Association between glycemia and multi-vessel lesion in participants undergoing coronary angiography: a cross-sectional study.

Background: This study aims to elucidate the association between glycemia and the occurrence of multi-vessel lesions in participants undergoing coronary angiography. Methods: We analyzed 2,533 patients with coronary artery disease who underwent coronary angiography. Of these, 1,973 patients, identified by the endpoint of multi-vessel lesions, were examined using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to determine the relationship between glycemia levels and multi-vessel lesion occurrence. Results: The analysis included 1,973 participants, among whom 474 patients were identified with coronary multi-vessel lesions. Univariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated a positive correlation between glycemia and the occurrence of coronary multi-vessel lesions (OR 1.04; 95% CI 1.01-1.08; p = 0.02). The adjusted model indicated that for each unit increase in glycemia, the risk of developing coronary multi-vessel lesions increased by 4%, showing a significant correlation (p < 0.05). Subgroup analyses revealed that the impact of glycemia on multi-vessel lesions in patients with PCI varied according to gender, age, and smoking status, with the effect being more pronounced in men, older patients, and smokers. Conclusion: Our findings establish a significant association between glycemia and the incidence of multi-vessel lesions, particularly pronounced in male patients, individuals over 45, and smokers.

Diterpenoids target SARS-CoV-2 RdRp from the roots of Euphorbia fischeriana Steud.

Introduction: Currently, the development of new antiviral drugs against COVID-19 remains of significant importance. In traditional Chinese medicine, the herb Euphorbia fischeriana Steud is often used for antiviral treatment, yet its therapeutic effect against the COVID-19 has been scarcely studied. Therefore, this study focuses on the roots of E. fischeriana Steud, exploring its chemical composition, antiviral activity against COVID-19, and the underlying basis of its antiviral activity. Methods: Isolation and purification of phytochemicals from E. fischeriana Steud. The elucidation of their configurations was achieved through a comprehensive suite of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analyses as well as X-ray diffraction. Performed cytopathic effect assays of SARS-CoV-2 using Vero E6 cells. Used molecular docking to screen for small molecule ligands with binding to SARS-CoV-2 RdRp. Microscale thermophoresis (MST) was used to determine the dissociation constant Kd. Results: Ultimately, nine new ent-atisane-type diterpenoid compounds were isolated from E. fischeriana Steud, named Eupfisenoids A-I (compounds 1-9). The compound of 1 was established as a C-19-degraded ent-atisane-type diterpenoid. During the evaluation of these compounds for their antiviral activity against COVID-19, compound 1 exhibited significant antiviral activity. Furthermore, with the aid of computer virtual screening and microscale thermophoresis (MST) technology, it was found that this compound could directly bind to the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp, NSP12) of the COVID-19, a key enzyme in virus replication. This suggests that the compound inhibits virus replication by targeting RdRp. Discussion: Through this research, not only has our understanding of the antiviral components and material basis of E. fischeriana Steud been enriched, but also the potential of atisane-type diterpenoid compounds as antiviral agents against COVID-19 has been discovered. The findings mentioned above will provide valuable insights for the development of drugs against COVID-19.

Exploring the causal relationship: bidirectional mendelian randomization study on benign prostatic hyperplasia and cardiovascular diseases.

Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common disease occurring in elderly and middle-aged men, and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are one of the major causes of death worldwide. Many observational studies examined have found a strong association between BPH and CVDs, but the causal relationship between them is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the causal relationship between BPH and CVDs, specifically five diseases: stroke, coronary heart disease (CHD), heart failure, myocardial infarction (MI), and atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods: In this study, we obtained single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of patients with BPH from the UK Biobank database and patients with CVDs from the UK Biobank, the HERMES Consortium, and the FinnGen Genome Database, each used as a genetic tool for a Mendelian randomization (MR) study. We used conventional MR analysis to assess potential causal direction between BPH and CVDs, as well as MR-Egger, MR-PRESSO, model-based estimation (MBE) and weighted median methods for sensitivity analysis. Results: Using a bidirectional two-sample MR study, we found that BPH patients had an increased risk of developing CHD (ConMix OR = 1.152, 95% CI: 1.011-1.235, p = 0.035) and MI (ConMix OR = 1.107.95% CI: 1.022-1.164, p = 0.013), but a decreased risk of stroke (ConMix OR = 0.872, 95% CI: 0.797-0.926, p = 0.002). The reverse study was not statistically significant and further research may be needed. Conclusion: Our study suggests a potential causal relationship between BPH and CVDs. BPH appears to be a risk factor for CHD and MI, but it may be protective against stroke. There was no evidence of a causal association in the reverse study, and a larger sample size was needed in follow-up to further explore the potential association.

The impact of diabetes mellitus on cardiac function assessed by magnetic resonance imaging in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: The adverse prognostic impact of diabetes on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is poorly understood. We sought to explore the underlying mechanisms in terms of structural and functional remodelling in HCM patients with coexisting diabetes (HCM-DM). METHODS: A total of 45 HCM-DM patients were retrospectively included. Isolated HCM controls (HCM patients without diabetes) were matched to HCM-DM patients in terms of maximal wall thickness, age, and gender distribution. Left ventricular (LV) and atrial (LA) performance were evaluated using cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracking strain analyses. The associations between diabetes and LV/LA impairment were investigated by univariable and multivariable linear regression. RESULTS: Compared with the isolated HCM controls, the HCM-DM patients had smaller end-diastolic volume and stroke volume, lower ejection fraction, larger mass/volume ratio and impaired strains in all three directions (all P < 0.05). In terms of the LA parameters, HCM-DM patients presented impaired LA reservoir and conduit strain/strain rate (all P < 0.05). Among all HCM patients, comorbidity with diabetes was independently associated with a low LV ejection fraction (ß = - 6.05, P < 0.001) and impaired global longitudinal strain (ß = 1.40, P = 0.007). Moreover, compared with the isolated HCM controls, HCM-DM patients presented with more myocardial fibrosis according to late gadolinium enhancement, which was an independent predictor of impaired LV global radial strain (ß = - 45.81, P = 0.008), LV global circumferential strain (ß = 18.25, P = 0.003), LA reservoir strain (ß = - 59.20, P < 0.001) and strain rate (ß = - 2.90, P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes has adverse effects on LV and LA function in HCM patients, which may be important contributors to severe manifestations and outcomes in those patients. The present study strengthened the evidence of the prevention and management of diabetes in HCM patients.

The right ventricular dysfunction and ventricular interdependence in patients with T2DM and aortic regurgitation: an assessment using CMR feature tracking.

BACKGROUND: Patients with concomitant type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and aortic regurgitation (AR) can present with right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. The current study aimed to evaluate the impact of AR on RV impairment and the importance of ventricular interdependence using cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracking (CMR­FT) in patients with T2DM. METHODS: This study included 229 patients with T2DM (AR-), 88 patients with T2DM (AR+), and 122 healthy controls. The biventricular global radial strain (GRS), global circumferential strain (GCS), and global longitudinal peak strain (GLS) were calculated with CMR­FT and compared among the healthy control, T2DM (AR-), and T2DM (AR+) groups. The RV regional strains at the basal, mid, and apical cavities between the T2DM (AR+) group and subgroups with different AR degrees were compared. Backward stepwise multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to determine the effects of AR and left ventricular (LV) strains on RV strains. RESULTS: The RV GLS, LV GRS, LV GCS, LV GLS, interventricular septal (IVS) GRS and IVS GCS were decreased gradually from the controls through the T2DM (AR-) group to the T2DM (AR+) group. The IVS GLS of the T2DM (AR-) and T2DM (AR+) groups was lower than that of the control group. AR was independently associated with LV GRS, LV GCS, LV GLS, RV GCS, and RV GLS. If AR and LV GLSs were included in the regression analyses, AR and LV GLS were independently associated with RV GLS. CONCLUSION: AR can exacerbate RV dysfunction in patients with T2DM, which may be associated with the superimposed strain injury of the left ventricle and interventricular septum. The RV longitudinal and circumferential strains are important indicators of cardiac injury in T2DM and AR. The unfavorable LV-RV interdependence supports that while focusing on improving LV function, RV dysfunction should be monitored and treated in order to slow the progression of the disease and the onset of adverse outcomes.

The Regulation of Frontal Cortex Cholesterol Metabolism Abnormalities by NR3C1/NRIP1/NR1H2 Is Involved in the Occurrence of Stress-Induced Depression.

Stress-induced alterations in central neuron metabolism and function are crucial contributors to depression onset. However, the metabolic dysfunctions of the neurons associated with depression and specific molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study initially analyzed the relationship between cholesterol and depression using the NHANES database. We then induced depressive-like behaviors in mice via restraint stress. Applying bioinformatics, pathology, and molecular biology, we observed the pathological characteristics of brain cholesterol homeostasis and investigated the regulatory mechanisms of brain cholesterol metabolism disorders. Through the NHANES database, we initially confirmed a significant correlation between cholesterol metabolism abnormalities and depression. Furthermore, based on successful stress mouse model establishment, we discovered the number of cholesterol-related DEGs significantly increased in the brain due to stress, and exhibited regional heterogeneity. Further investigation of the frontal cortex, a brain region closely related to depression, revealed stress caused significant disruption to key genes related to cholesterol metabolism, including HMGCR, CYP46A1, ACAT1, APOE, ABCA1, and LDLR, leading to an increase in total cholesterol content and a significant decrease in synaptic proteins PSD-95 and SYN. This indicates cholesterol metabolism affects neuronal synaptic plasticity and is associated with stress-induced depressive-like behavior in mice. Adeno-associated virus interference with NR3C1 in the prefrontal cortex of mice subjected to short-term stress resulted in reduced protein levels of NRIP1, NR1H2, ABCA1, and total cholesterol content. At the same time, it increased synaptic proteins PSD95 and SYN, effectively alleviating depressive-like behavior. Therefore, these results suggest that short-term stress may induce cholesterol metabolism disorders by activating the NR3C1/NRIP1/NR1H2 signaling pathway. This impairs neuronal synaptic plasticity and consequently participates in depressive-like behavior in mice. These findings suggest that abnormal cholesterol metabolism in the brain induced by stress is a significant contributor to depression onset.

Association Between Glycated Hemoglobin and the Lipid Profile at the Central Yunnan Plateau: A Retrospective Study.

Introduction: Dyslipidemia commonly complicates type 2 diabetes mellitus, yet the relationship between glycosylated hemoglobin and blood lipid levels remains uncertain. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included 27,158 participants from the People's Hospital of Yuxi. Statistical comparisons for continuous variables utilized analysis of variance (ANOVA), while chi-square analysis was employed for categorical variables. Boxplots assessed the concentration, dispersion, and deviation of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) distribution. A linear regression analysis examined the association between HbA1c and lipid profile, complemented by a fitting curve to visualize trends. Results: Participants who developed diabetes exhibited higher age and elevated Body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), TC, TG, LDL-C, and FPG levels compared to those without diabetes (p < 0.001). Linear regression analysis demonstrated significant associations between HbA1c values and TC, TG, LDL-C, and HDL-C (p < 0.001). The plotted curve indicated that as TC, TG, and LDL levels increased, HbA1c levels rose, while HDL levels decreased. Conclusion: HbA1c was positively correlated with TC, TG, LDL-C, and negatively correlated with HDL-C in the population in the central Yunnan Plateau.

Studies related to the enhanced the effect of 5-aminolevulinic acid-based photodynamic therapy combined with tirapazamine.

OBJECTIVE: 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) is a precursor of the photosensitizer and photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been used in clinical practice. However, tumor cellular hypoxia severely affects the efficiency of photodynamic therapy. In this study, photodynamic therapy was combined with tirapazamine to investigate the effects of the combined intervention and the related mechanisms it may involve. METHODS: Colony formation assays were used to demonstrate cell proliferation. Transwell assays were performed to observe the effect on cell invasion and metastasis after the corresponding intervention. DCFH-DA probe was used to detect the reactive oxygen species content. Flow cytometry was used to detect the effects of the interventions on apoptosis and cell cycle. The relevant pathways that may be involved are explored by examining the expression levels of the relevant proteins and genes. RESULTS: Colony formation assays indicated that the combined intervention inhibited cell proliferation. Transwell assays demonstrated that PDT combined with TPZ effectively inhibited tumor cell invasion and metastasis. In addition, fluorescence intensity generated by DCFH-DA oxidation was detected indicating that the combined intervention increased the formation of reactive oxygen species. Flow cytometry clearly showed that the combination of PDT and TPZ further increased apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. The results of western blotting and qRT-PCR experiments confirmed that the combination therapy inhibited HIF-1α/VEGF axis and the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway activation. CONCLUSION: 5-ALA-PDT combined with TPZ can inhibit cell proliferation, increase apoptosis, and inhibit the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, thus inhibiting tumor growth and metastasis and improving anti-cancer effects.

Genome-Wide Association Study Reveals the Genetic Basis of Crude Fiber Components in Brassica napus L. Shoots at Stem Elongation Stage.

Brassica napus is currently the principal field crop for producing materials for primary, secondary and tertiary industries. B. napus shoots at stem elongation stage are rich in anthocyanins, vitamin C and mineral elements such as selenium, calcium and zinc, and represent a new type of green vegetable. However, the high crude fiber (CF) content of B. napus shoots affects their taste, and few studies have focused on the quality traits of these vegetables. In this study, we investigated five traits related to the CF components, including neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), hemicellulose (Hem) and cellulose (Cel), of B. napus shoots. Whole-genome resequencing at a depth of ∼20× was utilized to genotype an association panel of 202 diverse accessions, which resulted in the identification of 6,093,649 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 996,252 indels, respectively. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed for the five CF-related traits based on the phenotypic data observed in four environments. A total of 1,285 significant SNPs were detected at the threshold of -log10 (p) = 5.16, and 97 significant association regions were obtained. In addition, seven candidate genes located on chromosomes A2 (one gene), A8 (three genes), A9 (two genes) and C9 (one gene) related to CF traits were identified, and ten lines containing low CF contents were selected as excellent germplasm resources for breeding. Our results contributed new insights into the genetic basis of CF traits and suggested germplasm resources for the quality improvement of B. napus shoots.

[Value of SOX1 and PAX1 Gene Methylation Detection in Secondary Triage of High-Grade Cervical Lesions].

Objective To evaluate the value of SOX1 and PAX1 gene methylation detection in the secondary triage of high-grade cervical lesions.Methods Exfoliated cervical cells were collected from 122 patients tested positive for human papilloma virus (HPV) and subjected to thin-prep cytologic test (TCT) and SOX1/PAX1 gene methylation tests.Results The HPV test combined with TCT showed the sensitivity of 95.24% and the specificity of 23.75% for detecting cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 2 and above (CIN2+).After the addition of the SOX1/PAX1 gene methylation detection in secondary triage,the sensitivity for detecting CIN2+ was 83.33%,which had no statistically significant difference from the sensitivity of TCT combined with HPV test (P=0.078).However,the specificity reached 77.50%,which was significantly higher than that of HPV test combined with TCT (P<0.001).The SOX1/PAX1 gene methylation level in the CIN2+ group was higher than those in the normal cervical tissue and the CIN1 group(P<0.001).The cut-off values of SOX1 and PAX1 gene methylation for CIN2+ detection were -11.81 and -11.98,respectively.Conclusion Adding the detection of SOX1/PAX1 gene methylation in secondary triage significantly improves the efficiency and accuracy of CIN2+ detection.

ROK family regulator NagC promotes prodigiosin biosynthesis independent of N-acetylglucosamine in Serratia sp. ATCC 39006.

Serratia sp. ATCC 39006 is an important model strain for the study of prodigiosin production, whose prodigiosin biosynthesis genes (pigA-O) are arranged in an operon. Several transcription factors have been shown to control the transcription of the pig operon. However, since the regulation of prodigiosin biosynthesis is complex, the regulatory mechanism for this process has not been well established. In most γ-proteobacteria, the ROK family regulator NagC acts as a global transcription factor in response to N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc). In Serratia sp. ATCC 39006, NagC represses the transcription of two divergent operons, nagE and nagBAC, which encode proteins involved in the transport and metabolism of GlcNAc. Moreover, NagC directly binds to a 21-nt region that partially overlaps the -10 and -35 regions of the pig promoter and promotes the transcription of prodigiosin biosynthesis genes, thereby increasing prodigiosin production. Although NagC still acts as both repressor and activator in Serratia sp. ATCC 39006, its transcriptional regulatory activity is independent of GlcNAc. NagC was first found to regulate antibiotic biosynthesis in Gram-negative bacteria, and NagC-mediated regulation is not responsive to GlcNAc, which contributes to future studies on the regulation of secondary metabolism by NagC in other bacteria. IMPORTANCE: The ROK family transcription factor NagC is an important global regulator in the γ-proteobacteria. A large number of genes involved in the transport and metabolism of sugars, as well as those associated with biofilm formation and pathogenicity, are regulated by NagC. In all of these regulations, the transcriptional regulatory activity of NagC responds to the supply of GlcNAc in the environment. Here, we found for the first time that NagC can regulate antibiotic biosynthesis, whose transcriptional regulatory activity is independent of GlcNAc. This suggests that NagC may respond to more signals and regulate more physiological processes in Gram-negative bacteria.

Ultrasound-responsive Bi2MoO6-MXene heterojunction as ferroptosis inducers for stimulating immunogenic cell death against ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian cancer (OC) has the highest fatality rate among all gynecological malignancies, necessitating the exploration of novel, efficient, and low-toxicity therapeutic strategies. Ferroptosis is a type of programmed cell death induced by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation and can potentially activate antitumor immunity. Developing highly effective ferroptosis inducers may improve OC prognosis. RESULTS: In this study, we developed an ultrasonically controllable two-dimensional (2D) piezoelectric nanoagonist (Bi2MoO6-MXene) to induce ferroptosis. A Schottky heterojunction between Bi2MoO6 (BMO) and MXene reduced the bandgap width by 0.44 eV, increased the carrier-separation efficiency, and decreased the recombination rate of electron-hole pairs under ultrasound stimulation. Therefore, the reactive oxygen species yield was enhanced. Under spatiotemporal ultrasound excitation, BMO-MXene effectively inhibited OC proliferation by more than 90%, induced lipid peroxidation, decreased mitochondrial-membrane potential, and inactivated the glutathione peroxidase and cystathionine transporter protein system, thereby causing ferroptosis in tumor cells. Ferroptosis in OC cells further activated immunogenic cell death, facilitating dendritic cell maturation and stimulating antitumor immunity. CONCLUSION: We have succeeded in developing a highly potent ferroptosis inducer (BMO-MXene), capable of inhibiting OC progression through the sonodynamic-ferroptosis-immunogenic cell death pathway.

Aggravating effect of abnormal low-density protein cholesterol level on coronary atherosclerotic plaque in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients assessed by coronary computed tomography angiography.

BACKGROUND: The abnormal low-density protein cholesterol (LDL-C) level in the development of atherosclerosis is often comorbid in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM). This study aimed to investigate the aggravating effect of abnormal LDL-C levels on coronary artery plaques assessed by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in T2DM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study collected 3439 T2DM patients from September 2011 to February 2022. Comparative analysis of differences in coronary plaque characteristics was performed for the patients between the normal LDL-C level group and the abnormal LDL-C level group. Factors with P < 0.1 in the univariable linear regression analyses were included in the multivariable linear stepwise regression. RESULTS: A total of 2820 eligible T2DM patients were included and identified as the normal LDL-C level group (n = 973) and the abnormal LDL-C level group (n = 1847). Compared with the normal LDL-C level group, both on a per-patient basis and per-segment basis, patients with abnormal LDL-C level showed more calcified plaques, partially calcified plaques, low attenuation plaques, positive remodellings, and spotty calcifications. Multivessel obstructive disease (MVD), nonobstructive stenosis (NOS), obstructive stenosis (OS), plaque involvement degree (PID), segment stenosis score (SSS), and segment involvement scores (SIS) were likely higher in the abnormal LDL-C level group than that in the normal LDL-C level group (P < 0.001). In multivariable linear stepwise regression, the abnormal LDL-C level was validated as an independent positive correlation with high-risk coronary plaques and the degree and extent of stenosis caused by plaques (low attenuation plaque: ß = 0.116; positive remodelling: ß = 0.138; spotty calcification: ß = 0.091; NOS: ß = 0.427; OS: ß = 0.659: SIS: ß = 1.114; SSS: ß = 2.987; PID: ß = 2.716, all P value < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal LDL-C levels aggravate atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in patients with T2DM. Clinical attention deserves to be caught by the tailored identification of cardiovascular risk categories in T2DM individuals and the achievement of the corresponding LDL-C treatment goal.

Patient satisfaction with letter-based communication of LCS pulmonary nodule results.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze patient satisfaction with letter-based communication of lung cancer screening (LCS) pulmonary nodule results. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective randomized controlled trial of LCS between May and December 2019. METHODS: All participants came from a prospective randomized controlled study on pulmonary nodule results in LCS with low-dose CT (LDCT) to analyze patient satisfaction, perception of information received via letters, preferred methods of receiving results, and dissatisfaction-related characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 153 patients were detected to have pulmonary nodules among 600 recruited participants in the lung cancer high-risk group screened using LDCT. Most of the patients were satisfied with receiving pulmonary nodule results via letters (78.4%; n = 120) and agreed that the letters contained an appropriate amount of information (83.7%; n = 128). Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that satisfaction was related to age (OR, 0.905; 95% CI, 0.832-0.985), education level (OR, 0.367; 95% CI, 0.041-3.250), no family history of cancer (OR, 0.100; 95% CI, 0.011-0.914), and the number of nodules (OR, 6.028; 95% CI, 1.641-22.141). Of the patients who reported dissatisfaction with letter-based communication (7.2%; n = 11), the most common reasons cited were that they contained insufficient patient education materials and that it was difficult to comprehend the medical terminology. The majority of participants (61.4%; n = 94) reported that they would prefer the letter-based communication. No correlation was identified between satisfaction and gender, smoking status, alcohol consumption, risk factors, nodule size, or nodule location. CONCLUSIONS: Patients were generally satisfied with receiving their LCS pulmonary nodule results via letters, reporting that the letters included adequate information about their diagnosis and follow-up steps. This may provide a basis for feasible result communication via letters for cancer screening programs in underdeveloped regions in China.

Evaluation of the extended Japan NBI expert team classification of subtype 2B in laterally spreading colorectal tumors based on blue laser imaging.

OBJECTIVES: The Japan NBI Expert Team (JNET) classification has good diagnostic potential for colorectal diseases. We aimed to explore the diagnostic value of the JNET classification type 2B (JNET2B) criteria for colorectal laterally spreading tumors (LSTs) based on magnifying endoscopy with blue laser imaging (ME-BLI) examination. METHODS: Between January 2017 and June 2023, 218 patients who were diagnosed as having JNET2B-type LSTs using ME-BLI were included retrospectively. Endoscopic images were reinterpreted to categorize the LSTs as JNET2B-low (n = 178) and JNET2B-high (n = 53) LSTs. The JNET2B-low and JNET2B-high LSTs were compared based on their histopathological and morphological classifications. RESULTS: Among the 178 JNET2B-low LSTs, 86 (48.3%) were histopathologically classified as low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia, 54 (30.3%) as high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIN), 37 (20.8%) as intramucosal carcinoma (IMC), and one (0.6%) as superficial invasive submucosal carcinoma (SMC1). Among the 53 JNET2B-high LSTs, five (9.4%) were classified as HGIN, 28 (52.9%) as IMC, 15 (28.3%) as SMC1, and 5 (9.4%) as deep invasive submucosal carcinoma. There were significant differences in this histopathological classification between the two groups (P < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference between JNET2B-low and JNET2B-high LSTs based on their morphological classification (granular vs nongranular) or size (<20 mm vs ≥20 mm). Besides, the κ value for JNET2B subtyping was 0.698 (95% confidence interval 0.592-0.804) between the two endoscopists who reassessed the endoscopic images. CONCLUSION: The JNET2B subtyping of LSTs has a diagnostic potential in the preoperative setting, and may be valuable for treatment decision-making.

All-Aqueous Soft Milli-swimmers.

Microscale swimmers are attractive for targeted drug delivery, noninvasive microsurgery and environmental remediation at different length scales, among which, Marangoni-based swimmers have garnered considerable attention due to their independence of external energy supply. However, applications of most existing chemical swimmers are limited by complex fabrication, high cost, utilization of organic (or even toxic) solvents, poor motility performance, and lack of controllability. To address these challenges, we propose an approach for all-aqueous soft milli-swimmers that utilizes biodegradable hydrogels and biocompatible fuels. This innovative method achieves swimmer body generation and fuel loading in one step by simply dripping one aqueous solution into another, saving fabrication time and minimizing fuel loss during transfer. These all-aqueous soft milli-swimmers have rove beetle-like self-propulsion, which stores low-surface-energy compounds within their body for propulsion on liquid surfaces. Isotropic and anisotropic all-aqueous soft milli-swimmers are formed with precise control over their dimension, morphology, and movement velocity. Through their motion within engineered channels, intricate labyrinths, dynamic air-liquid interfaces, and collective self-assemblies, their remarkable adaptability in complex aqueous environments is demonstrated. Furthermore, the integration of functional nanoparticles endows these all-aqueous milli-swimmers with multifunctionality, expanding their applications in cargo transportation, sensing, and environmental remediation.

Potential SARS-CoV-2 Mpro steroid inhibitors from Aphanamixis polystachya (Wall.) R. N. Parker.

Herein, six previously undescribed steroids (1-6), were isolated from leaves and twigs of Aphanamixis polystachya (Wall.) R. N. Parker (Meliaceae). Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic analysis, including HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR, UV, and IR. Antiviral activity of these compounds were evaluated. Compounds 1-6 showed varying degrees of inhibitory activity against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 main protease (SARS-CoV-2 Mpro) at 200 µM.

Dual Strategy of Morphology Optimization and Interlayer Expansion in VS2 Cathode Toward High-Performance Mg-Li Hybrid Ion Batteries.

Combining the merits of the dendrite-free formation of a Mg anode and the fast kinetics of Li ions, the Mg-Li hybrid ion batteries (MLIBs) are considered an ideal energy storage system. However, the lack of advanced cathode materials limits their further practical application. Herein, we report a dual strategy of morphology optimization and interlayer expansion for the construction of hierarchical flower-like VS2 architecture coated by N-doped amorphous carbon layers. This tailored hierarchical flower-like structure coupled with homogeneous N-doped amorphous carbon layers cooperatively provide more active sites and buffer volume changes, thus realizing the enhancement of capacity and structural stability. Moreover, the enlarged interlayer spacing caused by the cointercalation of polyvinylpyrrolidone and ammonium ions can effectively promote the charge transfer rate and facilitate the rapid ion diffusion, as further demonstrated by electrochemical results and theoretical calculations. These features endow the hierarchical flower-like VS2 cathode with superior specific energy density (644.4 Wh kg-1, average voltage of 1.2 V vs Mg2+/Mg) and excellent rate capability (181.1 mAh g-1 at 2000 mA g-1). Systematic ex situ characterization measurements are employed to reveal the ion storage mechanism, which confirms that Li+ storage plays a leading role in the capacity contribution of MLIBs. Our strategy is in favor of providing useful insights to design and construct MLIBs with high energy density and excellent rate performance.

Sex disparities in cardiac sarcoidosis patients undergoing implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation.

INTRODUCTION: In patients with cardiac sarcoidosis (CS), implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are important for preventing sudden cardiac death. This study aimed to investigate sex disparities in CS patients undergoing ICD implantation. METHODS: The 2016-2020 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database compared the characteristics and outcomes of males and females with CS receiving ICDs. RESULTS: Among 760 CS patients who underwent inpatient ICD implantation, 66.4% were male. Males were younger (55.0 vs. 56.9 years, p < .01), had higher rates of diabetes (31.7% vs. 21.6%, p < .01) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) (16.8% vs. 7.8%, p < .01) but lower prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) (11.9% vs. 23.5%, p < .01), sick sinus syndrome (4.0% vs. 7.8%, p = .024), ventricular fibrillation (VF) (9.9% vs. 15.7%, p = .02), and black ancestry (31.9% vs. 58.0%, p < .01). Unadjusted major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as a composite of in-hospital death, myocardial infarction (MI), and ischemic stroke, was higher in females (11.8% vs. 6.9%, p = .024), but when adjusted for age and tCharlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), females demonstrated significantly lower odds of experiencing MACE (aOR: 0.048, 95% CI: 0.006-0.395, p = .005). Incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) post-ICD was significantly lower in females (15.7% vs. 23.8%, p = .01) as was the adjusted odds (aOR: 0.282, 95% CI: 0.146-0.546, p < .01). There was comparable mean length of stay and hospital charges. CONCLUSION: ICD utilization in CS patients is more common among males, who have a higher prevalence of diabetes and CKD but a lower prevalence of AF, sick sinus syndrome, and VF. Adjusted MACE and AKI were significantly lower in females.