Cardiomyocyte ßII spectrin plays a critical role in maintaining cardiac function by regulating mitochondrial respiratory function.

AIMS: ßII spectrin is a cytoskeletal protein known to be tightly linked to heart development and cardiovascular electrophysiology. However, the roles of ßII spectrin in cardiac contractile function and pathological post-myocardial infarction remodeling remain unclear. Here, we investigated whether and how ßII spectrin, the most common isoform of non-erythrocytic spectrin in cardiomyocytes, is involved in cardiac contractile function and ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. METHODS AND RESULTS: We observed that the levels of serum ßII spectrin breakdown products (ßII SBDPs) were significantly increased in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Concordantly, ßII spectrin was degraded into ßII SBDPs by calpain in mouse hearts after I/R injury. Using tamoxifen-inducible cardiac-specific ßII spectrin knockout mice, we found that deletion of ßII spectrin in the adult heart resulted in spontaneous development of cardiac contractile dysfunction, cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis at 5 weeks after tamoxifen treatment. Moreover, at 1 week after tamoxifen treatment, although spontaneous cardiac dysfunction in cardiac-specific ßII spectrin knockout mice had not developed, deletion of ßII spectrin in the heart exacerbated I/R-induced cardiomyocyte death and heart failure. Furthermore, restoration of ßII spectrin expression via adenoviral small activating RNA (saRNA) delivery into the heart reduced I/R injury. Immunoprecipitation coupled with mass spectrometry (IP-LC-MS/MS) analyses and functional studies revealed that ßII spectrin is indispensable for mitochondrial complex I activity and respiratory function. Mechanistically, ßII spectrin promotes translocation of NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase 75 kDa Fe-S protein 1 (NDUFS1) from the cytosol to mitochondria by crosslinking with actin filaments (F-actin) to maintain F-actin stability. CONCLUSION: ßII spectrin is an essential cytoskeletal element for preserving mitochondrial homeostasis and cardiac function. Defects in ßII spectrin exacerbate cardiac I/R injury.

Characteristics of Virology and Immune Inflammation of Epstein-Barr Virus Infection Related Non-Neoplastic Diseases in Children.

BACKGROUND: The goal was to study the difference of virological, immunologic, and inflammatory indicators between Epstein-Barr associated infectious mononucleosis (EBV-IM) and EBV associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (EBV-HLH) and to explore the evaluation indicators for monitoring the therapeutic efficacy of EBV-HLH. METHODS: Twenty children with EBV-IM (IM group) and 10 children with EBV-HLH (HLH group) were selected. Virology indicators were detected; the absolute count of lymphocyte, and lymphocyte subsets were detected; the levels of immunoglobulin and ferritin were assayed. RESULTS: Compared to the IM group, the HLH group showed a decrease in EBV-specific VCA-IgM antibody levels (U = 29.0, p = 0.006) and an increase in EBV-specific NA-IgG antibody levels (U = 17.0, p = 0.001), while there was no significant difference in EB-DNA loads (t = 0.417, p = 0.680). The counts of lymphocytes, and various lymphocyte subsets in the HLH group were lower than those in the IM group. Inflammatory markers in the HLH group were significantly higher than those in IM group. Dynamic monitoring of virological, immunological, and inflammatory indicators in HLH patients during treatment showed that EBV DNA gradually decreased in patients with good prognosis. Inflammatory indicators significantly decreased and returned to normal, lymphocyte count significantly increased and returned to normal during treatment. However, patients with poor prognosis showed rebound increase in EBV DNA and inflammatory indicators in the later stage of treatment, while lymphocyte count further decreased with the recurrence of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Exhausted and damaged immune function in host by persistent stimulation of EB viral antigen is one of the main pathogeneses of EB-HLH. Lymphocyte count and serum ferritin level are effective indicators to monitor the therapeutic efficacy during the treatment to HLH.

Enhancing vaccination uptake through community engagement: evidence from China.

With growing recognition of the importance of community engagement in addressing public health challenges, its role in promoting healthy behaviors and preventing infectious diseases has gained attention. However, vaccination coverage remains a significant concern in many developing countries. While previous studies have linked community engagement to positive health outcomes, there is a gap in understanding its influence on individual vaccination choices, particularly in the context of developing countries. Utilizing data from the 2021 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS), this study examines the impact of community engagement on COVID-19 and flu vaccination uptake among 7281 individuals. Community engagement, measured by community vaccination notifications, serves as the key independent variable. The study employs Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression and Propensity Score Matching (PSM) methods to analyze the relationship between community engagement and vaccination behavior. The analysis reveals a positive association between community engagement and vaccination rates. Specifically, individuals receiving notifications were more likely to get the COVID-19 vaccine compared to non-recipients (vaccination rates: 100% vs. 53.3%), and flu vaccination rates were also significantly higher among those notified (2.7% vs. 1.9%). Mechanism analysis suggests that individuals receiving community notifications are more aware of the benefits of vaccination, leading to higher vaccination rates among this group. This study underscores the effectiveness of community engagement strategies in promoting positive vaccination behavior among individuals in China. By enhancing awareness and trust in immunization, community engagement initiatives play a crucial role in shaping health behaviors and improving vaccination uptake. These findings emphasize the importance of integrating community engagement approaches into public health interventions to address vaccination challenges.

Laparoscopic versus open gastrectomy for nonmetastatic T4a gastric cancer: a meta-analysis of reconstructed individual participant data from propensity score-matched studies.

BACKGROUND: ​The applicability of laparoscopy to nonmetastatic T4a patients with gastric cancer remains unclear due to the lack of high-quality evidence. The purpose of this study was to compare the survival rates of laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) versus open gastrectomy (OG) for these patients through a meta-analysis of reconstructed individual participant data from propensity score-matched studies. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane library and CNKI were examined for relevant studies without language restrictions through July 25, 2023. Individual participant data on overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were extracted from the published Kaplan-Meier survival curves. One-stage and two-stage meta-analyses were performed. In addition, data regarding surgical outcomes and recurrence patterns were also collected, which were meta-analyzed using traditional aggregated data. RESULTS: Six studies comprising 1860 patients were included for analysis. In the one-stage meta-analyses, the results demonstrated that LG was associated with a significantly better DFS (Random-effects model: P = 0.027; Restricted mean survival time [RMST] up to 5 years: P = 0.033) and a comparable OS (Random-effects model: P = 0.135; RMST up to 5 years: P = 0.053) than OG for T4a gastric cancer patients. Two-stage meta-analyses resulted in similar results, with a 13% reduced hazard of cancer-related death (P = 0.04) and 10% reduced hazard of overall mortality (P = 0.11) in the LG group. For secondary outcomes, the pooled results showed an association of LG with less estimated blood loss, faster postoperative recovery and more retrieved lymph nodes. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic surgery for patients with nonmetastatic T4a disease is associated with a potential survival benefit and improved surgical outcomes.

Higher N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide level at onset of peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis is a risk factor for technique failure.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have suggested that the N-terminal fragment of B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level serve as a significant risk factor for mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease. However, the relationship between NT-proBNP levels and technique failure in peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis (PDAP) remains unclear. This study investigated the relationship between NT-proBNP levels at the onset of PDAP and the risk of technique failure in patients with PDAP. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with PDAP from December 1, 2009, to December 31, 2021, at our peritoneal dialysis center. We recorded all demographic and baseline clinical data at the time of admission for each PDAP episode. Logistic and Cox regression analyses were performed to assess the association between NT-proBNP levels and technique failure. RESULTS: Of 485 PDAP episodes included in this study, 130 episodes of technique failure were observed. Multivariate logistic analysis revealed that hospital stay, Na and NT-proBNP levels, and peritoneal dialysate white blood cell counts on days 3 and 5 were independently associated with technique failure. The receiver operating characteristic curve demonstrated that the NT-proBNP level was a better indicator than the other four variables in indicating technique failure. In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, after adjusting for confounding factors, higher NT-proBNP levels (HR of 3.020, 95% CI 1.771, 5.150, P < 0.001) were associated with PDAP technique failure. CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective study identified the serum NT-proBNP level at the onset of PDAP as an independent risk factor for technique failure in these patients.

Effects of esketamine and fluoxetine on depression-like behaviors in chronic variable stress: a role of plasma inflammatory factors.

Mounting evidence has identified the rapid and sustained antidepressive and anxiolytic-like effects of esketamine. However, the underlying mechanism of this no-monoamine target rapid-onset antidepressant is still underexplored. Immune-inflammatory pathways and cell-mediated immune activation, mainly including inflammatory cytokines in plasma, play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder and are also a potential therapeutic target for MDD. The current study was designed to clarify the role of esketamine on the expression of plasma cytokines in a depressive-like model introduced by chronic variable stress (CVS). In this study, a 21-day consecutive CVS protocol was applied to produce depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors. After the single dose or 7-day repeated administration of esketamine or fluoxetine, the depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors and the expression of inflammatory cytokines in plasma were examined. Both a single dose of esketamine and 7-days repeated fluoxetine administration elicited anti-depressive and anxiolytic effects in mice exposed to CVS. Additionally, CVS produced significant changes in the plasma inflammatory factors, notably increasing the expression of IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17A, TNFα, IL-4, IL-9, IL-24, IL-37, IFN-ß, and CXCL12, while reducing IL-10 and IL-33. With the administration of esketamine and fluoxetine, CVS-produced inflammatory disturbances were partially normalized. Together, our findings provide a novel insight that acute esketamine treatment could rescue CVS-produced depressive-like and anxiety-like behaviors in mice by normalizing the expression of inflammatory cytokines; this effect was similar to the repeated administration of fluoxetine. These results contributed to the understating of rapid anti-depressant effects elicited by esketamine.

The efficacy of nasal administration of esketamine in patients having moderate-to-severe pain after preoperative CT-guided needle localization: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Whether nasal administration of esketamine can provide effective analgesia is unclear in patients with acute pain after preoperative CT-guided needle localization. Methods: In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, patients were assigned to receive either nasal administration of esketamine (0.3 mg/kg or 0.5 mg/kg) or saline (identical in appearance to esketamine) when they had visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores >3/10 during deep breathing after preoperative CT-guided needle localization. The primary outcome was the percentage of patients with satisfactory pain relief, which was defined as VAS pain scores ≤3/10 measured 15 min after intranasal of esketamine or saline. Secondary outcomes included VAS measured following esketamine or saline, the incidence and cumulative dose of rescue hydromorphone use, and related adverse events. Results: A total of 90 patients were included in the final analysis. Following intranasal treatment, the percentage of patients with satisfactory pain relief was 16.7% (5/30) in the saline group, 56.7% (17/30) in the 0.3 mg/kg esketamine group, and 53.3% (16/30) in the 0.5 mg/kg esketamine group (p = 0.002). The median VAS during deep breathing was less after the intranasal administration of esketamine {median (IQR), 3 (3, 5) in 0.3 mg/kg or 0.5 mg/kg esketamine compared to the saline group [5 (4, 6)], p = 0.009}. The incidence of rescue hydromorphone use was detected less in the esketamine group compared to the saline group (43.3% in the 0.3 mg/kg esketamine group, 36.7% in the 0.5 mg/kg esketamine group, and 73.3% in the saline group, p = 0.010). The adverse events were similar among the three groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Intranasal administration of esketamine is easier and more effective in alleviating acute pain in patients after preoperative CT-guided needle localization without significant adverse effects.

Whole-genome resequencing uncovers diversity and selective sweep in Kazakh cattle.

The Kazakh cattle in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China are highly adaptable and have multiple uses, including milk and meat production, and use as draft animals. They are an excellent original breed that could be enhanced by breeding and hybrid improvement. However, the genomic diversity and signature of selection underlying the germplasm characteristics require further elucidation. Herein, we evaluated 26 Kazakh cattle genomes in comparison with 103 genomes of seven other cattle breeds from regions around the world to assess the Kazakh cattle genetic variability. We revealed that the relatively low linkage disequilibrium at large SNP distances was strongly correlated with the largest effective population size among Kazakh cattle. Using population structural analysis, we next demonstrated a taurine lineage with restricted Bos indicus introgression among Kazakh cattle. Notably, we identified putative selected genes associated with resistance to disease and body size within Kazakh cattle. Together, our findings shed light on the evolutionary history and breeding profile of Kazakh cattle, as well as offering indispensable resources for germplasm resource conservation and crossbreeding program implementation.

MiR-574-5p activates human TLR8 to promote autoimmune signaling and lupus.

Endosomal single-stranded RNA-sensing Toll-like receptor-7/8 (TLR7/8) plays a pivotal role in inflammation and immune responses and autoimmune diseases. However, the mechanisms underlying the initiation of the TLR7/8-mediated autoimmune signaling remain to be fully elucidated. Here, we demonstrate that miR-574-5p is aberrantly upregulated in tissues of lupus prone mice and in the plasma of lupus patients, with its expression levels correlating with the disease activity. miR-574-5p binds to and activates human hTLR8 or its murine ortholog mTlr7 to elicit a series of MyD88-dependent immune and inflammatory responses. These responses include the overproduction of cytokines and interferons, the activation of STAT1 signaling and B lymphocytes, and the production of autoantigens. In a transgenic mouse model, the induction of miR-574-5p overexpression is associated with increased secretion of antinuclear and anti-dsDNA antibodies, increased IgG and C3 deposit in the kidney, elevated expression of inflammatory genes in the spleen. In lupus-prone mice, lentivirus-mediated silencing of miR-574-5p significantly ameliorates major symptoms associated with lupus and lupus nephritis. Collectively, these results suggest that the miR-574-5p-hTLR8/mTlr7 signaling is an important axis of immune and inflammatory responses, contributing significantly to the development of lupus and lupus nephritis.

Parental Psychological Control and Adolescent Academic Achievement: The Mediating Role of Achievement Goal Orientation.

This study examined the multiple mediating roles of achievement goal orientation between three parental psychological control (PPC) strategies and adolescents' academic achievement. The study sample consisted of 2613 Chinese middle school adolescents (52.6% boys) who were followed for one and a half years; they completed questionnaires on PPC (including love withdrawal, guilt induction, and authority assertion), achievement goal orientation (involving the mastery approach, the performance approach, and performance-avoidance goals), and academic achievement. We found that (1) the direct effects of the three strategies on academic performance differed, with love withdrawal directly and negatively predicting adolescents' academic achievement and guilt induction and authority assertion not being significant direct predictors. (2) The mediating role of achievement goal orientations differed across the psychological control strategies. Specifically, love withdrawal led to adolescents' academic achievement through their performance-approach goal orientation, performance-avoidance goal orientation, and mastery goal orientation. Moreover, guilt induction and authority assertion had impacts only on adolescents' performance-approach and performance-avoidance goal orientations. This study highlights the negative impact of love withdrawal on adolescents' internal motivation and academic achievement by warning parents not to use this strategy to influence their children's thoughts and feelings.

Vitamin E biofortification: enhancement of seed tocopherol concentrations by altered chlorophyll metabolism.

Homogentisate Phytyltransferase (HPT) catalyzes condensation of homogentisate (HGA) and phytyl diphosphate (PDP) to produce tocopherols, but can also synthesize tocotrienols using geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGDP) in plants engineered for deregulated HGA synthesis. In contrast to prior tocotrienol biofortification efforts, engineering enhanced tocopherol concentrations in green oilseeds has proven more challenging due to the integral role of chlorophyll metabolism in supplying the PDP substrate. This study show that RNAi suppression of CHLSYN coupled with HPT overexpression increases tocopherol concentrations by >two-fold in Arabidopsis seeds. We obtained additional increases in seed tocopherol concentrations by engineering increased HGA production via overexpression of bacterial TyrA that encodes chorismate mutase/prephenate dehydrogenase activities. In overexpression lines, seed tocopherol concentrations increased nearly three-fold, and resulted in modest tocotrienol accumulation. We further increased total tocochromanol concentrations by enhancing production of HGA and GGDP by overexpression of the gene for hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD). This shifted metabolism towards increased amounts of tocotrienols relative to tocopherols, which was reflected in corresponding increases in ratios of GGDP/PDP in these seeds. Overall, our results provide a theoretical basis for genetic improvement of total tocopherol concentrations in green oilseeds (e.g., rapeseed, soybean) through strategies that include seed-suppression of CHLSYN coupled with increased HGA production.

Bioinformatics to analyze the differentially expressed genes in different degrees of Alzheimer's disease and their roles in progress of the disease.

Employing bioinformatics approaches, this investigation pinpointed pivotal differentially expressed genes (DEGs) across the spectrum of Alzheimer's disease (AD), from incipient to severe stages, using the GSE28146 dataset from the GEO repository. Analytical methods included DEG identification via the limma package in R, coupled with GO and KEGG pathway analyses through clusterProfiler, to discern biological processes and pathway involvements. Key findings spotlighted the roles of proteasome subunits PSMB4, PSMB8, PSMC4, and PSMD6 in the early stage, ribosomal proteins RPS3 and RPL11 during moderate AD, and mitochondrial components COX5B, COX6B2, and COX7A2 in severe AD, underscoring their importance in the disease's pathogenesis. Conclusively, these results not only delineate the dynamic genetic shifts accompanying AD progression but also propose critical biomarkers for potential therapeutic targeting, offering a consolidated basis for future AD research and treatment development. This offered a novel idea for analyzing the pathogenesis and development of AD and investigation of targeted drugs.

Effective doses of midazolam oral solution for the prevention of preoperative anxiety in paediatric patients.

BACKGROUND: More than 60% children exhibit anxiety before undergoing an anesthetic-surgical procedure, particularly among pre-school paediatric patients. Oral midazolam can provide procedural sedation for children prior to anesthesia. However, extemporaneous solutions of midazolam are usually prepared from injectable drug solutions, leading to inconsistent efficacy due to variable preparation methods. Xiaoerjing® is the first commercially available oral formulation of midazolam for procedural sedation in children in China. Despite the recommended dosage range of 0.25-0.5 mg/kg, its effective dose is still largely unknown. AIM: To determine the 95% effective dose (ED95) of midazolam oral solution (Xiaoerjing®) for alleviating preoperative anxiety in children prior to mask induction of general anesthesia. DESIGN: The study included 61 children between the ages of 1 and 6 years undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia. The first patient received a single dose of 0.5 mg/kg midazolam oral solution, which was adjusted for subsequent patients using the biased coin design method based on their response to the previous dose. Doses were increased or decreased at the rate of 0.1 mg/kg. An effective response was defined as having a modified Ramsay sedation score ≥3a, separation anxiety score ≤2, and mask acceptance score ≤2 during inhalational anesthesia induction. RESULTS: Fifty-six children were included in the final analysis. Of those, sedation was successful in 50 patients, with a median separation time of 15 (IQR: 25) min. Midazolam oral solution has an ED95 of 0.8254 mg/kg (95% CI: 0.6915-0.8700 mg/kg) for relieving preoperative anxiety in children. No adverse events occurred following drug administration. CONCLUSION: Midazolam oral solution is a safe and effective medication for relieving preoperative anxiety in children. The ED95 of a single oral dose of midazolam oral solution is 0.8254 mg/kg (95% CI: 0.6915-0.8700 mg/kg).

The impact of internet health information seeking on COVID-19 vaccination behavior in China.

BACKGROUND: Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the significance of vaccination has been emphatically underscored. As the foremost and pivotal measure for preventing COVID-19 transmission, the COVID-19 pneumonia vaccine plays an instrumental role in the global response to this infectious respiratory disease. However, COVID-19 vaccination coverage remains challenging in low- and middle-income countries and regions. Studies have found that frequent seeking to health information is also associated with healthier behaviors, but these studies have not yet focused on the impact of Internet health information seeking on individual vaccination and the mechanism of this effect. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) conducted in 2021, which included 7,218 individual samples. This study used COVID-19 vaccination as indicators for the health of interest, the key independent variable is Internet health information seeking. This study tried to analyze the impact of Internet health information seeking on COVID-19 vaccination using an OLS model and PSM method. RESULTS: The results show that Internet health information seeking has a significant positive impact on COVID-19 vaccination. This result passed a series of robustness tests. The mechanism analysis indicated that compared to non-Internet health information seeking individuals, Internet health information seeking individuals could know the superior advantages of vaccination and the potential for immunization through this method. And individuals who use Internet to seeking health information are more likely to acknowledge the constructive impact of online information on health behavior. This helps to explain why Internet health information seeking individuals have a higher rate of COVID-19 vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: This study delves into the influence of Internet health information seeking on individual COVID-19 vaccination within the digital era. The outcomes underscore that Internet-mediated seeking vaccine information holds the potential to bolster individuals' comprehension of vaccination benefits and foster increased acceptance of such information.

Gualou xiebai decoction ameliorates cardiorenal syndrome type II by regulation of PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signalling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Cardiorenal syndromes type II (CRS2) is a multi-organ ailment that manifests as a combination of cardiac and renal dysfunction, resulting in chronic kidney disease due to chronic cardiac insufficiency. It affects at least 26 million people worldwide, and its prevalence is increasing. Gualou Xiebai Decoction (GXD), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with a rich history of application in the management of coronary artery disease, has been explored for its potential therapeutic benefits in CRS2. Nevertheless, the mechanism by which GXD alleviates CRS2 remains obscure, necessitating further investigation. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of the ethanolic extract of GXD on CRS2 and to elucidate the underlying mechanism in a rat model of myocardial infarction, offering a potential target for clinical treatment for CRS2. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A rat model of CRS2 was induced by surgical myocardial infarction and treated with GXD for 10 weeks. Cardiac function was assessed using echocardiography, while serum and urine biochemistry were analyzed to evaluate potential cardiac and renal damage. Furthermore, tissue samples were obtained for histological, protein, and genetic investigations. In addition, network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking were utilized to predict the primary active compounds, potential therapeutic targets, and interventional pathways through which GXD could potentially exert its effects on CRS2. Subsequently, these predictions were confirmed in vivo and vitro through various analyses. RESULTS: The current investigation employed echocardiography to exhibit the apparent cardiac remodeling following the induction of myocardial infarction. Damage to the heart and kidneys of CRS2 rats was effectively ameliorated by administration of GXD. The outcomes derived from the analyses of HE and Masson staining indicated that the pathological damage to the heart and kidney tissues of rats in the GXD groups was considerably alleviated. Using network pharmacology analysis, AKT1, IL-6, and TNF-α were identified as plausible therapeutic targets for the treatment of CRS with GXD. Subsequent functional and pathway enrichment analysis of the underlying targets disclosed that the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway may be involved in the mechanism of GXD in the treatment of CRS2. Immunohistochemical, western blot, RT-PCR and immunofluorescence staining were employed to demonstrate that GXD can regulate the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway in the CRS2 rat model. Ultimately, administration of the PI3K/AKT agonist 740Y-P counteracted the effect of diosmetin, which was one of the potential active components of GXD analysed by compound-target-disease network, on p-PI3K and p-AKT in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest that GXD improves cardiac and renal function in CRS2 rats and that the underlying mechanism involves inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway.

Relationship between visual impairment and school entrance age in rural China.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Children with uncorrected visual impairment have lower scores on various motor and cognitive tests. Exploring the association between visual impairment and school entrance age among school children in rural China may assist in enhancing the visual health of early-entry school students. BACKGROUND: Educational pressures may play a role in the visual health of students. School entrance age is associated with educational pressures. This study explored whether school entrance age can contribute to visual impairment among younger generations. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 17,510 students from 252 primary schools in two prefectures in western China. Information on the sampled students was collected through questionnaires and vision examinations. The relationship between visual impairment and school entrance age was further analysed by multiple regression. The school entrance age was classified as early-entry and late-entry, early-entry was defined as students entering school at the age 6 years. RESULTS: The results showed that the myopia rate of early-entry students (26.92%) was higher than late-entry students (23.86%). Multiple regression showed that visual impairment increased with the earlier age of school entry (P = 0.044). The prevalence of myopia was also significantly higher in higher grades for children of the same age. The prevalence of myopia in 10-year-old and 11-year-old fourth- and fifth-grade students was 20.6% to 30.5%, 21.7% to 27.4% (P < 0.001). The near work with eyes was significantly different among children of the same age in different grades during this study (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Myopia is related to the school entrance age of children. Children who start school earlier are more likely to suffer from myopia. Educational pressures and digital screens may play a role in the association. Changes in the current education mode by reducing the study burden in the early years of learning may be significant.

Corrosion of Q235 carbon steel induced by sulfate-reducing bacteria in groundwater: corrosion behavior, corrosion product, and microbial community structure.

Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) is one of the reasons leading to the service failure of pipelines buried in the soil. In this work, the effect of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) on the corrosion behavior of Q235 carbon steel in groundwater was investigated by electrochemical methods, surface analysis, and biological analysis. The results show that SRB utilizes iron as electron donor to sustain the vital activities of organic carbon-starved groundwater during the 14-day experimental period. The microbial community composition analysis at the genus level demonstrate that the diversity and richness decrease after corrosion, and the dominant SRB species has changed from Desulfovibrio to Desulfosporosinus. Moreover, the impedance of the carbon steel in the presence of biofilm was 1 order of magnitude higher than that of other periods in the electrochemical test, indicating that the biofilm and formed ferrous sulfide layer impeded the occurrence of corrosion. Although the 3D topography indicated that the surface of carbon steel was more uneven and pits were increased in the presence of SRB, the average weight loss (0.0396 ± 0.0050 g) was much higher than that without SRB (0.0139 ± 0.0007 g). These results implied that the growth of SRB makes the corrosion process of Q235 carbon steel more complicated.

Ultrasound radiomics based XGBoost model to differential diagnosis thyroid nodules and unnecessary biopsy rate: Individual application of SHapley additive exPlanations.

OBJECTIVES: Radiomics-based eXtreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) model was developed to differentiate benign thyroid nodules from malignant thyroid nodules and to prevent unnecessary thyroid biopsies, including positive and negative effects. METHODS: The study evaluated a data set of ultrasound images of thyroid nodules in patients retrospectively, who initially received ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) for diagnostic purposes. According to ACR TI-RADS, a total of five ultrasound feature categories and the maximum size of the nodule were determined by four radiologists. A radiomics score was developed by the LASSO algorithm from the ultrasound-based radiomics features. An interpretative method based on Shapley additive explanation (SHAP) was developed. XGBoost was compared with ACR TI-RADS for its diagnostic performance and FNAB rate and was compared with six other machine learning models to evaluate the model performance. RESULTS: Finally, 191 thyroid nodules were examined from 177 patients. The radiomics score were calculated using 8 features, which were selected among 789 candidate features generated from the ultrasound images. The model yielded an AUC of 93% in the training cohort and 92% in the test cohort. It outperformed traditional machine learning models in assessing the nature of thyroid nodules. Compared with ACR TI-RADS, the FNAB rate decreased from 34% to 30% in training and from 35% to 41% in test. CONCLUSIONS: The radiomics-based XGBoost model proposed could distinguish benign and malignant thyroid nodules, thereby reduced significantly the number of unnecessary FNAB. It was effective in making preoperative decisions and managing selected patients using the SHAP visual interpretation tools.

The Longitudinal Effect of Peer-Nominated Popularity on Defending Behaviors in Chinese Adolescents: The Moderating Role of Manipulative Traits, Desired Popularity, and Gender.

The factors influencing popular adolescents to defend victims require further exploration, particularly concerning their traits and the desire for higher peer status. In this one-year longitudinal study, 2464 Chinese adolescents (48.50% girls, Mage = 13.40 years, SD = 0.61) were investigated to examine the relationship between peer-nominated popularity, manipulative traits, desired popularity, and defending behaviors. The results revealed that peer-nominated popularity had a positive predictive effect on Chinese adolescents' defending behaviors. Furthermore, this longitudinal association was accentuated by desired popularity and manipulative traits in girls but was not in boys. Specifically, popular girls with high desired popularity demonstrated a higher likelihood of engaging in defending behaviors compared to other girls. These findings carry significant implications for understanding the influencing factors behind peer status and adolescents' defending behaviors.