The impact of the length of proximal margin on the prognosis of adenocarcinoma of gastroesophageal junction and strategies:A real-world study.

BACKGROUND: The optimal proximal margin (PM) length for Siewert II/III adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEJ) remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the optimal PM length using an abdominal approach to guide surgical decision-making. METHODS: A prospective study analyzed 304 consecutive patients diagnosed with Siewert II/III AEJ between January 2019 and December 2021. Total gastrectomy was performed via the abdominal approach, and PM length was measured on fixed gross specimens. X-Tile software determined the optimal PM cut-point based on progression-free survival (PFS). Univariate analyses compared baseline characteristics across PM groups, while survival analyses utilized Kaplan-Meier estimation and Cox proportional hazards regression for assessing the impact of margin length on survival. Multivariable analyses were conducted to adjust for confounding variables. RESULTS: The study included 264 AEJ cases classified as Siewert II (71.97%) or III (28.03%). The median gross PM length was 1.0 cm (IQR: 0.5 cm-1.5 cm, range: 0 cm-6 cm). PM length ≥1.2 cm was associated with a lower risk of disease progression compared to PM length 0.4 cm on PFS (HR = 0.41, 95% CI 0.20-0.84, P = 0.015). Moreover, PM ≥ 1.2 cm improved prognosis in subgroups of T4 or N3, tumor size <4 cm, Siewert II, and Lauren classification. CONCLUSIONS: For Siewert type II/III AEJ, a proximal margin length ≥1.2 cm (1.65 cm in situ) is associated with improved outcomes. These findings offer valuable insights into the association between PM length and outcomes in Siewert II/III AEJ, providing guidance for surgical approaches and aiding clinical decision-making to enhance patient outcomes.

Japanese encephalitis virus E protein domain III immunization mediates cross-protection against Zika virus in mice via antibodies and CD8+ T cells.

Zika virus (ZIKV) and Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) are antigenically related flaviviruses that co-circulate in many countries/territories. The interaction between the two viruses needs to be determined. Recent findings by ourselves and other labs showed that JEV-elicited antibodies (Abs) and CD8+ T cells exacerbate and protect against subsequent ZIKV infection, respectively. However, the impact of JEV envelope (E) protein domain III (EDIII)-induced immune responses on ZIKV infection is unclear. We show here that sera from JEV-EDIII-vaccinated mice cross-react with ZIKV-EDIII in vitro, and transfer of the same sera to mice significantly decreases death upon lethal ZIKV infection at a dose-dependent manner. Maternally acquired anti-JEV-EDIII Abs also significantly reduce the mortality of neonatal mice born to JEV-EDIII-immune mothers post ZIKV challenge. Similarly, transfer of ZIKV-EDIII-reactive IgG purified from JEV-vaccinated humans increases the survival of ZIKV-infected mice. Notably, transfer of an extremely low volume of JEV-EDIII-immune sera or ZIKV-EDIII-reactive IgG does not mediate the Ab-mediated enhancement (ADE) of ZIKV infection. Similarly, transfer of JEV-EDIII-elicited CD8+ T cells protects recipient mice against ZIKV challenge. These results demonstrate that JEV-EDIII-induced immune components including Abs and T cells have protective roles in ZIKV infection, suggesting EDIII is a promising immunogen for developing effective and safety JEV vaccine.

Developing an abnormal high-Na-content P2-type layered oxide cathode with near-zero-strain for high-performance sodium-ion batteries.

Layered transition metal oxides (NaxTMO2) possess attractive features such as large specific capacity, high ionic conductivity, and a scalable synthesis process, making them a promising cathode candidate for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). However, NaxTMO2 suffer from multiple phase transitions and Na+/vacancy ordering upon Na+ insertion/extraction, which is detrimental to their electrochemical performance. Herein, we developed a novel cathode material that exhibits an abnormal P2-type structure at a stoichiometric content of Na up to 1. The cathode material delivers a reversible capacity of 108 mA h g-1 at 0.2C and 97 mA h g-1 at 2C, retaining a capacity retention of 76.15% after 200 cycles within 2.0-4.3 V. In situ diffraction studies demonstrated that this material exhibits an absolute solid-solution reaction with a low volume change of 0.8% during cycling. This near-zero-strain characteristic enables a highly stabilized crystal structure for Na+ storage, contributing to a significant improvement in battery performance. Overall, this work presents a simple yet effective approach to realizing high Na content in P2-type layered oxides, offering new opportunities for high-performance SIB cathode materials.

Computer aided diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy based on multi-view joint learning.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a kind of ocular complication of diabetes, and its degree grade is an essential basis for early diagnosis of patients. Manual diagnosis is a long and expensive process with a specific risk of misdiagnosis. Computer-aided diagnosis can provide more accurate and practical treatment recommendations. In this paper, we propose a multi-view joint learning DR diagnostic model called RT2Net, which integrates the global features of fundus images and the local detailed features of vascular images to reduce the limitations of single fundus image learning. Firstly, the original image is preprocessed using operations such as contrast-limited adaptive histogram equalization, and the vascular structure of the extracted DR image is segmented. Then, the vascular image and fundus image are input into two branch networks of RT2Net for feature extraction, respectively, and the feature fusion module adaptively fuses the feature vectors' output from the branch networks. Finally, the optimized classification model is used to identify the five categories of DR. This paper conducts extensive experiments on the public datasets EyePACS and APTOS 2019 to demonstrate the method's effectiveness. The accuracy of RT2Net on the two datasets reaches 88.2% and 85.4%, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) is 0.98 and 0.96, respectively. The excellent classification ability of RT2Net for DR can significantly help patients detect and treat lesions early and provide doctors with a more reliable diagnosis basis, which has significant clinical value for diagnosing DR.

Quantitative Imaging for Predicting Hematoma Expansion in Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Multimodel Comparison.

BACKGROUND: Several studies report that radiomics provides additional information for predicting hematoma expansion in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). However, the comparison of diagnostic performance of radiomics for predicting revised hematoma expansion (RHE) remains unclear. METHODS: The cohort comprised 312 consecutive patients with ICH. A total of 1106 radiomics features from seven categories were extracted using Python software. Support vector machines achieved the best performance in both the training and validation datasets. Clinical factors models were constructed to predict RHE. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to assess the abilities of non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT) signs, radiomics features, and combined models to predict RHE. RESULTS: We finally selected the top 21 features for predicting RHE. After univariate analysis, 4 clinical factors and 5 NCCT signs were selected for inclusion in the prediction models. In the training and validation dataset, radiomics features had a higher predictive value for RHE (AUC = 0.83) than a single NCCT sign and expansion-prone hematoma. The combined prediction model including radiomics features, clinical factors, and NCCT signs achieved higher predictive performances for RHE (AUC = 0.88) than other combined models. CONCLUSIONS: NCCT radiomics features have a good degree of discrimination for predicting RHE in ICH patients. Combined prediction models that include quantitative imaging significantly improve the prediction of RHE, which may assist in the risk stratification of ICH patients for anti-expansion treatments.

Twice-daily rivaroxaban after percutaneous left atrial appendage closure for atrial fibrillation.

Background and aim: Rivaroxaban is an emerging oral anticoagulant for postoperative anticoagulation after percutaneous left atrial appendage closure (LAAC). Because a once-daily dosing regimen of rivaroxaban causes fluctuations in the drug plasma concentration, we studied the feasibility and safety of twice-daily rivaroxaban as a postoperative anticoagulation regimen for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing LAAC. Methods: This study involved patients with AF who underwent LAAC and took rivaroxaban postoperatively. A total of 326 patients who received a standard total dose (15 or 20 mg) of rivaroxaban based on their creatinine clearance rate were divided into the twice-daily (BID) rivaroxaban group (n = 208) and once-daily (QD) rivaroxaban group (n = 118) according to their anticoagulation strategy. Transesophageal echocardiography was recommended at 3-6 months postoperatively to check for device-related thrombosis (DRT). Clinical outcomes were evaluated during postoperative anticoagulation. Results: The median CHA2DS2-VASc score (4 [3, 5] vs. 4 [3, 5], p = 0.28) and HAS-BLED score (2 [2, 3] vs. 2 [2, 3], p = 0.48) were not significantly different between the groups. During the anticoagulation period (4.1 ± 0.7 vs. 4.1 ± 0.9 months, p = 0.58), 148 (71.2%) patients in the BID group and 75 (63.6%) in the QD group underwent follow-up transesophageal echocardiography. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of DRT (1.4% vs. 2.7%, p = 0.60), minor bleeding (8.2% vs. 11.0%, p = 0.39), thromboembolic events (1.0% vs. 0.8%, p = 1.00), major bleeding (0.5% vs. 0.8%, p = 1.00), or death. Conclusion: A short course of twice-daily rivaroxaban following LAAC is a feasible alternative regimen with a low rate of major bleeding events, DRT, and thromboembolic events for patients with AF.

Biological Interactions Mediate Soil Functions by Altering Rare Microbial Communities.

Soil microbes, the main driving force of terrestrial biogeochemical cycles, facilitate soil organic matter turnover. However, the influence of the soil fauna on microbial communities remains poorly understood. We investigated soil microbiota dynamics by introducing competition and predation among fauna into two soil ecosystems with different fertilization histories. The interactions significantly affected rare microbial communities including bacteria and fungi. Predation enhanced the abundance of C/N cycle-related genes. Rare microbial communities are important drivers of soil functional gene enrichment. Key rare microbial taxa, including SM1A02, Gammaproteobacteria, and HSB_OF53-F07, were identified. Metabolomics analysis suggested that increased functional gene abundance may be due to specific microbial metabolic activity mediated by soil fauna interactions. Predation had a stronger effect on rare microbes, functional genes, and microbial metabolism compared to competition. Long-term organic fertilizer application increased the soil resistance to animal interactions. These findings provide a comprehensive understanding of microbial community dynamics under soil biological interactions, emphasizing the roles of competition and predation among soil fauna in terrestrial ecosystems.

PEBP4 deficiency aggravates LPS-induced acute lung injury and alveolar fluid clearance impairment via modulating PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a common clinical syndrome, which often results in pulmonary edema and respiratory distress. It has been recently reported that phosphatidylethanolamine binding protein 4 (PEBP4), a basic cytoplasmic protein, has anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects, but its relationship with ALI remains undefined so far. In this study, we generated PEBP4 knockout (KO) mice to investigate the potential function of PEBP4, as well as to evaluate the capacity of alveolar fluid clearance (AFC) and the activity of phosphatidylinositide 3-kinases (PI3K)/serine-theronine protein kinase B (PKB, also known as AKT) signaling pathway in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI mice models. We found that PEBP4 deficiency exacerbated lung pathological damage and edema, and increased the wet/dry weight ratio and total protein concentration of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in LPS-treated mice. Meanwhile, PEBP4 KO promoted an LPS-induced rise in the pulmonary myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, serum interleuin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels, and pulmonary cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression. Mechanically, PEBP4 deletion further reduced the protein expression of Na+ transport markers, including epithelial sodium channel (ENaC)-α, ENaC-γ, Na,K-ATPase α1, and Na,K-ATPase ß1, and strengthened the inhibition of PI3K/AKT signaling in LPS-challenged mice. Furthermore, we demonstrated that selective activation of PI3K/AKT with 740YP or SC79 partially reversed all of the above effects caused by PEBP4 KO in LPS-treated mice. Altogether, our results indicated the PEBP4 deletion has a deterioration effect on LPS-induced ALI by impairing the capacity of AFC, which may be achieved through modulating the PI3K/AKT pathway.

Targeting vulnerable microcircuits in the ventral hippocampus of male transgenic mice to rescue Alzheimer-like social memory loss.

BACKGROUND: Episodic memory loss is a prominent clinical manifestation of Alzheimer's disease (AD), which is closely related to tau pathology and hippocampal impairment. Due to the heterogeneity of brain neurons, the specific roles of different brain neurons in terms of their sensitivity to tau accumulation and their contribution to AD-like social memory loss remain unclear. Therefore, further investigation is necessary. METHODS: We investigated the effects of AD-like tau pathology by Tandem mass tag proteomic and phosphoproteomic analysis, social behavioural tests, hippocampal electrophysiology, immunofluorescence staining and in vivo optical fibre recording of GCaMP6f and iGABASnFR. Additionally, we utilized optogenetics and administered ursolic acid (UA) via oral gavage to examine the effects of these agents on social memory in mice. RESULTS: The results of proteomic and phosphoproteomic analyses revealed the characteristics of ventral hippocampal CA1 (vCA1) under both physiological conditions and AD-like tau pathology. As tau progressively accumulated, vCA1, especially its excitatory and parvalbumin (PV) neurons, were fully filled with mislocated and phosphorylated tau (p-Tau). This finding was not observed for dorsal hippocampal CA1 (dCA1). The overexpression of human tau (hTau) in excitatory and PV neurons mimicked AD-like tau accumulation, significantly inhibited neuronal excitability and suppressed distinct discrimination-associated firings of these neurons within vCA1. Photoactivating excitatory and PV neurons in vCA1 at specific rhythms and time windows efficiently ameliorated tau-impaired social memory. Notably, 1 month of UA administration efficiently decreased tau accumulation via autophagy in a transcription factor EB (TFEB)-dependent manner and restored the vCA1 microcircuit to ameliorate tau-impaired social memory. CONCLUSION: This study elucidated distinct protein and phosphoprotein networks between dCA1 and vCA1 and highlighted the susceptibility of the vCA1 microcircuit to AD-like tau accumulation. Notably, our novel findings regarding the efficacy of UA in reducing tau load and targeting the vCA1 microcircuit may provide a promising strategy for treating AD in the future.

Exploring the Role of G Protein Expression in Sodium Butyrate-Enhanced Pancreas Development of Dairy Calves: A Proteomic Perspective.

The present study evaluated the effects of sodium butyrate (SB) supplementation on exocrine and endocrine pancreatic development in dairy calves. Fourteen male Holstein calves were alimented with either milk or milk supplemented with SB for 70 days. Pancreases were collected for analysis including staining, immunofluorescence, electron microscopy, qRT-PCR, Western blotting, and proteomics. Results indicated increased development in the SB group with increases in organ size, protein levels, and cell growth. There were also exocrine enhancements manifested as higher enzyme activities and gene expressions along with larger zymogen granules. Endocrine benefits included elevated gene expression, more insulin secretion, and larger islets, indicating a rise in ß-cell proliferation. Proteomics and pathway analyses pinpointed the G protein subunit alpha-15 as a pivotal factor in pancreatic and insulin secretion pathways. Overall, SB supplementation enhances pancreatic development by promoting its exocrine and endocrine functions through G protein regulation in dairy calves.

Modulating Gastrointestinal Microbiota in Preweaning Dairy Calves: Dose-Dependent Effects of Milk-Based Sodium Butyrate Supplementation.

Sodium butyrate (SB), an essential nutritional additive for livestock, has drawn notable interest for its potential for enhancing microbiota development in ruminant animals. This study aimed to assess SB's effects on ruminal and intestinal microbiota when added to milk for preweaning dairy calves nearing 45 days old. We administered SB in the calves' milk at four levels: 0 g/d (control), 4.4 g/d (low), 8.8 g/d (medium), and 17.6 g/d (high). After a six-week trial with ten replicates per group, ruminal fluid and fecal samples were collected for 16S rRNA sequencing, specifically targeting the V3-V4 regions to analyze microbiota. The results indicated an enhancement in ruminal microbiota, particularly in community richness, with low-level SB supplementation but minimal benefits from medium and high levels of supplementation. Increasing the level of SB supplementation had a negative impact on intestinal microbiota, affecting community richness and some potentially beneficial bacterial genera. However, low SB supplementation could positively adjust the communication between ruminal and intestinal microbiota. Overall, this study suggests feeding milk supplemented with a low level of SB to suckling calves close to an older age to promote ruminal microbiota development.

Single-cell transcriptomic analysis reveals the landscape of epithelial-mesenchymal transition molecular heterogeneity in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a prevalent and highly lethal malignant disease. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is crucial in promoting ESCC development. However, the molecular heterogeneity of ESCC and the potential inhibitory strategies targeting EMT remain poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed high-resolution single-cell transcriptome data encompassing 209,231 ESCC cells from 39 tumor samples and 16 adjacent samples obtained from 44 individuals. We identified distinct cell populations exhibiting heterogeneous EMT characteristics and identified 87 EMT-associated molecules. The expression profiles of these EMT-associated molecules showed heterogeneity across different stages of ESCC progression. Moreover, we observed that EMT primarily occurred in early-stage tumors, before lymph node metastasis, and significantly promoted the rapid deterioration of ESCC. Notably, we identified SERPINH1 as a potential novel marker for ESCC EMT. By classifying ESCC patients based on EMT gene sets, we found that those with high EMT exhibited poorer prognosis. Furthermore, we predicted and experimentally validated drugs targeting ESCC EMT, including dactolisib, docetaxel, and nutlin, which demonstrated efficacy in inhibiting EMT and metastasis in ESCC. Through the integration of scRNA-seq, RNA-seq, and TCGA data with experimental validation, our comprehensive analysis elucidated the landscape of EMT during the entire course of ESCC development and metastasis. These findings provide valuable insights and a reference for refining ESCC clinical treatment strategies.

Protective effects and mechanism of chemical- and plant-based selenocystine against cadmium-induced liver damage.

Although selenium (Se) and cadmium (Cd) often coexist naturally in the soil of China, the health risks to local residents consuming Se-Cd co-enriched foods are unknown. In the present study, we investigated the effects of chemical-based selenocystine (SeCys2) on cadmium chloride-induced human hepatocarcinoma (HepG2) cell injury and plant (Cardamine hupingshanensis)-derived SeCys2 against Cd-induced liver injury in mice. We found that chemical- and plant-based SeCys2 showed protective effects against Cd-induced HepG2 cell injury and liver damage in mice, respectively. Compared with Cd intervention group, co-treatment with chemical- or plant-based SeCys2 both alleviated liver toxicity and ferroptosis by decreasing ferrous iron, acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain (ACSL) family member 4, lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 3, reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxide levels, and increasing ACSL3, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α, solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) and glutathione and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) levels. In conclusion, chemical- and plant-based SeCys2 alleviated Cd-induced hepatotoxicity and ferroptosis by regulating SLC7A11/GPX4 signaling and lipid peroxidation. Our findings indicate that potential Cd toxicity from consuming foods grown in Se- and Cd-rich soils should be re-evaluated. This study offers a new perspective for the development of SeCys2-enriched agricultural products.

Role of TGF-ß3 in modulating inflammatory responses and wound healing processes in ischemic ulcers in atherosclerotic patients.

Ischemic ulcers pose a multifaceted clinical dilemma for patients with atherosclerosis, frequently compounded by suboptimal wound healing mechanisms. The dual function of Transforming Growth Factor Beta 3 (TGF-ß3) in ischemic ulcer healing is not fully comprehended, despite its involvement in modulating inflammatory responses and tissue regeneration. The main aim of this investigation was to clarify the functions and mechanisms by which TGF-ß3 regulates inflammatory responses and promotes wound healing in patients with ischemic ulcers who have atherosclerosis. Between August 2022 and November 2023, this cross-sectional investigation was conducted on 428 patients diagnosed with atherosclerotic ischemic ulcers in Haikou, China. The expression and function of TGF-ß3 were examined throughout the different stages of wound healing, including inflammation, proliferation and remodelling. In addition to documenting patient demographics and ulcer characteristics, an analysis was conducted on biopsy samples to determine the expression of TGF-ß3, pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory markers. A subset of patients were administered topical TGF-ß3 in order to evaluate its therapeutic effects. The expression pattern of TGF-ß3 was found to be stage-dependent and significant, exhibiting increased levels during the phase of inflammation and reduced activity in subsequent phases. TGF-ß3 levels were found to be greater in ulcers that were larger and deeper, especially in inflammatory phase. TGF-ß3 applied topically induced discernible enhancement in ulcer healing parameters, such as reduction in ulcer depth and size. The therapeutic significance of TGF-ß3 was emphasised due to its twofold function of regulating the inflammatory environment and facilitating the regeneration of damaged tissues. Ischemic ulcer lesion healing is significantly influenced by TGF-ß3, which functions as an anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory mediator. Its correlation with ulcer characteristics and stages of healing suggests that it may have utility as a targeted therapeutic agent.

Enhancing the Versatility and Performance of Soft Robotic Grippers, Hands, and Crawling Robots Through Three-Dimensional-Printed Multifunctional Buckling Joints.

Soft robotic grippers and hands offer adaptability, lightweight construction, and enhanced safety in human-robot interactions. In this study, we introduce vacuum-actuated soft robotic finger joints to overcome their limitations in stiffness, response, and load-carrying capability. Our design-optimized through parametric design and three-dimensional (3D) printing-achieves high stiffness using vacuum pressure and a buckling mechanism for large bending angles (>90°) and rapid response times (0.24 s). We develop a theoretical model and nonlinear finite-element simulations to validate the experimental results and provide valuable insights into the underlying mechanics and visualization of the deformation and stress field. We showcase versatile applications of the buckling joints: a three-finger gripper with a large lifting ratio (∼96), a five-finger robotic hand capable of replicating human gestures and adeptly grasping objects of various characteristics in static and dynamic scenarios, and a planar-crawling robot carrying loads 30 times its weight at 0.89 body length per second (BL/s). In addition, a jellyfish-inspired robot crawls in circular pipes at 0.47 BL/s. By enhancing soft robotic grippers' functionality and performance, our study expands their applications and paves the way for innovation through 3D-printed multifunctional buckling joints.

Pyrolytic Modification of Heavy Coal Tar by Multi-Polymer Blending: Preparation of Ordered Carbonaceous Mesophase.

In order to achieve the high-value utilization of heavy tar for the production of enhanced-performance graphite foam carbon, the carbon mesophase was ready from the heavy component of low-temperature coal tar, and the coal tar was modified by styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS), polyethylene (PE) and ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA) copolymers. The order degree of the carbonite mesophase was analyzed using a polarizing microscope test, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction to screen out the most suitable copolymer type and addition amount. Furthermore, the mechanism of modification by this copolymer was analyzed. The results showed that adding SBS, PE and EVA to coal tar would affect the order of carbonaceous mesophase; however, at an addition rate of 10.0 wt.%, the linear-structure SBS copolymer with a styrene/butadiene ratio (S/B) of 30/70 exhibited the optimal degree of ordering in the carbonaceous mesophase. Its foam carbon prepared by polymer modification is the only one that forms a graphitized structure, with d002 of 0.3430 nm, and the maximum values of Lc and La are 3.54 nm and 2.22 nm, respectively. This is because, under elevated pressure and high-temperature conditions, SBS underwent chain scission, releasing a more significant number of methyl and other free radicals that interacted with the coal tar constituents. As a result, it reduced the affinity density of heavy coal tar molecules, enhanced fluidity, promoted the stacking of condensed aromatic hydrocarbons and increased the content of soluble carbonaceous mesophase, ultimately leading to a more favorable alignment of the carbonaceous mesophase.

Long-term application of organic fertilizer prompting the dispersal of antibiotic resistance genes and their health risks in the soil plastisphere.

Microplastic (MP) pollution is a rapidly growing global environmental concern that has led to the emergence of a new environmental compartment, the plastisphere, which is a hotspot for the accumulation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and human bacterial pathogens (HBPs). However, studies on the effects of long-term organic fertilizer application on the dispersal of ARGs and virulence factor genes (VFGs) in the plastisphere of farmland soil have been limited. Here, we performed a field culture experiment by burying nylon bags filled with MPs in paddy soil that had been treated with different fertilizers for over 30 years to explore the changes of ARGs and VFGs in soil plastisphere. Our results show that the soil plastisphere amplified the ARG and VFG pollution caused by organic fertilization by 1.5 and 1.4 times, respectively. And it also led to a 2.7-fold increase in the risk of horizontal gene transfer. Meanwhile, the plastisphere tended to promote deterministic process in the community assembly of HBPs, with an increase of 1.4 times. Network analysis found a significant correlation between ARGs, VFGs, and bacteria in plastisphere. Correlation analysis highlight the important role of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) and bacterial communities in shaping the abundance of ARGs and VFGs, respectively. Our findings provide new insights into the health risk associated with the soil plastisphere due ARGs and VFGs derived from organic fertilizers.

Nickel Nanoparticles Protruding from Molybdenum Carbide Micropillars with Carbon Layer-Protected Biphasic 0D/1D Heterostructures for Efficient Water Splitting.

It remains a tremendous challenge to achieve high-efficiency bifunctional electrocatalysts for both the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) for hydrogen production by water splitting. Herein, a novel hybrid of 0D nickel nanoparticles dispersed on the one-dimensional (1D) molybdenum carbide micropillars embedded in the carbon layers (Ni/Mo2C@C) was successfully prepared on nickel foam by a facile pyrolysis strategy. During the synthesis process, the nickel nanoparticles and molybdenum carbide were simultaneously generated under H2 and C2H2 mixed atmospheres and conformally encapsulated in the carbon layers. Benefiting from the distinctive 0D/1D heterostructure and the synergistic effect of the biphasic Mo2C and Ni together with the protective effect of the carbon layer, the reduced activation energy barriers and fast catalytic reaction kinetics can be achieved, resulting in a small overpotential of 96 mV for the HER and 266 mV for the OER at the current density of 10 mA cm-2 together with excellent durability in 1.0 M KOH electrolyte. In addition, using the developed Ni/Mo2C@C as both the cathode and anode, the constructed electrolyzer exhibits a small voltage of 1.55 V for the overall water splitting. The novel designed Ni/Mo2C@C may give inspiration for the development of efficient bifunctional catalysts with low-cost transition metal elements for water splitting.

TGF-ß signaling pathway in spinal cord injury: Mechanisms and therapeutic potential.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a highly disabling central nervous system injury with a complex pathological process, resulting in severe sensory and motor dysfunction. The current treatment modalities only alleviate its symptoms and cannot effectively intervene or treat its pathological process. Many studies have reported that the transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß signaling pathway plays an important role in neuronal differentiation, growth, survival, and axonal regeneration after central nervous system injury. Furthermore, the TGF-ß signaling pathway has a vital regulatory role in SCI pathophysiology and neural regeneration. Following SCI, regulation of the TGF-ß signaling pathway can suppress inflammation, reduce apoptosis, prevent glial scar formation, and promote neural regeneration. Due to its role in SCI, the TGF-ß signaling pathway could be a potential therapeutic target. This article reported the pathophysiology of SCI, the characteristics of the TGF-ß signaling pathway, the role of the TGF-ß signaling pathway in SCI, and the latest evidence for targeting the TGF-ß signaling pathway for treating SCI. In addition, the limitations and difficulties in TGF-ß signaling pathway research in SCI are discussed, and solutions are provided to address these potential challenges. We hope this will provide a reference for the TGF-ß signaling pathway and SCI research, offering a theoretical basis for targeted therapy of SCI.

Comparing safety and efficacy: MemoLefort versus watchman for left atrial appendage closure.

BACKGROUND: The MemoLefort is a new plug occluder for left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). This study compares the safety and efficacy of MemoLefort and the well-established Watchman occluder for LAAC. METHODS: Between January 2021 and September 2022, a cohort of 189 consecutive patients who underwent LAAC with MemoLefort or Watchman at The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University were included. Patients with MemoLefort or Watchman devices were compared in terms of the primary safety endpoints encompassing major periprocedural complications and major bleeding events at follow-up, the primary efficacy endpoint of all-cause stroke, systemic embolism and cardiovascular/unexplained death, and the combined hazard endpoint, a composite of all the above-mentioned hazards. RESULTS: Of the MemoLefort group (n = 83) and Watchman group (n = 106), the mean age, CHA2DS2-VASc score, and HAS-BLED score were 67.6 ± 9.2 vs. 69.0 ± 10.6 years, 3.9 ± 1.9 vs. 3.8 ± 1.9, and 1.6 ± 1.0 vs. 1.7 ± 1.2, respectively. After a median follow-up duration of 198 (99-329) vs. 334 (171-497) days, the primary endpoints of efficacy [2/49, 4.1% (MemoLefort) vs. 2/97, 2.1% (Watchman); hazard ratio (HR), 1.50; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.20-11.08; P = 0.68] and safety (1/49, 2.0% vs. 5/97, 5.2%; HR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.05-1.31; P = 0.19), as well as the combined hazard endpoint (3/49, 61% vs. 6/97, 6.2%; HR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.18-2.58; P = 0.59) were similar between groups. CONCLUSIONS: In the short term, LAAC with MemoLefort provided similar efficacy, safety, and net clinical benefit in comparison to Watchman devices.