Gelatin-based biomaterials and gelatin as an additive for chronic wound repair.

Disturbing or disrupting the regular healing process of a skin wound may result in its progression to a chronic state. Chronic wounds often lead to increased infection because of their long healing time, malnutrition, and insufficient oxygen flow, subsequently affecting wound progression. Gelatin-the main structure of natural collagen-is widely used in biomedical fields because of its low cost, wide availability, biocompatibility, and degradability. However, gelatin may exhibit diverse tailored physical properties and poor antibacterial activity. Research on gelatin-based biomaterials has identified the challenges of improving gelatin's poor antibacterial properties and low mechanical properties. In chronic wounds, gelatin-based biomaterials can promote wound hemostasis, enhance peri-wound antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and promote vascular and epithelial cell regeneration. In this article, we first introduce the natural process of wound healing. Second, we present the role of gelatin-based biomaterials and gelatin as an additive in wound healing. Finally, we present the future implications of gelatin-based biomaterials.

Biomimetic peroxidase MOF-Fe promotes bone defect repair by inhibiting TfR2 and activating the BMP2 pathway.

BACKGROUND: Large bone defects pose a clinical treatment challenge; inhibiting transferrin receptor 2 (TfR2), which is involved in iron metabolism, can promote osteogenesis. Iron-based metal-organic frameworks (MOF-Fe) particles not only inhibit TfR2 but also serve as biomimetic catalysts to remove hydrogen peroxide in reactive oxygen species (ROS); excess ROS can disrupt the normal functions of osteoblasts, thereby hindering bone regeneration. This study explored the potential effects of MOF-Fe in increasing osteogenic activity and clearing ROS. METHODS: In vitro experiments were performed to investigate the osteogenic effects of MOF-Fe particles and assess their impact on cellular ROS levels. To further validate the role of MOF-Fe in promoting bone defect repair, we injected MOF-Fe suspensions into the femoral defects of SD rats and implanted MOF-Fe-containing hydrogel scaffolds in rabbit cranial defect models and observed their effects on bone healing. RESULTS: In vitro, the presence of MOF-Fe significantly increased the expression levels of osteogenesis-related genes and proteins compared to those in the control group. Additionally, compared to those in the untreated control group, the cells treated with MOF-Fe exhibited a significantly increased ability to remove hydrogen peroxide from ROS and generate oxygen and water within the physiological pH range. In vivo experiments further confirmed the positive effect of MOF-Fe in promoting bone defect repair. CONCLUSION: This study supports the application of MOF-Fe as an agent for bone regeneration, particularly for mitigating ROS and activating the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) pathway, demonstrating its potential value.

Gasdermin D drives focal Crystalline Thrombotic Microangiopathy by accelerating Immunothrombosis and Necroinflammation.

Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is characterized by immunothrombosis and life-threatening organ failure, but the precise underlying mechanism driving its pathogenesis remains elusive. In this study, we hypothesized that gasdermin D (GSDMD), a pore-forming protein serving as the final downstream effector of pyroptosis/interleukin (IL)-1pathway, contributes to TMA and its consequences by amplifying neutrophil maturation and subsequent necrosis. Using a murine model of focal crystalline TMA, we found that Gsdmd-deficiency ameliorated immunothrombosis, acute tissue injury and failure. Gsdmd-/- mice exhibited a decrease in mature IL-1, as well as in neutrophil maturation, 2 integrin activation, and recruitment to TMA lesions, where they formed reduced neutrophil extracellular traps both in arteries and interstitial tissue. The GSDMD inhibitor disulfiram dose-dependently suppressed human neutrophil pyroptosis in response to cholesterol crystals. Experiments with GSDMD-deficient human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neutrophils confirmed the involvement of GSDMD in neutrophil 2 integrin activation, maturation as well as pyroptosis. Both prophylactic and therapeutic administration of disulfiram protected mice from focal TMA, acute tissue injury and failure. Our data identify GSDMD as a key mediator of focal crystalline TMA and its consequences: ischemic tissue infarction and organ failure. GSDMD could potentially serve as a therapeutic target for systemic forms of TMA.

Blood leukocytes as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for thyroid nodules: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid nodule (TN) patients in China are subject to overdiagnosis and overtreatment. The implementation of existing technologies such as thyroid ultrasonography has indeed contributed to the improved diagnostic accuracy of TNs. However, a significant issue persists, where many patients undergo unnecessary biopsies, and patients with malignant thyroid nodules (MTNs) are advised to undergo surgery therapy. METHODS: This study included a total of 293 patients diagnosed with TNs. Differential methylation haplotype blocks (MHBs) in blood leukocytes between MTNs and benign thyroid nodules (BTNs) were detected using reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS). Subsequently, an artificial intelligence blood leukocyte DNA methylation (BLDM) model was designed to optimize the management and treatment of patients with TNs for more effective outcomes. RESULTS: The DNA methylation profiles of peripheral blood leukocytes exhibited distinctions between MTNs and BTNs. The BLDM model we developed for diagnosing TNs achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.858 in the validation cohort and 0.863 in the independent test cohort. Its specificity reached 90.91% and 88.68% in the validation and independent test cohorts, respectively, outperforming the specificity of ultrasonography (43.64% in the validation cohort and 47.17% in the independent test cohort), albeit with a slightly lower sensitivity (83.33% in the validation cohort and 82.86% in the independent test cohort) compared to ultrasonography (97.62% in the validation cohort and 100.00% in the independent test cohort). The BLDM model could correctly identify 89.83% patients whose nodules were suspected malignant by ultrasonography but finally histological benign. In micronodules, the model displayed higher specificity (93.33% in the validation cohort and 92.00% in the independent test cohort) and accuracy (88.24% in the validation cohort and 87.50% in the independent test cohort) for diagnosing TNs. This performance surpassed the specificity and accuracy observed with ultrasonography. A TN diagnostic and treatment framework that prioritizes patients is provided, with fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy performed only on patients with indications of MTNs in both BLDM and ultrasonography results, thus avoiding unnecessary biopsies. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to demonstrate the potential of non-invasive blood leukocytes in diagnosing TNs, thereby making TN diagnosis and treatment more efficient in China.

U-shaped relationship between lights-out time and nocturnal oxygen saturation during the first trimester: An analysis based on the nuMOM2b-SDB data.

Objective: Preventing adverse events due to unstable oxygen saturation (SpO2) at night in pregnant women is of utmost importance. Poor sleep has been demonstrated to impact SpO2 levels. Nowadays, many gravida have a habit of prolonged exposure to light before sleep, which can disrupt their sleep. Therefore, this study aimed at investigate the relationship between lights-out time, sleep parameters and SpO2, exploring the underlying mechanisms. Methods: The data of 2881 eligible subjects from the Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study Monitoring Mothers-to-be and Sleep Disordered Breathing (nuMOM2b-SDB) database were analyzed. Multiple linear regression models were used to investigate the relationship between lights-out time and SpO2. In addition, restricted cubic splines (RCS) were employed to fit the nonlinear correlation between the two variables. The smoothing curve method was further utilized to depict the relationship between lights-out time and SpO2 based on various subgroup variables. Results: All participants were categorized according to race/ethnicity. A negative correlation was observed between nighttime lights-out time and average value of SpO2 (Avg-SpO2) (ß = -0.05, p = 0.010). RCS revealed a U-shaped relationship between lights-out time and Avg-SpO2, with the turning point at 22:00. The subcomponent stratification results indicated that the Avg-SpO2 and minimum value of SpO2(Min-SpO2) of advanced maternal age decreased as the lights-out time was delayed. Furthermore, overweight and obese gravida showed lower Avg-SpO2 and Min-SpO2 levels than normal weight. Conclusions: A U-shaped relationship was identified between lights-out time and nocturnal Avg-SpO2 during early pregnancy, with the inflection at 22:00. Notably, later lights-out times are associated with lower levels of Min-SpO2 for advanced maternal age. The findings suggest that appropriately adjusting the duration of light exposure before sleep and maintaining a relatively restful state may be more beneficial for the stability of SpO2 in pregnant women. Conversely, deviations from these practices could potentially lead to pathological alterations in SpO2 levels.

[Research progress of ICU-acquired weakness].

ICU-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) is a common complication in the intensive care unit (ICU). The occurrence of ICU-AW directly leads to prolonged ICU stays for critically ill patients, and in severe cases, it continues to affect their quality of life even after discharge. This article provides a comprehensive review of the research progress on ICU-AW based on domestic and foreign studies, aiming to provide a scientific overview of ICU-AW, including its definition, pathophysiology, diagnosis, screening tools, influencing factors, and potential intervention strategies, so as to promote timely planning and implementation of relevant screening and intervention measures.

Does increasing forest age lead to greater trade-offs in ecosystem services? A study of a Robinia pseudoacacia artificial forest on the Loess Plateau, China.

Artificial forest ecosystems offer various ecosystem services (ES) and help mitigate climate change effects. Trade-offs or synergies exist among ES in artificial forests. Although forest age influences ES and ecosystem processes, the long-term dynamics of trade-offs among ES in artificial forests and during vegetation restorations remain unclear, complicating vegetation and sustainable management. We studied a Robinia pseudoacacia plantation on the Loess Plateau, China, with a restoration time of 10-44 years. The entropy weight method was used to assess five ES (carbon sequestration, water conservation, soil conservation, understory plant diversity, and runoff and sediment reduction) and investigate how ES change with forest age. The root mean square deviation (RMSD) was used to quantify the trade-offs among ES, and redundancy analysis (RDA) analysis was used to identify the key factors influencing the ES and trade-offs. The results showed that (1) as forest age increased, ES scores initially increased and then decreased. The optimal range for ES values was observed during the middle-aged to mature stages of the forest. (2) Before reaching maturity, the planted forests primarily delivered services related to water conservation and runoff and sediment reduction. (3) In young forests, ES showed a synergistic relationship (RMSD = 0.06), whereas trade-offs occurred in forests at other ages. The largest trade-off was observed in middle-aged forests. (4) The ES pairs with the dominant trade-offs in planted forests differed at different forest age stages. The largest trade-off occurred between carbon sequestration and water conservation (RMSD = 0.28). RDA analysis showed that understory vegetation coverage had a positive correlation with all ES. The ES indicators that significantly (P < 0.001) affected the water­carbon trade-off were tree carbon storage, soil organic carbon storage, soil total nitrogen, and soil total phosphorus. Thus, the water and carbon relationship must be balanced, and the key factors affecting ES trade-offs in forest management must be regulated to support ES multifunctionality.

Clinical outcomes of percutaneous microwave ablation for pulmonary oligometastases from hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective, multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary oligometastases are common in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), however, the existing therapeutic options have several limitations. This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of microwave ablation (MWA) in the treatment of HCC-originating pulmonary oligometastases. METHODS: A total of 83 patients, comprising 73 males and 10 females with a median age of 57 years, who had pulmonary oligometastases from HCC, underwent MWA treatment at four different medical institutions. Inclusion criteria for patients involved having primary HCC under control and having less than three oligometastases with a maximum diameter of ≤ 5 cm in the unilateral lung or less than five oligometastases with a maximum diameter of ≤ 3 cm in the bilateral lung. A total of 147 tumors were treated with MWA over 116 sessions. The primary endpoints assessed included technical success, treatment efficacy, and local progression rate, while secondary endpoints encompassed complications, clinical outcomes, overall survival (OS), local progression-free survival (LPFS), and prognostic factors. RESULTS: The technical success rate for MWA was 100% (116/116 sessions), and the treatment efficacy rate was 82.3% (121/147 tumors). Six months after MWA, the local progression rate was 23.1% (18/147 tumors). Complications were observed in 10.3% (major) and 47.4% (minor) of the 116 sessions, with no cases of ablation-related deaths. The median follow-up period was 21.6 months (range: 5.7-87.8 months). Median OS was 22.0 months, and the 1-, 2-, and 3-year OS rates were 82.6%, 44.5%, and 25.2%, respectively. Median LPFS was 8.5 months. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified α-fetoprotein (AFP) levels during initial diagnosis and the number of oligometastases as potential independent prognostic factors for OS (p = 0.017 and 0.045, respectively). CONCLUSION: Percutaneous MWA is a safe and effective treatment modality for pulmonary oligometastases originating from HCC.

Methyltransferase TaSAMT1 mediates wheat freezing tolerance by integrating brassinosteroid and salicylic acid signaling.

Cold injury is a major environmental stress affecting the growth and yield of crops. Brassinosteroids (BRs) and salicylic acid (SA) play important roles in plant cold tolerance. However, whether or how BR signaling interacts with the SA signaling pathway in response to cold stress is still unknown. Here, we identified an SA methyltransferase, TaSAMT1, that converts SA to methyl SA (MeSA) and confers freezing tolerance in wheat (Triticum aestivum). TaSAMT1 overexpression greatly enhanced wheat freezing tolerance, with plants accumulating more MeSA and less SA, whereas Tasamt1 knockout lines were sensitive to freezing stress and accumulated less MeSA and more SA. Spraying plants with MeSA conferred freezing tolerance to Tasamt1 mutants, but SA did not. We revealed that BRASSINAZOLE-RESISTANT 1 (TaBZR1) directly binds to the TaSAMT1 promoter and induces its transcription. Moreover, TaBZR1 interacts with the histone acetyltransferase TaHAG1, which potentiates TaSAMT1 expression via increased histone acetylation and modulates the SA pathway during freezing stress. Additionally, overexpression of TaBZR1 or TaHAG1 altered TaSAMT1 expression and improved freezing tolerance. Our results demonstrate a key regulatory node that connects the BR and SA pathways in the plant cold stress response. The regulatory factors or genes identified could be effective targets for the genetic improvement of freezing tolerance in crops.

Photovoltaic Power Prediction Based on Hybrid Deep Learning Networks and Meteorological Data.

Conventional point prediction methods encounter challenges in accurately capturing the inherent uncertainty associated with photovoltaic power due to its stochastic and volatile nature. To address this challenge, we developed a robust prediction model called QRKDDN (quantile regression and kernel density estimation deep learning network) by leveraging historical meteorological data in conjunction with photovoltaic power data. Our aim is to enhance the accuracy of deterministic predictions, interval predictions, and probabilistic predictions by incorporating quantile regression (QR) and kernel density estimation (KDE) techniques. The proposed method utilizes the Pearson correlation coefficient for selecting relevant meteorological factors, employs a Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) for clustering similar days, and constructs a deep learning prediction model based on a convolutional neural network (CNN) combined with a bidirectional gated recurrent unit (BiGRU) and attention mechanism. The experimental results obtained using the dataset from the Australian DKASC Research Centre unequivocally demonstrate the exceptional performance of QRKDDN in deterministic, interval, and probabilistic predictions for photovoltaic (PV) power generation. The effectiveness of QRKDDN was further validated through ablation experiments and comparisons with classical machine learning models.

Multiscale embedded printing of engineered human tissue and organ equivalents.

Creating tissue and organ equivalents with intricate architectures and multiscale functional feature sizes is the first step toward the reconstruction of transplantable human tissues and organs. Existing embedded ink writing approaches are limited by achievable feature sizes ranging from hundreds of microns to tens of millimeters, which hinders their ability to accurately duplicate structures found in various human tissues and organs. In this study, a multiscale embedded printing (MSEP) strategy is developed, in which a stimuli-responsive yield-stress fluid is applied to facilitate the printing process. A dynamic layer height control method is developed to print the cornea with a smooth surface on the order of microns, which can effectively overcome the layered morphology in conventional extrusion-based three-dimensional bioprinting methods. Since the support bath is sensitive to temperature change, it can be easily removed after printing by tuning the ambient temperature, which facilitates the fabrication of human eyeballs with optic nerves and aortic heart valves with overhanging leaflets on the order of a few millimeters. The thermosensitivity of the support bath also enables the reconstruction of the full-scale human heart on the order of tens of centimeters by on-demand adding support bath materials during printing. The proposed MSEP demonstrates broader printable functional feature sizes ranging from microns to centimeters, providing a viable and reliable technical solution for tissue and organ printing in the future.

Mechanical analysis of radial performance in biodegradable polymeric vascular stents manufactured using micro-injection molding.

Micro-injection molding (MiM) is a promising technique for manufacturing biodegradable polymeric vascular stents (BPVSs) at scale, in which a trapezoidal strut cross section is needed to ensure high-quality de-molding. However, there is a lack of research on the influence of the strut cross-sectional shape on its mechanical properties, posing a challenge in determining the key geometries of the strut when using MiM to produce BPVSs. Hence, this work has investigated the relationships between the geometry parameters, including the de-molding angle, and the radial support property of BPVSs using the finite element method. The results reveal that the radial stiffness of BPVSs is significantly affected by the de-molding angle, which can be counteracted by adjusting strut height, bending radius, and strut thickness. Stress distribution analysis underscores the crucial role of the curved portion of the support ring during compression, with the inner side of the curved region experiencing stress concentration. A mathematical model has been established to describe the relationships between the geometry parameters and the radial support property of the BPVSs. Notably, the radius of the neutral layer emerges as a key determinant of radial stiffness. This study is expected to serve as a guideline for the development of BPVSs that can be manufactured using MiM.

Glycosaminoglycans: Participants in Microvascular Coagulation of Sepsis.

Sepsis represents a syndromic response to infection and frequently acts as a common pathway leading to fatality in the context of various infectious diseases globally. The pathology of severe sepsis is marked by an excess of inflammation and activated coagulation. A substantial contributor to mortality in sepsis patients is widespread microvascular thrombosis-induced organ dysfunction. Multiple lines of evidence support the notion that sepsis induces endothelial damage, leading to the release of glycosaminoglycans, potentially causing microvascular dysfunction. This review aims to initially elucidate the relationship among endothelial damage, excessive inflammation, and thrombosis in sepsis. Following this, we present a summary of the involvement of glycosaminoglycans in coagulation, elucidating interactions among glycosaminoglycans, platelets, and inflammatory cells. In this section, we also introduce a reasoned generalization of potential signal pathways wherein glycosaminoglycans play a role in clotting. Finally, we discuss current methods for detecting microvascular conditions in sepsis patients from the perspective of glycosaminoglycans. In conclusion, it is imperative to pay closer attention to the role of glycosaminoglycans in the mechanism of microvascular thrombosis in sepsis. Dynamically assessing glycosaminoglycan levels in patients may aid in predicting microvascular conditions, enabling the monitoring of disease progression, adjustment of clinical treatment schemes, and mitigation of both acute and long-term adverse outcomes associated with sepsis.

The effect of China's birth policy changes on birth defects-A large hospital-based cross-sectional study.

A retrospective analysis of birth data hospital-based obtained from 14 monitoring areas in the Huaihe River Basin from 2009 to 2019 was conducted. Trend in the total prevalence of birth defects (BDs) and subgroups were analyzed using the Joinpoint Regression model. The incidence of BDs increased gradually from 118.87 per 10,000 in 2009 to 241.18 per 10,000 in 2019 (AAPC = 5.91, P < 0.001). Congenital heart diseases were the most common subtype of BDs. The proportion of maternal age younger than 25 decreased but the age 25-40 years increased significantly (AAPC<20=-5.58; AAPC20-24=-6.38; AAPC25-29 = 5.15; AAPC30-35 = 7.07; AAPC35-40 = 8.27; All P < 0.05). Compared with the one-child policy period, the risk of BDs was greater for groups among maternal age younger than 40 years during the partial and universal two-child policy period (P < 0.001). The incidence of BDs and the proportion of women with advanced maternal age in Huaihe River Basin is increasing. There was an interaction between changes in birth policy and the mother's age on the risk of BDs.

Integrative Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis to Reveal Red Leaf Coloration in Shiya Tea (Adinandra nitida).

BACKGROUND: Adinandra nitida, commonly known as Shiya tea, is a healthcare drink enriched in several phenolic acids and flavonoids, with a purple-red leaf variety possessing a unique flavor and a higher economic value. However, the mechanisms underlying leaf coloration and senescence discoloration remain unknown. METHODS: Here, we compared both varieties of A. nitida (purple-red leaf, RL, and green leaf, GL) at two stages of development. To make sure the difference in leaf color in these four groups, several indexes, leaf colorimetric differences, H2O2 content in leaf cells, and antioxidant enzymes activities (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT)) were measured. With the integration of metabolome and transcriptome becoming a trend, metabolites in four groups were detected using an Ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometer (UPLC-MS/MS) system, and the transcriptome was performed after the extraction of RNA in samples. Afterward, the activities of laccase (LAC) and peroxidase (POD) were measured for further analysis. RESULTS: The deeper or discoloration of leaf color was not caused by the reactive oxygen species (ROS) stress because the H2O2 content was similar for each group. And the SOD and CAT activities improved significantly in young leaves, especially RL_young. Metabolome data showed a large shift in four groups. By focusing on the variation of flavonoids and 1079 metabolites detected in both varieties, along with the accumulation of flavonoids and tannins, proanthocyanins (PAs) were mostly accumulated in young RL. Differential analysis of expressed genes (DEGs) revealed six genes associated with leaf discoloration as hub factors, of which ANRs (ANR1 and ANR2) were positively correlated with the accumulation of PA in RL. CONCLUSIONS: Using integrate analysis of metabolome and transcriptome, our results revealed that six structural genes found in proanthocyanin biosynthesis, two reductases (ANR), two oxidative polymerases (POD64, LAC17) and two TFs (bHLH3 and MYB4) related to biosynthesis and polymerization of proanthocyanins were associated with not only the difference of GL and RL but also the faded coloration in two RL groups (RL_young and RL_old), which provided a foundation for further research on an understanding of the regulatory genes and the enzymes specific for proanthocyanidin biosynthesis, facilitating the genetic engineering of crops for beneficial metabolite accumulation.

Alcohol drinking alters oral microbiota to modulate the progression of alcohol-related liver disease.

Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) is one of the leading causes of liver-related death worldwide. However, roles of oral microbiota in regulating the progression of ALD remain unknown. Here, we fed mice with control or ethanol diet to establish chronic-plus-binge ALD model. 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing was performed on oral and cecum samples. We demonstrated that alcohol drinking influenced bacterial richness, microbial structure, and composition in oral samples of ethanol-fed mice compared with control mice. Alcohol consumption also remodeled relationships among oral microbes and altered functions of oral microbiota. Furthermore, oral microbiota, such as Streptococcus, Helicobacter, Alloprevotella, and Psychrobacter were closely associated with ALD parameters. Finally, we observed Sutterellaceae_uncultured, Dyella, and Gemmatimonas possibly translocated along with oral-gut axis and positively correlated with the severity of ALD. Altogether, alcohol consumption reprogramed composition and functions of oral microbiota to promote ALD progression, suggesting that oral microbes might become a new target for ALD therapy.

3D printing-based full-scale human brain for diverse applications.

Surgery is the most frequent treatment for patients with brain tumors. The construction of full-scale human brain models, which is still challenging to realize via current manufacturing techniques, can effectively train surgeons before brain tumor surgeries. This paper aims to develop a set of three-dimensional (3D) printing approaches to fabricate customized full-scale human brain models for surgery training as well as specialized brain patches for wound healing after surgery. First, a brain patch designed to fit a wound's shape and size can be easily printed in and collected from a stimuli-responsive yield-stress support bath. Then, an inverse 3D printing strategy, called "peeling-boiled-eggs," is proposed to fabricate full-scale human brain models. In this strategy, the contour layer of a brain model is printed using a sacrificial ink to envelop the target brain core within a photocurable yield-stress support bath. After crosslinking the contour layer, the as-printed model can be harvested from the bath to photo crosslink the brain core, which can be eventually released by liquefying the contour layer. Both the brain patch and full-scale human brain model are successfully printed to mimic the scenario of wound healing after removing a brain tumor, validating the effectiveness of the proposed 3D printing approaches.

Comparison of intraluminal brachytherapy combined with and without stent placement for treatment of obstructive jaundice induced by tumor thrombus.

PURPOSE: To compare the safety and efficacy of intraluminal brachytherapy with iodine-125 (125I) seed strand implantation combined with and without stent placement to treat patients with obstructive jaundice induced by tumor thrombus. METHODS: Between January 2018 and June 2022, 42 patients with malignant obstructive jaundice (MOJ) induced by tumor thrombus were included. 20 patients received 125I seed strand implantation and stent placement (group A). The remaining 22 patients, implanted 125I seed strands only, served as control (group B). The two groups' overall survival and jaundice-free survival were compared using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. RESULTS: During the follow-up period, the mean survival time of group A was 38.0 ± 4.1 months (95%CI, 30.0-46.1 months), while that of group B was 25.1 ± 2.8 (95% CI, 19.5-30.6 months) (p = 0.406). The mean survival rates of 12 months for all patients, group A, and group B was 66.7%, 65%, and 68%, respectively. The mean jaundice-free survival of group A and group B were 34.0 ± 3.6 months (95% CI, 27.9-41.2months) and 22.9 ± 2.7 months (95%CI, 17.5-28.2months) (p = 0.254), respectively. Two PTBD drainage tube infection cases occurred in group A and group B separately. CONCLUSIONS: 125I intraluminal brachytherapy is an effective and safe therapy for treating patients with obstructive jaundice induced by tumor thrombus.

Two jasmonic acid carboxyl methyltransferases in Gossypium hirsutum involved in MeJA biosynthesis may contribute to plant defense.

Jasmonic acid (JA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA), the crucial plant hormones, can induce the emission of plant volatiles and regulate the behavioral responses of insect pests or their natural enemies. In this study, two jasmonic acid carboxyl methyltransferases (JMTs), GhJMT1 and GhJMT2, involved in MeJA biosynthesis in Gossypium. hirsutum were identified and further functionally confirmed. In vitro, recombinant GhJMT1 and GhJMT2 were both responsible for the conversion of JA to MeJA. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) measurement indicated that GhJMT1 and GhJMT2 were obviously up-regulated in leaves and stems of G. hirsutum after being treated with MeJA. In gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, MeJA treatment significantly induced plant volatiles emission such as (E)-ß-ocimene, (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, linalool and (3E)-4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene (DMNT), which play vital roles in direct and indirect plant defenses. Moreover, antennae of parasitoid wasps Microplitis mediator showed electrophysiological responses to MeJA, ß-ocimene, (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate and linalool at a dose dependent manner, while our previous research revealed that DMNT excites electrophysiological responses and behavioral tendencies. These findings provide a better understanding of MeJA biosynthesis and defense regulation in upland cotton, which lay a foundation to JA and MeJA employment in agricultural pest control.

Study on the Characteristics of Early Cytokine Storm Response to Cardiac Surgery.

Cardiac surgery can provoke an acute cytokine storm that may contribute to the development of postoperative multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. We prospectively observed patients undergoing cardiac surgery and divided them into two groups: the severe group and the mild group. Healthy individuals were enrolled acting as the control group for comparison. Plasma samples and clinical data were recorded at the initiation of cardiac-pulmonary bypass (CPB) and 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h after initiation of CPB. Cytokine levels were detected using the Luminex® technique. Thirty-nine adults were enrolled in this study (14 in the severe group, 15 in the mild group, and 10 in the control group). Cytokine concentrations were significantly higher in the severe group. Principal component analysis was used to establish a cytokine storm intensity curve, which represented the overall trend of 10 cytokines. The peak concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and IL-16 were 425.1, 198.5, and 623.0 pg/mL, which were more than 1,200, 1,800, and 240 times the normal level, respectively. The maximum cytokine storm intensity predated the maximum Vasoactive-Inotropic Score (VIS) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score in the severe group. Cytokine storm response to cardiac surgery occurred early and was associated with disease severity. Interventions to cytokine storm should be initiated early as guided by cytokine storm biomarkers such as IL-6, IL-10, and IL-16 in severe patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Clinical Trial Registration: ChiCTR1900021351.