Enhanced trichloroethylene biodegradation: The mechanism and influencing factors of combining microorganism and carbon­iron materials.

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is one of the most prevalent contaminants with long-term persistence and a strong carcinogenic risk. Biological dechlorination has gradually become the mainstream method due to its advantages of low treatment cost and high environmental friendliness. However, microorganisms are easily restricted by environmental factors, such as an insufficient energy supply and a slow biological dechlorination process. This study focused on the coupled degradation of TCE with the combination of microorganisms and assistant materials (biochar, nZVI, nZVI modified biochar, HPO3 modified biochar), and set up microorganisms (alone) and materials (alone) as separate controls. Biochar provided nutrients, increased contact with pollutants, and promoted electron transfer to improve TCE degradation, although it did not change the pathway of degradation. The coupled treatment with anaerobic microorganisms (Micro) and 1 g/L unmodified biochar (BC) had the strongest degradation capacity. Compared with microorganisms alone, the addition of biochar resulted in the complete removal of TCE within 4 days. The influence of ambient temperature was mainly related to microbial activity, and 35 °C showed better degradation than 20 °C. Under 20 °C, 1 g/L of nZVI significantly promoted microbial dechlorination. As the dosage increased to 2 g/L and 4 g/L, nZVI showed a strong toxic effect. After 16 days, TCE was completely converted to ethylene by Micro-BC with C3H5O3Na, while 4.40 µmol dichloroethane (DCE) and 1.48 µmol vinyl chloride (VC) remained in the treatment with Micro-BC alone. As an electron acceptor, NaNO3 directly competed with TCE in the reduction process, which decreased the reduction efficiency of TCE. These findings provide a better understanding of the mechanism of the chemical materials coupling microbial dechlorination process and an optimal treatment method for trichloroethylene degradation.

Patients with MMAF induced by novel biallelic CFAP43 mutations have good fertility outcomes after intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

As a specific type of asthenoteratozoospermia, multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF) is characterized by composite abnormalities, including absent, short, coiled, angulation, and irregular-caliber flagella. Mutations in cilia- and flagella-associated protein 43 (CFAP43) are one of the main causative factors of MMAF established to date. To identify whether there are other CFAP43 mutations related to MMAF and to determine the clinical outcomes of assisted reproductive technology for patients with MMAF harboring different mutations, we recruited and screened 30 MMAF-affected Chinese men using a 22-gene next-generation sequencing panel. After systematic analysis, seven mutations in CFAP43, including five novel mutations and two previously reported mutations, were identified from four families and related to MMAF in an autosomal recessive pattern. Papanicolaou staining, immunofluorescence, and electronic microscopy further clarified the semen characteristics and abnormal sperm morphologies, including disorganized axonemal and peri-axonemal structures, of the CFAP43-deficient men. The female partners of two patients were pregnant after undergoing assisted reproductive technology through intracytoplasmic sperm injection, and one of them successfully gave birth to a healthy boy. This study significantly expands the mutant spectrum of CFAP43, and together with the available information regarding male infertility and MMAF, provides new information for the genetic diagnosis and counseling of MMAF in the future.

Tunable broadband absorber based on a layered resonant structure with a Dirac semimetal.

With the development of science and technology, intermediate infrared technology has gained more and more attention in recent years. In the research described in this paper, a tunable broadband absorber based on a Dirac semimetal with a layered resonant structure was designed, which could achieve high absorption (more than 0.9) of about 8.7 THz in the frequency range of 18-28 THz. It was confirmed that the high absorption of the absorber comes from the strong resonance absorption between the layers, and the resonance of the localised surface plasmon. The absorber has a gold substrate, which is composed of three layers of Dirac semimetal and three layers of optical crystal plates. In addition, the resonance frequency of the absorber can be changed by adjusting the Fermi energy of the Dirac semimetal. The absorber also shows excellent characteristics such as tunability, absorption stability at different polarisation waves and incident angles, and has a high application value for use in radar countermeasures, biotechnology and other fields.

A stability indicating LC-MS/MS method for quantification of a NOX Inhibitor R14 in its bisulfite adduct form for pharmacokinetic studies.

R14, also known as NOX Inhibitor VII, is a potent inhibitor of NADPH oxidases (NOX) which has recently been identified as a novel agent targeting to triple-negative breast cancer. It is also rapidly degraded in collected pharmacokinetic plasma and blood samples even stored under - 70 °C. The purpose of this study was to develop a stability indicating LC-MS/MS assay that would be suitable for quantification of R14 in plasma and blood. In the presence of sodium sulfite under acidic pH, R14, an aryl lactam compound which is not a typically reactive compound for bisulfite addition, readily and completely converted to R14 bisulfite adduct, which was more stable in plasma and blood. The adduct has MRM transition at m/z 340.1-127.0 in negative mode and showed high sensitivity in LC-MS/MS quantification. Thus, monitoring the adduct provided a suitable way of quantitating R14 concentrations in mouse whole blood. The reacting conditions were optimized based on detecting R14 bisulfite adduct, and the assay was established and validated on a SCIEX 6500+ Triple Quad LC-MS/MS System. The method was then successfully adapted to pharmacokinetic studies after oral administration of R14 to mice.

[Narcolepsy Type 1 With Comorbid Schizophrenia: A Case Report].

We present the case of an 18-year-old male patient who had narcolepsy type 1 and comorbid schizophrenia. The patient's first symptom was mainly excessive daytime sleepiness, which was followed by psychotic symptoms, including hallucinations, delusions, and abnormal speech and behaviors. After admission to the hospital, the patient underwent a number of ancillary tests. Multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) showed that the mean sleep latency was 2 min and the hypocretin-1 was found to be 90.56 pg/mL. The patient was diagnosed with: 1) schizophrenia; 2) narcolepsy. After receiving antipsychotic drugs and behavioral therapy, the patient's hallucinations and abnormal speech and behaviors disappeared, and delusions and excessive daytime sleepiness decreased significantly. The symptoms and manifestations of narcolepsy type 1 overlaps with those of schizophrenia, which may lead to misdiagnosis and underdiagnosis in clinical practice. The case is presented with a view to providing a reference for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of narcolepsy type 1 with comorbid schizophrenia.

Modelling methane emissions and grain yields for a double-rice system in Southern China with DAYCENT and DNDC models.

Methane (CH4) is an important greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change and one of its major sources is rice cultivation. The main aim of this paper was to compare two well-established biogeochemical models, namely Daily Century (DAYCENT) and DeNitrification-DeComposition (DNDC) for estimating CH4 emissions and grain yields for a double-rice cropping system with tillage practice and/or stubble incorporation in the winter fallow season in Southern China. Both models were calibrated and validated using field measured data from November 2008 to November 2014. The calibrated models performed effectively in estimating the daily CH4 emission pattern (correlation coefficient, r = 0.58-0.63, p < 0.001), but model efficiency (EF) values were higher in stubble incorporation treatments, with and without winter tillage (treatments S and WS) (EF = 0.22-0.28) than that in winter tillage without stubble incorporation treatment (W) (EF = -0.06-0.08). We recommend that algorithms for the impacts of tillage practice on CH4 emission should be improved for both models. DAYCENT and DNDC also estimated rice yields for all treatments without a significant bias. Our results showed that tillage practice in the winter fallow season (treatments WS and W) significantly decreased annual CH4 emissions, by 13-37 % (p < 0.05) for measured values, 15-20 % (p < 0.05) for DAYCENT-simulated values, and 12-32 % (p < 0.05) for DNDC-simulated values, respectively, compared to no-till practice (treatments S), but had no significant impact on grain yields.

A complete algebraic solution to the optimal dynamic rationing policy in the stock-rationing queue with two demand classes.

In this paper, we study a stock-rationing queue with two demand classes by means of the sensitivity-based optimization, and develop a complete algebraic solution to the optimal dynamic rationing policy. We show that the optimal dynamic rationing policy must be of transformational threshold type. Based on this finding, we can refine three sufficient conditions under each of which the optimal dynamic rationing policy is of threshold type (i.e., critical rationing level). To do this, we use the performance difference equation to characterize the monotonicity and optimality of the long-run average profit of this system, and thus establish some new structural properties of the optimal dynamic rationing policy by observing any given reference policy. Finally, we use numerical experiments to demonstrate our theoretical results of the optimal dynamic rationing policy. We believe that the methodology and results developed in this paper can shed light on the study of stock-rationing queue and open a series of potentially promising research.

The coevolution of the spread of a disease and competing opinions in multiplex networks.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a proliferation of conflicting opinions on physical distancing across various media platforms, which has had a significant impact on human behavior and the transmission dynamics of the disease. Inspired by this social phenomenon, we present a novel UAP-SIS model to study the interaction between conflicting opinions and epidemic spreading in multiplex networks, in which individual behavior is based on diverse opinions. We distinguish susceptibility and infectivity among individuals who are unaware, pro-physical distancing and anti-physical distancing, and we incorporate three kinds of mechanisms for generating individual awareness. The coupled dynamics are analyzed in terms of a microscopic Markov chain approach that encompasses the aforementioned elements. With this model, we derive the epidemic threshold which is related to the diffusion of competing opinions and their coupling configuration. Our findings demonstrate that the transmission of the disease is shaped in a significant manner by conflicting opinions, due to the complex interaction between such opinions and the disease itself. Furthermore, the implementation of awareness-generating mechanisms can help to mitigate the overall prevalence of the epidemic, and global awareness and self-awareness can be interchangeable in certain instances. To effectively curb the spread of epidemics, policymakers should take steps to regulate social media and promote physical distancing as the mainstream opinion.

Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia Using a Smartphone Application in China: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Digital cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (DCBT-I) requires adaptation to different sociocultural contexts. Moreover, studies comparing DCBT-I and sleep education in the same operating interface are lacking. Objective: To investigate the efficacy of a smartphone-based Chinese culture-adapted DCBT-I application (app) for insomnia compared with sleep education using the same app. Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a single-blinded, randomized clinical trial conducted from March 2021 to January 2022. Screening and randomization were conducted at Peking University First Hospital. Follow-up visits were performed online or in the same hospital. After assessing for eligibility, eligible participants were enrolled and allocated (1:1) to DCBT-I or sleep education groups. Data were analyzed from January to February 2022. Interventions: A Chinese smartphone-based app with the same interface was used in both DCBT-I and sleep education groups over 6 weeks, with 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-ups. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) scores with the intention-to-treat principle. Secondary and exploratory outcomes included sleep diary measures; self-reported scales assessing dysfunctional beliefs about sleep, mental health, and quality of life; and smart bracelet measures. Results: Of 82 participants (mean [SD] age, 49.67 [14.49] years; 61 [74.4%] females), with 41 randomized to sleep education and 41 randomized to DCBT-I; 77 participants completed the 6-week intervention (39 participants in the sleep education group and 38 participants in the DCBT-I group; full analysis data set) and 73 completed the 6-month follow-up (per protocol data set). Mean (SD) ISI scores in the DCBT-I group were significantly lower than those in the sleep education group after the 6-week intervention (12.7 [4.8] points vs 14.9 [5.0] points; Cohen d = 0.458; P = .048) and at the 3-month follow-up (12.1 [5.4] points vs 14.8 [5.5] points; Cohen d = 0.489; P = .04). There were significant improvements from before to after the intervention for both the sleep education and DCBT-I groups, with large effect sizes(sleep education: d = 1.13; DCBT-I: d = 1.71). Some of the sleep diary measures and self-reported scales showed more improvements in the DCBT-I group than sleep education group, such as total sleep time (mean [SD]: 3 months, 403.9 [57.6] minutes vs 363.2 [72.3] minutes; 6 months, 420.3 [58.0] minutes vs 389.7 [59.4] minutes) and sleep efficiency (mean [SD]: 3 months, 87.4% [8.3%] vs 76.7% [12.1%]; 6 months, 87.5% [8.2%] vs 78.1% [10.9%]). Conclusions and Relevance: In this randomized clinical trial, the smartphone-based Chinese culture-adapted DCBT-I improved insomnia severity compared with sleep education. Future multicenter clinical trials with large sample sizes are needed to validate its effectiveness in the Chinese population. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04779372.

Evaluating SARS-CoV-2 antibody reactivity to natural exposure and inactivated vaccination with peptide microarrays.

Objective: Vaccination is effective tool for preventing and controlling SARS-CoV-2 infections, and inactivated vaccines are the most widely used type of vaccine. In order to identify antibody-binding peptide epitopes that can distinguish between individuals who have been vaccinated and those who have been infected, this study aimed to compare the immune responses of vaccinated and infected individuals. Methods: SARS-CoV-2 peptide microarrays were used to assess the differences between 44 volunteers inoculated with the inactivated virus vaccine BBIBP-CorV and 61 patients who were infected with SARS-CoV-2. Clustered heatmaps were used to identify differences between the two groups in antibody responses to peptides such as M1, N24, S15, S64, S82, S104, and S115. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to determine whether a combined diagnosis with S15, S64, and S104 could effectively distinguish infected patients from vaccinated individuals. Results: Our findings showed that the specific antibody responses against S15, S64, and S104 peptides were stronger in vaccinators than in infected persons, while responses to M1, N24, S82, and S115 were weaker in asymptomatic patients than in symptomatic patients. Additionally, two peptides (N24 and S115) were found to correlate with the levels of neutralizing antibodies. Conclusion: Our results suggest that antibody profiles specific to SARS-CoV-2 can be used to distinguish between vaccinated individuals and those who are infected. The combined diagnosis with S15, S64, and S104 was found to be more effective in distinguishing infected patients from those who have been vaccinated than the diagnosis using individual peptides. Moreover, the specific antibody responses against the N24 and S115 peptides were found to be consistent with the changing trend of neutralizing antibodies.

Tumor immune contexture predicts recurrence after prostatectomy and efficacy of androgen deprivation and immunotherapy in prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men with notable interpatient heterogeneity. Implications of the immune microenvironment in predicting the biochemical recurrence-free survival (BCRFS) after radical prostatectomy and the efficacy of systemic therapies in prostate cancer remain ambiguous. METHODS: The tumor immune contexture score (TICS) involving eight immune contexture-related signatures was developed using seven cohorts of 1120 patients treated with radical prostatectomy (training: GSE46602, GSE54460, GSE70769, and GSE94767; validation: GSE70768, DKFZ2018, and TCGA). The association between the TICS and treatment efficacy was investigated in GSE111177 (androgen deprivation therapy [ADT]) and EGAS00001004050 (ipilimumab). RESULTS: A high TICS was associated with prolonged BCRFS after radical prostatectomy in the training (HR = 0.32, 95% CI 0.24-0.45, P < 0.001) and the validation cohorts (HR = 0.45, 95% CI 0.32-0.62, P < 0.001). The TICS showed stable prognostic power independent of tumor stage, surgical margin, pre-treatment prostatic specific antigen (PSA), and Gleason score (multivariable HR = 0.50, 95% CI 0.39-0.63, P < 0.001). Adding the TICS into the prognostic model constructed using clinicopathological features significantly improved its 1/2/3/4/5-year area under curve (P < 0.05). A low TICS was associated with high homologous recombination deficiency scores, abnormally activated pathways concerning DNA replication, cell cycle, steroid hormone biosynthesis, and drug metabolism, and fewer tumor-infiltrating immune cells (P < 0.05). The patients with a high TICS had favorable BCRFS with ADT (HR = 0.25, 95% CI 0.06-0.99, P = 0.034) or ipilimumab monotherapy (HR = 0.23, 95% CI 0.06-0.81, P = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: Our study delineates the associations of tumor immune contexture with molecular features, recurrence after radical prostatectomy, and the efficacy of ADT and immunotherapy. The TICS may improve the existing risk stratification systems and serve as a patient-selection tool for ADT and immunotherapy in prostate cancer.

Corrosion protection properties of tetraphenylethylene-based inhibitors toward carbon steel in acidic medium.

Four novel corrosion inhibitors (1, 2, 3 and 4) integrating different tetraphenylethylene (TPE) cations and thiocyanate (SCN-) anions were developed. Weight-loss and electrochemical measurements were employed to assess their protective properties toward carbon steel in 0.5 M H2SO4, revealing them as effective corrosion inhibitors in the order of 3 > 4 > 2 > 1, with the inhibition efficiencies of 2, 3 and 4 all exceeding 97%. The inhibitory effect could be attributed to hard and soft acids and bases theory and the synergistic effect of the charged ingredients. The efficiency trend of the corrosion inhibition, as well as inhibition mechanism, was verified by multi-scaled theoretical simulations combined with grand canonical Monte Carlo and molecular dynamic methods.

Spinel-Derived Formation and Amorphization of Bimetallic Oxyhydroxides for Efficient Electrocatalytic Biomass Oxidation.

Replacing the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with water-assisted oxidation of organic molecules represents a promising approach for achieving sustainable electrochemical biomass utilization. Among numerous OER catalysts, spinels have received substantial attention due to their manifold compositions and valence states, yet their application in biomass conversions remains rare. Herein, a series of spinels were investigated for the selective electrooxidation of furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, two model substrates for versatile value-added chemical products. Spinel sulfides universally exhibit superior catalytic performance compared to that of spinel oxides, and further investigations show that the replacement of oxygen with sulfur led to the complete phase transition of spinel sulfides into amorphous bimetallic oxyhydroxides during electrochemical activation, serving as the active species. Excellent values of conversion rate (100%), selectivity (100%), faradaic efficiency (>95%), and stability were achieved via sulfide-derived amorphous CuCo-oxyhydroxide. Furthermore, a volcano-like correlation was established between their BEOR and OER activities based on an OER-assisted organic oxidation mechanism.

Coixol ameliorates Toxoplasma gondii infection-induced lung injury by interfering with T. gondii HSP70/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite that causes pulmonary toxoplasmosis, although its pathogenesis is incompletely understood. There is no cure for toxoplasmosis. Coixol, a plant polyphenol extracted from coix seeds, has a variety of biological activities. However, the effects of coixol on T. gondii infection have not been clarified. In this study, we infected a mouse macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7) and BALB/c mice with the T. gondii RH strain to establish infection models in vitro and in vivo, respectively, to explore protective effects and potential mechanisms of coixol on lung injury caused by T. gondii infection. Anti-T. gondii effects and underlying anti-inflammatory mechanisms of coixol were investigated by real-time quantitative PCR, molecular docking, localized surface plasmon resonance, co-immunoprecipitation, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, western blotting, and immunofluorescence microscopy. The results show that coixol inhibits T. gondii loads and T. gondii-derived heat shock protein 70 (T.g.HSP70) expression. Moreover, coixol reduced inflammatory cell recruitment and infiltration, and ameliorated pathological lung injury induced by T. gondii infection. Coixol can directly bind T.g.HSP70 or Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) to disrupt their interaction. Coixol prevented overexpression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, tumor necrosis factor-α, and high mobility group box 1 by inhibiting activation of the TLR4/nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling pathway, consistent with effects of the TLR4 inhibitor CLI-095. These results indicate that coixol improves T. gondii infection-induced lung injury by interfering with T.g.HSP70-mediated TLR4/NF-κB signaling. Altogether, these findings suggest that coixol is a promising effective lead compound for the treatment of toxoplasmosis.

Factors Affecting Patient Adherence to Inhalation Therapy: An Application of SEIPS Model 2.0.

Purpose: This study aims to explore factors that affect patient adherence to inhalation therapy by applying a patient-centered approach. Patients and Methods: We conducted a qualitative study to identify the factors that influence adherent behaviors among asthma/COPD patients. 35 semi-structured interviews with patients, and 15 semi-structured interviews with healthcare providers (HCPs) who manage asthma/COPD patients were conducted. The SEIPS 2.0 model was applied as a conceptual framework for guiding the interview content and analysis of the interview data. Results: Based on the findings of this study, a conceptual framework of patient adherence in asthma/COPD during inhalation therapy was constructed including five themes: person, task, tool, physical environment, and culture and society. Person-related factors include patient ability and emotional experience. Task-related factors refer to task type and frequency and flexibility. Tool-related factors are the type of inhalers and usability of inhalers. Physical environment-related factors include home environment and COVID-19 situation. Culture and social related factors consist of two aspects: cultural beliefs and social stigma. Conclusion: The findings of the study identified 10 influential factors that impact on patient adherence to inhalation therapy. A SEIPS-based conceptual model was constructed based on the responses of patients and HCPs to explore the experiences of patients engaging in inhalation therapy and interacting with inhalation devices. In particular, new insight about factors of emotional experience, physical environment and traditional cultural beliefs were found crucial for patients with Asthma/COPD to conduct patients' adherent behaviors.

The long-term and short-term effects of ambient air pollutants on sleep characteristics in the Chinese population: big data analysis from real world by sleep records of consumer wearable devices.

Several studies on long-term air pollution exposure and sleep have reported inconsistent results. Large-scale studies on short-term air pollution exposures and sleep have not been conducted. We investigated the associations of long- and short-term exposure to ambient air pollutants with sleep in a Chinese population based on over 1 million nights of sleep data from consumer wearable devices. Air pollution data including particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O3) were collected from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment. Short-term exposure was defined as a moving average of the exposure level for different lag days from Lag0 to Lag0-6. A 365-day moving average of air pollution was regarded as long-term exposure. Sleep data were recorded using wearable devices from 2017 to 2019. The mixed-effects model was used to evaluate the associations. We observed that sleep parameters were associated with long-term exposure to all air pollutants. Higher levels of air pollutant concentrations were associated with longer total sleep and light sleep duration, shorter deep sleep duration, and decreases in wake after sleep onset (WASO), with stronger associations of exposures to NO2 and CO [a 1-interquartile range (IQR) increased NO2 (10.3 µg/m3) was associated with 8.7 min (95% CI: 8.08 to 9.32) longer sleep duration, a 1-IQR increased CO (0.3 mg/m3) was associated with 5.0 min (95% CI: - 5.13 to - 4.89) shorter deep sleep duration, 7.7 min (95% CI: 7.46 to 7.85) longer light sleep duration, and 0.5% (95% CI: - 0.5 to - 0.4%) lower proportion of WASO duration to total sleep]. The cumulative effect of short-term exposure on Lag0-6 is similar to long-term exposure but relatively less. Subgroup analyses indicated generally greater effects on individuals who were female, younger (< 45 years), slept longer (≥ 7 h), and during cold seasons, but the pattern of effects was mixed. We supplemented two additional types of stratified analyses to reduce repeated measures of outcomes and exposures while accounting for individual variation. The results were consistent with the overall results, proving the robustness of the overall results. In summary, both short- and long-term exposure to air pollution affect sleep, and the effects are comparable. Although people tend to have prolonged total sleep duration with increasing air pollutant concentrations, their sleep quality might remain poor because of the reduction in deep sleep.

Prevalence of hypertension in endemic and non-endemic areas of Keshan disease: A cross-sectional study in rural areas of China.

Background: Hypertension is a major public health concern that strongly influences the quality of life of people worldwide. Keshan disease (KD) is an endemic cardiomyopathy related to low selenium, threatening residents in rural areas of 16 provinces in China. Furthermore, the prevalence of hypertension in the KD-endemic areas has been increasing annually. However, hypertension research associated with KD has only focused on endemic regions, and no studies have compared hypertension prevalence between endemic and non-endemic areas. Therefore, this study investigated the prevalence of hypertension to provide a basis for preventing and controlling hypertension in the KD-endemic areas, even in rural areas. Methods: We extracted blood pressure information from cardiomyopathy investigation data from a cross-sectional study of the KD-endemic and non-endemic areas. The hypertension prevalence between the two groups was compared using the Chi-square test or Fisher s exact test. Additionally, Pearson's correlation coefficient was employed to evaluate the relationship between the per capita gross domestic product (GDP) and hypertension prevalence. Results: There was a statistically significant increase of hypertension prevalence in the KD-endemic areas (22.79%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 22.30-23.27%) over the non-endemic areas (21.55%, 95% CI: 21.09-22.02%). In the KD-endemic areas, more men had hypertension than women (23.90% vs. 21.65%, P < 0.001). Furthermore, the hypertension prevalence was higher in the north than in the south in the KD-endemic areas (27.52% vs. 18.76%, P < 0.001), non-endemic areas (24.86% vs. 18.66%, P < 0.001), and overall (26.17% vs. 18.68%, P < 0.001). Finally, the prevalence of hypertension positively correlated with per capita GDP at province level. Conclusions: The increasing hypertension prevalence is a public health problem in the KD-endemic areas. Healthy diets, such as high consumption of vegetables and seafoods, and foods that are rich in selenium, might help prevent and control hypertension in the KD-endemic areas and other rural areas in China.

Discovery and characterization of cross-reactive intrahepatic antibodies in severe alcoholic hepatitis.

The pathogenesis of antibodies in severe alcoholic hepatitis (SAH) remains unknown. We sought to determine if there was antibody deposition in SAH livers and whether antibodies extracted from SAH livers were cross-reactive against both bacterial antigens and human proteins. We analyzed immunoglobulins (Ig) in explanted livers from SAH patients (n=45) undergoing liver transplantation and tissue from corresponding healthy donors (HD, n=10) and found massive deposition of IgG and IgA isotype antibodies associated with complement fragment C3d and C4d staining in ballooned hepatocytes in SAH livers. Ig extracted from SAH livers, but not patient serum exhibited hepatocyte killing efficacy in an antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) assay. Employing human proteome arrays, we profiled the antibodies extracted from explanted SAH, alcoholic cirrhosis (AC), nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HD livers and found that antibodies of IgG and IgA isotypes were highly accumulated in SAH and recognized a unique set of human proteins as autoantigens. The use of an E. coli K12 proteome array revealed the presence of unique anti- E. coli antibodies in SAH, AC or PBC livers. Further, both Ig and E. coli captured Ig from SAH livers recognized common autoantigens enriched in several cellular components including cytosol and cytoplasm (IgG and IgA), nucleus, mitochondrion and focal adhesion (IgG). Except IgM from PBC livers, no common autoantigen was recognized by Ig and E. coli captured Ig from AC, HBV, HCV, NASH or AIH suggesting no cross-reacting anti- E. coli autoantibodies. The presence of cross-reacting anti-bacterial IgG and IgA autoantibodies in the liver may participate in the pathogenesis of SAH.

Retinal honeycomb appearance and its role in patients with X-linked retinoschisis.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the clinical characteristics of retinal honeycomb appearance in a large cohort of patients with X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS) and to determine whether it is associated with complications like retinal detachment (RD) and vitreous hemorrhage (VH). METHODS: A retrospective observational case series. A chart review of medical records, wide-field fundus imaging, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed on 78 patients (153 eyes) diagnosed with XLRS at Beijing Tongren eye center between Dec 2017 and Feb 2022. The chi-square test or Fisher exact test was performed on the 2 × 2 cross-tabulations of honeycomb appearance and other peripheral retinal findings and complications. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients (48.7%), and 60 eyes (39.2%) had a honeycomb appearance of different areas on the fundus. The supratemporal quadrant was the most commonly affected (45 eyes, 75.0%), followed by the infratemporal (23 eyes, 38.3%), the infranasal (10 eyes,16.7%), and supranasal (9 eyes,15.0%). The appearance was significantly associated with peripheral retinoschisis, inner retinal layer break, outer retinal layer break, RD, and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) (p < 0.01, p = 0.032, p < 0.01, p = 0.008, p < 0.01, respectively). All the eyes complicated with RRD had the appearance. None of the eyes without the appearance had RRD. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that the honeycomb appearance is not uncommon in patients with XLRS and is more likely to be accompanied by an RRD, and inner and outer layer breaks, thus should be treated with caution and close observation.