Ziyin Bushen Fang improves Diabetic Osteoporosis by Inhibiting Autophagy and Oxidative Stress In vitro and In vivo.

OBJECTIVE: Diabetic osteoporosis (DOP) belongs to the group of diabetes-induced secondary osteoporosis and is the main cause of bone fragility and fractures in many patients with diabetes. The aim of this study was to determine whether Ziyin Bushen Fang (ZYBSF) can improve DOP by inhibiting autophagy and oxidative stress. METHODS: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) was induced in rats using a high-fat high-sugar diet combined with streptozotocin. Micro-CT scanning was used to quantitatively observe changes in the bone microstructure in each group. Changes in the serum metabolites of DOP rats were analyzed using UHPLC-QTOF-MS. The DOP mouse embryonic osteoblast precursor cell model (MC3T3-E1) was induced using high glucose levels. RESULTS: After ZYBSF treatment, bone microstructure significantly improved. The bone mineral density, trabecular number, and trabecular thickness in the ZYBSF-M and ZYBSF-H groups significantly increased. After ZYBSF treatment, the femur structure of the rats was relatively intact, collagen fibers were significantly increased, and osteoporosis was significantly improved. A total of 1239 metabolites were upregulated and 1527 were downregulated in the serum of T1DM and ZYBSF-treated rats. A total of 20 metabolic pathways were identified. In cellular experiments, ZYBSF reduced ROS levels and inhibited the protein expression of LC3II / I, Beclin-1, and p-ERK. CONCLUSION: ZYBSF may improve DOP by inhibiting the ROS/ERK-induced autophagy signaling pathway.

High prevalence of gastrointestinal disorders in a large cohort of patients with joint hypermobility.

The gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations in children with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome/joint hypermobility syndrome (hEDS/JHS) are not well described. We investigated the prevalence of GI disorders in children and young adults with hEDS/JHS through a single-center retrospective review. Demographic data, clinical history, symptoms, and diagnostic studies were reviewed. Of 435 patients with hEDS/JHS, 66% were females (age 5-28 years). We noted a high prevalence of constipation (61%), dysphagia (32%), dyspepsia and/or gastroparesis (25%), eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) (21%), and celiac disease (4%) in our cohort. Upper endoscopy and gastric emptying scans had the highest yield to detect abnormalities. Motility studies were abnormal in 31% of the 80 patients who underwent them. Dysphagia symptoms are significantly associated with EoE. Thirty-three percent of dysphagia patients had EoE, versus 16% of non-dysphagia patients (p < 0.001). Screening hEDS/JHS patients for GI issues should be routine, with further investigations and referrals guided by identified symptoms.

Efficacy and safety of Piwei Peiyuan Prescription in the treatment of chronic atrophic gastritis: A multicenter, double-blind, double-simulated, randomized, controlled clinical trial.

The incidence of chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) is on the rise due to the growing pressure in modern social life, increasing bad living habits and emotional disorders (such as anxiety and depression), and the aging of the population. Of note, digestive system diseases are the dominant diseases in the field of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Therefore, this study evaluated the efficacy and safety of Piwei Peiyuan Prescription, a TCM prescription, in the treatment of CAG through a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, controlled design. This research was organized by the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of TCM and simultaneously performed in 6 centers. A total of 120 CAG patients were included and randomized into 2 groups: group A (treatment with Piwei Peiyuan granules plus Weifuchun Simulant) and Group B (treatment with Weifuchun Tablets plus Piwei Peiyuan Simulant). These 2 groups were compared in terms of gastroscopy scores, TCM syndrome scores, and serological indicators at baseline and within 12 weeks after treatment. According to endoscopic biopsy for pathological observation, atrophy (2.56 ±â€…1.08 vs 3.00 ±â€…1.00, P = .028) and intestinal epithelial hyperplasia (1.00 ±â€…1.43 vs 1.69 ±â€…1.80, P = .043) scores were lower in group A than in group B. For the more, group A had higher effective rates for inflammation, atrophy, and intestinal metaplasia (IM) in various regions of the stomach, especially for atrophy/IM of the gastric angle (64%, P = .034) and atrophy/IM of the lesser curvature of gastric antrum (63%, P = .042) than group B. According to TCM syndrome scores, Piwei Peiyuan Prescription improved the scores of gastric distension (2.30 ±â€…1.13 vs 2.80 ±â€…0.99, P = .022), preference for warmth and pressure (1.44 ±â€…1.06 vs 1.36 ±â€…1.10, P = .041), and poor appetite and indigestion (0.78 ±â€…0.66 vs 1.32 ±â€…0.72, P = .018). GAS, MTL, and PGE2 expression was significantly elevated after treatment with Piwei Peiyuan Prescription (P < .001). Piwei Peiyuan Prescription is effective for CAG treatment with high safety.

Overactivated MX1 Positive Natural Killer Cells Promote the Progression of Sepsis-Induced Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Background: Natural killer (NK) cells are key regulators of immune defense in sepsis-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), yet the characteristics of NK cell clusters in ARDS remain poorly understood. Methods: A prospective and observational study enrolled septic patients with ARDS or not was conducted to determine the percentage of NK cells via flow cytometry. The transcriptomes of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy controls, patients with sepsis only, and patients with sepsis-induced ARDS were profiled. Vitro experiments were performed to confirm the mechanism mediating MX1+NK cell infiltration. Results: A total of 115 septic patients were analyzed, among whom 63 patients developed ARDS and 52 patients did not. Decreased NK percentages were found in sepsis with ARDS patients (%, 7.46±4.40 vs 11.65±6.88, P=0.0001) compared with sepsis-only patients. A lower percentage of NK cells showed a significant increase in 28-day mortality. Single-cell sequencing analysis revealed distinct characteristics of NK cells in sepsis-induced ARDS, notably the identification of a unique cluster defined as MX1+NK cells. Flow cytometry analysis showed an elevated percentage of MX1+NK cells specifically in individuals with sepsis-induced ARDS, compared with patients with sepsis only. Pseudo-time analysis showed that MX1+NK cells were characterized by upregulation of type I interferon-induced genes and other pro-inflammatory genes. MX1+NK cells can respond to type I interferons and secrete type I interferons themselves. Ligand-receptor interaction analysis also revealed extensive interaction between MX1+NK cells and T/B cells, leading to an uncontrolled inflammatory response in ARDS. Conclusion: MX1+NK cells can respond to type I interferons and secrete type I interferons themselves, promoting the development of sepsis-induced ARDS. Interfering with the infiltration of MX1+NK cells could be a therapeutic approach for this disease. Due to the limited sample size, a larger sample size was needed for further exploration.

Cutting edge of genetically modified pigs targeting complement activation for xenotransplantation.

In the quest to address the critical shortage of donor organs for transplantation, xenotransplantation stands out as a promising solution, offering a more abundant supply of donor organs. Yet, its widespread clinical adoption remains hindered by significant challenges, chief among them being immunological rejection. Central to this issue is the role of the complement system, an essential component of innate immunity that frequently triggers acute and chronic rejection through hyperacute immune responses. Such responses can rapidly lead to transplant embolism, compromising the function of the transplanted organ and ultimately causing graft failure. This review delves into three key areas of xenotransplantation research. It begins by examining the mechanisms through which xenotransplantation activates both the classical and alternative complement pathways. It then assesses the current landscape of xenotransplantation from donor pigs, with a particular emphasis on the innovative strides made in genetically engineering pigs to evade complement system activation. These modifications are critical in mitigating the discordance between pig endogenous retroviruses and human immune molecules. Additionally, the review discusses pharmacological interventions designed to support transplantation. By exploring the intricate relationship between the complement system and xenotransplantation, this retrospective analysis not only underscores the scientific and clinical importance of this field but also sheds light on the potential pathways to overcoming one of the major barriers to the success of xenografts. As such, the insights offered here hold significant promise for advancing xenotransplantation from a research concept to a viable clinical reality.

Root-mediated acidification, phosphatase activity and the phosphorus-cycling microbial community enhance phosphorus mobilization in the rhizosphere of wetland plants.

Rhizoremediation of wetland plants is an environmentally friendly strategy for sediment phosphorous (P) removal, the basic underlying principle of which is the complex interactions between roots and microorganisms. This study investigated the immobilization and mobilization mechanisms of P in the rhizosphere of wetland plants using high-resolution spatial visualization techniques and metagenomic sequencing. Two-dimensional visualization of the spatial distribution of P, iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) indicated that the sequestration of Fe-oxides rather than Mn-oxides caused the depletion of labile P, resulting in an increase in the Fe-adsorbed P fraction. Plants altered the rhizospheric environments and P-cycling microbial community to mobilize low-availability P from sediments. Mineral P solubilization and organic P mineralization were enhanced by local acidification and increased phosphatase activity, respectively. Microbial P mobilization also increased with increasing relative abundances of P solubilization and mineralization genes (gcd and phnW) and decreasing P transportation genes (ugpA, ugpB, and pit) genes in the rhizosphere. These processes led to the remobilization of 10.04 % of inorganic P, and 15.23 % of organic P, in the rhizosphere during the incubation period. However, the resupply of P via the above processes did not compensate for the depletion of rhizospheric P via root uptake and mineral sequestration. Our results provide novel insights into the mechanisms of rhizospheric P cycling, which will help to inform future phytoremediation strategies.

Glycyrrhizin and the Related Preparations: An Inspiring Resource for the Treatment of Liver Diseases.

Liver diseases and their related complications endanger the health of millions of people worldwide. The prevention and treatment of liver diseases are still serious challenges both in China and globally. With the improvement of living standards, the prevalence of metabolic liver diseases, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and alcoholic liver disease, has increased at an alarming rate, resulting in more cases of end-stage liver disease. Therefore, the discovery of novel therapeutic drugs for the treatment of liver diseases is urgently needed. Glycyrrhizin (GL), a triterpene glycoside from the roots of licorice plants, possesses a wide range of pharmacological and biological activities. Currently, GL preparations (GLPs) have certain advantages in the treatment of liver diseases, with good clinical effects and fewer adverse reactions, and have shown broad application prospects through multitargeting therapeutic mechanisms, including antisteatotic, anti-oxidative stress, anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory, antifibrotic, anticancer, and drug interaction activities. This review summarizes the currently known biological activities of GLPs and their medical applications in the treatment of liver diseases, and highlights the potential of these preparations as promising therapeutic options and their alluring prospects for the treatment of liver diseases.

Factors influencing the bariatric surgery treatment of bariatric surgery candidates in underdeveloped areas of China.

BACKGROUND: From year to year, the proportion of people living with overweight and obesity in China rises, along with the prevalence of diseases linked to obesity. Although bariatric surgery is gaining popularity, there are still several issues with its promotion compared to Western nations. Since less developed places in China are more widespread due to disparities in the development of different regions, there has been little exploration of the factors that might be related to acceptance of bariatric surgery in these regions. METHODS: Patients who visited the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery at the North Sichuan Medical College Affiliated Hospital from 2018 to 2022 and had obesity or other relevant metabolic problems were surveyed using a questionnaire. The relationship between demographic factors, socioeconomic status, and acceptance of bariatric surgery was analyzed. RESULTS: Of 334 patients, 171 had bariatric surgery. BMI, education level, marriage history, medical insurance, family support, and a history of type 2 diabetes were all linked to having bariatric surgery, according to a univariate analysis. In a multivariate analysis, BMI (P = 0.02), education (P = 0.02), family support (P<0.001), medical insurance coverage (P<0.001), and history of type 2 diabetes (P = 0.004) were all positively associated with a willingness to have bariatric surgery. Among 163 non-bariatric patients with obesity, 15.3% were not opposed to surgery but preferred trying medication first, 54.6% leaned towards medical therapy, and 30% were hesitant. Additionally, a majority of patients (48.55%) often lacked adequate knowledge about weight reduction therapy. Age, height, gender, smoking, drinking, family history of type 2 diabetes, education, and marital status did not significantly differ (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Many patients are concerned about the safety of surgical treatment and the possibility of regaining weight. Due to the relatively high cost of bariatric surgery, they tend to choose medical treatment. To enhance the acceptance of bariatric surgery in underdeveloped regions of China, it is crucial to focus on disseminating knowledge about bariatric surgery, offer pertinent health education to the community, and foster support from patients' families. The government should pay more attention to obesity and provide support in the form of medical insurance.

Neurobehavioral problems at age 2 years in children with prenatal opioid exposure.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate factors associated with borderline/clinical range Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) scores in opioid-exposed children. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study of 94 children with prenatal opioid exposure evaluated with the CBCL at age 2 years. RESULTS: Twenty-eight children (30%) had borderline/clinical findings on the CBCL, with 27% scoring borderline/clinical for Externalizing Problems. In the multivariable model, lower Bayley-III motor scores and discharge home with mother with safety plan were associated with borderline/clinical Externalizing Problems. Medication treatment for neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) was associated with normal Externalizing Problems scores. Treatment with clonidine or phenobarbital was associated with scores in the normal range in all broadband CBCL measures. CONCLUSION: Specific factors are associated with behavioral and emotional challenges measured by borderline/clinical CBCL scores among opioid-exposed children.

CircMLH3 induces mononuclear macrophage pyroptosis in sepsis by sponging miR-590-3p to regulate TAK1 expression.

Sepsis is a fatal syndrome characterized by uncontrolled systemic inflammatory responses. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved in the modulation of various pathophysiological processes, but their potential role in sepsis has largely been unexplored. In this study, we observed differential expression of circMLH3 between healthy volunteers and septic patients, and revealed the value of circMLH3 for sepsis diagnosis and prognostic prediction. Interestingly, we discovered a correlation between the expression level of circMLH3 and the degree of pyroptosis, a critical mechanism contributing to uncontrolled inflammation in sepsis patients. Knocking down circMLH3 alleviated macrophage pyroptosis whereas overexpressing circMLH3 aggravated pyroptosis. circMLH3 regulated macrophage pyroptosis by sponging miR-590-3p and subsequently modulating TAK1 expression. Furthermore, we found that the miR-590-3p/TAK1 axis inhibited the activation of pro-caspase-1 and the NLRP3 inflammasome. miR-590-3p overexpression had a protective effect by reducing macrophage pyroptosis, thereby alleviating sepsis-induced lung injury and systemic inflammatory responses. In conclusion, our study elucidated the circMLH3/miR-590-3p/TAK1 signaling pathway and identified its role in regulating mononuclear macrophage pyroptosis, thus providing potential novel targets and strategies for sepsis diagnosis and therapy.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis hijacks host macrophages-derived interleukin 16 to block phagolysosome maturation for enhancing intracellular growth.

The discovery of promising cytokines and clarification of their immunological mechanisms in controlling the intracellular fate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) are necessary to identify effective diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. To escape immune clearance, Mtb can manipulate and inhibit the normal host process of phagosome maturation. Phagosome maturation arrest by Mtb involves multiple effectors and much remains unknown about this important aspect of Mtb pathogenesis. In this study, we found that interleukin 16 (IL-16) is elevated in the serum samples of Tuberculosis (TB) patients and can serve as a specific target for treatment TB. There was a significant difference in IL-16 levels among active TB, latent TB infection (LTBI), and non-TB patients. This study first revealed that macrophages are the major source of IL-16 production in response to Mtb infection, and elucidated that IL-16 can promote Mtb intracellular survival by inhibiting phagosome maturation and suppressing the expression of Rev-erbα which can inhibit IL-10 secretion. The experiments using zebrafish larvae infected with M. marinum and mice challenged with H37Rv demonstrated that reducing IL-16 levels resulted in less severe pathology and improved survival, respectively. In conclusion, this study provided direct evidence that Mtb hijacks the host macrophages-derived interleukin 16 to enhance intracellular growth. It is suggesting the immunosuppressive role of IL-16 during Mtb infection, supporting IL-16 as a promising therapeutic target.

Impacts of glutamate, an exercise-responsive metabolite on insulin signaling.

AIMS: Disruption of the insulin signaling pathway leads to insulin resistance (IR). IR is characterized by impaired glucose and lipid metabolism. Elevated levels of circulating glutamate are correlated with metabolic indicators and may potentially predict the onset of metabolic diseases. Glutamate receptor antagonists have significantly enhanced insulin sensitivity, and improved glucose and lipid metabolism. Exercise is a well-known strategy to combat IR. The aims of our narrative review are to summarize preclinical and clinical findings to show the correlations between circulating glutamate levels, IR and metabolic diseases, discuss the causal role of excessive glutamate in IR and metabolic disturbance, and present an overview of the exercise-induced alteration in circulating glutamate levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search was conducted to identify studies on glutamate, insulin signaling, and exercise in the PubMed database. The search covered articles published from December 1955 to January 2024, using the search terms of "glutamate", "glutamic acid", "insulin signaling", "insulin resistance", "insulin sensitivity", "exercise", and "physical activity". KEY FINDINGS: Elevated levels of circulating glutamate are correlated with IR. Excessive glutamate can potentially hinder the insulin signaling pathway through various mechanisms, including the activation of ectopic lipid accumulation, inflammation, and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Glutamate can also modify mitochondrial function through Ca2+ and induce purine degradation mediated by AMP deaminase 2. Exercise has the potential to decrease circulating levels of glutamate, which can be attributed to accelerated glutamate catabolism and enhanced glutamate uptake. SIGNIFICANCE: Glutamate may act as a mediator in the exercise-induced improvement of insulin sensitivity.

Psychological distress and coping efficacy in children with disorders of gut-brain interaction.

BACKGROUND: Multiple psychological factors influence disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBIs). We aimed to evaluate psychological distress in Colombian schoolchildren with and without DGBIs. METHODS: We included children ages 8-18 years without organic medical conditions from largest regional public schools in Colombia. Children completed Spanish versions of Rome III diagnostic questionnaire for DGBIs, State Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC), Children's Somatization Inventory (CSI), and a measure of coping efficacy. These data, demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, were compared between children with DGBIs and healthy peers. Exploratory analyses investigated differences between youth with symptoms of functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPDs) compared with healthy peers. KEY RESULTS: Of 1496 children, 281 (mean age 12.9 ± 2.2 years, 49.8% females) self-reported criteria for DGBIs and 125 reported (44.5%) FAPDs. Children with DGBIs had higher trait anxiety, emotional sensitivity, somatization including GI, non-GI, pain-related, and non-pain-related subscales (p < 0.001 each) and lower coping efficacy (p = 0.02) compared to healthy peers. Females had higher trait anxiety and somatization (p = 0.04 and p = 0.005, respectively). State and trait anxiety and coping efficacy differed based on location in children with DGBIs (p = 0.02, p = 0.03, and p < 0.001, respectively). Children with FAPDs had higher trait anxiety (p = 0.02) and somatization (p < 0.001) compared to healthy youth. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: Children with DGBIs had higher anxiety, emotional sensitivity, and somatization, and lower coping efficacy compared with healthy youth. This highlights the importance of appraising psychological distress characteristics as well as incorporating conflict resolution, assertiveness training, and resilience building during the treatment of DGBIs.

Predictive Value of Laryngeal Penetration to Aspiration in a Cohort of Pediatric Patients.

Videofluoroscopic swallow studies (VFSS) provide dynamic assessment of the phases of swallowing under fluoroscopic visualization and allow for identification of abnormalities in the process, such as laryngeal penetration and aspiration. While penetration and aspiration both reflect degrees of swallowing dysfunction, the predictive potential of penetration for subsequent aspiration is not fully elucidated in the pediatric population. As a result, management strategies for penetration vary widely. Some providers may interpret any depth or frequency of penetration as a proxy for aspiration and implement various therapeutic interventions (e.g., modification of liquid viscosity) to eliminate penetration episodes. Some may recommend enteral feeding given the presumed risk of aspiration with penetration, even when aspiration is not identified during the study. In contrast, other providers may advise continued oral feeding without modification even when some degree of laryngeal penetration is identified. We hypothesized that the depth of penetration is associated with the likelihood of aspiration. Identification of predictive factors for aspiration following laryngeal penetration events has significant implications for selection of appropriate interventions. We performed a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of a random sample of 97 patients who underwent VFSS in a single tertiary care center over a 6 month period. Demographic variables including primary diagnosis and comorbidities were analyzed. We examined the association between aspiration and degrees of laryngeal penetration (presence or absence, depth, frequency) across diagnostic categories. Infrequent and shallow penetration events of any type of viscosity were less likely to be associated with aspiration event(s) during the same clinical encounter regardless of diagnosis. In contrast, children with consistent deep penetration of thickened liquids invariably demonstrated aspiration during the same study. Our findings show that shallow, intermittent laryngeal penetration of any viscosity type on VFSS was not consistent with clinical aspiration. These results provide further evidence that penetration-aspiration is not a uniform clinical entity and that nuanced interpretation of videofluoroscopic swallowing findings is necessary to guide appropriate therapeutic interventions.

SCD1 is the critical signaling hub to mediate metabolic diseases: Mechanism and the development of its inhibitors.

Metabolic diseases, featured with dysregulated energy homeostasis, have become major global health challenges. Patients with metabolic diseases have high probability to manifest multiple complications in lipid metabolism, e.g. obesity, insulin resistance and fatty liver. Therefore, targeting the hub genes in lipid metabolism may systemically ameliorate the metabolic diseases, along with the complications. Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1(SCD1) is a key enzyme that desaturates the saturated fatty acids (SFAs) derived from de novo lipogenesis or diet to generate monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs). SCD1 maintains the metabolic and tissue homeostasis by responding to, and integrating the multiple layers of endogenous stimuli, which is mediated by the synthesized MUFAs. It critically regulates a myriad of physiological processes, including energy homeostasis, development, autophagy, tumorigenesis and inflammation. Aberrant transcriptional and epigenetic activation of SCD1 regulates AMPK/ACC, SIRT1/PGC1α, NcDase/Wnt, etc, and causes aberrant lipid accumulation, thereby promoting the progression of obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver, diabetes and cancer. This review critically assesses the integrative mechanisms of the (patho)physiological functions of SCD1 in metabolic homeostasis, inflammation and autophagy. For translational perspective, potent SCD1 inhibitors have been developed to treat various types of cancer. We thus discuss the multidisciplinary advances that greatly accelerate the development of SCD1 new inhibitors. In conclusion, besides cancer treatment, SCD1 may serve as the promising target to combat multiple metabolic complications simultaneously.

Attitudes and Intentions toward Use of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) among Adults Receiving Treatment for Opioid Use.

Background: Although pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) prevents HIV, little is known about PrEP awareness and factors associated with intention to take PrEP among people with opioid use disorder (OUD). Methods: HIV-negative adults recruited from an outpatient treatment program in Cincinnati, Ohio completed self-administered surveys. Items derived from literature and health behavioral theory included demographics, sexual and drug use behaviors, HIV prevention practices, PrEP knowledge, and attitudes toward PrEP. Primary outcomes were 1) intention to ask a clinician about PrEP and 2) intention to accept PrEP if recommended by a clinician. Outcomes were dichotomized into higher vs. lower intention for analyses in logistic regression models. Results: Among 198 participants, 60.3% reported past injection drug use. Among 58 participants (29.3%) meeting criteria for PrEP, 24% were aware of PrEP, 15.5% had discussed it with a clinician, and 5% had taken it. Factors associated with intention to ask a clinician about PrEP included being somewhat confident about consistent condom use (p < 0.01), motivation to comply with normative beliefs (p < 0.01), and reporting that PrEP fits very well (p < 0.01) and is easy to fit (p < 0.01) into current prevention practices. Factors associated with intention to accept PrEP if recommended by a clinician included motivation to comply with normative beliefs (p < 0.01) and PrEP being easy to fit into current prevention practices (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Among participants meeting indications for PrEP, only 24% were aware of it and few had taken it. Interventions that normalize PrEP and target incorporating PrEP into current prevention practices may improve uptake among individuals with OUD.

Effectiveness and safety of regimens containing linezolid for treatment of Mycobacterium abscessus pulmonary Disease.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of linezolid-containing regimens for treatment of M. abscessus pulmonary disease. METHODS: The records of 336 patients with M. abscessus pulmonary disease who were admitted to Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital from January 2018 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 164 patients received a linezolid-containing regimen and 172 controls did not. The effectiveness, safety, antibiotic susceptibility profiles, outcomes, culture conversion, cavity closure, and adverse reactions were compared in these two groups. RESULTS: The two groups had similar treatment success (56.1% vs. 48.8%; P > 0.05), but treatment duration was shorter in the linezolid group (16.0 months [inter-quartile ranges, IQR: 15.0-17.0] vs. 18.0 months [IQR: 16.0-18.0]; P < 0.01). The rates of sputum culture conversion were similar (53.7% vs. 46.5%, P > 0.05), but time to conversion was shorter in the linezolid group (3.5 months [IQR: 2.5-4.4] vs. 5.5 months [IQR: 4.0-6.8]; P < 0.01). The linezolid group had a higher rate of cavity closure (55.2% vs. 28.6%, P < 0.05) and a shorter time to cavity closure (3.5 months [IQR: 2.5-4.4] vs. 5.5 months [IQR: 4.0-6.8]; P < 0.01). Anemia and peripheral neuropathy were more common in the linezolid group (17.7% vs. 1.7%, P < 0.01; 12.8% vs. 0.6%, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The linezolid and control groups had similar treatment success rates. The linezolid group had a shorter treatment duration, shorter time to sputum culture conversion, and higher rate and shorter time to lung cavity closure. More patients receiving linezolid developed anemia and peripheral neuropathy.

Melanoseriskangdingensis (Lactucinae, Cichorieae, Asteraceae), a new species reported from western Sichuan, China.

Melanoseriskangdingensis, a new species native to western Sichuan, China, is firstly described and illustrated, and its conservation status is also assessed. It bears resemblance to M.macrantha and M.bracteata in terms of morphology; however, there are distinguishing characteristics in terms of their leaf structure, presence of bracts, hairiness of involucre, number of florets, and length of both stamen tube and achene's beak.

Radiographic Assessment of Cleft Alveolar Bone Defects: A Preliminary Comparison of Periapical and Cone Beam Computed Tomography Images.

BACKGROUND & PURPOSE: Accurate radiographic assessment of secondary alveolar bone grafting (SABG) is critical in evaluating SABG outcomes in patients with cleft lip and palate. This study compared Periapical (PA) and Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) grading of SABG outcomes and conducted an analysis of agreement rate between the two imaging modalities. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed of patients who underwent secondary alveolar bone grafting at a single institution. Bone quality of the alveolar cleft site was assessed at three root levels of the adjacent teeth on PA and CBCT images. RESULTS: 48 patients had pre- or post-operative images with both CBCT and PA that were appropriate for comparison. A total of 174 alveolar bone sections (three root levels of adjacent teeth in 58 pairs) were graded on CBCT and PA images. Agreement of CBCT grading with PA grading was 41.3% (72/174) overall. CBCT assessments rated bone quality lower than PA grading in 51.2% (89/174) of sections. CBCT had higher grading than PA image grading in 7.5% (13/174) of sections. The weighted Cohen Kappa value for comparison of CBCT and PA readings was 0.17, indicating a low rate of agreement. Wilcoxon signed rank test demonstrated that the difference between grading on CBCT and PA assessments was statistically significant (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: CBCT and PA readings demonstrated an overall low rate of agreement in the assessment of cleft alveolar bone. This investigation suggests that PA radiographs have lower sensitivity in detecting poor bone grafting outcomes.