Brain network functional connectivity changes in long illness duration chronic schizophrenia.

Introduction: Chronic schizophrenia has a course of 5 years or more and has a widespread abnormalities in brain functional connectivity. This study aimed to find characteristic functional and structural changes in a long illness duration chronic schizophrenia (10 years or more). Methods: Thirty-six patients with a long illness duration chronic schizophrenia and 38 healthy controls were analyzed by independent component analysis of brain network functional connectivity. Correlation analysis with clinical duration was performed on six resting state networks: auditory network, default mode network, dorsal attention network, fronto-parietal network, somatomotor network, and visual network. Results: The differences in the resting state network between the two groups revealed that patients exhibited enhanced inter-network connections between default mode network and multiple brain networks, while the inter-network connections between somatomotor network, default mode network and visual network were reduced. In patients, functional connectivity of Cuneus_L was negatively correlated with illness duration. Furthermore, receiver operating characteristic curve of functional connectivity showed that changes in Thalamus_L, Rectus_L, Frontal_Mid_R, and Cerebelum_9_L may indicate a longer illness duration chronic schizophrenia. Discussion: In our study, we also confirmed that the course of disease is significantly associated with specific brain regions, and the changes in specific brain regions may indicate that chronic schizophrenia has a course of 10 years or more.

Gingipain and oncostatin M synergistically disrupt kidney tight junctions in periodontitis-associated acute kidney injury.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is characterized by rapid renal decline. Periodontitis, a chronic oral inflammatory disease, is increasingly associated with renal dysfunction. Although periodontitis is recognized as a contributor to kidney damage, the mechanisms linking it to AKI remain unclear. METHODS: This study explored the effects of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) W83-infected periodontitis on AKI in C57BL/6J mice, using ischemia-reperfusion injury 55 days post-infection. Gingipain inhibitors, KYT-1 and KYT-36, were applied. Detection of P. gingivalis was performed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and PCR, while transcriptome sequencing, qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence staining assessed renal damage. In vitro, HK-2 cells were exposed to P. gingivalis at a multiplicity of infection of 10 for 48 h, with inhibition by gingipain or oncostatin M (OSM). Disruption of tight junctions (TJs) was quantified using qRT-PCR, transepithelial electrical resistance, and cell counting kit-8 assays. RESULTS: Periodontitis worsened AKI, linked to P. gingivalis infection and renal TJ disruption in the kidney. P. gingivalis infection activated OSM expression, which correlated positively with gingipain. Significantly, OSM and gingipain might collaboratively contribute to the damage of renal TJs, with the reduced expression of TJ proteins. Suppressing gingipain activity presented itself as a protective strategy against the destruction of TJs and the attendant worsening of AKI due to periodontitis. CONCLUSIONS: Our study enhances the understanding of the interplay between periodontitis and AKI, highlighting the harmful impact of P. gingivalis in AKI.

Association of serum interleukin-2 with severity and prognosis in hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia: a prospective cohort study.

The prior studies have shown that interleukin-2 (IL-2) exerts important roles in the pathological and physiological processes of lung diseases. However, the role of IL-2 in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is still uncertain. Through a prospective cohort study, our research will explore the correlations between serum IL-2 levels and the severity and prognosis in CAP patients. There were 267 CAP patients included. Blood samples were obtained. Serum IL-2 were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Demographic traits and clinical characteristics were extracted. Serum IL-2 were gradually elevated with increasing severity scores in CAP patients. Correlation analyses revealed that serum IL-2 were connected with physiological parameters including liver and renal function in CAP patients. According to a logistic regression analysis, serum IL-2 were positively correlated with CAP severity scores. We also tracked the prognostic outcomes of CAP patients. The increased risks of adversely prognostic outcomes, including mechanical ventilation, vasoactive agent usage, ICU admission, death, and longer hospital length, were associated with higher levels of IL-2 at admission. Serum IL-2 at admission were positively associated with severe conditions and poor prognosis among CAP patients, indicated that IL-2 may involve in the initiation and development of CAP. As a result, serum IL-2 may be an available biomarker to guide clinicians in assessing the severity and determining the prognosis of CAP.

Rapid construction of tricyclic tetrahydrocyclopenta[4,5]pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine via isocyanide-based multicomponent reaction.

An efficient protocol for the synthesis of polyfunctionalized tetrahydrocyclopenta[4,5]pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine-3,4b,5,6,7(1H)-pentacarboxylates was developed by a three-component reaction. In the absence of any catalyst, the three-component reaction of alkyl isocyanides, dialkyl but-2-ynedioates and 5,6-unsubstituted 1,4-dihydropyridines in refluxing acetonitrile afforded polyfunctionalized tetrahydrocyclopenta[4,5]pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine-3,4b,5,6,7(1H)-pentacarboxylates in high yields and with high diastereoselectivity. The reaction was finished by in situ generation of activated 5-(alkylimino)cyclopenta-1,3-dienes from addition of alkyl isocyanide to two molecules of but-2-ynedioates and sequential formal [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction with 5,6-unsubstituted 1,4-dihydropyridine.

Zona incerta mediates early life isoflurane-induced fear memory deficits.

The potential long-term effects of anesthesia on cognitive development, especially in neonates and infants, have raised concerns. However, our understanding of its underlying mechanisms and effective treatments is still limited. In this study, we found that early exposure to isoflurane (ISO) impaired fear memory retrieval, which was reversed by dexmedetomidine (DEX) pre-treatment. Measurement of c-fos expression revealed that ISO exposure significantly increased neuronal activation in the zona incerta (ZI). Fiber photometry recording showed that ZI neurons from ISO mice displayed enhanced calcium activity during retrieval of fear memory compared to the control group, while DEX treatment reduced this enhanced calcium activity. Chemogenetic inhibition of ZI neurons effectively rescued the impairments caused by ISO exposure. These findings suggest that the ZI may play a pivotal role in mediating the cognitive effects of anesthetics, offering a potential therapeutic target for preventing anesthesia-related cognitive impairments.

Evidence of synergistic mechanisms of hepatoprotective botanical herbal preparation of Pueraria montana var. lobata and Schisandra sphenanthera.

Background: Pueraria montana var. lobata (Willd.) Maesen & S.M.Almeida ex Sanjappa & Predeep (syn. Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi) and Schisandra sphenanthera Rehder & E.H. Wilson are traditional edible and medicinal hepatoprotective botanical drugs. Studies have shown that the combination of two botanical drugs enhanced the effects of treating acute liver injury (ALI), but the synergistic effect and its action mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the synergistic effect and its mechanism of the combination of Pueraria montana var. lobata (Willd.) Maesen & S.M.Almeida ex Sanjappa & Predeep (syn. Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi) (PM) and Schisandra sphenanthera Rehder & E.H. Wilson (SS) in the treatment of ALI. Methods: High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were utilized to conduct the chemical interaction analysis. Then the synergistic effects of botanical hybrid preparation of PM-SS (BHP PM-SS) against ALI were comprehensively evaluated by the CCl4 induced ALI mice model. Afterwards, symptom-oriented network pharmacology, transcriptomics and metabolomics were applied to reveal the underlying mechanism of action. Finally, the key target genes were experimentally by RT-qPCR. Results: Chemical analysis and pharmacodynamic experiments revealed that BHP PM-SS was superior to the single botanical drug, especially at 2:3 ratio, with a better dissolution rate of active ingredients and synergistic anti-ALI effect. Integrated symptom-oriented network pharmacology combined with transcriptomics and metabolomics analyses showed that the active ingredients of BHP PM-SS could regulate Glutathione metabolism, Pyrimidine metabolism, Arginine biosynthesis and Amino acid sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, by acting on the targets of AKT1, TNF, EGFR, JUN, HSP90AA1 and STAT3, which could be responsible for the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway and Pathway in cancer to against ALI. Conclusion: Our study has provided compelling evidence for the synergistic effect and its mechanism of the combination of BHP PM-SS, and has contributed to the development and utilization of BHP PM-SS dietary supplements.

Intrinsically Elastic Semiconductors through Aldehyde-Amine Polycondensation and Its Application on Stretchable Transistor.

With the increasing demand for elastic electronics, as a crucial component, elastic semiconductors have been widely studied. However, there are some issues for the current preparation of elastic semiconductors, such as harsh reaction conditions, low atomic economic utilization, and complicated product separation and purification. Aldehyde-amine polycondensation is an important chemical reaction with the advantages of mild reaction conditions, high atomic-economic efficiency, and easy separation and purification. Herein, intrinsically elastic semiconductors are developed via aldehyde-amine polycondensation, including a semiconducting segment and an elastic segment. The resulting polymer containing 42.62 wt % soft segments exhibits excellent stretchability and mechanical reversibility, especially with a lower modulus. Interestingly, the carrier mobility displays up to 0.04 cm2·V-1·s-1, in the range of the fully conjugated reference polymer (0.1 cm2·V-1·s-1). In brief, this strategy provides important guiding principles for the development of intrinsically elastic polymer semiconductors.

HcGr76 responds to fructose and chlorogenic acid and is involved in regulation of peptide expression in the midgut of Hyphantria cunea larvae.

BACKGROUND: Sensing dietary components in the gut is important to ensure an appropriate hormonal response and metabolic regulation after food intake. The fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea, is a major invasive pest in China and has led to significant economic losses and ecosystem disruption. The larvae's broad host range and voracious appetite for leaves make H. cunea a primary cause of serious damage to both forests and crops. To date, however, the gustatory receptors (Grs) of H. cunea and their regulatory function remain largely unknown. RESULTS: We identified the fall webworm gustatory receptor HcGr76 as a fructose and chlorogenic acid receptor using Ca2+ imaging and determination of intracellular Ca2+ concentration by a microplate reader. Moreover, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis revealed that HcGr76 is highly expressed in the anterior and middle midgut. Knockdown of HcGr76 caused a significant reduction in the expression of neuropeptide F 1 (NPF1) and CCHamide-2, and led to a decrease in carbohydrate and lipid levels in the hemolymph. CONCLUSION: Our studies provide circumstantial evidence that HcGr76 expressed in the midgut is involved in sensing dietary components, and regulates the expression of relevant peptide hormones to alter metabolism in H. cunea larvae, thus providing a promising molecular target for the development of new insect-specific control products. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

A soft, fatigue-free, and self-healable ionic elastomer via the synergy of skin-like assembly and Bouligand structure.

Soft ionic elastomers that are self-healable, fatigue-free, and environment-tolerant are ideal structural and sensing materials for artificial prosthetics, soft electronics, and robotics to survive unpredictable service conditions. However, most synthetic strategies failed to unite rapid healing, fatigue resistance, and environmental robustness, limited by their singular compositional/structural designs. Here, we present a soft, tough, fatigue-resistant, and self-healable ionic elastomer (STFSI elastomer), which fuses skin-like binary assembly and Bouligand helicoidal structure into a composite of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) fibers and a supramolecular ionic biopolymer. The interlocked binary assembly enables skin-like softness, high stretchability, and strain-adaptive stiffening through a matrix-to-scaffold stress transfer. The Bouligand structure contributes to superhigh fracture toughness (101.6 kJ m-2) and fatigue resistance (4937 J m-2) via mechanical toughening by interlayer slipping and twisted crack propagation path. Besides, the STFSI elastomer is self-healable through a "bridging" method and environment-tolerant (-20 ˚C ~ 60 ˚C, strong acid/alkali, saltwater). To demonstrate the versatile structural and sensing applications, we showcase a safety cushion with efficient damping and suppressed rebounding, and a robotic sensor with excellent fatigue crack tolerance and instant sensation recovery upon cutting-off damage. Our presented synthetic strategy is generalizable to other fiber-reinforced tough polymers for applications involving demanding mechanical/environmental conditions.

Psoralen attenuates cigarette smoke extract-induced inflammation by modulating CD8+ T lymphocyte recruitment and chemokines via the JAK2/STAT1 signaling pathway.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a respiratory inflammatory disease. Psoralen (PSO) is the main pharmacological component identified from Bu-Shen-Fang-Chuan formula which has been traditionally used in treatment of COPD, yet its efficacy in COPD inflammation were unreported. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the anti-inflammatory potential of PSO in COPD and unravel the underlying mechanisms, focusing on T lymphocyte recruitment and the modulation of chemokines, namely monokine induced by interferon-gamma (CXCL9), interferon inducible protein 10 (CXCL10), and interferon inducible T-Cell alpha chemoattractant (CXCL11). In vitro, RAW264.7 was stimulated by interferon (IFN)-γ + cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and were treated with PSO (2.5, 5, 10 µM), then the levels of chemokines and the activation of Janus kinase (JAK)/Signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) pathway were analyzed by real time PCR and western blot. In vivo, a murine model was established by intraperitoneal injection of CSE on day 1, 8, 15, and 22, then treated with PSO (10 mg/kg). Our experiments in vitro illustrated that PSO reduced the levels of CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11, and decreased the protein phosphorylation levels of JAK2 and STAT1. Additionally, PSO effectively improved inflammatory infiltration and decreased the proportion of CD8+ T cells in CSE-exposed mice. Furthermore, PSO reduced the levels of CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue, and decreased the protein phosphorylation levels of JAK2 and STAT1. In conclusion, our results revealed the therapeutic potential of PSO for COPD inflammation, possibly mediated through the regulation of CD8+ T cell recruitment and chemokines via the JAK2/STAT1 signaling pathway.

Construction of Diverse Fused Chromene Frameworks via Isocyanide-Based Three-Component Reaction.

A convenient synthetic protocol for diverse fused chromenes was successfully developed by a three-component reaction of alkyl isocyanides, dialkyl but-2-ynedioates, and various cyclic 1,3-dipolarophiles containing o-hydroxyphenyl group. In the absence of any catalyst, the three-component reaction of alkyl isocyanides, dialkyl but-2-ynedioates, and 3-(o-hydroxyarylidene)indolin-2-ones in tetrahydrofuran at 60 °C resulted in unique functionalized spiro[cyclobuta[c]chromene-1,3'-indolines] in good yields and with high diastereoselectivity. However, the similar three-component reaction with 2-(5-halo-2-hydroxyarylidene)indolin-2-ones afforded unexpected chain products in satisfactory yields. In addition, the three-component reaction of alkyl isocyanides, dialkyl but-2-ynedioates, and 2-(o-hydroxyarylidene)-1,3-indanediones in tetrahydrofuran at 60 °C resulted in complex indeno[2',1':5,6]pyrano[3,4-c]chromene derivatives in high yields and with high diastereoselectivity.

PD-L2 Expression in Breast Cancer Promotes Tumor Development and Progression.

Background: This work focused on investigating the role of programmed death ligand 2 (PD-L2) in the progression of breast cancer by utilizing breast cancer specimens and cells. Materials and Methods: The serum levels of soluble PD-L2 (sPD-L2) in breast cancer patients and healthy individuals were analyzed by means of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the PD-L2 levels within 416 resected breast cancer specimens were assessed through immunohistochemistry. Concurrently, in vitro cell experiments and in vivo animal experiments were carried out to analyze the relationship between PD-L2 and the invasion and migration of breast cancer. Results: The concentration of sPD-L2 in breast cancer patients significantly increased compared to that in the control groups. Additionally, breast cancer patients with high concentrations of sPD-L2 had higher Ki67 values (≥30%) and tumor grades. PD-L2 was expressed in 79.09% of the cancer samples, which exhibited a positive correlation with the progesterone receptor (PR) and the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Furthermore, we discovered that knockdown of PD-L2 inhibited the migratory and invasive abilities of both MCF-7 and MDA-MB231 cells. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that knockdown of PD-L2 suppressed tumor growth, providing novel insights into important biological functions.

Association between thyroid function and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a dose-response meta-analysis.

Background: Thyroid hormones (THs) have been found that it is closely associated with the onset and progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the current study could not verify the intrinsic relationship between thyroid hormones and NAFLD, which requires further research. Methods: The searches of studies reported both TH level in serum and NAFLD were performed in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases. We combined an overall meta-analysis with a dose-response meta-analysis to assess the correlation and dose-response relationship between thyroid function levels and the risk of NAFLD. Results: Overall, 10 studies were included with a total of 38,425 individuals. We found that the non-linear dose-response model showed that for every 1 ng/dL increase in FT4, the risk of NAFLD was reduced by 10.56% (p=0.003). The odds ratios (ORs) for NAFLD with high free triiodothyronine (FT3) exposure compared to those with low FT3 were 1.580 (95% CI 1.370 to 1.830, I2 = 0.0%, p<0.001) in the overall meta-analysis. The continuous variable meta-analysis indicated that individuals with high levels of TSH (SMD=1.32, 95% CI 0.660 to 1.970, p<0.001) had significantly higher levels of liver fibrosis than those with low levels. Conclusions: Our findings only validate that there is a correlation between the occurrence of NAFLD and abnormal levels of THs, and it is expected that more observational studies will still be conducted in the future to further demonstrate the relationship between thyroid hormones and NAFLD. Trial registration: Registered number in PROSPERO: CRD42023405052.

Batch Fabrication of Flexible Strain Sensors with High Linearity and Low Hysteresis for Health Monitoring and Motion Detection.

In recent years, flexible strain sensors have gradually come into our lives due to their superiority in the field of biomonitoring. However, these sensors still suffer from poor durability, high hysteresis, and difficulty in calibration, resulting in great hindrance of practical application. Herein, starting with interfacial interaction regulation and structure-induced cracking, flexible strain sensors with high performance are successfully fabricated. In this strategy, dopamine treatment is used to enhance the bonding between flexible substrates and carbon nanotubes (CNT). The combination within the conductive networks is then controlled by substituting the CNT type. Braid-like fibers are employed to achieve controllable expansion of the conductive layer cracks. Finally, we obtain strain sensors that possess high linearity (R2 = 0.997) with low hysteresis (5%), high sensitivity (GF = 60) and wide sensing range (0-50%), short response time (62 ms), outstanding stability, and repeatability (>10,000 cycles). Flexible strain sensors with all performances good are rarely reported. Static and dynamic respiration and pulse signal monitoring by the fiber sensor are demonstrated. Moreover, a knee joint monitoring system is constructed for the monitoring of various walking stances, which is of great value to the diagnosis and rehabilitation of many diseases.

The role of Phafin proteins in cell signaling pathways and diseases.

Membrane-associated proteins are important membrane readers that mediate and facilitate the signaling and trafficking pathways in eukaryotic membrane-bound compartments. The protein members in the Phafin family are membrane readers containing two phosphoinositide recognition domains: the Pleckstrin Homology domain and the FYVE (Fab1, YOTB, Vac1, and early endosome antigen 1) domain. Phafin proteins, categorized into two subfamilies, Phafin1 and Phafin2, associate with cellular membranes through interactions involving membrane-embedded phosphoinositides and phosphoinositide-binding domains. These membrane-associated Phafin proteins play pivotal roles by recruiting binding partners and forming complexes, which contribute significantly to apoptotic, autophagic, and macropinocytotic pathways. Elevated expression levels of Phafin1 and Phafin2 are observed in various cancers. A recent study highlights a significant increase in Phafin1 protein levels in the lungs of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients compared to normal subjects, suggesting a crucial role for Phafin1 in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. Additionally, phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate-binding 2 (Pib2), a close relative of the Phafin1 protein, functions as an amino acid sensor activating the TOCR1 pathway in yeasts. This review focuses on delineating the involvement of Phafin proteins in cellular signaling and their implications in diseases and briefly discusses the latest research findings concerning Pib2.

Investigating the therapeutic mechanism of Jiedu-Quyu-Ziyin Fang on systemic lupus erythematosus through the ERα-miRNA-TLR7 immune axis.

Jiedu-Quyu-Ziyin Fang (JQZF) is a formula that has been empirically used for the treatment of SLE in clinical practice. JQZF has become an approved hospital prescription in China. Fifteen MRL/lpr mice were randomly divided into three groups: Model, JQZF, and JQZF + GC, with five mice in each group. Five MRL/MPJ mice were used as the Blank group. After 8 weeks of administration, peripheral blood serum was collected to detect anti-dsDNA antibodies and complement C3 levels. Spleen B cells were collected to detect the expression of TLR7 and NF-κBp65 mRNA, and correlation analysis was performed. Transcriptome sequencing analysis was also performed on spleen B cells. Further, key miRNA and key gene mRNA expression were detected by RT-qPCR, and key protein expression levels were detected by Western blot method. Bioinformatics methods predicted that ESR1 is a key target of JQZF action on SLE, hsa-miR-146a-5p is one of the key miRNAs, and KEGG pathway analysis showed that NF-κB signaling pathway is its key signaling pathway. Transcriptome sequencing of MRL/lpr mouse spleen B cells revealed that the differential genes between the JQZF and Model groups were enriched in Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, NF-κB signaling pathway, Estrogen signaling pathway, etc. Animal studies show that JQZF treatment significantly boosts serum C3 and lowers anti-dsDNA antibodies (P < 0.01). On the molecular level, JQZF suppresses TLR7 and NF-κBp65 mRNA in spleen B cells, with TLR7 mRNA positively linked to anti-dsDNA titers and negatively to serum C3. Further cellular work demonstrates that JQZF reverses the increased IRAK1 and TRAF6 expression seen after miR146a inhibition. Additionally, post-ERα inhibition, JQZF continues to upregulate miR146a and more significantly reduces TLR7 mRNA expression (P < 0.01), pointing to ERα's pivotal role in the miR146a-TLR7 axis. These results indicate JQZF alleviates SLE by adjusting the ERα-miR146a-TLR7 loop, showcasing its mechanism and therapeutic potential for SLE.

Optic nerve compression associated with visual cortex functional alteration in dysthyroid optic neuropathy: A combined orbital and brain imaging study.

AIMS: To investigate the alterations of the optic nerve and visual cortex in dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON), a subgroup of thyroid eye disease (TED). METHODS: Multiple orbital imaging biomarkers related to optic nerve compression and the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) of the brain were obtained from 47 patients with DON, 56 TED patients without DON (nDON), and 37 healthy controls (HC). Correlation analyses and diagnostic tests were implemented. RESULTS: Compared with HC, the nDON group showed alterations in orbital imaging biomarkers related to optic nerve compression in posterior segments, as well as ALFF of the right inferior temporal gyrus and left fusiform gyrus. DON differed from nDON group mainly in the modified muscle index of the posterior segment of optic nerve, and ALFF of orbital part of right superior frontal gyrus, right hippocampus, and right superior temporal gyrus. Orbital and brain imaging biomarkers were significantly correlated with each other. Diagnostic models attained an area under a curve of 0.80 for the detection of DON. CONCLUSION: The combined orbital and brain imaging study revealed alterations of the visual pathway in patients with TED and DON as well as provided diagnostic value. The initiation of alterations in the visual cortex in TED may precede the onset of DON.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practice related to tooth loss and dentures among patients with dental arch deficiencies.

BACKGROUND: Tooth loss is a common problem that affects many people worldwide. Exploring knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) among patients can identify barriers and challenges in following recommended practices, providing valuable insights for dental healthcare providers, policymakers, and researchers. This study aimed to explore the KAP of patients with dental arch deficiencies regarding tooth loss and dentures. METHODS: This web-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with dental arch deficiencies using a self-designed questionnaire. RESULT: 3166 valid questionnaires were included. Participants' mean KAP scores were 6.84 ± 2.27 (possible range: 0 ~ 12), 39.4 ± 3.72 (possible range: 9 ~ 45), and 27.7 ± 4.36 (possible range: 8 ~ 40), respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that knowledge (OR = 1.383), employed (OR = 1.805), family history (OR = 2.158), and treatment (OR = 1.683) were independently associated with attitude. Moreover, knowledge (OR = 1.239), attitude (OR = 1.250), female (OR = 0.619), age (OR = 0.967), college/bachelor (OR = 0.373), and master and above degree (OR = 0.418), employed (OR = 0.554) or student (OR = 0.434), with 10,001-20,000 Yuan household income per month (OR = 0.492), have been married (OR = 0.609), smoking (OR = 0.595), drinking (OR = 0.397), disease duration (OR = 0.972), with family history (OR = 1.676), and with treatment (OR = 3.492) were independently associated with practice (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with dental arch deficiencies have insufficient knowledge, positive attitudes, and moderate practice toward tooth loss and dentures, which might be affected by multiple demographic factors.

A novel betapartitivirus isolated from Cordyceps militaris, an edible-medicinal mushroom.

In this study, we identified a novel partitivirus, named "Cordyceps militaris partitivirus 1" (CmPV1), in Cordyceps militaris strain RCEF7506. The complete genome of CmPV1 comprises two segments, dsRNA1 and dsRNA2, each encoding a single protein. dsRNA1 (2,206 bp) encodes an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), and dsRNA2 (2,256 bp) encodes a coat protein (CP). Sequence analysis revealed that dsRNA1 has the highest similarity to that of Bipolaris maydis partitivirus 2 (BmPV2), whereas dsRNA2 shows the highest similarity to human blood-associated partitivirus (HuBPV). Phylogenetic analysis based on RdRp sequences suggests that CmPV1 is a new member of the genus Betapartitivirus of the family Partitiviridae. This is the first documentation of a betapartitivirus infecting the entomopathogenic fungus C. militaris.