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Abstract China has experienced successive waves of dengue epidemics over the past decade. Nationwide data on 95,339 dengue cases, 89 surveillance sites for mosquito density and population mobility between 337 cities during 2013-20 were extracted. Weekly dengue time series including time trends and harmonic terms were fitted using seasonal regression models, and the amplitude and peak timing of the annual and semiannual cycles were estimated. A data-driven model-inference approach was used to simulate the epidemic at city-scale and estimate time-evolving epidemiological parameters. We found that the geographical distribution of dengue cases was expanding, and the main imported areas as well as external sources of imported cases changed. Dengue cases were predominantly concentrated in southern China and it exhibited an annual peak of activity, typically peaking in September. The annual amplitude of dengue epidemic varied with latitude (F = 19.62, P = 0.0001), mainly characterizing by large in southern cities and small in northern cities. The effective reproduction number R eff across cities is commonly greater than 1 in several specific months from July to November, further confirming the seasonal fluctuations and spatial heterogeneity of dengue epidemics. The results of this national study help to better informing interventions for future dengue epidemics in China.

ABSTRACT Background Avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV‐J) primarily affects poultry, particularly chickens, leading to tumourigenesis and immunosuppression, which results in substantial economic losses. It is important to note that ALV‐J is commonly found in indigenous chicken breeds in China, and the virus's vertical transmission characteristics present a significant threat to the preservation of local chicken breeds. Objectives The study aimed to investigate the characteristics and effects of the recombinant ALV‐J strain LY2021J, with a focus on its genetic composition and its potential influence on virulence and pathogenicity. Methods LY2021J was isolated using DF‐1 cells and validated by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and IFA. The proviral genome was amplified using segmented PCR and then spliced together using DNASTAR software. Genome‐wide genes, including gag, pol, gp85, and long terminal repeat (LTR), were compared. Recombination sites were analysed using RDP5 and SimPlot software. Pathogenicity was evaluated by monitoring symptoms and conducting examinations on SPF chickens. Results The outbreak of ALV‐J in China has caused significant economic losses in the poultry industry. Although largely controlled in white‐feather broilers and egg‐laying chickens, ALV‐J has spread to yellow‐feather broilers and local breeds. A strain, LY2021J, isolated from Hetian chickens, showed lower mortality despite severe dysplasia. Genetic analysis revealed high similarity between LY2021J and the Chinese strains JS14NT01 and NX0101, suggesting a shared origin. Recombination with strain ev‐1 and specific 3′ UTR deletions may explain LY2021J's reduced virulence. Continued monitoring and prevention strategies are essential to mitigate ALV‐J's impact.

β-elemene has been observed to exert inhibitory effects on a multitude of tumors, primarily through multiple pathways such as the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation and the induction of apoptosis. The present study is designed to elucidate the role and underlying mechanisms of β-elemene in the therapeutic intervention of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Both in vitro and in vivo experimental models corroborate the inhibitory potency of β-elemene on NSCLCs. Our findings indicate that β-elemene facilitates the maturation of miR-127-3p by inhibiting CBX8. Functioning as an upstream regulator of MAPK4, miR-127-3p deactivates the Akt/mTOR/p70S6K pathway by targeting MAPK4, thereby inducing autophagy in NSCLCs. Additionally, β-elemene augments the packaging of miR-127-3p into exosomes via SYNCRIP. Exosomal miR-127-3p further stimulates M1 polarization of macrophages by suppressing ZC3H4. Taken together, the detailed understanding of the mechanisms through which β-elemene induces autophagy in NSCLCs and facilitates M1 polarization of macrophages provides compelling scientific evidence supporting its potential utility in NSCLC treatment.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive inflammatory condition, and its clinical management primarily targets bronchodilation and anti-inflammatory therapy. However, these treatments often fail to directly address the progression of COPD, particularly its associated glucocorticoid (GC) resistance. This study elucidates the mechanisms underlying GC resistance in COPD and explores the therapeutic potential of allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) in modulating MRP1 transport. We assessed the levels of the oxidative stress product 4-HNE, HDAC2 protein, inflammatory markers, and pulmonary function indices using animal and cell models of GC-resistant COPD. The cascade effects of these factors were investigated through interventions involving AITC, protein inhibitors, and dexamethasone (DEX). Cigarette smoke-induced oxidative stress in COPD leads to the accumulation of the lipid peroxidation product 4-HNE, which impairs HDAC2 protein activity and diminishes GC-mediated anti-inflammatory sensitivity due to disrupted histone deacetylation. AITC regulates MRP1, facilitating the effective efflux of 4-HNE from cells, thereby reducing HDAC2 protein degradation and restoring dexamethasone sensitivity in COPD. These findings elucidate the mechanism of smoking-induced GC resistance in COPD and highlight MRP1 as a potential therapeutic target, as well as the enormous potential of AITC for combined GC therapy in COPD, promoting their clinical applications.

Abstract BackgroundPrior research has linked exposure to particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of ≤2.5 μm (PM2.52.5 ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess whether preconception TSH levels modulate the impact of PM2.5 MethodsThis cohort study was conducted in Guangdong, China, as a part of the National Free Pre-Pregnancy Checkups Project. PM2.52.52.5 ResultsA total of 633,516 women who delivered between January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2019, were included. In total, 34,081 (5.4%) of them had abnormal preconception TSH levels. During the entire pregnancy, each 10-μg/m32.52.5 ConclusionsPM2.52.5

BackgroundWeChat (Tencent) is one of the most important information sources for Chinese people. Relevantly, various health-related data are constantly transmitted among WeChat users. WeChat public accounts (WPAs) for health are rapidly emerging. Health-related WeChat public accounts have a significant impact on public health. Because of the rise in web-based health-seeking behavior, the general public has grown accustomed to obtaining cancer information from WPAs. Although WPAs make it easy for people to obtain health information, the quality of the information is questionable. ObjectiveThis study aims to assess the quality and suitability of cancer-related WeChat public accounts (CWPAs). MethodsThe survey was conducted from February 1 to 28, 2023. Based on the WPA monthly list provided by Qingbo Big Data, 28 CWPAs in the WeChat communication index were selected as the survey sample. Quality assessment of the included CWPAs was performed using the HONcode instrument. Furthermore, suitability was measured by using the Suitability Assessment of Materials. A total of 2 researchers conducted the evaluations independently. ResultsOf the 28 CWPAs, 12 (43%) were academic and 16 (57%) were commercial. No statistical difference was found regarding the HONcode scores between the 2 groups (P=.96). The quality of the academic and commercial CWPAs evaluated using the HONcode instrument demonstrated mean scores of 5.58 (SD 2.02) and 5.63 (SD 2.16), respectively, corresponding to a moderate class. All CWPAs’ compliance with the HONcode principles was unsatisfactory. A statistically significant difference between the 2 groups was observed in the Suitability Assessment of Materials scores (P=.04). The commercial WPAs reached an overall 55.1% (SD 5.5%) score versus the 50.2% (SD 6.4%) score reached by academic WPAs. The suitability of academic and commercial CWPAs was considered adequate. ConclusionsThis study revealed that CWPAs are not sufficiently credible. WPA owners must endeavor to create reliable health websites using approved tools such as the HONcode criteria. However, it is necessary to educate the public about the evaluation tools of health websites to assess their credibility before using the provided content. In addition, improving readability will allow the public to read and understand the content.

Abstract Background This study aims to explore the effect of nutritional impact symptoms (NIS) on oral nutritional supplements (ONS) energy intake and use days among head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. Methods A cross‐sectional study was conducted among HNC patients in a hospital in western China between January 2019 and June 2020. The NIS was from the Patient‐Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG‐SGA) scale. Mann–Whitney test was used to examine the differences between different kinds of NIS and ONS use days. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the effect of NIS on ONS energy intake. Results The most prevalent four NIS were no appetite (35.3%), dysphagia (29.4%), vomiting (13.2%) and oral pain (12.5%), respectively. All patients in the study were malnutrition. Patients with xerostomia or oral pain had less ONS use days than those without these symptoms. Patients with vomiting (OR 0.09, 95% CI 0.02–0.50) or pain (OR 0.15, 95% CI 0.02–0.89) were less likely to have ONS energy intake ≥400 kcal/day than those without these symptoms after adjusting the confounding factors. In addition, one‐point increase in total NIS score was associated with a lower proportion of ONS energy intake ≥400 kcal/day (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.59–0.99). Conclusion Xerostomia, oral pain, vomiting and pain should be strengthened and intervened to improve ONS use and nutritional status among HNC patients with malnutrition.

Abstract Ionic liquid salts (ILs) are generally recognized as additives in perovskite precursor solutions to enhance the efficiency and stability of solar cells. However, the success of ILs incorporation as additives is highly dependent on the precursor formulation and perovskite crystallization process, posing challenges for industrial‐scale implementation. In this study, a room‐temperature spin‐coated IL, n‐butylamine acetate (BAAc), is identified as an ideal passivation agent for formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI3) films. Compared with other passivation methods, the room‐temperature BAAc capping layer (BAAc RT) demonstrates more uniform and thorough passivation of surface defects in the FAPbI3 perovskite. Additionally, it provides better energy level alignment for hole extraction. As a result, the champion n–i–p perovskite solar cell with a BAAc capping layer exhibits a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 24.76%, with an open‐circuit voltage (Voc) of 1.19 V, and a Voc loss of ≈330 mV. The PCE of the perovskite mini‐module with BAAc RT reaches 20.47%, showcasing the effectiveness and viability of this method for manufacturing large‐area perovskite solar cells. Moreover, the BAAc passivation layer also improves the long‐term stability of unencapsulated FAPbI3 perovskite solar cells, enabling a T80 lifetime of 3500 h when stored at 35% relative humidity at room temperature in an air atmosphere.

IntroductionAvian leukosis, a viral disease affecting birds such as chickens, presents significant challenges in poultry farming due to tumor formation, decreased egg production, and increased mortality. Despite the absence of a commercial vaccine, avian leukosis virus (ALV) infections have been extensively documented, resulting in substantial economic losses in the poultry industry. This study aimed to develop alginate-chitosan composite microspheres loaded with ALV-J Gp85 protein (referred to as aCHP-gp85) as a potential vaccine candidate.MethodsSodium alginate and chitosan were utilized as encapsulating materials, with the ALV-J Gp85 protein serving as the active ingredient. The study involved 45 specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens to evaluate the immunological effectiveness of aCHP-gp85 compared to a traditional Freund adjuvant-gp85 vaccine (Freund-gp85). Two rounds of vaccination were administered, and antibody levels, mRNA expression of immune markers, splenic lymphocyte proliferation, and immune response were assessed. An animal challenge experiment was conducted to evaluate the vaccine’s efficacy in reducing ALV-J virus presence and improving clinical conditions.ResultsThe results demonstrated that aCHP-gp85 induced a significant and sustained increase in antibody levels compared to Freund-gp85, with the elevated response lasting for 84 days. Furthermore, aCHP-gp85 significantly upregulated mRNA expression levels of key immune markers, notably TNF-α and IFN-γ. The application of ALV-J Gp85 protein within the aCHP-gp85 group led to a significant increase in splenic lymphocyte proliferation and immune response. In the animal challenge experiment, aCHP-gp85 effectively reduced ALV-J virus presence and improved clinical conditions compared to other groups, with no significant pathological changes observed.DiscussionThe findings suggest that aCHP-gp85 elicits a strong and prolonged immune response compared to Freund-gp85, indicating its potential as an innovative ALV-J vaccine candidate. These results provide valuable insights for addressing avian leukosis in the poultry industry, both academically and practically.

Ginkgo biloba is a multifunctional composite tree species that has important ornamental, economic, medicinal, and scientific research value. In October 2023, the foliage of G. biloba on the campus of Nanjing Forestry University exhibited leaf blight. Black-brown necrotic spots were observed on a large number of leaves, with a disease incidence of 86%. After isolating a fungus from symptomatic leaves, pathogenicity was tested to satisfy Koch’s postulates. Using morphological features and multi-gene phylogenetic analyses of an internal transcribed spacer (ITS), elongation factor 1-alpha (EF1-α), and beta-tubulin (β-tub), the isolates YKB1-1 and YKB1-2 were identified as Nigrospora oryzae. N. oryzae was previously reported as an endophyte of G. biloba. However, this study shows it to be pathogenic to G. biloba, causing leaf spots. Two endophytic bacteria were isolated from asymptomatic leaves of diseased G. biloba trees, and their molecular identification was performed using 16S ribosomal DNA (16S rDNA). GBB1-2 was identified as Bacillus altitudinis, while GBB1-5 was identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. The screening and verification of endophytic bacteria provide a new strategy for the control of N. oryzae.

Swine Glasser’s disease, instigated by Haemophilus parasuis (H. parasuis), is a significant bacterial infection that causes substantial economic losses in pig farming operations. The role of mucosal immunity is pivotal in defending against H. parasuis. This study focused on the construction of PLGA microspheres that encapsulate the outer membrane protein OMP16 from H. parasuis (PLGA-OMP16) and evaluated their immunological effectiveness in a mouse model. After being intranasally immunized twice, the PLGA-OMP16 microspheres effectively induced IgAs in saliva and nasal and lung fluids. The PLGA-OMP16 microspheres also significantly increased the number of anti H. parasuis IgGs in serum. Furthermore, the PLGA-OMP16 microspheres triggered elevated levels of IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-γ. The mice vaccinated with PLGA-OMP16 showed a significant reduction in H. parasuis burden in the spleen and lungs following bacterial challenge. These results indicate that intranasal immunization using PLGA microspheres is a promising adjuvant delivery system for vaccines targeting H. parasuis.

Abstract Malnutrition is a prevalent and severe issue in hospitalized patients with chronic diseases. However, malnutrition screening is often overlooked or inaccurate due to lack of awareness and experience among health care providers. This study aimed to develop and validate a novel digital smartphone‐based self‐administered tool that uses facial features, especially the ocular area, as indicators of malnutrition in inpatient patients with chronic diseases. Facial photographs and malnutrition screening scales were collected from 619 patients in four different hospitals. A machine learning model based on back propagation neural network was trained, validated, and tested using these data. The model showed a significant correlation (p

The resource recovery and reuse of precious metal-laden wastewater is widely recognized as crucial for sustainable development. Superalloy electrolytes, produced through the electrolysis of superalloy scrap, contain significant quantities of precious metal ions, thereby possessing substantial potential for recovery value. This study first explores the feasibility of utilizing fungi to treat Superalloy electrolytes. Five fungi resistant to high concentrations of heavy metals in electrolytes (mainly containing Co, Cr, Mo, Re, and Ni) were screened from the soil of a mining area to evaluate their adsorption characteristics. All five fungi were identified by ITS sequencing, and among them, Paecilomyces lilacinus showed the best adsorption performance for the five heavy metals; therefore, we conducted further research on its adsorption characteristics. The best adsorption effect of Co, Cr, Mo, Re, and Ni was 37.09, 64.41, 47.87, 41.59, and 25.38%, respectively, under the conditions of pH 5, time 1 h, dosage 26.67 g/L, temperature 25–30°C, and an initial metal concentration that was diluted fivefold in the electrolyte. The biosorption of Co, Mo, Re, and Ni was better matched by the Langmuir model than by the Freundlich model, while Cr displayed the opposite pattern, showing that the adsorption process of P. lilacinus for the five heavy metals is not a single adsorption mechanism, but may involve a multi-step adsorption process. The kinetics study showed that the quasi-second-order model fitted better than the quasi-first-order model, indicating that chemical adsorption was the main adsorption process of the five heavy metals in P. lilacinus. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that the relevant active groups, i.e., hydroxyl (-OH), amino (-NH2), amide (- CONH2), carbonyl (-C = O), carboxyl (-COOH), and phosphate (PO43–), participated in the adsorption process. This study emphasized the potential application of P. lilacinus in the treatment of industrial wastewater with extremely complex background values.

Backgrounds: Global fertility rates continue to decline and sperm quality is a prime factor affecting male fertility. Both extreme cold and heat have been demonstrated to be associated with decreased sperm quality, but no epidemiological studies have considered human adaptation to long-term temperature. Our aim was to conduct a multi-center retrospective cohort study to investigate exposure-response relationship between temperature anomaly (TA) that deviate from long-term climate patterns and sperm quality. Methods: A total of 78,952 semen samples measured in 33,234 donors from 6 provincial human sperm banks in China were collected. This study considered heat and cold acclimatization to prolonged exposure in humans and explored the exposure-response relationship between TAs and sperm quality parameters (sperm concentrations, sperm count, progressive motility, progressive sperm count, total motility and total motile sperm count) during the hot and cold seasons, respectively. Linear mixed models and generalized linear models were built separately for specific centers to pool in a meta-analysis to obtain the pooled effect of TA on sperm quality, considering repeated measurements data structure and spatial heterogeneity. Results: We identified an inverted U-shaped exposure-response relationship between TA and sperm quality during the hot season. Significant negative effect of anomalous cold on sperm quality during the hot season was found after additional adjustment for Body mass index, marital status and childbearing history. The heat-related TA in hot season was significantly negatively associated with sperm concentration, progressive sperm count and total motile sperm count (all P-values

As the core component of a water conservancy sprinkler irrigation system, the self-priming jet pump is required not only to meet performance criteria for self-priming but also to align with the growing trend toward compactness in sprinkler irrigation systems. This paper takes the short compact self-priming jet pump as the research object whose injector is perpendicular to the main flow direction of the impeller inlet in order to reduce the volume of the jet pump and adopts the method of numerical simulation combined with experimental validation to study the effect of vertical arrangement of the injector on the hydraulic characteristics and operational instability of the self-priming jet pump. The results show that compared with the traditional hydraulic structure, the front injector leads to a significant reduction in the applicable flow range of the short jet pump. The hydraulic efficiency of the jet pump is notably inferior to that of traditional pumps across various flow conditions. This discrepancy arises from the eccentric rotation induced by the front-mounted injector, leading to pronounced circumferential asymmetry in the media flow within the individual impeller channels. Consequently, this asymmetry contributes to increased hydraulic losses in the flow channel. At the same time, the smaller overflow area within the injector enhances the turbulent flow characteristics of the medium, leading to increased instability of the subsequent flow field. This induces the generation of unwieldy low-frequency pressure pulsation signals within the flow channel, which are more readily propagated throughout the sprinkler system. In the practical application of short jet pumps, the circumferentially asymmetric distribution of the media flow in the impeller channel may result in the eccentric rotation of the rotor, thereby diminishing the service life of the pump. Furthermore, the complicated low-frequency signals will induce low-frequency vibration of the hydraulic sprinkler system, reducing the operational stability of the sprinkler system.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the main causes of cancer-related death worldwide, with a serious impact on human health and life. The identification of NSCLC at an early stage is a formidable task that frequently culminates in a belated diagnosis. LncRNA is a kind of noncoding RNA with limited protein-coding capacity, and its expression is out of balance in many cancers, especially NSCLC. A large number of studies have reported that lncRNA acts a vital role in regulating angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis, and the proliferation and apoptosis of tumor cells, affecting the occurrence and development of NSCLC. Abundant evidence demonstrates that lncRNAs may serve as potential biomarkers for NSCLC diagnosis and prognosis. In this review, we summarize the latest progress in characterizing the functional mechanism of lncRNAs involved in the development of NSCLC and further discuss the role of lncRNAs in NSCLC therapy and chemotherapy resistance. We also discuss the advantages, limitations, and challenges of using lncRNAs as diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers in the management of NSCLC.

IntroductionPhytophthora ramorum is a quarantine pathogen that causes leaf blight and shoot dieback of the crown, bark cankers and death on a number of both ornamental and forest trees, especially in North America and northern Europe, where it has produced severe outbreaks. Symptoms caused by P. ramorum can be confused with those by other Phytophthora and fungal species. Early and accurate detection of the causal pathogen P. ramorum is crucial for effective prevention and control of Sudden Oak Death.MethodsIn this study, we developed a P. ramorum detection technique based on a combination of recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) with CRISPR/Cas12a technology (termed RPACRISPR/ Cas12a).ResultsThis novel method can be utilized for the molecular identification of P. ramorum under UV light and readout coming from fluorophores, and can specifically detect P. ramorum at DNA concentrations as low as 100 pg within 25 min at 37°C.DiscussionWe have developed a simple, rapid, sensitive, unaided-eye visualization, RPA CRISPR/Cas12a-based detection system for the molecular identification of P. ramorum that does not require technical expertise or expensive ancillary equipment. And this system is sensitive for both standard laboratory samples and samples from the field.

IntroductionPhytophthora sojae is among the most devastating pathogens of soybean (Glycine max) and severely impacts soybean production in several countries. The resulting disease can be difficult to diagnose and other Phytophthora species can also infect soybean. Accurate diagnosis is important for management of the disease caused by P. sojae.MethodsIn this study, recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) in combination with the CRISPR/Cas12a system were used for detection of P. sojae. The assay was highly specific to P. sojae.ResultsThe test results were positive for 29 isolates of P. sojae, but negative for 64 isolates of 29 Phytophthora species, 7 Phytopythium and Pythium species, 32 fungal species, and 2 Bursaphelenchus species. The method was highly sensitive, detecting as little as 10 pg.µL−1 of P. sojae genomic DNA at 37°C in 20 min. The test results were visible under UV light and readout coming from fluorophores. In addition, P. sojae was detected from natural inoculated hypocotyls of soybean seedlings using this novel assay. The rapidity and accuracy of the method were verified using 30 soybean rhizosphere samples.DiscussionIn conclusion, the RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a detection assay developed here is sensitive, efficient, and convenient, and has potential for further development as a kit for monitoring root rot of soybean in the field.

We establish a statistical two-body fractal (STF) model to study the spectrum of J/ψ. J/ψ serves as a reliable probe in heavy-ion collisions. The distribution of J/ψ in hadron gas is influenced by flow, quantum and strong interaction effects. Previous models have predominantly focused on one or two of these effects while neglecting the others, resulting in the inclusion of unconsidered effects in the fitted parameters. Here, we study the issue from a new point of view by analyzing the fact that all three effects induce a self-similarity structure, involving a J/ψ-π two-meson state and a J/ψ, π two-quark state, respectively. We introduce modification factor qTBS and q2 into the probability and entropy of charmonium. qTBS denotes the modification of self-similarity on J/ψ, q2 denotes that of self-similarity and strong interaction between c and c¯ on quarks. By solving the probability and entropy equations, we derive the values of qTBS and q2 at various collision energies and centralities. Substituting the value of qTBS into distribution function, we successfully obtain the transverse momentum spectrum of low-pT J/ψ, which demonstrates good agreement with experimental data. The STF model can be employed to investigate other mesons and resonance states.

Dysregulated alternative splicing (AS) plays critical roles in driving cancer progression, and the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we demonstrated that PHF5A, a component of U2 small nuclear ribonucleoproteins, was frequently upregulated in colorectal cancer (CRC) samples and associated with poor prognosis. PHF5A promoted proliferation and metastasis of CRC cells in vitro and in vivo. Transcriptomic analysis identified PHF5A-regulated AS targets and pathways. Particularly, PHF5A induced TEAD2 exon 2 inclusion to activate YAP signaling, and interference of TEAD2-L partially reversed the PHF5A-mediated tumor progression. Pharmacological inhibition of PHF5A using pladienolide B had potent antitumor activity. Collectively, these data revealed the oncogenic role of PHF5A in CRC through regulating AS and established PHF5A as potential therapeutic target.

Summary: In this study, allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) was prepared as the dry powder inhalation by loading cyclodextrin metal-organic framework (CD-MOF) to enhance pulmonary delivery. β-CD-MOF and γ-CD-MOF both could be used to carry AITC with the optimal loading conditions (50˚C, nCD: nAITC = 1:7, 7 h). Compared with β-CD-MOF, γ-CD-MOF had more advantages in AITC loading due to its high drug loading and stable crystal morphology. The particle size and the mass median aerodynamic diameter of γ-CD-MOF-AITC were accorded with the aerodynamic characteristics of lung inhalation. γ-CD-MOF-AITC might be deposited effectively in the deep lung, and the release rate of AITC reached over 90% within 5 min. Meanwhile, it had good pulmonary local tolerance, permeability, and no significant toxicity. Such results indicated that γ-CD-MOF could be used as a dry powder inhaler carrier to deliver safely AITC to lung and increase its pulmonary absorption.

BackgroundCommunity clustering is one of the main features of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, few studies have been conducted on the clinical characteristics and clinical outcome of clustered cases and sporadic cases with COVID-19.MethodsWe recruited 41 community clusters confirmed with SARS-CoV-2 infection compared with 49 sporadic cases in Zhejiang Province from 19 January 2020 to 9 June 2020. Clinical data were collected to evaluate the clinical outcome and characteristics of community clusters.ResultsCompared to sporadic cases, clustered cases had significantly lower Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score {5.0 [interquartile range (IQR), 2.0–7.5] vs. 7.0 [IQR, 4.0–12.5]; P = 0.005}, less members in intensive care unit (ICU) (6 [14.6%] vs. 18 [36.7%]; P = 0.018), and shorter time of viral shedding in fecal samples (18.5 [IQR, 17.0–28.3] vs. 32.0 [IQR, 24.3–35.5]; P = 0.002). Univariable logistic regression revealed that older age (odds ratios 1.078, 95% confidence intervals 1.007–1.154, per year increase; p = 0.032), high APACHE II score (3.171, 1.147–8.76; P = 0.026), elevated interleukin-2 levels (3.078, 1.145–8.279; P = 0.026) were associated with ICU admission of clustered cases.ConclusionsCompared to sporadic cases, clustered cases exhibited milder disease severity and a better clinical outcome, which may be closely related to the management of early detection, early diagnosis, early treatment and early isolation of COVID-19.

ABSTRACT Oral microbial dysbiosis contributes to the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Numerous studies have focused on variations in the oral bacterial microbiota of patients with OSCC. However, similar studies on fungal microbiota, another integral component of the oral microbiota, are scarce. Moreover, there is an evidence gap regarding the role that microecosystems play in different niches of the oral cavity at different stages of oral carcinogenesis. Here, we catalogued the microbial communities in the human oral cavity by profiling saliva, gingival plaque, and mucosal samples at different stages of oral carcinogenesis. We analyzed the oral bacteriome and mycobiome along the health-premalignancy-carcinoma sequence. Some species, including Prevotella intermedia, Porphyromonas endodontalis, Acremonium exuviarum, and Aspergillus fumigatus, were enriched, whereas others, such as Streptococcus salivarius subsp. salivarius, Scapharca broughtonii, Mortierella echinula, and Morchella septimelata, were depleted in OSCC. These findings suggest that an array of signature species, including bacteria and fungi, are closely associated with oral carcinogenesis. OSCC-associated diversity differences, species distinction, and functional alterations were most remarkable in mucosal samples, not in gingival plaque or saliva samples, suggesting an urgent need to define oral carcinogenesis-associated microbial dysbiosis based on the spatial microbiome. IMPORTANCE Abundant oral microorganisms constitute a complex microecosystem within the oral environment of the host, which plays a critical role in the adjustment of various physiological and pathological states of the oral cavity. In this study, we demonstrated that variations in the “core microbiome” may be used to predict carcinogenesis. In addition, sample data collected from multiple oral sites along the health-premalignancy-carcinoma sequence increase our understanding of the microecosystems of different oral niches and their specific changes during oral carcinogenesis. This work provides insight into the roles of bacteria and fungi in OSCC and may contribute to the development of early diagnostic assays and novel treatments.

Fermented food has been demonstrated to increase immunity, protect against pathogens, and improve cancer survival. However, the relationship between fermented vegetables and immunotherapy has not been tested. We conducted a randomized controlled trial. The experimental group (n = 36) was supplemented with fermented vegetable enzyme every day for 2 cycles of immunotherapy, while the control group (n = 36) received a normal diet. The treatment response, nutritional and immunological indexes were collected at baseline and after 2 cycles of therapy. After comparing the baseline and the follow-up CT, no significant difference was found between the two groups. The hemoglobin, FT4, AST, albumin, LDL-C, and IgG indexes were better in the experimental group, meaning the side effects of immunotherapy in esophageal cancer patients. Fermented foods can alleviate the side effects of esophageal cancer immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy to a certain extent, such as anemia, malnutrition, and elevated AST.

ObjectiveThere is a lack of evidence regarding the outcomes of oral nutrition supplementation (ONS) in patients with esophageal cancer (EC) who received chemotherapy treatment. The aim of this study was to perform a retrospective cohort study by comparing an adequate ONS group with a control group.Materials and methodsThe study was performed in the Oncology Department of West China Hospital of Sichuan University. Patients at nutritional risk were identified from March 2016 to June 2019, and divided into an ONS group and a control group. To control for potential confounding variables, the propensity score method with matching was carried out. The main outcomes were length of stay (LOS) and hospitalization cost. Secondary outcomes included the incidence of pulmonary infection and myelosuppression.ResultsOut of 5,316 hospitalizations, a one-to-one matched sample was created (N = 229). The pathological tumor, node, metastasis (pTNM) stage of patients ranged from II to IV. A total of 69 patients received ONS, and 160 patients did not receive ONS. The incidence of myelosuppression in the ONS group and the control group was 4.3 vs. 17.4% (P = 0.014), respectively. However, ONS was associated with a 2 days increase in LOS, from 7 to 9 days (P < 0.000) and a hospitalization cost increase of $731, from $1134 to $1865 (P = 0.005). No statistical differences were observed in the incidence of pulmonary infection between the two groups. Further subgroup analysis based on body mass index (BMI) showed that at BMI ≤ 18.5 kg/m2, the incidence of myelosuppression in the ONS group was lower than that in the control group (3.0 vs. 20.8%, P = 0.022). At BMI > 18.5 kg/m2, no statistical differences were observed in the incidence of myelosuppression between the two groups.ConclusionAlthough ONS increases hospitalization cost and LOS, it may be associated with reduced myelosuppression incidence, especially for patients with a BMI ≤ 18.5 kg/m2.

Phytophthora cinnamomi causes crown and root wilting in more than 5,000 plant species and represents a significant threat to the health of natural ecosystems and horticultural crops. The early and accurate detection of P. cinnamomi is a fundamental step in disease prevention and appropriate management. In this study, based on public genomic sequence data and bioinformatic analysis of several Phytophthora, Phytopythium, and Pythium species, we have identified a new target gene, Pcinn13739; this allowed us to establish a recombinase polymerase amplification–lateral flow dipstick (RPA-LFD) assay for the detection of P. cinnamomi. Pcinn13739-RPA-LFD assay was highly specific to P. cinnamomi. Test results for 12 isolates of P. cinnamomi were positive, but negative for 50 isolates of 25 kinds of Phytophthora species, 13 isolates of 10 kinds of Phytopythium and Pythium species, 32 isolates of 26 kinds of fungi species, and 11 isolates of two kinds of Bursaphelenchus species. By detecting as little as 10 pg.µl−1 of genomic DNA from P. cinnamomi in a 50-µl reaction, the RPA-LFD assay was 100 times more sensitive than conventional PCR assays. By using RPA-LFD assay, P. cinnamomi was also detected on artificially inoculated fruit from Malus pumila, the leaves of Rhododendron pulchrum, the roots of sterile Lupinus polyphyllus, and the artificially inoculated soil. Results in this study indicated that this sensitive, specific, and rapid RPA-LFD assay has potentially significant applications to diagnosing P. cinnamomi, especially under time- and resource-limited conditions.

Freshwater lake eutrophication is a global concern causing adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems. The degradation of lake aquatic–terrestrial ecotones, which are the transitional zones between terrestrial and water ecosystems, contributes to eutrophication. These ecotones play vital roles in nutrient cycling, runoff control, biodiversity conservation, and habitat provision. In the past three decades, the research on lake aquatic–terrestrial ecotones has focused on techniques for managing contaminants and runoff purification. This paper reviews the recent studies on the restoration ability of eutrophic water bodies in lake aquatic–terrestrial ecotones in recent years regarding three aspects: the establishment, restoration mechanism, and improvement of restoration function. In addition, ecological factors such as lakeshore height, water level, surface runoff, shallow groundwater level, and rainfall intensity have impacts on the restoration capacity of lake aquatic–terrestrial ecotones.

Balanophora laxiflora Hemsl has been traditionally used to treat liver cancer. Eight ingredients were identified in the ethanol extracts of Balanophora laxiflora Hemsl (BLE) by UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS analysis. BLE inhibited viability and migration of HepG2 and Hepa1-6 cells, but triggered negligible apoptosis. BLE also impeded glycolysis, glucose uptake and lactate generation. Hexokinase II (HKII), a key enzyme involved in glycolysis, was significantly repressed by BLE. HKII plasmid in HepG2 enhanced cell migration, glucose uptake and cell proliferation, which were all abrogated by BLE pre-treatment. BLE incubation also down-regulated the migration and glycolysis in HKII-overexpressed Hepa1-6 cells. The anti-cancer effect of BLE in vivo was evaluated. BLE inhibited the metastasis of H22 cells in lung and alleviated orthotopic liver cancer induced by diethylnitrosamine in rats. BLE also repressed tumor growth in mice bearing HepG2 cell xenografts. Therefore, BLE can be considered as a new drug candidate for the treatment of liver cancer.

A collaborative recommender system based on a latent factor model has achieved significant success in the field of personalized recommender systems. However, the latent factor model suffers from sparsity problems. It is also limited in its ability to extract non-linear data features, resulting in poor recommendation performance. Inspired by the success of deep learning in different application areas, we incorporate deep learning into our proposed method to overcome the above problems. In this paper, we propose a dual deep learning and embedding-based latent factor model that considers dense user and item feature vectors. The model combines the existing deep learning and latent factor models to extract deep abstractions and non-linear feature representations of the data for rating prediction. The core idea is to map the dense user and item vectors generated by embedding techniques into dual, fully connected deep neural network architectures. In these two separate architectures, it learns the non-linear representation of the input data. The method then predicts the rating score by integrating the factors obtained from the two independent structures using the inner product. From the experimental result, we observe that the proposed model outperformed state-of-the-art existing models in real-world datasets (MovieLens ML-100K and ML-1M).

Introducing a cathode modification layer is an effective method to obtaining highly efficient organic solar cells (OSCs) and improving their stability. Herein, we innovatively introduced a double cathode modification layer (SnO2/ZnO) into a non-fullerene OSCs based on PM7:IT-4F and explored the mechanisms. The effects of SnO2/ZnO film on charge carriers transfer in OSCs are studied via a variety of electrical testing methods including Photo-CELIV measurements. As a result, a cathode buffer layer with low recombination rate and high carrier mobility could be introduced, which is beneficial to electron transport and collection. The champion device based on the double cathode modification layer acquires an efficiency of 12.91%, obviously higher than that of the single cathode modification layer (SnO2 or ZnO) device. Moreover, The SnO2/ZnO double layer is demonstrated to be of great help in the improvement of device stability, and our work could provide a new inspiration for the preparation of OSCs cathode modification layer.

Phytophthora cinnamomi is a destructive pathogen causing root rot and dieback diseases on hundreds of economically and ecologically important plant species. Effective transformation systems enable modifications of candidate genes to understand the pathogenesis of P. cinnamomi. A previous study reported a polyethylene glycol and calcium dichloride (PEG/CaCl2)-mediated protoplast transformation method of P. cinnamomi. However, the virulence of the transformants was compromised. In this study, we selected ATCC 15400 as a suitable wild-type isolate for PEG/CaCl2 transformation using the green fluorescent protein after screening 11 P. cinnamomi isolates. Three transformants, namely, PcGFP-1, PcGFP-3, and PcGFP-5, consistently displayed a green fluorescence in their hyphae, chlamydospores, and sporangia. The randomly selected transformant PcGFP-1 was as virulent as the wild-type isolate in causing hypocotyl lesions on lupines. Fluorescent hyphae and haustoria were observed intracellularly and intercellularly in lupine tissues inoculated with PcGFP-1 zoospores. The potential application of this improved transformation system for functional genomics studies of P. cinnamomi is discussed.

Fungal endocarditis (FE) is a rare but fatal disease. The incidence of infective endocarditis (IE) in hemodialysis patients with catheters is thought to be obviously higher than that in the general population. We reported a case of IE caused by Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus) in a 36-year-old woman on hemodialysis. Because the blood cultures were persistently negative, so we used mNGS (Metagenomic next generation sequencing) for early clinical diagnosis. After treatment with voriconazole, the patient's condition improved rapidly. She continued oral voriconazole treatment 1 year after discharge and is in good condition. The diagnosis and treatment strategies of FE in hemodialysis patients were discussed.

Under polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) pollution conditions (149.17–187.54 mg/kg), we had found the dominant flora of PAHs by observing the response of the soil microbial community after planting purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench). In this study, pot experiments were conducted in a growth chamber to explore the changes in the rhizosphere microbial community structure during remediation of heavily PAH-contaminated soil using purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench). The phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) content in the soil was measured during four periods before and after planting, and the results showed that: (i) at 120 days, E. purpurea can regulate the microbial community structure but had no significant effect on soil microbial diversity, (ii) at 120 days, the number of PLFAs characterizing actinomycetes, bacteria, and fungi increased, and both Gram-negative bacteria and Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) were significant with the observed PLFA level (p < 0.05), and (iii) the results indicated that AMF and Gram-negative bacteria represent some of the main factors that can promote the degradation of PAHs. The results obtained in this work are important to future research on PAH-degradation-functional genes and degradation mechanisms of the selection of flora.

Abstract Background Transcription factor forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) is a crucial regulator in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression. However, the regulatory mechanisms causing dysregulation of FOXM1 in CRC remain unclear. Methods Dual-luciferase reporter assay was conducted to determine FOXM1 as miR-6868-5p target. The function of miR-6868-5p and FOXM1 in CRC angiogenesis was verified in vitro. Intratumoral injection model was constructed to explore the effect of miR-6868-5p on angiogenesis in vivo. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were used to assess direct binding of H3K27me3 to the miR-6868 promoter. Results Through integrated analysis, we identified miR-6868-5p as the potent regulator of FOXM1. Overexpression of miR-6868-5p in CRC cells inhibited the angiogenic properties of co-cultured endothelial cells, whereas silencing of miR-6868-5p had opposite effects. In vivo delivery of miR-6868-5p blocked tumor angiogenesis in nude mice, resulting in tumor growth inhibition. Rescue of FOXM1 reversed the effect of miR-6868-5p on tumor angiogenesis. Further mechanistic study revealed that FOXM1 promoted the production of IL-8, which was responsible for the miR-6868-5p/FOXM1 axis-regulated angiogenesis. Reciprocally, FOXM1 inhibited miR-6868-5p expression through EZH2-mediated H3K27me3 on miR-6868-5p promoter, thus forming a feedback circuit. Clinically, the level of miR-6868-5p was downregulated in CRC tissues and inversely correlated with microvessel density as well as levels of FOXM1 and IL-8 in tumor specimens. Conclusions Together, these data identify miR-6868-5p as a novel determinant of FOXM1 expression and establish a miR-6868-5p/FOXM1 regulatory circuit for CRC angiogenesis, providing potential target for CRC treatment.

Phytophthora hibernalis, the causal agent of brown rot of citrus fruit, is an important worldwide pathogen and a quarantine pest in China. Current diagnosis of the disease relies on disease symptoms, pathogen isolation and identification by DNA sequencing. However, symptoms caused by P. hibernalis can be confused with those by other Phytophthora and fungal species. Moreover, pathogen isolation, PCR amplification and sequencing are time-consuming. In this study, a rapid assay including 20-min recombinase polymerase amplification targeting the Ypt1 gene and 5-min visualization using lateral flow dipsticks was developed for detecting P. hibernalis. This assay was able to detect 0.2 ng of P. hibernalis genomic DNA in a 50-µL reaction system. It was specific to P. hibernalis without detection of other tested species including P. citrophthora, P. nicotianae, P. palmivora and P. syringae, four other important citrus pathogens. Using this assay, P. hibernalis was also detected from artificially inoculated orange fruits. Results in this study indicated that this assay has the potential application to detect P. hibernalis at diagnostic laboratories and plant quarantine departments of customs, especially under time- and resource-limited conditions.

Early and accurate detection of the causal pathogen Phytophthora sojae is crucial for effective prevention and control of root and stem rot and seedling damping-off of soybean. In the present study, a novel isothermal amplification assay was developed for detecting P. sojae. This 25 min assay included a two-step approach. First, a pair of novel primers, PSYPT-F and PSYPT-R were used to amplify a specific fragment of the Ypt1 gene of P. sojae in a 20 min recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) step. Second, lateral flow dipsticks (LFD) were used to detect and visualize RPA amplicons of P. sojae within 5 min. This RPA-LFD assay was specific to P. sojae. It yielded negative detection results against 24 other Phytophthora, one Globisporangium, and 14 fungal species. It was also found to be sensitive, detecting as low as 10 pg of P. sojae genomic DNA in a 50-μL reaction. Furthermore, P. sojae was detected from artificially inoculated hypocotyls of soybean seedlings using this novel assay. In a comparative evaluation using 130 soybean rhizosphere samples, this novel assay consistently detected P. sojae in 55.4% of samples, higher than other three methods, including loop-mediated isothermal amplification (54.6%), conventional PCR (46.9%), and leaf-disc baiting (38.5–40.0%). Results in this study indicated that this rapid, specific, and sensitive RPA-LFD assay has potentially significant applications to diagnosing Phytophthora root and stem rot and damp-off of soybean, especially under time- and resource-limited conditions.

Necrosis- and ethylene-inducing-like proteins (NLP) are widely distributed in eukaryotic and prokaryotic plant pathogens and are considered to be important virulence factors. We identified, in total, 70 potential Phytophthora sojae NLP genes but 37 were designated as pseudogenes. Sequence alignment of the remaining 33 NLP delineated six groups. Three of these groups include proteins with an intact heptapeptide (Gly-His-Arg-His-Asp-Trp-Glu) motif, which is important for necrosis-inducing activity, whereas the motif is not conserved in the other groups. In total, 19 representative NLP genes were assessed for necrosis-inducing activity by heterologous expression in Nicotiana benthamiana. Surprisingly, only eight genes triggered cell death. The expression of the NLP genes in P. sojae was examined, distinguishing 20 expressed and 13 nonexpressed NLP genes. Real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction results indicate that most NLP are highly expressed during cyst germination and infection stages. Amino acid substitution ratios (Ka/Ks) of 33 NLP sequences from four different P. sojae strains resulted in identification of positive selection sites in a distinct NLP group. Overall, our study indicates that expansion and pseudogenization of the P. sojae NLP family results from an ongoing birth-and-death process, and that varying patterns of expression, necrosis-inducing activity, and positive selection suggest that NLP have diversified in function.

The transcriptome of the oomycete plant pathogen Phytophthora sojae was profiled at ten different developmental and infection stages based on a 3′-tag digital gene-expression protocol. More than 90 million clean sequence tags were generated and compared with the P. sojae genome and its 19,027 predicted genes. A total of 14,969 genes were detected, of which 10,044 were deemed reliable because they mapped to unambiguous tags. A comparison of the whole-library genes' expression patterns suggested four groups: i) mycelia and zoosporangia, ii) zoospores and cysts, iii) germinating cysts, and iv) five infection site libraries (IF1.5 to IF24h). The libraries from the different groups showed major transitional shifts in gene expression. From the ten libraries, 722 gene expression–pattern clusters were obtained and the top 16 clusters, containing more than half of the genes, comprised enriched genes with different functions including protein localization, triphosphate metabolism, signaling process, and noncoding RNA metabolism. An evaluation of the average expression level of 30 pathogenesis-related gene families revealed that most were infection induced but with diverse expression patterns and levels. A web-based server named the Phytophthora Transcriptional Database has been established.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways are universal and evolutionarily conserved signal transduction modules in all eukaryotic cells. In this study, PsSAK1, which encodes a stress-activated MAPK of Phytophthora sojae, was identified. PsSAK1 is highly conserved in oomycetes, and it represents a novel group of MAPK due to its pleckstrin homology domain. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that PsSAK1 expression was upregulated in zoospores and cysts and during early infection. In addition, its expression was induced by osmotic and oxidative stress mediated by NaCl and H2O2, respectively. To elucidate the function, the expression of PsSAK1 was silenced using stable transformation of P. sojae. The silencing of PsSAK1 did not impair hyphal growth, sporulation, or oospore production but severely hindered zoospore development, in that the silenced strains showed quicker encystment and a lower germination ratio than the wild type. PsSAK1-silenced mutants produced much longer germ tubes and could not colonize either wounded or unwounded soybean leaves. Our results indicate that PsSAK1 is an important regulator of zoospore development and pathogenicity in P. sojae.

Veterinary drug residues, particularly traces of β2-agonists, can cause various kinds of harmful impact to the environment and public health. Here, a sensitive chemiluminescence (CL) method incorporated with a flow injection analysis is developed for the determination of two β2-agonists [i.e., salbutamol (SAL) and terbutaline (TEB)]. The system is based on the CL reaction of Ni(IV) complex with luminol in alkaline solutions, whereas SAL and TEB can significantly enhance CL intensities. Under optimum conditions, CL intensities are proportional to the SAL and TEB concentration in the range of 1.0 × 10−9 M to 5.0 × 10−7 M and 1.0 × 10−9 M to 1.0 × 10−7 M, respectively. The limits of detection (3σ) are 1.0 × 10−11 M for TEB, and 1.3 × 10−11 for SAL respectively. Relative standard deviations (n = 11) are less than 2% for 5.0 × 10−8 M SAL and TEB. Possible reaction mechanisms for the CL system are suggested based on the CL system spectra, Ni(IV) complex oxidation characteristics, and electron spin resonance (ESR) techniques. The proposed method has been applied to the analysis of urine and swine feed samples with satisfactory results.