Pt@WS2 -an Extrinsic 2D Dilute Ferromagnetic Semiconductor Beyond Room Temperature.

Extrinsic dilute magnetic semiconductors achieve magnetic functionality through tailored interaction between a semiconducting matrix and a non-magnetic dopant. The absence of intrinsic magnetic impurities makes this approach promising to investigate the newly emerging field of 2D dilute magnetic semiconductors. Here the first realization of an extrinsic 2D DMS in Pt-doped WS2 is demonstrated. A bottom-up synthesis approach yields a uniform and highly crystalline monolayer where platinum selectively occupies the tungsten sub-lattice. The orbital overlap between W 4d and Pt 5d results in spin-selective hybrid states that produce a strong valley-Zeeman splitting. Combined experimental and theoretical results show that this interaction yields a sizable ferromagnetic response with a Curie temperature ≈375 K. These results open up a new route toward 2D magnetic properties through tailoring of atomic interactions for future applications in spintronics and magnetic nanoactuation.

CHARMM at 45: Enhancements in Accessibility, Functionality, and Speed.

Since its inception nearly a half century ago, CHARMM has been playing a central role in computational biochemistry and biophysics. Commensurate with the developments in experimental research and advances in computer hardware, the range of methods and applicability of CHARMM have also grown. This review summarizes major developments that occurred after 2009 when the last review of CHARMM was published. They include the following: new faster simulation engines, accessible user interfaces for convenient workflows, and a vast array of simulation and analysis methods that encompass quantum mechanical, atomistic, and coarse-grained levels, as well as extensive coverage of force fields. In addition to providing the current snapshot of the CHARMM development, this review may serve as a starting point for exploring relevant theories and computational methods for tackling contemporary and emerging problems in biomolecular systems. CHARMM is freely available for academic and nonprofit research at https://academiccharmm.org/program.

Multi-omics Analysis to Identify Key Immune Genes for Osteoporosis based on Machine Learning and Single-cell Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Osteoporosis is a severe bone disease with a complex pathogenesis involving various immune processes. With the in-depth understanding of bone immune mechanisms, discovering new therapeutic targets is crucial for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. This study aims to explore novel bone immune markers related to osteoporosis based on single-cell and transcriptome data, utilizing bioinformatics and machine learning methods, in order to provide novel strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. METHODS: Single cell and transcriptome data sets were acquired from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). The data was then subjected to cell communication analysis, pseudotime analysis, and high dimensional WGCNA (hdWGCNA) analysis to identify key immune cell subpopulations and module genes. Subsequently, ConsensusClusterPlus analysis was performed on the key module genes to identify different diseased subgroups in the osteoporosis (OP) training set samples. The immune characteristics between subgroups were evaluated using Cibersort, EPIC, and MCP counter algorithms. OP's hub genes were screened using 10 machine learning algorithms and 113 algorithm combinations. The relationship between hub genes and immunity and pathways was established by evaluating the immune and pathway scores of the training set samples through the ESTIMATE, MCP-counter, and ssGSEA algorithms. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) testing was conducted on serum samples collected from osteoporosis patients and healthy adults. RESULTS: In OP samples, the proportions of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) and neutrophils increased significantly by 6.73% (from 24.01% to 30.74%) and 6.36% (from 26.82% to 33.18%), respectively. We found 16 intersection genes and four hub genes (DND1, HIRA, SH3GLB2, and F7). RT-qPCR results showed reduced expression levels of DND1, HIRA, and SH3GLB2 in clinical blood samples of OP patients. Moreover, the four hub genes showed positive correlations with neutrophils (0.65-0.90), immature B cells (0.76-0.92), and endothelial cells (0.79-0.87), while showing negative correlations with myeloid-derived suppressor cells (negative 0.54-0.73), T follicular helper cells (negative 0.71-0.86), and natural killer T cells (negative 0.75-0.85). CONCLUSION: Neutrophils play a crucial role in the occurrence and development of osteoporosis. The four hub genes potentially inhibit metabolic activities and trigger inflammation by interacting with other immune cells, thereby significantly contributing to the onset and diagnosis of OP.

Inference of single-cell network using mutual information for scRNA-seq data analysis.

BACKGROUND: With the advance in single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology, deriving inherent biological system information from expression profiles at a single-cell resolution has become possible. It has been known that network modeling by estimating the associations between genes could better reveal dynamic changes in biological systems. However, accurately constructing a single-cell network (SCN) to capture the network architecture of each cell and further explore cell-to-cell heterogeneity remains challenging. RESULTS: We introduce SINUM, a method for constructing the SIngle-cell Network Using Mutual information, which estimates mutual information between any two genes from scRNA-seq data to determine whether they are dependent or independent in a specific cell. Experiments on various scRNA-seq datasets with different cell numbers based on eight performance indexes (e.g., adjusted rand index and F-measure index) validated the accuracy and robustness of SINUM in cell type identification, superior to the state-of-the-art SCN inference method. Additionally, the SINUM SCNs exhibit high overlap with the human interactome and possess the scale-free property. CONCLUSIONS: SINUM presents a view of biological systems at the network level to detect cell-type marker genes/gene pairs and investigate time-dependent changes in gene associations during embryo development. Codes for SINUM are freely available at https://github.com/SysMednet/SINUM .

Application of machine learning techniques in the diagnosis of endometriosis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess the use of machine learning methodologies in the diagnosis of endometriosis (EM). METHODS: This study included a total of 106 patients with EM and 203 patients with non-EM conditions (like simple cysts and simple uterine fibroids), all admitted to the Shunyi Women's and Children's Hospital of Beijing Children's Hospital between January 2017 and September 2022. All participants were free of comorbidities and their diagnoses were confirmed via postoperative pathology. Comparative analysis was conducted between the EM and non-EM groups. Baseline data were assessed, including white blood cell count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio, mean platelet volume, hemoglobin, carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125), carbohydrate antigen 199, coagulation parameters, and other serologic indicators. An optimal predictive model was developed using an artificial intelligence algorithm to determine the presence of EM. The objective is to provide new insights for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of EM. RESULTS: The random forest algorithm demonstrated superior performance when compared to decision trees, LogitBoost, artificial neural networks, naïve Bayes, support vector machines, and linear regression in machine learning methods. Combining CA125 with the NLR yielded a better prediction of EM than using CA125 alone when applying the random forest algorithm. The accuracy of predicting EM with CA125 combined with NLR was 78.16%, with a sensitivity of 86.21% and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.85 (P < 0.05). In contrast, using CA125 alone resulted in an EM prediction accuracy of 75.8%, with a sensitivity of 79.3% and an AUC of 0.82 (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The diagnostic value of serum CA125 combined with the NLR for EM is higher than that of serum CA125 alone. This finding indicates that NLR could serve as a new supplementary biomarker along with serum CA125 in the diagnosis of EM.

Assessment of foetal dose and occupational exposure for pregnant workers in nuclear medicine using the Taiwanese pregnancy phantom.

For pregnant workers in nuclear medicine, radiation doses can pose a risk to their foetus. However, foetal radiation doses cannot be measured directly. In this study, a method of estimating foetal radiation doses was developed through simulations and measurements of phantoms of pregnant women in the three trimesters. The uterus and abdominal surface doses for monoenergetic photons (137Cs) and medical diagnostic X-rays were measured, and uterine dose conversion coefficients (UDCCs) were calculated. The accuracy of the UDCC estimates were validated for measurements from thermoluminescent dosemeter (TLD) chips and TLD badges on the abdomen or chest. The foetal effective dose could be estimated using TLD chips and TLD badges on the abdomen or chest, or through literature estimation method. The proposed method can be used to easily and accurately estimate foetal effective doses from chest-worn TLD badges, ensuring accurate estimation in the early stage of pregnancy when a worker may not yet be wearing an abdominal badge. A flowchart for applying the UDCC method to approximate a foetal dose is also provided to ensure that total doses remain below the maximum of 1 mSv recommended in the International Commission on Radiological Protection 103 guidelines.

Treatment of supracondylar fractures of the humerus in adults using a novel anatomical locking plate on the anterior distal humerus: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Due to its unique anatomical characteristics, supracondylar fractures of the humerus are often difficult to achieve firm fixation with internal fixation equipment, resulting in delayed functional exercise, often leaving cubitus varus deformity, elbow stiffness, contractures, and other complications. Here, we report an adult patient with a supracondylar fracture of the humerus who underwent internal fixation through an anterior median incision in the humerus with our self-developed anterior anatomical locking plate of the distal humerus. CASE PRESENTATION: A 29-year-old male patient of Chinese ethnicity with trauma-induced right supracondylar fracture of the humerus and multiple soft tissue contusions, without nerve damage, blood vessel damage, or other injuries, underwent an internal incision in our hospital using a new anatomical locking plate for the anterior distal humerus fixed treatment. During the 16-month follow-up period, the patient's elbow range of motion was almost completely restored, functional scores were excellent, and there were no minor or major postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: In this study, we propose a surgical reconstruction strategy for adult patients with supracondylar humeral fractures. Through the anterior median incision of the humerus, open reduction and internal fixation were performed with an anatomic locking plate on the anterior side of the distal humerus to restore and fix the structure of the distal humerus, and satisfactory clinical results were achieved in our case.

Chromosome-level genome assembly and annotation of Flueggea virosa (Phyllanthaceae).

Flueggea virosa (Roxb. ex Willd.) Royle, an evergreen shrub and small tree in the Phyllanthaceae family, holds significant potential in garden landscaping and pharmacological applications. However, the lack of genomic data has hindered further scientific understanding of its horticultural and medicinal values. In this study, we have assembled a haplotype-resolved genome of F. virosa for the first time. The two haploid genomes, named haplotype A genome and haplotype B genome, are 487.33 Mb and 477.53 Mb in size, respectively, with contig N50 lengths of 31.45 Mb and 32.81 Mb. More than 99% of the assembled sequences were anchored to 13 pairs of pseudo-chromosomes. Furthermore, 21,587 and 21,533 protein-coding genes were predicted in haplotype A and haplotype B genomes, respectively. The availability of this chromosome-level genome fills the gap in genomic data for F. virosa and provides valuable resources for molecular studies of this species, supporting future research on speciation, functional genomics, and comparative genomics within the Phyllanthaceae family.

Chromosome-level and haplotype-resolved genome assembly of Dracaena cambodiana (Asparagaceae).

Dracaena cambodiana Pierre ex Gagn. (Asparagaceae) is the source plant of Dragon's blood and has high ornamental values in gardening. Currently, this species is classified as the second-class state-protected species in the National Key Protected Wild Plants (NKPWP) of China. However, limited genomic data has hindered a more comprehensive scientific understanding of the processes involved in the production of Dragon's blood and the related conservation genomics research. In this study, we assembled a haplotype-resolved genome of D. cambodiana. The haploid genomes, haplotype A and haplotype B, are 1,015.22 Mb and 1,003.13 Mb in size, respectively. The completeness of haplotype A and haplotype B genomes was 98.60% and 98.20%, respectively, using the "embryophyta_10" dataset. Haplotype A and haplotype B genomes contained 27,361 and 27,066 protein-coding genes, respectively, with nearly all being functionally annotated. These findings provide new insights into the genomic characteristics of D. cambodiana and will offer additional genomic resources for studying the biosynthesis mechanism of Dragon's blood and the horticultural application of Dragon trees.

Chromosome-level assembly of Lindenbergia philippensis and comparative genomic analyses shed light on genome evolution in Lamiales.

Lamiales, comprising over 23,755 species across 24 families, stands as a highly diverse and prolific plant group, playing a significant role in the cultivation of horticultural, ornamental, and medicinal plant varieties. Whole-genome duplication (WGD) and its subsequent post-polyploid diploidization (PPD) process represent the most drastic type of karyotype evolution, injecting significant potential for promoting the diversity of this lineage. However, polyploidization histories, as well as genome and subgenome fractionation following WGD events in Lamiales species, are still not well investigated. In this study, we constructed a chromosome-level genome assembly of Lindenbergia philippensis (Orobanchaceae) and conducted comparative genomic analyses with 14 other Lamiales species. L. philippensis is positioned closest to the parasitic lineage within Orobanchaceae and has a conserved karyotype. Through a combination of Ks analysis and syntenic depth analysis, we reconstructed and validated polyploidization histories of Lamiales species. Our results indicated that Primulina huaijiensis underwent three rounds of diploidization events following the γ-WGT event, rather than two rounds as reported. Besides, we reconfirmed that most Lamiales species shared a common diploidization event (L-WGD). Subsequently, we constructed the Lamiales Ancestral Karyotype (LAK), comprising 11 proto-chromosomes, and elucidated its evolutionary trajectory, highlighting the highly flexible reshuffling of the Lamiales paleogenome. We identified biased fractionation of subgenomes following the L-WGD event across eight species, and highlighted the positive impacts of non-WGD genes on gene family expansion. This study provides novel genomic resources and insights into polyploidy and karyotype remodeling of Lamiales species, essential for advancing our understanding of species diversification and genome evolution.

Multiple Enol-Keto Isomerization and Excited-State Unidirectional Intramolecular Proton Transfer Generate Intense, Narrowband Red OLEDs.

A novel series of excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) emitters, namely, DPNA, DPNA-F, and DPNA-tBu, endowed with dual intramolecular hydrogen bonds, were designed and synthesized. In the condensed phase, DPNAs exhibit unmatched absorption and emission spectral features, where the minor 0-0 absorption peak becomes a major one in the emission. Detailed spectroscopic and dynamic approaches conclude fast ground-state equilibrium among enol-enol (EE), enol-keto (EK), and keto-keto (KK) isomers. The equilibrium ratio can be fine-tuned by varying the substitutions in DPNAs. Independent of isomers and excitation wavelength, ultrafast ESIPT takes place for all DPNAs, giving solely KK tautomer emission maximized at >650 nm. The spectral temporal evolution of ESIPT was resolved by a state-of-the-art technique, namely, the transient grating photoluminescence (TGPL), where the rate of EK* → KK* is measured to be (157 fs)-1 for DPNA-tBu, while a stepwise process is resolved for EE* → EK* → KK*, with a rate of EE* → EK* of (72 fs)-1. For all DPNAs, the KK tautomer emission shows a narrowband emission with high photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQY, ∼62% for DPNA in toluene) in the red, offering advantages to fabricate deep-red organic light-emitting diodes (OLED). The resulting OLEDs give high external quantum efficiency with a spectral full width at half-maximum (FWHM) as narrow as ∼40 nm centered at 666-670 nm for DPNAs, fully satisfying the BT. 2020 standard. The unique ESIPT properties and highly intense tautomer emission with a small fwhm thus establish a benchmark for reaching red narrowband organic electroluminescence.

Current state of research on acupuncture for the treatment of post-stroke dysphagia: a scoping review.

Objective: Post-stroke dysphagia (PSD) is a common complication of stroke. Acupuncture as one of the traditional therapies in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), can change the excitability of cerebral cortical nerve cells, and promote the recovery of neurological and swallowing functions. Several clinical primary studies (including RCTs, cohort studies, etc.) and systematic reviews have demonstrated its efficacy and safety in patients with PSD. The positive effects of acupuncture on PSD are also mentioned in international clinical and treatment guidelines, while there is no synthesis of this evidence. This scoping review aims to summarize the evidence from clinical primary studies, reviews, systematic reviews, and guidelines on acupuncture for the treatment of PSD and explore the breadth of this evidence, provide an overview of the range and characteristics of existing evidence, research gaps, and future research priorities in treating PSD with acupuncture. Method: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, SinoMed, Wan Fang Data, and VIP databases were searched from inception until June 12, 2024. The relevant data were presented through bubble diagrams, line graphs, and structured tables along with descriptive statistics and analysis. This scoping review was conducted based on the PRISMA-ScR Checklist. Results: A total of 1,130 studies were included. Most of the studies were conducted in China, with the number increasing over time. The studies included 254 reviews, 815 clinical studies (678 RCTs,107 nRCTs, 12 case reports, 14 cohort studies, and four case series), 51 systematic reviews, and 10 guidelines. Acupuncture interventions included manual acupuncture (MA), electroacupuncture (EA), and MA/EA combined with acupuncture-related methods (such as scalp acupuncture, auricular acupuncture, warm acupuncture, etc.). The most frequently used acupoint was RN23. Acupuncture is often applied in combination with other treatments, such as herbal medicine, Western medicine, rehabilitation training, swallowing training, or catheter balloon dilatation. Effective rates and WTS were the most frequently used outcomes. Most studies reported significant efficacy and only a few studies explicitly reported adverse events. Acupuncture received positive recommendations in nine guidelines for the treatment of PSD. Conclusion: As a convenient and safe traditional Chinese medicine therapy with its characteristics, acupuncture can improve different stages and types of dysphagia without causing serious adverse reactions. In the future, more standardized international cooperative clinical research is needed to identify the influence of different acupuncture intervention times on the curative effect and dose-effect relationship of acupuncture; standardize the clinical acupoint selection scheme of acupuncture; develop a COS with TCM characteristics to improve the quality of outcome reporting, This will enable different research data to be summarized and compared, reduce resource waste, and provide more high-quality evidence.

Plasma proteins, circulating metabolites mediate causal inference studies on the effect of gut bacteria on the risk of osteoporosis development.

BACKGROUND: The role of gut bacteria in preventing and delaying osteoporosis has been studied. However, the causal relationship between gut bacteria, plasma proteins, circulating metabolites and osteoporosis (OP) risk has not been fully revealed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, a two-sample Mendelian randomization study (MR) approach was used to assess the causal associations between gut bacteria, plasma proteins and circulating metabolites, and osteoporosis risk using Genome Wide Association Study (GWAS) data from gut bacteria(n=8208), plasma proteins(n=2263), circulating metabolites (n=123), and osteoporosis (3203 cases and 16380452 controls). Inverse-variance weighted (IVW) was used as the main analytical method to estimate the MR causal effect and to perform directional sensitivity analysis of causality. Finally, the mediating effect values for the influence of gut flora on OP pathogenesis through circulating metabolites were calculated by univariate MR analysis, and multivariate MR analysis. Next, we evaluated the effect of Phosphatidylcholine on the osteogenic function of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) through relevant experiments, including Edu detection of cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining, Alizarin red staining to evaluate osteogenic function, qPCR and WB detection of osteogenic differentiation related gene expression. RESULTS: A total of 9 gut microbial taxa, 15 plasma proteins and eight circulating metabolites were analysed for significant causal associations with the development of OP. Significant causal effects of 7 on gut bacteria, plasma proteins and circulating metabolites were analysed by univariate MR analysis and these results were used as exposure factors for subsequent multivariate MR. Multivariate MR analyses yielded a significant effect of circulating metabolites Phosphatidylcholine and other cholines on OP (P<0.05). Further mediation effect analysis showed that the mediation effect of Bifidobacteriaceae affecting OP through the circulating metabolite Phosphatidylcholine and other cholines was -0.0224, with a 95 % confidence interval for the mediation effect that did not include 0, and the complete mediation effect was significant. Phosphatidylcholine can promote BMSCs proliferation and osteogenesis. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated significant causal associations of gut bacteria, plasma proteins and circulating metabolites on OP, and that Bifidobacteriaceae affect OP through the circulating metabolites Phosphatidylcholine and other cholines. Phosphatidylcholine affects the osteogenic ability of BMSCs. Further exploration of potential microbiota-associated mechanisms of bone metabolism may offer new avenues for osteoporosis prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

Human and rat gonadal 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases are suppressed by dithiocarbamate fungicides via interacting with cysteine residues.

Dithiocarbamates have been widely used in various industrial applications, such as insecticides (ferbam) or drug (disulfiram). This study explored the inhibitory effects of dithiocarbamates on human and rat gonadal 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (3ß-HSD) and investigated the structure-activity relationship and mechanistic insights. The inhibitory activity of six dithiocarbamates and thiourea on the conversion of pregnenolone to progesterone was evaluated using human KGN cell and rat testicular microsomes, with subsequent progesterone measurement using HPLC-MS/MS. The study found that among the tested compounds disulfiram, ferbam, and thiram exhibited significant inhibitory activity against human 3ß-HSD2 and rat 3ß-HSD1, with ferbam demonstrating the highest potency. The mode of action for these compounds was characterized, showing mixed inhibition for human 3ß-HSD2 and mixed/noncompetitive inhibition for rat 3ß-HSD1. Additionally, it was observed that dithiothreitol dose-dependently reversed the inhibitory effects of dithiocarbamates on both human and rat gonadal 3ß-HSD enzymes. The study also delved into the penetration of these dithiocarbamates through the human KGN cell membrane and their impact on progesterone production, highlighting their potency in inhibiting human 3ß-HSD2. Furthermore, bivariate correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation of LogP (lipophilicity) with IC50 values for both enzymes. Docking analysis indicated that dithiocarbamates bind to NAD+ and steroid-binding sites, with some interactions with cysteine residues. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the structure-activity relationship and mechanistic aspects of dithiocarbamates as inhibitors of human and rat gonadal 3ß-HSDs, suggesting that these compounds likely exert their inhibitory effects through binding to cysteine residues.

The establishment of a molecular diagnostic platform for mitochondrial diseases: from conventional to next-generation sequencing.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to create a molecular diagnostic platform and establish a diagnostic pipeline for patients highly suspected of mitochondrial disorders. The effectiveness of three methods, namely, traditional restriction fragment length polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction (RFLP-PCR), Sanger sequencing for hotspot detection and whole mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), and third-generation (Nanopore) whole mtDNA sequencing, will be compared in diagnosing patients with suspected primary mitochondrial diseases (PMDs). The strengths and limitations of different methods are also discussed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A single-center prospective cohort study was conducted to validate the diagnostic pipeline for suspected mitochondrial diseases. In the first stage, a PCR-based method with five sets of primers was used to screen for eight hotspots (m.3243A>G, m.3460G>A, m.8344A>G, m.8993T>G, m.9185T>C, m.11778G>A, m.13513G>A, and m.4977deletion) using either RFLP or direct Sanger sequencing. Sanger sequencing was also used to confirm the RFLP-positive samples. In the second stage, for samples with negative screening results for the eight hotspots, mitochondrial whole-genome sequencing was performed using Sanger sequencing or third-generation nanopore sequencing. RESULTS: Between June 2020 and May 2023, 30 patients from ages 0 to 63 with clinically suspected mitochondrial disease were enrolled. The positive yield for the diagnosis of PMDs was 8/30=26.7%, and the sensitivity of the heteroplasmy level for the RFLP-based method was approximately 5%. The remaining 22 patients who tested negative at the first stage were tested using Sanger sequencing or the third-generation sequencing Nanopore, and all tested negative for pathological mtDNA mutations. Compared to the Sanger sequencing method, the results of RFLP-PCR were compromised by the limitations of incomplete RFLP enzyme digestion. For whole-genome sequencing of mtDNA, Sanger sequencing, instead of nanopore sequencing, is preferred at our institution because of its cost-effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS: In our highly selective cohort, most tested positive in the first stage of the 8 hot spots screen. Sanger sequencing is a conventional and accurate method for mitochondrial disease screening, at least for the most common hot spots in the region. The results revealed that Sanger sequencing is an accurate method with the benefit of being more cost-effective. This integral platform of molecular diagnosis bears the advantages of being relatively low cost and having a shorter reporting time, facilitating crucial identification of patients with clinical evidence of such disorders. This diagnostic flowchart has also been translated into routine clinical use in the tertiary hospital.

Kartagener syndrome with pectus excavatum and upper lobar bronchiectasis.

Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by impaired ciliary function. The incidence of PCD is 1 in 20,000 births. Kartagener's syndrome (KS), a subtype of PCD, is distinguished by the presence of situs inversus. KS occurs in about 1 in 32,000 to 40,000 births. Characterized by a triad of situs inversus totalis, sinusitis, and typically lower lobe bronchiectasis, Kartagener's syndrome presents with distinct radiological features, which are explored in this case study. We report on an adolescent male with Kartagener's syndrome, manifesting atypical bronchiectasis in the left upper lobe, leading to a bilateral lung transplant, and severe pectus excavatum requiring surgical correction. This case documents a male patient with concurrent Kartagener's syndrome and pectus excavatum, supporting a previously explored, albeit theoretical association between these conditions.

Therapeutic Effect of Lecigel, Cetiol®CC, Activonol-6, Activonol-M, 1,3-Propanediol, Soline, and Fucocert® (LCAA-PSF) Treatment on Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasis-like Skin in Mice.

The individual ingredients of 1,3-Propanediol, Soline, and Fucocert® (PSF) are often used as cosmetic formulations in skin care. In addition, the mixture of Lecigel, Cetiol®CC, Activonol-6, and Activonol-M (LCAA) is often used as a cosmetic base. However, whether the combination of LCAA with PSF (LCAA-PSF) exerts a therapeutic effect on psoriasis remains unclear. In this study, mice induced with imiquimod (IMQ) were divided into three groups and administered 100 mg/day of LCAA, 100 mg/day of LCAA-PSF, or Vaseline on the dorsal skin of each mouse. Weight-matched mice treated with Vaseline alone were used as controls. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) were used to assess tissue morphology and inflammatory cytokines. RNA sequencing analysis was used to predict the mechanism underlying the action of LCAA-PSF against psoriasis, while immunohistochemical analysis validation was used to identify pertinent molecular pathways. The results demonstrated that LCAA-PSF alleviated IMQ-induced keratinocyte differentiation/ proliferation bydecreasingthe serum levels of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, TNF-α, IL-23, and IL-17A and the epidermisof TGFß, Ki67, CK5/6, and VEGF expression, which is associated with angiogenesis and keratinocyte differentiation/ proliferation. These findings highlight the antipsoriatic activity of LCAA-PSF in a psoriasis-like mouse model and suggest this may occurvia the inhibition of inflammatory factor secretionand the TGFß-related signal pathway.

Theoretical and kinetic study of the H-atom abstraction reactions by H atom from alkyl cyclohexanes.

Reaction kinetics of hydrogen atom abstraction from six alkyl cyclohexanes, methyl cyclohexane (MCH), ethyl cyclohexane (ECH), n-propyl cyclohexane (nPCH), iso-propyl cyclohexane (iPCH), sec-butyl cyclohexane (sBCH) and iso-butyl cyclohexane (iBCH), by the H atom are systematically studied in this work. The M06-2X method combined with the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set is used to perform geometry optimization, frequency analysis and zero-point energy calculations for all species. The intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC) calculations are performed to confirm the transition states connecting the reactants and products correctly. One-dimensional hindered rotors are used to treat the low frequency torsional models with potentials scanned at the M06-2X/6-31G level of theory. Electronic single-point energy calculations for all reactants, transition states, and products are performed at the QCISD(T)/CBS level of theory. High-pressure limiting rate constants of 39 reaction channels are obtained using conventional transition state theory with asymmetric Eckart tunneling corrections in the temperature range 298.15-2000 K. Reaction rate rules for H-atom abstraction by the H atom from alkyl cyclohexanes on primary, secondary and tertiary carbon sites on both the side chain and ring are provided. The obtained rate constants are given by the Arrhenius expression in the temperature range 500-2000 K, which can be used for the combustion kinetics model development for alkyl cyclohexanes.

Coagulation and fibrinolytic markers offer utility when distinguishing between benign and malignant gallbladder tumors: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The metabolic or proliferative abnormalities that are characteristic of tumor cells can lead to abnormal fibrinolysis or coagulation system activity, with certain tumors exhibiting hypercoagulability or existing in a fibrinolytic state. However, the utility of biomarkers of coagulation and fibrinolysis when seeking to differentiate between benign gallbladder disease and malignant gallbladder tumors remains uncertain. METHODS: This study included a total of 81 patients with benign gallbladder polyps and 94 patients with malignant gallbladder tumors. Pre-biopsy or pretreatment levels of PT, APTT, FIB, D-dimer, FDP, PLT, PIC, TAT, TM, and t-PAIC from these patients were compared using Mann-Whitney tests. The baseline data of the patients were analyzed using chi-square tests, and the diagnostic utility of these biomarkers in distinguishing between benign and malignant gallbladder lesions was evaluated using ROC curves, and Spearman correlation analysis was employed to assess the correlation between these indicators and tumor parameters. RESULTS: The average age of malignant gallbladder tumor group was higher than benign gallbladder polyp group. And the base line analysis showed that there was a statistic difference in age, history of smoking, drinking, biliary tract disease, BMI of over weight between these two groups. In patients with malignant gallbladder tumors, FIB, D-dimer, FDP, PIC, TAT, TM, and t-PAIC levels were significantly elevated relative to those in patients affected by benign gallbladder polyp. The AUC for FIB, D-dimer, and FDP was 0.8469, 0.6514, 0.5950, while for PIC, TAT, TM, t-PAIC and four biomarker combined diagnosed was 0.8455, 0.6554, 0.7130, 0.6806, and 0.8859. Among these, TM was associated with the vascular invasion of tumor patients; TAT and t-PAIC were associated with neural invasion; D-dimer and FDP were related to the maximum tumor diameter; and FDP had a certain correlation with the tumor stage. CONCLUSIONS: In gallbladder tumor patients, conventional coagulation metrics like FIB, D-dimer, and FDP, as well as newer thrombotic indicators such as PIC, TAT, TM, and t-PAIC, were obviously increased. Correlations with tumor parameters suggested their potential as biomarkers to distinguish benign from malignant gallbladder growths.

3D-printed porous zinc scaffold combined with bioactive serum exosomes promotes bone defect repair in rabbit radius.

Currently, the repair of large bone defects still faces numerous challenges, with the most crucial being the lack of large bone grafts with good osteogenic properties. In this study, a novel bone repair implant (degradable porous zinc scaffold/BF Exo composite implant) was developed by utilizing laser melting rapid prototyping 3D printing technology to fabricate a porous zinc scaffold, combining it under vacuum conditions with highly bioactive serum exosomes (BF EXO) and Poloxamer 407 thermosensitive hydrogel. The electron microscope revealed the presence of tea saucer-shaped exosomes with a double-layered membrane structure, ranging in diameter from 30-150 nm, with an average size of 86.3 nm and a concentration of 3.28E+09 particles/mL. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the zinc scaffold displayed no significant cytotoxicity, and loading exosomes enhanced the zinc scaffold's ability to promote osteogenic cell activity while inhibiting osteoclast activity. In vivo experiments on rabbits indicated that the hepatic and renal toxicity of the zinc scaffold decreased over time, and the loading of exosomes alleviated the hepatic and renal toxic effects of the zinc scaffold. Throughout various stages of repairing radial bone defects in rabbits, loading exosomes reinforced the zinc scaffold's capacity to enhance osteogenic cell activity, suppress osteoclast activity, and promote angiogenesis. This effect may be attributed to BF Exo's regulation of p38/STAT1 signaling. This study signifies that the combined treatment of degradable porous zinc scaffolds and BF Exo is an effective and biocompatible strategy for bone defect repair therapy.