Dietary fiber alleviates alcoholic liver injury via Bacteroides acidifaciens and subsequent ammonia detoxification.

The gut microbiota and diet-induced changes in microbiome composition have been linked to various liver diseases, although the specific microbes and mechanisms remain understudied. Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) is one such disease with limited therapeutic options due to its complex pathogenesis. We demonstrate that a diet rich in soluble dietary fiber increases the abundance of Bacteroides acidifaciens (B. acidifaciens) and alleviates alcohol-induced liver injury in mice. B. acidifaciens treatment alone ameliorates liver injury through a bile salt hydrolase that generates unconjugated bile acids to activate intestinal farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and its downstream target, fibroblast growth factor-15 (FGF15). FGF15 promotes hepatocyte expression of ornithine aminotransferase (OAT), which facilitates the metabolism of accumulated ornithine in the liver into glutamate, thereby providing sufficient glutamate for ammonia detoxification via the glutamine synthesis pathway. Collectively, these findings uncover a potential therapeutic strategy for ALD involving dietary fiber supplementation and B. acidifaciens.

Application of the "Plan-Do-Check-Action" plan in improving the pass rate of the "National Medical Licensing Examination".

BACKGROUND: The National Medical Licensing Examination (NMLE) is the only objective, standardized metric to evaluate whether a medical student possessing the professional knowledge and skills necessary to work as a physician. However, the overall pass rate of NMLE in our hospital in 2021 was much lower than that of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, which was required to be further improved. METHODS: To find the reasons for the unsatisfactory performance in 2021, the quality improvement team (QIT) organized regular face-to-face meetings for in-depth discussion and questionnaire, and analyzed the data by "Plato analysis" and "Brainstorming method". After finding out the reasons, the "Plan-Do-Check-Action" (PDCA) cycle was continued to identify and solve problems, which included the formulation and implementation of specific training plans by creating the "Gantt charts", the check of effects, and continuous improvements from 2021 to 2022. Detailed information about the performance of students in 2021 and 2022, and the attendance, assessment, evaluation and suggestions from our hospital were provided by the relevant departments, and the pass rate-associated data was collected online. RESULTS: After the PDCA plan, the pass rate of NMLE in our hospital increased by 10.89% from 80.15% in 2021 to 91.04% in 2022 (P = 0.0109), with the pass rate of skill examination from 95.59% in 2021 to 99.25% in 2022 (P = 0.0581) and theoretical examination from 84.5% in 2021 to 93.13% in 2022 (P = 0.027). Additionally, the mean scores of all examinees increased with the theoretical examination score increasing from 377.0 ± 98.76 in 2021 to 407.6 ± 71.94 in 2022 (P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed a success application of the PDCA plan in our hospital which improved the pass rate of the NMLE in 2022, and the PDCA plan may provide a practical framework for future medical education and further improve the pass rate of NMLE in the next year.

Responsibility endowing power: A theoretical framework of health empowerment for Chinese older people with chronic illness.

AIM: To construct a health empowerment framework for the Chinese older people with chronic conditions. DESIGN: A Strussian grounded theory design was selected to generate the theoretical framework. METHODS: Data were collected from 53 community-dwelling older people with chronic conditions in China between November 2017 and August 2019, via semi-structured interviews and with participating observation. The constant comparative method identified the key categories. RESULTS: 'Responsibility endowing power', the health empowerment core theme, was defined as initiating, performing and realizing responsibility towards health through the interaction between the self, family and society. The framework enriches the meaning of health empowerment, changing older people's nursing practice.

Effects of Mobile Intelligent Cognitive Training for Patients with Post-Stroke Cognitive Impairment: A 12-Week, Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Study.

Background: The current application effects of computerized cognitive intervention are inconsistent and limited to hospital rehabilitation settings. Objective: To investigate the effect of mobile intelligent cognitive training (MICT) on patients with post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI). Methods: This study was a multicenter, prospective, open-label, blinded endpoint, cluster-randomized controlled trial (RCT). 518 PSCI patients were stratified and assigned to four rehabilitation settings, and then patients were randomized into experimental and control groups in each rehabilitation setting through cluster randomization. All patients received comprehensive management for PSCI, while the experimental group additionally received MICT intervention. Treatment was 30 minutes daily, 5 days per week, for 12 weeks. Cognitive function, activities of daily living (ADL), and quality of life (QOL) were assessed before the treatment, at weeks 6 and 12 post-treatment, and a 16-week follow-up. Results: Linear Mixed Effects Models showed patients with PSCI were better off than pre-treatment patients on each outcome measure (p < 0.05). Additionally, the improvement of these outcomes in the experimental group was significantly better than in the control group at week 6 post-treatment and 16-week follow-up (p < 0.05). The rehabilitation setting also affected the cognitive efficacy of MICT intervention in improving PSCI patients, and the degree of improvement in each outcome was found to be highest in hospital, followed by community, nursing home, and home settings. Conclusions: Long-term MICT intervention can improve cognition, ADL, and QOL in patients with PSCI, with sustained effects for at least one month. Notably, different rehabilitation settings affect the cognitive intervention efficacy of MICT on PSCI patients. However, this still needs to be further determined in future studies.

Facing the solid waste of cotton straw and plastic mulch film mixture in China: Centralized or decentralized pyrolysis facility?

The widespread use of plastic mulch film (PMF) has led to significant environmental pollution, with PMF residues dispersed and mixed with straw and soil, posing challenges for recycling. Here, we proposed the mobile pyrolysis facility for the cotton straw and mulch film mixture (CMM) to mitigate the collection, storage, and transportation costs, while the application of co-pyrolysis technology for CMM conversion could improve the added value of products. Additionally, centralized combustion power generation and centralized pyrolysis systems were also established to evaluate and compare their sustainability from economic and environmental perspectives. Results showed that mobile pyrolysis has better economic performance than the centralized scenarios, due to its high internal rate of return (31 %) and significant net present value (29.21 M USD). Meanwhile, the mobile pyrolysis facility achieved a GWP of -1.298 kgCO2-eq/kg, reducing emissions by 70.79 % and 38.82 % compared to the two centralized scenarios. In conclusion, mobile pyrolysis technology provides a promising solution for PMF residue recycling because of its economically competitive approach with a lower carbon footprint.

Exogenous iron caused osteocyte apoptosis, increased RANKL production, and stimulated bone resorption through oxidative stress in a murine model.

Iron overload is a risk factor for osteoporosis due to its oxidative toxicity. Previous studies have demonstrated that an excessive amount of iron increases osteocyte apoptosis and receptor activator of nuclear factor κ-B ligand (RANKL) production, which stimulates osteoclast differentiation in vitro. However, the effects of exogenous iron supplementation-induced iron overload on osteocytes in vivo and its role in iron overload-induced bone loss are unknown. This work aimed to develop an iron overloaded murine model of C57BL/6 mice by intraperitoneal administration of iron dextran for two months. The iron levels in various organs, bone, and serum, as well as the microstructure and strength of bone, apoptosis of osteocytes, oxidative stress in bone tissue, and bone formation and resorption, were assessed. The results showed that 2 months of exogenous iron supplementation significantly increased iron levels in the liver, spleen, kidney, bone tissue, and serum. Iron overload negatively affected bone microstructure and strength. Osteocyte apoptosis and empty lacunae rate were elevated by exogenous iron. Iron overload upregulated RANKL expression but had no significant impact on osteoprotegerin (OPG) and sclerostin levels. Static and dynamic histologic analyses and serum biochemical assay showed that iron overload increased bone resorption without significantly affecting bone formation. Exogenous iron promoted oxidative stress in osteocytes in vivo and in vitro. Additional supplementation of iron chelator (deferoxamine) or N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) partially alleviated bone loss, osteocyte apoptosis, osteoclast formation, and oxidative stress due to iron overload. These findings, in line with prior in vitro studies, suggest that exogenous iron supplementation induces osteoclastogenesis and osteoporosis by promoting osteocyte apoptosis and RANKL production via oxidative stress.

Combined effects of microplastics and pharmaceutical and personal care products on algae: A critical review.

Microplastics (MPs) and pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are ubiquitous in aquatic environments. Algae play an important role in aquatic environments. Thus, it is important to study the response of algae to combined exposure of MPs and PPCPs. Here, we review the effects of MPs and PPCPs on algae. First, the individual effects of MPs and PPCPs on algae were summarized. Second, the combined effects of MPs and PPCPs on algae were systematically analyzed. (1) Antagonism: ① when the MPs are too large to enter the algal cells, the adsorption of PPCPs onto MPs results in decreased the contact of MPs and PPCPs with algae; ② PPCPs and MPs have opposing actions on the same biological target; ③ MPs increase the activity of metabolic enzymes in algae, thus promoting the PPCP degradation. (2) Synergy: ① when the MPs are small enough to enter algal cells, the adsorption of PPCPs on MPs promotes the entry of PPCPs; ② when MPs are negatively charged, the adsorption of positively charged PPCPs by MPs decreases the electrostatic repulsion, increasing the interaction between algae and MPs; ③ complementary modes of action between MPs and PPCPs show combined effects on the same biological target. Third, the relative importance of the factors that impact the combined effects are evaluated using the random forest model decreased in the following order: PPCP types > algal species > MP size > MP concentration > MP types > exposure time. Finally, future directions for the combined effects of MPs and PPCPs are proposed, which will facilitate a better understanding of the environmental fate and risks of both MPs and PPCPs.

Ion association behaviors in the initial stage of calcium carbonate formation: An ab initio study.

In this work, we performed static density functional theory calculations and ab initio metadynamics simulations to systematically investigate the association mechanisms and dynamic structures of four kinds of ion pairs that could be formed before the nucleation of CaCO3. For Ca2+-HCO3- and Ca2+-CO32- pairs, the arrangement of ligands around Ca2+ evolves between the six-coordinated octahedral structure and the seven-coordinated pentagonal bipyramidal structure. The formation of ion pairs follows an associative ligand substitution mechanism. Compared with HCO3-, CO32- exhibits a stronger affinity to Ca2+, leading to the formation of a more stable precursor phase in the prenucleation stage, which promotes the subsequent CaCO3 nucleation. In alkaline environments, excessive OH- ions decrease the coordination preference of Ca2+. In this case, the formation of Ca(OH)+-CO32- and Ca(OH)2-CO32- pairs favors the dissociative ligand substitution mechanism. The inhibiting effects of OH- ion on the CaCO3 association can be interpreted from two aspects, i.e., (1) OH- neutralizes positive charges on Ca2+, decreases the electrostatic interactions between Ca2+ and CO32-, and thus hinders the formation of the CaCO3 monomer, and (2) OH- decreases the capacity of Ca2+ for accommodating O, making it easier to separate Ca2+ and CO32- ions. Our findings on the ion association behaviors in the initial stage of CaCO3 formation not only help scientists evaluate the impact of ocean acidification on biomineralization but also provide theoretical support for the discovery and development of more effective approaches to manage undesirable scaling issues.

The effects of ß-mannanase supplementation on growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, cecal microbial communities, and short-chain fatty acid production in broiler chickens fed diets with different metabolizable energy levels.

This study assessed the effects of ß-mannanase (BM) supplementation on growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, cecal microbial communities, and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production in broiler chickens fed diets with different metabolizable energy (ME) levels. A total of 1,296 male one-d-old Cobb 500 broilers were randomly distributed in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement (three ME levels × 0 or 200 g/ton BM), with 6 replicates per treatment combination. The three ME levels were 3,000 (ME1), 2,930 (ME2), and 2,860 (ME3) kcal/kg, respectively, during the 0-3 w-old stages and 3,150 (ME1), 3,080 (ME2), and 3,010 (ME3) kcal/kg, respectively, during the 3-6 w-old stages. Reducing ME levels increased broiler feed intake (P = 0.036) and decreased average daily gain (ADG, P = 0.002) during the entire period. While BM supplementation increased ADG (P = 0.002) and improved the feed conversion ratio (P = 0.001) during the 0-3 w-old stages, with no effect during the 3-6 w-old stages. Overall, reducing ME levels increased pancreatic lipase (P = 0.045) and amylase (P = 0.013) activity and duodenal amylase activity (P = 0.047). Notably, BM supplementation significantly increased pancreatic lipase activity (P = 0.015) and increased lipase (P = 0.029) and amylase (P = 0.025) activities in the jejunal chyme. Although diet or enzyme supplementation did not affect microbial diversity, significant differences in microbial communities were observed. At the genus level, decreasing ME levels significantly affected the average abundances of Tyzzerella (P = 0.028), Candidatus_Bacilloplasma (P = 0.001), Vibrio (P = 0.005) and Anaerotruncus (P = 0.026) among groups, whereas BM supplementation reduced the average abundances of Escherichia-Shigella (P = 0.048) and increased the average abundances of Barnesiella (P = 0.047), Ruminococcus (P = 0.020), Alistipes (P = 0.050), and Lachnospiraceae_unclassified (P = 0.009). SCFA concentrations strongly depended on bacterial community composition, and BM supplementation increased acetic acid (P = 0.004), propionic acid (P = 0.016), and total SCFA concentrations. In conclusion, BM supplementation improved the performance of younger broilers, and both enzyme supplementation and reduced ME levels positively affected digestive enzyme activity and intestinal microflora.

M6A-mediated upregulation of lncRNA TUG1 in liver cancer cells regulates the antitumor response of CD8+ T cells and phagocytosis of macrophages.

Tumor immune evasion relies on the crosstalk between tumor cells and adaptive/innate immune cells. Immune checkpoints play critical roles in the crosstalk, and immune checkpoint inhibitors have achieved promising clinical effects. The long non-coding RNA taurine-upregulated gene 1 (TUG1) is upregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, how TUG1 is upregulated and the effects on tumor immune evasion are incompletely understood. Here, METTL3-mediated m6A modification led to TUG1 upregulation is demonstrated. Knockdown of TUG1 inhibited tumor growth and metastasis, increased the infiltration of CD8+ T cells and M1-like macrophages in tumors, promoted the activation of CD8+ T cells through PD-L1, and improved the phagocytosis of macrophages through CD47. Mechanistically, TUG1 regulated PD-L1 and CD47 expressions by acting as a sponge of miR-141 and miR-340, respectively. Meanwhile, TUG1 interacted with YBX1 to facilitate the upregulation of PD-L1 and CD47 transcriptionally, which ultimately regulated tumor immune evasion. Clinically, TUG1 positively correlated with PD-L1 and CD47 in HCC tissues. Moreover, the combination of Tug1-siRNA therapy with a Pdl1 antibody effectively suppressed tumor growth. Therefore, the mechanism of TUG1 in regulating tumor immune evasion is revealed and can inform existing strategies targeting TUG1 for enhancing HCC immune therapy and drug development.

Functionalized 2D membranes for separations at the 1-nm scale.

The ongoing evolution of two-dimensional (2D) material-based membranes has prompted the realization of mass separations at the 1-nm scale due to their well-defined selective nano- and subnanochannels. Strategic membrane functionalization is further found to be key to augmenting channel accuracy and efficiency in distinguishing ions, gases and molecules within this range and is thus trending as a research focus in energy-, resource-, environment- and pharmaceutical-related applications. In this review, we present the fundamentals underpinning functionalized 2D membranes in various separations, elucidating the critical "method-interaction-property" relationship. Starting with an introduction to various functionalization strategies, we focus our discussion on functionalization-induced channel-species interactions and reveal how they shape the transport- and operation-related features of the membrane in different scenarios. We also highlight the limitations and challenges of current functionalized 2D membranes and outline the necessary breakthroughs needed to apply them as reliable and high-performance separation units across industries in the future.

Interannual fluctuations in precipitation shape the trajectory of ecosystem respiration along a grazing exclusion chronosequence in a typical steppe in Inner Mongolia.

Grazing exclusion (GE), as an effective strategy for revitalizing degraded grasslands, possesses the potential to increase ecosystem respiration (Re) and significantly influence the capacity of grassland soils to sequester carbon. However, our current grasp of Re dynamics in response to varying durations of GE, particularly in the context of precipitation fluctuations, remains incomplete. To fill this knowledge gap, we conducted a monitoring of Re over a 40-year GE chronosequence within Inner Mongolia temperate typical steppe across two distinct hydrologically years. Overall, Re exhibited a gradual saturation curve and an increasing trend with the duration of GE in the wet year of 2021 and the normal precipitation year of 2022, respectively. The variance primarily stemmed from relatively higher microbial biomass carbon observed in the short-term GE during 2022 in contrast to 2021. Moreover, the impacts of GE on the sensitivities of Re to moisture and temperature were intricately tied to precipitation patterns. increasing significantly with prolonged GE duration in 2022 but not in 2021. Our study highlights the intricate interplay between GE duration, precipitation variability, and Re dynamics. This deeper understanding enhances our ability to predict and manage carbon cycling within typical steppe in Inner Mongolia, offering invaluable insights for effective restoration strategies and climate change mitigation.

Heterogeneity of lymphocyte subsets in predicting immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment response in advanced lung cancer: an analysis across different pathological types, therapeutic drugs, and age groups.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) has become pivotal in the treatment of advanced lung cancer, yet the absence of reliable biomarkers for assessing treatment response poses a significant challenge. This study aims to explore the predictive value of various lymphocyte subsets in different lung cancer subtypes, thus potentially identifying novel biomarkers to improve ICI treatment stratification and outcomes. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 146 stage III or IV lung cancer patients undergoing ICI treatment. The study focused on exploring the relationship between various lymphocyte subsets and the efficacy of ICIs, aiming to determine their predictive value for post-treatment outcomes. Results: Subgroup analysis revealed a positive correlation (P=0.01) between lower CD3+CD8+ T lymphocyte levels and treatment response in squamous cell carcinoma patients. However, no significance was observed in lung adenocarcinoma patients. Additionally, the predictive ability of lymphocyte subsets for different immunotherapy drugs varies. In individuals receiving anti-programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) treatment, a lower CD3+CD8+ T lymphocyte levels is significantly associated with a positive treatment outcome (P=0.002), while there is no difference for programmed death 1 (PD-1) drugs. Among patients under 60, higher expression of CD3+CD4+ T lymphocytes (P=0.03) combined with lower CD3+CD8+ T lymphocyte levels (P=0.006) showed a statistically significant association with improved treatment response. However, in patients aged over 60, no discernible correlation was ascertained between lymphocyte subsets and therapeutic response. Through prognostic analysis, two distinct lymphocyte subsets were identified, both exerting considerable impact on progression-free survival subsequent to ICIs treatment: CD3+CD4+ T lymphocytes [hazard ratio (HR) =0.50, P=0.006] and CD3+CD8+ T lymphocytes (HR =1.78, P=0.02). Conclusions: Our findings underscore the significant heterogeneity in the predictive value of distinct lymphocyte subsets for lung cancer patients undergoing ICI treatment. These findings are particularly salient when considering various pathological types, immunotherapeutic agents, and patient age groups.

Multi-Omics Analysis by Machine Learning Identified Lysophosphatidic Acid as a Biomarker and Therapeutic Target for Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome.

As a significant infectious disease in livestock, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) imposes substantial economic losses on the swine industry. Identification of diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets has been a focal challenge in PPRS prevention and control. By integrating metabolomic and lipidomic serum analyses of clinical pig cohorts through a machine learning approach with in vivo and in vitro infection models, lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is discovered as a serum metabolic biomarker for PRRS virus (PRRSV) clinical diagnosis. PRRSV promoted LPA synthesis by upregulating the autotaxin expression, which causes innate immunosuppression by dampening the retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) and type I interferon responses, leading to enhanced virus replication. Targeting LPA demonstrated protection against virus infection and associated disease outcomes in infected pigs, indicating that LPA is a novel antiviral target against PRRSV. This study lays a foundation for clinical prevention and control of PRRSV infections.

A real-world study of tyrosine kinase inhibitors plus anti-PD-1 immunotherapy with or without chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma patients with main portal vein invasion.

BACKGROUND: Although systemic therapies are recommended for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with main portal vein (MPV) invasion and preserved liver function, the outcome is limited. In the real-world, chemoembolization is a commonly used local treatment for advanced HCC. PURPOSE: To evaluate whether the additional chemoembolization treatment yields survival benefits compared to systemic therapy for HCC patients with MPV invasion and preserved liver function (Child-Pugh score ≤ B7) in a real-world study from multiple centers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 2020 and December 2022, 91 consecutive HCC patients with MPV invasion who received either systemic medical therapy (i.e., tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) plus anti-PD-1 immunotherapy, S group, n = 43) or in combination with chemoembolization treatment (S-T group, n = 48) from five centers were enrolled in the study. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS), and the secondary outcomes were progression-free survival (PFS) and treatment response. Adverse events (AEs) related to treatment were also recorded. Survival curves were constructed with the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. RESULTS: The baseline characteristics were comparable between the two groups. The mean number of chemoembolization sessions per patient was 2.1 (range 1-3). The median OS was 10.0 months and 8.0 months in the S-T group and S group, respectively (P = 0.254). The median PFS between the two groups was similar (4.0 months vs. 4.0 months, P = 0.404). The disease control rate between the S-T and S groups were comparable (60.4% vs. 62.8%, P = 0.816). Although no chemoembolization-related deaths occurred, 13 grade 3-4 AEs occurred in the S-T group. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the real-world study demonstrated that additional chemoembolization treatment did not yield survival benefits compared to TKIs plus anti-PD-1 immunotherapy for the overall patients with advanced HCC and MPV invasion.

Proximal Femoral Metastasis From Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Mutated Lung Adenocarcinoma Mimicking Osteosarcoma on Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

The aggressive nature of lung cancer is frequently accompanied by a high incidence of bone metastasis; however, proximal femoral metastasis from lung cancer is comparatively uncommon when compared to other malignancies. In this report, we present the case of a 53-year-old Asian male who presented with pain in the left thigh and back. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed severe bone destruction with involvement of adjacent soft tissue mass at the left thigh, exhibiting imaging findings that mimic osteosarcoma. Subsequent bone biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated lung adenocarcinoma with bone metastasis. The patient achieved survival following administration of osimertinib and underwent surgery for femoral metastases without palliative surgery for lung cancer. Therefore, proximal femoral metastasis from EGFR-mutated lung adenocarcinoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients suspected to have osteosarcoma. The imaging findings of proximal femoral metastasis from EGFR-mutated lung adenocarcinoma were presented, and their therapeutic management was discussed.

MRI radiomics-based interpretable model and nomogram for preoperative prediction of Ki-67 expression status in primary central nervous system lymphoma.

Objectives: To investigate the value of interpretable machine learning model and nomogram based on clinical factors, MRI imaging features, and radiomic features to predict Ki-67 expression in primary central nervous system lymphomas (PCNSL). Materials and methods: MRI images and clinical information of 92 PCNSL patients were retrospectively collected, which were divided into 53 cases in the training set and 39 cases in the external validation set according to different medical centers. A 3D brain tumor segmentation model was trained based on nnU-NetV2, and two prediction models, interpretable Random Forest (RF) incorporating the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) method and nomogram based on multivariate logistic regression, were proposed for the task of Ki-67 expression status prediction. Results: The mean dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC) score of the 3D segmentation model on the validation set was 0.85. On the Ki-67 expression prediction task, the AUC of the interpretable RF model on the validation set was 0.84 (95% CI:0.81, 0.86; p < 0.001), which was a 3% improvement compared to the AUC of the nomogram. The Delong test showed that the z statistic for the difference between the two models was 1.901, corresponding to a p value of 0.057. In addition, SHAP analysis showed that the Rad-Score made a significant contribution to the model decision. Conclusion: In this study, we developed a 3D brain tumor segmentation model and used an interpretable machine learning model and nomogram for preoperative prediction of Ki-67 expression status in PCNSL patients, which improved the prediction of this medical task. Clinical relevance statement: Ki-67 represents the degree of active cell proliferation and is an important prognostic parameter associated with clinical outcomes. Non-invasive and accurate prediction of Ki-67 expression level preoperatively plays an important role in targeting treatment selection and patient stratification management for PCNSL thereby improving prognosis.

The denitrification characteristics of Na2S2O8 solution in a falling film reactor.

Wet scrubbing technology is an effective emission control technology for marine diesel engines. Nitric oxide (NO) is one of the main component of ship emissions, the sodium persulfate (Na2S2O8) can facilitate the NO mass transfer process to a rapid reaction. Falling film reactors are widely used in rapid gas-liquid reactions, however, the reaction characteristics of denitrification using Na2S2O8 solution in a falling film reactor are not clear, which were investigated in this paper. The factors of NO mass transfer flux were tested with the liquid-gas ratio of 15 L/m3. The effects of solution properties and temperatures on the reaction driving force were studied by calculating the chemical reaction equilibrium constants and Gibbs free energy changes. The results showed that the NO mass transfer flux increased with the increase of temperature, Na2S2O8 concentration, O2 concentration and NO concentration. NO mass transfer flux increased by 41.00% and then decreased by 2.12% as the pH value increased from 7 to 10 and then rising to 12. The Gibbs free energy changes of alkaline solutions were 114.22%-130.99% lower than those of acidic solution at 303-343 K, and the chemical reaction equilibrium constants were higher. Na2S2O8/seawater system has great application potential in marine exhaust gas purification.

Inclusion Strategy for Constructing S/N Orbital Hybridization-Regulated sp3/sp2 Carbon toward Boost Electrocatalysis.

Metal-free carbon-based electrocatalysts have gained significant attention in the field of zinc-air batteries (ZABs) due to their affordability, good conductivity and chemical stability. However, unmodified carbon materials typically fall short in adsorbing and activating the substrates and intermediates involved in oxygen reduction reactions (ORR). Here, a metal-free carbon-based electrocatalyst with S atom p orbital hybrid modified N-sp3/sp2 carbon structure (C/NS) were prepared by cyclodextrins inclusion. The catalyst demonstrates impressive ORR activity (E1/2=0.885 V vs. RHE) and robust ZABs performance with a power density of 171.3 mW cm-2 and a specific capacity of 781.2 mAh g-1. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation reveals that S atom effectively regulates the charge distribution and p-band center of active site carbon atom in the N-sp3/sp2 carbon structure. This modification prompts the adsorption and dissociation of O2 and intermediates, resulting in higher reactive activity. This work provides a valuable and practical strategy for preparing cost-effective metal-free carbon-based electrocatalysts for ORR with high performance.

HOXC4 promotes proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells by increasing LDHA-mediated glycolysis.

Homeobox C4 (HOXC4) is a member of homeobox family and acts as a transcription factor in regulating morphological development. The current study aimed to determine its role in pancreatic cancer (PC). Bioinformatics analysis was employed to assess the expression and clinical significance of HOXC4 in PC, while the expression of HOXC4 was further confirmed in PC tissues through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The impact of HOXC4 on PC cell proliferation was evaluated using various assays including Cell Counting Kit-8, colony formation, apoptosis detection, cell cycle analysis, and subcutaneous tumorigenesis. Extracellular acidification rate, glucose uptake, and lactate production measurements were detected to examine the impact of HOXC4 on glycolysis. The relationship between HOXC4 and lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) was investigated using CHIP assay, luciferase reporter assay, and western blot. Notably, there was a substantial increase in HOXC4 expression in PC, and patients with elevated HOXC4 levels exhibited shorter survival durations. HOXC4 knockdown resulted in significantly reduced proliferation and colony formation in PC cells, accompanied by increased apoptosis and G1 phase arrest. The overexpression of HOXC4 resulted in contrasting effects. In vivo, the proliferation of PC cells was diminished upon the knockdown of HOXC4. HOXC4 exhibited an increase in LDHA expression by binding to its promoter. The suppressive effects of HOXC4 knockdown on PC cells were counteracted upon the restoration of LDHA. In conclusion, HOXC4 promoted the proliferation of PC cells by increasing LDHA-mediated glycolysis. HOXC4 can act as a target for PC therapy.