Associations between dietary iron intake from different sources and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in adults.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become a worldwide public health problem. Current evidence on the association between dietary iron intake and the risk of NAFLD is limited. The present study aimed to investigate the associations of animal-derived dietary iron (ADDI) intake, plant-derived dietary iron (PDDI) intake, and the ratio of PDDI:ADDI with NAFLD risk among U.S. adult population. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: This was a repeated cross-sectional study. Data were collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2018. NAFLD was defined as a United States Fatty Lives Index ≥30, and dietary iron intake was assessed through two 24-h dietary recall in-terviews. Logistic regression and restricted cubic spline models were applied to examine the associations between dietary iron intake from different sources and NAFLD risk. RESULTS: A total of 9478 participants aged ≥20 years were enrolled in the present study. After adjustment for multiple confounding factors, relative to the lowest quartile, the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of NAFLD for the highest quartile was 1.01(95% CI, 0.82-1.24) for ADDI intake, 0.82 (95% CI, 0.64-0.99) for PDDI intake, and 1.00 (95% CI, 0.81-1.24) for the PDDI: ADDI intake ratio. In stratified analysis by sex and age, the significantly negative associations of PDDI intake with NAFLD was observed in women and participants older than 45 years. Dose-response analyses indicated that NAFLD was negatively associated with PDDI intake in a non-linear manner. CONCLUSIONS: PDDI intake was negatively associated with NAFLD in U.S. adults.

Evaluation of fragility fracture risk using deep learning based on ultrasound radio frequency signal.

BACKGROUND: It was essential to identify individuals at high risk of fragility fracture and prevented them due to the significant morbidity, mortality, and economic burden associated with fragility fracture. The quantitative ultrasound (QUS) showed promise in assessing bone structure characteristics and determining the risk of fragility fracture. AIMS: To evaluate the performance of a multi-channel residual network (MResNet) based on ultrasonic radiofrequency (RF) signal to discriminate fragility fractures retrospectively in postmenopausal women, and compared it with the traditional parameter of QUS, speed of sound (SOS), and bone mineral density (BMD) acquired with dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). METHODS: Using QUS, RF signal and SOS were acquired for 246 postmenopausal women. An MResNet was utilized, based on the RF signal, to categorize individuals with an elevated risk of fragility fracture. DXA was employed to obtain BMD at the lumbar, hip, and femoral neck. The fracture history of all adult subjects was gathered. Analyzing the odds ratios (OR) and the area under the receiver operator characteristic curves (AUC) was done to evaluate the effectiveness of various methods in discriminating fragility fracture. RESULTS: Among the 246 postmenopausal women, 170 belonged to the non-fracture group, 50 to the vertebral group, and 26 to the non-vertebral fracture group. MResNet was competent to discriminate any fragility fracture (OR = 2.64; AUC = 0.74), Vertebral fracture (OR = 3.02; AUC = 0.77), and non-vertebral fracture (OR = 2.01; AUC = 0.69). After being modified by clinical covariates, the efficiency of MResNet was further improved to OR = 3.31-4.08, AUC = 0.81-0.83 among all fracture groups, which significantly surpassed QUS-SOS (OR = 1.32-1.36; AUC = 0.60) and DXA-BMD (OR = 1.23-2.94; AUC = 0.63-0.76). CONCLUSIONS: This pilot cross-sectional study demonstrates that the MResNet model based on the ultrasonic RF signal shows promising performance in discriminating fragility fractures in postmenopausal women. When incorporating clinical covariates, the efficiency of the modified MResNet is further enhanced, surpassing the performance of QUS-SOS and DXA-BMD in terms of OR and AUC. These findings highlight the potential of the MResNet as a promising approach for fracture risk assessment. Future research should focus on larger and more diverse populations to validate these results and explore its clinical applications.

The Gene Rearrangement and Transcriptional Regulation of Non B Cell-Derived Immunoglobulin.

Traditionally, immunoglobulin (Ig) expression has been attributed solely to B cells/plasma cells with well-documented and accepted regulatory mechanisms governing Ig expression in B cells. Ig transcription is tightly controlled by a series of transcription factors. However, increasing evidence has recently demonstrated that Ig is not only produced by B cell lineages but also by various types of non-B cells (non-B-Ig). Under physiological conditions, non-B-Ig not only exhibits antibody activity but also regulates cellular biological activities (such as promoting cell proliferation, adhesion, and cytoskeleton protein activity). In pathological conditions, non-B-Ig is implicated in the development of various diseases including tumour, kidney disease, and other immune-related disorders. The mechanisms underline Ig gene rearrangement and transcriptional regulation of Ig genes in non-B cells are not fully understood. However, existing evidence suggests that these mechanisms in non-B cells differ from those in B cells. For instance, non-B-Ig gene rearrangement occurs in an RAG-independent manner; and Oct-1 and Oct-4, rather than Oct-2, are required for the transcriptional regulation of non-B derived Igs. In this chapter, we will describe and compare the mechanisms of gene rearrangement and expression regulation between B-Ig and non-B-Ig.

miR-590-3p Overexpression Improves the Efficacy of hiPSC-CMs for Myocardial Repair.

Recent evidence demonstrates that low engraftment rates limit the efficacy of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) for cardiac repair after myocardial infarction. In this study, we attempted to overcome this limitation by enhancing the proliferative capacity of transplanted hiPSC-CMs. We found that miR-590-3p overexpression increased the proliferative capacity of hiPSC-CMs. miR-590-3p overexpression increased the number of engrafted cells and had a higher efficacy for myocardial repair than control cells. Moreover, we confirmed the safety of using miR-590-3p-overexpressing hiPSC-CMs in pig hearts. These results indicated that miR-590-3p overexpression stimulated hiPSC-CM cell cycle re-entry to induce cell proliferation and increased the therapeutic efficacy in MI.

Comparison of inebilizumab or rituximab in addition to glucocorticoid therapy for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders.

AIM: To investigate the short-term efficacy and safety of inebilizumab for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD). METHODS: A total of 33 patients with NMOSD treated with inebilizumab (Group INB, n=15) or rituximab (Group RTX, n=18) in addition to high-dose glucocorticoids were included. Both groups underwent hormone shock therapy during the acute phase. Subsequently, Group INB received inebilizumab injections during the remission phase, while Group RTX received rituximab injections. A comparison of aquaporins 4 (AQP4) titer values, peripheral blood B lymphocyte counts, and visual function recovery was conducted before and 8wk after treatment. Additionally, adverse reactions and patient tolerability were analyzed after using inebilizumab treatment regimes. RESULTS: Following inebilizumab treatment, there was a significantly improvement in the visual acuity of NMOSD patients (P<0.05), accompanied by a notable decrease in AQP4 titer values and B lymphocyte ratio (P<0.05). Moreover, inebilizumab treatment showed a partial effect in preventing optic nerve atrophy (P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in other therapeutic effects compared to rituximab, which has previously demonstrated substantial therapeutic efficacy (P>0.05). Furthermore, inebilizumab exhibited higher safety levels than that of rituximab injections. CONCLUSION: The combination of inebilizumab and high-dose glucocorticoids proves to be effective. In comparison to rituximab injections, inebilizumab displays better tolerance and safety. Moreover, it demonstrates a partial effect in preventing optic nerve atrophy. Thus, it stands as an effective method to reduce the disability rates and improve the daily living ability of patients with NMOSD.

IL-4 attenuates myocardial infarction injury by promoting M2 macrophage polarization.

IL-4, an immunoregulatory cytokine, plays a role in various cellular pathways and is known to regulate M2 macrophage polarization. Numerous studies have suggested that promoting the polarization of macrophages toward the M2 phenotype is beneficial for myocardial infarction (MI) recovery. However, whether IL-4 can achieve therapeutic effects in MI by regulating M2 macrophage polarization remains unclear. In this study, the authors observed that IL-4 increased the proportion of M2 macrophages in the ischemic myocardium compared to the PBS group. Additionally, IL-4 reduced the infiltration of inflammatory cells and the expression of proinflammatory-related proteins, while enhancing the expression of genes associated with tissue repair. Furthermore, IL-4 facilitated the recovery of cardiac function and reduced fibrosis in the post-MI phase. Importantly, when macrophages were depleted, the therapeutic benefits of IL-4 mentioned above were attenuated. These findings provide evidence for the effectiveness of IL-4 in treating MI through the regulation of M2 macrophage polarization, thereby encouraging further development of this therapeutic approach.

Shotgun metagenomic analysis of microbiota dynamics during long-term backslopping fermentation of traditional fermented milk in a controlled laboratory environment.

Traditional fermented milks are produced through an inoculation process that involves the deliberate introduction of microorganisms that have been adapted and perpetuated across successive generations. However, the changes in the microbiota of traditional fermented milk during long-term inoculation fermentation in a laboratory environment remain unclear. In this study, we collected 5 samples of traditional fermented milk samples from 5 different counties in Tibet (3 kurut products) and Xinjiang (2 tarag products) of China, which served as starter cultures for a 9-mo continuous inoculation fermentation experiment. We analyzed the inter- and intra-population variations in the microbial communities of the collected samples, representing their macrodiversity and microdiversity, using shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Across all samples, we obtained a total of 186 high-quality metagenomic-assembled genomes, including 7 genera and 13 species with a relative abundance of more than 1%. The majority of these genomes were annotated as Lactobacillus helveticus (60.46%), Enterococcus durans (9.52%), and Limosilactobacillus fermentum (6.23%). We observed significant differences in species composition and abundance among the 5 initial inoculants. During the long-term inoculation fermentation, we found an overall increasing trend in species diversity, composition, and abundances of carbohydrate metabolism module-encoding genes in the fermented milk bacterial metagenome, while the fermented milk virome exhibited a relatively narrow range of variation. Lactobacillus helveticus, a dominant species in traditional fermented milk, displayed high stability during the long-term inoculation fermentation. Our study provides valuable insights for the industrial production of traditional fermented milk.

HNRNPA2B1 stabilizes NFATC3 levels to potentiate its combined actions with FOSL1 to mediate vasculogenic mimicry in GBM cells.

BACKGROUND: Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is an enigmatic physiological feature that influences blood supply within glioblastoma (GBM) tumors for their sustained growth. Previous studies identify NFATC3, FOSL1 and HNRNPA2B1 as significant mediators of VEGFR2, a key player in vasculogenesis, and their molecular relationships may be crucial for VM in GBM. AIMS: The aim of this study was to understand how NFATC3, FOSL1 and HNRNPA2B1 collectively influence VM in GBM. METHODS: We have investigated the underlying gene regulatory mechanisms for VM in GBM cell lines U251 and U373 in vitro and in vivo. In vitro cell-based assays were performed to explore the role of NFATC3, FOSL1 and HNRNPA2B1 in GBM cell proliferation, VM and migration, in the context of RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated knockdown alongside corresponding controls. Western blotting and qRT-PCR assays were used to examine VEGFR2 expression levels. CO-IP was employed to detect protein-protein interactions, ChIP was used to detect DNA-protein complexes, and RIP was used to detect RNA-protein complexes. Histochemical staining was used to detect VM tube formation in vivo. RESULTS: Focusing on NFATC3, FOSL1 and HNRNPA2B1, we found each was significantly upregulated in GBM and positively correlated with VM-like cellular behaviors in U251 and U373 cell lines. Knockdown of NFATC3, FOSL1 or HNRNPA2B1 each resulted in decreased levels of VEGFR2, a key growth factor gene that drives VM, as well as the inhibition of proliferation, cell migration and extracorporeal VM activity. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) studies and luciferase reporter gene assays revealed that NFATC3 binds to the promoter region of VEGFR2 to enhance VEGFR2 gene expression. Notably, FOSL1 interacts with NFATC3 as a co-factor to potentiate the DNA-binding capacity of NFATC3, resulting in enhanced VM-like cellular behaviors. Also, level of NFATC3 protein in cells was enhanced through HNRNPA2B1 binding of NFATC3 mRNA. Furthermore, RNAi-mediated silencing of NFATC3, FOSL1 and HNRNPA2B1 in GBM cells reduced their capacity for tumor formation and VM-like behaviors in vivo. CONCLUSION: Taken together, our findings identify NFATC3 as an important mediator of GBM tumor growth through its molecular and epistatic interactions with HNRNPA2B1 and FOSL1 to influence VEGFR2 expression and VM-like cellular behaviors.

Analysis of clinical characteristics of different types of lung function impaiement in TDL patients.

AIM: The clinical characteristics associated with pulmonary function decline in patients with Tuberculosis-destroyed lung (TDL) remain uncertain. We categorize them based on the pattern of pulmonary function impairment, distinguishing between restrictive spirometric pattern (RSP) and obstructive spirometric pattern (OSP). We aim to compare the severity of these patterns with the clinical characteristics of TDL patients and analyze their correlation. METHOD: We conducted a retrospective analysis on the clinical data of TDL patients who underwent consecutive pulmonary function tests (PFT) from November 2002 to February 2023. We used the lower limit formula for normal values based on the 2012 Global Lung Function Initiative. We compared the clinical characteristics of RSP patients with those of OSP patients. The characteristics of RSP patients were analyzed using the tertiles of forced vital capacity percentage predicted (FVC% pred) decline based on PFT measurements, and the characteristics of OSP patients were analyzed using the tertiles of forced expiratory volume in 1 s percentage predicted (FEV1% pred) decline. RESULT: Among the RSP patients, those in the Tertile1 group (with lower FVC% pred) were more likely to have a higher of body mass index (BMI), spinal deformities, and C-reactive protein (CRP) compared to the other two groups (P for trend < 0.001, 0.027, and 0.013, respectively). Among OSP patients, those in the Tertile1 group (with lower FEV1% pred) showed an increasing trend in cough symptoms and contralateral lung infection compared to the Tertile 2-3 group (P for trend 0.036 and 0.009, respectively). CONCLUSION: For TDL patients, we observed that Patients with high BMI, a higher proportion of spinal scoliosis, and abnormal elevation of CRP levels were more likely to have reduced FVC. Patients with decreased FEV1% pred have more frequent cough symptoms and a higher proportion of lung infections on the affected side.

The multifaceted functions of DNA-PKcs: implications for the therapy of human diseases.

The DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK), catalytic subunit, also known as DNA-PKcs, is complexed with the heterodimer Ku70/Ku80 to form DNA-PK holoenzyme, which is well recognized as initiator in the nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) repair after double strand break (DSB). During NHEJ, DNA-PKcs is essential for both DNA end processing and end joining. Besides its classical function in DSB repair, DNA-PKcs also shows multifaceted functions in various biological activities such as class switch recombination (CSR) and variable (V) diversity (D) joining (J) recombination in B/T lymphocytes development, innate immunity through cGAS-STING pathway, transcription, alternative splicing, and so on, which are dependent on its function in NHEJ or not. Moreover, DNA-PKcs deficiency has been proven to be related with human diseases such as neurological pathogenesis, cancer, immunological disorder, and so on through different mechanisms. Therefore, it is imperative to summarize the latest findings about DNA-PKcs and diseases for better targeting DNA-PKcs, which have shown efficacy in cancer treatment in preclinical models. Here, we discuss the multifaceted roles of DNA-PKcs in human diseases, meanwhile, we discuss the progresses of DNA-PKcs inhibitors and their potential in clinical trials. The most updated review about DNA-PKcs will hopefully provide insights and ideas to understand DNA-PKcs associated diseases.

Association between dietary inflammatory index and NT-proBNP levels in US adults: A cross-sectional analysis.

BACKGROUND: With cardiovascular diseases standing as a leading cause of mortality worldwide, the interplay between diet-induced inflammation, as quantified by the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII), and heart failure biomarker NT-proBNP has not been investigated in the general population. METHODS: This study analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2004, encompassing 10,766 individuals. The relationship between the DII and NT-proBNP levels was evaluated through multivariable-adjusted regression models. To pinpoint crucial dietary components influencing NT-proBNP levels, the LASSO regression model was utilized. Stratified analyses were then conducted to examine the associations within specific subgroups to identify differential effects of the DII on NT-proBNP levels across diverse populations. RESULTS: In individuals without heart failure, a unit increase in the DII was significantly associated with an increase in NT-proBNP levels. Specifically, NT-proBNP levels rose by 9.69 pg/mL (95% CI: 6.47, 12.91; p < 0.001) without adjustments, 8.57 pg/mL (95% CI: 4.97, 12.17; p < 0.001) after adjusting for demographic factors, and 5.54 pg/mL (95% CI: 1.75, 9.32; p = 0.001) with further adjustments for health variables. In participants with a history of heart failure, those in the second and third DII quartile showed a trend towards higher NT-proBNP levels compared to those in the lowest quartile, with increases of 717.06 pg/mL (95% CI: 76.49-1357.63, p = 0.030) and 855.49 pg/mL (95% CI: 156.57-1554.41, p = 0.018). Significant interactions were observed in subgroup analyses by age (<50: ß = 3.63, p = 0.141; 50-75: ß = 18.4, p<0.001; >75: ß = 56.09, p<0.001), gender (men: ß = 17.82, p<0.001; women: ß = 7.43, p = 0.061),hypertension (ß = 25.73, p<0.001) and diabetes (ß = 38.94, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: This study identified a positive correlation between the DII and NT-proBNP levels, suggesting a robust link between pro-inflammatory diets and increased heart failure biomarkers, with implications for dietary modifications in cardiovascular risk management.

STAT3-induced lncRNA GNAS-AS1 accelerates keloid formation by mediating the miR-196a-5p/CXCL12/STAT3 axis in a feedback loop.

Keloids are pathological scar tissue resulting from skin trauma or spontaneous formation, often accompanied by itching and pain. Although GNAS antisense RNA 1 (GNAS-AS1) shows abnormal upregulation in keloids, the underlying molecular mechanism is unclear. The levels of genes and proteins in clinical tissues from patients with keloids and human keloid fibroblasts (HKFs) were measured using quantitative reverse transcription PCR, western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The features of HKFs, including proliferation and migration, were evaluated using cell counting kit 8 and a wound healing assay. The colocalization of GNAS-AS1 and miR-196a-5p in HKFs was measured using fluorescence in situ hybridization. The relationships among GNAS-AS1, miR-196a-5p and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12) in samples from patients with keloids were analysed by Pearson correlation analysis. Gene interactions were validated by chromatin immunoprecipitation and luciferase reporter assays. GNAS-AS1 and CXCL12 expression were upregulated and miR-196a-5p expression was downregulated in clinical tissues from patients with keloids. GNAS-AS1 knockdown inhibited proliferation, migration, and extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation of HKFs, all of which were reversed by miR-196a-5p downregulation. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) induced GNAS-AS1 transcription through GNAS-AS1 promoter interaction, and niclosamide, a STAT3 inhibitor, decreased GNAS-AS1 expression. GNAS-AS1 positively regulated CXCL12 by sponging miR-196-5p. Furthermore, CXCL12 knockdown restrained STAT3 phosphorylation in HKFs. Our findings revealed a feedback loop of STAT3/GNAS-AS1/miR-196a-5p/CXCL12/STAT3 that promoted HKF proliferation, migration and ECM accumulation and affected keloid progression.

Dietary Supplementation of Compound Probiotics Improves Intestinal Health by Modulated Microbiota and Its SCFA Products as Alternatives to In-Feed Antibiotics.

Enterococcus faecium, Bifidobacterium, and Pediococcus acidilactici, as intestinal probiotics, have been proved to play a positive role in treating intestinal diseases, promoting growth and immune regulation in poultry. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of compound probiotics on growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, intestinal microbiome characteristics, as well as intestinal morphology in broiler chickens. Treatment diets with chlortetracycline and compound probiotics were used for two groups of sixty broilers each throughout the feeding process. Another group was fed the basal diet. The BW (2589.41 ± 13.10 g vs 2422.50 ± 19.08 g) and ADG (60.57 ± 0.31 g vs 56.60 ± 0.45 g) of the compound probiotics added feed treatment group were significantly increased, and the FCR was significantly decreased (P < 0.05). The supplementation of a compound probiotics enhanced the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus, Faecalibacterium, and norank_f_norank_o_Clostridia_vadinBB60_group (P < 0.05), and modulated the cecal microbiota structure, thereby promoting the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and elevating their levels (P < 0.05), particularly propionic and butyric acids. Furthermore, the administration of the compound probiotics supplements significantly enhanced the villi height, V/C ratio, and reduced the crypt depth (P < 0.05). In addition, the activity of digestive enzymes in the duodenum and jejunum was elevated (P < 0.05). Collectively, the selected compound probiotics supplemented in this experiment have demonstrated efficacy, warranting further application in practical production settings as a viable alternative to antibiotics, thereby facilitating efficient production and promoting gastrointestinal health.

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Is Effective in Those Infected With SARS-CoV-2: The Real-World Experience of a Large Chinese Breast Cancer Center.

PURPOSE: During the major shift in China's policies on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), many residents will be infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) over a short period, including a few patients with breast cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Moreover, it is unknown whether this comorbidity affects the efficacy of NAC for breast cancer and the patient's psychological state and quality of life (QOL). This study aims to answer these questions. METHODS: The clinical data of 2,793 patients with breast cancer who received NAC at The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University were retrospectively collected. The infected and non-infected groups were divided according to whether they were infected with COVID-19 during NAC. Propensity score matching was used to reduce patient selection bias. The effectiveness, psychological well-being, and QOL of the two groups were compared. RESULTS: No discernible differences were observed in the pathological complete response rates (p = 0.307) and major histological responses rate (p = 0.398) between the infected and non-infected groups. Following the full course of NAC, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Treatment General (p < 0.001) and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy for Breast Cancer (p < 0.001) were lower in the infected group than the non-infected group, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) anxiety scale (p < 0.001) and HADS depression scale (p < 0.001) were considerably higher in the infected group than the non-infected group. CONCLUSION: With timely treatment and effective medical management, SARS-CoV-2 does not appear to affect the efficacy of NAC; however, it can significantly affect the QOL of patients and increase their psychological distress. Therefore, in addition to a timely assessment of the efficacy of NAC, it is necessary to dynamically understand the patient's psychological state and QOL.

Upregulation of collagen type X alpha 1 promotes the progress of triple-negative breast cancer via Wnt/ß-catenin signaling.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a malignant tumor with high degree of malignancy and lack of effective target treatment. The research aims to explore the role and mechanism of X collagen alpha-1 chain protein (COL10A1 gene) in TNBC. UALCAN and Kaplan-Meier were used to detect the expression of COL10A1 and its role in the prognosis of breast cancer patients. The cells with stably expressing high levels of COL10A1 were obtained by recombinant lentivirus infection. The expression of COL10A1 in cells was temporarily downregulated by siRNA interference fragments. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis were utilized to detect the changes of COL10A1 mRNA and protein expression. The biological functions of the cells were evaluated by colony formation, cell counting kit-8, cell invasion and wound healing experiments. In addition, the effect of COL10A1 on angiogenesis was investigated by tube formation assay. Xenograft tumor model was used to confirm the effect of COL10A1 on tumorigenicity in vivo and multiplex fluorescent immunohistochemistry to detect multiple proteins simultaneously. The possible molecular mechanism of the function of COL10A1 was speculated through the detection of proteins in functionally related pathways. COL10A1 is highly expressed and is significantly associated with worse overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) in TNBC. Overexpression of COL10A1 increased the clone formation rate and cell migration capacity of TNBC cells. In the COL10A1 overexpression group, the clone formation rates of MD-MB-231 and BT-549 cells (21.5 ± 0.62, 27.83 ± 3.72)% were significantly higher than those in the control group(15.23 ± 2.79, 19.4 ± 1.47)%, and the relative migration ratio (47.40 ± 3.09, 41.26 ± 4.33)% were higher than those in the control group (34.48 ± 2.03, 21.80 ± 1.03)%. When the expression of COL10A1 was downregulated, the ability of clone formation and wound-healing migration capacity in TNBC cells was weakened. Upregulated COL10A1 in TNBC cells generated more junctions and longer total segments between vascular endothelial cells, and promoted angiogenesis of the cells, and thus enhanced the tumorigenesis. In TNBC, it was found that COL10A1 might affect epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of the cells through Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway by the detection of the related pathway proteins. COL10A1 is highly expressed in TNBC, and its high expression leads to poor OS and RFS. COL10A1 may enhance TNBC cell proliferation, migration and tumor-related angiogenesis, and promote tumorigenesis in vivo via Wnt/ß-catenin signaling.

Thyroid abnormalities identified on CT screening for lung cancer.

PURPOSE: Because incidental thyroid nodules (ITNs) are common extrapulmonary findings in low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scans for lung cancer screening, we aimed to investigate the frequency of ITNs on LDCT scans separately on baseline and annual repeat scans, the frequency of malignancy among the ITNs, and any association with demographic, clinical, CT characteristics. METHODS: Retrospective case series of all 2309 participants having baseline and annual repeat screening in an Early Lung and Cardiac Action Program (MS-ELCAP) LDCT lung screening program from January 2010 to December 2016 was performed. Frequency of ITNs in baseline and annual repeat rounds were determined. Multivariable regression analysis was performed to identify significant predictors. RESULTS: Dominant ITNs were seen in 2.5 % of 2309 participants on baseline and in 0.15 % of participants among 4792 annual repeat LDCTs. The low incidence of new ITNs suggests slow growth as it would take approximately an average of 16.8 years for a new ITN to be detected on annual rounds of screening. Newly detected ITNs on annual repeat LDCT were all smaller than 15 mm. Regression analysis showed that the increasing of age, coronary artery calcifications score and breast density grade were significant predictors for females having an ITN. No significant predictors were found for ITNs in males. CONCLUSION: ITNs are detected at LDCT however, no malignancy was found. Certain predictors for ITNs in females have been identified including breast density, which may point towards a common causal pathway.

A Tunable Hydrophilic-Hydrophobic, Stimulus Responsive, and Robust Iridescent Structural Color Bionic Film with Chiral Photonic Crystal Nanointerface.

Bio-inspired in nature, using nanomaterials to fabricate the vivid bionic structural color and intelligent stimulus responsive interface as smart skin or optical devices are widely concerned and remain a huge challenge. Here, the bionic flexible film is designed and fabricated with chiral nanointerface and tunable hydrophilic-hydrophobic by the ultrasonic energy perturbation strategy and crosslinking of the cellulose nanocrystals (CNC). An intelligent nanointerface with adjustable hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties is constructed by the supramolecular assembly using a smart ionic liquid molecule. The bionic flexible film possessed the variable hydrophilic-hydrophobic, stimulus responsive, and robust iridescent structural color. The reflective wavelength and the helical pitch of the film can be easily modulated through the ultrasonic energy perturbation strategy. The bionic flexible film by covalent cross-linking has excellent robustness, good elasticity and flexibility. The tunable brilliant structural color of the chiral nanointerface is attributed to the surface charge change of the CNC photonic crystal, which is disturbed by ultrasonic energy perturbation. The bionic flexible film with tunable structure color has intelligent hydrophilic and hydrophobic stimulus response properties. The chiral bionic materials have potential applications in smart skin, optical devices, bionic materials, robots, anti-counterfeiting, colorful displays, and stealth materials.

The New Buffer Salt-Protected Sodium Butyrate Promotes Growth Performance by Improving Intestinal Histomorphology, Barrier Function, Antioxidative Capacity, and Microbiota Community of Broilers.

In this study, a commercial sodium butyrate protected by a new buffer salt solution (NSB) was tested to determine whether it can be used as an antibiotic alternative in broiler production. A total of 192 1-day-old broilers were randomly allocated to three dietary treatments: soybean meal diet (CON), antibiotic diet (ANT, basal diet + 100 mg/kg aureomycin), and NSB (basal diet + 800 mg/kg NSB). The growth performance, serum anti-inflammatory cytokines, intestinal morphology, gut barrier function, antioxidative parameters, SCFAs' content, and cecal microbiota were analyzed. The result showed that NSB significantly improved ADFI and ADG (p < 0.01), and decreased FCR (p < 0.01). Serum anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was up-regulated (p < 0.01), and pro-inflammatory TNF-α was down-regulated (p < 0.05) by NSB supplementation. H&E results showed that VH and the VH/CD ratio significantly increased (p < 0.05) in the jejunum and ileum in the NSB group. Furthermore, ZO-1 (p < 0.01), claudin-1 (p < 0.01), and occludin (p < 0.05) in the jejunum and claudin-1 (p < 0.01) and mucin-2 (p < 0.05) in the ileum were significantly up-regulated in the NSB group. Additionally, SOD (p < 0.05) and the T-AOC/MDA ratio (p < 0.01) in the jejunum and SOD in the ileum were significantly increased (p < 0.05) in the NSB group. The MDA level also significantly increased (p < 0.01) in the ANT group in the jejunum. Propionic acid (p < 0.05) and butyric acid (p < 0.01) content significantly increased in the NSB group in the jejunum and ileum segments. The 16S rRNA sequencing results showed no significant difference (p > 0.05) in alpha and beta diversity among the groups. LEFSe analysis also indicated that Peptostreptococcaceae, Colidextribacter, Firmicutes, Oscillospira, and Erysipelatoclostridiaceae, which promote SCFA production (p < 0.05), were identified as dominant taxon-enriched bacterial genera in the NSB group. The Spearman correlation analysis revealed that Colidextribacter with ADFI, ADG, VH, claudin-1 (p < 0.05), and unclassified_f__Peptostreptococcaceae with ADFI, IL-10, and ZO-1 were positively correlated (p < 0.05). Furthermore, ADFI and ADG with IL-10, claudin-1, SOD, T-AOC, and butyric acid (p < 0.05), and similarly, ADG with VH (p < 0.05), showed a positive correlation. In conclusion, NSB enhanced the growth performance by improving jejunum and ileum morphology, and serum anti-inflammatory cytokines, and by regulating the intestinal barrier function and antioxidant capacity, SCFAs' content, and cecum microbiota, showing its potential use as an alternative to antibiotics in poultry nutrition.

Analysis of risk factors for the recurrence of osteomyelitis of the limb after treatment with antibiotic-loaded calcium sulfate and autologous bone graft.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of antibiotic-loaded calcium sulfate combined with autologous iliac bone transplantation in the treatment of limb-localized osteomyelitis (Cierny-Mader type III) and analyze the causes and risk factors associated with infection recurrence. Methods: Clinical data of 163 patients with localized osteomyelitis of the extremities treated with antibiotic-loaded calcium sulfate combined with autologous iliac bone transplantation in Xi'an Honghui Hospital from January 2017 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were diagnosed with localized osteomyelitis through clinical examination and treated with antibiotic-loaded calcium sulfate combined with autologous iliac bone. Based on the infection recurrence status, the patients were divided into the recurrence group and the non-recurrence group. The clinical data of the two groups were compared using univariate analysis. Subsequently, the distinct datasets were included in the binary logistic regression analysis to determine the risk and protective factors. Results: This study included 163 eligible patients, with an average age of 51.0 years (standard deviation: 14.9). After 12 months of follow-up, 25 patients (15.3%) experienced infection recurrence and were included in the recurrence group; the remaining 138 patients were included in the non-recurrence group. Among the 25 patients with recurrent infection, 20 required reoperation, four received antibiotic treatment alone, and one refused further treatment. Univariate analysis showed that education level, smoking, hypoproteinemia, open injury-related infection, and combined flap surgery were associated with infection recurrence (p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that open injury-related infection (odds ratio [OR] = 35.698; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.997-212.495; p < 0.001) and combined flap surgery (OR = 41.408; 95% CI: 5.806-295.343; p < 0.001) were independent risk factors for infection recurrence. Meanwhile, high education level (OR = 0.009; 95% CI: 0.001-0.061; p < 0.001) was a protective factor for infection recurrence. Conclusion: Antibiotic-loaded calcium sulfate combined with autologous iliac bone transplantation is an effective method for treating limb-localized osteomyelitis. Patients without previous combined flap surgery and non-open injury-related infections have a relatively low probability of recurrence of infection after treatment with this surgical method. Additionally, patients with a history of smoking and hypoproteinemia should pay attention to preventing the recurrence of infection after operation. Providing additional guidance and support, particularly in patients with lower education levels and compliance, could contribute to the reduction of infection recurrence.