Pelvic congestion syndrome analysis through quantitative 2-dimensional phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging: A promising vision from an observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: To examine the application of quantitative 2-dimensional phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (2D PC-MRI) for treating patients with pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional analysis by using quantitative 2D PC-MRI data enrolled between April 2017 and Sep 2023. In addition, 32 healthy female controls (HCs) were included. RESULTS: Most patients with PCS presented with chronic pelvic pain and more than half had extra-pelvic venous symptoms (80/81, 98% and 45/81, 56%, respectively). Quantitative 2D PC-MRI analyzed the 81 patients with PCS, 239 patients without PCS, and 32 HCs. The patients with PCS had higher stroke volume (SV), absolute SV (ASV), and mean flux (MF) in the calf region (interstitial pixel shift) than did the HCs. In the left gonadal vein, the patients with PCS had higher SV, backward flow volume (BFV), ASV, and MF and lower forward flow volume (FFV), stroke distance (SD), and mean velocity (MV) than did the HCs. However, the patients with PCS had lower SV, FFV, MF, SD, and MV in the great saphenous veins. Quantitative 2D PC-MRI analysis revealed that the PCS group had higher SV, FFV, BFV, ASV, and MF in the calf region than did the non-PCS group. The variables that most strongly differentiated the patients with PCS from the HCs were SV in the great saphenous veins, SD in the great saphenous veins and left gonadal vein, and MV in the great saphenous veins and left gonadal vein. Caudal flow in the left gonadal vein was identified in half of the patients with PCS (39/81, 48.1%); 14 of them received embolization for left gonadal vein. CONCLUSIONS: In additional to providing an objective 3-dimensional morphology of the pelvic veins and extra-pelvic leaks, quantitative 2D PC-MRI analysis reveals distinct hemodynamic profiles between patients with PCS, those without PCS, and HCs, especially in the gonadal veins and regional perfusion of the calves.

Rare primary colonic T cell lymphoma with curative resection by endoscopic submucosal dissection: A case report.

BACKGROUND: The gastrointestinal tract is a well-known extranodal site of lymphoma. B-cell lymphoma is the most common type, while T-cell lymphoma is uncommon. Primary gastrointestinal lymphoma mainly occurs in the stomach and small intestine, and the colon is less frequently involved, especially in females. CASE SUMMARY: A 45-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for physical examination. Gastroenteroscopy revealed a visible pedunculated polyp in the transverse colon, for which endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) was performed. Pathology suggested highly active proliferation of T lymphocytes with atypical hyperplasia. CONCLUSION: A middle-aged female patient was found to have colonic T-cell lymphoma by endoscopy. The lesion was successfully removed by ESD, and the surgical margin was negative. It is essential to raise awareness of colonic T-cell lymphoma and choose the appropriate treatment.

miR-143-3p modulates depressive-like behaviors via Lasp1 in the mouse ventral hippocampus.

Depression is a prevalent and intricate mental disorder. The involvement of small RNA molecules, such as microRNAs in the pathogenesis and neuronal mechanisms underlying the depression have been documented. Previous studies have demonstrated the involvement of microRNA-143-3p (miR-143-3p) in the process of fear memory and pathogenesis of ischemia; however, the relationship between miR-143-3p and depression remains poorly understood. Here we utilized two kinds of mouse models to investigate the role of miR-143-3p in the pathogenesis of depression. Our findings reveal that the expression of miR-143-3p is upregulated in the ventral hippocampus (VH) of mice subjected to chronic restraint stress (CRS) or acute Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment. Inhibiting the expression of miR-143-3p in the VH effectively alleviates depressive-like behaviors in CRS and LPS-treated mice. Furthermore, we identify Lasp1 as one of the downstream target genes regulated by miR-143-3p. The miR-143-3p/Lasp1 axis primarily affects the occurrence of depressive-like behaviors in mice by modulating synapse numbers in the VH. Finally, miR-143-3p/Lasp1-induced F-actin change is responsible for the synaptic number variations in the VH. In conclusion, this study enhances our understanding of microRNA-mediated depression pathogenesis and provides novel prospects for developing therapeutic approaches for this intractable mood disorder.

Facile preparation of interpenetrating network hydrogel adsorbent from starch- chitosan for effective removal of methylene blue in water.

Hydrogels based on biopolymers have attracted considerable interest in the last decades. Herein, an interpenetrating network hydrogel (IPN-Gel) adsorbent from starch-chitosan was fabricated facilely in one-pot through tandem Schiff base reaction and photopolymerization. First, aldehyde starch (DAS) was synthesized by the reaction of soluble starch with sodium periodate. Afterward, acrylamide (AM), 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid (AMPS), polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate (PEGDMA), photoinitiator, chitosan and DAS were dissolved in water to obtain a clear solution. Schiff base reaction between chitosan and DAS took place quickly to form the first network, and then photopolymerization of AM, AMPS, and PEGDMA occurred under ultraviolet radiation to form the second network. The preparation conditions of the as-prepared IPN-Gel were optimized with two indexes of gel mass fraction and swelling ratio. Its swelling behavior with pH and temperature change was explored. Finally, its adsorption performance was characterized with methylene blue (MB) as a model contaminant. The maximum adsorption capacity of IPN-Gel can reach 2039 mg·g-1 at pH =10. Its adsorption performance accords with Langmuir isothermal model and pseudo-second-order kinetic model and it was mainly controlled by chemisorption. This strategy is expected to found broad application prospects in the preparation of hydrogel adsorbents.

Demographics, utilization, workflow and outcomes based on observational data from the RSNA-ACR 3D Printing Registry.

OBJECTIVE: To report data from the first three years of operation of the RSNA-ACR 3D Printing Registry. METHODS: Data from June 2020 to June 2023 was extracted, including demographics, indications, workflow and user assessments. Clinical indications were stratified by 12 organ systems. Imaging modalities, printing technologies and number of parts per case were assessed. Effort data was analyzed, dividing staff into provider and non-provider categories. The opinions of clinical users were evaluated through a Likert-scale questionnaire, and estimates of procedure time saved were collected. RESULTS: A total of 20 sites and 2,637 cases were included, consisting of 1,863 anatomic models and 774 anatomic guides. Mean patient age for models and guides was 42.4 ± 24.5 years and 56.3 ± 18.5 years respectively. Cardiac models were the most common type of models (27.2%), and neurologic guides were the most common type of guides (42.4%). Material jetting, vat photopolymerization and material extrusion were the most common printing technologies used overall (85.6% of all cases). On average, providers spent 92.4 minutes and non-providers spent 335.0 minutes per case. Providers spent most time on consultation (33.6 minutes), while non-providers focused most on segmentation (148.0 minutes). Confidence in treatment plans increased after using 3D printing (p<.001). Estimated procedure time savings for 155 cases was 40.5 ± 26.1 minutes. CONCLUSION: 3D printing is performed in healthcare facilities for many clinical indications. The registry provides insight into the technologies and workflows used to create anatomic models and guides, and the data shows clinical benefits from 3D printing.

Quasi-Planar Core based Spiro-Type Hole-Transporting Material for Dopant-Free Perovskite Solar Cells.

Hole-transporting materials (HTMs) are crucial for obtaining the stability and high efficiency of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, the current state-of-the-art n-i-p PSCs relied on the use of 2,2',7,7'-tetrakis(N,N-di-p-methoxyphenylamine)-9,9'-spirobifluorene (spiro-OMeTAD) exhibit inferior intrinsic and ambient stability due to the p-dopant and hydrophilic Li-TFSI additive. In this study, a new spiro-type HTM with a critical quasi-planar core (Z-W-03) is developed to improve both the thermal and ambient stability of PSCs. The results suggest that the planar carbazole structure effectively passivates the trap states compared to the triphenylamine with a propeller-like conformation in spiro-OMeTAD. This passivation effect leads to the shallower trap states when the quasi-planar HTMs interact with the Pb-dimer. Consequently, the device using Z-W-03 achieves a higher Voc of 1.178 V compared to the spiro-OMeTAD's 1.155 V, resulting in an enhanced efficiency of 24.02%. In addition, the double-column π-π stacking of Z-W-03 results in high hole mobility (~10-4 cm2 V-1 s-1) even without p-dopant. Moreover, when the surface interface is modified, the undoped Z-W-03 device can achieve an efficiency of nearly 23%. Compared to the PSCs using spiro-OMeTAD, those with Z-W-03 exhibit enhanced stability under N2 and ambient conditions.

Artificial Intelligence-based Facial Palsy Evaluation: A Survey.

Facial palsy evaluation (FPE) aims to assess facial palsy severity of patients, which plays a vital role in facial functional treatment and rehabilitation. The traditional manners of FPE are based on subjective judgment by clinicians, which may ultimately depend on individual experience. Compared with subjective and manual evaluation, objective and automated evaluation using artificial intelligence (AI) has shown great promise in improving traditional manners and recently received significant attention. The motivation of this survey paper is mainly to provide a systemic review that would guide researchers in conducting their future research work and thus make automatic FPE applicable in real-life situations. In this survey, we comprehensively review the state-of-the-art development of AI-based FPE. First, we summarize the general pipeline of FPE systems with the related background introduction. Following this pipeline, we introduce the existing public databases and give the widely used objective evaluation metrics of FPE. In addition, the preprocessing methods in FPE are described. Then, we provide an overview of selected key publications from 2008 and summarize the state-of-the-art methods of FPE that are designed based on AI techniques. Finally, we extensively discuss the current research challenges faced by FPE and provide insights about potential future directions for advancing state-of-the-art research in this field.

Multifunctional 3D matrixes based on flexible bioglass nanofibers for potential application in postoperative therapy of osteosarcoma.

Postoperative treatment of osteosarcoma is one of the major challenging clinical issues since both elimination of residual tumors and acceleration of bone regeneration should be considered. Photothermal therapy has been widely studied due to its advantages of small side-effect, low-toxicity, high local selectivity and noninversion, and bone tissue engineering is an inevitable trend in postoperative treatment of osteosarcoma. In this study, we combined the tissue engineering and photothermal therapy together, and developed a kind of multifunctional nanofibrous 3D matrixes for postoperative treatment of osteosarcoma. The flexible bioactive glass nanofibers (BGNFs) prepared by sol-gel electrospinning and calcination acted as the basic blocks, and the genipin-crosslinked gelatin (GNP-Gel) acted as the cement to bond the BGNFs forming a stable 3D structure. The stable porous 3D scaffolds were obtained through ice crystal templating method and freeze-drying technology. The obtained GNP-Gel/BGNF 3D matrixes showed a nanofibrous structure that highly biomimetics the extracellular matrix. The excellent compression recovery performance in water of these matrixes made them suitable for minimally invasive surgery. In addition, these 3D matrixes were not only biocompatible in vitro, but also benefit for the formation of mineralized bone in vivo. Furthermore, the dark blue GNP-Gel also acted as the photothermal agent, which endowed the GNP-Gel/BGNF 3D matrixes with efficient photothermal antitumor and photothermal antibacterial performance without addition of other toxic photothermal agents. Therefore, this study provides an ingenious avenue to prepare multifunctional nanofibrous 3D matrixes with photothermal therapy for postoperative treatment of osteosarcoma.

Facilitating secretory expression of apple seed ß-glucosidase in Komagataella phaffii for the efficient preparation of salidroside.

Plant-derived ß-glucosidases hold promise for glycoside biosynthesis via reverse hydrolysis because of their excellent glucose tolerance and robust stability. However, their poor heterologous expression hinders the development of large-scale production and applications. In this study, we overexpressed apple seed ß-glucosidase (ASG II) in Komagataella phaffii and enhanced its production from 289 to 4322 U L-1 through expression cassette engineering and protein engineering. Upon scaling up to a 5-L high cell-density fermentation, the resultant mutant ASG IIV80A achieved a maximum protein concentration and activity in the secreted supernatant of 2.3 g L-1 and 41.4 kU L-1, respectively. The preparative biosynthesis of salidroside by ASG IIV80A exhibited a high space-time yield of 33.1 g L-1 d-1, which is so far the highest level by plant-derived ß-glucosidase. Our work addresses the long-standing challenge of the heterologous expression of plant-derived ß-glucosidase in microorganisms and presents new avenues for the efficient production of salidroside and other natural glycosides.

Two hub genes of bipolar disorder, a bioinformatics study based on the GEO database.

Bipolar disorder is a mood illness that affects many people. It has a high recurrence frequency and will cause significant damage to the patient's social function. At present, the pathogenesis of BD is not clear. The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) established and maintained the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, a gene expression database. For bioinformatics analysis, researchers can obtain expression data from the internet. At present, the samples of the dataset used in the research of BD are mostly from brain tissue, and the data containing blood samples are rarely used. GEO databases (GSE46416, GSE5388, and GSE5389) were used to retrieve public data, and utilizing the online tool GEO2R, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were retrieved. The common DEGs between the samples of patients with BD and the samples of the normal population were screened by Venn diagrams. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were used to perform functional annotation and pathway enrichment analysis of DEGs. A protein-protein interaction network (PPI) was built to investigate hub genes on this basis. There were 117 up-regulated DEGs and 38 down-regulated DEGs discovered, with two hub genes [SRC, CDKN1A] among the up-regulated DEGs. These two hub genes were also highly enriched in the oxytocin signaling pathway, proteoglycans in cancer and bladder cancer, according to KEGG analysis. The results of the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) of SRC and CDKN1A in the three datasets strongly suggested that SRC and CDKN1A were potential diagnostic markers of BD. The results strongly suggest that SRC and CDKN1A are related to the pathogenesis of BD.

Congenital hydrocephalus: a review of recent advances in genetic etiology and molecular mechanisms.

The global prevalence rate for congenital hydrocephalus (CH) is approximately one out of every five hundred births with multifaceted predisposing factors at play. Genetic influences stand as a major contributor to CH pathogenesis, and epidemiological evidence suggests their involvement in up to 40% of all cases observed globally. Knowledge about an individual's genetic susceptibility can significantly improve prognostic precision while aiding clinical decision-making processes. However, the precise genetic etiology has only been pinpointed in fewer than 5% of human instances. More occurrences of CH cases are required for comprehensive gene sequencing aimed at uncovering additional potential genetic loci. A deeper comprehension of its underlying genetics may offer invaluable insights into the molecular and cellular basis of this brain disorder. This review provides a summary of pertinent genes identified through gene sequencing technologies in humans, in addition to the 4 genes currently associated with CH (two X-linked genes L1CAM and AP1S2, two autosomal recessive MPDZ and CCDC88C). Others predominantly participate in aqueduct abnormalities, ciliary movement, and nervous system development. The prospective CH-related genes revealed through animal model gene-editing techniques are further outlined, focusing mainly on 4 pathways, namely cilia synthesis and movement, ion channels and transportation, Reissner's fiber (RF) synthesis, cell apoptosis, and neurogenesis. Notably, the proper functioning of motile cilia provides significant impulsion for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulation within the brain ventricles while mutations in cilia-related genes constitute a primary cause underlying this condition. So far, only a limited number of CH-associated genes have been identified in humans. The integration of genotype and phenotype for disease diagnosis represents a new trend in the medical field. Animal models provide insights into the pathogenesis of CH and contribute to our understanding of its association with related complications, such as renal cysts, scoliosis, and cardiomyopathy, as these genes may also play a role in the development of these diseases. Genes discovered in animals present potential targets for new treatments but require further validation through future human studies.

Plasma extracellular vesicle long RNA profiling identifies a predictive signature for immunochemotherapy efficacy in lung squamous cell carcinoma.

Introduction: The introduction of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs) has marked a paradigm shift in treating Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma (LUSC), emphasizing the urgent need for precise molecular biomarkers to reliably forecast therapeutic efficacy. This study aims to identify potential biomarkers for immunochemotherapy efficacy by focusing on plasma extracellular vesicle (EV)-derived long RNAs (exLRs). Methods: We enrolled 78 advanced LUSC patients undergoing first-line immunochemotherapy. Plasma samples were collected, and exLR sequencing was conducted to establish baseline profiles. A retrospective analysis was performed on 42 patients to identify differentially expressed exLRs. Further validation of the top differentially expressed exLRs was conducted using quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). Univariate Cox analysis was applied to determine the prognostic significance of these exLRs. Based on these findings, we developed a predictive signature (p-Signature). Results: In the retrospective analysis of 42 patients, we identified 460 differentially expressed exLRs, with pathways related to leukocyte migration notably enriched among non-responders. Univariate Cox analysis revealed 45 exLRs with prognostic significance. The top 6 protein-coding exLRs were validated using qRT-PCR, identifying CXCL8, SSH3, and SDHAF1 as differentially expressed between responders and non-responders. The p-Signature, comprising these three exLRs, demonstrated high accuracy in distinguishing responders from non-responders, with an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.904 in the retrospective cohort and 0.812 in the prospective cohort. Discussion: This study highlighted the potential of plasma exLR profiles in predicting LUSC treatment efficacy. Intriguingly, lower p-Signature scores were associated with increased abundance of activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, indicating a more robust immune environment. These findings suggest that the p-Signature could serve as a valuable tool in guiding personalized and effective therapeutic strategies for LUSC.

Indoor Scene Reconstruction with Fine-Grained Details Using Hybrid Representation and Normal Prior Enhancement.

The reconstruction of indoor scenes from multi-view RGB images is challenging due to the coexistence of flat and texture-less regions alongside delicate and fine-grained regions. Recent methods leverage neural radiance fields aided by predicted surface normal priors to recover the scene geometry. These methods excel in producing complete and smooth results for floor and wall areas. However, they struggle to capture complex surfaces with high-frequency structures due to the inadequate neural representation and the inaccurately predicted normal priors. This work aims to reconstruct high-fidelity surfaces with fine-grained details by addressing the above limitations. To improve the capacity of the implicit representation, we propose a hybrid architecture to represent low-frequency and high-frequency regions separately. To enhance the normal priors, we introduce a simple yet effective image sharpening and denoising technique, coupled with a network that estimates the pixel-wise uncertainty of the predicted surface normal vectors. Identifying such uncertainty can prevent our model from being misled by unreliable surface normal supervisions that hinder the accurate reconstruction of intricate geometries. Experiments on the benchmark datasets show that our method outperforms existing methods in terms of reconstruction quality. Furthermore, the proposed method also generalizes well to real-world indoor scenarios captured by our hand-held mobile phones. Our code is publicly available at: https://github.com/yec22/Fine-Grained-Indoor-Recon.

Matching supplementary motor area-primary motor cortex paired transcranial magnetic stimulation improves motor dysfunction in Parkinson's disease: a single-center, double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial protocol.

Background: Non-invasive neuroregulation techniques have been demonstrated to improve certain motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the currently employed regulatory techniques primarily concentrate on stimulating single target points, neglecting the functional regulation of networks and circuits. The supplementary motor area (SMA) has a significant value in motor control, and its functionality is often impaired in patients with PD. The matching SMA-primary motor cortex (M1) paired transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) treatment protocol, which benefits patients by modulating the sequential and functional connections between the SMA and M1, was elucidated in this study. Methods: This was a single-center, double-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial. We recruited 78 subjects and allocated them in a 1:1 ratio by stratified randomization into the paired stimulation (n = 39) and conventional stimulation groups (n = 39). Each patient underwent 3 weeks of matching SMA-M1 paired TMS or sham-paired stimulation. The subjects were evaluated before treatment initiation, 3 weeks into the intervention, and 3 months after the cessation of therapy. The primary outcome measure in this study was the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale III, and the secondary outcome measures included non-motor functional assessment, quality of life (Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39), and objective assessments (electromyography and functional near-infrared spectroscopy). Discussion: Clinical protocols aimed at single targets using non-invasive neuroregulation techniques often improve only one function. Emphasizing the circuit and network regulation in PD is important for enhancing the effectiveness of TMS rehabilitation. Pairing the regulation of cortical circuits may be a potential treatment method for PD. As a crucial node in motor control, the SMA has direct fiber connections with basal ganglia circuits and complex fiber connections with M1, which are responsible for motor execution. SMA regulation may indirectly regulate the function of basal ganglia circuits. Therefore, the developed cortical pairing stimulation pattern can reshape the control of information flow from the SMA to M1. The novel neuroregulation model designed for this study is based on the circuit mechanisms of PD and previous research results, with a scientific foundation and the potential to be a means of neuroregulation for PD.Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier [ChiCTR2400083325].

Exploring the heart-brain and brain-heart axes: Insights from a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study on brain cortical structure and cardiovascular disease.

INTRODUCTION: The bidirectional relationship between the brain cortex and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remains inadequately explored. METHODS: This study used bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to explore the interactions between nine phenotypes associated with hypertension, heart failure, atrial fibrillation (AF), and coronary heart disease (CHD), and brain cortex measurements. These measurements included total surface area (SA), average thickness (TH), and the SA and TH of 34 regions defined by the Desikan-Killiany atlas. The nine traits were obtained from sources such as the UK Biobank and FinnGen, etc., while MRI-derived traits of cortical structure were sourced from the ENIGMA Consortium. The primary estimate was obtained using the inverse-variance weighted approach. A false discovery rate adjustment was applied to the p-values (resulting in q-values) in the analyses of regional cortical structures. RESULTS: A total of 1,260 two-sample MR analyses were conducted. Existing CHD demonstrated an influence on the SA of the banks of the superior temporal sulcus (bankssts) (q=0.018) and the superior frontal lobe (q=0.018), while hypertension was associated with changes in the TH of the lateral occipital region (q=0.02). Regarding the effects of the brain cortex on CVD incidence, total SA was significantly associated with the risk of CHD. Additionally, 16 and 3 regions exhibited significant effects on blood pressure and AF risk, respectively (q<0.05). These regions were primarily located in the frontal, temporal, and cingulate areas, which are associated with cognitive function and mood regulation. CONCLUSION: The detection of cortical changes through MRI could aid in screening for potential neuropsychiatric disorders in individuals with established CVD. Moreover, abnormalities in cortical structure may predict future CVD risk, offering new insights for prevention and treatment strategies.

Impact of microplastics on microbial community structure in the Qiantang river: A potential source of N2O emissions.

This study aimed to investigate the spatial distribution of microplastics (MPs) and the features of the bacterial community in the Qiantang River urban river. Surface water samples from the Qiantang River were analyzed for this purpose. The results of the 16S high-throughput sequencing indicated that the microbial community diversity of MPs was significantly lower than in natural water but higher than in natural substrates. The biofilm of MPs was mainly composed of Enterobacteriaceae (28.00%), Bacillaceae (16.25%), and Phormidiaceae (6.75%). The biodiversity on MPs, natural water, and natural substrates varied significantly and was influenced by seasonal factors. In addition, the presence of MPs hindered the denitrification process in the aquatic environment and intensified N2O emission when the nitrate concentration was higher than normal. In particular, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) exhibited a 12% residue of NO3--N and a 4.2% accumulation of N2O after a duration of 48 h. Further findings on gene abundance and cell viability provided further confirmation that PET had a considerable impact on reducing the expression of nirS (by 0.34-fold) and nosZ (by 0.53-fold), hence impeding the generation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) (by 0.79-fold). Notably, all MPs demonstrated higher the nirK gene abundances than the nirS gene, which could account for the significant accumulation of N2O. The results suggest that MPs can serve as a novel carrier substrate for microbial communities and as a potential promoter of N2O emission in aquatic environments.

Single-cell transcriptomics reveals writers of RNA modification-mediated immune microenvironment and cardiac resident Macro-MYL2 macrophages in heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF), which is caused by cardiac overload and injury, is linked to significant mortality. Writers of RNA modification (WRMs) play a crucial role in the regulation of epigenetic processes involved in immune response and cardiovascular disease. However, the potential roles of these writers in the immunological milieu of HF remain unknown. METHODS: We comprehensively characterized the expressions of 28 WRMs using datasets GSE145154 and GSE141910 to map the cardiac immunological microenvironment in HF patients. Based on the expression of WRMs, the immunological cells in the datasets were scored. RESULTS: Single-cell transcriptomics analysis (GSE145154) revealed immunological dysregulation in HF as well as differential expression of WRMs in immunological cells from HF and non-HF (NHF) samples. WRM-scored immunological cells were positively correlated with the immunological response, and the high WRM score group exhibited elevated immunological cell infiltration. WRMs are involved in the differentiation of T cells and myeloid cells. WRM scores of T cell and myeloid cell subtypes were significantly reduced in the HF group compared to the NHF group. We identified a myogenesis-related resident macrophage population in the heart, Macro-MYL2, that was characterized by an increased expression of cardiomyocyte structural genes (MYL2, TNNI3, TNNC1, TCAP, and TNNT2) and was regulated by TRMT10C. Based on the WRM expression pattern, the transcriptomics data (GSE141910) identified two distinct clusters of HF samples, each with distinct functional enrichments and immunological characteristics. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated a significant relationship between the WRMs and immunological microenvironment in HF, as well as a novel resident macrophage population, Macro-MYL2, characterized by myogenesis. These results provide a novel perspective on the underlying mechanisms and therapeutic targets for HF. Further experiments are required to validate the regulation of WRMs and Macro-MYL2 macrophage subtype in the cardiac immunological milieu.

Bioaffinity Ultrafiltration Combined with HPLC-ESI-qTOF-MS/MS for Screening Potential Bioactive Components from the Stems of Dendrobium fimbriatum and In Silico Analysis.

Dendrobium fimbriatum is a perennial herb, and its stems are high-grade tea and nourishing medicinal materials. Various solvent extracts of D. fimbriatum were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory, anti-acetylcholinesterase (AChE), antioxidant, and anti-α-glucosidase properties. Acetone and EtOAc extracts showed significant antioxidant effects. Acetone, n-hexane, and EtOAc extracts revealed potent inhibition against α-glucosidase. EtOAc, n-hexane, and dichloromethane extracts displayed significant anti-AChE activity. Among the isolated constituents, gigantol, moscatin, and dendrophenol showed potent antioxidant activities in FRAP, DPPH, and ABTS radical scavenging tests. Moscatin (IC50 = 161.86 ± 16.45 µM) and dendrophenol (IC50 = 165.19 ± 13.25 µM) displayed more potent anti-AChE activity than chlorogenic acid (IC50 = 236.24 ± 15.85 µM, positive control). Dendrophenol (IC50 = 14.31 ± 3.17 µM) revealed more efficient anti-NO activity than quercetin (positive control, IC50 = 23.09 ± 1.43 µM). Analysis of AChE and iNOS inhibitory components was performed using molecular docking and/or the bioaffinity ultrafiltration method. In bioaffinity ultrafiltration, the binding affinity of compounds to the enzyme (acetylcholinesterase and inducible nitric oxide synthase) was determined using the enrichment factor (EF). Among the main components of the EtOAc extract from D. fimbriatum stem, moscatin, dendrophenol, gigantol, and batatasin III with acetylcholinesterase exhibited the highest binding affinities, with affinity values of 66.31%, 59.48%, 54.60%, and 31.87%, respectively. Moreover, the affinity capacity of the identified compounds with inducible nitric oxide synthase can be ranked as moscatin (88.99%) > dendrophenol (65.11%) > gigantol (44.84%) > batatasin III (27.18%). This research suggests that the bioactive extracts and components of D. fimbriatum stem could be studied further as hopeful candidates for the prevention or treatment of hyperglycemia, oxidative stress-related diseases, and nervous disorders.

Dysregulated Non-Coding RNA Expression in T Cells from Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis Contributes to Its Immunopathogenesis.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by inflammatory back pain and bony fusion of vertebral joints. Genetic associations and environmental factors have been proposed to explain the immunopathogenesis of AS. In the past few years, there have been major advances in understanding T cell dysfunction in AS. Clinically, targeting interleukin-17A, a major cytokine secreted by T helper 17 cells, has been approved for treating patients with active AS. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are RNA transcripts that do not translate into proteins. The ncRNAs regulate both innate and adaptive immunity and participate in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, including AS. The main purpose of this article is to review the up-to-date studies investigating the aberrant expression of ncRNAs in T cells from patients with AS and to summarize their roles in its pathogenesis. After searching PubMed for studies published between January 2013 and June 2024, nine studies investigating the expression of ncRNAs in AS T cells were included. We found that aberrantly expressed ncRNAs in AS T cells could cause abnormal cytokine release, cell signaling abnormalities, and dysregulated cell proliferation and death, which contribute to the immunopathogenesis of AS. We discussed some limitations of these studies and suggested several research fields for further investigation.

First Report of Collar Rot in Yellowhorn (Xanthoceras sorbifolium Bunge) Caused by Fusarium solani in Shandong Province, China.

Yellowhorn (Xanthoceras sorbifolium) is a deciduous shrub or small tree native to China. The content of oil in kernels is 52.7% to 58.0%, of which is the source of neuroic acid (3.7-4.4%). (Liang et al. 2022). In recent years, yellowhorn, as a woody oleiferous crop, has been cultivated in northern China (Xiao et al. 2023). In late June 2019, an unknown collar rot was observed on yellowhorn in Tai'an, and Weifang City, Shandong Province, China. Infected plants had dark brown to black lesions at the base of the stem, about 10 to 15 cm from the ground, bark dehiscence and rot, resulting in wilting, withering, and death of plants. The disease incidence in the field was 35-48%. Representative symptomatic samples were collected randomly from the collar of 8 plants, and 24 samples were cut from the diseased tissue into 5 mm square pieces, surface disinfected with 75% alcohol for 30s and then with 0.1% mercury bichloride for 1min, plated onto potato dextrose agar (PDA), and incubated at 28°C in the dark for 2 to 3 days. Isolation frequency of the pathogen from symptomatic collar was 83.3%. The colonies were subcultured three times on PDA to obtained the purified colonies. The colonies appeared flocculent mycelia incubated on PDA at 28°C for 7 days. The color of the surface and the reverse colony was white and cream, respectively. The chlamydosposres were smooth with thick walled, and are formed singly. Microconidia were oval or ellipsoidal, with 0-1 septum; macroconidia end cells curved to slightly, with 3- or 5-septate, and measured 17.3 to 23.1 × 4.9 to 6.5 µm (avg. 21.3 × 5.9 µm, n = 60). The morphological characteristics fit the descriptions of Fusarium spp. (Hafizi et al. 2013; Crespo et al 2019). Genomic DNA extracted from four representative isolates (XSTA4, XSTA7, XSWF6 and XSWF8), and the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) of ribosomal DNA, translation elongation factor 1-alpha (EF1-α), RNA polymerase I beta subunit (RPB1), and RNA polymerase II beta subunit (RPB2) genes were amplified using the primer pairs ITS1/ITS4 (White et al. 1990), EF-1/EF-2, RPB-1F/1R, and RPB2-5F2/11aR (O'Donnell et al 2010), respectively. Amplicons were sequenced and compared in GenBank using a BLAST analysis. The ITS sequences (OR672118, OR669008, OR669039, and OR669279) had 100% similarity with the sequences of F. solani (MT560378, MG561938, MN989030 and OP630608, respectively). The EF1-α sequences (OR934984, OR934985, OR934986, and OR934987) matched 100% with the sequences of F. solani (OQ511088, MW332044, MW620166 and MT379886). The RPB-1 sequences (PP896852, PP896853, PP896854, and PP896855) had 100% similarity with the sequences of F. solani (OL474057, OR916019, MT305118 and MT305118, respectively). The RPB2 sequences (PP896856, PP896857, PP896858, and PP896859) matched 100% with the sequences of F. solani (OR371884, OK880266, OP784447 and OL474055, respectively). A phylogenetic analysis based on ITS, RPB2 and EF1-α sequences placed the four obtained isolates within the same clade containing the F. solani isolates A6, 91-84-1 and UCR1780. Pathogenicity tests were carried out in late-June 2020. Fifty 120-day-old healthy seedlings were wounded with 2 mm deep at stems in the collar region of plants at 5 cm above the soil for tested. The seedlings were inoculated on the wound with 3-mm mycelial discs from a 7-day-old culture of each four representative strains of 10 repeated, respectively. Ten seedlings inoculated on the wound with sterile PDA served as control. All plants were grown in an incubator with a 28°C temperature. After 20 days, the stems which were inoculated the representative strain turned brown, with 2 - 5 cm length lesion, and the plants developed typical wilting and withering symptoms which similar to those observed in the field. The control remained asymptomatic. The pathogen was reisolated from the inoculated stems and its identity confirmed with both morphology and using molecular tools. These results indicated that the pathogens of yellowhorn collar rot is F. solani. To our knowledge, this is the first report of F. solani causing collar rot of yellowhorn in China.