Topical frankincense treatment for frostbite based on microcirculation improvements.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The Chinese traditional medicine frankincense, which can promote blood circulation, is often used to treat skin lesions, including frostbite. AIM OF THE STUDY: To explore the properties of frankincense oil extract (FOE) and its active ingredients and their effect on frostbite wound recovery as an approach to understand the mechanism associated with microcirculation-improvement therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The microcirculation-improving effects of FOE and its active ingredients were evaluated using liquid nitrogen-induced frostbite animal models. The rewarming capacity of FOE on the skin was determined through infrared detection, and frostbite wound healing was evaluated following haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and fibre analysis. Moreover, related factors were examined to determine the anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and microcirculatory properties of FOE and its active ingredients on affected tissue in the context of frostbite. RESULTS: FOE and its active ingredients rapidly rewarmed wound tissue after frostbite by increasing the temperature. Moreover, these treatments improved wound healing and restored skin structure through collagen and elastin fibre remodelling. In addition, they exerted anti-apoptotic effects by decreasing the number of apoptotic cells, reducing caspase-3 expression, and eliciting anti-inflammatory effects by decreasing COX-2 and ß-catenin expression. They also improved microcirculatory disorders by decreasing HIF-1α expression and increasing CD31 expression. CONCLUSIONS: FOE and its active components can effectively treat frostbite by enhancing microcirculation, inhibiting the infiltration of inflammatory cells, decreasing cell apoptosis, and exerting antinociceptive effects. These findings highlight FOE as a new treatment option for frostbite, providing patients with an effective therapeutic strategy.

Establishment of enterically transmitted hepatitis virus animal models using lipid nanoparticle-based full-length viral genome RNA delivery system.

BACKGROUND: Enterically transmitted hepatitis viruses, such as hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV), remain notable threats to public health. However, stable and reliable animal models of HAV and HEV infection are lacking. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to establish HAV and HEV infections in multiple small animals by intravenously injecting lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-encapsulated full-length viral RNAs (LNP-vRNA). DESIGN: In vitro transcribed and capped full-length HAV RNA was encapsulated into LNP and was intravenously inoculated to Ifnar-/- mice, and HEV RNA to rabbits and gerbils. Virological parameters were determined by RT-qPCR, ELISA and immunohistochemistry. Liver histopathological changes were analysed by H&E staining. Antiviral drug and vaccine efficacy were further evaluated by using the LNP-vRNA-based animal model. RESULTS: On intravenous injection of LNP-vRNA, stable viral shedding was detected in the faeces and infectious HAV or HEV was recovered from the livers of the inoculated animals. Liver damage was observed in LNP-vRNA (HAV)-injected mice and LNP-vRNA (HEV)-injected rabbits. Mongolian gerbils were also susceptible to LNP-vRNA (HEV) injections. Finally, the antiviral countermeasures and in vivo function of HEV genome deletions were validated in the LNP-vRNA-based animal model. CONCLUSION: This stable and standardised LNP-vRNA-based animal model provides a powerful platform to investigate the pathogenesis and evaluate countermeasures for enterically transmitted hepatitis viruses and can be further expanded to other viruses that are not easily cultured in vitro or in vivo.

Prevalence of turnover intention among emergency nurses worldwide: a meta-analysis.

AIM: To explore the prevalence of turnover intentions among emergency nurses across the globe, decision-makers should be offered evidence-based assistance. BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION: Compared with those of general nurses, the unique work environment and pressure significantly impact emergency nurses' turnover intention. High personnel turnover intention often hinders the provision of high-quality emergency services. METHODS: This study was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Published and unpublished papers were identified through electronic searches of PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library from their establishment until February 1, 2023. The literature included in this study may encompass cross-sectional studies and longitudinal studies. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the quality of the included studies while using the tool developed by Hoy and colleagues in 2012. Stata 17.0 was used for all the statistical analyses. RESULTS: This study included 12 articles by screening 744 articles, which included a total of 4400 nurses. All studies included in the analysis were cross-sectional. The overall prevalence of turnover intention among emergency nurses was 45%. Further analysis revealed that the turnover intention prevalence among emergency nurses in Asia was 54%, whereas in other regions, it was 38%. The turnover intention among younger nurses (61%) was significantly greater than that among older nurses (30%). Compared with the published scale, the self-developed scale resulted in a higher turnover intention rate of 52%, which was 41%. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of emergency nurses' turnover intention is relatively high and shows an increasing trend, with noticeable variations across different regions and age groups. Notably, Asian nurses and those younger than 35.6 years exhibit a greater intention to turnover. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: There is no patient or public involvement, as this article is a meta-analysis. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY: Nursing managers, administrators, and policymakers must recognize the seriousness of high turnover intentions among emergency nurses and develop effective prevention strategies to address this issue globally.

Hepatic protein phosphatase 1 regulatory subunit 3G alleviates obesity and liver steatosis by regulating the gut microbiota and bile acid metabolism.

Intestinal dysbiosis and disrupted bile acid (BA) homeostasis are associated with obesity, but the precise mechanisms remain insufficiently explored. Hepatic protein phosphatase 1 regulatory subunit 3G (PPP1R3G) plays a pivotal role in regulating glycolipid metabolism; nevertheless, its obesity-combatting potency remains unclear. In this study, a substantial reduction was observed in serum PPP1R3G levels in high-body mass index (BMI) and high-fat diet (HFD)-exposed mice, establishing a positive correlation between PPP1R3G and non-12α-hydroxylated (non-12-OH) BA content. Additionally, hepatocyte-specific overexpression of Ppp1r3g (PPP1R3G HOE) mitigated HFD-induced obesity as evidenced by reduced weight, fat mass, and an improved serum lipid profile; hepatic steatosis alleviation was confirmed by normalized liver enzymes and histology. PPP1R3G HOE considerably impacted systemic BA homeostasis, which notably increased the non-12-OH BAs ratio, particularly lithocholic acid (LCA). 16S ribosomal DNA (16S rDNA) sequencing assay indicated that PPP1R3G HOE reversed HFD-induced gut dysbiosis by reducing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and Lactobacillus population, and elevating the relative abundance of Blautia, which exhibited a positive correlation with serum LCA levels. A fecal microbiome transplantation test confirmed that the anti-obesity effect of hepatic PPP1R3G was gut microbiota-dependent. Mechanistically, PPP1R3G HOE markedly suppressed hepatic cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) and sterol-12α-hydroxylase (CYP8B1), and concurrently upregulated oxysterol 7-α hydroxylase and G protein-coupled BA receptor 5 (TGR5) expression under HFD conditions. Furthermore, LCA administration significantly mitigated the HFD-induced obesity phenotype and elevated non-12-OH BA levels. These findings emphasize the significance of hepatic PPP1R3G in ameliorating diet-induced adiposity and hepatic steatosis through the gut microbiota-BA axis, which may serve as potential therapeutic targets for obesity-related disorders.

Endoscopic submucosal resection (ESD) and endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFTR) via balloon-assisted enteroscopy (BAE) in small bowel subepithelial lesions: experience in treating fifteen cases.

AIM: The study objective was to evaluate the primary feasibility of endoscopic submucosal resection (ESD) and endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFTR) via balloon-assisted enteroscopy (BAE) to treat small bowel subepithelial lesions (SELs). METHOD: A retrospective case series study was performed. The first fifteen consecutive patients who underwent ESD (n = 10) and EFTR (n = 5) via BAE to remove small bowel SELs from November 2016 to December 2023 were included. The main outcome measures were the technique success rate, operative time and complication rate. RESULTS: This research focused on 15 cases of jejunoileal SELs, four cases of lipomyoma, three cases of ectopic pancreas, two cases of NETs, three cases of benign fibrous tumours and three cases of angioma. The overall technique success rate was 86.7%, with 100% (10/10) and 60% (3/5) for BAE-ESD and BAE-EFTR, respectively, in removing small bowel SELs. Two cases of EFTR failed, as the BAE operation was unsuitable for tumour resection and suture repair of a perforated wound. No serious bleeding or any postoperative complications occurred. The median time of endoscopic resection via BAE for SELs was 44 min (range 22-68 min). CONCLUSION: ESD and EFTR via BAE might be alternative choices for treating small SELs in the small bowel, with the advantages of clear and accurate positioning and minimal invasiveness. However, its superiority over surgery still needs to be further investigated.

Selective Vulnerability of GABAergic Inhibitory Interneurons to Bilirubin Neurotoxicity in the Neonatal Brain.

Hyperbilirubinemia (HB) is a key risk factor for hearing loss in neonates, particularly premature infants. Here we report that bilirubin (BIL)-dependent cell death in auditory brainstem of neonatal mice of both sexes is significantly attenuated by ZD7288, a blocker for hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channel mediated current (Ih), or by genetic deletion of HCN1. GABAergic inhibitory interneurons predominantly express HCN1, on which BIL selectively acts to increase their intrinsic excitability and mortality by enhancing HCN1 activity and Ca2+-dependent membrane targeting. Chronic BIL elevation in neonatal mice in vivo increases the fraction of spontaneously active interneurons and their firing frequency, Ih and death, compromising audition at young adult stage in HCN1+/+, but not in HCN1-/- genotype. We conclude that HB preferentially targets HCN1 to injure inhibitory interneurons, fueling a feedforward loop in which lessening inhibition cascades hyperexcitability, Ca2+ overload, neuronal death and auditory impairments. These findings rationalize HCN1 as a potential target for managing HB encephalopathy.Significance Statement This study demonstrated that bilirubin preferentially targets GABAergic interneurons where it facilitates not only gating of HCN1 channels but also targeting of intracellular HCN1 to plasma membrane in calcium-dependent manner, resulting in neuronal hyperexcitability, injury and sensory dysfunction. These findings implicate HCN1 channel not only as a potential driver for auditory abnormalities in neonatal patients with bilirubin encephalopathy, but also potential intervention target for clinical management of neurological impairments associated with severe jaundice. Selective vulnerability of interneurons to neurotoxicity may be of general significance for understanding other forms of brain injury.

Screening and heterologous expression of an antimicrobial peptide SCAK33 with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity resourced from sea cucumber proteome.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a family of short defense proteins that are naturally produced by all organisms and have great potential as effective substitutes for small-molecule antibiotics. The present study aims to excavate AMPs from sea cucumbers and achieve their heterologous expression in prokaryotic Escherichia coli. Using MytC as a probe, a cysteine-stabilized peptide SCAK33 with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity was discovered from the proteome of Apostichopus japonicas. The SCAK33 showed inhibitory effects on both gram positive and gram negative bacteria with MICs of 3-28 µM, and without significant hemolysis activity in rat blood erythrocyte. Especially, it exhibited good antimicrobial activity against Bacillus megaterium, B. subtilis, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus with the MIC of 3, 7, and 7 µM, respectively. After observation by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM), it was found that the cell membrane of bacteria was severely damaged. Furthermore, the recombinant SCAK33 (reSCAK33) was heterologously expressed by fusion with SUMO tag in E. coli BL21(DE3), and the protein yield reached 70 mg/L. The research will supplement the existing quantity of sea cucumber AMPs and provide data support for rapid mining and biological preparation of sea cucumber AMPs.

Sialic acid detection and theranostic activity of phenylboronic acid-based fluorescent probe in human colorectal adenocarcinoma HT-29 cells.

A new probe, 4-(((3',6'-bis(diethylamino)-3-oxospiro[isoindoline-1,9'-xanthen]-2-yl)imino)methyl)phenyl)boronic acid (R4B) was prepared by facile condensation of 4-formylphenylboronic acid and rhodamine B hydrazide. R4B was characterized by spectroscopic methods and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The sensor R4B solution turned pink and emitted orange fluorescence only in the presence of sialic acid but remained colorless and non-fluorescent otherwise. The sugar recognition performance was investigated via UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopic studies. Our results revealed that R4B has good affinity and selectivity for sialic acid over common monosaccharides, with a detection limit as low as 10-7 M. Furthermore, R4B selectively inhibited growth of human colorectal adenocarcinoma HT-29 (IC50 <20 µM) without significant cytotoxicity to normal human colon fibroblasts CCD-18Co. Treatment with R4B suppressed HT-29 colony formation via mitochondrial apoptosis in a time-dependent manner. Cellular imaging studies also revealed the ability of R4B as a fluorescence dye to detect intracellular sialic acid and showed mitochondria-tracking ability in HT-29 cells. In summary, R4B is a potential theranostic for the detection of intracellular sialic acid during the early incubation period, followed by induction of cancer apoptotic cell death at a later treatment point.

Four new species of the genus Hendelia Czerny, 1903 (Diptera, Clusiidae) from China.

Four new species of the genus Hendelia Czerny, 1903 collected from China, are described as new to science: H.latustigenis sp. nov., H.macrocera sp. nov., H.deltoides sp. nov. and H.flavida sp. nov. An updated key to the species of Hendelia from China is presented.

Efficient and robust reverse genetics system for bovine rotavirus generation and its application for antiviral screening.

Unveiling the molecular mechanisms underlying rotavirus replication and pathogenesis has been hampered by the lack of a reverse genetics (RG) system in the past. Since 2017, multiple plasmid-based RG systems for simian, human, and murine-Like rotaviruses have been established. However, none of the described methods have supported the recovery of bovine rotaviruses (BRVs). Here, we established an optimized plasmid-based RG system for BRV culture-adapted strain (BRV G10P [15] BLR) and clinical isolates (BRV G6P[1] C73, G10P[11] HM26) based on a BHK-T7 cell clone stably expressing T7 polymerase. Furthermore, using this optimized RG system, we successfully rescued the reporter virus BRV rC73/Zs, rHM26/Zs and rBLR/Zs, harboring a genetically modified 1.8-kb segment 7 encoding full-length nonstructural protein 3 (NSP3) fused to ZsGreen, a 232-amino acid green fluorescent protein. Analysis of the stability of genomic insertions showed that the rC73/Zs and rBLR/Zs replicated efficiently and were genetically stable in seven rounds of serial passaging, while rHM26/Zs can be stabilized only up to the third generation, indicating that the BRV segment composition may influence the viral fitness. In addition, we adopted the recombinant reporter viruses for high-throughput screening application and discovered 12 candidates out of 1440 compounds with potential antiviral activities against rotavirus. In summary, this improved RG system of BRVs represents an important tool with great potential for understanding the molecular biology of BRV and facilitates the development of novel therapeutics and vaccines for BRV.

Interaction between pea protein isolate and quercetin: Effects on protein conformation and quercetin activity.

Comprehensive comprehension of the interaction between proteins and polyphenols is crucial for advancing their utilization in food processing. This study investigated no-covalent interaction between pea protein isolate (PPI) and quercetin (Que) through spectroscopic analysis and molecular simulation. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and circular dichroism spectrum showed that the interaction between PPI and Que changed the secondary structure of the protein due to a decrease in α-helix content and an increase in the random coil. Thermodynamic parameters indicated that the Quebound PPI via hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions (ΔH > 0, ΔS > 0, and ΔG < 0), which was also confirmed by molecular docking. Particle size and ζ-potential showed that PPI and Que demonstrated effective interaction and binding capabilities, enhancing the stability. In addition, the antioxidant and bioaccessibility of complexes have also been enhanced. This study shed a light on the application of protein-polyphenol complexes for developing functional foods. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Interaction between pea protein isolate and quercetin can change the protein conformation to maintain the stability of quercetin and is helpful to expand the market value and application value of plant protein. The research has important implications for using leguminous protein as embedded support to improve the stability of polyphenols compounds.

In Situ Ligand-Transformation-Assisted Assembly of a Polyoxometalate and Silver-Phosphine Oxide Cluster for Colorimetric Detection of Phenol Contaminants.

In situ ligand transformation strategies represent an efficient pathway for constructing function-oriented polyoxometalate (POM)-based crystalline materials. Herein, three POM-based hybrid networks were synthesized through in situ transformation of the phosphine ligand, formulated as [Ag(dppeo)6][H2PMo12O40]·5H2O (1), [Ag(dedpo)]4[SiW12O40]·6H2O (2), and [Ag(dppeo)]3[PW12O40]·3H2O (3) (dedpo = (2-(diphenylphosphaneyl)ethyl)diphenylphosphine oxide; dppeo = ethane-1,2-diylbis(diphenylphosphine oxide)). During the synthesis of these compounds, the 1,2-diphenylphosphine ethane molecule underwent in situ oxidation, transforming into dppeo and dedpo ligands, respectively. Compound 1 features a supramolecular architecture assembled from [Ag(dppeo)3]+/[Ag2(dppeo)6]2+ cationic clusters with disordered Ag centers and protonated [H2PMo12O40]- anions. Compound 2 presents a 3-D POM-supported metal-organic framework consisting of binuclear [Ag(dedpo)]22+ units, {-dedpo-Ag-dedpo-} chains, and [SiW12O40]4- polyoxoanions. Compound 3 displays a 2-D layered structure formed by {-dppeo-Ag3-dppeo-} chains and [PW12O40]3- clusters. Pronounced argentophilic interactions are observed in compounds 1 and 3. The three compounds demonstrate satisfactory heterogeneous catalytic activity in the colorimetric detection reactions toward phenol pollutants with detection limits of 1.73, 1.92, and 4.6 µM, respectively. Additionally, compounds 1-3 show high anti-interference capabilities and high sensitivity in differentiating phenol from its halogenated derivatives. This work presents some guidance for designing specific function-oriented POM-based materials via an in situ ligand transformation strategy.

Overexpression of Two Odorant Binding Proteins Confers Chlorpyrifos Resistance in the Green Peach Aphid Myzus persicae.

The green peach aphid, Myzus persicae, is a worldwide agricultural pest. Chlorpyrifos has been widely used to control M. persicae for decades, thus leading to a high resistance to chlorpyrifos. Recent studies have found that insect odorant binding proteins (OBPs) play essential roles in insecticide resistance. However, the potential resistance mechanism underlying the cross-link between aphid OBPs and chlorpyrifos remains unclear. In this study, two OBPs (MperOBP3 and MperOBP7) were found overexpressed in M. persicae chlorpyrifos-resistant strains (CRR) compared to chlorpyrifos-sensitive strains (CSS); furthermore, chlorpyrifos can significantly induce the expression of both OBPs. An in vitro binding assay indicated that both OBPs strongly bind with chlorpyrifos; an in vivo RNAi and toxicity bioassay confirmed silencing either of the two OBPs can increase the susceptibility of aphids to chlorpyrifos, suggesting that overexpression of MperOBP3 and MperOBP7 contributes to the development of resistance of M. persicae to chlorpyrifos. Our findings provide novel insights into insect OBPs-mediated resistance mechanisms.

Glyphosate resistance and no fitness cost in backcross offspring of wild soybean and transgenic soybean with epsps gene.

BACKGROUND: The commercial utilization of genetically modified soybeans has yielded substantial economic advantages. Nevertheless, the genetic drift towards wild soybeans is one of the main ecological risks that needs to be addressed. Previous experiments demonstrated the absence of fitness cost or florescence overlap in hybrid offspring resulting from the crossbreeding of transgenic soybean GTS40-3-2 and Zhengzhou wild soybeans. In this study, hybrid progeny was systematically crossed with wild soybeans to establish a backcross progeny system. This system was employed to evaluate the ecological risk associated with the backcross progeny of transgenic and wild soybeans. RESULTS: The findings indicated that the offspring from the backcross exhibited glyphosate tolerance. Furthermore, the expression of foreign proteins in the backcross offspring was notably lower than in the transgenic soybean, and there was no significant difference when compared to the hybrid progeny. Parameters such as germination rate, aboveground biomass, pods per plant, full seeds per plant, and 100-grain weight exhibited no significant differences between the negative and positive lines of the backcross progenies, and no fitness cost was identified in comparison to wild soybeans. These results underscore the potential for foreign genes to propagate within other wild soybeans, which requires continuous attention. CONCLUSIONS: The widespread adoption of genetically modified soybeans has undeniably led to substantial economic gains. However, the research findings emphasize the critical importance of addressing the ecological risks posed by genetic drift towards wild soybeans. The backcross progeny system established in this study indicates that the potential for foreign gene dissemination to wild soybean populations warrants continued attention and mitigation strategies.

Treatment Patterns and Survival Outcomes Among Androgen Receptor Pathway Inhibitor-Experienced Patients With Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer.

BACKGROUND: There is limited real-world data regarding subsequent treatment utilization and clinical outcomes following initial androgen receptor pathway inhibitor (ARPI) exposure for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. This study aimed to address this evidence gap. METHODS: Electronic health records during 01/01/2013-07/31/2022 from Flatiron Health were used to identify adults with mCRPC, who had prior exposure to ARPIs (irrespective of the setting) and ≥1 post-ARPI line of therapy (LOT) in the mCRPC setting (index therapy: the first eligible LOT in the mCRPC setting). Treatment patterns and survival outcomes following the initiation of index therapy were reported. RESULTS: Among 804 ARPI-experienced mCRPC patients, 459 patients (57.1%) received another ARPI as their index therapy and 192 (23.9%) received chemotherapy as their index therapy. In the overall population, median time on the index therapy and median time from index therapy to next therapy were 4.1 and 6.2 months, respectively. Median overall survival and radiographic progression-free survival from the initiation of index therapy were 15.1 and 7.0 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In this real-world analysis, more than half of patients attempted at least 1 additional ARPI in the mCRPC setting, despite prior treatment with ARPIs. The short treatment duration and survival time highlight the unmet need for additional, effective therapies that may improve clinical outcomes in this population.

Metabolic profiling and spatial metabolite distribution in wild soybean (G. soja) and cultivated soybean (G. max) seeds.

Wild soybeans retain many substances significantly reduced or lost in cultivars during domestication. This study utilized LC-MS to analyze metabolites in the seed coats and embryos of wild and cultivated soybeans. 866 and 815 metabolites were identified in the seed extracts of both soybean types, with 35 and 10 significantly differing metabolites in the seed coat and embryos, respectively. The upregulated metabolites in wild soybeans are linked to plant defense, stress responses, and nitrogen cycling. MALDI-MSI results further elucidated the distribution of these differential metabolites in the cotyledons, hypocotyls, and radicles. In addition to their role in physiological processes like growth and response to environmental stimuli, the prevalent terpenoids, lipids, and flavonoids present in wild soybeans exhibit beneficial bioactivities, including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anticancer, and cardiovascular disease prevention properties. These findings underscore the potential of wild soybeans as a valuable resource for enhancing the nutritional and ecological adaptability of cultivated soybeans.

Phylogeny and evolution of hemipteran insects based on expanded genomic and transcriptomic data.

BACKGROUND: Hemiptera is the fifth species-rich order of insects and the most species-rich order of hemimetabolous insects, including numerous insect species that are of agricultural or medical significance. Despite much effort and recent advance in inferring the Hemiptera phylogeny, some high-level relationships among superfamilies remain controversial. RESULTS: We sequenced the genomes of 64 hemipteran species from 15 superfamilies and the transcriptomes of two additional scale insect species, integrating them with existing genomic and transcriptomic data to conduct a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of Hemiptera. Our datasets comprise an average of 1625 nuclear loci of 315 species across 27 superfamilies of Hemiptera. Our analyses supported Cicadoidea and Cercopoidea as sister groups, with Membracoidea typically positioned as the sister to Cicadoidea + Cercopoidea. In most analyses, Aleyrodoidea was recovered as the sister group of all other Sternorrhyncha. A sister-group relationship was supported between Coccoidea and Aphidoidea + Phylloxeroidea. These relationships were further supported by four-cluster likelihood mapping analyses across diverse datasets. Our ancestral state reconstruction indicates phytophagy as the primary feeding strategy for Hemiptera as a whole. However, predation likely represents an ancestral state for Heteroptera, with several phytophagous lineages having evolved from predatory ancestors. Certain lineages, like Lygaeoidea, have undergone a reversal transition from phytophagy to predation. Our divergence time estimation placed the diversification of hemipterans to be between 60 and 150 million years ago. CONCLUSIONS: By expanding phylogenomic taxon sampling, we clarified the superfamily relationships within the infraorder Cicadomorpha. Our phylogenetic analyses supported the sister-group relationship between the superfamilies Cicadoidea and Cercopoidea, and the superfamily Membracoidea as the sister to Cicadoidea + Cercopoidea. Our divergence time estimation supported the close association of hemipteran diversification with the evolutionary success and adaptive radiation of angiosperms during the Cretaceous period.

Versatility of the Zinc-Finger Antiviral Protein (ZAP) As a Modulator of Viral Infections.

The zinc-finger antiviral protein (ZAP) is a restriction factor that proficiently impedes the replication of a variety of RNA and DNA viruses. In recent years, the affinity of ZAP's zinc-fingers for single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) rich in CpG dinucleotides was uncovered. High frequencies of CpGs in RNA may suggest a non-self origin, which underscores the importance of ZAP as a potential cellular sensor of (viral) RNA. Upon binding viral RNA, ZAP recruits cellular cofactors to orchestrate a finely tuned antiviral response that limits virus replication via distinct mechanisms. These include promoting degradation of viral RNA, inhibiting RNA translation, and synergizing with other immune pathways. Depending on the viral species and experimental set-up, different isoforms and cellular cofactors have been reported to be dominant in shaping the ZAP-mediated antiviral response. Here we review how ZAP differentially affects viral replication depending on distinct interactions with RNA, cellular cofactors, and viral proteins to discuss how these interactions shape the antiviral mechanisms that have thus far been reported for ZAP. Importantly, we zoom in on the unknown aspects of ZAP's antiviral system and its therapeutic potential to be employed in vaccine design.

The reduced cortical bone density in vertebral bodies: risk for osteoporotic fractures? Insights from CT analysis.

BACKGROUND: There is a corresponding increase in the prevalence of osteoporosis and related fractures with the aging population on the rise. Furthermore, osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF) may contribute to higher patient mortality rates. It is essential to conduct research on risk factors for OVCF and provide a theoretical basis for preventing such fractures. METHODS: We retrospectively recruited patients who had spine CT for OVCF or back pain. Demographic and CT data were collected. Quantitative computed tomography (QCT) software analyzed the CT data, using subcutaneous fat and paraspinal muscles as reference standards for BMD processing. BMD of cortical and cancellous bones in each patient's vertebral body was determined. RESULTS: In this study, 144 patients were divided into non-OVCF (96) and OVCF (48) groups. Non-OVCF patients had higher cortical BMD of 382.5 ± 52.4 to 444.6 ± 70.1 mg/cm3, with T12 having the lowest BMD (p < 0.001, T12 vs. L2). Cancellous BMD ranged from 128.5 ± 58.4 to 140.9 ± 58.9 mg/cm3, with L3 having the lowest BMD. OVCF patients had lower cortical BMD of 365.0 ± 78.9 to 429.3 ± 156.7 mg/cm3, with a further decrease in T12 BMD. Cancellous BMD ranged from 71.68 ± 52.07 to 123.9 ± 126.2 mg/cm3, with L3 still having the lowest BMD. Fractured vertebrae in OVCF patients (T12, L1, and L2) had lower cortical bone density compared to their corresponding vertebrae without fractures (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: T12 had the lowest cortical BMD and L3 had the lowest cancellous BMD in OVCF patients, with T12 also having the highest incidence of osteoporotic fractures. These findings suggest that reduction in cortical BMD has a greater impact on OVCF than reduction in cancellous BMD, along with biomechanical factors.

Prediction of postoperative mortality in older surgical patients by clinical frailty scale: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIMS: To systematically evaluate the predictive efficacy of clinical frailty scale (CFS) for postoperative mortality older surgical patients, and to evaluate the prevalence of frailty in the included studies. DESIGN: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies was conducted, utilizing the MOOSE guidelines for the evaluation of both. Quality assessment of the articles was also performed. DATA SOURCES: The protocol was registered (CRD42023423552). Relevant English and Chinese language studies published until October 20th, 2023 were retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Medline, CINAHL,Cochrane, WAN FANG DATA, VIP Information, CNKI, and SinoMed databases. REVIEW METHODS: Study were included in which frailty was measured by the CFS and postoperative mortality was reported for older surgery patients. A meta-analysis to predict postoperative mortality and frailty prevalence was performed using STATA 17.0 software. RESULTS: Sixteen cohort studies were included (5,864 participants) from 1,513 records. All studies' Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) scores were above 6 points. It was found that the prevalence of surgical frailty in the older was 0.36(CI 0.20-0.52). Patients assessed as frail by the CFS were associated with higher all-cause mortality (OR:4.01; CI 2.59-6.23). Subgroup analysis shows that frailty was associated with1-month mortality (OR:3.85; CI 1.11-13.45) and 1-year mortality (OR:4.43; CI 2.18-8.99). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of frailty is high in older surgical patients, and CFS can effectively predict the mortality of older surgical patients with frailty.