Oxytocinergic neurons, but not oxytocin, are crucial for male penile erection.

The cumulative evidence suggests that oxytocin is involved in the male sexual behaviors. However, no significant sexual impairments were observed in oxytocin gene knock-out (KO) mice, suggesting that oxytocin is not necessary for sexual behavior in male mice. To better understand the role of oxytocin in male erection, two types of oxytocin gene KO mice were created.

Interstitial pneumonitis associated with combined regimen of immunotherapy and conventional therapies-pharmacovigilance database analysis with real-world data validation.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy combined with conventional therapies is being broadly applied in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. However, the risk of interstitial pneumonitis (IP) following a combined regimen is incompletely characterized.

Methods: A total of 46,127 NSCLC patients were extracted for disproportionality analyses of IP from the Food and Drug Administration's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database.

Icaritin and intratumoral injection of CpG treatment synergistically promote T cell infiltration and antitumor immune response in mice.

The development of combination therapy that can modulate the tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment is highly desirable for cancer immunotherapy. Icaritin (ICT), a hydrolytic product of icariin from genus Epimedium, has been used as an anti-cancer immunoregulatory agent for many types of cancers. Herein, we design a novel therapeutic strategy for mice melanoma that combines systemic administration of icaritin with intratumoral injection of unmethylated cytosine-guanine oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG).

Root nutrient capture and leaf resorption efficiency modulated by different influential factors jointly alleviated P limitation in across the North-South Transect of Eastern China.

Soil and climatic conditions are known to have close associations with plant morphological and stoichiometric traits at a regional scale along latitudinal gradients; however, how latitude drives biotic and abiotic factors affecting plant nutrient acquisition to accommodate environmental nutrient deficiency remains unclear. We quantified soil, root, leaf, and leaf litter nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations to determine the potentially limiting nutrient and the simultaneous responses of root capture and leaf resorption to nutrient deficiency in seven forests across the North-South Transect of Eastern China. The results showed that the mean leaf and root N:P ratios in were 21.

Organ-specific metastatic landscape dissects PD-(L)1 blockade efficacy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer: applicability from clinical trials to real-world practice.

Background: Organ-specific metastatic context has not been incorporated into the clinical practice of guiding programmed death-(ligand) 1 [PD-(L)1] blockade, due to a lack of understanding of its predictive versus prognostic value. We aim at delineating and then incorporating both the predictive and prognostic effects of the metastatic-organ landscape to dissect PD-(L)1 blockade efficacy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: A total of 2062 NSCLC patients from a double-arm randomized trial (OAK), two immunotherapy trials (FIR, BIRCH), and a real-world cohort (NFyy) were included.

Systematic Evaluation of the Effect of Bedside Ward Round Checklist on Clinical Outcomes of Critical Patients.

Objective: To systematically evaluate the effect of bedside ward round checklists on the clinical outcomes of critical patients and thus provide a scientific and rational basis for decision-making in its clinical application.

Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CNKI, and Wanfang databases were searched to collect the literature studies about randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies involving the effect of bedside ward round checklists on the clinical outcomes of critical patients, and the retrieval time limit was from the establishment of the database to August 2019. After two researchers independently screened the literature studies, extracted the literature data, and evaluated the risk of bias in included studies, meta-analysis was carried out by using Stata 12.

Assessment of anti-PD-(L)1 for patients with coexisting malignant tumor and tuberculosis classified by active, latent, and obsolete stage.

Background: It is not a rare clinical scenario to have patients presenting with coexisting malignant tumor and tuberculosis. Whether it is feasible to conduct programmed death-(ligand) 1 [PD-(L)1] inhibitors to these patients, especially those with active tuberculosis treated with concurrent anti-tuberculosis, is still unknown.

Methods: This study enrolled patients with coexisting malignancy and tuberculosis and treated with anti-PD-(L)1 from Jan 2018 to July 2021 in 2 institutions.

Understanding Responses of Soil Microbiome to the Nitrogen and Phosphorus Addition in Metasequoia glyptostroboides Plantations of Different Ages.

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) have significant effects on soil microbial community diversity, composition, and function. Also, trees of different life stages have different fertilization requirements. In this study, we designed three N additions and three P levels (5 years of experimental treatment) at two Metasequoia glyptostroboides plantations of different ages (young, 6 years old; middle mature, 24 years old) to understand how different addition levels of N and P affect the soil microbiome.

Icaritin promotes tumor T-cell infiltration and induces antitumor immunity in mice.

Icaritin, a hydrolytic product of icariin isolated from traditional Chinese herbal medicine genus Epimedium, has many pharmacological and biological activities. Here, we show that icaritin can effectively decrease tumor burden of murine B16F10 melanoma and MC38 colorectal tumors in a T-cell dependent manner. The treatment effects are associated with increased CD8 T-cell infiltration and increased effector memory T-cell frequency.

Improvement of telescope resolution using a diffractive phase modulater.

Metasurface, fluorescent microscopy and scanning near-field optical microscopy can improve the resolution of microscopes remarkably, while the resolution of the telescope remains unimproved constrained by its giant objective lenses and distant targets. Here we put forward a way to raise the resolution of telescopes simply by adding a binary optical thin surface around its focal plane. Simulation results show that the surface can raise the image quality in the Cassegrain and Kepler telescope.

Carbon fabric supported 3D cobalt oxides/hydroxide nanosheet network as cathode for flexible all-solid-state asymmetric supercapacitor.

Owing to a lack of electroactive sites and poor conductivity, Co oxides/hydroxides nanosheet network electrodes usually show low experimental capacity, hardly meeting the demand for high energy density needed for an asymmetric supercapacitor. Herein, we demonstrate a surface capacity enhancement of a 3D cobalt oxides/hydroxides nanosheet network cathode through a simple cyclic voltammetry electro-deposition method. By optimizing the electro-deposition parameters, the as-prepared Co oxides/hydroxides nanosheet network electrode delivers a significantly high capacity of 427 C g-1 at the current density of 1 A g-1 and excellent rate ability of 79.

Attempting a Laparoscopic Approach in Patients Undergoing Left-Sided Colorectal Surgery Who Have Had a Previous Laparotomy: Is it Feasible?

Background: The feasibility of a laparoscopic approach in patients who have had a prior laparotomy (PL) remains controversial. We hypothesized that laparoscopic colorectal resection was safe and feasible in patients with previous open abdominal surgery.

Methods: A retrospective review (2007-2015) of all patients undergoing laparoscopic resection for sigmoid and rectal adenocarcinoma with or without prior midline laparotomy (NPL) was performed.

"Candy cane syndrome:" an underappreciated cause of abdominal pain and nausea after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery.

Background: "Candy cane" syndrome (a blind afferent Roux limb at the gastrojejunostomy) has been implicated as a cause of abdominal pain, nausea, and emesis after Roux-n-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) but remains poorly described.

Objectives: To report that "candy cane" syndrome is real and can be treated effectively with revisional bariatric surgery SETTING: All patients underwent "candy cane" resection at University Hospitals of Cleveland.

Methods: All patients who underwent resection of the "candy cane" between January 2011 and July 2015 were included.

Alvimopan in the setting of colorectal resection with an ostomy: To use or not to use?

Background: Postoperative ileus (POI) is a major cause of morbidity, increased length of stay (LOS) and hospital cost after colorectal surgery. Alvimopan is a µ-opioid antagonist used to accelerate upper and lower gastrointestinal function after bowel resection. We hypothesized that alvimopan would reduce LOS in patients undergoing colorectal resection with stoma, a situation that has not been evaluated.

Using Modified Frailty Index to Predict Safe Discharge Within 48 Hours of Ileostomy Closure.

Background: Enhanced recovery pathways allow for safe discharge and optimal outcomes within 48 hours after ileostomy closure. Unfortunately, some patients undergoing ileostomy closure have prolonged hospital stays. We have shown previously that the Modified Frailty Index can help predict patients who will fail early discharge after laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

Evaluating surgical management and outcomes of colovaginal fistulas.

Background: Colovaginal fistula is a rare condition associated with significant morbidity. The literature characterizing colovaginal fistula repair is sparse. We present our institution's experience treating colovaginal fistulas.

Comparative analysis of biologic versus synthetic mesh outcomes in contaminated hernia repairs.

Background: Contaminated operative fields pose significant challenges for surgeons performing ventral hernia repair. Although biologic meshes have been utilized increasingly in these fields, recent evidence suggests that synthetic meshes represent a viable option. We analyzed the outcomes of biologic and synthetic mesh utilized in patients undergoing major ventral hernia repair in clean-contaminated/contaminated fields.

Effectiveness of Valsartan/Amlodipine Single-pill Combination in Hypertensive Patients With Excess Body Weight: Subanalysis of China Status II.

Obesity is a major global health concern and is associated with hypertension. However, there is a lack of studies evaluating the effectiveness of valsartan/amlodipine single-pill combination in Chinese hypertensive patients with excess body weight uncontrolled by monotherapy. To evaluate this effectiveness and its association with obese categories, we performed a prespecified subanalysis and a post hoc analysis of patients from China status II study.

Glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) and T1 (GSTT1) null polymorphisms and the risk of hypertension: a meta-analysis.

Background: Some studies have recently focused on the association between glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) and glutathione S-transferase T1 (GSTT1) null polymorphisms and hypertension; however, results have been inconsistent.

Objective: In order to drive a more precise estimation, the present systematic review and meta-analysis is performed to investigate the relationship between the GSTM1 and GSTT1 null polymorphisms and hypertension.

Methods: Eligible articles were identified by a search of several bibliographic databases for the period up to August 17, 2013.

Interaction between the movement protein of barley yellow dwarf virus and the cell nuclear envelope: role of a putative amphiphilic alpha-helix at the N-terminus of the movement protein.

The open reading frame 4 (ORF 4) gene product of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) may act as a movement protein (MP) by assisting the transport of viral genomic RNA across the nuclear envelope (NE) of host plant cells. To investigate interactions between BYDV MP and the NE, wild-type and mutant open reading frame (ORF 4)-green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion cistrons were expressed in insect cells. A fusion protein expressed by the wild-type ORF 4-GFP cistron associated with the NE and caused protrusions from its surface.

A rice transcription factor OsbHLH1 is involved in cold stress response.

Cold stress adversely affects plant growth and crop production. Some plants express a series of cold-responsive genes during cold acclimation to reduce the damage of cold stress. Among them, transcription factors play important roles in enhancing plant cold tolerance.