Optimizing daylily (Hemerocallis citrina Baroni) cultivation: integrating physiological modeling and planting patterns for enhanced yield and resource efficiency.

Introduction: Optimizing the dynamics of daylily (Hemerocallis citrina Baroni) growth under various planting patterns is critical for enhancing production efficiency. This study presents a comprehensive model to simulate daylily growth and optimize planting patterns to maximize bud yield while minimizing land resource utilization. Methods: The model incorporates source-sink relationship specific to daylilies into physiological process modeling, considering environmental factors such as micro-light and temperature climate, and CO2 concentration. Spatial factors, including planting pattern, row spacing, plant spacing, and plant density were examined for their impact on light interception, photosynthesis, and resource efficiency. Employing partial least square path modeling (PLS-PM), we analyzed the interrelations and causal relationships between planting configurations and physiological traits of daylily canopy leaves and buds. Through in situ simulations of 36 planting scenarios, we identified an optimal configuration (Scenario ID5) with a density of 83,000 plants·ha-1, row spacing of 0.8 m, and equidistant planting with a plant spacing of 0.15 m. Results and discussion: Our research findings indicate that increased Wide+Narrow row spacing can enhance yield to a certain extent. Although planting patterns influence daylily yield, their overall impact is relatively minor, and there is no clear pattern regarding the impact of plant spacing on individual plant yield. This modeling approach provides valuable insights into daylily plant growth dynamics and planting patterns optimization, offering practical guidance for both farmers and policymakers to enhance daylily productivity while minimizing land use.

The potential auxiliary effects of Sargassum fusiform polysaccharides on sitagliptin in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

This work aimed to evaluate the potential positive effects of Sargassum fusiform polysaccharides (SFP) as add-on adjuncts to sitagliptin (SIT) in treating diabetes in rats. The results showed that both SIT and SIT co-administrated with SFP (SIT+SFP) could improve hyperglycemia, glucose tolerance, insulin resistance and hyperlipidemia, and SIT+SFP exhibited better effects in alleviating the levels of blood glucose, glucose tolerance, insulin resistance index, cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol compared to SIT administration. Intestinal flora analysis showed that SIT+SFP treatment significantly restored the beneficial composition of gut flora as compared with SIT administration, such as the increase of Lactobacillus, Romboutsia, Blautia, Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, Ruminococcaceae_UCG_014 and Ruminococcus_1, and the decrease of Helicobacter, Escherichia-Shigella and Pseudomonas. The fecal metabolite analysis demonstrated that the fecal bile acid and short-chain fatty acid levels in the SIT+SFP group significantly increased compared to SIT treatment. Additionally, mRNA expression results confirmed that the hypoglycemic effects of SIT+SFP were better than those of SIT, which might be attributed to the regulation of blood glucose absorption, inhibition of gluconeogenesis and regulation of cholesterol metabolism. These results suggested that SFP could be used as an auxiliary substance for SIT in treating diabetes mellitus.

Exploring the relationship between metal ion valency and electron transfer in copigmentation processes of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside in simulated fruit wine solutions.

In this experiment, five metal ions (K+, Mg2+, Al3+, Ga3+, and Sn4+) were utilized as copigments to investigate their copigmentation processes with cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3OG) in simulated fruit wine solutions. The color characteristics were analyzed using Glories and CIELAB methods, and the copigmentation effects were determined spectrophotometrically. Thermodynamic parameters, including the equilibrium constant (K) and standard Gibbs free energy (ΔG°), were calculated to comprehend the binding affinity between metal ions and C3OG. Ultra-fast femtosecond spectroscopy was employed to monitor the photoinduced electron transfer process between C3OG and cations. Theoretical calculations were also conducted to support experimental findings. The results revealed that the presence of metal ions significantly enhanced the color intensity of C3OG in simulated fruit wine solutions. Higher valency cations, particularly Sn4+, Ga3+, and Al3+, exhibited superior copigmentation effects, resulting in significant bathochromic and hyperchromic changes. Thermodynamic analysis confirmed that the interaction between C3OG and metal ions was spontaneous and exothermic. Ultra-fast femtosecond spectroscopy demonstrated that electron transfer from C3OG to metal ions occurred, with the efficiency of transfer being dependent on valency. Theoretical calculations corroborated the experimental results by highlighting the role of metal ions in stabilizing C3OG/metal complexes through electron transfer. The findings presented in this study contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of pigment/metal complexes and the underlying chemistry behind fruit wine color. Furthermore, it advances the theoretical foundation of copigmentation and broadens its applications in the beverage industry.

Accumulation kinetics of polystyrene nano- and microplastics in the waterflea Daphnia magna and trophic transfer to the mysid Limnomysis benedeni.

Despite the pervasive presence of nano- and microplastics (NMPs) in aquatic environments, their movement through food chains remains poorly understood. In this study, we explored the uptake of polystyrene plastics (PSPs) of varying sizes (26, 500, and 4800 nm) in Daphnia magna and their subsequent transfer to the freshwater mysid Limnomysis benedeni, shedding light on the intricate dynamics of NMP transfer in freshwater ecosystems. Our results show that in D. magna the internal concentration of 4800 nm PSPs was 4 to 10 times higher than that of 26 and 500 nm PSPs, respectively. The uptake rate constants in daphnids decreased in the following order: 4800 nm (2.6 ± 0.5 L/g·h) > 26 nm (1.7 ± 0.4 L/g·h) > 500 nm (0.6 ± 0.1 L/g·h) PSPs. Importantly, only a small fraction (1 to 5 %) of the PSPs ingested by D. magna was transferred to L. benedeni. Additionally, larger particle sizes were associated with a higher extent of transfer in the food chain. Elimination rate constants in L. benedeni were found to be 0.03 ± 0.03, 0.1 ± 0.2, and 0.2 ± 0.8 per hour for 26, 500, and 4800 nm PSPs, respectively. Moreover, fluorescence observations revealed that PSPs were predominantly located in the stomach and intestine of L. benedeni. Furthermore, the calculated trophic transfer factor, based on the mass of particles accumulated in the organisms, was < 1 for all PSP treatments. Our findings indicate that NMPs can be transferred along the daphnia-mysids food chain, and that there is no evidence of biomagnification along this chain. These findings underscore the importance of understanding particle size effects on NMP transfer and accumulation in aquatic food webs, offering valuable insights for assessing the ecological risks associated with NMP pollution in freshwater ecosystems.

Borneol promotes berberine-induced cardioprotection in a rat model of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury via inhibiting P-glycoprotein expression.

Berberine is reported to protect the heart against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, although efficacy is limited by low bioavailability. This study aims to determine whether borneol, a classic guiding drug, can enhance the cardioprotection induced by berberine and to clarify the underlying mechanisms involving P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in the heart. Adult male Sprague Dawley rats were gavaged with berberine (200 mg/kg) with or without borneol (100 mg/kg) for 7 consecutive days. A rat model of myocardial I/R injury was established by 30 min left coronary artery occlusion followed with 120 min reperfusion. The arrhythmia score, cardiac enzyme content, and myocardial infarct size were determined following reperfusion. Heart tissues were collected for Western blot and immunofluorescence analyses to measure the protein expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax, and P-gp. The results showed that administration of berberine protected the heart against I/R injury, as demonstrated by lower arrhythmia scores, serum cTnI contents, myocardial infarct size, and cardiomyocytes apoptosis. Moreover, borneol substantially enhanced the cardioprotective effects of berberine. Western blot and immunofluorescence analyses showed that both berberine and I/R injury did not alter P-gp expression in heart. In contrast, borneol combined with berberine significantly reduced P-gp levels by 43.4% (P = 0.0240). Interestingly, treatment with borneol alone decreased P-gp levels, but did not protect against myocardial I/R injury. These findings suggest that borneol, as an adjuvant drug, improved the cardioprotective effects of berberine by inhibiting P-gp expression in heart. Borneol combined with berberine administration provides a new strategy to protect the heart against I/R injury.

Probiotic nucleotides increase IL-10 expression in airway macrophages to mitigate airway allergy.

BACKGROUND: Dysfunctional immune regulation plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of airway allergies. Macrophages are one of the components of the immune regulation cells. The aim of this study is to elucidate the role of lysine demethylase 5 A (KDM5A) in maintaining macrophages' immune regulatory ability. METHODS: DNA was extracted from Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG to be designated as LgDNA. LgDNA was administered to the mice through nasal instillations. M2 macrophages (M2 cells) were isolated from the airway tissues using flow cytometry. RESULTS: We found that airway M2 cells of mice with airway Th2 polarization had reduced amounts of IL-10 and KDM5A. Mice with Kdm5a deficiency in M2 cells showed the airway Th2 polarization. The expression of Kdm5a in airway M2 cells was enhanced by nasal instillations containing LgDNA. KDM5A mediated the effects of LgDNA on inducing the Il10 expression in airway M2 cells. Administration of LgDNA mitigated experimental airway allergy. CONCLUSIONS: M2 macrophages in the airway tissues of mice with airway allergy show low levels of KDM5A. By upregulating KDM5A expression, LgDNA can increase Il10 expression and reconcile airway Th2 polarization.

Analyze interleukin-1ß, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α levels in dry eye and the therapeutic effect of cyclosporine A.

BACKGROUND: Dry eye is a common eye disease. Artificial tears supplements are widely used for the treatment of dry eyes. However, multiple adverse effects have been observed in patients receiving long-term treatment with artificial tears, which may affect the therapeutic effect. AIM: To analyze the characteristics of interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels in patients with dry eye and the therapeutic effect of artificial tears combined with cyclosporine A. METHODS: A total of 124 dry eye patients treated at The First People's Hospital of Xining from April 2020 to April 2022 were selected as the observation group, while 20 healthy individuals served as the control group during the same period. Levels of inflammatory markers, including IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α, were analyzed. The observation group was further divided into a study group and a control group, each consisting of 62 patients. The control group received artificial tears, whereas the study group received a combination of artificial tears and cyclosporine A. Inflammatory markers, Schirmer's test (SIT), tear break-up time (TBUT), corneal fluorescein staining (CFS), National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire-25 (NEI-VFQ-25) scores, and adverse events (AEs) were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The observation group exhibited significantly elevated serum levels of IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α in comparison to the healthy group. Following treatment, the study group demonstrated substantial reductions in IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α levels relative to the control group. Moreover, after treatment, the study group experienced a marked decrease in CFS scores and significant increases in both SIT and BUT levels when compared to the control group. Additionally, significant improvements were observed in the primary symptom of dry eye and secondary symptoms such as photophobia, foreign body sensation, fatigue, red eye, and burning sensation within the study group. Furthermore, post-treatment NEI-VFQ-25 scores across all dimensions exhibited significant enhancements in the study group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). It is noteworthy that significant AEs were reported in both groups throughout the treatment period. CONCLUSION: Cyclosporine A combined with artificial tears is effective in treating dry eye, yielding enhanced outcomes by improving SIT and TBUT levels, reducing CFS scores, and ameliorating vision-related quality of life.

Vonoprazan Dual or Triple Therapy Versus Bismuth-Quadruple Therapy as First-Line Therapy for Helicobacter pylori Infection: A Three-Arm, Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: We compared efficacy of vonoprazan-dual or triple therapies and bismuth-quadruple therapy for treatment-naive Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection in Southern China, where primary resistance rates of clarithromycin and levofloxacin are >30%. METHODS: This was an investigator-initiated, three-arm, randomized clinical trial in Southern China. Between March 2022 and August 2023, treatment-naïve HP-infected adults were randomly assigned to receive one of three 14-day regimens (1:1:1 ratio): vonoprazan-dual (VA-dual; vonoprazan 20 mg twice daily and amoxicillin 1 g thrice daily), vonoprazan-triple (VAC-triple; vonoprazan 20 mg/amoxicillin 1 g/clarithromycin 500 mg twice daily), or bismuth-quadruple therapy containing bismuth, esomeprazole, tetracycline, and metronidazole. Primary outcome was noninferiority in HP eradication, evaluated by UBT 4-6 weeks post-treatment by intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analysis (based on subjects who completed 14-day treatment and rechecked UBT). Bonferroni-adjusted p-value of <0.017 was used to determine statistical significance. RESULTS: A total of 298 subjects (mean age: 35.7 ± 8.4 years; male: 134 [45.0%]; VC-dual: 100, VAC-triple: 98, bismuth-quadruple: 100) were enrolled, and 292 (98.0%) had UBT rechecked. ITT analysis showed that both VA-dual (eradication rate of 96.0%) and VAC-triple therapies (95.9%) were noninferior to bismuth-quadruple therapy (92.0%) (difference: 4.0%, 95% CI: -2.9% to 11.5%, p < 0.001; and 3.9%, 95% CI: -3.1% to 11.5%, p < 0.001, respectively). PP analysis also revealed noninferiority (96.7% or 96.7% vs. 97.4%, with difference: -2.9% and -2.9%, p = 0.009 and 0.010, respectively). The frequency of adverse events was 39.0%, 56.1%, and 71.0% in VA-dual, VAC-triple, and bismuth-quadruple therapies, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: VA-dual and VA-triple therapies are highly effective and noninferior to bismuth-quadruple therapy in Southern China. Given the lower adverse effects and fewer antibiotic use, VA-dual therapy is the preferred first-line treatment for HP infection. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (No. ChiCTR2200056375). Registered on February 4, 2022, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=14131.

Biomimetic multi-channel nerve conduits with micro/nanostructures for rapid nerve repair.

Peripheral nervous system (PNS) injuries often lead to significant sensory and motor impairments. Traditional artificial nerve conduits, lacking anisotropic structures, have been associated with prolonged repair time and failures in nerve regeneration. This study aimed to address these challenges by developing a novel approach for rapid repair of peripheral nerve injuries (PNI). A 3D oriented fibers scaffold featuring distinct radial (RFs) and longitudinal (LFs) fibers orientations was engineered using coaxial electrospinning and gas directional foaming techniques. This scaffold was then integrated with a shape memory conduit to form a directional multi-channel nerve conduit with micro/nanostructures. The results revealed that the grooved surface of the fibers significantly improved cellular directional guidance, effectively facilitating the migration of SCs from the periphery towards the center and from the base to the apex of the scaffold. In a rat model with a 10 mm nerve defect, the ND-PLATMC/LF ND-PCL scaffold significantly enhanced nerve regeneration and motor function recovery within 4 weeks. These results suggest the potential of this innovative scaffold for efficient repair of the nerve injuries.

Effects of ICU diaries on psychological disorders and sleep quality in critically ill patients and their family members: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The psychological health and sleep quality of intensive care unit (ICU) patients and their families have health implications, and greater attention should be devoted to developing effective interventions to address these concerns. Due to an increasing amount of evidence on ICU diary interventions, their comparative effectiveness should be evaluated. AIMS: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effect of ICU diaries on psychological disorders and sleep quality in critically ill patients and on psychological disorders in their family members. METHODS: The PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China Biomedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Network, Wanfang Database, and Weipu Chinese Journal databases were searched up to November 2023 to identify randomized controlled trials. We used the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for quality assessment, and we used Review Manager 5.4 software to conduct meta-analysis. RESULTS: Eleven studies with a total of 1682 patients met the inclusion criteria. PATIENTS: PTSD (7 studies, 1015 patients): OR 0.63 (95%CI 0.45-0.87), p = 0.005; Anxiety (6 studies, 546 patients): OR 0.52 (95%CI 0.22-1.27), p = 0.15; Depression (6 studies, 546 patients): OR 0.62 (95%CI 0.39-0.97), p = 0.04; sleep quality (2 studies, 203 patients): OR -3.97 (95%CI -7.71-0.23), p = 0.04. Family members: PTSD (2 studies, 652 patients): OR 0.81 (95%CI 0.37-1.79), p = 0.60; Anxiety (2 studies, 650 family members): OR 1.09 (95%CI 0.79-1.49), p = 0.62; Depression (2 studies, 650 patients): OR 1.03 (95%CI 0.71-1.50), p = 0.87. The pooled results of the meta-analysis showed that ICU diaries reduced the incidence of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder and improved sleep quality in patients, but had no significant effects on patients' anxiety status or family members' psychological disorders. Three of the included studies had a high quality, and the remaining eight studies had a moderate quality. CONCLUSIONS: For patients, ICU diaries can improve their depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, improve sleep quality, but has no significant effect on anxiety; For family members, ICU diaries were not significant. Due to the existence of bias and the limited sample size, the results should be interpreted with caution. Researchers need to further elucidate the multidisciplinary collaborative process of diary-based treatment in ICUs and its impact on psychological disorders in family members. Furthermore, large-scale, multicentre, robust studies should be conducted in the future.

The HOXC10/NOD1/ERK axis drives osteolytic bone metastasis of pan-KRAS-mutant lung cancer.

While KRAS mutation is the leading cause of low survival rates in lung cancer bone metastasis patients, effective treatments are still lacking. Here, we identified homeobox C10 (HOXC10) as a lynchpin in pan-KRAS-mutant lung cancer bone metastasis. Through RNA-seq approach and patient tissue studies, we demonstrated that HOXC10 expression was dramatically increased. Genetic depletion of HOXC10 preferentially impeded cell proliferation and migration in vitro. The bioluminescence imaging and micro-CT results demonstrated that inhibition of HOXC10 significantly reduced bone metastasis of KRAS-mutant lung cancer in vivo. Mechanistically, the transcription factor HOXC10 activated NOD1/ERK signaling pathway to reprogram epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and bone microenvironment by activating the NOD1 promoter. Strikingly, inhibition of HOXC10 in combination with STAT3 inhibitor was effective against KRAS-mutant lung cancer bone metastasis by triggering ferroptosis. Taken together, these findings reveal that HOXC10 effectively alleviates pan-KRAS-mutant lung cancer with bone metastasis in the NOD1/ERK axis-dependent manner, and support further development of an effective combinatorial strategy for this kind of disease.

Binding characterization of odorant-binding protein BhorOBP29 in Batocera horsfieldi (Hope) with host-plant volatiles.

Odorant binding proteins (OBPs) are involved in odorant discrimination and act as the first filter in the peripheral olfactory system. Previous studies have shown that BhorOBP29 is potentially involved in olfactory perception in an important wood-boring pest Batocera horsfieldi (Hope) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), however, its function remains unclear. Here, we investigated the ligand-binding profiles of recombinant BhorOBP29 with 22 compounds from its host plant using fluorescence competitive binding assays and fluorescence quenching assays. The results showed that BhorOBP29 could bind to five ligands relying mainly on hydrophobic interactions. Molecular docking analysis indicated that residues Ile48, Leu51, Met52, Trp57, Asn105, and Val119 were extensively involved in the interactions between BhorOBP29 and the five ligands. Furthermore, the site-directed mutagenesis analysis revealed that Leu51 and Met52 residues were indispensable for BhorOBP29-ligands binding. Finally, electroantennogram (EAG) assays confirmed that hexanal, (-)-limonene, and 2-methylbutyraldehyde elicited a concentration-dependent EAG response with a maximum at the concentration of 1/10 v/v. These findings suggest that BhorOBP29 may play a significant role in the perception of host plant volatiles by B. horsfieldi. This study may help to discover novel behavioral regulation and environmentally friendly strategies for controlling B. horsfieldi in the future.

[Research on Configuration Paths of Digital Literacy Empowering Medical Students' Innovative Behaviors: Based on Fuzzy-Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis]. / æ•°å­—ç´ å »èµ‹èƒ½åŒ»å­¦ç”Ÿåˆ›æ–°è¡Œä¸ºçš„ç»„æ€è·¯å¾„ç ”ç©¶ï¼šåŸºäºŽæ¨¡ç³Šé›†å®šæ€§æ¯”è¾ƒåˆ†æž.

Objective: To explore the causal complexity between individual digital literacy and innovative behaviors by focusing on medical students, and to provide scientific references for empowering their innovative behaviors. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect relevant data from students currently enrolled in a medical school in Anhui Province. Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) was performed to examine the different combination paths for empowering innovative behaviors in medical students. Results: A total of 922 valid questionnaires were collected. Based on six conditional variables of digital literacy, namely information and data literacy, communication and collaboration literacy, digital content creation literacy, security literacy, problem solving literacy, and career-related literacy, there were five configurations for high-level innovation behaviors of medical students, with the overall consistency being 0.816 and the overall coverage being 0.664. On the other hand, there were three configurations for their low-level innovation behaviors, with the overall consistency being 0.901 and the total coverage being 0.585. Conclusion: There is a causal complexity between medical students' digital literacy and their innovative behaviors. Different dimensions of digital literacy act synergistically to produce multiple paths to empower medical students' innovative behaviors. Among them, a high level of competence in digital content creation is the core condition that empowers innovative behaviors in medical students, while a low level of problem-solving competence is the key barrier to their innovative behaviors.

Research on positioning control strategy of hydraulic support pushing system based on multistage speed control valve.

The precise position control of the hydraulic support pushing system in the coal mining face is a key technical support for intelligent coal mining. At present, the hydraulic support pushing system uses the electro-hydraulic directional valve as the control element. However, the electro-hydraulic directional valve has problems such as discrete input values, low switching frequency, delay, inability to adjust flow, and large flow fluctuations during the switching process, which results in relatively low positioning control accuracy of the hydraulic support pushing system. Therefore, this study introduces a multi-stage speed control valve that is suitable for underground coal mine conditions and can achieve flow regulation. At the same time, a segmented control strategy combining Bang-Bang control and online predictive control is proposed. Bang-bang control is used for fast propulsion with large flow rate, large range, and short time. Online predictive control method is used to achieve precise positioning control with small flow rate and small range, thereby solving the problem of low positioning control accuracy caused by the imperfect characteristics of electro-hydraulic directional valves. Finally, this study verified the effectiveness of the proposed scheme through simulation and experiments. The results showed that compared with existing logic positioning control methods based on electro-hydraulic directional valves, the proposed scheme can improve the accuracy of single cylinder positioning control from 62 mm to within 10 mm.

Influence of Carotid Artery Stenting on the Retina and Choroid.

Purpose: The effect of carotid artery stenting in patients with unilateral carotid artery stenosis on the retina and choroid was evaluated using swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA). Methods: SS-OCTA examination was conducted before stenting and 4 days and 3 months after stenting. The retinal nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL), inner nuclear layer, superficial vascular complex (SVC), deep vascular complex (DVC), choroidal vascular volume (CVV), and choroidal vascular index were measured. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was performed to assess the impact of carotid artery stenting on optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) metrics. Results: At baseline, 303 eyes from 160 patients (61.82 ± 9.98 years; 85.29% males) were enrolled. SVC and DVC densities and CVV were lower in ipsilateral eyes (stenosed side) compared to contralateral eyes (all P < 0.05). Four days after stenting, a significant increase was seen in SVC density in ipsilateral eyes (P < 0.05) while a significant increase was seen in CVV in ipsilateral eyes and contralateral eyes (both P < 0.05). Three months after stenting (63 patients with 114 eyes), a significant decrease was seen in the GCIPL thickness of ipsilateral and contralateral eyes (all P < 0.001). Conclusions: Short term after carotid artery stenting, ipsilateral eyes showed a rapid and significant increase in SVC density and CVV. Translational Relevance: Optical coherence tomography (OCT)/OCTA measurements may have the potential to detect retinal and choroidal changes after stenting. Future research on the long-term effect of stenting on the retina and choroid will be guided by these findings.

Clinical characteristics of primary biliary cirrhosis - idiopathic inflammatory myopathy overlap syndrome: A single center study.

PURPOSE: Primary biliary cirrhosis-idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (PBC-IIM) overlap syndrome (OS) is a rare condition in which cardiac involvement is observed. We aimed to characterize the clinical features and associated factors of PBC-IIM OS patients with cardiac involvement. METHODS: Patients with PBC-IIM OS that visited our hospital from January 1983 to December 2021 were enrolled. Clinical presentations and laboratory and imaging data were recorded. The clinical data of patients with and without cardiac involvement were compared. According to the first instance of a disease flare, prognostic factors were also studied. RESULTS: Thirty-four patients with PBC-IIM OS were enrolled. A total of 58.8% of patients presented with muscle weakness at disease onset, which primarily involved skeletal muscle (85.3%). Slight liver dysfunction was discovered in this OS cohort. In patients with cardiac involvement, palpitation (63.6%) and dyspnea (36.4%) were the most common onset symptoms. Arrhythmia was a vital manifestation in OS patients, in which half of OS patients had nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (50.0%, 11/22). Compared with noncardiac involvement, myalgia (4.5%, P = 0.004) and fever (0.0%, P = 0.011) were reported relatively rarely at disease onset in the group with cardiac involvement. The prognosis analysis showed that positivity for anti-Ro52 (HR=0.00, P = 0.034) negatively correlated with relapse in OS patients. CONCLUSION: PBC-IIM OS has unique features. Typical clinical manifestations and early worsening cardiac indicators can be used to identify cardiac involvement and predict prognosis. Anti-Ro52 may have prognostic value for PBC-IIM OS.

Enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting performance of α-Fe2O3 photoanodes through Co-modification with Co single atoms and g-C3N4.

The practical application of α-Fe2O3 in water splitting is hindered by significant charge recombination and slow water oxidation. To address this issue, a CoSAs-g-C3N4/Fe2O3 (CoSAs: cobalt single atoms) photoanode was fabricated in this study through the co-modification of CoSAs and g-C3N4 to enhance photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. The coupling between g-C3N4 and α-Fe2O3 resulted in the formation of a heterojunction, which provided a strong built-in electric field and an additional driving force to mitigate charge recombination. Moreover, g-C3N4 served as a suitable carrier for single atoms, which effectively anchored CoSAs through N/C coordination. The highly dispersed CoSAs provided abundant active sites, which further promoted surface holes extraction and oxidation kinetics, resulting in higher PEC performance and photostability. This study indicates the benefits of these collaborative strategies and provides more efficient designs for solar energy conversion in PEC systems.

Prochloraz induced alterations in the expression of mRNA in the reproductive system of male offspring mice.

Prochloraz is a widely used fungicide worldwide. It is classified as an endocrine disrupting pesticide that affects the reproductive system. This study aimed to examine the impact of exposure to prochloraz of male mice on the reproductive system of their offspring male mice. Male father mice were intragastrically administered different dosages of prochloraz (group MA: 0 mg/kg/day; MB: 53.33 mg/kg/day; MD:160 mg/kg/day). Then, the testicular average weight of male offspring in the dose groups was found to be significantly lower than those in the control group (MB:0.312g, MD:0.294g, and MA:0.355 g; P < 0.05). Additionally, the testicular coefficient index in the MB and MD groups was also lower than that of the control group. Secondly,we observed that there were significantly different expressed genes clustered in groups B and D, in contrast to the control. Finally, the findings demonstrated a significant alteration in the response of male mice reproductive relative genes to prochloraz invasion. Two genes (Mt-nd6 and Slc12a4) were found to be involved in the regulation of sperm mitochondria function and six genes (Greb1, Esrrb, Catsperb, Mospd2, Sohlh1 and Specc1) were closely linked to sperm functions and estrogen response. The study revealed a significant impact of prochloraz on the reproductive system of male mice, thereby supporting further investigation into the reproductive toxicological effects of the drug.