Critical Role of S100A9 in Sepsis-associated Acute Kidney Injury: Mechanistic Insights through Pyroptosis Pathway Modulation.

This study investigates the role of S100A9 in sepsis-associated AKI (SA-AKI) through the lens of pyroptosis, a controlled form of cell death mediated by the gasdermin protein family. Using C57BL/6 mice and S100A9 knockout mice subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analyses revealed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to inflammation and immune responses, with notable upregulation of S100A9. Functional enrichment analyses (GO and KEGG) indicated these DEGs are involved in interferon-beta response, immune processes, and cell adhesion. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analyses further emphasized S100A9's pivotal role in SA-AKI.Clinical validation measured S100A9 levels in serum and urine samples from SA-AKI patients and healthy volunteers, finding elevated S100A9 levels in the former. In vivo experiments showed that S100A9 knockout mice exhibited reduced kidney injury and inflammation, indicated by lower serum creatinine, urea nitrogen, and inflammatory markers (IL-1ß and IL-18). Histopathological analyses and immunohistochemistry confirmed less renal damage and reduced expression of cleaved IL-1ß and GSDMD-N in S100A9-deficient mice. Electron microscopy and Western blotting validated that S100A9 deficiency mitigates caspase-1-dependent pyroptosis.Cellular experiments with HK-2 cells demonstrated that S100A9 knockdown alleviated LPS-induced cell damage and reduced pyroptosis markers. These findings illuminate S100A9's involvement in NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis, suggesting potential therapeutic targets for SA-AKI. Targeting S100A9 may offer new therapeutic avenues, improving outcomes for sepsis-related kidney injury patients. Future research should aim to validate these findings in larger clinical settings.

Emerging trends and research hotspots in the relationship between mast cells and atopic dermatitis based on the literature from 2001 to 2024: A bibliometric and visualized analysis.

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a prevalent chronic inflammatory and highly pruritic skin condition characterized by the infiltration of immune cells, notably eosinophils and mast cells. Mast cells (MCs) critically participate in the complex pathogenesis of AD through multiple pathways and have recently garnered growing attention in research. Despite the abundance of related studies published over the years, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis on this topic remains lacking. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to perform an up-to-date bibliometric analysis of the literature focusing on the relationship between MCs and AD. This analysis would provide valuable insights through a thorough bibliometric review, enabling a clearer understanding of the current research landscape, pinpointing key studies, and detecting emerging trends within this field. METHODS: We searched the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database on 15 July 2024. The data retrieval strategy was structured as follows: #1: TS = ("mast cells") OR TS = ("mast cell") OR TS = ("mastocyte"); #2: TS = ("atopic dermatitis") OR TS = ("atopic eczema") Final data: (#1 AND #2). A total of 2272 items published between 2001 and 2024 were included. Several scientometric visualization tools, including VOSviewer, R-bibliometrix, CiteSpace and an online analytical platform, were utilized to conduct text mining and to visualize the bibliometric data, facilitating a comprehensive analysis of research trends and patterns. RESULTS: Out of the initial 2272 articles retrieved, 2168 were selected for analysis after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria based on publication type. The findings indicate a steady and substantial exponential growth in the annual number of publications focused on the relationship between over the years. The South Korea (547/2168), USA (465/2168) and Japan (436/2168) were the major contributors within this field, collectively constituting more than half of the total publications. To clarify the underlying mechanisms and role of MCs in the pathogenesis of AD and to make MCs prime targets for therapeutic intervention have garnered the most attention in this field. According to references analysis, the research emphasis has shifted to developing MC-related therapeutics and intervention and regulating the immune system of AD patients through modulating the activity of various immune cells. On the basis of keywords analysis, we outlined the following research frontiers and hotpots in the future: the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis; imbalance in the different types of T helper (Th) cells during immune response; skin barrier and barrier dysfunction; improving quality of life; sensory neurons; biological agents and small-molecule drugs. Furthermore, IL-13, IL-4, NFKB1, BCGF-1 and CD4 ranked as the top five genes that have received the most investigative attention in the intersection of MCs and AD. CONCLUSION: In a word, this analysis would greatly benefit from a thorough bibliometric review to gain a deeper understanding of the current research landscape, identify pivotal studies and pinpoint emerging trends in the field of MCs and AD. Meanwhile, our findings offered researchers a holistic perspective of ongoing developments, serving as a valuable resource for guiding future research and informing decision-making for both researchers and policymakers in this area.

Over-activation of iNKT cells aggravate lung injury in bronchopulmonary dysplasia mice.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a severe lung disease in preterm infants, the abnormal proliferate and differentiate ability of type II epithelial cells (AEC II) is the key to the pathological basis of BPD. Mechanisms regarding abnormal AEC II in BPD remain unclear. The present work investigated the role and mechanisms of invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells in lung disorder in BPD using public datasets, clinical samples, a hyperoxia-induced BPD mouse model and AEC II-iNKT cells transwell co-culture system. Firstly, we found that the NKT cells development factor IL-15 increased over time in patients with BPD in public databases, and clinically collected peripheral blood NKT cells in patients with BPD were increased. Subsequently, the percentage of iNKT cells increased in hyperoxia group compared with normoxia group, with the highest at P7, accompanied by increased activation with abnormal lung development. The administration of anti-CD1d neutralizing antibody to inhibit iNKT cells could alleviate the abnormal lung development of hyperoxia group mice, while α-GalCer administration could aggravate lung injury in hyperoxia group mice, and adoptive transfer of iNKT cells could aggravate the abnormal lung development in hyperoxia group mice. In addition, to further verify the role of iNKT cells on AEC II, AEC II-iNKT cells co-culture system was established. The presence of iNKT cells could aggravate the abnormal expression of SP-C and T1α under hyperoxia. Meanwhile, RNA-seq analysis showed that ferroptosis-related genes were highly expressed in AEC II co-cultured with iNKT cells under hyperoxia. We further validated the effect of the presence of iNKT cells under hyperoxia environment on AEC II ferroptosis levels, suggested that iNKT cells promote AEC II ferroptosis under hyperoxia, accompanied by decreased expression of SP-C and T1α. Our study found that the recruitment of iNKT cells in the lung may be an important cause of alveolarization disorder in BPD.

[Comparison on tissue distribution of five components in Shuganning Injection and Scutellariae Radix extract by UPLC-MS/MS].

This study established an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS) method to determine the content of five index components in rat tissues and organs after administration of Shuganning Injection or Scutellariae Radix extract. The dynamic changes and differences of the distribution of the five index components over time between the two groups were studied, and the effects of Scutellariae Radix alone or in combination with other medicines on the tissue distribution of the five components were explored. After Shuganning Injection or Scutellariae Radix extract was injected into the tail vein of rats, the heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, stomach, intestine, and brain tissue samples were collected at four time points of 0.17, 0.5, 1, and 2 h, respectively. UPLC-MS/MS was employed to measure the concentrations of the five index components(baicalin, baicalein, oroxylin A, oroxylin A-7-O-ß-D-glucuronide, and scutellarin) in the samples of the two groups. The results showed that the established method was simple, fast, and exclusively stable. After the administration of Shuganning Injection and Scutellariae Radix extract, the five index components presented wide distribution and had differences in vivo. The two groups showcased abundant distribution of baicalin, baicalein, and oroxylin A in the kidney and liver, oroxylin A-7-O-ß-D-glucuronide in the kidney and brain, and scutellarin in the kidney and heart. The content of baicalin in the heart, liver, kidney, and intestine, baicalein in the liver and kidney, and oroxylin A in the lung after administration of Shuganning Injection(Scutellariae Radix in combination with other medicines) was significantly higher than that after administration of Scutellariae Radix extract. The results of this study suggested that the five components of Shuganning Injection and Scutellariae Radix extract demonstrated wide distribution without accumulation in rats. The combination of Scutellariae Radix with other medicines can increase the distribution of active components in rats, which provided a basis for explaining the rationality of the compatibility of Shuganning Injection from in vivo processes.

Glaucoma Rehabilitation Using ElectricAI Transcranial Stimulation (GREAT)-Optimizing Stimulation Protocol for Vision Enhancement Using an RCT.

Purpose: We compared the effect of three different transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) protocols delivered to the occipital lobe on peripheral vision in patients with glaucoma. Methods: A double-masked, placebo-controlled study was conducted with 35 patients with glaucoma. We compared three different tES protocols: anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS), transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), and transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) against sham stimulation. Each patient attended four stimulation sessions (a-tDCS, tACS, tRNS, and sham) in a random order with at least 48 hours between visits. Stimulation involved placing an anodal electrode over the occipital lobe (Oz) and cathodal electrode on the cheek for 20 minutes. High-resolution perimetry (HRP) and multifocal visual evoked potential (mfVEP) measurements were made before and immediately after stimulation. Changes in HRP detection accuracy/reaction time and mfVEP signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)/latency were analyzed using linear mixed models. Results: Compared to sham, HRP detection accuracy was significantly improved after a-tDCS in both the central 20-degree (b = 0.032, P = 0.018) and peripheral analysis (b = 0.051, P = 0.002). Additionally, mfVEP SNR was significantly increased (b = 0.016, P = 0.017) and the latency was shortened (b = -1.405, P = 0.04) by the a-tDCS in the central 20-degree analysis. In the peripheral analysis, there was a trend toward an enhancement of SNR after a-tDCS stimulation (b = 0.014, P = 0.052), but it did not reach statistical significance; latency was increased after tACS (b = 1.623, P = 0.041). No significant effects were found in comparison to other active tES protocols. Conclusions: A single session of a-tDCS enhances perceptual and electrophysiologic measures of vision in patients with glaucoma. However, the small magnitude of changes observed in HRP (3.2% for accuracy in central and 5.1% in peripheral) did not exceed previous test variability and may not be clinically meaningful. Translational Relevance: a-tDCS holds promise as a potential treatment for enhancing visual function. However, future studies are needed to evaluate the long-term effects and clinical relevance of this intervention using validated measures of perimetric changes in the visual field.

Qingda Granule Attenuates Hypertension-Induced Cardiac Damage via Regulating Renin-Angiotensin System Pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of Qingda Granule (QDG) in ameliorating hypertension-induced cardiac damage and investigate the underlying mechanisms involved. METHODS: Twenty spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were used to develope a hypertension-induced cardiac damage model. Another 10 Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats were used as normotension group. Rats were administrated intragastrically QDG [0.9 g/(kg•d)] or an equivalent volume of pure water for 8 weeks. Blood pressure, histopathological changes, cardiac function, levels of oxidative stress and inflammatory response markers were measured. Furthermore, to gain insights into the potential mechanisms underlying the protective effects of QDG against hypertension-induced cardiac injury, a network pharmacology study was conducted. Predicted results were validated by Western blot, radioimmunoassay immunohistochemistry and quantitative polymerase chain reaction, respectively. RESULTS: The administration of QDG resulted in a significant decrease in blood pressure levels in SHRs (P<0.01). Histological examinations, including hematoxylin-eosin staining and Masson trichrome staining revealed that QDG effectively attenuated hypertension-induced cardiac damage. Furthermore, echocardiography demonstrated that QDG improved hypertension-associated cardiac dysfunction. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and colorimetric method indicated that QDG significantly reduced oxidative stress and inflammatory response levels in both myocardial tissue and serum (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Both network pharmacology and experimental investigations confirmed that QDG exerted its beneficial effects in decreasing hypertension-induced cardiac damage by regulating the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)/angiotensin II (Ang II)/Ang II receptor type 1 axis and ACE/Ang II/Ang II receptor type 2 axis.

Delta Immature Platelet Fraction Is Associated With Mortality in Bacteremia Patients.

OBJECTIVES: Immature platelet fraction (IPF) for differentiating bacteremia has been explored, whereas its prognostic correlation remains uncertain. This study aims to confirm the predictive capability of IPF for bacteremia and investigate its association with prognosis. METHODS: Patients with complete blood count (CBC) on the blood culture day (D1) and the preceding day (D0) were retrospectively recruited and categorized into bacteremia and nonbacteremia groups. Immature platelet (IP) analysis, alongside CBC, was conducted. Delta IPF, defined by the absolute values of D1 minus D0 results was calculated. The ability to distinguish bacteremia from nonbacteremia patients, and the correlation with mortality were analyzed. RESULTS: From February to December 2020, a total of 150 patients were enrolled, with 75 having bacteremia. The specificity for delta IPF ≥3.4% to predict bacteremia was 97.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 90.7-99.7). When delta IPF ≥3.4% combined with procalcitonin ≥0.5 (ng/mL), the sensitivity was 90.5% (95% CI: 69.6%-98.8%). Within the bacteremia group, delta IPF and the proportion of patients with delta IPF ≥1.5% were significantly higher in nonsurvival, while delta platelet levels did not. Furthermore, delta IPF ≥1.5% was independently associated with 30-day mortality (adjusted odds ratio: 3.88, 95% CI: 1.2%-11.4%; p = 0.020). The 30-day survival curve demonstrated a significant difference between patients with delta IPF ≥1.5% and those without (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Delta IPF correlates with mortality in bacteremia patients. Our findings suggest IPF not only helps detect bacteremia but also predicts prognosis in the early stage.

Blood cadmium concentration and pulmonary function injury: potential mediating role of oxidative stress in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to cadmium (Cd) is associated with a reduction in lung function among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The longitudinal relationship and mechanism underlying the link between Cd exposure and lung function changes among COPD patients are yet unknown. METHODS: The cohort study included 259 eligible patients who underwent regular professional follow-ups. Blood Cd levels and serum 8-iso-prostaglandin F2 alpha (8-iso-PGF2α) levels were assessed. Lung function was determined at baseline and follow-up research. The associations between changes in lung function and blood Cd concentration were analysed using multivariate linear and logistic regression models. RESULTS: Each 1-ppb elevation in blood Cd content resulted in a 0.420 L decrease in forced vital capacity (FVC), a 0.424 L decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), a 4.341% decrease in FEV1/FVC%, and a 8.418% decrease in FEV1% predicted in patients with COPD. Blood Cd concentration showed a positive correlation with serum 8-iso-PGF2α levels in a specific range. The relative contribution of increased serum levels of 8-iso-PGF2α to Cd-induced declines in FEV1, predicted FEV1%, and FEV1/FVC% were 2.08%, 8.08%, and 13.19%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Blood Cd levels are associated with lung function changes in COPD patients. Oxidative stress is thought to be an important mediator in Cd-induced reduction of pulmonary function.

All-cause and cause-specific mortality risk among men and women with hepatitis C virus infection.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects men and women differently, yet few studies have investigated sex differences in long-term mortality risk among the HCV-infected population. We conducted a population-based study to elucidate all-cause and cause-specific mortality among men and women with HCV infection. METHODS: The study population consisted of adult participants from the 1999-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, including 945 HCV-infected and 44,637 non-HCV-infected individuals. HCV infection was defined as either HCV seropositivity or detectable HCV RNA. Participants were followed until the date of death or December 31, 2019, to determine survival status. RESULTS: The HCV-infected population, both male and female, tended to be older, more likely to be Black, single, have lower income, lower BMI, higher prevalence of hypertension, and were more likely to be current smokers. During a median follow-up of 125.0 months, a total of 5,309 participants died, including 1,253 deaths from cardiovascular disease (CVD) and 1,319 deaths from cancer. The crude analysis showed that the risk of death from all causes and from cancer, but not from CVD, was higher in the HCV-infected population. After adjusting for potential confounders, we found that both HCV-infected men (HR 1.41, 95% CI 1.10-1.81) and women (HR 2.03, 95% CI 1.36-3.02) were equally at increased risk of all-cause mortality compared to their non-HCV infected counterparts (p for interaction > 0.05). The risk of cancer-related mortality was significantly increased in HCV-infected women (HR 2.14, 95% CI 1.01-4.53), but not in men, compared to non-HCV-infected counterparts. Among HCV-infected population, there was no difference in the risks of all-cause, CVD-related, or cancer-related death between men and women. CONCLUSION: Both men and women with HCV infection had an increased risk of death from all causes compared to their non-HCV infected counterparts, but we did not observe a significant sex difference.

Multi-channel electron transfer induced by polyvanadate in metal-organic framework for boosted peroxymonosulfate activation.

Catalytic peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation processes don't solely rely on electron transfer from dominant metal centers due to the complicated composition and interface environment of catalysts. Herein the synthesis of a cobalt based metal-organic framework containing polyvanadate [V4O12]4- cluster, Co2(V4O12)(bpy)2 (bpy = 4,4'-bipyridine), is presented. The catalyst demonstrates superior degradation activity toward various micropollutants, with higher highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO), via nonradical attack. The X-ray absorption spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrate that Co sites act as both PMS trapper and electron donor. In situ spectral characterizations and DFT calculations reveal that the terminal oxygen atoms in the [V4O12]4- electron sponge could interact with the terminal hydrogen atoms in PMS to form hydrogen bonds, promoting the generation of SO5* intermediate via both dynamic pull and direct electron transfer process. Further, Co2(V4O12)(bpy)2 exhibits long-term water purification ability, up to 40 h, towards actual wastewater discharged from an ofloxacin production factory. This work not only presents an efficient catalyst with an electron sponge for water environmental remediation via nonradical pathway, but also provides fundamental insights into the Fenton-like reaction mechanism.

"Still work?" Design and effect of interventions used to modify feeding problems in children with autism: A systematic review of studies employing group designs.

BACKGROUND: Feeding problems in children with autism jeopardize the well-being of both children with autism and their families. Mixed findings were reported from previous interventions, which were mostly evaluated by single subject research design (SSRD) studies. Moreover, feasibility assessment and social validity measurement were unaddressed by these SSRD studies. To fill this substantial knowledge gap, the present review systematically summarized and evaluated feeding interventions implemented in children with autism, which were assessed by studies employing group designs. METHOD: An extensive literature search in eight established online databases was conducted, and a total of 17 eligible studies published in 2009-2021 were included for further analysis. A descriptive account of the features of the investigations is provided, including assessment of study quality. RESULTS: A total of 449 children with autism and 203 parents/caregivers participated in the included studies. The multiple use of five strategic intervention components were highlighted in this review, including nutrition education/consultations, environmental modifications, sensory exposure, cognitive components, and behaviour interventions. The reviewed interventions showed a preliminarily positive effect for modifying feeding problems in children with autism. Furthermore, the evaluation based on the RE-AIM framework (reach, efficacy, adoption, implementation, and maintenance) demonstrated that an interdisciplinary multi-component intervention strategy may achieve high effectiveness and feasibility in improving feeding problems in a wide range of children with autism. CONCLUSIONS: This review found that interventions achieved and maintained a positive effect on modification of feeding problems in groups of children with autism. Information and gaps identified and summarized in the implementation process may assist both researchers and stakeholders to further support these vulnerable children.

Correlation analysis of human papillomavirus E6/E7 mRNA detection with diagnosis, prognosis and recurrence risk in patients with cervical epithelioma.

BACKGROUND: Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) is an important precursor of cervical cancer. Early detection and treatment can reduce the incidence of cervical cancer. AIM: To investigate the detection rate of human papillomavirus (HPV) E6/E7 mRNA in cervical tissue of patients with different types of epithelial cell neoplasia (CIN) and its relationship with CIN progression and diagnosis. METHODS: One hundred women with HPV infection detected by cervical exfoliation cytology between January 2022 and January 2023 were retrospectively selected. These patients were graded CIN based on colposcopy and cervical pathology. The positive expression rates of HPV E6/E7 mRNA and HPV [polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-reverse dot crossing] were compared among all groups. Patients with HPV E6/E7 mRNA expression in the grade 1 CIN group were followed up for 1 yr. The relationship between atypical squamous epithelium and high malignant epithelial neoplasia was investigated by univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and sensitivity of PCR-reverse point hybridization technology for secondary CIN were 70.41%, 70.66%, and 0.714, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity for secondary CIN were 752% and 7853%, respectively, the area under the curve value was 0.789. Logistic Multifactorial model analysis revealed that the HPV positive rates and the HPV E6/E7 mRNA positive rates were independent risk factors of CIN grade I (P < 0.05). In CIN grade I patients with positive for HPV E6/E7 mRNA, in its orientation to grade CIN patients, in its orientation to grade CIN patients, at 69.2%, compared with patients negative for HPV E6/E7 mRNA (30.8%), significant difference (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: HPV E6/E7 mRNA and HPV (PCR-reverse dot hybrid) positive expression have a close relationship with CIN-grade disease progression and is an independent risk factor for high-grade CIN lesions.

Association of serum interleukin-2 with severity and prognosis in hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia: a prospective cohort study.

The prior studies have shown that interleukin-2 (IL-2) exerts important roles in the pathological and physiological processes of lung diseases. However, the role of IL-2 in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is still uncertain. Through a prospective cohort study, our research will explore the correlations between serum IL-2 levels and the severity and prognosis in CAP patients. There were 267 CAP patients included. Blood samples were obtained. Serum IL-2 were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Demographic traits and clinical characteristics were extracted. Serum IL-2 were gradually elevated with increasing severity scores in CAP patients. Correlation analyses revealed that serum IL-2 were connected with physiological parameters including liver and renal function in CAP patients. According to a logistic regression analysis, serum IL-2 were positively correlated with CAP severity scores. We also tracked the prognostic outcomes of CAP patients. The increased risks of adversely prognostic outcomes, including mechanical ventilation, vasoactive agent usage, ICU admission, death, and longer hospital length, were associated with higher levels of IL-2 at admission. Serum IL-2 at admission were positively associated with severe conditions and poor prognosis among CAP patients, indicated that IL-2 may involve in the initiation and development of CAP. As a result, serum IL-2 may be an available biomarker to guide clinicians in assessing the severity and determining the prognosis of CAP.

Pyogenic liver abscess in pediatric populations in beijing (2008-2023).

BACKGROUND: Data on pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) of children in China have been limited. We aimed to summarize the clinical feather, microbiological characteristics, management, and outcome of PLA in children. METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed PLA cases from January 2008 to June 2023 at Beijing Children's Hospital. Clinical characteristics, pathogens and management were analyzed. RESULTS: We diagnosed 57 PLA patients in our center. The median onset age was 4.5 years and the male-to-female ratio was 1.6:1. The median diagnostic time was nine days and the median length of stay was 22 days. Twenty-eight patients (49.1%) had predisposing factors, around 71.4% of the patients had malignant hematology and primary immunodeficiency disease. Patients with underlying factors were more likely to have extrahepatic organ involvement (p = 0.024), anemia (p < 0.001), single abscess (p = 0.042), unilateral involvement (p = 0.039), and small size of the abscess (p = 0.008). Twenty-four patients (42.1%) had extrahepatic organ involvement. Pathogens were identified in 17 patients (29.8%), the most common pathogens were Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus. The positive rate of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) was 87.5% (7/8). On multivariable analysis, the extrahepatic organ involved (p = 0.029) and hepatomegaly (p = 0.025) were two independent factors associated with poor outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: PLA is usually seen in children with predisposing factors. Malignant hematology and primary immunodeficiency disease were the most common underlying diseases. Extrahepatic organ involvement and hepatomegaly are associated with poor prognosis. Increased use of mNGS could be beneficial for identifying pathogens.

Integrated cell wall and transcriptomic analysis revealed the mechanism underlying zinc-induced alleviation of cadmium toxicity in Cosmos bipinnatus.

Plant growth is severely harmed by cadmium (Cd) contamination, while the addition of zinc (Zn) can reduce the toxic effects of Cd. However, the interaction between Cd and Zn on the molecular mechanism and cell wall of Cosmosbipinnatus is unclear. In this study, a transcriptome was constructed using RNA-sequencing. In C. bipinnatus root transcriptome data, the expression of 996, 2765, and 3023 unigenes were significantly affected by Cd, Zn, and Cd + Zn treatments, respectively, indicating different expression patterns of some metal transporters among the Cd, Zn, and Cd + Zn treatments. With the addition of Zn, the damage to the cell wall was reduced, both the proportion and content of polysaccharides in the cell wall were changed, and Cd accumulation was decreased by 32.34%. In addition, we found that Cd and Zn mainly accumulated in pectins, the content of which increased by 30.79% and 61.4% compared to the CK treatment. Thus, Zn could alleviate the toxicity of Cd to C. bipinnatus. This study revealed the interaction between Cd and Zn at the physiological and molecular levels, broadening our understanding of the mechanisms of tolerance to Cd and Zn stress in cosmos.

Prevalence of subthreshold depression and its related factors in Chinese college students: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of subthreshold depression among Chinese college students and to explore the related factors. Methods: The research subjects were Chinese college students participating in the "2022 Psychology and Behavior Investigation of Chinese Residents (PBICR-2022)". Data on respondents' general characteristics, quality of life, perceived pressure, family communication, perceived social support, self-efficacy, and depression status were gathered. To investigate the association between each variable and the risk of subthreshold depression, statistical analyses, including chi-square tests and rank sum tests were conducted. Furthermore, a binary stepwise logistic regression was employed to establish the regression model of the factors related to subthreshold depression among Chinese college students. Results: A prevalence of subthreshold depression of about 39.7 % was found among the 8934 respondents. Logistic regression analysis revealed that respondents who are female, have chronic diseases, are in debt, experience significant impacts from epidemic control policies, have lower self-assessed quality of life, experience challenges in family communication, perceive lower social support, have lower self-efficacy, and feel higher perceived pressure are more likely to develop subthreshold depression compared to the control group. (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence rate of subthreshold depression among Chinese college students was found to be approximately 40 %. Female college students suffering from chronic diseases, with households in debt, greatly impacted by epidemic control policies, and experiencing high perceived stress, may be at risk for subthreshold depression among Chinese college students. On the other hand, strong family communication, perceived social support, and self-efficacy were identified as potential protective factors. In order to facilitate timely screening, diagnosis, and treatment of subthreshold depression in Chinese college students, it is crucial for the government, local communities, colleges, and families to prioritize the mental health of college students and implement targeted measures accordingly.

Anti-adipogenesis and anti-obesity potential of alliin mediated by modulating glycolipid metabolism via activating PPARγ signaling.

Garlic exhibits hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, and cardiovascular benefits. The inconsistent results of garlic preparations on adipogenesis have caused more confusion in the public and academia. The compounds responsible for the anti-adipogenesis effect of garlic remain unknown. The present study aimed to verify the real anti-adipogenesis and anti-obesity component in garlic and explored its possible effects in metabolic syndrome. We verified the real anti-adipogenesis and anti-obesity components of garlic in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and a 10-week-high fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. In vitro, two water-soluble and four typical lipid-soluble compounds of garlic were tested for their anti-adipogenesis. Then, the water-soluble compound, alliin, and two processing methods produced garlic oils, were evaluated in vivo study. Mice received oral administration of alliin (25 mg/kg) and garlic oils (15 mg/kg) daily for 8 weeks. Serum lipids, parameters of obesity, and indicators involved in regulating glycolipid metabolism were examined. Our findings confirmed that both water-soluble and lipid-soluble organosulfur compounds of garlic contributed to garlic's anti-adipogenesis effect, in which water-soluble sulfides, especially alliin, exhibited greater potency. Alliin possessed potent effects of anti-obesity and improvement in glucose and lipid metabolism in HFD-induced obese mice. Alliin mediated these effects partly attributed to its modulation of enzymatic activities within glycolipid metabolism and activating PPARγ signaling pathway. In contrast to odorous lipid-soluble sulfides, alliin is odorless, stable, and safe, and is an ideal nutraceutical or even medicinal candidates for the treatment of metabolic diseases. Alliin could be used to standardize the quality of garlic products.

Rapid discrimination of Alismatis Rhizoma and quantitative analysis of triterpenoids based on near-infrared spectroscopy.

This study developed a rapid, accurate, objective and economic method to identify and evaluate the quality of Alismatis Rhizoma (AR) commodities. Traditionally, the identification of plant species and geographical origins of AR commodities mainly relied on experienced staff. However, the subjectivity and inaccuracy of human identification negatively impacted the trade of AR. Besides, liquid chromatographic methods such as ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), the major approach for the determination of triterpenoid contents in AR was time-consuming, expensive, and highly demanded in manoeuvre specialists. In this study, the combination of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and chemometrics as the method was developed and utilised to address the two common issues of identifying the quality of AR commodities. Through the discriminant analysis (DA), the raw NIR spectroscopy data on 119 batches samples from two species and four origins in China were processed to the best pre-processed data. Subsequently, orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) and random forest (RF) as the major chemometrics were used to analyse the best pre-processed data. The accuracy rates by OPLS-DA and RF were respectively 100% and 97.2% for the two species of AR, and respectively100% and 94.4% for the four origins of AR. Meanwhile, a quantitative correction model was established to rapidly and economically predict the seven triterpenoid contents of AR through combining the partial least squares (PLS) method and NIR spectroscopy, and taking the triterpenoid contents measured by UPLC as the reference value, and carry out spectral pre-processing methods and band selection. The final quantitative model correlation coefficients of the seven triterpenoid contents of AR ranged from 0.9000 to 0.9999, indicating that prediction ability of this model had good stability and applicability.

Throat microbiota drives alterations in pulmonary alveolar microbiota in patients with septic ARDS.

OBJECTIVES: The translocation of intestinal flora has been linked to the colonization of diverse and heavy lower respiratory flora in patients with septic ARDS, and is considered a critical prognostic factor for patients. METHODS: On the first and third days of ICU admission, BALF, throat swab, and anal swab were collected, resulting in a total of 288 samples. These samples were analyzed using 16S rRNA analysis and the traceability analysis of new generation technology. RESULTS: On the first day, among the top five microbiota species in abundance, four species were found to be identical in BALF and throat samples. Similarly, on the third day, three microbiota species were found to be identical in abundance in both BALF and throat samples. On the first day, 85.16% of microorganisms originated from the throat, 5.79% from the intestines, and 9.05% were unknown. On the third day, 83.52% of microorganisms came from the throat, 4.67% from the intestines, and 11.81% were unknown. Additionally, when regrouping the 46 patients, the results revealed a significant predominance of throat microorganisms in BALF on both the first and third day. Furthermore, as the disease progressed, the proportion of intestinal flora in BALF increased in patients with enterogenic ARDS. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with septic ARDS, the main source of lung microbiota is primarily from the throat. Furthermore, the dynamic trend of the microbiota on the first and third day is essentially consistent.It is important to note that the origin of the intestinal flora does not exclude the possibility of its origin from the throat.