Development and initial validation of the contemporary Chinese Familism Scale.

OBJECTIVES: Familism is a core ideology in Chinese society, yet it has been understudied in this cultural context, potentially attributed to the lack of quantifiable measures. This study sought to develop a reliable and valid scale, the Contemporary Chinese Familism Scale (CCFS), to assess Chinese familism and analyze its structural and psychological characteristics in contemporary China. METHOD: The scale development and validation process comprised four studies: in Study 1, literature review, qualitative interviews, and item evaluations by experts were conducted to develop the initial item pool for the CCFS; in Studies 2 and 3, item analysis, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, competing model comparisons, and measurement invariance tests were conducted to examine the structure underlying familism (N1 = 958, Mage = 25.4 years; N2 = 570, Mage = 32.01 years); in Study 4, reliability and validity assessments were conducted to further explore the psychometric properties of the final 27-item CCFS using three samples (N2 = 570, Mage = 32.01 years; N3 = 710, Mage = 22.37 years; N4 = 932, Mage = 40.98 years). RESULT: A bifactor structure with one general factor and five specific factors (Connection and Closeness, Offspring and Lineage, Honor and Reference, Harmony and Sacrifice, and Care and Help) demonstrated the best fit for the data and supported the multidimensionality of familism in contemporary China. Subsequent psychometric analyses provided initial evidence for the optimal psychometric properties of the CCFS. CONCLUSION: This study contributes to our understanding of the multifaceted nature of familism in contemporary China by developing a culturally sensitive scale on Chinese familism. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The effect of fasting plasma glucose on in-hospital mortality after acute myocardial infarction in patients with and without diabetes: findings from a prospective, nationwide, and multicenter registry.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the predictive value of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) for in-hospital mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with different glucose metabolism status. METHODS: We selected 5,308 participants with AMI from the prospective, nationwide, multicenter CAMI registry, of which 2,081 were diabetic and 3,227 were nondiabetic. Patients were divided into high FPG and low FPG groups according to the optimal cutoff values of FPG to predict in-hospital mortality for diabetic and nondiabetic cohorts, respectively. The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: Overall, 94 diabetic patients (4.5%) and 131 nondiabetic patients (4.1%) died during hospitalization, and the optimal FPG thresholds for predicting in-hospital death of the two cohorts were 13.2 mmol/L and 6.4 mmol/L, respectively. Compared with individuals who had low FPG, those with high FPG were significantly associated with higher in-hospital mortality in diabetic cohort (10.1% vs. 2.8%; odds ratio [OR] = 3.862, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.542-5.869) and nondiabetic cohort (7.4% vs. 1.7%; HR = 4.542, 95%CI: 3.041-6.782). After adjusting the potential confounders, this significant association was not changed. Furthermore, FPG as a continuous variable was positively associated with in-hospital mortality in single-variable and multivariable models regardless of diabetic status. Adding FPG to the original model showed a significant improvement in C-statistic and net reclassification in diabetic and nondiabetic cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: This large-scale registry indicated that there is a strong positive association between FPG and in-hospital mortality in AMI patients with and without diabetes. FPG might be useful to stratify patients with AMI.

Acute treatment of bilateral rTMS combined with antidepressants on the plasma fatty acids for major depressive episodes.

Bilateral repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (B-rTMS) has been largely used in the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). Nonetheless, information on the acute treatment by B-rTMS combined with antidepressants (ADs) on the plasma fatty acids in MDD is limited. The present study focused on depressive symptoms; Plasma was obtained from 27 adult patients with MDD at baselinephase (MDD), after 2 weeks of treatment (MDD-2w), and 27 healthy controls (HC). Meanwhile, we evaluated the composition of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and medium-and long-chain fatty acids (MLCFAs) in the plasma. Consequently, the levels of Isobutyric acid, Caproic acid, and Propionic acid were low both in the MDD and MDD-2w groups and negatively correlated with the scores of HAMD and HAMA. Besides, minimal changes were observed between the MDD and HC groups, whereas significant MLCFA levels were high in the MDD-2w group. Moreover, we developed combined panels that could effectively differentiate MDD from HCs (AUC=0.99), MDD-2w from HC (AUC=0.983), and MDD from MDD-2w (AUC=0.852). These findings may provide a reference for the use of B-rTMS combined with ADs against the acute phase of depressive episodes and shed light on the relationship between plasma FAs and MDD.

Several major herb pairs containing Coptidis rhizoma: a review of key traditional uses, constituents and compatibility effects.

Herb compatibility is the soul of traditional Chinese Medicine prescriptions. Coptidis rhizoma (CR) (Coptis chinensis Franch., Coptis deltoidea C.Y.Cheng et Hsiao, or Coptis teeta Wall.; family Ranunculaceae), is a well-known herb. The bitter and cold nature of CR can irritate the spleen and stomach, and certain ingredients in CR may trigger allergic reactions. Herb combinations can help alleviate the side effects caused by CR. Through data analysis and literature research, there are many herbs combined with CR have a high frequency, but only a few are currently used as formulae in clinical practice. The results showed that these six herb pairs are usually widely studied or used as prescriptions in the clinic. This paper describes the six herb pairs from the key traditional uses, changes in bioactive constituents, and compatibility effects, especially with Euodiae fructus (family Rutaceae), Scutellariae radix (family Lamiaceae), Magnoliae Officinalis cortex (family Magnoliaceae), Glycyrrhizae radix et rhizoma (family Fabaceae), Ginseng radix et rhizoma (family Araliaceae), and Aucklandiae radix (family Asteraceae), and found that herbs are more effective when used in combination. Therefore, it is feasible to establish some methods to study herb pairs comprehensively from different perspectives. This paper aims to provide the latest and most comprehensive information on the six herb pairs and summarize the pattern of CR compatibility effects. It aims to attract more attention, and further experimental studies will be conducted to investigate and evaluate the effects of herb pairs containing CR. These data can also provide valuable references for researchers and also provide more possibilities for future applications in clinical practice and new drug development.

Prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder and depressive symptoms among civilians residing in armed conflict-affected regions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Globally, populations afflicted by armed conflict are known to have high rates of mental health disorders. Aims: This meta-analysis aims to estimate the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depressive symptoms among civilians residing in armed conflict-affected regions. Methods: This meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. A literature search employing MEDLINE(R), Embase Classic+Embase, APA PsycINFO, Ovid Healthstar, Journal@Ovid Full Text, Cochrane, PTSDpubs and CINAHL was conducted from inception until 19 March 2024 to identify relevant studies. Quality assessment was performed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Prevalence Studies, and a Comprehensive Meta-Analysis was used to conduct the statistical analysis. Results: The search yielded 38 595 articles, of which 57 were considered eligible for inclusion. The included studies comprised data from 64 596 participants. We estimated a prevalence of 23.70% (95% CI 19.50% to 28.40%) for PTSD symptoms and 25.60% (95% CI 20.70% to 31.10%) for depressive features among war-afflicted civilians. The subgroup analysis based on time since the war and the country's economic status revealed the highest prevalence for both PTSD and depressive symptoms was present during the years of war and in low/middle-income countries. Conclusions: The results of this study provide conclusive evidence of the detrimental impacts of armed conflict on mental health outcomes. Hence, it is crucial to emphasise the significance of both physical and mental health in the aftermath of war and take appropriate humanistic measures to overcome challenges in the management of psychiatric illnesses. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42023416096.

Hypoxia exacerbates the malignant transformation of gastric epithelial cells induced by long-term H. pylori infection.

Helicobacter pylori is a microaerophilic Gram-negative bacterium that resides in the human stomach and is classified as a class I carcinogen for gastric cancer. Numerous studies have demonstrated that H. pylori infection plays a role in regulating the function of host cells, thereby contributing to the malignant transformation of these cells. However, H. pylori infection is a chronic process, and short-term cellular experiments may not provide a comprehensive understanding of the in vivo situation, especially when considering the lower oxygen levels in the human stomach. In this study, we aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying gastric cell dysfunction after prolonged exposure to H. pylori under hypoxic conditions. We conducted a co-culture experiment using the gastric cell line GES-1 and H. pylori for 30 generations under intermittent hypoxic conditions. By closely monitoring cell proliferation, migration, invasion, autophagy, and apoptosis, we revealed that sustained H. pylori stimulation under hypoxic conditions significantly influences the function of GES-1 cells. This stimulation induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition and contributes to the propensity for malignant transformation of gastric cells. To confirm the in vitro results, we conducted an experiment involving Mongolian gerbils infected with H. pylori for 85 weeks. All the results strongly suggest that the Nod1 receptor signaling pathway plays a crucial role in H. pylori-related apoptosis and autophagy. In summary, continuous stimulation by H. pylori affects the functioning of gastric cells through the Nod1 receptor signaling pathway, increasing the likelihood of cell carcinogenesis. The presence of hypoxic conditions further exacerbates this process.IMPORTANCEDeciphering the collaborative effects of Helicobacter pylori infection on gastric epithelial cell function is key to unraveling the development mechanisms of gastric cancer. Prior research has solely examined the outcomes of short-term H. pylori stimulation on gastric epithelial cells under aerobic conditions, neglecting the bacterium's nature as a microaerophilic organism that leads to cancer following prolonged stomach colonization. This study mimics a more genuine in vivo infection scenario by repeatedly exposing gastric epithelial cells to H. pylori under hypoxic conditions for up to 30 generations. The results show that chronic exposure to H. pylori in hypoxia substantially increases cell migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition, while suppressing autophagy and apoptosis. This highlights the significance of hypoxic conditions in intensifying the carcinogenic impact of H. pylori infection. By accurately replicating the in vivo gastric environment, this study enhances our comprehension of H. pylori's pathogenic mechanisms in gastric cancer.

Parent perceptions of school relationships: Considerations of racial-ethnic differences and youth's peer victimization.

Literature has highlighted that social relationships at school are essential to school success, yet few studies have examined this construct from parents' perspectives. Even less research has explored perceptions of social relationships in the school among parents whose children are bullying victims and potential racial-ethnic differences in the perceptions. Using self-report data from 3,261 parents of middle and high school youth, this study used multilevel analyses in which parents were nested in their child's schools and examined parent perceptions of school relationships (including Child-School Connectedness, Parent-School Connectedness, School Outreach and Involvement, and Culture of Inclusiveness and Equity) in the context of youth victimization and whether these perceptions varied by the parent's racial-ethnic background. Results showed that compared with parents whose child was not a bullying victim (63.5%), those whose child was victimized (36.5%) had poorer perceptions of school relationships and that this difference was more pronounced in some racial-ethnic groups (e.g., Asian and Black) than in others (e.g., White, bi- or multiracial). These findings underscore the importance of addressing ethnic heterogeneity in how parents evaluate school-based social relationships in the context of peer bullying to effectively engage racial-ethnic minoritized parents of victimized youth in culturally responsive school bullying interventions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Overexpression of wild-type HRAS drives non-alcoholic steatohepatitis to hepatocellular carcinoma in mice.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a prevalent solid carcinoma of significant concern, is an aggressive and often fatal disease with increasing global incidence rates and poor therapeutic outcomes. The etiology and pathological progression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)-related HCC is multifactorial and multistage. However, no single animal model can accurately mimic the full NASH-related HCC pathological progression, posing considerable challenges to transition and mechanistic studies. Herein, a novel conditional inducible wild-type human HRAS overexpressed mouse model (HRAS-HCC) was established, demonstrating 100% morbidity and mortality within approximately one month under normal dietary and lifestyle conditions. Advanced symptoms of HCC such as ascites, thrombus, internal hemorrhage, jaundice, and lung metastasis were successfully replicated in mice. In-depth pathological features of NASH- related HCC were demonstrated by pathological staining, biochemical analyses, and typical marker gene detections. Combined murine anti-PD-1 and sorafenib treatment effectively prolonged mouse survival, further confirming the accuracy and reliability of the model. Based on protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and RNA sequencing analyses, we speculated that overexpression of HRAS may initiate the THBS1-COL4A3 axis to induce NASH with severe fibrosis, with subsequent progression to HCC. Collectively, our study successfully duplicated natural sequential progression in a single murine model over a very short period, providing an accurate and reliable preclinical tool for therapeutic evaluations targeting the NASH to HCC continuum.

Celastrol induced the autophagy of spermatogonia cells contributed to tripterygium glycosides-related testicular injury.

Tripterygium glycosides (TG) is extracted from the roots of Chinese herbal medicine named Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TwHF). TG tablets are the representative TwHF-based agents with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities for treating rheumatoid arthritis. Although the curative effect of TG is remarkable, the clinical application is limited by a variety of organ toxicity. One of the most serious side-effects induced by TG is damage of the male reproductive system and the toxic mechanism is still not fully elucidated. TG-induced testicular injury was observed in male mice by treated with different concentrations of TG. The results showed that TG induced a significant decrease in testicular index. Pathological observation showed that spermatogenic cells were obviously shed, arranged loosely, and the spermatogenic epithelium was thin compared with control mice. In addition, the toxic effect of TG on mouse spermatogonia GC-1 cells was investigated. The results displayed that TG induced significant cytotoxicity in mouse GC-1 cells. To explore the potential toxic components that triggered testicular injury, the effects of 8 main components of TG on the viability of GC-1 cells were detected. The results showed that celastrol was the most toxic component of TG to GC-1 cells. Western blot analysis showed that LC3-II and the ratio of LC3-II/LC3-I were significantly increased and the expression level of p62 were decreased in both TG and celastrol treated cells, which indicated the significant activation of autophagy in spermatogonia cells. Therefore, autophagy plays an important role in the testicular injury induced by TG, and inhibition of autophagy is expected to reduce the testicular toxicity of TG.

Woven Agarose-Cellulose Composite Aerogel Fibers with Outstanding Radial Elasticity for Personal Thermal Management.

Aerogel fibers are good thermal insulators, suitable for weaving, and show potential as the next generation of intelligent textiles that can effectively reduce heat consumption for personal thermal management. However, the production of continuous aerogel fibers from biomass with sufficient strength and radial elasticity remains a significant challenge. Herein, continuous gel fibers were produced via wet spinning using agarose (AG) as the matrix, 2,2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (TOCNs) as the reinforcing agent, and no other chemical additives by utilizing the gelling properties of AG. Supercritical drying and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) were then used to produce hydrophobic AG-TOCN aerogel fibers (HATAFs). During CVD, the HATAF gel skeleton was covered with an isostructural silica coating. Consequently, the HATAFs can recover from radial compression under 60% strain. Moreover, the HATAFs have low densities (≤0.14 g cm-3), high porosities (≥91.8%), high specific surface areas (≥188 m2 g-1), moderate tensile strengths (≤1.75 MPa), excellent hydrophobicity (water contact angles of >130°), and good thermal insulating properties at different temperatures. Thus, HATAFs are expected to become a new generation of materials for efficient personal thermal management.

Evaluation of molecular residual disease in operable non-small cell lung cancer with gene fusions, MET exon skipping or de novo MET amplification.

Gene fusions and MET alterations are rare and difficult to detect in plasma samples. The clinical detection efficacy of molecular residual disease (MRD) based on circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with these mutations remains unknown. This prospective, non-intervention study recruited 49 patients with operable NSCLC with actionable gene fusions (ALK, ROS1, RET, and FGFR1), MET exon 14 skipping or de novo MET amplification. We analyzed 43 tumor tissues and 111 serial perioperative plasma samples using 1021- and 338-gene panels, respectively. Detectable MRD correlated with a significantly higher recurrence rate (P < 0.001), yielding positive predictive values of 100% and 90.9%, and negative predictive values of 82.4% and 86.4% at landmark and longitudinal time points, respectively. Patients with detectable MRD showed reduced disease-free survival (DFS) compared to those with undetectable MRD (P < 0.001). Patients who harbored tissue-derived fusion/MET alterations in their MRD had reduced DFS compared to those who did not (P = 0.05). To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive study on ctDNA-MRD clinical detection efficacy in operable NSCLC patients with gene fusions and MET alterations. Patients with detectable tissue-derived fusion/MET alterations in postoperative MRD had worse clinical outcomes.

Crotonoids A-H, Labdane-Type Diterpenoids with Anti-Inflammatory Activity from Croton sublyratus.

Croton sublyratus (Euphorbiaceae) is a traditional medicinal plant used by the Thai populace to treat helminthic infections and dermatologic conditions. In present study, eight new labdane-type diterpenoids, crotonoids A-H (1-8) and one known analogue (9) were isolated from the aerial parts of C. sublyratus. Compounds 6 and 7 belong to the rare class of 14,15-dinor-labdane diterpenoids. Compound 8 exhibited a rare 14,15,17-trinor-labdane skeleton. The structures of all these diterpenoids were elucidated by spectroscopic data analysis, electronic circular dichroism calculations, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Compound 9 exhibited moderate anti-inflammatory activity via the inhibition of NO production in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 cells.

Two new withanolides from Physalis minima L.

Two new withanolides named physaminilides L (1) and M (2), together with four known ones (3-6) were isolated from the Physalis minima L. The structures were established by analysis of the HR ESIMS, IR and NMR spectroscopic data. The absolute configurations were determined through NOESY and ECD spectra. For compounds 1-5 assayed at 20 µM and compound 6 at 10 µM, inhibition rates of hepatic fibrosis were 22.19%, 15.29%, 37.07%, 9.27%, 12.45%, and 37.03%, respectively.

Effects of oral probiotics on inflammation and intestinal function in adult patients after appendectomy: Randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Appendectomy is an acute abdominal surgery that is often accompanied by severe abdominal inflammation. Oral probiotics are one of the postoperative treatments for rapid rehabilitation. However, there is a lack of prospective studies on this topic after appendectomy. AIM: To investigate whether the postoperative probiotics can modulate the inflammatory response and restore intestinal function in patients following appendectomy. METHODS: This was a prospective, randomized trial. A total of 60 emergency patients were randomly divided into a control group (n = 30) and a probiotic group (n = 30). Patients in the control group started to drink some water the first day after surgery, and those in the probiotic group were given water supplemented with Bacillus licheniformis capsules for 5 consecutive days postsurgery. The indices of inflammation and postoperative conditions were recorded, and the data were analyzed with RStudio 4.3.2 software. RESULTS: A total of 60 participants were included. Compared with those in the control group, the C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 and procalcitonin (PCT) levels were significantly lower in the probiotic group at 2 d after surgery (P = 2.224e-05, P = 0.037, and P = 0.002, respectively, all P < 0.05). This trend persisted at day 5 post-surgery, with CRP and PCT levels remaining significantly lower in the probiotic group (P = 0.001 and P = 0.043, both P < 0.05). Furthermore, probiotics resulted in a shorter time to first flatus and a greater percentage of gram-negative bacilli in the feces (P = 0.035, P = 0.028, both P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Postoperative oral administration of probiotics may modulate the gut microbiota, benefit the recovery of the early inflammatory response, and subsequently enhance recovery after appendectomy.

Atox1 regulates macrophage polarization in intestinal inflammation via ROS-NLRP3 inflammasome pathway.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation and oxidative stress play an important role in the pathophysiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study aimed to explore the effects of copper chaperone Antioxidant-1 (Atox1) on macrophages in a mouse model of intestinal inflammation. METHODS: A mouse model of TNBS-induced colitis was established and verified using the disease activity index. Atox1 conditional knockout mice were applied. The proportion of macrophages in colonic lamina propria mononuclear cells and ROS production were analyzed using flow cytometry. Inflammatory cytokines were measured using ELISA. Expression of macrophage M1/M2 polarization markers, p47phox, NLRP3, and Caspase-1 p20 was measured using quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting. RESULTS: Atox1 expression was up-regulated in colon tissues of TNBS-induced colitis mice. Macrophages isolated from TNBS-induced colitis mice showed M1 polarization and nuclear translocation of Atox1. Inhibiting copper chaperone activity decreased p47phox, ROS production, and M1 polarization induced by CuCl2 in macrophages. TNBS induced up-regulation of inflammatory cytokines, M1 polarization markers, and p47phox expression in mice, an effect which was preempted by Atox1 knockout. Inflammatory cytokines and expression of M1 polarization markers, p47phox, NLRP3, Caspase-1 p20 were also increased in macrophages isolated from TNBS-induced colitis mice. These changes were alleviated in mice with Atox1 knockout. The effects of Atox1 on macrophage polarization were mediated via the ROS-NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. CONCLUSION: Atox1 plays a pro-inflammatory role, promotes M1 polarization of macrophages, and increases the concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines in intestinal tissue by regulating the ROS-NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. Atox1 is a potential therapeutic target in IBD.

Investigating pigeon circovirus infection in a pigeon farm: molecular detection, phylogenetic analysis and complete genome analysis.

BACKGROUND: Pigeon circovirus infections in pigeons (Columba livia domestica) have been reported worldwide. Pigeons should be PiCV-free when utilized as qualified experimental animals. However, pigeons can be freely purchased as experimental animals without any clear guidelines to follow. Herein, we investigated the status quo of PiCV infections on a pigeon farm in Beijing, China, which provides pigeons for experimental use. RESULTS: PiCV infection was verified in at least three types of tissues in all forty pigeons tested. A total of 29 full-length genomes were obtained and deposited in GenBank. The whole genome sequence comparison among the 29 identified PiCV strains revealed nucleotide homologies of 85.8-100%, and these sequences exhibited nucleotide homologies of 82.7-98.9% as compared with those of the reference sequences. The cap gene displayed genetic diversity, with a wide range of amino acid homologies ranging from 64.5% to 100%. Phylogenetic analysis of the 29 full-genome sequences revealed that the PiCV strains in this study could be further divided into four clades: A (17.2%), B (10.4%), C (37.9%) and D (34.5%). Thirteen recombination events were also detected in 18 out of the 29 PiCV genomes obtained in this study. Phylogenetic research using the rep and cap genes verified the recombination events, which occurred between clades A/F, A/B, C/D, and B/D among the 18 PiCV strains studied. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, PiCV infection, which is highly genetically varied, is extremely widespread on pigeon farms in Beijing. These findings indicate that if pigeons are to be used as experimental animals, it is necessary to evaluate the impact of PiCV infection on the results.

Clinical Performance of Immunonephelometric Assay and Chemiluminescent Immunoassay for Detection of IgG Subclasses in Chinese.

BACKGROUND: Detection of IgG subclasses (IgGSc) is vital for the diagnosis and management of disease, especially IgG4-related diseases (IgG4-RD). This study aimed to evaluate the performances of the chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) for detecting IgGSc and diagnosing IgG4-RD by IgGSc. METHODS: A total of 40 individuals with IgG4-RD, 40 with primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS), and 40 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled. Serum samples were collected for the simultaneous detection of IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4 by the Siemens immunonephelometric assay and the CLIA. The correlation analysis was performed, and diagnostic value was analyzed by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: Patients with IgG4-RD had higher IgG4 (p < 0.001) and lower IgG1 (p < 0.001) than those with pSS, and HC. The results by the Siemens immunonephelometric assay and the CLIA showed a strong correlation in detecting IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4 (r = 0.937, r = 0.847, r = 0.871, r = 0.990, all p < 0.001, respectively). The sum of IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4 using two assays strongly correlated with total IgG by the IMMAGE 800 (r = 0.866, r = 0.811, both p < 0.001, respectively). For discriminating IgG4-RD from pSS and HC, no significant differences were observed in CLIA IgG4 and Siemens immunonephelometric assay IgG4 (z = 0.138, p = 0.891), which provided the area under the curves (AUCs) of 0.951 (p < 0.001) and 0.950 (p < 0.001), respectively. The AUCs of CLIA IgG1 and Siemens immunonephelometric assay IgG1 in distinguishing pSS from IgG4-RD and HC were 0.761 (p < 0.001) and 0.765 (p < 0.001), respectively, with no significant differences (z = 0.228, p = 0.820). CONCLUSIONS: The CLIA and the Siemens immunonephelometric assay appeared to have good consistency with comparable diagnostic value in detecting IgGSc, especially IgG4, and IgG1 that can accurately identify IgG4-RD or pSS in clinical practice.

Organo-Photocatalytic Anti-Markovnikov Hydroamidation of Alkenes with Sulfonyl Azides: A Combined Experimental and Computational Study.

The construction of C(sp3)-N bonds via direct N-centered radical addition with olefins under benign conditions is a desirable but challenging strategy. Herein, we describe an organo-photocatalytic approach to achieve anti-Markovnikov alkene hydroamidation with sulfonyl azides in a highly efficient manner under transition-metal-free and mild conditions. A broad range of substrates, including both activated and unactivated alkenes, are suitable for this protocol, providing a convenient and practical method to construct sulfonylamide derivatives. A synergistic experimental and computational mechanistic study suggests that the additive, Hantzsch ester (HE), might undergo a triplet-triplet energy transfer manner to achieve photosensitization by the organo-photocatalyst under visible light irradiation. Next, the resulted triplet excited state 3HE* could lead to a homolytic cleavage of C4-H bond, which triggers a straightforward H-atom transfer (HAT) style in converting sulfonyl azide to the corresponding key amidyl radical. Subsequently, the addition of the amidyl radical to alkene followed by HAT from p-toluenethiol could proceed to afford the desired anti-Markovnikov hydroamidation product. It is worth noting that mechanistic pathway bifurcation could be possible for this reaction. A feasible radical chain propagation mechanistic pathway is also proposed to rationalize the high efficiency of this reaction.

COVID-related disruptions to colorectal cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment could increase cancer Burden in Australia and Canada: A modelling study.

COVID-19 disrupted cancer control worldwide, impacting preventative screening, diagnoses, and treatment services. This modelling study estimates the impact of disruptions on colorectal cancer cases and deaths in Canada and Australia, informed by data on screening, diagnosis, and treatment procedures. Modelling was used to estimate short- and long-term effects on colorectal cancer incidence and mortality, including ongoing impact of patient backlogs. A hypothetical mitigation strategy was simulated, with diagnostic and treatment capacities increased by 5% from 2022 to address backlogs. Colorectal cancer screening dropped by 40% in Canada and 6.3% in Australia in 2020. Significant decreases to diagnostic and treatment procedures were also observed in Australia and Canada, which were estimated to lead to additional patient wait times. These changes would lead to an estimated increase of 255 colorectal cancer cases and 1,820 colorectal cancer deaths in Canada and 234 cases and 1,186 deaths in Australia over 2020-2030; a 1.9% and 2.4% increase in mortality, respectively, vs a scenario with no screening disruption or diagnostic/treatment delays. Diagnostic and treatment capacity mitigation would avert 789 and 350 deaths in Canada and Australia, respectively. COVID-related disruptions had a significant impact on colorectal cancer screening, diagnostic, and treatment procedures in Canada and Australia. Modelling demonstrates that downstream effects on disease burden could be substantial. However, backlogs can be managed and deaths averted with even small increases to diagnostic and treatment capacity. Careful management of resources can improve patient outcomes after any temporary disruption, and these results can inform targeted approaches early detection of cancers.