[Application of ion chromatographic fingerprint analysis for quality evaluation of tobacco flavors].

Tobacco flavor, an important tobacco additive, is an essential raw material in cigarette production that can effectively improve the quality of tobacco products, add aroma and taste, and increase the suction flavor. The quality consistency of tobacco flavors affects the quality stability of branded cigarettes. Therefore, the quality control of tobacco flavors is a major concern for cigarette and flavor manufacturers. Physical and chemical indices, odor similarity, and sensory efficacy are employed to evaluate the quality of tobacco flavors, and the analysis of chemical components in tobacco flavors is usually conducted using gas chromatography (GC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). However, because the composition of tobacco flavors is complex, their quality cannot be fully reflected using a single component or combination of components. Therefore, establishing an objective analytical method for the quality control of tobacco flavors is of extreme importance. Chromatographic fingerprint analysis is routinely used for the discriminative analysis of tobacco flavors. Chromatographic fingerprints refer to the general characteristics of the concentration profiles of different chemical compounds. In the daily procurement process, fingerprints established by GC and HPLC are effective for the evaluation and identification of tobacco flavors. However, given continuous improvements in aroma-imitation technology, some flavors with high similarity cannot be directly distinguished using existing methods. In this study, a method for the determination of organic acids and inorganic anions in tobacco flavors based on ion chromatography (IC) was developed to ensure the quality consistency of tobacco flavors. A 1.0 g sample of tobacco flavors and 10 mL of deionized water were mixed and vibrated for 30 min. The aqueous sample solution was passed through a 0.45 µm membrane filter and RP pretreatment column in succession to eliminate interferences and then subjected to IC. Standard solutions containing nine organic acids and seven inorganic anions were used to identify the anions in the tobacco flavors, and satisfactory reproducibility was obtained. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) for retention times and peak areas were <0.71% and <6.02%, respectively. The chromatographic fingerprints of four types of tobacco flavors (samples A-D) from five different batches were obtained. Nine tobacco flavor samples from different manufacturers (samples AY1-AY3, BY1-BY2, CY1-CY2, DY1-DY2) were also analyzed to obtain their chromatographic fingerprints. Hierarchical cluster and similarity analyses were used to evaluate the quality of tobacco flavors from different manufacturers. Hierarchical clustering refers to the process of subdividing a group of samples into clusters that exhibit a high degree of intracluster similarity and intercluster dissimilarity. The dendrograms obtained using SPSS 12.0 indicated good quality consistency among the samples in different batches. Samples AY3, BY2, CY2, and DY1 clustered with the batches of standard tobacco flavors. Therefore, hierarchical cluster analysis can effectively distinguish the quality of products from different manufacturers. The Similarity Evaluation System for Chromatographic Fingerprint of Traditional Chinese Medicine (version 2.0) was used to evaluate the similarity between the standard tobacco flavors and products from different manufacturers. Among the samples analyzed, samples AY3, BY2, CY2, and DY1 showed the highest similarity values (>97.7%), which was consistent with the results of the hierarchical cluster analysis. This finding indicates that IC combined with chromatographic fingerprint analysis could accurately determine the quality of tobacco flavors. GC combined with ultrasonic-assisted liquid-liquid extraction was also used to analyze the tobacco flavors and verify the accuracy of the proposed method. Compared with GC coupled with ultrasonic-assisted liquid-liquid extraction, IC demonstrated more significant quality differences among certain tobacco flavors.

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm in Jinhua, China: Two case reports.

BACKGROUND: Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is a rare and clinically aggressive hematologic malignancy originating from the precursors of plasmacytoid dendritic cells. BPDCN often involves the skin, lymph nodes, and bone marrow, with rapid clinical progression and a poor prognosis. The BPDCN diagnosis is mainly based on the immunophenotype. CASE SUMMARY: In this paper, we retrospectively analyzed 2 cases of BPDCN. Both patients were elderly males. The lesions manifested as skin masses. Morphological manifestations included diffuse and dense tumor cell infiltration of the dermis and subcutaneous tissues. Immunohistochemistry staining showed that cluster of differentiation CD4, CD56, CD43, and CD123 were positive. CONCLUSION: In this paper, we retrospectively analyzed 2 cases of BPDCN. Both patients were elderly males. The lesions manifested as skin masses. Morphological manifestations included diffuse and dense tumor cell infiltration of the dermis and subcutaneous tissues. Immunohistochemistry staining showed that cluster of differentiation CD4, CD56, CD43, and CD123 were positive.

Effect of Kerosene Dual-Jet Spacing on the Mixing and Combustion Characteristics of a Scramjet Combustor.

As the core of a hypersonic propulsion system, the effective mixing efficiency of fuel and air in a supersonic combustor is crucial for its performance. This study focuses on a cold supersonic flow and employs computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques combined with Euler-Lagrange method's discrete-phase model (DPM) for multiphase flows, K-H and R-T (Kelvin-Helmholtz and Rayleigh-Taylor) mixing and atomization models, turbulence models, and surface evaporation models to investigate the injection, atomization, and mixing characteristics of kerosene in supersonic airflow. In order to enhance the mixing efficiency between kerosene and air while reducing flow losses, this study examines a staggered dual-jet injection scheme, with the dual jets arranged at the center of the cavity and having a dual-jet spacing of 10 and 20 mm, respectively. Starting from the interaction mechanism between jets, the impact of different staggered dual-jet spacings on the kerosene jet penetration height, span expansion area, angle of the shock wave, and Sauter mean diameter distribution was analyzed. The results show that a short dual-jet spacing (10 mm) leads to greater penetration height, wider span expansion, and a larger angle of the shock wave. When the dual-jet spacing is shorter, the interaction between the fuel jet and the cavity shear layer is stronger, resulting in an improved fuel mixing efficiency. The achievements of this study are consistent with previous experimental measurements and the literature, demonstrating a strong theoretical foundation for optimizing the design of hypersonic engines by deepening the understanding of the fundamental atomization mechanisms of kerosene jets in cold-state supersonic flows. Moreover, these results hold practical significance in improving the efficiency of kerosene combustion and enhancing the performance of flame stabilization devices.

Relationship of dietary nutrients with early childhood caries and caries activity among children aged 3-5 years-a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Early childhood caries (ECC) is a challenge for pediatric dentists all over the world, and dietary factor is an important factor affecting the occurrence of ECC. Currently, there is limited research on the impact of dietary nutrient intake from Chinese diets on ECC. The purpose of this study is to explore the correlation of dietary nutrients intake with ECC and caries activity (CA) among children aged 3-5 years, and to provide dietary guidance to slow down the occurrence and development of ECC. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022. A total of 155 children were divided into three groups: caries-free group, ECC group and Severe early childhood caries (SECC) group according to the caries statues. And according to the caries activity test (CAT) value, they were also divided into three group: low CA group (L-CA), middle CA group (M-CA) and high CA group (H-CA). The 24-hour dietary intake information was collected by mobile phone application (APP). The intake of children's daily dietary nutrients were calculated referring to "China Food Composition Tables". RESULTS: In this study, 17, 39,and 99 children were diagnosed with caries-free, ECC, and SECC. There were 33, 36, and 86 children diagnosed with L-CA, M-CA, and H-CA. The risk of ECC was increased with the intake of cholesterol(OR = 1.005) and magnesium (OR = 1.026) and decreased with the intake of iron (OR = 0.770). The risk of SECC was increased with the intake of cholesterol (OR = 1.003). The risk of high CA was increased with the intake of cholesterol (OR = 1.002). The combined application of dietary total calories, carbohydrate, cholesterol, sodium, magnesium and selenium in the diagnosis of ECC had an area under ROC curve of 0.741. CONCLUSIONS: The increased dietary cholesterol intake may be a common risk factor for ECC and high CA in children aged 3-5. The combined application of dietary intake of total calories, carbohydrate, cholesterol, sodium, magnesium and selenium has a higher predictive value for the occurrence of ECC.

One-year outcomes of a novel venous stent for symptomatic iliofemoral venous obstruction: prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: A stent with characteristics of a hybrid design may have advantages in improving the patency of symptomatic iliofemoral vein obstruction. This study assessed the safety and effectiveness of the V-Mixtent Venous Stent in treating symptomatic iliofemoral outflow obstruction. METHODS: Eligible patients had a Clinical-Etiologic-Anatomic-Physiologic (CEAP) C classification of ≥ 3 or a Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS) pain score of ≥ 2. The primary safety endpoint was the rate of major adverse events within 30 days. The primary effectiveness endpoint was the 12-month primary patency rate. Secondary endpoints included changes in VCSS from baseline to 6 and 12 months, alterations in CEAP C classification, Chronic Venous Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire (CIVIQ-14) scores at 12 months, and stent durability measures. RESULTS: Between December 2020 and November 2021, 171 patients were enrolled across 15 institutions. A total of 185 endovenous stents were placed, with 91.81% of subjects receiving one stent and 8.19% receiving 2 stents. Within 30 days, only two major adverse events occurred (1.17%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.14-4.16%), below the literature-defined performance goal of 11% (P < .001). The 12-month primary patency rate (91.36%; 95% CI, 85.93-95.19%; P < .001) exceeded the literature-defined performance goal. VCSS changes from baseline demonstrated clinical improvement at 6 months (- 4.30 ± 3.66) and 12 months (- 4.98 ± 3.67) (P < .001). Significant reduction in symptoms, as measured by CEAP C classification and CIVIQ-14, was observed from pre-procedure to 12 months (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The 12-month outcomes confirm the safety and effectiveness of the V-Mixtent Venous Stent in managing symptomatic iliofemoral venous outflow obstruction, including clinical symptom improvement compared to before treatment.

The Chemical Ecology of Plant Natural Products.

Plants are excellent chemists with an impressive capability of biosynthesizing a large variety of natural products (also known as secondary or specialized metabolites) to resist various biotic and abiotic stresses. In this chapter, 989 plant natural products and their ecological functions in plant-herbivore, plant-microorganism, and plant-plant interactions are reviewed. These compounds include terpenoids, phenols, alkaloids, and other structural types. Terpenoids usually provide direct or indirect defense functions for plants, while phenolic compounds play important roles in regulating the interactions between plants and other organisms. Alkaloids are frequently toxic to herbivores and microorganisms, and can therefore also provide defense functions. The information presented should provide the basis for in-depth research of these plant natural products and their natural functions, and also for their further development and utilization.

Evaluation of Influences of Changed Lower Cover Geometry on Kerosene-Air Interaction in a Scramjet Combustor.

The fuel in a scramjet combustor must be injected into a high-speed crossflow and mixed with supersonic air in a very short period of time in order for the scramjet jet to operate reliably. More generally, the supersonic air is produced by the lower cover, similar to a Laval type nozzle, of the scramjet combustor. However, significant variation in lower cover geometry is prone to produce unstable vortexes. The unstable vortexes are accompanied by nonuniform stress and strain and are detrimental to the lower cover, even to the combustor. Inspired by mechanical design, this study proposes to change lower cover geometry by decreasing its sizes and then evaluates effects of these changes on kerosene fuel-air interaction in the combustor. The evaluation is based on three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics with couple level set and volume of fluids, which characterizes the penetration height, span expansion area, shock wave angle, and Sauter mean diameter of kerosene jets for three different injection diameters (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mm). The simulated air-kerosene interactions reasonably agree with the past numerical findings at identical working conditions. This result demonstrates the effectiveness of the changed lower cover geometry for the scramjet combustor.

Impact of isotype on the mechanism of action of agonist anti-OX40 antibodies in cancer: implications for therapeutic combinations.

BACKGROUND: OX40 has been widely studied as a target for immunotherapy with agonist antibodies taken forward into clinical trials for cancer where they are yet to show substantial efficacy. Here, we investigated potential mechanisms of action of anti-mouse (m) OX40 and anti-human (h) OX40 antibodies, including a clinically relevant monoclonal antibody (mAb) (GSK3174998) and evaluated how isotype can alter those mechanisms with the aim to develop improved antibodies for use in rational combination treatments for cancer. METHODS: Anti-mOX40 and anti-hOX40 mAbs were evaluated in a number of in vivo models, including an OT-I adoptive transfer immunization model in hOX40 knock-in (KI) mice and syngeneic tumor models. The impact of FcγR engagement was evaluated in hOX40 KI mice deficient for Fc gamma receptors (FcγR). Additionally, combination studies using anti-mouse programmed cell death protein-1 (mPD-1) were assessed. In vitro experiments using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) examining possible anti-hOX40 mAb mechanisms of action were also performed. RESULTS: Isotype variants of the clinically relevant mAb GSK3174998 showed immunomodulatory effects that differed in mechanism; mIgG1 mediated direct T-cell agonism while mIgG2a acted indirectly, likely through depletion of regulatory T cells (Tregs) via activating FcγRs. In both the OT-I and EG.7-OVA models, hIgG1 was the most effective human isotype, capable of acting both directly and through Treg depletion. The anti-hOX40 hIgG1 synergized with anti-mPD-1 to improve therapeutic outcomes in the EG.7-OVA model. Finally, in vitro assays with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMCs), anti-hOX40 hIgG1 also showed the potential for T-cell stimulation and Treg depletion. CONCLUSIONS: These findings underline the importance of understanding the role of isotype in the mechanism of action of therapeutic mAbs. As an hIgG1, the anti-hOX40 mAb can elicit multiple mechanisms of action that could aid or hinder therapeutic outcomes, dependent on the microenvironment. This should be considered when designing potential combinatorial partners and their FcγR requirements to achieve maximal benefit and improvement of patient outcomes.

A new tau dephosphorylation-targeting chimera for the treatment of tauopathies.

Abnormal accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau protein plays a pivotal role in a collection of neurodegenerative diseases named tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). We have recently conceptualized the design of hetero-bifunctional chimeras for selectively promoting the proximity between tau and phosphatase, thus specifically facilitating tau dephosphorylation and removal. Here, we sought to optimize the construction of tau dephosphorylating-targeting chimera (DEPTAC) and obtained a new chimera D14, which had high efficiency in reducing tau phosphorylation both in cell and tauopathy mouse models, while showing limited cytotoxicity. Moreover, D14 ameliorated neurodegeneration in primary cultured hippocampal neurons treated with toxic tau-K18 fragments, and improved cognitive functions of tauopathy mice. These results suggested D14 as a cost-effective drug candidate for the treatment of tauopathies.

Assessment of Non-Phytate Phosphorus Requirements of Chinese Jing Tint 6 Layer Chicks from Hatch to Day 42.

We aimed to estimate the non-phytate phosphorus (NPP) requirements of Chinese Jing Tint 6 layer chicks. We randomly allocated 720 birds to five treatments with six cages of 24 birds each, feeding them a corn-soybean diet containing 0.36%, 0.41%, 0.46%, 0.51%, and 0.56% NNP. The results showed that the body weight gain (BWG), tibial length, and apparent total tract digestibility coefficients (ATTDC) of P were affected (p < 0.05) by dietary NPP level. A quadratic broken-line analysis (p < 0.05) of BWG indicated that the optimal NPP for birds aged 1-14 d was 0.411%. Similarly, 0.409% of NPP met tibial growth needs. However, 0.394% of NPP was optimal for P utilization according to the ATTDC criterion. For 15-42 d birds, 0.466% NPP, as estimated by the BWG criterion, was sufficient for optimal growth without decreasing P utilization. Using the factorial method, NPP requirements were calculated as 0.367% and 0.439%, based on the maintenance factors and BWG for 1-14 and 15-42 d birds, respectively, to maintain normal growth. Combining the non-linear model with the factorial method, this study recommends dietary NPP levels of 0.367% and 0.439% for 1-14 and 15-42 d birds, respectively, to optimize P utilization without affecting performance.

Cytology or Multiparameter Flow Cytometry Positivity in the Cerebrospinal Fluid Before Transplantation is Predictive of Poor Outcomes After Allotransplantation in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Central nervous system leukemia (CNSL) remains a serious complication in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and an ambiguous prognostic factor for those receiving allo-geneic hematopoiesis stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). It is unknown whether using more sensitive tools, such as multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC), to detect blasts in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) would have an impact on outcome. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical outcomes of 1472 AML patients with or without cytology or MFC positivity in the CSF before transplantation. Abnormal CSF (CSF+) was detected via conventional cytology and MFC in 44 patients at any time after diagnosis. A control group of 175 CSF-normal (CSF-) patients was generated via propensity score matching (PSM) analyses according to sex, age at transplant, and white blood cell count at diagnosis. RESULTS: Compared to those in the CSF-negative group, the conventional cytology positive and MFC+ groups had comparable 8-year nonrelapse mortality (NRM) (4%, 4%, and 6%, p = 0.82), higher cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) (14%, 31%, and 32%, p = 0.007), lower leukemia-free survival (LFS) (79%, 63%, and 64%, p = 0.024), and overall survival (OS) (83%, 63%, and 68%, p = 0.021), with no significant differences between the conventional cytology positive and MFC+ groups. Furthermore, multivariate analysis confirmed that CSF involvement was an independent factor affecting OS and LFS. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that pretransplant CSF abnormalities are adverse factors independently affecting OS and LFS after allotransplantation in AML patients.

Expressions of sugar transporters/trehalases in relation to PTTH-stimulated ecdysteroidogenesis in the silkworm, Bombyx mori.

The prothoracic gland (PG) is the source of ecdysteoids in larval insects. Although numerous studies have been conducted on signaling networks involved in prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH)-stimulated ecdysteroidogenesis in PGs, less is known about regulation of metabolism in PGs. In the present study, we investigated correlations between expressions of sugar transporter (St)/trehalase (Treh) genes and PTTH-stimulated ecdysteroidogenesis in Bombyx mori PGs. Our results showed that in vitro PTTH treatment stimulated expression of the St1 gene, but not other transporter genes. Expression of the Treh1 gene was also stimulated by PTTH treatment. An immunoblotting analysis showed that St1 protein levels in Bombyx PGs increased during the later stage of the last larval instar and were not affect by PTTH treatment. PTTH treatment enhanced Treh enzyme activity in a time-dependent manner. Blocking either extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling with U0126 or phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling with LY294002 decreased PTTH-stimulated Treh enzyme activity, indicating a link from the ERK and PI3K signaling pathways to Treh activity. Treatment with the Treh inhibitor, validamycin A, blocked PTTH-stimulated Treh enzyme activity and partially inhibited PTTH-stimulated ecdysteroidogenesis. Treatment with either a sugar transport inhibitor (cytochalasin B) or a specific glycolysis inhibitor (2-deoxy-D-glucose, 2-DG) partially inhibited PTTH-stimulated ecdysteroidogenesis. Taken together, these results indicate that increased expressions of St1/Treh1 and Treh activity, which lie downstream of PTTH signaling, are involved in PTTH stimulation in B. mori PGs.

Targeting DKK1 enhances the antitumor activity of paclitaxel and alleviates chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in breast cancer.

Chemotherapy in combination with immunotherapy has gradually shown substantial promise to increase T cell infiltration and antitumor efficacy. However, paclitaxel in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitor targeting PD-1/PD-L1 was only used to treat a small proportion of metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), and the clinical outcomes was very limited. In addition, this regimen cannot prevent paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy. Therefore, there was an urgent need for a novel target to enhance the antitumor activity of paclitaxel and alleviate chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in breast cancer. Here, we found that Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) expression was upregulated in multiply subtypes of human breast cancer specimens after paclitaxel-based chemotherapy. Mechanistic studies revealed that paclitaxel promoted DKK1 expression by inducing EGFR signaling in breast cancer cells, and the upregulation of DKK1 could hinder the therapeutic efficacy of paclitaxel by suppressing the infiltration and activity of CD8+ T cells in tumor microenvironment. Moreover, paclitaxel treatment in tumor-bearing mice also increased DKK1 expression through the activation of EGFR signaling in the primary sensory dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, leading to the development of peripheral neuropathy, which is charactered by myelin damage in the sciatic nerve, neuropathic pain, and loss of cutaneous innervation in hindpaw skin. The addition of an anti-DKK1 antibody not only improved therapeutic efficacy of paclitaxel in two murine subtype models of breast cancer but also alleviated paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy. Taken together, our findings providing a potential chemoimmunotherapy strategy with low neurotoxicity that can benefit multiple subtypes of breast cancer patients.

Opioid-sparing effects of ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: a randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: The erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is a new analgesic method used in thoracic surgery. However, few studies have characterized their effects on perioperative opioid consumption. We aimed to evaluate the effects of ESPB on perioperative opioid consumption in patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). METHODS: This was a randomized, observer-blinded clinical trial at a single-centre academic hospital. Eighty patients were scheduled for thoracoscopic segmentectomy or lobectomy by VATS for lung cancer. Forty participants were randomly assigned to ESPB or control group. All patients received intravenous patient-controlled postoperative analgesia. Perioperative opioid consumption, visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, and adverse events were recorded. RESULTS: Intraoperative and postoperative opioid consumption and static/dynamic VAS scores were significantly lower in the early hours after VATS in the ESPB group (p < 0.05) than the control group. No significant differences were observed in adverse effects between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: ESPB reduced intraoperative opioid consumption and early postoperative pain in patients undergoing VATS. Our findings support the view that ESPB is a safe and highly effective option for regional analgesia for VATS. TRIAL REGISTRATION: http://www.chictr.org.cn , ChiCTR1800019335.

How denitrifiers defense ciprofloxacin: Insights from intracellular and extracellular stress response.

Overuse of antibiotics has led to their existence in nitrogen-containing water. The impacts of antibiotics on bio-denitrification and the metabolic response of denitrifiers to antibiotics are unclear. We systematically analyzed the effect of ciprofloxacin (CIP) on bio-denitrification and found that 5 mg/L CIP greatly inhibited denitrification with a model denitrifier (Paracoccus denitrificans). Nitrate reduction decreased by 32.89 % and nitrous oxide emission increased by 75.53 %. The balance analysis of carbon and nitrogen metabolism during denitrification showed that CIP exposure blocked electron transfer and reduced the flow of substrate metabolism used for denitrification. Proteomics results showed that CIP exposure induced denitrifiers to use the pentose phosphate pathway more for substrate metabolism. This caused a substrate preference to generate NADPH to prevent cellular damage rather than NADH for denitrification. Notably, despite denitrifiers having antioxidant defenses, they could not completely prevent oxidative damage caused by CIP exposure. The effect of CIP exposure on denitrifiers after removal of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) demonstrated that EPS around denitrifiers formed a barrier against CIP. Fluorescence and infrared spectroscopy revealed that the binding effect of proteins in EPS to CIP prevented damage. This study shows that denitrifiers resist antibiotic stress through different intracellular and extracellular defense strategies.

The totipotent 2C-like state safeguards genomic stability of mouse embryonic stem cells.

Mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) sporadically transition to a transient totipotent state that resembles blastomeres of the two-cell (2C) embryo stage, which has been proposed to contribute to exceptional genomic stability, one of the key features of mESCs. However, the biological significance of the rare population of 2C-like cells (2CLCs) in ESC cultures remains to be tested. Here we generated an inducible reporter cell system for specific elimination of 2CLCs from the ESC cultures to disrupt the equilibrium between ESCs and 2CLCs. We show that removing 2CLCs from the ESC cultures leads to dramatic accumulation of DNA damage, genomic mutations, and rearrangements, indicating impaired genomic instability. Furthermore, 2CLCs removal results in increased apoptosis and reduced proliferation of mESCs in both serum/LIF and 2i/LIF culture conditions. Unexpectedly, p53 deficiency results in defective response to DNA damage, leading to early accumulation of DNA damage, micronuclei, indicative of genomic instability, cell apoptosis, and reduced self-renewal capacity of ESCs when devoid of 2CLCs in cultures. Together, our data reveal that transition to the privileged 2C-like state is a major component of the intrinsic mechanisms that maintain the exceptional genomic stability of mESCs for long-term self-renewal.

Influence of higher body mass index on postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients following thoracic surgery for lung cancer: a propensity score-matched cohort study.

This study aimed to quantify the association between body mass index (BMI) and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) within the initial 48 h following thoracic surgery for lung cancer. We then explored whether changes in serum inflammatory factor concentrations were related to BMI during the early postoperative period. We conducted a propensity score-matched (PSM), retrospective cohort study at a specialized tertiary medical center. A total of 194 patients aged 18-80 years who underwent thoracic surgery for lung cancer at Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital between January and June 2021 were enrolled. The primary outcome was the incidence of PONV during the first 48 h after surgery. Nausea, vomiting or retching at different time periods, severe pain, and concentrations of perioperative serum inflammatory factors including CRP, IL-6, IL-12, and IFN-γ were also assessed. Patients in the high BMI group (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) had a lower incidence of PONV than those in the normal BMI group (18.5-25 kg/m2) within the first 48 h after surgery (22 vs. 50%, p = 0.004). The incidence of nausea was lower at 0-12 h (14.5 vs. 37.1%, p = 0.004) and 12-24 h (8.1 vs. 22.6%, p = 0.025) in the high BMI group after surgery, and the incidence of vomiting was lower at 0-12 h (12.9 vs. 30.6%, p = 0.017) in higher BMI after surgery. We found no significant difference in the incidence of severe pain [severe static pain (p = 0.697) and severe dynamic pain (p = 0.158)]. Moreover, higher concentrations of IL-12 (2.24 ± 2.67 pg/ml vs. 1.48 ± 1.14 pg/ml, p = 0.048) and IFN-γ [1.55 (1.00) pg/ml vs. 1.30 (0.89) pg/ml, p = 0.041] were observed in patients with normal BMI on the first day after surgery. Given this finding, patients with a normal BMI should receive more attention for the prevention of PONV than those with a high BMI following thoracic surgery for lung cancer.Trial registration: http://www.chictr.org.cn and ChiCTR2100052380 (24/10/2021).

Supercooled erythritol for high-performance seasonal thermal energy storage.

Seasonal storage of solar thermal energy through supercooled phase change materials (PCM) offers a promising solution for decarbonizing space and water heating in winter. Despite the high energy density and adaptability, natural PCMs often lack the necessary supercooling for stable, long-term storage. Leveraging erythritol, a sustainable mid-temperature PCM with high latent heat, we introduce a straightforward method to stabilize its supercooling by incorporating carrageenan (CG), a bio-derived food thickener. By improving the solid-liquid interfacial energy with the addition of CG the latent heat of erythritol can be effectively locked at a very low temperature. We show that the composite PCM can sustain an ultrastable supercooled state below -30 °C, which guarantees no accidental loss of the latent heat in severe cold regions on Earth. We further demonstrate that the common ultrasonication method can be used as the key to unlocking the latent heat stored in the CG-thickened erythritol, showing its great potential to serve as a high-performance, eco-friendly PCM for long-term seasonal solar energy storage.

Dry environment on the expression of lacrimal gland S100A9, Anxa1, and Clu in rats via proteomics.

AIM: To investigate the underlying mechanism of dry environment (autumn dryness) affecting the lacrimal glands in rats. METHODS: Twenty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups. The rats were fed in specific pathogen free environment as the control group (n=10), and the rats fed in dry environment as the dryness group (n=10). After 24d, lacrimal glands were collected from the rats. The tissues morphology was observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Tandem mass tags (TMT) quantitative proteomics analysis technology was used to screen the differential expressed proteins of lacrimal glands between the two groups, then bioinformatics analysis was performed. Further, the immunohistochemical (IHC) method was used to verify the target proteins. RESULTS: In dryness group, the lacrimal glands lobule atrophied, the glandular cavities enlarged, the sparse nuclear distribution and scattered inflammatory infiltration between the acinus were observed. The proteomics exhibited that a total of 195 up-regulated and 236 down-regulated differential expressed proteins screened from the lacrimal glands of rats. It was indicated that the biological processes (BP) of differential expressed proteins mainly included cell processes and single BP. The cellular compositions of differential expressed proteins mainly located in cells, organelles. The molecular functions of differential expressed proteins mainly included binding, catalytic activity. Moreover, the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis showed that the differential expressed proteins mainly involved lysosome, complement and coagulation cascade, and ribosome pathway. The IHC result verified that the up-regulated expression proteins of Protein S100A9 (S100A9), Annexin A1 (Anxa1), and Clusterin (Clu) in lacrimal glands of rats in dryness group were higher than control group. CONCLUSION: The up-regulated expression proteins of S100A9, Anxa1, and Clu may be the potential mechanisms of dry eye symptoms caused by dry environment. This study provides clues of dry environments causing eye-related diseases for further studies.