Analysis of the cause of retrolingual obstruction in patients with moderate-severe obstructive sleep apnea.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the percentage of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients with retrolingual obstruction in all moderate-severe OSA patients and the proportions of different causes in all moderate-severe OSA patients with retrolingual obstruction and to discuss the accuracy of the Friedman tongue position (FTP) and retrolingual cross-sectional area (RCSA) in assessing the retrolingual obstruction. METHODS: Two hundred and twenty moderate-severe OSA patients were enrolled. After retrolingual obstruction was diagnosed, the percentage of OSA patients with retrolingual obstruction in all moderate-severe OSA patients was calculated. After that, the different causes of retrolingual obstruction were diagnosed based on different diagnostic criteria, and the proportions of different causes in all moderate-severe OSA patients with retrolingual obstruction were calculated. Finally, the correlations between FTP, RCSA, and apnea-hypopnea index after nasopharyngeal tube insertion (NPT-AHI) were analyzed, and the proportions of different causes of retrolingual obstruction based on different FTP and RCSA were observed. RESULTS: There were 128 patients with retrolingual obstruction, accounting for 58.2% of all moderate-severe OSA patients. In 128 patients with retrolingual obstruction, the proportions of glossoptosis (48.4%), palatal tonsil hypertrophy (28.1%), and lingual hypertrophy (8.6%) were relatively high. Both FTP and RCSA did not correlate with NPT-AHI. The proportion of lingual hypertrophy increased gradually with the increase of FTP and the proportions of glossoptosis in all FTP classifications were high. The patients with RCSA > 180 mm2 were mainly affected by glossoptosis and palatal tonsil hypertrophy, while patients with RCSA ≤ 180 mm2 were mainly affected by lingual hypertrophy. CONCLUSION: The percentage of patients with retrolingual obstruction in all moderate-severe OSA patients is relatively high, mainly glossoptosis, palatal tonsil hypertrophy, and lingual hypertrophy. FTP classification and RCSA can only reflect the retrolingual anatomical stenosis, but cannot fully reflect the retrolingual functional stenosis, especially the presence of glossoptosis.

GhXB38D represses cotton fibre elongation through ubiquitination of ethylene biosynthesis enzymes GhACS4 and GhACO1.

Ethylene plays an essential role in the development of cotton fibres. Ethylene biosynthesis in plants is elaborately regulated by the activities of key enzymes, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase (ACO) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase (ACS); however, the potential mechanism of post-translational modification of ACO and ACS to control ethylene synthesis in cotton fibres remains unclear. Here, we identify an E3 ubiquitin ligase, GhXB38D, that regulates ethylene biosynthesis during fibre elongation in cotton. GhXB38D gene is highly expressed in cotton fibres during the rapid elongation stage. Suppressing GhXB38D expression in cotton significantly enhanced fibre elongation and length, accompanied by the up-regulation of genes associated with ethylene signalling and fibre elongation. We demonstrated that GhXB38D interacts with the ethylene biosynthesis enzymes GhACS4 and GhACO1 in elongating fibres and specifically mediates their ubiquitination and degradation. The inhibition of GhXB38D gene expression increased the stability of GhACS4 and GhACO1 proteins in cotton fibres and ovules, resulting in an elevated concentration of ethylene. Our findings highlight the role of GhXB38D as a regulator of ethylene synthesis by ubiquitinating ACS4 and ACO1 proteins and modulating their stability. GhXB38D acts as a negative regulator of fibre elongation and serves as a potential target for enhancing cotton fibre yield and quality through gene editing strategy.

Construction of UiO-66-NH2 decorated by MoS2 QDs as photocatalyst for rapid and effective visible-light driven Cr(VI) reduction.

The photoactive metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are good candidates for photocatalysts, but the quick electron-hole pairs recombination has greatly restricted the photocatalytic ability of MOFs. To improve the photoactivity of MOFs, MOFs-based composite materials have been extensively studied. Here, we successfully integrated MoS2 quantum dots (QDs) with UiO-66-NH2 for the first time under hydrothermal conditions. The as-prepared MoS2 QDs/UiO-66-NH2 (MS-U) had good visible light response ability (absorption edge at 445 nm), and charge separation and transfer ability, which lays the foundation for the photocatalytic Cr(VI) reduction. Photocatalytic studies revealed that MoS2 QDs-5/UiO-66-NH2 (MS-U-5) had superior Cr(VI) reduction activity than pure MoS2 QDs and UiO-66-NH2. MS-U-5 could remove 98% Cr(VI) at pH= 2 with visible light irradiation for 20 min, which is the fastest visible light driven Cr(VI) reduction rate among the reported MOFs-based composite photocatalysts without the presence of any cocatalysts or scavengers as far as we know. Importantly, MS-U-5 could be reused at least three times. In the end, the possible electron transfer path and mechanism of Cr(VI) reduction was also investigated.

LncRNA PCED1B-AS1 Upregulation in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Regulation of the miR-10a/BCL6 Axis to Promote Cell Proliferation.

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) PCED1B-AS1 has been characterized as an oncogene in glioma, but its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unknown. We explored the involvement of PCED1B-AS1 in HCC. Its expression in paired HCC and nontumor tissues from 62 HCC patients was determined by qRT-PCR. Correlations of PCED1B-AS1 with miR-10a and BCL6 were analyzed by Pearson's correlation coefficient. The patients were followed up for 5 years to analyze the prognostic value of PCED1B-AS1 for HCC. Interactions among PCED1B-AS1, miR-10a, and BCL6 were detected by overexpression experiments. Cell proliferation was analyzed by CCK-8 assay. We found the following. PCED1B-AS1 is upregulated in HCC, and its upregulation correlates with poor survival. Across HCC tissues, PCED1B-AS1 expression inversely correlates with miR-10a but positively correlates with BCL6. In HCC cells, overexpression of PCED1B-AS1 decreases miR-10a expression and increases BCL6 expression. Moreover, PCED1B-AS1 overexpression reduces the inhibitory effects of miR-10a overexpression on BCL6 expression and cell proliferation. PCED1B-AS1 is upregulated in HCC and regulates the miR-10a/BCL6 axis to promote cell proliferation.

One-step hydrothermal synthesis of WS2 quantum dots as fluorescent sensor for sensitive and selective recognition of hemoglobin and cardiac biomarker myoglobin.

Transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) dots exhibit excellent photoluminescence performance due to the quantum confinement effect and edge effect, and are extensively applied in electronic and optical devices, sensors, catalysis, and bioimaging. In this work, WS2 quantum dots (WS2 QDs) were prepared under a simple one-step hydrothermal method by optimizing the reaction conditions, and a quantum yield of 11.23% was achieved. The as-prepared WS2 QDs possess good photo-bleaching resistance, salt tolerance, and pH stability. The fluorescence investigations showed that the WS2 QDs acted as a highly efficient fluorescent sensor to detect hemoglobin (Hb) and cardiac biomarker myoglobin (Myo). The linear range was 1-600 µg/mL for Hb and 0.01-120 µg/mL for Myo, with detection limits as low as 260 and 7.6 ng/mL, respectively. Importantly, the WS2 QDs were used to determine the Hb/Myo content in human blood/serum samples, with satisfactory results, indicating that this technique holds promise for application in clinical diagnosis associated with Hb/Myo levels. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of TMD QDs without any modification as a fluorescent sensor for detecting Hb and Myo simultaneously.

Mitotic Functions and Characters of KIF11 in Cancers.

Mitosis mediates the accurate separation of daughter cells, and abnormalities are closely related to cancer progression. KIF11, a member of the kinesin family, plays a vital role in the formation and maintenance of the mitotic spindle. Recently, an increasing quantity of data have demonstrated the upregulated expression of KIF11 in various cancers, promoting the emergence and progression of cancers. This suggests the great potential of KIF11 as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target. However, the molecular mechanisms of KIF11 in cancers have not been systematically summarized. Therefore, we first discuss the functions of the protein encoded by KIF11 during mitosis and connect the abnormal expression of KIF11 with its clinical significance. Then, we elucidate the mechanism of KIF11 to promote various hallmarks of cancers. Finally, we provide an overview of KIF11 inhibitors and outline areas for future work.

Cotton microtubule-associated protein GhMAP20L5 mediates fiber elongation through the interaction with the tubulin GhTUB13.

Targeting proteins for Xklp2 (TPX2s) comprise a class of MAPs that are essential for plant growth and development by regulating the dynamic changes of microtubules (MTs) and proper formation of cytoskeleton. However, the function of TPX2 proteins in cotton fiber development remains poorly understood. Here, we identified the function of a fiber elongation-specific TPX2 protein, GhMAP20L5, in cotton. Suppressed GhMAP20L5 gene expression in cotton (GhMAP20L5i) significantly reduced fiber elongation rate, fiber length and lint percentage. GhMAP20L5i fibers had thinner and looser secondary cell walls (SCW), and incompact helix twists. GhMAP20L5 specifically interacted with the tubulin GhTUB13 on the cytoskeleton. Gene coexpression analysis showed that GhMAP20L5 involved in multiple pathways related to cytoskeleton establishment and fiber cell wall formation and affected cellulase genes expressions. In summary, our results revealed that GhMAP20L5 is important for fiber development by regulating cytoskeleton establishment and the cellulose deposition in cotton.

[Responses of tree growth and intrinsic water-use efficiency of Robinia pseudoacacia to climate factors]. / åˆºæ§ç”Ÿé•¿å’Œå† åœ¨æ°´åˆ†åˆ©ç”¨æ•ˆçŽ‡å¯¹æ°”å€™å› å­çš„å“åº”.

We investigated tree growth in Robinia pseudoacacia plantations at Ansai in Shaanxi Province and at Ji-xian in Shanxi Province by comparing the tree-ring width, basal area increase (BAI), δ13C value, intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE), and stomatal regulation. We quantified the responses of tree growth and iWUE to climatic factors at each site. The tree-ring width at Ansai and Jixian decreased with stand age, whereas the BAI at Ansai increased, and that at Jixian decreased after the BAI peaked. The δ13C value and iWUE of trees at Jixian were higher than those at Ansai. The iWUE of trees at both sites was similar to the constant intercellular CO2 concentration/atmospheric CO2 concentration (Ci/Ca) scenario, indicating that the Ci of trees was elevated with increasing Ca, while the stomata remained open. The BAI at Ansai was significantly positively correlated with highest temperature in May, relative humidity in June, precipitation in August, relative humidity in September, and standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) in September and October of current year, but negatively correlated with temperature in June. The BAI at Jixian was significantly positively correlated with SPEI in June and July, and lowest temperature in October of current year. The iWUE of trees at Ansai was significantly positively correlated with relative humidity and precipitation in June of the current year, but negatively correlated with minimum temperature in May, relative humidity in June, and temperature and maximum temperature in July of current year. A significant positive correlation between iWUE of trees at Jixian and lowest temperature in June of current year was detected. At the annual scale, the BAI of trees at Ansai was positively correlated with precipitation and SPEI, but no significant relationship was observed for trees at Jixian. However, the iWUE of trees at both sites was significantly affected by precipitation. Path analysis showed that SPEI and minimum temperature had a direct effect on BAI and iWUE of trees at Ansai, whereas precipitation and average temperature indirectly affected BAI and iWUE through SPEI. The highest temperature had a direct effect on tree growth at Jixian, whereas precipitation, minimum temperature, and average temperature had direct effects on iWUE. These results suggested that SPEI was the main climatic factor that affected the growth of R. pseudoacacia, while Ci was an important physiological factor. Our results could provide reference for the protection and management of R. pseudoacacia plantations under climate change.

Psychosocial interventions for suicidal and self-injurious-related behaviors among adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis of Chinese practices.

Background: Suicidal and self-injurious-related behaviors (SSIRBs) are a serious public health challenge in China. However, a comprehensive systematic review of psychosocial interventions for SSIRBs among Chinese adolescents has not been performed. To fill this gap, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine psychosocial interventions for SSIRBs among Chinese adolescents. Methods: Eight international (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, ScienceDirect, Clinical Trial, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science) and four Chinese (Wanfang, SinoMed, CEPS, and CNKI) databases were searched from inception to 31 January 2023. Data extraction and quality assessment were independently conducted by two groups of researchers. Qualitative synthesis and meta-analysis were both used. Results: The initial search yielded 16,872 titles. Of the 649 full texts reviewed, 19 intervention articles focusing on SSIRBs met the inclusion criteria. Thirteen out of the 19 included studies involved cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Seven non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) studies assessing self-injurious behaviors were included (six short-term studies and three long-term studies). Compared with long-term interventions [-1.30 (95% CI: -1.84, -0.76)], short-term psychosocial interventions had a higher standardized mean difference (SMD) value [1.86 (95% CI: -2.72, -0.99)]. Meta-regression showed an inverse relationship between the treatment response and sample size (slope = 0.068, Z = 2.914, p = 0.004) and proportion of females (slope = 1.096, Z = 5.848, p < 0.001). Subgroup analyses showed that compared with the "less than 1 month" group [-0.494 (-0.783, -0.205)], in the "immediate postintervention" group, the pooled estimate was significantly lower [-2.800 (-4.050, -1.550), p < 0.001]. Conclusion: Our review systematically summarized the key characteristics and effectiveness of existing psychosocial interventions for SSIRBs among Chinese adolescents. Short-term psychosocial interventions for NSSI were significantly effective in reducing self-injurious behavior scores, especially in the immediate postintervention period. More favorable treatment responses could be observed in both male and small samples.

Characterizing the bacterial microbiota in different gastrointestinal tract segments of the Bactrian camel.

The bacterial community plays important roles in the gastrointestinal tracts (GITs) of animals. However, our understanding of the microbial communities in the GIT of Bactrian camels remains limited. Here, we describe the bacterial communities from eight different GIT segments (rumen, reticulum, abomasum, duodenum, ileum, jejunum, caecum, colon) and faeces determined from 11 Bactrian camels using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Twenty-seven bacterial phyla were found in the GIT, with Firmicutes, Verrucomicrobia and Bacteroidetes predominating. However, there were significant differences in microbial community composition between segments of the GIT. In particular, a greater proportion of Akkermansia and Unclassified Ruminococcaceae were found in the large intestine and faecal samples, while more Unclassified Clostridiales and Unclassified Bacteroidales were present in the in forestomach and small intestine. Comparative analysis of the microbiota from different GIT segments revealed that the microbial profile in the large intestine was like that in faeces. We also predicted the metagenomic profiles for the different GIT regions. In forestomach, there was enrichment associated with replication and repair and amino acid metabolism, while carbohydrate metabolism was enriched in the large intestine and faeces. These results provide profound insights into the GIT microbiota of Bactrian camels.

Size-controllable synthesis of Bi/Bi2O3 heterojunction nanoparticles using pulsed Nd:YAG laser deposition and metal-semiconductor-heterojunction-assisted photoluminescence.

We synthesized Bi/Bi2O3 heterojunction nanoparticles at various substrate temperatures using the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique with a pulsed Nd:YAG laser. The Bi/Bi2O3 heterojunction nanoparticles consisted of Bi nanoparticles and Bi2O3 surface layers. The average diameter of the Bi nanoparticles and the thickness of the Bi2O3 surface layer are linearly proportional to the substrate temperature. The heterojunctions between the Bi nanoparticles and Bi2O3 surface layers, which are the metal-semiconductor heterojunctions, can strongly enhance the photoluminescence (PL) of the Bi/Bi2O3 nanoparticles, because the metallic Bi nanoparticles can provide massive free Fermi-level electrons for the electron transitions in the Bi2O3 surface layers. The enhancement of PL emission at room temperature by metal-semiconductor-heterojunctions make the Bi/Bi2O3 heterojunction nanoparticles potential candidates for use in optoelectronic nanodevices, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and laser diodes (LDs).

Toward single-mode active crystal fibers for next-generation high-power fiber devices.

We report what we believe to be the first demonstration of a facile approach with controlled geometry for the production of crystal-core ceramic-clad hybrid fibers for scaling fiber devices to high average powers. The process consists of dip coating a solution of polycrystalline alumina onto a high-crystallinity 40-µm-diameter Ti:sapphire single-crystalline core followed by thermal treatments. Comparison of the measured refractive index with high-resolution transmission electron microscopy reveals that a Ca/Si-rich intragranular layer is precipitated at grain boundaries by impurity segregation and liquid-phase formation due to the relief of misfit strain energy in the Al2O3 matrix, slightly perturbing the refractive index and hence the optical properties. Additionally, electron backscatter diffractions supply further evidence that the Ti:sapphire single-crystalline core provides the template for growth into a sacrificial polycrystalline cladding, bringing the core and cladding into a direct bond. The thus-prepared doped crystal core with the undoped crystal cladding was achieved through the abnormal grain-growth process. The presented results provide a general guideline both for controlling crystal growth and for the performance of hybrid materials and provides insights into how one might design single-mode high-power crystal fiber devices.