A systematic review and meta-analysis of the morbidity of efficacy endpoints and bleeding events in elderly and young patients treated with the same dose rivaroxaban.

Rivaroxaban is a new direct oral anticoagulant, and the same dose is recommended for older and young patients. However, recent real-world studies show that older patients may need dose adjustment to prevent major bleeding. At present, the evidence for dose adjustment in older patients is extremely limited with only a few reports on older atrial fibrillation patients. The aim of this study was to review the morbidity data of adverse events and bleeding events across all indications for older and young patients treated with the same dose of rivaroxaban to provide some support for dosage adjustment in older patients. The PubMed, EMBASE, ClinicalTrials, Cochrane and Web of Science databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between January 1, 2005, and October 10, 2023. The primary outcomes were the morbidity of bleeding events and efficacy-related adverse events. Summary estimates were calculated using a random effects model. Eighteen RCTs were included in the qualitative analysis. The overall morbidity of primary efficacy endpoints was higher in older patients compared to the young patients (3.37% vs. 2.60%, χ2 = 5.24, p = 0.022). Similarly, a higher morbidity of bleeding was observed in older patients compared to the young patients (4.42% vs. 6.03%, χ2 = 13.22, p < 0.001). Among all indications, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and atrial fibrillation were associated with the highest incidence of bleeding in older patients, suggesting that these patients may be most need dose adjustment. Patients older than 75 years may require extra attention to prevent bleeding. The same dose of rivaroxaban resulted in higher bleeding morbidity and morbidity of efficacy-related adverse events in older patients compared to the young patients. An individualized dose adjustment may be preferred for older patients rather than a fixed dose that fits all.

Examining the ability of palm kernel shell extract to control corrosion and assess its economic value on thermo-mechanically treated steel in artificial seawater: a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach.

Each year, the rising demand for palm oil generates large amounts of palm kernel shell waste. Discarded palm kernel shells can produce activated carbon, crushed shells, liquified fumes, and other derivatives; however, their indiscriminate disposal persists, raising issues related to the environment and economy. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the use of palm kernel shell as a corrosion inhibitor for thermo-mechanically treated steel in a seawater environment using gravimetric and electrochemical techniques, as well as surface tests at varying concentrations. The findings demonstrated that the palm kernel shell inhibited the cathodic and anodic processes by adsorption on the steel surface, which followed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The inhibitor exhibited a 98% inhibitory efficiency at 500 ppm concentration. Scanning electron microscopy analysis verified the thin films of the inhibitor on steel surface in seawater solution. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results show that the extract's components prevent the steel corrosion through an adsorptive mechanism. According to the inhibitor economic evaluation, employing the palm kernel shell extract is less expensive than utilizing conventional inhibitors.

eIf3a mediates malignant biological behaviors in colorectal cancer through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the most common gastrointestinal malignancies worldwide. eIF3a is highly expressed in a variety of cancer types, yet its role in CRC remains unclear. We introduced ectopic eIF3a expression in CRC cells to investigate its relevance to various malignant behaviors. Further, we silenced eIF3a to explore its effect on tumor growth in a nude mouse tumor xenograft model. Finally, the molecular mechanisms through which eIF3a regulates malignancy in CRC cells were explored through bioinformatics analysis combined with the use of a specific PI3K inhibitor (LY294002). eIF3a was highly expressed in the peripheral blood and cancer tissue of CRC patients. Malignancy and tumor growth were significantly inhibited by silencing eIF3a, while overexpression promoted malignant behaviors, with a positive correlation between PI3K/AKT activation and eIF3a expression. Taken together, eIF3a plays an oncogenic role in CRC by regulating PI3K/AKT signaling and is a potential biomarker for CRC diagnosis and prognostic monitoring.

Hedyotis diffusa Willd and Astragalus membranaceus May Exert Anti-colon Cancer Effects by Affecting AKTI Expression, as Determined by Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking.

BACKGROUND: Network pharmacology is a novel approach that uses bioinformatics to predict multitarget drugs and ingredient-target interactions in various diseases. A thorough search of previously published studies revealed that Hedyotis diffusa Willd (HDW) and Astragalus membranaceus (AM) possess anticancer activity. Colon cancer (CC) is one of the most common malignant tumors of the digestive tract and occurs in the colon. Herein, we explored the effect of two drugs in the treatment of CC. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to predict and verify the effect of these two drugs in the treatment of CC. METHODS: To explore the molecular mechanisms of the "HDW-AM" drug in the treatment of CC, we analyzed its principal efficiency in terms of ingredients, target spots, and pathways via network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental verification. The ingredients and their gene target sites were searched and screened through the TCMSP platform according to specific filtering conditions. Subsequently, components corresponding to the gene targets were chosen to construct the drug component-target network. The GEO (Gene Expression Omnibus) dataset was used to collect and screen for gene chips under CC and normal conditions, obtain differential genes, and construct a volcano map. The intersection genes between drug and disease targets were screened, the ".tsv" file was downloaded from the STRING platform and imported into Cytoscape 3.8.0 for visualization, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed, the core targets were identified, and the common components with core targets were docked through Autodock Tools-1.5.6. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis were carried out through the Metascape platform to determine the major pathways. The CCK-8 (Cell Counting Kit-8) assay verified the effect of AKT1 on cell proliferation after treatment with quercetin. RESULTS: After the screening, 3658 DEGs (1841 downregulated and 1817 upregulated) were obtained from the GSE75970 gene chip; 21 active components and 220 targets were identified from the drugs. Subsequently, ten core genes (including AKT1, P53, and CASP3) and six major components were screened. GO functional analysis and KEGG analysis revealed that "HDWAM" regulates cell migration and motility through the combination of a transcription regulator complex, membrane rafts, vesicle lumen, and protein kinases via the MAPK, PI3K-Akt, and IL17 signaling pathways. The molecular docking results suggested that quercetin binds to AKT1, TP53, TNF, and CASP3. HDW-AM may exert a therapeutic effect on CC by modulating AKT1, TP53, TNF, and CASP3 and through signaling pathways. A CCK-8 cytotoxicity assay verified that quercetin affects cell viability through AKT1. CONCLUSIONS: The current study provides a theoretical basis for an in-depth investigation into the molecular mechanism of the "HDW-AM" drug in CC treatment via network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental verification.

Ethyl 2,2-difluoro-2-(2-oxo-2H-chromen-3-yl) acetate attenuates the malignant biological behaviors of non-small cell lung cancer via suppressing EGFR/PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of the study is to examine the impact on the malignant biological behaviors of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) of a novel coumarin derivative, ethyl 2,2-difluoro-2-(2-oxo-2H-chromen-3-yl) acetate (C2F). It also aims to define its underlying mechanism. METHODS: NSCLC cell lines and xenograft nude mice model were conducted to explore the anti-NSCLC effects of C2F in vitro and in vivo. Then, network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking were applied to estimate the possible targets of C2F in NSCLC. Finally, the underlying mechanism of C2F against NSCLC cellular proliferation and tumor development was confirmed using inhibitors or activators of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. RESULTS: Our results showed that C2F was able to inhibit proliferation, migration, and invasion of NSCLC cell lines, induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in vitro, and prevent tumor growth in vivo. In addition, the estimated glomerular filtration rate and its downstream pathway (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) were found to be critical for the anti-NSCLC activity of C2F. CONCLUSIONS: C2F inhibits malignant biological behaviors of NSCLC by suppressing EGFR/PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Enhanced Activity of Small Pt Nanoparticles Decorated with High-Loading Single Fe─N4 for Methanol Oxidation and Oxygen Reduction via the Assistive Active Sites Strategy.

Decorating platinum (Pt) with a single atom offers a promising approach to tailoring their catalytic activity. In this study, for the first time, an innovative assistive active sites (AAS) strategy is proposed to construct high-loading (3.46wt.%) single Fe─N4 as AAS, which are further hybridized with small Pt nanoparticles to enhance both oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) activities. For ORR, the target catalyst (Pt/HFeSA-HCS) exhibits a higher mass activity (MA) of 0.98 A mgPt -1 and specific activity (SA) of 1.39 mA cmPt -2 at 0.90 V versus RHE. As for MOR, Pt/HFeSA-HCS shows exceptional MA (3.21 A mgPt -1) and SA (4.27 mA cmPt -2) at peak values, surpassing commercial Pt/C by 15.3 and 11.5 times, respectively. The underlying mechanism behind this AAS strategy is to find that in MOR, Fe─N4 promotes water dissociation, generating more *OH to accelerate the conversion of *CO to CO2. Meanwhile, in ORR, Fe─N4 acts as a competitor to adsorb *OH, weakening Pt─OH bonding and facilitating desorption of *OH on the Pt surface. Constructing AAS that can enhance dual functionality simultaneously can be seen as a successful "kill two birds with one stone" strategy.

Biological Characterization and Whole-Genome Analysis of Bacillus subtilis MG-1 Isolated from Mink Fecal Samples.

Bacillus subtilis is an important part of the gut microbiota and a commonly used probiotic. In the present study, to assess the biological characteristics and probiotic properties of B. subtilis derived from mink, we isolated B. subtilis MG-1 isolate from mink fecal samples, characterized its biological characteristics, optimized the hydrolysis of casein by its crude extract, and comprehensively analyzed its potential as a probiotic in combination with whole-genome sequencing. Biological characteristics indicate that, under low-pH conditions (pH 2), B. subtilis MG-1 can still maintain a survival rate of 64.75%; under the conditions of intestinal fluid, gastric acid, and a temperature of 70 °C, the survival rate was increased by 3, 1.15 and 1.17 times compared with the control group, respectively. This shows that it can tolerate severe environments. The results of hydrolyzed casein in vitro showed that the crude bacterial extract of isolate MG-1 exhibited casein hydrolyzing activity (21.56 U/mL); the enzyme activity increased to 32.04 U/mL under optimized reaction conditions. The complete genome sequencing of B. subtilis MG-1 was performed using the PacBio third-generation sequencing platform. Gene annotation analysis results revealed that B. subtilis MG-1 was enriched in several Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) metabolic pathways, and most genes were related to Brite hierarchy pathways (1485-35.31%) and metabolism pathways (1395-33.17%). The egg-NOG annotation revealed that most genes were related to energy production and conversion (185-4.10%), amino acid transport and metabolism (288-6.38%), carbohydrate transport and metabolism (269-5.96%), transcription (294-6.52%), and cell wall/membrane/envelope biogenesis (231-5.12%). Gene Ontology (GO) annotation elucidated that most genes were related to biological processes (8230-45.62%), cellular processes (3582-19.86%), and molecular processes (6228-34.52%). Moreover, the genome of B. subtilis MG-1 was predicted to possess 77 transporter-related genes. This study demonstrates that B. subtilis MG-1 has potential for use as a probiotic, and further studies should be performed to develop it as a probiotic additive in animal feed to promote animal health.

Rapid ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous determination of three characteristic urinary saccharide metabolites in patients with glycogen storage diseases (type â b and â ¡).

Urinary 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1, 5-AG), 6-α-D-glucopyranosyl-maltotriose (Glc4) and maltotetraose (M4) are important biomarkers for glycogen storage disease (types Ib and Ⅱ). This study aimed to develop and validate an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) to detect these three urinary saccharide metabolites. Urine samples were diluted and then analyzed. Chromatographic separation was performed on an Acquity™ UPLC Amide column (2.1 × 100 mm, 1.7 µm) with gradient elution. The quantitation of analytes was achieved on a 5500 Qtrap mass spectrometer using negative multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The calibration curves for all analytes were linear over the range of 0.500 to 100 µg/mL with a correlation coefficient, R2 ≥ 0.999. The percent relative standard deviations (RSD%) were ≤12.8%, and the percent relative errors (RE%) were in the range of -11.7%-11.0%. The relative matrix effects of all analytes were between 87.2% and 104% with RSD% < 3.10% across three concentrations. The developed analytical method was simple, accurate, and reliable for rapid and simultaneous analysis of these three urinary saccharide metabolites. It was applied to healthy volunteers and patients. To our knowledge, it was the first validated assay for urinary maltotetraose quantification. This work provides support for exploring the potential of maltotetraose as a biomarker for Pompe disease.

Rich-grain-boundary Ni-Co-Se nanowire arrays for fast charge storage in alkaline electrolyte.

In this work, the one-dimensional (1D) Ni-Co-Se nanowire arrays with rich grain-boundaries were prepared through the solvothermal method and gas-phase selenizaiton. The results showed that the structure and crystallization of the Ni-Co-Se nanowire arrays could be modulated through the optimization of selenizaiton time. The optimal Ni-Co-Se electrode sample displayed an area specific capacitance of 242.6µAh cm-2at 30 mA cm-2with a current retention rate of 68.34%. The assembled Ni-Co-Se/Active carbon (AC) electrode-based asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) showed the area specific capacitances of 329.2µAh cm-2and 225.8µAh cm-2at 3 mA cm-2and 30 mA cm-2, respectively. A 73.33% retention rate of capacitance was observed after 8000 charge/discharge cycles. Besides, the further fabricated all-solid ASC delivered the power densities of 342.94 W kg-1and 3441.33 W kg-1at the energy densities of 37.62 Wh kg-1and 25.81 Wh kg-1, respectively. Those results suggested the potentials of the obtained Ni-Co-Se nanowire arrays as electrode material for the high-performance pseudocapacitors.

Predicting the anti-inflammatory mechanism of Radix Astragali using network pharmacology and molecular docking.

According to current research, the primary active ingredients of Radix Astragali (RA), such as saponins, flavonoids, and polysaccharides, play an important role in anti-inflammatory effects. However, the exact molecular mechanism underlying the action was not elucidated to date. Our research attempted to determine the active components in RA and to investigate the interaction between the active components and targets involved in the anti-inflammation activity by network pharmacology and molecular docking. The active components and targets of RA were screened out by TCMSP. Thereafter, through the "anti-inflammation effect" and "inflammation" as the keywords, disease targets were obtained from the GeneCards database. The PPI network was constructed with Cytoscape 3.8.0 software to screen core targets. The GO function and KEGG analysis were enriched and analyzed through the Metascape platform, obtaining the 3-dimensional view of the core targets from the PDB database, and then, performing molecular docking in AutoDock Vina, a heatmap was constructed using the binding free energies in GraphPad Prism 8. The Discovery Studio software was used for docking analysis, and eventually, the docking results were visualized. We also explored the targets and signaling pathways of Astragaloside IV acting on anti-inflammatory effects via constructing compound-disease-target-pathway network. 18 active components and 45 targets of RA were screened out. The main anti-inflammatory active components of RA were quercetin, Astragaloside IV, kaempferol, 7-O-methylisomucronulatol, and formononetin, and the strongly interacting core proteins were TNF, IL6, IL1B, TLR4, CXCL8, CCL2, IL10, VEGFA, and MMP9. The signal pathways mainly involved include Lipid and atherosclerosis, IL-17 signaling pathway, Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, and TNF signaling pathway. Moreover, molecular docking showed that the 2 most active compounds, Astragaloside IV and kaempferol, could efficiently bind with the targets TNF, TLR4, and IL10. Astragaloside IV may play a part in anti-inflammatory effects through pathways such as HIF-1 signaling pathway, Inflammatory bowel disease and Hepatitis B ect. RA exhibits the characteristic of multicomponent and multitarget synergistic effects in exerting anti-inflammatory effects and the effective component of RA is Astragaloside IV, targeting TNF, TLR4, and IL10.

Multidrug-resistant bacterial infection in adult patients following cardiac surgery: clinical characteristics and risk factors.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of infections with multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) pose great challenges for anti-infective therapy. Previous research on MDRO infections after cardiac surgery was limited. Therefore, understanding and mastering the clinical characteristics and risk predictors of MDRO infection after cardiac surgery is of great significance for standardized management of perioperative patients. METHODS: The medical records of adult patients with MDRO infection after cardiac surgery from January 2018 to October 2021 were collected, and patients were divided into MDR infection group (n = 176) and non-MDR infection group (n = 233). Univariate and multivariate regression analysis of variables was performed to determine the risk predictors of MDRO infection. RESULTS: The incidence of MDRO infection was 8.6%. Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the most common, accounting for 37.3%, 23.5% and 18.0%, respectively. The main infection type were lower respiratory tract infection (LTRI = 29.0%). Univariate analysis showed that underwent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) (P = 0.001) and secondary operation (P = 0.008), pre-infection exposure to vancomycin (P < 0.001) and linezolid (P = 0.002), combination antibiotics (P < 0.001), four antibiotics in combination (P = 0.005), glucocorticoid use (P = 0.029), preoperative hypoalbuminemia (P = 0.003) were risk factors for post-operative MDRO infection. Multivariate regression analysis showed that underwent CABG (OR = 1.228, 95%CI = 1.056∽1.427, P = 0.008), secondary operation (OR = 1.910, 95%CI = 1.131∽3.425, P = 0.015) and pre-infection exposure to linezolid (OR = 3.704, 95%CI = 1.291∽10.629, P = 0.005) were independent risk predictors for MDRO infection. The risk of MDRO infection increased with the length of stay in the ICU (P < 0.001) and the length of stay before diagnosis of infection (P = 0.003), and the difference was statistically significant. Meanwhile, the length of stay after infection (P = 0.005) and the total length of hospital stay (P < 0.001) were significantly longer in the MDRO infection group, and the all-cause mortality was numerically higher in the MDRO infection group (31.3% versus 23.2%). CONCLUSIONS: The morbidity and mortality of MDRO infection was high in adult cardiac surgery, and many risk factors influence the occurrence of MDRO infection. In the future, clinicians should focus on high-risk patients, strengthen multidisciplinary collaboration on infection prevention and control measures, reduce the morbidity and mortality of MDRO infection, and improve the prognosis of in-hospital patients.

Development of a rapid simultaneous assay of two urinary tetrasaccharide metabolites using differential ion mobility and tandem mass spectrometry and its application to patients with glycogen storage disease (type Ib and II).

Glucose tetrasaccharide (Glc4) and maltotetraose (M4) are important biomarkers for Pompe disease and other glycogen storage diseases (GSDs). With the development of new treatments for GSDs, more specific and sensitive bioanalytical methods are needed to determine biomarkers. In recent years, differential mobility spectrometry (DMS) has become an effective analytical technique with high selectivity and specificity. This study aimed to develop an efficient analytical method for the two urinary tetrasaccharide metabolites using DMS and apply it to patients with GSDs (type Ib and II). Urine samples were directly diluted and injected into liquid chromatography-differential mobility spectrometry tandem mass spectrometry (LC-DMS-MS/MS). Chromatographic separation was performed on an Acquity™ UPLC BEH Amide column (2.1 × 50 mm, 1.7 µm) with a short gradient elution of 2.6 min. DMS-MS/MS was used to detect two urinary tetrasaccharide metabolites in a negative multiple reaction monitoring mode with isopropanol as a modifier. A total of 20 urine samples from 6 healthy volunteers and 10 patients with GSDs (type Ib and II) were collected for analysis. The method was linear over a concentration range of 0.5~100.0 µg/mL for each urinary tetrasaccharide (r≥0.99). The intra- and inter-day precision RSD% were less than 14.3%, and the accuracy RE% were in the range of -14.3~13.4%. The relative matrix effect was between 86.6 and 114.3%. No carryover or interference was observed. Patients with GSDs (type Ib and II) had significantly higher median urinary Glc4 (P=0.001) and M4 (P=0.012) excretion than healthy subjects. The developed method was simple, rapid, sensitive, and specific. It was successfully applied to healthy volunteers and patients with GSDs (type Ib and II). DMS technology greatly improved analysis efficiency and provided high sensitivity and specificity.

Hybrid porous material supported in a cellulose acetate polymeric membrane for the direct immersion thin-film microextraction of parabens in water.

A simple and sensitive direct immersion thin-film microextraction (DI-TFME) method based on MIL-101(Cr) modified with carbon nanofibers supported in cellulose acetate (CA-MIL-101(Cr)@CNFs) polymeric membrane was developed for the extraction and preconcentration of parabens in environmental water samples. A high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) was used for the determination and quantification of methylparaben (MP) and propylparaben (PP). The factors affecting the DI-TFME performance were investigated using central composite design (CCD). The linearity of the DI-TFME/HPLC-DAD method obtained under optimal conditions was 0.04-0.04-500 µg/L with a correlation coefficient (R2) greater than 0.99, respectively. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) for methylparaben were 11 ng/L and 37 ng/L; for propylparaben, they were 13 ng/L and 43 ng/L, respectively. The enrichment factors were 93.7 and 123 for methylparaben and propylparaben. The intraday (repeatability) and interday (reproducibility) precisions expressed as relative standard deviations (%RSD) were less than 5%. Furthermore, the DI-TFME/HPLC-DAD method was validated using real water samples spiked with known concentrations of the analytes. The recoveries ranged from 91.5 to 99.8%, and intraday and interday trueness values were less than ±15%. The DI-TFME/HPLC-DAD approach was effectively used for the preconcentration and quantification of parabens in river water and wastewater samples.

Competitive advantage, relationship, and benefit: Primary and secondary influencing factors of supply chain collaboration in China's advanced manufacturing industry.

The advanced manufacturing industry is located at the top of the manufacturing value chain. Its development is restricted by supply chain collaboration (SCC), the level of which is affected by many factors. Few studies comprehensively summarize what influences SCC and distinguish the impact level of each factor. Practitioners have difficulty isolating the primary factors that affect SCC and managing them effectively. Therefore, based on synergetics and the theory of comparative advantage, this study analyzes what influences SCC in the advanced manufacturing industry and how these influencing factors work, using data from 94 manufacturing enterprises and the Haken model to identify the influencing factors. The results show that China's advanced manufacturing supply chain underwent a phase change and entered a new stage during 2017-2018. In the new stage, the competitive advantages of enterprises are one order parameter (slow variable) and are primary factors affecting SCC. The interest demands of enterprises are a fast variable and are secondary factors affecting SCC. The competitive advantages of enterprises dominate the interests of enterprises in affecting the collaboration level of China's advanced manufacturing supply chain. In addition, in the process of influencing SCC, there is a positive correlation between the competitive advantages of enterprises and the interest demands of enterprises, and the two factors have a positive feedback mechanism. Finally, when the enterprises in the supply chain cooperate based on their differential advantages, the collaboration capability of the supply chain is at the highest level, and the overall operation of the supply chain is orderly. In terms of theoretical contribution, this study is the first to propose a collaborative motivation framework that conforms to the characteristics of sequential parameters, which provides a theoretical reference for subsequent studies on SCC. In addition, the theory of comparative advantage and synergetics are linked for the first time in this study, and both of them are enriched and developed. Equally importantly, this study compares the bidirectional influence between firms' competitive advantages and firms' interest demands and the ability of both to influence SCC, enriching previous validation studies of unidirectional influence. In terms of practical implications, this study guides top managers to focus on the management practice of collaborative innovation in the supply chain and advises purchasing managers and sales managers on selecting supply chain partnerships.

LncRNA NEAT1: A novel regulator associated with the inflammatory response in acute respiratory distress syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening condition with an unfavorable prognosis. As the pathogenesis of ARDS remains unclear, we aimed to identify the core genes associated with ARDS and the mechanisms by which competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) regulate the disease's progression. METHODS: Three mRNA microarray datasets (GSE17355, GSE48787, and GSE130936), derived from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, were selected. Common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to acute lung injury (ALI) were identified and subjected to enrichment analysis. Then, hub genes were figured out through the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and functional analysis, and targeted miRNAs and lncRNAs were predicted. Finally, the ceRNA networks associated with ALI were constructed and validated experimentally. RESULTS: A total of 155 upregulated and 93 downregulated DEGs were identified in the three datasets. The TNF signaling pathway and IL-17 signaling pathway were the most enriched pathways. Then, eleven DEGs enriched in the IL-17 signaling pathway were selected as the hub genes. Three miRNAs (mmu-mir-155-5p, mmu-mir-21a-5p, and mmu-mir-122-5p), which were located in the lung tissue and predicted to bind the hub genes at the same time, and two lncRNAs (Neat1 and Tug1), which have binding sites for the aforementioned miRNAs, were filtered. With qPCR verification, we identified a ceRNA network composed of NEAT1, miR-21-5p, MMP9, and CXCL5. NEAT1 knockdown promoted the migration and reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory factor and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in lung epithelial cells. We eventually confirmed that NEAT1/miR-21-5p/CXCL5/MMP9 played a pivotal role in regulating the inflammatory response in ALI. CONCLUSION: The IL-17 signaling pathway is of great importance in the pathogenesis of ARDS. NEAT1/miR-21-5p is involved in the inflammation of ALI by regulating CXCL5 and MMP9.

Fishnet-like double active layer-loaded carbon fiber for electrical double-layer capacitors.

The rational design and controllable synthesis of high-performance energy storage materials are important measures to address the growing demand for energy storage devices. This work involves the growth of a fishnet-like Fe2O3 nanorod@oxygen-rich carbon layer structure directly onto carbon fiber cloth as a binder-free electrode for symmetric capacitors. The growth of Fe2O3 nanorods provided a large specific surface area, and the coating of an oxygen-rich carbon layer protected the Fe2O3 nanorods as an active substance. Furthermore, oxidation treatment created rich electrochemically active sites by loading oxygen-containing functional groups onto the composite surface. As a result, the optimal OC@Fe2O3-ACC sample exhibited a high areal specific capacitance of 1687 mF cm-2 at a current density of 1 mA cm-2. Meanwhile, an excellent capacity retention rate of 58.7% was achieved at 15 mA cm-2. Finally, the long-term cycling stability was verified with an 80% retention rate of the initial capacitance after 12 000 cycles.

16S rRNA Gene Amplicon Sequencing of Gut Microbiota Affected by Four Probiotic Strains in Mice.

Probiotics, also referred to as "living microorganisms," are mostly present in the genitals and the guts of animals. They can increase an animal's immunity, aid in digestion and absorption, control gut microbiota, protect against sickness, and even fight cancer. However, the differences in the effects of different types of probiotics on host gut microbiota composition are still unclear. In this study, 21-day-old specific pathogen-free (SPF) mice were gavaged with Lactobacillus acidophilus (La), Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (Lp), Bacillus subtilis (Bs), Enterococcus faecalis (Ef), LB broth medium, and MRS broth medium. We sequenced 16S rRNA from fecal samples from each group 14 d after gavaging. According to the results, there were significant differences among the six groups of samples in Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Desferribacter (p < 0.01) at the phylum level. Lactobacillus, Erysipelaceae Clostridium, Bacteroides, Brautella, Trichospiraceae Clostridium, Verummicroaceae Ruminococcus, Ruminococcus, Prevotella, Shigella, and Clostridium Clostridium differed significantly at the genus level (p < 0.01). Four kinds of probiotic changes in the composition and structure of the gut microbiota in mice were observed, but they did not cause changes in the diversity of the gut microbiota. In conclusion, the use of different probiotics resulted in different changes in the gut microbiota of the mice, including genera that some probiotics decreased and genera that some pathogens increased. According to the results of this study, different probiotic strains have different effects on the gut microbiota of mice, which may provide new ideas for the mechanism of action and application of microecological agents.

Boosting oxygen evolution electrocatalysis via CeO2 engineering on Fe2N nanoparticles for rechargeable Zn-air batteries.

In the process of developing low-cost and high-performance bifunctional electrocatalysts, rational selection of catalytic components and tuning of their electronic structures to achieve synergistic effects is a feasible approach. In this work, CeO2 was composited into Fe/N-doped carbon foam by a molten salt method to improve the electrocatalytic performance of the composite catalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The results showed that the excitation of oxygen vacancies in CeO2 accelerated the migration of oxygen species and enhanced the oxygen storage/release capacity of the as-prepared catalyst. Meanwhile, the size effect of CeO2 particles enabled the timely discharge of gas bubbles from the reaction system and thus improved the OER kinetics. In addition, a large number of pyridine-N species were induced by CeO2-doping and sequentially anchored in the carbon matrix. As a result, the Fe2N active state was formed through the strengthened binding of Fe-N elements. Benefiting from the strong electronic interaction between Fe2N and CeO2 components, the optimal CeO2-Fe2N/NFC-2 catalyst sample showed a good OER performance (Ej=10 = 266 mV) and ORR electrocatalytic activity (E1/2 = 0.87 V). The practical feasibility tests indicated that the Zn-air battery assembled by the CeO2-Fe2N/NFC-2 catalyst exhibited a large energy density and an excellent long-term cycling stability.

Maternal Cold-Reacting Immunoglobulin G Anti-M of MNS Blood Group System Causing Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus.

Several cases of the hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) caused by immunoglobulin G (IgG) anti-M antibodies have been reported, in which almost all the HDFN-associated anti-M were warmly reacting. Here we report two cases of severe HDFN associated with cold-reacting IgG anti-M. In both cases, pregnancy was terminated, in weeks 33 and 23 respectively, due to a diagnosis of fetal growth retardation (FGR). To our knowledge, these are the most severe HDFN cases caused by cold-reacting IgG anti-M.

Generic Methods for Simultaneous Analysis of Four Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Human Plasma and Urine by Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

The new direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are increasingly used to treat and prevent thromboembolic disorders, and monitoring concentrations may be valuable in some special scenarios to prevent clinical adverse events. This study aimed to develop generic methods for the rapid and simultaneous analysis of four DOACs in human plasma and urine. Protein precipitation and one-step dilution were used to prepare the plasma and urine; the extracts were injected to ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) for analysis. Chromatographic separation was performed on an Acquity™ UPLC BEH C18 column (2.1 × 50 mm, 1.7 µm) with gradient elution of 7 min. A triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer with an electrospray ionization source was employed to analyze DOACs in a positive ion mode. The methods showed great linearity in the plasma (1~500 ng/mL) and urine (10~10,000 ng/mL) for all analytes (R2 ≥ 0.99). The intra- and inter-day precision and accuracy were within acceptance criteria. The matrix effect and extraction recovery were 86.5~97.5% and 93.5~104.7% in the plasma, while 97.0~101.9% and 85.1~99.5% in the urine. The stability of samples during the routine preparation and storage were within the acceptance criteria of less than ±15%. The methods developed were accurate, reliable, and simple for the rapid and simultaneous measurement of four DOACs in human plasma and urine, and successfully applied to patients and subjects with DOACs therapy for anticoagulant activity assessment.