Euthanasia controversy in China:do we have the right to die?

This research examines the contentious issue of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in the context of China's unique conditions.Historically,the debate over euthanasia has been influenced by moral philosophy and ethics,and euthanasia is illegal in China at present.The research explores the difficulty in making euthanasia legalized across five key dimensions:financial,medical,social,legal,and psychological factors.We conclude that while there is a desire among some terminally ill patients for euthanasia,the current situation in China makes it unsuitable for legalization.The profound question of one's right to die remains a significant moral and judicial challenge,indicating the need for continued dialogue and nuanced understanding of this complex issue.

SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections following inactivated vaccine vaccination induce few neutralizing antibodies against the currently emerging Omicron XBB variants

Dear Editor,COVID-19 inactivated vaccines have been extensively administered inChina.However,the majority of the Chinese population has experiencedbreakthrough infections from SARS-CoV-2 ancestral,Delta or Omicronvariants over the past three years,particularly during the wave of Omicron BA.5 and BA.7 variants at the end of 2022(Zhu et al.,2023).Subsequently,new Omicron variants,such as BQ.1,BQ.1.1,XBB,XBB.1/XBB.1.9,and XBB.1.5/XBB.1.9.1,are emerging in China(Yueetal.,2023;Zhu et al.,2023).Therefore,it is an urgentneed and a publichealth imperative to assess the extent of the immunoprotection established in this population.

Glycerin Monostearate Aggravates Male Reproductive Toxicity Caused by Di(2-ethylhexyl)Phthalate in Rats

Human beings are increasingly exposed to phthalates,which are a group of chemicals used to make plastics more flexible and harder to break,and simultaneously ingesting abundant food emulsifiers via daily diet.The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the food emulsifier glycerin monostearate(GMS)on male reproductive toxicity caused by di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate(DEHP,one of the phthalates)and explore the underlying mechanism.Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group,DEHP group and DEHP+GMS group.Rats in the DEHP group and DEHP+GMS group were orally administered with 200 mg/kg/d DEHP with or without 20 mg/kg/d GMS.After 30 days of continuous intervention,it was found that the serum testosterone level was significantly lowered in DEHP group and DEHP+GMS group than that in control group(P<0.01).The serum testosterone level and the relative testis weight were significantly decreased in the DEHP+GMS group as compared with those in the DEHP group and control group(P<0.05).More spermatids were observed to be shed off in DEHP+GMS group than in DEHP group.The expression levels of cell cycle checkpoint kinase 1(Chkl),cell division cycle gene 2(Cdc2),and cyclin-dependent kinase 2(CDK2)were down-regulated in DEHP group,and this tendency was more significant in DEHP+GMS group(P<0.05 or P<0.01).There was no significant difference in the P-glycoprotein(P-gp)expression between DEHP group and control group.However,P-gp was markedly down-regulated in DEHP+GMS group(P<O.Ol).The results indicated that the food emulsifier GMS aggravated the toxicity of DEHP on male reproduction by inhibiting the cell cycle of testicular cells and the expression of P-gp in testis tissues.

Planetary nebulae in the circumnuclear region of M31:a spectroscopic sample

Planetary nebulae(PNe) are an important tool for studying the dynamics and chemical evolution of galaxies in the Local Universe, given their characteristic bright emission line spectra. The Andromeda Galaxy(M31) provides a unique laboratory for studying PNe in the circumnuclear region,thanks to its proximity and almost uniformly low line-of-sight extinction that ensures observations with high resolution and sensitivity. Using the WIYN/Hydra multi-fiber spectrograph, we have obtained optical(4119–6882 A?) spectra of 77 PN candidates selected from Hubble Space Telescope narrow-band imaging, which are located within the central ~500 pc region of M31. Among these candidates, 49(64%) are spectroscopically observed for the first time. The spectra of 300 previously known PNe and H Ⅱ regions, which primarily reside in the disk, are also taken for comparison. All 77 circumnuclear PN candidates exhibit prominent emission lines, including [O Ⅲ] λ5007, [N Ⅱ] λ6583, Hα and Hβ,strongly suggesting that they are genuine PNe. We measured the line fluxes, radial velocities and line widths for all objects, and found that the radial velocities of the circumnuclear PNe generally trace rotation of the inner bulge. We also estimated a dynamical mass of ~6.4±0.5×10~9 M_⊙ enclosed within an effective galactocentric radius of 340 pc, which is compatible with the previously estimated total stellar mass in this region.

Panniculitis,an Uncommon Skin Manifestation in Adult Dermatomyositis

Objective:The skin manifestations of dermatomyositis(DM)are complex and diverse,with some rashes having diagnostic significance,while others have a certain suggestive effect on the patient’s condition,visceral damage,and prognosis.This case-cohort study was performed to investigate the skin manifestations of 205 adult inpatients with DM.We then analyzed the association between the clinical characteristics and panniculitis in adult patients with DM.Methods:This study was conducted at the First Medical Center of PLA General Hospital,Beijing,China from March 1,2016 to December 30,2020 with follow-up until December 31,2021.This case-cohort study involved 205 eligible participants with DM who met the criteria for idiopathic inflammatory myopathy.Clinical data,cutaneous manifestations,and lesion locations were screened and analyzed.Serum samples were collected,and immunoblotting was used to detect 16 types of myositis-specific antibodies and myositis-associated antibodies.Results:The results showed that 16(7.8%)of the 205 adult patients with DM had panniculitis.The panniculitis was mainly distributed in the subcutaneous fat of the abdomen,buttocks,and thighs.This condition was often accompanied by skin ulcers,atrophic scars,and calcinosis.Moreover,9(72.7%)of the 16 patients with panniculitis were positive for antibodies to nuclear matrix protein 2(anti-NXP2 antibodies).Conclusion:The data showed that panniculitis is an uncommon skin manifestation in adult patients with DM,with a positivity rate of 7.8%.The appearance of panniculitis is likely associated with anti-NXP2 antibodies.

Chinese herbal medicine Ginkgo biloba L.preparations for ischemic stroke:An overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses

Background:Ginkgo biloba L.preparations(GBLPs)are a class of Chinese herbal medicine used in the adjuvant treatment of ischemic stroke(IS).Recently,several systematic reviews(SRs)and meta-analyses(MAs)of GBLPs for IS have been published.Objective:This overview aims to assess the quality of related SRs and MAs.Search strategy:Pub Med,Embase,Cochrane Library,Web of Science,Chinese Biological Medicine,China National Knowledge Infrastructure,Wanfang,and Chinese Science and Technology Journals databases were searched from their inception to December 31,2022.Inclusion criteria:SRs and MAs of randomized controlled trials(RCTs)that explored the efficacy of GBLPs for patients with IS were included.Data extraction and analysis:Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed the methodological quality,risk of bias(ROB),reporting quality,and credibility of evidence of the included SRs and MAs using A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2(AMSTAR 2),Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews(ROBIS),the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses(PRISMA),and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment,Development and Evaluation(GRADE),respectively.Additionally,descriptive analysis and data synthesis were conducted.Results:Twenty-nine SRs/MAs involving 119 outcomes were included in this review.The overall methodological quality of all SRs/MAs was critically low based on AMSTAR 2,and 28 had a high ROB based on the ROBIS.According to the PRISMA statement,the reporting items of the included SRs/MAs are relatively complete.The results based on GRADE showed that of the 119 outcomes,8 were rated as moderate quality,24 as low quality,and 87 as very low quality.Based on the data synthesis,GBLPs used in conjunction with conventional treatment were superior to conventional treatment alone for decreasing neurological function scores.Conclusion:GBLPs can be considered a beneficial supplemental therapy for IS.However,because of the low quality of the existing evidence,high-quality RCTs and SRs/MAs are warranted to further evaluate the benefits of GBLPs for treating IS.

HR121 targeting HR2 domain in S2 subunit of spike protein can serve as a broad-spectrum SARS-CoV-2 inhibitor via intranasal administration

The continuously emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants pose a great challenge to the efficacy of current drugs,this necessitates the development of broad-spectrum antiviral drugs.In the previous study,we designed a recombinant protein,heptad repeat(HR)121,as a variant-proof vaccine.Here,we found it can act as a fusion inhibitor and demonstrated broadly neutralizing activities against SARS-CoV-2 and its main variants.Structure analysis suggested that HR121 targets the HR2 domain in SARS-CoV-2 spike(S)2 subunit to block virus-cell fusion.Functional experiments demonstrated that HR121 can bind HR2 at serological-pH and endosomal-pH,highlighting its inhibition capacity when SARS-CoV-2 enters via either cellular membrane fusion or endosomal route.Importantly,HR121 can effectively inhibit SARS-CoV-2 and Omicron variant pseudoviruses entering the cells,as well as block authentic SARSCoV-2 and Omicron BA.2 replications in human pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells.After intranasal administration to Syrian golden hamsters,it can protect hamsters from SARS-CoV-2 and Omicron BA.2 infection.Together,our results suggest that HR121 is a potent drug candidate with broadly neutralizing activities against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants.

Nutritional geometry framework of sucrose taste in Drosophila

Dietary protein(P)and carbohydrate(C)have a major impact on the sweet taste sensation.However,it remains unclear whether the balance of P and C influences the sweet taste sensitivity.Here,we use the nutritional geometry framework(NGF)to address the interaction of protein and carbohydrates on sweet taste using Drosophila as a model.Our results reveal that high-protein,low-carbohydrate(HPLC)diets sensitize to sweet taste and low-protein,high-carbohydrate(LPHC)diets desensitize sweet taste in both male and female flies.We further investigate the underlying mechanisms of the effects of two diets on sweet taste using RNA sequencing.When compared to the LPHC diet,the m RNA expression of genes involved in the metabolism of glycine,serine,and threonine is significantly upregulated in the HPLC diet group,suggesting these amino acids may mediate sweet taste perception.We further find that sweet sensitization occurs in flies fed with the LPHC diet supplemented with serine and threonine.Our study demonstrates that sucrose taste sensitivity is affected by the balance of dietary protein and carbohydrates possibly through changes in serine and threonine.

AMPK controls sucrose taste sensitization in Drosophila

Sweet taste perception is critical for animals and humans.From an evolutionary perspective,sweet taste plays a key role in identifying carbohydrates food.Sweet taste perception in mammals is not fixed but is plasticity in the context of diets(Maliphol et al.,2013;Bartolotto,2015;Wise et al.,2016).However,so far it remains incomplete clear how diets affect sweet taste sensitivity.

Corrigendum to“AMPK controls sucrose taste sensitization in Drosophila”[Journal of Genetics and Genomics(2023)50,50—53]

This corrigendum clarifies information in the article“AMPK controls sucrose taste sensitization in Drosophila”by Hu et al.(2023).In the author list,“Yun Hu,Zhi-Ying Liu,Sha-Sha Li,An-Qi Li,Qiao-Ping Wang”should be corrected into“Yun Hu,Zhi-Ying Liu,Sha-Sha Li,An-Qi Li,G Gregory Neely,Qiao-Ping Wang”.The affiliation of G Gregory Neely is“The Dr.John and Anne Chong Laboratory for Functional Genomics,Charles Perkins Centre and School of Life&Environmental Sciences,The University of Sydney,Sydney,NSW 2006,Australia”.