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Background: Environmental pollution has emerged as a significant determinant in ovarian cancer prognosis. However, limited evidence exists regarding the correlations between heavy metals and ovarian cancer prognosis. Objective: To elucidate the relationship between urinary heavy metals and their mixtures with overall survival (OS) of advanced high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). Methods: Within the Ovarian Cancer Follow-Up Study, we conducted a nested case-control study. A sum of 159 deceased patients and an equal number of alive patients were included, matched by sample date, body mass index, and age at diagnosis. Urinary concentrations of five heavy metals were quantified: arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb). Conditional logistic regression models were employed to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and their 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). To elucidate joint effects, we utilized quantile g-computation and Bayesian kernel machine regression models. Results: For the multivariable adjusted conditional logistic regression model, significant associations were found between high urinary levels of As (OR=1.99, 95 %CI: 1.05–3.79), Cd (OR=2.56, 95 %CI: 1.29–5.05), Hg (OR=2.24, 95 %CI: 1.09–4.62), and Pb (OR=3.80, 95 %CI: 1.75–8.27) and worse OS of HGSOC, comparing the highest tertile to the lowest. Analysis of joint effects showed that elevated concentrations of heavy metal mixtures were related to poor OS of HGSOC. Pb exhibited the highest contribution to the overall association within the metal mixtures. Conclusions: High urinary heavy metal concentrations were linked to worse OS of HGSOC. Future research is necessary to validate our findings.

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the effects of 2 endoscopic spine surgeries on the biomechanical properties of normal and osteoporotic spines. Methods Based on computed tomography images of a healthy adult volunteer, 6 finite element models were created. After validating the normal intact model, a concentrated force of 400 N and a moment of 7.5 Nm were exerted on the upper surface of L3 to simulate 6 physiological activities of the spine. Five types of indices were used to assess the biomechanical properties of the 6 models, range of motion (ROM), maximum displacement value, intervertebral disc stress, maximum stress value, and articular protrusion stress, and by combining them with finite element stress cloud. Results In normal and osteoporotic spines, there was no meaningful change in ROM or disc stress in the 2 surgical models for the 6 motion states. Model N1 (osteoporotic percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy model) showed a decrease in maximum displacement value of 20.28% in right lateral bending. Model M2 (unilateral biportal endoscopic model) increased maximum displacement values of 16.88% and 17.82% during left and right lateral bending, respectively. The maximum stress value of L4–5 increased by 11.72% for model M2 during left rotation. In addition, using the same surgical approach, ROM, maximum displacement values, disc stress, and maximum stress values were more significant in the osteoporotic model than in the normal model. Conclusion In both normal and osteoporotic spines, both surgical approaches were less disruptive to the physiologic structure of the spine. Furthermore, using the same endoscopic spine surgery, normal spine biomechanical properties are superior to osteoporotic spines.

Summary: Background: Benefits of Intermittent fasting (IF) on health-related outcomes have been found in a range of randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Our umbrella review aimed to systematically analyze and synthesize the available causal evidence on IF and its impact on specific health-related outcomes while evaluating its evidence quality. Methods: We comprehensively searched the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases (from inception up to 8 January 2024) to identify related systematic reviews and meta-analyses of RCTs investigating the association between IF and human health outcomes. We recalculated the effect sizes for each meta-analysis as mean difference (MD) or standardized mean difference (SMD) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analyses were performed for populations based on three specific status: diabetes, overweight or obesity, and metabolic syndrome. The quality of systematic reviews was evaluated using A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR), and the certainty of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) system. This study is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023382004). Findings: A total of 351 associations from 23 meta-analyses with 34 health outcomes were included in the study. A wide range of outcomes were investigated, including anthropometric measures (n = 155), lipid profiles (n = 83), glycemic profiles (n = 57), circulatory system index (n = 41), appetite (n = 9), and others (n = 6). Twenty-one (91%) meta-analyses with 346 associations were rated as high confidence according to the AMSTAR criteria. The summary effects estimates were significant at p

Visible Light Communication (VLC) has become an effective underwater communication technology due to its advantages such as fast transmission speed and strong confidentiality. When light propagates underwater, it is prone to scattering, resulting in a decrease in the energy of light propagation with the increase of transmission distance. Therefore, improving the responsiveness of the receiving end is the key technology to achieve underwater VLC. This article first designs a new holographic waveguide focusing system for the front end of the detector, which can effectively improve the signal-to-noise ratio of underwater detectors. Then, we construct a low-cost antimony sulfide thin film detector with weak light detection capability. Based on the built VLC system, the experimental results show that the dark current of the receiver detector is only 10-7 A/cm2, with a 3 dB bandwidth of 220 kHz, a response of 0.2 A/W, and an external quantum efficiency of over 70% in the blue green light band. Therefore, the new antimony sulfide thin film detector combined with a holographic waveguide focusing system can achieve weak light detection of visible light, making it a very effective underwater visible light receiving system.

Limb length discrepancy (LLD) is a common orthopedic condition that can result in significant functional impairment, pain, and cosmetic deformities. Current reconstructive techniques for severe LLD are primarily based on callus distraction, which is a time-consuming process that can lead to complications, such as significant infection, joint stiffness, and stress fractures. To reduce the therapeutic time and minimize the risk of complications, we investigated the use of vascularized bone flaps as a technical supplement to callus distraction in the reconstruction of short limbs. We present two cases of severe LLD in the upper and lower legs, in which a two-stage reconstruction approach was used. In the first stage, external fixation was applied to the affected limb to correct the soft tissue length and convert the short deformity into a bone defect. In the second stage, the bone defect was reconstructed using bilateral (patient A) or unilateral (patient B) free vascularized fibula bone grafts. Both patients had complete survival of the fibular grafts without stress fractures, and bone consolidation took 8 months (patient A) and 4 months (patient B). Compared to the traditional callus distraction, the two-stage approach was found to be more time-saving and reliable. The entire reconstructive scheme required 18 and 4 months for patients A and B, respectively, whereas the traditional callus distraction required 41 and 17 months, respectively. These findings suggest that the use of vascularized bone flaps as a technical supplement for callus distraction may provide an effective and efficient alternative for the treatment of severe LLD. Further studies are needed to validate these results and assess the long-term outcomes of this approach.

We aimed to identify co-stimulatory molecule clusters and explore their associations with immune infiltration and tumor mutation burden (TMB) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), using a systematic analysis based on RNA-seq and mutation data in TCGA database. Twelve immune-related prognostic co-stimulatory molecules were screened. Based on the expression of these molecules, all samples were divided into four clusters by Consensus clustering analysis. Clusters 2 and 4 were associated with worse survival and favorable prognosis, respectively. The proportion of patients with different age, Pathologic T and Pathologic stage among these four clusters showed significant differences. Cluster 4 was associated with a higher proportion of patients with pathological N0 and T1–2, as well as early tumors (stages I–II). Additionally, these clusters significantly differed in terms of immune infiltration of memory B cells, regulatory T cells, M2 macrophages, and activated memory CD4+ T cells, as well as the expression of six checkpoint genes. Worse survival was associated with a high rather than a low TMB; among the clusters, clusters 4 and 2 had the lowest and highest TMB, respectively. In conclusion, four co-stimulatory molecule clusters identified in NSCLC significantly differed in terms of survival, tumor stage, immune response, and TMB. Highlights Four co-stimulatory molecule clusters were identified that correlated differently with survival. Feature genes of four clusters were enriched in different functions. Four clusters significantly differed in terms of tumor stage, immune infiltration, and checkpoint gene expression. Worse survival was associated with high, compared with low TMB. Survival was better for cluster 4 than other clusters, and TMB was low.

Jin Ning Fang (JNF), a classic Chinese medicine formula, is widely used to treat lung cancer. However, its molecular mechanism remains unclear. Thus, we aimed to explore the pharmacological mechanisms of JNF against lung cancer. JNF targets and lung cancer-related genes were derived from public databases. Key compounds, potential therapeutic targets, and pathways were determined via bioinformatics analyses. Further, molecular docking, in vitro experiments, and real-time PCR were performed to verify the findings. A total of 27 active compounds and 25 genes were selected. Pharmacological network revealed that quercetin, calcium carbonate, and beta-sitosterol might be candidate agents; ESR1, AR, AKT1, FDPS, PIM1, VCAM1, SLC29A1, NQO1, and ANPEP could be potential drug targets. These genes were involved in apoptosis pathway. Docking analysis showed that beta-sitosterol combined well with AKT1, AR, and ESR1. In vitro experiments confirmed that JNF could inhibit proliferation and promote apoptosis of A549 cells. JNF treatment inhibited the level of FDPS, PIM1, VCAM1, SLC29A1, NQO1, and ESR1, while increased the level of AR and ANPEP. This study illuminated that JNF exerts anti-lung cancer effects through regulating multiple targets and pathways, and the identified genes may be used as potential therapeutic targets for lung cancer.

Natural gas is extensively used as a clean energy source in cities and industries; consequently, there are associated risks of accidental explosions. To reduce the hazards associated with natural gas explosions, it is important to study the inherent laws of natural gas blast loads in unconfined spaces and establish load models. Using experiments on natural gas explosions in unconfined spaces, this study demonstrates the influence of natural gas concentrations, propagation distances, and gas volumes upon explosion loads. A new load model was proposed for the overpressure–time history curves of natural-gas explosions in an unconfined space. A comparison with the empirical model indicated that the predictive effect was superior to that of previous models, such as the TNT equivalent model and the TNO multi-energy model.

ObjectiveTo determine the preventive effect of melatonin on delirium in the intensive care units.MethodsWe conducted a systematic search of the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Science, Embase, and CNKI databases, with retrieval dates ranging from the databases’ inception to September 2022. Controlled trials on melatonin and placebo for preventing delirium in the intensive care units were included. The meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager software (version 5.3) and Stata software (version 14.0).ResultsSix studies involving 2374 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The results of the meta-analysis showed that melatonin did not reduce the incidence of delirium in ICU patients (odds ratio [OR]: 0.71; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.46 to 1.12; p = 0.14). There was a strong hetero-geneity between the selected studies (I2 = 74%). Subgroup analysis results showed that melatonin reduced the incidence of delirium in cardiovascular care unit (CCU) patients (OR: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.37 to 0.73; p=0.0001), but did not in general intensive care unit (GICU) patients (OR: 1.14; 95% CI: 0.86 to 1.50; p=0.35). In terms of the secondary outcomes, there were no significant differences in all-cause mortality (OR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.66 to 1.09; p=0.20), length of ICU stay (mean difference [MD]: 0.33; 95% CI: -0.53 to 1.18; p=0.45), or length of hospital stay (MD: 0.51; 95% CI: -1.17 to 2.19; p=0.55).ConclusionMelatonin reduced the incidence of delirium in CCU patients, but did not significantly reduce the incidence of delirium in GICU patients.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42022367665.

Abstract Background Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, displaying not only well-known motor deficits but also gastrointestinal dysfunctions. Consistently, it has been increasingly evident that gut microbiota affects the communication between the gut and the brain in PD pathogenesis, known as the microbiota-gut-brain axis. As an approach to re-establishing a normal microbiota community, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has exerted beneficial effects on PD in recent studies. Here, in this study, we established a chronic rotenone-induced PD mouse model to evaluate the protective effects of FMT treatment on PD and to explore the underlying mechanisms, which also proves the involvement of gut microbiota dysbiosis in PD pathogenesis via the microbiota-gut-brain axis. Results We demonstrated that gut microbiota dysbiosis induced by rotenone administration caused gastrointestinal function impairment and poor behavioral performances in the PD mice. Moreover, 16S RNA sequencing identified the increase of bacterial genera Akkermansia and Desulfovibrio in fecal samples of rotenone-induced mice. By contrast, FMT treatment remarkably restored the gut microbial community, thus ameliorating the gastrointestinal dysfunctions and the motor deficits of the PD mice. Further experiments revealed that FMT administration alleviated intestinal inflammation and barrier destruction, thus reducing the levels of systemic inflammation. Subsequently, FMT treatment attenuated blood-brain barrier (BBB) impairment and suppressed neuroinflammation in the substantia nigra (SN), which further decreased the damage of dopaminergic neurons. Additional mechanistic investigation discovered that FMT treatment reduced lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels in the colon, the serum, and the SN, thereafter suppressing the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway and its downstream pro-inflammatory products both in the SN and the colon. Conclusions Our current study demonstrates that FMT treatment can correct the gut microbiota dysbiosis and ameliorate the rotenone-induced PD mouse model, in which suppression of the inflammation mediated by the LPS-TLR4 signaling pathway both in the gut and the brain possibly plays a significant role. Further, we prove that rotenone-induced microbiota dysbiosis is involved in the genesis of PD via the microbiota-gut-brain axis. Video abstract

Abstract Background To investigate the burden of thyroid cancer and its attributable risk factors in 204 countries and territories during 30 years. Methods We extracted data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 database, including incidence, mortality, disability‐adjusted life‐years (DALYs), and the attributable risk factors of thyroid cancer from 1990 to 2019. Estimated annual percentage changes (EAPC) were calculated to assess the changes in age‐standardized incidence rate (ASIR), age‐standardized mortality rate (ASMR), and age‐standardized DALYs rate (ASDR). We also examined the associations between cancer burden and the sociodemographic index (SDI). Results The global new cases, death, and DALYs of thyroid cancer in 2019 were 233 847 (95% UI: 211 637–252 807), 45 576 (95% UI: 41 290‐48 775), and 1 231 841 (95% UI: 1 113 585–1 327 064), respectively. From 1990 to 2019, the ASIR of thyroid cancer showed an upward trend (EAPC = 1.25), but ASMR (EAPC = −0.15) and ASDR (EAPC = −0.14) decreased. The burden of thyroid cancer varied at regional and national levels, but the association between ASIR and SDI was positive. We found that the burden of thyroid cancer was mainly concentrated in females and that the age of onset tended to be younger. The proportion of DALYs from thyroid cancer attributable to high body‐mass index was higher in high SDI regions, especially in males. Conclusions The global incidence of thyroid cancer has continued to increase in the past three decades. The high body‐mass index as an important risk factor for thyroid cancer deserves greater attention, especially in high SDI regions.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, but none of the current treatments for PD can halt the progress of the disease due to the limited understanding of the pathogenesis. In PD development, the communication between the brain and the gastrointestinal system influenced by gut microbiota is known as microbiota–gut–brain axis. However, the explicit mechanisms of microbiota dysbiosis in PD development have not been well elucidated yet. FLZ, a novel squamosamide derivative, has been proved to be effective in many PD models and is undergoing the phase I clinical trial to treat PD in China. Moreover, our previous pharmacokinetic study revealed that gut microbiota could regulate the absorption of FLZ in vivo. The aims of our study were to assess the protective effects of FLZ treatment on PD and to further explore the underlying microbiota-related mechanisms of PD by using FLZ as a tool. In the current study, chronic oral administration of rotenone was utilized to induce a mouse model to mimic the pathological process of PD. Here we revealed that FLZ treatment alleviated gastrointestinal dysfunctions, motor symptoms, and dopaminergic neuron death in rotenone-challenged mice. 16S rRNA sequencing found that PD-related microbiota alterations induced by rotenone were reversed by FLZ treatment. Remarkably, FLZ administration attenuated intestinal inflammation and gut barrier destruction, which subsequently inhibited systemic inflammation. Eventually, FLZ treatment restored blood–brain barrier structure and suppressed neuroinflammation by inhibiting the activation of astrocytes and microglia in the substantia nigra (SN). Further mechanistic research demonstrated that FLZ treatment suppressed the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway both in the SN and colon. Collectively, FLZ treatment ameliorates microbiota dysbiosis to protect the PD model via inhibiting TLR4 pathway, which contributes to one of the underlying mechanisms beneath its neuroprotective effects. Our research also supports the importance of microbiota–gut–brain axis in PD pathogenesis, suggesting its potential role as a novel therapeutic target for PD treatment.

Due to the influence of many factors, the overpressure–time history load model of vented gas explosions is difficult to describe and is not conducive to further structural design. Based on vented gas explosion test data, this paper obtains three typical overpressure-time history curves and puts forward a new semi-empirical model— double hump model that considers gas concentration and venting pressure, and gives a formula for peak pressure and overpressure–time history model. The scientificity of the model is then verified by the total impulse in the load. The model is able directly reflect the load characteristics, provide reference for calculating key parameters of a vented gas explosion and provide information on the structural response under the load. The model thereby has the potential to help reduce the impact of gas explosion disasters.

C17H12F2O1, monoclinic, P1‾$P\overline{1}$ (no. 2), a = 7.3832(8) Å, b = 8.6467(9) Å, c = 11.3278(11) Å, α = 87.633(8)°, β = 88.022(8)°, γ = 65.364(10)°, V = 654.88(13) Å3, Z = 2, Rgt(F) = 0.0369, wRref(F2) = 0.0987, T = 293(2) K.

Understanding animal growth plays an important role in improving animal genetics and breeding. In order to explore the early growth and development law of Ashidan yak, the body weight (BW), wither height (WH), body oblique length (BL) and chest girth (CG) of 260 female Ashidan yaks were measured. These individuals grew under grazing conditions, and growth traits were measured at 6, 12, 18 and 30 months of age. Then the absolute growth and relative growth of Ashidan yak were calculated, and five nonlinear models (Logistic model, Gompertz model, Brody model, von Bertalanffy model and Richards model) were used to fit the growth curve of Ashidan yak. The fitting effect of the model was evaluated according to MSE, AIC and BIC. The results showed that the growth rate of Ashidan yak was the fastest from 12 to 18 months old, and the growth was slow or even stagnant from 6 to 12 months old. The AIC and BIC values of the Richards model were the lowest among the five models, with an AIC value of 4543.98 and a BIC value of 4563.19. The Richards model estimated body weight at 155.642 kg. In summary, the growth rate of female Ashidan yak changes with the seasons, growing faster in warm seasons and slower in cold seasons. Richards model is the best model to describe the growth curve of female Ashidan yak in five nonlinear models.

Lyophyllum consists of rare edible and medicinal mushrooms. Considering this group's economic and ecological significance, understanding its biodiversity could be strategically important. Our analysis involved an extensive examination of publicly available ITS sequences from NCBI-GenBank and fungal amplicon sequencing data obtained from NCBI-SRA. At a 98% sequence similarity level, we deliminated 88 Lyophyllum OTUs, 49 of which were not categorized as 'known species'. The diversity of Lyophyllum is predominantly concentrated in the Northern Hemisphere and tends to display endemic distribution, and Europe is particularly notable for its high diversity of Lyophyllum. Given the escalating volume of data produced by amplicon sequencing, employing the amplicon dataset can facilitate an accurate survey of species diversity in Lyophyllum taxonomy. By using data from amplicon datasets, the fieldwork time and research funding for taxonomists can be saved, thereby significantly advancing the progress of the entire field of biodiversity research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article defines two common q-orthogonal polynomials: homogeneous q-Laguerre polynomials and homogeneous little q-Jacobi polynomials. They can be viewed separately as solutions to two q-partial differential equations. Furthermore, an analytic function satisfies a certain system of q partial differential equations if and only if it can be expanded in terms of homogeneous q-Laguerre polynomials or homogeneous little q-Jacobi polynomials. As applications, several generalized Ramanujan q-beta integrals and Andrews-Askey integrals are obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tianzhu white yak is a rare local yak breed with a pure white coat in China. In recent years, breeders have discovered long-haired individuals characterized by long hair on the forehead in the Tianzhu white yak, and the length and density of the hair on these two parts of the body are higher than that of the normal Tianzhu white yak. To elucidate the genetic mechanism of hair length in Tianzhu white yak, we re-sequence the whole genome of long-haired Tianzhu White yak (LTWY) (n = 10) and normal Tianzhu White yak (NTWY) (n = 10). Then, fixation index (FST), θπ ratio, cross-population composite likelihood ratio (XP-CLR), integrated haplotype score (iHS), cross-population extended haplotype homozygosity (XP-EHH), and one composite method, the de-correlated composite of multiple signals (DCMS) were performed to discover the loci and genes related to long-haired traits. Based on five single methods, we found two hotspots of 0.2 and 1.1 MB in length on chromosome 6, annotating two (FGF5, CFAP299) and four genes (ATP8A1, SLC30A9, SHISA3, TMEM33), respectively. Function enrichment analysis of genes in two hotspots revealed Ras signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and Rap1 signaling pathway were involved in the process of hair length differences. Besides, the DCMS method further found that four genes (ACOXL, PDPK1, MAGEL2, CDH1) were associated with hair follicle development. Henceforth, our work provides novel genetic insights into the mechanisms of hair growth in the LTWY.

Abstract Background Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) as an important regulator has been demonstrated playing an indispensable role in the biological process of hair follicles (HFs) growth. However, their function and expression profile in the HFs cycle of yak are yet unknown. Only a few functional lncRNAs have been identified, partly due to the low sequence conservation and lack of identified conserved properties in lncRNAs. Here, lncRNA-seq was employed to detect the expression profile of lncRNAs during the HFs cycle of yak, and the sequence conservation of two datasets between yak and cashmere goat during the HFs cycle was analyzed. Results A total of 2884 lncRNAs were identified in 5 phases (Jan., Mar., Jun., Aug., and Oct.) during the HFs cycle of yak. Then, differential expression analysis between 3 phases (Jan., Mar., and Oct.) was performed, revealing that 198 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs) were obtained in the Oct.-vs-Jan. group, 280 DELs were obtained in the Jan.-vs-Mar. group, and 340 DELs were obtained in the Mar.-vs-Oct. group. Subsequently, the nearest genes of lncRNAs were searched as the potential target genes and used to explore the function of DELs by GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. Several critical pathways involved in HFs development such as Wnt signaling pathway, VEGF signaling pathway, and signaling pathways regulating pluripotency of stem cells, were enriched. To further screen key lncRNAs influencing the HFs cycle, 24 DELs with differ degree of sequence conservation were obtained via a comparative analysis of partial DELs with previously published lncRNA-seq data of cashmere goat in the HFs cycle using NCBI BLAST-2.9.0+, and 3 DELs of them were randomly selected for further detailed analysis of the sequence conservation properties. Conclusions This study revealed the expression pattern and potential function of lncRNAs during HFs cycle of yak, which would expand the knowledge about the role of lncRNAs in the HFs cycle. The findings related to sequence conservation properties of lncRNAs in the HFs cycle between the two species may provide valuable insights into the study of lncRNA functionality and mechanism.

Abstract Background Hypertension, a major risk factor of cardiovascular mortality, is a critical issue for public health. Although Baduanjin (Eight Brocades, EB), a traditional Chinese exercise, might influence blood pressure, glucose, and lipid status, the magnitude of true effects and subgroup differences remains unclear. Therefore, we performed a systematic review of relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the effect of EB on patient-important outcomes. Methods We systematically searched PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Chinese databases since inception until March 30, 2020. Meta-analysis was carried out using “meta” package in R 3.4.3 software. A prespecified subgroup analysis was done according to the type of comparisons between groups, and the credibility of significant subgroup effects (P

Abstract Background To determine plasma ephrin-A1 and VEGF165 levels in a cohort of diabetic retinopathy patients. Methods Plasma ephrin-A1 and VEGF165 levels in fifty-five subjects including 19 individuals without diabetes (non-DM), 16 patients with diabetes (DM) but without diabetic retinopathy, and 20 patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR), were determined by ELISA. Serum creatinine, total cholesterol, fasting blood glucose and HbA1c were also measured. One-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis Test, Mann-Whitney U Test corrected by Bonferroni, Pearson Correlation Analysis and Spearman Correlation Coefficient Analysis were used for data analysis. Results Ephrin-A1 expression could be detected in human plasma with an average of 1.52 ± 0.43 (mean ± SEM) ng/ml. In DR subjects, the plasma ephrin-A1concentration was 3.63 ± 4.63 ng/ml, which was significantly higher than that of the other two groups (non-DM: 0.27 ± 0.13 ng/ml, DM: 0.35 ± 0.34 ng/ml). The expression of VEGF165 in human plasma was 34.00 ± 42.55 pg/ml, with no statistical difference among the three groups. There was no correlation between ephrin-A1 and VEGF165 in human plasma, but there was a correlation between plasma ephrin-A1 and duration of diabetes. Conclusions Plasma ephrin-A1 was highly expressed in patients with diabetic retinopathy, and there was no difference of plasma VEGF165 expression in patients with diabetic retinopathy compared to the other two groups, suggesting that changes of plasma ephrin-A1 may be a more sensitive biomarker than plasma VEGF165 in detecting diabetic retinopathy.

Fibrotic disease can disrupt the normally transparent ocular tissues resulting in irreversible loss of vision. A common feature in fibrotic eye disease is the transdifferentiation of cells into myofibroblasts that can occur through a process known as epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Transforming growth factor β has a central role in fibrogenesis by modulating the fibroblast function, inducing myofibroblast transdifferentiation and promoting extracellular matrix accumulation. It has been implicated in numerous fibrotic eye diseases. This article aims to introduce the new progression on TGFβ and fibrotic ocular diseases and its clinical significance for providing the reference in clinical practices.

Surgical repair of complex posterior urethral disruptions remains one of the most challenging problems in urology. The efficacy of using a tissue expander capsule as an induced vascular bed to prefabricate axial vascularized buccal mucosa-lined flaps for tubularized posterior urethral reconstruction in a rabbit model was tested. The experiments were performed in three stages. First, silicone tissue expanders were inserted into the groin to induce vascularized capsule pouch formation. Next, buccal mucosa grafts were transplanted into the newly formed capsular tissue supplied by axial vessels for buccal mucosa-lined flap prefabrication. Then, circumferential posterior urethral defects were created and repaired with the buccal mucosa graft (Group 1), the capsule flap (Group 2), and the prefabricated capsule buccal mucosa composite flap (Group 3). After surgery, notable contracture of the tubularized buccal mucosa graft was observed in the neourethra, and none of the rabbits in Group 1 maintained a wide urethral caliber. In Group 2, the retrieved neourethra showed little evidence of epithelial lining during the study period, and the lumen caliber was narrowed at the 3-month evaluation. In Group 3, the buccal mucosa formed the lining in the neourethra and maintained a wide urethral caliber for 3 months. The capsule may serve as an induced vascular bed for buccal mucosa-lined flap prefabrication. The prefabricated buccal mucosa-lined flap may serve as a neourethra flap for posterior urethral replacement.

The growth hormone receptor (GHR) is a member of the cytokine/hematopoietic factor receptor superfamily, which plays an important role in the growth and development, immunity, and metabolism of animals. This study identified a 246 bp deletion variant in the intronic region of the GHR gene, and three genotypes, including type II, type ID, and type DD, were observed. Genotype analysis of structural variation (SV) was performed on 585 individuals from 14 yak breeds, and it was found that 246 bp deletion was present in each breed. The II genotype was dominant in all yak breeds except for SB yak. The association analysis of gene polymorphisms and growth traits in the ASD yak population showed that the 246 bp SV was significantly associated with body length at 6 months (p < 0.05). GHR messenger RNA (mRNA) was expressed in all the tested tissues, with significantly higher levels in the liver, muscle, and fat than in other organs. The results of transcription activity showed that the luciferase activity of the pGL4.10-DD vector was significantly higher than that of the pGL4.10-II vector (p < 0.05). Additionally, the transcription-factor binding prediction results showed that the SV in the runt-related transcription factor 1 (Runx1) transcription-factor binding site may affect the transcriptional activity of the GHR gene, regulating yak growth and development. This study showed that the novel SV of the GHR gene could be used as a candidate molecular marker for the selection of the early growth trait in ASD yak.

Abstract Background Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the main cause of end-stage kidney disease and has become a heavy economic and social burden due to its high prevalence and morbidity. The most effective strategy is that patients with DKD should be diagnosed and treated early. Preliminary studies showed that the Chinese herbal Tangshen Formula (TSF) may delay the progression of DKD, reducing microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria and improving renal function. We designed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of TSF in patients with DKD. Methods/design This trial is a 13-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. A total of 632 participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to an experiment group (TSF plus losartan) and a control group (placebo plus losartan). The trial cycle will last 24 weeks. The primary outcome will be the change in the urine microalbumin–creatinine ratio from baseline to week 24. The secondary outcome will be the change in the rate of progression to the clinical proteinuria period after intervention, the rate of urine microalbumin negative conversion, the rate of normal urinary microalbumin, the doubling rate of the baseline creatinine value and the glomerular filtration rate between the two groups. Safety in medication will also be evaluated. Discussion We hypothesize that patients with type 2 diabetes in the early stage of DKD will benefit from TSF. If successful, this study will provide evidence-based recommendations for clinicians. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03009864. Registered January 2017.

Accumulated evidence shows that sperm-associated antigen 6 (SPAG6) gene has multiple biological functions. It maintains the normal function of a variety of cells including ciliary/flagellar biogenesis and polarization, neurogenesis, and neuronal migration. Moreover, SPAG6 is found to be critically involved in auditory transduction and the fibroblast life cycle. Furthermore, SPAG6 plays an essential role in immuno-regulation. Notably, SPAG6 has been demonstrated to participate in the occurrence and progression of a variety of human cancers. New evidence shows that SPAG6 gene regulates tumor cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and metastasis. Therefore, in this review, we describe the physiological function and mechanism of SPAG6 in human normal cells and cancer cells. We also highlight that SPAG6 gene may be an effective biomarker for the diagnosis of human cancer. Taken together, targeting SPAG6 could be a novel strategy for the treatment of human diseases including cancer. Keywords: SPAG6, microtubule, apoptosis, cancer, proliferation

Developing degradable bio-plastics has been considered feasible to lessen marine plastic pollution. However, unanimity is still elusive regarding the actual degradability of bio-plastics such as polylactide (PLA) and poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PHB). Thus, herein, we studied the degradability of fabrics made from PLA/PHB blends in marine seawater. The dry-mass percentage of the PLA/PHB fabrics decreased progressively from 100% to 85~90% after eight weeks of immersion. Two environmental aging parameters (UV irradiation and aerating) were also confirmed to accelerate the abiotic hydrolysis of the incubated fabrics. The variation in the molecular structure of the PLA/PHB polymers after the degradation process was investigated by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). However, the hydrolysis degradability of bulky PLA/PHB blends, which were used to produce such PLA/PHB fabrics, was negligible under identical conditions. There was no mass loss in these solid PLA/PHB plastics except for a decrease in their tensile strength. Finally, a deep learning artificial neural network model was proposed to model and predict the nonlinear abiotic hydrolysis behavior of PLA/PHB fabrics. The degradability of PLA/PHB fabrics in marine water under the synergistic destructive effects of seawater, UV, and dissolved oxygen provides a pathway for more sustainable textile fibers and apparel products.

Introduction: The role of intraoperative ventilation strategies in subjects undergoing surgery is still contested. This meta-analysis study was performed to assess the relationship between the low tidal volumes strategy and conventional mechanical ventilation in subjects undergoing surgery.Methods: A systematic literature search up to December 2020 was performed in OVID, Embase, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Google scholar, and 28 studies including 11,846 subjects undergoing surgery at baseline and reporting a total of 2,638 receiving the low tidal volumes strategy and 3,632 receiving conventional mechanical ventilation, were found recording relationships between low tidal volumes strategy and conventional mechanical ventilation in subjects undergoing surgery. Odds ratio (OR) or mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated between the low tidal volumes strategy vs. conventional mechanical ventilation using dichotomous and continuous methods with a random or fixed-effect model.Results: The low tidal volumes strategy during surgery was significantly related to a lower rate of postoperative pulmonary complications (OR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.44–0.83, p < 0.001), aspiration pneumonitis (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.46–0.86, p < 0.001), and pleural effusion (OR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.56–0.92, p < 0.001) compared to conventional mechanical ventilation. However, the low tidal volumes strategy during surgery was not significantly correlated with length of hospital stay (MD, −0.48; 95% CI, −0.99–0.02, p = 0.06), short-term mortality (OR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.70–1.10, p = 0.25), atelectasis (OR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.57–1.01, p = 0.06), acute respiratory distress (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.67–1.66, p = 0.81), pneumothorax (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 0.88–2.15, p = 0.17), pulmonary edema (OR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.38–1.26, p = 0.23), and pulmonary embolism (OR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.26–1.60, p = 0.35) compared to conventional mechanical ventilation.Conclusions: The low tidal volumes strategy during surgery may have an independent relationship with lower postoperative pulmonary complications, aspiration pneumonitis, and pleural effusion compared to conventional mechanical ventilation. This relationship encouraged us to recommend the low tidal volumes strategy during surgery to avoid any possible complications.