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Abstract Salt stress is one of the most important abiotic stress factors limiting crop production. Therefore, improving the stress resistance of seeds is very important for crop growth. Our previous studies have shown that using microcapsules encapsulating bacteria (Pontibacter actiniarum DSM 19842) as seed coating for wheat can alleviate salt stress. In this study, the genes and pathways involved in the response of wheat to salt stress were researched further. The results showed that compared with the control, the coating can improve osmotic stress and decrease oxidative damage by increasing the content of proline (29.1%), the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) (94.2%), peroxidase (POD) (45.7%) and catalase (CAT) (3.3%), reducing the content of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) (39.8%) and malondialdehyde (MDA) (45.9%). In addition, ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing data showed that 7628 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, and 4426 DEGs up-regulated, 3202 down-regulated in the coated treatment. Many DEGs related to antioxidant enzymes were up-regulated, indicating that coating can promote the expression of antioxidant enzyme-related genes and alleviate oxidative damage under salt stress. The differential gene expression analysis demonstrated up-regulation of 27 genes and down-regulation of 20 genes. Transcription factor families, mostly belonging to bHLH, MYB, B3, NAC, and WRKY. Overall, this seed coating can promote the development of sustainable agriculture in saline soil.

Abstract Background The aim was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) of endoscopy among gastroenterologists in the diagnosis and management of IBD in China. Methods A multicenter cross-sectional KAP study was performed. The questionnaire was developed and improved using feedback and opinions from a team of experienced IBD specialist professors and then distributed and collected online. In addition, eight fellow gastroenterologists participated in an IBD endoscopy training program were asked to review endoscopic images, and the consistency of the endoscopic scores before and after training was calculated. Results A total of 193 participants from 12 provincial-level administrative regions encompassing both the Northern and Southern parts of China completed the study questionnaire. The median age of the participants was 40 (36, 45) years, with the majority being female (70.5%). The median professional experience as gastroenterologists was 11 (7, 17) years, while the median experience as endoscopists was 8 (3, 15) years. The median knowledge score was 8 out of 10 points for single-choice questions; however, most gastroenterologists believed that some concepts in these endoscopic indices were vague, including those regarding deep ulcerations, ulcerated surfaces, affected surfaces and narrowing in open-answer questions. The UCEIS and SES-CD were considered most consistent with clinical activity score in the evaluation of UC and CD, respectively. IBD subspecialists and gastroenterologists who had previously received IBD endoscopy screening training were more likely to use endoscopic indices (p

The genus Calyptothecium, currently comprising ca. 30 species worldwide, is the largest genus within the family Pterobryaceae. However, a comprehensive taxonomic revision of this genus is lacking. Calyptothecium philippinense Broth. 1899, a moss species widely found in the tropical regions of Asia, is characterized by the unique rugose leaves and large auriculate leaf bases. In this study, we sequenced the complete chloroplast genome (CPG) of C. philippinense using the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 platform. The length of the CPG of C. philippinense was determined to be 124,513 bp, with an AT content of 74%. The CPG of C. philippinense exhibited a standard quadripartite structure, consisting of one small single-copy (SSC) region (18,541 bp), one large single-copy region (LSC) (87,222 bp), and two inverted repeat (IR) regions (9375 bp each). A total of 126 genes from the CPG of C. philippinense were annotated, including 82 protein-coding genes, eight ribosomal RNA genes, and 36 transfer RNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis based on the CPGs of 25 bryophyte taxa revealed that the three Pterobryaceae species C. philippinense, Calyptothecium hookeri (Mitt.) Broth. and Pterobryopsis orientalis (Müll. Hal.) M. Fleisch. formed a robust clade. The findings could facilitate more accurate classification and help elucidate evolutionary relationships within Calyptothecium.

According to the Species Catalogue of China, Tibet, China, has more than 1,000 species of bryophytes, showing its remarkably high biodiversity. Amongst them, the Polytrichaceae is one of the largest family, with six genera and 25 species, one subspecies and two varieties reported previously.Based on a field survey and specimen identification, the following species have been newly recorded in the bryoflora of Tibet, namely Oligotrichum obtusatum Broth., Pogonatum contortum (Menzies ex Brid.) Lesq. and Polytrichum sphaerothecium (Besch.) Müll. Hal.

Abstract Background Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a common and serious risk in elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA), making preoperative detection crucial. Despite this, identifying OA patients at high risk for preoperative DVT and appropriately targeting them for venous ultrasound screening remains a challenge. There is limited research-based evidence on the risk factors for preoperative DVT in elderly patients with end-stage OA. We examined the incidence of and risk factors for preoperative DVT in elderly patients with end-stage OA scheduled for total knee arthroplasty. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the demographic data (age, sex, body mass index, current smoking, alcohol consumption, walking status, and Barthel index score), medical history, and laboratory test indices of 1411 patients with end-stage OA aged ≥ 60 years scheduled for total knee arthroplasty from January 2015 to December 2018. Risk factors for preoperative DVT were evaluated by univariate and multivariate logistic analyses. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to determine optimal cut-off values. Results The incidence of preoperative DVT was 4.5% (63 of 1411 patients). Seven independent risk factors were correlated with preoperative DVT in the multivariate logistic regression: age (odds ratio [OR], 1.073; P = 0.002), D-dimer concentration (OR, 1.173; P = 0.003), hyperlipidemia (OR, 2.038; P = 0.045), atrial fibrillation (OR, 4.004; P = 0.033), chronic renal failure (OR, 6.732; P = 0.008), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (OR, 8.721; P = 0.001), and walking status (wheelchair) (OR, 2.697; P = 0.002). The optimal cut-off values for predicting preoperative DVT were 0.585 µg/mL for the D-dimer concentration (area under the curve [AUC], 0.769; P 0.585 µg/mL), high age (> 72.5 years), hyperlipidemia, atrial fibrillation, chronic renal failure, COPD, and walking status (wheelchair).

Objective: Segmentectomy has been widely performed in clinical practice, which required a comprehensive understanding of anatomical structure. In right lower lobe, studies of superior segment (S6) were relatively small-sized. And only one study focusing on subsuperior segment (S∗) was published, which showed different results with previous ones. As the close relationship between S6 and S∗, variation types and their prevalence rate were reported, aiming to providing larger-size study of S6 and showing new evidence on anatomical structure of S∗. Methods: 800 CT imaging data were collected from patients in our hospital. Three-dimensional reconstruction was performed after quality check. All images were screened according to the definition of corresponding segment and anatomical variations were analyzed. Results: The proportion of S6 variation types in the largest scale (718 patients) was reported with no significant difference compared to previous studies and newly classified subtypes of two-stem V6. The prevalence rate for S∗ in right lower lobe reached 28.3 % (203/718) with similar proportion of three types. Variation types and origins of pulmonary artery were analyzed in detail, finding two-stem A∗ only be observed in type III B∗. Conclusions: Through this study, the variation types and incidence rate of S6 were confirmed, and a different result of S∗ has been provided as well. The feasibility of the current classification standards and proposed new subclassifications were verified. The results would be a supplement to lung segmental anatomy and could advance researches in the future.

Abstract Background To compare clinical outcomes of trifocal intraocular lens in patients with and without prior history of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). Methods A retrospective study included patients who underwent bilateral cataract surgery and PanOptix trifocal intraocular lens (IOLs) implantation. Patients were grouped: Group A for patients with history of LASIK and Group B for patients without history of LASIK. Postoperative outcome measures comprised distance, intermediate, and near visual acuity, manifest refraction, defocus curve, contrast sensitivity, visual quality, patient satisfaction, and the rate of spectacle independence. Results A total of 288 eyes (144 patients) were included: 132 eyes in Group A and 156 eyes in Group B. At 6 months post-surgery, patients of both groups achieved a continuous satisfying visual acuity from 33 cm to distance. 73% of eyes in Group A and 75% of eyes in Group B were within ± 0.50 D of emmetropia (P > 0.05). The percentages of eyes within ± 1.00 D of emmetropia were 98% for Group A and 96% for Group B (P > 0.05). The total scores of satisfaction were 52.58 ± 3.46 for Group A and 53.23 ± 3.46 for Group B (P > 0.05). Most of patients (98% for Group A, 99% for Group B) were able to be spectacle independence for daily living. 53% of patients in Group A and 51% in Group B experiencd mild to moderate negative visual symptoms, which made it a little or moderate difficult to drive at night. Conclusions Cataract patients with and without history of LASIK could safely undergo implantation of the PanOptix IOLs, which results in precise refractive outcomes and satisfactory visual acuity. Although contrast sensitivity decreased and some negative visual symptoms were observed, patients’ satisfaction was generally high due to the high rate of spectacles independence. There were no statistically significant differences between the study groups.

Abstract Erectile dysfunction (ED) is prevalent among males experiencing fertility challenges, yet attitudes towards actively treating ED in this group are under-researched. From a cohort of 1256 men with reproductive needs, 303 were identified with ED. The survey encompassed 296 respondents who correctly completed the second questionnaire, revealing that 50.3% sought ED treatment, with higher ED severity increasing the likelihood of seeking treatment. Infertile men were more likely to seek treatment than those with pregnancy loss (OR 3.18, 95% CI 1.74–5.83). Men with normal semen parameters were more open to ED therapy (OR 3.02, 95% CI 1.69–5.36), whereas those undergoing Assisted Reproduction Treatment were less inclined (OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.18–0.58). PDE-5 inhibitors (PDE-5Is) were preferred by 51.0% of those seeking treatment, with 29.7% of men with pregnancy loss and 60.1% of infertile men choosing PDE-5Is as their first option. Concerns included potential adverse effects of PDE-5Is on fetal health (78.7% of men with pregnancy loss) and on sperm quality (44.2% of infertile men). In conclusion, the different fertility requirements, semen parameters, and whether received ART are significant factors influencing the acceptance of treatment, PDE-5Is utilization among individuals in men with couple pregnancy loss is notably limited.

Abstract Background As one of the most common traffic-related pollutants, diesel exhaust (DE) confers high risk for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. However, its impact on pulmonary vessels is still unclear. Methods To explore the effects of DE exposure on pulmonary vascular remodeling, our study analyzed the number and volume of small pulmonary vessels in the diesel engine testers (the DET group) from Luoyang Diesel Engine Factory and the controls (the non-DET group) from the local water company, using spirometry and carbon content in airway macrophage (CCAM) in sputum. And then we constructed a rat model of chronic DE exposure, in which 12 rats were divided into the DE group (6 rats with 16-week DE exposure) and the control group (6 rats with 16-week clean air exposure). During right heart catheterization, right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) was assessed by manometry. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in lung tissues and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured by qRT-PCR and ELISA, respectively. Histopathological analysis for cardiovascular remodeling was also performed. Results In DET cohort, the number and volume of small pulmonary vessels in CT were positively correlated with CCAM in sputum (P

Abstract Humans can be exposed to multiple pollutants in the air and surface water. These environments are non-static, trans-boundary and correlated, creating a complex network, and significant challenges for research on environmental hazards, especially in real-world cancer research. This article reports on a large study (377 million people in 30 provinces of China) that evaluated the combined impact of air and surface water pollution on cancer. We formulate a spatial evaluation system and a common grading scale for co-pollution measurement, and validate assumptions that air and surface water environments are spatially connected and that cancers of different types tend to cluster in areas where these environments are poorer. We observe “dose–response” relationships in both the number of affected cancer types and the cancer incidence with an increase in degree of co-pollution. We estimate that 62,847 (7.4%) new cases of cancer registered in China in 2016 were attributable to air and surface water pollution, and the majority (69.7%) of these excess cases occurred in areas with the highest level of co-pollution. The findings clearly show that the environment cannot be considered as a set of separate entities. They also support the development of policies for cooperative environmental governance and disease prevention.

Two new species of Eupolyphaga (E. bicolor Han, Che & Wang, sp. nov. and E. nigra Han, Che & Wang, sp. nov.) and six new species of Pseudoeupolyphaga (P. flava Han, Che & Wang, sp. nov., P. deficiens Han, Che & Wang, sp. nov., P. magna Han, Che & Wang, sp. nov., P. longiseta Han, Che & Wang, sp. nov., P. latizona Han, Che & Wang, sp. nov., and P. baimaensis Han, Che & Wang, sp. nov.) are described and illustrated. The female external genitalia and spermathecae of these two genera are reported and the role of these characters in species delimitation is discussed.

Abstract Most of the existing methods for harmonic analysis are from frequency‐domain perspective. In fact, the essential factor for generating harmonics is non‐linear characteristic or time‐varying property. Therefore, the harmonic generation mechanism and the harmonic source location method are investigated from the time domain perspective in this paper. Firstly, a general model of non‐harmonic sources is established. The non‐harmonic sources will match well with the proposed general model while the harmonic source will not. Then correlation coefficient that reflects compliance degree between each device and the general model is defined for distinguishing harmonic sources from non‐harmonic sources. On this basis, a novel time‐domain harmonic source location method is proposed. Numerous simulations and experiments have demonstrated that the proposed method has good performance under fluctuations, saturations, pre‐distortions, transient process, and resonances. The defined correlation coefficient can reflect non‐linearity/time‐varying degree of the harmonic source, which can be used for evaluating harmonic emission level of each harmonic source. On this basis, a simple harmonic responsibility division method is proposed, which is immune to possible fluctuations, pre‐distortions, saturations, resonances, and impedance variation.

Abstract Constant-frequency ultrasonic treatment helped to improve seed germination. However, variable-frequency ultrasonic treatment on maize seed germination were rarely reported. In this study, maize seeds were exposed to 20–40 kHz ultrasonic for 40 s. The germination percentage and radicle length of maize seeds increased by 10.4% and 230.5%. Ultrasonic treatment also significantly increased the acid protease, α-amylase, and β-amylase contents by 96.4%, 73.8%, and 49.1%, respectively. Transcriptome analysis showed that 11,475 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found in the ultrasonic treatment and control groups, including 5,695 upregulated and 5,780 downregulated. Metabolic pathways and transcription factors (TFs) were significantly enriched among DEGs after ultrasonic treatment. This included metabolism and genetic information processing, that is, ribosome, proteasome, and pyruvate metabolism, sesquiterpenoid, triterpenoid, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and oxidative phosphorylation, as well as transcription factors in the NAC, MYB, bHLH, WRKY, AP2, bZIP, and ARF families. Variable-frequency ultrasonic treatment increased auxin, gibberellin, and salicylic acid by 5.5%, 37.3%, and 28.9%, respectively. Abscisic acid significantly decreased by 33.2%. The related DEGs were upregulated and downregulated to varying degrees. Seed germination under the abiotic stress conditions of salt stress (NaCl solution), drought (PEG solution), and waterlogging (water-saturated sand bed) under ultrasonic treatment were promoted, radicle length was significantly increased by 30.2%, 30.5%, and 27.3%, respectively; and germination percentage by 14.8%, 20.1%, and 21.6%, respectively. These findings provide new insight into the mechanisms through ultrasonic to promote maize seed germination.

Herein, novel amperometric based biosensor using a MXene-Pt nanocomposite was fabricated and utilized for lactate analysis. MXene-Pt provided a desirable matrix for the anchoring of lactate oxidase (LOD). Excellent electron transfer occurred at the interface between the receptor and glassy carbon electrode (GCE) due to the synergetic effect between MXene layers and Pt nanoparticles (NPs). The uniform distribution of small sized Pt NPs gives rise to superior electron transfer kinetics, thereby maximizing the lactate detection abilities of the LOD-MXene-Pt modified GCE. The novel sensing platform displays this linear response in buffer medium (pH = 7.4) within the range of concentrations of 0.02–0.75 mM, and the detection limit of 10 µM based on 3σ was obtained for lactate detection. The accurate analysis of lactate in physiological samples indicated that the presence method is a very specific tool. It was used for successful measurement of lactate concentration in saliva samples during sport practice. The proposed strategy is convenient and less expensive, quick analysis time and offers an efficient procedure of lactate monitoring in the common clinical tests.

Abstract Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a critical inflammatory condition linked to diabetes, affecting millions worldwide. This study employs Mendelian randomization (MR) to explore the causal relationship between immune cell signatures and DN, analyzing over 731 immune signatures and incorporating data from 1400 metabolites to investigate potential mediators. Despite no statistically significant influence of DN on immunophenotypes after FDR correction, some phenotypes with unadjusted low P-values warranted mention, including CD34 on Hematopoietic Stem Cell (Myeloid cell Panel), CD45 on CD33− HLA DR− (Myeloid cell Panel). Furthermore, three immunophenotypes were identified to have a significant impact on DN risk: CD16−CD56 on HLA DR+ NK (TBNK Panel), CD45 on HLA DR+ T cell (TBNK Panel), and CD33dim HLA DR+ CD11b+ AC (Myeloid cell Panel). Our findings underscore the critical role of immune cells in DN, highlighting potential mediators and offering new insights into its underlying mechanisms.

Abstract Background Numerous studies have confirmed the involvement of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in various physiological processes, including cellular death and tissue damage. Recently, we reported that EVs derived from ischemia-reperfusion heart exacerbate cardiac injury. However, the role of EVs from healthy heart tissue (heart-derived EVs, or cEVs) on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (MI/R) injury remains unclear. Results Here, we demonstrated that intramyocardial administration of cEVs significantly enhanced cardiac function and reduced cardiac damage in murine MI/R injury models. cEVs treatment effectively inhibited ferroptosis and maintained mitochondrial homeostasis in cardiomyocytes subjected to ischemia-reperfusion injury. Further results revealed that cEVs can transfer ATP5a1 into cardiomyocytes, thereby suppressing mitochondrial ROS production, alleviating mitochondrial damage, and inhibiting cardiomyocyte ferroptosis. Knockdown of ATP5a1 abolished the protective effects of cEVs. Furthermore, we found that the majority of cEVs are derived from cardiomyocytes, and ATP5a1 in cEVs primarily originates from cardiomyocytes of the healthy murine heart. Moreover, we demonstrated that adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC)-derived EVs with ATP5a1 overexpression showed much better efficacy on the therapy of MI/R injury compared to control ADSC-derived EVs. Conclusions These findings emphasized the protective role of cEVs in cardiac injury and highlighted the therapeutic potential of targeting ATP5a1 as an important approach for managing myocardial damage induced by MI/R injury.

To explore the protective effects of water extracts from different Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) mycelium on ethanol-induced hepatocyte injury in LO2 cells. The effects of water extracts obtained from different G. lucidum mycelium against ethanol-induced damage to LO2 cells were examined in this research. Cell survival rate, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured in a liver injury model employing ethanol-induced LO2 cells, to assess the preventive effects of G. lucidum mycelium water extracts against ethanol-induced damage. The results showed that water extracts from the mycelium of all seven strains exhibited varying degrees of protective effects. Among them, the water extract from strains G0119 and G0154 had the best protective effect. Compared with the model group, the intervention of water extracts significantly increased LO2 cell survival (P

In recent years, exploration breakthroughs have been successively achieved in the strata deeper than the fifth member of the Lower Ordovician Majiagou Formation in the Ordos Basin, revealing its tremendous exploration potential. With the deployment of high-precision 3D seismic data and the deepening of oil and gas exploration, the control exerted by faults on the gas reservoirs in the deeper layers of the fifth member has become increasingly prominent. Based on high-precision 3D seismic data, this study systematically characterized the geometric features of faults in the Gaojiabao area, dissected typical fault structural patterns, established fault formation and evolution models, and, in conjunction with drilling and testing data, discussed the control of faults on the differential enrichment of gas reservoirs in the deeper layers of the Majiagou Formation. The study yielded the following insights: Faults in the Lower Paleozoic of the Gaojiabao area in the Ordos Basin exhibit distinct stratified deformation characteristics, with the two sets of gypsum-salt rocks in the third and fifth members being major contributors to fault stratification. The Lower Paleozoic in the Gaojiabao area mainly develops strike-slip faults with compressional and torsional properties and thrust faults. Through studying the structural morphology and fault patterns of the Gaojiabao area, it is inferred that the Yanshan tectonic movement was the most significant phase of reformation affecting the faults formed during the Caledonian tectonic movement. The coupling of the structural uplift period with the oil-gas charging period in the Gaojiabao area means that faults play multiple roles, including improving reservoirs, connecting source rocks, and controlling traps.

Abstract Chronic constipation, diarrhea, and fecal incontinence have high incidence, potential disability, and socioeconomic impact, imposing a heavy burden on the quality of life. We aim to explore the association between cardiovascular health (CVH) and bowel health from National Health and Nutrition Survey 2005–2010. CVH is assessed using Life’s Essential 8 (LE8). Chronic constipation, chronic diarrhea, and fecal incontinence are assessed based on Bristol Stool Form Scale classification, bowel movements, and bowel leakage. Better health behaviors (odds ratio [OR]: 0.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.53–0.94, p = 0.02) and worse health factors (OR: 1.45, CI 1.03–2.04, p = 0.04) were associated with less chronic constipation. Less chronic diarrhea is correlated with better CVH (OR: 0.53, 95% CI 0.35–0.79, p = 0.003) and health factors (OR: 0.61, CI 0.46–0.81, p = 0.001). Meanwhile, the proportion of chronic diarrhea significantly decreases when the health behaviors score exceeds 59.42. Lower fecal incontinence was associated with better health behaviors (OR: 0.63, CI 0.44–0.90, p = 0.01) CVH. Better CVH and health behaviors are both linked to lower all-cause mortality in participants with chronic constipation and chronic diarrhea. A higher health behaviors score is also associated with less all-cause mortality in patients with fecal incontinence. Maintaining CVH at the population level contributes to intestinal health, achieving the dual management of both while saving on healthcare costs. However, further prospective research is needed to confirm these associations.

Abstract We aimed to identify the severity and duration of COVID-19 infection on complications after allo-HSCT. Enrolled 179 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 were categorized into long-term infection (> 18 days, n = 90) or short-term infection group (≤ 18 days, n = 89) according to the median duration of COVID-19. The severity of COVID-19 was categorized as asymptomatic infection, mild, moderate, severe, and critical illness according to guidelines of National Institutes of Health. Particularly, severe illness and critical illness were classified as serious infection. Asymptomatic infection, mild illness and moderate illness were classified as non-serious infection. The 150-day probabilities of poor graft function (PGF), cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonia and non-relapse mortality (NRM) were significantly higher in long-term infection group. The 150-day probabilities of CMV pneumonia and NRM after COVID-19 were higher in serious infection group. The 150-day probabilities of overall survival (OS) was significantly lower in long-term and serious infection group. In multivariable analysis, the severity of COVID-19 was associated with NRM and OS, and the duration of COVID-19 was associated with PGF. In summary, our data reported that the severity and duration of COVID-19 were associated with several complications and contribute to poor outcomes after allo-HSCT.

Abstract Background Severe pneumonia is one of the most important causes of mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Adenovirus (ADV) is a significant cause of severe viral pneumonia after allo-HSCT, and we aimed to identify the clinical manifestations, prognostic factors, and outcomes of ADV pneumonia after allo-HSCT. Methods Twenty-nine patients who underwent allo-HSCT at the Peking University Institute of Hematology and who experienced ADV pneumonia after allo-HSCT were enrolled in this study. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to estimate the probability of overall survival (OS). Potential prognostic factors for 100-day OS after ADV pneumonia were evaluated through univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Results The incidence rate of ADV pneumonia after allo-HSCT was approximately 0.71%. The median time from allo-HSCT to the occurrence of ADV pneumonia was 99 days (range 17–609 days). The most common clinical manifestations were fever (86.2%), cough (34.5%) and dyspnea (31.0%). The 100-day probabilities of ADV-related mortality and OS were 40.4% (95% CI 21.1%-59.7%) and 40.5% (95% CI 25.2%-64.9%), respectively. Patients with low-level ADV DNAemia had lower ADV-related mortality and better OS than did those with high-level (≥ 106 copies/ml in plasma) ADV DNAemia. According to the multivariate analysis, high-level ADV DNAemia was the only risk factor for intensive care unit admission, invasive mechanical ventilation, ADV-related mortality, and OS after ADV pneumonia. Conclusions We first reported the prognostic factors and confirmed the poor outcomes of patients with ADV pneumonia after allo-HSCT. Patients with high-level ADV DNAemia should receive immediate and intensive therapy.

Abstract Background Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)signaling-mediated smoking-associated pulmonary vascular remodeling (PVR) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of group 3 pulmonary hypertension (PH). And G protein pathway suppressor 2 (GPS2) could suppress G-protein signaling such as Ras and MAPK, but its role in cigarette smoking -induced PVR (CS-PVR) is unclear. Methods An in vivo model of smoke-exposed rats was constructed to assess the role of GPS2 in smoking-induced PH and PVR. In vitro, the effects of GPS2 overexpression and silencing on the function of human pulmonary arterial smooth cells (HPASMCs) and the underlying mechanisms were explored. Results GPS2 expression was downregulated in rat pulmonary arteries (PAs) and HPASMCs after CS exposure. More importantly, CS-exposed rats with GPS2 overexpression had lower right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP), right ventricular hypertrophy index (RVHI), and wall thickness (WT%) than those without. And enhanced proliferation and migration of HPASMCs induced by cigarette smoking extract (CSE) can be evidently inhibited by overexpressed GPS2. Besides, GPS2siRNA significantly enhanced the proliferation, and migration of HPASMCs as well as activated Ras and Raf/ERK signaling, while these effects were inhibited by zoledronic acid (ZOL). In addition, GPS2 promoter methylation level in rat PAs and HPASMCs was increased after CS exposure, and 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine (5-aza) inhibited CSE-induced GPS2 hypermethylation and downregulation in vitro. Conclusions GPS2 overexpression could improve the CS-PVR, suggesting that GPS2 might serve as a novel therapeutic target for PH-COPD in the future. Graphical Abstract

Highlights Evaporation and solution two-step hybrid process are used to fabricate conformal growth of perovskite film on textured silicon substrates. F-PMAI additive enlarged the perovskite grains, induced the (111) preferred orientation and passivated interface defects. We obtained a champion efficiency of 30.05% for a monolithic perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell based on a silicon thin film tunneling junction.

Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) can induce the formation of chicken primordial germ cells (PGCs) in vitro; however, its regulatory mechanism in poultry remains unknown. This study aimed to use RNA-seq to analyze PGCs in chicken embryos and iPGCs induced by BMP4 in vitro, clarify the internal regulatory factors of PGCs, analyze the mechanism of the formation of PGCs, and lay a theoretical foundation for the further optimization of PGCs induction systems. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs), PGCs and iPGCs induced by BMP4 in vitro were collected. The transcriptional maps of the three cell types were studied using RNA-seq. The results showed 6,142 genes differentially expressed between PGCs and iPGCs, of which 2,728 were upregulated in iPGCs and 3,414 were downregulated in iPGCs. Compared to that in ESCs, BMP4 was significantly upregulated in PGCs and iPGCs. KEGG results showed that both the TGF-β and Wnt signaling pathways were activated during the formation of PGCs in vitro and in vivo, and the activation was more significant during iPGCs induced by BMP4. The expression of Nodal, an inhibitory factor of TGF-β signaling, was significantly decreased in PGCs and iPGCs, but was not expressed in iPGCs, which further supports our conclusion. Additionally, the Lysosome and PI3K-AKT signaling pathways were significantly enriched in PGCs and iPGCs, respectively. Further, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results showed that the number of autolysosomes was significantly higher after the addition of BMP4, which is consistent with the KEGG results. Furthermore, the number of PGCs was significantly reduced after ATG14 was interfered in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, this study screened out the key signaling pathways during the formation of PGCs, aiming to provide help for enriching the mechanism network regulating PGCs formation in chicken and laying a theoretical foundation for further improving the efficiency of inducing PGCs in vitro.

BackgroundSkin photoaging induced by ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation manifests as skin roughness, desquamation, pigmentation, and wrinkle formation. Current treatments, such as sunscreen, hormones, and antioxidants, have limitations and side effects. Traditional Chinese Medicine Hibisci Mutabilis Folium (HMF), or Mu-Fu-Rong-Ye in Chinese name, refers to the dried leaves of the plant Hibiscus mutabilis L., which belongs to the Malvaceae family. It has been used traditionally to treat acute mastitis, parotitis, neurodermatitis, burns. The reported activities of HMF include anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. However, the therapeutic potential of HMF in preventing and treating UV-induced skin photoaging remains unexplored.ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the protective effects of HMF extract (EHMF) against UV-induced skin photoaging and the underlying mechanisms of action, by using network pharmacology and experimental verification.MethodsNetwork pharmacology was employed to identify the effective chemical components of EHMF. Potential targets were identified via PPI network analysis. Representative compounds were characterized using UPLC-MS/MS. In vitro validation involved assessing HaCaT cell viability, observing live/dead cell staining through fluorescence microscopy, and measuring inflammatory factors using ELISA. For in vivo validation, a UV-induced skin photoaging mice model was treated transdermally with EHMF or Methotrexate daily for 7 days. Dermatitis severity, skin morphology, and collagen fiber pathology were evaluated. Inflammatory cytokine and protein expression in dorsal skin lesions was confirmed using Elisa Kits, Western blot and immunohistochemistry.ResultsA total of 22 active ingredients of EHMF were identified. GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analyses revealed a focus on inflammatory signaling pathways. In vitro experiments showed that EHMF significantly reduced UV-induced inflammatory factors in HaCaT cells and improved cell survival rates. In vivo, EHMF alleviated back skin lesions in UV-exposed mice, reducing epidermal and dermal thickening and pathological inflammatory cell infiltration. It also decreased abnormal MMP-9 expression and collagen fiber proliferation, along with levels of inflammatory factors like TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17, and EGFR. Western blot and immunohistochemistry results indicated that the over-activation of the AKT-STAT3 signaling pathway was inhibited.ConclusionEHMF effectively reduced UV-induced skin damage, inflammation, and wrinkles, providing strong support for its clinical application as a dermatological agent.

We aimed to identify dynamic changes of lysine (K)-specific methyltransferase 2A partial tandem duplications (KMT2A-PTD) before and after haploidentical donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HID HSCT) and explore the prognostic value of pre-transplantation levels of KMT2A-PTD in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) receiving HID HSCT. Consecutive 64 AML patients with KMT2A-PTD positivity at diagnosis receiving HID HSCT were included in this study. Patients with KMT2A-PTD ≥1% before HSCT had a slower decrease of KMT2A-PTD after HID HSCT. Patients with KMT2A-PTD ≥1% before HID HSCT had a higher cumulative incidence of relapse (36.4%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.3%–66.5%) at 2 years after HSCT than those with KMT2A-PTD

Background and objective: The use of mesenchymal stem cells for heart failure treatment has gained increasing interest. However, most studies have relied on a single injection approach, with no research yet confirming the effects of multiple administrations. The present trial aims to investigate the safety and efficacy of multi-intravenous infusion of umbilical cord-mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Methods: The PRIME-HFrEF trial is a single-center, prospective, randomized, triple-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of multi-intravenous infusion of UC-MSCs in HFrEF patients. A total of 40 patients meeting the inclusion criteria for HFrEF were enrolled and randomized 1:1 to the MSC group or the placebo group. Patients enrolled will receive intravenous injections of either UC-MSCs or placebo every 6 weeks for three times. Both groups will be followed up for 12 months. The primary safety endpoint is the incidence of serious adverse events. The primary efficacy endpoint is a change in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) measured by left ventricular opacification (LVO) with contrast echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 12 months. The secondary endpoints include a composite of the incidence of death and re-hospitalization caused by heart failure at the 12th month, serum NT-proBNP, growth stimulation expressed gene 2 (ST2), and a change of right ventricular structure and function. Conclusions: The PRIME-HFrEF study is designed to shed new light on multiple UC-MSC administration regimens for heart failure treatment.

ABSTRACT: In chicken, primordial germ cells (PGC) are crucial for the preservation and manipulation of genetic resources in poultry production. The HiS and FAcs culture systems are two important methods for the in vitro cultivation of chicken PGCs. The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze the two cultivation systems for PGCs (His and FAcs culture systems) to assess their efficacy and applicability in supporting PGC growth, maintaining PGC characteristics, and lineage transmission ability. The study found that both HiS and FAcs culture systems could maintain the basic biological characteristics of chicken PGCs, including the simultaneous expression of pluripotency and reproductive marker genes, as well as the presence of abundant glycogen granules. Subsequently, we identified 2,145 differentially expressed genes (DEG) through RNA sequencing. GO and KEGG analysis revealed a large number of DEGs enriched in the cell adhesion and calcium ion binding pathways, and the analysis found that these genes maintained a higher level in HiS-PGCs. Further personalized analysis found that the regulatory genes for maintaining PGC pluripotency were highly expressed in HiS-PGCs, while germ cell-related genes showed similar expression in both systems. Additionally, through RNA sequencing data and cell proliferation ability, it was found that PGCs in the FAcs system had a higher proliferation rate and a faster cell cycle. Finally, it was discovered that the expression of cell migration-related genes was maintained at a higher level in HiS-PGCs, but the migration efficiency of HiS-PGCs did not show a significant difference compared to FAcs-PGCs. These results suggest that both HiS and FAcs culture systems can maintain the proliferation and basic characteristics of chicken PGCs, but differences exist in cell proliferation, pluripotency regulation, and cell adhesion. These findings provide new information for optimizing PGC cultivation systems and are important for the preservation and genetic improvement of chicken PGCs.

BackgroundGiven the high prevalence of fibrotic interstitial lung abnormalities (ILAs) post-COVID-19, this study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of quantitative CT features in predicting fibrotic ILAs at 3-month follow-up.MethodsThis retrospective study utilized cohorts from distinct clinical settings: the training dataset comprised individuals presenting at the fever clinic and emergency department, while the validation dataset included patients hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia. They were classified into fibrotic group and nonfibrotic group based on whether the fibrotic ILAs were present at follow-up. A U-Net-based AI tool was used for quantification of both pneumonia lesions and pulmonary blood volumes. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and multivariate analysis were used to assess their predictive abilities for fibrotic ILAs.ResultsAmong the training dataset, 122 patients (mean age of 68 years ±16 [standard deviation], 73 men), 55.74% showed fibrotic ILAs at 3-month follow-up. The multivariate analysis identified the pneumonia volume [PV, odd ratio (OR) 3.28, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.20–9.31, p = 0.02], consolidation volume (CV, OR 3.77, 95% CI: 1.37–10.75, p = 0.01), ground-glass opacity volume (GV, OR 3.38, 95% CI: 1.26–9.38, p = 0.02), pneumonia mass (PM, OR 3.58, 95% CI: 1.28–10.46, p = 0.02), and the CT score (OR 12.06, 95% CI: 3.15–58.89, p 0.05). And the area under the curve (AUC) values were PV (0.79), GV (0.78), PM (0.79), CV (0.80), and the CT score (0.77). The validation dataset, comprising 45 patients (mean age 67.29 ± 14.29 years, 25 males) with 57.78% showing fibrotic ILAs at follow-up, confirmed the predictive validity of these parameters with AUC values for PV (0.86), CV (0.90), GV (0.83), PM (0.88), and the CT score (0.85). Additionally, the percentage of blood volume in vessels

The largemouth bass is a native species of North America that was first introduced to mainland China in the 1980s. In recent years, it has been extensively farmed in China due to its high meat quality and broad adaptability. In this study, we collected growth trait data from 1,066 largemouth bass individuals across two populations. We generated an average of approximately 7× sequencing coverage for these fish using Illumina sequencers. From the samples, we identified 2,695,687 SNPs and retained 1,809,116 SNPs for further analysis after filtering. To estimate the number of genome-wide effective SNPs, we performed LD pruning with PLINK software and identified 77,935 SNPs. Our GWAS revealed 15 SNPs associated with six growth traits. We identified a total of 24 genes related to growth, with three genes—igf1, myf5, and myf6—directly associated with skeletal muscle development and growth, located near the leading SNP on chromosome 23. Other candidate genes are involved in the development of tissues and organs or other physiological processes. These findings provide a valuable set of SNPs and genes that could be useful for genetic breeding programs aimed at enhancing growth in largemouth bass.

As an important part of the geological environment assessment in recent years, mine interpretation has attracted broad attention in the area of sustainable development. As an object that can be captured by remote sensing of multispectral imageries, the open-pit (OP) mine environment has the characteristics of irregular distribution, diverse shapes, and varied textures and colors, which makes interpretation a challenge and limits the accuracy of OP mine mapping. Moreover, the development of computational vision technology enables efficient and fast interpretation. However, there is a lack of open semantic segmentation datasets for OP mining areas. In this paper, we introduce a dataset for OP mining areas in the West Hubei metallogenic belt (DOWHM) for OP mine element interpretation. DOWHM includes 24 active OP mining zones in China’s Hubei Province, with a total of 1875 satellite images of 224×224 pixels at a resolution of 0.6 m. Second, we design a ConvFormer model for fine classification and mapping in OP mining areas. The ConvFormer model adopts an encoder featuring a large convolutional kernel. The decoder of the ConvFormer model employs a multi-branch approach, integrating modules of convolutional neural network (CNN) and self-attention mechanism. In this manner, ConvFormer effectively captures both global–local information. This solves the problem of the misclassification of elements in the prediction results, and especially has advantages in road classification. In the experiments, ConvFormer achieved mIoU of 68.18% on DOWHM. Compared to other popular semantic segmentation models, ConvFormer improved the overall mIoU by 2%, which is advantageous in the fine classification of OP mining regions, and it can be applied to the mapping of entire mining regions. DOWHM and the code are available at https://github.com/zxy1211/DOWHM.

Summary: A crucial challenge in hydrogen production through electrolysis is developing inexpensive, earth-abundant, and highly efficient Pt-free electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Molybdenum carbide is ideal for this application because of its special electrical structure, low cost, and advantageous characteristics. Herein, the long-lived electrocatalysts for HER have been synthesized via the direct current (DC) arc discharge plasma method under ambient air conditions, and the relationship between the properties of materials and catalytic characteristics has been established. The samples differed in the ratio of molybdenum, graphite, and melamine. The sample with the highest proportion of melamine in the initial mixture has Mo2C-MoO2 heterointerfaces, which demonstrates the highest and most stable electrocatalytic activity with the overpotential of 148 mV at 10 mA·cm-2 and Tafel slope of 63 mV·dec−1 in alkaline electrolyte. Meanwhile, the electrodes demonstrated long-lived electrochemical durability for two weeks and investigated the features of forming a stable system for HER.

Background Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is characterized by inflammation and osteoblastic changes in the sacroiliac joint. As a potential imaging method for the early assessment of AS, positron emission tomography (PET) can quantify systemic disease activity, which is conducive to monitoring the progression of disease activity and assisting in evaluating the efficacy of the treatment. Objective The study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of aluminium-[ 18 F]fuoride(Al 18 F)-labelled fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) PET/computed tomography (CT) in AS and to investigate its ability to assess disease activity during the development of AS. Material and Methods Twenty AS participants who met the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society criteria and were in an active disease stage were included in this study from May 2022 to April 2023. Sixteen healthy controls were also inrolled. All participants underwent Al 18 F-NOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT imaging after collecting clinical assessment and laboratory results. The correlation between positive joint count (PJC) and systemic joint standard uptake value ratio (SUVR, the mean SUV max of the 5 highest joints/SUV max of the uninvolved sacrum) on PET and clinical disease activity assessment and various laboratory tests were analyzed. Results A total of 2820 joints were observed in 20 participants (median age 34.5,[21-61]range, 15 men), with a PJC of 1300 (46.7%), and 39 positive uptakes were found in 40 sacroiliac joints (97.5%). PET/CT images revealed FAPI-04 uptake in both sacroiliac joints in 2 participants without radiographic sacroiliitis in the early stages of AS and varying degrees of uptake in the sacroiliac joints and spinal joints in the remaining participants. PJC and SUVR were positively correlated with most clinical assessments and laboratory findings ( P

Abstract Base editors (BEs) are a recent generation of genome editing tools that couple a cytidine or adenosine deaminase activity to a catalytically impaired Cas9 moiety (nCas9) to enable specific base conversions at the targeted genomic loci. Given their strong application potential, BEs are under active developments toward greater levels of efficiency and safety. Here, a previously overlooked nCas9‐centric strategy is explored for enhancement of BE. Based on a cytosine BE (CBE), 20 point mutations associated with nCas9‐target interaction are tested. Subsequently, from the initial positive X‐to‐arginine hits, combinatorial modifications are applied to establish further enhanced CBE variants (1.1–1.3). Parallel nCas9 modifications in other versions of CBEs including A3A‐Y130F‐BE4max, YEE‐BE4max, CGBE, and split‐AncBE4max, as well as in the context of two adenine BEs (ABE), likewise enhance their respective activities. The same strategy also substantially improves the efficiencies of high‐fidelity nCas9/BEs. Further evidence confirms that the stabilization of nCas9‐substrate interactions underlies the enhanced BE activities. In support of their translational potential, the engineered CBE and ABE variants respectively enable 82% and 25% higher rates of editing than the controls in primary human T‐cells. This study thus demonstrates a highly adaptable strategy for enhancing BE, and for optimizing other forms of Cas9‐derived tools.

PM2.5 pollution has been associated with the incidence of lung cancer, but the underlying mechanism is still unclear. PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), initially identified in germline cells, have emerged as a novel class of small non-coding RNAs (26 – 32 nucleotides) with diverse functions in various diseases, including cancer. However, the role and mechanism of piRNAs in the development of PM2.5-induced lung cancer remain to be clarified. In the presented study, we used a PM2.5-induced malignant transformation cell model to analyze the change of piRNA profiles. Among the disturbed piRNAs, piR-27222 was identified as an oncogene that inhibited cell death in a m6A-dependent manner. Mechanistically, we found that piR-27222 could deubiquitinate and stabilize eIF4B by directly binding to eIF4B and reducing its interaction with PARK2. The enhanced expression of eIF4B, in turn, promoted the expression of WTAP, leading to increased m6A modification in the Casp8 transcript. Consequently, the stability of Casp8 transcripts was reduced, rendering lung cancer cells resistant to PANoptosis. Collectively, our findings reveal that PM2.5 exposure up-regulated piR-27222 expression, which could affect EIF4B/WTAP/m6A axis, thereby inhibiting PANoptosis of cells and promoting lung cancer. Our study provides new insights into understanding the epigenetic mechanisms underlining PM2.5-induced lung cancer.

Rapid global population growth and urbanization have heightened the demand for emergency medical rescue, with helicopter medical rescue emerging as an effective solution. The advent of 5G communication technology, characterized by large bandwidth, low latency, and high reliability, offers substantial promise in enhancing the efficiency and quality of helicopter rescue operations. However, the full integration of 5G technology into helicopter emergency medical services is still in its nascent stages and requires further development. In this viewpoint, we present our experience from the Shenzhen University General Hospital of the application of 5G low-altitude network communication technology, body area network disease sensing technology, and 5G air-ground collaborative rapid diagnosis and treatment technology in aeromedical rescue. We consider that the 5G air-to-ground collaborative rapid diagnosis and treatment technology enables high-quality remote consultation, enhancing emergency medical rescue and providing strong support for future rescue operations.

Abstract Objective To explore the application and advantages of 5G technology in aeromedical rescue. Methods Through the analysis of 11 rescue cases, especially two cases of 5G rescus cases, such as remote video consultation, 5G module equipment, vital signs data return, and Beidou high‐precision positioning. Results 5G technology significantly optimizes the rescue process, enabling real‐time monitoring, low‐airspace 5G private network coverage, advanced equipment support, collaborative operations, and seamless information connection. Its high‐speed network transmission and high‐precision positioning capabilities have promoted the development of aerial body area network disease perception technology and 5G ground–ground collaborative rapid diagnosis and treatment technology, making telemedicine more convenient, safe, and scalable. Conclusion 5G technology has great potential and promotion value in the field of aeromedical rescue.

Abstract With the development and the application popularization of artificial intelligence robot technology and 5G technology, a robotic arm is designed and developed for rinsing porcelain bushing in high voltage substation in this paper. Firstly, the components and implementation of robotic arm are presented, subsequently, a circular cleaning structure with a 120-degree split is proposed to rinse the porcelain bushing. Secondly, a two-stage simple and effective method to realize automatic orientation is proposed utilizing photoelectric switches. Moreover, a prototype of robotic arm with control system is developed based on the regime switching function, and the result of edge computing is transmitted by 5G technology. Finally, feasibility and effectiveness of the robotic arm are verified in the Nanjing power grid. The case study manifests that the robotic arm developed by the proposed method in the paper can achieve efficient rinsing and all the corresponding information can be transmitted preciously. The proposed method lays a foundation for wide application of cleaning robot in high voltage substation.

Background: Colon cancer is one of the most prevalent digestive cancers worldwide. Results of epidemiological, experimental, and clinical studies suggest that aspirin inhibits the development of colon cancer. This study aimed to systematically elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which aspirin prevents colon carcinogenesis. Methods: We determined the global protein expression profiles of colorectal cancer and aspirin-treated cells using quantitative proteomic analysis. We analyzed the proteomic results using bioinformatics (including differential proteins, protein annotation, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes [KEGG] pathways, and protein–protein interaction [PPI] network). The viability of the colon cancer cell line and HT29 ​cells treated with aspirin was determined using the cell counting kit-8 assay. The differentially expressed proteins, such as p53 and cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1), were quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blotting. We measured cell cycle distribution and apoptosis in HT29 ​cells exposed to aspirin using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Results: We found that 552 proteins were significantly dysregulated, of which 208 and 334 were upregulated and downregulated, respectively, in colon cancer cells exposed to 10 ​mmol/L of aspirin (95% confidence interval [CI]: -1.269 to -0.106, P ​

Purposes The Hutuo Group belongs to the Early Proterozoic strata. As one of the most typical Paleoproterozoic strata in North China, the timing redefinition of the Hutuo Group is of great significance to the establishment of the early Precambrian stratigraphic chronology framework, the discussion of the early Precambrian geological evolution process in North China and the study of plate assembly. Methods This article conducts a detailed study of the Dongye Subgroup strata of the Hutuo Group, collecting 24 detrital zircon samples from the Jian'ancun Formation of the Hutuo Group. From 23 similar age detrital zircons, we define the weighted average age of the bottom boundary of the Hutuo Group is 2 469 Ma, and regional tectonic movements occurred in the Wutai area around 1 855 Ma. According to the 1 109 zircon ages in Hutuo Group from previous studies, we considered that the ages of >2.5 Ga are from underlying Gaofan subgroup and the maximum depositional age of Hutuo Group was early Paleoproterozoic. Findings The results show that the crust of the Wutai area was unstable at 2 376, 2 170, 2 066, 1 988, and 1 825 Ma, resulting in multiple magmatic events. The 1 825 Ma zircon age can further indicate the occurrence of the Lyuliang movement, and provide a basis for the early Proterozoic North China Craton integration.

Abstract Background Pectus excavatum, the most common chest wall deformity, is frequently treated with Nuss procedure. Here we will describe non-invasive procedure and analyze the variables associated vacuum bell therapy for patients with pectus excavatum. Methods Retrospective case–control study in a single center between July 2018 and February 2022, including patients with pectus excavatum treated with vacuum bell. Follow-up was continued to September 2022. The Haller index and Correction index was calculated before and after treatment to analysis the effectiveness of vacuum bell therapy. Results There were 98 patients enrolled in the treatment group, with 72 available for analysis, and the follow-up period ranged from 1.1 to 4.4 years (mean 3.3 years). When analyzing with the Haller Index, 18 patients (25.0%) showed excellent correction, 13 patients (18.1%) achieved good correction, and 4 patients (5.6%) had fair correction. The remaining patients had a poor outcome. Characteristics predicting a non-poor prognosis included initial age ≤ 11 years (OR = 3.94, p = 0.013) and patients with use over 24 consecutive months (OR = 3.95, p = 0.013). A total of 9 patients (12.5%) achieved a CI reduction below 10. Patients who started vacuum bell therapy at age > 11 had significantly less change compared to those who started at age ≤ 11 (P

Background/Aims: The purpose of this study is to screen the feature genes related to gut microflora and explore the role of the genes in predicting the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: We downloaded the gene profile of gastric cancer from the University of California Santa Cruz, the gut microflora related to gastric cancer from The Cancer Microbiome Atlas. The GSE62254 dataset was downloaded from National Center for Biotechnology Information Gene Expression Omnibus as a validation dataset. A correlation network between differentially expressed genes and gut microflora was constructed using Cytoscape. The optimized prognostic differentially expressed genes were identified through least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm and univariate Cox regression analysis. The risk score model was established and then measured via Kaplan–Meier and area under the curve. Finally, the nomogram model was constructed according to the independent clinical factors, which was evaluated using C-index. Results: A total of 754 differentially expressed genes and 8 gut microflora were screened, based on which we successfully constructed the correlation network. We obtained 9 optimized prognostic differentially expressed genes, including HSD17B3, GNG7, CHAD, ARHGAP8, NOX1, YY2, GOLGA8A, DNASE1L3, and ABCA8. Moreover, Kaplan–Meier curves indicated the risk score model correctly predicted the prognosis of gastric cancer in both University of California Santa Cruz and GSE62254 dataset (area under the curve >0.8; area under the curve >0.7). Finally, we constructed the nomogram, in which the C index of 1, 3, and 5 years was 0.824, 0.772, and 0.735 representing that the nomogram was consistent with the actual situation. Conclusions: These results indicate the 9 differentially expressed genes related to gut microflora might predict the survival time of patients with gastric cancer. Both risk signature and nomogram could effectively predict the prognosis for patients with gastric cancer

Abstract Despite the critical role of academic English writing proficiency in higher education, existing research has inadequately addressed the comparative impact of teacher-led and student-involved assessments on writing outcomes. To address the research gap, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of 'Teacher-Only Assessment' compared to 'Combined Teacher and Student Self-Assessment' in English writing at a university in southern Thailand. Additionally, the study examined the viewpoints of students regarding the implementation of these approaches. It utilized a sequential explanatory research design in conjunction with a quasi-experimental design. The research instruments included a series of writing tasks, a teacher assessment rubric, a self-assessment form, and a questionnaire with open-ended questions. A group of 62 first-year English majors was divided into two groups: a control group and an experimental group, consisting of 31 students each. Both groups were taking an English Composition I course for 12 weeks and were assigned the same writing tasks. The experimental group was provided with both self-assessments and teacher evaluations, whereas the control group solely received teacher evaluations. The quantitative data was analyzed using an independent sample, while the qualitative data was examined through a thematic analysis. Quantitatively, the independent t-test results indicated that there was no statistically significant distinction in overall writing performance between both groups, except for narrative paragraphs. Moreover, the qualitative findings emphasized the merits of incorporating teacher-led and student-involved assessments. This study suggests various implications for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) instruction and assessment practices.

Abstract Background Avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) can cause localized or systemic infections, collectively known as avian colibacillosis, resulting in huge economic losses to poultry industry globally per year. In addition, increasing evidence indicates that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a critical role in regulating host inflammation in response to bacterial infection. However, the role of lncRNAs in the host response to APEC infection remains unclear. Results Here, we found 816 differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs and 1,798 DE mRNAs in APEC infected chicken macrophages by RNAseq. The identified DE lncRNA-mRNAs were involved in Toll like receptor signaling pathway, VEGF signaling pathway, fatty acid metabolism, phosphatidylinositol signaling system, and other types of O-glycan biosynthesis. Furthermore, we found the novel lncRNA TCONS_00007391 as an important immune regulator in APEC infection was able to regulate the inflammatory response by directly targeting CD86. Conclusion These findings provided a better understanding of host response to APEC infection and also offered the potential drug targets for therapy development against APEC infection.

Abstract Background Though (1S, 3R)-RSL3 has been used widely in basic research as a small molecular inducer of ferroptosis, the toxicity on normal cells and poor pharmacokinetic properties of RSL3 limited its clinical application. Here, we investigated the synergism of non-thermal plasma (NTP) and low-concentration RSL3 and attempted to rise the sensitivity of NSCLC cells on RSL3. Methods CCK-8 assay was employed to detect the change of cell viability. Microscopy and flowcytometry were applied to identify lipid peroxidation, cell death and reactive oxygen species (ROS) level respectively. The molecular mechanism was inspected with western blot and RT-qPCR. A xenograft mice model was adopted to investigate the effect of NTP and RSL3. Results We found the synergism of NTP and low-concentration RSL3 triggered severe mitochondria damage, more cell death and rapid ferroptosis occurrence in vitro and in vivo. NTP and RSL3 synergistically induced xCT lysosomal degradation through ROS/AMPK/mTOR signaling. Furthermore, we revealed mitochondrial ROS was the main executor for ferroptosis induced by the combined treatment. Conclusion Our research shows NTP treatment promoted the toxic effect of RSL3 by inducing more ferroptosis rapidly and provided possibility of RSL3 clinical application. Graphical Abstract Video Abstract

Tianjin-monkey Chicken is a locally bred naked neck poultry with limited population size. Herein, we intended to identify potential breed-related genes based on methylome and transcriptome analyses. Tianjin-monkey Chicken and Hy-line Brown Chicken were crossbred and the individuals were divided into three groups: PN (Purebred naked neck chicken(Tianjin-monkey Chicken)) group (n = 10); CN (Crossbred naked neck chicken) group (n = 10); CF (Crossbred feathered chicken) group (n = 10). These 30 individuals were subjected to whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) and transcriptome sequencing. Differential methylated regions were detected by WGBS. No significant difference existed in naked-neck-related traits between PN and CN chicken. CpG methylation level of the promoter region differed in PN, CN vs. CF chicken. By integrating methylome and transcriptome results, four genes were identified between PN and CN groups, and 24 key genes were identified between CN and CF groups, with great potential in breeding. The 24 genes were enriched on 32 GO terms and 3 KEGG pathways, such as ion transport. The promoter region CpG methylation level was distinct between feathered and naked neck groups. We identified 24 potential genes for future breeding, valuable for targeted breeding and genetic enhancement in poultry production.

A series of related experiments were carried out based on prepared hydrocracking catalyst, Catalyst-HC. Ni & W and USY molecular sieve were selected as the hydrogenation active component and the cracking component of Catalyst-HC, respectively. Meanwhile, a kinetic model for paraffin conversion was constructed based on paraffin conversion law. Results obtained through this work indicate that the impact of H2-pressure is relatively complex. As the H2-pressure changes, the degree of hydrocracking reaction may be influenced by both hydrogen supply capacity and hydrogen proton concentration. Obtained conversion priority for three types of hydrocarbons on USY molecular sieve is as follows, aromatic ≫ cycloalkane > paraffin. Aromatic content in SRGO can affect its paraffin-retention in Hydro-D. Compared with the hydrotreating of SRGO with low aromatic content, when SRGO with relatively higher aromatic content is hydrotreated, its paraffin-retention is higher and its paraffin loss is also relatively smaller. Base on constructed model, the calculated values of SRGO-BJ conversion rate and paraffin-retention in Hydro-D are within ±10 % and ±5 % error lines, respectively. Thus, model schematic diagram is reasonable and can provide modeling reference for relevant model research.

ABSTRACTThe COVID-19 pandemic presents a major threat to global public health. Several lines of evidence have shown that the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), along with two other highly pathogenic coronaviruses, SARS-CoV and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) originated from bats. To prevent and control future coronavirus outbreaks, it is necessary to investigate the interspecies infection and pathogenicity risks of animal-related coronaviruses. Currently used infection models, including in vitro cell lines and in vivo animal models, fail to fully mimic the primary infection in human tissues. Here, we employed organoid technology as a promising new model for studying emerging pathogens and their pathogenic mechanisms. We investigated the key host-virus interaction patterns of five human coronaviruses (SARS-CoV-2 original strain, Omicron BA.1, MERS-CoV, HCoV-229E, and HCoV-OC43) in different human respiratory organoids. Five indicators, including cell tropism, invasion preference, replication activity, host response and virus-induced cell death, were developed to establish a comprehensive evaluation system to predict coronavirus interspecies infection and pathogenicity risks. Using this system, we further examined the pathogenicity and interspecies infection risks of three SARS-related coronaviruses (SARSr-CoV), including WIV1 and rRsSHC014S from bats, and MpCoV-GX from pangolins. Moreover, we found that cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive plant extract, exhibits significant inhibitory effects on various coronaviruses in human lung organoid. Cannabidiol significantly enhanced interferon-stimulated gene expression but reduced levels of inflammatory cytokines. In summary, our study established a reliable comprehensive evaluation system to analyse infection and pathogenicity patterns of zoonotic coronaviruses, which could aid in prevention and control of potentially emerging coronavirus diseases.

ABSTRACT: Avian primordial germ cells (PGCs) are important culture cells for the production of transgenic chickens and preservation of the genetic resources of endangered species; however, culturing these cells in vitro proves challenging. Although the proliferation of chicken PGCs is dependent on insulin, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In the present study, we explored the expression of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in PGCs, investigated its effects on PGC self-renewal and biological properties, and identified the underlying mechanisms. Our findings indicated that although supplementation with the PI3K/AKT activator IGF-1 failed to promote proliferation under the assessed culture conditions, the PI3K/AKT inhibitor LY294002 resulted in retarded cell proliferation and reduced expression of germ cell-related markers. We further demonstrated that inhibition of PI3K/AKT regulates the cell cycle and promotes apoptosis in PGCs by activating the expression of BAX and inhibiting that of Bcl-2. These findings indicated that the PI3K/AKT pathway is required for cell renewal, apoptosis, and maintenance of the reproductive potential in chicken PGCs. This study aimed to provide a theoretical basis for the optimization and improvement of a culture system for chicken PGCs and provide insights into the self-renewal of vertebrate PGCs as well as potential evolutionary changes in this unique cell population.

ABSTRACT: Colibacillosis, a bacterial disease caused by avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC), is a prevalent condition in the poultry industry, resulting in substantial economic losses annually. Previously, we identified PTEN as a crucial candidate gene that may play a significant role in chicken's immune response to APEC infection. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that the PTEN protein was unstable, hydrophilic and nuclear localization, with multiple putative phosphorylation sites and a high degree of similarity to duck and goose PTEN. Moreover, PTEN exhibited high expression levels in various tissues such as the stomach, cecum, small intestine, spleen, thymus, harderian gland, muscle, cerebrum, cerebellum, lung, and liver in comparison to heart tissue. Overexpression of PTEN resulted in a significant promotion of the expression level of pro-apoptosis genes and inflammatory mediators, as well as the production of NO, with or without APEC infection, which led to cellular injury. Furthermore, overexpression of PTEN was found to regulate the expression levels of autophagy related genes, regardless of APEC infection. Additionally, PTEN was a target gene of gga-miR-20a-5p and regulated by gga-miR-20a-5p upon APEC infection. Taken together, these findings establish a foundation for investigating the biological function of chicken PTEN, providing a potential target for future treatments against APEC infection as well as the breeding of genetically resistant poultry.