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Objective To investigate the differential diagnostic value of dual-energy CT electron cloud density （Rho） and effective atomic number （Z） between benign and malignant thyroid nodules. Methods Imaging data of 68 patients with pathologically confirmed thyroid nodules at Lingnan Hospital， the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from March to December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Among the 68 cases， 31 patients were diagnosed with benign thyroid nodules and 37 with malignant thyroid nodules. All patients underwent plain CT scan combined with enhanced dual-energy CT scan of the neck in the first week before surgery. The arterial-phase and venous-phase electron cloud density maps and effective atomic number maps were reconstructed in the post-processing workstation. Rho and Z values of benign and malignant thyroid nodules were compared by Mann-Whitney U test. Statistically significant dual-energy parameters were analyzed and their differential diagnostic efficiency in diagnosing benign and malignant thyroid nodules was calculated using the receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curve. Results Arterial- and venous-phase Z values and venous-phase Rho were not statistically significant between benign and malignant thyroid nodules （all P > 0.05）， whereas arterial-phase Rho value was statistically significant between benign and malignant thyroid nodules （P < 0.05）. The arterial-phase Rho of malignant thyroid nodules was higher than that of the benign thyroid nodules， with an area under the ROC curve （AUC） of 0.711（95%CI 0.586-0.836）， a sensitivity of 73.0%， and a specificity of 64.5%. The differential diagnostic efficiency was the highest when the arterial-phase Rho was 38.6 Hu. Conclusion Dual-energy CT arterial-phase Rho mapping has certain value in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules.

In hypertrophic scars, the differentiation and migration of fibroblasts are influenced by the extracellular matrix microenvironment, which includes factors such as stiffness, restraint, and tensile force. These mechanical stresses incite alterations in cell behavior, accompanied by cytoskeletal protein reorganization. However, the role of nucleo-skeletal proteins in this context remains underexplored. In this study, we use a polyacrylamide hydrogel (PAA) to simulate the mechanical stress experienced by cells in scar tissue and investigate the impact of Emerin on cell behavior. We utilize atomic force microscopy (AFM) and RNA interference technology to analyze cell differentiation, migration, and stiffness. Our findings reveal that rigid substrates and cellular restriction elevate Emerin expression and diminish differentiation. Conversely, reducing Emerin expression leads to attenuated cell differentiation, where stiffness and constraining factors exert no notable influence. Furthermore, a softening of cells and an enhanced migration rate are also markedly observed. These observations indicate that variations in nuclear skeletal proteins, prompted by diverse matrix microenvironments, play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of hypertrophic scars (HSs). This research offers novel insights and a reference point for understanding scar fibrosis formation mechanisms and preventing fibrosis.

ObjectiveTo investigate the menstrual conditions of women infected with COVID-19 in Shanghai and analyze the influencing factors.MethodsFrom December 2022 to March 2023， menstrual data from 281 women infected with COVID-19 in Shanghai were collected with a questionnaire survey， including usual menstrual characteristics， the most recent menstrual period post-infection， symptoms of infection， and medication usage. According to the crossover period between the menstrual period and the infection period of the respondents， the samples were divided into two groups for comparative analysis： those whose menstrual and infection periods overlapped （positive group） and those whose menstruation started after conversion to virus-negative （negative conversion group）.ResultsAmong the 281 respondents， 196 （65.8%） experienced menstrual changes. Among them， 145 （51.6%） had changes in menstrual volume， color and texture， and 109 （38.8%） had changes in menstrual duration or cycle. Decreased menstrual volume （22.1%）， darker color （23.49%）， thicker texture （21.0%）， increased blood clots （16.7%）， and prolonged duration （21.8%） were observed in both groups. The rate of changes in menstrual volume， color， and texture was higher in the positive group （56.8%， 69/110） than that in negative group （37.3%， 76/171） （P

Objective: This study aims to investigate the psychological distress and its influencing factors in patients with biliary tract malignant tumors, alongside the development of a predictive model. Methods: A total of 219 patients diagnosed with biliary tract malignant tumors who were admitted to the Department of Liver Surgery at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center from July 2021 to May 2023, were selected using a convenience sampling method. Research tools involve psychological distress management screening tools, a demographic questionnaire, self-rating anxiety and depression scales, and the Chinese version of the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale. Bootstrap method was utilized for repeated sampling to identify relevant factors influencing psychological distress in biliary tract cancer patients. The R software was employed to create a nomogram model, and the model's accuracy and predictive performance were assessed using the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test. Results: The average score of psychological distress among the 219 patients was (3.91 ± 2.44), with a psychological distress detection rate of 54.8%. Regression model results indicated that factors such as the presence of distant metastasis, comorbidity with other major diseases, poor sleep quality, anxiety, and severity of anxiety and depression were the primary influencers of psychological distress. Conclusion: The detection rate of psychological distress in patients with biliary tract malignant tumors is notably high. The predictive model constructed in this study exhibits good predictive efficacy and clinical value, providing valuable reference for healthcare professionals in developing targeted intervention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The variable domain of IgNAR shows great potential in biological medicine and therapy. IgNAR has been discovered in sharks and rays, with the nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) IgNARs being the most extensively studied among sharks. Despite being identified in nurse sharks over 30 years ago, the characteristics and genomic localization of IgNAR remain poorly defined, with significant gaps even in the latest released genome data. In our research, we localized the IgNAR loci in the nurse shark genome and resolved the previously missing regions. We identified three IgNAR loci, designated GcIgNAR1, GcIgNAR2, and GcIgNAR3, with only GcIgNAR1 and GcIgNAR2 being expressed. GcIgNAR1 and GcIgNAR2 belong to type I and type II IgNARs, respectively, and each exhibits several different isoforms. Most nurse shark IgNARs possess five constant domains. However, we found transcripts of GcIgNAR1 and GcIgNAR2 lacking two constant domains, C4 and C5, which differ from the IgNAR of the whitespotted bamboo shark. The protein structures of GcIgNAR1 and GcIgNAR2, generated by AlphaFold3, confirmed the accuracy of the IgNAR loci we identified. Our findings advance scientific understanding of IgNAR in nurse sharks and facilitate future research and medical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Ulp1 is a vital regulator of the cell cycle, with its absence leading to G2/M phase arrest in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This study aims to investigate the role of Ulp1 in cell cycle regulation in Pichia pastoris and to elucidate its mechanisms of action, particularly through the modulation of the gene INO1. Methods: We generated Ulp1 knockout strains in Pichia pastoris using the FLP-FRT system and performed RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to analyze gene expression changes. We assessed cell proliferation in Ulp1 knockout and INO1 overexpressing strains, as well as the effects of inositol supplementation. Results: Our findings revealed significant downregulation of INO1 and other genes in Ulp1 knockout strains. Importantly, overexpression of INO1 restored cell proliferation, indicating that Ulp1 regulates this process via INO1. Notably, supplementation with exogenous inositol did not rescue cell proliferation, suggesting that the enzymatic activity of INO1 is not required for Ulp1's regulatory function. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that Ulp1 modulates cell proliferation in Pichia pastoris through INO1, independent of its enzymatic activity. These insights enhance our understanding of Ulp1's role in cell cycle regulation and open new avenues for exploring the molecular mechanisms governing yeast cell division. Further investigations are warranted to delineate the intricate regulatory pathways involved in this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thinning, a core forest management measure, is implemented to adjust stand density and affect soil biogeochemical processes by changing biotic and abiotic properties. However, the responses of soil organic carbon (SOC), soil enzyme activity (EEA), and stoichiometry (EES) in plantations in hilly zones to thinning have received little attention. To test the hypothesis that thinning has regulatory effects on the SOC pool, EEA, and EES characteristics, field sampling and indoor analysis were conducted 9 years after thinning. Thinning significantly influenced the soil properties, especially in the topsoil, and significantly greater SOC and mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) contents were observed in the high-density treatment. The EEAs in the topsoil tended to increase with increasing density. SOC, MAOC, and C to phosphorus (C:P) had the greatest influence on the soil EEAs and EESs. Microbial metabolic limitations tended to change from nitrogen to phosphorus with increasing density. The soil properties, SOC fractions, available nutrients, and elemental stoichiometry drove microbial metabolic limitations and were significantly positively correlated with β-glucosidase, elemental stoichiometry, and EES. This study deepens our understanding of EEAs, SOC, and nutrient dynamics under thinning practices and elucidates how forest tending measures affect soil biogeochemical processes, thereby providing ideas for developing strategies to mitigate the adverse impacts of human interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]