Effects of cold stress on the blood-brain barrier in Plectropomus leopardus.

BACKGROUND: The leopard coral grouper (Plectropomus leopardus) is a commercially valuable tropical marine fish species known to be sensitive to low temperatures. A comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing its response to acute cold stress is of great importance. However, there is a relative scarcity of fundamental research on low-temperature tolerance in the leopard coral grouper. METHODS: In this study, a cooling and rewarming experiment was conducted on 6-month-old leopard coral groupers. Within 24 h, we decreased the ambient temperature from 25 °C to 13 °C and subsequently allowed it to naturally return to 25 °C. During this process, a comprehensive investigation of serum hormone levels, enzyme activity, and brain transcriptome analysis was performed. RESULTS: P. leopardus displayed a noticeable adaptive response to the initial temperature decrease by temporarily reducing its life activities. Our transcriptome analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were primarily concentrated in crucial pathways including the blood-brain barrier (BBB), inflammatory response, and coagulation cascade. In situ hybridization of claudin 15a (cldn15a), a key gene for BBB maintaining, further confirmed that exposure to low temperatures led to the disruption of the blood-brain barrier and stimulated a pronounced inflammatory reaction within the brain. Upon rewarming, there was a recovery of BBB integrity accompanied by the persistence of inflammation within the brain tissue. CONCLUSIONS: Our study reveals the complex interactions between blood-brain barrier function, inflammation, and recovery in P. leopardus during short-term temperature drops and rewarming. These findings provide valuable insights into the physiological responses of this species under cold stress conditions.

Association of uric acid and fructose levels in polycystic ovary syndrome.

STUDY QUESTION: Is there a relationship between serum uric acid and fructose levels in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)? SUMMARY ANSWER: Elevated serum uric acid levels in women with PCOS positively correlate with serum fructose levels, and elevated serum fructose levels are an independent risk factor for hyperuricemia in women with PCOS. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Our previous study suggested a link between elevated serum fructose levels and PCOS. Fructose is unique as it generates uric acid during metabolism, and high uric acid levels are associated with metabolic disorders and an increased risk of anovulation. However, the relationship between serum uric acid and fructose levels in women with PCOS remains unclear. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: In a case-control study of 774 women (482 controls and 292 patients with PCOS) between May and October 2020 at the Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, the relationship between uric acid and fructose levels in women with PCOS was examined. Participants were divided into subgroups based on various factors, including BMI, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, and hyperuricemia. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Serum uric acid concentrations were measured using enzymatic assays, and serum fructose levels were determined using a fluorescent enzyme immunoassay. Dietary fructose data were collected through a validated food-frequency questionnaire of 81 food items. We applied restricted cubic splines to a flexibly model and visualized the linear/nonlinear relationships between serum uric acid and fructose levels in PCOS. Multivariate logistic analysis was executed to assess the association between serum fructose levels and hyperuricemia in PCOS. Human granulosa cell and oocyte mRNA profile sequencing data were downloaded for mapping uric acid and fructose metabolism genes in PCOS. Further downstream analyses, including Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis, and protein-protein interactions were then carried out on the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The correlation between uric acid and fructose metabolism genes was calculated using the Pearson correlation coefficient. The GeneCards database was used to identify DEGs related to uric acid and fructose metabolism in PCOS, and then several DEGs were confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Both serum fructose and uric acid levels were significantly increased in women with PCOS compared with the control women (P < 0.001), and there was no statistically significant difference in dietary fructose intake between PCOS and controls, regardless of metabolic status. There was a positive linear correlation between serum uric acid and fructose levels in women with PCOS (Poverall < 0.001, Pnon-linear = 0.30). In contrast, no correlation was found in control women (Poverall = 0.712, Pnon-linear = 0.43). Additionally, a non-linear association was observed in the obese subgroup of patients with PCOS (Poverall < 0.001, Pnon-linear = 0.02). Serum uric acid levels were linearly and positively associated with serum fructose levels in patients with PCOS with insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome. Furthermore, even after adjusting for confounding factors, elevated serum fructose levels were an independent risk factor for hyperuricemia in patients with PCOS (P = 0.001; OR, 1.380; 95% CI, 1.207-1.577). There were 28 uric acid and 25 fructose metabolism genes which showed a significant correlation in PCOS. Seven upregulated genes (CAT, CRP, CCL2, TNF, MMP9, GCG, and APOB) related to uric acid and fructose metabolism in PCOS ovarian granulosa cells were ultimately successfully validated using quantitative real-time PCR. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Due to limited conditions, more possible covariates (such as smoking and ethnicity) were not included, and the underlying molecular mechanism between fructose and uric acid levels in women with PCOS remains to be further investigated. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: The results of this study and our previous research indicate that the high uric acid status of PCOS may be mediated by fructose metabolism disorders, highlighting the importance of analyzing fructose metabolism, and especially its metabolic byproduct uric acid, during the clinical diagnosis of PCOS. These results suggest the adverse effects of high uric acid in PCOS, and the importance of taking early interventions regarding uric acid levels to reduce the occurrence and development of further clinical signs, such as metabolic disorders in women with PCOS. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This work was supported by: the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 82371647, No. 82071607, and No. 32100691); LiaoNing Revitalization Talents Program (No. XLYC1907071); Fok Ying Tung Education Foundation (No. 151039); and Outstanding Scientific Fund of Shengjing Hospital (No. 202003). No competing interests were declared. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

Co, Fe Dual-Doped MoS2 Nanosheets on Polypyrrole Microtubes as Effective Peroxidase Mimics for Glutathione Sensing.

Heteroatom doping is considered an effective way to enhance the catalytic activity of MoS2 nanosheets (NSs). In the paper, dual-metal doping was proposed to incorporate Fe and Co into hierarchical MoS2 ultrathin NSs, which grew directly on polypyrrole microtubes (Fe, Co-MoS2@PPy), for the enhanced enzyme-like catalytic reaction. The particular hollow tubular structure realized effective electron transfer. The doped Fe and Co tuned the electronic architecture of the MoS2 NSs to enhance the enzyme-like catalytic activity. The abundant exposed void spaces facilitated ion diffusion/penetration between the PPy interlayer and Fe-Co doped MoS2 shell, leading to heterostructured synergistic effects. Therefore, the synthesized Fe and Co-MoS2@PPy composites showed remarkable catalytic activity. The high catalytic efficiency of Fe and Co-MoS2@PPy was confirmed with the reaction of tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) and H2O2 for visible detection. The blue color disappeared after adding glutathione (GSH). Thus, this procedure was used as a convenient way to detect GSH with a detection limit of 0.76 µM. The dual-metal-doped strategy was confirmed to improve the performance of MoS2 nanocomposites and could be used as a promising matrix for other applications, such as electrochemical energy conversion, medical diagnosis, and others.

Risk factors associated with lymph node metastasis in early-stage distal gastric cancer.

OBJECTS: This study was designed to explore the risk factors of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in distal gastric cancer with early stage, and to provide reference for the choice of treatment protocols. METHODS: In this retrospective observational study, 824 early distal gastric cancer (EDGC) cases who treated at our unit from 2010 to 2020 were selected as research objects. Subsequently, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to investigate the associations between LNM and clinicopathological features. RESULTS: Of these 824 EDGC cases, 140 (17.0%) developed LNM, including 72 N1 stage and 68 N2-3 stage LNM. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified the tumor diameter ≥1.75 cm (odds ratio (OR) = 2.361, p < 0.001), tumor location (OR = 1.552, p = 0.046), histological classification (p = 0.004), tumor infiltration depth (OR = 2.154, p = 0.001), and vascular infiltration (OR = 4.354, p < 0.001) as independent predictors for LNM. Logistic regression analyses based on 756 N0-1 LNM cases identified the smoking history (OR = 0.507, p = 0.043), tumor diameter ≥1.75 cm (OR = 2.265, p = 0.010), tumor location (OR = 1.834, p = 0.036), histological classification (p = 0.018), tumor infiltration depth (OR = 1.939, p = 0.034), and vascular infiltration (OR = 3.225, p < 0.001) as independent predictors for N1 LNM. Moreover, preoperative hypoalbuminemia (OR = 7.087, p = 0.015), significant preoperative weight loss (OR = 2.724, p = 0.023), tumor diameter ≥1.75 cm (OR = 5.484, p = 0.001), multiple tumors (OR = 9.986, p = 0.038), histological classification (p = 0.029), and vascular infiltration (OR = 33.704, p < 0.001) were proved to be associated with LNM for T1a tumors. CONCLUSIONS: The tumor diameter, location and infiltration depth, histological classification, and vascular infiltration were expected to be used as predictors of LNM in EDGC, and preoperative hypoalbuminemia, significant weight loss, tumor diameter and number, histological classification, and vascular infiltration were associated with LNM for T1a tumors.

Effects of propofol versus sevoflurane on surgical field visibility during arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: During arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR), clear surgical field visibility (SFV) is the basis of successful surgery, but the choice of anesthesia maintenance drugs may have different effects on SFV. In this study, we aimed to compare the effects of propofol- and sevoflurane-based general anesthesia on SFV in patients undergoing ARCR. METHODS: Patients (n = 130) undergoing elective ARCR in the lateral decubitus position were randomized into either the propofol group or sevoflurane group (65 per group). The duration of surgery and increased pressure irrigation (IPI), Boezaart score, rocuronium consumption and usage of remifentanil were recorded. The time of both spontaneous respiration recovery and extubation and the incidences of postoperative nausea and vomiting and agitation were also recorded. RESULTS: The Boezaart score, duration of IPI and ratio of the duration of IPI to the duration of surgery (IPI/S ratio) were similar between the groups (P > 0.05). Rocuronium consumption, number of patients requiring remifentanil infusion and total remifentanil consumption were significantly lower in the sevoflurane group (P < 0.05). The spontaneous respiration recovery time was significantly longer in the propofol group (P < 0.05), but there were no differences in the extubation time between the groups(P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with propofol, sevoflurane provides equally clear SFV while improving the convenience of anesthesia maintenance in ARCR patients with interscalene plexus (ISB) combined with general anesthesia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This single-center, prospective, RCT was retrospective registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry with the registration number ChiCTR2300072110 (02/06/2023).

Presence of compensatory curve predicts postoperative curve progression in congenital scoliosis after thoracolumbar hemivertebra resection and short fusion.

PURPOSE: To investigate the impact of preoperative compensatory curve on the postoperative curve progression in congenital scoliosis (CS) patients following thoracolumbar hemivertebra (HV) resection and short fusion. METHODS: This study retrospectively reviewed a consecutive cohort of patients with CS who underwent thoracolumbar HV resection and short fusion with a minimum of 2 years follow-up. According to the preoperative curve pattern, patients were divided into compensatory curve group non-compensatory curve group. Based on the postoperative coronal curve evolution, patients were further divided into the progressed group (Group P, with curve decompensation ≥ 20°) and the non-progressed group (Group NP, characterized by well-compensated curves). RESULTS: A total of 127 patients were included in this study, with 31 patients in the compensatory curve group and 96 patients in the non-compensatory curve group. The incidence of postoperative coronal curve progression was significantly higher in the compensatory curve group than that in non-compensatory curve group (35.5% vs. 13.5%, p = 0.007). In the compensatory curve group, patients who experienced postoperative curve progression showed fewer fusion segments (p = 0.001), greater preoperative UIV translation (p = 0.006), greater preoperative LIV tilt (p = 0.017), and larger postoperative UIV tilt (p < 0.001) compared with patients in group NP. Multiple logistic regression demonstrated that the shorter fusion segments and greater postoperative UIV tilt were two independent risk factors for postoperative curve progression. CONCLUSION: The presence of the compensatory curve was associated with a higher incidence of postoperative curve progression in patients with CS who underwent thoracolumbar HV resection and short fusion. Shorter fusion segments and greater postoperative UIV tilt were found to be the risk factors for postoperative curve progression.

Surgical outcomes after reoperation for patients with recurrent presacral tumors: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Relevant reports on the surgical resection and prognosis of recurrent presacral tumors are limited. The objective of this study was to explore the outcomes associated with surgical resection of recurrent presacral tumors. METHODS: The data of patients with recurrent presacral tumors who received surgical resection in our hospital between June 2009 and November 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients, comprising 22 females and 9 males, with recurrent presacral lesions were included in our study. A posterior approach was utilized in 27 patients, an anterior approach in 1 patient, and a combined approach in 3 patients. Intraoperative complications occurred in 13 patients (41.9%), while postoperative complications occurred in 6 patients (19.4%). The length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in patients who underwent the posterior approach compared to those who underwent the anterior and combined approaches (P = 0.002). The operative time for the posterior approach was significantly shorter compared to both the anterior and combined approaches (P = 0.006). Temporary tamponade was performed for hemostasis in 4 patients, while staged resection was performed in 2 patients during the surgical treatment process. After a median follow-up period of 115.5 months, 5 patients with recurrent malignant presacral tumors succumbed to tumor recurrence after reoperation in our hospital. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical resection remains the mainstream treatment for recurrent presacral tumors. The outcomes for recurrent benign presacral tumors after surgery demonstrate favorable results, whereas further enhancements are required to improve the outcomes for recurrent malignant presacral tumors after surgery.

Identification of predictors for short-term recurrence: comprehensive analysis of 296 retroperitoneal liposarcoma cases.

BACKGROUND: The short-term (≤ 1 year) recurrence (STR) is the primary determinant impacting both the life quality and survival duration in patients who have undergone surgical resection for retroperitoneal liposarcoma (RPLS), a condition with intricate and ambiguous pathogenesis. The purpose of this study was to analyze the risk factors associated with STR in cases of RPLS and primary retroperitoneal liposarcoma (PRPLS). METHODS: For this retrospective observational study, a total of 296 RPLS cases were selected as research subjects, who experienced tumor recurrence during the follow-up period. The Local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and subsequently compared between groups utilizing the log-rank test. The subsequent analyses involved univariate and multivariate logistic regression to identify predictors of STR in RPLS cases. Additionally, a logistic regression model was constructed for PRPLS. RESULTS: The 1-, 3-, and 5-year LRFS rates of the 296 RPLS cases were 51.7%, 16.9%, and 7.1%, respectively. In the univariate analysis, several factors were found to be associated with STR, including preoperative neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), smoking history, surgical frequency, combined organ excision, operative time, intraoperative bleeding, transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU), multiple primary tumors, tumor shape and capsule characteristics, histological subtype, and presence of tumor necrosis. The elevated preoperative NLR, surgical frequency of ≥ 3 times, transfer to the ICU, presence of multiple primary tumors, and tumor necrosis were identified as independent risk factors for STR in surgically resected RPLS. Conversely, diabetes, intact tumor capsule, and well-differentiated histological subtype appeared to be independent protective factors. Analysis for PRPLS revealed that tumor capsule and tumor necrosis were independent predictors of STR. CONCLUSIONS: The elevated preoperative NLR, surgical frequency of ≥ 3 times, transfer to the ICU, presence of multiple primary tumors, tumor necrosis, and tumor capsule were expected to serve as predictive factors of STR for surgical resected RPLS and PRPLS.

A Cooperative Intrusion Detection System for the Internet of Things Using Convolutional Neural Networks and Black Hole Optimization.

Maintaining security in communication networks has long been a major concern. This issue has become increasingly crucial due to the emergence of new communication architectures like the Internet of Things (IoT) and the advancement and complexity of infiltration techniques. For usage in networks based on the Internet of Things, previous intrusion detection systems (IDSs), which often use a centralized design to identify threats, are now ineffective. For the resolution of these issues, this study presents a novel and cooperative approach to IoT intrusion detection that may be useful in resolving certain current security issues. The suggested approach chooses the most important attributes that best describe the communication between objects by using Black Hole Optimization (BHO). Additionally, a novel method for describing the network's matrix-based communication properties is put forward. The inputs of the suggested intrusion detection model consist of these two feature sets. The suggested technique splits the network into a number of subnets using the software-defined network (SDN). Monitoring of each subnet is done by a controller node, which uses a parallel combination of convolutional neural networks (PCNN) to determine the presence of security threats in the traffic passing through its subnet. The proposed method also uses the majority voting approach for the cooperation of controller nodes in order to more accurately detect attacks. The findings demonstrate that, in comparison to the prior approaches, the suggested cooperative strategy can detect assaults in the NSLKDD and NSW-NB15 datasets with an accuracy of 99.89 and 97.72 percent, respectively. This is a minimum 0.6 percent improvement.

Theoretical Analysis and Expression Profiling of 17ß-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Genes in Gonadal Development and Steroidogenesis of Leopard Coral Grouper (Plectropomus leopardus).

The differentiation and developmental trajectory of fish gonads, significantly important for fish breeding, culture, and production, has long been a focal point in the fields of fish genetics and developmental biology. However, the mechanism of gonadal differentiation in leopard coral grouper (Plectropomus leopardus) remains unclear. This study investigates the 17ß-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase (Hsd17b) gene family in P. leopardus, with a focus on gene characterization, expression profiling, and functional analysis. The results reveal that the P. leopardus's Hsd17b gene family comprises 11 members, all belonging to the SDR superfamily. The amino acid similarity is only 12.96%, but conserved motifs, such as TGxxxGxG and S-Y-K, are present in these genes. Hsd17b12a and Hsd17b12b are unique homologs in fish, and chromosomal localization has confirmed that they are not derived from different transcripts of the same gene, but rather are two independent genes. The Hsd17b family genes, predominantly expressed in the liver, heart, gills, kidneys, and gonads, are involved in synthesizing or metabolizing sex steroid hormones and neurotransmitters, with their expression patterns during gonadal development categorized into three distinct categories. Notably, Hsd17b4 and Hsd17b12a were highly expressed in the testis and ovary, respectively, suggesting their involvement in the development of reproductive cells in these organs. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) further indicated specific expression sites for these genes, with Hsd17b4 primarily expressed in germ stem cells and Hsd17b12a in oocytes. This comprehensive study provides foundational insights into the role of the Hsd17b gene family in gonadal development and steroidogenesis in P. leopardus, contributing to the broader understanding of fish reproductive biology and aquaculture breeding.

Collagen peptides from sturgeon swim bladder prolong the lifespan and healthspan in Caenorhabditis elegans.

BACKGROUND: Sturgeon is a popular aquaculture species in many countries. Its swim bladder is rich in collagen but has not yet been exploited scientifically. RESULTS: Collagen peptides (CPs) prepared from sturgeon swim bladder by trypsinolysis had an average molecular weight of 528.5 Da and consisted of 407 peptides, 16.1% of the content of which was GFPGADGSAGPK. The CPs at 25 mg mL-1 extended the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans by 22.6%, which was significantly higher than the extension achieved by other hydrolysis methods and source materials. They also improved fitness-related traits (body size, motor capacity, oxidative stress, cell apoptosis, and epidermal barrier function), indicating prolonged healthspan. Transcriptome analysis showed that the effect was mediated by the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, which enhanced stress resistance, the insulin/IGF-1 pathway, which inhibited protein aggregation, and the NHR-80/FAT-6 pathway, which regulated lipid metabolism. CONCLUSION: Collagen peptides from sturgeon swim bladder by trypsinolysis prolonged the lifespan and healthspan in C. elegans, and might be promising anti-aging agents. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Correlation Analysis Between Demographic, Surgical, and Pathological Characteristics with Local Recurrence-Free Survival for Surgical Resected Retroperitoneal Liposarcoma.

BACKGROUND: As the leading cause of mortality for retroperitoneal liposarcoma (RPLS) cases, postoperative recurrence has complicated and unclear risk factors. This study was conducted to explore the correlations between demographic, surgical, and pathological characteristics with local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) for surgical resected RPLS. METHODS: RPLS cases that underwent radical operation were considered to be included in this analysis. LRFS rates were estimated based on the Kaplan-Meier method and were compared between groups by the log-rank test. Cox proportional hazard regression models were constructed to identified the predictors of LRFS. Subsequently, the independent predictors acquired from multivariate analyses were used to construct a nomogram. RESULTS: 348 RPLS cases who underwent radical operation were included. Of the 348 cases, 333 had tumor recurrence or with a follow-up period ≥5 years. Thus, 296 (88.9%) of the 333 cases had recurrent disease, and the median LRFS duration of 296 recurrence cases was 17.0 (95% confidence interval (CI) 13.2-20.8) months. Multivariate analysis identified the preoperative neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), surgical frequency, operative time, tumor shape, histological subtype, and tumor necrosis as independent predictors of LRFS. Based on above independent predictors, a nomogram was constructed to predict the 1-, 3-, and 5-year LRFS of surgical resected RPLS. CONCLUSION: Elevated preoperative NLR, ≥2nd time surgical frequency, extended operation time, irregular tumor shape, no well-differentiated histological subtype, and tumor necrosis could be used as predictors of LRFS for surgical resected RPLS.

Human Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer-Chicken Embryo Chorioallantoic Membrane Tumor Models for Experimental Cancer Treatments.

To promote the preclinical development of new treatments for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), we established NSCLC xenograft tumor assays on the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of chicken embryos. Five NSCLC cell lines were compared for tumor take rate, tumor growth, and embryo survival. Two of these, A549 and H460 CAM tumors, were histologically characterized and tested for susceptibility to systemic chemotherapy and gene delivery using viral vectors. All cell lines were efficiently engrafted with minimal effect on embryo survival. The A549 cells formed slowly growing tumors, with a relatively uniform distribution of cancer cells and stroma cells, while the H460 cells formed large tumors containing mostly proliferating cancer cells in a bed of vascularized connective tissue. Tumor growth was inhibited via systemic treatment with Pemetrexed and Cisplatin, a chemotherapy combination that is often used to treat patients with advanced NSCLC. Lentiviral and adenoviral vectors expressing firefly luciferase transduced NSCLC tumors in vivo. The adenovirus vector yielded more than 100-fold higher luminescence intensities after a single administration than could be achieved with multiple lentiviral vector deliveries. The adenovirus vector also transduced CAM tissue and organs of developing embryos. Adenovirus delivery to tumors was 100-10,000-fold more efficient than to embryo organs. In conclusion, established human NSCLC-CAM tumor models provide convenient in vivo assays to rapidly evaluate new cancer therapies, particularly cancer gene therapies.

Influence of Dietary Phosphorus on the Growth, Feed Utilization, Proximate Composition, Intestinal Enzymes, and Oxidation Resistance of Sea Cucumber Apostichopus japonicus.

Six experimental diets (crude protein 12.58%, crude fat 1.93%, and total energy 10.72 kJ/kg) containing 0.24%, 0.37%, 0.51%, 0.62%, 0.77%, and 0.89% phosphorus were formulated to evaluate dietary phosphorus requirement for sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus. The feeding trial was conducted in 18 fiberglass tanks (220 L) for 63 days. Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate tanks of 50 sea cucumbers (9.99 g) and fed once daily. With the increase of dietary phosphorus level, weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), daily feed intake (DFI), feces production ratio, the activities of amylase, alkaline phosphatase, phosphofructokinase, succinate dehydrogenase, and glutathione peroxidase as well as the contents of glutathione and glutathione oxidized significantly increased and then decreased afterwards (P < 0.05). A. japonicus fed diet with 0.63%, 0.63%, and 0.55% dietary phosphorus was estimated to yield the highest WG (11.39 g), SGR (1.09%/d), and DFI (2.55%/d) according to the quadratic regression analysis of WG, SGR, and DFI against dietary phosphorus level, respectively. The apparent digestibility of dry material and energy followed an opposite tendency. Feed efficiency, the contents of whole-body phosphorus, initially increased and then plateaued, fitting piecewise-linear models with breakpoint at 0.57% and 0.55% dietary phosphorus. Daily phosphorus intake, pyruvate kinase activity, and the ratio of glutathione and glutathione oxidized increased (P < 0.05) but the apparent digestibility of phosphorus, the activities of alkaline protease, aspartate transaminase, and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase decreased (P < 0.05), responding to the increasing dietary phosphorus. Considering the present results, the optimal dietary phosphorus for A. japonicus is 0.57-0.63%.

Effects of Dietary Protein and Lipid Levels in Practical Formulation on Growth, Feed Utilization, Body Composition, and Serum Biochemical Parameters of Growing Rockfish Sebastes schlegeli.

A 3 × 2 factorial experiment (protein levels, 42%, 46%, 50%; lipid levels, 9%, 12%) with three replicates was conducted in a circulating water system to investigate the effects of dietary protein and lipid levels on growth, feed utilization, body composition, and serum biochemical parameters of growing rockfish Sebastes schlegeli (initial weight, 29.98 ± 0.10 g). After an 8 weeks feeding trial, growth performance in terms of final body weight, percent weight gain, and specific growth rate increased with the increase of dietary protein level when fish fed diets containing a consistent level of dietary lipid. The feed conversion rate and daily feed intake were significantly affected by dietary protein and lipid levels, and decreased as dietary protein level increased from 42% to 46% or dietary lipid level increased from 9% to 12% (P < 0.05). Survival rate, viscerosomatic index, and hepatosomatic index were unaffected by dietary protein level (P > 0.05), but significantly increased with the increase of dietary lipid level (P < 0.05). On the contrary, condition factor was unaffected by dietary lipid level (P > 0.05), but significantly increased with dietary protein level increasing up to 46% (P < 0.05). The moisture contents of muscle and liver significantly decreased, but the whole-body crude lipid content, the crude protein and lipid contents of muscle increased as dietary protein or lipid level increased (P < 0.05). The contents of isoleucine, leucine, histidine, glycine, alanine of muscle, as well as the proportions of C14 : 0, C20 : 1, and C22 : 1n-9 in total fatty acids were higher in fish fed diets containing 12% lipid than those fed 9% lipid (P < 0.05), while C18 : 1n-9 and C18 : 2n-6 followed an opposite trend. The contents of phenylalanine, lysine, and tyrosine as well as the proportions of C18 : 0, C18 : 2n-6, C22 : 1n-9, and C22 : 6n-3 in total fatty acids decreased with the increase of dietary protein level (P < 0.05). Serum cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins increased significantly with dietary protein or lipid levels increasing, but TG concentration was elevated significantly in fish fed diets containing 12% lipid. Considering the present results in terms of growth and feed utilization, the suitable protein and lipid levels in diet for growing rockfish were 46% and 12%, respectively.

Multidisciplinary treatment for locally advanced gastric cancer: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of multidisciplinary treatment for patients with locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC) who underwent radical gastrectomy. Patients and Methods: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effectiveness of surgery alone, adjuvant chemotherapy (CT), adjuvant radiotherapy (RT), adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT), neoadjuvant CT, neoadjuvant RT, neoadjuvant CRT, perioperative CT and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for LAGC were searched. Overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), recurrence and metastasis, long-term mortality, adverse events (grade ≥3), operative complications and R0 resection rate were used as outcome indicators for meta-analysis. Results: Forty-five RCTs with 10077 participants were finally analysed. Adjuvant CT had higher OS (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.74, 95% credible interval [CI] = 0.66-0.82) and DFS (HR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.60-0.74) than surgery-alone group. Perioperative CT (odds ratio [OR] = 2.56, 95% CI = 1.19-5.50) and adjuvant CT (OR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.27-0.86) both had more recurrence and metastasis than HIPEC + adjuvant CT, while adjuvant CRT tended to have less recurrence and metastasis than adjuvant CT (OR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.29-2.42) and even adjuvant RT (OR = 1.83, 95% CI = 0.98-3.40). Moreover, the incidence of mortality in HIPEC + adjuvant CT was lower than that in adjuvant RT (OR = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.11-0.72), adjuvant CT (OR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.23-0.86) and perioperative CT (OR = 2.39, 95% CI = 1.05-5.41). Analysis of adverse events (grade ≥3) showed no statistically significant difference between any two adjuvant therapy groups. Conclusion: A combination of HIPEC with adjuvant CT seems to be the most effective adjuvant therapy, which contributes to reducing tumour recurrence, metastasis and mortality - without increasing surgical complications and adverse events related to toxicity. Compared with CT or RT alone, CRT can reduce recurrence, metastasis and mortality but increase adverse events. Moreover, neoadjuvant therapy can effectively improve the radical resection rate, but neoadjuvant CT tends to increase surgical complications.

Classical Angiogenic Signaling Pathways and Novel Anti-Angiogenic Strategies for Colorectal Cancer.

Although productive progress has been made in colorectal cancer (CRC) researchs, CRC is the second most frequent type of malignancy and the major cause of cancer-related death among gastrointestinal cancers. As angiogenesis constitutes an important point in the control of CRC progression and metastasis, understanding the key signaling pathways that regulate CRC angiogenesis is critical in elucidating ways to inhibit CRC. Herein, we comprehensively summarized the angiogenesis-related pathways of CRC, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT), Wingless and int-1 (Wnt), and Notch signaling pathways. We divided the factors influencing the specific pathway into promoters and inhibitors. Among these, some drugs or natural compounds that have antiangiogenic effects were emphasized. Furthermore, the interactions of these pathways in angiogenesis were discussed. The current review provides a comprehensive overview of the key signaling pathways that are involved in the angiogenesis of CRC and contributes to the new anti-angiogenic strategies for CRC.

A Meta-Analysis Comparing Endoscopic Ultrasound-guided Fine-needle Aspiration With Endoscopic Ultrasound-guided Fine-needle Biopsy.

BACKGROUND: The superiority between endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) and endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) is still a debate. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to compare the diagnostic value and safety of these 2 needles in sampling of all solid lesions and separately pancreatic lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane library were searched for randomized controlled studies that reported the comparison of FNA and FNB in solid mass. Outcome measures included diagnostic accuracy, number of needle passes, diagnostic adequacy, presence of tissue cores, and adverse events. Standard error, upper and lower confidence intervals at 95% confidence interval for the risk were obtained using Review Manager Version 5.3 which was also used to generate forest plots for pooled analysis. The random or fixed effect model was applied depending on the heterogeneity ( I2 ). RESULTS: Eighteen randomized control trial studies with a total of 2718 patients (1141 patients with EUS-FNA, 1108 with EUS-FNB, and remaining 469 patients were sampled with both needles alternatively) were included in the meta-analysis.FNB group has relatively good diagnostic accuracy relative risk (RR): 0.94, 0.92-0.97; P =0.0002), diagnostic adequacy (RR: 0.95, 0.9-1.0; P =0.04) and high quality histologic yield compared (RR: 0.77, 0.64-0.93; P =0.007) with the FNA group in solid gastrointestinal lesions, and the number of needle passes to obtain sufficient tissue (mean difference: 0.54, 0.45-0.64; P <0.00001) was lower in the FNB group. For solid pancreatic disease only, there was no difference in diagnostic accuracy (RR: 0.97, 0.93-1.01, P =0.13) or quality histologic yield (RR: 0.60, 0.29-1.23; P =0.16). The rate of adverse events (RR: 1.04, 0.48-2.29; P =0.92) did not significantly differ between FNA and FNB groups. CONCLUSIONS: In solid gastrointestinal lesions, FNB is associated with a relatively better diagnostic adequacy, diagnostic adequacy and tissue cores rates, and less number of needle passes. For solid pancreatic disease only, there is no difference in diagnostic accuracy or tissue cores rates.

Resource allocation algorithm of an indoor OFDMA VLC system.

In this work, a resource management algorithm is proposed for an indoor visible light communication (VLC) access network using an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) scheme. With OFDMA, adaptive modulation is adopted to improve the frequency spectrum efficiency of this VLC system. Specifically, the long-term time-averaged optimization problem is transformed into a series of single timeslot online problems via a Lyapunov optimization technique. Then, each user is provided with a separate queue to maintain the random arrival data by a VLC access point, and a subcarrier allocation solution is subsequently presented to maximize the transmission rate. Numerical simulation shows that compared with the best channel state information (BC) algorithm and round robin (RR) algorithm, the proposed algorithm can not only ensure the transmission rate but also greatly improve system stability. In particular, for mean arrival rate B=7Kbits/timeslot, the system stability by the proposed algorithm improves by about 53.36% and 61.36% in comparison with BC and RR algorithms, respectively. This work will benefit the design and development of indoor OFDMA VLC systems.

Identification of four genes and biological characteristics of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by integrated bioinformatics analysis.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has become one of the most serious diseases affecting populations worldwide and is the primary subtype of esophageal cancer (EC). However, the molecular mechanisms governing the development of ESCC have not been fully elucidated. METHODS: The robust rank aggregation method was performed to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in six datasets (GSE17351, GSE20347, GSE23400, GSE26886, GSE38129 and GSE77861) from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). The Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) database was utilized to extract four hub genes from the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Module analysis and disease free survival analysis of the four hub genes were performed by Cytoscape and GEPIA. The expression of hub genes was analyzed by GEPIA and the Oncomine database and verified by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). RESULTS: In total, 720 DEGs were identified in the present study; these genes consisted of 302 upregulated genes and 418 downregulated genes that were significantly enriched in the cellular component of the extracellular matrix part followed by the biological process of the cell cycle phase and nuclear division. The primary enriched pathways were hsa04110:Cell cycle and hsa03030:DNA replication. Four hub genes were screened out, namely, SPP1, MMP12, COL10A1 and COL5A2. These hub genes all exhibited notably increased expression in ESCC samples compared with normal samples, and ESCC patients with upregulation of all four hub genes exhibited worse disease free survival. CONCLUSIONS: SPP1, MMP12, COL10A1 and COL5A2 may participate in the tumorigenesis of ESCC and demonstrate the potential to serve as molecular biomarkers in the early diagnosis of ESCC. This study may help to elucidate the molecular mechanisms governing ESCC and facilitate the selection of targets for early treatment and diagnosis.