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Objective To explore the guiding value of thromboelastography (TEG) in the formulation of personalized anticoagulation regimen after knee arthroscopy. Methods A total of 50 patients who underwent knee arthroscopy in our hospital from April to August 2023 were randomly divided into two groups. Twenty-seven patients with routine anticoagulation were selected as the control group, and 23 patients with personalized anticoagulation were selected as the experimental group. Conventional anticoagulation was a prophylactic dose of low molecular weight heparin calcium (LMWHC) selected according to body weight, once a day to 7 days after surgery. Personalized anticoagulation was performed according to the prophylactic dose of LMWHC until postoperative day 3. On postoperative day 3, LMWHC was changed to aspirin according to the TEG return index (MA>70 mm, α Angle >72°, K value

ObjectivesAn increasing number of studies have shown that third (CB3)- and fourth-generation cryoballoons (CB4) have been used to treat various types of atrial fibrillation (AF), but previous research regarding the safety and efficacy of CB3 or CB4 ablation remains controversial. Therefore, a meta-analysis was performed to further evaluate the safety and efficacy of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using the CB3 and CB4 in the treatment of AF.MethodsWe searched PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, China Science and Technology Journal Database, and Clinicaltrials.gov up to December 2023 for qualified trials and data extraction according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. All analyses were carried out using Review Manager 5.3 software.ResultsThe meta-analysis included 13 observational studies consisting of 3,281 subjects and did not include a randomized controlled trial. Overall analyses indicated that the CB3 significantly reduced total procedure time [weighted mean difference (WMD) = −8.69 min, 95% confidence interval (CI) = −15.45 to −1.94 min, I2 = 93%], increased the PVI recording [relative risk (RR) = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.03–1.49, I2 = 90%], and increased the mean nadir temperature of overall PVs (WMD = 2.80°C, 95% CI = 1.08–4.51°C, I2 = 89%) compared with the CB2. Moreover, the CB4 significantly reduced the total procedure time (WMD = −14.50 min, 95% CI = −20.89 to −8.11 min, I2 = 95%), reduced the fluoroscopy time (WMD = −2.37 min, 95% CI = −4.28 to −0.46 min, I2 = 95%), increased the PVI recording (RR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.15–1.71, I2 = 90%) compared with the CB2. Time-to-isolation, the success rate of PVI, AF recurrence, and complications in the CB3 and CB4 were not significantly different compared with the CB2.ConclusionThese findings demonstrated that the CB3 and CB4 tended to be more effective than the CB2 in the treatment of AF, with shorter procedure times, more PVI recording, and similar safety endpoints.

Abstract Consumption of dietary fiber and anthocyanin has been linked to a lower incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC). This study scrutinizes the potential antitumorigenic attributes of a black rice diet (BRD), abundantly rich in dietary fiber and anthocyanin. Our results demonstrate notable antitumorigenic effects in mice on BRD, indicated by a reduction in both the size and number of intestinal tumors and a consequent extension in life span, compared to control diet‐fed counterparts. Furthermore, fecal transplants from BRD‐fed mice to germ‐free mice led to a decrease in colonic cell proliferation, coupled with maintained integrity of the intestinal barrier. The BRD was associated with significant shifts in gut microbiota composition, specifically an augmentation in probiotic strains Bacteroides uniformis and Lactobacillus. Noteworthy changes in gut metabolites were also documented, including the upregulation of indole‐3‐lactic acid and indole. These metabolites have been identified to stimulate the intestinal aryl hydrocarbon receptor pathway, inhibiting CRC cell proliferation and colorectal tumorigenesis. In summary, these findings propose that a BRD may modulate the progression of intestinal tumors by fostering protective gut microbiota and metabolite profiles. The study accentuates the potential health advantages of whole‐grain foods, emphasizing the potential utility of black rice in promoting health.

Abstract Men demonstrate higher incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer (CRC) than women. This study aims to explain the potential causes of such sexual dimorphism in CRC from the perspective of sex‐biased gut microbiota and metabolites. The results show that sexual dimorphism in colorectal tumorigenesis is observed in both ApcMin/+ mice and azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)‐treated mice with male mice have significantly larger and more tumors, accompanied by more impaired gut barrier function. Moreover, pseudo‐germ mice receiving fecal samples from male mice or patients show more severe intestinal barrier damage and higher level of inflammation. A significant change in gut microbiota composition is found with increased pathogenic bacteria Akkermansia muciniphila and deplets probiotic Parabacteroides goldsteinii in both male mice and pseudo‐germ mice receiving fecal sample from male mice. Sex‐biased gut metabolites in pseudo‐germ mice receiving fecal sample from CRC patients or CRC mice contribute to sex dimorphism in CRC tumorigenesis through glycerophospholipids metabolism pathway. Sexual dimorphism in tumorigenesis of CRC mouse models. In conclusion, the sex‐biased gut microbiome and metabolites contribute to sexual dimorphism in CRC. Modulating sex‐biased gut microbiota and metabolites could be a potential sex‐targeting therapeutic strategy of CRC.

Abstract The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is considered a hub of reward processing and a growing body of evidence has suggested its crucial role in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD). However, inconsistent results have been reported by studies on reward network-focused resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI). In this study, we examined functional alterations of the NAc-based reward circuits in patients with MDD via meta- and mega-analysis. First, we performed a coordinated-based meta-analysis with a new SDM-PSI method for all up-to-date rs-fMRI studies that focused on the reward circuits of patients with MDD. Then, we tested the meta-analysis results in the REST-meta-MDD database which provided anonymous rs-fMRI data from 186 recurrent MDDs and 465 healthy controls. Decreased functional connectivity (FC) within the reward system in patients with recurrent MDD was the most robust finding in this study. We also found disrupted NAc FCs in the DMN in patients with recurrent MDD compared with healthy controls. Specifically, the combination of disrupted NAc FCs within the reward network could discriminate patients with recurrent MDD from healthy controls with an optimal accuracy of 74.7%. This study confirmed the critical role of decreased FC in the reward network in the neuropathology of MDD. Disrupted inter-network connectivity between the reward network and DMN may also have contributed to the neural mechanisms of MDD. These abnormalities have potential to serve as brain-based biomarkers for individual diagnosis to differentiate patients with recurrent MDD from healthy controls.

ObjectiveWe investigated the effects of COVID-19 fear on negative moods among college students, and assessed the efficacy of physical exercise behavior as a moderator variable.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study. Students from three colleges and universities in Shangqiu City, Henan Province and Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province were enrolled in this study, which was performed during the COVID-19 pandemic using an online questionnaire. A total of 3,133 college students completed the questionnaire. Measurement tools included the COVID-19 Phobia Scale (C19P-S), Depression-Anxiety-Stress Self-Rating Scale (DASS), and the Physical Activity Behavior Scale (PARS-3).ResultsDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, the rates of depression, anxiety, and stressful negative moods among college students were 35.5, 65.5, and 10.95%, respectively; there was a positive correlation between COVID-19 fear and negative moods among college students (r = 0.479, p < 0.001), which was negatively correlated with physical exercise behavior (r = −0.4, p < 0.001); the regulating effects of physical exercise behavior were significant (ΔR2 = 0.04, p < 0.001).ConclusionThe rate of negative moods among college students is high, and the fear for COVID-19 is one of the key factors that lead to negative moods. Physical exercise can modulate the impact of COVID-19 fear among college students on negative moods. Studies should elucidate on mental health issues among different populations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BackgroundSelf-efficacy is an important component of the mental well-being of college students. This study aimed to evaluate the development and the correlation between physical fitness (PF), exercise behavior, and self-efficacy in college students. To examine whether PF in individual college students can predict self-efficacy, and whether exercise behavior mediates this relationship.MethodsThis was an observational study of 1923 randomly selected college students (50.5% girl). Measures included the Physical Activity Rating Scale, the Self-Efficacy Scale, and PF testing.ResultsSelf-efficacy was weakly correlated to both PF (r = 0.240) and exercise behavior (r = 0.248). In regression analysis, PF explained 24.7% of the variance in self-efficacy, increasing to 29.4% when exercise behavior was considered. Therefore, the predictive effect of PF on self-efficacy is partially realized through healthy exercise behavior.ConclusionPhysical fitness can predict self-efficacy among college students, with exercise behavior being an important mediation of this relationship. Strategies to improve positive exercise behaviors and PF could improve students’ self-efficacy and overall mental health.

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is a chronic neurological disorder that is often resistant to antiepileptic drugs. The pathogenesis of TLE is extremely complicated and remains elusive. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying TLE is crucial for its diagnosis and treatment. In the present study, a lithium-pilocarpine-induced TLE model was employed to reveal the pathological changes of hippocampus in rats. Hippocampal samples were taken for proteomic analysis at 2 weeks after the onset of spontaneous seizure (a chronic stage of epileptogenesis). Isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantization (iTRAQ) coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) technique was applied for proteomic analysis of hippocampus. A total of 4173 proteins were identified from the hippocampi of epileptic rats and its control, of which 27 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were obtained with a fold change>1.5 and P

PurposeTriple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer, is associated with high invasiveness, high metastatic occurrence and poor prognosis. Protein tyrosine kinase 7 (PTK7) plays an important role in multiple cancers. However, the role of PTK7 in TNBC has not been well addressed. This study was performed to evaluate the role of PTK7 in the progression of TNBC.MethodsCorrelation of PTK7 expression with clinicopathological parameters was assessed using tissue microarray immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining in 280 patients with breast cancer. PTK7 expression in TNBC (MDA-MB-468, MDA-MB-436 and MDA-MB-231) and non-TNBC (MCF7 and SK-BR-3) breast cancer cell lines were examined using immunoblotting assay. PTK7 correlated genes in invasive breast carcinoma were analyzed using cBioPortal breast cancer datasets including 1,904 patients. PTK7 overexpressed or knockdown TNBC cell lines (MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-436) were used to analyze the potential roles of PTK7 in TNBC metastasis and tumor progression. A TNBC tumor bearing mouse model was established to further analyze the role of PTK7 in TNBC tumorigenicity in vivo.ResultsPTK7 is highly expressed in breast cancer and correlates with worse prognosis and associates with tumor metastasis and progression in TNBC. Co-expression analysis and gain- or loss-of-function of PTK7 in TNBC cell lines revealed that PTK7 participates in EGFR/Akt signaling regulation and associated with extracellular matrix organization and migration genes in breast cancer, including COL1A1, FN1, WNT5B, MMP11, MMP14 and SDC1. Gain- or loss-of-function experiments of PTK7 suggested that PTK7 promotes proliferation and migration in TNBC cell lines. PTK7 knockdown MDA-MB-468 cell bearing mouse model further demonstrated that PTK7-deficiency inhibits TNBC tumor progression in vivo.ConclusionThis study identified PTK7 as a potential marker of worse prognosis in TNBC and revealed PTK7 promotes TNBC metastasis and progression via EGFR/Akt signaling pathway.

Background and Purpose: Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is a common chronic neurological disease that is often invulnerable to anti-epileptic drugs. Increasing data have demonstrated that acetylcholine (ACh) and cholinergic neurotransmission are involved in the pathophysiology of epilepsy. Cytisine, a full agonist of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7nAChRs) and a partial agonist of α4β2nAChRs, has been widely applied for smoking cessation and has shown neuroprotection in neurological diseases. However, whether cytisine plays a role in treating TLE has not yet been determined.Experimental Approach: In this study, cytisine was injected intraperitoneally into pilocarpine-induced epileptic rats for three weeks. Alpha-bungarotoxin (α-bgt), a specific α7nAChR antagonist, was used to evaluate the mechanism of action of cytisine. Rats were assayed for the occurrence of seizures and cognitive function by video surveillance and Morris water maze. Hippocampal injuries and synaptic structure were assessed by Nissl staining and Golgi staining. Furthermore, levels of glutamate, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), ACh, and α7nAChRs were measured.Results: Cytisine significantly reduced seizures and hippocampal damage while improving cognition and inhibiting synaptic remodeling in TLE rats. Additionally, cytisine decreased glutamate levels without altering GABA levels, and increased ACh levels and α7nAChR expression in the hippocampi of TLE rats. α-bgt antagonized the above-mentioned effects of cytisine treatment.Conclusion and Implications: Taken together, these findings indicate that cytisine exerted an anti-epileptic and neuroprotective effect in TLE rats via activation of α7nAChRs, which was associated with a decrease in glutamate levels, inhibition of synaptic remodeling, and improvement of cholinergic transmission in the hippocampus. Hence, our findings not only suggest that cytisine represents a promising anti-epileptic drug, but provides evidence of α7nAChRs as a novel therapeutic target for TLE.

Consumption of dietary fiber and anthocyanin has been linked to a lower incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC). This study scrutinizes the potential antitumorigenic attributes of a black rice diet (BRD), abundantly rich in dietary fiber and anthocyanin. Our results demonstrate notable antitumorigenic effects in mice on BRD, indicated by a reduction in both the size and number of intestinal tumors and a consequent extension in life span, compared to control diet‐fed counterparts. Furthermore, fecal transplants from BRD‐fed mice to germ‐free mice led to a decrease in colonic cell proliferation, coupled with maintained integrity of the intestinal barrier. The BRD was associated with significant shifts in gut microbiota composition, specifically an augmentation in probiotic strains Bacteroides uniformis and Lactobacillus. Noteworthy changes in gut metabolites were also documented, including the upregulation of indole‐3‐lactic acid and indole. These metabolites have been identified to stimulate the intestinal aryl hydrocarbon receptor pathway, inhibiting CRC cell proliferation and colorectal tumorigenesis. In summary, these findings propose that a BRD may modulate the progression of intestinal tumors by fostering protective gut microbiota and metabolite profiles. The study accentuates the potential health advantages of whole‐grain foods, emphasizing the potential utility of black rice in promoting health. Highlights: The black rice diet (BRD) can slow down the development of colorectal tumors in ApcMin/+ and azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium (AOM/DSS) colorectal cancer (CRC) model mice.The BRD increases the abundance of intestinal probiotics, such as Bacteroides uniformis and Lactobacillus, while reducing potential intestinal pathogens.The upregulated metabolites indole and indole‐3‐lactic acid in BRD are ligands of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) pathway, which slow down the development of CRC by activating intestinal AHR receptor gene expression.A moderate consumption of BRD is expected to become a potential strategy for the prevention and treatment of CRC by improving gut microbiota and metabolites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is heterogeneous disorder associated with aberrant functional connectivity within the default mode network (DMN). This study focused on data-driven identification and validation of potential DMN-pattern-based MDD subtypes to parse heterogeneity of the disorder. Methods: The sample comprised 1397 participants including 690 patients with MDD and 707 healthy controls (HC) registered from multiple sites based on the REST-meta-MDD Project in China. Baseline resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data was recorded for each participant. Discriminative features were selected from DMN between patients and HC. Patient subgroups were defined by K-means and principle component analysis in the multi-site datasets and validated in an independent single-site dataset. Statistical significance of resultant clustering were confirmed. Demographic and clinical variables were compared between identified patient subgroups. Results: Two MDD subgroups with differing functional connectivity profiles of DMN were identified in the multi-site datasets, and relatively stable in different validation samples. The predominant dysfunctional connectivity profiles were detected among superior frontal cortex, ventral medial prefrontal cortex, posterior cingulate cortex and precuneus, whereas one subgroup exhibited increases of connectivity (hyperDMN MDD) and another subgroup showed decreases of connectivity (hypoDMN MDD). The hyperDMN subgroup in the discovery dataset had age-related severity of depressive symptoms. Patient subgroups had comparable demographic and clinical symptom variables. Conclusions: Findings suggest the existence of two neural subtypes of MDD associated with different dysfunctional DMN connectivity patterns, which may provide useful evidence for parsing heterogeneity of depression and be valuable to inform the search for personalized treatment strategies.

OTUD7B, a multifunctional deubiquitinylase, plays an essential role in inflammation and proliferation signals. However, its function in lung cancer remains largely unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of OTUD7B in patients with lung adenocarcinoma and squamous carcinoma and to characterize its molecular mechanisms in lung cancer progression and metastasis. Two tissue microarrays containing 150 pairs of lung squamous carcinoma and matched adjacent non-cancer tissues, and one tissue microarray containing 75 pairs of lung adenocarcinoma and adjacent non-cancer tissues were included, and immunohistochemical staining was performed to assess the clinical relevance of OTUD7B in non-small cell lung cancer. OTUD7B is highly expressed in both lung squamous carcinoma and adenocarcinoma and correlates with a worse prognosis. MTT proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion assays and immunoblotting assay in NCI-H358 and A549 cell lines suggested that OTUD7B enhances EGF-induced Akt signal transduction and promotes lung cancer cell proliferation and migration. Immunohistochemical staining of large-scale lung cancer subjects (171 cases) revealed positive correlation of OTUD7B and VEGF expression. ELISA and tube formation assay revealed OTUD7B promotes VEGF production and angiogenesis. NCI-H358 tumor model demonstrated OTUD7B is required for lung tumor progression by facilitating activation of Akt signaling. These findings collectively identified OTUD7B as an independent predictive factor for the prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer and revealed OTUD7B promotes lung cancer cell proliferation and metastasis via Akt/VEGF signal pathway.