Electrochemical Arene Radical Cation Promoted Spirocyclization of Biaryl Ynones: Access to Alkoxylated Spiro[5,5]trienones.

Herein, a novel electrochemical arene radical cation promoted dearomative spirocyclization of biaryl ynones with alcohols is described, providing a conceptually novel transformation mode for producing diverse alkoxylated spiro[5,5]trienones. The catalyst- and chemical-oxidant-free spirocyclization protocol features broad substrate scope and high functional group tolerance. Mechanistic studies reveal that the generation of arene radical cation via anodic single-electron oxidation is crucial, with sequential 6-endo-dig cyclization, dissociation of hemiketal, anodic oxidation, and nucleophilic attack of alcohols.

Genome-wide identification of PEBP gene family in pineapple reveal its potential functions in flowering.

Phosphatidylethanolamine binding protein (PEBP) plays an important role in regulating flowering time and morphogenesis of plants. However, the identification and functional analysis of PEBP gene in pineapple (AcPEBP) have not been systematically studied. The pineapple genome contained 11 PEBP family members, which were subsequently classified into three subfamilies (FT-like, TFL-like and MFT-like) based on phylogenetic relationships. The arrangement of these 11 shows an unequal pattern across the six chromosomes of pineapple the pineapple genome. The anticipated outcomes of the promoter cis-acting elements indicate that the PEBP gene is subject to regulation by diverse light signals and endogenous hormones such as ethylene. The findings from transcriptome examination and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) indicate that FT-like members AcFT3 and AcFT4 display a heightened expression level, specifically within the floral structures. The expression of AcFT3 and AcFT4 increases sharply and remains at a high level after 4 days of ethylene induction, while the expression of AcFT7 and AcMFT1 decreases gradually during the flowering process. Additionally, AcFT3, AcFT4 and AcFT7 show specific expression in different floral organs of pineapple. These outcomes imply that members belonging to the FT-like subfamily may have a significant impact on the process of bud differentiation and flower development. Through transcriptional activation analysis, it was determined that AcFT4 possesses transcriptional activation capability and is situated in the nucleus and peripheral cytoplasm. Overexpression of AcFT4 in Arabidopsis resulted in the promotion of early flowering by 6-7 days. The protein interaction prediction network identified potential flower regulators, including CO, AP1, LFY and SOC1, that may interact with PEBP proteins. This study explores flower development in pineapple, thereby serving as a valuable reference for future research endeavors in this domain.

Electrochemical 1,3-Alkyloxylimidation of Arylcyclopropane Radical Cations: Four-Component Access to Imide Derivatives.

Herein, a general electrochemical radical-cation-mediated four-component ring-opening 1,3-alkyloxylimidation of arylcyclopropanes, acetonitrile, carboxylic acids, and alcohols is described, providing a facile and sustainable approach to quickly construct structurally diverse imide derivatives from easily available raw materials in an operationally simple undivided cell. This metal-catalyst- and oxidant-free single-electron oxidation strategy offers a green alternative for the formation of highly reactive cyclopropane-derived radical cations, and this protocol features a broad functional group tolerance.

Evaluation of the Prognostic Value of Existing Scoring Systems for Nosocomial Infection in Patients with Decompensated Liver Cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: Many scoring systems have been developed to evaluate the severity and survival of end-stage liver disorder patients. However, the conduction of these different predicting models has not been thoroughly verified in cirrhotic patients with nosocomial infections. This study ended to compare the predictive accuracy of various scoring systems. METHODS: During January 2015 and January 2020, liver cirrhosis patients with nosocomial infections were involved in this study. The clinical data, laboratory findings, and demographic characteristics of patients were collected during diagnosis. Patients were followed up for at least 6 months or till death. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-one patients meeting the criteria were enrolled and followed up for at least 6 months. The mortality rate at 30 days, 3 months, and 6 months was 23%, 35.1%, and 39.6%, respectively. The univariate analysis showed that all scoring systems indicated statistical significance between the surviving group and the non-surviving group at 6 months. Model for end-stage liver disease-Na showed excellent predictive accuracy in predicting the survival at 30 days, 3 months, 6 months, with the area under the curve of 0.807, 0.850, and 0.844, respectively. Model for end-stage liver disease-Na demonstrated sensitivities of more than 85%. In contrast, the child-turcotte-pugh and albumin-bilirubin scores showed a poorer predictive capability. CONCLUSION: All 5 models for end-stage liver disease-related scores (model for end-stage liver disease, model for end-stage liver diseaseto-serum sodium ratio, model for end-stage liver disease-Na, model for end-stage liver disease-Delta, snd integrated model for endstage liver disease) exhibited a reliable prediction for mortality of long-term prognosis and short-term prognosis of cirrhotic patients with nosocomial infections. Among them, the model for end-stage liver disease-Na score might be the best choice.

Characteristics of gut microbiota and fecal metabolomes in patients with celiac disease in Northwest China.

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune small bowel disease. The pattern of gut microbiota is closely related to dietary habits, genetic background, and geographical factors. There is a lack of research on CD-related gut microbiota in China. This study aimed to use 16S rDNA sequencing and metabolomics to analyze the fecal microbial composition and metabolome characteristics in patients diagnosed with CD in Northwest China, and to screen potential biomarkers that could be used for its diagnosis. A significant difference in the gut microbiota composition was observed between the CD and healthy controls groups. At the genus level, the abundance of Streptococcus, Lactobacillus, Veillonella, and Allisonella communities in the CD group were increased (Q < 0.05). Furthermore, the abundance of Ruminococcus, Faecalibacterium, Blautia, Gemmiger, and Anaerostipes community in this group were decreased (Q < 0.05). A total of 222 different fecal metabolites were identified in the two groups, suggesting that CD patients have a one-carbon metabolism defect. Four species of bacteria and six metabolites were selected as potential biomarkers using a random forest model. Correlation analysis showed that changes in the gut microbiota were significantly correlated with changes in fecal metabolite levels. In conclusion, the patterns of distribution of gut microbiota and metabolomics in patients with CD in Northwest China were found to be unique to these individuals. This has opened up a new way to explore potential beneficial effects of supplementing specific nutrients and potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets in the future.

AcBBX5, a B-box transcription factor from pineapple, regulates flowering time and floral organ development in plants.

Flowering is an important factor to ensure the success of plant reproduction, and reasonable flowering time is crucial to the crop yield. BBX transcription factors can regulate several growth and development processes. However, there is little research on whether BBX is involved in flower formation and floral organ development of pineapple. In this study, AcBBX5, a BBX family gene with two conserved B-box domains, was identified from pineapple. Subcellular localization analysis showed that AcBBX5 was located in the nucleus. Transactivation analysis indicated that AcBBX5 had no significant toxic effects on the yeast system and presented transcriptional activation activity in yeast. Overexpression of AcBBX5 delayed flowering time and enlarged flower morphology in Arabidopsis. Meanwhile, the expression levels of AtFT, AtSOC1, AtFUL and AtSEP3 were decreased, and the transcription levels of AtFLC and AtSVP were increased in AcBBX5-overexpressing Arabidopsis, which might lead to delayed flowering of transgenic plants. Furthermore, transcriptome data and QRT-PCR results showed that AcBBX5 was expressed in all floral organs, with the high expression levels in stamens, ovaries and petals. Yeast one-hybrid and dual luciferase assay results showed that AcBBX5 bound to AcFT promoter and inhibited AcFT gene expression. In conclusion, AcBBX5 was involved in flower bud differentiation and floral organ development, which provides an important reference for studying the functions of BBX and the molecular regulation of flower.

Genome-wide identification and characterization of the BBX gene family in pineapple reveals that candidate genes are involved in floral induction and flowering.

B-box zinc finger proteins contain one or two B-box domains, and sometimes, a CCT domain, which are involved in many biological processes, such as photomorphogenesis, flowering, anthocyanin synthesis and abiotic stress resistance. But the BBX gene family in pineapple has not been systematically studied. Nineteen BBX genes were detected in pineapple genome and divided into five groups according to phylogenetic analysis. The results of transcriptome analysis and RT-qPCR showed that most of AcBBX members were highly expressed during the flowering process, indicating that AcBBX gene may be involved in flower bud differentiation and morphogenesis. Transcriptional activation analysis showed that AcBBX6 and AcBBX18 had transcriptional activity and were located in the nucleus. Overexpression of AcBBX18 promoted flowering in Arabidopsis thaliana. These results provided a basis for further study functions and regulatory mechanism of BBX members in pineapple floral induction and flower development.

Epidemiological, clinical, and histological presentation of celiac disease in Northwest China.

BACKGROUND: Research on celiac disease (CD) in northwest China is still in its infancy. At present, large-sample data on the epidemiological, clinical, and pathological characteristics of CD are limited. AIM: To investigate the epidemiological, clinical, and pathological characteristics of CD in northwest China. METHODS: The clinical data of 2884 patients with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms were retrospectively analyzed. Total immunoglobulin A (IgA) and anti-tissue transglutaminase (tTG) IgA levels were examined in all patients. Gastroscopy and colonoscopy were performed in patients with positive anti-tTG IgA and deficient total IgA levels. Atrophy of the duodenal and ileal villi was examined and histopathological examinations were performed. The modified Marsh-Oberhuber classification system was used to grade villous atrophy in the duodenum or distal ileum. The patients' Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection status was compared in terms of clinical presentation and Marsh grade. Statistical analyses were performed using the t-test or chi-square test. RESULTS: Among the 2884 patients, 73 were positive for serum anti-tTG IgA, and 50 were diagnosed with CD. The CD detection rate was significantly higher in Kazakhs (4.39%) than in Uyghurs (2.19%), Huis (0.71%), and Hans (0.55%). The main symptoms of CD were chronic diarrhea, anorexia, anemia, fatigue, weight loss, sleep disorders, osteopenia, and osteoporosis. The body mass index of patients with CD was significantly lower than that of patients without CD. A total of 69 patients with positive serum anti-tTG IgA and two patients with deficient total IgA levels underwent GI endoscopy. Endoscopy revealed crypt hyperplasia and/or duodenal villous atrophy, mainly manifested as nodular mucosal atrophy, grooves, and fissures. The difference in H. pylori infection rates was not statistically significant between CD and non-CD patients but was significantly different among CD patients with different Marsh grades. CONCLUSION: Among the patients with GI symptoms in northwestern China, the prevalence of CD was more in the Uyghur and Kazakh populations. H. pylori infection may be associated with CD severity.

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpes virus-derived microRNA K12-1 over-activates the PI3K/Akt pathway to facilitate cancer progression in HIV-related gastrointestinal Kaposi's sarcoma.

BACKGROUND: Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpes virus (KSHV) initiate and accelerate the development of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), and KSHV possesses many cancer-associated genes, including KSHV-derived microRNA miR-K12-1, which has been identified to be closely associated with KS progression. However, the detailed mechanisms by which miR-K12-1 facilitates HIV-related gastrointestinal KS development are still not fully delineated. OBJECTIVES: This study strived to evaluate the effect of miR-K12-1 on the progression of HIV-related gastrointestinal KS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression levels of miR-K12-1 in HIV-related gastrointestinal KS tissues were determined by RT-qPCR. Proliferation and apoptosis were assessed by colony formation, CCK-8 and flow cytometry, respectively. The expression of all proteins was detected by Western blot. The in vivo effect of miR-K12-1 on the formation of a tumor was explored by using the mouse xenograft model. RESULTS: In this study, we uncovered that KSHV-miR-K12-1 was upregulated in HIV-related gastrointestinal KS tissues and associated with poor outcome in HIV-related gastrointestinal KS patients. Compared with the control group, after miR-K12-1 inhibitor transfection, BCBL-1 cell viability was decreased, and the cell apoptosis was significantly increased, whereas transfection of miR-K12-1 mimics promoted cell proliferation and mitosis. In addition, our rescuing experiments verified that miR-K12-1 promoted cell proliferation via activating the PI3K/Akt pathway, and inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway by LY294002 abrogated the tumor-promoting effects of miR-K12-1 in HIV-related gastrointestinal KS. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, we concluded that KSHV-derived miR-K12-1 activate the PI3K/Akt pathway to initiate and accelerate the development of KS, which convinces us that miR-K12-1 can be used as potential biomarkers for KS diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.

The pulmonary infection risk factors in long-term bedridden patients: a meta-analysis.

This study aimed to review the pulmonary infection risk factors in long-term bedridden patients. The Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang, and the China Biomedical Literature Service System databases were searched to retrieve articles on the clinical risk factors, from database establishment to July 31, 2020. Two researchers independently screened the search results, evaluated the quality of the studies using NOS criteria, and extracted the data. The meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3. A total of 13 articles including 10,182 patients were included. The statistically significant risk factors included age (OR=1.82), diabetes (OR=2.15), hormones (OR=3.14), consciousness disorders (OR=3.83), BMI<18.5 kg/m2 (OR=1.57), antibiotics (OR=2.21), smoking history (OR=1.68), nasal-feeding (OR=4.64), ventilator use (OR=5.95), invasive operations (OR=5.04), hospitalization times (OR=3.16), and stay-in-bed times (OR=2.69). Therefore, according to the OR values, age, a BMI<18.5 kg/m2, and smoking history were low risk-factors (2≥OR>1). Diabetes, antibiotics, and stay-in-bed times were medium risk-factors (3≥OR>2). Hormone levels, consciousness disorders, nasal-feeding, ventilator use, invasive operations, and hospitalization times were high risk-factors (OR>3). In conclusion, the low risk-factors (age, BMI, smoking history), the medium risk-factors (diabetes, antibiotics, stay-in-bed length), and especially the high risk-factors (hormones, consciousness disorders, nasal-feeding, ventilator use, invasive operations, hospitalization times) deserve more attention for preventing pulmonary infections in long-term bedridden patients.

Hand Hygiene Compliance and Influencing Factors Among Nursing Assistants in Nursing Homes.

The current study explored compliance with hand hygiene and related influencing factors among nursing assistants (NAs) in nursing homes. A descriptive observational research design was used. Seven nursing homes in Chongqing, China, including hospital-affiliated, public, and private, were selected. A hand hygiene observation tool was used to assess NAs' (N = 237) hand hygiene practice (N = 2,370 opportunities). NAs' overall compliance rate was 3.6%: 6.8%, 3.1%, and 1.9% at hospital-affiliated, public, and private nursing homes, respectively. Compliance rate between two opportunities, after contact with residents and after contact with residents' surroundings, differed significantly (p = 0.002 and 0.038, respectively). The highest and lowest compliance rates occurred after bodily fluid exposure (8.3%; odds ratio [OR] = 0.37, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.218, 0.627], p < 0.001) and before resident contact (1.2%; OR = 3.142, 95% CI [1.265, 7.805], p = 0.014), respectively. Working experience and educational background were the two major influencing factors for hand hygiene. It is urgent to improve NAs' hand hygiene accordingly. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 47(4), 45-52.].

Clinical analysis of patients suffering from chronic hepatitis B superinfected with other hepadnaviruses.

To compare the clinical manifestations, laboratory examinations, and prognoses of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) who were superinfected with hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis D virus (HDV), or hepatitis E virus (HEV). Two hundred and eleven patients with confirmed CHB in our hospital, a tertiary teaching hospital in China, between 2005 and 2014 were analyzed retrospectively. Among 211 patients with CHB, 35 were superinfected with HAV, 31 were superinfected with HCV, 22 were superinfected with HDV, and 53 were superinfected with HEV. We analyzed and compared the clinical features of the five groups. The tested biochemical indices and markers of liver function included serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBil), prothrombin activity (PTA), serum albumin (Alb), and the serum levels of HBV DNA. The peak values of ALT, AST, and TBil were significantly higher in all of the superinfected groups. Lower peak Alb concentration and PTA were also observed in the superinfected patients, with the exception of patients in the CHB + HAV group. The CHB + HCV, and CHB + HEV groups had higher death rates than the CHB monoinfected group, and the difference was statistically significant. Further analysis of the liver failure groups showed that the level of HBV DNA was not correlated with prognosis. The comparison of clinical outcomes revealed that CHB patients superinfected with HCV, HDV, and HEV compared with CHB monoinfection had statistically greater incidences of exacerbation of the condition and poor prognosis, whereas the patients superinfected with HAV generally had better outcomes.

Comparison of the effects of formaldehyde and gaseous ozone on HBV-contaminated hospital quilts.

BACKGROUND: Besides being highly infectious, Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major cause of liver disease worldwide. In hospital settings, it is easy for the environment and quilts to be contaminated by HBV patient blood and body fluids. Therefore, HBV can be transmitted to other patients via contaminated environmental surfaces or quilts, resulting in an HBV nosocomial infection. Formaldehyde and ozone are commonly used disinfectants that may influence this infectious situation. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effectiveness of formaldehyde and gaseous ozone for the terminal cleaning of hospital quilts contaminated by HBV. METHODS: Thin cloth and thick cotton soaked with the serum from high HBV copy number patients were prepared and disinfected using formaldehyde fumigation and gaseous ozone at different times. The copy numbers of HBV DNA in the HBV-contaminated cloth and cotton samples were measured quantitatively with fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: When gaseous ozone was used to disinfect HBV-contaminated quilts for 23 minutes (min), 36 min, 49 min, and 90 min, the HBV DNA copy number displayed no significant decrease compared with the copy number before disinfection (P > 0.05). In comparison, the copy number of the HBV DNA in the cloth group decreased significantly (P < 0.05) after formaldehyde fumigation disinfection for 1 hour (h), and there was no difference when longer times and increased concentrations were used. In the thick cotton group, there was also a significant decrease (P < 0.05) of the HBV DNA copy numbers, but the decrease was not as dramatic. In addition, in this group, the disinfection effect observed at 4 h was the strongest. CONCLUSIONS: The application of ozone to disinfect HBV-contaminated hospital quilts possibly has no effect, whereas, formaldehyde oxide fumigation effectively reduced HBV copy numbers.