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Although dietary patterns are recognized as modifiable risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD), comparative evidence on the differential impacts of commonly used dietary indices remains limited. This study aims to evaluate associations between four indices (Healthy Eating Index-2020, HEI-2020; alternative Mediterranean Diet Score, aMED; Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, DASH; Dietary Inflammatory Index, DII) and CKD risk, and explore their population heterogeneity. Utilizing cross-sectional data from NHANES (2000-2020), dietary scores were calculated for individuals with or without CKD. Logistic regressions estimated normalized odds ratio (ORs) per 25% scoring range increase. Predictive utility was assessed marginal receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and nonlinear associations were detected using restricted cubic splines (RCS). Subgroup analyses were conducted across different population characteristics. Component analyses were used to evaluate which components within each dietary index exert a significant effect on CKD risk. DASH (OR = 0.880, 95%CI: 0.812-0.954) and DII (OR = 1.099, 95%CI: 1.025-1.180) were significantly associated with CKD risk, only DII remained associated with CKD severity progression (OR = 1.264, 95%CI: 1.103-1.450). Dietary indices provided incremental utility second to comorbidities and age. Nonlinear analyses revealed that greater adherence to DASH/DII reduced CKD risk, with consistent results across subgroups of males, individuals over 65 years, Non-Hispanic Whites, both smokers and nonsmokers, family income-to-poverty ratio >3.5, and individuals with hypertension or without diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. DASH and DII exhibited superior CKD risk discrimination versus other indices. Adopting dietary habits aligned with DASH/DII was most effective for reducing CKD risk in dietary interventions.

Vascular calcification and autophagy play pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN), though the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Differential expression analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis were performed on the GSE30529 dataset to identify candidate genes associated with DN. Subsequently, Mendelian randomization analysis was utilized to isolate genes with a causal relationship to DN. DN biomarkers were further validated based on their expression profiles in both the GSE30529 training set and the GSE96804 validation set. Gene set enrichment analysis, immune infiltration analysis, drug prediction, and molecular regulatory network construction were then conducted. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to assess the expression of biomarkers in clinical DN and normal samples. A total of 286 candidate genes were identified in the GSE30529 dataset, of which seven were linked to DN progression. JCHAIN and IFI44L were highlighted as biomarkers due to their upregulated expression and their association with DN risk. These biomarkers were predominantly enriched in immune-related pathways and were strongly correlated with specific immune cell populations. Expression of was found to be potentially regulated by miRNAs and the transcription factor YY1. Furthermore, potential DN therapeutic targets, including JCHAIN and IFI44L, were identified. RT-qPCR confirmed elevated expression levels of JCHAIN (  = 0.0155) and IFI44L (  = 0.0203) in DN samples, consistent with trends observed in the GSE30529 and GSE96804 datasets. The investigation identified VC-CMARGs and as promising biomarkers, offering valuable insights for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of DN.

Due to the impact of various environmental factors, in conjunction with the ecological adaptability and biochemical diversity of Chinese medicinal materials, Codonopsis Radix from Shanxi Province has developed into two distinct commercial specifications, namely Tai Codonopsis Radix (TCP) and Lu Codonopsis Radix (LCP). The present study examined the relationships between TCP and LCP from Shanxi Province regarding their environment, secondary metabolites, and Traditional Chinese Medicinal plant authenticity using metagenomic, metabolomic, and comprehensive quality assessment methods. The findings revealed that the two types of CPs met the quality standards. With respect to the growing environment, TCP and LCP grow in the same longitudinal extent, with a maximum longitudinal span of only 53ʹ. Both regions presented similar natural environments conducive to the growth of CP. Additionally, the Lobetyolin content in TCP was greater than that in LCP. The soil microbial abundance in the TCP group was considerably significantly greater than that in the LCP group, and a new genus, Ascobolus , was found in TCP. Additionally, comparison of the metallic element data of the two groups soils revealed that the contents of Ti, Mg, Cr ( P  < 0.01) in the TCP group were significantly greater than those in the LCP group. Through correlation analysis, the ternary network of microbial-metal-metabolite interactions was constructed. The rhizosphere fungus Ascobolus was found to enhance the bioavailability of Zn via mineralization processes, thereby underscoring the significance of rhizosphere microecology in promoting plant growth. This study offers novel insights and approaches for the cultivation and processing of Codonopsis Radix.

Background With the population aging worldwide, adult degenerative scoliosis (ADS) is receiving increased attention. Frailty, instead of chronological age, is used for assessing the patient’s overall physical condition. In ADS patients undergoing a posterior approach, long-segment corrective surgery, the association of frailty with the postsurgical outcomes remains undefined. Methods ADS patients who underwent a posterior approach, long-segment fusion at the Department of Orthopedics, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University (CMU), Beijing, China, in 2014–2017 were divided into the frailty and non-frailty groups according to the modified frailty index. Major postoperative complications were recorded, including cardiac complications, pneumonia, acute renal dysfunction, delirium, stroke, neurological deficit, deep wound infection, gastrointestinal adverse events, and deep vein thrombosis. Radiographic measurements and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) parameters were recorded preoperatively and at 2 postoperative years. Results A total of 161 patients were included: 47 (29.2%) and 114 (70.8%) in the frailty and non-frailty groups, respectively. Major postoperative complications were more frequent in the frailty group than the non-frailty group (29.8% vs. 10.5%, P  = 0.002). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that frailty was independently associated with major complications (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.77, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12–6.89, P =  0.028). Radiographic and HRQOL parameters were improved at 2 years but with no significant between-group differences. Conclusions Frailty is a risk factor for postoperative complications in ADS after posterior single approach, long-segment corrective surgery. Frailty screening should be applied preoperatively in all patients to optimize the surgical conditions in ADS.

Objective Various modified triglyceride and glucose (TyG) indices have been proposed, but the literature on the impact and ability of the modified TyG index to predict stroke disease remains limited. We aimed to investigate the associations between the modified TyG indices and incident stroke diseases and to compare their predictive power in a nationally representative cohort. Methods This was a prospective cohort study with longitudinal data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), which was based on data from four CHARLS surveys in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2018, and included a total of 8677 participants. The Cox proportional risk model, Restricted Cubic Spline (RCS), and Receiver Operating Characteristic curve (ROC) were analyzed for the associations of TyG-BMI, TyG-WC and TyG-WHtR with stroke risk. In addition, the robustness of the findings was further validated using a series of sensitivity analyses and subgroup analyses. Results During the follow-up period from 2011 to 2018, 807 (9.3%) of the 8677 participants experienced stroke. After multifactorial adjustment (Model III), a 10-unit increase in TyG-BMI corresponded to a 5.5% increased risk of stroke (HR = 1.055, 95% CI 1.033–1.078), a 10-unit increase in TyG-WC corresponded to a 2.0% increased risk of stroke (HR = 1.020, 95% CI 1.012–1.027), and a 1-unit increase in TyG-WHtR corresponded to a 32.4% increased risk of stroke (HR = 1.324, 95% CI 1.178–1.487). Compared with individuals in the lowest quartile (Q 1 ), those in higher quartiles showed progressively elevated risks. For TyG-BMI, adjusted hazard ratios increased by 39.1% (Q 2 ), 62.1% (Q 3 ), and 86.1% (Q 4 ); for TyG-WC, by 40.6%, 63.0%, and 88.8%; and for TyG-WHtR, by 36.5%, 65.7%, and 83.7%, respectively. The RCS showed a nonlinear dose‒response relationship between TyG-BMI and stroke and a nonlinear dose‒response relationship between TyG-WC. In addition, TyG-WHtR had a linear dose‒response relationship with stroke. The area under the curve (AUC) values were 0.5930, 0.6078 and 0.6032, respectively, and all three had comparable predictive abilities for stroke risk, with TyG-WC having slightly greater predictive ability. The results of the sensitivity analysis and subgroup analysis were consistent with the main results. Conclusions In middle-aged and elderly populations, TyG-BMI, TyG-WC and TyG-WHtR are positively correlated with the risk of stroke. Maintaining favorable levels of these indices through weight and waist management may help reduce stroke risk. Graphical abstract

In this study, natural clay-like silicate minerals were used as precursors to prepare highly acid-catalytic hydrophobic catalysts. A series of sulfonic acid-functionalized attapulgite catalysts, SO3H-APG, were fabricated by the ball-milling–oxidation method. The catalytic performance in the co-liquefaction and co-pyrolysis of Chlorella and oil shale was investigated. The catalysts were analyzed using hydrophobicity evaluation, TEM, BET, FTIR, and other characterization methods. The SO3H-APG catalysts exhibited good hydrophobicity and dispensability. Sulfonation grafting improved their excellent hydrocarbon conversion activity. According to the GC–MS results, the addition of the SO3H-APG catalysts shifted the co-liquefaction products of microalgae and oil shale towards lower carbon numbers, with the majority of the products concentrated between C5 and C12, and a content of 84.9% in the range of C5–C11, while the content of products in the range of C12–C20 was only 15.1%. In the co-pyrolysis experiments, the addition of the catalysts promoted the thermal decomposition reaction. The synergistic effect between oil shale and microalgae facilitated the production of more hydrocarbon compounds with a higher H/C atomic ratio. The development of this type of catalyst provides an economically favorable approach for the co-conversion of algae and oil shale. The oil shale pyrolysis kinetic diagram shows that adding the APG clay-based catalyst significantly reduces the time for achieving the same conversion rate, especially below 300 °C, where the in situ catalytic effect is most pronounced.

The continuous advancement of technology has led to escalating demands for superior tribological performance in industrial applications, necessitating the enhancement of ceramic materials’ frictional properties through innovative approaches. Solid-lubricant embedding is a widely employed lubrication strategy in metals. However, the challenge of machining holes on ceramic surfaces remains a significant barrier to applying this lubrication technique to ceramics. Gel casting, as a near-net-shaping process, offers several advantages, including uniform green body density, low organic content, and the capability to fabricate components with complex geometries, making it a promising solution for addressing these challenges. In this study, alumina ceramics with small surface holes designed for embedding oil-containing microcapsules were fabricated via gel casting using an N-hydroxy methylacrylamide gel system, which demonstrates lower toxicity compared to conventional acrylamide systems. The fabricated alumina ceramic materials exhibited a high density of 98.2%, a hardness of 16 GPa, and a bending strength of 276 MPa. The oil-containing microcapsules were self-synthesized using hexafluorophosphate ionic liquid as the core material and polyurea-formaldehyde as the wall material. The research results show that under conditions of using an alumina ball, sliding speed of 10 cm/min, load of 5 N, and at room temperature, the material with a microcapsule content of 15 wt% and embedded hole diameter of 1.2 mm reduced the friction coefficient from 0.696 in an unlubricated condition to 0.317. Moreover, the embedding of microcapsules further improved the wear resistance of the alumina.

Study design A systematic review and meta-analysis. Background The complexity of human anatomical structures and the variability of vertebral body structures in patients with scoliosis pose challenges in pedicle screw placement during spinal deformity correction surgery. Through technological advancements, robots have been introduced in spinal surgery to assist with pedicle screw placement. Methods A systematic search was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, and CNKI databases and comparative studies assessing the accuracy and postoperative efficacy of pedicle screw placement using robotic assistance or freehand techniques in patients with scoliosis were included. The analysis evaluated the accuracy of screw placement, operative duration, intraoperative blood loss, length of postoperative hospital stay, and complications. Results Seven studies comprising 584 patients were included in the meta-analysis, with 282 patients (48.3%) in the robot-assisted group and 320 (51.7%) in the freehand group. Robot-assisted placement showed significantly better clinically acceptable screw placement results compared with freehand placement (odds ratio [OR]: 2.61, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.75–3.91, P  < 0.0001). However, there were no statistically significant differences in achieving “perfect” screw placement between the two groups (OR: 1.52, 95% CI: 0.95–2.46, P  = 0.08). The robot-assisted group had longer operation durations (mean deviation [MD]: 43.64, 95% CI: 22.25–64.74, P  < 0.0001) but shorter postoperative hospital stays (MD: − 1.12, 95% CI: − 2.15 to − 0.08, P  = 0.03) than the freehand group. There were no significant differences in overall complication rates or intraoperative blood loss between the two groups. There was no significant difference in Cobb Angle between the two groups before and after operation. Conclusion Robot-assisted pedicle screw placement offers higher accuracy and shorter hospital stay than freehand placement in scoliosis surgery; although the robotics approach is associated with longer operative durations, similar complication rates and intraoperative blood loss.

Glioma is a common malignant tumor of the central nervous system, characterized by high malignancy, strong invasiveness and high recurrence rate. Integrin α5 (ITGA5), a member of the integrin adhesion molecule family, has been reported to be associated with tumor progression and metastasis. In this study, we first identified the overexpression of ITGA5 in glioma through bioinformatics analysis. Kaplan–Meier analysis, Cox regression analysis, and nomogram modeling revealed that high ITGA5 expression was significantly associated with poor prognosis in glioma patients. The ssGSEA showed that the high expression of ITGA5 had a higher level of immune cell infiltration, especially aDCs, B cells, CD8 + T cells, Macrophages, T helper cells, etc. To validate the results of bioinformatics analysis, we used qRT-PCR and Western blot assay confirmed that ITGA5 expression was up-regulated in glioma tissues and increased with pathological grade. Immunohistochemistry showed that high expression of ITGA5 was positively correlated with WHO grade, Ki67 expression and P53 status ( P  < 0.05). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that ITGA5 expression was an independent prognostic marker in gliomas. Functionally, silencing of ITGA5 significantly inhibited the proliferation, invasion, and migration of glioma cells. The GSEA analysis indicated that ITGA5 was involved in mesenchymal transformation, PI3K/AKT/mTORC1 pathways. In vitro experiments further confirmed that ITGA5 positively regulates mesenchymal transformation and activates the PI3K/AKT/mTORC1 pathway. Moreover, treatment with PI3K activator 740Y-P was able to reverse the effects of ITGA5 silencing on glioma cells growth and mesenchymal transformation. Therefore, ITGA5 may be a potential therapeutic target for the individualized treatment of glioma patients.

The selectivity of a facile reductive and extractive desulfurization process was studied. In this desulfurization method, polyethylene glycol was used as the extractant, and sodium borohydride was used as the reductant. Several different simulated fuels were prepared by dissolving thiophenic sulfides, methylbenzene and hexylene in octane. The results showed that methylbenzene and olefins had different effects on different sulfur compounds during this desulfurization process. The extraction and reduction mechanisms were also explained. Four factors could affect the desulfurization performance: (1) intermolecular hydrogen bonding: (a) active O bonding with aromatic H or (b) S bonding with H atoms in hydroxide radicals, (2) “like-dissolves-like” interactions between polyethylene glycol and thiophenic sulfides, (3) the methyl steric hindrance effect and the electron density of sulfur atoms, and (4) the combination of S atoms with produced nickel boride to form active desulfurization centres. The desulfurization reaction path was also deduced according to the GC/MS results.