Aptamer-based assembly systems for SARS-CoV-2 detection and therapeutics.

Nucleic acid aptamers are oligonucleotide chains with molecular recognition properties. Compared with antibodies, aptamers show advantages given that they are readily produced via chemical synthesis and elicit minimal immunogenicity in biomedicine applications. Notably, aptamer-encoded nucleic acid assemblies further improve the binding affinity of aptamers with the targets due to their multivalent synergistic interactions. Specially, aptamers can be engineered with special topological arrangements in nucleic acid assemblies, which demonstrate spatial and valence matching towards antigens on viruses, thus showing potential in the detection and therapeutic applications of viruses. This review presents the recent progress on the aptamers explored for SARS-CoV-2 detection and infection treatment, wherein applications of aptamer-based assembly systems are introduced in detail. Screening methods and chemical modification strategies for aptamers are comprehensively summarized, and the types of aptamers employed against different target domains of SARS-CoV-2 are illustrated. The evolution of aptamer-based assembly systems for the detection and neutralization of SARS-CoV-2, as well as the construction principle and characteristics of aptamer-based DNA assemblies are demonstrated. The typically representative works are presented to demonstrate how to assemble aptamers rationally and elaborately for specific applications in SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis and neutralization. Finally, we provide deep insights into the current challenges and future perspectives towards aptamer-based nucleic acid assemblies for virus detection and neutralization in nanomedicine.

Development and reproduction of Scirtothrips dorsalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on six host plant species.

Host plants can strongly influence the population performance of insects. Here, we investigated the development, survival, and oviposition of Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood on 6 host plants-Camellia sinensis ( L.) Kuntze (Ericales: Theaceae), Rosa chinensis Jacq. (Rosales: Rosaceae), Capsicum annuum L. (Solanales: Solanaceae), Eustoma grandiflorum (Hook.) G.Don (Gentianales: Gentianaceae), Glycine max (L.) Merr. (Fabales: Fabaceae), and Cucumis sativus L. (Cucurbitales: Cucurbitaceae), and constructed life tables for S. dorsalis on each plant. Significant differences in S. dorsalis development on the host species were observed. The mean developmental period from egg to adult was 11.45 ±â€…0.12 days, 11.24 ±â€…0.13 days, 12.08 ±â€…0.15 days, 12.28 ±â€…0.12 days, 12.67 ±â€…0.10 days, and 13.03 ±â€…0.11 days on C. sinensis, R. chinensis, C. annuum, E. grandiflorum, G. max, and C. sativus, respectively. Significant differences in survival of S. dorsalis were observed, namely, C. sinensis ≈ R. chinensis > E. grandiflorum ≈ C. annuum > G. max > C. sativus. The highest and lowest fecundities of S. dorsalis were recorded on R. chinensis (60.44 ±â€…1.53) and C. sativus (28.64 ±â€…1.02), respectively. Both of the net reproductive rate (R0) and intrinsic rate of increase (rm) of S. dorsalis were the highest on R. chinensis, with the values of 27.63 ±â€…0.58 and 0.142 ±â€…0.002, respectively; while the lowest on C. sativus, with the values of 8.81 ±â€…0.12 and 0.092 ±â€…0.003, respectively. Thus, R. chinensis was found to be the most suitable host, but C. sativus was the least suitable, for population development of S. dorsalis. Our results provide important information for the key control of S. dorsalis among different host plants.

Mixotrophic denitrification of waste activated sludge fermentation liquid as an alternative carbon source for nitrogen removal: Reducing N2O emissions and costs.

Heterotrophic-sulfur autotrophic denitrification (HAD) has been proposed to be a prospective nitrogen removal process. In this work, the potential of fermentation liquid (FL) from waste-activated sludge (WAS) as the electron donor for denitrification in the HAD system was explored and compared with other conventional carbon sources. Results showed that when FL was used as a carbon source, over 99% of NO3--N was removed and its removal rate exceeded 14.00 mg N/g MLSS/h, which was significantly higher than that of methanol and propionic acid. The produced sulfate was below the limit value and the emission of N2O was low (1.38% of the NO3--N). Microbial community analysis showed that autotrophic denitrifiers were predominated in the HAD system, in which Thiobacillus (16.4%) was the dominant genus. The economic analysis showed the cost of the FL was 0.062 €/m3, which was 30% lower than that in the group dosed with methanol. Our results demonstrated the FL was a promising carbon source for the HAD system, which could reduce carbon emission and cost, and offer a creative approach for waste-activated sludge resource reuse.

Altered nucleocytoplasmic export of adenosine-rich circRNAs by PABPC1 contributes to neuronal function.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are upregulated during neurogenesis. Where and how circRNAs are localized and what roles they play during this process have remained elusive. Comparing the nuclear and cytoplasmic circRNAs between H9 cells and H9-derived forebrain (FB) neurons, we identify that a subset of adenosine (A)-rich circRNAs are restricted in H9 nuclei but exported to cytosols upon differentiation. Such a subcellular relocation of circRNAs is modulated by the poly(A)-binding protein PABPC1. In the H9 nucleus, newly produced (A)-rich circRNAs are bound by PABPC1 and trapped by the nuclear basket protein TPR to prevent their export. Modulating (A)-rich motifs in circRNAs alters their subcellular localization, and introducing (A)-rich circRNAs in H9 cytosols results in mRNA translation suppression. Moreover, decreased nuclear PABPC1 upon neuronal differentiation enables the export of (A)-rich circRNAs, including circRTN4(2,3), which is required for neurite outgrowth. These findings uncover subcellular localization features of circRNAs, linking their processing and function during neurogenesis.

Thermostability-assisted limited proteolysis-coupled mass spectrometry for capturing drug target proteins and sites.

BACKGROUND: Identifying drug-binding targets and their corresponding sites is crucial for drug discovery and mechanism studies. Limited proteolysis-coupled mass spectrometry (LiP-MS) is a sophisticated method used for the detection of compound and protein interactions. However, in some cases, LiP-MS cannot identify the target proteins due to the small structure changes or the lack of enrichment of low-abundant protein. To overcome this drawback, we developed a thermostability-assisted limited proteolysis-coupled mass spectrometry (TALiP-MS) approach for efficient drug target discovery. RESULTS: We proved that the novel strategy, TALiP-MS, could efficiently identify target proteins of various ligands, including cyclosporin A (a calcineurin inhibitor), geldanamycin (an HSP90 inhibitor), and staurosporine (a kinase inhibitor), with accurately recognizing drug-binding domains. The TALiP protocol increased the number of target peptides detected in LiP-MS experiments by 2- to 8-fold. Meanwhile, the TALiP-MS approach can not only identify both ligand-binding stability and destabilization proteins but also shows high complementarity with the thermal proteome profiling (TPP) and machine learning-based limited proteolysis (LiP-Quant) methods. The developed TALiP-MS approach was applied to identify the target proteins of celastrol (CEL), a natural product known for its strong antioxidant and anti-cancer angiogenesis effect. Among them, four proteins, MTHFD1, UBA1, ACLY, and SND1 were further validated for their strong affinity to CEL by using cellular thermal shift assay. Additionally, the destabilized proteins induced by CEL such as TAGLN2 and CFL1 were also validated. SIGNIFICANCE: Collectively, these findings underscore the efficacy of the TALiP-MS method for identifying drug targets, elucidating binding sites, and even detecting drug-induced conformational changes in target proteins in complex proteomes.

Non-lactational mastitis with multiple sinus wounds treated by integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine.

OBJECTIVE: Non-lactational mastitis (NLM) is a benign inflammatory disease of the mammary gland, with pain, swelling and redness as the main clinical manifestations. There is no unified and effective standard treatment plan for this disease at present. In addition to breast cancer, non-lactational mastitis is also becoming a presenting complaint in an increasing number of outpatients at the authors' clinic. This case report summarises the treatment and management of a 35-year-old female patient with NLM complicated with multiple sinus wounds after surgery. METHOD: The patient was treated as follows, with: timely debridement according to the local condition of the wound, with manual compression to drain exudate from the sinus wound; selected wound dressings according to their performance and characteristics to fill the sinus tract for drainage and infection control; psychological care of the patient and their family to ensure that patients actively participate in the treatment; family support to the patient to deal with negative emotions; integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine to prevent/manage infection; dietary care and control; posture management and health education to facilitate the patient's wound healing process. RESULTS: After local management with systemic treatment and management using integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine, the wound healed after 46 days, with no recurrence during a follow-up period of one year. CONCLUSION: As shown in this case report, the wound should be cut and drained as soon as possible in order to prevent obstruction of the sinus drainage. Modern wound dressings are selected for the 'external' treatment of local wounds. Integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine may help in systemic therapy of the whole patient.

Scoping review: Exploring the relationship between chrononutrition and glycemic responses in the adult population.

Chrononutrition, an emerging body of evidence on the relationship between biological rhythms and metabolism, has been established to be associated with glycemic responses. However, the available evidence is inconsistent, due to protocol variations. Therefore, this review aims to summarize the findings on chrononutrition characteristics and their association with glycemic responses among adults. Systematic searches were conducted across six databases (PubMed, EBSCO Host, ProQuest Central, MEDLINE & Ovid, Scopus and Web of Science) to identify all relevant studies published from January 2012. Two reviewers independently screened the abstracts and full-text articles based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Details about population characteristics, study methods and key findings were extracted following the PRISMA-ScR guideline. The quality of selected studies was evaluated using the mixed methods appraisal tool. The searchers identified 49 studies eligible for analysis. The results showed that meal timing, particularly night-time eating and snacking were associated with glycemic responses. Regarding meal regularity, skipping breakfast may affect glycemic responses, but no clear conclusion was drawn about its effect on insulin. The association between meal frequency and glycemic responses was inconclusive. Night fasting duration and restricted eating window are potentially associated with glycemic responses. The current review extensively investigates the association between chrononutrition factors and glycemic responses in adults. However, more prospective cohort and interventional studies are needed to better understand this causal-effect relationship.

Organocatalyzed Asymmetric Michael Addition of 3-Fluorooxindole to Vinylidene Bisphosphonates.

Both the 3-fluorooxindole and germinal bisphosphonate structural motifs are prevalent in bioactive molecules because of their associated biological activities. We describe an approach to accessing 3,3-disubstituted 3-fluorooxindoles bearing a geminal bisphosphate fragment through a highly enantioselective Michael addition reaction between 3-fluorooxindoles and vinylidene bisphosphonates. These reactions are catalyzed by a commercially available cinchona alkaloid catalyst, have a broad substrate scope concerning 3-fluorooxindoles, and provide the corresponding addition products in a yield of up to 95% with an enantiomeric excess of up to 95%. A reasonable reaction pathway to explain the observed stereochemistry is also proposed.

Real-time predictive model of extrauterine growth retardation in preterm infants with gestational age less than 32 weeks.

The aim of this study was to develop a real-time risk prediction model for extrauterine growth retardation (EUGR). A total of 2514 very preterm infants were allocated into a training set and an external validation set. The most appropriate independent variables were screened using univariate analysis and Lasso regression with tenfold cross-validation, while the prediction model was designed using binary multivariate logistic regression. A visualization of the risk variables was created using a nomogram, while the calibration plot and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to calibrate the prediction model. Clinical efficacy was assessed using the decision curve analysis (DCA) curves. Eight optimal predictors that namely birth weight, small for gestation age (SGA), hypertensive disease complicating pregnancy (HDCP), gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), multiple births, cumulative duration of fasting, growth velocity and postnatal corticosteroids were introduced into the logistic regression equation to construct the EUGR prediction model. The area under the ROC curve of the training set and the external verification set was 83.1% and 84.6%, respectively. The calibration curve indicate that the model fits well. The DCA curve shows that the risk threshold for clinical application is 0-95% in both set. Introducing Birth weight, SGA, HDCP, GDM, Multiple births, Cumulative duration of fasting, Growth velocity and Postnatal corticosteroids into the nomogram increased its usefulness for predicting EUGR risk in very preterm infants.

Peer Facilitator Training for Diabetes Prevention in a Nigerian Drug Treatment Center.

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND: Individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) are at an increased risk of developing comorbid medical conditions, including Type 2 diabetes. Although the diabetes prevention program (DPP) is efficacious and cost-effective, there is no published evidence to support its implementation in Nigeria or within SUD treatment settings. In this first known DPP within an SUD treatment program, we implemented a multiphased, nurse-led DPP at a small outpatient drug treatment center in Nigeria. The aim of this article was to describe only the processes utilized for the initial peer facilitator (PF) training (Phase 1). METHODS: In Phase 1, a diabetes prevention master trainer delivered a virtual DPP training to the facility's lead nurse, who return-demonstrated the DPP workshop skills and competencies over four 4-hour sessions. The lead nurse then independently delivered four 8-hour training sessions to a small number of client volunteers (n = 4) who subsequently delivered the DPP lifestyle interventions to their peers in the outpatient treatment program. RESULTS: The client volunteers attended all PF workshop sessions and were observed to be proficient in all aspects of implementation. They indicated that the training objectives were easily achieved and expressed enthusiasm for delivering DPP content to their peers. The need to better contextualize the DPP curriculum specific to Nigerian food preferences was identified. CONCLUSION: The Phase 1 training process appears to be an appropriate and effective approach for preparing PFs to deliver health programs, like the DPP, in environments with limited resources for populations facing numerous challenges.

Gossypol acetic acid regulates leukemia stem cells by degrading LRPPRC via inhibiting IL-6/JAK1/STAT3 signaling or resulting mitochondrial dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Leukemia stem cells (LSCs) are found to be one of the main factors contributing to poor therapeutic effects in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), as they are protected by the bone marrow microenvironment (BMM) against conventional therapies. Gossypol acetic acid (GAA), which is extracted from the seeds of cotton plants, exerts anti-tumor roles in several types of cancer and has been reported to induce apoptosis of LSCs by inhibiting Bcl2. AIM: To investigate the exact roles of GAA in regulating LSCs under different microenvironments and the exact mechanism. METHODS: In this study, LSCs were magnetically sorted from AML cell lines and the CD34+CD38- population was obtained. The expression of leucine-rich pentatricopeptide repeat-containing protein (LRPPRC) and forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) was evaluated in LSCs, and the effects of GAA on malignancies and mitochondrial function were measured. RESULTS: LRPPRC was found to be upregulated, and GAA inhibited cell proliferation by degrading LRPPRC. GAA induced LRPPRC degradation and inhibited the activation of interleukin 6 (IL-6)/janus kinase (JAK) 1/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 signaling, enhancing chemosensitivity in LSCs against conventional chemotherapies, including L-Asparaginase, Dexamethasone, and cytarabine. GAA was also found to downregulate FOXM1 indirectly by regulating LRPPRC. Furthermore, GAA induced reactive oxygen species accumulation, disturbed mitochondrial homeostasis, and caused mitochondrial dysfunction. By inhibiting IL-6/JAK1/STAT3 signaling via degrading LRPPRC, GAA resulted in the elimination of LSCs. Meanwhile, GAA induced oxidative stress and subsequent cell damage by causing mitochondrial damage. CONCLUSION: Taken together, the results indicate that GAA might overcome the BMM protective effect and be considered as a novel and effective combination therapy for AML.

Expression of visfatin in gingival crevicular fluid and gingival tissues in different periodontal conditions: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that visfatin is an inflammatory factor closely related to periodontitis. We examined the levels of visfatin in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and gingival tissues under different periodontal conditions, in order to provide more theoretical basis for exploring the role of visfatin in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. METHODS: We enrolled 87 subjects, with 43 in the chronic periodontitis (CP) group, 21 in the chronic gingivitis (CG) group, and 23 in the periodontal health (PH) group. Periodontal indexes (PD, AL, PLI, and BI) were recorded. GCF samples were collected for visfatin quantification, and gingival tissues were assessed via immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: Visfatin levels in GCF decreased sequentially from CP to CG and PH groups, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). The CP group exhibited the highest visfatin levels, while the PH group had the lowest. Gingival tissues showed a similar trend, with significant differences between groups (P < 0.001). Periodontal indexes were positively correlated with visfatin levels in both GCF and gingival tissues (P < 0.001). A strong positive correlation was observed between visfatin levels in GCF and gingival tissues (rs = 0.772, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Greater periodontal destruction corresponded to higher visfatin levels in GCF and gingival tissues, indicating their potential collaboration in damaging periodontal tissues. Visfatin emerges as a promising biomarker for periodontitis and may play a role in its pathogenesis.

PLA2G12A protects against diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance by enhancing energy expenditure and clearance of circulating triglycerides.

Secreted phospholipase A2s are involved in the development of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease, which have become serious and growing health concerns worldwide. Integration of genome-wide association study and gene co-expression networks analysis showed that the secreted phospholipase A2 group XIIA (PLA2G12A) may participate in hepatic lipids metabolism. Nevertheless, the role of PLA2G12A in lipid metabolism and its potential mechanism remain elusive. Here, we used AAV9 vector carrying human PLA2G12A gene to exogenously express hPLA2G12A in the liver of mice. We demonstrated that the overexpression of hPLA2G12A resulted in a significant decrease in serum lipid levels in wild-type mice fed with chow diet or high-fat diet (HFD). Moreover, hPLA2G12A treatment protected against diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance in mice fed a HFD. Notably, we found that hPLA2G12A treatment confers protection against obesity and hyperlipidemia independent of its enzymatic activity, but rather by increasing physical activity and energy expenditure. Furthermore, we demonstrated that hPLA2G12A treatment induced upregulation of ApoC2 and Cd36 and downregulation of Angptl8, which contributed to the increase in clearance of circulating triglycerides and hepatic uptake of fatty acids without affecting hepatic de novo lipogenesis, very low-density lipoprotein secretion, or intestinal lipid absorption. Our study highlights the potential of PLA2G12A gene therapy as a promising approach for treating obesity, insulin resistance and T2DM.

Prognostic performance of the 2023 FIGO staging schema for endometrial cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prognostic performance of the 2023 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) endometrial cancer staging schema. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study queried the Commission-on-Cancer's National Cancer Database. Study population was 129,146 patients with stage I-IV endometrial cancer per the 2009 FIGO staging schema. Stage-shifting and overall survival (OS) were assessed according to the 2023 FIGO staging schema. RESULTS: Upstage (IA → II, 21.4 %; IB → II, 53.0 %) and downstage (IIIA→IA3, 22.2 %) occurred in both early and advanced diseases. Inter-stage prognostic performance improved in the 2023 schema with widened 5-year OS rate difference between the earliest and highest stages (68.2 % to 76.9 %). Stage IA1-IIB and IIC had distinct 5-year OS rate differences (85.8-96.1 % vs 75.4 %). The 5-year OS rate of the 2009 stage IIIA disease was 63.9 %; this was greater segregated in the 2023 schema: 88.0 %, 62.4 %, and 55.7 % for IIIA→IA3, IIIA1, and IIIA2, respectively (inter-substage rate-difference, 32.3 %). This 5-year OS rate of stage IA3 disease was comparable to the 2023 stage IB-IIB diseases (88.0 % vs 85.8-89.5 %). In the 2023 stage IIIC schema (micrometastasis rates: 29.6 % in IIIC1 and 15.6 % in IIIC2), micrometastasis and macrometastasis had the distinct 3-year OS rates in both pelvic (IIIC1-i vs IIIC1-ii, 84.9 % vs 71.1 %; rate-difference 13.8 %) and para-aortic (IIIC2-i vs IIIC2-ii, 82.9 % vs 65.2 %; rate-difference 17.7 %) nodal metastasis cases. The 5-year OS rate of the 2009 stage IVB disease was 23.4 %; this was segregated to 25.4 % for stage IVB and 19.2 % for stage IVC in the 2023 staging schema (rate-difference, 6.2 %). CONCLUSION: The 2023 FIGO endometrial cancer staging schema is a major revision from the 2009 FIGO schema. Almost doubled enriched sub-stages based on detailed anatomical metastatic site and incorporation of histological information enable more robust prognostication.

Relationships between body image, dyadic coping and post-traumatic growth in breast cancer patients: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The diagnosis and treatment of cancer triggers not only a negative psychological response for the patient, but also a positive psychological outcome. Positive dyadic coping, as a form of coping for mental health outcomes, can maintain or reestablish internal stability between the patient and his or her spouse, resulting in positive physical and psychological changes. However, there is a paucity of research on body image, dyadic coping, and post-traumatic growth in breast cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship and pathways between body image, dyadic coping, and post-traumatic growth in breast cancer patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2022 to November 2023 at a tertiary care hospital in Wuxi, Jiangsu, China. This study was conducted among 154 breast cancer patients treated at the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, all of whom completed demographic and clinical information questionnaires, Body image self-rating questionnaire for breast cancer (BISQ-BC), Dyadic Coping Inventory (DCI) and Post Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). A Pearson correlation analysis was used to explore the relationship between body image, dyadic coping, and post-traumatic growth. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the path relationships among the three and to explore the mediating role of dyadic coping. Results: The level of body image was negatively correlated with post-traumatic growth (r = -0.462, p < 0.01); and the level of body image was negatively correlated with dyadic coping (r = -0.308, p < 0.01). And dyadic coping was positively associated with post-traumatic growth (r = 0.464, p < 0.01). The structural equation modeling results supported the mediation model with the following model fit indices, chi-square to degrees of freedom ratio (χ2/df = 2.05), goodness of fit index (GFI = 0.93), comparative fit index (CFI = 0.99), canonical fit index (NFI = 0.93), incremental fit index (IFI = 0.99), non-canonical fit index (TLI = 0.99) and the root mean square of the difference in approximation error (RMSEA = 0.03). Body image and dyadic coping directly affected post-traumatic growth (ß = -0.33, p < 0.05; ß = 0.43, p < 0.05). And body image indirectly influenced post-traumatic growth through dyadic coping (ß = -0.17, p < 0.05). Conclusion: Interconnections between body image, dyadic coping, and post-traumatic growth in breast cancer patients. A preliminary validation of the mediating role of dyadic coping between body image and post-traumatic growth, body image can have an impact on dyadic coping, which in turn can have an impact on post-traumatic growth. Whereby higher levels of dyadic coping in patients may also be associated with higher levels of post-traumatic growth, whereas body image disturbance may impede levels of post-traumatic growth.

Viologen-based solution-processable ionic porous polymers for electrochromic applications.

Electrochromic porous thin films are promising for applications in smart windows and energy-efficient optical displays. However, their generally poor processing ability and excessive processing times remain grand challenges. Herein, we report the design and convenient synthesis of core-altered N-arylated viologens with aldehyde groups (πV-CHO) as new building blocks to prepare soluble, viologen-embedded ionic porous polymers. We also demonstrate that these polymers can be easily solution-processed by drop-coating to fabricate high-quality electrochromic films with tunable optoelectronic properties in a cost-effective fashion. The prepared films exhibit excellent electrochromic performance, including a low driving voltage (1.2-1.4 V), fast switching times (0.8-1.7 s), great coloration efficiency (73-268 cm2 C-1), remarkably high optical contrast up to 95.6%, long cycling stability, and tunable oxidation and reduction colors. This work sheds important light on a new molecular engineering approach to produce redox-active polymers with combined properties of intrinsic porosity, reversible and tunable redox activity, and solution processability. This provides the materials with an inherently broad utility in a variety of electrochemical devices for energy storage, sensors, and electronic applications.

Synthesis of Co@CoO/C by micro-tube method and their electrochemical performances.

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are promising secondary batteries that are widely used in portable electronic devices, electric vehicles and smart grids. The design and synthesis of high-performance electrode materials play a crucial role in achieving lithium-ion batteries with high energy density, prolonged cycle life, and superior safety. CoO has attracted significant attention as a negative electrode material for lithium-ion batteries due to its high theoretical capacity and abundant resources. However, its limited conductivity and suboptimal cycling performance impede its potential applications. The study proposes a novel micro-tube reaction method for the synthesis of Co@CoO/C, utilizing Kapok fiber as a template with a special hollow structure. The microstructure and composition of the samples were characterized using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). After conducting electrochemical performance tests, it was discovered that at a current density of 100 mA/g and within the range of 0.01-3.0 V for 50 charge and discharge cycles. Co@CoO/C composite negative electrode exhibits a reversible lithium insertion specific capacity of 499.8 mAh/g and keep a discharge capacity retention rate of 97.6 %. The greatly improved lithium storage and stability performance of Co@CoO/C composite anode is mainly attributed to the synergistic effect between Co@CoO nanoparticles and the kapok carbon microtubule structure.

Investigation of Nasal Mucosal IgA Responses in the Population Following COVID-19 Pandemic - China, September 2022-August 2023.

What is already known about this topic?: Mucosal IgA plays a crucial role in host immunity against respiratory viruses. Recent studies suggest that it has the potential to mitigate the transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant. However, a comprehensive population-based analysis examining mucosal IgA levels following the winter 2022 wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is yet to be conducted. What is added by this report?: In our study involving 3,421 participants, we documented IgA responses subsequent to SARS-CoV-2 infection. A significant proportion of individuals sustained increased levels of IgA for over six months. These levels were also observed in individuals with prior infections who underwent asymptomatic reinfections, indicating an active production of IgA antibodies. Further, individuals with multiple vaccinations or severe symptoms tended to display elevated IgA levels after recovery. What are the implications for public health practice?: IgA in the nasal mucosa is crucial for defense against SARS-CoV-2 infection. These insights can enhance our knowledge of immune responses following infection and have provided certain reference values for disease prevention and control strategies.

Long-Term Efficacy of Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty for Arteriovenous Fistula Outflow Stenosis Caused by Venous Valve.

Introduction: Venous valve-related stenosis (VVRS) is an uncommon type of failure of arteriovenous fistula among patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). There is a paucity of data on the long-term efficacy of ultrasound-guided percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for VVRS. Methods: ESRD patients who underwent PTA because of VVRS between January 2017 and December 2021 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University were enrolled. Patients were classified into three cohorts (cohort1, VVRS located within 3 cm of the vein adjacent to the anastomosis; cohort2, VVRS located over 3 cm away from the anastomosis; cohort3, multiple stenoses). The patency rates were assessed by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses were performed to identify the risk factors. Results: A total of 292 patients were enrolled, including 125 (42.8%), 111 (38.0%), and 56 (19.2%) patients in cohort1, cohort2, and cohort3, respectively. The median follow-up was 34.8 months. The 6-month, 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year primary patency rates were 86.0%, 69.4%, 47.5%, and 35.3%, respectively. The secondary patency rates were 94.5%, 89.4%, 75.5%, and 65.3%, respectively. Cohort1 showed a relatively better primary patency compared to cohort2 and cohort3. The secondary patency rates were comparable in the three cohorts. Duration of dialysis and VVRS type were potential factors associated with primary patency. Conclusions: This study showed acceptable long-term primary and secondary patency rates after PTA for VVRS in ESRD patients, especially for those with VVRS located within 3 cm of the vein adjacent to the anastomosis.