Aluminum Carboxylate Modification Enabled Efficient and Stable Perovskite-Polystyrene Thin Films for Light-Emitting Applications.

Lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) have demonstrated great potential in emerging display technologies. However, the practical application of PNCs is hindered by the inherent instability of their ionic surface. Here, we proposed a surface modification approach to enhance the stability of CsPbBr3 PNCs by postsynthetic treatment with aluminum phenylbutyrate (Al(PA)3). Our study reveals that Al(PA)3 displaces ammonium ligands and binds tightly on surface halide, providing excellent air and moisture resistance while preserving a high quantum efficiency of 81.6%. The modified PNCs maintain a constant photoluminescence intensity under continuous UV light illumination for 500 h. Additionally, the Al(PA)3 ligand is compatible with styrene, enabling homogeneous dispersion of PNCs in polystyrene matrices to form bright and uniform PNC-PS thin films. We demonstrated the application of the composite films for display backlighting, which exhibits a wide color gamut of 125% NTSC. The result highlights the potential of AlPA-modified PNCs in light-emitting and other optoelectronic devices.

Optical enhancement mode 2 improves the detection rate of gastric neoplastic lesion in high-risk populations: A multicenter randomized controlled clinical study.

OBJECTIVES: Detection of early neoplastic lesions is crucial for improving the survival rates of patients with gastric cancer. Optical enhancement mode 2 is a new image-enhanced endoscopic technique that offers bright images and can improve the visibility of neoplastic lesions. This study aimed to compare the detection of neoplastic lesions with optical enhancement mode 2 and white-light imaging (WLI) in a high-risk population. METHODS: In this prospective multicenter randomized controlled trial, patients were randomly assigned to optical enhancement mode 2 or WLI groups. Detection of suspicious neoplastic lesions during the examinations was recorded, and pathological diagnoses served as the gold standard. RESULTS: A total of 1211 and 1219 individuals were included in the optical enhancement mode 2 and WLI groups, respectively. The detection rate of neoplastic lesions was significantly higher in the optical enhancement mode 2 group (5.1% vs. 1.9%; risk ratio, 2.656 [95% confidence interval, 1.630-4.330]; p < 0.001). The detection rate of neoplastic lesions with an atrophic gastritis background was significantly higher in the optical enhancement mode 2 group (8.6% vs. 2.6%, p < 0.001). The optical enhancement mode 2 group also had a higher detection rate among endoscopists with different experiences. CONCLUSIONS: Optical enhancement mode 2 was more effective than WLI for detecting neoplastic lesions in the stomach, and can serve as a new method for screening early gastric cancer in clinical practice. CLINICAL REGISTRY: United States National Library of Medicine (https://www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov), ID: NCT040720521.

Function and regulation of Rab GTPases in cancers.

The Rab small GTPases are characterized by the distinct intracellular localization and modulate various endocytic, transcytic and exocytic transport pathways. Rab proteins function as scaffolds that connect signaling pathways and intracellular membrane trafficking processes through the recruitment of effectors, such as tethering factors, phosphatases, motors and kinases. In different cancers, Rabs play as either an onco-protein or a tumor suppressor role, highly dependending on the context. The molecular mechanistic research has revealed that Rab proteins are involved in cancer progression through influences on migration, invasion, metabolism, exosome secretion, autophagy, and drug resistance of cancer cells. Therefore, targeting Rab GTPases to recover the dysregulated vesicle transport systems may provide potential strategy to restrain cancer progression. In this review, we discuss the regulation of Rab protein level and activity in modulating pathways involved in tumor progression, and propose that Rab proteins may serve as a prognostic factor in different cancers.

Tuning the planarity of molecularly imprinted covalent organic frameworks for selective extraction of ochratoxin A in alcohol samples.

Here, we report a monomer planarity modulation strategy for room-temperature constructing molecularly imprinted-covalent organic frameworks (MI-COFs) for selective extraction of ochratoxin A (OTA). 2,4,6-triformylphloroglucinol (Tp) was used as basic building block, while three amino monomers with different planarity were employed as modulators to explore the effect of planarity on the selectivity of MI-COFs. The MI-TpTapa constructed from Tp and the lowest planarity of monomer Tapa gave the highest selectivity for OTA, and was further used as the adsorbent for dispersed-solid phase extraction (DSPE) of OTA in alcohol samples. Coupling MI-TpTapa based DSPE with high-performance liquid chromatography allowed the matrix-effect free determination of OTA in alcohol samples with the limit of detection of 0.023 µg kg-1 and the recoveries of 91.4-97.6%. The relative standard deviation (RSD, n = 6) of intra and inter day was <3.2%. This work provides a new way to construct MI-COFs for selective extraction of hazardous targets.

Emodin improves renal fibrosis in chronic kidney disease by regulating mitochondrial homeostasis through the mediation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1α).

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a leading public health issue associated with high morbidity worldwide. However, there are only a few effective therapeutic strategies for CKD. Emodin, an anthraquinone compound from rhubarb, can inhibit fibrosis in tissues and cells. Our study aims to investigate the antifibrotic effect of emodin and the underlying molecular mechanism. A unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-induced rat model was established to evaluate the effect of emodin on renal fibrosis development. Hematoxylin and eosin staining, Masson's trichrome staining, and immunohistochemistry staining were performed to analyze histopathological changes and fibrotic features after emodin treatment. Subsequently, a transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-ß1)-induced cell model was used to assess the inhibition of emodin on cell fibrosis in vitro. Furthermore, Western blot analysis and real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction were performed to validate the regulatory mechanism of emodin on renal fibrosis progression. As a result, emodin significantly improved histopathological abnormalities in rats with UUO. The expression of fibrosis biomarkers and mitochondrial biogenesis-related proteins also decreased after emodin treatment. Moreover, emodin blocked TGF-ß1-induced fibrotic phenotype, lipid accumulation, and mitochondrial homeostasis in NRK-52E cells. Conversely, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1α) silencing significantly reversed these features in emodin-treated cells. Collectively, emodin plays an important role in regulating PGC-1α-mediated mitochondria function and energy homeostasis. This indicates that emodin exhibits great inhibition against renal fibrosis and acts as a promising inhibitor of CKD.

Molecular strategies of the pygmy grasshopper Eucriotettix oculatus adapting to long-term heavy metal pollution.

To study the heavy metal accumulation and its impact on insect exterior and chromosome morphology, and reveal the molecular mechanism of insects adapting to long-term heavy metal compound pollution habitats, this study, in the Diaojiang river basin, which has been polluted by heavy metals(HMs) for nearly a thousand years, two Eucriotettix oculatus populations was collected from mining and non-mining areas. It was found that the contents of 7 heavy metals (As, Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, Sn, Sb) in E. oculatus of the mining area were higher than that in the non-mining 1-11 times. The analysis of morphology shows that the external morphology, the hind wing type and the chromosomal morphology of E. oculatus are significant differences between the two populations. Based on the heavy metal accumulation，morphological change, and stable population density, it is inferred that the mining area population has been affected by heavy metals and has adapted to the environment of heavy metals pollution. Then, by analyzing the transcriptome of the two populations, it was found that the digestion, immunity, excretion, endocrine, nerve, circulation, reproductive and other systems and lysosomes, endoplasmic reticulum and other cell structure-related gene expression were suppressed. This shows that the functions of the above-mentioned related systems of E. oculatus are inhibited by heavy metal stress. However, it has also been found that through the significant up-regulation of genes related to the above system, such as ATP2B, pepsin A, ubiquitin, AQP1, ACOX, ATPeV0A, SEC61A, CANX, ALDH7A1, DLD, aceE, Hsp40, and catalase, etc., and the down-regulation of MAPK signalling pathway genes, can enhanced nutrient absorption, improve energy metabolism, repair damaged cells and degrade abnormal proteins, maintain the stability of cells and systems, and resist heavy metal damage so that E. oculatus can adapt to the environment of heavy metal pollution for a long time.

Four lathyrane diterpenoids from the seeds of Euphorbia lathyris.

Four new diterpenoids, including three secolathyrane diterpenoids (1-3) and one lathyrane diterpenoid (4), together with seven known diterpenoids, were obtained in the shelled seeds of Euphorbia lathyris. In particular, 1-3 possess a rare split ring structure, and currently only one compound with the same skeleton has been identified in E. lathyris. Compound 4 furnishes an unprecedented oxygen bridge structure. The structures were identified using various spectral techniques, including NMR, HR-ESI-MS, single-crystal X-ray diffraction and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD). The biosynthetic pathway of 1-4 was inferred. Furthermore, the cytotoxic activities of all compounds (1-11) were measured on three human tumor cells. New compounds 2 and 3 showed moderate cytotoxic activities against U937 cells with IC50 values of 22.18 and 25.41 µM, respectively.

Appropriate induction of TOC1 ensures optimal MYB44 expression in ABA signaling and stress response in Arabidopsis.

Plants possess the remarkable ability to integrate the circadian clock with various signalling pathways, enabling them to quickly detect and react to both external and internal stress signals. However, the interplay between the circadian clock and biological processes in orchestrating responses to environmental stresses remains poorly understood. TOC1, a core component of the plant circadian clock, plays a vital role in maintaining circadian rhythmicity and participating in plant defences. Here, our study reveals a direct interaction between TOC1 and the promoter region of MYB44, a key gene involved in plant defence. TOC1 rhythmically represses MYB44 expression, thereby ensuring elevated MYB44 expression at dawn to help the plant in coping with lowest temperatures during diurnal cycles. Additionally, both TOC1 and MYB44 can be induced by cold stress in an Abscisic acid (ABA)-dependent and independent manner. TOC1 demonstrates a rapid induction in response to lower temperatures compared to ABA treatment, suggesting timely flexible regulation of TOC1-MYB44 regulatory module by the circadian clock in ensuring a proper response to diverse stresses and maintaining a balance between normal physiological processes and energy-consuming stress responses. Our study elucidates the role of TOC1 in effectively modulating expression of MYB44, providing insights into the regulatory network connecting the circadian clock, ABA signalling, and stress-responsive genes.

Association of gene polymorphisms and the decreased expression of long non-coding RNA LOC553103 with rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in many key bioprocesses, including the occurrence and development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We aimed to analyze the association of genetic variants of long non-coding RNA LOC553103 and its peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) expression with RA. METHODS: We enrolled 457 RA patients and 551 healthy controls and conducted a case-control study to analyze the relationship between LOC553103 gene rs272879 and the susceptibility of RA by TaqMan single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping. Among them, we sampled 92 cases and 92 controls, respectively, to detect the PBMC level of LOC553103 using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction technology. We explored the association between LOC553103 rs272879 and its PBMC expression levels in 71 RA patients. Mann-Whitney, Chi-square, and Spearman correlation analysis were used for statistical analysis and P-value <.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The genotype frequency of LOC553103 rs272879 CC was increased, and CG was decreased in RA patients compared to the control group (χ2 = 6.772, P = .034). The LOC553103 expression level in PBMC of RA patients was downregulated compared to healthy control (Z = -4.497, P < .001). Moreover, negative correlations were observed between the PBMC level of LOC553103 and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (rs = -0.262, P = .018), white blood cell count (rs = -0.382, P = .004), platelet (rs = -0.293, P = .030), and disease activity score in 28 joints (rs = -0.271, P = .016) in RA patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the first evidence supporting an association between LOC553103 gene polymorphisms and susceptibility of RA and a relationship of PBMC level of LOC553103 with clinical manifestations and laboratory indicators of RA patients.

Associations Between Self-Reported Visual Difficulty, Age of Onset, and Cognitive Function Trajectories Among Chinese Older Adults.

Objectives: This study examined the association between self-reported visual difficulty and age-related cognitive declines among older Chinese adults and how the timing of visual difficulty onset plays a role in cognitive trajectories. Methods: Data were drawn from the 2011-2018 wave of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, involving 9974 respondents aged 60 years or older (mean age 65.44 years, range 60-101 years). Results: At baseline, 14.16% respondents had self-reported visual difficulty. Growth curve models showed that Chinese older adults with visual difficulty experienced a faster decline in cognitive function compared to those without visual difficulty (ß = -0.02, p < .01). Older adults who began experiencing visual difficulty between 61 and 75 years of age had steeper cognitive declines compared to those with earlier or later onset (ß = -0.05, p < .01). Discussion: Older adults with self-reported visual difficulty experience faster rates of cognitive decline. Future research should explore potential factors that underlie the association between onset timing of visual difficulty and cognitive function.

[Ginsenoside Re regulates mitochondrial biogenesis through Nrf2/HO-1/PGC-1α pathway to reduce hypoxia/reoxygenation injury in H9c2 cells].

This article explored the mechanism by which ginsenoside Re reduces hypoxia/reoxygenation(H/R) injury in H9c2 cells by regulating mitochondrial biogenesis through nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)/peroxisome prolife-rator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1α(PGC-1α) pathway. In this study, H9c2 cells were cultured in hypoxia for 4 hours and then reoxygenated for 2 hours to construct a cardiomyocyte H/R injury model. After ginsenoside Re pre-administration intervention, cell activity, superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity, malondialdehyde(MDA) content, intracellular reactive oxygen species(Cyto-ROS), and intramitochondrial reactive oxygen species(Mito-ROS) levels were detected to evaluate the protective effect of ginsenoside Re on H/R injury of H9c2 cells by resisting oxidative stress. Secondly, fluorescent probes were used to detect changes in mitochondrial membrane potential(ΔΨ_m) and mitochondrial membrane permeability open pore(mPTP), and immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression level of TOM20 to study the protective effect of ginsenoside Re on mitochondria. Western blot was further used to detect the protein expression levels of caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3, Cyto C, Nrf2, HO-1, and PGC-1α to explore the specific mechanism by which ginsenoside Re protected mitochondria against oxidative stress and reduced H/R injury. Compared with the model group, ginse-noside Re effectively reduced the H/R injury oxidative stress response of H9c2 cells, increased SOD activity, reduced MDA content, and decreased Cyto-ROS and Mito-ROS levels in cells. Ginsenoside Re showed a good protective effect on mitochondria by increasing ΔΨ_m, reducing mPTP, and increasing TOM20 expression. Further studies showed that ginsenoside Re promoted the expression of Nrf2, HO-1, and PGC-1α proteins, and reduced the activation of the apoptosis-related regulatory factor caspase-3 to cleaved caspase-3 and the expression of Cyto C protein. In summary, ginsenoside Re can significantly reduce I/R injury in H9c2 cells. The specific mechanism is related to the promotion of mitochondrial biogenesis through the Nrf2/HO-1/PGC-1α pathway, thereby increasing the number of mitochondria, improving mitochondrial function, enhancing the ability of cells to resist oxidative stress, and alleviating cell apoptosis.

Water-Oil Interfacial Synthesis of Two-Dimensional Colloidal Lead-Iodide Perovskites with Enhanced Efficiency and Stability.

Two-dimensional Ruddlesden-Popper perovskites L2PbI4 (L = alkylammonium cation) (RPPs) have attracted significant attention due to their unique excitonic characteristics. However, their ultrafast reaction dynamics exacerbates the structural distortion of the inorganic framework, leading to severe deterioration in photoluminescence. Here, we propose a water-oil interfacial synthesis approach to achieve controlled growth of the RPPs nanosheets. By segregating Pb and I precursors in two immiscible solvents, the nucleation and growth of RPPs are prolonged to the minute level. L2PbI4 nanosheets terminated with various alkylammonium are synthesized, and the factors influencing the growth kinetics of RPPs nanosheets are investigated. The resulting (PEA)2PbI4 nanosheets exhibit a 3.6-time enhancement in quantum efficiency and 3.2-time improvement photostability compared to those synthesized using the classical recrystallization method. A white light-emitting diode based on (HDA)2PbI4 nanosheets is fabricated, achieving a color gamut of 119.7% of the NTSC display standards. This innovative approach offers a new method for the controlled growth of 2D RPPs with improved optical quality and stability.

Higher serum carotenoid concentrations were associated with the lower risk of cancer-related death: Evidence from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

The study focuses on the association between serum carotenoids and cancer-related death. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2001-2006 and 2017-2018), the study encompasses 10,277 participants older than age 20 years, with recorded baseline characteristics and serum carotenoid concentrations (including α-carotene, trans-ß-carotene, cis-ß-carotene, ß-cryptoxanthin, trans-lycopene, and lutein/zeaxanthin). We hypothesized that serum carotenoid concentrations were negatively associated with cancer-related death. The weighted chi-square analyses indicate significant negative correlations between higher serum concentrations of α-carotene, ß-cryptoxanthin, trans-lycopene, and total carotenoids, and the risk of cancer-related deaths. Using weighted Cox regression analysis, this study confirms that α-carotene, ß-cryptoxanthin, trans-lycopene, and total carotenoids, as continuous or categorical variables, are inversely related to cancer mortality (P < .0001). Furthermore, considering competitive risk events, lower concentrations of serum ß-cryptoxanthin (Fine-Gray P = 1.12e-04), trans-lycopene (P = 5.68e-14), and total carotenoids (P = .03) are associated with an increased risk of cancer-related deaths. The research reveals a crucial inverse relationship between serum carotenoid concentrations and cancer-related death.

Positive association between chlorinated paraffins and the risk of allergic diseases in children and adolescents.

Contaminants may induce immune response polarization, leading to immune diseases, such as allergic diseases. Evidence concerning the effects of chlorinated paraffins (CPs), an emerging persistent organic pollutant, on immune system is scarce, particularly for epidemiological evidence. This study explores the association between CPs exposure and allergic diseases (allergic rhinitis, atopic eczema, and allergic conjunctivitis) in children and adolescents in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) in China. Herein, 131,304 children and adolescents from primary and secondary schools in the PRD were included and completed the questionnaire survey. The particulate matter (PM) samples were collected in the PRD and the PM2.5-bound CP concentrations were analyzed. In the multivarious adjustment mixed effect model (MEM), an IQR increase in ∑CPs was significantly associated with allergic diseases (rhinitis, eczema, and conjunctivitis) with the estimated odds ratios (ORs) for 1.11 (95% CI: 1.10, 1.13), 1.17 (95% CI: 1.15, 1.19), and 1.82 (95% CI: 1.76, 1.88), respectively. Interaction analysis indicated that overweight and obese individuals might have greater risk. Similar effect estimates were observed in several sensitivity analyses. This study provided epidemiological evidence on the immunotoxicity of CPs. More studies to confirm our findings and investigate mechanisms are needed.

[Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Prospects of Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease --Review].

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is one of a major complication that affecting the long-term survival and living quality of patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, with the incidence of 30%-70%. Unlike acute GVHD, cGVHD involves a large number of immune cells and cytokines in addition to T cell, which is activated abnormally by the donor, and cytokine storms, which characterized by infiltration of donor lymphocytes and damage to host target organ. Recent studies have further made progress in targeting related immune cells and cytokines. In this review, the pathogenesis and therapeutic prospects of cGVHD were summarized from the perspectives of classical innate and adaptive immunity.

First Report of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Causing Anthracnose on Euphorbia lathyris in China.

Euphorbia lathyris L. is a biennial herb in the Euphorbiaceae that has been used as a medicinal plant. It is distributed or cultivated worldwide, and the seeds of E. lathyris are the main source of ingenol, which is the precursor of Picato, the first medicine approved by USFDA for the treatment of solar keratosis (Abramovits et al. 2013). However, the production of E. lathyris can be severely hampered by the occurrence of plant diseases. Between 2020-2022 (specifically in October-November of each year), anthracnose-like symptoms were observed on E. lathyris in fields (E 118°49'50″, N 32°3'33″) in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China. The incidence of E. lathyris with disease symptoms was between 25%-30% (n = 100). The lesions on the leaves were evident initially as dark brown spots, which expanded into larger necrotic spots, finally resulting in leaves withering and dropping off. In severe cases, stem wilting was also observed. To determine the causal agent, we collected diseased leaf samples (n = 20) from different E. lathyris plants in the field (~ 1800 m2). After cleaning, the junctions of the diseased and healthy parts were excised and sterilized in 75% ethanol for 20-25 seconds, and rinsed with sterile water. After that, they were transferred onto potato sucrose agar (PSA) plates and placed at 25℃ for 3-4 days, until fungal growth was evident. The fungus was purified by recovering single conidia and growing them on PSA (Hu et al. 2015). A consistent fungal colony, based on morphological characteristics, was recovered from 17 samples. The colony color was initially white, green in the middle, and gradually changed into gray green as the colony matured. Conidia were transparent and cylindrical (22-28 µm × 7-9 µm, n = 50). Five loci informative (ITS, TUB, ACT, GAPDH, and CHS-1) (Weir et al. 2012) for Colletotrichum spp. identification were sequenced from two isolates ELC-1 and ELC-2 obtained from different plant individuals. Compared with a reference isolate (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides ZH3), the GAPDH, CHS-1, and TUB2 sequences of ELC-1 and ELC-2 showed 95% (263 bp out of 275 bp), 98% (295 bp out of 299 bp), and 99% (711 bp out of 712 bp and 717 bp out of 719 bp) similarity, respectively. The ITS sequence identities were 100% (577 bp out of 577 bp) and 99% (594 bp out of 597 bp), while the ACT sequence identities were 100% (281 bp out of 281 bp) and 98% (279 bp out of 284 bp). All sequences have been deposited in Genbank database (OR865865-OR865866 and OR873625-OR873632). After performing phylogenetic analysis with Mega 11, the pathogen was confirmed as C. gloeosporioides. To fulfil Koch's postulates, we sprayed six-week-old healthy plants with a conidia suspension of C. gloeosporioides (106 spores/mL) or sterile water (serve as control). The inoculated plants were placed at 25℃, 100% relative humidity, and 12-h photoperiod (Zhang et al. 2021). Six plants were inoculated for each treatment, and the experiment was repeated three times. After 6-8 days, the plants inoculated with C. gloeosporioides showed similar symptoms to those observed on diseased plants in the field, while the control plants remained healthy and free of disease. The pathogens were then re-isolated and identified as C. gloeosporioides. To our knowledge, this is the first report of C. gloeosporioides causing anthracnose on E. lathyris. Anthracnose may cause significant yield losses in E. lathyris production, and our results will provide experimental and theoretical basis for the management of the disease.

Identification and characterization of circadian clock genes in the head transcriptome of Conopomorpha sinensis Bradley.

Conopomorpha sinensis Bradley is the most detrimental pest to litchi and longan in China. Adult eclosion, locomotion, mating and oviposition of C. sinensis usually occur at night, regulated by a circadian rhythm. Nevertheless, our understanding of the linkages between adult circadian rhythms and clock genes remains inadequate. To address this gap, transcriptomic analysis was conducted on female and male heads (including antennae) of C. sinensis using the Illumina HiSeq 6000 platform to identify major circadian clock-related genes. The annotated sequences were analyzed by BLASTx, and candidate clock genes were classified based on conservation, predicted domain architectures, and phylogenetic analysis. The analysis revealed a higher conservation of these genes among the compared moths. Further, the expression profile analysis showed a significant spatiotemporal and circadian rhythmic accumulation of some clock genes during development. The candidate clock genes were predominantly expressed in the head, highlighting their crucial function in circadian rhythm regulation. Moreover, CsinPer, CsinTim1, and CsinCry1 displayed similar dynamic expressions with a peak expression level in the 4th age adults, suggesting their involvement in regulation of courtship and mating behaviors. The CsinPer and CsinTim1 mRNA oscillated strongly with a similar phase, containing a peak expression just before the female mating peak. This work will greatly contribute to understanding the circadian clock system of C. sinensis and provide valuable information for further studies of the molecular mechanisms involved in rhythmicity in fruit-boring pests.

Comparative long-term outcomes of natural orifice specimen extraction surgery and conventional laparoscopic colectomy for left-sided colorectal cancer: a propensity score-matched analysis.

BACKGROUND: Natural orifice specimen extraction surgery (NOSES) is currently widely used in left-sided colorectal cancer. Some clinical comparative studies have been conducted, providing evidence of its safety and oncological benefits. However, these studies are typically characterized by small sample sizes and short postoperative follow-up periods. Consequently, in this research, the authors adopt the propensity score matching method to undertake a large-scale retrospective comparative study on NOSES colectomy for left-sided colorectal cancer, with the goal of further augmenting the body of evidence-based medical support for NOSES. METHODS: This retrospective study involved patients who underwent NOSES colectomy and conventional laparoscopic (CL) colectomy for left-sided colorectal cancer between January 2014 and April 2021. In the NOSES group, specimens were extracted through the anus with the help of a Cai tube (homemade invention: ZL201410168748.2). The patients were matched at a ratio of 1:1 according to age, sex, BMI, tumor diameter, tumor location (descending and splenic flexure colon/ sigmoid colon/ middle and upper rectum), tumor height from anal verge, ASA grade, previous abdominal surgery, clinical pathologic stage, preoperative CEA. After matching, 132 patients in the NOSES group and 132 patients in the CL group were eligible for analysis. RESULTS: Compared with CL group, NOSES group was associated with decreased postoperative maximum pain score (2.6±0.7 vs. 4.7±1.7, P=0.000), less additional analgesia required (6.8 vs. 34.8%, P=0.000), faster time to passage of flatus (2.3±0.6 days vs. 3.3±0.7 days, P=0.000), less wound infection (0.0 vs. 6.1%, P=0.007), and longer operative time (212.5±45.8 min vs. 178.0±43.4 min, P=0.000). No significant differences were observed in estimated blood loss, time to resume regular diet, postoperative hospital stay, conversion to open surgery or conventional minilaparotomy, total morbidity, readmission, mortality, pathologic outcomes, and Wexner incontinence score between groups. After a median follow-up of 63.0 months, the 5-year overall survival rates were 88.3 versus 85.0% (P=0.487), disease-free survival rates were 82.9 versus 83.6% (P=0.824), and the local recurrence rates were 4.4 versus 4.0% (P=0.667) in the NOSES and CL groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that NOSES colectomy using a Cai tube for left-sided colorectal cancer is a safe and feasible option with better cosmetic results, less pain, faster recovery of gastrointestinal function, and comparable long-term clinical and oncologic outcomes to CL colectomy.

Genetic Links Between Metabolic Syndrome and Osteoarthritis: Insights from Cross-Trait Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Previous observational studies have indicated a bidirectional association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and osteoarthritis (OA). However, it remains unclear whether these bidirectional associations reflect causal relationships or shared genetic factors, and the underlying biological mechanisms of this association are not fully understood. METHODS: Leveraging summary statistics from genome-wide association studies (GWASs) conducted by the UK Biobank and the Glucose and Insulin-related Traits Consortium (MAGIC), we performed global genetic correlation analyses, genome-wide cross-trait meta-analyses, and a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses using summary statistics from GWASs to comprehensively assess the relationship of MetS and OA. RESULTS: We first detected an extensive genetic correlation between MetS and OA (rg=0.393, P=1.52×10-18), which was consistent in four MetS components, including waist circumference, triglycerides, hypertension and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and OA with rg ranging from -0.229 to 0.490. We then discovered 32 variants jointly associated with MetS and OA through multi-trait Analysis of GWAS. Co-localization analysis founded 12 genes shared between MetS and OA, with functional implications in several biological pathways. Finally, MR analysis suggested genetic liability to MetS significantly increased the risk of OA, but no reverse causality was found. CONCLUSION: Our results illustrate a common genetic architecture, pleiotropic loci, as well as causality between MetS and OA, potentially enhancing our knowledge of high comorbidity and genetic processes that overlap between the two disorders.