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Background The E2F family of transcription factor 2 (E2F2) plays an important role in the development and progression of various tumors, but its association with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. Our study aimed to investigate the role and clinical significance of E2F2 in HCC. Methods HCC raw data were extracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Wilcoxon signed-rank test, Kruskal-Wallis test and logistic regression were applied to analyze the relationship between the expression of E2F2 and clinicopathologic characteristics. Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier were employed to evaluate the correlation between clinicopathologic features and survival. The biological function of E2F2 was annotated by Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). Results The expression of E2F2 was increased in HCC samples. The expression of elevated E2F2 in HCC samples was prominently correlated with histologic grade (OR = 2.62 for G3–4 vs. G1–2, p  = 1.80E-05), clinical stage (OR = 1.74 for III-IV vs. I-II, p  = 0.03), T (OR = 1.64 for T3–4 vs.T1–2, p  = 0.04), tumor status (OR = 1.88 for with tumor vs. tumor free, p  = 3.79E-03), plasma alpha fetoprotein (AFP) value (OR = 3.18 for AFP ≥ 400 vs AFP<20, p  = 2.16E-04; OR = 2.50 for 20 ≤ AFP<400 vs AFP<20, p  = 2.56E-03). Increased E2F2 had an unfavorable OS ( p  = 7.468e− 05), PFI ( p  = 3.183e− 05), DFI ( p  = 0.001), DSS ( p  = 4.172e− 05). Elevated E2F2 was independently bound up with OS ( p  = 0.004, hazard ratio [HR] = 2.4 (95% CI [1.3–4.2])), DFI ( P  = 0.029, hazard ratio [HR] = 2.0 (95% CI [1.1–3.7])) and PFI ( P  = 0.005, hazard ratio [HR] = 2.2 (95% CI [1.3–3.9])). GSEA disclosed that cell circle, RNA degradation, pyrimidine metabolism, base excision repair, aminoacyl tRNA biosynthesis, DNA replication, p53 signaling pathway, nucleotide excision repair, ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, citrate cycle TCA cycle were notably enriched in E2F2 high expression phenotype. Conclusions Elevated E2F2 can be a promising independent prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for HCC. Additionally, cell cycle, pyrimidine metabolism, DNA replication, p53 signaling pathway, ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, the citrate cycle TCA cycle may be the key pathway by which E2F2 participates in the initial and progression of HCC.

Background Previous studies reported that emodin extracted from Rheum palmatum L. exerts antiproliferation and antimetastatic effects in a variety of human cancer types. However, the role of emodin in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unknown. Methods EdU and colony formation assays were performed to evaluate the effects of emodin on proliferation. The mobility capacities of HCC treated with emodin were evaluated using wound healing assay. Transwell invasion and migration assays were performed to evaluate anti-migratory and anti-invasive effects of emodin on HCC. Annexin V-FITC/PI was performed to analyze the apoptosis. PI stain was performed to analyze cell cycle. RNA sequencing technology was used to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) induced by emodin in HCC. The impact of emodin on autophagic flux in HepG2 cells was examined by mCherry-GFP-LC3 analysis. Western blot was used to assess the protein expressions of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), autophagy, PI3K/AKT/mTOR and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Results We found that emodin inhibited the growth of HepG2 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In addition, emodin inhibited cell proliferation, induced S and G2/M phases arrest, and promoted apoptosis in HepG2 cells. The migration and invasion of HepG2 cells were also suppressed by emodin. Enrichment analysis revealed that DEGs involved in cell adhesion, cancer metastasis and cell cycle arrest. Moreover, western bolt results show that emodin-induced autophagy promotes Snail and β-catenin degradation. We also found that blocking autophagic flux after emodin treatment caused EMT reversal. Furthermore, the PI3K agonist Y-P 740 significantly reversed the phosphorylation levels of GSK3β and mTOR. These results indicated that emodin induced autophagy and inhibited the EMT in part through suppression of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and Wnt/β-catenin pathways. Conclusion Our study indicated that emodin inhibited cell metastasis in HCC via the crosstalk between autophagy and EMT.

In power systems, although the inertia energy in power sources can partly cover power unbalances caused by load disturbance or renewable energy fluctuation, it is still hard to maintain the frequency deviation within acceptable ranges. However, with the vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technique, electric vehicles (EVs) can act as mobile energy storage units, which could be a solution for load frequency control (LFC) in an isolated grid. In this paper, a LFC model of an isolated micro-grid with EVs, distributed generations and their constraints is developed. In addition, a controller based on multivariable generalized predictive control (MGPC) theory is proposed for LFC in the isolated micro-grid, where EVs and diesel generator (DG) are coordinated to achieve a satisfied performance on load frequency. A benchmark isolated micro-grid with EVs, DG, and wind farm is modeled in the Matlab/Simulink environment to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Simulation results demonstrate that with MGPC, the energy stored in EVs can be managed intelligently according to LFC requirement. This improves the system frequency stability with complex operation situations including the random renewable energy resource and the continuous load disturbances.

Purpose Proximal gastrectomy (PG) offers advantages over total gastrectomy (TG) in enhancing the postoperative nutritional status of patients with proximal gastric cancer (PGC), yet its effect on long-term quality of life is still debated. This study aims to thoroughly compare postoperative health condition outcomes between PG and TG. Methods We conducted a systematic search of English-language articles from the PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases, covering studies published up to February 2023. Key evaluation endpoints included surgical outcomes and postoperative health condition, assessed using the Post-Gastrectomy Syndrome Assessment Scale-45 (PGSAS-45). Results Six retrospective cohort studies were included in the analysis. The PG group demonstrated no significant negative impact on surgical outcomes compared to the TG group. Notably, patients who underwent PG experienced a superior postoperative health condition, characterized by fewer gastroesophageal reflux symptoms (WMD = -0.106, 95% CI -0.183 to -0.029, P  < 0.01), less weight loss (WMD = 4.440, 95% CI 3.900 to 4.979, P  < 0.01), and reduced dietary dissatisfaction (WMD = -0.205, 95% CI -0.385 to -0.025, P  = 0.03). Conclusion This study provides compelling evidence that PG is superior to TG in enhancing postoperative health condition for patients with proximal gastric cancer, without compromising surgical outcomes. However, further rigorous randomized controlled trials are necessary to inform surgical decision-making more effectively.

Background Seasonal influenza poses a significant public health burden. In the subtropical monsoon climate region of southern China, its epidemiological patterns and the correlations between different surveillance systems over the past decade are poorly understood. To address these issues, we conducted a long-term retrospective analysis of seasonal influenza epidemic patterns in Jiangxi, southeastern China. Methods We synchronously conducted case reports and syndromic and pathogenic surveillance from 2014 to 2023. Descriptive analysis was performed to characterize the epidemic trends. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to assess the temporal changes in the reported incidence of seasonal influenza. Wavelet analysis was conducted to identify the periodicity of seasonal influenza epidemics, and polynomial regression was used to assess the relationships between different surveillance systems. Results From 2014 to 2023, Jiangxi reported 417,636 seasonal influenza cases (average annual reported incidence: 91/100,000), showing an increasing trend, with a slow increase from 2014 to 2021 (annual percentage change [APC] = 17%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = −17%–32%, p  = 0.232) and a subsequent sharp rise from 2021 to 2023 (APC = 154%, 95%CI = 39–304%, p  < 0.001). Seasonal trends revealed bimodal epidemic peaks annually during winter and summer months. Influenza A and B exhibited periodicities of 39 and 19 weeks, and 51 and 29 weeks, respectively. The proportion of reported cases in the 6–14 year age group gradually exceeded that in the 15–59 year age group, becoming the dominant population after 2023. Males exhibited higher reported incidence rates than females in both the 0–2 and 60+ year age groups during all the surveillance years. The syndromic surveillance system demonstrated general concordance with case report data. Polynomial regression analysis revealed a J-shaped relationship between the detected positive rate and incidence, and a linear correlation between influenza - like illness (ILI)% and incidence. Conclusions The incidence of influenza in Jiangxi Province has risen significantly over the past decade, with dynamic changes in age-specific distribution. Public health interventions for school-age children, such as strengthening vaccination programs, should be enhanced. The three surveillance systems showed regular relationships, and the adjusted ILI% was a reliable indicator for influenza early warning. The generalizability needs further validation across regions and seasons. Clinical trial Not applicable.

Background Modified Si-Miao granule (mSMG), a traditional Chinese medicine, is beneficial for T2DM and insulin resistance (IR), but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Methods Using network pharmacology, we screened the compounds of mSMG and identified its targets and pathway on hepatic IR in T2DM. Using molecular docking, we identified the affinity between the compounds and hub target TNF-α. Then these were verified in KK-Ay mice and HepG2 cells. Results 50 compounds and 170 targets of mSMG against IR in T2DM were screened, and 9 hub targets such as TNF and MAPK8 were identified. 170 targets were mainly enriched in insulin resistance and TNF pathway, so we speculated that mSMG might act on TNF-α, JNK1 and then regulate insulin signaling to mitigate IR. Experimental validation proved that mSMG ameliorated hyperglycemia, IR, and TNF-α, enhanced glucose consumption and glycogen synthesis, relieved the phosphorylation of JNK1 and IRS-2 (Ser 388 ), and elevated the phosphorylation of Akt (Ser 473 ) and GSK-3β (Ser 9 ) and GLUT2 expression in KK-Ay mice. Molecular docking further showed berberine from mSMG had excellent binding capacity with TNF-α. Then, in vitro validation experiments, we found that 20% mSMG-MS or 50 μM berberine had little effect in IR-HepG2 cell viability, but significantly increased glucose consumption and glycogen synthesis and regulated TNF-α/JNK1/IRS-2 pathway. Conclusion Network pharmacology and molecular docking help us predict potential mechanism of mSMG and further guide experimental validation. mSMG and its representative compound berberine improve hepatic IR and glycogen synthesis, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of TNF-α/JNK1/IRS-2 pathway.

The abundant waste heat (below 500 K) from industry and automobile exhaust stimulate the development of thermoelectric materials for power generation. The commercial Bi 2 Te 3 -based alloys are generally used near room temperature. Herein, n-type Bi 2 Te 2.7+ x Se 0.3 was prepared by a method of mechanical alloying combined with hot pressing, which is more efficient, time-saving, and energy-saving than the method of melting and spark plasma sintering. The n-type Bi 2 Te 2.7 Se 0.3 being suitable for power generation (below 500 K) is obtained by manipulating the intrinsic point defects to enhance carrier concentration and suppress the intrinsic excitation at elevated temperature using a tiny amount of excess Te. Enhanced carrier concentration improves electrical conductivity, while enhanced phonon scattering reduces lattice thermal conductivity, originating from increased anti-site defects Te . Bi in Te-rich condition. Consequently, the enhanced ZT peak gradually shifts to higher temperature while increasing the excess Te content. The maximum ZT peak of 0.9 at 373 K and an average ZT of 0.82 between 300 and 498 K are obtained in Bi 2 Te 2.71 Se 0.3 , indicating potential for thermoelectric power generation (below 500 K).

Background Vertebroplasty is the main minimally invasive operation for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF), which has the advantages of rapid pain relief and shorter recovery time. However, new adjacent vertebral compression fracture (AVCF) occurs frequently after vertebroplasty. The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk factors of AVCF and establish a clinical prediction model. Methods We retrospectively collected the clinical data of patients who underwent vertebroplasty in our hospital from June 2018 to December 2019. The patients were divided into a non-refracture group (289 cases) and a refracture group (43 cases) according to the occurrence of AVCF. The independent predictive factors for postoperative new AVCF were determined by univariate analysis, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression, and multivariable logistic regression analysis. A nomogram clinical prediction model was established based on relevant risk factors, and the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the prediction effect and clinical value of the model. After internal validation, patients who underwent vertebroplasty in our hospital from January 2020 to December 2020, including a non-refracture group (156 cases) and a refracture group (21 cases), were included as the validation cohort to evaluate the prediction model again. Results Three independent risk factors of low bone mass density (BMD), leakage of bone cement and “O” shaped distribution of bone cement were screened out by LASSO regression and logistic regression analysis. The area under the curve (AUC) of the model in the training cohort and the validation cohort was 0.848 (95%CI: 0.786–0.909) and 0.867 (95%CI: 0.796–0.939), respectively, showing good predictive ability. The calibration curves showed the correlation between prediction and actual status. The DCA showed that the prediction model was clinically useful within the whole threshold range. Conclusion Low BMD, leakage of bone cement and “O” shaped distribution of bone cement are independent risk factors for AVCF after vertebroplasty. The nomogram prediction model has good predictive ability and clinical benefit.

Introduction: This paper aims to estimate the incubation period and serial intervals for SARS-CoV-2 based on confirmed cases in Jiangxi Province of China and meta-analysis method. Methodology: Distributions of incubation period and serial interval of Jiangxi epidemic data were fitted by “fitdistrplus” package of R software, and the meta-analysis was conducted by “meta” package of R software. Results: Based on the epidemic data of Jiangxi, we found the median days of incubation period and serial interval were 5.9 days [IQR: 3.8 – 8.6] and 5.7 days [IQR: 3.6 – 8.3], respectively. The median days of the infectivity period at pre-symptomatic was 1.7 days [IQR: 1.1 – 2.4]. The meta-analysis based on 64 papers showed the pooled means of the incubation period and serial interval were 6.25 days (95% CrI: 5.75 – 6.75) and 5.15 days (95% CrI: 4.73 – 5.57), respectively. Conclusions: Our results contribute to a better understanding of COVID-19 and provide useful parameters for modelling the dynamics of disease transmission. The serial interval is shorter than the incubation period, which indicates that the patients are infectious at pre-symptomatic period, and isolation of detected cases alone is likely to be difficult to halt the spread of SARS-CoV-2.