Value of 2D speckle tracking technique combined with real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography in the evaluation of the right atrial function in patients with 3-branch coronary artery disease without myocardial infarction.

To evaluate the right atrial function in patients with 3-branch coronary artery disease (TBCAD) without myocardial infarction by 2D speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) combined with real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography (RT-3DE). Fifty-six patients admitted to our hospital without myocardial infarction with TBCAD were selected. We divided them into 2 groups according to the coronary angiography results: 28 patients in group B (the rate of stenosis is 50% ~< 75%); 28 patients in group C (the rate of stenosis is ≥75%); in addition, 30 healthy volunteers were screened as group A. All subjects underwent RT-3DE to obtain the right atrial volume (RAVmax, RAVmin, and RAVp), and then we calculated the right atrial passive and active ejection fraction (RAPEF, RAAEF), and maximum volume index (RAVImax). In addition, to measure the strain rates (RASRs, RASRe, RASRa) of the right atrium during systole, early diastole, and late diastole, 2D-STE was applied. Correlations between the 2D-STE parameters and the results of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and Gensini scores were analyzed by Pearson linear analysis. Compared with group A, RAPEF and RASRe were reduced, while RAAEF and RASRa were elevated in group B (P < .05). RAPEF, RASRs, RASRe, and RASRa were decreased compared with groups A and B, while RAVmax, RAVmin, RAVp, RAVImax, and RAAEF were increased in group C (P < .05). There was a significant correlation between 2D-STE parameters and the results of NT-proBNP and Gensini scores (P < .05). The storage, conduit, and pump functions of the right atrium are reduced in patients with 3-branch coronary artery disease without myocardial infarction; 2D-STE combined with RT-3DE is valuable in the evaluation of the right atrium in patients with coronary artery disease.

Comparative analysis of village doctors' relative deprivation: based on two cross-sectional surveys.

BACKGROUND: Village doctors are the main health service providers in China's rural areas. Compared with other rural groups, they will have a sense of relative deprivation, which has an impact on their practice mentality and job stability. This study aims to analyze the changes and causes of relative deprivation among village doctors, so as to improve the stability of them. METHODS: The data were collected from two surveys conducted in Shandong Province in 2015 and 2021. In 2015, 322 village doctors were surveyed and 307 questionnaires were collected, with a recovery rate of 95.3%. In 2021, 394 village doctors were surveyed and 366 questionnaires were collected, with a recovery rate of 92.9%. Descriptive and univariate analysis were used to compare the changes before and after the survey. RESULTS: The scores of vertical deprivation of village doctors increased from 2.77 ± 0.81 in 2015 to 3.04 ± 0.83 in 2021, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.001). The reference group selected by village doctors changed from village teachers to ordinary villagers. Compared to village teachers, the horizontal deprivation score of village doctors increased from 3.47 ± 0.87 to 3.97 ± 0.77, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.001). Compared to villagers, only the professional reputation deprivation score increased, from 2.38 ± 0.93 to 2.68 ± 0.76, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: As time goes by, village doctors fail to reach the expected level in terms of economic income, social status, professional reputation and living standards, resulting in a sense of relative deprivation. This may have a negative impact on village doctors' work motivation and behavior, and will fail to guarantee the sustainability of the team. We should pay attention to this unbalanced mentality of village doctors.

Integrated physiological, intestinal microbiota, and metabolomic responses of adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) to subacute exposure to antimony at environmentally relevant concentrations.

The available information regarding the impact of antimony (Sb), a novel environmental pollutant, on the intestinal microbiota and host health is limited. In this study, we conducted physiological characterizations to investigate the response of adult zebrafish to different environmental concentrations (0, 30, 300, and 3000 µg/L) of Sb over a period of 14 days. Biochemical and pathological changes demonstrated that Sb effectively compromised the integrity of the intestinal physical barrier and induced inflammatory responses as well as oxidative stress. Analysis of both intestinal microbial community and metabolome revealed that exposure to 0 and 30 µg/L of Sb resulted in similar microbiota structures; however, exposure to 300 µg/L altered microbial communities' composition (e.g., a decline in genus Cetobacterium and an increase in Vibrio). Furthermore, exposure to 300 µg/L significantly decreased levels of bile acids and glycerophospholipids while triggering intestinal inflammation but activating self-protective mechanisms such as antibiotic presence. Notably, even exposure to 30 µg/L of Sb can trigger dysbiosis of intestinal microbiota and metabolites, potentially impacting fish health through the "microbiota-intestine-brain axis" and contributing to disease initiation. This study provides valuable insights into toxicity-related information concerning environmental impacts of Sb on aquatic organisms with significant implications for developing management strategies.

Comparative analysis of hemoglobin, potassium, sodium, and glucose in arterial blood gas and venous blood of patients with COPD.

The study aims to assess the accuracy of the arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis in measuring hemoglobin, potassium, sodium, and glucose concentrations in comparison to standard venous blood analysis among patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). From January to March 2023, results of ABG analysis and simultaneous venous blood sampling among patients with COPD were retrospectively compared, without any intervention being applied between the two methods. The differences in hemoglobin, potassium, sodium, and glucose concentrations were assessed using a statistical software program (R software). There were significant differences in the mean concentrations of hemoglobin (p < 0.001), potassium (p < 0.001), and sodium (p = 0.001) between the results from ABG and standard venous blood analysis. However, the magnitude of the difference was within the total error allowance (TEa) of the United States of Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (US-CLIA). As for the innovatively studied glucose concentrations, a statistically significant difference between the results obtained from ABG (7.8 ± 3.00) mmol·L-1 and venous blood (6.72 ± 2.44) mmol·L-1 was noted (p < 0.001), with the difference exceeding the TEa of US-CLIA. A linear relationship between venous blood glucose and ABG was obtained: venous blood glucose (mmol·L-1) = - 0.487 + 0.923 × ABG glucose (mmol·L-1), with R2 of 0.882. The hemoglobin, potassium, and sodium concentrations in ABG were reliable for guiding treatment in managing COPD emergencies. However, the ABG analysis of glucose was significantly higher as compared to venous blood glucose, and there was a positive correlation between the two methods. Thus, a linear regression equation in this study combined with ABG analysis could be helpful in quickly estimating venous blood glucose during COPD emergency treatment before the standard venous blood glucose was available from the medical laboratory.

Prognosis of infants with congenital pulmonary airway malformations after surgery: a short and mid-term evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the postoperative pulmonary function, imaging descriptions and complications in infants with congenital pulmonary airway malformations (CPAM), and to examine the impact of different surgical resections on the prognosis of infants. METHODS: Data of 30 infants with CPAM who underwent surgery at the department of Pediatric Surgery, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center from June 2021 to June 2022 were retrospectively collected and analyzed. The pulmonary function indexes of the infants during the first month and first year after surgery were analyzed to assess prognosis. Pulmonary function data from healthy individuals at similar age were collected as a control group. RESULTS: The post-operative short-term pulmonary function was recovered to a normal level in 26.7% cases of 30 CPAM infants, with a decrease in tidal volume (VT), ratio inspiratory time to expiratory time (TI/TE), time to peak tidal expiratory flow as a proportion of expiratory time (TPTEF/TE), volume to peak expiratory flow as a proportion of exhaled volume (VPEF/VE) and mean expiratory flow as a proportion of mean inspiratory flow (MEF/MIF) when compared to the control group (all P<0.01). One year after operation, 25 CPAM infants received pulmonary function tests and 52% of them had indexes at normal level. There was no statistically significant difference in results of pulmonary function test between infants who received lobectomy and those who received segmentectomy (P>0.05). The postoperative complication rate was 26.7%. CONCLUSION: Over half of CPAM infants have normalized lung function one year after operation and the choice of lobectomy and segmentectomy had no significant difference on prognosis of infants.

The relationship between Internet use and loneliness of middle-aged and older adult people: the moderating effect of residence.

Objectives: The proportion of middle-aged and older adult people exposed to the Internet continues to grow. Internet use may have an impact on the mental health of the older adult, especially loneliness. This study analyzed the relationship between Internet use and presence of loneliness. Methods: A total of 550 person aged 45 years and above were randomly selected from a province in eastern China at the end of 2022. The outcome variable was presence of loneliness, as measured by self-report. Descriptive analysis, chi-square test and binary logistic analysis were used to analyze the data. Results: 58.3% of respondents use the Internet. Internet use could reduce the possible of reported loneliness in middle-aged and older adult people (OR = 0.652, 95%CI: 0.465, 0.940), and residence played a moderating role in the relationship between them. Middle-aged and older adults who used the Internet for 1-3 h (OR = 0.464, 95%CI: 0.275, 0.784) and 3-5 h (OR = 0.484, 95%CI: 0.247, 0.946) were less likely to felt lonely than those who used the Internet for less than 1 h per day. In addition, middle-aged and older adult people using the Internet to contact relatives and friends (OR = 0.488, 95%CI:0.292, 0.818), read the news (OR = 0.485, 95%CI:0.277, 0.848), assets management (OR = 0.297, 95%CI:0.109, 0.818) were less likely to report loneliness, while those who made online payment (OR = 3.101, 95%CI:1.413, 6.807) were more likely to report loneliness. Conclusion: There is a significant negative correlation between Internet use and presence of loneliness, but different Internet duration and content have different effects on loneliness in middle-aged and older adult people. We should pay attention to the impact of Internet use on loneliness in middle-aged and older adult people.

Screening of Sugarcane Proteins Associated with Defense against Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli, Agent of Ratoon Stunting Disease.

Sugarcane is the most important sugar crop and one of the leading energy-producing crops in the world. Ratoon stunting disease (RSD), caused by the bacterium Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli, poses a huge threat to ratoon crops, causing a significant yield loss in sugarcane. Breeding resistant varieties is considered the most effective and fundamental approach to control RSD in sugarcane. The exploration of resistance genes forms the foundation for breeding resistant varieties through molecular technology. The pglA gene is a pathogenicity gene in L. xyli subsp. xyli, encoding an endopolygalacturonase. In this study, the pglA gene from L. xyli subsp. xyli and related microorganisms was analyzed. Then, a non-toxic, non-autoactivating pglA bait was successfully expressed in yeast cells. Simultaneously the yeast two-hybrid library was generated using RNA from the L. xyli subsp. xyli-infected sugarcane. Screening the library with the pglA bait uncovered proteins that interacted with pglA, primarily associated with ABA pathways and the plant immune system, suggesting that sugarcane employs these pathways to respond to L. xyli subsp. xyli, triggering pathogenicity or resistance. The expression of genes encoding these proteins was also investigated in L. xyli subsp. xyli-infected sugarcane, suggesting multiple layers of regulatory mechanisms in the interaction between sugarcane and L. xyli subsp. xyli. This work promotes the understanding of plant-pathogen interaction and provides target proteins/genes for molecular breeding to improve sugarcane resistance to L. xyli subsp. xyli.

One step cleanup of 160 pesticides and veterinary drugs in aquatic products using melamine-based automatic pressure filtration purification method combined with HPLC-MS/MS.

A 15-channel pressure filtration purification method was presented for high throughput sample preparation of aquatic products. A cost-effective device was constructed and melamine sponge was selected as the cleanup sorbent. Upon interfacing with HPLC-MS/MS, the analytical procedure demonstrated its suitability for quantifying 160 pesticides and veterinary drug residues in aquatic products such as fish, shrimp, and crab. The method achieved sample recoveries ranging from 61.3 to 124.9 %. The detection limits were established between 0.5 and 1.0 µg/kg, while the quantitation limits were confirmed to be within the range of 1.0-2.0 µg/kg. The method was applied to quantify the pesticide and veterinary drug residues in mostly consumed aquatic products from five coastal provinces in China. The results showed significant differences between different aquatic products in the concentrations of pesticide and veterinary drug residues, implying the necessity of supervision for the accurate determination of pesticides and veterinary drugs.

Angiotensin-(1-7) Modulates the Warburg Effect to Alleviate Inflammation in LPS-Induced Macrophages and Septic Mice.

Purpose: Inflammation triggers a metabolic shift in macrophages from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis, a phenomenon known as the Warburg effect. This metabolic reprogramming worsens inflammation and cascades into organ damage. Angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)], a small molecule, has demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties. This study investigates whether Ang-(1-7) mitigates inflammation in LPS-induced macrophages and septic mice by regulating the Warburg effect in immune metabolism. Methods: The study induced macrophages with LPS in vitro and measured inflammatory factors using ELISA and Western blot. Key enzymes in glycolysis, mitochondrial respiratory complexes, and citrate pathway key molecules were assessed using Western blot and qRT-PCR. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), lactate, and ATP were measured using assay kits. In vivo, a mouse model of sepsis induced by LPS was used. Kidney tissues were examined for pathological and mitochondrial ultrastructural alterations. The levels of inflammatory factors in mouse serum, glycolysis and citrate pathway-related molecules in the kidney were assessed using qRT-PCR, Western blot, and immunofluorescence techniques. Additionally, MMP, lactate, and ATP in the kidney were measured using assay kits. Results: In vitro experiments demonstrated that Ang-(1-7) inhibited the levels of inflammatory factors in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells. It also reduced the expression of key glycolytic enzymes HK2, PFKFB3, and PKM2, as well as lactate levels. Additionally, it decreased intracellular citrate accumulation, enhanced mitochondrial respiratory complexes I and III, and ATP levels. Ang-(1-7) alleviated MMP damage, modulated citrate pathway-related molecules, including SLC25A1, ACLY, and HIF-1α. In vivo experiments showed that Ang-(1-7) lowered glycolysis levels in septic mice, improved mitochondrial ultrastructure and function, mitigated inflammation and renal tissues damage in septic mice, and suppressed the expression of key molecules in the citrate pathway. Conclusion: In conclusion, Ang-(1-7) can regulate the Warburg effect through the citrate pathway, thereby alleviating inflammation in LPS-induced macrophages and septic mice.

SCUBE1 promotes pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration in acute pulmonary embolism by modulating BMP7.

Objectives: After an episode of acute pulmonary embolism (APE), activated platelets have the ability to release various bioactive factors that can stimulate both proliferation and migration of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). SCUBE1 has been previously reported to engage in platelet-platelet interactions, potentially contributing to the activation of platelets in early onset thrombi. The purpose of this study was to examine the alterations in SCUBE1 expression in PASMCs after APE, as well as understand the mechanism behind these changes. Methods: The platelet-rich plasma samples of both APE patients and healthy individuals were collected. A hyperproliferative model of PASMCs was established by using platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) as a stimulator and various assays were used to investigate how SCUBE1-mediated BMP7 can regulate PDGF-induced PASMC proliferation and migration. Results: Elevated level of SCUBE1 were observed in platelet-rich plasma from patients with APE and in PASMCs induced by PDGF. SCUBE1 interference ameliorated PDGF-driven cell proliferation and migration, and also downregulated PCNA expression. Additionally, mechanistic studies demonstrated that SCUBE1 could directly bind to bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7) and enhance BMP7 expression, which completely abolished the impact of SCUBE1 silencing on proliferation and migration ability of PASMCs after PDGF treatment. Conclusion: In the PDGF-induced proliferation of PASMCs, the expression of SCUBE1 and BMP7 was upregulated. Silencing of SCUBE1 impeded PDGF-induced proliferation and migration of PASMCs by restraining BMP7.

Effect of Acupuncture on Endometrial Blood Flow in Women Undergoing in vitro Fertilization Embryo Transfer: A Single Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of manual acupuncture on endometrial blood flow parameters by three-dimensional (3D) power Doppler ultrasound in women undergoing in vitro fertilization embryo transfer (IVF-ET). METHODS: Seventy patients undergoing IVF-ET were equally randomized into traditional or sham acupuncture treatment group for totally 4 days (from the day of oocyte aspiration to the day of embryo transfer) of treatment by random envelope method at the Reproductive Medicine Center and Outpatient Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medicine College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from January 2013 to December 2015. Patients in the traditional acupuncture group accepted traditional acupuncture methods with manual acupuncture, and Zhongji (CV3), Qihai (CV 6), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Taichong (LR 3), Tianshu (ST 25), Guilai (ST 29) and Zusanli (ST 36) were chosen. Patients at the sham acupuncture group accepted shallow acupuncture methods at 4 non-meridian points at each shoulder and upper arm. Outcome measures included endometrial ultrasonic indices such as vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI) and vascularization flow index (VFI), endometrial thickness and volume, subendometrial VI (sVI), subendometrial FI (sFI), subendometrial VFI (sVFI), implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, abortion rate, live birth rate and number of live births. RESULTS: Finally, 34 patients in the traditional acupuncture group and 35 in the sham acupuncture group completed this trial. VI, FI and VFI of the traditional acupuncture group were significantly higher than those in the sham acupuncture group (P<0.05). No significant differences were found in endometrial thickness, endometrial volume, sVI, sFI, sVFI, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, abortion rate, live birth rate and number of live births (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Manual acupuncture performed after oocyte aspiration and before transplantation improved the endometrial blood flow parameters VI, RI and VFI in women who underwent IVF-ET, instead of sVI, sFI and sVFI. Therefore, acupuncture might be beneficial in women undergoing IVF-ET by increasing endometrial blood flow and endometrial receptivity. (Registration No. ChiCTR2100053354).

WRKY transcription factors in passion fruit analysis reveals key PeWRKYs involved in abiotic stress and flavonoid biosynthesis.

WRKY transcription factors (TFs) are a superfamily of regulators involved in plant responses to pathogens and abiotic stress. Passion fruit is famous for its unique flavor and nutrient-rich juice, but its growth is limited by environmental factors and pathogens. In this study, 55 WRKY genes were identified from the Passiflora edulis genome. The structure and evolutionary characteristics of PeWRKYs were analyzed using a bioinformatics approach. PeWRKYs were classified into seven subgroups (I, IIa, IIb, IIc, IId, IIe, III) according to their homologs in Arabidopsis thaliana. Group IIa PeWRKY48 gene was highly up-regulated under cold stress by RNA expression analysis, and transgenic PeWRKY48 in yeast and Arabidopsis showed resistance exposure to cold, salt, and drought stress. Metabolome and transcriptome co-expression analysis of two different disease resistance genotypes of P. edulis identified PeWRKY30 as a key TF co-expressed with flavonoid accumulation in yellow fruit P. edulis, which may contribute to biotic or abiotic resistance. The qRT-PCR verified the expression of key genes in different tissues of P. edulis and in different species of Passiflora. This study provides a set of WRKY candidate genes that will facilitate the genetic improvement of disease and abiotic tolerance in passion fruit.

Development, validation, and implementation of an ultratrace analysis method for the determination of moenomycin A, in aquatic animal products.

Moenomycin A, an antimicrobial growth promoter widely used as an additive in aquaculture feedstuffs, has been restricted for use in the European Union and China due to its potential risk of promoting resistant strains of pathogenic bacteria and causing residues in aquatic animal products. Although methods for analyzing moenomycin A in feedstuffs have been developed, no established method exists for aquatic matrices. In this study, we present, for the first time, a sensitive and validated high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method for the determination of moenomycin A in aquatic animal products. Samples were extracted using methanol and purified with the QuEChERS method employing C18 sorbent. The aliquot was dried under a nitrogen stream, reconstituted with methanol-water solvent, and analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS. The developed method exhibited good linearity (r2 > 0.995) over a wide concentration range (1-100 µg/L) and a low limit of detection (1 µg/kg). Average recoveries ranged between 70 and 110% at spiked concentrations of 1, 50, and 100 µg/kg, with associated intra- and inter-day relative standard deviations of 1.25 to 7.32% (n = 6) and 2.91 to 10.08% (n = 3), for different representative aquatic animal production, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported HPLC-MS/MS method for the quantification of moenomycin A in aquatic animal products. The new approach was effectively employed in the analysis of moenomycin A across various aquatic samples.

Analysis of Surgical Outcomes in Endoscopic-Assisted Lateral Neck Dissection.

BACKGROUND: Currently, endoscopic-assisted lateral neck dissection (EALND) is performed to reduce postoperative scarring of the anterior neck. This study aimed to compare surgical outcomes between EALND and conventional open lateral neck dissection (COLND) for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) with lateral lymph node metastases (LNM). METHODS: The study reviewed 103 PTC patients who were classified on the basis of surgical type and statistically compared using propensity score matching analysis. RESULTS: The mean operation time is longer, and the cost of surgery is higher in the EALND group than COLND group (all p < 0.05). The numbers of retrieved and positive level II LNs, the rate of level II LNs detection between two groups do not differ significantly (all p > 0.05). The incidence of postoperative neck numbness is lower, and patients are more satisfied with postoperative neck scarring in the EALND group than COLND group (all p < 0.05). The common complications of two groups are transient recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and transient hypoparathyroidism. CONCLUSIONS: EALND is safe and feasible compared with COLND. The incision is more aesthetically satisfactory, which makes EALND a surgical approach for PTC patients with lateral LNM. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 134:2221-2227, 2024.

The clinical characteristics of subcutaneous and mediastinal emphysema in anti-melanoma differentiation-associated 5 positive dermatomyositis associated with interstitial lung disease.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical characteristics of subcutaneous emphysema (SE) and mediastinal emphysema (ME) occurring in patients with anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibody-positive dermatomyositis associated with interstitial lung disease (anti-MDA5-positive DM-ILD). METHODS: In this retrospective study, a total of 117 anti-MDA5-positive DM-ILD patients were admitted to our hospital. All patients underwent an assessment of autoantibodies, serum ferritin levels, and lung high-resolution CT scans. RESULTS: In patients with anti-MDA5-positive DM-ILD, the incidence of SE/ME was found to be 11.1%, which was significantly higher compared to patients with anti-synthetase syndrome (p<0.01). The mortality rate among anti-MDA5-positive DM-ILD patients with SE/ME was significantly higher than those without SE/ME (p=0.0022). There was no statistically significant difference in the occurrence of SE/ME between patients with positive anti-Ro-52 antibodies and those with negative anti-Ro-52 antibodies (p=0.18). Patients with higher serum ferritin levels (1000 ng/ml ≤serum ferritin ≤1500 ng/ml) had a higher likelihood of developing SE/ME compared to patients with lower serum ferritin levels (serum ferritin <500 ng/ml) (p<0.01). Among 13 anti-MDA5-positive DM-ILD patients with SE/ME, six (46.2%) developed SE/ME within 1 month of being diagnosed and 53.8% of patients underwent positive pressure ventilation prior to the onset of SE/ME. CONCLUSIONS: We found that SE/ME is not uncommon in anti-MDA5-positive DM-ILD and is an important factor associated with poor patient prognosis. The occurrence of SE/ME is correlated with high levels of serum ferritin and is not related to anti-Ro-52 antibodies. Rheumatologists should pay close attention to SE/ME caused by positive pressure ventilation in anti-MDA5-positive DM-ILD patients.

Feasibility Study of the Synergistic Use of Sludge and Coal-Based Solid Waste to Produce Environmentally Friendly Grouting Materials.

In this paper, a full solid waste-based grouting material was prepared using three industrial solid wastes, i.e., sludge, coal gangue (CG), and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), based on the concepts of synergy and complementarity. The effects of the dosage of raw sewage sludge (SS), incineration-activated sewage sludge ash (SSA), and an alkali activator on the fluidity, water separation rate, and mechanical strength of solid waste-based grouting materials were systematically investigated. The mechanism of action was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Finally, the leaching characteristics and stabilization efficiency of heavy metals in solid-sample-based slurry stones were determined. The experimental results show that the slurry fluidity and water separation proportion are negatively correlated with the amount of sludge. The rate of decline first increases and then decreases. When the SSA content is greater than 10%, the precipitation rate can be controlled to within 5%. The optimal amount of alkaline activator is 8%, and its effect on the mechanical strength is more significant than that of sludge. With an increase in the SSA dosage, the compressive strength first increases and then decreases. At 25%, the strength still reaches 20.8 MPa, and the decrease from 0 to 25% is only 26.2%. On the contrary, the addition of SS continues to decrease the strength of the stone body by 81.9%. The high organic content and low volcanic ash activity in SS hinder the development of hydration cementation. In addition, the comparative analysis demonstrated the contribution of the volcanic ash activity possessed by SSA to the mechanical strength supplement after incineration. The incineration treatment caused the calcite (CaCO3) in SS to decompose at high temperatures, and more Ca sources were introduced in SSA. The incorporation of SSA in the cementation system resulted in higher Ca/Si and Ca/Al ratios, promoting the formation of C-(A)-S-H gel. Moreover, this incorporation enhances the stability of heavy metals within the slurry, reducing the potential environmental risk associated with the leaching of Cr and Ni from the raw materials. Consequently, these findings comply with the leaching requirements specified by the environmental standards. The research provides innovative insights into the synergistic resource utilization of SS and SSA with coal-based solid waste to prepare environmentally friendly, high-performance, and cost-effective grouting materials.

Exploring the significance of tumor volume in endometrial cancer: Clinical pathological features, prognosis, and adjuvant therapies.

To assist clinicians in formulating treatment strategies for endometrial cancer (EC), this retrospective study explores the relationship between tumor volume and clinical pathological features, as well as prognosis, in patients undergoing staging surgery. Preoperative pelvic MRI examinations were conducted on 234 histologically confirmed EC patients. The ITK-SNAP software was employed to manually delineate the region of interest in the MRI images and calculate the tumor volume (MRI-TV). The analysis focused on investigating the relationship between MRI-TV and the clinical pathological features and prognosis of EC patients. Larger MRI-TV was found to be associated with various adverse prognostic factors (G3, deep myometrial invasion, cervical stromal invasion, lymphovascular space invasion, lymph node metastasis, advanced international federation of gynecology and obstetrics staging, and receipt of adjuvant therapy). The receiver operating characteristic curve indicated that MRI-TV ≥ 8 cm3 predicted deep myometrial invasion, and MRI-TV ≥ 12 cm3 predicted lymph node metastasis. Penalized spline (P-spline) regression analysis identified 14 cm3 of MRI-TV as the optimal prognostic cutoff value. MRI-TV ≥ 14 cm3 was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival and disease-free survival. For patients with MRI-TV ≥ 14 cm3, the disease-free survival rate with adjuvant therapy was superior to that of the sole staging surgery group. This study demonstrates a significant correlation between MRI-TV and clinical pathological features and prognosis in EC. For patients with MRI-TV ≥ 14 cm3, staging surgery followed by adjuvant therapy was superior to sole staging surgery.

Comprehensive exploration of the involvement of cuproptosis in tumorigenesis and progression of neuroblastoma.

BACKGROUND: Copper-induced cell death, or "cuproptosis," as an apoptotic process, has recently received much attention in human diseases. Recent studies on cuproptosis have provided novel insights into the pathogenesis of various diseases, especially cancers. However, the association between neuroblastoma (NB) and cuproptosis in terms of their clinical outcomes, tumorigenesis, and treatment response remains unclear. METHODS: To determine the role of cuproptosis in NB tumorigenesis and progression, this study employed a systematic technique to explore the characteristic patterns of 10 key cuproptosis-related genes (CUGs) in NB. Consensus clustering analysis of the TARGET and GEO databases divided the NB patients into two subgroups that showed different clinicopathological attributes, molecular patterns, survival outcomes, disease-associated pathways, tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) features, and treatment responses. Moreover, a cuproptosis scoring scheme was established, which divided the patients with NB into two groups with high scores and low scores as per the median score. Furthermore, this research developed a nomogram and risk signature on the basis of this cuproptosis score to better elucidate its function in predicting NB prognosis. In vitro experiments were carried out using Transwell Assay, HLECs tube formation assay, Colony formation assay, Western Blotting Assay, Immunohistochemical (IHC) Staining, Immunofluorescence (IF) Staining and Flow Cytometry Analysis. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that the established cuproptosis score and prediction model could effectively distinguish between the individuals in low and high-risk groups and had a high predictive value. Lastly, bioinformatics analysis and in vitro experiments enabled the identification of PDHA1, a key CUG, which was involved in both DNA replication-related pathways and the cell cycle. It was also associated with tumorigenesis and progression of NB. CONCLUSION: Cuproptosis, especially PDHA1, play a crucial role in the TIME characteristics, tumor progression, and long-term prognosis of NB. The patterns of cuproptosis assessed in this research may improve the understanding of the overall concept of NB tumorigenesis, thus facilitating the development of more effective therapeutic interventions.

Determination of earthy-musty odors in tap water by gas chromatography‒mass spectrometry with silica solid-phase extraction.

This research aimed to develop an effective method for detecting semivolatile earthy-musty odors without using the conventional sample processing equipment used for volatile compounds. The concurrent isolation of 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB), trans-1,10-dimethyl-trans-9-decalol (geosmin, GSM), 2-isopropyl-3-methoxy pyrazine (IPMP), and 2-isobutyl-3-methoxy pyrazine (IBMP) in tap water was successfully achieved by employing a combination of n-hexane liquid‒liquid extraction (LLE) and silica solid-phase extraction (SPE) techniques. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was utilized for the identification of these targets, with the inclusion of borneol (BN) as an internal reference. This robust method was optimized and validated. It was found that the method showed good linearity in the range of 0.5-100 ng/mL and produced good recoveries (84.6 %-103 %) with satisfactory relative standard deviations (1.50 %-10.1 %). The determined limits of detection (LODs) for the group of four substances were found to vary from 0.3 to 0.9 ng/L, whereas the limits of quantitation (LOQs) exhibited variations between 1 and 3 ng/L. The subsequent implementation of this methodology to evaluate the four previously described off-flavor chemicals in tap water resulted in satisfactory results.

Epigenetic control of plant senescence and cell death and its application in crop improvement.

Plant senescence is the last stage of plant development and a type of programmed cell death, occurring at a predictable time and cell. It involves the functional conversion from nutrient assimilation to nutrient remobilization, which substantially impacts plant architecture and plant biomass, crop quality, and horticultural ornamental traits. In past two decades, DNA damage was believed to be a main reason for cell senescence. Increasing evidence suggests that the alteration of epigenetic information is a contributing factor to cell senescence in organisms. In this review, we summarize the current research progresses of epigenetic and epitranscriptional mechanism involved in cell senescence of plant, at the regulatory level of DNA methylation, histone methylation and acetylation, chromatin remodeling, non-coding RNAs and RNA methylation. Furthermore, we discuss their molecular genetic manipulation and potential application in agriculture for crop improvement. Finally we point out the prospects of future research topics.