Abstract Background This study aimed to investigate whether the combination of Macleaya cordata extract (MCE) and Bacillus could improve the laying performance and health of laying hens better. Methods A total of 360 29-week-old Jingbai laying hens were randomly divided into 4 treatments: control group (basal diet), MCE group (basal diet + MCE), Probiotics Bacillus Compound (PBC) group (basal diet + compound Bacillus), MCE + PBC group (basal diet + MCE + compound Bacillus). The...

Abstract Background Emerging evidence have revealed that circRNAs exert important biological effects in the development and progression of various diseases, including cancer. Our study aimed to elaborated the biological effects of hsa-circ_0003570 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development at the molecular level. Results The results of functional experiments showed that knockdown of circ_0003570 induced HCC cell growth, migration and invasion, whereas overexpression of circ_0003570 presented the opposite effects. In vivo experiments, xenograft tumors grown from circ-overexpressed...

Abstract Background Clonorchiasis caused by Clonorchis sinensis is a zoonotic parasitic disease characterized by cholangitis, biliary proliferation, biliary fibrosis, and even cholangiocarcinoma. Our previous study showed that the expression of interleukin (IL)-33 is increased in both humans and mice infected by C. sinensis, suggesting that IL-33 is potentially involved in the pathogenesis of clonorchiasis. However, the roles and potential mechanism of IL-33 underlying remain unknown. Methods Wild-type (WT) and IL-33 knockout (KO) mice (BALB/c female...

There are many contradictions in previous studies of the status of depressive symptoms among Chinese migrant children, the number of which in the compulsory education stage is about 13.9 million. This systematic review and meta-analysis were designed to compare depressive symptoms among migrant children and their urban children. Around 2,710 papers were retrieved from PubMed, OVID, the Web of Knowledge, CNKI, Wan Fang, Chongqing VIP, and Chinese Social Sciences Citation Index on January 27, 2020....

To image the underlying structures of a scattering medium, raster scanning imaging technologies capture least scattered photons (LSPs) and reject multiple scattered photons (MSPs) in backscattered photons. However, MSPs can still squeeze into the images, resulting in limited imaging depth, degraded contrast, and significantly reduced lateral resolution. Great efforts have been made to understand how MSPs affect imaging performance through modeling, but the techniques for visualizing the backscattered photon profile (BSPP) in scattering media during...

Abstract Background Although association of depressive symptoms with cigarette or alcohol is well documented, the dose–response relationship between them is rarely studied. This study aims to evaluate dose–response relationships of cigarette and alcohol consumption with depressive symptoms in Chinese middle-aged and elderly men, providing evidence to guide cigarette and alcohol control. Methods This multiple-center, cross-sectional study including 5965 Chinese men aged 40–79 years was conducted in 2013–2016 in China. Depressive symptoms were evaluated by Beck...

Abstract Background Autophagy regulators play important roles in the occurrence and development of a variety of tumors and are involved in immune regulation and drug resistance. However, the modulatory roles and prognostic value of autophagy regulators in pancreatic cancer have not been identified. Methods Transcriptomic data and survival information from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases were used to construct a risk score model. Important clinical features were analyzed to...

Abstract Background The benefits and risks of intensive versus standard systolic blood pressure (SBP) treatment in older patients with arterial stiffness (AS) remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the interaction between the baseline AS and SBP treatments on cardiovascular outcomes. Methods In this post hoc analysis of the Strategy of Blood Pressure Intervention in the Elderly Hypertensive Patients (STEP) trial, we involved 6865 participants with complete data regarding baseline brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV)....

ObjectiveTo evaluate clinical factors influencing the postoperative pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma (PSCs) prognosis.MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated patients with PSCs treated from October 2012 to October 2017. Kaplan–Meier survival curves were calculated using univariable analysis (log-rank test). Univariable/multivariable Cox regression analysis was also performed.ResultsMixed PSCs were most common (64.10%). Pure PSCs occurred more often with large tumors compared with mixed PSCs. Patients with vs without pleural retraction, respectively, had significantly worse overall survival (OS; 16 vs 23 months)...

ObjectiveTo evaluate clinical factors influencing the postoperative pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma (PSCs) prognosis.MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated patients with PSCs treated from October 2012 to October 2017. Kaplan–Meier survival curves were calculated using univariable analysis (log-rank test). Univariable/multivariable Cox regression analysis was also performed.ResultsMixed PSCs were most common (64.10%). Pure PSCs occurred more often with large tumors compared with mixed PSCs. Patients with vs without pleural retraction, respectively, had significantly worse overall survival (OS; 16 vs 23 months)...

Purpose There is limited treatment for lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC), so there is an urgent need to find new antitumor drugs. Materials and Methods We downloaded datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and the Cancer Genome Atlas databases. We used GEO2R and the “limma” package to screen differentially expressed genes. We used the Cytoscape software to screen out hub genes. We screened herbs that act on hub genes on the Chinese medicine website....

Methane (CH4) emissions from sewage sludge composting can be reduced by using biochar more effectively. This study investigates the impact of different structure of biochar on CH4 emissions during sewage sludge composting. Corncob biochar (CB, pore size = 35.3990 nm), rice husk biochar (RB, pore size = 3.4242 nm) and wood biochar (WB, pore size = 1.6691 nm) were applied to the composting. The results showed that biochar decreased CH4 emissions, mainly through the indirect...

Abstract Background N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) are used as quorum-sensing signals by Gram-negative bacteria, but they can also affect plant growth and disease resistance. N-decanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (C10-HSL) is an AHL that has been shown to inhibit primary root growth in Arabidopsis, but the mechanisms underlying its effects on root architecture are unclear. Here, we investigated the signaling components involved in C10-HSL-mediated inhibition of primary root growth in Arabidopsis, and their interplay, using pharmacological, physiological, and genetic...

PurposeExtracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is employed to support critically ill COVD-19 patients. The occurrence of ischemic stroke and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), as well as the implementation of anticoagulation strategies under the dual influence of ECMO and COVID-19 remain unclear. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to describe the ischemic stroke, ICH and overall in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients receiving ECMO and summarize the anticoagulation regimens.MethodsEMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane, and Scopus were searched for studies examining...

Abstract Background Ticks (order Ixodida) are ectoparasites, vectors and reservoirs of many infectious agents affecting humans and domestic animals. However, the lack of information on tick genomic diversity leaves significant gaps in the understanding of the evolution of ticks and associated bacteria. Results We collected > 20,000 contemporary and historical (up to 60 years of preservation) tick samples representing a wide range of tick biodiversity across diverse geographic regions in China. Metagenomic sequencing was performed...

Abstract Background High-altitude cerebral edema (HACE) is a serious and potentially fatal brain injury that is caused by acute hypobaric hypoxia (HH) exposure. Vasogenic edema is the main pathological factor of this condition. Hypoxia-induced disruptions of tight junctions in the endothelium trigger blood‒brain barrier (BBB) damage and induce vasogenic edema. Nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1) acts as a major regulator of hypoxia-induced endothelial cell injury, and caveolin-1 (CAV-1) is upregulated as its downstream gene in...

Background:The rerupture or need for revision after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is a serious complication. Preventive strategies that target the early identification of risk factors are important to reduce the incidence of additional surgery.Purpose:To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate risk factors for revision or rerupture after ACLR.Study Design:Systematic review and meta-analysis; Level of evidence, 4.Methods:Literature searches were performed in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science from database inception to November 2021...

Abstract Background Intrauterine inflammation (IUI) alters epigenetic modifications in offspring, leading to lung injury. However, the epigenetic mechanism underlying IUI-induced lung injury remains uncertain. In the present study, we aim to investigate the effect of IUI on lung development, and to identify the key molecule involved in this process and its epigenetic regulatory mechanism. Results Serpine1 was upregulated in the lung tissue of neonatal mice with IUI. Intranasal delivery of Serpine1 siRNA markedly reversed IUI-induced...

Abstract Background Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterized by a cluster of signs of metabolic disturbance and has caused a huge burden on the health system. The study aims to explore the prevalence and characteristics of MetS defined by different criteria in the Chinese population. Methods Using the data of the China Hypertension Survey (CHS), a nationally representative cross-sectional study from October 2012 to December 2015, a total of 28,717 participants aged 35 years and above...

Background:In China, disparities in the quality of stroke care still exist and implementing quality improvement is still a challenge.Aim:The aim of the study was to determine whether the intervention by Shanghai Stroke Service System (4S) has helped improve adherence to stroke care guidelines and patient outcome.Methods:The 4S is a regional stroke network with real-time data extraction among its 61 stroke centers in Shanghai. A total of 11 key performance indicators (KPIs) were evaluated. The primary...

The processes leading to the N2+ lasing are rather complex and even the population distribution after the pump laser excitation is unknown. In this paper, we study the population distribution at electronic and vibrational levels in N2+ driven by ultra-short laser pulse at the wavelengths of 800 nm and 400 nm by using the quantum-mechanical time-domain incoherent superposition model based on the time-dependent Schrodinger equation and the quasi-classical model assuming instantaneous ionization injection described by...

Abstract Background Dysbiosis or imbalance of gut microbiota in Alzheimer's disease (AD) affects the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), whereas exogenous SCFAs supplementation exacerbates brain Aβ burden in APP/PS1 mice. Bifidobacterium is the main producer of SCFAs in the gut flora, but oral administration of Bifidobacterium is ineffective due to strong acids and bile salts in the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, regulating the levels of SCFAs in the gut is of great significance for AD...

Abstract Background Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is a recently identified pattern of blood supply to tumor tissue. It has long been considered a functional element in the metastasis and prognosis of malignant tumors. Both Rho GTPase-activating protein 25 (ARHGAP25) and Ras homolog family member A (RhoA) are effective predictors of tumor metastasis. In this study, we examined the expression levels of ARHGAP25 and RhoA and the structure of VM in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). At...

Abstract Background The successful establishment of a species population following a single introduction of a few individuals to a non-native area has been limited. Nevertheless, the oriental fire-bellied toad (Bombina orientalis) population in Beijing is purportedly descended from a single introduction of about 200 individuals translocated from Yantai, Shandong Province, China, in 1927. Results To resolve the introduction process and to understand the genetic consequences since that introduction approximately 90 years ago, we investigated the...

Abstract Background The successful establishment of a species population following a single introduction of a few individuals to a non-native area has been limited. Nevertheless, the oriental fire-bellied toad (Bombina orientalis) population in Beijing is purportedly descended from a single introduction of about 200 individuals translocated from Yantai, Shandong Province, China, in 1927. Results To resolve the introduction process and to understand the genetic consequences since that introduction approximately 90 years ago, we investigated the...