OCT Radiomic Features Used for the Assessment of Activity of Thyroid Eye Disease.

This retrospective study aimed to develop deep-learning radiomics models based on optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans to evaluate the activity of thyroid eye disease. The study included 33 patients (66 orbits) diagnosed with thyroid eye disease at Beijing Tongren Hospital between July 2021 and August 2022. We collected OCT scans, clinical activity score, and medical records of the patients. Patients were divided into active and inactive groups based on the clinical activity score, which were then divided into a training set and a test set at a ratio of ∼7:3. The macula-centered horizontal meridian image was used for the identification of the regions of interest using 3D slicer. Radiomics features were extracted and selected by t test and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression algorithm with 10-fold cross-validation. The random forest (RF) model and support vector machine (SVM) model were built based on retinal or choroid features and validated by receiver operating characteristic curves and area under the curve (AUC). For the retinal features, AUC were 0.800 (RF) and 0.840 (SVM) in the test set, and for the choroid features, the AUC were 0.733 and 0.813, for the RF model and SVM model, respectively. For the confusion matrix, the choroid-based SVM model had more balanced parameters compared with the retina-based SVM model. OCT-based deep learning radiomics analysis can be used to evaluate activity, which provide convenience in clinical practice.

Does sedentary time and physical activity predict chronic back pain and morphological brain changes? A UK biobank cohort study in 33,402 participants.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between sedentary time, physical activity, and chronic back pain remains unclear. The study aims to investigate whether sedentary time and physical activity predict chronic back pain and morphological brain changes. METHODS: This cohort study recruited adults aged 37-73 years enrolled between 2006 and 2010, with follow-up until 2014. The total cohort comprised 33,402 participants (mean age: 54.53). Data were collected on daily sedentary time, physical activity, lifestyle factors, and health outcomes. RESULTS: After nearly 8-year follow-up, 3,006 individuals (9.00%) reported chronic back pain in total. Individuals with daily sedentary time exceeding 6 h had a 33% higher risk of chronic back pain compared to those with sedentary time of 2 h or less (RR, 1.33, 95%CI, 1.17-1.52). Sedentary time was also associated with decreased grey matter volume in several brain regions, including bilateral primary somatosensory cortex (S1), secondary somatosensory cortex, putamen, primary motor cortex (M1), insula, hippocampus, amygdala, as well as right supplementary motor area, left medial frontal cortex, and right anterior cingulate cortex (FDR-corrected p-value < 0.05). Compared to individuals who sat for more than 6 h with light physical activity, those engaging in moderate physical activity with sedentary time of 2 h or less (RR, 0.71, 95%CI, 0.52-0.99) exhibited a significant decrease in chronic back pain risk. In addition, replacing sedentary time with equivalent amount of physical activity also demonstrated a reduction in the risk of chronic back pain (RR, 0.87, 95%CI, 0.77-0.99) and increased the reginal grey matter volumes including the amygdala, insula, M1, putamen and S1. CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged sedentary time is associated with heightened risks of chronic back pain and deterioration in brain health.

Airway management for right thoracoscopic tracheal tumour resection after left pneumonectomy assisted by cardiopulmonary bypass: a case report.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of secondary tracheal tumours following lung cancer surgery is notably low. Patients with tracheal tumours typically present with symptoms such as coughing, sputum production, haemoptysis, wheezing, stridor, and dyspnoea. In cases of peripheral structure invasion, symptoms may further extend to hoarseness and dysphagia. Initial symptoms may be notably non-distinct. However, the development of pronounced airway symptoms often signifies a critical condition. CASE PRESENTATION: A 70-year-old male with severe chest tightness and asthma was transferred to our hospital for emergency treatment. He had undergone left pneumonectomy for non-small cell carcinoma of the left upper lobe of the lung 3 years prior. The examination confirmed that a secondary tumour originated from the left main bronchus and extended to the carina, occupying 90% of the diameter of the tracheal lumen. To relieve the patient's emergency airway, we chose right thoracoscopic resection of the tracheal tumour assisted by cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), which provides extracorporeal lung support and a good surgical field. CONCLUSION: In patients with secondary tracheal tumours after left pneumonectomy for lung cancer, perioperative airway management is challenging for anaesthesiologists, and patients' oxygenation should receive close attention. This article describes the airway management process of this patient for reference.

Long non-coding RNA FAM87A is associated with overall survival and promotes cell migration and invasion in gastric cancer.

Background: The role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer remains largely unclear. Methods: Integrating transcriptome data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases, differentially expressed genes were identified in gastric cancer. Using the Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer (COSMIC) database-curated gene set, lncRNAs associated with invasion and metastasis were identified. The Cox analyses were performed to identify prognostic lncRNAs. The competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulation network was constructed to identify hub lncRNAs in gastric cancer. Functional and pathway analyses were used to investigate the function of identified lncRNAs. RT-qPCR and Transwell assays were used to investigate the expression in gastric cancer tissues and functions in gastric cancer cell lines. Results: Based on GEO and TCGA databases, 111 differentially expressed lncRNAs were identified between gastric cancer and normal samples. A total of 43 lncRNAs were significantly correlated with hallmark genes of cancer invasion and metastasis. Among them, as a hub lncRNA in the invasion-related ceRNA regulation network, FAM87A showed potential regulation on MAPK signaling and transforming growth factor (TGF) signaling cascade, such as TGFB2, TGFBR1, and TGFBR2. Furthermore, FAM87A also showed a significant correlation with cell adhesion molecules, such as Integrin alpha 6 (ITGA6) and Contactin-1 (CNTN1). RT-qPCR experiments showed that FAM87A expression was upregulated in gastric cancer tissues compared to normal samples (n = 30). Transwell assays showed that FAM87A knockdown inhibited the migration and invasion abilities of gastric cancer cells in vitro. Notably, clinical data analysis showed that lncRNA FAM87A could be an independent factor for the overall survival of patients with gastric cancer. Conclusion: LncRNA FAM87A may play a pivotal role in regulating migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells. FAM87A could be a potential biomarker for the overall survival of patients with gastric cancer.

Improved Gaussian basis sets for norm-conserving 4f-in-core pseudopotentials of trivalent lanthanides (Ln = Ce-Lu).

The first-principles quantum chemical computations often scale as Nk (N = basis sets; k = 1-4 for linear scaling, Hartree-Fock or density functional theory methods), which makes the development of accurate pseudopotentials and efficient basis sets necessary ingredients in modeling of heavy elements such as lanthanides and actinides. Recently, we have developed 4f-in-core norm-conserving pseudopotentials and associated basis sets for the trivalent lanthanides [Lu et al., J. Chem. Theory Comput. 19, 82-96 (2023)]. In the present paper, we present a unified approach to optimize high-quality Gaussian basis sets for modeling and simulations of condensed-phase systems. The newly generated basis sets not only capture the low total energy and fairly reasonable condition number of overlap matrix of lanthanide-containing systems, but also exhibit good transferability and reproducibility. These advantages ensure the accuracy of the basis sets while avoiding linear dependency concern of atom-centered basis sets. The performance of the basis sets is further illustrated in lanthanide molecular and condensed-phase systems by using Gaussian-plane wave density functional approach of CP2K. These new basis sets can be of particular interest to model structurally complicated lanthanide molecules, clusters, solutions, and solid systems.

Influencing Factors of Urinary Iodine Concentration Before and After Radioiodine Therapy for Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: An Initial Exploration of the Relationship With Therapeutic Efficacy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of urinary iodine concentration (UIC) and post-stimulatory thyroglobulin (ps-Tg) levels on the therapeutic efficacy of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients after initial radioiodine therapy, and to analyze the validity of these indicators as prognostic factors. METHODS: A total of 213 DTC patients received initial radioiodine therapy from June 2022 to September 2023. Demographic data and UIC were collected before and after therapy. Thyrotropin, thyroglobulin (Tg), and thyroglobulin antibody levels were assessed. Iodine uptake rate was measured, and therapeutic efficacy was evaluated 6 months post-therapy. Statistical tests were used for data comparison, and logistic regression analysis for response factors. RESULTS: Post-therapy UIC and pre-post UIC difference were significantly correlated with Tg levels but not with reaching excellent response (ER) indicated by suppression of Tg levels below 0.2 ug/L. Ps-Tg levels related to therapeutic efficacy, while UIC did not correlate with outcomes. ROC curve analysis found optimal ps-Tg cut-off points for the low-intermediate and high-risk groups classified by primary tumor size, invasion, metastasis, and pathological type. CONCLUSION: Post-treatment UIC and pre-post UIC difference correlate with ps-Tg levels. Ps-Tg levels are an associated factor for DTC, but UIC changes, despite correlation with ps-Tg, are not significantly related to outcomes and cannot be used as a prognostic factor.

ObjectiveTo investigate the impact of urinary iodine concentration (UIC) and post-stimulatory thyroglobulin (ps-Tg) levels on the therapeutic efficacy of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients after initial radioiodine therapy, and to analyze the validity of these indicators as prognostic factors.Methods213 DTC patients received initial radioiodine therapy from June 2022 to September 2023. Demographic data and UIC were collected before and after therapy. Thyrotropin, thyroglobulin, and thyroglobulin antibody levels were assessed. Iodine uptake rate was measured, and therapeutic efficacy evaluated 6 months post-therapy. Statistical tests were used for data comparison and logistic regression analysis for response factors.ResultsPost-therapy UIC and pre-post UIC difference were significantly correlated with thyroglobulin levels but not with reaching excellent response (ER) where suppression of Tg levels below 0.2ug/l. Ps-Tg levels related to therapeutic efficacy, while UIC did not correlate with outcomes. ROC curve analysis found optimal ps-Tg cut-off points for low-intermediate and high-risk groupsclassified by primary tumor size, invasion, metastasis, and pathological type.ConclusionPost-treatment UIC and pre-post UIC difference correlate with ps-Tg levels. Ps-Tg levels are an associated factor for DTC, but UIC changes, despite correlation with ps-Tg, are not significantly related to outcomes and cannot be used as a prognostic factor.

Intervention Effect of the Mobile Phone APP Based Continuous Care on Patients after Mechanical Heart Valve Replacement: A Randomised Controlled Trials.

Background: To determine the effect of continuous care based on mobile application on patients' quality of life and self-care ability after mechanical heart valve replacement. Methods: Ninety patients who underwent cardiac mechanical valve replacement in the cardiovascular surgery department of a tertiary general hospital in Guizhou Province from September 2020 to January 2022 were selected for the study. The subjects were randomly divided into a control group and an intervention group using the SPSS25.0 software, with 45 patients in the two groups. The control group received routine nursing care during hospitalization, health education the day before discharge, and regular telephone and outpatient follow-up 6 months after discharge. Based on the control group's care, the intervention group received Mobile APP continuous care for 6 months. The effectiveness of patient's quality of life, medication adherence, international normalized ratio (INR) value compliance rates and self-care ability following mechanical heart valve replacement were evaluated the day before discharge and at the 1, 3 and 6 months after discharge. Results: Scores of quality of life, warfarin medication adherence, and self-care ability rose considerably in the intervention group compared to the control group, and the differences were statistically significant. Conclusion: The mobile phone application (APP) 's continuity of care could improve patients' quality of life, medication adherence, INR value compliance rates, and self-care ability. Clinical Trial Registration: No: ChiCTR2400081250. Registered 27 February, 2024, https://www.chictr.org.cn.

Effects of tenofovir alafenamide fumarate on serum lipid profiles in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

BACKGROUND: Concerns have been raised regarding changes in lipid profiles among patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) during tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) treatment. We aimed to evaluate the effect of TAF treatment on the lipid profiles of patients with CHB. METHODS: A total of 430 patients with CHB from three hospitals were retrospectively included, including 158 patients treated with TAF and 272 patients treated with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF). RESULTS: In this multicenter cohort, the cumulative incidence of dyslipidemia was notably higher in the TAF group than in the TDF group (P < 0.001). After TAF treatment, a significant elevation was observed in triglyceride (TG) levels (from 0.83 mmol/L to 1.02 mmol/L, P < 0.001) and total cholesterol (TC) levels (from 4.16 mmol/L to 4.32 mmol/L, P < 0.001). Similar changes in TG and TC levels were observed in the TAF group after propensity score matching (PSM). The TG levels (from 0.83 mmol/L to 1.04 mmol/L, P < 0.001) and TC levels (from 4.16 mmol/L to 4.38 mmol/L, P < 0.001) were both increased significantly compared to the baseline levels in the PSM cohort of patients treated with TAF. TAF treatment was independently associated with elevated TG levels (HR = 2.800, 95% CI: 1.334-5.876, P = 0.006) and TC levels (HR = 9.045, 95% CI: 3.836-21.328, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with TDF treatment, TAF treatment was associated with dyslipidemia in patients with CHB. Close monitoring of lipid profiles is needed in patients with CHB who received TAF treatment.

A Preliminary Study on the Whole-Plant Regulations of the Shrub Campylotropis polyantha in Response to Hostile Dryland Conditions.

Drylands cover more than 40% of global land surface and will continue to expand by 10% at the end of this century. Understanding the resistance mechanisms of native species is of particular importance for vegetation restoration and management in drylands. In the present study, metabolome of a dominant shrub Campylotropis polyantha in a dry-hot valley were investigated. Compared to plants grown at the wetter site, C. polyantha tended to slow down carbon (C) assimilation to prevent water loss concurrent with low foliar reactive oxygen species and sugar concentrations at the drier and hotter site. Nitrogen (N) assimilation and turn over were stimulated under stressful conditions and higher leaf N content was kept at the expense of root N pools. At the drier site, roots contained more water but less N compounds derived from the citric acid cycle. The site had little effect on metabolites partitioning between leaves and roots. Generally, roots contained more C but less N. Aromatic compounds were differently impacted by site conditions. The present study, for the first time, uncovers the apparent metabolic adaptations of C. polyantha to hostile dryland conditions. However, due to the limited number of samples, we are cautious about drawing general conclusions regarding the resistance mechanisms. Further studies with a broader spatial range and larger time scale are therefore recommended to provide more robust information for vegetation restoration and management in dryland areas under a changing climate.

Inhibition of P-Glycoprotein Asymmetrically Alters the In Vivo Exposure Profile of SGC003F: A Novel Guanylate Cyclase Stimulator.

As a novel guanylate cyclase stimulator, SGC003F is being developed for the treatment of heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). This study aimed to assess the effect of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibition on SGC003F exposure in vivo, comparing plasma and tissue levels, and evaluating the role of P-gp in the small intestine, blood-brain barrier (BBB), and kidney in impacting the tissue exposure. Tariquidar, a P-gp inhibitor, was added to monolayer transport assays to observe the changes in the transmembrane characteristics of SGC003F. Rats were given SGC003F with tariquidar via various routes to measure plasma, tissue, urine, and fecal concentrations. The inclusion of tariquidar significantly altered the pharmacokinetics of SGC003F. In LLC-PK1-MDR1 cells, tariquidar reduced the efflux ratio of SGC003F from 6.56 to 1.28. In rats, it enhanced the plasma AUC by 3.05 or 1.61 times, increased the Cmax by 2.13 or 1.07 times, and notably improved bioavailability from 46.4% to 95%. Additionally, co-administration with tariquidar led to a decrease in fecal excretion and an increase in tissue exposure, with only a moderate effect on the partition ratios in the small intestine and brain. P-gp inhibition impacts SGC003F exposure, with plasma levels not fully reflecting tissue levels. P-gp in the small intestine and BBB affects SGC003F's pharmacokinetics, warranting further clinical drug-drug interaction (DDI) studies.

Outcomes of Ticagrelor Versus High-dose Clopidogrel in CYP2C19 Intermediate Metabolizer Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Acute Coronary Syndromes.

ABSTRACT: Guidelines on antiplatelet recommendation for CYP2C19 intermediate metabolizer (IM) have not come to an agreement. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical benefit of ticagrelor when compared with high-dose clopidogrel in CYP2C19 IM after percutaneous coronary intervention for acute coronary syndromes. Patients were enrolled according to CYP2C19 genotype and individual antiplatelet therapy. Patient characteristics and clinical outcomes were collected through electronic medical record system. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event (MACCE), namely a composite of death from cardiovascular causes, myocardial infarction, stroke, and stent thrombosis within 12 months. The secondary outcome was Bleeding Academic Research Consortium scale bleeding events within 12 months. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was performed, with inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW) adjusting for potential confounders. A total of 532 CYP2C19 IM were enrolled in this retrospective single-center study. No statistically significant difference in incidence rate of MACCE was found between patients receiving ticagrelor versus clopidogrel (7.01 vs. 9.52 per 100 patient-years; IPTW-adjusted hazard ratio 0.71; 95% confidence interval: 0.32-1.58; adjusted log-rank P = 0.396), but the incidence rate of Bleeding Academic Research Consortium type 2, 3, or 5 bleeding events was statistically higher in the loss of function-ticagrelor group than in the loss of function-clopidogrel group (13.53 vs. 6.16 per 100 patient-years; IPTW-adjusted hazard ratio: 2.29; 95% confidence interval: 1.10-4.78; adjusted log-rank P = 0.027). Ticagrelor treatment in CYP2C19 IM resulted in a statistically higher risk of bleeding compared with high-dose clopidogrel, whereas a clear association between treatments and MACCE warrants further investigations.

Psychological resilience mediates sense of professional mission and career success in Chinese intensive care unit nurses: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The nursing industry's stability and progress are adversely affected by the high attrition rate and shortage of nurses; therefore, it is critical to investigate the variables that influence the professional stability of nurses. The sense of professional mission and career success have positive significance for reducing nurses' job burnout. The purpose of this study is to explore the potential mediating role of psychological resilience in this relationship. METHODS: Self-reported questionnaires were utilized by 335 intensive care unit (ICU) nurses to assess their sense of professional mission, psychological resilience, and career success in this cross-sectional study. A structural equation model was developed to validate the relationship between the variables. RESULTS: There is a correlation among sense of professional mission, psychological resilience and career success. Significant mediating effect of psychological resilience exists between sense of professional mission and career success. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, psychological resilience plays an intermediary role between sense of professional mission and career success, which provides support for further understanding the mechanism between sense of professional mission and career success and bolstering the case for devising comprehensive intervention strategies for psychological resilience. Nursing managers should focus on nurses' sense of professional mission and psychological resilience, and implement strategies to enhance nurses' psychological resilience in order to boost their career success.

Exploring the efficacy of laser speckle contrast imaging in the stratified diagnosis of rosacea: a quantitative analysis of facial blood flow dynamics across varied regions.

Background: Rosacea has a high incidence, significantly impacts quality of life, and lacks sufficient diagnostic techniques. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) for measuring facial blood perfusion in patients with rosacea and to identify differences in blood flow among various facial regions associated with different rosacea subtypes. Methods: From June to December 2023, 45 patients were recruited, with 9 excluded, leaving 36 subjects: 12 with erythematotelangiectatic rosacea (ETR), 12 with papulopustular rosacea (PPR), and 12 healthy controls. The Think View multispectral imaging analyzer assessed inflammation via gray reading values across the full face and five facial areas: forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin. LSCI measured and analyzed blood perfusion in the same areas. Plasma biomarkers interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1ß, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were tested in different groups. Results: Both ETR and PPR groups showed increased average blood perfusion and facial inflammation intensity by gray values compared to controls, with statistically significant differences. Average blood perfusion of ETR and PPR groups showed increased values in the forehead, cheeks, and nose, compared to controls, and the values in the cheeks were statistically different between ETR and PPR. The facial inflammation intensity of the ETR group showed increased values in the forehead and cheeks, and the PPR group showed increased gray values in the forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin compared to controls, and the values for the cheeks, nose, and chin were statistically significantly different between ETR and PPR. Plasma biomarkers IL-6, IL-1ß, and TNF-α were significantly elevated in both ETR and PPR groups compared to controls. Conclusion: LSCI is a valuable, non-invasive tool for assessing blood flow dynamics in rosacea, providing a data foundation for clinical research. Different rosacea subtypes exhibit distinct lesion distribution and blood flow patterns, and both ETR and PPR could affect all facial areas, particularly the cheeks in ETR and the forehead, nose, and chin in PPR.

Assessment of the impact of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol on retinal vessels using optical coherence tomography angiography.

BACKGROUND: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is acknowledged as an independent risk factor (IRF) for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Nevertheless, studies on the impact of LDL-C on microvasculature are still scarce. The retina, abundant in microvasculature, can now be examined for microvascular alterations through the novel, non-invasive, and quantitative optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) technique. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 243 patients from the geriatric department were recruited (between December 2022 and December 2023). Individuals were classified into four groups based on their LDL-C levels: Group 1 (≤ 1.8 mmol/L), Group 2 (> 1.8 mmol/L to ≤ 2.6 mmol/L), Group 3 (> 2.6 mmol/L to ≤ 3.4 mmol/L), and Group 4 (> 3.4 mmol/L). The OCTA results including retinal vessel density (VD), foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, macula thickness, and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness were contrasted across these groups. T-tests, analysis of variance, Welch's tests, or rank-sum tests were employed for statistical comparisons. In cases where significant differences between groups were found, post-hoc multiple comparisons or rank-sum tests were performed for pairwise group comparisons. Spearman's correlation coefficient was employed to perform bivariate correlation analysis to evaluate the relationship between LDL-C levels and various OCTA measurements. Multivariable regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between LDL-C levels and various OCTA measurements. Linear regression analysis or mixed-effects linear models were applied. RESULTS: It was discovered that individuals with LDL-C levels exceeding 2.6 mmol/L (Groups 3 and 4) exhibited reduced VD in the retina, encompassing both the optic disc and macular regions, compared to those with LDL-C levels at or below 2.6 mmol/L (Groups 1 and 2). A negative correlation among LDL-C levels and retinal VD was identified, with r values spanning from - 0.228 to -0.385. Further regression analysis presented ß values between - 0.954 and - 2.378. Additionally, no notable disparities were detected among the groups regarding FAZ area, macular thickness, and RNFL thickness. CONCLUSIONS: The outcomes of this study suggest that elevated LDL-C levels constitute an IRF for decreased VD across the entire retina. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05644548, December 1, 2022.

[Retracted] MicroRNA-124-3p inhibits the growth and metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells by targeting STAT3.

Following the publication of this paper, it was drawn to the Editor's attention by a concerned reader that certain of the cell apoptotic data in Fig. 4 on p. 1389 and the migration and invasion assay data shown in Figs. 6 and 7 on p. 1391 were strikingly similar to data that were submitted for publication at around the same time in different articles written by different authors at different research institutes (several of which have subsequently been retracted). In addition, there appeared to be instances of duplication of the same data within Figs. 7 and 8, where data that were intending to have shown the results from differently performed experiments had apparently been derived from the same original sources. Owing to the fact that the contentious data in the above article had already been submitted for publication elsewhere prior to its submission to Oncology Reports, the Editor has decided that this paper 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. [Oncology Reports 35: 1385-1394, 2016; DOI: 10.3892/or.2015.4524].

[Pollution Characterization and Source Apportionment of Volatile Organic Compounds and Their Odor-causing Species in Industrial Parks].

To improve the phenomenon of the volatile organic compounds （VOCs） odor pollution nuisance in industrial parks and to promote the synergistic control of atmospheric VOCs and their odor-causing substances, based on the field observation of atmospheric VOCs in residential living areas and five different types of industrial clusters in industrial parks, we analyzed the pollution characteristics of atmospheric VOCs and their odor-causing volatile organic compounds （O-VOCs） in the residential living areas and each industrial cluster, evaluated the characteristics of the odor activity of the O-VOCs in the industrial parks, and identified the key odor-causing species and their main sources. The results showed that the mean values of atmospheric φ （TVOCs） and φ（O-VOCs） in the residential living area of the industrial park were 102.57×10-9 and 72.33×10-9, respectively. φ（TVOCs） and φ（O-VOCs） were significantly higher in the industrial clusters of basic chemical industry and pharmaceutics than in the other industrial clusters, and the sum （OAVsum） and maximum （OAVmax） of the odor activity values of these two clusters were relatively high, with a potential risk of odor nuisance. Overall, the O-VOCs species with higher odor intensity were similar in residential living areas and the five industrial clusters, and effective control of O-VOCs species such as acrolein, p-diethylbenzene, p-xylene, and 1,3-diethylbenzene is essential to mitigate or eliminate organic odor pollution. The results of the source apportionment of O-VOCs in the residential area showed that the sources of O-VOCs in the residential area were mainly influenced by natural gas chemical and pharmaceutics, and the coefficients of divergence （CDO-VOCs） between the O-VOC chemical profiles from residential areas and those from natural gas chemical and pharmaceutics were 0.31 and 0.38, respectively. Principal component analysis （PCA） also confirmed this result, with residential O-VOCs mainly originating from natural gas chemicals and pharmaceutics, followed by iron and steel manufacturing and automobile manufacturing, with the lowest contribution from the basic chemicals.

Anoikis in cell fate, physiopathology, and therapeutic interventions.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) governs a wide spectrum of cellular fate processes, with a particular emphasis on anoikis, an integrin-dependent form of cell death. Currently, anoikis is defined as an intrinsic apoptosis. In contrast to traditional apoptosis and necroptosis, integrin correlates ECM signaling with intracellular signaling cascades, describing the full process of anoikis. However, anoikis is frequently overlooked in physiological and pathological processes as well as traditional in vitro research models. In this review, we summarized the role of anoikis in physiological and pathological processes, spanning embryonic development, organ development, tissue repair, inflammatory responses, cardiovascular diseases, tumor metastasis, and so on. Similarly, in the realm of stem cell research focused on the functional evolution of cells, anoikis offers a potential solution to various challenges, including in vitro cell culture models, stem cell therapy, cell transplantation, and engineering applications, which are largely based on the regulation of cell fate by anoikis. More importantly, the regulatory mechanisms of anoikis based on molecular processes and ECM signaling will provide new strategies for therapeutic interventions (drug therapy and cell-based therapy) in disease. In summary, this review provides a systematic elaboration of anoikis, thus shedding light on its future research.

A smartphone-integrated ratiometric fluorescent sensor for ascorbic acid determination using microplasma-enabled carbon dots and rhodamine B.

A switchable ratiometric fluorescent smartphone-assisted sensing platform based on nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) and Rhodamine B was fabricated for the determination of the ascorbic acid (AA) content in fruits by quenching the fluorescence of N-CDs with Hg2+ (turn-off) and recovering with AA (turn-on). The blue-emission N-CDs was synthesized by liquid dielectric barrier discharge microplasma with an average size of 3.65 nm and an absolute quantum yield of 18 % (excited at 345 nm). In addition, the fluorescence color was converted to RGB values, enabling visual and quantitative determination of AA. Under optimal parameters, the linear ranges for detecting AA were found to be 3-170 µM and 5-170 µM for fluorescence spectrometer and smartphone sensing platform. The detection limits were 0.98 µM and 2.90 µM, respectively. Furthermore, the satisfactory recoveries in fruits were obtained by RF probe and smartphone platform. This smartphone-assisted platform will facilitate sensitive and visual determination for AA.

Effects of hydrogen-rich water on blood uric acid in patients with hyperuricemia: A randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Consumption of hydrogen-rich water (HRW) has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and metabolic-modulatory benefits. Objective: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted to assess the potential blood uric acid-lowering effects of HRW consumption with different doses (low and high doses) and duration (4 and 8 weeks) in patients with hyperuricemia. Methods: The Placebo group consumed three bottles of ordinary drinking water (330 mL per bottle), the Low-HRW group consumed two bottles of HRW (330 mL per bottle, H2 ≥ 4.66 mg/L) and a bottle of ordinary water, and the High-HRW group consumed three bottles of HRW daily for 8 weeks. The primary outcome was the blood uric acid levels following different time points (4 and 8 weeks) compared to baseline. Results: A total of 100 participants completed the entire trial (32 in Placebo, 35 in Low-HRW, and 33 in High-HRW groups). The high-dose of HRW was more effective than low-dose HRW in controlling blood uric acid. Following an 8-week period, the High-HRW group exhibited a significant reduction in blood uric acid levels compared to the baseline (488.2 ± 54.1 µmol/L to 446.8 ± 57.1 µmol/L, P < 0.05). Conclusion: As a rather safe agent, the prolonged consumption of HRW may be feasible in the management of hyperuricemia. Clinical trial registration: chictr.org.cn, identifier ChiCTR2200066369.

Enhancing the thermal stability and activity of zearalenone lactone hydrolase to promote zearalenone degradation via semi-rational design.

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a fungal toxin produced by Fusarium exospore, which poses a significant threat to both animal and human health due to its reproductive toxicity. Removing ZEN through ZEN lactonase is currently the most effective method reported, however, all published ZEN lactonases suffer from the poor thermal stability, losing almost all activity after 10 min of treatment at 55℃. In this study, we heterologously expressed ZHD11A from Phialophora macrospora and engineered it via semi-rational design. A mutant I160Y-G242S that can retain about 40 % residual activity at 55℃ for 10 min was obtained, which is the most heat-tolerant ZEN hydrolase reported to date. Moreover, the specific activity of the I160Y-G242S was also elevated 2-fold compared to ZHD11A from 220 U/mg to 450 U/mg, which is one of the most active ZEN lactonses reported. Dynamics analysis revealed that the decreased flexibility of the main-chain carbons contributes to increased thermal stability and the improved substrate binding affinity and catalytic turnover contribute to enhanced activity of variant I160Y-G242S. In all, the mutant I160Y-G242S is an excellent candidate for the industrial application of ZEN degradation.