Standard: human intestine-on-a-chip.

Organs-on-chips are microphysiological systems that allow to replicate the key functions of human organs and accelerate the innovation in life sciences including disease modeling, drug development, and precision medicine. However, due to the lack of standards in their definition, structural design, cell source, model construction, and functional validation, a wide range of translational application of organs-on-chips remains a challenging. "Organs-on-chips: Intestine" is the first group standard on human intestine-on-a-chip in China, jointly agreed and released by the experts from the Chinese Society of Biotechnology on 29th April 2024. This standard specifies the scope, terminology, definitions, technical requirements, detection methods, and quality control in building the human intestinal model on a chip. The publication of this group standard will guide the institutional establishment, acceptance and execution of proper practical protocols and accelerate the international standardization of intestine-on-a-chip for translational applications.

Acute nitrite exposure causes gut microbiota dysbacteriosis and proliferation of pathogenic Photobacterium in shrimp.

Nitrite exposure has become a significant concern in the aquaculture industry, posing a severe threat to aquatic animals such as shrimp. While studies have reported the adverse effects of nitrite on shrimp growth, the part played by the gut microbiota in shrimp mortality resulting from nitrite exposure is poorly understood. Here, the effects of nitrite on shrimp gut bacterial community were investigated using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, bacterial isolation, genomic analysis, and infection experiments. Compared to the control_healthy group, changes in the bacterial composition of the nitrite_dead group were associated with reduced abundance of specific beneficial bacteria and increased abundance of certain pathogenic bacteria. Notably, members of the Photobacterium genus were found to be significantly enriched in the nitrite_dead group. Genomic analysis of a representative Photobacterium strain (LvS-8n3) revealed a variety of genes encoding bacterial toxins, including hemolysin, adhesin, and phospholipase. Furthermore, it was also found that LvS-8n3 exhibits strong pathogenicity, probably due to its high production of pathogenic factors and the ability to utilize nitrite for proliferation. Therefore, the proliferation of pathogenic Photobacterium species appears pivotal for driving shrimp mortality caused by nitrite exposure. These findings provide novel insights into the disease mechanism in shrimp under conditions of environmental change.

IBSP Promotes Breast Cancer Bone Metastasis and Proliferation via BMP-SMAD Signaling Pathway.

BACKGROUND: Integrin-Binding Sialoprotein (IBSP) has been implicated in tumor progression across various cancers. However, the specific role of IBSP in breast cancer remains underexplored. There is a need to investigate the mechanisms by which IBSP influences breast cancer progression and its potential as a therapeutic target. AIMS: This study aims to elucidate the role of IBSP in breast cancer, particularly its impact on tumor progression and its relationship with prognosis. We also seek to understand the underlying mechanisms, including the involvement of the BMP-SMAD signaling pathway, and to explore the potential of targeting IBSP for therapeutic interventions. METHODS AND RESULTS: Overexpression of IBSP in breast cancer cells led to increased migration and invasion, whereas IBSP interference reduced these behaviors, indicating its role in enhancing tumor progression. Differentially expressed genes were significantly enriched in the BMP-SMAD signaling pathway, a critical pathway for osteogenic differentiation. Transcription Factor Binding: Dual luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that SMAD4 specifically binds to the IBSP promoter, establishing a regulatory link between SMAD4 and IBSP expression. Silencing IBSP (si-IBSP) mitigated the effects of SMAD4-induced tumor proliferation, confirming that IBSP acts as a downstream target of SMAD4 in the BMP signaling pathway. CONCLUSION: Our study reveals that IBSP plays a significant role in breast cancer progression through the BMP-SMAD4 signaling pathway. Targeting IBSP could be a promising therapeutic strategy for breast cancer treatment. Further research into IBSP inhibitors may offer new avenues for improving treatment outcomes and managing breast cancer more effectively.

Cadmium stress alleviates lipid accumulation caused by chiral penthiopyrad through regulating endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in zebrafish liver.

The coexistence of cadmium (Cd) can potentiate (synergism) or reduce (antagonism) the pesticide effects on organisms, which may change with chiral pesticide enantiomers. Previous studies have reported the toxic effects of chiral penthiopyrad on lipid metabolism in zebrafish (Danio rerio) liver. The Cd effects and toxic mechanism on lipid accumulation were investigated from the perspective of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. The coexistence of Cd increased the concentrations of penthiopyrad and its metabolites in zebrafish. Penthiopyrad exposure exhibited significant effects on lipid metabolism and mitochondrial function-related indicators, which were verified by lipid droplets and mitochondrial damage in subcellular structures. Moreover, penthiopyrad activated the genes of ER unfolded protein reaction (UPR) and Ca2+ permeable channels, and S-penthiopyrad exhibited more serious effects on ER stress with ER hyperplasia than R-penthiopyrad. As a mitochondrial uncoupler, the coexistence of Cd could decrease lipid accumulation by alleviating ER stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, and these effects were the most significant for R-penthiopyrad. There were antagonistic effects between Cd and penthiopyrad, which could reduce the damage caused by penthiopyrad in zebrafish, thus increasing the bioaccumulation of penthiopyrad in zebrafish. These findings highlighted the importance and necessity of evaluating the ecological risks of metal-chiral pesticide mixtures.

Tailoring Single-Atom Coordination Environments in Carbon Nanofibers via Flash Heating for Highly Efficient Bifunctional Oxygen Electrocatalysis.

The rational design of carbon-supported transition metal single-atom catalysts necessitates precise atomic positioning within the precursor. However, structural collapse during pyrolysis can occlude single atoms, posing significant challenges in controlling both their utilization and coordination environment. Herein, we present a surface atom adsorption-flash heating (FH) strategy, which ensures that the pre-designed carbon nanofiber structure remains intact during heating, preventing unforeseen collapse effects and enabling the formation of metal atoms in nano-environments with either tetra-nitrogen or penta-nitrogen coordination at different flash heating temperatures. Theoretical calculations and in situ Raman spectroscopy reveal that penta-nitrogen coordinated cobalt atoms (Co-N5) promote a lower energy pathway for oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution reactions compared to the commonly formed Co-N4 sites. This strategy ensures that Co-N5 sites are fully exposed on the surface, achieving exceptionally high atomic utilization. The turnover frequency (65.33 s-1) is 47.4 times higher than that of 20% Pt/C under alkaline conditions. The porous, flexible carbon nanofibers significantly enhance zinc-air battery performance, with a high peak power density (273.8 mW cm-2), large specific capacity (784.2 mA h g-1), and long-term cycling stability over 600 h. Additionally, the flexible fiber-shaped zinc-air battery can power wearable devices, demonstrating significant potential in flexible electronics applications.

Application of N-doped NiCo2O4/NiO/Co3O4composites rich in oxygen vacancies in electromagnetic wave absorption.

In this work, N-doped and oxygen vacancy-rich NiCo2O4/NiO/Co3O4composites are synthesized by the direct calcination method. Noticeably, by changing the additive concentrations of urea dissolved in DMF (N-N dimethylformamide), the electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption abilities of NiCo2O4/NiO/Co3O4composite effectively. A maximum reflection loss (RLmax) value at 12.94 GHz for a 2.8 mm thick sheet is -29.76 dB, while its effective absorption bandwidth (RL < -10 dB) reaches 4.21 GHz. In-depth research of possible mechanisms of EMW absorption enhancement. Owing to its simple preparation method and superb EMW absorption properties, the NiCo2O4/NiO/Co3O4composites have a chance to be suitable candidates for high-property EMW absorbers.

Calycosin inhibits the proliferation and metastasis of renal cell carcinoma through the MAZ/HAS2 signaling pathway.

Calycosin (Caly), a flavonoid compound, demonstrates a variety of beneficial properties. However, the specific mechanisms behind Caly's anticancer effects remain largely unexplored. Network pharmacology was used to explore the potential targets of Caly in renal cancer. Additionally, RNA-seq sequencing was used to detect changes in genes in renal cancer cells after Caly treatment. Validation was carried out through quantitative reverse transcription-PCR and Western blot analysis. The luciferase reporter assay was applied to pinpoint the interaction site between MAZ and HAS2. Furthermore, the immunoprecipitation assay was utilized to examine the ubiquitination and degradation of MAZ. In vivo experiments using cell line-derived xenograft mouse models were performed to assess Calycosin's impact on cancer growth. Network pharmacology research suggests Caly plays a role in promoting apoptosis and inhibiting cell adhesion in renal cancer. In vitro, Caly has been observed to suppress proliferation, colony formation, and metastasis of renal cancer cells while also triggering apoptosis. Additionally, it appears to diminish hyaluronic acid synthesis by downregulating HAS2 expression. MAZ is identified as a transcriptional regulator of HAS2 expression. Calycosin further facilitates the degradation of MAZ via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Notably, Caly demonstrates efficacy in reducing the growth of renal cell carcinoma xenograft tumors in vivo. Our findings indicate that Caly suppresses the proliferation, metastasis, and progression of renal cell carcinoma through its action on the MAZ/HAS2 signaling pathway. Thus, Caly represents a promising therapeutic candidate for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma.

Lower extremity function and cardiovascular disease risk in hemodialysis patients: A multicenter cross-sectional study.

Physical performance in hemodialysis patients declines and serves as a cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence and mortality predictor. However, lower extremity function's role remains unclear. This study aimed to quantify the association between lower extremity function and CVD risk in hemodialysis patients. This was a multicenter cross-sectional study enrolling 868 participants (532 males, 336 females) from seven hemodialysis centers in Shanghai, China. Patients were divided into three groups per lower extremity function, evaluated by short physical performance battery (SPPB) scores: 0-6, 7-9, and 10-12. Upper extremity function was quantified through grip strength assessment. CVD risk was assessed using the Framingham Risk Score. Approximately 35% of hemodialysis patients had impaired lower extremity function (SPPB score < 10). Participants with high SPPB scores had stronger handgrip and lower Framingham CVD risk scores than those with low and moderate SPPB scores (p < 0.05). After adjusting clinical confounders, SPPB was independently associated with CVD risk, as a categorized variable (odds ratio: 0.577, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.388-0.857, p = 0.006) and as a continuous variable (odds ratio: 0.858, 95% CI: 0.772-0.953, p = 0.004). An SPPB score < 10 predicted an increased CVD risk (area under curve: 0.649, 95% CI: 0.599-0.699, p < 0.001). Causality between physical performance and CVD risk was not considered. Some upper limb results may not be generalizable to peritoneal dialysis and kidney transplant patients. Lower extremity function was significantly associated with CVD risk in hemodialysis patients. Further studies are needed to explore the long-term relationship between lower extremity function and CVD risk.

The value of synthetic magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis and assessment of prostate cancer aggressiveness.

Background: Synthetic magnetic resonance imaging (SyMRI) is a fast, standardized, and robust novel quantitative technique that has the potential to circumvent the subjectivity of interpretation in prostate multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) and the limitations of existing MRI quantification techniques. Our study aimed to evaluate the potential utility of SyMRI in the diagnosis and aggressiveness assessment of prostate cancer (PCA). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 309 patients with suspected PCA who had undergone mpMRI and SyMRI, and pathologic results were obtained by biopsy or PCA radical prostatectomy (RP). Pathological types were classified as PCA, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or peripheral zone (PZ) inflammation. According to the Gleason Score (GS), PCA was divided into groups of intermediate-to-high risk (GS ≥4+3) and low-risk (GS ≤3+4). Patients with biopsy-confirmed low-risk PCA were further divided into upgraded and nonupgraded groups based on the GS changes of the RP results. The values of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), T1, T2 and proton density (PD) of these lesions were measured on ADC and SyMRI parameter maps by two physicians; these values were compared between PCA and BPH or inflammation, between the intermediate-to-high-risk and low-risk PCA groups, and between the upgraded and nonupgraded PCA groups. The risk factors affecting GS grades were identified via univariate analysis. The effects of confounding factors were excluded through multivariate logistic regression analysis, and independent predictive factors were calculated. Subsequently, the ADC+Sy(T2+PD) combined models for predicting PCA risk grade or GS upgrade were constructed through data processing analysis. The diagnostic performance of each parameter and the ADC+Sy(T2+PD) model was analyzed. The calibration curve was calculated by the bootstrapping internal validation method (200 bootstrap resamples). Results: The T1, T2, and PD values of PCA were significantly lower than those of BPH or inflammation (P≤0.001) in both the PZ or transitional zone. Among the 178 patients with PCA, intermediate-to-high-risk PCA group had significantly higher T1, T2, and PD values but lower ADC values compared with the low-risk group (P<0.05), and the diagnostic efficacy of each single parameter was similar (P>0.05). The ADC+Sy(T2+PD) model showed the best performance, with an area under the curve (AUC) 0.110 [AUC =0.818; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.754-0.872] higher than that of ADC alone (AUC =0.708; 95% CI: 0.635-0.774) (P=0.003). Among the 68 patients initially classified as PCA in the low-risk group by biopsy, PCA in the postoperative upgraded GS group had significantly higher T1, T2, and PD values but lower ADC values than did those in the nonupgraded group (P<0.01). In addition, the ADC+Sy(T2+PD) model better predicted the upgrade of GS, with a significant increase in AUC of 0.204 (AUC =0.947; 95% CI: 0.864-0.987) compared with ADC alone (AUC =0.743; 95% CI: 0.622-0.841) (P<0.001). Conclusions: Quantitative parameters (T1, T2, and PD) derived from SyMRI can help differentiate PCA from non-PCA. Combining SyMRI parameters with ADC significantly improved the ability to differentiate between intermediate-to-high risk PCA from low-risk PCA and could predict the upgrade of low-risk PCA as confirmed by biopsy.

Dysrhythmic saliva microbiota in mobile phone addicts with sleep disorders and restored by acupuncture.

Background: Mobile phone addiction (MPA) greatly affects the biological clock and sleep quality and is emerging as a behavioral disorder. The saliva microbiota has been linked to circadian rhythms, and our previous research revealed dysrhythmic saliva metabolites in MPA subjects with sleep disorders (MPASD). In addition, acupuncture had positive effects. However, the dysbiotic saliva microbiota in MPASD patients and the restorative effects of acupuncture are unclear. Objectives: To probe the circadian dysrhythmic characteristics of the saliva microbiota and acupunctural restoration in MPASD patients. Methods: MPASD patients and healthy volunteers were recruited by the Mobile Phone Addiction Tendency Scale (MPATS) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Saliva samples were collected every 4 h for 72 h. After saliva sampling, six MPDSD subjects (group M) were acupuncturally treated (group T), and subsequent saliva sampling was conducted posttreatment. Finally, all the samples were subjected to 16S rRNA gene sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. Results: Significantly increased MPATS and PSQI scores were observed in MPDSD patients (p< 0.01), but these scores decreased (p<0.001) after acupuncture intervention. Compared with those in healthy controls, the diversity and structure of the saliva microbiota in MPASD patients were markedly disrupted. Six genera with circadian rhythms were detected in all groups, including Sulfurovum, Peptostreptococcus, Porphyromonas and Prevotella. There were five genera with circadian rhythmicity in healthy people, of which the rhythmicities of the genera Rothia and Lautropia disappeared in MPASD patients but effectively resumed after acupuncture intervention. Conclusions: This work revealed dysrhythmic salivary microbes in MPASD patients, and acupuncture, as a potential intervention, could be effective in mitigating this ever-rising behavioral epidemic.

Pseudomeningocele Following Posterior Cranial Fossa Surgery Significantly Increases the Risk of Intracranial Infection: A 10-Year Retrospective Analysis.

Background: Posterior fossa craniotomy is commonly performed for various pathologies. However, intra-cranial infection following craniotomy causes morbidity. Pseudomeningocele is one of the main complications following posterior fossa operation. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that the risk of intra-cranial infection is increased in patients who undergo posterior fossa craniotomy with pseudomeningocele compared with those without pseudomeningocele. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of patients undergoing posterior fossa craniotomy for the management of neurological pathologies at our institute from 2011 to 2020. A total of 308 craniotomies were included, and the primary outcome of interest was the occurrence of intra-cranial infection. Standard statistical methods were used to explore associations between several parameters, including pseudomeningocele, intra-cranial infection, and wound leak. Results: Of the 308 craniotomies, 41 (13.3%) developed intra-cranial infection and 59 (19.2%) involved pseudomeningocele. Of cases involving pseudomeningocele, 27 (45.8%) developed an intra-cranial infection compared with only 14 of 249 without pseudomeningocele (5.6%; p < 0.001). In the multi-variable analysis, pseudomeningocele was associated with intra-cranial infection (odds ratio [OR] 8.56; 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.145-23.299; p < 0.001) and wound leak (OR 91.339; 95% CI 10.437-799.364; p < 0.001). Conclusion: The findings indicate that patients undergoing posterior fossa craniotomy are at a greater risk of intra-cranial infection if there is pseudomeningocele after the operation.

TCBIR/CD320: a potential therapeutic target upregulated in endothelial cells and associated with immune cell infiltration in liver hepatocellular carcinoma.

CD320, which is a transmembrane protein responsible for facilitating the absorption of vitamin B12, plays a key role in this process. However, the relationships between CD320 and immune cell infiltration levels remain unclear, with limited studies investigating the diagnostic and prognostic significance of CD320 in hepatocellular carcinoma. We used various databases, including the TIMER, GEPIA, UALCAN and TCGA databases to investigate the expression levels of CD320 in hepatocellular carcinoma. Subsequently, we analyzed the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients with different expression levels of CD320. Furthermore, we also performed Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence analyses to validate the results of the database analysis. Finally, the functions of CD320 in hepatocellular carcinoma were also confirmed via relevant cell experiments and angiogenesis assays. We found that CD320 expression was significantly upregulated in tumor vascular endothelial cells. Moreover, the knockdown of CD320 led to a reduction in angiogenesis in endothelial cells. Increased expression of CD320 was also correlated with a poor prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, which suggested that CD320 may be a potential prognostic marker. Finally, TIMER analysis demonstrated that the infiltration of six immune cell types was significantly associated with high expression levels of CD320 in hepatocellular carcinoma. Herein, we demonstrated that CD320 may play an important role in angiogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma. These findings suggested that CD320 may be a potential clinical prognostic marker and immunotherapy target for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound on the microorganisms of expressed prostatic secretion in patients with IIIB prostatitis.

To detect and analyze the changes of microorganisms in expressed prostatic secretion (EPS) of patients with IIIB prostatitis before and after low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) treatment, and to explore the mechanism of LIPUS in the treatment of chronic prostatitis (CP). 25 patients (study power was estimated using a Dirichlet-multinomial approach and reached 96.5% at α = 0.05 using a sample size of 25) with IIIB prostatitis who were effective in LIPUS treatment were divided into two groups before and after LIPUS treatment. High throughput second-generation sequencing technique was used to detect and analyze the relative abundance of bacterial 16 s ribosomal variable regions in EPS before and after treatment. The data were analyzed by bioinformatics software and database, and differences with P < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Beta diversity analysis showed that there was a significant difference between groups (P = 0.046). LEfSe detected four kinds of characteristic microorganisms in the EPS of patients with IIIB prostatitis before and after LIPUS treatment. After multiple comparisons among groups by DESeq2 method, six different microorganisms were found. LIPUS may improve patients' clinical symptoms by changing the flora structure of EPS, stabilizing and affecting resident bacteria or opportunistic pathogens.

Comparison of the effects of norepinephrine and phenylephrine on shivering and hypothermia in patients undergoing caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia at a tertiary hospital in China：a randomised, double-blind, controlled trial protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Peripheral vasodilation causes a redistribution of body temperature from the core to the periphery, resulting in shivering and hypothermia. These are normal pathological and physiological processes during spinal anaesthesia. Two drugs, norepinephrine and phenylephrine, have peripheral vasoconstrictive effects. It is unclear the effects of norepinephrine and phenylephrine on shivering and hypothermia in patients undergoing caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia. METHODS ANALYSIS: 240 eligible parturients will be recruited for this randomised, double-blind, controlled trial and randomly assigned to either the norepinephrine or phenylephrine groups. The primary outcome will be the incidence of shivering while secondary outcomes will include the severity of shivering, rectal temperature, incidence of hypothermia and umbilical artery blood pH value. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The Institutional Ethics Committee of The Second People's Hospital of Hefei approved the trial protocol (ID: 2023-093). The results will be published in a compliant journal. The original data will be released in December 2029 on the ResMan original data-sharing platform of the China Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.medresman.org.cn). TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR2300077164.

Toward AI-driven neuroepigenetic imaging biomarker for alcohol use disorder: A proof-of-concept study.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a disorder of clinical and public health significance requiring novel and improved therapeutic solutions. Both environmental and genetic factors play a significant role in its pathophysiology. However, the underlying epigenetic molecular mechanisms that link the gene-environment interaction in AUD remain largely unknown. In this proof-of-concept study, we showed, for the first time, the neuroepigenetic biomarker capability of non-invasive imaging of class I histone deacetylase (HDAC) epigenetic enzymes in the in vivo brain for classifying AUD patients from healthy controls using a machine learning approach in the context of precision diagnosis. Eleven AUD patients and 16 age- and sex-matched healthy controls completed a simultaneous positron emission tomography-magnetic resonance (PET/MR) scan with the HDAC-binding radiotracer [11C]Martinostat. Our results showed lower HDAC expression in the anterior cingulate region in AUD. Furthermore, by applying a genetic algorithm feature selection, we identified five particular brain regions whose combined [11C]Martinostat relative standard uptake value (SUVR) features could reliably classify AUD vs. controls. We validate their promising classification reliability using a support vector machine classifier. These findings inform the potential of in vivo HDAC imaging biomarkers coupled with machine learning tools in the objective diagnosis and molecular translation of AUD that could complement the current diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM)-based intervention to propel precision medicine forward.

Astrocytes control quiescent NSC reactivation via GPCR signaling-mediated F-actin remodeling.

The transitioning of neural stem cells (NSCs) between quiescent and proliferative states is fundamental for brain development and homeostasis. Defects in NSC reactivation are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. Drosophila quiescent NSCs extend an actin-rich primary protrusion toward the neuropil. However, the function of the actin cytoskeleton during NSC reactivation is unknown. Here, we reveal the fine filamentous actin (F-actin) structures in the protrusions of quiescent NSCs by expansion and super-resolution microscopy. We show that F-actin polymerization promotes the nuclear translocation of myocardin-related transcription factor, a microcephaly-associated transcription factor, for NSC reactivation and brain development. F-actin polymerization is regulated by a signaling cascade composed of G protein-coupled receptor Smog, G protein αq subunit, Rho1 guanosine triphosphatase, and Diaphanous (Dia)/Formin during NSC reactivation. Further, astrocytes secrete a Smog ligand folded gastrulation to regulate Gαq-Rho1-Dia-mediated NSC reactivation. Together, we establish that the Smog-Gαq-Rho1 signaling axis derived from astrocytes, an NSC niche, regulates Dia-mediated F-actin dynamics in NSC reactivation.

Effect of norepinephrine and phenylephrine on prothrombotic response in patients undergoing cesarean section under spinal anesthesia: protocol for a randomized, double-blind, controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Norepinephrine and phenylephrine are commonly used vasoactive drugs to treat hypotension during the perioperative period. The increased release of endogenous norepinephrine elicits prothrombotic changes, while parturients are generally in a hypercoagulable state. Therefore, this trial aims to investigate whether there is a disparity between equivalent doses of prophylactic norepinephrine infusion and phenylephrine infusion on prothrombotic response in patients undergoing cesarean section under spinal anesthesia. METHODS: Sixty-six eligible parturients will be recruited for this trial and randomly assigned to the norepinephrine or phenylephrine group. The "study drug" will be administered at a rate of 15 ml/h starting from the intrathecal injection. The primary outcome are plasma coagulation factor VIII activity (FVIII: C), fibrinogen, and D-dimer levels. The secondary outcomes include hemodynamic variables and umbilical artery blood pH value. DISCUSSION: Our study is the first trial comparing the effect of norepinephrine and phenylephrine on prothrombotic response in patients undergoing cesarean section under spinal anesthesia. Positive or negative results will all help us better understand the impact of vasoactive drugs on patients. If there are any differences, this trial will provide new evidence for maternal choice of vasoactive medications in the perioperative period. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2300077164. Registered on 1 November 2023. https://www.chictr.org.cn/ .

Genomic Analysis of Novel Sulfitobacter Bacterial Strains Isolated from Marine Biofilms.

Bacteria from the genus Sulfitobacter are distributed across various marine habitats and play a significant role in sulfur cycling. However, the metabolic features of Sulfitobacter inhabiting marine biofilms are still not well understood. Here, complete genomes and paired metatranscriptomes of eight Sulfitobacter strains, isolated from biofilms on subtidal stones, have been analyzed to explore their central energy metabolism and potential of secondary metabolite biosynthesis. Based on average nucleotide identity and phylogenetic analysis, the eight strains were classified into six novel species and two novel strains. The reconstruction of the metabolic pathways indicated that all strains had a complete Entner-Doudoroff pathway, pentose phosphate pathway, and diverse pathways for amino acid metabolism, suggesting the presence of an optimized central carbon metabolism. Pangenome analysis further revealed the differences between the gene cluster distribution patterns among the eight strains, suggesting significant functional variation. Moreover, a total of 47 biosynthetic gene clusters were discovered, which were further classified into 37 gene cluster families that showed low similarity with previously documented clusters. Furthermore, metatranscriptomic analysis revealed the expressions of key functional genes involved in the biosynthesis of ribosomal peptides in in situ marine biofilms. Overall, this study sheds new light on the metabolic features, adaptive strategies, and value of genome mining in this group of biofilm-associated Sulfitobacter bacteria.

An Adaptive Elastic Support Seat-Based Magnetorheological Elastomer for Human Body Vibration Reduction.

This paper introduces an electromagnetic structure utilizing the controllable mechanical properties of magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) materials through magnetic flux. An adaptive elastic foundation composed of these materials is explored for vibration reduction and frequency modulation. This study investigates these effects using both a single-mass model and a coupled human-seat model. For objects supported by the adaptive elastic foundation, increasing the magnetic flux enhances the stiffness and damping, thereby significantly reducing the peak response while slightly increasing the resonance frequency. Strategies such as increasing the magnetic flux, reducing the object mass, and minimizing the system's degrees of freedom and internal damping contribute to enhancing the vibration reduction and frequency modulation in the adaptive elastic foundation. The simulation results indicate that for a seated human (weighing between 72.4 kg and 88.4 kg), the adaptive elastic foundation reduces the head peak response by approximately 15.7% and increases the resonance frequency by approximately 3.4% at a magnetic flux of 138 mT.