Nanosecond-pulsed plasma protects against bacterial fruit blotch and promotes melon seedling growth.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial fruit blotch (BFB), known as the 'cancer' of cucurbits, is a seed-borne disease of melons caused by Acidovorax citrulli. Traditional chemical treatments for BFB are ineffective and adversely affect the environment. Using dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) nanosecond-pulsed plasma technology, melon seeds were treated to promote germination and growth and to control BFB. RESULTS: Based on the evaluation parameters of seed germination, seedling growth, leaf yellowing and bacterial infection after seed plasma treatments, 9 min at 20 kV was selected as the optimal plasma discharge parameter. In this study, seedling growth was significantly improved after treating melon seeds carrying A. citrulli using this discharge parameter. The number of first true leaves measured on the eighth day was 2.3 times higher and the disease index was reduced by 60.5% compared to the control group. Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared measurements show that plasma treatments penetrate the seed coat and denature polysaccharides and proteins in the seed kernel, affecting their growth and sterilization properties. CONCLUSION: Pre-sowing treatment of melon seeds carrying A. citrulli using nanosecond-pulsed plasma technology can effectively control seedling BFB disease and promote melon seedling growth by optimizing DBD parameters. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

A national study exploring the association between triglyceride-glucose index and risk of hyperuricemia events in adults with hypertension.

Background: The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index has been recommended as a practical surrogate of insulin resistance (IR). However, the association between the TyG index and hyperuricemia among adults with hypertension remains to be elucidated. Methods: We included and analyzed 3134 HTN patients and 4233 non-HTN participants from the cross-sectional 2013-2018 U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES). Multivariable logistic regression and restricted cubic splines (RCS) were used to explore the association between the TyG index and hyperuricemia. Stratifed analyses were performed to assess the association in populations with different subgroups of hypertension. Results: The prevalence of hyperuricemia was higher in HTN patients (28.00 %) than in non-HTN participants (12.47 %). The multivariable logistic regression showed that the TyG index was significantly associated with hyperuricemia. After multivariable adjustment, higher TyG index levels were found to be associated with a higher prevalence of hyperuricemia in HTN patients (OR: 2.39, 95 % CI: 1.37-4.17, Ptrend < 0.001) and non-HTN participants (OR: 2.61, 95 % CI: 1.45-4.69, Ptrend < 0.001). Restricted cubic spline regression showed linearity of the associations between the TyG index and hyperuricemia (p-nonlinear > 0.05). In the subgroup analysis suggested that the positive association seemed to be strong among male, alcohol use, and diabetes group (P for interaction < 0.05). Conclusions: TyG index, a practical surrogate of IR, was linearly and positively associated with hyperuricemia in HTN and non-HTN participants. Proactive measures are needed to prevent the comorbidity of IR-driven hyperuricemia in the future.

CRISPR/Cas9 edited SlGT30 improved both drought resistance and fruit yield through endoreduplication.

There is often a trade-off effect between different agronomic traits due to gene pleiotropy, leading to a negative correlation between yield and resistance. Consequently, using gene-editing techniques to develop superior traits becomes challenging. Genetic resources that defy this constraint are scarce but hold great potential as targets for improvement through the utilisation of CRISPR. Transcription factors are critical in modulating numerous gene expressions across diverse biological processes. Here, we found that the trihelix transcription factor SlGT30 plays a role in drought resistance and tomato fruit development. We edited the SlGT30 gene with CRISPR/Cas9 technology and found that the knockout lines showed decreased stomata density in the leaves and large fruits. Subsequent examination revealed that cell ploidy was impacted in the leaves and fruits of SlGT30 knockout lines. SlGT30 knockout affected cell size through the endoreduplication pathway, manifested in decreased stomata density and reduced water loss. Consequently, this resulted in an enhancement of drought resistance. For the fruit, both cell size and cell number increased in the fruit pericarp of knockout lines, improving the fruit size and weight accordingly. Therefore, SlGT30 represents a promising candidate gene for gene editing in breeding practice.

Yap drives the development of cardiovascular disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: To assess the influence of serum level of YAP on laboratory examination findings, imaging findings and disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis patients combined cardiovascular disease (RA-CVD). Methods: RA-CVD patients (n=60), RA-nCVD patients (n=60) and healthy subjects (n=60) were recruited. Serum levels of YAP in them were detected by qRT-PCR. Their baseline characteristics were analyzed and compared. Disease activity, CVD risk factors and imaging findings in RA-CVD and RA-nCVD patients were evaluated and compared. In addition, potential influences of YAP on disease activity, CVD risk factors and imaging findings in RA-CVD patients were assessed. Results: RA-CVD patients had higher levels of ERS, anti-CCP, RF, HDL-C, CRP, FRS, BNP, LA, LVs, LVd and cIMT, and lower level of EF in comparison to RA-nCVD patients. Serum level of YAP was higher in RA-CVD patients than that of RA-nCVD patients and healthy subjects. YAP level was positively correlated to DAS28, TG, CRP, PLT, FRS, BNP and cIMT in RA-CVD patients. Conclusions: Serum level of YAP increases in RA-CVD patients. YAP is a potential factor driving the development of CVD in RA patients through regulating inflammatory response, lipid metabolism, glycometabolism and thrombosis.

Molecular characterization of similar Hb Lepore Boston-Washington in four Chinese families using third generation sequencing.

Hemoglobin (Hb) Lepore is a rare deletional δß-thalassemia caused by the fusion between delta-beta genes, and cannot be identified by traditional thaltassemia gene testing technology. The aim of this study was to conduct molecular diagnosis and clinical analysis of Hb Lepore in four unrelated Chinese families using third generation sequencing. Decreased levels of mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and an abnormal Hb band were observed in the probands of the four families. However, no common α and ß-thalassemia variants were detected in the enrolled families using polymerase chain reaction-reverse dot blot hybridization based traditional thalassemia gene testing. Further third-generation sequencing revealed similar Hb Lepore-Boston-Washington variants in all the patients, which were resulted from partial coverage of the HBB and HBD globin genes, leading to the formation of a delta-beta fusion gene. Specific gap-PCR and Sanger sequencing confirmed that all the patients carried a similar Hb Lepore-Boston-Washington heterozygote. In addition, decreased levels of MCH and Hb A2 were observed in the proband's wife of family 2, an extremely rare variant of Hb Nanchang (GGT > AGT) (HBA2:c.46G > A) was identified by third-generation sequencing and further confirmed by Sanger sequencing. This present study was the first to report the similar Hb Lepore-Boston-Washington in Chinese population. By combining the utilization of Hb capillary electrophoresis and third-generation sequencing, the screening and diagnosis of Hb Lepore can be effectively enhanced.

Effect of contrast agent on T2-weighted fat-suppressed imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging in the diagnosis of breast tumors.

Background: Although previous studies have shown that the injection of contrast agents can improve image quality, the specific impact of this on T2-weighted fat-suppressed (T2 FS) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) sequences in the diagnosis of breast cancer remains incompletely understood. In particular, there is insufficient research on how contrast agents affect the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values within these sequences, and how these changes influence the diagnosis of benign and malignant breast tumors. Methods: Breast magnetic resonance images (MRI) were obtained from 178 consecutive patients on a 3T scanner. The SNR and CNR of lesions on T2 FS sequence were calculated before and after contrast agent injection and compared. Differences between pre- and post-contrast ADC in identifying different tumor types were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis H-test and the paired comparison test. The accuracy of ADC values between pre- and post-contrast in distinguishing benign and malignant breast masses was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: The SNR and CNR of T2 FS sequence increased after contrast injection, and especially for invasive cancer and benign tumor, the increase was significant. For DWI, there was a slight increase or decrease of ADC values after contrast injection, but the ADC values before and after contrast had a similar effect in identifying different types of tumors. In the ROC curve analysis for assessing benign and malignant breast tumors, the area under the curve (AUC) before and after contrast showed similar results. Conclusions: Contrast agent injection can improve the SNR and CNR of T2 FS sequence, thus providing higher quality images for the diagnosis of breast lesions. Furthermore, injection of contrast agent had little effect on the ability of ADC values to identify different types of lesions and both ADC values before and after the contrast agent were able to distinguish between benign and malignant tumors with almost the same accuracy.

Seed pretreatment with brassinosteroids stimulates sunflower immunity against parasitic weed (Orobanche cumana) infection.

Broomrape (Orobanche cumana) negatively affects sunflower, causing severe yield losses, and thus, there is a need to control O. cumana infestation. Brassinosteroids (BRs) play key roles in plant growth and provide resilience to weed infection. This study aims to evaluate the mechanisms by which BRs ameliorate O. cumana infection in sunflower (Helianthus annuus). Seeds were pretreated with BRs (1, 10, and 100 nM) and O. cumana inoculation for 4 weeks under soil conditions. O. cumana infection significantly reduced plant growth traits, photosynthesis, endogenous BRs and regulated the plant defence (POX, GST), BRs signalling (BAK1, BSK1 to BSK4) and synthesis (BRI1, BR6OX2) genes. O. cumana also elevated the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), hydroxyl radical (OH-), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide (O2 •-) in leaves/roots by 77/112, 63/103, 56/97 and 54/89%, as well as caused ultrastructural cellular damages in both leaves and roots. In response, plants activated a few enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and reduced glutathione but were unable to stimulate the activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and catalase (CAT) enzymes. The addition of BRs (especially at 10 nM) notably recovered the ultrastructural cellular damages, lowered the production of oxidative stress, activated the key enzymatic antioxidants and induced the phenolic and lignin contents. The downregulation in the particular genes by BRs is attributed to the increased resilience of sunflower via a susceptible reaction. In a nutshell, BRs notably enhanced the sunflower resistance to O. cumana infection by escalating the plant immunity responses, inducing systemic acquired resistance, reducing oxidative or cellular damages, and modulating the expression of BR synthesis or signalling genes.

Decitabine as epigenetic priming with CLAG induce improved outcome of relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia in children.

BACKGROUND: Decitabine (DAC), a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, has shown efficacy combined with chemotherapy for relapsed or refractory (R/R) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in adults, but less is known about its efficacy in children. Accordingly, we conducted a study which involved a priming regimen consisting of DAC with cladribine, cytarabine, and granulocyte-stimulating factor (DAC-CLAG) and compared the efficacy and safety of this regimen with CLAG alone. METHODS: A total of 39 R/R AML children who received the CLAG or DAC-CLAG regimen in Shanghai Children's Hospital were retrospectively enrolled in this non-randomized study. These regimens were studied sequentially over time. Twenty-two patients received CLAG from 2015, while 17 patients were administered epigenetic priming with DAC before CLAG from 2020. Patients were subsequently bridged to stem cell transplantation (SCT) or consolidation chemotherapy. Complete remission (CR) and adverse effects were analyzed by Fisher's exact test, and survival was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: DAC-CLAG conferred a numerically higher CR compared to CLAG (70.59% vs 63.64%; P = 0.740). High CR rates occurred in patients with good cytogenetics (P = 0.029) and prior induction without cladribine (P = 0.099). The 1-year event-free survival (EFS) was 64.71% ± 11.59% and 63.31% ± 10.35% in the DAC-CLAG and CLAG group (P = 0.595), and 1-year overall survival (OS) was 81.45% ± 9.72% and 77.01% ± 9.04%, respectively (P = 0.265). The 1-year OS and EFS after SCT were higher in the DAC-CLAG than in the CLAG cohort (100% vs 92.31% ± 7.39%, P = 0.072; 92.31% ± 7.39% vs 85.71% ± 9.35%, P = 0.158). Univariate analysis revealed that a good prognosis included good cytogenetics (P = 0.002), non-complex karyotype (P = 0.056), CR on reinduction (P < 0.0001), and bridging to SCT (P = 0.0007). Use of a hypomethylating agent (P = 0.049) and bridging to SCT (P = 0.011) were independent prognostic factors. Grade 3/4 hematologic toxicity and infection were the main adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: DAC prior to the CLAG regimen improved remission in pediatric R/R AML, and was feasible and well tolerated. CLAG ± DAC as a salvage therapy prior to SCT induced improved survival.

Evaluation of the Genotoxicity of Almond Hull: Implications for Its Use as a Novel Food Ingredient.

Almond hull, a substantial byproduct comprising more than half of almond fresh weight, has recently gained attention due to its functionality and sustainability benefits. Despite heightened interest, information regarding its toxicity remains limited. In order to assess its genotoxic potential, we conducted Good Laboratory Practice-compliant in vitro and in vivo studies following Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines. No evidence of toxicity or mutagenicity was observed in a bacterial reverse mutation assay using five tester strains, evaluating almond hull at concentrations up to 5 mg/plate, with or without metabolic activation. Almond hull did not induce chromosome structural damage in a chromosome aberration assay using Chinese hamster ovary cells, nor did it cause any spermatogonial chromosomal aberration in tested male BALB/c mice. To evaluate its ability to induce DNA damage in rodents, a combined micronucleus assay was conducted in KM mice of both sexes. Almond hull was administered at doses of 1250, 2500, and 5000 mg/kg/day via gavage once daily for 2 days. No adverse effects of almond hull were observed in the micronucleus assay. Our results indicate no evidence of the genotoxic potential of almond hull administered up to the maximum concentrations of 5 g/kg, as recommended by OECD guidelines.

Factors influencing cardiovascular system-related post-COVID-19 sequelae: A single-center cohort study.

Background: COVID-19 sequelae are long-term symptoms of COVID-19. Cardiovascular disease is not only a risk factor for the occurrence of COVID-19 sequelae but also a potential result directly or indirectly caused by COVID-19 infection. Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the cardiovascular system-related symptoms of outpatients and inpatients of the Cardiovascular Department of the Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine after recovery from novel coronavirus infection, analyze the influencing factors, and symptom characteristics of related symptoms, and thereby provide a basis for further formulating a reasonable diagnosis and treatment plan. Materials and methods: From January 15, 2023 to February 15, 2023, 452 recovered patients with novel coronavirus infection who were admitted to the Cardiovascular Department of the Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine due to symptoms of the cardiovascular system (complaints of chest pain and palpitations) were involved in this study. A unified questionnaire was used to record the general information, past medical history, characteristics of chest pain or palpitations, and other COVID-19-related sequelae of the selected patients. All data were statistically analyzed by SPSS 26.0 statistical software. Results: A total of 226 patients with cardiovascular symptoms and 226 patients without cardiovascular symptoms were included in this study. After univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis, women (OR 2.081, 95% CI = 1.358-3.189) and young people (OR 2.557, 95% CI = 1.44-4.54) had a higher risk of cardiovascular symptoms; prehypertension (OR 1.905, 95% CI = 1.091-3.329) and hypertension (OR 2.287, 95% CI = 1.433-3.649) increased the risk of cardiovascular symptoms; patients with history of previous cardiovascular disease (OR 1.862, 95% CI = 1.16-2.988) and history of diabetes (OR 2.138, 95% CI = 1.058-4.319) had a higher risk of developing cardiovascular symptoms. The main symptoms related to COVID-19 sequelae reported by all 452 patients were fatigue (76.8%), shortness of breath (54.2%), dry mouth and bitter mouth (46.0%), gastrointestinal symptoms (42.7%), sleep disturbances (37.4%), sweating (31.9%), chills (29%), dizziness (25.7%), confusion of brain fog (25.2%), and tinnitus (14.6%). Compared with patients without cardiovascular symptoms, patients with cardiovascular symptoms were more likely to have shortness of breath (OR 3.521, 95% CI = 2.226-5.472), gastrointestinal symptoms (OR 2.039, 95% CI = 1.226-3.393), and dry mouth and bitter mouth (OR 1.918, 95% CI = 1.229-2.992). The differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: In this new coronavirus infection, women, young people, the elderly, people with prehypertension, hypertension, and patients with a history of cardiovascular disease and diabetes have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular symptoms, and patients with cardiovascular symptoms are more likely to develop other COVID-19 sequelae.

Hyperexcitation of ovBNST CRF neurons during stress contributes to female-biased expression of anxiety-like avoidance behaviors.

Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) network in the oval nucleus of bed nuclei of the stria terminalis (ovBNST) is generally indicated in stress, but its role in female-biased susceptibility to anxiety is unknown. Here, we established a female-biased stress paradigm. We found that the CRF release in ovBNST during stress showed female-biased pattern, and ovBNST CRF neurons were more prone to be hyperexcited in female mice during stress in both in vitro and in vivo studies. Moreover, optogenetic modulation to exchange the activation pattern of ovBNST CRF neurons during stress between female and male mice could reverse their susceptibility to anxiety. Last, CRF receptor type 1 (CRFR1) mediated the CRF-induced excitation of ovBNST CRF neurons and showed female-biased expression. Specific knockdown of the CRFR1 level in ovBNST CRF neurons in female or overexpression that in male could reverse their susceptibility to anxiety. Therefore, we identify that CRFR1-mediated hyperexcitation of ovBNST CRF neurons in female mice encode the female-biased susceptibility to anxiety.

Evaluating the spatial accessibility and spatial layout optimization of HIV/AIDS healthcare services in Shandong Province, China.

Improving access to HIV/AIDS healthcare services is of great concern to government and policymakers striving to strengthen overall public health. How to reasonably allocate HIV/AIDS healthcare resources and maximize the equality of access to healthcare services across subdistrict areas has become an urgent problem to be solved. However, there is limited research on this topic in China. It is necessary to evaluate spatial accessibility to improve the accessibility and equity of HIV/AIDS healthcare services. In this study, the improved multi-modal two-step floating catchment area (2SFCA) and inverted 2SFCA (i2SFCA) methods are used to measure the spatial accessibility of HIV/AIDS healthcare services and the crowdedness of the healthcare sites in Shandong Province, China. Then, the theoretical supply and the optimal spatial distribution of resources are calculated and visualized by minimizing the accessibility gaps between demand locations. This study showed that the spatial accessibility of HIV/AIDS service resources in Shandong Province was concentrated and unevenly distributed, and the accessibility scores in the marginal areas of prefecture-level cities were significantly lower than those in other areas. Regions with a large number of doctors had significantly higher levels of spatial accessibility. The ART accessibility scores in the southwest of Shandong Province were higher than those in other regions. As the travel friction coefficient increased, the accessibility scores formed an approximately circular cluster distribution centered on the healthcare sites in geographical distribution. More ART drugs needed to be supplied in marginal areas and more doctors were needed to work on HIV/AIDS in urban areas to address the spatial distribution imbalance of HIV/AIDS healthcare services. This study profoundly analyzed the spatial accessibility of HIV/AIDS healthcare services and provided essential references for decision-makers. In addition, it gives a significant exploration for achieving the goal of equal access to HIV/AIDS healthcare services in the future.

Disadvantaged social status contributed to sleep disorders: An observational and genome-wide gene-environment interaction analysis.

BACKGROUND: Sleep is a natural and essential physiological need for individuals. Our study aimed to research the associations between accumulated social risks and sleep disorders. METHODS: In this study, we came up with a polysocial risk score (PsRS), which is a cumulative social risk index composed of 13 social determinants of health. This research includes 239,165 individuals with sleep disorders and social determinants of health data from the UK Biobank cohort. First, logistic regression models were performed to examine the associations of social determinants of health and sleep disorders, including chronotype, narcolepsy, insomnia, snoring, short and long sleep duration. Then, PsRS was calculated based on statistically significant social determinants of health for each sleep disorder. Third, a genome-wide gene-environment interaction study was conducted to explore the interactions between single-nucleotide polymorphisms and PsRS in relation to sleep disorders. RESULTS: Higher PsRS scores were associated with worse sleep status, with the adjusted odds ratio (OR) ranging from 1.10 (95% Confidence interval [CI]: 1.09-1.11) to 1.29 (95% CI: 1.27-1.30) for sleep disorders. Emotional stress (OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.28-1.43) and not in paid employment (OR = 2.62, 95% CI: 2.51-2.74) were found to have significant contributions for sleep disorders. Moreover, multiple single-nucleotide polymorphisms were discovered to have interactions with PsRS, such as FRAS1 (P = 2.57 × 10-14) and CACNA1A (P = 8.62 × 10-14) for narcolepsy, and ACKR3 (P = 1.24 × 10-8) for long sleep. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggested that cumulative social risks was associated with sleep disorders, while the interactions between genetic susceptibility and disadvantaged social status are risk factors for the development of sleep disorders.

Does brain-derived neurotrophic factor play a role in the association between maternal prenatal mental health and neurodevelopment in 2-year-old children?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-a crucial modulator of neural development and plasticity-in the association between prenatal maternal anxiety, depression, and perceived stress and child neurodevelopment in a prospective cohort study. METHODS: We included 526 eligible mother-child pairs from the Shanghai Birth Cohort in the study. Maternal mental health was assessed at mid-pregnancy using Zung's Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and Perceived Stress Scale. The concentration of BDNF in cord blood was measured by ELISA. The offspring neurodevelopment at 24 months of age was assessed using the Bayley Scales. Linear and non-linear regression models were used. RESULTS: The average cord blood BDNF levels were higher in female newborns and those born via vaginal delivery, full term, and normal birth weight. Prenatal maternal anxiety (ß = -0.32; 95 % CI: -0.55, -0.09), depression (ß = -0.30; 95 % CI: -0.52, -0.08), and perceived stress (ß = -0.41; 95 % CI: -0.71, -0.12) scores were negatively associated with social-emotional performance at 24 months of age. However, no significant associations were found between prenatal maternal anxiety, depression, or perceived stress at mid-pregnancy and cord blood BDNF levels, as well as between cord blood BDNF levels and child neurodevelopment. LIMITATIONS: Maternal mental health at different timepoints during pregnancy and generalizability of the results warrant further assessment. CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal mental health was not associated with cord blood BDNF level and that BDNF may not be a mediator in the association between prenatal mental health and child neurodevelopment.

Employee green behavior: Bibliometric-content analysis.

Purpose: - This research conducted a thorough literature review to analyze current research on Employee Green Behavior (EGB) and its contexts. It identified key areas of emphasis in EGB and provided a precise roadmap for future research. Design/methodology/approach: The research on employee green behavior will be visually represented using bibliometric analysis. Additionally, we provided a comprehensive overview of the correlation between relevant theories and determinants of employee green behavior. We also offered specific suggestions for future research to deepen consumer researchers' understanding of this concept. Findings: A bibliometric analysis was conducted on 275 journal articles regarding employee green behavior sourced from the Web of Science database spanning 2012 to 2023. The study revealed an increasing focus on employee green behavior research across diverse fields such as management, economics, psychology, sociology, and law. China, the United States, and Italy emerged as the top three countries both in publication volume and literature centrality. The academic literature primarily centers on investigating antecedent variables of green employee behavior, broadly categorized into corporate social responsibility, organizational support, green human resource management, transformational and ethical leadership, organizational commitment, job satisfaction, responsible leadership, intentions, values, organizational identification, and organizational climate. To comprehensively analyze prior studies, content analysis was performed, outlining and scrutinizing four empirical areas including antecedents, mediators, moderators, and outcomes of employee green behavior. While research on antecedents and influencing mechanisms of green loyalty was prevalent among the influencing variables, boundary conditions such as moderators received relatively less attention. Originality/value: This comprehensive literature review offers a clear understanding of the conceptual content, organization, and assessment of employee green behavior. Furthermore, it includes a bibliometric analysis of 275 papers on employee green behavior published between 2012 and 2023 in the Web of Science database. The text analysis reveals insights into the theoretical foundation, antecedent and outcome variables, and processes of employee green behavior, providing valuable guidance for future research.

A polyetheretherketone framework removable partial denture for a 6-year-old child with nonsyndromic oligodontia made using glass-ceramic hemispheres to enhance retention: A clinical report.

A 6-year-old child with nonsyndromic oligodontia in the mixed dentition received a removable dental prosthesis with a polyetheretherketone framework and artificial gingiva, restoring esthetics and function. Computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing hemispherical glass-ceramic attachments were added to the teeth under the guidance of acid-etching and bonding guides to obtain an undercut area. The bonding and cementation of the attachments and the prosthesis delivery were completed in a single visit. This method offers a suitable prosthodontic treatment option for treating children with oligodontia in the mixed dentition.

A novel signature incorporating genes related to lipid metabolism and immune for prognostic and functional prediction of breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Breast cancer prognosis and functioning have not been thoroughly examined in relation to immunological and lipid metabolism. However, there is a lack of prognostic and functional analyses of the relationship between lipid metabolism and immunity in breast cancer. METHODS: DEGs in breast cancer were obtained from UCSC database, and lipid metabolism and immune-related genes were obtained from GSEA and Immune databases. A predictive signature was constructed using univariate Cox and LASSO regression on lipid metabolism and immune-related DEGs. The signature's prognostic significance was assessed using Kaplan-Meier, time-dependent ROC, and risk factor survival scores. Survival prognosis, therapeutic relevance, and functional enrichment were used to mine model gene biology. We selected IL18, which has never been reported in breast cancer before, in the signature to learn more about its function, potential to predict outcome, and immune system role. RT-PCR was performed to verify the true expression level of IL18. RESULTS: A total of 136 DEGs associated with breast cancer responses to both immunity and lipid metabolism. Nine key genes (CALR, CCL5, CEPT, FTT3, CXCL13, FLT3, IL12B, IL18, and IL24, p < 1.6e-2) of breast cancer were identified, and a prognostic was successfully constructed with a good predictive ability. IL18 in the model also had good clinical prognostic guidance value and immune regulation and therapeutic potential. Furthermore, the expression of IL18 was higher than that in paracancerous tissue. CONCLUSIONS: A unique predictive signature model could effectively predict the prognosis of breast cancer, which can not only achieve survival prediction, but also screen out key genes with important functional mechanisms to guide clinical drug experiments.

Transcriptomic and metabolomic correlation analysis: effect of initial SO2 addition on higher alcohol synthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and identification of key regulatory genes.

Introduction: Higher alcohols are volatile compounds produced during alcoholic fermentation that affect the quality and safety of the final product. This study used a correlation analysis of transcriptomics and metabolomics to study the impact of the initial addition of SO2 (30, 60, and 90 mg/L) on the synthesis of higher alcohols in Saccharomyces cerevisiae EC1118a and to identify key genes and metabolic pathways involved in their metabolism. Methods: Transcriptomics and metabolomics correlation analyses were performed and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differential metabolites were identified. Single-gene knockouts for targeting genes of important pathways were generated to study the roles of key genes involved in the regulation of higher alcohol production. Results: We found that, as the SO2 concentration increased, the production of total higher alcohols showed an overall trend of first increasing and then decreasing. Multi-omics correlation analysis revealed that the addition of SO2 affected carbon metabolism (ko01200), pyruvate metabolism (ko00620), glycolysis/gluconeogenesis (ko00010), the pentose phosphate pathway (ko00030), and other metabolic pathways, thereby changing the precursor substances. The availability of SO2 indirectly affects the formation of higher alcohols. In addition, excessive SO2 affected the growth of the strain, leading to the emergence of a lag phase. We screened the ten most likely genes and constructed recombinant strains to evaluate the impact of each gene on the formation of higher alcohols. The results showed that ADH4, SER33, and GDH2 are important genes of alcohol metabolism in S. cerevisiae. The isoamyl alcohol content of the EC1118a-ADH4 strain decreased by 21.003%; The isobutanol content of the EC1118a-SER33 strain was reduced by 71.346%; and the 2-phenylethanol content of EC1118a-GDH2 strain was reduced by 25.198%. Conclusion: This study lays a theoretical foundation for investigating the mechanism of initial addition of SO2 in the synthesis of higher alcohols in S. cerevisiae, uncovering DEGs and key metabolic pathways related to the synthesis of higher alcohols, and provides guidance for regulating these mechanisms.

Exploring the Association between Anxiety, Depression, and Gut Microbiota during Pregnancy: Findings from a Pregnancy Cohort Study in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China.

Negative emotions and gut microbiota during pregnancy both bear significant public health implications. However, the relationship between them has not been fully elucidated. This study, utilizing data from a pregnancy cohort, employed metagenomic sequencing to elucidate the relationship between anxiety, depression, and gut microbiota's diversity, composition, species, and functional pathways. Data from 87 subjects, spanning 225 time points across early, mid, and late pregnancy, were analyzed. The results revealed that anxiety and depression significantly corresponded to lower alpha diversity (including the Shannon entropy and the Simpson index). Anxiety and depression scores, along with categorical distinctions of anxiety/non-anxiety and depression/non-depression, were found to account for 0.723%, 0.731%, 0.651%, and 0.810% of the variance in gut-microbiota composition (p = 0.001), respectively. Increased anxiety was significantly positively associated with the abundance of Oscillibacter sp. KLE 1745, Oscillibacter sp. PEA192, Oscillibacter sp. KLE 1728, Oscillospiraceae bacterium VE202 24, and Treponema socranskii. A similar association was significantly noted for Oscillibacter sp. KLE 1745 with elevated depression scores. While EC.3.5.3.1: arginase appeared to be higher in the anxious group than in the non-anxious group, vitamin B12-related enzymes appeared to be lower in the depression group than in the non-depression group. The changes were found to be not statistically significant after post-multiple comparison adjustment.