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Aspergillus pericarditis is a condition characterized by nonspecific clinical features, making diagnosis challenging. Although relatively uncommon, it is associated with a low diagnostic yield and high mortality. We herein present a case of Aspergillus pericarditis alongside a review of similar cases from the literature. This report underscores the importance of enhancing clinicians’ awareness of Aspergillus pericarditis and emphasizes the need for prompt diagnosis and early initiation of treatment to improve patient outcomes.

Abstract Background Understanding the mechanisms that mediate the interaction between tumor and immune cells may provide therapeutic benefit to patients with cancer. The N6-methyladenosine (m6A) demethylase, ALKBH5 (alkB homolog 5), is overexpressed in non-small cell lung cancer. However, its role in the tumor microenvironment is unknown. Methods Datasets and tissue samples were used to determine the relationship between ALKBH5 expression and immunotherapy efficacy. Bioinformatic analysis, colorimetric assay to determine m6A RNA methylation, dual luciferase reporter assay, RNA/m6A-modified RNA immunoprecipitation, RNA stability assay, and RNA sequencing were used to investigate the regulatory mechanism of ALKBH5 in non-small cell lung cancer. In vitro and in vivo assays were performed to determine the contribution of ALKBH5 to the development of non-small cell lung cancer. Results ALKBH5 was upregulated in primary non-small cell lung cancer tissues. ALKBH5 was positively correlated with programmed death-ligand 1 expression and macrophage infiltration and was associated with immunotherapy response. JAK2 was identified as a target of ALKBH5-mediated m6A modification, which activates the JAK2/p-STAT3 pathway to promote non-small cell lung cancer progression. ALKBH5 was found to recruit programmed death-ligand 1-positive tumor-associated macrophages and promote M2 macrophage polarization by inducing the secretion of CCL2 and CXCL10. ALKBH5 and tumor-associated macrophage-secreted IL-6 showed a synergistic effect to activate the JAK2/p-STAT3 pathway in cancer cells. Conclusions ALKBH5 promotes non-small cell lung cancer progression by regulating cancer and tumor-associated macrophage behavior through the JAK2/p-STAT3 pathway and the expression of CCL2 and CXCL10, respectively. These findings suggest that targeting ALKBH5 is a promising strategy of enhancing the anti-tumor immune response in patients with NSCLC and that identifying ALKBH5 status could facilitate prediction of clinical response to anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy.

Abstract Background Urolithiasis with high prevalence and recurrence rate, has impacts on kidney injury in patients, becomes a socioeconomic and healthcare problem in worldwide. However, the biology of kidney with crystal formation and proximal tubular injury remains essentially unclear. The present study aims to evaluate the cell biology and immune-communications in urolithiasis mediated kidney injury, to provide new insights in the kidney stone treatment and prevention. Results We identified 3 distinct injured-proximal tubular cell types based on the differentially expression injury markers (Havcr1 and lcn2) and functional solute carriers (slc34a3, slc22a8, slc38a3 and slc7a13), and characterized 4 main immune cell types in kidney and one undefined cell population, where F13a1+/high/CD163+/high monocyte & macrophage and Sirpa/Fcgr1a/Fcgr2a+/high granulocyte were the most enriched. We performed intercellular crosstalk analysis based on the snRNA-seq data and explored the potential immunomodulation of calculi stone formation, and founded that the interaction between ligand Gas6 and its receptors (Gas6-Axl, Gas6-Mertk) was specifically observed in the injured-PT1 cells, but not injured-PT2 and -PT3 cells. The interaction of Ptn-Plxnb2 was only observed between the injured-PT3 cells and its receptor enriched cells. Conclusions Present study comprehensively characterized the gene expression profile in the calculi rat kidney at single nucleus level, identified novel marker genes for all cell types of rat kidney, and determined 3 distinct sub-population of injured-PT clusters, as well as intercellular communication between injured-PTs and immune cells. Our collection of data provides a reliable resource and reference for studies on renal cell biology and kidney disease.

Abstract To identify the risk factors of mortality for the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) through a retrospective analysis. The demographic, clinical, laboratory, and chest imaging data of patients admitted to the ICU of Huoshenshan Hospital from February 10 to April 10, 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Student's t-test and Chi-square test were used to compare the continuous and categorical variables, respectively. The logistic regression model was employed to ascertain the risk factors of mortality. This retrospective study involved 123 patients, including 64 dead and 59 survivors. Among them, 57 people were tested for interleukin-6 (IL-6) (20 died and 37 survived). In all included patients, the oxygenation index (PaO2/FiO2) was identified as an independent risk factor (odd ratio [OR] = 0.96, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.928–0.994, p = 0.021). The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.895 (95% CI: 0.826–0.943, p

Objective. To explore the emergency nursing countermeasures and nursing experience of patients with primary liver cancer nodule rupture and hemorrhage. Methods. 30 patients with primary liver cancer nodule rupture and hemorrhage treated in our hospital since January 2020 after the implementation of emergency nursing countermeasures were selected as the observation group, and another 30 patients with primary liver cancer nodule rupture and hemorrhage treated in our hospital before January 2020 were selected as the control group. The control group received basic nursing intervention, while the observation group received emergency nursing measures. The hemoglobin level, blood oxygen saturation monitoring value, and partial pressure of oxygen of patients with hemorrhagic shock due to nodular rupture of primary liver cancer were compared between the two groups at admission and after nursing care. All indexes of patients during the perioperative period were recorded. The incidence of complications, mortality, and nursing satisfaction rates of the patients’ families were compared between the two groups. Results. After nursing care, the observation group’s patients’ hemoglobin level, blood oxygen saturation monitoring value, and partial pressure of oxygen were higher than those of the control group’s patients (P

BackgroundImmune-related adverse events (irAEs) have been reported to be associated with the efficacy of immunotherapy. Herein, we conducted a meta-analysis to demonstrate that irAEs could predict the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in lung cancer patients.MethodsLiterature on the correlation between irAEs and the efficacy of immunotherapy in lung cancer patients were searched to collect the data on objective response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS), or progression-free survival (PFS) of the patients. These data were incorporated into the meta-analysis.ResultsA total of 34 records encompassing 8,115 patients were examined in this study. The irAEs occurrence was significantly associated with higher ORR {risk ratio (RR): 2.43, 95% confidence interval (CI) [2.06–2.88], p < 0.00001} and improved OS {hazard ratio (HR): 0.51, 95% CI [0.43–0.61], p < 0.00001}, and PFS (HR: 0.50, 95% CI [0.44–0.57], p < 0.00001) in lung cancer patients undergoing ICIs. Subgroup analysis revealed that OS was significantly longer in patients who developed dermatological (OS: HR: 0.53, 95%CI [0.42–0.65], p < 0.00001), endocrine (OS: HR: 0.55, 95%CI [0.45–0.67], p < 0.00001), and gastrointestinal irAEs (OS: HR: 0.58, 95%CI [0.42–0.80], p = 0.0009) than in those who did not. However, hepatobiliary, pulmonary, and high-grade (≥3) irAEs were not correlated with increased OS and PFS.ConclusionThe occurrence of irAEs in lung cancer patients, particularly dermatological, endocrine, and gastrointestinal irAEs, is a predictor of enhanced ICIs efficacy.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by an uncontrollable cytokine storm, which is associated with high mortality due to lack of effective treatment. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play an indispensable role in maintaining immune homeostasis and CD39 is considered as a functional cell marker of Tregs. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of CD39+ Tregs on acute lung injury (ALI) and investigate the frequency of CD39+ Tregs in ARDS patients. We found that after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment, CD39−/− mice exhibited more severe inflammation and wild type (WT) mice exhibited a decreased frequency of CD39+ Tregs in the peripheral blood. Furthermore, CD39+ Tregs had a protective effect on LPS-induced inflammation in vitro and the adoptive transfer of CD39+ Tregs had a therapeutic effect on ALI in vivo. We further sought to explore the mechanisms that affect CD39 expression on Tregs. LPS-induced inflammation in the lung impaired the immunosuppressive effect of Tregs via the autophagy-mediated downregulation of CD39. In addition, CD39 induced the expression of itself in Tregs via activating the ERK1/2-FOS pathway. Consistent with this finding, the frequency of CD39+ Tregs was also decreased in the peripheral blood of ARDS patients and was positively correlated with disease severity. Our results suggested that the adoptive transfer of CD39+ Tregs may provide a novel method for the clinical prevention and treatment of ARDS.

Background/Aims: It is well known that Plac1 is a placenta-specific gene; however, its spatiotemporal expression pattern and exact role at t h e mouse fetomaternal interface r e m a i n s unclear. Methods: In situ hybridization (ISH) was used to localize the Plac1 mRNA at the mouse fetomaternal interface. A trophoblast stem cell (TS) differentiation model with Plac1 shRNA-overexpressing lentivirus was employed to investigate the possible role of Plac1 in placentation. Real-time RT-PCR was used to detect changes in gene expression. Results: Plac1 was exclusively expressed in the ectoplacental cone (EPC) as well as in 8.5 and 9.5 days post-coitum (dpc) embryos. Subsequently, Plac1 expression was abundant in the spongiotrophoblast layer and moderately in the labyrinth layer until 13.5 dpc, and declined thereafter. Interestingly, Plac1 was also expressed by secondary trophoblast giant cells and glycogen trophoblast cells, but not in primary trophoblast giant cells. Plac1 transcription was increased during the TS differentiation (P < 0.01), and knockdown of Plac1 significantly impaired TS differentiation. Conclusion: Plac1 is abundantly expressed at the fetomaternal interface and in all trophoblast subtypes except in primary trophoblast giant cells. Plac1 knockdown retarded the progress of TS differentiation, indicating that Plac1 is necessary for normal trophoblast differentiation into various trophoblast subpopulations.

Advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) leads to a high death rate in patients and is a major threat to human health. NSCLC induces an immune suppressive microenvironment and escapes from immune surveillance in vivo. At present, the molecular mechanisms of NSCLC immunopathogenesis and the immune suppressive microenvironment induced by NSCLC have not been fully elucidated. Here, we focus on the effect of NSCLC cells on the development and differentiation of human CD1c+ conventional dendritic cell (DC) subsets mediated by CD205 and CD103. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from NSCLC patients and healthy donors. DCs were induced and cocultured with primary NSCLC cells or tumor cell line H1299. DCs without incubation with tumor cells are control. The protein expression of costimulatory molecules such as CD80 and CD86, HLA-DR, pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10 and IL-12, and CD205 and CD103 on CD1c+ DCs was detected by flow cytometry. Our data revealed two new subpopulations of human CD1c+ DCs (CD1c+CD205+CD103+ and CD1c+CD205+CD103− DC) in healthy donors and NSCLC patients. NSCLC cells modulate the development of the CD1c+CD205+CD103+ DC and CD1c+CD205+CD103− DC subpopulations in vitro and ex vivo. NSCLC cells also suppress the expression of signal molecules such as CD40, CD80, CD86, and HLA-DR on CD1c+ DCs. In addition, the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-12 and IL-23, is downregulated by NSCLC cells; however, the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-10 and IL-27, by CD1c+ DCs is upregulated by NSCLC cells. Our results suggest that NSCLC cells may induce immune tolerogenic DCs, which block DC-mediated anti-tumor immunity in NSCLC patients. Our data may be helpful in revealing new cellular mechanisms related to the induction of tolerogenic CD1c+ DCs by NSCLCs and the development of an immune suppressive microenvironment that causes tumor cells to escape immune surveillance. Our results indicate a potential role for CD1c+ DC subsets mediated by CD205 and CD103 in DC-mediated immunotherapy to target NSCLC in the future.

Real-time reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) has become the most frequently used system for studies of gene expression. Many studies have provided reliable evidence that the transcription levels of reference genes are not constant at different developmental stages and in different experimental conditions. However, suitable reference genes which are stably expressed in polyploid preimplantation embryos of different developmental stages have not yet been identified. Therefore, it is critical to verify candidate reference genes to analyze gene expression accurately in both diploid and polyploid embryos. We examined the expression levels of 12 candidate reference genes in preimplantation embryos of four different ploidies at six developmental stages. Stability analysis of the reference genes was performed by four independent software programs, and the stability of three genes was evaluated by comparison with the Oct4 expression level during preimplantation development in diploid embryos. The expression levels of most genes in the polyploid embryos were higher than that in the diploid embryos, but the increasing degree were disproportionate with the ploidies. There were no significant difference in reference gene expressions among embryos of different ploidies when they reached the morula stage, and the expression level remained flat until the blastocyst stage. Ubc, Ppia, and Pgk1 were the three most stable reference genes in diploid and polyploid embryos.

Golgi phosphoprotein 2 (GOLPH2) is a resident Golgi type-II membrane protein upregulated in liver disease. Given that GOLPH2 traffics through endosomes and can be secreted into the circulation, it is a promising serum marker for liver diseases. The structure of GOLPH2 and the functions of its different protein domains are not known. In the current study, we investigated the structural determinants for Golgi localization using a panel of GOLPH2 truncation mutants. The Golgi localization of GOLPH2 was not affected by the deletion of the C-terminal part of the protein. A truncated mutant containing the N-terminal portion (the cytoplasmic tail and transmembrane domain (TMD)) localized to the Golgi. Sequential deletion analysis of the N-terminal indicated that the TMD with a positively charged residue in the cytoplasmic N-terminal tail were sufficient to support Golgi localization. We also showed that both endogenous and secreted GOLPH2 exist as a disulfide-bonded dimer, and the coiled-coil domain was sufficient for dimerization. This structural knowledge is important for the understanding the pathogenic role of GOLPH2 in liver diseases, and the development of GOLPH2-based hepatocellular cancer diagnostic methods.

During plant growth and development, the YABBY gene plays a crucial role in the morphological structure, hormone signaling, stress resistance, crop breeding, and agricultural production of plant lateral organs, leaves, flowers, and fruits. Astragalus mongholicus is a perennial herbaceous plant in the legume family, widely used worldwide due to its high medicinal and edible value. However, there have been no reports of the YABBY gene family in A. mongholicus. This study used bioinformatics methods, combined with databases and analysis websites, to systematically analyze the AmYABBY gene family in the entire genome of A. mongholicus and verified its expression patterns in different tissues of A. mongholicus through transcriptome data and qRT-PCR experiments. A total of seven AmYABBY genes were identified, which can be divided into five subfamilies and distributed on three chromosomes. Two pairs of AmYABBY genes may be involved in fragment duplication on three chromosomes. All AmYABBY proteins have a zinc finger YABBY domain, and members of the same group have similar motif composition and intron – exon structure. In the promoter region of the genes, light-responsive and MeJa-response cis-elements are dominant. AmYABBY is highly expressed in stems and leaves, especially AmYABBY1, AmYABBY2, and AmYABBY3, which play important roles in the growth and development of stems and leaves. The AmYABBY gene family regulates the growth and development of A. mongholicus. In summary, this study provides a theoretical basis for in-depth research on the function of the AmYABBY gene and new insights into the molecular response mechanism of the growth and development of the traditional Chinese medicine A. mongholicus.

To study the buckling behavior and the design method of the load-carrying capacity of cold-formed thin-walled lipped angle, axial compression tests were carried out on 32 lipped angle columns with different sections and slenderness ratios which were manufactured with high strength zinc-coated grades G450 structural steel sheets. The experimental results showed that the long column with a small width-to-thickness ratio displayed global flexural-torsional buckling, local buckling was found for the short column with a large width-to-thickness ratio. Other specimens demonstrated interactive buckling with local buckling and flexural-torsional buckling. The specimens with torsional buckling all showed post-torsional buckling strength. Then ABAQUS finite element software was used to simulate the lipped angle specimens. The simulation results were in good agreement with the test results about buckling modes and ultimate strength which indicated that the established finite element analysis model was reasonable and feasible. Therefore, the influences of the slenderness ratio, width-thickness ratio, and width ratio of the leg to lip on the ultimate strength of cold-formed thin-walled lipped angle were analyzed using finite element software. The analysis showed that the ultimate capacity of the angle decreased greatly with the increase of the slenderness ratio. The ultimate capacity increased in the range of width-to-thickness ratios of 15–30 when the angles had the same lengths. The increasing of the width of the lips increased the ultimate capacity, but the increase of the ultimate capacity of the angles would lower when local buckling occurred at the lips. Finally, based on the test results, the modified effective width method and direct strength method were proposed to calculate the capacity of the cold-formed thin-walled lipped angle under axial compression. The comparison between the predicted results with the test and finite element analysis showed that the proposed methods were accurate and feasible.

Background and Objectives: The Chansu injection (CSI), a sterile aqueous solution derived from Chansu, is applied in clinical settings to support antitumor and anti-radiation treatments. CSI’s principal active components, bufadienolides (≥90%), demonstrate potential effects on pancreatic cancer (PDAC), but their underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the antitumor effects and pathways associated with CSI in PDAC. Methods: Network pharmacology and bioinformatics analyses explored CSI’s mechanisms against PDAC. MTT, colony-formation, and migration assays evaluated CSI’s impact on proliferation and migration in PANC-1 and MIA PACA-2 cells, both as a single agent and in combination with erlotinib (EGFR inhibitor). Cell cycle analysis employed flow cytometry. Animal experiments were performed on tumor-bearing mice, with targets and pathways assessed via molecular docking and western blotting. Results: CSI treatment suppressed PDAC cell proliferation and migration by inducing G2/M phase arrest. Network pharmacology, bioinformatics, and molecular docking indicated that CSI’s anti-PDAC effects may involve EGFR pathway modulation, with CSI lowering p-EGFR/KRAS/p-ERK1/2 pathway expressions in PDAC cells. Additionally, sustained KRAS activation in mediating erlotinib resistance in PDAC and CSI potentiated erlotinib’s antitumor effects through enhanced KRAS and p-ERK1/2 inhibition. CSI also enhanced erlotinib’s efficacy in tumor-bearing mice without causing detectable toxicity in renal, cardiac, or hepatic tissues at therapeutic doses. Conclusions: CSI as an adjuvant used in antitumor and anti-radiation therapies enhanced erlotinib’s antitumor effects through modulation of the KRAS pathway. CSI and erlotinib’s synergistic interaction represents a promising approach for addressing erlotinib resistance in PDAC treatment.

Constructing fast electron transfer pathways and abundant electro-active sites is an effective strategy to improve the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance of catalysts. Herein, structural engineering and dual-phase engineering were employed to construct a NiS2 nanoparticle-encapsulated MOF configured with a pseudo-neuronal structure (NiS2/MOF/HT). It was found that the pseudo-neuronal structure, constructed with a carbon nanohorn (CNH) and carbon nanotube (CNT), provided fast electron transfer pathways and abundant exposed active sites. Moreover, the NiS2/MOF/HT composite obtained via partial vulcanization not only inherited the pseudo-neuronal structure but also prevented the aggregation and growth of NiS2 particles. NiS2/MOF composites provide various active sites. With the combination of the promotion of electronic transfer and enrichment of electro-active sites (NiS2, MOF), NiS2/MOF/HT showed excellent performance, whose overpotential at 25 mA cm−2 was reduced by 19.5% compared with MOF/HT.

As oil and gas exploration gradually advances into deep waters, the combined effects of various types of gas kick and the accurate calculation of the gas-kick volume have gained increasing attention. This study focused on gas kicks from permeable gas-bearing formations, considering the mass transfer of gas in the filtration region of the drilling fluids and revealed the mechanisms of seepage-driven and diffusion-driven gas kicks. Based on seepage mechanics and diffusion theory, a comprehensive model for calculating gas-kick volume was established, considering the synergistic effect of gas-concentration-diffusion and negative-differential-pressure, as well as mass transfer in both the filtrate zone and the filter-cake zone. The new model showed high calculation accuracy. The sensitivity analysis showed that both the seepage-driven and diffusion-driven gas-kick volumes in the wellbore increased with increasing formation porosity and open-hole length, while the thickness of the filter cake had a strong inhibitory effect on both. Additionally, a “seepage–diffusion ratio” was introduced to reveal the gas-kick evolution pattern under a seepage–diffusion mechanism. Under specific case conditions, when the seepage–diffusion ratio was less than approximately 1%, diffusion-driven gas kick contributed more than seepage-driven gas kick; when the seepage–diffusion ratio exceeded 1%, seepage-driven gas kick contributed more than diffusion-driven gas kick. The research can provide crucial parameters for wellbore multiphase flow calculation and wellbore pressure prediction.

Abstract Knowledge sharing as an altruistic behavior has gained widespread attention. In the information age, online sharing is increasingly popular and has become an important way of exchanging and stimulating knowledge. Through a survey of 458 employees in China, this study examines the influence mechanism of need for approval on individual online sharing behavior and the moderating effect of gratitude and social intelligence. Study findings show that self-presentation has a mediating effect between need for approval and online sharing behavior, and individual need for approval can promote online sharing behavior by enhancing self-presentation. Gratitude and social intelligence both have positive moderating effects on the relations between self-presentation and online sharing behavior. Gratitude moderates the indirect influence of need for approval on online sharing behavior through self-presentation. Individuals with high gratitude and high social intelligence at the same time can strengthen the positive effect of self-presentation on online sharing behavior. Individuals can meet their approval need and obtain learning opportunities through online sharing behaviors. Organizations can select talents and obtain valuable information by establishing sharing platforms. Governments should also regulate online platforms for knowledge exchange as well as encourage individual online sharing behaviors.

An experimental study of cold-formed thin-walled steel unequal-leg angles (CFTWS-ULAs) under axially oriented pressure is presented in this paper. Firstly, the initial imperfections and material properties of the angle specimens were measured in detail. The angle specimens were tested under fixed-ended conditions. The results of the experiments showed that the angle specimens with small slenderness ratios were susceptible to local buckling, the angle specimens whose legs had high slenderness ratios and low width–thickness ratios were found to easily suffer from the occurrence of flexural buckling, and the angle specimens whose legs had high width–thickness ratios were found to easily suffer from the occurrence of interactive buckling between local buckling and flexural buckling. The finite element analysis of the ULAs was conducted using ABAQUS6.14 finite element software by creating a model. The buckling modes and ultimate bearing capacities of the test specimens were compared, and the finite element analysis verified that the established model built using the finite element is credible and subsequent parametric analysis was performed. The slenderness ratio had the most significant impact on the ultimate bearing capacities of the unequal-leg angles, as indicated by the analysis results. When the width–thickness ratio and the width ratio of the legs fell within a specific range, the ultimate bearing capacities of the unequal-leg angles increased as the width–thickness ratio and the width ratio of the legs increased. Finally, the comparison results showed that the design strengths predicted by the specifications were very conservative, because the local buckling and torsional buckling were calculated at the same time. Therefore, a recommendation was proposed that the calculation of the load-carrying capacity of an unequal-leg angle should ignore torsional buckling.

Abstract Background Pseudoaneurysm of the mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa (P-MAIVF) is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening condition. The most common pathogenic factors of P-MAIVF are infective endocarditis and surgical valve operation. Here, we report a rare case of P-MAIVF which occurred one year after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Case presentation A 31-year-old man developed a P-MAIVF one year after PTCA. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) revealed a pseudoaneurysm between the aortic root and the left atrium. Three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3D-TEE) clearly demonstrated the orifice of the pseudoaneurysm. This case was initially diagnosed by ultrasound, and the prognosis was good after surgical repair. Conclusions We report a rare case of P-MAIVF that occurred one year after PTCA.

Abstract Introduction Despite numerous observational studies reporting a positive correlation between polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and the risk of sepsis and mortality, the causation of such an association has yet to be firmly established. Thus, our study aimed to undertake the Mendelian randomization (MR) approach to scrutinize the potential causalities of PUFAs with sepsis and mortality risk. Methods We conducted the MR investigation using genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics of PUFAs [including omega-3 fatty acids (omega-3), omega-6 fatty acids (omega-6), the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids (omega-6:3), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), linoleic acid (LA)], sepsis, and sepsis mortality. We utilized the GWAS summary data from the UK Biobank. To establish reliable causality, we employed the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method as the primary analytical approach, together with four additional MR methods. In addition, we performed heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy assessments using Cochrane’s Q test and MR-Egger intercept test, respectively. Finally, we performed a series of sensitivity analyses to enhance the precision and veracity of our findings. Results The IVW method showed that genetically predicted omega-3 [odd ratio (OR) 0.914, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.845–0.987, P = 0.023] and DHA (OR 0.893, 95% CI 0.815–0.979, P = 0.015) were suggestively linked to a decreased risk of sepsis. Furthermore, genetically predicted DHA (OR 0.819, 95% CI 0.681–0.986, P = 0.035) was suggestively associated with a reduced risk of sepsis-related death. Conversely, the omega-6:3 ratio (OR 1.177, 95% CI 1.011–1.371, P = 0.036) was suggestively linked to an increased risk of sepsis-induced mortality. On the basis of the MR-Egger intercept assessment, it appears that our MR examination was not influenced by any horizontal pleiotropy (all P > 0.05). Moreover, the reliability of the estimated causal association was confirmed by the sensitivity analyses. Conclusion Our study supported the casual effect between PUFAs and susceptibility to sepsis and sepsis-related death. Our findings underline the importance of specific PUFAs levels, particularly for individuals with a genetic susceptibility to sepsis. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and investigate the underlying mechanisms.

This research presents a new, eco-friendly, and swift method combining solid-phase extraction and hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents (DES) with high-performance liquid chromatography (SPE-DES-HPLC) for extracting and quantifying catechin and epicatechin in Shanxi aged vinegar (SAV). The parameters, such as the elution solvent type, the XAD-2 macroporous resin dosage, the DES ratio, the DES volume, the adsorption time, and the desorption time, were optimized via a one-way experiment. A central composite design using the Box–Behnken methodology was employed to investigate the effects of various factors, including 17 experimental runs and the construction of three-dimensional response surface plots to identify the optimal conditions. The results show that the optimal conditions were an HDES (tetraethylammonium chloride and octanoic acid) ratio of 1:3, an XAD-2 macroporous resin dosage of 188 mg, and an adsorption time of 11 min. Under these optimal conditions, the coefficients of determination of the method were greater than or equal to 0.9917, the precision was less than 5%, and the recoveries ranged from 98.8% to 118.8%. The environmentally friendly nature of the analytical process and sample preparation was assessed via the Analytical Eco-Scale and AGREE, demonstrating that this method is a practical and eco-friendly alternative to conventional determination techniques. In summary, this innovative approach offers a solid foundation for the assessment of flavanol compounds present in SAV samples.

Abstract Background Axial involvement in children with enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA) has characteristics that differ from those of peripheral involvement. This study characterized their clinical characteristics and treatment. Methods Patients with ERA at the Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University between January 2018 and December 2020 were included. The ERA cohort was divided into two based on the presence or absence of axial joint involvement. Demographic characteristics, clinical features, and treatments were described and compared. Results In total, 105 children with ERA were enrolled (axial ERA, n = 57; peripheral ERA, n = 48). The age at disease onset of the axial group tended to be higher (11.93 ± 1.72 vs. 11.09 ± 1.91 years) and the diagnosis delay was bigger in patients with axial ERA (10.26 ± 11.66 months vs. 5.13 ± 7.92 months). The inflammatory marker levels were significantly higher in patients with axial. There were no differences in HLA-B27 positivity between the groups (34 [59.65%] vs. 28 [58.33%], P > 0.05). Hip involvement was more frequent in the axial group (52.63% vs 27.08%; X2 = 7.033). A total of 38 (66.67%) and 10 (20.83%) patients with axial and peripheral ERA, respectively, were treated with biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) at diagnosis. The administration of biologics increased gradually in the axial ERA group, peaking at 18 months and decreasing thereafter, whereas that in the peripheral ERA group peaked at 6 months and began to decline thereafter. Conclusions Axial ERA is a persistent active disease and requires a more aggressive treatment. Classification and early recognition of axial involvement may help with timely diagnosis and appropriate management.

Betula pendula purple rain is a variety of Betula pendula that is native to Europe and has important ornamental and economic value. In this study, we sequenced the complete chloroplast genome of B. pendula purple rain. This genome had a typical quadripartite structure with 160,552 bases, including a large single copy (LSC) region of 89,433 bases, a small single copy (SCC) region of 19,007 bases and two inverted repeat (IR) regions of 26,056 bases. The GC content of the chloroplast genome was 36% and contained 124 genes, including 79 protein-coding genes, 8 rRNA genes and 37 tRNA genes. The maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis of reported chloroplast genomes showed that B. pendula purple rain was most closely related to Betula occidentalis and Betula platyphylla.

Abstract Kinectin 1 antisense RNA 1 (KTN1-AS1), a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), has been proved to have tumor-promoting properties and its expression is enhanced in several human tumors. However, the role of KTN1-AS1 in the pathogenesis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the expression status, functional roles, and molecular mechanisms of KTN1-AS1 in the development of ESCC. Considerable upregulation of KTN1-AS1 was confirmed in esophageal cancer cells and ESCC tissues and its expression was associated with TNM stage, pathological differentiation, and lymph node metastasis. SOX2 directly activated transcription of KTN1-AS1, and overexpression of KTN1-AS1 facilitated ESCC cells proliferation and invasion in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, KTN1-AS1 could bind to retinoblastoma binding protein 4 (RBBP4) in the nucleus and enhanced its binding with histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1), thereby activating the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) process through downregulating E-cadherin expression at the epigenetic level. In conclusion, KTN1-AS1, induced by SOX2, acts as a tumor-promoting gene and may serve as a potential therapeutic and prognostic biomarker for ESCC.

During deepwater drilling, testing, production, or hydrate mining, the circulating medium in the wellbore may contain solid particles, such as rock chips and sand, in addition to drilling fluids, gas, and water. In the high-pressure, low-temperature conditions of deep water, gas intrusion can easily combine with free water in the drilling fluid to form hydrates, increasing the drilling risk. Therefore, understanding the formation patterns of hydrates in drilling fluids is of significant importance for the prevention and control of hydrates. This study utilized a small-scale high-pressure reactor to investigate the impact of the stirring rate, NaCl, and methanol additives, as well as the sand content on the hydrate formation process and gas consumption. The results indicate that the hydrate formation process can be divided into an induction stage, a rapid formation stage, and a slow formation stage. The induction stage and rapid formation stage durations are significantly reduced under stirring conditions. In NaCl and methanol solutions, hydrate formation is inhibited, with the induction stage duration increasing with higher concentrations of NaCl and methanol. There was no apparent rapid formation stage observed. The final gas consumption decreases substantially with increasing concentrations of NaCl and methanol, reaching no significant hydrate formation at a 20% concentration. The sand content has a significant impact on the slow formation stage, with the final gas consumption increasing within a certain range (in this work, at a sand content of 20%), and being notably higher than in the pure water system under the same conditions.