Verticillium dahliae Vta3 promotes ELV1 virulence factor gene expression in xylem sap, but tames Mtf1-mediated late stages of fungus-plant interactions and microsclerotia formation.

Verticillium transcription activator of adhesion 3 (Vta3) is required for plant root colonization and pathogenicity of the soil-borne vascular fungus Verticillium dahliae. RNA sequencing identified Vta3-dependent genetic networks required for growth in tomato xylem sap. Vta3 affects the expression of more than 1,000 transcripts, including candidates with predicted functions in virulence and morphogenesis such as Egh16-like virulence factor 1 (Elv1) and Master transcription factor 1 (Mtf1). The genes encoding Elv1 and Mtf1 were deleted and their functions in V. dahliae growth and virulence on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants were investigated using genetics, plant infection experiments, gene expression studies and phytohormone analyses. Vta3 contributes to virulence by promoting ELV1 expression, which is dispensable for vegetative growth and conidiation. Vta3 decreases disease symptoms mediated by Mtf1 in advanced stages of tomato plant colonization, while Mtf1 induces the expression of fungal effector genes and tomato pathogenesis-related protein genes. The levels of pipecolic and salicylic acids functioning in tomato defense signaling against (hemi-) biotrophic pathogens depend on the presence of MTF1, which promotes the formation of resting structures at the end of the infection cycle. In summary, the presence of VTA3 alters gene expression of virulence factors and tames the Mtf1 genetic subnetwork for late stages of plant disease progression and subsequent survival of the fungus in the soil.

Environmental quality mediates the ecological dominance of cooperatively breeding birds.

Although social species as diverse as humans and ants are among the most abundant organisms on Earth, animals cooperate and form groups for many reasons. How these different reasons for grouping affect a species' ecological dominance remains unknown. Here we use a theoretical model to demonstrate that the different fitness benefits that animals receive by forming groups depend on the quality of their environment, which in turn impacts their ecological dominance and resilience to global change. We then test the model's key predictions using phylogenetic comparative analysis of >6500 bird species. As predicted, we find that cooperative breeders occurring in harsh and fluctuating environments have larger ranges and greater abundances than non-cooperative breeders, but cooperative breeders occurring in benign and stable environments do not. Using our model, we further show that social species living in harsh and fluctuating environments will be less vulnerable to climate change than non-social species.

Distribution, causal agents, and infection dynamic of emerging ink disease of sweet chestnut in Southern Switzerland.

Emerging diseases caused by both native and exotic pathogens represent a main threat to forest ecosystems worldwide. The two invasive soilborne pathogens Phytophthora cinnamomi and Phytophthora × cambivora are the causal agents of ink disease, which has been threatening Castanea sativa in Europe for several centuries and seems to be re-emerging in recent years. Here, we investigated the distribution, causal agents, and infection dynamics of ink disease in southern Switzerland. A total of 25 outbreaks were identified, 19 with only P. cinnamomi, 5 with only P. × cambivora, and 1 with both species. Dendrochronological analyses showed that the disease emerged in the last 20-30 years. Infected trees either died rapidly within 5-15 years post-infection or showed a prolonged state of general decline until death. Based on a generalized linear model, the local risk of occurrence of ink disease was increased by an S-SE aspect of the chestnut stand, the presence of a pure chestnut stand, management activities, the proximity of roads and buildings, and increasing annual mean temperature and precipitation. The genetic structure of the local P. cinnamomi population suggests independent introductions and local spread of the pathogen.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Ogmocotyle ailuri: gene content, composition and rearrangement and phylogenetic implications.

Trematodes of the genus Ogmocotyle are intestinal flukes that can infect a variety of definitive hosts, resulting in significant economic losses worldwide. However, there are few studies on molecular data of these trematodes. In this study, the mitochondrial (mt) genome of Ogmocotyle ailuri isolated from red panda (Ailurus fulgens) was determined and compared with those from Pronocephalata to investigate the mt genome content, genetic distance, gene rearrangements and phylogeny. The complete mt genome of O. ailuri is a typical closed circular molecule of 14 642 base pairs, comprising 12 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes and 2 non-coding regions. All genes are transcribed in the same direction. In addition, 23 intergenic spacers and 2 locations with gene overlaps were determined. Sequence identities and sliding window analysis indicated that cox1 is the most conserved gene among 12 PCGs in O. ailuri mt genome. The sequenced mt genomes of the 48 Plagiorchiida trematodes showed 5 types of gene arrangement based on all mt genome genes, with the gene arrangement of O. ailuri being type I. Phylogenetic analysis using concatenated amino acid sequences of 12 PCGs revealed that O. ailuri was closer to Ogmocotyle sikae than to Notocotylus intestinalis. These data enhance the Ogmocotyle mt genome database and provide molecular resources for further studies of Pronocephalata taxonomy, population genetics and systematics.

Prevalence of Theileria in cattle in China: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Theileria, one of the causative agents of blood protozoan, has brought a huge economic loss to the cattle industry worldwide. However, the epidemiology of Theileria in Chinese cattle has not been systematically investigated. This comprehensive review aimed at investigating the prevalence of Theileria infection in cattle in China. A total of 48 published papers on Theileria infection in cattle in China (including data from 21,366 animals) from inception to October 8, 2021 met the inclusion standard after searching in five databases (Technology Periodical Database, Wan Fang Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, PubMed, and ScienceDirect). The pooled prevalence of Theileria in cattle in China was 32.4% identified by using a random effects model. The prevalence in Northeastern China (45.3%) was higher than that in other regions. In the sex subgroup, the prevalence of Theileria was higher in females (48.9%) than that in males (45.8%). The prevalence of Theileria was higher in cattle of free range (34.4%) compared with that of intensive farming (22.3%). The prevalence prior to 2013 (36.1%) was higher than that after 2013 (33.6%). Among three cattle species, dairy cows had the lowest prevalence (21.5%). The prevalence of Theileria (T.) annulata (22.2%) and T. sergenti (26.2%) was higher than other species of Theileria (T. buffeli: 17.5%, T. luwenshuni: 0.9%, T. orientalis: 15.5%, T. ovis: 0.21%, T. sinensis: 20.2%, T. uilenbergi: 6.2%, Others: 0.9%). We also analyzed the impact of different geographic factor subgroups (longitude, latitude, precipitation, temperature, humidity, and altitude) on the prevalence of Theileria in cattle. Among them, climatic factors of longitude, latitude, precipitation, humidity, temperature were associated with the prevalence of Theileria. These analyses suggested that Theileria was common in cattle in China. Targeted prevention programs based on geographic and climatic conditions in different areas may play an important role in reducing Theileria infection among cattle.

The Prevalence of Vaginal Flatus in Women With Pelvic Floor Disorders and Its Impact on Sexual Function.

BACKGROUND: Vaginal flatus is involuntarily passing gas from the vagina. Women seldom voluntarily report it, and related data are limited. AIM: To investigate the prevalence of vaginal flatus in women with pelvic floor disorders and its impact on sexual function. METHODS: This was an observational study involving women who visited a urogynecologic clinic in a tertiary medical center. Patients were asked about their experience of vaginal flatus. Other evaluations included urodynamics, genital prolapse stage, and quality-of-life questionnaires, including the short form of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire, Urogenital Distress Inventory, and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire. OUTCOMES: Clinical characteristics, vaginal anatomic landmarks, stage of prolapse, urodynamic parameters, and quality-of-life scores were compared between women with and without vaginal flatus. RESULTS: Among 341 women, 118 (35%) reported vaginal flatus, which was more common in those who were younger (a mean age of 49.3 ± 9.2 years; range 25-74 years vs 49.3 ± 9.2 years; range 25-74 years, P < .001) and sexually active (98% vs 55%, P < .001). Women with vaginal flatus had significantly worse sexual function (Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire, 16.3 ± 15.9 vs 30.9 ± 8.0, P < .001) and incontinence-related quality of life (Urogenital Distress Inventory, 23.4 ± 10.5 vs 17.8 ± 8.9, P = .039; Incontinence Impact Questionnaire, 25.5 ± 14.5 vs 17.2 ± 12.5, P = .012). For frequency and bother, 48 of 116 (46%) women reported often or always having symptoms during sexual activity, 5 of 34 (15%) when performing daily activities, and 4 of 31 (12%) when exercising, and 70 of 116 (60%) felt least moderate bothersome during sexual activity compared with 2 of 34 (5%) when performing daily activities and 6 of 31 (18%) when exercising. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Vaginal flatus is prevalent in women with pelvic floor disorders, particularly in those who are younger and sexually active. STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS: The strength of this study is to evaluate the sexual function with validated questionnaires. The lack of data after pelvic floor management is the major limitation. CONCLUSIONS: Among women with pelvic floor disorders, those with vaginal flatus reported poorer sexual function. Routine counseling should be considered for these patients. Lau H-H, Su T-H, Chen Y-Y, et al. The Prevalence of Vaginal Flatus in Women With Pelvic Floor Disorders and Its Impact on Sexual Function. J Sex Med 2021;18:487-492.

Estrogen for the prevention of recurrent urinary tract infections in postmenopausal women: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTIs) are commonly encountered in postmenopausal women. Optimal non-antimicrobial prophylaxis for rUTIs is an important health issue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of estrogen in the prevention of rUTIs versus placebo. METHODS: Eligible studies published up to December 2019 were retrieved through searches of MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Database of Systematic Reviews. We included randomized controlled trials of estrogen therapies versus placebo regarding the outcomes of preventing rUTIs. Changes in vaginal pH and estrogen-associated adverse events were also analyzed. RESULTS: Eight studies including 4702 patients (2367 who received estrogen and 2335 who received placebo) were identified. Five studies including 1936 patients evaluated the use of vaginal estrogen, which resulted in a significant reduction in rUTIs (relative risk, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.30-0.59). Three studies including 2766 patients evaluated the outcomes of oral estrogen in the prevention of UTIs and showed no significant difference in the number of rUTIs compared to treatment with placebo (relative risk, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.92-1.35). Two studies reviewed changes in vaginal pH and showed a lower pH (mean difference, -1.81; 95% CI, -3.10--0.52) after vaginal estrogen therapy. Adverse events associated with vaginal estrogen were reported, including vaginal discomfort, irritation, burning, and itching. There was no significance increase in the vaginal estrogen group (relative risk, 3.06; 95% CI, 0.79-11.90). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with placebo, vaginal estrogen treatment could reduce the number of rUTIs and lower the vaginal pH in postmenopausal women.

Integration of crescent laser beams into dark-field microscopes for enhancing the Raman characterization of micro/nano particles.

Dark-field microscopy is widely used to image micro/nano particles or characterize their optical response (scattering spectrum). If laser excitation is incorporated into the microscope, the microscope can further probe chemical (molecular) properties of these objects through Raman scattering. However, when the size of the particles is comparable to or smaller than the characteristic sizes of the laser beam, the conventional setup using on-axis excitation usually suffers from undesired background signals produced by illuminated substrates below the target particles. Therefore, a crescent laser beam possessing a stable shape along the propagation direction is generated by a pair of shifted axicons and then integrated into a dark-field microscope for large oblique angle (i.e., off-axis) excitation. Under this excitation setup, the contrast between Raman and background fluorescence spectra is enhanced by a factor of 4 for a 1 µm polystyrene particle sitting on a glass slide, compared to the conventional excitation configuration. This off-axis excitation based on the crescent beam integrates dark-field imaging with Raman spectroscopy and improves Raman characterization of micro/nano particles.

Herpes zoster and the risks of osteoporosis and fracture: a nationwide cohort study.

This study aimed to investigate the association between herpes zoster (HZ) and the risks of osteoporosis and fracture. We conducted a nationwide retrospective cohort study using the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. The study enrolled 63,786 patients: 31,893 diagnosed with HZ between 2000 and 2012 were included in the HZ cohort, and 31,893 matched controls without HZ were included in the non-HZ cohort, with 1:1 exact matching for age, sex, and index year. Hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated for the risks of osteoporosis and fracture according to the HZ status using the Cox proportional hazards regression models. During a mean follow-up period of 6.0 years, 5597 and 4639 patients in the HZ and non-HZ cohorts, respectively, developed osteoporosis or fractures (incidence rate: 29.8 vs. 23.8 per 1000 person-years). HZ diagnosis was significantly associated with an elevated risk of developing osteoporosis or fracture (adjusted HR [aHR] = 1.20, p < 0.001). On analyses for each individual event, the HZ cohort had significantly increased risks for all events, including osteoporosis (aHR = 1.32, p < 0.001), hip fracture (aHR = 1.34, p < 0.001), vertebral fracture (aHR = 1.38, p < 0.001), and other fractures (aHR = 1.10, p < 0.001) compared with the non-HZ cohort. Patients with postherpetic neuralgia had especially higher risks of osteoporosis and fracture. Age- and sex-stratified analyses also revealed similar patterns. In conclusion, HZ was independently associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis and fracture. Further studies are required to investigate its underlying mechanisms.

The Construction and Identification of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Derived from Acute Myelogenous Leukemia Cells.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to establish an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line from acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) cells in vitro and identify their biological characteristics. METHODS: Cells from the AML-infiltrated skin from an M6 patient were infected with a lentivirus carrying OCT4, SOX2, KLF4 and C-MYC to induce iPSCs. The characteristics of the iPSCs were confirmed by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining. The proliferation ability of iPSCs was detected with a CCK-8 assay. The expression of pluripotency markers was measured by immunostaining, and the expression of stem cell-related genes was detected by qRT-PCR; distortion during the induction process was detected by karyotype analysis; the differentiation potential of iPSCs was determined by embryoid body-formation and teratoma-formation assays. ALP staining confirmed that these cells exhibited positive staining and had the characteristics of iPSCs. RESULTS: The CCK-8 assay showed that the iPSCs had the ability to proliferate. Immunostaining demonstrated that iPSC clones showed positive expression of NANOG, SSEA-3, SSEA-4, TRA-1-60 and TRA-1-81. qRT-PCR results revealed that the mRNA expression of Nanog, Lin28, Cripto, FOX3, DNMT3b, DPPA2, and DPPA4 significantly increased in iPSCs. Karyotype analysis found no chromosome aberration in the iPSCs. The results of the embryoid body-formation and teratoma-formation assays indicated that the iPSCs had the potential to differentiate into all three germ layers. CONCLUSION: Our study provided evidence that an iPSC line derived from AML cells was successfully established.

Cobalt salt-catalyzed carbocyclization reactions of α-bromo-N-phenylacetamide derivatives.

An efficient and low-cost method for the synthesis of 4-substituted quinolin-2-(1H)-ones has been developed. In the presence of TBHP, the cobalt(ii)-catalyzed carbocyclization reactions of arylethenyl substituted α-bromo-N-phenylacetamides, involving sequential 6-exo-trig radical cyclization, t-butylperoxy radical cross-coupling reaction and the base-promoted ionic Kornblum-DeLaMare reaction, produced 4-benzoylquinolin-2-(1H)-ones. A variety of useful functional groups such as methoxy, fluoro, chloro, bromo, methoxycarbonyl, and cyano groups, are compatible with the reaction conditions. This strategy was further applied to arylethynyl substituted α-bromo-N-phenylacetamides, and 4-benzylquinolin-2-(1H)-ones were formed effectively.

Indirubin Treatment of Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Mastitis in a Mouse Model and Activity in Mouse Mammary Epithelial Cells.

Indirubin is a Chinese medicine extracted from indigo and known to be effective for treating chronic myelogenous leukemia, neoplasia, and inflammatory disease. This study evaluated the in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of indirubin in a lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced mouse mastitis model. The indirubin mechanism and targets were evaluated in vitro in mouse mammary epithelial cells. In the mouse model, indirubin significantly attenuated the severity of inflammatory lesions, edema, inflammatory hyperemia, milk stasis and local tissue necrosis, and neutrophil infiltration. Indirubin significantly decreased myeloperoxidase activity and downregulated the production of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), and IL-6 caused by LPS. In vitro, indirubin inhibited LPS-stimulated expression of proinflammatory cytokines in a dose-dependent manner. It also downregulated LPS-induced toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) expression and inhibited phosphorylation of LPS-induced nuclear transcription factor-kappa B (NF-κB) P65 protein and inhibitor of kappa B. In addition to its effect on the NF-κB signaling pathway, indirubin suppressed the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling by inhibiting phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), P38, and c-jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK). Indirubin improved LPS-induced mouse mastitis by suppressing TLR4 and downstream NF-κB and MAPK pathway inflammatory signals and might be a potential treatment of mastitis and other inflammatory diseases.

Geometrical effects of phospholipid olefinic bonds on the structure and dynamics of membranes: A molecular dynamics study.

The trans isomers of fatty acids are found in human adipose tissue. These isomers have been linked with deleterious health effects (e.g., coronary artery disease). In this study, we performed molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the structures and dynamic properties of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (POPC) and 1-palmitoyl-2-elaidoyl sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (PEPC) lipid bilayers. The geometry of the olefinic bond and membrane packing effects significantly influenced the conformations and dynamics of the two C-C single bonds adjacent to the olefinic bond. For the PEPC lipid, the two C-C single bonds adjacent to the olefinic bond adopted mainly nonplanar skew-trans and planar cis-trans motifs; although the cis conformation featured relatively strong steric repulsion, it was stabilized through membrane packing because its planar structure is more suitable for membrane packing. Moreover, membrane packing effects stabilized the planar transition state for conformational conversion to a greater extent than they did with the nonplanar transition state, thereby affecting the dynamics of conformational conversion. The rotational motions of the first neighboring C-C single bonds were much faster than those of typical saturated C-C single bonds; in contrast, the rotational motions of the second neighboring C-C single bonds were significantly slower than those of typical saturated torsion angles. The packing of PEPC lipids is superior to that of POPC lipids, leading to a smaller area per lipid, a higher order parameter and a smaller diffusion coefficient. The distinct properties of POPC and PEPC lipids result in PEPC lipids forming microdomains within a POPC matrix.

[Effect of Chinese Herbal Extract HNA-1 on the Thymic Output Function in Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Chronically Infected Chinese Rhesus Macaques].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Chinese herbal extract HuNan A-1 (HNA-1) on the thymic output function in Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) chronically infected rhesus macaques. METHODS: Eight Chinese rhesus macaques had been infected by SIVmac239 for 16 to 21 months, and then they were randomly divided into the treatment group and the control group, 4 in each group. Monkeys in the treatment group were administered with HNA-1 by gastrogavage, once daily for 2 successive months, while those in the control group were administered with equal volume of normal saline by gastrogavage, once daily for 2 successive months. The general condition and body weight of monkeys were observed. Plasma viral loads were detected using real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR assay. CD4 percentages and counts, as well as naive CD subsets were detected using flow cytometry. T-cell receptor excision circles (TREC) were detected using real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR assay. The thymus tissue was pathologically observed using routine HE staining. The correlation between lesions of the thymus tissue, CD4 counts, naive CD counts, and TREC were analyzed. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference in body weight, viral loads, absolute CD ratios between the two groups after treatment (P > 0.05). The altered TREC multiple showed an obvious decreasing tendency in the control group, while it showed an increasing tendency in the treatment group (P < 0.05). In both groups, destroyed structures of the thymus tissue could be seen, filled with pink unstructured material. Increased connective tissues, lowered connective cell density, and confused arrangement could also be seen in the two groups, with no obvious difference. TREC contents were positively correlated with naive CD4 counts after removing extremum (r = 0.926, P = 0.001). Naive CD4 counts were positively correlated with CD4 counts (r = 0.961, P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: TREC content determination, as a marker of newly thymic emigrants, could be taken as a testing method for evaluating the thymic output function. Besides, HNA-1 treatment increased the thymic output significantly in SIV chronically infected monkeys. Correlation existed among TREC contents, naive CD4 counts, and pathologies of thymus tissues, especially in late infection stage.

Cu(I)-catalyzed synthesis of dihydropyrimidin-4-ones toward the preparation of ß- and ß3-amino acid analogues.

A copper(I)-catalyzed synthesis of substituted dihydropyrimidin-4-ones from propargyl amides via the formation of ketenimine intermediate has been successfully developed; the synthesis afforded good isolated yields (80-95%). The mild reaction conditions at room temperature allow the reaction to proceed to completion in a few hours without altering the stereochemistry. Further, by involving a variety of reactive nucleophiles, the obtained substituted dihydropyrimidin-4-ones were elegantly transformed into the corresponding ß- and ß(3)-amino acid analogues.

Noninvasive hemoglobin quantification across different cohorts using a wearable diffuse reflectance spectroscopy system.

Quantifying hemoglobin is vital yet invasive through blood draws. We developed a wearable diffuse reflectance spectroscopy device comprising control and sensor boards with photodiodes and light-emitting diodes to noninvasively determine hemoglobin. Neural networks enabled recovery of optical parameters for chromophore fitting to calculate hemoglobin. Testing healthy and elderly subjects revealed strong correlation (r=0.9) between our system and invasive methods after data conversion. Bland-Altman analysis demonstrated tight 95% limits of agreement from -1.98 to 1.98 g/dL between the DRS and invasive hemoglobin concentrations. By spectroscopically isolating hemoglobin absorption, interference from melanin was overcome. Our device has the potential for future integration into wearable technology, enabling hemoglobin level tracking.

Injectable and thermoresponsive self-assembled nanocomposite hydrogel for long-term anticancer drug delivery.

The purpose of this study is to develop an injectable thermoresponsive hydrogel system that can undergo sol-gel phase transition by the stimulation of body temperature with improved mechanical stability and biocompatibility as a controlled drug delivery carrier for cancer therapy. Hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) was introduced into Pluronic F127 as a chain extender to improve the mechanical stability. HDI-Pluronic F127 copolymer was then incorporated with hyaluronic acid to develop a thermoresponsive nanocomposite hydrogel system. The physiochemical properties were characterized. The anticancer drug release profile and effect to inhibit tumor cells growth were analyzed in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that HDI-Pluronic F127/hyaluronic acid thermoresponsive hydrogel could undergo sol-gel transition as temperature increased to 37 °C. The nanocomposite polymer can spontaneously self-assemble into micellar structure with size of 100-200 nm. The release of doxorubicin (DOX) from HDI-PF127/HA composite hydrogel was a zero-order profile and maintained sustained release for over 28 days. The viability of tumor cells and size of tumor significantly decreased with incubation time, indicating the potential to have a therapeutic effect for cancer therapy. The injectable thermoresponsive nanocomposite hydrogel system was biocompatible and degradable and had the slow controlled release property for anticancer drugs with potential applications in the field of drug delivery.

Non-invasive assessment of skin hydration and sensation with diffuse reflectance spectroscopy.

The skin is a vital organ in the human body, providing essential functions such as protection, sensation, and metabolism. Skin hydration is one of the crucial factors in maintaining normal skin function. Insufficient skin hydration can lead to dryness, shedding of the stratum corneum, a decrease in skin barrier function, and may cause skin inflammation. Therefore, maintaining or improving skin hydration is critical in promoting healthy skin. Currently, the commonly used method for measuring skin hydration is bioelectrical capacitance analysis, which is often affected by environmental humidity and can only provide limited information. To overcome these limitations, this study used diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) in the wavelength range of 400-1000 nm to quantify skin absorption and scattering modulation caused by changes in skin hydration states. The advantages of this technique include rapid measurements, non-invasiveness, a straightforward optical setup, and suitability for prolonged skin monitoring. We found that DRS-derived skin absorption coefficients had a correlation coefficient of 0.93 with the skin capacitance at various skin hydration states. In addition, our findings reveal that absorption and scattering coefficients may be useful in discerning skin hydration enhancement induced by applying soaked cotton pads or cosmeceutical facial masks, as well as evaluating skin sensation. This study verifies that the DRS method could be a convenient and effective tool for evaluating skin hydration related information.

Noninvasive transcutaneous bilirubin measurement in adults using skin diffuse reflectance.

Accurate measurement of bilirubin concentration in adults is crucial for the diagnosis and management of liver and biliary tract diseases. Traditional methods relying on central laboratory testing pose challenges such as invasiveness, patient discomfort, and time consumption. Non-invasive alternatives have been explored, but their applicability to adult populations remains uncertain. This study aimed to develop and validate a portable non-invasive optical system based on spatially resolved diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) specifically tailored for adult transcutaneous bilirubin measurement. Forty-two adult patients with various underlying conditions were included in the study. Comparisons between transcutaneous bilirubin values measured by the DRS system and total serum bilirubin concentrations obtained through blood tests revealed strong correlations, particularly at the neck (r = 0.872) and the medial side of the right upper arm (r = 0.940). Bland-Altman analyses demonstrated substantial agreement between the transcutaneous bilirubin values and total serum bilirubin concentrations. The results highlight the potential of the non-invasive DRS system as a convenient and reliable tool for monitoring bilirubin values in adults.

Comparison of Quality of Life Between Breast Cancer Patients Treated With and Without Adjunctive Traditional Chinese Medicine in Taiwan.

In Taiwan, breast cancer has the highest incidence among all cancers. Although adjunctive traditional Chinese medicine treatment (TCM) have been used to ameliorate the side effects or discomfort caused by cancer treatments, no study has focused on the assessment of the quality of life of patients undergoing adjunctive TCM treatments. This study compared the quality of life between breast cancer patients treated with and without adjunctive TCM. Questionnaires were collected from 7 hospitals with a Chinese medicine clinic in 2018 to 2019. Breast cancer patients who had cancer stages I, II, or III and also underwent resection surgery were included in the study. They were divided into 2 groups: patients receiving cancer treatments with adjunctive traditional Chinese medicine (TCM group) and those receiving cancer treatments without adjunctive traditional Chinese medicine (non-TCM group). A 1:1 matching was used to obtain the study participants. The EQ-5D questionnaire was used to assess the quality of life. Statistical analysis was performed using the t-test and ANOVA to compare the differences between variables. The conditional multiple regression model was applied to explore the factors associated with quality of life in breast cancer patients. A total of 543 participants were surveyed, and 450 participants were included in the study. The EQ-5D score of the TCM group (81.60 ± 11.67) was significantly higher than that of the non-TCM group (78.80 ± 13.10; P < .05). The results of a conditional multiple regression model showed that the TCM group had a higher (3.45 points) quality of life than non-TCM group (P = .002) after adjusting for other related factors. After stratifying by cancer stage, patients with cancer stages II and III scored 5.58 and 4.35 points higher in the TCM group than did those in the non-TCM group (P < .05). Breast cancer patients undergoing cancer treatment with adjunctive traditional Chinese medicine have a higher quality of life than those treated without adjunctive traditional Chinese medicine.