MFAP2 induces epithelial-mesenchymal transformation of osteosarcoma cells by activating the Notch1 pathway.

Background: Osteosarcoma (OS) is a malignancy originating from mesenchymal tissue. Microfibril-associated protein 2 (MFAP2) plays a crucial role in cancer, notably promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, its involvement in OS remains unexplored. Methods: MFAP2 was silenced in U2OS cells using shRNA targeting MFAP2 (sh-MFAP2) and validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). We extracted gene chip data of MFAP2 from multiple databases (GSE28424, GSE42572, and GSE126209). Correlation analyses between MFAP2 and the Notch1 pathway identified through the gene set variation analysis (GSVA) enrichment analysis were conducted using the Pearson correlation method. Cellular behaviors (viability, migration, and invasion) were assessed via the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), wound healing, and Transwell assays. EMT markers (N-cadherin, vimentin, and ß-catenin) and Notch1 levels were examined by western blotting and qRT-PCR. Cell morphology was observed microscopically to evaluate EMT. Finally, the role of MFAP2 in OS was validated through a xenograft tumor model. Results: OS cell lines exhibited higher MFAP2 mRNA expression than normal osteoblasts. MFAP2 knockdown in U2OS cells significantly reduced viability, migration, and invasion, along with downregulation of N-cadherin and vimentin, as well as upregulation of ß-catenin. MFAP2 significantly correlated with the Notch1 pathway in OS and its knockdown inhibited Notch1 protein expression. Furthermore, Notch1 activation reversed the inhibitory effects of MFAP2 knockdown on the malignant characteristic of U2OS cells. Additionally, MFAP2 knockdown inhibited tumor growth, expression levels of EMT markers, and Notch1 expression in OS tumor tissues. Conclusions: Our study revealed that MFAP2 was an upstream regulator of the Notch1 signaling pathway to promote EMT in OS. These findings suggested MFAP2 as a potential OS therapy target.

Relief effect of biochar on continuous cropping of tobacco through the reduction of p-hydroxybenzoic acid in soil.

Biochar application to soil has proven to be an excellent approach for decreasing the concentration of auto-toxic compounds and promoting plant growth in continuous-cropping fields. However, the mechanisms underlying the action pathway among biochars, auto-toxic compounds and tobacco remain unknown. In this study, we conducted an experiment tracking the incidence rate of black rot and auto-toxic compounds for a 3-year continuous-cropping tobacco pot trial in response to biochar treatment intensity compared with that of non-biochar treatment. Biochar inhibited the incidence of black rot. Using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC‒MS/MS), we revealed that biochar can effectively decrease the concentration of p-hydroxybenzoic acid (PHA), which is associated with the incidence rate of black rot (R2 = 0.890, p < 0.05). The sorption kinetics and isotherm of PHA sorption on biochar indicate that the coexistence of heterogeneous and monolayer sorption plays an important role in the adsorption process. Using Molecular dynamics (MD), Density functional theory (DFT) and Independent gradient model (IGM) analyses, we provide evidence that van der Waals force (vdW), π-π bonds and H-bonds between biochar and PHAs are the dominant factors that affect adsorption capacity. Moreover, the molecular adsorption rate (Nbiochar: NPHAs = 1:4) was theoretically calculated. In contrast, biochar dramatically increased nutrient retention capacity and improved soil properties, further enhancing tobacco quality, including its agronomic and physiological traits. Therefore, we considered that biochar not only relieved continuous cropping but also improved soil properties suitable for tobacco growth. Together, we demonstrate that the action of biochar in continuously cropped soil improves soil traits and alleviates auto-toxic compound toxicity. These data contribute to the direction of modified biochar application to improve continuous-cropping soil.

Ultralong Cycling and Interfacial Regulation of Bilayer Heterogeneous Composite Solid-State Electrolytes in Lithium Metal Batteries.

Under the background of "carbon neutral", lithium-ion batteries (LIB) have been widely used in portable electronic devices and large-scale energy storage systems, but the current commercial electrolyte is mainly liquid organic compounds, which have serious safety risks. In this paper, a bilayer heterogeneous composite solid-state electrolyte (PLPE) was constructed with the 3D LiX zeolite nanofiber (LiX-NF) layer and in-situ interfacial layer, which greatly extends the life span of lithium metal batteries (LMB). LiX-NF not only offers a continuous fast path for Li+, but also zeolite's Lewis acid-base interaction can immobilize large anions, which significantly improves the electrochemical performance of the electrolyte. In addition, the in-situ interfacial layer at the electrode-electrolyte interface can effectively facilitate the uniform deposition of Li+ and inhibit the growth of lithium dendrites. As a result, the Li/Li battery assembled with PLPE can be stably cycled for more than 2500 h at 0.1 mA cm-2. Meanwhile, the initial discharge capacity of the LiFePO4/PLPE/Li battery can be 162.43 mAh g-1 at 0.5 C, and the capacity retention rate is 82.74% after 500 cycles. These results emphasize that this bilayer heterogeneous composite solid-state electrolyte has distinct properties and shows excellent potential for application in LMB.

Feeding Eucommia ulmoides extract enhances protection against high-temperature stress in chicks.

Chick's susceptibility to heat stress often leads to growth retardation, immune function impairment, disease, and mortality. This thesis explores the potential ameliorative effect of 0.8% Eucommia ulmoides extract (EUE) into the diet of heat-stressed chicks in a 15-d feeding trial. The investigation reveals that feeding EUE significantly enhances the BW, ADG, AFI, and F/G of chicks experiencing heat stress. Additionally, the EUE groups exhibited higher levels of T-AOC (at 7 and 15d), SOD (at 15 d), GSH-Px (at 15 d), as well as lower MDA concentrations (at 7 and 15d) in chick serum. Pathological changes and H&E staining revealed that EUE effectively improved tissue damage in the duodenum, heart, and stomach induced by heat stress in the chicks. The EUE groups also showed higher levels of IgA (at 7 d), IgG and IgM (at 7 and 15 d). RNA-seq and WGCNA analysis revealed that EUE mitigates cellular damage and losses in heat-stressed chicks primarily through pathways involving signal transduction, protein synthesis and degradation, as well as cell cycle regulation, particularly the latter. This investigation serves as a fundamental and cognitive framework for the development and application of Eucommia ulmoides feed additives aimed at safeguarding the well-being of chicks in adverse environmental conditions.

LiF/Li3N-Rich Electrode-Electrolyte Interfaces Enabled by Multi-Functional Electrolyte Additive to Achieve High-Performance Li/LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 Batteries.

LiPF6-based carbonate electrolytes have been extensively employed in commercial Li-ion batteries, but they face numerous interfacial stability challenges while applicating in high-energy-density lithium-metal batteries (LMBs). Herein, this work proposes N-succinimidyl trifluoroacetate (NST) as a multifunctional electrolyte additive to address these challenges. NST additive could optimize Li+ solvation structure and eliminate HF/H2O in the electrolyte, and preferentially be decomposed on the Ni-rich cathode (LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2, NCM811) to generate LiF/Li3N-rich cathode-electrolyte interphase (CEI) with high conductivity. The synergistic effect reduces the electrolyte decomposition and inhibits the transition metal (TM) dissolution. Meanwhile, NST promotes the creation of solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) rich in inorganics on the Li metal anode (LMA), which restrains the growth of Li dendrites, minimizes parasitic reactions, and fosters rapid Li+ transport. As a result, compared with the reference, the Li/LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 cell with 1.0 wt.% NST exhibits higher capacity retention after 200 cycles at 1C (86.4% vs. 64.8%) and better rate performance, even at 9C. In the presence of NST, the Li/Li symmetrical cell shows a super-stable cyclic performance beyond 500 h at 0.5 mA cm-2/0.5 mAh cm-2. These unique features of NST are a promising solution for addressing the interfacial deterioration issue of high-capacity Ni-rich cathodes paired with LMA.

Realizing highly efficient deep-blue organic light-emitting diodes towards Rec.2020 chromaticity by restricting the vibration of the molecular framework.

Deep-blue organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) with narrow emission spectra and high efficiency, meeting the Rec.2020 standard, hold significant promise in the realm of 4K/8K ultrahigh-definition displays. However, the development of light-emitting materials exhibiting both narrowband emission and high efficiency, particularly in the realm of deep-blue thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF), confronts substantial challenges. Herein, a novel deep-blue TADF emitter, named BOC-PSi, was designed by integrating a rigid B-heterotriangulene acceptor (A) with a rigid phenazasiline donor (D). The replacement of a sp3 carbon atom with a sp3 silicon atom in the D moiety helps to restrict the low-frequency bending vibration throughout the entire D-A molecular backbone, while concurrently accelerating the multi-channel reverse intersystem crossing (RISC) processes. Notably, OLEDs using the BOC-PSi emitter exhibit exceptional performance, with a high maximum external quantum efficiency (EQEmax) approaching 20%, and a superior color purity closely aligning with the Rec.2020 blue standard.

Efficacy of probiotic supplementation and impact on fecal microbiota in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Context: Research regarding the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with probiotics has not yielded consistent results. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy of probiotics supplementation in patients with IBD. DATA SOURCES: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy of probiotics in patients with IBD were searched in PubMed, the Google Scholar database, Web of Science, and CrossRef for the period July 2003 to June 2023. DATA EXTRACTION: The RCTs were extracted, independently by 2 authors, according to the PICOS criteria. DATA ANALYSIS: Seven studies, including a total of 795 patients, met the study criteria. Five end points were selected to evaluate the efficacy. Of these, 3 indicators showed a statistically significant difference in efficacy: C-reactive protein (odds ratio [OR]: -2.45, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -3.16, -1.73, P < .01), the number of fecal Bifidobacterium (OR: 3.37, 95% CI: 3.28, 3.47, P < .01), and Lactobacillus(OR: 2.00, 95% CI: 1.91, 2.09, P < .01). The other 2 indicators (disease activity for Crohn's disease and for ulcerative colitis) showed no statistically significant difference, while the OR reflected a positive correlation. CONCLUSION: Probiotics supplementation may have a positive effect on IBD by reducing clinical symptoms, reducing the serological inflammatory markers, and increasing favorable gut flora in patients with IBD. Additional RCTs are needed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of probiotics in IBD.

SLC7A8 overexpression inhibits the growth and metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma and is correlated with a dismal prognosis.

BACKGROUND: Overexpression of solute carrier family 7 member 8 (SLC7A8) has been shown to relate to the survival time and tumor progression in cancer patients. However, the role of SLC7A8 in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is still obscure. METHOD: The relationships between SLC7A8 expression in LUAD tissues and clinical values as well as immune infiltration were explored through bioinformatics. The functions and pathways of SLC7A8 in LUAD were investigated using Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis, Western blotting, and other methods. RESULTS: We found that the expression of SLC7A8 was decreased significantly in LUAD tissues compared with normal tissues, which was related to the dismal survival time and disease progression. Moreover, it carried diagnostic value in LUAD and was a risk factor for dismal prognosis. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that the expression level of SLC7A8 carried significant diagnostic value in LUAD. Overexpression of SLC7A8 inhibited the proliferation, invasion, and migration of LUAD cells, likely through a mechanism involving the cell cycle. SLC7A8 expression in LUAD was significantly correlated with the infiltration of immune cells, especially B cells, interstitial dendritic cells, mast cells, CD56 bright cells, natural killer cells, plasmacytoid dendritic cells, T follicular helper cells, T helper 2 and 17 cells, and immune factors. CONCLUSION: The downregulation of SLC7A8 was related to a dismal prognosis and immune cell infiltration in LUAD. Increasing the expression of SLC7A8 inhibited the growth and migration of LUAD cells, thereby improving the prognosis of patients.

Polydopamine-Induced Metal-Organic Framework Network-Enhanced High-Performance Composite Solid-State Electrolytes for Dendrite-Free Lithium Metal Batteries.

Due to the high safety, flexibility, and excellent compatibility with lithium metals, composite solid-state electrolytes (CSEs) are the best candidates for next-generation lithium metal batteries, and the construction of fast and uniform Li+ transport is a critical part of the development of CSEs. In this paper, a stable three-dimensional metal-organic framework (MOF) network was obtained using polydopamine as a medium, and a high-performance CSE reinforced by the three-dimensional MOF network was constructed, which not only provides a continuous channel for Li+ transport but also restricts large anions and releases more mobile Li+ through a Lewis acid-base interaction. This strategy endows our CSEs with an ionic conductivity (7.1 × 10-4 S cm-1 at 60 °C), a wide electrochemical window (5.0 V), and a higher Li+ transfer number (0.54). At the same time, the lithium symmetric batteries can be stably cycled for 2000 h at 0.1 mA cm-2, exhibiting excellent electrochemical stability. The LiFePO4/Li cells have a high initial discharge specific capacity of 153.9 mAh g-1 at 1C, with a capacity retention of 80% after 915 cycles. This paper proposes an approach for constructing three-dimensional MOF network-enhanced CSEs, which provides insights into the design and development of MOFs for the positive effects of high-performance CSEs.

Multifunctional Polymer Restraint of the Agglomeration of SnO2 Nanocrystals for Efficient and Stable Planar Perovskite Solar Cells.

The aggregation of SnO2 nanocrystals due to van der Waals interactions is not conducive to the realization of a compact and pinhole-free electron transport layer (ETL). Herein, we have utilized potassium alginate (PA) to self-assemble SnO2 nanocrystals, forming a PA-SnO2 ETL for perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Through density functional theory (DFT) calculations, PA can be effectively absorbed onto the surface of SnO2. This inhibits the agglomeration of SnO2 nanocrystals in solution, forming a smoother pinhole-free film. This also changes the surface contact potential (CPD) of the SnO2 film, which leads to a reduction in the energy barrier between the ETL and the perovskite layers, promotes effective charge transfer, and reduces trap density. Consequently, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of PSCs with a PA-SnO2 ETL increased from 19.24% to 22.16%, and the short-circuit current (JSC) was enhanced from 23.52 to 25.21 mA cm-2. Furthermore, the PA-modified unpackaged device demonstrates better humidity stability compared to the original device.

LiF-Rich Electrode-Electrolyte Interfaces Enabled by Bifunctional Electrolyte Additive to Achieve High-Performance Li/LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 Batteries.

Commercial Li-ion batteries use LiPF6-based carbonate electrolytes extensively, but there are many challenges associated with them, like dendritic Li growth and electrolyte decomposition, while supporting the aggressive chemical and electrochemical reactivity of lithium metal batteries (LMBs). This work proposes 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropyl methacrylate (HFM) as a multifunctional electrolyte additive, constructing protective solid-/cathode-electrolyte interphases (SEI/CEI) on the surfaces for both lithium metal anode (LMA) and Ni-rich cathode to solve these challenges simultaneously. The highly fluorinated group (-CF3) of the HFM molecule contributes to the construction of SEI/CEI films rich in LiF that offer excellent electronic insulation, high mechanical strength, and surface energy. Accordingly, the HFM-derived LiF-rich interphases can minimize the electrolyte-electrode parasitic reactions and promote uniform Li deposition. Also, the problems of LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 particles' inner microcrack evolution and the growth of dendritic Li are adequately addressed. Consequently, the HFM additive enables a Li/LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 cell with higher capacity retention after 200 cycles at 1 C than the cell with no additive (74.7 vs 52.8%), as well as a better rate performance, especially at 9 C. Furthermore, at 0.5/0.5 mAh cm-2, the Li/Li symmetrical battery displays supersteadfast cyclic performance beyond 500 h when HFM is present. For high-performance LMBs, the HFM additive offers a straightforward, cost-effective route.

Atmospheric-moisture-induced polyacrylate hydrogels for hybrid passive cooling.

Heat stress is being exacerbated by global warming, jeopardizing human and social sustainability. As a result, reliable and energy-efficient cooling methods are highly sought-after. Here, we report a polyacrylate film fabricated by self-moisture-absorbing hygroscopic hydrogel for efficient hybrid passive cooling. Using one of the lowest-cost industrial materials (e.g., sodium polyacrylate), we demonstrate radiative cooling by reducing solar heating with high solar reflectance (0.93) while maximizing thermal emission with high mid-infrared emittance (0.99). Importantly, the manufacturing process utilizes only atmospheric moisture and requires no additional chemicals or energy consumption, making it a completely green process. Under sunlight illumination of 800 W m-2, the surface temperature of the film was reduced by 5 °C under a partly cloudy sky observed at Buffalo, NY. Combined with its hygroscopic feature, this film can simultaneously introduce evaporative cooling that is independent of access to the clear sky. The hybrid passive cooling approach is projected to decrease global carbon emissions by 118.4 billion kg/year compared to current air-conditioning facilities powered by electricity. Given its low-cost raw materials and excellent molding feature, the film can be manufactured through simple and cost-effective roll-to-roll processes, making it suitable for future building construction and personal thermal management needs.

Microwave-assisted one-pot preparation of magnetic cactus-derived hydrochar for efficient removal of lead(â ¡) and phenol from water: Performance and mechanism exploration.

A novel magnetic hydrochar derived from cactus cladode (MW-MHC) was successfully synthesized through one-pot microwave-assisted process for efficiently removing lead(Pb)(Ⅱ) and phenol. From batch adsorption experiments, MW-MHC possessed the highest uptake amounts for Pb(Ⅱ) and phenol of 139.34 and 175.32 mg/g within 20 and 60 min, respectively. Moreover, the removal of Pb(Ⅱ) and phenol by MW-MHC remained essentially stable under the interference of different co-existing cations, presenting the excellent adaptability of MW-MHC. After three cycles of regeneration experiments, MW-MHC still had preferable adsorption performance and could be easily recycled, indicating its excellent reusability. Significantly, the uptake mechanisms of Pb(Ⅱ) on MW-MHC were regarded as chemical complexation, pore filling, precipitation, and electrostatic attraction. Meanwhile, the phenol uptake might be dominated by π-π interaction and hydrogen bonding. The above consequences revealed that MW-MHC with high removal performance was a promising adsorbent for remediating wastewater containing heavy metals and organics.

Poly-1,3-dioxolane anchoring graphitic carbon nitride to achieve high-energy-density solid-state Li metal batteries.

Solid-state Li metal batteries (SSLMBs) are promising solutions for the next-generation energy storage devices with high energy densities and safety. Accordingly, the advanced solid-state electrolytes are further needed to address the challenges-low ionic conductivity, poor interfacial compatibility and uncontrollably Li dendrites, boosting the electrochemical and safety performances of SSLMBs. Herein, a "flexible and rigid" strategy is proposed to enhance the electrochemical and mechanical properties of polyethylene oxide (PEO)-based electrolytes. Specifically, the flexible poly-1,3-dioxolane (poly-DOL) and rigid graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) are coordinated by a coupling reaction to prepare g-C3N4-poly-DOL, which is further employed as the filler for the PEO matrix to fabricate a composite polymer electrolyte g-C3N4-pDOL-PEO. The flexible poly-DOL and rigid g-C3N4 together endow the PEO-based electrolyte with good interfacial stability, high ion-conductivity and strong mechanical strength. Consequently, the Li/g-C3N4-pDOL-PEO/LiFePO4 cell delivers high cyclability with a capacity retention ratio of 89.7 % after 150 cycles and an average Coulombic efficiency over 99.9 %, and, the Li/g-C3N4-pDOL-PEO/Li cell can stably cycle beyond 300 h at 0.2 mAh cm-2 with small polarization (13 mV). The "flexible and rigid" strategy coupling the polymer with the filler provides an effective electrolyte design for high-performance SSLMBs.

Efficacy and safety of ilioinguinal neurectomy in open tension-free inguinal hernia repair: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: There is still controversy surrounding routine ilioinguinal neurectomy in open tension-free inguinal hernia repair. METHOD: PubMed, Cochrane Library and EMBASE databases were searched for randomized controlled trials of ilioinguinal neurectomy in open tension-free inguinal hernia repair. Revman 5.3 software was used for meta-analysis. RESULT: Meta-analysis revealed that the incidence of severe pain on the first postoperative day was lower in the ilioinguinal neurectomy group (ING) than in the ilioinguinal nerve preservation group (INPG) [P < 0.0001]. The incidence of no pain in the first month postoperatively [P = 0.0004], the incidence of no pain in the sixth months postoperatively [P < 0.00001], and the numbness incidence in the first month postoperatively [P = 0.001] in the ING was higher than that in the INPG. There was no significant difference in the incidence of severe pain in the first month postoperatively [P = 0.20], the numbness incidence in the sixth postoperative month [P = 0.05], the hypoesthesia incidence in the first [P = 0.15] and sixth [P = 0.85] postoperative months between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Ilioinguinal neurectomy in open tension-free inguinal hernia repair can better prevent postoperative pain.

High-performance Li/LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 batteries enabled by optimizing carbonate-based electrolyte and electrode interphases via triallylamine additive.

Lithium (Li) metal batteries (LMBs), paired with high-energy-density cathode materials, are promising to meet the ever-increasing demand for electric energy storage. Unfortunately, the inferior electrode-electrolyte interfaces and hydrogen fluoride (HF) corrosion in the state-of-art carbonate-based electrolytes lead to dendritic Li growth and unsatisfactory cyclability of LMBs. Herein, a multifunctional electrolyte additive triallylamine (TAA) is proposed to circumvent those issues. The TAA molecule exhibits strong nucleophilicity and contains three unsaturated carbon-carbon double bonds, the former for HF elimination, the later for in-situ passivation of aggressive electrodes. As evidenced theoretically and experimentally, the preferential oxidation and reduction of carbon-carbon double bonds enable the successful regulation of components and morphologies of electrode interfaces, as well as the binding affinity to HF effectively blocks HF corrosion. In particular, the TAA-derived electrode interfaces are packed with abundant lithium-containing inorganics and oligomers, which diminishes undesired parasitic reactions of electrolyte and detrimental degradation of electrode materials. When using the TAA-containing electrolyte, the cell configuration with Li anode and nickel-rich layered oxide cathode and symmetrical Li cell deliver remarkably enhanced electrochemical performance with regard to the additive-free cell. The TAA additive shows great potential in advancing the development of carbonate-based electrolytes in LMBs.

Halloysite nanotubes modified poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene)-based polymer-in-salt electrolyte to achieve high-performance Li metal batteries.

Solid-state Li metal batteries (SSLMBs) are one of the most promising energy storage devices, as they offer high energy density and improved safety compared to conventional Li-ion batteries. However, the large-scale application of SSLMBs at room temperature is restricted by the main challenges such as low ionic conductivity and poor cyclic performance. Herein, a composed polymer-in-salt electrolyte (CPISE) is fabricated, which is composed of polyvinylidene vinylidene hexafluoropropene (PVDF-HFP) and high-concentration Li bis(trifluoromethanesulphonyl)imide (LiTFSI), reinforced with natural halloysite nanotubes (HNTs). The High concentration of LiTFSI and introduced HNTs synergized with PVDF-HFP to provide more various Li+ transport pathways. Additionally, the backbones of the uniform dispersion of HNTs in the CPISE effectively boosts the physicochemical nature of the CPISE. As a result, the prepared CPISE achieves excellent mechanical strength, high ionic conductivity (1.23*10-3 S cm-1) and high Li+ transference number (0.57) at room temperature. Consequently, in existence of the CPISE, the Li symmetric cell cycles stably beyond 800 h at 0.15 mA cm-2 and the LiFePO4/Li cell displays impressive cyclic performance with capacity retention of 79% after 1000 cycles at 30 °C. Furthermore, the superiority and the functional mechanism of the CPISE are discovered in detail. This work provides a promising strategy for the development of high-performance SSMLBs at room temperature.

Whole Genomic Sequence Analysis of Human Adenovirus Species C Shows Frequent Recombination in Tianjin, China.

Human adenovirus species C (HAdV-C) is frequently detected in China and worldwide. For the first time, 16 HAdV-C strains were isolated from sewage water (14 strains) and hospitalised children with diarrhoea (2 strains,) in Tianjin, China. Nearly complete genome data were successfully obtained for these viruses. Subsequently, genomic and bioinformatics analyses of the 16 HAdV-C strains were performed. A phylogenetic tree of the complete HAdV-C genome divided these strains into three types: HAdV-C1, HAdV-C2, HAdV-C5. Phylogenetic analysis based on the fiber gene showed similar outcomes to analyses of the hexon gene and complete HAdV-C genomes, whereas the penton gene sequences showed more variation than previously reported. Furthermore, analysis of the whole-genome sequencing revealed seven recombination patterns transmitted in Tianjin, of which at least four patterns have not been previously reported. However, the penton base gene sequences of the HAdV-C species had significantly lower heterogeneity than those of the hexon and fiber gene sequences of recombinant isolates; that is, many strains were distinct in origin, but shared hexon and fiber genes. These data illustrate the importance of frequent recombination in the complexity of the HAdV-C epidemic in Tianjin, thus emphasising the necessity for HAdV-C sewage and virological monitoring in China.

Efficacy and safety of glue mesh fixation for laparoscopic inguinal hernia: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

It is still controversial whether glue can be used for mesh fixation in laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. The aim of this meta-analysis was used to systematically evaluate the effectiveness and safety of glue mesh fixation in laparoscopic tension-free inguinal hernia repair. The PubMed database, EMBASE database and Cochrane Library were searched to collect published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on laparoscopic tension-free inguinal hernia repair with glue mesh fixation. Sixteen RCTs and 2409 patients with inguinal hernia were included. The meta-analysis showed that compared with the mechanical mesh fixation group(MMFG), the glue mesh fixation group(GMFG) had significantly reduced incidences of chronic pain[relative risk (RR) = 0.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.28,0.57), P < 0.00001], urinary retention[RR = 0.53, 95% CI(0.29,0.97), P = 0.04], haematoma[RR = 0.23, 95% CI(0.09,0.58), P = 0.002] and total complications[RR = 0.28, 95% CI(0.18,0.44), P < 0.00001]; there were no significant differences in pain score on postoperative day 1[MD = -1.33, 95% CI(-2.93,0.26), P = 0.10], operation time[MD = 1.46, 95% CI(-3.97,6.88), P = 0.60] and recurrence rate[RR = 0.72, 95% CI(0.35,1.47), P = 0.37] between the two groups. In conclusion, the application of glue mesh fixation in laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair is safe and reliable with fewer complications. Moreover, it can reduce the incidence of chronic pain without increasing the recurrence rate. However, due to the small number of cases in this analysis and limitations in the quality of the included studies, the findings need to be further verified by multicentre, large-sample and high-quality RCTs in the future.