[Clinical Features and Prognosis of Patients with Hematological Disease Complicated with Mucor Infection].

Objective: To investigate the clinical features, treatment and prognosis of patients with hematological diseases complicated with mucor infection.

Methods: The risk factors, clinical features, treatment regimen and prognosis of 18 hematological disease patients with mucor infection diagnosed by histopathology in our center from April 2014 to June 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: Thirteen males and five females, with an average age of 30 (13－54) years old, were diagnosed as mucor infection by histopathological examination at the site of infection, including 16 cases of mucor infection alone and 2 cases of mucor + aspergillus mixed infection.

Feature Extraction and Identification of Alzheimer's Disease based on Latent Factor of Multi-Channel EEG.

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease in old age, early diagnosis will help to delay the progression of the disease. Presently, the features of brain functional diseases can be obtained with EEG analysis, but the relationship between characteristics of EEG and Alzheimer's disease has not been clearly clarified. In this work, we hypothesize that there exist default brain variables (latent factors) across subjects in disease processes, decoding latent factor from brain activity contributes to the study of cognitive impairment.

Design and Synthesis of Novel c-di-GMP G-Quadruplex Inducers as Bacterial Biofilm Inhibitors.

The formation of biofilms by clinical pathogens typically leads to chronic and recurring antibiotic-resistant infections. High cellular levels of cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP), a ubiquitous secondary messenger of bacteria, have been proven to be associated with a sessile biofilm lifestyle of pathogens. A promising antibiofilm strategy involving the induction of c-di-GMP to form dysfunctional G-quadruplexes, thereby blocking the c-di-GMP-mediated biofilm regulatory pathway, was proposed in this study.

Severe hematuria due to vesical varices in a patient with portal hypertension: A case report.

Background: Hematuria is one of the most common clinical symptoms for urologists and is typically observed in urinary system tumors, prostate hyperplasia, and urinary stone disease. Hematuria due to vesical varices is very rare, and only a few cases have been reported since 1989. We report the first case of vesical varices due to portal hypertension with aberrant development and functioning of the genitourinary system along with the complete diagnosis and treatment process.

Enlarged Perivascular Space and Its Correlation with Polysomnography Indicators of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Purpose: There is increasing evidence of a causal interaction between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and white matter hyperintensity (WMH). WMH and enlarged perivascular space (EPVS) are the neuroimaging markers for cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). Thus, this study aimed to determine whether a contextual relationship existed between OSA and EPVS.

Clinical and Immunological Biomarkers for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by immune system dysfunction and is clinically heterogeneous, exhibiting renal, dermatological, neuropsychiatric, and cardiovascular symptoms. Clinical and physiological assessment is usually inadequate for diagnosing and assessing pathophysiological processes in SLE. Clinical and immunological biomarkers could play a critical role in improving diagnosis, assessment, and ultimately, control of SLE.

A positive feedback loop between Periostin and TGFβ1 induces and maintains the stemness of hepatocellular carcinoma cells via AP-2α activation.

Background: Liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) play key roles in the metastasis, recurrence, and chemotherapeutic resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our previous research showed that the POSTN gene is closely related to the malignant progression and poor prognosis of HCC. This study aimed to elucidate the role of POSTN in generating LCSCs and maintaining their stemness as well as the underlying mechanisms.

Medial septum tau accumulation induces spatial memory deficit via disrupting medial septum-hippocampus cholinergic pathway.

Tau accumulation and cholinergic impairment are characteristic pathologies in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the causal role of tau accumulation in cholinergic lesion is elusive. Here, we observed an aberrant tau accumulation in the medial septum (MS) of 3xTg and 5xFAD mice, especially in their cholinergic neurons.

The prognostic value of sarcopenia combined with preoperative fibrinogen-albumin ratio in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma after surgery: A multicenter, prospective study.

Background: To explore the prognostic value of the fibrinogen-albumin ratio (FAR) combined with sarcopenia in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) patients after surgery and to develop a nomogram for predicting the survival of ICC patients.

Materials And Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 116 ICC patients who underwent radical surgery were enrolled as the discovery cohort and another independent cohort of 68 ICC patients was used as the validation cohort. Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze prognosis.

Plasmalemma vesicle-associated protein promotes angiogenesis in cholangiocarcinoma via the DKK1/CKAP4/PI3K signaling pathway.

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is aggressive and has poor clinical outcomes because of typically delayed diagnosis and a lack of effective non-surgical therapeutic options. Recent studies have shown that plasmalemma vesicle-associated protein (PLVAP) is related to angiogenesis in various tumors, and in vivo PLVAP targeting therapy has been proven effective against hepatocellular carcinoma and pancreatic cancer. The goal of this study was to determine the potential therapeutic utility of targeting PLVAP and thus angiogenesis in CCA and explore the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Core Altered Microorganisms in Colitis Mouse Model: A Comprehensive Time-Point and Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Analysis.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is characterized by chronic and relapsing inflammation within the gastrointestinal tract. Antibiotics have been used to treat IBD, primarily utilizing metronidazole. Although there does seem to be a treatment effect, the broad-spectrum antibiotics that have been used to date are crude tools and have many adverse effects.

Anatase porous titania nanosheets for resonant-gravimetric detection of ppb-level NO at room-temperature.

The trace-level detection of harmful NO2 gas at room-temperature is very important for environmental protection and public health. This paper reports the resonant-gravimetric detection of ppb-level NO2 at room-temperature using two-dimensional porous TiO2 nanosheets (PTNSs) as highly active sensing materials. They are synthesized by a facile high-temperature calcination approach based on a graphene oxide self-sacrificial template.

Delivery of antimicrobial peptides to model membranes by cubosome nanocarriers.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which typically disrupt the bacterial wall prompting leakage or lysis of the cell, form a growing contingent in the arsenal against antibiotic resistant bacteria. The effectiveness of AMPs is, however, hampered by their low solubility, general chemical and physical instability, and short half-life in vivo. Lipid nanocarriers such as cubosomes are effective at encapsulating and protecting proteins while simultaneously showing promise in delivery applications.

Mass SARS-CoV-2 molecular and serological screening of medical staff and patients in Hangzhou, China: no evidence of RNA detection, low seroprevalence, and limited exposure risk in the hospital setting.

Background: To assess and limit the SARS-CoV-2 exposure risk from symptomless individuals in the hospital setting, molecular and serological screening of staff and patients attending a tertiary hospital in China was conducted.

Methods: SARS-CoV-2 RNA was tested by quantitative RT-PCR. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG were screened initially with two lateral flow immunoassays (LFIs) and further confirmed with three chemiluminescence immunoassays (CLIAs).

Digestion liquid based alkaline pretreatment of waste activated sludge promotes methane production from anaerobic digestion.

This work proved an efficient method to significantly increase methane production from anaerobic digestion of WAS. This method is to reflux proper of digestion liquid into waste activated sludge pretreatment unit (pH 9.5 for 24 h).

Meta-analysis: Interleukin 6 gene -174G/C polymorphism associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus and interleukin 6 changes.

The gene coding interleukin 6 (IL-6) is a promising candidate in predisposition to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study aimed to meta-analytically examine the association of IL-6 gene -174G/C polymorphism with T2DM and circulating IL-6 changes across -174G/C genotypes. Odds ratio (OR) and standard mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated.

Platelet biomarkers for a descending cognitive function: A proteomic approach.

Memory loss is the most common clinical sign in Alzheimer's disease (AD); thus, searching for peripheral biomarkers to predict cognitive decline is promising for early diagnosis of AD. As platelets share similarities to neuron biology, it may serve as a peripheral matrix for biomarkers of neurological disorders. Here, we conducted a comprehensive and in-depth platelet proteomic analysis using TMT-LC-MS/MS in the populations with mild cognitive impairment (MCI, MMSE = 18-23), severe cognitive impairments (AD, MMSE = 2-17), and the age-/sex-matched normal cognition controls (MMSE = 29-30).

Vanillin downregulates NNMT and attenuates NNMT‑related resistance to 5‑fluorouracil via ROS‑induced cell apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells.

Chemoresistance is the main cause of poor prognosis in colorectal cancer (CRC). Nicotinamide N‑methyltransferase (NNMT) is a metabolic enzyme that is upregulated in various tumor types. It has been reported that NNMT inhibits apoptosis and enhances resistance to 5‑fluorouracil (5‑Fu) via inhibition of the apoptosis signal regulating kinase 1 (ASK1)‑p38 MAPK pathway in CRC cells.

An Ion-In-Conjugation-Boosted Organic Semiconductor Gas Sensor Operating at High Temperature and Immune to Moisture.

Organic electrical gas sensors have been developed for many decades because of their high sensitivity and selectivity. However, their industrialization is severely hindered by their intrinsic humidity susceptibility and poor recovery. Conventional organic sensory materials can only operate at room temperature owing to their weak intermolecular interactions.

Nutritional Status Impacts Epigenetic Regulation in Early Embryo Development: A Scoping Review.

With the increasing maternal age and the use of assisted reproductive technology in various countries worldwide, the influence of epigenetic modification on embryonic development is increasingly notable and prominent. Epigenetic modification disorders caused by various nutritional imbalance would cause embryonic development abnormalities and even have an indelible impact on health in adulthood. In this scoping review, we summarize the main epigenetic modifications in mammals and the synergies among different epigenetic modifications, especially DNA methylation, histone acetylation, and histone methylation.

Susceptibility of six polymorphisms in the receptor for advanced glycation end products to type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

We did a systematic review and meta-analysis, aiming to examine the association of available polymorphisms in the receptor for advanced glycation end products (AGER) gene with the risk of type 2 diabetes. Literature search, eligibility assessment, and data extraction were independently performed by two authors. Risk was expressed as by odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) under the random-effects model.

Exploiting Supramolecular Dynamics in Metal-Phenolic Networks to Generate Metal-Oxide and Metal-Carbon Networks.

Supramolecular complexation is a powerful strategy for engineering materials in bulk and at interfaces. Metal-phenolic networks (MPNs), which are assembled through supramolecular complexes, have emerged as suitable candidates for surface and particle engineering owing to their diverse properties. Herein, we examine the supramolecular dynamics of MPNs during thermal transformation processes.