Survival and clinicopathological significance of B7-H3 in bladder cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: B7-H3 has been implicated in clinical pathological features and prognosis across various cancer types, suggesting its potential as a cancer biomarker. Nevertheless, consensus remains elusive regarding its clinical-pathological and prognostic significance in bladder cancer. To address this gap, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane, and CNKI databases from their inception up to October 6, 2022. We evaluated the literature's quality using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. We performed meta-analysis using Review Manager 5.3 and STATA 12.0, synthesizing data and calculating odds ratios (ORs) or hazard ratios (HRs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: After applying eligibility criteria and conducting assessments, we included data from 8 studies, encompassing 1622 bladder cancer patients. Bladder tumor tissues exhibited significantly elevated B7-H3 protein expression compared to normal bladder tissues. Elevated B7-H3 expression was notably associated with patient age, tumor infiltration, and recurrence in bladder cancer. However, no significant correlations were observed with other clinical characteristics. Our pooled HR analysis indicated no significant association between B7-H3 expression and overall survival in bladder cancer patients. CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis unveils the complex role of B7-H3 in bladder cancer progression. It appears to be directly involved in tumor infiltration and recurrence but cannot definitively serve as a prognostic biomarker for bladder cancer. To validate these findings, further well-designed studies, encompassing larger sample sizes and diverse racial backgrounds, are warranted. PROSPERO REGISTRATION: No. CRD42022364688.

α-Mangostin Exhibits a Therapeutic Effect on Spinal Cystic Echinococcosis by Affecting Glutamine Metabolism.

Spinal cystic echinococcosis, a severely neglected, rare disease, is characterized by high morbidity, disability, and mortality in prevalent regions. Due to the high-risk nature of surgical treatment and the ineffectiveness of conventional drugs, there is an unmet need for novel safe and effective drugs for the treatment of this disease. In this study, we examined the therapeutic effects of α-mangostin for spinal cystic echinococcosis, and explored its potential pharmacological mechanism. The repurposed drug exhibited a potent in vitro protoscolicidal effect and significantly inhibited the evolution of larval encystation. Moreover, it demonstrated a remarkable anti-spinal cystic echinococcosis effect in gerbil models. Mechanistically, we found that α-mangostin intervention led to intracellular depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential and reactive oxygen species generation. In addition, we observed elevated expression of autophagic proteins, aggregation of autophagic lysosomes, activated autophagic flux, and disrupted larval microstructure in protoscoleces. Further metabolite profiling showed that glutamine was imperative for autophagic activation and anti-echinococcal effects mediated by α-mangostin. These results suggest that α-mangostin is a potentially valuable therapeutic option against spinal cystic echinococcosis through its effect on glutamine metabolism.

Impact of different organic matters on the occurrence of antibiotic resistance genes in activated sludge.

The occurrence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in various environments has drawn worldwide attention due to their potential risks. Previous studies have reported that a variety of substances can enhance the occurrence and dissemination of ARGs. However, few studies have compared the response of ARGs under the stress of different organic matters in biological wastewater treatment systems. In this study, seven organic pollutants were added into wastewater treatment bioreactors to investigate their impacts on the ARG occurrence in activated sludge. Based on high-throughput sequencing, it was found that the microbial communities and ARG patterns were significantly changed in the activated sludge exposed to these organic pollutants. Compared with the non-antibiotic refractory organic matters, antibiotics not only increased the abundance of ARGs but also significantly changed the ARG compositions. The increase of Gram-negative bacteria (e.g., Archangium, Prosthecobacter and Dokdonella) carrying ARGs could be the main cause of ARG proliferation. In addition, significant co-occurrence relationships between ARGs and mobile genetic elements were also observed in the sludge samples, which may also affect the ARG diversity and abundance during the organic matter treatment in the bioreactors. Overall, these findings provide new information for better understanding the ARG occurrence and dissemination caused by organic pollutants in wastewater treatment systems.

Metagenomic analysis revealed the sulfur- and iron- oxidation capabilities of heterotrophic denitrifying sludge.

Heterotrophic denitrification is widely applied in wastewater treatment processes to remove nitrate. However, the ability of the heterotrophic denitrifying sludge to use inorganic matter as electron donors to perform autotrophic denitrification has rarely been investigated. In this study, we enriched heterotrophic denitrifying sludge and demonstrated its sulfur- and iron- oxidizing abilities and denitrification performance with batch experiments. Based on high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes, high diversity and abundance of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) (e.g., Sulfuritalea, Thiobacillus, and Thiothrix) and iron (II)-oxidizing bacteria (FeOB) (e.g., Azospira and Thiobacillus) were observed. Metagenomic sequencing and genome binning results further suggested that the SOB in the heterotrophic denitrifying sludge were mainly Alphaproteobacteria and Betaproteobacteria instead of Gammaproteobacteria and Epsilonproteobacteria. The similarities of potential iron-oxidizing genes with known sequences were very low (32-51%), indicating potentially novel FeOB species in this system. The findings of this study suggested that the heterotrophic denitrifying sludge harbors diverse mixotrophic denitrifying bacterial species, and based on this finding, we proposed that organic carbon and inorganic electron donors (e.g., sulfur, thiosulfate, and iron) could be jointly used in engineering practices according to the quality and quantity of wastewater to balance the cost and efficiency of the denitrification process.

Ni@NiO Nanowires on Nickel Foam Prepared via "Acid Hungry" Strategy: High Supercapacitor Performance and Robust Electrocatalysts for Water Splitting Reaction.

Ni/NiO core-shell nanowires on nickel foam (NF) are successfully synthesized using an "acid-hungry" strategy. The 3D electrode with large accessible active sites and improved conductivity, possesses an optimized ionic and electronic transport path during electrochemical processes. High areal capacitance of 1.65 F cm-2 is obtained at an ultrahigh current density of 100 mA cm-2 , which is 19.88 times higher than pristine NF. The direct growth of nanowires makes the present supercapacitor electrode robust for long-term cycling test. By virtue of the favorable hydrogen adsorption energies on Ni0 and OHads energy on NiO or NiOOH, the 3D electrode exhibits high performance in hydrogen evolution reaction with 146 mV at η10 mA cm-2 and Tafel value of 72 mV dec-1 , and oxygen evolution reaction with 382 mV at η10 mA cm-2 and Tafel value of 103 mV dec-1 in 1 m KOH. An electrolyzer using 3D electrodes as both anode and cathode can yield a current density of 10 mA cm-2 at 1.71 V, and possesses superior long-term stability to an electrolyzer consisting of Pt/C||Ir/C. The present work develops an effective and low-cost method for the large-scale fabrication of Ni/NiO core-shell nanowires on commercial NF, providing a promising candidate for supercapacitors, fuel cells, and electrocatalysis.

High diversity of potential nitrate-reducing Fe(II)-oxidizing bacteria enriched from activated sludge.

Nitrate-dependent Fe(II) oxidation (NDFO) has been discovered in various environments including activated sludge and can potentially be used to remove nitrate from wastewater. In this study, NDFO sludge was successfully enriched from activated sludge under high Fe(II) concentrations over 100 days and the denitrification rate achieved 1.37 mmol N/(gVSS day). High-throughput sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene was used to investigate the microbial community structure dynamics during the enrichment process. The results showed that the microbial community changed significantly and high diversity of potential Fe(II)-oxidizing bacteria (FeOB) was observed in the enriched sludge. Thermomonas and Gallionella were the dominant bacterial genera in the enriched sludge and their relative abundances accounted for 9.49 and 4.08%, respectively. Furthermore, it was found that potential FeOB were also abundantly present in activated sludge samples of common municipal wastewater treatment plants. Collectively, this study demonstrated that NDFO could be successfully performed by enriched activated sludge and high diversity of bacteria is involved in this process, and the results also provide baseline information for future research and engineering application of NDFO process.

Diversity, abundance, and possible sources of fecal bacteria in the Yangtze River.

The fecal bacteria in natural waters may pose serious risks on human health. Although many source tracking methods have been developed and used to determine the possible sources of the fecal pollution, little is known about the overall diversity and abundance of fecal bacterial community in natural waters. In this study, a method based on fecal bacterial sequence library was introduced to evaluate the fecal bacterial profile in the Yangtze River (Nanjing section). Our results suggested that the Yangtze River water harbors diverse fecal bacteria. Fifty-eight fecal operational taxonomic units (97% identity level) were detected in the Yangtze River water samples and the relative abundance of fecal bacteria in these samples ranged from 0.1 to 8%. It was also found that the relative abundances of the fecal bacteria in locations near to the downstream of wastewater treatment plants were obviously higher than those in other locations. However, the high abundance of fecal bacteria could decrease to the normal level in 2~4 km in the river due to degradation or dilution, and the overall fecal bacteria level changed little when the Yangtze River flew through the Nanjing City. Moreover, the fecal bacteria in the Yangtze River water were found to be highly associated (Spearman rho = 0.804, P < 0.001) with the potential pathogenic bacteria. Collectively, the findings in this study reveal the diversity, abundance, and possible sources of fecal bacteria in the Yangtze River and advance our understandings of the fecal bacteria community in the natural waters.

Transformation of anaerobic granules into aerobic granules and the succession of bacterial community.

In this study, we demonstrated that anaerobic granular sludge could be successfully transformed into aerobic granular sludge in a continuous up-flow reactor in 45 days. An aerobic microbial community successfully developed in the granules and high organic matter and nitrogen removal performance was achieved. Under an ammonia nitrogen loading rate of 0.8 kg N/(m3 day), ammonia nitrogen and the total nitrogen removal efficiency of the reactor reached up to 100 and 93%, respectively. An obvious bacterial community shift in granular sludge was observed during the transformation process. By comparing with the bacterial community in aerobic granules cultivated from floccular activated sludge, some bacteria (affiliated with Comamonadaceae, Xanthomonadaceae, Rhodocyclaceae, Moraxellaceae, and Nitrosomonadaceae) playing significant roles in maintaining the structures and functions of aerobic granules were identified. After the transformation, the granules could be clearly separated into the inner core and outer shell. 16S rRNA gene sequencing results indicated many bacterial species present in both the inner core and outer shell; however, their abundance differed significantly. Overall, this study confirms the feasibility of transforming anaerobic granules into aerobic granules and provides novel approaches and insights to understand the microbial ecology in granular sludge.

Association between weight-adjusted-waist index and urge urinary incontinence: a cross-sectional study from NHANES 2013 to 2018.

This study aimed to investigate the association between urge urinary incontinence (UUI) and weight-adjusted waist circumference index (WWI), a newly developed measure of obesity. Data from the 2013-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were included in the present cross-sectional study. Urge urinary incontinence was identified by self-reported urine leakage before reaching the toilet. Weighted multivariate logistic regression and generalized additive models were used to investigate the connection between WWI and UUI and its nonlinearity. The nonlinear relationship was explored using smoothed curve fitting. Additionally, further analyses were performed on subgroups and interaction tests were conducted. In the study, a total of 14,118 individuals were enrolled, with a UUI prevalence rate of 21.18%. Overall UUI was more prevalent with elevated WWI (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.13-12.8, P < 0.0001), which similar results were observed in weekly (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.18-1.48, P < 0.0001) and daily (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.06-1.53, P = 0.0091) UUI. And this connection remained steady among all subgroups (P > 0.05 for all interactions). Smoothed curve fitting showed no nonlinear relationship between WWI and UUI. In addition, a stronger correlation was found between WWI and UUI risk than other obesity indicators such as waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI). Among US adults, weight-adjusted waist circumference index values are positively associated with elevated odds of UUI and show stronger associations than WC and BMI. Further studies are required to elucidate the causal relationship between WWI and UUI.

ZJUT-EIFD: A Synchronously Collected External and Internal Fingerprint Database.

External fingerprints (EFs) based only on epidermal information are vulnerable to spoofing attacks and non-ideal skin conditions. To solve such shortcomings, internal fingerprints (IFs) collected using optical coherence tomography (OCT) have been proposed and widely researched. However, the development of IF is limited by the lack of in-depth researches on the IF and the EF-IF interoperability, which is partially caused by the lack of public OCT database. The obvious gap in the applications of EF and IF recognition motivated us to design and publish a comprehensive fingerprint database containing both traditional EFs and OCT IFs, denoted as ZJUT-EIFD. To the best of our knowledge, ZJUT-EIFD is the first public database that combines OCT and total internal reflection (TIR) via synchronous acquisition, with 399 different fingers from 60 subjects. In this article, the composition of the database, the quality of EFs and IFs, and the verification performance of different types of fingerprints were detailed. In addition, potential application directions of ZJUT-EIFD were demonstrated. ZJUT-EIFD can serve benchmarks and interoperability tests for EF-IF research, which will promote the research and development of EF and IF.

Influence of ongoing discharge from multiple wastewater treatment plants on microplastic patterns in small-scale receiving rivers.

As widely acknowledged, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) stand as significant contributors to the presence of microplastics in surface water. Nonetheless, there exists a notable research gap regarding the extent of potential pollution resulting from the concurrent and uninterrupted discharges originating from multiple WWTPs into small-scale receiving water bodies. This study endeavors to address this knowledge deficit by conducting a thorough investigation into the prevalence of microplastics in surface water. The research encompasses seven distinct locations within the Changzhou section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and the effluent of three WWTPs situated along the tributary. The results indicate differences in the distribution of microplastics in surface waters of mainstream and tributaries. While the microplastic abundance and composition showed little variation along the main stream, the tributaries displayed an overall increasing trend in microplastic abundance from upstream to downstream. Notably, the major contributors to this increase were fragments, fiber particles, and microplastics with particle sizes ranging from 100 to 300 µm. Considering that the primary distinction between the tributaries and the mainstream is the presence of the three WWTPs along the tributaries, the study conducted a correlation analysis between river surface water and effluents from these plants. The results indicated a stronger correlation between the tributaries and the effluents, suggesting that WWTPs are one of the primary factors contributing to the elevated levels of microplastics in the tributaries. Finally, a comparative analysis of microplastic abundance in the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal's Changzhou section and other regions was conducted. The findings revealed that the microplastic pollution level in the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal's Changzhou section is higher than that in most other rivers. Therefore, the issue of microplastic pollution in the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal's Changzhou section warrants our attention, particularly with regard to the effectiveness of microplastic removal by the WWTPs along its course.

Horizontal transfer potential of antibiotic resistance genes in wastewater treatment plants unraveled by microfluidic-based mini-metagenomics.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are known to harbor antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), which can potentially spread to the environment and human populations. However, the extent and mechanisms of ARG transfer in WWTPs are not well understood due to the high microbial diversity and limitations of molecular techniques. In this study, we used a microfluidic-based mini-metagenomics approach to investigate the transfer potential and mechanisms of ARGs in activated sludge from WWTPs. Our results show that while diverse ARGs are present in activated sludge, only a few highly similar ARGs are observed across different taxa, indicating limited transfer potential. We identified two ARGs, ermF and tla-1, which occur in a variety of bacterial taxa and may have high transfer potential facilitated by mobile genetic elements. Interestingly, genes that are highly similar to the sequences of these two ARGs, as identified in this study, display varying patterns of abundance across geographic regions. Genes similar to ermF found are widely found in Asia and the Americas, while genes resembling tla-1 are primarily detected in Asia. Genes similar to both genes are barely detected in European WWTPs. These findings shed light on the limited horizontal transfer potential of ARGs in WWTPs and highlight the importance of monitoring specific ARGs in different regions to mitigate the spread of antibiotic resistance.

Nrf2 induces angiogenesis in spinal cystic echinococcosis by activating autophagy via regulating oxidative stress.

Spinal cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a rare but malignant zoonosis that can cause disability or even death in more than half of patients. Due to the complex pathological features, it is not curable by conventional drugs and surgery, so new therapeutic targets urgently need to be discovered. In this study, we clarify the occurrence of the phenomenon of spinal encapsulation angiogenesis and explore its underlying molecular mechanisms. A co-culture system was established by protoscoleces (PSCs) with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) which showed a high expression level of Nrf2. A short hairpin RNA (shRNA) and Sulforaphane (SFN) affecting the expression of Nrf2 were used to treat HUVECs. The results showed that Nrf2 could promote the tube formation of HUVECs. Nrf2 also exerts a protective effect against HUVECs, which is achieved by promoting NQO1 expression to stabilize ROS levels. Furthermore, autophagy activation significantly promotes angiogenesis in the spinal echinococcosis model (SEM) as a result of Nrf2 regulation of oxidative stress. These results suggest that the ROS/Nrf2/autophagy axis can induce angiogenesis and may be a potential target for the treatment of spinal cystic echinococcosis.

Activating the iNOS regulatory pathway by arginine deprivation targets energy metabolism to induce autophagy-dependent apoptosis against spinal echinococcosis.

Spinal echinococcosis is one of the most overlooked zoonotic parasitic diseases worldwide. There is currently no safe and effective treatment to eradicate it, and research based on the physiological-metabolic signature of the disease is lacking. Herein, we repurposed agrimol B as a potent anti-hydatid compound and validated its pharmacological mechanism based on arginine uptake as a target through multi-omics sequencing. This herbal component suppressed energy metabolism and activated ROS aggregation by inducing mitochondrial membrane potential depolarization, which subsequently triggered autophagy-dependent apoptosis leading to parasite death. Moreover, we discovered that arginine deprivation induced metabolic changes led to a shift from ornithine to nitrogen oxide synthesis, thus boosting the iNOS enzyme-regulated dominant metabolic pathway. The excess NO targeted the mitochondrial respiratory chain complex IV to disrupt energy metabolic homeostasis and induced a downstream pathological waterfall effect to kill the hydatid. A novel metabolic regulatory mechanism targeting mitochondrial damage for arginine starvation therapy was discovered. Finally, arginine depletion was found to be superior to the anti-spinal echinococcosis effect of albendazole and accompanied by the potential for disc protection. This study unveils the role of arginine in the physiological metabolism of Echinococcus granulosus and reveals the value of targeting arginine metabolism as a potential therapy. In addition, agrimol B is proposed as a promising therapeutic strategy for spinal echinococcosis to block arginine uptake and break this parasite's metabolic balance.

Control of Gradient Concentration Prussian White Cathodes for High-Performance Potassium-Ion Batteries.

Owing to their abundant resources and low cost, potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) have become a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, the larger ionic radius and higher mass of K+ propose a challenging issue for finding suitable cathode materials. Prussian whites (PWs) have a rigid open framework and affordable synthesis method, but they suffer quick capacity fade due to lattice volume change and structural instability during K+ insertion/extraction. Here, we prepared controllable gradient concentration KxFeaNibMn1-a-b[Fe(CN)6]y·zH2O particles via a facile coprecipitation process, demonstrating high-performance potassium-ion storage. The high-Mn content in the interior can minimize capacity loss caused by electrochemically inert Ni and achieve a high reversible capacity; meanwhile, the high-FeNi content in the exterior can alleviate the volume change of the core material upon cycling, thus enhancing structural stability. Taking the above synergistic effect, the controllable gradient concentration PWs deliver a high reversible capacity of 109.8 mAh g-1 at 100 mA g-1 and good capacity retention of 77.8% after 200 cycles. The gradient concentration PWs can retain structural integrity and stability during long-term cycling. This work provides a prospective strategy to fabricate PWs with stable structure and excellent electrochemical performance for developing high-performance PIBs.

Ultra-expanded interlayer spacing of vanadium oxide nanowires intercalated with poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) in organic ammonium ion batteries.

Rechargeable batteries employing ammonium (NH4+) ions have attracted widespread interest owing to the abundant resources, eco-friendliness, and sustainability of NH4+ ions. Herein, an organic-inorganic hybrid is applied to organic NH4+ ion batteries. A poly (3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) (PEDOT)-intercalated vanadium oxide nanowire (noted as VO-P-x) is applied for organic NH4+ ion storage. VO-P-x with the optimal content of PEDOT showed an interlayer spacing (d-spacing) expanded to 1.82 nm, exhibiting an ultrahigh initial coulombic efficiency of 91% and a reversible capacity of 163 mA h g-1. A significant improvement in NH4+ ion storage was achieved due to the large interlayer spacing and conductive polymer PEDOT. Combining ex situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and multi-sweep cyclic voltammetry tests, the NH4+ ion storage mechanism of VO-P-x was clearly revealed. This study provides a new strategy for designing high-performance organic ammonium batteries.

Progress of research on the diagnosis and treatment of bone cystic echinococcosis.

Bone cystic echinococcosis (CE) is one of the most complex and dangerous of all echinococcoses. The lack of typical imaging features and clinical manifestations makes diagnosis and treatment of this disease difficult. X-ray and computed tomography (CT) images of bone CE are similar to those of bone cysts, giant-cell bone tumors, and bone metastases, but magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) shows good diagnostic value due to excellent soft-tissue imaging features. Serological tests cannot be used as a definitive diagnostic method for bone CE due to cross-reactivity, which can lead to false-positive or false-negative results. The development of novel antigens can open new frontiers in the diagnosis of the disease. Currently, views conflict on how to diagnose and treat bone CE. Both surgical and pharmacological treatments can be used, but determining which is appropriate is difficult due to the different sites and clinical manifestations of bone CE. Radical resection is not indicated for large-bone injuries, and Pharmacotherapy becomes important. This article reviews the progress of research into the pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of, and diagnostic strategies and treatment options for, bone CE. We aimed to provide a reference for clinical diagnosis and -treatment options.

3D CNN-based fingerprint anti-spoofing through optical coherence tomography.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a noninvasive high-resolution imaging technology that can accurately acquire the internal characteristics of tissues within a few millimeters. Using OCT technology, the internal fingerprint structure, which is consistent with external fingerprints and sweat glands, can be collected, leading to high anti-spoofing capabilities. In this paper, an OCT fingerprint anti-spoofing method based on a 3D convolutional neural network (CNN) is proposed, considering the spatial continuity of 3D biometrics in fingertips. Experiments were conducted on self-built and public datasets to test the feasibility of the proposed anti-spoofing method. The anti-spoofing strategy using a 3D CNN achieved the best results compared with classic networks.

Echinococcus granulosus promotes bone resorption by increasing osteoclasts differentiation.

Osseous cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a rare disease caused by Echinococcus granulosus, which is characterized by high morbidity, disability, and mortality. However, it is severely neglected due to its mainly regional epidemic. The development of osseous CE is usually accompanied by severe bone erosion and destruction at the site of infection; however, there is a gap in research on the mechanism of this phenomenon. The current treatment for this disease is single-sided, ineffective, and has a high rate of disability and recurrence. Our study investigated the mechanism of bone destruction caused by osseous CE and provided a theoretical basis for basic research and innovative ideas for treating clinical disease. A co-culture system of osteoclast progenitor cells and protoscoleces (PSCs) was established to test the effects of PSCs on osteoclast differentiation. We also created two disease models of spinal and femoral CE, with the highest incidence of osseous CE. We verified the effect of E. granulosus on osteoclasts at the infection site in vivo. The stimulatory effect of E. granulosus on osteoclast formation was confirmed by in vivo and in vitro experiments. This study elucidates the elementary mechanism of bone destruction in osseous CE and fills a gap in the field of basic osseous CE research, which is conducive to treating the disease.