Investigation of Mother-to-Child Transmission of Hepatitis B in Yinchuan, China: Cross-Sectional Survey Study.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B poses a significant global public health challenge, with mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) being the primary method of hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission. The prevalence of HBV infection in China is the highest in Asia, and it carries the greatest burden globally. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to critically evaluate the existing local strategies for preventing MTCT and the proposed potential enhancements by analyzing the prevalence of hepatitis B among pregnant women and their neonates in Yinchuan. METHODS: From January 2017 to December 2021, 37,557 prenatal screening records were collected. Among them, 947 pregnant women who tested positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) near delivery and their 960 neonates were included in an HBV-exposed group, while 29 pregnant women who tested negative and their 30 neonates were included in an HBV-nonexposed group. HBV markers in maternal peripheral blood and neonatal cord blood were analyzed using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, logistic regression, chi-square test, t-test, and U-test. Additionally, to further evaluate the diagnostic value of HBsAg positivity in cord blood, we conducted an additional follow-up study on 103 infants who tested positive for HBsAg in their cord blood. RESULTS: The prevalence of HBV among pregnant women was 2.5% (947/37,557), with a declining trend every year (χ²4=19.7; P=.001). From 2018 to 2020, only 33.0% (35/106) of eligible pregnant women received antiviral medication treatment. Using LASSO regression to screen risk factors correlated with HBsAg positivity in cord blood (when log [λ] reached a minimum value of -5.02), 5 variables with nonzero coefficients were selected, including maternal hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg) status, maternal hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) status, maternal HBV DNA load, delivery method, and neonatal birth weight. Through univariate and multivariate logistic regression, delivery by cesarean section (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.52, 95% CI 0.31-0.87), maternal HBeAg positivity (aOR 2.05, 95% CI 1.27-3.33), low maternal viral load (aOR 2.69, 95% CI 1.33-5.46), and high maternal viral load (aOR 2.69, 95% CI 1.32-5.51) were found to be strongly associated with cord blood HBsAg positivity. In the additional follow-up study, 61 infants successfully completed the follow-up, and only 2 were found to be infected with HBV. The mothers of both these infants had detectable HBV DNA levels and should have received standard antiviral therapy. The results of the hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) positivity rate and titer test indicated a gradual decline in the immunity of vaccinated infants as the interval after vaccination increased. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical relevance of HBV marker detection in cord blood is restricted within the current prevention measures for MTCT. There is an emphasis on the significance of public education regarding hepatitis B and the reinforcement of postnatal follow-up for the prevention of MTCT.

Correction: Highly stable color-tunable organic long-persistent luminescence from a single-component exciplex copolymer for in vitro antibacterial.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D4SC02839B.].

Prevalence and factors associated with burnout among primary health-care workers in China during COVID-19: a national survey.

BACKGROUND: Primary health-care workers (PHWs) managed increased workloads and pressure during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study conducted a national survey examining burnout among PHWs at the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, and identifies related factors. By doing so, it addresses the gap in understanding the burnout situation among PHWs at a national level, taking into account urban-rural disparities. METHODS: We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional survey of PHWs in China from May to October 2022, covering 31 provinces. The MBI-HSS was used to measure overall burnout and emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and reduced personal accomplishment (PA). We used multivariable logistic regression to identify risk factors, and subgroup analyses to identify differences between rural and urban areas. RESULTS: 3769 PHWs from 44 primary health-care institutions completed the survey. Overall, 16.6% reported overall burnout, and the prevalence of EE, DP, and reduced PA was 29.7%, 28.0%, and 62.9%, respectively. The prevalence of overall burnout (17.6% vs. 13.7%, P = 0.004) and EE (31.5% vs. 24.8%, P < 0.001) was higher in urban than rural areas (AOR = 1.285; 95%CI, 1.021-1.617). Job satisfaction was a protective factor against burnout in both settings. The protective factors of overall burnout, EE and DP vary between urban and rural areas. CONCLUSIONS: The Mental Health Status Questionnaire-Short Form (MSQ-SF) score functioned as a protective factor against burnout across both rural and urban locales, highlighting the intrinsic link between job satisfaction and burnout. Other influencing factors differed between urban and rural areas, so interventions should be tailored to local conditions. Rural married PHWs experienced the lower prevalence of burnout indicates the support structure may play a significant role. In urban settings, it is recommended to strategically pre-emptively stock essential supplies like PPE.

Postmortem distribution of ropivacaine and its metabolite in human body fluids and solid tissues by GC-MS/MS using standard addition method.

PURPOSE: An analytical method was developed for determining ropivacaine and its main metabolite, 3-hydroxyropivacaine in biomedical samples using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). Then, this established method was applied to investigate the distribution of ropivacaine and its metabolite in human fluids and solid tissues obtained from an authentic case ropivacaine involved. METHODS: The fluid sample was added acetonitrile, and solid tissue was homogenized using a freezer mill and then added into acetonitrile. Then, an internal standard solution was added to the mixtures. The mixture was centrifuged at 12,000 × g for 5 min, and the upper layer of acetonitrile was transferred to magnesium sulfate and octadecyl silica (C18) gel for cleaning up the sample. After centrifugation, the upper layer was then evaporated to dryness with nitrogen, and dissolved with methanol, then injected into the GC-MS/MS system. RESULTS: The coefficients of determination (r2) of constructed calibration curves were all greater than 0.999. The limits of detection for ropivacaine and 3-hydroxyropivacaine in target samples were 15 ng/mL and 10 ng/mL, respectively. The recovery rates of ropivacaine and 3-hydroxyropivacaine ranged from 97.6% to 103% and from 96.5% to 104%, respectively. The inter-day precision values of ropivacaine and 3-hydroxyropivacaine were not greater than 6.25% and 7.98%, respectively, and the inter-day trueness values were not greater than 6.90% and 8.33%, respectively; the intra-day precision and trueness values of ropivacaine and 3-hydroxyropivacaine were not greater than 3.20%, 6.78%, 7.84% and 8.99%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: GC-MS/MS method for simultaneous detection and quantification of ropivacaine and 3-hydroxyropivacaine in biological samples was successfully developed. The method could also be applied to samples obtained from an authentic case; their distribution among tested fluids and solid tissues were also measured. This is the first report on the distribution of ropivacaine and its major metabolite 3-hydroxyropivacaine in a human case.

Bioinspired hierarchical and dual-morphology humic-acid/pectin/chitosan composite aerogels for efficient removal of pollutants from wastewater.

How to solve the contradiction between the efficiency and adsorption rate of porous materials in adsorbing pollutants has always been one of the focus issues. In this study, the small landscape cypress trees structure like biomimetic of a hierarchical and dual morphology 3D porous HA-based aerogel was designed and synthesized to use humic acid (HA), pectin (PE) and chitosan (CTS) as raw materials, which it was formed by the disorderly overlapping of lamella composed of fiber networks in 3D space. Due to its special microstructure, it can be used like separation membrane, which allowing for rapid adsorption of pollutants in the water while the water flow passes through quick. In general, this work provides a new concept for owning fast adsorption rate and efficient adsorption of porous materials of preparation to use green method.

Clinical efficacy of a rehabilitation management protocol for urinary incontinence after robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the application of a rehabilitation management protocol for urinary incontinence after robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 114 patients who underwent RALP between August 2021 and November 2021 as the control group and a prospective analysis of 114 patients who underwent RALP between May 2022 and August 2022 as the experimental group. The rehabilitation management protocol focused on preoperative stage, postoperative care, day of catheter removal, 1 month postoperative, 3 months postoperative, 6 months postoperative, and 12 months or more postoperative. RESULTS: The 24-h pad test was significantly lower in the experimental group compared with the control group at 2 and 6 months after RALP (both P < 0.01). The scores of the international consultation on incontinence questionnaire-short form (ICIQ-SF) in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group at 1 month after RALP (P < 0.01).The scores of quality of life in the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group at 1, 2, and 6 months after RALP (all P < 0.01).The scores of Broome Pelvic Muscle Self-efficacy Scale (BPMSES) were lower than those of the control group at 1, 2, 3, and 6 months after RALP (all P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The application of the rehabilitation management protocol had significant beneficial effects on urinary functions and quality of life in patients with prostate cancer after RALP.

Highly stable color-tunable organic long-persistent luminescence from a single-component exciplex copolymer for in vitro antibacterial.

Developing exciplex-based organic long-persistent luminescence (OLPL) materials with high stability is very important but remains a formidable challenge in a single-component system. Here, we report a facile strategy to achieve highly stable OLPL in an amorphous exciplex copolymer system via through-space charge transfer (TSCT). The copolymer composed of electron donor and acceptor units can not only exhibit effective TSCT for intra/intermolecular exciplex emission but also construct a rigid environment to isolate oxygen and suppress non-radiative decay, thereby enabling stable exciplex-based OLPL emission with color-tunable feature for more than 100 h under ambient conditions. These single-component OLPL copolymers demonstrate robust antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli under visible light irradiation. These results provide a solid example to exploit highly stable exciplex-based OLPL in polymers, shedding light on how the TSCT mechanism may potentially contribute to OLPL in a single-component molecular system and broadening the scope of OLPL applications.

Prevalence and management of pulmonary nodules: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Pulmonary nodules are small, focal lesions often identified via computed tomography (CT) scans. Although the majority are benign, a small percentage of them may be malignant or potentially become malignant, underscoring the importance of early detection and effective management. This study systematically reviews the epidemiology, risk factors, and management strategies for pulmonary nodules, comparing findings across Chinese and non-Chinese populations to better inform the actuarial calculations for predicting the demand of medical services for patients with pulmonary nodules. Methods: We performed a systematic analysis of the PubMed and China Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases for studies reporting the detection rate of pulmonary nodules through CT scans. Both cross-sectional studies and the baseline data from longitudinal studies were included. A modified version of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the risk of bias and random effect models were used to estimate the overall prevalence. Results: We identified 32 studies and included 24 of them in our meta-analysis. Pooled analysis showed that the overall prevalence of pulmonary nodules was 0.27 (95% confidence interval: 0.25-0.29) after outliers removal. Subgroup analysis showed that there was no significant difference for prevalence between Chinese and non-Chinese populations. Males (0.38) were shown to have slightly higher prevalence compared to females (0.36), but not significant (P=0.88). Age and smoking are the most frequently reported risk factors by studies. Conclusions: Overall, 27% of participants were positive for pulmonary nodules. Advancing age and smoking were consistently identified as a key risk factor for the incidence of pulmonary nodules. Although the management strategies are different across studies, recent guidelines recommend personalized management strategies, prioritizing nodule size, characteristics, and individual risk factors to optimize outcomes.

N-level complex helical structure modeling method.

This paper primarily explores the modeling method of n-level complex helical structures with coal mining machine cables as the research object. The paper first elaborately introduces the modeling method of n-level helix curves based on parametric equations and coordinate transformations, and compensates for the n-level helix curves with corrected pitch, which can obtain more accurate n-level helix curves and improve the accuracy of n-level helix curves modeling. Subsequently, based on this high-precision n-level helix curves modeling method, the paper elaborates on the method of solving pitch and twisting radius of multi-layer helical structure. Calculation scripts were written based on the above methods, which can be used to batch calculate the twisting radius and pitch of each layer structure in multi-layer structures when satisfying the conditions of in-layer tangency, inter-layer tangency, and extrusion deformation, and retain the actual results through logical judgment. Then, based on the above two methods, the paper developed a modeling method for braided structures based on piecewise functions containing fifth-order polynomials, which can effectively avoid the problem of insufficiently dense arrangement of braided lines and easy interference in traditional methods. Finally, a set of modeling tools was developed using C# and Python in Grasshopper to implement the modeling algorithm. Taking the MCPT-1.9/3.3 3120 + 170 + 4 * 10 coal mining machine cable as an example. The cable was modeled using both the method proposed in this paper and the traditional method. Comparative data shows that the method proposed in this paper can reduce errors by 3.31E6 times in the second-level and above helical structures. In addition this paper compares the standard line length, measured line length, and the line length established by the proposed model, showing that the relative errors are both less than 0.1941%. This paper provides a new, systematic, high-precision, and full-process cable modeling method, in which all parameters except the process parameters are accurately solved by equations. It lays a theoretical foundation for the high-precision simulation and intelligent sensing cables, which is of great significance for improving the safety, stability, and efficient development of the coal mining industry. The research results of the paper can not only be applied to the modeling of coal mining machine cables but also can be extended to the modeling of other complex multi-layer helical structures.

Assessing the causal relationship between frailty and sex hormone-binding globulin or insulin-like growth factor-1 levels: A sex-stratified bidirectional Mendelian Randomization study.

BACKGROUND: The association between frailty and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) or insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1) levels demonstrates sex differences with inconsistent conclusions. This study aims to explore the causal relationship between frailty and SHBG or IGF-1 levels through bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR). METHODS: We conducted two-sample bidirectional sex-stratified MR analyses using summary-level data from genome-wide association studies (GWASs) to examine the causal relationship between frailty and IGF-1 or SHBG levels, as measured by frailty index (FI) and frailty phenotype (FP). We use the random-effects inverse-variance weighted (IVW), weighted median, MR-Egger, MR-Egger intercept, and leave-one-out approaches. RESULT: The relationship between frailty and SHBG or IGF-1 levels is inversely related, with a significant decrease in SHBG levels in females. Specifically, SHBG levels significantly decrease with FI (ß = -5.49; 95 % CI: -9.67 to -1.32; FDR = 0.02) and more pronounced with FP (ß = -10.14; 95 % CI: -16.16 to -4.13; FDR = 0.01), as determined by the IVW approach. However, reverse analysis shows no significant effect of IGF-1 or SHBG levels on either FI or FP (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study indicates a negative correlation between frailty and the levels of SHBG and IGF-1. It is suggested that further research is required to establish cut-off values for SHBG and IGF-1 levels in the frailty population. This is particularly important for females at higher risk, such as those undergoing menopause, to enable comprehensive assessment and early prevention efforts. While the findings imply that reduced IGF-1 and SHBG levels may not directly contribute to frailty, it is important not to overlook the underlying mechanisms through which they may indirectly influence frailty.

Corrosion Behavior of 3104 Aluminum Cans When Used as Packaging for Chinese Liquor.

Aluminum cans are commonly used for packaging soft drinks and low-alcohol beverages due to their good recyclability. To enhance the economic cycle and expand the packaging of liquors, the feasibility of commercial 3104 aluminum cans for packaging Chinese liquor was studied. The aluminum's migration into alcoholic solutions was studied using inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was used to study the corrosion process of epoxy coatings on the aluminum cans. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), infrared attenuated total reflection (IR-ATR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to determine the inner coatings and adhering surfaces of the cans and the corrosion process. The results showed that the maximum aluminum migration in Chinese liquor was 4.3572 mg/kg at 60 °C for 30 days. The epoxy coating was corroded enough to decrease the coating impedance and expose the metal substrate after 25 days. Permeation and aging degradation of coatings are the main factors to consider when packaging liquor.

Conjoint analysis of succinylome and phosphorylome reveals imbalanced HDAC phosphorylation-driven succinylayion dynamic contibutes to lung cancer.

Cancerous genetic mutations result in a complex and comprehensive post-translational modification (PTM) dynamics, in which protein succinylation is well known for its ability to reprogram cell metabolism and is involved in the malignant evolution. Little is known about the regulatory interactions between succinylation and other PTMs in the PTM network. Here, we developed a conjoint analysis and systematic clustering method to explore the intermodification communications between succinylome and phosphorylome from eight lung cancer patients. We found that the intermodification coorperation in both parallel and series. Besides directly participating in metabolism pathways, some phosphosites out of mitochondria were identified as an upstream regulatory modification directing succinylome dynamics in cancer metabolism reprogramming. Phosphorylated activation of histone deacetylase (HDAC) in lung cancer resulted in the removal of acetylation and favored the occurrence of succinylation modification of mitochondrial proteins. These results suggest a tandem regulation between succinylation and phosphorylation in the PTM network and provide HDAC-related targets for intervening mitochondrial succinylation and cancer metabolism reprogramming.

Bacterial outer membrane vesicles increase polymyxin resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa while inhibiting its quorum sensing.

The persistent emergence of multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens is leading to a decline in the therapeutic efficacy of antibiotics, with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) emerging as a notable threat. We investigated the antibiotic resistance and quorum sensing (QS) system of P. aeruginosa, with a particular focused on outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) and polymyxin B as the last line of antibiotic defense. Our findings indicate that OMVs increase the resistance of P. aeruginosa to polymyxin B. The overall gene transcription levels within P. aeruginosa also reveal that OMVs can reduce the efficacy of polymyxin B. However, both OMVs and sublethal concentrations of polymyxin B suppressed the transcription levels of genes associated with the QS system. Furthermore, OMVs and polymyxin B acted in concert on the QS system of P. aeruginosa to produce a more potent inhibitory effect. This suppression was evidenced by a decrease in the secretion of virulence factors, impaired bacterial motility, and a notable decline in the ability to form biofilms. These results reveal that OMVs enhance the resistance of P. aeruginosa to polymyxin B, yet they collaborate with polymyxin B to inhibit the QS system. Our research contribute to a deeper understanding of the resistance mechanisms of P. aeruginosa in the environment, and provide new insights into the reduction of bacterial infections caused by P. aeruginosa through the QS system.

Trace-level Gabapentin can induce cardiovascular developmental toxicity through apoptosis in zebrafish larvae.

Gabapentin (GBP), an antiepileptic drug to treat epilepsy and neuropathic pain, has become an emerging pollutant in aquatic environments. Previous results suggested that GBP can cause a potential toxicity on the heart development of zebrafish but its cardiovascular effects are still not clear. In the current study, zebrafish embryos were exposed to GBP at environmental relevant concentrations (0, 0.1, 10 and 1000 µg/L) to assess its impact on cardiovascular systems during the early life stage of zebrafish. GBP exposure induced an increase in heartbeat rate and blood flow. The development of blood vessels was also affected with the vascular width significantly decreased at 10 µg/L and higher concentration of GBP. GBP exposure led to an abnormal vascular development by inhibiting the expression of relevant genes (flk1, vegfr-3, gata1, vegfα, and vegfr-2). Furthermore, GBP at 0.1 µg/L elevated the levels of reactive oxygen species and antioxidant enzyme. The vascular cell apoptosis was promoted through genes like p53, bad, and bcl2. However, these adverse effects were reversible with the antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine, highlighting the crucial role of oxidative damage in GBP induced vascular toxicity. This research offers new perspectives on the adverse outcome pathways of antiepileptic drugs in non-target aquatic organisms.

Effects of soy protein-rich meals on muscle health of older adults in long-term care: A randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effects of a soy protein-rich meal intervention on the muscle health of older adults in long-term care facilities. METHODS: A 12-week single-center randomized controlled trial with a control-group and open-label design was conducted. Eighty-four older adults from a long-term care facility participated in the study. The chefs at the facility cooked three meals using soy protein-rich recipes designed by dieticians. For 12 weeks, the intervention group participants consumed three meals with 30 g of soy protein (10 g/meal) per day, and the control group participants maintained their habitual diets. RESULTS: The 84 participants (mean age, 84.9 ± 7.0 years; 61.9% female) were randomly assigned to an intervention group (43 participants) and a control group (41 participants). The intervention group exhibited significant increases in several lean mass indicators, namely soft lean mass (mean, 1.43 kg; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.20-1.65 kg), skeletal muscle mass (mean, 1.20 kg; 95% CI: 0.43-1.96 kg), appendicular skeletal muscle mass (mean, 0.79 kg; 95% CI: 0.07-1.52 kg), and skeletal muscle index (mean, 0.37 kg/m2; 95% CI: 0.05-0.68 kg/m2) (all P < 0.05). These changes were not observed in the control group (all P > 0.05). Notably, calf circumference decreased significantly in the control group (mean, -0.98 cm; 95% CI: -1.61 to -0.36 cm) but was maintained in the intervention group. The differences in the calf circumference and 6-m walk performance of the two groups were significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The 12-week soy protein-rich meal intervention improved the muscle mass and 6-m walk performance of older adults in a long-term care facility.

Major pathological response obtained after neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with dual immunotherapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma: a case report.

Background: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare thoracic malignancy with high morbidity and mortality. A combination of systemic therapy and surgery may be a promising modality for the treatment of MPM, but evidence-based medicine is still lacking. Case Description: Here we report a case of MPM. The patient presented to hospital with cough and sputum. After ineffective symptomatic treatment, computed tomography (CT) examination suggested a malignant tumor of pleural origin. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) examination suggested no lymph node metastasis or distant metastasis. The pathologic diagnosis of MPM was confirmed after CT-guided puncture biopsy. Next, she underwent 3 courses of neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with dual immunotherapy (carboplatin and pemetrexed combined with anti-CTLA4 and anti-PD-1), resulting in significant tumor shrinkage. After obtaining the patient's consent and completing a preoperative evaluation, we modified the extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) and pleurectomy/decortication (P/D) by performing a lower lobe resection and partial pleurectomy of the left lung. Intraoperative rapid frozen pathology suggested that the margins of the tumor were negative and complete resection was achieved. The postoperative pathology report showed 10% residual viable tumor, so the major pathological response (MPR) was achieved after treatment. Conclusions: MPM might respond well to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and dual immunotherapy, improving the probability of complete surgical resection and attaining an encouraging pathologic response.

Efficient Aperture Fill Time Correction for Wideband Sparse Array Using Improved Variable Fractional Delay Filters.

To solve the problem of aperture fill time (AFT) for wideband sparse arrays, variable fractional delay (VFD) FIR filters are applied to eliminate linear coupling between spatial and time domains. However, the large dimensions of the filter coefficient matrix result in high system complexity. To alleviate the computational burden of solving VFD filter coefficients, a novel multi-regultion minimax (MRMM) model utilizing the sparse representation technique has been presented. The error function is constrained by the introduction of L2-norm and L1-norm regularizations within the minimax criterion. The L2-norm effectively resolves the problems of overfitting and non-unique solutions that arise in the sparse optimization of traditional minimax (MM) models. Meanwhile, the use of multiple L1-norms enables the optimal design of the smallest sub-filter number and order of the VFD filter. To solve the established nonconvex model, an improved sequential-alternating direction method of multipliers (S-ADMM) algorithm for filter coefficients is proposed, which utilizes sequential alternation to iteratively update multiple soft-thresholding problems. The experimental results show that the optimized VFD filter reduces system complexity significantly and corrects AFT effectively in a wideband sparse array.

Single cell transcriptomic analysis reveals tumor immune infiltration by NK cells gene signature in lung adenocarcinoma.

Background: Natural Killer (NK) cells are vital components of the innate immune system, crucial for combating infections and tumor growth, making them pivotal in cancer prognosis and immunotherapy. We sought to understand the diverse characteristics of NK cells within lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) by conducting single-cell RNA sequencing analyses. Methods: Using the scRNA-seq dataset for multiple primary lung cancers (MPLCs), we examined two major NK cell groups, NK1 and NK2, comparing the expression profiles of 422 differentially expressed NK signature genes. We identified eight genes (SPON2, PLEKHG3, CAMK2N1, RAB27B, CTBP2, EFHD2, GOLM1, and PLOD1) that distinguish NK1 from NK2 cells. A prognostic signature, the NK gene signature (NKGS) score, was established through LASSO Cox regression. High NKGS scores were linked to poorer overall survival in TCGA-LUAD patients and consistently validated in other datasets (GSE31210 and GSE14814). Results: Functional analysis revealed an enrichment of genes related to the TGF-ß signaling pathway in the high NKGS score group. Moreover, a high NKGS score correlated with an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) driven by immune evasion mechanisms. We also observed reduced T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire diversity in the high-risk NKGS group, indicating a negative association between inflammation and risk score. Conclusion: This study introduced the innovative NKGS score, differentiating NK1 from NK2 cells. High NKGS scores were associated with the TGF-ß pathway and provided insights into LUAD prognosis and immune activities.

Serum metabolism distribution in individuals exposed to dioxins: A case study of residents near the municipal solid waste incinerators in China.

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) have attracted considerable attention owing to their environmental persistence, bioaccumulation, and high toxicity. This study aimed to investigate changes in serum metabolites following exposure to PCDD/Fs and to reveal a novel pathogenesis of PCDD/Fs. Serum samples were collected from 75 residents living near a municipal solid waste incinerator in China to analyse the relationship between PCDD/Fs and serum metabolic components. The serum level in the low-exposure group [19.07 (13.44-23.89) pg-TEQ/L] was significantly lower than that in the high-exposure group [115.60 (52.28-592.65) pg-TEQ/L]. Non-targeted metabolomic studies based on liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry have been applied to the metabolomic analysis of serum. Thirty-seven metabolites with significant differences among the different groups were identified as biomarkers. Pathway analysis revealed that high dioxin exposure perturbed various biological processes, including glycerol phospholipid metabolism and the interconversion of pentose and glucuronate. The results of a population health survey showed that the serum dioxin concentration in patients with diabetes was significantly higher than that in the control population. These findings suggest that dioxin exposure is associated with several potential adverse health risks, including inflammation, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, through metabolic changes.

Oxidative damage and cardiotoxicity induced by 2-aminobenzothiazole in zebrafish (Danio rerio).

There is limited information available on cardiovascular toxicity of 2-Aminobenzothiazole (NTH), a derivative of benzothiazole (BTH) commonly used in tire production, in aquatic organisms. In the present study, the zebrafish embryos were exposed to varying concentrations of NTH (0, 0.05, 0.5, and 5 mg/L) until adulthood and the potential cardiovascular toxicity was assessed. NTH exposure resulted in striking aberrations in cardiac development, including heart looping failure and interference with atrioventricular canal differentiation. RNA-sequencing analysis indicated that NTH causes oxidative damage to the heart via ferroptosis, leading to oxygen supply disruption, cardiac malformation, and ultimately, zebrafish death. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis demonstrated the dysregulation of genes associated with early heart development, contraction, and oxidative stress. Additionally, reactive oxygen species accumulation and glutathione/malondialdehyde levels changes suggested a potential link between cardiac developmental toxicity and oxidative stress. In adult zebrafish, NTH exposure led to ventricular enlargement, decreased heart rate, reduced blood flow, and prolonged RR, QRS, and QTc intervals. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to provide evidence of cardiac toxicity and the adverse effects of ontogenetic NTH exposure in zebrafish, revealing the underlying toxic mechanisms connected with oxidative stress damage. These findings may provide crucial insights into the environmental risks associated with NTH and other BTHs.