Developing a Nomogram for Predicting Surgical Intervention in Pediatric Intussusception After Pneumatic Reduction: A Multicenter Study from China.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to develop and validate a nomogram for predicting the need for surgical intervention in pediatric intussusception after pneumatic reduction. Patients and Methods: This retrospective study analyzed the clinical data of children with acute intussusception admitted to four hospitals in China from January 2019 to January 2022. Based on the results of pneumatic reduction, the patients were divided into two groups: the successful reduction group (control group) and the failed reduction group (operation group). The total sample was randomly divided into a training set and a validation set in a 7:3 ratio. Logistic regression analysis was performed to establish a predictive model for surgical risk. Results: A total of 1041 samples were included in this study, with 852 in the control group and 189 in the operation group. Among the total sample, 728 cases were used for training and 313 cases were used for validation. Logistic regression analysis of the training set identified age, time of abdominal pain, presence or absence of hematostoecia, C-reactive protein value from blood test on admission, and nested position indicated by B-ultrasound as independent predictors of intussusception intervention. Based on the five independent risk factors identified through multivariate logistic regression, a nomogram was successfully constructed to predict the failure of resetting by air enema under X-ray. Conclusion: A nomogram was developed to predict the need for surgical intervention after intussusception pneumatic reduction in children. The nomogram was based on clinical risk factors including age, time of abdominal pain, presence or absence of blood in stool, value of C-reactive protein in blood test on admission, and nested position indicated by B-ultrasound. Our internal validation demonstrated that this nomogram can serve as a useful tool for identifying risk factors associated with failure of air enema in children with intussusception.

Exogenous 24-Epibrassinolide Enhanced Drought Tolerance and Promoted BRASSINOSTEROID-INSENSITIVE2 Expression of Quinoa.

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are involved in the regulation of biotic and abiotic stresses in plants. The molecular mechanisms of BRs that alleviate the drought stress in quinoa have rarely been reported. Here, quinoa seedlings were treated with 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) and we transiently transferred CqBIN2 to the quinoa seedlings' leaves using VIGS technology to analyze the molecular mechanism of the BR mitigation drought stress. The results showed that EBR treatment significantly increased the root growth parameters, the antioxidant enzyme activities, and the osmolyte content, resulting in a decrease in the H2O2, O2∙-, and malondialdehyde content in quinoa. A transcriptome analysis identified 8124, 2761, and 5448 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) among CK and Drought, CK and EBR + Drought, and Drought and EBR + Drought groups. WGCNA divided these DEGs into 19 modules in which these characterized genes collectively contributed significantly to drought stress. In addition, the EBR application also up-regulated the transcript levels of CqBIN2 and proline biosynthesis genes. Silenced CqBIN2 by VIGS could reduce the drought tolerance, survival rate, and proline content in quinoa seedlings. These findings not only revealed that exogenous BRs enhance drought tolerance, but also provided insight into the novel functions of CqBIN2 involved in regulating drought tolerance in plants.

BPA and low-Se exacerbate apoptosis and mitophagy in chicken pancreatic cells by regulating the PTEN/PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.

INTRODUCTION: Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widespread environmental pollutant which has serious toxic effects on organisms. One of the crucial trace elements is selenium (Se), whose shortage can harm biological tissues and enhance the toxicity of contaminants, in which apoptosis and autophagy are core events. OBJECTIVES: An in vivo model was established to investigate the effects of BPA and low-Se on chicken pancreatic tissue, and identify the possible potential molecular mechanism. METHODS: A total of 80 1-day-old broiler chickens (Xinghua Chicken Farm, Harbin, China) were stochastically divided into 4 groups (n = 20/group): Control group, BPA group, low-Se group, and low-Se + BPA group. Pancreatic tissue was collected at day 42 to detect changes in markers. RESULTS: First, the data showed that BPA and low-Se exposure gave rose to structural abnormalities in pancreatic tissue, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and homeostasis imbalance, apoptosis and mitophagy. In addition, the co-exposure of BPA and low-Se caused the most serious damage to pancreatic tissue. In terms of mechanism, it was found that apoptosis and mitophagy induced by BPA and low-Se were related to the activation of PTEN/PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. CONCLUSION: In summary, the study found that BPA and low-Se exacerbated mitochondria damage, apoptosis and mitophagy by regulating the PTEN/PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.

Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Substrate Time Stability Improvement Using an External Oxygen Barrier Method.

The poor time stability of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates greatly limits their application potential. Although core-shell structures are commonly used to enhance stability, their complex preparation processes, high costs, and susceptibility under acidic or alkaline conditions result in serious disadvantages for practical applications. Here, we propose a new method of external oxygen barrier to improve spectral stability, in which SERS substrates are stored in an oxygen-free environment. Controlled experiments are carried out under air and vacuum. Raman spectrum intensity is measured 11 times within six months for each group. Using the attenuation formula, the Raman spectrum intensity decay results of each SERS substrate over time are obtained. The effectiveness of the external oxygen barrier method is demonstrated through curve fitting using the corresponding function. The substrate spectral attenuation rates of the vacuum group and the argon group within six months are <20%, proving the effectiveness of the external oxygen barrier method.

Faecalibacterium prausnitzii as a potential Antiatherosclerotic microbe.

BACKGROUND: The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in coronary artery disease (CAD) development, but limited attention has been given to the role of the microbiota in preventing this disease. This study aimed to identify key biomarkers using metagenomics and untargeted metabolomics and verify their associations with atherosclerosis. METHODS: A total of 371 participants, including individuals with various CAD types and CAD-free controls, were enrolled. Subsequently, significant markers were identified in the stool samples through gut metagenomic sequencing and untargeted metabolomics. In vivo and in vitro experiments were performed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the association between these markers and atherosclerosis. RESULTS: Faecal omics sequencing revealed that individuals with a substantial presence of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii had the lowest incidence of CAD across diverse CAD groups and control subjects. A random forest model confirmed the significant relationship between F. prausnitzii and CAD incidence. Notably, F. prausnitzii emerged as a robust, independent CAD predictor. Furthermore, our findings indicated the potential of the gut microbiota and gut metabolites to predict CAD occurrence and progression, potentially impacting amino acid and vitamin metabolism. F. prausnitzii mitigated inflammation and exhibited an antiatherosclerotic effect on ApoE-/- mice after gavage. This effect was attributed to reduced intestinal LPS synthesis and reinforced mechanical and mucosal barriers, leading to decreased plasma LPS levels and an antiatherosclerotic outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Sequencing of the samples revealed a previously unknown link between specific gut microbiota and atherosclerosis. Treatment with F. prausnitzii may help prevent CAD by inhibiting atherosclerosis.

High genetic diversity and different type VI secretion systems in Enterobacter species revealed by comparative genomics analysis.

The human-pathogenic Enterobacter species are widely distributed in diverse environmental conditions, however, the understanding of the virulence factors and genetic variations within the genus is very limited. In this study, we performed comparative genomics analysis of 49 strains originated from diverse niches and belonged to eight Enterobacter species, in order to further understand the mechanism of adaption to the environment in Enterobacter. The results showed that they had an open pan-genome and high genomic diversity which allowed adaptation to distinctive ecological niches. We found the number of secretion systems was the highest among various virulence factors in these Enterobacter strains. Three types of T6SS gene clusters including T6SS-A, T6SS-B and T6SS-C were detected in most Enterobacter strains. T6SS-A and T6SS-B shared 13 specific core genes, but they had different gene structures, suggesting they probably have different biological functions. Notably, T6SS-C was restricted to E. cancerogenus. We detected a T6SS gene cluster, highly similar to T6SS-C (91.2%), in the remote related Citrobacter rodenitum, suggesting that this unique gene cluster was probably acquired by horizontal gene transfer. The genomes of Enterobacter strains possess high genetic diversity, limited number of conserved core genes, and multiple copies of T6SS gene clusters with differentiated structures, suggesting that the origins of T6SS were not by duplication instead by independent acquisition. These findings provide valuable information for better understanding of the functional features of Enterobacter species and their evolutionary relationships.

Gut microbiota contribution to selenium deficiency-induced gut-liver inflammation.

There is limited knowledge about the factors that drive gut-liver axis changes after selenium (Se) deficiency-induced gut or liver injuries. Thus, we tested Se deficiency in mice to determine its effects on intestinal bacterial balance and whether it induced liver injury. Serum Se concentration, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) level, and liver injury biomarkers were tested using a biochemical method, while pathological changes in the liver and jejunum were observed via hematoxylin and eosin stain, and a fluorescence spectrophotometer was used to evaluate intestinal permeability. Tight junction (TJ)-related and toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling-related pathway genes and proteins were tested using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid gene-targeted sequencing of jejunum microorganisms. Se deficiency significantly decreased glutathione peroxidase activity and disrupted the intestinal flora, with the most significant effect being a decrease in Lactobacillus reuteri. The expression of TJ-related genes and proteins decreased significantly with increased treatment time, whereas supplementation with Se, fecal microbiota transplantation, or L. reuteri reversed these decreases. Signs of liver injury and LPS content were significantly increased after intestinal flora imbalance or jejunum injury, and the levels of TLR signaling-related genes were significantly increased. The results indicated that Se deficiency disrupted the microbiota balance, decreased the expression of intestinal TJ factors, and increased intestinal permeability. By contrast, LPS increased due to a bacterial imbalance, which may induce inflammatory liver injury via the TLR4 signaling pathway.

Determination of Cations and Anions in Desulfurization Waste Water of Coal-Fired Power Plant by Ion Chromatography.

The reliable and accurate determination of corrosive anions at sub- to low-µg/L levels is a challenging analytical problem. In this manuscript, a simultaneous determination method of cations and anions in power plant water samples was established by large volume injection ion chromatography. The analytical parameters including separation column, the suppressor current and the elute concentration were optimized. Results showed good separation under the optimum conditions, and the calibration curves of all analytes were linear with good coefficient of determination (r2) >0.997, and the mean recoveries for all analytes ranged from 75.62 to 118.58% with RSD of 0.07-4.83%. The established method was successfully applied to determine the cations and anions in realwaste water samples from coal-fired power, and was verified by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry and electrometric titration. The relative deviation between methods was all below 6.72%, which indicated good accuracy of the established ion chromatography method. The results could also provide reference for the precise and rapid detection of cations and anions in environmental water samples.

Nosocomial outbreak of colistin-resistant, carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae ST11 in a medical intensive care unit.

OBJECTIVES: Klebsiella pneumoniae is an important opportunistic Gram-negative pathogen. This study describes an outbreak due to colistin-resistant and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (ColR-CRKP) in a tertiary hospital related to six patients successively admitted to the department of medical intensive care unit (MICU) between March 11 and April 29, 2021. METHODS: Phenotypic characterization was conducted on 16 ColR-CRKP strains obtained from six infected patients and five ColR-CRKP strains isolated from 48 environmental samples, followed by whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. RESULTS: All ColR-CRKP strains showed resistance to commonly used antibiotics. Whole-genome sequencing revealed a variety of resistance genes such as blaKPC-2, blaCTX-M-65, and blaTEM-4 present in all strains, which is consistent with their antimicrobial resistance profile. All isolates were identified as the high-risk sequence type 11 (ST11) clonal lineage by multilocus sequencing typing (MLST) and subsequently clustered into a single clonal type by core genome MLST (cgMLST). IS5-like element ISKpn26 family transposase insertion mutations at positions 74 nucleotides in the mgrB gene were the main cause of colistin resistance in these ColR-CRKP. The variations of genes were verified by PCR. SCOTTI analysis demonstrated the transmission pathway of the ColR-CRKP between the patients. CONCLUSION: Our study highlights the importance of coordinated efforts between clinical microbiologists and infection control teams to implement aggressive surveillance cultures and proper bacterial genotyping to diagnose nosocomial infections and take control measures. Routine surveillance and the use of advanced sequencing technologies should be implemented to enhance nosocomial infection control and prevention measures.

Quality markers of Dajianzhong decoction based on multicomponent qualitative and quantitative analysis combined with network pharmacology and chemometric analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Dajianzhong decoction (DJZD), a classic famous prescription, has a long history of medicinal application. Modern studies have demonstrated its clinical utility in the treatment of postoperative ileus (POI). But none of the current quality evaluation methods for this compound is associated with efficacy. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify the quality markers (Q-Markers) connected to the treatment of POI in DJZD. METHODOLOGY: Ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole Exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS) was used to identify the main constituents in DJZD. Based on the qualitative results obtained by fingerprinting, chemical pattern recognition (CPR) was used to analyse the key components affecting the quality and finally to establish the network of the active ingredients in DJZD with POI. RESULTS: A total of 64 chemical components were detected. After fingerprint analysis, 13 common peaks were identified. The fingerprint similarity of 15 batches of samples ranged from 0.860 to 1.000. CPR analysis was able to categorically classify 15 batches of DJZD into two groups. And gingerenone A, methyl-6-gingerdiol, 6-gingerol, and hydroxy-ß-sanshool contributed to their grouping. Twelve common components interact with the therapeutic targets for treating POI. In addition, the mechanism of this prescription for treating POI may be related to the jurisdiction of the neurological system, the immunological system, and the inflammatory response. CONCLUSIONS: This integrated approach can accurately assess and forecast the quality of DJZD, presume the Q-Markers of DJZD for POI, and lay the foundation for studying the theoretical underpinnings and exploring the mechanism of DJZD in the treatment of POI.

Eucalyptol alleviates avermectin exposure-induced apoptosis and necroptosis of grass carp hepatocytes by regulating ROS/NLRP3 axis.

The wide application of Avermectin (AVM) has caused pollution of surface water and damage to non-target organisms. A growing body of evidence supports the most prominent role of Eucalyptol (EUC) is antioxidation. To the purpose of explore the injury mechanism of Avermectin on grass carp hepatocytes and the antagonistic effect of Eucalyptol, 5.7 µM AVM and/or 20 µM EUC were used to treat grass carp hepatocytes for 24 h to establish hepatocyte exposure model. The results showed that Avermectin exposure significantly increased the contents of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in cells, reduced the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC). Also, the expressions of NLRP3 inflammasome-related genes including NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase-1, the necroptosis-related genes including RIPK1, RIPK3, and MLKL and apoptotic genes including Bax, Caspase-3, and Caspase-9 were all up-regulated. Meanwhile, the expressions of Caspase-8 and Bcl-2 were significantly decreased upon exposure to Avermectin. However, the toxicity was significantly alleviated with the treatment of EUC or N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC). The above results indicated that eucalyptol alleviated AVM exposure-induced apoptosis and necroptosis of grass carp hepatocytes by regulating the ROS/NLRP3 signaling pathway.

Catalytic degradation of crystal violet and methyl orange in heterogeneous Fenton-like processes.

Metals-loaded (Fe3+, Cu2+ and Zn2+) activated carbons (M@AC) with different loading ratios (0.1%, 0.5%, 1%, 5% and 10%) were prepared and employed for catalytic degradation of dye model compounds (crystal violet (CV) and methyl orange (MO)) in wastewater by heterogeneous Fenton-like technique. Compared with Cu@AC and Zn@AC, 0.5% Fe3+ loaded AC (0.5Fe@AC) had better catalytic activity for dyes degradation. The effects of dyes initial concentration, catalyst dosage, pH and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) volume on the catalytic degradation process were investigated. Cyclic performance, stability of 0.5Fe@AC and iron leaching were explored. Degradation kinetics were well fitted to the pseudo-second-order model (Langmuir-Hinshelwood). Almost complete decolorization (99.7%) of 400 mg L-1 CV was achieved after 30 min reaction under the conditions of CV volume (30 mL), catalyst dosage (0.05 g), H2O2 volume (1 mL) and pH (7.7). Decolorization of MO reached 98.2% under the same conditions. The abilities of pyrolysis char (PC) of dyeing sludge (DS) and metal loaded carbon to remove dye pollutants were compared. The intermediate products were analyzed and the possible degradation pathway was proposed. This study provided an insight into catalytic degradation of triphenylmethane- and aromatic azo-based substances, and utilization of sludge char.

A Multi-Centric Comparative Study Between Endoscopy-Assisted Laparoscopic Surgery (EALS) vs Laparoscopic Surgery for the Treatment of Gastric Duplication Cysts in Children.

Purpose: To compare and analyze the therapeutic effects of endoscopy-assisted laparoscopic surgery (EALS) and laparoscopic surgery (LS) in the treatment of gastric duplication cysts (GDCs). Patients and Methods: We reviewed the clinical data of children with GDCs who underwent surgical treatment at Hubei Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College, and Qingdao Women and Children's Medical Center from September 2014 to November 2022. Results: The study comprised 29 children with GDCs, including 14 in the EALS group and 15 in the LS group. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of age, sex, weight, and cyst size characteristics. There was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of average surgical time (P>0.05), which was 1.100 ± 0.833 hours in the EALS group and 1.933 ± 0.159 hours in the LS group. There was a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05) in average intraoperative blood loss, which was 7.93 ± 3.81 milliliters in the EALS group and 11.80 ± 2.72 milliliters in the LS group. There was a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05) in average postoperative fasting time, which was 73.79 ± 8.36 hours in the EALS group and 114.1 ± 9.24 hours in the LS group. There was a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05) in average postoperative hospital stay, which was 10.21 ± 4.25 days in the EALS group and 14.47 ± 4.36 days in the LS group. Conclusion: EALS technology can not only shorten surgical time, accurately locate GDCs, reduce injuries, and decrease the probability of complications but also achieve treatment goals safely and reliably.

New insights into brain injury in chickens induced by bisphenol A and selenium deficiency-Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and mitophagy-apoptosis crosstalk homeostasis.

Bisphenol A (BPA), a component of plastic products, can penetrate the blood-brain barrier and pose a threat to the nervous system. Selenium (Se) deficiency can also cause nervous system damage. Resulting from the rapid industrial development, BPA pollution and Se deficiency often coexist. However, it is unclear whether brain damage in chickens caused by BPA exposure and Se deficiency is related to the crosstalk disorder between mitophagy and apoptosis. In this study, 60 chickens (1 day old) were fed with a diet that contained 20 mg/kg BPA but was insufficient in Se (only 0.039 mg/kg) for 42 days to establish a chicken brain injury model. In vitro, the primary chicken embryo brain neurons were treated for 24 h with Se-deficient medium containing 75 µM BPA. The results showed that BPA exposure and Se deficiency inhibited the expression of the mitochondrial respiratory chain complex in brain neurons, and a large number of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species were released. Furthermore, the expression levels of mitochondrial fusion proteins (OPA1, Mfn1, and Mfn2) decreased, while the expression levels of mitochondrial fission proteins (Drp1, Mff, and Fis1) increased, thus exacerbating mitochondrial division. In addition, the results of immunofluorescence and flow cytometry analysis, as well as the elevated expressions of mitophagy related genes (PINK1, Parkin, ATG5, and LC3II/I) and pro-apoptotic markers (Bax, Cytc, Caspase3, and Caspase9) indicated that BPA exposure and Se deficiency disrupted the crosstalk homeostasis between mitophagy and apoptosis. However, this crosstalk homeostasis was restored after Mito-Tempo and Rapamycin treatment. In contrast, 3-methyladenine treatment exacerbated this crosstalk disorder. In conclusion, BPA exposure and Se deficiency can induce mitochondrial reactive oxygen species bursts and disorders of mitochondrial dynamics by destroying the mitochondrial respiratory chain complex. The result is indicative of an imbalance in mitochondrial autophagy and apoptosis crosstalk homeostasis, which damages the chicken brain.

Disparity of smell tests in Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: There are discrepancies of olfactory impairment between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative disorders. Olfactory deficits may be a potential marker for early and differential diagnosis of AD. We aimed to assess olfactory functions in patients with AD and other neurodegenerative disorders, to further evaluate the smell tests using subgroup analysis, and to explore moderating factors affecting olfactory performance. Methods: Cross-sectional studies relating to olfactory assessment for both AD and other neurodegenerative disorders published before 27 July 2022 in English, were searched on PubMed, Embase and Cochrane. After literature screening and quality assessment, meta-analyses were conducted using stata14.0 software. Results: Forty-two articles involving 12 smell tests that evaluated 2,569 AD patients were included. It was revealed that smell tests could distinguish AD from mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Lewy body disease (LBD), depression, and vascular dementia (VaD), but not from diseases such as frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Our finding indicated that in discriminating AD from MCI, the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) was most frequently used (95%CI: -1.12 to -0.89), while the Brief Smell Identification Test (B-SIT), was the most widely used method in AD vs. LBD group. Further subgroup analyses indicated that the methods of smell test used contributed to the heterogeneity in olfactory threshold and discrimination scores in group AD vs. MCI. While the moderating variables including age, MMSE scores, education years in AD vs. LBD, were account for heterogeneity across studies. Conclusion: Our finding suggests smell tests have potential value in early differential diagnosis of AD. UPSIT and its simplified variant, B-SIT, are widely used methods in the analyses. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php? RecordID = 357970 (PROSPERO, registration number CRD42022357970).

A nomogramic model for predicting the left ventricular ejection fraction of STEMI patients after thrombolysis-transfer PCI.

Background: The prognosis of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is closely linked to left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). In contrast to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI), thrombolysis-transfer PCI (TTPCI) is influenced by multiple factors that lead to heterogeneity in cardiac function and prognosis. The aim of this study is to develop a nomogram model for predicting early LVEF in STEMI patients with TTPCI, based on routine indicators at admission. Method: We retrospectively reviewed data from patients diagnosed with STEMI at five network hospitals of our PCI center who performed TTPCI as door-to-balloon time (the interval between arrival at the hospital and intracoronary balloon inflation) over 120 min, from February 2018 to April 2022. Categorical variables were analyzed using Pearson χ2 tests or Fisher exact tests, while Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare continuous variables. Subsequently, independent risk factors associated with reduced LVEF one week after TTPCI were identified through comprehensive analysis by combining All-Subsets Regression with Logistic Regression. Based on these indicators, a nomogram model was developed, and validated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the Bootstrap method. Results: A total of 288 patients were analyzed, including 60 with LVEF < 50% and 228 with LVEF ≥ 50%. The nomogram model based on six independent risk factors including age, heart rate (HR), hypertension, smoking history, Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and Killip class, demonstrated excellent discrimination with an AUC of 0.84 (95% CI: 0.78-0.89), predicted C-index of 0.84 and curve fit of 0.713. Conclusions: The nomogram model incorporating age, HR, hypertension, smoking history, ALT and Killip class could accurately predict the early LVEF ≥ 50% probability of STEMI patients undergoing TTPCI, and enable clinicians' early evaluation of cardiac function in STEMI patients with TTPCI and early optimization of treatment.

Characterization and structure-based protein engineering of a regiospecific saponin acetyltransferase from Astragalus membranaceus.

Acetylation contributes to the bioactivity of numerous medicinally important natural products. However, little is known about the acetylation on sugar moieties. Here we report a saponin acetyltransferase from Astragalus membranaceus. AmAT7-3 is discovered through a stepwise gene mining approach and characterized as the xylose C3'/C4'-O-acetyltransferse of astragaloside IV (1). To elucidate its catalytic mechanism, complex crystal structures of AmAT7-3/1 and AmAT7-3A310G/1 are obtained, which reveal a large active pocket decided by a specific sequence AADAG. Combining with QM/MM computation, the regiospecificity of AmAT7-3 is determined by sugar positioning modulated by surrounding amino acids including #A310 and #L290. Furthermore, a small mutant library is built using semi-rational design, where variants A310G and A310W are found to catalyze specific C3'-O and C4'-O acetylation, respectively. AmAT7-3 and its variants are also employed to acetylate other bioactive saponins. This work expands the understanding of saponin acetyltransferases, and provide efficient catalytic tools for saponin acetylation.

From salty to thriving: plant growth promoting bacteria as nature's allies in overcoming salinity stress in plants.

Soil salinity is one of the main problems that affects global crop yield. Researchers have attempted to alleviate the effects of salt stress on plant growth using a variety of approaches, including genetic modification of salt-tolerant plants, screening the higher salt-tolerant genotypes, and the inoculation of beneficial plant microbiome, such as plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB). PGPB mainly exists in the rhizosphere soil, plant tissues and on the surfaces of leaves or stems, and can promote plant growth and increase plant tolerance to abiotic stress. Many halophytes recruit salt-resistant microorganisms, and therefore endophytic bacteria isolated from halophytes can help enhance plant stress responses. Beneficial plant-microbe interactions are widespread in nature, and microbial communities provide an opportunity to understand these beneficial interactions. In this study, we provide a brief overview of the current state of plant microbiomes and give particular emphasis on its influence factors and discuss various mechanisms used by PGPB in alleviating salt stress for plants. Then, we also describe the relationship between bacterial Type VI secretion system and plant growth promotion.

Single-incision laparoscopic appendectomy versus traditional three-hole laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis in children by senior pediatric surgeons: a multicenter study from China.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of single-incision laparoscopy appendectomy (SILA) and traditional three-hole laparoscopy appendectomy (THLA) for the treatment of acute appendicitis in children. Methods: The clinical data of children (<14 years old) who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy at Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Hubei Provincial Maternal Health Hospital and Qingdao Women and Children's Medical Center from January 2019 to June 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the operation method, the patients were assigned to the SILA group or the THLA group. The clinical data, including the efficacy, and the surgical details, including the complications, of the two surgical methods were compared. The personal information of the children and the time of disease onset were recorded. Results: In this study, the data of 588 patients, including 385 patients in the THLA group and 203 patients in the SILA group were collected. The baseline characteristics between the two groups of patients before surgery were comparable. There was no significant difference in the average operation time between the THLA group and the SILA group (56.31 ± 1.83 min vs. 57.48 ± 1.15 min, P > 0.05). There was also no significant difference in the average length of hospital stay between the THLA group and the SILA group (6.91 ± 0.24 days vs. 7.16 ± 0.36 days, P > 0.05). However, the FLACC scores of the SILA group (3.71 ± 0.78) were significantly lower than those of the THLA group (3.99 ± 0.56) on the second postoperative day, and the difference was significant (P < 0.05). The score of the questionnaire evaluating cosmetic appearance of the postoperative abdomen was significantly higher in the SILA group (15.81 ± 0.36) than in the THLA group (13.10 ± 0.24) (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative complications between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion: SILA is more advantageous in terms of postoperative FLACC scores and cosmetic appearance in children than THLA. There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications or other aspects between the two surgical methods.

Association of survival with adjuvant radiotherapy for pN0 esophageal cancer.

INTRODUCTION: This study was conducted to elucidate the link between adjuvant radiotherapy and survival in pathologic node-negative (pN0) esophageal cancer patients with upfront esophagectomy. METHODS: From 2000 to 2016, patients with pN0 esophageal cancer who underwent upfront esophagectomy were selected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The association of high-risk covariates with survival after adjuvant radiotherapy was evaluated using propensity score matching and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: We identified 3197 patients, 321 (10.0%) underwent postoperative radiotherapy and 2876 (90.0%) underwent esophagectomy alone. In the unmatched cohort, postoperative radiotherapy was associated with a statistically significant but modest absolute decrease in survival outcomes (P < 0.001). In the matched cohort, the survival differences disappeared. Additionally, adjuvant radiotherapy was linked to a 5-year overall survival (OS) benefit for patients with the pT3-4N0 disease (34.8% vs. 27.7%; P = 0.008). Adjuvant radiotherapy for pT3-4N0 disease with tumor length ≥3 cm, adenocarcinoma, and evaluated lymph node count <12 was shown to independently function as a risk factor for improved OS, as per a multivariate analysis (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This population-based trial showed that high-risk patients with pT3-4N0 esophageal cancer had better OS following upfront esophagectomy followed by radiotherapy therapy. This discovery may have major significance in the use of adjuvant radiotherapy following upfront esophagectomy in patients with pN0 esophageal cancer.