Contributions of individual qSOFA elements to assessment of severity and for prediction of mortality.

BACKGROUND: The quick sequential [sepsis-related] organ failure assessment (qSOFA) acts as a prompt to consider possible sepsis. The contributions of individual qSOFA elements to assessment of severity and for prediction of mortality remain unknown. METHODS: A total of 3974 patients with community-acquired pneumonia were recruited to an observational prospective cohort study. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), odds ratio, relative risk and Youden's index were employed to assess discrimination. RESULTS: Respiratory rate ≥22/min demonstrated the most superior diagnostic value, indicated by largest odds ratio, relative risk and AUROC, and maximum Youden's index for mortality. However, the indices for altered mentation and systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≤100 mm Hg decreased notably in turn. The predictive validities of respiratory rate ≥22/min, altered mentation and SBP ≤100 mm Hg were good, adequate and poor for mortality, indicated by AUROC (0.837, 0.734 and 0.671, respectively). Respiratory rate ≥22/min showed the strongest associations with SOFA scores, pneumonia severity index, hospital length of stay and costs. However, SBP ≤100 mm Hg was most weakly correlated with the indices. CONCLUSIONS: Respiratory rate ≥22/min made the greatest contribution to parsimonious qSOFA to assess severity and predict mortality. However, the contributions of altered mentation and SBP ≤100 mm Hg decreased strikingly in turn. It is the first known prospective evidence of the contributions of individual qSOFA elements to assessment of severity and for prediction of mortality, which might have implications for more accurate clinical triage decisions.

Respiratory rate ≥22/min demonstrated the most superior diagnostic value.Respiratory rate ≥22/min showed the strongest association with severity.Respiratory rate ≥22/min, altered mentation and SBP ≤100 mm Hg predicted mortality well, adequately and poorly, respectively.

Functional characterization of MiFTs implicated in early flowering and stress resistances of mango.

Phosphatidylethanolamine binding protein (PEBP) family plays important roles in multiple developmental processes in plants. In this study, a total of 11 PEBP gene family members were identified from the mango (Mangifera indica L.) genome, and these proteins were divided into three subfamilies based on their phylogenetic relationships: TERMINAL FLOWER 1 (TFL1)-like, MOTHER OF FT AND TFL (MFT)-like, and FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT)-like. Expression analysis revealed that MiFT1a, MiFT1b and MiFT2 were expressed mainly in leaves, whereas MiFT3 and MiFT4 were expressed mainly in embryos. The overexpression of MiFTs significantly promoted early flowering under both long- and short-day conditions. Interestingly, it still significantly promoted early flowering at 16 °C and 28 °C, with MiFT1a exhibiting the most significant, followed by MiFT1b and MiFT2. Additionally, the expression level of MiFT3 is related to the embryonic development of mango. Further studies revealed that overexpression of MiFT3 inhibited seed germination in transgenic Arabidopsis lines. In addition, the MiFT1a and MiFT1b transgenic lines did not respond to abiotic stress, while MiFT2, MiFT3 and MiFT4 enhanced resistance to salt or drought stress in Arabidopsis. Yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assays revealed that MiFTs can interact with flower related and multiple stress proteins, such as bZIP protein (MiFD), 14-3-3 protein, zinc finger protein (MiZFP4), RING zinc-finger protein (MiRZFP34), and phosphatase 2C (MiPP2C25A and MiPP2C25B). These results indicate that FT subfamily not only regulates flowering but also participates in stress response, but there are differences in the function among these genes.

Effect of N-ethylmaleimide as a blocker of disulfide bonds formation on the properties of different protein-emulsion MP composite gels.

Three different emulsions of myofibrillar protein (MP), soy protein isolate (SPI) and egg white protein isolate (EPI) were individually mixed with MP sol to form composite gels. N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) was used as a sulfhydryl group blocker to evaluate the effects of sulfhydryl and disulfide bonds on the properties of different protein-emulsion composite gels. The results show that the disulfide bond contents in the MP (SPI, EPI) emulsion composite gel decreased from the initial 2.4 ± 0.1, (2.3 ± 0.2, 1.8 ± 0.4) mol/kg to 0.6 ± 0.1, (0.5 ± 0.3, 0.7 ± 0.1) mol/kg with the NEM content increased. In addition, the microstructure showed that the interfacial protein membrane of the emulsion globules were broken in different degrees, indicating that the interaction between the emulsion and the gel matrix was weakened. Meanwhile, gel strength, water distribution and elastic modulus of the composite gels were reduced with NEM contents increased.

The ability of SPEEK to promote the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs on PEEK surfaces.

To investigate the ability of sulfonated polyetheretherketone (SPEEK) to promote the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and compare the effects of different degrees of sulfonation (DS), SPEEK was made with two different DS. The L-SPEEK group had a lower DS, while the H-SPEEK group had a higher DS. The physicochemical properties of both species were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), capitilize Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Then, proliferation and osteogenic differentiation between the two groups and with pure polyetheretherketone (PEEK) were compared after surface inoculation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the surface of the PEEK substrates could be smooth or coarse, and the degree of roughness increased with increasing sulfonation. FTIR spectroscopy showed that both the L-SPEEK and H-SPEEK samples contained sulfonic acid. TGA and XRD revealed that the components in the two groups were the same, but the intensities were different. After BMSC inoculation, a CCK8 assay revealed that the cells proliferated more on the H-SPEEK surface and little on the L-SPEEK surface compared with the PEEK surface. Then, osteogenic differentiation was verified by immunofluorescence staining for OCN and Runx2, which indicated that H-SPEEK had the greatest effect on improving differentiation. The results of alizarin red staining (ARS) and alkaline phosphatase staining (APS) also revealed this trend. Sulfonation can change the microsurface of PEEK, which can improve both BMSC proliferation and osteogenic differentiation.

Enhanced nitrogen removal for low C/N wastewater via preventing futile carbon oxidation and augmenting anammox.

Efficient carbon use is crucial for biological nitrogen removal. Traditional aerobic processes can waste carbon sources, exacerbating carbon deficiency. This study explores an anaerobic/oxic/anoxic system with sludge double recirculation to improve nitrogen removal in low C/N wastewater. This system integrated aerobic nitrification after the carbon intracellular storage, separating carbon and nitrogen by denitrifying glycogen-accumulating organisms (DGAOs) with endogenous partial denitrification and Anammox within the anoxic units. A significant efficiency of 91.02±7.01% chemical oxygen demand (COD) was converted into intracellular carbon in anaerobic units, significantly reducing carbon futile oxidation in the aerobic units by effectively separating COD from ammonia. Intracellular storage of carbon sources and microbial adaptation to carbon scarcity prevent futile oxidation of COD in the aerobic units even with short-term high dissolved oxygen (DO), thereby enhancing nitrogen removal under anoxic conditions with sufficient intracellular carbon source. The microbial analysis identified Candidatus Brocadia as the dominant anammox bacteria, in combination with the activity of DGAOs and other related microbial communities, accounting for 37.0% of the TN removal. Consequently, the system demonstrated remarkable nitrogen removal efficiencies, achieving 81.3±3.3% for total nitrogen (TN) and 98.5±0.9% for ammonia nitrogen while maintaining an effluent COD concentration of 17.2±9.1 mg/L, treating the low C/N of 4.18 in the influent wastewater. The findings in this study provide a sustainable and energy-saving technique for conventional WWTPs to meet strict discharge standards by avoiding futile oxidation of COD and encouraging anammox contributions.

Effect of ventilation mode on postoperative pulmonary complications among intermediate- to high-risk patients undergoing abdominal surgery: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The effect of different mechanical ventilation modes on pulmonary outcome after abdominal surgery remains unclear. We evaluated the effects of three common ventilation modes on postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) among intermediate- to high-risk patients undergoing abdominal surgery. METHODS: This randomized clinical trial enrolled adult patients at intermediate or high risk of PPCs who were scheduled for abdominal surgery. Participants were randomized to receive one of three modes of mechanical ventilation modes: volume-controlled ventilation (VCV), pressure-controlled ventilation (PCV), and pressure-control with volume-guaranteed ventilation (PCV-VG). Lung-protective ventilation strategy was implemented in all groups. The primary outcome was the incidence of a composite of pulmonary complications within the first 7 postoperative days. Pulmonary complications within 30 postoperative days, the severity grade of PPCs, and other secondary outcomes were also analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 1365 patients were randomized and 1349 were analyzed. The primary outcome occurred in 98 (21.8%) in the VCV group, 95 (22.1%) in the PCV group, and 101 (22.5%) in the PCV-VG group (P = 0.865). Additionally, there were no statistically significant differences among the three groups in terms of the incidence of pulmonary complications within postoperative 30 days, severity grade of PPCs, and other secondary outcomes. CONCLUSION: In intermediate- to high-risk patients undergoing abdominal surgery, the choice of ventilation mode did not affect the risk of PPCs. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, entry ChiCTR1900025880.

Upregulation of phosphodiesterase 7A leads to the downregulation of cAMP-PKA-CREB-BDNF signaling and neuroinflammation in the hippocampus and contributes to concurrent chronic pain and depression in two mouse models.

BACKGROUND: Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of cyclic adenosine monophosphate AMP (cAMP) and/or cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). PDE inhibitors can mitigate chronic pain and depression when these disorders occur individually; however, there is limited understanding of their role in concurrent chronic pain and depression. We aimed to evaluate the mechanisms of action of PDE using two mouse models of concurrent chronic pain and depression. METHODS: C57BL/6J mice were subjected to partial sciatic nerve ligation (PSNL) to induce chronic neuropathic pain or injected with complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) to induce inflammatory pain, and both animals showed depression-like behavior. First, we determined the change in PDE expression in both animal models. Next, we determined the effect of PDE7 inhibitor BRL50481 or hippocampal PDE7A knockdown on PSNL- or CFA-induced chronic pain and depression-like behavior. We also investigated the role of cAMP-protein kinase A (PKA)-cAMP response element binding protein (CREB)-brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling and neuroinflammation in the effect of PDE7A inhibition on PSNL- or CFA-induced chronic pain and depression-like behavior. RESULTS: This induction of chronic pain and depression in the two animal models upregulated hippocampal PDE7A. Oral administration of PDE7 inhibitor, BRL50481, or hippocampal PDE7A knockdown significantly reduced mechanical hypersensitivity and depression-like behavior. Hippocampal PDE7 inhibition reversed PSNL- or CFA-induced downregulation of cAMP and BDNF and the phosphorylation of PKA, CREB and p65. cAMP agonist forskolin, reversed these changes and caused milder behavioral symptoms of pain and depression. BRL50481 reversed neuroinflammation in the hippocampus in PSNL mice. CONCLUSIONS: Hippocampal PDE7A mediated concurrent chronic pain and depression in both mouse models by inhibiting cAMP-PKA-CREB-BDNF signaling Inhibiting PDE7A or activating cAMP-PKA-CREB-BDNF signaling are potential strategies to treat concurrent chronic pain and depression.

HBsAg and TLR7/8 dual-targeting antibody-drug conjugates induce sustained anti-HBV activity in AAV/HBV mice: a preliminary study.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a significant global health concern due to elevated immunosuppressive viral antigen levels, the host immune system's inability to manage HBV, and the liver's immunosuppressive conditions. While immunotherapies utilizing broadly reactive HBV neutralizing antibodies present potential due to their antiviral capabilities and Fc-dependent vaccinal effects, they necessitate prolonged and frequent dosing to achieve optimal therapeutic outcomes. Toll-like receptor 7/8 (TLR7/8) agonists have been demonstrated promise for the cure of chronic hepatitis B, but their systemic use often leads to intense side effects. In this study, we introduced immune-stimulating antibody conjugates which consist of TLR7/8 agonists 1-[[4-(aminomethyl)phenyl]methyl]-2-butyl-imidazo[4,5-c]quinolin-4-amine (IMDQ) linked to an anti-hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) antibody 129G1, and designated as 129G1-IMDQ. Our preliminary study highlights that 129G1-IMDQ can prompt robust and sustained anti-HBsAg specific reactions with short-term administration. This underscores the conjugate's potential as an effective strategy for HBsAg clearance and seroconversion, offering a fresh perspective for a practical therapeutic approach in the functional cure of CHB. Highlights: HBV-neutralizing antibody 129G1 was linked with a TLR7/8 agonist small molecule compound IMDQ.Treatment with 129G1-IMDQ has shown significant promise in lowering HBsAg levels in AAV/HBV mice.129G1-IMDQ were eliciting a strong and lasting anti-HBsAg immune response after short-term treatment in AAV/HBV mice.

Anatomic research of the safe space between the cervical uncinate process and the V2 vertebral artery.

STUDY: Design Retrospective study Objective To observe and measure the safe distance between the uncinate process (UP) and the V2 vertebral artery (VA). METHODS: Two hundred and sixteen patients who underwent head and neck CTA date were selected and measured. The Upper Tip (UT) of the UP, the Posterior Tip (PT) of the UP and the Center of the VA (CA) were identified. Then, the width between the UT and the CA (WUA), the depth between the UT and the CA (DUA), the distance between the UT and the CA (LUA) were measured. Meanwhile, the width between the PT and the CA (WPA), the depth between the PT and the CA (DPA) and the length between the PT and the CA (LPA) were measured. The values above were compared between the left and right sides of the same vertebral body, also the results of the same side from C3 to C6 were compared. RESULTS: That WUA fluctuates between 6.1- 4.4 mm on the left side with the narrowest at C5 and C6 (4.4 mm), 6.5- 4.6 mm on the right side with the narrowest at C5 (4.6 mm). It could be concluded that the safe space for operation outside UP is about 4mm and more care should be taken when operating on the caudal spine. WPA fluctuates between 10.6- 10.0 mm on the left side with the narrowest at C3 (10mm), 11.0- 9.9 mm on the right side with the narrowest at C4 (9.9 mm). The safe space for operation outside the PT is about 10mm and more care should be taken when operating on the cephalad spine. DPA fluctuates between 6.5- 4.6 mm on the left and is narrowest at C3 (4.6 mm), 6.5- 4.7 mm on the right and narrowest at C3 (4.7 mm). The safe space for operation from the PT to the ventral side is about 4.5 mm, and more care should be taken when operating on the cephalad side of the cervical spine. CONCLUSION: UP and PT could be seen as the landmarks in the operations of ACDF. The safe space outside UP is about 4mm and more care should be taken when operating on the caudal spine. The safe space outside PT is about 10mm and more care should be taken when operating on the cephalad spine. The safe space for operation from the PT to the ventral side is about 4.5 mm, and more care should be taken when operating on the cephalad side of the cervical spine.

Construction of Z-scheme heterojunction interfacial charge transfer pathways in ZnIn2S4@NENU-5 for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

Utilizing the design of heterojunction structures formed between photocatalysts to enhance photoelectrochemical performance represents an effective strategy for improving the efficiency of photocatalytic hydrogen production. In this work, a straightforward one-step solvothermal method was employed to embed NENU-5 nano-octahedra within ZnIn2S4 nanoflowers, forming ZnIn2S4@NENU-5 heterostructures. Hydrogen production tests conducted over 5 h revealed a hydrogen evolution activity of 5282.14 µmol g-1 h-1 in triethanolamine (TEOA) solution at pH = 9, which is 4.9 times and 264 times higher than that of pure ZnIn2S4 and NENU-5, respectively. The significant enhancement in the photocatalytic performance indicates that the constructed Z-scheme heterojunction increases the active sites on the catalyst surface and plays a crucial role in photocarrier transfer. Furthermore, the formation of the Z-scheme heterojunction is confirmed through Mott-Schottky (M-S) analysis, ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS), and valence band X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (VB-XPS). The effective charge transfer at the ZnIn2S4@NENU-5 heterojunction interface is validated based on X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), photoluminescence (PL) analysis, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. In summary, this work offers an effective approach to designing novel heterojunction photocatalysts by combining MOF materials with bimetallic sulfides, thereby promoting the efficiency of photocatalytic hydrogen production.

A new three-dimensional barium(II) coordination polymer constructed from N,N'-bis(glycinyl)pyromellitic diimide: microwave-assisted synthesis, structure, Hirshfeld surface analysis and properties.

A new three-dimensional (3D) coordination polymer, namely, poly[diaqua[µ5-2,2'-(1,3,5,7-tetraoxo-1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydropyrrolo[3,4-f]isoindole-2,6-diyl)diacetato]barium(II)], [Ba(C14H6N2O8)(H2O)2]n, (I), has been synthesized by the microwave-irradiated reaction of Ba(NO3)2 with N,N'-bis(glycinyl)pyromellitic diimide {BGPD, namely, 2,2'-(1,3,5,7-tetraoxo-1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydropyrrolo[3,4-f]isoindole-2,6-diyl)diacetatic acid, H2L}. The title compound was structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and powder X-ray diffraction analysis, as well as IR spectroscopy. In the crystal structure of (I), the BaII ion is nine-coordinated by six carboxylate O atoms from five symmetry-related L2- dianions and one imide O atom, as well as two water O atoms. The coordination geometry of the central BaII ion can be described as a spherical capped square antiprism. One carboxylate group of the ligand serves as a µ3-bridge linking the BaII cations into a one-dimensional polynuclear secondary building unit (SBU). Another carboxylate group of the ligand acts as a µ2-bridge connecting the 1D SBUs, thereby forming a two-dimensional (2D) SBU. The resulting 2D SBUs are extended into a 3D framework via the pyromellitic diimide moiety of the ligand as a spacer. The 3D Ba framework can be simplified as a 5-connected hexagonal boron nitride net (bnn) topology. The intermolecular interactions in the 3D framework were further investigated by Hirshfeld surface analysis and the results show that the prominent interactions are H...O (45.1%), Ba...O (11.1%) and C...H (11.1%), as well as H...H (11.1%) contacts. The thermal stability, photoluminescence properties and UV-Vis absorption spectra of (I) were also investigated. The coordination polymer exhibits a fluorescence emission with a quantum yield of 0.071 and high thermal stability.

2D coordination polymers of cadmium(II) and zinc(II) derived from N,N'-bis(glycinyl)pyromellitic diimide: microwave-assisted synthesis, structures, spectroscopic properties and influence of metal-ion size.

Two new two-dimensional (2D) coordination polymers (CPs), namely, poly[diaqua[µ4-2,2'-(1,3,5,7-tetraoxo-1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydropyrrolo[3,4-f]isoindole-2,6-diyl)diacetato-κ4O:O':O'':O''']cadmium(II)], [Cd(C14H6N2O8)(H2O)2]n (1), and poly[[tetraaqua[µ4-2,2'-(1,3,5,7-tetraoxo-1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydropyrrolo[3,4-f]isoindole-2,6-diyl)diacetato-κ4O:O':O'':O'''][µ2-2,2'-(1,3,5,7-tetraoxo-1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydropyrrolo[3,4-f]isoindole-2,6-diyl)diacetato-κ2O:O']dizinc(II)] dihydrate], {[Zn(C14H6N2O8(H2O)2]·H2O}n (2), have been synthesized by the microwave-irradiated reaction of Cd(CH3COO)2·2H2O and Zn(CH3COO)2·2H2O, respectively, with N,N'-bis(glycinyl)pyromellitic diimide {BGPD, namely, 2,2'-(1,3,5,7-tetraoxo-1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydropyrrolo[3,4-f]isoindole-2,6-diyl)diacetic acid, H2L}. In the crystal structure of 1, the CdII ion is six-coordinated by four carboxylate O atoms from four symmetry-related L2- dianions and two coordinated water molecules, furnishing an octahedral coordination geometry. The bridging L2- dianion links four symmetry-related CdII cations into a 2D layer-like structure with a 3,4-connected bex topology. In the crystal structure of 2, the ZnII ion is five-coordinated by three carboxylate O atoms from three different L2- dianions and two coordination water molecules, furnishing a trigonal bipyramidal coordination geometry. Two crystallographically independent ligands serve as µ4- and µ2-bridges, respectively, to connect the ZnII ions, thereby forming a 2D layer with a 3,3-connected hcb topology. Crystal structure analysis reveals the presence of n→π* interactions between two carbonyl groups of the pyromellitic diimide moieties in 1 and 2. CP 1 exhibits an enhanced fluorescence emission compared with free H2L. The framework of 2 decomposes from 720 K, indicating its high thermal stability. A comparative analysis of a series of structures based on the BGPD ligand indicates that the metal-ion size has a great influence on the connection modes of the metal ions due to different steric effects, which, in turn, affects the structures of the SBUs (secondary building units) and frameworks.

Elucidating hydroxysafflor yellow A's multi-target mechanisms against alcoholic liver disease through integrative pharmacology.

BACKGROUND: Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) significantly contributes to global liver-related morbidity and mortality. Natural products play a crucial role in the prevention and treatment of ALD. Hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA), a unique and primary component of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius l.), exhibits diverse pharmacological activities. However, the impact and mechanism of HSYA on ALD have not been fully elucidated. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to employ an integrative pharmacology approach to assess the multi-targeted mechanism of HSYA against ALD. METHODS: Network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques were used to analyze the potential therapeutic signaling pathways and targets of HSYA against ALD. An ALD model in zebrafish larvae was established. Larvae were pretreated with HSYA and then exposed to ethanol. Liver injury was measured by fluorescence expression analysis in the liver-specific transgenic zebrafish line Tg (fabp10a:DsRed) and liver tissue H&E staining. Liver steatosis was determined by whole-mount oil red O staining and TG level. Additionally, an ethanol-induced hepatocyte injury model was established in vitro to observe hepatocyte damage (cell viability, ALT level), lipid accumulation (oil red O staining, TC and TG), and oxidative stress (ROS, MDA, GPx and SOD) in HepG2 cells treated with or without HSYA. Finally, qRT-PCR combined with network pharmacology and molecular docking was employed to validate the effects of HSYA on targets. RESULTS: HSYA exhibited a significant, dose-dependent improvement in ethanol-induced liver injury in zebrafish larvae and HepG2 cells. Network pharmacology analysis revealed that HSYA may exert pharmacological effects against ALD through 341 potential targets. These targets are involved in various signaling pathways, including lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, and ALD itself. Molecular docking studies displayed that HSYA had a strong binding affinity toward the domains of IL1B, IL6, TNF, PPARA, PPARG, HMGCR and ADH5. qRT-PCR assays demonstrated that HSYA effectively reversed the ethanol-induced aberrant gene expression of SREBF1, FASN, ACACA, CPT1A, PPARA, IL1B, IL6, TNFα, ADH5, and ALDH2 in vivo and in vitro. CONCLUSION: This study offers a comprehensive investigation into the anti-ALD mechanisms of HSYA using an integrative pharmacology approach. The potential targets of HSYA may be implicated in enhancing ethanol catabolism, reducing lipid accumulation, mitigating oxidative stress, and inhibiting inflammatory response.

Broad-Spectrum Legionaminic Acid-Specific Antibodies in Pooled Human IgGs Revealed by Glycan Microarrays with Chemoenzymatically Synthesized Nonulosonosides.

The presence and the level of antibodies in human sera against bacterial glycans are indications of prior encounters with similar antigens and/or the bacteria that express them by the immune system. An increasing number of pathogenic bacteria that cause human diseases have been shown to express polysaccharides containing a bacterial nonulosonic acid called 5,7-di-N-acetyllegionaminic acid (Leg5,7Ac2). To investigate the immune recognition of Leg5,7Ac2, which is critical for the fight against bacterial infections, a highly effective chemoenzymatic synthon strategy was applied to construct a library of α2-3/6-linked Leg5,7Ac2-glycans via their diazido-derivatives (Leg5,7diN3-glycans) formed by efficient one-pot three-enzyme (OP3E) synthetic systems from a diazido-derivative of a six-carbon monosaccharide precursor. Glycan microarray studies using this synthetic library of a Leg5,7Ac2-capped collection of diverse underlying glycan carriers and their matched sialoside counterparts revealed specific recognition of Leg5,7Ac2 by human IgG antibodies pooled from thousands of healthy donors (IVIG), suggesting prior human encounters with Leg5,7Ac2-expressing pathogenic bacteria at the population level. These biologically relevant Leg5,7Ac2-glycans and their immune recognition assays are important tools to begin elucidating their biological roles, particularly in the context of infection and host-pathogen interactions.

Genetic Variations and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Field Synopsis, Systematic Meta-Analysis, and Epidemiological Evidence.

Objective: To systematically summarize the published literature on the genetic variants associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods: Literature from Web of Science, PubMed, and Embase between January 1980 and September 2022 was systematically searched. Meta-analyses of the genetic variants were conducted using at least five data sources. The epidemiologic credibility of the significant associations was graded using the Venice criteria. Results: Based on literature screening, 399 eligible studies were included, comprising 381 candidate gene association, 16 genome-wide association, and 2 whole-exome sequencing studies. We identified 465 genetic variants in 173 genes in candidate gene association studies, and 25 genetic variants in 17 genes were included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis identified 11 variants in 10 genes that were significantly associated with NAFLD, with cumulative epidemiological evidence of an association graded as strong for two variants in two genes ( HFE, TNF), moderate for four variants in three genes ( TM6SF2, GCKR, and ADIPOQ), and weak for five variants in five genes ( MBOAT7, PEMT, PNPLA3, LEPR, and MTHFR). Conclusion: This study identified six variants in five genes that had moderate to strong evidence of an association with NAFLD, which may help understand the genetic architecture of NAFLD risk.

[Corrigendum] DJ­1 is involved in the peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer through activation of the Akt signaling pathway.

Subsequently to the publication of the above paper, an interested reader drew to the authors' attention that the western blot data shown for the MMP­9 experiment in Fig. 4 on p. 1493 were strikingly similar to the western blots shown for the total­Akt experiments in Fig. 6 on p. 1494. After having re­examined their original data files, the authors realized that Fig. 6 had been inadvertently assembled incorrectly. The revised version of Fig. 6, containing the correct data for the total­Akt experiments, is shown below. Note that the corrections made to this figure do not affect the overall conclusions reported in the paper. The authors are grateful to the Editor of Oncology Reports for allowing them the opportunity to publish this Corrigendum, and apologize to the readership for any inconvenience caused. [Oncology Reports 31: 1489­1497, 2014; DOI: 10.3892/or.2013.2961].

N-palmitoylethanolamide attenuates negative emotions induced by morphine withdrawal in mice.

Depression and anxiety are prominent symptoms of withdrawal syndrome, often caused by the abuse of addictive drugs like morphine. N-palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), a biologically active lipid, is utilized as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic medication. Recent studies have highlighted PEA's role in mitigating cognitive decline and easing depression resulting from chronic pain. However, it remains unknown whether PEA can influence negative emotions triggered by morphine withdrawal. This study seeks to explore the impact of PEA on such emotions and investigate the underlying mechanisms. Mice subjected to morphine treatment underwent a 10-day withdrawal period, followed by assessments of the effect of PEA on anxiety- and depression-like behaviors using various tests. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was conducted to measure levels of monoamine neurotransmitters in specific brain regions. The findings indicate that PEA mitigated anxiety and depression symptoms and reduced 5-hydroxytryptamine, noradrenaline, and dopamine levels in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. In summary, PEA demonstrates a significant positive effect on negative emotions associated with morphine withdrawal, accompanied with the reduction in levels of monoamine neurotransmitters in key brain regions. These insights could be valuable for managing negative emotions arising from morphine withdrawal.

Efficient adsorption of cationic dyes by a novel honeycomb-like porous hydrogel with ultrahigh mechanical property.

The optimization of hydrogel structure is crucial for adsorption capacity, mechanical stability, and reusability. Herein, a chitosan and laponite-XLS co-doped poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide) hydrogel (CXAA) with honeycomb-like porous structures is synthesized by cooperative cross-linking of 2-hydroxypropyltrimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan (HACC) and laponite-XLS in reticular frameworks of acrylic acid (AAc) and acrylamide (AM). The CXAA exhibits extraordinary mechanical performances including tough tensile strength (3.36 MPa) and elasticity (2756 %), which facilitates recycling in practical adsorption treatment and broadens potential applications. Since the regular porous structures can fully expose numerous adsorption sites and electronegative natures within polymer materials, CXAA displays efficient and selective adsorption properties for cationic dyes like methylene blue (MB) and malachite green (MG) from mixed pollutants and can reach record-high values (MB = 6886 mg g-1, MG = 11,381 mg g-1) compared with previously reported adsorbents. Therefore, CXAA exhibits promising potential for separating cationic and anionic dyes by their charge disparities. Mechanism studies show that the synergistic effects of HACC, laponite-XLS, and functional groups in monomers promote highly efficient adsorption. Besides, the adsorption capacity of CXAA remains stable even after undergoing five cycles of regeneration. The results confirm that CXAA is a promising adsorbent for effectively removing organic dyes in wastewater.

In vitro comparison of guide planes for removable partial dentures prepared with CAD-CAM-assisted templates, guiding rod templates, and freehand.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM)-assisted templates (CCAT), guiding rod templates (GRT), and freehand (FH) preparation of guide planes. METHODS: Forty-five identical maxillary resin casts were divided into three groups, in which the guide planes of the two abutment teeth were prepared using a CCAT (n=15), GRT (n=15), and FH (n=15). The CCAT and GRT were digitally designed on a digital cast of virtually prepared guide planes and fabricated using three-dimensional printing (3DP) technology. To assess the 3D trueness, the prepared guide planes were digitally scanned and compared to the virtually designed guide planes. The angle deviation was measured to assess the trueness of the direction of the guide plane preparation. Shapiro-Wilk and Levene's tests were used to check the normality and equivalence of the variance of the data. The data were compared by using the Kruskal‒Wallis H test (α=0.05). RESULTS: The CCAT group exhibited significantly better 3D trueness (78.5±19.8 µm) than the GRT group (211.3±42.4 µm, p<0.05) and the FH group (198.9±44.3 µm, p<0.05). Additionally, the CCAT group (1.31±0.50°) showed significantly smaller direction trueness compared to the GRT (4.65±0.72°, p<0.05) and FH (5.64±0.70°, p<0.05) groups. CONCLUSIONS: The novel CAD-CAM-assisted template significantly improved the quality of the guide planes compared with the GRT and FH procedures. This enhancement suggests that removable partial dentures can be predictably inserted immediately after guide plane preparation. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: CAD-CAM-assisted templates improve the quality of guide plane preparation.