Application value of dexmedetomidine in anesthesia for elderly patients undergoing radical colon cancer surgery.

BACKGROUND: Colon cancer presents a substantial risk to the well-being of elderly people worldwide. With advancements in medical technology, surgical treatment has become the primary approach for managing colon cancer patients. However, due to age-related physiological changes, especially a decline in cognitive function, older patients are more susceptible to the effects of surgery and anesthesia, increasing the relative risk of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). Therefore, in the surgical treatment of elderly patients with colon cancer, it is of paramount importance to select an appropriate anesthetic approach to reduce the occurrence of POCD, protect brain function, and improve surgical success rates. AIM: To explore the value of dexmedetomidine (Dex) in anesthesia for elderly patients undergoing radical colon cancer surgery. METHODS: One hundred and seventeen patients with colon cancer who underwent elective surgery under general anesthesia were selected and divided into two groups: A and B. Group A received Dex before anesthesia induction, and B group received an equivalent amount of normal saline. Changes in the mini-mental state examination, regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2), bispectral index, glucose uptake rate (GluER), lactate production rate (LacPR), serum S100ß and neuron-specific enolase (NSE), POCD, and adverse anesthesia reactions were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Surgical duration, duration of anesthesia, and intraoperative blood loss were comparable between the two groups (P > 0.05). The overall dosage of anesthetic drugs used in group A, including propofol and remifentanil, was significantly lower than that used in group B (P < 0.05). Group A exhibited higher rSO2 values at the time of endotracheal intubation, 30 min after the start of surgery, and immediately after extubation, higher GluER values and lower LacPR values at the time of endotracheal intubation, 30 min after the start of surgery, immediately after extubation, and 5 min after extubation (P < 0.05). Group A exhibited lower levels of serum S100ß and NSE 24 h postoperatively and a lower incidence of cognitive dysfunction on the 1st and 5th postoperative days (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The use of Dex in elderly patients undergoing radical colon cancer surgery helps maintain rSO2 Levels and reduce cerebral metabolic levels and the incidence of anesthesia- and surgery-induced cognitive dysfunction.

Superresolution imaging of antibiotic-induced structural disruption of bacteria enabled by photochromic glycomicelles.

Bacterial evolution, particularly in hospital settings, is leading to an increase in multidrug resistance. Understanding the basis for this resistance is critical as it can drive discovery of new antibiotics while allowing the clinical use of known antibiotics to be optimized. Here, we report a photoactive chemical probe for superresolution microscopy that allows for the in situ probing of antibiotic-induced structural disruption of bacteria. Conjugation between a spiropyran (SP) and galactose via click chemistry produces an amphiphilic photochromic glycoprobe, which self-assembles into glycomicelles in water. The hydrophobic inner core of the glycomicelles allows encapsulation of antibiotics. Photoirradiation then serves to convert the SP to the corresponding merocyanine (MR) form. This results in micellar disassembly allowing for release of the antibiotic in an on-demand fashion. The glycomicelles of this study adhere selectively to the surface of a Gram-negative bacterium through multivalent sugar-lectin interaction. Antibiotic release from the glycomicelles then induces membrane collapse. This dynamic process can be imaged in situ by superresolution spectroscopy owing to the "fluorescence blinking" of the SP/MR photochromic pair. This research provides a high-precision imaging tool that may be used to visualize how antibiotics disrupt the structural integrity of bacteria in real time.

Non-suicidal self-injury among youth students during COVID-19 pandemic: the role of psychological factors in Jingzhou, China.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) among youth students, and the mediating role of psychological factors in the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and NSSI. Method: An online survey was conducted at junior and senior high schools, as well as universities located in Jingzhou, Hubei Province, China between June 2021 and January 2022. The COVID-19 Impact Index was constructed using multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) method. The bootstrapping method was used for mediation analysis. Results: A total of 16025 youth participated in the study and 12507 youth (78.1%) finished the questionnaires. The COVID-19 Impact Index had a significantly positive effect on NSSI (r=0.16, p<0.001). The mediation analysis results showed that the COVID-19 Impact Index had a significant indirect effect on youth' NSSI (ß=0.0918, 95% CI [0.0788, 0.1048]), and this indirect effect was mainly achieved through affecting youth' anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The mediation effect of anxiety on NSSI was 0.0584, the direct effect was 0.0334, and the mediation proportion was 63.6%. The mediation effect of depression on NSSI was 0.0668, the direct effect was 0.0250, and the mediation proportion was 72.8%. The mediation effect of PTSD on NSSI was 0.0640, the direct effect was 0.0278, and the mediation proportion was 69.7%. All the mediation effects, direct effects and total effects were statistically significant (p<0.001). Conclusion: The higher the impact of the COVID-19 Impact Index, the higher the prevalence of NSSI among youth students. Anxiety, depression and PTSD had mediated the relationship between the COVID-19 Impact Index and NSSI. It is suggested that specific health policies, mental health services and interventions should be developed to reduce the NSSI and improve mental health status among youth students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

CDT1, transcriptionally regulated by E2F2, promotes lung adenocarcinoma progression.

CDT1, a gene that shows excessive expression in various malignancies, functions as a pivotal regulator of replication licensing. In this study, we observed a positive correlation in expression between CDT1 and E2F2 among patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Our findings substantiated that E2F2 directly interacted with the promoter region of CDT1, as confirmed by ChIP-qPCR assays, and depletion of E2F2 resulted in a downregulation of CDT1 expression in LUAD cell lines by gene interference technology. Furthermore, we identified an upregulation of CDT1 mRNA level in Chinese LUAD samples. Notably, in the loss-of-function assays, depletion of CDT1 in LUAD cell lines inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Concurrently, it promoted cell apoptosis and induced G0/G1 phase arrest using MTT, flow cytometry, and Transwell assays, reinforcing its role as an oncogene.Furthermore, enhanced tumor ablation was determined in a CDT1-downregulated LUAD tumor-bearing nude mouse model. Collectively, our results strongly suggest that E2F2 positively regulates CDT1 expression and actively participates in the progression of lung adenocarcinoma, thereby providing valuable insights into identifying novel therapeutic targets for LUAD treatment.

CRISPR Screening and Comparative LC-MS Analysis Identify Genes Mediating Efficacy of Delamanid and Pretomanid against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis (TB), the leading cause of death from bacterial infections worldwide, results from infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). The antitubercular agents delamanid (DLM) and pretomanid (PMD) are nitroimidazole prodrugs that require activation by an enzyme intrinsic to Mtb; however, the mechanism(s) of action and the associated metabolic pathways are largely unclear. Profiling of the chemical-genetic interactions of PMD and DLM in Mtb using combined CRISPR screening reveals that the mutation of rv2073c increases susceptibility of Mtb to these nitroimidazole drugs both in vitro and in infected mice, whereas mutation of rv0078 increases drug resistance. Further assays show that Rv2073c might confer intrinsic resistance to DLM/PMD by interfering with inhibition of the drug target, decaprenylphophoryl-2-keto-b-D-erythro-pentose reductase (DprE2), by active nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) adducts. Characterization of the metabolic pathways of DLM/PMD in Mtb using a combination of chemical genetics and comparative liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis of DLM/PMD metabolites reveals that Rv0077c, which is negatively regulated by Rv0078, mediates drug resistance by metabolizing activated DLM/PMD. These results might guide development of new nitroimidazole prodrugs and new regimens for TB treatment.

Green fabrication of modified lignin/zeolite/chitosan-based composite membranes for preservation of perishable foods.

Chitosan, as a kind of naturally occurring green and degradable material for the preservation of perishable foods, was investigated in this study with the objective of enhancing its preservation performances. Herein, lignin was modified using the solvent fractionation method (modified lignin, ML, including ML1-ML3), while natural clinoptilolite zeolite was modified using the alkali modification method (modified clinoptilolite zeolite, MCZ, including MCZ1-MCZ5). After optimizing the conditions, it was discovered that incorporating both ML3 and MCZ3 into pure chitosan-based membranes might be conducive to fabricate chitosan-based composite membranes for the preservation of perishable foods. As-prepared composite membranes possessed better visible light transmittance, antioxidant activity, and carbon dioxide/oxygen selectivity, resulting in improved preservation effects on the model perishable foods such as bananas, cherry tomatoes, and cheeses. These findings might indicate promising applications for chitosan-based composite membranes with modified lignin and zeolite in the field of eco-friendly degradable materials for the preservation of perishable foods.

Isoindoline-based fluorogenic probes bearing a self-immolative linker for the sensitive and selective detection of O-GlcNAcase activity.

O-GlcNAcase (OGA) is implicated in several important biological and disease-relevant processes. Here, we synthesized fluorogenic probes for OGA by grafting GlcNAc directly or using a self-immolative linker to the hydroxyl position of 4-hydroxylisoindoline (BHID), a typical excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) probe. The probe was used for a fluorogenic assay to determine the half maximal inhibitory concentration of a known OGA inhibitor and differentiate between OGA and hexosaminidase when GlcNAc is replaced by GlcNPr, where a propionyl group is used instead of an acetyl group.

Fluorogenic Peptide Sensor Array Derived from Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 Classifies Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Variants of Concern.

The devastating COVID-19 pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has made society acutely aware of the urgency in developing effective techniques to timely monitor the outbreak of previously unknown viral species as well as their mutants, which could be even more lethal and/or contagious. Here, we report a fluorogenic sensor array consisting of peptides truncated from the binding domain of human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) for SARS-CoV-2. A set of five fluorescently tagged peptides were used to construct the senor array in the presence of different low-dimensional quenching materials. When orthogonally incubated with the wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and its variants of concern (VOCs), the fluorescence of each peptide probe was specifically recovered, and the different recovery rates provide a "fingerprint" characteristic of each viral strain. This, in turn, allows them to be differentiated from each other using principal component analysis. Interestingly, the classification result from our sensor array agrees well with the evolutionary relationship similarity of the VOCs. This study offers insight into the development of effective sensing tools for highly contagious viruses and their mutants based on rationally truncating peptide ligands from human receptors.

Encephaloduroarteriosynangiosis for Symptomatic Intracranial Atherosclerotic Arterial Steno-Occlusive Disease: Clinical and Radiological Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the long-term clinical and angiographic outcomes of encephaloduroarteriosynangiosis treatment for symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic arterial steno-occlusive disease to further evaluate the potential therapeutic role of encephaloduroarteriosynangiosis in this population. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 152 adult patients with symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic arterial steno-occlusive disease who were treated with encephaloduroarteriosynangiosis and intensive medical management across 3 tertiary centers in China between January 2011 and September 2019 were retrospectively included. The primary outcomes were defined as postoperative cerebrovascular events, including ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. The postoperative neovascularization was analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively by using angiography. Clinical, radiological, and long-term follow-up data were analyzed using Cox regression, logistic regression, and linear regression analyses. Primary outcome rates were 3.2% (5/152) within 30 days, 6.6% (10/152) within 2 years, 9.2% (14/152) within 5 years, and 11.1% (17/152) during a median 9.13 years follow-up. Initial infarction symptoms were positively associated with recurrent ischemic stroke. Additionally, posterior circulation involvement and coexisting cardiac disease indicated poorer neurological status, whereas encephaloduroarteriosynangiosis neovascularization efficacy was negatively associated with older age and vascular risk factors but positively associated with posterior circulation involvement. CONCLUSIONS: Encephaloduroarteriosynangiosis plus intensive medical management appears efficacious and safe for symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic arterial steno-occlusive disease, with low perioperative risk and favorable long-term results. Further prospective trials are needed to verify its efficacy and determine the optimal patient selection criteria.

Fully Optical Control of Polarization Current Direction in a Cyanide-Bridged Trinuclear Complex.

As a remote and non-contact stimulus, light offers the potential for manipulating the polarization of ferroelectric materials without physical contact. However, in current research, the non-contact write-read (erase) process lacks direct observation through the stable current as output signal. To address this limitation, we investigated the photoinduced polarization switching capabilities of the cyanide-bridged compound [Fe2Co] using visible light, leading to the achievement of rewritable polarization. By subjecting [Fe2Co] crystals to alternating irradiation with 785 nm and 532 nm light, the polarization changes exhibited a distinct square wave pattern, confirming the reliability of the writing and erasing processes. Initialization involved exposing specific crystal units to 532 nm light for storing "1" or "0" information, while reading was accomplished by scanning the units with 785 nm light, resulting in brief current pulses for "1" states and no current signal for "0" states. This research unveils new possibilities for optical storage systems, paving the way for efficient and rewritable data storage and retrieval technologies, such as the next-generation memories.

Phase separation of RNF214 promotes the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors, and the expression and function of an uncharacterized protein RNF214 in HCC are still unknown. Phase separation has recently been observed to participate in the progression of HCC. In this study, we investigated the expression, function, and phase separation of RNF214 in HCC. We found that RNF214 was highly expressed in HCC and associated with poor prognosis. RNF214 functioned as an oncogene to promote the proliferation, migration, and metastasis of HCC. Mechanically, RNF214 underwent phase separation, and the coiled-coil (CC) domain of RNF214 mediated its phase separation. Furthermore, the CC domain was necessary for the oncogenic function of RNF214 in HCC. Taken together, our data favored that phase separation of RNF214 promoted the progression of HCC. RNF214 may be a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for HCC.

Host selection by thrips is affected by the floral volatile profile of sunflower.

Thrips, Frankliniella intonsa, is a highly polyphagous pest with a worldwide distribution. F. intonsa-infested sunflower seeds show marked visual damage. The study findings revealed that significantly more F. intonsa infested confection sunflower compared to oilseed sunflower, via olfactometer bioassay studies, we found that compared with the flower and pollen of oilseed sunflowers, those of confection sunflowers attract F. intonsa. Considering this discrepancy in the preference of F. intonsa on oilseed and confection sunflowers, the volatiles of the flower and pollens of two sunflowers were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. The behavioural responses of F. intonsa were assessed for these compounds using Y-tube bioassays. Geranyl bromide, a unique volatile component of oilseed sunflowers, induced an assertive approach-avoidance behaviour in F. intonsa, whereas the unique component ethyl isovalerate in confection sunflowers attracted F. intonsa. F. intonsa adults demonstrated significant attraction to the blends of confection sunflowers. Furthermore, field verification revealed that intercropping confection and oilseed sunflowers could effectively control F. intonsa. The study provided insights into the chemical cues used by F. intonsa in locating hosts. Therefore, oilseed sunflowers can be used as repellent plants to prevent F. intonsa invasion.

Magnetic compression anastomosis to restore biliary tract continuity after obstruction following major abdominal trauma: A case report.

BACKGROUND: The combination of magnetic compression anastomosis (MCA) and endoscopy has been used to treat biliary stricture after liver transplantation. However, its use for the treatment of complex biliary obstruction after major abdominal trauma has not been reported. This case report describes the successful use of MCA for the treatment of biliary obstruction resulting from major abdominal trauma. CASE SUMMARY: A 23-year-old man underwent major abdominal surgery (repair of liver rupture, right half colon resection, and ileostomy) following a car accident one year ago. The abdominal drainage tube, positioned at the Winslow foramen, was draining approximately 600-800 mL of bile per day. During the two endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography procedures, the guide wire was unable to enter the common bile duct, which prevented placement of a biliary stent. MCA combined with endoscopy was used to successfully achieve magnetic anastomosis of the peritoneal sinus tract and duodenum, and then a choledochoduodenal stent was placed. Finally, the external biliary drainage tube was removed. The patient achieved internal biliary drainage leading to the removal of the external biliary drainage tube, which improved the quality of life. CONCLUSION: Magnetic compression technique can be used for the treatment of complex biliary obstruction with minimal operative trauma.

Novel magnetic compression technique for the treatment of postoperative anastomotic stenosis in rectal cancer: A case report.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of postoperative anastomotic stenosis after excision of rectal cancer is challenging. Endoscopic balloon dilation and radial incision are not effective in all patients. We present a new endoscopy-assisted magnetic compression technique (MCT) for the treatment of rectal anastomotic stenosis. We successfully applied this MCT to a patient who developed an anastomotic stricture after radical resection of rectal cancer. CASE SUMMARY: A 50-year-old man had undergone laparoscopic radical rectal cancer surgery at a local hospital 5 months ago. A colonoscopy performed 2 months ago indicated that the rectal anastomosis was narrow due to which ileostomy closure could not be performed. The patient came to the Magnetic Surgery Clinic of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University after learning that we had successfully treated patients with colorectal stenosis using MCT. We performed endoscopy-assisted magnetic compression surgery for rectal stenosis. The magnets were removed 16 d later. A follow-up colonoscopy performed after 4 months showed good anastomotic patency, following which, ileostomy closure surgery was performed. CONCLUSION: MCT is a simple, non-invasive technique for the treatment of anastomotic stricture after radical resection of rectal cancer. The technique can be widely used in clinical settings.

Body mass index and pressure injuries risk in hospitalized adult patients: A dose-response analysis.

BACKGROUND: The association between underweight and pressure injuries (PIs) has been established in several studies. However, there is a lack of well-designed research investigating the connection between overweight and obesity with these injuries. OBJECTIVE: This meta-analysis aims to investigate the dose-response relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the risk of PIs in adult hospitalized patients. METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, and MEDLINE Databases were searched from inception to May 2024. Observational articles with at least three BMI categories were included in the study. BMI was defined as underweight, normal weight, overweight, and morbid obesity for the meta-analysis. The non-linear relationship between BMI and the risk of PIs in hospitalized adults was investigated using restricted cubic spline models. Fractional polynomial modeling was used. RESULTS: Eleven articles reporting at least 3 categories of BMI met the inclusion criteria, including 31,389 participants. Compared to patients with normal weight, those with underweight, obesity, and morbid obesity exhibited an increased risk of PIs, with odds ratios of 1.70 (95%CI:1.50-1.91), 1.12 (95%CI:1.02-1.24), 1.70 (95%CI:1.13-2.55), respectively. A J-shaped dose-response model was established for the relationship between PI risk and BMI (Pnon-linearity < 0.001, Plinearity = 0.745). CONCLUSION: The J-shaped dose-response pattern revealed that underweight, obesity and morbid obesity heightened the risk of PIs in hospitalized adults. Lower and higher BMI values may signify an increased risk for PIs, particularly among the elderly with lower BMI, providing valuable guidance for medical staff.

Mechanisms and clinical landscape of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification in gastrointestinal tract cancers.

Epigenetics encompasses reversible and heritable chemical modifications of non-nuclear DNA sequences, including DNA and RNA methylation, histone modifications, non-coding RNA modifications, and chromatin rearrangements. In addition to well-studied DNA and histone methylation, RNA methylation has emerged as a hot topic in biological sciences over the past decade. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most common and abundant modification in eukaryotic mRNA, affecting all RNA stages, including transcription, translation, and degradation. Advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies made it feasible to identify the chemical basis and biological functions of m6A RNA. Dysregulation of m6A levels and associated modifying proteins can both inhibit and promote cancer, highlighting the importance of the tumor microenvironment in diverse biological processes. Gastrointestinal tract cancers, including gastric, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers, are among the most common and deadly malignancies in humans. Growing evidence suggests a close association between m6A levels and the progression of gastrointestinal tumors. Global m6A modification levels are substantially modified in gastrointestinal tumor tissues and cell lines compared to healthy tissues and cells, possibly influencing various biological behaviors such as tumor cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance. Exploring the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of m6A-related proteins is critical from a clinical standpoint. Developing more specific and effective m6A modulators offers new options for treating these tumors and deeper insights into gastrointestinal tract cancers.

Dorsomorphin attenuates ABCG2-mediated multidrug resistance in colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer is a common malignant tumor with high mortality, for which chemotherapy resistance is one of the main reasons. The high expression of ABCG2 in the cancer cells and expulsion of anticancer drugs directly cause multidrug resistance (MDR). Therefore, the development of new ABCG2 inhibitors that block the active causes of MDR may provide a strategy for the treatment of colorectal cancer. In this study, we find that dorsomorphin (also known as compound C or BML-275) potently inhibits the transporter activity of ABCG2, thereby preserving the chemotherapeutic agents mitoxantrone and doxorubicin to antagonize MDR in ABCG2-overexpressing colorectal cancer cells. Additionally, dorsomorphin does not alter ABCG2 protein expression. The results of molecular docking studies show that dorsomorphin is bound stably to the ABCG2-binding pocket, suggesting that dorsomorphin is a potent ABCG2 inhibitor that attenuates ABCG2-mediated MDR in colorectal cancer.

Reduction in antimicrobial resistance in a watershed after closure of livestock farms.

Natural environments play a crucial role in transmission of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Development of methods to manage antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in natural environments are usually limited to the laboratory or field scale, partially due to the complex dynamics of transmission between different environmental compartments. Here, we conducted a nine-year longitudinal profiling of ARGs at a watershed scale, and provide evidence that restrictions on livestock farms near water bodies significantly reduced riverine ARG abundance. Substantial reductions were revealed in the relative abundance of genes conferring resistance to aminoglycosides (42%), MLSB (36%), multidrug (55%), tetracyclines (53%), and other gene categories (59%). Additionally, improvements in water quality were observed, with distinct changes in concentrations of dissolved reactive phosphorus, ammonium, nitrite, pH, and dissolved oxygen. Antibiotic residues and other pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) maintain at a similarly low level. Microbial source tracking demonstrates a significant decrease in swine fecal indicators, while human fecal pollution remains unchanged. These results suggest that the reduction in ARGs was due to a substantial reduction in input of antibiotic resistant bacteria and genes from animal excreta. Our findings highlight the watershed as a living laboratory for understanding the dynamics of AMR, and for evaluating the efficacy of environmental regulations, with implications for reducing environmental risks associated with AMR on a global scale.