The rise of baobab trees in Madagascar.

The baobab trees (genus Adansonia) have attracted tremendous attention because of their striking shape and distinctive relationships with fauna1. These spectacular trees have also influenced human culture, inspiring innumerable arts, folklore and traditions. Here we sequenced genomes of all eight extant baobab species and argue that Madagascar should be considered the centre of origin for the extant lineages, a key issue in their evolutionary history2,3. Integrated genomic and ecological analyses revealed the reticulate evolution of baobabs, which eventually led to the species diversity seen today. Past population dynamics of Malagasy baobabs may have been influenced by both interspecific competition and the geological history of the island, especially changes in local sea levels. We propose that further attention should be paid to the conservation status of Malagasy baobabs, especially of Adansonia suarezensis and Adansonia grandidieri, and that intensive monitoring of populations of Adansonia za is required, given its propensity for negatively impacting the critically endangered Adansonia perrieri.

Altered individual gray matter structural covariance networks in early abstinence patients with alcohol dependence.

While alterations in cortical thickness have been widely observed in individuals with alcohol dependence, knowledge about cortical thickness-based structural covariance networks is limited. This study aimed to explore the topological disorganization of structural covariance networks based on cortical thickness at the single-subject level among patients with alcohol dependence. Structural imaging data were obtained from 61 patients with alcohol dependence during early abstinence and 59 healthy controls. The single-subject structural covariance networks were constructed based on cortical thickness data from 68 brain regions and were analyzed using graph theory. The relationships between network architecture and clinical characteristics were further investigated using partial correlation analysis. In the structural covariance networks, both patients with alcohol dependence and healthy controls displayed small-world topology. However, compared to controls, alcohol-dependent individuals exhibited significantly altered global network properties characterized by greater normalized shortest path length, greater shortest path length, and lower global efficiency. Patients exhibited lower degree centrality and nodal efficiency, primarily in the right precuneus. Additionally, scores on the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test were negatively correlated with the degree centrality and nodal efficiency of the left middle temporal gyrus. The results of this correlation analysis did not survive after multiple comparisons in the exploratory analysis. Our findings may reveal alterations in the topological organization of gray matter networks in alcoholism patients, which may contribute to understanding the mechanisms of alcohol addiction from a network perspective.

Anti-aging mechanism and effect of treatment with raw and wine-steamed Polygonatum sibiricum on D-galactose-induced aging in mice by inhibiting oxidative stress and modulating gut microbiota.

Background: Polygonatum sibiricum (PS) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) first recorded in Mingyi Bielu. The book documents that PS can nourish five internal organs, be taken for a long time, relax the body and prolong lifespan. Presently, PS is widely used in TCM to prevent premature graying of hair. Based on TCM theory and clinical trials, the wine steaming processed product from PS provides a better effect. However, no published study has elucidated the anti-aging mechanism. Purpose: The study aim was to investigate the anti-aging mechanism of PS and its wine steaming processed product in mice, specifically focusing on the effect of D-galactose (D-gal) surrounding the intestinal flora and the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1-nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2-antioxidant response elements (Keap1/Nrf2/ARE) pathway. Methods: The chemical components in Raw PS (RPS) and Wine-steamed PS (WPS) were identified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-hybrid quadrupole-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS). An aging model using Kunming mice was established through intraperitoneally injected D-gal. Concentrations of RPS and WPS at 5, 10, or 15 g/kg/day levels were administered intragastrically, respectively. The body weight, liver and spleen indexes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), and malondialdehyde (MDA) activities in serum and brain tissue were recorded. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) stained brain tissue was histopathologically examined. The expressions of Keap1, Nrf2 and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) in the brain tissue at the mRNA and protein levels were respectively detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot (WB). Moreover, an Illumina Hiseq platform was used for 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) high-throughput sequencing to evaluate the proportions of intestinal flora in aging mice. Results: The proportions of saccharides, flavonoids, and triterpene acids were different between RPS and WPS. In the aging model mice, WPS outperformed RPS in improving body weight and mental state by increasing the spleen index, SOD and GSH-PX activities, decreasing the liver index and MDA activities, and restoring the histopathological morphology in D-gal-induced aging mice. At the mRNA levels, RPS and WPS significantly reduced the expression of Keap1 and increased the expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1. The trend in protein expressions was similar to that of the mRNA results, and WPS had a stronger effect than RPS. Fecal microbiota analysis showed that RPS and WPS restored intestinal microbiota proportions to normal levels. Conclusion: The results demonstrated that PS and its WPS had a positive effect in relieving oxidative stress in aging mice. WPS outperformed RPS, which might be related to the activation of the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE pathway and regulation of intestinal flora.

Full-Space Electric Field in Mo-Decorated Zn2In2S5 Polarization Photocatalyst for Oriented Charge Flow and Efficient Hydrogen Production.

Integration of photocatalytic hydrogen (H2) evolution with oxidative organic synthesis presents a highly attractive strategy for the simultaneous production of clean H2 fuel and high-value chemicals. However, the sluggish dynamics of photogenerated charge carriers across the photocatalysts result in low photoconversion efficiency, hindering the wide applications of such a technology. Herein, this work overcomes this limitation by inducing the full-space electric field via charge polarization engineering on a Mo cluster-decorated Zn2In2S5 (Mo-Zn2In2S5) photocatalyst. Specifically, this full-space electric field arises from a cascade of the bulk electric field (BEF) and local surface electric field (LSEF), triggering the oriented migration of photogenerated electrons from [Zn-S] regions to [In-S] regions and eventually to Mo cluster sites, ensuring efficient separation of bulk and surface charge carriers. Moreover, the surface Mo clusters induce a tip enhancement effect to optimize charge transfer behavior by augmenting electrons and proton concentration around the active sites on the basal plane of Zn2In2S5. Notably, the optimized Mo1.5-Zn2In2S5 catalyst achieves exceptional H2 and benzaldehyde production rates of 34.35 and 45.31 mmol gcat -1 h-1, respectively, outperforming pristine ZnIn2S4 by 3.83- and 4.15-fold. These findings mark a significant stride in steering charge flow for enhanced photocatalytic performance.

Protein Signature Differentiating Neutrophils and Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Determined Using a Human Isogenic Cell Line Model and Protein Profiling.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) play an essential role in suppressing the antitumor activity of T lymphocytes in solid tumors, thus representing an attractive therapeutic target to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy. However, the differences in protein expression between MDSCs and their physiological counterparts, particularly polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), remain inadequately characterized, making the specific identification and targeting of MDSCs difficult. PMNs and PMN-MDSCs share markers such as CD11b+CD14-CD15+/CD66b+, and some MDSC-enriched markers are emerging, such as LOX-1 and CD84. More proteomics studies are needed to identify the signature and markers for MDSCs. Recently, we reported the induced differentiation of isogenic PMNs or MDSCs (referred to as iPMNs and iMDSCs, respectively) from the human promyelocytic cell line HL60. Here, we profiled the global proteomics and membrane proteomics of these cells with quantitative mass spectrometry, which identified a 41-protein signature ("cluster 6") that was upregulated in iMDSCs compared with HL60 and iPMN. We further integrated our cell line-based proteomics data with a published proteomics dataset of normal human primary monocytes and monocyte-derived MDSCs induced by cancer-associated fibroblasts. The analysis identified a 38-protein signature that exhibits an upregulated expression pattern in MDSCs compared with normal monocytes or PMNs. These signatures may provide a hypothesis-generating platform to identify protein biomarkers that phenotypically distinguish MDSCs from their healthy counterparts, as well as potential therapeutic targets that impair MDSCs without harming normal myeloid cells.

Enhanced Chromium (VI) Removal by Micron-Scale Zero-Valent Iron Pretreated with Aluminum Chloride under Aerobic Conditions.

Micron-scale zero-valent iron (ZVI)-based material has been applied for hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) decontamination in wastewater treatment and groundwater remediation, but the passivation problem has limited its field application. In this study, we combined aluminum chloride solution with ZVI (pcZVI-AlCl3) to enhance Cr(VI) removal behavior under aerobic conditions. The optimal pre-corrosion conditions were found to be 2.5 g/L ZVI, 0.5 mM AlCl3, and a 4 h preconditioning period. Different kinds of techniques were applied to detect the properties of preconditioned ZVI and corrosion products. The 57Fe Mössbauer spectra showed that proportions of ZVI, Fe3O4, and FeOOH in pcZVI-AlCl3 were 49.22%, 34.03%, and 16.76%, respectively. The formation of Al(OH)3 in the corrosion products improved its pHpzc (point of zero charge) for Cr(VI) adsorption. Continuous-flow experiments showed its great potential for Cr(VI) removal in field applications. The ZVI and corrosion products showed a synergistic effect in enhancing electron transfer for Cr(VI) removal. The mechanisms underlying Cr(VI) removal by pcZVI-AlCl3 included adsorption, reduction, and precipitation, and the contribution of adsorption was less. This work provides a new strategy for ZVI pre-corrosion to improve its longevity and enhance Cr(VI) removal.

Three-dimensional analysis of the positional relationship between the dentition and basal bone region in patients with skeletal Class I and Class II malocclusion with mandibular retrusion.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the maxillary and mandibular basal bone regions and explore the three-dimensional positional relationship between the dentition and basal bone regions in patients with skeletal Class I and Class II malocclusions with mandibular retrusion. Methods: Eighty patients (40 each with Class I and Class II malocclusion) were enrolled. Maxillary and mandibular basal bone regions were determined using cone-beam computed tomography images. To measure the relationship between the dentition and basal bone region, the root position and root inclination were calculated using the coordinates of specific fixed points by a computer program written in Python. Results: In the Class II group, the mandibular anterior teeth inclined more labially (P < 0.05), with their apices positioned closer to the external boundary. The apex of the maxillary anterior root was positioned closer to the external boundary in both groups. Considering the molar region, the maxillary first molars tended to be more lingually inclined in females (P = 0.037), whereas the mandibular first molars were significantly more labially inclined in the Class II group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Mandibular anterior teeth in Class II malocclusion exhibit a compensatory labial inclination trend with the crown and apex relative to the basal bone region when mandibular retrusion occurs. Moreover, as the root apices of the maxillary anterior teeth are much closer to the labial side in Class I and Class II malocclusion, the range of movement at the root apex should be limited to avoid extensive labial movement.

Loss-of-function OGFRL1 variants identified in autosomal recessive cherubism families.

Cherubism (OMIM 118400) is a rare craniofacial disorder in children characterized by destructive jawbone expansion due to the growth of inflammatory fibrous lesions. Our previous studies have shown that gain-of-function mutations in SH3 domain-binding protein 2 (SH3BP2) are responsible for cherubism and that a knock-in mouse model for cherubism recapitulates the features of cherubism, such as increased osteoclast formation and jawbone destruction. To date, SH3BP2 is the only gene identified to be responsible for cherubism. Since not all patients clinically diagnosed with cherubism had mutations in SH3BP2, we hypothesized that there may be novel cherubism genes and that these genes may play a role in jawbone homeostasis. Here, using whole exome sequencing, we identified homozygous loss-of-function variants in the opioid growth factor receptor like 1 (OGFRL1) gene in 2 independent autosomal recessive cherubism families from Syria and India. The newly identified pathogenic homozygous variants were not reported in any variant databases, suggesting that OGFRL1 is a novel gene responsible for cherubism. Single cell analysis of mouse jawbone tissue revealed that Ogfrl1 is highly expressed in myeloid lineage cells. We generated OGFRL1 knockout mice and mice carrying the Syrian frameshift mutation to understand the in vivo role of OGFRL1. However, neither mouse model recapitulated human cherubism or the phenotypes exhibited by SH3BP2 cherubism mice under physiological and periodontitis conditions. Unlike bone marrow-derived M-CSF-dependent macrophages (BMMs) carrying the SH3BP2 cherubism mutation, BMMs lacking OGFRL1 or carrying the Syrian mutation showed no difference in TNF-ɑ mRNA induction by LPS or TNF-ɑ compared to WT BMMs. Osteoclast formation induced by RANKL was also comparable. These results suggest that the loss-of-function effects of OGFRL1 in humans differ from those in mice and highlight the fact that mice are not always an ideal model for studying rare craniofacial bone disorders.

Unraveling the Enigma of Organismal Death: Insights, Implications, and Frontiers.

Significant knowledge gaps exist regarding the responses of cells, tissues, and organs to organismal death. Examining the survival mechanisms influenced by metabolism and environment, this research has the potential to transform regenerative medicine, redefine legal death, and provide insights into life's physiological limits, paralleling inquiries in embryogenesis.

Plasma kallikrein supports FXII-independent thrombin generation in mouse whole blood.

Plasma kallikrein (PKa) is an important activator of factor (F)XII of the contact pathway of coagulation. Several studies have shown that PKa also possesses procoagulant activity independent of FXII, likely through its ability to directly activate FIX. We evaluated the procoagulant activity of PKa using a mouse whole blood (WB) thrombin generation (TG) assay. TG was measured in WB from PKa-deficient mice using contact pathway or extrinsic pathway triggers. PKa-deficient WB had significantly reduced contact pathway-initiated TG compared to wild-type controls and was comparable to that observed in FXII-deficient WB. PKa-deficient WB supported equivalent extrinsic pathway-initiated TG compared to wild-type controls. Consistent with the presence of FXII-independent functions of PKa, targeted blockade of PKa with either small molecule or antibody-based inhibitors significantly reduced contact pathway-initiated TG in FXII-deficient WB. Inhibition of activated FXII (FXIIa) using an antibody-based inhibitor significantly reduced TG in PKa-deficient WB, consistent with a PKa-independent function of FXIIa. Experiments using mice expressing low levels of tissue factor demonstrated that persistent TG present in PKa- and FXIIa-inhibited WB was driven primarily by endogenous tissue factor. Our work demonstrates that PKa contributes significantly to contact pathway-initiated TG in the complex milieu of mouse WB and that a component of this contribution occurs in a FXII-independent manner.

Regular transient limb ischemia improves endothelial function and inhibits endothelial cell apoptosis to prevent atherosclerosis in rabbit.

AIMS: Regular transient limb ischemia (RTLI) can prevent atherosclerosis (AS) progression in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. This study aimed to investigate the minimum effective intensity and possible mechanisms of RTLI for preventing atherosclerosis. METHODS: Eighty rabbits were divided into eight groups: normal (N), high cholesterol (H), three RTLI [three RTLI cycles every other day (R3qod), three RTLI cycles daily (R3qd), and six RTLI cycles daily (R6qd), each cycle of RTLI included 5 min of limb ischemia followed by 5 min limb reperfusion], and three correlated sham RTLI [sham ischemia for 30 min once every other day (S3qod), sham ischemia for 30 min once daily (S3qd), and sham ischemia for 60 min once daily (S6qd)]. Rabbits in group N were kept normally, while the others were fed 1% cholesterol diet for 12 weeks. The RTLI and sham RTLI groups were received RTLI or sham RTLI procedure, respectively. The plaque area in the thoracic aorta was determined by oil red O staining, and quantifying the ratio of plaque area to intimal area (PA/IA). Endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxation were also determined. Endothelial cell were isolated from abdominal aorta of rabbits, and the apoptosis ratio was detected using flow cytometry. RESULTS: The PA/IA and early apoptotic cell ratio was significantly lower as well as the endothelium-dependent relaxation response was higher in group R6qd than those in groups H and S6qd, while those in the R3qod group was not significantly different from those in groups H and S3qod, as well as those in the R3qd group showed no significant difference compared to those in groups H and S3qd. CONCLUSIONS: Six cycles of RTLI daily was the optimal effective intensity to prevent AS progression in rabbits. Endothelial function improvement and apoptosis inhibition might contribute to the anti-AS effects.

MiR-449b-5p Ameliorates Hypoxia-induced Cardiomyocyte Injury through Activating PI3K/AKT Pathway by Targeting BCL2L13.

Recent reports show miR-449b-5p reduces liver and renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, but its effects on hypoxia-induced cardiomyocyte injury in ischemic heart disease are still unknown. In this study, AC16 human cardiomyocytes underwent hypoxic conditions for durations of 24, 48, and 72 h. We observed that miR-449b-5p expression was significantly downregulated in hypoxic AC16 cardiomyocytes. Elevating the levels of miR-449b-5p in these cells resulted in enhanced cell survival, diminished release of LDH, and a reduction in cell apoptosis and oxidative stress using CCK-8, LDH assays, flow cytometry, TUNEL staining, and various commercial kits. Conversely, reducing miR-449b-5p levels resulted in the opposite effects. Through bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assays, BCL2-like 13 (BCL2L13) was determined to be a direct target of miR-449b-5p. Inhibiting BCL2L13 greatly inhibited hypoxia-induced cell viability loss, LDH release, cell apoptosis, and excessive production of oxidative stress, whereas increasing BCL2L13 negated miR-449b-5p's protective impact in hypoxic AC16 cardiomyocytes. Additionally, miR-449b-5p elevated the levels of the proteins p-PI3K, p-AKT, and Bcl-2, while decreasing Bax expression in hypoxic AC16 cardiomyocytes by targeting BCL2L13. In summary, the research indicates that the protective effects of miR-449b-5p are facilitated through the activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway, which promotes cell survival, and by targeting BCL2L13, which inhibits apoptosis, offering a potential therapeutic strategy for ischemic heart disease by mitigating hypoxia-induced cardiomyocyte injury.

CDHu40: a novel marker gene set of neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC).

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most prevalent cancer affecting American men. Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) can emerge during hormone therapy for PCa, manifesting with elevated serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, continued disease progression, and/or metastasis to the new sites, resulting in a poor prognosis. A subset of CRPC patients shows a neuroendocrine (NE) phenotype, signifying reduced or no reliance on androgen receptor (AR) signaling and a particularly unfavorable prognosis. In this study, we incorporated computational approaches based on both gene expression profiles and protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks. We identified 500 potential marker genes, which are significantly enriched in cell cycle and neuronal processes. The top 40 candidates, collectively named as CDHu40, demonstrated superior performance in distinguishing NE prostate cancer (NEPC) and non-NEPC samples based on gene expression profiles compared to other published marker sets. Notably, some novel marker genes in CDHu40, absent in the other marker sets, have been reported to be associated with NEPC in the literature, such as DDC, FOLH1, BEX1, MAST1, and CACNA1A. Importantly, elevated CDHu40 scores derived from our predictive model showed a robust correlation with unfavorable survival outcomes in patients, indicating the potential of the CDHu40 score as a promising indicator for predicting the survival prognosis of those patients with the NE phenotype. Motif enrichment analysis on the top candidates suggests that REST and E2F6 may serve as key regulators in the NEPC progression. Significance: our study integrates gene expression variances in multiple NEPC studies and protein-protein interaction network to pinpoint a specific set of NEPC maker genes namely CDHu40. These genes and scores based on their gene expression levels effectively distinguish NEPC samples and underscore the clinical prognostic significance and potential mechanism.

A crossover study to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and bioequivalence of hydroxychloroquine tablets in healthy Chinese subjects.

AIMS: Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has a high variability and a long half-life in the human body. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the bioequivalence of a generic HCQ tablet (test preparation) versus a brand HCQ tablet (reference preparation) under fasting and fed conditions in a crossover design. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an open-label, two-period randomized, single-dose, crossover study in 47 healthy Chinese subjects who were sequentially and randomly allocated either to the fed group (high-fat meal; n = 23) or the fasting group (n = 24). Participants in each group were randomized to the two arms to receive either a single 200-mg dose of the test preparation or a 200-mg dose of the reference preparation. The application of the two preparations in each patient was separated by a 28-day washout period, regarded as sufficiently long to avoid significant interference from residual drug in the body. Whole blood samples were collected over 72 hours after drug administration. RESULTS: A total of 23 subjects completed both the fed and the fasting parts of the trial. There were no significant differences in Cmax, AUC0-72h, and T1/2 between the test and reference preparation (p < 0.05). Food had no significant effect on Cmax and T1/2 (p < 0.05), but AUC0-72h values were significantly reduced under fed condition compared to fasting condition (p < 0.05). The 90% confidence intervals (CIs) for the geometric mean ratios (GMRs) of Cmax and AUC0-72h were 0.84 - 1.05 and 0.89 - 0.98 in the fed study, and 0.97 - 1.07 and 0.97 - 1.05 in the fasting study, respectively. The carryover effect due to non-zero blood concentrations resulted in higher AUC0-72h values in the second period for both test and reference formulations and had no effect on the statistical results. No serious adverse events were reported. CONCLUSION: The investigation demonstrated that the test and reference preparations are bioequivalent and well tolerated under both fasting and fed conditions in healthy Chinese subjects.

IL-12p40 deletion reduces M1 macrophage polarization and alleviates cardiac remodeling via regulating Th17 cells differentiation, but not γδT 17 cells, in TAC mice.

BACKGROUND: The interleukin (IL) -12 p40 subunit is the common subunit of IL-12 and IL-23. It affects the immune inflammatory response, which may be closely related to cardiac remodeling. In this study, the regulatory effect of IL-12p40 knockout (KO) on cardiac remodeling was investigated, and the underlying mechanism was explored. METHODS AND RESULTS: Mice were subjected to transverse aortic constriction (TAC) to establish a model of cardiac remodeling. First, IL-12p40 was deleted to observe its effects on cardiac remodeling and cardiac inflammation, and the results showed that IL-12p40 deletion reduced both T helper 17 (Th17) and γδT17 cell differentiation, decreased proinflammatory macrophage differentiation, alleviated cardiac remodeling, and relieved cardiac dysfunction in TAC mice. Next, we explored whether IL-17 regulated TAC-induced cardiac remodeling, and the results showed that IL-17 neutralization alleviated proinflammatory macrophage differentiation and cardiac remodeling in IL-12p40 knockout mice and WT mice. Neutralization with cluster of differentiation 4 receptor (CD4) and γδ T-cell receptor (γδTCR) antibodies inhibited pro-inflammatory macrophage polarization and improved cardiac remodeling, and CD4 neutralizing antibody (NAb) had more significant effects. Finally, adoptive transfer of Th17 cells aggravated proinflammatory macrophage differentiation and cardiac remodeling in TAC-treated CD4 KO mice, while neutralization with the IL-12p40 antibody alleviated these pathological changes. CONCLUSION: Mainly Th17 cells but not γδT17 cells secrete IL-17, which mediates IL-12p40, promotes the polarization of proinflammatory macrophages, and exacerbates cardiac remodeling in TAC mice. IL-12p40 may be a potential target for the prevention and treatment of cardiac remodeling.

Long-Term Outcomes of dMMR/MSI-H Rectal Cancer Treated With Anti-PD-1-Based Immunotherapy as Curative-Intent Treatment.

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant anti-PD-1 therapy has shown encouraging efficacy in patients with deficient DNA mismatch repair (dMMR)/microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC), which suggests its potential as a curative-intent therapy and a promising treatment option for organ preservation. We aimed to investigate the long-term outcomes of patients with dMMR/MSI-H LARC who experienced clinical complete response (cCR) after anti-PD-1 therapy. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed patients with dMMR/MSI-H LARC who achieved cCR and received nonoperative management following neoadjuvant anti-PD-1-based treatment from 4 Chinese medical centers. Patients were followed up for at least 1 year after they achieved cCR, their clinical data were collected, and survival outcomes were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: A total of 24 patients who achieved cCR and received nonoperative management from March 2018 to May 2022 were included, with a median age of 51.0 years (range, 19.0-77.0 years). The median treatment course to reach cCR was 6.0 (range, 1.0-12.0). Fifteen patients (62.5%) continued their treatments after experiencing cCR, and the median treatment course was 17.0 (range, 3.0-36.0). No local regrowth or distant metastasis was observed in a median follow-up time of 29.1 months (range, 12.6-48.5 months) after cCR. The 3-year disease-free and overall survivals were both 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with dMMR/MSI-H locally advanced or low-lying rectal cancer who achieved cCR following anti-PD-1-based therapy had promising long-term outcomes. A prospective clinical trial with a larger sample size is required to further validate these findings.

Multifunctional MXene/PEDOT:PSS-Based Phase Change Organohydrogels for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding and Medium-Low Temperature Infrared Stealth.

Electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and infrared stealth technologies are essential for military and civilian applications. However, it remains a significant challenge to integrate various functions efficiently into a material efficiently. Herein, a minimalist strategy to fabricate multifunctional phase change organohydrogels (PCOHs) was proposed, which were fabricated from polyacrylamide (PAM) organohydrogels, MXene/PEDOT:PSS hybrid fillers, and sodium sulfate decahydrate (Na2SO4·10H2O, SSD) via one-step photoinitiation strategies. PCOHs with a high enthalpy value (130.7 J/g) and encapsulation rate (98%) could adjust the temperature by triggering a phase change of SSD, which can hide infrared radiation to achieve medium-low temperature infrared stealth. In addition, the PCOH-based sensor has good strain sensing ability due to the incorporation of MXene/PEDOT:PSS and can precisely monitor human movement. Remarkably, benefiting from the electron conduction of the three-dimensional conductive network and the ion conduction of the hydrogel, the EMI shielding efficiency (k) of PCOHs can reach 99.99% even the filler content as low as 1.8 wt %. Additionally, EMI shielding, infrared stealth, and sensing-integrated PCOHs can be adhered to arbitrary targets due to their excellent flexibility and adaptability. This work offers a promising pathway for fabricating multifunctional phase change materials, which show great application prospects in military and civilian fields.

The volume of gray matter mediates the relationship between glucolipid metabolism and neurocognition in first-episode, drug-naïve patients with schizophrenia.

We aimed to examine the hypotheses that glucolipid metabolism is linked to neurocognition and gray matter volume (GMV) and that GMV mediates the association of glucolipid metabolism with neurocognition in first-episode, drug-naïve (FEDN) patients with schizophrenia. Parameters of glucolipid metabolism, neurocognition, and magnetic resonance imaging were assessed in 63 patients and 31 controls. Compared to controls, patients exhibited higher levels of fasting glucose, triglyceride, and insulin resistance index, lower levels of cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, poorer neurocognitive functions, and decreased GMV in the bilateral insula, left middle occipital gyrus, and left postcentral gyrus. In the patient group, triglyceride levels and the insulin resistance index exhibited a negative correlation with Rapid Visual Information Processing (RVP) mean latency, a measure of attention within the Cambridge Neurocognitive Test Automated Battery (CANTAB), while showing a positive association with GMV in the right insula. The mediation model revealed that triglyceride and insulin resistance index had a significant positive indirect (mediated) influence on RVP mean latency through GMV in the right insula. Glucolipid metabolism was linked to both neurocognitive functions and GMV in FEDN patients with schizophrenia, with the effect pattern differing from that observed in chronic schizophrenia or schizophrenia comorbid with metabolic syndrome. Moreover, glucolipid metabolism might indirectly contribute to neurocognitive deficits through the mediating role of GMV in these patients.

ESKtides: a comprehensive database and mining method for ESKAPE phage-derived antimicrobial peptides.

'Superbugs' have received increasing attention from researchers, such as ESKAPE bacteria (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter spp.), which directly led to about 1 270 000 death cases in 2019. Recently, phage peptidoglycan hydrolases (PGHs)-derived antimicrobial peptides were proposed as new antibacterial agents against multidrug-resistant bacteria. However, there is still a lack of methods for mining antimicrobial peptides based on phages or phage PGHs. Here, by using a collection of 6809 genomes of ESKAPE isolates and corresponding phages in public databases, based on a unified annotation process of all the genomes, PGHs were systematically identified, from which peptides were mined. As a result, a total of 12 067 248 peptides with high antibacterial activities were respectively determined. A user-friendly tool was developed to predict the phage PGHs-derived antimicrobial peptides from customized genomes, which also allows the calculation of peptide phylogeny, physicochemical properties, and secondary structure. Finally, a user-friendly and intuitive database, ESKtides (http://www.phageonehealth.cn:9000/ESKtides), was designed for data browsing, searching and downloading, which provides a rich peptide library based on ESKAPE prophages and phages. Database URL:  10.1093/database/baae022.