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Hemodialysis patients frequently experience chronic inflammation and malnutrition, while C-reactive protein to prealbumin ratio (CP ratio) is a comprehensive assessment approach of inflammatory and nutritional status. Howerer, there is limited research on the prognostic value of the CP ratio specifically in hemodialysis patients infected with the Omicron variant. Data from 847 hemodialysis patients, diagnosed with Omicron across 6 hemodialysis centers between December 2022 and February 2023, were analyzed. Hazard ratios were estimated using univariate and multivariable Cox regression, and receiver operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate the predictive abilities. Survival rate differences between higher and lower CP ratio groups were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. From the total, 98 patients (11.6%) succumbed, with a majority (80/98) within a month post-infection. C-reactive protein, prealbumin, and CP ratio were all associated with all-cause mortality in the crude model. After adjusting for other confounding factors, the CP ratio remained an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality (HR 1.97; 95% CI 1.07-3.63;  = 0.029). In addition, we also found that the CP ratio has better discriminatory ability, than the C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (areas under the curve; 0.84 vs. 0.80; Z-test;  = 0.001). This study underscores that CP ratio substantially influence the mortality rates in hemodialysis patients following Omicron infection. Careful monitoring and consideration of the CP ratio could inform more effective patient management strategies, potentially leading to reduced mortality rates in this vulnerable group.

ObjectivesThe study aims to identify the outcome and the related factors of unvaccinated patients with end-stage kidney disease during the Omicron pandemic.DesignA multicentre retrospective study of patients with end-stage kidney disease undergone maintenance haemodialysis (HD) in China.Setting6 HD centres in China.ParticipantsA total of 654 HD patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 were ultimately included in the study.Outcome measuresThe primary outcomes of interest were adverse outcomes, including hospitalisation due to COVID-19 and all-cause mortality.ResultsThe average age of the patients was 57 years, with 33.6% of them being over 65 years. Among the patients, 57.5% were male. During the follow-up period, 158 patients (24.2%) experienced adverse outcomes, and 93 patients (14.2%) died. The majority of patients (88/158) developed adverse outcomes within 30 days, and most deaths (77/93) occurred within 1 month. An advanced multivariable Cox regression analysis identified that adverse outcomes were associated with various factors while all-cause mortality was related to advanced age, male gender, high levels of C reactive protein (CRP) and low levels of prealbumin. The Kaplan-Meier curves demonstrated significantly higher all-cause mortality rates in the older, male, high CRP and low prealbumin subgroups.ConclusionsAmong unvaccinated HD patients with confirmed Omicron infections, various factors were found to be linked to adverse outcomes. Notably, age, sex, CRP and prealbumin had a substantial impact on the risk of all-cause mortality.

There is ample evidence to suggest that patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant may experience liver dysfunction. However, the impact of pre-infection liver function on postinfection mortality rates remains inadequately researched. Data from 847 hemodialysis (HD) patients, diagnosed with Omicron across six HD centers between December 2022 and February 2023, were analyzed. Initial liver function assessments were conducted, following which patients were monitored for mortality outcomes. The stepwise multivariable Cox regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were utilized to identify the predictors of mortality. From the total, 98 patients (11.6%) succumbed, with a majority (80/98) within a month postinfection. The deceased patients were observed to be mostly older males with an increased prevalence of diabetes and tumors, signifying higher AST and C-reactive protein levels. These patients also exhibited lower hemoglobin, albumin, and prealbumin levels. An elevated AST [per 1 IU increment; HR 1.04 (95% CI 1-1.04),  = 0.026], AST/ALT ratio [per 1 increment; HR 1.52 (95% CI 1.27-2.36),  = 0.004], and reduced prealbumin [per 10 mg/L increment; HR 0.93 (95% CI 0.9-0.96),  < 0.001] were discovered to be independent indicators of an increased mortality risk. Notably, AST, AST/ALT ratio, and prealbumin proved significant predictors of mortality (AUC values were 0.59, 0.65, and 0.79 respectively). This study underscores that pre-infection liver function, specifically AST, AST/ALT ratio, and prealbumin levels, substantially influence the mortality rates in HD patients following Omicron infection. Therefore, careful consideration of these liver function parameters could guide superior patient management strategies and potentially decrease mortality rates within this at-risk population.

The severe degradation of alpine grasslands on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau poses a significant threat to regional ecological security. While insects are critical for ecosystem functions, their responses to restoration measures in these fragile habitats are poorly documented. This study assessed the initial impacts of four restoration approaches—grazing exclusion fencing (FE), no-till reseeding (FR), planting grass (GC), and grazing control (CK)—on insect trophic guilds (herbivores, predators, saprophagous, and omnivores) in the Qilian Mountains. Using a multi-dimensional indicator (alpha, zeta, and dark diversity), we systematically assessed community assembly and recovery potential. The results revealed the following: (1) FE supported the highest insect abundance, dominated by phytophagous insects. FR significantly enhanced species’ richness and diversity across multiple functional groups (p < 0.05). GC significantly increased the richness of omnivorous insects, but caused a significant decrease in the Shannon–Wiener index for saprophagous insects (p < 0.05). (2) Zeta diversity revealed stable, widespread-species-dominated communities under FR and FE, while CK and GC favored rare-species-driven succession. Dark diversity analysis indicated high recovery potential for phytophagous insects under FR and FE, while GC enhanced saprophagous latent diversity. However, we emphasize that mechanistic interpretations require further validation. Our findings highlight no-till reseeding as a promising initial strategy, though longer-term studies are essential to evaluate successional trajectories and establish definitive management protocols for alpine grassland restoration.

Background and aims Organic fertilizer (OF) is beneficial for crop yield and quality, however, most phosphorus in OF are organic forms, and cannot be utilized until they are hydrolyzed to inorganic phosphate (Pi). Although root-secreted acid phosphatases (APases) play an important role in hydrolyzing organic phosphorus (Po), it is unclear whether they improve the utilization efficiency of OF, and whether purple acid phosphatase (PAP) genes function in plants’ utilization of OF. Methods We report a 10-year field study of OF application to rice, and the response of root-secreted APase activity to organic fertilization. Wild type (WT), OsPAP10c overexpressing, and OsPAP10c deficient rice were used to evaluate the role of this gene on the regulation of root-secreted APase activity and its response to OF. Results Over 10 years of OF application, the APase activity of rice root secretions increased, over rice that had been fertilized with chemical fertilizer (CF). The APase activity in the rhizosphere soil of OF treated rice increased as well compared to CF treated rice. In PAP10c -OE rice, APase activity in the root secretions was greater than in WT rice, the activity in pap10c rice was less than in WT in OF treatment. Conclusion OF application enhances the APase activity of rice root secretions and improves the APase activity in the rhizosphere soil, which facilitates the hydrolysis of Po in OF. This hydrolysis generated sufficient available Pi for rice growth and production. OsPAP10c positively regulates root-secreted APase activity and Po utilization efficiency in rice in OF treated fields.

Background The resurgence of mumps around the world occurs frequently in recent years. As the country with the largest number of cases in the world, the status of mumps epidemics in China is not yet clear. This study, taking the relatively serious epidemic province of Guangxi as the example, aimed to examine the spatiotemporal pattern and epidemiological characteristics of mumps, and provide a scientific basis for the effective control of this disease and formulation of related health policies. Methods Geographic information system (GIS)-based spatiotemporal analyses, including spatial autocorrelation analysis, Kulldorff’s purely spatial and space-time scan statistics, were applied to detect the location and extent of mumps high-risk areas. Spatial empirical Bayesian (SEB) was performed to smoothen the rate for eliminating the instability of small-area data. Results A total of 208,470 cases were reported during 2005 and 2016 in Guangxi. Despite the fluctuations in 2006 and 2011, the overall mumps epidemic continued to decline. Bimodal seasonal distribution (mainly from April to July) were found and students aged 5–9 years were high-incidence groups. Though results of the global spatial autocorrelation based on the annual incidence largely varied, the spatial distribution of the average annual incidence of mumps was nonrandom with the significant Moran’s I . Spatial cluster analysis detected high-value clusters, mainly located in the western, northern and central parts of Guangxi. Spatiotemporal scan statistics identified almost the same high-risk areas, and the aggregation time was mainly concentrated in 2009–2012. Conclusion The incidence of mumps in Guangxi exhibited spatial heterogeneity in 2005–2016. Several spatial and spatiotemporal clusters were identified in this study, which might assist the local government to develop targeted health strategies, allocate health resources reasonably and increase the efficiency of disease prevention.

Background: Our previous study indicated that WW domain binding protein 5 (WBP5) expression was elevated significantly in a drug-resistant cell compared with its parental cell. Nevertheless, its functional role and underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Methods: In this study, WBP5 was examined in 62 small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patient samples by immunohistochemical technique. Stable WBP5-overexpressed and WBP5-underexpressed cells were further established to assess the role of WBP5 in drug resistance, apoptosis and tumour growth. We also conducted western blot to detect the expression of MST2 and YAP1 and their phosphorylated protein. Results: The results revealed that WBP5 expression was significantly associated with the shorter survival time in SCLC patients. Upregulation of WBP5 induced multidrug resistance (MDR) and decreased apoptosis, whereas downregulation of WBP5 enhanced drug sensitivity and increased apoptosis. We also found that miR-335 negatively regulated the MDR of WBP5 by targeting its 3′UTR. Furthermore, WBP5 can lower YAP1 phosphorylation at Serine 127 and induce nuclear accumulation of YAP1. Inhibition of YAP1 by Verteporfin could blunt the MDR phenotype of WBP5. Conclusions: WW domain binding protein 5 can modulate MDR through the Hippo pathway under the regulation of miR-335. WW domain binding protein 5 may be a prognostic predictor and a potential target for interfering with MDR in SCLC.

This study aimed to understand the potassium voltage-gated channel KQT-like subfamily, member 1 gene polymorphism in a rural elderly population in a county in Guangxi and to explore the possible relationship between its gene polymorphism and blood sugar. The 6 SNP loci of blood DNA samples from 4355 individuals were typed using the imLDRTM Multiple SNP Typing Kit from Shanghai Tianhao Biotechnology Co. The data combining epidemiological information (baseline questionnaire and physical examination results) and genotyping results were statistically analyzed using GMDR0.9 software and SPSS22.0 software. A total of 4355 elderly people aged 60 years and above were surveyed in this survey, and the total abnormal rate of glucose metabolism was 16·11 % (699/4355). Among them, male:female ratio was 1:1·48; the age group of 60–69 years old accounted for the highest proportion, with 2337 people, accounting for 53·66 % (2337/4355). The results of multivariate analysis showed that usually not doing farm work (OR 1·26; 95 % CI 1·06, 1·50), TAG ≥ 1·70 mmol/l (OR 1·19; 95 % CI 1·11, 1·27), hyperuricaemia (OR 1·034; 95 % CI 1·01, 1·66) and BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2 (OR 1·06; 95 % CI 1·03, 1·09) may be risk factors for abnormal glucose metabolism. Among all participants, rs151290 locus AA genotype, A allele carriers (AA+AC) were 0.70 times more likely (0.54 to 0.91) and 0.82 times more likely (0.70 to 0.97) to develop abnormal glucose metabolism than CC genotype carriers, respectively. Carriers of the T allele at the rs2237892 locus (CT+TT) were 0.85 times more likely to have abnormal glucose metabolism than carriers of the CC genotype (0.72 to 0.99); rs2237897 locus CT gene. The possibility of abnormal glucose metabolism in the carriers of CC genotype, TT genotype and T allele (CT + TT) is 0·79 times (0·67–0·94), 0·74 times (0·55–0·99) and 0·78 times (0·66, 0·92). The results of multifactor dimensionality reduction showed that the optimal interaction model was a three-factor model consisting of farm work, TAG and rs2237897. The best model dendrogram found that the interaction between TAG and rs2237897 had the strongest effect on fasting blood glucose in the elderly in rural areas, and they were mutually antagonistic. Environment–gene interaction is an important factor affecting abnormal glucose metabolism in the elderly of a county in Hechi City, Guangxi.

Objectives: This study aims to understand the disability status of the elderly residents of a County (Guangxi Province, China) and explore its influencing factors. Methods: Respondents consisted of 2300 elderly people aged 60 and above from three townships in the county we studied. The Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Scale was used to assess the disability of the elderly sample. Chi-square test was applied to compare the disability rate among the elderly with different demographic characteristics. The graph showed the disability rates of ADL, six items of Physical Activities of Daily Living (PADL) and eight items of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) at different ages. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of disability rate among the elderly. Results: The disability rates of ADL, PADL, and IADL in the elderly were 43.4%, 11.6%, and 42.4%, respectively. As with the increase in age, the disability rates of ADL, IADL, PADL, and their 14 items gradually increased (p < 0.05), with walking, using the telephone, and using public vehicles having higher disability rates than other items. The influencing factors of ADL disability were gender (OR = 0.579, 95%CI = 0.441–0.759), age (OR = 2.270, 95%CI = 1.867–2.759; OR = 4.719, 95%CI = 2.998–7.429; OR = 6.249, 95%CI = 3.667–10.648), educational level (OR = 2.844, 95%CI = 2.076–3.897; OR = 1.677, 95%CI = 1.246–2.230), and having metabolic syndrome (MetS) (OR = 1.298, 95%CI = 1.044–1.613). Compared with ADL, the influencing factor of PADL disability was gender, whereas that of IADL disability was whether someone had MetS. Conclusions: With age, the possibility of ADL, PADL, and IADL damage in the elderly is higher. Gender, age, educational level, the number of chronic diseases, and whether someone has MetS might be the influencing factors of disability. Interventions should be taken from a variety of sources specific to the content of each entry.

Background: Sirtuin 6 gene (SIRT6) is a longevity gene that is involved in a variety of metabolic pathways, but the relationship between SIRT6 methylation and longevity has not been clarified. Methods: We conducted a case-control study on 129 residents with a family history of longevity (1 of parents, themselves, or siblings aged ≥90 years) and 86 individuals without a family history of exceptional longevity to identify the association. DNA pyrosequencing was performed to analyze the methylation status of SIRT6 promoter CpG sites. qRT-PCR and ELISA were used to estimate the SIRT6 messenger RNA (mRNA) levels and protein content. Six CpG sites (P1–P6) were identified as methylation variable positions in the SIRT6 promoter region. Results: At the P2 and P5 CpG sites, the methylation rates of the longevity group were lower than those of the control group (p < 0.001 and p = 0.009), which might be independent determinants of longevity. The mRNA and protein levels of SIRT6 decreased in the control group (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.038). The mRNA level negatively correlated with the methylation rates at the P2 (r s = −0.173, p = 0.011) and P5 sites (r s = −0.207, p = 0.002). Furthermore, the protein content positively correlated with the methylation rate at the P5 site (r s = 0.136, p = 0.046) but showed no significant correlation with the methylation rate at the P2 site. Conclusion: The low level of SIRT6 methylation may be a potential protective factor of Chinese longevity.