[Clinical characteristics and efficacy of vocal fold epidermoid cysts coexisting with sulcus vocalis].

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics and voice outcomes after laryngeal microsurgery for vocal fold epidermoid cysts coexisting with sulcus vocalis. Methods: The clinical data of 115 vocal fold epidermoid cysts coexisting with sulcus vocalis patients in Shandong provincial ENT hospital, were retrospectively analyzed, including 49 males and 66 females, aged 17-70 years old, and the duration of hoarseness ranged from 6 months to 30 years. All patients underwent surgery through suspension laryngoscope and microscope under general anestgesia. Ninety-four patients were treated with microflap excision of sulcus vocalis, cyst wall, and contents.And 21 patients that occulted with mucosal bridges were applied mucosal bridges resection (2 cases) and mucosal bridges reconstruction (19 cases) respectively. Videolaryngoscopy, subjective voice evaluation (GRBAS), objective voice evaluation, and Voice Handicap Index(VHI) were performed before and after surgery. All patients underwent histopathologic examination and follow-up after the procedure. The preoperative acoustic parameters of patients with vocal fold epidermoid cysts coexisting with sulcus vocalis were compared with those of vocal fold mucus retention cysts and simple vocal fold epidermoid cysts by independent samples t-test. The patients were compared by paired t-test for preoperative and postoperative parameters. Results: Significant reduction or lack of mucosal waves were shown via videolaryngostroboscopy in all 115 cases.In addition, vascular changes including dilation, tortuousness, increased branches, and abrupt direction change were shown on the cystic area. Eighty-one patients were detected cysts and/or sulcus vocalis by preoperative laryngoscopy, and intraoperative microscopic findings in the remaining 34 patients. The intraoperative microscopic examination revealed a focal pouch-like deficit plunging into the vocal ligament or muscle. The deep surface of the mucosal bridges was sulcus vocalis, and that in 89 cysts was lined with caseous content. Histopathology demonstrated a cystic cavity structure lined with squamous epithelium and caseous keratin desquamation inside the cystic cavity. Four of 115 patients were lost at follow-up and excluded from the analysis of voice outcomes after surgery. There was no significant mucosal wave and the voice quality in all but 14 patients 1month after surgery. Except for the fundamental frequency and noise harmonic ratio, all other voice parameters[ G, R, B, A, VHI-10, jitter, shimmer, maximum phonatory time (MPT) ]showed a significant improvement 3 months after surgery(t=15.82, 20.82, 17.61, 7.30, 38.88, 7.84, 5.88, -6.26, respectively, P<0.05). Then mucosal waves and the voice quality were gradually improved and became steady in 6 months after surgery. The subjective and objective voice parameters[G, R, B, A, VHI-10, jitter, shimmer, noise to harmonic ratio(NHR), MPT], except for the fundamental frequency, were all significantly improved(t=23.47, 25.79, 18.37, 9.84, 54.45, 10.68, 8.07, 3.24, -9.08, respectively, P<0.05). In addition, there were 2 patients with no significant improvement after the operation. Steady function with no complications was observed during the 12 months (up to 3 years in 34 patients) follow-up period in 111 patients. Conclusion: Ruptured vocal fold epidermoid cysts can result in sulcus vocalis and mucosal bridges. Characteristics changes in preoperative videolaryngoscopy are effective diagnostic tools. The complete excision of the cyst wall and repair of the lamina propria can lead to satisfactory long-term effects.

[Demethylzeylasteral inhibits proliferation, migration and invasion and promotes apoptosis of non-small cell lung cancer cells by inhibiting the AKT/CREB signaling pathway].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism underlying the inhibitory effects of Demethylzeylasteral (T-96) on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. METHODS: We first examined the effects of different concentrations (1, 3, 10, and 30 µmol/L) of demethylzeylasteral on morphology and cell number of A549 and H1299 cells. The changes in proliferation, cell viability, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of A549 and H1299 cells following demethylzeylasteral treatment were detected using clone formation, CCK-8, cell scratch, Transwell, and flow cytometric assays, and the effect of SC79 treatment against demethylzeylasteral-induced cell apoptosis was assessed. Western blotting was performed to detect the changes in expressions of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, vimentin, Bax, Bcl-2 and cleaved caspase-3 and phosphorylation of AKT/CREB in demethylzeylasteral-treated A549 and H1299 cells and the cellular expressions of apoptotic proteins following treatment with both demethylzeylasteral and SC79. RESULTS: T-96 treatment caused elongation of the cell body and widening of the intercellular space and significantly inhibited cell viability, proliferation, migration and invasion of A549 and H1299 cells (P < 0.05). Flow cytometry showed that demethylzeylasteral induced apoptosis in both A549 and H1299 cells, whereas SC79 treatment obviously attenuated its pro-apoptotic effect (P < 0.05). Western blotting revealed up-regulated expressions of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 proteins and lowered Bcl-2 expression level in demethylzeylasteral-treated A549 and H1299 cells, but cotreatment with SC79 obviously attenuated the expressions of the apoptotic proteins. T-96 significantly up-regulated the expression level of E-cadherin, down-regulated the expressions of N-cadherin and vimentin, and inhibited the phosphorylation of AKT and CREB in the two cell lines (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: T-96 inhibits the proliferation, migration and invasion and induces apoptosis of NSCLC cells possibly by inhibiting the AKT/CREB signaling pathway.

Does maternal anxiety and depression increase the risk of asthma in the offspring? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Adverse exposures during pregnancy have been linked with respiratory disorders in the offspring. Research also shows that maternal mental disorders can influence the risk of respiratory illnesses. We hereby systematically examined if specific mental disorders during pregnancy, namely, anxiety and depression, can increase the risk of asthma in the offspring. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search of PubMed, CENTRAL, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science databases from inception to 15th October 2023 was undertaken for cohort studies assessing the association between maternal anxiety/depression and the risk of asthma in the offspring. Adjusted data was quantitatively synthesized in a random-effect meta-analysis model. RESULTS: Nine studies with 1,027,469 mother-child pairs were included. Studies reported data on anxiety, depression, or both anxiety and depression. Maternal anxiety (OR: 1.61 95% CI: 1.29, 2.01 I2=0%), maternal depression (OR: 1.25 95% CI: 1.07, 1.45 I2=12%), and both combined (OR: 1.28 95% CI: 1.16, 1.41 I2=93%) were associated with significantly increase the risk of asthma in childhood. Overall, the pooled analysis showed that maternal anxiety or depression significantly increased the risk of asthma in childhood by 30% (OR: 1.30 95% CI: 1.20, 1.40 I2=75%). Results remained significant on multiple subgroup analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal anxiety and depression can increase the risk of asthma in childhood. The observational nature of studies, differences in adjusted founders, methodological variations, and predominance of European data are important limitations. Further prospective research taking into account present limitations is needed for improved evidence.

Unveiling the temperature-dependent thermoelectric properties of the undoped and Na-doped monolayer SnSe allotropes: a comparative study.

Motivated by the excellent thermoelectric (TE) performance of bulk SnSe, extensive attention has been drawn to the TE properties of the monolayer SnSe. To uncover the fundamental mechanism of manipulating the TE performance of the SnSe monolayer, we perform a systematic study on the TE properties of five monolayer SnSe allotropes such asα-,ß-,γ-,δ-, andε-SnSe based on the density functional theory and the non-equilibrium Green's functions. By comparing the TE properties of the Na-doped SnSe allotropes with the undoped ones, the influences of the Na doping and the temperature on the TE properties are deeply investigated. It is shown that the figure of meritZTwill increase as the temperature increases, which is the same for almost all the Na-doped and undoped cases. The Na doping can enhance or suppress theZTin different SnSe allotropes at different temperatures, implying the presence of the anomalous suppression of theZT. The Na doping inducedZTsuppression may be caused basically by the sharp decrease of the power factor and the weak decrease of the electronic thermal conductance, rather than by the decrease of the phononic thermal conductance. We hope this work will be able to enrich the understanding of the manipulation of TE properties by means of dimensions, structurization, doping, and temperature.

[Liposome nanoparticles for targeted delivery of parthenolide induce colorectal cancer necroptosis to ameliorate tumor-infiltrating T cell exhaustion in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism of parthenolide for inducing necroptosis and ameliorating CD8+ T cell exhaustion in colorectal cancer (CRC) and construct liposome nanoparticles for targeted delivery of parthenolide. METHODS: The inhibitory effect of parthenolide on proliferation of different CRC cell lines was examined using CCK8 assay, and ROS LDH detection and Western blotting were used to analyze the cell death pathways. In a mouse model bearing subcutaneous MC38 cell xenografts, the effects of 5 and 15 mg/kg parthenolide on tumor growth and CD8+ T cell depletion were observed. In a mouse model bearing orthotopic CRC cell xenograft in the ileocecal region, free parthenolide (100 µg/mL) or low (100 µg/mL) and high doses (200 µg/mL) of liposome nanoparticles loaded with parthenolide were injected via the tail vein, and the changes in CD8 expression in the xenografts were analyzed using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Treatment with parthenolide dose-dependently lowered the viability of the CRC cell lines SW480, DLD1, HCT116 and MC38 cells, and its effect was obviously antagonized by Nec-1. Immunoblotting analysis showed that parthenolide treatment resulted in increased RIP3 and MLKL phosphorylation in the CRC cells. In the mouse model bearing subcutaneous xenografts, parthenolide treatment at the high dose, but not at the low dose, significantly increased the number of infiltrating CD3+ CD8+ T cells and PD1hiTIM3+ T cell percentage (P<0.01) and lowered the percentage of PD1loTIM3- T cells in the tumor tissue (P<0.01). In the mouse models bearing orthotopic CRC xenograft, intravenous injection of the liposomes loaded with parthenolide, especially at the high dose, significantly increased CD8 expression in the tumor tissue (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Parthenolide induces necroptosis in CRC and increases infiltrating CD8+ T cells to ameliorate CD8+ T cell exhaustion in the tumor. Liposome nanoparticles for targeted delivery of parthenolide produce stronger, anti-tumor effect.

[Traditional Chinese medicine may reduce the risk of readmission in patients with rheumatoid arthritis complicated with elevated platelet count: a matched cohort study].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment with the risk of readmission in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) complicated with elevated platelet count. METHODS: We retrospectively collected the data of inpatients diagnosed with RA in our hospital from 2013 to 2021. The patients with elevated platelet count receiving TCM treatment were matched to those without TCM treatment using propensity score matching at the 1∶1 ratio, and the confounding factors were adjusted including gender, age, Chinese patent medicine, and external application. A Cox proportional hazard model was used to evaluate the hazard ratio (HR) of the risk of readmission, and a Kaplan-Meier curve was generated to assess the incidence of readmission in these patients. RESULTS: A total of 1176 RA patients with elevated platelet count were included in this study, including 842 patients in the TCM group and 334 patients in the non-TCM group, and after 1∶1 propensity score matching, 334 patients were included in each group. The Cox proportional hazards model showed that the readmission rate was significantly lower in TCM group than in non-TCM group (HR=0.59, 95% CI: 0.48-0.73, P<0.001), and TCM was a protective factor against readmission in RA patients with elevated platelet count. Kaplan-Meier curves demonstrated that long-term use of TCM helped to decrease the risk of readmission (Log-rank P<0.001). Association rules showed that the use of several Chinese herbal medicines and the Chinese patent medicine Xinfeng Capsule had a strong correlation with improvement of such clinical indicators as rheumatoid factor, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein. CONCLUSION: In RA patients with elevated platelet count, the use of TCM, as a protective factor against readmission, is strongly associated with a lowered risk of readmission with a long-term association.

[Human amniotic membrane plug for recurrent retinal detachment associated with pathologic myopic macular hole].

A 60-year-old woman presented with a history of "pathological myopia combined with macular hole retinal detachment, " for which she underwent vitrectomy, internal limiting membrane tamponade, and silicone oil filling surgery one year ago. Seven months ago, the silicone oil was removed. She now returned to seek medical attention as her visual acuity has declined by 10 diopters. Examination revealed a recurrence of macular hole retinal detachment. The patient was treated with combined amniotic membrane tamponade and silicone oil filling. During the surgery, the frozen amniotic membrane was cut into 2 mm × 2 mm and placed under the macular hole retina after silicone oil filling. Within 6 months after the surgery, her retina repositioned well, the macular hole closed, and her visual function improved from hand motion to 0.05. No severe complications were observed. Therefore, this surgical approach provides a new perspective for treating recurrent pathological myopia combined with macular hole retinal detachment.

Electronic structures, transport properties, and optical absorption of bilayer blue phosphorene nanoribbons.

Based on first-principles density functional theory and nonequilibrium Green's function, we study the electronic band structures, the electronic transport properties, and the optical absorption of bilayer blue phosphorene nanoribbons (BPNRs). Both bilayer armchair BPNRs (a-BPNRs) and zigzag BPNRs (z-BPNRs) behave as semiconductors in the narrow nanoribbon case and metals in the wide nanoribbon case, sharply different from their monolayer counterparts where the monolayer a-BPNRs (z-BPNRs) are always semiconducting (metallic). This indicates that interlayer couplings or the increasing layer number may induce the switching of the conductivity of the monolayer BPNRs, which is absent in graphene and phosphorene nanoribbons. Furthermore, we explore the edge states of the energy bands near Fermi energy, and find that there are almost no pure edge-state band branches in the bilayer BPNRs, which can be attributed to the interlayer couplings between the edge-states in one layer and the bulk-states in the other. Consequently, the resulting complex band structures cannot be directly analyzed any more in the framework of the two-body coupling picture just according to the simple band structures of the monolayer BPNRs. Finally, we present the current-voltage characteristics and the optical absorption of the bilayer a-BPNRs and z-BPNRs. The influences of the nanoribbon width and the interlayer couplings on the current and the anisotropic optical absorption can be understood based on the complex energy band structures. This research should be an important reference of extending the field of BPNRs from the monolayer to the bilayer case, and deepen the understanding of the difference between the monolayer and bilayer nanoribbons in different materials.

Disaggregated Nano-Hydroxyapatite (DnHAP) with Inhibitory Effects on Biofilms and Demineralization.

Nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAP) is considered a biocompatible agent that promotes the remineralization of dental hard tissue; however, its antibacterial efficacy is under scientific discussion. Therefore, this investigation aimed to specify the inhibitory effects of disaggregated nano-hydroxyapatite (DnHAP) on regrown biofilms and demineralization. Regrown biofilm models of single-species (Streptococcus mutans), dual-species (S. mutans and Candida albicans), and saliva-derived microcosm biofilms were established in vitro. Repeat treatment with DnHAP was applied to biofilms. The viability, lactic acid, biofilm structure, biomass, the inhibitory effect of demineralization, and virulence factors' expression were determined. In addition, the biofilm microbial community was analyzed by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. DnHAP inhibited metabolism, lactic acid production, biomass, and water-insoluble polysaccharide production (P < 0.05) of regrown single/dual-species biofilms. Concerning the saliva-derived biofilms, samples treated with DnHAP showed lower biofilm metabolic activity without significant differences from samples treated with sterile deionized water (P > 0.05); in addition, saliva-derived biofilms treated with DnHAP exhibited lower lactic acid production (P < 0.05). The demineralization of bovine enamel was the lowest in the DnHAP group, as detected by transverse microradiography, and the lesion depth and volume decreased significantly (P < 0.05). The application of DnHAP did not change the diversity of regrown saliva-derived microcosm biofilms. In conclusion, this investigation showed that DnHAP could be a promising solution for the management of regrown biofilms to combat dental caries.

Effects of ranolazine on right ventricular function, fluid dynamics, and metabolism in patients with precapillary pulmonary hypertension: insights from a longitudinal, randomized, double-blinded, placebo controlled, multicenter study.

Introduction: Right ventricular (RV) function is a major determinant of outcome in patients with precapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH). We studied the effect of ranolazine on RV function over 6 months using multi-modality imaging and biochemical markers in patients with precapillary PH (groups I, III, and IV) and RV dysfunction [CMR imaging ejection fraction (EF) < 45%] in a longitudinal, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multicenter study of ranolazine treatment. Methods: Enrolled patients were assessed using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging, 11C-acetate and 18-F-FDG positron emission tomography (PET), and plasma metabolomic profiling, at baseline and at the end of treatment. Results: Twenty-two patients were enrolled, and 15 patients completed all follow-up studies with 9 in the ranolazine arm and 6 in the placebo arm. RVEF and RV/Left ventricle (LV) mean glucose uptake were significantly improved after 6 months of treatment in the ranolazine arm. Metabolomic changes in aromatic amino acid metabolism, redox homeostasis, and bile acid metabolism were observed after ranolazine treatment, and several changes significantly correlated with changes in PET and CMR-derived fluid dynamic measurements. Discussion: Ranolazine may improve RV function by altering RV metabolism in patients with precapillary PH. Larger studies are needed to confirm the beneficial effects of ranolazine.

Spin-dependent thermoelectric transport properties of Cr-doped blue phosphorene.

We systematically investigate the thermoelectric (TE) properties of the Cr-doped blue phosphorene (blue-P) along the armchair and zigzag directions. First, we find the semiconducting band structure of the blue-P will become spin-polarized due to the Cr-doping, and can be seriously changed by the doping concentration. Then we show the Seebeck coefficient, the electronic conductance, the thermal conductance, and the figures of meritZTs are all dependent on the transport directions and doping concentration. However, two pairs of the peaks of the charge and spinZTs can be always observed with the low-height (high-height) pair on the side of the negative (positive) Fermi energy. In addition, at temperature 300 K the extrema of the charge (spin)ZTs of the blue-P along the two directions are kept to be larger than 22 (90) for the different doping concentrations and will be further enhanced at lower temperature. Therefore, we believe the Cr-doped blue-P should be a versatile high-performance TE material which may be used in the fields of the thermorelectrics and spin caloritronics.

"Before I was like a Tarzan. But now, I take a pause": mixed methods feasibility study of the Naungan Kasih parenting program to prevent violence against children in Malaysia.

BACKGROUND: Despite impressive strides in health, social protection, and education, children continue to experience high rates of child maltreatment in Malaysia. This mixed-methods study assessed the feasibility of a five-session, social learning-based parenting program delivered by government staff in a community setting to reduce violence against children. METHODS: Parents of children from birth to 17 years were recruited from two communities near Kuala Lumpur to participate in the government-run program called the Naungan Kasih Positive Parenting Program ("Protecting through Love" in Bahasa Melayu). Quantitative data from female caregivers (N = 74) and children ages 10-17 (N = 26) were collected along with qualitative interviews and focus groups with parents, children, and facilitators. The primary outcome was child maltreatment with secondary outcomes including neglect, positive parenting, acceptability of corporal punishment, harsh parenting, positive discipline, and child behavior problems. Multilevel Poisson regression and multilevel linear regression were conducted to compare baseline and post-test outcomes. Qualitative interviews and focus groups examined how participants experienced the program utilizing a thematic analysis approach. RESULTS: Quantitative analyses found pre-post reductions in overall child maltreatment, physical abuse, emotional abuse, attitudes supporting corporal punishment, parent sense of inefficacy, and child behavior problems. There were no reported changes on positive and harsh parenting, parental mental health, and marital satisfaction, nor were there any other significant changes reported by children. Qualitative findings suggested that the program had tangible benefits for female caregivers involved in the program, with the benefits extending to their family members. CONCLUSIONS: This feasibility study is one of the few studies in Southeast Asia that examined the feasibility and initial program impact of a parenting program delivered by government staff to families with children across the developmental spectrum from birth to 17 years. Promising results suggest that the program may reduce child maltreatment across a range of child ages. Findings also indicate areas for program improvement prior to further delivery and testing, including additional training and content on sexual and reproductive health, parenting children with disabilities, and online child protection.

MidCog study: a prospective, observational cohort study investigating health literacy, self-management skills and cognitive function in middle-aged adults.

INTRODUCTION: The lack of definitive means to prevent or treat cognitive impairment or dementia is driving intense efforts to identify causal mechanisms. Recent evidence suggests clinically meaningful declines in cognition might present as early as middle age. Studying cognitive changes in middle adulthood could elucidate modifiable factors affecting later cognitive and health outcomes, yet few cognitive ageing studies include this age group. The purpose of the MidCog study is to begin investigations of less-studied and potentially modifiable midlife determinants of later life cognitive outcomes. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: MidCog is a prospective cohort study of adults ages 35-64, with two in-person interviews 2.5 years apart. Data will be collected from interviews, electronic health records and pharmacy fill data. Measurements will include health literacy, self-management skills, cognitive function, lifestyle and health behaviours, healthcare use, health status and chronic disease outcomes. Associations of health literacy and self-management skills with health behaviours and cognitive/health outcomes will be examined in a series of regression models, and moderating effects of modifiable psychosocial factors.Finally, MidCog data will be linked to an ongoing, parallel cohort study of older adults recruited at ages 55-74 in 2008 ('LitCog'; ages 70-90 in 2023), to explore associations between age, health literacy, self-management skills, chronic diseases, health status and cognitive function among adults ages 35-90. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The Institutional Review Board at Northwestern University has approved the MidCog study protocol (STU00214736). Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and summaries will be provided to the funders of the study as well as patients.

[Outcomes at discharge of preterm infants born <34 weeks' gestation].

Objective: To investigate the incidence and trend of short-term outcomes among preterm infants born <34 weeks' gestation. Methods: A secondary analysis of data from the standardized database established by a multicenter cluster-randomized controlled study "reduction of infection in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) using the evidence-based practice for improving quality (REIN-EPIQ) study". This study was conducted in 25 tertiary NICU. A total of 27 192 infants with gestational age <34 weeks at birth and admitted to NICU within the first 7 days of life from May 2015 to April 2018 were enrolled. Infants with severe congenital malformation were excluded. Descriptive analyses were used to describe the mortality and major morbidities of preterm infants by gestational age groups and different admission year groups. Cochran-Armitage test and Jonckheere-Terpstra test were used to analyze the trend of incidences of mortality and morbidities in 3 study-years. Multiple Logistic regression model was constructed to analyze the differences of outcomes in 3 study-years adjusting for confounders. Results: A total of 27 192 preterm infants were enrolled with gestational age of (31.3±2.0) weeks at birth and weight of (1 617±415) g at birth. Overall, 9.5% (2 594/27 192) of infants were discharged against medical advice, and the overall mortality rate was 10.7% (2 907/27 192). Mortality for infants who received complete care was 4.7% (1 147/24 598), and mortality or any major morbidity was 26.2% (6 452/24 598). The incidences of moderate to severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia, sepsis, severe intraventricular hemorrhage or periventricular leukomalacia, proven necrotizing enterocolitis, and severe retinopathy of prematurity were 16.0% (4 342/27 192), 11.9% (3 225/27 192), 6.8% (1 641/24 206), 3.6% (939/25 762) and 1.5% (214/13 868), respectively. There was a decreasing of the overall mortality (P<0.001) during the 3 years. Also, the incidences for sepsis and severe retinopathy of prematurity both decreased (both P<0.001). However, there were no significant differences in the major morbidity in preterm infants who received complete care during the 3-year study period (P=0.230). After adjusting for confounders, infants admitted during the third study year showed significantly lower risk of overall mortality (adjust OR=0.62, 95%CI 0.55-0.69, P<0.001), mortality or major morbidity, moderate to severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia, sepsis and severe retinopathy of prematurity, compared to those admitted in the first study year (all P<0.05). Conclusions: From 2015 to 2018, the mortality and major morbidities among preterm infants in Chinese NICU decreased, but there is still space for further efforts. Further targeted quality improvement is needed to improve the overall outcome of preterm infants.

First report of Fusarium proliferatum causing Root and Bulb Rot on tiller onion (Allium cepa L. var. Agrogatum Don) in China.

Tiller onion is a biennial herb and a fascicular variety of onion. Tiller onion has strong tillering ability and can produce up to ten bulbs per plant. It is widely cultivated due to nutrition and special flavor. In July 2020, we observed a disease that seriously affected the normal growth of tiller onion in Halahai Town, Nongan County, Jilin Province, China. At least 70% of tiller onions in the field were affected by this disease. Aboveground parts of the symptomatic plants showed stunted growth, wilting and drying. Underground parts of infected plants were shown that onion increase tiller number but did not grow and expand. Root appeared red lesions and rot in severe cases. The bulb disc appeared brown to dark brown rot. Symptomatic roots were cut into 0.5 cm pieces and surface-sterilized by dipping in 75% ethanol for 60 s, 3% NaOCl for 3 min, and rinsing three times with sterile distilled water. Pieces were placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) plates and incubated at 25±1℃ for 4 days. Fifteen isolates were obtained and pure-cultured through single-sporing. On PDA plates, the colonies initially had white aerial mycelia that then turned pale purple. The color of the colonies on the back of the plates was purple. Macroconidia were hyaline, falcate and 14.4 to 38.7 × 1.2 to 3.0 µm. Microconidia were hyaline, reniform or elliptic, unicellular or bicellular and were 7.62 to 19.61 µm in length, and 3.23 to 8.41 µm in width. Based on these morphological and culture characteristics, the causal agent was tentatively identified as F. proliferatum. To confirm the pathogen identity, segments of the internal transcribed spacer region of the rRNA gene ( ITS, primers ITS4 and ITS5, White et al., 1990), ß-tubulin gene (TUB2, primers T1 and T2, O'Donnell and Cigelnik, 1997), and translation elongation factor 1-alpha gene (TEF-1α, primers EF1 and EF2 from O'Donnell et al., 1998) were amplified by PCR. Per the BLASTN search, TEF-1α (Accession No. OL355013), TUB2 (Accession No. OL355012), and ITS (Accession No. OL355011) queries showed 99.26%, 100%, and 99.82% homology to F. proliferatum GenBank accessions KU872098, MH398224, and MH997878, respectively. Pathogenicity of fifteen isolates of F. proliferatum from tiller onion was confirmed by inoculating healthy tiller onion roots and bulb disc with a spore suspension (1 × 106 spores/ml) produced on PDA. For each treatment, five plants were injected with 5 ml of spore suspension. Control plants (n=5) were injected with sterilized water. All plants were enclosed in plastic bags for 48 h in a greenhouse at 28℃ and 12 h/d light cycle. After 10 days, inoculated plants showed similar symptoms to those on the original diseased plants, while control plants remained symptomless. F. proliferatum was successfully re-isolated from symptomatic plants to fulfill Koch's postulates. Diseases caused by F. proliferatum are only reported in A. cepa. To our knowledge, this is the first report of F. proliferatum in Allium cepa L. var. agrogatum Don in China. Our findings are important for informed surveillance of the disease in China as F. proliferatum infection can not only reduce the quality and yield of tiller onion but also can contaminate the bulbs with harmful mycotoxins.

Treponema denticola Promotes OSCC Development via the TGF-ß Signaling Pathway.

Numerous studies have demonstrated an association between periodontitis and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), and periodontal pathogens such as Treponema denticola are implicated in the pathogenesis of OSCC. Previous studies have mainly focused on T. denticola surface proteins-for example, chymotrypsin-like proteinase, which was detected in the majority of orodigestive tumor tissues.T. denticola may influence the development of OSCC. Nevertheless, the potential direct regulatory mechanism of T. denticola in OSCC is still unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the direct effect of T. denticola on OSCC cell proliferation and elucidate potential mechanisms of T. denticola in contributing to cell proliferation. A series of in vitro experiments (e.g., CCK-8, EdU, flow cytometry) were performed to explore the effect of T. denticola on cell proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis. Mice experiments were performed to explore the effect of T. denticola on tumor growth. Whole mRNA transcriptome sequencing and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were performed to explore the intracellular signaling pathway. Our study found that T. denticola could invade Cal-27 cells and directly promote cell proliferation, regulate the cell cycle, and inhibit apoptosis. T. denticola could also promote the growth of OSCC tumors in mice, and it upregulated Ki67 expression. Regarding the mechanism, T. denticola could promote the development of OSCC by activating the TGF-ß pathway. In conclusion, T. denticola could promote OSCC cell proliferation directly, and the mechanism was associated with intracellular TGF-ß pathway activation.

[Etiology and clinical characteristics of acquired ptosis].

Objective: To evaluate the demographics, etiology composition, clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes of acquired ptosis patients. Methods: Retrospective case-series study. The clinical records of 176 consecutive patients (312 eyes) with acquired ptosis were reviewed from January 2009 to December 2018 in the Ophthalmology Department of Tianjin Medical University General Hospital. The demographics, etiology composition, clinical characteristics, surgical strategies and outcomes were analyzed. Results: There were 59 male (33.5%) and 117 female (66.5%) patients suffering acquired ptosis, with an average age of (64±7) years. The disease was bilateral in 136 cases and unilateral in 40 cases. There were four etiological components of acquired ptosis: 145 cases (82.4%) of aponeurotic ptosis, 17 cases (9.6%) of neurogenic ptosis, 10 cases (5.7%) of myogenic ptosis and 4 cases (2.3%) of traumatic ptosis. The clinical characteristics of acquired ptosis varied significantly depending on etiology. Ptosis surgeries were performed on 152 cases (279 eyes), and the success rate was 92.1% (140/152). Surgical procedures included levator aponeurosis surgeries on 148 cases (275 eyes), frontal muscle suspensions on 2 cases (2 eyes) and conjunctival-Müller's ectomies on 2 cases (2 eyes). Conclusions: Acquired ptosis is more likely to occur in senile and female populations with bilateral eyelids involved mostly. Aponeurotic ptosis is the predominant type of acquired ptosis. The treatment is performed according to the clear etiological diagnosis based on clinical features, and operations are efficient for most patients with acquired ptosis. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2021, 57: 844-849).

Nomogram to predict survival of patients with advanced and metastatic pancreatic Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Nomograms are rarely employed to estimate the survival of patients with advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer (PC). Herein, we developed a comprehensive approach to using a nomogram to predict survival probability in patients with advanced and metastatic PC. METHODS: A total of 323 patients with advanced and metastatic PC were identified from the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital. A baseline nomogram was constructed using baseline variables of 323 patients. Additionally, 233 patients, whose tumors showed initial responses to first-line chemotherapy, were enrolled in the chemotherapy response-based model. 128 patients and 108 patients with advanced and metastatic PC from January 2019 to April 2021 were selected for external validating baseline model and chemotherapy response-based model. The 1-year and 2-year survival probability was evaluated using multivariate COX regression models. The discrimination and calibration capacity of the nomograms were assessed using C-statistic and calibration plots. The predictive accuracy and net benefit of the nomograms were evaluated using ROC curve and DCA, respectively. RESULTS: In the baseline model, six variables (gender, KPS, baseline TB, baseline N, baseline WBC and baseline CA19-9) were used in the final model. In the chemotherapy response-based model, nine variables (KPS, gender, ascites, baseline N, baseline CA 19-9, baseline CEA, change in CA 19-9 level at week, change in CEA level at week and initial response to chemotherapy) were included in the final model. The C-statistics of the baseline nomogram and the chemotherapy response-based nomogram were 0.67 (95% CI, 0.62-0.71) and 0.74 (95% CI, 0.69-0.77), respectively. CONCLUSION: These nomograms were constructed to predict the survival probability of patients of advanced and metastatic PC. The baseline model and chemotherapy response-based model performed well in survival prediction.

Identification of DNA methylation-driven genes and construction of a nomogram to predict overall survival in pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: The incidence and mortality of pancreatic cancer (PC) has gradually increased. The aim of this study was to identify survival-related DNA methylation (DNAm)-driven genes and establish a nomogram to predict outcomes in patients with PC. METHODS: The gene expression, DNA methylation database, and PC clinical samples were downloaded from TCGA. DNAm-driven genes were identified by integrating analyses of gene expression and DNA methylation data. Survival-related DNAm-driven genes were screened via univariate, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), and multivariate Cox regression analyses to develop a risk score model for prognosis. Based on analyses of clinical parameters and risk score, a nomogram was built and validated. The independent cohort from GEO database were used for external validation. RESULTS: A total of 16 differentially expressed methylation-driven genes were identified. Based on LASSO Cox regression and multivariate Cox regression analysis, six genes (FERMT1, LIPH, LAMA3, PPP1R14D, NQO1, VSIG2) were chosen to develop the risk score model. In the Kaplan-Meier analysis, age, T stage, N stage, AJCC stage, radiation therapy history, tumor size, surgery type performed, pathological type, chemotherapy history, and risk score were potential prognostic factors in PC (P < 0.1). In the multivariate analysis, stage, chemotherapy, and risk score were significantly correlated to overall survival (P < 0.05). The nomogram was constructed with the three variables (stage, chemotherapy, and risk score) for predicting the 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year survival rates of PC patients. Nomogram performance was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and calibration curves. 1-year, 2-year and 3-year AUC of nomogram model was 0.899, 0.765 and 0.776, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, we successfully identified the six DNAm-driven genes (FERMT1, LIPH, LAMA3, PPP1R14D, NQO1, VSIG2) with a relationship to the outcomes of PC patients. The nomogram including stage, chemotherapy, and risk score could be used to predict survival in PC patients.