Delta Radiomics Model for the Prediction of Overall Survival and Local Recurrence in Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients After Chemotherapy.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the validity of CT-based delta radiomics signatures in predicting overall survival (OS) and local recurrence (LR) in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients after chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospectively enrolled 136 SCLC patients were split into training and testing cohorts. Radiomics features were extracted from CT images before, after the second, and the fourth cycle of chemotherapy. Delta radiomics features were obtained by calculating the net changes of features. Three radiomics signatures (R1, R2, and R3) and three delta radiomics signatures (R21, R31, and R32) were developed. The best signature was defined as the radiomics risk signature (RRS). The significant clinicoradiological factors and RRS of OS or LR were applied to build the combined model. RRS was also investigated in the subgroups based on stage and treatment regimens, respectively. RESULTS: Delta radiomics models presented improved performance. R32 signature demonstrated the highest C-indices in the training and testing cohorts, with C-indices of 0.850 and 0.834 in the OS arm, and 0.723 and 0.737 in the LR arm, respectively. The incremental performance was observed after the clinicoradiological characteristics integrated into the RRSOS, with C-indexes of 0.857 and 0.836, respectively. Furthermore, the stratified analysis also confirmed the ability of RRS based on the stage and treatment regimen subgroups in the OS and LR arms, respectively. CONCLUSION: Delta radiomics signatures could improve the personalized prediction of OS and LR at the early stage of chemotherapy in SCLC patients. R32 signature performed the highest performance.

Potential application of Klotho as a prognostic biomarker for patients with diabetic kidney disease: a meta-analysis of clinical studies.

Background: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a serious diabetic complication and the performance of serum Klotho in DKD's prognostic evaluation is controversial. Objective: To assess the association of serum Klotho with adverse kidney and non-kidney clinical outcomes in patients with DKD. Design: Clinical studies regarding the relationship of serum Klotho with DKD were included. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Subgroup and sensitive analyses were performed to search for the source of heterogeneity. Data sources and methods: We comprehensively searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane library databases up to 27 September 2022. The associations of Klotho with albuminuria, such as the urinary albumin creatinine ratio (UACR), kidney outcomes such as persistent albuminuria, estimated glomerular filtration rate decline, and non-kidney outcomes such as diabetic retinopathy, cardiovascular morbidity, and mortality, were evaluated. The indicators, such as the correlation coefficient (r), odds ratio (OR), relative risk, and hazard ratio, were retrieved or calculated from the eligible studies. Results: In all, 17 studies involving 5682 participants fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included in this meta-analysis. There was no significant association of serum Klotho with UACR in DKD patients [summary r, -0.28 (-0.55, 0.04)] with high heterogeneity. By contrast, a strong association was observed regarding serum Klotho with kidney outcomes [pooled OR, 1.60 (1.15, 2.23)], non-kidney outcomes [pooled OR, 2.78 (2.11, 3.66)], or combined kidney and non-kidney outcomes [pooled OR, 1.96 (1.45, 2.65)] with moderate heterogeneity. Subgroup analysis indicated that age, study design, and the estimated glomerular filtration rate may be the sources of heterogeneity. Conclusion: A decreased serum Klotho level is possibly associated with an increased risk of developing kidney and non-kidney clinical outcomes in DKD patients; thus, Klotho may be a possible biomarker to predict DKD clinical outcomes. Additional studies are needed to clarify and validate Klotho's prognostic value.

Electrocardiogram-Based Biometric Identification Using Mixed Feature Extraction and Sparse Representation.

(1) Background: The ability to recognize identities is an essential component of security. Electrocardiogram (ECG) signals have gained popularity for identity recognition because of their universal, unique, stable, and measurable characteristics. To ensure accurate identification of ECG signals, this paper proposes an approach which involves mixed feature sampling, sparse representation, and recognition. (2) Methods: This paper introduces a new method of identifying individuals through their ECG signals. This technique combines the extraction of fixed ECG features and specific frequency features to improve accuracy in ECG identity recognition. This approach uses the wavelet transform to extract frequency bands which contain personal information features from the ECG signals. These bands are reconstructed, and the single R-peak localization determines the ECG window. The signals are segmented and standardized based on the located windows. A sparse dictionary is created using the standardized ECG signals, and the KSVD (K-Orthogonal Matching Pursuit) algorithm is employed to project ECG target signals into a sparse vector-matrix representation. To extract the final representation of the target signals for identification, the sparse coefficient vectors in the signals are maximally pooled. For recognition, the co-dimensional bundle search method is used in this paper. (3) Results: This paper utilizes the publicly available European ST-T database for our study. Specifically, this paper selects ECG signals from 20, 50 and 70 subjects, each with 30 testing segments. The method proposed in this paper achieved recognition rates of 99.14%, 99.09%, and 99.05%, respectively. (4) Conclusion: The experiments indicate that the method proposed in this paper can accurately capture, represent and identify ECG signals.

Identification and Characterization of the HbPP2C Gene Family and Its Expression in Response to Biotic and Abiotic Stresses in Rubber Tree.

Plant PP2C genes are crucial for various biological processes. To elucidate the potential functions of these genes in rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis), we conducted a comprehensive analysis of these genes using bioinformatics methods. The 60 members of the PP2C family in rubber tree were identified and categorized into 13 subfamilies. The PP2C proteins were conserved across different plant species. The results revealed that the HbPP2C genes contained multiple elements responsive to phytohormones and stresses in their promoters, suggesting their involvement in these pathways. Expression analysis indicated that 40 HbPP2C genes exhibited the highest expression levels in branches and the lowest expression in latex. Additionally, the expression of A subfamily members significantly increased in response to abscisic acid, drought, and glyphosate treatments, whereas the expression of A, B, D, and F1 subfamily members notably increased under temperature stress conditions. Furthermore, the expression of A and F1 subfamily members was significantly upregulated upon powdery mildew infection, with the expression of the HbPP2C6 gene displaying a remarkable 33-fold increase. These findings suggest that different HbPP2C subgroups may have distinct roles in the regulation of phytohormones and the response to abiotic and biotic stresses in rubber tree. This study provides a valuable reference for further investigations into the functions of the HbPP2C gene family in rubber tree.

Upstream and downstream regulators of Klotho expression in chronic kidney disease.

Klotho is a critical protein that protects the kidney. Klotho is severely downregulated in chronic kidney disease (CKD), and its deficiency is implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of CKD. Conversely, an increase in Klotho levels results in improved kidney function and delays CKD progression, supporting the notion that modulating Klotho levels could represent a possible therapeutic strategy for CKD treatment. Nevertheless, the regulatory mechanisms responsible for the loss of Klotho remain elusive. Previous studies have demonstrated that oxidative stress, inflammation, and epigenetic modifications can modulate Klotho levels. These mechanisms result in a decrease in Klotho mRNA transcript levels and reduced translation, thus can be grouped together as upstream regulatory mechanisms. However, therapeutic strategies that aim to rescue Klotho levels by targeting these upstream mechanisms do not always result in increased Klotho, indicating the involvement of other regulatory mechanisms. Emerging evidence has shown that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, the unfolded protein response, and ER-associated degradation also affect the modification, translocation, and degradation of Klotho, and thus are proposed to be downstream regulatory mechanisms. Here, we discuss the current understanding of upstream and downstream regulatory mechanisms of Klotho and examine potential therapeutic strategies to upregulate Klotho expression for CKD treatment.

Efficient degradation of organic pollutants by S-NaTaO3/biochar under visible light and the photocatalytic performance of a permonosulfate-based dual-effect catalytic system.

Removing large concentrations of organic pollutants from water efficiently and quickly under visible light is essential to developing photocatalytic technology and improving solar energy efficiency. This study used a simple hydrothermal method to prepare a non-metallic, S-doped NaTaO3 (S-NTO) photocatalyst, which was then loaded onto biochar (BC) to form a S-NTO/BC composite photocatalyst. After uniform loading onto BC, the S-NTO particles transformed from cubic to spherical. The photogenerated electron-hole pair recombination probability of the composite photocatalyst was significantly lower than those of the NTO particles. The light absorption range of the catalyst was effectively widened from 310 nm UV region to visible region. In addition, a dual-effect catalytic system was constructed by introducing peroxymonosulfate (PMS) into the environment of the pollution to be degraded. The Rhodamine B, Methyl Orange, Acid Orange 7, tetracycline, and ciprofloxacin degradation efficiency at 40 mg/L reached 99.6%, 99.2%, 84.5%, 67.1%, and 70.7%, respectively, after irradiation by a 40 W lamps for 90 min. The high-efficiency visible-light catalytic activity of the dual-effect catalytic system was attributed to doping with non-metallic sulfur and loading of catalysts onto BC. The development of this dual-effect catalytic system provides new ideas for quickly and efficiently solving the problem of high-concentration organic pollution in aqueous environments, rationally and fully utilizing solar energy, and expanding the application of photocatalytic technology to practice.

Gut microbiota combined with metabolites reveals unique features of acute myocardial infarction patients different from stable coronary artery disease.

INTRODUCTION: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) accounts for the majority of deaths caused by coronary artery disease (CAD). Early warning of AMI, especially for patients with stable coronary artery disease (sCAD), is urgently needed. Our previous study showed that alterations in the gut microbiota were correlated with CAD severity. OBJECTIVES: Herein, we tried to discover accurate and convenient biomarkers for AMI by combination of gut microbiota and fecal/blood/urinary metabolomics. METHODS: We recruited 190 volunteers including 93 sCAD patients, 49 AMI patients, and 48 subjects with normal coronary artery (NCA), and measured their blood biochemical parameters, 16S rRNA-based gut microbiota and NMR-based fecal/blood/urinary metabolites. We further selected 20 subjects from each group and analyzed their gut microbiota by whole-metagenome shotgun sequencing. RESULTS: Multi-omic analyses revealed that AMI patients exhibited specific changes in gut microbiota and serum/urinary/fecal metabolites as compared to subjects with sCAD or NCA. Fourteen bacterial genera and 30 metabolites (11 in feces, 10 in blood, 9 in urine) were closely related to AMI phenotypes and could accurately distinguish AMI patients from sCAD patients. Some species belonging to Alistipes, Streptococcus, Ruminococcus, Lactobacillus and Faecalibacterium were effective to distinguish AMI from sCAD and their predictive ability was confirmed in an independent cohort of CAD patients. We further selected nine indicators including 4 bacterial genera, 3 fecal and 2 urinary metabolites as a noninvasive biomarker set which can distinguish AMI from sCAD with an AUC of 0.932. CONCLUSION: Combination of gut microbiota and fecal/urinary metabolites provided a set of potential useful and noninvasive predictive biomarker for AMI from sCAD.

The controversy of klotho as a potential biomarker in chronic kidney disease.

Klotho is an identified longevity gene with beneficial pleiotropic effects on the kidney. Evidence shows that a decline in serum Klotho level occurs in early chronic kidney disease (CKD) and continues as CKD progresses. Klotho deficiency is associated with poor clinical outcomes and CKD mineral bone disorders (CKD-MBD). Klotho has been postulated as a candidate biomarker in the evaluation of CKD. However, the evidence for the clinical significance of the relationship between Klotho and kidney function, CKD stage, adverse kidney and/or non-kidney outcomes, and CKD-MBD remains inconsistent and in some areas, contradictory. Therefore, there is uncertainty as to whether Klotho is a potential biomarker in CKD; a general consensus regarding the clinical significance of Klotho in CKD has not been reached, and there is limited evidence synthesis in this area. To address this, we have systematically assessed the areas of controversy, focusing on the inconsistencies in the evidence base. We used a PICOM strategy to search for relevant studies and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale scoring to evaluate included publications. We reviewed the inconsistent clinical findings based on the relationship of Klotho with CKD stage, kidney and/or non-kidney adverse outcomes, and CKD-MBD in human studies. Subsequently, we assessed the underlying sources of the controversies and highlighted future directions to resolve these inconsistencies and clarify whether Klotho has a role as a biomarker in clinical practice in CKD.

Role of IL-10 and IL-22 cytokines in patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia and their clinical significance.

BACKGROUND: Immune thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disease that leads to accelerated platelet clearance. The objective of this study was to examine the clinical role of cytokines in ITP patients and to correlate them with disease stages. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 110 ITP patients were enrolled, including 55 with active ITP, 55 with remission ITP, and 55 with healthy controls. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique was used to examine IL-10 and IL-22 serum levels in all subjects. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to assess the mRNA expression of IL-10 and IL-22 in PBMC. The clinical significance of both cytokines was assessed using ROC analysis. RESULTS: IL-10 serum levels in active ITP patients were significantly lower than in control and remission ITP subjects (p < 0.05). IL-22 serum levels were elevated in active ITP patients compared to the control and remission group (p < 0.05). mRNA expressions of IL-10 and IL-22 in active ITP patients were also having a significant difference from than control and remission ITP group (p < 0.05). ROC analysis showed that IL-10 and IL-22 can differentiate the ITP patients from controls. A positive correlation between serum IL-10 and PBMC IL-10 with statistical significance was observed. Similarly, the serum IL-22 and PBMC IL-22 were correlated positively with statistical significance. CONCLUSION: IL-10 and IL-22 seem to predict the clinical course of ITP, as a significant imbalance of these cytokines was detected in active ITP patients.

The ethnomedicinal and functional uses, phytochemical and pharmacology of compounds from Ardisia species: An updated review.

Medicinal plants are considered to be a critical source of novel compounds and pharmacophores. The genus Ardisia, consisting of approximately 500 species, is the largest genus in the Myrsinaceae family. Ardisia species are widely distributed throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the world and have been used for the treatment of cancer, hypertension, irregular menstruation, gonorrhea, diarrhea and postnatal syndromes, among others. Phytochemical studies of Ardisia species have resulted in the isolation and identification of 111 compounds, including triterpenoid saponins, quinones, phenols, coumarins, cyclic depsipepetide and flavonoids. Crude extracts and isolates from Ardisia have been reported to have in vitro and in vivo efficacies, including but not limited to anticancer, antiinflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antithrombotic and antidiabetic, antitubercular compounds. This review focuses on the medical and functional uses, phytochemical profile and pharmacological efficacies of Ardisia species over the past 15 years. This review will provide information indicating that Ardisia species represent an invaluable source of potential therapeutic compounds.

CCL5 Suppresses Klotho Expression via p-STAT3/DNA Methyltransferase1-Mediated Promoter Hypermethylation.

Background: Enhanced inflammation and reduced Klotho are common features in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Inflammation induces DNA hypermethylation. This study assessed the performance of inflammatory marker C-C motif chemokine 5 (CCL5) in epigenetic regulation of Klotho expression. Methods: Fifty CKD patients and 25 matched controls were enrolled, and serum CCL5 level, sKlotho level, and DNA methylation were evaluated in these subjects. A renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) model with CKD was induced in mice via unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in vivo and human proximal tubular epithelial (HK-2) cells treated with CCL5 in vitro. 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza), a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor was given to UUO mice. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Masson trichrome staining were adopted to evaluate renal pathological changes. Methylation-specific PCR was performed to assess DNA methylation of Klotho promoter in the peripheral blood leucocytes (PBLs) from CKD patients and obstructive kidney from UUO mice. CCL5, Klotho, and DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) were determined by ELISAs, immunofluorescence, or western blotting. HK-2 cells were exposed to CCL5 with or without 5-Aza and stattic, a p-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) inhibitor, and expressions of p-STAT3, DNMT1, and Klotho were determined by western blotting. Results: CCL5 upregulation concomitant with Klotho downregulation in serum and global DNA methylation in PBLs were observed in CKD samples. UUO contributed to severe renal interstitial fibrosis and enhanced expressions of fibrotic markers. Moreover, UUO increased the CCL5 level, induced Klotho promoter methylation, suppressed Klotho level, activated p-STAT3 signaling, and upregulated DNMT1 level. A similar observation was made in HK-2 cells treated with CCL5. More importantly, 5-Aza inhibited UUO-induced Klotho hypermethylation, reversed Klotho, downregulated p-STAT3 expressions, and ameliorated RIF in vivo. The consistent findings in vitro were also obtained in HK-2 cells exposed to 5-Aza and stattic. Conclusion: The CCL5/p-STAT3/DNMT1 axis is implicated in epigenetic regulation of Klotho expression in CKD. This study provides novel therapeutic possibilities for reversal of Klotho suppression by CKD.

Genome-wide identification of Tomato Golden 2-Like transcription factors and abiotic stress related members screening.

BACKGROUND: Golden 2-Like (G2-like) transcription factors play an important role in plant development. However, the roles of these G2-like regulatory genes in response to abiotic stresses in tomato are not well understood. RESULTS: In this study, we identified 66 putative G2-like genes in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and classified them into 5 groups (I to V) according to gene structure, motif composition and phylogenetic analysis. The G2-like genes were unevenly distributed across all 12 chromosomes. There were nine pairs of duplicated gene segments and four tandem duplicated SlGlk genes. Analysis of the cis-regulatory elements (CREs) showed that the promoter regions of SlGlks contain many kinds of stress- and hormone-related CREs. Based on RNA-seq, SlGlks were expressed in response to three abiotic stresses. Thirty-six differentially expressed SlGlks were identified; these genes have multiple functions according to Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and are enriched mainly in the zeatin biosynthesis pathway. Further studies exhibited that silencing SlGlk16 in tomato would reduce drought stress tolerance by earlier wilted, lower superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) activities, less Pro contents and more MDA contents. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the results of this study provide comprehensive information on G2-like transcription factors and G2-like genes that may be expressed in response to abiotic stresses.

Abnormally decreased renal Klotho is linked to endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation in mice.

Aim: Endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD), which involves degradation of improperly folded proteins retained in the ER, is implicated in various diseases including chronic kidney disease. This study is aimed to determine the role of ERAD in Klotho deficiency of mice and human kidney tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) with renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF). Methods: Following establishment of a mouse RIF model by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO), a specific ERAD inhibitor, Eeyarestatin I (EerI), was administered to experimental animals by intraperitoneal injection. Serum and kidney samples were collected for analysis 10 days after operation. Soluble Klotho levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, while the degree of kidney injury was assessed by renal histopathology. Renal Klotho expression was determined by quantitative real-time PCR, immunohistochemical and western blotting analyses. ERAD and unfolded protein response (UPR) were evaluated by detecting associated components such as Derlin-1, glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) and protein disulfide isomerase (PDI). HK-2 cells were exposed to transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1 with or without EerI, and expressions of related proteins including Klotho, Derlin-1, GRP78, ATF4 and PDI were determined by western blotting analyses. Results: UUO induced severe kidney injuries and RIF. Klotho expression in both serum and kidney tissue was obviously downregulated, while Derlin-1 was notably upregulated, indicating that ERAD was activated to potentially degrade improperly folded Klotho protein in this model. Intriguingly, treatment with EerI led to significantly increased Klotho expression, especially soluble (functional) Klotho. Furthermore, specific inhibition of ERAD increased expression of GRP78, ATF4 and PDI compared with the UUO group. The consistent results in vitro were also obtained in TGF-ß1-treated HK-2 cells exposed to EerI. These observations suggest that UPR was remarkably enhanced in the presence of ERAD inhibition and compensated for excess improperly folded proteins, subsequently contributing to the additional production of mature Klotho protein. Conclusion: ERAD is involved in Klotho deficiency in RIF and its specific inhibition significantly promoted Klotho expression, possibly through enhanced UPR. This may represent a novel regulatory mechanism and new therapeutic target for reversing Klotho deficiency.

Correlation Between Soluble Klotho and Vascular Calcification in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review.

Background: The correlation between soluble Klotho (sKlotho) level and vascular calcification (VC) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains controversial. Using meta-analysis, we aimed to address this controversy and assess the feasibility of applying sKlotho as a biomarker for VC. Methods: Medical electronic databases were thoroughly searched for eligible publications on the association between sKlotho level and VC in CKD patients. Effectors, including correlation coefficients (r), odds ratios (ORs), hazard ratio (HR) or ß-values, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted and combined according to study design or effector calculation method. Pooled effectors were generated using both random-effects models and fixed-effects models according to I 2-value. Origin of heterogeneity was explored by sensitivity analysis and subgroup analysis. Results: Ten studies with 1,204 participants from a total of 1,199 publications were eligible and included in this meta-analysis. The combined correlation coefficient (r) was [-0.33 (-0.62, -0.04)] with significant heterogeneity (I 2 = 89%, p < 0.001) based on Spearman correlation analysis, and this significant association was also demonstrated in subgroups. There was no evidence of publication bias. The combined OR was [3.27 (1.70, 6.30)] with no evidence of heterogeneity (I 2 = 0%, p = 0.48) when sKlotho was treated as a categorical variable or [1.05 (1.01, 1.09)] with moderate heterogeneity (I 2 = 63%, p = 0.10) when sKlotho was treated as a continuous variable based on multivariate logistic regression. No significant association was observed and the pooled OR was [0.29 (0.01, 11.15)] with high heterogeneity (I 2 = 96%, p < 0.001) according to multivariate linear regression analysis. There was an inverse association between sKlotho and parathyroid hormone levels. The combined coefficient (r) was [-0.20 (-0.40, -0.01)] with significant heterogeneity (I 2 = 86%, p < 0.001), and without obvious publication bias. No significant association was found between sKlotho and calcium or phosphate levels. Conclusion: There exists a significant association between decreased sKlotho level and increased risk of VC in CKD patients. This raises the possibility of applying sKlotho as a biomarker for VC in CKD populations. Large, prospective, well-designed studies or interventional clinical trials are required to validate our findings.

Meta-analysis of the association between sclerostin level and adverse clinical outcomes in patients undergoing maintenance haemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: Studies regarding the relationship of sclerostin (Scl) with clinical outcomes in patients undergoing maintenance haemodialysis have yielded controversial findings. This meta-analysis was performed to investigate the predictive role of Scl in this patient population. METHODS: Several electronic medical databases (e.g. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Library) were searched for eligible studies through December 20, 2019. Summary hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated based on Scr level (high or low) using a random or fixed effects model. RESULTS: From among 641 initially screened publications, 16 eligible studies were included in this meta-analysis. A high Scl level was not associated with cardiovascular events [HR = 0.8 (95% CI, 0.42-1.35)] or all-cause mortality [HR = 0.93 (95% CI, 0.56-1.54)]. There was high heterogeneity, but no evidence of publication bias. Interestingly, a high Scl level was associated with reduced cardiovascular events [HR = 0.44 (95% CI, 0.29-0.69)] in the subgroup by shorter follow-up period or all-cause mortality [pooled HR = 0.58 (95% CI, 0.36-0.91)] by shorter dialysis vintage. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis indicated that a high Scl level did not predict total clinical outcomes in patients undergoing maintenance haemodialysis despite survival benefits in the subgroups. The predictive role of Scl in these patients should be further evaluated in large prospective studies.

Discovery of zeylenone from Uvaria grandiflora as a potential botanical fungicide.

BACKGROUND: Botanical pesticides play an important role in organic agricultural practices and are widely used in integrated pest management (IPM). Uvaria grandiflora was mainly reported as traditional medicines and possessed antibacterial, antioxidant, and antiprotozoal activities. Therefore, important biological activities of U. grandiflora may suggest that they have the potential to be used as botanical pesticides. RESULTS: The extract of U. grandiflora exhibited broad-spectrum inhibitory activity toward phytopathogenic fungi and oomycetes, particularly against Colletotrichum musae and Phytophthora capsici, and its secondary metabolite zeylenone also displayed strong antifungal and anti-oomycete activities against phytopathogens. Particularly, half maximal effective concentration (EC50 ) values of zeylenone against Phytophthora capsici and C. musae were 6.98 and 3.37 µg mL-1 , showing better inhibitory effects than those of commercial fungicides (azoxystrobin and osthole). Additionally, the pot experiments showed that the extract of U. grandiflora could effectively control Pseudoperonospora cubensis, Phytophthora infestans, Phytophthora capsici and Podosphaera xanthii. In the field experiment, 5% microemulsion of U. grandiflora extract exhibited 79.72% efficacy against cucumber powdery mildew at 87.5 g ha-1 on the 14th day after two sprayings, which was better than that of 21.5% trifloxystrobin and 21.5% fluopyram SC at 200.9 g ha-1 . Surprisingly, 5% microemulsion of U. grandiflora extract could promote cucumber growth significantly. Furthermore, the action mechanism analysis indicated that zeylenone may damage the cytoderm and affect energy metabolism of Phytophthora capsici. CONCLUSION: It is the first time that the extract of U. grandiflora and zeylenone have been discovered leading to broad application prospects in the development as botanical fungicides. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Photostable 1-Trifluoromethyl Cinnamyl Alcohol Derivatives Designed as Potential Fungicides and Bactericides.

In the current work, a series of 1-trifluoromethyl cinnamyl alcohol derivatives were designed and synthesized and their antifungal activities were evaluated. The bioassay result showed that most compounds exhibited excellent antifungal activity in vitro at 10 µg mL-1. Next, photostable and easily synthesized compound 2 with broad-spectrum antifungal activity in vitro was selected as a potential candidate to evaluate its antibacterial and antifungal activities. The EC50 values of compound 2 against eight fungal plant pathogens in vitro ranged from 3.806 to 17.981 µg mL-1; at the same time, compound 2 could effectively control Podosphaera xanthii, Odium heveae Steinm, Puccinia striiformis West, and Puccinia sorghi in pot experiments. In addition, compound 2 exhibited excellent antibacterial activities in vitro and in vivo against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae. Furthermore, the absorption and translocation of compound 2 in wheat plants were determined by the high-performance liquid chromatography method. The result showed that compound 2 could be translocated acropetally as well as basipetally in wheat plants. Finally, it was found that compound 2 had no cross-resistance with carbendazim, azoxystrobin, and boscalid.

Y2O3:Yb3+, Tm3+/ZnO composite with a heterojunction structure and upconversion function for the photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes.

Endowing photocatalytic materials with a broader range of light responses is important for improving their performance and solar energy utilization. In this study, a simple sol-gel method was used to prepare Yb3+/Tm3+-co-doped Y2O3 upconversion materials and Y2O3:Yb3+, Tm3+/ZnO (Y/Z) composite photocatalysts for the photocatalytic degradation of dyes. The Y/Z composite photocatalyst achieved degradation rates of 38%, 95%, and 89% for methyl orange, methylene blue (MB), and acid chrome blue K dye solutions, respectively, within 30 minutes. The degradation efficiency for MB after three cycles of degradation was 86%. The spherical Y2O3:Yb3+, Tm3+ particles had diameters of 20-50 nm and attached to the ZnO nanosheets, forming a heterojunction structure with ZnO. Fluorescence spectroscopy showed that Y2O3:Yb3+, Tm3+ could convert near-infrared (NIR) light into three sets of ultraviolet light (290, 320, and 360 nm) under NIR excitation. Photoluminescence spectroscopy demonstrated that the photogenerated electron-hole pair recombination probability of the composite photocatalyst was significantly lower than that of ZnO nanosheets, thereby reducing the energy loss during the migration process. Furthermore, the addition of Y2O3:Yb3+, Tm3+ to ZnO substantially improved the absorption capacity for ultraviolet light, which enhanced the photocatalytic activity. A possible mechanism for the enhanced photocatalytic performance of the Y/Z composites was proposed based on the synergistic effect of heterojunction formation and the photoconversion process. The composite photocatalyst with upconversion characteristics and heterogeneous structure provides a new strategy for removing organic pollutants from water.

Association of Soluble Klotho Level with Adverse Outcomes in Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: The predictive value of soluble Klotho (sKlotho) for adverse outcomes in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) is controversial. In this study, we aimed to clarify the potential association of sKlotho levels with adverse outcomes in this patient population. MATERIALS: A total of 211 patients on MHD were identified and stratified according to the median sKlotho level. Patients were followed up for adverse outcomes including cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: During the 36-month follow-up, 75 patients [51 CV events (including 16 CV deaths) and 40 deaths] experienced adverse outcomes. After stratification according to median sKlotho level, patients with a lower sKlotho level had a greater risk of CV events (38.2% vs. 19.5%, p = 0.006), all-cause mortality (28.4% vs. 11.6%, p = 0.003), and combined adverse outcomes (51.0% vs. 24.2%, p < 0.001). Similar observations were made from analyses using Kaplan-Meier survival curves. Cox regression analysis showed that a low sKlotho level was strongly correlated with CV morbidity [1.942 (1.030-3.661), p = 0.040)], all-cause mortality [2.073 (1.023-4.203), p = 0.043], and combined adverse outcomes [1.818 (1.092-3.026), p = 0.021] in fully adjusted models. CONCLUSIONS: The sKlotho level was an independent predictive factor of adverse outcomes including CV morbidity and mortality in patients on MHD.

Pediatric pharmaceutical care with anti-infective medication in a patient with acute hematogenous osteomyelitis caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

The infection of the bone marrow system caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) leads to a variety of common diseases which usually occur in children under the age of 12. Vancomycin (VCM) is the first-line therapy for MRSA-caused serious infections such as bacteremia, infective endocarditis, osteomyelitis, meningitis, pneumonia, and severe skin and soft-tissue infection (e.g. necrotizing fasciitis) with a recommended dosage of 15-20 µg/mL. In this study, we first report a case of a child with MRSA-caused osteomyelitis who was successfully cured by VCM at a concentration of 4.86 µg/mL. VCM's clinical daily dose of more than 4 g was of concern in light of recent evidence suggesting the increased risks of nephrotoxicity and red man syndrome when Cmin ⩾15 µg/mL and doses ⩾10 mg/kg in children. As far as we know, this is the first report on the lower dose of VCM in children with MRSA osteomyelitis.