Effect of Compounded Aluminum Hydroxide Flame Retardants on the Flammability and Smoke Suppression Performance of Asphalt Binders.

Compounded aluminum hydroxide (ATH) flame retardants have been widely used for their low cost and environmentally friendly characteristics. However, previous research lacks a systematic and comprehensive comparison. In addition, the combustion characteristics and phase characterization of asphalt binders are not taken into account either. In this work, flame retardants, for instance, APP, Sb2O3, ZB, and LDHs, were compounded with ATH. The flame retardant behavior, together with the smoke suppression behavior, of asphalt binders with compounded flame retardants was determined by LOI and CCT. Furthermore, mechanisms on flame retardants were investigated. It was found that ATH compounded with ZB significantly reduced the heat smoke release and suppressed the formation of toxic volatiles during asphalt combustion. This was because ATH/ZB facilitated the formation of polyaromatic structures and improved the resistance of the char layer. ATH compounded with APP showed an antagonistic effect in the limiting oxygen test because the reaction between ATH and APP inhibited and delayed the decomposition of ATH during asphalt combustion with more aluminum phosphate presenting relatively poor barrier properties produced.

Two chromosome-level genome assemblies of Rhodiola shed new light on genome evolution in rapid radiation and evolution of the biosynthetic pathway of salidroside.

Rhodiola L. is a genus that has undergone rapid radiation in the mid-Miocene and may represent a typic case of adaptive radiation. Many species of Rhodiola have also been widely used as an important adaptogen in traditional medicines for centuries. However, a lack of high-quality chromosome-level genomes hinders in-depth study of its evolution and biosynthetic pathway of secondary metabolites. Here, we assembled two chromosome-level genomes for two Rhodiola species with different chromosome number and sexual system. The assembled genome size of R. chrysanthemifolia (2n = 14; hermaphrodite) and R. kirilowii (2n = 22; dioecious) were of 402.67 and 653.62 Mb, respectively, with approximately 57.60% and 69.22% of transposable elements (TEs). The size difference between the two genomes was mostly due to proliferation of long terminal repeat-retrotransposons (LTR-RTs) in the R. kirilowii genome. Comparative genomic analysis revealed possible gene families responsible for high-altitude adaptation of Rhodiola, including a homolog of plant cysteine oxidase 2 gene of Arabidopsis thaliana (AtPCO2), which is part of the core molecular reaction to hypoxia and contributes to the stability of Group VII ethylene response factors (ERF-VII). We found extensive chromosome fusion/fission events and structural variations between the two genomes, which might have facilitated the initial rapid radiation of Rhodiola. We also identified candidate genes in the biosynthetic pathway of salidroside. Overall, our results provide important insights into genome evolution in plant rapid radiations, and possible roles of chromosome fusion/fission and structure variation played in rapid speciation.

Determinants of DNMT2/TRDMT1 preference for substrates tRNA and DNA during the evolution.

RNA methyltransferase DNMT2/TRDMT1 is the most conserved member of the DNMT family from bacteria to plants and mammals. In previous studies, we found some determinants for tRNA recognition of DNMT2/TRDMT1, but the preference mechanism of this enzyme for substrates tRNA and DNA remains to be explored. In the present study, CFT-containing target recognition domain (TRD) and target recognition extension domain (TRED) in DNMT2/TRDMT1 play a crucial role in the substrate DNA and RNA selection during the evolution. Moreover, the classical substrate tRNA for DNMT2/TRDMT1 had a characteristic sequence CUXXCAC in the anticodon loop. Position 35 was occupied by U, making cytosine-38 (C38) twist into the loop, whereas C, G or A was located at position 35, keeping the C38-flipping state. Hence, the substrate preference could be modulated by the easily flipped state of target cytosine in tRNA, as well as TRD and TRED. Additionally, DNMT2/TRDMT1 cancer mutant activity was collectively mediated by five enzymatic characteristics, which might impact gene expressions. Importantly, G155C, G155V and G155S mutations reduced enzymatic activities and showed significant associations with diseases using seven prediction methods. Altogether, these findings will assist in illustrating the substrate preference mechanism of DNMT2/TRDMT1 and provide a promising therapeutic strategy for cancer.

A nomogram for predicting the recurrence of small bowel obstruction after gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to create a nomogram for predicting the recurrence of small bowel obstruction (SBO) after gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer (GC) in order to provide better guidance for its diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: A total of 173 patients undergone gastrectomy and developed SBO from January 2015 to October 2022 were admitted into this case-control study. The risk factors of postoperative recurrent SBO were analyzed by univariate and multivariate regression, and a nomogram for predicting the recurrent SBO after gastrectomy was developed using R Studio. RESULTS: Thirty-nine cases of postoperative recurrent SBO occurred among the 173 GC patients who underwent radical gastrectomy, and the percentage of recurrent SBO was 22.54% (39/173). Age [odds ratio (OR) = 0.938, p = 0.026], WBC count (OR = 1.547, p < 0.001), tumor size (OR = 1.383, p = 0.024), postoperative metastasis (OR = 11.792, p = 0.030), and the interval from gastrectomy to first SBO (OR = 1.057, p < 0.001) were all identified as independent risk factors for postoperative recurrent SBO by logistic regression analysis. The receiver operating characteristic curve, the calibration curve, the model consistency index, and the decision curve analysis showed that the nomogram had good predictive performance. CONCLUSION: Based on these factors, we created a nomogram to predict the occurrence of postoperative recurrent SBO. This novel nomogram could serve as a crucial early warning indicator that would guide doctors to make informed decisions while managing patients with gastric cancer.

Global, Regional, and National Burden of Gastric Cancer in Adolescents and Young Adults, 1990-2019: A Systematic Analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.

INTRODUCTION: Gastric cancer is a significant global health concern, ranking as the fifth most common cancer worldwide and the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality. While improvements in health awareness and medical technology have contributed to a decline in the incidence of gastric cancer in many countries, the rate of gastric cancer in adolescents and young adults (GCAYA) has shown an upward trend. Timely and effective strategies for screening, detection, and treatment are crucial for managing the burden of GCAYA and optimizing the allocation of medical resources. To this end, our study aimed to examine the distribution of the burden of GCAYA across different factors at the global, regional, and national levels between 1990 and 2019. By identifying and analyzing these factors, we can better inform efforts to combat this growing health challenge. METHODS: This study used data from the Global Burden of Disease database to analyze the global, regional, and national incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) GCAYA from 1990 to 2019. The age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR), age-standardized mortality rate, and age-standardized DALY rate (ASDR) of GCAYA were summarized and presented in a visually intuitive manner at the global, regional, and national levels. In addition, we calculated the estimated annual percentage change for each indicator of GCAYA globally, regionally, and nationally and visually displayed the results. Furthermore, we conducted an age-based analysis of adolescents and young adults with gastric cancer, comparing the age composition of deaths and the age burden of patients between 1990 and 2019. For the sake of brevity, we will use the abbreviation GCAYA to refer to gastric cancer among adolescents and young adults throughout the remainder of this article. RESULTS: From 1990 to 2019, the incidence of GCAYA has slightly increased globally. The number of newly diagnosed cases rose from 47,932 (95% uncertainty interval 44,592.9-51,005.7) in 1990 to 49,007 (45,007.7-53,078.1) in 2019, while the number of deaths decreased from 35,270 (32,579-37,678.5) to 27,895 (25,710.9-30,240.4). The global ASIR showed a declining trend, decreasing from 22.4 (95% uncertainty interval 21.2-23.6) per 100,000 in 1990 to 15.6 (14.1-17.2) per 100,000 in 2019. The age-standardized mortality rate also showed a declining trend, decreasing from 20.5 (19.2-21.6) per 100,000 in 1990 to 11.9 (10.8-12.8) per 100,000 in 2019. The ASDR also showed a declining trend, decreasing from 493.4 (463.7-523.7) per 100,000 in 1990 to 268.4 (245.5-290.6) per 100,000 in 2019. From 1990 to 2019, the incidence, mortality, and DALY of gastric cancer among male adolescents and young adults were higher than those of female adolescents and young adults. In 2019, the number of male adolescents and young adults with gastric cancer was 2.1 times higher than that of female individuals (368.9 [328.2-410.3] vs 178.2 [160.5-196.9]), the number of deaths was 1.1 times higher (14,971.6 [13,643.3-16,520.5] vs 12,923.6 [11,550.3-14,339]), and the DALY were 1.1 times higher (841,920.5 [766,655.5-927,598.8] vs 731,976.3 [653,421-814,242.8]). The incidence and DALY of GCAYA were higher in regions with high-middle and middle sociodemographic index countries. The age-standardized mortality rate of GCAYA in 198 countries and territories showed a decreasing trend, with the Republic of Korea showing the greatest decrease from 1,360.5 (1,300.3-51,416.5) per 100,000 in 1990 to 298.7 (270.1-328.4) per 100,000 in 2019, with an estimated annual percentage change of -5.14 (95% confidence interval -7.23 to -2.99). The incidence and DALY of GCAYA increased with age, with the highest proportion of patients being in the 35-39 years age group. In both 1990 and 2019, the age of death from GCAYA was mainly concentrated in the 35-39 years age group, accounting for approximately half of the total population. DISCUSSION: In the past 30 years, although the total number of new cases of GCAYA has increased with population growth, the ASIR and overall disease burden have shown a decreasing trend. This indicates progress in screening, diagnosis, treatment, education, and awareness efforts. However, the distribution of this disease remains uneven in terms of sex, age, development level, region, and country. To address these challenges, global health authorities should take appropriate measures such as optimizing screening programs, strengthening awareness and screening efforts for male individuals, enhancing prevention and control among the 35-39 years age group, improving infrastructure and health care resources in developing countries, promoting international cooperation, and implementing tailored measures.

Surgical outcomes of laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy for upper-third gastric cancer: esophagogastrostomy, gastric tube reconstruction, and double-tract reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: There is no consensus on the optimal reconstruction technique after proximal gastrectomy. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively compare the surgical outcomes among esophagogastrostomy (EG) anastomosis, gastric tube (GT) reconstruction and double-tract (DT) reconstruction in patients who underwent laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy (LPG) to clarify the superior reconstruction method. METHODS: This study enrolled 164 patients who underwent LPG at the Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital in Jiangsu between January 2017 to January 2022 (EG: 51 patients; GT: 77 patients; DT: 36 patients). We compared the clinical and pathological characteristics, surgical features, postoperative complications, nutritional status, and quality of life (QOL) among the above three groups. RESULTS: Mean operative time was longer with the DT group than the remaining two groups (p = 0.001). With regard to postoperative complications, considerable differences in the postoperative reflux symptoms (p = 0.042) and reflux esophagitis (p = 0.040) among the three groups were found. For the nutritional status, total protein, hemoglobin and albumin reduction rates in the GT group were significantly higher than the other two groups at 12 months postoperatively. In the PGSAS-45, three assessment items were better in the DT group significantly compared with the esophageal reflux subscale (p = 0.047, Cohen's d = 0.44), dissatisfaction at the meal (p = 0.009, Cohen's d = 0.58), and dissatisfaction for daily life subscale (p = 0.012, Cohen's d = 0.56). CONCLUSIONS: DT after LPG is a valuable reconstruction technique with satisfactory surgical outcomes, especially regarding reduced reflux symptoms, improving the postoperative nutritional status and QOL.

Predicting survival and prognosis in early-onset locally advanced colon cancer: a retrospective observational study.

OBJECTIVE: To predict cancer-specific survival, a refined nomogram model and brand-new risk-stratifying system were established to classify the risk levels of patients with early-onset locally advanced colon cancer (LACC). METHODS: The clinical factors and survival outcomes of LACC cases from the SEER database from 2010 to 2019 were retrieved retrospectively. Early-onset and late-onset colon cancer were grouped according to the age (50 years old) at diagnosis. Differences between groups were compared to identify mutual significant variables. A multivariate Cox regression analysis was further performed and then constructed a nomogram. We compared it with the AJCC-TNM system. The external validation was performed for evaluation. Finally, a risk-stratifying system of patients with early-onset LACC was established. RESULTS: A total of 32,855 LACC patients were enrolled in, 4548 (13.84%) patients were included in the early-onset LACC group, and 28,307 (86.16%) patients were included in the late-onset LACC group. The external validation set included 228 early-onset LACC patients. Early-onset colon cancers had poorer prognosis (T4, N2, TNM stage III, CEA, tumor deposit, and nerve invasion), and a higher proportion received radiotherapy and systemic therapy (P<0.001). In the survival analysis, cancer-specific survival (CSS) was better in patients with early-onset LACC than in those with late-onset LACC (P <0.001). This nomogram constructed based on the results of COX analysis showed better accuracy in CSS prediction of early-onset LACC patients than AJCC-TNM system in the training set and external validation set (0.783 vs 0.728; 0.852 vs 0.773). CONCLUSION: We developed a novel nomogram model to predict CSS in patients with early-onset LACC it provided a reference in prognosis prediction and selection of individualized treatment, helping clinicians in decision-making.

Restricted tRNA methylation by intermolecular disulfide bonds in DNMT2/TRDMT1.

Reportedly, DNMT2/TRDMT1 mainly methylates tRNAs at C38 and prevents them from the cleavage under stress. It also plays an essential role in the survival and physiological homeostasis of organisms. Nevertheless, DNMT2/TRDMT1 exhibits much weaker tRNA methylation activity in vitro than other tRNA methyltransferases, TrmD and Trm5. Here, we explored the restricted tRNA methylation mechanism by DNMT2/TRDMT1. In the current study, the optimized buffer C at 37 °C was the best condition for DNMT2/TRDMT1 activation. Of note, Dithiothreitol (DTT) was an indispensable component for this enzyme catalysis. Moreover, reductants took similar effects on the conformation change and oligomeric formation of DNMT2/TRDMT1. Ultimately, LC-MS/MS result revealed that C292-C292 and C292-C287 were predominant intermolecular disulfide bonds in recombinant DNMT2/TRDMT1. Notably, DNMT2/TRDMT1 existed primarily as dimers via intermolecular disulfide bonds C79-C24, C292-C292, and C222-C24 in HEK293T cells. GSSG stress enhanced tRNA methylation level in the early stage of stress, whereas the DNMT2/TRDMT1 activity might be unfavorable along with this enzyme accumulation in the nucleus. Excitingly, GSH stress downregulated the DNMT2/TRDMT1 expression and promoted tRNA methylation in cells, probably through breaking intermolecular disulfide bonds in this enzyme. Thus, our findings demonstrated restricted tRNA methylation by disulfide bonds in DNMT2/TRDMT1, and will provide important implications for redox stress related-diseases.

Whole intestinal microbiota transplantation is more effective than fecal microbiota transplantation in reducing the susceptibility of DSS-induced germ-free mice colitis.

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an emerging and effective therapy for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Previous studies have reported that compared with FMT, whole intestinal microbiota transplantation (WIMT) can more precisely replicate the community structure and reduce the inflammatory response of the host. However, it remains unclear whether WIMT is more effective in alleviating IBD. To examine the efficacy of WIMT and FMT in the intervention of IBD, GF (Germ-free) BALB/c mice were pre-colonized with whole intestinal microbiota or fecal microbiota before being treated with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). As expected, the symptoms of colitis were alleviated by both WIMT and FMT, as demonstrated by the prevention of body weight loss and decreased the Disease activity index and histological scores in mice. However, WIMT's anti-inflammatory effect was superior to that of FMT. In addition, the inflammatory markers myeloperoxidase (MPO) and eosinophil peroxidase were dramatically downregulated by WIMT and FMT. Furthermore, the use of two different types of donors facilitated the regulation of cytokine homeostasis in colitis mice; the level of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1ß in the WIMT group was significantly lower than that in the FMT group, while the level of the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 was significantly higher than that in the FMT group. Both groups showed enhanced expression of occludin to protect the intestinal barrier in comparison with the DSS group, and the WIMT group demonstrated considerably increased levels of ZO-1. The sequencing results showed that the WIMT group was highly enriched in Bifidobacterium, whereas the FMT group was significantly enriched in Lactobacillus and Ochrobactrum. Correlation analysis revealed that Bifidobacterium was negatively correlated with TNF-α, whereas Ochrobactrum was positively correlated with MPO and negatively correlated with IL-10, which might be related to different efficacies. Functional prediction using PICRUSt2 revealed that the FMT group was considerably enriched in the L-arginine biosynthesis I and L-arginine biosynthesis IV pathway, whereas the WIMT group was enriched in the L-lysine fermentation to acetate and butanoate pathway. In conclusion, the symptoms of colitis were subsided to varying degrees by the two different types of donors, with the WIMT group being more effective than the FMT group. This study provides new information on clinical interventions for IBD.

Molecular characteristics of natural organic matter in the groundwater system with geogenic iodine contamination in the Datong Basin, Northern China.

Natural organic matter (NOM) plays an important role in the iodine mobilization in the groundwater system. In this study, the groundwater and sediments from iodine affected aquifers in the Datong Basin were collected to perform chemistry analysis and molecular characteristics of NOM by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer (FT-ICR-MS). Total iodine concentrations in groundwater and sediments ranged from 1.97 to 926.1 µg/L and 0.001-2.86 µg/g, respectively. A positive correlation was observed between DOC/NOM and groundwater/sediment iodine. FT-ICR-MS results showed that the DOM in the high-iodine groundwater system is characterized by less aliphatic and more aromatic compounds with higher NOSC, indicating the features of more unsaturated larger molecule structures and more bioavailability. Aromatic compounds could be the main carriers of sediment iodine and were easily absorbed on amorphous iron oxides to form the NOM-Fe-I complex. More aliphatic compounds, especially those containing N/S, experienced a higher degree of biodegradation, which further mediated the reductive dissolution of amorphous iron oxides and the transformation of iodine species, thereby causing the release of iodine into groundwater. The findings of this study provide some new insights into the mechanisms of high-iodine groundwater.

Screening and identification of cyprinid herpesvirus 2 (CyHV-2) ORF55-interacting proteins by phage display.

BACKGROUND: Cyprinid herpesvirus 2 (CyHV-2) is a pathogenic fish virus belonging to family Alloherpesviridae. The CyHV-2 gene encoding thymidine kinase (TK) is an important virulence-associated factor. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the biological function of open reading frame 55 (ORF55) in viral replication. METHODS: Purified CyHV-2 ORF55 protein was obtained by prokaryotic expression, and the interacting peptide was screened out using phage display. Host interacting proteins were then predicted and validated. RESULTS: ORF55 was efficiently expressed in the prokaryotic expression system. Protein and peptide interaction prediction and dot-blot overlay assay confirmed that peptides identified by phage display could interact with the ORF55 protein. Comparing the peptides to the National Center for Biotechnology Information database revealed four potential interacting proteins. Reverse transcription quantitative PCR results demonstrated high expression of an actin-binding Rho-activating protein in the latter stages of virus-infected cells, and molecular docking, cell transfection and coimmunoprecipitation experiments confirmed that it interacted with the ORF55 protein. CONCLUSION: During viral infection, the ORF55 protein exerts its biological function through interactions with host proteins. The specific mechanisms remain to be further explored.

Feasibility study of using low-kilovoltage, prospective gating, high-pitch, dual-source computed tomography prior to transcatheter aortic valve replacement: analysis of image quality and radiation dose.

Background: Computed tomography (CT) scans before transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) are used to evaluate the aortic valve and guide the selection of appropriate valve stents. Accurate imaging evaluation can ensure the success rate of surgery while reducing the incidence of complications. Multiple studies have adopted a protocol of coronary artery, aortic valve, and total aortic scan, with the patients receiving higher radiation doses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the image quality, radiation dose, and diagnostic performance of dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) with high-pitch spiral scanning for TAVR. Methods: A total of 240 patients being evaluated for TAVR were continuously enrolled. Based on the differences in electrocardiography (ECG) gating and tube voltage, the patients were divided into 4 groups: group A, 70-kV prospective ECG gating, high-pitch helical; group B, 70-kV retrospective ECG gating; group C, 100-kV prospective ECG gating, high-pitch helical; and group D, 120-kV prospective ECG gating, high-pitch helical. Image quality was evaluated on a 4-point scale. The image signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were calculated for objective evaluation. The radiation doses of all patients were recorded. The image quality and radiation dose of each group were compared. Results: There were no differences in age, body mass index (BMI), subjective image quality scores, CT values between the aorta and the coronary artery, or image CNR between the 4 groups. The mean radiation doses of groups A-D were 4.13±0.69, 4.79±0.58, 12.00±1.62, and 15.01±1.90 mSv, respectively. The mean radiation dose in group A (70-kV prospective ECG gating) decreased significantly (P<0.05). Conclusions: Using low-kilovoltage, high-pitch DSCT can provide comparable image quality for TAVR evaluation and significantly reduce the radiation dose.

Fecal bacteria-free filtrate transplantation is proved as an effective way for the recovery of radiation-induced individuals in mice.

Background: Ionizing radiation can cause intestinal microecological dysbiosis, resulting in changes in the composition and function of gut microbiota. Altered gut microbiota is closely related to the development and progression of radiation-induced intestinal damage. Although microbiota-oriented therapeutic options such as fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) have shown some efficacy in treating radiation toxicity, safety concerns endure. Therefore, fecal bacteria-free filtrate transplantation (FFT), which has the potential to become a possible alternative therapy, is well worth investigating. Herein, we performed FFT in a mouse model of radiation exposure and monitored its effects on radiation damage phenotypes, gut microbiota, and metabolomic profiles to assess the effectiveness of FFT as an alternative therapy to FMT safety concerns. Results: FFT treatment conferred radioprotection against radiation-induced toxicity, representing as better intestinal integrity, robust proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines homeostasis, and accompanied by significant shifts in gut microbiome. The bacterial compartment of recipients following FFT was characterized by an enrichment of radioprotective microorganisms (members of family Lachnospiraceae). Furthermore, metabolome data revealed increased levels of microbially generated short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the feces of FFT mice. Conclusions: FFT improves radiation-induced intestinal microecological dysbiosis by reshaping intestinal mucosal barrier function, gut microbiota configurations, and host metabolic profiles, highlighting FFT regimen as a promising safe alternative therapy for FMT is effective in the treatment of radiation intestinal injury.

Human Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Reduces the Susceptibility to Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Germ-Free Mouse Colitis.

In clinical practice, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and has shown certain effects. However, the selection of FMT donors and the mechanism underlying the effect of FMT intervention in IBD require further exploration. In this study, dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis mice were used to determine the differences in the protection of colitis symptoms, inflammation, and intestinal barrier, by FMT from two donors. Intriguingly, pre-administration of healthy bacterial fluid significantly relieved the symptoms of colitis compared to the ulcerative colitis (UC) bacteria. In addition, healthy donor (HD) bacteria significantly reduced the levels of inflammatory markers Myeloperoxidase (MPO) and Eosinophil peroxidase (EPO), and various pro-inflammatory factors, in colitis mice, and increased the secretion of the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10. Metagenomic sequencing indicated higher species diversity and higher abundance of anti-inflammatory bacteria in the HD intervention group, including Alistipes putredinis, Akkermansia muciniphila, Bifidobacterium adolescentis, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)-producing bacterium Christensenella minuta, and secondary bile acids (SBAs)-producing bacterium Clostridium leptum. In the UC intervention group, the SCFA-producing bacterium Bacteroides stercoris, IBD-related bacterium Ruminococcus gnavus, Enterococcus faecalis, and the conditional pathogen Bacteroides caccae, were more abundant. Metabolomics analysis showed that the two types of FMT significantly modulated the metabolism of DSS-induced mice. Moreover, compared with the UC intervention group, indoleacetic acid and unsaturated fatty acids (DHA, DPA, and EPA) with anti-inflammatory effects were significantly enriched in the HD intervention group. In summary, these results indicate that FMT can alleviate the symptoms of colitis, and the effect of HD intervention is better than that of UC intervention. This study offers new insights into the mechanisms of FMT clinical intervention in IBD.

N-(3-oxododecanoyl)-homoserine lactone disrupts intestinal barrier and induces systemic inflammation through perturbing gut microbiome in mice.

As a quorum sensing signal molecule, N-(3-oxododecanoyl)-homoserine lactone (3OC12) regulate the population behavior of microorganisms. Many studies have proved that 3OC12 harm the physiological function of host intestinal epithelial cells. However, the detrimental effects of 3OC12 on intestinal health need verification in animals. Besides, the role of gut microbiome in 3OC12-induced intestinal damage also needs further understanding. In our study, 3OC12 was first administered to specific pathogen-free (SPF) mice, then the fecal microbiome of SPF mice was transplanted into germ-free (GF) mice to reveal the effects of 3OC12 on intestinal health and regulatory mechanisms of the intestinal microbiome. 3OC12 treatment significantly decreased body weight, shortened colonic length, disrupted the morphology of the colonic epithelium and increased the histopathological score of the colon in SPF mice. The levels of diamine peroxidase, d-lactate, TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-8 were found to be significantly elevated in the serum of 3OC12 mice, while the levels of IL-10 were significantly reduced. Besides, the fecal microbial community of mice was also altered in the 3OC12-treated SPF mice. The results of fecal microbial transplantation (FMT) experiment showed that the phenotypes in SPF mice were almost reproduced in GF mice, manifested by body weight loss, colon damage and changed in serum chemical markers. More importantly, a joint analysis of fecal microbes in SPF and GF mice revealed Feature14_Elizabethkingia spp. was common differential bacteria in the feces of two kinds of mice treated with and without FMT. Our results demonstrated that 3OC12 challenge led to systemic inflammation and body weight loss in mice by disrupting intestinal barrier function, in which gut microbiome played a key role. These findings increased our understanding of the mechanism of intestinal injury caused by 3CO12, providing new ideas for the prevention and therapy of diseases caused by bacterial infection from the perspective of intestinal microbiome.

Artificial Intelligence-Aided Diagnosis Software to Identify Highly Suspicious Pulmonary Nodules.

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the value of artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted software in the diagnosis of lung nodules using a combination of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). METHOD: A total of 113 patients with pulmonary nodules were screened using LDCT. For nodules with the largest diameters, an HRCT local-target scanning program (combined scanning scheme) and a conventional-dose CT scanning scheme were also performed. Lung nodules were subjectively assessed for image signs and compared by size and malignancy rate measured by AI-assisted software. The nodules were divided into improved visibility and identical visibility groups based on differences in the number of signs identified through the two schemes. RESULTS: The nodule volume and malignancy probability for subsolid nodules significantly differed between the improved and identical visibility groups. For the combined scanning protocol, we observed significant between-group differences in subsolid nodule malignancy rates. CONCLUSION: Under the operation and decision of AI, the combined scanning scheme may be beneficial for screening high-risk populations.

Intestinal Microbiota and Serum Metabolic Profile Responded to Two Nutritional Different Diets in Mice.

There is an interaction and bidirectional selection between dietary intake and gut microbiota due to the different efficiency of nutrients in the gut. The nutritional composition of germ-free (GF) diets differs significantly from specific pathogen-free (SPF) diets. There is, however, no data revealing how SPF animals from the same microbial background respond to them and if they affect the host. We examined the growth of SPF mice on the GF diet and found that it reduced body weight, intestinal length and intestinal morphology. Interestingly, the GF diet increased the level of pro-inflammatory bacteria in the gut of SPF mice, including Proteobacteria, Burkholderiaceae, Alloprevotella and Parasutterella. Furthermore, GF diets caused significant increases in malondialdehyde (MDA), IL-1ß, IL-6, and D-lactate levels in the serum of SPF mice and significantly altered their serum metabolic profile, especially amino acid metabolism. In conclusion, GF diets are not suitable for the growth and development of SPF mice. These findings, based on the role of gut microbiota in diet selection, provide new insights into the scientific and rational use of experimental animal diets.

Effects of different foods on blood glucose and lipid in type 2 diabetes mellitus in a rat model.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the effects of duodenal-jejunal bypass (DJB) and new biliopancreatic diversion (NBPD) on blood glucose and lipid levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). An additional goal was to explore the potential mechanism or mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of surgery on T2DM. METHODS: Rats were fed a high-fat, high-glucose diet and then were intraperitoneally injected with streptozotocin, 35 mg/kg, to induce T2DM. Then, 33 T2DM rats were randomly assigned to one of three groups, a DJB group, an NBPD group, or a sham group. Fasting body weight, fasting glucose, and 2-h postprandial glucose were measured before and after surgery. Then, the rats were intragastrically administered lipid emulsion, peanut oil, glucose, starch, and Ansul, and blood glucose and lipid levels were measured. RESULTS: One week after surgery, 2-h postprandial glucose decreased from 24.41 ± 2.28 mmol/L before surgery to 19.87 ± 4.07 mmol/L after surgery in the DJB group, and from 25.88 ± 1.91 mmol/L before surgery to 20.34 ± 5.76 mmol/L after surgery in the NBPD group. After intragastric administration of lipid emulsion, free fatty acid levels increased from 534.60 ± 70.99 to 1082.83 ± 259.67 µEq/L in the DJB group and from 648.33 ± 139.26 to 1258.67 ± 204.18 µEq/L in the NBPD group. After surgery, free fatty acid levels in the DJB group and NBPD group were significantly lower than those in the sham group. CONCLUSIONS: Postprandial blood glucose and lipids decreased after DJB and NBPD, which may be ascribed to postoperative changes in digestion and absorption.

Effect of laser shock peening on electrochemical corrosion resistance of IN718 superalloy.

The effects of laser shock peening (LSP) treatment with different impacts on surface roughness, micro-hardness, microstructural observations, residual stress, and electrochemical corrosion resistance of IN718 superalloy were investigated. Results show that the corrosion potential increases to -0.4863 V, -0.2956 V, and -0.3578 V, and the corrosion rate reduces 66.10%, 79.08%, and 84.07% for 2 LSP impacts, 4 LSP impacts, and 6 LSP impacts, respectively, compared with the untreated one. In addition, LSP treatment has an important influence on grain refinement, which increases micro-hardness, reduces roughness of a surface, and also results in a compressive residual stress on a surface, both of which can be responsible for the electrochemical corrosion improvement. Finally, corrosion morphology under scanning electron microscopy demonstrates that LSP is an effective method to prevent the corrosion micro-crack propagation and improve the corrosion resistance. Also, with an increase in laser impacts, the electrochemical corrosion resistance will be further improved.

Low kV and Low Concentration Contrast Agent with Iterative Reconstruction of Computed Tomography (CT) Coronary Angiography: A Preliminary Study.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to evaluate the image quality and radiation dose of CT coronary angiography (CTCA) with low kV, low concentration contrast agent, and iterative reconstruction. MATERIAL AND METHODS Ninety cases were randomly divided into 3 groups according to contrast agent concentration: group A 270 mg/ml (100 kV), group B 350 mg/ml (120 kV), and group C 370 mg/ml (120 kV), with 30 cases per group. Tube current was 200-250 mAs. Collimator width was 128×0.6 mm. Rotation speed was 0.27 s. The CT value of the left and right coronary arteries and the ascending aortic root was measured. The SNR and CNR of the images were calculated to evaluate the image quality objectively. The CTDI, DLP, and contrast injection were recorded. RESULTS There were no significant differences in sex, age, weight, height, and BMI among the 3 groups. There was no statistically significant difference between left and right coronary artery and ascending aortic root CT value, background noise, SNR, and CNR. Compared to B and C, the ED in group A decreased by about 27.58% and 28.21%, respectively. The total amount of iodine in group A was decreased by about 21.27% and 24.83%, respectively compared with groups B and C. CONCLUSIONS Low kV and low concentration contrast agent combined with iterative reconstruction for CTCA imaging produced image quality consistent with that of conventional CTCA and significantly reduced the dosage of the radiation and injected iodine.