Effects of ferroptosis-related gene HSPB1 on acute myeloid leukemia.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects and potential mechanisms of ferroptosis-related gene heat shock protein beta-1 (HSPB1) on acute myeloid leukemia (AML). METHODS: The RNA-seq and clinical data of AML samples were obtained from the Genomic Data Commons database, and the FerrDb database was used to screen the marker, drive and suppressor of ferroptosis. Besides, DESeq2 was applied for differential expression analysis on AML samples and screening for differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The screened DEGs were subjected to the intersection analysis with ferroptosis-related genes to identify the ferroptosis-related DEGs. Next, the functional pathways of ferroptosis-related DEGs were further be discussed by Gene Ontology as well as Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis of DEGs. Additionally, lasso regression analysis was employed to determine the differential genes related to prognosis in patients with AML and the survival analysis was performed. Subsequently, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot assay were applied to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels of HSPB1 in normal/AML bone marrow tissues and human normal (HS-5)/AML (HL-60) bone marrow cells, respectively. Furthermore, HSPB1 was knocked down to assess the expression changes of glutathione peroxidase 4 and acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4. Ultimately, the viability and oxidative stress levels of HL-60 were analyzed by Cell Counting Kit-8 and biochemical detection. RESULTS: A total of 4986 DEGs were identified in AML samples, with 3324 up-regulated and 1662 down-regulated. The enrichment analysis illustrated that ferroptosis-related DEGs were significantly enriched in response to metal irons, oxidative stress, and other pathways. After lasso regression analysis, 17 feature genes related to the prognosis of patients with AML were obtained, with HSPB1 exhibiting a significant correlation. The reliability of our models was verified by Cox regression analysis and survival analysis of the hazard model. Furthermore, the outcomes of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot showed that mRNA and protein expression levels of HSPB1 were significantly increased in the AML Group and HL-60 cells. The knockdown of HSPB1 in HL-60 cells reduced the protein level of glutathione peroxidase 4, increased the protein level of acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4, decreased the cell viability, and aggravated oxidative stress. CONCLUSION: Ferroptosis-related gene HSPB1 is highly expressed in patients with AML. In addition, HSPB1 may be involved in the occurrence and development of AML by regulating oxidative stress and ferroptosis-related pathways. This study provides new clues for further understanding of AML molecular mechanisms. Also, HSPB1 is expected to be a potential therapeutic target for AML in the future.

YTHDF2 regulates MSS51 expression contributing to mitochondria dysfunction of granulosa cells in polycystic ovarian syndrome patients.

RESEARCH QUESTION: Granulosa cells (GCs) dysfunction plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It is reported that YTH domain-containing family protein 2 (YTHDF2) is upregulated in mural GCs of PCOS patients. What effect does the differential expression of YTHDF2 have in PCOS patients? DESIGN: Mural GCs and cumulus GCs from 15 patients with PCOS and 15 ovulatory controls and 4 cases of pathological sections in each group were collected. Real-time PCR, Western Blot, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence experiments were conducted to detect gene and protein expression. RNA immunoprecipitation assay was performed to evaluate the binding relationship between YTHDF2 and MSS51. Mitochondrial morphology, cellular ATP and ROS levels and glycolysis-related gene expression were detected after YTHDF2 overexpression or MSS51 inhibition. RESULTS: In the present study, we found that YTHDF2 was upregulated in GCs of PCOS patients while MSS51 was downregulated. YTHDF2 protein can bind to MSS51 mRNA and affect MSS51 expression. The reduction of MSS51 expression or the increase in YTHDF2 expression can lead to mitochondrial damage, reduced ATP levels, increased ROS levels and reduced expression of LDHA, PFKP and PKM. CONCLUSIONS: YTHDF2 may regulate the expression of MSS51, affecting the structure and function of mitochondria in GCs and interfering with cellular glycolysis, which may disturb the normal biological processes of GCs and follicle development in PCOS patients.

Unilateral biportal endoscopy vs. open decompression for lumbar epidural lipomatosis-cohort study using a prospective registry.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the outcomes of unilateral biportal endoscopy, unilateral laminectomy bilateral decompression (UBE-ULBD), and open lumbar decompression (OLD) in patients with lumbar epidural lipomatosis (LEL). Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted from March 2019 to May 2022 and encompassed 33 patients with LEL who underwent lumbar decompression. The study included 15 cases of UBE-ULBD decompression and 18 cases of open decompression, which were followed up for 1 year. The baseline characteristics, initial clinical manifestations, and surgical details [including estimated blood loss (EBL) and preoperative complications] of all patients were recorded. Radiographic evaluation included the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the thecal sac and paraspinal muscles on MRI. Clinical results were analyzed using the Short Form-36 Score (SF-36), the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NRS) for lumbar and leg pain, creatine kinase, the Roland and Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Results: The dural sac CSA increased considerably at the 1-year postoperative follow-up in both groups (p < 0.001). The operative duration in the OLD group (48.2 ± 7.2 min) was shorter than that in the UBE-ULBD group (67.7 ± 6.3 min, p < 0.001). The OLD group (97.2 ± 19.8 mL) was associated with more EBL than the UBE-ULBD group (40.6 ± 13.6 mL, p < 0.001). The duration of hospitalization in the OLD group (5.4 ± 1.3 days) was significantly longer compared with the UBE-ULBD group (3.5 ± 1.2 days, p < 0.01). The SF-36, NRS, RMDQ, and ODI scores improved in both groups postoperatively (p < 0.001). Serum creatine kinase values in the UBE-ULBD group (101.7 ± 15.5) were significantly lower than those in the OLD group (330.8 ± 28.1 U/L) 1 day after surgery (p < 0.001). The degree of paraspinal muscle atrophy in the UBE-ULBD group (4.81 ± 1.94) was significantly lower than that in the OLD group (12.15 ± 6.99) at 1 year (p < 0.001). Conclusion: UBE-ULBD and OLD demonstrated comparable clinical outcomes in treating LEL. However, UBE-ULBD surgery was associated with shorter hospital stays, lower rates of incision infection, lighter paravertebral muscle injury, and lower EBL than OLD surgery. Consequently, UBE-ULBD can be recommended in patients with LEL if conservative treatment fails.

Prevalence and Patterns of Insomnia Symptoms Among People Aged 65 and Above in Guangdong Province, China.

Objective: This survey investigated the prevalence, distribution, and correlative factors of insomnia symptoms among people aged 65 and above in Guangdong Province, China. Methods: The Guangdong Mental Health Survey was conducted on the elderly in all 21 cities of Guangdong Province from September to December 2021. Multistage stratified cluster sampling was adopted, and 16 377 adult residents were interviewed face-to-face, from which 4001 elderly participants aged 65 and above were included for this study. Complex weighted adjustment methods were applied to weight the data. Multinomial logistic regression was applied to test the independent associations of clinical insomnia symptoms (CIS) and subthreshold insomnia symptoms (SIS) with the factors. Results: The pooled estimate of insomnia symptoms was 13.44% [95% confidence interval (CI): 12.2 %-14.7%]. The 1-month weighted prevalence of SIS and CIS were 11.15% (95% CI: 10.05%-12.37%) and 2.28% (95%CI: 1.77%-2.94%), respectively. Multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that urban residence, irregular diet, low body mass index, chronic disease, napping 3-4/week, early changes in dementia, symptoms of subthreshold depression, subthreshold generalized anxiety, and generalized anxiety disorder were positively associated with SIS. Additionally, living in urban areas, having chronic diseases, symptoms of subthreshold depression, major depressive disorder, subthreshold generalized anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder were positively associated with CIS. Conclusion: Insomnia symptoms, including CIS and SIS, were prevalent among the elderly in Guangdong Province. Given the high burden of CIS and SIS, policymakers and healthcare professionals must explore and treat the related factors accordingly.

Whitening and antioxidant activities of Inonotus sanghuang Extract and development of primary whitening gel products.

Polysaccharides and flavonoids have excellent antioxidant properties and tyrosinase inhibitory effects. In this paper, the antioxidant capacity of Inonotus sanghuang extract and its inhibition kinetics on mushroom tyrosinase were investigated to determine the preparation process of Inonotus sanghuang primary whitening gel. By conducting experimental studies on the effects of water extract and alcohol extract of Inonotus sanghuang on antioxidant capacity and tyrosinase activity, their inhibitory ability and types of inhibitory effects were determined. The single factor experiment was used to determine the preparation process of Sanghuang primary whitening gel. This study has proven that the extract of Inonotus sanghuang possesses antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory capabilities. It also identified the preparation process for the primary whitening gel of Inonotus sanghuang, thereby providing a theoretical and experimental basis for the development of whitening products utilising Inonotus sanghuang.

Identification of cell-specific epigenetic patterns associated with chondroitin sulfate treatment response in an endemic arthritis, Kashin-Beck disease.

Aims: To assess the alterations in cell-specific DNA methylation associated with chondroitin sulphate response using peripheral blood collected from Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) patients before initiation of chondroitin sulphate treatment. Methods: Peripheral blood samples were collected from KBD patients at baseline of chondroitin sulphate treatment. Methylation profiles were generated using reduced representation bisulphite sequencing (RRBS) from peripheral blood. Differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were identified using MethylKit, while DMR-related genes were defined as those annotated to the gene body or 2.2-kilobase upstream regions of DMRs. Selected DMR-related genes were further validated by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to assess expression levels. Tensor composition analysis was performed to identify cell-specific differential DNA methylation from bulk tissue. Results: This study revealed 21,060 hypermethylated and 44,472 hypomethylated DMRs, and 13,194 hypermethylated and 22,448 hypomethylated CpG islands for differential global methylation for chondroitin sulphate treatment response. A total of 12,666 DMR-related genes containing DMRs were identified in their promoter regions, such as CHL1 (false discovery rate (FDR) = 2.11 × 10-11), RIC8A (FDR = 7.05 × 10-4), and SOX12 (FDR = 1.43 × 10-3). Additionally, RIC8A and CHL1 were hypermethylated in responders, while SOX12 was hypomethylated in responders, all showing decreased gene expression. The patterns of cell-specific differential global methylation associated with chondroitin sulphate response were observed. Specifically, we found that DMRs located in TESPA1 and ATP11A exhibited differential DNA methylation between responders and non-responders in granulocytes, monocytes, and B cells. Conclusion: Our study identified cell-specific changes in DNA methylation associated with chondroitin sulphate response in KBD patients.

Disadvantaged social status contributed to sleep disorders: An observational and genome-wide gene-environment interaction analysis.

BACKGROUND: Sleep is a natural and essential physiological need for individuals. Our study aimed to research the associations between accumulated social risks and sleep disorders. METHODS: In this study, we came up with a polysocial risk score (PsRS), which is a cumulative social risk index composed of 13 social determinants of health. This research includes 239,165 individuals with sleep disorders and social determinants of health data from the UK Biobank cohort. First, logistic regression models were performed to examine the associations of social determinants of health and sleep disorders, including chronotype, narcolepsy, insomnia, snoring, short and long sleep duration. Then, PsRS was calculated based on statistically significant social determinants of health for each sleep disorder. Third, a genome-wide gene-environment interaction study was conducted to explore the interactions between single-nucleotide polymorphisms and PsRS in relation to sleep disorders. RESULTS: Higher PsRS scores were associated with worse sleep status, with the adjusted odds ratio (OR) ranging from 1.10 (95% Confidence interval [CI]: 1.09-1.11) to 1.29 (95% CI: 1.27-1.30) for sleep disorders. Emotional stress (OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.28-1.43) and not in paid employment (OR = 2.62, 95% CI: 2.51-2.74) were found to have significant contributions for sleep disorders. Moreover, multiple single-nucleotide polymorphisms were discovered to have interactions with PsRS, such as FRAS1 (P = 2.57 × 10-14) and CACNA1A (P = 8.62 × 10-14) for narcolepsy, and ACKR3 (P = 1.24 × 10-8) for long sleep. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggested that cumulative social risks was associated with sleep disorders, while the interactions between genetic susceptibility and disadvantaged social status are risk factors for the development of sleep disorders.

Mitochondrial calcium uniporter promotes kidney aging in mice through inducing mitochondrial calcium-mediated renal tubular cell senescence.

Renal tubular epithelial cell senescence plays a critical role in promoting and accelerating kidney aging and age-related renal fibrosis. Senescent cells not only lose their self-repair ability, but also can transform into senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) to trigger inflammation and fibrogenesis. Recent studies show that mitochondrial dysfunction is critical for renal tubular cell senescence and kidney aging, and calcium overload and abnormal calcium-dependent kinase activities are involved in mitochondrial dysfunction-associated senescence. In this study we investigated the role of mitochondrial calcium overload and mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) in kidney aging. By comparing the kidney of 2- and 24-month-old mice, we found calcium overload in renal tubular cells of aged kidney, accompanied by significantly elevated expression of MCU. In human proximal renal tubular cell line HK-2, pretreatment with MCU agonist spermine (10 µM) significantly increased mitochondrial calcium accumulation, and induced the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to renal tubular cell senescence and age-related kidney fibrosis. On the contrary, pretreatment with MCU antagonist RU360 (10 µM) or calcium chelator BAPTA-AM (10 µM) diminished D-gal-induced ROS generation, restored mitochondrial homeostasis, retarded cell senescence, and protected against kidney aging in HK-2 cells. In a D-gal-induced accelerated aging mice model, administration of BAPTA (100 µg/kg. i.p.) every other day for 8 weeks significantly alleviated renal tubuarl cell senescence and fibrosis. We conclude that MCU plays a key role in promoting renal tubular cell senescence and kidney aging. Targeting inhibition on MCU provides a new insight into the therapeutic strategy against kidney aging.

Discovery of Potent Glycosidases Enables Quantification of Smoke-Derived Phenolic Glycosides through Enzymatic Hydrolysis.

When grapes are exposed to wildfire smoke, certain smoke-related volatile phenols (VPs) can be absorbed into the fruit, where they can be then converted into volatile-phenol (VP) glycosides through glycosylation. These volatile-phenol glycosides can be particularly problematic from a winemaking standpoint as they can be hydrolyzed, releasing volatile phenols, which can contribute to smoke-related off-flavors. Current methods for quantitating these volatile-phenol glycosides present several challenges, including the requirement of expensive capital equipment, limited accuracy due to the molecular complexity of the glycosides, and the utilization of harsh reagents. To address these challenges, we proposed an enzymatic hydrolysis method enabled by a tailored enzyme cocktail of novel glycosidases discovered through genome mining, and the generated VPs from VP glycosides can be quantitated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The enzyme cocktails displayed high activities and a broad substrate scope when using commercially available VP glycosides as the substrates for testing. When evaluated in an industrially relevant matrix of Cabernet Sauvignon wine and grapes, this enzymatic cocktail consistently achieved a comparable efficacy of acid hydrolysis. The proposed method offers a simple, safe, and affordable option for smoke taint analysis.

A genome-wide association study identifies candidate genes for sleep disturbances in depressed individuals.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify candidate loci and genes related to sleep disturbances in depressed individuals and clarify the co-occurrence of sleep disturbances and depression from the genetic perspective. METHODS: The study subjects (including 58,256 self-reported depressed individuals and 6,576 participants with PHQ-9 score ≥ 10, respectively) were collected from the UK Biobank, which were determined based on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and self-reported depression status, respectively. Sleep related traits included chronotype, insomnia, snoring and daytime dozing. Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of sleep related traits in depressed individuals were conducted by PLINK 2.0 adjusting age, sex, Townsend deprivation index and 10 principal components as covariates. The CAUSALdb database was used to explore the mental traits associated with the candidate genes identified by the GWAS. RESULTS: GWAS detected 15 loci significantly associated with chronotype in the subjects with self-reported depression, such as rs12736689 at RNASEL (P = 1.00 × 10- 09), rs509476 at RGS16 (P = 1.58 × 10- 09) and rs1006751 at RFX4 (P = 1.54 × 10- 08). 9 candidate loci were identified in the subjects with PHQ-9 ≥ 10, of which 2 loci were associated with insomnia such as rs115379847 at EVC2 (P = 3.50 × 10- 08), and 7 loci were associated with daytime dozing, such as rs140876133 at SMYD3 (P = 3.88 × 10- 08) and rs139156969 at ROBO2 (P = 3.58 × 10- 08). Multiple identified genes, such as RNASEL, RGS16, RFX4 and ROBO2 were reported to be associated with chronotype, depression or cognition in previous studies. CONCLUSION: Our study identified several candidate genes related to sleep disturbances in depressed individuals, which provided new clues for understanding the biological mechanism underlying the co-occurrence of depression and sleep disorders.

Assessing the joint effects of mitochondrial genes and physical activity on the psychiatric phenotype of subjective well-being based on the UK Biobank data.

Subjective well-being (SWB) is an important measure for mental health status. Previous research has shown that physical activity can affect an individual's well-being, yet the underlying molecular mechanism remains to be clarified. In this study, we aim to evaluate the potential interactions between mitochondrial genes and physical activity (PA) as well as their combined effects on individual well-being. SWB phenotype data in UK Biobank were enrolled for this study including nine aspects such as work/job satisfaction, health satisfaction, family relationship satisfaction, friendships satisfaction, financial situation satisfaction, ever depressed for a whole week, general happiness, general happiness with own health and belief that own life is meaningful. We made analysis for each aspects separately. Firstly, mitochondria-wide association studies (MiWAS) was conducted to assess the association of mitochondrial Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms SNP with each aspect of SWB. Then an interaction analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutation and PA was performed to evaluate their joint effect on SWB status. Meanwhile, these two analysis were made for female and male group separately as well as the total samples, all under the control of possible confounding factors including gender, age, Townsend Deprivation Index (TDI), education, alcohol consumption, smoking habits, and 10 principal components. MiWAS analysis identified 45 mtSNPs associated with 9 phenotypes of SWB. For example, m.15218A > G on MT-CYB in the health satisfaction phenotype of the total subjects. Gender-specific analyses found 30 mtSNPs in females and 58 in males, involving 13 mtGenes. In mtDNA-PA interaction analysis, we also identified 10 significant mtDNA-PA interaction sets for SWB. For instance, m.13020 T > C (MT-ND5) was associated with the SWB financial situation satisfaction phenotype in all subjects (P = 0.00577). In addition, MiWAS analysis identified 12 mtGene variants associated with SWB, as MT-ND1 and MT-ND2. However, in mtDNA-PA interactions we detected 7 mtDNA affecting psychiatric disorders occurring, as in the friendships satisfaction phenotype (m.3394 T > C on MT-ND1). Our study results suggest an implication of the interaction between mitochondrial function and physical activity in the risk of psychiatric disorder development.

Undifferentiated high-grade pleomorphic sarcoma of the common bile duct: A case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) is a rare malignant mesenchymal tumor with a poor prognosis. It mainly occurs in the extremities, trunk, head and neck, and retroperitoneum regions. Owing to the lack of specific clinical manifestations and imaging features, UPS diagnosis mainly depends on pathological and immunohistochemical examinations for exclusive diagnosis. Here we report an extremely rare case of high-grade UPS in the common bile duct (CBD). There are limited available data on such cases. CASE SUMMARY: A 70-year-old woman was admitted to our department with yellow eyes and urine accompanied by upper abdominal distending pain for 2 wk. Her laboratory data suggested significantly elevated hepatorenal function levels. The imaging data revealed calculous cholecystitis, intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile duct dilation with extrahepatic bile duct calculi, and a space-occupying lesion at the distal CBD. After endoscopic biliary stenting and symptomatic support therapy, CBD exploration and biopsy were performed. The frozen section indicated malignant spindle cell tumor of the CBD mass, and further radical pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed. Finally, the neoplasm was diagnosed as a high-grade UPS combined with the light-microscopic morphology and immunohistochemical results. CONCLUSION: This extremely rare case highlighted the need for increasing physicians' vigilance, reducing the odds of misdiagnosis, and providing appropriate treatment strategies.

Activation of Notch Signaling Pathway is involved in Extracellular Matrix Degradation in human induced pluripotent stem cells chondrocytes induced by HT-2 toxin.

Notch signaling regulates cartilage formation and homeostasis. Kashin-Beck Disease (KBD), an endemic osteochondropathy, is characterized by severe cartilage degradation. The etiology of KBD is related to the exposure of HT-2 toxin, a mycotoxin and primary metabolite of T-2 toxin. This study aims to explore the role of HT-2 toxin in the Notch signaling regulation and extracellular matrix (ECM) metabolism of hiPSCs-Chondrocytes. Immunohistochemistry and qRT-PCR were employed to investigate the expression of Notch pathway molecules in KBD articular cartilage and primary chondrocytes. hiPSCs-Chondrocytes, derived from hiPSCs, were treated with 100 ng/mL HT-2 toxin and the γ-secretase inhibitor (DAPT) for 48h, respectively. The markers related to the Notch signaling pathway and ECM were assessed using qRT-PCR and Western blot. Notch pathway dysregulation was prominent in KBD cartilage. HT-2 toxin exposure caused cytotoxicity in hiPSCs-Chondrocytes, and activated Notch signaling by increasing the mRNA and protein levels of NOTCH1 and HES1. HT-2 toxin also upregulated ECM catabolic enzymes and downregulated ECM components (COL2A1 and ACAN), indicating ECM degradation. DAPT-mediated Notch signaling inhibition suppressed the mRNA and protein level of ADAMTS5 expression while enhancing ECM component expression in hiPSCs-Chondrocytes. This study suggests that HT-2 toxin may induce ECM degradation in hiPSCs-Chondrocytes through activating Notch signaling.

Dietary diversity score and the acceleration of biological aging: a population-based study of 88,039 participants.

OBJECTIVES: Our study aimed to investigate the association of dietary diversity score (DDS), as reflected by five dietary categories, with biological age acceleration. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: This study included 88,039 individuals from the UK Biobank. METHODS: Biological age (BA) was assessed using Klemerae-Doubal (KDM) and PhenoAge methods. The difference between BA and chronological age represents the age acceleration (AgeAccel), termed as "KDMAccel" and "PhenoAgeAccel". AgeAccel > 0 indicates faster aging. Generalized linear regression models were performed to assess the associations of DDS with AgeAccel. Similar analyses were performed for the five dietary categories. RESULTS: After adjusting for multiple variables, DDS was inversely associated with KDMAccel (ßHigh vs Low= -0.403, 95%CI: -0.492 to -0.314, P < 0.001) and PhenoAgeAccel (ßHigh vs Low= -0.545, 95%CI: -0.641 to -0.450, P < 0.001). Each 1-point increment in the DDS was associated with a 4.4% lower risk of KDMAccel and a 5.6% lower risk of PhenoAgeAccel. The restricted cubic spline plots demonstrated a non-linear dose-response association between DDS and the risk of AgeAccel. The consumption of grains (ßKDMAccel = -0.252, ßPhenoAgeAccel = -0.197), vegetables (ßKDMAccel = -0.044, ßPhenoAgeAccel = -0.077) and fruits (ßKDMAccel = -0.179, ßPhenoAgeAccel = -0.219) was inversely associated with the two AgeAccel, while meat and protein alternatives (ßKDMAccel = 0.091, ßPhenoAgeAccel = 0.054) had a positive association (All P < 0.001). Stratified analysis revealed stronger accelerated aging effects in males, smokers, and drinkers. A strengthening trend in the association between DDS and AgeAccel as TDI quartiles increased was noted. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that food consumption plays a role in aging process, and adherence to a higher diversity dietary is associated with the slowing down of the aging process.

Systematic Analysis of Zinc Finger-Homeodomain Transcription Factors (ZF-HDs) in Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.).

Zinc finger-homeodomain transcription factors (ZF-HDs) are pivotal in regulating plant growth, development, and diverse stress responses. In this study, we found 8 ZF-HD genes in barley genome. Theses eight HvZF-HD genes were located on five chromosomes, and classified into ZHD and MIF subfamily. The collinearity, gene structure, conserved motif, and cis-elements of HvZF-HD genes were also analyzed. Real-time PCR results suggested that the expression of HvZF-HD4, HvZF-HD6, HvZF-HD7 and HvZF-HD8 were up-regulated after hormones (ABA, GA3 and MeJA) or PEG treatments, especially HvZF-HD6 was significantly induced. These results provide useful information of ZF-HD genes to future study aimed at barley breeding.

A Forgotten Double-J Ureteric Stent as the Core of a Bladder Stone: A Case Report and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND Double-J (D-J) ureteric stents are widely applied in urological operations as they play a vital role in maintaining postoperative functionality of the patient's urinary system and thereby accelerating recovery. D-J stent encrustation may occur due to prolonged retention and lead to secondary complications. We report the case of a forgotten D-J stent that gradually formed into a bladder stone. CASE REPORT A 54-year-old man was referred to the Urology Department due to intermittent hematuria, left flank pain, and lower urinary tract symptoms that persisted for 2 weeks. His history was significant for undergoing left ureterolithotripsy followed by the implantation of an ipsilateral D-J stents 2 years ago in a local hospital. The patient did not follow-up regularly or actively seek medical attention for his urinary tract symptoms. Computed tomographic urography revealed a hyperdense tubular object protruding from the left distal ureter to the bladder. The patient underwent cystolithotripsy, left ureteric stent removal, and left ureteroscopy to clear away the bladder stone and its D-J stent core. CONCLUSIONS Formation of bladder stones secondary to prolonged indwelling D-J stent and its encrustation is not uncommon in developing countries where the level of public education is low. Prompt D-J stent removal can prevent complications associated with its retention and avoid unnecessary secondary procedures. Endoscopic urologic procedures are safe and feasible management options, and doctor-to-patient communication is vital for a better prognosis.

[Source and Cause Analysis of High Concentration of Inorganic Aerosol During Two Typical Pollution Processes in Winter over Tianjin].

Inorganic aerosol is the main component of haze days in winter over Tianjin. In this study, two typical high concentrations of secondary inorganic aerosol (SIA) processes, defined as CASE1 and CASE2, were selected during polluted days in January 2020 over Tianjin, and the effects of meteorological factors, regional transport, and chemical processes were comprehensively investigated combined with observations and numerical models (WRF-NAQPMS). The average SIA concentrations in CASE1 and CASE2 were 76.8 µg·m-3 and 66.0 µg·m-3, respectively, and the nitrate concentration was higher than that of sulfate and ammonium, which were typical nitrate-dominated pollution processes. Meteorological conditions played a role in inorganic aerosol formation. The temperature of approximately -6-0℃ and 2-4℃ and the relative humidity of 50%-60% and 80%-100% would be suitable conditions for the high SIA concentration (>80 µg·m-3) in CASE1, whereas the temperature of approximately 2-4℃ and the relative humidity of 60%-70% would be suitable in CASE2. The average contribution rates of external sources to SIA in the CASE1 and CASE2 processes were 62.3% and 22.1%, which were regional transport-dominant processes and local emission-dominant processes, respectively. The contribution of the local emission of CASE1 to nitrate and sulfate was 16.2 µg·m-3 and 8.2 µg·m-3, respectively, higher than that of external sources (31.7 µg·m-3 and 8.8 µg·m-3). the local contribution of CASE2 to nitrate and sulfate was 29.3 µg·m-3 and 25.1 µg·m-3, respectively, whereas the contribution from external sources was 8.1 µg·m-3 and 9.4 µg·m-3, respectively. The quantitative result indicated that local formation and regional transport resulted in higher nitrate concentration than sulfate in CASE1, in contrast to only local sources in CASE2. The gas phase reaction was the main source of inorganic aerosol formation, contributing 48.9% and 57.8% in CASE1 and CASE2, respectively, whereas the heterogeneous reactions were also important processes, with contribution rates of 48.1% and 42.2% to SIA. The effect of aqueous phase reaction was negligible.

[Research Progress on Solidification and MICP Remediation of Soils in Heavy Metal Contaminated Site].

Heavy metal pollution in soils of smelting sites is an important environmental problem to be solved urgently. Solidification technology has become one of the mainstream technologies for heavy metal remediation in contaminated sites owing to its shorter remediation time, low cost, and high treatment efficiency. On the basis of summarizing the latest research progress on the remediation of heavy metal pollution in sites by solidification in the past 10 years, this study focused on the mechanisms of solidification technology and analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of different mechanisms (mechanism of inorganic materials, mechanism of organic materials, mechanism of mechanical ball milling, and mechanism of microbial-induced carbonate mineralization (MICP)) and their scope of application. Then, according to the research focus and development trend presented by CiteSpace, the application prospects and limiting factors of MICP technology for the solidification and remediation of heavy metal pollution in sites were summarized from three aspects:the application of MICP in multi-metal remediation, the application of MICP composites in contaminated sites, and the influencing factors of MICP technology application. Finally, the prospects and challenges in solidification technology were put forward in order to provide reference for the future development.

Prediction of vascular complications in free flap reconstruction with machine learning.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the risk factors of vascular complications following free flap reconstruction and to develop a clinical auxiliary assessment tool for predicting vascular complications in patients undergoing free flap reconstruction leveraging machine learning methods. METHODS: We reviewed the medical data of patients who underwent free flap reconstruction at the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University retrospectively from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2021. Statistical analysis was used to screen risk factors. A training data set was generated and augmented using the synthetic minority oversampling technique. Logistic regression, random forest and neural network, models were trained, using this dataset. The performance of these three predictive models was then evaluated and compared using a test set, with four metrics, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. RESULTS: A total of 570 patients who underwent free flap reconstruction were included in this study, 46 of whom developed postoperative vascular complications. Among the models tested, the neural network model exhibited superior performance on the test set, achieving an AUC of 0.828. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified that preoperative hemoglobin levels, preoperative fibrinogen levels, operation duration, smoking history, the number of anastomoses, and peripheral vascular injury as statistically significant independent risk factors for vascular complications post-free flap reconstruction. The top five predictive factors in the neural network were fibrinogen content, operation duration, donor site, body mass index (BMI), and platelet count. CONCLUSION: Hemoglobin levels, fibrinogen levels, operation duration, smoking history, and anastomotic veins are independent risk factors for vascular complications following free flap reconstruction. These risk factors enhance the ability of machine learning models to predict the occurrence of vascular complications and identify high-risk patients. The neural network model outperformed the logistic regression and random forest models, suggesting its potential to aid clinicians in early identification of high-risk patients thereby mitigating patient suffering and improving prognosis.

N-glycan biosignatures as a potential diagnostic biomarker for early-stage pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a poor prognosis, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 10%, owing to its late-stage diagnosis. Early detection of pancreatic cancer (PC) can significantly increase survival rates. AIM: To identify the serum biomarker signatures associated with early-stage PDAC by serum N-glycan analysis. METHODS: An extensive patient cohort was used to determine a biomarker signature, including patients with PDAC that was well-defined at an early stage (stages I and II). The biomarker signature was derived from a case-control study using a case-cohort design consisting of 29 patients with stage I, 22 with stage II, 4 with stage III, 16 with stage IV PDAC, and 88 controls. We used multiparametric analysis to identify early-stage PDAC N-glycan signatures and developed an N-glycan signature-based diagnosis model called the "Glyco-model". RESULTS: The biomarker signature was created to discriminate samples derived from patients with PC from those of controls, with a receiver operating characteristic area under the curve of 0.86. In addition, the biomarker signature combined with cancer antigen 19-9 could discriminate patients with PDAC from controls, with a receiver operating characteristic area under the curve of 0.919. Glyco-model demonstrated favorable diagnostic performance in all stages of PC. The diagnostic sensitivity for stage I PDAC was 89.66%. CONCLUSION: In a prospective validation study, this serum biomarker signature may offer a viable method for detecting early-stage PDAC.