Analysis of O-acetylated sialic acids by 3-nitrophenylhydrazine derivatization combined with LC-MS/MS.

Sialic acids are a family of monosaccharides that share a nine-carbon backbone and a carboxyl group. A recent derivatization method based on 3-nitrophenylhydrazine (3-NPH) provides a mild chemical labeling technique for biomolecules containing carbonyl or carboxyl groups. In this study, we utilized 3-NPH to label sialic acids via a two-step derivatization process. The derivatized species can produce a common reporter ion corresponding to C1-C3 with two labels, and a fragment differentiating between Neu5Ac, Neu5Gc, and KDN. This method is compatible with O-acetylated sialic acids and provides high sensitivity to Neu5Gc and KDN, and since the utilization of dual labeling significantly enhances the hydrophobicity of derivatives, it can effectively mitigate matrix effects when combined with parallel reaction monitoring technology. Negative-ion tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analysis reveals a distinctive fragmentation profile for the 4-O-acetylated species, while the other sialic acids yield similar MS/MS spectra with a high abundance of reporter ions. Using the reporter ion as a transition, this analytical strategy is effective for analyzing complex biological samples. For example, it was successfully employed to quantify sialic acids in the intestinal tissues of several carp species, demonstrating its potential in sialylation research.

Intracellular Staphylococcus aureus infection in human osteoblasts: circRNA expression analysis.

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) has the ability to invade human cortical bones and cause intracellular infections in osteoblasts, which may lead to a long-term infection that is difficult to eliminate. It is critical to identify the underlying mechanisms of the osteoblast response to the intracellular S. aureus. More recently, multiple circular RNA (circRNA) functions have been identified, including serving as protein scaffolds or miRNA sponges and being translated into polypeptides. The role that circRNAs play in intracellular S. aureus infection of osteoblasts has not, to our knowledge, been investigated. Here, we established an intracellular infection model of S. aureus in osteoblasts and compared the circRNA expression of osteoblasts between the infected and control groups using RNA sequencing technology, by which a significant difference was found. In total, 117 upregulated and 125 down-regulated differentially expressed circRNAs (DEcircRNAs) were identified, and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR was employed to validate the results of RNA sequencing. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses demonstrated that DEcircRNAs were enriched in processes associated with macromolecule modification, cellular component organization or biogenesis, and intracellular non-membrane-bound organelles. Finally, a potentially important network of circRNA-miRNA-mRNA based on the DEcircRNAs was constructed. Overall, this study revealed the circRNA expression profile of human osteoblasts infected by intracellular S. aureus for the first time, and identified the circRNAs that may contribute to the pathogenesis of infectious diseases caused by intracellular S. aureus infection in human osteoblasts.

Comparative effectiveness of nonpharmacological interventions in reducing psychological symptoms among patients with chronic low back pain.

OBJECTIVES: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) can seriously impair the quality of life of patients and has a remarkable comorbidity with psychological symptoms, which, in turn, can further exacerbate the symptoms of CLBP. Psychological treatments are critical and nonnegligent for the management of CLBP, and thus, should attract sufficient attention. However, current evidence does not suggest the superiority and effectiveness of nonpharmacological interventions in reducing psychological symptoms among patients with CLBP.Thus, this study was designed to compare the effectiveness of nonpharmacological interventions for depression, anxiety, and mental health among patients with CLBP and to recommend preferred strategies for attenuating psychological symptoms in clinical practice. METHODS: In this systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA), PubMed, Embase Database, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched from database inception until March 2022. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that compare different nonpharmacological interventions for depression, anxiety, and mental health among patients with CLBP were eligible. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses statement was used. Four reviewers in pairs and divided into two groups independently performed literature selection, data extraction, and risk of bias, and certainty of evidence assessments. This NMA was conducted with a random effects model under a frequentist framework. The major outcomes were depression, anxiety, and mental health presented as the standardized mean difference (SMD) with the corresponding 95% CI. RESULTS: A total of 66 RCTs that randomized 4806 patients with CLBP met the inclusion criteria. The quality of evidence was typically low or some risks of bias (47 out of 66 trials, 71.3%), and the precision of summary estimates for effectiveness varied substantially. In addition, 7 categories of interventions with 26 specific treatments were evaluated. For depression, mind body therapy (pooled SMD = -1.20, 95% CI: -1.63 to -0.78), biopsychosocial approach (pooled SMD = -0.41, 95% CI: -0.70 to -0.12), and physical therapy (pooled SMD = -0.26, 95% CI: -0.50 to -0.02) exhibited remarkable effectiveness in reducing depression compared with the control group. For managing anxiety, mind body therapy (pooled SMD = -1.35, 95% CI: -1.90 to -0.80), multicomponent intervention (pooled SMD = -0.47, 95% CI: -0.88 to -0.06), and a biopsychosocial approach (pooled SMD = -0.46, 95% CI: -0.79 to -0.14) were substantially superior to the control group. For improving mental health, multicomponent intervention (pooled SMD = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.14 to 1.39), exercise (pooled SMD = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.08 to 1.11), and physical therapy (pooled SMD = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.02-0.92) demonstrated statistically substantial effectiveness compared with the control group. The rank probability indicated that mind body therapy achieved the highest effectiveness in reducing depression and anxiety among patients with CLBP. Besides, the combined results should be interpreted cautiously based on the results of analyses evaluating the inconsistency and certainty of the evidence. CONCLUSION: This systemic review and NMA suggested that nonpharmacological interventions show promise for reducing psychological symptoms among patients with CLBP. In particular, mind body therapy and a biopsychosocial approach show considerable promise, and mind body therapy can be considered a priority choice in reducing depression and anxiety. These findings can aid clinicians in assessing the potential risks and benefits of available treatments for CLBP comorbidity with psychological symptoms and provide evidence for selecting interventions in clinical practice. More RCTs involving different interventions with rigorous methodology and an adequate sample size should be conducted in future research.

Latitudinal pronounced variations in tintinnid (Ciliophora) community at surface waters from the South China Sea to the Yellow Sea: Oceanic-to-neritic species shift, biotic-abiotic interaction and future prediction.

The oceanic-to-neritic species shift of microzooplanktonic tintinnids and their interaction with relevant abiotic variables are two crucial processes in the marine ecosystem. However, these processes remain poorly documented in China's marginal seas. In the summer of 2022, we investigated the community structure of pelagic tintinnids in surface waters from the South China Sea (SCS) to the Yellow Sea (YS), passing through the East China Sea (ECS). A number of 58 species from 23 genera were identified, with 36 and 22 species belonging to oceanic and neritic genera, respectively. The abundance proportion of oceanic and neritic genera exhibited a decreasing and increasing trend, respectively, from the SCS to YS. Furthermore, four distinctive tintinnid community groups were classified based on cluster analysis using tintinnid species and abundance data, and the position of southern Taiwan Strait was identified as the "Shift Point" for oceanic-to-neritic species dominance. The top two tintinnid species in each group showed distinct variations in body size. Additionally, multivariate biotic-abiotic statistical analyses revealed that temperature determined tintinnid species richness, while temperature, salinity, Si(OH)4, and Chl a determined tintinnid abundance. Our study provides a substantial foundation for recognizing the oceanic-to-neritic species shift of tintinnids in the China's marginal seas, and highlights the role of biotic-abiotic factors in driving biogeochemical fluxes and the potential response of microzooplankton to future climate change.

Microstructures and Electrochemical Dissolution Characteristics of Additive-Manufactured Stainless Steel 304 on Different Sections at Low Current Density.

Additive manufacturing (AM) is a burgeoning technology for fabricating complex components with high efficiency and low material waste. However, the surface of AM parts is rough owing to partially melted powders and severe surface fluctuation. Electrochemical machining (ECM) is a suitable postprocessing method to finish the surface of the AM parts, and the low current density is usually employed. Our study illustrates the electrochemical dissolution characteristics of the horizontal and vertical sections of the AM SUS 304 component under a low current density and the electrochemical finishing process to obtain smooth surfaces. Linear and fan-shaped melt pools are observed on the horizontal and vertical sections, respectively. Moreover, the melt pool boundaries are vulnerable to dissolution and separate the hollows, basins, and swellings formed after electrochemical dissolution. The two sections display similar current efficiency and polarization because of the single austenitic phase and the identical and uniform elemental content distribution. The top and side surfaces of the AM sample could be efficiently smoothened via ECM by eliminating the partially melted powders and significantly reducing the surface roughness. The numerous band humps make the top surface of the AM sample difficult to smoothen compared with the side surface under the point effect of the electric field.

Occurrence, characteristics, and factors influencing the atmospheric microplastics around Jiaozhou Bay, the Yellow Sea.

Atmospheric microplastics are attracting increasing attention as an emerging pollutant. However, research on its characteristics and influencing factors is insufficient. This study examines the characteristics and spatiotemporal distribution of atmospheric microplastics around Jiaozhou Bay, the Yellow Sea. The results showed that the dominant shapes of microplastic were fragments (61.9 %) and fibers (25.6 %), and the main types were polyethylene terephthalate (23.8 %), polyethylene (31.6 %) and cellulose (rayon, 34.9 %). The deposition rate of microplastic varied from 8.395 to 80.114 items·m-2·d-1, with a mean of 46.708 ± 21.316 items·m-2·d-1. The deposition rate was higher in the dry season than in the rainy season, indicating the influence of weather condition. The annual mass of atmospheric microplastics entering the bay was estimated to be 7.612 ± 3.474 tons. For the first time, this study reveals that atmospheric microplastics in Jiaozhou Bay change spatiotemporally due to monsoons, which pose a potential threat to marine ecosystems.

Molecular basis and evolutionary cost of a novel macrolides/lincosamides resistance phenotype in Staphylococcus haemolyticus.

Staphylococcus haemolyticus (S. haemolyticus) is a coagulase-negative Staphylococcus that has become one of the primary causes of nosocomial infection. After a long period of antibiotic use, S. haemolyticus has developed multiple resistance phenotypes for macrolides and lincosamides. Herein, we evaluated four S. haemolyticus clinical isolates, of which three had antibiotic resistance patterns reported previously. The fourth isolate was resistant to both erythromycin and clindamycin in the absence of erythromycin induction. This novel phenotype, known as constitutive macrolides-lincosamides-streptogramins resistance, has been reported in other bacteria but has not been previously reported in S. haemolyticus. Investigation of the isolate demonstrated a deletion in the methyltransferase gene ermC, upstream leader peptide. This deletion resulted in constitutive MLS resistance based on whole-genome sequencing and experimental verification. Continuous expression of ermC was shown to inhibit the growth of S. haemolyticus, which turned out to be the fitness cost with no MLS pressure. In summary, this study is the first to report constitutive MLS resistance in S. haemolyticus, which provides a better understanding of MLS resistance in clinical medicine. IMPORTANCE This study identified a novel phenotype of macrolides/lincosamides resistance in Staphylococcus haemolyticus which improved a better guidance for clinical treatment. It also clarified the mechanistic basis for this form of antibiotic resistance that supplemented the drug resistance mechanism of Staphylococcus. In addition, this study elaborated on a possibility that continuous expression of some resistance genes was shown to inhibit the growth of bacteria themselves, which turned out to be the fitness cost in the absence of antibiotic pressure.

Roles of host SUMOylation in bacterial pathogenesis.

Bacteria frequently interfere with the post-translational modifications of host cells to facilitate their survival and growth after invasion. SUMOylation, a reversible post-translational modification process, plays an important role in biological life activities. In addition to being critical to host cell metabolism and survival, SUMOylation also regulates gene expression and cell signal transmission. Moreover, SUMOylation in eukaryotic cells can be used by a variety of bacterial pathogens to advance bacterial invasion. In this minireview, we focused on the role and mechanism of host SUMOylation in the pathogenesis of six important clinical bacterial pathogens (Listeria monocytogenes, Shigella flexneri, Salmonella Typhimurium, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli). Taken together, this review provided new insights for understanding the unique pathogen-host interaction based on host SUMOylation and provided a novel perspective on the development of new strategies to combat bacterial infections in the future.

Tetracycline antibiotics: Potential anticancer drugs.

In recent years, research on tetracycline antibiotics has gradually shifted from their antibacterial effects to anticancer effects. Doxycycline, minocycline, and tigecycline as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved tetracycline antibiotics have been the main subjects of studies. Evidence indicated that they have anticancer properties and are able to control cancer progression through different mechanisms, such as anti-proliferation, anti-metastasis, and promotion of autophagy or apoptosis. In addition, studies have shown that these three tetracycline antibiotics can be utilized in conjunction with chemotherapeutic and targeted drugs to inhibit cancer progression and improve the quality of patient survival. Therefore, doxycycline, minocycline, and tigecycline are taken as examples in this work. Their mechanisms of action in different cancers and related combination therapies are introduced. Their current roles in alleviating the suffering of patients undergoing chemotherapy when used as adjuvant drugs in clinical treatment are also described. Finally, the research gaps and potential research directions at this stage are briefly summarized.

Characteristics and evaluation of C1 posterior arch variation for transpedicular screw placement between patients with and without basilar invagination.

BACKGROUND: C1 transpedicular screw (C1TS) placement provided satisfactory pullout resistance and 3D stability, but its application might be limited in patients with basilar invagination (BI) due to the high incidences of the atlas anomaly and vertebral artery (VA) variation. However, no study has explored the classifications of C1 posterior arch variations and investigated their indications and ideal insertion trajectories for C1TS in BI. PURPOSE: To investigate the bony and surrounding arterial characteristics of the atlas, classify posterior arch variations, identify indications for C1TS, evaluate ideal insertion trajectories for C1TS in BI patients without atlas occipitalization (AO), and compare them with those without BI and AO as control. METHODS: A total of 130 non-AO patients with and without BI (52 patients and 78 patients, respectively) from two medical centers were included at a 1:1.5 ratio. The posterior arch variations were assessed using a modified C1 morphological classification. Comparisons regarding the bony and surrounding arterial characteristics, morphological classification distributions, and ideal insertion trajectories between BI and control groups were performed. The subgroup analyses based on different morphological classifications were also conducted. In addition, the factors possibly affecting the insertion parameters were investigated using multiple linear regression analyses. RESULTS: The BI group was associated with significantly smaller lateral mass height and width, sagittal length of posterior arch, pedicle height, vertical height of posterior arch, and distance between VA and VA groove (VAG) than control group. Four types of posterior arch variations with indications for different screw placement techniques were classified; Classifications I and II were suitable for C1TS. The BI cohort showed a significantly lower rate of Classification I than the control cohort. In the BI group, the subgroup of Classification I had significantly larger distance between the insertion point (IP) and inferior aspect of the posterior arch. In addition, it had the narrowest width along ideal screw trajectory, but a significantly more lateral ideal mediolateral angle than the subgroup of Classification II. Multiple linear regression indicated that the cephalad angle was significantly associated with the diagnosis of BI (B = 3.708, P < 0.001) and sagittal diameter of C1 (B = 3.417, P = 0.027); the ideal mediolateral angle was significantly associated with BMI (B = 0.264, P = 0.031), sagittal diameter of C1 (B = - 4.559, P = 0.002), and pedicle height (B = - 2.317, P < 0.001); the distance between the IP and inferior aspects of posterior arch was significantly associated with age (B = - 0.002, P = 0.035), BMI (B = - 0.007, P = 0.028), sagittal length of posterior arch (B = - 0.187, P = 0.032), pedicle height (B = - 0.392, P < 0.001), and middle and lower parts of posterior arch (B = 0.862, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The incidence of posterior arch variation in BI patients without AO was remarkably higher than that in control patients. The insertion parameters of posterior screws were different between the morphological classification types in BI and control groups. The distance between VA V3 segments and VAG in BI cohort was substantially smaller than that in control cohort. Preoperative individual 3D computed tomography (CT), CT angiography and intraoperative navigation are recommended for BI patients receiving posterior screw placement.

A Visual Positioning Method of UAV in a Large-Scale Outdoor Environment.

Visual positioning is a basic component for UAV operation. The structure-based methods are, widely applied in most literature, based on local feature matching between a query image that needs to be localized and a reference image with a known pose and feature points. However, the existing methods still struggle with the different illumination and seasonal changes. In outdoor regions, the feature points and descriptors are similar, and the number of mismatches will increase rapidly, leading to the visual positioning becoming unreliable. Moreover, with the database growing, the image retrieval and feature matching are time-consuming. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a novel hierarchical visual positioning method, which includes map construction, landmark matching and pose calculation. First, we combine brain-inspired mechanisms and landmarks to construct a cognitive map, which can make image retrieval efficient. Second, the graph neural network is utilized to learn the inner relations of the feature points. To improve matching accuracy, the network uses the semantic confidence in matching score calculations. Besides, the system can eliminate the mismatches by analyzing all the matching results in the same landmark. Finally, we calculate the pose by using a PnP solver. Furthermore, we evaluate both the matching algorithm and the visual positioning method experimentally in the simulation datasets, where the matching algorithm performs better in some scenes. The results demonstrate that the retrieval time can be shortened by three-thirds with an average positioning error of 10.8 m.

Contamination of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on personal protective equipment and environmental surfaces in nonpatient entry area of a Fangcang shelter hospital.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the extent of contamination of personal protective equipment (PPE) and surfaces by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the nonpatient entry area of a Fangcang shelter hospital, the medical staff accommodation area, and the staff transport bus. METHODS: We collected 816 samples from the nonpatient entry area and floors in a Fangcang shelter hospital, medical staff accommodation area, and scheduled bus, and the five major types of PPE used from April 13 to May 18, 2022. SARS-CoV-2 ribonucleic acid (RNA) was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Overall, 22.2% of PPE samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Boot covers and gowns were the most contaminated types of PPE. The positive PPE contamination rate of staff collecting respiratory specimens was significantly higher than that of the general-treatment staff group (35.8% vs. 12.2%) and cleaner group (35.8% vs. 26.4%), p < 0.01. In total, 27 of 265 (10.2%) environmental surface samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. The contamination-positive rates were 26.8% (22/82), 5.4% (4/74), and 0.9% (1/109) for contaminated, potentially contaminated, and clean zones, respectively. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was frequently detected on objects such as mobile phones, tables, computer keyboards and mice, and door handles. CONCLUSIONS: SARS-CoV-2 RNA was widely distributed on high-touch surfaces and on PPE in the contaminated zone of the Fangcang shelter hospital, implying a potentially high infection risk for healthcare workers. Our findings emphasize the need to ensure adequate environmental cleaning, improve hand hygiene, and reduce the risk of infection. Additionally, prevention of self-contamination during PPE donning and doffing is complex and needs more research.

Biochar inhibited hydrogen radical-induced Cd bioavailability in a paddy soil.

Herein, hydrogen (H·) radical was observed as a new pathway to produce hydroxyl (OH·) radicals that promoted cadmium sulfide (CdS) dissolution and thus Cd solubility in paddy soils. In soil incubation experiments, the bioavailable Cd concentrations in flooded paddy soils were increased by 8.44 % as the soil was aerated for 3d. For the first time, the H· radical was observed in aerated soil sludge. The association of CdS dissolution with free radicals was thereafter confirmed in an electrolysis experiment. Both H· and OH· radicals in electrolyzed water were confirmed by the electron paramagnetic resonance analysis. In the system with CdS, water electrolysis increased soluble Cd2+ concentration by 60.92 times, which was compromised by 43.2 % when the radical scavenger was introduced. This confirmed the free radicals can lead to oxidative dissolution of CdS. The H· radical was generated in systems with fulvic acid or catechol irradiated by ultraviolet lights, indicating soil organic carbon could be an important precursor for H· and OH· radicals. Biochar application decreased soil DTPA-Cd by 22-56 % invoking mechanisms besides adsorption. First, biochar quenched radicals and reduced CdS dissolution by 23.6 % in electrolyzed water in which -C-OH of biochar was oxidized to CO. Second, biochar boosted Fe/S-reducing bacteria and thus compromised CdS dissolution, as affirmed by a reversal correlation between soil available Fe2+ and DTPA-Cd concentrations. A similar phenomenon occurred in Shewanella oneidensis MR-1-inoculated soils. This study provided new insights into the bioavailability of Cd and offered feasible measures to remediate Cd-contaminated paddy soils with biochars.

Quantitative assessment of retinal microvascular remodeling in eyes that underwent idiopathic epiretinal membrane surgery.

Purpose: To explore the surgical outcomes of the macular microvasculature and visual function in eyes with idiopathic epiretinal membrane (iERM) using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography angiography (SD-OCTA). Methods: This observational, cross-sectional study included 41 participants who underwent iERM surgery with a 3-month (3M) follow-up. Forty-one healthy eyes formed the control group. The assessments included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and mean sensitivity (MS) by microperimetry and SD-OCTA assessment of vessel tortuosity (VT), vessel density (VD), foveal avascular zone, and retinal thickness (RT). Results: The findings showed statistically significant differences in VT, foveal avascular zone parameters, RT, BCVA, and MS between the iERM and control groups (p < 0.05). After iERM surgery, the macular VT, SCP VD, and RT decreased significantly (p < 0.01) while the DCP VD increased (p = 0.029). The BCVA improved significantly (p < 0.001) and was associated with the MS (rs = -0.377, p = 0.015). MS was associated with the SCP VD and RT at 3M (SCP VD rs = 0.511, p = 0.001; RT rs = 0.456, p = 0.003). In the superior quadrant, the MS improved significantly (p < 0.001) and the improvement of MS was associated with the reduction of VT (ß = -0.330, p = 0.034). Conclusion: Microcirculatory remodeling and perfusion recovery were observed within 3 months after iERM surgery. VT was a novel index for evaluating the morphology of the retinal microvasculature in eyes with iERM and was associated with MS in the superior quadrant.

Remediation of lead and cadmium co-contaminated mining soil by phosphate-functionalized biochar: Performance, mechanism, and microbial response.

The remediation of heavy metals contaminated soils is of great significance for reducing their risk to human health. Here, pristine pinewood sawdust biochar (BC) and phosphate-functionalized biochar (PBC) were conducted to investigate their immobilization performance towards lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in arable soils severely polluted by Pb (9240.5 mg kg-1) and Cd (10.71 mg kg-1) and microbial response in soils. Compared to pristine BC (2.6-12.1%), PBC was more effective in immobilizing Pb and Cd with an immobilization effectiveness of 45.2-96.2% after incubation of 60 days. Moreover, the labile Pb and Cd in soils were transformed to more stable species after addition of PBC, reducing their bioavailability. The immobilization mechanisms of Pb and Cd by PBC were mainly to facilitate the formation of stable phosphate precipitates e.g., Cd3(PO4)2, Cd5(PO4)3OH, Cd5H2(PO4)4‧4H2O, and pyromorphite-type minerals. Further, PBC increased pH, organic matter, cation exchange capacity, and available nutrients (phosphorus and potassium) in soils. High-throughput sequencing analysis of 16 S rRNA genes indicated that the diversity and composition of bacterial community responded to PBC addition due to PBC-induced changes in soil physicochemical properties, increasing the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria (e.g., Brevundimonas, Bacillus, and norank_f__chitinophagaceae) in the treated soils. What's more, these beneficial bacteria could not only facilitate Pb and Cd immobilization but also alter nutrient biogeochemical transformation (nitrogen and iron) in co-contaminated soils. Overall, PBC could be a promising material for immobilization of Pb and Cd and the simultaneous enhancement of soil quality and available nutrients in co-contaminated mining soils.

The Study of Crystallization Behavior, Microcellular Structure and Thermal Properties of Glass-Fiber/Polycarbonate Composites.

Polycarbonate (PC) foam is a versatile material with excellent properties, but its low thermal stability limits its application in high-temperature environments. The aim of this study was to improve the thermal stability of PC foam by adding glass fibers (GF) and to investigate the effect of GF on PC crystallization behavior and PC foam cell morphology. This study was motivated by the need to improve the performance of PC foams in various industries, such as construction, automotive, and medical. To achieve this goal, PC/GF composites were prepared by extrusion, and PC/GF composite foams were produced using a batch foaming process with supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) as the blowing agent. The results showed that the addition of GF accelerated the SC-CO2-induced crystallization stability of PC and significantly increased the cell density to 4.6 cells/cm3. In addition, the thermal stability of PC/GF foam was improved, with a significant increase in the residual carbon rate at 700 °C and a lower weight loss rate than PC matrix. Overall, this study highlights the potential of GF as a PC foam reinforcement and its effect on thermal and structural properties, providing guidance for industrial production and applications.

Associations of Insomnia With Insulin Resistance Traits: A Cross-sectional and Mendelian Randomization Study.

CONTEXT: Insomnia is associated with insulin resistance (IR) in observational studies; however, whether insomnia is causally associated with IR remains unestablished. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to estimate the causal associations of insomnia with IR and its related traits. METHODS: In primary analyses, multivariable regression (MVR) and 1-sample Mendelian randomization (1SMR) analyses were performed to estimate the associations of insomnia with IR (triglyceride-glucose index and triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [TG/HDL-C] ratio) and its related traits (glucose level, TG, and HDL-C) in the UK Biobank. Thereafter, 2-sample MR (2SMR) analyses were used to validate the findings from primary analyses. Finally, the potential mediating effects of IR on the pathway of insomnia giving rise to type 2 diabetes (T2D) were examined using a 2-step MR design. RESULTS: Across the MVR, 1SMR, and their sensitivity analyses, we found consistent evidence suggesting that more frequent insomnia symptoms were significantly associated with higher values of triglyceride-glucose index (MVR, ß = 0.024, P < 2.00E-16; 1SMR, ß = 0.343, P < 2.00E-16), TG/HDL-C ratio (MVR, ß = 0.016, P = 1.75E-13; 1SMR, ß = 0.445, P < 2.00E-16), and TG level (MVR, ß = 0.019 log mg/dL, P < 2.00E-16, 1SMR: ß = 0.289 log mg/dL, P < 2.00E-16) after Bonferroni adjustment. Similar evidence was obtained by using 2SMR, and mediation analysis suggested that about one-quarter (25.21%) of the association between insomnia symptoms and T2D was mediated by IR. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides robust evidence supporting that more frequent insomnia symptoms are associated with IR and its related traits across different angles. These findings indicate that insomnia symptoms can be served as a promising target to improve IR and prevent subsequent T2D.

Inflammation in the peripheral blood system of Crohn's Disease.

Crohn's disease (CD) is an inflammatory bowel disease that is characterized by chronic inflammation of digestive system and has a nickname "green cancer" because of its sustained alternation of periods of flares and remissions. Here, we investigated the inflammation changes in peripheral blood system of CD patients, which are less reported in China. Peripheral blood samples of 167 CD patients and 30 healthy people, as well as their clinical information, were collected at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University. Flow cytometry was performed to analyze the ratio of CD4 T cells to CD8 T cells. Cytometric Bead Array kit was used to detect the cytokines in peripheral blood in CD patients. Moreover, the expression of inflammasomes was also detected by RT-PCR. The percentage and cell number of lymphocytes in CD patients' peripheral blood system decreased significantly, while monocytes increased remarkably. Interestingly, there was an inversion of the CD4 T cells/CD8 T cells ratio in peripheral blood of CD patients. The levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) increased significantly in CD patients' peripheral blood, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation aggravate inflammatory response. In addition, the expression of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family, pyrin domain-containing 1 (NLRP1) and NLRP3 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of CD patients increased significantly after LPS stimulation. The inflammation in peripheral blood of CD patients had significant changes, including PBMC, cytokines and inflammasomes. These results are helpful to get a deeper understanding of CD and improve the efficiency of diagnosis and treatment in China.

Prospect of bacteria for tumor diagnosis and treatment.

In recent decades, the comprehensive cancer treatments including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy have improved the overall survival rate and quality of life of many cancer patients. However, we are still facing many difficult problems in the cancer treatment, such as unpredictable side effects, high recurrence rate, and poor curative effect. Therefore, the better intervention strategies are needed in this field. In recent years, the role and importance of microbiota in a variety of diseases were focused on as a hot research topic, and the role of some intracellular bacteria of cancer cells in carcinogenesis has recently been discovered. The impact of bacteria on cancer is not limited to their contribution to tumorigenesis, but the overall susceptibility of bacteria to subsequent tumor progression, the development of concurrent infections, and the response to anti-cancer therapy have also been found to be affected. Concerns about the contribution of bacteria in the anti-cancer response have inspired researchers to develop bacteria-based anti-cancer treatments. In this paper, we reviewed the main roles of bacteria in the occurrence and development of tumors, and summarized the mechanism of bacteria in the occurrence, development, and clinical anti-tumor treatment of tumors, providing new insights for the in-depth study of the role of bacteria in tumor diagnosis and treatment. This review aims to provide a new perspective for the development of new technologies based on bacteria to enhance anti-tumor immunotherapy.