Risk factors for multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infection of patients admitted in ICU: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Acinetobacter baumannii infections pose challenges for clinical treatment and cause high mortality, particularly in intensive care units (ICUs). Identifying the risk factors for MDR and XDR infection is crucial, and existing findings remain controversial. We aim to systematically summarize and analyze the risk factors for MDR/XDR A. baumannii-infected patients admitted to ICUs. We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library for eligible original studies published in English before October 2023. We conducted meta-analysis where appropriate, with mean differences (MD) and odds ratios (ORs) calculated for continuous and nominal scaled data. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa scale (NOS). Ten studies reporting 1199 ICU patients (604 from general ICUs, 435 from neonatal ICUs, and 160 from pediatric ICUs) from eight countries were included in our analysis. The risk factors associated with MDR A. baumannii infection among patients admitted to general ICUs included a high APACHE Ⅱ score (MD = 7.52; 95% CI 3.24-11.80; P = 0.0006), invasive procedures (OR = 3.47; 95% CI 1.70-7.10; P = 0.0006), longer ICU stay (MD = 3.40; 95% CI: 2.94-3.86; P < 0.00001), and the use of antibiotics (OR = 2.69; 95% CI 1.22-5.94; P = 0.01). Moreover, in our sub-group analysis, longer neonatal ICU stay (MD = 16.88; 95% CI 9.79-23.97; P < 0.00001) was found to be associated with XDR A. baumannii infection. These findings indicate that close attention should be paid to patients with longer ICU stays, undergoing invasive procedures, using antibiotics, and with high APACHE Ⅱ scores to reduce the risk of MDR and XDR A. baumannii infections.

High-Throughput Metabolic Pattern Screening Strategy for Early Colorectal and Gastric Cancers Based on Covalent Organic Frameworks-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry.

Precise early diagnosis and staging are conducive to improving the prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) and gastric cancer (GC) patients. However, due to intrusive inspections and limited sensitivity, the prevailing diagnostic methods impede precisely large-scale screening. In this work, we reported a high-throughput serum metabolic patterns (SMP) screening strategy based on covalent organic frameworks-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (hf-COFsLDI-MS) for early diagnosis and staging of CRC and GC. Notably, 473 high-quality SMP were extracted without any tedious sample pretreatment and coupled with multiple machine learning algorithms; the area under the curve (AUC) value is 0.938 with 96.9% sensitivity for early CRC diagnosis, and the AUC value is 0.974 with 100% sensitivity for early GC diagnosis. Besides, the discrimination of CRC and GC is accomplished with an AUC value of 0.966 for the validation set. Also, the screened-out features were identified by MS/MS experiments, and 8 metabolites were identified as the biomarkers for CRC and GC. Finally, the corresponding disordered metabolic pathways were revealed, and the staging of CRC and GC was completed. This work provides an alternative high-throughput screening strategy for CRC and GC and highlights the potential of metabolic molecular diagnosis in clinical applications.

Direct synthesis of a lithium carboxymethyl cellulose binder using wood dissolving pulp for high-performance LiFePO4 cathodes in lithium-ion batteries.

Lithium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-Li) is a promising novel water-based binder for lithium-ion batteries. The direct synthesis of CMC-Li was innovatively developed using abundant wood dissolving pulp materials from hardwood (HW) and softwood (SW). The resulting CMC-Li-HW and CMC-Li-SW binders possessed a suitable degree of substitutions and excellent molecular weight distributions with an appropriate quantity of long- and short-chain celluloses, which facilitated the construction of a reinforced concrete-like bonding system. When used as cathode binders in LiFePO4 batteries, they uniformly coated and dispersed the electrode materials, formed a compact and stable conductive network with high mechanical strength and showed sufficient lithium replenishment. The prepared LiFePO4 batteries exhibited good mechanical stability, low charge transfer impedance, high initial discharge capacity (∼180 mAh/g), high initial Coulombic efficiency (99 %), excellent cycling performance (<3% loss over 200 cycles) and good rate capability, thereby outperforming CMC-Na and the widely used cathode binder polyvinylidene fluoride.

An integrated electrode material based on corn straw cellulose biochar with three-dimensional network porous structure for boosting electrochemical performance of lithium batteries.

In this work an integrated electrode material based on the VS4 nanoparticles grow on three-dimensional network porous biochar is put forward, forming a heterostructure that significantly boost the rate and cycle performance in lithium batteries. Biochar derives from two-steps treatment removing partial cellulose and hemicellulose, possessing three-dimensional network porous structure and naturally nitrogenous. The integrated electrode material constructs the continuous electrons transfer network, accommodates the volume expansion and traps the polar polysulfides efficiently. After 100 cycles at 1C, the integrated electrode with biochar shows the highest specific discharge capacity. Even at 2C, the three-dimensional electrode can display a high specific discharge capacity of 798.6 mAh·g-1. Thus, our study has pointed the innovations approach of constructing integrated electrode materials with porous structure biochar to enhance the electrochemical performance of lithium batteries.

TransGEM: a molecule generation model based on Transformer with gene expression data.

MOTIVATION: It is difficult to generate new molecules with desirable bioactivity through ligand-based de novo drug design, and receptor-based de novo drug design is constrained by disease target information availability. The combination of artificial intelligence and phenotype-based de novo drug design can generate new bioactive molecules, independent from disease target information. Gene expression profiles can be used to characterize biological phenotypes. The Transformer model can be utilized to capture the associations between gene expression profiles and molecular structures due to its remarkable ability in processing contextual information. RESULTS: We propose TransGEM (Transformer-based model from gene expression to molecules), which is a phenotype-based de novo drug design model. A specialized gene expression encoder is used to embed gene expression difference values between diseased cell lines and their corresponding normal tissue cells into TransGEM model. The results demonstrate that the TransGEM model can generate molecules with desirable evaluation metrics and property distributions. Case studies illustrate that TransGEM model can generate structurally novel molecules with good binding affinity to disease target proteins. The majority of genes with high attention scores obtained from TransGEM model are associated with the onset of the disease, indicating the potential of these genes as disease targets. Therefore, this study provides a new paradigm for de novo drug design, and it will promote phenotype-based drug discovery. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: The code is available at https://github.com/hzauzqy/TransGEM.

PTPRO inhibition ameliorates spinal cord injury through shifting microglial M1/M2 polarization via the NF-κB/STAT6 signaling pathway.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) induces severe neuroinflammation, and subsequently neurological dysfunction. Activated microglia are critical for modulation of neuroinflammation. Protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type O (PTPRO), a member of protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs), exerts a pro-inflammatory role in multiple human diseases; however, its role in SCI remains unclarified. Here, a T7 spinal cord compression injury model was established in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, and PTPRO expression was upregulated in injured spinal cord and microglia after SCI. Microglia M1 and M2 polarization in vitro were induced using LPS/IFN-γ and IL-4, respectively. PTPRO expression was elevated in M1-polarized microglia, and PTPRO downregulation mediated by PTPRO shRNA (shPTPRO) decreased CD86+ cell proportion, iNOS, TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 levels, and p65 phosphorylation. PTPRO was downregulated in M2 microglia, and PTPRO upregulation by PTPRO overexpression plasmid (OE-PTPRO) reduced CD206+ cell percentage, Arg-1, IL-10, and TGF-ß1 levels and STAT6 phosphorylation. Mechanistically, the transcription factor SOX4 elevated PTPRO expression and its promoter activity. SOX4 overexpression enhanced M1 polarization and p65 phosphorylation, while its knockdown promoted M2 polarization and STAT6 phosphorylation. PTPRO might mediate the function of SOX4 in BV2 microglia polarization. Furthermore, lentivirus-mediated downregulation of PTPRO following SCI improved locomotor functional recovery, demonstrated by elevated BBB scores, incline angle, consistent hindlimb coordination, and reduced lesion area and neuronal apoptosis. PTPRO downregulation promoted microglia M2 polarization, NF-κB inactivation and STAT6 activation after injury. In conclusion, PTPRO inhibition improves spinal cord injury through facilitating M2 microglia polarization via the NF-κB/STAT6 signaling pathway, which is probably controlled by SOX4.

An efficient ß-nucleating agent with high lattice matching rate for plate-like crystallization of polypropylene random copolymer.

It is challenging to naturally produce large amounts of ß-crystals by directly adding a commercial ß-nucleating agent (ß-NA) into polypropylene random copolymer (PPR) at present. In this work, a novel rare earth ß-NA WBN-28 was directly introduced into PPR to prepare ß-PPR with high ß-crystal conversion. The results of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) indicated that it is an efficient ß-NA for PPR. The ß-conversion rate (ß-CR) could surpass 85% when the nucleating agent content was mere 0.05%. With the further increment of nucleating agent, the ß-CR increased gradually, which could reach 89.5% and 86.9% respectively calculated by DSC and WAXD when the addition amount was 0.4%. The incredible high ß-CR delayed the ßα-recrystallization in isothermal crystallization. The fusion peak of α-crystal was unobserved below the isothermal crystallization temperature of 122 °C when the addition amount was more than 0.2%. Furthermore, there was a highly ordered structure in WBN-28 with the periodicity of 12.89 Å, which was approximately twice of the unit cell parameter in the c direction of ß-PP, indicating a high lattice matching rate between them. Intuitively observed by polarizing optical microscope (POM), the crystal grains of the blends with ß-NA were more refined and finally crystallized in a plate-like shape. The forming process of the plate-like ß crystalline regions were proposed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and POM.

Flexible temperature-pressure dual sensor based on 3D spiral thermoelectric Bi2Te3 films.

Dual-parameter pressure-temperature sensors are widely employed in personal health monitoring and robots to detect external signals. Herein, we develop a flexible composite dual-parameter pressure-temperature sensor based on three-dimensional (3D) spiral thermoelectric Bi2Te3 films. The film has a (000l) texture and good flexibility, exhibiting a maximum Seebeck coefficient of -181 µV K-1 and piezoresistance gauge factor of approximately -9.2. The device demonstrates a record-high temperature-sensing performance with a high sensing sensitivity (-426.4 µV K-1) and rapid response time (~0.95 s), which are better than those observed in most previous studies. In addition, owing to the piezoresistive effect in the Bi2Te3 film, the 3D-spiral deviceexhibits significant pressure-response properties with a pressure-sensing sensitivity of 120 Pa-1. This innovative approach achieves high-performance dual-parameter sensing using one kind of material with high flexibility, providing insight into the design and fabrication of many applications, such as e-skin.

Designer Lithium Reservoirs for Ultralong Life Lithium Batteries for Grid Storage.

The minimization of irreversible active lithium loss stands as a pivotal concern in rechargeable lithium batteries, particularly in the context of grid-storage applications, where achieving the utmost energy density over prolonged cycling is imperative to meet stringent demands, notably in terms of life cost. Departing from conventional methodologies advocating electrode prelithiation and/or electrolyte additives, a new paradigm is proposed here: the integration of a designer lithium reservoir (DLR) featuring lithium orthosilicate (Li4SiO4) and elemental sulfur. This approach concurrently addresses active lithium consumption through solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation and mitigates minor yet continuous parasitic reactions at the electrode/electrolyte interface during extended cycling. The remarkable synergy between the Li-ion conductive Li4SiO4 and the SEI-favorable elemental sulfur enables customizable compensation kinetics for active lithium loss throughout continuous cycling. The introduction of a minute quantity of DLR (3 wt% Li4SiO4@S) yields outstanding cycling stability in a prototype pouch cell (graphite||LiFePO4) with an ampere-hour-level capacity (≈2.3 Ah), demonstrating remarkable capacity retention (≈95%) even after 3000 cycles. This utilization of a DLR is poised to expedite the development of enduring lithium batteries for grid-storage applications and stimulate the design of practical, implantable rechargeable batteries based on related cell chemistries.

The Crystallization Morphology and Conformational Changes of Polypropylene Random Copolymer Induced by a Novel ß-Nucleating Agent.

The crystal morphology and conformational changes during crystallization of a polypropylene random copolymer (PPR) are the basis for understanding its crystallization process. In this work, novel rare-earth ß-nucleating agent WBN-28 was directly added into PPR to induce ß-crystallization. The results of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that it has an excellent ß-crystal-induced effect. The ß-crystal content could surpass 85%, calculated from wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) data. The morphology of the ß-crystal and α-crystal was intuitively observed via a polarizing optical microscope (POM). The ß-crystallites were interconnected to naturally develop plate-like crystalline regions possessing a certain size, and the α-crystallites with sufficient thicknesses possessed a cross-hatched phenomenon. The bundle-like supramolecular structure of the ß-crystal induced by WBN-28 was further observed via a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The conformational changes in the crystallization process of PPR were resolved via high-resolution infrared spectroscopy to understand its ß-crystallization in depth. The conformational changes during the crystallization of PPR were found to be different from those of the isotactic polypropylene homopolymer (PPH); they had their own characteristics. This will provide guidance for understanding the ß-crystallization of PPR in depth.

Study on the correlation between serum indole-3-propionic acid levels and the progression and prognosis of acute ischemic stroke.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the correlation between the serum level of indole-3-propionic acid (IPA) and the progression and prognosis of acute cerebral infarction (ACI). METHODS: This study enrolled 197 patients with ACI, and 53 participants from a community-based stroke screening program during the same period were included as the control group. The patients with ACI were divided into quartiles of serum IPA. A logistic regression model was used for comparison. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn to evaluate the predictive value of the IPA. RESULTS: Compared with the healthy control group, the ACI group had lower serum IPA (P < 0.05). The serum IPA was an independent factor for acute ischemic stroke (OR=0.992, 95% CI: 0.984-0.999, P=0.035). The serum IPA was lower in patients with progressive stroke or poor prognosis than in patients with stable stroke or good prognosis (P < 0.05). Patients with ACI with low serum IPA are prone to progression and poor prognosis. The best cutoff value for predicting progression was 193.62 pg/mL (sensitivity, 67.5%; specificity 83.7%), and that for poor prognosis was 193.77 pg/mL (sensitivity, 71.1%; specificity, 72.5%). CONCLUSION: The serum level of IPA was an independent predictor of ACI and had certain clinical value for predicting stroke progression and prognosis in patients with ACI.

Comparison of Locking Plate Alone and Locking Plate Combined with 3D Printed Polymethylmethacrylate Augmentation in Treating Proximal Humerus Fractures in the Elderly.

BACKGROUND: Locking plates are widely used in open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) for proximal humeral fracture (PHF). However, the optimal surgical treatment of unstable, displaced PHF in elderly patients remains controversial. This study aimed to compare the radiological and clinical outcomes of surgical treatment of PHF in the elderly with locking plate (LP) alone and locking plate combined with 3D printed polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) prosthesis augmentation (LP-PA). METHODS: From May 2015 to April 2021, a total of 97 patients aged ≥ 60 years with acute unstable PHF who underwent osteosynthesis with either LP (46 patients) or LP-PA (51 patients) were retrospectively analyzed. For the LP-PA group, a customized proximal humeral prosthesis made of PMMA cement was intra-operatively fabricated by a three-dimensional (3D) printed prototype mold for the humeral medial support. Radiological outcomes were analyzed by measuring the value of neck-shaft angle (NSA) and humeral head height (HHH). The clinical outcomes were evaluated using Constant-Murley Score (CMS), Disabilities of the Arm Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, and the shoulder range of motion (ROM). Pain was measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS: At the one-year follow-up, all fractures healed radiologically and clinically. The mean changes of NSA and HHH over the follow-up period were markedly smaller in the LP-PA group (3.8 ± 0.9° and 1.7 ± 0.3 mm) than those in the LP group (9.7 ± 2.1° and 3.2 ± 0.6 mm, both P < 0.0001). The LP-PA group also presented lower DASH score (17.1 ± 3.6), higher ASES score (89.5 ± 11.2) and better ROM in forward elevation (142 ± 26°) and external rotation (59 ± 11°) compared to the LP group (28.9 ± 4.8 for DASH score, P < 0.0001; 82.3 ± 9.0 for ASES score, P < 0.001; 129 ± 21° for forward elevation, P = 0.008; and 52 ± 9° for external rotation, P = 0.001). There was no significant difference in overall complication rate between the two groups, although the complication rate of screw perforation was higher in the LP-PA group (P = 0.172). CONCLUSIONS: For PHF in elderly patients, the combination of LP fixation and PMMA prosthesis augmentation effectively improved humeral head support and reduction maintenance, providing satisfactory outcomes both radiologically and clinically. This technique also reduced the incidence of screw perforation associated with plate fixation alone, making it a reasonable option to ensure satisfactory clinical outcomes.

The luminescent properties of metal halides are determined by the inorganic framework and solvent molecules.

The luminescent properties of metal halides are usually considered to be determined by the inorganic framework. In this work, we propose that the luminescent properties of metal halides are determined by both the inorganic framework and the solvent [Denoted as (inorganic framework + n·solvent molecules), n = 0, 1, 2…] through the abundant solvatochromic or thermochromic effect of tetrabutylammonium lead bromides [TPB, T = TBA (tetrabutylammonium), P = Pb (lead), B = Br (bromide)] containing water (H2O) and ethanol (EtOH). One-dimensional (1D) TPB can form ligands of [[Pb5Br18]8- + 2H2O(H)], [[Pb5Br18]8- + 2H2O(H) + 2H2O] and [[Pb5Br18]8- + 2EtOH] by solvent or heat treatment has completely different luminescent properties resulting from different solvents. They exhibit broad spectral emission due to strong electron-phonon coupling, as do other 1D metal halides. However, the 1D TPB containing only [[Pb5Br18]8- achieves extremely rare narrow-band green emission, with full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 21 nm at room temperature and 8 nm at low temperature, color gamut covers 95 % of the International Telecommunication Union recommendation 2020 standard. This work provides new guidance for the modulation of photophysical properties of metal halides, as well as new materials for the display and smart materials fields.

Metabolites of pathogenic microorganisms database (MPMdb) and its seed metabolite applications.

Seed metabolites are the combination of essential compounds required by an organism across various potential environmental conditions. The seed metabolites screening framework based on the network topology approach can capture important biological information of species. This study aims to identify comprehensively the relationship between seed metabolites and pathogenic bacteria. A large-scale data set was compiled, describing the seed metabolite sets and metabolite sets of 124,192 pathogenic strains from 34 genera, by constructing genome-scale metabolic models. The enrichment analysis method was used to screen the specific seed metabolites of each species/genus of pathogenic bacteria. The metabolites of pathogenic microorganisms database (MPMdb) (http://qyzhanglab.hzau.edu.cn/MPMdb/) was established for browsing, searching, predicting, or downloading metabolites and seed metabolites of pathogenic microorganisms. Based on the MPMdb, taxonomic and phylogenetic analyses of pathogenic bacteria were performed according to the function of seed metabolites and metabolites. The results showed that the seed metabolites could be used as a feature for microorganism chemotaxonomy, and they could mirror the phylogeny of pathogenic bacteria. In addition, our screened specific seed metabolites of pathogenic bacteria can be used not only for further tapping the nutritional resources and identifying auxotrophies of pathogenic bacteria but also for designing targeted bactericidal compounds by combining with existing antimicrobial agents.IMPORTANCEMetabolites serve as key communication links between pathogenic microorganisms and hosts, with seed metabolites being crucial for microbial growth, reproduction, external communication, and host infection. However, the large-scale screening of metabolites and the identification of seed metabolites have always been the main technical bottleneck due to the low throughput and costly analysis. Genome-scale metabolic models have become a recognized research paradigm to investigate the metabolic characteristics of species. The developed metabolites of pathogenic microorganisms database in this study is committed to systematically predicting and identifying the metabolites and seed metabolites of pathogenic microorganisms, which could provide a powerful resource platform for pathogenic bacteria research.

Machine Learning-Based Clinical Prediction Models for Acute Ischemic Stroke Based on Serum Xanthine Oxidase Levels.

OBJECTIVE: Early prediction of the onset, progression and prognosis of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is helpful for treatment decision-making and proactive management. Although several biomarkers have been found to predict the progression and prognosis of AIS, these biomarkers have not been widely used in routine clinical practice. Xanthine oxidase (XO) is a form of xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR), which is widespread in various organs of the human body and plays an important role in redox reactions and ischemia‒reperfusion injury. Our previous studies have shown that serum XO levels on admission have certain clinical predictive value for AIS. The purpose of this study was to utilize serum XO levels and clinical data to establish machine learning models for predicting the onset, progression, and prognosis of AIS. METHODS: We enrolled 328 consecutive patients with AIS and 107 healthy controls from October 2020 to September 2021. Serum XO levels and stroke-related clinical data were collected. We established 5 machine learning models-the logistic regression (LR), support vector machine (SVM), decision tree, random forest, and K-nearest neighbor (KNN) models-to predict the onset, progression, and prognosis of AIS. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value were used to evaluate the predictive performance of each model. RESULTS: Among the 5 machine learning models predicting AIS onset, the AUROC values of 4 prediction models were over 0.7, while that of the KNN model was lower (AUROC = 0.6708, 95% CI 0.576-0.765). The LR model showed the best AUROC value (AUROC = 0.9586, 95% CI 0.927-0.991). Although the 5 machine learning models showed relatively poor predictive value for the progression of AIS (all AUROCs <0.7), the LR model still showed the highest AUROC value (AUROC = 0.6543, 95% CI 0.453-0.856). We compared the value of 5 machine learning models in predicting the prognosis of AIS, and the LR model showed the best predictive value (AUROC = 0.8124, 95% CI 0.715-0.910). CONCLUSIONS: The tested machine learning models based on serum levels of XO could predict the onset and prognosis of AIS. Among the 5 machine learning models, we found that the LR model showed the best predictive performance. Machine learning algorithms improve accuracy in the early diagnosis of AIS and can be used to make treatment decisions.

Comparative Analysis of Main Agronomic Traits of Different Pleurotus giganteus Germplasm Resources.

Agronomic traits are key components in variety protection, cultivar development, and the formulation of DUS (distinct, uniform, and stable) test guidelines. P. giganteus is an increasingly popular and commercially promising edible macrofungi. In this study, both mycelial performance and fruiting body characters of 15 Pleurotus giganteus strains were investigated. The temperature gradient culture test indicated that, although most of the strains achieved optimal mycelial growth between 24 and 28 °C, a statistical difference in mycelial growth rates and temperature adaptability among strains were found, supporting that this trait has the potential to be adopted as an indicator in distinguishing strains. In the fruiting performance tests, the coefficient of variation (CV) of tested traits ranged from 5.30% (pileus diameter) to 18.70% (individual mushroom weight). The mushroom yields ranged from 103.37 g/bag (strain No. 15) to 275.76 g/bag (strain No. 9). The large divergence observed in individual mushroom weight tested strains, ranging from 40.88 g to 78.39 g (with median between 37.69 and 79.395 g), make it highly selective and a potential indicator in variety development. Strain No. 9 had the advantages of forming larger, heavier fruiting bodies and a more obvious funnel shape, which also exhibited the highest biological efficiency (15.61%). The results suggested some morphological traits showed high variety difference, such as pileus diameter (55.75 mm to 66.48 mm), stipe length (92.59 mm to 177.51 mm), stipe diameter (16.14 mm to 23.52 mm), and pileus thickness (13.38 mm to 19.75 mm). In the cluster analysis, the tested strains were grouped into four clusters based on agronomic traits: cluster Ⅰ comprised six strains (No. 6, No. 11, No. 8, No. 1, No. 14, and No. 9) with high mushroom yield; cluster Ⅱ included four strains (No. 3, No. 10, No. 7, and No. 4) with large pileus diameter and short stipe; cluster ⅡI consisted of four strains (No. 5, No. 12, No. 13, and No. 15) with relatively lower yields; and cluster Ⅳ included only strain No. 2 which was low in yield, individual mushroom weight, and biological efficiency, accompanied by smaller pileus size and shorter stipe. The results of the correlation analysis indicated three traits, including individual mushroom weight, stipe length, and pileus weight, were positively associated with high yield. This study suggested P. giganteus germplasm resources are of high abundance and their agronomic diversity is useful in distinguishing and developing different varieties. The findings of this work provide knowledge on the agronomic traits and cultivation performance of various P. giganteus strains, laying a foundation for the development of its DUS test guidelines and variety protection, as well as providing reference for the breeding and phenotype selection of high-quality cultivars.

4D Flow MRI of Portal Vein Hemodynamics in Healthy Volunteers and Patients with Chronic Liver Disease.

AIM: To identify age-matched healthy volunteers, non-cirrhotic chronic liver disease (CLD) and cirrhotic patients based on portal hemodynamic parameters using 4D flow MRI. METHODS: A total of 10 age-matched healthy volunteers and 69 CLD patients were enrolled and underwent 4D flow MRI prospectively. 4D flow MR images were processed by an MD in biomedical engineering working on the GTFlow platform. Portal hemodynamic parameters include net flow (mL/cycle), flow volume per second through the lumen (mL/sec), average flow velocity (cm/sec), and maximum flow velocity (cm/sec). The difference in portal hemodynamic parameters of 4D flow MRI was compared among healthy volunteers, non-cirrhotic CLD patients and patients with cirrhosis by one-way ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric test and post hoc tests. RESULTS: 10 CLD patients without cirrhosis and 56 patients with cirrhosis were eventually included, along with 10 healthy volunteers who were divided into three groups. 3 patients with cirrhosis whose image quality did not meet the requirements were excluded. There were no significant differences in portal hemodynamic parameters among the three groups except portal average velocity (P > 0.05). There was no statistical difference in all portal hemodynamic parameters of 4D flow MRI between healthy volunteers and patients with cirrhosis (P > 0.05). There were significant differences in portal average velocity between non-cirrhotic CLD patients, healthy volunteers and patients with cirrhosis, respectively (11.44±3.93 vs 8.10±2.66, P=0.013; 11.44±3.93 vs 8.60±2.22, P=0.007). CONCLUSION: Portal average velocity obtained by 4D flow MRI can be an auxiliary means to identify cirrhosis in patients with CLD.

Global prevalence and risk factors of Enterocytozoon bieneusi infection in humans: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Enterocytozoon bieneusi is one of the most important zoonotic pathogens. In this study, we present a systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of human E. bieneusi infection in endemic regions and analyze the various potential risk factors. A total of 75 studies were included. Among 31,644 individuals tested, 2,291 (6.59%) were E. bieneusi-positive. The highest prevalence of E. bieneusi in the male population was 5.50%. The prevalence of E. bieneusi in different age groups was varied, with 10.97% in teenagers. The prevalence of E. bieneusi in asymptomatic patients (6.49%) is significantly lower than that in HIV-infected patients (11.49%), and in patients with diarrheal symptoms (16.45%). Rural areas had a higher rate (7.58%) than urban ones. The prevalence of E. bieneusi in humans was the highest (6.42%) at altitudes <10 m. Moreover, the temperate zone marine climate (13.55%) had the highest prevalence. A total of 69 genotypes of E. bieneusi have been found in humans. This is the first global study regarding E. bieneusi prevalence in humans. Not only people with low immunity (such as the elderly, children, people with HIV, etc.), but also people in Europe in temperate marine climates should exercise caution to prevent infection with E. bieneusi during contact process with animals.

Title: Prévalence mondiale et facteurs de risque de l'infection à Enterocytozoon bieneusi chez l'homme : revue systématique et méta-analyse. Abstract: Enterocytozoon bieneusi est l'un des agents pathogènes zoonotiques les plus importants. Dans cette étude, nous présentons une revue systématique et une méta-analyse de la prévalence de l'infection humaine à E. bieneusi dans les régions endémiques et analysons les différents facteurs de risque potentiels. Au total, 75 études ont été incluses. Parmi 31 644 individus, 2 291 (6,59 %) étaient positifs à E. bieneusi. La prévalence la plus élevée d'E. bieneusi dans la population masculine était de 5,50 %. La prévalence d'E. bieneusi dans différents groupes d'âge variait, avec 10,97 % chez les adolescents. La prévalence d'E. bieneusi chez les patients asymptomatiques (6,49 %) était significativement inférieure à celle des patients VIH (11,49 %) et des patients présentant des symptômes de diarrhée (16,45 %). Les zones rurales avaient un taux plus élevé (7,58 %) que les zones urbaines. La prévalence d'E. bieneusi chez les humains était la plus élevée (6,42 %) à une altitude <10 m. De plus, le climat marin de la zone tempérée (13,55 %) avait la prévalence la plus élevée. Au total, 69 génotypes d'E. bieneusi ont été trouvés chez l'homme. Il s'agit de la première étude mondiale concernant la prévalence d'E. bieneusi chez l'homme. Non seulement les personnes ayant une faible immunité (telles que les personnes âgées, les enfants, les patients atteints du VIH, etc.), mais également les personnes vivant en Europe dans un climat marin tempéré doivent veiller à prévenir l'infection par E. bieneusi lors du contact avec des animaux.

Mechanisms of Cardiovascular Toxicities Induced by Cancer Therapies and Promising Biomarkers for Their Prediction: A Scoping Review.

AIM: With the advancement of anti-cancer medicine, cardiovascular toxicities due to cancer therapies are common in oncology patients, resulting in increased mortality and economic burden. Cardiovascular toxicities caused by cancer therapies include different severities of cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia, myocardial ischaemia, hypertension, and thrombosis, which may lead to left ventricular dysfunction and heart failure. This scoping review aimed to summarise the mechanisms of cardiovascular toxicities following various anti-cancer treatments and potential predictive biomarkers for early detection. METHODS: PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and CINAHL databases were searched for original studies written in English related to the mechanisms of cardiovascular toxicity induced by anti-cancer therapies, including chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy, and relevant biomarkers. The search and title/abstract screening were conducted independently by two reviewers, and the final analysed full texts achieved the consensus of the two reviewers. RESULTS: A total of 240 studies were identified based on their titles and abstracts. In total, 107 full-text articles were included in the analysis. Cardiomyocyte and endothelial cell apoptosis caused by oxidative stress injury, activation of cell apoptosis, blocking of normal cardiovascular protection signalling pathways, overactivation of immune cells, and myocardial remodelling were the main mechanisms. Promising biomarkers for anti-cancer therapies related to cardiovascular toxicity included placental growth factor, microRNAs, galectin-3, and myeloperoxidase for the early detection of cardiovascular toxicity. CONCLUSION: Understanding the mechanisms of cardiovascular toxicity following various anti-cancer treatments could provide implications for future personalised treatment methods to protect cardiovascular function. Furthermore, specific early sensitive and stable biomarkers of cardiovascular system damage need to be identified to predict reversible damage to the cardiovascular system and improve the effects of anti-cancer agents.

Prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors of venous thromboembolism in patients with brain tumor undergoing craniotomy: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Brain tumor patients undergoing craniotomy are significantly associated with the development of venous thromboembolism (VTE), while the contributing factors remains controversial. Our study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for VTE in postoperational brain tumor patients. METHODS: We searched the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Medline, and Cochrane Library databases from their inception to July 2023. Article selection, data extraction, and study quality assessment were performed independently by two reviewers. Publication bias was assessed using Egger's and Begg's tests. Stata 15.0 software was used for data analysis. RESULTS: A total of 25 studies were considered, with a total of 49,620 brain tumor individuals. The pooled prevalence of VTE during hospitalization in postoperational brain tumor patients was 9% [95% CI: (0.08, 0.10)]. Moreover, our results demonstrated that patients with VTE were older than those without VTE [mean difference [MD] = 8.14, 95% CI: (4.97, 11.30)]. The following variables were significantly associated with VTE: prior history of VTE [OR = 7.81, 95% CI: (3.62, 16.88)], congestive heart failure [OR = 2.33, 95% CI: (1.08-5.05)], diabetes [OR = 1.87, 95% CI: (1.12-3.10)], hypertension [OR = 1.27, 95% CI: (1.07-1.50)], steroid use [OR = 1.63, 95% CI: (1.41, 1.88)], high white blood cells counts [MD = 0.32, 95% CI: (0.01, 0.63)], and high fibrinogen levels [MD = 0.19, 95% CI: (0.08, 0.30)]. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis identified risk factors for postoperational VTE in patients with brain tumor, which can serve as a theoretical foundation for medical staff to manage and treat VTE. TRIAL REGISTRATION: CRD42023357459.