Abstract Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is a known bacterium that produces biofilms and causes severe infection. Furthermore, P. aeruginosa biofilms are extremely difficult to eradicate, leading to the development of chronic and antibiotic-resistant infections. Our previous study showed that a cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide (CRAMP) inhibits the formation of P. aeruginosa biofilms and markedly reduces the biomass of preformed biofilms, while the mechanism of eradicating bacterial biofilms remains elusive. Therefore, in this study, the potential mechanism...

Abstract Background Chemokine CXC motif receptor 7 (CXCR7) is an atypical G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that signals in a biased fashion. CXCL12/CXCR7 biased signal has been reported to play crucial roles in multiple stages of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the mechanism of CXCL12/CXCR7 biased signal in promoting CRC progression and metastasis remains obscure. Results We demonstrate that CXCR7 activation promotes EMT and upregulates the expression of Vimentin and doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) in CRC cells...

Abstract Background Flavonoids are necessary for plant growth and resistance to adversity and stress. They are also an essential nutrient for human diet and health. Among the metabolites produced in Cannabis sativa (C. sativa), phytocannabinoids have undergone extensive research on their structures, biosynthesis, and biological activities. Besides the phytocannabinoids, C. sativa is also rich in terpenes, alkaloids, and flavonoids, although little research has been conducted in this area. Results In this study, we identified 11...

Cryptotanshinone is a quinone diterpene extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine Salvia miltiorrhiza root that shows obvious anticancer activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of action of cryptotanshinone as an antigastric cancer agent, as well as a chemotherapy potentiator. A gastric cancer model was established by tumor transplantation, and mice were treated with either 5-fluorouracil or cryptotanshinone, or both drugs. The tumor mass was recorded, and the tumor suppression rate...

By precisely managing fiber-optic nonlinearity with anomalous dispersion, we have demonstrated the control of generating plural few-optical-cycle pulses based on a 24-MHz Chromium:forsterite laser, allowing multicolor two-photon tissue imaging by wavelength mixing. The formation of high-order soliton and its efficient coupling to dispersive wave generation leads to phase-matched spectral broadening, and we have obtained a broadband continuum ranging from 830 nm to 1200 nm, delivering 5-nJ pulses with a pulse width of 10.5 fs using...

We demonstrate that reflectionless propagation of electromagnetic waves between two different materials can be achieved by designing an intermediate temporal medium, which can work in an ultra-wide frequency band. Such a temporal medium is designed with consideration of a multi-stage variation of the material’s permittivity in the time domain. The multi-stage temporal permittivity is formed by a cascaded quarter-wave temporal coating, which is an extension of the antireflection temporal coating by Pacheco-Peña et al [[1]...

Mid-infrared (MIR) single-photon detection is emerging as an important technology for various applications. Superconducting nanowire single photon detectors (SNSPDs) fabricated with superconducting films with energy gaps of a few meV are natural broadband single-photon detectors. Recently, extending SNSPDs’ operation wavelengths into the MIR region is highly attractive. γ-Nb₄N₃ has a reduced N content and lower energy gap than the commonly used δ-NbN, making SNSPDs based on γ-Nb₄N₃ film more sensitive to low energy photons. We...

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...

At the request of the authors and American Marketing Association (AMA), the following article has been retracted:

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 In China diabetes care is gradually shifting from secondary to primary care with great infrastructure investment and GP training. However, most GPs in China lack communication skills training, which is a huge obstacle in communication with their patients in primary care. In this study we seek to identify training priorities that is evidence-based, appropriate for the context of primary care in China, and that meet the real needs of both GPs and people...

A stereo interplanting system with foxtail millet beneath chestnut trees is an effective planting method to raise the utilization of land in chestnut orchards, increase yields and improve quality of chestnut nuts. Consequently, exploration of genes involved in shade tolerance response in foxtail millet and breeding shade-tolerant varieties have become urgent issues. In this study, RNA-seq of leaf samples from two shade-tolerant varieties and three shade-intolerant varieties of foxtail millet at the booting stage was...

Abstract Background Shotgun metagenomic sequencing has greatly expanded the understanding of microbial communities in various biological niches. However, it is still challenging to efficiently convert sub-nanogram DNA to high-quality metagenomic libraries and obtain high-fidelity data, hindering the exploration of niches with low microbial biomass. Results To cope with this challenge comprehensively, we evaluated the performance of various library preparation methods on 0.5 pg–5 ng synthetic microbial community DNA, characterized contaminants, and further applied different in...

Abstract Purpose To investigate the factors influencing and long-term effects of manual myotomy (MM) occurring during physiotherapy for congenital muscular torticollis (CMT). Methods We retrospectively collected the clinical data of children with CMT receiving physiotherapy between 2008 and 2018. The children were divided into manual myotomy (MM) and non-manual myotomy (NMM) groups according to whether MM occurred during treatment. We assessed physiotherapy outcomes in children with CMT using craniofacial asymmetry parameters and the Cheng–Tang rating...

Abstract Background Sedative gastrointestinal endoscopy is extensively used worldwide. An appropriate degree of sedation leads to more acceptability and satisfaction. Artificial intelligence has rapidly developed in the field of digestive endoscopy in recent years and we have constructed a mature computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) system. This system can identify the remaining parts to be examined in real-time endoscopic procedures, which may help anesthetists use anesthetics properly to keep patients in an appropriate degree of sedation. Aims...

Abstract Background Non-inflamed tumors, including immune-excluded and immune-desert tumors, are commonly resistant to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 (α-PD-1/PD-L1) therapy. Our previous study reported the potent antitumor activity of anti-TGF-β/PD-L1 bispecific antibody YM101 in immune-excluded tumors. However, YM101 had limited antitumor activity in immune-desert models. MSA-2 is a novel oral stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonist, which activates the innate immune system and may synergize with YM101 in overcoming immunotherapy resistance. Methods The dose-dependent effect of MSA-2 on STING...

Abstract Background Current studies show that exosomal miRNAs become an important factor in cancer metastasis. Among the many miRNA studies, miR-7-5p has not been thoroughly investigated in breast cancer metastasis. Methods Bioinformatic screening was performed using extant data from the GEO database, and miR-7-5p expression levels in breast cancer cell lines and exosomes were further examined using real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). The extracted exosomes were characterised by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), particle size analysis and...

Abstract Background Rare diseases impose a heavy economic burden on patients’ families and society worldwide. This study used the samples from Sichuan Province in China to estimate the curative care expenditure (CCE) of ten rare diseases, for supporting the prioritization of rare disease health policies. Methods Multi-stage cluster sampling method was adopted to investigate 9714 rare disease patients from 1556 medical institutions in Sichuan Province. Based on the System of Health Accounts 2011, this study...

Abstract Background Rare diseases impose a heavy economic burden on patients’ families and society worldwide. This study used the samples from Sichuan Province in China to estimate the curative care expenditure (CCE) of ten rare diseases, for supporting the prioritization of rare disease health policies. Methods Multi-stage cluster sampling method was adopted to investigate 9714 rare disease patients from 1556 medical institutions in Sichuan Province. Based on the System of Health Accounts 2011, this study...

Abstract Background Non-alcoholic simple fatty liver disease patients have very low compliance with almost all types of physical activities. A transtheoretical model-oriented lifestyle modification plan awakens the patient’s consciousness in the pre-intention stage. Aim to evaluate whether a management by stages of change plan based on the Transtheoretical Model and Stages of Change promoted behavior change for patients with non-alcoholic simple fatty liver disease. Methods Patients with simple fatty liver diagnosed from July to December...

Abstract Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is highly aggressive and is frequently associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation and high early death rates. Although all-trans retinoic acid (RA) induces complete remission in a high proportion of patients with APL, there are limited treatments for APL patients with RA resistance. Here we report an atypical APL patient, with an APL-like disease that developed very slowly without anti-leukemia therapy for nearly 2 years. During that time, the patient only...

Abstract Objective Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is associated with elevated morbidity and mortality, and it usually occurs in older adults. Our goal here was to assess the efficacies of muscle mass-related biomarkers, such as, aspartate transaminase/alanine transaminase (AST/ALT) and creatinine/cystatin C*100 (Cr/CysC*100), in predicting 1-, 2-, and 3-year mortalities of older CAP patients. Methods Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting and Participants: A teaching hospital in western China. Hospitalized CAP patients, aged≥60 years. We separated patients into...

Background:Preclinical studies often provide the evidence base for clinical studies. However, the design and reporting of preclinical trial results are inadequate, resulting in poor reproducibility and clinical translatability. We aimed to systematically evaluate the methodology and reporting quality of animal studies of acupuncture for cancer pain.Methods:About 7 databases were searched for animal research articles on acupuncture for cancer pain from the beginning of the database to January 31, 2022. ARRIVE guidelines, STRICTA, and SYRCLE risk...

Abstract Background Prophylactic antibiotic use during delivery is common in routine obstetric practice to prevent infection globally, especially in low- and middle-income countries. In China, however, little is currently known about the national estimates for prophylactic antibiotic use during delivery. Therefore, we aimed to describe the prevalence of prophylactic antibiotic use and guideline adherence using national data in China. Methods This cross-sectional study analyzed a national dataset from the China Labor and Delivery Survey in...

Abstract Background Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is known as a tumor suppressor and lowly expressed in most cancers. The expression pattern and role of ACE2 in breast cancer (BC) have not been deeply elucidated. Methods A systematic pan-cancer analysis was conducted to assess the expression pattern and immunological role of ACE2 based on RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The correlation of ACE2 expression and immunological characteristics in the BC tumor...