Insight into the composition and differentiation of endophytic microbial communities in kernels via 368 maize transcriptomes.

INTRODUCTION: Kernels are important reproductive organs in maize, yet there is a lack of systematic investigation on the differences in the composition of endophytic microorganisms in plants from a population perspective. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to elucidate the composition of endophytic microorganisms in developing maize kernels, emphasizing differences among various inbred lines. METHODS: The transcriptomic data of 368 maize inbred lines were used to explore the composition and diversity of endophytic microorganisms. RESULTS: The findings revealed a higher abundance of fungi than bacteria in developing maize kernels, followed by protozoa, while viruses were less abundant. There were significant differences in the composition and relative abundance of endophytic microorganisms among different maize lines. Diversity analysis revealed overall similarity in the community composition structure between tropical/subtropical (TST) and temperate (NSS) maize germplasm with apparent variations in community richness and abundance. The endophytic microorganisms network in the kernels from TST genotypes exhibited higher connectivity and stability compared to NSS kernels. Bacteria dominated the highly connected species in the networks, and different core species showed microbial phylum specificity. Some low-abundance species acted as core species, contributing to network stability. Beneficial bacteria were predominant in the core species of networks in TST kernels, while pathogenic bacteria were more abundant in the core species of networks in NSS kernels. CONCLUSION: Tropical maize germplasm may have advantages in resisting the invasion of pathogenic microorganisms, providing excellent genetic resources for disease-resistant breeding.

Association of sleep fragmentation with general and abdominal obesity: a population-based longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the causal relationship between sleep fragmentation (SF) parameters with general and abdominal obesity in free-living conditions. METHODS: SF parameters were assessed by ActiGraph accelerometers for 7 consecutive days. Obesity was measured at baseline and 1-year follow-up with InBody S10 body composition analyzer. RESULTS: At baseline, the mean age of the study population was 18.7 years old (SD = 0.9) and 139 (35.7%) were male. Each 1-unit increase of baseline sleep fragmentation index (SFI) was associated with 0.08 kg/m2-increase of body mass index (BMI) (95% CI: 0.03, 0.14), 0.20%-increase of percentage of body fat (PBF) (95% CI: 0.07, 0.32), 0.15 kg-increase of fat mass (FM) (95% CI: 0.03, 0.27), 0.15 cm-increase of waist circumference (WC) (95% CI: 0.03, 0.26) and 0.91 cm2-increase of visceral fat area (VFA) (95% CI: 0.36, 1.46) at the 1-year follow-up. In addition, each 1-unit increase of baseline SFI was associated with 15% increased risk of general obesity (OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.04-1.28; p = 0.006) and 7% increased risk of abdominal obesity (OR = 1.07, 95% CI = 1.01-1.13; p = 0.021) in the following year. CONCLUSIONS: Fragmented sleep is independently associated with an increased risk of both general and abdominal obesity. The result highlights SF as a modifiable risk factor for the prevention and treatment of obesity.

Children's exposure to halogenated flame retardants and organophosphate esters through dermal absorption and hand-to-mouth ingestion in Swedish preschools.

Children are exposed to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) through inhalation and ingestion, as well as through dermal contact in their everyday indoor environments. The dermal loadings of EDCs may contribute significantly to children's total EDC exposure due to dermal absorption as well as hand-to-mouth behaviors. The aim of this study was to measure potential EDCs, specifically halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) and organophosphate esters (OPEs), on children's hands during preschool attendance and to assess possible determinants of exposure in preschool indoor environments in Sweden. For this, 115 handwipe samples were collected in winter and spring from 60 participating children (arithmetic mean age 4.5 years, standard deviation 1.0) and analyzed for 50 compounds. Out of these, 31 compounds were identified in the majority of samples. Levels were generally several orders of magnitude higher for OPEs than HFRs, and 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDPP) and tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBOEP) were detected in the highest median masses, 61 and 56 ng/wipe, respectively. Of the HFRs, bis(2-ethyl-1-hexyl)-2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate (BEH-TEBP) and 2,2',3,3',4,4',5,5',6,6'-decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) were detected in the highest median masses, 2.8 and 1.8 ng/wipe, respectively. HFR and/or OPE levels were found to be affected by the number of plastic toys, and electrical and electronic devices, season, municipality, as well as building and/or renovation before/after 2004. Yet, the calculated health risks for single compounds were below available reference dose values for exposure through dermal uptake as well as for ingestion using mean hand-to-mouth contact rate. However, assuming a high hand-to-mouth contact rate, at the 95th percentile, the calculated hazard quotient was above 1 for the maximum handwipe mass of TBOEP found in this study, suggesting a risk of negative health effects. Furthermore, considering additive effects from similar compounds, the results of this study indicate potential concern if additional exposure from other routes is as high.

The complete chloroplast genome of Mussaenda pubescens and phylogenetic analysis.

The chloroplast (cp) genome sequence of Mussaenda pubescens, a promising resource that is used as a traditional medicine and drink, is important for understanding the phylogenetic relationships among the Mussaenda family and genetic improvement and reservation. This research represented the first comprehensive description of the morphological characteristics of M. pubescens, as well as an analysis of the complete cp genome and phylogenetic relationship. The results indicated a close relationship between M. pubescens and M. hirsutula based on the morphological characteristics of the flower and leaves. The cp was sequenced using the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 platform. The results indicated the cp genome of M. pubescens spanned a total length of 155,122 bp, including a pair of inverted repeats (IRA and IRB) with a length of 25,871 bp for each region, as well as a large single-copy (LSC) region and a small single-copy (SSC) region with lengths of 85,370 bp and 18,010 bp, respectively. The results of phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that species within the same genus displayed a tendency to group closely together. It was suggested that Antirhea, Cinchona, Mitragyna, Neolamarckia, and Uncaria might have experienced an early divergence. Furthermore, M. hirsutula showed a close genetic connection to M. pubescens, with the two species having partially overlapping distributions in China. This study presents crucial findings regarding the identification, evolution, and phylogenetic research on Mussaenda plants, specifically targeting M. pubescens.

Gender associations between phthalate exposure and biomarkers of oxidative stress: A prospective cohort study.

Previous epidemiologic research has shown that phthalate exposure in pregnant women is related to adverse birth outcomes in a sex-specific manner. However, the biological mechanism of phthalate exposure that causes these birth outcomes remains poorly defined. In this research, we investigated the association between phthalate exposure and placental oxidative stress in a large population-based cohort study, aiming to initially explore the relationship between phthalate exposure and gene expression in placental oxidative stress in a sex-specific manner. Quantitative PCR was performed to measure the expression of placental inflammatory mRNAs (HO-1, HIF1α, and GRP78) in 2469 placentae. The multiple linear regression models were used to investigate the associations between mRNA and urinary phthalate monoesters. Phthalate metabolites monomethyl phthalate (MMP) and mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP) were positively correlated with higher HIF1α expression in placentae of male fetuses (p < .05). Mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP) increased the expression of HO-1, HIF1α, and GRP78 in placentae of male fetuses, and mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP) up-regulated the expression of HIF1α and GRP78. Additionally, mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP) was negatively correlated with HO-1, HIF1α, and GRP78 in placentae of female fetuses. Maternal phthalate exposure was associated with oxidative stress variations in placental tissues. The associations were closer in the placentas of male fetuses than in that of female ones. The placenta oxidative stress is worth further investigation as a potential mediator of maternal exposure-induced disease risk in children.

[Clinical Analysis of Mitoxantrone Liposome in the Treatment of Children with High-Risk Acute Myeloid Leukemia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the safety and efficacy of mitoxantrone liposome in the treatment of children with high-risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML). METHODS: The children with high-risk AML who received the mitoxantrone liposome regimen at Wuhan Children's Hospital from January 2022 to February 2023 were collected as the observation group, and the children with high-risk AML who received idarubicin regimen were enrolled as controls, and their clinical data were analyzed. Time to bone marrow recovery, the complete remission rate of bone marrow cytology, the clearance rate of minimal residual disease, and treatment-related adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The patients treated with mitoxantrone liposome showed shorter time to recovery of leukocytes(17 vs 21 day), granulocytes(18 vs 24 day), platelets(17 vs 24 day), and hemoglobin(20 vs 26 day) compared with those treated with idarubicin, there were statistical differences (P <0.05). The effective rate and MRD turning negative rate in the observation group were 90.9% and 72.7%, respectively, while those in the control group were 94.1% and 76.4%, with no statistical difference (P >0.05). The overall response rate of the two groups of patients was similar. CONCLUSION: The efficacy of mitoxantrone liposome is not inferior to that of idarubicin in children with high-risk AML, but mitoxantrone liposome allows a significantly shorter duration of bone marrow suppression and the safety is better.

HacA, a key transcription factor for the unfolded protein response, is required for fungal development, aflatoxin biosynthesis and pathogenicity of Aspergillus flavus.

Aspergillus flavus is a fungus notorious for contaminating food and feed with aflatoxins. As a saprophytic fungus, it secretes large amounts of enzymes to access nutrients, making endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis important for protein folding and secretion. The role of HacA, a key transcription factor in the unfolded protein response pathway, remains poorly understood in A. flavus. In this study, the hacA gene in A. flavus was knockout. Results showed that the absence of hacA led to a decreased pathogenicity of the strain, as it failed to colonize intact maize kernels. This may be due to retarded vegetable growth, especially the abnormal development of swollen tips and shorter hyphal septa. Deletion of hacA also hindered conidiogenesis and sclerotial development. Notably, the mutant strain failed to produce aflatoxin B1. Moreover, compared to the wild type, the mutant strain showed increased sensitivity to ER stress inducer such as Dithiothreitol (DTT), and heat stress. It also displayed heightened sensitivity to other environmental stresses, including cell wall, osmotic, and pH stresses. Further transcriptomic analysis revealed the involvement of the hacA in numerous biological processes, including filamentous growth, asexual reproduction, mycotoxin biosynthetic process, signal transduction, budding cell apical bud growth, invasive filamentous growth, response to stimulus, and so on. Taken together, HacA plays a vital role in fungal development, pathogenicity and aflatoxins biosynthesis. This highlights the potential of targeting hacA as a novel approach for early prevention of A. flavus contamination.

Risk Factors for Thyroid Dysfunction in Pregnancy: An Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis.

Background: International guidelines recommend targeted screening to identify gestational thyroid dysfunction. However, currently used risk factors have questionable discriminative ability. We quantified the risk for thyroid function test abnormalities for a subset of risk factors currently used in international guidelines. Methods: We included prospective cohort studies with data on gestational maternal thyroid function and potential risk factors (maternal age, body mass index [BMI], parity, smoking status, pregnancy through in vitro fertilization, twin pregnancy, gestational age, maternal education, and thyroid peroxidase antibody [TPOAb] or thyroglobulin antibody [TgAb] positivity). Exclusion criteria were pre-existing thyroid disease and use of thyroid interfering medication. We analyzed individual participant data using mixed-effects regression models. Primary outcomes were overt and subclinical hypothyroidism and a treatment indication (defined as overt hypothyroidism, subclinical hypothyroidism with thyrotropin >10 mU/L, or subclinical hypothyroidism with TPOAb positivity). Results: The study population comprised 65,559 participants in 25 cohorts. The screening rate in cohorts using risk factors currently recommended (age >30 years, parity ≥2, BMI ≥40) was 58%, with a detection rate for overt and subclinical hypothyroidism of 59%. The absolute risk for overt or subclinical hypothyroidism varied <2% over the full range of age and BMI and for any parity. Receiver operating characteristic curves, fitted using maternal age, BMI, smoking status, parity, and gestational age at blood sampling as explanatory variables, yielded areas under the curve ranging from 0.58 to 0.63 for the primary outcomes. TPOAbs/TgAbs positivity was associated with overt hypothyroidism (approximate risk for antibody negativity 0.1%, isolated TgAb positivity 2.4%, isolated TPOAb positivity 3.8%, combined antibody positivity 7.0%; p < 0.001), subclinical hypothyroidism (risk for antibody negativity 2.2%, isolated TgAb positivity 8.1%, isolated TPOAb positivity 14.2%, combined antibody positivity 20.0%; p < 0.001) and a treatment indication (risk for antibody negativity 0.2%, isolated TgAb positivity 2.2%, isolated TPOAb positivity 3.0%, and combined antibody positivity 5.1%; p < 0.001). Twin pregnancy was associated with a higher risk of overt hyperthyroidism (5.6% vs. 0.7%; p < 0.001). Conclusions: The risk factors assessed in this study had poor predictive ability for detecting thyroid function test abnormalities, questioning their clinical usability for targeted screening. As expected, TPOAb positivity (used as a benchmark) was a relevant risk factor for (subclinical) hypothyroidism. These results provide insights into different risk factors for gestational thyroid dysfunction.

Exposure to real-ambient bedroom light at night delayed circadian rhythm in healthy Chinese young adults: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Light at night (LAN) have attracted increased research attention on account of its widespread health hazards. However, the underlying mechanism remains unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of real-ambient bedroom LAN exposure on circadian rhythm among young adults and potential sex differences. METHODS: Bedroom LAN exposure was measured at 60-s intervals for 2 consecutive days using a portable illuminance meter. Circadian phase was determined by the dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) time in 7 time-series saliva samples. RESULTS: The mean age of the 142 participants was 20.7 ± 0.8 years, and 59.9% were women. The average DLMO time was 21:00 ± 1:11 h, with men (21:19 ± 1:12 h) later than women (20:48 ± 1:07 h). Higher level of LAN intensity (LANavg ≥ 3lx vs. LANavg < 3lx) was associated with an 81.0-min later in DLMO time (95% CI: 0.99, 1.72), and longer duration of nighttime light intensity ≥ 5lx (LAN5; LAN5 ≥ 45 min vs. LAN5 < 45 min) was associated with a 51.6-min later in DLMO time (95% CI: 0.46, 1.26). In addition, the delayed effect of LAN exposure on circadian phase was more pronounced in men than in women (all P-values <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, bedroom LAN exposure was significantly associated with delayed circadian rhythm. Additionally, the delayed effect is more significant in men. Keeping bedroom dark at night may be a practicable option to prevent circadian disruption and associated health implications. Future studies with more advanced light measurement instrument and consensus methodology for DLMO assessment are warranted.

Association of preschool children behavior and emotional problems with the parenting behavior of both parents.

BACKGROUND: Parental behaviors are key in shaping children's psychological and behavioral development, crucial for early identification and prevention of mental health issues, reducing psychological trauma in childhood. AIM: To investigate the relationship between parenting behaviors and behavioral and emotional issues in preschool children. METHODS: From October 2017 to May 2018, 7 kindergartens in Ma'anshan City were selected to conduct a parent self-filled questionnaire - Health Development Survey of Preschool Children. Children's Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (Parent Version) was applied to measures the children's behavioral and emotional performance. Parenting behavior was evaluated using the Parental Behavior Inventory. Binomial logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between the detection rate of preschool children's behavior and emotional problems and their parenting behaviors. RESULTS: High level of parental support/participation was negatively correlated with conduct problems, abnormal hyperactivity, abnormal total difficulty scores and abnormal prosocial behavior problems. High level of maternal support/participation was negatively correlated with abnormal emotional symptoms and abnormal peer interaction in children. High level of parental hostility/coercion was positively correlated with abnormal emotional symptoms, abnormal conduct problems, abnormal hyperactivity, abnormal peer interaction, and abnormal total difficulty scores in children (all P < 0.05). Moreover, paternal parenting behaviors had similarly effects on behavior and emotional problems of preschool children compared with maternal parenting behaviors (all P > 0.05), after calculating ratio of odds ratio values. CONCLUSION: Our study found that parenting behaviors are associated with behavioral and emotional issues in preschool children. Overall, the more supportive or involved the parents are, the fewer behavioral and emotional problems the children experience; conversely, the more hostile or controlling the parents are, the more behavioral and emotional problems the children face. Moreover, the impact of fathers' parenting behaviors on preschool children's behavior and emotions is no less significant than that of mothers' parenting behaviors.

Acute kidney injury prediction model utility in premature myocardial infarction.

The incidence of premature myocardial infarction (PMI) has been rising and acute kidney injury (AKI) occurring in PMI patients severely impacts prognosis. This study aimed to develop and validate a prediction model for AKI specific to PMI patients. The MIMIC-Ⅲ-CV and MIMIC-Ⅳ databases were utilized for model derivation of PMI patients. Single-center data served for external validation. There were 571 and 182 AKI patients in the training set (n = 937) and external validation set (n = 292) cohorts, respectively. Finally, a 7-variable model consisting of: Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), ICU stay time, loop diuretics, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) HCO3- and Albumin was developed, achieving an AUC of 0.85 (95% CI: 0.83-0.88) in the training set. External validation also confirmed model robustness. This model may assist clinicians in the early identification of patients at elevated risk for PMI. Further validation is warranted before clinical application.

Global patterns of asthma burden related to environmental risk factors during 1990-2019: an age-period-cohort analysis for global burden of disease study 2019.

BACKGROUND: Change in asthma burden attributed to specific environmental risk factor has not been evaluated. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to explore the age, period, and cohort effects on asthma burden attributable to smoking and occupational asthmagens in different socio-demographic index (SDI) regions and the region and sex disparities. METHODS: Risk factor-specific asthma deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rates were extracted from Global Burden of Disease study 2019, estimated by standard Combined Cause of Death Model and DisMod-MR 2.1 modeling tool. Age-period-cohort analysis was conducted to decompose age, period, and cohort effects on asthma burden. RESULTS: Smoking- and occupational asthmagens-related asthma deaths and DALYs rates dropped by > 45% during 1990-2019. In 2019, Africa, South and Southeast Asia had higher asthma burden than other regions. Male had higher asthma burden than female. Among nearly all age groups, low-middle SDI region had the highest smoking-related asthma burden, and low SDI region had the highest occupational asthmagens-related asthma burden. Inverse "V" shaped trend was observed in the above regions with increasing age. For smoking-related asthma deaths and DALYs rates, the most significant improvement of period rate ratio (RR) occurred in high SDI region, decreased from 1.67 (1.61, 1.74) to 0.34 (0.33, 0.36) and 1.61 (1.57, 1.66) to 0.59 (0.57, 0.61), respectively, as well as the cohort effect on smoking-related asthma burden. For occupational asthmagens-related asthma deaths and DALYs rates, the most sharply decrease of period and cohort RR appeared in the high and high-middle SDI regions. Low SDI region showed least progress in period and cohort RR of smoking- and occupational asthmagens-linked asthma burden. CONCLUSION: Smoking- and occupational asthmagens-related asthma burden sharply decreases, but region and sex disparities exist. Policy makers from low SDI region should reinforce tobacco control and prioritize workplace protection.

Clinical Analysis of Pediatric Acute Megakaryocytic Leukemia With CBFA2T3-GLIS2 Fusion Gene.

CBFA2T3-GLIS2 is the most frequent chimeric oncogene identified to date in non-Down syndrome acute megakaryocytic leukemia (AMKL), which is associated with extremely poor clinical outcome. The presence of this fusion gene is associated with resistance to high-intensity chemotherapy, including hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), and a high cumulative incidence of relapse frequency. The clinical features and clinical effects of China Children's Leukemia Group-acute myeloid leukemia (AML) 2015/2019 regimens and haploidentical HSCT (haplo-HSCT) for treatment of 6 children harboring the CBFA2T3-GLIS2 fusion gene between January 2019 and December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The 6 patients included 4 boys and 2 girls with a median disease-onset age of 19.5 months (range: 6-67 mo) who were diagnosed with AMKL. Flow cytometry demonstrated CD41a, CD42b, and CD56 expression and lack of HLA-DR expression in all 6 patients. All the children were negative for common leukemia fusion genes by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, but positive for the CBFA2T3-GLIS2 fusion gene by next-generation sequencing and RNA sequencing. All patients received chemotherapy according to China Children's Leukemia Group-AML 2015/2019 regimens, and 4 achieved complete remission. Four children underwent haplo-HSCT with posttransplant cyclophosphamide-based conditioning; 3 had minimal residual disease negative (minimal residual disease <0.1%) confirmed by flow cytometry at the end of the follow-up, with the remaining patient experiencing relapse at 12 months after transplantation. Transcriptome RNA sequencing is required for the detection of the CBFA2T3-GLIS2 fusion gene and for proper risk-based allocation of pediatric patients with AML in future clinical strategies. Haplo-HSCT with posttransplant cyclophosphamide-based conditioning may improve survival in children with AMKL harboring the fusion gene.

SHP-1 inhibition targets leukaemia stem cells to restore immunosurveillance and enhance chemosensitivity by metabolic reprogramming.

Leukaemia stem cells (LSCs) in acute myeloid leukaemia present a considerable treatment challenge due to their resistance to chemotherapy and immunosurveillance. The connection between these properties in LSCs remains poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that inhibition of tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 in LSCs increases their glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation, enhancing their sensitivity to chemotherapy and vulnerability to immunosurveillance. Mechanistically, SHP-1 inhibition leads to the upregulation of phosphofructokinase platelet (PFKP) through the AKT-ß-catenin pathway. The increase in PFKP elevates energy metabolic activities and, as a consequence, enhances the sensitivity of LSCs to chemotherapeutic agents. Moreover, the upregulation of PFKP promotes MYC degradation and, consequently, reduces the immune evasion abilities of LSCs. Overall, our study demonstrates that targeting SHP-1 disrupts the metabolic balance in LSCs, thereby increasing their vulnerability to chemotherapy and immunosurveillance. This approach offers a promising strategy to overcome LSC resistance in acute myeloid leukaemia.

Association of Gestational Free and Total Triiodothyronine With Gestational Hypertension, Preeclampsia, Preterm Birth, and Birth Weight: An Individual Participant Data Meta-analysis.

CONTEXT: Triiodothyronine (T3) is the bioactive form of thyroid hormone. In contrast to thyroid-stimulating hormone and free thyroxine, we lack knowledge on the association of gestational T3 with adverse obstetric outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the associaiton of gestational free or total T3 (FT3 or TT3) with adverse obstetric outcomes. METHODS: We collected individual participant data from prospective cohort studies on gestational FT3 or TT3, adverse obstetric outcomes (preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, preterm birth and very preterm birth, small for gestational age [SGA], and large for gestational age [LGA]), and potential confounders. We used mixed-effects regression models adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: The final study population comprised 33 118 mother-child pairs of which 27 331 had data on FT3 and 16 164 on TT3. There was a U-shaped association of FT3 with preeclampsia (P = .0069) and a J-shaped association with the risk of gestational hypertension (P = .029). Higher TT3 was associated with a higher risk of gestational hypertension (OR per SD of TT3 1.20, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.33; P = .0007). A lower TT3 but not FT3 was associated with a higher risk of very preterm birth (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.94; P = .018). TT3 but not FT3 was positively associated with birth weight (mean difference per 1 SD increase in TT3 12.8, 95% CI 6.5 to 19.1 g, P < .0001) but there was no association with SGA or LGA. CONCLUSION: This study provides new insights on the association of gestational FT3 and TT3 with major adverse pregnancy outcomes that form the basis for future studies required to elucidate the effects of thyroid function on pregnancy outcomes. Based on the current study, routine FT3 or TT3 measurements for the assessment of thyroid function during pregnancy do not seem to be of added value in the risk assessment for adverse outcomes.

Association Between Bedroom Light Pollution With Subjectively and Objectively Measured Sleep Parameters Among Chinese Young Adults.

PURPOSE: To investigate the cross-sectional associations between real-world multiperiod bedroom light at night and sleep parameters among 365 Chinese young adults. METHODS: Bedroom light exposure was estimated at the individual level for two consecutive days using a portable illuminance meter. Subjective sleep parameters were measured with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and objective sleep parameters were assessed by wrist-worn ActiGraph accelerometers for seven consecutive days. RESULTS: Compared with the low-exposure group (average light intensity < 3lx), the high-exposure group (average light intensity ≥ 3lx) was associated with decreased 1.15% in sleep efficiency (sleep efficiency, 95% CI: -1.78, -0.52; p < .001), increased 3.94 minutes in wake after sleep onset (wake after sleep onset, 95% CI: 1.55, 6.33; p = .001), increased 1.05 unit in movement index (95% CI: 0.20, 1.89; p = .015), and increased 2.16 unit in sleep fragmentation index ( 95% CI: 0.63, 3.68; p = .006). In comparison, each interquartile increase in 2h-average and 1h-average intensity of preawake light (PAL) (PAL-2h and PAL-1h) was associated with 7.04 minutes of increases in total sleep time (95% CI: 0.87, 13.22; p = .025) and 6.69 minutes of increases in total sleep time (95% CI: 0.51, 12.87; p = .034), respectively. DISCUSSION: Altogether, our results support the role of bedroom light exposure in sleep and imply the importance of bedroom light exposure management as a potential strategy to reduce the public health burden of sleep problems. Keeping the bedroom environment dark at night and allowing moderate morning light exposure may be important measures for improving the sleep quality of young adults.

TSH and FT4 Reference Interval Recommendations and Prevalence of Gestational Thyroid Dysfunction: Quantification of Current Diagnostic Approaches.

CONTEXT: Guidelines recommend use of population- and trimester-specific thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4) reference intervals (RIs) in pregnancy. Since these are often unavailable, clinicians frequently rely on alternative diagnostic strategies. We sought to quantify the diagnostic consequences of current recommendations. METHODS: We included cohorts participating in the Consortium on Thyroid and Pregnancy. Different approaches were used to define RIs: a TSH fixed upper limit of 4.0 mU/L (fixed limit approach), a fixed subtraction from the upper limit for TSH of 0.5 mU/L (subtraction approach) and using nonpregnancy RIs. Outcome measures were sensitivity and false discovery rate (FDR) of women for whom levothyroxine treatment was indicated and those for whom treatment would be considered according to international guidelines. RESULTS: The study population comprised 52 496 participants from 18 cohorts. Compared with the use of trimester-specific RIs, alternative approaches had a low sensitivity (0.63-0.82) and high FDR (0.11-0.35) to detect women with a treatment indication or consideration. Sensitivity and FDR to detect a treatment indication in the first trimester were similar between the fixed limit, subtraction, and nonpregnancy approach (0.77-0.11 vs 0.74-0.16 vs 0.60-0.11). The diagnostic performance to detect overt hypothyroidism, isolated hypothyroxinemia, and (sub)clinical hyperthyroidism mainly varied between FT4 RI approaches, while the diagnostic performance to detect subclinical hypothyroidism varied between the applied TSH RI approaches. CONCLUSION: Alternative approaches to define RIs for TSH and FT4 in pregnancy result in considerable overdiagnosis and underdiagnosis compared with population- and trimester-specific RIs. Additional strategies need to be explored to optimize identification of thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy.

Self-Adaptive Liquid Film: Dynamic Realization of Dendrite-Free Zn Deposition Toward Ultralong-Life Aqueous Zn Battery.

The poor reversibility and stability of Zn metal anode (ZMA) caused by uncontrolled Zn deposition behaviors and serious side reactions severely impeded the practical application of aqueous Zn metal battery. Herein, a liquid-dynamic and self-adaptive protective layer (LSPL) was constructed on the ZMA surface for inhibiting dendrites and by-products formation. Interestingly, the outer LSPL consists of liquid perfluoropolyether (PFPE), which can dynamically adapt volume change during repeat cycling and inhibit side reactions. Moreover, it can also decrease the de-solvation energy barrier of Zn2+ by strong interaction between C-F bond and foreign Zn2+ , improving Zn2+ transport kinetics. For the LSPL inner region, in-situ formed ZnF2 through the spontaneous chemical reaction between metallic Zn and part PFPE can establish an unimpeded Zn2+ migration pathway for accelerating ion transfer, thereby restricting Zn dendrites formation. Consequently, the LSPL-modified ZMA enables reversible Zn deposition/dissolution up to 2000 h at 1 mA cm-2 and high coulombic efficiency of 99.8% at 4 mA cm-2 . Meanwhile, LSPL@Zn||NH4 V4 O10 full cells deliver an ultralong cycling lifespan of 100 00 cycles with 0.0056% per cycle decay rate at 10 A g-1 . This self-adaptive layer provides a new strategy to improve the interface stability for next-generation aqueous Zn battery.

Trend and heterogeneity in forced vital capacity among Chinese students during 1985-2019: results from Chinese National Survey on Students' Constitution and Health.

BACKGROUND: Forced vital capacity (FVC) reflects respiratory health, but the long-term trend and heterogeneity in FVC of Chinese students were understudied. METHODS: Data were from Chinese National Survey on Students' Constitution and Health 1985-2019. Super Imposition by Translation and Rotation model was used to draw FVC growth curves. Sex-, region-, and nationality-heterogeneity in FVC was evaluated. Spearman correlation and generalized additive model was used to reveal influencing factors for FVC. RESULTS: Compared to 1985, age at peak FVC velocity was 1.09, 3.17, 0.74, and 1.87 years earlier for urban male, urban female, rural male, and rural female in 2019, respectively. Peak FVC velocity first decreased and then increased during 1985-2019, only male rebounded to larger than 1985 level. FVC declined from 1985 to 2005 and then raised. Males consistently had higher FVC than females, with disparities increasing in the 13-15 age group. Urban students also had higher FVC than rural students. In 2019, FVC difference between 30 Chinese provinces and the national average showed four scenarios: consistently above national average; less than national average until age 18, then above; greater than national average until age 18, then this advantage reversed; less than national average in almost all the age. Most Chinese ethnic minority students had lower FVC levels compared to Han students. Spearman correlation and generalized additive model showed that age, sex, and height were the leading influencing factors of FVC, followed by socioeconomic and environmental factors. CONCLUSIONS: Chinese students experienced advanced FVC spurt, and there was sex-, region- and nationality-heterogeneity in FVC. Routine measurement of FVC is necessary in less developed areas of China.

Robotic natural orifice specimen extraction surgery I-type F method vs conventional robotic resection for lower rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Robotic resection using the natural orifice specimen extraction surgery I-type F method (R-NOSES I-F) is a novel minimally invasive surgical strategy for the treatment of lower rectal cancer. However, the current literature on this method is limited to case reports, and further investigation into its safety and feasibility is warranted. AIM: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of R-NOSES I-F for the treatment of low rectal cancer. METHODS: From September 2018 to February 2022, 206 patients diagnosed with low rectal cancer at First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University were included in this retrospective analysis. Of these patients, 22 underwent R-NOSES I-F surgery (R-NOSES I-F group) and 76 underwent conventional robotic-assisted low rectal cancer resection (RLRC group). Clinicopathological data of all patients were collected and analyzed. Postoperative outcomes and prognoses were compared between the two groups. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. RESULTS: Patients in the R-NOSES I-F group had a significantly lower visual analog score for pain on postoperative day 1 (1.7 ± 0.7 vs 2.2 ± 0.6, P = 0.003) and shorter postoperative anal venting time (2.7 ± 0.6 vs 3.5 ± 0.7, P < 0.001) than those in the RLRC group. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of sex, age, body mass index, tumor size, TNM stage, operative time, intraoperative bleeding, postoperative complications, or inflammatory response (P > 0.05). Postoperative anal and urinary functions, as assessed by Wexner, low anterior resection syndrome, and International Prostate Symptom Scale scores, were similar in both groups (P > 0.05). Long-term follow-up revealed no significant differences in the rates of local recurrence and distant metastasis between the two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: R-NOSES I-F is a safe and effective minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of lower rectal cancer. It improves pain relief, promotes gastrointestinal function recovery, and helps avoid incision-related complications.