Advancing thyroid disease research: The role and potential of zebrafish model.

Thyroid disorders significantly affect human metabolism, cardiovascular function, skeletal health, and reproductive systems, presenting a complex challenge due to their multifactorial nature. Understanding the underlying mechanisms and developing novel therapeutic approaches require appropriate models. Zebrafish, with their genetic tractability, short life cycle, and physiological relevance, have emerged as a valuable model for investigating thyroid diseases. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the zebrafish thyroid gland's structure and function, explores its application in modeling thyroid pathologies such as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and thyroid cancer, and discusses current limitations and possible improvements. Furthermore, it outlines future directions for zebrafish-based research, focusing on enhancing the model's relevance to human thyroid disease and its potential to expedite the development of clinical therapies.

The diagnostic utility of CT attenuation values in detecting calcification within costal cartilage.

BACKGROUND: To establish and verify diagnostic criteria for the identification of costal cartilage calcification based on computed tomography (CT) attenuation value. METHODS: 360 chest CT slices of 120 patients were reviewed and annotated retrospectively and receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic ability of CT attenuation value. Another 20 slices containing calcification were randomly selected and annotated by 4 doctors for further validation. hematoxylin and eosin and collagen type X (COLX) staining was performed on the residual costal cartilage. RESULTS: In total 355,129 voxels were detected and 187.5 was confirmed as the optimal CT attenuation value threshold, with a sensitivity of 98.6% and a specificity of 99.7%, for costal cartilage calcification diagnosis. Threshold-based identification of calcification demonstrated a similarity of nearly 80% with specialists' assessments, and exhibited advantages in the identification of subtle calcifications in the further validation. We also observed that CT attenuation values among males demonstrated a centralized distribution, whereas those among females exhibited a bimodal distribution. Threshold-based identified calcification showed a positivity of COLX. CONCLUSIONS: CT attenuation value could validly and reliably diagnose calcification within costal cartilage. Further investigations involving larger cohorts of patients are required to elucidate the risk factors and underlying mechanisms of costal cartilage calcification.

Transcriptome dynamics in Artemisia annua provides new insights into cold adaptation and de-adaptation.

Plants adapt to cold stress through a tightly regulated process involving metabolic reprogramming and tissue remodeling to enhance tolerance within a short timeframe. However, the precise differences and interconnections among various organs during cold adaptation remain poorly understood. This study employed dynamic transcriptomic and metabolite quantitative analyses to investigate cold adaptation and subsequent de-adaptation in Artemisia annua, a species known for its robust resistance to abiotic stress. Our findings revealed distinct expression patterns in most differentially expressed genes (DEGs) encoding transcription factors and components of the calcium signal transduction pathway within the two organs under cold stress. Notably, the long-distance transport of carbon sources from source organs (leaves) to sink organs (roots) experienced disruption followed by resumption, while nitrogen transport from roots to leaves, primarily in the form of amino acids, exhibited acceleration. These contrasting transport patterns likely contribute to the observed differences in cold response between the two organs. The transcriptomic analysis further indicated that leaves exhibited increased respiration, accumulated anti-stress compounds, and initiated the ICE-CBF-COR signaling pathway earlier than roots. Differential expression of genes associated with cell wall biosynthesis suggests that leaves may undergo cell wall thickening while roots may experience thinning. Moreover, a marked difference was observed in phenylalanine metabolism between the two organs, with leaves favoring lignin production and roots favoring flavonoid synthesis. Additionally, our findings suggest that the circadian rhythm is crucial in integrating temperature fluctuations with the plant's internal rhythms during cold stress and subsequent recovery. Collectively, these results shed light on the coordinated response of different plant organs during cold adaptation, highlighting the importance of inter-organ communication for successful stress tolerance.

Downregulation of B4GALNT1 inhibits proliferation and metastasis of osteosarcoma cells. / B4GALNT1表达下调抑制骨肉瘤细胞增殖和转移.

OBJECTIVES: Osteosarcoma is the most common malignant bone tumor in children and adolescents, characterized by a high potential for proliferation and metastasis. Patients with osteosarcoma who have distant metastases generally have a poor prognosis. Challenges in treatment include incomplete resection of tumor and chemotherapy resistance, with no effective cure currently available. Recent studies suggest that ß-1,4-N-acetyl-galactosaminyltransferase 1 (B4GALNT1) plays a role in the progression of various malignant tumors. However, the function of B4GALNT1 in osteosarcoma cells has not been reported. This study aims to investigate the expression of B4GALNT1 in osteosarcoma tissues compared to normal tissues and to explore its effects on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of osteosarcoma cells, thereby providing new theoretical foundations and directions for the treatment of osteosarcoma patients. METHODS: Tumor tissues and corresponding normal tissue samples were collected from 16 osteosarcoma patients who underwent tumor resection at the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University. The patients' ages ranged from 8 to 17 years (median age 12 years). The expression of B4GALNT1 mRNA in osteosarcoma tissues, corresponding normal tissues, 3 osteosarcoma cell lines (MG63, Saos-2, and U2OS), and human fetal osteoblastic cells (hFOB) was detected using real-time reverse transcription PCR (real-time RT-PCR). The effects of B4GALNT1 knockdown on the proliferation of osteosarcoma cells Saos-2 and U2OS were analyzed using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assays and colony formation assays. The effects of B4GALNT1 knockdown on the migration and invasion abilities of Saos-2 and U2OS cells were evaluated using Transwell migration and invasion assays. Western blotting analysis was performed to assess the impact of B4GALNT1 knockdown on the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and invasion-related proteins in Saos-2 and U2OS cells. RESULTS: Real-time RT-PCR results showed that B4GALNT1 mRNA expression levels were significantly higher in osteosarcoma tissues and the 3 osteosarcoma cell lines compared to normal tissues and hFOB cells (all P<0.01). CCK-8 and colony formation assays indicated that B4GALNT1 knockdown significantly reduced the proliferation rate of osteosarcoma cells compared to the control group (all P<0.05). Transwell migration and invasion assays demonstrated that B4GALNT1 knockdown significantly decreased the number of migrating and invading osteosarcoma cells (all P<0.01). Western blotting analysis revealed that B4GALNT1 knockdown inhibited the expression of N-cadherin, Snail, Vimentin, and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) compared to the control group (all P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: B4GALNT1 is upregulated in osteosarcoma tissues and cell lines, and its knockdown suppresses the malignant phenotype of osteosarcoma cells. B4GALNT1 may function as an oncogene in the proliferation and metastasis of osteosarcoma cells.

Polysaccharides from Lanzhou Lily Attenuate Induced Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Modifying the Gut Microbiota and Metabolite Profile.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is closely related to gut microbiota due to the hepatic portal system, and utilizing natural polysaccharides as prebiotics has become a prospective strategy for treating NAFLD. However, the therapeutic effects and potential molecular mechanisms of Lanzhou Lily polysaccharides (LLP) on NAFLD remains unclear. Therefore, the alleviating effects of LLP on NAFLD induced by high-fat diet (HFD) were investigated. LLP treatment greatly ameliorated NAFLD by significantly reducing lipid accumulation and the levels of liver function markers in HFD-induced NAFLD mice, as evidenced by decreased serum levels of TG, TC, HDL-C and LDL-C. Furthermore, LLP administration reduced hepatic steatosis, as shown by H&E and Oil red O staining. LLP also inhibited the TNF-α and IL-1ß expression, thereby reducing levels of hepatic proinflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, LLP restored gut microbiota dysbiosis, and regulated microbial metabolic pathways such as primary bile acid biosynthesis and amino acid metabolism. In addition, the resultes of Spearman's correlation analysis found that some key metabolites in these metabolic pathways were associated with intestinal microorganisms such as Desulfobacterota, Prevotellaceae-UCG-001, Colidextribacter and Alistipes. Therefore, our study suggests that LLP may has potential applications in the treatment of NAFLD by regulating gut microbiota and its metabolite profile.

Serum dsDNA is environmentally contingent.

Psoriasis is a recurrent autoimmune disease characterized by seasonal and latitudinal variations. Double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) is a crucial component of nucleic acids and nucleosomes that provoke innate immune responses. Given the potential influence of climate on immunity and the development of autoimmune diseases, a comprehensive quantitative analysis of dsDNA levels in the population is warranted. In this case-control study conducted from 2016 to 2020, 10,110 psoriasis patients and matched controls from 12 regions in China were included. This study examined variations in serum dsDNA levels based on season and latitude. The results revealed significant associations between geographical location, climatic conditions, and season with serum dsDNA concentration. Individuals residing in Northern China exhibited significantly higher serum dsDNA levels compared to those in the South (1.00 vs. 0.96 ng/ml), and those in medium latitude regions had higher levels than their counterparts in areas with extreme latitudes (0.98 vs. 0.96 ng/ml). Furthermore, individuals in regions with low to medium ultraviolet exposure demonstrated higher serum dsDNA concentrations than those in areas with high ultraviolet levels (1.03 vs. 0.93 ng/ml), and individuals in winter showed higher levels than those in summer (1.03 vs. 0.92 ng/ml). Factors such as sex, UV index, humidity, and sunshine duration were inversely related to serum dsDNA levels, while age and daylight hours showed a positive association. These findings suggest that meteorological and climatic factors play a role in influencing serum dsDNA levels.

MOF-Decorated Poly(tetrafluoroethylene) Membranes with Underwater Superoleophobicity for Extracting Osmotic Energy from Oily Wastewater Effluents.

Industrial processes generate huge volumes of oily saline wastewater. Instead of being sent to the drainage system immediately, extracting osmotic energy from these effluents represents a promising means to reuse these wastes and contributes to mitigate the ever-growing energy crisis. Herein, an MOF-decorated PTFE membrane is engineered to extract osmotic energy from oily wastewaters. Copper hydroxide nanowires (CHNs) are intertwined with polystyrenesulfonate sodium (PSS), deposited onto a poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) membrane, and thereafter used as metal precursors to in situ generate HKUST-1 doped with negative charges. The resulting HKUST-1PSS@PTFE hybrid membrane possesses abundant angstrom-scale channels capable of transporting cations efficiently and features a hierarchically structured surface with underwater superoleophobicity. The energy conversion performance of the HKUST-1PSS3.5@PTFE membrane can reach an output power density of 6.21 W m-2 at a 50-fold NaCl gradient, which is superior to those of pristine PTFE membranes. Once exposed to oily saline wastewater, the HKUST-1PSS@PTFE membrane can exhibit an excellent oil-repellent ability, thus contributing to sustain its osmotic energy harvesting. This work may promote the development of antifouling osmotic energy harvesters with a long working life and pave the way to fully exploit oily wastewater effluents as valuable energy sources.

Clinicopathologic features and surgical treatment prognosis of esophageal carcinosarcoma.

Background: Carcinosarcoma is a rare esophageal tumor, accounting for approximately 0.27-2.8% of malignant esophageal tumors. This study aims to investigate the clinical pathological characteristics, surgical treatment outcomes, and analysis of prognostic factors in esophageal carcinosarcoma (ECS). Methods: Clinical data from sixteen patients diagnosed with esophageal sarcomatoid carcinoma who underwent surgical interventions were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical and pathological features, treatment modalities, and postoperative outcomes were systematically examined. Results: Out of the 1261 patients who underwent surgical treatment for esophageal cancer, 16 cases were pathologically confirmed as carcinosarcoma. Among them, two underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy, six received postoperative chemotherapy. Carcinosarcomas predominantly occurred in the middle (43.75%) and lower (50%) segments of the esophagus. Among the 16 cases, 10 presented as polypoid, 4 as ulcerative, and 2 as medullary types. Microscopic examination revealed coexistence and transitional transitions between sarcomatous and carcinoma components. Pathological staging showed 5 cases in stage T1, 2 in stage T2, and 9 in stage T3, with lymph node metastasis observed in 8 cases (50%). TNM staging revealed 2 cases in stage I, 9 in stage II, and 5 in stage III. The overall 1, 3, and 5-year survival rates were 86.67%, 62.5%, and 57.14%, respectively. Univariate analysis indicated that pathological N staging influenced survival rates, while multivariate analysis demonstrated that pathological N staging was an independent prognostic factor. Conclusions: Carcinosarcoma is a rare esophageal tumor, accounting for approximately 0.27-2.8% of malignant esophageal tumors. Histologically, the biphasic pattern is a crucial diagnostic feature, although the carcinomatous component may not always be evident, especially in limited biopsies, leading to potential misclassification as pure sarcoma or squamous cell carcinoma. Despite its large volume and cellular atypia, carcinosarcoma carries a favorable prognosis. Complete surgical resection of the tumor and regional lymph node dissection is the preferred treatment approach for esophageal carcinosarcoma.

Influencing factors of kinesiophobia in knee arthroplasty patients under the social cognitive theory: A structural equation model.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the path relationships among influencing factors for kinesiophobia in knee arthroplasty patients through a structural equation model. BACKGROUND: The occurrence of kinesiophobia significantly impacts the rehabilitation process of knee arthroplasty patients. However, there is still a need to determine factors that contribute to reducing kinesiophobia. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted and reported following the STROBE guideline. METHODS: Between February 2022 to October 2022, 162 total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients and 81 unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) patients completed a survey. A structural equation modeling (SEM) approach was utilized to analyze the relationships between kinesiophobia and influencing factors (social support, pain resilience, and rehabilitation self-efficacy). Furthermore, multi-group SEM analysis was conducted to examine whether the model equally fitted patients in different types of knee arthroplasty. RESULTS: The direct negative effects of rehabilitation self-efficacy (ß = -0.535) and pain resilience (ß = -0.293) on kinesiophobia were observed. The mediating effect (ß = -0.183) of pain resilience and rehabilitation self-efficacy between social support and kinesiophobia was also significant. The SEM model achieved an acceptable model fit (χ2 = 35.656, RMSEA = 0.031, χ2/df = 1.230, GFI = 0.972, NFI = 0.982, IFI = 0.997, CFI = 0.996). In multicohort analysis, no significant differences were observed among knee arthroplasties (TKA, UKA) (Δχ2 = 4.213, p = 0.648). CONCLUSIONS: Satisfactory social support enhances pain resilience and rehabilitation self-efficacy, so as to reduce kinesiophobia. Future interventions that directly target the assessment and management of kinesiophobia, available social support may help reduce kinesiophobia, and pain resilience and rehabilitation self-efficacy may be critical factors in managing kinesiophobia. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Reducing kinesiophobia in knee arthroplasty patients requires satisfactory social support, pain resilience, and rehabilitation self-efficacy. Therefore, healthcare organizations may implement initiatives to reduce kinesiophobia by taking these factors into account.

Epidemiology of Subsequent Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) Infection Among Rectal Carriers: A Meta-Analysis of Incidence, Risk Factors and Their Association With Geographic Region and Age.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the incidence and risk factors of subsequent carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) infection among rectal carriers, and their association with geographic region and age. METHODS: A meta-analysis of studies investigating incidence and/or risk factors of subsequent CRE infection among rectal carriers was conducted, with subgroup analyses by geographic region and age. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched (published from inception to 31 January 2024). This study is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023444420). RESULTS: Of 4459 studies identified, 24 studies with 8188 CRE rectal carriers were included. The pooled incidence of subsequent CRE infection was 20.6% (95% CI 15.9-25.8). The highest incidence was seen in America (23.6%, 95% CI 14.2-34.5), followed by Europe (20.9%, 95% CI 12.5-30.8) and Asia (19.8%, 95% CI 12.7-27.9). Children had a greater incidence (26.7%, 95% CI 21.3-32.3) than adults (19.8%, 95% CI 14.9-25.2). Fourteen factors were associated with subsequent CRE infection. In Asia, the most notable risk factor was gastritis (odds ratio [OR] 4.95 95% CI 1.87-13.11). In Europe, admission to the intensive care unit was prominent (OR 2.76 95% CI 1.14-6.65). In the America, the use of a urinary Foley catheter (OR 4.33 95% CI 1.06-17.70) was dominant. Admission to the intensive care unit was most notable in adults (OR 3.01 95% CI 1.80-5.02), while mechanical ventilation was shown the greatest significance in children (OR 15.61 95% CI 4.39-55.47). CONCLUSIONS: Risk of subsequent CRE infection among rectal carriers was critical. Identifying the risk factors for subsequent infection could help in developing more potent prevention and control measures to reduce CRE infection.

Chain mediating effect of gratitude and meaning in life between nurses' psychological response and emergency capability-a multicenter cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Clinical nurses face high-pressure situations requiring rapid decision-making and skilled intervention, impacting their psychological responses and emergency capabilities. Understanding the relationships between psychological factors like gratitude and meaning in life is crucial for improving nurses' performance in emergencies. This study explores the mediating role of gratitude and meaning in life in the impact of psychological responses on clinical nurses' emergency capabilities, aiming to enhance their effectiveness in such situations. METHODS: This study is a multi-center cross-sectional survey. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 1833 clinical nurses in five tertiary hospitals in Anhui Province, China including general information questionnaire, nurses' emergency capability scale, Meaning in life scale, Gratitude scale and Psychological response questionnaire. According to the results of the questionnaire survey, a chain mediating model was constructed and tested. RESULTS: The total score of emergency capability of 1833 clinical nurses was (71.65 ± 10.77), the total score of meaning in life was (50.67 ± 9.04), the total score of gratitude was (30.96 ± 3.57), and the total score of psychological response was 13.00 (6.00, 20.00). The emergency capability of subjects was positively correlated with the meaning in life, the total score of gratitude scale and the scores of each dimension of the two scales, and negatively correlated with the total score of psychological response scale and each dimension of this scale (all P < 0.05). The total effect coefficient, direct effect coefficient and indirect effect coefficient of psychological response on nurses' emergency capability are - 0.230, -0.110 and - 0.120 respectively, that is, the indirect effect accounts for 52.17% of the total effect. Among the indirect effects, the specific mediating effects of gratitude and meaning in life account for 22.50% and 62.50% respectively, and the chain mediating effects of gratitude and meaning in life account for 15.00%. CONCLUSION: Gratitude and meaning in life have multiple mediating roles in the mechanism of psychological response that affecting clinical nurses' emergency capability. Therefore, it is very important to pay attention to dynamically evaluating the psychological response level of clinical nurses, and strive to improve their gratitude and meaning in life, so as to further enhance their emergency response ability.

Selectivity Modulation of Multistep Reduction Reactions by Gold Nanoclusters.

The selective synthesis of valuable azo- and azoxyaromatic chemicals via transfer coupling of nitroaromatic compounds has been achieved by fine-tuning the catalyst structure. Here, a direct method to modulate nitrobenzene reduction and selectively alter the product from azobenzene to azoxybenzene by employing the size effect of Au is reported. Au nanoclusters (NCs) with smaller sizes embedded in ZIF-8 controllably converted nitrobenzene into azoxybenzene, while supported Au nanoparticles (NPs) catalyzed nitrobenzene reduction to azobenzene. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy on CO adsorption (CO-DRIFTS) of Au NC/ZIF-8 revealed a higher valence state and a lower electron density of Au than that of Au NP/ZIF-8, combined with the desorption of azoxybenzene from the Au NC and Au NP surface, suggesting that the Au NCs with lower electron density exhibit stronger adsorption. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations and charge density difference maps indicated that azoxybenzene bonded to Au NC/ZIF-8 with greater adsorption energy, resulting in more electron transfer between azoxybenzene and the generated Au sites, which inhibited further reduction of azoxybenzene and resulted in high azoxybenzene selectivity. The application of the size effect of Au particles to regulate nitrobenzene transfer coupling provided new insights into the structure-selectivity relationships.

Genome-wide identification of copy number variations in wrinkled skin cases of Xiang pigs.

Copy number variation (CNV) tends to occur in genetically enriched regions and is likely associated with a number of complex diseases such as skin aging. In this study, we investigated the genome-wide CNVs in 20 wrinkled skin cases (WSC) of Xiang pigs and 63 controls, and identified 7893 copy number variable regions (CNVRs). We estimated the F-statistic (Fst) at each locus and identified that 93 case-controls stratified CNVRs (Fst > = 0.15) overlapped with 87 known genes. Functional enrichment analysis showed that most of these genes were predominantly enriched in pathways and terms related to the extracellular matrix. Finally, we found that some CNVs were predicted to have high effects on genes such as VCAN, TIMP1 and FOXO1 through transcriptional amplification, transcript ablation and so on. Most of the genes overlapped with those CNVRs have been reported to be related to aging in human or animals. The copy numbers presented the positive correlations with the transcript level of the genes in skins between the cases and controls. Our results suggested that those 22 CNVRs, including 19 CNV losses and 3 CNV gains, were putatively associated with the skin wrinkle of Xiang pigs.

Metabolomics Reveals Glycerophospholipids, Peptides, and Flavonoids Contributing to Breast Meat Flavor and Benefit Properties of Beijing-You Chicken.

Unique metabolites contribute to the performance of meat flavor and potential function. In this study, UHPLC-Q Exactive HF-X-based metabolomics and multivariate analysis were applied to explore the characteristic metabolites in the breast meat of Beijing-You chicken (BYC) aged 150, 300, and 450 days (D150, D300, and D450). Based on the criteria of variable importance in the projection (VIP) > 1 and p < 0.05, a total of 154 and 97 differential metabolites (DMs) were screened out compared with D450 (D450 vs. D150, D450 vs. D300), respectively. In general, the relative content of carnosine, L-L-homoglutathione, demethyloleuropein, neohesperidin dihydrochalcone, 7-chloro-2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-3,5-dihydroxy-6,8-dimethoxy-4H-chromen-4-one, glycerophospholipids, exhibited the highest abundance at D450, while balenine, anserine, L-beta-aspartyl-L-leucine, glutathione, oxidized glutathione, stearoylcarnitine, ganoderic acid alpha, oleuroside, Lysoglycerophospholipid species (LGP) presented a downward trend with age. These 210 DMs were involved in 10 significantly enriched pathways related to the synthesis and metabolism of amino acids, peptides, and glycerophospholipid, such as glutathione metabolism, histidine metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, tyrosine metabolism, and lysine degradation. In conclusion, this work could not only facilitate a better understanding of the differences of chicken flavor and benefit properties with age, but also provide potential valuable bioactive compounds for further research.

Palladium-Catalyzed Trifluoroacetylation of Arylboronic Acids Using a Trifluoroacetylation Reagent.

A new trifluoroacetylation reagent was developed by using inexpensive and readily available trifluoroacetic anhydride and N-phenyl-4-methylbenzenesulfonamide for the first time. The reaction of (het)aryl boronic acids with the new trifluoroacetylation reagent, N-phenyl-N-tosyltrifluoroacetamide, proceeded smoothly in the presence of a palladium catalyst to provide trifluoromethyl ketones in satisfactory to excellent yields. Various groups, including the synthetically useful functional groups Cl, TMS, and PhCO, were tolerated well under the current reaction conditions. This new trifluoroacetylation reagent can be used in the large-scale synthesis of trifluoromethyl ketones, even at a low palladium catalyst loading.

Low concentration of serum vitamin B12 may be a strong predictor of large-artery atherosclerosis stroke: A case-control study.

INTRODUCTION: Identifying controllable risk factors for large-artery atherosclerosis (LAA) stroke is crucial due to its significant role as a leading cause of ischemic stroke. We aimed to validate the correlation of serum vitamin B12 with LAA stroke. METHODS: Inpatients with LAA stroke and healthy controls were retrospectively collected for a case-control study from January 2020 to May 2022. Serum vitamin B12 concentration and other blood indicators, demographic, lifestyle factors and comorbidities were investigated. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the correlation of serum vitamin B12 concentrations with LAA stroke, meanwhile adjusted for confounding factors. RESULTS: Patients with LAA stroke had significantly lower serum vitamin B12 concentrations in comparison to those of controls. In the fully adjusted model, vitamin B12 (per 1 interquartile range increase, odds ratio [OR] = 0.84, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 0.77-0.91), vitamin B12 < 200 pg/mL (OR=7.70, 95 %CI: 2.19-27.03) and vitamin B12 < 300 pg/mL (OR=4.19, 95 %CI: 1.82-9.66) were independently factors for LAA stroke. Furthermore, the optimal cut-off values for vitamin B12 to predict LAA stroke were 305.25 pg/mL (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.71) when unadjusted and 308.25 pg/mL when adjusted for age and sex (AUC=0.68). Lower vitamin B12 concentrations were significantly associated with male sex, smoking, older age, higher neutrophil count, higher creatinine, lower folate and higher total homocysteine. CONCLUSION: Results indicate that low concentration of serum vitamin B12 may be a strong predictor for the risk of LAA stroke.

Development of a Predictive Nomogram for Intra-Hospital Mortality in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients Using LASSO Regression.

Background and Purpose: Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of mortality and disability globally, necessitating accurate prediction of intra-hospital mortality (IHM) for improved patient care. This study aimed to develop a practical nomogram for personalized IHM risk prediction in ischemic stroke patients. Methods: A retrospective study of 422 ischemic stroke patients (April 2020 - December 2021) from Chongqing Medical University's First Affiliated Hospital was conducted, with patients divided into training (n=295) and validation (n=127) groups. Data on demographics, comorbidities, stroke risk factors, and lab results were collected. Stroke severity was assessed using NIHSS, and stroke types were classified by TOAST criteria. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was employed for predictor selection and nomogram construction, with evaluation through ROC curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis. Results: LASSO regression and multivariate logistic regression identified four independent IHM predictors: age, admission NIHSS score, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) diagnosis, and white blood cell count (WBC). A highly accurate nomogram based on these variables exhibited excellent predictive performance, with AUCs of 0.958 (training) and 0.962 (validation), sensitivities of 93.2% and 95.7%, and specificities of 93.1% and 90.9%, respectively. Calibration curves and decision curve analysis validated its clinical applicability. Conclusion: Age, admission NIHSS score, COPD history, and WBC were identified as independent IHM predictors in ischemic stroke patients. The developed nomogram demonstrated high predictive accuracy and practical utility for mortality risk estimation. External validation and prospective studies are warranted for further confirmation of its clinical efficacy.

Investigation of the effects of biochar amendment on soil under freeze‒thaw cycles and the underlying mechanism.

Biochar (BC) is widely utilized as a soil amendment; however, for widely distributed seasonally frozen soils, the effect of BC on soil and the optimal utilization of BC during the freeze‒thaw process are still unclear. In this study, the effects of freeze‒thaw aged biochar (FT-BC) and BC on soil properties and wheat cultivation were systematically investigated, and the underlying interaction mechanism between BC and soil was explored. The results show that FT-BC dramatically reduces the adverse effects of freeze‒thaw cycles on soil, enhances wheat growth, and increases dry matter yield by 17.5 %, which is mainly attributed to the ability of FT-BC to maintain soil structure, reduce water loss rates to below 0.20 g/h, and decrease nitrogen leaching by more than 20 % during freeze‒thaw cycles. Additionally, fresh BC had a greater effect on the fixation of cadmium than FT-BC in the soil, reducing its accumulation in wheat by 22.5 %. Multiple characterizations revealed that the freeze‒thaw process increased the porosity and specific surface area of FT-BC, providing more sites for water and nitrogen adsorption, whereas the dissolved organic matter released from fresh BC had a better ability to trap cadmium. These findings provide insights into the interactions between BC and soil components during the freeze‒thaw process and suggest the optimized utilization of fresh BC and FT-BC for different soil repair purposes.