Integrated multi-omics analysis and machine learning to refine molecular subtypes, prognosis, and immunotherapy in lung adenocarcinoma.

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) has a malignant characteristic that is highly aggressive and prone to metastasis. There is still a lack of suitable biomarkers to facilitate the refinement of precision-based therapeutic regimens. We used a combination of 10 known clustering algorithms and the omics data from 4 dimensions to identify high-resolution molecular subtypes of LUAD. Subsequently, consensus machine learning-related prognostic signature (CMRS) was developed based on subtypes related genes and an integrated program framework containing 10 machine learning algorithms. The efficiency of CMRS was analyzed from the perspectives of tumor microenvironment, genomic landscape, immunotherapy, drug sensitivity, and single-cell analysis. In terms of results, through multi-omics clustering, we identified 2 comprehensive omics subtypes (CSs) in which CS1 patients had worse survival outcomes, higher aggressiveness, mRNAsi and mutation frequency. Subsequently, we developed CMRS based on 13 key genes up-regulated in CS1. The prognostic predictive efficiency of CMRS was superior to most established LUAD prognostic signatures. CMRS demonstrated a strong correlation with tumor microenvironmental feature variants and genomic instability generation. Regarding clinical performance, patients in the high CMRS group were more likely to benefit from immunotherapy, whereas low CMRS were more likely to benefit from chemotherapy and targeted drug therapy. In addition, we evaluated that drugs such as neratinib, oligomycin A, and others may be candidates for patients in the high CMRS group. Single-cell analysis revealed that CMRS-related genes were mainly expressed in epithelial cells. The novel molecular subtypes identified in this study based on multi-omics data could provide new insights into the stratified treatment of LUAD, while the development of CMRS could serve as a candidate indicator of the degree of benefit of precision therapy and immunotherapy for LUAD.

The role of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 3 in the proliferation and migration of renal cell carcinoma.

The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 3 (CDKN3) gene, is over expressed in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, the cell biology functions of RCC are not well understood. The present study aimed to verify the ability of CDKN3 to promote the proliferation and migration of RCC through in vitro experiments. Subsequently, the clinical prognostic effects were analyzed using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA; https://www.cancer.gov/) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/). The chelators, di-2-pyridylketone 4,4-dimethyl-3-thiosemicarbazone (Dp44mT), an analogue of the anti-tumor agent, were screened through bioinformatics analysis. The expression of CDKN3 is positively correlated with the IC50 of Dp44mT. In two RCC cell lines, 786-0 and Caki-1, we conducted small interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown of CDKN3 and overexpression of CDKN3 by transfection plasmid. Subsequently, we administered Dp44mT to examine the resulting alterations in cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis, thereby elucidating the role of CDKN3 and Dp44mT in these processes. The results of the experiment revealed a positive association between CDKN3 expression and the proliferation of RCC cell lines. Down-regulating CDKN3 significantly increased the apoptosis rate and inhibited cell migration in 786-0 and Caki-1 cells. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis revealed a high expression of CDKN3 in RCC and a negative association between CDKN3 expression and survival. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed a significant association between high CDKN3 expression and the cell cycle pathway. Furthermore, we identified Dp44mT as a drug highly correlated with CDKN3 through the database. Subsequent addition of Dp44mT resulted in similar findings to those observed upon CDKN3 knockdown. Our findings have important implications for the diagnosis and treatment of CDKN3 in RCC. Additionally, Dp44mT is likely to be a promising candidate for future clinical applications.

Association between the atherogenic index of plasma and left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a retrospective cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) is a simple and reliable marker of insulin resistance and is closely associated with various cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, the relationships between AIP and left ventricular (LV) geometric indicators have not been adequately assessed. This study was carried out to investigate the association between AIP and LV geometric abnormalities in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients. METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional study included a total of 618 OSA patients (57.3 ± 12.4 years, 73.1% males, BMI 28.1 ± 4.2 kg/m2) who underwent echocardiography. Patients with OSA were diagnosed with clinical symptoms and an apnea-hypopnea index ≥ 5.0. LV hypertrophy (LVH) was defined as left ventricular mass index (LVMIh2.7) ≥ 50.0 g/m2.7 for men and 47.0 g/m2.7 for women. AIP was calculated as log10 (TG/HDL-C). RESULTS: Compared with the non-LVH group, AIP was significantly higher in the LVH group (0.19 ± 0.29 vs 0.24 ± 0.28, P = 0.024) and the concentric LVH group (0.18 ± 0.29, 0.19 ± 0.30, 0.20 ± 0.26 and 0.29 ± 0.29 in the control, concentric remodeling, eccentric hypertrophy and concentric hypertrophy groups, respectively, P = 0.021). Meanwhile, in the group of patients with the highest AIP tertile, the levels of LVMIh2.7 (42.8 ± 10.5, 43.2 ± 9.3 and 46.1 ± 12.1 in the T1, T2 and T3 groups, respectively, P = 0.003), and the prevalence of LVH (25.2%, 24.0% and 34.6% in the T1, T2 and T3 groups, respectively, P = 0.032) and concentric LVH (10.7%, 9.8% and 20.2% in the T1, T2 and T3 groups, respectively, P = 0.053) were higher compared with those in the other groups. Positive correlations between AIP and LV geometric indicators including the LVMIh2.7, LVMIBSA, LV mass (LVM), diastolic left ventricular inner diameter (LVIDd), diastolic left ventricular posterior wall thickness (PWTd) and diastolic interventricular septal thickness (IVSTd), were revealed according to correlation analysis (P < 0.05). Furthermore, AIP was independently associated with LVMIh2.7 according to multivariate linear regression model (ß = 0.125, P = 0.001). Notably, AIP remained independently associated with an elevated risk of LVH [odds ratio (OR) = 1.317 per 1 standard deviation (SD) increment, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.058 - 1.639, P = 0.014) and concentric LVH (OR = 1.545 per 1 SD increment, 95% CI: 1.173 - 2.035, P = 0.002) after fully adjusting for all confounding risk factors by multivariate logistic regression analyses. CONCLUSIONS: AIP was independently associated with an increased risk of LVH and concentric LVH in OSA patients. Therefore, AIP, as a practical and cost-effective test, might be useful in monitoring hypertrophic remodeling of the heart and improving CVDs risk stratification in clinical management of OSA.

A novel fluorescence immunoassay for the quantitative detection of florfenicol in animal-derived foods based on ZnCdSe/ZnS quantum dot labelled antibody.

Florfenicol (F), an antimicrobial agent exclusive to veterinary use within the chloramphenicol class, is extensively applied as a broad-spectrum remedy for animal diseases. Despite its efficacy, concerns arise over potential deleterious residues in animal-derived edibles, posing threats to human health. This study pioneers an innovative approach, introducing a quantum dot fluorescence-based immunoassay (FLISA) for the meticulous detection of F residues in animal-derived foods and feeds. This method demonstrates heightened sensitivity, with a detection limit of 0.3 ng/mL and a quantitative detection range of 0.6-30.4 ng/mL. Method validation, applied to diverse food sources, yields recoveries from 90.4 % to 109.7 %, featuring RSDs within 1.3 % to 8.7 %, the results showed high consistency with the national standard HPLC-MS/MS detection method. These findings underscore the method's accuracy and precision, positioning it as a promising tool for swift and reliable F residue detection, with substantial implications for fortifying food safety monitoring.

Dinuclear Tridentate Ru(II) Complex with Strong Near-Infrared Light-Triggered Anticancer Activity.

The design of the dinuclear Ru(II) complex (Ru2) with strong near-infrared (NIR) absorption properties has been reported for efficient anticancer phototherapy. Under 700 nm LED light excitation, Ru2 exhibited remarkable synergistic type I/II photosensitization ability and photocatalytic activity toward intracellular biomolecules. Ru2 showed impressive 700 nm light-triggered anticancer activity under normoxia and hypoxia compared with the clinically used photosensitizer Chlorin e6. The mechanistic studies showed that Ru2 induced intracellular redox imbalance and perturbed the energy metabolism and biosynthesis in A549 cancer cells. Overall, this work provides a new strategy for developing efficient metal-based complexes for anticancer phototherapy under NIR light.

18ß-Glycyrrhetinic Acid Ameliorates Bleomycin-induced Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis via Inhibiting TGF-ß1/JAK2/STAT3 Signaling Axis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a debilitating and progressive lung disease with an unknown cause that has few treatment options. 18ß-Glycyrrhetinic acid (18ß-GA) is the main bioactive component in licorice, exhibiting anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, while also holding certain application value in the metabolism and regulation of steroids. In this study, we demonstrated that 18ß-GA effectively alleviates bleomycin (BLM)-induced IPF by inhibiting the TGF-ß1/JAK2/STAT3 signaling axis. In vivo experiments demonstrate that 18ß-GA significantly attenuates pulmonary fibrosis progression by reducing lung inflammation, improving lung function, and decreasing collagen deposition. In vitro experiments reveal that 18ß-GA inhibits the activation and migration of TGF-ß1-induced fibroblasts. Furthermore, it regulates the expression of vimentin, N-cadherin and E-cadherin proteins, thereby inhibiting TGF-ß1-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in lung alveolar epithelial cells. Mechanistically, 18ß-GA ameliorates pulmonary fibrosis by modulating the TGF-ß1/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in activated fibroblasts. Taken together, our findings demonstrate the potential and underlying mechanisms of 18ß-GA in ameliorating IPF, emphasizing its potential as a novel therapeutic drug for the treatment of this devastating disease.

Unraveling CCL20's role by regulating Th17 cell chemotaxis in experimental autoimmune prostatitis.

Chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), a prevalent urological ailment, exerts a profound influence upon the well-being of the males. Autoimmunity driven by Th17 cells has been postulated as a potential factor in CP/CPPS pathogenesis. Nonetheless, elucidating the precise mechanisms governing Th17 cell recruitment to the prostate, triggering inflammation, remained an urgent inquiry. This study illuminated that CCL20 played a pivotal role in attracting Th17 cells to the prostate, thereby contributing to prostatitis development. Furthermore, it identified prostate stromal cells and immune cells as likely sources of CCL20. Additionally, this research unveiled that IL-17A, released by Th17 cells, could stimulate macrophages to produce CCL20 through the NF-κB/MAPK/PI3K pathway. The interplay between IL-17A and CCL20 establishes a positive feedback loop, which might serve as a critical mechanism underpinning the development of chronic prostatitis, thus adding complexity to its treatment challenges.

Association between sleep duration during pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To systematically review studies on the correlation between sleep duration during pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and use meta-analysis to explore the correlation between the two to provide a basis for preventing GDM during pregnancy. Methods: The search databases were China Knowledge Network (CNKI), Weipu, Wanfang, China Biomedical Literature Service System (SinoMed), Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, and PubMed, and the search time was from the establishment of the above databases to July 2023. The data were statistically analyzed using STATA/MP17 and RevMan 5.3 software. Publication bias could be accurately assessed using funnel plots and Egger's test. Results: A total of 5,197 papers were searched, and 13 studies were finally included, which included 80,259 individuals, including 3,461 patients with GDM. The comprehensive analysis showed that. Based on pooled data from prospective, cross-sectional, and case-control studies, extreme sleep duration during pregnancy was strongly associated with GDM compared with average sleep duration. The results of the prospective studies showed that both short (OR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.07-2.10, I2 = 60.9%, p = 0.02) and long (OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.13-1.46, I2 = 0.0%, p < 0.0001) sleep duration increased the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus, but the harms were more pronounced with short sleep. In analyzing the association between extreme sleep duration and GDM, publication bias was found in prospective, cross-sectional, and case-control studies with moderate heterogeneity and prospective-only studies with low heterogeneity. Conclusion: Both too short and too long sleep duration during pregnancy are strongly associated with GDM. Either too short or too long sleep duration predicts the risk of developing GDM, but the harms are more pronounced with short sleep. These findings remind us of the importance of controlling sleep duration during pregnancy and help to optimize early strategies to prevent GDM.Systematic review registration: http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero, identifier [CRD42023470925].

Effect of vitamin D on pregnancy in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: retrospective and prospective studies.

RESEARCH QUESTION: Does vitamin D affect the pregnancy rate of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) receiving ovulation-induction therapy? DESIGN: The retrospective study included 200 patients with PCOS and 200 healthy women. The prospective study included 160 patients with PCOS receiving vitamin D or placebo supplementation. Pregnancy rates were assessed after a maximum of three cycles of ovulation induction. Serum concentrations of 25-hydroxycalciferol [25-(OH)D3], LH, FSH, progesterone, oestradiol, testosterone and fasting insulin; LH/FSH ratio; and body mass index were evaluated. RESULTS: In the retrospective study, patients with PCOS had lower 25-(OH)D3 concentrations than healthy women, pregnant patients with PCOS had higher 25-(OH)D3 concentrations than non-pregnant patients with PCOS (both P = 0.000), and the pregnancy rate was lower in the vitamin-D-deficient group compared with the non-vitamin-D-deficient group (P = 0.022). In the prospective study, compared with placebo supplementation, vitamin D supplementation increased the serum concentration of 25-(OH)D3 (P = 0.000), and reduced the LH/FSH ratio, and concentrations of LH and testosterone significantly (all P ≤ 0.049). After the intervention, it was found that the LH/FSH ratio, and concentrations of LH and testosterone were significantly lower in both groups compared with pre-intervention (P = 0.000). After ovulation induction, the pregnancy rate was higher in patients in the vitamin D supplementation group compared with the placebo supplementation group (P = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D deficiency is common in patients with PCOS, and vitamin-D-deficient patients with PCOS have lower pregnancy rates after ovulation induction compared with non-vitamin-D-deficient patients with PCOS. Vitamin D supplementation can improve the pregnancy rate and mitigate basic hormone disorders. Therefore, monitoring vitamin D supplementation and checking vitamin D concentrations before and during interventions are essential for patients with PCOS.

Gut microbial metabolite targets HDAC3-FOXK1-interferon axis in fibroblast-like synoviocytes to ameliorate rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease. Early studies hold an opinion that gut microbiota is environmentally acquired and associated with RA susceptibility. However, accumulating evidence demonstrates that genetics also shape the gut microbiota. It is known that some strains of inbred laboratory mice are highly susceptible to collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), while the others are resistant to CIA. Here, we show that transplantation of fecal microbiota of CIA-resistant C57BL/6J mice to CIA-susceptible DBA/1J mice confer CIA resistance in DBA/1J mice. C57BL/6J mice and healthy human individuals have enriched B. fragilis than DBA/1J mice and RA patients. Transplantation of B. fragilis prevents CIA in DBA/1J mice. We identify that B. fragilis mainly produces propionate and C57BL/6J mice and healthy human individuals have higher level of propionate. Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) in RA are activated to undergo tumor-like transformation. Propionate disrupts HDAC3-FOXK1 interaction to increase acetylation of FOXK1, resulting in reduced FOXK1 stability, blocked interferon signaling and deactivation of RA-FLSs. We treat CIA mice with propionate and show that propionate attenuates CIA. Moreover, a combination of propionate with anti-TNF etanercept synergistically relieves CIA. These results suggest that B. fragilis or propionate could be an alternative or complementary approach to the current therapies.

Transparent Recombination Layers Design and Rational Characterizations for Efficient Two-Terminal Perovskite-Based Tandem Solar Cells.

Two-terminal (2T) perovskite-based tandem solar cells (TSCs) arouse burgeoning interest in breaking the Shockley-Queisser (S-Q) limit of single-junction solar cells by combining two subcells with different bandgaps. However, the highest certified efficiency of 2T perovskite-based TSCs (33.9%) lags behind the theoretical limit (42-43%). A vital challenge limiting the development of 2T perovskite-based TSCs is the transparent recombination layers/interconnecting layers (RLs) design between two subcells. To improve the performance of 2T perovskite-based TSCs, RLs simultaneously fulfill the optical loss, contact resistance, carrier mobility, stress management, and conformal coverage requirements. In this review, the definition, functions, and requirements of RLs in 2T perovskite-based TSCs are presented. The insightful characterization methods applicable to RLs, which are inspiring for further research on the RLs both in 2T perovskite-based two-junction and multi-junction TSCs, are also highlighted. Finally, the key factors that currently limit the performance enhancement of RLs and the future directions that should be continuously focused on are summarized.

Influence on the temporomandibular joint induced by mandibular malpositioning caused by vertical dimension elevation and occlusal loss in adult rats: An imaging, histological and immunohistochemical study.

BACKGROUND: Mandibular malpositioning may result in an abnormal concentration of stresses within the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in adult rats, which may further lead to a series of pathological changes, such as articular cartilage wear, subchondral bone sclerosis and osteophyte formation. However, the pathological and adaptive changes in condylar cartilage caused by different stress distributions are still controversial. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to observe the effect of sagittal changes in mandibular position on condylar cartilage by changing the occlusal vertical dimension (OVD) in adult rats. METHODS: Fifteen-week-old female rats were divided into three groups: control (CON), increased OVD (iOVD) and loss of occlusion (LO) groups. An occlusal plate and tooth extraction were used to establish the animal model. TMJ samples of the experimental and CON groups were observed and investigated by bone morphological, histomorphological and immunohistochemical staining analyses at 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 8 weeks. Weight curves were plotted. RESULTS: Micro-computed tomography showed that, compared with the CON group, cartilage destruction followed by repair occurred in both experimental groups, which was similar to the trend observed in haematoxylin-eosin staining. All experimental results for the iOVD group showed an approximately similar time trend. Compared with the iOVD group, the toluidine blue and immunohistochemical staining results in the LO group showed no obvious change trend over time. CONCLUSION: Compared with occlusal loss, an increase in OVD caused faster and more severe damage to condylar cartilage, and subchondral bone repair occurred later.

Exercise interventions for the effect of endothelial function in hypertensive patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Endothelial dysfunction is crucial factor to the hypertension occurrence, and controversy remains regarding the effect of exercise on improving endothelial function in hypertensive patients. The authors used meta-analysis to evaluate the intervention effect of exercise on endothelial function in hypertensive patients and to investigate exercise protocols that may have a greater intervention effect. A total of 37 studies and a total of 2801 participants were included. The results were as follows: endogenous nitric oxide (NO)[SMD = .89, 95% CI (.48, 1.30), p < .0001], endothelin-1 (ET-1): [SMD = -.94, 95% CI (-1.15, -.73), p <. 0001], flow-mediated dilation (FMD) [SMD = -.57, 95% CI (.36, .79), p < .000001]. In subgroup analysis, high-intensity aerobic exercise, with a single exercise duration of 35-50 min, 3-4 times/week for a total of 10-12 weeks, had the largest amount of intervention effect on NO, and moderate-intensity resistance exercise, with a single exercise duration of ≥60 min, 6 times/week for a total of 15-18 weeks, had the largest amount of intervention effect on ET-1. In conclusion, exercise can improve NO levels, FDM levels, and reduce ET-1 secretion of hypertension patients, thereby improve their endothelial function. The ideal intervention effect of improving NO level was more likely to be obtained by taking the exercise prescription of high-intensity aerobic exercise with a single exercise duration of 35-50 min, 3-4 times/week for 10-12 weeks; the ideal intervention effect of improving ET-1 was more likely to be obtained by taking the exercise prescription of oderate -intensity resistance exercise with a single exercise duration of ≥60 min, 6 times/week for 15-18 weeks.

S100P facilitates LUAD progression via PKA/c-Jun-mediated tumor-associated macrophage recruitment and polarization.

S100P, a member of the S100 calcium-binding protein family, is closely associated with abnormal proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of various cancers. However, its role in the lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) tumor microenvironment (TME) remains unclear. In this study, we observed specific expression of S100P on tumor cells in LUAD patients through tissue immunofluorescence analysis. Furthermore, this expression was strongly correlated with the recruitment and polarization of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Bioinformatics analysis revealed that high S100P expression is associated with poorer overall survival in LUAD patients. Subsequently, a subcutaneous mouse model demonstrated that S100P promotes recruitment and polarization of TAMs towards the M2 type. Finally, in vitro studies on LUAD cells revealed that S100P enhances the secretion of chemokines and polarizing factors by activating the PKA/c-Jun pathway, which is implicated in TAM recruitment and polarization towards the M2 phenotype. Moreover, inhibition of c-Jun expression impedes the ability of TAMs to infiltrate and polarize towards the M2 phenotype. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that S100P facilitates LUAD cells growth by recruiting M2 TAMs through PKA/c-Jun signaling, resulting in the production of various cytokines. Considering these findings, S100P holds promise as an important diagnostic marker and potential therapeutic target for LUAD.

The attentional guidance and facilitating effects of group behavioral cues on individual college pedestrians' jaywalking decisions.

OBJECTIVE: Jaywalking is an important cause of pedestrian-related automobile accidents. Exploring the factors that influence jaywalking behavior and suggesting appropriate improvement measures are critical for reducing automobile accidents involving pedestrians. METHODS: This study divided traffic situations into high-risk and low-risk situations. Each situation contained three visual attention cues: vehicle, traffic light, and group behavior. Based on this, the role of visual cues in guiding pedestrians' attention and influencing their decisions during jaywalking was examined. Sixty participants, with an average age of 19, were recruited. They were shown 84 crosswalk videos randomly while their crossing decisions and eye movement data were recorded. RESULTS: In low-risk situations, pedestrians spent more attention on group behavioral cues when making jaywalking decisions. The rate of jaywalking increased with the number of other jaywalking pedestrians. In high-risk situations, the pedestrians' total fixation duration at vehicle hazard cues was longer when making jaywalking decisions, and the jaywalking rate decreased. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that pedestrians' jaywalking decisions were based on other pedestrians' illegal crossing cues and automatic associative processes in low-risk situations. The higher the number of people crossing the street, the higher the number of pedestrians illegally crossing the road. In high-risk situations, pedestrians paid more attention to vehicle hazard cues before making jaywalking decisions, and fewer illegal crossings. The jaywalking decisions were based on a risk assessment, a controlled analytical process. The results verify the effect of visual cues on pedestrians' attentional guidance and decision-making in different traffic situations, as well as the effectiveness of visual attention in predicting decision intention. The findings provide a theoretical basis and data reference for pedestrian safety education and constructing an intelligent driving pedestrian trajectory prediction model.

Focal ischemic myocardial fibrosis assessed by late gadolinium enhancement cardiovascular magnetic resonance in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: In patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), ischemic myocardial fibrosis assessed by late gadolinium enhancement (I-LGE) using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) have been reported. However, the clinical significance of I-LGE has not been completely understood. We aim to evaluate the I-LGE differ phenotypically from HCM without LGE or nonischemic myocardial fibrosis assessed by late gadolinium enhancement (NI-LGE) in the left ventricle (LV). METHODS: The patients with HCM whom was underwent CMR were enrolled, using cine cardiac magnetic resonance to evaluate LV function and LGE to detect the myocardial fibrosis. Three groups were assorted: 1) HCM without LGE; 2) HCM with LGE involved the subendocardial layer was defined as I-LGE; 3) HCM with LGE not involved the subendocardial layer was defined as NI-LGE. RESULTS: We enrolled 122 patients with HCM in the present study. LGE was detected in 58 of 122 (48%) patients with HCM, and 22 (18%) of patients reported I-LGE. HCM with I-LGE had increased higher left ventricular mass index (LVMI) (P < 0.0001) than HCM with NI-LGE or without LGE. In addition, HCM with I-LGE had a larger LV end- systolic volume (P = 0.045), lower LV ejection fraction (LVEF) (P = 0.026), higher LV myocardial mass (P < 0.001) and thicker LV wall (P < 0.001) more than HCM without LGE alone. The I-LGE were significantly associated with LVEF (OR: 0.961; P = 0.016), LV mass (OR: 1.028; P < 0.001), and maximal end-diastolic LVWT (OR: 1.567; P < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, LVEF (OR: 0.948; P = 0.013) and maximal end-diastolic LVWT (OR: 1.548; P = 0.001) were associated with higher risk for I-LGE compared to HCM without LGE. Noticeably, the maximal end-diastolic LVWT (OR: 1.316; P = 0.011) was the only associated with NI-LGE compared to HCM without LGE. CONCLUSIONS: I-LGE is not uncommon in patients with HCM. HCM with I-LGE was associated with significant LV hypertrophy, extensive LGE and poor LV ejection fraction. We should consider focal ischemic myocardial fibrosis when applying LGE to risk stratification for HCM.

Chemical inertness conversion of carbon fraction in coal gangue via N-doping for efficient benzo(a)pyrene degradation.

Efficient degradation of organic pollutants in complex media via advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) is still critical and challenging. Herein, nitrogen (N)-doped coal gangue (CG) catalysts (N-CG) with economic competitiveness and environmental friendliness were successfully synthesized to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS), exhibiting ultrafast degradation performance toward benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) with 100.00 % and 93.21 % in contaminated solution and soil under optimized condition, respectively. In addition, 0.4 N-CG possessed excellent reusability toward BaP degradation with over 80.00 % after five cycles. However, BaP removal efficiency was significantly affected by some co-existing anions (HCO3- and SO42-) and humic acid (HA) in solution and soil, as well as inhibited under alkaline conditions, especially pH ≥ 9. According to the characterizations, N-doping could promote the generation of pyridinic N and graphitic N in N-CG via high-temperature calcination, which was conducive to produce hydroxyl radical (•OH), sulfate radical (SO4•-), superoxide radical (•O2-) and single oxygen (1O2). In 0.4 N-CG/PMS system, 1O2 and •O2- were proved to be the predominant reactive oxygen species (ROSs) in BaP degradation, as well as •OH and SO4•- made certain contributions. To sum up, this work provided a promising strategy for synthesis of CG-based catalysts by chemical inertness conversion of carbon fracture via N-doping for PMS activation and opened a novel perspective for environmental remediation of hydrophobic and hydrophilic contaminants pollution.

Parent material influences soil properties to shape bacterial community assembly processes, diversity, and enzyme-related functions.

Soil parent material is the second most influential factor in pedogenesis, influencing soil properties and microbial communities. Different assembly processes shape diverse functional microbial communities. The question remains unresolved regarding how these ecological assembly processes affect microbial communities and soil functionality within soils on different parent materials. We collected soil samples developed from typical parent materials, including basalt, granite, metamorphic rock, and marine sediments across soil profiles at depths of 0-20, 20-40, 40-80, and 80-100 cm, within rubber plantations on Hainan Island, China. We determined bacterial community characteristics, community assembly processes, and soil enzyme-related functions using 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing and enzyme activity analyses. We found homogeneous selection, dispersal limitation, and drift processes were the dominant drivers of bacterial community assembly across soils on different parent materials. In soils on basalt, lower pH and higher moisture triggered a homogeneous selection-dominated assembly process, leading to a less diverse community but otherwise higher carbon and nitrogen cycling enzyme activities. As deterministic process decreased, bacterial community diversity increased with stochastic process. In soils on marine sediments, lower water, carbon, and nutrient content limited the dispersal of bacterial communities, resulting in higher community diversity and an increased capacity to utilize relative recalcitrant substrates by releasing more oxidases. The r-strategy Bacteroidetes and genera Sphingomonas, Bacillus, Vibrionimonas, Ochrobactrum positively correlated with enzyme-related function, whereas k-strategy Acidobacteria, Verrucomicrobia and genera Acidothermus, Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia, HSB OF53-F07 showed negative correlations. Our study suggests that parent material could influence bacterial community assembly processes, diversity, and soil enzyme-related functions via soil properties.