Emission behaviors from ZnO microwire pumped CsPbBr3 perovskite microwire.

Perovskite semiconductor materials have attracted significant attention in the fields of photovoltaics and luminescence due to their excellent photoelectric properties, such as high carrier mobility, high absorption coefficient, and high fluorescence quantum yield. In particular, low-dimensional metal-halide perovskite microcrystalline materials have been reported to exhibit low-dimensional lasing phenomena and laser devices due to their high gain and widely tunable bandgap. In this Letter, one-dimensional (1-D) ZnO microwires with their ultraviolet lasing emissions are utilized as an excitation source to pump CsPbBr3 microwire on hybrid ZnO-CsPbBr3 microscale structures. At higher excitation, the amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) behaviors from CsPbBr3 microwire are realized with ultralow threshold by indirect pumping from the ZnO lasing emission for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. In comparison, the ASE behaviors from the CsPbBr3 microwire directly pumped by Nd:YAG Q-switched laser and continuous wave laser are also performed at room temperature. There are also no multimode lasing behaviors observed. The paper provides a new method to achieve a low threshold on-chip microlaser by a high-quality perovskite micro-nano structure.

Assessment of the Diagnostic Performance of Clinical Examinations and High-Frequency Ultrasound in Patients With Pigmented Skin Tumors.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether the integration of high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) to routine clinical examinations could improve diagnostic performance and management decision for pigmented skin tumors. METHODS: Three general practitioners trained previously and a dermatologist independently assessed pigmented skin tumors and rendered management decision based on clinical examinations alone or clinical examinations integrating HFUS. RESULTS: After integrating HFUS, the diagnostic area under the curve (AUC) (0.658-0.693 versus 0.848, all P < .05) and specificity (46.6-58.6% versus 89.7%, all P < .05) for pigmented skin malignancies were improved for general practitioners, meanwhile unnecessary biopsy rate reduced (42.9-53.6% versus 10.7%, P < .001). To the dermatologist, the diagnostic AUC (0.822 versus 0.949, P < .001), sensitivity (81.7% versus 96.7%, P = .012) and specificity (0.828 versus 0.931, P = .031) improved significantly, meanwhile both missed biopsy rate (14.5% versus 4.8%, P = .031) and unnecessary biopsy rate (19.6% versus 7.1%, P = .016) decreased. Additionally, the diagnostic performance of the general practitioner with integrating HFUS could be comparable with the dermatologist based on clinical examinations alone (all P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: As a complementary tool of clinical examinations, HFUS could help physicians differentiate pigmented skin malignancies and manage decision.

A Novel 10-Base Pair Deletion in the First Exon of GmHY2a Promotes Hypocotyl Elongation, Induces Early Maturation, and Impairs Photosynthetic Performance in Soybean.

Plants photoreceptors perceive changes in light quality and intensity and thereby regulate plant vegetative growth and reproductive development. By screening a γ irradiation-induced mutant library of the soybean (Glycine max) cultivar "Dongsheng 7", we identified Gmeny, a mutant with elongated nodes, yellowed leaves, decreased chlorophyll contents, altered photosynthetic performance, and early maturation. An analysis of bulked DNA and RNA data sampled from a population segregating for Gmeny, using the BVF-IGV pipeline established in our laboratory, identified a 10 bp deletion in the first exon of the candidate gene Glyma.02G304700. The causative mutation was verified by a variation analysis of over 500 genes in the candidate gene region and an association analysis, performed using two populations segregating for Gmeny. Glyma.02G304700 (GmHY2a) is a homolog of AtHY2a in Arabidopsis thaliana, which encodes a PΦB synthase involved in the biosynthesis of phytochrome. A transcriptome analysis of Gmeny using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) revealed changes in multiple functional pathways, including photosynthesis, gibberellic acid (GA) signaling, and flowering time, which may explain the observed mutant phenotypes. Further studies on the function of GmHY2a and its homologs will help us to understand its profound regulatory effects on photosynthesis, photomorphogenesis, and flowering time.

Staggered Assembly of a Dimeric Au13 Cluster: Impacts on Coupling of Geometric Isomerism.

The specific states of aggregation of metal atoms in sub-nanometer-sized gold clusters are related to the different quantum confinement volumes of electrons, leading to novel optical and electronic properties. These volumes can be tuned by changing the relative positions of the gold atoms to generate isomers. Studying the isomeric gold core and the electron coupling between the basic units is fundamentally important for nanoelectronic devices and luminescence; however, appropriate cases are lacking. In this study, the structure of the first staggered di-superatomic Au25 -S was solved using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The optical properties of Au25 -S were studied by comparing with eclipsed Au25 -E. From Au25 -E to Au25 -S, changes in the electronic structures occurred, resulting in significantly different optical absorptions originating from the coupling between the two Au13 modules. Au25 -S shows a longer electron decay lifetime of 307.7 ps before populating the lowest triplet emissive state, compared to 1.29 ps for Au25 -E. The experimental and theoretical results show that variations in the geometric isomerism lead to distinct photophysical processes owing to isomerism-dependent electronic coupling. This study offers new insights into the connection between the geometric isomerism of nanosized building blocks and the optical properties of their assemblies, opening new possibilities for constructing function-specific nanomaterials.

The role of ultrasound in screening subclinical psoriatic arthritis in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis.

OBJECTIVE: To identify patients in the subclinical psoriatic arthritis (Sub-PsA) phase by ultrasound (US) and provide a solution to screen them. METHODS: A total of 490 participants with moderate-to-severe psoriasis were evaluated. Among them, 384 participants without arthritis symptoms were enrolled into the silent psoriasis group and 106 participants with arthritis symptoms, called prodromal/active PsA phase, were enrolled into the clinical PsA group. Another 80 non-psoriasis participants were enrolled into the control group. Each participant received clinical assessments and US examinations of 60 joints, 38 tendons, and 40 entheses. We compared the incidences of synovio-enthesitis, synovitis, tenosynovitis, erosion, and dactylitis detected on US among the three groups. Subsequently, on the basis of significant US findings, we distinguished Sub-PsA from psoriasis alone (PsO) in the silent psoriasis group and analyzed the clinical characteristics, mainly including basic clinical characteristics, body surface area (BSA), and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score. RESULTS: Only synovio-enthesitis significantly differed between the control group and the silent psoriasis group (1.3% vs. 16.1%, p < 0.001). The knee was the most commonly involved site of synovio-enthesitis (79.0%). Taking synovio-enthesitis as the standard, 16.1% of silent psoriasis participants and 12.7% of all psoriasis participants were in the Sub-PsA phase. Furthermore, there were no differences in BSA and PASI among the three phases of PsO, Sub-PsA, and prodromal/active PsA. CONCLUSIONS: Since the psoriasis patients in Sub-PsA phase was as high as 12.7% in all patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis, US-detected synovio-enthesitis was recommended routinely for screening them regardless of arthritis symptoms, especially in the lower limbs. KEY POINTS: • Synovio-enthesitis on ultrasound was significantly associated with subclinical psoriatic arthritis, especially in the lower limbs. • Routine ultrasound evaluation could help screen psoriasis patients in the subclinical psoriatic arthritis phase, which was as high as 12.7% in all psoriasis patients.

Natural product drupacine acting on a novel herbicidal target shikimate dehydrogenase.

Natural products are one of the important sources for the creation of new pesticides. Drupacine ((1R,11S,12S,13R,15S)-13-methoxy-5,7,21-trioxa-19-azahexacyclo[11.7.1.02,10.04,8.011,15.015,19]henicosa-2,4(8),9-trien-12-ol), isolated from Cephalotaxus sinensis (Chinese plum-yew), is a potent herbicidal compound containing an oxo-bridged oxygen bond structure. However, its molecular target still remains unknown. In this study, the targets of drupacine in Amaranthus retroflexus were identified by combining drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS), cellular thermal shift assay coupled with mass spectrometry (CETSA MS), RNA-seq transcriptomic, and TMT proteomic analyses. Fifty-one and sixty-eight main binding proteins were identified by DARTS and CETSA MS, respectively, including nine co-existing binding proteins. In drupacine-treated A. retroflexus seedlings we identified 1389 up-regulated genes and 442 down-regulated genes, 34 up-regulated proteins, and 194 down-regulated proteins, respectively. Combining the symptoms and the biochemical profiles, Profilin, Shikimate dehydrogenase (SkDH), and Zeta-carotene desaturase were predicted to be the drupacine potential target proteins. At the same time, drupacine was found to bind SkDH stronger by molecular docking, and its inhibition on ArSkDH increased with the treatment concentration increase. Our results suggest that the molecular target of drupacine is SkDH, a new herbicide target, which lay a foundation for the rational design of herbicides based on new targets from natural products and enrich the target resources for developing green herbicides.

Characterization of Stem Nodes Associated with Carbon Partitioning in Maize in Response to Nitrogen Availability.

Stem node has been found to be a hub for controlling mineral nutrient distribution in gramineous plants. However, the characteristics of stem nodes associated with whole-plant carbon partitioning in maize (Zea mays L.) and their responses to nitrogen (N) availability remains elusive. Maize plants were grown in greenhouse under low to high N supply. Plant growth, sugar accumulation, and sugar transporters in nodes and leaves, as well as the anatomical structure of nodes, were investigated at vegetative phase. When compared to N-sufficient plants, low-N availability stunted growth and resulted in 49-64% less sugars in leaves, which was attributed to low photosynthesis or the accelerated carbon export, as evidenced by more 13C detected further below leaf tips. Invariably higher sugar concentrations were found in the stem nodes, rather than in the leaves across N treatments, indicating a crucial role of nodes in facilitating whole-plant carbon partitioning. More and smaller vascular bundles and phloem were observed in stem nodes of N-deficient plants, while higher sugar levels were found in the bottom nodes than in the upper ones. Low-N availability upregulated the gene expressions of sugar transporters, which putatively function in nodes such as ZmSWEETs and ZmSUTs at the bottom stem, but suppressed them in the upper ones, showing a developmental impact on node function. Further, greater activity of sugar transporters in the bottom nodes was associated with less sugars in leaves. Overall, these results highlighted that stem nodes may play an important role in facilitating long-distance sugar transport in maize.

Profiling the Structural Determinants of Aryl Benzamide Derivatives as Negative Allosteric Modulators of mGluR5 by In Silico Study.

Glutamate plays a crucial role in the treatment of depression by interacting with the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5), whose negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) are thus promising antidepressants. At present, to explore the structural features of 106 newly synthesized aryl benzamide series molecules as mGluR5 NAMs, a set of ligand-based three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) analyses were firstly carried out applying comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA) methods. In addition, receptor-based analysis, namely molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, were performed to further elucidate the binding modes of mGluR5 NAMs. As a result, the optimal CoMSIA model obtained shows that cross-validated correlation coefficient Q2 = 0.70, non-cross-validated correlation coefficient R2ncv = 0.89, predicted correlation coefficient R2pre = 0.87. Moreover, we found that aryl benzamide series molecules bind as mGluR5 NAMs at Site 1, which consists of amino acids Pro655, Tyr659, Ile625, Ile651, Ile944, Ser658, Ser654, Ser969, Ser965, Ala970, Ala973, Trp945, Phe948, Pro903, Asn907, Val966, Leu904, and Met962. This site is the same as that of other types of NAMs; mGluR5 NAMs are stabilized in the "linear" and "arc" configurations mainly through the H-bonds interactions, π-π stacking interaction with Trp945, and hydrophobic contacts. We hope that the models and information obtained will help understand the interaction mechanism of NAMs and design and optimize NAMs as new types of antidepressants.

[Study on antioxidant activity of flavonoids from leaves of Psidium guajava].

The present study is to study the chemical constituents from ethanol extract of Psidium guajava leaves. The constituents were separated and purified by silica gel column chromaiographios over, macroporous resin D-101, Sephadex LH-20, and ODS. Six flavonoids compounds were isolated and identified as quercetin(1), quercetin-3-O-α-D-arabinopyranoside(2), quercetin-3-O-α-D-ribopyranoside(3), quercetin-3-O-ß-D-galactopyranoside(4), quercetin-3-O-α-D-glucopyranoside(5), and quercetin-3-O-α-D-xylpyranoside(6). The antioxidant effects of six flavonoids was evaluated by scavenging ability of DPPH, superoxide anion, ABTS·âº, and reducing effect of Fe³âº as well as total antioxidant capacity(FRAP). Vitamin C was used as positive control. The results indicated that six flavonoids exhibited significant antioxidant effects.

Effect of polymorphs of cellulose nanocrystal on the thermal properties of poly(lactic acid)/cellulose nanocrystal composites.

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) with different polymorphs CNC I and II were fabricated from native and mercerized microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) by sulfuric acid hydrolysis. CNC I and II were successfully acetylated by a "green" method, which was performed in an ionic liquid of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([BMIM]BF4). X-ray diffraction (XRD) proved that the crystal structure of CNC I and II was maintained after acetylation. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed the rod-like structure for acetylated CNC I and spherical crystal morphologies for acetylated CNC II. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed that the thermal stability of CNC I and II was enhanced after acetylation. The effect of CNC polymorphs on the crystallization behavior and thermal stability of poly(lactic acid)/acetylated CNC (PLA/ACN) composites was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and TGA, respectively. It was found that compared to ACN I, ACN II was better able to promote the cold crystallization of PLA-based composites, and PLA/ ACN II possessed higher thermal stability.

The reporting quality of randomized controlled trials in pharmacotherapy for pituitary adenomas.

BACKGROUND: Medical therapy has become an increasingly important intervention owing to improvements in the multidisciplinary care for pituitary adenomas (PAs). This study aimed to assess the reporting quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on PAs pharmacotherapy. METHODS: RCTs evaluating the efficacy of pharmacotherapy in PAs published in English between January 1, 1974, and December 31, 2022, were searched for and collected from PubMed and MEDLINE. The 2010 Consolidated Standards for Test Reports (CONSORT) statement-based 28 items overall quality score (OQS) was used to evaluate the overall quality of each report. RESULTS: Twenty-seven related RCTs including 1816 patients were retrieved. The median OQS score was 12 (range, 6-19) on a scale of 0 to 28. Important items, such as background, objectives, participants, interventions, and outcomes, were sufficiently reported in 100% (27/27) of the articles. Statistical methods were adequately described in 93% (25/27) of patients. However, RCTs underreported identification as randomized trials in the title (3/27, 11%), sample size, allocation concealment, implementation, ancillary analysis method, and Diagram and Ancillary analyses (1/27, 4%). The OQS of published RCTs has significantly increased since 2010 (P = .012). The multivariate final model showed significant associations between higher OQS and publication since 2010 and enrollment of more than 100 patients. CONCLUSIONS: The overall reporting quality of RCTs on pharmacotherapy in PAs was poor, based on the 2010 CONSORT statement. However, we noticed an improvement in the OQS over the years and identified the factors associated with a better report. Increased effort is necessary to raise awareness of these issues among writers, readers, reviewers, and editors.

Exploring the antibiofilm efficacy of cinnamaldehyde against Malassezia globosa associated pityriasis versicolor.

BACKGROUND: Malassezia globosa is a commensal basidiomycetous yeast occurring on the skin that causes pityriasis versicolor (PV) and seborrheic dermatitis, but that has also been implicated in other dermatoses. Cinnamaldehyde (CM) has antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities, but the effect of CM on M. globosa-infected PV has not been clarified. PURPOSE: The study aimed to investigate the possible antifungal and antibiofilm activities of CM against M. globosa-infected PV in vivo and in vitro. METHODS: The broth microdilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of CM against M. globosa. The crystal violet staining assay and XTT assay were used to investigate the inhibition of CM on biofilm formation and the eradication of mature biofilms. The visualizations of the biofilm and cell distribution in the biofilm matrix were performed with a scanning electron microscope and confocal laser scanning microscope. The kits of antioxidant kinase were used to determine the activities of oxidative stress markers in M. globosa-stimulated HaCaT cells. Western blot assays were used to evaluate the role of TLR2/NF-κB in vitro. Furthermore, the protective effect of CM was assessed in M. globosa-associated PV mice. The expressions of inflammatory cytokines and apoptosis were screened using ELISA assays. The expressions of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α were measured by an immunohistochemistry method in vivo. RESULTS: Our results showed that the MIC of CM against planktonic cells of M. globosa was 4 µg/ml and treatment with 20 × MIC CM eradicated mature biofilms of M. globosa. In vitro, after CM treatment the levels of oxidative stress indicators (i.e., superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione) significantly increased, while the levels of malondialdehyde decreased. In addition, the expression of TLR2/NF-κB in HaCaT cells was significantly reduced after CM treatment. On the other hand, an in vivo therapeutic effect of CM was assessed against M. globosa-infected mice. The fungal load on the skin decreased after treatment with CM compared to the M. globosa-infected group. In addition, the uninfected animals showed a normal skin structure, whereas, the M. globosa-infected mice showed extensive infiltration of neutrophils in skin tissues that improved after treatment with CM. Meanwhile, the levels of inflammatory and apoptotic factors improved after CM treatment. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that CM inhibits the biofilm formation of M. globosa and eradicates mature biofilms of M. globosa. Treatment with CM significantly decreased oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammatory markers in the skin tissue and HaCaT cells. Hence, this study suggests that CM is a good candidate therapeutic agent against M. globosa-induced PV infections because of its antifungal, antibiofilm, and anti-inflammatory properties.

A retrospective cohort study of implantable venous access port-related and peripherally inserted central catheter-related complications in patients with hematological malignancies in China.

Objective: We explored the differences in deep venous catheterization-associated complications between patients with hematological malignancies after peripherally inserted central catheter placement and such patients after implantable venous access port catheterization. Introduction: peripherally inserted central catheters and implantable venous access ports are the most popular devices used for chemotherapy. However, no study has revealed differences between peripherally inserted central catheters and implantable venous access ports in Chinese patients with hematological malignancies. Methods: The clinical data of 322 patients with hematological malignancies who were treated from January 1, 2020 to December 30, 2021 were included in a retrospective cohort study. Postoperative color Doppler ultrasonography and follow-up results were used to compare the incidence rates of deep venous catheterization -associated complications after peripherally inserted central catheters and implantable venous access ports catheterization. Results: The relative risk of catheter-related complications considering the type of device was 8.3 (95% CI = 3.0-22.8). In addition, chi-square segmentation analysis revealed a significant difference in the complication rate between the internal jugular vein and the basilic vein (χ2 = 22.002, p < 0.0001) and between the subclavian vein and the basilic vein (χ2 = 28.940, p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Implantable venous access ports are safer than peripherally inserted central catheters for Chinese patients with hematological malignancies. The implantation of implantable venous access ports could be firstly considered for systematic anti-cancer treatment.

Initial experience using ultrasound, automated breast volume scanner, and elastography for primary leiomyosarcoma of the breast: A rare case report.

Background: Primary leiomyosarcoma of the breast was a rare malignant tumor. Due to the extremely low morbidity and insufficient understanding of its imageological characteristics, there was a risk of misdiagnosis. In this case report, we presented the features of conventional US, elastography, automated breast volume scanner (ABVS), computed tomography (CT), and pathological findings of a case of primary leiomyosarcoma of the breast. Case presentation: A 74-year-old woman detected a mass of the left breast by palpation. Both ultrasound and CT revealed a solid mass in the outer quadrant of the left breast. After admission, she underwent a modified radical unilateral mastectomy under general anesthesia (resection of the lesion with left breast reserved). Furthermore, the intraoperative frozen section revealed malignant spindle cells, and the postoperative histopathology revealed primary leiomyosarcoma of the breast. After discharge, the patient was generally in good condition after the procedure and was asked to seek medical treatment in the oncology department. Findings on various imaging examinations and clinical data were carefully evaluated. Additionally, we also reviewed the associated kinds of literature. Conclusion: We reported the features of conventional US, elastography, ABVS, CT, and pathological findings of a rare case of primary leiomyosarcoma of the breast. Overall, our findings indicated that the above-mentioned features generally predict malignancy. However, compared to other malignant breast lesions, the features of this case were not specific enough.

Unravelling the enigma of the human microbiome: Evolution and selection of sequencing technologies.

The human microbiome plays a crucial role in maintaining health, with advances in high-throughput sequencing technology and reduced sequencing costs triggering a surge in microbiome research. Microbiome studies generally incorporate five key phases: design, sampling, sequencing, analysis, and reporting, with sequencing strategy being a crucial step offering numerous options. Present mainstream sequencing strategies include Amplicon sequencing, Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing (mNGS), and Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing (tNGS). Two innovative technologies recently emerged, namely MobiMicrobe high-throughput microbial single-cell genome sequencing technology and 2bRAD-M simplified metagenomic sequencing technology, compensate for the limitations of mainstream technologies, each boasting unique core strengths. This paper reviews the basic principles and processes of these three mainstream and two novel microbiological technologies, aiding readers in understanding the benefits and drawbacks of different technologies, thereby guiding the selection of the most suitable method for their research endeavours.

Gemfibrozil Alleviates Cognitive Impairment by Inhibiting Ferroptosis of Astrocytes via Restoring the Iron Metabolism and Promoting Antioxidant Capacity in Type 2 Diabetes.

Diabetes-associated cognitive dysfunction (DACD) is considered a significant complication of diabetes and manifests as cognitive impairment. Astrocytes are vital to the brain energy metabolism and cerebral antioxidant status. Ferroptosis has been implicated in cognitive impairment, but it is unclear whether the ferroptosis of astrocytes is involved in the progression of DACD. PPARA/PPARα (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha) is a transcription factor that regulates glucose and lipid metabolism in the brain. In this study, we demonstrated that high glucose promoted ferroptosis of astrocytes by disrupting iron metabolism and suppressing the xCT/GPX4-regulated pathway in diabetic mice and astrocytes cultured in high glucose. Administration of gemfibrozil, a known PPARα agonist, inhibited ferroptosis and improved memory impairment in db/db mice. Gemfibrozil also prevented the accumulation of lipid peroxidation products and lethal reactive oxygen species induced by iron deposition in astrocytes and substantially reduced neuronal and synaptic loss. Our findings demonstrated that ferroptosis of astrocytes is a novel mechanism in the development of DACD. Additionally, our study revealed the therapeutic effect of gemfibrozil in preventing and treating DACD by inhibiting ferroptosis.

Filling the gaps in icosahedral superatomic metal clusters.

Chemically modified superatoms have emerged as promising candidates in the new periodic table, in which Au13 and its doped M n Au13- n have been widely studied. However, their important counterpart, Ag13 artificial element, has not yet been synthesized. In this work, we report the synthesis of Ag13 nanoclusters using strong chelating ability and rigid ligands, that fills the gaps in the icosahedral superatomic metal clusters. After further doping Ag13 template with different degrees of Au atoms, we gained insight into the evolution of their optical properties. Theoretical calculations show that the kernel metal doping can modulate the transition of the excited-state electronic structure, and the electron transfer process changes from local excitation (LE) to charge transfer (CT) to LE. This study not only enriches the families of artificial superatoms, but also contributes to the understanding of the electronic states of superatomic clusters.

Influence of the substituents of the thiol ligand on the optical properties of AuCu14.

Detailed photophysical processes of two AuCu14 clusters with different substituents (-F or -C(CH3)3) of the thiol ligand were studied in this work. The electronic effect of the substituents led to structural shrinkage, thus enhancing the luminous intensity. The internal conversion (IC) and intersystem crossing (ISC) rates in the AuCu14-C(CH3)3 crystal were slower compared with the AuCu14-F crystal, which was caused by the steric effect.

Advantages of ultrasound imaging for the early diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis.

Background: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an immune-mediated form of chronic inflammatory arthritis associated with psoriasis (PsO). It constitutes a significant comorbidity of PsO and is distinguished by the presence of widespread musculoskeletal inflammation. Objective: The aim of this study is to precisely detect asymptomatic PsA using ultrasound (US) examinations and to distinguish between various stages of PsO. Methods: All patients with moderate-to-severe PsO, who consented to undergo musculoskeletal US examinations during their hospitalization between September 2020 and January 2022, were enrolled in the study. We compared patients' demographic characteristics, comorbidities, disease duration, relevant laboratory parameters, and musculoskeletal US findings. Results: A total of 547 patients with PsO were included in the study, and 114 of them received a diagnosis of PsA. Furthermore, 16.45 % of patients with moderate to severe PsO displayed subclinical PsA. We observed a significantly higher frequency of abnormal US findings in patients with PsA compared to those without PsA, with a sensitivity of 95.61 % and a specificity of 79.22 %. Additionally, the incidence of enthesitis and synovitis varied significantly between PsA and non-PsA patients, and they were identified as independent variables predicting the presence of PsA. Furthermore, the interphalangeal joint, knee joint, and calcaneal tendon were the most frequently affected areas in PsA, as indicated by the observed US changes. Conclusion: Ultrasound examination proves to be a valuable tool for detecting subclinical PsA, facilitating early screening of the condition. Particular attention should be directed towards changes in the interphalangeal joint, knee joint, and calcaneal tendon when reviewing ultrasound images of asymptomatic patients.

Predicting the Environmental Suitability and Identifying Climate and Sociodemographic Correlates of Guinea Worm (Dracunculus medinensis) in Chad.

A comprehensive understanding of the spatial distribution and correlates of infection are key for the planning of disease control programs and assessing the feasibility of elimination and/or eradication. In this work, we used species distribution modeling to predict the environmental suitability of the Guinea worm (Dracunculus medinensis) and identify important climatic and sociodemographic risk factors. Using Guinea worm surveillance data collected by the Chad Guinea Worm Eradication Program (CGWEP) from 2010 to 2022 in combination with remotely sensed climate and sociodemographic correlates of infection within an ensemble machine learning framework, we mapped the environmental suitability of Guinea worm infection in Chad. The same analytical framework was also used to ascertain the contribution and influence of the identified climatic risk factors. Spatial distribution maps showed predominant clustering around the southern regions and along the Chari River. We also identified areas predicted to be environmentally suitable for infection. Of note are districts near the western border with Cameroon and southeastern border with Central African Republic. Key environmental correlates of infection as identified by the model were proximity to permanent rivers and inland lakes, farmlands, land surface temperature, and precipitation. This work provides a comprehensive model of the spatial distribution of Guinea worm infections in Chad 2010-2022 and sheds light on potential environmental correlates of infection. As the CGWEP moves toward elimination, the methods and results in this study will inform surveillance activities and help optimize the allocation of intervention resources.