Murine modeling of menstruation identifies immune correlates of protection during Chlamydia muridarum challenge.

The menstrual cycle influences the risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including Chlamydia trachomatis ( C. trachomatis ), although the underlying immune contributions are poorly defined. A mouse model simulating the immune-mediated process of menstruation could provide valuable insights into tissue-specific determinants of protection against chlamydial infection within the cervicovaginal and uterine mucosae comprising the female reproductive tract (FRT). Here, we used the pseudopregnancy approach in naïve C57Bl/6 mice and performed vaginal challenge with Chlamydia muridarum ( C. muridarum ) at decidualization, endometrial tissue remodeling, or uterine repair. This strategy identified that the time frame comprising uterine repair correlated with robust infection and greater bacterial burden as compared with mice on hormonal contraception, while challenges during endometrial remodeling were least likely to result in a productive infection. By comparing the infection site at early time points following chlamydial challenge, we found that a greater abundance of innate effector populations and proinflammatory signaling, including IFNψ correlated with protection. FRT immune profiling in uninfected mice over pseudopregnancy or in pig-tailed macaques over the menstrual cycle identified NK cell infiltration into the cervicovaginal tissues and lumen over the course of endometrial remodeling. Notably, NK cell depletion over this time frame reversed protection, with mice now productively infected with C. muridarum following challenge. This study shows that the pseudopregnancy murine menstruation model recapitulates immune changes in the FRT as a result of endometrial remodeling and identifies NK cell localization at the FRT as essential for immune protection against primary C. muridarum infection. Author Summary: Although the vast majority of women and adolescent girls of reproductive age experience menstruation, we have little insight into how this tissue remodeling process alters mucosal immune defenses against infection by genitourinary pathogens. In this study, we used a murine model of menstruation to investigate how endometrial shedding and repair alters the immune landscape in the female reproductive tract (FRT) to influence chlamydial infections. Using this approach, we identified that endometrial remodeling regulates a substantial pro-inflammatory immune response, including NK cell recruitment into the cervicovaginal tissues, and we further confirmed this phenomenon is occurring in a naturally menstruating species. The localization of NK cells in the FRT at the time of challenge was determined to be responsible for rapid immune protection that reduced C. muridarum burden, as experimental depletion of these cells over this timeframe now led to productive infections. Taken together, this study identifies that murine models of menstruation can be a valuable tool for investigating how the menstrual cycle modulates immune homeostasis and for identifying ways to strengthen mucosal immune defenses against genitourinary pathogens in women.

Long-term residue returning increased subsoil carbon quality in a rice-wheat cropping system.

Residue returning (RR) was widely implemented to increase soil organic carbon (SOC) in farmland. Extensive studies concentrated on the effects of RR on SOC quantity instead of SOC fractions at aggregate scales. This study investigated the effects of 20-year RR on the distribution of labile (e.g., dissolved, microbial biomass, and permanganate oxidizable organic) and stable (e.g., microbial necromass) carbon fractions at aggregate scales, as well as their contribution to SOC accumulation and mineralization. The findings indicated a synchronized variation in the carbon content of bacterial and fungal necromass. Residue retention (RR) notably elevated the concentration of bacterial and fungal necromass carbon, while it did not amplify the microbial necromass carbon (MNC) contribution to SOC when compared to residue removal (R0) in the topsoil (0-5 cm). In the subsoil (5-15 cm), RR increased the MNC contribution to SOC concentration by 21.2%-33.4% and mitigated SOC mineralization by 12.6% in micro-aggregates (P < 0.05). Besides, RR increased soil ß-glucosidase and peroxidase activities but decreased soil phenol oxidase activity in micro-aggregates (P < 0.05). These indicated that RR might accelerate cellulose degradation and conversion to stable microbial necromass C, and thus RR improved SOC stability because SOC occluded in micro-aggregates were more stable. Interestingly, SOC concentration was mainly regulated by MNC, while SOC mineralization was by dissolved organic carbon under RR, both of which were affected by soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus associated nutrients and enzyme activities. The findings of this study emphasize that the paths of RR-induced SOC accumulation and mineralization were different, and depended on stable and labile C, respectively. Overall, long-term RR increased topsoil carbon quantity and subsoil carbon quality.

[A fluorescence method based on malachite green/aptamer for detection of ochratoxin A in traditional Chinese medicines].

A label-free fluorescence method based on malachite green/aptamer was developed for the detection of ochratoxin A(OTA) in traditional Chinese medicines. Malachite green itself exhibits weak fluorescence. Upon interaction with the aptamer specific to OTA, the G-quadruplex structure of the aptamer provides a protective microenvironment for malachite green, which significantly enhances its fluorescence signal. After OTA is added, preferential binding occurs between the aptamer and OTA, and malachite green will be released from the aptamer, which weakens the fluorescence signal. According to this principle, this paper established a fluorescence method with the aptamer of OTA as the recognition element and malachite green as the fluorescent probe for the detection of OTA in traditional Chinese medicines. The key experimental factors such as the concentrations of metal ions, aptamer, and malachite green were optimized to improve the performance of the method. OTA was detected under the optimal experimental conditions, and the results showed that with the increase in OTA concentration, the fluorescence signal gradually weakened. Within the range of 20-1 000 nmol·L~(-1), the OTA concentration was linearly correlated with the fluorescence signal ratio ΔF/F(ΔF=F_0-F, where F_0 is the fluorescence signal of aptamer/malachite green, and F is the fluorescence signal of OTA/aptamer/malachite green), with R~2 of 0.995. The limit of detection of the established method was 7.1 nmol·L~(-1). Furthermore, three substances structurally similar to OTA and two mycotoxins that may coexist with OTA were selected for experiments, which aimed to examine the cross-reactivity and specificity of the established method. The cross-reactivity experiments demonstrated that the interferers did not significantly affect the fluorescence signal of the detection system. The specificity experiments revealed that when mycotoxins were mixed with OTA, the fluorescence signal generated by the mixture closely resembled that of OTA itself. The results indicated that even in the presence of interferents, the established method remained unaffected and demonstrated excellent specificity. Additionally, this method exhibited remarkable reproducibility and stability. In the case of simple centrifugation and dilution of traditional Chinese medicine samples(Puerariae Lobatae Radix, Sophorae Flavescentis Radix, and Periplocae Cortex), the OTA detection method was applicable, with recovery rates ranging from 91.5% to 121.3%. Notably, this approach does not need complex pretreatment of traditional Chinese medicines while offering simple operation, low detection costs, and short detection time. Furthermore, by incorporating aptamers into the quality evaluation of traditional Chinese medicines, this method expands the application scope of aptamers.

Engineering a Carotenoid Cleavage Oxygenase for Coenzyme-Free Synthesis of Vanillin from Ferulic Acid.

One-pot biosynthesis of vanillin from ferulic acid without providing energy and cofactors adds significant value to lignin waste streams. However, naturally evolved carotenoid cleavage oxygenase (CCO) with extreme catalytic conditions greatly limited the above pathway for vanillin bioproduction. Herein, CCO from Thermothelomyces thermophilus (TtCCO) was rationally engineered for achieving high catalytic activity under neutral pH conditions and was further utilized for constructing a one-pot synthesis system of vanillin with Bacillus pumilus ferulic acid decarboxylase. TtCCO with the K192N-V310G-A311T-R404N-D407F-N556A mutation (TtCCOM3) was gradually obtained using substrate access channel engineering, catalytic pocket engineering, and pocket charge engineering. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that reducing the site-blocking effect in the substrate access channel, enhancing affinity for substrates in the catalytic pocket, and eliminating the pocket's alkaline charge contributed to the high catalytic activity of TtCCOM3 under neutral pH conditions. Finally, the one-pot synthesis of vanillin in our study could achieve a maximum rate of up to 6.89 ± 0.3 mM h-1. Therefore, our study paves the way for a one-pot biosynthetic process of transforming renewable lignin-related aromatics into valuable chemicals.

How does the e-cigarette industry respond to tax adjustments? Evidence from China.

INTRODUCTION: China enacted an excise tax on e-cigarettes in November 2022, which offers a distinctive opportunity to examine the industry's reactions to this fiscal adjustment. This study delves into the industry's pricing strategies following the introduction of the excise tax, facilitating a thorough assessment of the subsequent impact on market dynamics and the government's revenue streams. METHODS: We developed a TaXSiM model specifically tailored for e-cigarettes in China by integrating the country's e-cigarette tax framework. Our approach involved leveraging market data obtained from a representative product, the RELX Phantom Series, to ensure the model's effectiveness and relevance. RESULTS: The excise implementation of 2022 significantly heightened the tax burden on e-cigarettes, marking an increase of approximately 150 RMB per device and 19 RMB per cartridge. Despite these financial pressures, electronic cigarette firms exemplified by RELX, strategically endeavored to sustain competitiveness. Their approach involved initially implementing a 'Razor blade model' and eventually a 'comprehensive under-shifting' strategy, which mitigated the health impact of the tax hike, resulting in a relatively minor decline in sales while amplifying the impact on tax revenue. However, this strategic pricing maneuver came at a cost, as it led to a substantial decrease in profits, and therefore expedited a reshuffling of the industry by compelling smaller brands to leave the market rapidly. CONCLUSIONS: To effectively curb the use of e-cigarettes through tax policies, it is advisable to relocate the imposition of excise taxes on electronic cigarettes to the retail stage. This shift aims to narrow the scope for industry-level pricing strategies. Furthermore, this approach should be coupled with the introduction of an additional specific tax, strategically crafted to accentuate the health-related benefits associated with the excise taxation on electronic cigarettes.

Chlorin e6 and BLZ945 Based Self-Assembly for Photodynamic Immunotherapy Through Immunogenic Tumor Induction and Tumor-Associated Macrophage Depletion.

Immunotherapeutic effect is restricted by the nonimmunogenic tumor phenotype and immunosuppression behaviors of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). In this work, a drug self-assembly (designated as CeBLZ) is fabricated based on chlorin e6 (Ce6) and BLZ945 to activate photodynamic immunotherapy through tumor immunogenic induction and tumor-associated macrophage depletion. It is found that Ce6 tends to assemble with BLZ945 without any drug excipients, which can enhance the cellular uptake, tumor penetration, and blood circulation behaviors. The robust photodynamic therapy effect of CeBLZ efficiently suppresses the primary tumor growth and also triggers immunogenic cell death to reverse the nonimmunogenic tumor phenotype. Moreover, CeBLZ can deplete TAMs in tumor tissues to reverse the immunosuppression microenvironment, activating abscopal effect for distant tumor inhibition. In vitro and in vivo results confirm the superior antitumor effect of CeBLZ with negligible side effect, which might promote the development of sophisticated drug combinations for systematic tumor management.

Mapping sedentary behaviour (MAPS-B) in winter and spring using wearable sensors, indoor positioning systems, and diaries in older adults who are pre-frail and frail: A feasibility longitudinal study.

Older adults who are frail are likely to be sedentary. Prior interventions to reduce sedentary time in older adults have not been effective as there is little research about the context of sedentary behaviour (posture, location, purpose, social environment). Moreover, there is limited evidence on feasible measures to assess context of sedentary behaviour in older adults. The aim of our study was to determine the feasibility of measuring context of sedentary behaviour in older adults with pre-frailty or frailty using a combination of objective and self-report measures. We defined "feasibility process" using recruitment (20 participants within two-months), retention (85%), and refusal (20%) rates and "feasibility resource" if the measures capture context and can be linked (e.g., sitting-kitchen-eating-alone) and are all participants willing to use the measures. Context was assessed using a wearable sensor to assess posture, a smart home monitoring system for location, and an electronic or hard-copy diary for purpose and social context over three days in winter and spring. We approached 80 potential individuals, and 58 expressed interest; of the 58 individuals, 37 did not enroll due to lack of interest or medical mistrust (64% refusal). We recruited 21 older adults (72±7.3 years, 13 females, 13 frail) within two months and experienced two dropouts due to medical mistrust or worsening health (90% retention). The wearable sensor, indoor positioning system, and electronic diary accurately captured one domain of context, but the hard copy was often not completed with enough detail, so it was challenging to link it to the other devices. Although not all participants were willing to use the wearable sensor, indoor positioning system, or electronic diary, we were able to triage the measures of those who did. The use of wearable sensors and electronic diaries may be a feasible method to assess context of sedentary behaviour, but more research is needed with device-based measures in diverse groups.

Characterization of acute-on-chronic liver diseases: A multicenter prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Acute-on-chronic liver disease (AoCLD) accounts for the majority of patients hospitalized in the Department of Hepatology or Infectious Diseases. AIM: To explore the characterization of AoCLD to provide theoretical guidance for the accurate diagnosis and prognosis of AoCLD. METHODS: Patients with AoCLD from the Chinese Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure (ACLF) study cohort were included in this study. The clinical characteristics and outcomes, and the 90-d survival rate associated with each clinical type of AoCLD were analyzed, using the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test. RESULTS: A total of 3375 patients with AoCLD were enrolled, including 1679 (49.7%) patients with liver cirrhosis acute decompensation (LC-AD), 850 (25.2%) patients with ACLF, 577 (17.1%) patients with chronic hepatitis acute exacerbation (CHAE), and 269 (8.0%) patients with liver cirrhosis active phase (LC-A). The most common cause of chronic liver disease (CLD) was HBV infection (71.4%). The most common precipitants of AoCLD was bacterial infection (22.8%). The 90-d mortality rates of each clinical subtype of AoCLD were 43.4% (232/535) for type-C ACLF, 36.0% (36/100) for type-B ACLF, 27.0% (58/215) for type-A ACLF, 9.0% (151/1679) for LC-AD, 3.0% (8/269) for LC-A, and 1.2% (7/577) for CHAE. CONCLUSION: HBV infection is the main cause of CLD, and bacterial infection is the main precipitant of AoCLD. The most common clinical type of AoCLD is LC-AD. Early diagnosis and timely intervention are needed to reduce the mortality of patients with LC-AD or ACLF.

hnRNPM protects against the dsRNA-mediated interferon response by repressing LINE-associated cryptic splicing.

RNA splicing is pivotal in post-transcriptional gene regulation, yet the exponential expansion of intron length in humans poses a challenge for accurate splicing. Here, we identify hnRNPM as an essential RNA-binding protein that suppresses cryptic splicing through binding to deep introns, maintaining human transcriptome integrity. Long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs) in introns harbor numerous pseudo splice sites. hnRNPM preferentially binds at intronic LINEs to repress pseudo splice site usage for cryptic splicing. Remarkably, cryptic exons can generate long dsRNAs through base-pairing of inverted ALU transposable elements interspersed among LINEs and consequently trigger an interferon response, a well-known antiviral defense mechanism. Significantly, hnRNPM-deficient tumors show upregulated interferon-associated pathways and elevated immune cell infiltration. These findings unveil hnRNPM as a guardian of transcriptome integrity by repressing cryptic splicing and suggest that targeting hnRNPM in tumors may be used to trigger an inflammatory immune response, thereby boosting cancer surveillance.

Analysis of the Parotid Glands on an Energy Spectrum CT Iodine Map to Evaluate Irradiation-Induced Acute Xerostomia in Patients With Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

Objective: This prospective study aims to evaluate acute irradiation-induced xerostomia during radiotherapy by utilizing the normalized iodine concentration (NIC) derived from energy spectrum computed tomography (CT) iodine maps. Methods: In this prospective study, we evaluated 28 patients diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. At 4 distinct stages of radiotherapy (0, 10, 20, and 30 fractions), each patient underwent CT scans to generate iodine maps. The NIC of both the left and right parotid glands was obtained, with the NIC at the 0-fraction stage serving as the baseline measurement. After statistically comparing the NIC obtained in the arterial phase, early venous phase, late venous phase, and delayed phase, we chose the late venous iodine concentration as the NIC and proceeded to analyze the variations in NIC at each radiotherapy interval. Using the series of NIC values, we conducted hypothesis tests to evaluate the extent of change in NIC within the parotid gland across different stages. Furthermore, we identified the specific time point at which the NIC decay exhibited the most statistically significant results. In addition, we evaluated the xerostomia grades of the patients at these 4 stages, following the radiation therapy oncology group (RTOG) xerostomia evaluation standard, to draw comparisons with the changes observed in NIC. Results: The NIC in the late venous phase exhibited the highest level of statistical significance (P < .001). There was a noticeable attenuation in NIC as the RTOG dry mouth grade increased. Particularly, at the 20 fraction, the NIC experienced the most substantial attenuation (P < .001), a significant negative correlation was observed between the NIC of the left, right, and both parotid glands, and the RTOG evaluation grade of acute irradiation-induced xerostomia (P < .001, r = -0.46; P < .001, r = -0.45; P < .001, r = -0.47). The critical NIC values for the left, right, and both parotid glands when acute xerostomia occurred were 0.175, 0.185, and 0.345 mg/ml, respectively, with AUC = 0.73, AUC = 0.75, and AUC = 0.75. Conclusion: The NIC may be used to evaluate changes in parotid gland function during radiotherapy and acute irradiation-induced xerostomia.

Intracellular Criegee's mechanism-based synergistic ozone therapy mediated by oleogels for cancer treatment.

Broad cellular components-initiated efficient chemical reactions that occur in malignant cells may contribute to exploring emerging strategies for cancer treatment. Herein, an ozonated oleogel (OG(O)) was developed to achieve cancer ozone therapy (O3-T) based on intracellular Criegee's reaction. By integrating the chemo-drug, the ozone-loaded oleogel (Dox@OG(O)) was prepared as a chemotherapeutic agent for local O3-T, associated with chemotherapy (CT)/radiotherapy (RT)/immunotherapy and wound healing. The in vitro results showed that, Dox@OG(O) could achieve high ozone loading efficiency and ensure its stability. This Oleogel-mediated O3-T could directly destroy tumor cells via intracellular Criegee's reaction occurred on cell membranes, as well as the effects of tumor microenvironment (TME) regulation by the generation of oxygen/reactive oxygen species (ROS) and depletion of glutathione (GSH). Meanwhile, under the stimulation of X-ray, an accelerated free radical's production was observed, further combined with the radio-sensitivity after TME regulation, an effective anti-tumor effect would be achieved. Further on, in vivo results demonstrated that the locally implanted Dox@OG(O) could effectively inhibit the growth of both primary and secondary tumors. Considering these results above, it will serve as inspiration for future studies investigating of O3-T, especially for postoperative skin diseases.

Rapid determination of 111 anti-infective drugs possibly added in cosmetics using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with scheduled multiple reaction monitoring.

RATIONALE: Illegal addition of anti-infective drugs to cosmetics at low concentrations has been found. The illicit addition of anti-infective drugs encompasses a wide variety of medications. The current sample purification methods are inadequate to detect all these compounds. A sensitive, wide-coverage, and weak-matrix-effect measurement method needs to be established to address this issue. METHODS: Samples were extracted using acetonitrile, diluted 25 times, and then analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to detect 111 anti-infective drugs. The method was validated and assessed for matrix effect before being applied to cosmetic products. RESULTS: The calibration curves for the analytes exhibited a strong correlation coefficient (r > 0.995). The limit of detection ranged from 0.006 to 0.6 mg/kg. Matrix effects were significantly improved after a 25-fold dilution. The method was successfully applied to various cosmetics. Two of 82 samples tested contained lincomycin and miconazole, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The developed method is quick and reliable to analyze anti-infective drugs in cosmetics, with potential for both qualitative and quantitative analyses. It is a valuable tool for cosmetic research and development, contributing to safer and more effective cosmetic products.

FTIR spectroscopy for assessment of hair from lung cancer patients and its application in monitoring the chemotherapy treatment effect.

Lung cancer is the most common cancer and the leading cause of death in China. The current gold standard for clinical lung cancer diagnosis is based on histopathological examination of tumors, but it has the limitation for easy operation and convenient applications. Therefore, researchers are still striving to develop other tools and methods for non-invasive and rapid assessment of the health conditions of lung cancer patients. Hair, as a reflection of the metabolism of the body, is closely related to human health conditions. In principle, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy can probe the major chemical compositions in the hair. However, as indicated by previous studies, there is still the challenge to make good use of FTIR spectroscopy for achieving reliable analysis of hair from cancer patients. In this study, hair samples from 82 lung cancer patients were collected and subjected to FTIR measurements and analysis, which showed the protein content in the hair is closely related to the protein content in the blood serum of patients, and the contents of protein and lipid are statistically lower in the lung cancer patients. Furthermore, we demonstrated that FTIR spectroscopy could be employed to monitor the hair of lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and confirmed that the FTIR spectra of the hair may reflect the resultant effect of the chemotherapy. As such, this work validates the way of using FTIR spectroscopy in hair analysis for the assistance of medical diagnosis of lung cancer as well as monitoring the conditions of the patients under the medical treatment.

Do tougher drinking policies affect men's smoking behavior - Evidence from China.

In 2011, China implemented tougher driving-under-the-influence laws, which criminalized driving under the influence of alcohol for the first time and increased penalties. This paper provides the first comprehensive analysis of the effects of stricter drinking policies on men's smoking behavior by using data from the 2010 and 2012 waves of the China Family Panel Studies. The results show that stricter drinking policies reduced smoking initiation and the number of cigarettes smoked per day among men by reducing the frequency and quantity of alcohol consumption. Heterogeneity analyses show that the impact of the policy is more pronounced not only for men aged 41-55, but also for men who have higher educational qualifications, who are employed, or who are not members of the Communist Party.

NUP85 alleviates lipid metabolism and inflammation by regulating PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the common causes of chronic liver disease in the world. The problem of NAFLD had become increasingly prominent. However, its pathogenesis is still indistinct. As we all know, NAFLD begins with the accumulation of triglyceride (TG), leading to fatty degeneration, inflammation and other liver tissues damage. Notably, structure of nucleoporin 85 (NUP85) is related to lipid metabolism and inflammation of liver diseases. In this study, the results of researches indicated that NUP85 played a critical role in NAFLD. Firstly, the expression level of NUP85 in methionine-choline-deficient (MCD)-induced mice increased distinctly, as well as the levels of fat disorder and inflammation. On the contrary, knockdown of NUP85 had the opposite effects. In vitro, AML-12 cells were stimulated with 2 mm free fatty acids (FFA) for 24 h. Results also proved that NUP85 significantly increased in model group, and increased lipid accumulation and inflammation level. Besides, NUP85 protein could interact with C-C motif chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2). Furthermore, when NUP85 protein expressed at an extremely low level, the expression level of CCR2 protein also decreased, accompanied with an inhibition of phosphorylation of phosphoinositol-3 kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway. What is more, trans isomer (ISRIB), a targeted inhibitor of NUP85, could alleviate NAFLD. In summary, our findings suggested that NUP85 functions as an important regulator in NAFLD through modulation of CCR2.

Effects of Environmental Stresses on Synthesis of 2-Phenylethanol and IAA by Enterobacter sp. CGMCC 5087.

2-Phenylethanol (2-PE) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) are important secondary metabolites produced by microorganisms, and their production are closely linked to the growth state of microorganisms and environmental factors. Enterobacter CGMCC 5087 can produce both 2-PE and IAA depending on α-ketoacid decarboxylase KDC4427. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different environment factors including osmotic pressure, temperature, and pH on the synthesis of 2-PE and IAA in Enterobacter sp. CGMCC 5087. The bacteria exhibited an enhanced capacity for 2-PE synthesis while not affecting IAA synthesis under 5% NaCl and pH 4.5 stress conditions. In an environment with pH 9.5, the synthesis capacity of 2-PE remained unchanged while the synthesis capacity of IAA decreased. The synthesis ability of 2-PE was enhanced with an increase in temperature within the range of 25 °C to 37 °C, while the synthesis capacity of IAA was not affected significantly. Additionally, the expression of KDC4427 varied under stress conditions. Under 5% NaCl stress and decreased temperature, expression of the KDC4427 gene was increased. However, altering pH did not result in significant differences in gene expression levels, while elevated temperature caused a decrease in gene expression. Furthermore, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations suggested that these conditions may induce fluctuation in the geometry shape of binding cavity, binding energy, and especially the dαC-C- value, which played key roles in affecting the enzyme activity. These results provide insights and strategies for the synthesis of metabolic products 2-PE and IAA in bacterial fermentation, even under unfavorable conditions.

Frailty and Health-Related Quality of Life in Elderly Patients Undergoing Esophageal Cancer Surgery: A Longitudinal Study.

PURPOSE: This study aims to elucidate the longitudinal alterations in frailty and health-related quality of life experienced by elderly patients undergoing surgical treatment for esophageal cancer. Additionally, it seeks to ascertain the impact of preoperative frailty on postoperative health-related quality of life over time. METHODS: 131 patients were included in the prospective study. Patients' frailty and health-related quality-of-life were assessed utilizing the Tilburg and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 at preoperative, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months, postoperatively. Statistical analyses were performed using generalized estimating equations, repeated-measures analysis of variance, and linear mixed models (LMMs). RESULTS: Out of 131 patients, 28.2% had frailty before surgery, and the prevalence of frailty consistently higher after surgery compared with baseline (67.9%, 51.9%, and 39.7%). There was no significant change in frailty scores in preoperative frail patients within 3 months following surgery (p = .496, p < .999, p < .999); whereas in preoperative non-frail patients, the frailty scores increased at 1 week (p < .001) and then decreased at 1 month (p = .014), followed by no change at 3 months. In addition, preoperative frail patients had significantly worse global quality-of-life (ß = -4.24 (-8.31; -.18), p = .041), physical functioning (ß = -9.87 (-14.59; -5.16), p < .001), role functioning (ß = -10.04 (-15.76; -4.33), p = .001), and social functioning (ß = -8.58 (-15.49; -1.68), p = .015), compared with non-frail patients. CONCLUSIONS: A significant proportion of participants exhibited a high prevalence of preoperative frailty. These patients, who were preoperatively frail, exhibited a marked reduction in health-related quality-of-life, a more gradual recovery across various functional domains, and an increased symptom burden during the follow-up period. Therefore, it is crucial to meticulously identify and closely monitor patients with preoperative frailty for any changes in their postoperative physiology, role, and social functioning.

Impact of chrono-radiotherapy on the prognosis and treatment-related toxicity in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A multicenter propensity-matched study.

The timing of radiotherapy (RT) delivery has been reported to affect both cancer survival and treatment toxicity. However, the association among the timing of RT delivery, survival, and toxicity in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LA-NPC) has not been investigated. We retrospectively reviewed patients diagnosed with LA-NPC who received definitive RT at multiple institutions. The median RT delivery daytime was categorized as morning (DAY) and night (NIGHT). Seasonal variations were classified into the darker half of the year (WINTER) and brighter half (SUMMER) according to the sunshine duration. Cohorts were balanced according to baseline characteristics using propensity score matching (PSM). Survival and toxicity outcomes were evaluated using Cox regression models. A total of 355 patients were included, with 194/161 in DAY/NIGHT and 187/168 in WINTER/SUMMER groups. RT delivered during the daytime prolonged the 5-year overall survival (OS) (90.6% vs. 80.0%, p = 0.009). However, the significance of the trend was lost after PSM (p = 0.068). After PSM analysis, the DAY cohort derived a greater benefit in 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) (85.6% vs. 73.4%, p = 0.021) and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) (89.2% vs. 80.8%, p = 0.051) in comparison with the NIGHT subgroup. Moreover, multivariate analysis showed that daytime RT was an independent prognostic factor for OS, PFS, and DMFS. Furthermore, daytime RT delivery was associated with an increase in the incidence of leukopenia and radiation dermatitis. RT delivery in SUMMER influenced only the OS significantly (before PSM: p = 0.051; after PSM: p = 0.034). There was no association between toxicity and the timing of RT delivery by season. In LA-NPC, the daytime of radical RT served as an independent prognostic factor. Furthermore, RT administered in the morning resulted in more severe toxic side effects than that at night, which needs to be confirmed in a future study.

Intravitreal Delivery of PEGylated-ECO Plasmid DNA Nanoparticles for Gene Therapy of Stargardt Disease.

OBJECTIVE: Current gene therapy of inherited retinal diseases is achieved mainly by subretinal injection, which is invasive with severe adverse effects. Intravitreal injection is a minimally invasive alternative for gene therapy of inherited retinal diseases. This work explores the efficacy of intravitreal delivery of PEGylated ECO (a multifunctional pH-sensitive amphiphilic amino lipid) plasmid DNA (pGRK1-ABCA4-S/MAR) nanoparticles (PEG-ELNP) for gene therapy of Stargardt disease. METHODS: Pigmented Abca4-/- knockout mice received 1 µL of PEG-ELNP solution (200 ng/uL, pDNA concentration) by intravitreal injections at an interval of 1.5 months. The expression of ABCA4 in the retina was determined by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry at 6 months after the second injection. A2E levels in the treated eyes and untreated controls were determined by HPLC. The safety of treatment was monitored by scanning laser ophthalmoscopy and electroretinogram (ERG). RESULTS: PEG-ELNP resulted in significant ABCA4 expression at both mRNA level and protein level at]6 months after 2 intravitreal injections, and a 40% A2E accumulation reduction compared with non-treated controls. The PEG-ELNP also demonstrated excellent safety as shown by scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, and the eye function evaluation from electroretinogram. CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal delivery of the PEG-ELNP of pGRK1-ABCA4-S/MAR is a promising approach for gene therapy of Stargardt Disease, which can also be a delivery platform for gene therapy of other inherited retinal diseases.