UV-B Radiation Exhibited Tissue-Specific Regulation of Isoflavone Biosynthesis in Soybean Cell Suspension Cultures.

Isoflavones, a class of substances with high biological activity, are abundant in soybeans. This study investigated isoflavone biosynthesis in soybean cell suspension cultures under UV-B radiation. UV-B radiation enhanced the transcription level and activity of key enzymes involved in isoflavone synthesis in cell suspension cultures. As a result, the isoflavone contents significantly increased by 19.80% and 91.21% in hypocotyl and cotyledon suspension cultures compared with the control, respectively. Meanwhile, a significant difference was observed in the composition of isoflavones between soybean hypocotyl and cotyledon suspension cultures. Genistin was only detected in hypocotyl suspension cultures, whereas glycitin, daidzein, and genistein accumulated in cotyledon suspension cultures. Therefore, UV-B radiation exhibited tissue-specific regulation of isoflavone biosynthesis in soybean cell suspension cultures. The combination of suspension cultures and abiotic stress provides a novel technological approach to isoflavone accumulation.

Phosphorus attenuation and mobilization in sand filters treating onsite wastewater.

The effectiveness of phosphorus (P) removal by sand filters is limited during septic tank effluent (STE) treatment. The elevated effluent P concentrations pose threats to drinking water quality and contribute to eutrophication. The concern of P leaching from sand filters is further exacerbated by the increased frequency of flooding and natural precipitation due to climate change. This study aimed to understand P attenuation and leaching dynamics, as well as the removal mechanisms in sand filters treating STE, offering insights into the design and implementation of P removal/recovery modules to onsite wastewater treatment systems. P attenuation and leaching during STE treatment and rainfall were studied in bench-scale columns (new vs. aged sand). At standard STE loading (1.2 gallon d-1 ft-2), 24-32% removal of total phosphorus (TP) was achieved, while increased P removal efficiency (35-53%) was observed at low loading (0.6 gallon d-1 ft-2) with influent containing 10.3-20.0 mg P L-1. Complete breakthroughs were observed in both aged (12-70 days) and new columns (27-73 days) at test hydraulic loadings. The maximum TP attenuation level was 20.6-45.3 mg P kg-1 and 25.3-33.0 mg P kg-1, in aged and new sand columns, respectively. When simulated rain was applied (15-60 mm h-1), 80-97% of the attenuated P leached out and the leaching dynamics were impacted by rainfall duration rather than the intensity. The highest concentrations of TP (15.6-15.9 mg L-1) were leached out from both columns within the first 2-6 h. Orthophosphate was the dominant P species in treated effluent (83-84%) and leachate (69-88%), demonstrating its significance as the major P form in the discharge. In addition, aged sand (>5 years) accumulated higher levels of Mg, Al, Ca, and Fe, thus enhancing the P attenuation level during STE treatment. Collectively, this study underscored the importance of frequent field monitoring for reliable long-term P removal estimates.

A near-infrared hepatocyte-targeting probe based on Tricyanofuran to detect cysteine in vivo: Design, synthesis and evaluation.

In this work, a near-infrared hepatocyte-targeting fluorescence probe TCF-Gal-Cys was developed. The TCF-Gal-Cys exhibited a low detection limit, good sensitivity and selectivity toward Cys. The responsive mechanism of TCF-Gal-Cys was proposed that the acrylate of TCF-Gal-Cys was subsequently attacked by the thiol group and the amino group of Cys, releasing a strong near-infrared fluorescent group. TCF-Gal-Cys displayed a good hepatocyte-targeting capacity and could specifically distinguish hepatocytes from A549, Hela, SGC-7901 cells because the galactose group of TCF-Gal-Cys can be recognized by HepG2 cells overexpressing ASGPR. The TCF-Gal-Cys has achieved excellently imaging performance to Cys in the zebrafish, so TCF-Gal-Cys has potential to be an effective tool to in real time monitor Cys-related diseases in vitro and in vivo.

Perioperative evaluation and follow-up analysis of carotid body tumor by Color Doppler Ultrasound.

OBJECTIVES: The value of Color Doppler Ultrasound (CDU) for perioperative evaluation and follow-up outcomes of carotid body tumor (CBT) remains elusive. This study aimed to investigate the role of CDU in CBT in our center. METHODS: From January 2015 to December 2020, 75 patients with CBT were included in the study. Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) and CDU data of patients were collected and analyzed. The postoperative recovery and follow-up outcomes were summarized. RESULTS: A total of 91 CBTs in 75 patients were included in the study. 73.3% of patients had unilateral lesions, while 26.7% had bilateral lesions. Lesions were categorized as Shamblin I (4.4%), Shamblin II (52.7%), and Shamblin III (42.9%). 79.5% lesions were treated by surgical resection, 12.3% were treated by surgical resection with internal carotid artery reconstructed by artificial vessel, while 8.2% were treated by surgical resection with internal carotid artery reconstructed by autogenous great saphenous vein. Compared with CTA, the sensitivity of CDU for detection of CBT was 96.7%, the sensitivity and specificity of CDU for detection of Shamblin Ⅰ lesions were both 100%, the sensitivity and specificity for Shamblin Ⅱ were 100% and 72.1%, respectively, while the sensitivity and specificity for Shamblin Ⅲ were 69.2% and 100%, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between CTA and CDU for detection of the maximal diameter, volume of CBT and distance between the end of the tumor and the mastoid process. 79.7% of patients were followed up with CDU. Recurrence of CBT occurred in 1 patient. CDU showed that stenosis and occlusion of artificial vessel occurred in 1 and 6 patients, respectively. Occlusion of autogenous great saphenous vein was found in 2 cases. CONCLUSIONS: CDU can accurately diagnose Shamblin Ⅰ CBT, have high sensitivity for Shamblin Ⅱ and high specificity for Shamblin Ⅲ CBT. It plays an important role in diagnosis, perioperative evaluation and follow-up analysis of CBT.

O/W nanoemulsions encapsulated octacosanol: Preparation, characterization and anti-fatigue activity.

Octacosanol has various biological effects such as antioxidant, hypolipidemic and anti-fatigue. However, poor solubility has limited the application of octacosanol in food. The aim of this study was to prepare octacosanol nanoemulsions with better solubility, stability and safety and to investigate in vivo anti-fatigue effect. The food-grade formulation of the octacosanol nanoemulsions consisted of octacosanol, olive oil, Tween 80, glycerol and water with 0.1 %, 1.67 %, 23.75 %, 7.92 % and 66.65 % (w/w), respectively. The nanoemulsions had an average particle size of 12.26 ± 0.76 nm and polydispersity index of 0.164 ± 0.12, and showed good stability under different pH, cold, heat, ionic stress and long-term storage conditions. The results of animal experiments showed that the octacosanol nanoemulsions significantly prolonged the fatigue tolerance time, alleviated the fatigue-related biochemical indicators, and weakened the oxidative stress. Meanwhile, octacosanol nanoemulsions upregulated hepatic glycogen levels. Taken together, these findings suggested that octacosanol nanoemulsions have promising applications as anti-fatigue functional foods.

Aging aggravates aortic aneurysm and dissection via miR-1204-MYLK signaling axis in mice.

The mechanism by which aging induces aortic aneurysm and dissection (AAD) remains unclear. A total of 430 participants were recruited for the screening of differentially expressed plasma microRNAs (miRNAs). We found that miR-1204 is significantly increased in both the plasma and aorta of elder patients with AAD and is positively correlated with age. Cell senescence induces the expression of miR-1204 through p53 interaction with plasmacytoma variant translocation 1, and miR-1204 induces vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) senescence to form a positive feedback loop. Furthermore, miR-1204 aggravates angiotensin II-induced AAD formation, and inhibition of miR-1204 attenuates ß-aminopropionitrile monofumarate-induced AAD development in mice. Mechanistically, miR-1204 directly targets myosin light chain kinase (MYLK), leading to the acquisition of a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) by VSMCs and loss of their contractile phenotype. MYLK overexpression reverses miR-1204-induced VSMC senescence, SASP and contractile phenotypic changes, and the decrease of transforming growth factor-ß signaling pathway. Our findings suggest that aging aggravates AAD via the miR-1204-MYLK signaling axis.

The Discovery of Highly Efficient and Promising ABA Receptor Antagonists for Agricultural Applications Based on APAn Modification.

Abscisic acid (ABA) is one of the many naturally occurring phytohormones widely found in plants. This study focused on refining APAn, a series of previously developed agonism/antagonism switching probes. Twelve novel APAn analogues were synthesized by introducing varied branched or oxygen-containing chains at the C-6' position, and these were screened. Through germination assays conducted on A. thaliana, colza, and rice seeds, as well as investigations into stomatal movement, several highly active ABA receptor antagonists were identified. Microscale thermophoresis (MST) assays, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation showed that they had stronger receptor affinity than ABA, while PP2C phosphatase assays indicated that the C-6'-tail chain extending from the 3' channel effectively prevented the ligand-receptor binary complex from binding to PP2C phosphatase, demonstrating strong antagonistic activity. These antagonists showed effective potential in promoting seed germination and stomatal opening of plants exposed to abiotic stress, particularly cold and salt stress, offering advantages for cultivating crops under adverse conditions. Moreover, their combined application with fluridone and gibberellic acid could provide more practical agricultural solutions, presenting new insights and tools for overcoming agricultural challenges.

MiR-199a-5p Deficiency Promotes Artery Restenosis in Peripheral Artery Disease by Regulating ASMCs Function via Targeting HIF-1α and E2F3.

BACKGROUND: Restenosis (RS) poses a significant concern, leading to recurrent ischemia and the potential for amputation following intraluminal angioplasty in the treatment of Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD). Through microRNA microarray analysis, the study detected a significant downregulation of miR-199a-5p within arterial smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) associated with RS. OBJECTIVE: This research aims to explore the possible function and the underlying mechanisms of miR-199a-5p in the context of RS. METHODS: Primary ASMCs were extracted from the femoral arteries of both healthy individuals and patients with PAD or RS. The expression levels of miR-199a-5p were assessed using both qRT-PCR and in situ hybridization techniques. To examine the impacts of miR-199a-5p, a series of experiments were performed, including flow cytometry, TUNEL assay, EdU assay, CCK8 assay, Transwell assay, and wound closure assay. A rat carotid balloon injury model was employed to elucidate the mechanism through which miR-199a-5p mitigated neointimal hyperplasia. RESULTS: MiR-199a-5p exhibited downregulation in RS patients and was predominantly expressed within ASMCs. Elevated the expression of miR-199a-5p resulted in an inhibitory effect of proliferation and migration in ASMCs. Immunohistochemistry and a dual-luciferase reporter assay uncovered that RS exhibited elevated expression levels of both HIF-1α and E2F3, and they were identified as target genes regulated by miR-199a-5p. The co-transfection of lentiviruses carrying HIF-1α and E2F3 alongside miR-199a-5p further elucidated their role in the cellular responses mediated by miR-199a-5p. In vivo, the delivery of miR-199a-5p via lentivirus led to the mitigation of neointimal formation following angioplasty, achieved by targeting HIF-1α and E2F3. CONCLUSION: MiR-199a-5p exhibits promise as a prospective therapeutic target for RS since it alleviates the condition by inhibiting the proliferation and migration of ASMCs via its regulation of HIF-1α and E2F3.

Prognostic and predictive value of examined lymph node count in stage III colorectal cancer: a population based study.

BACKGROUND: The role of tumor-draining lymph nodes in the progression of malignant tumors, including stage III colorectal cancer (CRC), is critical. However, the prognostic and predictive value of the number of examined lymph nodes (ELNs) are not fully understood. METHODS: This population-based study retrospectively analyzed data from 106,843 patients with stage III CRC who underwent surgical treatment and registered in three databases from 2004 to 2021. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) cohort was divided using into training and test cohorts at a ratio of 3:2. We employed restricted cubic spline (RCS) curves to explore nonlinear relationships between overall survival (OS) and ELNs counts and performed Cox regression to evaluate hazard ratios across different ELNs count subtypes. Additional validation cohorts were utilized from the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) under the same criteria. Outcomes measured included OS, cancer-specific survival (CSS), and progression-free survival (PFS). Molecular analyses involved differential gene expression using the "limma" package and immune profiling through CIBERSORT. Tissue microarray slides and multiplex immunofluorescence (MIF) were used to assess protein expression and immune cell infiltration. RESULTS: Patients with higher ELNs counts (≥ 17) demonstrated significantly better long-term survival outcomes across all cohorts. Enhanced OS, CSS, and PFS were notably evident in the LN-ELN group compared to those with fewer ELNs. Cox regression models underscored the prognostic value of higher ELNs counts across different patient subgroups by age, sex, tumor differentiation, and TNM stages. Subtype analysis based on ELNs count revealed a marked survival benefit in patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy in the medium and large ELNs counts (≥ 12), whereas those with fewer ELNs showed negligible benefits. RNA sequencing and MIF indicated elevated immune activation in the LN-ELN group, characterized by increased CD3+, CD4+, and CD8 + T cells within the tumor microenvironment. CONCLUSIONS: The number of ELNs independently predicts survival and the immunological landscape at the tumor site in stage III CRC, underscoring its dual prognostic and predictive value.

Understanding adherence to continuous positive airway pressure in patients with obstructive sleep apnea post-stroke: A prospective study based on the Andersen model.

Adherence to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) post-stroke is often problematic, despite potential benefits. This study aimed to evaluate CPAP adherence in patients with OSA post-stroke based on the Andersen behavioral model of health services utilization. A total of 227 eligible participants were recruited from a Chinese hospital. After baseline assessment, participants were followed for 6 months to determine short-term CPAP adherence. Those with good short-term adherence were followed for an additional 6 months to explore long-term adherence and influencing factors. Short-term CPAP adherence rate was 33%. Being married or living with a partner, having an associate degree or baccalaureate degree or higher, and stronger health beliefs independently predicted short-term CPAP adherence. Only 25% of participants from the adherent group showed good long-term adherence. The factor associated with long-term CPAP adherence was participants not using alcohol. Adherence to CPAP is suboptimal among patients having OSA post-stroke. Addressing unfavorable predisposing factors and modifying health beliefs are suggested.

Reverse remodeling of mitral leaflets after medical treatment in recent-onset dilated cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: The growth of mitral leaflets (MLs) adaptive to left ventricluar (LV) remodeling has been observed. However, the elasticity of MLs upon mechanical stimuli would be supposed if it shrinks with LV reverse remodeling (LVRR). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with idiopathic recent-onset dilated cardiomyopathy (RODCM) (n = 82) and 50 matched normal controls (NC) were prospectively enrolled. Echocardiography was performed at baseline and 6 months of follow-up for the anterior and posterior mitral leaflet (AML and PML) length, mitral annular dimension (MAD), and tenting height (TH). LVRR was measured as a ≥ 15% reduction in LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV). RESULTS: After 6 months, LVRR was achieved in 69.5% of patients. The AML (28 ± 3 vs. 26 ± 3 mm, p = 0.004) and PML (19 ± 4 vs. 17 ± 3 mm, p < 0.001) decreased in length, as well as the MAD (31 ± 5 vs. 28 ± 5 mm, p = 0.001) and TH (10 ± 3 vs. 8 ± 2 mm, p < 0.001). Compared with the NC group, the AML and PML of the RODCM group were 16.7% and 35.7% longer at baseline and remained 8.3% and 21.2% longer at follow-up, respectively. The change in AML or PML correlated moderately with that in LVEDV (r = 0.487, p < 0.001; r = 0.516, p < 0.001, respectively). The AML and PML length decreased in the LVRR (+) subgroup (AML, 28 ± 3 vs. 26 ± 3 mm, p = 0.001; PML, 20 ± 4 vs. 16 ± 3 mm, p < 0.001), but remained the same in the LVRR (-) subgroup (27 ± 4 vs. 28 ± 4 mm, p = 0.318; 17 ± 3 vs. 17 ± 3 mm, p = 0.790). CONCLUSIONS: Enlarged MLs could reverse accompanied by LV reverse remodeling. This study provided the other facet of ML plasticity adaptive to mechanical stretching.

High-Performance Liquid Chromatographic Quantification of the Plant Hormone Abscisic Acid at ppb Levels in Plant Samples after a Single Immunoaffinity Column Cleanup.

High-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV) is a common analysis technique due to its high versatility and simple operation. In the present study, HPLC-UV detection was integrated with immunoaffinity cleanup (IAC) of the sample extracts. The matrix effect was greatly reduced, and the limit of detection was as low as 1 ng/g of free abscisic acid (ABA) in fresh plant tissues. A monoclonal antibody 3F1 (mAb 3F1) was developed to specifically recognize free ABA but not ABA analogues. The mAb 3F1-immobilized immunoaffinity column exhibited a capacity of 850 ng/mL and an elution efficiency of 88.8-105% for standards. The extraction recoveries of the column for ABA ranged from 80.4 to 108.9%. ABA content was detected in various plant samples with IAC-HPLC-UV. The results were verified with ultraperformance liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. IAC-HPLC-UV can be a sensitive and cost-efficient method for plant hormone analysis.

The alteration of the structure and macroscopic mechanical response of porcine patellar tendon by elastase digestion.

Background: The treatment of patellar tendon injury has always been an unsolved problem, and mechanical characterization is very important for its repair and reconstruction. Elastin is a contributor to mechanics, but it is not clear how it affects the elasticity, viscoelastic properties, and structure of patellar tendon. Methods: The patellar tendons from six fresh adult experimental pigs were used in this study and they were made into 77 samples. The patellar tendon was specifically degraded by elastase, and the regional mechanical response and structural changes were investigated by: (1) Based on the previous study of elastase treatment conditions, the biochemical quantification of collagen, glycosaminoglycan and total protein was carried out; (2) The patellar tendon was divided into the proximal, central, and distal regions, and then the axial tensile test and stress relaxation test were performed before and after phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or elastase treatment; (3) The dynamic constitutive model was established by the obtained mechanical data; (4) The structural relationship between elastin and collagen fibers was analyzed by two-photon microscopy and histology. Results: There was no statistical difference in mechanics between patellar tendon regions. Compared with those before elastase treatment, the low tensile modulus decreased by 75%-80%, the high tensile modulus decreased by 38%-47%, and the transition strain was prolonged after treatment. For viscoelastic behavior, the stress relaxation increased, the initial slope increased by 55%, the saturation slope increased by 44%, and the transition time increased by 25% after enzyme treatment. Elastin degradation made the collagen fibers of patellar tendon become disordered and looser, and the fiber wavelength increased significantly. Conclusion: The results of this study show that elastin plays an important role in the mechanical properties and fiber structure stability of patellar tendon, which supplements the structure-function relationship information of patellar tendon. The established constitutive model is of great significance to the prediction, repair and replacement of patellar tendon injury. In addition, human patellar tendon has a higher elastin content, so the results of this study can provide supporting information on the natural properties of tendon elastin degradation and guide the development of artificial patellar tendon biomaterials.

Two Fluorescent Probes for Recognition of Acetylcholinesterase: Design, Synthesis, and Comparative Evaluation.

In this study, two "on-off" probes (BF2-cur-Ben and BF2-cur-But) recognizing acetylcholinesterase (AChE) were designed and synthesized. The obtained probes can achieve recognition of AChE with good selectivity and pH-independence with a linear range of 0.5~7 U/mL and 0.5~25 U/mL respectively. BF2-cur-Ben has a lower limit of detection (LOD) (0.031 U/mL), higher enzyme affinity (Km = 16 ± 1.6 µM), and higher inhibitor sensitivity. A responsive mechanism of the probes for AChE was proposed based on HPLC and mass spectra (MS) experiments, as well as calculations. In molecular simulation, BF2-cur-Ben forms more hydrogen bonds (seven, while BF2-cur-But has only four) and thus has a more stable enzyme affinity, which is mirrored by the results of the comparison of Km values. These two probes could enable recognition of intracellular AChE and probe BF2-cur-Ben has superior cell membrane penetration due to its higher log p value. These probes can monitor the overexpression of AChE during apoptosis of lung cancer cells. The ability of BF2-cur-Ben to monitor AChE in vivo was confirmed by a zebrafish experiment.

Akkermansia muciniphila ameliorates colonic injury in mice with DSS-induced acute colitis by blocking macrophage pro-inflammatory phenotype switching via the HDAC5/DAB2 axis.

Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila), a probiotic, has been linked to macrophage phenotypic polarization in different diseases. However, the role and mechanisms of A. muciniphila in regulating macrophage during ulcerative colitis (UC) are not clear. This research aimed to examine the impact of A. muciniphila on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute colitis and elucidate the underlying mechanism related to macrophage phenotypic polarization. A. muciniphila inhibited weight loss, increased disease activity index, and ameliorated inflammatory injury in colonic tissues in mice induced with DSS. Furthermore, A. muciniphila reduced macrophage M1 polarization and ameliorated epithelial barrier damage in colonic tissues of DSS-induced mice through inhibition of histone deacetylase 5 (HDAC5). In contrast, the effect of A. muciniphila was compromised by HDAC5 overexpression. HDAC5 deacetylated H3K9ac modification of the disabled homolog 2 (DAB2) promoter, which led to repressed DAB2 expression. DAB2 overexpression blocked HDAC5-induced pro-inflammatory polarization of macrophages, whereas knockdown of DAB2 resulted in the loss of effects of A. muciniphila against colonic injury in DSS-induced mice. Taken together, A. muciniphila-induced loss of HDAC5 hampered the deacetylation of DAB2 and enhanced the expression of DAB2. Our findings propose that A. muciniphila may be a possible probiotic agent for alleviating DSS-induced acute colitis.

Promoting psychological support services for parents of children with sarcoma through health-social partnership: A quality improvement project.

PURPOSE: A significant portion of parents of children diagnosed with sarcoma experience excessive stress and anxiety disorder. This quality improvement project aimed to implement a psychological support service program tailored for parents of children with sarcoma and evaluate its effects. DESIGN AND METHODS: An interprofessional team was formed through a health-social partnership to deliver comprehensive psychological support service program involving multiple cognitive-behavioral components to parents of children with sarcoma. Parents who were identified as having excessive stress and/or anxiety disorder and voluntarily agreed to participate were enrolled. Pre- and post-intervention assessments were conducted, and previously recorded data from parents of children hospitalized in the year prior to this quality improvement project were included as historical controls. RESULTS: A total of 48 parents, including 35 mothers and 13 fathers, participated in the quality improvement project. Results showed that participants achieved greater reduction in emotional, somatic, and behavioral stress when compared with historical controls (all p < .001). Significantly lower prevalence of moderate to severe anxiety disorder was also found (4.2% vs. 85.4%, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of a psychological support service program, informed by cognitive-behavioral theory and delivered through a health-social partnership, effectively alleviated multiple facets of stress and anxiety disorder in parents of children newly diagnosed with sarcoma. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Nurses can facilitate and coordinate the collaboration among interprofessional team to deliver specialized psychological support services and ensure that parents of children with sarcoma have access to these services, ultimately enhancing their psychological well-being.

Impact of PD-L1 Gene Polymorphisms and Interactions with Cooking with Solid Fuel Exposure on Tuberculosis.

INTRODUCTION: Given that PD-L1 is a crucial immune checkpoint in regulating T-cell responses, the aim of this study was to explore the impact of PD-L1 gene polymorphisms and the interaction with cooking with solid fuel on susceptibility to tuberculosis (TB) in Chinese Han populations. METHODS: A total of 503 TB patients and 494 healthy controls were enrolled in this case-control study. Mass spectrometry technology was applied to genotype rs2297136 and rs4143815 of PD-L1 genes. The associations between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) and TB were assessed using unconditional logistic regression analysis. Marginal structural linear odds models were used to estimate the gene-environment interactions. RESULTS: Compared with genotype CC, genotypes GG and CG+GG at rs4143815 locus were significantly associated with susceptibility to TB (OR: 3.074 and 1.506, respectively, p < 0.05). However, no statistical association was found between rs2297136 SNP and TB risk. Moreover, the relative excess risk of interaction between rs4143815 of the PD-L1 gene and cooking with solid fuel was 2.365 (95% CI: 1.922-2.809), suggesting positive interactions with TB susceptibility. CONCLUSION: The rs4143815 polymorphism of the PD-L1 gene was associated with susceptibility to TB in Chinese Han populations. There were significantly positive interactions between rs4143815 and cooking with solid fuel.

Quality assessment of clinical practice guidelines for adult obstructive sleep apnea: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) are crucial in standardizing the management of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults. However, there has been insufficient evaluation of the overall quality of CPGs for adult OSA. This review aimed to comprehensively assess the overall quality of CPGs in the field of adult OSA. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted on various literature databases, guideline-related databases, and academic websites from January 2013 to December 2023 to select CPGs relevant to adult OSA. The methodological and reporting quality of the eligible CPGs were thoroughly appraised by three reviewers using the AGREE II instrument and RIGHT checklist, respectively. RESULTS: This review included 44 CPGs, consisting of 42 CPGs in English and 2 CPGs in Chinese. The assessment of methodological quality revealed that four domains attained an average standardized score above 60%. Among the domains, "clarity of presentation" received the highest standardized score of 85.10%, while the lowest standardized score was observed in the "rigor of development" domain with the value of 56.77%. The evaluation of reporting quality indicated an overall reporting rate of 51.30% for the eligible CPGs, with only three domains achieving an average reporting rate higher than 50%. The domain with the highest reporting rate was "basic information" at 60.61%, while the domain with the lowest reporting rate was "review and quality assurance" at 15.91%. Furthermore, a significantly positive correlation was found between the AGREE II standardized scores and the RIGHT reporting rates (r = 0.808, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The overall quality of the currently available guidelines for adult OSA demonstrated considerable variability. Researchers should prioritize the utilization of evidence-based methods and adhere to the items listed in the RIGHT checklist when developing CPGs to enhance efficient clinical decision-making and promote the translation of evidence into practice.