Deciphering the influence of AP1M2 in modulating hepatocellular carcinoma growth and Mobility through JNK/ErK signaling pathway control.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is the most common digestive system malignancy, with unclear pathogenesis and low survival rates. AP1M2 is associated with tumor progression, but its role and molecular mechanisms in HCC remain poorly understood and require further investigation. METHODS: We utilized the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and Expression Analysis Interactive Hub (XENA) databases to assess AP1M2 mRNA expression levels in HCC patients. Additionally, we employed the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database to identify pathways associated with both AP1M2 and HCC development. To evaluate the effect of AP1M2 on HCC cell proliferation and migration, we employed various techniques including EdU, CCK-8, Colony formation assay, and Transwell assays. Furthermore, Western blot analysis was conducted to examine the signaling pathways influenced by AP1M2. RESULTS: AP1M2 expression was significantly increased at the mRNA level in HCC tissues(P<0.001). Importantly, overall survival (OS) analysis confirmed the association between higher AP1M2 expression and a poorer prognosis in HCC patients compared to those with lower AP1M2 expression (P<0.019).Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that AP1M2 was an independent prognostic factor and a valid predictor for HCC patients. Furthermore, GSEA results indicated differential enrichment of lipid, metal metabolism, and coagulation processes in HCC samples demonstrating a high AP1M2 expression phenotype. In vitro experiments supported these findings by demonstrating that AP1M2 promotes HCC cell proliferation and migration, while activating the JNK/ERK pathway. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that AP1M2 expression may serve as a potential molecular marker indicating a poor prognosis for HCC patients. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that AP1M2 significantly influences HCC cell proliferation and migration, with the JNK/ERK signaling pathway playing a key role in AP1M2-mediated regulation in the context of HCC.

Land price, government debt, and land-use efficiency in the coastal cities of China under the constraint of land scarcity.

Land scarcity poses a significant challenge for coastal cities in supporting sustainable urban development. This study quantifies the Land Scarcity Index (LSI) for 51 Chinese coastal cities from 2008 to 2018, revealing a phased increase and a transition to high scarcity levels. The findings reveal significant differences in the land price dynamics and fragmentation between commercial-residential and industrial land plots. Under LSI constraints, both commercial-residential and industrial land plots exhibit a trend of decreasing plot areas and increasing prices. We further explore the threshold effects of local government debt (LGD) on urban land-use efficiency, demonstrating that high LGD and LSI exacerbate the price scissors gap, adversely affecting land-use efficiency. Our findings show that, when LGD exceeds 10.43%, increased commercial-residential land prices enhance land-use efficiency, whereas below this threshold, they hinder it. Similarly, the land price scissors (LPS) gap between commercial-residential and industrial land negatively impacts land-use efficiency when LGD exceeds 14.59%. This study provides valuable insights into optimizing land fiscal policies, improving urban land-use efficiency, and addressing the challenge of land scarcity in China's coastal cities.

Impact of solvent and water activity on lipase selectivity and acyl migration of ARA-rich 2-monoacylglycerols in catalytic systems: Kinetic study by particle swarm optimization.

The 2-arachidonoylglycerol enzymatic alcoholysis reaction model was established and kinetic parameters were calculated to explore the effects of solvent and water activity (aw) on the lipase positional selectivity and 2-monoacylglycerol acyl migration. Six rate constants (k1-k6) with the lowest mean square error were obtained using the particle swarm optimization algorithm, and the calculated molar concentration-time curves were well-fitted to the actual curves. As an indicator to characterize the positional selectivity of lipase, k5/k3 was significantly associated with log P of solvent, which first increased and then decreased with the increase of aw. The highest sn-1,3 selectivity of Lipozyme TL IM was found at the aw of 0.53. The changes of acyl migration with the solvent and aw in the enzymatic and non-catalytic systems showed a consistent law. This study provides theoretical support for the targeted synthesis of structural lipids and enzymatic production of diverse structural lipid products.

Empty nest but better off? Association between empty nest status and cognitive function among older adults with chronic diseases in rural China.

BACKGROUND: The increasing prevalence of cognitive impairment poses substantial risks to older adults, particularly those with chronic diseases. While existing studies have examined the connection between the empty nest phenomenon and cognitive function, few have attempted to consider endogeneity issues within this relationship, with limited attention given to older adults with chronic diseases. This study investigates the impact of empty nest status on cognitive function among rural Chinese older adults with chronic diseases and explores the possible mechanisms underlying this effect. METHODS: A cross-sectional study involved 365 older adults aged 60 or above with chronic diseases in rural areas of Shaanxi province, northwest China. Cognitive function was measured using the Mini-Mental State Examination. Multiple regression models and the instrumental variable (IV) method were employed to examine the association between empty nest and cognitive function. RESULTS: Among the 365 older adults aged 60 or above with chronic diseases, 43% experienced cognitive impairment. Results from both multiple regression and IV analyses consistently demonstrate a significant association between empty nest status and higher cognitive function scores (ß = 1.757, p = 0.007; ß = 3.682, p = 0.034, respectively). Mechanism analysis further supports that the positive association may arise from empty nesters receiving more social support from children and friends, and perceiving loneliness experiences as inadequate. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the association between empty nest status and cognitive function is more pronounced among male adults with chronic diseases. CONCLUSIONS: This study challenges the notion that empty nest status is a risk factor for cognitive decline in older adults with chronic diseases in rural China. The positive impact is attributed to the robust social relationships of empty nesters, encompassing sustained support from their social network, and the absence of an increase in loneliness. Therefore, future interventions aimed at improving cognitive function in older adults may benefit from promoting the development of social relationships.

Zinc metalloprotease FgM35, which targets the wheat zinc-binding protein TaZnBP, contributes to the virulence of Fusarium graminearum.

Metalloproteinases are ubiquitous in organisms. Most metalloproteinases secreted by pathogenic microorganisms are also called virulence factors, because they degrade proteins in the external tissues of the host, thereby reducing the host's immunity and increasing its susceptibility to disease. Zinc metalloproteinase is one of the most common metalloproteinases. In our report, we studied the biological function of zinc metalloprotease FgM35 in Fusarium graminearum and the pathogen-host interaction during infection. We found that the asexual and sexual reproduction of the deletion mutant ΔFgM35 were affected, as well as the tolerance of F. graminearum to metal stress. In addition, deletion of FgM35 reduced the virulence of F. graminearum. The wheat target TaZnBP was screened using a wheat yeast cDNA library, and the interaction between FgM35 and TaZnBP was verified by HADDOCK molecular docking, yeast two-hybrid, Bi-FC, Luc, and Co-IP assays. The contribution of TaZnBP to plant immunity was also demonstrated. In summary, our work revealed the indispensable role of FgM35 in the reproductive process and the pathogenicity of F. graminearum, and it identified the interaction between FgM35 and TaZnBP as well as the function of TaZnBP. This provides a theoretical basis for further study of the function of metalloproteinases in pathogen-host interactions.

Phytoremediation efficiency of poplar hybrid varieties with diverse genetic backgrounds in soil contaminated by multiple toxic metals (Cd, Hg, Pb, and As).

Fifteen poplar varieties were used in a field trial to investigate the phytoremediation efficiency, stress resistance, and wood property of poplar hybrid varieties with diverse genetic backgrounds under the composite pollution of heavy metals. The coefficient of variation and clone repeatability for growth traits and Cd concentration were large. The Cd accumulation of poplar varieties 107 and QHQ reached 1.9 and 1.7 mg, respectively, followed by QHB, Ti, 69, and Pa, in which Cd accumulation reached 1.3 mg. Most of the intra-specific hybrid varieties (69, QH1, SL4, T3, and ZL46) had low Cd concentrations and small biomass, resulting in weak Cd accumulation and low phytoremediation efficiency for Cd-polluted soil. By contrast, the inter-sectional and inter-specific hybrid varieties exhibited better growth performance and accumulated higher concentrations of heavy metals than the intra-specific hybrids. The bioconcentration factor and translocation factor of Hg, As, and Pb were less than 1, indicating that poplars have low phytoremediation efficiency for these heavy metals. The hybrids between section Aigeiros and Tacamahaca (QHQ and QHB) and the inter-specific hybrid 107 within section Aigeiros were more resistant to composite heavy metal stress than the other poplar varieties were partially because of their high levels of free proline that exceeded 93 µg·g-1 FW. According to the correlation analysis of the concentrations of the different heavy metals, the poplar roots absorbed different heavy metals in a cooperative manner, indicating that elite poplar varieties with superior capacity for accumulating diverse heavy metals can be bred feasibly. Compared with the intra-specific hybrid varieties, the inter-sectional (QHQ and QHB) and inter-specific (107) hybrid varieties had higher pollution remediation efficiency, larger biomass, higher cellulose content, and lower lignin content, which is beneficial for pulpwood. Therefore, breeding and extending inter-sectional (QHQ and QHB) and inter-specific hybrid varieties can improve the phytoremediation of composite pollution.

Clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis: Clinical, laboratory, and histopathological features.

BACKGROUND: Despite the advancements in the categorization of clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM), the classification and diagnosis of its subtypes are still challenging. The aim of our study was to describe the clinicopathological features of CADM and assess the differences between amyopathic dermatomyositis (ADM) and hypomyopathic dermatomyositis (HDM). METHODS: This retrospective study included 43 patients with CADM diagnosed at our institution from 2016 to 2020. Patients were subclassed into ADM (n = 30) and HDM (n = 13) groups to assess their clinicopathological differences. RESULTS: All included patients had characteristic cutaneous manifestations of dermatomyositis; 67.4% had myositis-associated auto-antibodies, including ANA (32.6%), RNP (14.0%), anti-Ro52 (9.3%), anti-p155/140 (7.0%), rheumatoid factor (7.0%), anti-NXP-2 (4.7%), anti-MDA5 (2.3%), and anti-Jo-1 (2.3%) antibodies. One patient had associated interstitial lung disease, and another patient had oral squamous cell carcinoma. The histopathological findings included mucin deposition (69.8%), telangiectasia (65.1%), lymphocytic infiltrate (48.8%), vacuolar interface dermatitis (46.5%), and epidermal atrophy (14.0%). Compared to patients with HDM, ADM patients were significantly less likely to have epidermal atrophy, 3.3% versus 38.5% (p = 0.006), and more likely to have mucin deposition, 80.0% versus 46.2% (p = 0.028). CONCLUSION: We described the clinicopathological features of CADM and highlighted the distinctions between ADM and HDM dermatopathologic findings. This information may prove helpful in diagnosing ambiguous lesions.

Clinicopathologic and Molecular Characterization of Inflammatory Bowel Disease-Associated Neuroendocrine Carcinomas and Mixed Neuroendocrine-Non-Neuroendocrine Neoplasms.

The pathogenesis of neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) and mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasms (MiNENs) in the gastrointestinal tract remains poorly understood. This study aims to characterize the clinicopathologic and molecular features of NEC/MiNEN in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Eighteen surgically resected IBD-associated intestinal carcinomas with a minimum of 30% neuroendocrine component were collected from 6 academic centers and compared with a control group of 12 IBD-associated carcinomas lacking neuroendocrine differentiation. Both groups exhibited a male predominance and similar age distribution. The NEC/MiNEN group was more likely to have a higher percentage of Crohn disease (9/18 vs 1/12; P = .024), occur in the rectum (9/18 vs 3/12) and small intestine (4/18 vs 0/12) (P < .01), be diagnosed on resection without a preceding biopsy (6/18 vs 0/12; P = .057), and have unidentifiable precursor lesions (10/18 vs 1/12; P = .018) than the control group. Synchronous carcinoma, advanced tumor stage (pT3 and pT4), and lymph node metastasis occurred at similar rates; however, the NEC/MiNEN group had a higher incidence of angiovascular invasion (14/18 vs 4/12; P = .024), distant metastasis (8/18 vs 1/12; P = .049), mortality (8/18 vs 2/12; P = .058), and worse survival (Kaplan-Meier; P = .023) than the control group. All tested cases were mismatch repair proficient. A Ki-67 proliferation index ranged from 25% to 100%. Next-generation sequencing in 11 NEC/MiNEN cases revealed low tumor mutational burdens but complex genetic abnormalities commonly involving TP53 (9/11; 82%), FBXW7 (4/11; 36%), and APC (3/11; 27%) genes, with the other genetic alterations randomly occurring in 1 or 2 cases. The neuroendocrine component, which shared similar molecular alterations as the nonneuroendocrine component, was subcategorized into intermediate (G3a) and high grade (G3b); the higher grade correlated with more genetic alterations. In conclusion, IBD-associated NEC/MiNEN shows diverse histologic features, variable precursor lesions, intricate genetic abnormalities, and aggressive biologic behavior. The classification and grading of gastrointestinal NEC/MiNEN may be refined for better clinical management.

Temporal variation in production performance, biochemical and oxidative stress markers, and gut microbiota in Pekin ducks during the late growth stage.

In the late growth stage of commercial Pekin ducks, a significant increase in feed intake and a decline in body weight gain have been observed, leading to impaired feed conversion efficiency. To address this issue, we investigated alterations in production performance, blood biochemical indices, ileum tissue architecture, and microbial community structure in Pekin ducks. The primary objective was to provide robust data supporting the improvement of meat duck production efficiency during the late growth stage (28-42-days-old). Forty 28-day-old Pekin ducks were randomly assigned to 8 replicates, with five ducks per replicate. The rearing period lasted 14 days, with feed and water provided ad libitum. Our findings indicated a significant increase in Pekin duck body and heart weights with advancing age (P < 0.05). Moreover, serum antioxidant enzyme and high-density lipoprotein concentrations significantly increased, whereas triglyceride levels decreased (P < 0.05). Notably, the height of the ileal villi was significantly reduced (P < 0.05). The microbial community structure of the ileum exhibited significant changes as ducks aged, accompanied by a substantial increase in microbial flora diversity, particularly with the formation of more tightly connected microbial network modules. Time-dependent enrichment was observed in microbial gene functions related to energy metabolism pathways. At the genus level, Sphingomonas and Subdoligranulum have emerged as crucial players in microbial differential functional pathways and network formation. These bacteria likely serve as the key driving factors in the dynamic microbial changes that occur in Pekin ducks over time. Overall, our findings suggest a potential decline in the absorption function of the small intestine and fat deposition performance of Pekin ducks during later growth stages, which may be attributed to the maturation and proliferation of the gut microbial community.

Effector Protein Serine Carboxypeptidase FgSCP Is Essential for Full Virulence in Fusarium graminearum and Is Involved in Modulating Plant Immune Responses.

Fusarium head blight caused by Fusarium graminearum is a significant pathogen affecting wheat crops. During the infection process, effector proteins are secreted to modulate plant immunity and promote infection. The toxin deoxynivalenol is produced in infected wheat grains, posing a threat to human and animal health. Serine carboxypeptidases (SCPs) belong to the α/ß hydrolase family of proteases and are widely distributed in plant and fungal vacuoles, as well as animal lysosomes. Research on SCPs mainly focuses on the isolation, purification, and production of a small number of fungi. The role of SCPs in plant secretion, growth and development, and stress resistance has also been extensively studied. However, their functions in F. graminearum, a fungal pathogen, remain relatively unknown. In this study, the biological functions of the FgSCP gene in F. graminearum were investigated. The study revealed that mutations in FgSCP affected the nutritional growth, sexual reproduction, and stress tolerance of F. graminearum. Furthermore, the deletion of FgSCP resulted in reduced pathogenicity and hindered the biosynthesis of deoxynivalenol. The upregulation of FgSCP expression 3 days after infection indicated its involvement in host invasion, possibly acting as a "smokescreen" to deceive the host and suppress the expression of host defensive genes. Subsequently, we confirmed the secretion ability of FgSCP and its ability to inhibit the cell death induced by INF1 in Nicotiana benthamiana cells, indicating its potential role as an effector protein in suppressing plant immune responses and promoting infection. In summary, we have identified FgSCP as an essential effector protein in F. graminearum, playing critical roles in growth, virulence, secondary metabolism, and host invasion.

The impact of extreme precipitation on water use efficiency along vertical vegetation belts in Hengduan Mountain during 2001 and 2020.

In the context of climate change, extreme precipitation events are continuously increasing and impact the water­carbon coupling of ecosystems. The vertical vegetation zonation, as a characteristic of mountain ecosystems, reflects the differences in vegetation response to climate change at different elevations. In this study, we used the water use efficiency (WUE) as an indicator to evaluate the water­carbon relationship. By using MODIS data, we analyzed the spatiotemporal patterns of gross primary productivity (GPP), evapotranspiration (ET), and WUE from 2001 to 2020, as well as the responses of WUE to extreme wetness factor Number of precipitation days (R0.1), extreme dryness factor Consecutive dry days (CDD), and meteorological factors under the vertical vegetation zonation. Our results showed that annual GPP and ET displayed a significant increasing trend between 2001 and 2020, whereas WUE showed a weak decreasing trend. Spatially, GPP and WUE decreased with increasing elevation. Analyzing the WUE of mountainous ecosystems as a unified whole may not precisely capture the reactions of vegetation to severe rainfall occurrences. In fact, across different vegetation belts in mountainous areas, there exists a negative correlation between WUE and R0.1, and a positive correlation with CDD. In terms of meteorological factors, the temporal variation of GPP was primarily associated with vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and temperature (Ta), while those of ET was mainly related to soil water content (SWC). WUE was affected by a combination of meteorological factors and had a certain degree of variation between different altitude intervals. These findings contribute to a better understanding and prediction of the relationship between extreme rainfall climate and water­carbon coupling in mountainous areas.

Reversible Mechanical Switching of Ferroelastic Stripe Domains in Multiferroic Thin Films.

The application potential of ferroelectric thin films largely relies on the controllability of their domain structure. Among the various proposed strategies, mechanical switching is being considered as a potential alternative to replace electrical switching for control of the domain structure of ferroelectric thin films via, e.g., the flexoelectric effect. So far, studies on mechanical switching are confined to out-of-plane polarization switching in ferroelectric thin films, which are in pristine or prepoled single-domain states. In this work, we report reversible in-plane mechanical switching of the monoclinic phase (MC phase) stripe domains in BiFeO3 thin films can be realized by scanning tip force. Via controlling the fast scan direction of the scanning probe microscopy tip and the magnitude of the tip force, the effective trailing field induced by the local tip force can be rotated to consequently switch the net in-plane polarization of the two-variant stripe domain patterns by either 90° or 180°. Moreover, the monoclinic to rhombohedral (MC-R) phase transition occurs during mechanical switching with the distribution of R-phase domains dependent on the switching paths. These results extend our current understanding of the mechanical switching behavior in ferroelectric thin films and should be instructive for their future applications.

Hidden Charge Order and Multiple Electronic Instabilities in EuTe4.

The rare-earth telluride compound EuTe4 exhibits a charge density wave (CDW) and an unconventional thermal hysteresis transition. Herein, we report a comprehensive study of the CDW states in EuTe4 by using low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy. Two types of charge orders are observed at 4 K, including a newly discovered spindle-shaped pattern and a typical stripe-like pattern. As an exotic charge order, the spindle-shaped CDW is off-axis and barely visible at 77 K, indicating that it is a hidden order developed at low temperature. Based on our first-principles calculations, we reveal the origins of the observed electronic instabilities. The spindle-shaped charge order stems from a subsequent transition based on the stripe-like CDW phase. Our work demonstrates that the competition and cooperation between multiple charge orders can generate exotic quantum phases.

Association between immune-inflammation-based prognostic index and depression: An exploratory cross-sectional analysis of NHANES data.

BACKGROUND: Immune-inflammatory mediators influence numerous immune and inflammatory pathways, elevating the likelihood of depression. The systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) emerges as an innovative prognostic indicator, integrating various peripheral blood immune cell subpopulations, specifically neutrophils, platelets, and lymphocytes. This exploratory study aims to examine the correlation between SII and depression. METHODS: Data from the 2005-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were utilized. Depression was diagnosed with a Patient Health Questionnaire score of 10 or higher. The relationship between log2-SII and depression incidence was analyzed using a restricted cubic spline (RCS). Logistic regression was employed to calculate the odds ratio of depression concerning log2-SII. In cases of non-linearity, piecewise linear models with change points were applied to assess the associations in both the overall population and specific subgroups. Additionally, subgroup analyses were conducted to determine the applicability of the findings to particular populations. RESULTS: A total of 42,133 participants were included in the study, comprising 49.32 % men and 50.68 % women, with an average age of 47.02 ± 17.45 years. RCS analysis demonstrated a J-shaped non-linear relationship between log2-SII and depression incidence. When log2-SII was ≥8.50, SII showed a positive association with depression incidence, even after adjusting for covariates. Additionally, each unit increase in log2-SII corresponded to an 18 % rise in depression incidence (OR = 1.18, 95 % CI: 1.10-1.27). Subgroup analysis further revealed that the association between SII and depression incidence varied across different populations. LIMITATIONS: Due to the cross-sectional nature of NHANES, causality or long-term implications cannot be inferred. Further research is needed to ascertain if a longitudinal relationship exists between SII and depression. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest a significant and complex non-linear association between SII and depression. However, further basic and prospective studies are necessary to explore SII's impact on depression and clarify its underlying mechanisms. Additionally, these studies will provide a foundation for personalized interventions targeting the immune-inflammatory processes in patients with depression and elevated SII.

Selective intrafascicular stimulation of myelinated and unmyelinated nerve fibers through a longitudinal electrode: A computational study.

Carbon nanotube (CNT) fiber electrodes have demonstrated exceptional spatial selectivity and sustained reliability in the context of intrafascicular electrical stimulation, as evidenced through rigorous animal experimentation. A significant presence of unmyelinated C fibers, known to induce uncomfortable somatosensory experiences, exists within peripheral nerves. This presence poses a considerable challenge to the excitation of myelinated Aß fibers, which are crucial for tactile sensation. To achieve nuanced tactile sensory feedback utilizing CNT fiber electrodes, the selective stimulation of Aß sensory afferents emerges as a critical factor. In confronting this challenge, the present investigation sought to refine and apply a rat sciatic-nerve model leveraging the capabilities of the COMSOL-NEURON framework. This approach enables a systematic evaluation of the influence exerted by stimulation parameters and electrode geometry on the activation dynamics of both myelinated Aß and unmyelinated C fibers. The findings advocate for the utilization of current pulses featuring a pulse width of 600 µs, alongside the deployment of CNT fibers characterized by a diminutive diameter of 10 µm, with an exclusively exposed cross-sectional area, to facilitate reduced activation current thresholds. Comparative analysis under monopolar and bipolar electrical stimulation conditions revealed proximate activation thresholds, albeit with bipolar stimulation exhibiting superior fiber selectivity relative to its monopolar counterpart. Concerning pulse waveform characteristics, the adoption of an anodic-first biphasic stimulation modality is favored, taking into account the dual criteria of activation threshold and fiber selectivity optimization. Consequently, this investigation furnishes an efficacious stimulation paradigm for the selective activation of touch-related nerve fibers, alongside provisioning a comprehensive theoretical foundation for the realization of natural tactile feedback within the domain of prosthetic hand applications.

Faecalibacterium prausnitzii Supplementation Prevents Intestinal Barrier Injury and Gut Microflora Dysbiosis Induced by Sleep Deprivation.

Sleep deprivation (SD) leads to impaired intestinal barrier function and intestinal flora disorder, especially a reduction in the abundance of the next generation of probiotic Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (F. prausnitzii). However, it remains largely unclear whether F. prausnitzii can ameliorate SD-induced intestinal barrier damage. A 72 h SD mouse model was used in this research, with or without the addition of F. prausnitzii. The findings indicated that pre-colonization with F. prausnitzii could protect against tissue damage from SD, enhance goblet cell count and MUC2 levels in the colon, boost tight-junction protein expression, decrease macrophage infiltration, suppress pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, and reduce apoptosis. We found that the presence of F. prausnitzii helped to balance the gut microbiota in SD mice by reducing harmful bacteria like Klebsiella and Staphylococcus, while increasing beneficial bacteria such as Akkermansia. Ion chromatography analysis revealed that F. prausnitzii pretreatment increased the fecal butyrate level in SD mice. Overall, these results suggested that incorporating F. prausnitzii could help reduce gut damage caused by SD, potentially by enhancing the intestinal barrier and balancing gut microflora. This provides a foundation for utilizing probiotics to protect against intestinal illnesses.

Predictive and Prognostic Potentials of Lymphocyte-C-Reactive Protein Ratio Upon Hospitalization in Adult Patients with Acute Pancreatitis.

Purpose: In this study, our objective was to investigate the potential utility of lymphocyte-C-reactive protein ratio (LCR) as a predictor of disease progression and a screening tool for intensive care unit (ICU) admission in adult patients with acute pancreatitis (AP). Methods: We included a total of 217 adult patients with AP who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University between July 2019 and June 2022. These patients were categorized into three groups: mild AP (MAP), moderately severe AP (MSAP), and severe AP (SAP), based on the presence and duration of organ dysfunction. Various demographic and clinical data were collected and compared among different disease severity groups. Results: Height, diabetes, lymphocyte count (LYMPH), lymphocyte percentage (LYM%), platelet count (PLT), D-Dimer, albumin (ALB), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (SCr), glucose (GLU), calcium ion (Ca2+), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), hospitalization duration, ICU admission, need for BP, LCR, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, bedside index for severity in AP (BISAP) score, and modified Marshall score showed significant differences across different disease severity groups upon hospitalization. Notably, there were significant differences in LCR between the MAP group and the MSAP and SAP combined group, and the MAP and MSAP combined group and the SAP group, and adult AP patients with ICU admission and those without ICU admission upon hospitalization. Conclusion: In summary, LCR upon hospitalization can be utilized as a simple and reliable predictor of disease progression and a screening tool for ICU admission in adult patients with AP.

Dynamic lymphocyte-CRP ratio as a predictor: a single-centre retrospective study on disease severity and progression in adult COVID-19 patients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of dynamic changes in lymphocyte-C-reactive protein ratio (LCR) on differentiating disease severity and predicting disease progression in adult patients with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: This single-centre retrospective study enrolled adult COVID-19 patients categorized into moderate, severe and critical groups according to the Diagnosis and Treatment of New Coronavirus Pneumonia (ninth edition). Demographic and clinical data were collected. LCR and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score were calculated. Lymphocyte count and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were monitored on up to four occasions. Disease severity was determined concurrently with each LCR measurement. RESULTS: This study included 145 patients assigned to moderate (n = 105), severe (n = 33) and critical groups (n = 7). On admission, significant differences were observed among different disease severity groups including age, comorbidities, neutrophil proportion, lymphocyte count and proportion, D-Dimer, albumin, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, indirect bilirubin, CRP and SOFA score. Dynamic changes in LCR showed significant differences across different disease severity groups at different times, which were significantly inversely correlated with disease severity of COVID-19, with correlation coefficients of -0.564, -0.548, -0.550 and -0.429 at four different times. CONCLUSION: Dynamic changes in LCR can effectively differentiate disease severity and predict disease progression in adult COVID-19 patients.

Effects of nitrate- and ammonium- nitrogen on anatomical and physiological responses of Catalpa bungei under full and partial root-zone drought.

Catalpa bungei is a precious timber species distributed in North China where drought often occurs. To clarify adaptive responses of C. bungei to partial- and full- root-zone drought under the influence of nitrogen forms, a two-factor experiment was conducted in which well-watered (WW), partial root-zone drought in horizontal direction (H-PRD) and in vertical direction (V-PRD), and full root-zone drought (FRD) were combined with nitrate-nitrogen (NN) and ammonium-nitrogen (AN) treatments. C. bungei responded to FRD by sharply closing stomata, decreasing gas exchange rate and increasing leaf instantaneous water use efficiency (WUEi). Under FRD condition, the growth of seedlings was severely inhibited and the effect of N forms was covered up by the drastic drought effect. In comparison, stomata conductance and gas exchanges were moderately inhibited by PRDs. WUEi in V-PRD treatment was superior to H-PRD due to the active stomata regulation resulting from a higher ABA level and active transcription of genes in abscisic acid (ABA) signaling pathway under V-PRD. Under both PRDs and FRD, nitrate benefited antioxidant defense, stomata regulation and leaf WUEi. Under V-PRD, WUEi in nitrate treatment was superior to that in ammonium treatment due to active stomata regulation by signaling network of nitric oxide (NO), Ca2+ and ABA. Under FRD, WUEi was higher in nitrate treatment due to the favoring photosynthetic efficiency resulting from active NO signal and antioxidant defense. The interactive effect of water and N forms was significant on wood xylem development. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) largely contributes to stress tolerance and xylem development.