[Ligusticum cycloprolactam inhibits IL-1ß-induced apoptosis and inflammation of rat chondrocytes via HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway].

Chondrocytes are unique resident cells in the articular cartilage, and the pathological changes of them can lead to the occurrence of osteoarthritis(OA). Ligusticum cycloprolactam(LIGc) are derivatives of Z-ligustilide(LIG), a pharmacodynamic marker of Angelica sinensis, which has various biological functions such as anti-inflammation and inhibition of cell apoptosis. However, its protective effect on chondrocytes in the case of OA and the underlying mechanism remain unclear. This study conducted in vitro experiments to explore the molecular mechanism of LIGc in protecting chondrocytes from OA. The inflammation model of rat OA chondrocyte model was established by using interleukin-1ß(IL-1ß) to induce. LIGc alone and combined with glycyrrhizic acid(GA), a blocker of the high mobility group box-1 protein(HMGB1)/Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)/nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB) signaling pathway, were used to intervene in the model, and the therapeutic effects were systematically evaluated. The viability of chondrocytes treated with different concentrations of LIGc was measured by the cell counting kit-8(CCK-8), and the optimal LIGc concentration was screened out. Annexin V-FITC/PI apoptosis detection kit was employed to examine the apoptosis of chondrocytes in each group. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was employed to measure the expression of cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2), prostaglandin-2(PGE2), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α) in the supernatant of chondrocytes in each group. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax), caspase-3, HMGB1, TLR4, and NF-κB p65. The mRNA levels of HMGB1, TLR4, NF-κB p65, and myeloid differentiation factor 88(MyD88) in chondrocytes were determined by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR). The safe concentration range of LIGc on chondrocytes was determined by CCK-8, and then the optimal concentration of LIGc for exerting the effect was clarified. Under the intervention of IL-1ß, the rat chondrocyte model of OA was successfully established. The modeled chondrocytes showed increased apoptosis rate, promoted expression of COX-2, PGE2, and TNF-α, up-regulated protein levels of Bax, caspase-3, HMGB1, TLR4, and NF-κB p65 and mRNA levels of HMGB1, TLR4, NF-κB p65, and MyD88, and down-regulated protein level of Bcl-2. However, LIGc reversed the IL-1ß-induced changes of the above factors. Moreover, LIGc combined with GA showed more significant reversal effect than LIGc alone. These fin-dings indicate that LIGc extracted and derived from the traditional Chinese medicine A. sinensis can inhibit the inflammatory response of chondrocytes and reduce the apoptosis of chondrocytes, and this effect may be related to the HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. The pharmacological effect of LIGc on protecting chondrocytes has potential value in delaying the progression of OA and improving the clinical symptoms of patients, and deserves further study.

Non-invasive molecular imaging for precision diagnosis of metastatic lymph nodes: opportunities from preclinical to clinical applications.

Lymph node metastasis is an indicator of the invasiveness and aggressiveness of cancer. It is a vital prognostic factor in clinical staging of the disease and therapeutic decision-making. Patients with positive metastatic lymph nodes are likely to develop recurrent disease, distant metastasis, and succumb to death in the coming few years. Lymph node dissection and histological analysis are needed to detect whether regional lymph nodes have been infiltrated by cancer cells and determine the likely outcome of treatment and the patient's chances of survival. However, these procedures are invasive, and tissue biopsies are prone to sampling error. In recent years, advanced molecular imaging with novel imaging probes has provided new technologies that are contributing to comprehensive management of cancer, including non-invasive investigation of lymphatic drainage from tumors, identifying metastatic lymph nodes, and guiding surgeons to operate efficiently in patients with complex lesions. In this review, first, we outline the current status of different molecular imaging modalities applied for lymph node metastasis management. Second, we summarize the multi-functional imaging probes applied with the different imaging modalities as well as applications of cancer lymph node metastasis from preclinical studies to clinical translations. Third, we describe the limitations that must be considered in the field of molecular imaging for improved detection of lymph node metastasis. Finally, we propose future directions for molecular imaging technology that will allow more personalized treatment plans for patients with lymph node metastasis.

Co-Exposure to Bisphenols, Parabens, and Antimicrobials and Association with Coronary Heart Disease: Oxidative Stress as a Potential Mediating Factor?

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of global morbidity, but the effect of plasticizers and antimicrobial additives on CHD is unknown. Here, we conducted a case-control study to investigate the mediating role of oxidative stress in the association between co-exposure to seven bisphenols, four parabens, triclosan (TCS), triclocarban, and CHD risk in Guangzhou, China. Quantile-based g-computation and weighted quantile sum regression were used to analyze mixture-outcome associations. Quantile-based g-computation showed a positive joint effect of a decile increase in exposure to all examined pollutants on CHD risk (OR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.25-1.84), with bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol F (BPF), n-butyl paraben (BuP), and TCS representing major contributors. The results also showed a decile nonmonotonic increase in the exposure mixtures, positively correlated with a 2.22 ng/mL (95% CI: 1.21-3.23 ng/mL) elevation of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), with BuP, TCS, bisphenol AP (BPAP), and BPF contributing dominantly. Mediation analysis showed that 8-OHdG mediated the relationship between BPA, BPF, BPAP, and TCS, and CHD risk. Moreover, the mediating role of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) between several bisphenols and CHD was also identified. It is yet to be verified, but bisphenols may elevate CHD risk by reducing HDL status and increasing oxidative stress.

Publications on ultrasound-guided thermal ablation for thyroid nodules from 2000 to 2022: a bibliometric analysis.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid nodules are increasingly treated with minimally invasive surgery. Thermal ablation could efficiently treat patients with benign thyroid nodules, recurrent thyroid cancer, and low-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma. This research aims to explore the research field of thermal ablation for thyroid nodules using bibliometric analysis. METHODS: The web of science core collection (WoSCC) database was utilized from its inception to 1 October 2022, to collect research articles and reviews on ultrasound-guided thermal ablation for thyroid nodules. We applied the R package 'bibliometrix' to summarize the main findings, calculate the occurrences of the top keywords and visualize the international collaboration networks. The co-authorship and co-occurrence analyses were conducted with VOSviewer software. CiteSpace was used to identify the top references and keywords with the highest citation bursts. RESULTS: A total of 820 publications from 32 countries were retrieved. The annual number of related publications showed an increasing trend. China, Italy, and Korea were the most contributing countries. The University of Ulsan College of Medicine in Korea was the most productive institution, and Jung Hwan Baek published the maximum number of articles. The International Journal of Hyperthermia was the most productive journal. 'Papillary thyroid micro-carcinoma (PTMC)' and 'association guideline' were the most frequently used keywords in the field of thermal ablation for thyroid nodules, which indicated the potential hot research topics and frontiers in the future. CONCLUSION: This bibliometric study conducts a comprehensive analysis of publications on thermal ablation for thyroid nodules, which aids investigators in discovering potential research directions.

Perchlorate in fine particulate matter in Shenzhen, China, and implications for human inhalation exposure.

The wide application of perchlorate in military and aerospace industries raises potential exposure risks for humans. Previous studies have mainly focused on perchlorate in drinking water, foodstuffs and dust, while its exposure in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has received less attention. Thus, we investigated its concentrations and temporal variability in PM2.5 from October 2020 to September 2021 in Shenzhen, southern China. We also assessed the native population's intake and uptake of perchlorate in PM2.5 via inhalation. Measured PM2.5 concentrations in samples from Shenzhen ranged from 2.0 to 91.9 µg m-3. According to air quality guidelines proposed by the World Health Organization, 12.7% of all the samples exceeded interim target 1 (> 35 µg m-3), and only 37.3% met interim target 3 (< 15 µg m-3). Logistic regression analysis showed that perchlorate concentrations positively correlated with the PM2.5 concentrations and negatively correlated with precipitation. The median estimated daily intake (EDI) was highest for infants (0.029 ng kg-1 day-1), and both EDIs and estimated daily uptakes (EDUs) gradually decreased with age. All the EDIs and EDUs were below the reference dose provided by the US National Academy of Sciences (NAS), indicating that exposure to perchlorate in PM2.5 posed negligible health risks for Shenzhen residents. However, the exposure of infants and specific groups who tend to be more highly exposed than average still warrants attention.

[Nomogram-Based Prediction of Risk of Cervical Lymph Node Metastasis in Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma].

Objective To establish a nomogram for predicting the risk of cervical lymph node metastasis in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). Methods The patients with complete clinical data of DTC and cervical lymph node ultrasound and diagnosed based on pathological evidence from January 2019 to December 2021 were assigned into a training group (n=444) and a validation group (n=125).Lasso regression was performed to screen the data with differences between groups,and multivariate Logistic regression to establish a prediction model with the factors screened out by Lasso regression.C-index and calibration chart were employed to evaluate the prediction performance of the established model. Results The predictive factors for establishing the model were lymph node short diameter≥0.5 cm,long-to-short-axis ratio<2,disappearance of lymph node hilum,cystic transformation,hyperechogenicity,calcification,and abnormal blood flow (all P<0.001).The established model demonstrated a good discriminative ability,with the C index of 0.938 (95%CI=0.926-0.961) in the training group. Conclusion The nomogram established based on the ultrasound image features of cervical lymph nodes in DTC can accurately predict the risk of cervical lymph node metastasis in DTC.

[Influencing Factors and Prediction Model of Performance of Needle Visualization in Fine Needle Aspiration of Thyroid Nodules].

Objective To investigate the influencing factors and establish a model predicting the performance of needle visualization in fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of thyroid nodules. Methods This study prospectively included 175 patients who underwent FNA of thyroid nodules in the Department of Ultrasound in China-Japan Friendship Hospital and compared the display of the needle tips in the examination of 199 thyroid nodules before and after the application of needle visualization.We recorded the location,the positional relationship with thyroid capsule,ultrasonic characteristics,and the distribution of the soft tissue strip structure at the puncture site of the nodules with unclear needle tips display before using needle visualization.Furthermore,according to the thyroid imaging reporting and data system proposed by the American College of Radiology,we graded the risk of the nodules.Lasso-Logistic regression was employed to screen out the factors influencing the performance of needle visualization and establish a nomogram for prediction. Results The needle tips were not clearly displayed in the examination of 135 (67.8%) and 53 (26.6%) nodules before and after the application of needle visualization,respectively,which showed a significant difference (P<0.001).Based on the positional relationship between the nodule and capsule,anteroposterior/transverse diameter (A/T) ratio,blood supply,and the distribution of subcutaneous strip structure at the puncture site,a nomogram was established to predict the probability of unclear display of the needle tips after application of needle visualization.The C-index of the prediction model was 0.75 (95%CI=0.67-0.84) and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.72.The calibration curve confirmed the appreciable reliability of the prediction model,with the C-index of 0.70 in internal validation. Conclusions Needle visualization can improve the display of the needle tip in ultrasound-guided FNA of thyroid nodules.The nomogram established based on ultrasound features such as the positional relationship between the nodule and capsule,A/T ratio,blood supply,and the distribution of subcutaneous strip structure at the puncture site can predict whether needle visualization is suitable for the examination of nodules.

A novel prognostic model based on log odds of positive lymph nodes to predict outcomes of patients with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma after surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The eighth version of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (8th AJCC) system for anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) added lymph node (LN) metastasis as the staging element. This study aimed to explore the association between LN status and ATC's prognosis, identify the optimal LN index and establish a novel prognostic model. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: Data of 199 ATC patients after surgery were collected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database, then randomly divided into training and validation cohorts. MEASUREMENTS: We compared the prognostic value of AJCC N status, number of positive LN (PLNN), ratio of LN (LNR) and log odds of positive LN (LODDS). We conducted univariate and multivariate Cox analyses to determine the independent prognostic factors for ATC, and constructed a novel prognostic model. The concordance index (C-index), area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC), calibration curves and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to assess the nomogram's predictive performance. RESULTS: LODDS showed the highest accuracy among four LN systems to predict overall survival (OS) for ATC. In the training cohort, the C-index of the LODDS-based nomogram was 0.738. The AUCs were 0.813, 0.850 and 0.869 for predicting 1-, 2- and 3-year OS, respectively. The calibration plots and DCA indicated the great clinical applicability of the model. The above results were verified in the validation cohort. CONCLUSIONS: LODDS showed better predictive performance than other LN schemes in ATC. The LODDS-incorporated nomogram has the potential to more precisely predict the prognosis for ATC patients than the AJCC system.

Reciprocal regulations between miRNAs and HIF-1α in human cancers.

Hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is a central molecule involved in mediating cellular processes. Alterations of HIF-1α and hypoxically regulated microRNAs (miRNAs) are correlated with patients' outcome in various cancers, indicating their crucial roles on cancer development. Recently, an increasing number of studies have revealed the intricate regulations between miRNAs and HIF-1α in modulating a wide variety of processes, including proliferation, metastasis, apoptosis, and drug resistance, etc. miRNAs are a class of small noncoding RNAs which function as negative regulators by directly targeting mRNAs. Evidence shows that miRNAs can be regulated by HIF-1α at transcriptional level. In turn, HIF-1α itself can be modulated by many miRNAs whose alterations have been implicated in tumorigenesis, thus forming a reciprocal regulation network. These findings add a new layer of complexity to our understanding of HIF-1α regulatory networks. Here, we will provide a comprehensive overview of the current advances about the bidirectional interactions between HIF-1α and miRNAs in human cancers. Besides, the review will summarize the roles of miRNAs/HIF-1α crosstalk according to various cellular processes. Finally, the potential values of miRNAs/HIF-1α loops in clinical applications are discussed.

Soft-Chemical Method for Synthesizing Intermetallic Antimonide Nanocrystals from Ternary Chalcogenide.

The synthesis of intermetallic antimonides usually depends on either the high-temperature alloying technique from high-purity metals or the flux method in highly poisonous Pb-melt. In this paper, we introduced a soft-chemical method to synthesize intermetallic antimonides from ternary chalcogenide precursors under an argon atmosphere below 200 °C. Powder X-ray diffraction and compositional analysis clearly indicate that a new phase of the Ag3Sb nanocrystal was synthesized from the Ag3SbS3 precursors. Three types of trialkylphosphines (TAPs) were applied as desulfurization agents, and the transformation mechanism was elucidated. The capability of the desulfurization agent follows the sequence of triphenylphosphine (TPP) > tributylphosphine (TBP) > trioctylphosphine (TOP). Besides, this TAP-driven desulfurization route to synthesize the intermetallic phase could also be possible for AgSbSe2 and Sb2S3. Therefore, this paper provides an efficient and mild technique for the fabrication of intermetallic nanocrystals.

Quantitative Detection of Cracks in Steel Using Eddy Current Pulsed Thermography.

Small cracks are common defects in steel and often lead to catastrophic accidents in industrial applications. Various nondestructive testing methods have been investigated for crack detection; however, most current methods focus on qualitative crack identification and image processing. In this study, eddy current pulsed thermography (ECPT) was applied for quantitative crack detection based on derivative analysis of temperature variation. The effects of the incentive parameters on the temperature variation were analyzed in the simulation study. The crack profile and position are identified in the thermal image based on the Canny edge detection algorithm. Then, one or more trajectories are determined through the crack profile in order to determine the crack boundary through its temperature distribution. The slope curve along the trajectory is obtained. Finally, quantitative analysis of the crack sizes was performed by analyzing the features of the slope curves. The experimental verification showed that the crack sizes could be quantitatively detected with errors of less than 1%. Therefore, the proposed ECPT method was demonstrated to be a feasible and effective nondestructive approach for quantitative crack detection.

Role of MiRNAs in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), mainly including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Despite improvements in detection, drug treatment and surgery, the pathogenesis of IBD has not been clarified. A number of miRNAs have been found to be involved in the initiation, development and progression of IBD, and they may have the potential to be used as biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Here, we have summarized the recent advances about the roles of miRNAs in IBD and analyzed the contribution of miRNAs to general diagnosis, differential diagnosis and activity judgment of IBD. Furthermore, we have also elaborated the promising role of miRNAs in IBD-related cancer prevention and prognosis prediction.

miR-483-3p plays an oncogenic role in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by targeting tumor suppressor EI24.

microRNAs (miRNAs), through negatively regulating their target genes, influence the development and progression of many cancers. Previously, we found miR-483 was overexpressed in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) tissues, and its overexpression was negatively correlated with the prognosis and positively correlated with multidrug resistance of ESCC, but whether it could affect the biological role of proliferation and migration in ESCC cell lines is unknown. In the present study, we found miR-483-3p was overexpressed in ESCC cell lines as compared with the normal esophageal squamous epithelial cell line. Functional experiments in vitro showed that miR-483-3p could promote the proliferation, migration, transformation of cell cycle from G1 phase to G2 phase of ESCC cells and could inhibit cells' sensitivity to chemotherapy drugs. Nude mouse tumorigenicity assay indicated that miR-483-3p could promote the growth of ESCC cells in vivo. Western blot assay showed that ectopic expression of miR-483-3p in ESCC cells could downregulate the protein level of etoposide induced 2.4 (EI24), which is a tumor suppressor and has not been reported in ESCC. Luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that EI24 was a direct target of miR-483-3p. Collectively, our study demonstrated that miR-483-3p could promote ESCC progression at least in part through directly targeting EI24, supplying a potential strategy for miRNA-based ESCC therapy.

Assessment of liver fibrosis: the relationship between point shear wave elastography and quantitative histological analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Traditional pathological scoring systems for liver fibrosis progression are predominantly based on the description of architectural changes with no consideration of the amount of collagen fiber deposition. Our purpose was to explore a true histological standard in accordance with the liver stiffness measured by point shear wave elastography (PSWE) in patients with chronic hepatitis B. METHODS: A total of 78 patients with liver neoplasms underwent liver stiffness measurements with PSWE as well as biochemical investigations within 3 days before partial hepatectomy. One tissue section of the liver specimens was stained with HE trichrome and evaluated traditionally with the Scheuer scoring system. The other tissue section was stained with picroSirius red and was evaluated according to the semiquantitative Chevallier et al. scoring system. In addition, this second tissue section was evaluated for the collagen proportionate area (CPA) with computer-assisted digital image analysis. The reproducibility of PSWE technology was explored through the intra-class correlation coefficient of a reliability analysis. RESULTS: The PSWE technology revealed good reproducibility in liver stiffness measurements, and the PSWE values increased with the pathological severity of liver fibrosis on both the Scheuer scoring system and the semiquantitative Chevallier et al. scoring system. PSWE values exhibited more reasonable relationships with CPA (r = 0.628, P = 0.00 < 0.05) than with the Scheuer scoring system (r = 0.473, P = 0.00 < 0.05) or the Chevallier et al. semiquantitative scoring system (r = 0.487, P = 0.00 < 0.05). CONCLUSION: CPA is a better pathological parameter than traditional semiquantitative scoring systems in accordance with liver stiffness measured by PSWE technology.

Assessment of liver fibrosis with elastography point quantification technique in chronic hepatitis B virus patients: a comparison with liver pathological results.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Elastography point quantification (ElastPQ) was a newly non-invasive method for the assessment of liver fibrosis by measuring liver stiffness. We aimed at evaluating the reproducibility of ElastPQ technology in the determination of liver stiffness and to investigate the value of ElastPQ in liver fibrosis staging among chronic hepatitis B patients. METHODS: A total of 291 successive patients who underwent liver partial hepatectomy or biopsy were examined with the ElastPQ technology for the measurement of liver stiffness. Ten ElastPQ measurements were obtained in the right lobe of the liver through the seventh to the tenth intercostal space for every patient. The reproducibility of ElastPQ technology was analyzed with intraclass correlation (ICC) of reliability analysis. Comparing the median of 10 measurements of ElastPQ with liver fibrosis, necroinflammatory activity, and steatosis pathologically, as well as gender and age, potential factors affecting liver stiffness were explored by multiple linear regression analysis, and the performances of ElastPQ were evaluated with repeated measures anova and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: The ICC of 10 measurements of liver stiffness with ElastPQ technique was 0.798, which indicated a good reproducibility. Liver fibrosis and necroinflammatory activity were positively correlated with ElastPQ (P = 0.00, 0.01 < 0.05) while other factors had no effect on ElastPQ. There was significant difference of ElastPQ between S1 (5.60 ± 2.55 kPa) and S2 (7.44 ± 3.43 kPa) (P = 0.01 < 0.05), and S3 (8.71 ± 3.14 kPa) and S4 (10.87 ± 5.25 kPa) (P = 0.01 < 0.05). The area under the ROC curve was 0.94 (6.99 kPa, the optimal cut-off value) for ElastPQ measured with ElastPQ between S0-1 and S2-3, 0.89 (9.00 kPa) for ElastPQ between S2-3 and S4. CONCLUSION: ElastPQ is a valid and reproducible non-invasive technology in liver stiffness measurement among chronic hepatitis B patients. The stage of liver fibrosis and the grade of necroinflammatory activity are associated with values of ElastPQ while liver fibrosis is the dominating factor affecting liver stiffness measured by ElastPQ.

Epigenetic regulation of microRNAs in gastric cancer.

Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers and accounts for a large proportion of cancer-related deaths in the world, while the pathogenesis of it is still not clear. Epigenetic changes have been found to participate in the development and progression of gastric cancer. Epigenetic changes involve methylation of cytosines in DNA, modifications of histone, chromatin remodeling, and alterations in the expression of microRNAs. MicroRNAs, a family of small non-coding RNAs, have been demonstrated to participate in many fundamental biological processes including the carcinogenesis of gastric cancer. Previous studies have shown that the downregulation of microRNAs are often caused by the methylation in the CpG islands of microRNA promoters. Here, we have summarized the functions and molecular mechanisms of gastric cancer related methylated microRNAs in gastric carcinogenesis. We further envisage the clinical application of microRNA methylation in the early diagnosis, treatment and prognosis assessment of gastric cancer.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography for evaluation of cystic renal mass: in comparison to contrast-enhanced CT and conventional ultrasound.

PURPOSE: To assess the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in evaluating cystic renal lesions compared with conventional ultrasound (US) and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT). METHODS: One hundred and three patients with complex cystic renal masses underwent preoperative US and CEUS, among which 70 conducted CECT at our institution. The images were analyzed with the number of septa, septa and wall thickness and the presence of solid component, and final diagnosis was made. RESULTS: In malignancies, CEUS demonstrated more septa, thicker wall or septa, and more solid components than US and CECT. CEUS permitted categorization of 51.7% (30/58) and 28.6% (10/35) of malignant tumors in higher grade than by US and CECT, respectively. In benign lesions, CEUS detected more septa than CECT and correctly diagnosed benign cysts which appeared as solid lesions in US. CEUS permitted downgrading of 71.1% (32/45) and 17.1% (6/35) of benign lesions compared to US and CECT. The diagnostic performance of CEUS was better than US for benign cystic lesions. The phenomenon that solid-like component by US did not enhance by CEUS was a strong predictor of benign disease, with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 100%. Enhancement of solid, soft tissue by CEUS was highly predictive of malignancy, with a PPV of 100%. CONCLUSIONS: CEUS was superior to US and CECT in visualizing the number of septa septa and wall thickness, and the presence of solid component of cystic renal lesions. CEUS may play a similar role to CECT in the diagnosis of renal cystic lesions, and better than US.

Hemispheric coupling between structural and functional asymmetries in clinically asymptomatic carotid stenosis with cognitive impairment.

Advanced carotid stenosis is a known risk factor for ischemic stroke and vascular dementia, and it is associated with multidomain cognitive impairment as well as asymmetric alterations in hemispheric structure and function. Here we introduced a novel measure-the asymmetry index of amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF_AI)-derived from resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. This measure captures the hemispheric asymmetry of intrinsic brain activity using high-dimensional registration. We aimed to investigate functional brain asymmetric alterations in patients with severe asymptomatic carotid stenosis (SACS). Furthermore, we extended the analyses of ALFF_AI to different frequencies to detect frequency-specific alterations. Finally, we examined the coupling between hemispheric asymmetric structure and function and the relationship between these results and cognitive tests, as well as the white matter hyperintensity burden. SACS patients presented significantly decreased ALFF_AI in several clusters, including the visual, auditory, parahippocampal, Rolandic, and superior parietal regions. At low frequencies (0.01-0.25 Hz), the ALFF_AI exhibited prominent group differences as frequency increased. Further structure-function coupling analysis indicated that SACS patients had lower coupling in the lateral prefrontal, superior medial frontal, middle temporal, superior parietal, and striatum regions but higher coupling in the lateral occipital regions. These findings suggest that, under potential hemodynamic burden, SACS patients demonstrate asymmetric hemispheric configurations of intrinsic activity patterns and a decoupling between structural and functional asymmetries.

A "Motivation" model of couple support for digital technology use among rural older adults.

Although recent research has demonstrated spouse support for technology use among older adults, by treating them as a homogeneous group, it has overlooked differences caused by socio-demographic dimensions in their digital engagement. Following the approach of the grounded theory and interviewing 15 couples in a developing aging region (Wuzhi County, Henan, China), this study paints a fuller picture of couple support for technology adoption among older adults in terms of their psychological motivations by dividing older adults into two categories: technology supports and technology recipients. The resulting concepts of motivation (e.g., social norms, benefit driven, perceptual elements, and value satisfaction), particularly limiting motivational factors (e.g.,individual status) reveal the psychological mechanisms behind this process and are conceptualized as a "motivation" model of couple support for digital technology use among rural older adults. Our study has strong implications for active and healthy aging, as policymakers can stimulate external motivation for technology adoption among older adults by fostering a sense of family responsibility and social ethos that encourages couples to help each other. In addition, local communities as stakeholders can educate older adults about the usefulness, ease of use, and risk-averse means of digital technology, and satisfy their altruistic and egoistic psychological needs to increase the inner value satisfaction they gain from the couple support process. By doing this, motivation and engagement are thereby increased, and ultimately, technology adoption in disadvantaged socioeconomic groups may be improved.

Factors affecting N2O fluxes from heavy metal-contaminated mangrove soils in a subtropical estuary.

A 1-year field monitoring program was carried out to observe seasonal variation in N2O fluxes at two typical mangrove wetlands in a subtropical estuary. The soils in the island-type mangrove wetland had a higher level of heavy metal(loid) contamination and a lower level of salinity compared to the small bay-type mangrove wetland. While there was a high level of similarity in the seasonal variation pattern of N2O fluxes between the two investigated sites with both being significantly higher in summer than in other seasons, the average of N2O fluxes in the island-type mangrove wetland was 7.19 µg·m-2·h-1， which tended to be lower compared to the small bay-type mangrove wetland (15.63 µg·m-2·h-1). Overall, N2O flux was closely related to soil-borne heavy metal(loid)s, showing a trend to decrease with increasing concentration of these heavy metal(loid)s. The N2O fluxes increased with decreasing abundance of either denitrifiers or nitrifiers. But the opposite was observed for the anammox bacteria present in the soils. The anammox bacteria were more sensitive to heavy metal(loid) stress but more tolerated high salinity encountered in the investigated soils compared to the denitrifiers or nitrifiers. It appears that anammox reactions mediated by anammox bacteria played a key role in affecting the spatial variation in N2O fluxes from the mangrove soils in the study area. And an increased level of ammonium in soils tended to promote the activity of anammox bacteria and consequently enhanced N2O emission from the mangrove soils.