PSR 0943+10: a bare strange star?

Recent work by Rankin & Deshpande strongly suggests that there exist strong ``micro-storms'' rotating around the magnetic axis of the 1.1s pulsar PSR 0943+10. Such a feature hints that most probably the large-voltage vacuum gap proposed by Ruderman & Sutherland (RS) does exist in the pulsar polar cap. However, there are severe arguments against the formation of the RS-type gap in pulsars, since the binding energies of both the Fe ions and the electrons in a neutron star's surface layer is too small to prevent thermionic ejection of the particles from the surface. Here we propose that PSR 0943+10 (probably also most of the other ``drifting'' pulsars) might be bare strange stars rather than normal neutron stars, in which the ``binding energy'' at the surface is merely infinity either for the case of ``pulsar'' or ``anti-pulsar''. It is further proposed that identifying a drifting pulsar as an anti-pulsar is the key criterion to distinguish strange stars from neutron stars.Comment: 4 pages, no figures, LaTeX, accepted 1999 July 9 by ApJ Letter

ARPC1B is a novel prognostic biomarker for kidney renal clear cell carcinoma and correlates with immune infiltration

Background: Actin-related protein 2/3 complex subunit 1B (ARPC1B) is reported to be involved in tumorigenesis and progression. However, its role in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC), correlation with tumor-infiltrating immune cells, and prognostic significance remain unclear.Methods: Data sets from the TCGA, GTEx, GEPIA, GEO, UALCAN, and CPTAC databases were extracted and analyzed to investigate the expression difference, prognosis, and clinicopathological features of ARPC1B. Single-sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA), CIBERSORT, and TISCH2 analysis were used to examine the relationship between ARPC1B expression and tumor immune infiltration in KIRC. The potential function of ARPC1B in KIRC was explored by GO functional annotation and KEGG pathway analysis. The TIDE algorithm was used to predict and analyze the relationship between ARPC1B expression and response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). The expression of ARPC1B was further validated by using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC).Results: The study showed that ARPC1B expression was an independent prognostic factor of KIRC, with high ARPC1B expression being associated with poor overall survival (OS). Enrichment of GO annotation and pathway analysis showed multiple immune-related functional pathways affected by ARPC1B such as regulation of immune effector process, inflammatory response regulation, antigen processing and presentation, asthma, autoimmune thyroid disease, graft versus host disease, intestinal immune network for IgA production, and type I diabetic mellitus. Moreover, ARPC1B expression positively correlated with infiltrating levels of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and regulatory T cells (Tregs) in KIRC. Importantly, high ARPC1B expression predicted a low response to ICB in KIRC.Conclusion: This study indicates that ARPC1B expression is an independent prognostic biomarker for OS in KIRC patients. High ARPC1B expression is closely associated with MDSCs and Tregs infiltration. These findings suggest that ARPC1B may serve as a biomarker for prognosis and immune infiltration in KIRC, potentially aiding in the development of novel treatment strategies to improve the survival outcomes for KIRC patients

Periodontal Disease Is Associated With Increased Risk of Hypertension: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: Published evidence showed that periodontal disease is associated with hypertension. However, relevant findings remain controversial, with few evidences focusing on Chinese population. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between periodontal disease and hypertension in Chinese population.Methods: A total of 4,930 participants from an available health examination that was carried out in 2017 were selected for this retrospective study. The correlations between periodontal disease and hypertension were investigated using univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses and propensity score adjusted analysis. Interaction and subgroup analyses were also used to detect variable factors.Results: Finally, a total of 3,952 participants aged 30–68 years were eligible for this study. The results showed that hypertension risk was statistically significant associated with periodontal disease either in unadjusted (OR = 1.28, 95%CI = 1.14–1.47) or in adjusted (OR = 1.34, 95%CI = 1.14–1.58) model. Result from propensity score adjusted analysis also demonstrated a similar association (OR = 1.23, 95%CI = 1.06–1.42).Conclusion: Periodontal disease is significantly and positively correlated with increased risk of hypertension in Chinese population, and exact mechanisms of this association should be explored in future

The Impacts of Emission Control and Regional Transport on PM2.5 Ions and Carbon Components in Nanjing during the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympic Games

Highly time-resolved measurements of water soluble ions, organic and elemental carbon concentrations in the particle diameter size range D-p <2.5 mu m (PM2.5) were performed at a downwind urban site in Nanjing in the western part of the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) in eastern China during the 2014 Youth Olympic Games (YOG). In this study, we discuss the impacts of emission control in Nanjing and the surrounding areas during the YOG and regional/long-range transport on PM2.5 pollution in Nanjing. The average concentrations of NO3-, SO42-, NH4+ were 12.1 +/- 9.9, 16.5 +/- 9.2, 9.0 +/- 5.4 mu g m(-3) during the YOG, and increased 34.3%, 53.7%, 43.9% after the YOG, respectively. The control of construction or on-road soil dust and control of industry led to the decrease of Ca2+ concentration by 55% and SO2 concentration by 46%. However, SO42- concentrations remained at relatively high levels, suggesting a significant impact of regional pollution to secondary fine particles in Nanjing. Strong correlations between OC and EC were observed during and after the YOG. A higher percentage (41%) of secondary organic carbon in Nanjing during the YOG periods was consistent with high potential photochemistry and low contributions from coal combustion. Lagrangian dispersion modelling results proved that the city clusters along the Nanjing and Shanghai axis were the major source region for high PM2.5 pollution in upwind Nanjing. This work shows that short-term strict control measures could improve the air quality, especially that affected by the primary pollutants; however, regional collaborative control strategy across administrative borders in the YRD is needed for a substantial improvement of air quality.Peer reviewe

Quality of and Recommendations for Relevant Clinical Practice Guidelines for COVID-19 Management: A Systematic Review and Critical Appraisal

Background: The morbidity and mortality of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are still increasing. This study aimed to assess the quality of relevant COVID-19 clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) and to compare the similarities and differences between recommendations.Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted using electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science) and representative guidelines repositories from December 1, 2019, to August 11, 2020 (updated to April 5, 2021), to obtain eligible CPGs. The Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE II) tool was used to evaluate the quality of CPGs. Four authors extracted relevant information and completed data extraction forms. All data were analyzed using R version 3.6.0 software.Results: In total, 39 CPGs were identified and the quality was not encouragingly high. The median score (interquartile range, IQR) of every domain from AGREE II for evidence-based CPGs (EB-CPGs) versus (vs.) consensus-based CPG (CB-CPGs) was 81.94% (75.00–84.72) vs. 58.33% (52.78–68.06) in scope and purpose, 59.72% (38.89–75.00) vs. 36.11% (33.33–36.11) in stakeholder involvement, 64.58% (32.29–71.88) vs. 22.92% (16.67–26.56) in rigor of development, 75.00% (52.78–86.81) vs. 52.78% (50.00–63.89) in clarity of presentation, 40.63% (22.40–62.50) vs. 20.83% (13.54–25.00) in applicability, and 58.33% (50.00–100.00) vs. 50.00% (50.00–77.08) in editorial independence, respectively. The methodological quality of EB-CPGs were significantly superior to the CB-CPGs in the majority of domains (P &lt; 0.05). There was no agreement on diagnosis criteria of COVID-19. But a few guidelines show Remdesivir may be beneficial for the patients, hydroxychloroquine +/– azithromycin may not, and there were more consistent suggestions regarding discharge management. For instance, after discharge, isolation management and health status monitoring may be continued.Conclusions: In general, the methodological quality of EB-CPGs is greater than CB-CPGs. However, it is still required to be further improved. Besides, the consistency of COVID-19 recommendations on topics such as diagnosis criteria is different. Of them, hydroxychloroquine +/– azithromycin may be not beneficial to treat patients with COVID-19, but remdesivir may be a favorable risk-benefit in severe COVID-19 infection; isolation management and health status monitoring after discharge may be still necessary. Chemoprophylaxis, including SARS-CoV 2 vaccines and antiviral drugs of COVID-19, still require more trials to confirm this

The association between stress hyperglycemia and unfavorable outcomes in patients with anterior circulation stroke after mechanical thrombectomy

Background and purposeStress hyperglycemia is common in critical and severe diseases. However, few studies have examined the association between stress hyperglycemia and the functional outcomes of patients with anterior circulation stroke, after mechanical thrombectomy (MT), in different diabetes status. This study therefore aimed to determine the relationship between stress hyperglycemia and the risk of adverse neurological functional outcomes in anterior circulation stroke patients with and without diabetes after MT.MethodsData of 408 patients with acute anterior circulation stroke treated with MT through the green-channel treatment system for emergency stroke at the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University between January 2016 and December 2020 were reviewed retrospectively. The stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) was calculated as fasting plasma glucose (mmol/L) divided by glycosylated hemoglobin (%). The patients were stratified into four groups by quartiles of SHR (Q1-Q4). The primary outcome was an excellent (nondisabled) functional outcome at 3 months after admission (modified Rankin Scale score of 0–1). The relationship between stress hyperglycemia and neurological outcome after stroke was assessed using multivariate logistic regression.ResultsAfter adjusting for potential confounders, compared with patients in Q1, those in Q4 were less likely to have an excellent outcome at 3 months (odds ratio [OR], 0.32, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.14–0.66, p = 0.003), a good outcome at 3 months (OR, 0.41, 95% CI, 0.20–0.84, p = 0.020), and major neurological improvement (OR, 0.38, 95% CI, 0.19–0.73, p = 0.004). Severe stress hyperglycemia increased risks of 3-months all-cause mortality (OR, 2.82, 95% CI, 1.09–8.29, p = 0.041) and ICH (OR, 2.54, 95% CI, 1.21–5.50, p = 0.015).ConclusionStress hyperglycemia was associated with a reduced rate of excellent neurological outcomes, and increased mortality and ICH risks in patients with anterior circulation stroke after MT regardless of diabetes status

Suppress HBV by therapeutic vaccine

乙肝预防性疫苗显著减少了乙肝新发感染，但目前全球仍有约2.5亿慢性乙肝感染者，若未得到有效治疗，可能发展为肝癌、肝硬化等终末期肝病并导致死亡。夏宁邵教授团队研究发展了一种新型的B细胞表位嵌合型类病毒颗粒乙肝治疗性疫苗（治疗性蛋白），在多种模型中证实了其对慢性乙肝感染的治疗潜力，为研发治疗慢性乙肝的原创药物提供了新思路。 我校博士后张天英、博士生郭雪染和博士生巫洋涛为该论文共同第一作者，夏宁邵教授、袁权副教授、张军教授为该论文的共同通讯作者。【Abstract】Objective: This study aimed to develop a novel therapeutic vaccine based on a unique B cell epitope and investigate its therapeutic potential against chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in animal models. Methods: A series of peptides and carrier proteins were evaluated in HBV-tolerant mice to obtain an optimized therapeutic molecule. The immunogenicity,therapeutic efficacy and mechanism of the candidate were investigated systematically. Results: Among the HBsAg-aa119-125-containing peptides evaluated in this study, HBsAg-aa113-135 (SEQ13) exhibited the most striking therapeutic effects. A novel immuno-enhanced virus-like particle carrier (CR-T3) derived from the roundleaf bat HBV core antigen (RBHBcAg) was created and used to display SEQ13, forming candidate molecule CR-T3-SEQ13. Multiple copies of SEQ13 displayed on the surface of this particulate antigen promote the induction of a potent anti-HBs antibody response in mice, rabbits and cynomolgus monkeys. Sera and purified polyclonal IgG from the immunized animals neutralized HBV infection in vitro and mediated efficient HBV/HBsAg clearance in the mice. CR-T3-SEQ13-based vaccination induced long-term suppression of HBsAg and HBV DNA in HBV transgenic mice and eradicated the virus completely in hydrodynamic-based HBV carrier mice. The suppressive effects on HBsAg were strongly correlated with the anti-HBs level after vaccination, suggesting that the main mechanism of CR-T3-SEQ13 vaccination therapy was the induction of a SEQ13-specific antibody response that mediated HBV/HBsAg clearance. Conclusions: The novel particulate protein CR-T3-SEQ13 suppressed HBsAg effectively through induction of a humoral immune response in HBV-tolerant mice. This B cell epitope-based therapeutic vaccine may provide a novel immunotherapeutic agent against chronic HBV infection in humans.This work was supported by the National Scientific and Technological Major project (2017ZX10202203-001), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31730029, 81672023, 81871316 and 81702006) and the Xiamen University President Fund Project (20720160063). 该研究获得了“艾滋病和病毒性肝炎等重大传染病防治”科技重大专项、国家自然科学基金等资助