When Chinese patients with plasma cell disorders encountered the nationwide Omicron outbreak (December 2022): a real-world multicenter and multiregional study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess the impact of the nationwide Omicron outbreak in December 2022 on Chinese patients with plasma cell disorders (PCD), focusing on the clinical characteristics of PCD patients with COVID-19 and the risk factors contributing to adverse clinical courses (severity and hospitalization) and outcomes. METHODS: A multicenter retrospective study was performed from December 1, 2022, to January 19, 2023. The study population includes 404 PCD patients, divided into a COVID-19 group (n = 342) and an uninfected group (n = 62). RESULTS: The frequency of COVID-19 infection was 84.7% (342/404), and 16.4% (56/342) were severe COVID-19. Among the 277 patients with complete follow-up, 2 deaths (0.7%) were reported, while 231 (83.4%) recovered from COVID-19. Age > 65 (P = 0.02) and prior anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatment within six months (P = 0.03) were independent risk factors for severe infection. Additionally, previous chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy within six months was correlated with a higher risk of hospitalization (P = 0.04) and prolonged recovery time (P = 0.03). No significant protective effect of vaccination on infection or severe infection was observed (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The latest Omicron outbreak results in higher rates of severe infection and mortality in PCD patients compared with the general population in China, highlighting the need to protect this vulnerable population during the pandemic. Recent use of anti-CD38 mAb and CAR-T therapy are associated with poorer clinical courses and outcomes of PCD patients with COVID-19.

The correlation between serum bone metabolism indexes and bone disease and survival in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients.

Objective Myeloma-related bone disease (MBD) is one of the most common complications of multiple myeloma (MM). This study aims to investigate the correlation between serum bone metabolism indexes (BMIs), the clinical characteristics and prognosis of newly diagnosed MM (NDMM) patients. METHODS: The serum BMIs of 148 patients with NDMM in a single hematological disease treatment center from April 2014 to December 2019 were analyzed retrospectively, including type I collagen amino terminal elongation peptide (PINP), ß-C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ß-CTX) and N-terminal osteocalcin (N-MID). Other clinical indexes were simultaneously collected and the degree of bone damage in patients was evaluated. We explored the effect of serum BMIs on the prognosis and identified independent prognostic factors. Another 77 NDMM patients from April 2018 to February 2021 served as the validation cohort. RESULTS: The area under the curve (AUC) predicted by ß-C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ß-CTX), type I collagen amino terminal elongation peptide (PINP), and N-terminal osteocalcin (N-MID) for overall survival (OS) were 0.708, 0.613, and 0.538, respectively. Patients with high serum levels had shorter OS (p < .001, p = .004, p = .027, respectively). Cox multivariate analysis indicated that serum ß- CTX、lactic dehydrogenase、hemoglobin and the degree of bone injury were independent prognostic factors. A COX regression model was established with a C-index of 0.782 and validated with a C-index of 0.711. CONCLUSION: The serum BMIs are correlated with the patients' OS, and ß- CTX can be an independent prognostic factor.

Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance neurography for diagnosing brachial plexopathy: improved visualization and additional imaging features.

Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance neurography (CE-MRN) holds promise for diagnosing brachial plexopathy by enhancing nerve visualization and revealing additional imaging features in various lesions. This study aims to validate CE-MRN's efficacy in improving brachial plexus (BP) imaging across different patient cohorts. Seventy-one subjects, including 19 volunteers and 52 patients with BP compression/entrapment, injury, and neoplasms, underwent both CE-MRN and plain MRN. Two radiologists assessed nerve visibility, with inter-reader agreement evaluated. Quantitative parameters such as signal intensity (SI), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and contrast ratio (CR) of the C7 nerve were measured. Both qualitative scoring and quantitative metrics were compared between CE-MRN and plain MRN within each patient group. Patient classification followed the Neuropathy Score Reporting and Data System (NS-RADS), summarizing additional imaging features for each brachial plexopathy type. Inter-reader agreement for qualitative assessment was strong. CE-MRN significantly enhanced BP visualization and nerve-tissue contrast across all cohorts, particularly in volunteers and patients with injuries. It also uncovered additional imaging features such as hypointense signals in ganglia, compressed nerve sites, and neoplastic enhancements. CE-MRN effectively mitigated muscle edema and vascular contamination, enabling precise classification of BP injuries. Overall, CE-MRN consistently enhances BP visualization and provides valuable imaging features for accurate diagnosis.

Discovery of the Chlorinated and Ammoniated Derivatives of Vanillin as Potential Insecticidal Candidates Targeting V-ATPase: Structure-Based Virtual Screening, Synthesis, and Bioassay.

Vacuolar-type H+-ATPases (V-ATPases) play a crucial role in the life cycle of agricultural pests and represent a promising target for the development of novel insecticides. In this study, S18, a derivative of vanillin acquired from Specs database using a structure-based virtual screening methodology, was first identified as a V-ATPase inhibitor. It binds to subunit A of the enzyme with a Kd of 1 nM and exhibits insecticidal activity against M. separata. Subsequently, using S18 as the lead compound, a new series of vanillin derivatives were rationally designed and efficiently synthesized. and their biological activities were assessed. Among them, compound 3b-03 showed the strongest insecticidal activity against M. separata by effectively targeting the V-ATPase subunit A with Kd of 0.803 µM. Isothermal titration calorimetric measurements and docking results provided insights into its interaction with subunit A of V-ATPase, which could facilitate future research aimed at the development of novel chemical insecticides.

Integrating genetic analysis of germplasm wealth for enhanced selection and improvement in olive (Olea europaea L.): insights from leaves.

KEY MESSAGE: High-throughput next-generation sequencing of 161 olive germplas. 33 samples were selected as core olive germplasm and Fingerprints were constructed. After GWAS analysis of olive leaf shape, 14 candidate genes were localized. Olive (Olea europaea L.) has been introduced to China since the 1960s. After a prolonged period of variation and domestication, there is a lack of comprehensive research on its genetics. The olive oil directly extracted from Olea europaea L. is recognized as 'liquid gold', nevertheless, people constantly overlook the valuable wealth of olive leaves. High-throughput next-generation sequencing was performed on 161 olive germplasm to analyze the kinship, genetic structure and diversity of olives, and the core germplasm of olives were selected and fingerprints were constructed. Meanwhile, Genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) was performed to locate the gene for regulating olive leaf shape. Herein, the results parsed that most of the Chinese olive germplasm was more closely related to the Italian germplasm. A wealth of hybridized germplasm possessed high genetic diversity and had the potential to be used as superior parental material for olive germplasm. A total of 33 samples were selected and characterized as core germplasm of olive and Fingerprints were also constructed. A total of 14 candidate genes were localized after GWAS analysis of four olive leaf shape phenotypes, including leaf shape, leaf curvature shape, leaf tip and leaf base shape. Collectively, this study revealed the genetic basis of olives in China and also succeeded in constructing the core germplasm that stands for the genetic diversity of olives, which can contribute to the scientific and effective collection and preservation of olive germplasm resources, and provide a scientific basis for the in-depth excavation and utilization of genes regulating olive leaf shape.

Metabolic reprogramming in hepatocellular carcinoma: a bibliometric and visualized study from 2011 to 2023.

Background and aims: Metabolic reprogramming has been found to be a typical feature of tumors. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a cancer with high morbidity and mortality, has been extensively studied for its metabolic reprogramming-related mechanisms. Our study aims to identify the hotspots and frontiers of metabolic reprogramming research in HCC and to provide guidance for future scientific research and decision-making in HCC metabolism. Methods: Relevant studies on the metabolic reprogramming of HCC were derived from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database up until November 2023. The bibliometrix tools in R were used for scientometric analysis and visualization. Results: From 2011 to 2023, a total of 575 publications were obtained from WoSCC that met the established criteria. These publications involved 3,904 researchers and 948 organizations in 37 countries, with an average annual growth rate of 39.11% in research. These studies were published in 233 journals, with Cancers (n = 29) ranking first, followed by Frontiers in Oncology (n = 20) and International Journal of Molecular Sciences (n = 19). The top ten journals accounted for 26% of the 575 studies. The most prolific authors were Wang J (n = 14), Li Y (n = 12), and Liu J (n = 12). The country with the most publications is China, followed by the United States, Italy, and France. Fudan University had the largest percentage of research results with 15.48% (n = 89). Ally A's paper in Cell has the most citations. A total of 1,204 keywords were analyzed, with the trend themes such as "glycolysis," "tumor microenvironment," "Warburg effect," "mitochondria," "hypoxia ," etc. Co-occurrence network and cluster analysis revealed the relationships between keywords, authors, publications, and journals. Moreover, the close collaboration between countries in this field was elucidated. Conclusion: This bibliometric and visual analysis delves into studies related to metabolic reprogramming in HCC between 2012 and 2023, elucidating the characteristics of research in this field, which has gradually moved away from single glycolipid metabolism studies to the integration of overall metabolism in the body, pointing out the trend of research topics, and the dynamics of the interaction between the tumor microenvironment and metabolic reprogramming will be the future direction of research, which provides blueprints and inspirations for HCC prevention and treatment programs to the researchers in this field.Systematic Review Registration: [https://www.bibliometrix.org].

Diabetes remission and nonalcoholic fatty pancreas disease.

This editorial focuses on the relationship between nonalcoholic fatty pancreas disease (NAFPD) and the development and remission of type 2 diabetes (T2D). NAFPD is characterized by intrapancreatic fatty deposition associated with obesity and not associated with alcohol abuse, viral infections, and other factors. Ectopic fat deposition in the pancreas is associated with the development of T2D, and the underlying mechanism is lipotoxic ß-cell dysfunction. However, the results on the relationship between intrapancreatic fat deposition (IPFD) and ß-cell function are conflicting. Regardless of the therapeutic approach, weight loss improves IPFD, glycemia, and ß-cell function. Pancreatic imaging is valuable for clinically monitoring and evaluating the management of T2D.

[Network Meta-analysis of Chinese patent medicines in treatment of chronic pulmonary heart disease].

Network Meta-analysis was performed to compare the efficacy and safety of Chinese patent medicines in treating chronic pulmonary heart disease. CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, SinoMed, PubMed, Web of Science, EMbase, and Cochrane Library were searched for randomized controlled trial(RCT) of treating chronic pulmonary heart disease with Chinese patent medicines with the time interval from inception to December 2023. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool was used for quality assessment of the included articles. RevMan 5.4 and Stata 17.0 were employed to establish the risk of bias map and perform the network Meta-analysis, respectively. Ultimately, a total of 95 RCTs involving 8 787 cases and 11 different Chinese patent medicines were included. Network Meta-analysis yielded the following results based on the surface under the cumulative ranking curve(SUCRA).(1)In terms of cardiac function improves clinical total effective rate, SUCRA the top three were Wenxin Granules + conventional western medicine, Tongxinluo Capsules + conventional western medicine, and Qishen Yiqi Dropping Pills + conventional western medicine.(2)For improving forced expiratory volume in the first se-cond(FEV1), SUCRA the top three were Danting Feixin Granules + conventional western medicine, Tongxinluo Capsules + conventional western medicine, and Bufei Huoxue Capsules + conventional western medicine.(3)Regarding increasing the FEV1/forced vital capacity(FVC%) value, SUCRA the top three were Qili Qiangxin Capsules + conventional western medicine, Shexiang Baoxin Pills + conventional western medicine, and Qishen Yiqi Dropping Pills + conventional western medicine.(4)In terms of increasing the partial pressure of oxygen(PaO_2), SUCRA the top three were Qili Qiangxin Capsules + conventional western medicine, Qishen Yiqi Dropping Pills + conventional western medicine, and Shexiang Baoxin Pills + conventional western medicine.(5)In terms of reducing the partial pressure of carbon dioxide(PaCO_2), SUCRA the top three were Tongxinluo Capsules + conventional western medicine, Qishen Yiqi Dropping Pills + conventional western medicine, and Shexiang Baoxin Pills + conventional western medicine.(6)In terms of increasing left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF), SUCRA the top three were Bufei Huoxue Capsules + conventional western medicine, Qishen Yiqi Dropping Pills + conventional western medicine, and Shexiang Baoxin Pills + conventional western medicine.(7)In terms of decreasing brain natriu-retic peptide(BNP), SUCRA the top three were Compound Danshen Dropping Pills + conventional western medicine, Qili Qiangxin Capsules + conventional western medicine, and Tongxinluo Capsules + conventional western medicine.(8)In terms of improving the hematocrit level, SUCRA the top three were Qishen Yiqi Dropping Pills + conventional western medicine, Compound Danshen Dropping Pills + conventional western medicine, and Tongxinluo Capsules + conventional western medicine. In terms of safety, 26 RCTs reported adverse reactions, which primarily involved the circulatory and digestive systems. The combination of Chinese patent medicines with conventional western medicine has demonstrated enhanced therapeutic effects on chronic pulmonary heart disease. However, due to the varying quality and sample sizes of included studies and the absence of direct comparisons between Chinese patent medicines, the conclusions should be further validated by multicenter studies with larger sample sizes and higher methodological rigor.

The gapless genome assembly and multi-omics analyses unveil a pivotal regulatory mechanism of oil biosynthesis in the olive tree.

Olive is a valuable oil-bearing tree with fruits containing high levels of fatty acids. Oil production is a multifaceted process involving intricate interactions between fatty acid biosynthesis and other metabolic pathways that are affected by genetics and the developmental stages of the fruit. However, a comprehensive understanding of the underlying regulatory mechanisms is still lacking. Here, we generated a gap-free telomere-to-telomere assembly for Olea europaea cv. 'Leccino', representing an olive genome with the highest contiguity and completeness to date. The combination of time-course metabolomics and transcriptomics datasets revealed a negative correlation between fatty acid and flavonoid biosynthesis in the initial phase of olive fruit development, which was subject to an opposing regulatory mechanism mediated by the hub transcription factor MYC2. Multifaceted molecular assays demonstrated that MYC2 is a repressor of fatty acid biosynthesis by downregulating the expression of BCCP2 (biotin carboxylase carrier protein 2), while it acts as an activator of FLS (flavonol synthase), leading to an increase in flavonoid synthesis. Furthermore, the expression of MYC2 is regulated by fluctuations of methyl jasmonate content during olive fruit development. Our study completes a high-quality gapless genome of an olive cultivar, and provides new insight into the regulatory mechanisms underlying the biosynthesis of fatty acids and flavonoids in its fruit.

Realization of a 2D Lieb Lattice in a Metal-Inorganic Framework with Partial Flat Bands and Topological Edge States.

Flat bands and Dirac cones in materials are the source of the exotic electronic and topological properties. The Lieb lattice is expected to host these electronic structures, arising from quantum destructive interference. Nevertheless, the experimental realization of a 2D Lieb lattice remained challenging to date due to its intrinsic structural instability. After computationally designing a Platinum-Phosphorus (Pt-P) Lieb lattice, it has successfully overcome its structural instability and synthesized on a gold substrate via molecular beam epitaxy. Low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy verify the Lieb lattice's morphology and electronic flat bands. Furthermore, topological Dirac edge states stemming from pronounced spin-orbit coupling induced by heavy Pt atoms are predicted. These findings convincingly open perspectives for creating metal-inorganic framework-based atomic lattices, offering prospects for strongly correlated phases interplayed with topology.

Ultrasensitive detection of aggregated α-synuclein using quiescent seed amplification assay for the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND: Seed amplification assays (SAA) enable the amplification of pathological misfolded proteins, including α-synuclein (αSyn), in both tissue homogenates and body fluids of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. SAA involves repeated cycles of shaking or sonication coupled with incubation periods. However, this amplification scheme has limitations in tracking protein propagation due to repeated fragmentation. METHODS: We introduced a modified form of SAA, known as Quiescent SAA (QSAA), and evaluated biopsy and autopsy samples from individuals clinically diagnosed with PD and those without synucleinopathies (control group). Brain biopsy samples were obtained from 14 PD patients and 6 controls without synucleinopathies. Additionally, skin samples were collected from 214 PD patients and 208 control subjects. Data were analyzed from April 2019 to May 2023. RESULTS: QSAA successfully amplified αSyn aggregates in brain tissue sections from mice inoculated with pre-formed fibrils. In the skin samples from 214 PD cases and 208 non-PD cases, QSAA demonstrated high sensitivity (90.2%) and specificity (91.4%) in differentiating between PD and non-PD cases. Notably, more αSyn aggregates were detected by QSAA compared to immunofluorescence with the pS129-αSyn antibody in consecutive slices of both brain and skin samples. CONCLUSION: We introduced the new QSAA method tailored for in situ amplification of αSyn aggregates in brain and skin samples while maintaining tissue integrity, providing a streamlined approach to diagnosing PD with individual variability. The integration of seeding activities with the location of deposition of αSyn seeds advances our understanding of the mechanism underlying αSyn misfolding in PD.

Exploring transformation of dissolved organic matters and dissolved organic nitrogen in full-scale anammox wastewater treatment: Temperature and microbial roles.

Variation of dissolved organic matters (DOM) in mainstream anammox process has received limited attention. This study systematically characterized DOM and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) in a full-scale mainstream anammox wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) using spectroscopy and Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. Roles of bacterial community structures related with temperatures on DOM and DON transformations were analyzed. Results indicated that the WWTP removed highly bioavailable, S-containing DOM while producing more unsaturated, aromatic, and N-containing DOM. Higher relative abundances of Proteobacteria and Chloroflexi at low temperature resulted in greater removal rates of proteins, SMP-like and humic acid-like substances. At high temperature, higher relative abundance of Actinobacteriota increased lignin production. Principal component analysis revealed that temperature significantly impacted DOM characteristics compared to DON. These findings are crucial for understanding DOM and DON transformation during mainstream anammox WWTP.

Comparative transcriptome provides new insights into the molecular regulation of olive trees to chilling stress.

Olive (Olea europaea L.), an economically important oil-producing crop, is sensitive to low temperature, which severely limits its productivity and geographical distribution. However, the underlying mechanism of cold tolerance in olive remains elusive. In this study, a chilling experiment (4 °C) on the living saplings of two olive cultivars revealed that O. europaea cv. Arbequina showed stronger cold tolerance with greater photosynthetic activity compared with O. europaea cv. Leccino. Transcriptome analyses revealed that early light-inducible protein 1 (ELIP1), the main regulator for chlorophyll synthesis, is dramatically induced to protect the photosynthesis at low temperatures. Furthermore, weighted gene co-expression network analysis, yeast one-hybrid and luciferase assays demonstrated that transcription factor bHLH66 serves as an important regulator of ELIP1 transcription by binding to the G-box motif in the promoter. Taken together, our research revealed a novel transcriptional module consisting of bHLH66-ELIP1 in the adaptation of olive trees to cold stress.

Impact of additional cytogenetic aberrations at diagnosis on prognosis of adults patients with Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation: a retrospective analysis.

Additional chromosomal abnormalities(ACAs) at diagnosis are associated with inferior prognosis in chronic myeloid leukemia. However, the prognostic significance of ACAs in adult patients with Philadelphia Chromosome Positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph + ALL) receiving TKI-targeted drugs and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(HSCT) is unknown. One hundred thirty-six adult patients with Ph + ALL were included in the study and retrospectively analysed, evaluating the effect of ACAs on outcomes of transplantation. ACAs are observed in 60 cases (44%). ACAs detected in more than 5% of cases were defined as major-route and encompass: +der(22), +der(9), + 8, -7 and complex karyotype. The median follow-up was 26.4 months. In the subgroup analyses of major route ACAs, three-year cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) and progression-free survival(PFS) are statistically significant in + 8[66.7% vs.23.7%, P = 0.024; 77.8% vs. 23.7%, P = 0.0087], -7[53.8% vs. 23.7%, P = 0.035%; 61.5% vs. 32.9%, P = 0.033], and complex karyotypes[42.9% vs. 23.7%, P = 0.027; 47.6% vs. 23.7%] compared with t(9;22) sole. Additionally, the 3-year CIR for Ph + ALL with + der(22) is 44% vs. 23.7% for t(9;22) sole(P = 0.045). The 3-year overall survival (OS) in the - 7 group is 46.5%, which is statistically significant compared with the other groups(P = 0.001). In multivariate analyses, three years CIR and PFS are statistically significant in + der(22), + 8, -7 and complex karyotype compared with t(9;22) sole(P < 0.05). More importantly, Ph + ALL with - 7 was negatively associated with the rate of 3-year OS(P = 0.012). Thus, ACAs at diagnosis appear to have a significant prognostic impact on transplantation outcomes in patients with Ph + ALL.

A new endophytic Penicillium oxalicum with aphicidal activity and its infection mechanism.

BACKGROUND: Aphid infestation adversely affects the yield and quality of crops. Rapid reproduction and insecticidal resistance have made controlling aphids in the field challenging. Therefore, the present study investigated the insecticidal property of Penicillium oxalicum (QLhf-1) and its mechanism of action against aphids, Hyalopterus arundimis Fabricius. RESULTS: Bioassay revealed that the control efficacy of the spores against aphids (86.30% and 89.05% on the third day and fifth day after infection, respectively) were higher than other components, such as the mycelium. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that QLhf-1 invaded the aphid cuticle through spores and used the aphid tissues as a nutrient source for growth and reproduction, causing stiffness and atrophy and a final death. Three extracellular enzymes, lipase, protease, and chitinase had a synergistic effect with spores, and they acted together to complete the infection process by degrading the aphid body wall and accelerating the infection process. CONCLUSION: The newly discovered endophytic penicillin strain P. oxalicum 'QLhf-1' can effectively kill aphids. The results provided strong evidence for the biological control of aphids, and lay a foundation for the development and utilization of QLhf-1. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Impact of monocytic differentiation on acute myeloid leukemia patients treated with venetoclax and hypomethylating agents.

INTRODUCTION: Although the combination of venetoclax (VEN) and hypomethylating agents (HMAs) results in impressive efficacy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), there is still a subset of patients who are refractory. We investigated the outcomes of AML patients with monocytic differentiation who were treated with frontline VEN/HMA. METHODS: A total of 155 patients with newly diagnosed AML treated with frontline VEN/HMA were enrolled in the study. Monocyte-like AML was identified by flow cytometry with typical expression of monocytic markers, and M5 was identified according to French, American, and British category. We compared the outcomes of patients with different characteristics. RESULTS: The rate of complete remission (CR) and CR with incomplete recovery of blood counts (CRi), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) in monocyte-like AML were inferior to those in nonmonocyte-like AML (CR/CRi rates, 26.7% vs. 80.0%, p < 0.001; median PFS, 2.1 vs. 8.8 months, p < 0.001; median OS, 9.2 vs. 19 months, p = 0.013). CR/CRi rate in M5 was lower than that in non-M5 (60.7% vs. 75.5%, p = 0.049). Multivariate analyses showed that monocyte-like AML was associated with lower odds of CR/CRi and higher risk of progression. CONCLUSION: Our study suggested that newly diagnosed AML with a monocytic immunophenotype had a poor prognosis with VEN/HMA treatment.

Tri-Step Water-Assisted Strategy for Suppressing Cs4PbBr6 Phase in Printable Carbon-Based CsPbBr3 Solar Cells to Achieve High Stability.

Often deemed the "natural nemesis" of perovskites, water molecules have been largely circumvented by the majority of researchers in the field of perovskite solar cells. This has resulted in significant hurdles in investigating the beneficial impacts of water molecules on perovskite crystallization. Herein, it is found that by utilizing ethanol with minimal water content and subjecting all-inorganic perovskite to three distinct annealing temperatures within the same solvent, the residual CsBr can be effectively removed, and the formation of the Cs4PbBr6 phase can be curtailed. By selecting an optimal water content, substantial improvements are observed in the crystalline quality of CsPbBr3, the perovskite/carbon interface, and the mesoporous filling effect. The Urbach energy (Eu) is reduced from 38.96 to 35.59 meV, and the defect density decreased from 4.16 × 1014 to 3.39 × 1014 cm-3. As a result, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) improved from 7.55% in the control group to 9.37%. Under severe environmental conditions with a temperature (T) of 85 °C and a relative humidity (RH) of 40%, tracking tests over 1200 h retained 89.3% of the initial PCE. This research signifies a breakthrough in the fabrication of highly stable and efficient all-inorganic printable mesoscopic perovskite solar cells.

The influence of previous preterm birth with singleton pregnancy on the risk of recurrence in subsequent twin pregnancy: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Preterm birth is a significant obstetrical concern around the globe. With this study, we aimed to determine whether a prior singleton pregnancy preterm birth increases the likelihood of preterm birth in subsequent twin pregnancies. We designed his systematic review to provide valuable information for pregnant women and obstetricians during counselling and for individuals involved in the planning of preventive strategies. METHODS: We comprehensively searched the PubMed, Embase and Scopus databases to identify relevant studies published until October 2023 following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We applied a random-effects meta-analysis to the data gathered from the selected studies. RESULTS: Among the 460 initially identified studies, only eight met the eligibility criteria. The analysis of incidence revealed an event rate of 9.5% (95% CI, 4.4-19.5%) for a history of preterm singleton birth in the cohort of women with subsequent twin pregnancies. Subgroup analyses focused on the risk of preterm twin births (<37 weeks, <34 weeks and <32 weeks) in women with prior preterm singleton births. Our results revealed a significantly elevated risk of subsequent preterm twin births associated with prior preterm singleton births at <37 weeks (OR, 2.94; 95% CI, 1.99-4.33; p < .001), <34 weeks (OR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.67-2.14; p < .001) and <32 weeks (OR, 2.51; 95% CI, 1.58-3.99; p < .001), without heterogeneity in the included studies. CONCLUSIONS: Our systematic analysis indicates a consistent and statistically significant association between a history of preterm singleton births and preterm twin births at various gestational ages. These findings underscore the importance of the obstetric history during assessments to predict the risk of preterm births in twin pregnancies. Clinicians should monitor pregnancies with a history of preterm singleton births, as targeted interventions and improved prenatal care can mitigate the risk of preterm birth during twin pregnancies.

Preterm birth, a global concern, prompted a study examining whether a prior preterm singleton birth raises the risk of preterm birth in subsequent twin pregnancies. Conducting a systematic review of 460 studies, only eight met the eligibility criteria. The meta-analysis revealed a 9.5% incidence of preterm singleton births in subsequent twin pregnancies. Further analysis demonstrated a significantly elevated risk of preterm twin births at <32 weeks for those with a history of preterm singleton births. The study concludes that a consistent and statistically significant association exists between prior preterm singleton births and increased preterm twin birth risk at various gestational ages. This underscores the importance of considering obstetric history in assessing preterm birth risk in twin pregnancies. Clinicians are advised to closely monitor pregnancies with a history of preterm singleton births for interventions targeted and improved prenatal care.

Synthetic Modification and Insecticidal Activity of 4-epi-cis-Dihydroagarofuran Derivatives.

To synthesize the fundamental framework of dihydroagarofuran, a novel strategy was devised for constructing the C-ring through a dearomatization reaction using 6-methoxy-1-tetralone as the initial substrate. Subsequently, the dihydroagarofuran skeleton was assembled via two consecutive Michael addition reactions. The conjugated diene and trans-dihydroagarofuran skeleton were modified. The insecticidal activities of 33 compounds against Mythimna separata were evaluated. Compounds 11-5 exhibited an LC50 value of 0.378 mg/mL. The activity exhibited a remarkable 29-fold increase compared to positive control Celangulin V, which was widely recognized as the most renowned natural dihydroagarofuran polyol ester insecticidal active compound. Docking experiments between synthetic compounds and target proteins revealed the shared binding sites with Celangulin V. Structure-activity relationship studies indicated that methyl groups at positions C4 and C10 significantly improved insecticidal activity, while ether groups with linear chains displayed enhanced activity; in particular, the allyl ether group demonstrated optimal efficacy. Furthermore, a three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship model was established to investigate the correlation between the skeletal structure and activity. These research findings provide valuable insights for discovering and developing dihydroagarofuran-like compounds.

Silicon dioxide nanoparticles induce anxiety-like behavior in a size-specific manner via the microbiota-gut-brain axis.

The impacts of silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiO2-NPs) on human health have attracted increasing interest due to their widespread utilization in medicine and food additives. However, the size-dependent effects of SiO2-NPs on brain health remain sparse. Herein we investigated alterations in behavioral patterns, the gut microbiota, inflammation and oxidative stress of mice after a 12-week exposure to SiO2-NPs with either small size (NP-S) or large size (NP-L). A more pronounced deleterious effect of NP-S was found on anxiety-like behavior in mice relative to NP-L. We also found that SiO2-NPs exposure induced inflammation and oxidative stress in the colon, hippocampus and cortex of mice in a size-specific manner. Correlation network analysis revealed potential links between anxiety-like behavior and SiO2-NPs-induced shifts in the gut microbiota including Parvibacter, Faecalibaculum, Gordonibacter and Ileibacterium. Furthermore, anxiety-like behavior caused by SiO2-NPs exposure exhibited correlations with decreased levels of hippocampal IL-10 and cortex Nqo1 as well as increased levels of intestinal Acox1 and hippocampal TNF-α. Therefore, our findings suggest that exposure to SiO2-NPs promoted anxiety-like behavior through the mediation of interplay between the gut and the brain, and SiO2-NPs of smaller size may generate a more adverse effect on brain health.