Whole-genome resequencing of major populations revealed domestication-related genes in yaks.

BACKGROUND: The yak is a symbol of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and provides important basic resources for human life on the plateau. Domestic yaks have been subjected to strong artificial selection and environmental pressures over the long-term. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of phenotypic differences in yak populations can reveal key functional genes involved in the domestication process and improve genetic breeding. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Here, we re-sequenced 80 yaks (Maiwa, Yushu, and Huanhu populations) to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as genetic variants. After filtering and quality control, remaining SNPs were kept to identify the genome-wide regions of selective sweeps associated with domestic traits. The four methods (π, XPEHH, iHS, and XP-nSL) were used to detect the population genetic separation. RESULTS: By comparing the differences in the population stratification, linkage disequilibrium decay rate, and characteristic selective sweep signals, we identified 203 putative selective regions of domestic traits, 45 of which were mapped to 27 known genes. They were clustered into 4 major GO biological process terms. All known genes were associated with seven major domestication traits, such as dwarfism (ANKRD28), milk (HECW1, HECW2, and OSBPL2), meat (SPATA5 and GRHL2), fertility (BTBD11 and ARFIP1), adaptation (NCKAP5, ANTXR1, LAMA5, OSBPL2, AOC2, and RYR2), growth (GRHL2, GRID2, SMARCAL1, and EPHB2), and the immune system (INPP5D and ADCYAP1R1). CONCLUSIONS: We provided there is an obvious genetic different among domestic progress in these three yak populations. Our findings improve the understanding of the major genetic switches and domestic processes among yak populations.

Transcriptomics and metabolomics of blood, urine and ovarian follicular fluid of yak at induced estrus stage.

To gain a deeper understanding of the metabolic differences within and outside the body, as well as changes in transcription levels following estrus in yaks, we conducted transcriptome and metabolome analyses on female yaks in both estrus and non-estrus states. The metabolome analysis identified 114, 13, and 91 distinct metabolites in urine, blood, and follicular fluid, respectively. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis highlighted an enrichment of pathways related to amino acid and lipid metabolism across all three body fluids. Our transcriptome analysis revealed 122 differentially expressed genes within microRNA (miRNA) and 640 within long non-coding RNA (lncRNA). Functional enrichment analysis of lncRNA and miRNA indicated their involvement in cell signaling, disease resistance, and immunity pathways. We constructed a regulatory network composed of 10 lncRNAs, 4 miRNAs, and 30 mRNAs, based on the targeted regulation relationships of the differentially expressed genes. In conclusion, the accumulation of metabolites such as amino acids, steroids, and organic acids, along with the expression changes of key genes like miR-129 during yak estrus, provide initial insights into the estrus mechanism in yaks.

Small Channels Assembled by Multilayer ZIF-8 in Nanocomposite Membranes for Filtration of Ofloxacin in Water.

Metal-organic framework (MOF)-based hybrid membranes still face many unsolved difficulties in the field of liquid separation, with a reliable production technique standing out, in particular, for the water-stable MOF membranes. In this study, zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) with acceptable water stability, favorable polymer affinity, and high selectivity was meticulously grafted on commercial poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) via substrate carboxylation-assisted etching and then overlaid onto PVDF to fabricate a novel hybrid membrane by a layer-by-layer self-assembly method. The optimal membrane manufacturing conditions, including assembly time (10 min), Hmim/Zn2+ molar ratio (8:1), and optimal layer number (three layers), were thoroughly investigated for cutting-off ofloxacin in water filtration. Under low pressure, a nanofiltration scale permeability of about 199.2 L m-2 h-1 MPa-1 and 97.9% rejection of ofloxacin were obtained in bench-scale tests based on the synergistic effect of the Donnan effect and steric hindrance. More significantly, the resulting hybrid membrane demonstrated excellent hydrophilicity, high antifouling, and mechanical and repeatability performances, suggesting promising application possibilities in real-world wastewater filtering settings.

Unlocking a Type-II CoO@BiVO4 Heterostructure for Wastewater Purification.

Developing a semiconductor-based heterostructure photoanode is crucial in improving the photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) efficiency for degrading refractory organic pollutants. Nevertheless, the PEC performance of the photoanodes is usually restricted by electron/hole pair recombination, oxygen evolution, and slow electron transfer. Herein, a novel CoO@BiVO4 nanowire array film (Ti/CoO@BiVO4) with n-type semiconductor characteristics was prepared via a straightforward hydrothermal method. The optimized Ti/CoO@BiVO4 electrode exhibited excellent PEC decolorization efficiency of active brilliant blue KN-R (∼92.8%) and long-term stability, outperforming recent reports. The insight reason for enhancing the PEC degradation efficiency of the Ti/CoO@BiVO4 electrodes can be attributed to the large electrochemical active area, low charge transfer resistance, and negative flat band potential. The formation of a type-II heterostructure was investigated between CoO and BiVO4 further to promote the generation and separation efficiency of electron/hole pairs, indicating that the optimized Ti/CoO@BiVO4 electrode has the potential for the water PEC degradation ability and superior service life.

Single-cell analysis identifies critical regulators of spermatogonial development and differentiation in cattle-yak bulls.

Spermatogenesis is a continuous process in which functional sperm are produced through a series of mitotic and meiotic divisions and morphological changes in germ cells. The aberrant development and fate transitions of spermatogenic cells cause hybrid sterility in mammals. Cattle-yak, a hybrid animal between taurine cattle (Bos taurus) and yak (Bos grunniens), exhibits male-specific sterility due to spermatogenic failure. In the present study, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing analysis to identify differences in testicular cell composition and the developmental trajectory of spermatogenic cells between yak and cattle-yak. The composition and molecular signatures of spermatogonial subtypes were dramatically different between these 2 animals, and the expression of genes associated with stem cell maintenance, cell differentiation and meiotic entry was altered in cattle-yak, indicating the impairment of undifferentiated spermatogonial fate decisions. Cell communication analysis revealed that signaling within different spermatogenic cell subpopulations was weakened, and progenitor spermatogonia were unable or delayed receiving and sending signals for transformation to the next stage in cattle-yak. Simultaneously, the communication between niche cells and germ cells was also abnormal. Collectively, we obtained the expression profiles of transcriptome signatures of different germ cells and testicular somatic cell populations at the single-cell level and identified critical regulators of spermatogonial differentiation and meiosis in yak and sterile cattle-yak. The findings of this study shed light on the genetic mechanisms that lead to hybrid sterility and speciation in bovid species.

Unveiling Hierarchical Dendritic Co3O4-SnO2 Heterostructure for Efficient Water Purification.

The construction of a desirable, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective nanoheterostructure photoanode to treat refractory organics is critical and challenging. Herein, we unveiled a hierarchical dendritic Co3O4-SnO2 heterostructure via a sequential hydrothermal process. The time of the secondary hydrothermal process can control the size of the ultrathin SnO2 nanosheets on the basis of the Ostwald solidification mass conservation principle. Ti/Co3O4-SnO2-168h with critical growth size demonstrated a photoelectrocatalysis degradation rate of ∼93.3% for a high dye concentrate of 90 mg/L with acceptable long-term cyclability and durability over reported Co3O4-based electrodes because of the large electrochemically active area, low charge transfer resistance, and high photocurrent intensity. To gain insight into the photoelectric synergy, we proposed a type-II heterojunction between Co3O4 and SnO2, which prevents photogenerated carriers' recombination and improves the generation of dominant active species •O2-, 1O2, and h+. This work uncovered the Ti/Co3O4-SnO2-168 as a promising catalyst and provided a simple and inexpensive assembly strategy to obtain binary integrated nanohybrids with targeted functionalities.

Zn2SnO4@Ti ceramic film anode preparation by microarc oxidation for 2e- WOR degradation of unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH).

The main challenge facing the anodic electro-Fenton through the 2e- water oxidation reaction (WOR) for toxics degradation lies in the electrode's stability, because the anodic oxygen evolution (OER) generated O2 will inevitably exfoliate the electro-active components loaded on the electrode substrate. To address this point, two aspects need attention: 1) Identifying a catalyst that exhibits both excellent electrocatalytic activity and selectivity can improve the faradaic efficiency of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2); 2) Employing novel methods for fabricating highly stable electrodes, where active sites can be firmly coated. Consequently, this study utilized microarc oxidation (MAO) to prepare a ceramic film electrode Zn2SnO4@Ti at 300 V. Zn2SnO4 acts as an WOR electrocatalyst and further improved the generation of H2O2 for treating real wastewater containing Unsymmetrical Dimethylhydrazine (UDMH). From the perspective of characterization of electrode structure, Zn2SnO4@Ti forms a stable active coating, the electrochemical yield of H2O2 is high up to 78.4 µmol h-1 cm-2, and the selectivity of H2O2 is over 80% at 3.3 V vs. RHE, which can be fully applied to scenarios where it is inconvenient to transport H2O2 and need in-situ safe production. Additionally, the prepared electrodes exhibit significant stability, suitable for various applications, providing insightful preparation strategies and experiences for constructing highly stable anodes.

Comparative proteomic analysis identifies differentially expressed proteins associated with meiotic arrest in cattle-yak hybrids.

Cattle-yak, the interspecific hybrid between yak and taurine cattle, exhibits male-specific sterility. Massive loss of spermatogenic cells, especially spermatocytes, results in azoospermia in these animals. Currently, the mechanisms underlying meiosis block and defects in spermatocyte development remain elusive. The present study was designed to investigate the differences in the protein composition of spermatocytes isolated from 12-month-old yak and cattle-yak testes. Histological analysis confirmed that spermatocytes were the most advanced germ cells in the testes of yak and cattle-yak at this developmental stage. Comparative proteomic analysis identified a total of 452 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) in the fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) isolated spermatocytes from cattle-yak and yak. A total of 291 proteins were only present in yak spermatocytes. Gene Ontology analysis revealed that the downregulated DAPs were mostly enriched in the cellular response to DNA damage stimulus and double-strand breaks (DSBs) repair via break-induced replication, while the proteins specific for yak were related to cell division and cycle, spermatogenesis, and negative regulation of the extrinsic apoptotic signaling pathway. Ultimately, these DAPs were related to the critical process for spermatocyte meiotic events, including DSBs, homologous recombination, synapsis, crossover formation, and germ cell apoptosis. The database composed of proteins associated with spermatogenesis, including KPNA2, HTATSF1, TRIP12, STIP1, LZTFL1, LARP7, MTCH2, STK31, ROMO1, CDK5AP2, DNMT1, RBM44, and CHRAC1, is the focus of further research on male hybrid sterility. In total, these results provide insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying failed meiotic processes and male infertility in cattle-yak.

Aspirin triggers ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells through restricting NF-κB p65-activated SLC7A11 transcription.

A number of studies have shown that aspirin, as commonly prescribed drug, prevents the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Ferroptosis as a dynamic tumor suppressor plays a vital role in hepatocarcinogenesis. In this study we investigated whether aspirin affected ferroptosis in liver cancer cells. RNA-seq analysis revealed that aspirin up-regulated 4 ferroptosis-related drivers and down-regulated 5 ferroptosis-related suppressors in aspirin-treated HepG2 cells. Treatment with aspirin (4 mM) induced remarkable ferroptosis in HepG2 and Huh7 cells, which was enhanced by the ferroptosis inducer erastin (10 µM). We demonstrated that NF-κB p65 restricted ferroptosis in HepG2 and Huh7 cells through directly binding to the core region of SLC7A11 promoter and activating the transcription of ferroptosis inhibitor SLC7A11, whereas aspirin induced ferroptosis through inhibiting NF-κB p65-activated SLC7A11 transcription. Overexpression of p65 rescued HepG2 and Huh7 cells from aspirin-induced ferroptosis. HCC patients with high expression levels of SLC7A11 and p65 presented lower survival rate. Functionally, NF-κB p65 blocked the aspirin-induced ferroptosis in vitro and in vivo, which was attenuated by erastin. We conclude that aspirin triggers ferroptosis by restricting NF-κB-activated SLC7A11 transcription to suppress the growth of HCC. These results provide a new insight into the mechanism by which aspirin regulates ferroptosis in hepatocarcinogenesis. A combination of aspirin and ferroptosis inducer may provide a potential strategy for the treatment of HCC in clinic.

Comprehensive analysis of risk factors for surgical site infections following thoracoscopic radical resection in patients with lung cancer.

Surgical site infections (SSIs) post-thoracoscopic radical resection in lung cancer patients pose significant clinical challenges. This study aims to comprehensively identify the independent risk factors that influence the occurrence of SSIs following thoracoscopic radical resection for lung cancer. The study employed a retrospective analysis of 130 patients who underwent thoracoscopic radical resection for lung cancer. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were clearly defined, and ethical approvals were obtained. Patients were monitored for SSIs via clinical and biochemical markers, with data comprehensively gathered from electronic health records. Statistical analysis was rigorously conducted using SPSS v27.0, with methodologies including t-tests, Chi-square tests and logistic regression. The study aimed to identify independent risk factors for SSIs and incorporated a multidimensional assessment approach to provide robust, clinically relevant findings. Univariate analysis revealed surgical duration ≥3 h, non-usage of antibiotics, presence of diabetes and elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) as significant correlates for SSIs. Multivariate analysis substantiated these factors as independent risk variables: surgery duration (odds ratio [OR] = 9.698, p < 0.05), presence of diabetes (OR = 6.89, p < 0.05), elevated CRP (OR = 7.306, p < 0.05) and elevated PCT (OR = 6.838, p < 0.05). Conversely, antibiotic administration served as a protective factor (OR = 0.572, p < 0.05). Surgical duration of 3 h or more, diabetes and elevated levels of CRP and PCT significantly heighten the risk for SSIs after thoracoscopic radical resection in lung cancer patients. Perioperative antibiotic administration acts as a protective factor. Clinicians should implement tailored preventative strategies to mitigate these identified risks.

Nectin-4 promotes osteosarcoma progression and metastasis through activating PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling by down-regulation of miR-520c-3p.

PURPOSE: Nectin-4 is specifically up-regulated in various tumors, exert crucial effects on tumor occurrence and development. Nevertheless, the role and molecular mechanism of Nectin-4 in osteosarcoma (OS) are rarely studied. METHODS: The expression of Nectin-4 and its relationship with clinical characteristics of OS were investigated using OS clinical tissues, tissue microarrays, TCGA, and GEO databases. Moreover, the effect of Nectin-4 on cell growth and mobility was detected by CCK-8, colony formation, transwell, and wound-healing assays. The RT-qPCR, Western blotting, and luciferase reporter assays were performed to explore molecular mechanisms through which Nectin-4 mediates the expression of miR-520c-3p, thus modulating PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling. In vivo mice models constructed by subcutaneous transplantation and tail vein injection were used to validate the functional roles of Nectin-4 and miR-520c-3p. RESULTS: Nectin-4 displayed a higher expression in OS tumor tissues compared with normal tissues, and its overexpression was positively associated with tumor stage and metastasis in OS patients. Functionally, Nectin-4 enhanced OS cells growth and mobility in vitro. Mechanistically, Nectin-4 down-regulated the levels of miR-520c-3p that directly targeted AKT-1 and P65, thus leading to the stimulation of PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling. In addition, the expression of miR-520c-3p was apparently lower in OS tissues than in normal tissues, and its low expression was significantly related to tumor metastasis. Furthermore, ectopic expression of miR-520c-3p markedly blocked the effect of Nectin-4 on OS cell growth and mobility. Knockdown of Nectin-4 could suppress the tumorigenesis and metastasis in vivo, which could be remarkably reversed by miR-520c-3p silencing. CONCLUSIONS: Nectin-4 as an oncogene can promote OS progression and metastasis by activating PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling via down-regulation of miR-520c-3p, which could represent a novel avenue for identifying a potential therapeutic target for improving patient outcomes.

EZH2 promotes the progression of osteosarcoma through the activation of the AKT/GSK3ß pathway.

Enhancer of zeste homologue 2 (EZH2) is a clarified promoter in a list of tumours, including osteosarcoma (OS). Our research was projected to define the mechanism involved in EZH2-mediated OS progression through the protein kinase B (AKT)/glycogen synthase kinase 3ß (GSK3ß) pathway. EZH2 expression was tested in 66 OS tissues and five osteosarcoma cell lines (143B, SJSA-1, HOS, MG63, and U2OS). In HOS and U2OS cells, cellular malignant characteristics, and the markers of the AKT/GSK3ß signalling pathway were measured when EZH2 was silenced or overexpressed. Meanwhile, rescue assays were implemented to observe whether the AKT/GSK3ß signalling pathway inhibitor (MK-2206) could affect the role of overexpressed EZH2 in OS cells. EZH2 was up-regulated in tumour tissues of OS patients. OS cell lines (HOS and U2OS) showed impairments of proliferative, migratory, invasive and anti-apoptotic properties when EZH2 was silenced. Downregulated EZH2 inhibited the activation of the AKT/GSK3 signalling pathway. However, the situation in HOS and U2OS cells over-expressing EZH2 was opposite. MK-2206 erased EZH2 up-regulation-induced promotion of OS cell growth. It is demonstrated that EZH2 promotes the progression of OS via inducing the activation of the AKT/GSK3ß pathway, offering a therapeutic direction for OS treatment.

Racial disparities in bone metastasis patterns and targeted screening and treatment strategies in newly diagnosed lung cancer patients.

Objective: Race disparities exist in bone metastasis (BM) development and survival in lung cancer (LC) patients. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database was used to investigate different patterns of BM development and survival in different races.Design: LC patients with BM were identified from the database from 2010 to 2014. Risk factors were investigated by univariable and multivariable logistic regression. Potential factors for prognosis were evaluated by univariable and multivariable Cox regression.Results: Asian and Pacific Islander (API) patients presented the highest prevalence of BM (24.6%), followed by white (20.7%) and black patients (19.9%) (χ2 = 78.74; p < .001). After adjusting for the demographic and clinical factors, API race was independently associated with a high risk of BM development. The median survival times for the API, white and black LC patients with BM were 16 months (95% CI: 15.2-16.8), 11 months (95% CI: 10.9-11.1) and 10 months (95% CI: 9.7-10.3), respectively, with significant differences (p < .001). Multivariable Cox regression showed that API race was positively associated with greater overall survival compared with white and black patients. Male gender, larger tumor size, lymph node involvement, lower tumor differentiated grade, and the presence of lung, liver and brain metastases were independently associated with a high risk of developing BM and worse survival with LC across all races. Age, income, insurance and histological types had different impacts on BM among different races.Conclusion: Homogeneous and heterogeneous associated factors for BM were revealed among different races. Individualized screening and treatment should be performed race-specifically.

Integrated analysis of lncRNA and mRNA in liver of Megalobrama amblycephala post Aeromonas hydrophila infection.

BACKGROUND: As non-coding RNA molecules of more than 200 bp in length, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a variety of roles in biological processes, including regulating the immune responses to bacterial infections. In recent years, there have been many in-depth studies on mammalian lncRNAs, but the relevant studies in fish are very limited. Meanwhile, since lncRNAs are not conserved among species, it is difficult to apply the existing results directly to unstudied species. RESULTS: To obtain the information of lncRNAs in Megalobrama amblycephala, one of the most economically important freshwater fish in China, also to better understand the biological significance of lncRNAs in the immunity system, the fish liver at 0, 4, 12, 24, and 72 h post Aeromonas hydrophila infection (hpi) were obtained for lncRNA-sequencing (lncRNA-seq). A total of 14,849 lncRNAs were identified, and 2196 lncRNAs showed significant differences at different time points post A. hydrophila infection. Gene Ontology (GO) annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses showed that the target genes of the differentially expressed lncRNAs were enriched in several pathways related to immune such as apoptosis, inflammation, and immune response. Time-specific modules were then identified, using weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA), and 28 modules significantly correlated with different time point after infection were found. Furthermore, four immune-related genes and six lncRNAs in the time-specific modules were subsequently verified by RT-qPCR. CONCLUSIONS: The above findings reveal the discovery of widespread differentially expressed lncRNAs in the M. amblycephala liver post A. hydrophila infection, suggesting that lncRNAs might participate in the regulation of host response to bacterial infection, enriching the information of lncRNAs in teleost and providing a resources basis for further studies on the immune function of lncRNAs.

Nomogram for predicting overall survival in colorectal cancer with distant metastasis.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cancer burden, and prognosis is determined by many demographic and clinicopathologic factors. The present study aimed to construct a prognostic nomogram for colorectal cancer patients with distant metastasis. METHODS: Colorectal cancer patients with distant metastasis diagnosed between 2010 and 2016 were selected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to identify independent prognostic factors. A nomogram was constructed to predict survival, and validation was performed. RESULTS: A total of 7099 stage IV colorectal cancer patients were enrolled in the construction cohort. The median overall survival was 20.0 (95% CI 19.3-20.7) months. Age at diagnosis, marital status, race, primary tumour site, tumour grade, CEA level, T stage, N stage, presence of bone, brain, liver and lung metastasis, surgery for primary site and performance of chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors. The nomogram was constructed and the calibration curve showed satisfactory agreement. The C-index was 0.742 (95% CI 0.726-0.758). In the validation cohort (7098 patients), the nomogram showed satisfactory discrimination and calibration with a C-index of 0.746 (95% CI 0.730-0.762). CONCLUSION: A series of factors associated with the survival of CRC patients with distant metastasis were found. Based on the identified factors, a nomogram was generated to predict the survival of stage IV colorectal cancer patients. The predictive model showed satisfactory discrimination and calibration, which can provide a reference for survival estimation and individualized treatment decisions.

Social support and depressive symptoms among physicians in tertiary hospitals in China: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Social support is an important factor for individual's mental health. However, the association between social support and depressive symptoms among physicians in China' tertiary hospitals has not been explored. This study aimed to investigate its association among physicians stratifying by sex. METHODS: Six hundred fifty-six physicians were enrolled from 12 tertiary hospitals of Shandong Province, China. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Social support was evaluated using the Social Support Rating Scale. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between social support and depressive symptoms among physicians. RESULTS: The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 42.3% and the average social support score was 38.82 ± 7.53 among physicians. Lower subjective social support scores (male: ß = - 0.317, p < 0.001; female: ß = - 0.241, p < 0.001) and lower objective social support scores (male: ß = - 0.218, p = 0.038; female: ß = - 0.277, p = 0.035) were associated with high depressive symptoms among physicians. Lower support utilization scores (ß = - 0.472, p < 0.001) were associated with high depressive symptoms among male physicians. CONCLUSIONS: Chinese physicians had a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms and lower social support than the Chinese general population. Objective and subjective social support were inversely associated with depressive symptoms among male and female physicians while support utilization was inversely associated with depressive symptoms among male rather than female physicians. It is critical to improve physicians' mental health through strengthening social support in China.

A Retrospective Evaluation of Operative and Postoperative Outcomes in Patients with Spinal Metastases from a Single Center to Compare Vertebrectomy with Combined Vertebrectomy and Radiofrequency Ablation.

BACKGROUND This retrospective study was conducted at a single center and aimed to evaluate operative and postoperative outcomes in patients with spinal metastases using vertebrectomy and combined vertebrectomy and radiofrequency ablation (RFA). MATERIAL AND METHODS Patients diagnosed with spinal metastases between April 2009 and March 2016 (n=49) included patients who underwent vertebrectomy (n=26) and patients who underwent combined vertebrectomy and RFA (n=23). The characteristics of the 2 groups were similar in primary tumor types, comorbidities, Tomita score, vertebral involvement, preoperative bone pain, and neurologic deficit. RESULTS The results showed for the both groups that the visual analog scale (VAS) pain score was significantly decreased (P<0.05) and the neurological status was improved after treatment. Compared with the control group (vertebrectomy only), the combination group (combined vertebrectomy and RFA) had less intraoperative blood loss (P=0.002) and shorter operation time (P<0.001). The recurrence rate was lower (P=0.003) in the patients who received combined treatment, and the period of local recurrence was prolonged (P=0.030) in the combination group. CONCLUSIONS This retrospective study showed that the selective use of combined vertebrectomy and RFA significantly reduced surgical time and blood loss, improved recovery of neurologic deficit, and reduced the tumor recurrence rate in patients with spinal metastases.

Incidence and prognosis of distant metastasis in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors.

BACKGROUND: Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are a type of soft tissue sarcomas (STS) with recurrence and metastatic potential. We aimed to investigate the risk factors for developing distant metastases (DM) and to identify the prognostic factors in patients with DM. METHODS: Based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result (SEER) database, MPNST patients diagnosed between 2010 and 2016 were extracted in our study. The logistic regression model was performed for predicting DM development while the Cox proportional hazard regression model was conducted for revealing the prognostic factors. RESULTS: Eventually, 764 patients diagnosed with MPNSTs were included with 109 cases presenting with metastases at initial diagnosis. Larger tumor size and lymph node metastases were independent risk factors for developing DM. The median overall survival (OS) for patients with metastases was 8.0 (95% CI: 6.1-9.9) months. Multiple metastatic sites and no surgical treatment were prognostic factors for worse survival. Tumors located in non-head and neck region were related with better survival. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of DM was 14.3% with a dismal median OS of 8.0 months for metastatic MPNSTs. More evaluation should be applied for patients with large tumor size and lymph metastases. Tumors located in head and neck region and the presence of multiple metastases predicted worse survival outcome. Surgical treatment can significantly improve the survival of MPNST patients with distant metastasis.

Astragalus root extract improved average daily gain, immunity, antioxidant status and ruminal microbiota of early weaned yak calves.

BACKGROUND: Early weaning in yak calves is being attempted to improve yak reproduction rate. However, this has to be done with caution because of the high mortality rate of calves due to the lack of nutrients and the harsh environmental conditions. Twenty-four weaned male yak calves were used in a 60 day feeding trial in which astragalus root extract (ARE) was supplemented. They were assigned randomly to one of four dietary treatments (n = six per treatment) that differed in ARE level: 0 g kg-1 (control), ARE0 ; 20 g kg-1 , ARE20 ; 50 g kg-1 , ARE50; and 80 g kg-1 dry matter intake (DMI), ARE80 . RESULTS: Final bodyweight and average daily gain (ADG) were significantly higher and the DMI/ADG ratio was significantly lower in calves with ARE supplementation than control (ARE0 ) calves. Ruminal concentrations of acetate and propionate and serum concentration of superoxide dismutase in ARE80 calves were higher than in the other groups and serum concentration of insulin was higher in ARE80 calves than in ARE20 calves. Serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) concentrations in ARE-fed calves were higher than in controls. Serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) concentration was higher in ARE50 and ARE80 groups than ARE0 calves and serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentration was higher in ARE80 than in ARE0 calves. Serum immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgG and immunoglobulin M (IgM) concentrations increased with age in ARE-fed calves. ARE supplementation increased the abundance of fiber degrading bacteria. CONCLUSION: ARE at a dosage of 5% to 8% DMI can be supplemented to early weaned yak calves to improve growth performance, antioxidant capacity and immunity. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Fear of future workplace violence and its influencing factors among nurses in Shandong, China: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Fear of workplace violence has become a critical issue worldwide, which can lead to burnout, low levels of job satisfaction, and turnover. However, to date, little attention has been directed toward fear of workplace violence among nurses. Accordingly, this study investigated the level of fear of future workplace violence and its influencing factors among nurses in Shandong, China. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from July 30 through September 30, 2020 in Shandong Province, China. A total of 1898 nurses were enrolled from 12 tertiary hospitals. Fear of future workplace violence was measured using the Fear of Future Violence at Work scale. Demographic information, employment characteristics, social support, and experience of workplace violence were assessed. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors of fear of future workplace violence. RESULTS: The average score of fear of future violence at work was 67.43 ± 17.20 among nurses. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that higher fear of future violence at work scores were reported among nurses who were female (B = 7.10, p < 0.001), married (B = 3.50, p = 0.028), with a monthly income ≥5000 Chinese yuan (CNY) (B = 3.14, p = 0.007), working in the department of internal medicine (B = 2.90, p = 0.032), surgery (B = 5.03, p < 0.001), pediatrics (B = 5.38, p = 0.003), or emergency department (B = 4.50, p = 0.010), working as a contract employee (B = 2.41, p = 0.042), or who had experienced workplace violence (B = 7.02, p < 0.001). Lower fear of future violence at work scores were found among nurses who took vacations (1-14 days: B = - 2.52, p = 0.047; ≥15 days: B = - 3.69, p = 0.007) and had a high-level of social support (B = - 2.03, p = 0.020). CONCLUSIONS: There was a high level of fear of future workplace violence among nurses in Shandong, China. This should be considered an important issue by hospital administrators and government officials. Effective interventions need to be enacted to address the influencing factors of fear of future workplace violence.