Low CO2 concentration, a key environmental factor for developing plateau adapted rapeseed.

BACKGROUND: Photosynthesis is a fundamental process that underlies the formation of crop yield, wherein light serves as the driving force and carbon dioxide (CO2) as the raw material. These two factors have a direct influence on the progress and efficiency of photosynthesis in crops. Rapeseed is one of the four major oilseed crops worldwide. Plateau rapeseed has now become a research hotspot. However, the lack of high-yielding rapeseed germplasm resources on the plateau and the highly efficient strategy for screening them severely affect the development of rapeseed industry in plateau. RESULTS: In the rapeseed experimental fields located on the plateau (Lhasa, Tibet), we measured abundant sunlight, characterized by an average daily photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) of 1413 µmol m-2 s-1. In addition, the atmospheric CO2 concentrations range from 300 to 400 ppm, which is only two-thirds of that in the plain (Chengdu, Sichuan). We found that under different measurement conditions of light intensity and CO2 concentration, different rapeseed genotypes showed significant differences in leaf photosynthetic efficiency during the seedling stage. Moreover, the rapeseed materials with high photosynthetic efficiency under low CO2 concentrations rather than high light intensity, exhibited significant advantages in biomass, yield, and oil content when cultivated on the plateau, indicating that the CO2 is the key environmental factor which limited rapeseed production in plateau. Based on photosynthetic efficiency screening under low CO2 concentrations, six rapeseed varieties SC3, SC10, SC25, SC27, SC29 and SC37, shown significantly higher yields in plateau environment compared to local control variety were obtained. In addition, the adaptability of rapeseed to plateau was found to be related to the activities of key Calvin cycle enzymes and the accumulation of photosynthetic products. CONCLUSIONS: This study established a screening strategy for plateau high-yielding rapeseed materials, obtained six varieties which were suitable for plateau cultivation, explored the mechanism of rapeseed response to the plateau environment, and thus provides a feasible strategy for plateau-adapted rapeseed breeding.

Evaluation of the Construction and Application of Standardised Process Nursing Programme in the Management of Enteral Nutrition in Critically Ill Patients.

Objective: To observe the effect of implementing standardized flow management in enteral nutrition therapy for critically ill patients. Methods: We selected 241 critically ill patients admitted to our hospital from January 2020 to January 2023. Patients with enteral nutrition without standard process management were set as the control group (n = 109), while those with enteral nutrition and standard process management were set as the observation group (n = 132). The total protein, albumin, prealbumin, and hemoglobin were compared between the two groups on the 7th and 14th day of nutritional therapy. Immune indicators (IgM, IgA, and IgG), NUTRIC score, and the incidence of infectious complications were compared between the two groups. Results: On the 7th and 14th day of treatment, the total protein, albumin, prealbumin, hemoglobin, and immune indicators in the observation group were higher than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < .05). On the 7th and 14th day of treatment, the NUTRIC score of the observation group was higher than that in the control group, with a statistically significant difference (P < .05). The incidence of infectious complications in the observation group was lower than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < .05). Conclusion: Implementing standardized process management of EN for critically ill patients improves total protein, albumin, prealbumin, hemoglobin, immune indexes, NUTRIC score, and nutritional status, while reducing the incidence of infectious complications. These findings offer valuable insights for clinical practice and advocate for practical application.

Comparison of Callisphere Drug-Eluting Beads Transarterial Chemoembolization and Conventional Transarterial Chemoembolization for the treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of CalliSphere drug-eluting beads (DEBs) and conventional (c) transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 125 patients with HCC who had received treatment in Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College from January 2018 to February 2019. Sixty-one patients underwent DEB-TACE (observation group) and 64 patients underwent cTACE (control group). The clinical efficacies, overall survivals, and incidence of postoperative adverse reactions between the two groups were compared. Results: The objective response rate in the observation group (85.25%) was higher than that in the control group (70.31%; P<0.05). The disease control in the observation group (96.72%) was higher than that in the control group (85.94%; P<0.05). The median survival time of the observation group (24.85 months) was significantly higher than that in the control group (18.18 months; P<0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions in the observation group (4.92%) was lower than that in the control group (17.19%, P<0.05). Conclusions: In the treatment of HCC, Callisphere DEB-TACE has better efficacy and longer patient survival with fewer adverse reactions compared to cTACE.

The potential role of CDC20 in tumorigenesis, cancer progression and therapy: A narrative review.

The cell division cycle 20 homologue (CDC20) is known to regulate the cell cycle. Many studies have suggested that dysregulation of CDC20 is associated with various pathological processes in malignant solid tumors, including tumorigenesis, progression, chemoradiotherapy resistance, and poor prognosis, providing a biomarker for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Some researchers have demonstrated that CDC20 also regulates apoptosis, immune microenvironment, and tumor angiogenesis. In this review, we have systematically summarized the biological functions of CDC20 in solid cancers. Furthermore, we briefly synthesized multiple medicines that inhibited CDC20. We anticipate that CDC20 will be a promising and effective biomarker and therapeutic target for the treatment of human cancer.

Dual Specificity Phosphatase 3 (DUSP3) Knockdown Alleviates Acute Myocardial Infarction Damage via Inhibiting Apoptosis and Inflammation.

BACKGROUND: Dual Specificity Phosphatase 3 (DUSP3) regulates the innate immune response and is associated with ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). However, the precise function of DUSP3 in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains to be established. METHODS: In this study, the AMI model in vivo was established in mice by permanent left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) occlusion, and primary neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes were treated with hypoxia for 12 hours to mimic AMI in vitro. Sh-DUSP3 and AAV9-sh-DUSP3 were used to knock down the DUSP3 expression. LVEF%, LVFS%, SOD1, and HO-1 level, and TTC staining were used to test the cardiac function. Flow cytometric analysis, Western blot, and TUNEL staining were used to investigate the effect of DUSP3 knockdown on apoptosis. Moreover, we detect inflammatory factors expression and oxidative stress by ELISA. Besides, we investigate DUSP3 expression by RT-qPCR. RESULTS: Our findings determined the role of DUSP3 in the progression of AMI. And demonstrated that DUSP3 knockdown alleviated oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. In addition, our results indicated that DUSP3 knockdown could regulate the expression of p-NF-κB, ICAM1, and VCAM1. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that the knockdown of DUSP3 could effectively alleviate AMI symptoms and be mediated through the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Local environment, surface characteristics and stochastic processes shape the dynamics of urban dustbin surface microbiome.

Dustbins function as critical infrastructures for urban sanitation, creating a distinct breeding ground for microbial assemblages. However, there is no information regarding the dynamics of microbial communities and the underlying mechanism for community assembly on dustbin surfaces. Here, surface samples were collected from three sampling zones (business building, commercial street and residential community) with different types (kitchen waste, harmful waste, recyclables, and others) and materials (metallic and plastic); and distribution pattern and assembly of microbial communities were investigated by high-throughput sequencing. Bacterial and fungal communities showed the distinct community variations across sampling zones and waste sorting. Core community and biomarker species were significantly correlated with the spatial distribution of overall community. The detection of pathogens highlighted the potential risk of surface microbiome. Human skin, human feces and soil biomes were the potential source environments of the surface microbiomes. Neutral model prediction suggested that microbial community assembly was significantly driven by stochastic processes. Co-association patterns varied with sampling zones and waste types, and neutral amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) that fall within the 95 % confidence intervals of neutral model were largely involved in the stability of microbial networks. These findings improve our understanding of the distribution pattern and the underlying assembly of microbial community on the dustbin surface, thus enabling prospective prediction and assessment of urban microbiomes and their impacts on human health.

Bethesda system reporting rates, histological follow-up and HPV genotypes distribution of abnormal cytology in Anhui province of China: Analysis of 93,168 cervical liquid-based cytology test reports.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the Bethesda System reporting rates, histological follow-up, and HPV genotypes distribution of abnormal cytology in Anhui province of China. METHODS: According to the Bethesda Reporting System of Cervical Cytology (2014), a retrospective analysis of the cervical liquid-based cytology (LBC) results, abnormal cytology with concurrent HPV genotype testing, and immediate histological follow-up. HPV genotype testing was performed for 15 High-risk types and 6 Low-risk types. Immediate histological correlation results within 6 months after the LBC and HPV results. RESULTS: 6.70% of women with abnormal LBC results, and ASC/SIL was 1.42. The severe histological results in abnormal cytology were ASC-US (18.58%), ASC-H (53.76%), LSIL (16.62%), HSIL (82.07%), SCC/ACa (100.00%), AGC (63.77%). The total HPV-positive rate in abnormal cytology was 70.29%, of which ASC-US, ASC-H, LSIL, HSIL, SCC/ACa, and AGC were 60.78%, 80.83%, 83.05%, 84.93%, 84.51%, 33.33%. The top three detected genotypes were HR HPV 16, 52, and 58. The most commonly detected genotype in HSIL and SCC/ACa was HPV 16. Of the 91 AGC patients, 34.78% were cervical lesions, and 42.03% were endometrial lesions. The HPV-positive rate in the group of AGC-FN was highest and lowest in the group of AGC-EM. CONCLUSION: The Bethesda System reporting rates of cervical cytology were all within the benchmark range of the CAP laboratory. HPV 16, 52, and 58 were the most common genotypes in our population, and HPV 16 infection has a higher degree of malignancy of cervical lesions. Among patients with ASC-US results, HPV positive patients had a higher rate of biopsy-detected CIN2+ than HPV negative patients.

UHPLC-MS/MS-based untargeted lipidomics analysis of septic patients.

BACKGROUND: Lipids take part in many pathophysiological processes of sepsis, thus, the variation of lipid composition may have clue on the severity and pathogen to sepsis. The objective of our study is to expand the profile of lipid compositions and screen potential biomarkers in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with sepsis. METHODS: Patients admitted to the ICU clearly diagnosed with celiac sepsis were included in this prospective study. Age-matched healthy participants from the Physical Examination Center were used as the control group. Blood samples were obtained from patients within the first 12 h of admission. We analysed different components of the lipid metabolism between the sepsis patients and controls and described characteristic features during sepsis. RESULTS: Thirty patients with celiac sepsis and 30 sex- and age-matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study. The lipid metabolic signature was obviously different between the sepsis patients and healthy controls and was mostly downregulated in sepsis patients. We identified 65 lipid species. Sixty-four lipid molecules were found to be significantly downregulated in sepsis patients, and only the level of one phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) molecule, PE (34:2) was higher in the sepsis patients with sepsis group comparing with the control group. The analysis of metabolic pathway illustrated the different lipid molecules were closely related to Phosphatidylcholine (PC), Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), and PE. CONCLUSION: Sepsis contributes to impaired expression of most lipids, which mainly result in the disorder of glycerolipid metabolic pathway, including Phosphatidylcholine (PC), Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), and PE.

Prognostic Value of the Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Patients Treated with Definitive Chemoradiotherapy for Locally Advanced Oesophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been shown to have prognostic value in several common cancers. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of NLR in patients with advanced oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) after definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT). Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 158 patients with advanced ESCC who received dCRT from January 2012 to December 2018. The NLR for different treatment stages was calculated based on laboratory test results. The Kaplan-Meier (KM) method and Cox proportional regression model were used to analyse the relationship between NLR and overall survival (OS). Results: The mean NLR of 158 patients with ESCC was 3.403 ± 2.479. The pre-treatment NLR cut-off was 4.839, and patients were divided into the low NLR group (NLR < 4.839) and the high NLR group (NLR ≥ 4.839). NLR in patients with ESCC was related to N stage (P < 0.05). The KM analysis showed that the median OS of all enrolled patients was 29.3 months, the median OS periods of patients in the high and low NLR groups were 15.6 and 35.8 months, respectively, and the OS of the low NLR group was better than that of the high NLR group (P < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, NLR was an independent prognostic factor that affects the prognosis of patients with ESCC receiving dCRT. Furthermore, patients who maintained a high NLR before and after treatment showed worse clinical outcomes than the other groups. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that NLR can effectively assess the prognosis of patients with advanced ESCC undergoing dCRT.

Exposure to cypermethrin pesticide disturbs the microbiome and disseminates antibiotic resistance genes in soil and the gut of Enchytraeus crypticus.

Worldwide, pyrethroids, such as cypermethrin, are the second most applied group of insecticides, however, their effects on the soil microbiome and non-target soil fauna remain largely unknown. Herein, we assessed the change of bacterial communities and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) of soil and in the gut of the model soil species Enchytraeus crypticus using a combination of 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, and high-throughput qPCR of ARGs. Results indicate that cypermethrin exposure enriches potential pathogens (e.g. Bacillus anthracis) in the soil and gut microbiome of E. crypticus, heavily disrupting the latter's microbiome structure, and even disrupts activities of the E. crypticus immune system. The co-occurrence of potential pathogens (e.g. Acinetobacter baumannii), ARGs, and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) revealed the increased risk of pathogenicity as well as antibiotic resistance in potential pathogens. Moreover, structural equation modeling demonstrated that the dissemination of ARGs was not only promoted by MGEs, but also by the ratio of the core to non-core bacterial abundance. Collectively, these results provide an in-depth view of the previously unappreciated environmental risk of cypermethrin on the dissemination of ARGs in the soil and non-target soil fauna.

Synchronous mucinous metaplasia and neoplasia of the female genital tract (SMMN­FGT): A case report and literature review.

The present study reported a case of Synchronous Mucinous Metaplasia and Neoplasia of the Female Genital Tract (SMMN-FGT), which occurred in a 47-year-old woman. The patient complained of pelvic mass during a physical examination a month ago. Ultrasound examination found an anechoic spot in the left ovary and several anechoic spots were detected in the cervix. The patient underwent left adnexectomy and the left ovarian frozen section revealed a mucinous borderline tumor. Total abdominal hysterectomy and right salpingo-oophorectomy were subsequently performed. Microscopically, multifocal mucinous lesions were involved in the female genital tract, including bilateral ovarian mucinous borderline tumor, cervical and endometrial mucinous adenocarcinoma and the bilateral fallopian tube epithelium showed mucinous metaplasia. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the tumor cells of the ovary, cervix and endometrium expressed MUC6, exhibiting features of gastric-type differentiation. The Ki-67 proliferative index was ~10-70%. Cumulative evidence established SMMN-FGT as the final histopathological diagnosis with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage I. Following surgery, the patient received a course of pelvic radiotherapy and survived for 16 months.

Dynamics of Microbial Community and Potential Microbial Pollutants in Shopping Malls.

Shopping malls offer various niches for microbial populations, potentially serving as sources and reservoirs for the spread of microorganisms of public health concern. However, knowledge about the microbiome and the distribution of human pathogens in malls is largely unknown. Here, we examine the microbial community dynamics and genotypes of potential pathogens from floor and escalator surfaces in shopping malls and adjacent road dusts and greenbelt soils. The distribution pattern of microbial communities is driven primarily by habitats and seasons. A significant enrichment of human-associated microbiota in the indoor environment indicates that human interactions with surfaces might be another strong driver for mall microbiomes. Neutral community models suggest that the microbial community assembly is strongly driven by stochastic processes. Distinct performances of microbial taxonomic signatures for environmental classifications indicate the consistent differences of microbial communities of different seasons/habitats and the strong anthropogenic effect on homogenizing microbial communities of shopping malls. Indoor environments harbored higher concentrations of human pathogens than outdoor samples, also carrying a high proportion of antimicrobial resistance-associated multidrug efflux genes and virulence genes. These findings enhanced the understanding of the microbiome in the built environment and the interactions between humans and the built environment, providing a basis for tracking biothreats and communicable diseases and developing sophisticated early warning systems. IMPORTANCE Shopping malls are distinct microbial environments which can facilitate a constant transmission of microorganisms of public health concern between humans and the built environment or between human and human. Despite extensive investigation of the natural environmental microbiome, no comprehensive profile of microbial ecology has been reported in malls. Characterizing microbial distribution, potential pathogens, and antimicrobial resistance will enhance our understanding of how these microbial communities are formed, maintained, and transferred and help establish a baseline for biosurveillance of potential public health threats in malls.

Uncovering the diversity and contents of gene cassettes in class 1 integrons from the endophytes of raw vegetables.

Rapid spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in pathogens is threatening human health. Integrons allow bacteria to integrate and express foreign genes, facilitating horizontal transfer of ARGs in environments. Consumption of raw vegetables represents a pathway for human exposure to environmental ARGs. However, few studies have focused on integron-associated ARGs in the endophytes of raw vegetables. Here, based on the approach of qPCR and clone library, we quantified the abundance of integrase genes and analyzed the diversity and contents of resistance gene cassettes in class 1 integrons from the endophytes of six common raw vegetables. The results revealed that integrase genes for class 1 integron were most prevalent compared with class 2 and class 3 integron integrase genes (1-2 order magnitude, P < 0.05). The cucumber endophytes harbored a higher absolute abundance of integrase genes than other vegetables, while the highest bacterial abundance was detected in cabbage and cucumber endophytes. Thirty-two unique resistance gene cassettes were detected, the majority of which were associated with the genes encoding resistance to beta-lactam and aminoglycoside. Antibiotic resistance gene cassettes accounted for 52.5 % of the functionally annotated gene cassettes, and blaTEM-157 and aadA2 were the most frequently detected resistance cassettes. Additionally, carrot endophytes harbored the highest proportion of antibiotic resistance gene cassettes in the class 1 integrons. Collectively, these results provide an in-depth view of acquired resistance genes by integrons in the raw vegetable endophytes and highlight the potential health risk of the transmission of ARGs via the food chain.

Analysis of the Predictive Effect of Lactic Acid Combined with Cardiac Troponin T and 5-Hydroxytryptophan on the Severity of Sepsis in ICU Patients and Its Correlation with Prognosis.

In order to explore the effective markers of presepsis in the prediction of clinical disease and disease severity, the predictive effect of lactic acid (Lac) combined with cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HT) on the severity of sepsis in intensive care unit (ICU) patients and its correlation with prognosis is investigated. A total of 85 sepsis patients admitted to the ICU of our hospital from January 2020 to June 2021 are selected to establish the ICU sepsis group, and 72 health examination patients who received physical examination in our hospital during the same period are included in the healthy control group. The experimental results demonstrate that combined detection mode of serum Lac, cTnT, and 5-HT indicators has a high predictive value for the condition of patients with ICU sepsis and those indicators are closely correlated with the prognosis of patients. It suggests that the follow-up clinical monitoring of serum Lac, cTnT, and 5-HT indicators for patients with ICU sepsis can evaluate their condition and improve and optimize the clinical diagnosis and treatment plan effectively.

ROS as a key player in quinolone antibiotic stress on Arabidopsis thaliana: From the perspective of photosystem function, oxidative stress and phyllosphere microbiome.

With the increasing use of antibiotics, their ecological impacts have received widespread attention. However, research on the toxicity of quinolone antibiotics is still limited, especially regarding the oxidative stress and phyllosphere of plants. In this study, the toxic effects of enrofloxacin, norfloxacin, and levofloxacin on Arabidopsis thaliana and their underlying mechanisms were investigated. The toxicity of the three quinolone antibiotics decreased in the following order: enrofloxacin > norfloxacin > levofloxacin. Physiological cellular changes, such as plasmolysis and chloroplast swelling, were observed using electron microscopy. Photosynthetic efficiency was inhibited with a decline in the effective photochemical quantum yield of photosystem II (Y(II)) and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), indicating that quinolone antibiotics might reduce light energy conversion efficiency and excess light energy dissipation. Oxidative stress occurred in A. thaliana after quinolone antibiotic treatment, with an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. High ROS levels stimulated the over-expression of superoxide-responsive genes for self-protection. Structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis showed that photosynthesis inhibition and cellular damage caused by oxidative stress were critical factors for growth inhibition, suggesting that the antioxidant response activated by ROS might be a potential mechanism. Furthermore, the diversity of the phyllospheric microbial communities decreased after enrofloxacin exposure. Additionally, specific microbes were preferentially recruited to the phyllosphere because of the higher ROS levels.

QTL mapping for cold tolerance and higher overwintering survival rate in winter rapeseed (Brassica napus).

The cold tolerance of winter rapeseed (Brassica napus) cultivars is critically important for winter survival and yield formation in northern China. Few studies have examined the genetic mechanism underlying the overwintering survival of B. napus. Here, an F2 population including 174 lines and an F2:3 population including 174 lines were generated to identify the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) related to the cold tolerance of B. napus. A genetic linkage map including 1,017 markers merged into 268 bins covering 793.53 cM was constructed. A total of 16 QTLs for two cold-tolerance indicators related to overwintering success were detected among the two populations. These QTLs were responsible for explaining 0.97%-12.74% of the phenotypic variation. Two major QTLs, qOWRTA07 and qOWRLA07, explaining more than 10% of the phenotypic variation were identified in overlapping regions, and we suspected that these two QTLs might represent the same QTL mapped between the two bins, c07b004 and c07b005, corresponding to the physical interval from 21.4 M to 23.4 M on chromosome A07. One gene, BnaA07G0198300ZS, contained the candidate region for overwintering rate (OWR). RT-qPCR analysis showed that the expression of this gene significantly differed between the two parents (NST57 and CY12), and its expression was higher in NST57 than in CY12. This gene may be involved in the cold-response during overwintering period of B. napus. These results are important for the molecular breeding to improve the cold tolerance and overwintering success of winter oilseed rape.

Primary ovarian Burkitt lymphoma: report of a case and review of literature.

We report a case of primary ovarian Burkitt lymphoma that occurred in a 25-year-old woman. The patient complained of a mass in the right ovary discerned by physical examination 2 months prior. Ultrasound examination indicated that the right ovary was enlarged and abundant blood flow signals were observed. Right salpingo-oophorectomy was subsequently performed. Histology was characterized by diffuse sheets of monotonous medium-sized lymphoid cells with plentiful mitotic figures and apoptosis. Numerous tingible-body macrophages were found in the ovarian tissue, presenting a starry sky pattern. The tumor cells expressed CD20, CD10, BCL6 and MYC in the absence of BCL2. Ki-67 proliferative index was very high with a proliferation rate of near 100%. MYC (8q24) rearrangement was detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with no BCL2 (18q21) and BCL6 (3q37) gene rearrangements. Cumulative evidence established primary ovarian Burkitt lymphoma as the final histopathologic diagnosis with clinical stage I (FIGO). The patient received HyperCVAD chemotherapy after surgery and remained complete response (CR) for 18 months. We aim to provide insight into the future treatment of this rare but lethal disease.

The association between serum cystatin C and residual renal function in peritoneal dialysis patients.

INTRODUCTION: This study evaluated the association between serum cystatin C and residual renal function (RRF) in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. METHODS: The ability of cystatin C to predict RRF was assessed. Multivariate linear regression analysis was conducted to measure the impact of particular factors on serum cystatin C levels. RESULTS: The study included 141 PD patients. Serum creatinine and cystatin C were negatively correlated with RRF (p < 0.05). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves showed that serum creatinine and cystatin C could both predict RRF status (p < 0.05), but serum cystatin C had a larger area AUC than creatinine (0.893 vs. 0.757, respectively), p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that RRF Kt/V and Ccr were independent factors affecting serum cystatin C levels (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Serum cystatin C levels were closely associated with RRF in PD patients and could reliably predict RRF status. Serum cystatin C levels were determined by RRF, not by PD.

Surgical timing in neonatal brachial plexus palsy: A PRISMA-IPD systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP) is a serious complication of high-risk deliveries with controversy surrounding timing of corrective nerve surgery. This review systematically examines the existing literature and investigates correlations between age at time of upper trunk brachial plexus microsurgery and surgical outcomes. METHODS: A systematic screening of PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, and CINAHL databases using PRISMA-IPD guidelines was conducted in January 2020 to include full-text English papers with microsurgery in upper trunk palsy, pediatric patients. Spearman rank correlation analysis and two-tailed t-tests were performed using individual patient data to determine the relationship between mean age at time of surgery and outcome as determined by the Mallet, Medical Research Council (MRC), or Active Movement Scale (AMS) subscores. RESULTS: Two thousand nine hundred thirty six papers were screened to finalize 25 papers containing individual patient data (n = 256) with low to moderate risk of bias, as assessed by the ROBINS-I assessment tool. Mallet subscore for hand-to-mouth and shoulder abduction, AMS subscore for elbow flexion and external rotation, and MRC subscore for elbow flexion were analyzed alongside the respective age of patients at surgery. Spearman rank correlation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation (ρ = -0.30, p < .01, n = 89) between increasing age (5.50 ± 2.09 months) and Mallet subscore for hand-to-mouth (3.43 ± 0.83). T-tests revealed a significant decrease in Mallet hand-to-mouth subscores after 6 months (p < .05) and 9 months (p < .05) of age. No significant effects were observed for Mallet shoulder abduction, MRC elbow flexion, or AMS elbow flexion and external rotation. CONCLUSION: The cumulative evidence suggests a significant negative correlation between age at microsurgery and Mallet subscores for hand-to-mouth. However, a similar correlation with age at surgery was not observed for Mallet shoulder abduction, MRC elbow flexion, AMS external rotation, and AMS elbow flexion subscores.

Nanopore sequencing analysis of integron gene cassettes in sewages and soils.

Integrons are genetic elements that can facilitate rapid spread of antibiotic resistance by insertion and removal of genes. However, knowledge about the diversity and distribution of gene cassettes embedded in class 1 integron is still limited. In this study, we sequenced integron gene cassettes using nanopore sequencing and quantified antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and integrase genes in the manured soils and sewages of a bioreactor. The results showed that class 1 integron integrase genes were the most abundant in soils and sewages compared with class 2 and class 3 integrase genes. Long-term manure application exacerbated the enrichment of total ARGs, integrase genes and antibiotic resistance-associated gene cassettes, while antibiotics and heavy metals showed no impact on the overall resistome profile. Sewage treatment could efficiently remove the absolute abundance of integrase genes (~3 orders of magnitude, copies/L) and antibiotic resistance gene cassettes. The resistance gene cassettes mainly carried the ARGs conferring resistance to aminoglycoside and beta-lactams in soils and sewages, some of which were persistent during the sewage treatment. This study underlined that soil and sewage were potential reservoirs for integron-mediated ARGs transfer, indicating that anthropogenic activity played a vital role in the prevalence and diversity of resistance gene cassettes in integrons.