Correlated Charge Density Wave Insulators in Chirally Twisted Triple Bilayer Graphene.

Electrons residing in a flat-band system can play a vital role in triggering spectacular phenomenology due to relatively large interactions and spontaneous breaking of different degeneracies. In this work, we demonstrate chirally twisted triple bilayer graphene, a new moiré structure formed by three pieces of helically stacked Bernal bilayer graphene, as a highly tunable flat-band system. In addition to the correlated insulators showing at integer moiré fillings, commonly attributed to interaction induced symmetry broken isospin flavors in graphene, we observe abundant insulating states at half-integer moiré fillings, suggesting a longer-range interaction and the formation of charge density wave insulators which spontaneously break the moiré translation symmetry. With weak out-of-plane magnetic field applied, as observed half-integer filling states are enhanced and more quarter-integer filling states appear, pointing toward further quadrupling moiré unit cells. The insulating states at fractional fillings combined with Hartree-Fock calculations demonstrate the observation of a new type of correlated charge density wave insulators in graphene and points to a new accessible twist manner engineering correlated moiré electronics.

Olfactory perceptual interactions of maltol with key food odorants in binary mixtures: Scatter matrix statistical analysis of odor intensity in heterogeneous perceptual situation.

To study the olfactory perceptual interaction of odorants (OPIO) in binary mixtures containing maltol, a simple and efficient analysis method was developed. This method correlated three variables of the binary mixture: two rates of change in perceived odor intensities of two odorants within the binary mixtures, and the degree of overall odor synergy exhibited by the binary mixtures. By creating a three-dimensional scatter matrix with the variables, the changes in odor intensity of the binary mixture due to OPIO were visualized. The results revealed that the proportions of mutual antagonism, opposite effect, mutual independence, and mutual synergy in the binary mixtures were 64.7%, 32.9%, 1.9%, and 0.5%, respectively. The odor of maltol was mainly masked, and those of esters (68%), aldehydes and ketones (33%) in the mixture were enhanced. In terms of overall odor intensity, 67% of cases involved partial addition, followed by 22.2% overshadowing, and 19.6% stronger component effect.

Gene detection of VDR BsmI locus and its approteins, genes and growthplication in rational drug use in patients with osteoporosis.

Aim: This paper determines the polymorphism distribution of the VDR BsmI gene in 350 patients and provides medication recommendations for osteoporosis based on detection results. Materials & methods: Chi-square tests compared genotype and allele frequencies with other populations. Results: Genotype frequencies were 91.66 bb, 8.72 Bb and 0.21% BB, with allelic frequencies of 95.43 b and 4.57% B, adhering to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. These findings suggest that VDR gene polymorphisms, particularly at the BsmIlocus, play an essential role in bone health and osteoporosis treatment. Genotype-based drug selection reduced adverse reactions from 14 to two cases. Conclusion: These findings improve clinical treatment efficacy and guide rational drug use for osteoporosis patients.

[Box: see text].

Biomechanical impact of labiolingual diameter on endodontically treated anterior teeth with crown restoration under occlusal loading.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of the labiolingual diameter and construction of an endodontically treated (ET) anterior tooth with crown restoration on stress distribution and biomechanical safety under occlusal loading. METHODOLOGY: Three-dimensional finite element models were generated for maxillary central incisors with all-ceramic crown restorations. The labiolingual diameters of the tooth, defined as the horizontal distance between the protrusion of the labial and lingual surfaces, were changed as follows: (D1) 6.85 mm, (D2) 6.35 mm, and (D3) 5.85 mm. The model was constructed as follows: (S0) vital pulp tooth; (S1) ET tooth; (S2) ET tooth with a 2 mm ferrule, restored with a fiber post and composite resin core; (S3) ET tooth without a ferrule, restored with a fiber post and composite resin core. A total of 12 models were developed. In total, two force loads (100 N) were applied to the crown's incisal edge and palatal surface at a 45° oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the teeth. The Von Mises stress distribution and maximum stress of the models were analyzed. RESULTS: Regardless of the loading location, stress concentration and maximum stress (34.07~66.78MPa) in all models occurred in the labial cervical 1/3 of each root. Both labiolingual diameter and construction influenced the maximum stress of the residual tooth tissue, with the impact of the labiolingual diameter being greater. A reduction in labiolingual diameter led to increased maximum stress throughout the tooth. The ferrule reduced the maximum stress of the core of S2 models (7.15~10.69 MPa), which is lower compared with that of S3 models (19.45~43.67 MPa). CONCLUSION: The labiolingual diameter exerts a greater impact on the biomechanical characteristics of ET anterior teeth with crown restoration, surpassing the influence of the construction. The ferrule can reduce the maximum stress of the core and maintain the uniformity of stress distribution.

Insights into the key odorants in fresh and dried Amomum tsaoko using the sensomics approach.

To identify the key odorants in Amomum tsaoko (AT), volatiles in fresh AT (FAT) and dried AT (DAT) were investigated using molecular sensory science. In addition to this, the sensomics approach was used to confirm the presence of the compound in FAT that contributed the most to its aroma profile. A total of 49 odor-active compounds (43 in FAT and 42 in DAT) with flavor dilution (FD) factors ranging from 1 to 6561 were identified, with eucalyptol exhibiting the highest FD factor of 6561. Odorants with FD factors ≥ 27 were quantitated, and 23 and 20 compounds in FAT and DAT, respectively, with odor activity value ≥ 1 were determined as key odorants. Recombination and omission experiment further indicated that (E)-2-dodecenal, geranial, octanal, (E)-2-octenal, (E)-2-decenal, and eucalyptol contributed significantly to the overall aroma profile of FAT. After drying of FAT, the concentrations of aldehydes decreased significantly, whereas those of terpene hydrocarbons increased. Multivariate statistical analysis revealed that 26 FAT and 23 DAT odorants were biomarker compounds.

Predictive Value of 5-Methoxytryptophan on Long-Term Clinical Outcome after PCI in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction-a Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, 5-Methoxytryptophan (5-MTP) has been identified as an endothelial factor with vaso-protective and anti-inflammatory properties. METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, a total of 407 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) successfully were enrolled. A 1-year follow-up Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used for evaluating the correlation between 5-MTP and major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) while Cox proportional-hazards regression was used to identify predictive values of 5-MTP on MACE after AMI. RESULTS: Increased 5-MTP level led to a significant downtrend in the incidence of MACE (All Log-rank p < 0.05). Thus, a high baseline 5-MTP could reduce the 1-year incidence of MACE (HR = 0.33, 95%Cl 0.17-0.64, p = 0.001) and heart failure (HF) (HR = 0.28, 95% Cl 0.13-0.62, p = 0.002). Subgroup analysis indicated the predictive value of 5-MTP was more significant in patients aged ≤ 65 years and those with higher baseline NT-proBNP, T2DM, STEMI, and baseline HF with preserved LVEF (HFpEF) characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma 5-MTP is an independent and protective early biomarker for 1-year MACE and HF events in patients with AMI, especially in younger patients and those with T2DM, STEMI, and baseline HFpEF characteristics.

Biomechanical impact of labiolingual diameter on endodontically treated anterior teeth with crown restoration under occlusal loading

Abstract Objective To evaluate the effect of the labiolingual diameter and construction of an endodontically treated (ET) anterior tooth with crown restoration on stress distribution and biomechanical safety under occlusal loading. Methodology Three-dimensional finite element models were generated for maxillary central incisors with all-ceramic crown restorations. The labiolingual diameters of the tooth, defined as the horizontal distance between the protrusion of the labial and lingual surfaces, were changed as follows: (D1) 6.85 mm, (D2) 6.35 mm, and (D3) 5.85 mm. The model was constructed as follows: (S0) vital pulp tooth; (S1) ET tooth; (S2) ET tooth with a 2 mm ferrule, restored with a fiber post and composite resin core; (S3) ET tooth without a ferrule, restored with a fiber post and composite resin core. A total of 12 models were developed. In total, two force loads (100 N) were applied to the crown's incisal edge and palatal surface at a 45° oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the teeth. The Von Mises stress distribution and maximum stress of the models were analyzed. Results Regardless of the loading location, stress concentration and maximum stress (34.07~66.78MPa) in all models occurred in the labial cervical 1/3 of each root. Both labiolingual diameter and construction influenced the maximum stress of the residual tooth tissue, with the impact of the labiolingual diameter being greater. A reduction in labiolingual diameter led to increased maximum stress throughout the tooth. The ferrule reduced the maximum stress of the core of S2 models (7.15~10.69 MPa), which is lower compared with that of S3 models (19.45~43.67 MPa). Conclusion The labiolingual diameter exerts a greater impact on the biomechanical characteristics of ET anterior teeth with crown restoration, surpassing the influence of the construction. The ferrule can reduce the maximum stress of the core and maintain the uniformity of stress distribution.

Mortality among papillary thyroid cancer patients by detection route: a hospital-based retrospective cohort study.

Background: Incidence rates of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) have increased rapidly, with incidentally detected cancers contributing a large proportion. We aimed to explore the impact of incidental detection on thyroid cancer-specific and competing mortality among PTC patients. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of PTC patients at a cancer center in Guangzhou. Baseline information on detection route and other covariates were collected between 2010 and 2018, and death outcome was followed up for each patient. Cumulative incidence functions were used to estimate the mortality risk of thyroid cancer and competing risk. Cause-specific hazard models were then utilized to explore the association between detection routes and PTC-specific and competing mortality. Results: Of the 2874 patients included, 2011 (70.0%) were detected incidentally, and the proportion increased from 36.9% in 2011 to 82.3% in 2018. During a median follow-up of 5.6 years, 42 deaths occurred, with 60% of them due to competing causes. The probability of competing mortality at 5 years in the non-incidental group and incidental group was 1.4% and 0.4%, respectively, and PTC-specific mortality in the non-incidental group and incidental group was 1.0% and 0.1%, respectively. After adjusting for covariates, the HRs of incidental detection were 0.13 (95% CI: 0.04-0.46; P = 0.01) and 0.47 (95% CI: 0.20-1.10; P = 0.10) on PTC-specific mortality and competing mortality, respectively. Conclusions: Incidental detection is associated with a lower risk of PTC-specific and competing mortality. Under the context of increasing magnitude of overdiagnosis, incorporation of detection route in clinical decision-making might be helpful to identify patients who might benefit from more extensive or conservative therapeutic strategies.

Comparison of Flavor Profile Relationship of Soy Sauce under Different Storage Conditions.

To elucidate the relation of flavor in soy sauce (SS) kept at room temperature (SSAT) and SS kept under accelerated aging condition (SSAA), four analytical instruments, including electronic nose (E-nose), electronic tongue (E-tongue), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-olfactory combined with solvent assisted flavor evaporation, and amino acid analyzer, were applied for analyzing the overall flavor profiles and flavor constituents in SSAT and SSAA. The results of E-nose and E-tongue showed overall flavor profile in SSAT for 3 weeks was similar to that of SSAA for 1 week, and 6 weeks (SSAT) was similar to 2 weeks (SSAA). In SS, a total of 35 odor-active compounds were identified and quantitated, and 22 compounds with odor activity value ≥1 were determined as key odorants. The compounds with the highest concentration were 4-hydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-3(2H)-furanone (28,756 µg/mL), followed by acetic acid (8838 µg/mL) and maltol (7984 µg/mL). The heatmap and hierarchical cluster analysis indicated that the concentrations of key odorants and amino acids in SSAT for 3 weeks was close to those of SSAA for 1 week, and 6 weeks (SSAT) was similar to 2 weeks (SSAA). Based on the results obtained above, it was concluded that the flavor changes in SSAA for 1 week were equivalent to those in SSAT for 3 weeks.

Comparative Analysis of Volatile Flavor Compounds in Seven Mustard Pastes via HS-SPME-GC-MS.

To identify the volatile flavor components in mustard paste (MP), the volatile compounds in seven MPs available on the market were isolated and analyzed by headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A total of 27 volatile constituents were found by mass spectra and retention index compared to the data obtained from reference compounds or the related literature and databases; these compounds included nine esters, three sulfur-containing compounds, two nitriles, three ketones, three alkenes, and seven other compounds. Of the 27 compounds, 6 compounds came from the turmeric added to MPs. Among the components detected, some compounds derived from AITC were allyl thiocyanate, carbon disulfide, allyl mercaptan, diallyl sulfide, and diallyl disulfide. The results obtained provide a better and comprehensive recognition of the volatile flavor compounds in MPs, and have some reference values for developing and applying isothiocyanate compounds.

The level of serum total bile acid is related to atherosclerotic lesions, prognosis and gut Lactobacillus in acute coronary syndrome patients.

BACKGROUND: Bile acids play crucial roles in various metabolisms, as well as Lactobacillus in the intestine. But studies on their roles in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are still insufficient. The aim of this study was to investigate their role and potential association with the severity of coronary lesions and the prognosis of ACS. METHODS: Three hundred and sixty ACS patients were selected. Detection of gut Lactobacillus levels was done through 16S rDNA sequence analysis. Evaluation of the extent of lesions was done using the SYNTAX (SS) score. Mediation analysis was used to assess the relationship between serum total bile acid (TBA), Lactobacillus, atherosclerotic lesions and prognosis of ACS. RESULTS: Logistic regressive analysis disclosed that serum TBA and Lactobacillus were independent predictors of coronary lesions (high vs. low SS: serum TBA adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.8, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.6-0.9, p < .01; Lactobacillus: aOR = 0.9, 95% CI: 0.9-1.0, p = .03). According to multivariate Cox regression analysis, they were negatively correlated with the overall risk of all-cause death (serum TBA: adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 0.1, 95% CI: 0.0-0.6, p = .02; Lactobacillus: aHR = 0.6, 95% CI: 0.4-0.9, p = .01), especially in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) but not in unstable angina pectoris (UAP). Ulteriorly, mediation analysis showed that serum TBA played an important role as a mediation effect in the following aspects: Lactobacillus (17.0%, p < .05) â†’ SS association (per 1 standard deviation (SD) increase), Lactobacillus (43.0%, p < .05) â†’ all-cause death (per 1 SD increase) and Lactobacillus (45.4%, p < .05) â†’ cardiac death (per 1 SD increase). CONCLUSIONS: The lower serum TBA and Lactobacillus level in ACS patients, especially in AMI, was independently linked to the risk of coronary lesions, all-cause death and cardiac death. In addition, according to our mediation model, serum TBA served as a partial intermediate in predicting coronary lesions and the risk of death by Lactobacillus, which is paramount to further exploring the mechanism of Lactobacillus and bile acids in ACS.KEY MESSAGESLower level of serum total bile acid (TBA) was highly associated with the severity of coronary lesions, myocardial damage, inflammation and gut Lactobacillus in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients, especially in acute myocardial infarction (AMI).Lower level of serum TBA was highly associated with mortality (including all-cause death and cardiac death) in patients with ACS, especially with AMI.Serum TBA had a partial mediating effect rather than regulating effect between gut Lactobacillus and coronary lesions and prognosis of ACS.

A novel onco-cardiological mouse model of lung cancer-induced cardiac dysfunction and its application in identifying potential roles of tRNA-derived small RNAs.

An increasing body of research suggests cancer-induced cardiovascular diseases, leading to the appearance of an interdisciplinary study known as onco-cardiology. Lung cancer has the highest incidence and mortality. Cardiac dysfunction constitutes a major cause of death in lung cancer patients. However, its mechanism has not been elucidated because suitable animal models that adequately mimic clinical features are lacking. Here, we established a novel chemically induced lung cancer mouse model using benzo[a]pyrene and urethane to recapitulate the general characteristics of cardiac dysfunction caused by lung cancer, the cardiac disorders in the context of the progression of lung cancer were evaluated using echocardiographic and histological approaches. The pathological changes included myocardial ischaemia, pericarditis, cardiac pre-cachexia, and pulmonary artery hypertension. We performed sequencing to detect the tRNA-derived fragments and tRNA-derived stress-induced RNAs (tRFs/tiRNAs) expressions in mouse heart tissue. 22 upregulated and 16 downregulated tRFs/tiRNAs were identified. Subsequently, the top 10 significant results of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were presented. The in vitro model was established by exposing neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and myocardial fibroblasts to lung tumour cell-conditioned medium, respectively. Western blotting revealed significant changes in cardiac failure markers (atrial natriuretic peptide and α-myosin heavy chain) and cardiac fibrosis markers (Collagen-1 and Collagen-3). Our model adequately reflects the pathological features of lung cancer-induced cardiac dysfunction. Furthermore, the altered tRF/tiRNA profiles showed great promise as novel targets for therapies. These results might pave the way for research on therapeutic targets in onco-cardiology.

Exon shuffling potentiates a diverse repertoire of brown algal NB-ARC-TPR candidate immune receptor proteins via alternative splicing.

Like other organisms, brown algae are subject to diseases caused by bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Brown algal immunity mechanisms are not well characterized; however, there is evidence suggesting that pathogen receptors exist in brown algae. One key protein family likely associated with brown algal innate immunity possesses an NB-ARC domain analogous to innate immune proteins in plants and animals. In this study, we conducted an extensive survey of NB-ARC genes in brown algae and obtained insights into the domain organization and evolutionary history of the encoded proteins. Our data show that brown algae possess an ancient NB-ARC-tetratricopeptide repeat (NB-TPR) domain architecture. We identified an N-terminal effector domain, the four-helix bundle, which was not previously found associated with NB-ARC domains. The phylogenetic tree including NB-ARC domains from all kingdoms of life suggests the three clades of brown algal NB-TPRs are likely monophyletic, whereas their TPRs seem to have distinct origins. One group of TPRs exhibit intense exon shuffling, with various alternative splicing and diversifying selection acting on them, suggesting exon shuffling is an important mechanism for evolving ligand-binding specificities. The reconciliation of gene duplication and loss events of the NB-ARC genes reveals that more independent gene gains than losses have occurred during brown algal evolution, and that tandem duplication has played a major role in the expansion of NB-ARC genes. Our results substantially enhance our understanding of the evolutionary history and exon shuffling mechanisms of the candidate innate immune repertoire of brown algae.

LMCD1-AS1 Facilitates Cell Proliferation and EMT by Sponging miR-873-3p in Cervical Cancer.

Long non-coding RNA LMCD1 antisense RNA 1 (LMCD1-AS1) has recently been reported to participate in the pathogenesis of several tumors, including thyroid cancer and osteosarcoma. However, the clinical significance of LMCD1-AS1 and the related biological function have not been reported in cervical cancer (CC). In this study, we observed that LMCD1-AS1 expression was highly expressed in CC specimens compared with adjacent normal specimens using quantitative real-time PCR. Chi-square test showed that high LMCD1-AS1 expression was correlated with FIGO stage and lymph node metastasis. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed poor prognosis with high LMCD1-AS1 expression. Moreover, FIGO stage, lymph node metastasis and high LMCD1-AS1 expression could be independent prognostic factors for the patients with CC. Functionally, knockdown of LMCD1-AS1 suppressed the proliferation, migration and invasion of two CC cell lines (HeLa and CaSki) cells by CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay, and Transwell assay. Knockdown of LMCD1-AS1 upregulated E-cadherin expression and downregulated the expression of PCNA, N-cadherin, and imentin in HeLa and CaSki cells. Luciferase reporter assay and RIP assay were conducted to evaluate the downstream molecular mechanisms of LMCD1-AS1. LMCD1-AS1 possesses a putative miR-873-3p-binding site and confirmed the negative correlation between them in CC tissues. Moreover, overexpression of LMCD1-AS1 promoted CC cell proliferation and EMT process through the regulation of miR-873-3p. In addition, depletion of LMCD1-AS1 reduced tumor growth and Ki-67 protein expression. In summary, our findings indicate that LMCD1-AS1 might exert an oncogenic role in CC and targeting LMCD1-AS1 might be a promising therapeutic target for CC treatment.

Development of an Au nanoclusters based activatable nanoprobe for NIR-II fluorescence imaging of gastric acid.

Gastric acid is an important functional substance secreted by the stomach of the living organisms, reflecting the gastric physiological condition. The sensing of gastric acid in vivo is of great significance for evaluation of gastric function, diagnosis and treatment of gastric diseases and maintenance of organism health but remains challenging due to the harsh acid and digestive environment of stomach. This study developed an activatable nanoprobe based on Au nanoclusters (Au NCs) for sensitive and real-time noninvasive near-infrared II (NIR-II) fluorescence imaging detection of gastric acid in vivo for the first time. The Au NCs were encapsulated by polydopamine to have enhanced NIR-II luminescence and high stability and combined with methylene blue to possess the pH responsiveness for gastric acid imaging. The developed nanoprobe could not only monitor gastric acid secretion in vivo but also imaging the changes of gastric acid caused by feeding, acid-inhibition drugs and gastric ulcer disease. This study provides a promising avenue for the improvement of the application performance of Au NCs and imaging analysis of gastric acid and related gastric diseases.

Characterization of the key odorants of ripe Capparis spinosa L. fruit and changes in concentrations after storage by means of molecular sensory science.

To characterize the key odorants in ripe Capparis spinosa L. fruit (RCF) and to investigate changes in the odorants after storage, volatiles were captured by both solid-phase microextraction and solvent extraction combined with solvent-assisted flavor evaporation; a total of 22 aroma-active regions were detected in the isolates by gas chromatography-olfactometry. Of 19 odor-active compounds identified positively, 13 odorants were found in RCF for the first time; their flavor dilution factors ranging from 1 to 512 were measured by an aroma extract dilution assay. Eleven odorants were determined as the key odorants by stable isotope dilution analysis, odor activity value (OAV) calculation, and recombination experiments. To further investigate the changes in odorants after storage, their concentrations and OAVs were determined. The results showed that the number of key odorants did not change before and after storage, but the concentrations of octanoic acid, sotolon, and 3-methylbutanoic acid increased markedly.

Dramatic decline of observed atmospheric CO2 and CH4 during the COVID-19 lockdown over the Yangtze River Delta of China.

The temporal variation of greenhouse gas concentrations in China during the COVID-19 lockdown in China is analyzed in this work using high resolution measurements of near surface △CO2, △CH4 and △CO concentrations above the background conditions at Lin'an station (LAN), a regional background station in the Yangtze River Delta region. During the pre-lockdown observational period (IOP-1), both △CO2 and △CH4 exhibited a significant increasing trend relative to the 2011-2019 climatological mean. The reduction of △CO2, △CH4 and △CO during the lockdown observational period (IOP-2) (which also coincided with the Chinese New Year Holiday) reached up to 15.0 ppm, 14.2 ppb and 146.8 ppb, respectively, and a reduction of △CO2/△CO probably due to a dramatic reduction from industrial emissions. △CO2, △CH4 and △CO were observed to keep declining during the post-lockdown easing phase (IOP-3), which is the synthetic result of lower than normal CO2 emissions from rural regions around LAN coupled with strong uptake of the terrestrial ecosystem. Interestingly, the trend reversed to gradual increase for all species during the later easing phase (IOP-4), with △CO2/△CO constantly increasing from IOP-2 to IOP-3 and finally IOP-4, consistent with recovery in industrial emissions associated with the staged resumption of economic activity. On average, △CO2 declined sharply throughout the days during IOP-2 but increased gradually throughout the days during IOP-4. The findings showcase the significant role of emission reduction in accounting for the dramatic changes in measured atmospheric △CO2 and △CH4 associated with the COVID-19 lockdown and recovery.

Design, synthesis and cytotoxic evaluation of novel betulonic acid-diazine derivatives as potential antitumor agents.

With the purpose to improve antiproliferative activity, 26 new betulonic acid-diazine derivatives were designed and synthesized from betulinic acid. The anticancer activity of these semi-synthetic compounds was evaluated by MTT assay in both tumor cell lines and normal cell line. The results indicated that majority of new compounds exhibited improved antitumor activity compared with the parent compound betulonic acid. Compound BoA2C, in particular, had the most significant action with IC50 value of 3.39 µM against MCF-7 cells, while it showed lower cytotoxicity on MDCK cell line than cisplatin. Furthermore, we discovered that BoA2C strongly increased MCF-7 cell damage mostly by influencing arginine and fatty acid metabolism. In addition, the structure-activity relationships were briefly discussed. The results of this study suggested that the introduction of different diazines at C-28 could selectively inhibit different kinds of cancer cells and might be an effective way to synthesize potent anticancer lead compound from betulonic acid.

Association of Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies and Thyroglobulin Antibodies with Thyroid Function in Pregnancy: An Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis.

Objectives: Thyroid autoimmunity is common in pregnant women and associated with thyroid dysfunction and adverse obstetric outcomes. Most studies focus on thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAbs) assessed by a negative-positive dichotomy and rarely take into account thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAbs). This study aimed at determining the association of TPOAbs and TgAbs, respectively, and interdependently, with maternal thyroid function. Methods: This was a meta-analysis of individual participant cross-sectional data from 20 cohorts in the Consortium on Thyroid and Pregnancy. Women with multiple pregnancy, pregnancy by assisted reproductive technology, history of thyroid disease, or use of thyroid interfering medication were excluded. Associations of (log2) TPOAbs and TgAbs (with/without mutual adjustment) with cohort-specific z-scores of (log2) thyrotropin (TSH), free triiodothyronine (fT3), total triiodothyronine (TT3), free thyroxine (fT4), total thyroxine (TT4), or triiodothyronine:thyroxine (T3:T4) ratio were evaluated in a linear mixed model. Results: In total, 51,138 women participated (51,094 had TPOAb-data and 27,874 had TgAb-data). Isolated TPOAb positivity was present in 4.1% [95% confidence interval, CI: 3.0 to 5.2], isolated TgAb positivity in 4.8% [CI: 2.9 to 6.6], and positivity for both antibodies in 4.7% [CI: 3.1 to 6.3]. Compared with antibody-negative women, TSH was higher in women with isolated TPOAb positivity (z-score increment 0.40, CI: 0.16 to 0.64) and TgAb positivity (0.21, CI: 0.10 to 0.32), but highest in those positive for both antibodies (0.54, CI: 0.36 to 0.71). There was a dose-response effect of higher TPOAb and TgAb concentrations with higher TSH (TSH z-score increment for TPOAbs 0.12, CI: 0.09 to 0.15, TgAbs 0.08, CI: 0.02 to 0.15). When adjusting analyses for the other antibody, only the association of TPOAbs remained statistically significant. A higher TPOAb concentration was associated with lower fT4 (p < 0.001) and higher T3:T4 ratio (0.09, CI: 0.03 to 0.14), however, the association with fT4 was not significant when adjusting for TgAbs (p = 0.16). Conclusions: This individual participant data meta-analysis demonstrated an increase in TSH with isolated TPOAb positivity and TgAb positivity, respectively, which was amplified for individuals positive for both antibodies. There was a dose-dependent association of TPOAbs, but not TgAbs, with TSH when adjusting for the other antibody. This supports current practice of using TPOAbs in initial laboratory testing of pregnant women suspected of autoimmune thyroid disease. However, studies on the differences between TPOAb- and TgAb-positive women are needed to fully understand the spectrum of phenotypes.

Methane emission via sediment and water interface in the Bohai Sea, China.

Sediment is recognized as the largest reservoir and source of methane (CH4) in the ocean, especially in the shallow coastal areas. To date, few data of CH4 concentration in sediment have been reported in the China shelf seas. In this study, we measured CH4 concentration in sediment and overlying seawater columns, and conducted an incubation experiment in the Bohai Sea in May 2017. CH4 concentration was found to be ranged from 3.075 to 1.795 µmol/L in sediment, which was 2 to 3 orders of magnitude higher than that in overlying seawater columns. The surface sediment was an important source of CH4, while bottom seawater acted as its sink. Furthermore, the net emission rate via sediment water interface (SWI) was calculated as 2.45 µmol/(m2∙day) based on the incubation experiment at station 73, and the earthquake may enhance CH4 release from sediment to seawater column in the eastern Bohai Sea.