Halide Superionic Conductors with Non-Close-Packed Anion Frameworks.

Halide superionic conductors (SICs) are drawing significant research attention for their potential applications in all-solid-state batteries. A key challenge in developing such SICs is to explore and design halide structural frameworks that enable rapid ion movement. In this work, we show that the close-packed anion frameworks shared by traditional halide ionic conductors face intrinsic limitations in fast ion conduction, regardless of structural regulation. Beyond the close-packed anion frameworks, we identify that the non-close-packed anion frameworks have great potential to achieve superionic conductivity. Notably, we unravel that the non-close-packed UCl3-type framework exhibit superionic conductivity for a diverse range of carrier ions, including Li+, Na+, K+, and Ag+, which are validated through both ab initio molecular dynamics simulations and experimental measurements. We elucidate that the remarkable ionic conductivity observed in the UCl3-type framework structure stems from its significantly more distorted site and larger diffusion channel than its close-packed counterparts. By employing the non-close-packed anion framework as the key feature for high-throughput computational screening, we also identify LiGaCl3 as a promising candidate for halide SICs. These discoveries provide crucial insights for the exploration and design of novel halide SICs.

Amorphous Chloride Solid Electrolytes with High Li-Ion Conductivity for Stable Cycling of All-Solid-State High-Nickel Cathodes.

Solid electrolytes (SEs) are central components that enable high-performance, all-solid-state lithium batteries (ASSLBs). Amorphous SEs hold great potential for ASSLBs because their grain-boundary-free characteristics facilitate intact solid-solid contact and uniform Li-ion conduction for high-performance cathodes. However, amorphous oxide SEs with limited ionic conductivities and glassy sulfide SEs with narrow electrochemical windows cannot sustain high-nickel cathodes. Herein, we report a class of amorphous Li-Ta-Cl-based chloride SEs possessing high Li-ion conductivity (up to 7.16 mS cm-1) and low Young's modulus (approximately 3 GPa) to enable excellent Li-ion conduction and intact physical contact among rigid components in ASSLBs. We reveal that the amorphous Li-Ta-Cl matrix is composed of LiCl43-, LiCl54-, LiCl65- polyhedra, and TaCl6- octahedra via machine-learning simulation, solid-state 7Li nuclear magnetic resonance, and X-ray absorption analysis. Attractively, our amorphous chloride SEs exhibit excellent compatibility with high-nickel cathodes. We demonstrate that ASSLBs comprising amorphous chloride SEs and high-nickel single-crystal cathodes (LiNi0.88Co0.07Mn0.05O2) exhibit ∼99% capacity retention after 800 cycles at ∼3 C under 1 mA h cm-2 and ∼80% capacity retention after 75 cycles at 0.2 C under a high areal capacity of 5 mA h cm-2. Most importantly, a stable operation of up to 9800 cycles with a capacity retention of ∼77% at a high rate of 3.4 C can be achieved in a freezing environment of -10 °C. Our amorphous chloride SEs will pave the way to realize high-performance high-nickel cathodes for high-energy-density ASSLBs.

Broadband sound absorption based on impedance decoupling and modulation mechanisms.

In sound absorbers, acoustic resistance and reactance are usually coupled together and affect each other, which brings difficulties to impedance matching. An impedance decoupling method is proposed to make acoustic resistance and acoustic reactance vary independently. For the same thickness and perforation rate, acoustic reactance of the perforated panel with tube bundles (PPTBs) varies with the diameter of the tube, but acoustic resistance remains constant. Theoretical and simulated results show that a PPTB absorptive unit can exhibit resonance modes with varying damping states through impedance decoupling. It is found that through well-modulation, the PPTB unit in a slightly over-damped state cannot only maintain high sound absorption coefficients, but also expand the absorption peak bandwidth. Utilizing the mechanism of impedance decoupling, a broadband absorber is designed and evaluated by comprising the PPTB and microperforated panel (MPP). Measurement results indicate that it possesses an average absorption coefficient of 85% spanning more than a 3-octave bandwidth from 160 Hz to 1400 Hz with a deep sub-wavelength thickness. The impedance decoupling method helps to implement sound absorbers with highly efficient low-frequency broadband absorption.

Stable All-Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries Enabled by Machine Learning Simulation Designed Halide Electrolytes.

Solid electrolytes (SEs) with superionic conductivity and interfacial stability are highly desirable for stable all-solid-state Li-metal batteries (ASSLMBs). Here, we employ neural network potential to simulate materials composed of Li, Zr/Hf, and Cl using stochastic surface walking method and identify two potential unique layered halide SEs, named Li2ZrCl6 and Li2HfCl6, for stable ASSLMBs. The predicted halide SEs possess high Li+ conductivity and outstanding compatibility with Li metal anodes. We synthesize these SEs and demonstrate their superior stability against Li metal anodes with a record performance of 4000 h of steady lithium plating/stripping. We further fabricate the prototype stable ASSLMBs using these halide SEs without any interfacial modifications, showing small internal cathode/SE resistance (19.48 Ω cm2), high average Coulombic efficiency (∼99.48%), good rate capability (63 mAh g-1 at 1.5 C), and unprecedented cycling stability (87% capacity retention for 70 cycles at 0.5 C).

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the bHLH transcription factor family and its response to abiotic stress in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench].

BACKGROUND: Basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) is a superfamily of transcription factors that is widely found in plants and animals, and is the second largest transcription factor family in eukaryotes after MYB. They have been shown to be important regulatory components in tissue development and many different biological processes. However, no systemic analysis of the bHLH transcription factor family has yet been reported in Sorghum bicolor. RESULTS: We conducted the first genome-wide analysis of the bHLH transcription factor family of Sorghum bicolor and identified 174 SbbHLH genes. Phylogenetic analysis of SbbHLH proteins and 158 Arabidopsis thaliana bHLH proteins was performed to determine their homology. In addition, conserved motifs, gene structure, chromosomal spread, and gene duplication of SbbHLH genes were studied in depth. To further infer the phylogenetic mechanisms in the SbbHLH family, we constructed six comparative syntenic maps of S. bicolor associated with six representative species. Finally, we analyzed the gene-expression response and tissue-development characteristics of 12 typical SbbHLH genes in plants subjected to six different abiotic stresses. Gene expression during flower and fruit development was also examined. CONCLUSIONS: This study is of great significance for functional identification and confirmation of the S. bicolor bHLH superfamily and for our understanding of the bHLH superfamily in higher plants.

Genome-wide identification, expression analysis, and functional study of the GRAS transcription factor family and its response to abiotic stress in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench].

BACKGROUND: GRAS, an important family of transcription factors, have played pivotal roles in regulating numerous intriguing biological processes in plant development and abiotic stress responses. Since the sequencing of the sorghum genome, a plethora of genetic studies were mainly focused on the genomic information. The indepth identification or genome-wide analysis of GRAS family genes, especially in Sorghum bicolor, have rarely been studied. RESULTS: A total of 81 SbGRAS genes were identified based on the S. bicolor genome. They were named SbGRAS01 to SbGRAS81 and grouped into 13 subfamilies (LISCL, DLT, OS19, SCL4/7, PAT1, SHR, SCL3, HAM-1, SCR, DELLA, HAM-2, LAS and OS4). SbGRAS genes are not evenly distributed on the chromosomes. According to the results of the gene and motif composition, SbGRAS members located in the same group contained analogous intron/exon and motif organizations. We found that the contribution of tandem repeats to the increase in sorghum GRAS members was slightly greater than that of fragment repeats. By quantitative (q) RT-PCR, the expression of 13 SbGRAS members in different plant tissues and in plants exposed to six abiotic stresses at the seedling stage were quantified. We further investigated the relationship between DELLA genes, GAs and grain development in S. bicolor. The paclobutrazol treatment significantly increased grain weight, and affected the expression levels of all DELLA subfamily genes. SbGRAS03 is the most sensitive to paclobutrazol treatment, but also has a high response to abiotic stresses. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, SbGRAs play an important role in plant development and response to abiotic stress. This systematic analysis lays the foundation for further study of the functional characteristics of GRAS genes of S. bicolor.

DNMT1-mediated methylation of BEX1 regulates stemness and tumorigenicity in liver cancer.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Hepatoblastoma (HB) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) both exhibit notable cancer stem cell (CSC) features. Moreover, the development of both diseases is closely associated with the presence of CSCs. We investigated the role of brain-expressed X-linked protein 1 (BEX1) in regulating the CSC properties of HB and a subtype of HCC with high CSC features (CSC-HCC). METHODS: Stemness scores were analyzed in 5 murine HCC models. A subpopulation of BEX1-positive cells and BEX1-negative cells were sorted from HCC cell lines, and subjected to transcriptome analysis. The expression and function of BEX1 was examined via western blotting, sphere formation assays, and xenograft tumor models. RESULTS: We identified BEX1 as a novel CSC marker that was required for the self-renewal of liver CSCs. Furthermore, zebularine, a potent DNMT1 inhibitor, can induce the reactivation of BEX1 by removing epigenetic inhibition. Notably, BEX1 was highly expressed in patients with HB and CSC-HCC, but not in patients with non-CSC HCC. Moreover, DNMT1-mediated methylation of the BEX1 promoter resulted in differential BEX1 expression patterns in patients with HB, CSC-HCC, and non-CSC-HCC. Mechanistically, BEX1 interacted with RUNX3 to block its inhibition of ß-catenin transcription, which led to the activation of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling, and stemness maintenance in both HB and CSC-HCC. In contrast, downregulated BEX1 expression released RUNX3 and inhibited the activation of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling in non-CSC-HCC. CONCLUSION: BEX1, under the regulation of DNMT1, is necessary for the self-renewal and maintenance of liver CSCs through activation of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling, rendering BEX1 a potentially valuable therapeutic target in both HB and CSC-HCC. LAY SUMMARY: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) contribute to a high rate of cancer recurrence, as well as resistance to conventional therapies. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying their self-renewal remains elusive. Herein, we have reported that BEX1 plays a key role in regulating CSC properties in different types of liver cancer. Targeting BEX1-mediated Wnt/ß-catenin signaling may help to address the high rate of recurrence, and heterogeneity of liver cancer.

Aurora kinase A (AURKA) promotes the progression and imatinib resistance of advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a common tumor that originates from the alimentary system mesenchyme. Compared to typical gastrointestinal carcinomas, GISTs exhibit unique malignant behaviors. Bioinformatic tools and subsequent experiments were applied to investigate novel targets involved in GIST progression and imatinib resistance. METHODS: Differences in gene expression profiles between advanced and nonadvanced GISTs were comprehensively analyzed based on the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset GSE136755. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed to identify the potential target gene. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to elucidate relevant biological events related to the target gene based on the GSE47911 dataset. Subsequently, immunohistochemistry and Kaplan-Meier analysis were performed to validate the prognostic value of the target gene in GISTs. Overexpression of the target gene was conducted to analyze its function in the proliferation, apoptosis, and imatinib resistance of GIST/T1 cells. RESULTS: In the current study, a total of 606 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened based on the GSE136755 dataset, and the upregulated DEGs in advanced GISTs were mainly involved in cell division through functional annotations. The intersecting hub gene, Aurora kinase A (AURKA), was identified by degree and bottleneck algorithms. GSEA revealed that AURKA was involved in cell cycle-related biological processes. Analysis of the Oncomine and GEPIA databases revealed a pattern of elevated AURKA expression in most human malignances. Clinical assays demonstrated that AURKA could be an independent prognostic factor for GISTs. Additionally, overexpression of AURKA was experimentally demonstrated to promote cell proliferation, inhibit cell apoptosis, and enhance imatinib resistance in GIST/T1 cells. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicated that overexpression of AURKA promoted GIST progression and enhanced imatinib resistance, implying that AURKA is a potential therapeutic target for GISTs.

The characteristics of laboratory tests at admission and the risk factors for adverse clinical outcomes of severe and critical COVID-19 patients.

BACKGROUND: The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a public health emergency. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the risk factors for mortality in severe and critical COVID-19 patients. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of patients diagnosed with severe and critical COVID-19 from four hospitals in Wuhan, China, by evaluating the clinical characteristics and laboratory results, and using Cox proportional hazards model to assess the risk factors involved in disease progression. RESULTS: In total, 446 patients with COVID-19 were enrolled. The study indicated a high mortality rate (20.2%) in severe and critical COVID-19 patients. At the time of admission, all patients required oxygen therapy, and 52 (12%) required invasive mechanical ventilation, of which 50 (96%) died. The univariate Cox proportional hazards model showed a white blood cell count of more than 10 × 109/L (HR 3.993,95%CI 2.469 to 6.459) that correlated with an increased mortality rate. The multivariable Cox proportional hazards model demonstrated that older age (HR 1.066, 95% CI 1.043 to 1.089) and higher white blood cell count (HR 1.135, 95% CI 1.080 to 1.192) were independent risk factors for determining COVID-19 associated mortality. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 is associated with a significant risk of morbidity and mortality in the population. Older age and higher white blood cell count were found to be independent risk factors for mortality.

Dimethoxy Curcumin Induces Apoptosis by Suppressing Survivin and Inhibits Invasion by Enhancing E-Cadherin in Colon Cancer Cells.

BACKGROUND Dimethoxy curcumin (DMC) is a kind of lipophilic analog of curcumin with great improvement in chemical and metabolic stability. DMC has been studied in breast and renal cancer, but no research in colon cancer has been found yet. MATERIAL AND METHODS Two colon cancer cells (HT-29 and SW480) and one normal human colon mucosal epithelial cell (NCM460) were used in this study. We studied the effect of DMC on the proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Transwell migration assay was used to estimate the inhibition of DMC on invasion. Moreover, the expressions of PARP, caspase-3, survivin and E-cadherin were detected to uncover the related signaling pathways by western blotting assay both in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS DMC significantly inhibited the growth of colon cancer cells in dose-dependent manner; IC50 for DMC was calculated to be 43.4, 28.2 and 454.8µM on HT-29, SW480 and NCM460. DMC significantly increased the apoptosis in both HT-29 (p=0.0051) and SW480 (p=0.0013) cells in vitro, and significantly suppressed the growth of both cell lines in vivo. Moreover, DMC reduced the number of migrated cells in both HT-29 (p=0.007) and SW480 (p=0.004) cells. By western blotting analysis, the cleavage of pro-caspases-3 and PARP were clearly induced by DMC to their active form, while the expression of survivin was reduced and E-cadherin was enhanced in both cells in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSIONS DMC may exert an effective anti-tumor effect in colon cancer cells by down-regulating survivin and upregulating E-cadherin.

Combined right hemicolectomy and pancreaticoduodenectomy for locally advanced right hemicolon cancer.

Extracolonic invasion of the duodenum and/or pancreatic head rarely occurs in patients with right hemicolon cancer. However, when necessary, combined radical operation is a challenge to the surgeon. We reported 7 patients with locally advanced right hemicolon cancer who underwent combined right hemicolectomy (RH) and pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) due to direct involvement of the duodenum or pancreatic head. This study included four males and three females with a mean age of 66.9+/-5.9 years. Computed tomography (CT) scans revealed right hemicolon cancer with duodenal invasion (5 patients) and pancreatic invasion (2). The mean operation time was 410+/-64 minutes and the estimated blood loss was 514+/-157 mL. After the operation, the mean postoperative hospital stay was 22.1+/-7.2 days. Five patients had postoperative complications. The mean follow-up time was 16.4+/-5.9 months. During this period, three patients died from tumor recurrence, one from postoperative complications, one from pulmonary disease, and two survived until the last scheduled follow-up. Five patients survived more than one year. Combined RH and PD for locally advanced right hemicolon cancer can be performed safely, thus providing a long-term survival rate in selected patients in a high-volume center.

Performance Enhancement of the Li6PS5Cl-Based Solid-State Batteries by Scavenging Lithium Dendrites with LaCl3-Based Electrolyte.

Li6PS5Cl (LPSC) is a very attractive sulfide solid electrolyte for developing high-performance all-solid-state lithium batteries. However, it cannot suppress the growth of lithium dendrites and then can only tolerate a small critical current density (CCD) before getting short-circuited to death. Learning from that a newly-developed LaCl3-based electrolyte (LTLC) can afford a very large CCD, a three-layer sandwich-structured electrolyte is designed by inserting LTLC inside LPSC. Remarkably, compared with bland LPSC, this hybrid electrolyte LPSC/LTLC/LPSC presents extraordinary performance improvements: the CCD gets increased from 0.51 to 1.52 mA cm-2, the lifetime gets prolonged from 7 h to >500 h at the cycling current of 0.5 mA cm-2 in symmetric cells, and the cyclability gets extended from 10 cycles to >200 cycles at the cycling rate of 0.5 C and 30 °C in Li|electrolyte|NCM721 full cells. The enhancing reasons are assigned to the capability of LTLC to scavenge lithium dendrites, forming a passive layer of Ta, La, and LiCl.

Cutoff values for alcoholic liver fibrosis using magnetic resonance elastography technique.

BACKGROUND: Due to the lack of cutoff values validated for specific liver diseases, the purpose of this study was to set up specific magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) cutoff values for asymptomatic liver fibrosis in alcoholic patients. METHODS: Ninety patients underwent 3 clinical exams. The liver stiffness was measured locally with the Fibroscan, and globally through cartographies of shear modulus generated with MRE. The Fibroscan method was chosen as the gold standard to classify the fibrosis. The liver score was also obtained with the Fibrometer A, and the diagnostic performance of the methods was analyzed with receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves and cutoff values were calculated. RESULTS: Spearman correlation and area under the ROC curve revealed that MRE is a better diagnostic method than the Fibrometer A, to identify various levels of fibrosis. The results showed that the Fibrometer A was adapted for severe fibrosis. The MRE cutoff values are F1:2.20 kPa, F2:2.57 kPa, F3:3.31 kPa, and F4:4 kPa and were not influenced by the glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase level. By using the ultrasound cutoff values attributed for alcoholism, 66% of patients had a similar liver fibrosis diagnosis as the MRE cutoffs. However, both imaging techniques did not provide the same distribution for minor fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: None of the imaging techniques (Fibroscan, MRE) could replace the gold standard of the biopsy. However, due to the risk and the unnecessary procedure for the present recruited alcoholic patients, the Fibroscan method was chosen as the reference. Since MRE is currently being used as a clinical exam, the present MRE cutoffs could aid clinicians with their diagnosis of liver fibrosis for alcoholism disease.

Complete response of advanced rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumors after imatinib treatment: A case report and literature review.

RATIONALE: Patients with rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) who achieve a complete response (CR) with imatinib therapy have rarely been reported in the literature. Moreover, no treatment guidelines have been established for rectal GIST patients with CR after imatinib treatment, warranting further studies. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 51-year-old man presented to our outpatient clinic in October 2013 with complaints of difficulty to defecate and a change in stool characteristics. During digital rectal examination, a mass was palpated within 5 cm from the anal verge. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a 8.1 × 7.2-cm rectal mass with significant enhancement during the arterial phase. DIAGNOSES: A diagnosis of GIST was established after conducting needle biopsy and immunohistochemistry staining. INTERVENTIONS: Imatinib therapy (400 mg/d, oral administration) was immediately started. When the patient achieved clinical CR (cCR), the oncologist recommended the patient to continue imatinib treatment. OUTCOMES: At 7 months after imatinib administration, the patient achieved cCR. As suggested by the oncologist, the patient continued to receive imatinib treatment after cCR. After 13 months, the patient spontaneously stopped imatinib. Finally, tumor recurrence was observed 7 months later. LESSONS: Surgery remains the mainstay of treatment for advanced rectal GIST patients who achieve cCR after imatinib treatment. Close follow-up and continuous imatinib treatment are indicated in patients who cannot undergo surgery.

TNFAIP8 modulates the survival and immune activity of Th17 cells via p53/ p21/ MDM2 pathway after acute insult.

Th17 cells induced immunosuppression plays a vital role in sepsis. As a member of the tumor necrosis factor α induced protein 8 (TNFAIP8) family, TNFAIP8 is associated with different physiopathological conditions with immunological responses. However, its potential roles in regulating Th17 cells after the acute insult have not been fully elucidated. In this study, sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in the male adult C57BL/6 mice. The stable TNFAIP8 knockdown (KD) Th17 cells were established by infecting with lentivirus carrying TNFAIP8-specific shRNA. CCK-8 assay was conducted to evaluate Th17 cell proliferation, and Annexin V/7-AAD assay was applied for apoptosis measurement by flow cytometry. The alterations of p53/ p21/ MDM2 pathway were assessed by Western blot. We observed that a high TNFAIP8 expression level was related to acute injury in septic mice. TNFAIP8 silencing suppressed Th17 cell proliferation and cytokine production in vivo and in vitro. In addition, TNFAIP8 KD increased Th17 cell apoptosis in septic mice. Furthermore, TNFAIP8 seems to affect the immune function of Th17 cells by regulating p53/ p21/ MDM2 signaling processes. We found that TNFAIP8 KD caused the up-regulation of P21 and MDM2, and also elevated p53 protein level during sepsis. Pharmacological inhibition of p53 partially rescued cell proliferation and apoptotic effects of TNFAIP8 KD. In summary, our work suggests that TNFAIP8 modulates the survival and immune function of Th17 cells after acute insult, which was possibly mediated through the p53/ p21/ MDM2 pathway.

Association of Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Agonistic Autoantibodies With Outcomes in Patients With Acute Aortic Dissection.

Importance: Angiotensin II is significantly associated with the pathogenesis of acute aortic dissection. Angiotensin II type 1 receptor agonistic autoantibodies (AT1-AAs) can mimic the effect of angiotensin II. Objective: To investigate the association between AT1-AAs and all-cause and cause-specific mortality risk in patients with acute aortic dissection. Design, Setting, and Participants: A total of 662 patients with clinically suspected aortic dissection from 3 medical centers in Wuhan, China, were enrolled in this cohort study from August 1, 2014, to July 31, 2016. Of these, 315 patients were included in the 3-year follow-up study. Follow-up was mainly performed via telephone interviews and outpatient clinic visits. Data analysis was conducted from March 1 to May 31, 2020. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcomes of interest were all-cause mortality, death due to aortic dissection, and late aortic-related adverse events. Results: The full study cohort included 315 patients with AAD (mean [SD] age, 56.2 [12.7] years; 230 men [73.0%]). Ninety-two patients (29.2%) were positive for AT1-AAs. The mortality of AT1-AA-positive patients was significantly higher than that of AT1-AA-negative patients (40 [43.5%] vs 37 [16.6%]; P < .001). The mortality risk in AT1-AA-positive patients was always significantly higher than that in AT1-AA-negative patients in patients with both type A and type B dissection. Multivariable analysis showed that the risk of AT1-AA-positive patients for type A dissection was significantly higher than that of AT1-AA-negative patients (odds ratio [OR], 1.88; 95% CI, 1.12-3.13; P = .02). The Cox proportional hazards regression model showed a significant increase of all-cause mortality risk (OR, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.44-3.57; P < .001) and late aortic-related adverse events (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.06-2.36; P = .03) among AT1-AA-positive patients during the follow-up period compared with AT1-AA-negative patients. Conclusions and Relevance: This cohort study first detected AT1-AAs in patients with acute aortic dissection. The presence of AT1-AAs was associated with significantly higher all-cause and cause-specific mortality during a follow-up period of 3 years. The antibodies may be a risk factor for aortic dissection.

Nutritional risk and therapy for severe and critical COVID-19 patients: A multicenter retrospective observational study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the nutritional risk and therapy in severe and critical patients with COVID-19. METHODS: A total of 523 patients enrolled from four hospitals in Wuhan, China. The inclusion time was from January 2, 2020 to February 15. Clinical characteristics and laboratory values were obtained from electronic medical records, nursing records, and related examinations. RESULTS: Of these patients, 211 (40.3%) were admitted to the ICU and 115 deaths (22.0%). Patients admitted to the ICU had lower BMI and plasma protein levels. The median Nutrition risk in critically ill (NUTRIC) score of 211 patients in the ICU was 5 (4, 6) and Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS) score was 5 (3, 6). The ratio of parenteral nutrition (PN) therapy in non-survivors was greater than that in survivors, and the time to start nutrition therapy was later than that in survivors. The NUTRIC score can independently predict the risk of death in the hospital (OR = 1.197, 95%CI: 1.091-1.445, p = 0.006) and high NRS score patients have a higher risk of poor outcome in the ICU (OR = 1.880, 95%CI: 1.151-3.070, p = 0.012). After adjusted age and sex, for each standard deviation increase in BMI, the risk of in-hospital death was reduced by 13% (HR = 0.871, 95%CI: 0.795-0.955, p = 0.003), and the risk of ICU transfer was reduced by 7% (HR = 0.932, 95%CI:0.885-0.981, p = 0.007). The in-hospital survival time of patients with albumin level ≤35 g/L was significantly decreased (15.9 d, 95% CI: 13.7-16.3, vs 24.2 d, 95% CI: 22.3-29.7, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Severe and critical patients with COVID-19 have a high risk of malnutrition. Low BMI and protein levels were significantly associated with adverse events. Early nutritional risk screening and therapy for patients with COVID-19 are necessary.

Uric acid as a prognostic factor and critical marker of COVID-19.

The purpose of this study is to explore whether uric acid (UA) can independently act as a prognostic factor and critical marker of the 2019 novel corona virus disease (COVID-19). A multicenter, retrospective, and observational study including 540 patients with confirmed COVID-19 was carried out at four designated hospitals in Wuhan. Demographic, clinical, laboratory data were collected and analyzed. The primary end point was in-hospital death of patients with COVID-19. The concentration of admission UA (adUA) and the lowest concentration of uric acid during hospitalization (lowUA) in the dead patients were significantly lower than those in the survivors. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed the concentration of lowUA (OR 0.986, 95% CI 0.980-0.992, p < 0.001) was able to independently predict the risk of in-hospital death. The mean survival time in the low-level group of lowUA was significantly lower than other groups. When lowUA was ≤ 166 µmol/L, the sensitivity and specificity in predicting hospital short-term mortality were 76.9%, (95% CI 68.5-85.1%) and 74.9% (95% CI 70.3-78.9%). This retrospective study determined that the lowest concentration of UA during hospitalization can be used as a prognostic indicator and a marker of disease severity in severe patients with COVID-19.

Genome-wide identification and phylogenetic relationships of the Hsp70 gene family of Aegilops tauschii, wild emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccoides) and bread wheat (Triticum aestivum).

Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) plays an important role in plant development. It is closely related to the physiological process of cell development and the response to abiotic and biological stress. However, the classification and evolution of Hsp70 genes in bread wheat, wild emmer wheat and Aegilops tauschii are still unclear. Therefore, this study conducted a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of Hsp70 gene in three species. Among these three species, 113, 79 and 36 Hsp70 genes were identified. They are divided into six subfamilies. Group vi-1 is different from Arabidopsis thaliana. It may be the result of early evolutionary segregation. The number of exons in different subfamilies (from 1 to 13) was different, but the distribution patterns of exons / introns in the same subfamily were similar. The results of Hsp70 promoter region analysis showed that the cis-regulatory elements of A. tauschii and wild emmer wheat were different from those of wheat. In addition, CpG island proportion of wild emmer Hsp70 was higher than that of wheat, which may be the molecular basis of heat resistance of wild wheat relative to cultivated wheat. Further comprehensive analysis of chromosome location and repeat events of Hsp70 gene showed that whole-genome duplication and tandem duplication events contributed to the evolution and expansion of Hsp70 gene in wheat. The results of non-synonymous substitution and synonymous substitution analysis showed that Hsp70 genes of three species had undergone purification selection. The expression profile analysis showed that Hsp70 gene was highly expressed in the roots during the vegetative growth period. In addition, TaHsp70 gene was highly expressed under various stress. The identification, classification and evolution of Hsp70 in wheat and its relatives provided a basis for further research on its evolution and its molecular mechanism in response to stress. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-021-02639-5.

Colorectal gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs): a retrospective study of reported cases.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although with malignant potential, there are limited information about colorectal GISTs due to their relatively low incidence among large intestine diseases and the lack of sufficient associated case reports. The aim of the study is to obtain a better understanding of colorectal GISTs and to investigate the optimal treatment for it. METHODOLOGY: Clinical data of 90 patients with colorectal GISTs published in the literature from 2003 to 2009 were analyzed with emphasis on pathology, treatment and prognosis. RESULTS: The patients with tumor necrosis had a high relapse rate (p = 0.003) and a bad prognosis (p < 0.001) after surgery with negative margins (R0). Tumor necrosis had a significantly positive correlation with risk grades (p < 0.001). On the other hand, the mixed cell type had a significantly positive correlation with tumor necrosis (p = 0.016). Of the 67 cases with R0 resection, the difference of disease-free survival between the low-risk and high-risk was statistically significant (p = 0.003). Although, this was not statistically significant between the low risk and intermediate risk (p = 0.160) as well as intermediate-risk and high-risk (p = 0.229). But the high-risk had a marked relapse rate (54.8%), in comparison with the intermediate-risk (7.1%). CONCLUSION: High-risk colorectal GISTs showed a poor outcome. A complete resection followed by routine use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors is recommended. Surgery with negative margins is the main treatment for non-high-risk group. The GISTs with tumor necrosis or mixed cell type implicate a malignant potential and a poor outcome. More attention should be paid and an extensive follow-up is warranted in this population.