Source-independent quantum secret sharing with entangled photon pair networks.

The large-scale deployment of quantum secret sharing (QSS) in quantum networks is currently challenging due to the requirements for the generation and distribution of multipartite entanglement states. Here we present an efficient source-independent QSS protocol utilizing entangled photon pairs in quantum networks. Through the post-matching method, which means the measurement events in the same basis are matched, the key rate is almost independent of the number of participants. In addition, the unconditional security of our QSS against internal and external eavesdroppers can be proved by introducing an equivalent virtual protocol. Our protocol has great performance and technical advantages in future quantum networks.

Contact Toxicity and Repellent Effects of Essential Oils from Toddalia asiatica against Two Stored-Product Insects.

Insect infestations continually endanger stored goods, underscoring the significance of discovering eco-friendly insecticides for pest management. Essential oils (EOs) from different parts of Toddalia asiatica (leaf, fruit and branch) were extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-MS. Carvene, p-cymene and muurolene are the principal compounds of T. asiatica leaf (TAL), T. asiatica fruit (TAF) and T. asiatica branch (TAB) EO respectively. Our work aimed to assess the contact toxicity and repellent effects of EOs on two storage pests, Tribolium castaneum and Lasioderma serricorne. All tested EOs exhibited obvious contact toxicity, especially, TAL EO against T. castaneum (33.48 µg/adult) and TAF EO against L. serricorne (16.42 µg/adult). Repellency tests revealed that TAL and TAF EOs, at a concentration of 78.63 nL/cm2, achieved nearing 100% efficiency against T. castaneum. These results suggest that EOs of T. asiatica could be used as effective botanical insecticides for managing stored-product insects.

Early detection of dopaminergic dysfunction and glymphatic system impairment in Parkinson's disease.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the glymphatic function and its correlation with clinical characteristics and the loss of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease (PD) using hybrid positron emission tomography (PET)-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) combined with diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS), choroid plexus volume (CPV), and enlarged perivascular space (EPVS) volume. METHODS: Twenty-five PD patients and thirty matched healthy controls (HC) participated in the study. All participants underwent 18F-fluorodopa (18F-DOPA) PET-MRI scanning. The striatal standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR), DTI-ALPS index, CPV, and EPVS volume were calculated. Furthermore, we also analysed the relationship between the DTI-ALPS index, CPV, EPVS volume and striatal SUVR as well as clinical characteristics of PD patients. RESULTS: PD patients demonstrated significantly lower values in DTI-ALPS (t = 3.053, p = 0.004) and larger CPV (t = 2.743, p = 0.008) and EPVS volume (t = 2.807, p = 0.008) compared to HC. In PD group, the ALPS-index was negatively correlated with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale III (UPDRS-III) scores (r = -0.730, p < 0.001), and positively correlated with the mean putaminal SUVR (r = 0.560, p = 0.007) and mean caudal SUVR (r = 0.459, p = 0.032). Moreover, the mean putaminal SUVR was negatively associated with the UPDRS-III scores (r = -0.544, p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: DTI-ALPS has the potential to uncover glymphatic dysfunction in patients with PD, with this dysfunction correlating strongly with the severity of disease, together with the mean putaminal and caudal SUVR. PET- MRI can serve as a potential multimodal imaging biomarker for early-stage PD.

Glymphatic System Dysfunction in Congenital Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A DTI-ALPS Study.

BACKGROUND: The neural mechanisms underlying congenital sensorineural hearing loss (CSNHL) remain elusive. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the function of the glymphatic system in children with CSNHL compared to normal-hearing children using the DTI-ALPS approach, which utilizes diffusion tensor imaging along the perivascular space. METHODS: Twenty-six children with CSNHL and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) with normal hearing thresholds were recruited. The DTIALPS index was calculated for each group. We analyzed the discrepancies in the DTI-ALPS index between patients with CSNHL and healthy controls. Additionally, Spearman's correlation analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between the DTI-ALPS index and age in children with CSNHL. RESULTS: Significant differences in the DTI-ALPS index were observed between the two groups. Compared with HCs, the DTI-ALPS index in CSNHL patients was significantly lower (1.49388±0.11441 vs. 1.61402±0.15430, p=0.002). In addition, diffusivity along the z-axis in the association fiber (Dzzassoc) index was significantly higher in the CSNHL group than in the HC group (0.00041±0.00006 vs. 0.00036±0.00004, p=0.003). Furthermore, we discovered a noteworthy downward correlation between the DTI-ALPS index and age in children with CSNHL (rho = -0.544, p=0.005). CONCLUSION: In this present study, glymphatic system activity in CSNHL children was investigated for the first time using the DTI-ALPS index. A significant decrease in glymphatic system function was detected in CSNHL children, which correlated well with age. The DTI-ALPS index could serve as a valuable biomarker for tracking disease progression and treatment in CSNHL and unraveling the neural mechanisms of early hearing deprivation in children with CSNHL.

Clinical features and prognostic model for viral encephalitis after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

The objective of this study was to identify independent prognostic factors of viral encephalitis (VE) after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) and establish a prognostic model to identify post-transplant VE patients with a greater likelihood of mortality. Among 5380 patients in our centre from 2014 to 2022, 211 patients who developed VE after allo-HSCT were reviewed in this retrospective study. Prognostic factors were selected, and a prognostic model was constructed using Cox regression analysis. The model was subsequently validated and estimated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), a calibration plot and decision curve analysis (DCA). Glasgow Coma Scale score <9, lesions >3 lobes on magnetic resonance imaging and severe thrombocytopenia were identified as independent prognostic risk factors for VE patients who underwent allo-HSCT. The prognostic model GTM (GTM is an abbreviation for a model composed of three risk factors: GCS score <9, severe thrombocytopenia [platelet count <20 000 per microliter], and lesions >3 lobes on MRI) was established according to the regression coefficients. The validated internal AUC was 0.862 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.773-0.950), and the external AUC was 0.815 (95% CI, 0.708-0.922), indicating strong discriminatory ability. Furthermore, we constructed calibration plots that demonstrated good consistency between the predicted outcomes and the observed outcomes. DCA exhibited high accuracy in this system, leading to potential benefits for patients.

Bactofencin YH, a novel bacteriocin with high inhibitory activity against clinical Streptococcus species.

Strain Lactiplantibacillus plantarum D1 with bacteriocin producing ability was found in the intestine of Gambusia affinis. The bacteriocin was found to have high inhibitory activity against multiple Streptococcus species and several other Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Bacteriocin was purified from culture supernatant by ion-exchange chromatography, Sep-Pak C18 cartridge, and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectral analysis determined that purified bacteriocin has a molecular mass of 2,731 Da. A partial N-terminal sequence KRKKHKXQIYNNGM was obtained from the Edman analysis. The N-terminal sequence was employed to search against a translation of the draft genome of strain D1. The translated full amino acid sequence of the mature peptide is as follows: NH2- KRKKHKCQIYNNGMPTGQYRWC, which has a molecular weight of 2738 Da. A BLAST search revealed that this bacteriocin was most similar to bactofencin A but differed from it with three amino acid residues. No identical peptide or protein has been previously reported, and this peptide, termed bactofencin YH, was therefore considered to be a new bacteriocin produced by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum D1.

The cell fates of intermediate cell population in prostate development.

Organ development, regeneration and cancer initiation are typically influenced by the proliferation and lineage plasticity of tissue-specific stem cells. Prostate intermediate cells, which exhibit characteristics of both basal and luminal cells, are prevalent in pathological states and during organ development. However, the identity, fate and function of these intermediate cells in prostate development are not well understood. Through single-cell RNA-seq analysis on neonatal urogenital sinus tissue, we identified intermediate cells exhibiting stem cell potential. A notable decline in the population of intermediate cells was observed during prostate development. Prostate intermediate cells were specifically labeled in early and late postnatal development by the enhanced dual-recombinase-mediated genetic tracing systems. Our findings revealed that these cells possess significant stem cell capabilities as demonstrated in organoid formation and cell fate mapping assays. These intermediate cells also exhibited intrinsic bipotential properties, enabling them to differentiate into both basal and luminal cells. Additionally, we discovered a novel transition from intermediate cell expressing neuroendocrine markers to neuroendocrine cell during prostate development. This study highlights intermediate cells as a crucial stem cell population and enhances our understanding of their role in prostate development and the plasticity of prostate cancer lineage.

Characterizing microstructural patterns within the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical circuit in Parkinson's disease.

PURPOSE: Parkinson's disease (PD) involves pathological alterations that include cortical impairments at levels of region and network. However, its microstructural abnormalities remain to be further elucidated via an appropriate diffusion neuroimaging approach. This study aimed to comprehensively demonstrate the microstructural patterns of PD as mapped by diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI). METHODS: The microstructure of grey matter in both the PD group and the matched healthy control group was quantified by a DKI metric (mean kurtosis). The intergroup difference and classification performance of global microstructural complexity were analyzed in a voxelwise manner and via a machine learning approach, respectively. The patterns of information flows were explored in terms of structural connectivity, network covariance and modular connectivity. RESULTS: Patients with PD exhibited global microstructural impairments that served as an efficient diagnostic indicator. Disrupted structural connections between the striatum and cortices as well as between the thalamus and cortices were widely distributed in the PD group. Aberrant covariance of the striatocortical circuitry and thalamocortical circuitry was observed in patients with PD, who also showed disrupted modular connectivity within the striatum and thalamus as well as across structures of the cortex, striatum and thalamus. CONCLUSION: These findings verified the potential clinical application of DKI for the exploration of microstructural patterns in PD, contributing complementary imaging features that offer a deeper insight into the neurodegenerative process.

Hypermethylation of the glutathione peroxidase 4 promoter predicts poor prognosis in patients with hepatitis B virus-associated acute-on-chronic liver failure.

Background: Hepatitis B virus-associated acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF) is a syn-drome with a high short-term mortality rate, and its prognosis is critical in clinical management. This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) in the occurrence and development of HBV-ACLF and its prognostic value for 90-day mortality. Methods: The expression levels of GPX4, oxidative stress-related molecules and inflammatory cytokines in serum or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 289 participants were determined by RT-qPCR or ELISA, and the methylation level of GPX4 promoter in PBMCs was determined by MethyLight. Results: The expression levels of GPX4 in the PBMCs and serum of HBV-ACLF patients were lower than those in non-HBV-associated acute-on-chronic liver failure (non-HBV ACLF) patients, patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and healthy control (HC) individuals, while the methylation level of the GPX4 promoter was greater. In HBV-ACLF patients, the methylation level of the GPX4 promoter is correlated with oxidative stress, inflammation-related molecules, and some clinicopathological indicators. The methylation level of the GPX4 promoter was identified as an independent risk factor for 90-day mortality in HBV-ACLF patients and yielded a larger area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) than the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score in predicting 90-day mortality. Conclusion: The GPX4 promoter methylation level has promising potential as a predictor of 90-day mortality in patients with HBV-ACLF.

Traditional Chinese-version reliability test of the Pieper-Zulkowski pressure ulcer knowledge: Psychometric and assessment.

This study was to translate the Pieper-Zulkowski pressure ulcer knowledge test (PZ-PUKT) into Traditional Chinese and evaluate its psychometric properties as well as identify the predictors of knowledge on pressure injury. The PZ-PUKT was translated into Traditional Chinese (TC-PZ-PUKT), and its content validity was evaluated. A total of 296 nurses participated in this study and completed the 72-item TC-PZ-PUKT online. The reliability of the TC-PZ-PUKT was analysed by evaluating its internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Hierarchical regression was used to determine factors associated with TC-PZ-PUKT scores. Content validity was achieved with a score of 0.986. Internal consistency was observed to be reliable, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.858. The mean knowledge score on the TC-PZ-PUKT was 72.5%, with a 1-week test-retest reliability of r = 0.849. Education level, certification as a wound specialist and self-learning through reading articles, books or guidelines on pressure injury were significantly associated with TC-PZ-PUKT scores. The TC-PZ-PUKT is a valid and reliable tool. Education level, certification as a wound specialist and self-learning regarding pressure injury are related to knowledge of pressure injury.

Cataract Surgery and Incidence of Retinal Vascular Occlusion: Population-Based Cohort Study Using a Target Trial Emulation Framework.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggested an association between cataract surgery and retinal vascular occlusion. However, the association may be attributable to detection bias because postoperative monitoring may be more frequent for those who receive cataract surgery than for those who do not. DESIGN: Population-based cohort study using target trial emulation framework. METHODS: We included patients with cataract aged 50 years and older receiving cataract surgery or nonsurgical interventions identified from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database between 2003 and 2018, matched by propensity score. The primary outcome was retinal vascular occlusion. Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare surgery and control groups. Additional analyses were restricted to patients who had undergone fundoscopic examination within 6 months prior to cataract surgery to address the issue of detection bias. RESULTS: We included 577,129 cataract surgery and control pairs. We found the hazard ratio (HR) for retinal vascular occlusion after cataract surgery was 1.23 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.17-1.29), compared with the control group. Secondary outcome analyses yielded similar results for retinal artery occlusion (HR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.02-1.26) and retinal vein occlusion (HR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.20-1.33). However, no risk of retinal vascular occlusion was observed among patients who had received fundoscopic examinations (HR: 1.06, 95% CI: 0.98-1.15) at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Our study underscored the importance of conducting complete baseline fundoscopic examinations before cataract surgery to clarify whether postoperative conditions are due to patients' underlying diseases or unintended complications of cataract surgery.

The Oral Administration of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis 557 (LDL557) Ameliorates the Progression of Monosodium Iodoacetate-Induced Osteoarthritis.

Low-grade body inflammation is a major cause of osteoarthritis (OA), a common joint disease. Gut dysbiosis may lead to systemic inflammation which can be prevented by probiotic administration. The Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis 557 (LDL557) has been demonstrated to have beneficial effects for anti-inflammation. This study investigated the effects of LDL557 on OA progress using monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced OA of rats. Live or heat-killed (HK)-LDL557 of a low or high dose was administrated for two weeks before MIA-induced OA, and then continuously administrated for another six weeks. After taking supplements for eight weeks, OA progress was analyzed. Results showed that MIA induced knee joint swelling, chondrocyte damage, and cartilage degradation, and supplementation with a high dose of LDL557 reduced MIA-induced knee joint swelling, chondrocyte damage, and cartilage degradation. Additionally, MIA increased serum levels of the matrix-degrading enzyme MMP-13, while a high dose of HK-LDL557 decreased it for the controls. Simultaneously, bone turnover markers and inflammatory cytokines of serum were assayed, but no significant differences were found except for a TNF-α decrease from a low dose of live LDL557. These results demonstrated that supplementation with high doses of live LDL557 or HK-LDL557 can reduce the progression of MIA-induced OA in rats.

Comparative Efficacy and Acceptability of Endoscopic Methods for Rectal Neuroendocrine Neoplasms with Low Malignant Potential: A Network Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS:  Although endoscopic resection is an effective treatment of rectal neuroendocrine neoplasms (R-NENs) with low malignant potential, there is no consensus on the most recommended endoscopic method. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and acceptability of different endoscopic treatments for R-NENs with low malignant potential. MATERIALS AND METHODS:  We searched databases for studies on treatments of R-NENs using endoscopic resection. These studies comprised techniques such as endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), modified endoscopic mucosal resection (EMRM), modified endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESDM), and transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM). The primary outcomes assessed were histological complete resection (HCR). RESULTS:  Overall, 38 retrospective studies (3040 R-NENs) were identified. Endoscopic mucosal resection with a cap (EMRC), endoscopic mucosal resection with ligation (EMRL), ESD, ESDM, and TEM demonstrated higher resectability than did EMR in achieving HCR. Endoscopic mucosal resection, EMRC, EMRL, EMRP, EMRD, and EMRU required shorter operation times than did ESD. Endoscopic mucosal resection, EMRC, ESDM, and TEM incurred lower risks than did ESD. CONCLUSION:  Regarding R-NENs <20 mm with low malignant potential, ESD could be used as the primary treatment. However, TEM may be more effective if supported by economic conditions and hospital facility. With respect to R-NENs <16 mm with low malignant potential, EMRL could be used as the primary treatment. In regard to R-NENs <10 mm with low malignant potential, EMRL, EMRC, and ESD could be used as the primary treatment. However, EMRL and EMRC might be better when operational difficulties and economic conditions were considered.

Wide-ranging genetic variation in sensitivity to rapamycin in Drosophila melanogaster.

The progress made in aging research using laboratory organisms is undeniable. Yet, with few exceptions, these studies are conducted in a limited number of isogenic strains. The path from laboratory discoveries to treatment in human populations is complicated by the reality of genetic variation in nature. To model the effect of genetic variation on the action of the drug rapamycin, here we use the growth of Drosophila melanogaster larvae. We screened 140 lines from the Drosophila Genetic References Panel for the extent of developmental delay and found wide-ranging variation in their response, from lines whose development time is nearly doubled by rapamycin, to those that appear to be completely resistant. Sensitivity did not associate with any single genetic marker, nor with any gene. However, variation at the level of genetic pathways was associated with rapamycin sensitivity and might provide insight into sensitivity. In contrast to the genetic analysis, metabolomic analysis showed a strong response of the metabolome to rapamycin, but only among the sensitive larvae. In particular, we found that rapamycin altered levels of amino acids in sensitive larvae, and in a direction strikingly similar to the metabolome response to nutrient deprivation. This work demonstrates the need to evaluate interventions across genetic backgrounds and highlights the potential of omic approaches to reveal biomarkers of drug efficacy and to shed light on mechanisms underlying sensitivity to interventions aimed at increasing lifespan.

Identification of diagnostic biomarkers of rheumatoid arthritis based on machine learning-assisted comprehensive bioinformatics and its correlation with immune cells.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammatory cell infiltration, which can lead to chronic disability, joint destruction and loss of function. At present, the pathogenesis of RA is still unclear. The purpose of this study is to explore the potential biomarkers and immune molecular mechanisms of rheumatoid arthritis through machine learning-assisted bioinformatics analysis, in order to provide reference for the early diagnosis and treatment of RA disease. Methods: RA gene chips were screened from the public gene GEO database, and batch correction of different groups of RA gene chips was performed using Strawberry Perl. DEGs were obtained using the limma package of R software, and functional enrichment analysis such as gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), disease ontology (DO), and gene set (GSEA) were performed. Three machine learning methods, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression (LASSO), support vector machine recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE) and random forest tree (Random Forest), were used to identify potential biomarkers of RA. The validation group data set was used to verify and further confirm its expression and diagnostic value. In addition, CIBERSORT algorithm was used to evaluate the infiltration of immune cells in RA and control samples, and the correlation between confirmed RA diagnostic biomarkers and immune cells was analyzed. Results: Through feature screening, 79 key DEGs were obtained, mainly involving virus response, Parkinson's pathway, dermatitis and cell junction components. A total of 29 hub genes were screened by LASSO regression, 34 hub genes were screened by SVM-RFE, and 39 hub genes were screened by Random Forest. Combined with the three algorithms, a total of 12 hub genes were obtained. Through the expression and diagnostic value verification in the validation group data set, 7 genes that can be used as diagnostic biomarkers for RA were preliminarily confirmed. At the same time, the correlation analysis of immune cells found that γδT cells, CD4+ memory activated T cells, activated dendritic cells and other immune cells were positively correlated with multiple RA diagnostic biomarkers, CD4+ naive T cells, regulatory T cells and other immune cells were negatively correlated with multiple RA diagnostic biomarkers. Conclusions: The results of novel characteristic gene analysis of RA showed that KYNU, EVI2A, CD52, C1QB, BATF, AIM2 and NDC80 had good diagnostic and clinical value for the diagnosis of RA, and were closely related to immune cells. Therefore, these seven DEGs may become new diagnostic markers and immunotherapy markers for RA.

Engineering Bacteria and Their Derivatives for Cancer Immunotherapy.

Leveraging bacteria for cancer immunotherapy has gradually attracted wide attention since the discovery of "Cloey's toxin." However, one of the persistent challenges for bacteria-based therapy is striking a balance between safety and immunogenicity. Genetically engineered bacteria with virulence factors removed could further enhance antitumor ability by integrating genetic elements. In addition, bacterial derivatives, including outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) produced by bacterial secretion and nanovesicles synthesized by modification of OMVs, could enhance antitumor immunity while improving safety. This perspective discusses the unique advantages of engineered bacteria and their derivatives for immunotherapy, as well as the challenges that need to be overcome to achieve clinical translation.

Gene regulatory network inference with covariance dynamics.

Determining gene regulatory network (GRN) structure is a central problem in biology, with a variety of inference methods available for different types of data. For a widely prevalent and challenging use case, namely single-cell gene expression data measured after intervention at multiple time points with unknown joint distributions, there is only one known specifically developed method, which does not fully utilize the rich information contained in this data type. We develop an inference method for the GRN in this case, netWork infErence by covariaNce DYnamics, dubbed WENDY. The core idea of WENDY is to model the dynamics of the covariance matrix, and solve this dynamics as an optimization problem to determine the regulatory relationships. To evaluate its effectiveness, we compare WENDY with other inference methods using synthetic data and experimental data. Our results demonstrate that WENDY performs well across different data sets.

UV light exposure vs. vitamin D supplementation: a comparison of health benefits and vitamin D metabolism in a pig model.

There is limited data on the effect of UV light exposure versus orally ingested vitamin D3 on vitamin D metabolism and health. A 4-week study with 16 pigs (as a model for human physiology) was conducted. The pigs were either supplemented with 20 µg/d vitamin D3 or exposed to UV light for 19 min/d to standardise plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels. Important differences were higher levels of stored vitamin D3 in skin and subcutaneous fat, higher plasma concentrations of 3-epi-25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and increases of cutaneous lumisterol3 in UV-exposed pigs compared to supplemented pigs. UV light exposure compared to vitamin D3 supplementation resulted in lower hepatic cholesterol, higher circulating plasma nitrite, a marker of the blood pressure-lowering nitric oxide, and a reduction in the release of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines from stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. However, plasma metabolome and stool microbiome analyses did not reveal any differences between the two groups. To conclude, the current data show important health relevant differences between oral vitamin D3 supplementation and UV light exposure. The findings may also partly explain the different vitamin D effects on health parameters obtained from association and intervention studies.