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Abstract Direct laser acceleration (DLA) of electrons in plasmas of near-critical density (NCD) is a very advancing platform for high-energy PW-class lasers of moderate relativistic intensity supporting Inertial Confinement Fusion research. Experiments conducted at the PHELIX sub-PW Nd:glass laser demonstrated application-promising characteristics of DLA-based radiation and particle sources, such as ultra-high number, high directionality and high conversion efficiency. In this context, the bright synchrotron-like (betatron) radiation of DLA electrons, which arises from the interaction of a sub-ps PHELIX laser pulse with an intensity of 1019 W/cm2 with pre-ionized low-density polymer foam, was studied. The experimental results show that the betatron radiation produced by DLA electrons in NCD plasma is well directed with a half-angle of 100–200 mrad, yielding (3.4 ± 0.4)·1010 photons/keV/sr at 10 keV photon energy. The experimental photon fluence and the brilliance agree well with the particle-in-cell simulations. These results pave the way for innovative applications of the DLA regime using low-density pre-ionized foams in high energy density research.

Abstract This study was designed to assess the optimal access route for the endovascular treatment of acute lower extremity deep vein thrombosis. This was a retrospective analysis of patients with acute lower extremity deep venous thrombosis who underwent endovascular treatment from February 2009 to December 2020. Patients underwent non-direct calf deep vein puncture (NDCDVP) from February 2009 to December 2011 and direct calf deep vein puncture (DCDVP) from January 2012 to December 2020. Catheter directed thrombolysis (CDT) was used to treat all patients in the NDCDVP group, whereas patients in the DCDVP group were treated with CDT or the AngioJet rhyolitic thrombectomy system. In patients exhibiting iliac vein compression syndrome, the iliac vein was dilated and implanted with a stent. Technical success rates and perioperative complication rates were compared between these two treatment groups. The NDCDVP group included 83 patients (40 males, 43 females) with a mean age of 55 ± 16 years, while the DCDVP group included 487 patients (231 males. 256 females) with a mean age of 56 ± 15 years. No significant differences were observed between these groups with respect to any analyzed clinical characteristics. The technical success rates in the NDCDVP and DCDVP groups were 96.4 and 98.2%, respectively (P > 0.05). In the NDCDVP group, the small saphenous vein (SSV)or great saphenous vein (GSV)were the most common access routes (77.1%, 64/83), whereas the anterior tibial vein (ATV) was the most common access route in the DCDVP group (78.0%, 380/487), followed by the posterior tibial vein (PTV) and peroneal vein (PV)(15.6% and 6.4%, respectively). Relative to the NDCDVP group, more patients in the DCDVP group underwent the removal of deep vein clots below the knee (7.2% [6/83] vs. 24.2% [118/487], P

Abstract Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) has become the leading cause of death worldwide, and early diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerosis (AS) are crucial for reducing the occurrence of acute cardiovascular events. However, early diagnosis of AS is challenging, and oral anti‐AS drugs suffer from limitations like imprecise targeting and low bioavailability. To overcome the aforementioned shortcomings, Cur/MOF@DS is developed, a nanoplatform integrating diagnosis and treatment by loading curcumin (Cur) into metal−organic frameworks with nanozymes and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) properties. In addition, the surface‐modification of dextran sulfate (DS) enables PCN‐222(Mn) effectively target scavenger receptor class A in macrophages or foam cells within the plaque region. This nanoplatform employs mechanisms that effectively scavenge excessive reactive oxygen species in the plaque microenvironment, promote macrophage autophagy and regulate macrophage polarization to realize lipid regulation. In vivo and in vitro experiments confirm that this nanoplatform has outstanding MRI performance and anti‐AS effects, which may provide a new option for early diagnosis and treatment of AS.

Abstract RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) regulators play essential roles in diverse biological processes, including immune responses. Mounting evidence suggests that their dysregulation is intricately linked to numerous diseases. However, the role of m6A-associated genes in carotid atherosclerosis and their relationship with aging and immune cells remain unclear. Analyze the expression profiles of m6A-related genes in carotid atherosclerosis-related datasets. Based on the expression patterns of m6A-related genes, perform consistent clustering analysis of carotid atherosclerosis samples and investigate associated immune cell infiltration patterns and aging characteristics. Develop an m6A prediction model specific to carotid atherosclerosis and analyze the relationships between immune cells infiltration and aging features. The m6A methylation modification level exhibited a substantial decrease in early-stage carotid atherosclerosis samples compared to late-stage carotid atherosclerosis samples. Subsequently, two distinct m6A subtypes were defined through consensus clustering analysis, with the lower m6A modification level group showing associations with heightened immune cell infiltration and increased expression of aging-related genes. A model composed of five m6A-related genes was formulated, and the results indicated that this model possesses effective predictive and therapeutic capabilities for carotid atherosclerosis. Furthermore, the downregulation of YTHDC1 expression resulted in elevated expression of inflammatory factors and a decrease in the expression of the aging-related gene RGN. Single-cell data analysis suggests that the reduced expression of YTHDC1 may decrease the degradation of inflammation-related factors in macrophages, leading to a highly inflammatory state in the carotid artery wall. Furthermore, the sustained release of inflammatory factors may increase the expression of the aging-related gene RGN in vascular smooth muscle cells, further exacerbating the progression of atherosclerosis. A reduced level of m6A methylation modification could enhance inflammation and expedite cellular aging, thereby contributing to the development of carotid atherosclerosis.

High-energy gamma-ray radiography has exceptional penetration ability and has become an indispensable nondestructive testing (NDT) tool in various fields. For high-energy photons, point projection radiography is almost the only feasible imaging method, and its spatial resolution is primarily constrained by the size of the gamma-ray source. In conventional industrial applications, gamma-ray sources are commonly based on electron beams driven by accelerators, utilizing the process of bremsstrahlung radiation. The size of the gamma-ray source is dependent on the dimensional characteristics of the electron beam. Extensive research has been conducted on various advanced accelerator technologies that have the potential to greatly improve spatial resolution in NDT. In our investigation of laser-driven gamma-ray sources, a spatial resolution of about 90 µm is achieved when the areal density of the penetrated object is 120 g/cm2. A virtual source approach is proposed to optimize the size of the gamma-ray source used for imaging, with the aim of maximizing spatial resolution. In this virtual source approach, the gamma ray can be considered as being emitted from a virtual source within the convertor, where the equivalent gamma-ray source size in imaging is much smaller than the actual emission area. On the basis of Monte Carlo simulations, we derive a set of evaluation formulas for virtual source scale and gamma-ray emission angle. Under optimal conditions, the virtual source size can be as small as 15 µm, which can significantly improve the spatial resolution of high-penetration imaging to less than 50 µm.

Abstract Driven by the development of energy storage systems (EESs), finding alternative anode materials forlithium‐ion batteries to replace the general carbon materials is becoming a hot research topic in the world. Using the metal oxides, metal sulfides, metal phosphides, metal selenides belonging to the conversion type and Sn, Sb, Bi, Ge, P and Si belonging to the alloy storage type seems to be a preferred option. Nevertheless, the demerits such as volume expansion and bad conductivity of alternative materials restrict their practical application. Carbon covering is an efficacious strategy to deal with the aforementioned issues because it can restrict the volume expansion and improve the conductivity of the composite materials effectively. This present review paper comprehensively describes the suitable carbon resources and preparation methods for expanding the practical applications of materials belonging to the conversion type and ally type in fabrications of negative electrodes.

Abstract Background Nephrectomy, whether in the era of cytokine therapy or targeted therapy, has an important role in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma. With the advent of immunotherapy, immunotherapy combined with targeted therapy has become the mainstream of systemic therapy, but the role of nephrectomy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma is unclear. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the impact of nephrectomy on survival in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who received immune-targeted therapy. Methods Patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who received immune-targeted therapy at three centers between May 17, 2019 and August 1, 2022 were collected, who were divided into two groups based on whether nephrectomy was performed or not. Survival, response rate and adverse event were compared between the two groups. The primary end point was progression free survival, Subgroup analysis and univariate and multivariable prognostic analyses were also assessed. Results With a median follow-up time of 29.3 months (95% CI 28.5–30.2), 165 patients were recruited and divided into two groups based on whether they underwent nephrectomy or not. There were 68 patients in the non-nephrectomy group, 97 in the nephrectomy group. Compared to patients treated with immune-targeted therapy, patients treated with immune-targeted therapy plus nephrectomy were able to achieve survival benefits, with a median PFS of 10.8 months (95% CI 8.3–13.3) and 14.4 months (95% CI 12.6–16.2), respectively, as well as an HR of 0.476 (95% CI 0.323–0.701, p = 0.0002). The 12-month and 18-month PFS rates were 30.9% versus 60.8% and 7.4% versus 25.8%, respectively. The objective response rate (ORR) was 52.9% and 60.8%, respectively, in the non-nephrectomy and nephrectomy groups (p = 0.313), and the disease control rate (DCR) was 75% and 83.5%, respectively (p = 0.179). The most common adverse events related to treatment were hypothyroidism, immune-related pneumonitis and rash. Multivariate analysis showed that primary tumor nephrectomy prior to immune-targeted therapy, clear cell renal carcinoma and oligo metastasis were independent prognostic factors. Conclusions Nephrectomy may provide PFS benefit with tolerable safety for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who receive immune-targeted therapy. In multivariate analysis, nephrectomy, clear cell carcinoma, and oligo-organ metastasis were found to be favorable independent prognostic factors.

We present an application of short-pulse laser-generated hard x rays for the diagnosis of indirectly driven double shell targets. Cone-inserted double shell targets were imploded through an indirect drive approach on the upgraded SG-II laser facility. Then, based on the point-projection hard x-ray radiography technique, time-resolved radiography of the double shell targets, including that of their near-peak compression, were obtained. The backlighter source was created by the interactions of a high-intensity short pulsed laser with a metal microwire target. Images of the target near peak compression were obtained with an Au microwire. In addition, radiation hydrodynamic simulations were performed, and the target evolution obtained agrees well with the experimental results. Using the radiographic images, areal densities of the targets were evaluated.

Bronchial artery aneurysm (BAA) is a rare and fatal condition that requires immediate treatment. However, conventional surgical and transcatheter arterial embolization treatments are less effective. In the present case, a 76-year-old hypertensive woman was admitted with dizziness and diagnosed with an unruptured bronchial artery aneurysm, which was treated by transcatheter arterial embolization and aortic stent-graft. The patient's clinical status was stable during the 4-year follow-up. Simultaneously, we reviewed 79 research papers, analyzing past BAA cases for their etiology, symptoms, and treatment outcomes. We found that catheter arterial embolization and aortic stent-graft implantation, especially for BAA of short-necked and arterial tortuosity, demonstrate superior efficacy compared to other methods. Therefore, we consider this approach to be the preferred choice in clinical BAA treatment.

Drug-eluting balloon (DEB) angioplasty has emerged as an effective treatment for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. However, distal embolism and late lumen restenosis could be caused by drug loss during DEB handling and rapid drug metabolization. Here, a drug-loaded balloon equipped with tip-separable microneedles on the balloon surface (MNDLB) was developed. Inbuilt near-infrared (NIR) ring laser inside the catheter inner shaft was introduced to activate the biodegradable microneedle tips for the first time. The drug-loaded tips thus could be embedded in the vasculature and then released antiproliferative drug – paclitaxel slowly via polymer degradation for more than half a year. A significant increase in drug delivery efficiency and superior therapeutic effectiveness compared with the standard DEB were demonstrated using an atherosclerosis rabbit model.

In accordance with the suspension method, the coal tar pitch-based SiO2/C composite sphere precursors are successfully synthesized by using the coal tar pitches as carbon resources and a template agent of SiO2. After sequentially carrying out the processes of carbonizations, acid pickling and activations, the coal tar pitch-based spherical active carbons are successfully fabricated, and their supercapacitor characteristics are investigated in detail. The storage type of the fabricated active carbons mainly manifests the obvious double-layer capacitor behaviors. The specific capacitance of fabricated spherical active carbons is 153.5 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1. Furthermore, after cycling 10,000 times, the specific capacitance of obtained spherical active carbons still remains 151.19 F g−1 at 1 A g−1. Considering the fact that the coal tar pitches are the general industrial raw materials, the functional coal tar pitch-based spherical active carbons exhibit a significantly applicable perspective in the field of fabrications of super-capacitors.

Introduction: An accurate knowledge of the isomeric yield ratio (IR) induced by the photonuclear reaction is crucial to study the nuclear structure and reaction mechanisms. 165Ho is a good candidate for the investigation of the IR since the Ho target has a natural abundance of 100% and the residual nuclide has a good decay property.Methods: In this study, the photoneutron production of 164m, gHo induced by laser-accelerated electron beams is investigated experimentally. The γ-ray spectra of activated Ho foils are off-line detected. Since the direct transitions from the 164mHo are not successfully observed, we propose to extract the IRs of the 164m, gHo using only the photopeak counts from the ground-state decay.Results: The production yields of 164m, gHo are extracted to be (0.45 ± 0.10) × 106 and (1.48 ± 0.14) × 106 per laser shot, respectively. The resulting IR is obtained to be 0.30 ± 0.08 at the effective γ-ray energy of 12.65 MeV.Discussion: The present data, available experimental data, and TALYS calculations are then compared to examine the role of the excitation energy. It is found that besides the giant dipole resonance, the excitation energy effect also plays a key role in the determination of the IRs.

To better understand the Na+ storage mechanism of general carbon materials, the suitable choice of study model is really pivotal. Carbon black (CB) attracts us to consider that it is a suitable model to study the Na+ storage mechanism because CB is an extremely popular industry product, and a lot of organic groups exist on its surface. After detailed electrochemical evaluations, it is surprisingly observed that the CB shows the tremendous Na+ storage capacity. For instance, Na+ storage capacity is 103.3 mAh g−1, after the discharge-charge process was performed 10000 cycles at 5.0 A g−1. Additionally, the CB still shows the storage capacity at 90 mAh g−1, during 10000 cycles at 10.0 A g−1. The storage mechanism was studied from two aspects which are structural conversions and surface effect. After performing the XRD, XPS, BET measurements and DFT and GITT calculations, it is aware of that the synergistic effect of capacitive effect brought by the –C=O of ester groups on the CB surface and structural conversions of CB contribute to the Na+ storage capacity. Our analysis results about storage mechanism of CB are capable to provide a beneficial reference for unfolding the carbon materials having storage capacity for Na+.

Background: Bladder cancer is a common urological cancer associated high significant morbidity and mortality rates. Immunotherapy has emerged as a promising treatment option, although response rates vary among patients. Glycosylation has been implicated in tumorigenesis and immune regulation. However, our current comprehensive understanding of the role of glycosylation in bladder cancer and its clinical implications is limited.Methods: We constructed a training cohort based on the downloaded TCGA-BLCA dataset, while additional datasets (Xiangya cohort, GSE32894, GSE48075, GSE31684, GSE69795 and E-MTAB-1803) from Xiangya hospital, GEO and ArrayExpress database were obtained and used as validation cohorts. To identify glycosylation-related genes associated with prognosis, univariate Cox regression and LASSO regression were performed. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was then constructed to develop a risk score model. The performance of the risk score was assessed in the training cohort using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and ROC curves, and further validated in multiple validation cohorts.Results: We classified patients in the training cohort into two groups based on glycosylation-related gene expression patterns: Cluster 1 and Cluster 2. Prognostic analysis revealed that Cluster 2 had poorer survival outcomes. Cluster 2 also showed higher levels of immune cell presence in the tumor microenvironment and increased activation in key steps of the cancer immune response cycle. We developed an independent prognostic risk score (p < 0.001) and used it to construct an accurate prognostic prediction nomogram. The high glycosylation risk score group exhibited higher tumor immune cell infiltration, enrichment scores in immune therapy-related pathways, and a tendency towards a basal subtype. Conversely, the low-risk score group had minimal immune cell infiltration and tended to have a luminal subtype. These findings were consistent in our real-world Xiangya cohort.Conclusion: This multi-omics glycosylation score based on these genes reliably confirmed the heterogeneity of bladder cancer tumors, predicted the efficacy of immunotherapy and molecular subtypes, optimizing individual treatment decisions.

Solar spicules are small-scale jet-like structures in the lower solar atmosphere. Currently, the formation of these widely distributed structures lacks a complete explanation. It is still unclear whether they play an essential role in corona heating. Here, based on the magnetohydrodynamic scaling transformation relation, we perform experiments with the interaction of a high power laser with a one-dimensional sinusoidal modulated target to model solar spicules. We observe several spicule-like structures with alternating polarity magnetic fields around them. Magnetohydrodynamic simulations with similar parameters show the detail information during the spicules’ formation. The results suggest that the so-called strong pulse model can lead to the formation of the solar spicules. The magnetic reconnection process may also play a part and lead to additional heating and brightening phenomena.

Thromboembolism is the leading cause of cardiovascular mortality. Currently, for the lack of targeting, short half-life, low bioavailability and high bleeding risk of the classical thrombolytic drugs, pharmacological thrombolysis is usually a slow process based on micro-pumping. In addition, frequently monitoring and regulating coagulation functions are also required during (and after) the process of thrombolysis. To address these issues, a targeted thrombolytic and anticoagulation nanoplatform (UCATS-UK) is developed based on upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) that can convert 808 or 980 nm near-infrared (NIR) light into UV/blue light. This nanoplatform can target and enrich in the thrombus site. Synergistic thrombolysis and anticoagulation therapy thus could be realized through the controlled release of urokinase (UK) and nitric oxide (NO). Both in vitro and in vivo experiments have confirmed the excellent thrombolytic and anticoagulative capabilities of this multifunctional nanoplatform. Combined with the unique fluorescent imaging capability of UCNPs, this work is expected to contribute to the development of clinical thrombolysis therapy towards an integrated system of imaging, diagnosis and treatment.

Magnetic reconnection drives the ejection of plasmas during solar flares through changes in the magnetic fields. Here, the authors use a laboratory-based experiment to create magnetic reconnection in a regime in which the plasma on one side of the reconnection is in a strongly collisional state, while it is weakly-collisional or collisionless on the other.

A novel scheme has been proposed to enhance neutron yields, in which a multi-channel target consisting of a row of parallel micro-wires and a plane substrate is irradiated by a relativistic femtosecond laser. Two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations show that the multi-channel target can significantly enhance the neutron yield, which is about 4 orders of magnitude greater than the plane target. Different from the case of nanowire target, we find that when the laser penetrates into the channel, the excited transverse sheath electric field can effectively accelerate the D+ ions in the transverse direction. When these energetic D+ ions move towards the nearby wire, they will collide with the bulk D+ ions to trigger D-D fusion reaction and produce neutrons, which is much more effective than the plane target case. Due to the unique trajectory of the incident D+ ions, the angular distribution of the produced neutrons is modulated from isotropic to two peaks around ±90°. Meanwhile, this enhancement and modulation is further verified in a wide range of target parameters.

Nuclear isomers play a key role in the creation of the elements in the universe and potentially have significant applications related to the controlled release of nuclear energy on demand. Particularly, ^{93m}Mo is a good candidate for studying the depletion of nuclear isomers via nuclear excitation by electron capture. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the efficient approach of ^{93m}Mo production. In this paper, we experimentally demonstrate an efficient production of ^{93m}Mo via ^{93}Nb(p,n) reaction induced by an intense laser pulse. Employing the picosecond-duration, 100 J laser pulse, the ^{93m}Mo isomer at 2425 keV (21/2^{+}, T_{1/2}=6.85h) is generated with a high yield of 1.8×10^{6} particles/shot. The resulting peak production efficiency reaches 10^{17} particles/s, which is at least five orders of magnitude higher than that obtained using the classical accelerator. The impacts of the production and destruction of ^{93m}Mo to the astrophysical p-nuclide ^{92}Mo are studied. It is found that the ^{93}Nb(p,n)^{93m}Mo reaction is an important production path of ^{93m}Mo, which could further influence the production of ^{92}Mo. In addition, a direct measurement of the (p,n) reaction rate is proposed using the laser-induced proton beam of which the energies follow the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution well. It is believed that the laser-induced proton beam opens an avenue for the production of nuclear isomers with high peak efficiency used for the studies of p-nuclei nucleosynthesis.

To enhance the performance of Ru in hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), the design and fabrication of catalytic supports become one of the critical research topics. Carbon supports possessing the excellent conductivity and remarkable cost advantage have become one of the primary choices in fabrications of composite catalysts. In our present studies, the NHPC (N-doped hierarchical porous carbon) supports are fabricated by the carbonizations of soluble starch, ammonium citrate and sodium bicarbonate, and the Ru/NHPC catalysts are successfully prepared by the reactions of RuCl3·3H2O with NaBH4 and NHPC in the ultrasonic treatment. As a result, it is found that Ru goodly dispersed on the surfaces of NHPC in nano sizes, and the Ru/NHPC catalysts manifest the fabulous HER performance. For instance, the overpotential of 11.2 %Ru/NHPC (the loading of RuCl3·3H2O is 0.05 g) is 33 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2, which is remarkably lower than 48 mV of glassy carbon electrode (20 %Pt/C) in alkaline medium (1 M (mol L−1) KOH). The Tafel slope of 11.2 %Ru/NHPC is 36 mV dec−1 at 10 mA cm−2 in the same conditions. Although the 11.2 %Ru/NHPC is in the acidic medium (0.5 M H2SO4), it also displays the routine HER performance. In short, this present study provides a useful approach to facilitate the application of Ru as a hydrogen evolution catalyst.

X-ray source based on the Thomson scattering of laser interacting with energetic electron beams features high photon energy, small spot size, and good collimation. However, the photon number is insufficient for practical application because of the small cross section of the Thomson scattering. To solve this problem, here, we replace a traditional Gaussian laser pulse with a flying focus laser pulse to extend interaction length and restrain nonlinear effects. Simulation results show that the scattered photon number can be increased by about 25 and 2 times for high and low energy lasers, respectively. In particular, a 1010 photon number can be generated with a 10 J flying focus laser pulse, and the energy spread can also be greatly reduced for high energy laser, from a broad spectrum to a monoenergetic peak. Combining these two advantages, the peak spectrum brightness of x ray is 3 × 108 photons/keV at 240 keV, which is about three orders of magnitude more than the traditional case.

Background: ACER2 is a critical gene regulating cancer cell growth and migration, whereas the immunological role of ACER2 in the tumor microenvironment (TME) is scarcely reported. Thus, we lucubrate the potential performance of ACER2 in bladder cancer (BLCA).Methods: We initially compared ACER2 expressions in BLCA with normal urothelium tissues based on data gathered from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and our Xiangya cohort. Subsequently, we systematically explored correlations between ACER2 with immunomodulators, anti-cancer immune cycles, tumor-infiltrating immune cells, immune checkpoints and the T-cell inflamed score (TIS) to further confirm its immunological role in BLCA TME. In addition, we performed ROC analysis to illustrate the accuracy of ACER2 in predicting BLCA molecular subtypes and explored the response to several cancer-related treatments. Finally, we validated results in an immunotherapy cohort and Xiangya cohort to ensure the stability of our study.Results: Compared with normal urinary epithelium, ACER2 was significantly overexpressed in several cell lines and the tumor tissue of BLCA. ACER2 can contribute to the formation of non-inflamed BLCA TME supported by its negative correlations with immunomodulators, anti-cancer immune cycles, tumor-infiltrating immune cells, immune checkpoints and the TIS. Moreover, BLCA patients with high ACER2 expression were inclined to the luminal subtype, which were characterized by insensitivity to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy but not to immunotherapy. Results in the IMvigor210 and Xiangya cohort were consistent.Conclusion: ACER2 could accurately predict the TME and clinical outcomes for BLCA. It would be served as a promising target for precision treatment in the future.

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to explore expression profiles of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA)‐messenger RNA (mRNA) in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) patients. Further, we explored the mechanisms by which lncRNA SNHG5 modulates the function of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) in AAA. Methods Human gene expression profile GSE57691 dataset, was retrieved from Gene Expression Omnibus database. The dataset included gene expression array data of 49 AAA patients and 10 control aortic specimens from organ donors. To explore the main roles of the biological network, differentially expressed lncRNA and mRNAs in the aortic aneurysm (AAA) and normal aortic specimens were determined. Differentially expressed lncRNA and mRNAs were then used to construct a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network using Cytoscape software, and the five key lncRNA were identified. SNHG5 which was significantly downregulated in the AAA was chosen and analysis showed that it regulates mir‐205‐5p and SMAD4 by binding to mir‐205‐5p. Double luciferase reporter gene assays, RNA immunoprecipitation, and RNA knockdown studies were used to establish the relationship between SNHG5 and mir‐205‐5p. Apoptosis rate was determined using flow cytometry, whereas cell proliferation was evaluated using Edu, and 24 well Transwell assay. Western blot analysis was used to determine protein expression levels. Results The five differentially expressed lncRNAs were significantly correlated with 34 microRNAs and 112 mRNAs. mRNAs in the ceRNA network are implicated in protein binding, signal transduction, DNA and RNA transcription, development, and cell differentiation. SNHG5 was downregulated in the AAA and acts as a molecular sponge for mir‐205. Downregulation of SNHG5 induces expression of mir‐205‐5p. Increased mir‐205‐5p expression level inhibits SMAD4 production, thus inhibiting proliferation and migration and promotes apoptosis of smooth muscle cells. Conclusion Bioinformatics were used to explore molecular mechanism of AAA progression. The findings of this study show that lncRNA SNHG5 regulates proliferation and apoptosis of VSMC cells through modulation of the mir‐205‐5p/SMAD4 axis. Therefore, SNHG5 is a potential therapeutic target for AAA disease.

Thoracic aortic pathologies involving the aortic arch are a great challenge for vascular surgeons. Maintaining the patency of supra-aortic branches while excluding the aortic lesion remains difficult. Thoracic EndoVascular Aortic Repair (TEVAR) with fenestrations provides a feasible and effective approach for this type of disease. The devices needed in the procedure are off-the-shelf, with promising results reported in many medical centers. Up until now, there have been no guidelines focusing exclusively on the details of the TEVAR technique with fenestrations. Experts from China have discussed the technical parts of both in situ fenestrations (needle and laser) and fenestrations in vitro (direction inversion strategy and guidewire-assisted strategy), providing a technical reference to standardize the procedure and improve its results.

Laser wakefield acceleration, a highly nonlinear process, can provide high-quality electron beams and betatron radiation. However, it has always been a challenge to optimize the photon number of betatron radiation because X-ray production is the secondary process followed by electron generation and many influential parameters are highly coupled with each other. To balance these parameters and optimize target value, we use a machine-learning algorithm called Bayesian optimization that ignores the complicated middle process and so is suitable to solve this kind of problems. Without designed initialization, we optimize betatron radiation in experiments by changing plasma density and laser focal position. The X-ray photon number doubles compared with initial condition within 10 iterations, which shows the rapidity of this algorithm. PIC simulation also illustrates the complexity of the optimization and reveals the reason why X-ray photon number increases.

BackgroundBladder cancer (BCa) is one of the most prevalent malignancies globally. Previous study has reported the inhibitory effect of methyltransferase-like 14 (METTL14) on BCa tumorigenesis, but its role in the cell migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in BCa remains unknown.Materials and methodsQuantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) and western blot were applied to measure RNA and protein expression respectively. Cell migration, invasion and EMT were evaluated by wound healing, Transwell, and immunofluorescence (IF) assays as well as western blot of EMT-related proteins. In vivo experiments were performed to analyze metastasis of BCa. Mechanism investigation was also conducted to study METTL14-mediated regulation of BCa progression.ResultsMETTL14 overexpression prohibits BCa cell migration, invasion in vitro and tumor metastasis in vivo. METTL14 stabilizes USP38 mRNA by inducing N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification and enhances USP38 mRNA stability in YTHDF2-dependent manner. METTL14 represses BCa cell migration, invasion and EMT via USP38. Additionally, miR-3165 inhibits METTL14 expression to promote BCa progression.ConclusionsOur study demonstrated that METTL14 suppresses BCa progression and forms a feedback loop with USP38. In addition, miR-3165 down-regulates METTL14 expression to promote BCa progression. The findings may provide novel insight into the underlying mechanism of METTL14 in BCa progression.

The biomass-derived carbon materials were successfully fabricated by precursor mixtures of eggplants, urea and CaCl2. It is promisingly observed that controlling the mixing ratios of eggplants, urea and CaCl2 can regulate the structures of fabricated carbon materials. On the basis of investigations about correlations between structures and Na+ storage capacity, it is verified that weight ratio of eggplants : urea : CaCl2 = 1 : 2 : 2 is optimal to fabricate the carbon materials, which have the suitable porous structures and specific surface area to store Na+. For instance, the fabricated carbon materials show the Na+ storage capacity is 200.8 mAh/g at 0.1 A/g, after being carried out the charge-discharge 500 times. Meanwhile, the same materials also display the impressive long cycling performance. When cycling the charge-discharge 1000 times at 2.0 A/g, the fabricated carbon materials still manifest the Na+ storage capacity at 137.8 mAh/g.

X-ray detectors have numerous applications in medical imaging, industrial inspection, and crystal structure analysis. Gallium oxide (Ga2O3) shows potential as a material for high-performance X-ray detectors due to its wide bandgap, relatively high mass attenuation coefficient, and resistance to radiation damage. In this study, we present Sn-doped Ga2O3 microwire detectors for solar-blind and X-ray detection. The developed detectors exhibit a switching ratio of 1.66 × 102 under X-ray irradiation and can operate stably from room temperature to 623 K, which is one of the highest reported operating temperatures for Ga2O3 X-ray detectors to date. These findings offer a promising new direction for the design of Ga2O3-based X-ray detectors.

Herein, the novel sodium ion hybrid capacitors (SIHCs) are successfully and facilely fabricated by utilizing the same carbon resource of magnesium citrate. Namely, the carbons which are fabricated by immediate carbonizations of magnesium citrate are used as positive electrodes, and N, S-doped carbons prepared by co-carbonizations of magnesium citrate with ammonium persulfate are determined as negative electrodes. The detailed electrochemical evaluations demonstrate that fabricated SIHCs possess tremendous Na+ storage performance. For instance, the fabricated SIHC(1//1) shows an energy density of 100.8 Wh Kg−1 at a power density of 136.8 W Kg−1, when current density was 0.1 A g−1. Furthermore, when the current density was set at 5.0 A g−1, this SIHC(1//1) also exhibits a power density of 12957.6 W Kg−1 at an energy density of 46.9 Wh Kg−1. These results reveal that SIHC(1//1) has the powerful competitiveness in high energy and power-required electricity storage applications.

Abstract Background The preferable choice of anesthesia for the patients with congenital atlantoaxial dislocation (CAAD) and type I Arnold Chiari malformations (ACM-I) has been a very confusing issue in clinical practice. We describe the successful administration of combined spinal-epidural anesthesia for a woman with CAAD and ACM-1 accompanied by syringomyelia. Case presentation Our case report presents the successful management of a challenging obstetric patient with CAAD and ACM-1 accompanied by syringomyelia. She had high risks of difficult airway and aspiration. The injection of bolus drugs through the spinal or epidural needle may worsen the previous neurological complications. The patient was well evaluated with a multidisciplinary technique before surgery and the anesthesia was provided by a skilled anesthesiologist with slow spinal injection. Conclusions An interdisciplinary team approach is needed to weigh risks and benefits for patients with CAAD and ACM-1 undergoing cesarean delivery. Therefore, an individual anesthetic plan should be made basing on the available anesthetic equipments and physicians’ clinical experience on anesthetic techniques.

Abstract Objective To screen for immune genes that play a major role in Kawasaki disease and to investigate the pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease through bioinformatics analysis. Methods Kawasaki disease‐related datasets GSE18606, GSE68004, and GSE73461 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Three microarrays were integrated and standardized to include 173 Kawasaki disease samples and 101 normal samples. The samples were analyzed using CIBERSORT to obtain the infiltration of 22 immune cells and analyze the differential immune cells in the samples and correlations. The distribution of the samples was analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA). Immune‐related genes were downloaded, extracted from the screened samples and analyzed for differential analysis (different expression genes [DEG]) and weighted gene co‐expression network analysis (WGCNA). We constructed coexpression networks, and used the cytohobbe tool in Cytoscape to analyze the coexpression networks and select the immune genes that played a key role in them. Results Immune cell infiltration analysis showed that B cells naive, T cells CD8, natural killer (NK) cells activated, and so forth were highly expressed in normal samples. T cells CD4 memory activated, monocytes, neutrophils, and so forth were highly expressed in Kawasaki disease samples. PCA results showed a significant difference in the distribution of normal and Kawasaki disease samples. From the screened samples, 97 upregulated and 103 downregulated immune‐related genes were extracted. WGCNA analysis of DEG yielded 10 gene modules, of which the three most relevant to Kawasaki disease were red, yellow, and gray modules. They were associated with cytokine regulation, T‐cell activation, presentation of T‐cell receptor signaling pathways, and NK cell‐mediated cytotoxicity. CXCL8, CCL5, CCR7, CXCR3, and CCR1 were identified as key genes by constructing a coexpression network. Conclusion Our study shows that we can distinguish normal samples from Kawasaki disease samples based on the infiltration of immune cells, and that CXCL8, CCL5, CCR7, CXCR3, and CCR1 may play important roles in the development of Kawasaki disease.

A detailed understanding of particle stopping in matter is essential for nuclear fusion and high energy density science. Here, the authors report one order of magnitude enhancement of intense laser-accelerated proton beam stopping in dense ionized matter in comparison with currently used models describing ion stopping in matter.

Fe7S8@C composite materials are facilely fabricated using the gelatin, FeSO4·7H2O and Na2S·9H2O by one-step method. The obtained Fe7S8@C composite materials show the fabulous rate performances and cycling performances, when controlling the carbon contents in Fe7S8@C composite materials. For instance, the Fe7S8@C-40 shows the cycling performance at 657.3 mAh/g, after carrying out the charge-discharge cycles 400 times. These electrochemical performances lead us to consider our provided preparation method is the effective way to facilitate the application of Fe7S8@C in fabrication of lithium ion batteries (LIBs) as negative electrode materials.

Here, the authors characterize replication of SARS-CoV-2 in human airway epithelial (HAE) cultures and show that it can infect ciliated and secretory cells, affects transepithelial electrical resistance and causes plaque-like cytopathic effects associated with apoptosis.

Abstract Background Since December 2019, an outbreak of the Corona Virus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS‐CoV‐2) in Wuhan, China, has become a public health emergency of international concern. The high fatality of aged cases caused by SARS‐CoV‐2 was a need to explore the possible age‐related phenomena with non‐human primate models. Methods Three 3‐5 years old and two 15 years old rhesus macaques were intratracheally infected with SARS‐CoV‐2, and then analyzed by clinical signs, viral replication, chest X‐ray, histopathological changes and immune response. Results Viral replication of nasopharyngeal swabs, anal swabs and lung in old monkeys was more active than that in young monkeys for 14 days after SARS‐CoV‐2 challenge. Monkeys developed typical interstitial pneumonia characterized by thickened alveolar septum accompanied with inflammation and edema, notably, old monkeys exhibited diffuse severe interstitial pneumonia. Viral antigens were detected mainly in alveolar epithelial cells and macrophages. Conclusion SARS‐CoV‐2 caused more severe interstitial pneumonia in old monkeys than that in young monkeys. Rhesus macaque models infected with SARS‐CoV‐2 provided insight into the pathogenic mechanism and facilitated the development of vaccines and therapeutics against SARS‐CoV‐2 infection.

Here, we report the identification of Histoplasma causing an unexplained disease cluster in Matthews Ridge, Guyana. In March 2019, 14 employees of Chongqing Bosai Mining Company, China, working in a manganese mining of Guyana, had unexplained fever, and two of them died. We obtained lung and brain tissues as well as the blood samples from the two deceased cases (patient No. 1 and 2), and bronchoscopy lavages and cerebrospinal fluid samples from one severe case (patient No. 3), respectively. All samples were tested by pathological examination, high-throughput sequencing, and real-time PCR. Pathological detection showed the presence of spore-like structures in the lung tissue of patient No. 1, indicating a fungal infection in this patient. Nanopore sequencing identified the existing of H. capsulatum in the lung tissue sample within 13 h. Next-generation sequencing identified specific fragments of H. capsulatum in all of the samples tested (lung, brain and blood serum from the deceased cases, and plasma from the severe case). Real-time PCR assays did not reveal any viral infection related to transmission from bat feces. We conclude that H. capsulatum was the causative pathogen of this disease cluster based on epidemiologic, clinical, pathological and nucleic acid evidence.

Collecting duct carcinoma (CDC) is a rare and highly aggressive subtype of kidney cancer that is associated with a poor prognosis. At present, there is no effective treatment for CDC. Herein, we report a case of metastatic CDC treated with a combination of a tyrosine kinase inhibitor and an immune checkpoint inhibitor. A 67-year-old male was diagnosed with CDC with lung and bone metastasis. Pazopanib and camrelizumab were administered after cytoreductive nephrectomy. The patient achieved a partial response after one cycle of treatment; however, he then experienced serious drug-induced hepatic injury. Therefore, we discontinued camrelizumab and administered monotherapy with pazopanib. Three months later, the cancer had progressed and axitinib and sintilimab were administered. The patient achieved a partial response, accompanied by the complete disappearance of the metastatic lesion in the lung. The patient had an excellent physical status after 11 months. This is the first reported case of metastatic CDC successfully treated with a combination of a tyrosine kinase inhibitor and an immune checkpoint inhibitor. This form of combination treatment may be an effective option for treating metastatic CDC.

Background Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a complex vascular disease involving expansion of the abdominal aorta. Extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation is crucial to AAA pathogenesis, however, the specific molecular mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate differentially expressed circular RNAs (DEcircRNAs) involved in ECM degradation of AAA. Methods Transcriptome sequencing was used to analyze the DEcircRNAs between the AAA tissues and normal tissues. The expression of circRNAs in tissues and cells was validated using quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR). Overexpression of circRNAs in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) treated with angiotensin II (Ang II) was employed to explore its effect on ECM degradation of AAA. Bioinformatic technology, luciferase reporter gene assay, RT-qPCR, and rescue experiment were employed to evaluate the regulatory mechanism of circRNA. Results We identified 65 DEcircRNAs in AAA tissues compared with normal abdominal aortic tissues, including 30 up-regulated and 35 down-regulated circRNAs, which were mainly involved in inflammation and ECM-related functions and pathways. Moreover, circRBM33 was significantly increased in AAA tissues and Ang II-induced VSMCs compared with control samples. Overexpression of circRBM33 increased the expression of ECM-related molecule matrix metalloproteinase-2 and reduced the tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases-1 expression. Mechanistically, miR-4268 targeted binding to circRBM33 and inhibited the luciferase activity of circRBM33. Overexpression of circRBM33 induced the expression of EPH receptor B2 (EPHB2), and this effect was countered by miR-4268 mimics. Conclusions Overall, our data suggest that circRBM33 might be involved in AAA progression by regulating ECM degradation via the miR-4268/EPHB2 axis.

The results of a commissioning experiment on the SILEX-Ⅱ laser facility (formerly known as CAEP-PW) are reported. SILEX-Ⅱ is a complete optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification laser facility. The peak power reached about 1 PW in a 30 fs pulse duration during the experiment. The laser contrast was better than 1010 at 20 ps ahead of the main pulse. In the basic laser foil target interaction, a set of experimental data were collected, including spatially resolved x-ray emission, the image of the coherent transition radiation, the harmonic spectra in the direction of reflection, the energy spectra and beam profile of accelerated protons, hot-electron spectra, and transmitted laser energy fraction and spatial distribution. The experimental results show that the laser intensity reached 5 × 1020 W/cm2 within a 5.8 µm focus (FWHM). Significant laser transmission did not occur when the thickness of the CH foil was equal to or greater than 50 nm. The maximum energy of the accelerated protons in the target normal direction was roughly unchanged when the target thickness varied between 50 nm and 15 µm. The maximum proton energy via the target normal sheath field acceleration mechanism was about 21 MeV. We expect the on-target laser intensity to reach 1022 W/cm2 in the near future, after optimization of the laser focus and upgrade of the laser power to 3 PW.

Single shot gamma-induced positron annihilation spectroscopy (GiPS) based on a laser wakefield accelerator is proposed. In this spectroscopy, a large number of gamma rays generated by laser-wakefield accelerated electrons are injected into a sample in a very short time (

The coal tar pitch based V2O3@C composite materials were successfully fabricated by a hydrothermal method using the V2O5, H2C2O4·2H2O and coal tar pitches dissolved in water. It is observed that changing the dosages of coal tar pitches dissolved in water can lead to the various carbon contents in V2O3@C composite materials, resulting in the V2O3@C composite materials possessing different electrochemical performances. As a result, when the carbon content is adjusted to 42.7 %, the prepared V2O3@C-2.0 shows more excellent electrochemical performances than other prepared V2O3@C composite materials. For instance, the V2O3@C-2.0 exhibits the high Li+ storage capacity at 580.2 mAh g−1, after charge-discharge was carried out 100 cycles at 0.1 A g−1. Surprisingly, the V2O3@C-2.0 still shows the Li+ storage capacity at 234 mAh g−1, after 500 cycles at 5.0 A g−1. The prepared V2O3@C composite materials show an excellent industrial application perspective because coal tar pitches are the generally industrial crude materials.

In response to the fast-waning immune response and the great threat of the Omicron variant of concern (VOC) to the public, we report the pilot-scale production of an inactivated Omicron vaccine candidate that induces high levels of neutralizing antibody titers to protect against the Omicron virus. Here, we demonstrate that the inactivated Omicron vaccine is safe and effective in recalling immune responses to the HB02, Omicron, and Delta viruses after one or two doses of BBIBP-CorV. In addition, the efficient productivity and good genetic stability of the manufactured inactivated vaccine is proved. These results support the further evaluation of the Omicron vaccine in a clinical trial.

Objective: We aimed to explore the dynamic changes in coagulation function and the effect of age on coagulation function in patients with pneumonia under admission and non-admission treatment.Methods: We included 178 confirmed adult inpatients with COVID-19 from Wuhan Union Hospital Affiliated to Huazhong University of Science and Technology (Wuhan, China). Patients were classified into common types, and all were cured and discharged after hospitalization. We recorded the time of the first clinical symptoms of the patients and performed blood coagulation tests at the time of admission and after admission. In total, eight factors (TT, FIB, INR, APTT, PT, DD, ATIII, and FDP) were analyzed. Patients were classified into four groups according to the time from the first symptom onset to hospital admission for comparative analysis. The patients who were admitted within 2 weeks of disease onset were analyzed for the dynamic changes in their blood coagulation tests. Further division into two groups, one group comprising patients admitted to the hospital within 2 weeks after the onset of disease and the other comprising patients admitted to the hospital 2 weeks after disease onset, was performed to form two groups based on whether the patient ages were over or under 55 years. Chi-square tests and T tests were used to explore the dynamic changes in coagulation function and the influence of age on the results of coagulation function tests.Results: A total of 178 inpatients, 34 of whom underwent dynamic detection, were included in this analysis. We divided these patients into four groups according to the interval between the onset of COVID-19 pneumonia and the time to admission in the hospital: the 1–7 days (group 1), 8–14 days (group 2), 15–21 days (group 3), and >21-days (group 4). Eight factors all increased within 2 weeks after onset and gradually decreased to normal 2 weeks before the patient was admitted. The changes in coagulation function of patients admitted to the hospital were similar. After being admitted to the hospital, the most significant decreases among the eight factors were between week 2 and 3. There were distinct differences among the eight factors between people older than 55 years and those younger than 55 years. In the first 2 weeks after being admitted, the levels of the eight factors in patients >55 years were significantly higher than those in patients

It has been reported that the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has caused more than 286 million cases and 5.4 million deaths to date. Several strategies have been implemented globally, such as social distancing and the development of the vaccines. Several severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants have appeared, such as Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron. With the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus and the rapidly changing mutants, the development of a broad-spectrum multivalent vaccine is considered to be the most effective way to defend against the constantly mutating virus. Here, we evaluated the immunogenicity of the multivalent COVID-19 inactivated vaccine. Mice were immunized by multivalent COVID-19 inactivated vaccine, and the neutralizing antibodies in serum were analyzed. The results show that HB02 + Delta + Omicron trivalent vaccine could provide broad spectrum protection against HB02, Beta, Delta, and Omicron virus. Additionally, the different multivalent COVID-19 inactivated vaccines could enhance cellular immunity. Together, our findings suggest that the multivalent COVID-19 inactivated vaccine can provide broad spectrum protection against HB02 and other virus variants in humoral and cellular immunity, providing new ideas for the development of a broad-spectrum COVID-19 vaccine.

Abstract Background Thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection (TAAD) is a common condition associated with high mortality. It is predominantly inherited in an autosomal dominant manner with reduced penetrance and variable expression. The genetic basis of the majority of TAAD cases remains unknown. Case presentation We described a 53 years old male presented with abdominal aortic dissection as well as aortic tortuosity. To investigate the genetic basis of the clinical presentation, whole-exome sequencing was performed. Exome sequencing identified a de novo heterozygous undescribed mutation in the PRKG1 gene (NM_001098512.2: c.1108 G > A), predicted to cause the missense change p.Gly370Ser in the ATP binding motif of the protein. This mutation was not reported in the dbSNP, 1000 Genome Project, and Exome sequencing databases. Furthermore, the Glycine370 residue of PRKG1 is highly conserved among various species and it is predicted to be damaging by multiple in silico programs, suggesting that this substitution may cause a major disruption of protein function. To our knowledge, this is the second reported mutation locus of PRKG1 accounting for the disease. Conclusions Our study expands the mutation spectrum of PRKG1 and clinical phenotype of mutation-carriers. Screening for PRKG1 mutations should be considered in patients with unexplained aortic disease, and identification of the causative gene will aid in individualized, gene-tailored management.

SnO2@C composite materials are facilely fabricated by reaction using the gelatin, SnCl4•5H2O and aqueous NH3•H2O by one-step method. Compared to the SnO2, the prepared SnO2@C composite materials show the fabulous improvement about rate performances and cycling performances, when controlling the carbon contents of carbon in SnO2@C composite materials. As an example, SnO2@C-40 shows the cycling performance at 397.7 mAh/g, after carrying out the charge-discharge cycles 500 times at 0.1 A/g. These ameliorated electrochemical performances lead us to consider our provided preparation method is the efficient way to facilitate the application of SnO2@C in fabrication of lithium ion batteries (LIBs) as negative electrode materials.

Approximately 13,000 people die of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) every year. This study aimed to identify the immune response-related genes that play important roles in AAA using bioinformatics approaches. We downloaded the GSE57691 and GSE98278 datasets related to AAA from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, which included 80 AAA and 10 normal vascular samples. CIBERSORT was used to analyze the samples and detect the infiltration of 22 types of immune cells and their differences and correlations. The principal component analysis showed significant differences in the infiltration of immune cells between normal vascular and AAA samples. High proportions of CD4+ T cells, activated mast cells, resting natural killer cells, and 12 other types of immune cells were found in normal vascular tissues, whereas high proportions of macrophages, CD8+ T cells, resting mast cells, and six other types of immune cells were found in AAA tissues. In the selected samples, we identified 39 upregulated (involved in growth factor activity, hormone receptor binding, and cytokine receptor activity) and 133 downregulated genes (involved in T cell activation, cell chemotaxis, and regulation of immune response mediators). The key differentially expressed immune response-related genes were screened using the STRING database and Cytoscape software. Two downregulated genes, PI3 and MAP2K1, and three upregulated genes, SSTR1, GPER1, and CCR10, were identified by constructing a protein–protein interaction network. Functional enrichment of the differentially expressed genes was analyzed, and the expression of the five key genes in AAA samples was verified using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, which revealed that MAP2K1 was downregulated in AAA, whereas SSTR1, GEPR1, and CCR10 were upregulated; there was no significant difference in PI3 expression. Our study shows that normal vascular and AAA samples can be distinguished via the infiltration of immune cells. Five genes, PI3, MAP2K1, SSTR1, GPER1, and CCR10, may play important roles in the development, diagnosis, and treatment of AAA.

The metal–nonmetal transition is of fundamental interest in contemporary physics. We present a combination of the optical reflectivity measurement of an expanded gold fluid produced by gold L-band x-rays from a Hohlraum and the corresponding ab initio calculations to study the metal–nonmetal transition. The averaged density and temperature of the reflective layer are derived from 1D radiation hydrodynamic simulations constrained by matching the expansion velocity obtained from the fringe shift. A sharp change in time-resolved reflectivity occurs at one third of the initial density, near where the metal–nonmetal transition is predicted to occur. The reflectivity calculated based on the Helmholtz equations with the dielectric function from the density functional theory calculations is compared with the experimental measurement. Disagreement of reflectivity between calculation and measurement probably originates from the energy shift of the dielectric function due to the inaccurate Kohn–Sham eigenvalue. More accurate methods on calculating the dielectric function are still needed to improve the calculated reflectivity.

Background: The dysfunction of vasculature is observed in diabetes and might be responsible for the increased incidence of vascular events. Previous studies indicated that supplementation of GLP-1 analogues is beneficial to the cardiovascular functions in diabetic patients, but the mechanisms are not clear. Methods: A type 1 diabetic model was constructed. Vascular constrictions were measured using wire myograph. Western blotting and quantitative PCR were adopted to analyze the expression profiles of key molecules. Mitochondrial functions were analyzed in both vascular tissues or vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to investigate the mechanism of adiponectin regulation. Results: In this study, abnormal vascular hypertrophy and increased vascular tones were observed in both diabetic patients and animals. ROS productions were increased in vessels and VSMCs from diabetic patients and animals, and the ROS scavenger mitoTEMPO partially attenuated the abnormal vascular tones and hypertension. In addition, decreased GLP-1 levels were observed, while GLP-1 supplementation improved the mitochondrial functions and vascular tones. Furthermore, it was shown that GLP-1 supplementation enhanced adiponectin expressions, while adiponectin facilitated the phosphorylation of AMPK and Sirt1 expressions. Also, CREB phosphorylation was enhanced upon GLP-1 supplementation and promoted the transcriptions of adiponectin. Finally, CREB inhibition partially attenuated the effects of GLP-1 on mitochondrial functions and adiponectin expressions. Conclusion: GLP-1 downregulation might be an important mechanism of abnormal mitochondrial function and vascular tone in diabetes. Targeting GLP-1/CREB/adiponectin axis might become a promising therapeutic strategy in alleviating diabetes-related cardiovascular dysfunctions.

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of plasma circulating miRNA-126 and miRNA-28-3p in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients, and to identify the related bioinformatics analysis.MethodsRandomly selected 120 DM patients as the observation group and 120 non- DM patients as the control group. The plasma circulating miRNA-126 and miRNA-28-3p were analyzed by qRT-PCR, and their target genes, biological information, related lncRNA and circRNA were predicted.ResultsThe circulating miRNA-126 (0.1162 ± 0.0236 vs. 0.0018 ± 0.0862) and miRNA-28-3p (0.1378 ± 0.0268 vs. 0.0006 ± 0.0167) levels in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group, and differences were statistically significant (P < 0.01). The Pearson correlation coefficient of miRNA-126 and miRNA- 28-3p was 0.4337 (P < 0.01). ROC curve analysis of miRNA-126 and miRNA-28-3p showed that the differences of the area under curve were statistically significant between the two groups (P < 0.01). Bioinformatics prediction showed that miRNA-126 and miRNA-28-3p may be involved in regulation of the insulin signaling pathway, insulin receptor signaling pathway, insulin/insulin growth factor signaling pathway, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway and angiogenesis. Moreover, it may be associated with a variety of lncRNA and cir-cRNA.ConclusionCirculating miRNA-126 and miRNA-28-3p can be a potential biomarker of DM and it may play an important role in the DM by regulating insulin or insulin growth factor related signaling pathways.