Prediction of TBM penetration rate for different surrounding rocks and cutter head diameters.

The penetration rate (PR) of tunnel boring machines (TBMs) is often used to evaluate tunneling performance and predict construction period costs. However, most penetration rate (PR) prediction models are based on a single specific project, which leads to poor universality of the models.Furthermore, the value of the cutter head speed set for the prediction of the construction period in the survey and planning stages depends on manual experience and lacks theoretical guidance. Therefore, based on a set of engineering data from TBM of different surrounding rocks and diameters, this study statistically analyzed the distribution law of the cutter head speed (N) and the relationship between the field penetration index (FPI), geological parameters (uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and the integrity coefficient of the rock mass (Kv)), and penetration (P). The results show that the FPI is strongly correlated with the geological parameters and the P. The geological and tunnelling parameters are the main factors affecting the penetration rate (PR). On the basis of this, prediction models of the FPI and P and a calculation model of the cutter head speed were developed, and a prediction model of the PR was obtained. The accuracy and reliability of this model were verified and analyzed for the EHe (EH) project. The average prediction error was 15.15 %.

Facilitation of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum infestation by aphid feeding behaviour is not affected by aphid resistance in oilseed rape.

The relation between aphids and Sclerotinia stem rot (SSR) in oilseed rape is rarely examined because they are often studied alone. We have observed a significant correlation between the number of aphids and the occurrence of SSR in our field studies. Electropenetrography (EPG) was used to evaluate the effects of Brevicoryne brassicae (Linnaeus) on two oilseed rape cultivars while acquiring, vectoring and inoculating of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Lib. (de Bary) ascospores. The results demonstrated that aphid feeding followed by the application of an ascospore suspension significantly increased S. sclerotiorum incidence. Aphids were capable of adhering to ascospores and carrying them to healthy plants, thereby causing diseases. The results of the EPG analysis indicated that aphid feeding behaviour was significantly altered in all leaf tissue levels following infection with S. sclerotiorum. Aphids initiated their first puncture significantly sooner than the control group, began probing mesophyll cells earlier, significantly increased the frequency of both short probes and intracellular punctures and had a significantly shorter pathway duration. On infected aphid-susceptible cultivars, aphids secreted more saliva but had reduced ingestion compared with aphids feeding on non-infected oilseed rape. In addition, ascospores can affect aphid feeding behaviour by adhering to aphids. Aphids carrying ascospores punctured cells earlier, with a significant increase in the frequency and duration of short probes and cell punctures, shortened pathway durations, increased salivation and reduced ingestion compared with aphids not carrying ascospores. On aphid-susceptible cultivars, aphids carrying ascospores delayed puncture onset, but on resistant cultivars, puncture onset was shortened. There is a correlation between aphids and S. sclerotiorum. The impact of S. sclerotiorum on aphid feeding behaviour is directional, favouring the spread of the fungus. This promotion does not appear to be altered by the aphid resistance of the cultivar.

The effect of student-perceived teacher support on math anxiety: chain mediation of teacher-student relationship and math self-efficacy.

Introduction: This study investigates the mechanisms linking students' perceived teacher support with math anxiety, focusing on the mediating roles of the teacher-student relationship and mathematics self-efficacy. Methods: The research was conducted with 401 fifth-grade students in China, utilizing scales for Students' Perceived Teacher Support, Teacher-Student Relationship, Math Self-Efficacy, and Math Anxiety. Results: Findings revealed that student-perceived math teacher support, teacher-student relationship, and math self-efficacy were all significantly negatively correlated with math anxiety. It was notably found that student-perceived math teacher support influenced math anxiety through the chain mediation of teacher-student relationship and math self-efficacy. Additionally, the effect of students' perceived emotional support from math teachers on math anxiety, mediated by teacher-student relationship intimacy, was significant only among male students. Discussion: These results underscore the importance of fostering positive teacher-student interactions and enhancing self-efficacy to reduce math anxiety among primary school students. The gender-specific findings regarding emotional support and relationship intimacy highlight the need for tailored strategies in addressing math anxiety.

Aphids May Facilitate the Spread of Sclerotinia Stem Rot in Oilseed Rape by Carrying and Depositing Ascospores.

Aphids and Sclerotinia stem rot in oilseed rape are often studied in isolation, and their relationship is rarely explored. Our field studies have revealed a significant positive correlation between the number of aphids and the incidence of Sclerotinia stem rot. Hence, starting with the colonizing stages of the two pests, Breveroryne brassicae was assessed for its potential to acquire, transmit, and inoculate Sclerotinia sclerotiorum by being sprayed with an ascospore suspension. Moreover, distinctions in aphid feeding behavior were examined between aphids on inoculated/uninoculated winter and spring oilseed rape plants or aphids, both with and without S. sclerotiorum ascospores, using electropenetrography (EPG). The results showed that aphid feeding followed by dropping ascospore suspension significantly increased the incidence of S. sclerotiorum. Ascospores were able to adhere to aphids and were carried by aphids to healthy plants, causing disease. The results of the EPG analysis indicated that aphid feeding behavior was significantly altered in all leaf tissue levels following infection with S. sclerotiorum. Specifically, aphids initiated their first puncture significantly sooner, began probing mesophyll cells earlier, had a significantly shorter pathway duration, and secreted saliva more frequently but reduced salivation prior to feeding and ingestion compared to aphids feeding on uninfected oilseed rape. Additionally, the feeding behavior of aphids carrying ascospores was markedly different from that of aphids not carrying ascospores, implying that ascospores directly influence aphid feeding behavior but that this influence appeared to be beneficial only for S. sclerotiorum infection. Aphids carrying ascospores started to puncture cells more quickly, with a significant increase in the frequency and duration of short probes and cell punctures, shortened pathway durations, and reduced salivation before feeding compared to aphids not carrying ascospores. It is clear that there is an interaction between aphids and S. sclerotiorum. The impact of S. sclerotiorum on aphid feeding behavior is directional, favoring the spread of the fungus.

Enzymatically modified isoquercitrin and its protective effects against photoaging: In-vitro and clinical studies.

This research examines the anti-aging potential of the flavonoid derivative of isoquercitrin known as enzymatically modified isoquercitrin (EMIQ). Initial HPLC analyses showed that EMIQ used in the study contained 1-12 glucosides and 10.7% pentahydroxyflavonoids, promising potent antioxidant properties. In subsequent in-vitro studies with UVA-exposed human dermal fibroblasts (HDFa), EMIQ demonstrated protective properties by reducing collagen damage. It modulated both the TGFß/Smad pathway and the MMP1 pathway, contributing to collagen preservation. This protective effect was further confirmed using the T-Skin™ model, a reconstructed full-thickness human skin model, which illustrated that EMIQ could defend the physiological structures of both the epidermis and dermis against UV radiation. A 28-day clinical trial with 30 volunteers aged 31-55 years highlighted EMIQ's effectiveness. Participants using EMIQ-containing Essence displayed reduced facial trans-epidermal water loss and skin roughness, alongside improved skin elasticity. This study emphasizes EMIQ's potential as an anti-photoaging ingredient in cosmetics, warranting further research. The findings pave the way for developing innovative skincare products addressing photoaging effects.

Correlation between Combined Urinary Metal Exposure and Grip Strength under Three Statistical Models: A Cross-sectional Study in Rural Guangxi / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

OBJECTIVE@#This study aimed to investigate the potential relationship between urinary metals copper (Cu), arsenic (As), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), iron (Fe), lead (Pb) and manganese (Mn) and grip strength.@*METHODS@#We used linear regression models, quantile g-computation and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) to assess the relationship between metals and grip strength.@*RESULTS@#In the multimetal linear regression, Cu (β = -2.119), As (β = -1.318), Sr (β = -2.480), Ba (β = 0.781), Fe (β = 1.130) and Mn (β = -0.404) were significantly correlated with grip strength ( P < 0.05). The results of the quantile g-computation showed that the risk of occurrence of grip strength reduction was -1.007 (95% confidence interval: -1.362, -0.652; P < 0.001) when each quartile of the mixture of the seven metals was increased. Bayesian kernel function regression model analysis showed that mixtures of the seven metals had a negative overall effect on grip strength, with Cu, As and Sr being negatively associated with grip strength levels. In the total population, potential interactions were observed between As and Mn and between Cu and Mn ( P interactions of 0.003 and 0.018, respectively).@*CONCLUSION@#In summary, this study suggests that combined exposure to metal mixtures is negatively associated with grip strength. Cu, Sr and As were negatively correlated with grip strength levels, and there were potential interactions between As and Mn and between Cu and Mn.

High-risk histological subtype-related FAM83A hijacked FOXM1 transcriptional regulation to promote malignant progression in lung adenocarcinoma.

Background: According to the histopathology, lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) could be divided into five distinct pathological subtypes, categorized as high-risk (micropapillary and solid) group, intermediate-risk (acinar and papillary) group, and low-risk (lepidic) group. Despite this classification, there is limited knowledge regarding the role of transcription factors (TFs) in the molecular regulation of LUAD histology patterns. Methods: Publish data was mined to explore the candidate TFs associated with high-risk histopathology in LUAD, which was validated in tissue samples. Colony formation, CCK8, EdU, transwell, and matrigel assays were performed to determine the biological function of FAM83A in vitro. Subcutaneous tumor-bearing in BALB/c nude mice and xenograft perivitelline injection in zebrafish were utilized to unreal the function of FAM83A in vivo. We also performed chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), dual-luciferase reporter, and rescue assays to uncover the underline mechanism of FAM83A. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed to confirm the oncogenic role of FAM83A in clinical LUAD tissues. Results: Screening the transcriptional expression data from TCGA-LUAD, we focus on the differentially expressed TFs across the divergent pathological subtypes, and identified that the expression of FAM83A is higher in patients with high-risk groups compared with those with intermediate or low-risk groups. The FAM83A expression is positively correlated with worse overall survival, progression-free survival, and advanced stages. Gain- and loss-of-function assays revealed that FAM83A promoted cell proliferation, invasion, and migration of tumor cell lines both in vivo and in vitro. Pathway enrichment analysis shows that FAM83A expression is significantly enriched in cell cycle-related pathways. The ChIP and luciferase reporter assays revealed that FAM83A hijacks the promoter of FOXM1 to progress the malignant LUAD, and the rescue assay uncovered that the function of FAM83A is partly dependent on FOXM1 regulation. Additionally, patients with high FAM83A expression positively correlated with higher IHC scores of Ki-67 and FOXM1, and patients with active FAM83A/FOXM1 axis had poor prognoses in LUAD. Conclusions: Taken together, our study revealed that the high-risk histological subtype-related FAM83A hijacks FOXM1 transcriptional regulation to promote malignant progression in lung adenocarcinoma, which implies targeting FAM83A/FOXM1 is the therapeutic vulnerability.

Aphids on Aphid-Susceptible Cultivars Have Easy Access to Turnip Mosaic Virus, and Effective Inoculation on Aphid-Resistant Cultivars of Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus).

Plant viruses improve transmission efficiency by directly and indirectly influencing vector behavior, but the impact of plant cultivars on these modifications is rarely studied. Using electropenetrography (EPG) technology, a comparative study of the effects of turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) infection on quantitative probing behaviors of the cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae) was conducted on two oilseed rape cultivars ('Deleyou6' and 'Zhongshuang11'). Compared to mock-inoculated plants, cabbage aphids on infected plants increased the frequency of brief probing, cell penetration, and salivation. Additionally, aphids on infected 'Deleyou6' prolonged cell penetration time and decreased ingestion, but not on infected 'Zhongshuang11', suggesting that aphids were more likely to acquire and vector TuMV on the aphid-susceptible cultivar 'Deleyou6' than on resistant cultivars. TuMV also affected aphid probing behavior directly. Viruliferous aphids reduced the pathway duration, secreted more saliva, and ingested less sap than non-viruliferous aphids. In comparison with non-viruliferous aphids, viruliferous aphids started the first probe earlier and increased brief probing and cell penetration frequencies on the aphid-resistant cultivar 'Zhongshuang11'. Based on these observations, viruliferous aphids can be inoculated with TuMV more efficiently on 'Zhongshuang11' than on 'Deleyou6'. Although aphid resistance and TuMV infection may influence aphid probing behavior, oilseed rape resistance to aphids does not impede TuMV transmission effectively.

[Expression of Tyrosine Kinase Receptor 2 in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and the Effect on Cell Proliferation and Migration and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Process].

Objective: To study the expression of tyrosine kinase receptor 2 (Tie2) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and its effect on cell proliferation and migration and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. Methods: Immunohistochemistry (IHC) tests were conducted to examine the expression of Tie2 in OSCC tissues and normal oral mucosa tissues. Western blot was performed to examine the expression of Tie2 in dysplastic oral keratinocyte (DOK) cell line and OSCC cell lines, and the cell line with high Tie2 expression was selected as the experimental cell line. The Tie2-silenced lentiviral vector was successfully transfected onto the experimental cell line for subsequent experiments. Cell proliferation and cloning abilities were examined with CCK-8 and clone formation assays. Cell migration ability was examined with scratch and Transwell assays. The remodeling ability of cytoskeletal F-actin and the expressions of E-cadherin and N-cadherin were examined with confocal laser scanning microscope. Western blot was performed to examine the expression of EMT-related signature proteins, including E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and vimentin, and the expression of the protein kinase B (AKT) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Results: IHC results showed that the Tie2-positive rate of the OSCC group (74.5%) was significantly higher than that of the control group (19.4%) ( P<0.0001). The expression of Tie2 was higher in HSC-4 and SCC-9 cell lines compared to that in DOK cells. The lentiviral shRNA-162 group showed the best silencing effect, which was used as the experimental group and applied in subsequent experiments. Compared with those of the control group, the proliferation, cloning and migration capacities of the cells of the experimental group were significantly reduced. Furthermore, the green fluorescence intensity of the cytoskeleton F-actin was reduced, the number of filamentous pseudopods at the leading edge of the cells decreased and their length was shortened, and the expression of E-cadherin was significantly increased, while the expression of N-cadherin and vimentin was significantly reduced in the experimental group in comparison with those of the control group. The expression of p-AKT and p-ERK proteins decreased, while AKT and ERK protein expression increased. Conclusion: Tie2 was highly expressed in most OSCC cells. Silencing Tie2 can inhibit the proliferation, cloning, and migration ability of OSCC cells, inhibit F-actin remodeling, and alter the expression of its EMT-related signature proteins by regulating AKT and ERK signaling pathway, which suggests that Tie2 may be involved in the growth, metastasis and EMT process of OSCC.

Comparison of mouse models of depression induced by different modeling methods / 生理学报

The present article was aimed to compare the effectiveness of different induction methods for depression models. Kunming mice were randomly divided into chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) group, corticosterone (CORT) group, and CUMS+CORT (CC) group. The CUMS group received CUMS stimulation for 4 weeks, and the CORT group received subcutaneous injection of 20 mg/kg CORT into the groin every day for 3 weeks. The CC group received both CUMS stimulation and CORT administration. Each group was assigned a control group. After modeling, forced swimming test (FST), tail suspension test (TST) and sucrose preference test (SPT) were used to detect the behavioral changes of mice, and the serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and CORT were detected with ELISA kits. Attenuated total refraction (ATR) spectra of mouse serum were collected and analyzed. HE staining was used to detect morphological changes in mouse brain tissue. The results showed that the weight of model mice from the CUMS and CC groups decreased significantly. There was no significant change in immobility time of model mice from the three groups in FST and TST, while the glucose preference of model mice from the CUMS and CC groups was significantly reduced (P < 0.05). The serum 5-HT levels of model mice from the CORT and CC groups were significantly reduced, while the serum BDNF and CORT levels of model mice from the CUMS, CORT, and CC groups showed no significant changes. Compared with their respective control groups, the three groups showed no significant difference in the one-dimensional spectrum of serum ATR. The difference spectrum analysis results of the first derivative of the spectrogram showed that the CORT group had the greatest difference from its respective control group, followed by the CUMS group. The structures of hippocampus in the model mice from the three groups were all destroyed. These results suggest that both CORT and CC treatments can successfully construct a depression model, and the CORT model is more effective than the CC model. Therefore, CORT induction can be used to establish a depression model in Kunming mice.

Transcriptome analysis and differential gene screening of Panax ginseng seed in different sand storage stages / 药学学报

Analyze the changes in gene expression profiles during the process of Panax ginseng seed dormancy release, and screen for differential genes, providing a basis for analyzing the mechanism of P. ginseng seed dormancy release. Comparative transcriptome analysis was conducted by using RNA-Seq sequencing technology in P. ginseng seeds stored at different low temperature. A total of 80.97 Gb of Raw reads and 80.19 Gb of Clean reads were obtained from the transcriptome. Principal component analysis and correlation analysis showed that there were significant differences in gene expression patterns at different developmental stages. Upset results showed that 46 248 unigenes were co-expressed in four stages, and 414, 445, 400 and 389 unigenes were specifically expressed in 0, 8,14 and 28 days, respectively. Gene Ontology functional annotation showed that the differentially expressed genes were mainly involved in nsaturated fatty acid biosynthetic process, nuclear body and oxidoreductase activity. Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes metabolic pathway showed that differentially expressed genes were mainly involved in peroxisome, mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway-plant, plant hormone signal transduction, ribosome, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acid, circadian rhythm-plant and other metabolic pathways. In the process of P. ginseng seed dormancy release, multiple biological processes, such as unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis and plant hormone signal transduction, are required to coordinate regulation, which constitutes a complex dormancy release regulation network. Transcriptome analysis and differential gene screening of P. ginseng seeds at different sand storage time laid a foundation for the analysis of P. ginseng seed dormancy release mechanism and molecular breeding.

Associations of all-cause mortality with admission blood pressure variability during multiple hospitalizations in acute decompensated heart failure / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To investigate whether admission blood pressure (BP) variability during multiple hospitalizations is associated with all-cause mortality independent of baseline BP in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). Methods: Patients with ADHF admitted to the Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University from September 2013 to December 2017 were retrospectively enrolled. The risk of all-cause mortality associated with indices of BP variability, including mean admission BPs, standard deviation of BP and coefficient of variation of BP during multiple hospitalizations was assessed, using Cox regression model. Results: A total of 1 006 ADHF patients (mean aged (69.3±13.5) years; 411 (40.8%) female; 670 (66.6%) with preserved ejection fraction) were enrolled. During a median follow-up of 1.54 years, 47.0% of patients died. In all ADHF patients, after adjusting for confounding factors, for every 1-standard deviation (SD) increase in SD and coefficient of variation (CV) of systolic BP, the risk of all-cause mortality increased by 10% and 11%, respectively (SD: HR, 1.10, 95%CI, 1.01-1.21, P=0.029, CV: HR, 1.11, 95%CI, 1.02-1.21, P=0.017); for every 1-SD increase in the mean of diastolic BP, the risk of all cause mortality decreased by 25% (HR, 0.75; 95%CI, 0.65-0.87; P<0.001). In ADHF patients with preserved ejection fraction, after accounted for potential confounders, higher SD and CV of admitted systolic and diastolic BP were significantly associated with higher risk of all-cause mortality, regardless of whether confounding factors were adjusted (P≤0.049); After adjusting for confounding factors, the risk of all-cause mortality increased by 18% and 19% for every 1-SD increase in SD and CV of systolic BP, while the risk of all-cause mortality increased by 11% and 15% for every 1-SD increase in SD and CV of diastolic BP. In ADHF patients with reduced ejection fraction, after adjusting for confounding factors, the higher the mean admission systolic BP during multiple hospitalizations, the lower the risk of total mortality (HR, 0.68; 95%CI, 0.47-1.00; P=0.049). Conclusions: In patients with ADHF, independent of baseline BP, BP variability during multiple hospitalizations was strong predictor of all-cause mortality.

Efficacy and safety of miconazole muco-adhesive tablet versus itraconazole in oropharyngeal candidiasis: A randomized, multi-centered, double-blind, phase 3 trial.

Oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) is an opportunistic infection treated with anti-fungal agents. Herein, we evaluate the efficacy and safety of miconazole buccal tablets (MBT) and itraconazole capsules in the localized treatment of patients with OPC. In this multi-centered, double-blinded, phase III trial (CTR20130414), both males and non-pregnant females (≥18 years) with OPC were randomized (1:1) to MBT plus placebo (experimental group) or itraconazole capsules plus placebo (control group). The primary endpoint was clinical cure at the end-of-treatment period [visit 4 (V4)] while secondary endpoints were clinical remission rates, partial remission rates, mycological cure, clinical relapse, and adverse events (AEs). All endpoints were statistically analyzed in both the full analysis set (FAS) and per-protocol (PP) set. A total of 431 (experimental: 216; control: 215) subjects were included. At V4, in the FAS set, the clinical cure was achieved in 68% and 59% patients in experimental and control groups, respectively with a treatment difference of 9% [95% confidence interval (CI): -1,19; P < .001] demonstrating non-inferiority of MBT over itraconazole. At V4, mycological cure rates were 68.2% and 42.0% in the experimental group and control groups (P < .001), respectively in FAS. The relapse rates were 5.4% and 6.6%, respectively, in the experimental and control groups. A total of 210 patients experienced AEs during treatment with 47.7% in the experimental group and 49.8% in the control group with no deaths. This study demonstrated that once-daily treatment with MBT was non-inferior to itraconazole with higher mycological cure rates and was tolerable with mild AE in patients with OPC.

Miconazole is an antifungal drug against certain types of fungus or yeast infections. In this study, we showed that treatment with once-daily miconazole buccal tablets was as effective as systemic itraconazole capsules in Chinese patients infected by oropharyngeal candidiasis with minimum side effects.

Turnip Mosaic Virus Infection Differentially Modifies Cabbage Aphid Probing Behavior in Spring and Winter Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus).

Direct and indirect effects of plant virus infection on vector behavior have been discovered to improve virus transmission efficiency, but the impact of plant cultivars in virus-vector-plant interactions has received little attention. Electropenetrography (EPG) allows real-time tracking and quantification of stylet penetration behaviors, pathogen transmission, and plant resistance mechanisms. Quantitative probing behaviors on a spring oilseed rape cultivar, 'Xinyou17', and a winter oilseed rape cultivar, 'Zheping4', were investigated using EPG to compare turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) regulation of cabbage aphid probing behavior. Results for indirect effects showed that compared to mock-inoculated plants, cabbage aphids on infected plants increased brief probing frequency, cell penetration frequency, intracellular probing time, and decreased time to first probe and pathway time, potentially promoting viral acquisition. TuMV also directly influences aphid probing behavior. Viruliferous aphids had reduced pathway time, increased cell penetration frequency, increased intracellular probing time, increased salivation frequency, and ingested less sap than non-viruliferous aphids, primed for viral infection. Although oilseed rape cultivars can also influence aphid behavior, the main effect of cultivars was not significant on TuMV-infected plants.

Interleukin-6 mediated inflammasome activation promotes oral squamous cell carcinoma progression via JAK2/STAT3/Sox4/NLRP3 signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) has been reported to be critical in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, the set of pathways that IL-6 might activate in OSCC are not fully understood. METHODS: IL-6 and Sox4 expressions were first determined with RT-qPCR, ELISA, Western blot, or immunohistochemistry in OSCC tissues, and correlations between IL-6 and Sox4 expression and patient pathological characteristics were examined, and Kaplan-Meier approach was employed for evaluating the prognostic utility in OSCC patients. CCK-8, EdU stain and colony formation assays were utilized to test cell proliferation in vitro. Mechanistically, downstream regulatory proteins of IL-6 were verified through chromatin immunoprecipitation, luciferase reporter, pull-down, and the rescued experiments. Western blot was used for detecting protein expression. A nude mouse tumorigenicity assay was used to confirm the role of IL-6 and Sox4 in vivo. RESULTS: IL-6 was upregulated in OSCC tissues, and Sox4 expression was positively correlated with IL-6 expression. High IL-6 and Sox4 expression was closely related to tumor size, TNM stage, and a poorer overall survival. Besides, IL-6 could accelerate OSCC cell proliferation by activating inflammasome via JAK2/STAT3/Sox4/NLRP3 pathways in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, STAT3 played as a transcription factor which positively regulated Sox4, and IL-6 promotes Sox4 expression by activating JAK2/STAT3 pathway. Moreover, through the rescue experiments, we further confirmed that IL-6 could promote proliferation and NLRP3 inflammasome activation via JAK2/STAT3/Sox4 pathway in OSCC cells. Finally, knockdown of Sox4 suppressed OSCC growth in vivo, and antagonized the acceleration of IL-6 on tumor growth. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed that IL-6 plays an oncogenic role in OSCC progression by activating JAK2/STAT3/Sox4/NLRP3 pathway, which might be the therapeutic targets for OSCC remedy.

A digital intervention using virtual reality helmets to reduce dental anxiety of children under local anesthesia and primary teeth extraction: A randomized clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Behavior management of children during dental treatment is an important but challenging issue. As a new technique, VR has been applied in pediatric dental anxiety. But there is no final conclusion whether VR reduces children's dental anxiety. METHODS: The aim of the study is to assess the effectiveness of a digital intervention using virtual reality (VR) helmets on dental anxiety, pain perception, and behavior triggered for children, as well as occurrence of simulator sickness in local anesthesia and primary teeth extraction. A total of 128 children, who needed primary teeth extraction under local anesthesia, were randomly allocated into two groups: use VR helmets and traditional behavior guidance procedures (control). Modified Child Fear Survey Schedule Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS), Wong-Baker FACES Pain Scale, Houpt Scale, and Simulator sickness questionnaire (SSQ) were used to assess children's dental anxiety, pain perception, and behavior triggered and occurrence of simulator sickness. RESULTS: CFSS-DS score in the VR group was significantly decreased after dental treatment (34.58±6.90 before operation and 32.32±15.58 after operation, p = .02). The score of Wong Baker Scale in the VR group (3.47±0.76) was significantly lower than that in the control group (5.56±1.13, p = .015). There was no significant difference in the Houpt Behavior Scale score and the SSQ score between the VR group and the control group (p = .35, p = .305). CONCLUSION: The use of VR helmets in primary teeth extraction can significantly reduce dental anxiety and pain perception in children without occurrence of simulator sickness.

Pan-cancer analysis reveals NUP37 as a prognostic biomarker correlated with the immunosuppressive microenvironment in glioma.

Nucleoporin 37 kDa (NUP37), a member of the nucleoporin family, has been reported to regulate the proliferation and apoptosis of several tumor types. However, its role in the tumor immune microenvironment is unclear. Here, we evaluated the expression, methylation, copy number alteration, and prognostic significance of NUP37 using RNA-seq and clinical data from The Cancer Genome Atlas. We observed higher expression of NUP37 in 28 of 29 tumor types, and high NUP37 expression predicted worse survival status of patients in 15 tumors. Using data from the cBioportal database, we described the gene variation of NUP37 in glioma and pan-cancer. We further assessed the role of NUP37 in the tumor immune microenvironment using immune infiltration data. NUP37 expression was positively associated with the infiltration levels of immunosuppressive cells, such as nTregs, iTregs, and tumor-associated macrophages, and negatively correlated with immune killer cells, such as CD8+ T and NK cells across cancers. Furthermore, NUP37 expression was associated with immune checkpoints and immune regulation-related genes. The half-maximal inhibitory concentrations of anti-cancer drugs were obtained from the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in the Cancer database. The correlation between half-maximal inhibitory concentration and NUP37 expression was evaluated. The patients with the evaluated expression of NUP37 were resistant to several anti-cancer drugs. These results suggest that NUP37 is a potential oncogene and prognostic biomarker in glioma and pan-cancer. Tumor tissues with high NUP37 expression exist in a relatively immunosuppressive microenvironment and are resistant to several anti-cancer drugs.

Efficacy comparison of robot-assisted partial nephrectomy and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy in the treatment of giant renal angiomyolipoma / 中华泌尿外科杂志

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN)and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy(LPN)in the treatment of giant (>7cm) renal angiomyolipoma (RAML).Methods:The clinical data of 43 patients with giant RAML(>7cm) who underwent surgery in Zhejiang People's Hospital from October 2014 to May 2020 was retrospectively analysed, including 23 routine RAPN and 20 routine LPN. The median age of patients in the RAPN group was 45(17-65) years old, with 4 males and 19 females.The median body mass index(BMI) was 20.3(18.0-25.7) kg/m 2. Tumors located on the left side in 11 cases and on the right side in 12 cases. Tumors located on upper pole in 9 cases, middle pole in 5 cases , lower pole in 5 cases. The median R. E.N.A.L. score was 8(4-12) points and the largest tumor diameter was 7.5(7.1-17.0) cm. The median age of patients in the LPN group was 53(27-78) years old, with 1 males and 19 females. The median BMI was 21.4(19.0-25.5) kg/m 2. Tumors located on the left side in 9 cases and right side in 11 cases. Tumors located on the upper pole in 7 cases, middle pole in 4 cases and lower pole in 5 cases. 4 cases were multiple tumors, 2 cases were bilateral, and 2 cases were unilateral. The median R. E.N.A.L. score was 8(4-12) points and the median maximum diameter of tumor was 7.3(7.0-20.0) cm. There was no statistically significant difference in general information between the two groups ( P>0.05). The operation time, warm ischemia time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complications, postoperative recovery, renal function and other indicators of the two groups were compared, as well as the follow-up results. Results:The operations in both groups were successfully completed, and none of them were transferred to open surgery. Patients in the RAPN group had markedly lower median operation time [115(90-220) vs.145(120-240) min], and reduced median time of warm ischemia [15(10-25) vs. 23(20-28) min] than those in the LPN group, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the median time of eating [1(1-2) vs. 1(1-3)d], time of extubation [4(3-16) vs. 5(3-14)d], postoperative absolute time in bed [4(3-7) vs. 4(2-12)d], hospitalization time [7(5-16) vs. 8(4-14)d], creatinine change[11.3(1.6-44.8) vs. 18.2(1.0-54.8)μmol/L], eGFR change [21.5(1.8-43.5) vs. 22.1(5.6-51.3) ml/(min·1.73m 2)], and hemoglobin change[22.5(11-43) vs. 23.0 (9-62) g/L] between the two groups( P>0.05). The incidence of postoperative complications in the RAPN group and the LPN group were 0 and 15%(3/20), respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). 3 patients had blood transfusion during the operation, because 2 patients had renal wound hemorrhage. During the operation, ultrasonic scalpel electrocoagulation to halt bleeding and hemostatic cotton padding were performed, which improved after suture. One case had active hemorrhage from the renal wound arteries after surgery, which improved after blood transfusion and embolization. Another 2 patients had postoperative fever, improved after anti-infection and antipyretic treatment. There was no leakage of urine after operation in RAPN group and LPN group. The RAPN group was followed up for 6 months to 45 months with a median time of 12 months, and the LPN group was 8 months to 50 months with a median time of 15 months. No tumor recurrence or delayed renal stump bleeding was identified. Conclusions:Compared with LPN, RAPN therapy of giant RAML can shorten the operation time and warm ischemia time, and decrease postoperative complications, the two have similar short-term follow-up results in terms of tumor control and renal function protection.

Fangji Huangqi Detumescence Prescription Treats Synovitis in Rats with Knee Osteoarthritis by Modulating Polarization of Synovial Macrophages / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo assess the curative effects of Fangji Huangqi detumescence prescription （FHDP） on synovitis and polarization of synovial macrophages of knee osteoarthritis （KOA） model in rats induced by Hulth method. MethodThirty-six rats were randomly divided into sham operation group， model group， high-dose， medium-dose， and low-dose （29.16， 14.58， and 7.29 g·kg-1） FHDP groups， and loxoprofen sodium （16.2 mg·kg-1） group. KOA model in rats was induced by modified Hulth method. Six weeks after the operation， rats were given high， medium， and low concentrations of FHDP， normal saline （NS）， and loxoprofen sodium according to the group to intervene， and sacrificed after 2-week administration. Synovium and cartilage histopathological changes were observed after hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. Flow cytometry （FCM） and immunofluorescence （IF） test were used to evaluate the polarization of M1/M2 macrophages. Immunohistochemistry （IMC） and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） were used to detect the related protein expression levels of macrophage polarization， such as interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-10 （IL-10）， and matrix metalloproteinase-13 （MMP-13） in joint tissues and serum. ResultCompared with the sham operation group， Krenn and Mankin scores in the model group were significantly increased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， Krenn score was decreased in all administration groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）， but there was no significant difference in Mankin score in any administration groups. Compared with the sham operation group， M1/mø （CD38+） ratio in the model group was significantly increased （P<0.01）， and M2/mø （CD206+） ratio in the model group was decreased （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， M1/mø ratio in the high， medium， and low-dose FHDP groups was decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， but M2/mø ratio was increased in all administration groups （the difference had no statistical significance）. Compared with the sham operation group， M1/M2 ratio in the model group was significantly increased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， M1/M2 ratio in all FHDP groups was significantly decreased （P<0.01）， and M1/M2 ratio in the high and medium-dose FHDP groups was lower than that in the loxoprofen sodium group （P<0.05）. Compared with the sham operation group， the levels of TNF-α， IL-1β， and MMP-13 in synovium and cartilage of the model group were significantly increased （P<0.01）， the level of IL-10 was significantly decreased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in synovium were decreased in all administration groups （P<0.05）， but the difference of the levels of MMP-13 and IL-10 in synovium had no statistical significance. The level of inflammatory mediators in cartilage was not affected in all administration groups. Compared with the sham operation group， the levels of TNF-α and IL-β in serum of the model group were significantly increased （P<0.01）， the level of IL-10 was decreased （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the level of TNF-α in the high-dose FHDP group was decreased （P<0.05）， and the level of IL-10 was increased in all administration groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The difference of the level of IL-β in all administration groups had no statistical significance. ConclusionFHDP attenuated the synovitis of KOA rats. FHDP exert the effect on the releasing of proinflammatory cytokines and MMP by inhibiting the polarization of M1 macrophages in synovium， and had no significant effect on the polarization of M2 macrophages. Modulating the imbalanced polarization of synovial macrophages was a possible mechanism of FHDP on attenuating synovitis and treating KOA.

Development and Evaluation of Biocontrol Agents Against Panax ginseng Root Rot / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo develop safe and effective microbial agents against Panax ginseng root rot. MethodP. notoginseng endophytes were screened in plate confrontation tests， followed by morphological and molecular biological identification of antagonistic strains， optimization of strain fermentation conditions in a single factor test， and determination of optimal carriers and auxiliary agents of the microbial agent and their ratio using response surface methodology for formulating the production process. The prevention and control effects of the microbial agent were verified in the confrontation and pot culture experiments. ResultThe plate confrontation test yielded a strain named Fusarium pseudoanthophilum with significant resistance to root rot， and its antibacterial rate was 53.33%. According to the single factor test， the fermentation conditions of F. pseudoanthophilum were determined to be fermentation time 60 h， fermentation temperature 26 ℃， speed 120 r·min-1， and pH 6.5. The response surface optimization results showed that the number of viable bacteria reached the maximum （5.23×109 cfu·g-1） when the peat was 60.00 g， sodium carboxymethylcellulose 3.50 g， and sodium alginate 4.76 g. The influences of carriers and auxiliary agents on the number of viable bacteria were sorted by degree in a descending order as follows： peat>sodium carboxymethylcellulose >sodium alginate. The confrontation test results showed that when the microbial agent concentration was greater than 1.00 g·L-1， it had a significant inhibitory effect on the root rot pathogen F. oxysporum and the inhibitory rate was more than 42.3%. As demonstrated by the pot culture experiment， the inoculation of biocontrol agent for 28 d significantly reduced the incidence （66.99%） of root rot in P. ginseng seedlings and disease index （61.69%） and increased their leaf length （33.04%） and fresh weight （34.48%）. ConclusionF. pseudoanthophilum inoculant is efficient in preventing and controlling the root rot， making it worthy of further development and utilization.