Achievement of waste sludge deep dehydration under acidic conditions with polydimethyldiallylammonium chloride and ferric chloride: performance and mechanism.

The biological treatment of wastewater generates a substantial amount of waste sludge that requires dewatering before final disposal. Efficient sludge dewatering is essential to minimize storage and transportation costs. In this study, the sludge conditioners polydimethyldiallylammonium chloride (PDMDAAC) and ferric chloride (FeCl3) were sequentially dosed, and the pH was adjusted to 3. As a result, the sludge moisture content (MC) was reduced to 59.4%, achieving deep dewatering. After conditioning, the tightly bound extracellular polymeric substances (TB-EPS) were reduced from 34.5 to 10.2 mg g-1 VSS, with the majority of the reduced fractions being composed of protein (PN). In contrast, soluble EPS increased more than 8 times. Subsequent studies revealed that the decrease in PN from TB-EPS primarily involved tryptophan and tyrosine proteins, accompanied by a significant reduction in the N-H and C[double bond, length as m-dash]C absorption peaks. These results highlight the critical role of TB-EPS dissolution in achieving deep dehydration, with the N-H in PN was identified as the key group influencing sludge dewatering. Combined with the changes in sludge particle size and morphology, the dewatering mechanism can be summarized as follows: PDMDAAC dissolves TB-EPS, simultaneously disrupting the floc structure and refining the sludge. Subsequently, FeCl3 reconstructs these elements, forming larger particle sizes. Finally, hydrochloric acid reduces TB-EPS once again, releasing bound water. This study offers alternative methods and new insights for achieving deep dewatering of waste sludge.

Efficient Functionalization of Organosulfones via Photoredox Catalysis: Direct Incorporation of α-Carbonyl Alkyl Side Chains into α-Allyl-ß-Ketosulfones.

A novel and efficient method for functionalizing organosulfones has been established, utilizing a visible-light-driven intermolecular radical cascade cyclization of α-allyl-ß-ketosulfones. This process employs fac-Ir(ppy)3 as the photoredox catalyst and α-carbonyl alkyl bromide as the oxidizing agent. Via this approach, the substrates experience intermolecular addition of α-carbonyl alkyl radicals to the alkene bonds, initiating a sequence of C-C bond formations that culminate in the production of organosulfone derivatives. Notably, this technique features gentle reaction conditions and an exceptional compatibility with a wide array of functional groups, making it a versatile and valuable addition to the field of organic synthesis.

Streamlined Synthesis of Varied Heteroarene-Condensed Benzofuran Derivatives via [4 + 2] Annulation of Benzofuran-Derived Azadienes and N-Alkyl Quinolinium Salts.

Herein we have pioneered an innovative synthetic strategy for the efficient assembly of various heteroarene-condensed benzofuran derivatives, utilizing benzofuran-derived azadienes (BDAs) and quinolines as the starting materials. This method functions with transition-metal catalysis and uses cost-effective formic acid as the reducing agent. Mechanistic investigations indicate that this transformation would involve a [4 + 2] annulation cascade process. This approach demonstrates a high tolerance to various functional groups and yields excellent results.

Successful allogeneic fecal microbiota transplantation for severe diversion colitis: a case report.

Ileostomy diverts the flow of feces, which can result in malnutrition in the distal part of the intestine. The diversity of the gut microbiota consequently decreases, ultimately leading to intestinal dysbiosis and dysfunction. This condition can readily result in diversion colitis (DC). Potential treatment strategies include interventions targeting the gut microbiota. In this case study, we effectively treated a patient with severe DC by ileostomy and allogeneic fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). A 69-year-old man presented with a perforated malignant tumor in the descending colon and an iliac abscess. He underwent laparoscopic radical sigmoid colon tumor resection and prophylactic ileostomy. Follow-up colonoscopy 3 months postoperatively revealed diffuse intestinal mucosal congestion and edema along with granular inflammatory follicular hyperplasia, leading to a diagnosis of severe DC. After two rounds of allogeneic FMT, both the intestinal mucosal bleeding and edema significantly improved, as did the diversity of the gut microbiota. The positive outcome of allogeneic FMT in this case highlights the potential advantages that this procedure can offer patients with DC. However, few studies have focused on allogeneic FMT, and more in-depth research is needed to gain a better understanding.

Cytokine Storm Related to CD4+ T Cells in Influenza Virus-Associated Acute Necrotizing Encephalopathy.

Acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE) is a rare but deadly complication with an unclear pathogenesis. We aimed to elucidate the immune characteristics of H1N1 influenza virus-associated ANE (IANE) and provide a potential therapeutic approach for IANE. Seven pediatric cases from a concentrated outbreak of H1N1 influenza were included in this study. The patients' CD4+ T cells from peripheral blood decreased sharply in number but highly expressed Eomesodermin (Eomes), CD69 and PD-1, companied with extremely high levels of IL-6, IL-8 in the cerebrospinal fluid and plasma. Patient 2, who showed high fever and seizures and was admitted to the hospital very early in the disease course, received intravenous tocilizumab and subsequently showed a reduction in temperature and a stable conscious state 24 h later. In conclusion, a proinflammatory cytokine storm associated with activated CD4+ T cells may cause severe brain pathology in IANE. Tocilizumab may be helpful in treating IANE.

Mex-3 RNA binding family member A (MEX3A)/circMPP6 complex promotes colorectal cancer progression by inhibiting autophagy.

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs)-RNA networks have contributed to cancer development. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are considered as protein recruiters; nevertheless, the patterns of circRNA-protein interactions in colorectal cancer (CRC) are still lacking. Processing bodies (PBs) formed through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) are membrane-less organelles (MLOs) consisting of RBPs and RNA. Previous evidence suggests a connection between PBs dynamics and cancer progression. Despite the increasingly acknowledged crucial role of RBPs and RNA in the accumulation and maintenance of MLOs, there remains a lack of specific research on the interactions between PBs-related RBPs and circRNAs in CRC. Herein, we identify that MEX-3 RNA binding family member A (MEX3A), frequently upregulated in CRC tissues, predicts poorer patient survival. Elevated MEX3A accelerates malignance and inhibits autophagy of CRC cells. Importantly, MEX3A undergoes intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs)-dependent LLPS in the cytoplasm. Specifically, circMPP6 acts as a scaffold to facilitate the interaction between MEX3A and PBs proteins. The MEX3A/circMPP6 complex modulates PBs dynamic and promotes UPF-mediated phosphodiesterase 5A (PDE5A) mRNA degradation, consequently leading to the aggressive properties of CRC cells. Clinically, CRC patients exhibiting high MEX3A expression and low PDE5A expression have the poorest overall survival. Our findings reveal a collaboration between MEX3A and circMPP6 in the regulation of mRNA decay through triggering the PBs aggregation, which provides prognostic markers and/or therapeutic targets for CRC.

Pre-emptive TIPS in high-risk acute variceal bleeding. An updated and revised individual patient data meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: A previous individual patient data meta-analysis (IPD-MA) showed that compared with drugs+endoscopy, the placement of transjugular portosystemic shunt within 72 hours of admission (pre-emptive transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt: p-TIPS) increases the survival of high-risk patients (Child-Pugh B+ active bleeding and Child-Pugh C<14 points) with cirrhosis and acute variceal bleeding. However, the previous IPD-MA was not a two-stage meta-analysis, did not consider the potential risk of selection bias of observational studies, and did not include the most recent randomized clinical trial. We performed an updated and revised IPD-MA to reassess the efficacy of p-TIPS, addressing all previous issues. APPROACH AND RESULTS: We included all studies from the previous IPD-MA and searched for other possible eligible publications until September 2022. We performed a two-stage IPD-MA of data from 8 studies (4 randomized clinical trials and 4 observational). In addition, we performed a sensitivity analysis excluding those patients dying up to the first 72 hours after admission in the Drugs+Endoscopy arms of the 4 observational studies. The primary end point was the effects of p-TIPS versus Drugs+Endoscopy on 1-year survival.We identified 1389 patients (342 p-TIPS and 1047 Drugs+Endoscopy). The two-stage IPD-MA showed that p-TIPS significantly reduced the mortality in the overall population (HR=0·43, 95% CI: 0.32-0.60, p <0.001. This effect was observed in both subgroups of patients with Child-Pugh. The sensitivity analysis confirmed the survival benefit of p-TIPS. CONCLUSIONS: The updated two-stage IPD-MA confirms the significant survival advantage of p-TIPS in high-risk patients with cirrhosis and acute variceal bleeding. As a result, we recommend p-TIPS as the preferred first-choice treatment for these patients.

Development and validation of a prognostic score to identify the optimal candidate for preemptive TIPS in patients with cirrhosis and acute variceal bleeding.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Baveno VII workshop recommends the use of preemptive TIPS (p-TIPS) in patients with cirrhosis and acute variceal bleeding (AVB) at high- risk of treatment failure. However, the criteria defining "high-risk" have low clinical accessibility or include subjective variables. We aimed to develop and externally validate a model for better identification of p-TIPS candidates. APPROACH AND RESULTS: The derivation cohort included 1554 patients with cirrhosis and AVB who were treated with endoscopy plus drug (n = 1264) or p-TIPS (n = 290) from 12 hospitals in China between 2010 and 2017. We first used competing risk regression to develop a score for predicting 6-week and 1-year mortality in patients treated with endoscopy plus drugs, which included age, albumin, bilirubin, international normalized ratio, white blood cell, creatinine, and sodium. The score was internally validated with the bootstrap method, which showed good discrimination (6 wk/1 y concordance-index: 0.766/0.740) and calibration, and outperformed other currently available models. In the second stage, the developed score was combined with treatment and their interaction term to predicate the treatment effect of p-TIPS (mortality risk difference between treatment groups) in the whole derivation cohort. The estimated treatment effect of p-TIPS varied substantially among patients. The prediction model had good discriminative ability (6 wk/1 y c -for-benefit: 0.696/0.665) and was well calibrated. These results were confirmed in the validation dataset of 445 patients with cirrhosis with AVB from 6 hospitals in China between 2017 and 2019 (6-wk/1-y c-for-benefit: 0.675/0.672). CONCLUSIONS: We developed and validated a clinical prediction model that can help to identify individuals who will benefit from p-TIPS, which may guide clinical decision-making.

Remote ischemic preconditioning reduces mitochondrial apoptosis mediated by calpain 1 activation in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury through calcium channel subunit Cacna2d3.

Remote Ischemic Preconditioning (RIPC) can reduce myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, but its mechanism is not clear. In order to explore the mechanism of RIPC in myocardial protection, we collected myocardial specimens during cardiac surgery in children with tetralogy of Fallot for sequencing. Our study found RIPC reduces the expression of the calcium channel subunit cacna2d3, thereby impacting the function of calcium channels. As a result, calcium overload during ischemia-reperfusion is reduced, and the activation of calpain 1 is inhibited. This ultimately leads to a decrease in calpain 1 cleavage of Bax, consequently inhibiting increased mitochondrial permeability-mediated apoptosis. Notably, in both murine and human models of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, RIPC inhibiting the expression of the calcium channel subunit cacna2d3 and the activation of calpain 1, improving cardiac function and histological outcomes. Overall, our findings put forth a proposed mechanism that elucidates how RIPC reduces myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, ultimately providing a solid theoretical foundation for the widespread clinic application of RIPC.

SOCS2 inhibits hepatoblastoma metastasis via downregulation of the JAK2/STAT5 signal pathway.

Metastasis of hepatoblastoma (HB) is a key factor that impairs the prognosis and treatment of children. The suppressor of cytokine signaling 2 (SOCS2) is a classical negative feedback protein that regulates cytokine signal transduction and has been known to be downregulated in several tumor, but the molecular mechanisms of its involvement in HB metastasis are unknown. We found that SOCS2 was a gene down-regulated in hepatoblastoma and associated with HB metastasis through bioinformatics. The qRT-PCR, Western blot and IHC showed that SOCS2 was significantly lower in HB tissues. Clinicopathological correlation analysis revealed that low expression of SOCS2 was significantly correlated with tumor metastasis (P = 0.046) and vascular invasion (P = 0.028), associated with poor prognosis. Overexpression of SOCS2 inhibited the migration and invasion of hepatoblastoma cells, while knockdown of SOCS2 expression promoted these malignant phenotypes. In vivo studies revealed overexpression of SOCS2 inhibited the formation of lung metastasis. Up-regulation of SOCS2 in HB cell inhibited EMT and JAK2/STAT5. Conversely, down-regulation of SOCS2 promoted EMT and JAK2/STAT5. The addition of the JAK2 inhibitor Fedratinib partially reversed the effects of si-SOCS2 on HB cells. SOCS2 may inhibit the migration and invasion of HB cells by inhibiting the JAK2/STAT5 signaling pathway. These results may provide guiding significance for the clinical treatment of HB.

High-Range and High-Linearity 2D Angle Measurement System for a Fast Steering Mirror.

In order to solve the problem of the insufficient range of the traditional fast mirror (FSM) angle measurement system in practical applications, a 2D large-angle FSM photoelectric angle measurement system based on the principle of diffuse reflection is proposed. A mathematical model of the angle measurement system is established by combining the physical properties of the diffuse reflecting plate, such as the rotation angle, rotation center, rotation radius, reflection coefficient and the radius of the diffuse reflecting surface. This paper proposes a method that optimizes the degree of nonlinearity based on this mathematical model. The system is designed and tested. The experimental results show that changing the diffuse reflection surface area can improve the nonlinearity of the angle measurement system effectively. When the radius of the diffuse reflection surface is 3.3 mm, the range is ±20°, the non-linearity is 0.74%, and the resolution can reach up to 2.3″. The system's body is simple and compact. It is also capable of measuring a wider range of angles while linearity is guaranteed.

miR-181b-5p/SOCS2/JAK2/STAT5 axis facilitates the metastasis of hepatoblastoma.

Introduction: Hepatoblastoma (HB) is a malignant liver tumor predominantly found in children and tumor metastasis is one of the main causes of poor prognosis in affected patients. The precise molecular mechanisms responsible for HB metastasis remain incompletely understood. However, there is evidence suggesting a connection between the dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) and the progression of tumor metastasis in HB. Methods: The study utilized weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to analyze a miRNA microarray dataset of HB. The expression of miR-181b-5p in HB tissues and cells was detected using quantitative real-time PCR. The impact of miR-181b-5p on the metastatic capacity of HB was evaluated through scratch and Transwell assays. The effects of exogenously expressing miR-181b on the metastatic phenotypes of HB cells were evaluated in vivo. Furthermore, a luciferase reporter assay was performed to validate a potential target of miR-181b-5p in HB. Results: We found that miR-181b-5p was highly expressed in HB tissues and HB cell lines. Overexpression of miR-181b enhanced scratch healing, cell migration, and invasion abilities in vitro, as well as enhancing HB lung metastasis potential in vivo. Dual-luciferase reporter assays showed that Suppressor Of Cytokine Signaling 2 (SOCS2) was a direct target of miR-181b. The overexpression of miR-181b resulted in the suppression of SOCS2 expression, subsequently activating the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and JAK2/STAT5 signaling pathways. The rescue experiment showed that SOCS2 overexpression attenuated the effects of miR-181b on HB cells. Conclusion: Our study showed that miR-181b promotes HB metastasis by targeting SOCS2 and may be a potential therapeutic target for HB.

Effect of Glass Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Waste on the Mechanical Properties of Concrete and Evaluation of Its Feasibility for Reuse in Concrete Applications.

The disposal of glass fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP) waste has become an urgent issue in both the engineering and environmental fields. In this study, the feasibility of reusing mechanically recycled GFRP in concrete was evaluated. Secondary screening of the recycled material was conducted to obtain different types of products, and the recycled GFRP (rGFRP) was characterized. Subsequently, the effect of rGFRP on concrete performance was evaluated using different dosages (0%, 1%, 3%, 5%) of rGFRP powder and rGFRP cluster (with different sizes and fiber contents) to replace fine aggregate in concrete preparation. The experimental results indicated that the addition of rGFRP powder has no significant impact on the mechanical properties of concrete, while the addition of a small amount of rGFRP cluster slightly improves the compressive strength and splitting tensile strength of concrete. Additionally, the short fibers in rGFRP improve the failure mode of concrete, and increased fiber content and longer fiber length demonstrate a more pronounced reinforcing effect. The challenges and potential directions for future research in the realm of reusing rGFRP in concrete are discussed at the end. A systematic process for reusing GFRP waste in concrete is proposed to address the primary challenges and provide guidance for its practical engineering application.

LncRNA-mRNA coexpression analysis reveals distinct pathogenic mechanisms for subtypes of congenital biliary dilatation.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Congenital biliary dilatation (CBD) is a bile duct malformation often associated with pancreaticobiliary maljunction. Different subtypes of CBD have been noted for clinical differences, but their pathogenic mechanisms are unclear. METHODS: To elucidate the genetic basis of CBD, we performed lncRNA and mRNA sequencing and bioinformatic analysis on 18 cystic and 18 fusiform CBD samples. RESULTS: We identified differentially expressed mRNAs and lncRNAs between the two types of CBD, and constructed coexpression modules that correlated with clinical characteristics of CBD using weighted gene coexpression network analysis. We found that the brown module was the highest positive correlation with fusiform CBD (R = 0.67, p = 7.9e-6) and contained the most genes. We then built a lncRNA-mRNA coexpression network to identify potential target genes of lncRNAs in CBD, and a protein-protein interaction network to investigate the hub genes from the target genes and the brown module. Finally, we performed enrichment analyses and found differences between cystic and fusiform CBD in hepatobiliary system development, liver and pancreas development involving hub genes ONECUT1 and HNF1B that could be regulated by corresponding lncRNAs. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that lncRNAs may modulate pancreaticobiliary duct development differently in cystic and fusiform CBD, providing new insights for etiology studies and clinical treatment.

The value of hematocrit for predicting bronchopulmonary dysplasia in very low birth weight preterm infants.

To determine hematocrit (HCT) and to identify independent risk factors for predicting bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants with very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. This retrospective study included 296 premature infants with VLBW in the neonatal intensive care unit of the First Affiliated Hospital of the University of Science and Technology of China between January 2015 and December 2019. Maternal pregnant information and clinical information as well as hematological parameters of preterm babies were collected and compared. Then the maximum area under the curve of receiver operating characteristic curve was developed to estimate the predictive indicator in the blood. Finally, differential variables together with the predictive index were screened for multiple logistic regression analysis to determine independent prognostic factors for BPD. Infants were divided into a BPD group (134 cases) and a non-BPD group (162 cases). The area under the curve of HCT at postnatal 1 week was 0.737 with the sensitivity of 52.30 % and the specificity of 86.00%. Birth weight (BW) <1.12 kg, gestational age <28.4 weeks, newborn respiratory distress syndrome, mechanical ventilation ≥ 7 days, ventilation associated pneumonia, patent arterial duct, PaO2/FiO2 <300 mm Hg and HCT <0.455 at postnatal 1 week were risk factors for BPD of VLBW infants. HCT levels below 0.455 at 1 week after birth serve as a valuable indicator for the potential development of BPD.

Cold snare polypectomy compared to cold forceps polypectomy for endoscopic resection of guideline defined diminutive polyps: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials.

BACKGROUND: International guidelines recommend cold snare polypectomy (CSP) for polyps < 10 mm in size. However, recent randomized clinical trials (RCTs) showed conflicting results for the use of cold forceps polypectomy (CFP) vs. CSP for the resection of diminutive colorectal polyps (DCPs) (≤ 5 mm), especially for polyps ≤ 3 mm. Herein we compared CFP with CSP for patients with DCPs in this meta-analysis of RCTs. METHODS: We systematically searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed and EMBASE databases from inception to November 24, 2022, (Registration number INPLASY2022110135). The primary endpoint was DCP complete resection rate. The secondary endpoints were mean polypectomy time, polyp retrieval rate and complications. RESULTS: Seven RCTs involving 1023 DCPs were included. The complete resection rate (91.6% vs. 94.7%) for CFP was not significantly lower for polyps ≤ 5 mm (relative risk [RR] = 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.98-1.07). Sub-group analysis showed that the complete resection rate (88.7% vs. 92.4%) for CFP was not significantly lower for DCPs > 3 mm (RR = 1.04; 95% CI: 0.97-1.12). Another sub-group analysis showed that the complete resection rate (97.0% vs. 96.3%) was similar for polyps ≤ 3 mm for CFP vs. CSP (RR = 1.00; 95% CI: 0.98-1.03). The mean polypectomy time was not different between CFP and CSP (95% CI: -11.86-10.18). The polyp retrieval rate (100% vs. 96.9%) was not significantly higher for CFP (RR = 1.02; 95% CI: 0.98-1.07). There were no reported complications in the included studies. The overall study quality was moderate except for the removal of polyps ≤ 5 mm (low-quality evidence). CONCLUSION: CFP was comparable to CSP for the resection of polyps ≤ 3 mm; however, caution should be taken for DCPs > 3 mm because of the low complete resection rate (< 90%).

Outcome of Children with Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt: A Meta-Analysis of Individual Patient Data.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to investigate outcome after pediatric transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) with respect to survival MATERIAL AND METHODS: After searching for studies on TIPS in children in Ovid, Medline, Embase, Scopus and Cochrane published between 2000 and 2022, individual patient data were retrieved from five retrospective cohorts. Overall survival (OS) and transplant-free survival (TFS) were calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test and compared to the indication (ascites vs. variceal bleeding) as well as to the level of obstruction (pre-hepatic vs. hepatic vs. post-hepatic). Additionally, TIPS patency was analyzed. RESULTS: n = 135 pediatric patients were included in the final analysis. Indication for pediatric TIPS creation was heterogeneous among the included studies. TIPS patency decreased from 6 to 24 months, subsequent pediatric liver transplantation was performed in 22/135 (16.3%) of cases. The presence of ascites was related with poorer TFS (HR 2.3, p = 0.023), while variceal bleeding was not associated with impaired survival. Analysis of the level of obstruction (pre-hepatic, hepatic and post-hepatic) failed to prove significantly reduced OS for post-hepatic obstruction (HR 3.2, p = 0.092) and TFS (HR 1.3, p = 0.057). There was no difference in OS and TFS according to age at time of TIPS placement. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of ascites associates with impaired survival after TIPS in children, with no differences in survival according to the age of the child. Interventional shunt procedures can be considered feasible for all ages. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 2a.

Calpain: the regulatory point of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Calpain is a conserved cysteine protease readily expressed in several mammalian tissues, which is usually activated by Ca2+ and with maximum activity at neutral pH. The activity of calpain is tightly regulated because its aberrant activation will nonspecifically cleave various proteins in cells. Abnormally elevation of Ca2+ promotes the abnormal activation of calpain during myocardial ischemia-reperfusion, resulting in myocardial injury and cardiac dysfunction. In this paper, we mainly reviewed the effects of calpain in various programmed cell death (such as apoptosis, mitochondrial-mediated necrosis, autophagy-dependent cell death, and parthanatos) in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion. In addition, we also discussed the abnormal activation of calpain during myocardial ischemia-reperfusion, the effect of calpain on myocardial repair, and the possible future research directions of calpain.