Characteristics of the HIV/AIDS Epidemic among People Aged≥50 Years in China during 2018–2021

Objective This study aimed to determine the current epidemiological status of PLWHA aged≥50 years in China from 2018 to 2021.It also aimed to recommend targeted interventions for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS in elderly patients.Methods Data on newly reported cases of PLWHA,aged≥50 years in China from 2018 to 2021,were collected using the CRIMS.Trend tests and spatial analyses were also conducted.Results Between 2018 and 2021,237,724 HIV/AIDS cases were reported among patients aged≥50 years in China.The main transmission route was heterosexual transmission(91.24%).Commercial heterosexual transmission(CHC)was the primary mode of transmission among males,while non-marital non-CHC([NMNCHC];60.59%)was the prevalent route in women.The proportion of patients with CHC decreased over time(Z=67.716,P<0.01),while that of patients with NMNCHC increased(Z=153.05,P<0.01).The sex ratio varied among the different modes of infection,and it peaked at 17.65 for CHC.The spatial analysis indicated spatial clustering,and the high-high clustering areas were mainly distributed in the southwestern and central-southern provinces.Conclusion In China,PLWHA,aged≥50 years,were predominantly infected through heterosexual transmission.The primary modes of infection were CHC and NMNCHC.There were variations in the sex ratio among different age groups,infected through various sexual behaviors.HIV/AIDS cases exhibited spatial clustering.Based on these results,the expansion of HIV testing,treatment,and integrated behavioral interventions in high-risk populations is recommended to enhance disease detection in key regions.

Evaluation of Compatibilizers for Improving Compatibility between Waste Vegetable Oil and Aged Asphalt

Modifying agents 2,2-Bis(4-glycidyloxyphenyl)propane(2BPE)and dibutyl phthalate(DBP)were selected to enhance the compatibility.By using molecular simulation software(Materials Studio,MS),nine systems were constructed,including molecular models of aged asphalt and WVO monomers with 2BPE and/or DBP.The solubility parameters,Flory-Huggins parameters,and interaction energies of these systems were calculated to determine the impact of 2BPE and DBP on the compatibility of WVO and aged asphalt.Results showed that the addition of 2BPE and DBP reduced the difference in the solubility parameters between WVO and aged asphalt,thus improving the compatibility between WVO and aged asphalt.Additionally,using a combination of 2BPE and DBP in both aged asphalt and rejuvenator was found to be more effective than using either 2BPE or DBP alone.Finally,it was determined that evaluating the compatibility of WVO and aged asphalt using Van der Waals potential and non-bonding energy as evaluation indicators was more accurate than using electrostatic potential energy.

Laboratory Evaluation of Performance Recovery of Aged SBS-modified Asphalt Using Regenerants with Different Base Oil Components

In this study,the regenerative effects of different regenerants on aged SBS-modified asphalt from different perspectives were investigated,including their conventional properties,viscoelastic behavior,creep-related properties,and micromorphology.Base oils composed of different proportions of aromatic and saturated hydrocarbons as well as the styrene-butadiene-styrene(SBS)restorer were used to prepare the regenerants.The results showed that the components of the base oil of the regenerant played a crucial role in determining the characteristics and performance of the recycled SBSmodified asphalt.Regenerants containing a high proportion of aromatics dissolved the hard segment in the SBS restorer,thereby delaying the effect of a reduction in the regenerants on the performance of the aged asphalts at a high temperature.Regenerants containing a high proportion of saturates dissolved the soft segment in the SBS restorer to enhance the lowtemperature performance of the recycled asphalts.In addition,the stress sensitivity of the recycled asphalts increased with the fraction of aromatics in the regenerant.As the aromatic content of the base oil components of the regenerants increased and their saturate content decreased,the state of dispersion of the SBS phase in the recycled SBS-modified asphalts improved.The optimal content of aromatics in the base oil of the regenerants should be set in the range of 33%to 47%to ensure the adequate performance of the recycled asphalts and a high efficiency of the SBS restorer.

Microbiomics and metabolomics insights into the microbial regulation on the formation of flavor components in the traditional fermentation process of Chinese Hongqu aged vinegar

This study aimed to investigate microbial succession and metabolic dynamics during the traditional fermentation of Hongqu aged vinegar,and explore the core functional microbes closely related to the formation of flavor components.Microbiome analysis demonstrated that Lactobacillus,Acetobacter,Bacillus,Enterobacter,Lactococcus,Leuconostoc and Weissella were the predominant bacterial genera,while Aspergillus piperis,Aspergillus oryzae,Monascus purpureus,Candida athensensis,C.xylopsoci,Penicillium ochrosalmoneum and Simplicillium aogashimaense were the predominant fungal species.Correlation analysis revealed that Acetobacter was positively correlated with the production of tetramethylpyrazine,acetoin and acetic acid,Lactococcus showed positive correlation with the production of 2-nonanone,2-heptanone,ethyl caprylate,ethyl caprate,1-hexanol,1-octanol and 1-octen-3-ol,C.xylopsoci and C.rugosa were positively associated with the production of diethyl malonate,2,3-butanediyl diacetate,acetoin,benzaldehyde and tetramethylpyrazine.Correspondingly,non-volatile metabolites were also detected through ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.A variety of amino acids and functional dipeptides were identified during the traditional brewing of Hongqu aged vinegar.Correlation analysis revealed that Lactobacillus was significantly associated with DL-lactate,indolelactic acid,D-(+)-3-phenyllactic acid,pimelic acid,pregabalin and 3-aminobutanoic acid.This study is useful for understanding flavor formation mechanism and developing effective strategies for the suitable strains selection to improve the flavor quality of Hongqu aged vinegar.

Weldability of steel used in an aged bridge

A series of experiments was performed to investigate the weldability of steel used in an aged bridge.A steel material used in an aged railway bridge constructed in 1912 was extracted for this investigation.The chemical compositions of this steel were suitable for welding.However,the aged steel contained much sulfur.Cruciform welded joints were fabricated with this aged steel.Welding defects or cracks were not observed in the joints.The Vickers hardness test on the welded part did not confirm extreme hardening or softening.After yielding by the static tensile test,the cruciform joints were fractured at the welded parts.One of the specimens was fractured in the middle of the thickness of the aged steel.The Sulfur contained in the aged steel might cause this type of fracture.The results show that there may be a risk of brittle fracture not only from the welded part but also from the base metal.The chemical compositions of aged steel must be analyzed when repair welding is applied to the steel.

Risk Factors for Geo-Helminthiasis in Children Aged 6 - 36 Months in a Rural Health District in Cameroon

Introduction and Objectives: Soil-Transmitted-Helminthiasis (STH) is a public health problem in Cameroon. The control strategies currently in place, particularly chemoprevention, has shortcomings linked to the target population, which are school-age children. The objective was to determine the prevalence and the risk factors associated with geo-helminthiasis in children aged 0 to 3 years in a rural health district. Method: From December 2020 to May 2021, a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study of 376 children between 6 and 36 months was carried out in the Akonolinga health district. This was a cluster sampling in 4 health areas. Stool samples were collected and analysed using the mini-FLOTAC method. The results expressed as the number of eggs per gram of stool. A questionnaire on socio-demographic and lifestyle data was administered to the parents. The Chi-squared test was used to measure the association between geo-helminth infection and the data collected. A multivariate analysis using logistic regression was performed (p 0.05). Results: The prevalence of STH was 19.4% (Ascaris lumbricoides: 16% and Trichuris trichiura: 8%). Risk factors were: consumption of contaminated water (AOR = 1.93 [1.03 - 3.6];p = 0.040), early contact of the child with the ground (before age of 4 months) (AOR = 4.9 [2.1 - 11.37];p .001), habit of walking barefoot (AOR = 2.91 [1.1 - 7.97];p = 0.038), and living in a habitat with unpaved ground (AOR = 7.4 [1.55 - 35.7];p = 0.012). Conclusion: The prevalence of STHs in infants was high. Preventive chemotherapy should be extended to this age-group, and other measures intensified.

Critical current degradation in an epoxy-impregnated rare-earth Ba_(2)Cu_(3)O_(7-x)coated conductor caused by damage during a quench

High-temperature superconducting(HTS)rare-earth Ba_(2)Cu_(3)O_(7-x)(REBCO)coated conductors(CCs)have significant potential in high-current and high-field applications.However,owing to the weak interface strength of the laminated composite REBCO CCs,the damage induced by the thermal mismatch stress under a combination of epoxy impregnation,cooling,and quenching can cause premature degradation of the critical current.In this study,a three-dimensional(3D)electromagnetic-thermal-mechanical model based on the H-formulation and cohesive zone model(CZM)is developed to study the critical current degradation characteristics in an epoxy-impregnated REBCO CC caused by the damage during a quench.The temperature variation,critical current degradation of the REBCO CC,and its degradation onset temperature calculated by the numerical model are in agreement with the experimental data taken from the literature.The delamination of the REBCO CC predicted by the numerical model is consistent with the experimental result.The numerical results also indicate that the shear stress is the main contributor to the damage propagation inside the REBCO CC.The premature degradation of the critical current during a quench is closely related to the interface shear strength inside the REBCO CC.Finally,the effects of the coefficient of thermal expansion(CTE)of the epoxy resin,thickness of the substrate,and substrate material on the critical current degradation characteristics of the epoxy-impregnated REBCO CC during a quench are also discussed.These results help us understand the relationship between the current-carrying degradation and damage in the HTS applications.

Factors Associated with Acute Respiratory Infections in Children Aged 0 - 5 Years in the Yénawa District of Cotonou (Benin) in 2023

Introduction: Acute respiratory infections remain one of the main causes of mortality in children aged 0 to 5. This work aimed to study the associated factors with the occurrence of acute respiratory infections in children 0 to 5 years old in Yénawa, Cotonou in 2023. Subjects and Method: It was an analytical cross-sectional study of children aged 0 - 5 years and their mothers in Yénawa, selected by four-degree random sampling. The sampling size, calculated using the Schwartz formula, was 126 children and 126 mothers. The dependent variable was the occurrence of acute respiratory infections. The independent variables were classified into four groups: socio-demographic and economic characteristics, behavioral factors, child-related factors, and environmental factors. Data collected by observation and questionnaire survey were analyzed using STATA version 15 software. Associated factors were investigated by bivariate analysis and multiple logistic regression, at the 5% significance level. Results: A total of 126 children aged 0 - 5 years and 126 mothers were surveyed, aged 23.5 (11 - 36) months and 30 (18 - 48) years respectively. The prevalence of acute respiratory infections was 74.60% (CI95% = 66.89 to 82.30). The associated factors were the mother’s age between 18 and 28 (OR = 10.77;CI95% = 1.89 to 61.27;p = 0.007), the use of charcoal/wood for cooking (OR = 7.36;IC = 1.99 to 27.10;p = 0.003)), children's poor personal hygiene (OR = 8.87;IC = 2.92 to 26.97;p 0.001)), and cohabitation with domestic animals (OR = 7.27;IC = 1.67 to 31.71;p = 0.015). Conclusion: Communicating with mothers about the factors identified will help reduce the prevalence of acute respiratory infections in children aged 0 to 5.

Factors Associated with Mortality in Children Aged 1 Month to 15 Years Hospitalized in the Pediatric Ward of the Kalaban-Coro Reference Health Center: Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Infant and child mortality is a worldwide concern, but developing countries such as Mali are more affected. The aim of this study was to investigate morbidity and factors associated with mortality in children aged 1 month to 15 years. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study which took place from January 1 to December 31, 2020 covering children aged 1 month to 15 years hospitalized at the Kalaban-Coro CSRéf. Data were entered into Excel and analyzed using SPSS version 20 software. Results: Five hundred children aged 1 months to 15 years were included. The age range 1 to 5 years (53.6%) and male sex (58.2%) were the most represented. Malaria (72.2%), acute respiratory infections (6.2%) and diarrhea/dehydration (3%) were the main morbidities. Mortality was estimated at 10.6%, and the two main causes of death were malaria (56.6%) and acute respiratory infections (7.54%). Univariate analysis revealed a statistically significant association between the dependent variable (death) and age (p Conclusion: This study confirms the high rate of infant and child morbidity and mortality in our health facilities. Strengthening human resources and intensifying behavior-change communication can help reverse the trend.

The Association Between Daily Physical Activity and Risk of Hypertension in Middle-Aged and Older Adults:A Nationwide Cohort Study in China

Physical activity (PA) plays a key role in the treatment of hypertension, and moderate to vigorous PA has been documented to lower the risk of developing hypertension. However, dose-response relationships between PA and hypertension are not consistent, and little is known about this relationship within the Chinese middle-aged and older people. We investigated the relationship between PA and hypertension within this population using China Health and Nutrition Survey 1991-2015 data. Physical activity was expressed in terms of the metabolic equivalent task (MET) and participants were divided into groups according to quartiles, namely, Q1 (< 32.97 METs-h/w), Q2 (32.97-60.38 METs-h/ w), Q3 (60.38-98.95 METs-h/w), and Q4 (> 98.95 METs-h/w). Compared with the Q1 group, the odds ratio of risk with hypertension (95% CIs) after adjusting for confounding factors were 0.63 (0.35, 1.12), 0.49 (0.28, 0.86), and 0.62 (0.35, 1.09) for those in Q2, Q3, and Q4, respectively. Restricted cubic spline functions were used and a U-shaped relationship between physical activity and hypertension risk was found, indicative of an optimal level of physical activity, which was found to be 112 METs-h/w. Our data suggest maintenance of optimal levels of total daily physical activity may be important for preventing hypertension in Chinese adults over the age of 40.

Metformin promotes angiogenesis and functional recovery in aged mice after spinal cord injury by adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase/endothelial nitric oxide synthase pathway

Treatment with metformin can lead to the recovery of pleiotropic biological activities after spinal cord injury.However,its effect on spinal cord injury in aged mice remains unclear.Considering the essential role of angiogenesis during the regeneration process,we hypothesized that metformin activates the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase/endothelial nitric oxide synthase pathway in endothelial cells,thereby promoting microvascular regeneration in aged mice after spinal cord injury.In this study,we established young and aged mouse models of contusive spinal cord injury using a modified Allen method.We found that aging hindered the recovery of neurological function and the formation of blood vessels in the spinal cord.Treatment with metformin promoted spinal cord microvascular endothelial cell migration and blood vessel formation in vitro.Furthermore,intraperitoneal injection of metformin in an in vivo model promoted endothelial cell proliferation and increased the density of new blood vessels in the spinal cord,thereby improving neurological function.The role of metformin was reversed by compound C,an adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase inhibitor,both in vivo and in vitro,suggesting that the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase/endothelial nitric oxide synthase pathway likely regulates metformin-mediated angiogenesis after spinal cord injury.These findings suggest that metformin promotes vascular regeneration in the injured spinal cord by activating the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase/endothelial nitric oxide synthase pathway,thereby improving the neurological function of aged mice after spinal cord injury.

Gaseous and Electrochemical Hydrogen Storage Kinetics of As-quenched Nanocrystalline and Amorphous Mg_2Ni-type Alloys

The nanocrystalline and amorphous Mg2Ni-type Mg2Ni1-xCox （x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4） alloys were synthesized by melt quenching technology. The structures of the as-cast and quenched alloys were characterized by XRD, SEM and HRTEM. The gaseous hydrogen storage kinetics of the alloys was measured using an automatically controlled Sieverts apparatus. The alloy electrodes were charged and discharged with a constant current density in order to investigate the electrochemical hydrogen storage kinetics of the alloys. The results demonstrate that the substitution of Co for Ni results in the formation of secondary phases MgCo2 and Mg instead of altering the major phase Mg2Ni. No amorphous phase is detected in the as-quenched Co- ffee alloy, however, a certain amount of amorphous phase is clearly found in the as-quenched alloys substituted by Co. Furthermore, both the rapid quenching and the Co substitution significantly improve the gaseous and electrochemical hydrogen storage kinetics of the alloys, for which the notable increase of the hydrogen diffusion coefficient （D） along with the limiting current density （IL） and the obvious decline of the electrochemical impedance generated by both the Co substitution and the rapid quenching are basically responsible.

Age-specific differences in the association between prediabetes and cardiovascular diseases in China:A national cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND Cardiovascular disease(CVD)is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide,the global burden of which is rising.It is still unclear the extent to which prediabetes contributes to the risk of CVD in various age brackets among adults.To develop a focused screening plan and treatment for Chinese adults with prediabetes,it is crucial to identify variations in the connection between prediabetes and the risk of CVD based on age.AIM To examine the clinical features of prediabetes and identify risk factors for CVD in different age groups in China.METHODS The cross-sectional study involved a total of 46239 participants from June 2007 through May 2008.A thorough evaluation was conducted.Individuals with prediabetes were categorized into two groups based on age.Chinese atherosclerotic CVD risk prediction model was employed to evaluate the risk of developing CVD over 10 years.Random forest was established in both age groups.SHapley Additive exPlanation method prioritized the importance of features from the perspective of assessment contribution.RESULTS In total,6948 people were diagnosed with prediabetes in this study.In prediabetes,prevalences of CVD were 5(0.29%)in the younger group and 148(2.85%)in the older group.Overall,11.11%of the younger group and 29.59% of the older group were intermediate/high-risk of CVD for prediabetes without CVD based on the Prediction for ASCVD Risk in China equation in ten years.In the younger age group,the 10-year risk of CVD was found to be more closely linked to family history of CVD rather than lifestyle,whereas in the older age group,resident status was more closely linked.CONCLUSION The susceptibility to CVD is age-specific in newly diagnosed prediabetes.It is necessary to develop targeted approaches for the prevention and management of CVD in adults across various age brackets.

Non-linear relationship between age and subfoveal choroidal thickness in Chinese patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy

BACKGROUND No study has investigated the change regularity between age and subfoveal choroidal thickness(SFCT)in proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR).AIM To investigate the relationship between the SFCT and age in Chinese patients with PDR.METHODS This was a cross-sectional retrospective study.The participants were hospitalized individuals with type 2 diabetes who underwent vitrectomy for PDR.Contralateral eyes that met the criteria were included in the study.All necessary laboratory tests were performed at the time of admission.Central macular thickness(CMT)and SFCT were two quantitative assessments made using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography.CMT was measured automatically and SFCT was measured manually with digital calipers provided by the Heidelberg Eye Explorer software.RESULTS The final analysis included a total of 234 individuals with PDR.The average age was 55.60 years old±10.03 years old,and 57.69%of the population was male.Univariate analysis revealed a significant negative connection between age and SFCT in patients with PDR[β=-2.44,95%confidence interval(95%CI):-3.46 to-1.42;P<0.0001].In the fully adjusted model,the correlation between SFCT and age remained steady(β=-1.68,95%CI:-2.97 to-0.39;P=0.0117).Spline smoothing showed that the relationship between SFCT and age in patients with PDR was non-linear,with an inflection point at 54 years of age.CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that age is a key determinant of choroidal thickness.The non-linear link between SFCT and age in PDR patients should be taken into account.

Dynamical nonlinear excitations induced by interaction quench in a two-dimensional box-trapped Bose-Einstein condensate

Manipulating nonlinear excitations,including solitons and vortices,is an essential topic in quantum many-body physics.A new progress in this direction is a protocol proposed in[Phys.Rev.Res.2043256(2020)]to produce dark solitons in a one-dimensional atomic Bose–Einstein condensate(BEC)by quenching inter-atomic interaction.Motivated by this work,we generalize the protocol to a two-dimensional BEC and investigate the generic scenario of its post-quench dynamics.For an isotropic disk trap with a hard-wall boundary,we find that successive inward-moving ring dark solitons(RDSs)can be induced from the edge,and the number of RDSs can be controlled by tuning the ratio of the after-and before-quench interaction strength across different critical values.The role of the quench played on the profiles of the density,phase,and sound velocity is also investigated.Due to the snake instability,the RDSs then become vortex–antivortex pairs with peculiar dynamics managed by the initial density and the after-quench interaction.By tuning the geometry of the box traps,demonstrated as polygonal ones,more subtle dynamics of solitons and vortices are enabled.Our proposed protocol and the discovered rich dynamical effects on nonlinear excitations can be realized in near future cold-atom experiments.

Bowel preparation protocol for hospitalized patients ages 50 years or older:A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND The incidence and mortality rate of colorectal cancer progressively increase with age and become particularly prominent after the age of 50 years.Therefore,the population that is≥50 years in age requires long-term and regular colonoscopies.Uncomfortable bowel preparation is the main reason preventing patients from undergoing regular colonoscopies.The standard bowel preparation regimen of 4-L polyethylene glycol(PEG)is effective but poorly tolerated.AIM To investigate an effective and comfortable bowel preparation regimen for hospitalized patients≥50 years in age.METHODS Patients were randomly assigned to group 1(2-L PEG+30-mL lactulose+a lowresidue diet)or group 2(4-L PEG).Adequate bowel preparation was defined as a Boston bowel preparation scale(BBPS)score of≥6,with a score of≥2 for each segment.Non-inferiority was prespecified with a margin of 10%.Additionally,the degree of comfort was assessed based on the comfort questionnaire.RESULTS The proportion of patients with a BBPS score of≥6 in group 1 was not significantly different from that in group 2,as demonstrated by intention-to-treat(91.2%vs 91.0%,P=0.953)and per-protocol(91.8%vs 91.0%,P=0.802)analyses.Furthermore,in patients≥75 years in age,the proportion of BBPS scores of≥6 in group 1 was not significantly different from that in group 2(90.9%vs 97.0%,P=0.716).Group 1 had higher comfort scores(8.85±1.162 vs 7.59±1.735,P<0.001),longer sleep duration(6.86±1.204 h vs 5.80±1.730 h,P<0.001),and fewer awakenings(1.42±1.183 vs 2.04±1.835,P=0.026)than group 2.CONCLUSION For hospitalized patients≥50 years in age,the bowel preparation regimen comprising 2-L PEG+30-mL lactulose+a low-residue diet produced a cleanse that was as effective as the 4-L PEG regimen and even provided better comfort.

Phase diagram and quench dynamics of a periodically drivenHaldane model

We investigate a periodically driven Haldane model subjected to a two-stage driving scheme in the form of a step function.By using the Floquet theory,we obtain the topological phase diagram of the system.We also find that anomalous Floquet topological phases exist in the system.Focusing on examining the quench dynamics among topological phases,we analyze the site distribution of the 0-mode and p-mode edge states in long-period evolution after a quench.The results demonstrate that,under certain conditions,the site distribution of the 0-mode can be confined at the edge even in long-period evolution.Additionally,both the 0-mode and p-mode can recover and become confined at the edge in long-period evolution when the post-quench parameters(T,M_(2) /M_(1))in the phase diagram cross away from the phase boundary (M_(2)/ M_(1))=(6√3t2)/ M_(1)−1.Furthermore,we conclude that whether the edge state is confined at the edge in the long-period evolution after a quench depends on the similarity of the edge states before and after the quench.Our findings reveal some new characteristics of quench dynamics in a periodically driven system.

Age Identity and Elderly Job Participation in China

In the context of rising life expectancy,there is a significant discrepancy between Chinese seniors’self-perceptions of the start of old age and the expectations of society around this age.The traditional paradigm,which forecasts individual economic behavior and formulates economic policies based on societal standards of age,is put to the test by this disparity.This study,which draws from the China Longitudinal Aging Society Survey(CLASS),examines the factors,processes,and improvement strategies that affect how older people choose to work.The following are our conclusions:(i)Chinese elderly believe their old age starts from 70 years on average;delaying perceived old age is a denial of aging and raises the likelihood of finding work.Elders who are youthful at heart have a 2.4%higher chance of remaining employed than elders who are old at heart.(ii)In contrast to old-at-heart elders,young-at-heart elders are more likely to maintain their middle-age lifestyles,continue working,become motivated to engage in social activities,and gain the confidence to face challenges and continue in their career.(iii)If the perceived old age is above 70 years,the milestone event of aging is retirement from work,and there are external pressures,particularly pressures from family intergenerational support,the perception of old age will have a more proactive impact on older workers.(iv)Despite rising pension benefits,older people’s decision to remain in the workforce is still heavily influenced by their perception of their age.However,this effect is notably gender-specific,as older women’s decision to remain in the workforce is not greatly influenced by their own perception of their age.

Can serum immunoglobulin G4 levels and age serve as reliable predictors of relapse in autoimmune pancreatitis?

We are writing in response to the paper published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology by Zhou et al.The authors identified higher serum immunoglobulin(Ig)G4 levels and age over 55 years as independent risk factors for disease relapse.Despite notable strengths,it is crucial to address potential biases.Firstly,the cohort study included 189 patients with autoimmune pancreatitis(AIP)type 1(with higher IgG4 seropositivity and higher relapse)and 24 with type 2(with lower IgG4 seropositivity and lower relapse).Consequently,most,if not all,AIP type 2 patients were assigned to the normal group,possibly inflating the association of higher serum IgG4 levels with relapse and potentially exaggerating the association of older age with relapse.Secondly,the authors did not provide sufficient details regarding AIP diagnosis,such as the ratio of definitive vs probable cases and the proportion of biopsies.In cases where histological evidence is unavailable or indeterminate,AIP type 2 may be misdiagnosed as definitive type 1,and type 1 may also be misdiagnosed as probable type 2,particularly in cases with normal or mildly elevated serum IgG4 levels.Lastly,in this retrospective study,approximately one-third of the consecutive patients initially collected were excluded for various reasons.Accordingly,the impact of nonrandom exclusion on relapse outcomes should be carefully considered.In conclusion,the paper by Zhou et al offers plausible,though not entirely compelling,evidence suggesting a predictive role of elevated serum IgG4 levels and advanced age in AIP relapse.The foundation for future investigations lies in ensuring a reliable diagnosis and accurate disease subtyping,heavily dependent on obtaining histological specimens.In this regard,endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy emerges as a pivotal component of the diagnostic process,contributing to mitigating biases in future explorations of the disease.

The intrinsic developmental age signal defines an age-dependent climbing behavior in cucumber

The tendril is a climbing organ in cucurbits and functions in physical support and to avoid shading by neighboring vegetation.However,how cucurbits produce tendrils to obtain climbing ability is largely unknown.In this study,tendril phenotypes were investigated during different developmental stages.Our results revealed that tendril growth exhibited an age-dependent pattern in cucurbits.Tendril growth was inhibited,and the tendril was formed as a short tendril[nonfunctional tendril(nonF-tendril),approximately 0.1 cm]during the seedling stage.In contrast,enhanced cell proliferation and cell expansion led to rapid elongation of the tendril during the climbing stage,and the tendril formed as a functional tendril(F-tendril,approximately 30 cm)to obtain climbing ability.RT-qPCR detection showed that age-dependent tendril growth correlated negatively with the abundance of the conserved age regulator CsmiR156.Defoliation induced CsmiR156 to inhibit CsSPLs,and F-tendril formation and climbing ability were delayed in defoliated cucumbers,which confirmed the role of CsmiR156 in regulating tendril growth in vivo.Additionally,exogenous gibberellin(GA)treatment showed that GA positively regulated tendril growth,and RT-qPCR detection showed that the GA bio-synthetic genes and metabolic genes were affected by age pathway,suggesting that the age pathway depended on GA bio-synthetic and metabolic pathway to regulate cell expansion to determine tendril growth.In summary,our work reveals that change in tendril type is an important marker of phase transition in cucumber,and tendril growth is regulated by an intrinsic developmental age signal,ensuring that the cucumber obtains climbing ability at a suitable age.