[A multicenter study on respiratory pathogen detection with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children].

Objective: To analyze the status of respiratory pathogen detection and the clinical features in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP). Methods: A prospective, multicenter study was conducted to collect clinical data, including medical history, laboratory examinations and multiplex PCR tests of children diagnosed with MPP from 4 hospitals in China between November 15th and December 20th, 2023. The multiplex PCR results and clinical characteristics of MPP children in different regions were analyzed. The children were divided into severe and mild groups according to the severity of the disease. Patients in the severe group were further divided into Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) alone and Multi-pathogen co-detection groups based on whether other pathogens were detected besides MP, to analyze the influence of respiratory pathogen co-detection rate on the severity of the disease. Mann-Whitney rank sum test and Chi-square test were used to compare data between independent groups. Results: A total of 298 children, 136 males and 162 females, were enrolled in this study, including 204 children in the severe group with an onset age of 7.0 (6.0, 8.0) years, and 94 children in the mild group with an onset age of 6.5 (4.0, 7.8) years. The level of C-reactive protein, D-dimer, lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) were significantly higher (10.0 (5.0, 18.0) vs. 5.0 (5.0, 7.5) mg/L, 0.6 (0.4, 1.1) vs. 0.5 (0.3, 0.6) mg/L, 337 (286, 431) vs. 314 (271, 393) U/L, Z=2.02, 2.50, 3.05, all P<0.05), and the length of hospitalization was significantly longer in the severe group compared with those in mild group (6.0 (6.0, 7.0) vs. 5.0 (4.0, 6.0) d, Z=4.37, P<0.05). The time from onset to admission in severe MPP children was significantly shorter than that in mild MPP children (6.0 (5.0, 9.5) vs. 9.0 (7.0, 13.0) d, Z=2.23, P=0.026). All patients completed the multiplex PCR test, with 142 cases (47.7%) MPP children detected with 21 pathogens including adenovirus 25 cases (8.4%), human coronavirus 23 cases (7.7%), rhinovirus 21 cases (7.0%), Streptococcus pneumoniae 21 cases (7.0%), influenza A virus 18 cases (6.0%). The pathogens with the highest detection rates in Tianjin, Shanghai, Wenzhou and Chengdu were Staphylococcus aureus at 10.7% (8/75), adenovirus at 13.0% (10/77), adenovirus at 15.3% (9/59), and both rhinovirus and Haemophilus influenzae at 11.5% (10/87) each. The multi-pathogen co-detection rate in severe MPP children was significantly higher than that in mild MPP group (52.9% (108/204) vs. 36.2% (34/94), χ²=10.62,P=0.005). Among severe MPP children, there are 89 cases in the multi-pathogen co-detection group and 73 cases in the simple MPP group. The levels of LDH, D-dimer and neutrophil counts in the multi-pathogen co-detection group were significantly higher than those in the simple MPP group (348 (284, 422) vs. 307 (270, 358) U/L, 0.8 (0.5, 1.5) vs. 0.6 (0.4, 1.0) mg/L, 4.99 (3.66, 6.89)×109 vs. 4.06 (2.91, 5.65)×109/L, Z=5.17, 4.99, 6.11, all P<0.05). Conclusions: The co-detection rate of respiratory pathogens, LDH and D-dimer in children with severe MPP were higher than those with mild MPP. Among severe MPP children the stress response of children in co-detection group was more serious than that of children with simple MPP.

Identification and verification of feature biomarkers associated with immune cells in recurrent pregnancy loss.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the causes, diagnostic markers, and treatment methods for recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) using bioinformatics approaches. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Bioinformatics methods were utilized to analyze gene expression databases to identify key genes and modules associated with RPL. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was employed to identify gene sets related to maternal-fetal immunity. Gene set variation analysis (GSVA) and protein-protein interaction networks were used to explore signaling pathways and molecular interactions in RPL. Immune cell infiltration was assessed using single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA). RESULTS: Thirteen genes were identified as potential diagnostic markers, some of which were involved in placental amino acid transport, glucose absorption, and reactive oxygen species production. Several gene sets related to protein transport, steroid synthesis, and glycosaminoglycan degradation were found to be associated with RPL. Immune cell infiltration analysis found that CD56bright NK cells and monocytes showed significantly increased infiltration in RPL and were associated with key hub genes. The validation of hub genes, including PCSK5, CCND2, SLC5A3, RASAL1, MYZAP, MFAP4, and P2RY14, as potential diagnostic markers, showed promising value. CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes to a better understanding of the etiology of RPL and potential diagnostic markers. The identified immune-related gene sets, signaling pathways, and immune cell infiltrations provide valuable insights for future research and therapeutic advancements in RPL.

Single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing reveal heterogeneity and diagnostic markers in papillary thyroid carcinoma lymph-node metastasis.

PURPOSE: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is characterized by lymph-node metastasis (LNM), which affects recurrence and prognosis. This study analyzed PTC LNM by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data and bulk RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to find diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets. METHODS: ScRNA-seq data were clustered and malignant cells were identified. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in malignant cells of scRNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq, respectively. PTC LNM diagnostic model was constructed based on intersecting DEGs using glmnet package. Next, PTC samples from 66 patients were used to validate the two most significant genes in the diagnostic model, S100A2 and type 2 deiodinase (DIO2) by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and immunohistochemical (IHC). Further, the inhibitory effect of DIO2 on PTC cells was verified by cell biology behavior, western blot, cell cycle analysis, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay, and xenograft tumors. RESULTS: Heterogeneity of PTC LNM was demonstrated by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) analysis. A total of 19 differential genes were used to construct the diagnostic model. S100A2 and DIO2 differ significantly at the RNA (p < 0.01) and protein level in LNM patient tissues (p < 0.001). And differed in PTC tissues with different pathologic typing (p < 0.001). Further, EdU (p < 0.001) and cell biology behavior revealed that PTC cells overexpressed DIO2 had reduced proliferative capacity. Cell cycle proteins were reduced and cells are more likely to be stuck in G2/M phase (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study explored the heterogeneity of PTC LNM using scRNA-seq. By combining with bulk RNA-seq data, diagnostic markers were explored and the model was established. Clinical diagnostic efficacy of S100A2 and DIO2 was validated and the treatment potential of DIO2 was discovered.

The epidemiology of canine ear diseases in Northwest China: Analysis of data on 221 dogs from 2012 to 2016.

Background and Aim: Ear disease is relatively important in veterinary medicine as it significantly affects the quality of life of pets. Two hundred and twenty-one cases of canine ear diseases were collected and collated at the Xi'an Teaching Hospital of Northwest A&F University from 2012 to 2016. An epidemiological analysis was conducted to evaluate the prevalence and causes of various ear diseases in various breeds of dogs in Xi'an. Materials and Methods: Data were collected and statistically analyzed by reviewing previous cases and obtaining medical history data and laboratory results. This study included the following experiments: systematic examination of the animals' skin, auricular skin scraping test, ear canal endoscopy, and examination of ear canal secretion. Results: The top three dog breeds most commonly afflicted with ear diseases in Xi'an were Toy poodles, Cocker Spaniels, and Golden Retrievers, accounting for 18.5%, 10.4%, and 9.5% of the total cases, respectively. The prevalence was the highest in August and September, with male dogs having a higher prevalence rate than female dogs. Common ear diseases were categorized as otitis externa, otitis media, otitis interna, or ear hematoma. Conclusion: This study determined the prevalence of external otitis, ear hematoma, otitis media, and inner otitis in dogs in the Xi'an area. These results can help expand the current understanding of the development and epidemiology of canine ear diseases and provide a reference for clinical diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

Crystal lattice and electronic and transport properties of Janus ZrSiSZ2 (Z = N, P, As) monolayers by first-principles investigations.

From the extending requirements for using innovative materials in advanced technologies, it is necessary to explore new materials for relevant applications. In this work, we design new two-dimensional (2D) Janus ZrSiSZ2 (Z = N, P, As) monolayers and investigate their crystal lattice and dynamic stability by using density functional theory investigations. The two stable structures of ZrSiSP2 and ZrSiSAs2 are then systematically examined for thermal, energetic, and mechanical stability, and electronic and transport properties. The calculation results demonstrate that both the ZrSiSP2 and ZrSiSAs2 monolayers have good thermal stability at room temperature and high energetic/mechanical stabilities for experimental synthesis. The studied structures are found to be in-direct semiconductors. Specifically, with moderate band-gap energies of 1.04 to 1.29 eV for visible light absorption, ZrSiSP2 and ZrSiSAs2 can be considered potential candidates for photovoltaic applications. The applied biaxial strains and external electric fields slightly change the band-gap energies of the monolayers. We also calculate the carrier mobilities for the transport properties based on the deformation potential method. Due to the lower effective masses, the carrier mobilities in the x direction are higher than those in the y direction. The carrier mobilities of the ZrSiSP2 and ZrSiSAs2 monolayers are anisotropic not only in transport directions but also for the electrons and holes. We believe that the results of our work may stimulate further studies to explore more new 2D Janus monolayers with novel properties of the MA2Z4 family materials.

[Molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of Wolbachia infection in common mosquito species in Henan Province].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the infection and genotypes of Wolbachia in common mosquito species in Henan Province, so as to provide insights into management of mosquito-borne diseases. METHODS: Aedes, Culex and Anopheles samples were collected from cowsheds, sheepfolds and human houses in Puyang, Nanyang City and Xuchang cities of Henan Province from July to September, 2022, and the infection of Wolbachia was detected. The 16S rDNA and wsp genes of Wolbachia were amplified and sequenced. Sequence alignment was performed using the BLAST software, and the obtained 16S rDNA gene sequence was compared with the sequence of the 16S rDNA gene in GenBank database. In addition, the phylogenetic trees were created based on 16S rDNA and wsp gene sequences using the software MEGA 11.0. RESULTS: A total 506 female adult mosquitoes were collected from three sampling sites in Nanyang, Xuchang City and Puyang cities from July to September, 2022. The overall detection of Wolbachia was 45.1% (228/506) in mosquitoes, with a higher detection rate in A. albopictus than in Cx. pipiens pallens [97.9% (143/146) vs. 50.6% (85/168); χ2 = 88.064, P < 0.01]. The detection of Wolbachia in Cx. pipiens pallens was higher in Xuchang City (96.8%, 62/64) than in Nanyang (15.6%, 7/45) and Puyang cities (27.1%, 16/59) (χ2 = 89.950, P < 0.01). The homologies of obtained Wolbachia 16S rDNA and wsp gene sequences were 95.3% to 100.0% and 81.7% to 99.8%. Phylogenetic analysis based on wsp gene sequences showed Wolbachia supergroups A and B in mosquito samples, with wAlbA and wMors strains in supergroup A and wPip and wAlbB strains in supergroup B. Wolbachia strain wAlbB infection was detected in A. albopictus in Puyang and Nanyang Cities, while Wolbachia strain wPip infection was identified in A. albopictus in Xuchang City. Wolbachia strain wAlbA infection was detected in Cx. pipiens pallens sampled from three cities, and one Cx. pipiens pallens was found to be infected with Wolbachia strain wMors in Nanyang City. CONCLUSIONS: Wolbachia infection is commonly prevalent in Ae. albopictus and Cx. pipiens pallens from Henan Province, and Wolbachia strains wAlbB and wAlbA are predominant in Ae. albopictus, while wPip strain is predominant in Cx. pipiens pallens. This is the first report to present Wolbachia wMors strain infection in Cx. pipiens pallens in Henan Province.

A Remineralizing and Antibacterial Coating for Arresting Caries.

Dental caries is a dynamic disease induced by the unbalance between demineralization of dental hard tissues caused by biofilm and remineralization of them; however, although various effective remineralization methods have been well documented, it is a challenge to reestablish the balance by enhancing remineralization alone while ignoring the antibacterial therapy. Therefore, the integration of remineralizing and antibacterial technologies offers a promising strategy to halt natural caries progression in clinical practice. Here, the conception of interrupting dental caries (IDC) was proposed based on the development of dual-functional coating with remineralizing and antibacterial properties. In this study, bovine serum albumin (BSA) loaded octenidine (OCT) successfully to form a BSA-OCT composite. Subsequently, through fast amyloid-like aggregation, the phase-transited BSA-OCT (PTB-OCT) coating can be covered on teeth, resin composite, or sealant surfaces in 30 min by a simple smearing process. The PTB-OCT coating showed satisfactory effects in promoting the remineralization of demineralized enamel and dentin in vitro. Moreover, this coating also exerted significant acid-resistance stability and anti-biofilm properties. Equally importantly, this coating exhibited promising abilities in reducing the microleakage between the tooth and resin composite in vitro and preventing primary and secondary caries in vivo. In conclusion, this novel dual-functional PTB-OCT coating could reestablish the balance between demineralization and remineralization in the process of caries, thereby potentially preventing or arresting caries.

Distortion of Mendelian segregation across the Angus cattle genome uncovering regions affecting reproduction.

Nowadays, the availability of genotyped trios (sire-dam-offspring) in the livestock industry enables the implementation of the transmission ratio distortion (TRD) approach to discover deleterious alleles in the genome. Various biological mechanisms at different stages of the reproductive cycle such as gametogenesis, embryo development and postnatal viability can induce signals of TRD (i.e., deviation from Mendelian inheritance expectations). In this study, TRD was evaluated using both SNP-by-SNP and sliding windows of 2-, 4-, 7-, 10- and 20-SNP across 92,942 autosomal SNPs for 258,140 genotyped Angus cattle including 7,486 sires, 72,688 dams and 205,966 offspring. Transmission ratio distortion was characterized using allelic (specific- and unspecific-parent TRD) and genotypic parameterizations (additive- and dominance-TRD). Across the Angus autosomal chromosomes, 851 regions were clearly found with decisive evidence for TRD. Among these findings, 19 haplotypes with recessive patterns (potential lethality for homozygote individuals) and 52 regions with allelic patterns exhibiting complete or quasi-complete absence for homozygous individuals in addition to under-representation (potentially reduced viability) of the carrier (heterozygous) offspring were found. In addition, 64 (12) and 20 (4) regions showed significant influence on the trait heifer pregnancy at p-value < 0.05 (after chromosome-wise false discovery rate) and 0.01, respectively, reducing the pregnancy rate up to 15%, thus, supporting the biological importance of TRD phenomenon in reproduction.

Novel two-dimensional Janus ß-Ge2XY (X/Y = S, Se, Te) structures: first-principles examinations.

Two-dimensional (2D) structures can stably exist in different allotropes. In this manuscript, we propose a new series of Janus structures based on the ß-phase of germanium monochalcogenides, namely, ß-Ge2XY (X/Y = S, Se, and Te) monolayers. Our calculations indicate that Janus ß-Ge2XY monolayers have a stable crystal structure and possess anisotropic mechanical properties. At the ground state, ß-Ge2XY monolayers are semiconductors with a large bandgap and their electronic properties depend strongly on a biaxial strain. Strains not only change the bandgap but can also lead to a change in the bandgap characteristic, namely transitions from indirect to direct bandgap. Our findings not only introduce a new structure of germanium chalcogenide compounds but also show that they have superior physical properties suitable for applications in nanoelectronics.

Author Correction: Association between hormone replacement therapy and sex hormones in postmenopausal women: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Correction to: Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2023; 27 (11): 5264-5279. DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202306_32646-PMID: 37318501-published online on June 13, 2023. After publication, the authors applied a correction in the Funding section. The section has been amended as follows: This study was supported by a grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81671421). Moreover, the corresponding author's name was wrong. Therefore, in accordance with the email address, the correct corresponding author has been corrected from D.-H. LU to L.-Z. XU. There are amendments to this paper. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. https://www.europeanreview.org/article/32646.

Association between hormone replacement therapy and sex hormones in postmenopausal women: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to systematically review and meta-analyze the available data on changes in the hormonal profile of postmenopausal women treated with hormone replacement therapy (HRT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Full-text articles published up to April 30, 2021, were searched through PUBMED, EMBASE, the Cochrane library and Web of Science (WOS) databases and were screened strictly according to inclusion criteria. Randomized clinical trials and case control studies were enrolled. Studies not reporting steroid serum levels or not providing a control group were excluded from the analysis. Studies enrolling women with genetic defects or severe chronic systemic diseases were excluded. Data are expressed as standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Random effect models were used for the meta-analysis. RESULTS: HRT administration increases estradiol (E2) and reduces follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) serum levels compared with pre-treatment. Their changes are evident when oral and transdermal HRT are administered, while vaginal HRT not. No significant effect on E2 and FSH was found between 6 and 12 months, as well as between 12 and 24 months. No significant effect on E2 and FSH was shown between different regimes. No difference was observed between different HRT regarding their effect on lipid profiles, breast pain and vaginal bleeding, but oral estrogen combined synthetic progestin caused a reduction in sex hormone-binding globulin (SHGB). CONCLUSIONS: The review suggested oral and transdermal HRT could lead to a rise in E2 serum levels and a decrease in FSH. The types and doses of HRT did not seem to modify the E2 and FSH level. Also, oral estrogen combined synthetic progestin could cause a reduction in SHGB. This might be crucial when choosing the best possible treatment for each patient individually taking into consideration if potential benefits outweigh the risks.

Dietary Total Antioxidant Capacity and Cognitive Function in Older Adults in the United States: The NHANES 2011-2014.

OBJECTIVES: Oxidative stress level takes part in the development of cognitive decline. However, the association between total antioxidant capacity (TAC) from diet and cognitive function is controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between TAC and the cognitive function of older adults in the U.S. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys database. PARTICIPANTS: 2712 older adults aged over 60 years. MEASUREMENTS: TAC was calculated from 8 antioxidative vitamins based on the reference values for vitamin C equivalent antioxidant capacity obtained from individuals' 24 h dietary recall. Four memory-related assessments were employed [Immediate Recall test (IRT), Delayed Recall test (DRT), Animal Fluency test (AFT), and Digit Symbol Substitution test (DSST)]. RESULTS: Among the 2712 participants, the median age was 68 years, and 50.4% were women. Participants in the group with higher TAC levels had relatively higher IRT, AFT and DSST scores (P=0.025, P=0.008, P<0.001, respectively). In adjusted weighted linear regression, log-transformed TAC was positively associated with AFT (ß=1.10, 95%CI: 0.51, 1.70) and DSST (ß=2.81, 95%CI: 1.16, 4.45). Compared with the first quartile, the participants in the second (Q2 vs. Q1, OR=0.66, 95%CI: 0.43,1.02) and fourth quartile (Q4 vs. Q1, OR=0.47, 95%CI:0.28, 0.78) of log-transformed TAC showed a decreased risk of impaired cognitive function (ICF) after adjusting for confounders. The dose-response analysis indicated a gradual descent in the risk of ICF as TAC increases. Diabetes mellitus (DM) mediated part of the effect of TAC on ICF. The relationship between TAC and ICF was more pronounced in subjects with DM (Q4 vs Q1, OR=0.36, 95%CI:0.17, 0.74). CONCLUSION: Our findings support that higher dietary antioxidant potential was related to a decreased risk of cognitive dysfunction, particularly in the subjects with DM who may have oxidative injury. DM was one of the factors mediating the effect of TAC on ICF.

[Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides: the certain but limited efficacy and the uncovering mechanisms for the cure of chronic hepatitis B].

Recently, several phase I and phase II clinical trials of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ASOs) targeting to the commonly shared conserved sequences of HBV transcripts brought us some promising results. Particularly in the report of phase IIb clinical trial of Bepirovirsen (GSK3228836), approximately 9-10% patients with low baseline serum HBsAg (> 100 IU/ml & < 3 000 IU/ml) achieved functional cure after 24 weeks' of Bepirovirsen treatment. After reviewing the results of other clinical trials, one would be impressed to know that ALG-020572 (Aligos), RO7062931 (Roche) and GSK3389404 (GSK) all failed to sufficiently suppress serum HBsAg expression though the hepatocyte-targeted delivery of these ASOs were enhanced via N-acetyl galactosamine conjugation. Bepirovirsen enabled some patients to achieve sustained disappearance of serum HBsAg. The analysis of its distribution in different tissues of patients after drug administration showed that only a few fractions of ASOs entered liver tissues and far fewer eventually entered hepatocytes. Taking into consideration that only a few hepatocytes could be expected positive for HBsAg staining among these participants with low serum HBsAg level. We suspect that the mechanistic contribution of ASOs declining the serum HBsAg is not only via directly acting on the HBV transcripts in hepatocytes, but also via entering non-parenchymal cells such as Kupffer cells and resulting in stimulation and activation of innate immunity. Eventually the serum HBsAg declines in most participants and even disappears in a small fraction of patients with low baseline HBsAg level, via attack the infected hepatocytes evidenced by the aberrant elevation of ALT. Nevertheless, the functional cure of CHB remains a challenging issue and more efforts are needed.

Factors associated with having COVID-19 among unvaccinated pregnant and non-pregnant women in Metro Manila, Philippines: a multicentre longitudinal cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the potential risk factors associated with having COVID-19 among unvaccinated pregnant and non-pregnant women. DESIGN: A multicentre prospective cohort study among eligible women in Metro Manila, Philippines, from 2020 to 2022. SETTING: Five national and local hospital research sites altogether recruited and screened 500 consenting eligible individuals. PARTICIPANTS: Pregnant and non-pregnant participants meeting the eligibility criteria were admitted for a reverse-transcription PCR determination of SARS-CoV-2, pregnancy testing and ultrasound, and an interview with an administered questionnaire. EXPOSURES: Primary exposure was pregnancy; secondary exposures involve sociodemographic, lifestyle and obstetric-gynaecologic factors. OUTCOME MEASURE: Outcome being measured was COVID-19 status. RESULTS: The significant COVID-19 risk factors were: pregnancy (PR=1.184, 95% CI 1.096, 1.279), having a white-collar job (PR=1.123, 95% CI 1.02, 1.235), travelling abroad (PR=1.369, 95% CI 1.083, 1.173) and being infected by at least one vaccine-preventable disease (VPD) (PR=1.208, 95% CI 1.113, 1.310). Protective factors included having graduate-level education (PR=0.787, 95% CI 0.649, 0.954), immunisation against a VPD (PR=0.795, 95% CI 0.733, 0.862) and practising contraception (PR=0.889, 95% CI 0.824, 0.960). CONCLUSION: This study is the first in the country to determine the risks influencing COVID-19 infection among unvaccinated pregnant and non-pregnant women. Pregnancy is a significant risk for COVID-19 among women in Metro Manila. Educational attainment and positive health behaviours seem to confer protection. Occupations and activities that increase the frequency of interactions, as well as history of communicable diseases may predispose women to COVID-19. Further studies are needed to elucidate the development of the disease in pregnant women, including the maternal and neonatal effects of COVID-19 via potential vertical mechanisms of transmission.