A novel predictive model for optimizing diabetes screening in older adults.

INTRODUCTION: The fasting blood glucose test is widely used for diabetes screening. However, it may fail to detect early-stage diabetes characterized by elevated postprandial glucose levels. Hence, we developed and internally validated a nomogram to predict the diabetes risk in older adults with normal fasting glucose levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study enrolled 2,235 older adults, dividing them into a Training Set (n = 1,564) and a Validation Set (n = 671) based on a 7:3 ratio. We employed the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression to identify predictors for constructing the nomogram. Calibration and discrimination were employed to assess the nomogram's performance, while its clinical utility was evaluated through decision curve analysis. RESULTS: Nine key variables were identified as significant factors: age, gender, body mass index, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase, the ratio of alanine aminotransferase to aspartate aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen, and hemoglobin. The nomogram demonstrated good discrimination, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.824 in the Training Set and 0.809 in the Validation Set. Calibration curves for both sets confirmed the model's accuracy in estimating the actual diabetes risk. Decision curve analysis highlighted the model's clinical utility. CONCLUSIONS: We provided a dynamic nomogram for identifying older adults at risk of diabetes, potentially enhancing the efficiency of diabetes screening in primary healthcare units.

Opportunistic use of chest low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) imaging for low bone mineral density and osteoporosis screening: cutoff thresholds for the attenuation values of the lower thoracic and upper lumbar vertebrae.

Background: Osteoporosis remains substantially underdiagnosed and undertreated worldwide. Chest low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) may provide a valuable and popular opportunity for osteoporosis screening. This study sought to evaluate the feasibility of the screening of low bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoporosis with mean attenuation values of the lower thoracic compared to upper lumbar vertebrae. The cutoff thresholds of the mean attenuation values in Hounsfield units (HU) were derived to facilitate implementation of opportunistic screening using chest LDCT. Methods: The participants aged 30 years or older who underwent chest LDCT and quantitative computed tomography (QCT) examinations from August 2018 to October 2020 in our hospital were consecutively included in this retrospective study. A region of interest (ROI) was placed in the trabecular bone of each vertebral body to measure the HU values. The correlations of mean HU values of lower thoracic (T11-T12) and upper lumbar (L1-L2) vertebrae with age and lumbar BMD obtained with QCT were performed using the Pearson correlation coefficient, respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was generated to determine the cutoff thresholds for distinguishing low BMD from normal and osteoporosis from non-osteoporosis. Results: A total of 1,112 participants were included in the final study cohort (743 men and 369 women, mean age 58.2±8.9 years; range, 32-88 years). The mean HU values of T11-T12 and L1-L2 were significantly different among 3 QCT-defined BMD categories of osteoporosis, osteopenia, and normal (P<0.001). The differences in HU values between T11-T12 and L1-L2 in each category of bone status were statistically significant (P<0.001). The mean HU values of T11-T12 (r=-0.453, P<0.001) and L1-L2 (r=-0.498, P<0.001) had negative correlations with age. Positive correlations were observed between the mean HU values of T11-T12 (r=0.872, P<0.001) and L1-L2 (r=0.899, P<0.001) with BMD. The optimal cutoff thresholds for distinguishing low BMD from normal were average T11-T12 ≤157 HU [AUC =0.941, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.925-0.954, P<0.001] and L1-L2 ≤138 HU (AUC =0.950, 95% CI: 0.935-0.962, P<0.001), as well as distinguishing osteoporosis from non-osteoporosis were average T11-T12 ≤125 HU (AUC =0.960, 95% CI: 0.947-0.971, P<0.001) and L1-L2 ≤107 HU (AUC =0.961, 95% CI: 0.948-0.972, P<0.001). There was no significant difference between the AUC values of T11-T12 and L1-L2 for low BMD (P=0.07) and osteoporosis (P=0.92) screening. Conclusions: We have conducted a study on low BMD and osteoporosis screening using mean attenuation values of lower thoracic and upper lumbar vertebrae. Assessment of mean attenuation values of T11-T12 and L1-L2 can be used interchangeably for low BMD and osteoporosis screening using chest LDCT, and their cutoff thresholds were established.

E3 ubiquitin ligase IPI1 controls rice immunity and flowering via both E3 ligase-dependent and -independent pathways.

Immunity and flowering are energy-consuming processes. However, the mechanism underlying the balance between immunity and flowering remains to be elucidated. Here, we report that the E3 ligase ideal plant architecture 1 interactor 1 (IPI1) controls rice immunity and flowering via two different pathways, one dependent on and another independent of its E3 ligase activity. We found that IPI1, a RING-finger E3 ligase, interacts with another E3 ligase, AvrPiz-t-interacting protein 6 (APIP6), and protects APIP6 from degradation by preventing APIP6's self-ubiquitination. Stabilization of APIP6 by IPI1 requires no IPI1 E3 ligase activity and leads to degradation of APIP6 substrates via the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). Meanwhile, IPI1 directly ubiquitinates OsELF3-1 and OsELF3-2, two homologs of EARLY FLOWERING3 (ELF3), targeting them for degradation via the 26S proteasome. IPI1 knockout plants display early flowering but compromised resistance to rice blast. Thus, IPI1 balances rice immunity and flowering via both E3 ligase-dependent and -independent pathways.

RBP4 promotes denervation-induced muscle atrophy through STRA6-dependent pathway.

BACKGROUNDS: Fat infiltration of skeletal muscle has been recognized as a common feature of many degenerative muscle disorders. Retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) is an adipokine that has been demonstrated to be correlated with the presence and severity of sarcopenia in the elderly. However, the exact role and the underlying mechanism of RBP4 in muscle atrophy remains unclear. METHODS: Denervation-induced muscle atrophy model was constructed in wild-type and RBP4 knockout mice. To modify the expression of RBP4, mice were received intramuscular injection of retinol-free RBP4 (apo-RBP4), retinol-bound RBP4 (holo-RBP4) or oral gavage of RBP4 inhibitor A1120. Holo-RBP4-stimulated C2C12 myotubes were treated with siRNAs or specific inhibitors targeting signalling receptor and transporter of retinol 6 (STRA6)/Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway. Fat accumulation, myofibre cross-sectional area, myotube diameter and the expression of muscle atrophy markers and myogenesis markers were analysed. RESULTS: The expression levels of RBP4 in skeletal muscles were significantly up-regulated more than 2-fold from 7 days and sustained for 28 days after denervation. Immunofluorescence analysis indicated that increased RBP4 was localized in the infiltrated fatty region in denervated skeletal muscles. Knockout of RBP4 alleviated denervation-induced fatty infiltration and muscle atrophy together with decreased expression of atrophy marker Atrogin-1 and MuRF1 as well as increased expression of myogenesis regulators MyoD and MyoG. By contrast, injection of retinol-bound holo-RBP4 aggregated denervation-induced ectopic fat accumulation and muscle atrophy. Consistently, holo-RBP4 stimulation also had a dose-dependent effect on the reduction of C2C12 myotube diameter and myofibre cross-sectional area, as well as on the increase of Atrogin-1and MuRF1 expression and decrease of MyoD and MyoG expression. Mechanistically, holo-RBP4 treatment increased the expression of its membrane receptor STRA6 (>3-fold) and promoted the phosphorylation of downstream JAK2 and STAT3. Inhibition of STRA6/JAK2/STAT3 pathway either by specific siRNAs or inhibitors could decrease the expression of Atrogin-1 and MuRF1 (>50%) and decrease the expression of MyoD and MyoG (>3-fold) in holo-RBP4-treated C2C12 myotube. RBP4 specific pharmacological antagonist A1120 significantly inhibited the activation of STRA6/JAK2/STAT3 pathway, ameliorated ectopic fat infiltration and protected against denervation-induced muscle atrophy (30% increased myofibre cross-sectional area) in mice. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our data reveal that RBP4 promotes fat infiltration and muscle atrophy through a STRA6-dependent and JAK2/STAT3 pathway-mediated mechanism in denervated skeletal muscle. Our results suggest that lowering RBP4 levels might serve as a promising therapeutic approach for prevention and treatment of muscle atrophy.

Corrosion-Induced Cracking Model of Concrete Considering a Transverse Constraint.

The performance of corrosion-induced cracking of reinforced concrete members under transverse constraints was studied. Based on the theory of elastic-plastic mechanics and the hypothesis of uniform corrosion of a steel bar, a three-layer hollow cylinder model was established to predict the critical corrosion of the steel bar at the time of the cracking of the concrete cover. Taking the constraint of stirrups on surrounding concrete into consideration, it can be used to predict the corrosion rate of members with stirrups at the time of the cracking of the concrete cover, which further expands the application range of the corrosion-induced cracking models of concrete. On this basis, the critical corrosion rate of concrete under different stirrup ratios at the time of cracking was measured. The calculated results of the model are in accordance with experimental data. For corner steel bars, when the stirrup spacing is less than 100 mm, the existence of stirrups can effectively delay the occurrence of rust expansion cracks and enhance the durability of the structure. On the basis of this study, the problem of corrosion expansion and cracking of the concrete cover caused by non-uniform corrosion of steel bars along longitudinal and radial directions needs to be further studied in the future.

miR-126a-5p inhibits H1N1-induced inflammation and matrix protease secretion in lung fibroblasts by targeting ADAMTS-4.

Upregulation of ADAMTS-4 has been reported to have an important role in lung injury, and ADAMTS-4 expression is regulated by miR-126a-5p in abdominal aortic aneurysms. The aim of this study was to investigate whether miR-126a-5p/ADAMTS-4 plays a role in influenza-virus-induced lung injury. Lung fibroblasts were infected with H1N1 influenza virus to detect changes in miR-126a-5p and ADAMTS-4 expression, and cell viability was measured by CCK-8 assay. Inflammatory factors and matrix protease levels were examined using ELISA kits, and cell apoptosis was assessed by measuring the levels of apoptosis-related proteins. A dual luciferase assay was used to verify the regulatory relationship between miR-126a-5p and ADAMTS-4. H1N1 influenza virus reduced fibroblast viability, inhibited miR-126a-5p expression, and promoted ADAMTS-4 expression. Overexpression of miR-126a-5p attenuated the cellular inflammatory response, apoptosis, matrix protease secretion, and virus replication. Luciferase reporter assays revealed that miR-126a-5p inhibited ADAMTS-4 expression by targeting ADAMTS-4 mRNA. Further experiments showed that overexpression of ADAMTS-4 significantly reversed the inhibitory effects of miR-126a-5p on fibroblast inflammation, apoptosis, matrix protease secretion, and virus replication. Upregulation of miR-126a-5p inhibits H1N1-induced apoptosis, inflammatory factors, and matrix protease secretion, as well as virus replication in lung fibroblasts.

Umbrella review of risk factors for inflammatory bowel disease: a study protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic idiopathic inflammatory disorder that arises from complex interactions between genetics, environment and gut microbiota. It encompasses Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and IBD-unclassified. The protracted course of IBD imposes a significant burden on patients' quality of life, economic productivity, social functioning, as well as treatment, hospitalisation and surgery. This study aims to conduct an umbrella review of meta-analyses to systematically evaluate the methodology's quality, potential biases and validity of all epidemiological evidence focused on risk factors for IBD while providing an overview of the evidence concerning IBD risk factors. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will systematically search, extract and analyse data from reported systematic reviews and meta-analyses that specifically focus on the risk factors of IBD, following the guidelines outlined in Preferred Reporting Items for Overviews of Reviews. Our search will encompass PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews from the initial period up until April 2023 (last update), targeting systematic reviews and meta-analyses based on non-interventional studies. Inclusion criteria allow for systematic reviews and meta-analyses evaluating IBD risk factors across all countries and settings, regardless of ethnicity or sex. The identified risk factors will be categorised according to the health ecological model into innate personal traits, behavioural lifestyles, interpersonal networks, socioeconomic status and macroenvironments. To assess methodological quality for each meta-analysis included in our study, two authors will employ a measurement tool to assess the methodological quality of systematic reviews (AMSTAR)-2, Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria along with evidence classification criteria. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval is not required for this umbrella review. We will seek to submit the results for publication in a peer-reviewed journal or present it at conferences. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42023417175.

Association between oxidative balance score and heart failure in the older adults: Results from the NHANES 2005-2018.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) imposes a substantial burden on older adults, and healthy diets and lifestyles may bring with benefits. However, quantifiable studies on the dietary and lifestyle risk factors for HF are scant. The Oxidative Balance Score (OBS) reflects the oxidative stress status of dietary components and lifestyle factors, but its relationship with HF risk is unclear. OBJECTIVE: We aims to explore the association between OBS and the prevalence of HF. METHODS: Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2018, the association between OBS and the HF prevalence was analyzed by weighted logistic regression and restricted cubic splines (RCS). Subgroup and sensitivity analyses assessed the stability of the results. RESULTS: The prevalence of HF in the cohort of 6238 older adults was 5.55 %. Compared to the lowest quintile, the adjusted ORs for HF in the highest quintile of OBS and lifestyle OBS were 0.57 (95 % CI: 0.33,0.97) and 0.21 (95 %CI: 0.09,0.50), respectively. The association between OBS and HF prevalence remained stable across different models and subgroups. RCS revealed a potential inflection point. Sensitivity analysis validated the negative association between OBS and HF prevalence, and the correlation analysis between OBS and serum γ-glutamyltransferase (γ-GGT) confirmed the reliability of the study design. CONCLUSION: The OBS is negatively associated with HF prevalence in older adults, and may help prevent HF in this population.

Highly diverse RNA viruses and phage sequences concealed within birds.

The diversity of birds in most parts of the world is very high, and thus, they may carry different types of highly differentiated and unknown viruses. Thanks to advanced sequencing technologies, studies on the diversity of bird-associated viruses have increased over the past few years. In this study, a large-scale viral metagenomics survey was performed on cloacal swabs of 2,990 birds from nine provinces of the Chinese mainland. To detect undescribed RNA viruses in birds, more than 1,800 sequences sharing relatively low (<60%) amino acid sequence identity with the best match in the GenBank database were screened. Potentially novel viruses related to vertebrates have been identified, and several potential recombination signals were found. Additionally, hundreds of RNA viral sequences related to plants, fungi, and insects were detected, including previously unknown viruses. Furthermore, we investigated the novelty, functionality, and classification of the phages examined in this study. These viruses occupied topological positions on the evolutionary trees to a certain extent and might form novel putative families, genera, or species, thus providing information to fill the phylogenetic gaps of related viruses. These findings provided new insights into bird-associated viruses, but the interactions among these viruses remain unknown and require further investigation.IMPORTANCEStudying the diversity of RNA viruses in birds and mammals is crucial due to their potential impact on human health and the global ecosystem. Many RNA viruses, such as influenza and coronaviruses, have been shown to cross the species barrier and cause zoonotic diseases. In this metagenomics study involving 2,990 birds from at least 82 species, we identified over 1,800 RNA sequences with distant relationships to known viruses, some of which are rare in birds. The study highlights the scope and diversity of RNA viruses in birds, providing data to predict disease risks and monitor potential viral threats to wildlife, livestock, and human health. This information can aid in the development of strategies for disease prevention and control.

Construction of early warning classification of risk in bladder spasm and its intervention plans guided by the rate adjustment card of continuous bladder irrigation after transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP): development and usability study.

Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common benign disease causing voiding dysfunction in middle-aged and elderly men. the current "gold standard" for surgical treatment is transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Continuous bladder irrigation (CBI) is routinely given for 3 to 5 days after operation. However, this may induce bladder spasm. Bladder spasm not only brings physical and mental pain to patients, delaying the postoperative recovery process, but it also increases the medical economic burden. Therefore, it is important to take active measures to effectively warn and deal with bladder spasm. The color of the drainage fluid is an important indicator and requires close observation during CBI, as it can reflect real-time postoperative bleeding. When the color of drainage fluid is abnormal, effective measures should be undertaken. Grading nursing intervention divides patients into different conditions according to their possible changes, and then recommends targeted nursing intervention. Existing studies have formulated CBI programs from the perspective of quantifying the relationship between drainage fluid color and irrigation speed, but have yet to incorporate bladder spasm prevention and control levels or design corresponding grading nursing intervention programs according to different drainage fluid colors. This study aimed to construct the risk warning classification and intervention plan of bladder spasm under the guidance of CBI speed adjusting card after TURP. Methods: Based on the rate adjustment card of CBI after TURP, we formulated the first draft of an early warning classification of risk in bladder spasm and its intervention plans by combining methods suggested from a literature search with semi-structured interviews and results from 2 rounds of correspondence inquiries with 28 experts by the Delphi method. We further screened and revised grading standards and measures. Results: The positive coefficients of experts in 2 rounds of correspondence inquiries were both 100%, the authority coefficients were both 0.952, and the Kendall harmony coefficients were 0.238 and 0.326, respectively (P<0.01). In the second round of correspondence inquiries, the coefficient of variation of expert opinions was 0.000-0.154, and the coefficient of variation of all items was <0.25. Finally, a 3-level risk warning classification standard and 23 nursing measures for CBI complicated by bladder spasm was constructed. Conclusions: The early warning classification of risk in bladder spasm and its intervention plans guided by rate adjustment card of CBI after TURP are scientific and feasible, and can provide a basis and guidance for effective and standardized CBI in patients after TURP.

High-Safety Lithium-Ion Battery Separator with Adjustable Temperature Function Inspired by the Sugar Gourd Structure.

As the power core of an electric vehicle, the performance of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is directly related to the vehicle quality and driving range. However, the charge-discharge performance and cycling performance are affected by the temperature. Excessive temperature can cause internal short circuits and even lead to safety issues, such as thermal runaway. The separator plays a crucial role in protecting the battery from regular operation, preventing direct touch between the cathode and the anode while allowing the transport of lithium ions. In this study, we have designed a thermoregulating separator in the shape of calabash, which uses melamine-encapsulated paraffin phase change material (PCM) with a wide enthalpy (0-168.52 J g-1) to dissipate the heat generated inside the battery promptly. Under extra-long-use conditions, the heat emitted by the battery is absorbed by the PCM without causing a significant temperature rise that triggers thermal runaway. The PCM separator can effectively suppress the temperature increase caused by battery penetration. Due to the unique structure of the PCM, the battery is short-circuited; it can significantly delay the internal temperature rise of the battery and quickly dissipate the heat, which is consistent with the characteristics of natural calabash in nutrient absorption and water diffusion, improving the melting and heat storage efficiency of the PCM. The design of the phase change separator provides an effective reference for overheat protection and improved safety in lithium-ion batteries.

Exogenous Indole-3-Acetic Acid Suppresses Rice Infection of Magnaporthe oryzae by Affecting Plant Resistance and Fungal Growth.

Auxin is an important phytohormone that regulates diverse biologic processes, including plant growth and immunity. Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), known as one of the main forms of auxin, is able to activate plant immunity. However, it is unknown whether IAA enhances plant resistance and/or suppresses the growth of the fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae. Here, we found that IAA could induce expression levels of pathogenesis-related genes to enhance disease resistance and could control the development of blast disease through inhibiting M. oryzae infection. Exogenous IAA suppressed mycelial growth and delayed spore germination by inhibiting fungal endogenous IAA biosynthesis and impairing redox homeostasis, respectively. When applied to a field test, two IAA analogues, 1-naphthaleneacetic acid and 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid, can effectively control rice blast disease. Our study advances the understanding of IAA in controlling rice blast disease through suppressing pathogen growth and enhancing plant resistance.

Immediate versus delayed single blastocyst transfer following the first stimulated IVF cycle in the freeze-all strategy: a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: In recent years, the use of frozen embryo transfers (FET) has rapidly increased following the freeze-all strategy due to the advantages of increased maternal safety, improved pregnancy rates, lower ectopic pregnancy rates and better obstetric and neonatal outcomes. Currently, there is still no good scientific evidence to support when to perform FET following a stimulated in vitro fertilisation (IVF) cycle in the freeze-all strategy. METHODS/ANALYSIS: This will be a randomised controlled trial. A total of 828 women undergoing their first FET following their first stimulated IVF cycle in the freeze-all strategy will be enrolled and randomised into one of the following groups according to a computer-generated randomisation list: (1) the immediate group, in which FET will be performed in the first menstrual cycle following the stimulated IVF cycle; or (2) the delayed group, in which FET will be performed at least in the second menstrual cycle following the stimulated IVF cycle. The primary outcome will be live birth, which is defined as the delivery of any infants at ≥22 gestational weeks with heartbeat and breath. ETHICS/DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of Assisted Reproductive Medicine at the Shanghai JiAi Genetics & IVF Institute (JIAI E2019-15). Written informed consent will be obtained from each woman before any study procedure is performed, according to good clinical practice. The results of this trial will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04371783.

Discovery of novel RNA viruses through analysis of fungi-associated next-generation sequencing data.

BACKGROUND: Like all other species, fungi are susceptible to infection by viruses. The diversity of fungal viruses has been rapidly expanding in recent years due to the availability of advanced sequencing technologies. However, compared to other virome studies, the research on fungi-associated viruses remains limited. RESULTS: In this study, we downloaded and analyzed over 200 public datasets from approximately 40 different Bioprojects to explore potential fungal-associated viral dark matter. A total of 12 novel viral sequences were identified, all of which are RNA viruses, with lengths ranging from 1,769 to 9,516 nucleotides. The amino acid sequence identity of all these viruses with any known virus is below 70%. Through phylogenetic analysis, these RNA viruses were classified into different orders or families, such as Mitoviridae, Benyviridae, Botourmiaviridae, Deltaflexiviridae, Mymonaviridae, Bunyavirales, and Partitiviridae. It is possible that these sequences represent new taxa at the level of family, genus, or species. Furthermore, a co-evolution analysis indicated that the evolutionary history of these viruses within their groups is largely driven by cross-species transmission events. CONCLUSIONS: These findings are of significant importance for understanding the diversity, evolution, and relationships between genome structure and function of fungal viruses. However, further investigation is needed to study their interactions.

Promoting tissue repair using deferoxamine nanoparticles loaded biomimetic gelatin/HA composite hydrogel.

To effectively address underlying issues and enhance the healing process of hard-to-treat soft tissue defects, innovative therapeutic approaches are required. One promising strategy involves the incorporation of bioactive substances into biodegradable scaffolds to facilitate synergistic tissue regeneration, particularly in vascular regeneration. In this study, we introduce a composite hydrogel design that mimics the extracellular matrix by covalently combining gelatin and hyaluronic acid (HA), with the encapsulation of deferoxamine nanoparticles (DFO NPs) for potential tissue regeneration applications. Crosslinked hydrogels were fabricated by controlling the ratio of HA in the gelatin-based hydrogels, resulting in improved mechanical properties, enhanced degradation ability, and optimised porosity, compared with hydrogel formed by gelatin alone. The DFO NPs, synthesized using a double emulsion method with poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide acid), exhibited a sustained release of DFO over 12 d. Encapsulating the DFO NPs in the hydrogel enabled controlled release over 15 d. The DFO NPs, composite hydrogel, and the DFO NPs loaded hydrogel exhibited excellent cytocompatibility and promoted cell proliferationin vitro. Subcutaneous implantation of the composite hydrogel and the DFO NPs loaded hydrogel demonstrated biodegradability, tissue integration, and no obvious adverse effects, evidenced by histological analysis. Furthermore, the DFO NPs loaded composite hydrogel exhibited accelerated wound closure and promoted neovascularisation and granular formation when tested in an excisional skin wound model in mice. These findings highlight the potential of our composite hydrogel system for promoting the faster healing of diabetes-induced skin wounds and oral lesions through its ability to modulate tissue regeneration processes.

DNA methylation of skeletal muscle function-related secretary factors identifies FGF2 as a potential biomarker for sarcopenia.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia is characterized by progressive loss of muscle mass and function due to aging. DNA methylation has been identified to play important roles in the dysfunction of skeletal muscle. The aim of our present study was to explore the whole blood sample-based methylation changes of skeletal muscle function-related factors in patients with sarcopenia. METHODS: The overall DNA methylation levels were analysed by using MethlTarget™ DNA Methylation Analysis platform in a discovery set consistent of 50 sarcopenic older adults (aged ≥65 years) and 50 age- and sex-matched non-sarcopenic individuals. The candidate differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were further validated by Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) in another two independent larger sets and confirmed by pyrosequencing. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine the optimum cut-off levels of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2)_30 methylation best predicting sarcopenia and area under the ROC curve (AUC) was measured. The correlation between candidate DMRs and the risk of sarcopenia was investigated by univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Among 1149 cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) sites of 27 skeletal muscle function-related secretary factors, 17 differentially methylated CpG sites and 7 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were detected between patients with sarcopenia and control subjects in the discovery set. Further methylation-specific PCR identified that methylation of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2)_30 was lower in patients with sarcopenia and the level was decreased as the severity of sarcopenia increased, which was confirmed by pyrosequencing. Correlation analysis demonstrated that the methylation level of FGF2_30 was positively correlated to ASMI (r = 0.372, P < 0.001), grip strength (r = 0.334, P < 0.001), and gait speed (r = 0.411, P < 0.001). ROC curve analysis indicated that the optimal cut-off value of FGF2_30 methylation level that predicted sarcopenia was 0.15 with a sensitivity of 84.6% and a specificity of 70.1% (AUC = 0.807, 95% CI = 0.756-0.858, P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that lower FGF2_30 methylation level (<0.15) was significantly associated with increased risk of sarcopenia even after adjustment for potential confounders including age, sex, and BMI (adjusted OR = 9.223, 95% CI: 6.614-12.861, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that lower FGF2_30 methylation is correlated with the risk and severity of sarcopenia in the older adults, indicating that FGF2 methylation serve as a surrogate biomarker for the screening and evaluation of sarcopenia.

Detection of lard adulteration in 3 kinds of vegetable oils by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry with porous graphite carbon column.

Liquid chromatography‒mass spectrometry employing porous graphite carbon columns and an n-octane-isopropanol mobile phase was utilized for the separation of triacylglycerols (TAGs) in various edible oils, aiming to identify lard adulteration in soybean, corn, and sunflower seed oils. Experiments were conducted using a Hypercarb column (2.1 mm × 100 mm, 5 µm) and an n-octane-isopropanol (70:30, V/V) mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.25 mL· min-1 and a column temperature of 60 °C. Detection was achieved through atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry. Analysis of diverse edible oil samples revealed that oils of the same type shared similar TAG compositions, while different types exhibited distinct TAG profiles. Distinct variations in triglyceride composition were observed across different edible oils. Based on liquid chromatography‒mass spectrometry analysis, the characteristic component 1-stearic acid-2-palmitic acid-3-oleic acid glyceride (SPO), which may also include PSO, was identified in lard through principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis. This component served as a marker for detecting as low as 0.1% lard adulteration in soybean, corn, and sunflower seed oils. The technique offers a precise and effective approach for the identification of lard adulteration in these edible oils.

Predictive value of machine learning for the severity of acute pancreatitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Predicting the severity of acute pancreatitis (AP) early poses a challenge in clinical practice. While there are well-established clinical scoring tools, their actual predictive performance remains uncertain. Various studies have explored the application of machine-learning methods for early AP prediction. However, a more comprehensive evidence-based assessment is needed to determine their predictive accuracy. Hence, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the predictive accuracy of machine learning in assessing the severity of AP. Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were systematically searched until December 5, 2023. The risk of bias in eligible studies was assessed using the Prediction Model Risk of Bias Assessment Tool (PROBAST). Subgroup analyses, based on different machine learning types, were performed. Additionally, the predictive accuracy of mainstream scoring tools was summarized. Results: This systematic review ultimately included 33 original studies. The pooled c-index in both the training and validation sets was 0.87 (95 % CI: 0.84-0.89) and 0.88 (95 % CI: 0.86-0.90), respectively. The sensitivity in the training set was 0.81 (95 % CI: 0.77-0.84), and in the validation set, it was 0.79 (95 % CI: 0.71-0.85). The specificity in the training set was 0.84 (95 % CI: 0.78-0.89), and in the validation set, it was 0.90 (95 % CI: 0.86-0.93). The primary model incorporated was logistic regression; however, its predictive accuracy was found to be inferior to that of neural networks, random forests, and xgboost. The pooled c-index of the APACHE II, BISAP, and Ranson were 0.74 (95 % CI: 0.68-0.80), 0.77 (95 % CI: 0.70-0.85), and 0.74 (95 % CI: 0.68-0.79), respectively. Conclusions: Machine learning demonstrates excellent accuracy in predicting the severity of AP, providing a reference for updating or developing a straightforward clinical prediction tool.