Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation in Limited-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Meta-Analysis.

The role of prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) in limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) has been questioned in the era of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The purpose of this study was to re-evaluate the efficacy of PCI in patients with LS-SCLC. Three electronic databases were searched, including PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from January 2012 to April 2022. All relevant publications were included based on the inclusion criteria, and survival data and brain metastasis (BM) rates were extracted and pooled. Ten studies were selected which involved 532 patients who received PCI and 613 patients who did not receive PCI. In pooled estimates, PCI significantly improved overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.71, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.61-0.82, p <0.001; HR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.48-0.97, p = 0.03, respectively]. Additionally, the use of PCI was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of brain metastasis (BM, risk ratio = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.46-0.90, p = 0.009). In subgroup analyses. The authors found that the PCI effects on OS were independent of region and the use of brain imaging after initial treatment. These findings demonstrate that PCI improves OS and PFS while decreasing the risk of BM in patients with LS-SCLC, implying that PCI remains necessary even in the MRI era. Key Words: Prophylactic cranial irradiation, Small cell lung cancer, Magnetic resonance imaging, Brain metastasis.

Abnormal H3K4 enzyme catalytic activity and neuronal morphology caused by ASH1L mutations in individuals with Tourette syndrome.

ASH1L potentially contributes to Tourette syndrome (TS) and other neuropsychiatric disorders, as our previous studies have shown. It regulates essential developmental genes by counteracting polycomb-mediated transcriptional repression, which restricts chromatin accessibility at target genes. ASH1L is highly expressed in the adult brain, playing a crucial role in the early stage. However, it remains unclear how ASH1L mutations carried by patients with TS participate in regulating neuronal growth processes leading to TS traits. Five TS families recruited in our study underwent comprehensive physical examinations and questionnaires to record clinical phenotypes and environmental impact factors. We validated the variants via Sanger sequencing and constructed two mutants near the catalytic domain of ASH1L. We conducted molecular modeling, in vitro assays, and primary neuron cultures to find the role of ASH1L in neuronal development and its correlation with TS. In this study, we validated five pathogenic ASH1L rare variants and observed symptoms in patients with simple tics and behavioral comorbidities. Mutations near the catalytic domain of TS patients cause mental state abnormalities and disrupt ASH1L function by destabilizing its spatial conformation, leading to decreased activity of catalytic H3K4, thereby affecting the neurite growth. We need to conduct larger-scale studies on TS patients and perform additional neurological evaluations on mature neurons. We first reported the effects of ASH1L mutations in TS patients, including phenotypic heterogeneity, protein function, and neurological growth. This information contributes to understanding the neurodevelopmental pathogenesis of TS in patients with ASH1L mutations.

Case report: Cutaneous metastases as a first manifestation from breast cancer with concurrent gastric metastases.

Background: Breast cancer represents a leading cause of malignancy among Chinese women, posing a significant health burden. The diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer, particularly to uncommon sites like the skin and stomach, presents distinct challenges. Case introduction: This case report describes a 71-year-old Chinese women with a persistent back rash lasting more than 6 months. Physical examination revealed red papules on her back. Immunohistochemistry confirmed positive for cytokeratin 7(CK7), GATA-3 and GCDFP15, as well as negative staining of cytokeratin 20 (CK20), suggesting breast cancer metastasis. Further evaluation revealed a breast nodule and axillary lymph node enlargement, with biopsies confirming invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC). Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed thickening of the gastric and ascending colon walls. Gastroscopy revealed chronic superficial atrophic gastritis. However, gastric metastasis was further confirmed by pathology. The patient initiated endocrine therapy with fulvestrant and exemestane, resulting in rash resolution and stable breast and stomach lesions after 3 months. Overall, the patient is experiencing an improvement in her condition and remains stable while continuing treatment. Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of considering atypical metastatic patterns in breast cancer and the potential efficacy of endocrine therapies in managing such cases. Moreover, it emphasizes the need for vigilance in breast cancer patients, especially those with ILC, as gastrointestinal symptoms may indicate gastric metastasis (GMs). Ultimately, early detection and appropriate treatment strategies, such as endocrine therapy, can contribute to improved outcomes in these challenging cases.

Evolution and expression patterns of the neo-sex chromosomes of the crested ibis.

Bird sex chromosomes play a unique role in sex-determination, and affect the sexual morphology and behavior of bird species. Core waterbirds, a major clade of birds, share the common characteristics of being sexually monomorphic and having lower levels of inter-sexual conflict, yet their sex chromosome evolution remains poorly understood. Here, by we analyse of a chromosome-level assembly of a female crested ibis (Nipponia nippon), a typical core waterbird. We identify neo-sex chromosomes resulting from fusion of microchromosomes with ancient sex chromosomes. These fusion events likely occurred following the divergence of Threskiornithidae and Ardeidae. The neo-W chromosome of the crested ibis exhibits the characteristics of slow degradation, which is reflected in its retention of abundant gametologous genes. Neo-W chromosome genes display an apparent ovary-biased gene expression, which is largely driven by genes that are retained on the crested ibis W chromosome but lost in other bird species. These results provide new insights into the evolutionary history and expression patterns for the sex chromosomes of bird species.

Association between alkaline phosphatase to albumin ratio and mortality among patients with sepsis.

The alkaline phosphatase-to-albumin ratio (APAR) is correlated to worse prognosis in coronary artery disease, cancer, and acute renal failure. However, the relationship between APAR and sepsis prognosis has received little research. The content of this research was to investigate the prognostic relationship between APAR and sepsis. And validate the stability of the correlation in 90-days and 1-year mortality. Retrospective cohort research was conducted basing MIMIC-IV database (version 2.0). The hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (Cl) were computed using multivariate Cox regression analysis. In addition, plots of survival curves and subgroup analyzes were conducted. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were also used. 9741 participants were included in this investigation. The 90-days mortality was 32.8%, and the 1-year mortality was 42.0%. After controlling for confounders, the adjusted HRs (95% CI) for tertile 2 (2.2-3.8) and tertile 3 (> 3.8) were 1.37 (1.25-1.51) and 1.74 (1.58-1.91), respectively. The Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed a higher probability of 90-days death in the higher APAR group. The area under the curve (AUC) of APAR was 0.674 and could reach 0.709 after combining the Oxford Acute Severity of Illness Score (OASIS). This study demonstrates that APAR is significantly related to bad clinical outcomes in sepsis.

Effectiveness of APG and Honey Gauze in Pressure Injury of Elderly: A Randomized Control Trial.

This study was designed to evaluate the efficiency of the combination of autologous platelet-rich plasma gel (APG) and Manuka honey gauze in the treatment of Stages 3-4 pressure injury of older adults. Patients were divided into four groups: Manuka honey gauze and APG (M + A), Manuka honey gauze (M), APG (A), and a control group (C). Different treatments were given, then wound bed coverage with granulation tissue, wound size reduction, and Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing (PUSH) score were examined. Paraffin-embedded sections of wound tissues were analyzed and wound swab cultures were assessed. Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U test were performed in statistical analysis at a 5% significance level. A total of 42 patients were accepted. Significant increase of wound bed coverage with granulation tissue (51.24%, P = .004, Kruskal-Wallis test) and decrease of PUSH score (-5) were observed in the M + A group at the end of the observation (P = .032, Mann-Whitney U test). The hematoxylin-eosin staining of wound tissues showed that typical squamous epithelium was seen in wound bed of patient in M + A group. Manuka honey gauze and APG were proved to be superior treatments for pressure injury of old patient. Increase of granulation tissue coverage, reduction of PUSH score, and improved growth of epithelium were observed in M + A group. There was no side-effect, and the treatment would not cause infection.

Genome dosage alteration caused by chromosome pyramiding and shuffling effects on karyotypic heterogeneity, reproductive diversity, and phenotypic variation in Zea-Tripsacum allopolyploids.

KEY MESSAGE: We developed an array of Zea-Tripsacum tri-hybrid allopolyploids with multiple ploidies. We unveiled that changes in genome dosage due to the chromosomes pyramiding and shuffling of three species effects karyotypic heterogeneity, reproductive diversity, and phenotypic variation in Zea-Tripsacum allopolyploids. Polyploidy, or whole genome duplication, has played a major role in evolution and speciation. The genomic consequences of polyploidy have been extensively studied in many plants; however, the extent of chromosomal variation, genome dosage, phenotypic diversity, and heterosis in allopolyploids derived from multiple species remains largely unknown. To address this question, we synthesized an allohexaploid involving Zea mays, Tripsacum dactyloides, and Z. perennis by chromosomal pyramiding. Subsequently, an allooctoploid and an allopentaploid were obtained by hybridization of the allohexaploid with Z. perennis. Moreover, we constructed three populations with different ploidy by chromosomal shuffling (allopentaploid × Z. perennis, allohexaploid × Z. perennis, and allooctoploid × Z. perennis). We have observed 3 types of sexual reproductive modes and 2 types of asexual reproduction modes in the tri-species hybrids, including 2n gamete fusion (2n + n), haploid gamete fusion (n + n), polyspermy fertilization (n + n + n) or 2n gamete fusion (n + 2n), haploid gametophyte apomixis, and asexual reproduction. The tri-hybrids library presents extremely rich karyotype heterogeneity. Chromosomal compensation appears to exist between maize and Z. perennis. A rise in the ploidy of the trihybrids was linked to a higher frequency of chromosomal translocation. Variation in the degree of phenotypic diversity observed in different segregating populations suggested that genome dosage effects phenotypic manifestation. These findings not only broaden our understanding of the mechanisms of polyploid formation and reproductive diversity but also provide a novel insight into genome pyramiding and shuffling driven genome dosage effects and phenotypic diversity.

Genomic evolution of island birds from the view of the Swinhoe's pheasant (Lophura swinhoii).

Island endemic birds account for the majority of extinct vertebrates in the past few centuries. To date, the evolutionary characteristics of island endemic bird's is poorly known. In this research, we de novo assembled a high-quality chromosome-level reference genome for the Swinhoe's pheasant, which is a typical endemic island bird. Results of collinearity tests suggest rapid ancient chromosome rearrangement that may have contributed to the initial species radiation within Phasianidae, and a role for the insertions of CR1 transposable elements in rearranging chromosomes in Phasianidae. During the evolution of the Swinhoe's pheasant, natural selection positively selected genes involved in fecundity and body size functions, at both the species and population levels, which reflect genetic variation associated with island adaptation. We further tested for variation in population genomic traits between the Swinhoe's pheasant and its phylogenetically closely related mainland relative the silver pheasant, and found higher levels of genetic drift and inbreeding in the Swinhoe's pheasant genome. Divergent demographic histories of insular and mainland bird species during the last glacial period may reflect the differing impact of insular and continental climates on the evolution of species. Our research interprets the natural history and population genetic characteristics of the insular endemic bird the Swinhoe's pheasant, at a genome-wide scale, provides a broader perspective on insular speciation, and adaptive evolution and contributes to the genetic conservation of island endemic birds.

Prediction of pancreatic fibrosis by dual-energy CT-derived extracellular volume fraction: Comparison with MRI.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the correlation between dual-energy CT (DECT) and MRI measurements of the extracellular volume fraction (ECV) and to assess the accuracy of both methods in predicting pancreatic fibrosis (PF). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 43 patients who underwent pancreatectomy and preoperative pancreatic DECT and MRI between November 2018 and May 2022. The ECV was calculated using the T1 relaxation time (for MR-ECV) or absolute enhancement (for DECT-ECV) at equilibrium phase (180 s after contrast injection in our study). Pearson coefficient and Bland-Altman analysis were used to compare the correlation between the two ECVs, Spearman correlations were used to investigate the association between imaging parameters and PF, Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess the diagnostic performance of the ECVs for advanced fibrosis (F2-F3), and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between PF and imaging parameters. RESULTS: There was a strong correlation between DECT- and MR-derived ECVs (r = 0.948; p < 0.001). The two ECVs were positively correlated with PF (DECT: r = 0.647, p < 0.001; MR: r = 0.614, p < 0.001), and the mean values were 0.34 ± 0.08 (range: 0.22-0.62) and 0.35 ± 0.09 (range: 0.24-0.66), respectively. The area under the operating characteristic curve (AUC) for subjects with advanced fibrosis diagnosed by ECV was 0.86 for DECT-ECV and 0.87 for MR-ECV. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the DECT-ECV was an independent predictor of PF. CONCLUSIONS: The ECV could be an effective predictor of histological fibrosis, and DECT is equivalent to MRI for characterizing pancreatic ECV changes.

Coat protein of cassava common mosaic virus targets RAV1 and RAV2 transcription factors to subvert immunity in cassava.

Cassava common mosaic virus (CsCMV, genus Potexvirus) is a prevalent virus associated with cassava mosaic disease, so it is essential to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms of the coevolutionary arms race between viral pathogenesis and the cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) defense response. However, the molecular mechanism underlying CsCMV infection is largely unclear. Here, we revealed that coat protein (CP) acts as a major pathogenicity determinant of CsCMV via a mutant infectious clone. Moreover, we identified the target proteins of CP-related to abscisic acid insensitive3 (ABI3)/viviparous1 (VP1) (MeRAV1) and MeRAV2 transcription factors, which positively regulated disease resistance against CsCMV via transcriptional activation of melatonin biosynthetic genes (tryptophan decarboxylase 2 (MeTDC2), tryptamine 5-hydroxylase (MeT5H), N-aceylserotonin O-methyltransferase 1 (MeASMT1)) and MeCatalase6 (MeCAT6) and MeCAT7. Notably, the interaction between CP, MeRAV1, and MeRAV2 interfered with the protein phosphorylation of MeRAV1 and MeRAV2 individually at Ser45 and Ser44 by the protein kinase, thereby weakening the transcriptional activation activity of MeRAV1 and MeRAV2 on melatonin biosynthetic genes, MeCAT6 and MeCAT7 dependent on the protein phosphorylation of MeRAV1 and MeRAV2. Taken together, the identification of the CP-MeRAV1 and CP-MeRAV2 interaction module not only illustrates a molecular mechanism by which CsCMV orchestrates the host defense system to benefit its infection and development but also provides a gene network with potential value for the genetic improvement of cassava disease resistance.

Risk factors for severe low anterior resection syndrome in patients with rectal cancer undergoing sphincter­preserving resection: A systematic review and meta­analysis.

The present study aimed to evaluate the incidence and risk factors of severe low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) in patients with rectal cancer undergoing sphincter-preserving resection, and to provide the clinical basis and reference for the treatment of rectal cancer and the prevention of LARS. Studies on the incidence and risk factors for severe LARS in patients with rectal cancer undergoing sphincter-preserving resection were searched using PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus and Web of Science, according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. After evaluating the study quality and extracting relevant data, RevMan 5.2 and STATA software were used to conduct a meta-analysis. A total of 12 articles were considered eligible for the present meta-analysis. Within these articles, there were 3,877 cases of sphincter-preserving resection for rectal cancer and 1,589 cases of severe LARS; the incidence of severe LARS was 40.99%. The results of the meta-analysis revealed that sex [female; odds ratio (OR), 6.54; 95% CI, 3.63-11.76; Z, 6.27; P<0.00001], radiotherapy and chemotherapy (OR, 3.45; 95% CI, 2.29-5.21; Z, 5.91; P<0.00001), total mesorectal excision (TME; OR, 4.39; 95% CI, 3.32-5.79; Z, 10.41; P<0.00001), and distance between tumor and anal margin (OR, 2.74; 95% CI, 0.86-8.72; Z, 1.70; P<0.00001) may be the risk factors for severe LARS.

MRI-based automatic identification and segmentation of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma using deep learning network.

BACKGROUND: Accurate identification of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC) from an image is challenging because of the small size and complex background structure. Therefore, considering the limitation of manual delineation, it's necessary to develop automated identification and segmentation methods for ECC. The aim of this study was to develop a deep learning approach for automatic identification and segmentation of ECC using MRI. METHODS: We recruited 137 ECC patients from our hospital as the main dataset (C1) and an additional 40 patients from other hospitals as the external validation set (C2). All patients underwent axial T1-weighted imaging (T1WI), T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). Manual delineations were performed and served as the ground truth. Next, we used 3D VB-Net to establish single-mode automatic identification and segmentation models based on T1WI (model 1), T2WI (model 2), and DWI (model 3) in the training cohort (80% of C1), and compared them with the combined model (model 4). Subsequently, the generalization capability of the best models was evaluated using the testing set (20% of C1) and the external validation set (C2). Finally, the performance of the developed models was further evaluated. RESULTS: Model 3 showed the best identification performance in the training, testing, and external validation cohorts with success rates of 0.980, 0.786, and 0.725, respectively. Furthermore, model 3 yielded an average Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) of 0.922, 0.495, and 0.466 to segment ECC automatically in the training, testing, and external validation cohorts, respectively. CONCLUSION: The DWI-based model performed better in automatically identifying and segmenting ECC compared to T1WI and T2WI, which may guide clinical decisions and help determine prognosis.

How genomic insights into the evolutionary history of clouded leopards inform their conservation.

Clouded leopards (Neofelis spp.), a morphologically and ecologically distinct lineage of big cats, are severely threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, targeted hunting, and other human activities. The long-held poor understanding of their genetics and evolution has undermined the effectiveness of conservation actions. Here, we report a comprehensive investigation of the whole genomes, population genetics, and adaptive evolution of Neofelis. Our results indicate the genus Neofelis arose during the Pleistocene, coinciding with glacial-induced climate changes to the distributions of savannas and rainforests, and signatures of natural selection associated with genes functioning in tooth, pigmentation, and tail development, associated with clouded leopards' unique adaptations. Our study highlights high-altitude adaptation as the main factor driving nontaxonomic population differentiation in Neofelis nebulosa. Population declines and inbreeding have led to reduced genetic diversity and the accumulation of deleterious variation that likely affect reproduction of clouded leopards, highlighting the urgent need for effective conservation efforts.

Digital light 3D printing of a polymer composite featuring robustness, self-healing, recyclability and tailorable mechanical properties.

Producing lightweight structures with high weight-specific strength and stiffness, self-healing abilities, and recyclability, is highly attractive for engineering applications such as aerospace, biomedical devices, and smart robots. Most self-healing polymer systems used to date for mechanical components lack 3D printability and satisfactory load-bearing capacity. Here, we report a new self-healable polymer composite for Digital Light Processing 3D Printing, by combining two monomers with distinct mechanical characteristics. It shows a desirable and superior combination of properties among 3D printable self-healing polymers, with tensile strength and elastic modulus up to 49 MPa and 810 MPa, respectively. Benefiting from dual dynamic bonds between the linear chains, a healing efficiency of above 80% is achieved after heating at a mild temperature of 60 °C without additional solvents. Printed objects are also endowed with multi-materials assembly and recycling capabilities, allowing robotic components to be easily reassembled or recycled after failure. Mechanical properties and deformation behaviour of printed composites and lattices can be tuned significantly to suit various practical applications by altering formulation. Lattice structures with three different architectures were printed and tested in compression: honeycomb, re-entrant, and chiral. They can regain their structural integrity and stiffness after damage, which is of great value for robotic applications. This study extends the performance space of composites, providing a pathway to design printable architected materials with simultaneous mechanical robustness/healability, efficient recoverability, and recyclability.

Projections of mortality risk attributable to short-term exposure to landscape fire smoke in China, 2021-2100: a health impact assessment study.

BACKGROUND: Landscape fire smoke, including smoke from all vegetation burning in natural and cultural landscapes, remains a threat to the health of the population. However, the future health impacts of landscape fire smoke in China have not been sufficiently investigated. We aimed to estimate the mortality risk attributable to landscape fire-related PM2·5 under different scenarios. METHODS: In this health impact assessment study, we used the projected population and landscape fire-related PM2·5 concentration to calculate deaths attributable to short-term exposure to landscape fire smoke PM2·5 during 2021-2100. We did the analysis in three defined future periods: 2021-40 (near term), 2051-70 (medium term), and 2081-2100 (long term), with 1986-2005 as the historical period. We used fire-specific short-term epidemiological functions with the regional parameters specific to China. We assessed the mortality risks of landscape fire-related smoke and further identified their spatiotemporal distribution under two shared socioeconomic pathway (SSP) scenarios: SSP1-2·6, an optimistic scenario with strict control of carbon emissions, and SSP2-4·5, an intermediate scenario with weaker control of carbon emissions. FINDINGS: The national mortality rate attributable to short-term exposure (ie, a few days) to landscape fire-related PM2·5 is projected to increase compared with historical values. The national deaths attributable to landscape fire smoke PM2·5 could peak in 2021-40, with increases of 28·10% (95% CI 14·08-53·11) under the SSP1-2·6 scenario and 37·38% (14·08-53·11) under the SSP2-4·5 scenario. Deaths would then decrease slightly during 2051-70 and 2081-2100. The provinces with the highest projected number of deaths attributable to landscape fire-related PM2·5 are located in east and south-central China, and those with the largest percentage increase in projected deaths are located in northwest and southwest China. INTERPRETATION: Our results suggest that global warming could increase the contribution of landscape fire smoke to the total PM2·5 concentration, leading to an increase in the mortality rate in China. Our findings could help policy makers implement effective interventions in hotspot areas during different periods to reduce the impact of landscape fire smoke on human health. FUNDING: The National Natural Science Foundation of China, National Key Research and Development Program of China, and the Wellcome Trust.

Validation of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for Suicide Screening in Transgender Women.

Purpose: High prevalence of depression in transgender women highlights the importance of validating the measure to assess depression. Moreover, depression is significantly associated with suicide across research studies. The aims of the current study were to validate a Chinese-language version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and to assess operating characteristics of the PHQ-9 for suicide screening in transgender women. Methods: With the approval of an Institutional Review Board (IRB), a total of 198 transgender women living in Shenyang, China, were recruited, and asked to complete the PHQ-9, including measures of their suicidal ideation, planning and attempt. Results: A one-factor model of the PHQ-9 was supported in the current sample, showing good reliability and validity. The best cutoff point for the PHQ-9 in suicidal ideation was 17, with a sensitivity/specificity of 77.78%; the best cutoff point for PHQ-9 in suicidal planning was 17, with a sensitivity of 81.82% and a specificity of 73.26%; and the best cutoff point for PHQ-9 in suicidal attempt was 20, with a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 90.21%. Conclusion: Findings supported the validity of the PHQ-9. With potential clinical or research application, the PHQ-9 can be an efficient instrument for suicide screening in transgender women.

Supercontinuum generation in As2S3 chalcogenide waveguide pumped by all-fiber structured dual-femtosecond solitons.

Supercontinuum sources with high compactness are essential for applications such as optical sensing, airborne detection and communication systems. In the past decades, the adoption of bulky optical parametric amplifier to pump various chalcogenide glass waveguides are widely reported for on-chip mid-infrared supercontinuum generation, but this usually leads to a large volume of the whole system, and is not practical. Therefore, integrating advanced femtosecond fiber lasers with optical waveguides using nano-fabrication technology are highly desired. However, the scarcity of compact pump sources and the dispersion-matched high-nonlinearity waveguide in short wavelength regions have hindered the advancement of integrated supercontinuum source performances in the near and mid-infrared region. In this study, we demonstrate a broadband supercontinuum source from As2S3 waveguide pumped by a compact dual-femtosecond solitons pulse source. The laser is completely fiber structured, and its wavelength can be readily tuned from 2 to 2.3 µm using Raman soliton self-frequency shift technology in a Tm3+-doped fiber amplifier. Furthermore, the As2S3 waveguide is designed with controllable dispersion and high nonlinearity for a broadband supercontinuum generation. These results will advance the development of on-chip supercontinuum sources based on chalcogenide waveguides.

Mucosal and cellular immune responses elicited by nasal and intramuscular inoculation with ASFV candidate immunogens.

African swine fever (ASF) is an infectious disease caused by African swine fever virus (ASFV) that is highly contagious and has an extremely high mortality rate (infected by virulent strains) among domestic and wild pigs, causing huge economic losses to the pig industry globally. In this study, SDS-PAGE gel bands hybridized with ASFV whole virus protein combined with ASFV-convalescent and ASFV-positive pig serum were identified by mass spectrometry. Six antigens were detected by positive serum reaction bands, and eight antigens were detected in ASFV-convalescent serum. In combination with previous literature reports and proteins corresponding to MHC-II presenting peptides screened from ASFV-positive pig urine conducted in our lab, seven candidate antigens, including KP177R (p22), K78R (p10), CP204L (p30), E183L (p54), B602L (B602L), EP402R-N (CD2V-N) and F317L (F317L), were selected. Subunit-Group 1 was prepared by mixing above-mentioned seven ASFV recombinant proteins with MONTANIDETM1313 VG N mucosal adjuvant and immunizing pigs intranasally and intramuscularly. Subunit-Group 2 was prepared by mixing four ASFV recombinant proteins (p22, p54, CD2V-N1, B602L) with Montanide ISA 51 VG adjuvant and immunizing pigs by intramuscular injection. Anticoagulated whole blood, serum, and oral fluid were collected during immunization for flow cytometry, serum IgG as well as secretory sIgA antibody secretion, and cytokine expression testing to conduct a comprehensive immunogenicity assessment. Both immunogen groups can effectively stimulate the host to produce ideal humoral, mucosal, and cellular immune responses, providing a theoretical basis for subsequent functional studies, such as immunogens challenge protection and elucidation of the pathogenic mechanism of ASFV.

Computed Tomography-Guided Percutaneous Stylomastoid Foramen Puncture and Radiofrequency Thermocoagulation for Treatment of Hemifacial Spasm via Mandibular Angle Approach.

BACKGROUND: Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is characterized by progressive, paroxysmal, and involuntary convulsions on one side of the face. We have conducted in-depth exploration on the puncture approach through the mandibular angle, which is an important supplement to the first 2 approaches (i.e., premastoid approach and the postmastoid approach), especially for patients who cannot find a suitable way before and after the mastoid process. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous mandibular angle radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RFT) of facial nerve through the stylomastoid foramen in treating HFS. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective, observational study. SETTING: Pain Department, Jiaxing and Hangzhou, China. METHODS: A total of 89 patients with HFS who underwent CT-guided RFT in the Pain Department of Zhejiang Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital and the Pain Department of Jiaxing First Hospital, from June 2020 to June 2022, were retrospectively analyzed, including 29 men and 60 women, aged 34~88 (59.8 ± 11.1). They were divided into 3 groups: anterior mastoid approach group (Group A, n = 38), posterior mastoid approach group (Group P, n = 26), and mandibular angle approach group (Group M, n = 25), according to the different puncture approaches. Puncture time, minimum stimulating current triggering facial muscle twitches, temperature at the end of RFT and duration time of RFT at this temperature, and total treatment time, as well as degree of facial paralysis and complications one-day postoperation, were compared among the 3 groups. RESULTS: The puncture times (mean ± SD) of Group A, Group P, and Group M were (30.63 ± 4.88), (31.35 ± 5.89), and (35.08 ± 5.76), respectively, and the differences were statistically significant (P = 0.006). The puncture time of Group M was longer than that of Groups A and P (P < 0.05). The minimum stimulating current triggering facial muscle twitches in the 3 groups were (0.49 ± 0.16), (0.43 ± 0.14), and (0.28 ± 0.09), respectively, with a statistically significant difference (P = 0.000). The minimum stimulation current in Group M was less than that in Groups A and P (P < 0.05). The temperature at the end of RFT of the 3 groups was (78.29 ± 7.91), (76.54 ± 8.10), and (66.60 ± 8.00), respectively, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.001). The temperature of Group M was lower than Groups A and P (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences among the 3 groups in the total operation time or the degree of facial paralysis one-day postoperation (P > 0.05). No hematoma, infection, hearing impairment, or other complications were reported in any patients. LIMITATIONS: The nonrandomized nature, small sample size, and retrospective design are limitations of this study. CONCLUSIONS: CT-guided RFT through the stylomastoid foramen is an effective treatment of HFS. Compared to the poster and anterior mastoid approaches, the mandibular angle approach was found to be more effective in terms of reduced minimum stimulating current and reduced-end RFT temperature, which means fewer potential complications to the patient postsurgery. KEY WORDS: Hemifacial spasm, radiofrequency thermocoagulation, stylomastoid foramen, CT-guided.

Can psychological interventions prevent or reduce risk for perinatal anxiety disorders? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Little is known about the extent to which interventions can prevent perinatal anxiety disorders. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine whether interventions can decrease the onset and symptoms of perinatal anxiety among individuals without an anxiety disorder diagnosis. METHOD: We conducted a comprehensive literature search across five databases related to key concepts: (1) anxiety disorders/anxiety symptom severity (2) perinatal (3) interventions (4) prevention. We included studies that examined a perinatal population without an anxiety disorder diagnosis, included a comparator group, and assessed perinatal anxiety. We included interventions focused on perinatal anxiety as well as interventions to prevent perinatal depression or influence related outcomes (e.g., physical activity). RESULTS: Thirty-six studies were included. No study assessing the incidence of perinatal anxiety disorder (n = 4) found a significant effect of an intervention. Among studies assessing anxiety symptom severity and included in the quantitative analysis (n = 30), a meta-analysis suggested a small standardized mean difference of -0.31 (95% CI [-0.46, -0.16], p < .001) for anxiety at post intervention, favoring the intervention group. Both mindfulness (n = 6), and cognitive behavioral therapy approaches (n = 10) were effective. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions developed for perinatal anxiety were more effective than interventions to prevent perinatal depression. Psychological interventions show promise for reducing perinatal anxiety symptom severity, though interventions specifically targeting anxiety are needed.