Identifying the oral microbiome of adolescents with and without dental fluorosis based on full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

Dental fluorosis, resulting from long-term environmental exposure to fluoride, is prevalent among diverse populations worldwide. Severe fluorosis not only compromises the aesthetic appeal of teeth but also impairs their functionality. This study aims to investigate the oral microbiome in dental fluorosis and the health individuals of adolescents living in the endemic fluorosis area of Guizhou, China through full-length 16S rDNA sequencing. Fourty-six individuals meet the sampling criteria, and we divided these samples into the following groups: a healthy group (H = 23) and a dental fluorosis group (F = 23), and two subgroups of Miao ethnicity: a healthy Miao group (Hm = 13) and a dental fluorosis Miao group (Fm = 15). A total of 660,389 high-quality sequences were obtained, and 12,007 Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) were identified, revealing significant variations in oral microbiome between Fm and Hm groups. The composition of oral microbiota was similar between the H and F groups. At the genus level, Pseudopropionibacterium and at the species level, Streptococcus oralis_subsp.dentisani_clade_058 were less abundant in group F than in group H (P < 0.05). Further analysis revealed that the abundance of Capnocytophaga gingivalis and Kingella denitrificans was significantly lower in Fm fluorosis patients than in the Hm group (P < 0.05). Based on the LEfSe analysis, the potential core biomarkers in the oral of Fm fluorosis patients were identified at different taxonomic levels, ranging from phylum to species. These include Gammaproteobacteria, Prevotella sp_HMT_304, Gemella sanguinis, and Gracilibacteria_(GN02). Network analysis revealed that the microbiota in the fluorosis group exhibited more complex interactions with each other than the healthy group. Notably, within the Hm group, the potential biomarkers Capnocytophaga gingivalis and Kingella denitrificans exhibited a positive correlation. Finally, we employed PICRUSt2 analysis to explore the abundance clustering of the top 30 functional units in each sample, and we found that the metabolic pathway compositions of the four groups were similar. In summary, our findings suggest that the microbial composition of plaque in Hm patients with dental fluorosis is significantly altered, and we identified the potential marker microorganisms that contribute to these changes.

Comparative efficacy and tolerability of first-line treatments for untreated, HER2-negative, advanced gastric cancer: systematic review and network meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: This article provided direct comparisons across first-line regimens for patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative advanced gastric cancer. We performed a network meta-analysis (NMA) of phase III trials to compare the efficacy and safety of first-line treatments for gastric cancer. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and Bayesian or Frequentist network meta-analysis by searching relevant literature from PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov, and major international conferences from January 1, 2000 to May 1, 2023. This study was registered in the Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO CRD42023414357) to ensure transparency. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that qualified the inclusion criteria were subjected to network meta-analysis and systematically reviewed. RESULTS: We included a total of 25 studies including 14389 patients and 23 first-line treatments. Overall, sintilimab plus capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (Sint-XELOX) appeared to confer the best overall survival (OS) (calculated using surface under the cumulative ranking curve [SUCRA], 81%), with significant differences versus fluorouracil plus cisplatin (PF) (HR [hazard ratios] = 0.71, 95% credible interval [CI]: 0.51-0.99). Nivolumab plus tegafur (S-1) plus oxaliplatin (Nivo-SOX) and tislelizumab plus capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (Tisle-XELOX) were also found to be better than PF in providing OS benefit (HR = 0.73, 95%CI: 0.57-0.93 and HR = 0.74, 95%CI: 0.59-0.93, respectively). Sint-XELOX still provided the best progression-free survival (PFS) (SUCRA, 96%), with significant differences versus PF (HR = 0.47, 95%CI: 0.31-0.69). Nivo-SOX and Tisle-XELOX were also found to be better to PF in providing PFS benefit (HR = 0.58, 95%CI: 0.42-0.80 and HR = 0.67, 95%CI: 0.54-0.82, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicated that immunotherapy plus chemotherapy was associated with greater progression-free survival and overall survival benefits for patients with HER2-negative advanced gastric cancer, compared with other first-line treatments. In particular, sintilimab combined with chemotherapy showed the best PFS and OS benefits.

The Long-Term Impacts of COVID-19 on Physical and Psychological Health - Beijing Municipality, China, December 2022-April 2023.

What is already known about this topic?: Reports detailing the clinical presentation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are extensive in China. However, data remains limited regarding the long-term effects of the 2022 outbreak on the community and healthcare workers (HCWs). What is added by this report?: In the follow-up study conducted with 1,069 community members and 3,309 HCWs infected with COVID-19, we observed that five months post-outbreak, 39.2% of community members and 28.7% of HCWs reported experiencing at least one symptom. The symptoms most frequently reported included fatigue or muscle weakness, insomnia, cognitive dysfunction, hair loss, joint or muscle pain, and persistent cough. HCWs tended to experience fewer long-term physical consequences and their symptoms had an expedited recovery time compared to the community members. Nevertheless, HCWs displayed a higher prevalence of moderate to severe depression and anxiety. What are the implications for public health practice?: The establishment of a public healthcare system dedicated to continual monitoring, prevention, and clinical treatment of persistent COVID-19 symptoms is imperative.

Effective TME-related signature to predict prognosis of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Introduction: The tumor microenvironment (TME) is crucial for the development of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, the correlation of the characteristics of the TME and the prognosis of patients with HNSCC remains less known. Methods: In this study, we calculated the immune and stromal cell scores using the "estimate" R package. Kaplan-Meier survival and CIBERSORT algorithm analyses were applied in this study. Results: We identified seven new markers: FCGR3B, IGHV3-64, AC023449.2, IGKV1D-8, FCGR2A, WDFY4, and HBQ1. Subsequently, a risk model was constructed and all HNSCC samples were grouped into low- and high-risk groups. The results of both the Kaplan-Meier survival and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analyses showed that the prognosis indicated by the model was accurate (0.758, 0.756, and 0.666 for 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates). In addition, we applied the CIBERSORT algorithm to reveal the significant differences in the infiltration levels of immune cells between the two risk groups. Discussion: Our study elucidated the roles of the TME and identified new prognostic biomarkers for patients with HNSCC.

Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use Among Older Patients with Diabetes in a Chinese Community.

BACKGROUND: Potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) are frequently prescribed to older people with diabetes. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of PIM use in older people with diabetes and identify potential risk factors influencing the development of PIM use. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in an outpatient setting in Beijing, China, using Chinese criteria. The prevalence of PIM use, polypharmacy, and comorbidities in older adults with diabetes in an outpatient setting was measured. Logistic models were employed to investigate the association among polypharmacy, comorbidities, and PIM use. RESULTS: The prevalence of PIM use and polypharmacy was 50.1% and 70.8%, respectively. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (68.0%), hyperlipemia (56.6%), and stroke (36.3%), and the top three inappropriately used medications were insulin (22.0%), clopidogrel (11.9%), and eszopiclone (9.81%). Age (OR 1.025; 95% CI 1.009, 1.042), the number of diagnoses (OR 1.172; 95% CI 1.114, 1.232), coronary heart disease (OR 1.557; 95% CI 1.207, 2.009), and polypharmacy (OR 1.697; 95% CI 1.252, 2.301) were associated with PIM use. CONCLUSIONS: Given the higher rate of PIM use among older adults with diabetes, strategies and interventions targeting this population are needed to minimize PIM use.

Deep hydrocarbon genesis and accumulation model of strike-slip fault reservoirs in the Yuemanxi area of the Tarim Basin.

As a clean and environmentally friendly energy source, deep oil and gas has always been the focus of the oil and gas industry. The study of hydrocarbon accumulation in deep strike-slip fault zones is a challenging and important area of research in the oil and gas industry. In particular, accurately modeling oil and gas accumulation in the Yuemenxi area of the Tarim Basin presents significant difficulties due to the varying physical properties and gas composition of the Ordovician reservoirs, as well as the complex origin of oil and gas in the area. However, by calculating biomarker parameter maturity on oil samples from strike-slip faults, researchers have discovered that the light oil in the area is sourced from high maturity source rocks in the Later Caledonian, with vitrinite reflectance ranging from 0.79% to 1.11%. The complete distribution of n-alkanes and high concentration of low-carbon n-alkanes in the crude oil suggest that the fluid in the reservoir has not undergone any secondary alteration since its initial accumulation. The carbon isotope and component ratio analysis of natural gas in the Yuemanxi area indicates that the Ordovician natural gas is predominantly kerogen cracking gas. Comprehensive hydrocarbon genesis and accumulation conditions, this paper presents a differential accumulation model for the Ordovician reservoirs in the region, which were controlled by strike-slip faults and source rocks. Based on these findings, it can be inferred that there is significant potential for oil and gas exploration and development in the deeper layers of these strike-slip fault zones.

Immunomodulatory effects of umbilical mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes on CD4+ T cells in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is an autoimmune disease that leads to the destruction of exocrine glands and multisystem lesions. Abnormal proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation of CD4+ T cells are key factors in the pathogenesis of pSS. Autophagy is one of the important mechanisms to maintain immune homeostasis and function of CD4+ T cells. Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (UCMSC-Exos) may simulate the immunoregulation of MSCs while avoiding the risks of MSCs treatment. However, whether UCMSC-Exos can regulate the functions of CD4+ T cells in pSS, and whether the effects via the autophagy pathway remains unclear. METHODS: The study analyzed retrospectively the peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in pSS patients, and explored the relationship between lymphocyte subsets and disease activity. Next, peripheral blood CD4+ T cells were sorted using immunomagnetic beads. The proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, and inflammatory factors of CD4+ T cells were determined using flow cytometry. Autophagosomes of CD4+ T cells were detected using transmission electron microscopy, autophagy-related proteins and genes were detected using western blotting or RT-qPCR. RESULTS: The study demonstrated that the peripheral blood CD4+ T cells decreased in pSS patients, and negatively correlated with disease activity. UCMSC-Exos inhibited excessive proliferation and apoptosis of CD4+ T cells in pSS patients, blocked them in the G0/G1 phase, inhibited them from entering the S phase, reduced the Th17 cell ratio, elevated the Treg ratio, inhibited IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17A, and IL-17F secretion, and promoted IL-10 and TGF-ß secretion. UCMSC-Exos reduced the elevated autophagy levels in the peripheral blood CD4+ T cells of patients with pSS. Furthermore, UCMSC-Exos regulated CD4+ T cell proliferation and early apoptosis, inhibited Th17 cell differentiation, promoted Treg cell differentiation, and restored the Th17/Treg balance in pSS patients through the autophagy pathway. CONCLUSIONS: The study indicated that UCMSC-Exos exerts an immunomodulatory effect on the CD4+ T cells, and maybe as a new treatment for pSS.

A New EBS2b-IBS2b Base Paring (A-8/T-8) Improved the Gene-Targeting Efficiency of Thermotargetron in Escherichia coli.

Thermophilic group II intron is one type of retrotransposon composed of intron RNA and intron-encoded protein (IEP), which can be utilized in gene targeting by harnessing their novel ribozyme-based DNA integration mechanism termed "retrohoming." It is mediated by a ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex that contains the excised intron lariat RNA and an IEP with reverse transcriptase (RT) activity. The RNP recognizes targeting sites by exon-binding sequences 2 (EBS2)/intron-binding sequences 2 (IBS2), EBS1/IBS1, and EBS3/IBS3 bases pairing. Previously, we developed the TeI3c/4c intron as a thermophilic gene targeting system-Thermotargetron (TMT). However, we found that the targeting efficiency of TMT varies significantly at different targeting sites, which leads to a relatively low success rate. To further improve the success rate and gene-targeting efficiency of TMT, we constructed a Random Gene-targeting Plasmids Pool (RGPP) to analyze the sequence recognition preference of TMT. A new base pairing, located at the -8 site between EBS2/IBS2 and EBS1/IBS1 (named EBS2b-IBS2b), increased the success rate (2.45- to 5.07-fold) and significantly improved gene-targeting efficiency of TMT. A computer algorithm (TMT 1.0), based on the newly discovered sequence recognition roles, was also developed to facilitate the design of TMT gene-targeting primers. The present work could essentially expand the practicalities of TMT in the genome engineering of heat-tolerance mesophilic and thermophilic bacteria. IMPORTANCE The randomized base pairing in the interval of IBS2 and IBS1 of Tel3c/4c intron (-8 and -7 sites) in Thermotargetron (TMT) results in a low success rate and gene-targeting efficiency in bacteria. In the present work, we constructed a randomized gene-targeting plasmids pool (RGPP) to study whether there is a base preference in target sequences. Among all the successful "retrohoming" targets, we found that a new EBS2b-IBS2b base paring (A-8/T-8) significantly increased TMT's gene-targeting efficiency, and the concept is also applicable to other gene targets in redesigned gene-targeting plasmids pool in E. coli. The improved TMT is a promising tool for the genetic engineering of bacteria and could promote metabolic engineering and synthetic biology research in valuable microbes that recalcitrance for genetic manipulation.

Atorvastatin ameliorated PM2.5-induced atherosclerosis in rats.

PM2.5 provokes atherosclerotic events. Atorvastatin presents anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, and may ameliorate PM2.5-induced atherosclerosis development. The purpose of this study was to investigate the cardiotoxic effect of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on atherosclerosis (AS) in rats, and the intervention effects of atorvastatin (ATO) on PM2.5-induced AS development. AS model was established using 32 male Wistar rats through intraperitoneal injection of vitamin D3 combined with a high-fat diet (10% fat and 4% cholesterol). The rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group, PM2.5-exposed group, ATO group, and ATO treated PM2.5-exposed group. PM2.5 increased levels of TC, TG, LDL, MDA, IL-6, and TNF-α, as well as decreased SOD levels. Besides, PM2.5 also enhanced AI. After the treatment of ATO, most levels of various contents in serum, including TC, TG, LDL, MDA, IL-6, TNF-α, hS-CRP, and ox-LDL, significantly decreased compared to the PM2.5-exposed group. Moreover, after the treatment of ATO, AI was significantly reduced compared to the PM2.5-exposed group. In addition, PM2.5 exacerbated the nuclear translocation and ATO resulted in an obvious decrease in PM2.5-induced nuclear translocation. The present study suggests that PM2.5 could induce oxidative damage and systemic inflammatory response in atherosclerosis model rats, while ATO could ameliorate PM2.5-induced atherosclerosis development, possibly by lowering lipid, inhibiting inflammation, and suppressing oxidation.

Prevalence of myopia and associated risk factors among key schools in Xi'an, China.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of myopia and high myopia and the associated risk factors in key schools in Xi'an, China. METHODS: This cross-sectional study started in September 2021 and was conducted for one month. A total of 11,011 students from 10 key primary schools, five key junior high schools and five key high schools in Xi'an were randomly selected to undergo visual acuity measurement and non-cycloplegic autorefraction. The questionnaire was completed by the students and their parents together. RESULTS: The prevalence of myopia and high myopia in key schools were 75.7% and 9.7%, respectively. The prevalence of myopia and high myopia rose significantly as grade or age increased (all P < 0.001), and the prevalence of myopia and high myopia in females was higher than that in males (P < 0.001, P < 0.5). According to the multivariable logistic regression analysis, older age (OR=1.42), female compared with male (OR=1.43), having one myopic parent (OR=1.64), having two myopic parent (OR=2.30) and often taking extracurricular tuition (OR=1.35) were more likely to be associated with develop myopia (P < 0.001). Older age (OR=1.39), having one myopic parent (OR=2.29), having two myopic parent (OR= 3.69), and often taking extracurricular tuition (OR=1.48) were more likely to be associated with high myopia (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The overall rate of myopia and high myopia in key schools in Xi'an, China, is extremely high. Myopia and high myopia are associated with increasing age, parents' myopia, few outdoor exercises, and extracurricular tuition. Myopia is also associated with female and not having the habit of "one punch, one foot, one inch (when reading and writing, 10 cm from the chest to the table, 33 cm from the eye to the book and 3.3 cm from the tip of the pen to the finger)".

Fluorinated leaning pillar[6]arene: synthesis, structure and selective iodide anion binding by anion-π interactions.

Anion recognition has continuously attracted significant attention due to its important role in environmental and biological sciences. Here, we have designed and synthesized an electron-deficient fluorinated leaning pillar[6]arene 1 that contains two tetrafluoro-benzene units. The electron-deficient fluorinated leaning pillar[6]arene 1 is capable of selectively recognizing iodide anions to form a host-guest complex with 1 : 1 stoichiometry driven by anion-π interactions. Our work ascribes this selective recognition to the preorganization of macrocycles, suitable cavity size, and the effect of anion-π interactions. The innovative application of this macrocycle offers us a new avenue for the design of selective receptors for anions and electron-deficient macrocyclic arenes.

Genome-wide identification and characterization of the HSP gene superfamily in apple snails (Gastropoda: Ampullariidae) and expression analysis under temperature stress.

Apple snails from the family Ampullariidae have become economically important due to several species mainly from the genus Pomacea being invasive. The heat shock proteins (HSPs), which are important molecular chaperones for species responding to various stresses, have been proved to play critical roles in adapting harsh environments in the invasive apple snails. The recent release of the genomes of Pomacea canaliculata, Pomacea maculata, Lanistes nyassanus, and Marisa cornuarietis has opened the opportunity for a comprehensive analysis of HSP superfamily in the ampullariids. We identified the number of HSP from P. canaliculata (PcaHSPs) was greater than that from the other three species. A total of 42 PcaHSPs were distributed on 12 chromosomes and were classified into the families of HSP90, HSP70, HSP60, HSP40, HSP20, and HSP10. Each family formed a monophyletic clade on the phylogenetic tree with strong support values, except for the HSP90 and HSP70 families. The RNA-seq data shows that most the PcaHSPs were of tissue-specific expression levels. Moreover, we identified more HSP genes with stronger transcription levels in response to heat than cold stress. Our findings are informative for future studies on stress adaptation and developing effective management strategies focusing on HSPs in invasive apple snails.

Metformin and the risk of dementia based on an analysis of 396,332 participants.

Background: AMPK has attracted widespread interest as a potential therapeutic target for age-related diseases, given its key role in controlling energy homeostasis. Metformin (Met) has historically been used to treat Type 2 diabetes and has been shown to counteract age-related diseases. However, studies regarding the relationship between Met and a variety of age-related classifications of cognitive decline have reported mixed findings. Objective: To assess the potential effect of Met on the onset of dementia and discuss the possible biological mechanisms involved. Methods: This study was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD420201251468). PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched from inception to 25 May 2021, for population-based cohort studies. Effect estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled using the random-effects model. Meta-regression and subgroup analyses were performed to explore sources of heterogeneity and the stability of the results. Results: Fourteen population-based cohort studies (17 individual comparisons) involving 396,332 participants were identified. Meta-analysis showed that Met exposure was significantly associated with reduced risk of all subtypes of dementias [relative risk (RR) = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.68-0.91; p < 0.001]. Conversely, no significant reduction in risk was observed for those who received Met monotherapy at the onset of vascular dementia (VD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and Alzheimer's disease (AD). The effect was more prominent in patients who had long-term Met exposure (⩾4 years) (RR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.32-0.46; p < 0.001), while no such significant effect was found with short-term Met exposure (1-2 years) (RR = 1.20, 95% CI = 0.87-1.66; p < 0.001). Moreover, no association was observed for Met exposure in participants of European descent (RR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.66-1.54; p = 0.003) compared with those from other countries. Conclusion: Based on the evidence from population-based cohort studies, our findings suggest that the AMPK activator, Met, is a potential geroprotective agent for dementias, particularly among long-term Met users. Due to the significant heterogeneity among the included studies, we should interpret the results with caution.

[Characteristics and Dfferences of Dissolved Oxygen Stratification in Different Tributaries of Three Gorges Reservoir During Impoundment Period].

Taking the Xiaojiang and Xiangxi Rivers, two typical tributaries of the Three Gorges Reservoir, as examples, this study analyzed and compared the hydrodynamic, thermal stratification, and temporal and spatial differences in dissolved oxygen (DO) and their responses to the water storage process in the two tributaries through field monitoring at different stages of the 2020 impoundment period. The results showed that:① at the initial stage of water storage, the DO in the surface layer of the Xiaojiang River was higher (7.00-13.00 mg·L-1) due to atmospheric reoxygenation and phytoplankton photosynthesis, and the oxycline appeared in the water depth of 3-5 m. A large area of anoxia (DO<2.00 mg·L-1) or even an anaerobic sublayer occurred in the water below 5 m. The DO in the Xiangxi River could be divided into three layers vertically:oxygen-rich surface water (8.00-12.00 mg·L-1), middle water (6.00-8.00 mg·L-1), and low-oxygen bottom water (4.00-6.00 mg·L-1). ② Thermal stratification provided a stable physical environment, whereas the upstream inflow and vegetation decomposition in the water-level fluctuation zone increased the content of organic matter, which likely increased the oxygen consumption which was conducive to the formation of an anaerobic bottom layer. In the Xiangxi River, the risk of hypoxia in the bottom water body was low because of the oxygen replenishment from the long-term downslope-bottom density current.③ Continuous monitoring also showed that the storage of the reservoir played a significant role in the replenishment of DO in tributaries, which effectively and rapidly improved the anaerobic phenomenon in the Xiaojiang River. In the Three Gorges Reservoir, it is feasible to ameliorate the water ecological problems such as anoxia and anaerobic conditions in the tributaries via reservoir operation. This study aids understanding of the characteristics and differences of DO stratification in different tributaries of the Three Gorges Reservoir, which can provide theoretical and technical support for reservoir ecological operation.

Hybrid Nanostructure Catalyst with Low Loading of Pt for the High-Efficiency Catalytic Hydrogenation of Chloronitrobenzene.

Fabrication of low-loading, noble-metal, stable, and high-performance metal catalysts remains a thorny issue. Herein, we demonstrate the successful formation of a hybrid nanostructure Pt/TiO2/SBA-15 catalyst (denoted as HNSC-P/T/S; Pt, 0.09%; TiO2, 10%) with satisfactory activity in the hydrogenation of para-chloronitrobenzene (p-CNB). The HNSC-P/T/S showed >99% conversion and a high selectivity of >98%, and the turnover frequency number (TOF) reached 66 766 h-1, which was impossible to achieve with Pt/TiO2 (denoted as P/T) or Pt/SBA-15 (denoted as P/S). The success of the catalytic activity of the HNSC-P/T/S mainly relies on its synergistic effect and special structure, which can fully develop the catalytic ability of Pt, thereby reducing the Pt loading in the noble-based catalyst. Furthermore, the HNSC-P/T/S could also achieve an excellent catalytic activity in the hydrogenation of other nitroarenes. Hence, this work proposes a direction to prepare a noble-based catalyst with a low loading of noble metals for diverse applications.

Intraoperative Optical Coherence Tomography-guided 25G Microamount Trajectory Vitrectomy for the Treatment of Penetrating Ocular Injury Caused by a Foreign Body in the Right Eye: A Case Study.

BACKGROUND: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a real-time three-dimensional tomography optical imaging technology that uses near-infrared waves to take cross-sectional pictures of the retina and other tissues. A few studies have reported the use of intraoperative OCT navigation for the removal of foreign bodies from the eyeball during surgery. The objective is to present a single case with a small foreign body (not embedded in the retina) treated with intraoperative OCT guided 25G micro-amount trajectory vitrectomy. CASE PRESENTATION: The examination of a 25-year-old man, who suffered from right eye pain, suggested the following: the visual acuity was 20/250, the intraocular pressure was 8 mmHg, a scleral penetrating wound was visible at 3 mm behind the limbus at 7 o' clock, and Tyn (+). The vitreous showed some flocculent turbidity, the retina was flat, and the foreign body was visible at 10 o' clock. On the day of admission, the patient underwent a micro-amount vitrectomy with the removal of the foreign body. The vitreous body affected by the foreign body was then removed through the original wound track by using intraoperative OCT navigation. CONCLUSION: The final follow-up showed the best-corrected vision of the right eye as 20/25 andno occurrence of complications. The intraoperative OCT-guided 25G micro-amount trajectory vitrectomy could be used as an accurate, useful, and safe method for foreign body extraction.

Dynamics of phoD- and gcd-Harboring Microbial Communities Across an Age Sequence of Biological Soil Crusts Under Sand-Fixation Plantation.

Biological soil crusts (BSCs) are important for restoring vegetation and improving soil fertility in arid or semiarid desertified land. However, studies on the contribution of BSC microbes to phosphorus (P) transformation remains limited. The microbial diversity involved in P transformation and its dynamic along BSC development should be examined to further understand the microbial regulatory mechanism of the P-cycling process. This paper investigates the soil properties, P fractions, and potential of P transformation across a chronosequence (0-, 8-, 20-, and 35-year) of the BSC under Caragana microphylla plantation on the moving sand dunes in Horqin Grassland, China. An abundance of phoD and gcd genes was detected, and the diversities and structures of phoD- and gcd-haboring microbial communities were illustrated via high-throughput sequencing. Soil nutrient content, activity of alkaline phosphomonoesterase, potential of organic P (OP) mineralization, and the abundance of phoD and gcd genes all linearly increased along with BSC age. The microbial quantity and species diversity of the phoD community were greater than those of gcd. BSC development increased the availability of inorganic P (IP) fractions, and both NaHCO3-Pi and NaOH-Pi were positively correlated with the abundance of the two genes and the activity of alkaline phosphomonoesterase. The phyla of Actinobacteria, Planctomycetes, and Proteobacteria and the family of Streptomycetaceae were the most dominant taxa in the phoD community, Proteobacteria was the dominant phylum in the gcd community in BSC soils, and Rhizobium and Planctomyces were the most dominant genera. The dominant taxa quantitatively responded to soil property improvement, but the basic compositions and dominant taxa did not change along with BSC development. The structures of phoD and gcd communities were linked to soil properties, and pH available K, and total K tend to be the direct determining factors.

Identification of Rat Testicular Leydig Precursor Cells by Single-Cell-RNA-Sequence Analysis.

Stem Leydig cells (SLCs) play a critical role in the development and maintenance of the adult Leydig cell (ALC) population. SLCs also are present in the adult testis. Their identification, characteristics, and regulation in the adult testis remain uncertain. Using single-cell RNA-seq, we found that the mesenchymal stromal population may be involved in ALC regeneration. Upon ALC elimination, a fraction of stromal cells begins to proliferate while a different fraction begins to differentiate to ALCs. Transcriptomic analysis identified five stromal clusters that can be classified into two major groups representing proliferation and differentiation populations. The proliferating group represents stem cells expressing high levels of CD90, Nes, Lum, Fn and Gap43. The differentiating group represents a progenitor stage that is ready to form ALCs, and specifically expresses Vtn, Rasl11a, Id1 and Egr2. The observation that the actively dividing cells after ALC loss were not those that formed ALCs suggests that stem cell proliferation and differentiation are regulated separately, and that the maintenance of the stromal stem cell pool occurs at the population level. The study also identified specific markers for the major interstitial cell groups and potential paracrine factors involved in the regulation of SLCs. Our data suggest a new theory about SLC identity, proliferation, differentiation, and regulation.

Integrative Analysis of Peripheral Blood Indices for the Renal Sinus Invasion Prediction of T1 Renal Cell Carcinoma: An Ensemble Study Using Machine Learning-Assisted Decision-Support Models.

PURPOSE: Renal sinus invasion is an attributive factor affecting the prognosis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). This study aimed to construct a risk prediction model that could stratify patients with RCC and predict renal sinus invasion with the help of a machine learning (ML) algorithm. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively recruited 1229 patients diagnosed with T1 stage RCC at the Baotou Cancer Hospital between November 2013 and August 2021. Iterative analysis was used to screen out predictors related to renal sinus invasion, after which ML-based models were developed to predict renal sinus invasion in patients with T1 stage RCC. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), decision curve analysis (DCA), and clinical impact curve (CIC) were performed to evaluate the robustness and clinical practicability of each model. RESULTS: A total of 21 candidate variables were shortlisted for model building. Iterative analysis screened that neutrophil to albumin ratio (NAR), hemoglobin level * albumin level * lymphocyte count/platelet count ratio (HALP), prognostic nutrition index (PNI), body mass index*serum albumin/neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (AKI), NAR, and fibrinogen (FIB) concentration (NARFIB), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and R.E.N.A.L score was related to renal sinus invasion and contributed significantly to ML-based algorithm. The areas under the ROC curve (AUCs) of the random forest classifier (RFC) model, support vector machine (SVM), eXtreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), artificial neural network (ANN), and decision tree (DT) ranged from 0.797 to 0.924. The optimal risk probability of renal sinus invasion predicted was RFC (AUC = 0.924, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.414-1.434), which showed robust discrimination for identifying high-risk patients. CONCLUSION: We successfully develop practical models for renal sinus invasion prediction, particularly the RFC, which could contribute to early detection via integrating systemic inflammatory factors and nutritional parameters.

A reverse transcription-cross-priming amplification method with lateral flow dipstick assay for the rapid detection of Bean pod mottle virus.

Bean pod mottle virus (BPMV) is a destructive virus that causes serious economic losses in many countries every year, highlighting the importance of its effective detection. In this study, we developed a fast reverse transcription-cross-priming amplification (RT-CPA) coupled with lateral flow dipstick (LFD) diagnostic method for BPMV detection. The RT-CPA-LFD assay that targets the coat protein gene of BPMV was highly specific against diagnosing four other common viruses transmitted by soybean seeds, i.e., Southern bean mosaic virus (SBMV), Tomato ringspot virus (ToRSV), Arabis mosaic virus (ArMV), and Tobacco ringspot virus (TRSV). The sensitivities of the real-time fluorescent RT-CPA and the RT-CPA-LFD assay were at least 50 pg/µl and 500 pg/µl, respectively. Despite a compromise in the limit of detection of the RT-CPA method compared with TaqMan-MGB real-time RT-PCR, our results demonstrated a notably better performance in the detection of field samples of BPMV-infested soybean seeds. With the advantages of efficiency and convenience by visual determination, the RT-CPA-LFD assay presents a potential application for the rapid and accurate detection of BPMV in routine tests.