Age Stage Research Articles

EDNRA regulates the tumour immune environment and predicts the efficacy and prognosis of cancer immunotherapy.

The potential role of endothelin receptor A (EDNRA) in cancer immunotherapy has been demonstrated; however, the mechanism of its therapeutic value remains to be investigated. This study aimed to reveal the potential link between cancer immunotherapy and EDNRA in human tumours. Clinical characteristics and gene expression information were acquired from the Cancer Genome Atlas database. The correlation between EDNRA expression and immune infiltration was analysed by tumour immune estimation resource (TIMER) and tumour-immune system interaction database (TISIDB). EDNRA expression in different cancer types were performed via qPCR. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the relationships between EDNRA protein and immune checkpoints. The results have founded that EDNRA was differentially expressed in various tumours, and highly associated with patient's age and tumour stage. It is also of high potential prognostic value in predicting patient survival. It has been verified that the EDNRA, JAK-STAT, and TGF-β signalling pathways are involved in cancers. In general, EDNRA positively correlated with immunomodulatory agents, immune cell infiltration, and immunotherapy markers. Immunohistochemical analysis of breast cancer tissues showed that EDNRA was positively correlated with NRP1 expression. Furthermore, patients with low EDNRA levels showed a superior response to immunotherapy. The functional study found that EDNRA expression is upregulated in MDA-MB-231 and HepG2 cells, and knockdown of EDNRA inhibits proliferation and migration of cells. In conclusion, the immunotherapeutic function of EDNRA was elucidated in this study. EDNRA may be an important target in tumour immunotherapy and provide new insights for tumour immunotherapy.

EVENING PRIMROSE OIL AS A DIETARY THERAPY AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF A WOMANS REPRODUCTIVE AGE

Introduction: Primrose or evening primrose, scientifically known as Oenothera biennis L, this small yellow flower has brown seeds from which an oil rich in essential fatty acids is extracted, in particular linoleic acid and y-linoleic acid. These are the reason for the use of evening primrose oil, as they have benefits in cellular structure, skin, metabolism, reproductive system, among others. Objective: To evaluate evening primrose oil as diet therapy in different stages of the reproductive age of women to determine its efficacy. Methodology: The search was based on a literature review and were examined for eligibility according to the inclusion criteria. Results: Essential fatty acids can be depleted during the menstrual cycle, leading to hormonal imbalance that causes most premenstrual symptoms. According to the benefits found in cervical preparation in pregnancy, they are related to the effects of misoprostol and evening primrose oil on prostaglandins. The last article found in this research deals with the relationship between the consumption of evening primrose oil and its possible benefits in the psychological symptoms that may appear in the climacteric syndrome (menopause). Discussion: According to the results obtained, further research is necessary to be sure of a probable alternative treatment with evening primrose oil.

Clinical utility of anti-Müllerian hormone in female children and adolescents.

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is a dimeric glycoprotein that belongs to the transforming growth factor beta superfamily and plays essential roles in sexual differentiation and folliculogenesis. In the male embryo, AMH is produced by the Sertoli cells and induces the involution of the Müllerian ducts. In females, AMH is predominately produced by the granulosa cells of growing preantral and small antral follicles and regulates follicular maturation. Many recent studies have highlighted the significant role of this hormone in the diagnostic approach to female children and adolescents with various disorders that affect ovarian development and function. AMH is considered a valuable diagnostic tool in the management of female pediatric patients with conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome, precocious puberty, ovarian tumors, differences in sex development, and premature ovarian insufficiency. Standardization of AMH assays, internationally approved reference values based on age and pubertal stage, and widespread availability of the test could further upgrade the clinical utility of AMH, rendering it a valuable tool in the armamentarium of physicians involved in the care of female children and adolescents, and promote future research.

Characterization of CL-20/HMX cocrystallization and its effects on GAP-based propellants during thermal aging process

The incorporation of HMX and CL-20 as component particles can greatly improve the energy efficiency of composite propellants. Nevertheless, the occurrence of cocrystallization arises when HMX and CL-20 exists together. Further investigation is needed to determine the effects of the CL-20/HMX cocrystallization on the aging features of the propellants. The present study examines the evolutionary trends and effects of the CL-20/HMX cocrystal on the process of solid propellant aging. Experimental thermal aging studies were carried out on GAP-based composite propellants at temperatures of 60 °C/180-day and 70 °C/90-day. An investigation of density bottle, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and uniaxial tensile testing were performed on the samples. The results indicate that the cocrystallization behaviours of CL-20/HMX undergo three distinct stages during propellant aging. The reaction rate accelerates most during the middle aging stage. As the GAP-based propellant ages, the recently developed cocrystal structure deteriorates the interfacial characteristics between the propellant particles and the matrix, leading to the formation of cavities inside the material. This will further enhance the decrease in elastic modulus, ultimate strength, and maximum elongation of the propellants. Among them, the most notable distinction from the aging behaviours of propellants without the addition of particles is the increase of the elastic modulus. Furthermore, a strong linear correlation was observed between variation of the elastic modulus and the cocrystal content of CL-20/HMX. This correlation offers a reliable indicator for monitoring the extent of cocrystallization phenomena.

Contact Tracing Different Age Groups During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Retrospective Study From South-West Germany.

Contact tracing was implemented in many countries during the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent disease spread, reduce mortality, and avoid overburdening health care systems. In several countries, including Germany, new systems were needed to trace potentially infected individuals. Using data collected in the Rhine-Neckar and Heidelberg (RNK/HD) districts in southwest Germany (population: 706,974), this study examines the overall effectiveness and efficiency of contact tracing in different age groups and stages of the pandemic. From January 27, 2020, to April 30, 2022, the RNK/HD Health Authority collected data on COVID-19 infections, quarantines, and deaths. Data on infection, quarantine, and death was grouped by age (young: 0-19 years; adult: 20-65 years; and senior citizens: >65 years) and pandemic phase (infectious wave plus subsequent lull periods) and analyzed for proportion, risk, and relative risk (RR). The overall effectiveness and efficiency of contact tracing were determined by calculating quarantine sensitivity (proportion of the infected population captured in quarantine), positive predictive value (PPV; proportion of the quarantined population that was infected), and the weighted Fβ-score (combined predictive performance). Of 706,974 persons living in RNK/HD during the study period, 192,175 (27.2%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, 74,810 (10.4%) were quarantined, and 932 (0.132%) died following infection. Compared with adults, the RR of infection was lower among senior citizens (0.401, 95% CI 0.395-0.407) and while initially lower for young people, was ultimately higher for young people across all 5 phases (first-phase RR 0.502, 95% CI 0.438-0.575; all phases RR 1.35, 95% CI 1.34-1.36). Of 932 COVID-19-associated deaths during the study period, 852 were senior citizens (91.4%), with no deaths reported among young people. Relative to adults, senior citizens had the lowest risk of quarantine (RR 0.436, 95% CI 0.424-0.448), while young people had the highest RR (2.94, 95% CI 2.90-2.98). The predictive performance of contact tracing was highest during the second and third phases of the pandemic (Fβ-score=0.272 and 0.338, respectively). In the second phase of the pandemic, 5810 of 16,814 COVID-19 infections were captured within a total quarantine population of 39,687 (sensitivity 34.6%; PPV 14.6%). In the third phase of the pandemic, 3492 of 8803 infections were captured within a total quarantine population of 16,462 (sensitivity 39.7%; PPV 21.2%). The use of quarantine aligned with increasing risks of COVID-19 infection and death. High levels of quarantine sensitivity before the introduction of the vaccine show how contact tracing systems became increasingly effective at capturing and quarantining the infected population. High levels of PPV and Fβ-scores indicate, moreover, that contact tracing became more efficient at identifying infected individuals. Additional analysis of transmission pathways is needed to evaluate the application of quarantine in relation to infection and death risks within specific age groups.

Precipitation strengthening behavior of Custom 455 stainless steel during tempering at 420 °C

After solid solution at 850 °C, the Custom 455 was aged at 420 °C for different times. The hardness changes were measured using a Vickers hardness tester, and the microstructure and composition of the second phase were studied using atom probe tomography (APT) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The APT results indicate that in the early stage of aging, Cu atoms first segregate and attract Ti to form CuTi clusters; As the aging time increases, Ti atoms in CuTi clusters attract Ni and form CuTiNi clusters, resulting in a rapid increase in sample hardness; Subsequently, CuNiTi clusters grew and gradually separated into Cu-rich and NiTi-rich particles; As the aging time further increases, some NiTi-rich particles grow into rod-shaped Ni3Ti precipitates, while others have Si atoms and grow into spherical G phase particles. The orientation relationship between Cu-rich phase, Ni3Ti phase, and G phase is: [100]M//[0–11]Cu//[-12–10]Ni3Ti//[100]G, (011)M//(111)Cu//(0004)Ni3Ti//(022)G. The formation of the Cu-rich, Ni3Ti, and G phase resulted in a hardness peak of 538 HV after 16 h of aging. Subsequently, the decrease in hardness caused by the coarsening of the Cu-rich and Ni3Ti particles was offset by the newly formed G phase, resulting in a slow decrease in hardness.

Retrospective analysis of prevalence and risk factors of bovine lameness in dairy farms in South Africa

Lameness is a crippling problem in the dairy industry, posing a significant welfare challenge and leading to premature culling. The study aimed to determine the seasonal prevalence of lameness in two different provinces of South Africa. The data was collected in two local municipalities (Mpofana and Raymond Mhlaba). However, the computer software systems of four randomly selected dairy farms were used to collect retrospective secondary data for lameness and predisposing factors (2018–2022). The data's targeted parameters include breed, parity, weight, stage of lactation, diseases diagnosed (lameness), age, and milk production trends. The highest prevalence was observed in uMpofana municipality (58.8%) compared to Raymond Mhlaba municipality (41.2%). Among cattle above nine years of age, the prevalence of lameness was the highest (36%), compared to 7-8-year-old (24%), 4-6-year-old (21.7%), and 1-3-year-old (14.3%) cattle. Additionally, the highest prevalence of lameness was observed during the summer season, followed by spring, winter, and autumn. The strongest association is kept for the right front leg (p<0.0001), followed by the left front leg (p<0.001), right back leg (p<0.001), and left back leg (p<0.001). In conclusion, this study provides baseline information on several key factors influencing the prevalence of lameness in dairy cattle in various farms in uMpofana municipality and Raymond Mhlaba municipality. The study findings could be used for farm managerial decision-making and epidemiological interventions. Given the high prevalence of lameness in dairy farms in uMpofana municipality, there is a need for more focused research aimed at identifying the specific causes of lameness in these localities.

Abnormal outer and inner retina in a mouse model of Huntington's disease with age.

Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor dysfunction and cognitive decline. While retinal abnormalities have been documented in some HD patients and animal models, the nature of these abnormalities-specifically whether they originate in the inner or outer retina-remains unclear, particularly regarding their progression with age. This study investigates the retinal structure and function in HD transgenic mice (R6/1) compared to C57BL/6 J control mice at 2, 4, and 6 months of age, encompassing both pre-symptomatic and symptomatic stages of HD. Pathological assessments of the striatum and evaluations of motor function confirmed significant HD-related alterations in R6/1 mice at 6 months. Visual function was subsequently analyzed, accompanied by immunofluorescent staining of retinal and optic nerve tissues over time. Our findings revealed that R6/1 mice exhibited pronounced HD symptoms at 6 months, characterized by neuronal loss in the striatum and impaired locomotor abilities. Functionally, visual acuity declined at 6 months, while retinal light responses began to deteriorate by 4 months. Structurally, R6/1 mice demonstrated a global reduction in cone opsin expression as early as 2 months, with a decrease in rhodopsin levels at 4 months, alongside a thinner retinal structure compared to controls. Notably, rod bipolar cell populations were decreased at 6 months, exhibiting shorter dendritic branches and reduced synaptic connections with photoreceptors in the outer retina. Additionally, ganglion cell numbers in the inner retina decreased at 6 months, accompanied by aberrant neural fibers in the optic nerve. Microglial activation was evident at 4 months, while astrocytic activation was observed at 6 months. Aggregates of mutant huntingtin (mHTT) were first detected in the ganglion cell layer and optic nerve at 2 months, subsequently disseminating throughout all retinal layers with advancing age. These results indicate that retinal pathology in R6/1 mice manifests earlier in the outer retina than in the inner retina, which does not align with the progression of mHTT aggregation. Consequently, the R6/1 mouse retina may serve as a more effective model for elucidating the mechanisms underlying HD and evaluating potential therapeutic strategies, rather than functioning as an early diagnostic tool for the disease.

Hematologic Predictors of Chemotherapy-Induced Neutropenia in Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Anthracycline- or Taxane-Based Chemotherapy

Background: Chemotherapy-induced neutropenia (CIN) is a common and serious complication of chemotherapy in breast cancer patients, leading to increased morbidity, mortality, and treatment disruptions. This study aimed to investigate the association between hematologic profiles and the occurrence of CIN in breast cancer patients receiving anthracycline-based or taxane-based chemotherapy. Methods: A retrospective observational analytic study with a cross-sectional design was conducted using medical records of breast cancer patients treated at the Oncology Surgery Clinic between 2022 and 2023. Sixty patients were included in the study. Hematologic profiles, including hemoglobin and leukocyte counts, were analyzed to assess their association with CIN in both anthracycline- and taxane-based chemotherapy groups. Results: The majority of patients were aged 15-64 years (86.67%), normoweight (65%), had luminal B subtype (63.3%), and were in the locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) stage (45%). Most patients were non-anemic (Hb ≥12 mg/dL) and leukopenic (71.7% and 80%, respectively). No significant association was found between age, nutritional status, or breast cancer stage and CIN (p > 0.05). However, hemoglobin and leukocyte profiles were significantly associated with CIN in both chemotherapy groups (p < 0.05). No association was found between the type of chemotherapy (anthracycline- or taxane-based) and CIN occurrence. Conclusion: Anemia (Hb <12 g/dL) and leukopenia are significant predictors of CIN in breast cancer patients, regardless of the chemotherapy regimen. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring hematologic profiles in these patients to identify those at higher risk of CIN and implement appropriate preventive and management strategies.

Research of Optical Properties and Biocompatibility in Different Zones of Multilayered Translucent Zirconia on Hydrothermal Aging.

We assessed the changes in optical properties and biocompatibility of transition zones in multilayered translucent monolithic zirconia exposed to prolonged hydrothermal aging and compared the results to those with different yttrium oxide contents. Four types of zirconia blocks from IPS e.max ZirCAD were used: 3Y-TZP e.max ZirCAD LT (ZL), 4Y-TZP e.max ZirCAD MT (ZM), 5Y-TZP e.max ZirCAD MT Multi (ZT), and 3Y/5Y-TZP e.max ZirCAD Prime (ZP). A total of 120 specimens (15.0 mm diameter and 1.5 mm height) were fabricated and divided into three groups (n = 10). The aging process for the specimens was conducted in an autoclave set to 134 °C and 0.2 MPa, with durations of 0 h (control), 5 h (first aged), and 10 h (second aged). The optical properties and biocompatibility were analyzed, followed by a statistical analysis of the data (α = 0.05). Before and after aging, ZL and ZP exhibited the lowest color changes. ZT exhibited the highest average transmittance and translucency parameter values, while ZL had the lowest. The water contact angle test showed the highest value in ZM and lowest in ZL across all the aging stages. ZL, ZM, and ZP showed a considerable decrease in the water contact angle; however, ZT did not. A cell counting kit-8 assay showed ZL had the highest value, while ZM had the lowest. A filamentous actin test exhibited the highest value in ZL and lowest in ZM. In the vinculin analysis, ZL and ZT exhibited the lowest values, whereas ZM and ZP had the highest. 3Y/5Y-TZP exhibited a balanced performance across critical parameters, such as color stability, translucency, and biocompatibility, aligning with 3Y-TZP. While 5Y-TZP demonstrated superior translucency, it confirmed the lowest color stability, whereas 3Y-TZP achieved the highest biocompatibility. These properties provide clinicians with a reliable material option that ensures superior esthetic outcomes and long-term prognosis, ultimately contributing to improved patient satisfaction and clinical longevity.

Disentangled Lifespan Synthesis via Transformer‐Based Nonlinear Regression

AbstractLifespan face age transformation aims to generate facial images that accurately depict an individual's appearance at different age stages. This task is highly challenging due to the need for reasonable changes in facial features while preserving identity characteristics. Existing methods tend to synthesize unsatisfactory results, such as entangled facial attributes and low identity preservation, especially when dealing with large age gaps. Furthermore, over‐manipulating the style vector may deviate it from the latent space and damage image quality. To address these issues, this paper introduces a novel nonlinear regression model‐Disentangled Lifespan face Aging (DL‐Aging) to achieve high‐quality age transformation images. Specifically, we propose an age modulation encoder to extract age‐related multi‐scale facial features as key and value, and use the reconstructed style vector of the image as the query. The multi‐head cross‐attention in the W+ space is utilized to update the query for aging image reconstruction iteratively. This nonlinear transformation enables the model to learn a more disentangled mode of transformation, which is crucial for alleviating facial attribute entanglement. Additionally, we introduce a W+ space age regularization term to prevent excessive manipulation of the style vector and ensure it remains within the W+ space during transformation, thereby improving generation quality and aging accuracy. Extensive qualitative and quantitative experiments demonstrate that the proposed DL‐Aging outperforms state‐of‐the‐art methods regarding aging accuracy, image quality, attribute disentanglement, and identity preservation, especially for large age gaps.

Impact of mechanical circulatory support on outcomes in Takotsubo syndrome complicated by cardiogenic shock: Insights from the RETAKO registry

BackgroundCardiogenic shock (CS) complicates Takotsubo syndrome (TTS), significantly affecting patient outcomes. Since avoiding catecholamines, particularly inotropic agents, is recommended in TTS, temporary mechanical circulatory support (MCS) shows promise as a bridge to recovery. However, there is no prospective data on its use in TTS. MethodsPatients from the prospective nationwide RETAKO registry were included and divided based on the use and type of MCS. ResultsFrom a national TTS registry, 1591 consecutive patients were initially enrolled between 2003 and 2022. Of these, 322 patients (20.2 %) developed CS, and 31 (9.6 %) were treated with MCS [20 intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) (64.5 %), 8 veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (25.8 %), and 3 Impella-CP (9.7 %)]. Compared to CS patients managed only with drugs, MCS recipients exhibited a more severe clinical profile, with worse ventricular function and more right ventricular involvement. Despite encountering more complications, such as major bleeding and atrial fibrillation, MCS did not significantly influence in-hospital mortality (19.4 % in the MCS group vs 13.1 % in the no MCS group, p = 0.33). After adjusting for other predictors of in-hospital mortality (invasive mechanical ventilation, inotropic-vasoactive score, age, and SCAI stage), MCS was not associated with higher mortality. ConclusionApproximately 10 % of TTS patients complicated by CS were treated with MCS. Despite their more severe CS, patients treated with MCS had similar in-hospital mortality rates as those treated only with drugs, suggesting a potential benefit of MCS in selected cases.

Global, regional, and national total burden related to hepatitis B in children and adolescents from 1990 to 2021

BackgroundHepatitis B remains a significant global health concern with widespread communicability. Nevertheless, data on its burden and trends in children and adolescents were limited. We aim to evaluate the global, regional, and national trends of total burden related to hepatitis B in children and adolescents aged 0–19 years from 1990 to 2021.MethodsThe age-standardized incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were calculated by the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study from 1990 to 2021. These indicators were stratified by sex, age, socio-demographic index (SDI), and disease stage. We calculated the correlation between them and SDI. The temporal trends were examined using the annual average percentage change (AAPC) and joinpoint regression.ResultsThe global age-standardized incidence of hepatitis B in children and adolescents decreased from 1385.20 per 100,000 population in 1990 to 418.68 per 100,000 population in 2021, with an AAPC of -3.76%. Similarly, age-standardized DALYs decreased from 70.78 per 100,000 population to 36.31 per 100,000 population, with an AAPC of -2.13%. The age-standardized prevalence (AAPC − 3.53%) and mortality (AAPC − 2.09%) of hepatitis B also decreased significantly. From 1990 to 2021, the age-standardized incidence and prevalence among males exhibited a higher trend compared to females, although both declined over time. These two indicators also decreased across all age subgroups, with consistently higher rates observed in the 15–19 age group compared to other age groups. The burden of hepatitis B demonstrated a notable reduction in countries with high-middle SDI, while it was highest in countries with low SDI. In 2021, Central sub-Saharan Africa and West sub-Saharan Africa reported the highest age-standardized incidence. For age-standardized DALYs, South Asia was the only region to experience an increase (AAPC 1.09%), while East Asia showed the largest decline (AAPC − 7.58%). Alcohol and drug use remained important risk factors for DALYs among people aged 15–19 years. Furthermore, the impact of drug use on disease burden was increasing, particularly in high-SDI countries.ConclusionsThe global burden and trends of hepatitis B decreased significantly in children and adolescents, exhibiting regional and national variations. Management of alcohol and drug use remains a major challenge for people aged 15–19 years.

MÜASİR DÖVRDƏ UŞAQ BAĞÇALARINDA FOLKLOR NÜMUNƏLƏRİNDƏN İSTİFADƏNİN ƏHƏMİYYƏTİ

The people of Azerbaijan have been formed on the basis of high aesthetic values due to their national origin and historical roots. A child starts learning his mother tongue with his mother's lullaby. Children's folklore is an important part of centuries-old oral creativity of our people, how to raise a child, what to teach him and how. Children's folklore is rich in material that covers their field of interest. Here, their requirements and needs of all age stages are satisfied in a certain way. The reason for folklore examples to live and reach the present day is to justify and maintain the power of education. Folklore examples have been a means of educating the young generation of our ancestors since ancient times, and the educational ideas reflected here meet the requirements of today. The people approached the aesthetic education of the growing generation with aesthetic requirements and gave importance to it at all stages of life.

Salivary glycated albumin could be as reliable a marker of glycemic control as blood glycated albumin in people with diabetes

AimsMeasurements of diabetes-related biomarkers are necessary to assess glycemic control. The commonly used finger-prick blood glucose and HbA1c measurements are invasive, as is blood glycated albumin (GA) measurement. Therefore, we developed a non-invasive method, namely, measurement of the salivary GA with high accuracy using a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. MethodsWe recruited participants with diabetes mellitus admitted to The University of Tokyo Hospital. Blood and saliva samples were collected at three time points (fasting and 2-hour postprandial at admission and fasting at discharge). After partial purification using an antibody-based column, the samples were subjected to GA measurement by HPLC method. ResultsAmong the 56 participants with diabetes mellitus enrolled in the study, there was a correlation between the GA levels measured in blood and saliva at the three time points described above (n = 45, R2 = 0.985, P < 0.001; n = 48, R2 = 0.973, P < 0.001; n = 51, R2 = 0.979, P < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis revealed the associations were maintained even after adjustments for age, BMI, and nephropathy stage. ConclusionsThis exploratory research revealed that the salivary GA levels by this method were accurate and might be able to replace blood GA measurement. The home salivary GA measurement is expected to be developed that may reduce the burden and complications in people with diabetes mellitus and improve the quality of life.

La drives the remarkable strength enhancement of the Cu-Cr-Zr alloy through traditional thermo-mechanical treatment

The Cu-1Cr-0.1Zr alloy with different La addition (0 %, 0.07 % and 0.14 wt%) was processed using industry suitable two-step cold rolling and aging treatment to achieve superior strength and electrical conductivity. The role of La addition on the microstructure evolution and comprehensive properties of the Cu-1Cr-0.1Zr alloy is investigated during the second rolling and subsequent aging stages. During pre-aging process, the presence of La in the Cu-1Cr-0.1Zr-0.07La alloy led to formation of smaller precipitate sizes compared to La-free Cu-1Cr-0.1Zr alloy. This facilitates a stronger cut interaction between dislocations and precipitates during secondary rolling process, which promotes the redissolution of precipitates into Cu matrix and thus results in a larger decline of 44.72 % ICAS for the electrical conductivity of Cu-1Cr-0.1Zr-0.07La alloy. After post-aging treatment, precipitates are newly formed with increased number and refined size of Cr precipitates with maintaining a coherent relationship with the matrix. Besides, the addition of La promotes Cr-rich phase precipitation and dislocation accumulation. Resultantly, remarkable increase in tensile strength by 11 % with the addition of 0.07wt%La. While, the 0.14La added alloy exhibits comprehensive properties of tensile strength 600 MPa and electrical conductivity 80.08 %IACS after aging at 440 °C for 180 min. The increase in strength was primarily attributed to precipitation strengthening and dislocation strengthening. This work provides new kinds of Cu-1Cr-0.1Zr alloy and industrial suitable thermo-mechanical treatment for fabricating high performance cooper alloy sheets.

Identification of aroma active compounds in Shanxi aged vinegar and tracing the source in the entire production process

The aroma-active compounds (AACs) of traditional vinegars are formed through complexed pathways. Moreover, their source is not clear yet. The composition of AACs throughout the entire process of Shanxi aged vinegar (SAV) production from the raw materials, alcohol fermentation (AF), acetic acid fermentation (AAF), fumigation and aging stages were analyzed. A total of 121 AACs were determined by GC × GC-O-TOF-MS, of which 88 were identified by GC–MS/MS. There were 27 and 41 AACs (FD ≥ 400) detected in before-aging and after-aging SAV, respectively. Furthermore, it can be concluded the AAF and fumigation were the main sources of AACs. Also, the AAF was the main source of the compounds with caramel, creamy, floral, fruity, sour, cheesy notes, while the compounds owned roasted, nutty, spicy and woody aromas mainly came from fumigation. Finally, the potential transformation pathway of AACs was mapped and discussed. Overall, GC × GC-O-TOF-MS was a useful technique to enrich the AACs of SAV.

Lung cancer survival trends and prognostic factors: A 26-year population-based study in Girona Province, Spain

BackgroundLung cancer (LC) is Europe’s primary cause of cancer-related mortality largely due to its historically low survival rates. The aim of this study was to analyze 26-year survival trends in the province of Girona, Spain, and to identify key prognostic factors. MethodsPopulation-based study of LC cases collected between 1994 and 2019, with follow-up until December 31, 2021. Variables included date of diagnosis, sex, age, histology, and tumor stage (the latter since 2010). Diagnosis dates were categorized into three periods (1994–2002, 2003–2011, and 2012–2019). Multivariate flexible parametric models, incorporating age as a non-linear, time-varying covariate, were used to analyze net survival (NS) and trends. Annual absolute change in survival (AAC_S) was calculated using 3-year NS. ResultsThe analysis of 9,113 LC cases showed a NS improvement between the first and last period (7.1 months (95 %CI: 6.5;7.6) to 8.5 months (95 %CI: 7.9;9.1)). Squamous cell carcinoma (NSC-SCC) showed the greatest improvement with an AAC_S of 0.32 % (95 % CI: 0.21; 0.43), while survival for non-small cell lung cancer not otherwise specified declined (AAC_S of −0.19 % (95 %CI: −0.26; −0.12)). Prognostic analysis of the 3,642 cases (2010–2019) indicated a lower LC death risk for adenocarcinoma and NSC-SCC compared to LC not otherwise specified (HR 0.52 and 0.62, respectively). Increasing tumor stage correlated with higher LC mortality risk (1.8-, 4.0-, and 10.1-fold increase for stage II, III, and IV, respectively, compared to stage I). ConclusionsLC survival has notably improved, particularly for NSC-SCC. Survival is influenced by sex, age, date of diagnosis, tumor histology and especially by stage, underscoring comprehensive data collection’s importance.

Toxicity of nuclear-localized GFP in reporter mice

Various techniques using fluorescent reporter probes have been developed, such as GFP transgenic mouse lines that are used to detect spatial–temporal expression levels of genes. Although GFP expression is largely considered non-toxic, recent reports have indicated that under certain conditions GFP can display cellular toxicity. We hereby report the nuclear toxicity of H2B-GFP using a K14 specific Tet-on reporter mouse system. Using this system, GFP accumulates in the nucleus of all K14 expressing cells, such as the ocular surface epithelia and ocular adnexa. Expression of high levels of nuclear GFP during embryonic stages led to an eye open-at-birth (EOB) phenotype and abnormal ocular adnexa development and during adult and aging stages showed notable toxicity to ocular tissues. Other tissues, such as skin, also presented multiple defects associated with H2B-GFP expression. This toxicity was found to be concentration dependent, with homozygous mice presenting extremely high toxicity, while heterozygous mice presented limited toxicity. Upon induction, the accumulation of H2B-GFP in the nucleus of homozygous mice led to apoptosis within 2 weeks. This study therefore shows that although the use of nuclear GFP reporter mice is a valuable tool, at high levels, nuclear GFP can be toxic, leading to cell death and affecting tissue function.

Anatomy of the uterus of sheep of the Edilbaev breed in the age aspect

Sheep farming is one of the key branches of animal husbandry in the Russian Federation. Various measures aimed at further increasing the useful qualities in sheep breeding are based not only on breeding principles, but also on the achievements of veterinary sciences. It is quite understandable that the special attention of biological science and agricultural practice to the breed, age, and species characteristics of animals, namely to the reproduction system, allows us to scientifically and correctly raise issues in breeding, care, feeding, exploitation and reproduction. Not knowing the issues of anatomical topography, the structure of organs in animals of different age groups, it is difficult to carry out various medical manipulations in surgical or obstetric and gynecological practice. The study was conducted at the Department of Animal Anatomy of the St. Petersburg State University of Veterinary Medicine. Cadaveric material for the study was delivered to the Department of Animal Anatomy of the St. Petersburg State University of Veterinary Medicine from a farm in the Leningrad Region. Female sheep of the Edilbaev breed served as the object of the study. Three age groups were selected for the study. The study established the anatomical features of the uterus in the age aspect in sheep of the Edilbaev breed, and morphometric measurements were carried out in three age-related physiological groups (fetuses, newborns, young). Skeleto- and syntopia of all parts of the uterus was determined in different age groups. It was established that the uterus of sheep of the Edilbaevsky breed belongs to mobile organs, that is, depending on physiological conditions, it can change its topographic location points. Morphometry has determined that there is an uneven increase in the components of all parts of the uterus from the fetal period to the age stage of the young. The results of the study can be used by veterinary specialists, in particular obstetricians, surgeons to establish operative access to the uterus and in obstetric and gynecological practice in sheep breeding.