A hyaluronic acid hydrogel as a mild photothermal antibacterial, antioxidant, and nitric oxide release platform for diabetic wound healing.

Hyaluronic acid (HA)-based biopolymer hydrogels are promising therapeutic dressings for various wounds but still underperform in treating diabetic wounds. These wounds are extremely difficult to heal and undergo a prolonged and severe inflammatory process due to bacterial infection, overexpression of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and insufficient synthesis of NO. In this study, a dynamic crosslinked hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel dressing (Gel-HAB) loaded with allomelanin (AMNP)-N, N'-dis-sec-butyl-N, N'-dinitroso-1, 4-phenylenediamine (BNN6) nanoparticles (AMNP-BNN6) was developed for healing diabetic wounds. The dynamic acylhydrazone bond formed between hydrazide-modified HA (HA-ADH) and oxidized HA (OHA) makes the hydrogel injectable, self-healing, and biocompatible. The hydrogel, loaded with AMNP-BNN6 nanoparticles, exhibits promising ROS scavenging ability and on-demand release of nitric oxide (NO) under near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation to achieve mild photothermal antibacterial therapy (PTAT) (∼ 48 °C). Notably, the Gel-HAB hydrogel effectively reduced the oxidative stress level, controlled infections, accelerated vascular regeneration, and promoted angiogenesis, thereby achieving rapid healing of diabetic wounds. The injectable self-healing nanocomposite hydrogel could serve as a mild photothermal-enhanced antibacterial, antioxidant, and nitric oxide release platform for the treatment of diabetic wounds.

Recombinant fibroblast growth factor 4 ameliorates axonal regeneration and functional recovery in acute spinal cord injury through altering microglia/macrophage phenotype.

Neuroinflammation is one of the extensive secondary injury processes that aggravate metabolic and cellular dysfunction and tissue loss following spinal cord injury (SCI). Thus, an anti-inflammatory strategy is crucial for modulating structural and functional restoration during the stage of acute and chronic SCI. Recombinant fibroblast growth factor 4 (rFGF4) has eliminated its mitogenic activity and demonstrated a metabolic regulator for alleviating hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes and liver injury in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. However, it remains to be explored whether or not rFGF4 has a neuroprotective effect for restoring neurological disorders, such as SCI. Here, we identified that rFGF4 could polarize microglia/macrophages into the restorative M2 subtype, thus exerting an anti-inflammatory effect to promote neurological functional recovery and nerve fiber regeneration after SCI. Importantly, these effects by rFGF4 were related to triggering PI3K/AKT/GSK3ß and attenuating TLR4/NF-κB signaling axes. Conversely, gene silencing of the PI3K/AKT/GSK3ß signaling or pharmacological reactivation of the TLR4/NF-κB axis aggravated inflammatory reaction. Thus, our findings highlight rFGF4 as a potentially therapeutic regulator for repairing SCI, and its outstanding effect is associated with regulating macrophage/microglial polarization.

An oleanic acid decorated gold nanorod for highly efficient inhibition of hemagglutinin and visible rapid detection of the influenza virus.

Accurate diagnosis and effective antiviral treatments are urgently needed for the prevention and control of flu caused by influenza viruses. In this study, a novel oleanic acid (OA) functionalized gold nanorod OA-AuNP was prepared through a convenient ligand-exchange reaction. As hemagglutinin (HA) on the viral surface binds strongly to the multiple OA molecules on the surface of the nanoparticle, the prepared OA-AuNP was found to exhibit potent antiviral activity against a wide range of influenza A virus strains. Furthermore, the change in color resulting from the specific binding between HA and OA and the resultant aggregation of the OA-AuNP can be visually observed or measured by UV-vis spectra with a detection limit of 2 and 0.18 hemagglutination units (HAU), respectively, which is comparable to the commercially available influenza colloid gold rapid diagnostic kits. These findings demonstrate the potential of the OA-AuNP for the development of novel multivalent antiviral conjugates and the diagnosis of influenza virus.

The preparation of gallic acid-grafted cationic chitosan as effective salt-tolerant flocculants.

In this work, gallic acid was successfully grafted onto quaternary aminated chitosan to prepare a high efficiency cationic flocculant. The mechanism of flocculation and different influencing factors were studied in detail. The prepared flocculant only needs 60 mg L-1 to achieve a 98.7% and 94.5% removal rate on methyl blue (MB) and Congo red (CR), respectively. The high removal rate (93.2%) of a CR-MB mixed dye also confirms the universality of flocculation. In addition, kaolin as a simulated suspended solid was removed at a rate of 97% in the experiment at a dosage of 3 mg L-1. A zeta potential test showed that it worked best when the potential of the flocculation system was zero; this was because an electrostatic balance was reached between the flocculant and pollutant. Importantly, the three-functional molecules can provide more possibilities to form hydrogen bonds with water molecules, which is conducive to the stretching of flocculant molecular chains in salt water. The flocculant maintained a high stability in four different salt environments and has a positive industrial application significance. Furthermore, the flocculation experiment of the actual wastewater of the printing and dyeing plant found that the dye wastewater changed obviously from turbidity to clarification, which proved the practical application potential of the flocculant. This work provides a feasible idea for the preparation of bio-based flocculants.

Targeting SAT1 prevents osteoporosis through promoting osteoclast apoptosis.

Osteoporosis is a systemic bone disease characterized by decreased bone mass that is tightly regulated by the coordinated actions of osteoclasts and osteoblasts. Apoptosis as a precise programmed cell death involves a cascade of gene expression events which are mechanistically linked to the regulation of bone metabolism. Nevertheless, the critical biomolecules involved in regulating cell apoptosis in osteoporosis remain unknown. To gain a deeper insight into the relationship between apoptosis and osteoporosis, this study integrated the sequencing results of human samples and using a machine learning workflow to overcome the limitations of a single study. Among all immune cell populations, we assessed the apoptotic level and portrayed the distinct subtypes and lineage differentiation of monocytic cells in osteoporotic tissues. Osteoclasts expressed a higher level of Spermidine/spermine-N1-Acetyltransferase1 (SAT1) during osteoclastogenesis which prevented osteoclasts apoptosis and facilitate osteoporosis progression. In addition, Berenil, one potent SAT1 inhibitor, increased osteoclast apoptosis and reversed the bone loss in the femurs of a murine ovariectomy model. In summary, Berenil promotes osteoclast apoptosis, inhibits the bone resorption and improves the abnormal bone structure in vitro and in vivo models by targeting SAT1, demonstrating its potential as a precise therapeutic strategy for clinical osteoporosis treatment.

Social media use and its impact on adult's mental health and well-being: A scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Social media use has grown in importance and prevalence, with its estimated number of users at 4.9 billion worldwide. Social media use research has revealed positive and negative impacts on users' mental health and well-being. However, such impacts among adults have not been examined in any reviews. METHODS: A scoping review was conducted based on the framework by Arksey and O'Malley and reported based on the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Eight databases were searched from 2005 to December 2021. Articles were included after being reviewed by three independent teams, with discrepancies resolved through consensus with the senior author. Publication-related information (i.e., authors, year of publication, aims, study population, methodology, interventions, comparisons, outcome measures and key findings) were extracted from each study. Thematic analysis was conducted to answer the research questions. RESULTS: Among the 114 eligible articles, young adults (69.6%) represented the main age group. Most studies (78.6%) focused on the negative impacts of social media use on mental health and well-being, with nearly a third (32.1%) assessing such impacts on depression. Notably, this scoping review found that more than three-quarters (78.6%) of the included studies revealed that excessive and passive social media use would increase depression, anxiety, mood, and loneliness. Nevertheless, a third (33.0%) also reported positive impacts, where positive and purposeful use of social media would contribute to improvements in mental health and well-being, such as increased perceived social support and enjoyment. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: This review has provided an overview of the existing knowledge on how social media use would affect adults and identified areas of research that merit investigations in future studies. More attention should be given to maximizing the positive impacts of social media use on mental health and well-being among adults.

External Guide Sequence Effectively Suppresses the Gene Expression and Replication of Herpes Simplex Virus 2.

Ribonuclease P (RNase P) complexed with an external guide sequence (EGS) represents a promising nucleic acid-based gene targeting approach for gene expression knock-down and modulation. The RNase P-EGS strategy is unique as an EGS can be designed to basepair any mRNA sequence and recruit intracellular RNase P for hydrolysis of the target mRNA. In this study, we provide the first direct evidence that the RNase P-based approach effectively blocks the gene expression and replication of herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), the causative agent of genital herpes. We constructed EGSs to target the mRNA encoding HSV-2 single-stranded DNA binding protein ICP8, which is essential for viral DNA genome replication and growth. In HSV-2 infected cells expressing a functional EGS, ICP8 levels were reduced by 85%, and viral growth decreased by 3000 folds. On the contrary, ICP8 expression and viral growth exhibited no substantial differences between cells expressing no EGS and those expressing a disabled EGS with mutations precluding RNase P recognition. The anti-ICP8 EGS is specific in targeting ICP8 because it only affects ICP8 expression but does not affect the expression of the other viral immediate-early and early genes examined. This study shows the effective and specific anti-HSV-2 activity of the RNase P-EGS approach and demonstrates the potential of EGS RNAs for anti-HSV-2 applications.

[Mechanism and application prospects of microbial fertilizers in regulating quality formation of medicinal plants].

With the promotion of chemical fertilizer and pesticide reduction and green production of traditional Chinese medicines, microbial fertilizers have become a hot way to achieve the zero-growth of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, improve the yield and qua-lity of medicinal plants, maintain soil health, and promote the sustainable development of the planting industry of Chinese herbal medicines. Soil conditions and microenvironments are crucial to the growth, development, and quality formation of medicinal plants. Microbial fertilizers, as environmentally friendly fertilizers acting on the soil, can improve soil quality by replenishing organic matter and promoting the metabolism of beneficial microorganisms to improve the yield and quality of medicinal plants. In this regard, understanding the mechanism of microbial fertilizer in regulating the quality formation of medicinal plants is crucial for the development of herbal eco-agriculture. This study introduces the processes of microbial fertilizers in improving soil properties, participating in soil nutrient cycling, enhancing the resistance of medicinal plants, and promoting the accumulation of medicinal components to summarize the mechanisms and roles of bacterial fertilizers in regulating the quality formation of medicinal plants. Furthermore, this paper introduces the application of bacterial fertilizers in medicinal plants and makes an outlook on their development, with a view to providing a scientific basis for using microbial fertilizers to improve the quality of Chinese herbal medicines, improve the soil environment, promote the sustainable development of eco-agriculture of traditional Chinese medicine, and popularize the application of microbial fertilizers.

Enhanced Bio-BTX Formation by Catalytic Pyrolysis of Glycerol with In Situ Produced Toluene as the Cofeed.

The catalytic coconversion of glycerol and toluene (93/7 wt %) over a technical H-ZSM-5/Al2O3 (60-40 wt %) catalyst was studied, aiming for enhanced production of biobased benzene, toluene, and xylenes (bio-BTX). When using glycerol/toluene cofeed with a mass ratio of 93/7 wt %, a peak BTX carbon yield of 29.7 ± 1.1 C.% (at time on stream (TOS) of 1.5-2.5 h), and an overall BTX carbon yield of 28.7 C.% (during TOS of 8.5 h) were obtained, which are considerably higher than those (19.1 ± 0.4 C.% and 11.0 C.%) for glycerol alone. Synergetic effects when cofeeding toluene on the peak and overall BTX carbon yields were observed and quantified, showing a relative increase of 3.1% and 30.0% for the peak and overall BTX carbon yield (based on the feedstock). These findings indicate that the strategy of cofeeding in situ produced toluene for the conversion of glycerol to aromatics has potential to increase BTX yields. In addition, BTX production on the catalyst (based on the fresh catalyst during the first run for TOS of 8.5 h and without regeneration) is significantly improved to 0.547 ton ton-1catalyst (excluding the 76% of toluene product that is 0.595 ton ton-1catalyst for the recycle in the cofeed) for glycerol/toluene cofeed, which was 0.426 ton ton-1catalyst for glycerol alone. In particular, this self-sufficient toluene product recycling strategy is advantageous for the production and selectivity (relative increase of 84.4% and 43.5% during TOS of 8.5 h) of biobased xylenes.

Machine learning and optical coherence tomography-derived radiomics analysis to predict persistent diabetic macular edema in patients undergoing anti-VEGF intravitreal therapy.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a leading cause of vision loss in patients with diabetes. This study aimed to develop and evaluate an OCT-omics prediction model for assessing anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment response in patients with DME. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 113 eyes from 82 patients with DME was conducted. Comprehensive feature engineering was applied to clinical and optical coherence tomography (OCT) data. Logistic regression, support vector machine (SVM), and backpropagation neural network (BPNN) classifiers were trained using a training set of 79 eyes, and evaluated on a test set of 34 eyes. Clinical implications of the OCT-omics prediction model were assessed by decision curve analysis. Performance metrics (sensitivity, specificity, F1 score, and AUC) were calculated. RESULTS: The logistic, SVM, and BPNN classifiers demonstrated robust discriminative abilities in both the training and test sets. In the training set, the logistic classifier achieved a sensitivity of 0.904, specificity of 0.741, F1 score of 0.887, and AUC of 0.910. The SVM classifier showed a sensitivity of 0.923, specificity of 0.667, F1 score of 0.881, and AUC of 0.897. The BPNN classifier exhibited a sensitivity of 0.962, specificity of 0.926, F1 score of 0.962, and AUC of 0.982. Similar discriminative capabilities were maintained in the test set. The OCT-omics scores were significantly higher in the non-persistent DME group than in the persistent DME group (p < 0.001). OCT-omics scores were also positively correlated with the rate of decline in central subfield thickness after treatment (Pearson's R = 0.44, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The developed OCT-omics model accurately assesses anti-VEGF treatment response in DME patients. The model's robust performance and clinical implications highlight its utility as a non-invasive tool for personalized treatment prediction and retinal pathology assessment.

Higher-order topological phases in crystalline and non-crystalline systems: a review.

In recent years, higher-order topological phases have attracted great interest in various fields of physics. These phases have protected boundary states at lower-dimensional boundaries than the conventional first-order topological phases due to the higher-order bulk-boundary correspondence. In this review, we summarize current research progress on higher-order topological phases in both crystalline and non-crystalline systems. We firstly introduce prototypical models of higher-order topological phases in crystals and their topological characterizations. We then discuss effects of quenched disorder on higher-order topology and demonstrate disorder-induced higher-order topological insulators. We also review the theoretical studies on higher-order topological insulators in amorphous systems without any crystalline symmetry and higher-order topological phases in non-periodic lattices including quasicrystals, hyperbolic lattices, and fractals, which have no crystalline counterparts. We conclude the review by a summary of experimental realizations of higher-order topological phases and discussions on potential directions for future study.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of short-term outcomes comparing the efficacy of robotic versus laparoscopic colorectal surgery in obese patients.

This meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate and contrast the effectiveness of robotic-assisted and laparoscopic colorectal surgery in the treatment of obese patients. In February 2024, we carried out an exhaustive search of key global databases including PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar, limiting our focus to studies published in English and Chinese. We excluded reviews, protocols lacking published results, articles derived solely from conference abstracts, and studies not relevant to our research objectives. To analyze categorical variables, we utilized the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel method along with random-effects models, calculating inverse variances and presenting the outcomes as odds ratios (ORs) along with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Statistical significance was determined when p values were less than 0.05. In our final meta-analysis, we included eight cohort studies, encompassing a total of 5,004 patients. When comparing the robotic surgery group to the laparoscopic group, the findings revealed that the robotic group experienced a longer operative time (weighted mean difference (WMD) = 37.53 min, 95% (CI) 15.58-59.47; p = 0.0008), a shorter hospital stay (WMD = -0.68 days, 95% CI -1.25 to -0.10; p = 0.02), and reduced blood loss (WMD = -49.23 mL, 95% CI -64.31 to -34.14; p < 0.00001). No significant differences were observed between the two groups regarding overall complications, conversion rates, surgical site infections, readmission rates, lymph node yield, anastomotic leakage, and intestinal obstruction. The results of our study indicate that robot-assisted colorectal surgery offers benefits for obese patients by shortening the length of hospital stay and minimizing blood loss when compared to laparoscopic surgery. Nonetheless, it is associated with longer operation times and shows no significant difference in terms of overall complications, conversion rates, rehospitalization rates, and other similar metrics.

[Comparative analysis of plastomes of Rubus chingii and R. chingii var. suavissimus].

Rubus chingii and R. chingii var. suavissimus are unique dual-purpose plant resources, with significant nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and economic value, as well as promising prospects for further development. To investigate the genetic structure and evolutionary characteristics of these two varieties, this study conducted plastome sequencing using the Illumina HiSeq XTen sequencing platform. Subsequently, the study performed assembly, annotation, and characterization of the genomes, followed by a comparative plastome and phylogenetic analysis using bioinformatics techniques. The results revealed that the plastomes of R. chingii and R. chingii var. suavissimus exhibited a tetrad structure, comprising a large single-copy region(LSC), a small single-copy region(SSC), and two inverted repeat regions(IRs). The study identified a total of 56 simple sequence repeats(SSRs) after comparative analysis, predominantly consisting of A and T. Furthermore, the structure of the IR boundary genes in both varieties was found to be highly conserved, with only minor nucleotide variations. Additionally, the study identified three highly variable regions: rps16-trnQ-psbK, trnR-atpA, and trnT-trnL, which held promise as potential identification marks for further development and utilization. Phylogenetic analysis results obtained by the maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods demonstrated a close clustering of R. chingii and R. chingii var. suavissimus(100% support), with their closest relatives being R. trianthus. This study, focusing on plastome-level genetic distinctions between these two varieties, lays a foundation for future species protection, development, and utilization.

Association of sleep timing with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality: the Sleep Heart Health Study and the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have highlighted the importance of sleep patterns for human health. This study aimed to investigate the association of sleep timing with all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality. METHODS: Participants were screened from two cohort studies: the Sleep Heart Health Study (SHHS; n = 4,824) and the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study (n = 2,658). Sleep timing, including bedtime and wake-up time, was obtained from sleep habit questionnaires at baseline. The sleep midpoint was defined as the halfway point between the bedtime and wake-up time. Restricted cubic splines and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to examine the association between sleep timing and mortality. RESULTS: We observed a U-shaped association between bedtime and all-cause mortality in both the SHHS and Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study groups. Specifically, bedtime at 11:00 pm and waking up at 7:00 am was the nadir for all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality risks. Individuals with late bedtime (> 12:00 am) had an increased risk of all-cause mortality in SHHS (hazard ratio 1.53, 95% confidence interval 1.28-1.84) and Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study (hazard ratio 1.27, 95% confidence interval 1.01-1.58). In the SHHS, late wake-up time (> 8:00 am) was associated with increased all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 1.39, 95% confidence interval 1.13-1.72). No significant association was found between wake-up time and cardiovascular disease mortality. Delaying sleep midpoint (> 4:00 am) was also significantly associated with all-cause mortality in the SHHS and Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep timing is associated with all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality. Our findings highlight the importance of appropriate sleep timing in reducing mortality risk. CITATION: Ma M, Fan Y, Peng Y, et al. Association of sleep timing with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality: the Sleep Heart Health Study and the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study. J Clin Sleep Med. 2024;20(4):545-553.

Post-anthesis dry matter and nitrogen accumulation, partitioning, and translocation in maize under different nitrate-ammonium ratios in Northwestern China.

Introduction: An appropriate supply of ammonium (NH4+) in addition to nitrate (NO3-) can greatly improve plant growth and promote maize productivity. However, knowledge gaps exist regarding the mechanisms by which different nitrogen (N) fertilizer sources affect the enzymatic activity of nitrogen metabolism and non-structural carbohydrates during the post-anthesis period. Methods: A field experiment across 3-year was carried out to explore the effects of four nitrateammonium ratio (NO3-/NH4+ = 1:0 (N1), 1:1 (N2), 1:3 (N3), and 3:1 (N4)) on postanthesis dry matter (DM) and N accumulation, partitioning, transportation, and grain yield in maize. Results: NO3-/NH4+ ratio with 3:1 improved the enzymatic activity of N metabolism and non-structural carbohydrate accumulation, which strongly promoted the transfer of DM and N in vegetative organs to reproductive organs and improved the pre-anthesis DM and nitrogen translocation efficiency. The enzymatic activities of nitrate reductase, nitrite reductase, glutamine synthetase, glutamine oxoglutarate aminotransferase, and non-structural carbohydrate accumulation under N4 treatment were increased by 9.30%-32.82%, 13.19%-37.94%, 4.11%-16.00%, 11.19%-30.82%, and 14.89%-31.71% compared with the other treatments. Mixed NO3--N and NH4+-N increased the total DM accumulation at the anthesis and maturity stages, simultaneously decreasing the DM partitioning of stem, increasing total DM, DM translocation efficiency (DMtE), and contribution of pre-anthesis assimilates to the grain (CAPG) in 2015 and 2017, promoting the transfer of DM from stem to grain. Furthermore, the grain yield increased by 3.31%-9.94% (2015), 68.6%-26.30% (2016), and 8.292%-36.08% (2017) under the N4 treatment compared to the N1, N2, and N3 treatments. Conclusion: The study showed that a NO3-/NH4+ ratio of 3:1 is recommended for high-yield and sustainable maize management strategies in Northwestern China.

Inter-module gap filling method for photon counting detectors based on dual acquisition.

The use of photon counting detectors in X-ray imaging missions can effectively improve the signal-to-noise ratio and image resolution. However, the stitching of photon counting detector modules leads to large-size localized information loss in the acquired projected image, which seriously affects the regional observation. In this paper, we propose a method to fill the inter-module gap based on dual acquisition, referred to as the GFDA algorithm, which is divided into three main steps: (i) acquire the main projection by short-exposure scanning, and then scan again by vertically moving the carrier table to acquire the reference projection; (ii) use the alignment method to locate the projected region of interest; (iii) use image stitching and image fusion to recover the missing information. We analyzed the gray value of the region of interest of the Siemens star projection and the reconstructed conch slice data, and proved that the proposed method can recover the information more smoothly and perfectly. The GFDA algorithm is able to achieve a better image restoration effect without additional scanning time and better retain image details. In addition, the GFDA algorithm is scalable, which is demonstrated in the task of filling the stitching of multiple types of photonic technology detectors.

Role and limitation of cell therapy in treating neurological diseases.

The central role of the brain in governing systemic functions within human physiology underscores its paramount significance as the focal point of physiological regulation. The brain, a highly sophisticated organ, orchestrates a diverse array of physiological processes encompassing motor control, sensory perception, cognition, emotion, and the regulation of vital functions, such as heartbeat, respiration, and hormonal equilibrium. A notable attribute of neurological diseases manifests as the depletion of neurons and the occurrence of tissue necrosis subsequent to injury. The transplantation of neural stem cells (NSCs) into the brain exhibits the potential for the replacement of lost neurons and the reconstruction of neural circuits. Furthermore, the transplantation of other types of cells in alternative locations can secrete nutritional factors that indirectly contribute to the restoration of nervous system equilibrium and the mitigation of neural inflammation. This review summarized a comprehensive investigation into the role of NSCs, hematopoietic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, and support cells like astrocytes and microglia in alleviating neurological deficits after cell infusion. Moreover, a thorough assessment was undertaken to discuss extant constraints in cellular transplantation therapies, concurrently delineating indispensable model-based methodologies, specifically on organoids, which were essential for guiding prospective research initiatives in this specialized field.

Three new species of the leafhopper genus Arboridia Zachvatkin (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Typhlocybinae), with a key and checklist to known species of China.

Three new species of the leafhopper genus ArboridiaZachvatkin 1946, Arboridia (Arboridia) furcata Han, sp. nov., Arboridia (Arboridia) rubrovittata Han, sp. nov., and Arboridia (Arboridia) robustipenis Han, sp. nov., are described and illustrated from fruit trees in Southwest China. A key and checklist to known species from China are provided.

Diagnosis and management of urinary bladder paragangliomas: A Sino-American-European retrospective observational study.

OBJECTIVE: Paragangliomas of the urinary bladder (UBPGLs) are rare neuroendocrine tumours and pose a diagnostic and surgical challenge. It remains unclear what factors contribute to a timely presurgical diagnosis. The purpose of this study is to identify factors contributing to missing the diagnosis of UBPGLs before surgery. DESIGN, PATIENTS AND MEASUREMENTS: A total of 73 patients from 11 centres in China, and 51 patients from 6 centres in Europe and 1 center in the United States were included. Clinical, surgical and genetic data were collected and compared in patients diagnosed before versus after surgery. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify clinical factors associated with initiation of presurgical biochemical testing. RESULTS: Among all patients, only 47.6% were diagnosed before surgery. These patients were younger (34.0 vs. 54.0 years, p < .001), had larger tumours (2.9 vs. 1.8 cm, p < .001), and more had a SDHB pathogenic variant (54.7% vs. 11.9%, p < .001) than those diagnosed after surgery. Patients with presurgical diagnosis presented with more micturition spells (39.7% vs. 15.9%, p = .003), hypertension (50.0% vs. 31.7%, p = .041) and catecholamine-related symptoms (37.9% vs. 17.5%, p = .012). Multivariable logistic analysis revealed that presence of younger age (<35 years, odds ratio [OR] = 6.47, p = .013), micturition spells (OR = 6.79, p = .007), hypertension (OR = 3.98, p = .011), and sweating (OR = 41.72, p = .013) increased the probability of initiating presurgical biochemical testing. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients with UBPGL are diagnosed after surgery. Young age, hypertension, micturition spells and sweating are clues in assisting to initiate early biochemical testing and thus may establish a timely presurgical diagnosis.