Effects of the Omicron variant of coronavirus disease 2019 on anaemia treatment for patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis.

AIM: Patients undergoing dialysis are at high risk for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Haemoglobin (Hb) levels may be changed in patients infected with the Omicron variant of COVID-19 who are undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). Therefore, we aimed to explore the effect of anti-anaemia treatment on such patients. METHODS: This study enrolled patients undergoing PD who were infected with the Omicron variant of COVID-19 at our centre between November 2022 and February 2023. We retrospectively analysed changes in Hb levels and explored the effectiveness of roxadustat and recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) for patients infected with the Omicron variant of COVID-19. RESULTS: Among 125 enrolled patients, 83 (66.4%) were infected with the Omicron variant and 75 (90.4%) patients mainly experienced mild or moderate disease. During infection, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were higher than those before infection (p < .001). Additionally, their CRP levels were negatively correlated with Hb levels (p = .002). However, Hb levels were decreased 1 month after infection (109.61 ± 10.64 g/L vs. 115.69 ± 12.04 g/L; p < .001). The roxadustat treatment group did not exhibit significantly decreased Hb levels 1 month after infection (114.57 ± 14.11 vs. 117.51 ± 10.74 g/L; p = .225). Conversely, the rhEPO treatment group experienced a mild decrease in Hb levels (108.69 ± 11.20 vs. 115.03 ± 12.23 g/L; p = .001). Ferritin levels increased in both groups during infection (p = .495). Two months after infection, ferritin levels (median, 205.0 ng/mL) were significantly decreased compared with during infection (median, 377.4 ng/mL) (p < .001) in the roxadustat treatment group. CONCLUSION: Roxadustat was effective than rhEPO for treating anaemia in patients undergoing PD who were infected with the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

Gender-specific association between snoring and total sleep duration with type 2 diabetes mellitus in rural adults.

PURPOSE: To investigate the separate and joint association between snoring and total sleep duration with the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in both genders within Chinese rural community. METHODS: The Henan Rural Cohort Study included a total of 28093 participants. Data on snoring and total sleep duration were obtained through the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Binary logistic regression was employed to assess the correlation between snoring and total sleep duration with T2DM. RESULTS: The prevalences of T2DM were 8.53% in males and 9.27% in females. Males exhibited a higher prevalence of snoring (34.90%) compared to females (22.42%), and the median of total sleep duration was also longer in males (8.83 h) than in females (8.67 h), respectively (P < 0.001). Females who snored had an adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for T2DM of 1.19 (1.06, 1.35) when contrasted with non-snorers. Compared with optimal total sleep duration (6-8 h), longer total sleep duration (≥ 8 h) increased the prevalence of T2DM by 17% (95%CI: 3%, 32%) in females. Additionally, the participants with shorter total sleep duration (< 6 h) and snoring have the highest risk of T2DM, with an increase of 91% (95%CI: 20%, 204%) than those with optimal total sleep duration and non-snorers in females. These significant associations were not found in males. CONCLUSIONS: Snoring and longer total sleep duration independently elevated the prevalence of T2DM. Meantime, a synergistic relationship was observed between snoring and total sleep duration with a higher prevalence of T2DM. These associations exhibited gender-specific differences.

The efficacy of cuff-shaving combined with negative pressure wound therapy in refractory exit-site and tunnel infections: a single center experience.

BACKGROUND: Refractory exit-site infections (ESIs) and tunnel infections (TIs) are challenging complications for patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). This study compared the outcomes of surgical intervention, notably the cuff-shaving (CS) procedure coupled with negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT), and conservative management strategies for patients with refractory ESI and TI. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent PD at our center, focusing on the incidence and management of ESI and TI. We evaluated and compared treatment outcomes, including ESI scores, frequency of ESI and/or TI, identification of causative microorganisms, and duration of catheter survival or time until removal. RESULTS: We identified 97 episodes of catheter-related ESI and/or TI across 71 patients with an incidence rate of 0.15 episodes per patient-year. Of the 23 patients with refractory ESI and/or TI, surgical intervention was performed in 8, while 15 chose conservative management. In the one-month follow-up, patients who underwent CS combined with NPWT showed no complications such as leakage, and their local symptoms resolved completely. The mean PD catheter survival time was significantly longer in the surgical group (29.38 ± 7.25 months) than in the conservative group (7.86 ± 2.13 months). Surgical intervention demonstrated a significantly higher therapeutic efficacy and extended catheter survival. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of CS and NPWT as a surgical approach is crucial for eradicating infectious foci and significantly improving the longevity of PD catheter function. This integrated surgical strategy offers a promising solution for the management of refractory ESI and TI in patients undergoing PD.

Mitogenome analysis reveals predominantly ancient Yellow River origin of population inhabiting Datong agro-pastoral ecotone along Great Wall.

The Datong Basin was an important arena for population movement and admixture between the Yellow River Valley and Eastern Steppe. In historical materials, the region was often the setting for a tug-of-war between Han farmers and non-Han nomads. The genetic makeup and population history of this Datong population has, however, remained uncertain. In this study, we analysed 289 mitogenomes from Datong individuals. Our primary findings were: (1) population summary statistics analysis revealed a high level of genetic diversity and strong signals of population expansion in the Datong population; (2) inter-population comparisons (PCA and Fst heatmap) exhibited a close clustering between the Datong population and Northern Han, especially northern frontier groups, such as the Inner Mongolia Han, Heilongjiang Han, Liaoning Han and Tianjin Han; (3) phylogeographic analysis of complete mitogenomes revealed the presence of different components in the maternal gene pools of Datong population-the northern East Asian component was dominant (66.44%), whereas the southern East Asians were the second largest component with 31.49%. We also observed a much reduced west Eurasian (2.07%) component; (4) direct comparisons with ancient groups showed closer relationship between Datong and Yellow River farmers than Eastern Steppe nomads. Despite, therefore, centuries of Eastern Steppe nomadic control over the Datong area, Yellow River farmers had a much more significant impact on the Datong population.

Conscious sedation anesthesia using different doses of remifentanil combined with dexmedetomidine for peritoneal dialysis catheter implantation.

BACKGROUND: Conscious sedation anesthesia (CSA) is an anesthetic method during peritoneal dialysis catheter implantation. However, lack of optimal CSA strategies for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). This study aimed to evaluate the analgesic effects and safety of CSA using different doses of remifentanil combined with dexmedetomidine during peritoneal dialysis catheter insertion. METHODS: Patients who underwent peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter placement via open surgical incision were retrospectively analyzed and divided into three groups based on the tertile dose of remifentanil. The bispectral index (BIS) was used to monitor the depth of anesthesia. Data regarding clinical findings, the effects of anesthesia, and the incidence of drug-related adverse effects were collected. RESULTS: In total, 102 patients completed the surgery successfully and safely. The dose of remifentanil was 0.02-0.07 µg/kg/min, 0.08-0.13 µg/kg/min, and 0.14-0.20 µg/kg/min in Groups A, B, and C, respectively. Only seven patients reported mild pain during the surgery. No significant differences were observed among the numeric rating scale scores of the three groups (p > 0.05). Intraoperative hemodynamics were stable. The incidence of respiratory depression was 8.3%, 20.0%, and 41.9% in Groups A, B, and C, respectively (p < 0.01). The incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms in Group C (51.6%) was higher than that in Groups A and B (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Low-dose remifentanil (0.02-0.07 µg/kg/min) combined with dexmedetomidine achieved satisfactory anesthetic effects with fewer adverse drug reactions during PD catheter implantation, indicating its potential for use in patients undergoing PD catheter placement.

Wind Turbine Condition Monitoring Using the SSA-Optimized Self-Attention BiLSTM Network and Changepoint Detection Algorithm.

Condition-monitoring and anomaly-detection methods used for the assessment of wind turbines are key to reducing operation and maintenance (O&M) cost and improving their reliability. In this study, based on the sparrow search algorithm (SSA), bidirectional long short-term memory networks with a self-attention mechanism (SABiLSTM), and a binary segmentation changepoint detection algorithm (BinSegCPD), a condition-monitoring method (SSA-SABiLSTM-BinSegCPD, SSD) used for wind turbines is proposed. Specifically, the self-attention mechanism, which can mine the nonlinear dynamic characteristics and spatial-temporal features inherent in the SCADA time series, was introduced into a two-layer BiLSTM network to establish a normal-behavior model for wind turbine key components. Then, as a result of the advantages of searching precision and convergence rate methods, the sparrow search algorithm was employed to optimize the constructed SABiLSTM model. Moreover, the BinSegCPD algorithm was applied to the predicted residual sequence to achieve the automatic identification of deterioration conditions for wind turbines. Case studies conducted on multiple wind turbines located in south China showed that the established SSA-SABiLSTM model was superior to other contrast models, achieving a better prediction precision in terms of RMSE, MAE, MAPE, and R2. The MAE, RMSE, and MAPE of SSA-SABiLSTM were 0.2543 °C, 0.3412 °C, and 0.0069, which were 47.23%, 42.19%, and 53.38% lower than those of SABiLSTM, respectively. The R2 of SABiLSTM was 0.9731, which was 4.6% higher than that of SABiLSTM. The proposed SSD method can detect deterioration conditions 47-120 h in advance and trigger fault alarm signals approximately 36 h ahead of the actual failure time.

Production of theophylline via aerobic fermentation of pu-erh tea using tea-derived fungi.

BACKGROUND: Caffeine is one of the most abundant methylxanthines in tea, and it remains stable in processing of general teas. In the secondary metabolism of microorganism, theophylline is the main conversion product in caffeine catabolism through demethylation. Microorganisms, involved in the solid-state fermentation of pu-erh tea, have a certain impact on caffeine level. Inoculating an appropriate starter strain that is able to convert caffeine to theophylline would be an alternative way to obtain theophylline in tea. The purpose of this study was to isolate and identify the effective strain converting caffeine to theophylline in pu-erh tea, and discuss the optimal conditions for theophylline production. RESULTS: Caffeine content was decreased significantly (p < 0.05) and theophylline content was increased significantly (p < 0.05) during the aerobic fermentation of pu-erh tea. Five dominant fungi were isolated from the aerobic fermentation and identified as Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus sydowii, Aspergillus pallidofulvus, Aspergillus sesamicola and Penicillium mangini, respectively. Especially, A. pallidofulvus, A. sesamicola and P. mangini were detected in pu-erh tea for the first time. All isolates except A. sydowii TET-2, enhanced caffeine content and had no significant influence on theophylline content. In the aerobic fermentation of A. sydowii TET-2, 28.8 mg/g of caffeine was degraded, 93.18% of degraded caffeine was converted to theophylline, and 24.60 mg/g of theophylline was produced. A. sydowii PET-2 could convert caffeine to theophylline significantly, and had application potential in the production of theophylline. The optimum conditions of theophylline production in the aerobic fermentation were 1) initial moisture content of 35% (w/w), 2) inoculation quantity of 8%, and 3) incubation temperature at 35 °C. CONCLUSIONS: For the first time, we find that A. sydowii PET-2 could convert caffeine to theophylline, and has the potential value in theophylline production through aerobic fermentation.

Abnormal functional integration across core brain networks in migraine without aura.

Background: As a complex subjective experience, pain processing may be related to functional integration among intrinsic connectivity networks of migraine patients without aura. However, few study focused on the pattern alterations in the intrinsic connectivity networks of migraine patients without aura. Results: Thirty-one migraine patients without aura and 31 age- and education-matched healthy controls participated in this study. After identifying the default mode network, central executive network and salience network as core intrinsic connectivity networks by using independent component analysis, functional connectivity, and effective connectivity during the resting state were used to investigate the abnormalities in intrinsic connectivity network interactions. Migraine patients without aura showed decreased functional connectivity among intrinsic connectivity networks compared with healthy controls. The strength of causal influences from the right frontoinsular cortex to the right anterior cingulate cortex became weaker, and the right frontoinsular cortex to the right medial prefrontal cortex became stronger in migraine patients without aura. Conclusions: These changes suggested that the salience network may play a major role in the pathophysiological features of migraine patients without aura and helped us to synthesize previous findings into an aberrant network dynamical framework.

[Toxoplasma gondii Infection in HIV-infected Individuals in Henan Province].

Genomic DNA was extracted from 1 038 peripheral blood samples from HIV-infected individuals in Henan Province. One-step single-tube nested PCR was performed to amplify the 529 bp repeating sequences of Toxoplasma gondii. Of the 1 038 samples （762 from males and 276 from females）, 66 showed positive PCR results, with a positive rate of 6.4%. The PCR positive rate in males and females was 6.3% （48/762） and 6.5% （18/276） respectively. The PCR positive rate in the married HIV individuals was 4.9%（25/508）, and that in unmarried, divorced and widowed HIV individuals was 7.7% （41/530）（χ2 = 3.451, P> 0.05）. The PCR positive rate in HIV individuals with a high-school educational level or above was 6.9%（34/489）, and that in those below the high-school level was 5.8% （32/549）（χ2 = 0.545, P> 0.05）. The highest infection rate was in the age group of 20-40 years（7.6%, 31/410）. In addition, the Toxoplasma infection rate in those with and without a history of venereal diseases, and those with an unknown history was 8.0%（9/113）, 6.5%（50/773） and 4.6%（7/152） respectively （χ2 = 0.355, P> 0.05）.

Analysis of the characteristics and factors influencing lymph node metastasis in thoracic esophageal carcinoma and cancer of the gastric cardia.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To analyze the metastatic characteristics of lymph nodes in thoracic esophageal carcinoma and cancer of the gastric cardia, and to explore the factors influencing lymph node metastasis. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective analysis of the treatment of 37 patients who received surgical treatment for thoracic esophageal and gastric cardia cancers from January 2010 to January 2012 was carried out, RESULTS: Lymph node metastasis in patients with thoracic esophageal carcinoma was frequently found on the superior mediastinum, hilum of the lung, and inferior extremity of the carina. Metastasis in patients with cancer of the gastric cardia occurred mainly in the abdominal cavity and peripheral gastric cardia. A single factor analysis showed that a tumor infiltrating full-thickness, > 5 cm in length, and with a low degree of cell differentiation affected lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). The degree of differentiation, length, and infiltrating depth of the tumor were independent factors affecting lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Lymph node metastasis in patients with cancers of the esophagus and gastric cardia exhibits special characteristics. The cleaning scope should be assessed according to the actual situation, including the degree of tumor differentiation, lesion length, and infiltration depth.

[Clinical application study of midline catheter in vasopressor therapy].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and necessity of vasopressor infusion through midline catheter. METHODS: A convenient sampling method was used for a controlled study. A total of 88 adult patients who used vasopressors admitted to respiratory intensive care unit (RICU) of Fenyang Hospital in Shanxi Province from June 2022 to June 2023 were enrolled as the research subjects. A total of 44 patients who were infused with vasopressors through peripherally inserted central venous catheter (PICC) from June to December 2022 were enrolled as the PICC group, and 44 patients who were infused with vasopressors through midline catheter from January to June 2023 were enrolled as the midline catheter group. Both groups of patients used the modified Sedinger technique under the guidance of B-ultrasound for puncture and catheter placement. The middle 1/3 site between the cubital fossa and the axilla was selected. The catheters were 5 Fr double lumen. After catheter placement, the patients were followed until catheter removal, death, or 30 days (whichever came first). Based on the Infusion therapy standards of practice revised by American Infusion Nurses Society (INS), and combined with the results of previous preliminary tests, the safety evaluation was conducted on incomplete catheter obstruction, catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI), phlebitis, thrombus within the catheter during extubation, redness of the puncture site (but no infection), and exudation of the puncture site in the two groups of patients. RESULTS: There were no statistical differences in gender, age, catheter indwelling time, and primary disease between the two groups, indicating that the baseline data of the two groups were balanced and comparable. No CRBSI or phlebitis occurred in both groups during the observation period after catheterization. One patient in both groups had exudation at the puncture site [both were 2.27% (1/44)]. Compared with the PICC group, the incidence of incomplete catheter obstruction, thrombus within the catheter during extubation, redness of the puncture site (but no infection) in the midline catheter group were lowered [incomplete catheter obstruction: 4.55% (2/44) vs. 6.82% (3/44), thrombus within the catheter during extubation: 0% (0/44) vs. 2.27% (1/44), redness of the puncture site (but no infection): 0% (0/44) vs. 4.55% (2/44)], the overall incidence was significantly decreased [6.82% (3/44) vs. 15.91% (7/44), P < 0.01]. CONCLUSIONS: Administering vasopressor through a midline catheter can reduce the incidence of catheter-related complications, decrease the rate of central venous catheterization, and reduce the financial burden on patients.

Laser-Induced Self-Limiting Welding of Ag Nanowires with High Mechanical and Electrical Performance.

The high-efficiency and high-precision welding technology of Ag nanowires is of great engineering significance for the integration of new-generation micro- and nanodevices, and the mechanical behavior of its interconnect joints is also essential for their reliable application, especially for some flexible device. In this paper, based on the nano-focusing and localized plasma enhancement properties of Ag nanowires under laser irradiation, Ag nanowire self-limiting joints with mechanical and electrical properties comparable to those of the base material are obtained. At the same time, the local plasma enhancement characteristics of Ag nanowire joints are scanned and analyzed with nanoscale resolution by using cathodoluminescence technology, and the local multi-physical field coupling regulation mechanism of Ag nanowire joints induced by different laser parameters is systematically investigated by combining theoretical simulations. Meanwhile, based on the in situ laser welding and nanomechanical tensile experiments, the mechanical properties of single Ag nanowires and their welded joints are systematically analyzed, and the characteristics of the interfacial atomic behaviors and the evolution process during the welding and tensile processes are investigated.

Ancient genomic analysis of a Chinese hereditary elite from the Northern and Southern Dynasties.

China's Northern and Southern Dynasties period (3rd-6th centuries AD) marked a significant era of ethnic integration in northern China. However, previous ancient DNA studies have primarily focused on northern ethnic groups, with limited research on the genetic formation of the hereditary elite family, especially considering their abundant archaeological record and clear material identity. In this study, we obtained the ancient genome of a hereditary elite family, Gao Bin (, 503-572 AD), at 0.6473-fold coverage with 475132 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the 1240k panel. His mitochondrial haplogroup belonged to Z4 and Y-haplogroup to O1a1a2b-F2444*. The genetic profile of Gao Bin was most similar to that of the northern Han Chinese. He could be modelled as deriving all his ancestry from Late Neolithic to Iron Age Yellow River farmers without influence from Northeast Asia, Korea, or the Mongolian Plateau. Our study sheds light on the genetic formation of hereditary elite families in the context of the Southern and Northern Dynasties ethnic integration.

Ancient genome of the Chinese Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou.

Emperor Wu (, Wudi) of the Xianbei-led Northern Zhou dynasty, named Yuwen Yong (, 543-578 CE), was a highly influential emperor who reformed the system of regional troops, pacified the Turks, and unified the northern part of the country. His genetic profile and physical characteristics, including his appearance and potential diseases, have garnered significant interest from the academic community and the public. In this study, we have successfully generated a 0.343×-coverage genome of Wudi with 1,011,419 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the 1240k panel. By analyzing pigmentation-relevant SNPs and conducting cranial CT-based facial reconstruction, we have determined that Wudi possessed a typical East or Northeast Asian appearance. Furthermore, pathogenic SNPs suggest Wudi faced an increased susceptibility to certain diseases, such as stroke. Wudi shared the closest genetic relationship with ancient Khitan and Heishui Mohe samples and modern Daur and Mongolian populations but also showed additional affinity with Yellow River (YR) farmers. We estimated that Wudi derived 61% of his ancestry from ancient Northeast Asians (ANAs) and nearly one-third from YR farmer-related groups. This can likely be attributed to continuous intermarriage between Xianbei royal families, and local Han aristocrats.1,2 Furthermore, our study has revealed genetic diversities among available ancient Xianbei individuals from different regions, suggesting that the formation of the Xianbei was a dynamic process influenced by admixture with surrounding populations.

Genomic dynamics of the Lower Yellow River Valley since the Early Neolithic.

The Yellow River Delta played a vital role in the development of the Neolithic civilization of China. However, the population history of this region from the Neolithic transitions to the present remains poorly understood due to the lack of ancient human genomes. This especially holds for key Neolithic transitions and tumultuous turnovers of dynastic history. Here, we report genome-wide data from 69 individuals dating to 5,410-1,345 years before present (BP) at 0.008 to 2.49× coverages, along with 325 present-day individuals collected from 16 cities across Shandong. During the Middle to Late Dawenkou period, we observed a significant influx of ancestry from Neolithic Yellow River farmers in central China and some southern Chinese ancestry that mixed with local hunter-gatherers in Shandong. The genetic heritage of the Shandong Longshan people was found to be most closely linked to the Dawenkou culture. During the Shang to Zhou Dynasties, there was evidence of genetic admixture of local Longshan populations with migrants from the Central Plain. After the Qin to Han Dynasties, the genetic composition of the region began to resemble that of modern Shandong populations. Our genetic findings suggest that the middle Yellow River Basin farmers played a role in shaping the genetic affinity of neighboring populations in northern China during the Middle to Late Neolithic period. Additionally, our findings indicate that the genetic diversity in the Shandong region during the Zhou Dynasty may be linked with their complex ethnicities.

Preoperative bowel preparation promotes intestinal functional recovery after esophagectomy.

Background: Patients are prone to intestinal dysfunction after esophagectomy. The value of preoperative bowel preparation before esophagectomy is controversial. There is a lack of evidence as to whether preoperative bowel preparation can help patients improve bowel function and shorten the recovery time of bowel function. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to explore whether preoperative bowel preparation can promote the recovery of intestinal function after esophagectomy. Methods: We analysed 139 patients who underwent elective radical esophagectomy in the Department of Thoracic Surgery at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from May 2016 to December 2018. The enrolled patients were divided into the study group (bowel preparation group) and the control group (no bowel preparation group) of 71 cases and 68 cases. Patients in the study group were given dissolved polyethylene glycol electrolyte powder and a cleansing enema the day before surgery. Patients in the control group were neither given polyethylene glycol electrolyte powder nor cleansing enemas before surgery. The postoperative recovery of the two groups were compared. Results: Postoperative bed rest time, bowel function recovery time and the time of first flatus and defecation after surgery were significantly shorter in patients with bowel preparation than in those without bowel preparation, and the differences were statistically significant. (P=0.038, P<0.001, P<0.001, P<0.001; respectively). Conclusions: Preoperative bowel preparation can promote the recovery of patients with esophageal cancer, especially the recovery of bowel function, which can reduce the pain caused by abdominal distension and improve the quality of life of patients.

Evaluation of a two-test strategy for HIV screening in a low-prevalence setting and the indications for optimizing clinical management.

Objectives: To evaluate a two-test strategy for HIV screening in the low-prevalence population and to assess the feasibility of utilizing the optimal signal-to-cutoff (S/CO) threshold on the chemiluminescence immunoassay(CMIA) and an additional rapid test on the gold immune-chromatography assay (GICA) for screening positive patients and optimization of clinical management. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of samples analyzed by the fourth-generation Architect HIV Ag/Ab combo assay (CMIA) in a large medical center between June 2017 and August 2020. Reactive samples underwent a second screening test using the rapid test GICA, followed by Western blot (WB) as the confirmatory test. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine the optimal S/CO. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value based on our population. The performance of the single-test strategy (CMIA) was compared with that of the two-test strategy (CMIA and GICA). Logistic regression was used to analyze the factors of clinical characteristics leading to false positive results. Results: A total of 220558 samples were screened by CMIA, and 429 patients met the inclusion criteria. Of these, CMIA produced 199 false-positive results with a median S/CO of 1.93(IQR1.45-3.68) and 230 positive results with a median S/CO of 455.1 (IQR169.3-709.7). The optimal S/CO of the single-test strategy was 8.82, which achieved a sensitivity of 100% and a positive predictive value (PPV) of 90.9%. The two-test strategy (CMIA and GICA) provided a sensitivity of 100% and a PPV of 98.7%, which best correlated with the confirmatory test WB. The combination of S/CO 8.82 on the CMIA assay and additional test results of GICA can be defined as four types used to interpret HIV serostatus. The false positive rate (FPR) was high in the female, the age≤18 group, the pre-operative patients, and the patients from the clinical departments of Pediatrics, Gynecology and Obstetrics, and Oncology, etc. Conclusions: The false positive rate is high in the low-prevalence setting by using CMIA. The two-test strategy (CMIA and GICA) is recommended for HIV screening in hospitals. Hopefully, the clinicians will be able to interpret HIV serostatus and facilitate clinical decision-making while waiting for the confirmatory results.

Parental Psychological Flexibility and Children's Behavior Problems in Rural Areas in Northeast China: The Mediation of Children's Emotion Regulation.

Children's behavior problems are not conducive to their sustainable development. Therefore, it is of great value to explore the mechanism of relevant influencing factors on the behavior problems of rural preschoolers. This study aimed to reveal the direct effect of parental psychological flexibility on children's behavior problems and the mediating effect of children's emotion regulation. Based on simple random sampling, 355 caregivers (male = 31.25 years, SD = 9.78; 74.08% females; 9.01% bachelor degree) were recruited from eight rural kindergartens in three provinces in northeast China. With questionnaires, caregivers reported their parental psychological flexibility and assessed their children's emotion regulation and behavior problems. SPSS 25.0 software was used for statistical data analysis. The results support our hypotheses, suggesting that parental psychological flexibility, emotional stability, and emotional regulation negatively predicted children's externalizing and internalizing behavior problems. Meanwhile, emotional stability and regulation partially mediated the relationship between parental psychological flexibility and children's externalizing and internalizing behavior problems. These findings provide a new perspective for preventing and intervening in preschoolers' behavior problems.

Construction of a ferroptosis-related eight gene signature for predicting the prognosis and immune infiltration of thyroid cancer.

Background: Thyroid cancer is the most common malignant tumor of the endocrine system. Most patients with thyroid cancer have a good prognosis, although a small proportion experience recurrence and metastasis and have a poor prognosis. Ferroptosis is a novel form of regulated cell death (RCD); previous studies have confirmed that ferroptosis was associated with thyroid cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the key ferroptosis-related genes in thyroid cancer and their relationship with prognosis and immune cell infiltration. Methods: In this study, 497 thyroid cancer RNA expression datasets were downloaded from the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) cohort and a prognostic risk model for eight ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) was constructed by Lasso-Cox regression. The prognostic value of the risk model and the correlation of prognostic features with immune scores and tumor immune cell infiltration were systematically analyzed. Results: The prognostic risk model for eight FRGs (DPP4, TYRO3, TIMP1, CDKN2A, SNCA, NR4A1, IL-6 and FABP4) were constructed and validated in training and testing cohorts. Kaplan-Meier curve and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis confirmed that that the ferroptosis-related eight gene signature had good predictive value for the prognosis of thyroid cancer (THCA) patients. Multivariate regression analysis further showed that the risk score of the prognostic model could be used as an independent prognostic factor for THCA patients. Functional enrichment analysis showed that DEGs in high risk and low risk groups were involved in immune-related biological processes and that there were significant differences in immune cell infiltration between the two risk groups. Conclusion: We identified eight key genes related to ferroptosis in THCA patients. Further studies are now needed to investigate the mechanisms involved; these genes may represent clinical diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.

Research Progress of Ferroptosis in Adiposity-Based Chronic Disease (ABCD).

Ferroptosis is a multistep regulated cell death process induced by iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation. Classical GPX4-dependent pathway and GPX4-independent pathways can independently and synergistically inhibit ferroptosis and jointly maintain the oxidative balance of the body. WHO defines obesity as "a condition of abnormal or excessive fat accumulation in adipose tissue, to the extent that health may be impaired," and obesity is also defined as an adiposity-based chronic disease (ABCD). Obesity is a systemic disease that leads to metabolic abnormalities in various systems, resulting in a series of complications including obesity cardiomyopathy, atherosclerosis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and diabetes mellitus. Emerging evidence shows that ferroptosis is closely associated with the occurrence and progression of various diseases. In recent years, ferroptosis has been found to play critical roles in obesity and its complications. This review discusses the mechanisms of how ferroptosis is initiated and controlled and discusses the research progress of ferroptosis in obesity and its complications.