The effects of adding various starches on the structures of restructured potato-based dough and the oil uptake of potato chips.

BACKGROUND: The material composition significantly influences the oil absorption and quality characteristics of fried food products. The oil absorption of restructured potato chips is highly dependent on the structural properties of the restructured potato-based dough produced prior to frying. In this study, three types of starch were added to modify the structure of the restructured potato-based dough, allowing the production of potato chips with less oil absorption. RESULTS: Distinct differences were observed among the three types of starch in terms of amylose content, chain length distribution, swelling power, solubility, crystalline structure, and pasting properties. The addition of wheat starch, corn starch, and tapioca starch changed the rheological properties, water distribution, and the strength of the restructured dough. Importantly, adding wheat starch and corn starch significantly lowered the oil content of potato chips by 7.94% and 13.06%, respectively. The reduction in oil absorption by potato chips was attributed to the increased strength of the starchy gel network of the dough, a slower rate of water evaporation, and a limitation of dough expansion during frying. CONCLUSION: Adding wheat starch or corn starch to the restructured potato-based dough resulted in a decrease in the oil absorption of potato chips by creating a stronger starchy gel network in the dough. This study could guide the development of suitable material compositions, which are important for producing fried food products with lower oil content. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Comparative chloroplast genomes study of five officinal Ardisia Species: Unraveling interspecific diversity and evolutionary insights in Ardisia.

Ardisia S.W. (Primulaceae), naturally distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, has edible and medicinal values and is prevalent in clinical and daily use in China. More genetic information for distinct species delineation is needed to support the development and utilization of the genus Ardisia. We sequenced, annotated, and compared the chloroplast genomes of five Ardisia species: A. brunnescens, A. pusilla, A. squamulosa, A. crenata, and A. brevicaulis in this study. We found a typical quadripartite structure in all five chloroplast genomes, with lengths ranging from 155,045 to 156,943 bp. Except for A. pusilla, which lacked the ycf15 gene, the other four Ardisia species contained 114 unique genes, including 79 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNAs, and four rRNAs. In addition, the rps19 pseudogene gene was present only in A. brunnescens. Five highly variable DNA barcodes were identified for five Ardisia species, including trnT-GGU-psbD, trnT-UGU-trnL-UAA, rps4-trnT-UGU, rpl32-trnL-UAG, and rpoB-trnC-GAA. The RNA editiing sites of protein-coding genes in the five Ardisia plastome were characterized and compared, and 274 (A. crenata)-288 (A. brevicaulis) were found. The results of the phylogenetic analysis were consistent with the morphological classification. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis showed that ycf15 genes were highly divergent in Primulaceae. Reconstructions of ancestral character states indicated that leaf margin morphology is critical for classifying the genus Ardisia, with a rodent-like character being the most primitive. These results provide valuable information on the taxonomy and evolution of Ardisia plants.

Plant mitochondrial genome map (PMGmap): A software tool for the comprehensive visualization of coding, noncoding and genome features of plant mitochondrial genomes.

Tools for visualizing genomes are essential for investigating genomic features and their interactions. Currently, tools designed originally for animal mitogenomes and plant plastomes are used to visualize the mitogens of plants but cannot accurately display features specific to plant mitogenomes, such as nonlinear exon arrangement for genes, the prevalence of functional noncoding features and complex chromosomal architecture. To address these problems, a software package, plant mitochondrial genome map (PMGmap), was developed using the Python programming language. PMGmap can draw genes at exon levels; draw cis- and trans-splicing gene maps, noncoding features and repetitive sequences; and scale genic regions by using the scaling of the genic regions on the mitogenome (SAGM) algorithm. It can also draw multiple chromosomes simultaneously. Compared with other state-of-the-art tools, PMGmap showed better performance in visualizing 405 plant mitogenomes, showing potential as an invaluable tool for plant mitogenome research. The web and container versions and the source code of PMGmap can be accessed through the following link: http://www.1kmpg.cn/pmgmap.

Modulating charge oriented accumulation via interfacial chemical-bond on In2O3/Bi2MoO6 heterostructures for photocatalytic nitrogen fixation.

Photocatalytic nitrogen fixation presents an eco-friendly approach to converting atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia (NH3), but the process faces challenges due to rapid interface charge recombination. Here, we report an innovative charge transfer and oriented accumulation strategy using an In-O-Mo bond-modulated S-scheme heterostructure composed of In2O3/Bi2MoO6 (In/BMO) synthesized using a simple electrostatic assembly. The unique interfacial arrangement with optimal photocatalyst configuration (3 % In/BMO) enabled enhanced photogenerated electron separation and transfer, leading to a remarkable nitrogen fixation rate of approximately 150.9 µmol·gcat-1·h-1 under visible light irradiation. The performance of the photocatalyst was 9-fold and 27-fold higher than that of its pristine components, Bi2MoO6 and In2O3, respectively. The experimental and theoretical evaluation deemed interfacial In-O-Mo bonds crucial for rapid transfer and charge-oriented accumulation. Whereas the generated internal electric field drove the spatial separation and transfer of photo-generated electrons and holes, significantly enhancing the photocatalytic N2-to-NH3 conversion efficiency. The proposed work lays the foundation for designing S-scheme heterostructures with highly efficient interfacial bonds, offering a promising avenue for substantial improvements in photocatalytic nitrogen fixation.

The association between passive smoking and sleep quality in a Chinese hypertensive population: A cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: This study evaluates the association between passive smoking, specifically secondhand smoke (SHS) and thirdhand smoke (THS) exposure, and sleep quality in a hypertensive population. METHODS: We enrolled 1427 eligible hypertensive patients from a 2022 national cross-sectional survey in China. Data on tobacco smoke exposure and sleep were collected via questionnaires. Multiple logistic regression and linear regression were employed to assess the relationship between passive smoking and sleep quality characteristics, as well as the correlation between passive smoking exposure characteristics and sleep quality. RESULTS: Among 589 hypertensive patients with no tobacco smoke exposure, 679 exposed to SHS, and 159 exposed to THS, SHS exposure was associated with a higher risk of poor sleep quality, even after adjusting for potential confounding factors (ß=0.10; 95% CI: 0.32-0.95). No significant relationship was observed between THS exposure and sleep quality. SHS exposure was associated with various sleep quality characteristics, including shorter sleep duration (AOR=1.71; 95% CI: 1.06-2.76) and increased frequency of 1-2 sleep disturbances per week (AOR=1.68; 95% CI: 1.25-2.26). Individuals exposed to SHS were more likely to experience poorer subjective sleep quality (AOR=1.53; 95% CI: 1.07-2.21) and have sleep efficiency <65% (AOR=1.82; 95% CI: 1.22-2.71). Exposure to passive smoking at home, in the community, in public places, exposure to passive smoking with family and friends, and increased frequency of exposure, were all associated with a higher risk of poor sleep quality. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that SHS exposure in hypertensive populations is associated with poor sleep quality and various characteristics of sleep quality. No significant association was found between THS exposure and sleep quality. These findings underscore the need to enhance tobacco control efforts in China, particularly for individuals with chronic diseases, to safeguard public health.

A Bayesian approach for investigating the pharmacogenetics of combination antiretroviral therapy in people with HIV.

Combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) with at least three different drugs has become the standard of care for people with HIV (PWH) due to its exceptional effectiveness in viral suppression. However, many ART drugs have been reported to associate with neuropsychiatric adverse effects including depression, especially when certain genetic polymorphisms exist. Pharmacogenetics is an important consideration for administering combination ART as it may influence drug efficacy and increase risk for neuropsychiatric conditions. Large-scale longitudinal HIV databases provide researchers opportunities to investigate the pharmacogenetics of combination ART in a data-driven manner. However, with more than 30 FDA-approved ART drugs, the interplay between the large number of possible ART drug combinations and genetic polymorphisms imposes statistical modeling challenges. We develop a Bayesian approach to examine the longitudinal effects of combination ART and their interactions with genetic polymorphisms on depressive symptoms in PWH. The proposed method utilizes a Gaussian process with a composite kernel function to capture the longitudinal combination ART effects by directly incorporating individuals' treatment histories, and a Bayesian classification and regression tree to account for individual heterogeneity. Through both simulation studies and an application to a dataset from the Women's Interagency HIV Study, we demonstrate the clinical utility of the proposed approach in investigating the pharmacogenetics of combination ART and assisting physicians to make effective individualized treatment decisions that can improve health outcomes for PWH.

The body mass index and the risk of ectopic pregnancy: a 5-year retrospective case-control study.

PURPOSE: Acknowledging the associated risk factors may have a positive impact on reducing the incidence of ectopic pregnancy (EP). In recent years, body mass index (BMI) has been mentioned in research. However, few studies are available and controversial on the relationship between EP and BMI. METHODS: We retrospectively studied the EP women as a case group and the deliveries as a control group in the central hospital of Wuhan during 2017 ~ 2021. χ2 test of variables associated with ectopic pregnancy was performed to find differences. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze the association of the variables of age, parity, history of induced abortion, history of ectopic pregnancy, history of spontaneous abortion, history of appendectomy surgery and BMI (< 18.5 kg/m2, 18.5 ~ 24.9 kg/m2, 25 kg/m2 ~ 29.9 kg/m2, ≥ 30 kg /m2) with EP. RESULTS: They were 659 EP and 1460 deliveries. The variables of age, parity, history of induced abortion, history of ectopic pregnancy and BMI were different significantly(P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that the variables of age > 35 years old [(OR (Odds Ratio), 5.415; 95%CI (Confidence Interval), 4.006 ~ 7.320, P < 0.001], history of ectopic pregnancy (OR, 3.944; 95%CI, 2.405 ~ 6.467; P < 0.001), history of induced abortion(OR, 3.365; 95%CI, 2.724 ~ 4.158, P < 0.001) and low BMI (< 18.5 kg/m2) (OR, 1.929; 95%CI, 1.416 ~ 2.628, P < 0.001])increased the risk of EP. CONCLUSION: The history of ectopic pregnancy, history of induced abortion and age > 35 years old were the risk factors with EP. In addition to these traditional factors, we found low BMI (< 18.5 kg/m2) with women may increase the risk to EP.

The Complete Mitochondrial Genome of Paeonia lactiflora Pall. (Saxifragales: Paeoniaceae): Evidence of Gene Transfer from Chloroplast to Mitochondrial Genome.

Paeonia lactiflora (P. lactiflora), a perennial plant renowned for its medicinal roots, provides a unique case for studying the phylogenetic relationships of species based on organelle genomes, as well as the transference of DNA across organelle genomes. In order to investigate this matter, we sequenced and characterized the mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of P. lactiflora. Similar to the chloroplast genome (cpgenome), the mitogenome of P. lactiflora extends across 181,688 base pairs (bp). Its unique quadripartite structure results from a pair of extensive inverted repeats, each measuring 25,680 bp in length. The annotated mitogenome includes 27 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNAs, 8 rRNAs, and two pseudogenes (rpl5, rpl16). Phylogenetic analysis was performed to identify phylogenetic trees consistent with Paeonia species phylogeny in the APG Ⅳ system. Moreover, a total of 12 MTPT events were identified and 32 RNA editing sites were detected during mitogenome analysis of P. lactiflora. Our research successfully compiled and annotated the mitogenome of P. lactiflora. The study provides valuable insights regarding the taxonomic classification and molecular evolution within the Paeoniaceae family.

Scalar-Function Causal Discovery for Generating Causal Hypotheses with Observational Wearable Device Data.

Digital health technologies such as wearable devices have transformed health data analytics, providing continuous, high-resolution functional data on various health metrics, thereby opening new avenues for innovative research. In this work, we introduce a new approach for generating causal hypotheses for a pair of a continuous functional variable (e.g., physical activities recorded over time) and a binary scalar variable (e.g., mobility condition indicator). Our method goes beyond traditional association-focused approaches and has the potential to reveal the underlying causal mechanism. We theoretically show that the proposed scalar-function causal model is identifiable with observational data alone. Our identifiability theory justifies the use of a simple yet principled algorithm to discern the causal relationship by comparing the likelihood functions of competing causal hypotheses. The robustness and applicability of our method are demonstrated through simulation studies and a real-world application using wearable device data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Tannic acid-enriched nanocellulose hydrogels improve physical and oxidative stability of high-internal-phase Pickering emulsions.

A cellulose suspension and tannic acid (TA) were co-sonicated to prepare TA-incorporated nanocellulose hydrogels with the aim of improving the physical and oxidative stability of high-internal-phase emulsions (HIPEs). Cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) hydrogels were used to stabilize HIPEs, relying on the interfacial adsorption behavior of CNCs and the reversible gelation properties of hydrogels. TA was incorporated due to its ability to improve emulsification performance and antioxidant properties. Introducing TA enhanced the gel strength of hydrogels by decreasing the interfibrillar distance. The utilization of CNC-TA hydrogels effectively improved physical properties of HIPEs. This improvement included a reduction in droplet size from the initial 103.41 µm to 39.66 µm, an enhancement of the gel structure, and an improvement in storage stability. A denser and orderly interfacial structure was formed in CNCs-TA hydrogel stabilized HIPEs due to anchoring TA at the interface driven by the hydrogen-bonding interaction between CNCs and TA. This densely interfacial layer with good antioxidant activity markedly enhanced the oxidative stability of emulsions, as evidenced by the low level of oxidation products in HIPEs. This study has the potential to extend the utilization of CNC-stabilized emulsions to new applications in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries.

Independent association of the Meckel's cave with trigeminal neuralgia and development of a screening tool.

PURPOSE: To 1) investigate the association of the properties of the Meckel's cave (MC) with TN occurrence (i.e., affected vs. unaffected nerves) and whether such association was independent of neurovascular contact (NVC); and 2) develop an objective screening tool for TN. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred and nineteen trigeminal nerves were included. (The severity of) NVC was identified for individual nerve, and a set of 107 radiomic features were extracted to characterize various properties of each MC. Both procedures were primarily based on magnetic resonance imaging sequences. A radiomic score (Rad-score) was constructed for each MC to integrate the features associated with TN occurrence. Independent t-test and logistic regression were conducted to assess the association and develop the screening tool mentioned above. RESULTS: Twelve features were selected to build the Rad-score, with the Inverse Difference Moment Normalized (IDMN) having the greatest weight. The Rad-score was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher in the affected compared to the unaffected nerves, irrespective of NVC. The Rad-score and NVC were incorporated in the regression model/screening tool, which demonstrated an acceptable discriminating ability (C-statistic = 0.84). CONCLUSION: This study has identified a potential association of the properties/features of the MC with TN occurrence, probably involving the demyelination and axonal injury of the trigeminal ganglion within the MC as suggested by the IDMN. Such association may be independent of NVC. This finding may provide new insight into the etiology and/or pathophysiology of TN. The screening tool, which demonstrated an acceptable discriminating ability, may contribute to an improvement in its diagnosis.

The role of Nurr1-miR-30e-5p-NLRP3 axis in inflammation-mediated neurodegeneration: insights from mouse models and patients' studies in Parkinson's disease.

Nuclear receptor related-1 (Nurr1), a ligand-activated transcription factor, is considered a potential susceptibility gene for Parkinson's disease (PD), and has been demonstrated to possess protective effects against inflammation-induced neuronal damage. Despite the evidence showing decreased NURR1 level and increased pro-inflammatory cytokines in cell and animal models as well as in PD patients' peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), the underlying mechanism remains elusive. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism of Nurr1 in PD-related inflammation. Through the miRNA-sequencing and verification in PBMCs from a cohort of 450 individuals, we identified a significant change of a Nurr1-dependent miRNA miR-30e-5p in PD patients compared to healthy controls (HC). Additionally, PD patients exhibited an elevated plasma interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) level and increased nucleotide-binding domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) expression in PBMCs compared to HC. Statistical analyses revealed significant correlations among NURR1, miR-30e-5p, and NLRP3 levels in the PBMCs of PD patients. To further explore the involvement of Nurr1-miR-30e-5p-NLRP3 axis in the inflammation-mediated PD pathology, we developed a mouse model (Nurr1flox+/Cd11b-cre+, Nurr1cKO) conditionally knocking out Nurr1 in Cd11b-expressing cells. Our investigations in Nurr1cKO mice unveiled significant dopaminergic neurodegeneration following lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation. Remarkably, Nurr1 deficiency triggered microglial activation and activated NLRP3 inflammasome, resulting in increased IL-1ß secretion. Coincidently, we found that miR-30e-5p level was significantly decreased in the PBMCs and primary microglia of Nurr1cKO mice compared to the controls. Furthermore, our in vitro experiments demonstrated that miR-30e-5p specifically targeted NLRP3. In Nurr1-knockdown microglia, NLRP3 expression was upregulated via miR-30e-5p. In summary, our findings highlight the involvement of Nurr1-miR-30e-5p-NLRP3 axis in the inflammation-mediated neurodegeneration in PD, the results of which may offer promising prospects for developing PD biomarkers and targeted therapeutic interventions.

Genetic diversity of Coffea arabica L. mitochondrial genomes caused by repeat- mediated recombination and RNA editing.

Background: Coffea arabica L. is one of the most important crops widely cultivated in 70 countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Mitochondria are essential organelles that play critical roles in cellular respiration, metabolism, and differentiation. C. arabica's nuclear and chloroplast genomes have been reported. However, its mitochondrial genome remained unreported. Here, we intended to sequence and characterize its mitochondrial genome to maximize the potential of its genomes for evolutionary studies, molecular breeding, and molecular marker developments. Results: We sequenced the total DNA of C. arabica using Illumina and Nanopore platforms. We then assembled the mitochondrial genome with a hybrid strategy using Unicycler software. We found that the mitochondrial genome comprised two circular chromosomes with lengths of 867,678 bp and 153,529 bp, encoding 40 protein-coding genes, 26 tRNA genes, and three rRNA genes. We also detected 270 Simple Sequence Repeats and 34 tandem repeats in the mitochondrial genome. We found 515 high-scoring sequence pairs (HSPs) for a self-to-self similarity comparison using BLASTn. Three HSPs were found to mediate recombination by the mapping of long reads. Furthermore, we predicted 472 using deep-mt with the convolutional neural network model. Then we randomly validated 90 RNA editing events by PCR amplification and Sanger sequencing, with the majority being non-synonymous substitutions and only three being synonymous substitutions. These findings provide valuable insights into the genetic characteristics of the C. arabica mitochondrial genome, which can be helpful for future study on coffee breeding and mitochondrial genome evolution. Conclusion: Our study sheds new light on the evolution of C. arabica organelle genomes and their potential use in genetic breeding, providing valuable data for developing molecular markers that can improve crop productivity and quality. Furthermore, the discovery of RNA editing events in the mitochondrial genome of C. arabica offers insights into the regulation of gene expression in this species, contributing to a better understanding of coffee genetics and evolution.

Interactions between wheat germ polysaccharide and gut microbiota through in vitro batch fecal fermentation and an aging mice model: Targeting enrichment of Bacteroides uniformis and Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum.

The interaction between wheat germ polysaccharide (WGP) and gut microbiota remains relatively less investigated. Thus, this study explored their interaction via in vitro batch fecal fermentation. WGP elevated dramatically the relative abundances of Bacteroides (especially Ba. xylanisolvens, Ba. uniformis, and Ba. intestinalis), Bifidobacterium (especially Bi. pseudocatenulatum) and Eubacterium, and decreased Alistipes, Klebsiella, Bilophila and Sutterella. Moreover, the metabolomics and Spearman correlation results showed that these alterations in gut microbiota gave rise to over 13-fold augmentation in the quantities of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and indole-3-lactic acid, as well as 7.17- and 4.23-fold increase in acetylcholine and GABA, respectively, at 24 h of fermentation. Interestingly, PICRUSt analysis showed that WGP markedly reduced aging pathway, and enriched nervous system pathway. Therefore, the D-gal-induced aging mice model was used to further verify these effects. The results demonstrated that WGP had a protective effect on D-gal-induced behavioral deficits, particularly in locomotor activity, and spatial and recognition memory. WGP elevated dramatically the relative abundances of Bacteroides (especially Ba. sartorii and Ba. uniformis), Bifidobacterium (especially Bi. pseudocatenulatum) and Parabacteroides, and decreased Alistipes and Candidatus Arthromitus. These findings highlight the potential utility of WGP as a dietary supplement for retarding the aging process and mitigating age-associated learning and memory decline via the targeted enrichment of Bacteroides and Bifidobacterium and the related metabolites.

Characterizing the chloroplast genome of Mammillaria elongata DC. 1828 in the Cactaceae family and unveiling its phylogenetic affinities within the genus Mammillaria.

With its nearly 200 species, the Mammillaria genus is the most species-rich within the Cactaceae family, yet surprisingly, few of its chloroplast genomes have been studied. We focused on the species Mammillaria elongata DC. 1828, a petite cactus native to Mexico and favored by horticulturists, yet whose phylogenetic relationships remain uncertain due to a lack of genomic data. We extracted the DNA from a sample obtained in China, sequenced it using the NovaSeq 6000 platform, and assembled the chloroplast genome using GetOrganelle software. Our assembly resulted in a chloroplast genome of 110,981 base pairs with an overall GC content of 36.28%, which included 100 genes (95 unique). Notably, several protein-coding genes were absent. Phylogenetic analysis using 59 shared genes across nine Mammillaria species and one Obregonia species revealed that M. elongata and M. gracilis are closely related, suggesting a recent common ancestor and possible shared evolutionary pressures or ecological niches. This study provides crucial genomic data for M. elongata and hints at intriguing phylogenetic relationships within the Mammillaria genus.

Multiple configurations of the plastid and mitochondrial genomes of Caragana spinosa.

MAIN CONCLUSION: In this study, we assembled the complete plastome and mitogenome of Caragana spinosa and explored the multiple configurations of the organelle genomes. Caragana spinosa belongs to the Papilionoidea subfamily and has significant pharmaceutical value. To explore the possible interaction between the organelle genomes, we assembled and analyzed the plastome and mitogenome of C. spinosa using the Illumina and Nanopore DNA sequencing data. The plastome of C. spinosa was 129,995 bp belonging to the inverted repeat lacking clade (IRLC), which contained 77 protein-coding genes, 29 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes. The mitogenome was 378,373 bp long and encoded 54 unique genes, including 33 protein-coding, three ribosomal RNA (rRNA), and 18 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes. In addition to the single circular conformation, alternative conformations mediated by one and four repetitive sequences in the plastome and mitogenome were identified and validated, respectively. The inverted repeat (PDR12, the 12th dispersed repeat sequence in C. spinosa plastome) of plastome mediating recombinant was conserved in the genus Caragana. Furthermore, we identified 14 homologous fragments by comparing the sequences of mitogenome and plastome, including eight complete tRNA genes. A phylogenetic analysis of protein-coding genes extracted from the plastid and mitochondrial genomes revealed congruent topologies. Analyses of sequence divergence found one intergenic region, trnN-GUU-ycf1, exhibiting a high degree of variation, which can be used to develop novel molecular markers to distinguish the nine Caragana species accurately. This plastome and mitogenome of C. spinosa could provide critical information for the molecular breeding of C. spinosa and be used as a reference genome for other species of Caragana. In this study, we assembled the complete plastome and mitogenome of Caragana spinosa and explored the multiple configurations of the organelle genomes.

Microwave ablation for the treatment of peripheral ground-glass nodule-like lung cancer: Long-term results from a multi-center study.

Introduction: Microwave ablation (MWA) is an effective and safe approach for the treatment of ground-glass nodule (GGN)-like lung cancer, but long-term follow-up is warranted. Therefore, this multi-center retrospective study aimed to evaluate the results of MWA for the treatment of peripheral GGN-like lung cancer with a long-term follow-up. Materials and Methods: From June 2013 to January 2018, a total of 87 patients (47 males and 40 females, mean age 64.6 ± 10.2 years) with 87 peripheral lung cancer lesions showing GGN (mean long axis diameter, 17 ± 5 mm) underwent computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous MWA. All GGN-like lung cancers were histologically verified. The primary endpoints were local progression-free survival (LPFS) and overall survival (OS). The secondary endpoints were cancer-specific survival (CSS) and complications. Results: During a median follow-up of 65 months, both the 3-year and 5-year LPFS rates were 96.6% and 96.6%. The OS rate was 94.3% at 3 years and 84.9% at 5 years, whereas the 3-year and 5-year CSS rates were 100% and 100%, respectively. No periprocedural deaths were observed. Complications were observed in 49 patients (51.6%). Grade 3 or higher complications included pneumothorax, pleural effusion, hemorrhage, and pulmonary infection, which were identified in ten (10.5%), two (2.1%), two (2.1%), and one (1.1%) patient, respectively. Conclusions: CT-guided percutaneous MWA is an effective, safe, and potentially curative treatment regimen for GGN-like lung cancer.

Evaluation of co-fermentation of L. plantarum and P. kluyveri of a plant-based fermented beverage: Physicochemical, functional, and sensory properties.

In this study, Pichia kluyveri (P. kluyveri) and Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) were sequentially inoculated into a plant-based beverage consisting of bananas, broccoli, and wolfberries. The physicochemical characteristics, functional components, and taste of it at different stages were determined. After 8-d fermentation, the viable counts of P. kluyveri and L. plantarum were 6.50 log CFU/mL and 8.43 log CFU/mL, respectively. The ethanol was <0.5 % (v/v). Compared with control group, the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased by 96.08 folds and total phenolics content increased by 1.09 folds. The contents of lactic acid, protocatechuic acid, and chlorogenic acid exhibited an upgrade trend, whereas the contents of caffeic acid and malic acid presented a downward tendency. Some organic acids had positive correlations with sensory quality, especially sourness. In addition, the γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) concentration and antioxidant activity were also improved during fermentation. Results showed the nutritional functional properties and sensory quality of this beverage could be improved through co-fermentation of P. kluyveri and L. plantarum.

Clinical outcomes of radioactive seed brachytherapy and microwave ablation in inoperable stage I non-small cell lung cancer.

This study assessed the efficacy and safety of radioactive iodine-125 seed ablation brachytherapy (RSABT) in comparison to microwave ablation therapy (MWAT) for treating inoperable stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We conducted a retrospective analysis of data from stage I NSCLC patients who underwent CT-guided RSABT or MWAT. The primary outcomes measured were progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and the occurrence of adverse events. Of the patients included in the study, 71 underwent RSABT and 105 received MWAT. The median follow-up time for these groups was 47.4 months and 60 months, respectively. The PFS rates at 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year for the RSABT group were 87.3%, 72.6%, and 65.8%, while for the MWAT group, they were 89.5%, 69.3%, and 43.7%, respectively (P = 0.011). The OS rates at 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year for the RSABT group were 97.2%, 78.1%, and 66.1%, and for the MWAT group, they were 99%, 75.8%, and 55%, respectively (P = 0.112). Upon multivariate analysis, the treatment modality was identified as an independent predictor of PFS (P = 0.008). Additionally, both sex and T stage were found to be independent predictors of both PFS and OS (P < 0.05). Adverse events, such as pneumothorax, occurred in 50% of the MWAT group and 39% of the RSABT group (P = 0.313). The incidence of pleural effusion was 44% in the MWAT group compared to 14% in the RSABT group (P < 0.001). Needle bleeding was observed in 32% of the RSABT group and 5% of the MWAT group (P < 0.001). We conclude RSABT demonstrates promising efficacy and safety in the treatment of stage I NSCLC. However, further studies are essential to validate these preliminary findings.

Multidimensional Analysis of a Cell-Free DNA Whole Methylome Sequencing Assay for Early Detection of Gastric Cancer: Protocol for an Observational Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND: Commonly used noninvasive serological indicators serve as a step before endoscope diagnosis and help identify the high-risk gastric cancer (GC) population. However, they are associated with high false positives and high false negatives. Alternative noninvasive approaches, such as cancer-related features in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) fragments, have been gradually identified and play essential roles in early cancer detection. The integrated analysis of multiple cfDNA features has enhanced detection sensitivity compared to individual features. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop and validate an assay based on assessing genomic-scale methylation and fragmentation profiles of plasma cfDNA for early cancer detection, thereby facilitating the early diagnosis of GC. The primary objective is to evaluate the overall specificity and sensitivity of the assay in predicting GC within the entire cohort, and subsequently within each clinical stage of GC. The secondary objective involved investigating the specificity and sensitivity of the assay in combination with possible serological indicators. METHODS: This is an observational case-control study. Blood samples will be prospectively collected before gastroscopy from 180 patients with GC and 180 nonmalignant control subjects (healthy or with benign gastric diseases). Cases and controls will be randomly divided into a training and a testing data set at a ratio of 2:1. Plasma cfDNA will be isolated and extracted, followed by bisulfite-free low-depth whole methylome sequencing. A multidimensional model named Thorough Epigenetic Marker Integration Solution (THEMIS) will be constructed in the training data set. The model includes features such as the methylated fragment ratio, chromosomal aneuploidy of featured fragments, fragment size index, and fragment end motif. The performance of the model in distinguishing between patients with cancer and noncancer controls will then be evaluated in the testing data set. Furthermore, GC-related biomarkers, such as pepsinogen, gastrin-17, and Helicobacter pylori, will be measured for each patient, and their predictive accuracy will be assessed both independently and in combination with the THEMIS model. RESULTS: Recruitment began in November 2022 and will be ended in April 2024. As of August 2022,250 patients have been enrolled. The final data analysis is anticipated to be completed by September 2024. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first registered case-control study designed to investigate a stacked ensemble model integrating several cfDNA features generated from a bisulfite-free whole methylome sequencing assay. These features include methylation patterns, fragmentation profiles, and chromosomal copy number changes, with the aim of identifying the GC population. This study will determine whether multidimensional analysis of cfDNA will prove to be an effective strategy for distinguishing patients with GC from nonmalignant individuals within the Chinese population. We anticipate the THEMIS model will complement the standard-of-care screening and aid in identifying high-risk patients for further diagnosis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrial.gov NCT05668910; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05668910. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/48247.