Integrated analysis of single cell-RNA sequencing and Mendelian randomization identifies lactate dehydrogenase B as a target of melatonin in ischemic stroke.

AIMS: Despite the success of single-cell RNA sequencing in identifying cellular heterogeneity in ischemic stroke, clarifying the mechanisms underlying these associations of differently expressed genes remains challenging. Several studies that integrate gene expression and gene expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) with genome wide-association study (GWAS) data to determine their causal role have been proposed. METHODS: Here, we combined Mendelian randomization (MR) framework and single cell (sc) RNA sequencing to study how differently expressed genes (DEGs) mediating the effect of gene expression on ischemic stroke. The hub gene was further validated in the in vitro model. RESULTS: We identified 2339 DEGs in 10 cell clusters. Among these DEGs, 58 genes were associated with the risk of ischemic stroke. After external validation with eQTL dataset, lactate dehydrogenase B (LDHB) is identified to be positively associated with ischemic stroke. The expression of LDHB has also been validated in sc RNA-seq with dominant expression in microglia and astrocytes, and melatonin is able to reduce the LDHB expression and activity in vitro ischemic models. CONCLUSION: Our study identifies LDHB as a novel biomarker for ischemic stroke via combining the sc RNA-seq and MR analysis.

Correction: Zhang et al. Dynamic Multi-Objective Optimization in Brazier-Type Gasification and Carbonization Furnace. Materials 2023, 16, 1164.

In consideration of the contributions to this work, Feng Qian unequivocally requests the removal of his name from the author list of this publication [...].

Preparation and thermal responsiveness of microencapsulated fluorinated liquids for automatic fire extinguishing.

Most early-stage fires originating in small confined spaces may not be effectively mitigated by automatic fire-extinguishing systems. Leveraging the unique controlled release capability and barrier properties of microcapsules presents a promising avenue for developing multifunctional and intelligent fire-extinguishing agents tailored for early-stage fire suppression. This paper introduces two types of microcapsules that integrate automatic detection and fire extinguishing functions, utilizing fluorinated liquids specifically perfluoro(2-methyl-3-pentanone) and 1,1,1,2,2,3,4,5,5,5 decafluoro-3-methoxy-4(trifluoromethyl)-pentane as core materials. The preparation process was optimized, and the thermal response of the microcapsules was evaluated by directly incorporating them into combustible materials. The results indicated a correlation between the preparation method, coating efficiency, and thermal stability of microcapsules with the core-wall materials. When the fluoride solution in the core material reaches the thermal response threshold temperature, the gas pressure generated during vaporization and phase change can break through the shell, enabling early active fire protection. Beyond a specific threshold of additive microcapsules in the material, the material exhibits self-extinguishing potential during combustion. In cases where the additive amount falls short of achieving self-extinguishing, the fire-resistant performance of materials can be enhanced through various measures. For instance, reducing the amount of fire-extinguishing agents, delaying the ignition time of fuel, and lowering the heat release rate during combustion are effective strategies. Moreover, the degree of improvement is related to the additional amount and the type of core-wall materials. The thermal-response mechanism of microcapsules constitutes a comprehensive mechanism with physical and chemical effects. The finding of this research offer a new technical approach for microencapsulating high-boiling-point gas extinguishing agents, facilitating intelligent and precise prevention of early fires resulting from combustible materials.

Whole transcriptome sequencing for revealing the pathogenesis of sporotrichosis caused by Sporothrix globosa.

This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism of sporotrichosis and identify possible novel therapeutic targets. Total RNA was extracted from skin lesion samples from sporotrichosis patients and used to construct a long-chain RNA transcriptome library and miRNA transcriptome library for whole transcriptome sequencing. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the groups were identified, and then Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis enrichment analyses were performed based on the DEGs. An lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network was constructed. The expressions of JAK/STAT pathway-related proteins were detected in the patient and control tissues using RT-qPCR and Western blot analysis. Enrichment analysis showed that the DEGs were mainly enriched in various infectious diseases and immune response-related signaling pathways. Competing endogenous RNA network analysis was performed and identified the hub lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs. Compared with the control group, the mRNA expressions of SOCS3, IL-6, and JAK3 were significantly upregulated, while the expression of STAT3 did not change significantly. Also, the protein expressions of SOCS3, IL-6, JAK3, and STAT3, as well as phosphorylated JAK3 and STAT3, were significantly upregulated. We identified 671 lncRNA DEGs, 3281 mRNA DEGs, and 214 miRNA DEGs to be involved in Sporothrix globosa infection. The study findings suggest that the JAK/STAT pathway may be a therapeutic target for sporotrichosis.

Bowen's Disease of the Nipple and Areola: Case Report and Literature Review.

Introduction: Bowen's disease (BD) commonly occurs in sites of chronic sunlight exposure such as head, neck and extremities. It rarely distributes on the nipple and areola. Case Presentation: A 59-year-old female presented with crusted plaque on the right breast for over 1 month. Physical examination found an asymptomatic plaque (5 cm × 5 cm) with irregular shape on the right breast. Histopathological examination suggested irregularly acanthotic epidermis and atypical epidermal cells. Dermis showed inflammatory cell infiltration. Immunohistochemical staining showed negative staining for cytokeratin 7 and cytokeratin 20, and positive staining for Ki67 (60%). The mass was excised and no recurrence occurred in the follow-up. Additionally, we reviewed the literature about BD of the breast and summarized the clinical manifestations, histological features, and treatment options. Conclusion: We reported a rare BD case involving nipple and areola. Wide local excision and complete nipple excision are effective for patients with BD of the nipple and areola.

A Computational Model of Cn2 Profile Inversion for Atmospheric Laser Communication in the Vertical Path.

In this paper, an atmospheric structure constant Cn2 model is proposed for evaluating the channel turbulence degree of atmospheric laser communication. First, we derive a mathematical model for the correlation between the atmospheric coherence length r0, the isoplanatic angle θ0 and Cn2 using the Hufnagel-Valley (HV) turbulence model. Then, we calculate the seven parameters of the HV model with the actual measured r0 and θ0 data as input quantities, so as to draw the Cn2 profile and the θ0 profile. The experimental results show that the fitted average Cn2 contours and single-day Cn2 contours have superior fitting performance compared with our historical data, and the daily correlation coefficient between the single-day computed θ0 contours and the measured θ0 contours is up to 87%. This result verifies the feasibility of the proposed method. The results validate the feasibility of the proposed method and provide a new technical tool for the inversion of turbulence Cn2 profiles.

LncRNA PANTR1 is Associated with Poor Prognostic and Suppresses Apoptosis in Glioma.

Glioma is the most common tumor in the central nervous system. High-grade gliomas confer a poor prognosis, being a serious health and economic burden. Current literature suggests the important role of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) in mammals, especially in tumorigenesis of various tumors. The functions of lncRNA POU3F3 adjacent noncoding transcript 1 (PANTR1) have been investigated in hepatocellular carcinoma but remain yet unclear in gliomas. We evaluated the role of PANTR1 in glioma cells using published data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), then validated it by ex vivo experiments. To investigate the potential cellular mechanism of different levels of PANTR1 expression in glioma cells, we used siRNA-mediated knockdown in low-grade (grade II) cell lines and GBM (grade IV) cell lines (SW1088 and SHG44, respectively). On the molecular level, low expression of PANTR1 caused significantly reduced glioma cell viability and enhanced cell death. Moreover, we identified the importance of PANTR1 expression for cell migration in both cell lines, a critical foundation for invasiveness in recurrent gliomas. In conclusion, this study provides the first evidence that PANTR1 has a relevant role in human glioma by influencing cell viability and cell death.

Dynamic Multi-Objective Optimization in Brazier-Type Gasification and Carbonization Furnace.

With the special porous structure and super-long carbon sequestration characteristic, the biochar has shown to have potential in improving soil fertility, reducing carbon emissions and increasing soil carbon sequestration. However, the biochar technology has not been applied on a large scale, due to the complex structure, long transportation distance of raw materials, and high cost. To overcome these issues, the brazier-type gasification and carbonization furnace is designed to carry out dry distillation, anaerobic carbonization and have a high carbonization rate under high-temperature conditions. To improve the operation and maintenance efficiency, we formulate the operation of the brazier-type gasification and carbonization furnace as a dynamic multi-objective optimization problem (DMOP). Firstly, we analyze the dynamic factors in the work process of the brazier-type gasification and carbonization furnace, such as the equipment capacity, the operating conditions, and the biomass treated by the furnace. Afterward, we select the biochar yield and carbon monoxide emission as the dynamic objectives and model the DMOP. Finally, we apply three dynamic multiobjective evolutionary algorithms to solve the optimization problem so as to verify the effectiveness of the dynamic optimization approach in the gasification and carbonization furnace.

Risk factors, prediction model, and prognosis analysis of myocardial injury after acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Background: Cardiovascular complications in patients with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (AUGIB) have been associated with a high-risk of subsequent adverse consequences. This study aimed to analyze the risk factors for myocardial injury in AUGIB patients, predict the risk of myocardial injury, and explore the clinical prognosis and influencing factors in AUGIB patients with myocardial injury. Materials and methods: A retrospective case-control study based on AUGIB patients in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from 2016 to 2020 was performed. We divided the enrolled patients into a myocardial injury group and a control group according to whether they developed myocardial injury. The variables significant in the univariate analysis were subjected to binary logistic regression for risk factor analysis and were used to establish a nomogram for predicting myocardial injury. In addition, logistic regression analysis was performed to better understand the risk factors for in-hospital mortality after myocardial injury. Result: Of the 989 AUGIB patients enrolled, 10.2% (101/989) developed myocardial injury. Logistic regression analysis showed that the strong predictors of myocardial injury were a history of hypertension (OR: 4.252, 95% CI: 1.149-15.730, P = 0.030), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (OR: 1.159, 95% CI: 1.026-1.309, P = 0.018) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <68% (OR: 3.667, 95% CI: 1.085-12.398, P = 0.037). The patients with a tumor history (digestive system tumors and non-digestive system tumors) had no significant difference between the myocardial injury group and the control group (P = 0.246). A prognostic nomogram model was established based on these factors with an area under the receiver operator characteristic curve of 0.823 (95% CI: 0.730-0.916). The patients with myocardial injury had a much higher in-hospital mortality rate (10.9% vs. 2.0%, P < 0.001), and an elevated D-dimer level was related to in-hospital mortality among the AUGIB patients with myocardial injury (OR: 1.273, 95% CI: 1.085-1.494, P = 0.003). Conclusion: A history of hypertension, renal dysfunction, and cardiac function with LVEF <68% were strong predictors of myocardial injury. Coagulopathy was found to be associated with poor prognosis in AUGIB patients with myocardial injury.

Corrigendum: m6A regulatory gene-mediated methylation modification in glioma survival prediction.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.873764.].

A novel integrated angioscope-laser system for atherosclerotic carotid artery occlusion: Feasibility and techniques.

Introduction: Atherosclerotic extracranial carotid artery stenosis accounts for about 20%-30% of all strokes, which is one of the leading causes of adult morbidity and mortality. Although carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is still the mainly operational manner for atherosclerotic carotid artery stenosis/occlusion (ACAS/ACAO), and carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) have been used as an alternative, both CEA and CAS have limitations of their own, such as extensive invasiveness and in-stent restenosis. Methods: In this study we established a novel interventional system in vitro to take advantage of both CEA and CAS. Twenty consecutive carotid atherosclerotic plaques were harvested from the patients who underwent CEA. The plaques were randomized into two groups and inserted into the pruned and sutured descending aortas of the swine in vitro. The ZebraScope™ was modified with a protective device on its flexible tip, so that the plaque could be dissected from the wall of parent carotid artery and ablated completely without damage to the carotid artery. The holmium:YAG (Ho:YAG) and thulium fiber laser (TFL) generators were alternately used when needed. Results: All the carotid atherosclerotic plaques were completely ablated by Ho:YAG laser and/or TFL. The Ho:YAG laser was more effective for the atherosclerotic plaques with severe calcification, while the TFL was more suitable for those with moderate calcification. There were still some thermal injury spots on the inner wall of the parent carotid artery caused by the laser in the non-protected group B. In the protected group A, on the contrary, there was no even a thermal injury spot was found on the relevant location except for one sample. The difference of ablating duration was statistically significant between group A (36.5 ± 4.79 min) and group B (63.4 ± 6.55 min) (P < 0.01). Conclusion: According to our knowledge, this is the first attempt to ablate carotid atherosclerotic plaques assisted by the ZebraScope™ in vitro. The protective and dissecting device on the tip of the angioscope makes it safe and visible when the ablation is performed to carotid atherosclerotic plaques. The Ho:YAG laser and TFL are effective and safe for ablating the plaque in vitro.

Clinical Comparison of Endoscopic Ultrasonography and CT in Preoperative TN Staging of Esophagogastric Junction Cancer.

In recent years, the incidence of esophagogastric junction cancer has increased year by year. It is a special type of gastric cancer, with 80% of patients being clinically in the middle and late stages. The traditional treatment methods are extremely ineffective, and the accuracy of preoperative staging is not good enough. At present, the medical treatment for esophagogastric junction cancer mainly adopts surgery and postoperative adjuvant therapy. The current mainstream clinical diagnostic methods of esophagogastric junction cancer before concurrent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy are X-ray, CT examination, and gastroscopic diagnosis. However, these clinical diagnostic methods have many limitations. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) can accurately locate malignant tumors in the digestive tract, surrounding microstructures. It can diagnose lymphatic metastasis so as to provide a clear imaging basis for neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. This method can also effectively improve the prognosis of the esophagus and stomach according to the characteristics of the patient. In this experiment, we conducted a controlled trial on patients with stage III esophagogastric junction cancer, divided into an experimental group (neoadjuvant chemotherapy + surgery) and a control group (conventional surgery). The preoperative EUS staging in the control group, the preoperative EUS staging in the neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy group, and the postoperative pathological staging were compared. The experiment showed that in the control group, the preoperative and postoperative accuracy of EUS was 89.2%, while the preoperative and postoperative accuracy of CT examination was only 62.5%. In the experimental group, the preoperative and postoperative accuracies of EUS and CT were 79.6% and 56.7%, respectively. EUS has both specificity and accuracy due to CT examination. Through studying EUS technology in the staging and diagnosis of esophagogastric junction cancer, the therapeutic effect of esophagogastric junction cancer can be improved. The prognosis of esophagogastric junction cancer can also be improved.

m6A Regulatory Gene-Mediated Methylation Modification in Glioma Survival Prediction.

The median survival of patients with gliomas is relatively short. To investigate the epigenetic mechanisms associated with poor survival, we analyzed publicly available datasets from patients with glioma. This analysis revealed 12 prognosis-related m6A regulatory genes that may be responsible for poor prognosis. These genes may be involved in genomic changes inherent to oxidative phosphorylation, adipogenesis, hedgehog signaling, and Myc signaling. We reconstructed a risk model with univariate and multivariate Cox analyses and identified older age and the m6A risk score as independent risk factors for predicting the prognosis of glioma patients, which is associated with glioma immune infiltration. In conclusion, m6A regulatory genes may serve as both reliable biomarkers and potential targets to increase the chance of survival of patients with glioma.

Itraconazole therapy for infant hemangioma: Two case reports.

BACKGROUND: Infantile hemangiomas (IHs) are the most common childhood benign tumors, showing distinctive progression characteristics and outcomes. Due to the high demand for aesthetics among parents of IH babies, early intervention is critical in some cases. ß-Adrenergic blockers and corticosteroids are first-line medications for IHs, while itraconazole, an antifungal medicine, has shown positive results in recent years. CASE SUMMARY: In the present study, itraconazole was applied to treat two IH cases. The therapeutic course lasted 80-90 d, during which the visible lesion faded by more than 90%. Moreover, no obvious side effects were reported, and the compliance of the baby and parents was desirable. CONCLUSION: Although these outcomes further support itraconazole as an effective therapeutic choice for IHs, large-scale clinical and basic studies are still warranted to improve further treatment.

microRNA-106b derived from endothelial cell-secreted extracellular vesicles prevents skin wound healing by inhibiting JMJD3 and RIPK3.

Intriguingly, microRNAs (miRs) transferred as cargo in extracellular vesicles (EVs) can modulate wound healing through their regulation of fibroblast functions. In this study, we investigated the effects of miR-106b transfer via EVs derived from human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) on skin wound healing. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay identified that miR-106b could target and inhibit JMJD3. RT-qPCR analysis showed EVs isolated from HUVECs had enriched expression of miR-106b. LL29 fibroblast cells and HaCaT keratinocytes were co-cultured with HUVEC-derived EVs, in which miR-106b had been up-regulated or down-regulated by its mimic or inhibitor. The co-culture with HUVEC-derived EVs increased miR-106b expression, and reduced the viability and adhesion of LL29 and HaCaT cells, whereas the inhibition of miR-106b in HUVEC-derived EVs enhanced the viability and adhesion of LL29 and HaCaT cells through up-regulation of JMJD3. Next, we showed that JMJD3 overexpression enhanced LL29 and HaCaT cell viability and adhesion through elevating RIPK3, which induced the phosphorylation of AKT during the wound-healing process. We next developed a mouse skin wound model to investigate the actions of miR-106b in vivo after 14 days. The delivery of miR-106b via HUVEC-derived EVs delayed wound healing through suppression of collagen I content and angiogenesis, but had no effects on pro-inflammatory cytokines. In conclusion, miR-106b from HUVEC-derived EVs inhibits JMJD3 and RIPK3, leading to the inhibition of skin wound healing, thus constituting a new therapeutic target.

Autologous full-thickness skin graft for treating squamous carcinoma in a patient with psoriasis.

A 31-year-old male patient with psoriasis received administration of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) during a disease course of 14 years. He showed multiple keratoma together with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in left lower limbs. After admission, the conditions were stable after treatment, and received surgery for treating SCC. The skin defect was treated using full-thickness skin graft. The postoperative survival of the flap was satisfactory, and the conditions of psoriasis were well controlled. In this case, we presented the feasibility of graft in the donor site from a psoriatic lesion. Besides, we analyzed the possibility of SCC and keratinizing lesions.

Comparison of leaf transcriptome in response to Rhizoctonia solani infection between resistant and susceptible rice cultivars.

BACKGROUND: Sheath blight (SB), caused by Rhizoctonia solani, is a common rice disease worldwide. Currently, rice cultivars with robust resistance to R. solani are still lacking. To provide theoretic basis for molecular breeding of R. solani-resistant rice cultivars, the changes of transcriptome profiles in response to R. solani infection were compared between a moderate resistant cultivar (Yanhui-888, YH) and a susceptible cultivar (Jingang-30, JG). RESULTS: In the present study, 3085 differentially express genes (DEGs) were detected between the infected leaves and the control in JG, with 2853 DEGs in YH. A total of 4091 unigenes were significantly upregulated in YH than in JG before infection, while 3192 were significantly upregulated after infection. Further analysis revealed that YH and JG showed similar molecular responses to R. solani infection, but the responses were earlier in JG than in YH. Expression levels of trans-cinnamate 4-monooxygenase (C4H), ethylene-insensitive protein 2 (EIN2), transcriptome factor WRKY33 and the KEGG pathway plant-pathogen interaction were significantly affected by R. solani infection. More importantly, these components were all over-represented in YH cultivar than in JG cultivar before and/or after infection. CONCLUSIONS: These genes possibly contribute to the higher resistance of YH to R. solani than JG and were potential target genes to molecularly breed R. solani-resistant rice cultivar.

Metal-enhanced fluorometric formaldehyde assay based on the use of in-situ grown silver nanoparticles on silica-encapsulated carbon dots.

Fluorescent nanoparticles were prepared by encapsulating carbon dots (CDs) within silica spheres and then modifying these spheres with amino groups (CD@SiO2-NH2). On the basis of the silver mirror reaction, Ag+ assembled on the surface of CD@SiO2-NH2 is reduced to silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by formaldehyde. The in-situ grown AgNPs cause a visually distinguishable fluorescence enhancement. This metal-enhanced effect was investigated by transmission electron microscopy and spectroscopic characterization, and the relevant conditions were optimized. CD@SiO2-NH2-Ag+ fluorescent probes were loaded onto nano-sponge pieces for the analysis of formaldehyde gas. The blue fluorescence emission (peaking at 466 nm) in response to formaldehyde is greatly enhanced (up to 5.2 times) over other species. There is a linear relationship between the fluorescence enhancement and formaldehyde gas concentration in the range of 10 ppb to 1 ppm, and the detection limit is 3 ppb. The fluorimetric assay needs 30 min for the reaction, and the fluorescent nano-sponge pieces are disposable. Graphical abstractSchematic representation of the metal-enhanced fluorescence (MEF) induced by in-situ grown silver nanoparticles on silica-encapsulated carbon dots, and its application in formaldehyde gas assays.

Initiating TrkB/Akt Signaling Cascade Preserves Blood-Brain Barrier after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Rats.

The integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) plays a vital role in affecting the prognosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). This study aimed to investigate activation of the Tropomyosin-related kinase receptor B (TrkB) and its downstream signaling pathway on preserving BBB breakdown after experimental SAH. An endovascular perforation SAH model was applied. N-[2-(5-hydroxy-1H-indol-3-yl) ethyl]-2- oxopiperidine-3-carboxamide (HIOC), the derivative of N-acetyl serotonin (NAS), was intracerebroventricularly administered 3 h after SAH induction. The neurologic scores and brain water content were evaluated in an outcome study. Western blot and immunofluorescence staining were used to investigate the mechanism. The results indicated that HIOC activated the TrkB/Akt pathway, increased the tight junction expression, improved neurologic deficits, and ameliorated brain edema after SAH. Thus, we conclude that initiating the TrkB/Akt signaling cascade preserves BBB breakdown after experimental SAH in rats.