Integrative phylogenetic analysis of the genus Episoriculus (Mammalia: Eulipotyphla: Soricidae).

Shrews in the genus Episoriculus are among the least-known mammals in China, where representatives occur mainly in the Himalayan and Hengduan mountains. We sequence one mitochondrial and three nuclear genes from 77 individuals referable to this genus, collect morphometric data for five shape and 11 skull measurements from 56 specimens, and use museum collections and GenBank sequences to analyze phylogenetic relationships between this and related genera in an integrated molecular and morphometric approach. Whereas historically anywhere from two to eight species have been recognized in this genus, we conclude that six (Episoriculus baileyi, E.

Distribution and Environmental Preference of Potential Mercury Methylators in Paddy Soils across China.

The neurotoxin methylmercury (MeHg) is produced mainly from the transformation of inorganic Hg by microorganisms carrying the gene pair. Paddy soils are known to harbor diverse microbial communities exhibiting varying abilities in methylating inorganic Hg, but their distribution and environmental drivers remain unknown at a large spatial scale. Using gene amplicon sequencing, this study examined Hg-methylating communities from major rice-producing paddy soils across a transect of ∼3600 km and an altitude of ∼1300 m in China.

Versatile adhesive skin enhances robotic interactions with the environment.

Electronic skins endow robots with sensory functions but often lack the multifunctionality of natural skin, such as switchable adhesion. Current smart adhesives based on elastomers have limited adhesion tunability, which hinders their effective use for both carrying heavy loads and performing dexterous manipulations. Here, we report a versatile, one-size-fits-all robotic adhesive skin using shape memory polymers with tunable rubber-to-glass phase transitions.

miR-143-3p/TET1 Axis Regulates GPC1 Through DNA Methylation and Impairs the Malignant Biological Behaviour of HCC via the Hippo Signalling Pathway.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant tumour that poses a serious threat to human health and places a heavy burden on individuals and society. However, the role of GPC1 in the malignant progression of HCC is unknown. In this study, we analysed the expression of GPC1 in HCC, and its association with poor patient prognosis.

Single cell approaches define neural stem cell niches and identify microglial ligands that can enhance precursor-mediated oligodendrogenesis.

Here, we used single cell RNA sequencing and single cell spatial transcriptomics to characterize the forebrain neural stem cell (NSC) niche under homeostatic and injury conditions. We defined the dorsal and lateral ventricular-subventricular zones (V-SVZs) as two distinct neighborhoods and showed that, after white matter injury, NSCs are activated to make oligodendrocytes dorsally for remyelination. This activation is coincident with an increase in transcriptionally distinct microglia in the dorsal V-SVZ niche.

The relationship between different ventricular rate control levels and cardiac remodeling in early persistent atrial fibrillation: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a prevalent cardiac arrhythmia, with ventricular rate control being a critical therapeutic target. However, the optimal range for ventricular rate control remains unclear. Additionally, the relationship between different levels of ventricular rate control and cardiac remodeling in patients with atrial fibrillation remains unclear.

Prospective Multi-Site Validation of AI to Detect Tuberculosis and Chest X-Ray Abnormalities.

Background: Using artificial intelligence (AI) to interpret chest X-rays (CXRs) could support accessible triage tests for active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in resource-constrained settings.

Methods: The performance of two cloud-based CXR AI systems - one to detect TB and the other to detect CXR abnormalities - in a population with a high TB and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) burden was evaluated. We recruited 1978 adults who had TB symptoms, were close contacts of known TB patients, or were newly diagnosed with HIV at three clinical sites.

Glycoprotein 350-targeted chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for nonneoplastic chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection: a case report.

Background: Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus (CAEBV) infection is a rare disease in which the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) persists and replicates, causing chronic symptoms and fatal complications. The treatment of CAEBV is still evolving. Our case report showed a new therapy for CAEBV.

Effect of group management on disease cognition and fear of disease progression, nutritional status, and quality of life in patients with head and neck tumors.

Objective: To investigate the effect of group guided training management on disease cognition and fear of disease progression, nutritional status, and quality of life in patients undergoing chemotherapy for head and neck tumors.

Methods: A total of 88 patients diagnosed with malignant head and neck tumors who were admitted to Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2020 to February 2021 were included as the subjects of this study. Patients receiving standard care were set as the control group (n=43), and patients undergoing group education were set as the study group (n=45).

Comparison of hand-assisted laparoscopic adrenalectomy laparoscopic adrenalectomy for large pheochromocytomas: a retrospective study.

Background: It remains uncertain whether hand-assisted laparoscopic adrenalectomy (HAL) has advantages in treating large pheochromocytomas (PHEOs). This study aimed to assess the feasibility and safety of HAL compared to laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study on patients with PHEOs ≥6 cm who received HAL (n=16) and LA (n=20) at Shandong Provincial Hospital from January 2020 to January 2023.

Novel biomarkers: the RUNX family as prognostic predictors in colorectal cancer.

While biomarkers have been shown to enhance the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) compared to conventional treatments, there is a pressing need to discover novel biomarkers that can assist in assessing the prognostic impact of immunotherapy and in formulating individualized treatment plans. The RUNX family, consisting of RUNX1, RUNX2, and RUNX3, has been recognized as crucial regulators in developmental processes, with dysregulation of these genes also being implicated in tumorigenesis and cancer progression. In our present study, we demonstrated a crucial regulatory role of RUNX in CD8T and CD103CD8T cell-mediated anti-tumor response within the tumor microenvironment (TME) of human CRC.

Usage patterns of cognitive assessments during Medicare's Annual Wellness Visit: A national survey.

Introduction: Medicare's Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) is a logical opportunity for early detection of cognitive impairment, but recent data for uptake and cognitive assessments during it are lacking.

Methods: We surveyed Medicare beneficiaries of a nationally representative panel about use of AWV and cognitive assessments and analyzed associations between uptake and beneficiaries' characteristics.

Results: Of 1871 participants, 80% had an AWV, among whom 31% underwent formal cognitive testing, 35% were asked about memory problems, including 15% having both.

ALBA3 maintains male fertility under heat stress in plants.

Heat stress (HS) at the reproductive stage detrimentally affects crop yields and seed quality. However, the molecular mechanisms that protect reproductive processes in plants under HS remain largely unknown. Here, we report that Acetylation Lowers Binding Affinity 3 (ALBA3) is crucial for safeguarding male fertility against HS in Arabidopsis.

Neural Stem/Progenitor Cell Therapy in Patients and Animals with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative malady that causes progressive degeneration and loss of motor neuron function in the brain and spinal cord, eventually resulting in muscular atrophy, paralysis, and death. Neural stem/progenitor cell (NSPC) transplantation can improve bodily function in animals and delay disease progression in patients with ALS. This paper summarizes and analyzes the efficacy and safety of neural stem/progenitor cell (NSPC) transplantation as a treatment for ALS, aiming to improve function and delay disease progression in patients.

Selective G6PDH inactivation for Helicobacter pylori eradication with transformed polysulfide.

Alternative treatment for the highly prevalent Helicobacter pylori infection is imperative due to rising antibiotic resistance. We unexpectedly discovered that the anti-H. pylori component in garlic is hydrogen polysulfide (HS, n⩾2), not organic polysulfides.

Skeletal muscle-specific Bambi deletion induces hypertrophy and oxidative switching coupling with adipocyte thermogenesis against metabolic disorders.

Skeletal muscle plays a significant role in both local and systemic energy metabolism. The current investigation aims to explore the role of the Bambi gene in skeletal muscle, focusing on its implications for muscle hypertrophy and systemic metabolism. We hypothesize that skeletal muscle-specific deletion of Bambi induces muscle hypertrophy, improves metabolic performance, and activates thermogenic adipocytes via the reprogramming of progenitor of iWAT, offering potential therapeutic strategies for metabolic syndromes.

Microfluidic Approach for Enhanced Paeoniflorin Transdermal Delivery: A Comparative Study on Different Chips and Mixing Dynamics.

Paeoniflorin is a natural pharmaceutical ingredient with a widely biological activity. However, as a hydrophilic drug, the problem of low transdermal rate limits its clinical application. To overcome this shortage, LUVs were used as biocompatible carriers of paeoniflorin in this study.

Microsporocytic ARF17 misexpression leads to an excess callose deposition and male sterility in Arabidopsis.

The accurate callose deposition plays important roles in pollen wall formation and pollen fertility. As a direct target of miRNA160, ARF17 participate in the formation of the callose wall. However, the impact of ARF17 misexpression in microsporocytes on callose wall formation and pollen fertility remains unknown.

Probing the Active Nitrogen Species in Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanozymes for Enhanced Oxidase-Like Activity.

Nitrogen doping emerges as a potent approach to enhance the oxidase-like activity of carbon nanozymes. However, the unclear knowledge of the active nitrogen species within nitrogen-doped carbon nanozymes hinders the advancement of high-performance carbon nanozymes. Herein, a group of nitrogen-doped carbon (N/C) nanozymes with controllable nitrogen dopants are successfully synthesized via a dicyandiamide-assisted pyrolysis method.

Covalent Affibody-Molecular Glue Drug Conjugate Nanoagent for Proximity-Enabled Reactive Therapeutics.

Sulfur-fluoride exchange (SuFEx) reaction is an emerging class of click chemistry reaction. Owing to its efficient reactivity under physiological conditions, SuFEx reaction is used to construct covalent protein drugs. Herein, a covalent affibody-molecular glue drug conjugate nanoagent is reported, which can irreversibly bind with its target protein through proximity-enabled SuFEx reaction.

Creating a Halotolerant Degrader for Efficient Mineralization of p-Nitrophenol-Substituted Organophosphorus Pesticides in High-Saline Wastewater.

The bioaugmentation performance is severely reduced in the treatment of high-saline pesticide wastewater because the growth and degradation activity of pesticide degraders are significantly inhibited by high salt concentrations. In this study, a heterologous biodegradation pathway comprising the seven genes mpd/pnpABCDEF responsible for the bioconversion of p-nitrophenol (PNP)-substituted organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) into β-oxoadipate and the genes encoding Vitreoscilla hemoglobin (VHb) and green fluorescent protein (GFP) were integrated into the genome of a salt-tolerant chassis Halomonas cupida J9, to generate a genetically engineered halotolerant degrader J9U-MP. RT-PCR assays demonstrated that the nine exogenous genes are successfully transcribed to mRNA in J9U-MP.

IL-8 promotes pyroptosis through ERK pathway and mediates glucocorticoid resistance in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

Objective: This study seeks to elucidate the role and molecular mechanisms of IL-8 in nasal epithelial cell pyroptosis and its impact on glucocorticoid (GC) resistance.

Methods: We assessed the expression of pyroptosis-related biomarkers and IL-8 in tissues and human nasal epithelial cells (hNECs) from both control and nasal polyp patients using western blot. Their localization was determined through immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence.

Bacillus subtilis MZ-01 alleviates diarrhea caused by ETEC K88 by reducing inflammation and promoting intestinal health.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Bacillus subtilis supplementation on the health of weaned piglets and whether Bacillus subtilis supplementation can reduce the damage of piglets induced by ETEC K88.

Methods And Results: The experiment was designed with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, comprising the control (CON) group, Bacillus subtilis (PRO) group, Escherichia coli K88 (ETEC) group, and Bacillus subtilis + ETEC (PRO + ETEC) group. Regardless of the presence of ETEC, the addition of PRO increased the piglets' final body weight (FW), average daily gain (ADG), and daily feed intake (ADFI).

Effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions to prevent enteral nutrition intolerance in ICU patients: A network meta-analysis.

Background: Enteral nutrition is beneficial for improving the clinical outcomes of intensive care unit patients. However, enteral nutrition intolerance is a common complication in intensive care unit patients undergoing enteral nutrition.

Aims: We aimed to assess the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions in preventing enteral nutrition intolerance in intensive care unit patients and to identify the optimal non-pharmacological interventions.