METTL3-modified lncRNA DSCAM-AS1 promotes breast cancer progression through inhibiting ferroptosis.

Numerous studies have indicated that N6-methyladenosine (m6A) and lncRNAs play pivotal roles in human cancer. However, the underlying functions and mechanisms of m6A-lncRNA in the physiological processes of breast cancer remain unclear. Here, we found that DSCAM-AS1 is an m6A-modified lncRNA that was overexpressed in breast cancer tissues and cells, indicating poor clinical prognosis. Gain/loss functional assays suggested that DSCAM-AS1 inhibited erastin-induced ferroptosis in breast cancer cells. Mechanistically, there were remarkable m6A modification sites on both the 3'-UTR of DSCAM-AS1 and the endogenous antioxidant factor SLC7A11. M6A methyltransferase methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) methylated both SLC7A11 and DSCAM-AS1. Moreover, DSCAM-AS1 recognized m6A sites on the SLC7A11 mRNA, thereby enhancing its stability. Taken together, these findings indicated a potential therapeutic strategy for breast cancer ferroptosis in an m6A-dependent manner.

Polydopamine-Coated Copper-Doped Co3O4 Nanosheets Rich in Oxygen Vacancy on Titanium and Multimodal Synergistic Antibacterial Study.

Medical titanium-based (Ti-based) implants in the human body are prone to infection by pathogenic bacteria, leading to implantation failure. Constructing antibacterial nanocoatings on Ti-based implants is one of the most effective strategies to solve bacterial contamination. However, single antibacterial function was not sufficient to efficiently kill bacteria, and it is necessary to develop multifunctional antibacterial methods. This study modifies medical Ti foils with Cu-doped Co3O4 rich in oxygen vacancies, and improves their biocompatibility by polydopamine (PDA/Cu-Ov-Co3O4). Under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation, nanocoatings can generate •OH and 1O2 due to Cu+ Fenton-like activity and a photodynamic effect of Cu-Ov-Co3O4, and the total reactive oxygen species (ROS) content inside bacteria significantly increases, causing oxidative stress of bacteria. Further experiments prove that the photothermal process enhances the bacterial membrane permeability, allowing the invasion of ROS and metal ions, as well as the protein leakage. Moreover, PDA/Cu-Ov-Co3O4 can downregulate ATP levels and further reduce bacterial metabolic activity after irradiation. This coating exhibits sterilization ability against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with an antibacterial rate of ca. 100%, significantly higher than that of bare medical Ti foils (ca. 0%). Therefore, multifunctional synergistic antibacterial nanocoating will be a promising strategy for preventing bacterial contamination on medical Ti-based implants.

Identification of cell surface markers for acute myeloid leukemia prognosis based on multi-model analysis.

Given the extremely high inter-patient heterogeneity among acute myeloid leukemia (AML), identifying biomarkers for prognostic assessment and therapeutic guidance is crucial. Cell surface markers (CSMs) have been shown to play an important role in AML leukemogenesis and progression. In this study, we evaluate the prognostic potential of all human CSMs in AML patients based on differential gene expression analysis and univariate Cox regression analysis. Utilizing multi-model analysis, including Adaptive LASSO regression, LASSO regression, and Elastic Net, we construct a 9-CSMs prognostic model for risk stratification of AML patients. The predictive value of the 9-CSMs risk score is further confirmed in three independent datasets. Multivariate Cox regression analysis shows that the risk score is an independent prognostic factor for AML patients. AML patients with high 9-CSMs risk scores have shorter overall and event-free survival time than those with lower scores. Notably, our single-cell RNA-seq analysis indicates that patients with high 9-CSMs risk scores exhibit chemotherapy resistance. Further, PI3K inhibitors are identified as potential treatments for these high-risk patients. In conclusion, we construct a 9-CSMs prognostic model which is an independent prognostic factor for the survival of AML patients and has the potential to guide drug therapy.

SpCTP3 from the hyperaccumulator Sedum plumbizincicola positively regulates cadmium tolerance by interacting with SpMDH1.

Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal pollutant mainly originating from the discharge of industrial sewage, irrigation with contaminated water, and the use of fertilizers. The phytoremediation of Cd polluted soil depends on the identification of the associated genes in hyperaccumulators. Here, a novel Cd tolerance gene (SpCTP3) was identified in hyperaccumulator Sedum plumbizincicola. The results of Cd2+ binding and thermodynamic analyses, revealed the CXXC motif in SpCTP3 functions is a Cd2+ binding site. A mutated CXXC motif decreased binding to Cd by 59.93%. The subcellular localization analysis suggested that SpCTP3 is primarily a cytoplasmic protein. Additionally, the SpCTP3-overexpressing (OE) plants were more tolerant to Cd and accumulated more Cd than wild-type Sedum alfredii (NHE-WT). The Cd concentrations in the cytoplasm of root and leaf cells were significantly higher (53.75% and 71.87%, respectively) in SpCTP3-OE plants than in NHE-WT. Furthermore, malic acid levels increased and decreased in SpCTP3-OE and SpCTP3-RNAi plants, respectively. Moreover, SpCTP3 interacted with malate dehydrogenase 1 (MDH1). Thus, SpCTP3 helps regulate the subcellular distribution of Cd and increases Cd accumulation when it is overexpressed in plants, ultimately Cd tolerance through its interaction with SpMDH1. This study provides new insights relevant to improving the Cd uptake by Sedum plumbizincicola.

Multiple E3 ligases act as antiviral factors against SARS-CoV-2 via inducing the ubiquitination and degradation of ORF9b.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) open reading frame 9b (ORF9b) antagonizes the antiviral type I and III interferon (IFN) responses and is ubiquitinated and degraded via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. However, E3 ubiquitin ligases that mediate the polyubiquitination and degradation of ORF9b remain unknown. In this study, we identified 14 E3 ligases that specifically bind to SARS-CoV-2 ORF9b. Specifically, three E3 ligases, HECT, UBA, and WWE domain-containing E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 1 (HUWE1), ubiquitin protein ligase E3 component n-recognin 4 (UBR4), and UBR5, induced K48-linked polyubiquitination and degradation of ORF9b, thereby attenuating ORF9b-mediated inhibition of the IFN response and SARS-CoV-2 replication. Moreover, each E3 ligase performed this function independent of the other two E3 ligases. Therefore, the three E3 ligases identified in this study as anti-SARS-CoV-2 host factors provide novel molecular insight into the virus-host interaction.IMPORTANCEUbiquitination is an important post-translational modification that regulates multiple biological processes, including viral replication. Identification of E3 ubiquitin ligases that target viral proteins for degradation can provide novel targets for antagonizing viral infections. Here, we identified multiple E3 ligases, including HECT, UBA, and WWE domain-containing E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 1 (HUWE1), ubiquitin protein ligase E3 component n-recognin 4 (UBR4), and UBR5, that ubiquitinated and induced the degradation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) open reading frame 9b (ORF9b), an interferon (IFN) antagonist, thereby enhancing IFN production and attenuating SARS-CoV-2 replication. Our study provides new possibilities for drug development targeting the interaction between E3 ligases and ORF9b.

Efficacy of Raw Corn Starch in Insulinoma-Related Hypoglycemia: A Promising Supportive Therapy.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of raw corn starch (RCS) in clinical management of insulinoma-induced hypoglycemia.Methods We retrospectively collected clinical data of insulinoma patients who received RCS-supplemented diet preoperatively, and analyzed the therapeutic effects of the RCS intervention on blood glucose control, weight change, and its adverse events.Results The study population consisted of 24 case of insulinoma patients, 7 males and 17 females, aged 46.08 ± 14.15 years. Before RCS-supplemented diet, all patients had frequent hypoglycemic episodes (2.51 ± 3.88 times/week), concurrent with neuroglycopenia (in 83.3% of patients) and autonomic manifestations (in 75.0% of patients), with the median fasting blood glucose (FBG) of 2.70 [interquartile range (IQR): 2.50-2.90] mmol/L. The patients' weight increased by 0.38 (IQR: 0.05-0.65) kg per month, with 8 (33.3%) cases developing overweight and 7 (29.2%) cases developing obesity. All patients maintained the RCS-supplemented diet until they underwent tumor resection (23 cases) and transarterial chemoembolization for liver metastases (1 case). For 19 patients receiving RCS throughout the day, the median FBG within one week of nutritional management was 4.30 (IQR: 3.30-5.70) mmol/L, which was a significant increase compared to pre-nutritional level [2.25 (IQR: 1.60-2.90) mmol/L; P = 0.000]. Of them, 10 patients receiving RCS throughout the day for over four weeks had sustained improvement in FBG compared to pre-treatment [3.20 (IQR: 2.60-3.95) mmol/L vs. 2.15 (IQR: 1.83-2.33) mmol/L; P = 0.000). Five patients who received RCS only at night also had a significant increase in FBG within one week of nutritional management [3.50 (IQR: 2.50-3.65) mmol/L vs. 2.20 (IQR:1.80-2.60) mmol/L; P = 0.000], but only one patient who continued to receive RCS for over 4 weeks did not have a significant improvement in FBG. No improvement in weight gain was observed upon RCS supplementation. Mild diarrhea (2 cases) and flatulence (1 case) occurred, and were relieved by reduction of RCS dose.Conclusion The RCS-supplemented diet is effective in controlling insulinoma-induced hypoglycemia.

Marine-derived EGFR inhibitors: novel compounds targeting breast cancer growth and drug resistance.

Breast cancer (BC) continues to be a major health challenge globally, ranking as the fifth leading cause of cancer mortality among women, despite advancements in cancer detection and treatment. In this study, we identified four novel compounds from marine organisms that effectively target and inhibit the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), crucial for BC cell growth and proliferation. These compounds not only induced early apoptosis through Caspase-3 activation but also showed significant inhibitory effects on EGFR mutations associated with drug resistance (T790M, L858R, and L858R/T790M), demonstrating high EGFR kinase selectivity. Cell Thermal Shift Assay (CETSA) experiments indicated that Tandyukisin stabilizes EGFR in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, binding competition assays using surface plasmon resonance technology revealed that Tandyukisin and Trichoharzin bound to distinct sites on EGFR and that their combined use enhanced apoptosis in BC cells. This discovery may pave the way for developing new marine-derived EGFR inhibitors, offering a promising avenue for innovative cancer treatment strategies and addressing EGFR-mediated drug resistance.

Identification and analysis of novel recessive alleles for Tan1 and Tan2 in sorghum.

Background: The identification and analysis of allelic variation are important bases for crop diversity research, trait domestication and molecular marker development. Grain tannin content is a very important quality trait in sorghum. Higher tannin levels in sorghum grains are usually required when breeding varieties resistant to bird damage or those used for brewing liquor. Non-tannin-producing or low-tannin-producing sorghum accessions are commonly used for food and forage. Tan1 and Tan2, two important cloned genes, regulate tannin biosynthesis in sorghum, and mutations in one or two genes will result in low or no tannin content in sorghum grains. Even if sorghum accessions contain dominant Tan1 and Tan2, the tannin contents are distributed from low to high, and there must be other new alleles of the known regulatory genes or new unknown genes contributing to tannin production. Methods: The two parents 8R306 and 8R191 did not have any known recessive alleles for Tan1 and Tan2, and it was speculated that they probably both had dominant Tan1 and Tan2 genotypes. However, the phenotypes of two parents were different; 8R306 had tannins and 8R191 had non-tannins in the grains, so these two parents were constructed as a RIL population. Bulked segregant analysis (BSA) was used to determine other new alleles of Tan1 and Tan2 or new Tannin locus. Tan1 and Tan2 full-length sequences and tannin contents were detected in wild sorghum resources, landraces and cultivars. Results: We identified two novel recessive tan1-d and tan1-e alleles and four recessive Tan2 alleles, named as tan2-d, tan2-e, tan2-f, and tan2-g. These recessive alleles led to loss of function of Tan1 and Tan2, and low or no tannin content in sorghum grains. The loss-of-function alleles of tan1-e and tan2-e were only found in Chinese landraces, and other alleles were found in landraces and cultivars grown all around the world. tan1-a and tan1-b were detected in foreign landraces, Chinese cultivars and foreign cultivars, but not in Chinese landraces. Conclusion: These results implied that Tan1 and Tan2 recessive alleles had different geographically distribution in the worldwide, but not all recessive alleles had been used in breeding. The discovery of these new alleles provided new germplasm resources for breeding sorghum cultivars for food and feed, and for developing molecular markers for low-tannin or non-tannin cultivar-assisted breeding in sorghum.

Long-term relapse-free survival enabled by integrating targeted antibacteria in antitumor treatment.

The role of tumor-resident intracellular microbiota (TRIM) in carcinogenesis has sparked enormous interest. Nevertheless, the impact of TRIM-targeted antibacteria on tumor inhibition and immune regulation in the tumor microenvironment (TME) remains unexplored. Herein, we report long-term relapse-free survival by coordinating antibacteria with antitumor treatment, addressing the aggravated immunosuppression and tumor overgrowth induced by TRIM using breast and prostate cancer models. Combining Ag+ release with a Fenton-like reaction and photothermal conversion, simultaneous bacteria killing and multimodal antitumor therapy are enabled by a single agent. Free of immune-stimulating drugs, the agent restores antitumor immune surveillance and activates immunological responses. Secondary inoculation and distal tumor analysis confirm lasting immunological memory and systemic immune responses. A relapse-free survival of >700 days is achieved. This work unravels the crucial role of TRIM-targeted antibacteria in tumor inhibition and unlocks an unconventional route for immune regulation in TME and a complete cure for cancer.

Three-dimensional printed personalised digital guide plate for greater palatine block in trigeminal neuralgia.

The nerve block is a safe and effective method to therapy trigeminal neuralgia (TN). In terms of the V2 trigeminal neuralgia, the most difficult procedure in nerve block is accurate and fast greater palatine foramen (GPF) insertion. In this study, we developed a new technique using a personalized digital tooth-supported guide plate to increase insertion accuracy and success rates and reduce the pain of patients during injection. A total of 18 patients with TN (11 female and 7 male) were enrolled and treated between September 2020 and June 2022. Before injection, the guide plate was designed via Mimics three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction technology and printed via 3D printer. Then, all patients underwent maxillary nerve block with a guide plate for each injection. In this study, placement of all guide plates was completed within one minute and all punctures were successful at first time. The depth of the injection needle was over 2.5 cm in all cases and the guide plate was stability-supported by the maxillary teeth. The various pain scores had an obvious improvement. No patients presented symptoms of local anaesthetic toxicity or onset of new neurological sequelae. Using this new technology, we can significantly reduce the difficulty of GPF insertion and decrease patient pain during injection. The enhanced success rate of nerve block can achieve better therapeutic effect. For surgeons, personalized digital tooth-supported guide plates make the operation easier, especially for novice surgeons.

Anisotropic optical property of ferroelectric Bi2O2X(X = S,Se,Te) monolayer and strain engineering.

Based on the first-principles calculations, ferroelectricBi2O2X(X=S,Se,Te)monolayers with unequivalent in-plane lattice constants are confirmed to be the ground state, which is consistent with the experiment result (Ghoshet al2019Nano Lett.195703-09), and the anisotropic optical property is firstly investigated. We find that the polarizations ofBi2O2Xmonolayers points along the direction ofa-axis, andBi2O2Temonolayer process the largest polarization. Furthermore, both the biaxial and uniaxial strains are favor for the enhancement of polarization ofBi2O2Xmonolayers. It should be mentioned that the type of band gap will convert from indirect to direct forBi2O2Temonolayer when thea-axial tensile strain is larger than 2%. At last, the optical absorption coefficient forBi2O2Xmonolayers are calculated, and we obtain thatBi2O2Temonolayer has the strongest optical absorption within the range of visible light, the anisotropy and possible strain engineering to improve the optical absorption are discussed in detail. Our findings are significant in fields of optoelectronics and photovoltaics.

GPS2 promotes erythroid differentiation in K562 erythroleukemia cells primarily via NCOR1.

G protein pathway suppressor 2 (GPS2) has been shown to play a pivotal role in human and mouse definitive erythropoiesis in an EKLF-dependent manner. However, whether GPS2 affects human primitive erythropoiesis is still unknown. This study demonstrated that GPS2 positively regulates erythroid differentiation in K562 cells, which have a primitive erythroid phenotype. Overexpression of GPS2 promoted hemin-induced hemoglobin synthesis in K562 cells as assessed by the increased percentage of benzidine-positive cells and the deeper red coloration of the cell pellets. In contrast, knockdown of GPS2 inhibited hemin-induced erythroid differentiation of K562 cells. GPS2 overexpression also enhanced erythroid differentiation of K562 cells induced by cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C). GPS2 induced hemoglobin synthesis by increasing the expression of globin and ALAS2 genes, either under steady state or upon hemin treatment. Promotion of erythroid differentiation of K562 cells by GPS2 mainly relies on NCOR1, as knockdown of NCOR1 or lack of the NCOR1-binding domain of GPS2 potently diminished the promotive effect. Thus, our study revealed a previously unknown role of GPS2 in regulating human primitive erythropoiesis in K562 cells.

Earthworms improve the rhizosphere micro-environment to mitigate the toxicity of microplastics to tomato (Solanum lycopersicum).

Microplastics (MPs) are widespread in agricultural soil, potentially threatening soil environmental quality and plant growth. However, toxicological research on MPs has mainly been limited to individual components (such as plants, microbes, and animals), without considering their interactions. Here, we examined earthworm-mediated effects on tomato growth and the rhizosphere micro-environment under MPs contamination. Earthworms (Eisenia fetida) mitigated the growth-inhibiting effect of MPs on tomato plant. Particularly, when exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations (ERC, 0.02% w/w) of MPs, the addition of earthworms significantly (p < 0.05) increased shoot and root dry weight by 12-13% and 13-14%, respectively. MPs significantly reduced (p < 0.05) soil ammonium (NH4+-N) (0.55-0.69 mg/kg), nitrate nitrogen (NO3--N) (7.02-8.65 mg/kg) contents, and N cycle related enzyme activities (33.47-42.39 µg/h/g) by 37.7-50.9%, 22.6-37.2%, and 34.2-48.0%, respectively, while earthworms significantly enhanced (p < 0.05) inorganic N mineralization and bioavailability. Furthermore, earthworms increased bacterial network complexity, thereby enhancing the robustness of the bacterial system to resist soil MPs stress. Meanwhile, partial least squares modelling showed that earthworms significantly influenced (p < 0.01) soil nutrients, which in turn significantly affected (p < 0.01) plant growth. Therefore, the comprehensive consideration of soil ecological composition is important for assessing MPs ecological risk.

Structural characterization and immune-enhancing effects of a novel polysaccharide extracted from Sargassum fusiforme.

To alleviate the adverse effects of chemotherapy and bolster immune function, a novel polysaccharide derived from Sargassum fusiforme named as SFP-αII. The structural composition of SFP-αII predominantly consisted of guluronic and mannuronic acids in a molar ratio of 33.8:66.2, with an average molecular weight of 16.5 kDa. Its structure was primarily characterized by →4)-α-GulA-(1 â†’ and →4)-ß-ManA-(1 â†’ linkages confirmed by FT-IR, methylation, and NMR analyses. The absence of a triple-helix structure was in SFP-αII was confirmed using circular dichroism and Congo red dye assays. The dimensions varied with lengths ranging from 20 nm up to 3 µm revealed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). SFP-αII has been found to enhance immunomodulatory activity in cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced immunosuppressed mice. This was evidenced by improvements in immune organ indices, cytokine levels, and the release of nitric oxide (NO). Specifically, SFP-αII mitigated immunosuppression by upregulating the secretion of IL-1ß (167.3 %) and TNF-α (227.1 %) at a dose of 400 mg/kg, compared with the CTX group in macrophages. Ultimately, SFP-αII may serve as a mechanism for immune enhancement through modulation of TLR4-mediated NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. This integration of traditional Chinese and Western medicine, leveraging SFP-αII as a potential functional food could be pivotal in alleviating immunosuppressive side effects in CTX treatment.

Prediction of Th17/Treg cell balance on length of stay in intensive care units of patients with sepsis.

Background: Prolonged length of stay (LOS) of sepsis can drain a hospital's material and human resources. This study investigated the correlations between T helper type 17 (Th17) and regulatory T (Treg) balance with LOS in sepsis. Methods: A prospective clinical observational study was designed in Changhai Hospital affiliated to Naval Medical University in Shanghai, China, from January to October 2020. The patients diagnosed with sepsis and who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited and whether the levels of cytokines, procalcitonin, subtypes, and biomarkers of T cells in the peripheral blood were detected. We analyzed the correlation between these and LOS. Results: Sixty septic patients were classified into two groups according to whether their intensive care unit (ICU) stay exceeded 14 days. The patients with LOS ≥14 days were older ([72.6±7.5] years vs. [63.3±10.4] years, P=0.015) and had higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) (median [interquartile range]: 6.5 [5.0-11.0] vs. 4.0 [3.0-6.0], P=0.001) and higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II scores (16.0 [13.0-21.0] vs. 8.5 [7.0-14.0], P=0.001). There was no difference in other demographic characteristics and cytokines, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-10 between the two groups. The Th17/Treg ratio of sepsis with LOS <14 days was considerably lower (0.48 [0.38-0.56] vs. 0.69 [0.51-0.98], P=0.001). For patients with LOS ≥14 days, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the Th17/Treg ratio was 0.766. It improved to 0.840 and 0.850 when combined with the SOFA and APACHE II scores, respectively. Conclusions: The Th17/Treg ratio was proportional to septic severity and can be used as a potential predictor of ICU stay in sepsis, presenting a new option for ICU practitioners to better care for patients with sepsis.

Splenectomy versus splenic preservation in total gastrectomy for gastric cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing survival benefits and short-term complications.

BACKGROUND: There is an ongoing debate regarding the comparative merits of splenectomy (SP) and splenic preservation in the surgical management of gastric cancer. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to shed light on potential differences in survival outcomes and postoperative complications associated with these two procedures. METHOD: An exhaustive literature search was conducted across multiple databases, namely PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. We utilized a random-effects model via RevMan 5.4 software to conduct a meta-analysis of the hazard ratios (HRs) and risk ratios (RRs) associated with SP and spleen preservation. Subgroup analyses were based on various attributes of the included studies. We employed funnel plots to assess publication bias, and sensitivity analysis was conducted to gauge the stability of the combined results. Both funnel plots and sensitivity analysis were performed using Stata 12. RESULT: Our research incorporated 23 observational studies and three randomized controlled trials, involving a total of 6,255 patients. SP did not yield superior survival outcomes in comparison to splenic preservation, a conclusion that aligns with the combined results of the randomized controlled trials. No statistically significant difference in survival prognosis was observed between SP and splenic preservation, irrespective of whether the patients had proximal gastric cancer or proximal gastric cancer invading the stomach's greater curvature. SP exhibited a higher incidence of all postoperative complications, notably pancreatic fistula and intraabdominal abscesses. However, it did not significantly differ from splenic preservation in terms of anastomotic leakage, incision infection, intestinal obstruction, intra-abdominal bleeding, and pulmonary infection. No significant difference in postoperative mortality between SP and splenic preservation was found. Funnel plots suggested no notable publication bias, and sensitivity analysis affirmed the stability of the combined outcomes. CONCLUSION: Despite the lack of significant differences in certain individual complications and postoperative mortality, the broader pattern of our data suggests that SP is associated with a greater overall frequency of postoperative complications, without providing additional survival benefits compared to splenic preservation. Thus, the routine implementation of SP is not advocated.

When doctors perform surgery for gastric (stomach) cancer, they sometimes remove the spleen, a procedure known as splenectomy (SP). However, there's a debate on whether removing the spleen is better than preserving it. Our study aimed to compare these two methods in terms of patient survival and the risk of complications after surgery. To do this, we looked at data from 26 studies involving 6,255 patients. Our analysis was thorough, using advanced statistical methods to ensure accuracy. Here's what we found: patients who had their spleen removed did not live longer than those who kept their spleen. Whether the cancer was just in the upper part of the stomach or had spread to the nearby large curve of the stomach, the survival rates were similar for both groups. Patients who underwent SP faced more postoperative complications, especially issues like pancreatic fistula and intra-abdominal abscesses. However, for some complications like leakage from the surgical joint, infection of the wound, bowel obstruction, internal bleeding, and lung infections, there was no significant difference between the two groups. The chances of dying post-surgery were similar whether patients had their spleen removed or not. Our findings suggest that routinely removing the spleen during gastric cancer surgery does not improve survival rates and is linked to more postoperative complications. Therefore, it may be better to avoid removing the spleen unless absolutely necessary.

Residue Degradation and Risk Assessment of Difenoconazole and Its Metabolite during Tea Growing, Processing and Brewing by Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Determination.

Residue dissipation and risk assessment of difenoconazole and its metabolite difenoconazole-alcohol during tea growing, processing, and brewing was first investigated by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The limits of quantification for both difenoconazole and difenoconazole-alcohol were 0.001 mg/kg in fresh tea leaves and tea, and 0.0002 mg/L in tea infusion. In field trials, the dissipation half-lives of difenoconazole in fresh tea leaves was 1.77 days. After spraying, the residues of difenoconazole-alcohol increased and then gradually dissipated like difenoconazole. After 14 days, the dissipation rates of difenoconazole and difenoconazole-alcohol reached 99%. When fresh tea leaves were harvested on different days, the total processing factors (PFs) of difenoconazole and difenoconazole-alcohol for green tea were 0.86-1.05 and 0.78-0.85, respectively, while the total PFs for black tea were 0.83-1.13 and 0.82-1.66, respectively. Metabolism of difenoconazole was accelerated during tea processing. When brewing black tea, the leaching rates (LRs) of difenoconazole and difenoconazole-alcohol were 8.4-17.9% and 31.8-38.9%, respectively, while when brewing green tea, the LRs were 15.4-23.5% and 30.4-50.6%, respectively. The LRs of difenoconazole and difenoconazole-alcohol in black tea were higher than those in green tea. The potential threat to human health for dietary intake of difenoconazole and difenoconazole-alcohol residues from tea consumption is negligible. However, the dietary risk of difenoconazole in fruits and vegetables that are essential for daily diets is concerning, with a risk probability of 158%.

Combining systemic inflammatory response index and albumin fibrinogen ratio to predict early serious complications and prognosis after resectable gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer has a high incidence and fatality rate, and surgery is the preferred course of treatment. Nonetheless, patient survival rates are still low, and the incidence of major postoperative complications cannot be disregarded. The systemic inflammatory response, nutritional level, and coagulation status are key factors affecting the postoperative recovery and prognosis of gastric cancer patients. The systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) and the albumin fibrinogen ratio (AFR) are two valuable comprehensive indicators of the severity and prognosis of systemic inflammation in various medical conditions. AIM: To assess the clinical importance and prognostic significance of the SIRI scores and the AFR on early postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing radical gastric cancer surgery. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the clinicopathological characteristics and relevant laboratory indices of 568 gastric cancer patients from January 2018 to December 2019. We calculated and compared two indicators of inflammation and then examined the diagnostic ability of combined SIRI and AFR values for serious early postoperative complications. We scored the patients and categorized them into three groups based on their SIRI and AFR levels. COX analysis was used to compare the three groups of patients the prognostic value of various preoperative SIRI-AFR scores for 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). RESULTS: SIRI-AFR scores were an independent risk factor for prognosis [OS: P = 0.004; hazards ratio (HR) = 3.134; DFS: P < 0.001; HR = 3.543] and had the highest diagnostic power (area under the curve: 0.779; 95% confidence interval: 0.737-0.820) for early serious complications in patients with gastric cancer. The tumor-node-metastasis stage (P = 0.001), perioperative transfusion (P = 0.044), positive carcinoembryonic antigen (P = 0.014) findings, and major postoperative complications (P = 0.011) were factors associated with prognosis. CONCLUSION: Preoperative SIRI and AFR values were significantly associated with early postoperative survival and the occurrence of severe complications in gastric cancer patients.

Non-Intrusive Load Identification Based on Retrainable Siamese Network.

Non-intrusive load monitoring (NILM) can identify each electrical load and its operating state in a household by using the voltage and current data measured at a single point on the bus, thereby behaving as a key technology for smart grid construction and effective energy consumption. The existing NILM methods mainly focus on the identification of pre-trained loads, which can achieve high identification accuracy and satisfying outcomes. However, unknown load identification is rarely involved among those methods and the scalability of NILM is still a crucial problem at the current stage. In light of this, we have proposed a non-intrusive load identification method based on a Siamese network, which can be retrained after the detection of an unknown load to increase the identification accuracy for unknown loads. The proposed Siamese network comprises a fixed convolutional neural network (CNN) and two retrainable back propagation (BP) networks. When an unknown load is detected, the low-dimensional features of its voltage-current (V-I) trajectory are extracted by using the fixed CNN model, and the BP networks are retrained online. The finetuning of BP network parameters through retraining can improve the representation ability of the network model; thus, a high accuracy of unknown load identification can be achieved by updating the Siamese network in real time. The public WHITED and PLAID datasets are used for the validation of the proposed method. Finally, the practicality and scalability of the method are demonstrated using a real-house environment test to prove the ability of online retraining on an embedded Linux system with STM32MP1 as the core.

Comparative Analysis of Nutritional Quality, Serum Biochemical Indices, and Visceral Peritoneum of Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) Fed with Two Distinct Aquaculture Systems.

This study scrutinized the nutritional quality and serum biochemical indices of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) cultivated in traditional pond intercropping (TPI) and in-pond raceway system (IPRS) aquaculture setups. The findings showed that the TPI group exhibited a superior water-holding capacity, while the IPRS showcased heightened crude lipid content and levels of textural properties such as springiness. Moreover, significant differences emerged in the fatty acid profiles, with the TPI group manifesting higher total polyunsaturated fatty acids (ΣPUFAs), EPA, DHA, and Σn-3, while the IPRS group exhibited elevated total saturated fatty acids (ΣSFAs). In terms of amino acids, valine and histidine levels were notably higher in the IPRS group, whereas lysine levels were reduced. Volatile compound analysis revealed significant variations, with the IPRS group containing more volatile substances with a better aroma, resulting in a better odor. The IPRS group performed better in serum biochemistry analysis. Additionally, grass carp in the IPRS group displayed an improved structure and greater coverage area of the visceral peritoneum, appearing lighter in color compared to the TPI group. TPI mainly influences nutritional elements; IPRSs primarily affect muscle texture, serum biochemistry, and overall health. This study aims to fill the gap in quality comparison research and provide an important scientific basis.