A Comparative Study on the Composition and Structure of Human Milk Phospholipids and its Natural Resources: Based on a Similarity Evaluation Model.

Human milk phospholipids (HMPLs) play an indispensable role in the neurodevelopment and growth of infants. In this study, a total of 37 phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) species and 139 phospholipid molecular species were detected from human milk and other natural phospholipid sources (including 5 animal-derived species and 2 plant species). Moreover, a similarity evaluation model for HMPLs was established, including phospholipid classes, PLFAs, and phospholipid molecular species, to evaluate their natural substitutes. The closest scores for HMPL substitute in these three dimensions was 0.89, 0.72, and 0.77, which belonged to mare milk, goat milk, and camel milk, respectively. The highest comprehensive similarity score was obtained by camel milk at 0.75, while the lowest score was observed in soybean phospholipid (0.22). Therefore, these results not only monitored the stereochemical structure of HMPLs and their substitutes, but also further provided new insights for the development of infant formulae.

Enhanced protection for interfacial lipid ozonolysis by sulfur-containing amino acids.

Sulfur-containing amino acids have been proposed as drugs for lipid oxidation associated with diseases for a long time, but the molecular-level mechanism on the effectiveness of sulfur-containing amino acids against lipid oxidation remains elusive. In this work, with the interfacial sensitivity mass spectrometry method, oxidation of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylglycerol (POPG), a widely used model lipid, was significantly inhibited on hung droplet surface in presence of sulfur-containing amino acids, such as cysteine (Cys) and methionine (Met). Both the Cys and Met showed a self-sacrificing protection. The amino acids with -S-R tails (R referring to methyl or t-butyl group) showed more effective against POPG oxidation than those with -SH tails, and this process was not related to the conformations of amino acids. The low effectiveness of Cys during the interfacial chemistry was proved to arise from the formation of disulfide bond. This study extends the current understanding of chemistry of sulfur-containing amino acids and provides insights to aid the sulfur-containing amino acids against cell oxidation.

Identification of key module and hub genes affecting broiler body weight through weighted gene co-expression network analysis.

Body weight (BW) is an important economic trait in chickens. The hypothalamus serves as a central regulator of appetite and energy balance, and extensive research has demonstrated its pivotal role in regulating BW. However, the molecular network of the hypothalamus regulating BW traits in chickens needs to be further illuminated. In the present study, 200 1-day-old male 817 broilers were reared to 50 d of age, and BW were recorded. 20 birds with the lowest BW were classified as the low body weight group (L-BWG), and 20 birds with the highest BW were classified as the high body weight group (H-BWG). 18 hypothalamic tissue samples were collected, including 5 from the L-BWG, 5 from the H-BWG, and 8 from the middle weight range, and were analyzed using RNA-seq and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Among the 18 RNA-seq samples, 5 samples from the L-BWG and 5 from the H-BWG were selected for differential expression gene analysis. Compared with the L-BWG, 195 and 1,241 genes were upregulated and downregulated in the H-BWG, respectively. The WGCNA analysis classified all co-expressed genes in the hypothalamus of 817 broilers into 20 modules. Among these modules, the pink module was identified as significantly negatively (r = -0.81, P = 4×10-5) associated with BW. Furthermore, several genes, including Wnt family member 6 (WNT6), growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11), bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4), and erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 4 (ERBB4), involved in "regulation of developmental process" and "response to growth factor," were identified as hub genes that contribute to the regulation of BW. These results provide valuable information for further understanding of the gene expression and regulation affecting BW traits and will contribute to the molecular breeding of chickens in the future.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided treatment of isolated gastric varices entwined with arteries: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Interventional endoscopic ultrasound is clinically used for the treatment of isolated gastric varices (IGVs) owing to its precise visualization. CASE SUMMARY: A 39-year-old man was diagnosed with a large IGV during a routine physical examination. Endoscopic ultrasonography showed gastric varices entwined with an artery, which greatly increased the difficulty of treatment. We successfully treated the patient with endoscopic ultrasonography-guided coil embolization combined with cyanoacrylate injection. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided coil embolization combined with cyanoacrylate injection was safe and effective for the treatment of an IGV entwined with an artery.

Adsorption Properties of Diatomite Minerals on Glyceryl Monostearate for Antifogging of the Plastic Film.

Adding an appropriate amount and the stable precipitation of surfactant on the inner surface of agricultural plastic greenhouse films can prevent the formation of water droplets on the inner surface of the film to reduce its harmful effects in the process of plant cultivation and production. In this work, for the stable precipitation of the surfactant glycerol monostearate, diatomite minerals from three origins in China were compared through structural analysis and adsorption performance. The effects of acid treatments and alkali treatments on the mineral structure were studied, and the adsorption mechanism of glycerol monostearate was further investigated. The results show that the structural characteristics of Jilin diatomite are more suitable as adsorbents for glyceryl monostearate adsorption. Because diatomite is resistant to acids but not alkalis, when diatomite is treated with an alkali, impurities on its surface can be removed and the hydroxyl group and specific surface area can be greatly increased. The adsorption capacity of glycerol stearate was increased to 218.4 mg/g, or 32.08%, over its pretreatment level. The results show that this is mainly the result of physical adsorption caused by van der Waals force imbalance and chemisorption caused by a small number of hydrogen bonds. In addition, the dripping performance of this composite dripping film with mineral diatomite was better than that of the commercial dripping film, which provided a theoretical basis for efficient mineral slow-release drip irrigation composite film.

Spatial-temporal dynamic evolution of lewy body dementia by metabolic PET imaging.

PURPOSE: Lewy body dementia (LBD) is a neurodegenerative disease with high heterogeneity and complex pathogenesis. Our study aimed to use disease progression modeling to uncover spatial-temporal dynamic evolution of LBD in vivo, and to explore differential profiles of clinical features, glucose metabolism, and dopaminergic function among different evolution-related subtypes. METHODS: A total of 123 participants (31 healthy controls and 92 LBD patients) who underwent 18F-FDG PET scans were retrospectively enrolled. 18F-FDG PET-based Subtype and Stage Inference (SuStaIn) model was established to illustrate spatial-temporal evolutionary patterns and categorize relevant subtypes. Then subtypes and stages were further related to clinical features, glucose metabolism, and dopaminergic function of LBD patients. RESULTS: This 18F-FDG PET imaging-based approach illustrated two distinct patterns of neurodegenerative evolution originating from the neocortex and basal ganglia in LBD and defined them as subtype 1 and subtype 2, respectively. There were obvious differences between subtypes. Compared with subtype 1, subtype 2 exhibited a greater proportion of male patients (P = 0.045) and positive symptoms such as visual hallucinations (P = 0.033) and fluctuating cognitions (P = 0.033). Cognitive impairment, metabolic abnormalities, dopaminergic dysfunction and progression were all more severe in subtype 2 (all P < 0.05). In addition, a strong association was observed between SuStaIn subtypes and two clinical phenotypes (Parkinson's disease dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies) (P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings based on 18F-FDG PET and data-driven model illustrated spatial-temporal dynamic evolution of LBD and categorized novel subtypes with different evolutionary patterns, clinical and imaging features in vivo. The evolution-related subtypes are associated with LBD clinical phenotypes, which supports the perspective of existence of distinct entities in LBD spectrum.

COVID-19-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders Relation With Social Media Addiction Among University Students: Mediating Role of Fear of Missing Out.

OBJECTIVE: Traumatic experiences and stressful life events have crippling outcomes on individuals' psychiatric disorders and are also frequently comorbid with addictive behaviors. This study aims to propose a mediation model to examine the association between coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19)-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and social media addiction (SMA) among university students, and the mediating role of fear of missing out (FoMO). METHODS: A cross-sectional study with 856 university students (mean age 19.2 years; 67.9% female) was conducted in China. The COVID-19-related PTSD scale, the FoMO scale, and the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale were used, in addition to an online questionnaire addressing participants' sociodemographic information. Descriptive statistics and correlations were conducted with SPSS 21.0. The Structural Equation Model (SEM) with AMOS 21.0 was performed to assess the hypothesized mediation mode. The bootstrap with the 95% confidence interval (CI) was computed to test the significance of the mediating effect. RESULTS: SEM demonstrated that COVID-19-related PTSD symptoms significantly and negatively influenced SMA (ß=0.247, p<0.001), FoMO significantly and positively affected university students' SMA (ß=0.341, p<0.001), and FoMO partially mediated the association between COVID-19-related PTSD symptoms and SMA. The mediation effect of FoMO was 0.176, with bootstrapping 95% CI=0.123, 0.235. CONCLUSION: The main effects of COVID-19-related PTSD symptoms and FoMO on SMA among university students were identified, providing intervention strategies for mental health professionals on how to reduce the risk of SMA when confronting future traumatic events and public health crises.

Exercise preconditioning improves mesenteric lymphatic contractility through MAM in rats following hemorrhagic shock.

ABSTRACT: Restoration of mesenteric lymphatic microcirculation is crucial for alleviating severe hemorrhagic shock-induced death. Exercise preconditioning (EP) enhances adaptability and resistance to injury and disease. The mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membrane (MAM) plays a crucial role in the energy and information exchange between the two organelles. Therefore, we hypothesized that EP ameliorates mesenteric lymphatic contractility through MAM in rats following hemorrhagic shock, aiming to confirm that EP enhances resistance to hemorrhagic shock and further popularizes the idea that exercise is beneficial for health. To test this hypothesis, we observed the effects of EP for four weeks on survival time and mesenteric lymphatic contractility in conscious rats following hemorrhagic shock, and further explored the effects of MAM agonists and inhibitors. The results showed that EP prolonged the survival time and improved the mesenteric lymphatic contractility and reactivity in vivo and in vitro in rats underwent hemorrhagic shock, ameliorated the MAM ultrastructure in lymphatic smooth muscle cells (LSMCs) and reduced the voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1, a vital protein of MAM) and IP3R1 expressions in mesenteric lymphatic tissue. Importantly, treatment with 2-APB (IP3R1 inhibitor) or VBIT-12 (VDAC1 inhibitor) prolonged the survival time, improved mesenteric lymphatic contractility in vivo, ameliorated the MAM ultrastructure injury, and decreased the IP3R1 or VDAC1 expressions in LSMCs in rats following hemorrhagic shock. In contrast, the administration of drinking water containing CdCl2 (IP3R1 activator) abolished the beneficial effect of EP on hemorrhagic shock. Taken together, the protective effect of EP on lymphatic contractility following hemorrhagic shock was achieved by improving MAM in LSMCs.

Nucleophosmin 1 promotes mucosal immunity by supporting mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and ILC3 activity.

Nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1) is commonly mutated in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia. Concurrent inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and MDS are common, indicating a close relationship between IBD and MDS. Here we examined the function of NPM1 in IBD and colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC). NPM1 expression was reduced in patients with IBD. Npm1+/- mice were more susceptible to acute colitis and experimentally induced CAC than littermate controls. Npm1 deficiency impaired the function of interleukin-22 (IL-22)-producing group three innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s). Mice lacking Npm1 in ILC3s exhibited decreased IL-22 production and accelerated development of colitis. NPM1 was important for mitochondrial biogenesis and metabolism by oxidative phosphorylation in ILC3s. Further experiments revealed that NPM1 cooperates with p65 to promote mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) transcription in ILC3s. Overexpression of Npm1 in mice enhanced ILC3 function and reduced the severity of dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis. Thus, our findings indicate that NPM1 in ILC3s protects against IBD by regulating mitochondrial metabolism through a p65-TFAM axis.

The impact of lenses on the seepage failure of tailings dam.

The presence of lenses such as tailings slurry, frozen soil, and saturated zones disrupts the continuity of tailings dams and their normal seepage patterns, elevating the seepage line of the dam body and significantly impacting local stability. This study, to investigate how lenses affect the stability and failure mechanisms of tailings dams, employs numerical simulation and physical models and constructs a model of the tailings dam, incorporating tailings clay lens and void lens, to investigate variations in hydraulic gradients, seepage velocities, seepage flow, pore water pressure, and the patterns of seepage failure. This research reveals that the tailings clay lens within the dam body increases the hydraulic gradient in its vicinity due to its low permeability and raises the phreatic line. As the tailings clay lens approaches the dam body, the phreatic line tends to escape along the upper part of the lens towards the dam surface. In addition, the void lens could lead to a more pronounced seepage gradient along its path on the dam surface, with a liquefaction beneath it. As the void lens nears the toe of the slope, the dam failure mode transitions from a step-like progressive failure to an arch-shaped settlement failure along the void lens.

Inflammatory Trajectory and Anti-Inflammatory Pharmacotherapy in Frozen Elephant Trunk-Treated Acute Type I Aortic Dissection.

Background: Acute DeBakey type I aortic dissection is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Little is known regarding the role of leukocyte trajectory in prognosis. Methods: We included adult acute DeBakey type I aortic dissection patients with emergency frozen elephant trunk and total arch replacement in 2 cardiovascular centers (2020-2022). We used latent class mixed model to group patients according to their leukocyte patterns from hospital admission to the first 5 days after surgery. We investigated the association of leukocyte trajectory and 30-day and latest follow-up mortality (October 31, 2023), exploratorily analyzing the effects of ulinastatin treatment on outcome. Results: Of 255 patients included, 3 distinct leukocyte trajectories were identified: 196 in group I (decreasing trajectory), 34 in group II (stable trajectory), and 25 in group III (rising trajectory). Overall, 30-day mortality was 25 (9.8%), ranging from 8.2% (16/196) in group I, 8.8% (3/34) in group II, to 24.0% (6/25) in group III (P for trend = .036). Group III was associated with higher mortality both at 30 days (adjusted hazard ratio, 3.260; 95% CI, 1.071-9.919; P = .037) and at the last follow-up (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.840; 95% CI, 1.098-7.345; P = .031) compared with group I. Conclusions: Distinct and clinically relevant groups can be identified by analyzing leukocyte trajectories, and a rising trajectory was associated with higher short-term and midterm mortality.

NIR-triggered and Thermoresponsive Core-shell nanoparticles for synergistic anticancer therapy.

Recent advancements in cancer treatment have underscored the inadequacy of conventional monotherapies in addressing complex malignant tumors. Consequently, there is a growing interest in synergistic therapies capable of overcoming the limitations of monotherapies, leading to more personalized and effective approaches. Among these, the combination of photothermal therapy (PTT) and chemotherapy has emerged as a promising avenue for tumor management. In this study, we present a novel approach utilizing thermoresponsive mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) as a delivery system for the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin. By incorporating photothermal agent copper sulfide (CuS) nanoparticles into the MSN, the resulting composite material exhibits potent photothermal properties. Furthermore, the integration of an upper critical solution temperature (UCST) polymer within the silica outer layer serves as a "gatekeeper", enabling precise control over drug release kinetics. This innovative nanomaterial effectively merges thermoresponsive behavior with PTT, thereby minimizing the collateral damage associated with traditional chemotherapy on healthy tissues. Moreover, in both in vitro studies using mouse breast carcinoma cells (4 T1) and in vivo experiments utilizing a 4 T1 tumor-bearing mouse model, our nanomaterials demonstrated synergistic effects, enhancing the anti-tumor efficacy of combined PTT and chemotherapy. With its remarkable photothermal conversion efficiency, robust stability, and biocompatibility, the UCST-responsive nanoplatform holds immense potential for clinical applications.

Prediction of postoperative mortality in older surgical patients by clinical frailty scale: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIMS: To systematically evaluate the predictive efficacy of clinical frailty scale (CFS) for postoperative mortality older surgical patients, and to evaluate the prevalence of frailty in the included studies. DESIGN: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies was conducted, utilizing the MOOSE guidelines for the evaluation of both. Quality assessment of the articles was also performed. DATA SOURCES: The protocol was registered (CRD42023423552). Relevant English and Chinese language studies published until October 20th, 2023 were retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Medline, CINAHL,Cochrane, WAN FANG DATA, VIP Information, CNKI, and SinoMed databases. REVIEW METHODS: Study were included in which frailty was measured by the CFS and postoperative mortality was reported for older surgery patients. A meta-analysis to predict postoperative mortality and frailty prevalence was performed using STATA 17.0 software. RESULTS: Sixteen cohort studies were included (5,864 participants) from 1,513 records. All studies' Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) scores were above 6 points. It was found that the prevalence of surgical frailty in the older was 0.36(CI 0.20-0.52). Patients assessed as frail by the CFS were associated with higher all-cause mortality (OR:4.01; CI 2.59-6.23). Subgroup analysis shows that frailty was associated with1-month mortality (OR:3.85; CI 1.11-13.45) and 1-year mortality (OR:4.43; CI 2.18-8.99). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of frailty is high in older surgical patients, and CFS can effectively predict the mortality of older surgical patients with frailty.

Stabilization of highly efficient perovskite solar cells with a tailored supramolecular interface.

The presence of defects at the interface between the perovskite film and the carrier transport layer poses significant challenges to the performance and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Addressing this issue, we introduce a dual host-guest (DHG) complexation strategy to modulate both the bulk and interfacial properties of FAPbI3-rich PSCs. Through NMR spectroscopy, a synergistic effect of the dual treatment is observed. Additionally, electro-optical characterizations demonstrate that the DHG strategy not only passivates defects but also enhances carrier extraction and transport. Remarkably, employing the DHG strategy yields PSCs with power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of 25.89% (certified at 25.53%). Furthermore, these DHG-modified PSCs exhibit enhanced operational stability, retaining over 96.6% of their initial PCE of 25.55% after 1050 hours of continuous operation under one-sun illumination, which was the highest initial value in the recently reported articles. This work establishes a promising pathway for stabilizing high-efficiency perovskite photovoltaics through supramolecular engineering, marking a significant advancement in the field.

The mediating effects of parenting self-efficacy between readiness for hospital discharge and post-discharge coping difficulty among mothers of preterm infants.

Post-discharge coping difficulty presents a significant challenge for mothers of preterm infants. The readiness for hospital discharge and parenting self-efficacy are crucial factors influencing post-discharge coping difficulty. However, the pathways through which these factors impact post-discharge coping difficulty remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the impact of readiness for hospital discharge on post-discharge coping difficulty and the mediating role of parenting self-efficacy among mothers of preterm infants. A prospective study involving 462 mothers of preterm infants from six tertiary hospitals in Shandong Province was conducted. Mothers were evaluated on the day of discharge (using the Baseline characteristics and Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale) and three weeks post-discharge (utilizing the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale-Efficacy subscale and Post-Discharge Coping Difficulty Scale). Structural equation modeling was employed to analyze the mediating effect. The results of this study revealed that readiness for hospital discharge significantly decreased post-discharge coping difficulty (ß = - 0.533, P < 0.001), and parenting self-efficacy also significantly reduced post-discharge coping difficulty (ß = - 0.419, P < 0.001). Furthermore, parenting self-efficacy partially mediated the relationship between readiness for hospital discharge and post-discharge coping difficulty, accounting for 25.35% of the total effect. Mothers reported a moderate level of post-discharge coping difficulty. In assisting mothers of premature infants to alleviate post-discharge coping difficulty, nurses could implement strategies focused on enhancing readiness for hospital discharge and parenting self-efficacy.

Single Molecular Semi-Sliding Ferroelectricity/Multiferroicity.

In recent years, the unique mechanism of sliding ferroelectricity with ultralow switching barriers has been experimentally verified in a series of 2-dimensional (2D) materials. However, its practical applications are hindered by the low polarizations, the challenges in synthesis of ferroelectric phases limited in specific stacking configurations, and the low density for data storage since the switching process involves large-area simultaneous sliding of a whole layer. Herein, through first-principles calculations, we propose a type of semi-sliding ferroelectricity in the single metal porphyrin molecule intercalated in 2D bilayers. An enhanced vertical polarization can be formed independent on stacking configurations and switched via sliding of the molecule accompanied by the vertical displacements of its metal ion anchored from the upper layer to the lower layer. Such semi-sliding ferroelectricity enables each molecule to store 1 bit data independently, and the density for data storage can be greatly enhanced. When the bilayer exhibits intralayer ferromagnetism and interlayer antiferromagnetic coupling, a considerable difference in Curie temperature between 2 layers and a switchable net magnetization can be formed due to the vertical polarization. At a certain range of temperature, the exchange of paramagnetic-ferromagnetic phases between 2 layers is accompanied by ferroelectric switching, leading to a hitherto unreported type of multiferroic coupling that is long-sought for efficient "magnetic reading + electric writing".