Effects of motivational interviewing intervention on psychological status, compliance behavior and quality of life of patients with malignant tumor combined with diabetes mellitus.

Objective: To investigate the effects of motivational interview education on psychological status, compliance behavior and quality of life in patients with malignant tumors combined with diabetes mellitus. Methods: This is a retrospective study. Eighty patients with malignant tumors combined with diabetes mellitus admitted at The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2021 to June 2022 were included as subjects and divided into observation group and control group according to the intervention measures. Patients in the control group were given routine health education intervention, while those in the observation group were given motivational interviewing intervention on the basis of the control group. We compared the prognosis, cognitive function, quality of life, relief of cancer pain before intervention and three months after the intervention of the two groups were compared. Results: At three months after the intervention, the total remission rate of cancer pain in the observation group was higher than that in the control group(p<0.05), while the levels of FBG and 2hPG in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group(p<0.05). Self-Rating Anxiety Scale(SAS) and Self-rating depression scale(SDS) scores decreased in both groups three months after the intervention, with the level of reduction in the observation group being higher than that in the control group(p<0.05). The overall compliance was higher in the observation group than in the control group(p<0.05). Conclusion: Motivational interviewing leads to alleviate negative emotions, improve the psychological status, enhance compliance behavior and improve quality of life in patients with malignant tumors combined with diabetes mellitus.

Targeting MetaLnc9/miR-143/FSCN1 axis inhibits oxidative stress and myofibroblast transdifferentiation in oral submucous fibrosis.

Background/purpose: Persistent activation of myofibroblasts is attributed to various dysregulated biological events conferring multiple types of fibrosis diseases, including oral submucous fibrosis (OSF). Although the significance of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in the occurrence of fibrosis has been appreciated, the detailed mechanisms still have not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to identify key dysregulated ncRNAs and elucidate their pro-fibrotic mechanisms in promoting myofibroblast activation and the pathological development of OSF. Materials and methods: Expression of non-coding RNAs and mRNAs in OSF cohort was determined using RNA sequencing and qRT-PCR. The molecular axis of pro-fibrotic ncRNAs were exploited via luciferase reporter activity assay and RNA expression rescue experiments. Functional assays, including collagen gel contraction, wound healing ability, cell migration, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, were conducted to assess the changes in the myofibroblastic phenotypes of primary human buccal mucosal fibroblasts. Results: Herein, we found that long non-coding RNA MetaLnc9 was upregulated in OSF specimens and positively associated with several fibrosis markers. Silencing of MetaLnc9 diminished the features of activated myofibroblasts and the production of ROS. We not only showed that MetaLnc9 functioned as a competitive endogenous RNA of microRNA (miR)-143, but also demonstrated that the pro-fibrosis effect of MetaLnc9 on myofibroblast activities was mediated by suppression of miR-143. Moreover, our data showed that fascin actin-bundling protein 1 (FSCN1) was a direct target of miR-143 and positively related to MetaLnc9. Conclusion: Upregulation of MetaLnc9 may enhance the activation of myofibroblasts by sponging miR-143 and titrating its inhibitory property on FSCN1.

[Benefit-risk assessment of three oral Chinese patent medicines for activating blood and eliminating mass in treating primary liver cancer based on network Meta-analysis and multi-criteria decision analysis].

Network Meta-analysis and multi-criteria decision analysis(MCDA) model were performed to evaluate the benefit-risk of Compound Cantharis Capsules, Huisheng Oral Solution, and Jinlong Capsules in the adjuvant treatment of primary liver cancer(PLC). The randomized controlled trial(RCT) of Compound Cantharis Capsules, Huisheng Oral Solution, and Jinlong Capsules in treating PLC were retrieved from CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, Web of Science, PubMed, and Cochrane Library. R 4.2 was employed to conduct a network Meta-analysis, on the basis of which the effect values of the three medicines were obtained by indirect comparison. MCDA was performed to establish the value tree based on the benefit-risk indexes. Hiview 3.2 was used to calculate the benefit values, risk values, and benefit-risk values of the three medicines in treating PLC, and a sensitivity analysis was carried out to evaluate the robustness of the results. Oracle Crystal Ball 11.1 was employed to optimize the evaluation results by Monte Carlo simulation. A total of 39 RCTs were included. The results showed that Compound Cantharis Capsules, Huisheng Oral Solution, and Jinlong Capsules combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE) had the benefit values of 45, 51 and 45, the risk values of 59, 47, and 41, and the benefit-risk values of 52, 49, and 43, respectively. The benefit-risk differences and [95%CI] of Compound Cantharis Capsules vs Huisheng Oral Solution, Compound Cantharis Capsules vs Jinlong Capsules, and Huisheng Oral Solution vs Jinlong Capsules were 3.00[-13.09, 21.82], 9.00[-4.39, 24.62], and 6.00[-8.84, 20.28], respectively. Based on the results of MCDA, Huisheng Oral Solution, Jinlong Capsules, and Compound Cantharis Capsules combined with TACE had the greatest benefit, the greatest risk, and the best overall benefit, respectively. Considering the efficacy and safety, the priority of the three oral Chinese patent medicines combined with TACE for treating PLC followed the trend of Compound Cantharis Capsules, Huisheng Oral Solution, and Jinlong Capsules.

Chromothripsis is a novel biomarker for prognosis and differentiation diagnosis of pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms.

This study aimed to identify the role of chromothripsis as a novel biomarker in the prognosis and differentiation diagnosis of pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (pNENs). We conducted next-generation gene sequencing in a cohort of 30 patients with high-grade (G3) pNENs. As a reference, a similar analysis was also performed on 25 patients with low-grade (G1/G2) pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs). Chromothripsis and its relationship with clinicopathological features and prognosis were investigated. The results showed that DNA damage response and repair gene alteration and TP53 mutation were found in 29 and 11 patients, respectively. A total of 14 out of 55 patients had chromothripsis involving different chromosomes. Chromothripsis had a close relationship with TP53 alteration and higher grade. In the entire cohort, chromothripsis was associated with a higher risk of distant metastasis; both chromothripsis and metastasis (ENETS Stage IV) suggested a significantly shorter overall survival (OS). Importantly, in the high-grade pNENs group, chromothripsis was the only independent prognostic indicator significantly associated with a shorter OS, other than TP53 alteration or pathological pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinomas (pNECs) diagnosis. Chromothripsis can guide worse prognosis in pNENs, and help differentiate pNECs from high-grade (G3) pNETs.

Clinicopathologic characteristics and prognostic factors of patients with surgically treated high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix: A multicenter retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prognostic factors and survival outcomes of patients with surgically treated high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix (NECC). METHODS: This multicenter, retrospective study involved 98 cervical cancer patients with stage IA2-IIA2 and IIIC1/2p high-grade NECC. We divided the patients into two groups based on histology: the pure and mixed groups. All clinicopathologic variables were retrospectively evaluated. Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier methods were used for analysis. RESULTS: In our study, 60 patients were in the pure group and 38 patients were in the mixed group. Cox multivariate analysis showed that mixed histology was a protective factor impacting overall survival (OS) (P = 0.026) and progression free survival (PFS) (P = 0.018) in surgically treated high-grade NECC. Conversely, survival outcomes were negatively impacted by ovarian preservation (OS: HR, 20.84; 95% CI: 5.02-86.57, P < 0.001), age >45 years (OS: HR, 4.50; 95% CI: 1.0-18.83, P = 0.039), tumor size >4 cm (OS: HR, 6.23; 95% CI: 2.34-16.61, P < 0.001), parity >3 (OS: HR, 4.50; 95% CI: 1.02-19.91, P = 0.048), and perineural invasion (OS: HR, 5.21; 95% CI: 1.20-22.53, P = 0.027). Kaplan-Meier survival curves revealed notable differences in histologic type (OS: P = 0.045; PFS: P = 0.024), chemotherapy (OS: P = 0.0056; PFS: P = 0.0041), ovarian preservation (OS: P = 0.00031; PFS: P = 0.0023), uterine invasion (OS: P < 0.0001; PFS: P < 0.0001), and depth of stromal invasion (OS: P = 0.043; PFS: P = 0.022). CONCLUSION: Patients with mixed histologic types who undergo surgery for high-grade NECC have a better prognosis. Meanwhile, ovarian preservation, tumor size >4 cm, parity >3, age >45 years and perineural invasion were poor prognostic predictors. Therefore, patients with high-risk factors should be considered in clinical practice.

FANCI Inhibition Induces PARP1 Redistribution to Enhance the Efficacy of PARP Inhibitors in Breast Cancer.

Breast cancer is a global public health concern with high mortality rates, necessitating the development of innovative treatment strategies. PARP inhibitors have shown efficacy in certain patient populations, but their application is largely limited to cancers with homologous recombination deficiency. Here, we identified the suppression of FANCI as a therapeutic strategy to enhance the efficacy of PARP inhibitors in breast cancer. Elevated FANCI expression in breast cancer was associated with poor prognosis and increased cell proliferation and migration. FANCI interacted with PARP1, and suppressing FANCI limited the nuclear localization and functionality of PARP1. Importantly, FANCI inhibition sensitized breast cancer cells to the PARP inhibitor talazoparib in the absence of BRCA mutations. Additionally, the CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib enhanced the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to talazoparib through FANCI inhibition. These findings highlight the potential of targeting FANCI to enhance the efficacy of PARP inhibitors in treating breast cancer.

Helicobacter pylori infection delays neutrophil apoptosis and exacerbates inflammatory response.

Aim: Understanding molecular mechanisms of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-induced inflammation is important for developing new therapeutic strategies for gastrointestinal diseases. Materials & methods: We designed an H. pylori-neutrophil infection model and explored the effects of H. pylori infection on neutrophils. Results: H. pylori infected neutrophils showed a low level of apoptosis. H. pylori stimulation activated the NACHT/LRR/PYD domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3)-gasdermin-D (GSDMD) pathway for interleukin (IL)-1ß secretion. However, IL-1ß secretion was not completely dependent on GSDMD, as inhibition of autophagy significantly reduced IL-1ß release, and autophagy-related molecules were significantly upregulated in H. pylori-infected neutrophils. Conclusion: Therefore, H. pylori infection inhibits neutrophils apoptosis and induces IL-1ß secretion through autophagy. These findings may be utilized to formulate therapeutic strategies against H. pylori mediated chronic gastritis.

[Box: see text].

Visual Analytics of Multivariate Networks with Representation Learning and Composite Variable Construction.

Multivariate networks are commonly found in realworld data-driven applications. Uncovering and understanding the relations of interest in multivariate networks is not a trivial task. This paper presents a visual analytics workflow for studying multivariate networks to extract associations between different structural and semantic characteristics of the networks (e.g., what are the combinations of attributes largely relating to the density of a social network?). The workflow consists of a neuralnetwork- based learning phase to classify the data based on the chosen input and output attributes, a dimensionality reduction and optimization phase to produce a simplified set of results for examination, and finally an interpreting phase conducted by the user through an interactive visualization interface. A key part of our design is a composite variable construction step that remodels nonlinear features obtained by neural networks into linear features that are intuitive to interpret. We demonstrate the capabilities of this workflow with multiple case studies on networks derived from social media usage and also evaluate the workflow with qualitative feedback from experts.

First Report of Phialocephala bamuru Causing Root Rot on Hard Fescue (Festuca brevipila) in the United States.

Turfgrasses are susceptible to a wide variety of ectotrophic root-infecting (ERI) fungi that cause root rot (Tredway et al., 2023). Among the root rot diseases, fairway patch, caused by Phialocephala bamuru P.T.W. Wong & C. Dong sp. nov., was recently identified and characterized in Australia infecting bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) and kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) grass (Wong et al., 2015). Symptoms begin as small, 5-10 cm diameter patches of yellowed turf that may coalesce into larger areas of diseased grass. A characteristic sign of fairway patch is roots colonized by dark brown to black, ectotrophic mycelium. In June 2020, many tan colored, irregular-shaped patches ranging from 10-30 cm in diameter developed on a hard fescue (Festuca brevipila) cultivar 'Beacon' turfgrass field in North Brunswick, New Jersey, USA. The centers of these patches later died and became sunken or filled in partially by recovering hard fescue. The patches grew into tan irregular-shaped rings with diameters up to 3 m by Aug 2023. Symptoms were indicative of a root disease. Five 'Beacon' hard fescue soil cores at the interface of the symptomatic and non-symptomatic area were sampled in Aug 2023. Root and crown samples were observed under a dissecting microscope and dark ectotrophic hyphae were observed on both. Roots with visible ectotrophic mycelium were removed, rinsed in sterile water three times, cut into 5 mm pieces, and plated onto 10% potato dextrose agar amended with streptomycin and gentamicin at 100 mg/L (PDA+). The plates were incubated at 25°C in the dark for 5 days. The most abundant colonies being characteristic long, septate hyphae that were hyaline at the edge and dark brown to black in the center and resembled the fungus described in Wong et al., 2015. These colonies were subcultured onto PDA+ medium and selected for molecular identification. Other less abundant colonies could be identified using morphology after subcultured and had no record being pathogenic to turfgrass. To confirm the isolate's identity, its internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was amplified in PCR using the ITS1F/ITS4 primers (Bellemain et al., 2010). The amplicon was then sequenced with both ITS1 and ITS4 primers by Sanger sequencing. Sequences were assembled (GenBank #PP000819). The consensus sequence was then BLASTn analyzed with default settings, and the result showed 99.64% sequence identity with P. bamuru (GenBank #MG195534.1). Koch's postulate was conducted in an environmentally controlled growth chamber. Six healthy 'Beacon' hard fescue plugs were sampled from the field. Three of the six plugs (treatment) were each inoculated with P. bamuru by placing 20 g of P. bamuru colonized millets beneath and around the plug before filling the pots with sand. The other three plugs (control) received the same treatment except the P. bamuru colonized millets were autoclaved. The pots were incubated in the growth chamber with a 16 h light period and 25/20°C day/night temperatures. Symptoms resembling those observed in the field appeared on the treatment pots after 21 days of incubation while the control pots remained healthy. The roots from the treatment pots were examined under the dissecting microscope to confirm the colonization of P. bamuru on the roots, and P. bamuru was reisolated and confirmed using the aforementioned morphological traits and molecular assays (GenBank #PP000820). This is the first report of a turfgrass root rot disease caused by P. bamuru in the United States. Further epidemiological, disease ecological, and pathogen biological studies are required to clarify the importance of this disease in the United States and establish proper disease containment or control measures.

[Lysine Succinylation:A New Perspective in the Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases].

With the continuous development of identification technologies such as mass spectrometry,omics,and antibody technology,post-translational modification (PTM) has demonstrated increasing potential in medical research.PTM as a novel chemical modification method provides new perspectives for the research on diseases.Succinylation as a novel modification has aroused the interest of more and more researchers.The available studies about succinylation mainly focus on a desuccinylase named sirtuin 5.This enzyme plays a key role in modification and has been preliminarily explored in cardiovascular studies.This paper summarizes the influencing factors and regulatory roles of succinylation and the links between succinylation and other PTMs and reviews the research progress of PTMs in the cardiovascular field,aiming to deepen the understanding about the role of this modification and give new insights to the research in this field.

Ergothioneine and mitochondria: An important protective mechanism?

Mitochondrial dysfunction is implicated in a wide range of human disorders including many neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases, metabolic diseases, cancers, and respiratory disorders. Studies have suggested the potential of l-ergothioneine (ET), a unique dietary thione, to prevent mitochondrial damage and improve disease outcome. Despite this, no studies have definitively demonstrated uptake of ET into mitochondria. Moreover, the expression of the known ET transporter, OCTN1, on the mitochondria remains controversial. In this study, we utilise mass spectrometry to demonstrate direct ET uptake in isolated mitochondria as well as its presence in mitochondria isolated from ET-treated cells and animals. Mitochondria isolated from OCTN1 knockout mice tissues, have impaired but still detectable ET uptake, raising the possibility of alternative transporter(s) which may facilitate ET uptake into the mitochondria. Our data confirm that ET can enter mitochondria, providing a basis for further work on ET in the prevention of mitochondrial dysfunction in human disease.

REEP3 is a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker correlated with immune infiltration in pancreatic cancer.

Receptor Expression-Enhancing Protein 3 (REEP3) serves as a pivotal enzyme crucial for endoplasmic reticulum (ER) clearance during mitosis and is implicated in the advancement of diverse malignancies. Nonetheless, the biological role and mechanisms of REEP3 in pancreatic cancer patients, along with its interplay with immune infiltration, remain inadequately elucidated. In this study, we initially analyzed the differential expression of REEP3 between pancreatic cancer tissues and normal pancreas tissues using the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), GTEx and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. Subsequently, we utilized Kaplan-Meier analysis, Cox regression and ROC curve to determine the predictive value of REEP3 for the clinical outcomes of pancreatic cancer patients. Functional enrichment analyses, including Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), were conducted to explore the potential signaling pathways and biological functions associated with pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, we investigated the PPI network, miRNA, RBP and transcription factor interactions of REEP3 using databases such as GeneMania, STRING, StarBase, KnockTK, ENCODE, Jaspar and hTFtarget. Lastly, the "ssGSEA" algorithm and TIMER database were employed to investigate the correlation between REEP3 expression and immune infiltration as well as immune checkpoints. The expression of REEP3 in pancreatic cancer showed a significantly higher level compared to that in normal tissues. ROC curve analysis indicated that REEP3 holds substantial diagnostic potential for pancreatic cancer patients. Elevated REEP3 expression correlated with unfavorable outcomes in terms of both overall survival and relapse-free survival, establishing it as a notable adverse prognostic marker in pancreatic cancer. Moreover, both univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses demonstrated that REEP3 maintained an independent association with overall survival. Functional enrichment analyses revealed pathways significantly linked to REEP3, including cytoplasmic translation, wound healing, viral processes, regulation of cellular component size and actin filament organization. Additionally, REEP3 expression displayed a significant positive correlation with CD8+ T cells, B cells, natural killer cells, dendritic cells and macrophages. REEP3 is a potential diagnostic, prognostic marker and immunotherapeutic target for pancreatic cancer.

[Retracted] Molecular hydrogen improves type 2 diabetes through inhibiting oxidative stress.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.3892/etm.2020.8708.].

Hydrogen peroxide is required for light-induced stomatal opening across different plant species.

Stomatal movement is vital for plants to exchange gases and adaption to terrestrial habitats, which is regulated by environmental and phytohormonal signals. Here, we demonstrate that hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is required for light-induced stomatal opening. H2O2 accumulates specifically in guard cells even when plants are under unstressed conditions. Reducing H2O2 content through chemical treatments or genetic manipulations results in impaired stomatal opening in response to light. This phenomenon is observed across different plant species, including lycopodium, fern, and monocotyledonous wheat. Additionally, we show that H2O2 induces the nuclear localization of KIN10 protein, the catalytic subunit of plant energy sensor SnRK1. The nuclear-localized KIN10 interacts with and phosphorylates the bZIP transcription factor bZIP30, leading to the formation of a heterodimer between bZIP30 and BRASSINAZOLE-RESISTANT1 (BZR1), the master regulator of brassinosteroid signaling. This heterodimer complex activates the expression of amylase, which enables guard cell starch degradation and promotes stomatal opening. Overall, these findings suggest that H2O2 plays a critical role in light-induced stomatal opening across different plant species.

Supramolecular assembly of amphiphilic platinum(ii) Schiff base complexes: diverse spectroscopic changes and nanostructures through rational molecular design and solvent control.

A new class of amphiphilic tetradentate platinum(ii) Schiff base complexes has been designed and synthesized. The self-assembly properties by exploiting the potential Pt⋯Pt interactions of amphiphilic platinum(ii) Schiff base complexes in the solution state have been systematically investigated. The presence of Pt⋯Pt interactions has further been supported by computational studies and non-covalent interaction (NCI) analysis of the dimer of the complex. The extent of the non-covalent Pt⋯Pt and π-π interactions could be regulated by a variation of the solvent compositions and the hydrophobicity of the complexes, which is accompanied by attractive spectroscopic and luminescence changes and leads to diverse morphological transformations. The present work represents a rare example of demonstration of directed cooperative assembly of amphiphilic platinum(ii) Schiff base complexes by intermolecular Pt⋯Pt interactions in solution with an in-depth mechanistic investigation, providing guiding principles for the construction of supramolecular structures with desirable properties using platinum(ii) Schiff base building blocks.

miR394 modulates brassinosteroid signaling to regulate hypocotyl elongation in Arabidopsis.

The interplay between microRNAs (miRNAs) and phytohormones allows plants to integrate multiple internal and external signals to optimize their survival of different environmental conditions. Here, we report that miR394 and its target gene LEAF CURLING RESPONSIVENESS (LCR), which are transcriptionally responsive to BR, participate in BR signaling to regulate hypocotyl elongation in Arabidopsis thaliana. Phenotypic analysis of various transgenic and mutant lines revealed that miR394 negatively regulates BR signaling during hypocotyl elongation, whereas LCR positively regulates this process. Genetically, miR394 functions upstream of BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE2 (BIN2), BRASSINAZOLEs RESISTANT1 (BZR1), and BRI1-EMS-SUPPRESSOR1 (BES1), but interacts with BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE1 (BRI1) and BRI1 SUPRESSOR PROTEIN (BSU1). RNA-sequencing analysis suggested that miR394 inhibits BR signaling through BIN2, as miR394 regulates a significant number of genes in common with BIN2. Additionally, miR394 increases the accumulation of BIN2 but decreases the accumulation of BZR1 and BES1, which are phosphorylated by BIN2. MiR394 also represses the transcription of PACLOBUTRAZOL RESISTANCE1/5/6 and EXPANSIN8, key genes that regulate hypocotyl elongation and are targets of BZR1/BES1. These findings reveal a new role for a miRNA in BR signaling in Arabidopsis.

Efficacy of Huoxue Qianyang Qutan Recipe on essential hypertension: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension, a prevalent disease, is a significant risk factor for coronary heart disease. Huoxue Qianyang Qutan Recipe (HQQR), a traditional Chinese herbal remedy, has been used for treating hypertension over several years. OBJECTIVE: This study assesses HQQR's efficacy for controlling blood pressure among patients with hypertension related to blood stasis, yang hyperactivity and phlegm. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at the Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China, from July 2020 to June 2022. Major components of HQQR were identified using thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. Participants aged 18-80 years, exhibiting traditional Chinese medicine syndromes of blood stasis, yang hyperactivity or phlegm, along with grades 1 or 2 hypertension, were randomly categorized into two groups. The intervention group was given HQQR granules alongside conventional hypertension treatment, while the control group was given placebo granules in addition to conventional treatment for 12 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was clinic blood pressure, whereas secondary outcomes included metabolic indices (e.g., homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance [HOMA-IR], total cholesterol [TC], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride), target organ damage indices (left ventricular mass index and urinary albumin creatinine ratio [UACR]) and inflammation indices (interleukin-6 [IL-6] and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP]). RESULTS: HQQR's primary components were identified as salvianolic acid B, emodin and ferulic acid. Of the 216 participants (108 in each group), compared to the control, the intervention group exhibited significant improvements (P < 0.001) in clinic systolic blood pressure ([136.24 ± 7.63] vs [130.06 ± 8.50] mmHg), clinic diastolic blood pressure ([84.34 ± 8.72] vs [80.46 ± 6.05] mmHg), home systolic blood pressure ([131.64 ± 8.74] vs [122.36 ± 8.45] mmHg) and home diastolic blood pressure ([78.47 ± 9.53] vs [71.79 ± 6.82] mmHg). HQQR demonstrated a reduction in ambulatory blood pressure (24-hour systolic blood pressure: [133.75 ± 10.49] vs [132.46 ± 8.84] mmHg and 24-hour diastolic blood pressure: [84.12 ± 8.01] vs [82.11 ± 7.45] mmHg) and an improvement in HOMA-IR ([4.09 ± 1.72] vs [3.98 ± 1.44]), TC ([4.66 ± 1.47] vs [3.75 ± 1.81] mmol/L) and UACR (75.94 [5.12, 401.12] vs 45.61 [4.26, 234.26]). Moreover, HQQR demonstrated a decrease in hs-CRP (1.46 [0.10, 10.53] vs 0.57 [0.12, 3.99] mg/L) and IL-6 (6.69 [2.00, 29.74] vs 5.27 [2.00, 9.73] pg/mL), with no reported side effects (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study highlights the therapeutic potential of HQQR use in ameliorating blood pressure, glycolipid metabolism, and inflammation in patients with hypertension. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR2000035092 (https://www.chictr.org.cn/). Please cite this article as: Xie J, Ma YL, Gui MT, Yao L, Li JH, Wang MZ, Zhou XJ, Wang YF, Zhao MY, Cao H, Lu B, Fu DY. Efficacy of Huoxue Qianyang Qutan Recipe on essential hypertension: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Integr Med 2024; 22(4): 485-493.

Ottowia cancrivicina sp. nov., isolated from human stomach.

A Gram-negative, facultative anaerobic, non-motile and rod-shaped bacterium, designated 10c7w1T, was isolated from a human gastrointestinal tract. Colonies on agar plates were small, circular, smooth and beige. The optimal growth conditions were determined to be 37 °C, pH 7.0-7.5 and 0 % (w/v) NaCl. Comparative analysis of complete 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain 10c7w1T showed the highest sequence similarity of 95.8 % to Ottowia beijingensis MCCC 1A01410T, followed by Ottowia thiooxydans (95.2 %) JCM 11629T. The average amino acid identity values between 10c7w1T and O. beijingensis MCCC 1A01410T and O. thiooxydans JCM 11629T were above 60 % (71.4 and 69.5 %). The average nucleotide identity values between strain 10c7w1T and O. beijingensis MCCC 1A01410T and O. thiooxydans JCM 11629T were 76.9 and 72.5 %, respectively. The dominant fatty acids (≥10 %) were straight chain ones, with summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c/C16 : 1 ω6c), summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c/C18 : 1 ω6c) and C16 : 00 being the most abundant. Q-8 was the only respiratory quinone. The major polar lipids of strain 10c7w1T were phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol and unknown lipids. The DNA G+C content of strain 10c7w1T was 63.6 mol%. On the basis of phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data, strain 10c7w1T is considered to represent a novel species within the genus Ottowia, for which the name Ottowia cancrivicina sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 10c7w1T (=MCCC 1H01399T=KCTC 92200T).

Hydraulic properties and drought response of a tropical bamboo (Cephalostachyum pergracile).

Bamboo plants are an essential component of tropical ecosystems, yet their vulnerability to climate extremes, such as drought, is poorly understood due to limited knowledge of their hydraulic properties. Cephalostachyum pergracile, a commonly used tropical bamboo species, exhibited a substantially higher mortality rate than other co-occurring bamboos during a severe drought event in 2019, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated the leaf and stem hydraulic traits related to drought responses, including leaf-stem embolism resistance (P50leaf; P50stem) estimated using optical and X-ray microtomography methods, leaf pressure-volume and water-releasing curves. Additionally, we investigated the seasonal water potentials, native embolism level (PLC) and xylem water source using stable isotope. We found that C. pergracile exhibited strong resistance to embolism, showing low P50leaf, P50stem, and turgor loss point, despite its rapid leaf water loss. Interestingly, its leaves displayed greater resistance to embolism than its stem, suggesting a lack of effective hydraulic vulnerability segmentation (HVS) to protect the stem from excessive xylem tension. During the dry season, approximately 49% of the water was absorbed from the upper 20-cm-deep soil layer. Consequently, significant diurnal variation in leaf water potentials and an increase in midday PLC from 5.87 ± 2.33% in the wet season to 12.87 ± 4.09% in the dry season were observed. In summary, this study demonstrated that the rapid leaf water loss, high reliance on surface water, and a lack of effective HVS in C. pergracile accelerated water depletion and increased xylem embolism even in the typical dry season, which may explain its high mortality rate during extreme drought events in 2019.

Recent wetting trend over Taklamakan and Gobi Desert dominated by internal variability.

The Taklamakan and Gobi Desert (TGD) region has experienced a pronounced increase in summer precipitation, including high-impact extreme events, over recent decades. Despite identifying large-scale circulation changes as a key driver of the wetting trend, understanding the relative contributions of internal variability and external forcings remains limited. Here, we approach this problem by using a hierarchy of numerical simulations, complemented by diverse statistical analysis tools. Our results offer strong evidence that the atmospheric internal variations primarily drive this observed trend. Specifically, recent changes in the North Atlantic Oscillation have redirected the storm track, leading to increased extratropical storms entering TGD and subsequently more precipitation. A clustering analysis further demonstrates that these linkages predominantly operate at the synoptic scale, with larger contributions from large precipitation events. Our analysis highlights the crucial role of internal variability, in addition to anthropogenic forcing, when seeking a comprehensive understanding of future precipitation trends in TGD.