation. The functionalized wood film with curcumin (WFC) exhibited a distinguishable redness shift in alkaline conditions. We then applied the WFC as an intelligent food packaging window to sense the freshness of shrimp based on the pH-responsive color change. This study provides a simple and scalable approach for developing sustainable and smart food packaging using wood.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a severe complication of diabetes mellitus, posing significant challenges in terms of early prevention, clinical diagnosis, and treatment. Consequently, it has emerged as a major contributor to end-stage renal disease. The glomerular filtration barrier, composed of podocytes, endothelial cells, and the glomerular basement membrane, plays a vital role in maintaining renal function. Disruptions in podocyte function, including hypertrophy, shedding, reduced density, and apoptosis, can impair the integrity of the glomerular filtration barrier, resulting in elevated proteinuria, abnormal glomerular filtration rate, and increased creatinine levels. Hence, recent research has increasingly focused on the role of podocyte injury in DN, with a growing emphasis on exploring therapeutic interventions targeting podocyte injury. Studies have revealed that factors such as lipotoxicity, hemodynamic abnormalities, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and impaired autophagy can contribute to podocyte injury. This review aims to summarize the underlying mechanisms of podocyte injury in DN and provide an overview of the current research status regarding experimental drugs targeting podocyte injury in DN. The findings presented herein may offer potential therapeutic targets and strategies for the management of DN associated with podocyte injury.

The laser safety of small and medium-sized flying units, exemplified by missiles, is crucial for ensuring their operational stability. In this regard, the response process of an encased propellant system comprising PBT propellant, stainless steel shell, and thermal insulation layer (EPDM) was meticulously captured during laser irradiation. The temperature distribution within the shell and insulation layer was determined through high-speed infrared thermography and finite element calculation. Results show that at a laser heat flux density of 2100 W/cm2, when the contact surface of the propellant reaches its ignition temperature, introducing a 1 mm insulation layer allows dissipation of 48.6-60.1% of the heat in the 0.5-1.6 mm shell beyond the laser irradiation range, significantly higher than the 3.1-12.2% observed without thermal insulation. Simultaneously, the ignition delay time increases from 0.45-0.75 s to 1.31-14.46 s. Theoretical calculations and experimental results confirm that replacing a portion of the shell with a thermal insulation layer achieves a lower heating rate of propellant with a thinner overall thickness, resulting in a longer ignition delay time. These findings have practical implications for enhancing the resistance of thin-shell targets, like rocket engines, against laser weapon interception.

Lignocellulose recalcitrance hampers its utilization for the production of biofuels and biosourced chemicals. Here, the authors reveal that the amorphous cellulose is the breakpoint of interact microfibrils and propose OsFC16/CESA9 as the engineering target to increase saccharification ability.

[INLINE:1] Dendrites play irreplaceable roles in the nerve conduction pathway and are vulnerable to various insults. Peripheral axotomy of motor neurons results in the retraction of dendritic arbors, and the dendritic arbor can be re-expanded when reinnervation is allowed. RhoA is a target that regulates the cytoskeleton and promotes neuronal survival and axon regeneration. However, the role of RhoA in dendrite degeneration and regeneration is unknown. In this study, we explored the potential role of RhoA in dendrites. A line of motor neuronal RhoA conditional knockout mice was developed by crossbreeding HB9Cre+ mice with RhoAflox/flox mice. We established two models for assaying dendrite degeneration and regeneration, in which the brachial plexus was transection or crush injured, respectively. We found that at 28 days after brachial plexus transection, the density, complexity, and structural integrity of dendrites in the ventral horn of the spinal cord of RhoA conditional knockout mice were slightly decreased compared with that in Cre mice. Dendrites underwent degeneration at 7 and 14 days after brachial plexus transection and recovered at 28–56 days. The density, complexity, and structural integrity of dendrites in the ventral horn of the spinal cord of RhoA conditional knockout mice recovered compared with results in Cre mice. These findings suggest that RhoA knockout in motor neurons attenuates dendrite degeneration and promotes dendrite regeneration after peripheral nerve injury.

In this article, the wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) technology is applied to the space chaotic laser communication system. We deduce the bit error rate (BER) model of multi-channel space chaotic laser communication with Doppler frequency shift. Based on the BER model, the effect of Doppler frequency shift on the performance of four-channel space chaotic laser communication systems on the synchronous orbit(GEO)-low earth orbit(LEO) and GEO-mid earth orbit(MEO) has been discussed in detail. The numerical simulation results indicate that the effect of Doppler frequency shift on GEO-LEO system is much less than GEO-MEO system. Therefore, the Doppler frequency shift effect of GEO-LEO system can be overcome by redundant design, and the Doppler frequency shift effect of GEO-MEO system must be paid more attention to the optimum design. Besides, the relationship between the performance of communication system and frequency shift under different channels are similar. The result has an important implication for reducing the complexity of the system design. These results of the article are significant for the design of the four-channel space chaotic laser communication system.