TkJAZs-TkMYC2-TkSRPP/REF Regulates the Biosynthesis of Natural Rubber in Taraxacum kok-saghyz.

Taraxacum kok-saghyz (TKS) is a natural rubber (NR)-producing plant and a model plant for studying the biosynthesis of NR. Analyzing and studying the biosynthetic mechanism of NR is an important way to cultivate high-yield rubber TKS varieties. JAZ proteins, which belong to the Jasmonate ZIM domain family, function as negative regulators in the jasmonic acid (JA) signal transduction pathway. MYC2 is typically regarded as a regulatory factor for the target genes of JAZ proteins; JAZ proteins indirectly influence the gene expression regulated by MYC2 by modulating its activity. Theoretically, JAZ is expected to participate in growth, development, and responses to environmental cues related to rubber and biomass accumulation in TKS, all of which rely on the interaction between JAZ and MYC2. In this study, we identified 11 TkJAZs through homology searching of the TKS genomes and bioinformatics analyses. Subcellular localization, Y2H, and BiFC analysis demonstrate that TkJAZs and TkMYC2 are localized in the nucleus, with all TkJAZs and TkMYC2 showing nuclear colocalization interactions. Overexpression of TkMYC2 in TKS inhibited leaf development, promoted root growth, and simultaneously increased NR production. RNA-seq and qRT-PCR analysis revealed that the TkSRPP/REF genes exhibit varying degrees of upregulation compared to the wild type, upregulating the TkREF1 gene by 3.7-fold, suggesting that TkMYC2 regulates the synthesis of NR by modulating the TkSRPP/REF genes.

Adverse complications of cervical spinal fusion in patients with different types of diabetes mellitus: A retrospective nationwide inpatient sample database cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a prevalent chronic condition that influences spine surgery outcomes. The impact of type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ DM on adverse postoperative outcomes, mortality, prolonged length of stay (LOS), and increased in-hospital costs following cervical fusion surgery remains unclear in the past decade. This study aims to determine the specific effect of different classifications of DM on postoperative complications in patients experiencing cervical fusion surgery. METHOD: Data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database was acquired between 2010 and 2019. Patients experiencing cervical fusion were included and classified as having type I DM, type II DM, or neither. Patient demographics, hospital characteristics, operative variables, comorbidities, complications, and other postoperative outcomes were assessed. Propensity score matching analysis was used to balance baseline differences. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were employed to determine the risk of postoperative outcomes in patients with different classifications of DM. RESULT: A total of 267,174 cervical spinal fusions were identified (224,255 were patients without DM, 670 patients had type I DM, and 42,249 patients had type II DM). After propensity score matching, the multivariate analysis of non-DM and type I DM patients shows significant difference in pneumonia (P=0.020). However, type Ⅱ DM served as an independent predictor of an increased risk of acute cerebrovascular disease (P=0.001), acute myocardial infarction (P=0.014), pneumonia (P=0.045), continuous trauma ventilation (P=0.016), chest pain (P<0.001), urinary tract infection (P<0.001), transfusion (P=0.005) and dysphagia (P=0.013), prolonged LOS (P<0.001) and increased costs (P=0.008). CONCLUSION: Using non-DM patients as a reference, type II DM group demonstrated a higher risk of postoperative complications than type I DM group among patients receiving cervical fusion surgery. This vital distinction could enhance risk stratification and guidance for patients diagnosed with DM before cervical fusion surgery.

Incidence and related risk factors for postoperative delirium following revision total knee arthroplasty: a retrospective nationwide inpatient sample database study.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common surgical complication. However, the incidence and risk factors associated with postoperative delirium after revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA) have not been comprehensively explored through extensive national databases. METHODS: Utilizing the National Inpatient Sample (NIS), the largest comprehensive U.S. hospital healthcare database, we undertook a retrospective investigation involving 127,400 patients who underwent rTKA between 2010 and 2019. We assessed various aspects, including patient demographics, hospital characteristics, pre-existing medical conditions, and perioperative complications. RESULTS: The overall incidence of postoperative delirium (POD) in patients undergoing rTKA between 2010 and 2019 was 0.97%. The highest incidence rate of 1.31% was recorded in 2013. Notably, this patient cohort demonstrated advanced age, increased burden of co-morbidities, prolonged hospital stays, increased hospitalization costs, and elevated in-hospital mortality rates (P < 0.001). Moreover, non-elective admissions, non-private insurance payments, and a preference for teaching hospitals were commonly observed among these patients. During their hospitalization, individuals who developed delirium subsequent to rTKA were more prone to experiencing certain perioperative complications. These complications encompassed medical issues like acute myocardial infarction, continuous invasive mechanical ventilation, postoperative shock, sepsis, stroke and other medical problems. Additionally, surgical complications including hemorrhage / seroma / hematoma, irrigation and debridement, prosthetic joint infection, periprosthetic fracture, and wound dehiscence / nonunion were noted. Several risk factors were found to be linked with the development of POD. These included advanced age (≥ 75 years), alcohol abuse, coagulation disorders, congestive heart failure, depression, fluid and electrolyte imbalances, and more. Conversely, female sex, having private insurance, and undergoing elective hospitalization emerged as protective factors against POD. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the general prevalence of POD in rTKA is relatively low according to NIS. There was a significant connection between the POD of rTKA and advanced age, prolonged length of stay (LOS), more in-patients' costs, higher in-hospital mortality rate, increased comorbidities, postoperative medical complications and postoperative surgical complications. This study helps to understand the risk factors associated with POD to improve poor outcomes.

Spatial-temporal variation and correlation analysis of ecosystem service values and ecological risks in winter city Shenyang, China.

Ecosystems in winter cities are complex and fragile, experiencing significant changes due to climate variations and human construction activities. Previous studies on the assessment of overall ecosystem service value (ESV) and ecological risk index (ERI) in winter cities are scarce. In this study, we constructed ESV and ERI measurement models using land use data in 2000, 2010, and 2020 using the improved value per unit area factor method and the landscape pattern index method, respectively, to reveal their spatial and temporal change characteristics. Geographic detectors were used to explore the driving roles of natural and artificial factors on the changes of ESV and ERI. The combination in ESV and ERI can then provide a more quantitative and accurate basis for policy decisions, identify priority areas for urban ecological restoration, and reduce the risk to ecosystems. The results of the study show that the total ESV of Shenyang city decreased from 273.97 × 108 CNY to 270.38 × 108 CNY during 2000-2020. Although the decrease is not large, the ESV changes structurally with the advancement of urbanization. During the 20 years, the construction land with the lowest ecological service function continues to expand, increasing by 354 km2, the grassland decreased by 215.9 km2, and the arable land decreased by 196.6 km2. The ecological service function of the water area is the strongest, with an increase of 51.3 km2 in the water area, ensuring that there is no significant decline in ESV. The size of the ERI is Very high, High, and Medium value zones remained relatively stable, while the size of the Very Low-value zone decreased by 12.78% and the size of the Low-value zone increased by 13.21%. The interaction factors that contributed most to the changes in ESV and ERI were annual evapotranspiration (EVP)/ Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Annual sunshine hours (SSD)/ Digital Elevation Model (DEM) , respectively. There was a spatial correlation between ESV and ERI. The areas with the highest ESV supply capacity and at the same time facing severe ecological risks to the landscape pattern are distributed in the northeastern hilly lands. This area should be prioritized to develop planning and control measures to prevent further erosion of forest lands and grasslands and reduce ecological risks. These results provide a theoretical basis for ensuring ecological security and sustainable development in winter cities.

Incidence and risk factors of blood transfusion after total knee arthroplasty: A retrospective nationwide inpatient sample database study.

Introduction: Common postoperative complications of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) include blood transfusion. Although risk factors and incidence of blood transfusion have been studied through national databases, the relative impact of each risk factor needs to be synthesized over a longer time period into a new model need to be revised. Material and methods: Patient data were extracted from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS), which is the largest hospital care database in the US, and analyse patient data retrospectively from 2010 through 2019. The final data included the patients undergoing TKA. The final analysis assessed the demographics of patients, type of insurance, type of hospital, length of stay (LOS), preoperative comorbidities, total charge, inpatient mortality, medical-surgical postoperative complications. Results: After extracting data from the NIS database, a total of 1,250,533 patients with TKA were included in the analysis, and the rate of transfusion was 6.60 %. TKA patients who receive blood transfusion had longer LOS (from 2-3 days to 3-4 days), more preoperative comorbidities, higher inpatient mortality rate, and increased total charge (P < 0.001). Moreover, postoperative complications associated with inpatients included sepsis, acute myocardial infarction and shock. Elective admission and private insurance were also regarded as protective factors. Conclusion: Blood transfusion could bring postoperative complications to patients, which were also linked to health costs and risks. It was also a common preoperative comorbidities for older patients who underwent TKA. Through better blood management strategies, we could reduce patient transfusion rates and improve clinical outcomes.Level of Evidence: Diagnostic Level Ⅲ.

Postoperative urinary retention following transanal versus laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer: A randomized trial report from an experienced center.

Background: Transanal total mesorectal excision has emerged as a potential solution to certain limitations associated with laparoscopic total mesorectal excision in rectal cancer patients. Differences in surgical approaches have raised questions regarding their impact on the risk of postoperative urinary retention, with limited data available from large scale randomized clinical study. Objective: To report incidence of postoperative urinary retention and evaluate the associated risk factors for transanal total mesorectal excision. Design: In this randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrials. gov NCT06147492), we retrieved 524 patients who received total mesorectal excision (TME) for stage I-III rectal cancer between June 2019 and April 2022, and the patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to undergo either taTME or laTME. Patients: We enrolled 524 patients who underwent total mesorectal excision for stage I-III rectal cancer between June 2019 and April 2022. Main outcome measures: The incidence of postoperative urinary retention. Results: Among the 524 enrolled patients, 261 were randomized to the laTME group, while 263 were were randomized the taTME group. The median age was 58 years, and 340 participants (64.8 %) were male. Notably, 37 individuals (7.0 %) experienced postoperative urinary retention during the follow-up period, with no significant disparity was observed between the taTME and laTME groups (6.8 % and 7.2 %, respectively, P = 0.98). Risk factors associated with PUR in patients following taTME encompassed early removal of the urinary catheter (P = 0.006), net infusion rate >4.09 ml kg-1.h-1 (P = 0.006), and an age surpassing 65 years (P = 0.0321). Limitations: The generalizability of the findings outside specialist rectal cancer centers may be limited. Conclusions: Transanal total mesorectal excision was not found to heighten the risk of postoperative urinary retention. Nonetheless, it is advisable removing postoperative catheter beyond the initial day and exercising caution in the administration of intravenous fluids in clinical practice for taTME procedures.

Hydrogeochemical characteristics, driving factors, and health risk assessment of karst groundwater in Southwest Hubei Province, China.

In South China, karst groundwater is an important water resource for industrial, agricultural, and drinking purposes. However, karst aquifers are highly vulnerable to pollution, leading to deteriorating karst groundwater quality and posing potential health risks to local residents. In this study, 22 groundwater samples were collected from a karst aquifer in the southwestern part of Hubei Province. The hydrogeochemical characteristics and their controlling factors were examined, and the potential health risks associated with groundwater pollutant concentrations in karst groundwater were assessed. The results showed that the groundwater is slightly alkaline with low chemical oxygen demand values, indicating good water quality. The groundwater facies type was identified as HCO3-Ca at most sample spots, showing low total dissolved solids concentrations. Substantial spatial variations in Na+, CO3 2-, and NO2 - concentrations were found, whereas spatial variations in the K+, Ca2+, Cl-, HCO3 -, and F- concentrations were small. In addition, the dissolution of gypsum deposits and magnesium carbonate sedimentary rocks at sampling sites resulted in groundwater facies types of HCO3•SO4-Ca and HCO3-Ca•Mg, with low total dissolved solids concentrations. The karst groundwater chemistry in the study area was mainly controlled by water-rock interactions, as well as by the dissolution of gypsum deposits and magnesium carbonate sedimentary rocks at specific groundwater sampling sites. The groundwater Cl- concentrations were mainly affected by atmospheric precipitation. NO3 - was mainly derived from atmospheric precipitation, domestic sewage, septic tanks, and industrial activities, whereas SO4 2- was derived from atmospheric precipitation, sulfate rock dissolution, and sulfide mineral oxidation. These results highlight the absence of potential human health risks of NO3 - and F- to infants, children, and adults, as their concentrations are below the corresponding regional background values. In contrast, the potential health risks of Cl- cannot be ignored, particularly for infants. This study offers scientific guidelines for protecting and allocating local groundwater resources.

Light and classical music therapies attenuate chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depression via BDNF signaling pathway in mice.

Depression, a pervasive mental health issue, often necessitates innovative therapeutic interventions. This study explores the efficacy of music therapy, a non-pharmacological approach, in ameliorating depression symptoms in a murine model. Employing a chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model to induce depressionlike behaviors in mice, we investigated the therapeutic potential of four distinct music genres: light, classical, atonal composition, and rock music. Behavioral assessments, including sucrose preference and immobility time, were conducted to evaluate the impact of music therapy. Additionally, we measured the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), synaptic proteins and neurogenesis to elucidate the underlying biological mechanisms. Our findings indicated that light and classical music significantly alleviated depression-like behaviors in mice, evidenced by increased sucrose preference and reduced immobility time. Conversely, atonal composition and rock music did not yield similar therapeutic benefits. Biochemically, light and classical music were associated with decreased levels of corticosterone and increased levels of glucocorticoid receptor, alongside enhanced BDNF signaling, synaptic proteins and neurogenesis. In conclusion, the study demonstrates that specific genres of music, notably light and classical music, may contribute to alleviating depression-like symptoms, potentially through mechanisms associated with BDNF signaling and neurogenesis. These results highlight the potential of targeted music therapy as a complementary approach in treating depression, with implications for its incorporation into broader therapeutic regimes. Further re-search is warranted to translate these findings into clinical practice.

Pathophysiological Relevance and Therapeutic Outlook of GPR43 in Atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis (AS) is an inflammatory arterial disorder that occurs due to the deposition of the excessive lipoprotein under the artery intima, mainly including low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and other apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) play a crucial role in transmitting signals in physiological and pathophysiological conditions. GPCRs recognize inflammatory mediators, thereby serving as important players during chronic inflammatory processes. It has been demonstrated that free fatty acids can function as ligands for various GPCRs, such as free fatty acid receptor (FFAR)1/GPR40, FFAR2/GPR43, FFAR3/GPR41, FFAR4/GPR120, and the lipid metabolite binding glucose-dependent insulinotropic receptor (GPR119). This review discusses GPR43 and its ligands in the pathogenesis of AS, especially focusing on its distinct role in regulating chronic vascular inflammation, inhibiting oxidative stress, ameliorating endothelial dysfunction and improving dyslipidemia. It is hoped that this review may provide guidance for further studies aimed at GPR43 as a promising target for drug development in the prevention and therapy of AS.

Efficient open-air synthesis of Mg2+-doped CsPbI3 nanocrystals for high-performance red LEDs.

Inorganic CsPbI3 perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) exhibit remarkable optoelectronic properties for illumination. However, their poor stability has hindered the development of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) based on these materials. In this study, we propose a facile method to synthesize Mg2+-doped CsPbI3 NCs with enhanced stability and high photoluminescence (PL) intensity under ambient air conditions. Theoretical calculations confirm that doped NCs possess stronger formation energy compared to undoped NCs. The undoped CsPbI3 NCs emit red light at approximately 653 nm. We optimize the doping ratio to 1/30, which significantly enhances the photoluminescence of single-particle CsPbI3 NCs. Subsequently, we fabricate a red LED by combining the CsPbI3 NCs with a blue chip. The resulting LED, based on the doped CsPbI3 NCs, exhibits excellent performance with a high luminance of 4902.22 cd m-2 and stable color coordinates of (0.7, 0.27). This work not only presents a simple process for synthesizing perovskite NCs but also provides a design strategy for developing novel red LEDs for various applications.

Expression and antiviral application of exogenous lectin (griffithsin) in sweetpotatoes.

Griffithsin (GRFT) is a highly effective, broad-spectrum, safe, and stable viral inhibitor used to suppress a variety of viruses. However, little information is available on whether GRFT can prevent plant viral diseases. In this study, we constructed a GRFT overexpression vector containing the sweetpotato storage cell signal peptide and generated exogenous GRFT overexpression lines through genetic transformation. The transgenic plants showed notable resistance to sweetpotato virus disease in the virus nursery. To verify the antiplant virus function of GRFT, transient expression in tobacco leaves showed that GRFT inhibited the sweetpotato leaf curl virus (SPLCV). The replication of SPLCV was entirely inhibited when the concentration of GRFT reached a certain level. The results of pulldown and BIFC assays showed that GRFT did not interact with the six components of SPLCV. In addition, the mutated GRFTD/A without the binding ability of carbohydrate and anticoronavirus function, in which three aspartate residues at carbohydrate binding sites were all mutated to alanine, also inhibited SPLCV. Quantitative reverse-transcription PCR analyses showed that the tobacco antiviral-related genes HIN1, ICS1, WRKY40, and PR10 were overexpressed after GRFT/GRFTD/A injection. Furthermore, HIN1, ICS1, and PR10 were more highly expressed in the leaves injected with GRFTD/A. The results suggest that sweetpotato is able to express GRFT exogenously as a bioreactor. Moreover, exogenous GRFT expression inhibits plant viruses by promoting the expression of plant antiviral genes.

Dynamic regulation of alternative polyadenylation by PQBP1 during neurogenesis.

Alternative polyadenylation (APA) is a critical post-transcriptional process that generates mRNA isoforms with distinct 3' untranslated regions (3' UTRs), thereby regulating mRNA localization, stability, and translational efficiency. Cell-type-specific APA extensively shapes the diversity of the cellular transcriptome, particularly during cell fate transition. Despite its recognized significance, the precise regulatory mechanisms governing cell-type-specific APA remain unclear. In this study, we uncover PQBP1 as an emerging APA regulator that actively maintains cell-specific APA profiles in neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and delicately manages the equilibrium between NPC proliferation and differentiation. Multi-omics analysis shows that PQBP1 directly interacts with the upstream UGUA elements, impeding the recruitment of the CFIm complex and influencing polyadenylation site selection within genes associated with the cell cycle. Our findings elucidate the molecular mechanism by which PQBP1 orchestrates dynamic APA changes during neurogenesis, providing valuable insights into the precise regulation of cell-type-specific APA and the underlying pathogenic mechanisms in neurodevelopmental disorders.

Photo-aging of brominated epoxy microplastics in water under simulated solar irradiation.

Microplastics have become an increasingly concerning pollutant in aquatic environments, and photodegradation is their main degradation pathway in water. Gaining insight into the transformation process of microplastics will enhance our understanding of their behavior and destiny in natural environments. This paper studied the aging process of BER microplastics in aquatic environments under simulated sunlight and investigated the changes in the physical and chemical properties of microplastics and the changes in the leachate. During the photodegradation process, BER-MPs underwent extensive oxidation and reduction in particle size, and the originally smooth surface developed numerous voids, accompanied by yellowing. Introduction of O atoms in the molecular chains increased their hydrophilicity, resulting in the polymer chains breaking away from the plastic particles and dissolving in water. Also, once BER was excited by light, environmentally persistent free radicals are produced on its surface. Moreover, the breaking of C-Br bonds occurred during the photodegradation process of BER-MPs, which suggested that tetrabromobisphenol A would be transformed during the photoaging process of BER even if it was covalently bound to BER.

Effects of Chemical Modification on the Structure and Biological Activities of Polysaccharides Extracted from Inonotus Obliquus by Microwave.

A novel polysaccharide, Inonotus obliquus polysaccharide (IOP), was extracted using a microwave extraction method and subsequently subjected to modifications through sulfation, carboxymethylation, phosphorylation, and acetylation. Its physical and chemical properties were analyzed using various chemical techniques, including high-pressure liquid chromatography, ultraviolet light, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Congo red test, and scanning electron microscopy. The antioxidant capacity was assessed using DPPH, ABTS, and hydroxyl radical assays, as well as by measuring the reducing power. Additionally, hypoglycemic activity was evaluated through α-glucosidase and α-amylase assays. The results indicated that the chemical modifications effectively altered the physical and chemical properties, as well as the biological activities of IOP. Compared to the unmodified IOP, the derivatives exhibited reduced sugar content, uronic acid content, and molecular weight, while demonstrating varying levels of antioxidant and hypoglycemic capabilities. Notably, the carboxymethylated IOP (IOP-C) displayed lower molecular weight, higher ABTS free radical scavenging rate, greater reducing ability, and increased α-amylase inhibition rate. Therefore, IOP-C shows promise as a potential edible antioxidant and hypoglycemic agent.

A miniaturized mesoscope for the large-scale single-neuron-resolved imaging of neuronal activity in freely behaving mice.

Exploring the relationship between neuronal dynamics and ethologically relevant behaviour involves recording neuronal-population activity using technologies that are compatible with unrestricted animal behaviour. However, head-mounted microscopes that accommodate weight limits to allow for free animal behaviour typically compromise field of view, resolution or depth range, and are susceptible to movement-induced artefacts. Here we report a miniaturized head-mounted fluorescent mesoscope that we systematically optimized for calcium imaging at single-neuron resolution, for increased fields of view and depth of field, and for robustness against motion-generated artefacts. Weighing less than 2.5 g, the mesoscope enabled recordings of neuronal-population activity at up to 16 Hz, with 4 µm resolution over 300 µm depth-of-field across a field of view of 3.6 × 3.6 mm2 in the cortex of freely moving mice. We used the mesoscope to record large-scale neuronal-population activity in socially interacting mice during free exploration and during fear-conditioning experiments, and to investigate neurovascular coupling across multiple cortical regions.

Heterogeneous sapphire-supported low-loss photonic platform.

Sapphire is a promising wideband substrate material for visible photonics. It is a common growth substrate for III-nitride light-emitting diodes and laser structures. Doped sapphires are important gain media foundational to the development of titanium-sapphire and ruby lasers. For lasers operating at visible and near-infrared wavelengths, a photonic platform that minimizes loss while maximizing gain material overlap is crucial. Here, we introduce a novel low-loss waveguiding strategy that establishes high-performance integrated photonics on sapphire substrates. This platform achieves a high intrinsic quality factor of 5.6 million near 780 nm and features direct compatibility with a range of solid-state laser gain media.

The relationship of KRAS expression with KRAS status, prognosis, and tumor-infiltrated T lymphocytes in colorectal cancer.

Background: The significance of Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene (KRAS) mutation in colorectal cancer (CRC) is well established; yet, its association with KRAS expression and prognosis warrants further investigation. While high KRAS expression is commonly linked with poorer prognosis in other cancers, its role in CRC remains relatively understudied. Objective: To explore the correlation between KRAS expression, KRAS status, prognosis, and tumor-infiltrating T lymphocyte density in CRC. Design: Single-center retrospective study. Methods: Conducted between 2010 and 2020, this study utilized tumor samples to assess KRAS expression and quantify CD3+/CD8+ T lymphocytes. The Cox proportional hazards model and linear regression analysis were employed to examine the relationship between KRAS expression, prognosis, and tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes. Results: This study included 265 CRC patients who underwent radical surgery. No significant association was observed between KRAS expression and KRAS status (p > 0.05). High KRAS expression was associated with poorer overall survival and disease-free survival (p < 0.05). Subgroup analysis revealed that high KRAS expression remained indicative of a worse prognosis in the group with mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) and KRAS mutant type (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis confirmed KRAS expression as an unfavorable prognostic factor (p < 0.05). However, the significance of KRAS expression was lost in the dMMR and KRAS mutant-type group regarding overall survival (p > 0.05). Notably, KRAS expression showed a negative correlation with the density of CD8+ T lymphocytes in tumor tissue (p < 0.05), a finding also observed in the dMMR group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: No association was found between KRAS expression and KRAS mutation status in CRC. Higher KRAS expression was indicative of poorer prognosis for CRC patients, except for those with proficient mismatch repair and KRAS wild type. In addition, in patients with dMMR, KRAS expression was associated with a lower density of CD8+ T lymphocytes in tumor tissue.

Exploring the link between KRAS gene expression and outcomes in colorectal cancer patients: impact on survival, mutation status, and T lymphocyte levels 1. KRAS gene: A gene that, when mutated, can lead to the development and growth of colorectal cancer. The KRAS gene is part of a family of genes that help control cell growth and death. 2. T lymphocytes: A type of immune cell that plays a crucial role in the body's defense against infections and cancer. They can identify and kill cancer cells. 3. The study found that the level of activity of the KRAS gene in colorectal cancer patients did not change based on whether the KRAS gene was mutated or what type of mutation it had. 4. For patients with a specific type of colorectal cancer (dMMR) and those with mutations in the KRAS gene, high levels of KRAS gene activity were linked to a poorer outlook. Essentially, these patients had a harder time fighting the disease, and KRAS gene activity served as a warning sign for more challenging outcomes. 5. In patients with dMMR colorectal cancer, higher KRAS gene activity was associated with fewer CD8+ T lymphocytes in the tumor. CD8+ T lymphocytes are crucial immune cells that help fight cancer by attacking cancer cells. This means that in these patients, the body's natural defense against the tumor was weaker.

Comparative study on the efficacy of Conbercept and Aflibercept in the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

This study compares the effectiveness of Conbercept and Aflibercept in treating neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Conducted at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University's Ophthalmology Department (May 2020-May 2023), this prospective study enrolled 159 nAMD patients. Participants were randomly divided into two groups: one receiving 0.5 mg Conbercept and the other 2 mg Aflibercept intravitreal injections. Over 12 months, the study, employing a Treat-and-Extend (T&E) regimen, assessed Best-Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA), Central Retinal Thickness (CRT) changes and injection frequency. Of the 159 patients, 137 (149 eyes) completed the study. No significant age difference was found between the groups (P = 0.331). After 12 months, BCVA improved similarly in both groups (Conbercept: 52.8 ± 18.9, Aflibercept: 52.0 ± 19.7 letters; P = 0.820). CRT reduction was also comparable (Conbercept: 246.3 ± 82.8 µm, Aflibercept: 275.9 ± 114.3 µm; P = 0.079). Injection frequencies averaged 6.9 ± 0.7 (Conbercept) and 6.7 ± 0.7 (Aflibercept; P = 0.255). Subtype analysis revealed Type 1 MNV had higher baseline BCVA and lower CRT, with more frequent injections compared to other types. Both Conbercept and Aflibercept are clinically similar in efficacy for nAMD, with the T&E regimen proving therapeutically effective and potentially reducing patient costs. Anti-VEGF treatment efficacy varies across nAMD subtypes, indicating a potential benefit in tailored treatments for specific subtypes.Clinical trial registration number NCT05539235 (Protocol Registration and Results System).

Biomimic Design of Solar Steam Generation Devices Enabled by the Tannin-Iron Complex.

Solar-powered steam generation equipment has experienced considerable advancement in recent years as it offers a cleaner and greener method for freshwater production. However, the devices always suffer from a complicated process, high cost, and salt accumulation, which hinder their further application. Here, inspired by the water lily, a highly efficient and antisalt accumulation interfacial solar-driven steam generation device was designed by using the tannic acid-Fe3+ complex as photothermal material. The designed evaporator could be quickly unfolded within 24 s after being irradiated with light and then produce fresh water. It folded within 10 s and then sank into water for removing the accumulated salt after removing the irradiation sources. In addition, the tannic acid-Fe3+ complex on the evaporator surface and the angle of the evaporator allowed light to be reflected several times within the evaporator, effectively increasing the solar energy conversion efficient (2.22 kg/(m2·h)), and apparently, the overall evaporation efficiency of 139.18% was achieved under 1 sun illumination. Moreover, it exhibited an extraordinary antisalt accumulation capacity (by working continuously for 7 days in 10 wt % saline water and 80% reduction in salt accumulation) as well as a low price ($ 1.11/m2). This design would provide a strategy to prepare an antisalt accumulation solar steam devices.