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Feedback in online learning is essential to improve both teaching and learning. In peer feedback, students discuss their work and the various problems they encounter in their writing. However, learners may not receive constructive feedback if their classmates have lower writing proficiency. Therefore, anonymous peer feedback training was applied in the writing class to improve the problem of peer feedback during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study first reviews the implementation of peer feedback, particularly with regard to challenges. Subsequently, it describes how anonymous peer feedback is implemented in writing courses. This study explores student attitudes toward anonymous peer feedback and their own ability to provide peer feedback. Meanwhile, it investigates the effect of anonymous peer feedback have on student writing proficiency in the EFL classroom. The 46 participants in this study comprised English department university undergraduates of differing seniority. They attended a weekly 2-hour writing course for a period of 18 weeks. During the experimental teaching, students who participated in anonymous peer feedback-based learning held more positive attitudes toward anonymous peer feedback. Finally, the study discusses student perceptions of anonymous peer feedback in writing courses.

Abstract Salmonella Enteritidis is a foodborne enteric pathogen that infects humans and animals, and bacterial small RNAs (sRNAs) have been found to play critical roles in the virulence of Salmonella. However, the specific mechanism by which sRNAs contribute to the host–pathogen interaction in the intestine remains unclear. In this study, a combination of transcriptomic and proteomic analysis was used to investigate the effect of a particular sRNA known as Salmonella adhesive‐associated sRNA (SaaS) on the intestinal damage induced by Salmonella. The results revealed that SaaS sRNA could suppress the host's inflammatory response through various gene sets, mainly including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α signaling via NF‐κB, IL‐6 JAK‐STAT3 signaling, and interferon gamma responses. This suppressive effect was further confirmed by ELISA analysis, which showed the lowest levels of TNF‐α, IL‐6, and interferon gamma (IFN‐γ). Meanwhile, the work has identified several crucial factors, peptidoglycan recognition protein short, transferrin receptor protein 1, and corticosteroid 11‐beta‐dehydrogenase isozyme 2, that are specifically targeted by SaaS to regulate inflammatory response, neutrophils activity, and diseases. Furthermore, combining hematologic analysis and correlation analysis, this study demonstrated that SaaS led to a decrease in the percentage of neutrophils and revealed a strong correlation between the three crucial factors and various markers of inflammation and intestinal barrier function. These findings provide a comprehensive understanding of how SaaS sRNA modulates Salmonella invasion in the animal intestine and further present a strategy on controlling foodborne Salmonella based on the new targets, sRNAs.

Abstract This study investigated alterations in functional connectivity (FC) within cortico–basal ganglia–thalamo–cortical (CBTC) circuits and identified critical connections influencing poststroke motor recovery, offering insights into optimizing brain modulation strategies to address the limitations of traditional single‐target stimulation. We delineated individual‐specific parallel loops of CBTC through probabilistic tracking and voxel connectivity profiles‐based segmentation and calculated FC values in poststroke patients and healthy controls, comparing with conventional atlas‐based FC calculation. Support vector machine (SVM) analysis distinguished poststroke patients from controls. Connectome‐based predictive modeling (CPM) used FC values within CBTC circuits to predict upper limb motor function. Poststroke patients exhibited decreased ipsilesional connectivity within the individual‐specific CBTC circuits. SVM analysis achieved 82.8% accuracy, 76.6% sensitivity, and 89.1% specificity using individual‐specific parallel loops. Additionally, CPM featuring positive connections/all connections significantly predicted Fugl‐Meyer assessment of upper extremity scores. There were no significant differences in the group comparisons of conventional atlas‐based FC values, and the FC values resulted in SVM accuracy of 75.0%, sensitivity of 67.2%, and specificity of 82.8%, with no significant CPM capability. Individual‐specific parallel loops show superior predictive power for assessing upper limb motor function in poststroke patients. Precise mapping of the disease‐related circuits is essential for understanding poststroke brain reorganization.

Background Stroke and traumatic intracranial hemorrhage (tICH) are major causes of disability worldwide, with stroke exerting significant negative effects on the brain, potentially elevating tICH risk. In this study, we investigated tICH risk in stroke survivors. Methods and Results Using relevant data (2017–2019) from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, we conducted a population‐based retrospective cohort study. Patients were categorized into stroke and nonstroke groups, and tICH risk was compared using a Cox proportional‐hazards model. Among 164 628 patients with stroke, 1004 experienced tICH. Patients with stroke had a higher tICH risk than nonstroke counterparts (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 3.49 [95% CI, 3.17–3.84]). Subgroup analysis by stroke type revealed higher tICH risk in hemorrhagic stroke survivors compared with ischemic stroke survivors (HR, 5.64 [95% CI, 4.97–6.39] versus 2.87 [95% CI, 2.58–3.18], respectively). Older patients (≥45 years) with stroke had a higher tICH risk compared with their younger counterparts (65 years. Conclusions Stroke survivors, particularly those with hemorrhagic stroke and those aged ≥45 years, face elevated tICH risk. Interventions targeting the high‐risk period are vital, with fall injuries potentially contributing to tICH incidence.

Abstract Background Glycogen storage disease type Ib (GSD Ib) is a rare disorder characterized by impaired glucose homeostasis caused by mutations in the SLC37A4 gene. It is a severe inherited metabolic disease associated with hypoglycemia, hyperlipidemia, lactic acidosis, hepatomegaly, and neutropenia. Traditional treatment consists of feeding raw cornstarch which can help to adjust energy metabolism but has no positive effect on neutropenia, which is fatal for these patients. Recently, the pathophysiologic mechanism of the neutrophil dysfunction and neutropenia in GSD Ib has been found, and the treatment with the SGLT2 inhibitor empaglifozin is now well established. In 2020, SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin started to be used as a promising efficient remover of 1,5AG6P in neutrophil of GSD Ib patients worldwide. However, it is necessary to consider long-term utility and safety of a novel treatment. Results In this study, we retrospectively examined the clinical manifestations, biochemical examination results, genotypes, long-term outcomes and follow-up of thirty-five GSD Ib children who visited our department since 2009. Fourteen patients among them underwent empagliflozin treatment since 2020. This study is the largest cohort of pediatric GSD Ib patients in China as well as the largest cohort of pediatric GSD Ib patients treated with empagliflozin in a single center to date. The study also discussed the experience of long-term management on pediatric GSD Ib patients. Conclusion Empagliflozin treatment for pediatric GSD Ib patients is efficient and safe. Increase of urine glucose is a signal for pharmaceutical effect, however attention to urinary infection and hypoglycemia is suggested.

Tongue coating affects cognition, and cognitive decline at early stage also showed relations to functional and structural remodeling of superior temporal sulcus (STS) in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). The potential correlation between disparate cognitive manifestations in aMCI patients with different tongue coatings, and corresponding mechanisms of STS remodeling remains uncharted. In this case-control study, aMCI patients were divided into thin coating (n = 18) and thick coating (n = 21) groups. All participants underwent neuropsychological evaluations and multimodal magnetic resonance imaging. Group comparisons were conducted in clinical assessments and neuroimaging measures of banks of the STS (bankssts). Generalized linear models were constructed to explore relationships between neuroimaging measures and cognition. aMCI patients in the thick coating group exhibited significantly poorer immediate and delayed recall and slower information processing speed (IPS) (P < 0.05), and decreased functional connectivity (FC) of bilateral bankssts with frontoparietal cortices (P < 0.05, AlphaSim corrected) compared to the thin coating group. It was found notable correlations between cognition encompassing recall and IPS, and FC of bilateral bankssts with frontoparietal cortices (P < 0.05, Bonferroni's correction), as well as interaction effects of group × regional homogeneity (ReHo) of right bankssts on the first immediate recall (P < 0.05, Bonferroni's correction). aMCI patients with thick coating exhibited poor cognitive performance, which might be attributed to decreased FC seeding from bankssts. Our findings strengthen the understanding of brain reorganization of STS via which tongue coating status impacts cognition in patients with aMCI.

Chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate, commercially known as F-53B, has been associated with adverse birth outcomes. However, the reproductive toxicology of F-53B on the placenta remains poorly understood. To address this gap, we examined the impact of F-53B on placental injury and its underlying molecular mechanisms in vivo. Pregnant C57BL/6 J female mice were randomly allocated to three groups: the control group, F-53B 0.8 µg/kg/day group, and F-53B 8 µg/kg/day group. After F-53B exposure through free drinking water from gestational day (GD) 0.5–14.5, the F-53B 8 µg/kg/day group exhibited significant increases in placental weights and distinctive histopathological alterations, including inflammatory cell infiltration, heightened syncytiotrophoblast knots, and a loosened trophoblastic basement membrane. Within the F-53B 8 µg/kg/day group, placental tissue exhibited increased apoptosis, as indicated by increased caspase3 activation. Furthermore, F-53B potentially induced the NF-κB signaling pathway activation through IκB-α phosphorylation. Subsequently, this activation upregulated the expression of inflammatory cytokines and components of the NLRP3 inflammasome, including activated caspase1, IL-1β, IL-18, and cleaved gasdermin D (GSDMD), ultimately leading to pyroptosis in the mouse placenta. Our findings reveal a pronounced inflammatory injury in the placenta due to F-53B exposure, suggesting potential reproductive toxicity at concentrations relevant to the human population. Further toxicological and epidemiological investigations are warranted to conclusively assess the reproductive health risks posed by F-53B.

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are integral to the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), a histone methyltransferase, plays a crucial role in epigenetic regulation of VSMCs gene expression. Emerging researches suggest that EZH2 has a dual role in VSMCs, contingent on the pathological context of specific CVDs. This mini-review synthesizes the current knowledge on the mechanisms by which EZH2 regulates VSMC proliferation, migration and survival in the context of CVDs. The goal is to underscore the potential of EZH2 as a therapeutic target for CVDs treatment. Modulating EZH2 and its associated epigenetic pathways in VSMCs could potentially ameliorate vascular remodeling, a key factor in the progression of many CVDs. Despite the promising outlook, further investigation is warranted to elucidate the epigenetic mechanisms mediated by EZH2 in VSMCs, which may pave the way for novel epigenetic therapies for conditions such as atherosclerosis and hypertension.

Abstract Objectives Olfactory training (OT) has emerged as a first‐line therapeutic approach to the management of olfactory dysfunction. Conventional OT (COT) involves the systematic home‐based exposure to four distinct odors. Previous research has demonstrated that immersive OT (IOT) involving full‐body exposure to dozens of distinct odors could also improve overall olfactory function. This study compared IOT and COT in terms of efficacy. Methods A total of 60 patients were enrolled and assigned to three groups. The IOT group (n = 25) underwent immersive exposure to 64 odors once daily in a specialized theater. COT participants (n = 17) sniffed four typical odors in a set of four jars twice daily at home. A control group (n = 18) underwent passive observation. Olfactory function was assessed before and after training. Results Significant improvements in composite threshold‐discrimination‐identification (TDI) scores were observed after training in both the IOT (mean difference = 2.5 ± 1.1. p = .030) and COT (mean difference = 4.2 ± 1.3, p = .002) groups. No changes were observed in the control group. A significantly higher proportion of patients in the COT group (41%) presented improvements of clinical importance (TDI ≥5.5) compared to the controls (p = .018). The improvements attained in the IOT group (20%) were less pronounced (p = .38). Conclusion While IOT did not exhibit the same efficacy as COT in restoring olfactory function, it still demonstrated promising outcomes. Future efforts to advance olfactory recovery should focus on cross‐modal integration. Level of Evidence Level 3.

Children’s exposures to environmental antibiotics are a major public health concern. However, limited data are available on the effects of environmental antibiotic exposures on childhood obesity. Our study aimed to explore this relationship. We conducted a cross-sectional case-control study nested in a population-based survey of primary school students, including 1855 obese and 1875 random selected control children. A total of 10 antibiotics in urine samples were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Multivariable survey logistic regression was used to assess the associations between environmental antibiotics exposures and childhood obesity. After adjusting for potential confounders, increased odds of obesity were observed in children exposed to tetracycline (OR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.09–1.57) and sulfamonomethoxine (OR = 1.43, 95% CI: 1–2.05). Comparing none (

Azathioprine (AZA) is commonly used for many autoimmune disorders; however, the limitation of its clinical use is due to potential toxicities, including severe leukopenia. Recent studies have identified genetic NUDT15 variants strongly associated with AZA-induced leukopenia in Asian patients. This study aimed to investigate the strength of above genetic association and evaluate the usefulness of prospective screening of the NUDT15 variants to prevent AZA-induced leukopenia in Chinese patients. AZA-induced leukopenia in patients with autoimmune disorders were enrolled from multiple medical centers in Taiwan/China between 2012 and 2017 to determine the strength of genetic association of NUDT15 or TPMT variants by whole exome sequencing (WES). Furthermore, a prospective study was conducted between 2018 and 2021 to investigate the incidence of AZA-induced leukopenia with and without genetic screening. The WES result showed the genetic variants of NUDT15 R139C (rs116855232) (P = 3.7 × 10-25 , odds ratio (OR) = 21.7, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 12.1-38.8) and NUDT15 rs746071566 (P = 4.2 × 10-9 , OR = 7.1, 95% CI = 3.7-13.7), but not TPMT, were associated with AZA-induced leukopenia and NUDT15 R139C variant shows the highest sensitivity with 92.5%. Furthermore, the targeted screening of 1,013 participants for NUDT15 R139C enabled those identified as carriers to use alternative immunosuppressants. This strategy resulted in a significant decrease in the incidence of AZA-induced leukopenia compared with historical incidence (incidence rate = from 7.6% decreased to 0.4%; P = 9.3 × 10-20 ). In conclusion, the NUDT15 R139C variant was strongly associated with AZA-induced leukopenia in Chinese patients. The genetic screening of NUDT15 R139C followed by use of alternative immunosuppressants in identified carriers effectively decreased the incidence of AZA leukopenia for patients with autoimmune disorders.

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the Mg × K product on the mortality risk of hemodialysis patients with concomitant hypokalemia and lower magnesium levels. This was a prospective observational study of patients in a HD center in southern Taiwan. A total of 444 HD patients were divided into 5 groups by the Mg × K product: group 1, bottom quintile, median Mg × K: 7.87, IQR: 7.03–8.12 (n = 89, age: 64 ± 13 years old); group 2, median Mg × K: 9.37, IQR: 8.97–9.86 (n = 89, age:62 ± 13 years old); group 3, median Mg × K: 10.95, IQR: 10.50–11.26 (n = 89, age:64 ± 13 years old); group 4, median Mg × K: 12.30, IQR: 11.87–12.82 (n = 89, 61 ± 12 years old); and group 5, top quintile, median Mg × K: 14.92, IQR:14.07–16.23 (n = 88, 62 ± 11 years old). The patients were followed up for 2 years to determine the risk of all-cause mortality. Patients with a lower Mg × K product had more comorbidities, malnutrition-inflammation status, and a higher mortality risk. Using multivariable Cox regression analysis, a higher Mg × K [HR, 0.89; 95%CI (0.81–0.98)] was found to be an independent predictor of better survival. HD patients with a lower Mg × K product had more comorbidities, a marked malnutrition-inflammation status, and were associated with long-term mortality. A higher Mg × K value is a favorable survival factor.