Visualization of Solvent Effect and Oxygen Content via a Red Room-Temperature Phosphorescent Material.

The development of pure organic room-temperature phosphorescent (RTP) materials greatly facilitates the integrated application of luminescent materials. Herein, a type of photoactivated red RTP material was constructed by simply doping 4-(benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazol-5-ylthio)benzonitrile (p-NNS) into a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix. The obtained film realized a controllable photoactivation process by regulation of diverse solvent levels, demonstrating potential advantages in optical anti-counterfeiting applications. Furthermore, luminescent properties of the doped film were utilized to detect oxygen content from 2.00% to 4.90%, which revealed the exact consumption of ambient oxygen under UV light. Every CIE point of the luminescence corresponds to a certain oxygen content, illustrating the visualization of oxygen content. The remarkable regulation of solvent effect and oxygen content in this work will provide competitive material for further optical applications.

Neutrophil extracellular traps: Potential targets for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with traditional Chinese medicine and natural products.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease. Abnormal formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) at the synovial membrane leads to the release of many inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α. Elastase, histone H3, and myeloperoxidase, which are carried by NETs, damage the soft tissues of the joints and aggravate the progression of RA. The balance of NET formation coordinates the pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory effects and plays a key role in the development of RA. Therefore, when NETs are used as effector targets, highly targeted drugs with fewer side effects can be developed to treat RA without damaging the host immune system. Currently, an increasing number of studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicines and natural products can regulate the formation of NETs through multiple pathways to counteract RA, which shows great potential for the treatment of RA and has a promising future for clinical application. In this article, we review the latest biological progress in understanding NET formation, the mechanism of NETs in RA, and the potential targets or pathways related to the modulation of NET formation by Chinese medicines and natural products. This review provides a relevant basis for the use of Chinese medicines and natural products as natural adjuvants in the treatment of RA.

Effects of Water and Nitrogen on Growth, Rhizosphere Environment, and Microbial Community of Sophora alopecuroides: Their Interrelationship.

The effective management of water and nitrogen is crucial in the artificial cultivation of medicinal plants. Sophora alopecuroides, a perennial herbaceous plant in the Fabaceae family, is extensively used in medicine, with alkaloids as its primary bioactive constituents. Nevertheless, there remains a significant knowledge gap regarding how rhizospheric microbial communities respond to varying water and nitrogen conditions and their intricate relationships with soil environments and the growth of S. alopecuroides. In this study, two-year-old S. alopecuroides were used in a two-factor, three-level water-nitrogen interaction experiment. The irrigation levels included W1 (30-35% of maximum water holding capacity), W2 (50-55%), and W3 (70-75%), while nitrogen levels comprised N1 (32 mg/kg), N2 (64 mg/kg), and N3 (128 mg/kg). The study assessed plant growth indicators, total alkaloid content, and rhizospheric soil physicochemical parameters of S. alopecuroides. High-throughput sequencing (16S rRNA and ITS) was employed to analyze variations in rhizospheric microbial community composition and structure. The results showed that Proteobacteria and Ascomycota are the predominant bacterial and fungal phyla in the rhizosphere microbial community of S. alopecuroides. The highest biomass and alkaloid accumulation of S. alopecuroides were observed under the N1W3 treatment (50% nitrogen application and 70-75% of maximum water holding capacity). Specifically, six bacterial genus-level biomarkers (TRA3_20, MND1, env_OPS_17, SBR1031, Haliangium, S0134_terrestrial_group) and six fungal genus-level biomarkers (Pseudeurotium, Rhizophagus, Patinella, Pseudeurotium, Patinella, Rhizophagus) were identified under the N1W3 treatment condition. In the partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM), water and nitrogen treatments demonstrated markedly positive direct effects on soil physicochemical parameters (p < 0.01), while showing significant negative direct impacts on alkaloid accumulation and plant growth indicators (p < 0.05). Soil physicochemical parameters, in turn, significantly negatively affected the rhizosphere fungal community (p < 0.05). Additionally, the rhizosphere fungal community exhibited highly significant negative direct effects on both the plant growth indicators and total alkaloid content of S. alopecuroides (p < 0.01). This study provides new insights into the interactions among rhizosphere soil environment, rhizosphere microbiota, plant growth, and alkaloid accumulation under water and nitrogen regulation, offering a scientific basis for the water and nitrogen management in the cultivation of S. alopecuroides.

Circulating free DNA as a diagnostic marker for echinococcosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Echinococcosis is a chronic zoonotic disease caused by tapeworms of the genus Echinococcus. The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified encapsulated disease as one of 17 neglected diseases to be controlled or eliminated by 2050. There is no accurate, early, non-invasive molecular diagnostic method to detect echinococcosis. The feasibility of circulating free DNA as a diagnostic method for echinococcosis has yielded inconclusive results in a number of published studies. However, there has been no systematic evaluation to date assessing the overall performance of these assays. We report here the first meta-analysis assessing the diagnostic accuracy of cfDNA in plasma, serum, and urine for echinococcosis. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and WeiPu databases up to 17 January 2024, for relevant studies. All analyses were performed using RevMan 5.3, Meta-DiSc 1.4, Stata 17.0, and R 4.3.1 software. The sensitivity, specificity, and other accuracy indicators of circulating free DNA for the diagnosis of echinococcosis were summarized. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression were performed to identify sources of heterogeneity. Results: A total of 7 studies included 218 patients with echinococcosis and 214 controls (156 healthy controls, 32 other disease controls (non-hydatid patients), and 26 non-study-targeted echinococcosis controls were included). Summary estimates of the diagnostic accuracy of cfDNA in the diagnosis of echinococcosis were as follows: sensitivity (SEN) of 0.51 (95% CI: 0.45-0.56); specificity (SPE) of 0.99 (95% CI: 0.97-0.99); positive likelihood ratio (PLR) of 11.82 (95% CI: 6.74-20.74); negative likelihood ratio (NLR) of 0.57 (95% CI: 0.41-0.80); diagnostic ratio (DOR) of 36.63 (95% CI: 13.75-97.59); and area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.98 (95% CI: 0.96-1.00). Conclusion: Existing evidence indicates that the combined specificity of circulating cfDNA for echinococcosis is high. However, the combined sensitivity performance is unsatisfactory due to significant inter-study heterogeneity. To strengthen the validity and accuracy of our findings, further large-scale prospective studies are required.Systematic review registrationThe systematic review was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews PROSPERO [CRD42023454158]. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/.

Bovine colostrum prevents formula-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis in preterm pigs.

BACKGROUND: Preterm birth and formula feeding increase the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a gut inflammatory disease known to be associated with gut microbiota (GM) changes in infants. Supplemental bovine colostrum may protect against formula-induced NEC via GM changes. We hypothesised that feeding colostrum before, after, or during formula feeding affects NEC sensitivity via changes to GM. METHODS: Colonic GM (profiled by 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon sequencing) was compared in preterm pigs fed colostrum for 4 days, either before, after, or together with formula feeding for 4 days. Correlations between GM and gut parameters were assessed on day 5 or 9. RESULTS: Both exclusive and partial colostrum feeding induced higher GM diversity, lower Enterococcus abundance, and improved intestinal maturation parameters (villus structure, digestive enzyme activities, permeability), relative to exclusive formula feeding (all p < 0.05). Across feeding regimens, Enterococcus abundance was inversely correlated with intestinal maturation parameters. Conversely, there was no correlation between GM changes and early NEC lesions. CONCLUSION: Bovine colostrum inhibits formula-induced Enterococcus overgrowth and gut dysfunctions just after preterm birth but these effects are not causally linked. Optimising diet-related host responses, not GM, may be critical to prevent NEC in preterm newborn pigs and infants. IMPACT: Supplement of bovine colostrum to formula feeding modified the gut microbiota by increasing species diversity and reducing Enterococcus abundance, while concurrently improving intestinal functions in preterm pigs. Diet-related changes to the gut microbiota were not clearly associated with development of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in preterm pigs, suggesting that diet-related gut microbiota effects are not critical for diet-related NEC protection. The study highlights the potential to use bovine colostrum as a supplement to formula feeding for preterm infants lacking human milk.

Efficacy and safety of 3-dimensional printing noncoplanar template (3D-PNCT)-assisted high-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy (HDR-ISBT) for reirradiation of recurrent cervical cancer: a prospective cohort.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of 3-dimensional printing noncoplanar template (3D-PNCT)-assisted computed tomography (CT)-guided high-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy (HDR-ISBT) for reirradiation of pelvic recurrent cervical carcinoma after external beam radiotherapy. METHODS: From January 2019 to August 2023, 45 eligible patients were enrolled in this prospective cohort. All patients underwent 3D-PNCT-assisted CT-guided HDR-ISBT with a prescribed dose of 4-7 Gy/fraction to the high-risk clinical target volume (HR-CTV) over 3-8 fractions, either for curative or palliative purposes. The primary endpoints were local progression-free survival (LPFS) and tumor response rate (TRR). The secondary outcome measures included overall survival (OS), toxicities, and symptom resolution. RESULTS: Forty-five patients received 261 fractions of 3D-PNCT-assisted HDR-ISBT. Twenty-nine patients had isolated pelvic recurrence, and 16 patients had simultaneous extra-pelvic or distant recurrences. The TRR was 66.7%. The 2- and 5-year LPFS rates were 30.0% and 25.7%, respectively. The median OS was 23.2 months, and 2- and 5-year OS rates were 49.5% and 34.0%, respectively. The multivariate analysis indicated that squamous cell carcinoma, radical surgery, recurrence-free interval≥12 months, tumor diameter, pelvic recurrence type, and HR-CTV D90≥45 Gy were independent factors influencing LPFS (all p<0.05). D100≥21 Gy, V100≥83%, and V150≥45% were associated with better LPFS (all p<0.05). Tumor diameter and metastasis were independent predictive factors for OS (all p<0.05). The pain relief rate was 66.7% (10/15). Grade 3-4 toxicities occurred in 20.0% of patients. CONCLUSION: 3D-PNCT-assisted HDR-ISBT for reirradiation of recurrent cervical cancer proved to be an effective and safe alternative to radical surgery.

A case report of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis induced by toripalimab plus chemoradiotherapy in cervical cancer.

Background: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare but life-threatening clinical syndrome characterized by immune hyperactivation. Unlike primary HLH, immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-triggered HLH is not well described, and there is a lack of theranostic guidelines. Herein, we first reported the successful management of PD-1 inhibitor-associated HLH in locally advanced cervical cancer. Case presentation: We report a case of HLH in a 47-year-old patient with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) IIIC1r cervical cancer who received toripalimab, a programmed cell death-1 receptor inhibitor, combined with chemoradiotherapy. The patient developed pyrexia, splenomegaly, leukopenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypofibrinogenemia, hyperferritinemia, reduced NK cell activity, elevated sCD25 levels, and hemophagocytosis in a bone marrow aspirate. Our patient was successfully treated with methylprednisolone, indicating that immune-induced HLH might respond to glucocorticoids, and is still alive with a complete response of the tumor. Conclusion: Considering the possibility of HLH is needed in patients receiving ICIs to detect rare toxicities at an early stage when the patient develops uncontrollable fever, cytopenia, and splenomegaly, our multidisciplinary treatment modality contributed to the early diagnosis and successful management of HLH, avoiding progressive tissue damage and organ failure. Whether glucocorticoids are used alone or not for immune-associated HLH needs further investigation.

IRF1 and IL1A associated with PANoptosis serve as potential immune signatures for lung ischemia reperfusion injury following lung transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Lung ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) is the principal cause of primary graft dysfunction (PGD) after lung transplantation, affecting short-term and long-term mortality post-transplantation. PANoptosis, a newly identified form of regulated cell death involving apoptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis, is now considered a possible cause of organ damage and IRI. However, the specific role of PANoptosis to the development of lung IRI following lung transplantation is still not fully understood. METHODS: In this study, we identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) by analyzing the gene expression data from the GEO database related to lung IRI following lung transplantation. PANoptosis-IRI DEGs were determined based on the intersection of PANoptosis-related genes and screened DEGs. Hub genes associated with lung IRI were further screened using Lasso regression and the SVM-RFE algorithm. Additionally, the Cibersort algorithm was employed to assess immune cell infiltration and investigate the interaction between immune cells and hub genes. The upstream miRNAs that may regulate hub genes and compounds that may interact with hub genes were also analyzed. Moreover, an external dataset was utilized to validate the differential expression analysis of hub genes. Finally, the expressions of hub genes were ultimately confirmed using quantitative real-time PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry in both animal models of lung IRI and lung transplant patients. RESULTS: PANoptosis-related genes, specifically interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1) and interleukin 1 alpha (IL1A), have been identified as potential biomarkers for lung IRI following lung transplantation. In mouse models of lung IRI, both the mRNA and protein expression levels of IRF1 and IL1A were significantly elevated in lung tissues of the IRI group compared to the control group. Moreover, lung transplant recipients exhibited significantly higher protein levels of IRF1 and IL1A in PBMCs when compared to healthy controls. Patients who experienced PGD showed elevated levels of IRF1 and IL1A proteins in their blood samples. Furthermore, in patients undergoing lung transplantation, the protein levels of IRF1 and IL1A were notably increased in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) compared to healthy controls. In addition, patients who developed primary graft dysfunction (PGD) exhibited even higher protein levels of IRF1 and IL1A than those without PGD. Furthermore, PANoptosis was observed in the lung tissues of mouse models of lung IRI and in the PBMCs of patients who underwent lung transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Our research identified IRF1 and IL1A as biomarkers associated with PANoptosis in lung IRI, suggesting their potential utility as targets for diagnosing and therapeutically intervening in lung IRI and PGD following lung transplantation.

Design of a dual hollow beam optical antenna based on a Fresnel lens-conical lens combination.

To improve the transmission efficiency of Cassegrain antennas and enable the simultaneous transmission of signals with different wavelengths in the antenna system, this study introduces Fresnel lenses and conical lenses in front of the Cassegrain antenna at the transmitting end. Reflective mirrors and focusing lenses are introduced at the receiving end. A detailed description is provided of the design process for the Fresnel lens, as well as the impact of various parameters on the hollow radius when combined with the conical lens. Based on the laws of vector reflection and refraction, simulations are performed to track the propagation of light through the entire communication system and lens pairs, providing transmission efficiency plots of the antenna system under deflection and off-axis conditions. Taking into account practical factors such as lens chamfer, transmittance, Cassegrain antenna reflectance, and material dispersion, the transmission efficiency of the antenna system at 1550 nm wavelength can still reach 93.45%. The proposed method not only improves the transmission efficiency of Cassegrain antennas, but also enables the transmission of different information through the inner and outer layers of the antenna system.

Clinical association between plan complexity and the local-recurrence-free-survival of non-small-cell lung cancer patients receiving stereotactic body radiation therapy.

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical impact of plan complexity on the local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). METHODS: Data from 123 treatment plans for 113 NSCLC patients were analyzed. Plan-averaged beam modulation (PM), plan beam irregularity (PI), monitor unit/Gy (MU/Gy) and spherical disproportion (SD) were calculated. The γ passing rates (GPR) were measured using ArcCHECK 3D phantom with 2 %/2mm criteria. High complexity (HC) and low complexity (LC) groups were statistically stratified based on the aforementioned metrics, using cutoffs determined by their significance in correlation with survival time, as calculated using the R-3.6.1 packages. Kaplan-Meier analysis, Cox regression, and Random Survival Forest (RSF) models were employed for the analysis of local recurrence-free survival (LRFS). Propensity-score-matched pairs were generated to minimize bias in the analysis. RESULTS: The median follow-up time for all patients was 25.5 months (interquartile range 13.4-41.2). The prognostic capacity of PM was suggested using RSF, based on Variable Importance and Minimal Depth methods. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year LRFS rates in the HC group were significantly lower than those in the LC group (p = 0.023), when plan complexity was defined by PM. However, no significant difference was observed between the HC and LC groups when defined by other metrics (p > 0.05). All γ passing rates exceeded 90.5 %. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed a significant association between higher PM and worse LRFS in NSCLC patients treated with SBRT. This finding offers additional clinical evidence supporting the potential optimization of pre-treatment quality assurance protocols.

Advancing precision rheumatology: applications of machine learning for rheumatoid arthritis management.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease causing progressive joint damage. Early diagnosis and treatment is critical, but remains challenging due to RA complexity and heterogeneity. Machine learning (ML) techniques may enhance RA management by identifying patterns within multidimensional biomedical data to improve classification, diagnosis, and treatment predictions. In this review, we summarize the applications of ML for RA management. Emerging studies or applications have developed diagnostic and predictive models for RA that utilize a variety of data modalities, including electronic health records, imaging, and multi-omics data. High-performance supervised learning models have demonstrated an Area Under the Curve (AUC) exceeding 0.85, which is used for identifying RA patients and predicting treatment responses. Unsupervised learning has revealed potential RA subtypes. Ongoing research is integrating multimodal data with deep learning to further improve performance. However, key challenges remain regarding model overfitting, generalizability, validation in clinical settings, and interpretability. Small sample sizes and lack of diverse population testing risks overestimating model performance. Prospective studies evaluating real-world clinical utility are lacking. Enhancing model interpretability is critical for clinician acceptance. In summary, while ML shows promise for transforming RA management through earlier diagnosis and optimized treatment, larger scale multisite data, prospective clinical validation of interpretable models, and testing across diverse populations is still needed. As these gaps are addressed, ML may pave the way towards precision medicine in RA.

Impacts of Climate Change on the Habitat Suitability and Natural Product Accumulation of the Medicinal Plant Sophora alopecuroides L. Based on the MaxEnt Model.

Sophora alopecuroides L., a perennial herb in the arid and semi-arid regions of northwest China, has the ecological functions of windbreaking and sand fixation and high medicinal value. In recent years, global warming and human activities have led to changes in suitable habitats for S. alopecuroides, which may affect the accumulation of natural products. In this study, MaxEnt 3.4 and ArcGIS 10.4 software were used to predict the distribution of potentially suitable habitats for S. alopecuroides in China under climate change. Furthermore, the geographical distribution of S. alopecuroides as affected by human activities, the differences in the content of natural products of S. alopecuroides between different suitable habitats, and the correlation between natural products and environmental factors were analyzed. The results showed that suitable habitats for S. alopecuroides were projected to expand in the future, and the major environmental factors were temperature (Bio1), rainfall (Bio18), and soil pH (pH). When Bio1, Bio18, and pH were 8.4283 °C, 7.1968 mm, and 9.9331, respectively, the distribution probability (P) of S. alopecuroides was the highest. After adding a human activity factor, the accuracy of the model prediction results was improved, and the area of suitable habitats was greatly reduced, showing a fragmented pattern. Meanwhile, habitat suitability had a specific effect on the content of natural products in S. alopecuroides. Specifically, the content of natural products in S. alopecuroides in wild habitats was higher than that in artificial cultivation, and highly suitable habitats showed higher contents than those in non-highly suitable habitats. The contents of total alkaloids and total flavonoids were positively correlated with human activities and negatively correlated with land use types. Among them, total alkaloids were negatively correlated with aspect, and total flavonoids were positively correlated with aspect. In addition, it is suggested that Xinjiang should be the priority planting area for S. alopecuroides in China, and priority should be given to protection measures in the Alashan area. Overall, this study provides an important foundation for the determination of priority planting areas and resource protection for S. alopecuroides.

TanhReLU -based convolutional neural networks for MDD classification.

Major Depression Disorder (MDD), a complex mental health disorder, poses significant challenges in accurate diagnosis. In addressing the issue of gradient vanishing in the classification of MDD using current data-driven electroencephalogram (EEG) data, this study introduces a TanhReLU-based Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). By integrating the TanhReLU activation function, which combines the characteristics of the hyperbolic tangent (Tanh) and rectified linear unit (ReLU) activations, the model aims to improve performance in identifying patterns associated with MDD while alleviating the issue of model overfitting and gradient vanishing. Experimental results demonstrate promising outcomes in the task of MDD classification upon the publicly available EEG data, suggesting potential clinical applications.

Neonatal Resuscitation Online Registry in Shenzhen: protocol for a prospective, multicentre, open, observational cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Preterm birth complications and neonatal asphyxia are the leading causes of neonatal mortality worldwide. Surviving preterm and asphyxiated newborns can develop neurological sequelae; therefore, timely and appropriate neonatal resuscitation is important to decrease neonatal mortality and disability rates. There are very few systematic studies on neonatal resuscitation in China, and its prognosis remains unclear. We established an online registry for neonatal resuscitation in Shenzhen based on Utstein's model and designed a prospective, multicentre, open, observational cohort study to address many of the limitations of existing studies. The aim of this study is to explore the implementation and management, risk factors and outcomes of neonatal resuscitation in Shenzhen. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This prospective, multicentre, open, observational cohort study will be conducted between January 2024 and December 2026 and will include >1500 newborns resuscitated at birth by positive pressure ventilation at five hospitals in Shenzhen, located in the south-central coastal area of Guangdong province, China. Maternal and infant information, resuscitation information, hospitalisation information and follow-up information will be collected. Maternal and infant information, resuscitation information and hospitalisation information will be collected from the clinical records of the patients. Follow-up information will include the results of follow-up examinations and outcomes, which will be recorded using the WeChat applet 'Resuscitation Follow-up'. These data will be provided by the neonatal guardians through the applet on their mobile phones. This study will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the implementation and management, risk factors and outcomes of neonatal resuscitation in Shenzhen; the findings will ultimately contribute to the reduction of neonatal mortality and disability rates in Shenzhen. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Our protocol has been approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Shenzhen Luohu People's Hospital (2023-LHQRMYY-KYLL-048). We will present the study results at academic conferences and peer-reviewed paediatrics journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR2300077368.

Effect of different inhalant allergens on T-cell subsets in adults with bronchial asthma.

OBJECTIVE: We analyzed the impact of different inhalant allergens on T-lymphocyte subsets in patients diagnosed with bronchial asthma. METHODS: The study included 57 bronchial asthma patients and 22 healthy controls. Asthma patients were categorized into dust mite, animal hair, pollen, and mold groups. Flow cytometry was used to measure the cells in the case group and control group. These T-lymphocyte subset markers were evaluated among patients with bronchial asthma caused by different allergens as well as between the case group and control group. RESULTS: Peripheral blood CD4+ T-cells, CD8+ T-cells, CD4/CD8 ratio, and Th17/Treg ratios were all higher in the case group than in the control group (p < 0.05). Peripheral blood T-lymphocyte subsets were compared among the four groups, and it was found that there were statistical differences in the Th17/Treg ratio among the four groups (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences observed among the four groups in terms of CD3+ cells, CD4+ cells, CD8+ cells, Th1 cells, Th2 cells, Th17 cells, Treg cells, Th9 cells, and Th22 cells. Further pairwise comparison was made, and the results suggested that the peripheral blood Th17/Treg ratio in the pollen mixed group was lower than that in the dust mite mixed group, animal hair mixed group, and mold mixed group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with bronchial asthma show varied T-lymphocyte subset responses to different inhalant allergens. Elevated CD4+ T cells and Th17 cells in peripheral blood could indicate asthma risk. However, small sample size may introduce bias to these findings.

Alleviating Pyroptosis of Intestinal Epithelial Cells to Restore Mucosal Integrity in Ulcerative Colitis by Targeting Delivery of 4-Octyl-Itaconate.

Current therapies primarily targeting inflammation often fail to address the root relationship between intestinal mucosal integrity and the resulting dysregulated cell death and ensuing inflammation in ulcerative colitis (UC). First, UC tissues from human and mice models in this article both emphasize the crucial role of Gasdermin E (GSDME)-mediated pyroptosis in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) as it contributes to colitis by releasing proinflammatory cytokines, thereby compromising the intestinal barrier. Then, 4-octyl-itaconate (4-OI), exhibiting potential for anti-inflammatory activity in inhibiting pyroptosis, was encapsulated by butyrate-modified liposome (4-OI/BLipo) to target delivery for IECs. In brief, 4-OI/BLipo exhibited preferential accumulation in inflamed colonic epithelium, attributed to over 95% of butyrate being produced and absorbed in the colon. As expected, epithelium barriers were restored significantly by alleviating GSDME-mediated pyroptosis in colitis. Accordingly, the permeability of IECs was restored, and the resulting inflammation, mucosal epithelium, and balance of gut flora were reprogrammed, which offers a hopeful approach to the effective management of UC.

Lactobacillus murinus alleviated lung inflammation induced by PAHs in mice.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the mechanism that Lactobacillus murinus (L. murinus) alleviated lung inflammation induced by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exposure based on metabolomics. METHODS: Female mice were administrated with PAHs mix, L. murinus and indoleacrylic acid (IA) or indolealdehyde (IAId). Microbial diversity in feces was detected by 16 S rRNA gene sequencing. Non-targeted metabolomics analysis in urine samples and targeted analysis of tryptophan metabolites in serum by UPLC-Orbitrap-MS and short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) in feces by GC-MS were performed, respectively. Flow cytometry was used to determine T helper immune cell differentiation in gut and lung tissues. The levels of IgE, IL-4 and IL-17A in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) or serum were detected by ELISA. The expressions of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Ahr), cytochrome P450 1A1 (Cyp1a1) and forkheadbox protein 3 (Foxp3) genes and the histone deacetylation activity were detected by qPCR and by ELISA in lung tissues, respectively. RESULTS: PAHs exposure induced lung inflammation and microbial composition shifts and tryptophan metabolism disturbance in mice. L. murinus alleviated PAHs-induced lung inflammation and inhibited T helper cell 17 (Th17) cell differentiation and promoted regulatory T cells (Treg) cell differentiation. L. murinus increased the levels of IA and IAId in the serum and regulated Th17/Treg imbalance by activating AhR. Additionally, L. murinus restored PAHs-induced decrease of butyric acid and valeric acid which can reduce the histone deacetylase (HDAC) level in the lung tissues, enhancing the expression of the Foxp3 gene and promoting Treg cell differentiation. CONCLUSION: our study illustrated that L. murinus alleviated PAHs-induced lung inflammation and regulated Th17/Treg cell differentiation by regulating host tryptophan metabolism and SCFA levels. The study provided new insights into the reciprocal influence between gut microbiota, host metabolism and the immune system, suggesting that L. murinus might have the potential as a novel therapeutic strategy for lung diseases caused by environmental pollution in the future.

Radical Ring-Opening Fluorosulfonylation of Methylenecyclobutanols via Electron Donor-Acceptor Photoactivation.

A visible-light-mediated catalyst- and additive-free method for radical ring-opening fluorosulfonylation of methylenecyclobutanols is reported. Sulfuryl chlorofluoride acts as a FSO2 radical precursor as well as an electron acceptor to form electron donor-acceptor complexes with various methylenecyclobutanol substrates. This method shows fully regioselective and (E)-stereoselective ring-opening processes, providing a variety of FSO2-functionalized γ,δ-unsaturated carbonyls in 38-77% yields. A selection of product diversifications has been studied to demonstrate the versatility of these sulfonyl fluoride products.

The safety and efficacy of volumetric modulated Arc therapy combined with computer tomography-guided adaptive brachytherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer: a single institution experience.

BACKGROUND: Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) is a novel form of IMRT, which can deliver more accurate dose distribution and shorten treatment time. Compared to MRI-guided adaptive brachytherapy, which is recommended as gold standard imaging for cervical cancer contours, CT-guided adaptive brachytherapy (CTGAB) is more available, more widespread, and more affordable in many centers. This study aims to retrospectively analyze the efficacy and the safety of VMAT combined with CTGAB for patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This study retrospectively analyzed 102 patients with locally advanced cervical cancer who underwent VMAT and CTGAB. Clinical outcomes including local control (LC), overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), tumor response to treatment evaluated by the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) (version 1.1), and toxicities including gastrointestinal toxicity, urinary toxicity and hematologic toxicity evaluated by the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) (version 5.0) were analyzed. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate LC, OS, and PFS. RESULTS: Median follow-up time was 19 months. Complete response (CR), partial response (PR), stable disease (SD), and progressive disease (PD) occurred in 68 (66.7%), 24 (23.5%), 4 (3.92%), and 6 (5.88%), respectively. The 2-year and 3-year OS were 89.6% and 83%, respectively. The 2-year and 3-year PFS were 84.2% and 74.3%, respectively. The 2-year and 3-year LC were 90.1% and 79.3%, respectively. The average cumulative D2cm3 in the rectum, the bladder, the colon, and the small intestine were 78.07 (SD: 0.46) Gy, 93.20 (SD: 0.63) Gy, 63.55 (SD: 1.03) Gy and 61.07 (SD: 0.75) Gy, respectively. The average cumulative D90% of the high-risk clinical target volume (HR-CTV) was 92.26 (SD: 0.35) Gy. Grade ≥ 3 gastrointestinal and urinary toxicities occurred in 4.9% and 0.98%, respectively. 1.96% of patients were observed grade ≥ 4 gastrointestinal toxicities and none of the patients observed grade ≥ 4 urinary toxicities. CONCLUSION: VMAT combined with CTGAB for locally advanced cervical cancer was an effective and safe treatment method, which showed satisfactory LC, OS, PFS, and acceptable toxicities.

Field cabbage detection and positioning system based on improved YOLOv8n.

BACKGROUND: Pesticide efficacy directly affects crop yield and quality, making targeted spraying a more environmentally friendly and effective method of pesticide application. Common targeted cabbage spraying methods often involve object detection networks. However, complex natural and lighting conditions pose challenges in the accurate detection and positioning of cabbage. RESULTS: In this study, a cabbage detection algorithm based on the YOLOv8n neural network (YOLOv8-cabbage) combined with a positioning system constructed using a Realsense depth camera is proposed. Initially, four of the currently available high-performance object detection models were compared, and YOLOv8n was selected as the transfer learning model for field cabbage detection. Data augmentation and expansion methods were applied to extensively train the model, a large kernel convolution method was proposed to improve the bottleneck section, the Swin transformer module was combined with the convolutional neural network (CNN) to expand the perceptual field of feature extraction and improve edge detection effectiveness, and a nonlocal attention mechanism was added to enhance feature extraction. Ablation experiments were conducted on the same dataset under the same experimental conditions, and the improved model increased the mean average precision (mAP) from 88.8% to 93.9%. Subsequently, depth maps and colour maps were aligned pixelwise to obtain the three-dimensional coordinates of the cabbages via coordinate system conversion. The positioning error of the three-dimensional coordinate cabbage identification and positioning system was (11.2 mm, 10.225 mm, 25.3 mm), which meets the usage requirements. CONCLUSIONS: We have achieved accurate cabbage positioning. The object detection system proposed here can detect cabbage in real time in complex field environments, providing technical support for targeted spraying applications and positioning.