Association of internet use and health service utilization with self-rated health in middle-aged and older adults: findings from a nationally representative longitudinal survey.

Objective: This study aims to explore the relationship between internet use and self-rated health among middle-aged and older adults and further investigates the mediating role of health service utilization between internet use and self-rated health, providing a reference for more effectively utilizing the internet to improve the health status of middle-aged and older adults. Method: We analyzed data from the 2018 and 2020 waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), this includes 10,011 in 2018 and 7,080 in 2020 over the age of 45. To explore the relationship between internet use and self-rated health, we employed propensity score matching (PSM) and instrumental variable regression analysis, accounting for a wide range of potential covariates. Additionally, the Sobel test was used to examine the mediating effect of health service utilization on this relationship. Results: According to the fully adjusted propensity score matching and instrumental variable regression model, internet use significantly enhanced self-rated health among middle-aged and older adults (ß = 0.348, P < 0.01; ß = 0.293, P < 0.1). However, subgroup analyses revealed that this positive effect was not significant among middle-aged and older adults who were divorced (ß = 0.190, P > 0.05), lived in special zone (ß = -1.379, P > 0.05), and lacked medical insurance (ß = 0.314, P > 0.05). Furthermore, mediation analysis revealed that inpatient services (ß = 0.0215, P < 0.01) acted as a mediator in the relationship between internet use and self-rated health. Conclusion: Internet use positively correlates with self-rated health among middle-aged and older adults. Additionally, the utilization of health services can significantly influence this relationship. These findings underscore the importance of developing targeted government strategies to promote internet access and create a supportive online environment, thereby enhancing the health outcomes of this demographic group.

Examining multidimensional health poverty and determining factors among rural women of childbearing age in ningxia, china.

BACKGROUND: The multidimensional health poverty afflicting rural women of reproductive age bears profound implications for the sustainable development of families, societies, and healthy villages. Elucidating vulnerable groups at risk of multidimensional health poverty and delineating its determinants can inform refinements and implementation of health-poverty alleviation policies. METHODS: Based on the 2022 "Health Status and Health Service Utilization" survey data in rural Ningxia, China, this study analyzes the dimension of health status, capacity for health service utilization, health expenditure and security using the A-F dual-threshold method, logit model, and probit model. It comprehensively evaluates multidimensional health poverty and analyzes its determining factors among rural women of childbearing age. RESULTS: With k set at 0.3, the health multidimensional poverty index, incidence, and intensity among rural women of reproductive age were 0.021, 0.053, and 0.392, respectively. Chronic illness, capacity for free gynecological examination utilization, health examination utilization, and borrowing due to illness contributed significantly to multidimensional health poverty. Risk factors for multidimensional health poverty among rural women of childbearing age include age, unemployment, family size, and lack of sanitary toilets. Protective factors include being married, educational level, non-farm or student occupation, receiving government support, separate housing and kitchen, owning a television and computer. CONCLUSIONS: Even with the elimination of absolute poverty, the multidimensional health poverty situation among rural women remains important from a gender perspective. It is recommended to strengthen economic assistance and health service support for these groups, improve the level of rural health services from a gender perspective, and enhance housing structure and sanitation toilet usage in rural areas. Efforts should be made to narrow the digital divide in rural areas and promote digital health education. Pre-interventions on multidimensional health poverty can provide new pathways for the development, empowerment, and well-being of rural women of childbearing age.

Exploring 1T/2H MoS2 quantum dots modified 2D CoPx nanosheets for efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction.

The exploration of multiphases and 0D/2D heterojunction in transition metal phosphides (TMPs) and transition metal sulfides (TMDs) is of major interest for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Herein, a novel combination route where 0D mixed-phased 1T/2H molybdenum sulfide quantum dots (MoS2 QDs) are uniformly anchored on the 2D CoPx nanosheets is developed. MoS2 QDs and CoPx were prepared via hydrothermal method and mixed with different ratios (Mo:Co ratios of 2:1, 1:1, and 1:2) and annealed under different temperatures to modulate their application in acidic HER processes. Specifically, 2Mo/1Co exhibited advanced performance for HER in 0.5 M H2SO4 solution and required 14 mV to deliver 10 mA cm-2 and revealed a descended Tafel slope of 75.42 mV dec-1 with 240 h stability except obvious deactivation. The successful design and construction of 0D/2D mixed-dimensional materials would broaden the application of MoS2 and CoPx for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

Intranasal esketamine versus esketamine-dexmedetomidine combination for premedication in pediatric patients undergoing strabismus surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Preoperative fear and anxiety are prevalent in children undergoing surgery. The combination of esketamine and dexmedetomidine has been proposed as a promising premedication for enhancing preoperative sedation and analgesia. This study compared the premedication efficacy of intranasal esketamine alone and esketamine-dexmedetomidine combination in pediatric patients undergoing strabismus surgery. Methods: One hundred and eighty preschool children aged 2-6 years scheduled for strabismus surgery were enrolled and randomly assigned to one of the three groups: intranasal premedication with esketamine 2 mg/kg (Group K), esketamine 1 mg/kg and dexmedetomidine 1 µg/kg (Group KD1), or esketamine 0.5 mg/kg and dexmedetomidine 2 µg/kg (Group KD2). The primary outcome was the level of sedation following the intervention, as measured by the modified Yale preoperative anxiety scale (mYPAS) and sedation scale (SS). Secondary outcomes included onset time of sedation, the successful rate of peripheral intravenous cannulation, parental separation anxiety scale (PSAS), mask acceptance scale (MAS), wake-up time, duration of stay in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), and premedication-related adverse effects. Results: After premedication, the mYPAS score gradually decreased in the three groups, with lower values in Group K than in Group KD1 and Group KD2 patients in 1, 5, and 10 min. SS in Group KD1 and Group KD2 steadily increased until 40 min after premedication, while SS in Group K increased in the first 5 min after premedication and maintained consistent levels during the remaining time. Sedation onset was substantially faster in Group K patients (11.4±7.8 min) than Group KD1 (18.1±7.5 min, P=0.006) and Group KD2 (18.4±6.8 min, P<0.001). PSAS, separation status, the successful rate of peripheral intravenous cannulation, and MAS were comparable among groups. There was no significant difference in terms of emergence time or duration of stay in the PACU among groups. More gastrointestinal events were observed in Group K (P<0.001). Conclusions: Intranasal premedication with 2 mg/kg esketamine produced a more rapid onset of sedation accompanied by more gastrointestinal reactions compared with a combination of esketamine and dexmedetomidine. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04757675.

Aberration-robust monocular passive depth sensing using a meta-imaging camera.

Depth sensing plays a crucial role in various applications, including robotics, augmented reality, and autonomous driving. Monocular passive depth sensing techniques have come into their own for the cost-effectiveness and compact design, offering an alternative to the expensive and bulky active depth sensors and stereo vision systems. While the light-field camera can address the defocus ambiguity inherent in 2D cameras and achieve unambiguous depth perception, it compromises the spatial resolution and usually struggles with the effect of optical aberration. In contrast, our previously proposed meta-imaging sensor1 has overcome such hurdles by reconciling the spatial-angular resolution trade-off and achieving the multi-site aberration correction for high-resolution imaging. Here, we present a compact meta-imaging camera and an analytical framework for the quantification of monocular depth sensing precision by calculating the Cramér-Rao lower bound of depth estimation. Quantitative evaluations reveal that the meta-imaging camera exhibits not only higher precision over a broader depth range than the light-field camera but also superior robustness against changes in signal-background ratio. Moreover, both the simulation and experimental results demonstrate that the meta-imaging camera maintains the capability of providing precise depth information even in the presence of aberrations. Showing the promising compatibility with other point-spread-function engineering methods, we anticipate that the meta-imaging camera may facilitate the advancement of monocular passive depth sensing in various applications.

The Genome-Wide Identification of the Dihydroflavonol 4-Reductase (DFR) Gene Family and Its Expression Analysis in Different Fruit Coloring Stages of Strawberry.

Dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR) significantly influences the modification of flower color. To explore the role of DFR in the synthesis of strawberry anthocyanins, in this study, we downloaded the CDS sequences of the DFR gene family from the Arabidopsis genome database TAIR; the DFR family of forest strawberry was compared; then, a functional domain screen was performed using NCBI; the selected strawberry DFR genes were analyzed; and the expression characteristics of the family members were studied by qRT-PCR. The results showed that there are 57 members of the DFR gene family in strawberry, which are mainly expressed in the cytoplasm and chloroplast; most of them are hydrophilic proteins; and the secondary structure of the protein is mainly composed of α-helices and random coils. The analysis revealed that FvDFR genes mostly contain light, hormone, abiotic stress, and meristem response elements. From the results of the qRT-PCR analysis, the relative expression of each member of the FvDFR gene was significantly different, which was expressed throughout the process of fruit coloring. Most genes had the highest expression levels in the full coloring stage (S4). The expression of FvDFR30, FvDFR54, and FvDFR56 during the S4 period was 8, 2.4, and 2.4 times higher than during the S1 period, indicating that the DFR gene plays a key role in regulating the fruit coloration of strawberry. In the strawberry genome, 57 members of the strawberry DFR gene family were identified. The higher the DFR gene expression, the higher the anthocyanin content, and the DFR gene may be the key gene in anthocyanin synthesis. Collectively, the DFR gene is closely related to fruit coloring, which lays a foundation for further exploring the function of the DFR gene family.

A mannose-rich exopolysaccharide-1 isolated from Bifidobacterium breve mitigates ovalbumin-induced intestinal damage in mice by modulation CD4 + T cell differentiation and inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathway.

Ovalbumin (OVA)-induced intestinal injury is a recurrent and potentially fatal condition. Previous studies have highlighted the roles of exopolysaccharides, particularly a mannose-rich (89.59 %) exopolysaccharide-1 (EPS-1) with a molecular weight of 39.9 kDa, isolated from Bifidobacterium breve H4-2, in repairing intestinal barriers and regulating immune responses. In this study, a mouse model of OVA-induced intestinal injury was used to investigate the effects of EPS-1 on intestinal barrier restoration. The results demonstrated that EPS-1 treatment (400 mg/kg. d) significantly reduced the allergic index (3.25 ± 0.43) in OVA-challenged mice (p < 0.05), improved the physical integrity of the intestinal barrier by increasing mucin content and goblet cell number in the ileum (p < 0.05). EPS-1 treatment (400 mg/kg. d) also maintained immune barrier integrity by restoring imbalanced CD4 + T/CD8 + T ratios from 0.86 ± 0.02 to 1.04 ± 0.06, regulating Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg cells balance, as well as inhibited the NF-κB signaling pathway. Furthermore, EPS-1 maintained microbiota homeostasis by increasing the abundances of Ruminococcus, Butyricicoccus, and Muribaculaceae, while reducing Streptococcus and Candidatus arthromitus. This microbiota modulation enhanced the levels of metabolites such as tyrosine, methionine, tryptophan, triglycerides, and salidroside. In conclusion, EPS-1 shows promise as a functional polysaccharide for therapeutic use.

Association between sanitary toilets and health poverty vulnerability among rural western Chinese adults aged 45 years and older: A cross-sectional study.

This study aimed to investigate the association between sanitary toilets and health poverty vulnerability among rural western Chinese adults aged 45 years and older. Using data from the 'Rural Household Health Inquiry Survey' conducted in 2022, a three-stage feasible generalized least squares method was employed to calculate health poverty vulnerability. Propensity score matching (PSM) and mediation effect analysis were used to assess the association between sanitary toilets and health poverty vulnerability among rural western Chinese adults aged 45 years and older and the mechanisms underlying this impact. This study revealed that the use of sanitary toilets was significantly associated with decreased health poverty vulnerability in adults over 45 years of age. Heterogeneity analysis revealed that this effect was more pronounced among males (ß = -0.0375, P<0.05), those aged 60-74 years (ß = -0.0476, P<0.05), and households with middle income (ß = -0.0590, P<0.01). Mediation effect analysis identified total household income (a×b = -0.0233, P<0.05), household size (a×b = -0.0181, P<0.01), number of household laborers (a×b = -0.0107, P<0.01), and registered poor households (a×b = -0.0081, P<0.01) as the mediating factors between sanitary toilets and health poverty vulnerability. The provision of sanitary toilets has been instrumental in mitigating health-related poverty among middle-aged and elderly people residing in rural areas. By improving household livelihood capital, the vulnerability of these individuals to health-related poverty can be significantly reduced.

Significance of humic matters-soil mineral interactions for environmental remediation: A review.

Industrial and human activities have led to serious soil and water pollution. Traditional remediation techniques have problems such as high treatment costs and the tendency to cause secondary pollution. Soil minerals and humic matters are common active components in soils. Both play vital roles and are frequently bound together to form humic matters-mineral complexes, which are considered sustainable and eco-friendly materials for environmental remediation and improvement. However, due to the complexity of humic matters-mineral interactions and the wide variation in the removal of different pollutants, there is a lack of research in this area. This paper provides a comprehensive introduction and summary of the interaction mechanisms between humic matters and typical soil minerals such as layered phosphate minerals and iron oxides, and their applications in environmental remediation, especially for the treatment of heavy metals (lead, mercury, chromium and cadmium) and organic pollutants (antibiotics, pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) in water and soil. The humic matters-mineral complex can reduce the toxicity and migration rate of pollutants through adsorption, electrostatic attraction, together with H-bonding and hydrophobic interactions, reducing the harm of these pollutants to soil and water environments and realizing the efficient remediation of soil and water environments. And compared with the traditional treatment technology, this method is more green and environmental protection, and the treatment cost is greatly reduced. Finally, the deficiencies of using humic matters-mineral complex to achieve soil and water remediation were summarized and also proposed directions for future endeavors as well as concrete measures.

Association between cooking with solid fuels and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults in China: The mediating effect of the residential environment.

BACKGROUND: Depression is a common issue among elderly people in both developing and developed countries. Existing research indicates that cooking with solid fuels has a negative impact on the mental health of middle-aged and elderly people (aged 45 and older). However, the potential role of the residential environment in this process is not yet clear. Clarifying this issue may help identify effective interventions to improve public health for elderly people. This study aimed to explore the association between cooking with solid fuels and depressive symptoms, as well as the potential mediating role of the residential environment in this relationship. METHOD: This study utilized cross-sectional data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) for 2020, involving approximately 19,000 respondents aged 45 years and older. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to explore the association between cooking with solid fuels and depressive symptoms. Additionally, a range of potential covariates were adjusted, and the Sobel test was applied to assess the potential mediating effect of the residential environment on this relationship. RESULTS: According to the fully adjusted model, cooking with solid fuels was significantly associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older adults (ß = 0.315, P < 0.001), and this finding was confirmed through robustness tests using different propensity score matching methods. Heterogeneity analysis revealed that this association was particularly significant among men (ß = 0.318, P < 0.001), those aged 60-74 (ß = 0.347, P < 0.001), and individuals with a middle school education (ß = 0.353, P < 0.001). Mediation effect analysis revealed that indoor cleanliness (ß = 0.0090, P < 0.001), indoor broadband coverage (ß = 0.0077, P < 0.001), and the installation of indoor air purifiers (ß = 0.0010, P < 0.1) mediated the relationships between cooking with solid fuels and depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: Given the growing attention given to improving indoor environments and enhancing mental health, the findings of this paper highlight that improving indoor cleanliness, increasing broadband coverage indoors, and installing air purifiers can effectively intervene in and prevent depressive symptoms caused by cooking with solid fuels.

Correlation between inflammatory cytokines and the likelihood of developing multiple types of digestive system cancers: A Mendelian randomization study.

OBJECTIVE: Inflammatory cytokines have been linked to digestive system cancers, yet their exact causal connection remains uncertain. Consequently, we conducted a Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to gauge how inflammatory cytokines are linked to the risk of five prevalent digestive system cancers (DSCs). METHODS: We collected genetic variation data for 41 inflammatory cytokines from genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and the results data for five common diseases from the Finnish database. Our primary analytical approach involved employing the inverse-variance weighted, residual sum (IVW) method, complemented by the MR-Egger method, the weighted median method, simple mode analysis, and weighted mode analysis as supplementary analytical techniques. Furthermore, we conducted multiple sensitivity analyses. RESULTS: Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), and interleukin (IL)-18 showed a negative association with the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. Conversely, TRAIL was inversely linked to the risk of gastric cancer, while IL-16 exhibited a positive correlation with gastric cancer risk. Stem cell factor (SCF) acted as a protective factor against pancreatic cancer. For colorectal cancer, IL-7, IL-9, IL-13, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were identified as risk factors. Notably, our results did not indicate a significant correlation between inflammatory cytokines and the risk of esophageal cancer. CONCLUSION: Our research unveils potential connections between 41 inflammatory cytokines and the risk of five common DSCs through a MR analysis. These associations offer valuable insights that could aid in the development of diagnostic biomarkers and the identification of novel therapeutic targets for DSCs.

An insight into structure-activity relationships in subclass IIb bacteriocins: Plantaricin EvF.

This study reports the structure-activity relationships of a unique subclass IIb bacteriocin, plantaricin EvF, which consists of two peptide chains and possesses potent antimicrobial activity. Because the plantaricin Ev peptide chain lacks an α-helix structure, plantaricin EvF is unable to exert its antimicrobial activity through helix-helix interactions like typical subclass IIb bacteriocins. We have shown by various structural evaluation methods that plantaricin Ev can be stabilized by hydrogen bonding at amino acid residues R3, V12, and R13 to the N-terminal region of plantaricin F. This binding gives plantaricin EvF a special spade-shaped structure that exerts antimicrobial activity. In addition, the root-mean-square deviations (RMSDs) of the amino acid residues Y6, F8, and R13 of plantaricin Ev pre- and post-binding were 1.512, 1.723, and 1.369, respectively, indicating that they underwent large structural changes. The alanine scanning experiments demonstrated the important role of the above key amino acids in maintaining the structural integrity of plantaricin EvF. This study not only reveals the unique structural features of plantaricin EvF, but also provides an insight into the structure-activity relationships of subclass IIb bacteriocins.

Molecular mechanisms underlying sex and treatment-dependent differences in an animal model of cue-exposure therapy for cocaine relapse prevention.

Environmental enrichment combined with the glycine transporter-1 inhibitor Org24598 (EE+ORG) during cocaine-cue extinction (EXT) inhibited reacquisition of 1.0 mg/kg cocaine self-administration in male but not female rats in a previous investigation. In this investigation, we determined if this treatment benefit in males required EXT training and ascertained the molecular basis for the observed sex difference in treatment efficacy. Nine groups of male rats trained to self-administer 1.0 mg/kg cocaine or receiving yoked-saline underwent EXT or NoEXT with or without EE and/or ORG. Next, they underwent reacquisition of cocaine self-administration or were sacrificed for molecular analysis of 9 protein targets indicative of neuroplasticity in four brain regions. Two groups of female rats trained to self-administer 1.0 mg/kg cocaine also underwent EXT with or without EE + ORG and were sacrificed for molecular analysis, as above. EE + ORG facilitated the rate of EXT learning in both sexes, and importantly, the therapeutic benefit of EE + ORG for inhibiting cocaine relapse required EXT training. Males were more sensitive than females to neuroplasticity-inducing effects of EE + ORG, which prevented reductions in total GluA1 and PSD95 proteins selectively in basolateral amygdala of male rats trained to self-administer cocaine and receiving EXT. Females were deficient in expression of multiple protein targets, especially after EE + ORG. These included total GluA1 and PSD95 proteins in basolateral amygdala, and total TrkB protein in basolateral amygdala, dorsal hippocampus, and ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Together, these results support the clinical view that sex-specific pharmacological and behavioral treatment approaches may be needed during cue exposure therapy to inhibit cocaine relapse.

Discovery of 1,2,4-Triazole-3-thione Derivatives as Potent and Selective DCN1 Inhibitors for Pathological Cardiac Fibrosis and Remodeling.

DCN1, a critical co-E3 ligase during the neddylation process, is overactivated in many diseases, such as cancers, heart failure as well as fibrotic diseases, and has been regarded as a new target for drug development. Herein, we designed and synthesized a new class of 1,2,4-triazole-3-thione-based DCN1 inhibitors based the hit HD1 identified from high-throughput screening and optimized through numerous structure-activity-relationship (SAR) explorations. HD2 (IC50= 2.96 nM) was finally identified and represented a highly potent and selective DCN1 inhibitor with favorable PK properties and low toxicity. Amazingly, HD2 effectively relieved Ang II/TGFß-induced cardiac fibroblast activation in vitro, and reduced ISO-induced cardiac fibrosis as well as remodeling in vivo, which was linked to the inhibition of cullin 3 neddylation and its substrate Nrf2 accumulation. Our findings unveil a novel 1,2,4-triazole-3-thione-based derivative HD2, which can be recognized as a promising lead compound targeting DCN1 for cardiac fibrosis and remodeling.

Identification of the effects of alkalinity exposure on the gills of oriental river prawns, Macrobrachium nipponense.

Macrobrachium nipponense is an important commercial freshwater species in China. However, the ability of alkali tolerance of M. nipponense is insufficient to culture in the major saline-alkali water source in China. Thus, it is urgently needed to perform the genetic improvement of alkali tolerance in this species. In the present study, we aimed to analyse the effects of alkali treatment on gills in this species after 96 h alkalinity exposure under the alkali concentrations of 0 mmol/L, 4 mmol/L, 8 mmol/L, and 12 mmol/L through performing the histological observations, measurement of antioxidant enzymes, metabolic profiling analysis, and transcriptome profiling analysis. The results of the present study revealed that alkali treatment stimulated the contents of malondialdehyde, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase in gills, indicating these antioxidant enzymes plays essential roles in the protection of body from the damage, caused by the alkali treatment. In addition, high concentration of alkali treatment (> 8 mmol/L) resulted in the damage of gill membrane and haemolymph vessel, affecting the normal respiratory function of gill. Metabolic profiling analysis revealed that Metabolic pathways, Biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, Biosynthesis of plant secondary metabolites, Microbial metabolism in diverse environments, Biosynthesis of amino acids were identified as the main enriched metabolic pathways of differentially expressed metabolites, which are consistent with the previous publications, treated by the various environmental factors. Transcriptome profiling analyses revealed that the alkali concentration of 12 mmol/L has more regulatory effects on the changes of gene expression than the other alkali concentrations. KEGG analysis revealed that Phagosome, Lysosome, Glycolysis/Gluconeogenesis, Purine Metabolism, Amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, and Endocytosis were identified as the main enriched metabolic pathways in the present study, predicting these metabolic pathways may be involved in the adaption of alkali treatment in M. nipponense. Phagosome, Lysosome, Purine Metabolism, and Endocytosis are immune-related metabolic pathways, while Glycolysis/Gluconeogenesis, and Amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism are energy metabolism-related metabolic pathways. Quantitative PCR analyses of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) verified the accuracy of the RNA-Seq. Alkali treatment significantly stimulated the expressions of DEGs from the metabolic pathways of Phagosome and Lysosome, suggesting Phagosome and Lysosome play essential roles in the regulation of alkali tolerance in this species, as well as the genes from these metabolic pathways. The present study identified the effects of alkali treatment on gills, providing valuable evidences for the genetic improvement of alkali tolerance in M. nipponense.

The predictive value of intraoperative bulbocavernosus reflex monitoring for postoperative voiding function in patients with conus medullaris and cauda equina tumors: a retrospective single center study.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Surgical resection is the preferred treatment in most conus medullaris and cauda equina tumor (CMCET) cases. However, total resection is usually challenging to obtain and has a strong possibility of causing various complications if forcibly attempted. Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) has become a necessary adjunctive tool for CMCET resection. PURPOSE: The current study aimed to evaluate the application value of bulbocavernosus reflex (BCR) monitoring in CMCET surgery. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective clinical study. PATIENT SAMPLE: The medical records of patients who underwent CMCET resection by the same neurosurgical team at our hospital from September 2020 to June 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. IONM was conducted in all surgeries. According to inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria, ultimately, 105 patients were enrolled in the study. OUTCOME MEASURES: The voiding function was assessed before surgery, 1 month after, and 6 months after surgery using the Neurogenic Bladder Symptom Score (NBSS). If the NBSS obtained 1 month after surgery exceeds 9 points than that before surgery, it can be considered that the patient suffered new-onset postoperative voiding dysfunctions (PVDs). Moreover, if the NBSS could restored (less than 9 points higher than before the surgery) at 6 months after surgery, it was defined as a short-term PVD. Otherwise, it was defined as a long-term PVD. METHODS: The amplitude reduction ratios (ARRs) of bilateral BCR waveforms were calculated and compared between patients with PVDs and those without. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was subsequently applied to determine the cut-off value of the maximal and minimal ARRs for predicting PVDs. RESULTS: The maximal and minimal ARRs were significantly correlated with short-term and long-term PVDs (p<.001 for all comparisons, Mann-Whitney U test). The threshold values of maximal ARR for predicting short-term and long-term PVD were 68.80% (AUC=0.996, p<.001) and 72.10% (AUC=0.996, p<.001), respectively. While those of minimal ARR were 50.20% (AUC=0.976, p<.001) and 53.70% AUC=0.999, p<.001). CONCLUSIONS: The amplitude reduction of intraoperative bilateral BCR waveforms showed high predictive value for PVDs.

Functional Study of the Role of the Methyl Farnesoate Epoxidase Gene in the Ovarian Development of Macrobrachium nipponense.

Methyl farnesoate epoxidase (MFE) is a gene encoding an enzyme related to the last step of juvenile hormone biosynthesis. Mn-MFE cDNA has a total length of 1695 bp and an open reading frame (ORF) length of 1482 bp, encoding 493 amino acids. Sequence analysis showed that its amino acid sequence has a PPGP hinge, an FGCG structural domain, and other structural domains specific to the P450 family of enzymes. Mn-MFE was most highly expressed in the hepatopancreas, followed by the ovary and gill, weakly expressed in heart and muscle tissue, and barely expressed in the eyestalk and cranial ganglion. Mn-MFE expression remained stable during the larval period, during which it mainly played a critical role in gonadal differentiation. Expression in the ovary was positively correlated and expression in the hepatopancreas was negatively correlated with ovarian development. In situ hybridization (ISH) showed that the signal was expressed in the oocyte, nucleus, cell membrane and follicular cells, and the intensity of expression was strongest at stage O-IV. The knockdown of Mn-MFE resulted in a significantly lower gonadosomatic index and percentage of ovaries past stage O-III compared to the control group. However, no differences were found in the cumulative frequency of molting between the experimental and control groups. Moreover, the analysis of ovarian tissue sections at the end of the experiment showed differences between groups in development speed but not in subcellular structure. These results demonstrate that Mn-MFE promotes the ovarian development of Macrobrachium nipponense adults but has no effect on molting.

Effectiveness of different intrusion modes of maxillary anterior teeth with mini-implants in clear aligner treatment: a three-dimensional finite element analysis.

BACKGROUND: The intrusion of maxillary anterior teeth is often required and there are various intrusion modes with mini-implants in clear aligner treatment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of maxillary anterior teeth intrusion with different intrusion modes, aiming to provide references for precise and safe intrusion movements in clinical practice. METHODS: Cone-beam computed tomography and intraoral optical scanning data of a patient were collected. Finite element models of the maxilla, maxillary dentition, periodontal ligaments (PDLs), clear aligner (CA), attachments, and mini-implants were established. Different intrusion modes of the maxillary anterior teeth were simulated by changing the mini-implant site (between central incisors, between central and lateral incisor, between lateral incisor and canine), loading site (between central incisors, on central incisor, between central and lateral incisor, between lateral incisor and canine), and loading mode (labial loading and labiolingual loading). Ten conditions were generated and intrusive forces of 100 g were applied totally. Then displacement tendency of the maxillary anterior teeth and CA, and stress of the PDLs were analyzed. RESULTS: For the central incisor under condition L14 and for the canine under conditions L11, L13, L23, and L33, the intrusion amount was negative. Under other conditions, the intrusion amount was positive. The labiolingual angulation of maxillary anterior teeth exhibited positive changes under all conditions, with greater changes under linguoincisal loading. The mesiodistal angulation of canine exhibited positive changes under labial loading, while negative changes under linguoincisal loading except for condition L14. CONCLUSIONS: The intrusion amount, labiolingual and mesiodistal angulations of the maxillary anterior teeth were affected by the mini-implant site, loading site, and loading mode. Labial and linguoincisal loading may have opposite effects on the intrusion amount of maxillary anterior teeth and the mesiodistal angulation of canine. The labiolingual angulation of the maxillary incisors would increase under all intrusion modes, with greater increases under linguoincisal loading.

Studies on the Relationships between Growth and Gonad Development during First Sexual Maturation of Macrobrachium nipponense and Associated SNPs Screening.

In this study, we used full-sib families to investigate the association between growth and gonad development during first sexual maturation of M. nipponense. We found that male GSI was significantly negatively correlated with growth traits (p < 0.01) and there were no significant correlations between female GSI (Gonadosomatic index) and growth traits (p > 0.05). HSI (Hepatopancreas index) in both males and females showed no significant correlations with growth traits (p > 0.05). We furthermore investigated the association between the specific allele of Mn-CTS L1 polymorphism and gonad development and growth traits. In total, 35 mutation loci were screened and 16 high-quality single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) loci were obtained after validation. Four and two SNPs proved to be strongly associated with all growth traits in female and male M. nipponense separately, among which A+118T might be a candidate SNP positively associated with large growth traits. Two and one SNPs were screened, respectively, in males and females to associate with GSI, while three SNPs were detected to associate with female HSI, among which A+1379C may be applied as a potential molecular marker for gene-assisted selection to improve both reproduction speed and growth traits in M. nipponense.

Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of the Selective and Orally Active LSD1 Inhibitor with the Potential of Treating Heart Failure.

LSD1 has become an appealing target for the development of new pharmacologic agents to treat cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure. Herein, we reported the design, synthesis, and structure-activity relationship of a series of TCP-based derivatives targeting LSD1. Docking studies were employed to successfully elucidate the SAR. Particularly, compound 7d, characterized by low toxicity, demonstrated a high affinity for LSD1 at molecular and cellular levels. It also displayed favorable pharmacokinetic properties for oral dosing (e.g., F = 77.61%), effectively alleviating Ang II-induced NRCFs activation in vitro and reducing pathological myocardial remodeling in TAC-induced cardiac remodeling and heart failure in vivo. Additionally, mechanism studies revealed that suppression of myocardial dysfunction by compound 7d is related to LSD1 inhibition-induced TGFß signaling pathway repressing. In summary, the current report presents compound 7d as a potent LSD1 inhibitor with the potential for further development as a therapeutic agent for pressure overload-related heart failure.