Comparative yield of EBUS-TBNA with EBUS-IFBTLP for diagnosis of mediastinal lymphadenopathy.

BACKGROUND: Patients with mediastinal lymph node enlargement (MLNE) are diagnosed depending on lymph node biopsy. Whereas, how to obtain larger tissue masses from mediastinal lymph nodes and improve the diagnostic yield of the disease remains to be investigated. OBJECTIVES: Aiming to assess the diagnostic value of endobronchial ultrasound-guided intranodal forceps biopsy via transbronchial laser photoablation (EBUS-IFB-TLP) in patients with MLNE. DESIGN: A prospective, self-controlled study. METHODS: This study was conducted on 67 MLNE patients requiring a lymph node biopsy for diagnosis at the Henan Provincial People's Hospital and the Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital in China, from January 2020 to December 2022. Each patient underwent endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA group) and EBUS-IFB-TLP (EBUS-IFB-TLP group) on the same mediastinal lymph node for biopsies. The operation time, diagnostic efficiency, and complication rates of the two biopsy methods were compared. RESULTS: The number of diagnosed patients in the EBUS-IFB-TLP and the EBUS-TBNA groups was 65 (97.0%) and 57 (85.1%), respectively (p = 0.021). In the EBUS-IFB-TLP group, 28 cases (96.6%) were diagnosed with lung cancer and were classified into different epithelial types. In the EBUS-TBNA group, there were 27 cases (93.1%) diagnosed with lung cancer, of which 26 (89.7%) were classified into different epithelial types. There were 37 (97.4%) and 30 (78.9%) non-lung cancer patients diagnosed in the EBUS-IFB-TLP and EBUS-TBNA groups, respectively (p = 0.039), while 27 cases (96.4%) of sarcoidosis in the EBUS-IFB-TLP group and 20 cases (71.4%) of sarcoidosis in the EBUS-TBNA group were diagnosed (p = 0.016). The percentages of intraoperative mild to moderate bleeding complications were 23.9% (16/67) and 14.9% (10/67) in the EBUS-IFB-TLP and in the EBUS-TBNA groups, respectively (p = 0.109). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that EBUS-IFB-TLP could be a feasible and effective method in the diagnosis of patients with MLNE, presenting an analogous safety profile compared with EBUS-TBNA. Further studies are needed to verify the diagnostic performance of EBUS-IFB-TLP for MLNE.

A new way of obtaining a larger biopsy sample in patients with enlarged lymph nodes in the chestWhy was the study done?Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) allows doctors to look at a patient's lungs using a tiny camera (called a bronchoscope). A needle is found at the tip of the bronchoscope and is used to take samples (biopsies) from the lymph nodes in the chest. Lymph nodes are small structures that help filter foreign substances in the body, for example cancer cells. The enlarged (big) lymph nodes are often caused by cancer. Researchers are still trying to work out how to obtain large samples from the lymph nodes which could lead to a better diagnosis.What did the researchers do?We explored a new method called endobronchial ultrasound-guided intranodal forceps biopsy based on transbronchial laser photoablation (EBUS-IFB-TLP) to be used in diagnosing patients who have enlarged lymph nodes. EBUS-IFB-TLP is performed under the guidance of endndobronchial ultrasound, the laser fiber is inserted through the bronchoscope to act on the airway wall, creating a hole in the target lymph node, a biopsy forcep was inserted into the lymph node through the biopsy hole. We used both methods on each patient in this study and compared them.What did the researchers find?More patients were diagnosed with enlarged lymph nodes when using the EBUS-IFB-TLP method, but there were milder to moderate bleeding complications.What do the findings mean?This study shows that EBUS-IFB-TLP could be use in the diagnosis of enlarged lymph nodes.

Leaf-like Multiphase Metal Phosphides as Bifunctional Oxygen Electrocatalysts toward Rechargeable Zinc-Air Batteries.

Developing a bifunctional oxygen electrocatalyst is crucial to improve the reversibility and cycle life of a rechargeable zinc-air battery (RZAB). Here, transition metal phosphides (TMPs) with a leaf-like hierarchical structure and multiphase composition can be synthesized by the "alloying-dealloying-phosphating" strategy. The as-prepared P-NiCo(1:1) electrode takes advantage of its internal dense nanoholes and synergistic effects induced by NiCoP-containing polyphase to reveal multifunctional catalysis, such as OER and ORR. In combination of these advantages, P-NiCo(1:1) exhibits an extremely low OER overpotential of 220 mV at 10 mA cm-2, a higher half-wave potential of 0.79 V for ORR, and a smaller potential difference (ΔE) of 0.66 V. The liquid RZAB with P-NiCo(1:1) as a cathodic bifunctional catalyst delivers a higher open-circuit voltage (OCV), a larger power density of 175 mW cm-2, and longer cycling life for more than 180 h. Even when applied in solid-state flexible RZABs, the lightweight module could start high-power devices. With theoretical confirmation, the major phase NiCoP of P-NiCo(1:1) is helpful to increase the density of states, regulate the d-band center, and decrease the energy barrier to 2.13 eV, which are significantly superior to those of Co2P and Ni2P. It is believable that the synthetic strategy and activity-promoting mechanism acquired from this research can offer a guide to designing a promising rechargeable zinc-air battery system.

Genome-Wide Analysis and Expression Profiling of Soybean RbcS Family in Response to Plant Hormones and Functional Identification of GmRbcS8 in Soybean Mosaic Virus.

Rubisco small subunit (RbcS), a core component with crucial effects on the structure and kinetic properties of the Rubisco enzyme, plays an important role in response to plant growth, development, and various stresses. Although Rbcs genes have been characterized in many plants, their muti-functions in soybeans remain elusive. In this study, a total of 11 GmRbcS genes were identified and subsequently divided into three subgroups based on a phylogenetic relationship. The evolutionary analysis revealed that whole-genome duplication has a profound effect on GmRbcSs. The cis-acting elements responsive to plant hormones, development, and stress-related were widely found in the promoter region. Expression patterns based on the RT-qPCR assay exhibited that GmRbcS genes are expressed in multiple tissues, and notably Glyma.19G046600 (GmRbcS8) exhibited the highest expression level compared to other members, especially in leaves. Moreover, differential expressions of GmRbcS genes were found to be significantly regulated by exogenous plant hormones, demonstrating their potential functions in diverse biology processes. Finally, the function of GmRbcS8 in enhancing soybean resistance to soybean mosaic virus (SMV) was further determined through the virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) assay. All these findings establish a strong basis for further elucidating the biological functions of RbcS genes in soybeans.

Repeated lyophilization: A neo-method for urine-based reference materials preparation.

In urine drug testing, a cut-off value is often imposed to determine whether the sample is negative or positive. A matrix containing a reference substance helps counteract the adverse effects of the urine matrix across different laboratories to improve the consistency of final results. However, as a biological matrix, urine is prone to corruption and other problems that make it difficult to use as a reference sample. In this study, morphine, nitrazepam, lorazepam, buprenorphine, zolpidem, midazolam, diazepam, and clozapine commonly used in clinical practice were selected as target analytes, and the preparation process was further optimized to repeated lyophilization, in order to obtain more effective, stable, and accurate urine matrix reference materials (mRMs). The appropriate urine density (1.010-1.017 kg/m3) for preparing lyophilized samples was investigated through density determination. Conducting repeated lyophilizations resulted in a denser powder with reduced susceptibility to collapse and improved the quality of lyophilized urine samples. Lyophilized urine mRMs could be stored at room temperature for one month or under refrigeration conditions (4 ℃) for six months.

HIV1 gp120 activates microglia via TLR2-nf-κb signaling to up-regulate inflammatory cytokine expression and induce neuropathic pain.

HIV associated neuropathic pain (HANP) is a common complication of AIDS. Intrathecal injection of recombinant HIV-1 gp120 in mice is a well-known model. Previous RNA sequencing revealed spinal TLR2 acts as a differentially expressed gene in HANP mice. The spinal TLR2 is involved in HANP, but its role and underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study the transcription, expression and distribution characteristics of TLR2 in the spinal cord of HANP male mice have been analyzed by qRT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunofluorescent staining. We found that TLR2 expression was upregulated in the spinal dorsal horn and mainly distributed in microglial cells, and blocking TLR2 relieved pain of HANP mice. Following stimulation by gp120 microglial cells upregulate TLR2 expression and become activated. The activation stimulates their differentiation into the M1 type, increasing IL-1ß and TNF-α expression while inhibiting IL-10 expression. Silencing the Tlr2 gene slows down the activation, polarization, and secretion of pro-inflammatory factors in microglial cells induced by gp120, and enhances the expression of anti-inflammatory factors. Further analysis of the impact of gp120 on downstream signaling pathways of TLR2 in microglial cells, including NF-κB, MAPK (p38MAPK, ERK, and JNK) and PI3K/AKT, revealed that TLR2-NF-κB signaling plays a crucial role in the activation and polarization of microglial cells by gp120. Activation of NF-κB signaling aggravates pain in HANP mice, while blocking it lightens pain. This data indicates that gp120, through the TLR2-NF-κB signaling, activates spinal microglial cells, promotes the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, leading to HANP. This provides new targets to develop drugs for HANP.

Microbes as carbendazim degraders: opportunity and challenge.

Carbendazim (methyl benzimidazol-2-ylcarbamate, CBZ) is a systemic benzimidazole carbamate fungicide and can be used to control a wide range of fungal diseases caused by Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes and Deuteromycetes. It is widely used in horticulture, forestry, agriculture, preservation and gardening due to its broad spectrum and leads to its accumulation in soil and water environmental systems, which may eventually pose a potential threat to non-target organisms through the ecological chain. Therefore, the removal of carbendazim residues from the environment is an urgent problem. Currently, a number of physical and chemical treatments are effective in degrading carbendazim. As a green and efficient strategy, microbial technology has the potential to degrade carbendazim into non-toxic and environmentally acceptable metabolites, which in turn can dissipate carbendazim from the contaminated environment. To date, a number of carbendazim-degrading microbes have been isolated and reported, including, but not limited to, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Rhodococcus, Sphingomonas, and Aeromonas. Notably, the common degradation property shared by all strains was their ability to hydrolyze carbendazim to 2-aminobenzimidazole (2-AB). The complete mineralization of the degradation products is mainly dependent on the cleavage of the imidazole and benzene rings. Additionally, the currently reported genes for carbendazim degradation are MheI and CbmA, which are responsible for breaking the ester and amide bonds, respectively. This paper reviews the toxicity, microbial degradation of carbendazim, and bioremediation techniques for carbendazim-contaminated environments. This not only summarizes and enriches the theoretical basis of microbial degradation of carbendazim, but also provides practical guidance for bioremediation of carbendazim-contaminated residues in the environment.

Tunable Ag Nanocavity Enhanced Green Electroluminescence from SiNx:O Light-Emitting Diode.

As the driving source, highly efficient silicon-based light emission is urgently needed for the realization of optoelectronic integrated chips. Here, we report that enhanced green electroluminescence (EL) can be obtained from oxygen-doped silicon nitride (SiNx:O) films based on an ordered and tunable Ag nanocavity array with a high density by nanosphere lithography and laser irradiation. Compared with that of a pure SiNxO device, the green electroluminescence (EL) from the SiNx:O/Ag nanocavity array device can be increased by 7.1-fold. Moreover, the external quantum efficiency of the green electroluminescence (EL) is enhanced 3-fold for SiNx:O/Ag nanocavity arrays with diameters of 300 nm. The analysis of absorption spectra and the FDTD calculation reveal that the localized surface plasmon (LSP) resonance of size-controllable Ag nanocavity arrays and SiNx:O films play a key role in the strong green EL. Our discovery demonstrates that SiNx:O films coupled with tunable Ag nanocavity arrays are promising for silicon-based light-emitting diode devices of the AI period in the future.

Dazomet fumigation modification of the soil microorganism community and promotion of Panax notoginseng growth.

Introduction: Panax notoginseng, a medicinal herb in China, is attacked by several pathogens during its cultivation. Dazomet (DZ) is a soil fumigant that is effective in controlling soil-borne pathogens, but its long-term effects on P. notoginseng growth and soil properties are unknown. Methods: We conducted field experiments over two consecutive years to assess the impact of three concentrations of DZ fumigation (35 kg/666.7 m2, 40 kg/666.7 m2, and 45 kg/666.7 m2) on soil physicochemical properties, microbial diversity, and P. notoginseng growth. Correlation analyses were performed between microbial community changes and soil properties, and functional predictions for soil microorganisms were conducted. Results: DZ fumigation increased total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium, available phosphorus, available potassium, and ammonia nitrogen levels in the soil. DZ fumigation promoted the nutrient accumulation and improvement of agronomic traits of P. notoginseng, resulted in a 2.83-3.81X yield increase, with the highest total saponin content increasing by 24.06%. And the 40 kg/666.7 m2 treatment had the most favorable impact on P. notoginseng growth and saponin accumulation. After DZ fumigation, there was a decrease in the relative abundance of pathogenic fungi such as Fusarium, Plectosphaerella, and Ilyonectria, while beneficial bacteria such as Ramlibacter, Burkholderia, and Rhodanobacteria increased. The effects of fumigation on soil microorganisms and soil physicochemical properties persisted for 18 months post-fumigation. DZ fumigation enhanced the relative abundance of bacteria involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, reduced the relative abundance of plant-animal pathogenic fungi, reduced the occurrence of soil-borne diseases. Conclusion: In conclusion, DZ fumigation enhanced soil physicochemical properties, increased the proportion of beneficial bacteria in the soil, and rebalanced soil microorganism populations, consequently improving the growth environment of P. notoginseng and enhancing its growth, yield, and quality. This study offers a theoretical foundation for DZ fumigation as a potential solution to the continuous cropping issue in perennial medicinal plants such as P. notoginseng.

Machine learning-based prediction of cadmium pollution in topsoil and identification of critical driving factors in a mining area.

Mining activities have resulted in a substantial accumulation of cadmium (Cd) in agricultural soils, particularly in southern China. Long-term Cd exposure can cause plant growth inhibition and various diseases. Rapid identification of the extent of soil Cd pollution and its driving factors are essential for soil management and risk assessment. However, traditional geostatistical methods are difficult to simulate the complex nonlinear relationships between soil Cd and potential features. In this study, sequential extraction and hotspot analyses indicated that Cd accumulation increased significantly near mining sites and exhibited high mobility. The concentration of Cd was estimated using three machine learning models based on 3169 topsoil samples, seven quantitative variables (soil pH, Fe, Ca, Mn, TOC, Al/Si and ba value) and three quantitative variables (soil parent rock, terrain and soil type). The random forest model achieved marginally better performance than the other models, with an R2 of 0.78. Importance analysis revealed that soil pH and Ca and Mn contents were the most significant factors affecting Cd accumulation and migration. Conversely, due to the essence of controlling Cd migration being soil property, soil type, terrain, and soil parent materials had little impact on the spatial distribution of soil Cd under the influence of mining activities. Our results provide a better understanding of the geochemical behavior of soil Cd in mining areas, which could be helpful for environmental management departments in controlling the diffusion of Cd pollution and capturing key targets for soil remediation.

Complete Mitochondrial Genome and Phylogenetic Analysis of the Blue Whistling Thrush (Myophonus caeruleus).

The blue whistling thrush (Myophonus caeruleus) is a bird belonging to the order Passeriformes and family Muscicapidae. M. caeruleus is widely distributed in China, Pakistan, India, and Myanmar and is a resident bird in the southern part of the Yangtze River in China and summer migratory bird in the northern part of the Yangtze River. At present, there are some controversies about the classification of M. caeruleus. We use complete mitochondrial genomes to provide insights into the phylogenetic position of M. caeruleus and its relationships among Muscicapidae. The mitochondrial genome (GenBank: MN564936) is 16,815 bp long and contains 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes, and a non-coding control region (D-loop). The thirteen PCGs started with GTG and ATG and ended with five types of stop codons. The nucleotide composition of T was 23.71%, that of C was 31.45%, that of A was 30.06%, and that of G was 14.78%. The secondary structures of 22 tRNAs were predicted, all of which could form typical cloverleaf structures. There were 24 mismatches, mainly G-U mismatches. Through phylogenetic tree reconstruction, it was found that Saxicola, Monticola, Oenanthe, and Phoenicurus were clustered into one clade, together with the sister group of Myophonus.