HE4 Serum Levels are Associated with Poor Prognosis in Patients with Acute Heart Failure Combined with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Purpose: The levels of human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) is associated not only with the prognosis of patients with acute heart failure (AHF), but also with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Our study aims to understand the prediction value of HE4 on prognosis in patients with AHF combined with CKD. Patients and Methods: This study prospectively enrolled patients diagnosed with AHF combined with CKD at the Department of Cardiology of Hunan Provincial People's Hospital from March 2019 to December 2022. Serum levels of HE4 were measured using a chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay. The endpoint events included heart failure readmission and cardiovascular death. Results: A total of 130 patients with AHF combined with CKD were included in the stud. The median age is 73 years (interquartile range: 65-79 years). Among the patients, 94 experienced the endpoint events. The multivariable Cox analysis reveals that LnHE4 (HR=2.280, 95% CI 1.300-3.998, P = 0.004) and age (HR=1.024, 95% CI 1.003-1.045, P = 0.025) are independent predictors of the endpoint events. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve demonstrates that patients with HE4 levels>276.15 pmol/L has a significantly higher incidence of endpoint events compared to those with HE4 levels≤276.15 pmol/L (Log rank test: χ2=19.689, P < 0.001). After adjusting for age and gender, the HR is 2.520 (95% CI: 1.626-3.906, P < 0.001). Conclusion: HE4 is an independent predictor of heart failure readmission and cardiovascular death in patients with AHF combined with CKD.

Effects of Aerated Drip Irrigation on the Soil Nitrogen Distribution, Crop Growth, and Yield of Chili Peppers.

In order to study the soil nitrogen (N) distribution pattern in the root zone of chili peppers under aerated drip irrigation (ADI) conditions and analyze the relationship between soil N distribution and crop growth, two irrigation methods (conventional drip irrigation and ADI) and three N levels (0, 140, and 210 kg hm-2) were set up in this experiment. Soil samples were collected by the soil auger method at the end of different reproductive periods, and the uniformity coefficient of soil N in the spatial distribution was calculated by the method of Christiansen's coefficient. The growth status and soil-related indices of pepper were determined at each sampling period, and the relationships between soil N distribution and chili pepper growth were obtained based on principal component analysis (PCA). The results showed that the spatial content of soil nitrate-N (NO3--N) fluctuated little during the whole reproductive period of chili peppers under ADI conditions, and the coefficient of uniformity of soil NO3--N content distribution increased by 5.29~37.63% compared with that of conventional drip irrigation. The aerated treatment increased the root length and surface area of chili peppers. In addition, the ADI treatments increased the plant height, stem diameter, root vigor, and leaf chlorophyll content to some extent compared with the nonaerated treatment. The results of PCA showed that the yield of chili peppers was positively correlated with the uniformity coefficient of soil NO3--N, root vigor, and root length. ADI can significantly improve the distribution uniformity of soil NO3--N and enhance the absorption and utilization of N by the root system, which in turn is conducive to the growth of the crop, the formation of yields, and the improvement of fruit quality.

Ferroptosis Contributes to Microvascular Dysfunction in Diabetic Retinopathy.

Ferroptosis is a new form of cell death characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. Whether ferroptosis is involved in retinal microvascular dysfunction under diabetic condition is not known. Herein, the expression of ferroptosis-related genes in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy and in diabetic mice was determined with quantitative RT-PCR. Reactive oxygen species, iron content, lipid peroxidation products, and ferroptosis-associated proteins in the cultured human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs) and in the retina of diabetic mice were examined. The association of ferroptosis with the functions of endothelial cells in vitro was evaluated. After administration of ferroptosis-specific inhibitor, Fer-1, the retinal microvasculature in diabetic mice was assessed. Characteristic changes of ferroptosis-associated markers, including glutathione peroxidase 4, ferritin heavy chain 1, long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 4, transferrin receptor protein 1, and cyclooxygenase-2, were detected in the retinal fibrovascular membrane of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy, cultured HRMECs, and the retina of diabetic mice. Elevated levels of reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation, and iron content were found in the retina of diabetic mice and in cultured HRMECs. Ferroptosis was found to be associated with HRMEC dysfunction under high-glucose condition. Inhibition of ferroptosis with specific inhibitor Fer-1 in diabetic mice significantly reduced the severity of retinal microvasculopathy. Ferroptosis contributes to microvascular dysfunction in diabetic retinopathy, and inhibition of ferroptosis might be a promising strategy for the therapy of early-stage diabetic retinopathy.

Integrative Analysis of miRNA and circRNA Expression Profiles and Interaction Network in HSV-1-Infected Primary Corneal Epithelial Cells.

PURPOSE: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are products of alternative splicing with roles as competitive endogenous RNAs or microRNA sponges, regulating gene expression and biological processes. However, the involvement of circRNAs in herpes simplex keratitis remains largely unexplored. METHODS: This study examines circRNA and miRNA expression profiles in primary human corneal epithelial cells infected with HSV-1, compared to uninfected controls, using microarray analysis. Bioinformatic analysis predicted the potential function of the dysregulated circRNAs and microRNA response elements (MREs) in these circRNAs, forming an interaction network between dysregulated circRNAs and miRNAs. RESULTS: A total of 332 circRNAs and 16 miRNAs were upregulated, while 80 circRNAs and six miRNAs were downregulated (fold change ≥2.0 and p < 0.05). Gene ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway analyses were performed on parental genes of dysregulated circRNAs to uncover potential functions in HSV-1 infection. Notably, miR-181b-5p, miR-338-3p, miR-635, and miR-222-3p emerged as pivotal miRNAs interacting with multiple dysregulated circRNAs. CONCLUSIONS: This comprehensive study offers insights into differentially expressed circRNAs and miRNAs during HSV-1 infection in corneal epithelial cells, shedding light on circRNA-miRNA interactions' potential role in herpes simplex keratitis pathogenesis.

Comprehensive Evaluation of Tomato Growth Status under Aerated Drip Irrigation Based on Critical Nitrogen Concentration and Nitrogen Nutrient Diagnosis.

In order to provide a theoretical basis for the rational application of nitrogen fertilizer for tomatoes under aerated drip irrigation, a model of the critical nitrogen dilution curve was established in this study, and the feasibility of the nitrogen nutrition index (NNI) for the real-time diagnosis and evaluation of the nitrogen nutrient status was explored. The tomato variety "FENOUYA" was used as the test crop, and aerated drip irrigation was adopted by setting three levels of aeration rates, namely, A1 (dissolved oxygen concentration of irrigation water is 5 mg L-1), A2 (dissolved oxygen concentration of irrigation water is 15 mg L-1), and A3 (dissolved oxygen concentration of irrigation water is 40 mg L-1), and three levels of nitrogen rates, namely, N1 (120 kg ha-1), N2 (180 kg ha-1) and N3 (240 kg ha-1). The model of the critical nitrogen concentration dilution of tomatoes under different aerated treatments was established. The results showed that (1) the dry matter accumulation of tomatoes increased with the increase in the nitrogen application rate in a certain range and it showed a trend of first increase and then decrease with the increase in aeration rate. (2) As the reproductive period progressed, the nitrogen concentration in tomato plants showed a decreasing trend. (3) There was a power exponential relationship between the critical nitrogen concentration of tomato plant growth and above-ground biomass under different levels of aeration and nitrogen application rate, but the power exponential curves were characterized by A1 (Nc = 15.674DM-0.658), A2 (Nc = 101.116DM-0.455), A3 (Nc = 119.527DM-0.535), N1 (Nc = 33.819DM-0.153), N2 (Nc = 127.759DM-0.555) and N3 (Nc = 209.696DM-0.683). The standardized root mean square error (n-RMSE) values were 0.08%, 3.68%, 3.79% 0.50%, 1.08%, and 0.55%, which were less than 10%, and the model has good stability. (4) The effect of an increased nitrogen application rate on the critical nitrogen concentration dilution curve was more significant than that of the increase in aeration rate. (5) A nitrogen nutrition index model was built based on the critical nitrogen concentration model to evaluate the nitrogen nutritional status of tomatoes, whereby 180 kg ha-1 was the optimal nitrogen application rate, and 15 mg L-1 dissolved oxygen of irrigation water was the optimal aeration rate for tomatoes.

Proguanil and chlorhexidine augment the antibacterial activities of clarithromycin and rifampicin against Acinetobacter baumannii.

The emergence of Acinetobacter baumannii infections as a significant healthcare concern in hospital settings, coupled with their association with poorer clinical outcomes, has prompted extensive investigation into novel therapeutic agents and innovative treatment strategies. Proguanil and chlorhexidine, both categorized as biguanide compounds, have displayed clinical efficacy as antimalarial and topical antibacterial agents, respectively. In this study, we conducted an investigation to assess the effectiveness of combining proguanil and chlorhexidine with clarithromycin or rifampicin against both laboratory strains and clinical isolates of A. baumannii. The combination therapy demonstrated rapid bactericidal activity against planktonic multidrug-resistant A. baumannii, exhibiting efficacy in eradicating mature biofilms and impeding the development of antibiotic resistance in vitro. Additionally, when administered in conjunction with clarithromycin or rifampicin, proguanil enhanced the survival rate of mice afflicted with intraperitoneal A. baumannii infections, and chlorhexidine expedited wound healing in mice with skin infections. These findings are likely attributable to the disruption of A. baumannii cell membrane integrity by proguanil and chlorhexidine, resulting in heightened membrane permeability and enhanced intracellular accumulation of clarithromycin and rifampicin. Overall, this study underscores the potential of employing proguanil and chlorhexidine in combination with specific antibiotics to effectively combat A. baumannii infections and improve treatment outcomes in clinically challenging scenarios.

Genetic components of Escherichia coli involved in its complex prey-predator interaction with Myxococcus xanthus.

Myxococcus xanthus and Escherichia coli represent a well-studied microbial predator-prey pair frequently examined in laboratory settings. While significant progress has been made in comprehending the mechanisms governing M. xanthus predation, various aspects of the response and defensive mechanisms of E. coli as prey remain elusive. In this study, the E. coli MG1655 large-scale chromosome deletion library was screened, and a mutant designated as ME5012 was identified to possess significantly reduced susceptibility to predation by M. xanthus. Within the deleted region of ME5012 encompassing seven genes, the significance of dusB and fis genes in driving the observed phenotype became apparent. Specifically, the deletion of fis resulted in a notable reduction in flagellum production in E. coli, contributing to a certain level of resistance against predation by M. xanthus. Meanwhile, the removal of dusB in E. coli led to diminished inducibility of myxovirescin A production by M. xanthus, accompanied by a slight decrease in susceptibility to myxovirescin A. These findings shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the complex interaction between M. xanthus and E. coli in a predatory context.

Effect of a Self-Assembled Nucleating Agent on the Crystallization Behavior and Spherulitic Morphology of Poly(lactic acid).

Herein, decanedioic acid dibenzoylhydrazide (DDBH) was used as a nucleating agent to improve the crystallization of poly(lactic acid) (PLA). The formation of DDBH assemblies in PLA melts at different concentrations was systematically investigated. The DDBH (0.5-0.9 wt %) recrystallized as dendrite-like structures during the isothermal crystallization process, and the crystal morphology of PLA underwent a morphological change from spherical form to a similar dendritic crystal form. Differential scanning calorimetry and in situ wide-angle X-ray diffraction analysis results showed that crystallizability and overall crystallization rate of PLA were enhanced by the addition of DDBH. The half-crystallization time at 120 °C reduced to 0.28 min compared to pure PLA (6.12 min), after adding 0.9 wt % DDBH. Moreover, the crystallinity and lamellar thickness of crystalline PLA increased, while the size of the microcrystal of PLA decreased with an increase in DDBH content. The heat deflection temperatures of PLA/DDBH blends increased and hence heat resistance improved.

Impact of Aerated Drip Irrigation and Nitrogen Application on Soil Properties, Soil Bacterial Communities and Agronomic Traits of Cucumber in a Greenhouse System.

Root hypoxia stress and soil nutrient turnover have been related to reduced crop productivity. Aerated drip irrigation (ADI) can effectively enhance crop productivity and yield. However, the response of the soil bacterial community to different irrigation water dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations remains elusive due to the extreme sensitivity of microorganisms to environmental variations. We investigated the effects of aerated irrigation with different concentrations of DO on soil properties and agronomic performance of cucumber, as well as the contribution of the bacterial community. We performed experiments on cucumber cultivation in Shouguang, China, including different irrigation methods (ADI: O2-10 and O3-20 mg L-1, non-aerated groundwater: O1-5 mg L-1) and nitrogen (N) application rates: 240 and 360 kg N ha-1. ADI (particularly O2) significantly improved soil properties, root growth, cucumber yields, and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE), and appropriate DO concentrations reduced N fertilizer application and increased crop yields. Furthermore, these changes were associated with bacterial community diversity, aerobic bacteria abundance, and consolidated bacterial population stability within the network module. Environmental factors such as soil respiration rate (Rs), DO, and NO3--N have significant effects on bacterial communities. The FAPROTAX results demonstrated enhanced nitrification (Nitrospira) and aerobic nitrite oxidation by soil bacteria under ADI, promoting the accumulation of effective soil N and improved soil fertility and crop yield. Appropriate DO concentration is conducive to the involvement of soil bacterial communities in regulating soil properties and cucumber growth performance, which are vital for the sustainable development of facility agriculture.

Investigating the causal effect of Dickkopf-1 on coronary artery disease and ischemic stroke: a Mendelian randomization study.

Epidemiological investigations have indicated a correlation between elevated plasma levels of Dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK1) and the presence of atherosclerosis. However, the exact causal relationship of DKK1 with the development of coronary artery disease (CAD) and ischemic stroke (IS) remains unclear. To address this gap, our study aimed to explore their causal association using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. We obtained summary statistics from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) meta-analyses conducted by Folkersen et al. and Nikpay et al., which included data from 21,758 individuals for DKK1 and 42,096 cases of CAD. Additionally, we obtained data from the FinnGen biobank analysis round 5, which included 10,551 cases of IS. Eight MR methods were employed to estimate causal effects and detect directional pleiotropy. Our findings demonstrated that genetic liability to DKK1 was associated with increased risks of CAD (odds ratio [OR]: 1.087; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.024-1.154; P = 0.006) and IS (OR: 1.096; 95% CI: 1.004-1.195; P = 0.039). These results establish a causal link between genetic liability to DKK1 and elevated risks of CAD and IS. Consequently, DKK1 may represent a promising therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of CAD and IS.

Super-tough polylactic acid (PLA)/poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) materials prepared through reactive blending with epoxy-functionalized PMMA-GMA copolymer.

High-performance biosourced polylactic acid (PLA)/poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) blends with small amounts of compatibilizer, epoxy-functionalized methyl methacrylate-co-glycidyl methacrylate copolymer (PMMA-GMA), were fabricated by melt compounding. The properties of the modified PLA/PMMA-GMA, PBS/PMMA-GMA, and PLS(PLA/PBS)/PMMA-GMA blends were investigated systematically. DSC combined with X-ray diffraction revealed a low-order semi-crystalline structure for all samples. SEM and DMA showed that the compatibility between PLA and PBS was improved after addition of PMMA-GMA. Rheological behavior of blends showed that the addition of PMMA-GMA resulted in a significant improvement in the viscoelasticity. FT-IR spectra confirmed that the interfacial compatibilization between PLA and PBS phases was improved due to the reaction of epoxy groups with terminal groups of PLA and PBS. Finally, the toughness and notched impact strength of the PLA materials were increased significantly. The elongation at break and notched impact strength of PLS/PMMA-GMA was about 55.7 and 6.2 times than neat PLA after incorporation of 7 wt% PMMA-GMA, respectively.

Synergistic Effects between Multiphase Thermal Insulation Functional Phases on the Mechanical and Heat Insulation Properties of Silicone Rubber Composites.

This work utilizes the synergistic effect between three different functional phases of thermal insulation, i.e., hollow ceramic microspheres (HCMs), hollow silica microspheres (HSMs), and hydroxy silicone oil blowing agent, to prepare a flexible and efficient thermal insulation composite with low thermal conductivity and high structural strength. First, the effects of the three phases on the mechanical and thermomechanical properties of silicon rubber (SR) were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), a thermogravimetric (TG) analyzer, a thermal conductivity meter, and a universal testing machine, respectively. Then, the thermal insulation mechanism of multiphase thermal insulation composite materials was analyzed. The results show that the thermal stability and mechanical performance of composites were significantly enhanced, particularly for sample 18H, whose Tmax and char yield reached 621.3 °C and 77.5%, respectively, representing a respective increase of 12.1 and 35.3% compared to those of pure SR. After heat treatment at 1000 °C, the linear shrinkage of the sample diameter was about 9.4%, while the thermal conductivity was as low as 0.064 W/(m·K), which was 53.2% lower than that of the pure matrix SR. We believe that this work can serve as a reference for the preparation of heat insulation and protection materials with low thermal conductivity and high structural strength.

Dissolved organic matter evolution and straw decomposition rate characterization under different water and fertilizer conditions based on three-dimensional fluorescence spectrum and deep learning.

Straw returning is a sustainable way to utilize agricultural solid waste resources. However, incomplete decomposition of straw will cause harm to crop growth and soil quality. Currently, there is a lack of technology to timely monitor the rate of straw decomposition. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is the most active organic matter in soil and straw is mainly immersed in the soil in the form of DOM. In order to formulate reasonable straw returning management measures , a timely monitoring method of straw decomposition rate was developed in the study. Three water treatment (60%-65%, 70%-75% and 80%-85% maximum field capacity) and two fertilizer (organic fertilizer and chemical fertilizer) were set up in the management of straw returning to the field. Litterbag method was used to monitor the weight loss rate of straw decomposition under different water and fertilizer conditions in strawberry growth stage. The changes of DOM components were determined by three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy (3D-EEM). From the faster decomposition period to the slower decomposition period, the main components of DOM changed from protein-like components to humus-like components. At the end of the experiment, the relative content of humus-like components under the treatment of organic fertilizer and moderate water was the highest. Convolutional neural network (CNN) combined with 3D-EEM was used to identify the decomposition speed of straw. The classification precision of neural network validation set and test are 85.7% and 81.2%, respectively. In order to predict the decomposition rate of straw under different water and fertilizer conditions, 3D-EEM data of DOM were used as the input of CNN, parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) and fluorescence region integral (FRI), and dissolved organic carbon data were used as the input of dissolved organic carbon linear prediction. The prediction model based on CNN had the best effect (R2 = 0.987). The results show that this method can effectively identify the spectral characteristics and predict the decomposition rate of straw under different conditions of water and fertilizer, which is helpful to promote the efficient decomposition of straw.

Thickness-Controlled Synthesis of Compact and Uniform MOF Protective Layer for Zinc Anode to Achieve 85% Zinc Utilization.

Zinc anode-based aqueous batteries have attracted considerable interest for large-scale energy storage and wearable devices. Unfortunately, the formation of Zn dendrite, parasitic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and irreversible by-products, seriously restrict their practical applications. Herein, a series of compact and uniform metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) films with precisely controlled thickness (150-600 nm) are constructed by a pre-oxide gas deposition (POGD) method on Zn foil. Under the protection of MOF layer with optimum thickness, the corrosion of zinc, the side reaction of hydrogen evolution, and the growth of dendrites on the zinc surface are suppressed. The symmetric cell based on Zn@ZIF-8 anode exhibits exceptional cyclicality for over 1100 h with low voltage hysteresis of≈38 mV at 1 mA cm-2 . Even at current densities of 50 mA cm-2 with an area capacity of 50 mAh cm-2 (85% Zn utilization), the electrode can keep cycling for >100 h. Besides, this Zn@ZIF-8 anode also delivers a high average CE of 99.4% at 1 mA cm-2 . Moreover, a rechargeable Zn ion battery is fabricated based on the Zn@ZIF-8 anode and MnO2 cathode, which presents an exceptionally long lifespan with no capacity attenuation for 1000 cycles.

Construction and application of dynamic online nomogram for prognosis prediction of patients with advanced (Stage III/IV) tongue squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: The prognosis of patients with advanced tongue squamous cell carcinoma (ATSCC) is poor, and their overall survival (OS) is relatively short. Currently, the TNM stage system is often used clinically to assess the prognosis of patients, but the evaluation index of the TNM stage system is relatively single and does not specifically demonstrate relevant prognostic data. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to construct a dynamic online nomogram for predicting the prognosis of patients with ATSCC and to provide some reference for personalized clinical treatment of patients. METHODS: Clinical and prognostic information on patients with pathologically confirmed ATSCC from 2000 to 2018 was extracted from the SEER database and randomly divided into a training cohort and a validation cohort in a 7:3 ratio. Multifactorial and univariate Cox regression analyses were used to identify prognostic risk factors. Dynamic online nomogram were constructed using R software. Area under the curve (AUC), C-index, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) with time-dependent ROC curves were used to assess the clinical utility of the nomogram. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to compare the prognosis of different patient categories. RESULTS: A total of 3828 patients with ATSCC were screened in the SEER database.Age,race, primary site, AJCC T,N and M stage, lymph nodes surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and marital status were independent influences on OS(P < 0.05). In the training cohort, the C-index of the OS-related line plot was 0.733 and the AUC for predicting 3-year OS was 0.867. In the validation cohort, the C-index was 0.738 and the AUC for 3-year OS was 0.899. Calibration plots and DCA curves showed good predictive performance of the model in both the training and validation cohorts. Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that chemotherapy, lymph nodes surgery,married,primary site(tongue base) and radiotherapy had better OS than the non-chemotherapy, non-surgery, single, primary site(tongue anterior), and non-radiotherapy groups, respectively (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The established dynamic online nomogram has good predictive performance, which helps to personalize and combine the actual clinical patients to comprehensively predict the prognosis of ATSCC patients and may have better clinical application than the TNM stage system.

Relationship between pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) root morphology, inter-root soil bacterial community structure and diversity under water-air intercropping conditions.

MAIN CONCLUSION: The combination of water and gas at an aeration rate of 15 mg/L and irrigation amount of 0.8 Ep significantly promoted the root morphology, inter-root soil bacterial community structure and diversity of pepper, enhanced the structure of molecular symbiotic network, and stimulated the potential ecosystem function. Poor aeration adversely affects the root morphology of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) and bacterial community. It is critical to understand the effects of water-air interactions on root morphology and bacterial community structure and diversity. A randomized block experiment was conducted under the two aeration rates of dissolved oxygen mass concentrations, including A: 15 mg/L, O: 40 mg/L, and C: non-aeration as control treatment, and two irrigation rates of W1 and W2 (0.8 Ep and 1.0 Ep). The results showed that aerated irrigation had a significant effect on the root morphology of pepper. Compared with treatment CW1, treatment AW1 increased root dry weight, root length, root volume, and root surface area by 13.63%, 11.09%, 59.47%, and 61.67%, respectively (P < 0.05). Aerated irrigation significantly increased the relative abundance of Actinobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, Alphaproteobacteria, Gemmatimonas, Sphingomonas, and KD4-96 aerobic beneficial bacteria. It decreased the relative abundance of Proteobacteria, Monomycetes, Bacteroidetes, Corynebacterium, Gammaproteobacteria, Anaerolineae, Subgroup_6, MND1, Haliangium, and Thiobacillus. The Pielou_e, Shannon and Simpson indexes of treatment AW1 were significantly higher than treatments OW1 and CW1. The results of the ß-diversity of bacterial communities showed that the structure of soil bacterial communities differed significantly among treatments. Actinobacteria was a key phylum affecting root morphology, and AW1 treatment was highly correlated with Actinobacteria. Molecular ecological network analysis showed a relatively high number of bacterial network nodes and more complex relationships among species under the aeration of level 15 mg/L and 0.8 Ep, as well as the emergence of new phylum-level beneficial species: Dependentiae, BRC1, Cyanobacteria, Deinococcus-Thermus, Firmicutes, and Planctomycetes. Therefore, the aeration of 15 mg/L and 0.8 times crop-evaporation coefficient can increase root morphology, inter-root soil bacterial community diversity and bacterial network structure, and enhance potential ecosystem functions in the rhizosphere.

Identification MNS1, FRZB, OGN, LUM, SERP1NA3 and FCN3 as the potential immune-related key genes involved in ischaemic cardiomyopathy by random forest and nomogram.

The immune molecular mechanisms involved in ischaemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) have not been fully elucidated. The current study aimed to elucidate the immune cell infiltration pattern of the ICM and identify key immune-related genes that participate in the pathologic process of the ICM. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified from two datasets (GSE42955 combined with GSE57338) and the top 8 key DEGs related to ICM were screened using random forest and used to construct the nomogram model. Moreover, the "CIBERSORT" software package was used to determine the proportion of infiltrating immune cells in the ICM. A total of 39 DEGs (18 upregulated and 21 downregulated) were identified in the current study. Four upregulated DEGs, including MNS1, FRZB, OGN, and LUM, and four downregulated DEGs, SERP1NA3, RNASE2, FCN3 and SLCO4A1, were identified by the random forest model. The nomogram constructed based on the above 8 key genes suggested a diagnostic value of up to 99% to distinguish the ICM from healthy participants. Meanwhile, most of the key DEGs presented prominent interactions with immune cell infiltrates. The RT-qPCR results suggested that the expression levels of MNS1, FRZB, OGN, LUM, SERP1NA3 and FCN3 between the ICM and control groups were consistent with the bioinformatic analysis results. These results suggested that immune cell infiltration plays a critical role in the occurrence and progression of ICM. Several key immune-related genes, including the MNS1, FRZB, OGN, LUM, SERP1NA3 and FCN3 genes, are expected to be reliable serum markers for the diagnosis of ICM and potential molecular targets for ICM immunotherapy.

ACSL1, CH25H, GPCPD1, and PLA2G12A as the potential lipid-related diagnostic biomarkers of acute myocardial infarction.

Lipid metabolism plays an essential role in the genesis and progress of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Herein, we identified and verified latent lipid-related genes involved in AMI by bioinformatic analysis. Lipid-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in AMI were identified using the GSE66360 dataset from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and R software packages. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were conducted to analyze lipid-related DEGs. Lipid-related genes were identified by two machine learning techniques: least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and support vector machine recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to descript diagnostic accuracy. Furthermore, blood samples were collected from AMI patients and healthy individuals, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to determine the RNA levels of four lipid-related DEGs. Fifty lipid-related DEGs were identified, 28 upregulated and 22 downregulated. Several enrichment terms related to lipid metabolism were found by GO and KEGG enrichment analyses. After LASSO and SVM-RFE screening, four genes (ACSL1, CH25H, GPCPD1, and PLA2G12A) were identified as potential diagnostic biomarkers for AMI. Moreover, the RT-qPCR analysis indicated that the expression levels of four DEGs in AMI patients and healthy individuals were consistent with bioinformatics analysis results. The validation of clinical samples suggested that 4 lipid-related DEGs are expected to be diagnostic markers for AMI and provide new targets for lipid therapy of AMI.

Identification of m6A regulator-mediated RNA methylation modification patterns and key immune-related genes involved in atrial fibrillation.

The role of m6A in the regulation of the immune microenvironment in atrial fibrillation (AF) remains unclear. This study systematically evaluated the RNA modification patterns mediated by differential m6A regulators in 62 AF samples, identified the pattern of immune cell infiltration in AF and identified several immune-related genes associated with AF. A total of six key differential m6A regulators between healthy subjects and AF patients were identified by the random forest classifier. Three distinct RNA modification patterns (m6A cluster-A, -B and -C) among AF samples were identified based on the expression of 6 key m6A regulators. Differential infiltrating immune cells and HALLMARKS signaling pathways between normal and AF samples as well as among samples with three distinct m6A modification patterns were identified. A total of 16 overlapping key genes were identified by weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) combined with two machine learning methods. The expression levels of the NCF2 and HCST genes were different between controls and AF patient samples as well as among samples with the distinct m6A modification patterns. RT-qPCR also proved that the expression of NCF2 and HCST was significantly increased in AF patients compared with control participants. These results suggested that m6A modification plays a key role in the complexity and diversity of the immune microenvironment of AF. Immunotyping of patients with AF will help to develop more accurate immunotherapy strategies for those with a significant immune response. The NCF2 and HCST genes may be novel biomarkers for the accurate diagnosis and immunotherapy of AF.

Biodegradable and biocompatible alginate/gelatin/MXene composite membrane with efficient osteogenic activity and its application in guided bone regeneration.

Guided bone regeneration (GBR) utilizes a barrier membrane to maintain the osteogenic space and promote osseointegration of the implants. Developing a novel biomaterial to meet the mechanical and biological performance requirements of GBR membrane (GBRM) remains a huge challenge. Here, the sodium alginate (SA, S)/gelatin (G)/MXene (M) composite membrane (SGM) was prepared by combining sol-gel and freeze-drying processes. The incorporation of MXene improved the mechanical properties and hydrophilicity of the SA/G (SG) membrane, and also enhanced its cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. More importantly, when the concentration of MXene is 0.25%W/V, the SGM composite membrane exhibited the best tensile strength (40 MPa), high swelling rate (1012%), and appropriate degradation rate (40%). Meanwhile, the biological improvements were more significant. Therefore, the appropriate amount addition of MXene has a positive and obvious effect on the improvements of the mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and osteogenic induction of the SG composite membranes. This work provides a more extendable development idea for the application of SGM composite membrane as GBRM.