Transition metals-based electrocatalysts on super-flat substrate for perovskite photovoltaic hydrogen production with 13.75% solar to hydrogen efficiency.

Harnessing the inexhaustible solar energy for water splitting is regarded one of the most promising strategies for hydrogen production. However, sluggish kinetics of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and expensive photovoltaics have hindered commercial viability. Here, an adhesive-free electrodeposition process is developed for in-situ preparation of earth-abundant electrocatalysts on super-flat indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate. NiFe hydroxide exhibited prominent OER performance, achieving an ultra-low overpotential of 236 mV at 10 mA/cm2 in alkaline solution. With the superior OER activity, we achieved an unassisted solar water splitting by series connected perovskite solar cells (PSCs) of 2 cm2 aperture area with NiFe/ITO//Pt electrodes, yielding overall solar to hydrogen (STH) efficiency of 13.75 %. Furthermore, we upscaled the monolithic facility to utilize perovskite solar module for large-scale hydrogen production and maintained an approximate operating current of 20 mA. This creative strategy contributes to the decrease of industrial manufacturing expenses for perovskite-based photovoltaic-electrochemical (PV-EC) hydrogen production, further accelerating the conversion and utilization of carbon-free energy.

Male Sex and Ageing are Independent Risk Factors for Sarcopenia Stage in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease Not Yet on Dialysis.

BACKGROUND: The risk of sarcopenia in older adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD) not yet on dialysis is controversial. The aims of this study were to investigate the association among sarcopenia, diabetes and predialysis CKD and evaluate the impact of gender and ageing on the risk of sarcopenia statuses in older patients with predialysis CKD. METHODS: The participants aged ≥60 years old were recruited from the community of New Taipei City, Taiwan. Handgrip strength, appendicular skeletal muscle mass and the 6-m walk were measured. The diagnosis of sarcopenia was established based on the consensus of Asian Sarcopenia Working Group 2019. These older adults were categorised into G1, G2 and G3-5 according to the guidelines of Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) after calculating the estimated glomerular filtration rate by the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation. The Chi-square test and ANOVA were used to estimate the difference of categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Polytomous logistic regression was employed to assess the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the sarcopenia status and sarcopenia-associated risk factors in the predialysis CKD patients. All tests were two-sided, and p < 0.05 was defined as statistical significance. RESULTS: Among the 3648 older adults (mean age: 71.9 ± 6.07 years), including 1701 males and 1947 females, 870 (23.9%), 94 (2.58%) and 48 (1.32%) had possible sarcopenia, sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia, respectively. After adjustment, the risk for possible sarcopenia, sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia significantly increased with ageing (OR = 1.11, 1.10 and 1.23; 95% CI = 1.10-1.13, 1.07-1.15 and 1.18-1.30, respectively) and male gender (OR = 2.26, 20.3 and 25.4; 95% CI = 1.87-2.73, 11.5-36.0 and 11.3-57.2, respectively). Compared with KDIGO G1, no significant association between KDIGO G3-5 and the statuses of sarcopenia was observed (OR = 0.97, 0.88 and 0.91; 95% CI = 0.75-1.26, 0.43-1.78 and 0.37-2.27, p = 0.821, 0.718, 0.838, for possible sarcopenia, sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia, respectively). Ageing and male gender indicated a significant risk for higher sarcopenia status in older patients with predialysis CKD (0.027-fold/year and 0.284-fold, respectively) (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This study illuminated the importance of the male sex and the ageing process on the risk of sarcopenia progression in patients with predialysis CKD. Early clinical screening and aggressive treatment for the prevention of higher sarcopenia status in advanced older male adults with predialysis CKD are recommended.

[Retracted] Adipose extracellular matrix promotes skin wound healing by inducing the differentiation of adipose­derived stem cells into fibroblasts.

Following the publication of this paper, it was drawn to the Editor's attention by a concerned reader that certain of the immunohistochemical images shown in Fig. 2B and C on p. 896 were strikingly similar to data appearing in different form in other articles written by different authors at different research institutes that had already been published before this paper was received at International Journal of Molecular Medicine (several of which have been retracted). Moreover, the flow-cytometric data shown in Fig. 2A appeared to be potentially anomalous. In view of the fact that the abovementioned data had already apparently been published prior to the submission of this paper to International Journal of Molecular Medicine, the Editor has decided that the article should be retracted from the Journal. The authors were asked for an explanation to account for these concerns, but the Editorial Office did not receive a reply. The Editor apologizes to the readership for any inconvenience caused. [International Journal of Molecular Medicine 43: 890-900, 2019; DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2018.4006].

White Matter Hyperintensities and Cognitive Functions in People With the R544C Variant of the NOTCH3 Gene Without Stroke or Dementia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: NOTCH3 pathologic variants cause cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL), which presents with stroke and dementia and is characterized by white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) on brain MRI. The R544C variant is a common pathologic variant in Taiwan, but not all carriers exhibit significant symptoms. We investigated whether WMHs occur before clinical symptoms in carriers with pathogenic variants, examined factors associated with WMHs, and explored their relationship with cognitive functions. METHODS: We enrolled 63 R544C carriers without overt clinical disease (WOCD) and 37 age-matched and sex-matched noncarriers as controls from the Taiwan Precision Medicine Initiative data set. All participants underwent clinical interviews, comprehensive neuropsychological assessments, and brain MRI. We calculated total and regional WMH volumes, determined the age at which WMHs began increasing in carriers, and examined the relationship between WMHs and neuropsychological performance. Factors associated with WMH volumes were analyzed using multivariable linear regression models. RESULTS: Compared with controls, R544C carriers WOCD had increased WMH volume, except in the occipital and midbrain areas, and showed a rapid increase in WMHs starting at age 48. They scored lower on the Mini-Mental State Examination (median = 28.4 vs 29.0, p = 0.048), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) (median = 28.3 vs 29.0, p = 0.013), and memory and executive function tests than controls. After adjusting for age, sex, and education, MoCA scores were associated with whole-brain (r = -0.387, padj = 0.008) and regional WMHs (all padj < 0.05) except in the midbrain area. Age (ß = 0.034, 95% CI 0.021-0.046, p < 0.001), hypercholesterolemia (ß = 0.375, 95% CI 0.097-0.653, p = 0.009), and the vascular risk factor (VRF) index (ß = 0.132, 95% CI 0.032-0.242, p = 0.019) were associated with the WMH severity in carriers. DISCUSSION: Our study revealed that WMHs are extensively distributed in R544C carriers WOCD. They exhibited a rapid increase in WMHs beginning at age 48, approximately 7 years earlier than the reported age at symptomatic onset. Age was the strongest predictive factor of WMHs, and VRF, particularly hypercholesterolemia, might be modifying factors of WMHs.

LN-439A, a novel BAP1 inhibitor, suppresses the growth of basal-like breast cancer by degrading KLF5.

Basal-like breast cancer (BLBC) is the most malignant subtype of breast cancer because of its aggressive clinical behaviour and lack of effective targeted agents. Krüppel-like factor 5 (KLF5) is an oncogenic transcription factor that is highly expressed in BLBC. The deubiquitinase (DUB) BRCA1-associated protein 1 (BAP1) stabilizes KLF5 and promotes BLBC growth and metastasis. Therefore, pharmacological inhibition of the BAP1‒KLF5 axis is an effective therapeutic strategy for BLBC. Here, through screening, we identified a series of tetrahydro-ß-carboline derivatives that effectively reduced the protein expression of KLF5 and exhibited strong antitumour activity. Among the investigated compounds, the lead compound LN-439A presented the strongest antitumour activity and inhibitory effect on KLF5 expression. LN-439A suppressed the proliferation and migration of BLBC cells, induced G2/M arrest, and induced apoptosis. Mechanistically, LN-439A functions as a small molecule catalytic inhibitor of BAP1 by binding to the catalytic pocket of BAP1, leading to the ubiquitination and degradation of KLF5. Consistent with this finding, the overexpression of KLF5 suppressed the antitumour effects of LN-439A. In summary, LN-439A is a promising therapeutic agent for BLBC that functions by targeting the BAP1‒KLF5 axis.

An optimal deep learning model for the scoring of radiographic damage in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Background: Detecting vertebral structural damage in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is crucial for understanding disease progression and in research settings. Objectives: This study aimed to use deep learning to score the modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spinal Score (mSASSS) using lateral X-ray images of the cervical and lumbar spine in patients with AS in Asian populations. Design: A deep learning model was developed to automate the scoring of mSASSS based on X-ray images. Methods: We enrolled patients with AS at a tertiary medical center in Taiwan from August 1, 2001 to December 30, 2020. A localization module was used to locate the vertebral bodies in the images of the cervical and lumbar spine. Images were then extracted from these localized points and fed into a classification module to determine whether common lesions of AS were present. The scores of each localized point were calculated based on the presence of these lesions and summed to obtain the total mSASSS score. The performance of the model was evaluated on both validation set and testing set. Results: This study reviewed X-ray image data from 554 patients diagnosed with AS, which were then annotated by 3 medical experts for structural changes. The accuracy for judging various structural changes in the validation set ranged from 0.886 to 0.985, whereas the accuracy for scoring the single vertebral corner in the test set was 0.865. Conclusion: This study demonstrated a well-trained deep learning model of mSASSS scoring for detecting the vertebral structural damage in patients with AS at an accuracy rate of 86.5%. This artificial intelligence model would provide real-time mSASSS assessment for physicians to help better assist in radiographic status evaluation with minimal human errors. Furthermore, it can assist in a research setting by offering a consistent and objective method of scoring, which could enhance the reproducibility and reliability of clinical studies.

Three new coumarins from Notopterygium incisum with potential anti-inflammatory activity.

Three previously undescribed coumarins (1-3) were obtained from the roots of Notopterygium incisum. Their chemical structures were elucidated using a variety of spectroscopic techniques and chemical calculations. The inhibitory effects of these new compounds on NO production and pro-inflammatory factors (IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells were investigated. Further studies revealed that compound 1 suppressed the expression of COX-2 and iNOS while also reduced ROS accumulation. Western blot analysis demonstrated that compound 1 could inhibit the PI3K/AKT pathway by decreasing the levels of p-PI3K and p-AKT. Collectively, these findings suggest that compounds 1-3 exhibit promising anti-inflammatory properties.

Microbial strategies for lead remediation in agricultural soils and wastewater: mechanisms, applications, and future directions.

High lead (Pb) levels in agricultural soil and wastewater threaten ecosystems and organism health. Microbial remediation is a cost-effective, efficient, and eco-friendly alternative to traditional physical or chemical methods for Pb remediation. Previous research indicates that micro-organisms employ various strategies to combat Pb pollution, including biosorption, bioprecipitation, biomineralization, and bioaccumulation. This study delves into recent advancements in Pb-remediation techniques utilizing bacteria, fungi, and microalgae, elucidating their detoxification pathways and the factors that influence Pb removal through specific case studies. It investigates how bacteria immobilize Pb by generating nanoparticles that convert dissolved lead (Pb-II) into less harmful forms to mitigate its adverse impacts. Furthermore, the current review explores the molecular-level mechanisms and genetic engineering techniques through which microbes develop resistance to Pb. We outline the challenges and potential avenues for research in microbial remediation of Pb-polluted habitats, exploring the interplay between Pb and micro-organisms and their potential in Pb removal.

Enhanced production of recombinant coxsackievirus A16 using a serum-free HEK293A suspension culture system for bivalent enterovirus vaccine development.

Coxsackievirus A16 (CVA16) is one of the primary pathogens that causes hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) in young children. In previous studies, CVA16 vaccine development has encountered several challenges, such as inefficient replication of the CVA16 virus in present culture systems, the induction of only mild neutralizing antibody titers, and neutralizing antibodies induced by certain vaccine candidates that are unable to protect against CVA16 viral challenge. In this study, we constructed a DNA-launched CVA16 infectious clone (CVA16ic) based on the genomic sequence of the CVA16 N5079 strain to minimize interference from viral quasispecies. The biochemical properties of this CVA16ic strain were similar to those of its parental strain. Serum-free HEK293A suspension cells, which produced higher virus titers than Vero cells, were demonstrated to improve CVA16 production yields. In addition, our study showed that inactivated EV-A71 antigens could enhance the immunogenicity of inactivated CVA16 mature/full particles (F-particles), suggesting that a bivalent CVA16 and EV-A71 vaccine may be an effective strategy for CVA16 vaccine development. These findings are expected to provide novel strategies and accelerate the development of bivalent HFMD vaccines.

A phase 2 multicenter trial of ruxolitinib to treat bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after allogeneic HCT.

Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) occurring after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a high-risk manifestation of chronic graft-versus-host disease. In this prospective, multicenter phase 2 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03674047), adult participants with BOS were treated with ruxolitinib 10mg twice daily, continuously in 28-day cycles for up to 12 cycles. Participants enrolled into newly diagnosed (<6 months since BOS diagnosis, cohort A) or established (≥6 months since BOS diagnosis, cohort B) disease cohorts, respectively. The primary objective was to evaluate the early treatment effect of ruxolitinib, assessed by the change in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) at 3 months compared to enrollment. The primary endpoint differed according to cohort (Cohort A: improvement, defined as ³10% increase in FEV1; Cohort B: stabilization, defined as absence of ³10% decrease in FEV1). Between 2019 and 2022, 49 participants meeting criteria for BOS were enrolled and treated (cohort A, n=36; cohort B, n=13). The primary endpoint was achieved by 27.8% of participants with new BOS and 92.3% of participants with established BOS. According to the 2014 NIH Consensus Criteria, the best lung-specific overall response rate on ruxoltinib for the 49 participants was 34.7% (16.3% complete response, 18.4% partial response), with most responses occurring in mild or moderate disease. Non-infectious severe (grade ≥3) treatment-emergent adverse events were infrequent. Nine severe infectious events occurred and were largely respiratory in nature. These results support the use of ruxolitinib in the management of BOS after allogeneic HCT.

The branched N-glycan of PD-L1 predicts immunotherapy responses in patients with recurrent/metastatic HNSCC.

Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment, but the lack of a reliable predictive biomarker for treatment response remains a challenge. Alpha-1,6-Mannosylglycoprotein 6-ß-N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferase 5 (MGAT5) is a key regulator of complex N-glycan synthesis, and its dysregulation is associated with cancer progression. The lectin Phaseolus vulgaris leukoagglutinin (PHA-L) specifically binds to mature MGAT5 products. Previous studies have indicated elevated PHA-L staining in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), which implies increased activity of MGAT5. However, the specific role of MGAT5 in HNSCC remains unclear. In this study, we found significantly higher PHA-L staining and MGAT5 expression in HNSCC tumors compared to adjacent non-tumor tissues. Using a mass spectrometry (MS)-based glycoproteomic approach, we identified 163 potential protein substrates of MGAT5. Functional analysis revealed that protein substrates of MGAT5 regulated pathways related to T cell proliferation and activation. We further discovered that PD-L1 was among the protein substrates of MGAT5, and the expression of MGAT5 protected tumor cells from cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) killing. Treatment of nivolumab alleviated the protective effects of MGAT5 on CTL activity. Consistently, patients with MGAT5-positive tumors showed improved responses to immunotherapy compared to those with MGAT5-negative tumors. Using purified PD-L1 from HNSCC cells and a glycoproteomic approach, we further deciphered that the N35 and N200 sites carry the majority of complex N-glycans on PD-L1. Our findings highlight the critical role of MGAT5-mediated branched N-glycans on PD-L1 in modulating the interaction with the immune checkpoint receptor PD-1. Consequently, we propose that MGAT5 could serve as a biomarker to predict patients' responses to anti-PD-1 therapy. Furthermore, targeting the branched N-glycans at N35 and N200 of PD-L1 may lead to the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Oral Administration of Lactococcus lactis Expressing Mite and Cockroach Major Allergens Alleviates Progression of Atopic March in a Mouse Model.

PURPOSE: Atopic march is defined as the development of atopic dermatitis in early childhood. We recently developed an atopic march mouse model through skin sensitization with aeroallergens from house dust mites and cockroaches. Using this model, this study aimed to evaluate the oral immunotherapy efficacy of Lactococcus lactis harboring specific antigens on the progression of atopic march. METHODS: Dust mite major allergen Der p 2 and cockroach Per a 2-372 were expressed in L. lactis as a fusion recombinant clone (D2P2). L. lactis-D2P2 was administered intragastrically to Aeroallergen patch-sensitized mice once a day for a total of 35 times. The immunological variables in sera, scratching behavior, airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), and pathology of lungs and skin were evaluated. RESULTS: Our data showed that L. lactis-D2P2 significantly lowered total immunoglobulin E levels, decreased scratch bouts, and relieved AHR compared with the control mice. Histological analysis of the skin and lung tissue demonstrated the therapeutic effects of L. lactis-D2P2 to modulate immune responses via decreased eosinophil infiltration and reduced expression of key cytokines, interleukin (IL)-31 and IL-13, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results imply that mucosal allergen-specific immunotherapy of L. lactis-D2P2 is a more cost-effective alternative to conventional subcutaneous allergen-specific immunotherapy. This study provides a promising platform for the development of novel oral protein-based vaccines in the early prevention of allergies.

Anti-peptide antibodies, anti-SNRK and anti-HUWE1 antibodies, as potential predictors of good response to tofacitinib therapy in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

OBJECTIVES: To maximize the cost-effectiveness of tofacitinib, one of Janus kinase inhibitors, there is an unmet need to identify predictors of therapeutic response. Utilizing phage immunoprecipitation sequencing (PhIP-Seq), we aim to identify peptide biomarkers for predicting good response to tofacitinib in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. METHODS: We enrolled 106 patients who had received 24-week tofacitinib therapy, including twelve patients undergoing PhIP-Seq analysis in the discovery stage and ninety-four patients validated with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the replication stage. Disease activity was assessed using the 28-joint disease activity score-erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and therapeutic response was evaluated using EULAR response criteria. Plasma levels of caspase-1 and IL-18 were determined using ELISA. RESULTS: PhIP-Seq analysis identified antibodies to sucrose non-fermenting-related kinase (SNRK) and HUWE1 (ubiquitin E3 ligase) as peptide biomarkers for discriminating good responders from the non-good responders. Using ELISA for validation on another cohort, an optimal cut-off value of anti-SNRK antibody for predicting good response was 0.381, with AUC 0.823, specificity 80.6%, and sensitivity 78.1% (p = 3.01E-07), and anti-HUWE1 antibody at 0.362, with AUC 0.740, specificity 74.2%, and sensitivity 62.5% (p < 0.001). Plasma levels of anti-SNRK and anti-HUWE1 antibodies were positively correlated with levels of caspase-1 and IL-18 (both p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed anti-SNRK antibody as a significant predictor of good therapeutic response. After tofacitinib therapy, anti-SNRK antibody levels significantly declined in good responders, but not in non-good responders. CONCLUSION: We identify two peptide antibodies, anti-SNRK and anti-HUWE1 antibodies, as pretreatment predictors of good therapeutic response to tofacitinib in RA patients.

A novel endoscopic artificial intelligence system to assist in the diagnosis of autoimmune gastritis: a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Autoimmune gastritis (AIG), distinct from Helicobacter pylori-associated atrophic gastritis (HpAG), is underdiagnosed due to limited awareness. This multicenter study aims to develop a novel endoscopic artificial intelligence (AI) system assisting in AIG diagnosis. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with AIG, as well as HpAG and non-atrophic gastritis (NAG), were retrospectively enrolled from six centers. Endoscopic images with relevant demographic and medical data, were collected for the development of AI-assisted system, SEER-SCOPE AI, based on multi-site feature fusion model. The diagnostic performance of SEER-SCOPE AI was evaluated in the internal and external datasets. Endoscopists' performance with and without AI support was tested and compared using Mann-Whitney U test. Heatmap analysis was performed to interpret SEER-SCOPE AI. RESULTS: 1 070 patients (294 AIG, 386 HpAG, 390 NAG) with 18 828 endoscopy images were collected. SEER-SCOPE AI achieved strong performance for identifying AIG, with 96.9% sensitivity, 92.2% specificity and an AUROC of 0.990 internally, and 90.3% sensitivity, 93.1% specificity and an AUROC of 0.973 externally. The performance of SEER-SCOPE AI (sensitivity 91.3%) was comparable to experts (87.3%) and significantly outperformed non-experts (70.0%). With AI support, the overall performance of endoscopists was improved (sensitivity: 90.3% [95% CI 86.0%-93.2%] vs. 78.7% [95% CI 73.6%-83.2%], p=0.008). Heatmap analysis revealed consistent focus of SEER-SCOPE AI on regions corresponding to atrophic areas. CONCLUSIONS: SEER-SCOPE AI demonstrated expert-level performance in identifying AIG, and enhanced the diagnostic ability of endoscopists. Its application holds promise as a potent endoscopy-assisted tool for guiding biopsy sampling and early detection of AIG.

Drug-Free Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Enable Suppression of Cancer Metastasis and Confer Survival Advantages to Mice with Tumor Xenografts.

Despite advancements in nanomedicine for drug delivery, many drug-loaded nanoparticles reduce tumor sizes but often fail to prevent metastasis. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have attracted attention as promising nanocarriers. Here, we demonstrated that MSN-PEG/TA 25, with proper surface modifications, exhibited unique antimetastatic properties. In vivo studies showed that overall tumor metastasis decreased in 4T1 xenografts mice treated with MSN-PEG/TA 25 with a notable reduction in lung tumor metastasis. In vitro assays, including wound-healing, Boyden chamber, tube-formation, and real-time cell analyses, showed that MSN-PEG/TA 25 could modulate cell migration of 4T1 breast cancer cells and interrupt tube formation by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), key factors in suppressing cancer metastasis. The synergistic effect of MSN-PEG/TA 25 combined with liposomal-encapsulated doxorubicin (Lipo-Dox) significantly boosted mouse survival rates, outperforming Lipo-Dox monotherapy. We attributed the improved survival to the antimetastatic capabilities of MSN-PEG/TA 25. Moreover, Dox-loaded MSN-PEG/TA 25 suppressed primary tumors while retaining the antimetastatic effect, thereby enhancing therapeutic outcomes and overall survival. Western blot and qPCR analyses revealed that MSN-PEG/TA 25 interfered with the phosphorylation of ERK, FAK, and paxillin, thus impacting focal adhesion turnover and inhibiting cell motility. Our findings suggest that drug-free MSN-PEG/TA 25 is highly efficient for cancer treatment via suppressing metastatic activity and angiogenesis.

Interference of skeleton photoperiod in circadian clock and photosynthetic efficiency of tea plant: in-depth analysis of mathematical model.

The circadian system of plants is a complex physiological mechanism, a biological process in which plants can adjust themselves according to the day and night cycle. To understand the effects of different photoperiods on the biological clock of tea plants, we analyzed the expression levels of core clock genes (CCA1, PRR9, TOC1, ELF4) and photosynthesis-related genes (Lhcb, RbcS, atpA) under normal light (light/dark = 12 h/12 h, 12L12D) and took the cost function defined by cycle and phase errors as the basic model parameter. In the continuous light environment (24 h light, 24L), the peak activity and cycle of key genes that control the biological clock and photosynthesis were delayed by 1-2 h. Under a skeleton photoperiod (6L6D, 3L3D), the expression profiles of clock genes and photosynthesis-related genes in tea plants were changed and stomatal opening showed a circadian rhythm. These observations suggest that a skeleton photoperiod may have an effect on the circadian rhythm, photosynthetic efficiency and stomatal regulation of tea plants. Our study and model analyzed the components of circadian rhythms under different photoperiodic pathways, and also revealed the underlying mechanisms of circadian regulation of photosynthesis in tea plants.

The preoperative prediction of lymph node metastasis of resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma using dual-layer spectral computed tomography.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the value of dual-layer spectral computed tomography (DLCT) parameters derived from primary tumors in predicting lymph node metastasis (LNM) of resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, patients with resectable PDAC who underwent DLCT within 2-week intervals before surgery were enrolled and randomly divided into training and validation sets at a 7:3 ratio. The patients' clinical data, CT morphological features, and DLCT parameters were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate logistic analyses were used to identify the predictors and construct a predictive model, and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were programmed to evaluate the predictive efficacy. RESULTS: We enrolled 107 patients (44 patients with LNM and 63 patients without LNM). Among all variables, iodine concentration in the venous phase, extracellular volume, and tumor size were identified as independent predictors of LNM. The nomogram model, incorporating the two DLCT parameters and the morphological feature, achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.877 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.803-0.952) and 0.842 (95% CI: 0.707-0.977) for predicting LNM in the training and validation sets, respectively. Furthermore, the AUC of the nomogram model was greater than that of morphological features of lymph nodes in the training (AUC = 0.877 vs. 0.570) and validation (AUC = 0.842 vs. 0.583) sets. CONCLUSIONS: DLCT has the potential to predict LNM in patients with resectable PDAC and show a better predictive value than morphological features of lymph nodes. KEY POINTS: Question Morphological features of lymph nodes are of limited value in detecting metastatic lymph nodes in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Findings Dual-layer spectral computed tomography (DLCT) parameters and morphological features derived from PDAC lesions show good preoperatively predictive efficacy for lymph node metastasis. Clinical relevance The proposed DLCT-based nomogram model may serve as an effective and convenient tool for preoperatively predicting lymph node metastasis of resectable PDAC.

Clinical outcomes of round spermatid injection versus intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection: The potential role of hormonal pretreatment in male patients with non-obstructive azoospermia.

BACKGROUND: Round spermatid injection (ROSI) into oocytes offers men with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) the opportunity to have biological offspring in cases where mature spermatozoa are not detected. However, the clinical outcomes of ROSI remains poor. This study compares the outcomes of ROSI with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and investigates the effect of hormonal pretreatment. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study enrolled infertile couples undergoing either ROSI or ICSI at the reproductive center in Taipei Veterans General Hospital. The administration of selective estrogen receptor modulators, gonadotropins, and aromatase inhibitors in male patients were collected. Relevant hormonal markers and biochemical parameters were determined. The outcomes of ROSI and ICSI were assessed based on fertilization rate, implantation rate, and live birth rate. RESULTS: A total of 36 couples were recruited in the ROSI group, whereas 39 couples were recruited in the ICSI group for the analysis. Patients in each group demonstrated similar characteristics, except for a higher proportion of male patients in the ROSI group who were pretreated with anastrozole. The fertilization rate and implantation rate were similar between ROSI and ICSI groups after adjusting for confounding variable. The live birth rate was significant lower in the ROSI group (8.3%) than in the ICSI group (30.8%) before and after adjusting for confounding variable. CONCLUSION: ROSI demonstrated fertilization and implantation rates comparable to those of ICSI for male patient with NOA undergoing testicular sperm extraction surgery. Further studies evaluating the effect of anastrozole administration on ROSI outcomes are warrant.