Transverse Spin Selectivity in Helical Nanofibers Prepared without Any Chiral Molecule.

In the last decade, chirality-induced spin selectivity (CISS) has undergone intensive study. However, there remain several critical issues, such as the microscopic mechanism of CISS, especially transverse CISS where electrons are injected perpendicular to the helix axis of chiral molecules, quantitative agreement between experiments and theory, and at which level the molecular handedness is key to the CISS. Here, we address these issues by performing a combined experimental and theoretical study on conducting polyaniline helical nanofibers which are synthesized in the absence of any chiral species. Large spin polarization is measured in both left- and right-handed nanofibers for electrons injected perpendicular to their helix axis, and it will be reversed by switching the nanofiber handedness. We first develop a theoretical model to study this transverse CISS and quantitatively explain the experiment. Our results reveal that our theory provides a unifying scheme to interpret a number of CISS experiments, quantitative agreement between experiments and numerical calculations can be achieved by weak spin-orbit coupling, and the supramolecular handedness is sufficient for spin selectivity without any chiral species.

Unveiling senescence-associated secretory phenotype in epidermal aging: insights from reversibly immortalized keratinocytes.

Aging of epidermal keratinocytes profoundly impacts skin health, contributing to changes in appearance, barrier function, and susceptibility to diseases. Despite its significance, the molecular mechanisms underlying epidermal aging remain elusive. In this study, a reversible immortalized cell line was established by expressing SV40T in keratinocytes using the Tet-Off lentiviral system. Inducing a senescent phenotype by terminating SV40T expression revealed a significant reduction in mitotic ability, as well as characteristics of cellular aging. RNA sequencing analysis revealed alterations in gene expression and signaling pathways including DNA repair dysfunction, notably senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP)-related genes, such as MMP1, SERPINB2 and VEGFA. Our study provides insights into the molecular mechanisms of epidermal aging, offering potential therapeutic targets and highlighting the role of SASP in the aging process.

Nickel-Mediated Divergent Trifluoromethylation of Chlorinated and Brominated Phenol Derivatives through Chemoselective Cleavage of Ar-O and Ar-Cl(Br) Bonds.

We report herein that nickel-mediated trifluoromethylation of chlorinated and brominated phenol derivatives ClArOTs and BrArOTf gave chloro(bromo)trifluoromethylarenes through the chemoselective cleavage of Ar-O bonds. Furthermore, under similar reaction conditions, the chemoselective trifluoromethylation of Ar-Cl and Ar-Br bonds of ClArOPiv and BrArOTs was achieved to give trifluoromethylated phenol derivatives.

Identification of ribosome biogenesis genes and subgroups in ischaemic stroke.

Background: Ischaemic stroke is a leading cause of death and severe disability worldwide. Given the importance of protein synthesis in the inflammatory response and neuronal repair and regeneration after stroke, and that proteins are acquired by ribosomal translation of mRNA, it has been theorised that ribosome biogenesis may have an impact on promoting and facilitating recovery after stroke. However, the relationship between stroke and ribosome biogenesis has not been investigated. Methods: In the present study, a ribosome biogenesis gene signature (RSG) was developed using Cox and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analysis. We classified ischaemic stroke patients into high-risk and low-risk groups using the obtained relevant genes, and further elucidated the immune infiltration of the disease using ssGSEA, which clarified the close relationship between ischaemic stroke and immune subgroups. The concentration of related proteins in the serum of stroke patients was determined by ELISA, and the patients were divided into groups to evaluate the effect of the ribosome biogenesis gene on patients. Through bioinformatics analysis, we identified potential IS-RSGs and explored future therapeutic targets, thereby facilitating the development of more effective therapeutic strategies and novel drugs against potential therapeutic targets in ischaemic stroke. Results: We obtained a set of 12 ribosome biogenesis-related genes (EXOSC5, MRPS11, MRPS7, RNASEL, RPF1, RPS28, C1QBP, GAR1, GRWD1, PELP1, UTP, ERI3), which play a key role in assessing the prognostic risk of ischaemic stroke. Importantly, risk grouping using ribosome biogenesis-related genes was also closely associated with important signaling pathways in stroke. ELISA detected the expression of C1QBP, RPS28 and RNASEL proteins in stroke patients, and the proportion of neutrophils was significantly increased in the high-risk group. Conclusions: The present study demonstrates the involvement of ribosomal biogenesis genes in the pathogenesis of ischaemic stroke, providing novel insights into the underlying pathogenic mechanisms and potential therapeutic strategies for ischaemic stroke.

Comparative Analysis of the Feasibility of Myocardial Blood Flow Index Versus CT-FFR in the Diagnosis of Suspected Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: Using fluid dynamic modeling, noninvasive fractional flow reserve (FFR) derived from coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) data provides better anatomic and functional information than CCTA, with a high diagnostic and discriminatory value for diagnosing hemodynamically significant lesions. Myocardial blood flow index (MBFI) based on CCTA is a physiological parameter that reflects myocardial ischemia. Thus, exploring the relationship between computed tomography derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) and MBFI could be clinically significant. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between CT-FFR and MBFI and to analyze the feasibility of MBFI differing from CT-FFR in diagnosing suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: Data from 61 patients (35 males, mean age: 59.2 ± 10.02 years) with suspected CAD were retrospectively analyzed, including the imaging data of CCTA, CT-FFR, and data of invasive coronary angiography performed within one week after hospitalization. CT-FFR and MBFI were calculated, and the correlation between MBFI or CT-FFR and invasive coronary angiography (ICA) was evaluated. Using ICA (value ≥ 0.70) as the gold standard and determining the optimal cutoff value via a diagnostic test, the diagnostic performance of MBFI or CT-FFR was evaluated. Results: MBFI and CT-FFR were negatively correlated with ICA (r = -0.3670 and -0.4922, p = 0.0036 and 0.0001, respectively). Using ICA (value of ≥ 0.70) the gold standard, the optimal cutoff value was 0.115 for MBFI, and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.833 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.716-0.916, Z = 5.357, p < 0.0001); using ICA (value of ≥ 0.70) the gold standard, the optimal cutoff value was 0.80 for CT-FFR, and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.759 (95% CI: 0.632-0.859, Z = 3.665, p = 0.0002). No significant difference was observed between the AUCs of CT-FFR and MBFI (Z = 0.786, p = 0.4316). Conclusions: MBFI based on CCTA can be used to evaluate myocardial ischemia similar to CT-FFR in suspected CAD; however, it should be noted that CT-FFR is a functional index based on the anatomical stenosis of the coronary artery, whereas MBFI is a physiological index reflecting myocardial mass remodeling.

Photoredox-Catalysis Fluorosulfonyldifluoromethylation of Unactivated Alkenes and (Hetero)arenes with ICF2SO2F.

The fluorosulfonyldifluoromethylation of unactivated alkenes and (hetero)arenes with iododifluoromethanesulfonyl fluoride (ICF2SO2F) under visible light photoredox catalysis was successfully developed. Key to the successful fluorosulfonyldifluoromethylation of aromatic compounds was the usage of AgOTf as an additive to promote the formation of the CF2SO2F radical. The protocol provided a straightforward way to introduce the interesting and useful CF2SO2F group on sp3 and sp2 carbons.

Accuracy of cell-free Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA testing in pleural effusion for diagnosing tuberculous pleurisy: a multicenter cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy (TP) presents a significant challenge due to the low bacterial load in pleural effusion (PE) samples. Cell-free Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA (cf-TB) in PE samples is considered an optimal biomarker for diagnosing TP. This study aimed to evaluate the applicability of cf-TB testing across diverse research sites with a relatively large sample size. METHODS: Patients suspected of TP and presenting with clinical symptoms and radiological evidence of PE were consecutively enrolled by treating physicians from 11 research sites across 6 provinces in China between April 2020 and August 2022. Following centrifugation, sediments obtained from PE were used for Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) and mycobacterial culture, while the supernatants were subjected to cf-TB testing. This study employed a composite reference standard to definite TP, which was characterized by any positive result for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) through either PE culture, PE Xpert, or pleural biopsy. RESULTS: A total of 1412 participants underwent screening, and 1344 (95.2%) were subsequently enrolled in this study. Data from 1241 (92.3%) participants were included, comprising 284 with definite TP, 677 with clinically diagnosed TP, and 280 without TP. The sensitivity of cf-TB testing in definite TP was 73.6% (95% CI 68.2-78.4), significantly higher than both Xpert (40.8%, 95% CI 35.3-46.7, P < 0.001) and mycobacterial culture (54.2%, 95% CI 48.4-59.9, P < 0.001). When clinically diagnosed TP was incorporated into the composite reference standard for sensitivity analysis, cf-TB testing showed a sensitivity of 46.8% (450/961, 95% CI 43.7-50.0), significantly higher than both Xpert (116/961, 12.1%, 95% CI 10.2-14.3, P < 0.001) and mycobacterial culture (154/961, 16.0%, 95% CI 13.8-18.5, P < 0.001). The specificities of cf-TB testing, Xpert, and mycobacterial culture were all 100.0%. CONCLUSIONS: The performance of cf-TB testing is significantly superior to that of Xpert and mycobacterial culture methods, indicating that it can be considered as the primary diagnostic approach for improving TP detection. Trial registration The trial was registered on Chictr.org.cn (ChiCTR2000031680, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=49316 ).

Regulating the electronic properties, quantum capacitance and photocatalytic activity of Sc2CO2 based on Y doping and strain.

The doping of transition metals can effectively modulate the electronic structures and enhance the photocatalytic activity of MXenes. The electronic and photocatalytic properties, as well as the quantum capacitance of Sc2CO2-Y under biaxial strain, were studied by density functional theory. Sc2CO2-Y is a direct semiconductor and keeps its semiconductor character under strain. Sc2CO2-Y under tensile strain has higher photocatalytic activity than under compressive strain. In particular, Sc2CO2-Y at 2% strain has the slowest recombination rate of electrons and holes because of the largest . Sc2CO2-Y under strain is a potential cathode material. Its large potential keeps the character of cathode materials for Sc2CO2-Y under strain. Sc2CO2-Y under tensile strain has better conductivity, especially under 5% strain, due to having the largest Re (ε0). Sc2CO2-Y under strain can perform the HER, but fails to perform the OER at pH = 0, and tensile strain increases the reduction capacity of Sc2CO2-Y. Under strains from -2% to 2%, Sc2CO2-Y can perform the OER in an alkaline environment. Sc2CO2-Y is a good CO2 photocatalyst in acidic environments; the increase of pH value weakens the N2 reducing capacity of Sc2CO2-Y under strain. Its work function, charge transfer and optical properties are also explored.

Nrf2 deficiency exacerbated pulmonary pyroptosis in maternal hypoxia-induced intrauterine growth restriction offspring mice.

Maternal prenatal hypoxia is an important contributor to intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), which impedes fetal lung maturation and leads to the development of chronic lung diseases. Although evidence suggests the involvement of pyroptosis in IUGR, the molecular mechanism of pyroptosis is still unclear. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) has been found to potentially interact with gasdermin D (GSDMD), the key protein responsible for pyroptosis, indicating its crucial role in inhibiting pyroptosis. Therefore, we hypothesized that Nrf2 deficiency is a key molecular responsible for lung pyroptosis in maternal hypoxia-induced IUGR offspring mice. Pregnant WT and Nrf2-/- mice were exposed to hypoxia (10.5 % O2) to mimic IUGR model. We assessed body weight, lung histopathology, pulmonary angiogenesis, oxidative stress levels, as well as mRNA and protein expressions related to inflammation in the 2-week-old offspring. Additionally, we conducted a dual-luciferase reporter assay to confirm the targeting relationship between Nrf2 and GSDMD. Our findings revealed that offspring with maternal hypoxia-induced IUGR exhibited reduced birth weight, catch-up growth delay, and pulmonary dysplasia. Furthermore, we observed impaired nuclear translocation of Nrf2 and increased GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis in these offspring with IUGR. Moreover, the dual-luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that Nrf2 could directly inhibit GSDMD transcription; deficiency of Nrf2 exacerbated pyroptosis and pulmonary dysplasia in offspring with maternal hypoxia-induced IUGR. Collectively, our findings suggest that Nrf2 deficiency induces GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis and pulmonary dysplasia in offspring with maternal hypoxia-induced IUGR; thus highlighting the potential therapeutic approach of targeting Nrf2 for treating prenatal hypoxia-induced pulmonary dysplasia in offspring.

Detection, distribution, and functions of RNA N 6-methyladenosine (m6A) in plant development and environmental signal responses.

The epitranscriptomic mark N 6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most common type of messenger RNA (mRNA) post-transcriptional modification in eukaryotes. With the discovery of the demethylase FTO (FAT MASS AND OBESITY-ASSOCIATED PROTEIN) in Homo Sapiens, this modification has been proven to be dynamically reversible. With technological advances, research on m6A modification in plants also rapidly developed. m6A modification is widely distributed in plants, which is usually enriched near the stop codons and 3'-UTRs, and has conserved modification sequences. The related proteins of m6A modification mainly consist of three components: methyltransferases (writers), demethylases (erasers), and reading proteins (readers). m6A modification mainly regulates the growth and development of plants by modulating the RNA metabolic processes and playing an important role in their responses to environmental signals. In this review, we briefly outline the development of m6A modification detection techniques; comparatively analyze the distribution characteristics of m6A in plants; summarize the methyltransferases, demethylases, and binding proteins related to m6A; elaborate on how m6A modification functions in plant growth, development, and response to environmental signals; and provide a summary and outlook on the research of m6A in plants.

MiR-196a-5p hinders vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and vascular remodeling via repressing BACH1 expression.

Hyperproliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is a driver of hypertensive vascular remodeling. This study aimed to uncover the mechanism of BTB and CNC homology 1 (BACH1) and microRNAs (miRNAs) in VSMC growth and hypertensive vascular remodeling. With the help of TargetScan, miRWalk, miRDB, and miRTarBase online database, we identified that BACH1 might be targeted by miR-196a-5p, and overexpressed in VSMCs and aortic tissues from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Gain- and loss-of-function experiments demonstrated that miR-196a-5p suppressed VSMC proliferation, oxidative stress and hypertensive vascular remodeling. Double luciferase reporter gene assay and functional verification showed that miR-196a-5p cracked down the transcription and translation of BACH1 in both Wistar Kyoto rats (WKYs) and SHRs. Silencing BACH1 mimicked the actions of miR-196a-5p overexpression on attenuating the proliferation and oxidative damage of VSMCs derived from SHRs. Importantly, miR-196a-5p overexpression and BACH1 knockdown cooperatively inhibited VSMC proliferation and oxidative stress in SHRs. Furthermore, miR-196a-5p, if knocked down in SHRs, aggravated hypertension, upregulated BACH1 and promoted VSMC proliferation, all contributing to vascular remodeling. Taken together, targeting miR-196a-5p to downregulate BACH1 may be a promising strategy for retarding VSMC proliferation and hypertensive vascular remodeling.

Synthesis of Hexafluoroisopropyl Aryl Ethers via Dual Photoredox/Nickel-Catalyzed C-O Coupling.

Herein we report a photoredox/nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling of aryl bromides with 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropanol for the construction of hexafluoroisopropyl aryl ethers. The mild reaction conditions employed allow for the applicability of a wide range of aryl and heteroaryl bromides. Late-stage functionalization and preliminary mechanistic studies have been demonstrated.

The inhibitory activity of Flos Sophorae Immaturus extract and its major flavonoid components on pancreatic lipase.

Inhibition of pancreatic lipase (PL) is a strategy to prevent obesity. The inhibitory effects of Flos Sophorae Immaturus (FSI) extract and its main flavonoid components, rutin and quercetin, on PL were investigated. The contents of rutin and quercetin in FSI extract were 44.10 ± 1.33 % and 6.07 ± 1.62 %, respectively. The IC50 values of FSI extract, rutin and quercetin on PL were 322, 258 and 71 µg/mL, respectively. Rutin and quercetin inhibited PL in a reversible and noncompetitive manner. The combination of rutin and quercetin exhibited synergistic inhibitory effects at low concentration. The binding of rutin/quercetin with PL caused the fluorescence quenching of protein. Fluorescence titration showed the binding affinity of quercetin with PL protein was stronger than that of rutin. Circular dichroism analysis showed the binding changed the secondary structure of PL with an increase in random coil and a decrease in α-Helix and ß-Sheet. Molecular docking revealed that rutin and quercetin could interact with the amino acid residues around the catalytic site through multiple secondary interactions. In vivo studies showed that FSI extract can reduce fat absorption and promote fecal fat excretion through inhibition of PL activity, and the effects were mainly due to rutin and quercetin.

Rules for dissipationless topotronics.

Topological systems hosting gapless boundary states have attracted huge attention as promising components for next-generation information processing, attributed to their capacity for dissipationless electronics. Nevertheless, recent theoretical and experimental inquiries have revealed the emergence of energy dissipation in precisely quantized electrical transport. Here, we present a criterion for the realization of truly no-dissipation design, characterized as Nin = Ntunl + Nbs, where Nin, Ntunl, and Nbs represent the number of modes participating in injecting, tunneling, and backscattering processes, respectively. The key lies in matching the number of injecting, tunneling, and backscattering modes, ensuring the equilibrium among all engaged modes inside the device. Among all the topological materials, we advocate for the indispensability of Chern insulators exhibiting higher Chern numbers to achieve functional devices and uphold the no-dissipation rule simultaneously. Furthermore, we design the topological current divider and collector, evading dissipation upon fulfilling the established criterion. Our work paves the path for developing the prospective topotronics.

Universal Spin Superconducting Diode Effect from Spin-Orbit Coupling.

We propose a universal spin superconducting diode effect (SDE) induced by spin-orbit coupling (SOC) in systems with spin-triplet correlations, where the critical spin supercurrents in opposite directions are unequal. By analysis from both the Ginzburg-Landau theory and energy band analysis, we show that the spin-↑↑ and spin-↓↓ Cooper pairs possess opposite phase gradients and opposite momenta from the SOC, which leads to the spin SDE. Two superconductors with SOC, a p-wave superconductor as a toy model and a practical superconducting nanowire, are numerically studied and they both exhibit spin SDE. In addition, our theory also provides a unified picture for both spin and charge SDEs.

Integration of food raw materials, food microbiology, and food additives: systematic research and comprehensive insights into sweet sorghum juice, Clostridium tyrobutyricum TGL-A236 and bio-butyric acid.

Introduction: Sweet sorghum juice is a typical production feedstock for natural, eco-friendly sweeteners and beverages. Clostridium tyrobutyricum is one of the widely used microorganisms in the food industry, and its principal product, bio-butyric acid is an important food additive. There are no published reports of Clostridium tyrobutyricum producing butyric acid using SSJ as the sole substrate without adding exogenous substances, which could reach a food-additive grade. This study focuses on tailoring a cost-effective, safe, and sustainable process and strategy for their production and application. Methods: This study modeled the enzymolysis of non-reducing sugars via the first/second-order kinetics and added food-grade diatomite to the hydrolysate. Qualitative and quantitative analysis were performed using high-performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometer, full-scale laser diffraction method, ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, the cell double-staining assay, transmission electron microscopy, and Oxford nanopore technology sequencing. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, pathway and process enrichment analysis, and homology modeling were conducted for mutant genes. Results: The treated sweet sorghum juice showed promising results, containing 70.60 g/L glucose and 63.09 g/L fructose, with a sucrose hydrolysis rate of 98.29% and a minimal sucrose loss rate of 0.87%. Furthermore, 99.62% of the colloidal particles and 82.13% of the starch particles were removed, and the concentrations of hazardous substances were effectively reduced. A food microorganism Clostridium tyrobutyricum TGL-A236 with deep utilization value was developed, which showed superior performance by converting 30.65% glucose and 37.22% fructose to 24.1364 g/L bio-butyric acid in a treated sweet sorghum juice (1:1 dilution) fermentation broth. This titer was 2.12 times higher than that of the original strain, with a butyric acid selectivity of 86.36%. Finally, the Genome atlas view, Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and evolutionary genealogy of genes: Non-supervised Orthologous (eggNOG) functional annotations, three-dimensional structure and protein cavity prediction of five non-synonymous variant genes were obtained. Conclusion: This study not only includes a systematic process flow and in-depth elucidation of relevant mechanisms but also provides a new strategy for green processing of food raw materials, improving food microbial performance, and ensuring the safe production of food additives.

The ameliorative mechanism of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum NJAU-01 against D-galactose induced oxidative stress: a hepatic proteomics and gut microbiota analysis.

Probiotic intervention is an effective strategy to alleviate oxidative stress-related diseases. Our previous studies found that Lactiplantibacillus plantarum NJAU-01 (NJAU-01) exhibited antioxidant effects in a D-galactose (D-gal)-induced aging mouse model. However, the underlying mechanism remains to be unveiled. This study was aimed to investigate the ameliorative effect and mechanism of NJAU-01 against oxidative stress induced by D-gal. The results showed that NJAU-01 could reverse the tendency of a slow body weight gain induced by D-gal. NJAU-01 relieved hepatic oxidative stress via increasing the hepatic total antioxidant capacity and antioxidant enzyme activities including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT). Moreover, the malondialdehyde (MDA) level was reversed after NJAU-01 supplementation. The proteomic results showed that there were 201 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) between NJAU-01 and D-gal groups. NJAU-01 regulated the expressions of glutathione S-transferase Mu 5 (Gstm5), glutathione S-transferase P2 (Gstp2) and NADH dehydrogenase 1α subcomplex subunit 7 (Ndufa7) related to oxidative stress, and autophagy protein 5 (Atg5) and plasma alpha-L-fucosidase (Fuca2) involved in autophagy, etc. 16S rDNA sequencing results showed that NJAU-01 supplementation could regulate the gut microbiota dysbiosis induced by D-gal via increasing the relative abundances of the phylum Firmicutes and the genus Lactobacillus and reducing the relative abundances of the phylum Bacteroidetes and the genera Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group as well as Prevotellaceae_UCG-001, etc.. Spearman correlation analysis results showed that the altered gut microbiota composition had a significant correlation with antioxidant enzyme activities and the DEPs related to oxidative stress. Overall, NJAU-01 alleviated hepatic oxidative stress induced by D-gal via manipulating the gut microbiota composition and hepatic protein expression profile.

Yiwei Xiaoyu granules for treatment of chronic atrophic gastritis with deficiency syndrome of the spleen and stomach.

BACKGROUND: The Correa sequence, initiated by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), commonly progresses to gastric cancer through the stage of chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG). Although eradication of H. pylori only reduces the risk of gastric cancer, it does not eliminate the risk for neoplastic progression. Yiwei Xiaoyu granules (YWXY) are a commonly used composite preparation in Chinese clinics. However, the pursuit of excellence in clinical trials and the establishment of standardized animal experiments are still needed to contribute to full understanding and application of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of CAG. AIM: To demonstrate the effectiveness of YWXY in patients with CAG and spleen-stomach deficiency syndrome (DSSS), by alleviating histological scores, improving response rates for pathological lesions, and achieving clinical efficacy in relieving DSSS symptoms. METHODS: We designed a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial. The study enrolled seventy-two H. pylori-negative patients (mean age, 52.3 years; 38 men) who were randomly allocated to either the treatment group or control group in a 1:1 ratio, and treated with 15 g YWXY or 0.36 g Weifuchun (WFC) tablet combined with the respective dummy for 24 wk. The pre-randomization phase resulted in the exclusion of 72 patients: 50 participants did not meet the inclusion criteria, 12 participants declined to participate, and 10 participants were excluded for various other reasons. Seven visits were conducted during the study, and histopathological examination with target endoscopic biopsy of narrow-band imaging was requested before the first and seventh visits. We also evaluated endoscopic performance scores, total symptom scores, serum pepsinogen and gastrin-17. RESULTS: Six patients did not complete the trial procedures. Treatment with YWXY improved the Operative Link on Gastric Intestinal Metaplasia Assessment (OLGIM) stage, compared with WFC (P < 0.05). YWXY provided better relief from symptoms of DSSS and better improvement in serum gastric function, compared with WFC (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: YWXY compared with WFC significantly reduced the risk of mild or moderate atrophic disease, according to OLGIM stage, significantly relieved symptoms of DSSS, and improved serum gastric function.

Climatic niche evolution and niche conservatism of Nymphaea species in Africa, South America, and Australia.

BACKGROUND: Interest in the evolution of climatic niches, particularly in understanding the potential adaptive responses of species under climate change, has increased both theoretically and within macroecological studies. These studies have provided valuable insights into how climatic traits of species influence their niche evolution. In this study, we aim to investigate whether niche conservatism plays a role in the species diversification of Nymphaea, a group of aquatic plants with a cosmopolitan distribution that is facing severe habitat loss. We will use climatic models and phylogenetic data for 23 species to reconstruct Nymphaea's niche evolution, measure niche overlap, and assess disparity through time while testing for evolutionary models. RESULTS: There was a lot of overlap in niches both within and between groups, especially for species that can be found in many places. The breadth and peaks of the niche profile varied depending on the bioclimatic variables, which suggested that the species evolved differently to cope with changes in climate. The analysis also showed that evolutionary changes happened across the phylogeny, with weak to moderate signals. The morphological disparity index (MDI) values indicated that there were disparities within subclades over time but not between or among them. Niche reconstruction and evolution analysis revealed both convergent and divergent evolution among various variables. For example, N. immutabilis, N. atrans, N. violancea, and N. nouchali evolved towards intermediate temperatures for bio2 and bio3 (isothermity) while moving towards extreme temperatures for bio8 and bio9 (wettest and driest average quarterly temperatures). CONCLUSION: Our study will improve our understanding of how changes in climatic niches are potentially driving the evolution of Nymphaea. It has significant scientific implications for the limits, assemblages, evolution, and diversification of species. This information is crucial for the ongoing efforts of conservation and management, particularly considering the inevitable effects of climate change.