Bismuth-Containing Quadruple Therapy for Helicobacter pylori Eradication: A Randomized Clinical Trial of 10 and 14 Days.

BACKGROUND: Bismuth-containing quadruple therapy is the first-line treatment for eradicating Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). The optimal duration for H. pylori eradication using bismuth-containing quadruple therapy remains controversial. Therefore, we aimed to compare the clinical effects of the 10- and 14-day bismuth-containing quadruple treatment regimen to eradicate H. pylori. METHODS: Treatment-naïve patients with H. pylori infection (n = 1300) were enrolled in this multicenter randomized controlled study across five hospitals in China. They were randomized into 10- or 14-day treatment groups to receive bismuth-containing quadruple therapy as follows: vonoprazan 20 mg twice daily; bismuth 220 mg twice daily; amoxicillin 1000 mg twice daily; and either clarithromycin 500 mg twice daily or tetracycline 500 mg four times daily. At least 6 weeks after treatment, we performed a 13C-urea breath test to evaluate H. pylori eradication. RESULTS: The per-protocol eradication rates were 93.22% (564/605) and 93.74% (569/607) (p < 0.001) and the intention-to-treat eradication rates were 88.62% (576/650) and 89.38% (581/650) (p = 0.007) for the 10- and 14-day regimens, respectively. Incidence of adverse effects was lower in patients who received 10- vs. 14 days of treatment (22.59% vs. 28.50%, p = 0.016). We observed no significant differences in the compliance to treatment or the discontinuation of therapy because of severe adverse effects between the groups. CONCLUSION: Compared with the 14-day bismuth-containing quadruple regimens, the 10-day regimen demonstrated a non-inferior efficacy and lower incidence of adverse effects. Therefore, the 10-day regimen is safe and tolerated and could be recommended for H. pylori eradication (NCT05049902).

Phantom study of a fully automatic radioactive seed placement robot for the treatment of skull base tumours.

BACKGROUND: Interstitial brachytherapy is a form of intensive local irradiation that facilitates the effective protection of surrounding structures and the preservation of organ functions, resulting in a favourable therapeutic response. As surgical robots can perform needle placement with a high level of accuracy, our team developed a fully automatic radioactive seed placement robot, and this study aimed to evaluate the accuracy and feasibility of fully automatic radioactive seed placement for the treatment of tumours in the skull base. METHODS: A fully automatic radioactive seed placement robot was established, and 4 phantoms of skull base tumours were built for experimental validation. All the phantoms were subjected to computed tomography (CT) scans. Then, the CT data were imported into the Remebot software to design the preoperative seed placement plan. After the phantoms were fixed in place, navigation registration of the Remebot was carried out, and the automatic seed placement device was controlled to complete the needle insertion and particle placement operations. After all of the seeds were implanted in the 4 phantoms, postoperative image scanning was performed, and the results were verified via image fusion. RESULTS: A total of 120 seeds were implanted in 4 phantoms. The average error of seed placement was (2.51 ± 1.44) mm. CONCLUSION: This study presents an innovative, fully automated radioactive particle implantation system utilizing the Remebot device, which can successfully complete automated localization, needle insertion, and radioactive particle implantation procedures for skull base tumours. The phantom experiments showed the robotic system to be reliable, stable, efficient and safe. However, further research on the needle-soft tissue interaction and deformation mechanism of needle puncture is still needed.

An AIE-Active NIR Fluorescent Probe with Good Water Solubility for the Detection of Aß1-42 Aggregates in Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), an amyloid-related disease, seriously endangers the health of elderly individuals. According to current research, its main pathogenic factor is the amyloid protein, which is a kind of fibrillar aggregate formed by noncovalent self-assembly of proteins. Based on the characteristics of aggregation-induced emission (AIE), a bislactosyl-decorated tetraphenylethylene (TPE) molecule TMNL (TPE + malononitrile + lactose), bearing two malononitrile substituents, was designed and synthesized in this work. The amphiphilic TMNL could self-assemble into fluorescent organic nanoparticles (FONs) with near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence emission in physiological PBS (phosphate buffered saline), achieving excellent fluorescent enhancement (47-fold) upon its combination with Aß1-42 fibrils. TMNL was successfully applied to image Aß1-42 plaques in the brain tissue of AD transgenic mice, and due to the AIE properties of TMNL, no additional rinsing process was necessary. It is believed that the probe reported in this work should be useful for the sensitive detection and accurate localization mapping of Aß1-42 aggregates related to Alzheimer's disease.

[Analysis of potential pharmacodynamic material basis of Euonymus alatus in treatment of nephritis based on integrated chemomics and network biology].

This paper was aimed to explore the potential pharmacodynamics effect of Euonymus alatus in the treatment of nephritis based on integrated chemomics and network biology. The chemical constituent database of E. alatus was constructed by consulting litera-ture and using online database. The chemical constituents were identified by UPLC-Q-TOF/HRMS~E and UNIFI software. On this basis, a series of comparisons, molecular docking studies and in-depth analysis of the chemical constituents and nephritis disease targets were carried out with use of network biology method, and the potential pharmacodynamic effect of E. alatus for the treatment of nephritis was investigated by reviewing the existing. In this study, 62 chemical constituents were collected in the database of chemical consti-tuents of E. alatus, and 24 chemical constituents were identified by mass spectrum. Subsequently, based on the network biology me-thod, 22 important chemical constituents and 5 key targets were obtained by reverse screening. Molecular docking study showed that a total of 11 chemical constituents such as quercetin, kaempferol, and catechinmay be the potential material basis for E. alatus in the treatment of nephritis. Starting with chemomics and using the technology of network biology, we established a network interaction model between drug components and disease targets in this study. Through the interaction between targets in complex networks, we can find the key targets easily and quickly. By docking the key targets with small drug molecules, we can screen out the potential pharmacodynamic components, providing a reference for the follow-up study of active ingredients.

Chemotaxonomic Classification Applied to the Identification of Two Closely-Related Citrus TCMs Using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS-Based Metabolomics.

This manuscript elaborates on the establishment of a chemotaxonomic classification strategy for closely-related Citrus fruits in Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs). UPLC-Q-TOF-MS-based metabolomics was applied to depict the variable chemotaxonomic markers and elucidate the metabolic mechanism of Citrus TCMs from different species and at different ripening stages. Metabolomics can capture a comprehensive analysis of small molecule metabolites and can provide a powerful approach to establish metabolic profiling, creating a bridge between genotype and phenotype. To further investigate the different metabolites in four closely-related Citrus TCMs, non-targeted metabolite profiling analysis was employed as an efficient technique to profile the primary and secondary metabolites. The results presented in this manuscript indicate that primary metabolites enable the discrimination of species, whereas secondary metabolites are associated with species and the ripening process. In addition, analysis of the biosynthetic pathway highlighted that the syntheses of flavone and flavone glycosides are deeply affected in Citrus ripening stages. Ultimately, this work might provide a feasible strategy for the authentication of Citrus fruits from different species and ripening stages and facilitate a better understanding of their different medicinal uses.

[Research on concentration of 5 different ginsenosides in Panax japonica collected from different cultivated geographic regions].

In this paper, an HPLC-QqQ-MS method for determination of 5 different ginsenosides of Panax japonica collected from different cultivated geographic regions was established. The separation was performed on a Zorbax XDB-C18 (4.6 mm×100 mm, 1.8 µm) column with the gradient elution of acetonitrile (contained 0.1% formic acid)-0.1% formic acid water. The flow rate was 0.5 mL•min⁻¹. The colunm temperature was maintained at 30 ℃. The analytes were detected using electrospray ionization (ESI) in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) modes. Reaction selected ions were 203.2 for ginsenoside Re, 202.9 for ginsenoside Rg1, 365.0 for ginsenoside Rf, 789.1 for ginsenoside Rd, 360.9 for ginsenoside Ro. Ginsenosides Re, ginsenosides Rg1, ginsenosides Rf, ginsenosides Rd, ginsenosides Ro had good linearity in the ranges of 3.33-66.60 µg (r=0.999 1),2.83-56.54 µg (r=0.999 2), 0.32-6.51 µg (r=0.999 2), 12.55-251.00 µg (r=0.999 3), 0.85-16.90 µg (r=0.999 5), respectively. The results of recovery were among 100.8% to 104.6%, and the values of RSD were blow 3.0%. This method is simple, reliable and accurate, and can provide basis for P. japonica basic research.

[Study on HPLC fingerprint and chemical constituent difference of different species of Aurantii Fructus Immaturus].

This study is to establish an HPLC fingerprint by HPLC-DAD method and simultaneous quantitative analysis of 17 components of 18 batches of Citrus aurantium and 10 batches of C. sinensis. The separation was performed on an Agilent Poroshell 120 SB-C18 (4.6 mm×100 mm,2.7 µm) column with the gradient elution of methanol-0.1% formic acid water, the flow was 0.6 mL•min⁻¹. The detection wavelength was set at 318 nm. The column temperature was maintained at 30 ℃. The data calculation was performed with similarity evaluation system for chromatographic fingerprint of traditional Chinese medicine (Version 2004A) together with SIMCA-P 13.0 software to clarify the differential marker between these two different species of Aurantii Fructus Immaturus. This method has good precision stability and repeatability that could provide basis for quality control and evaluation of Aurantii Fructus Immaturus.

[Antiviral effects of the combination of glycyrrhizin and ribavirin against influenza A H1N1 virus infection in vivo].

Ribavirin is a broad-spectrum antiviral agent and glycyrrhizin has activities of anti-inflammation, immunoregulation and anti-viral infections. To enhance antiviral efficacy and weaken side-effects of ribavirin, antiviral effects of the combination of glycyrrhizin and ribavirin were studied in the present study. Firstly, a mouse model of viral pneumonia was established by inoculation of influenza H1N1 virus. Protective effects of glycyrrhizin and ribavirin used alone or in combination against H1N1 virus infection in mice were evaluated based on the survival rate, lung index and virus titer in lungs of mice. Results showed that the combination of glycyrrhizin and ribavirin significantly inhibited the lung consolidation with a 36% inhibition ratio on the lung swell of infected mice. The combination of the two drugs exhibited synergetic effects on survival of infected mice. The combination of 50 mg · kg(-1) · d(-1) glycyrrhizin and 40 mg · kg(-1) · d(-1) ribavirin resulted a 100% protection for infected mice with a synergetic value of 36, which was significantly higher than the control group and each drug alone. This combination also resulted a significant drop of lung virus titer (P < 0.01), as well as inhibition on the production of proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 (P < 0.01), TNF-α (P < 0.01) and IL-1ß (P < 0.05) induced by virus infection compared to the control. The treatment of ribavirin plus glycyrrhizin was more effective in influenza A infection in mice than either compound used alone, which suggested a potential clinical value of the combination of the two agents.

Genome-wide identification and drought stress-induced expression analysis of the NHX gene family in potato.

NHX proteins are transmembrane antiporters belonging to the cation/proton antiporter gene family, with a conserved Na+ (K+)/H+ exchange (PF00999) protein domain. NHXs play a prominent role in plant growth, development, and defense. However, the role of NHX gene family in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is yet to be known. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide analysis of the potato NHX gene family. A total of 25 StNHX family members were identified to be unevenly distributed on 10 chromosomes. The proteins ranged in length from 252 to 1,153 amino acids, with molecular masses ranging from 27516.32 to 127860.87 kD, and isoelectric points (pI) ranging from 4.96 to 9.3. Analyses of gene structures and conserved motifs indicated that StNHX genes in the same phylogenetic cluster are conserved. Phylogenetic analysis divided the StNHX genes into three subfamilies (Classes I, II, and III). Synteny analysis indicated that StNHX gene family Class III of NHX and all Arabidopsis thaliana NHXs shared a close evolutionary relationship. Analysis of cis-acting elements in the upstream 1,500 bp promoter region of potato NHX genes showed that these genes could be regulated by light, stress, and hormones such as abscisic acid and gibberellic acid. Protein-protein interaction network analysis indicated that StNHX proteins may participate in the regulation of potato growth and stress response. Besides, To determine a potential role of these genes in tissue development and drought response, we analyzed the RNA-seq data of different DM potato tissues. The results showed that NHX genes exhibited distinct tissue-specific expression patterns. We further examined the expression patterns of StNHX in different tissues (leaves, roots, shoots, tubers, stolons, and flowers) during the flowering stage in 'Jizhangshu NO.8.' potato. The qRT-PCR results further confirmed the importance of StNHX genes in potato plant growth and development. We further analyzed the RNA-seq data (DM potato) under different abiotic stresses (salt, drought, and heat), and found that the expression of StNHX genes was induced under abiotic stress. qRT-PCR analysis of shoots and roots of 'Jizhangshu NO.8.' potato treated for 0, 6, 12, and 24 h with 15% PEG6000 confirmed that the 25 StNHX genes are involved in the response to drought stress in potato. The results of this study may be useful for selecting appropriate candidate genes for the breeding of new drought-tolerant potato varieties. Furthermore, this study lays a foundation for prospective analysis of StNHX gene functions.

pH-triggered bilayer film based on carboxymethyl cellulose/zein/Eudragit L100 with purple cabbage anthocyanin for monitoring pork freshness.

A novel pH-triggered bilayer film was composed of zein (Z), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), Eudragit L100 (L100), and purple cabbage anthocyanin (PCA), followed by casting for monitoring pork freshness during storage at 4 °C and 25 °C. This bilayer film was employed to encapsulate anthocyanins, preventing anthocyanins oxidation and photodegradation. Additionally, under pH 6, this film ruptures and releases anthocyanins, inducing a sudden color change in the indicator film, significantly reducing errors in freshness indications. Notably, the ZCLP8% film had excellent stability and pH response properties. The performance of the ZCLP8% film in monitoring pork freshness was evaluated. When the concentration of pork TVB-N reached 15.59 mg/100 g (pH = 6.35), the bilayer film was ruptured, and the release rate of PCA was 85.52 %, which was a significant change in the color of the bilayer film compared with that at pH = 5. Therefore, this work addresses the limitation that anthocyanin-based intelligent films are subject to judgment errors when applied, opening new possibilities for food freshness differentiation monitoring.

A paper-based ratiometric fluorescent sensor for NH3 detection in gaseous phase: Real-time monitoring of chilled chicken freshness.

A ratiometric fluorescence sensor platform with easy-to-use and accurate is nanoengineered for NH3 quantitative detection and visual real-time monitoring of chicken freshness using smartphones. The ratiometric fluorescent probe formed by combining the zinc ion complex and carbon dots has a double-emitted fluorescence peak. The fluorescence intensity of the complex changed can be clearly observed with the increase of the concentration of ammonia solution under 365 nm wavelength excitation. In order to detect NH3 concentration in gaseous phase, a portable paper-based sensor was designed. The sensor had a good linear relationship with NH3 concentration ranging from 10.0 to 90.0 µmol/L and the LOD value was 288 nM. This fluorescent paper-based sensor was used to check the freshness of chicken breast refrigerated at 4 °C, revealed observable shifts from blue to green. The fluorescent paper-based sensor can detect NH3 concentration in real time and simplify the monitoring process of meat freshness while ensuring accuracy and stability.

The Role of Sole Lift in Treating Pediatric Idiopathic Scoliosis with Mild Thoracolumbar/Lumbar Curve.

OBJECTIVE: Lower limb discrepancy (LLD) was frequently observed in patients with idiopathic scoliosis (IS), potentially associated with etiopathogenesis. Although sole lifts had been proposed as a conservative treatment for IS, evidence supporting their efficacy was limited. This study aimed to assess the effects of sole lift intervention on pediatric patients with mild IS, specifically focusing on thoracolumbar/lumbar (TL/L) curvature. METHODS: Twenty patients, with an average age of 12.3 ± 3.1 years and presenting mild TL/L curve (15.6° ± 6.2°), were selected from a pool of 267 pediatric IS patients in the outpatient of our spine center from February 2023 to August 2023. Inclusion criteria comprised a main TL/L curve ranging between 10° and 40°, the lower limb positioned at the convexity of the main curve, and LLD of less than 2 cm; individuals requiring bracing or surgical intervention were excluded. Custom sole lifts were used to address the shorter lower limb with the objective of leveling the pelvis. Radiographic evaluations were conducted both before and after intervention using standing full spine posteroanterior radiographs and full leg length radiographs. Statistical analysis was undertaken to evaluate curve correction and its associations with other influencing factors. RESULTS: The mean structural and functional LLD were 7.1 ± 4.5 mm and 7.1 ± 4.1 mm, respectively. Among the 20 patients, four exhibited structural LLD greater than 10 mm. The average follow-up duration was 6.4 ± 1.9 months (range: 3-8 months). Following sole lift intervention (7.0 ± 3.0 mm), a significant reduction was observed in the TL/L curve compared to the pre-sole lifting measurements (15.6° ± 6.2° vs. 12.1° ± 7.2°, p < 0.001), as well as a notable decrease in the thoracic curve (12.2° ± 4.0° vs. 8.6° ± 6.3°, p = 0.064). Nine patients experienced a significant curve reduction of ≥5°, while eight showed a reduction between 0° and 5°; however, two patients exhibited no change in curve magnitude. Furthermore, the correction rate of the TL/L curve correlated significantly with functional LLD (r = -0.484, p = 0.030) and pelvic obliquity (r = -0.556, p = 0.011), highlighting the active pelvic compensation in maintaining balance between the spine and lower limbs. Conversely, no significant correlation was observed between curve correction and structural LLD (p > 0.05). Additionally, even after adjusting for other influencing factors, the TL/L Cobb angle remained significantly different between pre- and post-sole lifting (p = 0.037). CONCLUSION: This study confirmed the effectiveness of sole lift intervention in correcting TL/L and thoracic curves among the mild IS children with a main TL/L curve, providing a supplementary conservative treatment option for patients with the lower limb at the convexity of the main curve. Moreover, our findings underscored the active compensation of the lower limbs and the pelvis in the etiopathogenesis of IS, highlighting the importance of considering their influence in treatment strategies.

Localized expression of human BMP-7 by BM-MSCs enhances renal repair in an in vivo model of ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Ischemia and subsequent reperfusion (I/R) damage kidney tubular cells and consequently impair renal function. Rabbit bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) expressing human bone morphogenic protein-7 (hBMP-7) regenerated tubular cells and improved renal function in a kidney I/R model. Rabbits were injected immediately after I/R with one of the following: (i) hBMP-7-transduced BM-MSCs (BM-MSCshBMP-7); (ii) enhanced green fluorescent protein-transduced BM-MSCs (BM-MSCsEGFP); or (iii) PBS. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was higher, and the amount of malondialdehyde (MDA) was lower in the BM-MSCshBMP-7 group than in the BM-MSCsEGFP group. Both the BM-MSCshBMP-7 group and the BM-MSCsEGFP group had higher SOD activity and lower amounts of MDA than the PBS group. Bcl-2- and Bcl-2-associated X protein levels, and other variables, indicated the regeneration of the kidney in both experimental groups. However, the BM-MSCs (hBMP-7) group showed higher activity than the BM-MSCsEGFP group, indicating that the combined strategy of BM-MSC transplantation with hBMP-7 gene therapy could be a useful approach for the treatment of renal IRI.

Fabrication and characterization of colorimetric indicator for Salmon freshness monitoring using agar/polyvinyl alcohol gel and anthocyanin from different plant sources.

In order to investigate the sensitivity of anthocyanins from different plant origin as indicators for salmon freshness, nine plant anthocyanins were extracted and fabricated into colorimetric sensor arrays to detect NH3, trimethylamine (TMA), dimethylamine (DMA) to indicate salmon freshness. Rosella anthocyanin had the highest sensitivity for amines, ammonia and salmon. HPLC-MSS analysis indicated that Delphinidin-3 glucoside accounted for 75.48 % of the Rosella anthocyanin. UV-visible spectral analysis showed that the maximum absorbance band of Roselle anthocyanins for acid and alkaline forms were located at 525 nm and 625 nm which showed a relatively broader spectrum than other anthocyanins. An indicator film was fabricated by combining Roselle anthocyanin with agar and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), which showed visible changes from red to green when employed to monitor the freshness of salmon stored at 4 °C. The ΔE value of Roselle anthocyanin indicator film was changed from 5.94 to >10. The ΔE value also can predict the chemical quality indicators of salmon effectively, especially with characteristic volatile components, and the predictive correlation coefficient was above 0.98. Therefore, the proposed indicating film showed great potential monitoring salmon freshness.

Na+/H+ exchanger 1 gene expression in tissues of yellow chicken.

The Na(+)/H(+) exchanger 1 (NHE1) transmembrane protein regulates intracellular pH, cell survival, cell growth, cell differentiation and plays a critical role in the progression of some diseases, including the pathogenesis of J avian leukosis. The chicken is an ideal model to study the function of NHE1 because it has developed highly efficient Na(+)-absorptive mechanisms in its small and large intestines. To date, there has been no detailed expression analysis to determine NHE1 expression in various tissues of the chicken. We determined the mRNA and protein expression levels of avian NHE1 by real-time quantitative PCR and immunohistochemical analysis. NHE1 mRNA was detected in all chicken tissues examined. Protein expression levels varied widely among tissues and did not always correlate with mRNA expression. Determining the mRNA and protein of NHE1 expression patterns in chicken should help to delineate the NHE1 role in different tissues and its contribution to physiological and pathological processes. These data provide the basis for examining the distinct function of chicken NHE1 compared with its mammalian counterpart.

Identification of novel biomarkers and therapeutic target candidates for stasis-heat symptom pattern of acute intracerebral hemorrhage by quantitative plasma proteomics.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the novel biomarkers and therapeutic target candidates related to the stasis-heat syndrome of acute intracerebral hemorrhage (AICH). METHODS: Applying an isobaric tagging for relative and absolute quantitation-(iTRAQ-) based quantitative proteomic approach, plasma samples from AICH patients with stasis-heat, and AICH patients with non-stasis-heat and healthy control subjects were collected and analyzed to distinguish differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) correlated to AICH with stasis-heat in this block design. The standard Western blot was applied to verify DEPs. Additionally, DEPs were analyzed via bioinformatic platforms and further approved via Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA). RESULTS: A total of 26 DEPs were found among AICH with the stasis-heat, AICH with non-stasis-heat, and healthy control group. The seven DEPs compared with the non-stasis-heat group are closely related to the pathogenesis of stasis heat. These proteins showed three different protein expression patterns. The alpha-1-b glycoprotein (A1BG) and copper-protein (CP) were up-regulated in the stasis-heat group, but down-regulated in the non-stasis-heat group. Compared with the non-stasis-heat group, the expression abundance of actinin, alpha 1 (ACTN1), carbonic anhydrase I (CA1), peroxiredoxin 2 (PRDX2), and vinculin (VCL) is higher in the stasis-heat group, while the CD44 is the opposite. These differences reflect that stasis-heat syndrome has more severe inflammatory immune response, coagulation disorders and damage. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that a wide variety of cellular and metabolic processes and some signaling pathways were involved in the pathophysiology of AICH with stasis-heat. AICH with stasis-heat syndrome showed more severe inflammatory reactions, tissue damage, and coagulation disorders than non-stasis heat syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: There are differences in the protein expression patterns between the stasis-heat syndrome and non-stasis-heat syndrome. These differences reflect that stasis-heat syndrome has more severe damage. CD44, CP, ACTN1, CA1, VCL, PRDX2, and A1BG could be the potential biomarkers and therapeutic target candidates of the stasis-heat subtype. This study provides a reasonable explaination for Liangxue Tongyu decoction through anti-inflammatory and brain protection treatment.

An ALV-J isolate is responsible for spontaneous haemangiomas in layer chickens in China.

Subgroup J avian leukosis virus (ALV-J), first isolated in 1989, mainly induces tumours of myeloid leukosis (ML) in meat-type chickens. In 2006, ALV-J strain SCAU-HN06 was isolated from commercial layer hens with spontaneous haemangiomas in China. To confirm its role in the induction of haemangioma, we constructed a full-length copy of the proviral genome from SCAU-HN06, recovered virus from DF-1 cells detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, characterized its growth property and investigated its pathogenicity. The recovered virus appeared to be identical to SCAU-HN06 analysed by both blast gene sequences and indirect immunofluorescence assay. It also showed similarities in growth to the parental wild-type virus in vitro. The pathogenicity of the rescued and parental virus in specific-pathogen-free White Leghorn chickens was investigated. Both SCAU-HN06 and rSCAU-HN06 could induce haemangioma, with incidence of 52% and 42.8% respectively. Overall, our findings indicated that the ALV-J strain SCAU-HN06 was the causal agent inducing haemangiomas rather than ML in certain layer chickens.

Added value of systemic inflammation markers in predicting pulmonary infection in stroke patients: A retrospective study by machine learning analysis.

ABSTRACT: Exploring candidate markers to predict the clinical outcomes of pulmonary infection in stroke patients have a high unmet need. This study aimed to develop machine learning (ML)-based predictive models for pulmonary infection.Between January 2008 and April 2021, a retrospective analysis of 1397 stroke patients who had CT angiography from skull to diaphragm (including CT of the chest) within 24 hours of symptom onset. A total of 21 variables were included, and the prediction model of pulmonary infection was established by multiple ML-based algorithms. Risk factors for pulmonary infection were determined by the feature selection method. Area under the curve (AUC) and decision curve analysis were used to determine the model with the best resolution and to assess the net clinical benefits associated with the use of predictive models, respectively.A total of 889 cases were included in this study as a training group, while 508 cases were as a validation group. The feature selection indicated the top 6 predictors were procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, soluble interleukin-2 receptor, consciousness disorder, dysphagia, and invasive procedure. The AUCs of the 5 models ranged from 0.78 to 0.87 in the training cohort. When the ML-based models were applied to the validation set, the results also remained reconcilable, and the AUC was between 0.891 and 0.804. The decision curve analysis also showed performed better than positive line and negative line, indicating the favorable predictive performance and clinical values of the models.By incorporating clinical characteristics and systemic inflammation markers, it is feasible to develop ML-based models for the presence and consequences of signs of pulmonary infection in stroke patients, and the use of the model may be greatly beneficial to clinicians in risk stratification and management decisions.

Differential patterns of dynamic functional connectivity variability in major depressive disorder treated with cognitive behavioral therapy.

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have shown that major depressive disorder (MDD) is characterized by a range of impairments in emotional and cognitive functions that are closely related to abnormalities in brain structure and function. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be used as treatment for mild to moderate MDD, which can assist with ameliorating the symptoms. Previous studies have assumed that the internal fluctuations throughout the entire scan are static. However, it has recently been suggested that the brain connectivity is dynamic and relative to continuous rhythmic activity. The effect of dynamic changes in CBT on MDD patients is unknown. METHODS: Nineteen first-episode, unmedicated MDD patients and twenty-two healthy controls (HC) participated in the study. The patients received early CBT treatment once a week for 6 weeks. Symptom examinations and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were performed pre and post treatment. Degree centrality (DC) was used to investigate the whole-brain connectivity differences between patients with MDD and healthy controls, and sliding window correlation analysis was applied to investigate the dynamic changes of functional connectivity among MDD patients treated with CBT. The variance of dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) was calculated to evaluate the temporal variability along the time. RESULTS: Patients with MDD showed abnormal DC in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), insula and postcentral gyrus. Correlation analysis revealed that degree centrality of dlPFC was negatively correlated with the course of disease in patients with MDD. Results of dynamic functional connectivity showed that, compared to HC, MDD patients-remained excessively stable in dlPFC and precuneus connectivity, which is associated with emotional cognitive symptoms. After CBT, patients showed increased dFC variability in dlPFC and precuneus (p < 0.01, GRF corrected). CONCLUSION: DLPFC plays an important role in pathophysiological mechanism of MDD. CBT helped patients suppress redundant thoughts and negative self-focus. As a connecting node, dlPFC participates in the mechanism of action of CBT.

Treated with interferon and the gene polymorphism of CGRP and its receptor.

OBJECTIVE: This case-control study aims to investigate the relationship of polymorphisms of four gene loci (CGRP rs155209 and rs3781719, RAMP1 rs3754701 and rs7590387) with the prognosis of interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis B (CHB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 317 CHB patients receiving interferon alone for the first time were recruited in northern China, and peripheral blood samples were obtained. The single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in rs155209, rs3781719, rs3754701, and rs7590387 were genotyped using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression methods were employed to assess the correlation between CHB prognosis treated with interferon and polymorphisms of these gene loci. RESULTS: The study clearly demonstrated the relevance of polymorphisms of rs155209, rs3781719, rs3754701, and rs7590387 with DNA response and ALT response after interferon treatment. CHB patients with CGRP rs155209C had a lower risk of developing DNA response (CT vs. TT: OR = 0.159, 95% CI = 0.086-0.294, Padj < 0.001; CC vs. TT: OR = 0.131, 95% CI = 0.059-0.288, Padj < 0.001), as well as a lower risk of developing ALT response (CT vs. TT: OR = 0.530, 95% CI = 0.323-0.869, Padj < 0.05). Moreover, CHB patients with RAMP1 rs3754701T allele were more prone to develop DNA response (AT vs. AA: OR = 2.061, 95% CI = 1.237-3.435, Padj < 0.05; TT vs. AA: OR = 5.676, 95% CI =1.247-25.837, Padj < 0.05), and they also more likely to develop ALT response (AT vs. AA: OR = 1.766, 95% CI = 1.098-2.840, Padj < 0.05). We did not find a significant association between CGRP rs3781719 or RAMP1 rs7590387 and DNA response or ALT response. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that CGRP rs155209 and RAMP1 rs3754701 polymorphisms, but not CGRP rs3781719 and RAMP1 rs7590387, were correlated with interferon therapy prognosis for CHB in Han Chinese population, and RAMP1 rs3754701T was a protective factor for ALT response and DNA response, but CGRP rs155209C carriers were less prone to DNA and ALT responses.