Comparative analyses of plastomes in Allaeanthus and Malaisia: structure, evolution, and phylogeny.

The small genera Allaeanthus and Malaisia within the Moraceae have important edible, medicinal, and economic value. However, complete plastome blueprints and a well-resolved evolutionary history of these two genera are still lack, thereby limiting their conservation and application. The recent discovery of a new distribution of Allaeanthus kurzii in Hainan, China, marked by the collection of two unique samples, alongside three samples of Malaisia scandens, has opened new avenues for research. This study aimed to compare the Allaeanthus and Malaisia plastomes of Hainan Province samples with those of samples from other regions, focusing on plastome structure, codon usage bias, natural selection, and the evolutionary history of A. kurzii and M. scandens. The results showed that both species had a quadripartite plastome structure, with sizes ranging from 162,134 to 162,170 bp for A. kurzii and 161,235 to 162,134 bp for M. scandens. Both species displayed loss of the infA gene and reduction of the rpl22 gene. Two highly variable regions (petD-trnD-GUC and rpl20-clpP) and three highly variable genes (rpl20, petB, and rpl16) were identified in A. kurzii, while two highly variable regions (ycf2-ndhB and ccsA-ndhE) and three highly variable genes (psbT, rpl36, and ycf2) were found in M. scandens. The protein-coding sequences (CDSs) of the Allaeanthus and Malaisia plastomes exhibited similar patterns of adaptive indices and codon usage frequencies. The genes associated with photosynthesis underwent strong purifying selection. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Allaeanthus, Broussonetia, and Malaisia constituted a monophyletic group, with Malaisia being more closely related to Broussonetia. Broussonetia diversified approximately 19.78 million years ago, Malaisia approximately 4.74 million years ago, and Allaeanthus approximately 16.18 million years ago. These new plastome-based discoveries will guide conservation planners and medicinal plant breeders and genetic resource development for these species in the region.

Impact of Type of Lenvatinib Resistance on Prognosis and Second-Line Regimen in Patients with Virus-Associated HCC.

Background: Lenvatinib is the first-line treatment option for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, the impact of lenvatinib resistance on patient prognosis is unknown. Methods: We recruited all patients with advanced HCC who received first-line lenvatinib treatment between February 2019 and February 2023 at two medical centers in China, according to the selection criteria. The patients were divided into primary and secondary resistance groups based on tumor progression within 3 months. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models were used to explore factors influencing drug resistance and prognosis. The study end points were drug resistance, PFS, and OS. Results: A total of 531 patients met the study criteria, with 169 (31.8%) and 362 (68.2%) patients in the primary and secondary groups, respectively. An alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) concentration > 400 ng/mL was an independent risk factor for primary drug resistance. Patients in the primary group had a significantly shorter median OS (11.0 vs 31.0 months, P<0.001) than those in the secondary group. The 1-, 2- and 3-year cumulative survival rates in the primary group were 46.3%, 22.2%, and 10.1%, while those in the secondary group were 82.3%, 59.1% and 44.9%, respectively. Compared to tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) monotherapy, longer median PFS (4.0 vs 7.0 months, P=0.008) and OS (11.0 vs 23.0 months, P=0.024) were achieved with the combination of a TKI plus a PD-1 inhibitor as a second-line therapy after lenvatinib resistance. Conclusion: There is a high rate of primary resistance to lenvatinib in patients with HCC and the prognosis for those with primary resistance is poor. TKI combined with PD-1 inhibitors should be preferentially recommended for lenvatinib-resistant patients.

Case report: Innovative treatment for one metastatic thyroid-like follicular carcinoma of the kidney with ATM and POLE mutations.

Thyroid-like follicular renal cell carcinoma (TLFRCC), also known as thyroid-like follicular carcinoma of the kidney or thyroid follicular carcinoma like renal tumor, is an exceedingly rare variant of renal cell carcinoma that has only recently been acknowledged. This neoplasm exhibits a distinct follicular morphology resembling that of the thyroid gland. Immunohistochemical analysis reveals positive expression of PAX8, Vimentin, and EMA, while thyroid-specific markers TG and TTF1 are consistently absent. Furthermore, there is a notable absence of any concurrent thyroid pathology on clinical evaluation. Previous reports have suggested that TLFRCC is an indolent, slow-growing malignancy with infrequent metastatic potential. In this report, we present a case of TLFRCC characterized by remarkable ossification and widespread metastasis, including multifocal pulmonary lesions, involvement of the abdominal wall, and infiltration into the psoas muscle. To our knowledge, this represents only the third documented instance of distant metastasis in thyroid follicular renal carcinoma. The current case demonstrates a therapeutic approach that combines radiotherapy with the utilization of toripalimab, a programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) receptor inhibitor, and pazopanib. This treatment regimen was tailored based on comprehensive genomic profiling, which identified mutations in the POLE (catalytic subunit of DNA polymerase epsilon) and ATM (ataxia-telangiectasia mutated) genes, both of which have been implicated in the pathogenesis of various malignant tumors. These findings represent a novel discovery, as such mutations have never been reported in association with TLFRCC. Thus far, this therapeutic approach has proven to be the most efficacious option for treating metastatic TLFRCC among previously reported, and it also marks the first mention of the potential benefits of radiotherapy in managing this particular subtype of renal cell carcinoma.

Toxin genotypes, antibiotic resistance and their correlations in Clostridioides difficile isolated from hospitals in Xi'an, China.

BACKGROUND: Clostridioides difficile is the main pathogen of antimicrobial-associated diarrhoea and health care facility-associated infectious diarrhoea. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, toxin genotypes, and antibiotic resistance of C. difficile among hospitalized patients in Xi'an, China. RESULTS: We isolated and cultured 156 strains of C. difficile, representing 12.67% of the 1231 inpatient stool samples collected. Among the isolates, tcdA + B + strains were predominant, accounting for 78.2% (122/156), followed by 27 tcdA-B + strains (27/156, 17.3%) and 6 binary toxin gene-positive strains. The positive rates of three regulatory genes, tcdC, tcdR, and tcdE, were 89.1% (139/156), 96.8% (151/156), and 100%, respectively. All isolates were sensitive to metronidazole, and the resistance rates to clindamycin and cephalosporins were also high. Six strains were found to be resistant to vancomycin. CONCLUSION: Currently, the prevalence rate of C. difficile infection (CDI) in Xi'an is 12.67% (156/1231), with the major toxin genotype of the isolates being tcdA + tcdB + cdtA-/B-. Metronidazole and vancomycin were still effective drugs for the treatment of CDI, but we should pay attention to antibiotic management and epidemiological surveillance of CDI.

Novel STAT3 oligonucleotide compounds suppress tumor growth and overcome the acquired resistance to sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) plays an important role in the occurrence and progression of tumors, leading to resistance and poor prognosis. Activation of STAT3 signaling is frequently detected in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but potent and less toxic STAT3 inhibitors have not been discovered. Here, based on antisense technology, we designed a series of stabilized modified antisense oligonucleotides targeting STAT3 mRNA (STAT3 ASOs). Treatment with STAT3 ASOs decreased the STAT3 mRNA and protein levels in HCC cells. STAT3 ASOs significantly inhibited the proliferation, survival, migration, and invasion of cancer cells by specifically perturbing STAT3 signaling. Treatment with STAT3 ASOs decreased the tumor burden in an HCC xenograft model. Moreover, aberrant STAT3 signaling activation is one of multiple signaling pathways involved in sorafenib resistance in HCC. STAT3 ASOs effectively sensitized resistant HCC cell lines to sorafenib in vitro and improved the inhibitory potency of sorafenib in a resistant HCC xenograft model. The developed STAT3 ASOs enrich the tools capable of targeting STAT3 and modulating STAT3 activity, serve as a promising strategy for treating HCC and other STAT3-addicted tumors, and alleviate the acquired resistance to sorafenib in HCC patients. A series of novel STAT3 antisense oligonucleotide were designed and showed potent anti-cancer efficacy in hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro and in vivo by targeting STAT3 signaling. Moreover, the selected STAT3 ASOs enhance sorafenib sensitivity in resistant cell model and xenograft model.

Taurohyocholic acid acts as a potential predictor of the efficacy of tyrosine kinase inhibitors combined with programmed cell death-1 inhibitors in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background and aims: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) combined with programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) have significantly improved survival in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC), but effective biomarkers to predict treatment efficacy are lacking. Peripheral blood bile acids (BAs) are associated with tumor response to therapy, but their roles in HCC remain unclear. Methods: This retrospective study included HCC patients who received first-line TKIs combined with PD-1 inhibitors treatment (combination therapy) in our clinical center from November 2020 to June 2022. The aim of this study was to analyze the changes in plasma BA profiles before and after treatment in both the responding group (Res group) and the non-responding group (Non-Res group). We aimed to explore the potential role of BAs in predicting the response to combination therapy in HCC patients. Results: Fifty-six patients with HCC who underwent combination therapy were included in this study, with 28 designated as responders (Res group) and 28 as non-responders (Non-Res group). There were differences in plasma BA concentrations between the two groups before systemic therapy. Plasma taurohyocholic acid (THCA) levels in the Res group were significantly lower than those in the Non-Res group. Patients with low levels of THCA exhibited superior median progression-free survival (7.6 vs. 4.9 months, p = 0.027) and median overall survival (23.7 vs. 11.6 months, p = 0.006) compared to those of patients with high levels of THCA. Conclusion: Peripheral blood BA metabolism is significantly correlated with combination therapy response and survival in patients with HCC. Our findings emphasize the potential of plasma BAs as biomarkers for predicting combination therapy outcomes and offering novel therapeutic targets for modulating responses to systemic cancer therapy.

Quantitative Analysis of the Instant and Persistent Inhibition Effects of Maternal Poliovirus Antibodies on the Immune Response in a Phase IV Trial of a Sabin Strain-Based Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine.

BACKGROUND: An inactivated poliomyelitis vaccine made from Sabin strains (sIPVs) has widely been used in China since 2015. However, the quantitative data on the instant and persistent inhibition effects of maternal poliovirus antibodies on the immune response to sIPV priming and booster vaccination have not been available yet. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aim to explore and quantify the instant and persistent inhibition effect of maternal poliovirus antibodies on the immune response elicited by sIPV primary and booster vaccination. METHODS: The immunogenicity data consisting of the days 0 and 30 after the prime and booster vaccination of the sIPV in a phase IV trial were pooled for a quantitative analysis of the inhibition effect of maternal poliovirus antibody. The geometric mean ratio (GMR) was calculated using linear regression models, representing that every 2-fold higher maternal poliovirus antibody titer may result in a (1-GMR) lower postimmunization antibody titer. RESULTS: The GMRs for poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3 were 0.79 (0.77-0.82), 0.85 (0.81-0.89), and 0.87 (0.83-0.91) at 30 days after the priming series, 0.86 (0.83-0.89), 0.81 (0.76-0.85), and 0.86 (0.80-0.93) at one year after the priming series, and 0.96 (0.94-0.99), 0.89 (0.86-0.93), and 0.98 (0.93-1.03) at 30 days after the booster dose. The inhibition effect continued to exist until the booster dose 1 year later, and such a persistent inhibition effect was almost attenuated for poliovirus types 1 and 3, and partly reduced for type 2 at 30 days after the booster dose. CONCLUSION: A wider interval between the four sIPV doses might be a consideration for reducing the effect of maternal antibodies and subsequently eliciting and maintaining higher antibody levels to protect against poliovirus transmission and infection at the final stage of polio eradication in the global world. This study's clinical trial registry number is NCT04224519.

The role of type VI secretion system genes in antibiotic resistance and virulence in Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolates.

Introduction: The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a crucial virulence factor in the nosocomial pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii. However, its association with drug resistance is less well known. Notably, the roles that different T6SS components play in the process of antimicrobial resistance, as well as in virulence, have not been systematically revealed. Methods: The importance of three representative T6SS core genes involved in the drug resistance and virulence of A. baumannii, namely, tssB, tssD (hcp), and tssM was elucidated. Results: A higher ratio of the three core genes was detected in drug-resistant strains than in susceptible strains among our 114 A. baumannii clinical isolates. Upon deletion of tssB in AB795639, increased antimicrobial resistance to cefuroxime and ceftriaxone was observed, alongside reduced resistance to gentamicin. The ΔtssD mutant showed decreased resistance to ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, tetracycline, and doxycycline, but increased resistance to tobramycin and streptomycin. The tssM-lacking mutant showed an increased sensitivity to ofloxacin, polymyxin B, and furazolidone. In addition, a significant reduction in biofilm formation was observed only with the ΔtssM mutant. Moreover, the ΔtssM strain, followed by the ΔtssD mutant, showed decreased survival in human serum, with attenuated competition with Escherichia coli and impaired lethality in Galleria mellonella. Discussion: The above results suggest that T6SS plays an important role, participating in the antibiotic resistance of A. baumannii, especially in terms of intrinsic resistance. Meanwhile, tssM and tssD contribute to bacterial virulence to a greater degree, with tssM being associated with greater importance.

Immunogenicity and lot-to-lot consistency of booster shot with Sabin inactivated poliomyelitis vaccine in Chinese children aged 18-24 Months: A phase â £ clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: There has been no data on the immunogenicity and safety of the 4th booster dose of the sIPV immunization in 18-24 months old children in post-marketing studies of large cohort providing with robust results. METHOD: In a phase Ⅳ randomized, double-blinded clinical trial, 1200 participants aged 2 months were immunized with three consecutive doses of sIPV at 2, 3, and 4 months old to complete primary immunization. Out of the 1200 participants, 1129 received the 4th dose of sIPV as booster immunization. Immunogenicity was evaluated in 1100 participants. RESULTS: Seropositive rates of the anti-poliovirus type 1, 2, and 3 neutralizing antibodies were 99.9 %, 98.0 %, 98.2 %, respectively, with GMTs of 557.0, 146.1, 362.0 one year after primary vaccination. After booster vaccination between 18 and 24 months old, the seropositive rates for 3 types all reached 100.0 %, with GMTs of 8343.6, 5039.6, 5492.0, respectively. Particularly for the anti-poliovirus type 2 antibody, the GMT was 230.4 after primary immunization, maintained to 146.1 one year after primary immunization, and increased to as high as 5039.6 after booster vaccination. The GMT ratios between each batch groups after booster immunization were between 0.67 and 1.50, meeting the immunological equivalence criteria. The incidence rate of adverse reaction was 23.0 %, which was comparable to those in the phase Ⅲ trial but had a lower incidence. Furthermore, no SUSAR was reported in this study. INTERPRETATION: In conclusion, as the anti-poliovirus antibodies gradually waned one year post sIPV primary vaccination, especially the type 2 antibody waned to a very low level, suggesting the importance of the booster immunization for children at the age of 18-24 months old. The booster shot can greatly enhance the antibody level and protect children from the potential risk of infection with WPV and VDPV by supplementing the anti-poliovirus type 2 immunity gap in the current real world. Clinic Trial Registration. NCT04224519.

N-acetylneuraminic acid modulates SQSTM1/p62 sialyation-mediated ubiquitination degradation contributing to vascular endothelium dysfunction in experimental atherosclerosis mice.

Sialic acid (SIA) has been reported to be a risk factor for atherosclerosis (AS) due to its high plasma levels in such patients. However, the effect of increasing SIA in circulation on endothelial function during AS progression remains unclear. In the present study, ApoE-/- mice and endothelial cells line (HUVEC cells) were applied to investigate the effect of SIA on AS progression and its potential molecular mechanism. In vivo, mice were injected intraperitoneally with Neu5Ac (main form of SIA) to keep high-level SIA in circulation. ORO, H&E, and Masson staining were applied to detect the plaque progression. In vitro, HUVECs were treated with Neu5Ac at different times, CCK-8, RT-PCR, western blot, and immunoprecipitation methods were used to analyze its effects on endothelial function and the potential involved mechanism. Results from the present study showed that high plasma levels of Neu5Ac in ApoE-/- mice could aggravate the plaque areas as well as increase necrotic core areas and collagen fiber contents. Remarkably, Neu5Ac levels in circulation displayed a positive correlation with AS plaque areas. Furthermore, results from HUVECs showed that Neu5Ac inhibited cells viability in a time/dose-dependent manner, by then induced the activation of inflammation makers such as ICAM-1 and IL-1ß. Mechanism study showed that the activation of excessive autophagy medicated by SQSTM1/p62 displayed an important role in endothelium inflammatory injury. Neu5Ac could modify SQSTM1/p62 as a sialylation protein, and then increase its level with ubiquitin binding, further inducing ubiquitination degradation and being involved in the excessive autophagy pathway. Inhibition of sialylation by P-3Fax-Neu5Ac, a sialyltransferase inhibitor, reduced the binding of SQSTM1/p62 to ubiquitin. Together, these findings indicated that Neu5Ac increased SQSTM1/p62-ubiquitin binding through sialylation modification, thereby inducing excessive autophagy and subsequent endothelial injury. Inhibition of SQSTM1/p62 sialylation might be a potential strategy for preventing such disease with high levels of Neu5Ac in circulation.

Trends and hotspots in research of traumatic brain injury from 2000 to 2022: A bibliometric study.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major health concern globally, which is characterized by high morbidity and mortality rates. Since the 21st century, TBI has received increasing attention and the number of publications is growing rapidly. This study aimed to characterize the volume and quality of scholarly output on TBI and identify the most impactful literature, research trends, and hotspots from the year 2000-2022. We searched publications on TBI through the Web of Science Core Collection-Science Citation Index Expanded database which were published from 2000 to 2022. Basic information of each paper, including publication year, countries, authors, affiliations, journal, fundings, subject areas, and keywords were collected for further analysis by using Microsoft Excel, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace software. A total of 47231 TBI-related publications were identified through database retrieval. The annual number of publications on TBI has increased steadily over the past twenty years and the number in the year 2022 is sevenfold higher than that in 2000. The United States of America (USA) was the leading country in both numbers of publications and citations, which is consistent with the finding that it had the most funding agencies. Menon DK was the author with the highest influence and the University of California System was the most productive affiliation. Moreover, keywords analysis suggested that the research topics can be mainly divided into six categories: management, rehabilitation, mechanisms, concussion, neuroimaging, and neuroendocrine. This study visualized the trends and focuses of scientific research related to TBI, both quantitatively and qualitatively. The USA had a relatively high academic impact owing to its productive experts and institutions in this field. Neuroinflammation, machine learning, tranexamic acid, and extracellular vesicles are currently hot topics in the field of TBI.

The value of CT-guided percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage in the treatment of high-risk acute cholecystitis / 实用放射学杂志

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of CT-guided percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage(PTGBD)in treatment of high-risk acute cholecystitis(AC)patients.Methods CT-guided PTGBD was performed in 29 patients with high-risk AC.The therapeutic results were evaluated by comparing the preoperation and postoperation clinical manifestations and laboratory results.Results The implantation of PTGBD catheter was successfully accomplished with single procedure in all patients.Complica-tions occurred in 2 cases,including abdominal pain in 1 case and a small amount of gallbladder bleeding in 1 case,and the incidence of complications was 6.9%.Compared with preoperation,the pain number rating scale(NRS)score,temperature(T),white blood cell count(WBC),C-reactive protein(CRP),total bilirubin(TBIL),alanine aminotransferase(ALT)and aspartate aminotransferase(AST)were significantly decreased 3 days after PTGBD(P<0.001).Except for 1 case of choledocholithiasis with continuous abdominal pain after PTGBD,the postoperation symptoms of the other patients were significantly relieved.Followed up for 3 months,2 cases of calculous AC recurred after PTGBD,and the recurrence rate of cholecystitis was 25.0%.Conclusion For high-risk AC,the CT-guided PTGBD is a safe and effective treatment method,and it can remarkably relieve the clinical symptoms.Patients with calculous AC have higher risk of recurrence and might benefit from definitive cholecystectomy.

Postoperative care of one case with multiple aortic valve surgery after implantation of a new no-suture of biological valve / 中国实用护理杂志

To summarize the perioperative nursing experience of a patient with the first multiple aortic valve operation in China implanted a new non-sutured biological heart valve. The main contents of nursing included through capacity management, prevention and control of bleeding and thrombocytopenia, arrhythmia monitoring and correction, infection prevention and control, analgesic sedation, prevention of related complications, whole-course psychological counseling and nutritional support. After careful treatment and nursing, the patient recovered well and was transferred out of ICU in 4 days and discharged in 10 days.

Effect of photon cervical vertebra massage instrument on improving neck pain and related functions in patients with chronic neck pain / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:Red light therapy has the non-invasive and cost-effective characteristics,and is widely used in various acute and chronic pains in clinic.However,currently,the phototherapy equipment used in clinic is expensive and has certain site limitations,so it is necessary to explore more convenient and economical phototherapy applications. OBJECTIVE:To observe the clinical efficacy of a self-developed photon cervical vertebra massage instrument for chronic neck pain. METHODS:From November 2022 to February 2023,24 patients with chronic neck pain were recruited from the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine,Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine,including 18 females and 6 males,with a mean age of(29.67±6.40)years.The body mass index was(21.39±3.52)kg/m2.Photon cervical vertebra massage instrument was used twice a day for 20 minutes each time for four weeks.The changes in visual analog scale score,pressure pain threshold,neck active activity,neck disability index,and Pittsburgh sleep quality index were observed before,after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Compared with before treatment,after four weeks of treatment,visual analog scale score,pressure pain threshold,neck disability index,and Pittsburgh sleep quality index were all improved(P<0.05),while some cervical motion(extension,left and right rotation)improved(P<0.05)after 4 weeks of treatment.(2)Bilateral visual analog scale scores,left trapezius muscle pressure pain threshold,C5C6 pressure pain threshold,and neck disability index improved after 2 weeks of treatment(P<0.05).(3)It is indicated that the application of photon cervical vertebra massage instrument can improve the pain score,muscle tenderness,sleep quality,functional level,and partial active activity of patients with chronic neck pain in a short period,and is a convenient,effective,and safe treatment method.

Neural Radiance Fields-Based 3D Reconstruction of Power Transmission Lines Using Progressive Motion Sequence Images.

To address the fuzzy reconstruction effect on distant objects in unbounded scenes and the difficulty in feature matching caused by the thin structure of power lines in images, this paper proposes a novel image-based method for the reconstruction of power transmission lines (PTLs). The dataset used in this paper comprises PTL progressive motion sequence datasets, constructed by a visual acquisition system carried by a developed Flying-walking Power Line Inspection Robot (FPLIR). This system captures close-distance and continuous images of power lines. The study introduces PL-NeRF, that is, an enhanced method based on the Neural Radiance Fields (NeRF) method for reconstructing PTLs. The highlights of PL-NeRF include (1) compressing the unbounded scene of PTLs by exploiting the spatial compression of normal L∞; (2) encoding the direction and position of the sample points through Integrated Position Encoding (IPE) and Hash Encoding (HE), respectively. Compared to existing methods, the proposed method demonstrates good performance in 3D reconstruction, with fidelity indicators of PSNR = 29, SSIM = 0.871, and LPIPS = 0.087. Experimental results highlight that the combination of PL-NeRF with progressive motion sequence images ensures the integrity and continuity of PTLs, improving the efficiency and accuracy of image-based reconstructions. In the future, this method could be widely applied for efficient and accurate 3D reconstruction and inspection of PTLs, providing a strong foundation for automated monitoring of transmission corridors and digital power engineering.

Four New Species of Strobilomyces (Boletaceae, Boletales) from Hainan Island, Tropical China.

Strobilomyces, one of the most noticeable genera of Boletaceae (Boletales), is both ecologically and economically important. Although many studies have focused on Strobilomyces in China, the diversity still remains incompletely understood. In the present study, several collections of Strobilomyces from Hainan Island, tropical China were studied based on morphology and molecular phylogenetic analyses. Four species are described as new, viz. S. baozhengii, S. conicus, S. hainanensis, and S. pachycystidiatus. Detailed descriptions, color photos of fresh basidiomata, and line drawings of microstructures of the four species are presented.

Trajectory analysis and optimization of sea buckthorn fruit vibration separation manipulator based on I-PSO algorithm.

In this paper, the optimal time planning of vibration separation trajectory of Hippophae rhamnoides fruit is studied for space manipulator using the I-PSO algorithm. The first step is to analyze the motion of the robotic arm's joints, which are limited in range and speed, in combination with a 3-5-3 polynomial interpolation, an improved Particle swarm optimization with adaptive inertia weight and asynchronous learning factor is proposed, and the specific process is given. Experimental images and data show that the improved particle swarm optimization algorithm can ensure the continuity of joint acceleration and velocity, and the optimal vibration trajectory time is 0.536539094 s Compared with the planned system trajectory time of 0.71022 s, the speed increased by 24.5%. The results of the orthogonal experiment show that the average fruit drop rate reaches 96.19%, which verifies the validity and reliability of the I-PSO algorithm for optimal time planning of seabuckthorn fruit separation vibration trajectory.

Self-engineered binary nanoassembly enabling closed-loop glutathione depletion-amplified tumor ferroptosis.

Ferroptosis has emerged as a promising target for anticancer treatment, comprising iron-dependent lipid peroxidation and excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species. Given that glutathione (GSH) overproduced in tumor cells antagonizes the cellular oxidation system, the reduction of GSH production has been extensively explored to induce ferroptosis. However, reducing GSH production alone is insufficient to trigger an intense lipid peroxidation storm. It is highly desirable to achieve systemic GSH depletion through simultaneous production and consumption intervention. Herein, we propose a bidirectional blockage strategy for closed-loop GSH depletion-amplified tumor ferroptosis. Sorafenib (Sor) and gambogic acid (GA) were elaborately fabricated as a self-engineered carrier-free nanoassembly without any nanocarrier materials. The PEGylated dual-drug nanoassembly enables favorable co-delivery and tumor-specific release of Sor and GA. Notably, a closed-loop GSH depletion is observed as a result of a Sor-induced decrease in GSH production and GA-accelerated GSH consumption in vitro and in vivo. As expected, this uniquely engineered dual-drug nanoassembly demonstrates vigorous antitumor activity in 4T1 breast tumor-bearing mice. This study presents a novel nanotherapeutic modality for ferroptosis-driven cancer treatment.

Axial Convex-Shaped Hematoma was Associated with Poor Curative Effect of Surgical Treatment for Traumatic Posterior Fossa Epidural Hematoma in Children.

BACKGROUND: Posterior fossa epidural hematoma (PFEDH) is rare which accounts for just 4-12.9% of all EDH cases. Since its frequently subtle and nonspecific clinical presentation, CT scan has great importance for early diagnosis and treatment of PFEDH. However, indications for surgery depending on the findings of CT image are still controversial. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 40 pediatric cases of PFEDH. Their baseline characteristic, clinical presentation, imaging findings and outcomes were collected and analyzed. The ellipsoid volume equation X × Y × Z/2 was used to measure the hematoma volume. The Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) was used to assess the neurologic functional outcome. RESULTS: A total of 40 pediatric PFEH patients were included with 8 patients having poor outcome and 32 patients having a relatively good prognosis. GCS score showed a significant difference between good and poor outcome groups (p < 0.001). Y value on CT image was significantly bigger in poor outcome group than good outcome group (p < 0.01). Similar results were got in X/Z value (p < 0.05) and Y/Z value (p < 0.01) which reflected the shape of hematoma. A predictive model with Y + X/Z showed the largest area under the ROC curve with a sensitivity of 75.0% and specificity of 93.7%. CONCLUSIONS: GCS score at admission was closely related to the prognosis of the pediatric patients with PFEDH. The morphometry of PFEDH has a crucial role in judging the prognosis. Axial convex-shaped hematoma was associated with poor curative effect of surgical treatment.