Relationship between genotype, phenotype, and refractive status in patients of inherited retinal degeneration.

BACKGROUND: To elucidate the relationship between inherited retinal disease, visual acuity and refractive error development in Asian patients. SUBJECTS: Five hundred phakic eyes with refractive data were analysed in this retrospective cohort. Diseases were categorized by clinical phenotypes, and the prevalent genotypes identified in the Taiwan Inherited Retinal Degeneration Project were analysed. Consecutive surveys in Taiwan have provided the rates of myopia in the general population. RESULTS: No differences were observed among the disease phenotypes with respect to myopia (P = 0.098) and high myopia rates (P = 0.037). The comparison of refractive error between retinitis pigmentosa and diseases mainly affecting the central retina showed no difference, and the refraction analyses in diseases of different onset ages yielded no significance. Moreover, there was no difference in the myopia rate between the diseases and general population. Among the genotypes, a higher spherical equivalent was seen in RPGR and PROM1-related patients and emmetropic trends were observed in patients with CRB1 and PRPF31 mutations. Furthermore, significantly poorer visual acuity was found in ABCA4, CRB1 and PROM1-related patients, and more preserved visual acuity was seen in patients with EYS, USH2A, and RDH12 mutations. CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences were observed in visual acuity, refractive state and myopia rate between patients with inherited retinal disease and the general population, and different subtypes of inherited retinal disease shared similar refractive state, except for higher cylindrical dioptres found in patients with Leber's congenital amaurosis. The heterogeneity of disease-causing genes in Asian patients may lead to variable refractive state.

Molecular detection of emerging porcine circovirus in Taiwan.

Porcine Circovirus type (PCV) 2 is an important pathogen that has been circulating worldwide and has cuased serious economic loss in pig industry. However, both PCV3 and PCV4 are newly emerging viruses. In Taiwan, PCV2 has been one of the critical pathogens in pig frams and PCV3 has been detected since 2016; however, the epidemiolog of PCV3 in Taiwan remains unclear and PCV4 has yet to be identified. Therefore, in order to detect the positive rate of PCV2, to investigate the epidemiolog of PCV3 in the pig farms, and to examine whether pigs were infected with PCV4 in Taiwan, a total of 128 samples from 46 clinical cases of pigs were collected from September 2020 to December 2021. The case detection rates were 54.3 % for PCV2, 43.5 % for PCV3, and 2.2 % for PCV4. The results suggested that the positivity rates for both PCV2 and PCV3 were still high in Taiwan. In addition, PCV3 was detected among cases from all 7 sampled counties and in 11 of the 16 sampling months, suggesting that PCV3 may lead to endemic pig disease in Taiwan. Surprisingly, the PCV4 was also detected, suggesting the first PCV4 case in Taiwan. The complete genomes derived from the identified PCV3 and PCV4 strains were subsequently sequenced followed by phylogenetic analysis. The results suggested that the 17 identified PCV3 strains could be divided into Taiwanese-like and Japanese-like strains. In addition, the amino acid residues at positions 27, 80, and 212 in the identified PCV4 cap protein were asparagine, isoleucine, and methionine, respectively, and thus the identified PCV4 was catalorized into clade PCV4b. Consequently, it is concluded that (i) the prevalence of PCV2 and PCV3 is still high in Taiwanese pigs, (ii) PCV3 has may be an endemic infection in Taiwan and can be classified into Japanese-like and Taiwanese-like strains, (iii) PCV4 was detected for the first time in Taiwanese pigs and can be classified into PCV4b. It remains unclear how PCV2, PCV3, and PCV4 were introduced to Taiwan, and thus continuous investigation of emerging pathogens in pigs is needed.

Association between antipsychotics and pulmonary embolism: a pharmacovigilance analysis.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have documented an increased risk of pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients with schizophrenia taking antipsychotics (APs). However, specific data from real-world studies remain limited. This study aims to investigate the potential relationship between APs and PE. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: In the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), from the first quarter of 2018 to the first quarter of 2023, all PE cases suspected of being induced by APs were collected for disproportionality analysis, and the reporting odds ratio (ROR) was used to evaluate associations. Mortality, life-threatening events, and hospitalizations were also analyzed for each APs. RESULTS: A total of 1,676 cases of PE related to APs were included. APs were significantly associated with PE (ROR 2.00, 1.91-2.10), including chlorpromazine (n = 41), haloperidol (n = 164), loxapine (n = 37), olanzapine (n = 461), paliperidone (n = 161), quetiapine (n = 526), risperidone (n = 274), aripiprazole (n = 254), and clozapine (n = 234). The median onset time of PE was 29 days. Among all cases, 347 (20.7%) resulted in death, with haloperidol (53.2%) having a higher mortality rate than other APs. CONCLUSIONS: APs may increase the risk of PE in patients with schizophrenia.

The median effective concentration of epidural ropivacaine with different doses of dexmedetomidine for motor blockade: an up-down sequential allocation study.

Study objective: Recent studies have shown that dexmedetomidine can be safely used in peripheral nerve blocks and spinal anesthesia. Epidural administration of dexmedetomidine produces analgesia and sedation, prolongs motor and sensory block time, extends postoperative analgesia, and reduces the need for rescue analgesia. This investigation seeks to identify the median effective concentration (EC50) of ropivacaine for epidural motor blockade, and assess how incorporating varying doses of dexmedetomidine impacts this EC50 value. Design: Prospective, double-blind, up-down sequential allocation study. Setting: Operating room, post-anesthesia care unit, and general ward. Interventions: One hundred and fifty patients were allocated into five groups in a randomized, double-blinded manner as follows: NR (normal saline combined with ropivacaine) group, RD0.25 (0.25 µg/kg dexmedetomidine combined with ropivacaine) group, RD0.5 (0.5 µg/kg dexmedetomidine combined with ropivacaine) group, RD0.75 (0.75 µg/kg dexmedetomidine combined with ropivacaine) group, RD1.0 (1.0 µg/kg dexmedetomidine combined with ropivacaine) group. The concentration of epidural ropivacaine for the first patient in each group was 0.5%. Following administration, the patients were immediately placed in a supine position for observation, and the lower limb motor block was assessed every 5 min using the modified Bromage score within 30 min after drug administration. According to the sequential method, the concentration of ropivacaine in the next patient was adjusted according to the reaction of the previous patient: effective motor block was defined as the modified Bromage score > 0 within 30 min after epidural administration. If the modified Bromage score of the previous patient was >0 within 30 min after drug administration, the concentration of ropivacaine in the next patient was decreased by 1 gradient. Conversely, if the score did not exceed 0, the concentration of ropivacaine in the next patient was increased by 1 gradient. The up-down sequential allocation method and probit regression were used to calculate the EC50 of epidural ropivacaine. Measurements: Adverse events, hemodynamic changes, demographic data and clinical characteristics. Main results: The EC50 of epidural ropivacaine required to achieve motor block was 0.677% (95% CI, 0.622-0.743%) in the NR group, 0.624% (95% CI, 0.550-0.728%) in the RD0.25 group, 0.549% (95% CI, 0.456-0.660%) in the RD0.5 group, 0.463% (95% CI, 0.408-0.527%) in the RD0.75 group, and 0.435% (95% CI, 0.390-0.447%) in the RD1.0 group. The EC50 of the NR group and the RD0.25 group were significantly higher than that of the RD0.75 and the RD1.0 groups, and the EC50 of the RD0.5 group was significantly higher than that of the RD1.0 group. Conclusion: The EC50 of epidural ropivacaine required to achieve motor block was 0.677% in the NR group, 0.624% in the RD0.25 group, 0.549% in the RD0.5 group, 0.463% in the RD0.75 group, and 0.435% in the RD1.0 group. Dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant for ropivacaine dose-dependently reduce the EC50 of epidural ropivacaine for motor block and shorten the onset time of epidural ropivacaine block. The optimal dose of dexmedetomidine combined with ropivacaine for epidural anesthesia was 0.5 µg/kg.

Association between cardiovascular health and all-cause mortality risk in patients with osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND: This study was to explore the relationship between cardiovascular health (CVH) and the risk of all-cause mortality in patients with osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: This cohort study retrieved the data of 3642 patients with OA aged ≥ 20 years from the 2007-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). CVH was evaluated based on Life's Essential 8 (LE8) includes diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, sleep health, body mass index, blood lipids, blood glucose, and blood pressure. The outcome of all-cause mortality was assessed using the death certificate records of participants from the National Death Index. Variables that might affect all-cause mortality were used as covariates. The weighted univariate COX proportional hazards model was used to explore the association between each covariate and all-cause mortality. The weighted univariate and multivariate COX proportional hazards models were used to explore the association between different CVH levels and all-cause mortality. A restricted cubic spline (RCS) curve was plotted to show the association between different CVH levels and all-cause mortality in OA patients. Hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. RESULTS: Findings show that people with moderate CVH (HR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.45-0.98) and high CVH (HR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.26-0.87) were associated with reduced risk of all-cause mortality in patients with OA. The HR of all-cause mortality in patients with OA decreased by 0.12 as per 10 points increase of LE8 score (HR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.73-0.90). The RCS curve revealed that the HR of all-cause mortality decreased with the increase in LE8 score. The survival probability of patients in the high CVH group was higher than the moderate CVH group and low CVH group (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Moderate-to-high CVH is associated with a decreased risk of all-cause mortality in patients with OA. These findings might provide a reference for the formulation of prognosis improvement strategies for the management of patients with OA.

Thrombopoietin improves the functions of bone marrow endothelial progenitor cells via METTL16/Akt signalling of haematological patients with chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia.

Bone marrow endothelial progenitor cells (BM EPCs) are crucial in supporting haematopoietic regeneration, while the BM EPCs of haematological patients with chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia (CIT) are unavoidably damaged. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the effect of thrombopoietin (TPO) on the recovery of BM EPCs of CIT patients and to identify the underlying mechanisms. The cell functions were determined by 1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (Dil)-acetylated low-density lipoprotein (Dil-Ac-LDL) uptake and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled Ulex europaeus agglutinin-I (FITC-UEA-I) binding assay, as well as proliferation, migration and tube formation experiments. Endothelial cells were transfected with METTL16 lentivirus, followed by methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing. Zebrafish with vascular defect was used as the in vivo model. TPO significantly improved the quantity and functions of BM EPCs from CIT patients in vitro and restored the subintestinal vein area of zebrafish with vascular defect in vivo. Mechanically, TPO enhanced the BM EPC functions through Akt signal mediated by METTL16, which was downregulated in BM EPCs of CIT patients and involved in the regulation of endothelial functions. The present study demonstrates that TPO improves the recovery of BM EPCs from CIT patients with haematological malignancies via METTL16/Akt signalling, which provides new insights into the role of TPO in treating CIT in addition to direct megakaryopoiesis.

CRISPR technology in human diseases.

Gene editing is a growing gene engineering technique that allows accurate editing of a broad spectrum of gene-regulated diseases to achieve curative treatment and also has the potential to be used as an adjunct to the conventional treatment of diseases. Gene editing technology, mainly based on clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein systems, which is capable of generating genetic modifications in somatic cells, provides a promising new strategy for gene therapy for a wide range of human diseases. Currently, gene editing technology shows great application prospects in a variety of human diseases, not only in therapeutic potential but also in the construction of animal models of human diseases. This paper describes the application of gene editing technology in hematological diseases, solid tumors, immune disorders, ophthalmological diseases, and metabolic diseases; focuses on the therapeutic strategies of gene editing technology in sickle cell disease; provides an overview of the role of gene editing technology in the construction of animal models of human diseases; and discusses the limitations of gene editing technology in the treatment of diseases, which is intended to provide an important reference for the applications of gene editing technology in the human disease.

Distinguishing Sanghuangporus from sanghuang-related fungi: a comparative and phylogenetic analysis based on mitogenomes.

The Chinese medicinal fungi "Sanghuang" have been long recognized for their significant and valued medicinal properties, as documented in ancient medical literature. However, in traditional folk medicine, various macrofungi sharing similar appearance, habitat, and therapeutic effects with Sanghuang were erroneously used. These Sanghuang-like fungi mainly belong to the Porodaedalea, Phellinus, and Inonotus genera within the Hymenochaetaceae family. Despite the establishment of the Sanghuangporus genus and the identification of multiple species, the emerging taxonomic references based on morphological, ITS, and mycelial structural features have been inadequate to differentiate Sanghuangporus and Sanghuang-like fungi. To address this limitation, this study presents the first comparative and phylogenetic analysis of Sanghuang-related fungi based on mitogenomes. Our results show that Sanghuangporus species show marked convergence in mitochondrial genomic features and form a distinct monophyletic group based on phylogenetic analyses of five datasets. These results not only deepen our understanding of Sanghuang-like fungi but also offer novel insights into their mitochondrial composition and phylogeny, thereby providing new research tools for distinguishing members of the Sanghuangporus genus. KEY POINTS: • Sanghuangporus, Inonotus, and Porodaedalea are monophyly in sanghuang-like species. • Mitogenome-based analysis exhibits high resolution in sanghuang-like genus. • The mitogenomes provide strong evidence for reclassifying Phellinus gilvus S12 as Sanghuangporus vaninii.

Identification of AdipoRon analogues as novel activators of AMPK for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

The activation of AMPK has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of metabolic diseases. AdipoRon, an agonist of the adiponectin receptor, has been identified as a compound capable of activating AMPK via the adiponectin receptor. To identify novel AdipoRon analogues with AMPK activation potential, a total of 17 analogues were designed, synthesized, and subjected to biological evaluation. Among these analogues, X-12 was discovered to exhibit potent activation of AMPK. In experimental studies, X-12 demonstrated dose-dependent improvements in glucose tolerance in normal mice. Furthermore, it significantly reduced fasting blood glucose levels and ameliorated insulin resistance in db/db diabetic mice. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of X-12 as a novel class of AMPK activators for the treatment of metabolic diseases.

Bilateral optic neuritis and encephalopathy as the atypical presentations of multiple sclerosis following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection.

Numerous evidence suggests coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) potentially triggers demyelinating diseases, inclusive of multiple sclerosis (MS), and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), and various mechanisms have been proposed. We report a 42-year-old male presented with bilateral optic neuritis and encephalopathy, 2 weeks following COVID-19 infection. He denied any history or family history of neurological and ocular diseases. Severe bilateral visual impairment (only light perception) and pain with eye movement were reported. Fundoscopy revealed bilateral optic disc swelling. Magnetic resonance imaging showed tortuous bilateral optic nerves with optic nerve and nerve sheath enhancement. Multiple hyperintense nodules in bilateral cerebral white matter were noted on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery T2-weighted imaging without diffusion restriction or gadolinium contrast enhancement. Hypointense nodules in cerebral white matter were also noted on T1-weighted imaging, which implied some old lesions. Dissemination in space and time and cerebrospinal fluid-specific oligoclonal bands confirmed the diagnosis of MS. Both serum aquaporin-4 and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies were negative. He received pulse steroid therapy for 5 days, followed by slowly tapering oral prednisolone. His vision, ocular motion pain, and encephalopathy improved gradually. However, the visual outcome was still poor (bilateral 20/400), and optic atrophy was noticed during 1-year follow-up. To our knowledge, this is the first case of MS following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection presented with bilateral optic neuritis and encephalopathy. Since these manifestations are exceedingly rare in MS, we suspect acute immune reactions induced by COVID-19 could bring about the atypical ADEM-like presentations of MS.

Flexible Hydrazone-Linked Metal-Covalent Organic Frameworks with Copper Clusters for Efficient Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

Despite the challenges associated with the synthesis of flexible metal-covalent organic frameworks (MCOFs), these offer the unique advantage of maximizing the atomic utilization efficiency. However, the construction of flexible MCOFs with flexible building units or linkages has rarely been reported. In this study, novel flexible MCOFs are constructed using flexible building blocks and copper clusters with hydrazone linkages. The heterometallic frameworks (Cu, Co) are prepared through the hydrazone linkage coordination method and evaluated as catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Owing to the spatial separation and functional cooperation of the heterometallic MCOF catalysts, the as-synthesized MCOFs exhibited outstanding catalytic activities with an overpotential of 268.8 mV at 10 mA cm-2 for the OER in 1 M KOH, which is superior to those of the reported covalent organic frameworks (COFs)-based OER catalysts. Theoretical calculations further elucidated the synergistic effect of heterometallic active sites within the linkages and frameworks, contributing to the enhanced OER activity. This study thus introduces a novel approach to the fundamental design of flexible MCOF catalysts for the OER, emphasizing their enhanced atomic utilization efficiency.

Coenzyme A protects against ferroptosis via CoAlation of thioredoxin reductase 2.

The Cystine-xCT transporter-Glutathione (GSH)-GPX4 axis is the canonical pathway to protect against ferroptosis. While not required for ferroptosis-inducing compounds (FINs) targeting GPX4, FINs targeting the xCT transporter require mitochondria and its lipid peroxidation to trigger ferroptosis. However, the mechanism underlying the difference between these FINs is still unknown. Given that cysteine is also required for coenzyme A (CoA) biosynthesis, here we show that CoA supplementation specifically prevents ferroptosis induced by xCT inhibitors but not GPX4 inhibitors. We find that, auranofin, a thioredoxin reductase inhibitor, abolishes the protective effect of CoA. We also find that CoA availability determines the enzymatic activity of thioredoxin reductase, but not thioredoxin. Importantly, the mitochondrial thioredoxin system, but not the cytosolic thioredoxin system, determines CoA-mediated ferroptosis inhibition. Our data show that the CoA regulates the in vitro enzymatic activity of mitochondrial thioredoxin reductase (TXNRD2) by covalently modifying the thiol group of cysteine (CoAlation) on Cys-483. Replacing Cys-483 with alanine on TXNRD2 abolishes its in vitro enzymatic activity and ability to protect cells from ferroptosis. Targeting xCT to limit cysteine import and, therefore, CoA biosynthesis reduced CoAlation on TXNRD2, an effect that was rescued by CoA supplementation. Furthermore, the fibroblasts from patients with disrupted CoA metabolism demonstrate increased mitochondrial lipid peroxidation. In organotypic brain slice cultures, inhibition of CoA biosynthesis leads to an oxidized thioredoxin system, mitochondrial lipid peroxidation, and loss in cell viability, which were all rescued by ferrostatin-1. These findings identify CoA-mediated post-translation modification to regulate the thioredoxin system as an alternative ferroptosis protection pathway with potential clinical relevance for patients with disrupted CoA metabolism.

The effect of remimazolam-based total intravenous anesthesia versus sevoflurane-based inhalation anesthesia on emergence delirium in children undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy: study protocol for a prospective randomized controlled trial.

Background: Remimazolam, a new ultrashort-acting benzodiazepine, is becoming increasingly applied in general anesthesia. This study is designed to investigate the effect of remimazolam-based total intravenous anesthesia and sevoflurane-based inhalation anesthesia on emergence delirium in pediatric tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. Methods and analysis: This is a monocentric, prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial. A total of 90 pediatric patients will be randomized to receive remimazolam-based total intravenous anesthesia (remimazolam group, n = 45) or sevoflurane-based inhalation anesthesia (sevoflurane group, n = 45). The primary outcome will be the incidence of emergence delirium, which will be evaluated using the Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium (PAED) scale. The secondary outcomes include the extubation time, recovery time, behavior change using the post-hospitalization behavior questionnaire for ambulatory surgery (PHBQ-AS), and adverse events. Ethics and dissemination: This study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University (2023-K-262-02). Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT06214117.

Hsa-miR-134-5p predicts cardiovascular risk in circulating mononuclear cells and improves angiogenic action of senescent endothelial progenitor cells.

This research explores the role of microRNA in senescence of human endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) induced by replication. Hsa-miR-134-5p was found up-regulated in senescent EPCs where overexpression improved angiogenic activity. Hsa-miR-134-5p, which targeted transforming growth factor ß-activated kinase 1-binding protein 1 (TAB1) gene, down-regulated TAB1 protein, and inhibited phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38) in hsa-miR-134-5p-overexpressed senescent EPCs. Treatment with siRNA specific to TAB1 (TAB1si) down-regulated TAB1 protein and subsequently inhibited p38 activation in senescent EPCs. Treatment with TAB1si and p38 inhibitor, respectively, showed angiogenic improvement. In parallel, transforming growth factor Beta 1 (TGF-ß1) was down-regulated in hsa-miR-134-5p-overexpressed senescent EPCs and addition of TGF-ß1 suppressed the angiogenic improvement. Analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) disclosed expression levels of hsa-miR-134-5p altered in adult life, reaching a peak before 65 years, and then falling in advanced age. Calculation of the Framingham risk score showed the score inversely correlates with the hsa-miR-134-5p expression level. In summary, hsa-miR-134-5p is involved in the regulation of senescence-related change of angiogenic activity via TAB1-p38 signalling and via TGF-ß1 reduction. Hsa-miR-134-5p has a potential cellular rejuvenation effect in human senescent EPCs. Detection of human PBMC-derived hsa-miR-134-5p predicts cardiovascular risk.

Complications and Mortality After Surgery in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study Based on a Multicenter Clinical Database.

Objective: To evaluate the postoperative complications and mortality among patients with chronic kidney disease. Methods: Biochemical measurements, diagnosis codes for CKD and comorbid conditions for surgical patients aged ≥20 years were obtained from electronic medical records of three large hospitals in Taiwan in 2009-2017. We conducted this retrospective cohort study by using propensity score-matching methods to balance the baseline characteristics between CKD and non-CKD groups. The multiple logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of risks of primary outcome (included postoperative mortality) and secondary outcome (included postoperative infectious complications and non-infectious complications) associated with CKD. Results: Among 31950 eligible surgical patients, the adjusted OR of in-hospital mortality in patients with CKD was 5.49 (95% CI 3.42-8.81) compared with that in non-CKD controls. The adjusted ORs of postoperative septicemia, pneumonia and cellulitis in patients with CKD were 5.90 (95% CI 2.12-16.5), 5.39 (95% CI 1.37-21.16), and 4.42 (95% CI 1.57-12.4), respectively, when compared with the non-CKD patients. CKD was also associated with postoperative stroke (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.47-3.31). Conclusion: Patients with CKD are at increased risk of postoperative stroke, infectious complications, and mortality. Our study implicated that it is crucial to improve the levels of hemoglobin and K+ in patients with CKD before surgery. Preventive strategies should be developed to improve clinical outcomes in these populations.

Combination of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and an indirect fluorescence assay for a nationwide sero-survey of Toxoplasma gondii infection in pig herds in Taiwan.

Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic pathogen that can infect farm animals, companion animals, and humans, sometimes causing public health issues. In Taiwan, the pig industry is a vital agricultural industry, with a self-sufficiency rate of 91 %, and pigs are also food-producing animal reservoirs of Toxoplasma gondii. Infected pigs are usually asymptomatic, and abortions and death may occur in severe cases. We combined an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and an indirect fluorescence assay (IFA) to investigate the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii among pig populations in Taiwan. A stratified sampling approach to determine the number of sample farms proportional to the number of pig farms in each county was employed, with 15 blood samples collected at each farm between July and September 2017. With the tested results, empirical Bayesian smoothing was utilized to assess the proportion of Toxoplasma-positive farms at the county level. Bayesian mixed-effects logistic regression models, incorporating farm and county as random effects, were employed to investigate associations between Toxoplasma test results and potential risk factors. A total of 930 serum samples from 62 pig farms were collected and tested. An overall herd prevalence of 27.4 % was shown with the seroprevalence in northern Taiwan being greater than that in southern Taiwan. The sampling month and companion dog density in 2017 were significantly associated with Toxoplasma infections in pigs. With every increase in the number of companion dogs per km² at the county level, the odds of Toxoplasma infection in pigs increased by 4.7 % (95 % CI: 1.7-8.9 %). This study demonstrated that combining ELISA for screening with IFA for confirmation is a cost-effective and time-saving method for conducting a large-scale sample investigation. This was also the first nationwide, cross-sectional study in Taiwanese pig herds to investigate Toxoplasma gondii infection.

Senescence induces miR-409 to down-regulate CCL5 and impairs angiogenesis in endothelial progenitor cells.

This study explores the impact of senescence on autocrine C-C motif chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5) in human endothelial progenitor cell (EPCs), addressing the poorly understood decline in number and function of EPCs during ageing. We examined the effects of replication-induced senescence on CCL5/CCL5 receptor (CCR5) signalling and angiogenic activity of EPCs in vitro and in vivo. We also explored microRNAs controlling CCL5 secretion in senescent EPCs, its impact on EPC angiogenic activity, and validated our findings in humans. CCL5 secretion and CCR5 levels in senescent EPCs were reduced, leading to attenuated angiogenic activity. CCL5 enhanced EPC proliferation via the CCR5/AKT/P70S6K axis and increased vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion. Up-regulation of miR-409 in senescent EPCs resulted in decreased CCL5 secretion, inhibiting the angiogenic activity, though these negative effects were counteracted by the addition of CCL5 and VEGF. In a mouse hind limb ischemia model, CCL5 improved the angiogenic activity of senescent EPCs. Analysis involving 62 healthy donors revealed a negative association between CCL5 levels, age and Framingham Risk Score. These findings propose CCL5 as a potential biomarker for detection of EPC senescence and cardiovascular risk assessment, suggesting its therapeutic potential for age-related cardiovascular disorders.

Rapid Glutathione Analysis with SERS Microneedles for Deep Glioblastoma Tissue Differentiation.

Rapid tissue differentiation at the molecular level is a prerequisite for precise surgical resection, which is of special value for the treatment of malignant tumors, such as glioblastoma (GBM). Herein, a SERS-active microneedle is prepared by modifying glutathione (GSH)-responsive molecules, 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB), on the surface of Au@Ag substrates for the distinction of different GBM tissues. Since the Raman signals on the surface of the DTNB@Au@Ag microneedle can be collected by both portable and benchtop Raman spectrometers, the distribution of GSH in different tissues at centimeter scale can be displayed through Raman spectroscopy and Raman imaging, and the entire analysis process can be accomplished within 12 min. Accordingly, in vivo brain tissues of orthotopic GBM xenograft mice and ex vivo tissues of GBM patients are accurately differentiated with the microneedle, and the results are well consistent with tissue staining and postoperative pathological reports. In addition, the outline of tumor, peritumoral, and normal tissues can be indicated by the DTNB@Au@Ag microneedle for at least 56 days. Considering that the tumor tissues are quickly discriminated at the molecular level without the restriction of depth, the DTNB@Au@Ag microneedle is promising to be a powerful intraoperative diagnostic tool for surgery navigation.

A review on defect modulated electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction.

The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is crucial for applications such as water splitting and rechargeable metal-air batteries. Recent research has focused on improving the activity and stability of OER electrocatalysts through various strategies including structural innovation, heteroatom doping, and conductivity enhancement. Among these, defect engineering has proved particularly effective, allowing precise modulation of the materials' electronic structure at the atomic level. This review addresses defect-rich materials that exhibit superior electrochemical properties for OER applications, with a particular focus on developments from the past five years. The discussion starts with an overview of the OER catalytic mechanism and then delves into the types of defects, synthesis methods, and their impact on electrochemical performance. This review concludes with insights into the rational design and synthesis of advanced electrocatalysts, aiming to improve efficiency and extend operational longevity. The objective is to highlight approaches for creating high-performance OER electrocatalysts that outperform noble-metal based systems in both activity and stability.

Effects of disc overhang diameter on the uplift bearing capacity of new-type concrete expanded-plate pile groups.

The disc overhang diameter can significantly affect the uplift bearing capacity of new concrete expanded-plate pile groups, affecting their design and practical applications. Accordingly, this effect was investigated considering the failure laws of the soil surrounding various pile types and groups. Based on the uplift bearing capacities of single and double piles, a finite element simulation was adopted to establish models for the four-, six-, and nine-pile groups. The relationship between the disc overhang diameter and uplift-bearing capacity of each pile group was explored: as the disk overhang diameter increased, the uplift-bearing capacities of the pile groups increased; however, this relationship is nonlinear. The optimal disc overhang diameter was determined as 1.5-1.75 times the pile diameter. For a constant disc overhang diameter, corner piles have a greater uplift bearing capacity than side piles in the six-pile group, and a greater uplift bearing capacity than the side and center piles in the nine-pile group. Thus, the pile-group effect depends on the pile position. The uplift bearing capacity did not increase linearly with the number of piles, and the average uplift bearing capacity of a pile in a pile group was less than that of a single pile. Therefore, the uplift bearing capacity of the pile groups decreased as the number of piles increased. The reliability of the simulation was verified via visual testing of a small-scale half-cut pile model.