Browse Articles

Evolution of irreversible differentiation under stage-dependent cell differentiation

Responses of the carotid artery to acute, fractionated or chronic ionizing irradiation, and differences from the aorta

Abstract The circulatory system receives ionizing radiation at various dose rates. Given mounting epidemiological evidence of elevated radiation risks for diseases of the circulatory system (DCS), the International Commission on Radiological Protection recently recommended the first ever dose threshold for DCS. However, very little knowledge exists about whether radiation effects differ with dose rates and among tissues of the circulatory system. Here, we investigated the impact of dose rates in the carotid artery (CA) and compared it with the aorta. CA was obtained from mice irradiated with the same total dose that was delivered either acutely, 25 fractions, 100 fractions or chronically. CA underwent immunofluorescence and histochemistry staining. Irradiation led to vascular damage, inflammation and fibrosis in CA. The integrative analysis for 14 prelesional endpoints revealed that the magnitude of carotid changes was greater in 25 fractions, smaller in 100 fractions, and much smaller in chronic irradiation, compared with acute irradiation. Radiation responses of the aorta were qualitatively similar to, but quantitatively greater than those of CA. Irradiation causes sparing and enhancing dose protraction effects in a manner that is not a simple function of dose rate, and that radiosensitivity varies within the circulatory system.

Potential geological risks from mud diatremes in the orogen regime of Southwestern Taiwan

Prospective association of daily toothbrushing frequency and the prevalence of childhood functional constipation: the Japan Environment and Children’s Study

Abstract Functional constipation is the most common gastrointestinal disorder during childhood. Oral stimulation (mastication and toothbrushing) reportedly improves bowel movements, but the association between daily toothbrushing behavior and functional constipation remains unknown. Data (n = 83,660) from fetal records (n = 104,059) in the Japan Environment and Children’s Study, an ongoing prospective birth cohort, were analyzed to investigate the impact of daily toothbrushing frequency on functional constipation during childhood, using ROME III diagnostic criteria. After multiple imputations of data acquired from self-reported questionnaires, a multivariable binomial logistic regression analysis was used with adjustments for several maternal and child-related variables. Functional constipation was observed in 10,123 (12.1%) and 8,820 (10.5%) participants at 3 and 4 years postpartum, respectively. Using the appropriate frequency of daily toothbrushing (twice or more) as a reference, the odds of functional constipation increased with decreasing daily toothbrushing frequency after covariate adjustments involving daily feeding frequency. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for functional constipation in participants without daily toothbrushing behavior (less than once a day) at 4 years postpartum was 1.87 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.34–2.61). Similarly, the adjusted OR (95% CI) for chronic functional constipation (at both 3 and 4 years postpartum) in participants without daily toothbrushing behavior (less than once a day) at 2 years postpartum was 1.62 (1.14–2.31). Functional constipation during childhood was associated with decreased daily toothbrushing frequency. Although the underlying mechanism of daily toothbrushing behavior in prompting bowel movements remains unclear, it is a major basis of self-health management in children that plays an important role in managing functional constipation.

Development and validation of automated three-dimensional convolutional neural network model for acute appendicitis diagnosis

Whole-body cryotherapy can reduce the inflammatory response in humans: a meta-analysis based on 11 randomized controlled trials

Multiband THz MIMO antenna with regression machine learning techniques for isolation prediction in IoT applications

Reporting of physical activity levels in intensive care unit survivors

Abstract The primary aim of this study was to report the physical activity profiles and the functional status of critically ill patients at one-month post-discharge using the ‘Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE)’ questionnaire. Study participants included were between 45 and 75 years of age, admitted to ICUs for a minimum of 24 h. Altogether, 110 study participants were included by consecutive sampling, from which six were lost to follow up. This prospective observational study was carried out in the ICU settings of Kasturba Hospital, Manipal. All the participants were assessed for ICU-acquired weakness at ICU discharge and were later followed up after one month for their physical activity level via telephonic follow-up. Participants’ mean age was 57.5 ± 9.82 years, out of which 71% were female. The prevalence of ICU-acquired weakness was found to be 80% in these participants. The median PASE score was 5 (2–27) at one-month follow-up among the participants. Medical Research Council (MRC) sum score showed a statistically significant positive moderate association with PASE score (‘r = 0.70, p < 0.05). The study showed that about 97.1% of ICU survivors lead a sedentary lifestyle and showed alarmingly high levels of physical inactivity at one month post-hospital discharge.

Cost-effectiveness of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis among female sex workers in Iran

Study on spatial pattern and coupling of county traffic superiority degree and new-type urbanization level in Guizhou Province, China

Structural analysis and core promoter prediction of STAR gene and its regulatory mechanism of progesterone synthesis in bovine luteal cells

Corrosion resistance and pore distribution of hydrophobic modified mortar containing coral sand

A multidimensional approach reveals the function of lactylation related genes in osteoarthritis

Improvement of the optical cavity-based biosensor’s limit of detection using optimal 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane process

Conspecific presence facilitates 22-kHz ultrasonic calls in male rats exposed to cat odor

Reply to: Validation of blood-based detection of breast cancer highlights importance for cross-population validation

Genomic characterization of the HER2-enriched intrinsic molecular subtype in primary ER-positive HER2-negative breast cancer

Abstract ER-positive/HER2-negative (ERpHER2n) breast cancer classified as PAM50 HER2-enriched (ERpHER2n-HER2E) represents a small high-risk patient subgroup. In this study, we investigate genomic, transcriptomic, and clinical features of ERpHER2n-HER2E breast tumors using two primary ERpHER2n cohorts comprising a total of 5640 patients. We show that ERpHER2n-HER2E tumors exhibit aggressive clinical features and poorer clinical outcomes compared to Luminal A and Luminal B tumors. Furthermore, ERpHER2n-HER2E breast cancer does not consist of misclassified or HER2-low cases, has little impact of ERBB2, is highly proliferative and less ER dependent than other luminal subtypes. It is not an obvious biological entity but is nevertheless associated with potentially targetable molecular features, notably a high immune response and high FGFR4 expression. Strikingly, molecular features that define the HER2E subtype in luminal disease are also consistent in HER2-positive disease, including an epigenetic mechanism for high FGFR4 expression in breast cancer.

Single-nuclei sequencing of skeletal muscle reveals subsynaptic-specific transcripts involved in neuromuscular junction maintenance

Tunneling-barrier-controlled sensitive deep ultraviolet photodetectors based on van der Waals heterostructures

Tuning Li occupancy and local structures for advanced Co-free Ni-rich positive electrodes

Abstract Structure evolution and surface reactivity have long been regarded as the most crucial points for studying Ni-rich positive electrodes for Li-ion batteries. Unfortunately, the influence of Li occupancy as a single factor on electro-chemomechanical stability has been overlooked and is missing, owing to the challenge of Li determination in the lattice. Here, a comprehensive analysis reveals different Li occupancies and related structural domains (Ni/Li exchange, Li a XO b , Li/Mn/X(Ni) ordering domains, X = Nb5+, W6+, and Mo6+) by using a combination of Li-sensitive characterization techniques. By introducing a Li-regulation strategy, the relative ratio of each domain is effectively tuned in the Ni-rich positive electrodes. Through tuning, two specific positive electrodes are designed, exhibiting notable improvement in battery cyclability. The specific Li structural units induce significant changes in redox mechanisms. This Li-occupancy-tuning approach highlights the necessity of focusing on Li distribution and opens up ideas for designing advanced Ni-rich positive electrodes with high durability.