Theoretical Prediction and Experimental Verification of IrOx Supported on Titanium Nitride for Acidic Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

Reducing iridium (Ir) catalyst loading for acidic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a critical strategy for large-scale hydrogen production via proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis. However, simultaneously achieving high activity, long-term stability, and reduced material cost remains challenging. To address this challenge, we develop a framework by combining density functional theory (DFT) prediction using model surfaces and proof-of-concept experimental verification using thin films and nanoparticles. DFT results predict that oxidized Ir monolayers over titanium nitride (IrOx/TiN) should display higher OER activity than IrOx while reducing Ir loading. This prediction is verified by depositing Ir monolayers over TiN thin films via physical vapor deposition. The promising thin film results are then extended to commercially viable powder IrOx/TiN catalysts, which demonstrate a lower overpotential and higher mass activity than commercial IrO2 and long-term stability of 250 h to maintain a current density of 10 mA cm-2. The superior OER performance of IrOx/TiN is further confirmed using a proton exchange membrane water electrolyzer (PEMWE), which shows a lower cell voltage than commercial IrO2 to achieve a current density of 1 A cm-2. Both DFT and in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy reveal that the high OER performance of IrOx/TiN strongly depends on the IrOx-TiN interaction via direct Ir-Ti bonding. This study highlights the importance of close interaction between theoretical prediction based on mechanistic understanding and experimental verification based on thin film model catalysts to facilitate the development of more practical powder IrOx/TiN catalysts with high activity and stability for acidic OER.

Macrophage-derived FGFR1 drives atherosclerosis through PLCγ-mediated activation of NF-κB inflammatory signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Atherosclerotic lesions show increased levels of proteins associated with the fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) pathway. However, the functional significance and mechanisms governed by FGFR signaling in atherosclerosis are not known. In the present study, we investigated FGFR1 signaling in atherosclerosis development and progression. METHODS AND RESULTS: Examination of human atherosclerotic lesions and aortas of Apoe-/- mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) showed increased levels of FGFR1 in macrophages. We deleted myeloid-expressed Fgfr1 in Apoe-/- mice and showed that Fgfr1 deficiency reduces atherosclerotic lesions and lipid accumulations in both male and female mice upon HFD feeding. These protective effects of myeloid Fgfr1 deficiency were also observed when mice with intact FGFR1 were treated with FGFR inhibitor AZD4547. To understand the mechanistic basis of this protection, we harvested macrophages from mice and show that FGFR1 is required for macrophage inflammatory responses and uptake of oxidized LDL. RNA sequencing showed that FGFR1 activity is mediated through phospholipase-C-gamma (PLCγ) and the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) but is independent of FGFR substrate 2. CONCLUSION: Our study provides evidence of a new FGFR1-PLCγ- NF-κB axis in macrophages in inflammatory atherosclerosis, supporting FGFR1 as a potentially therapeutic target for atherosclerosis-related diseases.

Multimodal and hemispheric graph-theoretical brain network predictors of learning efficacy for frontal alpha asymmetry neurofeedback.

EEG neurofeedback using frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA) has been widely used for emotion regulation, but its effectiveness is controversial. Studies indicated that individual differences in neurofeedback training can be traced to neuroanatomical and neurofunctional features. However, they only focused on regional brain structure or function and overlooked possible neural correlates of the brain network. Besides, no neuroimaging predictors for FAA neurofeedback protocol have been reported so far. We designed a single-blind pseudo-controlled FAA neurofeedback experiment and collected multimodal neuroimaging data from healthy participants before training. We assessed the learning performance for evoked EEG modulations during training (L1) and at rest (L2), and investigated performance-related predictors based on a combined analysis of multimodal brain networks and graph-theoretical features. The main findings of this study are described below. First, both real and sham groups could increase their FAA during training, but only the real group showed a significant increase in FAA at rest. Second, the predictors during training blocks and at rests were different: L1 was correlated with the graph-theoretical metrics (clustering coefficient and local efficiency) of the right hemispheric gray matter and functional networks, while L2 was correlated with the graph-theoretical metrics (local and global efficiency) of the whole-brain and left the hemispheric functional network. Therefore, the individual differences in FAA neurofeedback learning could be explained by individual variations in structural/functional architecture, and the correlated graph-theoretical metrics of learning performance indices showed different laterality of hemispheric networks. These results provided insight into the neural correlates of inter-individual differences in neurofeedback learning. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11571-023-09939-x.

Elevated neutrophil extracellular trap levels in periodontitis: Implications for keratinization and barrier function in gingival epithelium.

AIM: To explore the levels of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in patients with periodontitis and examine their effects on keratinization, barrier function of human gingival keratinocytes (HGKs) and the associated mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Saliva, gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), clinical periodontal parameters and gingival specimens were collected from 10 healthy control subjects and 10 patients with stage II-IV periodontitis to measure the NET levels. Subsequently, mRNA and protein levels of keratinization and barrier indicators, as well as intracellular calcium and epithelial barrier permeability, were analysed in HGKs after NET stimulation. RESULTS: The study showed that NET levels significantly elevated in patients with periodontitis, across multiple specimens including saliva, GCF and gingival tissues. Stimulation of HGKs with NETs resulted in a decrease in the expressions of involucrin, cytokeratin 10, zonula occludens 1 and E-cadherin, along with decreased intracellular calcium levels and increased epithelial barrier permeability. Furthermore, the inhibition of keratinization by NETs is ERK-KLF4-dependent. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that NETs impair the barrier function of HGKs and suppress keratinization through ERK/KLF4 axis. These findings provide potential targets for therapeutic approaches in periodontitis to address impaired gingival keratinization.

Multi-Omics Analysis of a Chromosome Segment Substitution Line Reveals a New Regulation Network for Soybean Seed Storage Profile.

Soybean, a major source of oil and protein, has seen an annual increase in consumption when used in soybean-derived products and the broadening of its cultivation range. The demand for soybean necessitates a better understanding of the regulatory networks driving storage protein accumulation and oil biosynthesis to broaden its positive impact on human health. In this study, we selected a chromosome segment substitution line (CSSL) with high protein and low oil contents to investigate the underlying effect of donor introgression on seed storage through multi-omics analysis. In total, 1479 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), 82 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), and 34 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) were identified in the CSSL compared to the recurrent parent. Based on Gene Ontology (GO) term analysis and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment (KEGG), integrated analysis indicated that 31 DEGs, 24 DEPs, and 13 DEMs were related to seed storage functionality. Integrated analysis further showed a significant decrease in the contents of the seed storage lipids LysoPG 16:0 and LysoPC 18:4 as well as an increase in the contents of organic acids such as L-malic acid. Taken together, these results offer new insights into the molecular mechanisms of seed storage and provide guidance for the molecular breeding of new favorable soybean varieties.

Nanosheets of a Layered Metal-Organic Framework for Separation of CO2/CH4 using Mixed Matrix Membranes.

Mixed matrix membranes represent an important technology for gas separations. Nanosheets of metal-organic framework (MOF) materials of high aspect ratio and size-selective gas transport properties have the potential to promote the efficient mixing of components to form membranes for gas separation. Herein, we report a bottom-up synthesis of extended sheets of kagomé (kgm) topology, kgmt-Bu, via the linkage of [Cu2(O2CR)4] paddlewheels with 5-tert-butylisophthalic acid. The growth of the layered structure can be controlled by the choice of solvent and modulator. Nanosheets of kgmt-Bu of average thickness of 20 nm and aspect ratio of 40 to 50 can be obtained, and the sieving effect of the channels in kgmt-Bu boost the efficient separation of CO2 over CH4. A mixed matrix membrane comprising kgmt-Bu nanosheets with Matrimid shows a 32% enhancement in CO2/CH4 selectivity compared with the membrane incorporating the MOF in the particulate form.

Large-scale deep tissue voltage imaging with targeted-illumination confocal microscopy.

Voltage imaging with cellular specificity has been made possible by advances in genetically encoded voltage indicators. However, the kilohertz rates required for voltage imaging lead to weak signals. Moreover, out-of-focus fluorescence and tissue scattering produce background that both undermines the signal-to-noise ratio and induces crosstalk between cells, making reliable in vivo imaging in densely labeled tissue highly challenging. We describe a microscope that combines the distinct advantages of targeted illumination and confocal gating while also maximizing signal detection efficiency. The resulting benefits in signal-to-noise ratio and crosstalk reduction are quantified experimentally and theoretically. Our microscope provides a versatile solution for enabling high-fidelity in vivo voltage imaging at large scales and penetration depths, which we demonstrate across a wide range of imaging conditions and different genetically encoded voltage indicator classes.

Iodine Status of Infants and Toddlers under 2 Years of Age and Its Association with Feeding Behaviors and Maternal Iodine Status in Shanghai: A Quantile Regression Analysis.

It is crucial to provide adequate iodine nutrition to infants and toddlers for proper thyroid function and subsequent brain development. Infants are particularly vulnerable to iodine deficiency during the transition from a milk-based diet (breast milk and/or infant formula) to solid food. This study examines the current iodine levels of children during their first two years of life and investigates the association between these levels and feeding behaviors and the iodine status of their mothers in Shanghai, a city located in eastern China. A hospital-based cohort study was conducted to enroll mother-child pairs, where the child is aged 6-23 months, who visited community health service centers in the 16 districts of Shanghai, China. Data on socio-demographic factors and feeding behavior data were collected from the participants. The urinary iodine concentration (UIC) in both the young children and their mothers were analyzed. A total of 2282 mother-child pairs were included in this analysis. The median (p25-p75) UIC for lactating women, weaning women, and children were 121.3 µg/L (68.1-206.4 µg/L), 123.4 µg/L (58.4-227.2 µg/L), and 152.1 µg/L (75.8-268.3 µg/L), respectively. The UIC in children was found to be higher than that in their mothers (p < 0.001). Children who consumed less than 500 mL per day of formula milk in the last week had lower UICs compared with those who consumed 500 mL per day or more (p = 0.026). Furthermore, the children's UIC was positively correlated with the maternal UIC (rs = 0.285, p < 0.001). Multiple quantile regression analysis revealed a statistically significant positive association between maternal UIC and children's UIC between the 0.1 and 0.9 quantiles (all p < 0.001). We found that the iodine status of infants and toddlers, as well as of mothers, was sufficient. However, a large minority of children and mothers may be at risk of iodine deficiency. Furthermore, no associations between children's UIC and feeding behaviors were observed. Moreover, there was a positive correlation between the UIC of young children and their mothers.

Reproductive concerns and its correlation with fear of recurrence and level of family support in patients of childbearing age with gynecologic malignancies.

BACKGROUND: To discuss the current status of reproductive concerns and its correlation with fear of recurrence and level of family support in patients of childbearing age with gynecologic malignancies. METHODS: A convenient sampling method was used to enroll 188 patients with gynecologic malignancies in Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, and Haian Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine from September 2022 to April 2023. Patients were assessed using general information questionnaire, Reproductive Concerns After Cancer Scale (RCAC), Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory (FCRI) questionnaire, and Perceived Social Support-Family (PSS-FA) Scale. RESULTS: Among patients of childbearing age with gynecologic malignancies, the total RCAC score was (54.35 ± 7.52), indicating a moderate level of reproductive concerns. Patients scored (20.98 ± 4.51) on FCRI, implying a moderate level of fear of recurrence. The PSS-FA score was (9.57 ± 2.76), denoting a moderate level of family support. The total score and each dimensional score of RCAC were positively correlated with FCRI total score (P < 0.05), and negatively correlated with PSS-FA total score (P < 0.05). Fear of recurrence, family support level, number of children, educational background, treatment modality, and fertility intention were influencing factors for reproductive concerns in patients of childbearing age with gynecologic malignancies (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The reproductive concerns, fear of recurrence and family support are all at moderate levels in patients of childbearing age with gynecologic malignancies, and reproductive concerns are positively correlated with fear of recurrence and negatively correlated with family support.

Ocular rosacea without facial erythema involvement manifesting as bilateral multiple recurrent chalazions: A case report.

BACKGROUND: In addition to the non-specific symptomatology of ocular rosacea, currently, there are no reliable diagnostic tests for the disease, which may lead to its misdiagnosis. Here, we report a case of ocular rosacea presenting with multiple recurrent chalazion on both eyelids. CASE SUMMARY: A 63-year-old female patient presented with multiple chalazion and dry eyes in both eyes, with no facial erythema. Initial management done were application of steroid eye ointment on both eyelids, hot compresses, and eyelid margin cleaning; noting that there was no relief of symptoms. Surgical excision of the chalazion was done on both eyes, however, bilateral recurrence occurred post-operatively. The pathological studies showed infiltration of a small amount of fibrous tissue with many chronic inflammatory cells. Immunohistochemistry studies were positive for LL-37. Resolution of the chalazion occurred after oral administration of doxycycline and azithromycin. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that ophthalmologists should recognize the ocular manifestations of skin diseases.

Diagnostic and prognostic assessments of adrenocortical carcinomas by pathological features, immunohistochemical markers and reticular histochemistry staining.

BACKGROUND: Current diagnostic criteria of adrenocortical neoplasms are mostly based on morphology. The utility of immunohistochemistry (IHC) and histochemistry is limited. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic utility of clinicopathological features, morphology, ancillary biomarkers, and reticular histochemistry in adrenocortical neoplasms. We examined 28 adrenocortical carcinomas (ACCs) and 50 adrenocortical adenomas (ACAs) obtained from pathology archives. Clinical data were retrieved from medical records. Two pathologists independently assessed hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides, employing modified Weiss criteria for all tumors and Lin-Weiss-Bisceglia criteria for oncocytic variants. Immunohistochemical markers (Calretinin, alpha-inhibin, MelanA, SF-1, Ki-67, PHH3, IGF-2, ß-catenin, P53, CYP11B1, CYP11B2, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2, EPCAM) and Gomori's Silver histochemistry were applied. Statistical analysis utilized SPSS Statistics 26. RESULTS: ACCs exhibited larger tumor sizes (P<0.001) and symptomatic presentations (P = 0.031) compared to ACAs. Parameters of modified Weiss criteria and angioinvasion demonstrated diagnostic value for ACCs. Six immunohistochemical antibodies((MelanA, Ki-67, IGF-2, ß-catenin, P53 and CYP11B1) and reticulin framework alterations showed diagnostic value. Notably, Ki-67 and reticulin staining were most recommended. Evident reticulin staining was frequently present in ACCs (P<0.001). Ki-67 was significantly higher in ACCs (P<0.001). Twenty-one conventional and seven oncocytic entities showed different necrosis frequencies. Symptoms and Ki-67 index ≥ 30% were prognostic for ACCs, correlating with shorter survival. CONCLUSIONS: This study emphasizes the diagnostic value of reticulin framework alterations and a high Ki-67 index. Markers such as CYP11B1, IGF2, P53, ß-catenin and MelanA also contribute to the diagnosis of ACCs. Symptoms and Ki-67 index ≥ 30% predict shorter survival. These findings encourges the use of ancillary markers such as reticulin histochemistry and Ki-67 in the workup of evaluations of adrenocortical neoplasms.

Carnosol attenuates angiotensin II-induced cardiac remodeling and inflammation via directly binding to p38 and inhibiting p38 activation.

Chronic inflammation is a significant contributor to hypertensive heart failure. Carnosol (Car), primarily derived from the sage plant (Salvia carnosa), exhibits anti-inflammatory properties in a range of systems. Nevertheless, the influence of angiotensin II (Ang II) on cardiac remodeling remains uncharted. Car was shown to protect mice's hearts against Ang II-induced heart damage at dosages of 20 and 40 mg/kg/d. This protection was evident in a concentration-related decrease in the remodeling of the heart and dysfunction. Examination of the transcriptome revealed that the pivotal roles in mediating the protective effects of Car involved inhibiting Ang II-induced inflammation and the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Furthermore, Car was found to inhibit p38 phosphorylation, therefore reducing the level of inflammation in cultured cardiomyocytes and mouse hearts. This effect was attributed to the direct binding to p38 and inhibition of p38 protein phosphorylation by Car both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, the effects of Car on inflammation were neutralized when p38 was blocked in cardiomyocytes.

Controllable Fabrication of Highly Ordered Spherical Microcavity Arrays by Replica Molding of In Situ Self-Emulsified Droplets.

Ordered spherical hollow micro- and nanostructures hold great appeal in the fields of cell biology and optics. However, it is extremely challenging for standard lithography techniques to achieve spherical micro-/nanocavities. In this paper, we describe a simple, cost-effective, and scalable approach to fabricate highly ordered spherical microcavity arrays by replica molding of in situ self-emulsified droplets. The in situ self-emulsion involves a two-step process: discontinuous dewetting-induced liquid partition and interfacial tension-driven liquid spherical transformation. Subsequent replica molding of the droplets creates spherical microcavity arrays. The shapes and sizes of the microcavities can be easily modulated by varying the compositions of the droplet templates or utilizing an osmotically driven water permeation. To demonstrate the utility of this method, we employed it to create a spherical microwell array for the mass production of embryoid bodies with high viability and minimal loss. In addition, we also demonstrated the optical functions of the generated spherical microcavities by using them as microlenses. We believe that our proposed method will open exciting avenues in fields ranging from regenerative medicine and microchemistry to optical applications.

Binding of carbon dioxide and acetylene to free carboxylic acid sites in a metal-organic framework.

The functionalisation of organic linkers in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) to improve gas uptake is well-documented. Although the positive role of free carboxylic acid sites in MOFs for binding gas molecules has been proposed in computational studies, relatively little experimental evidence has been reported in support of this. Primarily this is because of the inherent synthetic difficulty to prepare MOF materials bearing free, accessible -COOH moieties which would normally bind to metal ions within the framework structure. Here, we describe the direct binding of CO2 and C2H2 molecules to the free -COOH sites within the pores of MFM-303(Al). MFM-303(Al) exhibits highly selective adsorption of CO2 and C2H2 with a high selectivity for C2H2 over C2H4. In situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction and inelastic neutron scattering, coupled with modelling, highlight the cooperative interactions of adsorbed CO2 and C2H2 molecules with free -COOH and -OH sites within MFM-303(Al), thus rationalising the observed high selectivity for gas separation.

Single-nucleus RNA and ATAC sequencing analyses provide molecular insights into early pod development of peanut fruit.

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important leguminous oil and economic crop that produces flowers above ground and fruits underground. Subterranean fruit pod development, which significantly impacts peanut production, involves complex molecular mechanisms that likely require the coordinated regulation of multiple genes in different tissues. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying peanut fruit pod development, we characterized the anatomical features of early fruit pod development and integrated the snRNA-seq and snATAC-seq data at single-cell levels. Moreover, we identified distinct cell types, such as meristem, embryo, vascular tissue, cuticular layer, and stele cells within the shell wall. These specific cell types were employed to scrutinize potential molecular changes unique to each cell type during pivotal stages of peanut fruit pod development. The snRNA-seq analyses of DEGs (differential expressed genes) unveiled cell-type-specific insights that were not previously discernible through bulk-RNA transcriptome analysis. For instance, MADS-box genes contributing to the formation of parenchyma cells were identified, and gravity-related genes in the vascular cells were detected, indicating an essential role for vascular cells in peg gravitropism. Overall, our single-nucleus analysis provides comprehensive and novel information on specific cell types, gene expression chromatin accessibility during the early stages of fruit pod development. This information will enhance our comprehension of the mechanisms underlying peanut fruit pod development and contribute to efforts aimed at improving peanut production.

Precise Crystal Orientation Identification and Twist-Induced Giant Modulation of Optical Anisotropy in 1T'-ReS2.

The ability to precisely identify crystal orientation as well as to nondestructively modulate optical anisotropy in atomically thin rhenium dichalcogenides is critical for the future development of polarization programmable optoelectronic devices, which remains challenging. Here, we report a modified polarized optical imaging (POI) method capable of simultaneously identifying in-plane (Re chain) and out-of-plane (c-axis) crystal orientations of the monolayer to few-layer ReS2, meanwhile, propose a nondestructive approach to modulate the optical anisotropy in ReS2 via twist stacking. The results show that parallel and near-cross POI are effective to independently identify the in-plane and out-of-plane crystal orientations, respectively, while regulating the twist angle allows for giant modulation of in-plane optical anisotropy from highly intrinsic anisotropy to complete optical isotropy in the stacked ReS2 bilayer (with either the same or opposite c-axes), as well modeled by linear electromagnetic theory. Overall, this study not only develops a simple optical method for precise crystal orientation identification but also offers an efficient light polarization control strategy, which is a big step toward the practical application of anisotropic van der Waals materials in the design of nanophotonic and optoelectronic devices.

Size-dependent photoluminescence blinking mechanisms and volume scaling of biexciton Auger recombination in single CsPbI3 perovskite quantum dots.

Determining the correlation between the size of a single quantum dot (QD) and its photoluminescence (PL) properties is a challenging task. In the study, we determine the size of each QD by measuring its absorption cross section, which allows for accurate investigation of size-dependent PL blinking mechanisms and volume scaling of the biexciton Auger recombination at the single-particle level. A significant correlation between the blinking mechanism and QD size is observed under low excitation conditions. When the QD size is smaller than their Bohr diameter, single CsPbI3 perovskite QDs tend to exhibit BC-blinking, whereas they tend to exhibit Auger-blinking when the QD size exceeds their Bohr diameter. In addition, by extracting bright-state photons from the PL intensity trajectories, the effects of QD charging and surface defects on the biexcitons are effectively reduced. This allows for a more accurate measurement of the volume scaling of biexciton Auger recombination in weakly confined CsPbI3 perovskite QDs at the single-dot level, revealing a superlinear volume scaling (τXX,Auger ∝ σ1.96).

Oceanobacillus picturae alleviates cadmium stress and promotes growth in soybean seedlings.

Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal that significantly impacts human health and the environment. Microorganisms play a crucial role in reducing heavy metal stress in plants; however, the mechanisms by which microorganisms enhance plant tolerance to Cd stress and the interplay between plants and microorganisms under such stress remain unclear. In this study, Oceanobacillus picturae (O. picturae) was isolated for interaction with soybean seedlings under Cd stress. Results indicated that Cd treatment alone markedly inhibited soybean seedling growth. Conversely, inoculation with O. picturae significantly improved growth indices such as plant height, root length, and fresh weight, while also promoting recovery in soil physiological indicators and pH. Metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses identified 157 genes related to aspartic acid, cysteine, and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways. Sixty-three microbial species were significantly associated with metabolites in these pathways, including pathogenic, adversity-resistant, and bioconductive bacteria. This research experimentally demonstrates, for the first time, the growth-promoting effect of the O. picturae strain on soybean seedlings under non-stress conditions. It also highlights its role in enhancing root growth and reducing Cd accumulation in the roots under Cd stress. Additionally, through the utilization of untargeted metabolomics, metagenomics, and transcriptomics for a multi-omics analysis, we investigated the impact of O. picturae on the soil microbiome and its correlation with differential gene expression in plants. This innovative approach unveils the molecular mechanisms underlying O. picturae's promotion of root growth and adaptation to Cd stress.

Blood transfusion might not be recommended for gastric cancer patients with pretransfusion minimum hemoglobin values higher than 90 g/L: a real-world study covering 20 years of 13470 patients.

BACKGROUND: There was no consistent evidence whether perioperative blood transfusion (PBT) affects the long-term survival of gastric cancer (GC) patients after undergoing gastrectomy. This study aimed to investigate the effects of PBT on long-term survival of GC patients, as well as to determine the threshold of PBT and provide evidence for future surgical practice. METHODS: We performed this real-world study of GC patients undergoing gastrectomy in China National Cancer Center from January 1, 2000 to December 30, 2019. Overall survival (OS) curves were plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared statistically using the log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine the risk factors for OS. RESULTS: In total, 13470 GC patients undergoing gastrectomy from 2000 to 2019 was included, of whom 3465 (34.6%) GC patients received PBT. PBT ratios declined from 29.1% (114/392) in 2000 to 11.2% in 2019 (149/1178), with the highest blood transfusion ratio in 2005 at 43.7% (220/504). For patients transfused with red blood cells, the median value of hemoglobin (Hb) before transfusion in the PBT group decreased from 110 g/L in 2000 to 87 g/L in 2019. Compared with patients who not receiving perioperative blood transfusion (NPBT), PBT group are more likely to be older (≥65, 39.1% vs. 30.1%, P<0.001), open operation (89.7% vs. 78.1%, P<0.001), higher ASA score (>2, 25.3% vs. 14.9%, P<0.001) and in the later pTNM stage (pTNM stage III, 68.5% vs. 51.5%, P<0.001). Results of multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that PBT was an independent prognostic factor for worse OS in GC patients undergoing gastrectomy (HR=1.106, 95% CI, 1.01-1.211, P=0.03). After stratified according to tumor stage, we found that PBT group had a worse prognosis only in pTNM stage III (HR=1.197, 95% CI, 1.119-1.281, P<0.001). OS was obviously poor in the PBT group when Hb levels were higher than 90 g/L (90 g/L120 g/L:HR= 1.207, 95% CI, 1.098-1.327, P<0.001), while there was no difference between the two groups when Hb levels were lower than or equal to 90 g/L (Hb≤90 g/L: HR=1.162, 95% CI, 0.985-1.370, P=0.075). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, PBT was an independent prognostic factor for worse OS. Blood transfusion might not be recommended for gastric cancer patients with perioperative minimum Hb values higher than 90 g/L.

Therapeutic Implications of Phenolic Acids for Ameliorating Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory intestinal disorder, and its complex etiology makes prevention and treatment challenging. Research on new drugs and treatment strategies is currently a focal point. Phenolic acids are widely present in plant-based diets and have demonstrated the potential to alleviate colitis due to their powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In this review, we provide an overview of the structures and main dietary sources of phenolic acids, encompassing benzoic acid and cinnamic acid. Additionally, we explore the potential of phenolic acids as a nutritional therapy for preventing and treating IBD. In animal and cell experiments, phenolic acids effectively alleviate IBD induced by drug exposure or genetic defects. The mechanisms include improving intestinal mucosal barrier function, reducing oxidative stress, inhibiting excessive activation of the immune response, and regulating the balance of the intestinal microbiota. Our observation points towards the need for additional basic and clinical investigations on phenolic acids and their derivatives as potential novel therapeutic agents for IBD.