Endothelial Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Promote Aberrant Neutrophil Trafficking and Subsequent Remote Lung Injury.

The development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in sepsis is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. However, the molecular pathogenesis underlying sepsis-induced ARDS remains elusive. Neutrophil heterogeneity and dysfunction contribute to uncontrolled inflammation in patients with ARDS. A specific subset of neutrophils undergoing reverse transendothelial migration (rTEM), which is characterized by an activated phenotype, is implicated in the systemic dissemination of inflammation. Using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), it identified functionally activated neutrophils exhibiting the rTEM phenotype in the lung of a sepsis mouse model using cecal ligation and puncture. The prevalence of neutrophils with the rTEM phenotype is elevated in the blood of patients with sepsis-associated ARDS and is positively correlated with disease severity. Mechanically, scRNA-seq and proteomic analys revealed that inflamed endothelial cell (EC) released extracellular vesicles (EVs) enriched in karyopherin subunit beta-1 (KPNB1), promoting abluminal-to-luminal neutrophil rTEM. Additionally, EC-derived EVs are elevated and positively correlated with the proportion of rTEM neutrophils in clinical sepsis. Collectively, EC-derived EV is identified as a critical regulator of neutrophil rTEM, providing insights into the contribution of rTEM neutrophils to sepsis-associated lung injury.

NRICM101 prevents kainic acid-induced seizures in rats by modulating neuroinflammation and the glutamatergic system.

Taiwan Chingguan Yihau (NRICM101) is a Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula used to treat coronavirus disease 2019; however, its impact on epilepsy has not been revealed. Therefore, the present study evaluated the anti-epileptogenic effect of orally administered NRICM101 on kainic acid (KA)-induced seizures in rats and investigated its possible mechanisms of action. Sprague-Dawley rats were administered NRICM101 (300 mg/kg) by oral gavage for 7 consecutive days before receiving an intraperitoneal injection of KA (15 mg/kg). NRICM101 considerably reduced the seizure behavior and electroencephalographic seizures induced by KA in rats. NRICM101 also significantly decreased the neuronal loss and glutamate increase and increased GLAST, GLT-1, GAD67, GDH and GS levels in the cortex and hippocampus of KA-treated rats. In addition, NRICM101 significantly suppressed astrogliosis (as determined by decreased GFAP expression); neuroinflammatory signaling (as determined by reduced HMGB1, TLR-4, IL-1ß, IL-1R, IL-6, p-JAK2, p-STAT3, TNF-α, TNFR1 and p-IκB levels, and increased cytosolic p65-NFκB levels); and necroptosis (as determined by decreased p-RIPK3 and p-MLKL levels) in the cortex and hippocampus of KA-treated rats. The effects of NRICM101 were similar to those of carbamazepine, a well-recognized antiseizure drug. Furthermore, no toxic effects of NRICM101 on the liver and kidney were observed in NRICM101-treated rats. The results indicate that NRICM101 has antiepileptogenic and neuroprotective effects through the suppression of the inflammatory cues (HMGB1/TLR4, Il-1ß/IL-1R1, IL-6/p-JAK2/p-STAT3, and TNF-α/TNFR1/NF-κB) and necroptosis signaling pathways (TNF-α/TNFR1/RIP3/MLKL) associated with glutamate level regulation in the brain and is innocuous. Our findings highlight the promising role of NRICM101 in the management of epilepsy.

Rationally Integrating Charge-Transfer Cocrystal and Ni(II) Organometallics for Visualized Photo/Thermochromic Sensors.

Smart materials demonstrate fascinating responses to environmental physical/chemical stimuli, including thermal, photonic, electronic, humidity, or magnetic stimuli, which have attracted intensive interest in material chemistry. However, their limited/harsh stimuli-responsive behavior or sophisticated postprocessing leads to enormous challenges for practical applications. Herein, we rationally designed and synthesized thermochromic Ni(II) organometallic [(C2H5)2NH2]2NiCl4-xBrx via a facile mechanochemical strategy, which demonstrated a reversible switch from yellow to blue color with a tunable phase-transition temperature from 75.6 to 61.7 °C. The simple electrospinning technology was applied to fabricate thermochromic Ni(II) organometallic-based nanofiber membranes for temperature monitoring. Furthermore, the organic charge-transfer cocrystal with a wide spectral absorption of 300-1950 nm and a high-efficiency photothermal conversion was combined with thermochromic Ni(II) organometallics for the desired dual-stimuli photo/thermochromism. This work supplies a new strategy for realizing multiple stimuli-responsive applications, such as thermal/light sensor displays and information storage.

Phosphorous and Nitrogen Dual-Doped Carbon as a Highly Efficient Electrocatalyst for Sodium-Oxygen Batteries.

Sodium-oxygen batteries have been regarded as promising energy storage devices due to their low overpotential and high energy density. Its applications, however, still face formidable challenges due to the lack of understanding about the influence of electrocatalysts on the discharge products. Here, a phosphorous and nitrogen dual-doped carbon (PNDC) based cathode is synthesized to increase the electrocatalytic activity and to stabilize the NaO2 superoxide nanoparticle discharge products, leading to enhanced cycling stability when compared to the nitrogen-doped carbon (NDC). The PNDC air cathode exhibits a low overpotential (0.36 V) and long cycling stability (120 cycles). The reversible formation/decomposition and stabilization of the NaO2 discharge products are clearly proven by in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction and ex-situ X-ray diffraction. Based on the density functional theory calculation, the PNDC has much stronger adsorption energy (-2.85 eV) for NaO2 than that of NDC (-1.80 eV), which could efficiently stabilize the NaO2 discharge products.

Water flush boosts performance of elemental sulfur-based denitrification packed-bed systems: Optimization and mechanisms.

Despite the promising potential of elemental sulfur-based denitrification (ESDeN) packed-bed progresses, challenges such as excessive biofilm growth and gas entrapment persist, leading to denitrification deterioration. Water flush (WF) is recognized as an effective strategy, yet its effects remain underexplored. To address this knowledge gap, this study systematically investigated WF effects on ESDeN packed-bed denitrification. Results demonstrated that controlling WF effectively regulated denitrification, achieving superior and stable rates. Compared to no WF (0.45 kgN·m-3·d-1), rates improved by 1.20 âˆ¼ 1.56 times under low-frequency (weekly WF, 0.54 kgN·m-3·d-1) and low-intensity WF (0.54 âˆ¼ 0.70 kgN·m-3·d-1). High-frequency (hours WF) and high-intensity WF (30 & 50 m/h) further amplified denitrification rates by 1.73 âˆ¼ 2.29 times. The enhanced denitrifications under low-frequency/intensity WF were mainly attributed to prolonged actual hydraulic retention time (AHRT), while high-frequency/intensity WF improved both AHRT prolonging and biofilm thinning, facilitating mass transfer. This study offers a promising avenue for fine-tuning denitrification rates via strategic WF adjustments.

The anti-angiogenic and anti-vasculogenic mimicry effects of GN25 in endothelial and glioma cells.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Scientists have been exploring anti-angiogenic strategies to inhibit angiogenesis and prevent tumor growth. Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) poses a challenge, complicating anti-angiogenesis therapy. A novel drug, GN25 (3-[{1,4-dihydro-5,8-dimethoxy-1,4-dioxo-2-naphthalenyl}thio]-propanoic acid), can inhibit tumor formation. This study aims to investigate the microenvironmental effects and molecular mechanisms of GN25 in anti-angiogenesis and anti-VM. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay was used to evaluate the cell viability of different concentrations of GN25 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and Uppsala 87 malignant glioma (U87MG) cells. Functional assays were used to investigate the effects of GN25 on angiogenesis-related processes, whereas gelatin zymography, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and Western blotting were utilized to assess the influence on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion and related signaling pathways. KEY RESULTS: GN25 suppressed migration, wound healing, and tube formation in HUVECs and disrupted angiogenesis in a rat aorta ring and zebrafish embryo model. GN25 dose-dependently reduced phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT and inhibited MMP-2/VEGF secretion in HUVECs. In U87MG cells, GN25 inhibited migration, wound healing, and VM, accompanied by a decrease in MMP-2 and VEGF secretion. The results indicate that GN25 effectively inhibits angiogenesis and VM formation in HUVECs and U87MG cells without affecting preexisting vascular structures. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: This study elaborated GN25's potential as an anti-angiogenic agent by elucidating its inhibitory effects on classical angiogenesis. VM provides valuable insights for developing novel therapeutic strategies against tumor progression and angiogenesis-related diseases. These results indicate the potential of GN25 as a promising candidate for angiogenesis-related diseases.

Novel in-situ encapsulation of tin phosphide particles in MXene conductive networks as anode materials of the durable sodium-ion battery.

Sodium-ion battery (SIB) is one of potential alternatives to lithium-ion battery, because of abundant resources and lower price of sodium. High electrical conductivity and long-term durability of MXene are advantageous as the anode material of SIB, but low energy density restricts applications. Tin phosphide possesses high theoretical capacity, low redox potential, and large energy density, but volume expansion reduces its cycling stability. In this study, tin phosphide particles are in-situ encapsulated into MXene conductive networks (SnxPy/MXene) by hydrothermal and phosphorization processes as novel anode materials of SIB. MXene amounts and hydrothermal durations are investigated to evenly distribute SnxPy in MXene. After 100 cycles, SnxPy/MXene reaches high specific capacities of 438.8 and 314.1 mAh/g at 0.2 and 1.0 A/g, respectively. The capacity retentions of 6.0% and 73.6% at 0.2 A/g are respectively obtained by SnxPy and SnxPy/MXene. The better specific capacity and cycling stability of SnxPy/MXene are attributed to less volume expansion of SnxPy during charge/discharge processes and relieved self-stacking of MXene by encapsulating SnxPy particles between MXene layers. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and Galvanostatic intermittent titration technique are also applied to analyze the charge storage mechanism in SIB. Higher sodium ion diffusion coefficient and smaller charge-transfer resistance are obtained by SnxPy/MXene.

The application of artificial intelligence in EUS.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is an epoch-making technology, among which the 2 most advanced parts are machine learning and deep learning algorithms that have been further developed by machine learning, and it has been partially applied to assist EUS diagnosis. AI-assisted EUS diagnosis has been reported to have great value in the diagnosis of pancreatic tumors and chronic pancreatitis, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, esophageal early cancer, biliary tract, and liver lesions. The application of AI in EUS diagnosis still has some urgent problems to be solved. First, the development of sensitive AI diagnostic tools requires a large amount of high-quality training data. Second, there is overfitting and bias in the current AI algorithms, leading to poor diagnostic reliability. Third, the value of AI still needs to be determined in prospective studies. Fourth, the ethical risks of AI need to be considered and avoided.

Tazarotene-induced Gene 1 Induces Melanoma Cell Death by Triggering Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Response.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the mechanism by which tazarotene-induced gene 1 (TIG1) inhibits melanoma cell growth. The main focus was to analyze downstream genes regulated by TIG1 in melanoma cells and its impact on cell growth. METHODS: The effects of TIG1 expression on cell viability and death were assessed using water-soluble tetrazolium 1 (WST-1) mitochondrial staining and lactate dehydrogenase release assays. RNA sequencing and Western blot analysis were employed to investigate the genes regulated by TIG1 in melanoma cells. Additionally, the correlation between TIG1 expression and its downstream genes was analyzed in a melanoma tissue array. RESULTS: TIG1 expression in melanoma cells was associated with decreased cell viability and increased cell death. RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq), quantitative reverse transcription PCR (reverse RT-QPCR), and immunoblots revealed that TIG1 expression induced the expression of Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) stress response-related genes such as Homocysteine-responsive endoplasmic reticulum-resident ubiquitin-like domain member 1 (HERPUD1), Binding immunoglobulin protein (BIP), and DNA damage-inducible transcript 3 (DDIT3). Furthermore, analysis of the melanoma tissue array revealed a positive correlation between TIG1 expression and the expression of HERPUD1, BIP, and DDIT3. Additionally, attenuation of the ER stress response in melanoma cells weakened the impact of TIG1 on cell growth. CONCLUSIONS: TIG1 expression effectively hinders the growth of melanoma cells. TIG1 induces the upregulation of ER stress response-related genes, leading to an increase in caspase-3 activity and subsequent cell death. These findings suggest that the ability of retinoic acid to prevent melanoma formation may be associated with the anticancer effect of TIG1.

Disparities and Biases in Food Insecurity Screening Among Admitted Children.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Food insecurity (FI) has increasingly become a focus for hospitalized patients. The best methods for screening practices, particularly in hospitalized children, are unknown. The purpose of the study was to evaluate results of an electronic medical record (EMR) embedded, brief screening tool for FI among inpatients. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study from August 2020 to September 2022 for all children admitted to a quaternary children's hospital. Primary outcomes were proportion of those screened for FI and those identified to have a positive screen. FI was evaluated by The Hunger Vital Sign, a validated 2-question screen verbally obtained in the nursing intake form in the EMR. Covariates include demographic variables of age, sex, race, ethnicity, primary language, and insurance. Statistical analyses including all univariate outcome and bivariate comparisons were performed with SAS 9.4. RESULTS: There were 31 553 patient encounters with 81.7% screened for FI. Patients had a median age of 6.3 years, were mostly male (54.2%), White (60.6%), non-Hispanic (92.7%), English-speaking (94.3%), and had government insurance (79.8%). Younger (0-2 years), non-White, and noninsured patients were all screened significantly less often for FI (all P < .001). A total of 3.4% were identified as having FI. Patients who were older, non-White, Hispanic, non-English speaking, and had nonprivate insurance had higher FI (all P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the use of an EMR screening tool intended to be universal, we found variation in how we screen for FI. At times, we missed those who would benefit the most from intervention, and thus it may be subject to implementation bias.

Padina Minor Extract Confers Resistance against Candida Albicans Infection: Evaluation in a Zebrafish Model.

Padina minor is a seaweed rich in polysaccharides often used in food, feed, fertilizers, and antibacterial drugs. This study is the first to evaluate the effect of feeding zebrafish with Padina minor extract on preventing and treating C. albicans infections. This study evaluated the growth, survival, and disease resistance effects of P. minor extract on zebrafish. The fish were divided into four groups: three groups treated with 1%, 5%, or 10% P. minor extract and one untreated group (c, control). Subsequently, we analyzed how the extract affected the immune function of zebrafish infected with C. albicans. Based on the lethal concentration (LC50) calculated in the first stage, 1% was used as the effective therapeutic concentration. The results showed that the growth rate of the 1% feed group was the best, and no significant difference in survival rates between the four groups was observed. Feeding with 1% P. minor extract downregulated the expression of key inflammatory genes like tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), and IL-10, effectively preventing and treating C. albicans infections in zebrafish. This study is a preliminary evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy of P. minor extracts against C. albicans.

The BioCascade Impactor: A novel device for direct collection of size-fractionated bioaerosols into liquid medium.

The ability to collect size-fractionated airborne particles that contain viable bacteria and fungi directly into liquid medium while also maintaining their viability is critical for assessing exposure risks. In this study, we present the BioCascade impactor, a novel device designed to collect airborne particles into liquid based on their aerodynamic diameter in three sequential stages (>9.74 µm, 3.94-9.74 µm, and 1.38-3.94 µm when operated at 8.5 L/min). Aerosol samples containing microorganisms - either Saccharomyces kudriavzevii or Micrococcus luteus, were used to evaluate the performance of the BioCascade (BC) paired with either the VIable Virus Aerosol Sampler (VIVAS) or a gelatin filter (GF) as stage 4 to collect particles <1.38 µm. Stages 2 and 3 collected the largest fractions of viable S. kudriavzevii when paired with VIVAS (0.468) and GF (0.519), respectively. Stage 3 collected the largest fraction of viable M. luteus particles in both BC+VIVAS (0.791) and BC+GF (0.950) configurations. The distribution function of viable microorganisms was consistent with the size distributions measured by the Aerodynamic Particle Sizer. Testing with both bioaerosol species confirmed no internal loss and no re-aerosolization occurred within the BC. Irrespective of the bioaerosol tested, stages 1, 3 and 4 maintained ≥80% of viability, while stage 2 maintained only 37% and 73% of viable S. kudriavzevii and M. luteus, respectively. The low viability that occurred in stage 2 warrants further investigation. Our work shows that the BC can efficiently size-classify and collect bioaerosols without re-aerosolization and effectively maintain the viability of collected microorganisms.

Application of a feedforward control-based intervention for preventing hypothermia in trauma patients in a pre-hospital emergency setting.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of a feedforward control-based intervention strategy for preventing hypothermia among trauma patients during pre-hospital emergency care. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis comparing trauma patients treated before and after implementing the intervention, with 40 cases in each group. All patients received emergency care from the Fuzhou Emergency Center on the scene. Multivariate analysis was used to explore the risk factors for hypothermia. The effective rate, incidence of adverse reactions, quality of body temperature management, medical staff's knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding mild hypothermia prevention, coagulation function, treatment time at various stages, prognosis score, and treatment situation were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The adverse reactions, intervention methods, and degree of cognitive improvement were influencing factors for hypothermia. The effective rate (92.50%) in the feedforward control group was higher than that in the non-feedforward control group (65.00%), with a lower incidence of adverse reactions (2.50%). The temperature management quality score of the feedforward control group (6.23±0.62) was higher. The feedforward control group achieved a higher quality score for temperature management (6.23±0.62) and exhibited a greater understanding of hypothermia prevention among trauma patients (P<0.05). Compared to the non-feedforward control group, the feedforward control group showed improved coagulation function, better performance in treatment time at each node, and higher prognosis scores. CONCLUSION: The intervention model based on feedforward control can effectively improve the standard of pre-hospital emergency care and prevent the incidence of hypothermia in trauma patients.

Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals the process of CA19-9 production and dynamics of the immune microenvironment between CA19-9 (+) and CA19-9 (-) PDAC.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the main types of malignant tumor of the digestive system, and patient prognosis is affected by difficulties in early diagnosis, poor treatment response, and a high postoperative recurrence rate. Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) has been widely used as a biomarker for the diagnosis and postoperative follow-up of PDAC patients. Nevertheless, the production mechanism and potential role of CA19-9 in PDAC progression have not yet been elucidated. METHODS: We performed single-cell RNA sequencing on six samples pathologically diagnosed as PDAC (three CA19-9-positive and three CA19-9-negative PDAC samples) and two paracarcinoma samples. We also downloaded and integrated PDAC samples (three each from CA19-9-positive and CA19-9-negative patients) from an online database. The dynamics of the proportion and potential function of each cell type were verified through immunofluorescence. Moreover, we built an in vitro coculture cellular model to confirm the potential function of CA19-9. RESULTS: Three subtypes of cancer cells with a high ability to produce CA19-9 were identified by the markers TOP2A, AQP5, and MUC5AC. CA19-9 production bypass was discovered on antigen-presenting cancer-associated fibroblasts (apCAFs). Importantly, the proportion of immature ficolin-1 positive (FCN1+) macrophages was high in the CA19-9-negative group, and the proportion of mature M2-like macrophages was high in the CA19-9-positive group. High proportions of these two macrophage subtypes were associated with an unfavourable clinical prognosis. Further experiments indicated that CA19-9 could facilitate the transformation of M0 macrophages into M2 macrophages in the tumor microenvironment. CONCLUSIONS: Our study described CA19-9 production at single-cell resolution and the dynamics of the immune atlas in CA19-9-positive and CA19-9-negative PDAC. CA19-9 could promote M2 polarization of macrophage in the pancreatic tumor microenvironment.

Dihydroartemisinin alleviates doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity and ferroptosis by activating Nrf2 and regulating autophagy.

Although the use of Doxorubicin (Dox) is extensive in the treatment of malignant tumor, the toxic effects of Dox on the heart can cause myocardial injury. Therefore, it is necessary to find an alternative drug to alleviate the Dox-induced cardiotoxicity. Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) is a semisynthetic derivative of artemisinin, which is an active ingredient of Artemisia annua. The study investigates the effects of DHA on doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity and ferroptosis, which are related to the activation of Nrf2 and the regulation of autophagy. Different concentrations of DHA were administered by gavage for 4 weeks in mice. H9c2 cells were pretreated with different concentrations of DHA for 24 h in vitro. The mechanism of DHA treatment was explored through echocardiography, biochemical analysis, real-time quantitative PCR, western blotting analysis, ROS/DHE staining, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence. In vivo, DHA markedly relieved Dox-induced cardiac dysfunction, attenuated oxidative stress, alleviated cardiomyocyte ferroptosis, activated Nrf2, promoted autophagy, and improved the function of lysosomes. In vitro, DHA attenuated oxidative stress and cardiomyocyte ferroptosis, activated Nrf2, promoted clearance of autophagosomes, and reduced lysosomal destruction. The changes of ferroptosis and Nrf2 depend on selective degradation of keap1 and recovery of lysosome. We found for the first time that DHA could protect the heart from the toxic effects of Dox-induced cardiotoxicity. In addition, DHA significantly alleviates Dox-induced ferroptosis through the clearance of autophagosomes, including the selective degradation of keap1 and the recovery of lysosomes.

Air Change Rate and SARS-CoV-2 Exposure in Hospitals and Residences: A Meta-Analysis.

As SARS-CoV-2 swept across the globe, increased ventilation and implementation of air cleaning were emphasized by the US CDC and WHO as important strategies to reduce the risk of inhalation exposure to the virus. To assess whether higher ventilation and air cleaning rates lead to lower exposure risk to SARS-CoV-2, 1274 manuscripts published between April 2020 and September 2022 were screened using key words "airborne SARS-CoV-2 or "SARS-CoV-2 aerosol". Ninety-three studies involved air sampling at locations with known sources (hospitals and residences) were selected and associated data were compiled. Two metrics were used to assess exposure risk: SARS-CoV-2 concentration and SARS-CoV-2 detection rate in air samples. Locations were categorized by type (hospital or residence) and proximity to the sampling location housing the isolated/quarantined patient (primary or secondary). The results showed that hospital wards had lower airborne virus concentrations than residential isolation rooms. A negative correlation was found between airborne virus concentrations in primary-occupancy areas and air changes per hour (ACH). In hospital settings, sample positivity rates were significantly reduced in secondary-occupancy areas compared to primary-occupancy areas, but they were similar across sampling locations in residential settings. ACH and sample positivity rates were negatively correlated, though the effect was diminished when ACH values exceeded 8. While limitations associated with diverse sampling protocols exist, data considered by this meta-analysis support the notion that higher ACH may reduce exposure risks to the virus in ambient air.

Comparing Sonazoid contrast-enhanced ultrasound to contrast-enhanced CT and MRI for differentially diagnosing renal lesions: a prospective multicenter study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced (CE) ultrasound using Sonazoid (SNZ-CEUS) by comparing with contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI) for differentiating benign and malignant renal masses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 306 consecutive patients (from 7 centers) with renal masses (40 benign tumors, 266 malignant tumors) diagnosed by both SNZ-CEUS, CE-CT or CE-MRI were enrolled between September 2020 and February 2021. The examinations were performed within 7 days, but the sequence was not fixed. Histologic results were available for 301 of 306 (98.37%) lesions and 5 lesions were considered benign after at least 2 year follow-up without change in size and image characteristics. The diagnostic performances were evaluated by sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and compared by McNemar's test. RESULTS: In the head-to-head comparison, SNZ-CEUS and CE-MRI had comparable sensitivity (95.60 vs. 94.51%, P = 0.997), specificity (65.22 vs. 73.91%, P = 0.752), positive predictive value (91.58 vs. 93.48%) and negative predictive value (78.95 vs. 77.27%); SNZ-CEUS and CE-CT showed similar sensitivity (97.31 vs. 96.24%, P = 0.724); however, SNZ-CEUS had relatively lower than specificity than CE-CT (59.09 vs. 68.18%, P = 0.683). For nodules > 4 cm, CE-MRI demonstrated higher specificity than SNZ-CEUS (90.91 vs. 72.73%, P = 0.617) without compromise the sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: SNZ-CEUS, CE-CT, and CE-MRI demonstrate desirable and comparable sensitivity for the differentiation of renal mass. However, the specificity of all three imaging modalities is not satisfactory. SNZ-CEUS may be a suitable alternative modality for patients with renal dysfunction and those allergic to gadolinium or iodine-based agents.

A long non-coding RNA functions as a competitive endogenous RNA to modulate TaNAC018 by acting as a decoy for tae-miR6206.

Increasing evidence indicates a strong correlation between the deposition of cuticular waxes and drought tolerance. However, the precise regulatory mechanism remains elusive. Here, we conducted a comprehensive transcriptome analysis of two wheat (Triticum aestivum) near-isogenic lines, the glaucous line G-JM38 rich in cuticular waxes and the non-glaucous line NG-JM31. We identified 85,143 protein-coding mRNAs, 4,485 lncRNAs, and 1,130 miRNAs. Using the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network and endogenous target mimic (eTM) prediction, we discovered that lncRNA35557 acted as an eTM for the miRNA tae-miR6206, effectively preventing tae-miR6206 from cleaving the NAC transcription factor gene TaNAC018. This lncRNA-miRNA interaction led to higher transcript abundance for TaNAC018 and enhanced drought-stress tolerance. Additionally, treatment with mannitol and abscisic acid (ABA) each influenced the levels of tae-miR6206, lncRNA35557, and TaNAC018 transcript. The ectopic expression of TaNAC018 in Arabidopsis also improved tolerance toward mannitol and ABA treatment, whereas knocking down TaNAC018 transcript levels via virus-induced gene silencing in wheat rendered seedlings more sensitive to mannitol stress. Our results indicate that lncRNA35557 functions as a competing endogenous RNA to modulate TaNAC018 expression by acting as a decoy target for tae-miR6206 in glaucous wheat, suggesting that non-coding RNA has important roles in the regulatory mechanisms responsible for wheat stress tolerance.

Stigma and Stigma Resilience: Role of the Undergraduate and the Campus Environment.

RATIONALE: Stigma permeates disability experiences and compounds disability-related challenges. OBJECTIVE: Identify individual and environmental factors of stigmatizing experiences of college students with learning disabilities (LDs) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHODOLOGY: A qualitative descriptive design was used with a thematic analysis of 30 transcripts from group discussions among four cohorts of undergraduates with LD/ADHD (N = 52). The Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance Model was used in interpreting the stigmatizing experiences. FINDINGS: The themes Perceived Misconceptions and Stigmatizing Actions describe key social-environmental factors. The theme Overcoming Stigmatizing Experiences elucidates key skills and processes for developing stigma resilience. These skills and processes were anchored in self-awareness and personally contextualized understanding of disability-related challenges and strengths, which were fostered during positive interactions with supportive others, such as instructors and mentors. IMPLICATIONS: Findings illustrate the biopsychosocial nature of stigma and highlight the role of individual and social-environmental factors in building stigma resilience among young adults with LD/ADHD.

Understanding Stigma and Resilience Among College Students with Learning Disabilities and ADHDWe studied how college students with learning disabilities (LDs) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience stigma, which means feeling judged or treated unfairly because of their disabilities. We talked to 52 undergraduates in four groups to understand their experiences and found three main things related to stigma. First, students feel like others have wrong ideas about them and their disabilities. Second, they experience actions from others that make them feel stigmatized. Third, they develop ways to overcome these experiences. Students became more resilient to stigma when they understood themselves better and had support from others like teachers and mentors. Stigma is not just a personal thing for students with LD/ADHD; but it is also influenced by the people around them and how they see themselves.