The role of gut microbiota in chronic restraint stress-induced cognitive deficits in mice.

BACKGROUND: Chronic stress induces cognitive deficits. There is a well-established connection between the enteric and central nervous systems through the microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis. However, the effects of the gut microbiota on cognitive deficits remain unclear. The present study aimed to elucidate the microbiota composition in cognitive deficits and explore its potential in predicting chronic stress-induced cognitive deficits. METHODS: Mice were randomly divided into control and chronic restraint stress (CRS) groups. The mice subjected to CRS were further divided into cognitive deficit (CRS-CD) and non-cognitive deficit (CRS-NCD) groups using hierarchical cluster analysis of novel object recognition test results. The composition and diversity of the gut microbiota were analyzed. RESULTS: After being subjected to chronic restraint distress, the CRS-CD mice travelled shorter movement distances (p = 0.034 vs. CRS-NCD; p < 0.001 vs. control) and had a lower recognition index than the CRS-NCD (p < 0.0001 vs. CRS-NCD; p < 0.0001 vs. control) and control mice. The results revealed that 5 gut bacteria at genus levels were significantly different in the fecal samples of mice in the three groups. Further analyses demonstrated that Muricomes were not only significantly enriched in the CRS-CD group but also correlated with a decreased cognitive index. The area under the receiver operating curve of Muricomes for CRS-induced cognitive deficits was 0.96. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that the composition of the gut microbiota is involved in the development of cognitive deficits induced by chronic restraint stress. Further analysis revealed that Muricomes have the potential to predict the development of chronic stress-induced cognitive deficits in mice.

Genome-wide study identifies novel genes associated with bone toxicities in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Bone toxicities are common among paediatric patients treated for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) with potentially major negative impact on patients' quality of life. To identify the underlying genetic contributors, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and a transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) in 260 patients of European-descent from the DFCI 05-001 ALL trial, with validation in 101 patients of European-descent from the DFCI 11-001 ALL trial. We identified a significant association between rs844882 on chromosome 20 and bone toxicities in the DFCI 05-001 trial (p = 1.7 × 10-8). In DFCI 11-001 trial, we observed a consistent trend of this variant with fracture. The variant was an eQTL for two nearby genes, CD93 and THBD. In TWAS, genetically predicted ACAD9 expression was associated with an increased risk of bone toxicities, which was confirmed by meta-analysis of the two cohorts (meta-p = 2.4 × 10-6). In addition, a polygenic risk score of heel quantitative ultrasound speed of sound was associated with fracture risk in both cohorts (meta-p = 2.3 × 10-3). Our findings highlight the genetic influence on treatment-related bone toxicities in this patient population. The genes we identified in our study provide new biological insights into the development of bone adverse events related to ALL treatment.

Preoperative Bilateral External Oblique Intercostal Plus Rectus Sheath Block for Postoperative Pain Management following Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Non-inferior Double-blind Placebo-controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: The transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block has proven efficacy and is an important component of multimodal analgesia in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). The external oblique intercostal (EOI) block can provide a dermatomal sensory blockade of T6-T10 using an anterior axillary line injection. The bilateral rectus sheath (RS) block can significantly reduce early postoperative pain caused by umbilical or periumbilical incisions. The current study aimed to compare the analgesic efficacies of ultrasound-guided subcostal TAP (UG-TAP) combined with the RS block and ultrasound-guided EOI (UG-EOI) combined with the RS block for LC. METHODS: Patients were randomly assigned to TAP or EOI group. Patients in TAP group received UG-TAP combined with an RS block. Patients in EOI group received UG-EOI combined with an RS block. The primary outcome was postoperative 24-h sufentanil consumption. RESULTS: A total of 49 patients were included in the final analysis. The postoperative 24-h sufentanil consumption in the EOI group was significantly lower than that in the TAP group (9.79±10.22 µg vs. 18.67±12.58 µg; p (non-inferiority) <0.01; non-inferiority confirmed). Fewer patients in the EOI versus TAP group had a numerical rating score of >3 during motion. Furthermore, the mean postoperative 48-h sufentanil consumption was lower in the EOI versus TAP group (11.54±11.70 µg vs. 23.04±17.10 µg; P=0.01). The mean postoperative 24-h Quality of Recovery-15 score was higher in the EOI versus TAP group (135.21±4.40 vs. 131.91±5.11; P=0.02). DISCUSSION: These findings suggest that UG-EOI combined with an RS block was superior to UG-TAP combined with an RS block for postoperative pain management in patients undergoing LC.

The Efficacy of Letrozole Co-Treatment in an Antagonist Protocol for Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Undergoing IVF: A Retrospective Study.

Objective: Our objective was to investigate the efficacy of letrozole co-treatment in an antagonist protocol for infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Patients and Methods: This retrospective cohort study included infertile women with PCOS undergoing IVF/ICSI with and without letrozole co-treatment in an antagonist protocol from 2007-2021 at Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital (Shanghai, China). A total of 1559 participants were enrolled, with 1227 women in the antagonist group and 332 women in the letrozole co-treatment group. Propensity score-based patient-matching model was conducted to balance covariates between the groups. The primary outcome was the number of retrieved oocytes, with secondary outcomes including endocrine parameters, ovarian stimulation outcomes, pregnancy outcomes, and obstetrical and neonatal complications. Results: Letrozole co-treatment induced significant changes in hormonal regulation, increased the percentage of large follicles, and resulted in fewer retrieved oocytes (P < 0.05). However, there was no negative impact on the number of usable embryos or good-quality embryos (P > 0.05). The live birth rates following fresh embryo transfer were comparable between the letrozole and control groups (single embryo transfer: 28.9% vs 29.7%, P > 0.05; double embryo transfer: 37.3% vs 45.6%, P > 0.05). Additionally, there were no significant differences between the two groups in the live birth rate per patient after frozen embryo transfer and the cumulative live birth rate (P > 0.05). No significant differences in obstetrical and neonatal complications were observed between the groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The addition of letrozole to the antagonist protocol for women with PCOS undergoing IVF induces a higher percentage of large follicles during oocyte retrieval, while reducing the overall number of retrieved oocytes. Moreover, the use of letrozole demonstrates comparable clinical outcomes following embryo transfers. These findings highlight the potential application of letrozole in an antagonist protocol for women with PCOS.

Dynamic interfacial adsorption and emulsifying performance of self-assembled coconut protein and fucoidan mixtures.

The functional properties of protein are affected by their aggregation behavior and morphology. In this study, the self-assembled coconut protein aggregates with specific morphology, including small amorphous aggregates (WLA), spherical-like aggregates (SLA) and rod-like aggregates (RLA), were regulated to form. The self-assembled process resulted in a decrease in fluorescence intensity and an increase in the surface hydrophobicity of coconut protein. Fucoidan was added to improve the stability of protein solutions, and the interfacial adsorption behavior was evaluated by dilatational rheology analysis. The results showed that the aggregation state of coconut protein affected its ability to reduce surface tension, and the interfacial layers mainly exhibited elastic property at oil-water interface (tanφ < 0.5). For macroscale analysis, the emulsions based on self-assembled coconut protein exhibited smaller droplet size, better rheological properties and centrifugal stability, especially WLA and RLA. This study may provide a reference to inspire the utilization of self-assembled coconut protein in the food industry.

Chrysanthemum morifolium attenuates metabolic and alcohol-associated liver disease via gut microbiota and PPARα/γ activation.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic and alcohol-associated liver disease (MetALD) shows a high prevalence rate in liver patients, but there is currently no effective treatment for MetALD. As a typical edible traditional Chinese medicinal herb, the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective properties of water extract of Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. (WECM) has been demonstrated. However, its therapeutic effect on MetALD and the associated mechanisms remain unclear. PURPOSE: To investigate the underlying mechanisms of WECM against MetALD. METHODS: We constructed a MetALD rat model following a high-fat & high-sucrose plus alcohol diet (HFHSAD). MetALD rats were treated with WECM at 2.1, 4.2, and 8.4 g/kg/d for six weeks. Efficacy was determined, and pathways associated with WECM against MetALD were predicted through serum and hepatic biochemical marker measurement, histopathological section analysis, 16S rDNA sequencing of the gut microbiota and untargeted serum metabolomics analyses. Changes in genes and proteins in the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) and gamma (PPARγ) signaling pathways were detected by RT‒PCR and Western blotting. RESULTS: WECM treatment significantly attenuated hepatic steatosis, hyperlipidemia and markers of liver injury in MetALD rats. Moreover, WECM improved vascular endothelial function, hypertension, and systematic oxidative stress. Mechanistically, WECM treatment altered the overall structure of the gut microbiota through maintaining Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratio and reducing harmful bacterial abundances such as Clostridium, Faecalibaculum, and Herminiimonas. Notably, WECM promoted 15-deoxy-△12, 14-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2) release and further activated the PPARγ to reduce serum TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 levels. Additionally, WECM upregulated PPARα and downregulated the levels of CD36 and FABP4 to improve lipid metabolism. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide the first evidence that WECM treatment significantly improved hepatic steatosis, oxidative stress and inflammation in MetALD rats by regulating the gut microbiota and activating the 15d-PGJ2/PPARγ and PPARα signaling pathway.

ALAS2 overexpression alleviates oxidative stress-induced ferroptosis in aortic aneurysms via GATA1 activation.

Background: Aortic aneurysm, characterized by abnormal dilation of the aorta, poses significant health risks. This study aims to investigate the interaction between 5-aminolevulinate synthase 2 (ALAS2) and GATA-binding protein 1 (GATA1) in ferroptosis and oxidative stress responses in aortic aneurysm. Methods: A weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed on the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) within the GSE9106 dataset to identify the key module. Subsequently, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis was performed on the key module. Mouse aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (MOVAS) were treated with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to induce oxidative stress, and ferroptosis inducers and inhibitors were added to evaluate their effects on iron content and oxidative stress markers. Through a series of in vitro cellular experiments, we assessed cell viability, expression levels of GATA1 and iron mutation-associated proteins, as well as cellular phenotypes such as inflammatory responses and apoptosis rates. Results: Three candidate genes (ALAS2, GYPA, and GYPB) were upregulated in the thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) samples of the GSE9106 dataset. The H2O2 treatment increased the MOVAS cells' iron content and oxidative stress, upregulated ALAS2 protein levels, and decreased the ferroptosis-related protein levels. ALAS2 overexpression reversed H2O2-induced apoptosis and increased the inflammatory cytokine levels. Additionally, the knockdown of GATA1 partially reversed the protective mechanism of overexpressed ALAS2 on H2O2-induced ferroptosis. Conclusions: ALAS2 overexpression reduced H2O2-induced oxidative damage and iron-induced apoptosis in MOVAS cells, and GATA1 knockdown partially reversed this protective effect. These findings suggested that the ALAS2 and GATA1 regulatory pathways may be potential therapeutic targets in aortic aneurysms.

Toxic mechanisms of nanoplastics exposure at environmental concentrations on juvenile red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii): From multiple perspectives.

Nanoplastics pollution has emerged as a global issue due to its widespread potential toxicity. This study delved in to toxic effects of nanoplastics on juvenile P. clarkii and molecular mechanisms from perspectives of growth, biochemical, histopathological analysis and transcriptome level for the first time. The findings of this study indicated that nanoplastics of different concentrations have varying influence mechanisms on juvenile P. clarkii. Nanoplastics have inhibitory effects on growth of juvenile P. clarkii, can induce oxidative stress. The biochemical analysis and transcriptome results indicated that 10 mg/L nanoplastics can activate the antioxidant defense system and non-specific immune system in juvenile P. clarkii, and affect energy metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation. While 20 mg/L and 40 mg/L have a destructive influence on the immune function in juvenile P. clarkii, leading to lipid peroxidation and oxidative damage, and induce apoptosis, can affect ion transport and osmotic pressure regulation. The findings of this study can offer foundational data for delving further into impacts of nanoplastics on crustaceans and toxicity mechanism.

Nitrogen-Doped Porous Carbon Derived from Covalent Triazine Framework for Catalytic Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohol.

The catalytic oxidation of alcohols is an important transformation in the chemical industry. Carbon materials with a large surface area and N doping show great promise as metal-free catalysts for the reaction. In this study, a rich N-containing covalent triazine framework polymerized by cyanuric chloride and p-phenylenediamine was used to synthesize N-doped porous carbon with the assistance of a pore-forming agent-NaCl. First, the mass ratio of the polymer/NaCl was optimized to 1:9. Then, the influence of the pyrolysis temperatures (700-1000 °C) on the materials was studied in detail. It was found that the carbon materials were gradually exfoliated by molten salt at high temperatures. XRD and Raman characterizations showed them with a certain graphitization. The optimal doped carbon CNN-1-9-900 achieved the highest surface area of 199.03 m2g-1 with the largest pore volume of 0.29 cm3g-1. Furthermore, it had a high N content of 9.9 at% with the highest relative proportion of pyridinic/graphitic N. Due to the synergistic effect between the surface area and pyridinic/graphitic N, CNN-1-9-900 showed the best performance for benzyl alcohol oxidation with TBHP at moderate conditions, and the process also worked for its derivatives.

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Hydrolyzed Royal Jelly Peptide in Human Dermal Fibroblasts: Implications for Skin Health and Care Applications.

Hydrolyzed royal jelly peptide (RJP) has garnered attention for its health-promoting functions. However, the potential applications of RJP in skincare have not been fully explored. In this study, we prepared RJP through the enzymatic hydrolysis of royal jelly protein with trypsin and investigated its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties on primary human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). Our results demonstrate that RJP effectively inhibits oxidative damage induced by H2O2 and lipid peroxidation triggered by AAPH and t-BuOOH in HDFs. This effect may be attributed to the ability of RJP to enhance the level of glutathione and the activities of catalase and glutathione peroxidase 4, as well as its excellent iron chelating capacity. Furthermore, RJP modulates the NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated inflammatory response in HDFs, suppressing the mRNA expressions of NLRP3 and IL-1ß in the primer stage induced by LPS and the release of mature IL-1ß induced by ATP, monosodium urate, or nigericin in the activation stage. RJP also represses the expressions of COX2 and iNOS induced by LPS. Finally, we reveal that RJP exhibits superior antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties over unhydrolyzed royal jelly protein. These findings suggest that RJP exerts protective effects on skin cells through antioxidative and anti-inflammatory mechanisms, indicating its promise for potential therapeutic avenues for managing oxidative stress and inflammation-related skin disorders.

In situ coupling of carbon dots with zeolitic imidazolate frameworks enabling highly red emission in solid state.

In this work, an extraordinary solid red emissive phosphor was prepared based on red-emitting carbon dots (R-CDs). The synthesis was conducted under an in-situ strategy, with assistance of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks. The obtained phosphor possesses a stronger red emission located at 630 nm in solid state, with CIE coordinate of (0.63, 0.35) and quantum yield of âˆ¼ 45 %. As a consequence, not only aggregation-induced fluorescence quenching of R-CDs is avoided in solid state, but also an enhanced emission with high quantum yield is presented. Fluorescence properties were further explored in detail. The emission is found to be responsive to temperature and applied pressure. Based on the excellent emissive performance, the material has great potentials in anti-counterfeiting, latent fingerprint imaging, and temperature/pressure-sensing. This work provides a facile and promising way of preparing solid carbon-based phosphors for special applications.

A Zeolitic Octahedral Metal Oxide with Ultrahigh Porosity for High-temperature and High-humidity Alkyne/Alkene Separation.

Zeolitic octahedral metal oxide is a newly synthesized all-inorganic zeolitic material and has been used for adsorption, separation, and catalysis. Herein, a new zeolitic octahedral metal oxide was synthesized and characterized. The porous framework was established through the assembly of [P2Mo13O50] clusters with PO4 linkers. Guest molecules occupied the framework, which could be removed through heat treatment, thereby opening the micropores. The pore characteristics were controlled by the cations within the micropore, enabling the adjustment of the interactions with alkynes and alkenes. This resulted in good separation performance of ethylene/acetylene and propylene/propyne even under high temperature and humidity conditions. The high stability of the material enabled the efficient recovery and reuse without discernible loss in the separation performance. Due to the relatively weak interaction between the adsorbed alkyne and the framework, the adsorbent facilitated the recovery of a highly pure alkyne. This feature enhances the practical applicability of the material in various industrial processes.

Subhealth Status of Nursing Staff and Its Influencing Factors in Shaanxi Province.

Background: The concept of subhealth, defined as a state between health and illness characterized by diminished vitality and adaptability, is emerging as a significant concern, particularly among nursing staff. In Shaanxi Province, there is a notable prevalence of subhealth conditions among nurses, influenced by various factors, including lifestyle, work environment, and psychological stress. Purpose: This study aims to investigate the level of subhealth status among nursing staff in Shaanxi hospitals, identify the primary causes and risk factors affecting their subhealth, and propose relevant countermeasures. The goal is to provide a scientific basis for developing strategies to enhance nursing staff's physical and mental well-being. Methods: A comprehensive questionnaire survey was conducted among 1068 nursing staff members from different hospitals in Shaanxi Province. The survey assessed various dimensions of subhealth, including physical, psychological, and social aspects. Data were analyzed to determine the relationships between subhealth status and factors like exercise frequency, dietary habits, smoking and alcohol consumption, occupational injuries, work situation, and stress levels. Results: Most respondents were female, aged between 21 and 40 years. The study found no significant gender-related differences in subhealth scores. Key factors affecting subhealth included physical exercise, dietary habits, occupational stress, and work conditions. The data revealed higher physical subhealth but lower psychological subhealth among nursing staff compared to regional norms. Notable relationships were observed between lifestyle choices, work-related factors, and the subhealth status of nursing staff. Conclusion: The subhealth status of nursing staff in Shaanxi hospitals is influenced by a combination of lifestyle, occupational, and psychological factors. The study underscores the need for targeted interventions focusing on lifestyle modifications, stress management, and improved work conditions to enhance the overall health status of nursing staff. This research provides valuable insights for healthcare policymakers and administrators to develop effective strategies for managing subhealth conditions among nursing professionals.

External bending of cryodevice during vitrification leads to cryoprotectant cracks and damage to embryo blastomeres.

RESEARCH QUESTION: Embryo blastomeres and the zona pellucida are occasionally damaged during vitrification; is this a result of crack-induced mechanical damage in the glass state, caused by external bending of the device? DESIGN: A stereomicroscope was used to observe external bending-induced cracks in a cryoprotectant. Thereafter, 309 human cleavage-stage embryos derived from abnormally fertilized eggs were used to assess embryo damage under two external bending conditions: forward bending and backward bending, with three bending degrees applied. Three distinct embryo positions were used to examine the correlation between bending and embryo damage. Damage was assessed by looking at blastomere lysis rates, and overall rates of damaged and surviving embryos. RESULTS: A series of parallel cracks were identified in the cryoprotectant used for external bending, which led to damage to the embryo blastomeres. Compared with forward bending and control, the embryos were found to be more easily damaged by backward bending, indicated by significantly higher blastomere lysis and embryo damage rates, and lower embryo survival rate of backward bending than forward bending (P < 0.001). The degree of embryo damage also increased as the degree of external forces increased. Embryo position correlated with degree of embryo damage. CONCLUSIONS: Cryoprotectant crack-induced damage was identified as the cause of embryo damage. Mechanical damage to the glass state occurs because of improper external bending of the cryodevice strip in liquid nitrogen during vitrification. To prevent damage, bending of the strip should be avoided and the embryos should be placed near the tip of the strip.

Effects of biomass burning on CO, HCN, C2H6, C2H2 and H2CO during long-term FTIR measurements in Hefei, China.

High-resolution solar absorption spectra were continuously collected by a ground-based Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer to retrieve the total column of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen cyanide (HCN), ethane (C2H6), acetylene (C2H2), and formaldehyde (H2CO). The time series and variation characteristics of these gases were analyzed. The biomass combustion process is identified by using the correlations between the monthly mean deviations of HCN, C2H6, C2H2 and H2CO versus CO and satellite fire point data. The months with high correlation coefficients (R > 0.8) and peaks of fire point number are considered to be with biomass combustion occurrence. The emissions of HCN, C2H6, C2H2 and H2CO in Anhui were estimated using the enhancement ratios of gases to CO in these months when biomass combustion was the main driving factor of gas concentration change. The study proved the ability of FTIR system in inferring the period during biomass combustion and estimating emissions of the trace gases concerning biomass combustion.

Efficient Dual Mechanisms Boost the Efficiency of Ternary Solar Cells with Two Compatible Polymer Donors to Exceed 19.

Ternary strategyopens a simple avenue to improve the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of organic solar cells (OSCs). The introduction of wide bandgap polymer donors (PDs) as third component canbetter utilize sunlight and improve the mechanical and thermal stability of active layer. However, efficient ternary OSCs (TOSCs) with two PDs are rarely reported due to inferior compatibility and shortage of efficient PDs match with acceptors. Herein, two PDs-(PBB-F and PBB-Cl) are adopted in the dual-PDs ternary systems to explore the underlying mechanisms and improve their photovoltaic performance. The findings demonstrate that the third components exhibit excellent miscibility with PM6 and are embedded in the host donor to form alloy-like phase. A more profound mechanism for enhancing efficiency through dual mechanisms, that are the guest energy transfer to PM6 and charge transport at the donor/acceptor interface, has been proposed. Consequently, the PM6:PBB-Cl:BTP-eC9 TOSCs achieve PCE of over 19%. Furthermore, the TOSCs exhibit better thermal stability than that of binary OSCs due to the reduction in spatial site resistance resulting from a more tightly entangled long-chain structure. This work not only provides an effective approach to fabricate high-performance TOSCs, but also demonstrates the importance of developing dual compatible PD materials.

Distinguishment of different varieties of rhubarb based on UPLC fingerprints and chemometrics.

Rhubarb, a widely used traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), is primarily used for purging in practice. It is derived from the dried roots and rhizomes of R. tanguticum Maxim. ex Balf. (RT), Rheum officinale Baill. (RO) and R. palmatum L. (RP). To date, although the three varieties of rhubarb have been used as the same medicine in clinical, studies have found that they have different chemical compositions and pharmacological effects. To ensure the stability of rhubarb for clinical use, a simple and effective method should be built to compare and discriminate three varieties of rhubarb. Here, ultra-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (UPLC-DAD) fingerprints combined with chemometric methods were developed to evaluate and discriminate 29 batches of rhubarb. Similarity evaluation, hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the chemical constituents of the three varieties of rhubarb were significantly different, and the three varieties could be effectively distinguished. Finally, all the 14 common peaks were identified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS). In this research, the developed UPLC fingerprints offer a simple, reliable and specific approach for distinguishing different varieties of rhubarb. This research aims to promote the scientific and appropriate clinical application of rhubarb from three varieties.

Maternal and perinatal risks for monozygotic twins conceived following frozen-thawed embryo transfer: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to explore the maternal and perinatal risks in cases of monozygotic twins (MZT) following frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET). METHODS: All twin births that were conceived following FET from 2007 to 2021 at Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital in Shanghai, China were retrospectively reviewed. The exposure variable was twin type (monozygotic and dizygotic). The primary outcome was the incidence of neonatal death while secondary outcomes included hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes, intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, placenta previa, placental abruption, preterm premature rupture of the membranes, Cesarean delivery, gestational age, birth weight, weight discordance, stillbirth, birth defects, pneumonia, respiratory distress syndrome, necrotizing enterocolitis, and neonatal jaundice. Analysis of the outcomes was performed using logistic regression models to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The causal mediation analysis was conducted. A doubly robust estimation model was used to validate the results. Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate survival probability. The sensitivity analysis was performed with a propensity score-based patient-matching model. RESULTS: Of 6101 dizygotic twin (DZT) and 164 MZT births conceived by FET, MZT showed an increased risk of neonatal death based on the multivariate logistic regression models (partially adjusted OR: 4.19; 95% CI, 1.23-10.8; fully adjusted OR: 4.95; 95% CI, 1.41-13.2). Similar results were obtained with the doubly robust estimation. Comparing MZT with DZT, the neonatal survival probability was lower for MZT (P < 0.05). The results were robust in the sensitivity analysis. Females with MZT pregnancies exhibited an elevated risk of preterm premature rupture of the membranes (adjusted OR: 2.42; 95% CI, 1.54-3.70). MZT were also associated with higher odds of preterm birth (prior to 37 weeks) (adjusted OR: 2.31; 95% CI, 1.48-3.67), low birth weight (adjusted OR: 1.92; 95% CI, 1.27-2.93), and small for gestational age (adjusted OR: 2.18; 95% CI, 1.21-3.69) in the fully adjusted analyses. The effect of MZT on neonatal death was partially mediated by preterm birth and low birth weight (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that MZT conceived by FET are related to an increased risk of neonatal death, emphasizing a potential need for comprehensive antenatal surveillance in these at-risk pregnancies.

Effects of chronic abamectin stress on growth performance, digestive capacity, and defense systems in red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii).

Abamectin is a globally used pesticide, which is one of 16-member macrocyclic lactones compound. As an environmental contaminant, pesticide residues pose a great threat to the health and survival of aquatic animals. Procambarus clarkii is one of the most important economic aquatic animals in China. It is necessary to explore the toxic mechanism of abamectin to P. clarkii. In this study, the toxic mechanism of abamectin to P. clarkii was investigated by 0, 3 and 6 µg/L abamectin stress for 28 days. The digestive-, antioxidant- and immune- related enzymes activities, genes expression levels, and histological observations were analytical indicators of growth performance, digestive capacity, and defense systems. The results in this study showed that with abamectin concentration increasing, the growth of P. clarkii was stunted significantly, and the mortality rate increased significantly. With exposure time and abamectin concentration increasing, the expression levels of related genes, the activities of digestive-, antioxidant-, and immune- related enzymes decreased ultimately. Moreover, through histological observation, it was found that with abamectin concentration increasing, the hepatopancreas, muscle, and intestine were damaged. As elucidated by the results, once abamectin exists in the environment for a long time, even low doses will threaten to healthy growth and survival of P. clarkii. This study explored the potential toxicity and the toxic mechanism of abamectin to P. clarkii, and provides a theoretical basis for further study on the toxicity of pesticides to aquatic animals.

Ligand-Functionalized MIL-68-type Indium(III) Metal-Organic Frameworks with Prominent Intrinsic Proton Conductivity.

Indium-based metal-organic frameworks (In-MOFs) have now become an attractive class of porous solids in materials science and electrochemistry due to their diverse structures and promising applications. In the field of proton conduction, to find more crystalline MOFs with splendid proton-conductive properties, herein, five three-dimensional isostructural In-MOFs, MIL-68-In or MIL-68-In-X (X = NH2, OH, Br, or NO2) using terephthalic acid (H2BDC) or functionalized terephthalic acids (H2BDC-X) as multifunctional linkages were efficiently fabricated. First, the outstanding structural stability of the five MOFs, including thermal and water stability, was verified by thermal analysis and powder X-ray diffraction. Subsequently, the H2O-mediated proton conductivities (σ) were fully assessed and compared. Notably, their σ evinced a significant positive correlation between the temperature or relative humidity (RH) and varied with the functional groups on the organic ligands. Impressively, their highest σ values are up to 10-3-10-4 S/cm (100 °C/98% RH) and change in this order: MIL-68-In-OH (1.72 × 10-3 S/cm) > MIL-68-In-NH2 (1.70 × 10-3 S/cm) > MIL-68-In-NO2 (4.47 × 10-4 S/cm) > MIL-68-In-Br (4.11 × 10-4 S/cm) > MIL-68-In (2.37 × 10-4 S/cm). Finally, the computed activation energy values under 98 or 68% RHs are assessed, and the related proton conduction mechanisms are speculated. Moreover, after electrochemical testing, these MOFs illustrate remarkable structural rigidity, laying a meritorious material foundation for future applications.