High expression of CASP1 induces atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is a chronic, progressive vascular disease. The relationship between CASP1 gene expression and atherosclerosis remains unclear. The atherosclerosis dataset GSE132651 and GSE202625 profiles were downloaded from gene expression omnibus. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened. The construction and analysis of protein-protein interaction network, functional enrichment analysis, gene set enrichment analysis, and Comparative Toxicogenomics Database analysis were performed. Gene expression heatmap was drawn. TargetScan was used to screen miRNAs that regulate central DEG. 47 DEGs were identified. According to gene ontology analysis, they were mainly enriched in the regulation of stimulus response, response to organic matter, extracellular region, extracellular region, and the same protein binding. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genome analysis results showed that the target cells were mainly enriched in the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, Ras signaling pathway, and PPAR signaling pathway. In the enrichment project of Metascape, vascular development, regulation of body fluid levels, and positive regulation of cell motility can be seen in the gene ontology enrichment project. Eleven core genes (CASP1, NLRP3, MRC1, IRS1, PPARG, APOE, IL13, FGF2, CCR2, ICAM1, HIF1A) were obtained. IRS1, PPARG, APOE, FGF2, CCR2, and HIF1A genes are identified as core genes. Gene expression heatmap showed that CASP1 was highly expressed in atherosclerosis samples and low expressed in normal samples. NLRP3, MRC1, IRS1, PPARG, APOE, IL13, FGF2, CCR2, ICAM1, HIF1A were low expressed in atherosclerosis samples. CTD analysis showed that 5 genes (CASP1, NLRP3, CCR2, ICAM1, HIF1A) were found to be associated with pneumonia, inflammation, cardiac enlargement, and tumor invasiveness. CASP1 gene is highly expressed in atherosclerosis. The higher the CASP1 gene, the worse the prognosis.

Rational design and construction of hierarchical porous quasi-hexagonal Co2P nanosheets/Co heterostructures as highly efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts for overall water splitting.

Constructing heterostructured electrocatalysts has proven effective in enhancing intrinsic catalytic activity. Herein, under guidance of theoretical calculations, hierarchical porous quasi-hexagonal Co2P nanosheets/Co heterostructures supported on carbon cloth (Co2P/Co/CC) with a high surface area were rationally designed and elaborately constructed through electroless Co plating, electrochemical oxidation, and phosphidation process, which showed significant electrocatalytic performance toward water electrolysis. Specifically, theoretical calculations revealed that the Co2P/Co heterostructure adjusted the electronic structure of Co2P and Co, reducing the energy barrier for target reactions and thereby boosting electrocatalytic activities for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Notably, the typical Co2P/Co/CC catalyst demonstrated impressive HER performance, with low overpotentials of only 52 and 48 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA/cm2 in 0.5 M H2SO4 and 1.0 M KOH solutions, respectively. The remarkable electrocatalytic performance of the catalyst can be attributed to the improved intrinsic activity resulting from the Co2P/Co heterostructures and the highly exposed active sites provided by the hierarchical porous structures. Furthermore, the Co2P/Co/CC catalyst exhibited excellent oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance in alkaline electrolyte, requiring a low overpotential of only 306 mV to achieve a current density of 100 mA/cm2. Additionally, a two-electrode electrolyzer assembled with the Co2P/Co/CC electrodes achieved a current density of 10 mA/cm2 at a low cell voltage of 1.54 V and demonstrated excellent long-term stability. This work presents a novel and feasible strategy for constructing hierarchical heterostructured electrocatalysts that enable efficient water electrolysis. By combining rational design and theoretical guidance, our approach offers promising prospects for advancing the field of electrocatalysis and facilitating sustainable energy conversion.

NETosis in tumour microenvironment of liver: From primary to metastatic hepatic carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma is a common and highly lethal tumour. The tumour microenvironment (TME) plays an important role in the progression and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A cell death mechanism, termed NETosis, has been found to play an important role in the TME of HCC. SUMMARY: This review article focuses on the role of NETosis in the TME of HCC, a novel form of cell death in which neutrophils capture and kill microorganisms by releasing a type of DNA meshwork fibres called "NETs". This process is associated with neutrophil activation, local inflammation and cytokines. The study suggests that NETs play a multifaceted role in the development and metastasis of HCC. The article also discusses the role of NETs in tumour proliferation and metastasis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and surgical stress. In addition, the article discusses the interaction of NETosis with other immune cells in the TME and related therapeutic strategies. A deeper understanding of NETosis can help us better understand the complexity of the immune system and provide a new therapeutic basis for the treatment and prevention of HCC. KEY INFORMATION: In conclusion, NETosis is important in the TME of liver. NETs have been shown to contribute to the progression and metastasis of liver cancer. The interaction between NETosis and immune cells in the TME, as well as related therapies, are important areas of research.

Photooxidation triggered ultralong afterglow in carbon nanodots.

It remains a challenge to obtain biocompatible afterglow materials with long emission wavelengths, durable lifetimes, and good water solubility. Herein we develop a photooxidation strategy to construct near-infrared afterglow carbon nanodots with an extra-long lifetime of up to 5.9 h, comparable to that of the well-known rare-earth or organic long-persistent luminescent materials. Intriguingly, size-dependent afterglow lifetime evolution from 3.4 to 5.9 h has been observed from the carbon nanodots systems in aqueous solution. With structural/ultrafast dynamics analysis and density functional theory simulations, we reveal that the persistent luminescence in carbon nanodots is activated by a photooxidation-induced dioxetane intermediate, which can slowly release and convert energy into luminous emission via the steric hindrance effect of nanoparticles. With the persistent near-infrared luminescence, tissue penetration depth of 20 mm can be achieved. Thanks to the high signal-to-background ratio, biological safety and cancer-specific targeting ability of carbon nanodots, ultralong-afterglow guided surgery has been successfully performed on mice model to remove tumor tissues accurately, demonstrating potential clinical applications. These results may facilitate the development of long-lasting luminescent materials for precision tumor resection.

Genome-wide association studies reveal stable loci for wheat grain size under different sowing dates.

Background: Wheat (Tritium aestivum L.) production is critical for global food security. In recent years, due to climate change and the prolonged growing period of rice varieties, the delayed sowing of wheat has resulted in a loss of grain yield in the area of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. It is of great significance to screen for natural germplasm resources of wheat that are resistant to late sowing and to explore genetic loci that stably control grain size and yield. Methods: A collection of 327 wheat accessions from diverse sources were subjected to genome-wide association studies using genotyping-by-sequencing. Field trials were conducted under normal, delayed, and seriously delayed sowing conditions for grain length, width, and thousand-grain weight at two sites. Additionally, the additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model was applied to evaluate the stability of thousand-grain weight of 327 accessions across multiple sowing dates. Results: Four wheat germplasm resources have been screened, demonstrating higher stability of thousand-grain weight. A total of 43, 35, and 39 significant MTAs were determined across all chromosomes except for 4D under the three sowing dates, respectively. A total of 10.31% of MTAs that stably affect wheat grain size could be repeatedly identified in at least two sowing dates, with PVE ranging from 0.03% to 38.06%. Among these, six were for GL, three for GW, and one for TGW. There were three novel and stable loci (4A_598189950, 4B_307707920, 2D_622241054) located in conserved regions of the genome, which provide excellent genetic resources for pyramid breeding strategies of superior loci. Our findings offer a theoretical basis for cultivar improvement and marker-assisted selection in wheat breeding practices.

Fabrication and characterization of flexible natural cellulosic fiber composites through collaborative modification strategy of sodium hydroxide and γ-Aminopropyl triethoxysilane.

The primary purpose of this work is to study the fabrication of a flexible natural cellulosic fiber composite. In this respect, natural cellulosic fiber was obtained by modified poplar wood fiber through sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and γ-Aminopropyl Triethoxysilan. Then, the composites were fabricated by hot-pressing the modified wood fibers and polyurethane following characterization. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation results confirmed that some of the hemicellulose and lignin were removed from wood fibers after NaOH modification and successfully grafted with alkoxy structures after KH550 modification. NaOH&KH550 modification improved the interfacial compatibility between poplar wood fibers and polyurethane. The flexibility of the composites was improved (the slenderness value was reduced by 113 %), allowing flexible deformations such as bending, twisting, and knotting. In addition, thermal stability, tensile strength (increased by 105 %), elongation at the break (increased by 125 %), and water resistance were increased. This flexible natural cellulosic fiber composite is expected to be applied in the veneering of curved materials and special-shaped structure furniture, providing a theoretical basis for improving the added value of wood-based composites.

Phase Change Study of a New Two-Phase Absorbent Based on DAP.

In order to overcome the drawbacks of conventional absorbents, which exhibit slow absorption rates and low absorption loads, this study suggests enhancing the absorbent system for CO2 absorption by incorporating a nonaqueous solvent into 1,3-propanediamine (DAP) and tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA), resulting in a two-phase system. The mechanism of solvent absorption of CO2 was investigated using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) carbon spectroscopy. By comparing the absorption load, fraction ratio, and viscosity of different absorbents after absorbing carbon dioxide, the two-phase absorbents with good performance were selected. The poor water absorbent consisting of the DAP/TMEDA system exhibited an absorption load of 3.8 mol/kg, surpassing that of the conventional 30% ethanolamine solution. A nonaqueous solvent is added to the system to replace some of the water to reduce the fraction. After adding different nonaqueous solvents, the phase separation system was screened after 2 h of CO2 absorption. The system with good performance was tested for the absorption of the solution under different amine concentration and water concentration tests. It is found that the absorption load of the DAP/TMEDA/diglyme system is 3.2 mol/kg, but the fraction can be reduced to 38%. The significant reduction in rich phase volume is beneficial for reducing the size and cost of regeneration tower. According to NMR detection and quantum chemical calculations, it was found that DAP/TMEDA absorbs carbon dioxide to form carbamate. DAP acts as the main absorbent, while TMEDA and nonaqueous solvents do not participate in the absorption reaction. Nonaqueous solvents were found to accelerate the solution phase separation due to the salt precipitation reaction.

Genome-wide association studies reveal novel loci for grain size in two-rowed barley (Hordeum vulgare L.).

KEY MESSAGE: SNP-based and InDel-based GWAS on multi-environment data identified genomic regions associated with barley grain size. Barley yield and quality are greatly influenced by grain size. Improving barley grain size in breeding programs requires knowledge of genetic loci and alleles in germplasm resources. In this study, a collection of 334 worldwide two-rowed barley accessions with extensive genetic diversity was evaluated for grain size including grain length (GL), grain width (GW), and thousand-grain weight (TGW) across six independent field trials. Significant differences were observed in genotype and environments for all measured traits. SNP- and InDel-based GWAS were applied to dissect the genetic architecture of grain size with an SLAF-seq strategy. Two approaches using the FarmCPU model revealed 38 significant marker-trait associations (MTAs) with PVE ranging from 0.01% to 20.68%. Among these MTAs, five were on genomic regions where no previously reported QTL for grain size. Superior alleles of TGW-associated SNP233060 and GL-associated InDel11006 exhibited significantly higher levels of phenotype. The significant MTAs could be used in marker-assisted selection breeding.

Interaction of Asn297-Linked Glycan Ligands with the Fc Fragment of the Immunoglobulin Class G1: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study.

The allosteric modulation of the homodimeric H10-03-6 protein to glycan ligands L1 and L2, and the STAB19 protein to glycan ligands L3 and L4, respectively, has been studied by molecular dynamics simulations and free energy calculations. The results revealed that the STAB19 protein has a significantly higher affinity for L3 (-11.38 ± 2.32 kcal/mol) than that for L4 (-5.51 ± 1.92 kcal/mol). However, the combination of the H10-03-6 protein with glycan L2 (1.23 ± 6.19 kcal/mol) is energetically unfavorable compared with that of L1 (-13.96 ± 0.35 kcal/mol). Further, the binding of glycan ligands L3 and L4 to STAB19 would result in the significant closure of the two CH2 domains of the STAB19 conformation with the decrease of the centroid distances between the two CH2 domains compared with the H10-03-6/L1/L2 complex. The CH2 domain closure of STAB19 relates directly to the formation of new hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions between the residues Ser239, Val240, Asp265, Glu293, Asn297, Thr299, Ser337, Asp376, Thr393, Pro395, and Pro396 in STAB19 and glycan ligands L3 and L4, which suggests that these key residues would contribute to the specific regulation of STAB19 to L3 and L4. In addition, the distance analysis revealed that the EF loop in the H10-03-6/L1/L2 model presents a high flexibility and partial disorder compared with the stabilized STAB19/L3/L4 complex. These results will be helpful in understanding the specific regulation through the asymmetric structural characteristics in the CH2 and CH3 domains of the H10-03-6 and STAB19 proteins.

SARS-CoV-2 immunity in animal models.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which was caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has become a worldwide health crisis due to its transmissibility. SARS-CoV-2 infection results in severe respiratory illness and can lead to significant complications in affected individuals. These complications encompass symptoms such as coughing, respiratory distress, fever, infectious shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and even multiple-organ failure. Animal models serve as crucial tools for investigating pathogenic mechanisms, immune responses, immune escape mechanisms, antiviral drug development, and vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. Currently, various animal models for SARS-CoV-2 infection, such as nonhuman primates (NHPs), ferrets, hamsters, and many different mouse models, have been developed. Each model possesses distinctive features and applications. In this review, we elucidate the immune response elicited by SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients and provide an overview of the characteristics of various animal models mainly used for SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as the corresponding immune responses and applications of these models. A comparative analysis of transcriptomic alterations in the lungs from different animal models revealed that the K18-hACE2 and mouse-adapted virus mouse models exhibited the highest similarity with the deceased COVID-19 patients. Finally, we highlighted the current gaps in related research between animal model studies and clinical investigations, underscoring lingering scientific questions that demand further clarification.

Carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli exhibit diverse spatiotemporal epidemiological characteristics across the globe.

Carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli (CREC) poses a severe global public health risk. This study reveals the worldwide geographic spreading patterns and spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of resistance genes in 7918 CREC isolates belonging to 497 sequence types (ST) and originating from 75 countries. In the last decade, there has been a transition in the prevailing STs from highly virulent ST131 and ST38 to higher antibiotic-resistant ST410 and ST167. The rise of multi-drug resistant strains of CREC carrying plasmids with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) resistance genes could be attributed to three important instances of host-switching events. The spread of CREC was associated with the changing trends in blaNDM-5, blaKPC-2, and blaOXA-48, as well as the plasmids IncFI, IncFII, and IncI. There were intercontinental geographic transfers of major CREC strains. Various crucial transmission hubs and patterns have been identified for ST131 in the United Kingdom, Italy, the United States, and China, ST167 in India, France, Egypt, and the United States, and ST410 in Thailand, Israel, the United Kingdom, France, and the United States. This work is valuable in managing CREC infections and preventing CREC occurrence and transmission inside healthcare settings and among diverse hosts.

Empagliflozin alleviates the development of autoimmune myocarditis via inhibiting NF-κB-dependent cardiomyocyte pyroptosis.

Autoimmune myocarditis, which falls within the broad spectrum of myocarditis, is characterized by an excessive inflammatory response in the heart, and can progress into dilated cardiomyopathy and irreversible heart failure in all possibility. However, effective clinical therapeutics are limited due to its complex inflammatory reactions. Empagliflozin (EMPA) has been previously demonstrated to possess anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to determine the improvement effects of EMPA on cardiac dysfunction under the condition of autoimmune myocarditis, and to further investigate the potential mechanisms. In vivo, all male Balb/c mice were randomly divided into four groups: control, experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM), EAM+EMPA and EMPA. In vitro, the effects of EMPA on IL-18-stimulated H9C2 cells were explored and the underlying molecular mechanisms were further determined. EMPA treatment significantly inhibited the development of autoimmune myocarditis, and mice treated with EMPA exhibited improved cardiac function compared with that in the EAM group, potentially through modulating pyroptosis of myocardium. Specifically, the NF-κB pathway was activated in the hearts of the EAM mice, which further activated NLRP3 inflammasome-dependent pyroptosis. EMPA treatment significantly inhibited such activation, thus alleviating inflammatory reactions in the context of EAM. Moreover, in vitro, we also observed that EMPA significantly inhibited pyroptosis of IL-18-stimulated H9C2 cells, and reduced nuclear translocation of NF-κB and degradation of activated IκBα. This work provides the first direct evidence that EMPA can inhibit myocardial inflammation and improve cardiac function in EAM mice, partly attributed to the drug-induced suppression of cardiomyocyte pyroptosis via disrupting the NF-κB pathway.

Prenatal diagnosis and treatment for fetal angiotensin converting enzyme deficiency.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate an etiology in a case with persistent oligohydramnios by prenatal diagnosis and actively treat the case to achieve good prognosis. METHODS: We performed whole exome sequencing (WES) of DNA from the fetus and parents. Serial amnioinfusions were conducted until birth. Pressors were required to maintain normal blood pressure. The infant angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity, angiotensin II (Ang II, a downstream product of ACE), and compensatory enzymes (CEs) activities were measured. Compensatory enzyme activities in plasma from age-matched healthy controls were also detected. RESULTS: We identified a fetus with a severe ACE mutation prenatally. The infant was born prematurely without pulmonary dysplasia. Hypotension and anuria resolved spontaneously. He had almost no ACE activity, but his Ang II level and CE activity exceeded the upper limit of the normal range and the upper limit of the 95% confidence interval of controls, respectively. His renal function also largely recovered. CONCLUSION: Fetuses with ACE mutations can be diagnosed prenatally through WES. Serial amnioinfusion permits the continuation of pregnancy in fetal ACE deficiency. Compensatory enzymes for defective ACE appeared postnatally. Renal function may be spared by preterm delivery; furthermore, for postnatal vasopressor therapy to begin, improving renal perfusion pressure before nephrogenesis has been completed.

Biochar derived from tobacco waste significantly reduces the accumulations of cadmium and copper in edible parts of two vegetables: an in-situ field study.

Biochar, as a soil amendment, can be applied to remediate heavy metal (HM) contaminated farmland. However, there is little research on the effect of tobacco biochar (TB) derived from tobacco waste on HM controlling in edible parts of vegetables. In this study, the impact of two TB levels on the plant growth, copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd) accumulation in the edible parts of lettuce and chrysanthemum, and on Cu and Cd bioavailability of rhizosphere soil was investigated through in-situ field experiments. The results showed that TB has rich oxygen containing functional groups, high porosity, high nitrogen adsorption capacity. The addition of 5 t ha-1 and 10 t ha-1 TB significantly increased the shoot biomass of chrysanthemum, but had no effect on the growth of lettuce. Two levels of TB significantly increased the pH value, but decreased the available Cu and Cd concentrations of rhizosphere soil, thereby reducing the Cu and Cd accumulations in the edible parts of lettuce and chrysanthemum. The findings provided effective evidences that TB derived from tobacco waste is an efficient strategy for controlling Cu and Cd accumulation in the edible parts of vegetables to ensure agri-product safety production in HM-polluted farmland.

Colorectal motility patterns and psychiatric traits in functional constipation and constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: A study from China.

BACKGROUND: Functional constipation (FC) and constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C) represent a spectrum of constipation disorders. However, the majority of previous clinical investigations have focused on Western populations, with limited data originating from China. AIM: To determine and compare the colorectal motility and psychiatric features of FC and IBS-C in an Eastern Chinese population. METHODS: Consecutive chronic constipation patients referred to our motility clinic from December 2019 to February 2023 were enrolled. FC and IBS-C diagnoses were established using ROME IV criteria, and patients underwent high-resolution anorectal manometry (ARM) and a colonic transmit test using the Sitz marker study. Constipation-related symptoms were obtained through questionnaires. Anxiety and depression were assessed by the Hamilton anxiety rating scale and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-21. The clinical characteristics and colorectal motility patterns of FC and IBS-C patients were compared. RESULTS: No significant differences in sex, age or abdominal discomfort symptoms were observed between IBS-C and FC patients (all P > 0.05). The proportion of IBS-C patients with delayed colonic transit was higher than that of patients with FC (36.63% vs 15.91%, P < 0.05), while rectosigmoid accumulation of radiopaque markers was more common in the FC group than in the IBS-C group (50% vs 26.73%, P < 0.05). Diverse proportions of these dyssynergic patterns were noted within both the FC and IBS-C groups by ARM. IBS-C patients were found to have a higher prevalence of depression than FC patients (66.30% vs 42.42%, P < 0.05). The scores for feelings of guilt, suicide, psychomotor agitation, diurnal variation, obsessive/compulsive disorder, hopelessness, self-abasedment and gastrointestinal symptoms were significantly higher in IBS-C patients than that in FC patients (P < 0.05). For IBS-C (χ2 = 5.438, P < 0.05) but not FC, patients with normal colon transit time were significantly more likely to have anxiety than those with slow colon transit time. For IBS-C patients but not FC patients, the threshold of first constant sensation, desire to defecate and sustained urgency were all weakly correlated with the degree of anxiety (r = 0.414, r = 0.404, and r = 0.418, respectively, P < 0.05). The proportion of patients with a low threshold of desire to defecate among IBS-C patients with depression was lower than that in those without depression (69.6% vs 41.9%, χ2 = 4.054, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our findings highlight both overlapping and distinctive patterns of colon transit, dyssynergic patterns, anorectal sensation, psychological distress, and associations of psychiatric and colorectal motility characteristics in FC and IBS-C patients in an Eastern Chinese population, providing valuable insights into the pathophysiological underpinnings of these disorders.

Optimized strategy for schistosomiasis elimination: results from marginal benefit modeling.

BACKGROUND: Poverty contributes to the transmission of schistosomiasis via multiple pathways, with the insufficiency of appropriate interventions being a crucial factor. The aim of this article is to provide more economical and feasible intervention measures for endemic areas with varying levels of poverty. METHODS: We collected and analyzed the prevalence patterns along with the cost of control measures in 11 counties over the last 20 years in China. Seven machine learning models, including XGBoost, support vector machine, generalized linear model, regression tree, random forest, gradient boosting machine and neural network, were used for developing model and calculate marginal benefits. RESULTS: The XGBoost model had the highest prediction accuracy with an R2 of 0.7308. Results showed that risk surveillance, snail control with molluscicides and treatment were the most effective interventions in controlling schistosomiasis prevalence. The best combination of interventions was interlacing seven interventions, including risk surveillance, treatment, toilet construction, health education, snail control with molluscicides, cattle slaughter and animal chemotherapy. The marginal benefit of risk surveillance is the most effective intervention among nine interventions, which was influenced by the prevalence of schistosomiasis and cost. CONCLUSIONS: In the elimination phase of the national schistosomiasis program, emphasizing risk surveillance holds significant importance in terms of cost-saving.

ß1-blockers in the reduction of bleeding risk in patients prescribed with potent dual antiplatelet therapy after acute coronary syndrome or percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: ß1-blockers could improve clinical outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease by lowering the heart rate, blood pressure, and myocardial contractility. Moreover, recent studies have suggested that ß1-blockers may also have the potential to reduce bleeding risk. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the association between ß1-blockers and bleeding risk in the patients prescribed with potent dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: Patients with ACS or undergoing PCI treated by DAPT of ticagrelor and aspirin were consecutively recruited. Follow-up for all eligible patients was conducted for 1 year. Major bleeding outcomes were defined as events that were type ≥2 based on the Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) criteria. RESULTS: A total of 1,113 eligible ticagrelor-treated patients were recruited. During the 1-year follow-up interval, 142 (12.6%) patients experienced BARC ≥2 bleedings including 23 patients (2.1%) suffering BARC ≥3 bleedings, with the most common site of bleeding located in the gastrointestinal tract. ß1-blockers treatment was associated with a lower risk of BARC ≥2 bleedings (11.2% vs. 23.3%, adjusted HR: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.28-0.62, P < 0.01). Moreover, metoprolol (11.1% vs. 23.3%, adjusted HR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.37-0.83, P < 0.01) and bisoprolol (11.3% vs. 23.3%, adjusted HR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.33-0.96, P = 0.04) had similar effects on the reduction of bleeding risk. CONCLUSION: ß1-blockers might be beneficial for the reduction of bleeding risk in potent dual antiplatelet therapy patients with ACS or undergoing PCI.

Enhancing interfacial interaction and crystallization in polylactic acid-based biocomposites via synergistic effect of wood fiber and self-assembly nucleating agent.

Incorporation of natural fibers into polylactic acid (PLA) provides a feasible pathway to improve the performance of PLA with a low environmental impact. However, the insufficient interfacial adhesion between fiber and matrix limits the reinforcement efficiency of fiber and final mechanical properties of the biocomposites. Herein we reported an efficient method to simultaneously enhance interfacial interaction, crystallization and mechanical performance of PLA-based biocomposites via combination of wood fiber (WF) and a self-assembly nucleating agent (TMC-300). The interactions between WF and TMC-300 and its influence on PLA, including interfacial crystal morphology, crystallization behavior, and mechanical performance were studied. The results showed that TMC-300 could self-assemble into dendritic-like structure on WF surface driven by hydrogen bonding, inducing the epitaxial crystallization of PLA. This unique interfacial crystallization integrated PLA matrix with WF, resulting in better interfacial adhesion. Under the optimal TMC-300 content (0.5 wt%), the flexural strength and notched impact strength of PLA composites increased by 10 % and 69 % compared with neat PLA, respectively. Additionally, TMC-300 and WF synergistically functioned as effective nucleating agents, which significantly accelerated the crystallization rate and improved the crystallinity of PLA. This work provides a new insight into the enhancement of interfacial bonding in natural fiber/PLA biocomposites.

Diagnostic Efficacy of Plasma-Based Real-Time PCR for Schistosomiasis Japonica in Mice before and after Treatment with Praziquantel.

The prevalence of schistosomiasis japonica in China is now characterized by a low epidemic rate and low-intensity infections. Some diagnostic methods with high sensitivity and specificity are urgently needed to better monitor this disease in the current situation. In this study, the detection efficacy of a real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay was assessed for schistosomiasis japonica in mice, and before and after treatment with praziquantel (PZQ). Our results showed that the sensitivity of the qPCR was 99.3% (152/153, 95% CI: 96.41-99.98%) and its specificity was 100% (77/77, 95% CI: 95.32-100%) in mice infected with different numbers of Schistosoma japonicum. After the oral administration of PZQ, mice infected with 10 cercariae or 40 cercariae were all Schistosoma japonicum-negative 6 weeks after treatment. However, the negativity rates on a soluble egg antigen (SEA)-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were only 34.8% (8/23, 10 cercariae group) and 6.7% (1/15, 40 cercariae group) at the sixth week after PZQ treatment. These results demonstrated that the qPCR method had good sensitivity and specificity, and suggested that its sensitivity correlated with the infection intensity in mice. Moreover, this method had better potential utility for evaluating the treatment efficacy of PZQ in schistosome-infected mice than SEA-based ELISA.