Peripheral mitochondrial DNA as a neuroinflammatory biomarker for major depressive disorder.

In the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder, chronic stress-related neuroinflammation hinders favorable prognosis and antidepressant response. Mitochondrial DNA may be an inflammatory trigger, after its release from stress-induced dysfunctional central nervous system mitochondria into peripheral circulation. This evidence supports the potential use of peripheral mitochondrial DNA as a neuroinflammatory biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of major depressive disorder. Herein, we critically review the neuroinflammation theory in major depressive disorder, providing compelling evidence that mitochondrial DNA release acts as a critical biological substrate, and that it constitutes the neuroinflammatory disease pathway. After its release, mitochondrial DNA can be carried in the exosomes and transported to extracellular spaces in the central nervous system and peripheral circulation. Detectable exosomes render encaged mitochondrial DNA relatively stable. This mitochondrial DNA in peripheral circulation can thus be directly detected in clinical practice. These characteristics illustrate the potential for mitochondrial DNA to serve as an innovative clinical biomarker and molecular treatment target for major depressive disorder. This review also highlights the future potential value of clinical applications combining mitochondrial DNA with a panel of other biomarkers, to improve diagnostic precision in major depressive disorder.

Comprehensive analysis of the Lycopodium japonicum mitogenome reveals abundant tRNA genes and cis-spliced introns in Lycopodiaceae species.

Lycophytes and ferns represent one of the earliest-diverging lineages of vascular plants, with the Lycopodiaceae family constituting the basal clade among lycophytes. In this research, we successfully assembled and annotated the complete Lycopodium japonicum Thunb. (L. japonicum) mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) utilizing PacBio HiFi sequencing data, resulting in a single circular molecule with a size of 454,458 bp. 64 unique genes were annotated altogether, including 34 protein-coding genes, 27 tRNAs and 3 rRNAs. It also contains 32 group II introns, all of which undergo cis-splicing. We identified 195 simple sequence repeats, 1,948 dispersed repeats, and 92 tandem repeats in the L. japonicum mitogenome. Collinear analysis indicated that the mitogenomes of Lycopodiaceae are remarkably conserved compared to those of other vascular plants. We totally identified 326 RNA editing sites in 31 unique protein-coding genes with 299 sites converting cytosine to uracil and 27 sites the reverse. Notably, the L. japonicum mitogenome has small amounts foreign DNA from plastid or nuclear origin, accounting for only 2.81% of the mitogenome. The maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis based on 23 diverse land plant mitogenomes and plastid genomes supports the basal position of lycophytes within vascular plants and they form a sister clade to all other vascular lineages, which is consistent with the PPG I classification system. As the first reported mitogenome of Lycopodioideae subfamily, this study enriches our understanding of Lycopodium mitogenomes, and sets the stage for future research on mitochondrial diversity and evolution within the lycophytes and ferns.

Alkali Metals Activated High Entropy Double Perovskites for Boosted Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

An efficient and facile water dissociation process plays a crucial role in enhancing the activity of alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Considering the intricate influence between interfacial water and intermediates in typical catalytic systems, meticulously engineered catalysts should be developed by modulating electron configurations and optimizing surface chemical bonds. Here, a high-entropy double perovskite (HEDP) electrocatalyst La2(Co1/6Ni1/6Mg1/6Zn1/6Na1/6Li1/6)RuO6, achieving a reduced overpotential of 40.7 mV at 10 mA cm-2 and maintaining exemplary stability over 82 h in a 1 m KOH electrolyte is reported. Advanced spectral characterization and first-principles calculations elucidate the electron transfer from Ru to Co and Ni positions, facilitated by alkali metal-induced super-exchange interaction in high-entropy crystals. This significantly optimizes hydrogen adsorption energy and lowers the water decomposition barrier. Concurrently, the super-exchange interaction enhances orbital hybridization and narrows the bandgap, thus improving catalytic efficiency and adsorption capacity while mitigating hysteresis-driven proton transfer. The high-entropy framework also ensures structural stability and longevity in alkaline environments. The work provides further insights into the formation mechanisms of HEDP and offers guidelines for discovering advanced, efficient hydrogen evolution catalysts through super-exchange interaction.

Unveiling the seroprevalence of human papillomavirus in Guangdong, China: Implications for vaccination strategies.

Seroepidemiological characteristics of human papillomavirus (HPV) in community residents reflect natural infection and can guide the reform of vaccination programs. A population-based serological survey was conducted in Guangdong Province. Serum anti-HPV IgG antibody levels were determined by an ELISA. Neutralizing antibodies against HPV6, 11, 16, and 18 were detected via a pseudovirus-based neutralization assay (PBNA). A total of 5122 serum samples were collected from community residents, including 1989 males and 3133 females, in three cities of Guangdong Province. The rate of HPV IgG antibody positivity in females was 5.39% (95% CI: 4.6-6.2), which was greater than that in males (2.36%; 95% CI: 1.7-3.1). HPV IgG antibodies were more frequently detected in females aged 51-60 years (11.30%; 95% CI: 7.6-16.0), whereas in males, the detection increased with age and reached 4.94% (95% CI: 2.8-6.9) in the group aged ≥71 years. The seropositivity of neutralizing antibodies against HPV6 and 11 was greater than that against HPV16 and 18. The serum neutralizing antibody titers in individuals who received three doses of a vaccine were 7- to 12-fold greater than those in individuals who did not receive the vaccine. The neutralizing antibody titers slightly decreased within 40 months and ranged from 0.038 to 0.057 log ED50 per month. A moderate consistency between the HPV ELISA and PBNA results was observed (Kappa score = 0.49, r = 0.249, 0.635, 0.382, and 0.466 for HPV6, 11, 16, and 18, respectively). The HPV seropositivity rate among healthy residents of Guangdong Province was found to be low among children and adolescents and to increase with age. The serum neutralizing antibody titers were significantly greater in the vaccine group than that in the control group, and this difference persisted over time, which indicated promising protection against HPV infection.

Star-shaped multifunctional organic emitters based on N-(2-cyanophenyl) carbazole frameworks: Effects of steric hindrance fluorene and heavy-atom bromine.

To investigate the effects of steric hindrance fluorene and heavy-atom bromine on the general optoelectronic properties of star-shaped organic emitters based on 9-(2-cyanophenyl) carbazole (OCzPhCN) frameworks, heavy element of bromine and steric hindrance fluorene were introduced into OCzPhCN to produce four derivatives of 2-(3-bromo-9H-carbazol-9-yl)benzonitrile (BrCzPhCN), 2-(3-bromo-6-(9-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-9H-fluoren-9-yl)-9H-carbazol-9-yl)benzonitrile (BrFCzPhCN), 2-(3-(9-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-9H-fluoren-9-yl)-9H-carbazol-9-yl)benzonitrile (FCzPhCN) and 2-(3,6-bis(9-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-9H-fluoren-9-yl)-9H-carbazol-9-yl)benzonitrile (2FCzPhCN). The fluorene units obviously improve the thermal stability of the obtained compounds, and 2FCzPhCN has the highest thermal stability with 5 % mass heat loss temperature reaching 447 °C. In different polar solvents, the absorption peaks wavelength of OCzPhCN, FCzPhCN and 2FCzPhCN are basically unchanged, and the redshifted emission peaks are positively correlated with solvent polarity. The photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQYs) of OCzPhCN, BrCzPhCN, FCzPhCN, BrFCzPhCN and 2FCzPhCN powders were 20.17 %, 5.43 %, 30.75 %, 3.27 % and 23.56 %. The fluorescence and phosphorescent quantum efficiencies of OCzPhCN, BrCzPhCN, FCzPhCN, BrFCzPhCN and 2FCzPhCN powders are 9.76 % and 10.41 %, 1.2 % and 3.23 %, 28.45 % and 2.3 %, 3.27 % and 0 %, 23.56 % and 0 %. OCzPhCN, BrCzPhCN and FCzPhCN powders show obvious room temperature phosphorescent emission, and the phosphorescent emission lifetime of OCzPhCN, BrCzPhCN and FCzPhCN powders at 561 nm, 576 nm and 568 nm are 193.17 ms, 18.65 ms and 7.25 ms. Compared with OCzPhCN, the introduction of bromine decreases the PLQY and the phosphorescent lifetime of BrCzPhCN powder, while the fluorescence quantum efficiency of the compound FCzPhCN powder has been improved. The corresponding single-triplet energy splitting (ΔEST) of OCzPhCN, FCzPhCN and 2FCzPhCN in solutions are 0.49 eV, 0.63 eV and 0.63 eV, and the corresponding ΔEST values of OCzPhCN, BrCzPhCN FCzPhCN powders are 1.19 eV, 0.74 eV and 0.55 eV. The steric hindrance fluorene units result in smaller and stabilized ΔEST in the solid powder states, and the same situation is opposite in the unimolecular solutions. The maximum external quantum efficiency of organic light-emitting diode based on 10,10'-(4,4'-sulfonylbis (4,1-phenylene)) bis (9,9-dimethyl-9,10-dihydroacridine) hosted by OCzPhCN reaches 12.7 %, and the external quantum efficiency at 100 cd/m2 rolls down to 11 %. OCzPhCN is the best emitters in terms of room temperature phosphorescent emission and host applications.

Multi-Scale Spatio-Temporal Attention Networks for Network-Scale Traffic Learning and Forecasting.

Accurate and timely forecasting of traffic on local road networks is crucial for deploying effective dynamic traffic control, advanced route planning, and navigation services. This task is particularly challenging due to complex spatio-temporal dependencies arising from non-Euclidean spatial relations in road networks and non-linear temporal dynamics influenced by changing road conditions. This paper introduces the spatio-temporal network embedding (STNE) model, a novel deep learning framework tailored for learning and forecasting graph-structured traffic data over extended input sequences. Unlike traditional convolutional neural networks (CNNs), the model employs graph convolutional networks (GCNs) to capture the spatial characteristics of local road network topologies. Moreover, the segmentation of very long input traffic data into multiple sub-sequences, based on significant temporal properties such as closeness, periodicity, and trend, is performed. Multi-dimensional long short-term memory neural networks (MDLSTM) are utilized to flexibly access multi-dimensional context. Experimental results demonstrate that the STNE model surpasses state-of-the-art traffic forecasting benchmarks on two large-scale real-world traffic datasets.

Effect of the LIF gene on the cell cycle and apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells in white Muscovy ducks.

Leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF), a member of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) family, is a multifunctional cytokine. The maturation-to-ovulation process of poultry follicles is determined by granulosa cell proliferation and differentiation. Granulosa cell apoptosis and degeneration lead to follicular atresia, which reduces the number of normally developing follicles and leads to a decrease in the poultry egg production rate, thus affecting the large-scale development of poultry breeding. In this study, the LIF gene overexpression vector pCDH-CMV-LIF and a siRNA that inhibits LIF gene expression were transfected into primary granulosa cells from white Muscovy duck ovaries for functional study. Compared with that in the control group, LIF gene expression was confirmed to be significantly decreased or increased in the transfection groups (P < 0.01). After LIF overexpression, the expression of the cell cycle-related genes CCND1, CDK-1 and PCNA was decreased (P < 0.05); apoptosis was promoted; the proapoptotic genes Bax and caspase-3 were significantly upregulated (P < 0.01); and the antiapoptotic gene Bcl-2 was significantly downregulated (P < 0.01). After LIF interference, the expression of the cell cycle-related genes CCND1, CCNE1, CDK-1 and PCNA and the antiapoptotic gene Bcl-2 significantly increased (P < 0.01), whereas the expression of the proapoptotic genes Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-9 significantly decreased (P < 0.01). In summary, the LIF gene is involved in regulating the biological function of ovarian granulosa cells in white Muscovy ducks. LIF gene expression promotes granulosa cell apoptosis and inhibits cell cycle progression. These experimental results provide insights into the follicular development mechanism of white Muscovy ducks.

Impact of Adverse Health Conditions on Clinical Outcomes of Older People with Atrial Fibrillation: Insights from a Prospective Cohort Study.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of adverse health conditions, including multimorbidity, frailty, malnutrition, cognitive impairment, and polypharmacy, on clinical outcomes in older people with atrial fibrillation (AF). Patients and Methods: This prospective cohort study focused on patients aged 65 years and older with AF. They were admitted to the hospital between September 2018 and April 2019 and followed up for 1 year. We evaluated these participants for adverse health conditions including multimorbidity, frailty, malnutrition, cognitive impairment, and polypharmacy. The primary clinical outcome measured was a combination of all-cause mortality or rehospitalization. Results: 197 older patients (≥65 years) with AF (mean age, 77.5±7.1 years; 57.4% men) were enrolled. During 1-year follow-up, Primary endpoint events (all-cause mortality or rehospitalization) occurred in 82 patients (41.6%). Compared with the non-event group, the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) was higher (2.5±1.9 vs 1.7±1.3, p=0.004), more heart failure (32.9% vs 17.4%, p=0.01) and chronic kidney disease (17.1% vs 7.0%, p=0.03), with lower systolic blood pressure (125.3±18.3 mmHg vs 132±17.9 mmHg, p=0.005) in the event group. On multivariate Cox regression showed that the CCI was associated with a higher odds ratio of the composite outcome of all-cause mortality and rehospitalization (HR: 1.26; 95% CI: 1.02-1.56, p=0.03). Other adverse health conditions showed no significant association with the composite outcome of all-cause mortality and rehospitalization. Conclusion: Among adverse health conditions in older people with AF, multimorbidity appears to be a significant determinant of adverse clinical outcomes. Clinical Trial Registration: ChiCTR1800017204; date of registration: 07/18/2018.

Time to complication after primary pediatric hypospadias repair with transverse preputial island flap urethroplasty.

Background: Hypospadias is one of the most common congenital malformations in men. The transverse preputial island urethroplasty is widely used in China, especially for moderate and severe cases due to its convenient prepuce of the penis. This analysis aims to delineate the time to first complication following transverse preputial island urethroplasty. Methods: We analyzed the clinical data and follow-up results of children who underwent hypospadias repair by transverse preputial island urethroplasty in Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University from December 2018 to December 2019 retrospectively. Postoperative complications included urethral fistula, urethral diverticulum, urethral stricture, persistent chordee. Univariate analysis of clinical variables and time to complication was performed using Kaplan-Meier survival curve. Results: One hundred and sixty-five patients were identified. During the follow-up period, complications occurred in 101 cases (61.2%). Ninety-four percent of complications occurred within 1 year. Among children who experienced complications, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that age less than 18 months and the severity of hypospadias were statistically significant (P=0.005 and P=0.04, respectively). The time to urethral diverticulum was significantly longer than that of urethral fistula and urethral stricture. Conclusions: More than 90% of complications after the transverse preputial island urethroplasty of hypospadias occurred within 1 year, with those related to proximal hypospadias presenting earlier than those of midshaft/distal hypospadias. Surgeons may consider a more frequent follow-up within the first year after surgery to detect these complications as early as possible.

Acupuncture-assisted therapy for prolonged disorders of consciousness: study protocol for a randomized, conventional-controlled, assessor-and-statistician-blinded trial.

Background: Acupuncture is a promising non-pharmaceutical complementary therapy in treating prolonged Disorders of consciousness (pDOC), but solid evidence to support its effectiveness and safety is still lacking. Thus, the purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture-assisted therapy for pDOC patients. Methods: A single-center, prospective, randomized, conventional-controlled, assessor-and-statistician-blinded trial has been designed and is being conducted at West China Hospital of Sichuan University. A total of 110 participants will be randomly assigned to the experimental group and the control group in a 1:1 allocation ratio and evaluated using Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) at 8 a.m., 12 p.m., and 4 p.m. on 2 consecutive days before enrollment to determine the consciousness level. The experimental group will receive acupuncture combined with conventional treatment, while the control group will receive only conventional treatment during the trial observation period. The treatment duration of both groups will be 20 days. Among them, the frequency of acupuncture-assisted therapy is once a day, with 10 consecutive sessions followed by a day's rest for a total of 24 days. Data will be collected separately during baseline and after the final treatment. For data analysis, both Full Analysis Set (FAS) and Per Protocol Set (PPS) principles will be performed together by applying SPSS 27.0 software. The primary outcome measures are the changes of CRS-R before and after treatment, while the secondary outcome measures are the changes of Full Outline of Unresponsiveness Scale (FOUR), the changes of Nociception Coma Scale-Revised (NCS-R), the changes of Disability Rating Scale (DRS), the changes of Mismatch Negativity (MMN) and P300 before and after treatment, respectively. Discussion: This trial aims to rationally assess the consciousness level from multiple 2 perspectives through subjective evaluation and objective detection by selecting several standardized clinical scales combined with Event-Related Potential (ERP) detection technology. In this way, we will be able to reduce the subjectivity of consciousness assessment and objectively evaluate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture-assisted therapy for pDOC. The study, if proven to be effective and safe enough, will provide a favorable evidence to guide medical decision-making choices and future researches. Clinical trial registration: https://www.chictr.org.cn/, identifier ChiCTR2300076180.

m6A reader YTHDF2 orchestrates CD8+ T cell infiltration to promote pancreatic cancer progression and predicts clinical outcome.

Pancreatic cancer has emerged as one of the most lethal malignancies, characterized by rising morbidity and mortality rates. Research has demonstrated that N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of RNA significantly influences RNA metabolism, and dysregulation of m6A is implicated in various human diseases. A clearer picture of how the divergent m6A methylation patterns affect immunological microenvironment in pancreatic cancer is still unknown. Based on an analysis of RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data from the TCGA, GEO, and GTEx databases, we predicted and validated the expression of YTHDF2. Apoptosis and cell cycle analyses of YTHDF2 were conducted using flow cytometry, and a subcutaneous transplantation tumor model was established in BALB/c nude mice. The immune infiltration status and Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) were employed to evaluate cellular immunity and identify downstream target genes associated with the CD8+ T cell module. Additionally, machine learning-based integrative approaches were utilized to generate a predictive signature. The Western blot technique was employed to quantify YTHDF2 expression levels in PDAC cell lines and tissues. WGCNA and PPI unveiled TFG as the core gene regulation network conducting the function of the CD8+ T cell. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) assays were conducted to confirm the reduction in TFG expression subsequent to YTHDF2 knockdown. Integrative analyses using large-scale genomic data sets were conducted to reveal that YTHDF2 could affect pancreatic cancer cell apoptosis and the cell cycle, promote malignant biologic processes, and gene regulation in immune cells. YTHDF2 potentially modulates crucial molecular subgroups of immune checkpoint molecules in CD8+ T cells, thereby enhancing tumor immunogenicity and promoting anti-tumor immune responses.

Microcrystalline Engineering of Anthracite-Based Carbon Via Salt-Assisted Ball Milling for Enhanced Sodium Storage Performance.

Coal-based carbon material, characterized by abundant resources and low cost, has gained considerable interests as a promising anode candidate for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). However, the coal-based carbon generally shows inferior Na-storage performance due to its highly-ordered microstructure with narrow interlayer spacing. Herein, a salt-assisted mechanical ball-milling strategy is proposed to disrupt the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon structure in anthracite molecules, thereby reducing the microcrystalline regularity of the derived carbon during following pyrolysis process. In addition, the induced C─O─C bonds during ball-milling process can alter the pyrolysis behavior of anthracite and restrain the formation of surface defects. Consequently, in contrast to pristine anthracite-based pyrolytic carbon, which exhibits a Na-storage capacity of 198.4 mAh g-1 with a low initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) of 65.1%, the ball-milling modified carbon assisted by NaCl salt (NAC), with enhanced structural disordering and reduced surface defects, demonstrate significantly improved Na-storage capacity of 332.1 mAh g-1 and ICE value of 82.0%. The NAC electrode also realizes excellent cycle and rate performance, retaining a capacity of 196.0 mAh g-1 at 1 C after 1000 cycles. Furthermore, when coupled with NaNi1/3Fe1/3Mn1/3O2 cathode, the assembled Na-ion full cell deliveres an exceptional electrochemical performance, highlighting its promising prospect as high-performance anode for SIBs.

The study of honokiol as a natural product-based antimicrobial agent and its potential interaction with FtsZ protein.

Multidrug resistant bacteria have been a global health threat currently and frontline clinical treatments for these infections are very limited. To develop potent antibacterial agents with new bactericidal mechanisms is thus needed urgently to address this critical antibiotic resistance challenge. Natural products are a treasure of small molecules with high bioactive and low toxicity. In the present study, we demonstrated that a natural compound, honokiol, showed potent antibacterial activity against a number of Gram-positive bacteria including MRSA and VRE. Moreover, honokiol in combination with clinically used ß-lactam antibiotics exhibits strong synergistic antimicrobial effects against drug-resistant S. aureus strains. Biochemical studies further reveal that honokiol may disrupt the GTPase activity, FtsZ polymerization, cell division. These biological impacts induced by honokiol may ultimately cause bacterial cell death. The in vivo antibacterial activity of honokiol against S. aureus infection was also verified with a biological model of G. mellonella larvae. The in vivo results support that honokiol is low toxic against the larvae and effectively increases the survival rate of the larvae infected with S. aureus. These findings demonstrate the potential of honokiol for further structural advancement as a new class of antibacterial agents with high potency against multidrug-resistant bacteria.

The role of cattle manure-driven polysaccharide precursors in humus formation during composting of spent mushroom substrate.

The study examined the impact of adding cattle manure to the composting process of Agaricus bisporus mushroom substrate on compost humification. A control group CK comprised entirely of Agaricus bisporus mushroom substrate, while the experimental group CD (70 percent Agaricus bisporus mushroom substrate and 30 percent cattle manure) comprised the two composting treatments that were established. The study determined that the addition of cow dung has promoted the formation of humus components. Particularly, humic substance (HS-C) and humic acid (HA) increased by 41.3 and 74.7%, respectively, and the ratio of humic acid to fulvic acid (HA/FA) also increased by 2.78. It showed that the addition of cow dung accelerated the synthesis and decomposition of precursors, such as polysaccharides, polyphenols, and reducing sugars. Thereby promoting the formation of humic acid. Network analysis revealed that adding cow dung promoted microbial interactions increased the complexity and stability of the bacterial and fungal symbiotic network, enhanced cooperation and reciprocity among microbes, and assisted in transforming fulvic acid (FA) components. Structural equation modeling (SEM) is a multivariate data analysis method for analyzing complex relationships among constructs and core indicators. SEM illustrated that introducing cattle manure into the composting process resulted in alterations to the correlation between physicochemical parameters and the microbial community, in addition to humus formation. Polysaccharides are the primary precursors for polymerization to form HA, which is an essential prerequisite for the conversion of fulvic acid to humic acid. Additionally, microbes affected the formation of humus, with bacteria substantially more influential than fungi. These findings provide new ideas for regulating the degree of humification in the composting process and have important practical implications for optimizing mushroom cultivation and composting techniques today.

Description and Prognosis of Patients with Recovered Dilated Cardiomyopathy: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: With the recent advances in the treatment of heart failure (HF), it is intriguing that a very small number of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) have been observed as being fully recovered. However, knowledge of the progression and prognosis of patients with recovered DCM remains sparse. Herein, we conducted this study to investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with recovered DCM. Methods: Consecutive patients with recovered DCM referred to our hospital between March 2009 and May 2021 were included. The recovered DCM patients were categorized into relapse and non-relapse groups. The primary endpoint was all-cause death, and the secondary endpoint was HF re-hospitalization during follow-up. Multivariate analyses were performed to identify predictors of relapse among recovered DCM patients. Kaplan-Meier analyses were used to assess the prognostic significance of relapse. Results: A comparatively large cohort of 122 recovered DCM patients from 10,029 DCM patients was analyzed. During a median follow-up duration of 53.5 months, the relapse rate among recovered DCM patients was 15.6% (19/122). Age (odds ratio, OR 1.079, 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.014-1.148; p = 0.017), systolic blood pressure (SBP) at diagnosis (OR 0.948, 95% CI: 0.908-0.990; p = 0.015) and changes in left ventricular ejection fraction from diagnosis to recovery ( Δ LVEF) (OR 0.898, 95% CI: 0.825-0.978; p = 0.013) were identified as predictors of relapse. Furthermore, among 122 patients, 5 (4.1%) experienced death, and 12 (9.8%) underwent HF re-hospitalization. Four deaths occurred in the relapse group, with one in the non-relapse group. All deaths were attributed to cardiovascular events. The long-term prognosis of the relapse group was significantly worse compared to the non-relapse group by Kaplan-Meier analysis (p < 0.001 based on the log-rank test). Multivariate analyses significantly associated relapse with all-cause mortality in recovered DCM patients (hazard ratio, HR 7.738, 95% CI: 1.892-31.636; p = 0.004). Conclusions: Recovered DCM patients are at risk of relapse. Older age, lower SBP, and smaller Δ LVEF were independently associated with relapse in recovered DCM patients. Relapse after recovery was related to an unfavorable long-term prognosis.

Self-Propagating Fabrication of a 3D Graphite@rGO Film Anode for High-performance Potassium-Ion Batteries.

Graphite, with abundant resources and low cost, is regarded as a promising anode material for potassium-ion batteries (PIBs). However, because of the large size of potassium ions, the intercalation/deintercalation of potassium between the interlayers of graphite results in its huge volume expansion, leading to poor cycling stability and rate performance. Herein, a self-propagating reduction strategy is adopted to fabricate a flexible, self-supporting 3D porous graphite@reduced graphene oxide (3D-G@rGO) composite film for PIBs. The 3D porous network can not only effectively mitigate the volume expansion in graphite but also provide numerous active sites for potassium storage as well as allow for electrolyte penetration and rapid ion migration. Therefore, compared to the pristine graphite anode, the flexible 3D-G@rGO film electrode exhibits greatly improved K-storage performance with a reversible capacity of 452.8 mAh g-1 at 0.1 C and a capacity retention rate of 80.4% after 100 cycles. It also presents excellent rate capability with a high specific capacity of 139.1 and 94.2 mAh g-1 maintained at 2 and 5 C, respectively. The proposed self-propagating reduction strategy to construct a three-dimensional self-supporting structure is a viable route to improve the structural stability and potassium storage performance of graphite anodes.

Status and trends of TMS research in depressive disorder: a bibliometric and visual analysis.

Background: Depression is a chronic psychiatric condition that places significant burdens on individuals, families, and societies. The rapid evolution of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques has facilitated the extensive clinical use of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for depression treatment. In light of the substantial recent increase in related research, this study aims to employ bibliometric methods to systematically review the global research status and trends of TMS in depression, providing a reference and guiding future studies in this field. Methods: We retrieved literature on TMS and depression published between 1999 and 2023 from the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) and Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) databases within the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). Bibliometric analysis was performed using VOSviewer and CiteSpace software to analyze data on countries, institutions, authors, journals, keywords, citations, and to generate visual maps. Results: A total of 5,046 publications were extracted covering the period from 1999 to 2023 in the field of TMS and depression. The publication output exhibited an overall exponential growth trend. These articles were published across 804 different journals, BRAIN STIMULATION is the platform that receives the most articles in this area. The literature involved contributions from over 16,000 authors affiliated with 4,573 institutions across 77 countries. The United States contributed the largest number of publications, with the University of Toronto and Daskalakis ZJ leading as the most prolific institution and author, respectively. Keywords such as "Default Mode Network," "Functional Connectivity," and "Theta Burst" have recently garnered significant attention. Research in this field primarily focuses on TMS stimulation patterns, their therapeutic efficacy and safety, brain region and network mechanisms under combined brain imaging technologies, and the modulation effects of TMS on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotransmitter levels. Conclusion: In recent years, TMS therapy has demonstrated extensive potential applications and significant implications for the treatment of depression. Research in the field of TMS for depression has achieved notable progress. Particularly, the development of novel TMS stimulation patterns and the integration of TMS therapy with multimodal techniques and machine learning algorithms for precision treatment and investigation of brain network mechanisms have emerged as current research hotspots.

Optimizing Outcomes in Distal Tibial Deformity Correction: The Role of Supramalleolar Osteotomy with Computer-assisted Hexapod External Fixator.

OBJECTIVE: Distal tibial deformities can significantly impact patients if left uncorrected, often leading to pain, alterations in gait, and the eventual development of post-traumatic arthritis. The criteria for surgical correction in these patients continues to be a subject of debate, while supramalleolar osteotomy (SMO) is an effective method for correcting distal tibial deformities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the clinical results of SMO using internal fixation or using computer-assisted hexapod external fixator in the treatment of distal tibial deformity. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 290 patients who underwent SMO between June 2015 and January 2023. Forty-four patients met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Among the participants, 19 underwent SMO combined with a computer-assisted hexapod external fixator, while 25 received SMO with plate and screw internal fixation. The tibial anterior surface (TAS) angle, tibial lateral surface (TLS) angle, the tibiotalar (TT) angle and the talocrural (TC) angle were assessed on weight-bearing X-ray films. Functional assessments were performed according to the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score. RESULTS: The study followed patients for an average duration of 31.7 ± 15.3 months, with a range from 12 to 67 months. Successful bone union was achieved in all cases. For patients treated with the computer-assisted hexapod external fixator, significant improvements were observed: the mean deviation in sagittal plane deformity parameters decreased from 14.3 ± 10.4 degrees preoperatively to 2.8 ± 3.8 degrees postoperatively (p < 0.05). Similarly, coronal plane deformity parameters showed a reduction from 25.9 ± 22.5 degrees preoperatively to 5.9 ± 11.0 degrees postoperatively (p < 0.05). The AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score improved markedly from 66.0 ± 14.9 to 86.1 ± 11.7 points (p < 0.05). For patients undergoing internal fixation, the absolute difference in coronal plane parameters improved from 15.4 ± 12.6 degrees preoperatively to 3.7 ± 3.4 degrees postoperatively (p < 0.05). A significant enhancement in AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score was also noted, increasing from 68.3 ± 14.3 points to 79.4 ± 13.5 points (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in gender, side, follow-up time, postoperative deviation of deformity, pre- or postoperative AOFAS between the two groups. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, comprehensive preoperative planning of SMO combined with either internal fixation or a hexapod external fixator for treating distal tibial deformities can achieve satisfactory outcomes. The utilization of a computer-assisted hexapod external fixator facilitates a gradual and precise correction process, which proved to be an effective and relatively safe method.

Treatment of Fourth Metatarsal Brachymetatarsia Using Distraction Osteogenesis with External Fixator: Surgical Techniques, Outcomes and Complications.

OBJECTIVE: Surgical technique in distraction osteogenesis for the treatment of brachymetatarsia can influence the final prognosis. However, there are currently no standardized guidelines for surgical procedures and complication management. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of bone lengthening with external fixation by minimally invasive osteotomy based on Ilizarov technique in the treatment of congenital brachymetatarsia. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on patients with congenital brachymetatarsia treated by metatarsal lengthening, from June 2017 to December 2020. There were 11 patients with 17 shorted fourth metatarsals, including 10 females and 1 male, with age of 24.6 ± 4.5 years (16-31 years). Six patients were bilaterally involved. Orthofix external fixator mini track was installed through dorsal approach and the fourth MTP joints were temporarily fixed by Kirschner wire. Bone lengthening was performed after a minimally invasive osteotomy at the proximal metatarsals. American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) lesser metatarsophalangeal-interphalangeal (MTP-IP) scores, metatarsal length, complications were recorded. Statistical comparison was performed using the paired t-student test for pre- and postoperative AOFAS MTP-IP scores. RESULTS: Patients were followed up for 55 ± 10.8 months. The mean length of the fourth metatarsal bone was 49.9 ± 2.9 mm preoperatively. The mean metatarsal shortage was 18.8 ± 3.1 mm. The mean lengthening achieved was 19.8 ± 3.3 mm, with a lengthening ratio of 39.7% ± 6.6%. The lengthened callus ossified completely at 3-4 months after operation. All patients were satisfied with the results of lengthening. The AOFAS scores were improved significantly from 83.7 ± 4.2 preoperatively to 93.2 ± 2.7 postoperatively (t = -10.27, p < 0.001). One patient with traumatic metatarsophalangeal joint subluxation was treated by joint reduction and Kirschner wire fixation. One patient had metatarsophalangeal joint release and Kirschner wire fixation due to flexion contracture. Pin tract infections were controlled by wound care and antibiotics in 6 patients. All patients had no nonunion, necrosis of toes, and sensory disturbance of toes. CONCLUSION: Metatarsal lengthening by minimally invasive osteotomy with external fixator had satisfactory results in the treatment of congenital brachymetatarsia.

CYP2E1 in 1,4-dioxane metabolism and liver toxicity: insights from CYP2E1 knockout mice study.

1,4-Dioxane (DX), an emerging water contaminant, is classified as a Group 2B liver carcinogen based on animal studies. Understanding of the mechanisms of action of DX liver carcinogenicity is important for the risk assessment and control of this environmental pollution. Previous studies demonstrate that high-dose DX exposure in mice through drinking water for up to 3 months caused liver mild cytotoxicity and oxidative DNA damage, a process correlating with hepatic CYP2E1 induction and elevated oxidative stress. To access the role of CYP2E1 in DX metabolism and liver toxicity, in the current study, male and female Cyp2e1-null mice were exposed to DX in drinking water (5000 ppm) for 1 week or 3 months. DX metabolism, redox and molecular investigations were subsequently performed on male Cyp2e1-null mice for cross-study comparisons to similarly treated male wildtype (WT) and glutathione (GSH)-deficient Gclm-null mice. Our results show that Cyp2e1-null mice of both genders were resistant to DX-induced hepatocellular cytotoxicity. In male Cyp2e1-null mice exposed to DX for 3 months, firstly, DX metabolism to ß-hydroxyethoxyacetic acid was reduced to ~ 36% of WT levels; secondly, DX-induced hepatic redox dysregulation (lipid peroxidation, GSH oxidation, and activation of NRF2 antioxidant response) was substantially attenuated; thirdly, liver oxidative DNA damage was at a comparable level to DX-exposed WT mice, accompanied by suppression of DNA damage repair response; lastly, no aberrant proliferative or preneoplastic lesions were noted in DX-exposed livers. Overall, this study reveals, for the first time, that CYP2E1 is the main enzyme for DX metabolism at high dose and a primary contributor to DX-induced liver oxidative stress and associated cytotoxicity. High dose DX-induced genotoxicity may occur via CYP2E1-independent pathway(s), potentially involving impaired DNA damage repair.