Correlation between intestinal flora and GLP-1 receptor agonist dulaglutide in type 2 diabetes mellitus treatment-A preliminary longitudinal study.

GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) are presently used as the first-line drugs for the clinical treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It can regulate blood glucose by stimulating insulin secretion and lowering glucagon levels. We used 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to detect structural changes in the composition of the intestinal flora of newly diagnosed T2DM after 1 and 48 weeks of dulaglutide administration. Our research found no significant changes in the intestinal flora after the administration of dulaglutide for 1 week to subjects with newly diagnosed T2DM. Nevertheless, after 48 weeks of dulaglutide administration, the composition of the intestinal flora changed significantly, with a significant reduction in the abundance of intestinal flora. Furthermore, we found that fasting glucose levels, fasting c-peptide levels, HbA1c levels, and BMI are also closely associated with intestinal flora. This reveals that intestinal flora may be one of the mechanisms by which dulaglutide treats T2DM.

Adverse event profiles of drug-induced liver injury caused by antidepressant drugs: a disproportionality analysis.

Background: Antidepressants are widely used to manage depression and other psychiatric diseases. A previous study revealed that hepatotoxicity was the main adverse event related to antidepressants. Therefore, drug-induced liver injury (DILI) caused by antidepressants deserves more attention. Objectives: To investigate DILI adverse events reported due to antidepressant use in the United States Food and Drug Administration Adverse Events Reporting System (FAERS) database. Research design: A disproportionality analysis of spontaneously reported adverse events was conducted to assess the association between antidepressant drugs and DILI. Methods: FAERS data from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2021 were compiled and analyzed using the reporting odds ratio (ROR) and information component (IC). Results: As per the FAERS database, of the 324,588 cases that were administered antidepressants, 10,355 were identified as cases with DILI. Among the identified 42 antidepressants, nefazodone (n = 47, ROR = 7.79, IC = 2.91), fluvoxamine (n = 29, ROR = 4.69, IC = 2.20), and clomipramine (n = 24, ROR = 3.97, IC = 1.96) had the highest ROR for cholestatic injury; mianserin (n = 3, ROR = 21.46, IC = 3.99), nefazodone (n = 264, ROR = 18.67, IC = 3.84), and maprotiline (n = 15, ROR = 5.65, IC = 2.39) for hepatocellular injury; and nefazodone (n = 187, ROR = 12.71, IC = 0.48), clomipramine (n = 35, ROR = 2.07, IC = 0.26), and mirtazapine (n = 483, ROR = 1.96, IC = 0.94) for severe drug-related hepatic disorders. Only nefazodone elicited hepatic failure signals (n = 48, ROR = 18.64, IC = 4.16). There are limited reports on the adverse reactions of relatively new antidepressant drugs, such as milnacipran, viloxazine, esketamine, and tianeptine, and those not approved by the Food and Drugs Administration, such as reboxetine and agomelatine. Conclusion: A significant association was observed between DILI and nefazodone. Duloxetine and clomipramine were associated with three DILI categories, except hepatic failure. The disproportionality analysis cannot conclude on a definite causal link between antidepressants and DILI. Additional research is required to assess new-generation antidepressants for their propensity to cause DILI.

Adverse events reported on drug-induced liver injury caused by antidepressants Introduction: Adverse drug events (ADEs) refer to all harmful events related to medications, including adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and other unexpected events. ADEs encompass a wider range and are very important for the post-market surveillance of drugs. This study investigated the voluntary reporting of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) adverse events associated with antidepressant drugs. Methods: We retrieved data on DILI and related terms submitted between 2004 and 2021 from the United States Food and Drug Administration Adverse Events Reporting System (FAERS) database. We analyzed the data for the detection of DILI signals associated with antidepressants. Results: We retrieved and analyzed 324,588 reports on antidepressant drugs. A total of 10,355 reports were associated with DILI. The three drugs with the highest reporting odds ratio (ROR) in each DILI category were as follows: cholestatic injury (nefazodone, fluvoxamine, and clomipramine)hepatocellular injury (mianserin, nefazodone, and maprotiline)hepatic failure (nefazodone)drug related hepatic disorders-severe events (nefazodone, clomipramine, and mirtazapine) The absence of signals from some drugs may be due to: non-association with DILInovelty of the drug in the marketnon-approval from the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA)lack of voluntary reporting of adverse events due to other reasons Conclusion: Drug safety studies utilizing publicly available large databases allowed the evaluation of the safety profile of widely used antidepressant drugs in clinical practice. Nefazodone, duloxetine, and clomipramine were associated with significant DILI signals. Further research is needed to determine the safety concerns of new-generation antidepressants.

Effects of Vancomycin/Tobramycin-Doped Ceramic Composite (PVA-VAN/TOB-PDCPD) in a Rat Femur Model Implanted with Contaminated Porous Titanium Cylinders.

INTRODUCTION: Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) remains common and problematic. We hypothesized that using a bioceramic that has rapid release of an antibiotic (vancomycin [VAN] or vancomycin/tobramycin [VAN/TOB]) from a polyvinyl alcohol composite (PVA) combined with a delayed and sustained antibiotic release from polymeric dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (P-DCPD) ceramic would inhibit S. aureus-associated implant infection. METHODS: A total of fifty male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 experimental groups: I-negative control; II-bacteria only; III-bacteria+saline wash; IV-bacteria+PVA-VAN-PDCPD, and V-bacteria+PVA-VAN-TOB-PDCPD. A porous titanium (Ti) implant was press-fit into the rat knee. S. aureus-containing broth was added into the joint space to create a PJI. After one week, the joints from groups III to V were washed with saline and the fluid collected for bacterial quantification. This was followed by saline irrigation treatment (groups III to V) and application of the antibiotic-loaded PVA-PDCPD bioceramic (groups IV and V). On day 21, joint fluid was collected, and the implants were harvested for bacterial quantification. RESULTS: No bacteria were isolated from the negative control (group I). The positive control (group II) was positive on both days 7 and 21. Bacteria were still present on day 21 in the fluid and implant in Group III. Groups (IV and V) showed a decrease in the bacterial burden in the fluid and implant on day 21. There were significant differences in bacteria levels in the collected wash fluid and on the implant at day 21 between the saline wash (Group III) and treatment groups (IV and V). CONCLUSIONS: In this rat model of acute periprosthetic infection, treatment with PVA-VAN-PDCPD and PVA-VAN/TOB-PDCPD reduced the bacterial load in the infected joint and the infected Ti implant. Application of PVA-VAN-PDCPD and/or PVA-VAN/TOB-PDCPD after saline irrigation could be used as an addition to the treatment of PJI.

Changes in amino acids, catechins and alkaloids during the storage of oolong tea and their relationship with antibacterial effect.

The storage process has a significant impact on tea quality. Few is known about effect of storage on quality of oolong tea. This study aimed to assess the effect of different storage times on the key chemical components of oolong tea by measuring changes in catechin, free amino acid, and alkaloid content. Variation in the main substances was determined by principal component analysis and heat map analysis. The results revealed notable effects of the storage process on the levels of theanine, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and glutamine. These findings suggest that these compounds could serve as indicators for monitoring changes in oolong tea quality during storage. Additionally, the study observed an increase in the antibacterial ability of tea over time. Correlation analysis indicated that the antibacterial ability against Micrococcus tetragenus and Escherichia coli was influenced by metabolites such as aspartic acid, threonine, serine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, ornithine, alanine, arginine, and EGCG. Overall, this study presents an approach for identifying key metabolites to monitor tea quality effectively with relatively limited data.

Risk Factors for Postoperative Complications of Laparoscopic Right Colectomy: A Post Hoc Analysis of RELARC Trial.

BACKGROUND: There is concern regarding the possibility of postoperative complications for laparoscopic right colectomy. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the risk factors of postoperative complications for patients undergoing laparoscopic right colectomy. DESIGN: This was an observational study. SETTINGS: This was a post-hoc analysis of a prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial (RELARC trial, NCT02619942). PATIENTS: Patients included in the modified intention-to-treat analysis in RELARC trial were all enrolled in this study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Risk factors for postoperative complications were identified using univariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Of 995 patients, 206 (20.7%) had postoperative complications. Comorbidity (p = 0.02, OR: 1.544, 95% CI: 1.077-2.212) and operative time >180 min (p = 0.03, OR: 1.453, 95% CI: 1.032-2.044) were independent risk factors for postoperative complications. While female (p = 0.04, OR: 0.704, 95% CI: 0.506-0.980) and extracorporeal anastomosis (p < 0.001, OR: 0.251, 95% CI: 0.166-0.378) were protective factors. Eighty (8.0%) had overall surgical site infection, 53 (5.3%) had incisional SSI, and 33 (3.3%) had organ/space SSI. Side-to-side anastomosis was a risk factor for overall surgical site infection (p < 0.001, OR: 1.912, 95% CI: 1.118-3.268) and organ/space surgical site infection (p = 0.005, OR: 3.579, 95% CI: 1.455-8.805). Extracorporeal anastomosis was associated with a reduced risk of overall surgical site infection (p < 0.001, OR: 0.239, 95% CI: 0.138-0.413), organ/space surgical site infection (p = 0.002 OR: 0.296, 95% CI: 0.136-0.646), and incisional surgical site infection (p < 0.001, OR: 0.179, 95% CI: 0.099-0.322). Diabetes (p = 0.039 OR: 2.090, 95% CI: 1.039-4.205) and conversion to open surgery (p = 0.013 OR: 5.403, 95% CI: 1.437-20.319) were risk factors for incisional surgical site infection. LIMITATIONS: Due to the retrospective nature, the key limitation is the lack of prospective documentation and standardization about perioperative management of these patients such as preoperative optimization, bowel prep regimes and antibiotic regimes, which may be confounder factors of complications. All surgeries were done by experienced surgeons and the patients enrolled were relatively young, generally healthy, and non-obese. It is unclear whether the results will be generalizable to obese and other populations worldwide. CONCLUSIONS: Male, comorbidity, prolonged operative time, and intracorporeal anastomosis were independent risk factors of postoperative complications of laparoscopic right colectomy. Side-to-side anastomosis was associated with an increased risk of organ/space surgical site infection. Extracorporeal anastomosis could reduce the incidence of overall surgical site infection. Diabetes and conversion to open surgery were associated with an increased risk of incisional surgical site infection. See Video Abstract.

Lanthanide-dye hybrid luminophores for advanced NIR-II bioimaging.

In vivo luminescence imaging in the second near-infrared window (NIR-II, 1000-2000 nm) is a potent technique for observing deep-tissue life activities, leveraging reduced light scattering, minimized autofluorescence, and moderate absorption attenuation to substantially enhance image contrast. Pushing the frontiers of NIR-II luminescence imaging forward, moving from static to dynamic event visualization, monochromatic to multicolor images, and fundamental research to clinical applications, necessitates the development of novel luminophores featuring bright emission, extendable wavelength, and optimal biocompatibility. Recently, lanthanide-dye hybrid luminophores (LDHLs) are gaining increasing attention for their wavelength extensibility, molecular size, narrowband emission, mega stokes shift, long lifetime, and high photostability. In this review, we will summarize the recent advances of NIR-II LDHLs and their applications in imaging and analysis of living mammals, and discuss future challenges in designing new LDHLs for deep-tissue imaging.

A comprehensive review on ziconotide.

Managing severe chronic pain is a challenging task, given the limited effectiveness of available pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments. This issue continues to be a significant public health concern, requiring a substantial therapeutic response. Ziconotide, a synthetic peptide initially isolated from Conus magus in 1982 and approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency in 2004, is the first-line intrathecal method for individuals experiencing severe chronic pain refractory to other therapeutic measures. Ziconotide produces powerful analgesia by blocking N-type calcium channels in the spinal cord, which inhibits the release of pain-relevant neurotransmitters from the central terminals of primary afferent neurons. However, despite possessing many favorable qualities, including the absence of tolerance development, respiratory depression, and withdrawal symptoms (largely due to the absence of a G-protein mediation mechanism), ziconotide's application is limited due to factors such as intrathecal administration and a narrow therapeutic window resulting from significant dose-related undesired effects of the central nervous system. This review aims to provide a comprehensive and clinically relevant summary of the literatures concerning the pharmacokinetics and metabolism of intrathecal ziconotide. It will also describe strategies intended to enhance clinical efficacy while reducing the incidence of side effects. Additionally, the review will explore the current efforts to refine the structure of ziconotide for better clinical outcomes. Lastly, it will prospect potential developments in the new class of selective N-type voltage-sensitive calcium-channel blockers.

Bidirectional regulation of levodopa-induced dyskinesia by a specific neural ensemble in globus pallidus external segment.

Levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID) is an intractable motor complication arising in Parkinson's disease with the progression of disease and chronic treatment of levodopa. However, the specific cell assemblies mediating dyskinesia have not been fully elucidated. Here, we utilize the activity-dependent tool to identify three brain regions (globus pallidus external segment [GPe], parafascicular thalamic nucleus, and subthalamic nucleus) that specifically contain dyskinesia-activated ensembles. An intensity-dependent hyperactivity in the dyskinesia-activated subpopulation in GPe (GPeTRAPed in LID) is observed during dyskinesia. Optogenetic inhibition of GPeTRAPed in LID significantly ameliorates LID, whereas reactivation of GPeTRAPed in LID evokes dyskinetic behavior in the levodopa-off state. Simultaneous chemogenetic reactivation of GPeTRAPed in LID and another previously reported ensemble in striatum fully reproduces the dyskinesia induced by high-dose levodopa. Finally, we characterize GPeTRAPed in LID as a subset of prototypic neurons in GPe. These findings provide theoretical foundations for precision medication and modulation of LID in the future.

Osteoclasts Link Dysregulated Peripheral Degradation Processes and Accelerated Progression in Alzheimer's Disease.

Background: The amyloid-ß (Aß) enhances the number and activity of blood monocyte-derived osteoclasts (OCs). Individuals with osteoporosis (OP) face an increased risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer's disease (AD). Despite this association, the contribution of bone-resorbing OCs to the progression of AD pathology remains unclear. Objective: Our objective was to investigate the potential impacts of OCs on the development of AD pathology. Methods: We conducted targeted analysis of publicly available whole blood transcriptomes from patients with AD to characterize the blood molecular signatures and pathways associated with hyperactive OCs. In addition, we used APP23 transgenic (APP23 TG) AD mouse model to assess the effects of OCs pharmacological blockade on AD pathology and behavior. Results: Patients with AD exhibited increased osteoclastogenesis signature in their blood cells, which appears to be positively correlated with dysfunction of peripheral clearance of Aß mediated by immune cells. Long-term anti-resorptive intervention with Alendronate inhibited OC activity in APP23 mice, leading to improvements in peripheral monocyte Aß-degrading enzyme expression, Aß-deposition, and memory decline. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that OCs have a disease-promoting role in the development and progression of AD, possibly linked to their modulation of peripheral immunity. These findings guide future research to further elucidate the connection between OP and AD pathogenesis, highlighting the potential benefits of preventing OP in alleviating cognitive burden.

A preliminary study of modified inflatable mediastinoscopic and single-incision plus one-port laparoscopic esophagectomy.

Background: Esophageal malignancies have a high morbidity rate worldwide, and minimally invasive surgery has emerged as the primary approach for treating esophageal cancer. In recent years, there has been increasing discussion about the potential of employing inflatable mediastinoscopic and laparoscopic approaches as an option for esophagectomy. Building on the primary modification of the inflatable mediastinoscopic technique, we introduced a secondary modification to further minimize surgical trauma. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent inflatable mediastinoscopy combined with laparoscopic esophagectomy at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University from March 2020 to March 2023. The patients were allocated to the following two groups: the traditional (primary modification) group, and the secondary modification group. Operation times, intraoperative bleeding, and postoperative complications were compared between the groups. Results: The procedure was successfully performed in all patients, and conversion to open surgery was not required in any case. There were no statistically significant differences in the surgical operation time, intraoperative bleeding, number of dissected lymph nodes, and rate of postoperative anastomotic leakage between the two groups. However, a statistically significant difference was observed in the length of the mobilized esophagus between the two groups. The mobilization of esophagus to the level of diaphragmatic hiatus via the cervical incision was successfully achieved in more patients in the secondary modification group than the primary modification group. Conclusions: Inflatable mediastinoscopy combined with single-incision plus one-port laparoscopic esophagectomy is a safe and effective surgical procedure. The use of a 5-mm flexible endoscope, ultra-long five-leaf forceps, and LigaSure Maryland forceps facilitates esophageal mobilization and lymph node dissection through a single cervical incision.

Low-Intensity Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy Ameliorates Detrusor Hyperactivity with Impaired Contractility via Transient Potential Vanilloid Channels: A Rat Model for Ovarian Hormone Deficiency.

This study explores low-intensity extracorporeal shock wave therapy (LiESWT)'s efficacy in alleviating detrusor hyperactivity with impaired contractility (DHIC) induced by ovarian hormone deficiency (OHD) in ovariectomized rats. The rats were categorized into the following four groups: sham group; OVX group, subjected to bilateral ovariectomy (OVX) for 12 months to induce OHD; OVX + SW4 group, underwent OHD for 12 months followed by 4 weeks of weekly LiESWT; and OVX + SW8 group, underwent OHD for 12 months followed by 8 weeks of weekly LiESWT. Cystometrogram studies and voiding behavior tracing were used to identify the symptoms of DHIC. Muscle strip contractility was evaluated through electrical-field, carbachol, ATP, and KCl stimulations. Western blot and immunofluorescence analyses were performed to assess the expressions of various markers related to bladder dysfunction. The OVX rats exhibited significant bladder deterioration and overactivity, alleviated by LiESWT. LiESWT modified transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) channel expression, regulating calcium concentration and enhancing bladder capacity. It also elevated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress proteins, influencing ER-related Ca2+ channels and receptors to modulate detrusor muscle contractility. OHD after 12 months led to neuronal degeneration and reduced TRPV1 and TRPV4 channel activation. LiESWT demonstrated potential in enhancing angiogenic remodeling, neurogenesis, and receptor response, ameliorating DHIC via TRPV channels and cellular signaling in the OHD-induced DHIC rat model.

Assessment of triglyceride clearance of haemoperfusion from three cases of hypertriglyceridaemia-induced acute pancreatitis: a case series.

Rapid reduction of plasma triglycerides (TG) is believed to improve the outcome of pancreatitis in the context of hypertriglyceridaemia (HTG)-induced acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP). Previous studies have suggested that haemoperfusion (HP) with the Jafron cartridge series could be effective for reducing TG concentrations in patients with HTG-AP. However, the clearance capacity (CC) for TG removal has not been reported. This case series reports on data from three patients with HTG-AP who underwent HP with HA230 or HA330 cartridges. Blood samples were collected from both before and after the cartridge circuit every 30 min and the CC was calculated. Twelve pairs of blood samples were collected for each type of HP cartridge. The mean ± SD CC of the HA230 cartridge for TG removal in this case series was 0.009781 ± 1.117235 ml/min (95% confidence interval [CI], -0.7000762, 0.7196384 ml). The mean ± SD CC of the HA330 cartridge for TG removal in this case series was 0.344914 ± 1.412183 ml/min (95% CI, -0.5523448, 1.2421721 ml). Based on the findings of this small case series, special caution is advised when considering the use of the HA230 and HA330 cartridges for reducing blood TG concentration pending further conclusive evidence from larger studies.

Balanced Solution versus Normal Saline in Predicted Severe Acute Pancreatitis: A Stepped Wedge Cluster Randomized Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of balanced multielectrolyte solutions(BMES) versus normal saline(NS) for intravenous fluid on chloride levels and clinical outcomes.in patients with predicted severe acute pancreatitis (pSAP). SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Isotonic crystalloids are recommended for initial fluid therapy in acute pancreatitis, but whether the use of BMES in preference to NS confers clinical benefits is unknown. METHODS: In this multicenter, stepped-wedge, cluster-randomized trial, we enrolled patients with pSAP (APACHE II score ≥8 and C-reactive protein >150 mg/L) admitted within 72 hours of the advent of symptoms. The study sites were randomly assigned to staggered start dates for one-way crossover from the NS phase (NS for intravenous fluid) to the BMES phase(Sterofudin for intravenous fluid). The primary endpoint was the serum chloride concentration on trial day3. Secondary endpoints included a composite of clinical and laboratory measures. RESULTS: Overall, 259 patients were enrolled from eleven sites to receive NS(n=147) or BMES(n=112). On trial day3, the mean chloride level was significantly lower in patients who received BMES(101.8 mmol/L(SD4.8) versus 105.8 mmol/L(SD5.9), difference -4.3 mmol/L [95%CI -5.6 to -3.0 mmol/L];P<0.001). For secondary endpoints, patients who received BMES had less systemic inflammatory response syndrome(19/112,17.0% versus 43/147,29.3%, P=0.024) and increased organ failure-free days (3.9 d(SD2.7) versus 3.5days(SD2.7), P<0.001) by trial day7. They also spent more time alive and out of ICU(26.4 d(SD5.2) versus 25.0days(SD6.4), P=0.009) and hospital(19.8 d(SD6.1) versus16.3days(SD7.2), P<0.001) by trial day30. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with pSAP, using BMES in preference to NS resulted in a significantly more physiological serum chloride level, which was associated with multiple clinical benefits(Trial registration number: ChiCTR2100044432).

Characterisation of a Novel Insect-Specific Virus Discovered in Rice Thrips, Haplothrips aculeatus.

Insects constitute the largest proportion of animals on Earth and act as significant reservoirs and vectors in disease transmission. Rice thrips (Haplothrips aculeatus, family Phlaeothripidae) are one of the most common pests in agriculture. In this study, the full genome sequence of a novel Ollusvirus, provisionally named "Rice thrips ollusvirus 1" (RTOV1), was elucidated using transcriptome sequencing and the rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). A homology search and phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that the newly identified virus is a member of the family Aliusviridae (order Jingchuvirales). The genome of RTOV1 contains four predicted open reading frames (ORFs), including a polymerase protein (L, 7590 nt), a glycoprotein (G, 4206 nt), a nucleocapsid protein (N, 2415 nt) and a small protein of unknown function (291 nt). All of the ORFs are encoded by the complementary genome, suggesting that the virus is a negative-stranded RNA virus. Phylogenetic analysis using polymerase sequences suggested that RTOV1 was closely related to ollusvirus 1. Deep small RNA sequencing analysis reveals a significant accumulation of small RNAs derived from RTOV1, indicating that the virus replicated in the insect. According to our understanding, this is the first report of an Ollusvirus identified in a member of the insect family Phlaeothripidae. The characterisation and discovery of RTOV1 is a significant contribution to the understanding of Ollusvirus diversity in insects.

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Combined with Fuzzy Improved Direct Linear Discriminant Analysis for Nondestructive Discrimination of Chrysanthemum Tea Varieties.

The quality of chrysanthemum tea has a great connection with its variety. Different types of chrysanthemum tea have very different efficacies and functions. Moreover, the discrimination of chrysanthemum tea varieties is a significant issue in the tea industry. Therefore, to correctly and non-destructively categorize chrysanthemum tea samples, this study attempted to design a novel feature extraction method based on the fuzzy set theory and improved direct linear discriminant analysis (IDLDA), called fuzzy IDLDA (FIDLDA), for extracting the discriminant features from the near-infrared (NIR) spectral data of chrysanthemum tea. To start with, a portable NIR spectrometer was used to collect NIR data for five varieties of chrysanthemum tea, totaling 400 samples. Secondly, the raw NIR spectra were processed by four different pretreatment methods to reduce noise and redundant data. Thirdly, NIR data dimensionality reduction was performed by principal component analysis (PCA). Fourthly, feature extraction from the NIR spectra was performed by linear discriminant analysis (LDA), IDLDA, and FIDLDA. Finally, the K-nearest neighbor (KNN) algorithm was applied to evaluate the classification accuracy of the discrimination system. The experimental results show that the discrimination accuracies of LDA, IDLDA, and FIDLDA could reach 87.2%, 94.4%, and 99.2%, respectively. Therefore, the combination of near-infrared spectroscopy and FIDLDA has great application potential and prospects in the field of nondestructive discrimination of chrysanthemum tea varieties.

Apolipoprotein E is a prognostic factor for pancreatic cancer and associates with immune infiltration.

BACKGROUND: The expression level of apolipoprotein E (APOE) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and its effect on the prognosis of PDAC patients are not clear. The effect of APOE on the immune status of patients with PDAC has not been elucidated. METHODS: We obtained pancreatic cancer data from the TCGA and GETx databases. Patients with PDAC who underwent pancreatic surgery at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University between 2012 and 2021 were included. Clinical pathological data were recorded, plasma APOE levels were measured, and tissue samples were collected. A tissue microarray was generated using the collected tissue samples. APOE and CD4 staining was performed to determine immunoreactive scores (IRSs). The expression of APOE in the plasma and tumour tissues of pancreatic cancer patients was analysed and compared. The correlations between plasma APOE levels, tissue APOE levels and clinicopathological characteristics were analysed. Survival prognosis was analysed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox multivariate regression analysis. The correlations between APOE expression levels and immune biomarkers and immune cells were further analysed. Single-cell analysis of APOE distribution in various cells was performed on the TISCH website. RESULTS: APOE was highly expressed in the tumour tissue of pancreatic cancer patients, and high plasma APOE levels were associated with poor prognosis. Females, patients with high-grade disease and patients with pancreatic head carcinoma had high plasma APOE levels. High APOE expression in tumour tissues was associated with good prognosis. Mononuclear macrophages in the pancreatic cancer microenvironment primarily expressed APOE. APOE levels positively correlated with immune biomarkers, such as CD8A, PDCD1, GZMA, CXCL10, and CXCL9, in the tumour microenvironment. APOE promoted CD4 + T cell or dendritic cell infiltration in the tumour microenvironment. CONCLUSIONS: APOE may affect the occurrence and development of pancreatic cancer by regulating the infiltration of immune cells in the tumour microenvironment.

Perfect confinement of crown ethers in MOF membrane for complete dehydration and fast transport of monovalent ions.

Fast transport of monovalent ions is imperative in selective monovalent ion separation based on membranes. Here, we report the in situ growth of crown ether@UiO-66 membranes at a mild condition, where dibenzo-18-crown-6 (DB18C6) or dibenzo-15-crown-5 is perfectly confined in the UiO-66 cavity. Crown ether@UiO-66 membranes exhibit enhanced monovalent ion transport rates and mono-/divalent ion selectivity, due to the combination of size sieving and interaction screening effects toward the complete monovalent ion dehydration. Specifically, the DB18C6@UiO-66 membrane shows a permeation rate (e.g., K+) of 1.2 mol per square meter per hour and a mono-/divalent ion selectivity (e.g., K+/Mg2+) of 57. Theoretical calculations and simulations illustrate that, presumably, ions are completely dehydrated while transporting through the DB18C6@UiO-66 cavity with a lower energy barrier than that of the UiO-66 cavity. This work provides a strategy to develop efficient ion separation membranes via integrating size sieving and interaction screening and to illuminate the effect of ion dehydration on fast ion transport.

First Report of Strawberry Root Rot Caused by Fusarium falciforme in China.

Root rot caused by Fusarium spp. is a destructive disease affecting agricultural regions worldwide. Strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) are an economically important crop in China. In March 2023, root rot was observed in strawberries grown in Jinan, Shandong Province, China. Symptoms included leaf wilt, necrotic roots, and plant death (Figure 1). Four strawberry samples (two symptomatic and two asymptomatic) were collected from ~2-acre fields where the disease incidence rate ranged from 2 to 3%. Tissue pieces (5 mm × 5 mm × 5 mm) from two healthy and two diseased strawberry root tissues were surface-disinfected with 75% ethanol for 3 min, treated with 10% sodium hypochlorite for 5 min, and washed three times with sterile water. These pieces were cultured for 5 days at 28°C on potato dextrose agar (PDA) containing 200 mg/L timentin. Typical Fusarium spp. like growth was observed on plates with the two symptomatic samples. Two representative fungal isolates (CM1 and CM2) with similar morphological characteristics were purified using the single-spore method (Figure 1). CM1 showed an average growth rate of 5 mm/d in PDA and comprised of several white-to-cream aerial mycelia after 5 d. After cultivation in carnation leaf agar medium for 7 d, falciform macroconidia, with blunt apical cells and slightly hooked basal cells comprising 3 to 4 septa of varying sizes (20 to 39)×(3.6 to 6.7 µm) were observed (n=50) (Figure 1). The chlamydospores were spherical, terminal or intercalary, solitary or chain-forming, and 3.1-10.5 µm in diameter (Figure 1). The microconidia on PDA were (5.8 to 13.6)× (2.5 to 3.3) µm in size (n=50). These morphological characteristics are consistent with previous descriptions of the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC). DNA was extracted using the CTAB method (Stenglein and Balatti 2006). The internal transcribed spacer (ITS), translation elongation factor 1-α gene (tef1), RNA polymerase II largest subunit (rpb1), and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (rpb2) were amplified and sequenced using specific primers (O'Donnell et al. 2010). The ITS (OR526528, OR526529), tef1 (OR536947, OR536948), rpb1 (OR536949, OR536950), and rpb2 (OR536951, OR536952) sequences of the CM1 and CM2 isolates were uploaded to the NCBI database. BLASTn analysis revealed that the ITS, tef1, rpb1, and rpb2 sequences were 99.1-100% identical to those of the Fusarium falciforme reference strains NRRL 54989 and NRRL 54978. A phylogenetic tree based on the ITS, tef1, rpb1, and rpb2 sequences was generated using MEGA v.11 via the maximum-likelihood method (Tamura et al. 2021). CM1 clustered with the Fusarium falciforme reference strains NRRL 54989 and NRRL 54978 and belonged to the FSSC based on its morphological and molecular characteristics (Figure 2). To test for pathogenicity, the roots of nine 3-month-old healthy strawberry (cv. Akihime) plants were exposed to conidial suspensions (1×108 spores/mL) of the CM1 isolate. Another nine root samples were treated with sterile water and used as controls. All strawberry plants were maintained in a growth chamber under a 12/12 h light/dark cycle at 28°C and 90% relative humidity and the experiment was repeated three times. After one month, the inoculated plants had withered and died, and the pith became dark red (similar to field plants) (Figure 1). The fungi isolated from the experimental plants were confirmed as F. falciforme using morphological and sequence analyses. F. falciforme causes root rot in several species including Nicotiana tabacum (Qiu et al. 2023) and Weigela florida (Shen et al. 2020); however, this study is the first to report root rot caused by F. falciforme in strawberries in China. Overall, F. falciforme infection poses a threat to strawberry production and breeding.