Gait Analysis with Wearable Sensors in Isolated REM Sleep Behavior Disorder Associated with Phenoconversion: An Explorative Study.

Background: Gait disturbance is a vital characteristic of motor manifestation in α- synucleinopathies, especially Parkinson's disease. Subtle gait alterations are present in isolated rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) patients before phenoconversion; it is yet unclear, if gait analysis may predict phenoconversion. Objective: To investigate subtle gait alterations and explore whether gait analysis using wearable sensors is associated with phenoconversion of iRBD to α-synucleinopathies. Methods: Thirty-one polysomnography-confirmed iRBD patients and 33 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled at baseline. All participants walked for a minute while wearing 6 inertial sensors on bilateral wrists, ankles, and the trunk (sternal and lumbar region). Three conditions were tested: (i) normal walking, (ii) fast walking, and (iii) dual-task walking. Results: Decreased arm range of motion and increased gait variation (stride length, stride time and stride velocity) discriminate converters from HCs at baseline. After an average of 5.40 years of follow-up, 10 patients converted to neurodegenerative diseases (converters). Cox regression analysis showed higher value of stride length asymmetry under normal walking condition to be associated with an early conversion of iRBD to α- synucleinopathies (adjusted HR 4.468, 95% CI 1.088- 18.349, p = 0.038). Conclusions: Stride length asymmetry is associated with progression to α- synucleinopathies in patients with iRBD. Gait analysis with wearable sensors may be useful for screening, monitoring, and risk stratification for disease-modifying therapy trials in patients with iRBD.

Targeting Hydrogel for Intelligent Recognition and Spatiotemporal Control in Cell-Based Therapeutics.

Smart drug platforms based on spatiotemporally controlled release and integration of tumor imaging are expected to overcome the inefficiency and uncertainty of traditional theranostic modes. In this study, a composite consisting of a thermosensitive hydrogel (polyvinyl alcohol-carboxylic acid hydrogel (PCF)) and a multifunctional nanoparticle (Fe3O4@Au/Mn(Zn)-4-carboxyphenyl porphyrin/polydopamine (FAMxP)) is developed to combine tumor immunogenic cell death (ICD)/immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy under the guidance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and fluorescence imaging (FI). It can not only further recognize the target cells through the folate receptor of tumor cells, but also produce thermal dissolution after exposure to near-infrared light to slowly release FAMxP in situ, thereby prolonging the treatment time and avoiding tumor recurrence. As FAMxP entered the tumor cells, it released FAMx in a pH-dependent manner. Chemodynamic, photothermal and photodynamic therapy can cause significant ICD in cancer cells. ICB can thus be further enhanced by injecting anti-programmed cell death ligand 1, improving the effectiveness of tumor treatment. The developed PCF-FAMxP composite hydrogel may represent an updated drug design approach with simple compositions for cooperative MRI/FI-guided targeted therapeutic pathways for tumors.

[Tongdu Tiaoshen acupuncture for subjective tinnitus:a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of Tongdu Tiaoshen acupuncture (acupuncture for promoting the circulation of the governor vessel and regulating the spirit) for subjective tinnitus, and explore its potential mechanism. METHODS: A total of 92 patients with subjective tinnitus were randomly divided into an acupuncture group (46 cases, 5 cases dropped out) and a medication group (46 cases, 2 cases dropped out). The acupuncture group received Tongdu Tiaoshen acupuncture at Shuigou (GV 26), Yintang (GV 24+), Shenting (GV 24), Baihui (GV 20), Fengfu (GV 16), Dazhui (GV 14) and Zhongzhu (TE 3), Tinghui (GB 2), Yifeng (TE 17) on the affected side, 30 min each time, once every other day, 3 times a week. The medication group was orally administered ginkgo biloba leaves tablets (40 mg each time) and mecobalamin tablets (0.5 mg each time), 3 times a day. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks. The scores of tinnitus severity, tinnitus loudness visual analogue scale (VAS) and depression anxiety stress scale-21(DASS-21) before and after treatment were observed in the two groups, serum level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) before and after treatment in the two groups was detected, and the clinical effect was evaluated in the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment，the scores of tinnitus severity, tinnitus loudness VAS and DASS-21 were decreased compared with those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.01), and the scores in the acupuncture group were lower than those in the medication group (P<0.05). After treatment, the serum level of BDNF was decreased compared with that before treatment in the two groups (P<0.01), and the serum level of BDNF in the acupuncture group was lower than that in the medication group (P<0.05). The total effective rate of the acupuncture group was 82.9% (34/41), which was higher than 70.5% (31/44) in the medication group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Tongdu Tiaoshen acupuncture could improve the severity of tinnitus, tinnitus loudness and negative emotion in patients with subjective tinnitus. Its mechanism may be related to the regulation of serum level of BDNF and thus affect auditory central plasticity.

Efficacy and Safety of Remimazolam Versus Etomidate for Induction of General Anesthesia: Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Postinduction hypotension (PIHO) is a hemodynamic abnormality commonly observed during the induction of general anesthesia. Etomidate is considered a safer drug for the induction of anesthesia because it has only minor adverse effects on the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems. Recent evidence indicates that the novel benzodiazepine remimazolam has minimal inhibitory effects on the circulation and respiration. However, the efficacy and safety of remimazolam versus etomidate in the induction of anesthesia are unclear. OBJECTIVE: To further understand the potential of remimazolam in anesthesia induction, it is necessary to design a meta-analysis to compare its effects versus the classic safe anesthetic etomidate. The aim of this study is to determine which drug has more stable hemodynamics and a lower incidence of PIHO. Our study will also yield data on sedation efficiency, time to loss of consciousness, time to awakening, incidence of injection pain, and postoperative nausea and vomiting with the two drugs. METHODS: We plan to search the Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang databases from the date of their creation until March 31, 2025. The language is limited to English and Chinese. The search terms are "randomized controlled trials," "etomidate," and "remimazolam." The incidence of PIHO is the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcomes include depth of anesthesia after induction, sedation success rate, time to loss of consciousness, hemodynamic profiles, recovery time, incidence of injection pain, and postoperative nausea and vomiting. Reviews, meta-analyses, case studies, abstracts from conferences, and commentaries will not be included. The heterogeneity of the results will be evaluated by sensitivity and subgroup analyses. RevMan software and Stata software will be used for data analysis. We will evaluate the quality of included studies using version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. The confidence of the evidence will be assessed through the Grading of Recommendations, Assessments, Developments, and Evaluations system. RESULTS: The protocol was registered in the international PROSPERO (Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews) registry in November 2023. As of June 2024, we have performed a preliminary article search and retrieval for further review. The review and analyses are expected to be completed in March 2025. We expect to submit manuscripts for peer review by the end of June 2025. CONCLUSIONS: By synthesizing the available evidence and comparing remimazolam and etomidate, we hope to provide valuable insights into the selection of anesthesia-inducing drugs to reduce the incidence of PIHO and improve patient prognosis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42023463120; https://tinyurl.com/333jb8bm. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/55948.

The roles of Braun Lipoprotein in inducing tolerance of bovine endometrium infected by Escherichia coli.

Escherichia coli (E. coli), a Gram-negative bacterium, is the primary pathogen responsible for endometritis in dairy cattle. The outer membrane components of E. coli, namely lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and bacterial lipoprotein, have the capacity to trigger the host's innate immune response through pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). Tolerance to bacterial cell wall components, including LPS, may play a crucial role as an essential regulatory mechanism during bacterial infection. However, the precise role of Braun lipoprotein (BLP) tolerance in E. coli-induced endometritis in dairy cattle remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the impact of BLP on the regulation of E. coli infection-induced endometritis in dairy cattle. The presence of BLP was found to diminish the expression and release of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-8 and IL-6), while concurrently promoting the expression and release of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in endometrial epithelial cells (EECs). Furthermore, BLP demonstrated the ability to impede the activation of MAPK (ERK and p38) and NF-κB (p65) signaling pathways, while simultaneously enhancing signaling through the STAT3 pathway in EECs. Notably, BLP exhibited a dual role, acting both as an activator of TLR2 and as a regulator of TLR2 activation in LPS- and E. coli-treated EECs. In E. coli-infected endometrial explants, the presence of BLP was noted to decrease the release of proinflammatory cytokines and the expression of HMGB1, while simultaneously enhancing the release of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Collectively, our findings provide evidence that the bacterial component BLP plays a protective role in E. coli-induced endometritis in dairy cattle.

Superconductivity in Freestanding Infinite-Layer Nickelate Membranes.

The observation of superconductivity in infinite-layer nickelates has attracted significant attention due to its potential as a new platform for exploring high-Tc superconductivity. However, thus far, superconductivity has only been observed in epitaxial thin films, which limits the manipulation capabilities and modulation methods compared to two-dimensional exfoliated materials. Given the exceptionally giant strain tunability and stacking capability of freestanding membranes, separating superconducting nickelates from the as-grown substrate is a novel way to engineer the superconductivity and uncover the underlying physics. Herein, we report the synthesis of the superconducting freestanding La0.8Sr0.2NiO2 membranes (TC Zero = 10.6 K), emphasizing the crucial roles of the interface engineering in the precursor phase film growth and the quick transfer process in achieving superconductivity. Our work offers a new versatile platform for investigating the superconductivity in nickelates, such as the pairing symmetry via constructing Josephson tunneling junctions and higher Tc values via high-pressure experiments. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Photoexcitation-induced efficient detoxification and removal of arsenite in contaminated water by a layered double hydroxide-supported polyacrylate stabilized ferrous sulfide composite.

The effective detoxification and removal of arsenite (As(III)) has been widely concerned because of its strong toxicity and migration ability. In this study, we designed a layered double hydroxide-supported polyacrylate stabilized ferrous sulfide composite (PAA/FeS@LDH) and coupled it with UV excitation to purify As(III)-polluted water. The removal efficiency of As(III) under UV irradiation reached almost 100% in 120 min, and the first-order kinetic constant was 3.12 orders of magnitude higher than under dark. UV irradiation significantly accelerated the oxidation and detoxification of As(III) at the interface of PAA/FeS@LDH and treatment solution. It is attributable to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) intermediates, including .O2-, .OH, and SO4.- under UV irradiation, because of the presence of the photogenerated electron-hole pairs and iron valence states cycles. Importantly, .O2- may be rapidly captured and oxidized to 1O2 on the surface of PAA/FeS@LDH that is also an important contributor to the oxidation removal of As(III). Noticeably, As(III) concentrations in the real water were rapidly reduced to below the guideline limitation of drinking water (10 µg/L) within 20 min under UV irradiation. Our outcomes provide a novel photoexcitation treatment system for the efficient detoxification and removal of As from actual wastewater.

Quercetin inhibits breast cancer cell proliferation and survival by targeting Akt/mTOR/PTEN signaling pathway.

Recently, natural compounds such as quercetin have gained an increasing amount of attention in treating breast cancer. However, the exact mechanisms responsible for the antiproliferative functions of quercetin are not completely understood. Therefore, we aimed to examine quercetin impacts on breast cancer cell proliferation and survival and the involvement of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. Breast cancer MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells were exposed to quercetin, and cell proliferation was assessed by MTT assay. ELISA was applied to evaluate cell apoptosis. The expression levels of apoptotic mediators such as caspase-3, Bcl-2, Bax and PI3K, Akt, mTOR, and PTEN were assessed via qRT-PCR and western blot. We found that quercetin suppressed dose dependently cell growth capacity in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells. In addition, quercetin treatment increase apoptosis in both cells lines via modulating the pro- and antiapoptotic markers. Quercetin upregulated PTEN and downregulated PI3K, Akt, and mTOR, hence suppressing this signaling pathway in cells. In conclusion, we showed antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic function of quercetin in breast cancer cell lines, which is mediated by targeting and suppressing PI3K/Akt/mTOR signal transduction.

A whole-exome sequencing study of patent foramen ovale: investigating genetic variants and their association with cardiovascular disorders.

Background: Patent foramen ovale (PFO) has a genetic predisposition and is closely associated with cryptogenic stroke (CS), migraine, decompression sickness, and hypoxemia. Identifying PFO-related mutant genes through whole-exome sequencing (WES) can help in the early recognition of cardiovascular genetic risk factors, guide timely clinical intervention, and reduce the occurrence of cardiovascular events. Methods: We analyzed mutant genes from ClinVar and OMIM databases. WES was performed on 25 PFO patients from Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine. Pathogenicity of variants was evaluated using American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) and Association for Molecular Pathology. (AMP) guidelines. Results: In ClinVar (4 Feb 2023), 113 coding gene mutations were found, including 83 associated with PFO. From OMIM (18 Apr 2023), 184 gene mutations were analyzed, with 110 mutant coding genes. WES identified pathogenic mutations in two of 25 PFO patients (8%). LDLR, SDHC, and NKX2-5 genes were linked to PFO and primarily involved in myocardial tissue function. NKX2-5 may play a crucial role in PFO development, interacting with NOTCH1, GATA4, MYH6, SCN5A signaling pathways regulating cardiomyocyte characteristics. Conclusion: We identified pathogenic mutations in LDLR, SDHC, and NKX2-5 genes, implying their role in PFO development. Functional enrichment analysis revealed NKX2-5's interaction with signaling pathways regulating cardiomyocyte function. These findings enhance our understanding of PFO's genetic basis, suggesting potential therapeutic targets for future research.

A study on expression of GRP78 and CHOP in neutrophil endoplasmic reticulum and their relationship with neutrophil apoptosis in the development of sepsis.

We investigated the relationship between neutrophil apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in sepsis and its mechanism. A prospective cohort study was conducted by recruiting a total of 58 patients with sepsis. Peripheral blood samples were collected on 1, 3, 5 and 7 days after admission to the ICU. The expressions of endoplasmic reticulum specific glucose regulatory protein 78 (GRP78), C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1), Bcl-2-like 11 (BIM), death receptor 5 (DR5), c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) and p38 were detected by Western blot and PCR. The subcellular location of CHOP and GRP78 was observed by immunofluorescence analysis. Spearman correlation was used to analyze the correlation between the expression of chop protein and the apoptosis rate of peripheral blood neutrophils. Healthy volunteers in the same period were selected as the healthy control group. The expression of GRP78 protein was significantly elevated on the first day of ICU admission and showed a decreasing trend on the third, fifth and seventh day, but was significantly higher than the corresponding healthy control group. The expression of CHOP protein reached the highest level on the third day. The expression of chop protein in each group was significantly higher than that in the corresponding healthy control group. Immunofluorescence staining clearly showed that the CHOP protein accumulated in the nucleus, with an elevation in the intensity of GRP78. The neutrophil apoptosis rate of sepsis patients on the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th day of ICU stay was significantly higher than that of the healthy control group, with the highest apoptosis rate on the 3rd day, and then decreased gradually. CHOP protein expression level was significantly positively correlated with neutrophil apoptosis rate in sepsis patients. Endoplasmic reticulum stress occurs in neutrophils during the development of sepsis. GRP78 protein and CHOP protein may be involved in the pathological process of neutrophil apoptosis in sepsis.

Pan-cancer single-cell landscape of drug-metabolizing enzyme genes.

OBJECTIVE: Varied expression of drug-metabolizing enzymes (DME) genes dictates the intensity and duration of drug response in cancer treatment. This study aimed to investigate the transcriptional profile of DMEs in tumor microenvironment (TME) at single-cell level and their impact on individual responses to anticancer therapy. METHODS: Over 1.3 million cells from 481 normal/tumor samples across 9 solid cancer types were integrated to profile changes in the expression of DME genes. A ridge regression model based on the PRISM database was constructed to predict the influence of DME gene expression on drug sensitivity. RESULTS: Distinct expression patterns of DME genes were revealed at single-cell resolution across different cancer types. Several DME genes were highly enriched in epithelial cells (e.g. GPX2, TST and CYP3A5) or different TME components (e.g. CYP4F3 in monocytes). Particularly, GPX2 and TST were differentially expressed in epithelial cells from tumor samples compared to those from normal samples. Utilizing the PRISM database, we found that elevated expression of GPX2, CYP3A5 and reduced expression of TST was linked to enhanced sensitivity of particular chemo-drugs (e.g. gemcitabine, daunorubicin, dasatinib, vincristine, paclitaxel and oxaliplatin). CONCLUSION: Our findings underscore the varied expression pattern of DME genes in cancer cells and TME components, highlighting their potential as biomarkers for selecting appropriate chemotherapy agents.

Lymph node dissection before initial treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The effectiveness of removing lymph nodes before initial treatment in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer is still debated. This article presents a meta-analysis that systematically evaluates the impact of this approach on oncological outcomes. A systematic literature search of PubMed, Embase, Science Direct, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (up to December 2023) was performed to obtain relevant studies. The findings were combined using fixed-effects models to address potential differences. Combined risk ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Egger's test was used to assess publication bias. Out of 1025 screened articles, four studies (involving 838 women) met the inclusion criteria. The results showed that lymph node dissection before initial treatment did not affect overall survival (OS) in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer compared to concurrent radiotherapy (HR = 1.11, 95% CI = 0.91-1.36, P = 0.30). It also did not increase the incidence of postoperative complications or cause delays in radiotherapy. In particular, removing larger lymph nodes (>2cm) aided in defining the radiation field and decreasing radiotherapy-related complications. The surgical technique also had some impact on postoperative complications. In summary, in order to obtain the best therapeutic outcomes, personalized plans should be developed for each patient, accounting for their individual circumstances to achieve precise treatment and enhance their quality of life.

Poor subjective sleep quality and trait impulsivity in patients with bipolar disorder.

BACKGROUND: Sleep disturbance and impulsivity are key components of mood vulnerability in bipolar disorder (BD), but few studies have assessed the association between these two symptoms among patients with BD. METHODS: Forty-seven euthymic patients with bipolar I disorder (BDI) or bipolar II disorder (BDII) and 58 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Trait impulsivity was measured using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale Version 11 (BIS-11), which yielded 3 second-order factors: attention, motor, and non-planning. Subjective sleep quality was assessed using the self-reported Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). General linear models (GLMs) were used to assess the associations between subjective poor sleep and trait impulsivity with multiple testing corrections. RESULTS: Patients with BD scored higher in BIS-11 and PSQI than healthy controls. PSQI total scores positively correlated with BIS-11 total scores, while sleep disturbance and daytime dysfunction were associated with attentional impulsiveness after controlling for covariates. Participants with higher PSQI total scores (>10) had higher scores in BIS-11 total, attention, and non-planning than those with low PSQI scores (≤5). CONCLUSION: These findings support the hypothesis that poor sleep quality might lead to impulsivity and add to the growing evidence that improving sleep quality may be a therapeutic target for patients with BD.

SlPP2C2 interacts with FZY/SAUR and regulates tomato development via signaling crosstalk of ABA and auxin.

Abscisic acid (ABA) signaling interacts frequently with auxin signaling when it regulates plant development, affecting multiple physiological processes; however, to the best of our knowledge, their interaction during tomato development has not yet been reported. Here, we found that type 2C protein phosphatase (SlPP2C2) interacts with both flavin monooxygenase FZY, an indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) biosynthetic enzyme, and small auxin upregulated RNA (SAUR) of an IAA signaling protein and regulates their activity, thereby affecting the expression of IAA-responsive genes. The expression level of SlPP2C2 was increased by exogenous ABA, IAA, NaCl, or dehydration treatment of fruits, leaves, and seeds, and it decreased in imbibed seeds. Manipulating SlPP2C2 with overexpression, RNA interference, and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing resulted in pleiotropic changes, such as morphological changes in leaves, stem trichomes, floral organs and fruits, accompanied by alterations in IAA and ABA levels. Furthermore, the RNA-seq analysis indicated that SlPP2C2 regulates the expression of auxin-/IAA-responsive genes in different tissues of tomato. The results demonstrate that SlPP2C2-mediated ABA signaling regulates the development of both vegetative and reproductive organs via interaction with FZY/SAUR, which integrates the cross-talk of ABA and auxin signals during development and affects the expressions of development-related genes in tomato.

Syntheses and reactivities of strained fused-ring metallaaromatics containing planar eleven-carbon chains.

Carbolong complexes are one of the primary types of metallaaromatics, and they include metallapentalynes and metallapentalenes. A series of 7C-10C and 12C-carbolong complexes with planar ligand skeletons respectively containing 7-10 and 12 carbon atoms in their backbones, have been previously reported. Herein, two classes of strained substances, metallabenzyne-fused metallapentalenes and metallabenzene-fused metallapentalynes, were prepared, both representing 11C-carbolong complexes with a planar carbon-chain ligand. Furthermore, the former type is also the carbolong derivatives containing a metallabenzyne skeleton, another primary metallaaromatic framework. Metallabenzyne-fused metallapentalenes show versatile reactivities, and the most interesting one is the metal carbyne bond shift from a 6-membered to a more strained 5-membered ring, affording the above-mentioned metallabenzene-fused metallapentalyne. This work makes carbolong chemistry more complete, and provides a method to achieve metallabenzynes, which is anticipated to concurrently advance the development of these two types of metallaaromatics.

Chip-Based Electronic System for Quantum Key Distribution.

Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) has garnered significant attention due to its unconditional security based on the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics. While QKD has been demonstrated by various groups and commercial QKD products are available, the development of a fully chip-based QKD system, aimed at reducing costs, size, and power consumption, remains a significant technological challenge. Most researchers focus on the optical aspects, leaving the integration of the electronic components largely unexplored. In this paper, we present the design of a fully integrated electrical control chip for QKD applications. The chip, fabricated using 28 nm CMOS technology, comprises five main modules: an ARM processor for digital signal processing, delay cells for timing synchronization, ADC for sampling analog signals from monitors, OPAMP for signal amplification, and DAC for generating the required voltage for phase or intensity modulators. According to the simulations, the minimum delay is 11ps, the open-loop gain of the operational amplifier is 86.2 dB, the sampling rate of the ADC reaches 50 MHz, and the DAC achieves a high rate of 100 MHz. To the best of our knowledge, this marks the first design and evaluation of a fully integrated driver chip for QKD, holding the potential to significantly enhance QKD system performance. Thus, we believe our work could inspire future investigations toward the development of more efficient and reliable QKD systems.

Polycytosine RNA-binding protein 1 regulates osteoblast function via a ferroptosis pathway in type 2 diabetic osteoporosis.

BACKGROUND: Recently, type 2 diabetic osteoporosis (T2DOP) has become a research hotspot for the complications of diabetes, but the specific mechanism of its occurrence and development remains unknown. Ferroptosis caused by iron overload is con-sidered an important cause of T2DOP. Polycytosine RNA-binding protein 1 (PCBP1), an iron ion chaperone, is considered a protector of ferroptosis. AIM: To investigate the existence of ferroptosis and specific role of PCBP1 in the development of type 2 diabetes. METHODS: A cell counting kit-8 assay was used to detect changes in osteoblast viability under high glucose (HG) and/or ferroptosis inhibitors at different concentrations and times. Transmission electron microscopy was used to examine the morphological changes in the mitochondria of osteoblasts under HG, and western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of PCBP1, ferritin, and the ferroptosis-related protein glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4). A lentivirus silenced and overexpressed PCBP1. Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of the osteoblast functional proteins osteoprotegerin (OPG) and osteocalcin (OCN), whereas flow cytometry was used to detect changes in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in each group. RESULTS: Under HG, the viability of osteoblasts was considerably decreased, the number of mitochondria undergoing atrophy was considerably increased, PCBP1 and ferritin expression levels were increased, and GPX4 expression was decreased. Western blotting results demonstrated that infection with lentivirus overexpressing PCBP1, increased the expression levels of ferritin, GPX4, OPG, and OCN, compared with the HG group. Flow cytometry results showed a reduction in ROS, and an opposite result was obtained after silencing PCBP1. CONCLUSION: PCBP1 may protect osteoblasts and reduce the harm caused by ferroptosis by promoting ferritin expression under a HG environment. Moreover, PCBP1 may be a potential therapeutic target for T2DOP.

Comparison of the Efficacy and Prognostic Factors of Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection with Different Procedures for Colorectal Neuroendocrine Tumors.

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy, prognostic factors, and survival impact of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) versus endoscopic submucosal resection (ESR) in patients with colorectal neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 118 patients with colorectal NETs treated from January 2012 to December 2020. Patients were divided into the ESD group (n=59) and the ESR group (n=59) based on the surgical treatment method. We assessed the surgical efficacy, long-term survival, and factors influencing tumor recurrence using logistic regression analysis with clear criteria for group division. Results: En bloc resection, complete histological resection rates, and postoperative complications did not significantly differ between groups (P > .05). In the 33 patients with recurrence, those with tumor diameter < 10 mm, tumor grade G1, and negative resection margins were significantly fewer (P < .05). Logistic regression identified tumor diameter, grade, and resection margin status as significant predictors of recurrence (P < .05). There was no significant difference in distant metastasis, survival rates, and mortality between the groups (P > .05). Conclusions: ESD and ESR offer high clinical efficacy in treating colorectal NETs without significantly impacting prognosis or long-term survival. ESD, however, may be more suited for larger tumors due to its precise tissue removal capability. Future research should explore the long-term outcomes over 3 and 5 years to further validate these findings.

Screening and Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Among Unvaccinated Blood Donors in Chongqing, China.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the rate of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibody among unvaccinated voluntary blood donors in Chongqing, and to provide evidence for epidemic surveillance. METHODS: A total of 10,208 voluntary blood donors from January 5 to January 20, 2021, in the Chongqing area were collected, and the SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgM antibodies were detected by chemiluminescence, and the differences of antibody-positive rate in different gender, age, ABO blood group, and different risk areas were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 10208 blood donors, 10 were found to be positive for SARS-COV-2 IgG antibody, giving a positivity rate of SARS-COV-2 IgG at 0.10%, and 29 were positive for SARS-CoV-2 IgM antibody, with a positivity rate of SARS-CoV-2 IgM at 0.28%. There was no statistical difference in the positive rate of antibody among different genders, ages, and ABO blood types, but it was related to the number of confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in each city. CONCLUSIONS: The SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence rate in Chongqing was low and correlated with the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases.