Increased expression of protein tyrosine phosphatase nonreceptor type 22 alters early T-cell receptor signaling and differentiation of CD4+ T cells in chronic heart failure.

CD4+ T-cell counts are increased and activated in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), whereas regulatory T-cell (Treg) expansion is inhibited, probably due to aberrant T-cell receptor (TCR) signaling. TCR signaling is affected by protein tyrosine phosphatase nonreceptor type 22 (PTPN22) in autoimmune disorders, but whether PTPN22 influences TCR signaling in CHF remains unclear. This observational case-control study included 45 patients with CHF [18 patients with ischemic heart failure versus 27 patients with nonischemic heart failure (NIHF)] and 16 non-CHF controls. We used flow cytometry to detect PTPN22 expression, tyrosine phosphorylation levels, zeta-chain-associated protein kinase, 70 kDa (ZAP-70) inhibitory residue tyrosine 292 and 319 phosphorylation levels, and CD4+ T cell and Treg proportions. We conducted lentivirus-mediated PTPN22 RNA silencing in isolated CD4+ T cells. PTPN22 expression increased in the CD4+ T cells of patients with CHF compared with that in controls. PTPN22 expression was positively correlated with left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and type B natriuretic peptide but negatively correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction in the NIHF group. ZAP-70 tyrosine 292 phosphorylation was decreased, which correlated positively with PTPN22 overexpression in patients with NIHF and promoted early TCR signaling. PTPN22 silencing induced Treg differentiation in CD4+ T cells from patients with CHF, which might account for the reduced frequency of peripheral Tregs in these patients. PTPN22 is a potent immunomodulator in CHF and might play an essential role in the development of CHF by promoting early TCR signaling and impairing Treg differentiation from CD4+ T cells.

Glycogen synthesis is required for adaptive thermogenesis in beige adipose tissue and affects diet-induced obesity.

Glycogen is a form of energy storage for glucose in different tissues such as liver and skeletal muscle. It remains incompletely understood how glycogen impacts on adipose tissue functionality. Cold exposure elevated the expression of Gys1 that encodes glycogen synthase 1 in brown adipose tissue (BAT) and inguinal white adipose tissue (iWAT). The in vivo function of Gys1 was analyzed using a mouse model in which Gys1 was deleted specifically in adipose tissues. Under normal chow conditions, Gys1 deletion caused little changes to body weight and glucose metabolism. Deletion of Gys1 abrogated upregulation of UCP1 and other thermogenesis-related genes in iWAT upon prolonged cold exposure or treatment with ß3-adrenergic receptor agonist CL-316,243. Stimulation of UCP1 by CL-316,243 in adipose-derived stromal cells (stromal vascular fractions, SVFs) was also reduced by Gys1 deletion. Both the basal glycogen content and CL-316,243-stimulated glycogen accumulation in adipose tissues were reduced by Gys1 deletion. High-fat diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance were aggravated in Gys1-deleted mice. The loss of body weight upon CL-316,243 treatment was also abrogated by the loss of Gys1. In conclusion, our results underscore the pivotal role of glycogen synthesis in adaptive thermogenesis in beige adipose tissue and its impact on diet-induced obesity in mice.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Glycogen is one of major types of fuel reserve in the body and its classical function is to maintain blood glucose level. This study uncovers that glycogen synthesis is required for beige fat tissue to generate heat upon cold exposure. Such a function of glycogen is linked to development of high-fat diet-induced obesity, thus extending our understanding about the physiological functions of glycogen.

Multifunctional Manganese-Nucleotide Laccase-Mimicking Nanozyme for Degradation of Organic Pollutants and Visual Assay of Epinephrine via Smartphone.

As a natural green catalyst, laccase has extensive application in the fields of environmental monitoring and pollutant degradation. However, susceptibility to environmental influences and poor reusability seriously hinder its application. To address these concerns, for the first time, manganese ion replaced copper ion as the active center to coordinate with guanosine monophosphate (GMP) for synthesizing mimic laccase with high catalytic activity. Compared with natural laccase, the laccase-like nanozyme (Mn-GMPNS) demonstrated superior thermal stability, acid-base resistance, salt tolerance, reusability, and substrate universality. Benefiting from the high catalytic activity of Mn-GMPNS, epinephrine, a significant neurotransmitter and hormone associated with numerous diseases, was visually detected within 10 min and a portable assay by smartphone. More encouragingly, Mn-GMPNS can efficiently degrade dye pollutants, achieving a decolorization rate over 70% within 30 min. Thus, the coordination between manganese ion and nucleotide demonstrated the potential in rational design of nanozymes with high catalytic activity, low cost, good stability, and good biocompatibility.

Enabling High-Performance Layered Li-Rich Oxide Cathodes by Regulating the Formation of Integrated Cation-Disordered Domains.

Layered Li-rich oxide cathode materials are capable of offering high energy density due to their cumulative cationic and anionic redox mechanism during (de)lithiation process. However, the structural instability of the layered Li-rich oxide cathode materials, especially in the deeply delitiated state, results in severe capacity and voltage degradation. Considering the minimal isotropic structural evolution of disordered rock salt oxide cathode during cycling, cation-disordered nano-domains have been controllably introduced into layered Li-rich oxides by co-doping of d0-TM and alkali ions. Combining electrochemical and synchrotron-based advanced characterizations, the incorporation of the phase-compatible cation-disordered domains can not only hinder the oxygen framework collapse along the c axis of layered Li-rich cathode under high operation voltage but also promote the Mn and anionic activities as well as Li+ (de)intercalation kinetics, leading to remarkable improvement in rate capability and mitigation of capacity and voltage decay. With this unique layered/rocksalt intergrown structure, the intergrown cathode yields an ultrahigh capacity of 288.4 mAh g-1 at 0.1 C, and outstanding capacity retention of ≈90.0% with obviously suppressed voltage decay after 100 cycles at 0.5, 1, and 2 C rate. This work provides a new direction toward advanced cathode materials for next-generation Li-ion batteries.

A jasmonate-mediated regulatory network modulates diurnal floret opening time in rice.

Diurnal floret opening time (DFOT) is a pivotal trait for successful fertilization and hybrid breeding in rice. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this trait is poorly understood in rice. In this study, we combined the cytological, genetic and molecular studies to demonstrate that jasmonic acid (JA) regulates DFOT in rice through modulating the turgor and osmotic pressure of the lodicules. We show that lodicules undergo dramatic morphologic changes, accompanied by changes in water and sugar contents during the process of floret opening. Consistently, a large set of genes associated with cell osmolality and cell wall remodeling exhibits distinct expression profiles at different time points in our time-course transcriptomes of lodicules. Notably, a group of JA biosynthesis and signaling genes is continuously upregulated, accompanied by a gradual increase in JA accumulation as floret opening approaching. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the JA biosynthesis gene OsAOS1 is required for endogenous JA biosynthesis in lodicules and promoting rice DFOT. Moreover, OsMYC2, a master regulator of JA signaling, regulates rice DFOT by directly activating OsAOS1, OsSWEET4, OsPIP2;2 and OsXTH9. Collectively, our findings establish a core regulatory network mediated by JA for modulating rice DFOT and provide effective gene targets for the genetic improvement of DFOT in rice.

The association of HBV infection and head and neck cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections is an important public health problem worldwide and closely affect extrahepatic cancer. Several recent studies have investigated the relationship between HBV infection and head and neck cancer (HNC), but their findings were inconsistent.In order to address the limitations of small sample sizes, we conducted a meta-analysis to assess the association between HBV and HNC. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure from inception to August 2023. Original articles published as a case-control or cohort study were included. HBV infection was identified by HBsAg, HBV DNA or ICD codes. Review articles, meeting abstracts, case reports, communications, editorials and letters were excluded, as were studies in a language other than English or Chinese. According to the MOOSE guidelines, frequencies reported for all dichotomous variables were extracted by two reviewers independently. Similarly, the outcomes of OR, RR or HR, and 95% CIs after adjusting for age and gender were collected. RESULTS: Thirteen relevant studies and 58,006 patients with HNC were included. Our analysis revealed a positive correlation between HBV and HNC (OR = 1.50; 95% CI: 1.28-1.77). After adjusting for age and gender, the similar result (OR = 1.30; 95% CI: 1.10-1.54) was obtained. Subgroup analysis further demonstrated a significant association between HBV infection and oral cancer (OR = 1.24; 95% CI: 1.05-1.47), as well as nasopharyngeal carcinoma (OR = 1.41; 95% CI: 1.26-1.58). However, due to the limited number of studies included, the statistical significance was not reached for cancer of the oropharynx (OR = 1.82; 95% CI: 0.66-5.05), hypopharynx (OR = 1.33; 95% CI: 0.88-2.00), and larynx (OR = 1.25; 95% CI: 0.69-2.24) after adjusting for age and gender. When excluding the interference of HIV/HCV, smoking and alcohol use, the final outcome (OR = 1.17; 95% CI: 1.01-1.35) got the same conclusion. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirmed a positive relationship between HNC, specifically oral cancer and nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and HBV infection. However, further investigation is required at the molecular level to gather additional evidence in HNC.

Captivity affects mitochondrial aerobic respiration and carotenoid metabolism in the house finch (Haemorhous mexicanus).

In many species of animals, red carotenoid-based coloration is produced by metabolizing yellow dietary pigments, and this red ornamentation can be an honest signal of individual quality. However, the physiological basis for associations between organism function and the metabolism of red ornamental carotenoids from yellow dietary carotenoids remains uncertain. A recent hypothesis posits that carotenoid metabolism depends on mitochondrial performance, with diminished red coloration resulting from altered mitochondrial aerobic respiration. To test for an association between mitochondrial respiration and red carotenoids, we held wild-caught, molting male house finches in either small bird cages or large flight cages to create environmental challenges during the period when red ornamental coloration is produced. We predicted that small cages would present a less favorable environment than large flight cages and that captivity itself would decrease both mitochondrial performance and the abundance of red carotenoids compared with free-living birds. We found that captive-held birds circulated fewer red carotenoids, showed increased mitochondrial respiratory rates, and had lower complex II respiratory control ratios - a metric associated with mitochondrial efficiency - compared with free-living birds, though we did not detect a difference in the effects of small cages versus large cages. Among captive individuals, the birds that circulated the highest concentrations of red carotenoids had the highest mitochondrial respiratory control ratio for complex II substrate. These data support the hypothesis that the metabolism of red carotenoid pigments is linked to mitochondrial aerobic respiration in the house finch, but the mechanisms for this association remain to be established.

A combined AIMD and DFT study of the low-energy radiation responses of GaN.

Although GaN is a promising candidate for semiconductor devices, degradation of GaN-based device performance may occur when the device is bombarded by high-energy charged particles during its application in aerospace, astronomy, and nuclear-related areas. It is thus of great significance to explore the influence of irradiation on the microstructure and electronic properties of GaN and to reveal the internal relationship between the damage mechanisms and physical characteristics. Using a combined density functional theory (DFT) and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) study, we explored the low-energy recoil events in GaN and the effects of point defects on GaN. The threshold displacement energies (Eds) significantly depend on the recoil directions and the primary knock-on atoms. Moreover, the Ed values for nitrogen atoms are smaller than those for gallium atoms, indicating that the displacement of nitrogen dominates under electron irradiation and the created defects are mainly nitrogen vacancies and interstitials. The formation energy of nitrogen vacancies and interstitials is smaller than that for gallium vacancies and interstitials, which is consistent with the AIMD results. Although the created defects improve the elastic compliance of GaN, these radiation damage states deteriorate its ability to resist external compression. Meanwhile, these point defects lead the Debye temperature to decrease and thus increase the thermal expansion coefficients of GaN. As for the electronic properties of defective GaN, the point defects have various effects, i.e., VN (N vacancy), Gaint (Ga interstitial), Nint (N interstitial), and GaN (Ga occupying the N lattice site) defects induce the metallicity, and NGa (N occupying the Ga lattice site) defects decrease the band gap. The presented results provide underlying mechanisms for defect generation in GaN, and advance the fundamental understanding of the radiation resistances of semiconductor materials.

The impact of urinary albumin-creatinine ratio and glomerular filtration rate on long-term mortality in patients with heart failure: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2018.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The urinary albumin‒creatinine ratio (UACR) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) are important markers of renal dysfunction, but few studies have simultaneously examined their impact on long-term mortality in patients with heart failure (HF). METHODS AND RESULTS: This study included patients with HF from the National Health and Nutrition Survey from 1999 to 2018. The fully adjusted Cox proportional risk model was adopted, and propensity score matching (PSM) was also used for risk adjustment. Among 988 patients, a median follow-up of 7.75 years was recorded. A higher UACR corresponded to a higher risk of cardiovascular death (P < 0.001 for trend). No statistically significant difference was found in the trend of eGFR risk stratification on the risk of cardiovascular death (P = 0.09 for trend). After PSM, the results showed that when grouped by UACR, the high-risk group had a higher risk of cardiovascular death regardless of a cutoff value of 30 or 300 mg/g (all P < 0.05). When grouped by eGFR, regardless of a cutoff value of 45 or 30 mL/min/1.73 m2, compared to the low-risk group, the high-risk group did not have a statistically significant increase in cardiovascular death (P = 0.086 and P = 0.093, respectively). The subgroup analysis of the main outcome showed an interaction between the UACR and eGFR (P = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: Both the UACR and eGFR are markers for predicting the progression of HF, but the UACR may be a more important indicator than the eGFR, and they synergistically and complementarily reflect the long-term cardiovascular risk of HF patients.

Pulmonary Arterial Anatomical Patterns: a Classification Scheme Based on Lobectomy and 3D-CTBA.

PURPOSE: Preoperative evaluation of pulmonary vascular and tracheal routes and variations is of great importance to the surgeon. Three-dimensional computed tomography bronchography and angiography (3D-CTBA) has evolved in recent years with the optimization of 3D reconstruction techniques and artificial intelligence. We aim to apply CT angiography and Exoview 3D reconstruction technology to assess patients' pulmonary arterial tree and its anatomical variants and to try to summarize a set of anatomical typing of the pulmonary arterial tree that is relatively easy and conducive to promoting teaching based on surgical habits of lobectomy. METHODS: A total of 358 patients hospitalized in the Department of Thoracic Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University between July 2020 and August 2021 were included in this study. We carefully analyzed the site of emanation, alignment, and number of branches of the pulmonary artery according to a uniform classification method in conjunction with the two-dimensional CT images and transformed them into 3D reconstruction models. RESULTS: Different types of pulmonary artery were observed in 358 cases. We evaluated the complete pulmonary artery tree and counted the number and frequency of major arteries of the pulmonary based on the surgical habits of anatomical lobectomy. CONCLUSION: The 3D-CTBA technique enables us to adequately assess the anatomy of the pulmonary arteries. Moreover, we provide a practical classification scheme of pulmonary arterial anatomical patterns based on lobectomy and 3D-CTBA. Our data can be used by clinicians in the teaching of pulmonary artery anatomy and the preoperative preparation for anatomical lobectomy.

Non-pharmaceutical interventions in containing COVID-19 pandemic after the roll-out of coronavirus vaccines: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) have been widely utilised to control the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it is unclear what the optimal strategies are for implementing NPIs in the context of coronavirus vaccines. This study aims to systematically identify, describe, and evaluate existing ecological studies on the real-world impact of NPIs in containing COVID-19 pandemic following the roll-out of coronavirus vaccines. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive search of relevant studies from January 1, 2021, to June 4, 2023 in PubMed, Embase, Web of science and MedRxiv. Two authors independently assessed the eligibility of the studies and extracted the data. A risk of bias assessment tool, derived from a bibliometric review of ecological studies, was applied to evaluate the study design, statistical methodology, and the quality of reporting. Data were collected, synthesised and analysed using qualitative and quantitative methods. The results were presented using summary tables and figures, including information on the target countries and regions of the studies, types of NPIs, and the quality of evidence. RESULTS: The review included a total of 17 studies that examined the real-world impact of NPIs in containing the COVID-19 pandemic after the vaccine roll-out. These studies used five composite indicators that combined multiple NPIs, and examined 14 individual NPIs. The studies had an average quality assessment score of 13 (range: 10-16), indicating moderately high quality. NPIs had a larger impact than vaccination in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 during the early stage of the vaccination implementation and in the context of the Omicron variant. Testing policies, workplace closures, and restrictions on gatherings were the most effective NPIs in containing the COVID-19 pandemic, following the roll-out of vaccines. The impact of NPIs varied across different time frames, countries and regions. CONCLUSION: NPIs had a larger contribution to the control of the pandemic as compared to vaccination during the early stage of vaccine implementation and in the context of the omicron variant. The impact of NPIs in containing the COVID-19 pandemic exhibited variability in diverse contexts. Policy- and decision-makers need to focus on the impact of different NPIs in diverse contexts. Further research is needed to understand the policy mechanisms and address potential future challenges.

Loneliness and social isolation are associated with an increased risk of glaucoma: a UK Biobank cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Loneliness and social isolation have been found to be associated with various health-related outcomes. Our study aimed to evaluate the association of loneliness and social isolation with the risk of glaucoma. METHODS: A total of 373,330 participants from the UK Biobank without glaucoma at recruitment were included in this study. Self-reported questionnaires were used to define loneliness and social isolation. Incident glaucoma events were identified by hospital inpatient admissions and self-reported data. COX proportional hazards models adjusted for sociodemographic, lifestyle, and health-related factors were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 13.1 (interquartile range: 12.3-13.9) years, 6,489 participants developed glaucoma. After adjusting for confounding factors, loneliness (yes vs. no: adjusted HR: 1.16; 95% CI: 1.04-1.30; P = 0.009) and social isolation (yes vs. no: adjusted HR: 1.08; 95% CI: 1.01-1.16; P = 0.033) were associated with an increased risk of glaucoma. CONCLUSIONS: In this population-based prospective cohort study, loneliness and social isolation were associated with a higher risk of glaucoma.

Identifying the personal characteristics of decent work perception for nursing students in China using latent profile analysis.

BACKGROUND: Given the importance of perceptions of decent work for nursing students' future career choices, we attempted to determine potential classifications and characteristics of nursing students' perceptions of decent work so that targeted interventions could be developed. METHODS: A convenience sample of 1004 s- to fourth-year nursing students completed the General Information Questionnaire, Self-Regulatory Fatigue Scale, Occupational Identity Questionnaire, and Decent Work Perceptions Scale in a cross-sectional survey in Heilongjiang Province, China, resulting in 630 valid questionnaires with a valid return rate of 62.75%. Nursing students' perceptions of decent work were defined using descriptive and regression analysis. RESULTS: Latent profile analysis (LPA) identified three subgroups: low perceived decent work group, medium perceived decent work group, and high perceived decent work group, accounting for 4.76%, 69.37%, and 25.87% of the sample, respectively. The results of unordered multiclass logistic regression show that nursing students with relatively low levels of perceived decent work are more likely to have a low professional identity, a lack of respect for nursing seniors, an involuntary choice of nursing major, and a low family income. CONCLUSION: Different types of nursing students have different perceptions of decent work, and these universities and related departments can use different educational guidance strategies.

Remote Sensing Retrieval of Cloud Top Height Using Neural Networks and Data from Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization.

In order to enhance the retrieval accuracy of cloud top height (CTH) from MODIS data, neural network models were employed based on Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) data. Three types of methods were established using MODIS inputs: cloud parameters, calibrated radiance, and a combination of both. From a statistical standpoint, models with combination inputs demonstrated the best performance, followed by models with calibrated radiance inputs, while models relying solely on calibrated radiance had poorer applicability. This work found that cloud top pressure (CTP) and cloud top temperature played a crucial role in CTH retrieval from MODIS data. However, within the same type of models, there were slight differences in the retrieved results, and these differences were not dependent on the quantity of input parameters. Therefore, the model with fewer inputs using cloud parameters and calibrated radiance was recommended and employed for individual case studies. This model produced results closest to the actual cloud top structure of the typhoon and exhibited similar cloud distribution patterns when compared with the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) CTHs from a climatic statistical perspective. This suggests that the recommended model has good applicability and credibility in CTH retrieval from MODIS images. This work provides a method to improve accurate CTHs from MODIS data for better utilization.

PCAS: An Integrated Tool for Multi-Dimensional Cancer Research Utilizing Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium Data.

Proteomics offers a robust method for quantifying proteins and elucidating their roles in cellular functions, surpassing the insights provided by transcriptomics. The Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium database, enriched with comprehensive cancer proteomics data including phosphorylation and ubiquitination profiles, alongside transcriptomics data from the Genomic Data Commons, allow for integrative molecular studies of cancer. The ProteoCancer Analysis Suite (PCAS), our newly developed R package and Shinyapp, leverages these resources to facilitate in-depth analyses of proteomics, phosphoproteomics, and transcriptomics, enhancing our understanding of the tumor microenvironment through features like immune infiltration and drug sensitivity analysis. This tool aids in identifying critical signaling pathways and therapeutic targets, particularly through its detailed phosphoproteomic analysis. To demonstrate the functionality of the PCAS, we conducted an analysis of GAPDH across multiple cancer types, revealing a significant upregulation of protein levels, which is consistent with its important biological and clinical significance in tumors, as indicated in our prior research. Further experiments were used to validate the findings performed using the tool. In conclusion, the PCAS is a powerful and valuable tool for conducting comprehensive proteomic analyses, significantly enhancing our ability to uncover oncogenic mechanisms and identify potential therapeutic targets in cancer research.

Spermacoce alata Aubl. Essential Oil: Chemical Composition, In Vitro Antioxidant Activity, and Inhibitory Effects of Acetylcholinesterase, α-Glucosidase and ß-Lactamase.

Spermacoce alata Aubl. is widely available in the market as traditional Chinese medicine and animal feed, due to its properties of clearing heat and treating malaria and its high-protein and crude fiber content. In this study, the essential oil of S. alata was obtained through hydrodistillation. GC-MS and GC-FID methods were used to identify the chemical components and their relative abundance. Furthermore, the antioxidant capacity was measured using DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays, and the inhibitory effects of acetylcholinesterase, α-glucosidase, and ß-lactamase were also evaluated. A total of 67 compounds were identified, with the major constituents being palmitic acid (30.74%), linoleic acid (16.13%), and phenylheptatriyne (8.07%). The essential oil exhibited moderate antioxidant activity against DPPH (IC50 > 10 mg/mL), while the IC50 value for the ABTS assay was 3.84 ± 2.12 mg/mL and the FRAP assay value was 87.22 ± 12.22 µM/g. Additionally, the essential oil showed moderate anti-acetylcholinesterase activity (IC50 = 286.0 ± 79.04 µg/mL), significant anti-α-glucosidase activity (IC50 = 174.7 ± 13.12 µg/mL), and potent anti-ß-lactamase activity (IC50 = 37.56 ± 3.48 µg/mL). The results suggest that S. alata has the potential for application in pharmacology, warranting further exploration and investigation.

Effect of Stepwise Exposure to High-Level Erythromycin on Anaerobic Digestion.

High-level erythromycin (ERY) fermentation wastewater will pose serious threats to lake environments. Anaerobic digestion (AD) has advantages in treating high-level antibiotic wastewater. However, the fate of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and microbial communities in AD after stepwise exposure to high-level ERY remains unclear. In this study, an AD reactor was first exposed to 0, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 200 mg/L ERY and then re-exposed to 0, 50, 200 and 500 mg/L ERY to investigate the effect of ERY on AD. The results show that AD could adapt to the presence of high-level ERY (500 mg/L) and could maintain efficient CH4 production after domestication with low-level ERY (50 mg/L). The AD process could achieve higher removal of ERY (>94%), regardless of the initial ERY concentration. ErmB and mefA, conferring resistance through target alteration and efflux pumps, respectively, were dominant in the AD process. The first exposure to ERY stimulated an increase in the total ARG abundance, while the AD process seemed to discourage ARG maintenance following re-exposure to ERY. ERY inhibited the process of acetoclastic methanogenesis, but strengthened the process of hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis. This work provides useful information for treating high-level ERY fermentation wastewater by the AD process.

Caries lesions diagnosis with deep convolutional neural network in intraoral QLF images by handheld device.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the effectiveness of a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) in diagnosing and staging caries lesions in quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) images taken by a self-manufactured handheld device. METHODS: A small toothbrush-like device consisting of a 400 nm UV light-emitting lamp with a 470 nm filter was manufactured for intraoral imaging. A total of 133 cases with 9,478 QLF images of teeth were included for caries lesion evaluation using a CNN model. The database was divided into development, validation, and testing cohorts at a 7:2:1 ratio. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were calculated for model performance. RESULTS: The overall caries prevalence was 19.59%. The CNN model achieved an AUC of 0.88, an accuracy of 0.88, a specificity of 0.94, and a sensitivity of 0.64 in the validation cohort. They achieved an overall accuracy of 0.92, a sensitivity of 0.95 and a specificity of 0.55 in the testing cohort. The model can distinguish different stages of caries well, with the best performance in detecting deep caries followed by intermediate and superficial lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Caries lesions have typical characteristics in QLF images and can be detected by CNNs. A QLF-based device with CNNs can assist in caries screening in the clinic or at home. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The clinical trial was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (No. ChiCTR2300073487, Date: 12/07/2023).

Development and Applications of D-Amino Acid Derivatives-based Metabolic Labeling of Bacterial Peptidoglycan.

Peptidoglycan, an essential component within the cell walls of virtually all bacteria, is composed of glycan strands linked by stem peptides that contain D-amino acids. The peptidoglycan biosynthesis machinery exhibits high tolerance to various D-amino acid derivatives. D-amino acid derivatives with different functionalities can thus be specifically incorporated into and label the peptidoglycan of bacteria, but not the host mammalian cells. This metabolic labeling strategy is highly selective, highly biocompatible, and broadly applicable, which has been utilized in various fields. This review introduces the metabolic labeling strategies of peptidoglycan by using D-amino acid derivatives, including one-step and two-step strategies. In addition, we emphasize the various applications of D-amino acid derivative-based metabolic labeling, including bacterial peptidoglycan visualization (existence, biosynthesis, and dynamics, etc.), bacterial visualization (including bacterial imaging and visualization of growth and division, metabolic activity, antibiotic susceptibility, etc.), pathogenic bacteria-targeted diagnostics and treatment (positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, photodynamic therapy, photothermal therapy, gas therapy, immunotherapy, etc.), and live bacteria-based therapy. Finally, a summary of this metabolic labeling and an outlook is provided.

Circulating Inflammatory Mediators and Genetic Polymorphisms of Inflammation Mediators and Their Association with Factors Related to Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: This study aimed to explore the levels of circulating inflammatory factors CRP, IL-6, IL-10 and TNF- α based on the literature review. This study also examined the influence of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites on the susceptibility of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) using meta-analysis and intended to provide additional information on pathogenesis of AAA research. Methods: Electronic databases including PubMed and Web of Science were systemically searched to collect the information on AAA, inflammatory factors such as CRP, IL-6, IL-10, TNF- α and the SNP sites for data extraction. Altogether six SNPs in four genes (rs3091244, CRP; rs1800947, CRP; rs1205, CRP; rs1800795, IL-6; rs1800896, IL-10; and rs1800629, TNF) were assessed. Results: This study enrolled altogether 41 relevant investigations involving 9,007 AAA patients to carry out meta-analysis. According to pooled analysis, circulating CRP and IL-6 levels were shown to be related to the AAA, while plasma IL-10 and TNF- α levels were not associated with AAA. The circulating CRP level standard mean difference (SMD) was 0.30 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.17-0.43), the IL-6 level SMD was 0.34 (95% CI: 0.20-0.49), the IL-10 level SMD was -0.01 (95% CI: -0.09-0.06), and the TNF- α level SMD was 0.09 (95% CI: 0.00-0.19). Similarly, the odds ratio (OR) of rs3091244 (CRP) under the recessive gene model was 1.70 (95% CI: 1.13-2.57). In addition, individuals with A and T mutant genes at locus rs3091244 might have a higher tendency of AAA susceptibility than those with C allele. Consecutively, the OR was 0.91 (95% CI: 0.51-0.97) for rs1800795 (IL-6) locus in the allele model, and individuals with G mutant gene at locus rs1800795 (IL-6) might be less susceptible to AAA than those with C allele. Meanwhile, the rs1800896 (IL-10) locus had a positive association under the five statistical models, and individuals with A mutant gene at locus rs1800896 might have a higher susceptibility to AAA than those with G allele. Nevertheless, the rs1800947 (CRP), rs1205 (CRP), and rs1800629 (TNF) loci did not have positive correlation under the five statistical models, with no statistical significance. The results indicate that the gene polymorphisms at rs1800629, rs1800947, and rs1205 loci were not related to the AAA susceptibility. Conclusions: Gene polymorphisms in certain known inflammatory mediators related to AAA susceptibility might serve as potential predictive biomarkers for clinical applications. Moreover, SNP of inflammatory mediators relevant to abdominal aortic aneurysmal formation and progression need extensive investigations to confirm these results.