Type IV secretion system effector sabotages multiple defense systems in a competing bacterium.

Effector proteins secreted by bacteria that infect mammalian and plant cells often subdue eukaryotic host cell defenses by simultaneously affecting multiple targets. However, instances when a bacterial effector injected in the competing bacteria sabotage more than a single target have not been reported. Here, we demonstrate that the effector protein, LtaE, translocated by the type IV secretion system (T4SS) from the soil bacterium Lysobacter enzymogenes into the competing bacterium, Pseudomonas protegens, affects several targets, thus disabling the antibacterial defenses of the competitor. One LtaE target is the transcription factor, LuxR1, that regulates biosynthesis of the antimicrobial compound, orfamide A. Another target is the sigma factor, PvdS, required for biosynthesis of another antimicrobial compound, pyoverdine. Deletion of the genes involved in orfamide A and pyoverdine biosynthesis disabled the antibacterial activity of P. protegens, whereas expression of LtaE in P. protegens resulted in the near-complete loss of the antibacterial activity against L. enzymogenes. Mechanistically, LtaE inhibits the assembly of the RNA polymerase complexes with each of these proteins. The ability of LtaE to bind to LuxR1 and PvdS homologs from several Pseudomonas species suggests that it can sabotage defenses of various competitors present in the soil or on plant matter. Our study thus reveals that the multi-target effectors have evolved to subdue cell defenses not only in eukaryotic hosts but also in bacterial competitors.

Achieving Dual Emission of Fluorescence and Phosphorescence from Anti-Kasha's Metal-Organic Halides for Information Encryption.

Luminescent materials typically emit their fluorescence or phosphorescence at a specific wavelength with different excitation energies via the so-called Kasha's rule. If fluorescence or phosphorescence emission via anti-Kasha's rule could be achieved, it will hold great promise for applications in many fields. In this work, we report the synthesis and characterization of new metal-organic halide materials with dual emission of efficient room-temperature phosphorescence and fluorescence, which obey anti-Kasha's rule. Here, three emitting metal-organic halides with formula [ZnX2(bidpe)] (X = Cl for 1, X = Br for 2, X = I for 3, bidpe = 4,4'-bis(imidazol-1-yl)diphenyl ether) were prepared and their photophysical properties were investigated. The complexes exhibit dual emission of fluorescence and phosphorescence via anti-Kasha's rule, and their RTP properties of resultant products are modulated by halide substitution synthesis. DFT calculations indicate that the singlet states exhibit a halide-ligand charge transfer (XLCT) character while the triplet states are dominated by the intraligand π-π* transitions. Furthermore, the multilevel information encryption and anticounterfeiting applications are developed by virtue of anti-Kasha's rule emission.

Targeted inhibition of DHODH is synergistic with BCL2 blockade in HGBCL with concurrent MYC and BCL2 rearrangement.

High-grade B-cell lymphoma (HGBCL), the subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, to be relapsed or refractory in patients after initial therapy or salvage chemotherapy. Dual dysregulation of MYC and BCL2 is one of the important pathogenic mechanisms. Thus, combined targeting of MYC and BCL2 appears to be a promising strategy. Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) is the fourth rate-limiting enzyme for the de novo biosynthesis of pyrimidine. It has been shown to be a potential therapeutic target for multiple diseases. In this study, the DHODH inhibitor brequinar exhibited growth inhibition, cell cycle blockade, and apoptosis promotion in HGBCL cell lines with MYC and BCL2 rearrangements. The combination of brequinar and BCL2 inhibitors venetoclax had a synergistic inhibitory effect on the survival of DHL cells through different pathways. Venetoclax could upregulate MCL-1 and MYC expression, which has been reported as a resistance mechanism of BCL2 inhibitors. Brequinar downregulated MCL-1 and MYC, which could potentially overcome drug resistance to venetoclax in HGBCL cells. Furthermore, brequinar could downregulate a broad range of genes, including ribosome biosynthesis genes, which might contribute to its anti-tumor effects. In vivo studies demonstrated synergetic tumor growth inhibition in xenograft models with brequinar and venetoclax combination treatment. These results provide preliminary evidence for the rational combination of DHODH and BCL2 blockade in HGBCL with abnormal MYC and BCL2.

The (p)ppGpp synthetase Rsh promotes rifampicin tolerant persister cell formation in Brucella abortus by regulating the type II toxin-antitoxin module mbcTA.

Persister cells are transiently tolerant to antibiotics and are associated with recalcitrant chronic infections due to recolonization of host cells after antibiotic removal. Brucella spp. are facultative pathogens that establish intracellular infection cycles in host cells which results in chronic persistent infections. Brucella abortus forms multi-drug persister cells which are promoted by the (p)ppGpp synthetase Rsh during rifampicin exposure. Here, we confirmed that Rsh promoted persister cells formation in B. abortus stationary phase treated with rifampicin and enrofloxacin. Deletion of the gene for Rsh decreased persister cells level in the presence of these drugs in different growth phases. However, persister cells formation by deletion strain varied in different growth phases in the presence of other antibiotics. Rsh also was involved in persister cells formation during rifampicin treatment under certain stress conditions, including acidic conditions, exposure to PBS, and heat stress. Moreover, Rsh impacted persister cell levels during rifampicin or enrofloxacin treatment in RAW264.7 macrophages. Certain typeIItoxin-antitoxin modules were upregulated under various stress conditions in B. abortus. We established that Rsh positively regulated the type II toxin-antitoxin mbcTA. Moreover, rifampicin-tolerant persister cells formation was elevated and ATP levels were decreased when mbcTA promoter was overexpressed in Rsh deletion background in stationary phase. Our results establish that (p)ppGpp synthetase Rsh plays a key role in B. abortus persistence and may serve as a potent novel target in combination with rifampicin in the development of new therapeutic approaches and prevention strategies to treat chronic infections of Brucella.

Ratiometric fluorescent test strips based on CB-Ni2+@CDs probes for visual detection of histamine.

Histamine is a biogenic amine with various physiological functions. However, excessive consumption of histamine can lead to various symptoms, and pose a threat to human lives. A ratiometric fluorescent test strip for visual detection of histamine was developed based on CB-Ni2+@CDs probes. As the concentration of histamine increases, the test strips exhibit a transition in fluorescence signal from yellow-green to blue. The RGB values were extracted from the images, and used for quantitative analysis of histamine. The method had a linear range of 0-1.0 mM, with a detection limit of 0.086 mM. The test strips were employed for the detection of histamine, and the recovery rate was found to be in the range of 88.3% to 104.69%, indicating a high level of accuracy. The uniqueness of the test strips lies in their ability to be produced simply by mixing CB, Ni2+ on a suitable polyvinyl alcohol/wood cellulose fiber substrate.

The American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) residue could partially replace the dietary puffed soybean meal in the Three-yellow chickens.

Periplaneta americana residue is a byproduct of using Periplaneta americana in pharmaceutical research and development for extracting active ingredients. Three hundred Three-yellow chickens were selected for the experiment and randomly divided into 6 groups (5 replications per group, 10 chickens per replicate): the control group (group A) was fed a basal ration, and the experimental groups (groups B, C, D, E, and F) were fed experimental diets in which P. americana residue replaced puffed soybean meal at proportions of 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100%, respectively, for a period of 42 d. The aim was to assess the impact of different levels of P. americana residue on the growth, survival, intestinal morphology, digestive enzyme activity, intestinal flora, and intestinal transcriptional responses of Three-yellow chickens. The results indicated that the increase in P. americana residue levels had a linear and quadratic impact on the average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR), respectively. The ADG was notably greater in the 40% group than in the 100% group, while the FCR was significantly lower in the 20% and 40% groups than in the 100% group (P < 0.05). Protease, lipase, and amylase activities exhibited a quadratic increase with increasing concentrations of P. americana residue (P < 0.05). Protease and lipase activities were notably greater in the 20% and 40% groups than in the 0% group (control group), amylase activity was significantly greater in the 40% group than in the 0% group (control group) (P < 0.05). Duodenal crypt depth (CD) decreased quadratically with increasing P. americana residue (P < 0.05). The duodenal villus height/crypt depth ratio (V/C) was significantly lower in the 100% group than in the 60% group (P < 0.05). The intestinal villus height (VH) increased quadratically with increasing levels of P. americana residue. The VH in the 60% group was significantly greater than that in the 0% (control group), 20, 80, and 100% groups (P < 0.05). The Chao and Ace indices demonstrated linear and quadratic increases with increasing levels of P. americana residue, while the Pd index showed a quadratic increase with increasing levels of P. americana residue (P < 0.05). The relative abundance profile of Lactobacillus exhibited a linear and quadratic decrease with increasing levels of P. americana residue, with the 100% group showing a significantly lower abundance than the 0% (control group) and 40% groups (P < 0.05). The transcriptome results showed that P. americana residue could enhance the digestive system by promoting vitamin, fat, carbohydrate digestion and absorption, cholesterol metabolism, etc. In conclusion, P. americana residue can replace puffed soybean meal without negatively affecting the growth performance of three-yellow chickens. The low and medium groups had positive effects on the growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, intestinal morphology, intestinal flora, and substance digestion and absorption of three-yellow chickens. The recommended replacement of P. americana residue for puffed soybean meal in the diets of three-yellow chickens ranged from 20% to 60%.

Long- and Intermediate-Term Ambient Particulate Pollution Is Associated with Increased Osteoarthritis Risk: A Population-Based Prospective Analysis.

Recent studies found the intrusion and retention of exogenous fine particles into joints, but epidemiological data for long- and intermediate-term exposure associations are scare. Here, all urban working, retired employee, and rural residents (16.78 million) in Beijing from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2019 were included to investigate the effects of long- and intermediate-term ambient particulate exposure on development of osteoarthritis. We identified 1,742,067 participants as first-visit patients with osteoarthritis. For each interquartile range increase in annual PM2.5 (23.32 µg/m3) and PM10 (23.92 µg/m3) exposure concentration, the pooled hazard ratios were respectively 1.238 (95% CI: 1.228, 1.249) and 1.178 (95% CI: 1.168, 1.189) for first osteoarthritis outpatient visits. Moreover, age at first osteoarthritis outpatient visits significantly decreased by 4.52 (95% CI: 3.45 to 5.40) days per µg/m3 for annual PM2.5 exposure at below 67.85 µg/m3. Finally, among the six constituents analyzed, black carbon appears to be the most important component associated with the association between PM2.5 exposure and the three osteoarthritis-related outcomes.

Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase1 Influences ECERIFERUM2 Activity to Mediate the Synthesis of Very-Long-Chain Fatty Acid Past C28.

Cuticular wax is a protective layer on the aerial surfaces of land plants. In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), cuticular wax is mainly constituted of compounds derived from very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) with chain lengths longer than C28. CER2-LIKE (ECERIFERUM2-LIKE) proteins interact with CER6/KCS6 (ECERIFERUM6/ß-Ketoacyl-CoA Synthase6), the key enzyme of the fatty acid elongase complex, to modify its substrate specificity for VLCFA elongation past C28. However, the molecular regulatory mechanism of CER2-LIKE proteins remains unclear. Arabidopsis eceriferum19 (cer19) mutants display wax-deficient stems caused by loss of waxes longer than C28, indicating that CER19 may participate in the CER2-LIKE-mediated VLCFA elongation past C28. Using positional cloning and genetic complementation, we showed that CER19 encodes Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase1 (ACC1), which catalyzes the synthesis of malonyl-CoA, the essential substrate for the CER6/KCS6-mediated condensation reaction in VLCFA synthesis. We demonstrated that ACC1 physically interacts with CER2-LIKE proteins via split-ubiquitin yeast two-hybrid (SUY2H) and firefly luciferase complementation imaging (LCI) analysis. Additionally, heterologous expression in yeast and genetic analysis in Arabidopsis revealed that ACC1 affects CER2 activity to influence VLCFA elongation past C28. These findings imply that CER2-LIKE proteins might function as a link between ACC1 and CER6/KCS6 and subsequently enhance CER6/KCS6 binding to malonyl-CoA for further utilization in VLCFA elongation past C28. This information deepens our understanding of the complex mechanism of cuticular wax biosynthesis.

MH2AFormer: An Efficient Multiscale Hierarchical Hybrid Attention with a Transformer for Bladder Wall and Tumor Segmentation.

Achieving accurate bladder wall and tumor segmentation from MRI is critical for diagnosing and treating bladder cancer. However, automated segmentation remains challenging due to factors such as comparable density distributions, intricate tumor morphologies, and unclear boundaries. Considering the attributes of bladder MRI images, we propose an efficient multiscale hierarchical hybrid attention with a transformer (MH2AFormer) for bladder cancer and wall segmentation. Specifically, a multiscale hybrid attention and transformer (MHAT) module in the encoder is designed to adaptively extract and aggregate multiscale hybrid feature representations from the input image. In the decoder stage, we devise a multiscale hybrid attention (MHA) module to generate high-quality segmentation results from multiscale hybrid features. Combining these modules enhances the feature representation and guides the model to focus on tumor and wall regions, which helps to solve bladder image segmentation challenges. Moreover, MHAT utilizes the Fast Fourier Transformer with a large kernel (e.g., 224*******224) to model global feature relationships while reducing computational complexity in the encoding stage. The model performance was evaluated on two datasets. As a result, the model achieves relatively best results regarding the intersection over union (IoU) and dice similarity coefficient (DSC) on both datasets (Dataset A: IoU=80.26%, DSC=88.20%; Dataset B: IoU=89.74%, DSC=94.48%). These advantageous outcomes substantiate the practical utility of our approach, highlighting its potential to alleviate the workload of radiologists when applied in clinical settings.

An engineered Pichia pastoris platform for the biosynthesis of silk-based nanomaterials with therapeutic potential.

Silk fibroin (SF) from the cocoon of silkworm has exceptional mechanical properties and biocompatibility and is used as a biomaterial in a variety of fields. Sustainable, affordable, and scalable manufacturing of SF would enable its large-scale use. We report for the first time the high-level secretory production of recombinant SF peptides in engineered Pichia pastoris cell factories and the processing thereof to nanomaterials. Two SF peptides (BmSPR3 and BmSPR4) were synthesized and secreted by P. pastoris using signal peptides and appropriate spacing between hydrophilic sequences. By strain engineering to reduce protein degradation, increase glycyl-tRNA supply, and improve protein secretion, we created the optimized P. pastoris chassis PPGSP-8 to produce BmSPR3 and BmSPR4. The SF fed-batch fermentation titers of the resulting two P. pastoris cell factories were 11.39 and 9.48 g/L, respectively. Protein self-assembly was inhibited by adding Tween 80 to the medium. Recombinant SF peptides were processed to nanoparticles (NPs) and nanofibrils. The physicochemical properties of nanoparticles R3NPs and R4NPs from the recombinant SFs synthesized in P. pastoris cell factories were similar or superior to those of RSFNPs (Regenerated Silk Fibroin NanoParticles) originating from commercially available SF. Our work will facilitate the production by microbial fermentation of functional SF for use as a biomaterial.

Analysis of genetic diversity and structure of endangered Dengchuan cattle population using a single-nucleotide polymorphism chip.

This study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity and structure within the Dengchuan cattle population and effectively protect and utilize their germplasm resources. Herein, the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of 100 Dengchuan cattle (46 bulls and 54 cows) were determined using the GGP Bovine 100K SNP Beadchip. The results showed that among the Dengchuan cattle, a total of 101,220 SNPs were detected, and there were 83,534 SNPs that passed quality control, of which 85.7% were polymorphic. The average genetic distance based on identity-by-state (IBS) within the conservation population of Dengchuan cattle was 0.26 ± 0.02. A total of 3,999 genome-length runs of homozygosity (ROHs) were detected in the Dengchuan cattle, with ROH lengths primarily concentrated in the range of 1-5 Mb, accounting for 87.02% of the total. The average inbreeding coefficient based on ROHs was 4.6%, within the conservation population of Dengchuan cattle, whereas it was 4.9% for bulls, and the Wright inbreeding coefficient (FIS) value was 2.4%, demonstrating a low level of inbreeding within the Dengchuan cattle population. Based on neighbor-joining tree analysis, the Dengchuan cattle could be divided into 16 families. In summary, the conservation population of Dengchuan cattle displays relatively abundant diversity and a moderate genetic relationship. Inbreeding was observed among a few individuals, but the overall inbreeding level of the population remained low. It is important to maintain this low level of inbreeding when introducing purebred bloodlines to expand the core group. This approach will ensure the long-term conservation of Dengchuan cattle germplasm resources and prevent loss of genetic diversity.

Comparative study of a liposome and emulsion system with cinnamon essential oil on the quality and proteolysis of refrigerated minced pork.

Essential oils have been recognized for their strong antibacterial property, making them an innovative approach for preserving meat. However, their chemical instability and direct impact on meat proteins limit their application. To overcome these limitations, various loading systems have been explored. This study aimed to compare the effect of cinnamon essential oil (CEO) loaded in a liposome and emulsion system on the proteolysis of minced pork and to evaluate the advantages of each delivery system in preventing microorganism-induced quality deterioration of meat. Minced pork treated with CEO-liposomes exhibited lower pH, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), and total viable count (TVC) values than CEO-emulsions and provided better protection against microorganisms. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) analysis confirmed that CEO-liposome was more effective in protecting proteins from degradation. Moreover, CEO-liposome produced lower amount of bitter amino acids and harmful biogenic amines. Antibacterial mechanisms indicated that CEO-liposome exhibited a stronger inhibitory effect against major spoilage bacteria in meat products by increasing cell membrane permeability. The membrane damage was further supported by an increase in conductivity and the leakage of nucleic acids. Compared to the CEO-emulsion system, CEO-liposome emerged as an effective preservative for minced pork. These results provided important theoretical support for using a bioactive compound delivery system to prevent microorganism-induced quality deterioration in meat.

Assessing the impact of Chlorantraniliprole (CAP) pesticide stress on oilseed rape (Brassia campestris L.): Residue dynamics, enzyme activities, and metabolite profiling.

This study investigates the effects of chlorantraniliprole (CAP) pesticide stress on oilseed rape through comprehensive pot experiments. Assessing CAP residue variations in soil and oilseed rape (Brassia campestris L.), enzyme activities (POD, CPR, GST), and differential metabolites, we unveil significant findings. The average CAP residue levels were 18.38-13.70 mg/kg in unplanted soil, 9.94-6.30 mg/kg in planted soil, and 0-4.18 mg/kg in oilseed rape samples, respectively. Soil microbial influences and systemic pesticide translocation into oilseed rape contribute to CAP residue variations. Under the influence of CAP stress, oilseed rape displays escalated enzyme activities (POD, CPR, GST) and manifests 57 differential metabolites. Among these, 32 demonstrate considerable downregulation, mainly impacting amino acids and phenolic compounds, while 25 exhibit noteworthy overexpression, primarily affecting flavonoid compounds. This impact extends to 24 metabolic pathways, notably influencing amide biosynthesis, as well as arginine and proline metabolism. These findings underscore the discernible effects of CAP pesticide stress on oilseed rape.

Reactive Oxygen Species Activate a Ferritin-Linked TRPV4 Channel under a Static Magnetic Field.

Magnetogenetics has shown great potential for cell function and neuromodulation using heat or force effects under different magnetic fields; however, there is still a contradiction between experimental effects and underlying mechanisms by theoretical computation. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in mechanical force-dependent regulation from a physicochemical perspective. The transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) cation channels fused to ferritin (T4F) were overexpressed in HEK293T cells and exposed to static magnetic fields (sMF, 1.4-5.0 mT; gradient: 1.62 mT/cm). An elevation of ROS levels was found under sMF in T4F-overexpressing cells, which could lead to lipid oxidation. Compared with the overexpression of TRPV4, ferritin in T4F promoted the generation of ROS under the stimulation of sMF, probably related to the release of iron ions from ferritin. Then, the resulting ROS regulated the opening of the TRPV4 channel, which was attenuated by the direct addition of ROS inhibitors or an iron ion chelator, highlighting a close relationship among iron release, ROS production, and TRPV4 channel activation. Taken together, these findings indicate that the produced ROS under sMF act on the TRPV4 channel, regulating the influx of calcium ions. The study would provide a scientific basis for the application of magnetic regulation in cellular or neural regulation and disease treatment and contribute to the development of the more sensitive regulatory technology.

Ca2+ Overload Decreased Cellular Viability in Magnetic Hyperthermia without a Macroscopic Temperature Rise.

Magnetic hyperthermia is a crucial medical engineering technique for treating diseases, which usually uses alternating magnetic fields (AMF) to interplay with magnetic substances to generate heat. Recently, it has been found that in some cases, there is no detectable temperature increment after applying an AMF, which caused corresponding effects surprisingly. The mechanisms involved in this phenomenon are not yet fully understood. In this study, we aimed to explore the role of Ca2+ overload in the magnetic hyperthermia effect without a perceptible temperature rise. A cellular system expressing the fusion proteins TRPV1 and ferritin was prepared. The application of an AMF (518 kHz, 16 kA/m) could induce the fusion protein to release a large amount of iron ions, which then participates in the production of massive reactive oxygen radicals (ROS). Both ROS and its induced lipid oxidation enticed the opening of ion channels, causing intracellular Ca2+ overload, which further led to decreased cellular viability. Taken together, Ca2+ overload triggered by elevated ROS and the induced oxidation of lipids contributes to the magnetic hyperthermia effect without a perceptible temperature rise. These findings would be beneficial for expanding the application of temperature-free magnetic hyperthermia, such as in cellular and neural regulation, design of new cancer treatment methods.

Enhanced in vitro bioavailability of resveratrol-loaded emulsion stabilized by ß-lactoglobulin-catechin with excellent antioxidant activity.

The study aimed to fabricate ß-Lactoglobulin-catechin (ß-La-Ca) conjugates as a natural designed antioxidant emulsifier to improve the physicochemical stability of resveratrol emulsion delivery system. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and fluorescence spectroscopy analysis confirmed the formation of conjugates using free radical grafting. The antioxidant ability of emulsion was evaluated by DPPH scavenging activities and ORAC experiments. The emulsion stabilized by ß-La-Ca conjugates exhibited strong antioxidant activity with ORAC value of 2541.39 ± 29.58 µmol TE/g, which was significantly higher than that by ß-Lactoglobulin alone with 387.96 ± 23.45 µmol TE/g or their mixture with 948.23 ± 32.77 µmol TE/g. During the whole simulated gastrointestinal digestion, emulsion stabilized by ß-La-Ca conjugates exhibited excellent oxidative stability that the lipid was mainly digested in the small intestine. This behavior attributed to the greater stability of resveratrol to chemical transformation leading to a higher overall bioavailability in vivo. These results suggested that the ß-La-Ca conjugates could be used to fabricate the emulsion-based delivery system to improve the oxidative stability and bioavailability of chemically labile hydrophobic bioactive compounds.

Suppressing the Thermal Quenching Effect via a Cluster Conformer in Copper(I)-Iodide Coordination Polymeric Phosphors for High-Power White LED Lighting.

High-power LED lighting is a crucial challenge due to the notorious thermal quenching (TQ) effect of traditional phosphors at high operating currents, which would result in poor device performance and hamper practical optoelectronic application. Herein, we demonstrate ligand engineering of a cubane- versus staircase-like [Cu4I4] conformer as a node in coordination polymers, which remarkably suppresses the TQ effect of cluster-based photoluminescence. For complex 1 (the formula [Cu4I4(bbimb)2]n) with the cubane-like [Cu4I4] conformer as a node, the metallophilicity interaction enables ultrabright triplet emission with a photoluminescence quantum yield over 82%, and the phonon-assisted detrapping process of excitons effectively suppresses the TQ effect in the wide temperature range. In contrast, the staircase-like [Cu4I4] conformer as a node in complex 2 (the formula [Cu4I4(bbtmb)2]n) exhibits a serious TQ effect over the investigated temperature. Phosphor-converted white LEDs (pc-wLEDs) were fabricated by integrating the cluster-based coordination polymers as a color converter, and their electroluminescence performances were investigated under high bias currents. The prototype pc-wLED device by incorporating the phosphor with the suppressed TQ effect exhibits a continuous rise in brightness under a high bias current of 300 mA. The results demonstrate that ligand engineering of the cluster conformer via suppressing the TQ effect proves efficient in designing an ideal color converter for high-power pc-wLED lighting.

Performance of ATT and UDFF in the diagnosis of non-alcoholic fatty liver: An animal experiment.

Objective: To establish a Bama minipigs model with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver (NAFL) induced by a high-fat diet and investigate the application of attenuation coefficient (ATT) and ultrasound-derived fat fraction (UDFF) in the diagnosis of NAFL. Methods: Six-month-old male Bama minipigs were randomly divided into normal control and high-fat groups (n = 3 pigs per group), and fed with a control diet and high-fat diet for 32 weeks. Weight and body length were measured every four weeks, followed by quantitative ultrasound imaging (ATT and UDFF), blood biochemical markers, and liver biopsies on the same day. Using the Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Activity Score (NAS) as a reference, we analyzed the correlation between ATT, UDFF, and their score results. Results: Compared with the normal control group, the body weight, body mass index (BMI), and serum levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in the High-fat group were significantly different at Week 12 (P < 0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that the ATT value was significantly correlated with NAS score (r = 0.76, P < 0.001), and the UDFF value was significantly correlated with NAS score (r = 0.80, P < 0.001). The optimal cut-off value of ATT and UDFF were 0.59 dB/cm/MHz and 5.5%, respectively. These values are optimal for diagnosis of NAFL in Bama minipig model. Conclusion: ATT and UDFF have a high correlation with steatosis, and can be used as a non-invasive method for early screening of hepatic steatosis, which can dynamically monitor the change of disease course.