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OBJECTIVE: Hip fracture (HF) has been described as the "last fracture of life" in the elderly, so the assessment of HF risk is extremely important. Currently, few studies have examined the relationship between imaging data from chest computed tomography (CT) and HF. This study demonstrated that pectoral muscle index (PMI) and vertebral body attenuation values could predict HF, aiming to opportunistically assess the risk of HF in patients without bone mineral density (BMD) based on chest CT for other diseases. METHODS: In the retrospective study, 800 participants who had both BMD and chest CT were enrolled from January 2021 to January 2024. After exclusion, 472 patients were finally enrolled, divided into the healthy control (HC) group and the HF group. Clinical data were collected, and differences between the two groups were compared. A predictive model was constructed based on the PMI and CT value of the fourth thoracic vertebra (T4HU) by logistic regression analysis, and the predictive effect of the model was analyzed by using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Finally, the clinical utility of the model was analyzed using decision curve analysis (DCA) and clinical impact curves. RESULTS: Both PMI and T4HU were lower in the HF group than in the HC group (p < 0.05); low PMI and low T4HU were risk factors for HF. The predictive model incorporating PMI and T4HU on the basis of age and BMI had excellent diagnostic efficacy with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.865 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.830-0.894, p < 0.01), sensitivity and specificity of 0.820 and 0.754, respectively. The clinical utility of the model was validated using calibration curves and DCA. The AUC of the predictive model incorporating BMD based on age and BMI was 0.865 (95% CI: 0.831-0.895, p < 0.01), with sensitivity and specificity of 0.698 and 0.711, respectively. There was no significant difference in diagnostic efficacy between the two models (p = 0.967). CONCLUSIONS: PMI and T4HU are predictors of HF in patients. In the absence of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), the risk of HF can be assessed by measuring the PMI and T4HU on chest CT examination due to other diseases, and further treatment can be provided in time to reduce the incidence of HF.

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OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term outcomes of subtotal hemispherotomy (SH) in treating drug-resistant epilepsy caused by unilateral hemispheric lesions and try to give the prognostic factors for these outcomes. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 19 patients who underwent SH in Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China, from May 2008 to April 2021. All clinical data and factors related to surgical and functional outcomes, including motor, neuropsychiatric, and language function, were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: The surgical outcomes showed 13 (68 %) patients were seizure-free at the last follow-up (2-14 years, mean: 5.6±2.9). No changes were found in motor outcomes in 12 (63 %) patients; seven (37 %) patients had new permanent motor deficits (NPMD). Improvement in the full-scale intelligence quotient (FIQ) (p = 0.009) was observed. Univariate analysis found that patients who did not achieve seizure freedom had a significantly older age at surgery (p = 0.017) and acute post-operative seizures (APOS) (p = 0.046). Kaplan-Meier analysis also identified significant differences in seizure outcomes between the children and adult subgroups (p = 0.0017). Multivariate Cox analysis showed that older age at surgery (HR=1.055, p = 0.034) was associated with shorter time-to-seizure-recurrence. Resection of the central operculum and insula (OR= 80.433, p =0.031) and higher monthly seizure frequency (OR= 1.073, p = 0.040) were also poor prognostic factors for motor function outcomes. CONCLUSION: SH is an effective treatment procedure in treating patients with drug-resistant epilepsy caused by hemispheric lesions with satisfied seizure outcomes, limited impairment of motor function, and preserving neuropsychiatric outcomes.

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AIM: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is recognized as an exceptionally aggressive cancer that both highly lethal and unfavorable prognosis. The mitochondrial metabolism pathway is intimately involved in oncogenesis and tumor progression, however, much remains unknown in this area. In this study, the bioinformatic tools have been used to construct a prognostic model with mitochondrial metabolism-related genes (MMRGs) to evaluate the survival, immune status, mutation profile, and drug sensitivity of PAAD patients. METHOD: Univariate Cox regression and LASSO regression were used to screen the differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and multivariate Cox regression was used to develop the risk model. Kaplan-Meier estimator was employed to identify MMRGs signatures associated with overall survival (OS). ROC curves were utilized to evaluate the model's performance. Maftools, immunedeconv and CIBERSORT R packages were applied to analyze the gene mutation profiles and immune status. The corresponding sensitivity to pharmaceutical agents was assessed using oncoPredict R packages. RESULTS: A prognostic model with five MMRGs was developed, which defined the patients as high-risk showed lower survival rates. There was good consistency among individuals categorized as high-risk, showing elevated rates of genetic alterations, particularly in the TP53 and KRAS genes. Furthermore, these patients exhibited increased levels of immunosuppression, characterized by an increased presence of macrophages, neutrophils, Th2 cells, and regulatory T cells. Additionally, high-risk patients showed increased sensitivity to Sabutoclax and Venetoclax. CONCLUSION: By utilizing a gene signature associated with mitochondrial metabolism, a prognostic model has been established which could be a highly efficient method for predicting the outcomes of PAAD patients.

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Considering the dilemma of obtaining economic and high-performance composites based on non-polar and main-chain-saturated ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber (EPDM), we proposed an effective and universal filler modification and nanocomposite preparation method. Specifically, the montmorillonite (MMT) surface was coated with polydopamine (PDA) to obtain DMMT, which was confirmed by XRD, XPS, FTIR, and TGA. After compounding DMMT gel with the solid EPDM via the gel compounding method, a silane coupling agent, vinyltrimethoxysilane, was introduced to construct covalent interactions between rubber and filler. Compared with the unmodified MMT filler EPDM, the EPDM/DMMT nanocomposite showed much fewer filler aggregates in the matrix. The highest tensile strength of the composites reached 6.5 MPa with 10 phr DMMT, almost 200% higher than that of pure EPDM.

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Objective: This study aims to systematically evaluate the efficacy of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (BMSCs-Exo) in improving spinal cord injury (SCI) to mitigate the risk of translational discrepancies from animal experiments to clinical applications. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive literature search up to March 2024 using PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the quality of the studies. Data analysis was performed using STATA16 software. Results: A total of 30 studies were included. The results indicated that BMSCs-Exo significantly improved the BBB score in SCI rats (WMD = 3.47, 95% CI [3.31, 3.63]), inhibited the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α (SMD = -3.12, 95% CI [-3.57, -2.67]), and promoted the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 (SMD = 2.76, 95% CI [1.88, 3.63]) and TGF-ß (SMD = 3.89, 95% CI [3.02, 4.76]). Additionally, BMSCs-Exo significantly reduced apoptosis levels (SMD = -4.52, 95% CI [-5.14, -3.89]), promoted the expression of axonal regeneration markers NeuN cells/field (SMD = 3.54, 95% CI [2.65, 4.42]), NF200 (SMD = 4.88, 95% CI [3.70, 6.05]), and the number of Nissl bodies (SMD = 1.89, 95% CI [1.13, 2.65]), and decreased the expression of astrogliosis marker GFAP (SMD = -5.15, 95% CI [-6.47, -3.82]). The heterogeneity among studies was primarily due to variations in BMSCs-Exo transplantation doses, with efficacy increasing with higher doses. Conclusion: BMSCs-Exo significantly improved motor function in SCI rats by modulating inflammatory responses, reducing apoptosis, inhibiting astrogliosis, and promoting axonal regeneration. However, the presence of selection, performance, and detection biases in current animal experiments may undermine the quality of evidence in this study.

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OBJECTIVE: To summarize the surgical outcomes of genetically refractory epilepsy and identify prognostic factors for these outcomes. METHODS: A literature search of the PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases for relevant studies, published between January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2023, was performed using specific search terms. All studies addressing surgical outcomes and follow-up of genetically refractory epilepsy were included. All statistical analyses were performed using STATA software (StataCorp LLC, College Station, TX, USA). This review was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, 2020 (i.e., "PRISMA") reporting guidelines. RESULTS: Of the 3833 studies retrieved, 55 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Eight studies were eligible for meta-analysis at the study level. Pooled outcomes revealed that 74 % of patients who underwent resective surgery (95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.55-0.89; z = 9.47, p < 0.05) achieved Engel I status at the last follow-up. In the study level analysis, pooled outcomes revealed that 9 % of patients who underwent vagus nerve stimulation achieved seizure-free status (95 % CI 0.00-0.31; z = 1.74, p < 0.05), and 61 % (95 % CI 0.55-0.89; z = 11.96, p < 0.05) achieved a 50 % reduction in seizure frequency at the last follow-up. Fifty-three studies comprising 249 patients were included in an individual-level analysis. Among patients who underwent lesion resection or lobectomy/multilobar resection, 65 % (100/153) achieved Engel I status at the last follow-up. Univariate analysis indicated that female sex, somatic mutations, and presenting with focal seizure symptoms were associated with better prognosis (p < 0.05). Additionally, 75 % (21/28) of patients who underwent hemispherectomy/hemispherotomy achieved Engel I status at the last follow-up. In the individual-level analysis, among patients treated with vagus nerve stimulation, 21 % (10/47) were seizure-free and 64 % (30/47) experienced >50 % reduction in seizure frequency compared with baseline. CONCLUSION: Meticulous presurgical evaluation and selection of appropriate surgical procedures can, to a certain extent, effectively control seizures. Therefore, various surgical procedures should be considered when treating patients with genetically refractory epilepsy.

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Objective: Curcumin, a phenolic compound extracted from turmeric rhizomes, exhibits antitumour effects in preclinical models of tumours. However, its mechanism of action in prostate cancer remains unclear. Exploring the molecular mechanisms of curcumin in prostate cancer based on network pharmacology and molecular docking provides a new theoretical basis for prostate cancer treatment. Method: Using tools such as PharmMapper, SuperPred, TargetNet, and SwissTargetPrediction, we obtained information on curcumin-related targets. We comprehensively collected prostate cancer-related targets from several databases, including GeneCards, CTD, DisGeNET, OMIM, and PharmGKB. Cross-cutting drug-disease targets were then derived by screening using the Venny 2.1.0 tool. Subsequently, we used the DAVID platform to perform in-depth GO and KEGG enrichment analyses of the drug-disease-shared targets. To construct a PPI network map of the cross-targets and screen the 10 core targets, we combined the STRING database and Cytoscape 3.7.2. Molecular docking experiments were performed using AutoDockTools 1.5.7 software. Finally, we used several databases such as GEPIA, HPA, cBioPortal, and TIMER to further analyse the screened core targets in detail. Result: We identified 307 key targets of curcumin in cancer treatment. After GO functional enrichment analysis, we obtained 1119 relevant entries, including 782 biological progression (BP) entries, 112 cellular component (CC) entries, and 225 molecular function (MF) entries. In addition, KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed 126 signalling pathways, which were mainly involved in the cancer pathway, such as lipid and atherosclerosis pathway, PI3K-Akt signal pathway, MAPK signal pathway, Ras signal pathways, and chemical carcinogenesis-reactive oxygen species. By applying Cytoscape 3.7.2 software, we identified SRC, PIK3R1, STAT3, AKT1, HSP90AA1, ESR1, EGFR, HSP90AB1, MAPK8, and MAPK1 as core targets. Molecular docking experiments showed that the binding energies of curcumin to these core targets were all below -1.85 kJ mol-1, which fully demonstrated that curcumin could spontaneously bind to these core targets. Finally, these results were validated at multiple levels, including mRNA expression, protein expression, and immune infiltration. Conclusion: Through in-depth network pharmacology and molecular docking studies, we have found that curcumin may have anticancer potential by upregulating the expression of PIK3R1 and STAT3, and downregulating the binding ability of molecules such as SRC, AKT1, HSP90AA1, ESR1, EGFR, HSP90AB1, MAPK8, and MAPK1. In addition, curcumin may interfere with the cyclic process of prostate cancer cells by inhibiting key signalling pathways such as the PI3K-Akt signalling pathway, MAPK signalling pathway, and Ras, thereby inhibiting their growth. This study not only reveals the potential molecular mechanism of curcumin in the treatment of prostate cancer but also provides an important theoretical basis for subsequent research.

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The predatory gall midge, Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Rondani), and tobacco aphid cocoon wasp, Aphidius gifuensis Ashmead, are important natural enemies of Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Predation by A. aphidimyza and A. gifuensis can regulate M. persicae; however, how interspecific interference competition affects their foraging efficiency is unknown. Here, we investigated the consumption and parasitization abilities of A. aphidimyza 3rd instar larva and A. gifuensis adults under various conditions. Consumption of parasitized aphids by A. aphidimyza 3rd instar larvae was significantly lower than that of nonparasitized controls, with a substantial increase in handling time. The presence of A. gifuensis adults did not significantly affect the predation capacity of A. aphidimyza larvae. Relative to controls, A. aphidimyza larvae predation trace (PT) and imago activity significantly decreased A. gifuensis parasitism rates at different aphid densities. Further, A. aphidimyza larvae PT increased the A. gifuensis handling time of M. persicae, whereas the presence of A. aphidimyza adults had the opposite effect. Coexistence with heterospecific natural enemies reduced the parasitic capacity of A. gifuensis, whereas A. aphidimyza larvae predation capability was influenced to a lesser extent. Our results demonstrate that intraguild interactions strongly influence the predatory and parasitic efficacy of A. aphidimyza and A. gifuensis, although the effect on A. gifuensis was more pronounced. For effective biological control of M. persicae using A. aphidimyza and A. gifuensis, we recommend releasing A. aphidimyza first to mitigate intraguild predation and enhance the overall success of the pest control program.

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Poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) is a widely used U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved implantable biomaterial that also possesses strong piezoelectricity. However, the intrinsically low stability of its high-energy piezoelectric ß phase and random domain orientations associated with current synthesis approaches remain a critical roadblock to practical applications. Here, we report an interfacial anchoring strategy for fabricating core/shell PLLA/glycine (Gly) nanofibers (NFs) by electrospinning, which show a high ratio of piezoelectric ß phase and excellent orientation alignment. The self-assembled core/shell structure offers strong intermolecular interactions between the -OH groups on Gly and C=O groups on PLLA, which promotes the crystallization of oriented PLLA polymer chains and stabilizes the ß phase structure. As-received core/shell NFs exhibit substantially enhanced piezoelectric performance and excellent stability. An all NF-based nonwoven fabric is fabricated and assembled as a flexible nanogenerator. The device offers excellent conformality to heavily wrinkled surfaces and thus can precisely detect complex physiological motions often found from biological organs.

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Natural rubber (NR) composites have been widely applied in damping products to reduce harmful vibrations, while rubber with only a single composition barely meets performance requirements. In this study, rubber blend composites including various ratios of NR and styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) were prepared via the conventional mechanical blending method. The effects of the rubber components on the compression set, compression fatigue temperature rising and the thermal oxidative aging properties of the NR/SBR blend composites were investigated. Meanwhile, the dynamic mechanical thermal analyzer and rubber processing analyzer were used to characterize the dynamic viscoelasticity of the NR/SBR blend composites. It was shown that, with the increase in the SBR ratio, the vulcanization rate of the composites increased significantly, while the compression fatigue temperature rising of the composites decreased gradually from 47 °C (0% SBR ratio) to 31 °C (50% SBR ratio). The compression set of the composites remained at ~33% when the SBR ratio was no more than 20%, and increased gradually when the SBR ratio was more than 20%.

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INTRODUCTION: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tibial avulsion fracture is a rare injury, which usually happens in adults with traffic accidents or sports injuries. Surgery interventions are common treatment methods, they can restore knee function and help to return to normal life. In this study, we described an arthroscopic modified suture bridge fixation technique for ACL tibial avulsion fractures and explored the feasibility and therapeutic effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed data from January 2020 to May 2022. Data were collected on 18 patients (10 males and 8 females) with ACL tibial avulsion fractures and underwent arthroscopic modified suture bridge fixation technique. The study analyzed surgical data about intraoperative blood loss, operation time, hospital stay, fracture healing time, and visual analog scale (VAS). Functional evaluation of the knee joint was performed using the anterior drawer test, Lysholm knee scoring scale, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), and knee range of motion (ROM). RESULTS: All 18 patients were followed up between 12 and 20 months, with an average of 15.22 ± 1.96 months. The intraoperative blood loss was approximately 15-40 mL, averaging 25.78 ± 6.19 mL. The operation time was 65-85 min, with a mean of 74.89 ± 4.86 min. The hospital stay of patients was 3-5 days, with a mean of 3.89 ± 0.76 days. The mean fracture healing time was 8-12 weeks after surgery, with a mean of 9.22 ± 1.7 weeks. All incisions healed grade I without infection. There were no internal fixation failures, neurovascular injuries, and lower extremity deep venous thrombosis. The anterior drawer test was negative in all patients. At the final follow-up, the mean VAS score was 0-3, averaging 1.56 ± 0.71. The Lysholm score of the injured knee was 89-96, with an average of 92.50 ± 2.50; the IKDC score was 88-93, with an average of 90.44 ± 1.89; the knee ROM was 110-126°, with an average of 120.67° ± 4.31°. CONCLUSION: Results demonstrated that the modified suture bridge fixation technique under arthroscope could provide reliable fixation and favorable clinical effects for ACL tibial avulsion fractures. This is a simple, minimally invasive, effective, and clinically applicable surgical method for ACL tibial avulsion fracture.

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Curcumin, a phenolic compound derived from turmeric, has demonstrated anti-tumor properties in preclinical models of various cancers. However, the exact mechanism of curcumin in treating bladder cancer remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the therapeutic targets and molecular mechanisms of curcumin in the treatment of BC through an integrated approach of network pharmacology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations. PharmMapper, SuperPred, TargetNet, and SwissTargetPrediction were utilized to acquire targets associated with curcumin, while GeneCards, CTD, DisGeNET, OMIM, and PharmGKB databases were utilized to obtain targets related to bladder cancer. The drug-disease interaction targets were obtained using Venny 2.1.0, and GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were then conducted with the DAVID tool. We constructed a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and identified tenkey targets. In conclusion, AutoDock Tools 1.5.7 was utilized to conduct molecular docking simulations, followed by additional analysis of the central targets through the GEPIA, HPA, cBioPortal, and TIMER databases. A total of 305 potential anticancer targets of curcumin were obtained. The analysis of GO functional enrichment resulted in a total of 1105 terms, including 786 terms related to biological processes (BP), 105 terms related to cellular components (CC), and 214 terms related to molecular functions (MF). In addition, KEGG pathway enrichment analysis identified 170 relevant signaling pathways. Treating bladder cancer could potentially involve inhibiting pathways like the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance, and IL-17 signaling pathway. Activating TNF, ALB, CASP3, and ESR1 while inhibiting AKT1, EGFR, STAT3, BCL2, SRC, and HSP90AA1 can also hinder the proliferation of bladder tumor cells. According to the results of molecular docking, curcumin binds to these central targets in a spontaneous manner, exhibiting binding energies lower than - 1.631 kJ/mol. These findings were further validated at the transcriptional, translational and immune infiltration levels. By utilizing network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques, it was discovered that curcumin possesses diverse effects on multiple targets and pathways for treating bladder cancer. It has the potential to impede the growth of bladder tumor cells by suppressing various pathways including the PI3K-Akt and MAPK signaling pathways, as well as pathways associated with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance and the IL-17 signaling pathway. Curcumin could potentially disrupt the cell cycle advancement in bladder cancer cells by increasing the expression of TNF, ALB, CASP3, and ESR1 while decreasing AKT1, EGFR, STAT3, BCL2, SRC, HSP90AA1, and other targeted genes. These findings reveal the possible molecular pathways through which curcumin exerts its anticancer effects in bladder cancer, and this novel research strategy not only provides an important basis for an in-depth understanding of the anticancer mechanism of curcumin, but also offers new potential drugs and targets for the clinical treatment of bladder cancer. Therefore, this study is of great scientific significance and practical application value for promoting the development of bladder cancer therapeutic field. This finding provides strong support for the development of novel, safe and effective drugs for bladder cancer treatment.

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A total of 55 food and clinical S. Schwarzengrund isolates were assayed for plasmid content, among which an IncFIB-IncFIC(FII) fusion plasmid, conferring streptomycin resistance, was detected in 17 isolates. Among the 17 isolates, 9 were food isolates primarily collected from poultry meat, and 8 clinical isolates collected from stool, urine, and gallbladder. SNP-based phylogenetic analyses showed that the isolates carrying the fusion plasmid formed a subclade indicating the plasmid was acquired and is now maintained by the lineage. Phylogenetic analysis of the plasmid suggested it is derived from avian pathogenic plasmids and might confer an adaptive advantage to the S. Schwarzengrund isolates within birds. IncFIB-IncFIC(FII) fusion plasmids from all food and three clinical isolates were self-conjugative and successfully transferred into E. coli J53 by conjugation. Food and clinical isolates had similar virulome profiles and were able to invade human Caco-2 cells. However, the IncFIB-IncFIC(FII) plasmid did not significantly add to their invasion and persistence potential in human Caco-2 cells.

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Because of its peculiar flavor, chili oil is widely used in all kinds of food and is welcomed by people. Chili pepper is an important raw material affecting its quality, and commercial chili oil needs to meet various production needs, so it needs to be made with different chili peppers. However, the current compounding method mainly relies on the experience of professionals and lacks the basis of objective numerical analysis. In this study, the chroma and capsaicinoids of different chili oils were analyzed, and then the volatile components were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography-ion migration spectrometer (GC-IMS) and electronic nose (E-nose). The results showed that Zidantou chili oil had the highest L*, b*, and color intensity (ΔE) (52.76 ± 0.52, 88.72 ± 0.89, and 118.84 ± 1.14), but the color was tended to be greenyellow. Xinyidai chili oil had the highest a* (65.04 ± 0.2). But its b* and L* were relatively low (76.17 ± 0.29 and 45.41 ± 0.16), and the oil was dark red. For capsaicinoids, Xiaomila chili oil had the highest content of capsaicinoids was 2.68 ± 0.07 g/kg, Tianjiao chili oil had the lowest content of capsaicinoids was 0.0044 ± 0.0044 g/kg. Besides, 96 and 54 volatile flavor substances were identified by GC-MS and GC-IMS respectively. And the main volatile flavor substances of chili oil were aldehydes, alcohols, ketones, and esters. A total of 11 key flavor compounds were screened by the relative odor activity value (ROAV). Moguijiao chili oil and Zidantou chili oil had a prominent grass aroma because of hexanal, while Shizhuhong chili oil, Denglongjiao chili oil, Erjingtiao chili oil, and Zhoujiao chili oil had a prominent floral aroma because of 2, 3-butanediol. Chili oils could be well divided into 3 groups by the partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). According to the above results, the 10 kinds of chili oil had their own characteristics in color, capsaicinoids and flavor. Based on quantitative physicochemical indicators and flavor substances, the theoretical basis for the compounding of chili oil could be provided to meet the production demand more scientifically and accurately.

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BACKGROUND: Existing studies have shown that computed tomography (CT) attenuation and skeletal muscle tissue are strongly associated with osteoporosis; however, few studies have examined whether vertebral HU values and the pectoral muscle index (PMI) measured at the level of the 4th thoracic vertebra (T4) are strongly associated with bone mineral density (BMD). In this study, we demonstrate that vertebral HU values and the PMI based on chest CT can be used to opportunistically screen for osteoporosis and reduce fracture risk through prompt treatment. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 1000 patients who underwent chest CT and DXA scans from August 2020-2022. The T4 HU value and PMI were obtained using manual chest CT measurements. The participants were classified into normal, osteopenia, and osteoporosis groups based on the results of dual-energy X-ray (DXA) absorptiometry. We compared the clinical baseline data, T4 HU value, and PMI between the three groups of patients and analyzed the correlation between the T4 HU value, PMI, and BMD to further evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of the T4 HU value and PMI for patients with low BMD and osteoporosis. RESULTS: The study ultimately enrolled 469 participants. The T4 HU value and PMI had a high screening capacity for both low BMD and osteoporosis. The combined diagnostic model-incorporating sex, age, BMI, T4 HU value, and PMI-demonstrated the best diagnostic efficacy, with areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.887 and 0.892 for identifying low BMD and osteoporosis, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The measurement of T4 HU value and PMI on chest CT can be used as an opportunistic screening tool for osteoporosis with excellent diagnostic efficacy. This approach allows the early prevention of osteoporotic fractures via the timely screening of individuals at high risk of osteoporosis without requiring additional radiation.

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Background: The importance of the gut microbiota in maintaining bone homeostasis has been increasingly emphasized by recent research. This study aimed to identify whether and how the gut microbiome of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and osteopenia may differ from that of healthy individuals. Methods: Fecal samples were collected from 27 individuals with osteoporosis (OP), 44 individuals with osteopenia (ON), and 23 normal controls (NC). The composition of the gut microbial community was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results: No significant difference was found in the microbial composition between the three groups according to alpha and beta diversity. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria and Fusobacteriota were significantly higher and Synergistota was significantly lower in the ON group than in the NC group. At the genus level, Roseburia, Clostridia_UCG.014, Agathobacter, Dialister and Lactobacillus differed between the OP and NC groups as well as between the ON and NC groups (p < 0.05). Linear discriminant effect size (LEfSe) analysis results showed that one phylum community and eighteen genus communities were enriched in the NC, ON and OP groups, respectively. Spearman correlation analysis showed that the abundance of the Dialister genus was positively correlated with BMD and T score at the lumbar spine (p < 0.05). Functional predictions revealed that pathways relevant to amino acid biosynthesis, vitamin biosynthesis, and nucleotide metabolism were enriched in the NC group. On the other hand, pathways relevant to metabolites degradation and carbohydrate metabolism were mainly enriched in the ON and OP groups respectively. Conclusions: Our findings provide new epidemiologic evidence regarding the relationship between the gut microbiota and postmenopausal bone loss, laying a foundation for further exploration of therapeutic targets for the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO).

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OBJECTIVE: Metabolic reprogramming serves as a distinctive feature of cancer, impacting proliferation and metastasis, with aberrant glycosphingolipid expression playing a crucial role in malignancy. Nevertheless, limited research has investigated the connection between glycosphingolipid metabolism and pancreatic cancer. METHODS: This study utilized a single-cell sequencing dataset to analyze the cell composition in pancreatic cancer tissues and quantified single-cell metabolism using a newly developed computational pipeline called scMetabolism. A gene signature developed from the differential expressed genes (DEGs), related to epithelial cell glycosphingolipid metabolism, was established to forecast patient survival, immune response, mutation status, and reaction to chemotherapy with pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD). RESULTS: The single-cell sequencing analysis revealed a significant increase in epithelial cell proportions in PAAD, with high glycosphingolipid metabolism occurring in the cancerous tissue. A six-gene signature prognostic model based on abnormal epithelial glycosphingolipid metabolism was created and confirmed using publicly available databases. Patients with PAAD were divided into high- and low-risk categories according to the median risk score, with those in the high-risk group demonstrating a more unfavorable survival outcome in all three cohorts, with higher rates of gene mutations (e.g., KRAS, CDKN2A), increased levels of immunosuppressive cells (macrophages, Th2 cells, regulatory T cells), and heightened sensitivity to Acetalax and Selumetinlb. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal metabolism of glycosphingolipids in epithelial cells may promote the development of PAAD. A model utilizing a gene signature associated with epithelial glycosphingolipids metabolism has been established, serving as a valuable indicator for the prognostic stratification of patients with PAAD.

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The Dung beetle optimization (DBO) algorithm, devised by Jiankai Xue in 2022, is known for its strong optimization capabilities and fast convergence. However, it does have certain limitations, including insufficiently random population initialization, slow search speed, and inadequate global search capabilities. Drawing inspiration from the mathematical properties of the Sinh and Cosh functions, we proposed a new metaheuristic algorithm, Sinh-Cosh Dung Beetle Optimization (SCDBO). By leveraging the Sinh and Cosh functions to disrupt the initial distribution of DBO and balance the development of rollerball dung beetles, SCDBO enhances the search efficiency and global exploration capabilities of DBO through nonlinear enhancements. These improvements collectively enhance the performance of the dung beetle optimization algorithm, making it more adept at solving complex real-world problems. To evaluate the performance of the SCDBO algorithm, we compared it with seven typical algorithms using the CEC2017 test functions. Additionally, by successfully applying it to three engineering problems, robot arm design, pressure vessel problem, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) path planning, we further demonstrate the superiority of the SCDBO algorithm.

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The dung beetle optimization (DBO) algorithm, a swarm intelligence-based metaheuristic, is renowned for its robust optimization capability and fast convergence speed. However, it also suffers from low population diversity, susceptibility to local optima solutions, and unsatisfactory convergence speed when facing complex optimization problems. In response, this paper proposes the multi-strategy improved dung beetle optimization algorithm (MDBO). The core improvements include using Latin hypercube sampling for better population initialization and the introduction of a novel differential variation strategy, termed "Mean Differential Variation", to enhance the algorithm's ability to evade local optima. Moreover, a strategy combining lens imaging reverse learning and dimension-by-dimension optimization was proposed and applied to the current optimal solution. Through comprehensive performance testing on standard benchmark functions from CEC2017 and CEC2020, MDBO demonstrates superior performance in terms of optimization accuracy, stability, and convergence speed compared with other classical metaheuristic optimization algorithms. Additionally, the efficacy of MDBO in addressing complex real-world engineering problems is validated through three representative engineering application scenarios namely extension/compression spring design problems, reducer design problems, and welded beam design problems.

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Splash, one of the most visually apparent droplet dynamics, can manifest on any surface above a certain impact velocity, regardless of surface wettability. Previous studies demonstrate that elevating the substrate temperature can suppress droplet splash, which is unfavorable for many practical applications, such as spray cooling and combustion. Here, we report that the suppression effect of substrate temperature on splash is nullified by utilizing surfaces with nanostructures. By manipulating air evacuation time through surface nanostructures, we have identified a pathway for precise control over the splash threshold and the ability to tailor the dependence of the splash onset on surface temperature. We further propose a theoretical criterion to determine different splash regimes by considering the competition between air evacuation and the development of flow instabilities. Our findings underscore the crucial role of nanostructures in splash dynamics, offering valuable insights for the control of splash in various industrial scenarios.