One and five-year efficacy of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) abbrevo and TVT-obturator in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Surgical interventions are more effective than nonsurgical approaches in providing a cure for stress urinary incontinence (SUI). In this study, we aimed to assess the benefits of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) abbrevo by comparing its efficacy and complications to those of TVT obturator. METHODS AND RESULTS: 49 and 47 patients at The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University between January 2013 and December 2016 were included in the TVT-O and TVT-A groups, respectively. We evaluate the success rate and perioperative complications associated with TVT-O and TVT-A. A questionnaire that utilized the Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) Scale was employed to assess the impact of surgery. Patients were followed up at 1 year, and 5 years after surgery. There were no statistically significant differences found in the efficacy of the TVT-A group and TVT-O group during both the one-year (p = 0.4) and five-year (p = 0.32) follow-up periods. In the period of one-year follow-up, 95.9% (n = 47) of patients in the TVT-O group and 95.8% (n = 45) of patients in the TVT-A group demonstrated improvement. During the period of five-year follow-up, 87.8% (n = 43) of patients in the TVT-O group and 93.6% (n = 44) of patients in the TVT-A group demonstrated improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our findings, TVT-A and TVT-O procedures exhibited similarly high success rates and low frequencies of complications.

Development and validation of a Radiopathomics model based on CT scans and whole slide images for discriminating between Stage I-II and Stage III gastric cancer.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop and validate an artificial intelligence radiopathological model using preoperative CT scans and postoperative hematoxylin and eosin (HE) stained slides to predict the pathological staging of gastric cancer (stage I-II and stage III). METHODS: This study included a total of 202 gastric cancer patients with confirmed pathological staging (training cohort: n = 141; validation cohort: n = 61). Pathological histological features were extracted from HE slides, and pathological models were constructed using logistic regression (LR), support vector machine (SVM), and NaiveBayes. The optimal pathological model was selected through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Machine learnin algorithms were employed to construct radiomic models and radiopathological models using the optimal pathological model. Model performance was evaluated using ROC curve analysis, and clinical utility was estimated using decision curve analysis (DCA). RESULTS: A total of 311 pathological histological features were extracted from the HE images, including 101 Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency (TF-IDF) features and 210 deep learning features. A pathological model was constructed using 19 selected pathological features through dimension reduction, with the SVM model demonstrating superior predictive performance (AUC, training cohort: 0.949; validation cohort: 0.777). Radiomic features were constructed using 6 selected features from 1834 radiomic features extracted from CT scans via SVM machine algorithm. Simultaneously, a radiopathomics model was built using 17 non-zero coefficient features obtained through dimension reduction from a total of 2145 features (combining both radiomics and pathomics features). The best discriminative ability was observed in the SVM_radiopathomics model (AUC, training cohort: 0.953; validation cohort: 0.851), and clinical decision curve analysis (DCA) demonstrated excellent clinical utility. CONCLUSION: The radiopathomics model, combining pathological and radiomic features, exhibited superior performance in distinguishing between stage I-II and stage III gastric cancer. This study is based on the prediction of pathological staging using pathological tissue slides from surgical specimens after gastric cancer curative surgery and preoperative CT images, highlighting the feasibility of conducting research on pathological staging using pathological slides and CT images.

PDGFBB facilitates tumorigenesis and malignancy of lung adenocarcinoma associated with PI3K-AKT/MAPK signaling.

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains one of the most aggressive tumors and the efficacy of conventional treatment has been bleak. Nowadays, gene-targeted therapy has become a new favorite in tumor therapy. Herein, we investigated the effect of platelet derived growth factor BB (PDGFBB) on LUAD. Firstly, PDGFBB was upregulated in LUAD patients and closely linked with poor survival. Furthermore, the expression of PDGFBB and PDGFRα/ß in LUAD cells was higher than that in normal lung cells. By loss-of-function with herpes simplex virus (HSV)-PDGFi-shRNA, we found that PDGFBB knockdown caused a significant decrease in proliferation and migration, but evoked apoptosis of LUAD cells in vitro. Conversely, exogenous PDGFBB held adverse effect. Additionally, A549 cells with PDGFBB knockdown had a low probability of tumorigenesis in vivo. Moreover, PDGFBB knockdown restrained the growth of xenografts derived from normal A549 cells. Mechanistically, PDGFBB knockdown suppressed PI3K/AKT and Ras/MAPK signaling, while PDGFBB was the opposite. Therefore, we concluded that PDGFBB might facilitate the tumorigenesis and malignancy of LUAD through its functional downstream nodes-PI3K/AKT and Ras/MAPK signaling, which supported that PDGFBB could serve as a rational therapeutic target for LUAD.

A comprehensive radiopathological nomogram for the prediction of pathological staging in gastric cancer using CT-derived and WSI-based features.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to develop and validate an innovative radiopathomics model that combines radiomics and pathomics features to effectively differentiate between stages I-II and stage III gastric cancer (pathological staging). METHODS: Our study included 200 patients with well-defined stages of gastric cancer divided into a training cohort (n = 140) and a test cohort (n = 60). Radiomics features were extracted from contrast-enhanced CT images using PyRadiomics, while pathomics features were obtained from whole slide images of pathological specimens through a fine-tuned deep learning model (ResNet-18). After rigorous feature dimensionality reduction and selection, we constructed radiomics models (SVM_rad, LR_rad, and MLP_rad) and pathomics models (SVM_path, LR_path, and MLP_path) utilizing support vector machine (SVM), logistic regression (LR), and multilayer perceptron (MLP) algorithms. The optimal radiomics and pathomics models were chosen based on comprehensive evaluation criteria such as ROC curves, Hosmer‒Lemeshow tests, and calibration curve tests. Feature patterns extracted from the best-performing radiomics model (MLP_rad) and pathomics model (SVM_rad) were integrated to create a powerful radiopathomics nomogram. RESULTS: From a pool of 1834 radiomics features extracted from CT images, 14 were selected to construct radiomics models. Among these, the MLP_rad model exhibited the most robust predictive performance (AUC, training cohort: 0.843; test cohort: 0.797). Likewise, 10 pathomics features were chosen from 512 extracted from whole slide images to build pathomics models, with the SVM_path model demonstrating the highest predictive efficiency (AUC, training cohort: 0.937; test cohort: 0.792). The combined radiopathomics nomogram model exhibited optimal discriminative ability (AUC, training cohort: 0.951; test cohort: 0.837), as confirmed by decision curve analysis (DCA), which indicated superior clinical effectiveness. CONCLUSION: This study presents a cutting-edge radiopathomics nomogram model designed to predict pathological staging in gastric cancer, distinguishing between stages I-II and stage III. Our research leverages preoperative CT images and histopathological slides to forecast gastric cancer staging accurately, potentially facilitating the estimation of staging before radical gastric cancer surgery in the future.

Clinicopathological features and prognostic significance of pulmonary adenocarcinoma with signet ring cell components: meta-analysis and SEER analysis.

Pulmonary adenocarcinoma is a common type of lung cancer that has been on the rise in recent years. Signet ring cell components (SRCC) can be present in various patterns of pulmonary adenocarcinoma, including papillary, acinar, and solid patterns. "Signet ring cell carcinoma" is a distinct subtype in the 2014 WHO classification of lung neoplasms, subsequent WHO classifications in 2015 and 2021 have deemed signet ring cells as accompanying morphological features with no clinical significance. The prognostic and clinical implications of SRCC in pulmonary adenocarcinoma remain controversial. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the clinicopathological features and prognostic factors of SRCC in pulmonary adenocarcinoma. We conducted a comprehensive search in PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science to identify studies that examined the clinicopathological features and prognostic implications of pulmonary adenocarcinoma with SRCC. We used both fixed- and random-effects models to analyze the data and calculate the pooled hazard ratio (HR) and odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Additionally, we explored the prognostic significance of SRCC in pulmonary adenocarcinoma using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Our meta-analysis included 29 studies with pulmonary adenocarcinoma and SRCC components. The results showed that pulmonary adenocarcinoma with SRCC was associated with larger tumor size (OR = 1.99; 95% CI, 1.62-2.44, p < 0.001), advanced overall stage (OR = 5.18, 95% CI, 3.28-8.17, p < 0.00001) and lymph node stage (OR = 5.79, 95% CI, 1.96-17.09, p = 0.001), and worse overall survival (OS) compared to those without SRCC (HR = 1.80, 95% CI, 1.50-2.16, p < 0.00001). Analysis using the SEER dataset confirmed these findings. Our meta-analysis provides evidence that pulmonary adenocarcinoma with SRCC is associated with distinct clinicopathological features and a poorer prognosis. These findings have important implications for the management and treatment of patients. However, further studies are needed to validate these findings and explore the significance of SRCC in various subtypes of pulmonary adenocarcinoma.

Effects of different fertilization treatments on soil microbial functional diversity of dry tableland wheat field in south Shanxi Province.

Understanding the effects of different fertilization treatments on microbial functional diversity in loess tableland wheat soil in south Shanxi Province can provide the theoretical basis from the perspective of microbial functional diversity for chemical fertilizer reduction, wheat yield increase, and soil fertility improvement in dryland soil. We conducted a long-term field experiment with seven fertilization treatments in winter wheat cultivation area of loess tableland in south Shanxi Province, including straw charcoal fertilizer (SF), bacterial fertilizer (BF), organic fertilizer (OF), humic acid fertilizer (HF), monitoring fertilizer (MF), farmer fertilizer (FF) and no fertilizer (CK). We employed Biolog-ECO microplate technique to investigate the differences of carbon source utilization capacity and functional diversity of soil microorganisms. The results showed that all the fertilization treatments could improve the metabolic activity and functional diversity of soil microbial community. Carbon source utilization was the most efficient in SF, with the overall soil microbial utilization ability of the 31 carbon sources and the utilization ability of different guilds of carbon sources being improved. Functional diversity, richness, and dominance based on microbial carbon sources utilization were significantly higher in SF treatment than that under other five treatments, and the evenness was higher than BF. Results of principal component analysis (PCA) and biclustering heatmap analysis showed that different fertilization treatments had significant effects on the metabolic function of microbial community. SF treatment could promote the functional diversity of soil microbial community, especially for the utilization of carbohydrates, carboxylic acids and amino acids. In conclusion, straw charcoal fertilizer had positive effects on soil microbial activity in wheat soil of loess tableland in south Shanxi Province.

Nur77 Serves as a Potential Prognostic Biomarker That Correlates with Immune Infiltration and May Act as a Good Target for Prostate adenocarcinoma.

Prostate adenocarcinoma (PRAD) is the most frequent malignancy, and is the second leading cause of death due to cancer in men. Thus, new prognostic biomarkers and drug targets for PRAD are urgently needed. As we know, nuclear receptor Nur77 is important in cancer development and changes in the tumor microenvironment; whereas, the function of Nur77 in PRAD remains to be elucidated. The TCGA database was used to explore the Nur77 expression and its role in the prognosis of PRAD. It was shown that Nur77 was down regulated in PRAD, and low Nur77 expression was correlated with advanced clinical pathologic characteristics (high grade, histological type, age) and poor prognosis. Furthermore, key genes screening was examined by univariate Cox analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival. Additionally, Nur77 was closely related to immune infiltration and some anti-tumor immune functions. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were presented by protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. Therefore, the expression level of Nur77 might help predict the survival of PRAD cases, which presents a new insight and a new target for the treatment of PRAD. In vitro experiments verified that natural product malayoside targeting Nur77 exhibited significant therapeutic effects on PRAD and largely induced cell apoptosis by up-regulating the expression of Nur77 and its mitochondrial localization. Taken together, Nur77 is a prognostic biomarker for patients with PRAD, which may refresh the profound understanding of PRAD individualized treatment.

[Structural Characteristics of Zooplankton and Phytoplankton Communities and Its Relationship with Environmental Factors in Different Regions of Nanhu Lake in Jiaxing City].

Nanhu Lake is a red tourist attraction in Jiaxing city and the birthplace of the "Red Boat Spirit."To identify the influence of environmental factors on the distribution of plankton communities after ecological restoration in different regions, the environmental factors and plankton community in areas A, B, C, D, and S of Nanhu Lake were investigated in January 2021 after the completion of the ecological restoration projects. The concentrations of total nitrogen(TN), dissolved total nitrogen (DTN), ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N), nitrate nitrogen (NO3--N), total phosphorus (TP), and dissolved total phosphorus (DTP) in the ecological restoration areas were significantly lower, and the content of dissolved oxygen (DO) was significantly higher (P<0.05) than those in the non-restoration area. The main phytoplankton species in the study area belonged to Cyanophyta and Bacillariophyta, and the main zooplankton species were protozoans and rotifers. The phytoplankton biomass in the restored area was lower than that in the unrestored area, and the number of phytoplankton and zooplankton species increased. Clustering and principal coordinate analysis results showed significant differences in plankton communities among the restoration areas (P<0.05), and plankton structures in regions A and B were similar. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that the main environmental factors affecting the distribution of phytoplankton communities were DO, NO3--N, pH, and water temperature (WT). The main driving factors of zooplankton community distribution were DO, NO3--N, NH4+-N, and TP. The results clarified the phytoplankton community characteristics and environmental correlation in different regions of Nanhu Lake, which can provide data support and reference for water ecological restoration of the lake.

The prognostic value of end-of-treatment FDG-PET/CT in diffuse large B cell lymphoma: comparison of visual Deauville criteria and a lesion-to-liver SUVmax ratio-based evaluation system.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine a better criterion for end-of-treatment PET (EoT-PET) assessment and prognostic evaluation of patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). METHOD: EoT-PET scans were assessed using the visual Deauville 5-point scale (5PS) and LLR, the maximum standard uptake value ratio between the lesion and the liver. The cutoff value of LLR was obtained by receiver operator characteristic curve analysis. Patient outcomes were compared using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Prognostic indexes of different criteria were compared. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to evaluate the prognostic factors. RESULTS: Four hundred forty-nine newly diagnosed DLBCL patients who received rituximab-based immunochemotherapy were included, and the median follow-up duration was 41.4 months. Patients with Deauville score (DS) 4 displayed significantly longer PFS and OS compared with patients with DS 5 (both p < 0.001), and they had significantly shorter PFS (p < 0.01) but similar OS (p = 0.057) compared with patients with DS 1-3. The differences in PFS and OS between groups were all significant whether positive EoT-PET was defined as DS 4-5 or DS 5 (all p < 0.001). The optimal cutoff of LLR was 1.83, and both PFS and OS were significantly different between EoT-PET-positive and EoT-PET-negative patients as defined by the cutoff (both p < 0.001). LLR-based criterion displayed higher specificity, positive predictive value, and accuracy than 5PS-based criterion in the prediction of disease progression and death events. In the multivariate analysis, positive EoT-PET (as defined by LLR) was related to unfavorable PFS and OS (both p < 0.001). Additional treatment was not correlated with outcomes of EoT-PET-negative patients either defined by LLR or 5PS or EoT-PET-positive patients classified by 5PS, but it was the only beneficial factor for OS (p < 0.05) in EoT-PET-positive patients with LLR ≥ 1.83. CONCLUSION: The optimal cutoff of LLR may be superior to Deauville criteria in identifying low-risk DLBCL patients with negative EoT-PET after the first-line immunochemotherapy and sparing them the cost and toxicity of additional treatment.

Research on a method of eliminating the line broadening caused by the wavelength shift based on the first harmonic.

Using laser spectroscopy for gas detection, short-term rapid changes in ambient temperature, system noise, and circuit aging are likely to cause line broadening, which affects the accuracy of gas concentration measurement. Firstly, the correction method of the impact on line broadening is analyzed theoretically. A method is proposed to eliminate the line broadening caused by the wavelength shift based on the first harmonic detection. After removing the background noise and filtering, the standard harmonic fitting and broadening elimination are carried out. Meanwhile, a methane gas detection system is established and experiments are conducted. The experimental results show that after the standard harmonic fitting, the maximum value of the baseline is reduced from 2 to 0.078, and the maximum absolute value of the baseline in the absorption-free region is reduced from 2.07 to 0.072. The standard deviation after the broadening correction is 0.047, and the standard deviation without considering the effect of broadening is 0.203, which proves that the accuracy of trace gas detection is improved and has good engineering practical value.

Propofol suppresses the growth and invasion of cervical carcinoma cells by inhibiting MIR155HG.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is the most prevalent malignancy worldwide and propofol reportedly has anti-cancer efficiencies. Herein, we tried to address the potential anti-cancer effects of propofol in cervical carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The suppression effects of propofol on the proliferation and invasion of cervical cancer cells were analyzed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), colony formation and Transwell invasion assay. The protein expressions of epithelial marker, E-cadherin and mesenchymal marker, N-cadherin were evaluated using western blot. The level of MIR155 host gene (MIR155HG) was determined by qRT-PCR assay. The anti-cancer impact of propofol on cervical cancer cells growth in vivo was determined by means of xenograft tumor model and lung metastasis model. RESULTS: In vitro, propofol inhibited the growth and colony-formation of cervical carcinoma cells. Meanwhile, propofol treatment reduced the invasive trait of cervical carcinoma cells. In addition, MIR155HG was identified to be distinctly upregulated in cervical carcinoma when compared within normal. Propofol treatment decreased the expression of MIR155HG in cervical cancer cells. Consistently, the results from in vivo xenograft model indicated that propofol repressed cervical cancer cells growth and decreased the expression of MIR155HG in vivo. Furthermore, reintroduction of MIR155HG into cervical cancer cells counteracted the inhibitory potency of propofol on the growth and aggressive phenotypes in cervical carcinoma cells. CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, these results indicated that propofol restrained the growth and invasion of cervical cancer cells partly via regulating MIR155HG expression.

Relationship between clinical features and intestinal microbiota in Chinese patients with ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND: Dysbacteriosis may be a crucial environmental factor for ulcerative colitis (UC). Further study is required on microbiota alterations in the gastrointestinal tract of patients with UC for better clinical management and treatment. AIM: To analyze the relationship between different clinical features and the intestinal microbiota, including bacteria and fungi, in Chinese patients with UC. METHODS: Eligible inpatients were enrolled from January 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019, and stool and mucosa samples were collected. UC was diagnosed by endoscopy, pathology, Mayo Score, and Montreal classification. Gene amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA gene and fungal internal transcribed spacer gene was used to detect the intestinal microbiota composition. Alpha diversity, principal component analysis, similarity analysis, and Metastats analysis were employed to evaluate differences among groups. RESULTS: A total of 89 patients with UC and 33 non-inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) controls were enrolled. For bacterial analysis, 72 stool and 48 mucosa samples were obtained from patients with UC and 21 stool and 12 mucosa samples were obtained from the controls. For fungal analysis, stool samples were obtained from 43 patients with UC and 15 controls. A significant difference existed between the fecal and mucosal bacteria of patients with UC. The α-diversity of intestinal bacteria and the relative abundance of some families, such as Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae, decreased with the increasing severity of bowel inflammation, while Escherichia-Shigella showed the opposite trend. More intermicrobial correlations in UC in remission than in active patients were observed. The bacteria-fungi correlations became single and uneven in patients with UC. CONCLUSION: The intestinal bacteria flora of patients with UC differs significantly in terms of various sample types and disease activities. The intermicrobial correlations change in patients with UC compared with non-IBD controls.

The spatiotemporal trend of renal involvement in COVID-19: A pooled analysis of 17 134 patients.

BACKGROUND: The spatiotemporal trend of renal involvement in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients is still unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to reveal the dynamics of renal involvement superimposed COVID-19 according to time and space. METHODS: COVID-19 patients reporting renal involvement were included in this study. The following information was collected from relevant articles: first author, patient demographics, patient enrollment period, location, definition of acute kidney injury (AKI), prevalence of AKI, and use of renal replacement therapy (RRT). RESULTS: A total of 17 134 patients were finally included. The overall prevalence of AKI in COVID-19 patients was 19%, with 7% of them undergoing RRT. The overall risk of AKI in patients enrolled before March 1, 2020 (9%) was significantly lower than that after March 1, 2020 (36%) (P < 0.00001). Moreover, the overall risk of AKI outside Asia (35%) was significantly higher than that in Asia (10%) (P < 0.00001). Additionally, similar to patients requiring RRT, AKI patients were more likely to become seriously ill or even to die (P < 0.00001). CONCLUSIONS: This study found that renal involvement superimposed COVID-19, a comorbidity portending a poor prognosis, has become an increasingly serious problem over time and is more common outside Asia. Thus, more attention should be paid to the management of this specific group of patients.

Image quality and lesion detectability in low-dose pediatric 18F-FDG scans using total-body PET/CT.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of dose reduction on image quality and lesion detectability of oncological 18F-FDG total-body PET/CT in pediatric oncological patients and explore the minimum threshold of administered tracer activity. METHODS: A total of 33 pediatric patients (weight 8.5-58.5 kg; age 0.8-17.6 years) underwent total-body PET/CT using uEXPLORER scanner with an 18F-FDG administered dose of 3.7 MBq/kg and an acquisition time of 600 s were retrospectively enrolled. Low-dose images (0.12-1.85 MBq/kg) were simulated by truncating the list-mode PET data to reducing count density. Subjective image quality was rated on a 5-point scale. Semi-quantitative uptake metrics for low-dose images were assessed using region-of-interest (ROI) analysis of healthy liver and suspected lesions and were compared with full-dose images. The micro-lesion detectability was compared among the dose-dependent PET images. RESULTS: Our analysis shows that sufficient subjective image quality and lesion conspicuity could be maintained down to 1/30th (0.12 MBq/kg) of the administered dose of 18F-FDG, where good image quality scores were given to 1/2- and 1/10- dose groups. The image noise was significantly more deranged than the overall quality and lesion conspicuity in 1/30- to 1/10-dose groups (all p < 0.05). With reduced doses, quantitative analysis of ROIs showed that SUVmax and SD in the liver increased gradually (p < 0.05), but SUVmax in the lesions and lesion-to-background ratio (LBR) showed no significant deviation down to 1/30-dose. One hundred percent of the 18F-FDG-avid micro-lesions identified in full-dose images were localized down to 1/15-dose images, while 97% of the lesion were localized in 1/30-dose images. CONCLUSION: The total-body PET/CT might significantly decrease the administered dose upon maintaining the image quality and diagnostic performance of micro-lesions in pediatric patients. Data suggests that using total-body PET/CT, optimal image quality could be achieved with an administered dose-reduction down to 1/10-dose (0.37 MBq/kg).

Distribution and mass loads of xenoestrogens bisphenol a, 4-nonylphenol, and 4-tert-octylphenol in rainfall runoff from highly urbanized regions: A comparison with point sources of wastewater.

This study pays a special attention to three phenolic endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs), - bisphenol A (BPA), 4-nonylphenol (4-NP), and 4-tert-octylphenol (4-t-OP) - that are present in urban environments, resultant of several anthropogenic activities that can be also carried through rainfall runoff. We investigated the distributions of BPA, 4-NP, and 4-t-OP in Pearl River basin and estimated the mass loads in rainfall runoff, wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents, and industrial wastewater from urbanized Huizhou and Dongguan regions. These three phenolic EDCs were detected frequently in tributaries and mainstream of Dongjiang River with the maximum 4-NP concentrations of 14,540 ng/L in surface waters and 3088 ng/g in sediments. BPA showed high concentrations in rainfall runoff samples with maximum concentrations of 5873 and 2397 ng/L in Huizhou and Dongguan regions, respectively, while concentrations for 4-NP and 4-t-OP were detected at tens to hundreds of nanograms per liter. Mass loads of phenolic EDCs from rainfall runoff were 3-62 times higher than those of WWTP effluents, suggesting rainfall runoff is an important source of phenolic EDCs into receiving waters. Sources and tributaries showed median to high estrogenic risks, while low to median risks were found in mainstream, implying the source control should be focused.

Potential effects of SARS-CoV-2 on the gastrointestinal tract and liver.

COVID-19 is a pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Early reported symptoms include fever, cough, and respiratory symptoms. There were few reports of digestive symptoms. However, with COVID-19 spreading worldwide, symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain have gained increasing attention. Research has found that angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the SARS-CoV-2 receptor, is strongly expressed in the gastrointestinal tract and liver. Whether theoretically or clinically, many studies have suggested a close connection between COVID-19 and the digestive system. In this review, we summarize the digestive symptoms reported in existing research, discuss the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the gastrointestinal tract and liver, and determine the possible mechanisms and aetiology, such as cytokine storm. In-depth exploration of the relationship between COVID-19 and the digestive system is urgently needed.

The Impact of Electroacupuncture at Hegu, Shousanli, and Quchi Based on the Theory "Treating Flaccid Paralysis by Yangming Alone" on Stroke Patients' EEG: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: In China, electroacupuncture based on meridians theory "treating flaccid paralysis by Yangming alone" has been widely used for stroke rehabilitation in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to explore the electroencephalography change of electroacupuncture intervention on strokes patients with flaccid paralysis. METHODS: Twenty-three stroke patients with flaccid paralysis and six stroke patients with spasticity accepted electroacupuncture with the acupoints Hegu [LI4], Shousanli [LI10], and Quchi [LI11] for 20 minutes and their EEG data were recorded before, during, and after the electroacupuncture intervention. RESULTS: Compared with the baseline EEG signals before electroacupuncture, the ipsilesional and contralesional beta-band average power of patients with flaccid paralysis and spasticity were significantly increased during the needles retention stage and decreased slightly after removing the needles. The significant decrease of the ipsilesional and contralesional delta band average power in patients with flaccid paralysis occurred during the electroacupuncture stimulation, and they increased after the removal of the needles. The ipsilesional delta band average power of patients with spasticity significantly decreased during the electroacupuncture stimulation. CONCLUSION: From this pilot electrophysiological study, we provided a possible electrophysiological mechanism of the curative effect of electroacupuncture for stroke rehabilitation.