Using Quercetin to Construct Molecularly Imprinting Polymer in the Preparation and Enrichment of Flavonol and Flavonoid Compounds.

Flavonol and flavonoid compounds are important natural compounds with various biomedical activities. Therefore, it is of great significance to develop a strategy for the specific extraction of flavonol and flavonoid compounds. Quercetin is a well-studied flavonoid possessing many health benefits. This compound is a versatile antioxidant known to possess protective abilities against body tissue injury induced by pathological situations and various drug toxicities. Although quercetin is widely distributed in many plants, its content generally is not very high. Therefore, the specific extraction of quercetin as well as other flavonol and flavonoid compounds has profound significance. In this work, the quercetin molecularly imprinting polymer (QMIP) was successfully prepared, in which a typical flavonol quercetin was selected as the template molecule. QMIP was synthesized by performing the surface molecular imprinting technology on the surface of NH2-MIL-101(Fe). Our study results showed that QMIP exhibited quick binding kinetic behavior, a high adsorption capacity (57.04[Formula: see text]mg/g), and the specific recognition ability toward quercetin compared with structurally distinct compounds (selective [Formula: see text]). The specific adsorption ability of quercetin by QMIP was further explained using computation simulation that molecules with non-planar 3D conformations hardly entered the molecularly imprinted cavities on QMIP. Finally, QMIP was successfully used for the specific extraction of quercetin and five other flavonol and flavonoid compounds in the crude extracts from Sapium sebiferum. This study proposes a new strategy to synthesize the molecularly imprinted polymer based on a single template for enriching and loading a certain class of active ingredients with similar core structures from variable botanicals.

Excessive load promotes temporomandibular joint chondrocyte apoptosis via Piezo1/endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway.

Excessive load on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a significant factor in the development of TMJ osteoarthritis, contributing to cartilage degeneration. The specific mechanism through which excessive load induces TMJ osteoarthritis is not fully understood; however, mechanically-activated (MA) ion channels play a crucial role. Among these channels, Piezo1 has been identified as a mediator of chondrocyte catabolic responses and is markedly increased in osteoarthritis. Our observations indicate that, under excessive load conditions, endoplasmic reticulum stress in chondrocytes results in apoptosis of the TMJ chondrocytes. Importantly, using the Piezo1 inhibitor GsMTx4 demonstrates its potential to alleviate this condition. Furthermore, Piezo1 mediates endoplasmic reticulum stress in chondrocytes by inducing calcium ion influx. Our research substantiates the role of Piezo1 as a pivotal ion channel in mediating chondrocyte overload. It elucidates the link between excessive load, cell apoptosis, and calcium ion influx through Piezo1. The findings underscore Piezo1 as a key player in the pathogenesis of TMJ osteoarthritis, shedding light on potential therapeutic interventions for this condition.

Benefits of the Modified Version of the Illness-Wellness Continuum Model for Nurse Education.

With rapid advancements in sciences and the expanding scope of nursing practice, faculty are challenged to connect the experiences of learners with abstract concepts of science and to cultivate clinical reasoning skills. Rationale for the adoption of the illness-wellness continuum model includes the following: (a) the relationships among illness, health, and the nursing process are relevant in many health situations, and (b) levels of wellness are steeped in holistic principles of self-care, which are consistent with educational and clinical goals. The modified version of the illness-wellness continuum model can serve as the groundwork that prepares nursing students in a constantly changing workplace.

Serum selenium and fasting blood glucose: a cross-sectional study in women of different menopause status.

BACKGROUND: This cross-sectional study aims to explore whether there exists an interaction between selenium and menopause concerning type 2 diabetes (T2D) prevalence and its related indicators such as fasting blood glucose (FBG) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). METHODS: 150 women aged 35-60 years old were finally analyzed in this study. Multivariate linear or logistic regression modeling was conducted to explore the association of selenium and the prevalence of T2D besides its related indicators. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on menopause status to assess the potential impact on the relationship. RESULTS: In the fully adjusted model, serum selenium was positively associated with FBG (ß: 0.03, CI: 0.01-0.05) and the prevalence of T2D (OR: 1.04, CI: 1.00-1.08). After stratifying the data by menopause status, compared with the postmenopausal women group, as the serum selenium concentrations increased, the FBG concentrations were significantly higher in the premenopausal women group (p for interaction = 0.0020). CONCLUSIONS: The present study found serum selenium was positively associated with FBG and the prevalence of T2D. Furthermore, the relationship between serum selenium and FBG was different in the premenopausal and postmenopausal women. More studies are still needed in the future to verify the relationship as well as to explore the specific mechanisms.

The textures of sarcoidosis: quantifying lung disease through variograms.

Objective: Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disease affecting the lungs in over 90% of patients. Qualitative assessment of chest CT by radiologists is standard clinical practice and reliable quantification of disease from CT would support ongoing efforts to identify sarcoidosis phenotypes. Standard imaging feature engineering techniques such as radiomics suffer from extreme sensitivity to image acquisition and processing, potentially impeding generalizability of research to clinical populations. In this work, we instead investigate approaches to engineering variogram-based features with the intent to identify a robust, generalizable pipeline for image quantification in the study of sarcoidosis. Approach: For a cohort of more than 300 individuals with sarcoidosis, we investigated 24 feature engineering pipelines differing by decisions for image registration to a template lung, empirical and model variogram estimation methods, and feature harmonization for CT scanner model, and subsequently 48 sets of phenotypes produced through unsupervised clustering. We then assessed sensitivity of engineered features, phenotypes produced through unsupervised clustering, and sarcoidosis disease signal strength to pipeline. Main results: We found that variogram features had low to mild association with scanner model and associations were reduced by image registration. For each feature type, features were also typically robust to all pipeline decisions except image registration. Strength of disease signal as measured by association with pulmonary function testing and some radiologist visual assessments was strong (optimistic AUC ≈ 0.9, p ≪ 0.0001 in models for architectural distortion, conglomerate mass, fibrotic abnormality, and traction bronchiectasis) and fairly consistent across engineering approaches regardless of registration and harmonization for CT scanner. Significance: Variogram-based features appear to be a suitable approach to image quantification in support of generalizable research in pulmonary sarcoidosis.

A novel small-molecule PCSK9 inhibitor E28362 ameliorates hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis.

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) binds to the epidermal growth factor precursor homologous domain A (EGF-A) of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) in the liver and triggers the degradation of LDLR via the lysosomal pathway, consequently leading to an elevation in plasma LDL-C levels. Inhibiting PCSK9 prolongs the lifespan of LDLR and maintains cholesterol homeostasis in the body. Thus, PCSK9 is an innovative pharmacological target for treating hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis. In this study, we discovered that E28362 was a novel small-molecule PCSK9 inhibitor by conducting a virtual screening of a library containing 40,000 compounds. E28362 (5, 10, 20 µM) dose-dependently increased the protein levels of LDLR in both total protein and the membrane fraction in both HepG2 and AML12 cells, and enhanced the uptake of DiI-LDL in AML12 cells. MTT assay showed that E28362 up to 80 µM had no obvious toxicity in HepG2, AML12, and HEK293a cells. The effects of E28362 on hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis were evaluated in three different animal models. In high-fat diet-fed golden hamsters, administration of E28362 (6.7, 20, 60 mg·kg-1·d-1, i.g.) for 4 weeks significantly reduced plasma total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and PCSK9 levels, and reduced liver TC and TG contents. In Western diet-fed ApoE-/- mice (20, 60 mg·kg-1·d-1, i.g.) and human PCSK9 D374Y overexpression mice (60 mg·kg-1·d-1, i.g.), administration of E28362 for 12 weeks significantly decreased plasma LDL-C levels and the area of atherosclerotic lesions in en face aortas and aortic roots. Moreover, E28362 significantly increased the protein expression level of LDLR in the liver. We revealed that E28362 selectively bound to PCSK9 in HepG2 and AML12 cells, blocked the interaction between LDLR and PCSK9, and induced the degradation of PCSK9 through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, which finally resulted in increased LDLR protein levels. In conclusion, E28362 can block the interaction between PCSK9 and LDLR, induce the degradation of PCSK9, increase LDLR protein levels, and alleviate hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis in three distinct animal models, suggesting that E28362 is a promising lead compound for the treatment of hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis.

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis among patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia and influenza in ICUs: a retrospective cohort study.

RATIONALE: The prevalence, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in intensive care units remain underestimated because of the lack of a disease-recognition scheme and the inadequacy of diagnostic tests. OBJECTIVES: To identify the prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes of severe CAP complicated with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in intensive care units (ICUs). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study including recruited 311 ICU-hospitalized patients with severe CAP without influenza or with influenza. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples were from all patients and subjected to mycological testing. Patients were categorized as having proven or probable Aspergillus infection using a modified form of the AspICU algorithm comprising clinical, radiological, and mycological criteria. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Of the 252 patients with severe CAP and 59 influenza patients evaluated, 24 met the diagnostic criteria for proven or probable Aspergillus infection in the CAP group and 9 patients in the influenza group, giving estimated prevalence values of 9.5% and 15.3%, respectively. COPD and the use of inhaled corticosteroids were independent risk factors for IPA. IPA in patients with severe CAP was significantly associated with the duration of mechanical support, the length of ICU stay, and the 28-day mortality. CONCLUSIONS: An aggressive diagnostic approach for IPA patients with severe CAP and not only influenza or COVID-19 should be pursued. Further randomized controlled trials need to evaluate the timing, safety, and efficacy of antifungal therapy in reducing IPA incidence and improving clinical outcomes.

Optimization of fermentation conditions for the production of γ-aminobutyric acid by Lactobacillus hilgardii GZ2 from traditional Chinese fermented beverage system.

γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a crucial neurotransmitter with wide application prospects. In this study, we focused on a GABA-producing strain from a traditional Chinese fermented beverage system. Among the six isolates, Lactobacillus hilgardii GZ2 exhibited the greatest ability to produce GABA in the traditional Chinese fermented beverage system. To increase GABA production, we optimized carbon sources, nitrogen sources, temperature, pH, and monosodium glutamate and glucose concentrations and conducted fed-batch fermentation. The best carbon and nitrogen sources for GABA production and cell growth were glucose, yeast extract and tryptone. Gradual increases in GABA were observed as the glucose and monosodium glutamate concentrations increased from 10 g/L to 50 g/L. During fed-batch fermentation, lactic acid was used to maintain the pH at 5.56, and after feeding with 0.03 g/mL glucose and 0.4 g/mL sodium glutamate for 72 h, the GABA yield reached 239 g/L. This novel high-GABA-producing strain holds great potential for the industrial production of GABA, as well as the development of health-promoting functional foods and medical fields.

Blood Coagulation-Inspired Fibrin Hydrogel for Portable Detection of Thrombin Based on Personal Glucometer.

As one of the biomarkers of coagulation system-related diseases, the detection of thrombin is of practical importance. Thus, this study developed a portable biosensor based on a personal glucometer for rapid detection of thrombin activity. Fibrinogen was used for the detection of thrombin, and the assay principle was inspired by the blood coagulation process, where thrombin hydrolyzes fibrinogen to produce a fibrin hydrogel, and the amount of invertase encapsulated in the fibrin hydrogel fluctuates in accordance with the activity of thrombin in the sample solution. The quantitative assay is conducted by measuring the amount of unencapsulated invertase available to hydrolyze the substrate sucrose, and the signal readout is recorded using a personal glucometer. A linear detection range of 0-0.8 U/mL of thrombin with a limit of detection of 0.04 U/mL was obtained based on the personal glucometer sensing platform. The results of the selectivity and interference experiments showed that the developed personal glucometer sensing platform is highly selective and accurate for thrombin activity. Finally, the reliability of the portable glucometer method for rapid thrombin detection in serum samples was investigated by measuring the recovery rate, which ranged from 92.8% to 107.7%. In summary, the fibrin hydrogel sensing platform proposed in this study offers a portable and versatile means for detecting thrombin using a personal glucometer. This approach not only simplifies the detection process, but also eliminates the need for large instruments and skilled operators, and substantially reduces detection costs.

Fractional exhaled nitric oxide, a potential biomarker for evaluating glucocorticoids treatment and prognosis in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.

BACKGROUND: Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is characterized by enhanced TH2 inflammatory response. Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) measurement has been used as a valuable tool in predicting the development and management of asthma, another typical TH2 inflammation. However, the clinical significance of FeNO in ABPA remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between FeNO and the prognosis of patients with ABPA to provide a basis for the use of FeNO in evaluating the efficacy of glucocorticoids in ABPA treatment. METHODS: This study comprised 2 parts; 58 patients were enrolled in the retrospective study. Clinical indexes in patients with different prognoses were compared, and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to determine the threshold value. The prospective observational study involved 61 patients who were regularly followed up at 4 to 6 weeks and 6 months since the initial treatment. Patients were grouped on the basis of baseline FeNO values; correlation analysis was performed in the clinical data. RESULTS: Different prognoses were observed between patients with high and low baseline FeNO values, with a threshold value of 57 parts per billion. The percentage of Aspergillus fumigatus-specific IgE, percentage of positive A fumigatus-specific IgG, and relapse/exacerbation rate differed significantly between the high and low FeNO groups. Patients with higher FeNO needed longer treatment duration and showed shorter interval between glucocorticoid withdrawal and the next relapse/exacerbation. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that the level of FeNO is associated with the prognosis of ABPA. It can serve as an independent and valuable biomarker for evaluating the effectiveness of glucocorticoid treatment.

Berbamine ameliorates DSS-induced colitis by inhibiting peptidyl-arginine deiminase 4-dependent neutrophil extracellular traps formation.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease with immune dysregulation affecting colon inflammatory response. Recent studies have highlighted that neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) play an important role in the pathogenesis of UC. Berbamine (BBM), one of the bioactive ingredients extracted from Chinese herbal medicine Berberis vulgaris L, has attracted intensive attentions due to its significant anti-inflammatory activity and a marketing drug for treating leukemia in China. However, the exact role and potential molecular mechanism of BBM against UC remains elusive. In the present study, our results showed that BBM could markedly improve the pathological phenotype and the colon inflammation in mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Then, comprehensive approaches combining network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses were employed to predict the therapeutic potential of BBM in treating UC by peptidyl-arginine deiminase 4 (PAD4), a crucial molecule involved in NETs formation. The molecular docking results showed BBM had a high affinity for PAD4 with a binding energy of -9.3 kcal/mol Moreover, PAD4 expression and NETs productions, including citrullination of histone H3 (Cit-H3), neutrophil elastase (NE), myeloperoxidase (MPO) in both neutrophils and colonic tissue were reduced after BBM administration. However, in the mice with DSS-induced colitis pretreated with GSK484, a PAD4-specific inhibitor, BBM could not further reduce disease related indexes, expression of PAD4 and NETs productions. Above all, the identification of PAD4 as a potential target for BBM to inhibit NETs formation in colitis provides novel insights into the development of BBM-derived drugs for the clinical management of UC.

Self-esteem, depression, anxiety and sexual function in Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome with neovagina: A case series.

BACKGROUND: The Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome is a rare condition with significant psychological implications. However, our understanding of its impact on postoperative sexual function and mental health is still limited. AIM: Evaluate the mental health status and sexual functioning of women with MRKH syndrome after vaginoplasty surgery. METHODS: We enrolled 53 cases with MRKH syndrome who underwent artificial vaginoplasty. The participants were asked to participate in a two-round survey conducted between February 2021 during the covid-19 period and March 2023. The survey included questionnaires to measure depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and sexual functioning. Differences between scores over time were analysed using a paired sample t-test, and we assessed the correlation between mental health and sexual functioning. RESULTS: In the first round, patients' mean ± SD age at surgery was 23.6 ± 4.5 years old, and the mean ± SD time that had elapsed since surgery at the time of the survey was 34.2 ± 20.8 months. None of the patients reported low self-esteem, 45.3 % reported mild-to-moderate depression, and 34.0 % reported mild anxiety. Thirty patients have had vaginal intercourse during the last six months. The mean ± SD Female Sexual Functioning Index score was 24.6 ± 4.4, and 60.0 % had a score of 23.5 or higher, indicating high sexual functioning. The sexual functioning scores were positively correlated with self-esteem scores and negatively correlated with depression or anxiety scores (p < 0.05). There was no significant improvement in patient's mental health status and sexual function between the second round survey (71.3 ± 17.8 months after surgery) and the first round survey (p > 0.05). In contrast, the sexual arousal of FSFI were significantly higher in the second survey round (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Most patients undergoing vaginoplasty reported persisting mental health challenges. However, the majority reported good sexual functioning.

[Analysis and reflection on current situation of Chinese patent medicine for children in China].

This study took Chinese patent medicine for children included in Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020 edition and the first supplement), Medicine Catalogue for National Basic Medical Insurance, Work Injury Insurance, and Maternity Insurance(2022 edition), and National Essential Medicines List(2018 edition) as the research objects, so as to sort out the distribution situation, characteristics, and the problems of Chinese patent medicine for children(including child-specific medicines, common medicines for children and adults, and discretionary medicines for children). According to statistics and summary, Chinese patent medicine for children is mainly administered orally, and the dosage forms are mostly traditional dosage forms, such as tablets, granules, capsules, and oral liquids, with mostly bitter or sweet taste. Diseases are mainly classified into pulmonary diseases and spleen and stomach diseases, and varieties of medication without Children's medication safety information or "still unclear" account for a relatively large proportion of the medicines. There are relatively few varieties of Chinese patent medicines for children, poor compliance of child-specific medication, lack of refinement of Chinese patent medicines for children dosage, and lack of information about safe use of medication. It is recommended to update and improve the instruction manuals in a timely manner, develop new varieties of Chinese patent medicine for children, and actively carry out post-marketing evaluation and clinical comprehensive evaluation of Chinese patent medicine for children, so as to provide a reference for the supplement and improvement of the instructions, the comprehensive improvement, the formulation of the catalogue, and the research and development of new Chinese patent medicine for children and ensure the use of medicines for children.

Characterization and prebiotic potential of polysaccharides from Rosa roxburghii Tratt pomace by ultrasound-assisted extraction.

In this study, polysaccharides (RRTPs) were extracted from Rosa roxburghii Tratt pomace by hot water or ultrasound (US)-assisted extraction. The structural properties and potential prebiotic functions of RRTPs were investigated. Structural characterization was conducted through HPAEC, HPGPC, GC-MS, FT-IR and SEM. Chemical composition analysis revealed that RRTPs extracted by hot water (RRTP-HW) or US with shorter (RRTP-US-S) or longer duration (RRTP-US-L) all consisted of galacturonic acid, galactose, glucose, arabinose, rhamnose and glucuronic acid in various molar ratio. US extraction caused notable reduction in molecular weight of RRTPs but no significant changes in primary structures. Fecal fermentation showed RRTPs could reshape microbial composition toward a healthier balance, leading to a higher production of beneficial metabolites including total short-chain fatty acids, curcumin, noopept, spermidine, 3-feruloylquinic acid and citrulline. More beneficial shifts in bacterial population were observed in RRTP-HW group, while RRTP-US-S had stronger ability to stimulate bacterial short-chain fatty acids production. Additionally, metabolic profiles with the intervention of RRTP-HW, RRTP-US-S or RRTP-US-L were significantly different from each other. The results suggested RRTPs had potential prebiotic effects which could be modified by power US via molecular weight degradation.

Centering diversity, equity, and inclusion in a regional professional nursing organization.

BACKGROUND: Professional nursing organizations can respond to threats to social justice by strengthening structures to support diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). PURPOSE: Describe implementation strategies and outcomes to advance DEI from the Western Institute of Nursing (WIN). METHODS: In 2019, WIN committed to prioritizing DEI by updating its vision and mission. A taskforce was assembled to conduct member surveys, focus groups, and open forums to generate recommendations on developing and implementing organizational change. DISCUSSION: These initiatives culminated in centralized efforts that include the formation of a standing committee, ongoing member surveys, selection of diverse conference topics and speakers, adoption of inclusive practices, and ongoing assessments to make recommendations to the Board to advance DEI. CONCLUSION: The work of the Committee ensures the organization remains committed to DEI. These strategies inform other nursing organizations as they advance DEI to impact research, education, policy, and practice.

The role of volatile organic compounds for assessing characteristics and severity of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis: an observational study.

Background: Hypoxic conditions and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) infection are significant factors influencing the prognosis and treatment of patients with bronchiectasis. This study aimed to explore the potential for breath analysis to detect hypoxic conditions and P. aeruginosa infection in bronchiectasis patients by analyzing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath condensate (EBC). Methods: EBC samples were collected from stable bronchiectasis patients and analyzed using solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GCMS). The association of VOCs with bronchiectasis patients' phenotypes including hypoxic conditions and P. aeruginosa isolation was analyzed, which may relate to the severity of bronchiectasis disease. Results: Levels of 10-heptadecenoic acid, heptadecanoic acid, longifolene, and decanol in the hypoxia group were higher compared to the normoxia group. Additionally, the levels of 13-octadecenoic acid, octadecenoic acid, phenol, pentadecanoic acid, and myristic acid were increased in P. aeruginosa (+) group compared to the P. aeruginosa (-) group. Subgroup analysis based on the bronchiectasis severity index (BSI)reveled that the levels of 10-heptadecenoic acid, heptadecanoic acid, decanol, 13-octadecenoic acid, myristic acid, and pentadecanoic acid were higher in the severe group compared to the moderate group. Multivariate linear regression showed that 10-heptadecenoic acid and age were independent prognostic factors for bronchiectasis patients with hypoxia. Furthermore, octadecenoic acid, phenol and gender were identified as independent prognostic factors for bronchiectasis patients with P. aeruginosa isolation. Conclusion: The study provides evidence that specific VOCs in EBC are correlated with the severity of bronchiectasis, and 10-heptadecenoic acid is shown to be a predictive marker for hypoxia condition in bronchiectasis patients.

Papillary renal neoplasm with reverse polarity: an observational study of histology, immunophenotypes, and molecular variation.

Background: Papillary renal neoplasm with reverse polarity (PRNRP) is a novel entity with unique clinicopathological characteristics, and only a small number of patients with PRNRP have been described. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data for nine patients with PRNRP and evaluated differences in the clinical, histomorphological, immunohistochemical, and molecular features; prognosis; and differential diagnosis of PRNRP from other renal tumors with papillary structure. Results: There were six males and three females aged 36 to 74 years (mean: 62.33 years; median: 68 years). All the tumors were solitary and ranged from 1 to 3.7 cm (mean: 2.17 cm; median: 2 cm), with three and six tumors arose in the left and right renal tract, respectively. Pathologically, PRNRP is a small, well-circumscribed neoplasm with predominant papillary formations. The lining epithelium is composed of a monolayer of cuboidal to low-columnar cells with low-grade nuclei arranged against the apical pole of the tumor cells. Edema, mucinous degeneration, and hyaline degeneration are found in the fibrovascular cores. Foamy macrophages, psammoma bodies, hemosiderin deposition, and infiltrative tumor boundaries were present in some patients. Immunohistochemically, all tumors showed diffuse positive staining for GATA3. Sanger sequencing confirmed the presence of KRAS mutation in seven patients. All patients had a good prognosis after surgery and were relapse free. Positive staining for GATA3 and negative staining for vimentin were the most significant markers for differentiating PRNRP from other renal tumors with analogous structure. Conclusions: These findings suggested that PRNRP is a distinctive subtype of renal tumor with specific pathological features and indolent behaviors that should be distinguished from other renal tumors, especially papillary renal cell carcinoma. A monolayer of tumor cells with an inverted nuclear pattern, positive staining for GATA3, and KRAS mutation are essential for pathological diagnosis. Owing to its satisfactory prognosis, the surveillance and follow-up of patients with PRNRP should be additionally formulated.

Enterococcus faecalis provides protection during scavenging in carrion crow ( Corvus corone).

The gut microbiota significantly influences host physiology and provides essential ecosystem services. While diet can affect the composition of the gut microbiota, the gut microbiota can also help the host adapt to specific dietary habits. The carrion crow ( Corvus corone), an urban facultative scavenger bird, hosts an abundance of pathogens due to its scavenging behavior. Despite this, carrion crows infrequently exhibit illness, a phenomenon related to their unique physiological adaptability. At present, however, the role of the gut microbiota remains incompletely understood. In this study, we performed a comparative analysis using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing technology to assess colonic content in carrion crows and 16 other bird species with different diets in Beijing, China. Our findings revealed that the dominant gut microbiota in carrion crows was primarily composed of Proteobacteria (75.51%) and Firmicutes (22.37%). Significant differences were observed in the relative abundance of Enterococcus faecalis among groups, highlighting its potential as a biomarker of facultative scavenging behavior in carrion crows. Subsequently, E. faecalis isolated from carrion crows was transplanted into model mice to explore the protective effects of this bacterial community against Salmonella enterica infection. Results showed that E. faecalis down-regulated the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), and interleukin 6 (IL-6), prevented S. enterica colonization, and regulated the composition of gut microbiota in mice, thereby modulating the host's immune regulatory capacity. Therefore, E. faecalis exerts immunoregulatory and anti-pathogenic functions in carrion crows engaged in scavenging behavior, offering a representative case of how the gut microbiota contributes to the protection of hosts with specialized diets.