Room-Temperature, Solution-Processed, Robust, Transparent, and Conductive SiOx/AgNW Nanocomposite Coating.

AgNW networks show high promise as a conductive material due to excellent flexibility, low resistance, high transparency, and ease of large-scale preparation. However, the application of AgNW networks has been hindered by their inherent characteristics, such as easy oxidation degradation, chemical corrosion, and structural instability at high temperatures. In this study, a dense SiOx protective layer derived from perhydropolysilazane was introduced to fabricate a robust SiOx/AgNW nanocomposite coating through an all-solution process at room temperature. The achieved nanocomposite coating shows outstanding thermal stability up to 450 °C, resistance to ultraviolet radiation, and excellent mechanical performance by maintaining stability after 10,000 cycles of bending at a radius of 2.5 mm, 1000 cycles of peeling, and 1200 cycles of wearing. Meanwhile, the nanocomposite coating demonstrates exceptional chemical tolerance against HCl, Na2S, and organic solvents. A transparent heater based on the nanocomposite coating achieves a remarkable benchmark with a maximum temperature of 400 °C at 20 V. These features highlight the potential of the nanocomposite coating in flexible electronics, optoelectronics, touch screens, and high-performance heaters.

hUC-MSC Combined with DHEA Alleviates Ovarian Senescence in Naturally Aging Mice through Enhancing Antioxidant Capacity and Inhibiting Inflammatory Response.

The ovary is an important organ for women to maintain reproductive and endocrine functions. Ovarian aging can lead to female reproductive aging, which is a key factor causing rapid aging of the female body. Umbilical cord-derived MSCs (UC-MSCs) play a therapeutic role in various degenerative diseases. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is widely used in the treatment of reversing oocyte quality. However, it is unclear whether UC-MSCs combined with DHEA supplementation can improve ovarian senescence in naturally aging mice. To address this question, we studied the influence of the combination of human UC-MSCs (hUC-MSCs) and DHEA on ovarian morphology and function in naturally aging mice. The results showed a significant augmentation in the number of primary follicles, as well as a significant upregulation of estradiol (E2), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) hormone levels, and a significant increase in survival rate in naturally aging mice treated by hUC-MSCs and DHEA. Moreover, the combination of hUC-MSCs and DHEA significantly reduced the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and downregulated the expression levels of proinflammatory factors IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α. Furthermore, the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway was inhibited. Conclusively, the combination therapy of hUC-MSC + DHEA contributed to restore ovarian function in aging mice and extend their lifespan by restoring hormone levels and inhibiting inflammatory factors.

[Effects of Sophora japonica extract on alveolar bone mass in ovariectomized osteoporosis mice].

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of Sophora japonica extract on alveolar bone mass in ovariectomized osteoporosis mice. METHODS: Six-week-old female non-pregnant wild-type C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into sham operation group, ovariectomy(OVX) group and OVX+Sophora japonica extract group. Ovaries of the mice in the OVX group and the OVX+Sophora japonica extract group were removed, and the mice in the OVX+Sophora japonica extract group were treated by Sophora japonica extract at a dose of 150 mg/kg, three times a week for 4 weeks; while mice of the other two groups were given an equal volume of normal saline at the same time. Body weight was measured 3 times a week, and the micro-parameters of alveolar bone were detected by Micro-CT after 4 weeks. The data were analyzed by GraphPad Prism 9 software. RESULTS: Compared with the sham-operated group, the trabecular bone parameters of the alveolar bone in the OVX group were significantly decreased 1 month after operation (P＜0.05). One month after intervention with Sophora japonica extract, alveolar bone mineral density (BMD), trabecular number (Tb.N) and trabecular separation(Tb.Sp) in OVX mice was significantly rescued, with no significant difference compared to the sham surgery group(P＞0.05); but bone volume fraction(BV/TV) and trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) had not completely recovered to the levels of the sham-operated group(P＜0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Sophora japonica extract can effectively increase the alveolar bone mass reduced by estrogen deficiency and may be used as one of the potential drugs for the treatment of menopausal alveolar bone osteoporosis.

A two sample mendelian randomization analysis investigates causal effects between gut microbiome and immune related Vasculitis.

Observational data suggest a link between gut microbiota and immune-related vasculitis, but causality remains unclear. A bidirectional mendelian randomization study was conducted using public genome-wide data. The inverse-variance-weighted (IVW) method identified associations and addressed heterogeneity.Families Clostridiaceae 1 and Actinomycetaceae correlated positively with granulomatosis with polyangiitis risk, while classes Lentisphaeria and Melainabacteria, and families Lachnospiraceae and Streptococcaceae showed negative associations. Behçet's disease was positively associated with the risk of family Streptococcaceae abundance. And other several gut microbiota constituents were identified as potential risk factors for immune-related vasculitis. Furthermore, combining positive association results from the IVW analysis revealed numerous shared gut microbiota constituents associated with immune-related vasculitis. MR analysis demonstrated a causal association between the gut microbiota and immune-related vasculitis, offering valuable insights for subsequent mechanistic and clinical investigations into microbiota-mediated immune-related vasculitis.

Maternal infection with hepatitis B virus before pregnancy and risk of congenital malformations in offspring: a record-linkage study of a large national sample from China.

Background: Whether hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection of women prior to pregnancy can influence risk of congenital malformations in offspring remains controversial. We assessed the association between them by considering congenital malformations in the aggregate as well as risk of organs systems using a large national sample of Chinese women. Methods: We performed a record-linkage cohort study of women who participated in National Free Preconception Health Examination Project, between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2019 for whom data on congenital malformations in their offspring were available from the National Population-Based Birth Defects Surveillance Network. A total of 498,968 linked records were obtained, of which 127,371 were excluded because HBV status before pregnancy was unknown, the records involved multiple pregnancies, or pre-pregnancy examinations were conducted after conception. Based on pre-pregnancy status, mothers were assigned to two categories of HBsAg- or HBsAg+ and, in certain analyses, to three categories of HBsAg-, HBsAg+/HBeAg- or HBsAg+/HBeAg+. Potential associations of serological status with risk of congenital malformations, considered separately or in aggregate, were explored using multilevel logistic regression. Factors that might influence such associations were also explored. Findings: Among the 371,597 women analyzed, 21,482 (5.78%) were HBsAg+ before pregnancy, and 8333 (2.24%) had a fetus or child diagnosed with congenital malformations, composed of 7744 HBsAg- women and 589 HBsAg+ women. HBsAg+ status was associated with increased risk of congenital malformations in the aggregate (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.03-1.25) and of cardiovascular malformations specifically (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.03-1.35). HBsAg+/HBeAg- status was associated with significantly higher risk of cardiovascular malformations (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.01-1.39) as well as reproductive malformations (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.02-2.23). Associations between HBsAg+ status before pregnancy and risk of congenital malformations was modified by alanine aminotransferase activity (P interaction < 0.05). Interpretation: Prepregnancy HBV infection might be associated with fetal malformations. This association needs further investigation to confirm whether it is a causal association, and assess whether antiviral therapy of women with HBsAg+ planning to conceive might reduce the risk of fetal malformations. Funding: The National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, China; Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province, China; and the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China.

Natural killer cell-derived exosome-based cancer therapy: from biological roles to clinical significance and implications.

Natural killer (NK) cells are important immune cells in the organism and are the third major type of lymphocytes besides T cells and B cells, which play an important function in cancer therapy. In addition to retaining the tumor cell killing function of natural killer cells, natural killer cell-derived exosomes cells also have the characteristics of high safety, wide source, easy to preserve and transport. At the same time, natural killer cell-derived exosomes are easy to modify, and the engineered exosomes can be used in combination with a variety of current cancer therapies, which not only enhances the therapeutic efficacy, but also significantly reduces the side effects. Therefore, this review summarizes the source, isolation and modification strategies of natural killer cell-derived exosomes and the combined application of natural killer cell-derived engineered exosomes with other antitumor therapies, which is expected to accelerate the clinical translation process of natural killer cell-derived engineered exosomes in cancer therapy.

Dimethyloxallyl Glycine Preconditioning Promotes the Anti-inflammatory and Anti-fibrotic Effects of Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Kidney Damage in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Related to TGF-ß/Smad Signaling Pathway.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease lacking effective treatments without adverse effects. Dimethyloxallyl glycine (DMOG) enhanced mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) capabilities, but it remains unclear how DMOG-pretreatment of MSCs augments their SLE treatment. Here, we explore the therapeutic potential of DMOG-pretreated human umbilical cord MSCs (hUC-MSCs) in a mouse lupus nephritis (LN) model. In vitro experiments showed that DMOG could alleviate the mRNA levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, and interleukin (IL)-6 and increase the mRNA level of IL-13 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in hUC-MSCs. DMOG enhanced the migratory and invasive abilities of the hUC-MSCs. In vivo animal studies revealed that DMOG-pretreated hUC-MSCs exhibited more pronounced inhibition of lymphadenectasis and reduced kidney weight and urinary protein content than MSCs alone. DMOG-pretreated hUC-MSCs improved renal morphological structure and alleviated inflammatory cell infiltration and renal fibrosis, evidenced by the reduced mRNA levels of fibrosis markers, including fibronectin (Fn), collagen alpha-1 chain (Colα1), collagen alpha-3 chain (Colα3), and TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-6 cytokines. Further investigation revealed that DMOG-pretreated hUC-MSCs down-regulated the expressions of transforming growth factor (Tgf)-ß1 and its downstream effectors Smad2 and Smad3, recognized as central mediators in renal fibrosis (P < 0.05). The findings suggest that DMOG-pretreated hUC-MSCs can augment the therapeutic efficacy of hUC-MSCs in LN by enhancing their anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic effects, and the TGF-ß/Smad signaling pathway may be involved in this process.

Human Papillomaviruses Genotype Distribution and Replacement by Year from 2014 to 2020 in Beijing, China.

Background: Cervical cancer is one of the most common gynecological malignancies worldwide. The incidence of cervical cancer ranks second for female malignancies in China. However, human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence and genotype replacement for a long time in Beijing were not yet evaluated. Methods: Women patients who visited clinical departments, especially the gynecology department, were included in this study from 2014 to 2020. They suffered from different kinds of cervical abnormalities even cervical cancer. Thirteen types of HPV were detected in cervical samples by using multiple fluorescence polymerase chain reactions. All patients were divided into four groups according to age (15-30, 31-45, 46-60, and >60 years old). Results: The study included data from four certain years (2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020). Overall HPV prevalence was 18.0%, 16.7%, 21.9%, and 19.1%, respectively. Of the 13 genotypes, the top one infection type was HPV52, followed by HPV58 and HPV16 or HPV16 and HPV58 in different years. HPV56 prevalence raised from 2018, which replaced HPV39 into the top five list. Only HPV prevalence of 46-60 years age group declined, mainly resulting from the reduced prevalence of HPV39 and HPV58 (p < 0.001 and p = 0.020). The proportions of HPV dual-infection across the four years varied significantly in statistics (p = 0.001), whereas the most common dual-infection HPV39/68 disappeared after 2018. Conclusion: The prevalence of two HPV genotypes (HPV39 and HPV58) and dual-infection HPV39/68 showed a declining trend, especially in the 46-60 years age group. The trends need to be observed continuously.

Cell-specific Nav1.6 knockdown reduced astrocyte-derived Aß by reverse Na+-Ca2+ transporter-mediated autophagy in alzheimer-like mice.

INTRODUCTION: Nav1.6 is closely related to the pathology of Alzheimer's Disease (AD), and astrocytes have recently been identified as a significant source of ß-amyloid (Aß). However, little is known about the connection between Nav1.6 and astrocyte-derived Aß. OBJECTIVE: This study explored the crucial role of Nav1.6 in mediated astrocyte-derived Aß in AD and knockdown astrocytic Nav1.6 alleviates AD progression by promoting autophagy and lysosome-APP fusion. METHODS: A mouse model for astrocytic Nav1.6 knockdown was constructed to study the effects of astrocytic Nav1.6 on amyloidosis. The role of astrocytic Nav1.6 on autophagy and lysosome-APP(amyloid precursor protein) fusion was used by transmission electron microscope, immunostaining, western blot and patch clamp. Glial cell activation was detected using immunostaining. Neuroplasticity and neural network were assessed using patch-clamp, Golgi stain and EEG recording. Behavioral experiments were performed to evaluate cognitive defects. RESULTS: Astrocytic Nav1.6 knockdown reduces amyloidosis, alleviates glial cell activation and morphological complexity, improves neuroplasticity and abnormal neural networks, as well as promotes learning and memory abilities in APP/PS1 mice. Astrocytic Nav1.6 knockdown reduces itself-derived Aß by promoting lysosome- APP fusion, which is related to attenuating reverse Na+-Ca2+ exchange current thus reducing intracellular Ca2+ to facilitate autophagic through AKT/mTOR/ULK pathway. CONCLUSION: Our findings unveil the crucial role of astrocyte-specific Nav1.6 in reducing astrocyte-derived Aß, highlighting its potential as a cell-specific target for modulating AD progression.

Triterpene-Based Prodrug for Self-Boosted Drug Release and Targeted Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy is one of the main treatments for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), especially as a combined modality approach with and after surgery or radiotherapy. Limited therapeutic efficiency and serious side effects greatly restrict the clinical performance of chemotherapeutic drugs. The development of smart nanomedicines has provided new research directions, to some extent. However, the involvement of complex carrier compositions inevitably brings biosafety concerns and greatly limits the "bench-to-bed" translation of most nanomedicines reported. In this study, a carrier-free self-assembled prodrug was fabricated by two triterpenes (glycyrrhetinic acid, GA and ginsenoside Rh2, Rh2) isolated from medicinal plants, licorice, and ginseng, for the targeted and highly effective treatment of OSCC. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) self-supplied molecule TK-GA2 was synthesized with ROS-responsive thioketal linker and prodrug was prepared by a rapid-solvent-exchange method with TK-GA2 and Rh2. After administration, oral tumor cells transported large amounts of prodrugs with glucose ligands competitively. Endogenous ROS in oral tumor cells then promoted the release of GA and Rh2. GA further evoked the generation of a large number of ROS to help self-boosted drug release and increase oxidative stress, synergistically causing tumor cell apoptosis with Rh2. Overall, this carrier-free triterpene-based prodrug might provide a preeminent opinion on the design of effective chemotherapeutics with low systemic toxicity against OSCC.

Association of psychological stress with wives' hypertension across over 10 million Chinese married female population aged 20-49 years.

BACKGROUND: Psychological stress has been reported to be a potential risk factor for hypertension among females, but it remains unclear whether spousal chronic stress levels alter the risk of hypertension among women. We examined the associations between stress within the family and hypertension among married women. METHODS: Reproductive-aged women who were planning for pregnancy and their husbands were recruited from the National Free Pre-pregnancy Checkup Projects (NFPCP) across 31 provinces in China in 2016 and 2017. Perceived stress of wives or husbands was measured with a 5-point Likert-type scale, and assessed from three domains: work/life-related stress, economic stress, and overall stress. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models were used to assess the associations between stress status and the prevalence of hypertension. RESULTS: Of 10,027,644 couples, 261,098 (2.60%) women had hypertension. The results showed that higher stress levels among themselves or their husbands were associated with a higher prevalence of hypertension in women ( Pfor trend <0.001). Compared with non-stressed participants, female participants with the highest stress themselves were at a greater risk of hypertension, with adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 1.31 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.25-1.37); and compared with participants whose husbands had no stress, those whose husbands had the highest stress level were at a higher risk of hypertension with adjusted OR of 1.24 (95% CI: 1.20-1.29). Moreover, compared with non-stressed status for both couples, only-wife-stressed, only-husband-stressed, and both-stressed couples were found to be significantly associated with increased risks of wives' hypertension, with adjusted ORs of 1.28 (95% CI: 1.25-1.31), 1.19 (95% CI: 1.17-1.21), and 1.28 (95% CI: 1.26-1.31), respectively. CONCLUSION: Moderate to severe stress in both spouses might be associated with female hypertension prevalence, which highlights the importance of paying attention to the psychological stresses of couples within the family.

Infrared and Visible Image Fusion Algorithm Based on Double-Domain Transform Filter and Contrast Transform Feature Extraction.

Current challenges in visible and infrared image fusion include color information distortion, texture detail loss, and target edge blur. To address these issues, a fusion algorithm based on double-domain transform filter and nonlinear contrast transform feature extraction (DDCTFuse) is proposed. First, for the problem of incomplete detail extraction that exists in the traditional transform domain image decomposition, an adaptive high-pass filter is proposed to decompose images into high-frequency and low-frequency portions. Second, in order to address the issue of fuzzy fusion target caused by contrast loss during the fusion process, a novel feature extraction algorithm is devised based on a novel nonlinear transform function. Finally, the fusion results are optimized and color-corrected by our proposed spatial-domain logical filter, in order to solve the color loss and edge blur generated in the fusion process. To validate the benefits of the proposed algorithm, nine classical algorithms are compared on the LLVIP, MSRS, INO, and Roadscene datasets. The results of these experiments indicate that the proposed fusion algorithm exhibits distinct targets, provides comprehensive scene information, and offers significant image contrast.

Abnormal function of EPHA2/p.R957P mutant in congenital cataract.

AIM: To identify genetic defects in a Chinese family with congenital posterior polar cataracts and assess the pathogenicity. METHODS: A four-generation Chinese family affected with autosomal dominant congenital cataract was recruited. Nineteen individuals took part in this study including 5 affected and 14 unaffected individuals. Sanger sequencing targeted hot-spot regions of 27 congenital cataract-causing genes for variant discovery. The pathogenicity of the variant was evaluated by the guidelines of American College of Medical Genetics and InterVar software. Confocal microscopy was applied to detect the subcellular localization of fluorescence-labeled ephrin type-A receptor 2 (EPHA2). Co-immunoprecipitation assay was implemented to estimate the interaction between EphA2 and other lens membrane proteins. The mRNA and protein expression were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting assay, respectively. The cell migration was analyzed by wound healing assay. Zebrafish model was generated by ectopic expression of human EPHA2/p.R957P mutant to demonstrate whether the mutant could cause lens opacity in vivo. RESULTS: A novel missense and pathogenic variant c.2870G>C was identified in the sterile alpha motif (SAM) domain of EPHA2. Functional studies demonstrated the variant's impact: reduced EPHA2 protein expression, altered subcellular localization, and disrupted interactions with other lens membrane proteins. This mutant notably enhanced human lens epithelial cell migration, and induced a central cloudy region and roughness in zebrafish lenses with ectopic expression of human EPHA2/p.R957P mutant under differential interference contrast (DIC) optics. CONCLUSION: Novel pathogenic c.2870G>C variant of EPHA2 in a Chinese congenital cataract family contributes to disease pathogenesis.

[A nomogram for predicting residual back pain after percutaneous vertebroplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures].

OBJECTIVE: To construct percutaneous vertebroplasty for predicting osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) nomogram of residual back pain (RBP) after percutaneous vertebroplasty(PVP). METHODS: Clinical data of 245 OVCFs patients who were performed PVP from January 2020 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, including 47 males and 198 females, aged from 65 to 77 years old with an average of (71.47±9.03) years old, and were divided into RBP group and non-RBP group according to whether RBP occurred. Gender, age, comorbidities, fracture stage, body mass index (BMI), bone mineral density (BMD), visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI) and other general information were collected; anterior vertebral height (AVH), anterior vertebral height ratio (AVH), anterior vertebral height ratio(AVHR), Cobb angle, intravertebral vacuum cleft (IVC), thoracolumbar fascia (TLF) injury, paravertebral muscle steatosis, injection volume and leakage of bone cement, bone cement dispersion pattern, anterior vertebral height recovery ratio (AVHRR), Cobb angle changes, etc. imaging parameters before operation and 24 h after operation were collected. Univariate analysis was performed to analysis above factors, and multivariate Logistic regression model was used to investigate independent risk factors for postoperative RBP, and Nomogram model was constructed and verified;receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve and calibration curve were used to determine predictive performance and accuracy of the model, and Hosmer-Lemeshow (H-L) test was used for evaluation. The area under curve (AUC) of ROC was calculated, and Harrell consistency index (C index) was used to evaluate the predictive efficiency of model;decision curve analysis (DCA) was used to evaluate clinical practicability of model. RESULTS: There were 34 patients in RBP group and 211 patients in non-RBP group. There were no significant differences in gender, age, comorbidities, fracture stage, BMI, BMD, VAS, ODI, AVH, AVHR and Cobb angle between two groups (P>0.05). Univariate analysis showed 6 patients occurred IVC in RBP group and 13 patients in non-RBP, the number of IVC in RBP group was higher than that in non-RBP group (χ2=5.400, P=0.020);6 patients occuured TLF injury in RBP group and 11 patients in non-RBP group, the number of TLF injury in RBP group was higher than that in non-RBP group (χ2=7.011, P=0.008);In RBP group, 18 patients with grade 3 to 4 paraptebral steatosis and 41 patients in non-RBP group, RBP group was higher than non-RBP group (χ2=21.618, P<0.001), and the proportion of bone cement mass in RBP group was higher than non-RBP group (χ2=6.836, P=0.009). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed IVC (χ2=4.974, P=0.025), TLF injury (χ2=5.231, P=0.023), Goutallier grade of paravertebral steatosis >2 (χ2=15.124, P<0.001) and proportion of bone cement (χ2=4.168, P=0.038) were independent risk factors for RBP after PVP. ROC curve of model showed AUC of original model was 0.816[OR=2.862, 95%CI (0.776, 0.894), P<0.001]. The internal verification of model through 200 bootstrap samples showed the value of C index was 0.936, and calibration curve showed predicted probability curve was close to actual probability curve. H-L goodness of fit test results were χ2=5.796, P=0.670. DCA analysis results showed the decision curve was above None line and All line when the threshold value ranged from 6% to 71%. CONCLUSION: IVC, TLF combined injury, paravertebral muscle steatosis with Goutallier grade> 2, and bone cement diffusion with mass type are independent risk factors for RBP after PVP. The risk prediction model for RBP after PVP established has good predictive performance and good clinical practicability.

Nutritional Quality Assessment of Miscellaneous Cassava Tubers Using Principal Component Analysis and Cluster Analysis.

Cassava is a staple crop in developing countries because its starchy roots provide essential dietary carbohydrates. The aim of this research was to conduct a comprehensive inquiry and scientific evaluation of the nutritional value of cassava tubers. Eight nutritional characteristics were examined in native and imported cassava variants: starch, reduced sugar, anthocyanins, protein, dietary fiber, quinic acid, vitamin C, and dry matter content. Principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted to minimize the dimensionality of the nutritional markers. A scientific assessment technique was developed to calculate a composite score for the various cassava samples. Analysis of the data revealed noticeable variance among the samples' nutritional indicators, suggesting varying degrees of association. Starch had a substantial positive link with lower sugar, protein, and dry matter content (p < 0.01). Anthocyanins and quinic acid interacted favorably (p < 0.05), and a positive link between protein and dry matter content was observed (p < 0.05); however, protein and dietary fiber interacted negatively (p < 0.05). The contribution rate of the top three PCA factors was over 76%, demonstrating that these factors incorporated the primary information acquired from the eight original nutritional indices, while maintaining excellent representativeness and impartiality. The experimental results showed a preliminary nutritional grade for 22 cassava tuber samples. The top five types were Guangxi Muci, Gui Cassava 4, Glutinous Rice Cassava, Huifeng 60, and Dongguan Hongwei. In the cluster analysis, the levels of similarity between the data showed that the 22 types of cassava tubers could be grouped into five categories, each with their own set of nutrients. This study promotes the directed breeding of cassava species and offers a theoretical foundation for creating and using various cassava varieties. Furthermore, this work lays the groundwork for a systematic and dependable technique for the quality assessment, comprehensive evaluation, and reasonable classification of cassava species and similar crops.

Lanternarene-Based Self-Sorting Double-Network Hydrogels for Flexible Strain Sensors.

Conductive flexible hydrogels have attracted immense attentions recently due to their wide applications in wearable sensors. However, the poor mechanical properties of most conductive polymer limit their utilizations. Herein, a double network hydrogel is fabricated via a self-sorting process with cationic polyacrylamide as the first flexible network and the lantern[33]arene-based hydrogen organic framework nanofibers as the second rigid network. This hydrogel is endowed with good conductivity (0.25 S m-1) and mechanical properties, such as large Young's modulus (31.9 MPa), fracture elongation (487%) and toughness (6.97 MJ m-3). The stretchability of this hydrogel is greatly improved after the kirigami cutting, which makes it can be used as flexible strain sensor for monitoring human motions, such as bending of fingers, wrist and elbows. This study not only provides a valuable strategy for the construction of double network hydrogels by lanternarene, but also expands the application of the macrocycle hydrogels to flexible electronics.

Interpregnancy Interval After Healthy Live Birth and Subsequent Spontaneous Abortion.

Importance: Many studies have reported that the interpregnancy interval (IPI) is a potential modifiable risk factor for adverse perinatal outcomes. However, the association between IPI after live birth and subsequent spontaneous abortion (SA) is unclear. Objective: To investigate the association of IPI after a healthy live birth and subsequent SA. Design, Setting, and Participants: This prospective cohort study used data from 180 921 women aged 20 to 49 years who had a single healthy live birth and planned for another pregnancy and who participated in the Chinese National Free Prepregnancy Checkups Project from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2020. Statistical analysis was conducted from June 20 to October 5, 2023. Exposure: Interpregnancy interval, defined as the interval between the delivery date and conception of the subsequent pregnancy, was categorized as follows: less than 18 months, 18 to 23 months, 24 to 35 months, 36 to 59 months, and 60 months or longer. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome was SA. Multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were calculated by logistic regression models to examine the association between IPI and the risk of SA. Dose-response associations were evaluated by restricted cubic splines. Results: The analyses included 180 921 multiparous women (mean [SD] age at current pregnancy, 26.3 [2.8] years); 4380 SA events (2.4% of all participants) were recorded. A J-shaped association between IPI levels and SA was identified. In the fully adjusted model, compared with IPIs of 18 to 23 months, both short (<18 months) and long (≥36 months) IPIs showed an increased risk of SA (IPIs of <18 months: OR, 1.15 [95% CI, 1.04-1.27]; IPIs of 36-59 months: OR, 1.28 [95% CI, 1.15-1.43]; IPIs of ≥60 months: OR, 2.13 [95% CI, 1.78-2.56]). Results of the subgroup analysis by mode of previous delivery were consistent with the main analysis. Conclusions and Relevance: This cohort study of multiparous women suggests that an IPI of shorter than 18 months or an IPI of 36 months or longer after a healthy live birth was associated with an increased risk of subsequent SA. The findings are valuable to make a rational prepregnancy plan and may facilitate the prevention of SA and improvement in neonatal outcomes.

Long-Term Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter and Fasting Blood Glucose and Diabetes in 20 Million Chinese Women of Reproductive Age.

OBJECTIVE: Evidence of the associations between fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and diabetes risk from women of reproductive age, in whom diabetes may have adverse long-term health effects for both themselves and future generations, remains scarce. We therefore examined the associations of long-term PM2.5 exposure with fasting blood glucose (FBG) level and diabetes risk in women of reproductive age in China. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This study included 20,076,032 women age 20-49 years participating in the National Free Preconception Health Examination Project in China between 2010 and 2015. PM2.5 was estimated using a satellite-based model. Multivariate linear and logistic regression models were used to examine the associations of PM2.5 exposure with FBG level and diabetes risk, respectively. Diabetes burden attributable to PM2.5 was estimated using attributable fraction (AF) and attributable number. RESULTS: PM2.5 showed monotonic relationships with elevated FBG level and diabetes risk. Each interquartile range (27 µg/m3) increase in 3-year average PM2.5 concentration was associated with a 0.078 mmol/L (95% CI 0.077, 0.079) increase in FBG and 18% (95% CI 16%, 19%) higher risk of diabetes. The AF attributed to PM2.5 exposure exceeding 5 µg/m3 was 29.0% (95% CI 27.5%, 30.5%), corresponding to an additional 78.6 thousand (95% CI 74.5, 82.6) diabetes cases. Subgroup analyses showed more pronounced diabetes risks in those who were overweight or obese, age >35 years, less educated, of minority ethnicity, registered as a rural household, and residing in western China. CONCLUSIONS: We found long-term PM2.5 exposure was associated with higher diabetes risk in women of reproductive age in China.

Molecular characterization, expression analysis and function identification of Pf_IL-12p35, Pf_IL-23p19 and Pf_IL-12p40 genes in yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco).

The interleukin-12 (IL-12) family is a class of heterodimeric cytokines that play crucial roles in pro-inflammatory and pro-stimulatory responses. Although some IL-12 and IL-23 paralogues have been found in fish, their functional activity in fish remains poorly understood. In this study, Pf_IL-12p35a/b, Pf_IL-23p19 and Pf_IL-12p40a/b/c genes were cloned from yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco), four α-helices were found in Pf_IL-12p35a/b and Pf_IL-23p19. The transcripts of these six genes were relatively high in mucus and immune tissues of healthy individuals, and in gill leukocytes. Following Edwardsiella ictaluri infection, Pf_IL-12p35a/b and Pf_IL-23p19 mRNAs were induced in brain and kidney (or head kidney), Pf_IL-12p40a mRNA was induced in gill, and Pf_IL-12p40b/c mRNAs were induced in brain and liver (or skin). The mRNA expression of these genes in PBLs was induced by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C), while lipopolysaccharides (LPS) induced the mRNA expression of Pf_IL-12p35a and Pf_IL-12p40b/c in PBLs. After stimulation with recombinant (r) Pf_IL-12 and rPf_IL-23 subunit proteins, either alone or in combination, mRNA expression patterns of genes related to T helper cell development exhibited distinct differences. The results suggest that Pf_IL-12 and Pf_IL-23 subunits may play important roles in regulating immune responses to pathogens and T helper cell development.

Primary cilia abnormalities participate in the occurrence of spontaneous abortion through TGF-ß/SMAD2/3 signaling pathway.

Spontaneous abortion is the most common complication in early pregnancy, the exact etiology of most cases cannot be determined. Emerging studies suggest that mutations in ciliary genes may be associated with progression of pregnancy loss. However, the involvement of primary cilia on spontaneous abortion and the underlying molecular mechanisms remains poorly understood. We observed the number and length of primary cilia were significantly decreased in decidua of spontaneous abortion in human and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced abortion mice model, accompanied with increased expression of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. The length of primary cilia in human endometrial stromal cell (hESC) was significantly shortened after TNF-α treatment. Knocking down intraflagellar transport 88 (IFT88), involved in cilia formation and maintenance, promoted the expression of TNF-α. There was a reverse regulatory relationship between cilia shortening and TNF-α expression. Further research found that shortened cilia impair decidualization in hESC through transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß/SMAD2/3 signaling. Primary cilia were impaired in decidua tissue of spontaneous abortion, which might be mainly caused by inflammatory injury. Primary cilia abnormalities resulted in dysregulation of TGF-ß/SMAD2/3 signaling transduction and decidualization impairment, which led to spontaneous abortion.