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Abstract Background and aims Numerous research have focused on the relationship of metabolic markers and stroke risk, yet limited research has focused on the triglyceride glucose-waist circumference (TyG-WC) index. This study explored the possible association of TyG-WC and stroke among moderately aged and old Chinese adults over 45 years of age. Methods This observational cohort analysis involved 9054 participants from the Chinese Longitudinal Study of Health and Retirement and employed a standardized questionnaire administered via in-person interviews. Cox proportional hazard model, smoothed curve fitting, and threshold effect analysis were conducted for examining the potential nonlinear relationships among TyG-WC and stroke risk. Results Within an average follow-up period of six years, 463 new strokes occurred, representing 5.11% of the total number of patients. After adjusting for possible confounding factors, a nonlinear association between TyG-WC and stroke risk was identified, with a significant dose–response relationship (P = 0.023 for the log-likelihood ratio test). A turning point was identified at the TyG-WC level of 554.48, beyond that the likelihood of stroke increased markedly (HR = 1.323, 95% CI = 1.098–1.594, P = 0.003). Conclusion This study revealed a specific curvilinear association with the TyG-WC score and stroke risk, identifying a key threshold value. This study focused on Chinese middle-aged and senior adults over the age of 45, emphasizing that increased stroke risk is linked to higher TyG-WC levels.

Abstract Neurons, exhibiting unique polarized structures, rely primarily on the mitochondrial production of ATP to maintain their hypermetabolic energy requirements. To maintain a normal energy supply, mitochondria are transported to the distal end of the axon. When mitochondria within the axon are critically damaged beyond their compensatory capacity, they are cleared via autophagosomal phagocytosis, and the degradation products are recycled to replenish energy. When the mitochondria are dysfunctional or their transport processes are blocked, axons become susceptible to degeneration triggered by energy depletion, resulting in neurodegenerative diseases. As the final checkpoint for mitochondrial quality control, axonal mitophagy is vital for neuronal growth, development, injury, and regeneration. Furthermore, abnormal axonal mitophagy is crucial in the pathogenesis of optic nerve-related diseases such as glaucoma. We review recent studies on axonal mitophagy and summarize the progress of research on axonal mitophagy in optic nerve-related diseases to provide insights into diseases associated with axonal damage in optic ganglion cells.

Abstract Background Women at middle age are puzzled by a series of menopausal disturbances, can be distressing and considerably affect the personal, social and work lives. We aim to estimate the global prevalence of nineteen menopausal symptoms among middle-aged women by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods Comprehensive search was performed in multiple databases from January, 2000 to March, 2023 for relevant studies. Random-effect model with double-arcsine transformation was used for data analysis. Results A total of 321 studies comprised of 482,067 middle-aged women were included for further analysis. We found varied prevalence of menopausal symptoms, with the highest prevalence of joint and muscular discomfort (65.43%, 95% CI 62.51–68.29) and lowest of formication (20.5%, 95% CI 13.44–28.60). Notably, South America shared dramatically high prevalence in a sort of menopausal symptoms including depression and urogenital symptoms. Besides, countries with high incomes (49.72%) had a significantly lower prevalence of hot flashes than those with low (65.93%), lower-middle (54.17%), and upper-middle (54.72%, p

A day-to-day temperature (DTD) variability metric was used to detect marine coastal climates in the province of Ontario, Canada. Eleven of fourteen climate stations on islands, most in the Great Lakes and two in other large water bodies, displayed marine characteristics using a day-to-day temperature metric threshold developed for ocean coastal locations in China and Canada with values below 2.35 for the daily minimum temperature variability. Detailed comparisons with neighbouring coastal stations were conducted for six focal areas in the Great Lakes and the marine effect on the local climate was unambiguously demonstrated in a statistically significant manner. Those displaying marine characteristics were all island climate stations, usually at an elevation close to the lake level, and the marine influence, as measured by day-to-day temperature variability, dropped off rapidly with distance and elevation from the local water body. The DTD metric was compared to a diurnal temperature range (DTR) metric. While DTR was able to distinguish in a statistically significant manner between islands and inland stations, an unambiguous threshold between the two was not possible, unlike DTD.

Spontaneous combustion of coal in goaf is one of the main factors inducing mine fire, which accounts for 90% of mine fire. In order to achieve accurate prevention and control of spontaneous combustion in goaf, it is necessary to accurately obtain the high temperature point temperature in goaf. Based on Yanbei Coal Mine as the engineering background, this paper analyzes the index gases produced during the oxidation and heating process of coal samples, establishes the index system of coal spontaneous combustion temperature prediction, and then carries out the research of multi-index gas coal spontaneous combustion temperature prediction based on deep learning. Firstly, the coal samples collected from Yanbei Coal Mine were tested for coal oxidation and temperature rise. According to the experimental results, they were divided into single gas index and compound gas index. The change law of each index with temperature rise was analyzed, and the appropriate index was determined as the prediction index of coal spontaneous combustion temperature. The prediction index of coal spontaneous combustion temperature is processed by multi-source data processing method, the data is cleaned by Cook distance method and multiple interpolation method, and the prediction index system of coal spontaneous combustion temperature is established by grey correlation analysis method. Elman neural network was used to build a prediction model, and after determining the model structure and hyper-parameters, a prediction model of coal spontaneous combustion temperature was established to obtain an accurate prediction of the temperature in the process of coal oxidation and heating.

BackgroundDietary behaviors significantly influence health outcomes across populations. Unhealthy diets are linked to serious diseases and substantial economic burdens, contributing to approximately 11 million deaths and significant disability-adjusted life years annually. Digital dietary interventions offer accessible solutions to improve dietary behaviors. However, attrition, defined as participant dropout before intervention completion, is a major challenge, with rates as high as 75%-99%. High attrition compromises intervention validity and reliability and exacerbates health disparities, highlighting the need to understand and address its causes. ObjectiveThis study systematically reviews the literature on attrition in digital dietary interventions to identify the underlying causes, propose potential solutions, and integrate these findings with behavior theory concepts to develop a comprehensive theoretical framework. This framework aims to elucidate the behavioral mechanisms behind attrition and guide the design and implementation of more effective digital dietary interventions, ultimately reducing attrition rates and mitigating health inequalities. MethodsWe conducted a systematic review, meta-analysis, and thematic synthesis. A comprehensive search across 7 electronic databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, Web of Science, CINAHL Plus, and Academic Search Complete) was performed for studies published between 2013 and 2023. Eligibility criteria included original research exploring attrition in digital dietary interventions. Data extraction focused on study characteristics, sample demographics, attrition rates, reasons for attrition, and potential solutions. We followed ENTREQ (Enhancing the Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research) and PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines and used RStudio (Posit) for meta-analysis and NVivo for thematic synthesis. ResultsOut of the 442 identified studies, 21 met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis showed mean attrition rates of 35% for control groups, 38% for intervention groups, and 40% for observational studies, with high heterogeneity (I²=94%-99%) indicating diverse influencing factors. Thematic synthesis identified 15 interconnected themes that align with behavior theory concepts. Based on these themes, the force-resource model was developed to explore the underlying causes of attrition and guide the design and implementation of future interventions from a behavior theory perspective. ConclusionsHigh attrition rates are a significant issue in digital dietary interventions. The developed framework conceptualizes attrition through the interaction between the driving force system and the supporting resource system, providing a nuanced understanding of participant attrition, summarized as insufficient motivation and inadequate or poorly matched resources. It underscores the critical necessity for digital dietary interventions to balance motivational components with available resources dynamically. Key recommendations include user-friendly design, behavior-factor activation, literacy training, force-resource matching, social support, personalized adaptation, and dynamic follow-up. Expanding these strategies to a population level can enhance digital health equity. Further empirical validation of the framework is necessary, alongside the development of behavior theory–guided guidelines for digital dietary interventions. Trial RegistrationPROSPERO CRD42024512902; https://tinyurl.com/3rjt2df9

In this research, graphene oxide (GO) as an adsorbent was used to remove norfloxacin and ceftriaxone antibiotics from aqueous solutions. All environmental factors affecting removal (e.g., pH, adsorbent mass, contact time, and concentration) were optimized in a discontinuous system. The design of experiments and the optimization of variables were carried out using the response surface method (RSM). The results of the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the regression coefficients of the quadratic terms indicated that the responses were significantly affected by all the studied variables (P < 0.05). Also, the quadratic polynomial model results corresponded to empirical data with a high coefficient of determination (i.e., R2 ˃ 0.99 for both antibiotics). Besides, the adjusted R2 (R2-adj ˃ 0.98 for both antibiotics) was close to R2 values, indicating a good and acceptable statistical model. According to the results, the optimal removal of antibiotics by GO occurs in conditions of pH of 8, 0.034 g of the adsorbent mass, a sonication time of 20 min, and a concentration of 25 mg L−1. In these conditions, the maximum removal efficiencies of ceftriaxone and norfloxacin were equal to 95.87% and 98.64%, respectively. GO was recovered in five adsorption/desorption processes, and the removal efficiency declined very slightly after using the adsorbent for five cycles. Therefore, it is concluded that GO is an efficient and acceptable adsorbent for removing ceftriaxone and norfloxacin from aqueous environments.

Abstract Exosomes are nanoscale vesicles of cellular origin. One of the main characteristics of exosomes is their ability to carry a wide range of biomolecules from their parental cells, which are important mediators of intercellular communication and play an important role in physiological and pathological processes. Exosomes have the advantages of biocompatibility, low immunogenicity, and wide biodistribution. As researchers’ understanding of exosomes has increased, various strategies have been proposed for their use in diagnosing and treating diseases. Here, we provide an overview of the biogenesis and composition of exosomes, describe the relationship between exosomes and disease progression, and focus on the use of exosomes as biomarkers for early screening, disease monitoring, and guiding therapy in refractory diseases such as tumors and neurodegenerative diseases. We also summarize the current applications of exosomes, especially engineered exosomes, for efficient drug delivery, targeted therapies, gene therapies, and immune vaccines. Finally, the current challenges and potential research directions for the clinical application of exosomes are also discussed. In conclusion, exosomes, as an emerging molecule that can be used in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, combined with multidisciplinary innovative solutions, will play an important role in clinical applications.

Abstract Objectives To determine the imaging details and diagnostic information of the treatment response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) of rectal adenocarcinoma at 9.4T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by ex vivo. Methods Fifteen cases with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) followed by radical surgery after nCRT between September 2022 and February 2023 were recruited. Resected specimens were fixed in a perfluoropolyether‐filled test tube and scanned with a 3.0T and 9.4T MRI system ex vivo. The residual tumor depth and MRI‐based tumor regression grade (TRG) were subjectively assessed and then compared with the pathological findings. Results The ex vivo 9.4T T2WI without fat suppression clearly differentiated tumor tissue, fibrosis and normal rectal wall, which clearly corresponded to the pathologic tissues of the rectal specimens. The TRG could be accurately assessed on ex vivo 9.4T images in 13/15 specimens (86.7%), while in 11/15 specimens (73.3%) on ex vivo 3.0T images. Conclusion Ex vivo 9.4T MR imaging clearly displayed the components of rectal wall and proved excellent diagnostic performance for evaluating the treatment response to nCRT, which allow radiologists to understand and then assess more accurately the TRG of LARC after nCRT.

Abstract With the onset of the 5G era, wearable flexible electronic devices have developed rapidly and gradually entered the daily life of people. However, the vast majority of research focuses on the integration of functions and performance improvement, while ignoring electromagnetic hazards caused by devices. Herein, the 3D double conductive networks are constructed through a repetitive vacuum‐assisted dip‐coating technique to decorate the 2D MXene and 1D silver nanowires on the melamine foam. Benefiting from the unique porous structure and multi‐scale interconnected frame, the resultant composite foam exhibited high electrical conductivity, low density, superb electromagnetic interference shielding (48.32 dB), and Joule heating performance (up to 90.8 °C under 0.8 V). Furthermore, a single‐electrode triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) with powerful energy harvesting capability is assembled by combining the composite foam with an ultra‐thin Ecoflex film and a polyvinylidene fluoride film. Simultaneously, the foam‐based TENG can also be considered a reliable wearable sensor for monitoring activity patterns in different parts of the human body. The versatility and scalable manufacturing of high‐performance composite foams will provide new design ideas for the development of next‐generation flexible wearable devices.

Utilizing satellite remote sensing for the assessment and temporal-spatial analysis of Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) is vital for overseeing lake water health and devising management plans. This study focused on the saline, turbid and arid Ebinur Lake, located in China’s northwestern region. The Random Forest (RF) and eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) model algorithms were compared to select the one with the highest accuracy. It combined Sentinel-2 remote sensing data and in situ measurement data for the quantitative inversion of CDOM. Monthly CDOM distribution maps were generated with a 10 m resolution for the non-frozen months of May to October from 2018 to 2022, followed by a comprehensive analysis of temporal trends. The primary conclusions are: (1) The XGBoost model yielded highly accurate CDOM estimates, with a training set coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.94, a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 0.06 mg/L, Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) of 6.05 %, Relative Percent Difference (RPD) of 4.07; the test set demonstrated an R2 of 0.41 with an RMSE of 0.22 mg/L, MAPE of 22.74 %, RPD of 1.35; (2) Throughout the study period, the main lake portion displayed variable CDOM spatial patterns and trends. The inversion indicated higher CDOM concentrations in the central part than nearshore areas and decreasing CDOM in tandem with seasonable water-surface shrinkage. The findings offer hints for an accurate evaluation of water color parameters of Ebinur Lake and practical references for monitoring arid-region lake water quality via remote sensing.

With the development of modern science and economy, congestions and accidents are brought by increasing traffics. And to improve efficiency, traffic signal based control is usually used as an effective model to alleviate congestions and to reduce accidents. However, the fixed mode of existing phase and cycle time restrains the ability to satisfy ever complex environments, which lead to a low level of efficiency. To further improve traffic efficiency, this paper proposes a crowd-based control model to adapt complex traffic environments. In this model, subjects are deemed as digital selves who can perform actions in complex traffic environments, such as vehicles and traffic lights. These digital selves have their own control processing mechanisms, properties, and behaviors. And each digital self is continuously optimizing its behaviors according to its learning ability, road conditions, and information interactions from connections with the others. Without a fixed structure, the connections are diverse and random to form a more complex traffic environment, which may be connected or disappeared at any time with continues movements. Finally, feasibility and effectiveness of the crowd-based traffic control model is demonstrated by comparison with fixed traffic signal control model, indicating that the model can alleviate traffic congestion effectively.

Abstract Background Sarcopenic obesity, a clinical and functional condition characterized by the coexistence of obesity and sarcopenia, has not been investigated in relation to dementia risk and its onset. Methods We included 208,867 participants from UK biobank, who aged 60 to 69 years at baseline. Dementia diagnoses were identified using hospital records and death register data. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models to evaluate the associations of obesity, sarcopenia, and sarcopenic obesity with dementia risk, stratified by sex. Stratified analyses were performed across dementia-related polygenic risk score (PRS). Restricted mean survival time models were established to estimate the difference and 95%CIs of dementia onset across different status. Additionally, linear regression models were employed to estimate associations of different status with brain imaging parameters. The mediation effects of chronic diseases were also examined. Results Obese women with high PRS had a decreased risk (HR = 0.855 [0.761–0.961]), but obese men with low PRS had an increased risk (HR = 1.223 [1.045–1.431]). Additionally, sarcopenia was associated with elevated dementia risk (HRwomen = 1.323 [1.064–1.644]; HRmen = 2.144 [1.753–2.621]) in those with low PRS. Among those with high PRS, however, the association was only significant in early-life (HRwomen = 1.679 [1.355–2.081]; HRmen = 2.069 [1.656–2.585]). Of note, sarcopenic obesity was associated with higher dementia risk (HRwomen = 1.424 [1.227–1.653]; HRmen = 1.989 [1.702–2.323]), and results remained similar stratified by PRS. Considering dementia onset, obesity was associated with dementia by 1.114 years delayed in women, however, 0.170 years advanced in men. Sarcopenia (women: 0.080 years; men: 0.192 years) and sarcopenic obesity (women: 0.109 years; men: 0.511 years) respectively advanced dementia onset. Obesity, sarcopenia, and sarcopenic obesity were respectively related to alterations in different brain regions. Association between sarcopenic obesity and dementia was mediated by chronic diseases. Conclusions Sarcopenic obesity and sarcopenia were respectively associated with increased dementia risk and advanced dementia onset to vary degree. The role of obesity in dementia may differ by sex and genetic background.

Abstract. Background:. Previous studies have reported associations of specific maternal and paternal lifestyle factors with offspring's cognitive development during early childhood. This study aimed to investigate the prospective associations between overall parental lifestyle and offspring's cognitive performance during adolescence and young adulthood in China. Methods:. We included 2531 adolescents aged 10–15 years at baseline in 2010 from the China Family Panel Studies. A healthy parental lifestyle score (ranged 0–5) was constructed based on the following five modifiable lifestyle factors: Smoking, drinking, exercise, sleep, and diet. Generalized estimating equation models were used to examine the association between baseline parental healthy lifestyle scores and offspring's fluid and crystallized intelligence in subsequent years (2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018). Results:. Offspring in the top tertile of parental healthy lifestyle scores performed better in overall fluid intelligence (multivariable-adjusted β = 0.53, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.29–0.77) and overall crystallized intelligence (multivariable-adjusted β = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.16–0.54) than those in the bottom tertile of parental healthy lifestyle scores. The results were similar after further adjustment for the offspring's healthy lifestyle scores and persisted across the subgroups of parental socioeconomic status. Additionally, maternal and paternal healthy lifestyle scores were independently associated with better offspring's cognitive performance, with significant contribution observed for paternal never-smoking, weekly exercise, and diversified diet. When both parents and offspring adhered to a healthier lifestyle, we observed the highest level of the offspring's overall crystallized intelligence. Conclusions:. Our study indicates that parental adherence to a healthier lifestyle is associated with significantly better offspring's cognitive performance during adolescence and early adulthood, regardless of socioeconomic status. These findings highlight the potential cognitive benefits of promoting healthy lifestyles among parents of adolescents.

Abstract This paper studies the equivalent transmission line model of the pulsed electro‐acoustic (PEA) method with its applications. Based on the consistency of acoustic wave behaviour inside lossy acoustic materials and voltage wave propagation in transmission line, an equivalent simulation model of the PEA system is developed, whose reliability is verified by the output from the transducer and amplifier models and the comparison with measured waveforms. For the problem of acoustic impedance mismatch between different modules, simulation indicates that the unequal impedances of semiconducting electrode and sample can affect the amplitude of the measured signal at the upper electrode side, and the reflected acoustic waves caused by the transducer can affect the charge waveform. Further simulation for multi‐layer materials finds that the reflected acoustic waves of different samples and sound absorbing module can superimpose on the charge signal. Accordingly, a selection criterion is proposed to avoid the effect of the reflected waves at the interface. As for the acoustic reflection caused by internal charge, it needs to be dealt with sequentially in calibration process, starting from the result inside the sample near ground electrode. The research can provide a foundation for analyzing the acoustic properties of the PEA method.

Abstract Background The Mongolian gerbil is an excellent laboratory animal for preparing the cerebral ischemia model due to its inherent deficiency in the circle of Willis. However, the low incidence and unpredictability of symptoms are caused by numerous complex variant types of the circle. Additionally, the lack of an evaluation system for the cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) model of gerbils has shackled the application of this model. Methods We created a symptom‐oriented principle and detailed neurobehavioral scoring criteria. At different time points of reperfusion, we analyzed the alteration in locomotion by rotarod test and grip force score, infarct volume by triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining, neuron loss using Nissl staining, and histological characteristics using hematoxylin–eosin (H&E) straining. Results With a successful model rate of 56%, 32 of the 57 gerbils operated by our method harbored typical features of cerebral I/R injury, and the mortality rate in the male gerbils was significantly higher than that in the female gerbils. The successfully prepared I/R gerbils demonstrated a significant reduction in motility and grip strength at 1 day after reperfusion; formed obvious infarction; exhibited typical pathological features, such as tissue edema, neuronal atrophy and death, and vacuolated structures; and were partially recovered with the extension of reperfusion time. Conclusion This study developed a new method for the unilateral common carotid artery ligation I/R model of gerbil and established a standardized evaluation system for this model, which could provide a new cerebral I/R model of gerbils with more practical applications.

ObjectiveThis paper develops a heading tracking design strategy for unmanned ships with state quantization and input quantization in order to address the problem of limited communication at sea for unmanned ships on the water surface.Methods First, a control law is designed on the basis of backstepping and combined with dynamic surface control to reduce the computational complexity of the virtual control law. An extended state observer is also designed to estimate uncertainties and unknown disturbances. Second, all state variables and control variables in the control system are assumed to be quantized by the uniform quantizer, and the quantized state feedback information is only available for the tracking control design. A controller of unmanned ships based on the extended state observer and using quantized states is recursively designed to ensure the tracking of the desired heading. The boundedness of the quantization errors between quantized variables and non-quantized variables in the closed-loop system is analyzed by presenting several theoretical lemmas.ResultsBased on the Lyapunov stability theory, the stability of the designed unmanned ship heading tracking control system with state quantization and input quantization is demonstrated, and the simulation results verify the effectiveness of the resulting tracking scheme. Conclusion The results of this study can provide references for the heading tracking of unmanned ships.

Abstract Background The appropriateness of hypertension thresholds for triggering action to prevent cardiovascular and renal complications among non-White populations in the UK is subject to question. Our objective was to establish ethnicity-specific systolic blood pressure (SBP) cutoffs for ethnic minority populations and assess the efficacy of these ethnicity-specific cutoffs in predicting adverse outcomes. Methods We analyzed data from UK Biobank, which included 444,418 participants from White, South Asian, Black Caribbean, and Black African populations with no history of cardiorenal complications. We fitted Poisson regression models with continuous SBP and ethnic groups, using Whites as the referent category, for the composite outcome of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease. We determined ethnicity-specific thresholds equivalent to the risks observed in Whites at SBP levels of 120, 130, and 140 mm Hg. We adjusted models for clinical characteristics, sociodemographic factors, and behavioral factors. The performance of ethnicity-specific thresholds for predicting adverse outcomes and associated population-attributable fraction (PAF) was assessed in ethnic minority groups. Results After a median follow-up of 12.5 years (interquartile range, 11.7–13.2), 32,662 (7.4%) participants had incident composite outcomes. At any given SBP, the predicted incidence rate of the composite outcome was the highest for South Asians, followed by White, Black Caribbean, and Black African. For an equivalent risk of outcomes observed in the White population at an SBP level of 140 mm Hg, the SBP threshold was lower for South Asians (123 mm Hg) and higher for Black Caribbean (156 mm Hg) and Black African (165 mm Hg). Furthermore, hypertension defined by ethnicity-specific thresholds was a stronger predictor and resulted in a larger PAF for composite outcomes in South Asians (21.5% [95% CI, 2.4,36.9] vs. 11.3% [95% CI, 2.6,19.1]) and Black Africans (7.1% [95% CI, 0.2,14.0] vs. 5.7 [95% CI, -16.2,23.5]) compared to hypertension defined by guideline-recommended thresholds. Conclusions Guideline-recommended blood pressure thresholds may overestimate risks for the Black population and underestimate risks for South Asians. Using ethnicity-specific SBP thresholds may improve risk estimation and optimize hypertension management toward the goal of eliminating ethnic disparities in cardiorenal complications.

Abstract Objective To study the changes of temporomandibular joints and craniocervical posture in adult patients with bilateral anterior disc displacement, and to explore their correlation, which may provide some clinical value for clinical diagnosis and treatment planning. Methods Ninety-eight adult patients were divided into 3 groups: 29 patients in bilateral disc normal position group (BN), 33 patients in bilateral Anterior Disc Displacement With Reduction group (ADDWR) and 36 patients in bilateral Anterior Disc Displacement Without Reduction group (ADDWoR). Dolphin and Uceph software were used to measure 14 items of temporomandibular joint and 11 items of craniocervical posture for comparison and correlation analysis between groups. Results There were significant differences in bilateral joint space between three groups. Compared with the BN, the anteroposterior diameter of the condyle was significantly reduced, the condyle was significantly displaced posteriorly and superiorly in the ADDWR and ADDWoR, but the joint fossa width and joint fossa depth did not change significantly. Cervical curvature and inclination were greater in patients with anterior disc displacement than BN, indicating that the craniocervical posture of adult patients with anterior disc displacement was extended and protrusive. Conclusion Anterior disc displacement of the temporomandibular joint can displace the condyle upwards and posteriorly and reduce the anteroposterior diameter of condyle, and then make the condyle closer to the wall of articular fossa to induce joint symptoms. Additionally, craniocervical postural position is significantly affected, which may be related to compensate for the effects of airway space.

Abstract The lymph node involvement in the posterior to level V (PLV) region is mainly observed in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Recently, we have reported the distribution of metastatic lymph nodes in the PLV region and there are correlations between the neck node levels (NNL) of NPC, but what is the boundary of the PLV region and how to delineate it remains unclear, and we further to elaborate whether the bilateral level Va should be covered as intermediate-risk nodal regions (CTVn2, about 60 Gy equivalent) for all T and N categories based on these correlations. A total of 1021 consecutive NPC patients with N1-3 stage from January 2012 to December 2020 were reviewed. The lymph node metastasis level of each patient was evaluated according to the updated guidelines proposed in 2013. According to the distribution pattern of lymph node metastasis and the anatomical structure in the PLV region, the boundaries of PLV region was delineated, and whether it is appropriate to cover the bilateral level Va as CTVn2 for all the NPC patients was further discussed. The correlations of level Va with other NNL were studied using logistic regression model. The cranial boundary of PLV region is the caudal border of cricoid cartilage, the caudal boundary is the plane serratus anterior muscle begins to appear, the anterior boundary is the anterior border of trapezius, and the posterior boundary is the convergence of levator scapulae and trapezius. Laterally, the PLV region is limited by the medial edge of trapezius and medially by the lateral surface of levator scapulae. The nodal spread in level Va is based on the lymph node metastasis of level IIb in NPC. The PLV region is a missing NNL of head and neck tumors, especially in NPC. The proposed boundaries of the PLV region can provide a preliminary proposal for the further revision of NNL in head and neck tumors. It is theoretically feasible to reduce the prophylactic irradiation dose of the bilateral level Va in patients with N0 stage or with isolated metastases in level VIIa.

Stereo Lithography Apparatus (SLA) has demonstrated improvements on surface-roughness and dimensional-accuracy of the precision casting prototypes in recent years, which however is still far from being satisfactory in industrial. One primary problem is the easy crack of the ceramic shell at sintering process originated from the high thermal expansion coefficient of the photosensitive resin. Herein, this paper aims to find a solution for the cracking problem of the SLA-prototyped ceramic shells. This paper introduces recent studies mainly focusing on the aspect of photosensitive resin modification, the hollow structure improvement inside the photosensitive resin prototype, the wax sheet pasting method on the weak part of ceramic shells, and the sintering process design of the photosensitive resin in ceramic shells. The performance of ceramic shells through these studies are evaluated, and a fundamental solution to the cracking problem of ceramic shells is thereafter prospected.

Objective The incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in pediatric patients has been increasing over the years, and AKI significantly impacts children’s health and quality of life. This article reviews the current epidemiological research on pediatric AKI.Methods The clinical data of hospitalized children aged 0 to 14 years from 20 different hospitals in Hunan Province, China, collected from December 2017 to February 2018, were analyzed. The incidence rate, misdiagnosis rate, main causes, and medical costs of AKI in hospitalized children were examined.Results A total of 29,639 patients were included, with an AKI incidence rate of 4.34% (1286/29,639). Among the 1286 AKI patients, 863 (67.11%) were classified as AKI stage 1324 (25.19%) as AKI stage 2, and 99 (7.7%) as AKI stage 3. AKI patients had significantly longer hospital stays [6.0 (4.0, 10) days vs. 6.0 (4.0, 8.0) days, p

AbstractBackground The chemotherapy resistance often leads to chemotherapy failure. This study aims to explore the molecular mechanism by which MUC1 regulates paclitaxel resistance in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), providing scientific basis for future target selection.Methods The bioinformatics method was used to analyse the mRNA and protein expression characteristics of MUC1 in LUAD. RT-qPCR and ELISA were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression, flow cytometry was used to detect CD133+ cells, and cell viability was detected by CCK-8 assay. The mRNA-seq was performed to analyse the changes in expression profile, GO and KEGG analysis were used to explore the potential biological functions.Results MUC1 is highly expressed in LUAD patients and is associated with a higher tumour infiltration. In paclitaxel resistance LUAD cells (A549/TAX cells), the expression of MUC1, EGFR/p-EGFR and IL-6 were higher than that of A549 cells, the proportion of CD133+ cells was significantly increased, and the expression of cancer stem cell (CSCs) transcription factors (NANOG, OCT4 and SOX2) were significantly up-regulated. After knocking down MUC1 in A549/Tax cells, the activity of A549/Tax cells was significantly decreased. Correspondingly, the expression of EGFR, IL-6, OCT4, NANOG, and SOX2 were significantly down-regulated. The mRNA-seq showed that knocking down MUC1 affected the gene expression, DEGs mainly enriched in NF-κB and MAPK signalling pathway.Conclusion MUC1 was highly expressed in A549/TAX cells, and MUC1-EGFR crosstalk with IL-6 may be due to the activation of NF-κB and MAPK pathways, which promote the enrichment of CSCs and lead to paclitaxel resistance.

Abstract Background In December 2022, a large‐scale epidemic occurred in China due to Omicron variant of SARS‐CoV‐2. This study explored risk factors for Omicron infection in transplant recipients at our institution and investigated the factors influencing the severity of SARS‐CoV‐2 Omicron infection among recipients of allo‐HSCT. Methods This single‐center study investigated totally 63 allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients infected with Omicron variant at the Beijing GoBroad Boren Hospital Transplant Center during December 2022 and analyzed their risk factors. Results The study included 63 allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients who developed Omicron infection. There were 34 mild and 29 moderate to severe cases. Their median age was 22 years (range, 1–65 years), with the male‐to‐female ratio being 1:1.1. Acute myeloid leukemia (53.97%), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (42.86%), and non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (3.17%) were underlying diseases. The median time between HCT and Omicron infection was 8.45 months. Significant predictive factors for moderate to severe Omicron infection included older age (p

BackgroundChronic kidney disease (CKD)-related secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is associated with higher morbidity and death. The goal of this study was to mine the SHPT data already available to do a meta-analysis on the global prevalence of SHPT caused by CKD.MethodsEmbase, Medline, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Databases, and Google Scholar were searched to identify studies on the prevalence of SHPT due to CKD from inception to November 2023. Pooled prevalence was calculated using the DerSimonian-Laird random effects model with a logit transformation.ResultsTwenty-one eligible studies involving 110977 patients were included. Our results revealed that the estimated global prevalence of SHPT due to CKD was 49.5% (95% CI 30.20–68.18), regardless of the diagnostic criteria. For subgroup analysis, Southern Asia (84.36%, 95% CI 79.35–88.34) had a significantly higher SHPT prevalence than other geographic regions. SHPT due to CKD was most prevalent in China (85.14%, 95% CI 81.74–88.00).ConclusionsSHPT due to CKD is highly prevalent. This necessitates awareness and therapeutic approaches from primary care physicians, medical professionals, and health strategy authorities.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO, identifier CRD42024514007.

Background: The correlation between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss remains to be further elucidated, particularly in patients receiving pegylated interferon-α (PEG-IFN) treatment. Methods: 758 patients with low HBsAg quantification who had received nucleos(t)ide analog (NUC) therapy for at least one year and subsequently switched to or add on PEG-IFN therapy over an unfixed course were enrolled. 412 patients were obtained with baseline data matched. A total of 206 patients achieved HBsAg loss (cured group) within 48 weeks. Demographic and biochemical data associated with MetS were gathered for analysis. HepG2.2.15 cell line was used in vitro experiments to validate the efficacy of interferon-α (IFN-α). Results: The proportion of patients with diabetes or hypertension in the uncured group was significantly higher than in the cured group. The levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG) and glycated albumin remained elevated in the uncured group over the 48 weeks. In contrast, the levels of blood lipids and uric acid remained higher in the cured group within 48 weeks. Triglycerides levels and liver steatosis of all patients increased after PEG-IFN therapy. Baseline elevated uric acid levels and hepatic steatosis may be beneficial for HBsAg loss. IFN-α could induce hepatic steatosis and indirectly promote HBsAg loss by increasing triglyceride level through upregulation of acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 1(ACSL1). Conclusions: IFN-α could induce liver steatosis to promote HBsAg loss by increasing triglyceride level through upregulation of ACSL1. Comorbid diabetes may be detrimental to obtaining HBsAg loss with PEG-IFN therapy in CHB patients.

BackgroundMedullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is a challenging malignancy. The survival outcome of MTC based on AJCC staging system does not render a discriminant classifier among early stages.Methods3601 MTC patients from 2000 to 2018 were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Smooth curve fitting, Cox proportional hazard regression and competing risk analysis were applied.ResultsA linear correlation between age and log RR (relative risk of overall death) was detected. Overlaps were observed between K-M curves representing patients aged 45–50, 50–55, and 55–60. The study cohort was divided into 3 subgroups with 2 age cutoffs set at 45 and 60. Each further advanced age cutoff population resulted in a roughly “5%” increase in MTC-specific death risks and an approximately “3 times” increase in non-MTC-specific death risks.ConclusionsThe survival outcome disparity across age cutoffs at 45 and 60 for MTC has been well defined.

Accurately identifying the optimal spatial scales of effect analysis of influencing factors on water quality is crucial for effective water environment management. To address this, we propose a framework that consists of mix scale division (watersheds, riparian buffers, and circular buffers), and conduct a case study in the Yuanjiang River Basin (YJRB). Scale effects and non-linear impacts of various influencing factors on water quality were identified. The case study results revealed the variations of these water quality indicators were predominated by different influencing factors at various sales, such as by slope (SL) at the scale of riparian buffer (w) = 500 m and circular buffer (r) = 15 km (with a contribution percentage of 16.6 %), mean annual temperature (TE) at the watershed scale (23.4 %), annual precipitation (PR) at the scale of w = watershed and r = 15 km etc. The percentage of cultivated land (CL) > 28 % at the scale (w = 500 m, r = 50 km) will lead to increase in total phosphorus (TP) and SL > 26° at the scale (w = 500 m, r = 15 km) will lead to increase in pondus hydrogenii (pH). While, POP > 30 person per unit area at the scale (w = 100 m, r = 1 km), SL > 24° at the scale (w = 500 m, r = 15 km), NDVI > 0.48 at the scale (w = 500 m, r = 5 km) and PR > 1300 mm at the scale (w = watershed, r = 15 km) will lead to decrease in ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), total nitrogen (TN), electrical conductivity (EC) and turbidity (NTU) respectively. Results indicated that the precision can be improved by regulating influencing factors within scale effects and considering the non-linear effects of factors on water quality.

Summary: Background: Exposure to multiple risk factors is prevalent in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), challenging one-directional strategies to address preventable under-5 mortality (U5M). This study aims to assess the associations between concurrence of multiple risk factors and U5M in LMICs. Methods: We extracted data from the Demographic and Health Surveys conducted between 2010 and 2021 across 61 LMICs. Our primary outcome was U5M, defined as deaths from birth to 59 months. Binary logistic regression model was applied to ascertain the association between U5M and a total of 20 critical risk factors. Upon identifying the risk factors demonstrating the strongest associations, we investigated the simultaneous presence of multiple risk factors in each individual and assessed their combined effects on U5M with logistic regression models. Findings: Of the 604,372 under-5 children, 18,166 (3.0%) died at the time of the survey. Unsatisfied family planning needs was the strongest risk factor for U5M (odds ratio [OR]: 2.0, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.9–2.1), followed by short birth interval (

Using aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy, a new fully coherent precipitate platelet designated X′′, with a flexible atomic layer FCC structure, was identified in a low Cu/Mg ratio Al-Cu-Mg-Ag alloy. The emergence of the X′′ phase is primarily attributed to the preferential segregation behavior of Mg and Cu atoms towards the {111}α Ag layers. The strengthening mechanism of the X′′ phase is principally driven by the coherency strengthening, yielding efficient reinforcement (99.8 MPa increment per 1 % volume fraction). After dislocation cutting, the X′′ phase maintains coherence with the matrix, minimizing local strain accumulation at the interface. The mechanical tests show that the alloy with the precipitated X′′ phase, despite its lower strength compared to the alloy with the precipitated Ω phase, exhibits superior ductility and work hardening. The study holds promising implications for designing novel Al-Cu-Mg-Ag alloys with a desirable strength-ductility balance.

The transformation and reconstruction of China’s food system not only faces many risks, such as the unceasing growth of food consumption on the demand side and the structural imbalance of dietary nutrition, but also must address serious challenges, such as constraints of resources, environment, and production capacity on the supply side. The optimal allocation of land use structure is an important method to realizing a transformation of sustainable food systems, achieving the goal of nutrition security, and guiding coordinated spatial development. This study takes the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region as an example, analyzing the development trends of the region’s dietary nutrition structure clarifies the objectives for improving dietary nutrition. This study uses comprehensive optimization model and dynamic land system model, exploring land use optimization schemes under different nutritional goals and development scenarios. The result show that the dietary structure in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region is transitioning from “food based” to “intake balance” and gradually evolved to “intake diversity,” with the main objectives being to maintain stable calorie intake while moderately increasing protein intake and reducing fat intake. Achieving this goal will gradually increase demand for cultivated land and intensify spatial competition for land use. However, by optimizing land use allocation, it is possible to free up more spatial resources to balance economic development and ecological protection and reduce land use fragmentation, thereby significantly enhancing regional economic benefits and the value of ecosystem services based on improvements in dietary nutrition.

Abstract γδ T cells are evolutionarily conserved T lymphocytes that manifest unique antitumor efficacy independent of tumor mutation burden (TMB) and conventional human leukocyte antigen (HLA) recognition. However, the dynamic changes in their T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire during cancer progression and treatment courses remain unclear. Here, a comprehensive characterization of γδTCR repertoires are performed in thyroid cancers with divergent differentiation states through cross‐sectional studies. The findings revealed a significant correlation between the differentiation states and TCR repertoire diversity. Notably, highly expanded clones are prominently enriched in γδ T cell compartment of dedifferentiated patients. Moreover, by longitudinal investigations of the γδ T cell response to various antitumor therapies, it is found that the emergence and expansion of the Vδ2neg subset may be potentially associated with favorable clinical outcomes after post‐radiotherapeutic immunotherapy. These findings are further validated at single‐cell resolution in both advanced thyroid cancer patients and a murine model, underlining the importance of further investigations into the role of γδTCR in cancer immunity and therapeutic strategies.

Abstract Background Current research on autophagy is mainly focused on intervertebral disc tissues and cells, while there is few on human peripheral blood sample. therefore, this study constructed a diagnostic model to identify autophagy-related markers of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). Methods GSE150408 and GSE124272 datasets were acquired from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, and differential expression analysis was performed. The IVDD-autophagy genes were obtained using Weighted Gene Coexpression Network Analysis, and a diagnostic model was constructed and validated, followed by Gene Set Variation Analysis (GSVA) and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). Meanwhile, miRNA–gene and transcription factor–gene interaction networks were constructed. In addition, drug-gene interactions and target genes of methylprednisolone and glucosamine were analyzed. Results A total of 1,776 differentially expressed genes were identified between IVDD and control samples, and the composition of the four immune cell types was significantly different between the IVDD and control samples. The Meturquoise and Mebrown modules were significantly related to immune cells, with significant differences between the control and IVDD samples. A diagnostic model was constructed using five key IVDD-autophagy genes. The area under the curve values of the model in the training and validation datasets were 0.907 and 0.984, respectively. The enrichment scores of the two pathways were significantly different between the IVDD and healthy groups. Eight pathways in the IVDD and healthy groups had significant differences. A total of 16 miRNAs and 3 transcription factors were predicted to be of great value. In total, 84 significantly related drugs were screened for five key IVDD-autophagy genes in the diagnostic model, and three common autophagy-related target genes of methylprednisolone and glucosamine were predicted. Conclusion This study constructs a reliable autophagy-related diagnostic model that is strongly related to the immune microenvironment of IVD. Autophagy-related genes, including PHF23, RAB24, STAT3, TOMM5, and DNAJB9, may participate in IVDD pathogenesis. In addition, methylprednisolone and glucosamine may exert therapeutic effects on IVDD by targeting CTSD, VEGFA, and BAX genes through apoptosis, as well as the sphingolipid and AGE-RAGE signaling pathways in diabetic complications.

Abstract Background The global prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) continues to rise and 70% of diabetic individuals have dry eye disease (DED) that leads to subsequent abnormalities of the corneal epithelium, corneal nerves, tear film, or corneal endothelium. In addition, persons with diabetes produce fewer tear secretions than healthy individuals. While several anti-inflammatory drug-based therapies for dry eye in diabetic individuals are currently being administered, their efficacy has not been studied in detail. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of 3% diquafosol (DQS) vs 0.1% hyaluronic acid (HA) eye drops in diabetic dry eye patients. Methods This triple-blind randomized, control trial will include 202 diabetic-related DED and will be assigned to DQS (n = 101) and HA (n = 101) one drop, six times per day for 8 weeks. Tear film lipid layer, non-invasive breakup time, conjunctivocorneal staining score, corneal sensitivity, tear MMP-9 levels, meibomian gland expression and quality, tear meniscus height, corneal nerves, immune/inflammatory cell change, conjunctival hyperemia, and ocular surface disease index questionnaire score will be assessed and compared at baseline, week 4, and week 8. Discussion This study will be a standardized, scientific, clinical trial designed to evaluate the therapeutic effects and safety of DQS and HA for diabetic dry eye treatment. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.govNCT05682547. Registered on December 05, 2022.

Abstract Current research has demonstrated that extracellular vesicles (EVs) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are very closely related in the process of distant tumor metastasis. Primary tumors are shed and released into the bloodstream to form CTCs that are referred to as seeds to colonize and grow in soil-like distant target organs, while EVs of tumor and nontumor origin act as fertilizers in the process of tumor metastasis. There is no previous text that provides a comprehensive review of the role of EVs on CTCs during tumor metastasis. In this paper, we reviewed the mechanisms of EVs on CTCs during tumor metastasis, including the ability of EVs to enhance the shedding of CTCs, protect CTCs in circulation and determine the direction of CTC metastasis, thus affecting the distant metastasis of tumors.

Abstract Background Liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) play an important role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the mechanisms that link LCSCs to HCC metastasis remain largely unknown. This study aims to reveal the contributions of NRCAM to LCSC function and HCC metastasis, and further explore its mechanism in detail. Methods 117 HCC and 29 non-HCC patients with focal liver lesions were collected and analyzed to assess the association between NRCAM and HCC metastasis. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was used to explore the biological characteristics of cells with high NRCAM expression in metastatic HCC. The role and mechanism of NRCAM in LCSC dissemination and metastasis was explored in vitro and in vivo using MYC-driven LCSC organoids from murine liver cells. Results Serum NRCAM is associated with HCC metastasis and poor prognosis. A scRNA-seq analysis identified that NRCAM was highly expressed in LCSCs with MYC activation in metastatic HCC. Moreover, NRCAM facilitated LCSC migration and invasion, which was confirmed in MYC-driven LCSC organoids. The in vivo tumor allografts demonstrated that NRCAM mediated intra-hepatic/lung HCC metastasis by enhancing the ability of LCSCs to escape from tumors into the bloodstream. Nrcam expression inhibition in LCSCs blocked HCC metastasis. Mechanistically, NRCAM activated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis-related matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) through the MACF1 mediated β-catenin signaling pathway in LCSCs. Conclusions LCSCs typified by high NRCAM expression have a strong ability to invade and migrate, which is an important factor leading to HCC metastasis.

Abstract The Quartet Data Portal facilitates community access to well-characterized reference materials, reference datasets, and related resources established based on a family of four individuals with identical twins from the Quartet Project. Users can request DNA, RNA, protein, and metabolite reference materials, as well as datasets generated across omics, platforms, labs, protocols, and batches. Reproducible analysis tools allow for objective performance assessment of user-submitted data, while interactive visualization tools support rapid exploration of reference datasets. A closed-loop “distribution-collection-evaluation-integration” workflow enables updates and integration of community-contributed multiomics data. Ultimately, this portal helps promote the advancement of reference datasets and multiomics quality control.

The current method of electricity stealing has changed from simple to high-tech. In this paper, combined with HPLC communication technology and measurement equipment, a three-layer progressive analysis model is established. The model fully exploits the advantages of HPLC in deepening application functions. Based on the edge computing resources and processing capabilities of the current electricity consumption information acquisition system, it realizes the identification of electricity theft behavior, the evaluation of user suspicion, the forensics of electricity theft, and the minute-level dispatch response to meet the actual power theft on site.

In 6000-series Al-Mg-Si alloys, Zn is commonly added to enhance the aging response for improved properties. However, the segregation of Zn to interfaces and its interaction mechanisms with strengthening phases remain unclear. Combining experiments and theoretical calculations, we systematically investigated Zn segregation behavior at the β″/Al interfaces in Al-Mg-Si alloys. Using a modified β″-Mg5Al2Si4 model, we determined that the interface (100)β″//(130)Al has a slightly smaller formation energy of 1.06 kJ/mol, while (001)β″//(3¯20)Al has a relatively smaller interfacial energy of 116 mJ/m2. HAADF-STEM analysis revealed these interfacial morphologies and atomic distributions, showing that Zn atoms not only enter the β″ phase but are also inclined to segregate at the interfaces by occupying the Si3/Al sites. Furthermore, the stability of the β″/Al interfaces and the Zn segregation behavior are well explained at the atomic scale, with calculations showing that stronger hybridization between Zn-3d and Si-3s orbitals facilitates Zn segregation at the interfaces.

CO-selective methanation (CO-SMET) is an efficient hydrogen-rich (H2-rich) gas purification technology for proton exchange membrane fuel cells. It is vital to develop suitable catalysts with good low-temperature activity for CO-SMET reactions. In this study, RuNi/TiZrx-mixed metal oxide (RuNi/TiZrx-MMO) catalysts with different molar ratios of Zr/Ti, derived from a Zr-promoted NiTi-layered double hydroxide (NiTi-LDH) precursor were successfully prepared using the co-precipitation and wet impregnation methods. The RuNi/TiZr0.2-MMO catalyst possesses higher catalytic performance in a lower temperature window of 180–280 °C, which can reduce the CO concentration to be below 10 ppm. The characterization results obtained from XRD, BET, SEM, TEM, XPS, TPR, and TPD suggest that the addition of ZrO2 increases the surface area of the catalyst, improves the dispersion of metallic nanoparticles, increases the reducibility of Ni species on the RuNi/TiZr0.2-MMO catalyst’s surface, and enhances the adsorption and activation ability of CO, resulting in remarkable catalytic performance at lower reaction temperatures. Moreover, the RuNi/TiZr0.2-MMO catalyst demonstrated long-term catalytic stability and carbon resistance.

The effectiveness of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) strain rapidly wanes over time. Growing evidence from epidemiological studies suggests that influenza vaccination is associated with a reduction in the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity. However, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we investigate the cross-reactive immune responses of influenza vaccination to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein peptides based on in vitro study. Our data indicate enhanced activation-induced-marker (AIM) expression on CD4+ T cells in influenza-vaccination (IV)-treated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) upon stimulation with spike-protein-peptide pools. The fractions of other immune cell subtypes, including CD8+ T cells, monocytes, NK cells, and antigen-presenting cells, were not changed between IV-treated and control PBMCs following ex vivo spike-protein-peptide stimulation. However, the classical antiviral (IFN-γ) and anti-inflammatory (IL-1RA) cytokine responses to spike-protein-peptide stimulation were still enhanced in PBMCs from both IV-immunized adult and aged mice. Decreased expression of proinflammatory IL-1β, IL-12p40, and TNF-α is associated with inhibited levels of histone acetylation in PBMCs from IV-treated mice. Remarkably, prior immunity to SARS-CoV-2 does not result in modification of histone acetylation or hemagglutinin-protein-induced cytokine responses. This response is antibody-independent but can be mediated by manipulating the histone acetylation of PBMCs. These data experimentally support that influenza vaccination could induce modification of histone acetylation in immune cells and reveal the existence of potential cross-reactive immunity to SARS-CoV-2 antigens, which may provide insights for the adjuvant of influenza vaccine to limit COVID-19-related inflammatory responses.

Objective: Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) has been recognized as an important biomarker of cardiovascular disease and is closely related to inflammation over the past decade. This study aimed to assess the relationship between FGF23 and myocardial injury in patients with sepsis. Methods: We sequentially measured serum FGF23, Klotho, biomarkers of inflammation (CRP, IL-6 and WBC), myocardial injury (cTnI and N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide) and sepsis (procalcitonin) at peak of intercurrent septic shock and after complete resolution or before death in a series of 29 patients with septic shock. 29 healthy adults without infections were used as controls. Results: There was a difference in serum FGF23 level between patients with septic shock and healthy adults (p

BackgroundThe clinic-pathological boundary between poorly differentiated thyroid cancer (PDTC) and anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is unclear due to a wide spectrum of histopathological features and the rarity of the disease. In addition to that, with the highest mortality rate and non-standard treatment modality, the PDTC/ATC population has not been subjected to comprehensive description and comparison with the extent of histological characteristics, therapeutic response, prognostic factors, and death attribution analysis.MethodA total of 4,947 PDTC/ATC patients from 2000 to 2018 were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Kaplan–Meier survival curve estimation and Cox proportional hazard regression were applied.ResultsOverall, the 5- and 10-year DSS for PDTC were 71.9% and 68.0%, respectively, whereas the 5- and 10-year OS are 59.3% and 51.2%, respectively. The median survival time for ATC patients was 3 months with 1-year OS being 26.9% and 1-year DSS being 31.2%. During the follow-up period, 68.1% of the PDTC/ATC cohort were dead, 51.6% of which were attributed to thyroid malignancies and 16.5% to non-thyroid causes. The top three common non-thyroid causes of death were miscellaneous cancers, lower respiratory system disease, and heart disease. The histological feature of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) was the leading pathological category for PDTC patients (51.7%), whereas 76.7% of ATC patients’ pathological feature was characterized as unidentifiable. Sarcoma histological characteristics found in ATC cases suffer the highest overall mortality (vs. PTC, HR = 2.61, 95% CI 1.68–4.06, P < 0.001). Older age unidentifiable histology feature, more advanced AJCC N1b, AJCC M1, and SEER stage, tumor size larger than 5 cm, and more invasive tumor extension were independent bad outcome predictors.ConclusionThe populational analysis of the PDTC/ATC cohort has provided reliable support for better understanding of the difference between PDTC and ATC cases and the guidance of clinical practice and further studies.

Abstract There have been contradictory reports on the biological role of transforming growth factor‐βs (TGFβs) in breast cancer (BC), especially with regard to their ability to promote epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT). Here, we show that TGFβ2 is preferentially expressed in mesenchymal‐like BCs and maintains the EMT phenotype, correlating with cancer stem cell‐like characteristics, growth, metastasis and chemo‐resistance and predicting worse clinical outcomes. However, this is only true in ERα− BC. In ERα+ luminal‐type BC, estrogen receptor interacts with p‐Smads to block TGFβ signalling. Furthermore, we also identify a microRNAs (miRNAs) signature (miRNAsTGFβ2) that is weakened in TGFβ2‐overexpressing BC cells. We discover that TGFβ2‐Snail1 recruits enhancer of zeste homolog‐2 to convert miRNAsTGFβ2 promoters from an active to repressive chromatin configuration and then repress miRNAsTGFβ2 transcription, forming a negative feedback loop. On the other hand, miRNAsTGFβ2 overexpression reverses the mesenchymal‐like traits in agreement with the inhibition of TGFβ2‐Snail1 signalling in BC cells. These findings clarify the roles of TGFβ2 in BC and suggest novel therapeutic strategies based on the TGFβ2‐Snail1‐miRNAsTGFβ2 loop for a subset type of human BCs.

Alternative splicing (AS) is a universal phenomenon in eukaryotes, and it is still challenging to identify AS events. Several methods have been developed to identify AS events, such as expressed sequence tags (EST), microarrays and RNA-seq. However, EST has limitations in identifying low-abundance genes, while microarray and RNA-seq are high-throughput technologies, and PCR-based technology is needed for validation. To overcome the limitations of EST and shortcomings of high-throughput technologies, we established a method to identify AS events, especially for low-abundance genes, by reverse transcription (RT) PCR with gene-specific primers (GSPs) followed by nested PCR. This process includes two major steps: 1) the use of GSPs to amplify as long as the specific gene segment and 2) multiple rounds of nested PCR to screen the AS and confirm the unknown splicing variants. With this method, we successfully identified three new splicing variants, namely, GenBank Accession No. HM623886 for the bdnf gene (GenBank GeneID: 12064), GenBank Accession No. JF417977 for the trkc gene (GenBank GeneID: 18213) and GenBank Accession No. HM623888 for the glb-18 gene (GenBank GeneID: 172485). In addition to its reliability and simplicity, the method is also cost-effective and labor-intensive. In conclusion, we developed an RT-nested PCR method using gene-specific primers to efficiently identify known and novel AS variants. This approach overcomes the limitations of existing methods for detecting rare transcripts. By enabling the discovery of new isoforms, especially for low-abundance genes, this technique can aid research into aberrant splicing in disease. Future studies can apply this method to uncover AS variants involved in cancer, neurodegeneration, and other splicing-related disorders.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of TRPC5 on PTC (papillary thyroid carcinoma) proliferation and invasion. Methods: Immunofluorescence and western blot were used to evaluate the expression of TRPC5 in paraffin sections and clinical tissues. Overexpression and silencing of TRPC5 to generate the cells for in vitro experiments. Wound-healing assay, transwell invasion assay, MTT assay, and in vivo tumorigenicity assay were used to determine cell proliferation and cell migration in vitro and in vivo. Real-time PCR was used to test the expression of TRPC5. Western blot was used to test the expression of downstream factors: E-cadherin, Vimentin, MMP-9, MMP-2, TRPC5, ZEB, Snail, and Twist. Results: The level of TRPC5 protein expression was higher in PTC than in adjacent normal thyroid tissue. TPC-1 cells overexpressing TRPC5 were more proliferative, had longer migration distances, and increased the number of invading cells. TPC-1 cells silenced with TRPC5 had a weaker proliferation capacity, shorter migration distances, and a reduced number of invading cells. Overexpression and silencing of TRPC5 modulated E-cadherin, Vimentin, MMP-9, MMP-2, TRPC5, and Twist, but did not affect ZEB and Snail. The results of tumor formation experiments in nude mice showed that inhibition of TRPC5 expression suppressed the volume and weight of transplanted tumors. Conclusion: TRPC5 induced papillary thyroid cancer metastasis and progression via up-regulated HIF-1α signaling in vivo and in vitro. High TRPC5 expression is a biomarker for lymph node metastasis at its early stages.

Quercus gilva is a precious timber tree species in middle subtropical China. In order to investigate the phenotypic diversity, phenotypic variation pattern and the major geographic and climatic factors influencing phenotypic variation of Q. gilva populations, 15 growth and leaf traits of 115 individuals from 14 natural populations were measured, and then the phenotypic diversity, variation pattern and the correlation between phenotypic variation and geographic and climatic factors were studied using nested analysis of variance, phenotypic differentiation coefficient, diversity index, correlation analysis, principal component analysis and cluster analysis. The results were as follows: (1) The average variation coefficient and the average Shannon-Wiener index of 15 phenotypic traits were 35.070% and 1.998, respectively. Variation coefficient and Shannon-Wiener index of 14 populations ranged from 14.94% (Dongkou) to 35.56% (Longshan) and from 1.127 (Songyang) to 1.980 (Changning), respectively. These results indicated that Q. gilva showed a relatively high level of phenotypic diversity. (2) Significant differences in 15 phenotypic traits were found among and within populations (P

The microstructure of Al-Cu-Li alloys is influenced by the alloying contents, which in turn affect the ultimate performance. This study examined the microstructure characteristics of Al-Cu-Li alloys with varying Li contents (1.05, 1.30, and 1.66 wt%) in as-cast state, as well as microstructure evolution during homogenization treatments. The investigation employed a range of analytical techniques, including optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), focused ion beam (FIB), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and thermodynamic calculation software. The findings indicate that the eutectic phase exhibited significant variations with the Li content changing. Three distinct low-melting phases were identified in 1.05Li alloy, including Ag-containing Al2CuMg, Al7Cu4Li, and Al2Cu. As Li content was elevated to 1.30 wt%, there was a noticeable drop in the quantities of Ag-containing Al2CuMg and Al7Cu4Li phases. Conversely, the Al2Cu phase increased, and a few Al2CuLi phases emerged. When the Li raised to 1.66 wt%, an increased Al2CuLi phase was discovered, which existed along the dendritic edges. However, there were only little Ag-containing Al2CuMg phase, and no Al7Cu4Li phase detected. The initial melting temperatures for the four soluble eutectic phases were systematically arranged in the following order: Ag-containing Al2CuMg

Abstract Background & Aims In liver cancer, leucine‐rich repeat‐containing G‐protein coupled receptor 5 (LGR5) compartment represents an important tumor‐initiating cell (TIC) population and served as a potential therapeutic target. Cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs) is a critical part of the tumor microenvironment, heavily influenced TIC function and fate. However, deeply investigations have been hindered by the lack of accurate preclinical models to investigate the interaction between CAFs and TIC. Organoids model have achieved major advancements as a precious research model for recapitulating the morphological aspects of organs, and thus also serving as a candidate model to investigate the mutual interaction between different cell types. Consequently, this study aimed to construct a three‐dimensional (3D) co‐culture organoid model of primary LGR5‐expressing tumor stem cells from primary murine liver tumors with CAFs to investigate the impact of CAFs on LGR5 marked TICs in liver cancer. Materials and Methods First, both of the transgenic LGR5‐diphtheria toxin receptor (DTR)‐GFP knock‐in mice and transgenic Rosa26‐mT mice developed primary liver tumors by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) administration. Tumor organoids and CAFs were generated from those primary liver cancer separately. Second, LGR5‐expressing TICs organoid with CAFs were established ex vivo based on cell–cell contact or trans‐well co‐culture system, and the mutual influence between those two types of cells was further investigated. Subsequently, immunodeficient mouse‐based xenograft model was further adopted to evaluate the influence of CAFs to LGR5 tumor stem cell, tumor formation, and metastasis. Results The co‐culture organoid model composed of murine liver tumor LGR5+ tumor‐initiating cells and CAFs in 3D co‐culture was successfully established, with the intention to investigate their mutual interaction. The existence of CAFs upon engrafting tumor organoids resulted in dramatic higher number of LGR5+ cells in the neoplasia when compared with engrafting tumor organoids alone. Furthermore, ex vivo culture of isolated LGR5+ cells from tumors of co‐engrafted mice formed significantly larger size of organoids than mono‐engrafted. Our results also indicated significantly larger size and number of formed organoids, when LGR5+ cells co‐cultured with CAF in both cell–cell contact and paracrine signaling in vitro, comparing to LGR5+ cells alone. Furthermore, we found that specific knockout of LGR5 expressing cells suppressed CAF‐mediated promotion of tumor formation, growth, and metastasis in the experimental mice model. Conclusions Altogether, in a 3D co‐culture type of murine liver LGR5+ cells and cancer‐associated fibroblasts, we have demonstrated robust effects of CAFs in the promotion of LGR5 marked liver TICs. We also further revealed the influence of tumor microenvironment on stem cell‐related therapy, suggesting the possibility of combing CAF‐targeted and tumor stem cell targeted therapy in treating liver cancer.

Abstract Data recovery from monolithic storage devices (MSDs) is in high demand for legal or business purposes. However, the conventional data recovery methods are destructive, complicated, and time-consuming. We develop a robotic-arm-assisted optical coherence tomography (robotic-OCT) for non-destructive inspection of MSDs, offering ~7 μm lateral resolution, ~4 μm axial resolution and an adjustable field-of-view to accommodate various MSD sizes. Using a continuous scanning strategy, robotic-OCT achieves automated volumetric imaging of a micro-SD card in ~37 seconds, significantly faster than the traditional stop-and-stare scanning that typically takes tens of minutes. We also demonstrate the robotic-OCT-guided laser ablation as a microsurgical tool for targeted area removal with precision of ±10 μm and accuracy of ~50 μm, eliminating the need to remove the entire insulating layer and operator intervention, thus greatly improving the data recovery efficiency. This work has diverse potential applications in digital forensics, failure analysis, materials testing, and quality control.