Decoding the Promotional Effect of Iron in Bimetallic Pt-Fe-nanoparticles on the Low Temperature Reverse Water-Gas Shift Reaction.

The reverse water-gas shift (RWGS) reaction is a key technology of the chemical industry, central to the emerging circular carbon economy. Pt-based catalysts have previously been shown to effectively promote RWGS, especially when modified by promoter elements. However, their active states are still poorly understood. Here, we show that the intimate incorporation of an iron promoter into metal-oxide-supported Pt-based nanoparticles can increase their activity and selectivity for the low temperature reverse water-gas shift (LT-RWGS) substantially and drastically outperform unpromoted Pt-based materials. Specifically, the study explores the promotional effect of iron in Pt-Fe bimetallic systems supported on silica (PtxFey@SiO2) prepared by surface organometallic chemistry (SOMC). The most active catalyst (Pt1Fe1@SiO2) shows high selectivity (>99% CO) toward CO at a formation rate of 0.192 molCO h-1 gcat-1, which is significantly higher than that of monometallic Pt@SiO2 (96% sel. and 0.022 molCO h-1 gcat-1). In-situ diffuse reflectance FT-IR spectroscopy (DRIFTS) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) indicate a dynamic process at the catalyst surface under the reaction conditions, revealing distinct reaction pathways for the monometallic Pt@SiO2 and bimetallic PtxFey@SiO2 systems.

Machine learning slice-wise whole-lung CT emphysema score correlates with airway obstruction.

OBJECTIVES: Quantitative CT imaging is an important emphysema biomarker, especially in smoking cohorts, but does not always correlate to radiologists' visual CT assessments. The objectives were to develop and validate a neural network-based slice-wise whole-lung emphysema score (SWES) for chest CT, to validate SWES on unseen CT data, and to compare SWES with a conventional quantitative CT method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Separate cohorts were used for algorithm development and validation. For validation, thin-slice CT stacks from 474 participants in the prospective cross-sectional Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study (SCAPIS) were included, 395 randomly selected and 79 from an emphysema cohort. Spirometry (FEV1/FVC) and radiologists' visual emphysema scores (sum-visual) obtained at inclusion in SCAPIS were used as reference tests. SWES was compared with a commercially available quantitative emphysema scoring method (LAV950) using Pearson's correlation coefficients and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis. RESULTS: SWES correlated more strongly with the visual scores than LAV950 (r = 0.78 vs. r = 0.41, p < 0.001). The area under the ROC curve for the prediction of airway obstruction was larger for SWES than for LAV950 (0.76 vs. 0.61, p = 0.007). SWES correlated more strongly with FEV1/FVC than either LAV950 or sum-visual in the full cohort (r = - 0.69 vs. r = - 0.49/r = - 0.64, p < 0.001/p = 0.007), in the emphysema cohort (r = - 0.77 vs. r = - 0.69/r = - 0.65, p = 0.03/p = 0.002), and in the random sample (r = - 0.39 vs. r = - 0.26/r = - 0.25, p = 0.001/p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: The slice-wise whole-lung emphysema score (SWES) correlates better than LAV950 with radiologists' visual emphysema scores and correlates better with airway obstruction than do LAV950 and radiologists' visual scores. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: The slice-wise whole-lung emphysema score provides quantitative emphysema information for CT imaging that avoids the disadvantages of threshold-based scores and is correlated more strongly with reference tests than LAV950 and reader visual scores. KEY POINTS: • A slice-wise whole-lung emphysema score (SWES) was developed to quantify emphysema in chest CT images. • SWES identified visual emphysema and spirometric airflow limitation significantly better than threshold-based score (LAV950). • SWES improved emphysema quantification in CT images, which is especially useful in large-scale research.

Associations of maternal and personal smoking with all-cause and cause-specific mortality risk and life expectancy: a prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the individual and combined effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy (MSDP) and personal smoking on mortality and life expectancy. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective cohort study based on the UK Biobank, with a median follow-up of 12.47 years. METHODS: This study employed multivariate Cox regression to determine the relative risks of mortality from all causes and specific diseases according to maternal and/or personal smoking status and pack-years of smoking (0, 1-20, 21-30, >30). Additionally, this study estimated the additive interaction between the two exposures. Life table analyses were performed using the estimated age-specific mortality rates to forecast life expectancy. RESULTS: Results indicated that MSDP elevated the risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.09-1.15) and mortality due to neoplasms (HR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.06-1.12), circulatory (HR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.06-1.19), respiratory (HR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.16-1.40) and digestive system diseases (HR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.08-1.38). Notably, both multiplicative and additive interactions were observed between maternal and personal smoking, with Relative Excess Risk due to Interaction (RERI) values for mortality from all causes, neoplasms, circulatory, and respiratory diseases being 0.21, 0.22, 0.16, and 0.76, respectively. This study also found a trend towards shorter gained life expectancy when maternal smoking and increasing pack-years of personal smoking were combined. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort study of UK Biobank, MSDP was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality and reduced life expectancy, suggesting that quitting smoking during pregnancy might have health and longevity benefits for both generations.

HS-GC-IMS Analysis of Volatile Organic Compounds in Six Spicy Spices and Their Effects on Ulcerative Colitis.

The volatile organic compounds of six spices, including black pepper, dried ginger, cinnamon, fennel, clove, and zanthoxylum, were analyzed by gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) combined with principal component analysis (PCA) and Euclidean distance. In further analyses, the effects of volatile oils in six spices on ulcerative colitis were assayed in a zebrafish model induced by 3-nitrobenzenesulfonic acid. A total of 120 kinds of volatile organic compounds were detected and 80 among them were identified, which included 10 common components and 3 to 24 characteristic components belonging to different spices. The major VOCs in six spices were estimated to be terpenes with the contents of 45.02%, 56.87%, 36.68%, 58.19%, 68.68%, and 30.62%, respectively. Meanwhile, the volatile components of fennel, dried ginger, black pepper, and cinnamon are quite similar, but differ from clove and zanthoxylum. The volatile oils in six spices presented efficient activity to improve ulcerative colitis which can decrease the number of neutrophils, restore the structure of intestinal epithelial and the morphology of the epithelial cells. Our study achieved rapid analysis of the volatile organic compounds and flavors in six spices and further revealed the potential health benefits of their volatile oils on ulcerative colitis, especially for clove and zanthoxylum. This study is expected to provide certain data support for the quality evaluation and the potential use in functional foods of six spices.

The humanised CYP2C19 transgenic mouse exhibits cerebellar atrophy and movement impairment reminiscent of ataxia.

AIMS: CYP2C19 transgenic mouse expresses the human CYP2C19 gene in the liver and developing brain, and it exhibits altered neurodevelopment associated with impairments in emotionality and locomotion. Because the validation of new animal models is essential for the understanding of the aetiology and pathophysiology of movement disorders, the objective was to characterise motoric phenotype in CYP2C19 transgenic mice and to investigate its validity as a new animal model of ataxia. METHODS: The rotarod, paw-print and beam-walking tests were utilised to characterise the motoric phenotype. The volumes of 20 brain regions in CYP2C19 transgenic and wild-type mice were quantified by 9.4T gadolinium-enhanced post-mortem structural neuroimaging. Antioxidative enzymatic activity was quantified biochemically. Dopaminergic alterations were characterised by chromatographic quantification of concentrations of dopamine and its metabolites and by subsequent immunohistochemical analyses. The beam-walking test was repeated after the treatment with dopamine receptor antagonists ecopipam and raclopride. RESULTS: CYP2C19 transgenic mice exhibit abnormal, unilateral ataxia-like gait, clasping reflex and 5.6-fold more paw-slips in the beam-walking test; the motoric phenotype was more pronounced in youth. Transgenic mice exhibited a profound reduction of 12% in cerebellar volume and a moderate reduction of 4% in hippocampal volume; both regions exhibited an increased antioxidative enzyme activity. CYP2C19 mice were hyperdopaminergic; however, the motoric impairment was not ameliorated by dopamine receptor antagonists, and there was no alteration in the number of midbrain dopaminergic neurons in CYP2C19 mice. CONCLUSIONS: Humanised CYP2C19 transgenic mice exhibit altered gait and functional motoric impairments; this phenotype is likely caused by an aberrant cerebellar development.

Clinicopathologic and prognostic factors for colorectal cancer in children and adolescents: a population-based study.

PURPOSE: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is rarely found in children and adolescents. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively conduct a population-based cohort of pediatric patients with CRC. METHODS: All pediatric patients with CRC diagnosed between 1975 and 2018 were identified using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The demographics and clinical variables of the patients were summarized, and treatment outcomes and prognostic factors were examined. The study was presented in accordance with the STROBE reporting checklist. RESULTS: A total of 284 CRC patients were identified. At 3- and 5-year follow-up, the overall survival rates were 63.1% and 52.6%, respectively. Patients with local disease had a significantly improved overall survival (OS) than patients with distant disease. At 3- and 5-year follow-up, the overall survival rates of adenocarcinoma (nos) and adenocarcinoma (polyp) were similar and significantly better than those of patients with mucinous adenocarcinoma and signet ring cell carcinoma (P < 0.001). In terms of treatment, patients who underwent surgery outlived non-surgery patients (3-year OS, 70.4% versus 26.6%, P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that SEER stage and histologic type were important independent predictors of outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Children and adolescents with CRC are likely to be in an advanced stage, have a worse histologic subtype, and have a poorly differentiated grade. Although surgical resection considerably increases survival for the majority of patients, pediatric patients with CRC have a poor prognosis. Considerable efforts are required to improve their survival outcomes.

Exploring the pathological relationships between adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma and contiguous structures with tumor origin.

PURPOSE: Identifying relationships between craniopharyngiomas (CPs) and contiguous structures, and tumor origin are crucial for treatments. This study attempted to explore the relationships and tumor origin. METHODS: CPs that underwent endoscopic surgeries were enrolled. The interfacial specimens of CPs attaching the hypothalamus, pituitary stalk (PS), pituitary grand (PG), optic chiasma (OC) and brain tissue (BT) were pathologically examined. Boundaries between CPs and these structures were observed during operations. Expression of ß-catenin and stem cell markers were analyzed to explore the tumor origin. Outcomes of patients were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 34 CPs were categorized into two groups based on the locations of finger-like protrusions (FP). Group A comprised 18 CPs with FP only present in the specimens attaching to hypothalamus. The surface of these CPs was fused with hypothalamus under endoscopic videos. However, the specimens attaching to the PS, PG, OC, and BT showed no FP. Clear boundaries was observed between these CPs and these structures. Group B comprised 16 CPs with FP only present in the specimens attaching to PS. The tumor surface was fused with PS. Specimens attaching to the hypothalamus, PG, OC and BT showed no FP. Clear boundary was observed among these CPs with these structures. These results implied CPs only invaded a certain part of hypothalamic-pituitary axis. ß-catenin and stem cells markers mainly distributed in the FP tissues of both groups. Patients in group B achieved better outcomes than group A. CONCLUSIONS: CPs only invade the hypothalamic-pituitary axis with FP and the FP would be the tumor origin.

Enhanced Photocatalytic Water Decontamination by Micro-Nano Bubbles: Measurements and Mechanisms.

Despite recent advancements in photocatalysis enabled by materials science innovations, the application of photocatalysts in water treatment is still hampered due to low overall efficiency. Herein, we present a TiO2 photocatalytic process with significantly enhanced efficiency by the introduction of micro-nano bubbles (MNBs). Notably, the removal rate of a model organic contaminant (methylene blue, MB) in an air MNB-assisted photocatalytic degradation (PCD) process was 41-141% higher than that obtained in conventional macrobubble (MaB)-assisted PCD under identical conditions. Experimental observations and supporting mechanistic modeling suggest that the enhanced photocatalytic degradation is attributed to the combined effects of increased dissolution of oxygen, improved colloidal stability and dispersion of the TiO2 nanocatalysts, and interfacial photoelectric effects of TiO2/MNB suspensions. The maximum dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration of the MNB suspension (i.e., 11.7 mg/L) was 32% higher than that of an MaB-aerated aqueous solution (i.e., 8.8 mg/L), thus accelerating the hole oxidation of H2O on TiO2. We further confirmed that the MNBs induced unique light-scattering effects, consequently increasing the optical path length in the TiO2/MNB suspension by 7.6%. A force balance model confirmed that a three-phase contact was formed on the surface of the bubble-TiO2 complex, which promoted high complex stability and PCD performance. Overall, this study demonstrates the enhanced photocatalytic water decontamination by MNBs and provides the underlying mechanisms for the process.

Changes in brain architecture are consistent with altered fear processing in domestic rabbits.

The most characteristic feature of domestic animals is their change in behavior associated with selection for tameness. Here we show, using high-resolution brain magnetic resonance imaging in wild and domestic rabbits, that domestication reduced amygdala volume and enlarged medial prefrontal cortex volume, supporting that areas driving fear have lost volume while areas modulating negative affect have gained volume during domestication. In contrast to the localized gray matter alterations, white matter anisotropy was reduced in the corona radiata, corpus callosum, and the subcortical white matter. This suggests a compromised white matter structural integrity in projection and association fibers affecting both afferent and efferent neural flow, consistent with reduced neural processing. We propose that compared with their wild ancestors, domestic rabbits are less fearful and have an attenuated flight response because of these changes in brain architecture.

Deep neural networks with promising diagnostic accuracy for the classification of atypical femoral fractures.

Background and purpose - A correct diagnosis is essential for the appropriate treatment of patients with atypical femoral fractures (AFFs). The diagnostic accuracy of radiographs with standard radiology reports is very poor. We derived a diagnostic algorithm that uses deep neural networks to enable clinicians to discriminate AFFs from normal femur fractures (NFFs) on conventional radiographs.Patients and methods - We entered 433 radiographs from 149 patients with complete AFF and 549 radiographs from 224 patients with NFF into a convolutional neural network (CNN) that acts as a core classifier in an automated pathway and a manual intervention pathway (manual improvement of image orientation). We tested several deep neural network structures (i.e., VGG19, InceptionV3, and ResNet) to identify the network with the highest diagnostic accuracy for distinguishing AFF from NFF. We applied a transfer learning technique and used 5-fold cross-validation and class activation mapping to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy.Results - In the automated pathway, ResNet50 had the highest diagnostic accuracy, with a mean of 91% (SD 1.3), as compared with 83% (SD 1.6) for VGG19, and 89% (SD 2.5) for InceptionV3. The corresponding accuracy levels for the intervention pathway were 94% (SD 2.0), 92% (2.7), and 93% (3.7), respectively. With regards to sensitivity and specificity, ResNet outperformed the other networks with a mean AUC (area under the curve) value of 0.94 (SD 0.01) and surpassed the accuracy of clinical diagnostics.Interpretation - Artificial intelligence systems show excellent diagnostic accuracies for the rare fracture type of AFF in an experimental setting.

A nanocomposite prepared from silver nanoparticles and carbon dots with peroxidase mimicking activity for colorimetric and SERS-based determination of uric acid.

Silver-carbon dots (Ag-CDs) nanocomposites with excellent peroxidase-like and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activities were fabricated by reducing silver ion with carbon dots. The formation of the core-shell structure was demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy. The Ag-CD nanocomposite catalyzes the oxidation of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in the presence of H2O2 to form oxidized TMB (oxTMB) that has a blue color with an absorption maximum at 652 nm. The catalytic activity originates from the fact that the electrons of CDs are transferred to H2O2 and decompose H2O2 into hydroxy radicals. The nanocomposites can be used for uric acid (UA) detection because UA can reduce oxTMB to form colorless TMB. The absorbance drops as the concentration of UA increases from 1 to 500 µM. The SERS signal of oxTMB can be detected (at 1605 cm-1) using the Ag-CD nanocomposites as SERS substrate. The intensity of the SERS signal decreases when the concentration of UA ranges from 0.01 to 500 µM. Graphical abstract Schematic representation of the fabrication of silver-carbon dots (Ag-CDs). The Ag-CDs catalyze the oxidation of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) by H2O2 to form blue-colored oxidized TMB (oxTMB). UA reduces oxTMB to form colorless TMB. This process is monitored by surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra for UA detection.

Fabrication of broadband anti-reflective layers by mask-free etching TiO2 films.

We present a simple way to make TiO2 anti-reflective layers on top of silicon substrates. Surfaces of TiO2 films have been modified by radio frequency plasma with CF4 as an etchant. Mask-free etching process on the polycrystalline films leads to the formation of random sub-wavelength textures. The reflection of the etched samples are significantly suppressed in the wavelength range of 400~800 nm (2.9~4.6%, 3% compared with 34% on bare silicon at the wavelength of 600 nm). We have numerically simulated the optical properties of TiO2 layers using the finite-difference time-domain method. The anti-reflective effects are attributed to random roughness on TiO2 surfaces. The etching porcess increases the surface roughness, therefore, the gradient of refractive index between air and silicon substrate is reduced. As a result, the Fresnel reflection is supressed. Our results demonstrate an efficient way of anti-reflective coating for solar cells.

High-Efficiency Second-Harmonic Generation from Hybrid Light-Matter States.

We report a novel approach to modify the second order nonlinear optical (NLO) susceptibility of organic nanofiber crystals by hybridization with the optical modes of microcavities in the strong coupling regime. The wavelength dependence of the SHG efficiency displays two intense peaks corresponding to the so-formed light-matter hybrid states. Our results demonstrate an enhancement of the resonant SHG efficiency of the lower polariton by 2 orders of magnitude for the collectively coupled molecules as compared to that of the same material outside the microcavity. This study is a proof of principle that opens a new direction for NLO of organic materials in subwavelength resonators.

How to measure renal artery stenosis--a retrospective comparison of morphological measurement approaches in relation to hemodynamic significance.

BACKGROUND: Although it is well known that renal artery stenosis may cause renovascular hypertension, it is unclear how the degree of stenosis should best be measured in morphological images. The aim of this study was to determine which morphological measures from Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) and Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) are best in predicting whether a renal artery stenosis is hemodynamically significant or not. METHODS: Forty-seven patients with hypertension and a clinical suspicion of renovascular hypertension were examined with CTA, MRA, captopril-enhanced renography (CER) and captopril test (Ctest). CTA and MRA images of the renal arteries were analyzed by two readers using interactive vessel segmentation software. The measures included minimum diameter, minimum area, diameter reduction and area reduction. In addition, two radiologists visually judged the diameter reduction without automated segmentation. The results were then compared using limits of agreement and intra-class correlation, and correlated with the results from CER combined with Ctest (which were used as standard of reference) using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis. RESULTS: A total of 68 kidneys had all three investigations (CTA, MRA and CER + Ctest), where 11 kidneys (16.2 %) got a positive result on the CER + Ctest. The greatest area under ROC curve (AUROC) was found for the area reduction on MRA, with a value of 0.91 (95 % confidence interval 0.82-0.99), excluding accessory renal arteries. As comparison, the AUROC for the radiologists' visual assessments on CTA and MRA were 0.90 (0.82-0.98) and 0.91 (0.83-0.99) respectively. None of the differences were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences were found between the morphological measures in their ability to predict hemodynamically significant stenosis, but a tendency of MRA having higher AUROC than CTA. There was no significant difference between measurements made by the radiologists and measurements made with fuzzy connectedness segmentation. Further studies are required to definitely identify the optimal measurement approach.

[Microsurgical treatment of multi-segment cervical intramedullary ependymomas].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the microsurgical skills of multi-segment cervical ependymomas and evaluate preoperative and postoperative neurological functions. METHODS: A total of 61 patients with multi-segment cervical ependymoma from January 2008 to July 2013 at our hospital were analyzed to summarize their clinical features, imaging findings, diagnosis, tumor resection and changes of neurological functions. RESULTS: Total (n = 58) and subtotal (n = 3) resections were performed. And postoperative nerve functions unchanged (n = 43) and aggravated (n = 18). There was no mortality. CONCLUSION: Proper planning and refined microsurgical techniques are essential in the treatment of multi-segment cervical ependymomas.

Case report: A case of sintilimab-induced recurrent diabetic ketoacidosis and thyroid dysfunction in a patient with advanced cervical carcinoma.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have radically altered cancer treatment, but immune toxicities called immune-related adverse events (irAEs), particularly endocrine toxicities, such as acute-onset diabetes and thyroid dysfunction, pose challenges. Although most irAEs have mild-to-moderate severity, failure to diagnose and treat them promptly can result in life-threatening complications. This report presents the case of a 50-year-old woman who developed ICI-induced diabetes mellitus (ICI-DM) during sintilimab treatment for advanced cervical carcinoma. The patient experienced repeated episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and subclinical hypothyroidism. Unlike the case of patients with typical type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), our patient tested negative for ß cell autoantibodies and progressed rapidly. Prompt recognition and insulin treatment are crucial for helping patients overcome such crises. Eventually, sintilimab was discontinued, and chemotherapy was initiated. This case report contributes to our understanding of ICI-DM. The significance of monitoring thyroid function and blood glucose levels before initiating ICI treatment to identify irAEs early and effectively manage them are important considerations.

Prognostic biomarker HIF1α and its correlation with immune infiltration in gliomas.

Certain glioma subtypes, such as glioblastoma multiforme or low-grade glioma, are common malignant intracranial tumors with high rates of relapse and malignant progression even after standard therapy. The overall survival (OS) is poor in patients with gliomas; hence, effective prognostic prediction is crucial. Herein, the present study aimed to explore the potential role of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 subunit alpha (HIF1α) in gliomas and investigate the association between HIF1α and infiltrating immune cells in gliomas. Data from The Cancer Genome Atlas were evaluated via RNA sequencing, clinicopathological, immunological checkpoint, immune infiltration and functional enrichment analyses. Validation of protein abundance was performed using paraffin-embedded samples from patients with glioma. A nomogram model was created to forecast the OS rates at 1, 3 and 5 years after cancer diagnosis. The association between OS and HIF1α expression was estimated using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and the log-rank test. Finally, HIF1α expression was validated using western blotting, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, Cell Counting Kit-8 and Transwell assays. The results demonstrated that HIF1α expression was significantly upregulated in gliomas compared with normal human brain glial cells. Immunohistochemistry staining demonstrated differential expression of the HIF1α protein. Moreover, glioma cell viability and migration were inhibited via HIF1α downregulation. HIF1α impacted DNA replication, cell cycling, DNA repair and the immune microenvironment in glioma. HIF1α expression was also positively associated with several types of immune cells and immunological checkpoints and with neutrophils, plasmacytoid dendritic cells and CD56bright cells. The Kaplan-Meier survival analyses further demonstrated a strong association between high HIF1α expression and poor prognosis in patients with glioma. Analysis of the receiver operating characteristic curves demonstrated that HIF1α expression accurately differentiated paired normal brain cells from tumor tissues. Collectively, these findings suggested the potential for HIF1α to be used as a novel prognostic indicator for patients with glioma and that OS prediction models may help in the future to develop effective follow-up and treatment strategies for these patients.

Quantifying the contributions of road and air traffic to ambient ultrafine particles in two urban communities.

Traffic-related activities are widely acknowledged as a primary source of urban ambient ultrafine particles (UFPs). However, a notable gap exists in quantifying the contributions of road and air traffic to size-resolved and total UFPs in urban areas. This study aims to delineate and quantify the traffic's contributions to size-resolved and total UFPs in two urban communities. To achieve this, stationary sampling was conducted at near-road and near-airport communities in Seattle, Washington State, to monitor UFP number concentrations during 2018-2020. Comprehensive correlation analyses among all variables were performed. Furthermore, a fully adjusted generalized additive model, incorporating meteorological factors, was developed to quantify the contributions of road and air traffic to size-resolved and total UFPs. The study found that vehicle emissions accounted for 29% of total UFPs at the near-road site and 13% at the near-airport site. Aircraft emissions contributed 14% of total UFPs at the near-airport site. Notably, aircraft predominantly emitted UFP sizes below 20 nm, while vehicles mainly emitted UFP sizes below 50 nm. These findings reveal the variability in road and air traffic contributions to UFPs in distinct areas. Our study emphasizes the pivotal role of traffic layout in shaping urban UFP exposure.

Acupuncture for the treatment of painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A growing number of studies have investigated the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (PDPN), but the findings of these studies have generated conflicting results. This study therefore aimed to assess the efficacy of acupuncture for treating PDPN so as to offer more conclusive results. METHODS: Seven databases were systematically searched for studies published up until December 1, 2023. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture for PDPN with visual analog scale (VAS) for pain score were included. Study selection, data extraction, and evaluation were conducted independently by researchers. The Risk of Bias 2 (RoB2) tool was employed to assess the risk of bias. From this sample, the mean difference (MD), 95 % confidence intervals (CI), publication bias, and heterogeneity were then computed. RESULTS: The manual acupuncture group exhibited a significant decrease in the VAS for pain score compared with the routine care group (p < 0.0001; MD = -1.45 [95 % CI, -1.97 to -0.93], I2 = 84 %). The real acupuncture group demonstrated a greater reduction in VAS scores than the sham acupuncture group (p = 0.004; MD = -0.97 [95 % CI, -1.63 to -0.31], I2 = 65 %). Additionally, the acupuncture group showed improvements in sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV, p < 0.0001; MD = 2.29 [95 % CI, 1.79 to 2.78], I2 = 14 %) as well as motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV, p < 0.0001; MD = 2.87 [95 % CI, 2.46 to 3.27], I2 = 0). Different durations of acupuncture treatment, including 6-10 weeks and 3-4 weeks, demonstrated a significant reduction in VAS scores compared with the routine care group. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis provides preliminary evidence for the claim that acupuncture has the potential to alleviate PDPN symptoms and improve SNCV and MNCV. However, high-quality RCTs are needed to offer further evidence and thus better substantiate such a contention.

DPP7 as a Potential Therapeutic Marker for Colorectal Cancer.

Background: Dipeptidyl peptidase 7 (DPP7) is overexpressed in various tumors, but its role in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. Study the Impact of DPP7 on malignant progression and tumor immunity in CRC. Methods: We utilized Tumor Immune Estimation Resource 2.0 (TIMER2.0) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) analyses to assess the expression of DPP7 in tumors and validated it through immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting. Additionally, we investigated the relationship between DPP7 and immune cell infiltration using single-sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA) analysis. Finally, the impact of DPP7 on cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and immune cell function in the tumor microenvironment was confirmed through cell experiments and animal studies. Results: DPP7 is highly expressed in CRC, and high expression of DPP7 is associated with poor prognosis. Cell experiments demonstrate that overexpression of DPP7 enhances the proliferation, migration, and invasion capabilities of colorectal cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. Immune infiltration analysis and co-culture results indicate that overexpression of DPP7 suppresses the immune cell's cytotoxic function against tumors in the tumor microenvironment. Conclusions: DPP7 promotes the malignant potential of colorectal cancer cells and inhibits tumor immune function, thereby promoting the progression of colorectal cancer.