Association between Glycosylated Hemoglobin and Serum Uric Acid: A US NHANES 2011-2020.

Background: Serum uric acid (SUA) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were closely related to the body's metabolism. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between HbA1c and SUA in adults. Methods: This study selected 7293 participants aged ≥20 from 2011 to 2020 in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The multivariate linear regression model was used to test the association between HbA1c and SUA. Subgroup analysis was performed according to age, gender, race, and body mass index (BMI). This study solved the relationship between HbA1c and SUA by fitting a smooth curve. Finally, the inflection point in the nonlinear relationship was calculated by the recursive algorithm, and the relationship between HbA1c and SUA on both sides of the inflection point was analyzed by the two-segment piecewise linear regression model. Results: All 7293 participants found a negative correlation between HbA1c and SUA by completely adjusting the model (ß = -7.93 and 95% CI: -9.49--6.37). In addition, when this study was stratified by gender, age, race, and BMI status, this negative correlation was still statistically significant. In the subgroup analysis, we found that the relationship between the two had different results due to gender differences. In men, HbA1c had a significant negative correlation with SUA. However, in women, the HbA1c value was positively correlated with SUA before 6.8%, and the HbA1c value was negatively correlated with SUA after 6.8%, which indicates that the relationship between HbA1c and SUA in women has changed in prediabetes and diabetes. Conclusion: This study shows that HbA1c is positively correlated with SUA in American adults before 7%. There is a negative correlation after the HbA1c value of 7%.

No causal association between serum vitamin D levels and diabetes retinopathy: A Mendelian randomization analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Diabetes retinopathy (DR) is a common microvascular complication of diabetes, and it is the main cause of global vision loss. The current observational research results show that the causal relationship between Vitamin D and DR is still controversial. Therefore, we conducted a Mendelian randomization study to determine the potential causal relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D 25(OH)D and DR. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, we selected aggregated data on serum 25(OH)D levels (GWAS ID: ebi-a-GCST90000615) and DR (GWAS ID: finn-b-DM_RETINOPATHY) from a large-scale GWAS database. Then use MR analysis to evaluate the possible causal relationship between them. We mainly use inverse variance weighted (IVW), supplemented by MR Egger and weighted median methods. Sensitivity analysis is also used to ensure the stability of the results, such as Cochran's Q-test, MR-PRESSO, MR-Egger interception test, and retention method. The MR analysis results showed that there was no significant causal relationship between 25(OH)D and DR (OR = 1.0128, 95%CI=(0.9593,1.0693), P = 0.6447); Similarly, there was no significant causal relationship between DR and serum 25 (OH) D levels (OR = 0.9900, 95% CI=(0.9758,1.0045), P = 0.1771). CONCLUSION: Our study found no significant causal relationship between serum 25(OH)D levels and DR, and vice versa. A larger sample size randomized controlled trial is needed to further reveal its potential causal relationship.

Optimization of an in vitro Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm Model to Examine Antibiotic Pharmacodynamics at the Air-Liquid Interface.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important cause of lower respiratory tract infections, such as ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (VABP). Using inhaled antibiotics to treat VABP can achieve high drug concentrations at the infection site while minimizing systemic toxicities. Despite the theoretical advantages, clinical trials have failed to show a benefit for inhaled antibiotic therapy in treating VABP. A potential reason for this discordance is the presence of biofilm-embedded bacteria in lower respiratory tract infections. Drug selection and dosing are often based on data from bacteria grown planktonically. In the present study, an in vitro air-liquid interface pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic biofilm model was optimized to evaluate the activity of simulated epithelial lining fluid exposures of inhaled and intravenous doses of polymyxin B and tobramycin against two P. aeruginosa strains. Antibiotic activity was also determined against the P. aeruginosa strains grown planktonically. Our study revealed that inhaled antibiotic exposures were more active than their intravenous counterparts across biofilm and planktonic populations. Inhaled exposures of polymyxin B and tobramycin exhibited comparable activity against planktonic P. aeruginosa. Although inhaled polymyxin B exposures were initially more active against P. aeruginosa biofilms (through 6 h), tobramycin was more active by the end of the experiment (48 h). Together, these data slightly favor the use of inhaled tobramycin for VABP caused by biofilm-forming P. aeruginosa that are not resistant to either antibiotic. The optimized in vitro air-liquid interface pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic biofilm model may be beneficial for the development of novel anti-biofilm agents or to optimize antibiotic dosing for infections such as VABP.

Determination of dimethylated nucleosides in serum from colorectal cancer patients by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

RNA modifications play a crucial regulatory role in a variety of biological processes and are closely related to numerous diseases, including cancer. The diversity of metabolites in serum makes it a favored biofluid for biomarkers discovery. In this work, a robust and accurate hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HILIC-MS/MS) approach was established for simultaneous determination of dimethylated nucleosides in human serum. Using the established method, we were able to accurately quantify the concentrations of N6-2'-O-dimethyladenosine (m6Am), N2,N2-dimethylguanosine (m2,2G), and 5,2'-O-dimethyluridine (m5Um) in serum samples from 53 healthy controls, 57 advanced colorectal adenoma patients, and 39 colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. The results showed that, compared with healthy controls and advanced colorectal adenoma patients, the concentrations of m6Am and m2,2G were increased in CRC patients, while the concentration of m5Um was decreased in CRC patients. These results indicate that these three dimethylated nucleosides could be potential biomarkers for early detection of colorectal cancer. Interestingly, the level of m5Um was gradually decreased from healthy controls to advanced colorectal adenoma patients to CRC patients, indicating m5Um could also be used to evaluate the level of malignancy of colorectal tumor. In addition, this study will contribute to the investigation on the regulatory mechanisms of RNA dimethylation in the onset and development of colorectal cancer.

Recent advances in optical biosensing and imaging of telomerase activity and relevant signal amplification strategies.

Telomerase as a new valuable biomarker for early diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of cancer has attracted much interest in the field of biosensors, cell imaging, and drug screening. In this review, we mainly focus on different optical techniques and various signal amplification strategies for telomerase activity determination. Fluorometric, colorimetry, chemiluminescence, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), and dual-mode techniques for telomerase sensing and imaging are summarized. Signal amplification strategies include two categories: one is nucleic acid-based amplification, such as rolling circle amplification (RCA), the hybridization chain reaction (HCR), and catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA); the other is nanomaterial-assisted amplification, including metal nanoclusters, quantum dots, transition metal compounds, graphene oxide, and DNA nanomaterials. Challenges and prospects are also discussed to provide new insights for future development of multifunctional strategies and techniques for in situ and in vivo analysis of biomarkers for accurate cancer diagnosis.

Effect of a Self-Assembled Nucleating Agent on the Crystallization Behavior and Spherulitic Morphology of Poly(lactic acid).

Herein, decanedioic acid dibenzoylhydrazide (DDBH) was used as a nucleating agent to improve the crystallization of poly(lactic acid) (PLA). The formation of DDBH assemblies in PLA melts at different concentrations was systematically investigated. The DDBH (0.5-0.9 wt %) recrystallized as dendrite-like structures during the isothermal crystallization process, and the crystal morphology of PLA underwent a morphological change from spherical form to a similar dendritic crystal form. Differential scanning calorimetry and in situ wide-angle X-ray diffraction analysis results showed that crystallizability and overall crystallization rate of PLA were enhanced by the addition of DDBH. The half-crystallization time at 120 °C reduced to 0.28 min compared to pure PLA (6.12 min), after adding 0.9 wt % DDBH. Moreover, the crystallinity and lamellar thickness of crystalline PLA increased, while the size of the microcrystal of PLA decreased with an increase in DDBH content. The heat deflection temperatures of PLA/DDBH blends increased and hence heat resistance improved.

Robust nontarget DNA-triggered catalytic hairpin assembly amplification strategy for the improved sensing of microRNA in complex biological matrices.

A simple but robust fluorescence strategy based on a nontarget DNA-triggered catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA) was constructed to probe microRNA-21 (miR-21). A short ssDNA rather than degradable target miRNA was employed as an initiator. Two molecular beacons needed to assist the CHA process were simplified to avoid unfavorable nonspecific interactions. In the presence of the target, the initiator was released from a partially duplex and triggered the cyclic CHA reaction, resulting in a significantly amplified optical readout. A wide linear range from 0.1 pM to 1000 pM for the sensing of miR-21 in buffer was achieved with a low detection limit of 0.76 pM. Fortunately, this strategy demonstrated an obviously improved performance for miR-21 detection in diluted serum. The fluorescence signals were enhanced remarkably and the sensitivity was further improved to 0.12 pM in 10% serum. The stability for miR-21 quantification and the capability for the analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were also improved greatly. More importantly, the biosensor could be applied to image miR-21 in different living tumor cells with high resolution, illustrating its promising potential for the assay of miRNAs in various complex situations for early-stage disease diagnosis and biological studies in cells.

Association between the Weight-Adjusted Waist Index and Serum Uric Acid: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Serum uric acid (SUA) was closely related to body metabolism. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the adult weight-adjusted waist index (WWI) and SUA. Methods: In the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2011 to 2020, 6494 eligible participants aged ≥20 were included. The multivariate logistic regression model was used to test the correlation between WWI and SUA. At the same time, subgroup analysis was carried out by using multivariate logistic regression according to age, sex, and race. Then, the fitting smooth curve was applied to solve the association between WWI and SUA. Finally, the recursive algorithm was used to calculate the inflection point in the nonlinear relationship, and the two-stage piecewise linear regression model was used to analyze the relationship between WWI and SUA on both sides of the inflection point. Results: In all the 6494 participants, through the fully adjusted model, this study found that there was a positive correlation between WWI and SUA (ß = 5.64; 95% CI: 2.62 and 8.66). In addition, this positive correlation still had certain statistical significance in the subgroup analysis stratified by sex, age, and race. Our research team found a significant positive correlation between the WWI and SUA in females, but the correlation was not significant in males. We also found a small inverted U-shaped curve between the WWI and SUA in men when we stratified the sex subgroups. The small inflection point was determined to be 11.5 cm/√ kg. In racial subgroup analysis, we also found a U-shaped relationship between the WWI and SUA in non-Hispanic White and other race/ethnicity (the inflection point was 11.08 cm/√ kg and 12.14 cm/√ kg, respectively). Conclusion: This study showed that the WWI was a newly developed and new predictor of centripetal obesity independent of body weight and there was a positive correlation between the WWI and SUA.

Comprehensive competitiveness assessment of four typical municipal sludge treatment routes in China based on environmental and techno-economic analysis.

To find a sustainable and effective municipal sludge treatment route requires a systematic assessment of the comprehensive competitiveness of diverse sludge treatment routes. Four typical treatment routes in China including co-incineration in coal power plants (CIN), mono-incineration (IN), anaerobic digestion (AD) and pyrolysis (PY) were selected in this study. A novel assessment model integrating life cycle assessment (LCA), techno-economic analysis (TEA) with analytic hierarchy process (AHP)-Entropy method was established, and comprehensive competitiveness indicated by comprehensive index (CI) of the four routes was deeply evaluated. Results displayed CIN route (CI = 0.758) showed the best comprehensive performance for its best environmental and economic performance. This was followed by PY route (CI = 0.691) and AD route (CI = 0.570), indicating the enormous potential of sludge PY technology. IN route showed the worst comprehensive performance (CI = 0.186) owing to its high environmental impact and lowest economic benefit. It was noted that greenhouse gas emissions and severe toxic potential were the main environmental challenges faced by sludge treatment. Besides, result of sensitivity analysis revealed that the comprehensive competitiveness of diverse sludge treatment routes was improved with the increase of sludge organic content and sludge reception fee.

Investigating the Mechanism of Rhizoma Coptidis-Eupatorium fortunei Medicine in the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking.

Objective: This study systematically explored the mechanism of Rhizoma Coptidis-Eupatorium fortunei in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by using network pharmacology and molecular docking methods. Methods: The TCMSP database was used to screen out the active ingredients and related targets of Rhizoma Coptidis-Eupatorium fortunei (R-E) drug pair. GeneCards, OMIM, DrugBank, and other databases were used to screen the related targets of T2DM, and then, the UniProt database was used to standardize the relevant targets of T2DM. Then, the Venn analysis was performed on the active ingredient-related targets and disease-related targets of R-E drugs to find the intersection targets. Using the STRING database and Cytoscape software, the PPI network and "drug-active ingredient-target-disease" network are constructed by intersecting targets and corresponding active ingredients. Through the cluster profiler package in the R software, GO function enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were carried out on the intersection targets and the screened core targets, and the prediction results were verified by molecular docking. Results: Taking OB ≥ 30% and DL ≥ 0.18 as the standard, a total of 25 effective active ingredients of R-E drug pairs were screened, including berberine, palmatine, coptisine, and so on. After corresponding, 19 effective chemical components and 284 targets of the R-E drug pair were obtained. After searching multiple disease databases, 1289 T2DM-related targets were screened. After the summary, 159 common targets were obtained in this study. Finally, in the bioinformatics analysis, this study concluded that quercetin, luteolin, berberine, palmatine, and coptisine are the main chemical components of the R-E drug pair. ESR1, MAPK1, AKT1, TP53, IL6, and JUN are the important core targets. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses showed that Rhizoma Coptidis-Eupatorium fortunei could improve T2DM by regulating multiple biological processes and pathways. Molecular docking results showed that berberine, palmatine, and coptisine had higher binding to the core target, and MAPK1, AKT1, and IL6 could stably bind to the active ingredients of Rhizoma Coptidis-Eupatorium fortunei. Conclusion: Rhizoma Coptidis-Eupatorium fortunei may have therapeutic effects on T2DM such as anti-inflammatory and regulating glucose and lipid metabolism through multiple components, multiple targets, and multiple signaling pathways, which provides a scientific basis for further research on the hypoglycemic effect of Rhizoma Coptidis-Eupatorium fortunei drug pair.

Analysis of gastrointestinal function and prognostic value of tumor markers in patients with laparoscopic radical resection of colorectal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the gastrointestinal function and prognostic value of tumor markers (TMs) in patients with laparoscopic radical resection of colorectal cancer (LRRCC). METHODS: The research population of this retrospective study comprised 141 patients with CC who received treatment in the Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University between July 2017 and August 2018, including 74 cases (observation group, OG) treated with LRRCC and 67 cases (control group, CG) undergoing open surgery (OS). Postoperative gastrointestinal function and complications were recorded. Besides, alterations in serum TMs carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), and the 3-years survival of patients were observed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine the prognostic value of TMs. Risk factors affecting the prognosis of LRRCC patients were analyzed by the Cox regression model. RESULTS: Significantly higher levels of motilin (MOT) and gastrin (GT) were determined in OG compared with CG. The two groups showed no notable difference in the postoperative complication rate. Postoperative serum CEA and CA199 levels were obviously lower in OG as compared with CG. A higher 3-year survival rate was determined in OG. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUCs) of CEA and CA19-9 levels in predicting patients' 3-year survival were 0.826 and 0.867, respectively. According to the Cox regression analysis, tumor diameter, lymph node involvement, TNM staging, vascular invasion, CEA, and CA19-9 were independent risk factors for poor prognosis of LRRCC patients. CONCLUSIONS: LRRCC is well-tolerated by patients with CC and contributes to favorable outcomes. Besides, CEA and CA19-9, the two TMs, may be candidate prognostic markers for patients undergoing LRRCC.

Ceftazidime-avibactam based combinations against carbapenemase producing Klebsiella pneumoniae harboring hypervirulence plasmids.

The combination of carbapenem resistance and hypervirulence in Klebsiella pneumoniae is an emerging and urgent threat due to its potential to resist common antibiotics and cause life-threatening infections in healthy hosts. This study aimed to evaluate the activity of clinically relevant antibiotic regimens against carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae with hypervirulence plasmids and to identify pathways associated with antibiotic tolerance using transcriptomics. We studied two carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae isolates, CDI694 and CDI231, both harboring hypervirulence plasmids. Time-kill and dynamic one-compartment pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic assays were used to assess ceftazidime/avibactam-based therapies. RNAseq was performed following 48 h of antibiotic exposure. Closed genomes of CDI694 and CDI231 were obtained; each isolate harbored carbapenem-resistance and hypervirulence (containing rmpA/rmpA2 and iut genes) plasmids. Ceftazidime/avibactam-based regimens were bactericidal, though both isolates continued to grow in the presence of antibiotics despite no shifts in MIC. Transcriptomic analyses suggested that perturbations to cell respiration, carbohydrate transport, and stress-response pathways contributed to the antibiotic tolerance in CDI231. Genes associated with hypervirulence and antibiotic resistance were not strongly impacted by drug exposure except for ompW, which was significantly downregulated. Treatment of carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae harboring hypervirulence plasmids with ceftazidime/avibactam-based regimens may yield a tolerant population due to altered transcription of multiple key pathways.

Blockade of exosome generation by GW4869 inhibits the education of M2 macrophages in prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Tumor-associated macrophages are considered to be a major contributor affecting the development of tumors. Recently, numerous studies have shown that tumor cells were able to educate their microenvironment by delivering a significant amount of exosomes, however, the mechanism that exosomes from PCa cells work in macrophage polarization remains obscure. Therefore, we sought to determine whether blockade of exosome generation by GW4869, an inhibitor of exosome biogenesis, would impede macrophages from differentiating into M2 cells. RESULTS: In this study, we first obtained exosomes from the supernatant media of PCa cells cultured with exosome-free serum using the Magcapture™ Exosome Isolation Kit PS, and then investigated their effects on macrophages. Our data confirmed that exosomes released by prostate cancer cells can induce macrophages to differentiate into M2 cells. Mechanistically speaking, exosomes exert their effects on macrophages through activating the AKT and STAT3 signaling pathways. Importantly, treatment with GW4869 significantly inhibited the release of exosomes from PCa cells, and further impaired M2 differentiation of macrophages and their pro-tumor activity. We also demonstrated that GW4869 was able to inhibit the education of M2 macrophages, and then inhibit the progression of prostate cancer in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: In brief, our findings indicated that GW4869 impeded the PCa exosome-induced M2 differentiation of macrophages and the progression of prostate cancer, suggesting that GW4869 could play an important role in the treatment of prostate cancer metastasis as an inhibitor of tumor exosome secretion.

Combatting Planktonic and Biofilm Populations of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii with Polymyxin-Based Combinations.

Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) can cause serious infections that are associated with high mortality rates. During the course of an infection, many CRAB isolates are able to form biofilms, which are recalcitrant to several antibiotics and can be difficult to treat. Polymyxin-based regimens are a first-line treatment option for CRAB infections, but they have not been optimized against both planktonic and biofilm phases of growth. The objective of this study was to identify polymyxin-based combinations that are active against planktonic and biofilm populations of CRAB. Four CRAB isolates (meropenem MICs: 8-256 mg/L) capable of forming biofilms were used in each experiment. The activities of polymyxin B alone and in combination with ampicillin/sulbactam, meropenem, minocycline, and rifampin were assessed using time-kill assays, with the CRAB isolates grown in planktonic and biofilm phases. Viable colony counts were used to detect the bactericidal activity and synergy of the antibiotic combinations. Against the planktonic populations, polymyxin B combined with meropenem, minocycline, ampicillin/sulbactam, and rifampin caused 3.78, -0.15, 4.38, and 3.23 mean log10 CFU/mL reductions against all isolates at 24 h, respectively. Polymyxin B combined with meropenem, ampicillin/sulbactam, or rifampin was synergistic against 75-100% (3/4 or 4/4) of CRAB isolates. Against biofilms, polymyxin B combined with meropenem, minocycline, ampicillin/sulbactam, and rifampin caused 1.86, 1.01, 0.66, and 3.55 mean log10 CFU/mL reductions against all isolates at 24 h, respectively. Only the combination of polymyxin B and rifampin retained bactericidal activity or synergy against any of the isolates when grown as biofilms (50% of isolates). The combination of polymyxin B and rifampin may be promising for CRAB infections that have planktonic and biofilm populations present.

The Effect of the Duckett procedure on the Outcome and Prognosis of Children with Suburethral Cleft.

Background: Hypospadias is one of the most common malformations of the male genitourinary system. In recent years, the incidence of hypospadias is increasing year by year, which seriously affects normal urination and sexual function. Repairing hypospadias has always been a challenge in paediatric urology, requiring a variety of surgical techniques and science and art that requires intensive study. Despite the availability of over 300 surgical procedures and continuous improvement, there is still a high level of surgical complications. It is crucial to choose an appropriate and effective surgical method for the treatment of hypospadias. Aims: This study aimed to investigate the outcome and prognosis of children with hypospadias, using transverse cut foreskin island flap coiled urethroplasty (the Duckett procedure). Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 100 children with hypospadias who underwent surgery in our hospital from December 2018 to December 2021. Based on the degree of hypospadias and the degree of penile curvature both in line with the Duckett procedure, the comparison group was treated with a one-stage Duckett procedure and the treatment group was treated with a staged Duckett procedure. The differences in the surgical condition, inflammatory factor levels, and complications between the two groups of children were observed and compared. Results: The length of hospital stay and VAS score in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group, and the operation time and intraoperative bleeding were higher than those in the control group, with a statistical significance (P < 0.05). The success rate of one operation was higher than that of the comparison group, but the statistical comparison was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the inflammatory response between the two groups before surgery (P > 0.05), while the difference in CRP, IL-6, and calcitoninogen between the two groups after surgery was significant and lower in the comparison group than in the treatment group, which was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The clinical outcome of the children in both groups showed that the excellent rate of 92.00% in the treatment group was significantly higher than that of 74.00% in the comparison group, while the incidence of complications was significantly lower than that of the comparison group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Complications in children with poor surgical outcomes in both groups occurred mainly, early urethral stricture and cured by urethral dilatation or condition without improvement cured by urethrotomy. Conclusion: A comparative study of hypospadias treated with the staged Duckett procedure was more effective in relieving postoperative pain and inflammatory reactions in children, reducing postoperative complications and improving healing efficiency, providing some reference value for hypospadias surgery.

Antibiotic susceptibility patterns of viridans group streptococci isolates in the United States from 2010 to 2020.

Background: Viridans group streptococci (VGS) are typically part of the commensal flora but can also cause severe invasive diseases such as infective endocarditis. There are limited data available showing antibiotic susceptibility over time for VGS. Objectives: To evaluate antibiotic susceptibility trends in VGS over time. Methods: In vitro susceptibility patterns for 33 antibiotics were examined for Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus oralis, and non-speciated VGS isolates from patients in Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers in the United States between 2010 and 2020. Susceptibility determinations were made by the individual clinical microbiology laboratories and data were retrospectively collected from the VA Corporate Data Warehouse. Susceptibility trends were analysed using Poisson regression. Results: A total of 14 981 VGS isolates were included of which 19.5%, 0.7% and 79.8% were S. mitis, S. oralis and non-speciated VGS isolates, respectively. Cumulative susceptibility rates across all years were similar between species for ceftriaxone (range: 96.0% to 100%), clindamycin (81.3% to 84.5%), and vancomycin (99.7% to 100%). For penicillin, susceptibility rates were 71.0%, 80.9% and 86.3% for S. mitis, S. oralis and non-speciated isolates, respectively. From 2010 to 2020, susceptibility of non-speciated VGS isolates decreased for erythromycin (P = 0.0674), penicillin (P = 0.0835), and tetracycline (P = 0.0994); though the decrease was only significant for clindamycin (P = 0.0033). For S. mitis, a significant susceptibility rate decrease was observed for erythromycin (P = 0.0112). Conclusions: Susceptibility rates for some clinically relevant antibiotics declined between 2010 and 2020. This worrisome trend highlights the need to improve antimicrobial stewardship efforts to limit unnecessary antibiotic use and preserve empirical treatment options.

Identification of potential biomarkers of gout through competitive endogenous RNA network analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Gout is a widespread inflammatory arthritis. The present study aimed to identify potential biomarkers of gout and explore their underlying mechanisms through bioinformatics methods. METHODS: The microarray data was downloaded from the GSE160170 dataset from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and the GEO2R online tool was used to obtain differentially expressed genes (DEGs). We searched for gout-related genes through the DisGeNET and GeneCards databases, and the final DEGs was acquired by intersection with the DEGs obtained from the microarray dataset. Tissue- and organ-specific genes were identified by the BioGPS online tool. Enrichment analysis was performed using GSEA4.1.0 and KOBAS3.0, and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using STRING to understand the biological functions and enrichment pathways of the DEGs as well as to identify their hub genes. Cytoscape was used to construct the competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks. RESULTS: A total of 653 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) and 818 differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs) were identified in the present study. After intersecting the differential DEGs from the dataset, 85 DEGs were obtained. Enrichment analyses showed that the DEGs were mainly enriched in the following biological processes (BPs): inflammation and regulation; immune response; and cell proliferation and apoptosis. Moreover, the DEGs were mainly enriched in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoclast differentiation, interleukin (IL)-17 signaling pathway, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathway. Cytoscape software identified 15 hub genes, and the following 9 hub genes were obtained after intersecting with genes specifically expressed in the blood/immune and bone/muscle systems: TNF, JUN, PTGS2, STAT1, IL6, FOS, IL1ß, CXCL8 and CD80. In addition, the lncRNA-NEAT1-miR-142-3p-IL-6 pathway may be a key regulatory pathway in the pathogenesis of gout. CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicated that the identified 9 hub genes may be potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of gout. In addition, the results suggested that the lncRNA-NEAT1-miR-142-3p-IL-6 pathway may be a potential RNA regulatory pathway that controls the progression of gout disease.

Hydrochar as an environment-friendly additive to improve the performance of biodegradable plastics.

Plastic additives affect the properties of plastics, which further determine the application range of plastics. However, most plastic additives have environmental friendliness or performance issues limiting their application. Hydrochar (HC) from waste biomass by hydrothermal carbonization has been proved to contain organic matter as function substances, like a binder, and is environment-friendly material. Currently, hydrochar as a plastic additive has not been previously reported. In this study, the HC/PBAT composites were produced by hydrochar blending with poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) which is a biodegradable polymer. The hydrochar produced at different hydrothermal carbonization temperatures (180 °C, 210 °C, 240 °C, 270 °C, and 300 °C) and the addition of hydrochar (10 wt%, 20 wt%) were investigated. The results showed that the elastic modulus of the composites was increased by 27.4 MPa and 32.5 MPa compared with virgin PBAT while adding 10 wt% and 20 wt% hydrochar, respectively. Moreover, the stiffness of the composite was improved, and the balance of stiffness and toughness of the composites was effectively maintained when adding 10 wt% hydrochar treated at 300 °C. The elongation at break, tensile strength, and the elastic modulus of its composites were 630.8 ± 13.7%, 23.0 ± 0.4 MPa, and 100.5 ± 2.7 MPa, respectively. Furthermore, the crystallization temperature of the composites was increased after hydrochar was added into PBAT, and the maximum was 87.9 °C. It also means that hydrochar has a great nucleation effect during plastic processing. Therefore, hydrochar can be used as an environment-friendly additive to promote the performance of biodegradable plastic and promise to be applied in the field of biodegradable plastics.

Study of diagnostic value of congenital hypertrophy of retinal pigment epithelium in Chinese familial adenomatous polyposis patients.

BACKGROUND: Congenital hypertrophy of retinal pigment epithelium (CHRPE) is an important characteristic of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) patients. However, more evidence about its sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic value for FAP is needed to determine whether CHRPE is a reliable marker. METHODS: Clinical features of FAP patients were investigated using in-person evaluations. Family members of FAP patients were evaluated with an indirect ophthalmoscope to determine whether they had CHRPE. We defined three diagnostic criteria for CHRPE (criteria A, B and C) based on their shape, quantity and size. Those with negative colonoscopy results and gene mutation results were classified as healthy controls. RESULTS: Of a total of 23 FAP families, 21 families were CHRPE-positive (91.3%). Among those 21 families, 47 individuals had CHRPE, including 33 FAP patients, 9 APC gene mutation carriers, and 5 individuals younger than 18 years who were later confirmed to have FAP. Fifty individuals had no CHRPE (5 FAP patients and 45 individuals without APC gene mutations and colorectal adenoma). The average number of CHRPE lesions per person was 5.81, and CHRPE was located mostly in the posterior pole in the eye fundus; 76.7% of individuals had CHRPE in both eyes. The sensitivity of the three CHRPE criteria ranged from 78.8 to 90.4%, with the highest sensitivity found for criterion A (90.4%), which had a specificity of 100% for healthy controls and sporadic colorectal cancer patients. CONCLUSION: CHRPE has vital diagnostic and screening value because of its high sensitivity for discovering FAP and APC gene mutation carriers.

Comparisons of efficacy and complications between transrectal and transperineal prostate biopsy with or without antibiotic prophylaxis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We aimed to determine the cancer detection rate and complications of transrectal prostate biopsy (TRBx) and transperineal prostate biopsy (TPBx) in the hospital. However, given the use of antibiotic prophylaxis in TPBx remains controversial according to the current guidelines, we also investigated the safety and side effects of TPBx with and without antibiotic prophylaxis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 777 patients who underwent prostate biopsy were enrolled in this study in accordance with the criteria. The primary outcome was pooled infectious complications (sepsis, fever, symptomatic urinary tract infection and urinary retention), and the secondary outcome was prostate cancer detection rate. RESULTS: Findings showed that TPBx and TRBx were equivalent in terms of prostate cancer detection rate (TPBx: 50.4% vs. TRBx: 47.3%; P = 0.424) and urinary retention (TPBx: 5% vs. TRBx: 6.3%; P = 0.451). However, TRBx had significantly higher incidences of sepsis (risk ratios, RR: 3.65, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.21-11.03; P = 0.014) and symptomatic urinary tract infection (RR: 3.04, 95% CI: 1.07-8.66; P = 0.029) than TPBx. Notably, for TPBx, patients who received a single dose of cephazolin prophylaxis were not associated with the risk of sepsis (RR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.13-4.63; P = 0.783) and symptomatic urinary tract infection (RR: 1.17, 95% CI: 0.24-5.74; P = 0.848) in contrast to patients who did not receive any antibiotic prophylaxis. Meanwhile, no effects on prostate cancer detection rate and urinary retention were observed in the TPBx group. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicated that TPBx significantly reduced infectious complications compared with TRBx and should therefore be preferred. Importantly, we need to re-examine whether the antibiotic prophylaxis should be routinely applied before TPBx in consideration of increasing antibiotic resistance. This result complements the current national guidelines. Nevertheless, future studies on this topic with improved quality and increased sample size are still needed to minimise bacterial resistance.