Oral Simnotrelvir for Adult Patients with Mild-to-Moderate Covid-19.

BACKGROUND: Simnotrelvir is an oral 3-chymotrypsin-like protease inhibitor that has been found to have in vitro activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and potential efficacy in a phase 1B trial. METHODS: In this phase 2-3, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, we assigned patients who had mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) and onset of symptoms within the past 3 days in a 1:1 ratio to receive 750 mg of simnotrelvir plus 100 mg of ritonavir or placebo twice daily for 5 days. The primary efficacy end point was the time to sustained resolution of symptoms, defined as the absence of 11 Covid-19-related symptoms for 2 consecutive days. Safety and changes in viral load were also assessed. RESULTS: A total of 1208 patients were enrolled at 35 sites in China; 603 were assigned to receive simnotrelvir and 605 to receive placebo. Among patients in the modified intention-to-treat population who received the first dose of trial drug or placebo within 72 hours after symptom onset, the time to sustained resolution of Covid-19 symptoms was significantly shorter in the simnotrelvir group than in the placebo group (180.1 hours [95% confidence interval {CI}, 162.1 to 201.6] vs. 216.0 hours [95% CI, 203.4 to 228.1]; median difference, -35.8 hours [95% CI, -60.1 to -12.4]; P = 0.006 by Peto-Prentice test). On day 5, the decrease in viral load from baseline was greater in the simnotrelvir group than in the placebo group (mean difference [±SE], -1.51±0.14 log10 copies per milliliter; 95% CI, -1.79 to -1.24). The incidence of adverse events during treatment was higher in the simnotrelvir group than in the placebo group (29.0% vs. 21.6%). Most adverse events were mild or moderate. CONCLUSIONS: Early administration of simnotrelvir plus ritonavir shortened the time to the resolution of symptoms among adult patients with Covid-19, without evident safety concerns. (Funded by Jiangsu Simcere Pharmaceutical; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT05506176.).

Intensive Ambulance-Delivered Blood-Pressure Reduction in Hyperacute Stroke.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of acute stroke, before a distinction can be made between ischemic and hemorrhagic types, is challenging. Whether very early blood-pressure control in the ambulance improves outcomes among patients with undifferentiated acute stroke is uncertain. METHODS: We randomly assigned patients with suspected acute stroke that caused a motor deficit and with elevated systolic blood pressure (≥150 mm Hg), who were assessed in the ambulance within 2 hours after the onset of symptoms, to receive immediate treatment to lower the systolic blood pressure (target range, 130 to 140 mm Hg) (intervention group) or usual blood-pressure management (usual-care group). The primary efficacy outcome was functional status as assessed by the score on the modified Rankin scale (range, 0 [no symptoms] to 6 [death]) at 90 days after randomization. The primary safety outcome was any serious adverse event. RESULTS: A total of 2404 patients (mean age, 70 years) in China underwent randomization and provided consent for the trial: 1205 in the intervention group and 1199 in the usual-care group. The median time between symptom onset and randomization was 61 minutes (interquartile range, 41 to 93), and the mean blood pressure at randomization was 178/98 mm Hg. Stroke was subsequently confirmed by imaging in 2240 patients, of whom 1041 (46.5%) had a hemorrhagic stroke. At the time of patients' arrival at the hospital, the mean systolic blood pressure in the intervention group was 159 mm Hg, as compared with 170 mm Hg in the usual-care group. Overall, there was no difference in functional outcome between the two groups (common odds ratio, 1.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.87 to 1.15), and the incidence of serious adverse events was similar in the two groups. Prehospital reduction of blood pressure was associated with a decrease in the odds of a poor functional outcome among patients with hemorrhagic stroke (common odds ratio, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.60 to 0.92) but an increase among patients with cerebral ischemia (common odds ratio, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.60). CONCLUSIONS: In this trial, prehospital blood-pressure reduction did not improve functional outcomes in a cohort of patients with undifferentiated acute stroke, of whom 46.5% subsequently received a diagnosis of hemorrhagic stroke. (Funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia and others; INTERACT4 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03790800; Chinese Trial Registry number, ChiCTR1900020534.).

Who chooses "healthy" meals? An analysis of lunchtime meal quality in a workplace cafeteria.

BACKGROUND: The workplace can play an important role in shaping the eating behaviors of U.S. adults. Unfortunately, foods obtained in the workplace tend to be low in nutritional quality. Questions remain about the best way to approach the promotion of healthy food purchases among employees and to what extent health promotion activities should be tailored to the demographic characteristics of the employees. The purpose of this study was to (1) assess the nutritional quality of lunchtime meal purchases by employees in cafeterias of a large organization, (2) examine associations between lunchtime meal quality selection and the demographic characteristics of employees, and (3) determine the healthfulness of foods and beverages offered in the cafeterias of this organization. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using secondary data from a food labeling study implemented in three worksite cafeterias. Demographic data was collected via surveys and meal data was collected using a photo capture system for 378 participants. The Healthy Eating Index 2015 (HEI-2015) was used to determine meal quality and a total score for the menu of options available in the cafeterias during the study period. Summary statistics were generated, and the analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the HEI-2015 scores between groups. RESULTS: The mean HEI-2015 total score for the menu items offered (n = 1,229) in the cafeteria during the study period was 63.1 (SD = 1.83). The mean HEI-2015 score for individual lunchtime meal observations (n = 378) was 47.1 (SD = 6.8). In general, HEI-2015 total scores were higher for non-smokers, individuals who self-identified as Asian, had higher physical activity levels, scored higher on numeracy and literacy assessments, and reported higher education levels, incomes, and health status. CONCLUSIONS: The overall HEI-2015 scores indicate that the menu of options offered in the cafeterias and individual meal selections did not align with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and there were significant associations between average lunchtime meal quality scores and several demographic characteristics. These results suggest that healthy eating promotion activities in workplaces may need to be tailored to the demographic characteristics of the employees, and efforts to improve the food environment in the workplace could improve meal quality for all employees.

Online identification of chemical constituents in Mongolian medicine Zhachong-13 pills by UHPLC-Q-exactive Orbitrap MS.

Zhachong-13 pills (ZC-13), as a traditional prescription of Mongolian medicine, are often used in the clinical practice of Mongolian hospitals for the treatment of stroke and rheumatic arthritis. In this experiment, UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS was used to explore the chemical composition of ZC-13. The results showed that 315 compounds were identified or inferred, including 56 alkaloids, 77 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones, 61 flavonoids, 31 tannins, 8 coumarins, 16 lignans, 21 terpenoids, 5 amino acids, 19 organic acids, and 21 other components. In addition, the pharmacological activities related to anti-cerebral ischemia of these components were summarized. This result laid a foundation for further study on the pharmacodynamic material basis of ZC-13 and provided a scientific basis for the formulation of ZC-13 quality specifications.

Global and Regional Estimate of HIV-Associated Stroke Burden: A Meta-Analysis and Population Attributable Modeling Study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the correlation between human-immunodeficiency-virus (HIV) infection and stroke, as well as to estimate the global, regional, and national burden of HIV-associated stroke. METHODS: A registered meta-analysis was performed by searching PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science for relevant literature up to October 31, 2022. The pooled relative risk of stroke in HIV-infected people was calculated using a random-effects model. HIV prevalence and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) datasets were obtained from the Joint United Nations Program on HIV and AIDS, and the Global Health Data Exchange, respectively. The population attributable fraction was estimated and delivered to calculate the HIV-associated DALYs of stroke from 1990 to 2019, at the global, regional, and national levels. Pearson correlation analysis were conducted to assess the correlation between the age-standardized rate or estimated annual percentage changes and the sociodemographic index. RESULTS: Out of 10 080 identified studies, 11 were included in this meta-analysis. Compared with individuals without HIV-infection, the pooled relative risk of stroke in HIV-infected individuals was 1.40 (95% CI, 1.18-1.65). From 1990 to 2019, the global population attributable fraction of HIV-associated stroke increased almost 3-fold, while the HIV-associated DALYs increased from 18 595 (95% CI, 7485-31 196) in 1990 to 60 684 (95% CI, 24 281-101 894) in 2019. Meanwhile, HIV-associated DALYs varied by region, with Eastern and Southern Africa having the highest value of 126 160 in 2019. Moreover, countries with middle social development index were shouldering the highest increase trend of the HIV-associated DALYs age-standardized rates. CONCLUSIONS: HIV-infected individuals face a significantly higher risk of stroke, and the global burden of HIV-associated stroke has increased over the past 3 decades, showing regional variations. Eastern and Southern Africa bear the highest burden, while Eastern Europe and Central Asia have seen significant growth. Health care providers, researchers, and decision-makers should give increased attention to stroke prevention and management in HIV-endemic areas. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov; Unique identifier: CRD42022367450.

Perturbations in gut microbiota composition in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The results of human observational studies on the correlation between gut microbiota perturbations and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have been contradictory. This study aimed to perform the first systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the specificity of the gut microbiota in PCOS patients compared to healthy women. METHODS: Literature through May 22, 2023, was searched on PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Wiley Online Library databases. Unreported data in diversity indices were filled by downloading and processing raw sequencing data. Systematic review inclusion: original studies were eligible if they applied an observational case-control design, performed gut microbiota analysis and reported diversity or abundance measures, sampled general pre-menopausal women with PCOS, and are longitudinal studies with baseline comparison between PCOS patients and healthy females. Systematic review exclusion: studies that conducted interventional or longitudinal comparisons in the absence of a control group. Two researchers made abstract, full-text, and data extraction decisions, independently. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist was used to assess the methodologic quality. Hedge's g standardized mean difference (SMD), confidence intervals (CIs), and heterogeneity (I2) for alpha diversity were calculated. Qualitative syntheses of beta-diversity and microbe alterations were performed. RESULTS: Twenty-eight studies (n = 1022 patients, n = 928 control) that investigated gut microbiota by collecting stool samples were included, with 26 and 27 studies having provided alpha-diversity and beta-diversity results respectively. A significant decrease in microbial evenness and phylogenetic diversity was observed in PCOS patients when compared with control participants (Shannon index: SMD = - 0.27; 95% CI, - 0.37 to - 0.16; phylogenetic diversity: SMD = - 0.39; 95% CI, -- 0.74 to - 0.03). We also found that reported beta-diversity was inconsistent between studies. Despite heterogeneity in bacterial relative abundance, we observed depletion of Lachnospira and Prevotella and enrichment of Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, Lactobacillus, Fusobacterium, and Escherichia/Shigella in PCOS. Gut dysbiosis in PCOS, which might be characterized by the reduction of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing and bile-acid-metabolizing bacteria, suggests a shift in balance to favor pro-inflammatory rather than anti-inflammatory bacteria. CONCLUSIONS: Gut dysbiosis in PCOS is associated with decreased diversity and alterations in bacteria involved in microbiota-host crosstalk. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration: CRD42021285206, May 22, 2023.

Interaction between Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Immune Cells during Bone Injury Repair.

Fractures are the most common large organ trauma in humans. The initial inflammatory response promotes bone healing during the initial post-fracture phase, but chronic and persistent inflammation due to infection or other factors does not contribute to the healing process. The precise mechanisms by which immune cells and their cytokines are regulated in bone healing remain unclear. The use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for cellular therapy of bone injuries is a novel clinical treatment approach. Bone progenitor MSCs not only differentiate into bone, but also interact with the immune system to promote the healing process. We review in vitro and in vivo studies on the role of the immune system and bone marrow MSCs in bone healing and their interactions. A deeper understanding of this paradigm may provide clues to potential therapeutic targets in the healing process, thereby improving the reliability and safety of clinical applications of MSCs to promote bone healing.

Composition of Particulate Matter and Bacterial Community in Gut Contents and Surrounding Sediments of Three Sipunculan Species (Siphonosoma australe, Phascolosoma arcuatum, and Sipunculus nudus).

Siphonosoma australe, Phascolosoma arcuatum, and Sipunculus nudus are three important sipunculan species in tropical intertidal zones. In this study, the particle size, organic matter content, and bacterial community composition in the gut contents of three different sipunculans and their surrounding sediments were analyzed. The grain size fractions of sipunculans' guts were significantly different from those of their surrounding sediments; particle size fractions < 500 µm were favored by the sipunculans. As for the total organic matter (TOM), higher contents of organic matter were observed in the guts than in the surrounding sediments in all three sipunculan species. The bacterial community composition of all the samples was investigated by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, in which a total of 8974 OTUs were obtained from 24 samples based on a 97% threshold. The predominant phylum identified from the gut contents of three sipunculans was Planctomycetota, while the predominant phylum in their surrounding sediments was Proteobacteria. At the genus level, the most abundant genus was Sulfurovum (average 4.36%) in the surrounding sediments, while the most abundant genus was Gplla (average 12.76%) in the gut contents. The UPGMA tree showed that the samples from the guts of three different sipunculans and their surrounding sediments were clustered separately into two groups, which showed that these three sipunculans had a different bacterial community composition with their surrounding sediments. The grain size and total organic matter (TOM) had the greatest impacts on the bacterial community composition at both the phylum and genus levels. In conclusion, the differences in particle size fractions, organic matter content, and bacterial community composition between the gut contents and surrounding sediments in these three sipunculan species might be caused by their selective ingestion.

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Patterns of AcSWEET Family in Pineapple and AcSWEET11 Mediated Sugar Accumulation.

Pineapple (Ananas comosus L.) is an important fruit crop in tropical regions, and it requires efficient sugar allocation during fruit development. Sugars Will Eventually be Exported Transporters (SWEETs) are a group of novel sugar transporters which play critical roles in seed and fruit development. However, the function of AcSWEETs remains unknown in the sugar accumulation. Herein, 17 AcSWEETs were isolated and unevenly located in 11 chromosomes. Analysis of a phylogenetic tree indicated that 17 genes were classified into four clades, and the majority of AcSWEETs in each clade shared similar conserved motifs and gene structures. Tissue-specific gene expression showed that expression profiles of AcSWEETs displayed differences in different tissues and five AcSWEETs were strongly expressed during fruit development. AcSWEET11 was highly expressed in the stage of mature fruits in 'Tainong16' and 'Comte de paris', which indicates that AcSWEET11 was important to fruit development. Subcellular localization analysis showed that AcSWEET11 was located in the cell membrane. Notably, overexpression of AcSWEET11 could improve sugar accumulation in pineapple callus and transgenic tomato, which suggests that AcSWEET11 might positively contribute to sugar accumulation in pineapple fruit development. These results may provide insights to enhance sugar accumulation in fruit, thus improving pineapple quality in the future.

Thyroid function and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in hyperthyroidism patients.

BACKGROUND: Although thyroid function has been demonstrated to be associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in different population, the prevalence and features of NAFLD in hyperthyroidism have not been reported. The present study aims to investigate the prevalence of NAFLD and association of thyroid function and NAFLD in hyperthyroidism patients. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed in Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, China. A total 117 patients with hyperthyroidism were consecutively recruited from 2014 to 2015. Thyroid function and other clinical features were measured, liver fat content was measured by color Doppler ultrasonically, NAFLD was defined in patients with liver fat content more than 9.15%. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS software package version 13.0. RESULTS: The prevalence of NAFLD was 11.97% in hyperthyroidism. Patient with NAFLD had lower free triiodothyronine (FT3) and free thyroxine (FT4) levels than patients without NAFLD (P < 0.05). After adjusting for age, gender, metabolic parameters and inflammation factors, higher FT3 were associated with lower liver fat content (ß = - 0.072, P = 0.009) and decreased odds ratio of NAFLD (OR = 0.267, 95%CI 0.087-0.817, P = 0.021). CONCLUSIONS: FT3 level was negatively associated with the liver fat content in this population. These results may provide new evidence in the role of thyroid hormone on the regulation of liver fat content and NAFLD.

Nr5a homologues in the ricefield eel Monopterus albus: Alternative splicing, tissue-specific expression, and differential roles on the activation of cyp19a1a promoter in vitro.

Nr5a (Fushi tarazu factor 1, Ftz-F1) homologues belong to the nuclear receptor superfamily, and are involved in the regulation of reproduction in vertebrates. Four genes encoding Nr5a homologues were present in the genome of ricefield eel, which are designated as nr5a1a, nr5a1b, nr5a2, and nr5a5 in the present study. Alternatively spliced transcripts were identified for nr5a1a and nr5a1b genes. Sequence analysis indicated that nr5a5 is possibly a paralog of nr5a2, and nr5a1b is lost during evolution in some teleosts including tilapia and medaka. Ricefield eel nr5a genes exhibit tissue-specific expression patterns, with nr5a1a and nr5a1b resembling that of the SF-1/Ad4BP (NR5A1) subfamily, and nr5a2 and nr5a5 resembling that of the NR5A2/LRH/FTF subfamily. Transcriptomic analysis revealed parallel expression profiles of nr5a1a, foxl2, and cyp19a1a in ovarian follicles during vitellogenesis, with peak values at the late vitellogenic stage. Real-time PCR indicated that the expression levels of nr5a1a and foxl2 in gonads were decreased significantly during the sexual transition from female to the late intersexual stage. In vitro transient transfection assay showed that Nr5a1a up-regulated ricefield eel cyp19a1a promoter activities synergistically with Foxl2. However, Nr5a1b, Nr5a2, and Nr5a5 could neither activate ricefield eel cyp19a1a promoter alone nor enhance the stimulatory effects of Foxl2 on cyp19a1a promoter activities. Collectively, the above data suggest that Nr5a homologues may have diverse and differential roles in the tissues of ricefield eels. The up-regulation of gonadal nr5a1a and foxl2 during vitellogenesis may be important for the ovarian development whereas their down-regulation during the sexual transition period may be important for the sex change process of ricefield eels, possibly through the regulation of cyp19a1a gene expression.

SS-31 protect retinal pigment epithelial cells from H2 O2 -induced cell injury by reducing apoptosis.

Evidence has shown that effects from oxidative stress induced damage of retinal or human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Antioxidant supplementation is a plausible strategy to avoid oxidative stress and maintain the function of retina. d-Arg-2,6-dimethyltyrosine-Lys-Phe-NH2 (SS-31) has been used in the treatment of many diseases. In this study, we found that SS-31 attenuated hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 )-induced loss of cell viability, reduced oxidative damage and cell apoptosis in RPE cells. HO-1, Trx-1 and Nrf-2 expression levels significantly increased on pre-treatment with SS-31 compared with the H2 O2 group. SS-31 inhibited apoptosis through the downregulation of Bax and the upregulation of Bcl-2. Our results suggest that SS-31 had a protective effect against H2 O2 treatment in ARPE-19 cells by enhancing the antioxidative enzymes expression and decreasing apoptosis, which could be considered a promising therapeutic intervention for retinal degeneration.

IrOx @In2 O3 Heterojunction from Individually Crystallized Oxides for Weak-Light-Promoted Electrocatalytic Water Oxidation.

Multi-field coupling, especially photo-assisted electrocatalysis, has recently been studied to further improve the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). In this study, an n-type cubic In2 O3 semiconductor is employed for the first time to load IrOx species (Ir-In2 O3 mass ratio: 17.6 %). Consequently, the IrOx @In2 O3 heterojunction, which exhibits outstanding OER performance promoted by weak-light irradiation, is formed. Notably, IrOx (approximately 1.7 nm in size) and In2 O3 are observed to crystallize independently during heterogeneous nucleation with no Ir atoms doped in the In2 O3 lattice. This avoids Ir loss and ensures the full exposure of all Ir-based sites. The IrOx @In2 O3 heterojunction exhibits enhanced electrocatalytic water oxidation with overpotential values of 190 and 231 mV at current densities of 10 and 50 mA cm-2 , surpassing all IrOx -based catalyst results reported to date. Nano-sized IrOx on the surface, irradiated by the weak-light beam of LED-365 (1.8 mW cm-2 ), can be fully activated as an OER site. Moreover, the overpotential is further reduced to 176 and 210 mV to deliver the corresponding current. This work is anticipated to aid in the design of more efficient multi-field coupling OER systems.

Efficacy and Safety of Percutaneous Argon-Helium Cryoablation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Abutting the Diaphragm.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous argon-helium cryoablation (CA) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) abutting the diaphragm (<5 mm). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 61 consecutive patients (50 men, 11 women; mean age, 56.3 ± 12.1 years old; range, 32-83 years) with 74 HCC tumors (mean size, 3.3 ± 1.7 cm; range, 0.8-7 cm) who were treated with percutaneous argon-helium CA were enrolled in this retrospective study. Adverse events were evaluated according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 5.0. Local tumor progression (LTP) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test. The risk factors associated with OS and LTP were evaluated using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: No periprocedural (30-day) deaths occurred. A total of 29 intrathoracic adverse events occurred in 24 of the 61 patients. Major adverse events were reported in 5 patients (pleural effusion requiring catheter drainage in 4 patients and pneumothorax requiring catheter placement in 1 patient). Median follow-up was 18.7 months (range, 2.3-60.0 months). Median time to LTP after CA was 20.9 months (interquartile range [IQR], 14.1-30.6 months). Median times of OS after CA and diagnosis were 27.3 months (IQR, 15.1-45.1 months) and 40.9 months (interquartile range, 24.8-68.6 months), respectively. Independent prognostic factors for OS included tumor location (left lobe vs right lobe; hazard ratio [HR], 2.031; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.062-3.885; P = .032) and number of intrahepatic tumors (solitary vs multifocal; HR, 2.684; 95% CI, 1.322-5.447; P = .006). Independent prognostic factors for LTP included age (HR, 0.931; 95% CI, 0.900-0.963; P  < .001), guidance modality (ultrasound vs computed tomography and US; HR, 6.156 95% CI, 1.862-20.348; P  =   .003) and origin of liver disease. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous argon-helium CA is safe for the treatment of HCC abutting the diaphragm, with acceptable LTP and OS.

Retrospective analysis of CT-guided percutaneous cryoablation for treatment of painful osteolytic bone metastasis.

This study aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of CT-guided percutaneous cryoablation for treatment of painful osteolytic bone metastases. A total of 26 patients (36 bone metastases) treated with CT-guided percutaneous cryoablation between May 2012 and June 2016 were enrolled in this retrospective study. All procedures were performed under local anesthesia. A visual analog scale (VAS) was used to evaluate pain before the procedure and at 1 day, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after the procedure. Complications during and after the procedure were recorded and graded by the Clavien-Dindo classification. The mean VAS pain score was 7.1 ± 1.1 (range, 4-10) before cryoablation. It was significantly lower at all timepoints after treatment: 2.1 ± 1.7 (P < 0.0001) at 1 day after treatment, 1.3 ± 1.8 (P < 0.0001) at 1 month, 1.6 ± 1.7 (P < 0.0001) at 3 months, and 1.8 ± 1.3 (P < 0.0001) at 6 months. The response rates were 91.7%, 94.4%, 91.7%, and 94.4%, respectively, at 1 day, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after cryoablation; the complete response rates were 22.2%, 41.7%, 36.1%, and 22.2%, respectively. Adverse events (skin frostbite, nerve injury, pathologic fracture) occurred in 3 patients. CT-guided percutaneous cryoablation under local anesthesia appears to be a safe and effective treatment for painful osteolytic bone metastases. Prospective clinical trials on large samples needed to confirm this conclusion.

Mechanistic insights into the formation of oxenium ions and radical intermediates through the photolysis of phenylhydroxylamine and its derivatives.

The photolysis of photoprecursors to produce oxenium ions has been the subject of extensive experimental studies from femtosecond to microsecond time scales. However, mechanistic insights into the generation of activated intermediate species remain elusive. Herein, we present a theoretical investigation to comprehensively elucidate the possible reaction channels for the formation of oxenium ions and radical intermediates at the multi-configuration perturbation level of theory. Computational results show that photo-initiated electron donation from the phenyl moiety to the repulsive N-O σ* orbital leads to the formation of a diradical intermediate in ground state, and further triggers intramolecular electron transfer from the phenyl moiety to the ammonia radical cation (˙NH3+). This affords closed-shell singlet oxenium ions and neutral :NH3 as the major products. However, the generation of open-shell triplet outcomes is shown to rely on the energetically accessible single-triplet crossings and spin-orbital interaction among the involved electronic states. Taken together, these data can be used to determine the electronic structures and related properties, as well as reactivities, of oxenium ions and radicals generated by the photolysis of phenylhydroxylamine and its derivatives.

Mechanistic insights into the photogeneration and quenching of guanine radical cation via one-electron oxidation of G-quadruplex DNA.

Herein, mechanistic aspects of the photogeneration and quenching of guanine radical cation through one-electron oxidation of the G-quadruplex of G2T2G2TGTG2T2G2 (TBA) sequence were investigated by a combined quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) approach at the CASPT2//CASSCF/AMBER level of theory. Herein, one electron promotion of the oxygen lone pair of the photo-excited photosensitizer peroxydisulfate to its O-O σ* orbital was first demonstrated to become tunable through the varied reduction ability of the G base in the presence or absence of interbase hydrogen bonding, thereby dynamically controlling the deprotonation site in G-quadruplex TBA. The quenching of G radical cation mediated by the formation of SO42-via photoinduced electron transfer can be triggered effectively by the deprotonation reaction of free proton rather than that of the hydrogen-bonded proton in G-G (G-quartet) and G-T (loop) aqueous surrounding. By calculating the deprotonation paths for the G radical cation, the deprotonation reactions in G-quadruplex TBA were verified to proceed predominantly along the site of imino proton (N1-H) in the loop moiety; this showed the coexisting occurrence of amino (N2-H) deprotonation in the G-quartet part. The mechanistic features discussed in this study represent significant advances in the understanding of DNA radical chemistry.

Distribution of runs of homozygosity in Chinese and Western pig breeds evaluated by reduced-representation sequencing data.

Inbreeding, which has several causes including genetic drift, population bottlenecks, mating of close relatives and selection, can leave tracts of runs of homozygosity (ROH) along genomes. Recently, decreasing performance on reproductive traits, which might have resulted from inbreeding, has been observed in Chinese pigs. In this study, 830 individuals from Western and Chinese pig breeds were genotyped using the reduced-representation sequencing method. After imputation and quality control, 60 850 high-confidence SNPs were retained for ROH detection. A simulation was performed to explore the reliability of ROH detection with imputed data. Different ROH-related variables were compared between imputed and non-missing genotypes used in ROH detection. Furthermore, ROH islands were evaluated and annotated to find genes influenced by inbreeding in these pigs. The simulation results showed that imputed data with 0.7 as the average missing genotype rate and three heterozygotes allowed in a sliding window have comparable ROH detected compared with data with no missing genotypes. Compared with Western pig breeds, Chinese pigs had more autosomes covered by ROH longer than 5 Mb, indicating higher inbreeding in Chinese pigs in recent times. Genes related to reproduction, immunity, meat quality and adaptability in Chinese pigs and several genes related to growth speed and immunity in Western pigs were observed in short ROH islands. The reproduction-related gene PRM1 was found to be located in the most frequent long ROH island in Chinese pigs, which might explain the decreasing fertility in Chinese pig breeds.

Membrane-bound pyrophosphatase of human gut microbe Clostridium methylpentosum confers improved salt tolerance in Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and tobacco.

Membrane-bound pyrophosphatases (PPases) are involved in the adaption of organisms to stress conditions, which was substantiated by numerous plant transgenic studies with H+-PPase yet devoid of any correlated evidences for other two subfamilies, Na+-PPase and Na+,H+-PPase. Herein, we demonstrate the gene cloning and functional evaluation of the membrane-bound PPase (CmPP) of the human gut microbe Clostridium methylpentosum. The CmPP gene encodes a single polypeptide of 699 amino acids that was predicted as a multi-spanning membrane and K+-dependent Na+,H+-PPase. Heterologous expression of CmPP could significantly enhance the salt tolerance of both Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and this effect in yeast could be fortified by N-terminal addition of a vacuole-targeting signal peptide from the H+-PPase of Trypanosoma cruzi. Furthermore, introduction of CmPP could remarkably improve the salt tolerance of tobacco, implying its potential use in constructing salt-resistant transgenic crops. Consequently, the possible mechanisms of CmPP to underlie salt tolerance are discussed.

Influence of total flavonoids derived from Choerospondias axillaris folium on aconitine-induced antiarrhythmic action and hemodynamics in Wistar rats.

It is well known that various traditional Chinese medicines produce antiarrhythmic actions. The aims of this study were to examine whether total flavones derived from Choerospondias axillaris folium (TFCF) also produced antiarrhythmic effects using a rat model of aconitine-induced arrhythmia and to compare these observations with the effects of total flavones of Choerospondias axillaris fructus (TFC). Wistar rats were orally administered TFC (0.2 g/kg) or TFCF (0.1, 0.2, or 0.4 g/kg) daily for 7 d. Subsequently, aconitine iv at 25 µg/kg was used to induce arrhythmia in these animals. Control (C) physiological saline and positive verapamil rats were also administered orally. The starting times of ventricular ectopic beats (VE), ventricular tachycardia (VT), ventricular fibrillation (VF), and heart arrest (HA) were recorded. In comparison to C, TFCF and TFC significantly prolonged the starting time of VE, VT, VF, and HA induced by aconitine. With respect to hemodynamics, TFC and high-dose TFCF were effective in reducing HR without associated changes in BP in all groups. TFC and TFCF decreased left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) and maximal velocity rate of ventricular pressure (+dp/dt max and -dp/dt min) with no marked effect on left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and -dp/dtmin. Data demonstrated that TFCF and TFC were equally effective in diminishing the aconitine-mediated arrhythmias. In addition, TFCF and TFC produced a similar reduction in HR with no accompanying change in BP. These findings indicate that the TFCF- and TFC-induced alterations may be attributed to inhibition of ventricular contraction without altering ventricular diastolic function.