Dietary Iron Overload Triggers Hepatic Metabolic Disorders and Inflammation in Laying Hen.

Iron, an essential trace element, is involved in various physiological processes; however, consumption of excessive iron possesses detrimental effects. In practical feed production, the iron content added to feeds often far exceeds the actual demand, resulting in an excess of iron in the body. The liver as a central regulator of iron homeostasis is susceptible to damage caused by disorders in iron metabolism. A model of hepatic iron overload in laying hens was developed in this study by incorporating iron into their diet, and the specific mechanisms underlying iron overload-induced hepatic injury were investigated. Firstly, this study revealed that a high-iron diet resulted in hepatic iron overload, accompanied by impaired liver function. Next, assessment of oxidative stress markers indicated a decrease in activities of T-SOD and CAT, coupled with an increase in MDA content, pointing to the iron-overloaded liver oxidative stress. Thirdly, the impact of iron overload on hepatic glycolipid and bile acid metabolism-related gene expressions were explored, including PPAR-α, GLUT2, and CYP7A1, highlighting disruptions in hepatic metabolism. Subsequently, analyses of inflammation-related genes such as iNOS and IL-1ß at both protein and mRNA levels demonstrated the presence of inflammation in the liver under conditions of dietary iron overload. Overall, this study provided comprehensive evidence that dietary iron overload contributed to disorders in glycolipid and bile acid metabolism, accompanied by inflammatory responses in laying hens. Further detailing the specific pathways involved and the implications of these findings could offer valuable insights for future research and practical applications in poultry nutrition.

Self-standing perylene diimide covalent organic framework membranes for trace TMA sensing at room temperature.

The unprecedented demand for highly selective, real-time monitoring and low-power gas sensors used in food quality control has been driven by the increasing popularity of the Internet of Things (IoT). Herein, the self-standing perylene diimide based covalent organic framework membranes (COFMPDI-THSTZ) were prepared via liquid-liquid interfacial synthesis method. By incorporating the perylene diimide monomer into the COFM through molecular engineering, COFMPDI-THSTZ based sensor demonstrated an outstanding trimethylamine (TMA)-sensing performance at room temperature. Benefited from the TMA-accessible self-standing membrane morphology, π-electron delocalization effect, and extensive surface area with continuous nanochannels, the specific and highly sensitive TMA measurement has been achieved within the range of 0.03-400 ppm, with an exceptional theoretical detection limit as low as 10 ppb. Moreover, the primary internal mechanism of COFMPDI-THSTZ for this efficient TMA detection was investigated through in-situ FT-IR spectra, thereby directly elucidating that the chemisorption interaction of oxygen modulated the depletion layers on sensing material surface, resulting in alterations in sensor resistance upon exposure to the target gas. For practical usage, COFMPDI-THSTZ based sensor exhibited exceptional real-time in-situ sensing capabilities, further confirmed their potential for application in dynamic prediction evaluation of marine fish products and quality monitoring in IoT.

miR-15b-5p promotes HgCl2-induced chicken embryo kidney cells ferroptosis by targeting ß-TrCP-mediated ATF4 ubiquitin degradation.

Mercuric chloride (HgCl2), a widespread environmental pollutant, induces ferroptosis in chicken embryonic kidney (CEK) cells. Whereas activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), a critical mediator of oxidative homeostasis, plays a dual role in ferroptosis, but its precise mechanisms in HgCl2-induced ferroptosis remain elusive. This study aims to investigate the function and molecular mechanism of ATF4 in HgCl2-induced ferroptosis. Our results revealed that ATF4 was downregulated during HgCl2-induced ferroptosis in CEK cells. Surprisingly, HgCl2 exposure has no significant impact on ATF4 mRNA level. Further investigation indicated that HgCl2 enhanced the expression of the E3 ligase beta-transducin repeat-containing protein (ß-TrCP) and increased ATF4 ubiquitination. Subsequent findings identified that miR-15b-5p as an upstream modulator of ß-TrCP, with miR-15b-5p downregulation observed in HgCl2-exposed CEK cells. Importantly, miR-15b-5p mimics suppressed ß-TrCP expression and reversed HgCl2-induced cellular ferroptosis. Mechanistically, HgCl2 inhibited miR-15b-5p, and promoted ß-TrCP-mediated ubiquitin degradation of ATF4, thereby inhibited the expression of antioxidant-related target genes and promoted ferroptosis. In conclusion, our study highlighted the crucial role of the miR-15b-5p/ß-TrCP/ATF4 axis in HgCl2-induced nephrotoxicity, offering a new therapeutic target for understanding the mechanism of HgCl2 nephrotoxicity.

Characteristics and ecological risks of microplastic pollution in a tropical drinking water source reservoir in Hainan province, China.

Microplastic (<5 mm) pollution has become a pressing environmental concern in recent years. The present study investigated the occurrence characteristics and assessed the ecological risk of microplastics in the surface water and sediment of the Chitian Reservoir, a drinking water source in Hainan province (China). The results indicated that microplastics were detected in the surface water and sediment of the Chitian Reservoir and its surrounding areas. The overall abundance of microplastics in the water was 3.05 ± 1.16 items per L and in the sediment was 0.15 ± 0.06 items per g dry weight, which is relatively low compared to other reservoirs in China. The dominant components of microplastics detected in the Chitian Reservoir were polypropylene (PP), rayon, and polyester. Physical morphology analysis of microplastics showed that fibers with small particle sizes (<1 mm) and white color were the predominant characteristics in both the surface water and sediment. The domestic sewage from surrounding residents and agricultural wastewater may be the primary sources of microplastics in the reservoir. Ecological risk assessment revealed that the overall pollution load index (PLI) in the surface water (0.65) and sediment (0.51) of the Chitian Reservoir and its surrounding area is at a low level. The potential ecological hazards (RI) of microplastics (0.13 to 336.78 in water; 0.23 to 465.93 in sediment) in most sites fall within the scope of level I, but those in a few sites are at level II due to the presence of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). This study enriches the data on microplastic pollution in inland reservoir systems, providing fundamental reference information for future ecotoxicological studies and the management of microplastic pollution control.

The quality and reliability of TikTok videos on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a propensity score matching analysis.

Background: Lifestyle modification is the cornerstone of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) prevention and treatment. Short video platforms can facilitate easier access to health information for patients, thereby influencing lifestyle changes. An increasing number of individuals rely on online platforms to acquire health-related information about NAFLD. However, the quality of information regarding NAFLD on these platforms remains unclear. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the quality of information about NAFLD on TikTok. Methods: A total of 497 videos were retrieved from TikTok. The basic video information, including the video source, was extracted. Two independent raters evaluated the quality and reliability of the videos using the Global Quality Score system and a modified DISCERN tool. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to compare video quality across sources. Results: NAFLD-related videos on TikTok were divided into three groups according to the uploader: health professionals, medical institutions, and science bloggers. Overall, the quality of NAFLD videos on TikTok was not satisfactory. Before PSM, there were no significant differences in video quality or content between the three groups. After PSM, the quality of NAFLD videos from health professionals was significantly better than the videos created by other groups. Besides, the videos of health professionals outperformed those of medical institutions and science bloggers in terms of the definition of disease, risk factors, and treatment, but were inferior to those of medical institutions considering the symptoms and tests of NAFLD. Conclusion: The quality of NAFLD-related videos on TikTok needs improvement. Compared with videos created by science bloggers and medical institutions, videos from health professionals may provide accurate guidance on the treatment and prevention of NAFLD.

Selenoprotein K knockdown induces apoptosis in skeletal muscle satellite cells via calcium dyshomeostasis-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Skeletal muscle satellite cells (SMSCs), known as muscle stem cells, play an important role in muscle embryonic development, post-birth growth, and regeneration after injury. Selenoprotein K (SELENOK), an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) resident selenoprotein, is known to regulate calcium ion (Ca2+) flux and ER stress (ERS). SELENOK deficiency is involved in dietary selenium deficiency-induced muscle injury, but the regulatory mechanisms of SELENOK in SMSCs development remain poorly explored in chicken. Here, we established a SELENOK deficient model to explore the role of SELENOK in SMSCs. SELENOK knockdown inhibited SMSCs proliferation and differentiation by regulating the protein levels of paired box 7 (Pax7), myogenic factor 5 (Myf5), CyclinD1, myogenic differentiation (MyoD), and Myf6. Further analysis exhibited that SELENOK knockdown markedly activated the ERS signaling pathways, which ultimately induced apoptosis in SMSCs. SELENOK knockdown-induced ERS is related with ER Ca2+ ([Ca2+]ER) overload via decreasing the protein levels of STIM2, Orai1, palmitoylation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor 1 (IP3R1), phospholamban (PLN), and plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase (PMCA) while increasing the protein levels of sarco/endoplasmic Ca2+-ATPase 1 (SERCA1) and Na+/Ca2+ exchanger 1 (NCX1). Moreover, thimerosal, an activator of IP3R1, reversed the overload of [Ca2+]ER, ERS, and subsequent apoptosis caused by SELENOK knockdown. These findings indicated that SELENOK knockdown triggered ERS driven by intracellular Ca2+ dyshomeostasis and further induced apoptosis, which ultimately inhibited SMSCs proliferation and differentiation.

Exploring the influence of national music lessons on subjective well-being, self-esteem, and national identity among university students: a case study from China.

This study aims to explore the influence of national music lessons on university students' subjective well-being, self-esteem, and national identity. A Chinese university provided four national music courses spanning 8 weeks. The students' subjective well-being, self-esteem, and national identity were measured before the commencement of the courses (T1), the fourth week of the courses (T2), and post the completion of the courses (T3). A total of 362 participants completed the Positive and Negative Affect Scales, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the National Identity Scale at T1, T2, and T3. Results indicated that national music lessons could improve university students' subjective well-being, yet there was no effect on their national identity or self-esteem. Although high national identity and high self-esteem predicted a greater level of subjective well-being, self-esteem and national identity did not affect the influence of national music lessons on subjective well-being. National music lessons were particularly beneficial to students with low and middle levels of subjective well-being, in comparison to those with higher levels of subjective well-being. This paper verifies an efficient method to bolster students' subjective well-being that can be conducted in educational practices.

Enhanced technique for photochemical nano-polishing of a rough quartz surface: the numerical calculation of profile evolution.

The enhanced technique of quartz surface nano-local etching is considered. The enhancement of an evanescent field above surface protrusions and, as a result, an increase in the rate of quartz nano-local etching, are proposed. The possibility to reduce the amount of etch products filled in rough surface troughs and control the optimal rate of the surface nano-polishing process is achieved. The dependences of the quartz surface profile evolution on the initial values of surface roughness parameters, on the refractive index of the medium containing molecular chlorine and contacting the quartz surface, and on the wavelength of radiation illuminating this surface are shown.

Effect and safety of probiotics for treating urticaria: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: To assess the effect and safety of probiotics for treating urticaria. METHODS: Randomized controlled trial (RCT) papers on the probiotics treatment published before May 2019 were retrieved from various databases like PubMed, EMbase, MEDLINE (Ovid), SCI-Hub, Springer, ClinicalKey, VIP, and CNKI. The treatment plan that we include are oral administration of single probiotic, multiple probiotics, and the combination of probiotics and antihistamines. Meta-analysis of the data was performed by RevMan 5.3 software. RESULTS: A total of nine RCT papers were included: four papers for oral administration of single probiotic, three papers for oral administration of multiple probiotics, and two papers for oral administration of a probiotic combined with antihistamines. The results of meta-analysis showed that the therapeutic effect of the probiotic group was significantly higher than the control group (placebo or antihistamines) (RR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.03-1.16, p = 0.006). And compared with the placebo group, the therapeutic effect of single probiotic group was significantly improved (RR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.01-1.21, p = 0.03). Regarding therapeutic effect, there was no statistically significant difference between the multiple probiotics group and placebo group (RR = 1.00, 95% CI: 0.94 ~ 1.07, p = 0.91); the therapeutic effect of single probiotic combined antihistamine group was significantly higher than the antihistamine group (RR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.07-1.19, p < 0.0001). Regarding the incidence of adverse reactions, there was no significant difference between the probiotic group and the control group (p = 0.46). CONCLUSION: The treatment plan of oral administration of probiotics has significant therapeutic effects on urticaria, but the therapeutic effects of the administration of multiple probiotics and the safety of probiotic therapy are still not yet obvious. Some large-scale, multi-centered RCT studies are needed in the future for clarification.

Prepackaged formula low-residue diet vs. self-prepared low-residue diet before colonoscopy: A multicenter randomized controlled trial.

Background and aims: Compared with self-prepared LRD, a prepackaged low-residue diet (LRD) can improve patient compliance, but whether it can further improve the quality of bowel preparation is uncertain. The study aimed to compare the application of the prepackaged formula LRD with self-prepared LRD in bowel preparation for colonoscopy. Methods: A multicenter randomized controlled trial was conducted in 15 centers. The eligible subjects were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the formula LRD group and the self-prepared LRD group. On the day before the colonoscopy, subjects in the self-prepared LRD group were instructed to consume a restricted LRD prepared by themselves, while subjects in the formula LRD group were given six bags of prepackaged formula LRD and instructed to consume them according to their individual need. The primary outcome was an adequate bowel preparation rate. Secondary outcomes mainly included Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS) scores, dietary restriction compliance rate, tolerance, satisfaction, adenoma detection rate (ADR), and adverse reactions. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under the identifier NCT03943758. Results: A total of 550 subjects were recruited. Compared with the self-prepared LRD group, the formula LRD group showed a higher adequate bowel preparation rate (94.5 vs. 80.4%; P < 0.01), BBPS scores (7.87 ± 1.13 vs. 6.75 ± 1.47; P < 0.01), dietary compliance rate (92.4 vs. 78.9%; P < 0.01), tolerance (P < 0.01 in degree of hunger, intensity of physical strength, and negative influence on daily activities), satisfaction (8.56 ± 1.61 vs. 7.20 ± 2.02; P < 0.01), and ADR (25.6 vs. 16.0%; P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in adverse reactions. Conclusion: Compared with self-prepared LRD, the formula LRD showed similar safety and higher bowel preparation quality, compliance, and tolerance in bowel preparation. More formula LRDs could be designed according to different dietary habits and ethnic populations, and further researches are warranted to confirm their effect. Clinical trial registration: https://register.clinicaltrials.gov, identifier: NCT03943758.

Activation of the PACAP/PAC1 Signaling Pathway Accelerates the Repair of Impaired Spatial Memory Caused by an Ultradian Light Cycle.

The mechanism of light-induced spatial memory deficits, as well as whether rhythmic expression of the pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating polypeptides (PACAP)-PAC1 pathway influenced by light is related to this process, remains unclear. Here, we aimed to investigate the role of the PACAP-PAC1 pathway in light-mediated spatial memory deficits. Animals were first housed under a T24 cycle (12 h light:12 h dark), and then light conditions were transformed to a T7 cycle (3.5 h light:3.5 h dark) for at least 4 weeks. The spatial memory function was assessed using the Morris water maze (MWM). In line with behavioral studies, rhythmic expression of the PAC1 receptor and glutamate receptors in the hippocampal CA1 region was assessed by western blotting, and electrophysiology experiments were performed to determine the influence of the PACAP-PAC1 pathway on neuronal excitability and synaptic signaling transmission. Spatial memory was deficient after mice were exposed to the T7 light cycle. Rhythmic expression of the PAC1 receptor was dramatically decreased, and the excitability of CA1 pyramidal cells was decreased in T7 cycle-housed mice. Compensation with PACAP1-38, a PAC1 receptor agonist, helped T7 cycle-housed mouse CA1 pyramidal cells recover neuronal excitability to normal levels, and cannulas injected with PACAP1-38 shortened the time to find the platform in MWM. Importantly, the T7 cycle decreased the frequency of AMPA receptor-mediated excitatory postsynaptic currents. In conclusion, the PACAP-PAC1 pathway is an important protective factor modulating light-induced spatial memory function deficits, affecting CA1 pyramidal cell excitability and excitatory synaptic signaling transmission.

Clinicopathological Features of Sessile Serrated Polyps in China: A Retrospective Study of a Tertiary Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Serrated polyps have been recognized as the important premalignant lesions. In this study, we aimed to analyze the clinicopathological features of sessile serrated polyps and determine the association between sessile serrated polyps and synchronous advanced adenomas. METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic colonoscopies (including 156 681 diagnostic colonoscopies) from 2011 to 2019 were included. RESULTS: A total of 958 patients, including 699 (73%) males, were detected with at least 1 sessile serrated polyp, and 65.9% (n = 658) of sessile serrated polyps were located in the distal colon. Advanced serrated lesions accounted for 9.1% (n = 91) of all the sessile serrated polyp (n = 999). The types of SSP included flat type (953/999, 95.4%) and sub-pedunculated or pedunculated type (46/999, 4.6%). Meanwhile, there was no obvious evidence supporting the association between advanced adenomas and characteristics of advanced serrated lesions or sessile serrated polyps. CONCLUSION: Sessile serrated polyps seem to be more frequently seen in the distal colon of men in this study. However, more evidence is required to confirm the actual distribution of sessile serrated polyp in colon among Chinese people. There is still much room for improvement of sessile serrated polyp detection rate, and more importance should be attached to sessile serrated polyp both for pathologists and endoscopists.

Deletion of toll-like receptor 4 ameliorates diabetic retinopathy in mice.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic retinopathy is a common and specific microvascular complication of diabetes, which is also the leading cause of preventable blindness. Therefore, we aimed to find a promising therapeutic strategy for diabetic retinopathy. METHODS: To investigate the role of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in the diabetic retinopathy, we injected streptozotocin (STZ) into wild-type (wt) and TLR4 knock-out mice to induce diabetes. RESULTS: While STZ induced diabetes both in wt and TLR4-/- mice, deletion of TLR4 in diabetic mice significantly improved diabetic retinopathy compared to diabetic wt mice, as judged by the enhanced thickness of retinal tissue. Furthermore, TLR4-dependent NF-κB pathway, inflammatory cytokine release and the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), which were all remarkably stimulated in STZ-injected wt mice, were inhibited in STZ-injected TLR4-/- mice. CONCLUSION: TLR4 could serve as an independent target for treating diabetic retinopathy.

The inhibitory effect of moral emotions on malevolent creativity: Exploring the mediation role of emotional valence and prosocial behavior.

The current study aims to investigate the influence of positive and negative moral emotions (gratitude and guilt) on malevolent creativity by exploring the potential mediation role of valence and prosocial behavior. Using autobiographical recall, three groups of participants developed gratitude, guilt, or neutral emotion, respectively, and then their prosocial behavior and malevolent creativity performance were compared. Results showed that compared with the neutral condition, individuals in the gratitude state experienced more positive emotions with less malevolent creative ideas, but the positive valence pathway had a positive effect on malevolent creativity, indicating the promoting effect of positive emotion on creativity. By contrast, individuals in the guilt state experienced more negative emotions, which result in less malevolent creativity. Gratitude and guilt promoted prosocial behaviors, which did not mediate the effect of gratitude or guilt on malevolent creativity. In short, the results indicate that the positive and negative moral emotions (gratitude and guilt) inhibit malevolent creativity, which is mediated by valence, instead of prosocial behavior.

Estimating and evaluating the rice cluster distribution uniformity with UAV-based images.

The uniformity of the rice cluster distribution in the field affects population quality and the precise management of pesticides and fertilizers. However, there is no appropriate technical system for estimating and evaluating the uniformity at present. For that reason, a method based on unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV images) is proposed to estimate and evaluate the uniformity in this present study. This method includes rice cluster recognition and location determination based on the RGB color characteristics of the seedlings of aerial images, region segmentation considering the rice clusters based on Voronoi Diagram, and uniformity index definition for evaluating the rice cluster distribution based on the variation coefficient. The results indicate the rice cluster recognition attains a high precision, with the precision, accuracy, recall, and F1-score of rice cluster recognition reaching > 95%, 97%, 97%, 95%, and 96%, respectively. The rice cluster location error is small and obeys the gamma (3.00, 0.54) distribution (mean error, 1.62 cm). The uniformity index is reasonable for evaluating the rice cluster distribution verified via simulation. As a whole process, the estimating method is sufficiently high accuracy with relative error less than 0.01% over the manual labeling method. Therefore, this method based on UAV images is feasible, convenient, technologically advanced, inexpensive, and highly precision for the estimation and evaluation of the rice cluster distribution uniformity. However, the evaluation application indicates that there is much room for improvement in terms of the uniformity of mechanized paddy field transplanting in South China.

Diversification and prevalence of the quinolone resistance crpP genes and the crpP-carrying Tn6786-related integrative and conjugative elements in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The quinolone resistance crpP genes can mediate decreased susceptibility to quinolones. However, diversification and prevalence of crpP genes and crpP-carrying integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs) still need to be elucidated. In this study, genome sequencing was conducted for 200 Chinese Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates, 16 of which were fully sequenced. All the 37 available CrpP variants were collected for phylogenetic analysis, 10 CrpP enzymes were chosen to conduct cloning and antimicrobial susceptibility test, and 22 crpP-carrying Tn6786-related ICEs were selected for detail genetic dissection analysis. Then, typing/nomenclature schemes for crpP variants and crpP-carrying ICEs were established for the first time. The 10 representative CrpP enzymes were confirmed to mediate decreased susceptibility to one to three quinolones. Tn6786-related ICEs displayed high-level diversification in both nucleotide sequences and modular structures. Mainly, massive gene acquisition/loss occurred across the whole genomes of Tn6786-related ICEs. 53.5% (107/200) of the tested clinical P. aeruginosa isolates from China carried crpP genes, which were exclusively located within chromosome-borne Tn6786-related ICEs. The crpP-carrying ICEs were at active stages of evolution and had the high potential to be an important vector for the dissemination of resistance genes besides crpP. The present study furthered the understanding of the bioinformatics and epidemiology of crpP genes and crpP-carrying ICEs.

Ramie Yield Estimation Based on UAV RGB Images.

Timely and accurate crop growth monitoring and yield estimation are important for field management. The traditional sampling method used for estimation of ramie yield is destructive. Thus, this study proposed a new method for estimating ramie yield based on field phenotypic data obtained from unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) images. A UAV platform carrying RGB cameras was employed to collect ramie canopy images during the whole growth period. The vegetation indices (VIs), plant number, and plant height were extracted from UAV-based images, and then, these data were incorporated to establish yield estimation model. Among all of the UAV-based image data, we found that the structure features (plant number and plant height) could better reflect the ramie yield than the spectral features, and in structure features, the plant number was found to be the most useful index to monitor the yield, with a correlation coefficient of 0.6. By fusing multiple characteristic parameters, the yield estimation model based on the multiple linear regression was obviously more accurate than the stepwise linear regression model, with a determination coefficient of 0.66 and a relative root mean square error of 1.592 kg. Our study reveals that it is feasible to monitor crop growth based on UAV images and that the fusion of phenotypic data can improve the accuracy of yield estimations.

Prognostic and Predictive Value of BGN in Colon Cancer Outcomes and Response to Immunotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Colon cancer is one of the most frequent malignancies and causes high mortality worldwide. Exploring the tumor-immune interactions in the tumor microenvironment and identifying new prognostic and therapeutic biomarkers will assist in decoding the novel mechanism of tumor immunotherapy. BGN is a typical extracellular matrix protein that was previously validated as a signaling molecule regulating multiple processes of tumorigenesis. However, its role in tumor immunity requires further investigation. METHODS: The differentially expressed genes in three GEO datasets were analyzed, and BGN was identified as the target gene by intersection analysis of PPIs. The relevance between clinical outcomes and BGN expression levels was evaluated using data from the GEO database, TCGA and tissue microarray of colon cancer samples. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression models were conducted for identifying the risk factors correlated with clinical prognosis of colon cancer patients. Next, the association between BGN expression levels and the infiltration of immune cells as well as the process of the immune response was analyzed. Finally, we predicted the immunotherapeutic response rates in the subgroups of low and high BGN expression by TIS score, ImmuCellAI and TIDE algorithms. RESULTS: BGN expression demonstrated a statistically significant upregulation in colon cancer tissues than in normal tissues. Elevated BGN was associated with shorter overall survival as well as unfavorable clinicopathological features, including tumor size, serosa invasion and length of hospitalization. Mechanistically, pathway enrichment and functional analysis demonstrated that BGN was positively correlated with immune and stromal scores in the TME and primarily involved in the regulation of immune response. Further investigation revealed that BGN was strongly expressed in the immunosuppressive phenotype and tightly associated with the infiltration of multiple immune cells in colon cancer, especially M2 macrophages and induced Tregs. Finally, we demonstrated that high BGN expression presented a better immunotherapeutic response in colon cancer patients. CONCLUSION: BGN is an encouraging predictor of diagnosis, prognosis and immunotherapeutic response in patients with colon cancer. Assessment of BGN expression represents a novel approach with great promise for identifying patients who may potentially benefit from immunotherapy.

Outcomes and safety of double-balloon enteroscopy in small bowel diseases: a single-center experience of 1531 procedures.

BACKGROUND: Double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) has become a routine procedure in clinical practice for evaluation of small bowel diseases (SBDs). This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic and therapeutic value of DBE in patients with suspected SBDs according to the patients' age and indications for the procedure. METHODS: The data of patients who underwent DBE at the endoscopy center of Changhai hospital between July 2013 and June 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. All features including demographic characteristics, indications, endoscopic findings, interventions and complications were collected. RESULTS: A total of 1291 consecutive patients who underwent 1531 DBE procedures (1375 diagnostic and 156 therapeutic) were included. The total diagnostic yield of DBE in cases of suspected SBDs was 58.9% (761/1291). The most common SBDs were Crohn's disease (CD) followed by tumors. The detection rates of CD and tumors by DBE were 18.3% (236/1291) and 12.7% (164/1291), respectively. The most frequent site of CD was the ileum (199/236, 84.3%), while that of tumors was the proximal small bowel (duodenum and jejunum, 115/164, 70.1%). In the young group (< 45 years), the majority of patients had CD, whereas tumors were the most common disease in the older group (≥ 45 years). The diagnostic yields for occult gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) and abdominal pain were 57.3% and 52.4%, respectively. In patients with OGIB, the detection rate of tumor was higher, whereas that of CD was higher in patients with abdominal pain. Polypectomy and foreign body removal were the predominant endoscopic interventions. DBE-associated complications were reported for 14 procedures (0.9%), including 3 diagnostic procedures (0.2%) and 11 therapeutic procedures (7.1%). CONCLUSION: DBE is a useful diagnostic tool for the investigation of SBDs, especially for CD and small bowel tumors. DBE is also a safe therapeutic procedure for polypectomy and foreign body removal.

Multicenter Evaluation of the Xpert Carba-R Assay for Detection and Identification of Carbapenemase Genes in Sputum Specimens.

Rapid diagnosis of infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) is crucial for proper treatment and infection control. The Xpert Carba-R assay is a qualitative multiplex real-time PCR method that qualitatively detects and differentiates five common carbapenemase genes (blaKPC, blaNDM, blaVIM, blaOXA-48, and blaIMP) directly from rectal swabs or purified colonies within approximately 1 h. We performed a multicenter evaluation of the investigational use of the Carba-R assay for detection and differentiation of carbapenemase genes from sputum specimens in patients with a clinical diagnosis of pneumonia. The intra- and interassay coefficients of variation values for the Carba-R assay were 0.2% to 2.0% and 1.4% to 2.3%, respectively. A total of 301 sputum specimens were collected and tested. Compared to bacterial culture followed by PCR identification of resistance genes from colonies, the Carba-R assay reduced turnaround time from 56 to 84 h to less than 2 h. Carbapenemase genes were detected by the Carba-R assay in Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 236), Escherichia coli (n = 22), Enterobacter cloacae (n = 23), Klebsiella oxytoca (n = 8), Serratia marcescens (n = 6), Citrobacter freundii (n = 4), and Klebsiella aerogenes (n = 2). The Carba-R assay detected 112 blaKPC (33.5%), 70 blaNDM (21.0%), 8 blaIMP (2.4%), and 2 blaVIM (0.6%) genes, with positive percent agreement, negative percent agreement, and concordance rates of 92.9%, 86.7%, and 88.3%, respectively, for the dominant blaKPC and 85.0%, 87.8%, and 87.4%, respectively, for the blaNDM genes. Neither method detected the blaOXA-48 carbapenemase gene. The convenient, rapid, and simple characteristics of the Xpert Carba-R assay make it a potential tool for CRE detection and identification directly in sputum specimens.