Quantitative changes in platelet count in response to different pathogens: an analysis of patients with sepsis in both retrospective and prospective cohorts.

BACKGROUND: Thrombocytopenia is commonly observed in patients with sepsis and is an independent risk factor for poor prognosis. However, the changes of platelet count caused by different pathogens can vary significantly. Our study aims to evaluate the quantitative changes in platelet count in response to various pathogens. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively analysed data of 3044 patients with sepsis from Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC, 2008-2019) database and prospectively collected data of 364 patients with sepsis from our local cohort of the Shandong Bloodstream Infection and Sepsis Collaboration Study (SBISC, 2020-2022). Propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to control for baseline differences in variables, except for the causative pathogen. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic analyses of both original and PSM populations identified Candida, Escherichia, Klebsiella, and Serratia species posing a higher risk for thrombocytopenia compared to others. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) curves showed L- or U-shaped associations between platelet count and 28-mortality with various cut-off values among different pathogens: ranging from 96 × 109/L in Candida species - 190 × 109/L in Klebsiella species. CONCLUSION: Our present findings indicate a pathogen-specific effect on platelet count, highlighting the importance of monitoring thrombocytopenia in patients infected with above microorganisms. Clinicians need to consider pathogen-specific thresholds when intervene on platelet count.

This study validated the differential incidence of thrombocytopenia among various pathogens within two distinct populations.Candida, Escherichia, Klebsiella, and Serratia species were identified as having a notably higher risk of causing thrombocytopenia compared to other pathogens.We observed L- or U-shaped relationships between platelet counts and 28-day mortality in Candida species, Enterococcus species, Escherichia species, Enterobacter species, Staphylococcus species, and Klebsiella species with platelet count cutoff values of 96 × 10⁹/L, 100 × 10⁹/L, 100 × 10⁹/L, 146 × 10⁹/L, 152 × 10⁹/L, and 190 × 10⁹/L, respectively.

A population-scale analysis of 36 gut microbiome studies reveals universal species signatures for common diseases.

The gut microbiome has been implicated in various human diseases, though findings across studies have shown considerable variability. In this study, we reanalyzed 6314 publicly available fecal metagenomes from 36 case-control studies on different diseases to investigate microbial diversity and disease-shared signatures. Using a unified analysis pipeline, we observed reduced microbial diversity in many diseases, while some exhibited increased diversity. Significant alterations in microbial communities were detected across most diseases. A meta-analysis identified 277 disease-associated gut species, including numerous opportunistic pathogens enriched in patients and a depletion of beneficial microbes. A random forest classifier based on these signatures achieved high accuracy in distinguishing diseased individuals from controls (AUC = 0.776) and high-risk patients from controls (AUC = 0.825), and it also performed well in external cohorts. These results offer insights into the gut microbiome's role in common diseases in the Chinese population and will guide personalized disease management strategies.

Extraction Optimization of Phenolic Compounds from Triadica sebifera Leaves: Identification, Characterization and Antioxidant Activity.

Triadica sebifera (T. sebifera) has attracted much attention because of the high oil content in its seeds, but there are few systematic studies on the phenolic compounds of T. sebifera leaves (TSP). In this study, the extraction process of TSP was optimized by response surface methodology. The phenolic components of these extracts were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Moreover, the effects of hot air drying (HD), vacuum drying (VD) and freeze drying (FD) on the antioxidant activity and characterization of T. sebifera leaf extract (TSLE) were evaluated. Under the conditions of ethanol concentration 39.8%, liquid-solid ratio (LSR) 52.1, extraction time 20.2 min and extraction temperature 50.6 °C, the maximum TSP yield was 111.46 mg GAE/g dw. The quantitative analysis and correlation analysis of eight compounds in TSP showed that the type and content of phenolic compounds had significant correlations with antioxidant activity, indicating that tannic acid, isoquercitrin and ellagic acid were the main components of antioxidant activities. In addition, through DPPH and ABTS determination, VD-TSLE and FD-TSLE showed strong scavenging ability, with IC50 values of 138.2 µg/mL and 135.5 µg/mL and 73.5 µg/mL and 74.3 µg/mL, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) infrared spectroscopy revealed small differences in the extracts of the three drying methods. This study lays a foundation for the effective extraction process and drying methods of phenolic antioxidants from T. sebifera leaves, and is of great significance for the utilization of T. sebifera leaves.

Dopamine promotes Klebsiella quasivariicola proliferation and inflammatory response in the presence of macrophages.

Background: Dopamine, a frequently used therapeutic agent for critically ill patients, has been shown to be implicated in clinical infections recently, however, the precise mechanisms underlying this association remain elusive. Klebsiella quasivariicola, a novel strain belonging to the Klebsiella species, exhibits potential pathogenic attributes. The impact of dopamine on K. quasivariicola infection has aroused our interest. Objective: Considering the contribution of host immune factors during infection, this study aimed to investigate the intricate interactions between K. quasivariicola, dopamine, and macrophages were explored. Methods: RAW264.7 cells and C57/BL6 mice were infected with K. quasivariicola, and the bacterial growth within macrophage, the production of inflammatory cytokines and the pathological changes in mice lungs were detected, in the absence or presence of dopamine. Results: Dopamine inhibited the growth of K. quasivariicola in the medium, but promoted bacterial growth when co-cultured with macrophages. The expression of proinflammatory cytokines increased in RAW 264.7 cells infected with K. quasivariicola, and a significant rise was observed upon the addition of dopamine. The infection of K. quasivariicola in mice induced an inflammatory response and lung injury, which were exacerbated by the administration of dopamine. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that dopamine may be one of the potential risk factors associated with K. quasivariicola infection. This empirical insight provides solid references for clinical precision medicine. Furthermore, an in vitro model of microbes-drugs-host immune cells for inhibitor screening was proposed to more accurately replicate the complex in vivo environment. This fundamental work had contributed to the present understanding of the crosstalk between pathogen, dopamine and host immune cells.

Improvement of optical properties of InGaN-based red multiple quantum wells.

The realization of red-emitting InGaN quantum well (QW) is a hot issue in current nitride semiconductor research. It has been shown that using a low-Indium (In)-content pre-well layer is an effective method to improve the crystal quality of red QWs. On the other hand, keeping uniform composition distribution at higher In content in red QWs is an urgent problem to be solved. In this work, the optical properties of blue pre-QW and red QWs with different well width and growth conditions are investigated by photoluminescence (PL). The results prove that the higher-In-content blue pre-QW is beneficial to effectively relieve the residual stress. Meanwhile, higher growth temperature and growth rate can improve the uniformity of In content and the crystal quality of red QWs, enhancing the PL emission intensity. Possible physical process of stress evolution and the model of In fluctuation in the subsequent red QW are discussed. This study provides a useful reference for the development of InGaN-based red emission materials and devices.

Effects of management intensities on soil aggregate stability and carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus distribution in Phyllostachys edulis forests.

Soil aggregates are the main sites for the decomposition of soil organic matter and the formation of humus. The composition characteristics of aggregates with different particle sizes are one of the indicators for soil fertility. We explored the effects of management intensity (frequency of fertilization and reclamation) on soil aggregates in moso bamboo forests, including mid-intensity management (T1, fertilization and reclamation every 4 years), high-intensity management (T2, fertilization and reclamation every 2 years), and extensive management (CK). The water-stable soil aggregates (0-10, 10-20, and 20-30 cm layers) from moso bamboo forest were separated by a combination of dry and wet sieving method and the distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN) and available phosphorus (AP) across different soil layers were determined. The results showed that management intensities had significant effects on soil aggregate composition and stability, and SOC, TN, AP distribution of moso bamboo forests. Compared with CK, T1 and T2 decreased the proportion and stability of macroaggregates in 0-10 cm soil layer, but increased that in 20-30 cm soil layer, while reduced the content of organic carbon in macroaggregates, the contents of organic carbon, TN and AP in microaggregates. Such results indicated that the intensified management was not conducive to formation of macroaggregates in 0-10 cm soil layer and carbon sequestration in macroaggregates. It was beneficial to the accumulation of organic carbon in soil aggregates and nitrogen and phosphorus in microaggregates with lower human disturbance. Mass fraction of macroaggregates and organic carbon content of macroaggregates was significantly positively correlated with aggregate stability, which best explained the variations of aggregate stability. Therefore, macroaggregates and organic carbon content of macroaggregates were the most important factors affecting the formation and stability of aggregates. Appropriate reduction of disturbance was beneficial to the accumulation of macroaggregates in the topsoil, the sequestration of organic carbon by macro-aggregates, and the sequestration of TN and AP by microaggregates, and improving soil quality and sustainable management in moso bamboo forest from the point of view of soil aggregate stability.

Retraction: MicroRNA-182 downregulates Wnt/ß-catenin signaling, inhibits proliferation, and promotes apoptosis in human osteosarcoma cells by targeting HOXA9.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.21167.].

Retraction Notice to: Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomal MicroRNA-126-3p Inhibits Pancreatic Cancer Development by Targeting ADAM9.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2019.02.022.].

Retraction: MicroRNA-433 inhibits oral squamous cell carcinoma cells by targeting FAK.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.22151.].

[Effects of Tropical Cyclones on Ozone Pollution in the Pearl River Delta in Autumn].

Based on the tropical cyclone track data in the northwest Pacific Ocean from 2015 to 2020, meteorological observation data, and ozone concentration monitoring data in the Pearl River Delta (PRD), the impacts of four tropical cyclones, namely the westbound tropical cyclone (type A), East China Sea tropical cyclone (type B), offshore tropical cyclone (type C), and offshore tropical cyclone (type D), on ozone concentration in the PRD were analyzed. The results showed that:under the influence of the type A tropical cyclone, the risk of regional ozone concentration exceeding the standard exhibited little change. Under the influence of the type B tropical cyclone, the risk of ozone exceeding the standard in the PRD was obviously increased. Under the influence of the type C tropical cyclone, the risk of regional ozone exceeding the standard obviously increased, but the increase was weaker than that of the type B tropical cyclone. The type D tropical cyclone was far away from the Chinese mainland and had little influence on ozone concentration in the PRD. When the type A or type C tropical cyclones occurred, the average daily maximum 8-hour average ozone concentration (MDA8) in the PRD region increased by approximately 5 µg·m-3, and the ozone MDA8 in some cities may have decreased. When the type B tropical cyclone occurred, the regional ozone MDA8 increased by 19 µg·m-3 on average, and the ozone concentration in all cities increased significantly. Among them, the average increase in ozone MDA8 in Zhuhai and Jiangmen was relatively large, with an increase of greater than 20 µg·m-3. Generally speaking, the ozone concentration in cities in the western PRD was more affected by tropical cyclones. When the type B tropical cyclone occurred, solar radiation increased, sunshine duration lengthened, cloud cover decreased, air temperature rose, and relative humidity decreased in the PRD, all of which were beneficial to photochemical reactions. Meanwhile, downward flow increased in the boundary layer, and downward flow transported high-concentration ozone to the ground, which promoted the increase in ozone concentration on the ground. When type A or type C tropical cyclones occurred, the change in meteorological conditions was not entirely conducive to the increase in ozone concentration, and in some cases, even adverse meteorological conditions such as rainfall occurred, which led to the risk of regional ozone exceeding the standard being less than that of the type B tropical cyclone. Affected by tropical cyclones, sunshine hours and air temperature in western cities of the PRD increased more than those in eastern cities, which was more conducive to ozone generation.

Prognostic implications of PPL expression in ovarian cancer.

Periplakin (PPL) is a main member in plakin family, which plays important role in cellular adhesion complexes supporting and cytoskeletal integrity supplying. PPL was reported to be a potential biomarker candidate for several types of cancers. However, the biological functions and underlying mechanisms of PPL in ovarian cancer (OV) remain unclear. In the present study, we used GEPIA 2, Human Protein Atlas, Oncomine, LinkedOmics, Kaplan-Meier Plotter, STRING, CytoHubba plug-in and TIMER to determine the associations among PPL expression, prognosis, and immune cell infiltration in OV. RT-qPCR and IHC analysis were conducted to validated the role of PPL in an independent OV cohort. Compared with the normal ovary tissues, the levels of PPL mRNA and protein expression were both obviously higher in OV tumors from multiple datasets (P < 0.05), and a poor survival was observed to be strongly correlated with high PPL expression (P < 0.05). Moreover, the results were further validated by RT-qPCR and IHC analysis in an independent OV cohort. A gene-clinical nomogram was constructed, including PPL mRNA expression and clinical factors in TCGA. Functional network analysis suggested that PPL participates in the important pathways like Wnt signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway. Ten hub genes (LAMC2, PXN, LAMA3, LAMB3, LAMA5, ITGA3, TLN1, ACTN4, ACTN1, and ITGB4) were identified to be positively associated with PPL. Furthermore, PPL expression was negatively correlated with infiltrating levels of CD4+ T cell, macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells. In conclusion, PPL may be an unfavorable prognostic biomarker candidate in OV, which was also correlated with immune infiltrating and function in immunotherapy response.

Prognostic value of microRNAs in heart failure: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Reported studies have shown that expression levels of microRNAs (miRNAs) are related to survival time of patients with heart failure (HF). A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to study circulating miRNAs expression and patient outcome. METHODS: Meta-analysis estimating expression levels of circulating miRNAs in HF patients from January 2010 until June 30, 2018, through conducting online searches in Pub Med, Cochrane Database of Systematic, EMBASE and Web of Science and reviewed by 2 independent researchers. Using pooled hazard ratio with a 95% confidence interval to assess the correlation between miRNAs expression levels and overall survival. RESULTS: Four relevant articles assessing 19 circulating miRNAs in 867 patients were included. In conclusion, the meta-analysis results suggest that HF patients with low expression of serum miR-1, miR-423-5p, miR-126, miR-21, miR-23, miR-30d, miR-18a-5p, miR-16-5p, miR-18b-5p, miR-27a-3p, miR-26b-5p, miR-30e-5p, miR-106a-5p, miR-233-3P, miR-301a-3p, miR-423-3P, and miR-128 have significantly worse overall survival (P  <  .05). Among them, miR-18a-5p, miR-18b-5p, miR-30d, miR-30e-5p, and miR-423-5p are strong biomarkers of prognosis in HF.

ZNF76 predicts prognosis and response to platinum chemotherapy in human ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer (OV) is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy. One major reason of the high mortality of the disease is due to platinum-based chemotherapy resistance. Increasing evidence reveal the important biological functions and clinical significance of zinc finger proteins (ZNFs) in OV. In the present study, the relationship between the zinc finger protein 76 (ZNF76) and clinical outcome and platinum resistance in patients with OV was explored. We further analyzed ZNF76 expression via multiple gene expression databases and identified its functional networks using cBioPortal. RT-qPCR and IHC assay shown that the ZNF76 mRNA and protein expression were significantly lower in OV tumor than that in normal ovary tissues. A strong relationship between ZNF76 expression and platinum resistance was determined in patients with OV. The low expression of ZNF76 was associated with worse survival in OV. Multivariable analysis showed that the low expression of ZNF76 was an independent factor predicting poor outcome in OV. The prognosis value of ZNF76 in pan-cancer was validated from multiple cohorts using the PrognoScan database and GEPIA 2. A gene-clinical nomogram was constructed by multivariate cox regression analysis, combined with clinical characterization and ZNF76 expression in TCGA. Functional network analysis suggested that ZNF76 was involved in several biology progressions which associated with OV. Ten hub genes (CDC5L, DHX16, SNRPC, LSM2, CUL7, PFDN6, VARS, HSD17B8, PPIL1, and RGL2) were identified as positively associated with the expression of ZNF76 in OV. In conclusion, ZNF76 may serve as a promising prognostic-related biomarker and predict the response to platinum in OV patients.

[Ozone Pollution Trend in the Pearl River Delta Region During 2006-2019].

Based on the monitoring data of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Pearl River Delta Regional (PRD) Air Quality Monitoring Network from 2006 to 2019, the ozone trend in RRD was analyzed using the Mann-Kendall test method, Sen's slope method, and the Pettitt change point test. The results show that:① the average ozone concentration in the PRD has increased significantly from 2006 to 2019 (P<0.05), with an average growth rate of 0.80 µg·(m3·a)-1. After 2016, the rate of ozone increase has accelerated. ② The average annual ozone concentration in the central PRD increased significantly, while in the peripheral areas of the PRD, this is not obvious. Ozone increases significantly in summer but not in other seasons.③ From 2006 to 2019, the concentration of NO2 in the central PRD decreased remarkably, so the titration effect weakened and resulted in an increase in the ozone concentration. The concentration of NO2 in the marginal areas of the PRD has little change, so the ozone concentration in these areas has little change. ④ With the changes of VOCs and NO2 concentrations, the chemical sensitivity of O3 production in the PRD is changing. The VOC-limited regimes are continuously decreasing, and the mixed NOx-VOC-limited regimes and NOx-limited regimes are increasing. In order to deal with regional ozone pollution, the cooperative control of VOCs and NOx needs to strengthen.

Glucagon-like peptide 1 treatment reverses vascular remodelling by downregulating matrix metalloproteinase 1 expression through inhibition of the ERK1/2/NF-κB signalling pathway.

In addition to serving as an incretin-based treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) can also reverse cardiovascular diseases caused by vascular remodelling. However, a detailed mechanism underlying how GLP-1 reverses vascular remodelling remains unclear. Here, Spontaneous hypertension rats (SHR) were used as an in vivo model of vascular remodelling. Treatment with a GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist Liraglutide or dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) inhibitor Alogliptin decreased systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), thickness of vascular wall, and overall collagen levels in SHR. In vitro vascular remodelling can be induced by exposing rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMC) to angiotensin II (Ang II); GLP-1 treatment attenuated AngII induction of RASMC proliferation, migration, and excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation. Downregulation of matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1) enhanced the inhibitory effects of GLP-1, and extracellular regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signalling participated in these processes. These results provide a new mechanistic understanding of key therapeutic strategies for the treatment of vascular remodelling-related diseases.