Removal of V(V) from a Mixed Solution Containing Vanadium and Chromium Using a Micropocrous Resin in a Column: Migration Regularity of the Mass Transfer Zone and Analysis of Dynamic Properties.

In China, both vanadium(V) and chromium(VI) are present in wastewater resulting from vanadate precipitation (AVP wastewater) and from leaching vanadium-chromium reduction slag. Addressing environmental preservation and the comprehensive utilization of metal resources necessitates the extraction and separation of V(V) and Cr(VI) from these mixed solutions. However, their separation is complicated by very similar physicochemical properties. This study establishes a method for the dynamic selective adsorption of V(V) from such mixtures. It evaluates the impact of various operating conditions in columns on dynamic adsorption behavior. This study examines the migration patterns of the mass transfer zone (MTZ) and forecasts its effective adsorption capacity through multivariate polynomial regression and a neural network (NN) model. The NN model's outcomes are notably more precise. Its analysis reveals that C 0 is the most critical factor, with Q and H following in importance. Furthermore, the dynamic properties were analyzed using two established models, Thomas and Klinkenberg, revealing that both intraparticle and liquid film diffusion influence the rates of exchange adsorption, with intraparticle diffusion being the more significant factor. Using 3 wt % sodium hydroxide as the eluent to elute V(V)-loaded resin at a flow rate of 4 mL/min resulted in a chromium concentration of less than 3 mg/L in the V(V) eluate, indicating high vanadium-chromium separation efficiency in this method. These findings offer theoretical insights and economic analysis data that are crucial for optimizing column operation processes.

The effect of supplementing with Saccharomyces boulardii on bismuth quadruple therapy for eradicating Helicobacter pylori: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background and objective: It remains uncertain if the addition of Saccharomyces boulardii (S. boulardii) to bismuth quadruple therapy (BQT) recommended in the current guidelines can enhance the Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication rate and decrease the incidence of adverse events. We therefore conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to address this issue. Methods: We performed comprehensive searches in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane library databases from the inception of the databases through to November 1, 2023. A meta-analysis was conducted to determine the pooled relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) using a random-effects model. We utilized the revised Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool to assess the risk of bias of included studies. Results: A total of six RCTs (1,404 patients) included in this meta-analysis. The results of the intention-to-treat analysis showed that the combination of S. boulardii with BQT had a higher eradication rate than BQT alone (87.0% versus 83.3%), with a pooled RR of 1.05 (95% CI: 1.00-1.10, p = 0.03). In the per-protocol analysis, however, there was no statistical significance between the two groups in the eradication rate (93.7% versus 91.0%, RR = 1.03, 95% CI: 1.00-1.06, p = 0.07). The combination of S. boulardii and BQT had a significantly lower rate of overall adverse events (22% vs. 39%, RR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.44-0.70, p < 0.00001), diarrhea (7.9% vs. 25.7%, RR = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.17-0.48, p < 0.00001), constipation (2.9% vs. 8.4%, RR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.14-0.88, p = 0.03) and abdominal distention (4.9% vs. 12.7%, RR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.23-0.72, p = 0.002) than BQT alone. For the assessment of risk of bias, five studies were deemed to have some concerns, while one study was judged to have a low risk. Conclusion: Current evidence suggests that supplementation with S. boulardii in BQT may not have a major effect on the H. pylori eradication rate, but significantly reduces the incidence of overall adverse events, diarrhea, abdominal distention and constipation. Combining S. Boulardii with BQT can help alleviate symptoms, potentially improving patient adherence. Systematic review registration: https://osf.io/n9z7c.

P. gingivalis in oral-prostate axis exacerbates benign prostatic hyperplasia via IL-6/IL-6R pathway.

BACKGROUND: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common disease in elderly men. There is increasing evidence that periodontitis increases the risk of BPH, but the specific mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the role and mechanism of the key periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) in the development of BPH. METHODS: The subgingival plaque (Sp) and prostatic fluid (Pf) of patients with BPH concurrent periodontitis were extracted and cultured for 16S rDNA sequencing. Ligature-induced periodontitis, testosterone-induced BPH and the composite models in rats were established. The P. gingivalis and its toxic factor P. gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (P.g-LPS) were injected into the ventral lobe of prostate in rats to simulate its colonization of prostate. P.g-LPS was used to construct the prostate cell infection model for mechanism exploration. RESULTS: P. gingivalis, Streptococcus oralis, Capnocytophaga ochracea and other oral pathogens were simultaneously detected in the Pf and Sp of patients with BPH concurrent periodontitis, and the average relative abundance of P. gingivalis was found to be the highest. P. gingivalis was detected in both Pf and Sp in 62.5% of patients. Simultaneous periodontitis and BPH synergistically aggravated prostate histological changes. P. gingivalis and P.g-LPS infection could induce obvious hyperplasia of the prostate epithelium and stroma (epithelial thickness was 2.97- and 3.08-fold that of control group, respectively), and increase of collagen fibrosis (3.81- and 5.02-fold that of control group, respectively). P. gingivalis infection promoted prostate cell proliferation, inhibited apoptosis, and upregulated the expression of inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6; 4.47-fold), interleukin-6 receptor-α (IL-6Rα; 5.74-fold) and glycoprotein 130 (gp130; 4.47-fold) in prostatic tissue. P.g-LPS could significantly inhibit cell apoptosis, promote mitosis and proliferation of cells. P.g-LPS activates the Akt pathway through IL-6/IL-6Rα/gp130 complex, which destroys the imbalance between proliferation and apoptosis of prostate cells, induces BPH. CONCLUSION: P. gingivalis was abundant in the Pf of patients with BPH concurrent periodontitis. P. gingivalis infection can promote BPH, which may affect the progression of BPH via inflammation and the Akt signaling pathway.

[Analysis of Plasma Metabolic Profile in Children with Transfusion-Dependent Thalassemia].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the plasma metabolomic characteristics of children with transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT), and reveal the changes of metabolic pattern in children with TDT. METHODS: 23 children with TDT who received regular blood transfusion in Ganzhou Women and Children's Health Care Hospital in 2021 were selected, and 11 healthy children who underwent physical examination during the same period were selected as the control group. The routine indexes between children with TDT and the control group were compared, and then the metabolic composition of plasma samples from children with TDT and the control group was detected by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. An OPLS-DA model was established to perform differential analysis on the detected metabolites, and the differential metabolic pathways between the two groups were analyzed based on the differential metabolites. RESULTS: The results of routine testing showed that the indexes of ferritin, bilirubin, total bile acid, glucose and triglycerides in children with TDT were significantly higher than those in healthy controls, while hemoglobin and total cholesterol were significantly lower (all P <0.05). However there was no significant difference in lactate dehydrogenase between the two groups (P >0.05). Compared with the control group, 190 differential metabolites (VIP>1) were identified in TDT children. Among them, 168 compounds such as arginine, proline and glycocholic acid were significantly increased, while the other 22 compounds such as myristic acid, eleostearic acid, palmitic acid and linoleic acid were significantly decreased. The metabolic pathway analysis showed that the metabolic impact of TDT on children mainly focused on the upregulation of amino acid metabolism and downregulation of lipid metabolism. CONCLUSION: The amino acid and lipid metabolism in children with TDT were significantly changed compared with the healthy control group. This finding is helpful to optimize the treatment choice for children with TDT, and provides a new idea for clinical treatment.

Dehydrative alkynylation of 3-hydroxyisoindolinones with terminal alkynes for the synthesis of 3-alkynylated 3,3-disubstituted isoindolinones.

A brand-new procedure for the synthesis of 3-alkynylated 3,3-disubstituted isoindolinones has been disclosed via a HOTf or Fe(OTf)3-catalyzed dehydrative alkynylation of 3-hydroxyisoindolinones with terminal alkynes. Aryl, alkenyl and alkyl terminal alkynes are suitable to couple with a broad range of 3-hydroxyisoindolinones to afford the desired products in moderate to good yields. This protocol features the use of an inexpensive catalyst, mild reaction conditions, broad substrate scope and easy elaboration of the products.

The clinical value of serum-related indexes in differentiating simple premature thelarche from idiopathic central precocious puberty.

Objective: To explore the changes of serum-related indexes at different time points, so as to identify the critical time of converting from simple premature thelarche (PT) to idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP). Methods: This is a retrospective study. The subjects of the study were 50 girls with PT who were admitted to the Children's Hospital of Hebei Province from January 2019 to September 2020. The enrolled 50 children were divided into the conversion group(n=12) and the non-conversion group(n=38) according to whether PT was converted into ICPP during follow-up. Furthermore, the levels of serum-related indexes and uterine and ovarian volumes were compared after the diagnosis of PT. Results: The IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels of children in the conversion group began to change significantly from six months after the diagnosis, with statistically significant differences when compared with the levels of children at the initial diagnosis, three months and those of the non-conversion group at the same time points (p<0.05). The levels of vitamin-D, DHEA and leptin began to change significantly at nine months after the diagnosis (p<0.05). Besides, uterine and ovarian volumes in the conversion group began to increase significantly six months after the diagnosis, with statistically significant differences when compared with those in the non-conversion group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Findings in our study suggest that regular monitoring of vitamin-D, IGF-1, IGFBP-3, DHEA and leptin levels, and uterine and ovarian volumes can predict the conversion from PT to ICPP at an early stage.

Ectopic pheochromocytomas in the third trimester: A case report and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: To investigate the clinical features, pregnancy care, timing, and approaches of pregnancy termination as well as the perinatal management of pregnant women with ectopic pheochromocytomas (EPCC) (paragangliomas, PGL). METHODS: We report the diagnosis and treatment of a pregnant women with EPCC which was confirmed in the third trimester in our hospital. Literature in relation to EPCC during pregnancy both in and outside China was searched for data analysis such as maternal clinical features and maternal and fetal prognosis. RESULTS: A total of 20 papers including 21 cases (plus ours) were retrieved. The average age of pregnant patients was 28 years old (from 21 to 37). Two patients presented no hypertension. Nineteen had hypertension in various extent with the accompany of headache (11 cases, 57.9%), palpitations (8 cases, 42.1%), sweating (6 cases, 31.6%), nausea (6 cases), abdominal pain (2 cases), etc. The tumor was found in the chest in 3 patients, in the upper abdomen in 1 patient, in the middle abdomen in 10 patients, between the lower abdomen and pelvic cavity in 3 patients and in the pelvic cavity in 3 patients. Five patients had a surgical removal of the tumor before delivery, 3 during cesarean section and 10 after giving birth. CONCLUSION: EPCC (PGL) during pregnancy is a rare extra-adrenal tumor, whose manifestations are often confused with those of pregnancy-induced hypertension. It is extremely hard to diagnosis the disease before surgery. Patients still have an opportunity of undergoing spontaneous delivery if their tumors have been removed before labor. However, for patients whose pheochromocytomas is localized before labor, it is better to terminate their pregnancy via cesarean section in a proper time according to their obstetric conditions, while under the supervision of multidisciplinary specialists. The preparations of both α and ß adrenergic receptor blocker treatment that is normally carried out before PGL removal surgery are unnecessary to be overemphasized before the cesarean section.

Outdoor artificial light at night and incident cardiovascular disease in adults: A national cohort study across China.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) become a major public health concern. Evidence concerning the effects of outdoor artificial light at night (ALAN) on CVD in adults is scarce. We aimed to investigate the extent to which outdoor ALAN could affect the risk of CVD over a exposure range. Data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, a population-based longitudinal study, launched in 2011-2012 and follow up till 2018, covering 28 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities across mainland China. This study included 14,097 adults aged ≥45 years. Outdoor ALAN exposure (in nanowatts per centimeters squared per steradian) within 500 m of each participant's baseline residence was obtained from satellite image data. CVD was defined from medical diagnosis. The population was divided into three groups based on outdoor ALAN exposure from low to high. Cox regression model was used to estimate the association between outdoor ALAN exposure and incident CVD with hazard ratios (HRs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). The mean (SD) age of the cohort was 57.6 (9.1) years old and 49.3 % were males. Outdoor ALAN exposure of study participants ranged from 0.02 to 39.79 nW/cm2/sr. During 83,033 person-years of follow-up, 2190 (15.5 %) cases of CVD were identified. Both low (HR: 1.21; 95 % CI: 1.02-1.43) and high (HR: 1.23; 95 % CI: 1.04-1.46) levels of outdoor ALAN exposure group were associated with higher risk of CVD compared with intermediate levels of outdoor ALAN exposure group. Body mass index was a significant effect modifier in the association between outdoor ALAN and risk of CVD, with stronger effects among those who was overweight or obese. The findings of this study suggest that low and high outdoor ALAN exposure were associated with a higher risk for CVD. More attention should be given to the cardiovascular effects associated with outdoor ALAN exposure.

Effects of irrigation scheduling on the yield and irrigation water productivity of cucumber in coconut coir culture.

Optimum irrigation scheduling is important for ensuring high yield and water productivity in substrate-cultivated vegetables and is determined based on information such as substrate water content, meteorological parameters, and crop growth. The aim of this study was to determine a precise irrigation schedule for coconut coir culture in a solar greenhouse by comparing the irrigation, evapotranspiration (ET), substrate water content (VWC), as well as the crop growth indices and yield of cucumber, and irrigation water productivity (IWP) under three irrigation schedules: the soil moisture sensor-based method (T-VWC), the accumulated radiation combined with soil moisture sensor-based method (Rn-VWC), and the crop evapotranspiration estimated method using the hourly PM-ETo equation with an improved calculation of Kc (T-ETc). The results showed that the daily irrigation and evapotranspiration amount were the highest under T-VWC treatment, while the lowest under T-ETc treatment. In different meteorological environments, the change in irrigation amount was more consistent with the ET,and the VWC was relatively stable in T-ETc treatment compared with that under T-VWC or Rn-VWC treatments. The plant height, leaves number, leaf area, and stem diameter of T-VWC and Rn-VWC treatments were higher than those of the T-ETc treatments, but there was no significant difference in cucumber yield. Compared with the T-VWC treatment, total irrigation amount under Rn-VWC and T-ETc treatments significantly decreased by 25.75% and 34.04%, respectively ([Formula: see text]). The highest IWP values of 25.07 kg m[Formula: see text] was achieved from T-ETc treatment with significantly increasing by 44.33% compared to the T-VWC treatment (17.37 kg m[Formula: see text]). In summary, the T-ETc treatment allowed more reasonable irrigation management and was appropriate for growing cucumber in coconut coir culture.

Association Between Home Renovation and Sleeping Problems Among Children Aged 6-18 Years: A Nationwide Survey in China.

BACKGROUND: Although the indoor environment has been proposed to be associated with childhood sleep health, to our knowledge no study has investigated the association between home renovation and childhood sleep problems. METHODS: The study included 186,470 children aged 6-18 years from the National Chinese Children Health Study (2012-2018). We measured childhood sleeping problems via the Chinese version of the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (C-SDSC). Information on home renovation exposure within the recent 2 years was collected via parent report. We estimated associations between home renovation and various sleeping problems, defined using both continuous and categorized (binary) C-SDSC t-scores, using generalized mixed models. We fitted models with city as a random effect variable, and other covariates as fixed effects. RESULTS: Out of the overall participants, 89,732 (48%) were exposed to recent home renovations. Compared to the unexposed group, children exposed to home renovations had higher odds of total sleep disorder (odd ratios [OR] = 1.3; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.2, 1.4). Associations varied when we considered different types of home renovation materials. Children exposed to multiple types of home renovation had higher odds of sleeping problems. We observed similar findings when considering continuous C-SDSC t-scores. Additionally, sex and age of children modified the associations of home renovation exposure with some of the sleeping problem subtypes. CONCLUSIONS: We found that home renovation was associated with higher odds of having sleeping problems and that they varied when considering the type of renovation, cumulative exposure, sex, and age differences.

Ling-Gui-Zhu-Gan decoction protects against doxorubicin-induced myocardial injury by downregulating ferroptosis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism of Ling-Gui-Zhu-Gan decoction (LGZGD) protects against doxorubicin (DOX)-induced myocardial injury. METHODS: In vivo experiment, rats were divided into six groups: normal group, model group (15 mg/kg, DOX), Dex group(150 mg/kg, Dex), LGZGD-L group (2.1 g/kg), LGZGD-M group (4.2 g/kg), and LGZGD-H group (8.4 g/kg). We used HE and Masson staining to observe the histopathological changes, echocardiography to assess the cardiac function, and western blot and RT-qPCR to detect the expressions of Nrf2, GPX4, Fpn1, and Ptgs2. In vitro experiment, we used immunofluorescence to detect ROS production, and RT-qPCR to detect gene expression of GPX4, Fpn1, and Ptgs2. KEY FINDINGS: In vivo, LGZGD improved cardiac systolic function. LGZGD significantly reduced MDA, LDH, and CK levels, increased SOD activity, enhanced the protein expression of Nrf2, GPX4, and Fpn1, and decreased Ptgs2 levels. In vitro, LGZGD-containing serum significantly reduced ROS, increased the gene expression of GPX4 and Fpn1, and decreased the gene expression of Ptgs2. Furthermore, compared with the LGZGD (si-NC) group, the LGZGD (si-Nrf2) group had decreased gene expression of Nrf2, GPX4, and Fpn1 and increased gene expression of Ptgs2. CONCLUSIONS: LGZGD can ameliorate DOX-cardiotoxicity by activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway and inhibiting ferroptosis in cardiomyocytes.

Application of AMR in evaluating microvascular dysfunction after ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: A guidewire-free angiography-derived microcirculatory resistance (AMR) derived from Quantitative flow ratio (QFR) exhibits good diagnostic accuracy for assessing coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD), but there are no relevant studies supporting the specific application of AMR in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The study aims to evaluate CMD in patients with STEMI using the AMR index. METHODS: This study included patients with STEMI who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) from June 1, 2020 to September 28, 2021. All patients were divided into two groups: the CMD (n = 215) and non-CMD (n = 291) groups. After matching, there were 382 patients in both groups.1-year follow-up major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) were evaluated. RESULTS: After matching, the primary endpoint was achieved in 41 patients (10.7%), with 27 and 14 patients in the CMD and non-CMD groups, respectively (HR 1.954 [95% CI 1.025-3.726]; 14.1% versus 7.3%, p = .042). Subgroup analysis revealed that 18 patients (4.7%) were readmitted for heart failure, with 15 and 3 in the CMD and non-CMD groups, respectively (HR 5.082 [95% CI 1.471-17.554]; 7.9% versus 1.6%, p = .010). Post-PCI AMR ≥ 250 was significantly associated with a higher risk of the primary endpoint and was its independent predictor (HR 2.265 [95% CI 1.136-4.515], p = .020). CONCLUSION: The retrospective use of AMR with a cutoff value of ≥250 after PCI in patients with STEMI can predict a significant difference in the 1-year MACE rates when compared with a propensity score-matched group with normal AMR.

[Regional CT value in prediction of proximal femoral fracture].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate CT values of cancellous bone in femoral neck in adults over 60 years with proximal femoral fractures. METHODS: From January 2020 to December 2020, a retrospective analysis was performed on 280 subjects aged 60 years or older who underwent bilateral hip CT examination, including 85 males and 195 females, 120 on the left side and 160 on the right side, aged 75 (66, 82) years old. One hundred thirty-six patients with proximal femoral fractures were included in study group and 144 patients without fractures were included in control group. GEOptima CT was used to scan and reconstruct horizontal, coronal and sagittal layers of proximal femur. CT values of cancellous bone in femoral neck were measured and compared between two groups. The relationship between CT values of cancellous bone of femoral neck and proximal femoral fracture was analyzed statistically. RESULTS: In terms of age, fracture group aged 79(73.3, 85.0) years old, non-fracture group aged 69.5 (64.0, 78.8) years old, and had significant difference in age between two groups (P<0.05). In terms of CT value, regional CT value in fracture group was 8.62(-3.62, 27.15) HU, which was lower than that in non-fracture group 34.31(-5.93, 71.74) HU(P<0.05). CT value on coronal view in fracture group was -8.48(-30.96, 17.46) HU, which was lower than that in non-fracture group 40.49(5.55, 80.71) HU (P<0.05). CT value on sagittal view in fracture group was -31.28(-54.91, -5.11) HU, which was lower than that in non-fracture group 7.74(-20.12, 44.54) HU (P<0.05). CT values on horizontal view in fracture group was 0.17(-23.13, 24.60) HU, which was lower than that in non-fracture group 46.40(10.42, 85.18) HU(P<0.05). The mean regional CT values among three planes in the fracture group were lower than those in the non-fracture group. Logistic regression analysis showed coronal CT value was influencing factors of proximal femoral fracture, and it could be written into regression equations that predict probability of fracture. CONCLUSION: In adults aged over 60 years old, CT values of cancellous bone of femoral neck decreased with increasing age. The smaller CT value of cancellous bone of femoral neck, the greater risk of proximal femoral fracture.

Shengmai injection inhibits palmitic acid-induced myocardial cell inflammatory death via regulating NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Objective: To determine the protective effect of Shengmai injection (SMI) on myocardial injury in diabetic rats and its mechanism based on NLRP3/Caspase1 signaling pathway. Materials and methods: Rat H9c2 cardiomyocytes were cultured in vitro, and the cell survival rate of different concentrations of palmitate acid (PA) and different concentrations of SMI were detected by CCK-8. The myocardial injury cell model was induced with PA, treated with SMI, and combined with NLRP3 specific inhibitor (MCC950) to interfere with the high-fat-induced rat H9c2 myocardial cell injury model. The cell changes were observed by Hoechst/PI staining and the expression levels of MDA, SOD, and ROS in each group were detected. The protein and gene changes of the NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling pathway were detected by Western blot and RT-qPCR, respectively. Results: 200 µmol/L of PA were selected to induce the myocardial injury cell model and 25 µL/mL of SMI was selected for intervention concentration. SMI could significantly reduce MDA expression, increase SOD level, and decrease ROS production. SMI could decrease the gene expression levels of NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1, and GSDMD, and the protein expressions of NLRP3, ASC, Cleaved Caspase-1, GSDMD, and GSDMD-N. Conclusion: SMI can inhibit the high-fat-induced activation of the NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling pathway, intervene in cardiomyocyte pyroptosis, and prevent diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Tandem phospha-Michael addition/cyclization/dehydration of 2-hydroxychalcones with H-phosphine oxides for the synthesis of 4-phosphorylated 4H-chromenes.

A Hg(OTf)2-catalyzed tandem phospha-Michael addition/cyclization/dehydration of 2-hydroxychalcones with H-phosphine oxides is presented. This protocol provides a new and supplementary approach for the preparation of 4-phosphorylated 4H-chromenes in good yields (up to 99%). In addition, this domino reaction allows the successful construction of two new C-P and C-O bonds in a one-pot operation.

Methods for extending working distance using modified photonic crystal for near-field lithography.

Near-field lithography has evident advantages in fabricating super-resolution nano-patterns. However, the working distance (WD) is limited due to the exponential decay characteristic of the evanescent waves. Here, we proposed a novel photolithography method based on a modified photonic crystal (PC), where a defect layer is embedded into the all-dielectric multilayer structure. It is shown that this design can amend the photonic band gap and enhance the desired high-kwaves dramatically, then the WD in air conditions could be extended greatly, which would drastically relax the engineering challenges for introducing the near-field lithography into real-world manufacturing applications. Typically, deep subwavelength patterns with a half-pitch of 32 nm (i.e.,λ/6) could be formed in photoresist layer at an air WD of 100 nm. Moreover, it is revealed that diversified two-dimensional patterns could be produced with a single exposure using linear polarized light. The analyses indicate that this improved dielectric PC is applicable for near-field lithography to produce super-resolution periodic patterns with large WD, strong field intensity, and great uniformity.

Trans-Anethole Alleviates DSS-Induced Ulcerative Colitis by Remodeling the Intestinal Flora to Regulate Immunity and Bile Acid Metabolism.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is the most common inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); it is incurable, and the treatment is expensive. Trans-anethole (TA), the main component of fennel, exhibits various biological activities. An increasing number of studies have demonstrated the efficacy of herbal active ingredients in the treatment of UC. This study aimed to investigate the effect and mechanism of TA in UC. In this study, we have experimented on mice with dextran sulfate sodium salt (DSS)-induced UC. The TA group was gavaged with 62.5 mg/kg TA by gavage once daily on days 8-14. To observe the effect of TA on the colon tissue, various investigations were performed, including western blot and immunohistochemistry for intestinal barrier protein expression, TUNEL staining for apoptosis, western blot, and ELISA for inflammation level, flow cytometry for Th17/Treg, LC-MS for blood bile acid content, GC-MS for blood fatty acid content, and 16s RNA for intestinal contents. TA alleviated weight loss in mice with UC; increased colon length; alleviated intestinal mucosal damage; upregulated claudin-1, occludin, and ZO-1 protein expression levels; reduced inflammatory factors in the colon and serum; and alleviated apoptosis. TA reduced fatty acid and bile acid levels by inhibiting colony abundance and reducing Th17/Treg cell differentiation in the colon. We found that TA alleviates DSS-induced UC by remodeling the intestinal flora to regulate immunity and bile acid metabolism.

An evaluation of cervical maturity for Chinese women with labor induction by machine learning and ultrasound images.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the improvement of evaluation accuracy of cervical maturity for Chinese women with labor induction by adding objective ultrasound data and machine learning models to the existing traditional Bishop method. METHODS: The machine learning model was trained and tested using 101 sets of data from pregnant women who were examined and had their delivery in Peking University Third Hospital in between December 2019 and January 2021. The inputs of the model included cervical length, Bishop score, angle, age, induced labor time, measurement time (MT), measurement time to induced labor time (MTILT), method of induced labor, and primiparity/multiparity. The output of the model is the predicted time from induced labor to labor. Our experiments analyzed the effectiveness of three machine learning models: XGBoost, CatBoost and RF(Random forest). we consider the root-mean-squared error (RMSE) and the mean absolute error (MAE) as the criterion to evaluate the accuracy of the model. Difference was compared using t-test on RMSE between the machine learning model and the traditional Bishop score. RESULTS: The mean absolute error of the prediction result of Bishop scoring method was 19.45 h, and the RMSE was 24.56 h. The prediction error of machine learning model was lower than the Bishop score method. Among the three machine learning models, the MAE of the model with the best prediction effect was 13.49 h and the RMSE was 16.98 h. After selection of feature the prediction accuracy of the XGBoost and RF was slightly improved. After feature selection and artificially removing the Bishop score, the prediction accuracy of the three models decreased slightly. The best model was XGBoost (p = 0.0017). The p-value of the other two models was < 0.01. CONCLUSION: In the evaluation of cervical maturity, the results of machine learning method are more objective and significantly accurate compared with the traditional Bishop scoring method. The machine learning method is a better predictor of cervical maturity than the traditional Bishop method.

PinX1-Promoted Autophagy Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Induces Cell Apoptosis by Inhibiting the NF-κB/p65 Signaling Pathway in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The role of Pin2 telomeric repeat factor 1-interacting telomerase inhibitor 1 (PinX1) in tumorigenesis and development has been extensively studied. As we previously demonstrated, PinX1 plays an important role in modulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), stemness, cell proliferation, and apoptosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, the relationship between PinX1, autophagy, and cell function in NPC remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms by which PinX1 regulates autophagy in NPC, and to explore its biological role and clinical significance in disease progression. METHODS: The proliferative capacity of NPC cells was assessed by MTT and xenograft tumorigenicity assays. Autophagic flux was monitored using a tandem monomeric DAPI-FITC-LC3 reporter assay. The rates of apoptosis and the cell cycle in NPC cells were analyzed using flow cytometry. The activation of autophagy and the signaling status of the AKT/mTOR and NF-κB/p65 pathways were evaluated by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: In addition to promoting autophagy and apoptosis, PinX1 overexpression suppressed proliferation, migration, invasion, and decelerated cell-cycle progression in NPC cells. These effects were reversed by inhibiting autophagy with 3-methyladenine. Mechanistic investigations clarified that PinX1 overexpression significantly reduced the expression of p-AKT, p-mTOR, p65, and p-p65. Chloroquine treatment in PinX1-overexpressing cells did not significantly alter p-AKT and p-mTOR levels, whereas 3-MA treatment in PinX1-overexpressing cells resulted in increased p65 and p-p65 expression, relative to untreated PinX1-overexpressing cells. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that PinX1 promotes autophagy by inhibiting the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, which then inhibits NF-κB/p65 pathways, and consequently inhibiting cell proliferation and causing cell apoptosis in NPC cells.