Thus, the PREO, and its components, show potential as alternatives to manage multidrug-resistant pathogens.The presence of neutralizing SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies indicates protection against (re)infection, however, the knowledge of their long-term kinetics is limited. This study analyzed the presence of COVID-19-induced antibodies in unvaccinated healthcare workers (HCWs) over the period of 1-8 months post symptom onset (SO) and explored the determinants of persisting immunoglobulin (Ig) seropositivity. Six hundred sixty-two HCWs were interviewed for anamnestic data and tested for IgG targeting the spike protein (S1 and S2) and IgM targeting the receptor-binding domain. A Cox regression model was used to explore potential predictors of seropositivity with respect to the time lapse between SO and serology testing. 82.9% and 44.7% of HCWs demonstrated IgG and IgM seropositivity, respectively, with a mean interval of 83 days between SARS-CoV-2 detection and serology testing. On average, HCWs reported seven symptoms in the acute phase lasting 20 days. IgG seropositivity rates among HCWs decreased gradually to 80%, 50%, and 35% at 3, 6, and 8 months after SO, while IgM seropositivity fell rapidly to 60%, 15%, and 0% over the same time intervals. The number of symptoms was the only predictor of persisting IgG seropositivity (odds ratio [OR] 1.096, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.003-1.199, p = 0.043) and symptom duration a predictor of IgM seropositivity (OR 1.011, 95% CI 1.004-1.017, p = 0.002). Infection-induced anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG rates drop to a third in seropositive participants over the course of 8 months. Symptom count and duration in the acute phase of COVID-19 are both relevant to the subsequent kinetics of antibody responses.Methane is an abundant and cheap feedstock to produce valuable chemicals. The catalytic reaction of methane conversion generally requires the participation of multiple molecules (such as two or three CH4 molecules, O2 , CO2 , etc.). Such complex process includes the cleavage of original chemical bonds, formation of new chemical bonds, and desorption of products. The gas phase study provides a unique arena to gain molecular-level insights into the detailed mechanisms of bond-breaking and bond-forming involved in complicated catalytic reactions. In this Review, we introduce the methane conversion catalyzed by gas phase ions containing metals and three topics will be discussed (1) the direct coupling of methane molecules, (2) the conversion of CH4 with O2 , O3 and N2 O, and (3) the conversion of CH4 with CO2 and H2 O. The obtained mechanistic aspects may provide new clues for rational design of better-performing catalysts for conversion of methane to value-added products.Aseptic loosening is a major complication of prosthetic joint surgery and is associated with impaired osteoblast homeostasis. Cortistatin (CST) is a neuropeptide that protects against inflammatory conditions. In this study, we found that expression of CST was diminished in patients with prosthetic joint loosening and in titanium (Ti) particle-induced animal models. A Ti particle-induced calvarial osteolysis model was established in wild-type and CST gene knockout mice; CST deficiency enhanced, while exogenously added CST attenuated, the severity of Ti particle-mediated osteolysis. CST protected against inflammation as well as apoptosis and maintained the osteogenic function of MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts upon stimulation with Ti particles. Furthermore, CST antagonized reactive oxygen species production and suppressed caspase-3-associated apoptosis mediated by Ti particles in osteoblasts. Additionally, CST protects against Ti particle-induced osteolysis through tumor necrosis factor receptor 1. Taken together, CST might provide a therapeutic strategy for wear debris-induced inflammatory osteolysis.Microbial community profile associated with acidic pond sediments (APS) (pH = 3·0-4·5) of freshwater finfish aquaculture ponds (n = 8) was investigated. Sediment DNA extracted from the eight APS were subjected to high-throughput sequencing of V3 and V4 regions which yielded 7236 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) at a similarity of 97%. Overall results showed higher proportion of bacterial OTUs than archaeal OTUs in all the APS. Euryarchaeota (23%), Proteobacteria (19%), Chloroflexi (17%), Crenarchaeota (5·3%), Bacteroidetes (4·8%), Nitrospirae (3·2%), Nanoarchaeaeota (3%) which together constituted 75% of the microbial diversity. At the genus level, there was high preponderance of methanogens namely Methanolinea (5·4%), Methanosaeta (4·5%) and methanotrops, Bathyarchaeota (5%) in APS. Moreover, the abundant phyla in the APS were not drastically affected by the administration of chicken slaughter waste (R-group ponds) and commercial fish feed (C-group ponds), since 67% of the OTUs generated remained common in the APS of both the groups of ponds. There was a minimal difference of 24-26% of OTUs between C-group and R-group ponds, suggesting the existence of a core microbial community in these ponds driven by acidic pH over the years. This study concludes that microbial diversity in pond sediment was influenced to a lesser extent by the addition of chicken slaughter waste but was majorly driven by acidic nature of the pond.

Continuous scoring systems were developed versus traditional dichotomous approaches to define metabolic syndrome. The current study was carried out to evaluate the ability of scoring systems to predict fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events.

The data of 5147 individuals aged 18 years or more obtained from a population-based cohort study were analyzed. The occurrence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in the period of 7 years follow-up was considered as the associated outcome. Joint Interim Statement (JIS) definition, as a traditional definition of metabolic syndrome (MetS), and two versions of MetS scoring systems, based on standardized regression weights from structural equation modeling (SEM) and simple method for quantifying metabolic syndrome (siMS) were considered as potential predictors.

The scoring systems, particularly, based on SEM, were observed to have a significant association with composite cardiovascular events (HR = 1.388 [95% CI = 1.153-1.670], p = .001 in men and HR = 1.307 [0.95%CI = 1.120-1.526] in women) in multiple Cox proportional hazard regression analyses, whereas the traditional definition of MetS did not show any significant association. While both two scoring systems showed acceptable predictive abilities for cardiovascular events in women (MetS score based on SEM area of under curve [AUC] = 0.7438 [95% CI = 0.6195-0.7903] and siMS AUC = 0.7207 [95% CI = 0.6676-0.7738]), the two systems were not acceptable for identifying risk in men.

Unlike the dichotomous definition of MetS, the scoring systems showed an independent association with cardiovascular events. Scoring systems, particularly those based on SEM, may be useful for the prediction of cardiovascular events in women.

Unlike the dichotomous definition of MetS, the scoring systems showed an independent association with cardiovascular events. Scoring systems, particularly those based on SEM, may be useful for the prediction of cardiovascular events in women.

Ultrasound (US) is the pivotal procedure during the diagnostic work-up of thyroid nodule and several US-based risk stratification systems (RSSs) have been recently developed. Since the performance of RSSs in detecting medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) has been rarely investigated, the present systematic review aimed to achieve high evidence about (1) how MTC is classified according to RSSs; (2) if RSSs correctly classify MTC at high risk/suspicion, and (3) if MTC is classified as suspicious at US when RSSs are not used.

The review was performed according to MOOSE. The online search was performed by specific algorithm on January 2022. A random-effects model was used for statistical analysis.

Twenty-five papers were initially included and their risk of bias was generally low. According to ATA system, 65% of MTCs was assessed at high suspicion and 25% at intermediate suspicion. Considering all RSSs, a 54.8% of MTCs was put in a high-risk/suspicion category. Pooling data from studies without data of RSS the prevalence of ultrasonographically suspicious MTCs was 60%.

As conclusion, MTC presentation according to RSSs is partially known and it is classified in a high-risk/suspicion category of RSSs in just over a half of cases. This advises for further studies, ideally supported by international societies, to better define the US presentation of MTC.

As conclusion, MTC presentation according to RSSs is partially known and it is classified in a high-risk/suspicion category of RSSs in just over a half of cases. This advises for further studies, ideally supported by international societies, to better define the US presentation of MTC.Mechanical pain sensing, adipogenesis, and STING-dependent innate immunity seem three distinct biological processes without substantial relationships. Intriguingly, TMEM120A, a transmembrane protein, has been shown to detect mechanical pain stimuli as a mechanosensitive channel, contribute to adipocyte differentiation/function by regulating genome organization and promote STING trafficking to active cellular innate immune response. However, the role of TMEM120A as a mechanosensitive channel was challenged by recent studies which cannot reproduce data supporting its role in mechanosensing. Furthermore, the molecular mechanism by which TMEM120A contributes to adipocyte differentiation/function and promotes STING trafficking remains elusive. In this review, we discuss these multiple proposed functions of TMEM120A and hypothesize the molecular mechanism underlying TMEM120A’s role in fatty acid metabolism and STING signaling.The proportion of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with normal or mildly elevated alanine transaminase (NMALT) levels who have moderate to severe inflammation was not rare. However, we lacked appropriate biomarkers to evaluate liver inflammation in these populations. We aimed to explore the relationship between quantitative hepatitis B core antibody (qAnti-HBc) and hepatic histological inflammation. This multicenter cohort study enrolled participants from 34 Chinese hospitals including 1376 treatment-naive CHB patients with liver biopsy (934 with NMALT entered treatment-naive cohort; 423 with secondary liver biopsy entered treatment cohort). Using unadjusted and multivariate-adjusted generalized linear models, generalized additive models with smooth curve fitting, we evaluated the associations between qAnti-HBc and liver inflammation in these patients. In the treatment-naive patients, qAnti-HBc was positively associated with liver inflammation (histology activity index [HAI] evaluated by Ishak scoring system; fully adjusted model β = 0.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.30-0.66], p  0.100). Paired analyses showed a significant correlation between decreasing in qAnti-HBc and alleviation of liver inflammation. qAnti-HBc was positively correlated with liver inflammation in treatment-naive CHB patients with NMALT. The cutoff value of qAnti-HBc for the diagnosis of moderate to severe inflammation was 4.5 log10 IU/ml. Decreasing in qAnti-HBc was positively correlated with liver inflammation relieving.