Reviving Sodium Tunnel Oxide Cathodes Based on Structural Modulation and Sodium Compensation Strategy Toward Practical Sodium-Ion Cylindrical Battery.

As a typical tunnel oxide, Na0.44MnO2 features excellent electrochemical performance and outstanding structural stability, making it a promising cathode for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). However, it suffers from undesirable challenges such as surface residual alkali, multiple voltage plateaus, and low initial charge specific capacity. Herein, an internal and external synergistic modulation strategy is adopted by replacing part of the Mn with Ti to optimize the bulk phase and construct a Ti-containing epitaxial stabilization layer, resulting in reduced surface residual alkali, excellent Na+ transport kinetics and improved water/air stability. Specifically, the Na0.44Mn0.85Ti0.15O2 using water-soluble carboxymethyl cellulose as a binder can realize a capacity retention rate of 94.30% after 1,000 cycles at 2C, and excellent stability is further verified in kilogram large-up applications. In addition, taking advantage of the rich Na content in Prussian blue analog (PBA), PBA-Na0.44Mn1-xTixO2 composites are designed to compensate for the insufficient Na in the tunnel oxide and are matched with hard carbon to achieve the preparation of coin full cell and 18650 cylindrical battery with satisfactory electrochemical performance. This work enables the application of tunnel oxides cathode for SIBs in 18650 cylindrical batteries for the first time and promotes the commercialization of SIBs.

The influence of redox potential on phosphorus release from sediments in different water bodies.

Anthropogenic activities have significantly enriched P in sediments of many water bodies, with redox potential (Eh) being a key factor in controlling P adsorption or release.This study evaluates the impact of Eh on P release from sediments in the Weiyuan River, Honghu Lake, and Bao'enqiao Reservoir using reactor experiments. P speciation was further analyzed through SEDEX method. Results show that within an Eh range of -300 mV to +230 mV, more P is released from sediments into the water column. The P fractions CDB-P and Fe(II)-P exhibit the most significant changes, especially in reservoir sediments where ΔCDB-P (85.5 mg/kg) and ΔFe(II)-P (80.6 mg/kg) are the highest among the three water bodies, followed by lake sediments. Additionally, after redox oscillation, the EPC0 of lake and reservoir sediments increased to 16.2 and 18.8 times their initial values, respectively, significantly raising the risk of eutrophication.

Bimetallic Coupling Strategy Modulating Electronic Construction to Accelerate Sulfur Redox Reaction Kinetics for High-Energy Flexible Li-S Batteries.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are considered the most promising energy storage battery due to their low cost and high theoretical energy density. However, the low utilization rate of sulfur and slow redox kinetics have seriously limited the development of Li-S batteries. Herein, the electronic state modulation of metal selenides induced by the bi-metallic coupling strategy is reported to enhance the redox reaction kinetics and sulfur utilization, thereby improving the electrochemical performance of Li-S batteries. Theoretical calculations reveal that the electronic structure can be modulated by Ni-Co coupling, thus lowering the conversion barrier of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) and Li+, and the synergistic interaction between NiCoSe nanoparticles and nitrogen-doped porous carbon (NPC) is facilitating to enhance electron transport and ion transfer kinetics of the NiCoSe@NPC-S electrodes. As a result, the assembled Li-S batteries based on NiCoSe@NPC-S exhibit high capacities (1020 mAh g-1 at 1 C) and stable cycle performance (80.37% capacity retention after 500 cycles). The special structural design and bimetallic coupling strategy promote the batteries working even under lean electrolyte (7.2 µL mg-1) with a high sulfur loading (6.5 mg cm-2). The proposed bimetallic coupling strategy modulating electronic construction with N-doping porous carbon has jointly contributed the good redox reaction kinetics and high sulfur utilization.

Optimization and validation of echo times of point-resolved spectroscopy for cystathionine detection in gliomas.

BACKGROUND: Cystathionine accumulates selectively in 1p/19q-codeleted gliomas, and can serve as a possible noninvasive biomarker. This study aims to optimize the echo time (TE) of point-resolved spectroscopy (PRESS) for cystathionine detection in gliomas, and evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of PRESS for 1p/19q-codeletion identification. METHODS: The TE of PRESS was optimized with numerical and phantom analysis to better resolve cystathionine from the overlapping aspartate multiplets. The optimized and 97 ms TE PRESS were then applied to 84 prospectively enrolled patients suspected of glioma or glioma recurrence to examine the influence of aspartate on cystathionine quantification by fitting the spectra with and without aspartate. The diagnostic performance of PRESS for 1p/19q-codeleted gliomas were assessed. RESULTS: The TE of PRESS was optimized as (TE1, TE2) = (17 ms, 28 ms). The spectral pattern of cystathionine and aspartate were consistent between calculation and phantom. The mean concentrations of cystathionine in vivo fitting without aspartate were significantly higher than those fitting with full basis-set for 97 ms TE PRESS (1.97 ± 2.01 mM vs. 1.55 ± 1.95 mM, p < 0.01), but not significantly different for 45 ms method (0.801 ± 1.217 mM and 0.796 ± 1.217 mM, p = 0.494). The cystathionine concentrations of 45 ms approach was better correlated with those of edited MRS than 97 ms counterparts (r = 0.68 vs. 0.49, both p < 0.01). The sensitivity and specificity for discriminating 1p/19q-codeleted gliomas were 66.7% and 73.7% for 45 ms method, and 44.4% and 52.5% for 97 ms method, respectively. CONCLUSION: The 45 ms TE PRESS yields more precise cystathionine estimates than the 97 ms method, and is anticipated to facilitate noninvasive diagnosis of 1p/19q-codeleted gliomas, and treatment response monitoring in those patients. Medium diagnostic performance of PRESS for 1p/19q-codeleted gliomas were observed, and warrants further investigations.

FAM109B plays a tumorigenic role in low-grade gliomas and is associated with tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs).

BACKGROUND: Family with sequence similarity 109, member B (FAM109B) is involved in endocytic transport and affects genetic variation in brain methylation. It is one of the important genes related to immune cell-associated diseases. In the tumor immune system, methylation can regulate tumor immunity and influence the maturation and functional response of immune cells. Whether FAM109B is involved in tumor progression and its correlation with the tumor immune microenvironment has not yet been disclosed. METHODS: A comprehensive pan-cancer analysis of FAM109B expression, prognosis, immunity, and TMB was conducted. The expression, clinical features, and prognostic value of FAM109B in low-grade gliomas (LGG) were evaluated using TCGA, CGGA, and Gravendeel databases. The expression of FAM109B was validated by qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and Western blotting (WB). The relationship between FAM109B and methylation, Copy Number Variation (CNV), prognosis, immune checkpoints (ICs), and common chemotherapy drug sensitivity in LGG was explored through Cox regression, Kaplan-Meier curves, and Spearman correlation analysis. FAM109B levels and their distribution were studied using the TIMER database and single-cell analysis. The potential role of FAM109B in gliomas was further investigated through in vitro and in vivo experiments. RESULTS: FAM109B was significantly elevated in various tumor types and was associated with poor prognosis. Its expression was related to aggressive progression and poor prognosis in low-grade glioma patients, serving as an independent prognostic marker for LGG. Glioma grade was negatively correlated with FAM109B DNA promoter methylation. Immune infiltration and single-cell analysis showed significant expression of FAM109B in tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). The expression of FAM109B was closely related to gene mutations, immune checkpoints (ICs), and chemotherapy drugs in LGG. In vitro studies showed increased FAM109B expression in LGG, closely related to cell proliferation. In vivo studies showed that mice in the sh-FAM109B group had slower tumor growth, slower weight loss, and longer survival times. CONCLUSIONS: FAM109B, as a novel prognostic biomarker for low-grade gliomas, exhibits specific overexpression in TAMs and may be a potential therapeutic target for LGG patients.

Neuromechanisms of simulation-based arthroscopic skills assessment: a fNIRS study.

BACKGROUND: The neural mechanisms underlying differences in the performance of simulated arthroscopic skills across various skill levels remain unclear. Our primary objective is to investigate the learning mechanisms of simulated arthroscopic skills using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). METHODS: We recruited 27 participants, divided into three groups: novices (n = 9), intermediates (n = 9), and experts (n = 9). Participants completed seven arthroscopic tasks on a simulator, including diagnostic navigation, triangulation, grasping stars, diagnostic exploration, meniscectomy, synovial membrane cleaning, and loose body removal. All tasks were videotaped and assessed via the simulator system and the Arthroscopic Surgical Skill Evaluation Tool (ASSET), while cortical activation data were collected using fNIRS. Simulator scores and ASSET scores were analyzed to identify different level of performance of all participants. Brain region activation and functional connectivity (FC) of different types of participants were analyzed from fNIRS data. RESULTS: Both the expert and intermediate groups scored significantly higher than the novice group (p < 0.001). There were significant differences in ASSET scores between experts and intermediates, experts and novices, and intermediates and novices (p = 0.0047, p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001), with the trend being experts > intermediates > novices. The intermediate group exhibited significantly greater activation in the left primary motor cortex (LPMC) and left prefrontal cortex (LPFC) compared to the novice group (p = 0.0152, p = 0.0021). Compared to experts, the intermediate group demonstrated significantly increased FC between the presupplementary motor area (preSMA) and the right prefrontal cortex (RPFC; p < 0.001). Additionally, the intermediate group showed significantly increased FC between the preSMA and LPFC, RPFC and LPFC, and LPMC and LPFC compared to novices (p = 0.0077, p = 0.0285, p = 0.0446). CONCLUSION: Cortical activation and functional connectivity reveal varying levels of activation intensity in the PFC, PMC, and preSMA among novices, intermediates, and experts. The intermediate group exhibited the highest activation intensity.

Room-Temperature Self-Healing and Recyclable Self-Crosslinked Isosorbide-Based Adhesive Bioelastomer.

Recently, renewable bio-based materials have received more and more attention due to environmental issues such as global warming and ecosystem destruction. In the present work, a series of isosorbide-based bioelastomers poly(isosorbide carbonate-co-butanediol aliphatic esters)s (PICBAs) are synthesized by a facile and economical two-step melt polycondensation. Due to the slightly self-crosslinking reaction of isosorbide, PICBAs exhibit excellent tensile strength and self-healing ability, the mechanical properties of PICBAs can recover over 95% after 48 h under room temperature. In addition, PICBAs can stick different substances, such as glass, rubber, plastic, and stones, and show better adhesive performance than 3M commercially available double-sided tape. Consequently, isosorbide-based bioelastomers PICBAs are of great potential to be used as environmentally friendly pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSA) in the future.

Characterization of MAP c21873-1 as a new counter-selectable marker for unmarked genetic modification of Pichia pastoris.

BACKGROUND: Selection markers are useful in genetic modification of yeast Pichia pastoris. However, the leakage of the promoter caused undesired expression of selection markers especially those toxic proteins like MazF, halting the cell growth and hampering the genetic manipulation in procaryotic system. In this study, a new counter-selectable marker-based strategy has been established for seamless modification with high efficiency and low toxicity. RESULTS: At first, the leaky expression of the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) as a reporter gene under the control of six inducible promoters of P. pastoris was investigated in two hosts Escherichia coli and P. pastoris, respectively. The results demonstrated that the DAS1 and FDH1 promoters (PDAS1 and PFDH1) had the highest leakage expression activities in procaryotes and eukaryotes, and the DAS2 promoter (PDAS2) was inducible with medium strength but low leakage expression activity, all of which were selected for further investigation. Next, Mirabilis antiviral proteins (MAPs) c21873-1, c21873-1T (truncated form of c21873-1) and c23467 were mined as the new counter-selectable markers, and hygromycin B (Hyg B) resistance gene was used as the positive-selectable marker, respectively. Then, modular plasmids with MAP-target gene-Hyg B cassettes were constructed and used to transform into P. pastoris cells after linearization, and the target genes were integrated into its genome at the BmT1 locus through single-crossover homologous recombination (HR). After counter-selection induced by methanol medium, the markers c21873-1 and c21873-1T were recycled efficiently. But c23467 failed to be recycled due to its toxic effect on the P. pastoris cells. At last, the counter-selectable marker c21873-1 under the tightly regulated PDAS2 enabled the encoding genes of reporter EGFP and tested proteins to be integrated into the target locus and expressed successfully. CONCLUSIONS: We have developed MAP c21873-1 as a novel counter-selectable marker which could perform efficient gene knock-in by site-directed HR. Upon counter-selection, the marker could be recycled for repeated use, and no undesirable sequences were introduced except for the target gene. This unmarked genetic modification strategy may be extended to other genetic modification including but not limited to gene knock-out and site-directed mutagenesis in future.

Drug-coated balloon angioplasty versus drug-eluting stent implantation in ACS patients with different angiographic patterns of in-stent restenosis.

BACKGROUND: Drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty and drug-eluting stents (DES) are two widely used treatments for in-stent restenosis (ISR). Focal and non-focal types of ISR affect the clinical outcomes. The present study aims to compare DES reimplantation versus DCB angioplasty in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients with focal ISR and non-focal ISR lesions. METHODS: Patients with ISR lesions underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were retrospectively evaluated and divided into DES group and DCB group. The primary endpoint was the incidence of target lesion failure (TLF) at 24 months follow up. Propensity score matching (PSM) was conducted to balance the baseline characteristics. RESULTS: For focal ISR, TLF was comparable in the DES and DCB groups at 24 months of follow-up (Before PSM, hazard ratio [HR]: 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.39-1.27; p = 0.244; After PSM, HR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.40-1.73; p = 0.625). For non-focal ISR, TLF was significantly decreased in DES compared with DCB group (Before PSM, HR: 0.43; 95% CI: 0.29-0.63; p < 0.001; After PSM, HR: 0.33; 95% CI: 0.19-0.59; p < 0.001), which was mainly attributed to the lower incidence of clinically indicated target lesion revascularization (CD-TLR) (Before PSM, HR: 0.39; 95% CI: 0.26-0.59; p < 0.001; After PSM, HR: 0.28; 95% CI: 0.15-0.54; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The clinical outcomes for DES and DCB treatment are similar in focal type of ISR lesions. For non-focal ISR, the treatment of DES showed a significant decrease in TLF which was mainly attributed to a lower incidence of CD-TLR.

Slightly Li-enriched chemistry enabling super stable LiNi0.5Mn0.5O2 cathodes under extreme conditions.

High voltage/high temperature operation aggravates the risk of capacity attenuation and thermal runaway of layered oxide cathodes due to crystal degradation and interfacial instability. A combined strategy of bulk regulation and surface chemistry design is crucial to handle these issues. Here, we present a simultaneous Li2WO4-coated and gradient W-doped 0.98LiNi0.5Mn0.5O2·0.02Li2WO4 cathode through modulating the content of the exotic dopant and stoichiometric lithium salt during lithiation calcination. Benefiting from the slightly Li-enriched chemistry induced by the hetero-epitaxially grown Li2WO4 surface, the 0.98LiNi0.5Mn0.5O2·0.02Li2WO4 cathode demonstrates superior electrochemical performance to W-doped LiNi0.49Mn0.49W0.02O2 and WO3 coated 0.98LiNi0.5Mn0.5O2·0.02WO3 cathodes without a Li-enriched phase. Specifically, when cycled in the potential range of 2.7-4.5 V at 30 °C, the 0.98LiNi0.5Mn0.5O2·0.02Li2WO4 cathode possesses a high discharge capacity of 199.2 and 156.5 mA h g-1 at 0.1 and 5C and a capacity retention of 92.88% after 300 cycles at 1C. Even at a high cut-off voltage of 4.6 V, it still retains a capacity retention of 91.15% after 200 cycles at 1C and 30 °C. Compared with LiNi0.5Mn0.5O2, the enhanced performance of 0.98LiNi0.5Mn0.5O2·0.02Li2WO4 can be attributed to its robust bulk and stable interface, inhibited lattice oxygen release, and improved Li+ transport kinetics. Our work emphasizes the significance of the slightly Li-enriched chemistry and bulk modulation strategy in stabilizing cathodes and hence unlocks vast possibilities for future cathode design.

The Bioactive Interface of Titanium Implant with Both Anti-Oxidative Stress and Immunomodulatory Properties for Enhancing Osseointegration under Diabetic Condition.

The poor implant-osseointegration under diabetic condition remains a challenge to be addressed urgently. Studies have confirmed that the diabetic pathological microenvironment is accompanied by excessive oxidative stress, imbalanced immune homeostasis, and persistent chronic inflammation, which seriously impairs the osteogenic process. Herein, a multifunctional bioactive interface with both anti-oxidative stress and immunomodulatory properties is constructed on titanium implants. Briefly, manganese dioxide nanosheets are coated onto mesoporous polydopamine nanoparticles loaded with carbon monoxide gas precursor, namely MnO2-CO@MPDA NPs, and then they are integrated on the titanium implant to obtain MCM-Ti. In the simulated diabetic microenvironment, under the action of MnO2 nanoenzymes, MCM-Ti can effectively eliminate intracellular reactive oxygen species while alleviating hypoxic state. Interestingly, the microenvironment mediates the responsive release of CO gas, which effectively drives macrophages toward M2 polarization, thereby ameliorating inflammatory response. The potential mechanism is that CO gas up-regulates the expression of heme oxygenase-1, further activating the Notch/Hes1/Stat3 signaling pathway. Furthermore, the conditioned medium derived from macrophages on MCM-Ti surface significantly enhances the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. In a type 2 diabetic rat model, MCM-Ti implant effectively alleviates the accompanying inflammation and enhances the osseointegration through the synergistic effects of resisting oxidative stress and remodeling immune homeostasis.

Myeloid Cells and Sensory Nerves Mediate Peritendinous Adhesion Formation via Prostaglandin E2.

Peritendinous adhesion that forms after tendon injury substantially limits daily life. The pathology of adhesion involves inflammation and the associated proliferation. However, the current studies on this condition are lacking, previous studies reveal that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) gene inhibitors have anti-adhesion effects through reducing prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and the proliferation of fibroblasts, are contrary to the failure in anti-adhesion through deletion of EP4 (prostaglandin E receptor 4) gene in fibroblasts in mice of another study. In this study, single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of human and mouse specimens are combined with eight types of conditional knockout mice and further reveal that deletion of COX2 in myeloid cells and deletion of EP4 gene in sensory nerves decrease adhesion and impair the biomechanical properties of repaired tendons. Furthermore, the COX2 inhibitor parecoxib reduces PGE2 but impairs the biomechanical properties of repaired tendons. Interestingly, PGE2 local treatment improves the biomechanical properties of the repaired tendons. These findings clarify the complex role of PGE2 in peritendinous adhesion formation (PAF) and tendon repair.

The value of quantitative shear wave elastography combined with conventional ultrasound in evaluating and guiding fine needle aspiration biopsy of axillary lymph node for early breast cancer: implication for axillary surgical stage.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the value of conventional ultrasonography (US) combined with quantitative shear wave elastography (SWE) in evaluating and identifying target axillary lymph node (TALN) for fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of patients with early breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 222 patients with 223 ALNs were prospectively recruited from January 2018 to December 2021. All TALNs were evaluated by US, SWE and subsequently underwent FNAB. The diagnostic performances of US, SWE, UEor (either US or SWE was positive) and UEand (both US and SWE were positive), and FNAB guided by the above four methods for evaluating ALN status were assessed using receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC) analyses. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses used to determine the independent predictors of axillary burden. RESULTS: The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for diagnosing ALNs using conventional US and SWE were 0.69 and 0.66, respectively, with sensitivities of 78.00% and 65.00% and specificities of 60.98% and 66.67%. The combined method, UEor, demonstrated significantly improved sensitivity of 86.00% (p < 0.001 when compared with US and SWE alone). The AUC of the UEor-guided FNAB [0.85 (95% CI, 0.80-0.90)] was significantly higher than that of US-guided FNAB [0.83 (95% CI, 0.78-0.88), p = 0.042], SWE-guided FNAB [0.79 (95% CI, 0.72-0.84), p = 0.001], and UEand-guided FNAB [0.77 (95% CI, 0.71-0.82), p < 0.001]. Multivariate logistic regression showed that FNAB and number of suspicious ALNs were found independent predictors of axillary burden in patients with early breast cancer. CONCLUSION: The UEor had superior sensitivity compared to US or SWE alone in ALN diagnosis. The UEor-guided FNAB achieved a lower false-negative rate compared to FNAB guided solely by US or SWE, which may be a promising tool for the preoperative diagnosis of ALNs in early breast cancer, and had the potential implication for the selection of axillary surgical modality.

Gene Duplication and Functional Diversification of MADS-Box Genes in Malus × domestica following WGD: Implications for Fruit Type and Floral Organ Evolution.

The evolution of the MADS-box gene family is essential for the rapid differentiation of floral organs and fruit types in angiosperms. Two key processes drive the evolution of gene families: gene duplication and functional differentiation. Duplicated copies provide the material for variation, while advantageous mutations can confer new functions on gene copies. In this study, we selected the Rosaceae family, which includes a variety of fruit types and flower organs, as well as species that existed before and after whole-genome duplication (WGD). The results indicate that different fruit types are associated with different copies of MADS-box gene family duplications and WGD events. While most gene copies derived from WGD have been lost, MADS-box genes not only retain copies derived from WGD but also undergo further gene duplication. The sequences, protein structures, and expression patterns of these gene copies have undergone significant differentiation. This work provides a clear example of MADS-box genes in the context of gene duplication and functional differentiation, offering new insights into the evolution of fruit types and floral organs.

Suicide among patients with oral cancer: A population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with oral cancer usually experience disfigurement and dysfunction which are shared risk factors of suicide. The aim of the study was to comprehensively assess the characteristics of suicide and risk factors for suicide in patients with oral cancer. METHODS: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was used to acquire information of patients with common malignant tumors including oral cancer from 1975 to 2020. The aim was to explore the incidence of suicide, and timing of suicide among patients with oral cancer. A Fine-Gray competing risks regression model was employed to analyze risk factors associated with suicide among patients with various demographic and tumor characteristics. RESULTS: Totally, 7685 patients with different malignant tumors committed suicide. Among them, 203 patients with oral cancer died due to suicide, presenting a suicide rate of 54.5/100,000 person-years, which was almost 3.5 times that of the US general population and 1.5 times that of the overall US patients with cancer in our study. Approximately 18 %, 40 %, and 55 % of suicides occurred in first year, first 3 years, and first 5 years after diagnosis. Being male, White race, and having a single primary tumor might be regarded as the risk factors for suicide. CONCLUSION: As oral cavity is closely associated with appearance, pronunciation and ingestion, patients with oral cancer have a significant high risk of suicide. Tremendous attention needs to be paid to patients with oral cancer particularly those exhibiting characteristics associated with a high risk of suicide.

Exploring the role of long noncoding RNAs in autophagy and cuproptosis processes via immune pathways in head and neck squamous carcinoma: A systematic review of the literature.

Cuproptosis, a copper-dependent programmed cell death process, holds promise for controlling cell death in tumor cells. Autophagy, a fundamental cellular process, has been linked to various aspects of cancer, such as proliferation, migration, and drug resistance. This research is centered on the investigation of autophagy- and cuproptosis-related long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and the establishment of a prognostic model for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. RNA sequencing data from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients in The Cancer Genome Atlas database identified cuproptosis-related lncRNAs via Pearson analysis. Patients were divided into training and testing sets. A prognostic model developed in the training set using univariate-least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) and multivariate Cox regression was tested for accuracy. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed high-risk patients had poorer outcomes. Cox regression confirmed the model's risk score as an independent prognostic indicator, with receiver operating characteristic and decision curve analyses validating its predictive accuracy. Thirteen lncRNAs associated with autophagy and cuproptosis were identified through bioinformatics analysis. Lasso regression narrowed this to 3 significant prognostic lncRNAs. Based on median risk scores, patients were classified into high-risk and low-risk groups. Kaplan-Meier survival curves revealed significant differences between these groups (P < .01). Through a set of bioinformatics analyses, we identified 13 autophagy- and cuproptosis-related lncRNAs. By Lasso regression, 3 prognostic-related lncRNAs were further selected. We also investigated these 3 lncRNAs in relation to clinicopathologic features. The principal component analysis visually showed differences between the high-risk and low-risk groups.

Obesity-associated Inflammation and Alloimmunity.

Obesity is a worldwide health problem with a rapidly rising incidence. In organ transplantation, increasing numbers of patients with obesity accumulate on waiting lists and undergo surgery. Obesity is in general conceptualized as a chronic inflammatory disease, potentially impacting alloimmune response and graft function. Here, we summarize our current understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms that control obesity-associated adipose tissue inflammation and provide insights into mechanisms affecting transplant outcomes, emphasizing on the beneficial effects of weight loss on alloimmune responses.

Host-Driven Selection, Revealed by Comparative Analysis of Xanthomonas Type III Secretion Effectoromes, Unveils Novel Recognized Effectors.

Xanthomonas species are specialized plant pathogens, often exhibiting a narrow host range. They rely on the translocation of effector proteins through the type III secretion system to colonize their respective hosts. The effector arsenal varies among Xanthomonas spp., typically displaying species-specific compositions. This species-specific effector composition, collectively termed the effectorome, is thought to influence host specialization. We determined the plant host-derived effectoromes of more than 300 deposited genomes of Xanthomonas species associated with either Solanaceae or Brassicaceae hosts. Comparative analyses revealed clear species-specific effectorome signatures. However, Solanaceae or Brassicaceae host-associated effectorome signatures were not detected. Nevertheless, host biases in the presence or absence of specific effector classes were observed. To assess whether host-associated effector absence results from selective pressures, we introduced effectors unique to Solanaceae pathogens to Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc), and effectors unique to Brassicaceae pathogens to Xanthomonas euvesicatoria pv. euvesicatoria (Xeue), and evaluated if these introductions hindered virulence on their respective hosts. Introducing the effector XopI into Xcc reduced virulence on white cabbage leaves without affecting localized or systemic colonization. Introducing the XopAC or XopJ5 effectors into Xeue reduced virulence and colonization on tomato but not on pepper. Additionally, XopAC and XopJ5 induced a hypersensitive response on tomato leaves when delivered by Xeue or through Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression, confirming recognition in tomato. This study demonstrates the role of host-derived selection in establishing species-specific effectoromes, identifying XopAC and XopJ5 as recognized effectors in tomato.