High-performance phototheranostics with combined photothermal therapy and photoacoustic imaging have been considered promising approaches for efficient cancer diagnosis and treatment. However, developing phototheranostic materials with efficient photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE), especially over the second near-infrared window (NIR-II, 1000-1700 nm), remains challenging. Herein, we report an ultraefficient NIR-II-activated nanomedicine with phototheranostic and vaccination capability for highly efficient in vivo tumor elimination and metastasis inhibition. The NIR-II nanomedicine of a semiconducting biradical oligomer with a motor-flexible design was demonstrated with a record-breaking PCE of 87% upon NIR-II excitation. This nanomedicine inherently features extraordinary photothermal stability, good biocompatibility, and excellent photoacoustic performance, contributing to high-contrast photoacoustic imaging in living mice and high-performance photothermal elimination of tumors. Moreover, a whole-cell vaccine based on a NIR-II nanomedicine with NIR-II-activated performance was further designed to remotely activate the antitumor immunologic memory and effectively inhibit tumor occurrence and metastasis in vivo, with good biosafety. Thus, this work paves a new avenue for designing NIR-II active semiconducting biradical materials as a promising theranostics platform and further promotes the development of NIR-II nanomedicine for personalized cancer treatment.

Objective:To explore the differences in bacterial community structure between proximal colon cancer (PC), distal colon cancer (DC), and rectal cancer (RC), and the values of featured microbiota in differentiating PC with tumor markers.Methods:This case-control study enrolled 85 newly diagnosed colorectal cancer patients, including 22 PC, 15 DC and 48 RC patients, and 8 colorectal adenoma patients from May 2019 to July 2022 at the Department of General Surgery, Anyang Oncology Hospital. The blood and fecal samples were collected before surgery and then subjected to biochemical tests for tumor markers and 16S rDNA tests, respectively. SPSS (27.0.1) was applied to perform the t-test, one-way ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis H test, and Chi-Squared Test. Also, the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was plotted on tumor markers and/or f_Bacteroidaceae with SPSS software .Results:All groups had significant differences in the CA125 ( F=3.543, P<0.05), CA72-4 ( F=3.596, P<0.05), and serum tumor-associated materials (TAM) levels ( F=5.787, P<0.01). In PC group, the levels of CA125 [PC vs RC, (36.84±6.30) kU/L vs (12.73±4.21) kU/L, P<0.01] and CA72-4 [PC vs RC, (45.56±10.86) kU/L vs (3.30±7.63) kU/L, P<0.01] were significantly higher than that of the RC group, while the level of TAM was remarkably elevated in PC group than in RC group [PC vs RC, (124.84±5.19) U/ml vs (102.44±3.63) U/ml, P<0.001] and CRA group [PC vs CRA, (124.84±5.19) U/ml vs (95.39±8.42) U/ml, P<0.01]. The LEfSe analysis showed that the featured microbiota in the PC group included f_Bacteroidaceae, f_Neisseriaceae, f_Clostridiaceae_1, f_Spirochaetaceae, and so on. The largest area under the ROC belonged to the combination of TAM and f_Bacteroidaceae, which reached 0.845 (95% CI 0.747-0.944), with sensitivity being 0.857 and specificity being 0.815. Conclusions:There is heterogeneity in gut microbiota composition among PC, DC, RC, and CRA. The combination of gut microbiota and tumor biomarkers demonstrated good differentiating effects in proximal colon cancers.

Objective:To investigate the association of serum fibroblast growth factor 23(FGF23) level with insulin resistance(IR) and sex hormone levels in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS).Methods:A retrospective study was performed in eighty-seven patients with PCOS, fifty-seven patients with simple IR, and sixty-one healthy women who were admitted to Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University during October 2021 and November 2022. According to the homeostasis model assessment-IR index, all subjects were divided into normal control group( n=61), IR group( n=57), PCOS without IR group(PCOS group, n=15), and PCOS+ IR group( n=72). The levels of serum FGF23, adiponectin, and sex hormones in all groups were compared, and their correlations with glucose and lipid metabolism indicators were analyzed. Results:The FGF23 level was significantly elevated in the IR group, while markedly reduced in the PCOS group and PCOS+ IR group, with the PCOS group showing a significantly lower concentration. The adiponectin levels were significantly decreased in the IR group, PCOS group, and PCOS+ IR group(all P<0.05). The correlation analysis showed that FGF23 level was positively correlated with adiponectin and sex hormone binding globulin, and negatively correlated with luteinizing hormone, luteinizing hormone/follicle stimulating hormone, and free testosterone index(all P<0.05). Logistic regression results indicated that both FGF23 and adiponectin could be used as good indicators for the diagnosis of PCOS and PCOS with IR(all P<0.05). Conclusion:FGF23 is closely related to IR and androgen as well, and under certain conditions, it can reflect the severity of IR and hyperandrogenemia in PCOS patients. The cutoff value of FGF23 obtained in this study can provide a good reference for the diagnosis of PCOS diseases.

Objective:To investigate the serum and follicular fluid levels of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c(SREBP-1c), leucine-rich α-2-glycoprotein 1(LRG1) and the correlation with insulin resistance(IR) in non-ovarian etiology infertility patients and polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS) patients with or without IR.Methods:Forty-nine PCOS patients and 66 infertility patients with non-ovarian etiology were collected in this retrospective study, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance(HOMA-IR) was used to evaluate IR, and were divided into control group( n=36), IR group( n=30), PCOS alone group( n=28) and PCOS-IR group(PCOS with IR group, n=21). The concentrations of serum, follicular fluid LRG1 and SREBP1c levels in each group were compared, and their correlation with relevant hormones and glycolipid metabolism were analyzed. Results:The levels of serum, follicular fluid LRG1 and SREBP1c in IR group, PCOS alone group and PCOS-IR group were significantly higher than those in control group; The PCOS-IR group showed a more significant increase in the levels of serum, follicular fluid LRG1 and SREBP1c( P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that serum, follicular fluid LRG1 was positively correlated with body mass index, fasting plasma glucose(FPG), fasting insulin(FINS), triglycerides(TG), and HOMA-IR( P<0.05). Serum, follicular fluid SREBP1c was positively correlated with body mass index, FPG, FINS, TG, total cholesterol, LDL-C, LH, total teststerone, DHEAS, FAI, and HOMA-IR( P<0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that serum SREBP1c was a risk factor for PCOS( P<0.05). Conclusion:The serum and follicular fluid levels of LRG1 and SREBP-1c were elevated in PCOS patients, especially in those with IR. The elevated levels of serum and follicular fluid LRG1 and SREBP-1c may be associated with IR and glucose-lipid metabolism abnormalities in PCOS patients. Serum LRG1 and SREBP-1c levels may serve as new indicators for predicting IR, early diagnosis, and intervention in PCOS patients.

Objective:To explore the chain mediating effect of adult attachment and psychological capital on the relationship between parenting style and mental health of university students.Methods:The short-form egna minnen av barndoms uppfostran (s-EMBU), experiences in close relationship inventory (ECR), positive psycap questionnaire (PPQ) and mental health scale for residents (MHSR) were adopted to test 1 415 students from 23 universities in Beijing.Pearson correlation analysis and regression analysis were performed by SPSS 24.0 software, the structural equation model was built by Mplus 8.0 software, and mediating effect analysis was conducted by Bootstrap method.Results:Mental health of university students (241.48±30.19) was positively correlated ( r=0.40-0.84, all P<0.01) with positive parenting style (father emotional warmth (2.97±0.67), mother emotional warmth (3.10±0.62)) and psychological capital (4.91±0.84). And the mental health of university students was negatively correlated ( r=-0.36--0.18, all P<0.01) with negative parenting style (father rejection (1.42±0.53), mother rejection (1.42±0.51), father overprotection (2.06±0.53), mother overprotection (2.18±0.55)) and adult attachment (attachment avoidance (3.31±0.88), attachment anxiety (3.66±0.97). Adult attachment was the mediation between parenting style (rejection, emotional warmth, over protection) and mental health ( β=-0.04, 0.04, -0.04, 95% CI=-0.08--0.01, 0.02-0.07, -0.07--0.02), while psychological capital was the mediation between parental emotional warmth and mental health ( β=0.21, 95% CI=0.14-0.26), both of which played a chain mediating role between parenting style and mental health ( β=-0.15, 0.11, -0.12, 95% CI=-0.21--0.10, 0.07-0.16, -0.18--0.07). Conclusion:Parenting style can not only directly affect mental health, but also indirectly affect mental health through the mediating role of adult attachment and the chain mediating role of adult attachment and psychological capital.

A male patient aged 1 year and 8 months with type 2 spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia with joint laxity (SEMDJL2) was reported. The clinical characteristics included short stature, flat middle face, hypotonia, limb joint relaxation, hyperextension of metacarpophalangeal articulation, etc. In addition, the patient had a history of congenital laryngeal stridor. Thus, SEMDJL2 was determined according to the above symptoms and medical history. Sanger sequencing showed that the child carried a c.443C>T missense mutation in the KIF22 gene, which resulted in an amino acid variation namely p.Pro148Leu. This phenotype was preliminarily determined as a pathogenic mutation. Therefore, it is suggested that next-generation sequencing genetic testing could be helpful for genetic diagnosis in children with congenital laryngeal stridor, systemic joint relaxation, and excessive joint extension.

Long-chain dicarboxylic acid (DCA), a building block for synthesizing a variety of high value-added chemicals, has been widely used in agriculture, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries. The global demand for DCA is increasing in recent years. Compared with chemical synthesis which requires harsh conditions and complicated processes, fermentative production of DCA has many unparalleled advantages, such as low cost and mild reaction conditions. In this review, we summarized the chemical and microbial synthesis methods for DCA and the commercialization status of the fermentation process. Moreover, the advances of using molecular and metabolic engineering to create high-yielding strains for efficient production of DCA were highlighted. Furthermore, the challenges remaining in the microbial fermentation process were also discussed. Finally, the perspectives for developing high titer DCA producing strains by synthetic biology were proposed.
Fermentation ; Dicarboxylic Acids/metabolism* ; Metabolic Engineering ; Technology

Objective:To investigate the effect of wild Cistanche deserticola crude polysaccharides (WCDCP) on the immune response of ovalbumin (OVA).Methods:42 ICR mice were randomly divided into the 9 g/L NaCl group (blank sample), WCDCP group (400 μg WCDCP), OVA group (10 μg OVA), low-dose WCDCP/OVA group (100 μg WCDCP+10 μg OVA), medium-dose WCDCP/OVA group (400 μg WCDCP+10 μg OVA), high-dose WCDCP/OVA group (800 μg WCDCP+10 μg OVA), and aluminum adjuvant/OVA group (positive concentration, 200 μg aluminum adjuvant+10 μg OVA). Each group included 6 mice. The mice were immunized by using two-point injection into the muscles of the hind legs of the mice. A total of 2 immunizations, and the immunization was boosted once every 2 weeks after the initial immunization. The body weight of the mice was weighed 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after the initial immunization of the mice, and the changes in body weight and growth status of the mice were observed. The IgG antibodies and antibody fractions were detected by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Twenty-one days after the initial immunization, the spleen lymphocyte proliferation level was detected by the thiazole blue method. Flow cytometry was used to detect the proportion of T cell subsets in the spleen and lymph nodes.Results:At 7 days after the initial immunization, the serum IgG antibody level (0.597 6±0.110 7) in the high-dose WCDCP/OVA group was significantly higher than (0.254 4±0.074 8) of the OVA group ( P<0.05). At 28 days after the initial immunization, the serum IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a antibody levels in the high-dose WCDCP/OVA group were higher than those in the OVA group, the comparison respectively were 0.972 3±0.243 8 vs. 0.389 2±0.077 4 ( P<0.05), 1.156 0±0.088 4 vs. 0.612 6±0.059 7 ( P<0.001), 1.648 0±0.103 9 vs. 0.557 2±0.181 5 ( P<0.001), and the differences were statistically significant. High-dose WCDCP can significantly promote the proliferation of spleen cells induced by concanavalin A ( P<0.001) and lipopolysaccharide ( P<0.05). High-dose WCDCP/OVA group can significantly stimulate the activation ratio of T cell subsets in the spleen. The proportion of CD3 +CD8 + T cells in the high-dose WCDCP/OVA group [(10.83±0.44)%] was significantly higher than that in the OVA group[(6.76±0.58)%] ( P<0.01), and the proportion of CD3 +CD4 + T cells [(28.17±1.67)%] was also significantly higher than that in the OVA group [(19.17±2.73)%] ( P<0.05). WCDCP had no effect on body weight (all P>0.05) and growth of mice. Conclusions:WCDCP can enhance humoral immune response and cellular immune response, and has no side effect on the growth of mice, suggesting that WCDCP can be used as a potential adjuvant for OVA.

Objective:To explore the effects of "2+1" PAD class based on online course in medical statistics undergraduate teaching.Methods:A total of 326 clinical undergraduates who took medical statistics in the spring term of 2017 were randomly divided into experimental group ( n=186) and control group ( n=140). Students in the experimental group were taught by "2+1" teaching method, which included self-study on line, classroom teaching, discussion and so on. While students in the control group were taught traditionally. Feedbacks about the teaching progress and effects from the students in the two groups were compared. SAS 9.4 was used for quantitative data description, t-test and rank sum test. Results:according to the students, the online-based "2+1" teaching method paid more attention to interdisciplinarity than traditional method ( P<0.01), and the new teaching method was more beneficial for the improvement of students' capacity ( P=0.008) and more conducive for students to engaging in scientific research ( P=0.012). Students in the experimental group had higher overall satisfaction scores ( P<0.01) and better ability for solving comprehensive problems ( P<0.01). Conclusion:The "2+1" PAD class teaching model based on online courses has more advantages than traditional teaching methods does, which should be recommended and adopted in undergraduate teaching.