Alleviation of Salt Stress and Changes in Glycyrrhizic Acid Accumulation by Dark Septate Endophytes in Glycyrrhiza glabra Grown under Salt Stress.

This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms by which dark septate endophytes (DSE) regulate salt tolerance and the accumulation of bioactive constituents in licorice. First, the salt stress tolerance and resynthesis with the plant effect of isolated DSE from wild licorice were tested. Second, the performance of licorice inoculated with DSE, which had the best salt-tolerant and growth-promoting effects, was examined under salt stress. All isolated DSE showed salt tolerance and promoted plant growth, withCurvularia lunata D43 being the most effective. Under salt stress, C. lunata D43 could promote growth, increase antioxidant enzyme activities, enhance glycyrrhizic acid accumulation, improve key enzyme activities in the glycyrrhizic acid synthesis pathway, and induce the expression of the key enzyme gene and salt tolerance gene of licorice. The structural equation model demonstrated that DSE alleviate the negative effects of salt stress through direct and indirect pathways. Variations in key enzyme activities, gene expression, and bioactive constituent concentration can be attributed to the effects of DSE. These results contribute to revealing the value of DSE for cultivating medicinal plants in saline soils.

A novel OsGST gene encoding 9glutathione reductase negatively regulates cadmium accumulation in rice.

Cadmium (Cd) accumulates in rice and then moves up the food chain, causing serious health problems for humans. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) binds exogenous hazardous compounds to glutathione (GSH), which performs a variety of roles in plant responses to Cd stress. Here, Cd stimulated the transcripts of a novel OsGST gene, and the OsGST protein, which was localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm, was also induced by Cd. In OsGST deletion mutant lines generated by CRISPR/Cas9, more Cd was accumulated, and Cd hypersensitive phenotypes were observed, while transgenic lines overexpressing OsGST exhibited enhanced Cd tolerance and less Cd accumulation. Further analysis indicated that the osgst mutants exhibited considerably greater reactive oxygen species (ROS) and higher GSH level, and the antioxidant activity associated genes' expression were down-regulated, imply that OsGST controlled rice Cd accumulation and resistance through preserving the equilibrium of the GSH and redox in rice.

The antibodies against the A137R protein drive antibody-dependent enhancement of African swine fever virus infection in porcine alveolar macrophages.

African swine fever virus (ASFV) is the causative agent of African swine fever (ASF), a highly contagious disease that can kill up to 100% of domestic pigs and wild boars. It has been shown that the pigs inoculated with some ASF vaccine candidates display more severe clinical signs and die earlier than do pigs not immunized. We hypothesize that antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of ASFV infection may be caused by the presence of some unidentified antibodies. In this study, we found that the ASFV-encoded structural protein A137R (pA137R) can be recognized by the anti-ASFV positive sera, indicating that the anti-pA137R antibodies are induced in the ASFV-infected pigs. Interestingly, our results demonstrated that the anti-pA137R antibodies produced in rabbits or pigs enhanced viral replication of different ASFV strains in primary porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs), the target cells of ASFV. Mechanistic investigations revealed that anti-pA137R antibodies were able to promote the attachment of ASFV to PAMs and two types of Fc gamma receptors (FcγRs), FcγRII and FcγRIII, mediated the ADE of ASFV infection. Taken together, anti-pA137R antibodies are able to drive ASFV ADE in PAMs. These findings shed new light on the roles of anti-ASFV antibodies and have implications for the pathophysiology of the disease and the development of ASF vaccines.

Low back pain in medical workers and its influencing factors.

PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence of occupational lower back pain (OLBP) among medical workers and identify the contributing factors. METHODS: An electronic questionnaire was distributed to medical workers at Yuebei People's Hospital to gather information on various factors, including gender, age, body mass index (BMI), length of employment, job role, education level, professional title, marital status, fertility status, frequency of night shift, weight lifting daily, duration of daily standing at work, frequency of bending, work-related stress, experience with low back protection training, and frequency of waist exercises. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the factors associated with OLBP in medical workers. RESULTS: Out of the 98 medical workers surveyed, 67 experienced OLBP (68.37%). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that working for more than 5 years, holding a nursing position, and lacking training in low back protection were significant risk factors for developing OLBP in medical workers (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION: OLBP is a prevalent issue among medical workers, and various factors such as length of employment, job role, and training in low back protection can influence its occurrence.

Failure Mechanism and Control Mechanism of Intermittent Jointed Rock Bridge Based on Acoustic Emission (AE) and Digital Image Correlation (DIC).

Deep foundation pit excavation is an important way to develop underground space in congested urban areas. Rock bridges prevent the interconnection of joints and control the deformation and failure of the rock mass caused by excavation for foundation pits. However, few studies have considered the acoustic properties and strain field evolution of rock bridges. To investigate the control mechanisms of rock bridges in intermittent joints, jointed specimens with varying rock bridge length and angle were prepared and subjected to laboratory uniaxial compression tests, employing acoustic emission (AE) and digital image correlation (DIC) techniques. The results indicated a linear and positive correlation between uniaxial compressive strength and length, and a non-linear and negative correlation with angle. Moreover, AE counts and cumulative AE counts increased with loading, suggesting surges due to the propagation and coalescence of wing and macroscopic cracks. Analysis of RA-AF values revealed that shear microcracks dominated the failure, with the ratio of shear microcracks increasing as length decreased and angle increased. Notably, angle exerted a more significant impact on the damage form. As length diminished, the failure plane's transition across the rock bridge shifted from a complex coalescence of shear cracks to a direct merger of only coplanar shear cracks, reducing the number of tensile cracks required for failure initiation. The larger the angle, the higher the degree of coalescence of the rock bridge and, consequently, the fewer tensile cracks required for failure. The decrease of length and the increase of angle make rock mass more fragile. The more inclined the failure mode is to shear failure, the smaller the damage required for failure, and the more prone the areas is to rock mass disaster. These findings can provide theoretical guidance for the deformation and control of deep foundation pits.

Rosmarinic acid-grafted gelatin Nanogels for efficient Diquafosol delivery in dry eye disease therapy.

Dry eye disease (DED) is a prevalent ocular disorder characterized by unstable tear film condition with loss of aqueous or mucin, excessive oxidative stress, and inflammation, leading to discomfort and potential damage to the ocular surface. Current DED therapies have shown restricted therapeutic effects such as frequent dosing and temporary relief with potential unwanted side effects, urgently necessitating the development of innovative efficient therapeutic approaches. Herein, we developed rosmarinic acid (RosA) conjugated gelatin nanogels loading diquafosol sodium (DQS), DRGNG, for simultaneous ROS-scavenging and mucin-secreting DED treatment. Mechanically, DRGNG suppressed the production of ROS, reduced inflammatory factors, and prompted mucin secretion in vitro and in vivo. The whole transcriptome RNA sequencing in vitro further provided a detailed analysis of the upregulation of anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and mucin-promotion pathways. Therapeutically, both in evaporative DED and aqueous deficient DED models, the dual-functional DRGNG could prolong the retention time at the ocular surface, efficiently suppress the oxidative stress response, reverse ocular surface morphology, and recover tear film homeostasis, thus alleviating the DED when the dosage is halved compared to the commercial Diquas®. Our findings contribute to developing innovative therapies for DED and offer insights into the broader applications of nanogels in ocular drug delivery and oxidative stress-related conditions.

Optimization of Cementitious Material with Thermal-Activated Lead-Zinc Tailings Based on Response Surface Methodology.

The accumulation of lead-zinc tailings will cause a series of problems, including geological disasters and environmental pollution. Efficient secondary utilization of lead-zinc tailings is crucial. In this study, the activity of lead-zinc tailings was stimulated by thermal activation. The optimal thermal activation parameters are a thermal activation temperature of 900 °C and a holding time of 30 min. Based on the response surface methodology, the effect of raw materials content on cementitious material strength was analyzed, and the relational model between cementitious material strength and experimental variables was established. The results show that the sensitivity order of cementitious material strength at 28 days curing age is sand/cement ratio > water/cement ratio > fly ash content > tailing content. According to the relational model, the optimal materials ratio is as follows: tailing/fly ash/cement = 28.99%:14.58%:56.43%, and the sand/binder ratio and water/binder ratio are 1:1 and 0.47, respectively. The corresponding cost is CNY 290.965 per ton, which is the lowest. The strength of cementitious material with these parameters can reach 20 MPa, which meets the requirements of "Technical specification for application of solid waste cementitious material (T/CECS 689-2020)".

Perioperative immune checkpoint inhibitors combined with chemotherapy versus chemotherapy for locally advanced, resectable gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Immunotherapy in combination with chemotherapy has been approved as an initial treatment strategy for unresectable advanced gastric cancer (GC). However, the efficacy of adding immunotherapy to perioperative chemotherapy in locally advanced resectable gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (GC/GEJC) remains uncertain. Therefore, a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed to compare the effectiveness of perioperative immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone in patients with locally advanced resectable GC/GEJC. METHODS: A comprehensive search of online databases was conducted to identify RCTs published until November 30, 2023. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated for primary outcomes, including R0 resection rate, D2 lymphadenectomy, pathologic complete response (pCR), and treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs). RESULTS: A total of 2718 patients from five RCTs (six reports) were included in the analysis. The pooled ORs of R0 resection rate and D2 lymphadenectomy demonstrated that combination therapy with ICIs showed no significant difference compared to chemotherapy alone. However, the addition of ICIs significantly improved pCR rates (OR = 3.43, 95 % CI 2.61-4.50, p < 0.0001). There were no significant differences observed in the incidence of any grade TRAEs and grade 3-4 TRAEs. However, ICIs combination therapy was associated with significantly higher incidences of any grade irAEs (OR = 4.03, 95 % CI: 2.70-6.00, p < 0.0001), as well as grade 3-4 irAEs (OR = 4.51, 95 % CI: 2.27-8.97, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This study represents the first meta-analysis to demonstrate that perioperative combination therapy with ICIs yields superior pCR rates for patients with locally advanced GC/GEJC compared to chemotherapy.

Functional identification of AaMYB113 and AaMYB114 from Aeonium arboreum 'Halloween' in model plants.

Aeonium arboreum 'Halloween', a popular indoor ornamental succulent in China, changes its leaf colour to red on light exposure. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms is still vague. Comparative analysis of transcriptome data from 'Halloween' leaves treated under dark and light conditions revealed two R2R3-MYB transcription factors, AaMYB113 and AaMYB114, that may mediate anthocyanin accumulation. In this study, we cloned the AaMYB113 and AaMYB114 genes, encoding proteins of 279 and 248 amino acids, respectively. Transcriptional activity analysis revealed that AaMYB113 exhibits strong transcriptional activity, in contrast to AaMYB114, which demonstrates minimal activity. Transient expression studies in tobacco leaves demonstrated that AaMYB113 induced red pigmentation, whereas AaMYB114 did not. Subsequent stable overexpression in Arabidopsis thaliana confirmed that AaMYB113, but not AaMYB114, could similarly turn Arabidopsis leaves red. Further stable transformation of AaMYB113 in tobacco affected multiple floral components, including leaves, petals, calyx, flower tubes, and filaments, turning them red. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) assay in leaves of AaMYB113 stably transformed tobacco and Arabidopsis revealed upregulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis-related structural genes and TT8-like transcription factors. Moreover, the dual luciferase analysis confirmed that AaMYB113 can activate the promoters of 'Halloween' anthocyanin synthesis structural genes, AaCHS, AaCHI, AaF3H, AaDFR and AaANS. The above results indicate that AaMYB113 can promote anthocyanin synthesis, while AaMYB114 does not have this function. This study contributes significantly to the limited body of research on the molecular mechanisms of anthocyanin synthesis in succulents, advancing our understanding of how these pathways are regulated in 'Halloween' succulents and potentially other species.

Single-crystalline hole-transporting layers for efficient and stable organic light-emitting devices.

Efficient charge-carrier injection and transport in organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) are essential to simultaneously achieving their high efficiency and long-term stability. However, the charge-transporting layers (CTLs) deposited by various vapor or solution processes are usually in amorphous forms, and their low charge-carrier mobilities, defect-induced high trap densities and inhomogeneous thickness with rough surface morphologies have been obstacles towards high-performance devices. Here, organic single-crystalline (SC) films were employed as the hole-transporting layers (HTLs) instead of the conventional amorphous films to fabricate highly efficient and stable OLEDs. The high-mobility and ultrasmooth morphology of the SC-HTLs facilitate superior interfacial characteristics of both HTL/electrode and HTL/emissive layer interfaces, resulting in a high Haacke's figure of merit (FoM) of the ultrathin top electrode and low series-resistance joule-heat loss ratio of the SC-OLEDs. Moreover, the thick and compact SC-HTL can function as a barrier layer against moisture and oxygen permeation. As a result, the SC-OLEDs show much improved efficiency and stability compared to the OLEDs based on amorphous or polycrystalline HTLs, suggesting a new strategy to developing advanced OLEDs with high efficiency and high stability.

Multi-source heterogeneous blockchain data quality assessment model for enterprise business activities.

Blockchain-based applications are becoming more and more widespread in business operations. In view of the shortcomings of existing enterprise blockchain evaluation methods, this paper proposes a multi-source heterogeneous blockchain data quality evaluation model for enterprise business activities, so as to achieve efficient evaluation of business activity information consistency, credibility and value. This paper proposes a multi-source heterogeneous blockchain data quality assessment method for enterprise business activities, aiming at the problems that most of the data in enterprise business activities come from different data sources, information representation is inconsistent, information ambiguity between the same block chain is serious, and it is difficult to evaluate the consistency, credibility and value of information. The method firstly proposes an entity information representation method based on the Representation learning for fusing entity category information (CEKGRL) model, which introduces the triad structure of related entities in blockchain, then associates them with enterprise business activity categories, and carries out similarity calculation through contextual information to achieve blockchain information consistency assessment. After that, a trustworthiness characterization method is proposed based on information sources, information comments, and information contents, to obtain the trustworthiness assessment of the business. Finally, based on the information trustworthiness characterization, a value assessment method is introduced to assess the total value of business activity information in the blockchain, and a blockchain quality assessment model is constructed. The experimental results show that the proposed model has great advantages over existing methods in assessing inter-block consistency, intra-block activity information trustworthiness and the value of blockchain.

Asperuloside inhibits the activation of pancreatic cancer-associated fibroblasts via activating transcription factor 6.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play a crucial role in tumor progression and immune evasion. Asperuloside (ASP) is an iridoid glycoside with potential anti-tumor properties. This study aimed to explore the molecular mechanisms of ASP on CAFs, particularly focusing on its effects on activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6), a key regulator of endoplasmic reticulum stress. METHOD: CAFs were treated with different concentrations of ASP (0, 1, 3, and 5 mM), and the role of ATF6 was investigated by over-expressing it in CAFs. Subsequently, western blot was used to detect ATF6, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), fibroblast activating protein (FAP), and vimentin protein levels in CAFs. The collagen gel contraction assay and Transwell assay were applied to evaluate the contraction and migration ability of CAFs. In addition, the interleukin (IL)-6, C-C motif chemokine ligand (CCL)-2, and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand (CXCL)-10 levels were detected by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). RESULTS: CAFs had significantly higher expression levels of α-SMA, FAP, and vimentin compared to normal fibroblasts (NFs). ASP significantly inhibited the activation, contraction, and migration of CAFs in a concentration-dependent manner. ASP treatment also reduced the expression of cytokines (IL-6, CCL2, and CXCL10) and down-regulated ATF6 levels. Over-expression of ATF6 mitigated the inhibitory effects of ASP. CONCLUSION: ASP exerts its anti-tumor effects by down-regulating ATF6, thereby inhibiting the activation and function of pancreatic CAFs. These findings suggest that ASP could be a promising therapeutic agent for pancreatic cancer by modulating the tumor microenvironment.

Harnessing cerium-based biomaterials for the treatment of bone diseases.

Bone, an actively metabolic organ, undergoes constant remodeling throughout life. Disturbances in the bone microenvironment can be responsible for pathologically bone diseases such as periodontitis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. Conventional bone tissue biomaterials are not adequately adapted to complex bone microenvironment. Therefore, there is an urgent clinical need to find an effective strategy to improve the status quo. In recent years, nanotechnology has caused a revolution in biomedicine. Cerium(III, IV) oxide, as an important member of metal oxide nanomaterials, has dual redox properties through reversible binding with oxygen atoms, which continuously cycle between Ce(III) and Ce(IV). Due to its special physicochemical properties, cerium(III, IV) oxide has received widespread attention as a versatile nanomaterial, especially in bone diseases. This review describes the characteristics of bone microenvironment. The enzyme-like properties and biosafety of cerium(III, IV) oxide are also emphasized. Meanwhile, we summarizes controllable synthesis of cerium(III, IV) oxide with different nanostructural morphologies. Following resolution of synthetic principles of cerium(III, IV) oxide, a variety of tailored cerium-based biomaterials have been widely developed, including bioactive glasses, scaffolds, nanomembranes, coatings, and nanocomposites. Furthermore, we highlight the latest advances in cerium-based biomaterials for inflammatory and metabolic bone diseases and bone-related tumors. Tailored cerium-based biomaterials have already demonstrated their value in disease prevention, diagnosis (imaging and biosensors) and treatment. Therefore, it is important to assist in bone disease management by clarifying tailored properties of cerium(III, IV) oxide in order to promote the use of cerium-based biomaterials in the future clinical setting. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: In this review, we focused on the promising of cerium-based biomaterials for bone diseases. We reviewed the key role of bone microenvironment in bone diseases and the main biological activities of cerium(III, IV) oxide. By setting different synthesis conditions, cerium(III, IV) oxide nanostructures with different morphologies can be controlled. Meanwhile, tailored cerium-based biomaterials can serve as a versatile toolbox (e.g., bioactive glasses, scaffolds, nanofibrous membranes, coatings, and nanocomposites). Then, the latest research advances based on cerium-based biomaterials for the treatment of bone diseases were also highlighted. Most importantly, we analyzed the perspectives and challenges of cerium-based biomaterials. In future perspectives, this insight has given rise to a cascade of cerium-based biomaterial strategies, including disease prevention, diagnosis (imaging and biosensors) and treatment.

PERK inhibitor (ISRIB) improves depression-like behavior by inhibitions of HPA-axis over-activation in mice exposed to chronic restraint stress.

Stressful life event is closely associated with depression, thus strategies that blunt or prevent the negative effect stress on the brain might benefits for the treatment of depression. Although previous study showed the role of protein kinase R (PKR)-like ER kinase (PERK) in inflammation related depression, its involvement in the neuropathology of chronic stress induced depression is still unknown. We tried to explore whether block the PERK pathway would alleviate the animals' depression-like behavior induced by chronic restraint stress (CRS) and investigate the underlying mechanism. The CRS-exposed mice exhibited depression-like behavior, including anhedonia in the sucrose preference test (SPT), and increased immobility time in tail suspension test (TST) and forced swim test (FST). ISRIB administration for 2 weeks significantly improved the depression-like behavior in male mice exposed to CRS, which was manifested by markedly increasing the sucrose preference and reducing the immobility time in the FST and TST. However, we observed that exposure to the same dose of ISRIB in CRS female mice only showed improved anhedonia-like deficits,leaving unaltered improvement in the FST and TST. Mechanically, we found that ISRIB reversed the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hyperactivity, indicating decreased levels of serum corticosterone, reduced hippocampal glucocorticoidreceptor (GR) expression and expression of FosB in hypothalamic paraventricularnucleus (PVN), which was accompanied by preserved hippocampal neurogenesis. The present findings further expand the potential role of ER stress in depression and provide important details for a therapeutic path forward for PERK inhibitors in mood disorders.

Relative efficacy of antibody-drug conjugates and other anti-HER2 treatments on survival in HER2-positive advanced breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Novel antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) drugs present a promising anti-cancer treatment, although survival benefits for HER2-positive advanced breast cancer (BC) remain controversial. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the comparative effect of ADCs and other anti-HER2 therapy on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for treatment of HER2-positive locally advanced or metastatic BC. METHODS: Relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were retrieved from five databases. The risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for RCTs by RevMan5.4 software. The hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted to evaluate the benefit of ADCs on PFS and OS in HER2-positive advanced BC by meta-analysis. RESULTS: Meta-analysis of six RCTs with 3870 patients revealed that ADCs significantly improved PFS (HR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.49-0.80, P = 0.0002) and OS (HR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.72-0.86, P < 0.0001) of patients with HER2-positive locally advanced or metastatic BC. Subgroup analysis showed that PFS and OS were obviously prolonged for patients who previously received HER2-targeted therapy. Sensitivity analysis and publication bias suggested that the results were stable and reliable. CONCLUSION: Statistically significant benefits for PFS and OS were observed with ADCs in HER2-positive locally advanced or metastatic BC, especially for those who received prior anti-HER2 treatment.

Preclinical evaluation and phase 1 study of the PI3Kα/δ inhibitor TQ-B3525 in Chinese patients with advanced cancers.

BACKGROUND: Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors transformed management of various malignancies. This study preclinically characterized TQ-B3525 (dual PI3Kα/δ inhibitor) and assessed the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D), safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics in relapsed or refractory (R/R) lymphoma or advanced solid tumors (STs). METHODS: Oral TQ-B3525 was given at eight dose levels on a 28-day cycle. Primary end points were dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), maximum tolerated dose (MTD), and safety. RESULTS: TQ-B3525 showed high selectivity and suppressed tumor growth. Between June 12, 2018, and November 18, 2020, 80 patients were enrolled (63 in dose-escalation cohort; 17 in dose-expansion cohort). Two DLTs occurred in two (two of 63, 3.2%) DLT-evaluable patients; MTD was not identified. TQ-B3525 at 20 mg once daily was selected as RP2D. Grade 3 or worse treatment-related adverse events mainly included hyperglycemia (16.3%), neutrophil count decreased (15.0%), and diarrhea (10.0%). Two (2.5%) treatment-related deaths were reported. Sixty patients with R/R lymphoma and 11 advanced STs demonstrated objective response rates of 68.3% and 9.1%, disease control rates of 91.7% and 54.6%, median progression-free survivals of 12.1 and 1.1 months; median overall survivals were not reached. CONCLUSION: TQ-B3525 exhibited rapid absorption and a nearly proportional increase in exposure. Acceptable safety and promising efficacy support further investigation of TQ-B3525 (20 mg once daily) for R/R lymphoma.

Construction of an Early Risk Prediction Model for Type 2 Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Based on Random Forest.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a major cause of disability and death in the later stages of diabetes. A retrospective chart review was performed using a hospital-based electronic medical record database to identify 1020 patients who met the criteria. The objective of this study was to explore and analyze the early risk factors for peripheral neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes, even in the absence of specific clinical symptoms or signs. Finally, the random forest algorithm was used to rank the influencing factors and construct a predictive model, and then the model performance was evaluated. Logistic regression analysis revealed that vitamin D plays a crucial protective role in preventing diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The top three risk factors with significant contributions to the model in the random forest algorithm eigenvalue ranking were glycosylated hemoglobin, disease duration, and vitamin D. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the model ware 0.90. The accuracy, precision, specificity, and sensitivity were 0.85, 0.83, 0.92, and 0.71, respectively. The predictive model, which is based on the random forest algorithm, is intended to support clinical decision-making by healthcare professionals and help them target timely interventions to key factors in early diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Efficacy of scleral buckling for the treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment using a novel foldable capsular buckle.

AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of scleral buckling for the treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) using a novel foldable capsular buckle (FCB). METHODS: This was a series of case observation studies. Eighteen patients (18 eyes) who visited our ophthalmology department between August 2020 and August 2022 and were treated for RRD with scleral buckling using FCB were included. The procedure was similar to conventional scleral buckling, while a balloon-like FCB was placed onto the retinal break with balanced salt solution filling for a broad, external indentation instead of the silicone buckle. The retinal reattachment rate, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), refractive dioptre and astigmatism degree, and complications were evaluated and recorded. RESULTS: There were 7 males and 11 females aged 19-58y. The average time course of RRD was 12d, ranging from 7-20d. The retinal break was located in the superior quadrants in 8 eyes and in the inferior quadrants in 10 eyes, with macula-off detachments in 12 eyes. The patients were followed-up for at least 6mo. The final retinal reattachment rate was 100%. The BCVA was significantly improved compared with the baseline (P<0.05). There was no significant change in refractive dioptre or astigmatism degree at each follow-up (all P>0.05). Three patients had transiently high IOPs within one week after surgery. Mild diplopia occurred in 5 patients after surgery and then disappeared after the balloon fluid was removed. CONCLUSION: The success rate of FCB scleral buckling for RRD is satisfactory. This procedure can be expected to be applied in new, uncomplicated cases of RRD.

Fabrication of Lead-Zinc Tailings Sintered Brick and Its Effect Factors Based on an Orthogonal Experiment.

The existence of lead-zinc tailings threatens the social and ecological environment. The recycling of lead-zinc tailings is important for the all-round green transformation of economic society. In this study, the possibility of fabricating sintered ordinary bricks with lead-zinc tailings was studied based on orthogonal experimentation, and the phase composition and micromorphology of sintered products were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). With lead-zinc tailings as the main material, and clay and fly ash as additives, the effect of clay content, forming pressure, sintering temperature, and holding time on physical properties of sintered bricks was analyzed. The results show that clay content and sintering temperature have a major effect on compressive strength, while sintering temperature and holding time play an important role in water absorption. During sintering, mica, chlorite, and other components in lead-zinc tailings are decomposed to form albite, hematite, maghemite, and anhydrite, which play a role in the strength of bricks. The optimal process parameters were found to be a ratio of lead-zinc tailings:clay:fly ash = 6:3:1, forming pressure of 20 MPa, firing temperature of 1080 °C, and holding time of 60 min. The corresponding compressive strength and water absorption were 34.94 MPa and 16.02%, which meets the Chinese sintered ordinary bricks standard (GB/T 5101-2017).

Proteomic profile of tissue-derived extracellular vesicles from benign odontogenic lesions.

BACKGROUND: Benign odontogenic lesions (BOLs) can cause severe jaw bone defects and compromise the quality of life of patients. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are well-established and versatile players in mediating pathophysiological events. EVs in the interstitial space (tissue-derived EVs or Ti-EVs) possess higher specificity and sensitivity in disease-related biomarker discovery. However, the role of Ti-EV-loaded proteins in mediating the development of BOLs has remained untapped. Herein, we aim to explore the contribution of Ti-EV-loaded proteins to the development of BOLs. METHODS: Samples were obtained from 3 with dental follicle, 3 with dentigerous cyst (DC), 7 with odontogenic keratocyst (OKC), and 3 patients with ameloblastoma (AM). Tissue-derived EVs were then extracted, purified, and validated using ultracentrifugation, transmission electron microscopy, and western blotting. Proteins from Ti-EVs were analyzed using LC-ESI tandem mass spectroscopy and differentially expressed proteins were screened, which was then validated by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence assays. RESULTS: The protein profile of Ti-EVs in each group was mapped by LC-MS analysis. The top 10 abundant proteins in BOL-derived Ti-EVs were COL6A3, COL6A1, ALB, HIST1H4A, HBB, ACTB, HIST1H2BD, ANXA2, COL6A2 and FBN1. Additionally, unique proteins in the Ti-EVs from various lesions were identified. Moreover, focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88) showed higher expressions in Ti-EVs derived from OKC and AM, which were confirmed by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining. CONCLUSIONS: Ti-EVs containing FAK and MyD88 might be related to the development of OKC and AM, which can be potential therapeutic targets.