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Background: Multimodal analgesia plays a key role in enhanced recovery after surgery. Herein, we describe a trial protocol investigating the effects of oxycodone-vs. sufentanil-based patient-controlled analgesia in combination with quadratus lumborum block (QLB) vs. transverse abdominis plane block (TAPB) on quality of recovery following major laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery. Methods: and analysis: This is a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial with a 2 × 2 factorial design. A total of 120 adult patients undergoing laparoscopic major gastrointestinal surgery will be randomized, in a 1:1:1:1 ratio, to receive one of two patient-controlled analgesia regimens (based on oxycodone or sufentanil) and one of two regional blocks (QLB or TAPB). The primary outcome measure of this trial is the quality of recovery at 24 h after surgery, assessed using the 15-item quality of recovery (QoR-15) scale. The secondary outcomes include QoR-15 scores at 48 and 72 h after surgery; visceral and incisional pain at rest and while coughing at 1, 6, 24 and 48 h postoperatively; analgesic consumption within 0–24 h and 24–48 h postoperatively; need for rescue analgesia; postoperative flatus time; postoperative adverse events (sedation, nausea and vomiting, use of antiemetics, respiratory depression, and dizziness); and length of postoperative hospital stay. Discussion: The results of this trial will provide evidence for the optimal multimodal analgesic strategy to improve the quality of recovery for patients undergoing laparoscopic major gastrointestinal surgery. Trial registration: This trial was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (www.chictr.org.cn, identifier: ChiCTR2400080766).

Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is a measure of atherosclerosis and a well-established predictor of coronary artery disease (CAD) events. Here we describe a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of CAC in 22,400 participants from multiple ancestral groups. We confirmed associations with four known loci and identified two additional loci associated with CAC (ARSE and MMP16), with evidence of significant associations in replication analyses for both novel loci. Functional assays of ARSE and MMP16 in human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) demonstrate that ARSE is a promoter of VSMC calcification and VSMC phenotype switching from a contractile to a calcifying or osteogenic phenotype. Furthermore, we show that the association of variants near ARSE with reduced CAC is likely explained by reduced ARSE expression with the G allele of enhancer variant rs5982944. Our study highlights ARSE as an important contributor to atherosclerotic vascular calcification, and a potential drug target for vascular calcific disease.

Abstract Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) provides valuable tumor-related information without invasive biopsies, yet consensus is lacking on optimal parameters for predicting clinical outcomes. Utilizing longitudinal ctDNA data from the large phase 3 IMpower150 study (NCT02366143) of atezolizumab in combination with chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab in patients with stage IV non-squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), here we report that post-treatment ctDNA response correlates significantly with radiographic response. However, only modest concordance is identified, revealing that ctDNA response is likely not a surrogate for radiographic response; both provide distinct information. Various ctDNA metrics, especially early ctDNA nadirs, emerge as primary predictors for progression-free survival and overall survival, potentially better assessing long-term benefits for chemoimmunotherapy in NSCLC. Integrating radiographic and ctDNA assessments enhances prediction of survival outcomes. We also identify optimal cutoff values for risk stratification and key assessment timepoints, notably Weeks 6–9, for insights into clinical outcomes. Overall, our identified optimal ctDNA parameters can enhance the prediction of clinical outcomes, refine trial designs, and inform therapeutic decisions for first-line NSCLC patients.

Few studies have investigated current English-medium Instruction (EMI) programmes for international students studying in universities in China's mainland. The present study applies Spolsky's language policy framework to analyze Chinese EMI programmes in terms of language ideology, language management, and language practices on the national level, the university level and the individual level. Data are collected from policy statements, interviews, and questionnaires. This study finds that in EMI programmes for international students, language belief lays the foundation for meso-level language management. Guided by macro beliefs, meso institutions use the management tools of curriculum design, instructional staff management, and evaluation to implement EMI programmes. Language practice is influenced by and modifies beliefs and management. In practice, professional learning is prioritised, and a slight mismatch between the language support provided by the institutions and international students' actual expectations is found. This study contributes to the development and implementation of EMI in Chinese higher education.

Abstract Aims Surveys and research on the applications of the hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) are important for understanding the current status and future development of this technology in China. This article aimed to investigate the status of hepatic venous pressure gradient measurement in China in 2022. Methods We investigated the overall status of HVPG technology in China—including hospital distribution, hospital level, annual number of cases, catheters used, average cost, indications, and current challenges by using online questionnaire. By counting the number and percentages of cases of these results, we hope to clarify the current status of HVPG measurements in China. Results According to the survey, 85 hospitals in China used HVPG technology in 2022 distributed across 29 provinces. A total of 4989 HVPG measurements were performed in all of the surveyed hospitals in 2022, of which 2813 cases (56.4%) were measured alone. The average cost of HVPG measurement was 5646.8 ± 2327.9 CNY. Of the clinical teams who performed the measurements (sometimes multiple per hospital), 94.3% (82/87) used the balloon method, and the majority of the teams (72.4%, 63/87) used embolectomy catheters. Conclusions This survey clarified the clinical application status of HVPG in China and confirmed that some medical institutions in China have established a foundation for this technology. It is still necessary to continue promoting and popularizing this technology in the future.

Abstract Metabolic disorder has been found to be an important factor in the pathogenesis and progression of sepsis. However, the causation of such an association between serum metabolites and sepsis has not been established. We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study. A genome-wide association study of 486 human serum metabolites was used as the exposure, whereas sepsis and sepsis mortality within 28 days were set as the outcomes. In MR analysis, 6 serum metabolites were identified to be associated with an increased risk of sepsis, and 6 serum metabolites were found to be related to a reduced risk of sepsis. Furthermore, there were 9 metabolites positively associated with sepsis-related mortality, and 8 metabolites were negatively correlated with sepsis mortality. In addition, “glycolysis/gluconeogenesis” (p = 0.001), and “pyruvate metabolism” (p = 0.042) two metabolic pathways were associated with the incidence of sepsis. This MR study suggested that serum metabolites played significant roles in the pathogenesis of sepsis, which may provide helpful biomarkers for early disease diagnosis, therapeutic interventions, and prognostic assessments for sepsis.

Scientific knowledge about the ancestral genome of core eudicot plant kingdom can potentially have profound impacts on both basic and applied research, including evolution, genetics, genomics, ecology, agriculture, forestry, and global climate. To investigate which plant conserves best the core eudicots common ancestor genome, we compared Arcto-Tertiary relict Nyssaceae and 30 other eudicot plant families. The genomes of Davidia involucrata (a known living fossil), Camptotheca acuminata and Nyssa sinensis, one per existent genus of Nyssaceae, were performed comparative genomic analysis. We found that Nyssaceae originated from a single Nyssaceae common tetraploidization event (NCT)– autotetraploidization 28–31 Mya after the core eudicot common hexaploidization (ECH). We identified Nyssaceae orthologous and paralogous genes, determined its chromosomal evolutionary trajectory, and reconstructed the Nyssaceae most recent ancestor genome. D. involucrata genome contained the entire seven paleochromosomes and 17 ECH-generated eudicot common ancestor chromosomes and was the slowest in mutation among the analyzed 42 species of 31 plant families. Combing both its high retention of paleochromosomes and its low mutation rate, D. involucrata provides the best case in conservation of the core eudicot paleogenome.

Background and objectiveThe monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) has emerged as a novel inflammatory biomarker; however, its relationship with myocardial infarction (MI) in diabetic populations remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the association between MLR and MI prevalence in this unique population.MethodsThis cross-sectional study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2015-2018. MLR was utilized as both a continuous and categorical factor to examine its correlation with MI in individuals diagnosed with DM. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were also performed.ResultsIn this study, 1,295 individuals with DM were enrolled, among whom 148 (11.4%) were diagnosed with MI. Patients with MI showed a greater MLR. Using a smoothed curve-fitting analysis, a linear relationship was observed between MLR and MI (pfor non−linearity = 0.27). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that MLR * 10 was positively correlated with the risk of MI (OR = 1.14, 95% CI 1.01∼1.29, p = 0.041). Compared with the lowest quartile, the OR for Q2, Q3, and Q4 were 2.13 (95% CI: 1.01∼4.47), 2.95 (95% CI: 1.45∼6.00), and 2.74 (95% CI: 1.32∼5.69), respectively. Subgroup analyses showed no significant interaction for MLR in any subgroup (all P > 0.05). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve indicated that the area under the curve (AUCs) of MLR for predicting MI was 0.661 (95% CI: 0.617–0.706; P

BackgroundEmerging research suggests the relationship between the oral microbiome and sleep duration with depression, however, the precise mechanisms by which oral microbial diversity influences the sleep-depression nexus remain to be elucidated.MethodsWe analyzed data from 4,692 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), incorporating key demographic variables, oral microbiome diversity metrics, sleep duration, and depression assessment variables. Classical multidimensional scaling facilitated dimensionality reduction, while unsupervised clustering divided participants into groups based on β-diversity dissimilarity matrices. We examined the moderating effects of oral microbiome diversity on the sleep-depression relationship by incorporating interaction terms sleep-oral microbiome diversity into multiple linear regression models.ResultsOur analysis revealed a U-shaped relationship between sleep duration and depression. Specifically, α-diversity was a significant moderator, with reduced diversity linked to an increased depression risk in participants with insufficient sleep. Regarding β-diversity, using both Bray-Curtis and UniFrac distance measures, Cluster 2 exhibited the strongest associations in sleep-deprived individuals (Bray-Curtis: β = 1.02, p

Microbial communities have been demonstrated to be essential for healthy and productive soil ecosystems. However, an understanding of the relationship between soil microbial community and soil productivity levels is remarkably limited. In this study, bulk soil (BS), rhizosphere soil (RS), and root (R) samples from the historical high-productive (H) and low-productive (L) soil types of wheat in Hebei province of China were collected and analyzed by high-throughput sequencing. The study highlighted the richness, diversity, and structure of bacterial communities, along with the correlation networks among different bacterial genera. Significant differences in the bacterial community structure between samples of different soil types were observed. Compared with the low-productive soil type, the bacterial communities of samples from the high-productive soil type possessed high species richness, low species diversity, complex and stable networks, and a higher relative abundance of beneficial microbes, such as Pseudoxanthomonas, unclassified Vicinamibacteraceae, Lysobacter, Massilia, Pseudomonas, and Bacillus. Further analysis indicated that the differences were mainly driven by soil organic matter (SOM), available nitrogen (AN), and electrical conductivity (EC). Overall, the soil bacterial community is an important factor affecting soil health and crop production, which provides a theoretical basis for the targeted regulation of microbes in low-productivity soil types.

Background: Multimodal analgesia plays a key role in enhanced recovery after surgery. Herein, we describe a trial protocol investigating the effects of oxycodone-vs. sufentanil-based patient-controlled analgesia in combination with quadratus lumborum block (QLB) vs. transverse abdominis plane block (TAPB) on quality of recovery following major laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery. Methods: and analysis: This is a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial with a 2 × 2 factorial design. A total of 120 adult patients undergoing laparoscopic major gastrointestinal surgery will be randomized, in a 1:1:1:1 ratio, to receive one of two patient-controlled analgesia regimens (based on oxycodone or sufentanil) and one of two regional blocks (QLB or TAPB). The primary outcome measure of this trial is the quality of recovery at 24 h after surgery, assessed using the 15-item quality of recovery (QoR-15) scale. The secondary outcomes include QoR-15 scores at 48 and 72 h after surgery; visceral and incisional pain at rest and while coughing at 1, 6, 24 and 48 h postoperatively; analgesic consumption within 0–24 h and 24–48 h postoperatively; need for rescue analgesia; postoperative flatus time; postoperative adverse events (sedation, nausea and vomiting, use of antiemetics, respiratory depression, and dizziness); and length of postoperative hospital stay. Discussion: The results of this trial will provide evidence for the optimal multimodal analgesic strategy to improve the quality of recovery for patients undergoing laparoscopic major gastrointestinal surgery. Trial registration: This trial was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (www.chictr.org.cn, identifier: ChiCTR2400080766).

Abstract Background Therapeutic interventions for diabetes are most effective when administered in the newly onset phase, yet determining the exact onset moment can be elusive in practice. Spontaneous autoimmune diabetes among NOD mice appears randomly between 12 and 32 weeks of age with an incidence range from 60 to 90%. Furthermore, the disease often progresses rapidly to severe diabetes within days, resulting in a very short window of newly onset phase, that poses significant challenge in early diagnosis. Conventionally, extensive blood glucose (BG) testing is typically required on large cohorts throughout several months to conduct prospective survey. We incorporated ultrasensitive urine glucose (UG) testing into an ordinary BG survey process, initially aiming to elucidate the lag period required for excessive glucose leaking from blood to urine during diabetes progression in the mouse model. Results The observations unexpectedly revealed that small amounts of glucose detected in the urine often coincide with, sometimes even a couple days prior than elevated BG is diagnosed. Accordingly, we conducted the UG-based survey protocol in another cohort that was validated to accurately identified every individual near onset, who could then be confirmed by following few BG tests to fulfill the consecutive BG + criteria. This approach required fewer than 95 BG tests, compared to over 700 tests with traditional BG survey, to diagnose all the 37–38 diabetic mice out of total 60. The average BG level at diagnosis was slightly below 350 mg/dl, lower than the approximately 400 mg/dl observed with conventional BG monitoring. Conclusions We demonstrated a near perfect correlation between BG + and ultrasensitive UG + results in prospective survey with no lag period detected under twice weekly of testing frequency. This led to the refined protocol based on surveying with noninvasive UG testing, allowing for the early identification of newly onset diabetic mice with only a few BG tests required per mouse. This protocol significantly reduces the need for extensive blood sampling, lancet usage, labor, and animal distress, aligning with the 3Rs principle. It presents a convenient, accurate, and animal-friendly alternative for early diabetes diagnosis, facilitating research on diagnosis, pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment.

Abstract The research of plant seeds has always been a focus of agricultural and forestry research, and seed identification is an indispensable part of it. With the continuous application of artificial intelligence technology in the field of agriculture, seed identification through computer vision can effectively promote the development of agricultural and forestry wisdom. Data is the foundation of computer vision, but there is a lack of suitable datasets in the agricultural field. In this paper, a seed dataset named LZUPSD is established. A device based on mobile phones and macro lenses was established to acquire images. The dataset contains 4496 images of 88 different seeds. This dataset can not only be used as data for training deep learning models in the computer field, but also provide important data support for agricultural and forestry research. As an important resource in this field, this dataset plays a positive role in modernizing agriculture and forestry.

Objective To evaluate association of neighborhood-level economic, environmental, and social indicators with lung cancer (LC) incidence and mortality. Data for adult incident LC cases in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, diagnosed between 2015–2019 were obtained from the Pennsylvania Cancer Registry. Cases were summarized and linked to neighborhood deprivation index (NDI), built environment, and racial isolation at census-tracts level. Poisson regression model computed relative risk (RR) for LC incidence and mortality, adjusting for covariates. A total of 3256 LC cases were included in the analyses with 68% ≥65 years, 54% female, 14% Black or African American, and 63% deceased. Results found that increasing quintiles (Q) of NDI were significantly associated with increasing risk of LC incidence and mortality. The RRs (95% confidence interval) of LC incidence for Q2, Q3, Q4, and Q5 were 1.36 (1.21–1.52), 1.55 (1.40–1.72), 1.68 (1.51–1.87), and 2.08 (1.82–2.38), respectively, compared with Q1 (P trend

Cardiac development requires precise gene expression programs at each developmental stage guided by multiple signaling pathways and transcription factors (TFs). MESP1 is transiently expressed in mesoderm, and is essential for subsequent cardiac development, while the precise mechanism regulating its own transcription and mesoderm cell fate is not fully understood. Therefore, we developed a high content screen assay to identify regulators of MESP1 expression in mesodermal cells differentiated from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). The screen identified CYT387, a JAK1/JAK2 kinase inhibitor, as a potent activator of MESP1 expression, which was also found to promote cardiomyocyte differentiation in vitro. Mechanistic studies found that JAK inhibition promotes MESP1 expression by reducing cytoplasmic calcium concentration and subsequently activating canonical WNT signaling. Our study identified a role of JAK signaling in early mesodermal cells, and sheds light on the connection between the JAK-STAT pathway and transcriptional regulation of MESP1, which expands our understanding of mesoderm and cardiac development.

Background: COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) outbreaks in workplace settings have been investigated to understand how transmission occurred. However, there is limited data looking at COVID-19 transmission in conference settings in England, particularly where an outbreak did not occur. The aim of this work was to investigate COVID-19 infection risk factors and control measures at a large conference, with a known case but no reported onward transmission to inform prevention of future outbreaks of respiratory infections in conferences and similar settings. Methods: This cross-sectional study was part of a wider COVID-19 Outbreak Investigation to Understand Transmission (COVID-OUT) study. A two-day in-person conference on SARS-CoV-2 transmission and environment was held at a university conference centre on 17–November 18, 2021, in England, with about 100 delegates. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 50 conference attendees to identify any confirmed cases and understand transmission, history of COVID-19 symptoms, testing and vaccination. Results: One person met the definition of a confirmed case at the conference. This case was most likely infectious when attending the conference, however there were no known secondary cases. All respondents reported receiving at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine before the conference and an increased frequency of handwashing/sanitising hands during the study period in comparison to before the pandemic. Prior to the conference, a COVID-19 risk assessment including a review of the ventilation at the site was completed. All attendees were advised to take an LFD test before travelling to the conference, wear face coverings, and maintain 1-m distance during the conference. Conclusion: A multipronged approach, encouraging attendee behaviours (regular hand washing, mask wearing, being vaccinated against COVID-19) and introducing control measures at the conference site (ventilation, sufficient spacing capacity, combined with prior knowledge of COVID-19 transmission, were effective in limiting the spread of COVID-19 in this setting.

ABSTRACTBrucellosis is a commonly neglected zoonosis that remains a serious global public health concern. The epidemiological evolution of human brucellosis has considerably changed over the past few decades, and epidemic geography is continuously expanding. Human brucellosis is emerging and re-emerging, and is imported from areas where it is endemic due to travel, immigration, and international trade. The disease continues to be prevalent in Asia and Africa, including West Asia, Central Asia, North Africa, and East Africa, with the highest incidence in Syria, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Iran, Algeria, and Kenya. Re-emerging cases are frequently recorded in places where brucellosis has been controlled, such as Bosnia, Herzegovina, Azerbaijan, and the USA. In countries with a high disease burden, disease control and eradication have been extremely difficult because of livestock farming being the only source of livelihood, unique religious beliefs regarding animals, nomadic lifestyle, and low socioeconomic levels. Interventions focused on protecting livestock keepers are needed, particularly for those assisting with goat and sheep births and the consumption of raw dairy products. Notably, in most countries with a high disease burden, each period of several years with a low incidence rate was followed by a subsequent increase in cases, highlighting the necessity of continuous investment and surveillance. In addition, advocacy for the inclusion of brucellosis as a globally mandated reported disease, strict restrictions on animal movement, mandated consumption of pasteurized milk, and health education are needed. This study will help form an evidence-based strategy for international organizations to curb the future spread of brucellosis.

Soil microorganisms play a crucial role in the plant invasion process, acting as both drivers of and responders to plant invasion. However, the effects of plant invasion on the complexity and stability of co-occurrence networks of soil microbial communities remain unclear. Here, we investigated how the invasion of Spartina alterniflora affected the diversity, composition, and co-occurrence networks of soil bacterial and fungal communities in the Yellow River Delta, China. Compared to the native plant (Suaeda salsa), S. alterniflora invasion decreased the α-diversity of soil bacterial communities but did not affect that of fungal communities. The β-diversity of soil bacterial and fungal communities under S. salsa and S. alterniflora habitats also differed dramatically. S. alterniflora invasion increased the relative abundance of the copiotrophic phylum Bacteroidota, whereas decreased the relative abundances of the oligotrophic phyla Acidobacteriota and Gemmatimonadota. Additionally, the relative abundance of Chytridiomycota, known for its role in degrading recalcitrant organic matter, increased substantially within the soil fungal community. Functional predictions revealed that S. alterniflora invasion increased the relative abundance of certain soil bacteria involved in carbon and nitrogen cycling, including aerobic chemoheterotrophy, nitrate reduction, and nitrate respiration. More importantly, S. alterniflora invasion reduced the complexity and stability of both soil bacterial and fungal community networks. The shifts in soil microbial community structure and diversity were mainly induced by soil available nutrients and soil salinity. Overall, our study highlights the profound impacts of S. alterniflora invasion on soil microbial communities, which could further indicate the modification of ecosystem functioning by invasive species.

Hypermagnesemia commonly occurs in patients with renal dysfunction. Diagnosing hypermagnesemia represents a challenge due to its rarity and the absence of routine monitoring of magnesium levels. Furthermore, the lack of awareness among clinicians regarding this uncommon condition frequently leads to delayed diagnoses. Few patients survive with a serum magnesium level exceeding 7 mmol/L. This article presents a case study of near-fatal hypermagnesemia resulting from the oral administration of Epsom salts in a patient with normal renal function. A 60-year-old female presented to the gastroenterology department on Oct. 6, 2023, with a 3-day history of black stools. She underwent subtotal gastrectomy in 2005 and has a stable history of nephrotic syndrome. To investigate the cause of her bleeding, electronic gastroscopy and colonoscopy were scheduled for Oct. 11, 2023. She experienced a sudden loss of consciousness 30 min after the ingestion of Epsom salts. The attending physician suspected a severe magnesium poisoning. She was promptly administered calcium gluconate, underwent tracheal intubation with ambu bag ventilation, and received early continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). Swift diagnosis and CRRT contributed to a reduction in her serum magnesium levels from an initial 8.71 mmol/L to 1.35 mmol/L, leading to a remarkable improvement in the toxic symptoms associated with hypermagnesemia. Subsequently, she was managed in the gastroenterology department, with gastroscopy revealing bleeding from the gastrointestinal anastomotic ulcer. Following conservative treatments including acid suppression, stomach protection, and hemostasis, her symptoms improved, and she was successfully discharged. This study aims to alert clinicians to the possibility of hypermagnesemia in individuals with normal renal function. Physicians should exercise caution when prescribing Epsom salts to patients with underlying gastrointestinal conditions. If necessary, alternative drug therapies may be considered to mitigate the risk of hypermagnesemia. Timely intervention is pivotal in averting life-threatening complications linked to hypermagnesemia.

Background: Postoperative sleep disturbance (PSD) occurs frequently in patients who undergo major abdominal surgical procedures. Dexmedetomidine is a promising agent to improve the quality of sleep for surgical patients. We designed this trial to investigate the effects of two different doses of intraoperative dexmedetomidine on the occurrence of PSD in elderly patients who have major abdominal surgery. Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, controlled trial, 210 elderly patients aged ≥65 years will be randomized, with an allocation ratio of 1:1:1, to two dexmedetomidine groups (intraoperative infusion of 0.3 or 0.6 μg/kg/h) and a normal saline placebo group. The primary endpoint is the occurrence of PSD on the first night after surgery, assessed using the Athens Insomnia Scale. The secondary endpoints are (1) the incidence of PSD during the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 30th nights postoperatively; (2) pain at rest and on movement at 24 and 48 h postoperatively, assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale; (3) the incidence of postoperative delirium during 0–7 days postoperatively or until hospital discharge, assessed using the 3-min Confusion Assessment Method; (4) depressive symptoms during 0–7 days postoperatively or until hospital discharge, assessed using the 15-items Geriatric Depression Scale; and (5) quality of recovery on postoperative days 1, 2, and 3, assessed using the 15-items Quality of Recovery Scale. Patients' sleep data will also be collected by Xiaomi Mi Band 7 for further analysis. Discussion: The findings of this trial will provide clinical evidence for improving the quality of sleep among elderly patients undergoing major abdominal surgery. Ethics and dissemination: This trial was approved by the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University (No. 2023-160). The results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2300073163).

Colorectal cancer is a common malignant tumor with high mortality, for which chemotherapy resistance is one of the main reasons. The high expression of ABCG2 in the cancer cells and expulsion of anticancer drugs directly cause multidrug resistance (MDR). Therefore, the development of new ABCG2 inhibitors that block the active causes of MDR may provide a strategy for the treatment of colorectal cancer. In this study, we find that dorsomorphin (also known as compound C or BML-275) potently inhibits the transporter activity of ABCG2, thereby preserving the chemotherapeutic agents mitoxantrone and doxorubicin to antagonize MDR in ABCG2-overexpressing colorectal cancer cells. Additionally, dorsomorphin does not alter ABCG2 protein expression. The results of molecular docking studies show that dorsomorphin is bound stably to the ABCG2-binding pocket, suggesting that dorsomorphin is a potent ABCG2 inhibitor that attenuates ABCG2-mediated MDR in colorectal cancer.

Abstract Background Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is reportedly effective for improving spasticity and motor function in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Because late-stage Rett syndrome has a similar presentation, this study aimed to investigate the effects of ESWT on these two diseases. Material and Methods Patients diagnosed with spastic CP and Rett syndrome received 1500 impulses of ESWT at 4 Hz and 0.1 mJ/mm2, on their spastic legsonce weekly for a total of 12 weeks. Outcomes were assessed before and 4 and 12 weeks after ESWT. Clinical assessments included the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), passive range of motion (PROM), and Gross Motor Function Measure 88 (GMFM-88). Ultrasonographic assessments included muscle thickness, acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI), and strain elastography. Results Fifteen patients with CP and six with Rett syndrome were enrolled in this study. After ESWT, patients with CP showed significant clinical improvement in the MAS (P = 0.011), ankle PROM (P = 0.002), walking/running/jumping function (P = 0.003), and total function (P

Abstract Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) with their large surface area and numerous active sites have attracted significant research attention. Recently, the application of MOFs for the catalytic degradation of organic pollutants has provided effective solutions to address diverse environmental problems. In this review, the latest progress in MOF-based removal and degradation of organic pollutants is summarized according to the different roles of MOFs in the removal reaction systems, such as physical adsorbents, enzyme-immobilization carriers, nanozymes, catalysts for photocatalysis, photo-Fenton and sulfate radical based advanced oxidation processes (SR-AOPs). Finally, the opportunities and challenges of developing advanced MOFs for the removal of organic pollutants are discussed and anticipated. Graphical Abstract

Concrete is widely used in large-scale hydraulic structures, which often need to undergo multiple pouring operations due to construction demands, temperature-induced shrinkage phenomena, and structural reinforcement and repair, which in turn creates the bonding surface of old and new concrete. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the strength of the bond between old and new concrete. We designed and completed a split tension test to investigate the evolution of the tensile strength of concrete joint surfaces with age at early ages. The test groups included three sets of matured concrete aged 3 days, 5 days, and 10 days, respectively. Within each group, multiple test specimens were prepared with different ages of the interface, ranging from 1 day to 15 days. The test utilized ready-mixed concrete materials from a commercial batching plant. To ensure uniform and standard roughness of the interface between new and matured concrete, a method employing non-destructive surface roughening tapes was employed. During the test, each specimen was subjected to tensile failure at its corresponding age. The maximum load applied by the testing machine at the point of tensile failure was recorded for each age group. Based on the fundamental principles of material mechanics and relevant formulas, the tensile strength of the interface at different ages was determined for each test group. The obtained data were then used to fit a curve representing the relationship between the early-age tensile strength of concrete and its age, using MATLAB R2020b software. The results show that there is a small increase in the tensile strength of the bonding surface as the age of the old test blocks is increased. This experiment revealed the changing pattern of early-age tensile strength of concrete at the interface with age, providing a basis for accurately simulating the mechanical properties of the interface during numerical simulations. Then, based on the existing temperature-controlled simulation program, a simplified simulation and calculation method of concrete cracking is proposed to make it possible to determine the tensile cracking (vertical cracking) when the stress exceeds the standard. The validity is verified by simulation calculations of a simplified model, using the tensile strength curves obtained from the tests.

This study examined a newly developed environmentally friendly plant-based corrosion inhibitor (Xanthium sibiricum). The natural potential method, linear polarization method, steel weight loss method, and corrosion area method were employed to verify the inhibitor’s effectiveness in chloride-containing concrete. The results indicated that Xanthium sibiricum elevated the natural potential of reinforcing steel in concrete, increased its self-corrosion potential, and reduced the self-corrosion current. After three months of curing, the corrosion rate of steel without an inhibitor was approximately 47.5% faster than the experimental group, with the steel loss rate about 40% more severe. The effectiveness of the inhibitor was influenced by increased chloride content in concrete. A two-dimensional multiphase ion transport model of reinforced concrete with realistic aggregate distribution was established using the finite element method (FEM). This model simulated chloride ion transport under typical civil engineering service environments—the coupled effects of a stray current and chloride environment. A predictive formula for the residual compressive strength of reinforced concrete was derived after corrosion under various voltages and chloride ion concentrations for a specific duration. In conjunction with a pump station project operating in a similar environment, the optimal dosage of the Xanthium sibiricum inhibitor for practical engineering was determined to be 2 g/L. At this dosage, the strength of reinforced concrete specimens increased by approximately 31.1%. Finally, a predictive formula for the residual compressive strength of reinforced concrete with an added inhibitor was obtained after corrosion under various voltages and chloride ion concentrations for a specific duration. The conclusions can enhance the durability and safety of concrete structures in similar projects, showing promising application prospects.

The Collaborative Cohort of Cohorts for COVID-19 Research (C4R) is a national prospective study of adults comprising 14 established US prospective cohort studies. Starting as early as 1971, investigators in the C4R cohort studies have collected data on clinical and subclinical diseases and their risk factors, including behavior, cognition, biomarkers, and social determinants of health. C4R links this pre-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) phenotyping to information on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and acute and postacute COVID-related illness. C4R is largely population-based, has an age range of 18-108 years, and reflects the racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and geographic diversity of the United States. C4R ascertains SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 illness using standardized questionnaires, ascertainment of COVID-related hospitalizations and deaths, and a SARS-CoV-2 serosurvey conducted via dried blood spots. Master protocols leverage existing robust retention rates for telephone and in-person examinations and high-quality event surveillance. Extensive prepandemic data minimize referral, survival, and recall bias. Data are harmonized with research-quality phenotyping unmatched by clinical and survey-based studies; these data will be pooled and shared widely to expedite collaboration and scientific findings. This resource will allow evaluation of risk and resilience factors for COVID-19 severity and outcomes, including postacute sequelae, and assessment of the social and behavioral impact of the pandemic on long-term health trajectories.