Neutrophil-related indicators as potential peripheral blood biomarkers for the diagnosis of neurosyphilis: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Neurosyphilis (NS) is the most serious complication elicited by the invasion of Treponema pallidum (T. pallidum) into the central nervous system. Identifying the neuro-invasion of T.

Engineering source-sink relations by prime editing confers heat-stress resilience in tomato and rice.

A 2°C climate-warming scenario is expected to further exacerbate average crop losses by 3%-13%, yet few heat-tolerant staple-crop varieties are available toward meeting future food demands. Here, we develop high-efficiency prime-editing tools to precisely knockin a 10-bp heat-shock element (HSE) into promoters of cell-wall-invertase genes (CWINs) in elite rice and tomato cultivars. HSE insertion endows CWINs with heat-responsive upregulation in both controlled and field environments to enhance carbon partitioning to grain and fruits, resulting in per-plot yield increases of 25% in rice cultivar Zhonghua11 and 33% in tomato cultivar Ailsa Craig over heat-stressed controls, without fruit quality penalties.

[Real-world Study of the Safety and Efficacy of Pembrolizumab in the Treatment of Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer].

Background: Pembrolizumab (PEM) has been shown to be effective in clinical trials for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but clinical trials were based on cohorts of patients selected on specific criteria, and whether the findings are consistent with real-world patients is debatable. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of PEM in the treatment of advanced NSCLC based on real-world data.

Methods: A retrospective collection of real-world data from patients with advanced NSCLC receiving PEM was conducted.

Integration of the systemic inflammatory response index with pulse pressure enhances prognostication of cardiovascular mortality in the general population of the United States: insights from the NHANES database.

Background: The prognostic significance of utilizing both the systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) and pulse pressure (PP) collectively in assessing cardiovascular mortality (CVM) across populations remains to be elucidated.

Methods: Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis investigated the SIRI, PP, and CVM association. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves evaluated the predictive performance of the combined SIRI and PP for CVM in the broader demographic.

A novel homozygous mutation in the NLRP2 gene causes early embryonic arrest.

Purpose: Successful reproduction in humans requires maturation and fertilization of gametes as well as early embryonic development. Any deviation from these processes leads to infertility. Early embryonic arrest (EEA) is common in female infertility and is primarily attributed to genetic factors.

Demonstration of an ultra-wideband wavelength self-adaptive and high-precision single-frequency laser linewidth measurement system.

An ultra-wideband wavelength self-adaptive and high-precision single-frequency laser linewidth measurement system (SFLLMS) is constructed. The SFLLMS enables parameter measurement of the laser in the wavelength range of 1-2.05 µm with a 9 Hz linewidth measurement resolution and ±45 Hz linewidth measurement accuracy.

Suppression of intensity noise and phase noise for thulium-holmium co-doped fiber laser by self-injection locking.

The present study proposes and demonstrates a narrow-linewidth thulium-holmium co-doped fiber laser based on self-injection locking. The laser with single-longitudinal-mode operation is realized using a fiber Bragg grating as a wavelength-selection component and a dual-ring compound cavity as a mode-selection filter. The linewidth was compressed by increasing the photon lifetime by utilizing delay fibers of different lengths in the feedback cavity.

The Composition, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activity of Essential Oils from Five Species of the Magnoliaceae Family.

The leaves of Magnoliaceae family plants contain abundant essential oils (EOs), and these species can be used in many fields due to their high industrial, medicinal, and ornamental values. This study aims to identify the main compounds of the EOs from the leaves of five common Magnoliaceae species (, , , , ) using hydrodistillation, GC-MS analysis, and in vitro tests. Additionally, the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the EOs were also evaluated.

A Multi-Scale Model for Predicting Physically Short Crack and Long Crack Behavior in Metals.

The fatigue behavior of metal specimens is influenced by defects, material properties, and loading. This study aims to establish a multi-scale fatigue crack growth model that describes physically short crack (PSC) and long crack (LC) behavior. The model allows the calculation of crack growth rates for uniaxial loading at different stress ratios based on the material properties and specimen geometry.

Construction of an ultrathin multi-functional polymer electrolyte for safe and stable all-solid-state batteries.

The ever-increasing demand for safe and high-energy-density batteries urges the exploration of ultrathin, lightweight solid electrolytes with high ionic conductivity. Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) with high flexibility, reduced interfacial resistance and excellent processability have been attracting significant attentions. However, reducing the thickness of SPEs to be comparable with that of commercial separators increases the risk of short-circuiting.

Vanadium-Doped Heterointerfaced NiN-MoO Nanosheets with Optimized H and HO Adsorption for Effective Alkaline Hydrogen Electrocatalysis.

Nickel (Ni)-based materials represent a compelling avenue as platinum alternatives in the realm of alkaline hydrogen electrocatalysis. However, conventional nickel nitrides (NiN) have long been hindered by sluggish hydrogen evolution kinetics in alkaline environments, owing to inadequate adsorption strengths of both hydrogen and water molecules. Herein, a novel approach is presented involving the design of vanadium (V)-doped NiN/MoO heterogeneous nanosheets (V-NiN@MoO), engineered to achieve optimized adsorption strengths for hydrogen evolution and oxidation reactions (HER/HOR).

Transcription factor TCF1 binds to RORγt and orchestrates a regulatory network that determines homeostatic Th17 cell state.

T helper (Th) 17 cells encompass a spectrum of cell states, including cells that maintain homeostatic tissue functions and pro-inflammatory cells that can drive autoimmune tissue damage. Identifying regulators that determine Th17 cell states can identify ways to control tissue inflammation and restore homeostasis. Here, we found that interleukin (IL)-23, a cytokine critical for inducing pro-inflammatory Th17 cells, decreased transcription factor T cell factor 1 (TCF1) expression.

Early aggressive constriction resection for hourglass-like constriction of peripheral nerve in the upper extremity: a retrospective study.

Objectives: The hourglass like constriction (HGC) of peripheral nerves is a characteristic pathological manifestation of Neuralgic Amyotrophy. Once identified, early surgical intervention is essential. However, the method of surgery is controversial, particularly regarding whether HGC needs to be excised.

Histological validation of three-dimensional variable flip angle turbo spin echo multi-contrast magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging in characterizing carotid vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques.

Background: Accurate assessment of the vulnerability of carotid atherosclerotic plaques is crucial for stroke prevention. The three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance (MR) vessel wall imaging (VWI) has been increasingly employed to evaluate carotid plaques due to its extensive coverage and isotropic high spatial resolution. However, the accuracy of such techniques lacks validation by histology.

Diagnostic value of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based vertebral bone quality score for bone mineral density assessment: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Many studies have explored the application of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based vertebral bone quality (VBQ) score as a tool for opportunistic osteoporosis screening before spine surgery. We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies to determine the diagnostic value of the VBQ score for bone mineral density (BMD) assessment.

Methods: The PubMed, EBSCO, Ovid, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Wanfang, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Science and Technology Periodical databases were searched to retrieve original studies on VBQ and BMD published from inception to 31 December 2023 with no restrictions on language and the reference standard of BMD.

Dietary patterns and metabolic syndrome amongst adult residents: A cross-sectional study in a rapidly urbanized Southern Chinese city.

We aimed to investigate and summarize dietary patterns and explore the association between dietary patterns and metabolic syndrome (MS) and its components among adult residents in a rapidly urbanized city. We employed a multi-stage random sampling method to select 1000 adult residents who underwent a comprehensive survey, including questionnaires, physical examinations, and laboratory tests. The diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was made when the participant met 3 or more of the 5 criteria outlined in the "2017 Chinese Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Type 2 diabetes.

Interfacial defect capture-induced abnormal fluorescence decay lifetime of CsPbBr/CsPbBr nanodisks.

We employed a two-step temperature-controlled strategy to obtain assembled CsPbBr/CsPbBr nanodisks. Compared with conventional CsPbBr quantum dots, surface-state characterizations and exciton dynamics suggested that the interface defect prevented the rapid recombination of excitons, and extended the fluorescence lifetime by nearly 10-times.