Evaluating the efficacy of MEANGS for mitochondrial genome assembly of cartilaginous and ray-finned fish species.

The assembly of complete and circularized mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) is essential for population genetics, phylogenetics and evolution studies. Recently, Song et al. developed a seed-free tool called MEANGS for de novo mitochondrial assembly from whole genome sequencing (WGS) data in animals, achieving highly accurate and intact assemblies. However, the suitability of this tool for marine fish remains unexplored. Additionally, we have concerns regarding the overlap sequences in their original results, which may impact downstream analyses. In this Letter to the Editor, the effectiveness of MEANGS in assembling mitogenomes of cartilaginous and ray-finned fish species was assessed. Moreover, we also discussed the appropriate utilization of MEANGS in mitogenome assembly, including the implementation of the data-cut function and circular detection module. Our observations indicated that with the utilization of these modules, MEANGS efficiently assembled complete and circularized mitogenomes, even when handling large WGS datasets. Therefore, we strongly recommend users employ the data-cut function and circular detection module when using MEANGS, as the former significantly reduces runtime and the latter aids in the removal of overlapped sequences for improved circularization. Furthermore, our findings suggested that approximately 2× coverage of clean WGS data was sufficient for MEANGS to assemble mitogenomes in marine fish species. Moreover, due to its seed-free nature, MEANGS can be deemed one of the most efficient software tools for assembling mitogenomes from animal WGS data, particularly in studies with limited species or genetic background information.

Distinct contributions of ventral CA1/amygdala co-activation to the induction and maintenance of synaptic plasticity.

The amygdala is known to modulate hippocampal synaptic plasticity. One role could be an immediate effect of basolateral amygdala (BLA) in priming synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. Another role could be through associative synaptic co-operation and competition that triggers events involved in the maintenance of synaptic potentiation. We present evidence that the timing and activity level of BLA stimulation are important factors for the induction and maintenance of long-term potentiation (LTP) in ventral hippocampal area CA1. A 100 Hz BLA co-stimulation facilitated the induction of LTP, whereas 200 Hz co-stimulation attenuated induction. A 100 Hz BLA co-stimulation also caused enhanced persistence, sufficient to prevent synaptic competition. This maintenance effect is likely through translational mechanisms, as mRNA expression of primary response genes was unaffected, whereas protein level of plasticity-related products was increased. Further understanding of the neural mechanisms of amygdala modulation on hippocampus could provide insights into the mechanisms of emotional disorders.

Associations of school physical activity environment with comorbid obesity and myopia in children and adolescents: Findings from a Chinese national follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Overweight and obesity (OWOB) and myopia have become two of the most important issues affecting the health of children and adolescents worldwide. Despite the recognition that the school physical activity (PA) environment is a critical factor for preventing and controlling overweight, obesity (OWOB), and myopia in children and adolescents, research on OWOB and myopia as a comorbidity remains unexplored, with evidence for effective strategies still being inconclusive. Hence, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and progression of comorbid OWOB/myopia and each condition alone, and to explore the association with school PA environment. METHODS: A total of 9814 children and adolescents aged 6-18 years were included from the Chinese National Survey on Students' Constitution and Health follow-up survey conducted from November 2019 to November 2020 in China. Anthropometric measurements, unaided distance vision acuity and non-cycloplegic refraction data were collected to assess OWOB and myopia, while eight indicators from questionnaires for children and adolescents aged 9-18 years were investigated to assess school PA environment. We calculated the one-year incidence and progression rates of comorbid OWOB/myopia, OWOB alone, and myopia alone. Mixed effect logistic regression was evaluated the association between school PA environment and incidence and progression of comorbid OWOB/myopia, OWOB, and myopia. RESULTS: The prevalence of comorbid OWOB/myopia increased from 11.1% in 2019 to 17.9% in 2020, and the incidence of comorbid OWOB/myopia was 10.9%. Children and adolescents experiencing an unfavorable school PA environment had a higher risk of the incidence of comorbid OWOB/myopia compared to a favorable school environment (OR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.42-2.42). Similar findings were seen in the incidence of obesity (OR = 1.86, 95% CI: 1.26-2.75). Children and adolescents in an unfavorable school PA environment had a higher risk of myopia progression (OR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.01-1.65). CONCLUSIONS: Obesity and myopia and their comorbidity have been serious among children and adolescents in China. A favorable school PA environment might mitigate the risk of comorbid OWOB/myopia, OWOB, and myopia progression.

[Status and pathways of factors influencing physical activity time among elementary and junior high school students in Beijing].

OBJECTIVE: To describe the current distribution of daily physical activity time among elementary and junior high school students in Beijing, and to analyze the influencing factors and pathways at the individual, family, school and community levels. METHODS: Data were drawn upon from a cross-sectional investigation in Beijing in 2023, and a total of 3 157 elementary and junior high school students were included in the final analysis. Questionnaire was used to collect data on basic characteristics, overall and in-school physical activity time per day, the number of sports mastered, perceived physical activity benefits and barriers scales, perceived family, school, and community physical activity supportive environment scales. Log-binomial regression model was used to analyze the associations between physical activity time and influencing factors, and structural equation modeling was used for the path analysis of the influencing factors. RESULTS: The reported rates of ≥2 hours of overall physical activity per day and ≥1 hour of physical activity in school per day among elementary and junior high school students in Beijing in 2023 were 33.1% and 64.8%, respectively. The associations between the number of sports mastered by students and the reported rate of ≥2 hours of overall physical activity per day showed a typical dose-response relationship (P-trend<0.001). The perceived physical activity benefits-to-barriers ratio (PR=1.24, 95%CI: 1.20-1.28), scores of perceived family, school, and community physical acti-vity supportive environment scales were all positively associated with the reported rate of ≥2 hours of overall physical activity per day (PR=1.51, 95%CI: 1.38-1.66; PR=1.50, 95%CI: 1.37-1.64; PR=1.21, 95%CI: 1.16-1.27). The structural equation modeling showed that the number of sports mastered by the students (ß=0.11, P<0.001), perceived physical activity benefits-to-barriers ratios (ß=0.15, P<0.001), and scores of supportive environment scales consisting of family, school, and community (ß=0.13, P<0.001) were associated with the reported rates of ≥2 hours of overall physical activity per day directly. In addition, the scores of supportive environment scales could indirectly influence the reported rates of ≥2 hours of overall physical activity per day by influencing the number of sports mastered by the students (ß=0.21, P<0.001) and the perceived physical activity benefits-to-barriers ratio (ß=0.56, P<0.001), while the number of sports mastered by the students could indirectly influence the reported rates of ≥2 hours of overall physical activity per day by influencing the perceived physical activity benefits-to-barriers ratios (ß=0.05, P=0.003). The influencing factors and pathways of the reported rates of ≥1 hour of physical activity in school per day were similar with those of the reported rates of ≥2 hours of overall physical activity per day described above. CONCLUSION: The daily physical activity time among elementary and junior high school students in Beijing in 2023 fell short of meeting the national requirement. There was a need to build a supportive environment consisting of family, school, and community for physical activity, to promote the students ' sports skills, to establish the idea of independent physical activity, and to ensure that primary and secondary school students were given one hour of physical activity time every day, both inside and outside the school.

Chelate-Capped Nano-AgZn3 Dual Interphase Remodeling the Local Environment for Reversible Dendrite-Free Zinc Anode.

Rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) are among the most promising candidates for next-generation energy-storage devices. However, the large voltage polarisation and infamous dendrite growth hinder the practical application of AZIBs owing to their complex interfacial electrochemical environment. In this study, a hydrophobic zinc chelate-capped nano-silver (HZC-Ag) dual interphase is fabricated on the zinc anode surface using an emulsion-replacement strategy. The multifunctional HZC-Ag layer remodels the local electrochemical environment by facilitating the pre-enrichment and de-solvation of zinc ions and inducing homogeneous zinc nucleation, thus resulting in reversible dendrite-free zinc anodes. The zinc deposition mechanism on the HZC-Ag interphase is elucidated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, dual-field simulations, and in situ synchrotron X-ray radiation imaging. The HZC-Ag@Zn anode exhibited superior dendrite-free zinc stripping/plating performance and an excellent lifespan of >2000 h with ultra-low polarisation of ≈17 mV at 0.5 mA cm-2 . Full cells coupled with a MnO2 cathode showed significant self-discharge inhibition, excellent rate performance, and improved cycling stability for >1000 cycles. Therefore, this multifunctional dual interphase may contribute to the design and development of dendrite-free anodes for high-performance aqueous metal-based batteries.

The impact of impaired sleep quality on symptom change and future exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

PURPOSE: Study the impact of impaired sleep quality on symptom change and future exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. METHODS: This was a prospective study. Patients with COPD were recruited into the study and followed up for one year. Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) was collected at baseline. Symptom change was assessed with Minimum clinically important difference (MCID) in COPD Assessment Test (CAT) at 6-month visit, which is an indicator to assess symptom improvement. Exacerbation was recorded during the one-year visit. PSQI score > 5 was defined as poor sleep quality, whereas PSQI score ≤ 5 was defined as good sleep quality. MCID was defined as attaining a CAT decrease ≥ 2. RESULTS: A total of 461 patients were enrolled for final analysis. Two hundred twenty-eight (49.4%) patients had poor sleep quality. Overall, 224 (48.6%) patients attained MCID at 6-month visit and the incidence of exacerbation during the one-year visit was 39.3%. Fewer patients with impaired sleep quality achieved MCID than patients with good sleep quality. Good sleepers were significantly more likely to attain MCID (OR: 3.112, p < 0.001) than poor sleepers. Fewer poor sleepers in GOLD A and D groups attained MCID with ICS/LABA, and fewer poor sleepers in the GOLD D group attained MCID with ICS/LABA/LAMA than good sleepers. Poor sleep quality was a greater risk factor of future exacerbation in Cox regression analysis. The ROC curves showed that PSQI score had a predictive capacity for future exacerbation. More patients with poor sleep quality experienced future exacerbation in GOLD B and D group with treatment of ICS/LABA/LAMA compared to good sleepers. CONCLUSIONS: COPD patients with impaired sleep quality were less likely to achieve symptom improvement and were at increased risk of future exacerbation compared to patients with good sleep quality. Besides, sleep disturbance may affect the symptom improvement and future exacerbation of patients with different inhaled medication or in different GOLD groups.

Diagnosis and Treatment Strategy of Nasogenic Olfactory Dysfunction.

Since the global outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a symptom of the onset of SARS-CoV-2, olfactory dysfunction (OD), has attracted tremendous attention. OD is not only a negative factor for quality of life but also an independent hazard and early biomarker for various diseases, such as Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases. Therefore, early identification and treatment of OD in patients are critical. Many etiological factors are responsible for OD based on current opinions. Sniffin'Sticks are recommended to identify the initial position (central or peripheral) for OD when treating patients clinically. It is worth emphasizing that the olfactory region in nasal cavity is recognized as the primary and critical olfactory receptor. Many nasal diseases, such as those with traumatic, obstructive and inflammatory causes, can lead to OD. The key question is no refined diagnosis or treatment strategy for nasogenic OD currently. This study summarizes the differences in medical history, symptoms, auxiliary examination, treatment and prognosis of different types of nasogenic OD by analyzing the current studies. We propose using olfactory training after 4-6 weeks of initial treatment for nasogenic OD patients with no significant improvement in olfaction. We hope that our research can provide valuable clinical guidance by systematically summarizing the clinical characteristics of nasogenic OD.

A rapid, non-invasive, clinical surveillance for CachExia, sarcopenia, portal hypertension, and hepatocellular carcinoma in end-stage liver disease: the ACCESS-ESLD study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Liver cirrhosis, the advanced stage of many chronic liver diseases, is associated with escalated risks of liver-related complications like decompensation and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Morbidity and mortality in cirrhosis patients are linked to portal hypertension, sarcopenia, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Although conventional cirrhosis management centered on treating complications, contemporary approaches prioritize preemptive measures. This study aims to formulate novel blood- and imaging-centric methodologies for monitoring liver cirrhosis patients. METHODS: In this prospective study, 150 liver cirrhosis patients will be enrolled from three Swedish liver clinics. Their conditions will be assessed through extensive blood-based markers and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The MRI protocol encompasses body composition profile with Muscle Assement Score, portal flow assessment, magnet resonance elastography, and a abbreviated MRI for HCC screening. Evaluation of lifestyle, muscular strength, physical performance, body composition, and quality of life will be conducted. Additionally, DNA, serum, and plasma biobanking will facilitate future investigations. DISCUSSION: The anticipated outcomes involve the identification and validation of non-invasive blood- and imaging-oriented biomarkers, enhancing the care paradigm for liver cirrhosis patients. Notably, the temporal evolution of these biomarkers will be crucial for understanding dynamic changes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov, registration identifier NCT05502198. Registered on 16 August 2022. Link: https://classic. CLINICALTRIALS: gov/ct2/show/NCT05502198 .

Prediction of Parkinson's disease by transcranial sonography-based deep learning.

OBJECTIVES: Transcranial sonography has been used as a valid neuroimaging tool to diagnose Parkinson's disease (PD). This study aimed to develop a modified transcranial sonography (TCS) technique based on a deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) model to predict Parkinson's disease. METHODS: This retrospective diagnostic study was conducted using 1529 transcranial sonography images collected from 854 patients with PD and 775 normal controls admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University (Suzhou, Jiangsu, China) between September 2019 and May 2022. The data set was divided into training cohorts (570 PD patients and 541 normal controls), and the validation set (184 PD patients and 234 normal controls). Using these datasets, we developed four different DCNN models (ResNet18, ResNet50, ResNet152, and DenseNet121). We then assessed their diagnostic performance, including the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve, specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and F1 score and compared with traditional diagnostic criteria. RESULTS: Among the 1529 TCS images, 570 PD patients and 541 normal controls from 4 of 6 sonographers of the TCS team were selected as the training cohort, and 184 PD patients and 234 normal controls from the other 2 sonographers were chosen as the validation cohort. There were no sex and age differences between PD patients and normal control subjects in the training and validation cohorts (P values > 0.05). All DCNN models achieved good performance in distinguishing PD patients from normal control subjects on the validation datasets, with diagnostic AUROCs and accuracy of 0.949 (95% CI 0.925, 0.965) and 86.60 for the RestNet18 model, 0.949 (95% CI 0.929, 0.971) and 87.56 for ResNet50, 0.945 (95% CI 0.931, 0.969) and 88.04 for ResNet152, 0.953 (95% CI 0.935, 0.971) and 87.80 for DenseNet121, respectively. On the other hand, the diagnostic accuracy of the traditional diagnostic method was 82.30. The accuracy of all DCNN models was higher than that of traditional diagnostic method. Moreover, the 5k-fold cross-validation results in train datasets showed that these DCNN models are robust. CONCLUSION: The developed transcranial sonography-based DCNN models performed better than traditional diagnostic criteria, thus improving the sonographer's accuracy in diagnosing PD.

Associations between combinations of 24-h movement behaviors and physical fitness among Chinese adolescents: Sex and age disparities.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship between 24-h movement behaviors and adolescents' physical fitness, with sex difference and age disparity explored specifically. METHODS: A total of 135 852 Chinese adolescents aged 13-22 years were included in this cross-sectional study. Self-reported 24-h movement behavioral times, including moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), recreational screen, and sleep, were identified as meeting guidelines based on Canadian recommendations. Physical fitness indicator (PFI) was calculated through sex- and age-specific z scores of body mass index, forced vital capacity, 50 m dash, sit-and-reach, standing long jump, body muscle strength, and endurance running, and then classified as: low level (<20th), middle level (20th-80th), and high level (>80th). Mixed effect logistic regression was applied to analyze the association, and interaction terms were constructed to prove the sex and age disparities. RESULTS: Only 12.4% of adolescents aged 13-22 years met all three recommendations. The number of meeting guidelines exhibited a typical dose-response relationship with high level PFI (OR = 1.22 [95% CI: 1.19-1.25]), and in detail, meeting MVPA + recreational screen (OR = 2.29 [95% CI: 2.09-2.51]) or MVPA-only (OR = 2.16 [95% CI: 1.93-2.41]) guidelines were better associated with high-level PFI. Besides, meeting MVPA-only guideline was proved with stronger association with high-level PFI for boys (p-interaction = 0.005). The dose-response relationship in boys of the number of guidelines met with PFI was stronger in 19- to 22-year-olds (p-interaction <0.001) and 16- to 18-year-olds (p-interaction = 0.001) than that in 13- to 15-year-olds. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of meeting 24-h movement behaviors guidelines among Chinese adolescents aged 13-22 years was relatively low. It was associated with adolescents' physical fitness, with meeting MVPA + recreational screen or MVPA-only guidelines bringing greater benefits, and sex difference and age disparity existing.

Clinical study of transcranial sonography image characteristics in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the relationship between patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) from subgroups of varying severity and substantia nigra (SN) hyperechogenicity as well as cerebral blood flow detected by transcranial sonography (TCS). The study also explored if there were differences in damage of the SN and in the cerebral blood flow between the bilateral sides. METHODS: Right-handed men diagnosed with OSA by polysomnography were recruited from August 2018 to August 2020. The included patients were divided into 3 subgroups (mild, moderate, and severe OSA), and all patients underwent TCS. RESULTS: Among the 157 study patients (30 with mild OSA, 25 moderate, and 102 severe), the overall prevalence of SN hyperechogenicity was 15% (23/157). The hyperechogenicity detection rates were 3% (4/157) in the right SN subgroup and 13% (20/157) in the left SN subgroup, which were significantly different. The left side always had reduced blood flow on TCS (P < 0.05). No correlation was observed between the severity of OSA and the detection rates of SN hyperechogenicity (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with OSA showed a higher detection rate of SN hyperechogenicity on the left compared with the right side. The left middle cerebral arteries had reduced blood flow, which was consistent with the more severe damage of the left SN. No relationship was observed between the severity of OSA and the detection rate of SN hyperechogenicity or hemodynamic parameters.

A cluster randomized trial of a comprehensive intervention nesting family and clinic into school centered implementation to reduce myopia and obesity among children and adolescents in Beijing, China: study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Myopia and obesity in children and adolescents have become serious public health problems that endanger public health, especially in China. Unhealthy lifestyle behaviors are environmental drivers of both myopia and obesity. This protocol describes a study to evaluate the effectiveness of "22510SS", that is 2 h of daytime outdoor activities ('2'); Limit screen time to no more than 2 h per day ('2'); Consume at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily ('5'); Attain 1 h of physical activity daily ('1'); Consume 0 sugar-sweetened beverages ('0'); Reasonable sleep duration ('S'); Regular supervision ('S'). A school-based, multifaceted intervention strategy for myopia and obesity prevention, and to assess and explore the implementation of "22510SS" with regards to acceptability, feasibility, adoption, usage and maintenance. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This study aims to develop a comprehensive intervention strategy "22510SS" based on the socio-ecological model, and A two-arm cluster randomized trial with a parallel-group of a 1:1 allocation ratio in 36 primary and secondary schools to test its evidence-based intervention programs on the effects and implementation of myopia and obesity epidemics in children and adolescents in grades 4 and 7. The primary outcomes will include differences in visual acuity, body mass index, outdoor activity indicators, screen time, fruit and vegetable intake, high-quality protein intake, sugar-sweetened beverage intake, sleep duration, and level of monitoring among children and adolescents. Secondary outcomes will assess the acceptability, feasibility, uptake, use, and maintenance of the intervention. Effects on the primary and secondary outcomes will be analyzed using linear and logistic regression analyses, as well as difference-in-difference analysis, taking into account cluster effects and possible confounding factors. Process assessments will also be conducted through quantitative and qualitative analyses, including acceptability, feasibility, gender, adoption, implementation, and sustainability. DISCUSSION: This study will evaluate the effectiveness of "22510SS" and examine its implementation in the school-based network nesting family and clinic. Following this intervention study, the integrated intervention program focused on myopia and obesity among children and adolescents have great potential to be implemented in China to promote and support healthy lifestyle behavior change and reduce the risk of myopia and obesity in children and adolescents. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05275959. Registered 23 Mach 2022.

Secular trend and urban-rural disparity for age at spermarche among Chinese Han boys from 1995 to 2019.

AIM: To examine the secular trend and the urban-rural disparity of spermarche among Chinese Han boys from 1995 to 2019. METHODS: A total of 392 775 boys of Han ethnicity aged 11-18 years were extracted from the 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2014 and 2019 Chinese National Surveys on Students' Constitution and Health. The median age at spermarche was estimated using the status quo data and probit analysis. The chi-square, ANOVA and LSD tests were used to compare the differences between the year-subgroups. U-test was used to compare the difference between urban and rural areas at each year. RESULTS: The median age at spermarche in Chinese Han boys decreased from 14.6 years in 1995 to 13.9 years in 2019 (p < 0.001). The rural boys showed a faster decreasing pace with a 1-year advance of age at spermarche while the urban boys had only a 0.5-year decrement, and there was still a statistically significant difference between urban-rural areas in 2019 (p < 0.001). Similar to urban-rural disparity, the age gap at spermarche between areas with different urbanisation rates became smaller over time. CONCLUSIONS: In general, spermarche in Chinese Han boys showed a decreasing trend, but the pace was slowing down. The urban-rural disparity in puberty development still existed but was gradually narrowing.

Coordination-Adaptive Polydentate Pseudorotaxane Ligand for Capturing Multiple Uranyl Species.

The propensity of uranyl for hydrolysis in aqueous environments prevents precise control of uranyl species in the scenarios of on-demand separation and tailored synthesis. Herein, using cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) as the macrocyclic molecule and 4,4'-bipyridine-N,N'-dioxide (DPO) as the string molecule, we propose a new kind of multidentate pseudorotaxane ligand, DPO@CB[7] for capturing uranyl species at different pH's. With the aprotic nature of DPO for metal coordination, the coordination ability of the DPO@CB[7] ligand is less affected by pH and can work in a wide range of pH's. Furthermore, by adaptive uranyl coordination, this aprotic pseudorotaxane ligand achieves effective recognition for different uranyl species ranging from monomeric to tetrameric originating from hydrolysis at varying pH's, and four novel uranyl-rotaxane compounds (URC1-4) are successfully obtained. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that the DPO@CB[7] ligand coordinates with uranyl centers from monomeric to tetrameric in four different modes, as a result of structural flexibility of the DPO@CB[7] pseudorotaxane ligand. A detailed discussion for conformation flexibility of the DPO@CB[7] ligand has been conducted on the position changes of the DPO ligand trapped in the CB[7], which thus reveals good adaptivity of DPO@CB[7] that is noncovalently bonded as a supramolecular motif. In addition, characterization of the physicochemical properties of URC1 and URC2 with high phase purity, including powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and luminescence properties, are also provided. This work provides a good case of an adaptive pseudorotaxane ligand for the recognition and capture of different uranyl species and will bring valuable hints to the design of multifunctional supramolecular ligands for actinide separation in the future.

Multimodal imaging of the course of retinal changes in acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy with bilateral retinal detachment: a case report.

BACKGROUND: To report a rare case of acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy (APMPPE) with a combination of serous retinal detachment, papilledema, and retinal vasculitis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 19-year-old male complained of floaters in both eyes with decreased vision for 4 days. The best corrected visual acuity of the right eye and the left eye were 1.1 and 0.9 (logMAR), respectively. In both eyes, inflammatory cells can be seen suspended within the vitreous, multiple yellow/white lesions can be seen near the macula, and retinal neuroepithelial detachment. Swelling of the optic disc with blurring of the disc margins, in the left eye. Optical coherence tomography (OCT): showed retinal detachment in both eyes. The patient received oral prednisone treatment. 1 week later, OCT showed absorption of subretinal fluid in the macula of both eyes his binocular vision improved to 0.1 (logMAR). During the subsequent 28-month follow-up, fundus fluorescein angiography and OCT revealed extensive and progressive pigment epithelial atrophy in both eyes, and abnormal retinal vascular perfusion in the right eye due to persistent retinal vasculitis. Although the patient's binocular visual acuity remained at 0.1 (logMAR). CONCLUSIONS: In the present case of APMPPE with a combination of serous retinal detachment, papilledema, and retinal vasculitis, through the multimodal imaging, further confirming that the lesions were located in the choroid, while the pigment epithelial lesions were secondary changes.

Oxidative stress links the tumour suppressor p53 with cell apoptosis induced by cigarette smoke.

This study was to investigate the effects of oxidative stress in cigarette smoke (CS)-induced cell apoptosis in mice with emphysema. Thirty-two mice were divided into four groups: the control group, the CS group, the CS + Pifithrin-α group, and the CS + NAC group. Pathological changes and apoptosis in lung tissue of mice were detected. The activity of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) were measured using spectrophotometer. The proteins expression of p53, Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 were determined by western blot. The results showed that cell apoptosis, lung structural damage, and the activity of MDA, as well as the expression of apoptosis-related proteins Bax, total caspase-3, and cleaved caspase-3 were increased in CS-treated mice. The activity of SOD, CAT, and T-AOC, as well as the expression of anti-apoptosis protein Bcl-2 were decreased in CS-treated mice when compared with the control group. However, Pifithrin-α (p53 inhibitor) and N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) could reduce cell apoptosis, lung structural damage and oxidative stress, accelerate the expression of Bcl-2, while suppressing the expression of Bax, total caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-3. More importantly, the treatment with NAC even inhibited the expression of p53. In conclusions, oxidative stress linking the p53 is involved in cell apoptosis in CS-treated emphysema mice.

SH3BGRL2 functions as a crucial tumor suppressor in glioblastoma tumorigenesis.

Glioblastoma is the most common and severe primary intrinsic tumor of the central nervous system. Glioblastoma harbors glioma stem cells (GSCs) as it not only possesses self-renewal and differentiation properties but also accounts for significant chemotherapy resistance and recurrence. Thus, targeting GSCs may be essential in overcoming the resistance and recurrence thereby improving GBM treatment. However, the underlying mechanism to sustain GSCs remains largely unknown. Here, we report that SH3 domain binding glutamate-rich protein like 2 (SH3BGRL2) is weakly expressed in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and isocitrate dehydrogenase1 (IDH1) wildtype GBM and correlated with glioma patients' poor prognosis. Moreover, ectopic expression of SH3BGRL2 significantly inhibited GBM cell growth, migration, and GSCs self-renewal in vitro as well as tumor growth in vivo. Additionally, we found that SH3BGRL2 suppressed SOX2 and CD133 expression, which are key regulators involved in GSCs self-renewal. Collectively, our findings shed additional light on SH3BGRL2 has potential to serve as a biomarker and a potent therapeutic target for patients with glioma.

SH3GL3 acts as a novel tumor suppressor in glioblastoma tumorigenesis by inhibiting STAT3 signaling.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most severe malignant tumors of the central nervous system. Glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) are considered to account for tumor initiation, therapeutic resistance, and tumor relapse. Yet the underlying mechanisms of GSC stemness maintenance remain largely unknown. Abnormal activation of STAT3 signaling is required for GBM tumorigenesis and GSC self-renewal. In this study, we provide evidence that SH3GL3 was weakly expressed in GBM and its high expression correlated with a favorable prognosis for GBM patients. Ectopic of SH3GL3 expression considerably inhibits GBM cell malignant behaviors, including GBM cell proliferation, migration as well as GSCs self-renewal ability. Mechanistically, we first found that SH3GL3 interacts with STAT3, which thereby inhibiting STAT3 nuclear localization. Overexpression of constitutively activated (STAT3-C) restored the growth, migration and self-renewal ability impaired by overexpression of SH3GL3. Together, our work shed insight on a critical regulatory mechanism mediated by SH3GL3 to decrease the stem cell-like property and tumorigenic potential.

Research Progress on the SERPINE1 Protein and Chronic Inflammatory Diseases of the Upper Respiratory Tract: A Literature Review.

SERPINE1 protein is one important member of the serine proteinase inhibitor E superfamily that plays a crucial role in the fibrinolytic system. It has been identified which is related to chronic inflammatory lung diseases like allergic asthma and lung fibrosis. Recently, researchers have focused on the impact of SERPINE1 and its genetic polymorphisms on inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract. In this review, we conclude that SERPINE1 is widely involved in the pathological process of chronic rhinosinusitis and allergic rhinitis (AR) and may play a pivotal role in tissue remodelling in chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps. It is also found that the 4G allele of SERPINE1 gene is associated with the risk of upper respiratory diseases. More studies are needed to further clarify how SERPINE1 influences chronic rhinosinusitis and AR, which would be conducive to improving the therapeutic efficacy of treatments for upper respiratory diseases.

C-Reactive Protein to Serum Albumin Ratio as a Novel Biomarker to Predict Prognosis in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the C-reactive protein to serum albumin ratio (CAR) to predict prognosis in COPD patients with acute exacerbations (AECOPD). METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of AECOPD patients, admitted to a large tertiary hospital between January 2017 and June 2018, was conducted. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were built to assess the relationship between variables and different clinical outcomes in one-year follow up. In addition, Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the relationship between CAR and the time to first rehospitalization due to acute exacerbation of COPD. RESULTS: A total of 167 AECOPD patients were included in this study, with an overall age of 68.5 ± 9.4 years. Both univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that CAR at admission was significantly associated with rehospitalization and frequent exacerbations in COPD patients (p < 0.05). Kaplan-Meier curve showed that the rehospitalization event-free rate was significantly higher in the low CAR group than the high CAR group (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: As an easily available parameter, CAR at admission can be an independent predictor for rehospitalization and frequent exacerbations in COPD patients with acute exacerbations.