Rapid label-free impedimetric detection of progesterone enhanced by immunomagnetic bead-based competitive immunoreaction.

Detecting progesterone (P4) concentration in cow serum is essential for monitoring the pregnancy progress after fertilization and is significant for the dairy farming industry and veterinary medicine. This study reports enzyme-free immunomagnetic beads (IMBs)-based competitive immunoassay for detecting P4 by P4-bovine serum albumin (BSA)-modified biosensors. The anti-P4 antibody-conjugated IMBs serve as collectors to capture P4 in undiluted serum samples to prevent the biosensor surface from biosample contamination and as insulated labels to report the electron-transfer resistance signal of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurement. The IMBs and P4-containing samples were mixed for 15-30 min, capable of obtaining stable P4@IMB complexes. The 0.2-kGauss pulsed magnetic field (PMF) of the 20-s pulse width and 20-s relaxation time applied for 5 min can shorten the immunoreaction time between the P4@IMBs and the P4-BSA-modified biosensor and reduce the IMB's nonspecific adsorption on the biosensor surface. This competitive immunoassay's cut-off value and detection limit were 7.71 ng/mL and 7.33 ng/mL, respectively, which is lower than the serum's P4 plateau concentration (over 8 ng/mL) of dairy cows on days 6-16 of estrus cycles and that in pregnancy. The IMB-based immunoassay combining the PMF attraction and the label-free EIS measurement exhibits promising potential for rapidly detecting P4 in undiluted serum.

Clinical Characteristics and Fatality Risk Factors for Patients with Listeria monocytogenes Infection: A 12-Year Hospital-Based Study in Xi'an, China.

INTRODUCTION: Listeriosis is a severe food-borne disease caused by Listeria monocytogenes infection. The data of listeriosis in Xi'an population are limited. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical features and fatality risk factors for listeriosis in three tertiary-care hospitals in Xi'an, China METHODS: The characteristics of demographic data, underlying diseases, clinical manifestations, laboratory indicators, cranial imaging examination, antibiotics therapeutic schemes, and clinical outcomes were collected between 2011 and 2023. Logistic regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: Seventy-one etiologically confirmed listeriosis patients were enrolled, including 12 neonatal and 59 non-neonatal cases. The majority of neonatal listeriosis presented as preterm (50%) and fetal distress (75%). The main clinical manifestations of non-neonatal listeriosis included fever (88%), headache (32%), disorder of consciousness (25%), vomiting (17%), abdominal pain (12%), and convulsions (8%). The fatality rate in neonatal cases was higher than in non-neonatal listeriosis (42 vs. 17%). Although no deaths were reported in maternal listeriosis, only two of 23 patients had an uneventful obstetrical outcome. Five maternal listeriosis delivered culture-positive neonates, three of whom decreased within 1 week post-gestation due to severe complications. Twenty-eight cases were neurolisteriosis and 43 cases were bacteremia. Neurolisteriosis had a higher fatality rate compared with bacteremia listeriosis (36 vs. 12%). The main neuroradiological images were cerebral edema/hydrocephalus, intracranial infection, and cerebral hernia. Listeria monocytogenes showed extremely low resistance to ampicillin (two isolates) and penicillin (one isolate). The fatality risk factors were the involvement of the central nervous system, hyperbilirubinemia, and hyponatremia for all enrolled subjects. Hyperuricemia contributed to the elevation of fatality risk in non-neonatal listeriosis. CONCLUSIONS: When the patients suffered with symptoms of fever and central nervous system infection, they should be alert to the possibility of listeriosis. Early administration of ampicillin- or penicillin-based therapy might be beneficial for recovery of listeriosis.

Enhancing genome-wide populus trait prediction through deep convolutional neural networks.

As a promising model, genome-based plant breeding has greatly promoted the improvement of agronomic traits. Traditional methods typically adopt linear regression models with clear assumptions, neither obtaining the linkage between phenotype and genotype nor providing good ideas for modification. Nonlinear models are well characterized in capturing complex nonadditive effects, filling this gap under traditional methods. Taking populus as the research object, this paper constructs a deep learning method, DCNGP, which can effectively predict the traits including 65 phenotypes. The method was trained on three datasets, and compared with other four classic models-Bayesian ridge regression (BRR), Elastic Net, support vector regression, and dualCNN. The results show that DCNGP has five typical advantages in performance: strong prediction ability on multiple experimental datasets; the incorporation of batch normalization layers and Early-Stopping technology enhancing the generalization capabilities and prediction stability on test data; learning potent features from the data and thus circumventing the tedious steps of manual production; the introduction of a Gaussian Noise layer enhancing predictive capabilities in the case of inherent uncertainties or perturbations; fewer hyperparameters aiding to reduce tuning time across datasets and improve auto-search efficiency. In this way, DCNGP shows powerful predictive ability from genotype to phenotype, which provide an important theoretical reference for building more robust populus breeding programs.

Cystatin M/E ameliorates bone resorption through increasing osteoclastic cell estrogen influx.

In multiple myeloma (MM), increased osteoclast differentiation leads to the formation of osteolytic lesions in most MM patients. Bisphosphonates, such as zoledronic acid (ZA), are used to ameliorate bone resorption, but due to risk of serious side effects as well as the lack of repair of existing lesions, novel anti-bone resorption agents are required. Previously, the absence of osteolytic lesions in MM was strongly associated with elevated levels of cystatin M/E (CST6), a cysteine protease inhibitor, secreted by MM cells. In this study, both MM- and ovariectomy (OVX)-induced osteoporotic mouse models were used to compare the effects of recombinant mouse CST6 (rmCst6) and ZA on preventing bone loss. µCT showed that rmCst6 and ZA had similar effects on improving percent bone volume, and inhibited differentiation of non-adherent bone marrow cells into mature osteoclasts. Single-cell RNA sequencing showed that rmCst6 and not ZA treatment reduced bone marrow macrophage percentage in the MM mouse model compared to controls. Protein and mRNA arrays showed that both rmCst6 and ZA significantly inhibit OVX-induced expression of inflammatory cytokines. For OVX mice, ERα protein expression in bone was brought to sham surgery level by only rmCst6 treatments. rmCst6 significantly increased mRNA and protein levels of ERα and significantly increased total intracellular estrogen concentrations for ex vivo osteoclast precursor cell cultures. Based on these results, we conclude that CST6 improves MM or OVX bone loss models by increasing the expression of estrogen receptors as well as the intracellular estrogen concentration in osteoclast precursors, inhibiting their maturation.

Efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with surgery in patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer: A meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: This meta-analysis sought to investigate the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) combined with surgery in patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: With time span from January 2010 to December 2022, PubMed, Web of Science and Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and WanFang databases were searched for randomized controlled trials on comparison between NACT combined with surgery and surgery alone in patients with NSCLC. Then a meta-analysis was performed in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 1511 studies were retrieved and 12 were finally included. Meta-analysis results showed that compared with surgery alone, a combination of NACT and surgery was associated with higher treatment response rate (odds ratio, OR = 2.459, 95% confidence interval, CI [1.785, 3.388], P < 0.001), 1-year survival rate (OR = 2.185, 95% CI [1.608, 2.970], P < 0.001), and 3-year survival rate (OR = 2.195, 95% CI [1.568, 3.073], P < 0.001) and lower levels of intraoperative blood loss (standardized mean difference, SMD = -0.932, 95% CI [-1.588, -0.275], P = 0.005) and length of hospital stay (SMD = -0.481, 95% CI [-0.933, -0.028], P = 0.037). CONCLUSION: NACT combined with surgery is superior to surgery alone in the treatment of NSCLC and can promote postoperative recovery. Collectively, such combination is a safe and effective treatment for patients with NSCLC.

Small-diameter acellular porcine corneal stroma for peripheral corneal ulceration treatment.

AIM: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of small-diameter acellular porcine corneal stroma (SAPS) for the treatment of peripheral corneal ulceration (PCU). METHODS: This retrospective clinical study included 18 patients (18 eyes) with PCU between April 2018 and December 2020. All patients had PCU and underwent lamellar keratoplasty with SAPS. Observation indicators included preoperative and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and transparency of SAPS. The infection control rate in the surgical eye-lesion area was also calculated. RESULTS: Eighteen patients underwent lamellar keratoplasty with SAPS to treat PCU. None of the patients experienced rejection after 6mo (18/18) and 12mo (16/16) of follow-up. The BCVA (0.47±0.30) at the 6mo follow-up after operation was significantly improved compared with the baseline (0.99±0.80), and the difference was statistically significant (Z=-3.415, P<0.05). The BCVA at the 12mo follow-up after operation was not statistically significant compared to the 6mo (Z=0, P=1). With time, the SAPS graft gradually became transparent. At the 6mo (18/18) and 12mo (16/16) follow-up, none of the patients had recurrent corneal infection. CONCLUSION: SAPS is clinically effective in the treatment of PCU, improving the patient's BCVA and reducing the incidence of rejection after keratoplasty.

Six new species of Cryptochironomus Kieffer (Diptera, Chironomidae) from the Nearctic region.

Six new species of Cryptochironomus Kieffer, 1918, C.absum Liu, sp. nov., C.beardi Liu, sp. nov., C.dentatus Liu, sp. nov., C.ferringtoni Liu, sp. nov., C.parallelus Liu, sp. nov. and C.taylorensis Liu, sp. nov., are described and illustrated based on adult males. The specimens were collected from various water systems in the United States and preserved by Dr. Leonard Charles Ferrington Jr. An updated key to adult males of all known Cryptochironomus species in the Nearctic region is also provided.

Development of an 18F-labeled azobenzothiazole tracer for α-synuclein aggregates in the brain.

Nuclear imaging of aggregated α-synuclein pathology is an urgent clinical need for Parkinson's disease, yet promising tracers for brain α-synuclein aggregates are still rare. In this work, a class of compact benzothiazole derivatives was synthesized and evaluated for α-synuclein aggregates. Among them, azobenzothiazoles exhibited specific and selective detection of α-synuclein aggregates under physiological conditions. Fluoro-pegylated azobenzothiazole NN-F further demonstrated high-affinity binding to α-synuclein aggregates and efficient 18F-radiolabeling via nucleophilic displacement of a tosyl precursor. [18F]NN-F was stable in plasma in vitro and showed efficient brain uptake with little defluorination in vivo.

Classical swine fever virus non-structural protein 4A recruits dihydroorotate dehydrogenase to facilitate viral replication.

Mitochondria are energy producers in cells, which can affect viral replication by regulating the host innate immune signaling pathways, and the changes in their biological functions are inextricably linked the viral life cycle. In this study, we screened a library of 382 mitochondria-targeted compounds and identified the antiviral inhibitors of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH), the rate-limiting enzyme in the de novo synthesis pathway of pyrimidine ribonucleotides, against classical swine fever virus (CSFV). Our data showed that the inhibitors interfered with viral RNA synthesis in a dose-dependent manner, with half-maximal effective concentrations (EC50) ranging from 0.975 to 26.635 nM. Remarkably, DHODH inhibitors obstructed CSFV replication by enhancing the innate immune response including the TBK1-IRF3-STAT1 and NF-κB signaling pathways. Furthermore, the data from a series of compound addition and supplementation trials indicated that DHODH inhibitors also inhibited CSFV replication by blocking the de novo pyrimidine synthesis. Remarkably, DHODH knockdown demonstrated that it was essential for CSFV replication. Mechanistically, confocal microscopy and immunoprecipitation assays showed that the non-structural protein 4A (NS4A) recruited and interacted with DHODH in the perinuclear. Notably, NS4A enhanced the DHODH activity and promoted the generation of UMP for efficient viral replication. Structurally, the amino acids 65-229 of DHODH and the amino acids 25-40 of NS4A were pivotal for this interaction. Taken together, our findings highlight the critical role of DHODH in the CSFV life cycle and offer a potential antiviral target for the development of novel therapeutics against CSF. IMPORTANCE: Classical swine fever remains one of the most economically important viral diseases of domestic pigs and wild boar worldwide. dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) inhibitors have been shown to suppress the replication of several viruses in vitro and in vivo, but the effects on Pestivirus remain unknown. In this study, three specific DHODH inhibitors, including DHODH-IN-16, BAY-2402234, and Brequinar were found to strongly suppress classical swine fever virus (CSFV) replication. These inhibitors target the host DHODH, depleting the pyrimidine nucleotide pool to exert their antiviral effects. Intriguingly, we observed that the non-structural protein 4A of CSFV induced DHODH to accumulate around the nucleus in conjunction with mitochondria. Moreover, NS4A exhibited a strong interaction with DHODH, enhancing its activity to promote efficient CSFV replication. In conclusion, our findings enhance the understanding of the pyrimidine synthesis in CSFV infection and expand the novel functions of CSFV NS4A in viral replication, providing a reference for further exploration of antiviral targets against CSFV.

Examining dynamic developmental trends: the interrelationship between age-friendly environments and healthy aging in the Chinese population-evidence from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, 2011-2018.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this research is to investigate the dynamic developmental trends between Age-Friendly Environments (AFE) and healthy aging in the Chinese population. METHODS: This study focused on a sample of 11,770 participants from the CHARLS and utilized the ATHLOS Healthy Aging Index to assess the level of healthy aging among the Chinese population. Linear mixed model (LMM) was used to explore the relationship between AFE and healthy aging. Furthermore, a cross-lagged panel model (CLPM) and a random-intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM) were used to examine the dynamic developmental trends of healthy aging, taking into account both Between-Person effects and Within-Person effects. RESULTS: The results from LMM showed a positive correlation between AFE and healthy aging (ß = 0.087, p < 0.001). There was a positive interaction between the geographic distribution and AFE (central region * AFE: ß = 0.031, p = 0.038; eastern region * AFE: ß = 0.048, p = 0.003). In CLPM and RI-CLPM, the positive effect of healthy aging on AFE is a type of Between-Person effects (ß ranges from 0.147 to 0.159, p < 0.001), while the positive effect of AFE on healthy aging is Within-Person effects (ß ranges from 0.021 to 0.024, p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Firstly, individuals with high levels of healthy aging are more inclined to actively participate in the development of appropriate AFE compared to those with low levels of healthy aging. Furthermore, by encouraging and guiding individuals to engage in activities that contribute to building appropriate AFE, can elevate their AFE levels beyond the previous average level, thereby improving their future healthy aging levels. Lastly, addressing vulnerable groups by reducing disparities and meeting their health needs effectively is crucial for fostering healthy aging in these populations.

2D Janus Polarization Functioned by Mechanical Force.

2D polarization materials have emerged as promising candidates for meeting the demands of device miniaturization, attributed to their unique electronic configurations and transport characteristics. Although the existing inherent and sliding mechanisms are increasingly investigated in recent years, strategies for inducing 2D polarization with innovative mechanisms remain rare. This study introduces a novel 2D Janus state by modulating the puckered structure. Combining scanning probe microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and density functional theory calculations, this work realizes force-triggered out-of-plane and in-plane dipoles with distorted smaller warping in GeSe. The Janus state is preserved after removing the external mechanical perturbation, which could be switched by modulating the sliding direction. This work offers a versatile method to break the space inversion symmetry in a 2D system to trigger polarization in the atomic scale, which may open an innovative insight into configuring novel 2D polarization materials.

Identification and outcomes of KDIGO-defined chronic kidney disease in 1.4 million U.S. Veterans with heart failure.

AIMS: According to the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guideline, the definition of chronic kidney disease (CKD) requires the presence of abnormal kidney structure or function for >3 months with implications for health. CKD in patients with heart failure (HF) has not been defined using this definition, and less is known about the true health implications of CKD in these patients. The objective of the current study was to identify patients with HF who met KDIGO criteria for CKD and examine their outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Of the 1 419 729 Veterans with HF not receiving kidney replacement therapy, 828 744 had data on ≥2 ambulatory serum creatinine >90 days apart. CKD was defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 ml/min/1.73 m2 (n = 185 821) or urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) >30 mg/g (n = 32 730) present twice >3 months apart. Normal kidney function (NKF) was defined as eGFR ≥60 ml/min/1.73 m2, present for >3 months, without any uACR >30 mg/g (n = 365 963). Patients with eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m2 were categorized into four stages: 45-59 (n = 72 606), 30-44 (n = 74 812), 15-29 (n = 32 077), and <15 (n = 6326) ml/min/1.73 m2. Five-year all-cause mortality occurred in 40.4%, 57.8%, 65.6%, 73.3%, 69.7%, and 47.5% of patients with NKF, four eGFR stages, and uACR >30mg/g (albuminuria), respectively. Compared with NKF, hazard ratios (HR) (95% confidence intervals [CI]) for all-cause mortality associated with the four eGFR stages and albuminuria were 1.63 (1.62-1.65), 2.00 (1.98-2.02), 2.49 (2.45-2.52), 2.28 (2.21-2.35), and 1.22 (1.20-1.24), respectively. Respective age-adjusted HRs (95% CIs) were 1.13 (1.12-1.14), 1.36 (1.34-1.37), 1.87 (1.84-1.89), 2.24 (2.18-2.31) and 1.19 (1.17-1.21), and multivariable-adjusted HRs (95% CIs) were 1.11 (1.10-1.12), 1.24 (1.22-1.25), 1.46 (1.43-1.48), 1.42 (1.38-1.47), and 1.13 (1.11-1.16). Similar patterns were observed for associations with hospitalizations. CONCLUSION: Data needed to define CKD using KDIGO criteria were available in six out of ten patients, and CKD could be defined in seven out of ten patients with data. HF patients with KDIGO-defined CKD had higher risks for poor outcomes, most of which was not explained by abnormal kidney structure or function. Future studies need to examine whether CKD defined using a single eGFR is characteristically and prognostically different from CKD defined using KDIGO criteria.

FYB1-targeted modulation of CAPG promotes AML progression.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a rare and heterogeneous disease. Over the past few decades, patient prognosis has improved with continuous improvements in treatment, but outcomes for some patients with primary drug resistance or relapse after treatment remain poor. Additional therapies to improve outcomes for these patients are urgently needed. FYB1 expression differs substantially between AML tissues and normal tissues. High FYB1 expression is correlated with poorer overall survival (OS), indicating that FYB1 may regulate AML progression. Therefore, understanding the effect of FYB1 on AML could improve the success rate of therapeutic approaches and prognosis for patients with AML. In this study, through analysis of large databases and both in vivo and in vitro experiments, we assessed the expression and role of FYB1 in AML and the relationship of FYB with patient prognosis. Downstream targets of the FYB1 gene were analyzed by RNA-seq. Database mining and in vitro experiments were used to further clarify the effect of the downstream target gelsolin-like actin-capping protein (CAPG) on AML cells and its relationship with patient prognosis. FYB1 expression was significantly higher in AML tissue and corresponded with a poor prognosis. FYB1 knockdown inhibited AML cell proliferation, promoted cell apoptosis, reduced cell adhesion capability and significantly reduced the tumor formation rate in mice. In addition, FYB1 knockdown induced a notable decrease in CAPG expression. The suppression of CAPG significantly inhibited cell proliferation and increased cell apoptosis. The conclusions of this study underscore the pivotal role of the FYB1/CAPG axis in promoting AML. We propose that the FYB1/CAPG axis could serve as a new thread in the development of therapeutic strategies for AML.

Relationship between Cerebral Microinfarcts and Dementia by Sex: Findings from a community-based Autopsy Study.

Cerebral microinfarcts are common in older adults and are associated with cognitive impairment. Less is known about sex-related variation in the relationship between cerebral microinfarcts and dementia in older adults, the examination of which was the objective of this study. This case-control study was based on the 727 participants (419 women) in the Adult Changes in Thought (ACT) autopsy data. Microinfarcts were ascertained by blinded board-certified neuropathologists, and dementia diagnoses were made by the ACT Consensus Diagnosis Conference per DSM-IV. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Microinfarcts were present in 49% (356/727) of the participants, which was numerically higher in women: 51% (213/419) vs 46% (143/308). aOR (95% CI) for dementia associated with any microinfarct for female and male participants were 1.45 (0.91-2.30) and 1.24 (0.75-2.06), respectively (p for interaction, 0.34). Respective aORs (95%CIs) associated with ≥2 microinfarcts were 1.37 (0.79-2.36) and 1.53 (0.84-2.78), with interaction p, 0.84. Subcortical microinfarcts were present in 36% (138/381) and 23% (78/346) of patients with and without dementia (aOR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.14-2.38). Respective aOR (95% CI) in female and male participants were 1.70 (1.03-2.82) and 1.59 (0.90-2.80), (p for interaction, 0.55). There was no association with cortical microinfarcts (aOR, 1.19; 95% CI, 0.83-1.69). These findings suggest that association between microinfarcts and dementia is primarily mediated by subcortical microinfarcts, but we found no evidence of sex-related variation. Future studies with greater power are needed to determine if the associations we found are replicable.

Nanoskiving of van der Waals Materials toward Edge/Basal Plane Contact Heterojunctions for High-Performance Photodetection.

The unique features of edges in van der Waals materials may lead to edge-basal plane contacts that could provide new opportunities for electronic and optoelectronic devices. However, few studies have addressed edge/basal plane contact heterojunctions owing to the formidable challenges in integrating edges with the basal plane to form a heterojunction. Here, taking the example of black phosphorus (BP)/ReS2, a heterojunction with contact between the edge and the basal plane was successfully achieved by the introduction of a nanoskiving technique to fabricate BP edges with controlled orientation, followed by the dry transfer of a ReS2 flake. The deformation of BP during the nanoskiving process was clearly revealed, where interlayer slipping in the BP determined the formation of the edges. The edge/basal plane contact heterojunctions based on BP/ReS2 exhibited a reverse-rectifying behavior upon contact, and a high rectifying current was attributed to direct tunneling and Fowler-Nordheim tunneling in low and high bias regimes, respectively. As a photodetector, the heterojunction diode demonstrated an impressive responsivity of 65 A/W, a rapid response time (<10 ms), and polarization-sensitive detection under 532 nm illumination without gate biasing.

A ResNet mini architecture for brain age prediction.

The brain presents age-related structural and functional changes in the human life, with different extends between subjects and groups. Brain age prediction can be used to evaluate the development and aging of human brain, as well as providing valuable information for neurodevelopment and disease diagnosis. Many contributions have been made for this purpose, resorting to different machine learning methods. To solve this task and reduce memory resource consumption, we develop a mini architecture of only 10 layers by modifying the deep residual neural network (ResNet), named ResNet mini architecture. To support the ResNet mini architecture in brain age prediction, the brain age dataset (OpenNeuro #ds000228) that consists of 155 study participants (three classes) and the Alzheimer MRI preprocessed dataset that consists of 6400 images (four classes) are employed. We compared the performance of the ResNet mini architecture with other popular networks using the two considered datasets. Experimental results show that the proposed architecture exhibits generality and robustness with high accuracy and less parameter number.

Polysaccharides from Russula: a review on extraction, purification, and bioactivities.

Russula, a renowned edible fungus, has gained popularity as a functional food among diverse populations due to the abundant presence of amino acids, proteins, and polysaccharides. As the primary constituents of Russula, polysaccharides exhibit a wide range of biological properties, making them an exceptional choice for incorporation into food, medicines, and diverse biotechnological applications. This review provides a summary of the recent research on the extraction, purification, and biological applications of polysaccharides from various Russula spp. Currently, there are many advanced extraction technologies, such as hot water-based extraction, alkali-based extraction, ultrasonic-assisted extraction and microwave-assisted extraction. Hence, the latest progress of extraction technologies, as well as their advantages and limitations will be discusses and summarizes in this review. The separation and purification methods of polysaccharide from Russula were introduced, including ethanol precipitation, deproteinization and gel filtration chromatography. It also focuses on exploring the diverse bioactive capabilities of Russula, including anti-oxidant, anti-tumor, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammation, and anti-bacterial properties. Hence, this review aims to foster a comprehensive understanding of the polysaccharides from various Russula spp. and pave the way for their promising and potential future applications in the medical and functional fields.

Safety and effectiveness of butorphanol in epidural labor analgesia: A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Epidural analgesia is the most effective analgesic method during labor. Butorphanol administered epidurally has been shown to be a successful analgesic method during labor. However, no comprehensive study has examined the safety and efficacy of using butorphanol as an epidural analgesic during labor. AIM: To assess butorphanol's safety and efficacy for epidural labor analgesia. METHODS: The PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Google Scholar databases will be searched from inception. Other types of literature, such as conference abstracts and references to pertinent reviews, will also be reviewed. We will include randomized controlled trials comparing butorphanol with other opioids combined with local anesthetics for epidural analgesia during labor. There will be no language restrictions. The primary outcomes will include the visual analog scale score for the first stage of labor, fetal effects, and Apgar score. Two independent reviewers will evaluate the full texts, extract data, and assess the risk of bias. Publication bias will be evaluated using Egger's or Begg's tests as well as visual analysis of a funnel plot, and heterogeneity will be evaluated using the Cochran Q test, P values, and I2 values. Meta-analysis, subgroup analysis, and sensitivity analysis will be performed using RevMan software version 5.4. This protocol was developed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Protocols statement, and the PRISMA statement will be used for the systematic review. RESULTS: This study provides reliable information regarding the safety and efficacy of using butorphanol as an epidural analgesic during labor. CONCLUSION: To support clinical practice and development, this study provides evidence-based findings regarding the safety and efficacy of using butorphanol as an epidural analgesic during labor.

Globular adiponectin induces esophageal adenocarcinoma cell pyroptosis via the miR-378a-3p/UHRF1 axis.

BACKGROUND: Antiapoptosis is a major factor in the resistance of tumor cells to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Thus, activation of cell pyroptosis may be an effective option to deal with antiapoptotic cancers such as esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). METHODS: Differential expression of ubiquitin-like versus PHD and ring finger structural domain 1 (UHRF1) in EAC and near normal tissues was analyzed, as well as the prognostic impact on survival in EAC. Also, the same study was done for globular adiponectin (gAD). Simultaneously, the mRNA expression of UHRF1 was observed in different EAC cell lines. Real time cellular analysis (RTCA) was used to detect cell proliferation, and flow cytometry and inverted fluorescence microscopy were used to detect pyroptosis. Biocredit analysis was conducted to observe the correlation between UHRF1 and key pyroptosis proteins. OD values and CCK8 assay were used to determine the effect of miR-378a-3p on EAC cells. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were used to detect the correlation between UHRF1, gAD, and miR-378a-3p in EAC cells. Moreover, in vivo and in vitro experiments were performed to detect the relevant effects on tumor migration and invasion after inhibiting UHRF1 expression. RESULTS: UHRF1 was negatively correlated with the survival of patients with EAC, while miR-378a-3p showed the opposite effect. Additionally, gAD promoted EAC cell pyroptosis, upregulated miR-378a-3p, and significantly inhibited the proliferation of EAC cells. gAD directly reduced UHRF1 expression in EAC cells by upregulating miR-378a-3p. In cell migration and invasion assays, inhibition of UHRF1 expression significantly suppressed EAC cell metastasis. In animal experiments, we again demonstrated that gAD induced pyroptosis in EAC cells by inhibiting the expression of UHRF1. CONCLUSION: gAD-induced upregulation of miR-378a-3p significantly inhibited the proliferation of EAC by targeting UHRF1. Therefore, gAD may serve as an alternative therapy for chemotherapy- and radiation-refractory EAC or other cancers with the same mechanism of pyroptosis action.

Composited silk fibroins ensured adhesion stability and magnetic controllability of Fe3O4-nanoparticle coating on implant for biofilm treatment.

Magnetic propulsion of nano-/micro-robots is an effective way to treat implant-associated infections by physically destroying biofilm structures to enhance antibiotic killing. However, it is hard to precisely control the propulsion in vivo. Magnetic-nanoparticle coating that can be magnetically pulled off does not need precise control, but the requirement of adhesion stability on an implant surface restricts its magnetic responsiveness. Moreover, whether the coating has been fully pulled-off or not is hard to ensure in real-time in vivo. Herein, composited silk fibroins (SFMA) are optimized to stabilize Fe3O4 nanoparticles on a titanium surface in a dry environment; while in an aqueous environment, the binding force of SFMA on titanium is significantly reduced due to hydrophilic interaction, making the coating magnetically controllable by an externally-used magnet but still stable in the absence of a magnet. The maximum working distance of the magnet can be calculated using magnetomechanical simulation in which the yielding magnetic traction force is strong enough to pull Fe3O4 nanoparticles off the surface. The pulling-off removes the biofilms that formed on the coating and enhances antibiotic killing both in vitro and in a rat sub-cutaneous implant model by up to 100 fold. This work contributes to the practical knowledge of magnetic propulsion for biofilm treatment.