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Abstract Extensive studies on the morphological characteristics of the coccyx, using CT or MRI techniques, have been conducted in some European and Asian countries. However, research on coccyx morphology in China remains scarce. A total of 300 subjects, who underwent sacrococcygeal digital radiological scans at the third affiliated hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University between January 2022 and December 2023, were analyzed in this retrospective study. Modified coccyx morphology classification was applied. Imaging focused on the type of coccyx and the number of coccygeal segments. The subjects exhibited coccyx type III (33.3%), type II (32.7%), type I (16.7%), type IV (16%), type V (0.3%), and type VI (1%). 32 males with coccygeal type II; 76 females with coccygeal type III. Significant differences in coccyx morphology were observed between male and female (p

Abstract To determine whether relative anterior spinal overgrowth (RASO) occurs regardless of scoliosis segments and severity, and to explore the pattern of vertebral body height changes in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). A total of 125 AIS and 179 non-scoliotic adolescents were enrolled. The anterior vertebral body height (VBHa) and posterior vertebral body height (VBHp) were measured on lateral spine radiographs, and the VBHa/VBHp ratio was calculated. The ratios were compared between the two groups and across scoliosis segments in the AIS group. The correlation between scoliosis severity and vertebral ratios, as well as the relationship between the apex vertebra’s ratio and Cobb angle, was analyzed. Results showed that the VBHa/VBHp ratios were higher in the AIS group than the control group from T6 to L5 (P

Abstract The generation of radicals through photo-Fenton-like reactions demonstrates significant potential for remediating emerging organic contaminants (EOCs) in complex aqueous environments. However, the excitonic effect, induced by Coulomb interactions between photoexcited electrons and holes, reduces carrier utilization efficiency in these systems. In this study, we develop Cu single-atom-loaded covalent organic frameworks (CuSA/COFs) as models to modulate excitonic effects. Temperature-dependent photoluminescence and ultrafast transient absorption spectra reveal that incorporating acenaphthene units into the linker (CuSA/Ace-COF) significantly reduces exciton binding energy (E b). This modification not only enhances peroxymonosulfate adsorption at Cu active sites but also facilitates rapid electron transfer and promotes selective hydroxyl radical generation. Compared to CuSA/Obq-COF (E b = 25.6 meV), CuSA/Ace-COF (E b = 12.2 meV) shows a 39.5-fold increase in the pseudo-first-order rate constant for sulfamethoxazole degradation (0.434 min−1). This work provides insights into modulating excitonic behavior in single-atom catalysts via linker engineering for EOCs degradation.

Abstract Lipid droplets (LDs), serving as the convergence point of energy metabolism and multiple signaling pathways, have garnered increasing attention in recent years. Different cell types within the central nervous system (CNS) can regulate energy metabolism to generate or degrade LDs in response to diverse pathological stimuli. This article provides a comprehensive review on the composition of LDs in CNS, their generation and degradation processes, their interaction mechanisms with mitochondria, the distribution among different cell types, and the roles played by these cells—particularly microglia and astrocytes—in various prevalent neurological disorders. Additionally, we also emphasize the paradoxical role of LDs in post-cerebral ischemia inflammation and explore potential underlying mechanisms, aiming to identify novel therapeutic targets for this disease.

Abstract Background Dyslipidemia is a common comorbidity in patients with cancer, yet the impact of abnormal lipid levels on tumor prognosis remains contentious. This study was conducted to synthesize the current evidence regarding the prognostic utility of blood lipid levels, including high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), and apolipoprotein B (ApoB), in predicting overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in cancer patients. Methods A comprehensive literature search was performed across electronic databases to assess the associations between blood lipid levels and OS or DFS in cancer patients. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to analyze the data. The research protocol was previously submitted to the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO): CRD42023458597. Results Our study represents the largest and most extensive evaluation of the prognostic significance of blood lipid levels in cancer to date. It includes a meta-analysis of 156 eligible studies involving 85,173 cancer patients. The findings revealed a significant association between elevated levels of HDL-C, TC, and ApoA1 and improved OS and DFS in cancer patients. In contrast, no significant relationships were identified between LDL-C, TG, and ApoB levels and the OS or DFS of cancer patients. Conclusion Blood lipids, particularly HDL-C, TC, and ApoA1, emerge as accessible and cost-effective biomarkers that may aid in assessing survival outcomes in cancer patients and potentially inform clinical decision-making.

Abstract Objectives Compare the differences in perioperative clinical characteristics of lung cancer patients of different genders who have undergone VATS lobectomy, and explore the impact of these differences on the short-term prognosis of patients. Methods A total of 338 consecutive patients with lung cancer who underwent VATS lobectomy in our hospital from August 2021 to August 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, they were divided into male group and female group. The perioperative characteristics and short-term prognosis of different groups were compared. The multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors. Results There were statistically significant differences between male and female patients in age of onset, body surface area (BSA), smoking rate, alcohol consumption rate, hypertension incidence, pulmonary function and clinical stage. There were statistically significant differences between male and female patients in operation time and lymph node dissection. The probability of postoperative complications, such as pulmonary infection, persistent air leakage and severe subcutaneous emphysema, in male patients was significantly higher than that in female patients. The average daily postoperative thoracic drainage volume in male patients was considerably higher than that in female patients, and the postoperative duration of thoracic drainage tube and hospital stay in male patients were significantly longer than those in female patients. After multiple regression analysis, low FEVI values in males was found to be an independent risk factor for postoperative complications. Conclusions Compared with female patients, male patients with lung cancer are more likely to have unfavorable factors such as older age, higher smoking rate, poor pulmonary function and late clinical stage of tumors when they undergoing VATS surgery treatment. The appropriate thoracic drainage time can be selected according to gender differences to shorten the length of hospital stay. The incidence of postoperative complications is higher in male patients, especially those with poor pulmonary function, and active perioperative intervention is required to reduce the incidence of postoperative complications.

Manual semen evaluation methods are subjective and time-consuming. In this study, a deep learning algorithmic framework was designed to enable non-invasive multidimensional morphological analysis of live sperm in motion, improve current clinical sperm morphology testing methods, and significantly contribute to the advancement of assisted reproductive technologies. We improved the FairMOT tracking algorithm by incorporating the distance and angle of the same sperm head movement in adjacent frames, as well as the head target detection frame IOU value, into the cost function of the Hungarian matching algorithm. For sperm morphology, we used the BlendMask segmentation method to segment individual sperm. SegNet was used to separate the head, midpiece, and principal piece comments from each sperm. Experienced in vivo sperm physicians confirmed a morphological accuracy percentage of 90.82%. A total of 1272 samples were collected from multiple tertiary hospitals for validation of the system, which were also evaluated by physicians. The results of our system were highly consistent with those of manual microscopy. This study realized the automated detection of progressive motility and morphology of sperm simultaneously, which is crucial for selection of morphologically normal and motile sperm for intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

The fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) is a crucial receptor tyrosine kinase involved in essential biological processes, including growth, development, and tissue repair. However, FGFR gene mutations, including amplification, fusion, and mutation, can disrupt epigenetics, transcriptional regulation, and tumor microenvironment interactions, leading to cancer development. Targeting these kinase mutations with small molecule drugs or antibodies has shown clinical benefits. For example, erdafitinib is approved for treating locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer patients with FGFR2/FGFR3 mutations, and pemigatinib is approved for treating cholangiocarcinoma with FGFR2 fusion/rearrangement. Effective screening of FGFR variant patients is crucial for the clinical application of FGFR inhibitors. Various detection methods, such as polymerase chain reaction, next-generation sequencing, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry, are available, and their selection should be based on diagnostic and treatment decision-making needs. Our developed expert consensus aims to standardize the diagnosis and treatment process for FGFR gene mutations and facilitate the practical application of FGFR inhibitors in clinical practice.

Abstract The correlation between the Cobb angle and the sagittal spinal curvature (SSC) in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) has been reported in some previous studies, but few studies have reported on the relation of coronal wedge deformity (CWD) with sagittal curvature. This study aims to investigate the correlation between CWD and SSC in AIS patients. A retrospective analysis was conducted in 122 AIS patients treated at our hospital from January 2018 to November 2023. Correlation analysis was performed on the Cobb angle, total wedge angle(TW), apical vertebral wedge angle (APW), upper end-vertebral wedge angle (UW), lower end-vertebral wedge angle (LW), total affected structures, average wedge angle(AW), total vertebral wedge angle (TVW), average vertebral wedge angle (AVW), Vertebral Wedge Angle ratio (VWR), total disc wedge angle (TDW), average disc wedge angle (ADW), and disc wedge angle ratio (DWR). Furthermore, out of all cases which underwent lateral spinal radiographs, a correlation analysis between thoracic kyphosis (TK), lumbar lordosis (LL) and CWD was carried out on 102 patients. The Cobb angle exhibited a significant positive correlation with multiple CWD parameters (P 0.05). In mild and moderate AIS patients, CWD parameters were positively correlated with the Cobb angle and negatively correlated with thoracic SSC. This may indicate that it’s necessary to correct sagittal thoracic curvature when rectifying scoliosis in clinic. This research would not only provide new insights for clinical practice but also offer important evidence for early diagnosis and intervention.

Abstract Objective To evaluate the performance of a semi-automated artificial intelligence (AI) software program (CerebralDoc® system) in aneurysm detection and morphological measurement. Methods In this study, 354 cases of computed tomographic angiography (CTA) were retrospectively collected in our hospital. Among them, 280 cases were diagnosed with aneurysms by either digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and CTA (DSA group, n = 102), or CTA-only (non-DSA group, n = 178). The presence or absence of aneurysms, as well as their location and related morphological features determined by AI were evaluated using DSA and radiologist findings. Besides, post-processing image quality from AI and radiologists were also rated and compared. Results In the DSA group, AI achieved a sensitivity of 88.24% and an accuracy of 81.97%, whereas radiologists achieved a sensitivity of 95.10% and an accuracy of 84.43%, using DSA results as the gold standard. The AI in the non-DSA group achieved 81.46% sensitivity and 76.29% accuracy, as per the radiologists’ findings. The comparison of position consistency results showed better performance under loose criteria than strict criteria. In terms of morphological characteristics, both the DSA and the non-DSA groups agreed well with the diagnostic results for neck width and maximum diameter, demonstrating excellent ICC reliability exceeding 0.80. The AI-generated images exhibited superior quality compared to the standard software for post-processing, while also demonstrating a significantly reduced processing time. Conclusions The AI-based aneurysm detection rate demonstrates a commendable performance, while the extracted morphological parameters exhibit a remarkable consistency with those assessed by radiologists, thereby showcasing significant potential for clinical application.

Abstract Background/Objectives Childhood obesity, particularly in girls, is linked to early puberty onset, heightening risks for adult-onset diseases. Addressing childhood obesity and precocious puberty is vital to mitigate societal burdens. Despite existing costly and invasive medical interventions, introducing lifestyle-based alternatives is essential. Our study investigates alternate-day fasting’s (ADF) impact on pubertal development in normal-weight and high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese female mice. Methods Four groups of female mice were utilized, with dams initially fed control chow during and before pregnancy. Post-parturition, two groups continued on control chow, while two switched to an HFD. Offspring diets mirrored maternal exposure. One control and one HFD group were subjected to ADF. Morphometry and hormone analyses at various time points were performed. Results Our findings demonstrate that ADF in normal-weight mice led to reduced body length, weight, uterine, and ovarian weights, accompanied by delayed puberty and lower levels of sex hormones and growth hormone (GH). Remarkably, GH treatment effectively prevented ADF-induced growth reduction but did not prevent delayed puberty. Conversely, an HFD increased body length, induced obesity and precocious puberty, and altered sex hormones and leptin levels, which were counteracted by ADF regimen. Our data indicate ADF’s potential in managing childhood obesity and precocious puberty. Conclusions ADF reduced GH and sex hormone levels, contributing to reduced growth and delayed puberty, respectively. Therefore, parents of normal-weight children should be cautious about prolonged overnight fasting. ADF prevented HFD-induced obesity and precocious puberty, offering an alternative to medical approaches; nevertheless, further studies are needed for translation into clinical practice.

Abstract Background There is currently no dedicated measurement for assessing nursing students’ study interest in China. Considering the good reliability, validity, and widespread applicability of the Study Interest Questionnaire-Short Form (SIQ-SF), the objective of this study was to validate its usage among Chinese nursing students. Methods The translation and cross-cultural adaptation rigorously followed the modified Brislin model. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using the Chinese version of the SIQ-SF and convenience sampling was employed to select nursing students. The Psychometric evaluation of the Chinese version of the SIQ-SF was conducted based on Classical Test Theory and Item Response Theory. Results A total of 1158 participants were included in the analysis. The item-level content validity index (CVI) ranged from 0.9 to 1.0, and the scale-level CVI was 0.98. In the Exploratory factor analysis, three factors with eigenvalues above 1 were identified, accounting for 62.554% of the cumulative variance. In the confirmatory factor analysis, the CMIN\DF was 5.639, the GFI was 0.953, the CFI was 0.902, and the IFI was 0.904. The Cronbach’s α coefficient of the Chinese version of the SIQ-SF was 0.70. Thirty-one participants were invited to sign the scale after two weeks. The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.784, and that of items ranged from 0.70 to 0.819. The infit MnSQ values ranged between 0.76 and 1.51, and the outfit MnSQ values ranged between 0.72 and 1.76. The point-measure correlation value ranged between 0.30 and 0.68. The item difficulty measures ranged from − 0.66 to 1.44 logit and the individual learning interest estimations ranged from − 4.22 to 4.97 logit. DIF contrast ranged from 0.00 to 0.33 logits, with all p values greater than 0.05. Conclusions The Chinese version of the SIQ-SF demonstrated acceptable reliability and validity among Chinese nursing students and could be used to assess nursing students’ study interest in China. With the aid of this scale, teachers can gain a better understanding of nursing students’ study interests, thereby maximizing their learning effects through appropriate content and methods.

Abstract Background Tumour invading muscle in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is often associated with destructive growth and poor prognosis. However, the phenotypic functions and pathological mechanisms of muscle-invasive cancer cells in tumour progress remains unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the phenotypic functions of muscle-invasive cancer cells of HNSCC and their potential crosstalk with tumour microenvironment. Methods We obtained scRNA-seq data (SC) from GSE103322 (N = 18) and GSE181919 (N = 37), spatial RNA-seq data (ST) from GSE208253 and GSE181300 (N = 4), transcriptomics of human HNSCC samples from GSE42743 (N = 12) and GSE41613 (N = 97). Utilizing the TCGA-HNSC dataset, we conducted univariate and multivariate Cox analyses to investigate the prognostic impact of muscle-invasion in HNSCC, with validation in an additional cohort. Through Stutility and AUCell approaches, we identified and characterized muscle-invasive cancer cell clusters, including their functional phenotypes and gene-specific profiles. Integration of SC and ST data was achieved using Seurat analysis, multimodal intersection analysis, and spatial deconvolution. The results were further validated via in vitro and in vivo experiments. Results Our analyses of the TCGA-HNSC cohort revealed the presence of muscle-invasion was associated with a poor prognosis. By combining ST and SC, we identified muscle-invasive cancer cells exhibiting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and myoepithelial-like transcriptional programs, which were correlated with a poor prognosis. Furthermore, we identified G0S2 as a novel marker of muscle-invasive malignant cells that potentially promotes EMT and the acquisition of myoepithelium-like phenotypes. These findings were validated through in vitro assays and chorioallantoic membranes experiments. Additionally, we demonstrated that G0S2-overexpressing cancer cells might attract human ECs via VEGF signalling. Subsequent in vitro and in vivo experiments revealed G0S2 plays key roles in promoting the proliferation and invasion of cancer cells. Conclusions In this study, we profiled the transcriptional programs of muscle-invasive HNSCC cell populations and characterized their EMT and myoepithelial-like phenotypes. Furthermore, our findings highlight the presence of muscle-invasion as a predictive marker for HNSCC patients. G0S2 as one of the markers of muscle-invasive cancer cells is involved in HNSCC intravasation, probably via VEGF signalling.

Abstract The Engineering Ocean Seismic 3D system, which enables ultra-high-resolution seismic surveys on a smaller survey scale, was deployed in Yeongil Bay, Pohang, South Korea. The region is renowned for abundant shallow gas deposits and faults. Based on acoustic impedance contrast and abnormal behavior observations, two seismic anomalies termed channel and polka-dot anomalies have been identified in the seismic volume. Seismic attribute analysis based on the signal amplitude and structural characteristics reveals that these anomalies correspond to shallow biogenic gas deposits. Structural interpretation of the seismic volume revealed that the contractional deformation resulting from post-Miocene neotectonics has resulted in uplift and reverse faulting in the Pohang region, contributing to the formation of anomalies. The channel anomalies correspond to gas-saturated tidal channels that formed during eustatic sea-level changes in the post-Last Glacial Maximum period. The polka-dot anomalies are located in topographic lows and are overlain by neotectonic sediment. The different behaviors of these anomalies in a seismic volume can be attributed to the different thicknesses of overburden overlying each of the anomalies.

Abstract The sepsis‐induced acute lung injury (ALI) still represents one of the leading causes of death in critically ill patients, underscoring the need for novel therapies. Excessive activation of immune cells and damage of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are the main factors that exacerbate lung injury. Here, the multifaceted immunomodulatory nanocomplexes targeting the proinflammatory neutrophilic activation and ROS damage are established. The S100A8/9 inhibitor, ABR2575, is loaded in the nanocomplexes, which effectively blocks the neutrophils‐S100A8/A9‐ toll‐like receptors (TLRS)‐Inflammasome signaling in ALI. Synergically, the SiH nanosheets are encapsulated together with ABR2575 into the core of poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanosponges, to achieve sustainable hydrogen release for the alleviation of ROS‐induced lung tissue injury, and also promote the M2 polarization of macrophages. This novel combination strategy is proven to significantly suppress the infiltration of neutrophils and pro‐inflammatory macrophages into the lungs, decrease the activation of neutrophils and pro‐inflammatory monocytes in the blood, facilitate the anti‐inflammatory polarization of macrophages and monocytes, and reduce the expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines in both the lung and blood circulation, all of which alleviate the lung injuries in preclinical murine ALI models. The current investigations offer a novel nanomedicine for the treatment of ALI with great potential in clinical invention.

IntroductionAging is associated with decrements in speech-in-noise perception which make communication in real world environments difficult. However, the neural correlates of these difficulties are not well characterized and finding correlations between speech-in-noise performance and electrophysiological measures has been difficult due in part to the fact that speech-in-noise perception is a multi-faceted process. The current study used a wide range of speech-in-noise tasks in an attempt to more completely capture speech-in-noise performance and compared these with electrophysiological measures.MethodsP300 event related brain responses were elicited in young and older adult listeners to spoken isochronous syllable sequences presented in quiet and noisy (i.e., multi-talker babble) background conditions. To investigate the extent to which P300 responses are associated with speech-in-noise understanding, listeners also completed a separate battery of speech-in-noise recognition tasks.ResultsOverall P300 amplitudes measured in noisy conditions, but not in quiet conditions, were associated with performance on a variety of speech recognition tasks and were positively correlated with a composite measure of speech understanding in noise based on the full battery. In addition, older adults had P300 responses to deviant and omitted speech stimuli with lower amplitudes, longer latencies, and relatively greater frontal topographies than young adults.DiscussionThe results demonstrate that P300 amplitudes elicited in competing noise were a strong predictor of speech-in-noise understanding. This, in addition to the age-related differences in P300 responses, highlights the relevance of neural attentional mechanisms for understanding age-related differences in speech understanding in noise.

Summary: Intense brain activity elevates extracellular potassium, potentially leading to overexcitation and seizures. Astrocytes are crucial for restoring healthy potassium levels, and an emerging focus on their Kir4.1 channels has reopened the quest into the underlying mechanisms. We find that the Kir4.1 level in individual astrocytes sets the kinetics of their potassium and glutamate uptake current. Combining electrophysiology with multiplexed optical sensor imaging and FLIM reveals that rises in extracellular potassium would normally boost presynaptic Ca2+ entry and release probability at excitatory synapses unless such synapses are surrounded by the Kir4.1-overexpressing astrocytes. Inside the territories of Kir4.1-overexpressing astrocytes, high-frequency afferent stimulation fails to induce long-term synaptic potentiation, and the high-potassium waves of cortical spreading depolarization are markedly attenuated. Biophysical exploration explains how astrocytes can regulate local potassium homeostasis by engaging Kir4.1 channels. Our findings thus point to a fundamental astrocytic mechanism that can restrain the activity-driven rise of excitability in brain circuits.

Abstract Aberrant upregulation of hepatic lipogenesis induced by chronic and excessive alcohol consumption is a critical driver of the progression of alcohol‐associated liver disease (ALD), however, no effective approaches inhibiting lipogenesis are currently available for treating ALD patients. Moreover, little is known about whether and how nonethanol ingredients in alcoholic beverages regulate the pathogenesis of ALD. Here the discovery of a small molecule that activates the production and secretion of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is reported. It is shown that the activator ethyl lactate, a nonethanol ingredient found in distilled liquors, ameliorates alcoholic hepatosteatosis, inflammation and acute‐on‐chronic liver injury by stimulating FGF21. In response to chronic‐plus‐binge ethanol feeding or fasting, ethyl lactate mimics lipogenesis lowering effects by stimulating FGF21 production through the NAD+‐dependent deacetylase sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) signaling pathway. These ethyl lactate‐mediated beneficial effects are abolished by inhibition of SIRT1 through injection of EX527. Importantly, FGF21 deficiency in hepatocytes blocks the downregulation of lipogenesis by ethyl lactate and exacerbates alcoholic steatosis, inflammation and liver injury. The regulatory mechanism is discussed during the pathophysiological conditions and suggests new lines of research into the therapeutic use of a foodborne small molecule ethyl lactate.

Objective: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by systemic inflammation, often resulting in fusion of the spine and peripheral joints. This study aimed to investigate the role of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) in AS patients with high disease activity. Methods: Blood samples were collected from healthy controls and AS patients categorized by high or low disease activity. Systemic inflammation was quantified through C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), alongside disease activity scores such as Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score(ASDAS) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index(BASDAI). The levels of different ILC subsets and the expression of T-box transcription factor 21 (T-bet) and retinoic-acid-receptor-related orphan receptor gamma (RORγt) in peripheral blood were analyzed via flow cytometry. Additionally, 24 cytokines in plasma were measured using a Luminex liquid suspension chip. Results: The proportion of total ILCs and the distribution of ILC subsets in peripheral blood varied with AS disease activity scores. Specifically, the frequencies of total ILCs and ILC3s were significantly elevated in AS patients with high disease activity (AS-HA). The frequency and absolute number of ILC3s showed a positively correlation with disease severity scores. Furthermore, T-bet+ILC3s were significantly increased in the AS-HA group. Plasma levels of IL-17A and IFN-γ were positively correlated with the frequency of circulating-ILC3 in AS patients. Conclusions: These findings highlight the critical role of T-bet+ILC3s in the inflammatory process of AS, suggesting their potential as a therapeutic target for managing AS disease.

BackgroundThe carcinogenesis mechanism of early-stage lung cancer (ESLC) remains unclear. Microbial dysbiosis is closely related to tumor development. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between microbiota dysbiosis in ESLC.MethodsWe investigated a total of 108 surgical specimens of lung nodules, including ground glass nodules (GGN) diagnosed as lung adenocarcinoma (n = 25), solid nodules (SN) diagnosed as lung adenocarcinoma (n = 27), lung squamous carcinoma (LUSC) presenting as solid nodules (n = 26), and benign pulmonary nodules (BPD) (n = 30) that were collected. 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing and non-targeted metabolomics analysis were performed in all of the specimens.ResultsWe found a significantly lower microbiota richness in SN than in the GGN and LUSC. Ralstonia may be an important flora promoting the development of early lung adenocarcinoma, while Feacalibacterium and Blautia play a protective role in the progression of GGN to SN. Akkermansia, Escherichia-shigella, and Klebsiella exhibited high abundance in early lung squamous carcinoma. Compared with BPD, the differential metabolites of both early adenocarcinomas (SN and GGN) are mainly involved in energy metabolic pathways, while early LUSC is mainly involved in glutathione metabolism, producing and maintaining high levels of intracellular redox homeostasis. A correlation analysis revealed that different microbiota in GGN may function in energy metabolism via N-acetyl-1-aspartylglutamic acid (NAAG) when compared to BPD, while creatine and N-acetylmethionine were the main relevant molecules for the function of differential microbiota in LUSC.ConclusionOur study identified that early-stage lung adenocarcinoma and squamous carcinoma differ in microbial composition and metabolic status. Ralstonia may be an important flora promoting the development of early lung adenocarcinoma, while Feacalibacterium and Blautia play a protective role in the progression of GGN to SN. Conversely, Akkermansia, Escherichia-shigella, and Klebsiella exhibited high abundance in early lung squamous carcinoma. The metabolites of both early adenocarcinomas (SN and GGN) are mainly involved in energy metabolic pathways, while early LUSC is mainly involved in glutathione metabolism. Our study provides new insights into the carcinogenesis of ESLC.

TGF-β signaling pathway has been demonstrated to be closely related to chemoresistance, which is the major cause of recurrence and poor outcome in colorectal cancer (CRC), however, the comprehensive epigenetic landscape that functionally implicates in the regulation of TGF-β pathway-associated chemoresistance has not yet well established in CRC. In our study, chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) and Western blot were employed to investigate epigenetic modifications for histones in response to TGF-β1 intervene. We found that the activation of the TGF-β pathway was characterized by genome-wide high levels of H3K9ac and H3K18ac. Mechanistically, the activation of the TGF-β signaling pathway leads to the downregulation of the deacetylase HDAC4, resulting in the upregulation of H3K9ac and H3K18ac. Consequently, this cascade induces oxaliplatin chemoresistance in CRC by triggering the anti-apoptotic PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Our in vivo experiment results confirmed that overexpression of HDAC4 significantly enhances the sensitivity of CRC to oxaliplatin chemotherapy. Moreover, the expression level of HDAC4 was positively correlated with patients’ prognosis in CRC. Our data suggest that histone-acetyl modification demonstrates a crucial role in modulating TGF-β pathway-associated chemoresistance in CRC, and HDAC4 would be a biomarker for prognostic prediction and potential therapeutic target for treatment in CRC.

Abstract This research aimed to systematically uncover the metastatic characteristics and survival rates of lung cancer subtypes and to evaluate the impact of surgery at the primary tumor site on cancer-specific survival in DM lung cancer. We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (2010–2019) to identify primary lung cancers with DM at presentation (M1). Kaplan–Meier (KM) survival curves were generated and compared utilizing log-rank tests. Cox regression methods were employed to determine hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals related to CSS factors. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was applied to reduce bias. We analyzed 77,827 M1 lung cancer cases, with 41.22% having DM at presentation. Bone metastasis was most common in ADC, ASC, SCC, LCC; brain in LCNEC; liver in SCLC. Lung was common in TC + AC and SCC. Long-term survival was best in TC + AC and worst in SCLC (p

Abstract Wearable visual bionic devices, fueled by advancements in artificial intelligence, are making remarkable progress. However, traditional silicon vision chips often grapple with high energy losses and challenges in emulating complex biological behaviors. In this study, we constructed a van der Waals P3HT/GaAs nanowires P-N junction by carefully directing the arrangement of organic molecules. Combined with a Schottky junction, this facilitated multi-faceted birdlike visual enhancement, including broadband non-volatile storage, low-light perception, and a near-zero power consumption operating mode in both individual devices and 5 × 5 arrays on arbitrary substrates. Specifically, we realized over 5 bits of in-memory sensing and computing with both negative and positive photoconductivity. When paired with two imaging modes (visible and UV), our reservoir computing system demonstrated up to 94% accuracy for color recognition. It achieved motion and UV grayscale information extraction (displayed with sunscreen), leading to fusion visual imaging. This work provides a promising co-design of material and device for a broadband and highly biomimetic optoelectronic neuromorphic system.

Abstract The ClC-3 chloride/proton exchanger is both physiologically and pathologically critical, as it is potentiated by ATP to detect metabolic energy level and point mutations in ClC-3 lead to severe neurodegenerative diseases in human. However, why this exchanger is differentially modulated by ATP, ADP or AMP and how mutations caused gain-of-function remains largely unknow. Here we determine the high-resolution structures of dimeric wildtype ClC-3 in the apo state and in complex with ATP, ADP and AMP, and the disease-causing I607T mutant in the apo and ATP-bounded state by cryo-electron microscopy. In combination with patch-clamp recordings and molecular dynamic simulations, we reveal how the adenine nucleotides binds to ClC-3 and changes in ion occupancy between apo and ATP-bounded state. We further observe I607T mutation induced conformational changes and augments in current. Therefore, our study not only lays the structural basis of adenine nucleotides regulation in ClC-3, but also clearly indicates the target region for drug discovery against ClC-3 mediated neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract Background Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the primary reason for cancer-related deaths globally. Tertiary lymphoid structure (TLS) is an organized collection of immune cells acquired in non-physiological, non-lymphoid tissues. High expression of TLS in tumor tissues is generally associated with better prognosis. This research aimed to investigate the prognostic and clinicopathological significance of TLS in patients with NSCLC. Methods A comprehensive literature search was conducted based on Pubmed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases to identify eligible studies published up to December 8, 2023. The prognostic significance and clinicopathological value of TLS in NSCLC were evaluated by calculating the combined hazard ratios (HRs) and odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Following that, additional analyses, including subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis, were conducted. Results This meta-analysis evaluated the prognostic and clinicopathological significance of TLS in 10 studies involving 1,451 patients with NSCLC. The results revealed that the high levels of TLS were strongly associated with better overall survival (OS) (HR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.35–0.66, p

Abstract Background Lung adenocarcinoma is a high-mortality rate cancer. Within this category, Lung mucinous adenocarcinoma (LMAC) is a rare and distinct subtype of lung adenocarcinoma necessitating further investigation. The study was launched to compare the difference of survival features between LMAC and lung non-mucinous adenocarcinoma (LNMAC) and to investigate the significance and demand for developing a new staging system tailored to LMAC. Methods This retrospective study assessed the suitableness of the current staging system for LMAC. It compared the overall survival (OS) between LMAC and LNMAC from 2004 to 2020 (LNMAC: 160,387; LMAC: 6,341) and instituted a novel classification framework for LMAC based on US population. Verification group consisting of patients from two Chinese medical centers from 2010 to 2018 (n = 392) was set to ascertain the applicability of this novel system. The primary endpoint was OS. To minimize the bias, propensity score match (PSM) was employed. Survival analysis and Log-rank test were executed to explore the survival features of LMAC. Results The results indicated that the existed staging system was not suitable for LMAC. Patients diagnosed with LMAC exhibited a superior OS compared to those with LNMAC in stage IA2 (P

Abstract Background Limb salvage surgery is an important method for treating malignant tumors of the bone involving the adjacent parts of the major joints in children. This technique allows for preservation of limb function, especially in the lower limb. However, the reconstruction of the proximal end of the tibia after removing the tumor mass with a rational scale to preserve the total knee joint and reduce limb length discrepancy presents a challenge. Case presentation We present a case of osteosarcoma of the proximal tibia. After being treated with an extended tumor resection, the proximal tibia of the child was restructured using endoprosthetic replacement with epiphyseal preservation. This procedure preserves the entire articular surface and growth plate of the knee joint of the affected limb and provides a feasible alternative protocol for retaining the function and growth potential of the affected limb. The patient remained disease-free and normal limb motor function was observed during the 3.5 year follow-up since the initial surgery. Conclusions Preservation of the epiphysis enabled our patient to perform better limb function after limb-saving surgery as a result of his undamaged knee joint and minimized limb-length discrepancy. We believe that endoprosthetic replacement with preservation of the epiphysis can provide the best strategy for reconstruction after resection of focal malignant tumors in long bones without epiphytic involvement.

Digital twin technology plays a pivotal role in driving the digital transformation of healthcare services. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the applications of digital twins in the healthcare sector. We elucidate the concept and classification of digital twins for healthcare and provide a detailed account of their current applications in clinical diagnosis, treatment, and hospital operational management. Taking the cardiac digital twin as an example, this review showcases the typical use of digital twins in clinical practice and scientific research. Additionally, the challenges faced by digital twin technology in data collection, model construction, ethics, and regulations were analyzed. Finally, the broad prospects of digital twins in promoting precision and personalization in healthcare are envisioned.

Biochar, a carbon-rich material that has attracted considerable interest in interdisciplinary research, is produced through a process known as pyrolysis, which involves the thermal decomposition of organic material in the absence of oxygen. Bamboo biochar is a specific type of biochar, manufactured from bamboo straw through carbonisation at 800 °C and subsequent filtration through a 100-mesh sieve. There is currently a lack of research into the potential benefits of bamboo biochar in improving soil quality in tea gardens. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of bamboo biochar on the physicochemical properties, enzymatic activity, and microbial community structure of tea garden soils. The results demonstrate that the integration of bamboo biochar into the soil significantly enhanced the soil pH, total nitrogen, available nitrogen, total phosphorus, available phosphorus, available potassium, and slowly available potassium by 15.3%, 52.0%, 91.5%, 91%, 48.4%, 94.2%, and 107.7%, respectively. In addition, soil acid phosphatase activity decreased significantly by 52.5%. In contrast, the activities of sucrase, catalase, and β-glucosidase increased substantially by 54.0%, 68.7%, and 68.4%, respectively, when organic fertilizer and bamboo biochar were applied concurrently. Additionally, the Shannon, Simpson, and Pielou diversity indices of the microbial communities were significantly enhanced. Following the incorporation of bamboo biochar in the soil samples, the relative abundance of Proteobacteria increased significantly, whereas that of Acidobacteria decreased. Various concentrations of bamboo biochar markedly influenced microbial markers in the soil. The results of this study suggest that the application of bamboo biochar to soil may modestly improve its physicochemical properties, enzyme activity, and microbial community structure. These findings provide a foundation for future investigations on soil ecological restoration.

BackgroundAs a major public health problem, cyberbullying has been received widespread attention in recent years. However, most researches on cyberbullying are mainly focused on adolescents and college students, the underlying mechanisms of cyberbullying among graduate students have been relatively less investigated. From the perspectives of the general aggression model and attachment theory, this study aims to explore the relationship between childhood psychological abuse and cyberbullying behavior among graduate students, as well as the mediating roles of negative coping style and trait anxiety.Materials and methodsA total of 482 graduate students were surveyed using measures including the Childhood Psychological Abuse Scale, Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, and Cyberbullying Behavior Scale.Results(1) There were significant positive correlations between childhood psychological abuse, negative coping style, trait anxiety, and graduate students’ cyberbullying behavior; (2) Childhood psychological abuse could forecast graduate students’ cyberbullying behavior through the mediating effects of negative coping style and trait anxiety. This mediation process includes two pathways: the independent mediating effect of negative coping style and the chained mediating effect of negative coping style and trait anxiety.ConclusionNegative coping style and trait anxiety play mediating roles in the relationship between childhood psychological abuse and cyberbullying behavior among graduate students.

IntroductionThe evolution of SARS-CoV-2 has precipitated the emergence of new mutant strains, some exhibiting enhanced transmissibility and immune evasion capabilities, thus escalating the infection risk and diminishing vaccine efficacy. Given the continuous impact of SARS-CoV-2 mutations on global public health, the economy, and society, a profound comprehension of potential variations is crucial to effectively mitigate the impact of viral evolution. Yet, this task still faces considerable challenges.MethodsThis study introduces DARSEP, a method based on Deep learning Associates with Reinforcement learning for SARS-CoV-2 Evolution Prediction, combined with self-game sequence optimization and RetNet-based model.ResultsDARSEP accurately predicts evolutionary sequences and investigates the virus’s evolutionary trajectory. It filters spike protein sequences with optimal fitness values from an extensive mutation space, selectively identifies those with a higher likelihood of evading immune detection, and devises a superior evolutionary analysis model for SARS-CoV-2 spike protein sequences. Comprehensive downstream task evaluations corroborate the model’s efficacy in predicting potential mutation sites, elucidating SARS-CoV-2’s evolutionary direction, and analyzing the development trends of Omicron variant strains through semantic changes.ConclusionOverall, DARSEP enriches our understanding of the dynamic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and provides robust support for addressing present and future epidemic challenges.

This study investigated an extreme sea surface warming in the midlatitude western North Pacific (MLWNP) during the summer of 2012. The 2012 extreme event was characterized by warm sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) extending from the East/Japan Sea to central North Pacific. The SSTA box–averaged over the MLWNP (130–180°E, 33–50°N) in 2012 ranked as the third warmest in recent four decades, which has caused intense marine heatwaves in this region. During the summer of 2012, a positive Indian Ocean Dipole event co-occurred with El Niño, favoring anomalous moisture transport between the two basins that caused enhanced convection in the South China and Philippine Seas and western–to–central subtropical Pacific. The enhanced convective activities triggered two meridional atmospheric Rossby wave trains to form strong atmospheric blocking high–pressure systems in the MLWNP. This reduced the total cloud cover and surface wind speed, enhancing insolation and reducing the release of latent heat flux. In addition, the weakened wind strengthened the stratification and shoaled the mixed layer. As a result, the increased net heat flux into the ocean accompanied by a shallower mixed layer contributed to the upper ocean warming in the MLWNP. Meanwhile, the North Pacific was dominated by a negative phase of Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), significantly contributing to warm SSTAs in the MLWNP in 2012. Consequently, the 2012 extreme warming in the MLWNP was the results of the combination of atmospheric Rossby waves and PDO. Our study highlighted the roles of high–frequency atmospheric teleconnection and low–frequency PDO in extreme sea surface warming in the MLWNP.

Methotrexate (MTX) is effective for the therapy of cancer, lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and other diseases. However, the hepatotoxicity of MTX often leads to withdrawal and discontinuation of drugs, and then limits its clinical application. Monotropein (MON), an iridoid glycosides distributing in many edible and medicinal plants, has been exhibited to prevent liver and kedney injury induced by chemicals and related diseases. The current study aimed to assess the potential beneficial effects of MON in mitigating MTX-induced liver injury together with delineating the implicated mechanisms. A MTX-induced liver injury model in mice and BRL 3A cells were developed to explore the hepatoprotection of MON. GEO and WGCNA analysis were conducted to predict the possible mechanism of MTX on liver injury. The results demonstrated that MON can decrease the serum levels of AST and ALT, increase the activities of antioxidant SOD and GSH, and improve the morphological alteration of liver tissue, and reduce the accumulation of lipids in hepatocytes and liver tissue of mice treated with MTX. Moreover, our results also exhibited that MON can activate autophagy as assessed by autophagosome formation, expression of protein related with autophagy, and inhibit ferroptosis as evaluated by mitochondrial integrity, Fe2+level and key protein expression changes, and CQ (inhibitor of autophagy) and RSL-3 (the activator of ferroptosis) reversed the effects of MON on autophagy and ferroptosis of hepatocytes injured by MTX. Therefore, MON attenuates liver injury of MTX by activating autophagy and inhibiting ferroptosis. These findings provide new insights into MON as a potential healthy ingredient in functional food.

The tympanic membrane (TM) is constantly in a state of vibrating. However, there is currently a lack of drug-delivery scaffolds suitable for the dynamic environment of TM perforation. In this study, a mechano-responsive tough hydrogel was developed. It consists of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-loaded sodium alginate (SA) microspheres, polysulfobetaine methacrylate (polySBMA), and gelatin methacrylate (GelMA). This hydrogel was designed to serve as a TM scaffold to promote perforation healing under dynamic conditions. bFGF was encapsulated in SA microspheres, which were then incorporated into polySBMA-GelMA hydrogels through photo-initiated free radical polymerization. The mechanical properties, tissue adhesiveness, swelling properties, and degradation of the hydrogels were evaluated before and after microsphere incorporation. It was observed that incorporating bFGF-loaded SA microspheres did not significantly impact the adhesion and degradation mechanisms of the hydrogel. The compressive strength and tensile strength of the microsphere-incorporated hydrogel were up to 6.6 MPa and 64.1 kPa, respectively, suitable for a TM scaffold. The release behavior of bFGF from the hydrogel could be controlled by vibration stimulation without significantly affecting the hydrogel's mechanical properties, indicating a mechano-responsive nature of the hydrogel. The in vitro cytotoxicity assay demonstrated that the hydrogels showed no cytotoxic effects. Moreover, cell culture assays demonstrated that vibration stimulation could enhance the release of bFGF, significantly promoting cell proliferation and migration. The results demonstrate the significant potential of the mechano-responsive hydrogel as a scaffold for repairing TM perforations.

BackgroundMorinda officinalis iridoid glycosides (MOIG) showed potential benefits in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but their exact mechanism has yet to be explored.PurposeTo evaluate the effects of MOIG on RA, and explore the potential targets and molecular mechanism of MOIG in RA.MethodsThe collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats were used to evaluate the effects of MOIG on RA. The proliferation, migration and invasion of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) stimulated with or without tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were examined by CCK-8, wound healing and transwell assays, respectively. IF and WB were applied to investigate related mechanism in FLSs. The molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, CETSA and siRNA were used to analyze the interaction of MOIG with target. Finally, the adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA) mice model with gene knockdown was used to confirm the effect of MOIG on glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β).ResultsMOIG significantly alleviated the paw swelling and synovial hyperplasia in CIA rats. Moreover, MOIG suppressed proliferation, migration and invasion, the secretion of inflammatory factors, and the expression of adhesion related proteins in TNF-α-stimulated FLSs. MOIG also inhibited the activation of Janus activating kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling pathway in FLSs. Interestingly, the plant metabolites in MOIG had a good affinity with GSK-3β, and inhibition of GSK-3β attenuated the effects of MOIG on FLSs. Knockdown GSK-3β gene could inhibit the paw swelling and inflammatory indicators, decrease the arthritis score and synovial hyperplasia, reduce the phosphorylation of p65 and STAT3 in AA mice, thereby suppressing the NF-κB and STAT3 signaling activation, and MOIG treatment had no significant effects on AA mice with si-GSK-3β.ConclusionMOIG alleviates joint inflammation in RA through inhibition NF-κB and JAK2/STAT3 pathway via suppression of GSK-3β in FLSs, which provides supports for MOIG as a promising therapeutic agent of RA.

In previous study we characterized the oncogenic role of long non-coding RNA MALAT1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), but the detailed mechanism remains obscure. Here we identified glyoxalase 1 (GLO1) as the most possible executor of MALAT1 by microarray screening. GLO1 is responsible for degradation of cytotoxic methylglyoxal (MGO), which is by-product of tumor glycolysis. Accumulated MGO may lead to glycation of DNA and protein, resulting in elevated advanced glycation end products (AGEs), while glyoxalase 1 detoxify MGO to alleviate its cytotoxic effect to tumor cells. GLO1 interfering led to accumulation of AGEs and following activation of DNA injury biomarkers, which lead to cell cycle arrest and growth inhibition. In silico analysis based on online database revealed abundant enrichment of histone acetylation marker H3K27ac in GLO1 promotor, and acetyltransferase inhibitor C646 declined GLO1 expression. Acetyltransferase KAT2B, which was also identified as a target of MALAT, mediated histone lysine acetylation of GLO1 promotor, which was confirmed by ChIP-qPCR experiment. Shared binding sites of miR-206 were found on MALAT1 and KAT2B mRNA. Dual-luciferase reporter assays confirmed interaction within MALAT1-miR-206-GLO1. Finally, we identified MALAT1 encapsuled by exosome from donor cells, and transferred malignant behaviors to recipient cells. The secreted exosomes may enter circulation, and serum MALAT1 level combined with traditional tumor markers showed potential power for ESCC diagnosis.

Abstract Background Education in nursing has noticed a positive effect of simulation-based education. There are many studies available on the effects of simulation-based education, but most of those involve a single institution, nonrandomized controlled trials, small sample sizes and subjective evaluations of the effects. The purpose of this multicenter randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the effects of high-fidelity simulation, computer-based simulation, high-fidelity simulation combined with computer-based simulation, and case study on undergraduate nursing students. Methods A total of 270 nursing students were recruited from five universities in China. Participants were randomly divided into four groups at each institution: the high-fidelity simulation group, the computer-based simulation group, the high-fidelity simulation combined with computer-based simulation group, and the case study group. Finally, 239 participants completed the intervention and evaluation, with 58, 67, 57, and 57 participants in each group. The data were collected at three stages: before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and three months after the intervention. Results The demographic data and baseline evaluation indices did not significantly differ among the four groups. A statistically significant difference was not observed between the four methods for improving knowledge, interprofessional collaboration, critical thinking, caring, or interest in learning. While skill improvement differed significantly among the different groups after the intervention (p = 0.020), after three months, no difference was observed (p = 0.139). The improvement in skill in the computer-based simulation group was significantly lower at the end of the intervention than that in the high-fidelity simulation group (p = 0.048) or the high-fidelity simulation combined with computer-based simulation group (p = 0.020). Conclusions Nursing students benefit equally from four methods in cultivating their knowledge, interprofessional collaboration, critical thinking, caring, and interest in learning both immediately and over time. High-fidelity simulation and high-fidelity simulation combined with computer-based simulation improve skill more effectively than computer-based simulation in the short term. Nursing educators can select the most suitable teaching method to achieve the intended learning outcomes depending on the specific circumstances. Trial registration This clinical trial was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (clinical trial number: ChiCTR2400084880, date of the registration: 27/05/2024).

Abstract Background This study aimed to assess whether the Haptoglobin (Hp) genotype influences the relationship between hemoglobin (Hb) levels and the development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Additionally, it sought to evaluate the interaction and joint association of Hb levels and Hp genotype with GDM risk. Methods This retrospective study involved 358 women with GDM and 1324 women with normal glucose tolerance (NGT). Peripheral blood leukocytes were collected from 360 individuals at 14–16 weeks’ gestation for Hp genotyping. GDM was diagnosed between 24–28 weeks’ gestation. Interactive moderating effect, joint analysis, and mediation analysis were performed to evaluate the crosslink of Hb levels and Hp genotype with GDM risk. Results Women who developed GDM had significantly higher Hb levels throughout pregnancy compared to those with NGT. Increase first-trimester Hb concentration was associated with a progressive rise in GDM incidence, glucose levels, glycosylated hemoglobin levels, Homeostasis Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) values, cesarean delivery rates, and composite neonatal outcomes. Spline regression showed a significant linear association of GDM incidence with continuous first-trimester Hb level when the latter exceeded 122 g/L. Increased first-trimester Hb concentration was an independent risk factor for GDM development after adjusting for potential confounding factors in both the overall population and a matched case-control group. The Hp2–2 genotype was more prevalent among pregnant women with GDM when first-trimester Hb exceeded 122 g/L. Significant multiplicative and additive interactions were identified between Hb levels and Hp genotype for GDM risk, adjusted for age and pre-pregnancy BMI. The odds ratio (OR) for GDM development increased incrementally when stratified by Hb levels and Hp genotype. Moreover, first-trimester Hb level partially mediated the association between Hp genotype and GDM risk. Conclusion Increased first-trimester Hb levels were closely associated with the development of GDM and adverse pregnancy outcomes, with this association moderated by the Hp2–2 genotype.

Abstract Background Although it is generally believed that the femoral neck fracture is related to the femoral neck geometric parameters (FNGPs), the association between the risk of osteoporotic fracture of the femoral neck and FNGPs in native Chinese women is still unclear. Methods A total of 374 female patients (mean age 70.2 ± 9.32 years) with osteoporotic fracture of the femoral neck, and 374 non-fracture control groups were completely matched with the case group according to the age ratio of 1:1. Using DXA bone densitometer to measured eight FNGPs: the outer diameter (OD), cross-sectional area (CSA), cortical thickness (CT), endocortical diameter (ED), buckling ratio (BR), section modulus (SM), cross-sectional moment of inertia (CSMI), and compressive strength index (CSI) at the narrowest point of the femoral neck. Results Compared with the control group, the average values of OD (2.9%), ED (4.5%), and BR (26.1%) in the patient group significantly increased (p = 0.015 to

Abstract Background The surgical Apgar score (SAS) quantifying three intraoperative indexes has been confirmed to be significantly associated with postoperative morbidity and prognosis in many surgical specialties. However, there are great limitations in its application for esophageal cancer (EC). This study aimed to assess the predictive capability of esophagectomy SAS (eSAS) in determining postoperative morbidity and overall survival (OS) in EC patients who had undergone neoadjuvant therapy. Methods A retrospective evaluation was conducted on a cohort of 221 patients in which surgery‐ and tumor‐related data were extracted and analyzed. Major morbidity was defined as complications meeting the criteria of Clavien‐Dindo classification III or higher during hospitalization. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify potential risk factors for major morbidity. Kaplan–Meier analysis was utilized to calculate the OS and relapse‐free survival (RFS). Results The results exhibited that eSAS demonstrated potential predictive value for postoperative morbidity with an optimal cutoff value of 6. The eSAS and diabetes mellitus were two independent risk factors for the major morbidity; however, no correlation between the eSAS and the OS or RFS was detected. Conclusion The eSAS could be used as a predictor of major morbidity, while it was not correlated with OS and RFS.

This study on soil salinity inversion in coastal tidal flats based on Sentinel-2 remote sensing imagery is significant for improving saline–alkali soils and advancing tidal flat agriculture. This study proposes an improved approach for soil salinity inversion in coastal tidal flats using Sentinel-2 imagery and a new enhanced chaotic mapping adaptive whale optimization neural network (CIWOABP) algorithm. Novel spectral indices were developed to enhance correlations with salinity, significantly outperforming traditional indexes. The CIWOABP model achieved superior validation accuracy (R2 = 0.815) and reduced root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE) compared to other machine learning models. The results enable the precise mapping of salinity levels, aiding salt-tolerant crop cultivation and sustainable agricultural management. This method offers a reliable framework for rapid salinity monitoring and precision farming in coastal regions.

Abstract Despite the proceeds in the management of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), the current therapeutic landscape still suffers from limited success in the clinic. Exaggerated inflammatory immune response and excessive oxidative stress are key pathological features aggravating myocardium damage. Herein, catalytic immunomodulatory nanocomplexes as anti‐AMI therapeutics to resolve reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐proinflammatory neutrophils‐specific‐inflammation is engineered. The nanocomplexes contain lyophilic S100A8/9 inhibitor ABR2575 in the core of nanoemulsions, which effectively disrupts the neutrophils‐S100A8/A9‐inflammation signaling pathway in the AMI microenvironment. Additionally, ROS scavenger ultrasmall CuxO nanoparticles are incorporated into the nanoemulsions via coordinating with SH groups of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)‐conjugated lipids, which mimic multiple enzymes, dramatically alleviating the oxidative stress damage to myocardial tissue. This combination strategy significantly suppresses the infiltration of pro‐inflammatory monocytes, macrophages, and neutrophils, as well as the secretion of inflammatory cytokines. Additionally, it potentially triggers cardiac Tert activation, which promotes myocardial function and decreases infarction size in preclinical murine AMI models. This approach offers a new nanomedicine for treating AMI, resulting in a dramatically enhanced therapeutic outcome.

Tympanic membrane perforation (TMP) is one of the most common conditions in otolaryngology worldwide, and hearing damage caused by inadequate or prolonged healing can be distressing for patients. This article examines the rationale for utilizing three-dimensional (3D) printing to produce scaffolds for repairing TMP, compares the advantages and disadvantages of 3D printed and bioprinted grafts with traditional autologous materials and other tissue engineering materials in TMP repair, and highlights the practical and clinical significance of 3D printing in TMP repair while discussing the current progress and promising future of 3D printing and bioprinting. There is a limited number of reviews specifically dedicated to 3D printing for TMP repair. The majority of reviews offer a general overview of the applications of 3D printing in the broader realm of tissue regeneration, with some mention of TMP repair. Alternatively, they explore the biopolymers, cells, and drug molecules utilized for TMP repair. However, more in-depth analysis is needed on the strategies for selecting bio-inks that integrate biopolymers, cells, and drug molecules for tympanic membrane repair.

Background Children and adolescents who are overweight and obese represent a growing public health issue. The use of step-monitoring devices as an intervention tool may be a simple, cost-effective, and easily replicable solution for addressing obesity in children and adolescents. No prior systematic reviews have evaluated the effectiveness of utilizing step-monitoring devices as an intervention method for obesity in children and adolescents. Methods Previous studies on using step-monitoring devices to prevent and treat obesity in children and adolescents were identified in the following databases: Web of Science, EMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane Library, SPORTDiscus, and SCOPUS. The search period for each database ranged from the year of their inception to 8 March 2023 (updated in June 2024). Meta-analyses were performed for mean differences (MDs) in body mass index (BMI), BMI z -score (BMI-Z), body fat, waist circumference, and body weight. Results From 12,907 relevant records, 23 studies were included in this meta-analysis. The included studies were mainly at low risk of bias, except for blinding. Step-monitoring device-based interventions had significant effects in reducing BMI-Z (MD −0.06; 95% CI −0.10 to −0.02), body fat (MD −0.95%; 95% CI −1.35 to −0.54), and body weight (MD −1.23 kg; 95% CI −2.36 to −0.10). However, there was no significant effect on BMI (MD −0.16 kg/m 2 ; 95% CI −0.55 to 0.22) and waist circumference (MD −0.33 cm; 95% CI −1.23 to 0.58). Subgroup analyses indicated that participants who were overweight or obese showed greater intervention effects on BMI and BMI-Z compared to participants with normal weight. The programs with an intervention duration of ≤6 months presented a greater intervention effect on BMI-Z than those with an intervention duration of more than 6 months. The programs that established goals had a greater intervention effect on body fat than those that did not. Conclusions Step-monitoring devices may be an effective and generalizable intervention tool for the prevention and treatment of obesity in children and adolescents. Future studies should further explore how to set step goals and the duration of interventions to achieve better intervention effects.

When precision materials or components are moved or transported, traditional contact transport methods inevitably lead to some trouble such as wear, scarification, pollution and stress concentration. To solve these problems, a novel contact-free transport system based on Near-field Acoustic Levitation (NFAL) effect and Negative Pressure Absorption (NPA) technology is proposed. As the core component of transport system, the structure of object stage is presented and fabricated. Its working principle is revealed and its service behavior is investigated by theoretical, simulation and experimental methods. The load-carrying process and centripetal restoring process of the contact-free transport system is analyzed by mechanical models. To verify the levitation and centripetal restoring performance of the contact-free transport system under different conditions, a testing platform was built. In addition, the influence of dynamic parameters on the levitating and restoring performance of the transport system is studied experimentally, which will contribute to the guidance on design and optimization of dynamic parameters. The investigation on this contact-free transport method can provide a technical reference for the transport of disc-shaped components with an indication of accuracy requirements.

The treatment of aseptic inflammation has always been a clinical challenge. At present, non-steroidal drug-loaded microspheres have been widely used in the treatment of aseptic inflammation due to their excellent injectable and sustained release capabilities. In this study, ketoprofen-loaded shellac microspheres (Keto-SLAC) were prepared by electrospray. Alterations of Keto-SLAC morphology was observed in response to changed shellac concentration in ethanol solution through electrospray. Further examination revealed that ketoprofen presented as amorphous solid dispersion in the shellac microspheres. Most importantly, it was also shown that ketoprofen can be slowly released from the shellac matrix for up to 3 weeks. In vitro cell experiments verified that the microspheres had favorable cell compatibility. We therefore proposed that the prepared microspheres, being readily available in use in a variety of clinical settings through topical application, have promising therapeutic potential for the treatment of aseptic inflammation.

Abstract Background Meta‐analyses have primarily focused on the effects of exercise‐based prehabilitation on postoperative outcomes and ignored the role of nutritional intervention. In this study, we filled this gap by investigating the effect of nutrition‐based prehabilitation on the postoperative outcomes of patients who underwent esophagectomy and gastrectomy. Methods Five electronic databases, namely, PubMed, the Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL, were searched. Adults diagnosed with esophagogastric cancer who were scheduled to undergo surgery and had undergone uni‐ or multimodal prehabilitation, with at least a week of mandatory nutritional intervention, were included. Forest plots were used to extract and visualize the data from the included studies. The occurrence of any postoperative complication was considered the primary endpoint. Results Eight studies met the eligibility criteria, with five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and three cohort studies. In total, 661 patients were included. Any prehabilitation, that is, unimodal (only nutrition) and multimodal prehabilitation, collectively decreased the risk of any postoperative complication by 23% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.66–0.90). A similar effect was exclusively observed for multimodal prehabilitation (risk ratio [RR] = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.66–0.93); however, it was not significant for unimodal prehabilitation. Any prehabilitation significantly decreased the length of hospital stay (LOS) (weighted mean difference = −0.77, 95% CI = −1.46 to −0.09). Conclusions Nutrition‐based prehabilitation, particularly multimodal prehabilitation, confers protective effects against postoperative complications after esophagectomy and gastrectomy. Our findings suggest that prehabilitation slightly decreases LOS; however, the finding is not clinically significant. Therefore, additional rigorous RCTs are warranted for further substantiation.

Abstract The activation of glycolysis, particularly in the context of reprogrammed energy metabolism, is increasingly recognized as a significant characteristic of cancer. However, the precise mechanisms by which glycolysis is promoted in metastatic gastric cancer cells under normal oxygen conditions remain poorly understood. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a crucial role in the development of malignant phenotypes in gastric cancer. Nevertheless, our understanding of the specific involvement of miRNAs in hypoxia-induced metabolic shifting and the subsequent metastatic processes is limited. Hypoxia-induced downregulation of miR-598-3p mechanistically leads to the upregulation of RMP and IGF1r, thereby promoting glycolysis. Either overexpression of miR-598-3p or R406 treatment effectively suppresses the metastasis of gastric cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, the depletion of miR-598-3p alters glucose metabolism from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis, thereby exacerbating the malignancy of gastric cancer cells. The present findings indicate a potential target for the development of therapeutics against gastric cancers with increased miR-598-3p expression.