Electronic-ionic bi-functional conduction ß-Li3PS4-coated graphene hollow spheres as a highly stable lithium metal anode skeleton.

Although Li metal is considered the most potential anode for Li based batteries, the repeatedly large volume variation and low Coulombic efficiency (CE) are still serious challenges for commercial application. Herein, the interconnect closed hollow graphene spheres with electronic-ionic bi-functional conduction network containing Li4.4Sn nanoparticles loaded internally and ß-Li3PS4 solid electrolyte layer coated externally (ß-LPS/SG/Li4.4Sn) is proposed to achieve uniform and dense Li deposition. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation and experimental results show that Li4.4Sn owns larger Li binding energy and lower nucleation overpotential than spherical graphene (SG), thus being able to guide Li traversing and depositing inside the hollow spheres. The Tafel curves, Li+ diffusion activation energy and experimental results reveal that the ß-Li3PS4 coating layer significantly improves the ionic conductivity of the negative skeleton, covers the defect sites on the SG surface, provides continuous ion transmission channels and accelerates Li+ migration rate. The synergy of both can inhibit the formation of dendritic Li and reduce side reaction between freshly deposited lithium and the organic electrolyte. It's found that Li is preferentially deposited within the SG, evenly deposited on the spherical shell surface until it's completely filled to obtain a dense lithium layer without tip effect. As a result, the ß-LPS/SG/Li4.4Sn anode exhibits a long life of up to 2800 h, an extremely low overpotential (∼13 mV) and a high CE of 99.8 % after 470 cycles. The LiFePO4-based full cell runs stably with a high capacity retention of 86.93 % after 800 cycles at 1C. It is considered that the novel structure design of Li anode skeleton with electron-ionic bi-functional conduction is a promising direction to construct long-term stable lithium metal anodes.

Konjac glucomannan/microcapsule of thymol edible coating reduces okra pericarp browning by regulating antioxidant activity and ROS synthesis.

Okra is susceptible to browning during storage. The effects of konjac glucomannan/microcapsule of thymol edible coating (TKL) on antioxidant activity and reactive oxygen (ROS) synthesis of okra during low-temperature storage were investigated. Thymol edible coating of thymol concentration 40 mg/mL (TKL40) had a regulatory effect on okra browning. After 14 days of storage, compared with the control group, the weight loss rate of TKL was reduced by 5.26 %, the hardness was increased by 24.14 %, and the L⁎ value was increased by 31 %. Moreover, TKL40 increased the scavenging capacity of okra for DPPH and ABTS free radicals, and activated catalase and superoxide dismutase activities by promoting the accumulation of total phenolics and flavonoids. TKL40 also reduced the cell membrane damage of okra during low-temperature storage by reducing the increase of malondialdehyde and H2O2 during okra storage. Meanwhile, it delayed the increase of relative conductivity and the production of O2.-, inhibited the activity of polyphenol oxidase in the late stage, so reduced the combination of polyphenol oxidase and phenolics to reduce the browning. Therefore, TKL40 reduces okra pericarp browning by regulating antioxidant activity and ROS synthesis.

Deep learning prediction of survival in patients with heart failure using chest radiographs.

Heart failure (HF) is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. The value of deep learning survival prediction models using chest radiographs in patients with heart failure is currently unclear. The aim of our study is to develop and validate a deep learning survival prediction model using chest X-ray (DLSPCXR) in patients with HF. The study retrospectively enrolled a cohort of 353 patients with HF who underwent chest X-ray (CXR) at our institution between March 2012 and March 2017. The dataset was randomly divided into training (n = 247) and validation (n = 106) datasets. Univariate and multivariate Cox analysis were conducted on the training dataset to develop clinical and imaging survival prediction models. The DLSPCXR was trained and the selected clinical parameters were incorporated into DLSPCXR to establish a new model called DLSPinteg. Discrimination performance was evaluated using the time-dependent area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (TD AUC) at 1, 3, and 5-years survival. Delong's test was employed for the comparison of differences between two AUCs of different models. The risk-discrimination capability of the optimal model was evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier curve. In multivariable Cox analysis, older age, higher N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-ProBNP), systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) > 50 mmHg, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class III-IV and cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) ≥ 0.62 in CXR were independent predictors of poor prognosis in patients with HF. Based on the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, DLSPCXR had better performance at predicting 5-year survival than the imaging Cox model in the validation cohort (AUC: 0.757 vs. 0.561, P = 0.01). DLSPinteg as the optimal model outperforms the clinical Cox model (AUC: 0.826 vs. 0.633, P = 0.03), imaging Cox model (AUC: 0.826 vs. 0.555, P < 0.001), and DLSPCXR (AUC: 0.826 vs. 0.767, P = 0.06). Deep learning models using chest radiographs can predict survival in patients with heart failure with acceptable accuracy.

AANAT1 regulates insect midgut detoxification through the ROS/CncC pathway.

Insecticide resistance has been a problem in both the agricultural pests and vectors. Revealing the detoxification mechanisms may help to better manage insect pests. Here, we showed that arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase 1 (AANAT1) regulates intestinal detoxification process through modulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-activated transcription factors cap"n"collar isoform-C (CncC): muscle aponeurosis fibromatosis (Maf) pathway in both the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis, and the arbovirus vector, Aedes aegypti. Knockout/knockdown of AANAT1 led to accumulation of biogenic amines, which induced a decreased in the gut ROS level. The reduced midgut ROS levels resulted in decreased expression of CncC and Maf, leading to lower expression level of detoxification genes. AANAT1 knockout/knockdown insects were more susceptible to insecticide treatments. Our study reveals that normal functionality of AANAT1 is important for the regulation of gut detoxification pathways, providing insights into the mechanism underlying the gut defense against xenobiotics in metazoans.

A nomogram combining neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) to predict distant metastasis in gastric cancer.

In this study, We aim to explore the association between the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII), lymphocyte to monocyte ratio (LMR) and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and distant metastasis of gastric cancer and develop an efficient nomogram for screening patients with distant metastasis. A total of 1281 inpatients with gastric cancer were enrolled and divided into the training and validation set.Univariate, Lasso regression and Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis was used to identify the risk factors of distant metastasis. The independent predictive factors were then enrolled in the nomogram model. The nomogram's predictive perform and clinical practicality was evaluated by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves, calibration curves and decision curve analysis. Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis identified D-dimer, CA199, CA125, NLR and PNI as independent predictive factors. The area under the curve of our nomogram based on these factors was 0.838 in the training cohort and 0.811 in the validation cohort. The calibration plots and decision curves demonstrated the nomogram's good predictive performance and clinical practicality in both training and validation cohort. Therefore,our nomogram could be an important tool for clinicians in screening gastric cancer patients with distant metastasis.

Effect of negative remodeling of the side branch ostium on the efficacy of a two-stent strategy for distal left main bifurcation lesions: an intravascular ultrasound study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether negative remodeling (NR) detected by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) of the side branch ostium (SBO) would affect in-stent neointimal hyperplasia (NIH) at the one-year follow-up and the clinical outcome of target lesion failure (TLF) at the long-term follow-up for patients with left main bifurcation (LMb) lesions treated with a two-stent strategy. METHODS: A total of 328 patients with de novo true complex LMb lesions who underwent a 2-stent strategy of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) treatment guided by IVUS were enrolled in this study. We divided the study into two phases. Of all the patients, 48 patients who had complete IVUS detection pre- and post-PCI and at the 1-year follow-up were enrolled in phase I analysis, which aimed to analyze the correlation between NR and in-stent NIH at SBO at the 1-year follow-up. If the correlation was confirmed, the cutoff value of the remodeling index (RI) for predicting NIH ≥ 50% was analyzed next. The phase II analysis focused on the incidence of TLF as the primary endpoint at the 1- to 5-year follow-up for all 328 patients by grouping based on the cutoff value of RI. RESULTS: In phase I: according to the results of a binary logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, the RI cutoff value predicting percent NIH ≥ 50% was 0.85 based on the ROC curve analysis, with a sensitivity of 85.7%, a specificity of 88.3%, and an AUC of 0.893 (0.778, 1.000), P = 0.002. In phase II: the TLR rate (35.8% vs. 5.3%, P < 0.0001) was significantly higher in the several NR (sNR, defined as RI ≤ 0.85) group than in the non-sNR group. CONCLUSION: The NR of LCxO is associated with more in-stent NIH post-PCI for distal LMb lesions with a 2-stent strategy, and NR with RI ≤ 0.85 is linked to percent NIH area ≥ 50% at the 1-year follow-up and more TLF at the 5-year follow-up.

Which intervention is optimal to control blood glucose and improve physical performance in the elderly living with type 2 diabetes mellitus? A network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to find the optimal intervention available to both control blood glucose and improve physical function in the geriatric population with T2DM. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: A systemic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) was conducted to assess and rank the comparative efficacy of different interventions on glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbAc1), fasting blood glucose (FBG), muscle mass, grip strength, gait speed, lower body muscle strength, and dynamic balance. A total of eight databases were searched for eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that the elderly aged more than 60 years or with mean age ≥ 55 years, the minimal duration of the RCT intervention was 6 weeks, and those lacking data about glycemic level and at least one indicator of physical performance were excluded. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to assess the bias of each study included. Bayesian NMA was performed as the main results, the Bayesian meta regression and the frequentist NMA as sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Of the 2266 literature retrieved, 27 RCTs with a total of 2289 older adults were included. Health management provided by health workers exerts beneficial effects that is superior to other interventions at achieving glycemic control, but less marked improvement in physical performance. Exercise combined with cognitive training showed more pronounced improvement in muscle strength, gait speed, and dynamic balance, but ranked behind in decreasing the HbAc1 and FBG. CONCLUSIONS: Personalized health management combined with physical and cognitive training might be the optimal intervention to both accomplish glycemic control and improvement of physical performance. Further RCTs are needed to validate and assess the confidence of our results from this NMA.

Single-cell sequencing of immune cells from the coronary sinus reveals immune mechanisms of the progression of persistent atrial fibrillation.

Identifying the atlas of immune cells from coronary sinus circulation (CSC) of patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (PerAF) may provide new insights into the role of immune cells in the progression of AF. Single-cell sequencing revealed substantial alterations in immune cells from CSCs of patients with PerAF, especially a markedly elevated abundance of T cells, after which we identified a T cell subset: FGFBP2(+)TRDC(-)CD4(-) T cells (Ftc-T cells), which can promote the proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs),and the proportion of Ftc-T had a positive linear with AF recurrence post catheter ablation (CA). Moreover, IFI27 was found to be highly enriched in Ftc-T cells and promoted CFs proliferation and collagen expression. Altogether, our findings represent a unique resource providing in-depth insights into the heterogeneity of the immune cell from CSC of patients with PerAF and highlight the potential role of Ftc-T cells and IFI27 for AF progression.

Clinical and virological characteristics of coexistent hepatitis B surface antigen and antibody in treatment-naive children with chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

Serological pattern of simultaneous positivity for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody against HBsAg (anti-HBs) is considered a specific and atypical phenomenon among patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, especially in pediatric patients. Unfortunately, there is limited understanding of the clinical and virological characteristics among children having chronic HBV infection and the coexistence of HBsAg and anti-HBs. Hence, our objective was to determine the prevalence of coexistent HBsAg and anti-HBs and to explore the associated clinical and virological features in this patient population. The researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study on the 413 pediatric patients with chronic HBV infection from December 2011 to June 2022. The patients were stratified into two groups based on their anti-HBs status. Demographic, serum biochemical and virological parameters of two group were compared. Of the total 413 enrolled subjects, 94 (22.8%) were tested positive for both HBsAg and anti-HBs. Patients with anti-HBs were younger and demonstrated significantly higher ratio of albumin to globulin (A/G), elevated serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), lower ratio of aspartate transaminase (AST)/ALT (AST/ALT) and reduced serum levels of globulin, HBsAg and HBV DNA, Additionally, these patients were more likely to show coexistent HBeAg and anti-HBe when compared to patients without anti-HBs. The results of multivariate logistical analysis revealed that AST/ALT, serum levels of globulin and HBsAg were negatively associated with coexistence of HBsAg and anti-HBs. Our data demonstrated a considerable prevalence of coexisting HBsAg and anti-HBs in pediatric patients. Children with this specific serological pattern were commonly of a younger age, seemly predisposing them to early liver impairment and lower HBV replication activity.

Trajectories of serum HBsAg during treatment and association with HBsAg loss in children with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B: a latent class trajectory analysis.

BACKGROUND: The change of serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) during treatment are associated with HBsAg loss. However, little is known about the trajectory patterns of HBsAg in early treatment and their relationship with subsequent HBsAg loss. This study aimed to identify trajectories of HBsAg in children with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and investigate the association between trajectory patterns and HBsAg loss. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 166 treatment-naive children with HBeAg-positive CHB. Latent class trajectory analysis was used to identify trajectory groups of serum HBsAg. Cox proportional hazard model was used to assess the association between HBsAg trajectory groups and HBsAg loss. RESULTS: The median follow-up time was 20.70 (12.54, 34.17) months, and HBsAg loss occurred in 70(42.17%) of all study participants. Using latent class trajectory analysis, HBeAg-positive CHB patients were classified into three trajectory groups: trajectory 1 (sustained stability, 24.70%), trajectory 2 (slow decline, 38.55%), and trajectory 3 (rapid decline, 36.75%), respectively. The median decline levels of HBsAg at the 3-month and 6-month follow-ups were the highest in trajectory 3 (1.08 and 3.28 log10 IU/ml), followed by trajectory 2 (0.27 and 1.26 log10 IU/ml), and no change in trajectory 1. The risk of achieving HBsAg loss was higher in both trajectory 2 (HR, 3.65 [95% CI, 1.70-7.83]) and trajectory 3 (HR, 7.27 [95% CI, 3.01-17.61]), respectively. CONCLUSION: Serum HBsAg levels during early treatment can be classified into distinct trajectory groups, which may serve as an additional predictive indicator for HBsAg loss in HBeAg-positive CHB children.

Bioengineered Abiotic Nanomaterials Through Cell Membrane-Camouflaging: Advancements and Challenges in Lung Cancer.

Lung cancer remains a major global health concern with high mortality rates and poor prognosis. Bridging the gap between the chemical and cellular understanding of cell-decorated biomimetic nanocomposites and their clinical translation is crucial for developing effective therapies. Nanocomposites show promise in targeted drug delivery and diagnostics, but their clinical application is hindered by biocompatibility and clearance issues. To overcome these challenges, biomimetic approaches utilizing cell membrane-coated nanomaterials emerge. By camouflaging nanomaterials with cell membranes, the biointerfaces are enhanced, and the inherent properties of the donor cell membranes are acquired. This review provides an overview of recent advancements on cell membrane-coated nanocomposites for lung cancer diagnosis and treatment. It discusses fabrication techniques, biomedical applications, challenges, and future prospects. The incorporation of cell membranes into nanocomposites holds potential for improved lung cancer therapy, but further development and refinement are needed for precise tumor targeting. Addressing the identified challenges will pave the way for clinical translation of these biomimetic nanoplatforms and advance lung cancer diagnosis and treatment.

An Obstacle Detection Method Based on Longitudinal Active Vision.

The types of obstacles encountered in the road environment are complex and diverse, and accurate and reliable detection of obstacles is the key to improving traffic safety. Traditional obstacle detection methods are limited by the type of samples and therefore cannot detect others comprehensively. Therefore, this paper proposes an obstacle detection method based on longitudinal active vision. The obstacles are recognized according to the height difference characteristics between the obstacle imaging points and the ground points in the image, and the obstacle detection in the target area is realized without accurately distinguishing the obstacle categories, which reduces the spatial and temporal complexity of the road environment perception. The method of this paper is compared and analyzed with the obstacle detection methods based on VIDAR (vision-IMU based detection and range method), VIDAR + MSER, and YOLOv8s. The experimental results show that the method in this paper has high detection accuracy and verifies the feasibility of obstacle detection in road environments where unknown obstacles exist.

Low Remnant Cholesterol and In-Hospital Bleeding Risk After Ischemic Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack.

BACKGROUND: Bleeding risk brought by intensive lipid-lowering therapy and low low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is concerning, while evidence regarding the relationship between remnant cholesterol and bleeding is frightening. This study aimed to investigate the association between remnant cholesterol at admission and an in-hospital bleeding event after acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 3222 eligible patients admitted to Shanghai Huashan Hospital between 2015 and 2021 with complete lipid data were analyzed. Patients were classified into low (<20.0 mg/dL), moderate (20.0-29.9 mg/dL), and high (≥30 mg/dL) groups by remnant cholesterol. The mean age of patients was 63.0± 13.1 years, including 2301 (71.4%) men and 651 (20.2%) with TIA. The median (interquartile range) of remnant cholesterol was 18.6 (13.5-25.9) mg/dL. After adjustment for confounding variables, patients with low remnant cholesterol had a higher risk of bleeding events (odds ratio, 2.56 [95% CI, 1.12-6.67]) than those with moderate remnant cholesterol. The high remnant cholesterol group was not significantly associated with bleeding risk. Combined assessment of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and remnant cholesterol further identified patients with the highest risk of bleeding events. CONCLUSIONS: Low remnant cholesterol levels were associated with bleeding events during the acute stage of ischemic stroke and TIA. The assessment of remnant cholesterol could inform the bleeding risk during hospitalization both for patients and physicians in clinical practice.

Covalent Triazine Based Frameworks with Donor-Donor-π-Acceptor Structures for Dendrite-Free Lithium Metal Batteries.

The appearance of disordered lithium dendrites and fragile solid electrolyte interfaces (SEI) significantly hinder the serviceability of lithium metal batteries. Herein, guided by theoretical predictions, a multi-component covalent triazine framework with partially electronegative channels (4C-TA0.5TF0.5-CTF) is incorporated as a protective layer to modulate the interface stability of the lithium metal batteries. Notably, the 4C-TA0.5TF0.5-CTF with optimized electronic structure at the molecular level by fine-tuning the local acceptor-donor functionalities not only enhances the intermolecular interaction thereby providing larger dipole moment and improved crystallinity and mechanical stress, but also facilitates the beneficial effect of lithiophilic sites (C-F bonds, triazine cores, C=N linkages and aromatic rings) to further regulate the migration of Li+ and achieve a uniform lithium deposition behavior as determined by various in-depth in/ex situ characterizations. Due to the synergistic effect of multi-component organic functionalities, the 4C-TA0.5TF0.5-CTF modified full cells perform significantly better than the common two/three-component 2C-TA-CTF and 3C-TF-CTF electrodes, delivering an excellent capacity of 116.3 mAh g-1 (capacity retention ratio: 86.8%) after 1000 cycles at 5 C and improved rate capability. This work lays a platform for the prospective molecular design of improved organic framework relative artificial SEI for highly stable lithium metal batteries.

Advances in biology, diagnosis and treatment of DLBCL.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), with approximately 150,000 new cases worldwide each year, represent nearly 30% of all cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and are phenotypically and genetically heterogeneous. A gene-expression profile (GEP) has identified at least three major subtypes of DLBCL, each of which has distinct clinical, biological, and genetic features: activated B-cell (ABC)-like DLBCL, germinal-center B-cell (GCB)-like DLBCL, and unclassified. Different origins are associated with different responses to chemotherapy and targeted agents. Despite DLBCL being a highly heterogeneous disease, more than 60% of patients with DLBCL can be cured after using rituximab combined with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) to inhibit the growth of cancer cells while targeting the CD20 receptor. In recent decades, the improvement of diagnostic levels has led to a refinement classification of DLBCL and the development of new therapeutic approaches. The objective of this review was to summarize the latest studies examining genetic lesions and therapies for DLBCL.

Association between house dust endotoxin and kidney injury: findings from the national health and nutrition examination survey (NHANES) 2005-2006.

BACKGROUND: House dust endotoxin is thought to be associated with systemic inflammatory responses and respiratory diseases. Previous studies have indicated that lung injury and systemic inflammation could lead to kidney damage. However, the potential link between house dust endotoxin and the increased risk of kidney injury remains unexplored. OBJECTIVES: This cross-sectional study and retrospective study aim to investigate the relationship between house dust endotoxin levels and renal markers, specifically the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), utilizing data from the NHANES 2005-2006 survey cycle. RESULTS: Proteinuria was assessed using the UACR, with values categorized into negative (UACR ≤ 30 mg/g) and positive (UACR > 30 mg/g) groups. Significant differences in house dust endotoxin levels were observed between these groups (p value = 0.003). Weighted logistic regression analysis indicated that higher levels of house dust endotoxin were associated with an increased rate of positive UACR (OR [95% CI]: 1.57 [1.20, 2.05]; p value = 0.003). This association remained significant after adjusting for covariates such as age, gender, race, poverty income ratio (PIR), Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), and hypertension (OR [95% CI]: 1.46 [1.08, 1.97]; p-Value = 0.021). However, no significant correlation was found between house dust endotoxin levels and eGFR (Estimate [95% CI]: 1.19 [-1.28, 3.66]; p value = 0.32). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest a significant association between house dust endotoxin levels and proteinuria, based on data from the NHANES 2005-2006 survey cycle. This association indicates that elevated levels of house dust endotoxin may be linked to kidney damage. Further research is necessary to elucidate the specific relationship between exposure to house dust endotoxin and the risk of developing kidney disease.

Ticking Brain: Circadian Rhythm as a New Target for Cerebroprotection.

Circadian rhythm is a master process observed in nearly every type of cell throughout the body, and it macroscopically regulates daily physiology. Recent clinical trials have revealed the effects of circadian variation on the incidence, pathophysiological processes, and prognosis of acute ischemic stroke. Furthermore, core clock genes, the cell-autonomous pacemakers of the circadian rhythm, affect the neurovascular unit-composing cells in a nonparallel manner after the same pathophysiological processes of ischemia/reperfusion. In this review, we discuss the influence of circadian rhythms and clock genes on each type of neurovascular unit cell in the pathophysiological processes of acute ischemic stroke.

Underway mapping of coastal seawater pH using an automated shipboard analyzer with spectrophotometric detection.

The development of field-deployable methods and instruments for the measurement of pH and other carbonate parameters is important for the assessment of the marine carbon cycle, ocean acidification and marine carbon dioxide removal techniques. In this study, a high-precision fully automated integrated syringe-pump-based environmental-water analyzer for pH (iSEA-pH) was developed. The pH is determined spectrophotometrically using purified indicator dye with a high precision (better than ±0.001) and high frequency (3.5 min/sample). For the short-term analysis, the measurement frequency was 18 h-1, which revealed pH = 7.8148 ± 0.0005 (n = 104) for aged surface seawater (S = 35) from the western Pacific. For long-term analysis, the measurement frequency was 2 h-1 for 4 days, and the results showed that pH = 7.8148 ± 0.0010 (n = 200). Three commonly used pH indicators (meta-cresol purple, thymol blue and phenol red) were purified with improved flash chromatography procedures. The autonomous iSEA-pH can automatically correct for the influence of temperature, salinity and other factors on pH measurements to achieve rapid and accurate on-site measurements, which meet the "climate" goal of the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (uncertainty is ±0.003). Three identical iSEA-pH systems were developed and successfully applied in mesocosm experiments and several coastal and open ocean cruises with excellent in field performance.

Prediction of pathological complete response and prognosis in locally advanced rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is currently the third most common malignant tumor and the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) is standard for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Except for pathological examination after resection, it is not known exactly whether LARC patients have achieved pathological complete response (pCR) before surgery. To date, there are no clear clinical indicators that can predict the efficacy of nCRT and patient outcomes. AIM: To investigate the indicators that can predict pCR and long-term outcomes following nCRT in patients with LARC. METHODS: Clinical data of 128 LARC patients admitted to our hospital between September 2013 and November 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were categorized into pCR and non-pCR groups. Univariate analysis (using the χ 2 test or Fisher's exact test) and logistic multivariate regression analysis were used to study clinical predictors affecting pCR. The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis, and differences in survival curves were assessed with the log-rank test. RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed that pretreatment carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level, lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR), time interval between neoadjuvant therapy completion and total mesorectal excision, and tumor size were correlated with pCR. Multivariate results showed that CEA ≤ 5 ng/mL (P = 0.039), LMR > 2.73 (P = 0.023), and time interval > 10 wk (P = 0.039) were independent predictors for pCR. Survival analysis demonstrated that patients in the pCR group had significantly higher 5-year DFS rates (94.7% vs 59.7%, P = 0.002) and 5-year OS rates (95.8% vs 80.1%, P = 0.019) compared to the non-pCR group. Tumor deposits (TDs) were significantly correlated with shorter DFS (P = 0.002) and OS (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Pretreatment CEA, LMR, and time interval contribute to predicting nCRT efficacy in LARC patients. Achieving pCR demonstrates longer DFS and OS. TDs correlate with poor prognosis.

Combined detection of serum EFNA1 and MMP13 as diagnostic biomarker for gastric cancer.

We previously identified that serum EFNA1 and MMP13 were potential biomarker for early detection of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. In this study, our aim is to explore the diagnostic value of serum EFNA1 and MMP13 for gastric cancer. We used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect the expression levels of serum EFNA1 and MMP13 in 210 GCs and 223 normal controls. The diagnostic value of EFNA1 and MMP13 was evaluated in an independent cohorts of GC patients and normal controls (n = 238 and 195, respectively). Receiver operating characteristics were used to calculate diagnostic accuracy. In training and validation cohorts, serum EFNA1 and MMP13 levels in the GC groups were significantly higher than those in the normal controls (P < 0.001). The area under the curve (AUC) of the combined detection of serum EFNA1 and MMP13 for GC was improved (0.794), compared with single biomarker used. Similar results were observed in the validation cohort. Importantly, the combined measurement of serum EFNA1 and MMP13 to detect early-stage GC also had acceptable diagnostic accuracy in training and validation cohort. Combined detection of serum EFNA1 and MMP13 could help identify early-stage GC, suggesting that it may be a promising tool for the early detection of GC.