Objective To examine the impact of extreme temperature and drought stress on the survival of Bulinus globosus, so as to provide the theoretical evidence for the genomic research of Bulinus in absence of reference genes. Methods B. globosus snail samples were collected from Kiwani Shehia in Pemba Island, Zanzibar, Tanzania, and offspring snails were obtained through laboratory breeding and reproduction. A total of 120 10-week-old B. globosus snails from the same generation were selected and randomly assigned into four groups, including the high-temperature drought (HD) group, normal temperature drought (D) group, low-temperature drought (LD) group, and the control (C) group, of 30 snails in each group. Snails in HD, D, and LD groups were placed in beakers containing dry soil at the bottom and subsequently housed in climate chambers at 35, 26 ℃, and 10 ℃, respectively, while snails in Group C were maintained in 500 mL petri dishes containing dechlorinated tap water at 26 ℃. Following 3 days of breeding, living snails in each group were collected, and soft tissues were dissected and isolated. Total RNA was extracted from snail soft tissues for library construction, followed by high-throughput sequencing on the Illumina HiSeq 4000 sequencing system. De novo transcriptome assembly was performed using the Trinity software, and the longest transcripts were selected as unigenes. Gene functional annotations of unigenes were conducted using the Diamond software against Gene Ontology (GO) knowledgebase, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway database, NCBI non-redundant (NR) protein sequences database, Protein Family (Pfam) database, and UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot (Swiss-Prot) knowledgebase. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were performed using the topGO and clusterProfiler software, respectively. In addition, four relevant genes were selected for validation using a real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) assay to verify the reliability of transcriptome sequencing results. Results Following 3 days of breeding, there were 7, 20, 28, and 30 survival B. globosus snails in HD, LD, D, and C groups, with corresponding survival rates of 23.33% (7/30), 66.67% (20/30), 93.33% (28/30), and 100.00% (30/30), respectively (χ² = 52.72, P < 0.001). De novo transcriptome assembly generated 176 942 unigenes, with annotation rates of 0.98%, 13.49%, 26.46%, 12.48%, and 14.39% against GO knowledgebase, KEGG pathway database, NR protein sequences database, Pfam database, and Swiss-Prot knowledgebase, respectively. There were 33 up-regulated and 72 down-regulated genes in Group D, 483 up-regulated and 815 down-regulated genes in Group HD, and 245 up-regulated and 172 down-regulated genes in Group LD relative to in Group C. Following removal of overlapping genes across groups and unmatched genes, 11 candidate genes were identified. GO and KEGG analyses revealed 3 heat shock protein (HSP)-related DEGs in these 11 candidate genes, which were annotated as HSP12.2, HSP70, and HSP20 genes and were all significantly up-regulated in each treatment group. Three immune and nervous system-related DEGs were identified, and were all significantly down-regulated in each treatment group, which were involved in the neural cell adhesion molecule L1-like protein pathway, fibrinogen binding protein pathway, and leukocyte elastase inhibitor-like protein pathway. qRT-PCR assay quantified that the expression trends of four genes related to temperature and drought stress across different treatment groups were highly consistent with transcriptome sequencing data. Conclusion The survival rate of B. globosus significantly reduces under combined stresses of extreme temperature and drought, possibly due to an imbalance in its cellular homeostasis regulatory system.

Objective To analyze the application of NCompass nitinol stone retrieval basket in ureteroscopic holmium laser lithotripsy, and to evaluate its roles in reducing stone retropulsion and improving stone-free rate(SFR)and stone acquisition rate.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of patients with upper ureteral stones＞1 cm who underwent ureteroscopic holmium laser lithotripsy at China-Japan Friendship Hospital during Jan.2018 and Dec.2023, including 96 cases were in the NCompass group, and 68 cases in the non-basket group.The operation time, stone retropulsion rate, usage rate of flexible ureteroscopy, SFR and stone acquisition rate were compared between the two groups.Results There were no significant differences in the operation time [(29.2±8.4)min vs.(30.9±7.2)min, P=0.170] and stone retropulsion rate(15.6% vs. 27.9%, P=0.055)between the NCompass group and non-basket group.The NCompass group had significantly lower usage rate of flexible ureteroscopy than the non-basket group(24.0% vs. 47.1%, P=0.002), higher SFR 2 days(80.2% vs. 45.6%, P＜0.001)and 1 month(93.8% vs. 83.8%, P=0.040)after operation, as well as the stone acquisition rates 2 days(100% vs. 44.1%, P＜0.001)and 1 month(100% vs. 58.8%, P＜0.001)after operation. Conclusion The NCompass nitinol stone retrieval basket plays dual roles in ureteroscopic holmium laser lithotripsy, which can effectively intercept stones and extract stone fragments, thus significantly improving the SFR and stone acquisition rate, and reducing stone retropulsion and the use of flexible ureteroscopy.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity, sedentary behavior (SB), and sleep duration are associated with brain health. Effects of those on developing Parkinson's disease (PD) are poorly investigated. This study aimed to examine the independent and joint associations of physical activity, SB, sleep with PD risk. METHODS: We analyzed data on 401,697 participants from the UK Biobank cohort, which was enrolled in 2006-2010. Physical activities were measured based on a questionnaire. Sleep and SB time were defined through self-reported total number of hours. Models fitted with restricted cubic spline were conducted to test for linear and non-linear shapes of each association. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the association of three modifiable behaviors. RESULTS: Our analytic sample included 401,697 participants with 3030 identified cases of PD (mean age, 63 years; 62.9% male). PD risk was 18% lower in the high total physical activity group (95% CI, 0.75-0.90), 22% lower in the high leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) group (95% CI, 0.71-0.86) compared with the low level and 14% higher in the high sleep duration group (95% CI, 1.05-1.24) compared to moderate group. Total SB time was irrelevant with PD risk, while high TV viewing showed a 12% increase of PD risk compared to the low group (95% CI, 1.02-1.22). Low computer use (0 h/day) was associated with a 14% higher risk compared to 1 h/day use (95% CI, 1.04-1.26). Those associations were independent. A combination of 7 h/day sleep, moderate-to-high computer use, and moderate-to-vigorous intensity of LTPA showed lowest PD risk (HR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.57-0.85). CONCLUSIONS Physical activity, SB, and sleep were associated with PD risks separately. Our findings emphasize the possibility for changing these three daily activities concurrently to lower the risk of PD. These findings may promote an active lifestyle for PD prevention.
Humans ; Parkinson Disease/physiopathology* ; Male ; Sedentary Behavior ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Exercise/physiology* ; Prospective Studies ; Sleep/physiology* ; Aged ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Risk Factors

The visual crowding effect refers to the phenomenon that the observers' ability to identify the target object significantly decreases when it is flanked by surrounding objects.A variety of ophthalmic diseases,including amblyopia,strabismus,glaucoma,macular degeneration and nystagmus,involve structural or functional abnormalities in different parts of the visual system.These abnormalities will exacerbate the visual crowding effect,thereby impairing the ability in multi-line visual identification,reading and other daily visual activities of patients.Since intervention on visual crowding can im-prove patients' ability to process complex visual information,optimize the use of residual vision and improve prognosis,it is of great clinical value to develop targeted intervention methods.This article systematically reviews the characteristics of visual crowding in patients with oculopathy and its impact on functional vision,and summarizes the current intervention strategies,in order to provide theoretical basis and practical guidance for future clinical practice.

Objective To investigate the role of multimodal magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)features in predicting vascular invasion and prognosis in cervical cancer.Methods A total of 180 cervical cancer patients were included in this study.According to the postoperative vascular invasion status,patients were categorized into vascular invasion-positive group(n=61)and vascular invasion-negative group(n=119).All patients underwent comprehensive MRI protocols including diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI),diffusion tensor imaging(DTI),and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI(DCE-MRI)scans to analyze intergroup differences in imaging parameters.The diagnostic efficacy of multimodal MRI(DWI,DTI,and DCE-MRI)in detecting vascular invasion and predicting prognosis was evaluated.Results Statistically significant differences in ADCDWI were observed between vascular invasion-positive group and vascular invasion-negative group(P<0.01).The vascular invasion-positive group exhibited significantly lower ADCDTI and FA as compared with vascular invasion-negative group,accompanied by elevated Ktrans,VE,and Kep(P<0.01).Compared with survival group,non-survivor group demonstrated higher ADCDWI,Ktrans,VE and Kep,alongside lower ADCDTI and FA.The sensitivity of multimodal MRI for vascular invasion detection and mortality prediction was higher than that of unimodal detection approaches.Conclusion Multimodal MRI features have significant predictive value for vascular invasion and prognosis in cervical cancer,serving as a critical foundation for clinical decision-making.

The visual crowding effect refers to the phenomenon that the observers' ability to identify the target object significantly decreases when it is flanked by surrounding objects.A variety of ophthalmic diseases,including amblyopia,strabismus,glaucoma,macular degeneration and nystagmus,involve structural or functional abnormalities in different parts of the visual system.These abnormalities will exacerbate the visual crowding effect,thereby impairing the ability in multi-line visual identification,reading and other daily visual activities of patients.Since intervention on visual crowding can im-prove patients' ability to process complex visual information,optimize the use of residual vision and improve prognosis,it is of great clinical value to develop targeted intervention methods.This article systematically reviews the characteristics of visual crowding in patients with oculopathy and its impact on functional vision,and summarizes the current intervention strategies,in order to provide theoretical basis and practical guidance for future clinical practice.

Objective To investigate the role of multimodal magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)features in predicting vascular invasion and prognosis in cervical cancer.Methods A total of 180 cervical cancer patients were included in this study.According to the postoperative vascular invasion status,patients were categorized into vascular invasion-positive group(n=61)and vascular invasion-negative group(n=119).All patients underwent comprehensive MRI protocols including diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI),diffusion tensor imaging(DTI),and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI(DCE-MRI)scans to analyze intergroup differences in imaging parameters.The diagnostic efficacy of multimodal MRI(DWI,DTI,and DCE-MRI)in detecting vascular invasion and predicting prognosis was evaluated.Results Statistically significant differences in ADCDWI were observed between vascular invasion-positive group and vascular invasion-negative group(P<0.01).The vascular invasion-positive group exhibited significantly lower ADCDTI and FA as compared with vascular invasion-negative group,accompanied by elevated Ktrans,VE,and Kep(P<0.01).Compared with survival group,non-survivor group demonstrated higher ADCDWI,Ktrans,VE and Kep,alongside lower ADCDTI and FA.The sensitivity of multimodal MRI for vascular invasion detection and mortality prediction was higher than that of unimodal detection approaches.Conclusion Multimodal MRI features have significant predictive value for vascular invasion and prognosis in cervical cancer,serving as a critical foundation for clinical decision-making.

Objective To explore the feasibility of confirming pre experimental conditions in Mongolian gerbils using three-dimensional time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography(3D-TOF-MRA).Methods The cerebral arteries in Monglian gerbils were imaged using a 7.0 T magnetic resonance imaging scanner and the data were processed using RadiAnt DICOM Viewer software.The imaging result were then validated and compared using the latex perfusion method,and 3D reconstruction of the posterior communicating branch and surrounding cerebral blood vessels were performed using analytical software.Finally,we attempted to use this method to screen for abnormal vascular development in Mongolian gerbils,to verify the effectiveness of this method.Results 3D-TOF-MRA effectively demonstrated the cerebral arteries in live Mongolian gerbils.The technique showed high accuracy for observing the main cerebral arteries in Mongolian gerbils,but its ability to show finer vascular branches was not as good as the latex perfusion method.The data obtained using 3D-TOF-MRA could be used for 3D reconstruction of blood vessels,and the technology could be applied to screen for abnormal arterial structures in Mongolian gerbils.Conclusions 3D-TOF-MRA technology can be applied for the structural observation and related research of the cerebral arteries in live Mongolian gerbils.

Objective To explore the feasibility of confirming pre experimental conditions in Mongolian gerbils using three-dimensional time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography(3D-TOF-MRA).Methods The cerebral arteries in Monglian gerbils were imaged using a 7.0 T magnetic resonance imaging scanner and the data were processed using RadiAnt DICOM Viewer software.The imaging result were then validated and compared using the latex perfusion method,and 3D reconstruction of the posterior communicating branch and surrounding cerebral blood vessels were performed using analytical software.Finally,we attempted to use this method to screen for abnormal vascular development in Mongolian gerbils,to verify the effectiveness of this method.Results 3D-TOF-MRA effectively demonstrated the cerebral arteries in live Mongolian gerbils.The technique showed high accuracy for observing the main cerebral arteries in Mongolian gerbils,but its ability to show finer vascular branches was not as good as the latex perfusion method.The data obtained using 3D-TOF-MRA could be used for 3D reconstruction of blood vessels,and the technology could be applied to screen for abnormal arterial structures in Mongolian gerbils.Conclusions 3D-TOF-MRA technology can be applied for the structural observation and related research of the cerebral arteries in live Mongolian gerbils.

Humans ; Autistic Disorder ; China/epidemiology* ; Cohort Studies ; Autism Spectrum Disorder/genetics* ; Asian People