A 14-year registry review (2007-2020) on nail involvement among patients with psoriasis in Malaysia.

Nail psoriasis affects 20 to 30% of psoriasis patients and is an early predictor of psoriatic arthropathy (PsA). We have evaluated the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and impact on quality of life of patients with nail psoriasis. We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study was of patients registered with The Malaysian Psoriasis Registry (MPR) from 1 January 1, 2007 through 31 December 31, 2020. Of the 24147 patients, 13081 (54.2%) had nail psoriasis. Patients with nail psoriasis had la ater onset of psoriasis (34.0±16.6 vs 32.9±17.6 years, p<0.001) and longer disease duration (11.4±10.5 vs 8.5±9.4 years, p<0.01), with a male to female ratio of 1.2:1. They were more likely to have a family history of psoriasis, cardiometabolic diseases, smoking history, higher body mass index, severe disease, PsA, face and scalp involvement and higher mean Dermatology Life Quality Index scores (9.36±6.84 vs 8.87±6.60). Systemic treatment and biologics were more commonly prescribed in this cohort (25.0% vs 13.2%, p<0.001). Overall, 54.2% of the MPR patients had nail involvement. Nail psoriasis was associated with longer duration of psoriasis, older age of onset, male gender, and a family history of psoriasis. It proved to be an important predictor for PsA, severe psoriasis, face and scalp involvement, increased cardiometabolic risk, and a greater impairment of quality of life.

A novel approach for perfusion process design based on a "Grey-Box" kinetic model.

Perfusion cell-culture mode has caught industrial interest in the field of biomanufacturing in recent years. Thanks to new technology, perfusion-culture processes can support higher cell densities, higher productivities and longer process times. However, due to the inherent operational complexity and high running costs, the development and design of perfusion-culture processes remain challenging. Here, we present a model-based approach to design optimized perfusion cultures of Chinese Hamster Ovary cells. Initially, four batches of bench-top reactor continuous-perfusion-culture data were used to fit the model parameters. Then, we proposed the model-based process design approach, aiming to quickly find out the "theoretically optimal" operational parameters combinations (perfusion rate and the proportion of feed medium in perfusion medium) which could achieve the target steady-state VCD while minimizing both medium cost and perfusion rate during steady state. Meanwhile, we proposed a model-based dynamic operational parameters-adjustment strategy to address the issue of cell-growth inhibition due to the high osmolality of concentrated perfusion medium. In addition, we employed a dynamic feedback control method to aid this strategy in preventing potential nutrient depletion scenarios. Finally, we test the feasibility of the model-based process design approach in both shake flask semi-perfusion culture (targeted at 5 × 107 cells/ml) and bench-top reactor continuous perfusion culture (targeted at 1.1 × 108 cells/ml). This approach significantly reduces the number of experiments needed for process design and development, thereby accelerating the advancement of perfusion-mode cell-culture processes.

Current status of resident simulation training curricula: pearls and pitfalls.

BACKGROUND: Residency programs are required to incorporate simulation into their training program. Ideally, simulation provides a safe environment for a trainee to be exposed to both common and challenging clinical scenarios. The purpose of this review is to detail the current state of the most commonly used laparoscopic, endoscopic, and robotic surgery simulation programs in general surgery residency education, including resources required for successful implementation and benchmarks for evaluation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Members of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) Resident and Fellow Task Force (RAFT) Committee performed a literature review using PubMed and training websites. Information regarding the components of the most commonly used laparoscopic, endoscopic, and/or robotic simulation curriculum, including both formal and informal benchmarks for evaluating training competence, were collected. RESULTS: Laparoscopic simulation revolves around the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS). Proficiency-based as well as virtual simulation have been utilized for FLS training curricula. Challenges include less direct translation to the technical complexities that can arise in laparoscopic surgery. Endoscopic simulation focuses on the Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery. There are virtual reality simulation platforms that can be used for skills assessment and training. Challenges include simulator types and access, as well as structured mentoring and feedback. Robotic simulation training curricula have not been standardized. Simulation includes one primary technology, which can be prohibitive based on cost and requirements for onboarding. CONCLUSIONS: While surgical simulation seems to be a fundamental and integrated part of surgical training, it requires a significant number of resources, which can be daunting for residency training programs. Regardless of the barriers outlined, the need for surgical simulation in laparoscopy, endoscopy, and robotics at surgical education training programs is clear.

Chemical characterization and influencing factors of gaseous and particulate components in cooking oil fume (COF) from traditional Chinese dishes: Insights from high-resolution mass spectrometry.

Cooking oil fumes (COF) are known to emit a wide range of organic compounds with significant impacts on human health and urban air quality. This study used HPLC-QToF-MS and Vocus PTR-TOF to explore the chemical constituents and influencing factors of the COF generated from eight typical Chinese dishes representing different areas in a laboratory kitchen. The results revealed that both CHO and CHON compounds exhibited strong reducibility and saturability, with CHO compounds being the dominant and CHON compounds showing greater diversity. 24 among 168 CHO compounds were identical with those generated from heating soybean oil, representing 72.4%-92.3% in abundance and 22.2%-29.2% in quantity. That was 5 among 113 CHON compounds, accounting for 7.8%-10% in abundance and 4.7%-6.7% in quantity. These findings suggest that the major CHO compounds from heating soybean oil continued to dominate the abundances in dishes. The diversity of CHO compounds and the presence of CHON compounds were influenced by the food ingredients. The VOC analysis indicated that oxygen-containing organics were the major components. 6 identical VOC species between cooking dishes and heating soybean oil were identified, comprising 36.02%-67.84% of the total VOCs mass. Notably, poor ventilation could result in even higher COF concentrations in the connected room compared to the kitchen itself.

Recurrent Hypoglycemia in a 67-Year-Old Woman with CD5- Positive Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma.

Hypoglycemia is a rare complication of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. We are presenting a case of 67-year-old woman presented to her primary care physician with fatigue and hyperhidrosis. Laboratory evaluation revealed a glucose level of 1.9 mmol/L. Computed tomographic scan of the abdomen and subsequent positron emission tomographic scan revealed extensive lymphadenopathy. The patient was then diagnosed with CD5-positive-diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and developed recurrent hypoglycemia despite continuous infusion of glucose. Following immunochemotherapy, hypoglycemia was resolved. Several explanations have been postulated but the exact pathophysiology is not well understood. Further investigation is warranted to more clearly define the pathophysiology of persistent hypoglycemia in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Bibliometric analysis of Mongolian medicine and medicinal materials in China since 2000.

Aim of the study: To analyze the progress in Mongolian medicine and medicinal materials and to highlight its development process, emerging trends, and hotspots. Materials and methods: Papers on Mongolian medicine and medicinal materials from January 2000 to May 2022 were retrieved from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database. Using the collaboration network analysis of CiteSpace V and VOSviewer software, the cooperation among individuals and institutions in the field of scientific research was analyzed. The functions of frequency analysis, cluster analysis, and burst analysis were employed to conduct bibliometric analysis on research hotspots and trends in the field of Mongolian medicine research. Furthermore, the data visualization function was utilized to clearly display data trends and changes. Results: A total of 8362 papers on Mongolian medicine medicinal materials from CNKI were identified and analyzed.The research on Mongolian medicine has gone through three stages: the initial stage, the exploratory stage, and the developmental stage. The top two institutions in the number of papers are Inner Mongolia Medical University and Inner Mongolia University for Nationalities. Bagenna from Inner Mongolia Medical University is the author with the most papers. "clinical efficacy", "clinical research", and "quality standards" were the most frequently used keywords. Research in the field of Mongolian medicine has focused on several diseases, including skeletal system disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and digestive system disorders. Conclusion: Since 2000, there have been growing attention and efforts made in the field of Mongolian medicine and medicinal materials. The research in the field of Mongolian medicine had undergone three stages, namely the initial stage, the exploratory stage, and the developmental stage. The focus shifted from basic research such as the analysis of medicinal ingredients in Mongolian herbs to the application-oriented directions of traditional treatment techniques and advantageous diseases in Mongolian medicine. To make breakthroughs in this field, further research is needed to improve the persuasiveness and authority of Mongolian medicine and medicinal materials in terms of mechanism, standardization, and safety, to promote the development of Mongolian medicine and medicinal materials.

Psychometric evaluation of the Chinese version of the Academic Resilience Scale-30 (C-ARS-30) in college students.

Background: Amidst the expansion of student enrollment in higher education, the well-being and retention rates of students have emerged as important concerns. Resilience, especially academic resilience, a multidimensional construct that can lead to academic success in adversity, is pivotal in enabling students to successfully cope with academic challenges. While the Academic Resilience Scale-30 (ARS-30) has been validated as an effective instrument in various languages, its applicability for Chinese students in higher education remains unexplored. Objective: This study aims to translate and validate the ARS-30 in Chinese, assessing its reliability and validity among Chinese college students in higher education. Methods: A convenience sample of 1,542 students participated in this study. The inventory included the demographic form, Chinese version of ARS-30 (C-ARS-30), 10-item Connor Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10), and General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES). The assessment of validity was conducted by analyzing content validity, construct validity, convergent and discriminant validity, as well as criterion-related validity. Construct validity was evaluated through Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling (ESEM). Reliability analysis was performed using Cronbach's alpha and test-retest reliability. Results: The C-ARS-30 demonstrated commendable content validity, with the CVI value of items ranging from 0.833 to 1.000, and a total scale CVI of 0.986. ESEM analysis revealed a solid four-factor structure, maintaining the scale's 30 items with excellent fit indices (χ2/df = 2.647, CFI = 0.937, TLI = 0.915, RMSEA = 0.057, SRMR = 0.027). The total score of C-ARS-30 exhibited positive correlations with the CD-RISC-10 (r = 0.542) and the GSES (r = 0.488). The scale demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.930) and test-retest reliability (0.794, p < 0.01). Conclusion: The C-ARS-30 is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing academic resilience among Chinese college students, offering a valuable tool for educational and psychological evaluations.

[A comparative study of four combined methods for planning access to the anterior acetabular column for nail placement].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate global optimisation of anterior acetabular column pinning channels can be achieved based on large density point cloud data. METHODS: Data were collected on the CT scans of the normal pelvis in 40 adults from January 2022 to January 2023, including 22 males and 18 females, aged 20 to 54 years old. Medical imaging data from three of the samples were selected for experimental study. In planning access for anterior acetabular column pinning, to address the issue of whether the current CAD planning methods were advanced or not, four combinations of the same point cloud acquisition channels, different directional line creation software, and the same 3D design and virtual experiment software were proposed: Mimics+Imageware+UG, Mimics+3DReshaper+UG, Mimics+ZEISS Quality Suite+UG and Mimics+Design X+UG, and directional lines created based on the centroid point set and solid point cloud of the secondary pruning model, respectively, and it applied to the planning of the left anterior column pinning channel of the three acetabular samples. The maximum internally connected cylinder without acetabular socket and pubic bone penetration was used as a safe passage for nailing of the anterior acetabular column to evaluate the advancement of each method. RESULTS: The fitting effect of the directional line was better than that of the unnoised solid point cloud when the central point set with obvious relevant features was selected as the sample points;and the combination of Mimics+Imageware+UG and Mimics+3DReshaper+UG could efficiently and stably obtain the desirable planning results when planning with the central point set, respectively, in the three acetabular samples 1, 2, 3. The maximum internal joint circle diameters obtained in samples 1, 2, and 3 were 10.35 mm, 9.62 mm, and 9.24 mm;and when the directional lines were based on the solid point cloud the combined methods of Mimics+ZEISS Quality Suite+UG and Mimics+Design X+UG were not applicable;whereas the Mimics+3DReshaper+UG the solid point cloud denoising planning method could stably obtain the maximum value of the safe channel for nail placement, and the maximum internal joint circle diameters obtained in acetabular samples 1, 2, and 3 are 10.66 mm, 10.96 mm, and 9.48 mm, respectively. CONCLUSION: It is recommended that the nail placement channel planners use robust Mimics+Imageware+UG or Mimics+3DReshaper+UG centre point set planning method, and if there is enough time, it is recommended to use the solid point cloud denoising planning method of Mimics+3DReshaper+UG in order to obtain the maximum value of safe channels for nail placement.

Polymorphism in the Hsa-miR-4274 seed region influences the expression of PEX5 and enhances radiotherapy resistance in colorectal cancer.

Identifying biomarkers for predicting radiotherapy efficacy is crucial for optimizing personalized treatments. We previously reported that rs1553867776 in the miR-4274 seed region can predict survival in patients with rectal cancer receiving postoperative chemoradiation therapy. Hence, to investigate the molecular mechanism of the genetic variation and its impact on the radiosensitivity of colorectal cancer (CRC), in this study, bioinformatics analysis is combined with functional experiments to confirm peroxisomal biogenesis factor 5 (PEX5) as a direct target of miR-4274. The miR-4274 rs1553867776 variant influences the binding of miR-4274 and PEX5 mRNA, which subsequently regulates PEX5 protein expression. The interaction between PEX5 and Ku70 was verified by co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence. A xenograft tumor model was established to validate the effects of miR-4274 and PEX5 on CRC progression and radiosensitivity in vivo. The overexpression of PEX5 enhances radiosensitivity by preventing Ku70 from entering the nucleus and reducing the repair of ionizing radiation (IR)-induced DNA damage by the Ku70/Ku80 complex in the nucleus. In addition, the enhanced expression of PEX5 is associated with increased IR-induced ferroptosis. Thus, targeting this mechanism might effectively increase the radiosensitivity of CRC. These findings offer novel insights into the mechanism of cancer radioresistance and have important implications for clinical radiotherapy.

Exploring the immunometabolic potential of Danggui Buxue Decoction for the treatment of IBD-related colorectal cancer.

Danggui Buxue (DGBX) decoction is a classical prescription composed of Astragali Radix (AR) and Angelicae Sinensis Radix (ASR), used to enrich blood, and nourish Qi in Chinese medicine, with the potential to recover energy and stimulate metabolism. Chronic inflammation is a risk factor in the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-related colorectal cancer (CRC). More importantly, AR and ASR have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities, as well as prefiguring a potential effect on inflammation-cancer transformation. We, therefore, aimed to review the immunometabolism potential of DGBX decoction and its components in this malignant transformation, to provide a helpful complement to manage the risk of IBD-CRC. The present study investigates the multifaceted roles of DGBX decoction and its entire components AR and ASR, including anti-inflammation effects, anti-cancer properties, immune regulation, and metabolic regulation. This assessment is informed by a synthesis of scholarly literature, with more than two hundred articles retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases within the past two decades. The search strategy employed utilized keywords such as "Danggui Buxue", "Astragali Radix", "Angelicae Sinensis Radix", "Inflammation", and "Metabolism", alongside the related synonyms, with a particular emphasis on high-quality research and studies yielding significant findings. The potential of DGBX decoction in modulating immunometabolism holds promise for the treatment of IBD-related CRC. It is particularly relevant given the heterogeneity of CRC and the growing trend towards personalized medicine, but the precise and detailed mechanism necessitate further in vivo validation and extensive clinical studies to substantiate the immunometabolic modulation and delineate the pathways involved.

Fluctuation theorem in the quantum Otto engine with long-range interaction.

The fluctuation of the quantum Otto engine has recently received a lot of attention, while applying the many body with a long-range interaction to a quantum heat engine may enhance our ability of controlling it. Using the two-point measurement and its generalization, we explore the fluctuation theorem of work and heat in a single stroke as well as in a cycle. We discover that the fluctuations of work in a cycle as well as fluctuations of heat in a single stroke or cycle can be connected to the fluctuation of work in a single stroke. Then we numerically investigate the effect of a long-range interaction on these fluctuation theorems, and our result shows that the fluctuation can be improved by manipulating the long-range interaction.

The effect of bacteria on uranium sequestration stability by different forms of phosphorus.

Immobilisation of uranium (U (VI)) by direct precipitation of uranyl phosphate (U-P) exhibits a great potential application in the remediation of U (VI)-contaminated environments. However, phosphorus, vital element of bacteria's decomposition, absorption and transformationmay affect the stability of U (VI) with ageing time. The main purpose of this work is to study the effect of bacteria on uranium sequestration mechanism and stability by different forms of phosphorus in a water sedimentary system. The results showed that phosphate effectively enhanced the removal of U (VI), with 99.84%. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (SEM-EDS), and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) analyses imply that U (VI) and U (IV) co-exist on the surface of the samples. Combined with BCR results, it demonstrated that bacteria and phosphorus have a synergistic effect on the removal of U (VI), realising the immobilisation of U (VI) from a transferable phase to a stable phase. However, from a long-term perspective, the redissolution and release of uranium immobilisation of U (VI) by pure bacteria with ageing time are worthy of attention, especially in uranium mining environments rich in sensitive substances. This observation implies that the stability of the uranium may be impacted by the prevailing environmental conditions. The novel findings could provide theoretical evidence for U (VI) bio-immobilisation in U (VI)-contaminated environments.

Comparative study on efficiency of surface enhanced coal fly ash and raw coal fly ash for the removal of hazardous dyes in wastewater: optimization through response surface methodology.

Crystal violet (CV) dye, because of its non-biodegradability and harmful effects, poses a significant challenge for wastewater treatment. This study addresses the efficiency of easily accessible coal fly ash (CFA)-based adsorbents such as raw coal fly ash (RCFA) and surface enhanced coal fly ash (SECFA), in removing CV dye from waste effluents. Various analytical techniques such as FTIR, XRD, SEM, TEM, BET, zeta sizer and zeta potential were employed for the characterization of the adsorbents and dye-loaded samples. BET revealed that RCFA possesses a surface area of 19.370 m2 g-1 and SECFA of 27.391 m2 g-1, exhibiting pore volumes of 0.1365 cm3 g-1 and 0.1919 cm3 g-1 respectively. Zeta-sizer and potential analysis showed the static charges of RCFA as -27.3 mV and SECFA as -28.2 mV, with average particle sizes of 346.6 and 315.3 nm, respectively. Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms were also employed for adsorption studies. Employing central composite design (CCD) of response surface methodology (RSM), the maximum CV removal was 81.52% for RCFA and 97.52% for SECFA, providing one minute contact time, 0.0125 g adsorbent dose and 10 ppm dye concentration. From the thermodynamic studies, all the negative values of ΔG° showed that all the adsorption processes of both adsorbents were spontaneous in nature.

A synthetic TLR4 agonist significantly increases humoral immune responses and the protective ability of an MDCK-cell-derived inactivated H7N9 vaccine in mice.

Antigenically divergent H7N9 viruses pose a potential threat to public health, with the poor immunogenicity of candidate H7N9 vaccines demonstrated in clinical trials underscoring the urgent need for more-effective H7N9 vaccines. In the present study, mice were immunized with various doses of a suspended-MDCK-cell-derived inactivated H7N9 vaccine, which was based on a low-pathogenic H7N9 virus, to assess cross-reactive immunity and cross-protection against antigenically divergent H7N9 viruses. We found that the CRX-527 adjuvant, a synthetic TLR4 agonist, significantly enhanced the humoral immune responses of the suspended-MDCK-cell-derived H7N9 vaccine, with significant antigen-sparing and immune-enhancing effects, including robust virus-specific IgG, hemagglutination-inhibiting (HI), neuraminidase-inhibiting (NI), and virus-neutralizing (VN) antibody responses, which are crucial for protection against influenza virus infection. Moreover, the CRX-527-adjuvanted H7N9 vaccine also elicited cross-protective immunity and cross-protection against a highly pathogenic H7N9 virus with a single vaccination. Notably, NI and VN antibodies might play an important role in cross-protection against lethal influenza virus infections. This study showed that a synthetic TLR4 agonist adjuvant has a potent immunopotentiating effect, which might be considered worth further development as a means of increasing vaccine effectiveness.

Developmental milestones and daily living skills in individuals with Angelman syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Angelman syndrome (AS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with severe global developmental delay. However, the ages at which different developmental skills are achieved in these individuals remain unclear. We seek to determine the probability and the age of acquisition of specific developmental milestones and daily living skills in individuals with AS across the different molecular subtypes, viz. class I deletion, class II deletion, uniparental disomy, imprinting defect, and UBE3A variants. METHODS: Caregivers participating in a longitudinal multicenter Angelman Syndrome Natural History Study completed a questionnaire regarding the age at which their children achieved specific developmental milestones and daily living skills. The Cox Proportional Hazard model was applied to analyze differences in the probability of achievement of skills at various ages among five molecular subtypes of AS. RESULTS: Almost all individuals, regardless of molecular subtype, were able to walk with support by five years of age. By age 15, those with a deletion had at least a 50% probability of acquiring 17 out of 30 skills compared to 25 out of 30 skills among those without a deletion. Overall, fine and gross motor skills such as holding and reaching for small objects, sitting, and walking with support were achieved within a fairly narrow range of ages, while toileting, feeding, and hygiene skills tend to have greater variability in the ages at which these skills were achieved. Those without a deletion had a higher probability (25-92%) of achieving daily living skills such as independently toileting and dressing compared to those with a deletion (0-13%). Across all molecular subtypes, there was a low probability of achieving independence in bathing and brushing teeth. CONCLUSION: Individuals with AS without a deletion are more likely to achieve developmental milestones and daily living skills at an earlier age than those with a deletion. Many individuals with AS are unable to achieve daily living skills necessary for independent self-care.

[Effects of Different Proportions of Ammonium Sulfate Replacing Urea on Soil Nutrients and Rhizosphere Microbial Communities].

In order to investigate the effects of ammonium sulfate, an industrial by-product, on soil nutrients and microbial community when applied in different proportions instead of using urea as nitrogen fertilizer, a pot corn experiment was conducted. A completely randomized block experimental design was used, with a total of five treatments:CK (no fertilization), U10S0 (100 % urea), U8S2 (80 % urea + 20 % ammonium sulfate), U6S4(60 % urea + 40 % ammonium sulfate), and U0S10 (100 % ammonium sulfate). The basic physical and chemical properties of soil and the dry weight of maize plants were determined by conventional methods, and microbial sequencing was performed using the Illumina NovaSeq platform. The experiment results showed that:① In each growth stage of maize, the pH of soil treated with fertilization (7.85-8.15) was decreased compared with that of CK (8.1-8.21), and the pH showed a decreasing trend with the increase in ammonium sulfate content. ② The soil available nitrogen content increased gradually with the increase in the ammonium sulfate ratio at each growth stage of maize. Compared with that in the CK and U10S0 treatments, the ratio in the U0S10 treatment increased 30.56 % to 63.68 % and 13.22 % to 38.43 %, respectively. The variation trend of organic carbon content was opposite to that of available nitrogen (U8S2 > U6S4 > U0S10), and the addition of ammonium sulfate was still higher than that of U10S0 at other growth stages except for the seedling stage. ③ The protease activity of all fertilization treatments was higher than that of the control, and the protease activity was gradually enhanced with the continuous growth of corn and the increase in the ammonium sulfate ratio. The protease activity of the U0S10 treatment was higher than that of the U10S0 treatment at each growth stage of corn, which increased by 10.54 %-100 %. Soil sucrase activity ranged from 0.04 to 0.24 mg·(g·24 h)-1, and those in the U0S10 treatments were significantly higher than those in the U10S0 and CK treatments at all growth stages, increasing by 20.32 % to 99.16 % and 24.31 % to 79.33 %, respectively. ④ The species abundance of bacteria and fungi in maize rhizosphere under all fertilization treatments were lower than those under the CK treatment, followed by those under the U10S0 treatment. The species diversity trend of the bacterial community in the three treatments with ammonium sulfate replacing urea were U8S2 > U0S10 > U6S4, and that of fungi were U6S4 > U8S2 > U0S10. ⑤ The maize dry weight of the U10S0 treatment and U0S10 treatment was the highest, which was 39.47 % and 36.16 % higher than that of the CK treatment, respectively, but the difference was not significant. The Pearson model showed that the species abundance and diversity of soil rhizosphere fungi and bacteria were affected by relevant environmental variables, among which pH value and soil available nitrogen content were the most important factors affecting microbial diversity. In conclusion, when corn planting in calcareous brown soil, replacing urea with a certain proportion of ammonium sulfate can improve soil nutrients more than urea alone, which affects the growth and rhizosphere microbial community of corn to a certain extent and has a greater yield.

A candidate sex determination locus in amphibians which evolved by structural variation between X- and Y-chromosomes.

Most vertebrates develop distinct females and males, where sex is determined by repeatedly evolved environmental or genetic triggers. Undifferentiated sex chromosomes and large genomes have caused major knowledge gaps in amphibians. Only a single master sex-determining gene, the dmrt1-paralogue (dm-w) of female-heterogametic clawed frogs (Xenopus; ZW♀/ZZ♂), is known across >8740 species of amphibians. In this study, by combining chromosome-scale female and male genomes of a non-model amphibian, the European green toad, Bufo(tes) viridis, with ddRAD- and whole genome pool-sequencing, we reveal a candidate master locus, governing a male-heterogametic system (XX♀/XY♂). Targeted sequencing across multiple taxa uncovered structural X/Y-variation in the 5'-regulatory region of the gene bod1l, where a Y-specific non-coding RNA (ncRNA-Y), only expressed in males, suggests that this locus initiates sex-specific differentiation. Developmental transcriptomes and RNA in-situ hybridization show timely and spatially relevant sex-specific ncRNA-Y and bod1l-gene expression in primordial gonads. This coincided with differential H3K4me-methylation in pre-granulosa/pre-Sertoli cells, pointing to a specific mechanism of amphibian sex determination.

Association between socioeconomic and motherhood characteristics with receiving community-based treatment services among justice-involved young female drug users: a retrospective cohort study in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Drug-involved individuals who contact treatment services in Taiwan are mostly driven by criminal justice systems either as an alternative or adjunct to criminal sanctions for a drug offence. With a focus on justice-involved young female drug users, the present study examines the extent to which socioeconomic and motherhood characteristics are associated with receiving deferred prosecution, a scheme diverting drug offenders to community-based addiction treatment. METHODS: We identified a cohort of 5869 women under the age of 30 arrested for using Schedule II drugs (primarily amphetamine-like stimulants) from the 2011-2017 National Police Criminal Records in Taiwan. Information concerning socioeconomic characteristics, pregnancy and live birth history, and deferred prosecution was obtained through linkage with the 2006-2019 National Health Insurance, birth registration, and deferred prosecution datasets. Multinomial logistic regression was used to evaluate the association with stratification by recidivism status. RESULTS: Within six months of arrest, 21% of first-time offenders (n = 2645) received deferred prosecution and 23% received correction-based rehabilitation; the corresponding estimates for recidivists (n = 3224) were 6% and 15%, respectively. Among first-time offenders, low/unstable income was associated with lower odds of deferred prosecution (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.71; 95% CI: 0.58, 0.88). For recidivists, those with low/unstable income (aOR = 1.58) or unemployment (aOR = 1.58) had higher odds of correction-based rehabilitation; being pregnant at arrest was linked with reduced odds of deferred prosecution (aOR = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.13, 0.71) and correction-based rehabilitation (aOR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.32, 0.77). CONCLUSIONS: For the young women arrested for drug offences, disadvantaged socioeconomic conditions were generally unfavored by the diversion to treatment in the community. Childbearing upon arrest may lower not only the odds of receiving medical treatment but also correctional intervention. The criminal prosecution policy and process should be informed by female drug offenders' need for treatment and recovery.

Immune-inflammatory modulation by natural products derived from edible and medicinal herbs used in Chinese classical prescriptions.

BACKGROUND: Edible and medicinal herbs1 (EMHs) refer to a class of substances with dual attribution of food and medicine. These substances are traditionally used as food and also listed in many international pharmacopoeias, including the European Pharmacopoeia, the United States Pharmacopoeia, and the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Some classical formulas that are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine include a series of EMHs, which have been shown to be effective with obvious characteristics and advantages. Notably, these EMHs and Chinese classical prescriptions2 (CCPs) have also attracted attention in international herbal medicine research because of their low toxicity and high efficiency as well as the rich body of experience for their long-term clinical use. PURPOSE: Our purpose is to explore the potential therapeutic effect of EMHs with immune-inflammatory modulation for the study of modern cancer drugs. STUDY DESIGN: In the present study, we present a detailed account of some EMHs used in CCPs that have shown considerable research potential in studies exploring modern drugs with immune-inflammatory modulation. METHODS: Approximately 500 publications in the past 30 years were collected from PubMed, Web of Science and ScienceDirect using the keywords, such as natural products, edible and medicinal herbs, Chinese medicine, classical prescription, immune-inflammatory, tumor microenvironment and some related synonyms. The active ingredients instead of herbal extracts or botanical mixtures were focused on and the research conducted over the past decade were discussed emphatically and analyzed comprehensively. RESULTS: More than ten natural products derived from EMHs used in CCPs are discussed and their immune-inflammatory modulation activities, including enhancing antitumor immunity, regulating inflammatory signaling pathways, lowering the proportion of immunosuppressive cells, inhibiting the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, immunosuppressive factors, and inflammatory mediators, are summarized. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate the immune-inflammatory modulating role of those EMHs used in CCPs and provide new ideas for cancer treatment in clinical settings.

Prevalence and Patterns of Insomnia Symptoms Among People Aged 65 and Above in Guangdong Province, China.

Objective: This survey investigated the prevalence, distribution, and correlative factors of insomnia symptoms among people aged 65 and above in Guangdong Province, China. Methods: The Guangdong Mental Health Survey was conducted on the elderly in all 21 cities of Guangdong Province from September to December 2021. Multistage stratified cluster sampling was adopted, and 16 377 adult residents were interviewed face-to-face, from which 4001 elderly participants aged 65 and above were included for this study. Complex weighted adjustment methods were applied to weight the data. Multinomial logistic regression was applied to test the independent associations of clinical insomnia symptoms (CIS) and subthreshold insomnia symptoms (SIS) with the factors. Results: The pooled estimate of insomnia symptoms was 13.44% [95% confidence interval (CI): 12.2 %-14.7%]. The 1-month weighted prevalence of SIS and CIS were 11.15% (95% CI: 10.05%-12.37%) and 2.28% (95%CI: 1.77%-2.94%), respectively. Multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that urban residence, irregular diet, low body mass index, chronic disease, napping 3-4/week, early changes in dementia, symptoms of subthreshold depression, subthreshold generalized anxiety, and generalized anxiety disorder were positively associated with SIS. Additionally, living in urban areas, having chronic diseases, symptoms of subthreshold depression, major depressive disorder, subthreshold generalized anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder were positively associated with CIS. Conclusion: Insomnia symptoms, including CIS and SIS, were prevalent among the elderly in Guangdong Province. Given the high burden of CIS and SIS, policymakers and healthcare professionals must explore and treat the related factors accordingly.