DNA encoded peptide library for SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease covalent inhibitor discovery and profiling.

Covalent protease inhibitors serve as valuable tools for modulating protease activity and are essential for investigating the functions of protease targets. These inhibitors typically consist of a recognition motif and a covalently reactive electrophile. Substrate peptides, featuring residues capable of fitting into the substrate pockets of proteases, undergo chemical modification at the carbonyl carbon of the P1 residue with an electrophile and have been widely applied in the development of covalent inhibitors. In this study, we utilized a DNA-encoded peptide library to replicate peptide binder sequences and introduced a vinyl sulfone warhead at the C-termini to construct the DNA-encoded peptide covalent inhibitor library (DEPCIL) for targeting cysteine proteases. Screening results toward 3CL protease demonstrated the efficacy of this library, not only in identifying protease inhibitors, but also in discovering amino acids that can conform to aligned protease pockets. The identified peptide sequences provide valuable insight into the amino acid preferences within substrate binding pockets, and our novel technology is indicative of the potential for similar strategies to discover covalent inhibitors and profile binding preferences of other proteases.

Baduanjin for ischemic heart failure with mildly reduced/preserved ejection fraction (BEAR Trial): A randomized controlled trial.

AIM: While Baduanjin, a traditional Chinese mind-body exercise, has shown potential health benefits, its efficacy in improving outcomes for heart failure patients with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction (HFmrEF/HFpEF) has not been well documented. We aimed to investigate the adjunctive impact of Baduanjin on exercise capacity and quality of life for HFmrEF/HFpEF. METHODS: Patients with HFmrEF/HFpEF were enrolled in this multicenter randomized clinical trial. All participants were randomized to conventional cardiac rehabilitation with or without an additional 12-week Baduanjin exercise. The primary endpoint was the distance covered in a 6-min walk test (6MWD), while key secondary outcomes included quality of life measured by the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) and cardiopulmonary function including anaerobic threshold (VO2 AT). RESULTS: A total of 120 patients were enrolled, and 109 completed all session and tests. The mean age of the 120 patients was 60.5 years (SD, 9.21 years), and 23 (19.2%) were women. The Baduanjin group exhibited a 6.14% improvement in 6MWD compared to a 1.32% improvement in the control group (median improvement, 25.0 vs. 5.0 m; p < 0.001) at 12th week. The VO2 AT increased by 25.87% in the Baduanjin group versus 3.94% in the control group (p < 0.001). Quality of life also significantly improved in the Baduanjin group as indicated by MLHFQ score changes (-16.8% vs. -3.99%; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Adding Baduanjin to exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation for patients with ischemic HFmrEF or HFpEF are generally safe and could provide significant improvements in exercise capacity and quality of life.

Genome-Wide Identification of the TGA Gene Family and Expression Analysis under Drought Stress in Brassica napus L.

TGA transcription factors belong to Group D of the bZIP transcription factors family and play vital roles in the stress response of plants. Brassica napus is an oil crop with rich economic value. However, a systematic analysis of TGA gene family members in B. napus has not yet been reported. In this study, we identified 39 full-length TGA genes in B. napus, renamed TGA1~TGA39. Thirty-nine BnTGA genes were distributed on 18 chromosomes, mainly located in the nucleus, and differences were observed in their 3D structures. Phylogenetic analysis showed that 39 BnTGA genes could be divided into five groups. The BnTGA genes in the same group had similar structure and motif compositions, and all the BnTGA genes had the same conserved bZIP and DOG1 domains. Phylogenetic and synteny analysis showed that the BnTGA genes had a close genetic relationship with the TGA genes of the Brassica juncea, and BnTGA11 and BnTGA29 may play an important role in evolution. In addition, qRT-PCR revealed that three genes (BnTGA14/17/23) showed significant changes in eight experimental materials after drought treatment. Meanwhile, it can be inferred from the results of drought treatment on different varieties of rapeseed that the stress tolerance of parental rapeseed can be transmitted to the offspring through hybridization. In short, these findings have promoted the understanding of the B. napus TGA gene family and will contribute to future research aimed at B. napus resistant breeding.

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Metropolitan integration development refers to the interconnection between cities and the coordinated development of various aspects such as economy, society, culture, and nature, which is the goal of metropolitan area development. With the Zhengzhou metropolitan area as the research area and based on nighttime light data from 2012 to 2021, we comprehensively used landscape index and landscape morphology spatial pattern analysis methods, systematically evaluated the integration process of the metropolitan area from the perspective of spatial expansion and spatial connection, analyzed the spatiotemporal variations of the landscape pattern of the metropolitan area, and revealed the spatiotemporal expansion and connection patterns of the metropolitan area. The results showed that the area of the Zhengzhou metropolitan area expanded year by year from 2012 to 2021, with the number of landscape patches continuously increasing, showing an agglomeration phenomenon. In the metropolitan area, there was a trend towards stability and multi-directional coordinated growth. The contribution of non-central cities to expansion increased annually, while the expansion patterns of various constituent cities gradually shifted from internal filling to external expansion. The connection scale within the metropolitan area had been expanding annually, with enhanced intercity connections. Intercity connection belts and channels for material and information exchange were emerging, and the integrated network of urban agglomeration connections was gradually forming. Metropolitan integration planning provided positive guidance for the development of metropolitan areas. We should fully leverage the driving effects of metropolitan areas, pay attention to the integration of Zhengzhou-Kaifeng and Zhengzhou-Xuchang, promote the formation of emerging growth poles in Xinxiang and Jiaozuo, as well as regional coordinated development, strengthen the network of policies, economy, transportation, information, etc., and form a diversified and integrated development situation.

Growth and yield of maize in response to reduced fertilizer application and its impacts on population dynamics and community biodiversity of insects and soil microbes.

In the North China Plain, farmers are using excessive amounts of fertilizer for the production of high-yield crop yield, which indirectly causes pollution in agricultural production. To investigate an optimal rate of fertilizer application for summer maize, the fertilizer reduction experiments with 600 kg/ha NPK (N: P2O5: K2O = 28: 8: 10) as normal fertilizer application (NFA), (i.e., 100F), were conducted successively during 2020 and 2021 to study the effects of reduced fertilizer rates, including 90% (540 kg/ha; i.e., 90F), 80% (480 kg/ha; i.e., 80F), 62.5% (375 kg/ha; i.e., 62.5F) and 50% (300 kg/ha; i.e., 50F) of NFA, on the plant growth of maize, the dynamics of key population abundances and community diversity of insects, and the composition and diversity of microbial community and finally to find out the N-metabolic enzymes' activity in soil. Our findings revealed that the fertilizer reduction rates by 10% - 20% compared to the current 100% NFA, and it has not significantly affected the plant growth of maize, not only plant growth indexes but also foliar contents of nutrients, secondary metabolites, and N-metabolic enzymes' activity. Further, there was no significant alteration of the key population dynamics of the Asian corn borer (Ostrinia furnacalis) and the community diversity of insects on maize plants. It is interesting to note that the level of N-metabolic enzymes' activity and microbial community diversity in soil were also not affected. While the fertilizer reduction rate by 50% unequivocally reduced field corn yield compared to 100% NFA, significantly decreased the yield by 17.10%. The optimal fertilizer application was calculated as 547 kg/ha (i.e., 91.17% NFA) based on the simulation analysis of maize yields among the five fertilizer application treatments, and the fertilizer application reduced down to 486 kg/ha (i.e., 81.00% NFA) with a significant reduction of maize yield. These results indicated that reduced the fertilizer application by 8.83% - 19.00% is safe and feasible to mitigate pollution and promote sustainable production of maize crops in the region.

Stereodivergent Palladium-Catalyzed C-F Bond Functionalization of gem-Difluoroalkenes.

We herein describe a stereodivergent C-F bond functionalization of gem-difluoroalkenes. Using trisubstituted ß,ß-difluoroacrylates, both E and Z monofluoroalkene products can be obtained with excellent diastereoselectivities. The design of two different reaction manifolds, i.e., Pd(II)- versus Pd(0)-catalyzed cross-coupling of boronic acids, is the key to stereocontrol.

Seliciclib alleviates ulcerative colitis by inhibiting ferroptosis and improving intestinal inflammation.

BACKGROUND: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic, recurrent, non-specific inflammatory disease, and the pathogenesis of the disease remains unclear. Ferroptosis is a form of programmed cell death characterized by the accumulation of iron-dependent lipid peroxides, which are simultaneously closely related to reactive oxygen species (ROS). Although seliciclib is highly effective against immune inflammation, its mechanism on colitis is unclear. This study demonstrated that seliciclib administration partially inhibited ferroptosis, alleviating symptoms and inflammation in experimental colitis. METHODS: The mouse UC model was induced by 3.0 % dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) for 7 days and treated with seliciclib (10 mg/kg) for 5 days. In the in vitro model, LPS (100 µg/mL) was used for induction and seliciclib (10 µM) was applied for 2 h. Meanwhile, appropriate histopathology, inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and ferroptosis regulators were measured. RESULTS: This study primarily investigated the role of seliciclib in regulating ferroptosis in UC. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that Dual oxidase 2 (DUOX2) may serve a role involved in the ferroptosis of UC. The experimental findings demonstrated that seliciclib alleviates symptoms and inflammation in DSS-induced UC mice and partially mitigates the occurrence of ferroptosis both in vivo and in vitro, possibly through the modulation of DUOX2. CONCLUSIONS: Ferroptosis is strongly associated with the development of colitis, and seliciclib plays an essential role in ferroptosis and inflammation in UC. The suppression of ferroptosis in the intestinal epithelium could be a therapeutic approach for UC.

The Closer Vicinity to Treated Vertebrae in Percutaneous Vertebroplasty, the Higher Rate of New Vertebral Compression Fractures at Follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether risk of new vertebral compression fractures (NVCFs) was associated with vicinity to treated vertebrae in percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs). METHODS: All OVCF (T6-L5) patients treated with PVP between January 2016 and December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Vicinity to treated vertebrae was defined as the number of vertebrae between an untreated and its closest treated level. The closest treated level was chosen as reference vertebra. Clinical, radiologic, and surgical parameters were compared between groups of reference vertebrae for each vicinity NVCF. RESULTS: In total, 1348 patients with 1592 fractured and 14,584 normal vertebrae were enrolled. NVCF was identified in 20.1% (271 of 1348) patients in 2.2% (319 of 14584) vertebrae in a mean follow-up time of 24.3 ± 11.9 months. Rate of NVCF in vicinity 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 level were 4.6% (130 of 2808), 2.4% (62 of 2558), 1.8% (42 of 2365), 1.5% (31 of 2131), 1.3% (23 of 1739), 1.3% (17 of 1298), 0.8% (7 of 847), 0.9% (4 of 450), 0.8% (2 of 245), 0.9% (1 of 117), and 0% (0 of 26), respectively. Rate of NVCF in vicinity 1 level was significantly higher than that in vicinity 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 level, respectively. However, compared to reference vertebrae for vicinity 1 NVCF, any clinical, radiologic, or surgical parameters were not significantly different in those for vicinity 2, 3, and 4 NVCF, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The closer vicinity to treated vertebrae in PVP, the higher rate of NVCF at follow-up. However, any clinical, radiologic, or surgical parameters might not matter in this phenomenon of vicinity-related NVCF.

Recent advances of multifunctional zwitterionic polymers for biomedical application.

Zwitterionic polymers possess equal total positive and negative charges in the repeating units, making them electrically neutral overall. This unique property results in superhydrophilicity, which makes the zwitterionic polymers highly effective in resisting protein adsorption, thus endowing the drug carriers with long blood circulation time, inhibiting thrombus formation on biomedical devices in contact with blood, and ensuring the good sensitivity of sensors in biomedical application. Moreover, zwitterionic polymers have tumor-targeting ability and pH-responsiveness, rendering them ideal candidates for antitumor drug delivery. Additionally, the high ionic conductivity of zwitterionic polymers makes them an important raw material for ionic skin. Zwitterionic polymers exhibit remarkable resistance to bacterial adsorption and growth, proving their suitability in a wide range of biomedical applications such as ophthalmic applications, and wound dressings. In this paper, we provide an in-depth analysis of the different structures and characteristics of zwitterionic polymers and highlight their unique qualities and suitability for biomedical applications. Furthermore, we discuss the limitations and challenges that must be overcome to realize the full potential of zwitterionic polymers and present an optimistic perspective for zwitterionic polymers in the biomedical fields. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Zwitterionic polymers have a series of excellent properties such as super hydrophilicity, anti-protein adsorption, antibacterial ability and good ionic conductivity. However, biomedical applications of multifunctional zwitterionic polymers are still a major field to be explored. This review focuses on the design and application of zwitterionic polymers-based nanosystems for targeted and responsive delivery of antitumor drugs and cancer diagnostic agents. Moreover, the use of zwitterionic polymers in various biomedical applications such as biomedical devices in contact with blood, biosensors, ionic skin, ophthalmic applications and wound dressings is comprehensively described. We discuss current results and future challenges for a better understanding of multifunctional zwitterionic polymers for biomedical applications.

Heterogeneous Ni-Boride/Phosphide Anchored Amorphous B-C Layer for Overall Water Electrocatalysis.

The rational design of efficient and economical bifunctional electrocatalysts remained a challenge for overall water electrolysis. In this work, the Ni-boride/ phosphide particles anchored amorphous B-doped carbon layer with hierarchical porous characteristics in Ni foam (Ni3P/Ni3B/B-C/NF) was fabricated for overall water splitting. The Boroncarbide (B4C) power was filled and fixed in the NF interspace through the electroplating and electroless plating, and then annealed in vacuum high temperature. The amorphous B-C layer derived from the B4 C not only speeded up the electron transport, but also cooperate with Ni-boride/phosphide to enhance the electrocatalytic activity for HER and OER synergistically. Furthermore, the hierarchical porous architecture of Ni3P/Ni3B/B-C/NF increased space utilization to load more active materials. The self-supported Ni3P/Ni3B/B-C/NF electrode possessed a low overpotential of 212 and 280 mV to deliver 100 mA cm-2 for HER and OER, respectively, and high stability for 48 h. In particular, the electrolyzer constituted with the Ni3P/Ni3B/B-C/NF bifunctional electrocatalyst only required a voltage of 1.59 V at 50 mA cm-2 for water electrocatalysis under alkaline medium, and demonstrated long-term stability for 48 h. This study provides a new technical path for the development of bifunctional of transition metal borides to promote the application of hydrogen production from water splitting.

Development and psychometric evaluation of beliefs about the orthokeratology lens compliance scale (BOLCS): Based on the theory of planned behavior.

PURPOSE: Non-adherence to standard wear, care, and follow-up procedures is a major risk factor for contact lens-related complications. The effectiveness of orthokeratology largely depends on the wearer's adherence. However, a deficiency in scales capturing adherence beliefs pertinent to orthokeratology exacerbates the lack of guidance for effective intervention strategies. The purpose of this study is to develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of a new scale based on the Theory of Planned Behavior that assesses the level of adherence among ortho-k wearers. METHODS: This study involved three stages following the STROBE checklist: (1) developing initial scale items based on the Theory of Planned Behavior, a literature review, and a qualitative study; (2) evaluation of content and face validity; (3) psychometric testing on 296 participants. Item analysis, based on Classical Test Theory, assessed the overall consistency, reliability, and validity of the scale. RESULTS: The final 37-item Beliefs about the Orthokeratology Lens Compliance Scale (BOLCS) comprises 11 dimensions. The Cronbach's alpha coefficients for each dimension ranged from 0.560 to 0.798. The folded half reliabilities were 0.845, and the combined reliabilities ranged from 0.676 to 0.793, indicating strong reliability. Item-level CVI (I-CVI) and scale-level CVI/average (S-CVI/Ave) values, assessed by the panel, ranged from 0.71 to 1 and 0.954, respectively. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a factor structure consistent with the theoretical model. CONCLUSIONS: The scale's construction adhered to a standardized process, yielding preliminary validation results with satisfactory reliability and validity.

Vacancy-Driven High-Performance Metabolic Assay for Diagnosis and Therapeutic Evaluation of Depression.

Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses and is a well-known risk factor for suicide, characterized by low overall efficacy (<50%) and high relapse rate (40%). A rapid and objective approach for screening and prognosis of depression is highly desirable but still awaits further development. Herein, a high-performance metabolite-based assay to aid the diagnosis and therapeutic evaluation of depression by developing a vacancy-engineered cobalt oxide (Vo-Co3O4) assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometer platform is presented. The easy-prepared nanoparticles with optimal vacancy achieve a considerable signal enhancement, characterized by favorable charge transfer and increased photothermal conversion. The optimized Vo-Co3O4 allows for a direct and robust record of plasma metabolic fingerprints (PMFs). Through machine learning of PMFs, high-performance depression diagnosis is achieved, with the areas under the curve (AUC) of 0.941-0.980 and an accuracy of over 92%. Furthermore, a simplified diagnostic panel for depression is established, with a desirable AUC value of 0.933. Finally, proline levels are quantified in a follow-up cohort of depressive patients, highlighting the potential of metabolite quantification in the therapeutic evaluation of depression. This work promotes the progression of advanced matrixes and brings insights into the management of depression.

Enterococcus casseliflavus regulates amino acid metabolism in edible insect Clanis bilineata tsingtauica: a functional metagenomics study.

Introduction: The soybean hawkmoth, Clanis bilineata tsingtauica, is an edible insect that possesses high nutritional, medicinal and economic value. It has developed into a characteristic agricultural industry in China. Methods: The dominant gut bacterium in diapause larvae of soybean hawkmoths was identified by metagenomics, and the effect of diapause time on gut microbiome composition, diversity and function was investigated. Results: Enterococcus and Enterobacter were measured to be the dominant genera, with Enterococcus casseliflavus and Enterococcus pernyi being the dominant species. Compared to the controls, the relative abundance of E. casseliflavus and E. pernyi on day 14 was lower by 54.51 and 42.45%, respectively. However, the species richness (including the index of Chao and ACE) of gut microbiota increased on day 28 compared to controls. The gene function was mainly focused on carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism. Metabolic pathways annotated for amino acids on day 14 increased by 9.83% compared to controls. It is speculated that diapause soybean hawkmoths may up-regulate amino acid metabolism by reducing E. casseliflavus abundance to maintain their nutritional balance. Additionally, tetracycline, chloromycetin and ampicillin were screened as the top three antibiotics against E. casseliflavus. Discussion: This study not only extends our knowledge of gut microbiome in soybean hawkmoths at the species level, but also provides an initial investigation of gene functionality in interaction with insect hosts.

"Let them be": Family members' perspectives on the participation of advanced cancer patients in nursing research: A qualitative descriptive study.

BACKGROUND: Recruiting advanced cancer patients is crucial for nursing research in cancer care. However, nurse researchers often face various socio-cultural challenges, particularly in mainland China, where cultural taboos around death pose significant obstacles. An unexplored constraint in this context is the pivotal role Chinese family members play in patients' healthcare decision-making. This research gap underscores the need for a deeper understanding of Chinese family members' perspectives on the engagement of advanced cancer patients in nursing research. OBJECTIVE: To explore the perceptions and concerns of family members regarding the recruitment and participation of advanced cancer patients in nursing research. DESIGN: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted. SETTINGS: Three cancer hospitals in mainland China. PARTICIPANTS: A purposive sample of 18 family members, consisting of children or spouses of advanced cancer patients, was recruited as participants. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect data between September 2022 and January 2023. The thematic analysis method was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Three themes were identified: The absence of prior participation, Family members' reluctance to facilitate patient involvement, and Strategies to encourage patients' future participation. Family members were hesitant to allow their relatives with advanced cancer to engage in nursing research, primarily due to concerns about distressing patients, the use of potential sensitive language, stigma, and the risks involved in participation. To address these concerns, they emphasized the importance of gaining family approval prior to patient enrolment. They highlighted the need of family involvement on behalf of sick relatives in research, advocating for the inclusion of a wide range of patients rather than targeting specific subgroups. They also reiterated the significance of choosing the right time for participation and avoiding using sensitive terms such as 'cancer', 'dying', and 'death' when engaging with patients. Moreover, they proposed the recruitment of patients by trusted professionals, shortening the duration of research activities and simplifying research procedures. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides fresh insights into the perspectives of family members concerning the recruitment and engagement of advanced cancer patients in nursing research. It emphasizes the importance of addressing their concerns and recommendations, aiding nurse researchers in developing culturally sensitive recruitment strategies and fostering the inclusive participation of advanced cancer patients in nursing research within the context of family-centered care and cultural taboos surrounding death.

Experimental study to compare the strength of concrete with different amounts of polypropylene fibers at high temperatures.

It is widely known that adding fibers to concrete improves the properties of concrete, which has a brittle behavior. Although concrete has high compressive strength but poor tensile strength, this has led researchers to offer a variety of ways to deal with this weakness. The use of fibers is one of the methods used to enhance concrete behavior. Fire is one of the most important cases in structures; if the temperature is high or its duration is long, it will cause serious damage to the structure. The present study is an experimental study in which different concrete samples with different amounts of polypropylene fibers and different cement content are exposed once at a normal temperature of 25 °C and again at high temperatures, including 250 °C and 500 °C. The effect of temperature on the compressive and tensile strengths of concrete containing 0.5%, 1.5%, and 2% polypropylene fibres and with cement contents of 200 kg/m3, 260 kg/m3, and 320 kg/m3. The compressive and tensile strength was evaluated at curing 28 days of strength. The results showed a severe strength loss for all concretes after exposure to 500 °C. The relative compressive strengths of concretes containing PP fibers were higher than those of concretes without PP fibers. The tensile strength of concrete was more sensitive to high temperatures than the compressive strength. Based on the test results, it can be concluded that adding 2% PP fibers can significantly promote the residual mechanical properties of concrete during heating. The compressive strength at 25 °C with 2% PP fibres decreases by 43% with cement contents of 200 kg/m3 and 64% with cement contents of 260 kg/m3, and 37% with cement contents of 320 kg/m3, respectively. Also, the compressive strength at 500 °C with 2% PP fibres decreases by 61% with 200 kg/m3, 59% with 260 kg/m3, and 42% with cement contents of 320 kg/m3, respectively.

Comparative Bioequivalence and Food Effect of Two Formulations of 30-mg Nifedipine Controlled-Release Tablets in Healthy Chinese Adults.

Nifedipine is a potent antihypertensive medication classified as a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker. The objective of this trial was to assess the bioequivalence of a 30-mg nifedipine controlled-release tablet and a reference drug in a cohort of healthy Chinese individuals. Two independent open-label, randomized, single-dose, crossover studies were conducted, 1 under fasting conditions (N = 44, with 1 participant dropping out midway) and the other under fed conditions (N = 44, with 4 participants dropping out midway). Plasma concentrations of nifedipine were determined using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters were calculated using noncompartmental analysis with Phoenix WinNonlin 8.0 software. In both fasting and fed studies, reasonable bioequivalence was observed for the PK parameters of both the test product and the reference drug. A good safety profile was demonstrated for both the test product and reference drug, with no serious adverse events reported, and both were similarly well tolerated. An important observation with food coadministration was that systemic exposure to nifedipine (based on area under the curve, AUC0-∞) was reduced by approximately 12%. The bioequivalence of the test product and reference drug under fasting/fed conditions in healthy subjects in China was demonstrated by the study results.

Retinal giant cyst treated by the scleral buckling procedure: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Retinal cysts are rare lesions of the fundus that are essentially fluid-filled cavities located or originating in the retina, with a diameter larger than the normal retinal thickness. To date, there have been few case reports of giant retinal cyst hemorrhage with retinoschisis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 32-year-old woman with no other medical history complained of decreased vision for 3 days after a severe cough. The best-corrected visual acuity in the right eye was 0.5. A comprehensive ophthalmological examination including slit-lamp fundoscopy, ultrasound scan of the eye, optical coherence tomography scan, and orbital magnetic resonance imaging was performed. Ophthalmological examination revealed grade III anterior chamber blood cells and grade III vitreous hemorrhage in the right eye and a large herpetic cyst on the nasal side of the retina. The cyst projected into the vitreous, with a large amount of hemorrhage vaguely visible within it. The cyst was clearly visible, and a superficial retinal limiting detachment was observed around it. Ultrasound showed a retinal cyst with retinal detachment in the right eye. Laboratory test results were unremarkable. After 3 months of conservative treatment, the patient's intracystic hemorrhage was significantly absorbed, but the size of the cyst cavity did not show any significant change. Scleral buckling with external compression combined with external drainage of the intracystic fluid was performed, the patient's visual acuity was gradually restored to a normal 1.0 after the operation, and the retina appeared flattened. The patient was finally diagnosed with a giant retinal cyst with retinoschisis in the right eye. The presumed cause was heavy coughing leading to rupture and hemorrhage of the retinal cyst, similar to the mechanism of rupture of an arterial dissection. To the best of our knowledge, this case of retinal cyst rupture and hemorrhage caused by heavy coughing with good recovery after external surgical treatment has never been reported before. CONCLUSIONS: Giant cystic retinal hemorrhage with retinoschisis is very rare. Orbital magnetic resonance imaging and ocular B-scan ultrasound are essential for its diagnosis, and the selection of an appropriate surgical procedure is necessary to maximize the benefit for affected patients.

Quantitative Analysis of Trace Analytes with Highly Sensitive SERS Tags on Hydrophobic Interface.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) presents a promising avenue for trace matter detection by using plasmonic nanostructures. To tackle the challenges of quantitatively analyzing trace substances in SERS, such as poor enrichment efficiency and signal reproducibility, this study proposes a novel approach using Au@internal standard@Au nanospheres (Au@IS@Au NSs) for realizing the high sensitivity and stability in SERS substrates. To verify the feasibility and stability of the SERS performances, the SERS substrates have exhibited exceptional sensitivity for detecting methyl blue molecules in aqueous solutions within the concentration range from 10-4 M to 10-13 M. Additionally, this strategy also provides a feasible way of quantitative detection of antibiotic in the range of 10-4 M to 10-10 M. Trace antibiotic residue on the surface of shrimp in aquaculture waters was successfully conducted, achieving a remarkably low detection limit of 10-9 M. The innovative approach has great potential for the rapid and quantitative detection of trace substances, which marks a noteworthy step forward in environmental detection and analytical methods by SERS.

Genome-Wide Identification, Characterization, and Expression Analysis of the BES1 Family Genes under Abiotic Stresses in Phoebe bournei.

The BRI1 EMS suppressor 1(BES1) transcription factor is a crucial regulator in the signaling pathway of Brassinosteroid (BR) and plays an important role in plant growth and response to abiotic stress. Although the identification and functional validation of BES1 genes have been extensively explored in various plant species, the understanding of their role in woody plants-particularly the endangered species Phoebe bournei (Hemsl.) Yang-remains limited. In this study, we identified nine members of the BES1 gene family in the genome of P. bournei; these nine members were unevenly distributed across four chromosomes. In our further evolutionary analysis of PbBES1, we discovered that PbBES1 can be divided into three subfamilies (Class I, Class II, and Class IV) based on the evolutionary tree constructed with Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa, and Solanum lycopersicum. Each subfamily contains 2-5 PbBES1 genes. There were nine pairs of homologous BES1 genes in the synteny analysis of PbBES1 and AtBES1. Three segmental replication events and one pair of tandem duplication events were present among the PbBES1 family members. Additionally, we conducted promoter cis-acting element analysis and discovered that PbBES1 contains binding sites for plant growth and development, cell cycle regulation, and response to abiotic stress. PbBES1.2 is highly expressed in root bark, stem bark, root xylem, and stem xylem. PbBES1.3 was expressed in five tissues. Moreover, we examined the expression profiles of five representative PbBES1 genes under heat and drought stress. These experiments preliminarily verified their responsiveness and functional roles in mediating responses to abiotic stress. This study provides important clues to elucidate the functional characteristics of the BES1 gene family, and at the same time provides new insights and valuable information for the regulation of resistance in P. bournei.

Pomelo (Citrus grandis (L.) Osbeck) sponge layers as a potential source of soluble dietary fiber: Evaluation of its physicochemical, structural and functional properties.

Pomelo sponge layer (PSL) had been considered as a potential source of soluble dietary fiber (SDF), while they were mostly disposed of as waste. To promote high-value utilization of pomelo wastes, this study extracted SDF from PSL of six varieties of pomelo, and their physicochemical, structural and functional properties were investigated. Results indicated that all PSL-SDFs showed good physicochemical and functional properties. Among them, PSL-SDF from grapefruit (GRSDF) showed better water holding capacity and swelling capacity, whereas Shatian pomelo PSL-SDF and Guanxi pomelo PSL-SDF had the highest thermal stability and oil holding capacity, respectively. Furthermore, compared with other PSL-SDFs, GRSDF displayed the lowest hydrolysis degree coupled with the best antioxidant and probiotic growth-promoting abilities. Finally, the correlation analysis showed that multiple beneficial effects of PSL-SDFs were markedly associated with their molecular weight and the concentrations of total phenolic, total flavonoids, rhamnose, galacturonic acid, glucose and arabinose. Collectively, these findings contributed to a better understanding of the physicochemical and functional properties of SDFs extracted from different PSLs, which provided a scientific basis for the development of PSL-SDFs into functional foods.