Association of geriatric nutritional risk index with bone mineral density and osteoporosis in postmenopausal elderly women with T2DM.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) and osteoporosis (OP) in postmenopausal elderly women with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: A total of 141 postmenopausal elderly women with T2DM was divided into OP and normal bone mineral density (BMD) groups, the differences in GRNI levels between the two groups were compared. According to the tertile levels of GRNI, T2DM were divided into three groups (T1, T2, T3 groups), and the differences in OP prevalence and levels of BMD among the three groups were compared. RESULTS: Among postmenopausal elderly women with T2DM, GNRI levels were lower in the OP group compared to the nor-mal BMD group [(103±5.46) vs. (105±5.46), p<0.05)]. With elevated GNRI levels, the BMD levels of femoral, total hip, total body, and lumbar vertebrae (L) were gradually increased, which were higher in the T3 group than in the T1 group (all p< 0.05). GNRI levels were positively correlated with the BMD levels of femoral, spine, total hip, total body, L1, L2, L3, L4, and L1-L4. GNRI was an independent influencing factor for the occurrence of OP (OR=0.887, 95%CI [0.795,0.988]). The ROC curve showed that the GNRI combined with serum ALP and P levels had a high predictive value for OP, with an area under the curve of 0.725 (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In postmenopausal elderly women with T2DM, GNRI was independently and positively correlated with BMD levels. GNRI may be a predictor development of OP.

Analysis of sleep quality, disease uncertainty, and psychological tolerance in patients undergoing chemotherapy for digestive tract malignancies.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among digestive tract malignancies, following gastric cancer. Sleep is of great significance for maintaining human health. The incidence of sleep disorders in patients with cancer is approximately twice that observed in the general population. Lack of sleep can prolong hospital stays, increase the likelihood of infection, and increase mortality rates. Therefore, studying the factors related to sleep quality is significant for improving the quality of life of patients with malignant tumors of the digestive tract. AIM: To investigate the relationships among sleep quality, disease uncertainty, and psychological resilience in patients undergoing chemotherapy for digestive tract malignancies. METHODS: A total of 131 patients with malignant digestive tract tumors who were treated at Hefei BOE Hospital between April 2021 and September 2022 were selected as research participants. Based on their Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores, participants were divided into either the sleep disorder group (PSQI score > 7) or the normal sleep group (PSQI score ≤ 7). The clinical data-together with the Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale for Adults (MUIS-A) and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) scores-were compared. RESULTS: In this study, 78 (59.54%) patients with digestive tract malignancies developed sleep disorders after chemotherapy. Sleep disorder incidence was higher in patients with colorectal cancer than in those with gastric and esophageal cancers (P < 0.05). The total MUIS-A score and those for each item in the sleep disorder group were higher than those in the normal sleep group. The total CD-RISC score and those for each item in the sleep disorder group were lower than those in the normal sleep group (P < 0.05). The PSQI scores of patients with malignant digestive tract tumors were positively correlated with the scores for lack of disease information, disease uncertainty, and unpredictability in the MUIS-A and negatively correlated with the scores for tenacity, self-improvement, and optimism in the CD-RISC (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing chemotherapy for digestive tract malignancies are prone to sleep problems related to disease uncertainty and psychological resilience. Therefore, interventions can be implemented to improve their sleep quality.

[Change Characteristics of Carbonaceous Aerosol in Chengdu from 2018 to 2021].

Carbonaceous aerosol is an important component of atmospheric fine particulates （PM2.5） that has an important effect on global climate change, atmospheric visibility, regional air quality, and human health. In order to investigate the long-term change characteristics of carbonaceous aerosols under the background of emission reduction, the concentrations of organic carbon （OC）, elemental carbon （EC） in PM2.5 samples, and volatile organic compounds （VOCs） in Chengdu from 2018 to 2021 and the corresponding meteorological factors were obtained through real-time online monitoring. The results showed that the average ρ（OC） and ρ（EC） during the monitoring period were （10.9 ±5.7） µg·m-3 and （2.6 ±1.9） µg·m-3, accounting for 25.2% and 6.0% of PM2.5, respectively, and the average ρ（SOC） was （5.7 ±3.3） µg·m-3, accounting for 52.9% of OC. The concentrations of OC, EC, and PM2.5 showed a downward trend from 2018 to 2020 [PM2.5： The concentration of average annual decrease was -7.1 µg·ï¼ˆm3·a） -1, with an average annual decrease of -14.6 %·a-1； OC： -1.7 µg·ï¼ˆm3·a）-1, -14.2 %·a-1； EC： -0.1 µg·ï¼ˆm3·a）-1, -4.4 %·a-1], and the concentrations of each pollutant in 2021 rebounded in different ranges compared with those in 2020. The concentrations of PM2.5 and OC were as follows： winter > spring > autumn > summer, and the concentrations of EC were as follows： winter > autumn > spring > summer. The proportions of OC and EC were higher in summer and autumn than in other seasons, with the average proportions of 26.8% and 6.9%, respectively. With the aggravation of the pollution level, OC, EC, and SOC concentrations gradually increased, but the proportions in PM2.5 showed a gradual downtrend, indicating that the control factor of PM2.5 pollution in Chengdu was not the carbon component. Source apportionment results showed that carbonaceous aerosols in Chengdu were mainly affected by motor vehicles, industrial sources, biomass combustion sources, and VOCs secondary reaction. From 2019 to 2021, EC was affected by the characteristic components of motor vehicles and decreased yearly. OC and EC were affected by VOCs more in spring and autumn than in other seasons. VOCs emission management should be increased in spring and autumn to reduce the impact of secondary reaction.

Measuring the Scientific Impact of Growth Hormone Treatment in Burns: A Bibliometric Analysis Based on CiteSpace.

This study utilized CiteSpace software to conduct a bibliometric analysis of the literature related to the use of growth hormone in treating burns. The results showed that the research on this topic has attracted increasing attention from scholars worldwide, with the number of publications increasing annually. The research teams and institutions involved in this field are mainly concentrated in China, followed by the United States, Russia, and other countries. The analysis also revealed the prominent co-cited literature and the most influential authors in the field, such as Herndon，DN.and Li Y. The main research themes identified in the literature included the effects of growth hormone on wound healing, tissue repair and regeneration, inflammatory responses, and cell proliferation. Additionally, the research on the clinical applications of growth hormone in burn treatment has been expanded to include areas such as metabolic regulation, immune function, and the prevention of infections. The findings of this study provide useful insights into the current status and future directions of research in the field of growth hormone treatment of burns.

Is dosage adjustment based on age necessary for intravenous lidocaine in patients undergoing general anesthesia: a prospective multi-arm comparative study.

It remains unclear whether dosage adjustment of intravenous lidocaine is necessary during general anesthesia for elderly patients over 75 years old. This study aimed to investigate the effects of age on the pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety of intravenous lidocaine in patients undergoing general anesthesia. A total of 599 plasma samples were collected from 76 general anesthesia patients across three age groups: 18-64, 65-74, and ≥ 75 years. Lidocaine was administered intravenously at a dose of 1.5 mg/kg for the 18-64 and 65-74 years groups, while the dose was adjusted to 1.0 mg/kg for the ≥ 75 years group. The plasma concentrations of lidocaine and its active metabolites were measured using a validated ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assay, and the data were analyzed using a noncompartmental analysis. The results revealed no significant age-related differences in the PK of lidocaine and its metabolites. Among the three age groups, over 90% of patient achieved a lidocaine concentration within a safe and effective range when the dosage was normalized to 1.5 mg/kg. In conclusion, age-based dosage adjustment was unnecessary for intravenous lidocaine in patients below 86 years undergoing general anesthesia.

Serum deprivation protein response intervenes in the proliferation, motility, and extracellular matrix production in keloid fibroblasts by blocking the amplification of TGF-ß1/SMAD signal cascade via ERK1/2.

Keloid formation has been linked to abnormal fibroblast function, such as excessive proliferation and extracellular matrix (ECM) production. Serum deprivation protein response (SDPR) is a crucial regulator of cellular function under diverse pathological conditions, yet its role in keloid formation remains unknown. The current work investigated the function of SDPR in regulating the proliferation, motility, and ECM production of keloid fibroblasts (KFs), as well as to decipher the mechanisms involved. Analysis of RNA sequencing data from the GEO database demonstrated significant down-regulation of SDPR in KF compared to normal fibroblasts (NFs). This down-regulation was also observed in clinical keloid specimens and isolated KFs. Overexpression of SDPR suppressed the proliferation, motility, and ECM production of KFs, while depletion of SDPR exacerbated the enhancing impact of TGF-ß1 on the proliferation, motility, and ECM production of NFs. Mechanistic studies revealed that SDPR overexpression repressed TGF-ß/Smad signal cascade activation in KFs along with decreased levels of phosphorylated Samd2/3, while SDPR depletion exacerbated TGF-ß/Smad activation in TGF-ß1-stimulated NFs. SDPR overexpression also repressed ERK1/2 activation in KFs, while SDPR depletion exacerbated ERK1/2 activation in TGF-ß1-stimulated NFs. Inhibition of ERK1/2 abolished SDPR-depletion-induced TGF-ß1/Smad activation, cell proliferation, motility, and ECM production in NFs. In conclusion, SDPR represses the proliferation, motility, and ECM production in KFs by blocking the TGF-ß1/Smad pathway in an ERK1/2-dependent manner. The findings highlight the role of SDPR in regulating abnormal behaviors of fibroblasts associated with keloid formation and suggest it as a potential target for anti-keloid therapy development.

APOA1 mRNA and serum APOA1 protein as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in gastric cancer.

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) remains a formidable challenge in oncology, ranking as a leading cause of cancer mortality globally. This underscores an urgent need for innovative prognostic markers that can revolutionize patient management and outcomes. Recent insights into cancer biology have spotlighted the profound influence of lipid metabolism alterations on tumorigenesis, tumor progression, and the tumor microenvironment. These alterations not only fuel cancer cell growth and proliferation but also play a strategic role in evading immune surveillance and promoting metastasis. The intricate web of lipid metabolism in cancer cells, characterized by deregulated uptake, synthesis, and oxidation of fatty acids (FAs), opens new avenues for targeted therapeutic interventions and prognostic evaluations. Specifically, this study zeroes in on apolipoprotein A-I (APOA1), a key player in lipid metabolism, to unearth its prognostic value in GC. By delving into the role of lipid metabolism-related genes, particularly APOA1, we aim to unveil their potential as groundbreaking biomarkers for GC prognosis. This endeavor not only aims to enhance our understanding of the molecular underpinnings of GC but also to spearhead the development of lipid metabolism-based strategies for improved diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic outcomes. Methods: Transcriptomic and clinical data from GC patients and healthy individuals were sourced from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, a comprehensive project that molecularly characterizes over 20,000 primary cancer and matched normal samples across 33 cancer types. Significantly differentially expressed lipid metabolism-related genes were identified using the "limma" package in R. Prognostic genes were selected via univariate Cox regression analysis. Differential gene enrichment analysis was performed using Metascape (http://www.metascape.org). The Human Protein Atlas (HPA, https://www.proteinatlas.org) provided information on APOA1 protein expression in GC and healthy tissues. Immune cell infiltration was analyzed using the CIBERSORT algorithm (http://cibersort.stanford.edu). Results: Significant differences in lipid metabolism-related gene expression were observed between GC and normal tissues, closely linked to FA metabolism, oxidoreductase activity, and sphingolipid metabolism. APOA1 emerged as a potential prognostic biomarker by intersecting prognostic and differentially expressed lipid metabolism genes. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed APOA1 downregulation in GC. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis demonstrated its predictive value, with the area under the curve (AUC) being 0.64 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.52-0.76]. APOA1 expression correlated with immune cell infiltrations. Clinical serum APOA1 results revealed lower levels in GC patients (1.38 vs. 1.26; P<0.05), associated with poor prognosis (hazard ratio =1.50; P<0.001) and clinical characteristics. ROC analysis of serum APOA1 demonstrated good diagnostic ability (AUC: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.61-0.65). Serum APOA1 levels significantly increased after treatment. Conclusions: This study highlights lipid metabolism reprogramming in GC and identifies APOA1 as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker, suggesting its clinical utility in managing GC.

Lacticaseibacillus paracasei LC86 mitigates age-related muscle wasting and cognitive impairment in SAMP8 mice through gut microbiota modulation and the regulation of serum inflammatory factors.

Purpose: Chronic inflammation contributes to the decline in muscle strength and cognitive abilities associated with aging. This study aims to clarify the effects of oral administration of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei LC86 on these age-related declines, as well as its impact on the composition of gut microbiota. Methods: Senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mice received a 12 week regimen of LC86 (1 × 109 CFU/day). Muscle strength was assessed through forelimb grip strength and four-limb hanging tests. Cognitive function was evaluated through behavioral performance tests, and changes in gut microbiota were analyzed. Results: Administration of LC86 significantly enhanced muscle strength, demonstrated by increased grip strength and higher glycogen content in the gastrocnemius muscle (p = 0.041, p = 0.017, and p = 0.000, respectively). Behavioral tests suggested that LC86 mitigated age-related cognitive decline. Furthermore, there was a significant decrease in serum pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6, TNF-α, and MCP-1 (p = 0.002, p = 0.000, and p = 0.005, respectively), and an elevation in the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 level (p = 0.000). An increase in hepatic antioxidant capacity was observed. Significant changes in the gut microbiota composition were noted, including increased populations of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus and decreased levels of Escherichia/Shigella and Bacteroides. Conclusion: The findings suggest that LC86 supplementation mitigates muscle weakness and cognitive impairment in aging SAMP8 mice, potentially through the modulation of inflammation and gut microbiota composition. LC86 emerges as a promising candidate for ameliorating the decline of muscular and cognitive functions associated with aging.

Machine learning is an effective method to predict the 3-month prognosis of patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Background and objectives: Upwards of 50% of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) survivors endure varying degrees of disability, with a recurrence rate of 17.7%. Thus, the prediction of outcomes in AIS may be useful for treatment decisions. This study aimed to determine the applicability of a machine learning approach for forecasting early outcomes in AIS patients. Methods: A total of 659 patients with new-onset AIS admitted to the Department of Neurology of both the First and Second Affiliated Hospitals of Bengbu Medical University from January 2020 to October 2022 included in the study. The patient' demographic information, medical history, Trial of Org 10,172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST), National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and laboratory indicators at 24 h of admission data were collected. The Modified Rankine Scale (mRS) was used to assess the 3-mouth outcome of participants' prognosis. We constructed nine machine learning models based on 18 parameters and compared their accuracies for outcome variables. Results: Feature selection through the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator cross-validation (Lasso CV) method identified the most critical predictors for early prognosis in AIS patients as white blood cell (WBC), homocysteine (HCY), D-Dimer, baseline NIHSS, fibrinogen degradation product (FDP), and glucose (GLU). Among the nine machine learning models evaluated, the Random Forest model exhibited superior performance in the test set, achieving an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.852, an accuracy rate of 0.818, a sensitivity of 0.654, a specificity of 0.945, and a recall rate of 0.900. Conclusion: These findings indicate that RF models utilizing general clinical and laboratory data from the initial 24 h of admission can effectively predict the early prognosis of AIS patients.

[Assessment of carbon reduction and sink enhancement potential of photovoltaic+mining ecological restoration model]. / å ‰ä¼+矿山生态修复模式的减碳增汇潜力评估.

The energy oriented mine ecological restoration mode of photovoltaic+ecological restoration provides a breakthrough for alleviating the dilemma of photovoltaic land development and solving the urgent need for restoration of abandoned mining land. Taking a mining area in central Liaoning Province as an example, we established three photovoltaic+mining ecological restoration modes, including forest-photovoltaic complementary, agriculture-photovoltaic, and grass photovoltaic complementation. Combined with the life cycle assessment method, we calculated and assessed the potential of photovoltaic+mining ecological restoration in carbon reduction and sink enhancement. The average annual carbon reduction and sink increase was 514.93 t CO2·hm-2 under the photovoltaic+mining ecological restoration mode, while the average annual carbon reduction per megawatt photovoltaic power station was 1242.94 t CO2. The adoption of photovoltaic+ecological restoration mode in this mining area could make carbon reduction and sink enhancement 6.30-7.79 Mt CO2 during 25 years. The carbon reduction and sink increment mainly stemmed from the photovoltaic clean power generation induced carbon reduction, accounting for 96.4%-99.4%, while the contribution of ecosystem carbon sink increment was small, accounting for only 0.6%-3.7% of the total. Among different photovoltaic+ecological restoration modes, the carbon reduction and sink increment was the largest in forest-photovoltaic complementary (7.11 Mt CO2), followed by agriculture-photovoltaic (7.04 Mt CO2), and the least in grass photovoltaic complementation (6.98 Mt CO2). Constructing the development mode of "photovoltaic+mining ecological restoration" could effectively leverage the dual benefits of reducing emissions from photovoltaic power generation and increase sinks from mining ecological restoration, which would be helpful for achieving the goal of carbon neutrality in China.

GJA4 expressed on cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs)-A 'promoter' of the mesenchymal phenotype.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide. Connexin is a transmembrane protein involved in gap junctions (GJs) formation. Our previous study found that connexin 37 (Cx37), encoded by gap junction protein alpha 4 (GJA4), expressed on fibroblasts acts as a promoter of CRC and is closely related to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and tumor immune microenvironment. However, to date, the mechanism concerning the malignancy of GJA4 in tumor stroma has not been studied. METHODS: Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining were used to validate the expression and localization of GJA4. Using single-cell analysis, enrichment analysis, spatial transcriptomics, immunofluorescence staining (IF), Sirius red staining, wound healing and transwell assays, western blotting (WB), Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) assay and in vivo experiments, we investigated the possible mechanisms of GJA4 in promoting CRC. RESULTS: We discovered that in CRC, GJA4 on fibroblasts is involved in promoting fibroblast activation and promoting EMT through a fibroblast-dependent pathway. Furthermore, GJA4 may act synergistically with M2 macrophages to limit T cell infiltration by stimulating the formation of an immune-excluded desmoplasic barrier. Finally, we found a significantly correlation between GJA4 and pathological staging (P < 0.0001) or D2 dimer (R = 0.03, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: We have identified GJA4 expressed on fibroblasts is actually a promoter of the tumor mesenchymal phenotype. Our findings suggest that the interaction between GJA4+ fibroblasts and M2 macrophages may be an effective target for enhancing tumor immunotherapy.

IFIT1 + neutrophil is a causative factor of immunosuppressive features of poorly cohesive carcinoma (PCC).

The importance of the immune microenvironment in poorly cohesive carcinoma (PCC) has been highlighted due to its limited response rate to conventional therapy and emerging treatment resistance. A combination of clinical cohorts, bioinformatics analyses, and functional/molecular experiments revealed that high infiltration of Interferon Induced Protein with Tetratricopeptide Repeats 1 (IFIT1) + tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) is a distinguishing feature of PCC patients. Upregulation of IFIT1 + TANs promote migration and invasion of gastric cancer (GC) cell lines (MKN45 and MKN74) and stimulates the growth of cell-derived xenograft models. Besides, by promoting macrophage secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1) expression and facilitating cancer-associated fibroblast and endothelial cell recruitment and activation through TANs, IFIT1 promotes a mesenchymal phenotype, which is associated with a poor prognosis. Importantly, compared to non-PCC (NPCC), PCC tumors is more immunosuppressive. Mechanistically, IFIT1 can be stimulated by IFN-γ and contributes to the expression of Programmed Cell Death 1 Ligand (PDL1) in TANs. We demonstrated in mouse models that IFIT1 + PDL1 + TANs can induce acquired resistance to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy, which may be responsible for the difficulty of PCC patients to benefit from immunotherapy. This work highlights the role of IFIT1 + TANs in mediating the remodeling of the tumor immune microenvironment and immunotherapeutic resistance and introduces IFIT1 + TANs as a promising target for precision therapy of PCC.

Regulation of gut microbiota and serum neurotransmitters in mice by Streptococcus thermophilus GA8- and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus HAO9-fermented milk containing high levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid.

BACKGROUND: Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an important neurotransmitter in the human body, with several negative emotions reported as being associated with GABA dysregulation. This study investigates the safety and modulatory effects of GABA-enriched milk, fermented by Streptococcus thermophilus GA8 and Lacticasebacillus rhamnosus HAO9, on the gut microbiota and neurotransmitter profiles in mice. RESULTS: Through rigorous culturing and fermentation processes, we achieved consistent GABA production in milk, with concentrations reaching 4.6 and 8.5 g L-1 for GA8-fermented and co-fermented milk, respectively, after 48 h. Using SPF male C57BL/6J mice, we administered either mono-culture or combined-culture milk treatments and monitored physiological impacts. The treatments did not affect mouse body weight but induced significant changes in gut microbiota composition. Beta diversity analysis revealed distinct microbial profiles between treatment groups, highlighting fermentation-specific microbial shifts, such as an increase in Verrucomicrobia for the GA8 group and a modulation in Saccharibacteria_genera_incertae_sedis for the GA8 + HAO9 group. Serum neurotransmitter levels were elevated in both treatment groups, with significant increases in l-glutamine, l-tryptophan and, notably, serotonin hydrochloride in the GA8 + HAO9 group. Correlation analysis identified a positive association between specific bacterial genera and neurotransmitter levels, suggesting a probiotic effect on neuroactive substances. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that fermented milk has potential as a probiotic supplement for mood improvement and stress relief, highlighting its role in modulating the gut-brain axis. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Reduction in Serum Concentrations of Uremic Toxins Driven by Bifidobacterium Longum Subsp. Longum BL21 is Associated with Gut Microbiota Changes in a Rat Model of Chronic Kidney Disease.

Gut microbiota dysbiosis and consequent impairment of gut barrier function, culminating in elevated levels of uremic toxins, are prevalent in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. These toxins, notably indoxyl sulphate (IS), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and trimethylamine oxide (TMAO), are implicated in a spectrum of CKD-related complications, including cardiovascular disease, bone and mineral disorders, and inflammation. The specific impacts of various probiotics on these CKD manifestations remain unexplored. This study delved into the potential of dietary probiotic interventions, particularly Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum BL21, to modulate gut microbiota and mitigate metabolic disorders in a CKD rat model. Over a six-week period, we administered a dietary regimen of BL21 and conducted comprehensive analyses, including serum uremic toxin quantification and 16S rRNA gene sequencing, to systematically profile gut microbial alterations at the phylogenetic level. Our findings reveal that BL21 intervention significantly ameliorated CKD-induced disruptions in gut microbial populations, enhancing both microbial richness and the relative abundance of key taxa. Importantly, BL21 appeared to exert its beneficial effects by modulating the abundance of crucial species such as Barnesiella and Helicobacter. Functionally, the intervention markedly normalized serum levels of IS, IAA, and TMAO, while potentially attenuating p-cresol sulphate (PCS) and p-cresol glucuronide (PCG) concentrations. Consequently, BL21 demonstrated efficacy in regulating gut microbiota and curtailing the accumulation of uremic toxins. Our results advocate for the utilization of BL21 as a dietary intervention to diminish serum uremic toxins and re-establish gut microbiota equilibrium at the phylogenetic level, underscoring the promise of probiotic strategies in the management of CKD.

Temporal heterogeneity of the root microbiome in Panax ginseng soils across ecological compartments under mild soil disturbance.

Introduction: Knowledge on spatiotemporal heterogeneity of plant root microbiomes is lacking. The diversity of the root microbiome must be revealed for understanding plant-microbe interactions and the regulation of functionally crucial microbial taxa. Methods: We here investigated the dynamics of microbial group characteristics within each soil ecological compartment [rhizoplane (B), rhizosphere (J), and bulk soil (T)] across different cultivation years (year 4: F4 and year 5: F5) by using high-throughput sequencing (16S and ITS). Results: According to the species diversity, microbiome diversity and the ASV (amplified sequence variant) number in the rhizoplane ecotone increased significantly with an increase in the planting years. By contrast, the microbiome diversity of the rhizosphere soil remained relatively stable. PCoA and PERMANOVA analyses revealed that microbial taxa among different planting years and ecological compartments varied significantly. Planting years exerted the least effect on the rhizosphere microbiome, but their impact on fungi in the rhizoplane and bacteria in the bulk soil was the most significant. Discussion: Planting years influenced the microbial community composition in various ecological compartments of ginseng root soil. Potentially harmful fungi such as Cryptococcus (2.83%), Neonectria (0.89%), llyonectria (0.56%), Gibberella (0.41%), Piloderma (4.44%), and Plectosphaerella (3.88%) were enriched in F5B with an increase in planting years, whereas the abundance of potentially beneficial Mortierella increased. Correlation analysis indicated associations between bacterial taxa and soil pH/S-CAT, and between fungal taxa and soil moisture content/total potassium. Our study highlights the significance of changes in rhizoplane fungi and the stability of the rhizosphere microbial community in comprehending plant ecological sustainability.

Arginine catabolism is essential to polymyxin dependence in Acinetobacter baumannii.

Polymyxins are often the only effective antibiotics against the "Critical" pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii. Worryingly, highly polymyxin-resistant A. baumannii displaying dependence on polymyxins has emerged in the clinic, leading to diagnosis and treatment failures. Here, we report that arginine metabolism is essential for polymyxin-dependent A. baumannii. Specifically, the arginine degradation pathway was significantly altered in polymyxin-dependent strains compared to wild-type strains, with critical metabolites (e.g., L-arginine and L-glutamate) severely depleted and expression of the astABCDE operon significantly increased. Supplementation of arginine increased bacterial metabolic activity and suppressed polymyxin dependence. Deletion of astA, the first gene in the arginine degradation pathway, decreased phosphatidylglycerol and increased phosphatidylethanolamine levels in the outer membrane, thereby reducing the interaction with polymyxins. This study elucidates the molecular mechanism by which arginine metabolism impacts polymyxin dependence in A. baumannii, underscoring its critical role in improving diagnosis and treatment of life-threatening infections caused by "undetectable" polymyxin-dependent A. baumannii.

Manipulating the Spin State of Spinel Octahedral Sites via a π-π Type Orbital Coupling to Boost Water Oxidation.

Spin state is often regarded as the crucial valve to release the reactivity of energy-related catalysts, yet it is also challenging to precisely manipulate, especially for the active center ions occupied at the specific geometric sites. Herein, a π-π type orbital coupling of 3d (Co)-2p (O)-4f (Ce) was employed to regulate the spin state of octahedral cobalt sites (CoOh) in the composite of Co3O4/CeO2. More specifically, the equivalent high-spin ratio of CoOh can reach to 54.7% via tuning the CeO2 content, thereby triggering the average eg filling (1.094) close to the theoretical optimum value. The corresponding catalyst exhibits a superior water oxidation performance with an overpotential of 251 mV at 10 mA cm-2, rivaling most cobalt-based oxides state-of-the-art. The π-π type coupling corroborated by the matched energy levels between Ce t1u/t2u-O and CoOh t2g-O π type bond in the calculated crystal orbital Hamilton population and partial density of states profiles, stimulates a π-donation between O 2p and π-symmetric Ce 4fyz2 orbital, consequently facilitating the electrons hopping from t2g to eg orbital of CoOh. This work offers an in-depth insight into understanding the 4f and 3d orbital coupling for spin state optimization in composite oxides.

[Clinical study of prone positioning in invasive respiratory support for neonatal respiratory distress syndrome]. / ä¿¯å§ä½åœ¨æ–°ç”Ÿå„¿å‘¼å¸çª˜è¿«ç»¼åˆå¾æœ‰åˆ›å‘¼å¸æ”¯æŒä¸­çš„ä¸´åºŠç ”ç©¶.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness and safety of prone positioning in the treatment of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) using invasive respiratory support. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted from June 2020 to September 2023 at Suining County People's Hospital, involving 77 preterm infants with gestational ages less than 35 weeks requiring invasive respiratory support for NRDS. The infants were randomly divided into a supine group (37 infants) and a prone group (40 infants). Infants in the prone group were ventilated in the prone position for 6 hours followed by 2 hours in the supine position, continuing in this cycle until weaning from the ventilator. The effectiveness and safety of the two approaches were compared. RESULTS: At 6 hours after enrollment, the prone group showed lower arterial blood carbon dioxide levels, inspired oxygen concentration, oxygenation index, rates of tracheal intubation bacterial colonization, and Neonatal Pain, Agitation and Sedation Scale scores compared to the supine group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of pH, arterial oxygen pressure, positive end-expiratory pressure, duration of mechanical ventilation, accidental extubation, ventilator-associated pneumonia, air leak syndrome, skin pressure sores, feeding intolerance, and grades II-IV intraventricular hemorrhage (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to supine positioning, prone ventilation effectively improves oxygenation, increases comfort, and reduces tracheal intubation bacterial colonization in neonates requiring mechanical ventilation for NRDS, without significantly increasing adverse reactions.

Profile and risk factors in farmer injuries: a review based on Haddon matrix and 5 E's risk reduction strategy.

Farmers are considered a high-risk group for intentional and unintentional injuries. This review identified significant risk factors for agricultural injuries in farmers and explored injury prevention countermeasures based on the literature. Therefore, CiteSpace software was used to analyze the relevant literature in this field. Additionally, we identified both key risk factors and countermeasures using the Haddon matrix and the 5 E's risk reduction strategies conceptual framework, respectively. The risk factors were identified from four categories (host, agent, physical environment, and social environment) corresponding to three phases (pre-event, event, and post-event). Interventions of 5 E's risk reduction strategies including education, engineering, enforcement, economic, and emergency response have been proven effective in preventing injuries or reducing their severity. Our findings provide a comprehensive foundation and research direction for the study and prevention of injuries among farmers.