Enabling efficient ample-level oxygen evolution on nickel-iron Prussian blue analogue/hydroxide via hierarchical mass transfer channel construction

Enhancing double-phase mass transfer capability and reducing overpotential at high currents are critical in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalyst design. In this work, nickel-iron layered double hydroxide (NiFe-LDH) loaded on nickel foam (NF) was used as a self-sacrificing template for subsequent growth of nickel-iron Prussian blue (NiFe-PBA) hollow nanocubes on its sheet arrays. The triple-scale porous structure is therefore in-situ constructed in the produced NiFe-PBA@LDH/NF catalyst, where NiFe-PBA nanocubes, NiFe-LDH sheets and NF skeletons provide pores at hundred-nanometers, microns and hundred-microns, respectively. Due to the successful construction of hierarchical mass transfer channels in the catalyst, the overpotential required to deliver 1000 mA cm-2 OER is only 396 mV, which is 80 mV lower than that of NiFe-LDH/NF with a double-scale porous structure, manifesting the importance of the appropriate mass transfer channels, promoting the potential application of the NiFe-PBA@LDH/NF catalyst in industrial-scale electrolysers.

Diagnostic Value of Dual-Energy CT Virtual Noncalcium for the Assessment of Bone Marrow Edema of Wrist in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the value of dual-energy CT (DECT) virtual noncalcium (VNCa) images in the diagnosis of wrist bone marrow edema (BME) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

43 patients with wrist involvement in active RA prospectively underwent DECT and MRI. Functional DECT images reconstruction yielded VNCa images. MRI served as the reference standard for diagnosing BME. BME diagnosis differences between VNCa images and MRI were compared. Differences in CT values between BME and normal bone marrow were assessed. The optimal CT value for detecting BME in VNCa images was determined through ROC curve analysis. The correlation between VNCa images scores and RA disease activity was evaluated.

RESULTS

There was a high agreement between VNCa images and MRI in diagnosing BME (Kappa=0.831). VNCa images showed a significant difference in CT values between BME and normal bone marrow (P < 0.001). A cut-off value of - 54.8 HU yielded a sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 90.72%, 94.30%, and 93.33%, respectively, for detecting BME on VNCa images. The area under the ROC curve was 0.937 for distinguishing BME from normal bone marrow. Conventional CT images showed no statistically significant difference (P = 0.174) in CT values between BME and normal bone marrow. The VNCa images BME scores were positively correlated with RA disease activity (r = 0.399).

CONCLUSION

The DECT VNCa technique demonstrates its potential for diagnosing wrist BME in patients with RA and provides a valuable tool for assessing disease activity in RA.

IMPORTANT FINDINGS

The DECT VNCa technique has the ability to distinguish between BME and normal bone marrow. The VNCa images BME scores were positively correlated with the disease activity in RA.

Genistein prevents the production of hypospadias induced by Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate through androgen signaling and antioxidant response in rats

Environmental estrogen exposure has increased dramatically over the past 50 years. In particular, prenatal exposure to estrogen causes many congenital diseases, among which reproductive system development disorders are extremely serious. In this study, the molecular mechanism of hypospadias and the therapeutic effect of genistein (GEN) were investigated through in vivo models prepared by Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) exposure between 12 and 19 days of gestation. With increased DEHP concentrations, the incidence of hypospadias increased gradually. DEHP inhibited the key enzymes involved in steroid synthesis, resulting in decreasing testosterone synthesis. At the same time, DEHP increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and produced inflammatory factors via NADPH oxidase-1 (NOX1) and NADPH oxidase-4 (NOX4) pathways. It also inhibited Steroid 5 α Reductase 2 (Srd5α2) and decreased dihydrotestosterone (DHT) synthesis. Additionally, DEHP inhibited the androgen receptor (AR), resulting in reduced DHT binding to the AR that ultimately retarded the development of the external reproductive system. GEN, a phytoestrogen, competes with DEHP for binding to estrogen receptor β (ERβ). This competition, along with GEN's antiestrogen and antioxidant properties, could potentially reverse impairments. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the role of phytoestrogens in alleviating environmental estrogen-induced congenital diseases.

Regulating Crystallinity Mismatch Between Donor and Acceptor to Improve Exciton/Charge Transport in Efficient Organic Solar Cells

Achieving a more balanced charge transport by morphological control is crucial in reducing bimolecular and trap-assisted recombination and enhancing the critical parameters for efficient organic solar cells (OSCs). Hence, a facile strategy is proposed to reduce the crystallinity difference between donor and acceptor by incorporating a novel multifunctional liquid crystal small molecule (LCSM) BDTPF4-C6 into the binary blend. BDTPF4-C6 is the first LCSM based on a tetrafluorobenzene unit and features a low liquid crystal phase transition temperature and strong self-assembly ability, conducive to regulating the active layer morphology. When BDTPF4-C6 is introduced as a guest molecule into the PM6 : Y6 binary, it exhibits better compatibility with the donor PM6 and primarily resides within the PM6 phase because of the similarity-intermiscibility principle. Moreover, systematic studies revealed that BDTPF4-C6 could be used as a seeding agent for PM6 to enhance its crystallinity, thereby forming a more balanced and favourable charge transport with suppressed charge recombination. Intriguingly, dual Förster resonance energy transfer was observed between the guest molecule and the host donor and acceptor, resulting in an improved current density. This study demonstrates a facile approach to balance the charge mobilities and offers new insights into boosting the efficiency of single-junction OSCs beyond 20 %.

Association between infarct location and haemorrhagic transformation of acute ischaemic stroke after intravenous thrombolysis

AIM

To evaluate the association between computed tomography (CT)-based imaging variables at the time of admission and haemorrhagic transformation (HT) after intravenous thrombolysis (IVT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred and eight patients who were treated with IVT for acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) during January 2021 to July 2023 were analysed retrospectively. The infarct location was classified as cortical or subcortical in accordance with the Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) system. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were performed to determine the relationship between ischaemic variables and HT.

RESULTS

Of the total, 18 (16.7%) patients had HT and seven (6.5%) had symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage (sICH). Multivariate analysis revealed that cortical ASPECTS was independently associated with HT (odds ratio [OR], 0.197; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.076-0.511; p=0.001) and cortical ASPECTS was independently associated with sICH (OR, 0.066; 95% CI, 0.009-0.510; p=0.009). To predict HT and sICH, cortical ASPECTS (HT area under the curve [AUC] = 0.881, sICH AUC = 0.971) provided a higher AUC compared with ASPECTS (HT AUC = 0.850, sICH AUC = 0.918).

CONCLUSION

Cortical ASPECTS seen on CT at the time of admission is associated with HT and sICH after IVT.

[Diagnosis and surgical treatment of high-risk anomalous aortic origin of coronary artery]

Objective: To analyze the diagnosis and surgical treatment of high-risk anomalous aortic origin of coronary artery (AAOCA). Methods: This is a retrospective case series study. From January 2016 to July 2023, 24 cases of high-risk AAOCA underwent surgical treatment in Department of Cardiac Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital. There were 18 males and 6 females, operatively aged (M (IQR)) 13 (26) years (range: 0.3 to 57.0 years). They were confirmed by cardiac ultrasound and cardiac CT, all of which had anomalous coronary running between the aorta and the pulmonary artery. There were 15 cases of the right coronary artery from the left aortic sinus of Valsalva, 6 cases of left coronary artery from the right aortic sinus of Valsalva, 3 cases of the sigle coronary artery. Only 3 patients had no obvious related symptoms (2 cases were complicated with a positive exercise stress test and 1 case with other intracardiac malformations), 21 cases had a history of chest tightness, chest pain, or syncope after exercise. Three patients suffered syncope after exercise and underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation (2 cases were treated with an extracorporeal membrane oxygenerator (ECMO)). The gap from the first symptom to the diagnosis was 4.0 (11.5) months (range: 0.2 to 84.0 months). The detection rate of coronary artery abnormalities suggested by the first cardiac ultrasound was only 37.5% (9/24). Seven patients were complicated with other cardiac diseases (4 cases with congenital heart defects, 2 cases with coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, 1 case with mitral valve disease). Results: All 24 patients underwent surgical treatment (23 cases underwent abnormal coronary artery unroofing, 1 case underwent coronary artery bypass grafting), and 5 patients underwent other intracardiac malformation correction at the same time. There were no death or surgery related complications in the hospital for 30 days after the operation. A patient with preoperative extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation was continuously assisted by ECMO after emergency AAOCA correction and had complications such as limb ischemia necrosis and renal dysfunction after the operation. During the follow-up of 2.2 (3.3) years (range: 1 month to 7.2 years), one patient who previously underwent percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty with a stent implant experienced significant postoperative symptomatic relief, and the other discharged patients had no related symptoms. Conclusions: The accurate rate of initial diagnosis for high-risk AAOCA is still low, but the risk of cardiovascular accidents is high. For sports-related chest pain and other symptoms, more attention should be paid to the detection of AAOCA, especially for adolescents. Exercise stress testing can be helpful in evaluating the cardiovascular risk of asymptomatic AAOCA. Instant surgical treatment can achieve satisfactory curative effects.

A multicenter study: predicting KRAS mutation and prognosis in colorectal cancer through a CT-based radiomics nomogram

PURPOSE

To establish a CT-based radiomics nomogram for preoperative prediction of KRAS mutation and prognostic stratification in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients.

METHODS

In a retrospective analysis, 408 patients with confirmed CRC were included, comprising 168 cases in the training set, 111 cases in the internal validation set, and 129 cases in the external validation set. Radiomics features extracted from the primary tumors were meticulously screened to identify those closely associated with KRAS mutation. Subsequently, a radiomics nomogram was constructed by integrating these radiomics features with clinically significant parameters. The diagnostic performance was assessed through the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Lastly, the prognostic significance of the nomogram was explored, and Kaplan-Meier analysis was employed to depict survival curves for the high-risk and low-risk groups.

RESULTS

A radiomics model was constructed using 19 radiomics features significantly associated with KRAS mutation. Furthermore, a nomogram was developed by integrating these radiomics features with two clinically significant parameters (age, tumor location). The nomogram achieved AUCs of 0.834, 0.813, and 0.811 in the training set, internal validation set, and external validation set, respectively. Additionally, the nomogram effectively stratified patients into high-risk (KRAS mutation) and low-risk (KRAS wild-type) groups, demonstrating a significant difference in overall survival (P < 0.001). Patients categorized in the high-risk group exhibited inferior overall survival in contrast to those classified in the low-risk group.

CONCLUSIONS

The CT-based radiomics nomogram demonstrates the capability to effectively predict KRAS mutation in CRC patients and stratify their prognosis preoperatively.

The Dilator-Dotter technique can successfully treat tandem lesions of posterior circulation

In this study, we applied the Dilator-Dotter technique, a catheter-based angioplasty, to cross through severely stenotic or occluded vertebral arteries during mechanical thrombectomy, and we explored its efficacy and safety in treating tandem lesions of posterior circulation. We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with acute stroke caused by tandem lesions of posterior circulation treated with the Dilator-Dotter technique and thrombectomy between July 2017 and December 2021. In addition to collecting clinical, radiographic, and procedural data from patient records, we also collected information about surgical complications and outcome. We enrolled 9 patients for this study. In all cases, the vertebral artery (VA) on the affected side was crossed through via the Dilator-Dotter technique, and mechanical thrombectomy was successfully performed. The average time from groin puncture to revascularization (TICI 2B-3) was 26 minutes (range 16-50 minutes). Eight patients (89%) achieved complete recanalization with TICI 3, and only 1 patient suffered from thrombus escape to the posterior cerebral artery. Eight patients underwent VA stenting, while the remaining patient was excluded from this procedure because a postoperative brain CT scan recorded obvious staining of the contrast medium within the infarcted area. Five patients had modified Rankin Scale scores ≤ 3 at the 3-month follow-up examination, and 2 patients died due to postoperative cerebral hemorrhage and severe ischemia. The Dilator-Dotter technique may represent a safe and effective treatment for tandem lesions of posterior circulation. Using this method, the lesions can be rapidly recanalized and treated.

PD-L1 overexpression induces STAT signaling and promotes the secretion of pro-angiogenic cytokines in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

BACKGROUND

Monoclonal antibodies (ICI) targeting the immune checkpoint PD-1/PD-L1 alone or in combination with chemotherapy have demonstrated relevant benefits and established new standards of care in first-line treatment for advanced non-oncogene addicted non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, a relevant percentage of NSCLC patients, even with high PD-L1 expression, did not respond to ICI, highlighting the presence of intracellular resistance mechanisms that could be dependent on high PD-L1 levels. The intracellular signaling induced by PD-L1 in tumor cells and their correlation with angiogenic signaling pathways are not yet fully elucidated.

METHODS

The intrinsic role of PD-L1 was initially checked in two PD-L1 overexpressing NSCLC cells by transcriptome profile and kinase array. The correlation of PD-L1 with VEGF, PECAM-1, and angiogenesis was evaluated in a cohort of advanced NSCLC patients. The secreted cytokines involved in tumor angiogenesis were assessed by Luminex assay and their effect on Huvec migration by a non-contact co-culture system.

RESULTS

PD-L1 overexpressing cells modulated pathways involved in tumor inflammation and JAK-STAT signaling. In NSCLC patients, PD-L1 expression was correlated with high tumor intra-vasculature. When challenged with PBMC, PD-L1 overexpressing cells produced higher levels of pro-angiogenic factors compared to parental cells, as a consequence of STAT signaling activation. This increased production of cytokines involved in tumor angiogenesis largely stimulated Huvec migration. Finally, the addition of the anti-antiangiogenic agent nintedanib significantly reduced the spread of Huvec cells when exposed to high levels of pro-angiogenic factors.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we reported that high PD-L1 modulates STAT signaling in the presence of PBMC and induces pro-angiogenic factor secretion. This could enforce the role of PD-L1 as a crucial regulator of the tumor microenvironment stimulating tumor progression, both as an inhibitor of T-cell activity and as a promoter of tumor angiogenesis.

Air nanobubble water improves plant uptake and tolerance toward cadmium in phytoremediation

Heavy metal contamination continues to be a persistent environmental problem. To address this issue, this study evaluated the impact of air nanobubbles (NBs) in water on the uptake of heavy metals by Alternanthera philoxeroides (A. philoxeroides), a common aquatic plant in China known for its rapid growth, strong vitality, and high capacity for heavy metal remediation. This study found that diluted air NBs (25% concentration) boosted cadmium uptake of A. philoxeroides by 17.39%. They also enhanced plant growth (25-50%) and photosynthetic pigments (10-20%) even at low cadmium levels (0.1 mM). Furthermore, the incorporation of 25% air NBs has been demonstrated to significantly amplify the performance of key antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase and catalase, alongside heightened levels of crucial antioxidants such as malondialdehyde. This heightened activity of antioxidant defenses offers a compelling explanation for the potential amelioration of cadmium toxicity and concurrent enhancements in overall plant growth rates. Notably, a comprehensive analysis utilizing the excitation emission matrix-parallel factor analysis (EEM-PARAFAC) technique has revealed alterations in the composition of rhizosphere dissolved organic matter due to the presence of NBs. This ncomposition change of the rhizosphere dissolved organic mattermposition has subsequently exerted an influence on plant complexation processes and the subsequent uptake of cadmium. This study demonstrates that the strategic implementation of air NBs in water systems holds the potential to significantly enhance the plant's ability to detoxify cadmium and improve the uptake of heavy metals during phytoremediation processes.

Application of Sofia Plus catheter tip shaping in the treatment of acute middle cerebral artery occlusion: A case control study

To explore the safety and efficacy of Sofia Plus distal access catheter tip shaping for treatment of acute middle cerebral artery embolism. This single-center retrospective study involved patients eligible for acute embolic middle cerebral artery occlusion from January 2020 to October 2021. They were divided into a shaping and non-shaping group according to whether the Sofia Plus catheter tip was shaped intraoperatively. Baseline data, preoperative Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography (ASPECT) score, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, onset-to-admission time, admission-to-puncture time, Sofia Plus-clot time, puncture-to-reperfusion time, surgical approach, and use of a stent for rescue thrombectomy were compared between the 2 groups. Postoperative symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage and the modified Rankin scale score at the 90-day follow-up were observed. In total, 54 patients were enrolled in this study (shaping group, 26 patients; non-shaping group, 28 patients). Their mean age was 64.8 ± 14.6 years, and the proportion of men was 68.5% (37/54). Successful recanalization was achieved in all patients. There were no differences in the baseline data (age, sex, history, pre-admission ASPECT score, or NIHSS score) between the shaping and non-shaping groups. Patients treated with a shaped Sofia Plus catheter had a shorter Sofia Plus-clot time [median (25th, 75th percentile: 4 (4, 7) vs 10.5 (5.25, 14) min, P = .006] and puncture-to-reperfusion time [16.5 (12, 30.5) vs 26 (16.25, 38.25) min, P = .036]. There were significant differences in the surgical approaches between the 2 groups. The rates of a favorable outcome (57.7% vs 64.3%, P = .62) and postoperative symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (7.7% vs 3.6%, P = .60) were not significantly different between the groups. Sofia Plus catheter tip shaping improved catheter trafficability and reduced the operative time. It was safe and effective for treatment of acute middle cerebral artery thrombotic occlusion.

Casting Simulation of Large-Volume Fluid Cementitious Materials: Effect of Material Properties and Casting Parameters

The increasing pressure of traffic congestion on socio-economic development has made the construction of cross-water transportation ever more crucial. The immersed tunnel method is among the most extensively employed. However, a critical challenge of the immersed tunnel technique is to ensure the compactness and stability of concrete during the casting process. Conventional laboratory methods face challenges in achieving large-volume concrete casting, resulting in the notable waste of human and material resources. Hence, this study employs a simulation approach to investigate the casting parameters and the fresh properties of concrete, exploring their impacts on concrete stability and compactness. The results indicate that when the surface tension of concrete exceeds 0.03 N/m, and the yield stress and plastic viscosity are 50 Pa and 50 Pa·s, respectively, the concrete exhibits excellent casting compactness. A design incorporating three large and six small outlets, paired with a casting speed of 3 cm/s, achieves superior compactness. Additionally, when the yield stress of concrete exceeds 3 Pa, there is no segregation of aggregates. In cases where segregation occurs, the thixotropic property of the cement paste contributes to a significant reduction in the velocity of aggregate segregation.

A pooled analysis of temporal trends in the prevalence of anxiety-induced sleep loss among adolescents aged 12-15 years across 29 countries

Background

Previous studies examining trends in sleep loss among adolescents have mainly focused on single countriy and region. This study aims to analyze temporal trends in the prevalence of anxiety-induced sleep loss among adolescents from 29 countries in five regions.

Methods

This study used data from the Global School-based Student Health Survey 2003-2018, which surveyed 215,380 adolescents from 29 countries with at least two cross-sectional surveys per country. The weighted country-specific prevalence of anxiety-induced sleep loss and trends across the survey years were evaluated. Random- or fixed-effects meta-analyses were used to calculate pooled prevalence and temporal trends across 29 countries.

Results

Temporal variations in anxiety-induced sleep loss across countries were identified. Increasing (Suriname, Vanuatu, and Myanmar), decreasing (Namibia, Jamaica, the Philippines, Samoa, and Indonesia), and stable (all other countries) trends in anxiety-induced sleep loss were noted. The pooled weighted prevalence of anxiety-induced sleep loss was 11.35 and 10.67% in the first and last surveys, respectively. There was no meaningful change in the propensity to have anxiety-related sleep disorders over time, with the reduction and OR of these two surveys being 0.54 (-0.53-1.61) and 0.98 (0.88-1.10). For subgroup analyses, no significant differences in pooled anxiety-induced sleep loss trends were seen between the two surveys for different sexes, regions, incomes, survey years in the first wave, survey periods, or number of surveys.

Conclusion

Trends in the prevalence of anxiety-induced sleep loss in adolescents varied significantly across different countries. Generally, a stable trend was observed in 21 of the 29 countries surveyed. Our study provides data that can aid policymakers in establishing country-specific strategies for reducing anxiety-induced sleep loss in adolescents.

CT-based radiomics nomogram for the preoperative prediction of microsatellite instability and clinical outcomes in colorectal cancer: a multicentre study

AIM

To develop and validate a computed tomography (CT)-based radiomics nomogram for preoperative prediction of microsatellite instability (MSI) status and clinical outcomes in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study enrolled 497 CRC patients from three centres. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression was utilised for feature selection and constructing the radiomics signature. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to identify significant clinical variables. The radiomics nomogram was constructed by integrating the radiomics signature and the identified clinical variables. The performance of the nomogram was evaluated through receiver operating characteristic curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to investigate the prognostic value of the nomogram.

RESULTS

The radiomics signature comprised 10 radiomics features associated with MSI status. The nomogram, integrating the radiomics signature and independent predictors (age, location, and thickness), demonstrated favourable calibration and discrimination, achieving areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves (AUCs) of 0.89 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.83-0.95), 0.87 (95% CI: 0.79-0.95), 0.88 (95% CI: 0.81-0.96), and 0.86 (95% CI: 0.78-0.93) in the training cohort, internal validation cohort, and two external validation cohorts, respectively. The nomogram exhibited superior performance compared to the clinical model (p<0.05). Additionally, survival analysis demonstrated that the nomogram successfully stratified stage II CRC patients based on prognosis (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.357, p=0.022).

CONCLUSION

The radiomics nomogram demonstrated promising performance in predicting MSI status and stratifying the prognosis of patients with CRC.

Can SGRT be a Substitute for Plan Verification Procedure?

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Verification of plan (VP) has been part of our pre-treatment workflow for treatment isocenter verification. Currently, our center uses simulator for VP procedure for all our patients before the treatment. We would like to investigate if SGRT could be a good substitute for VP procedure to simplify our pre-treatment workflow.

MATERIALS/METHODS

In Group A (A-c, A-t, A-a), 20 patients of each treatment site (cranial, thorax and abdomen) were selected randomly. Patients did not go through VP procedure. During the first fraction of treatment, the therapists were guided by SGRT system (Vision RT, UK) and aligned the patient to 3mm and 1°using a standard region of interest (ROI). First CBCT was taken as a reference to customize the ROI for better suitability. Next, the patient was re-aligned to 1mm and 1°using the new ROI. Second CBCT was acquired, and 6 degrees of freedoms shifts were recorded. In Group B (B-c, B-t, B-a), 20 patients of each treatment site (cranial, thorax and abdominal) that were assigned for VP over the same period as Group A patients. Group B patients were aligned based on the skin markings drawn during VP procedure. CBCTs were taken at the first fraction of treatment and shifts were recorded.

RESULTS

A total of 60 CBCT images were analyzed for each group of patients. The absolute mean and standard deviations were shown in Table 1. The results indicated that Group A is superior, if not comparable, to Group B. Table 1: The absolute mean and standard deviations of first fraction of CBCT positioning errors for Group A and B patients.

CONCLUSION

With appropriate ROI, SGRT is a good or superior substitute for plan verification procedure. Localization verification can be done during day one of treatment which ease the pre-treatment workflow to both patients and clinical team. Analysis of customized ROI will be further studied in the future.

Lysosome-related genes: A new prognostic marker for lung adenocarcinoma

Currently, a reliable early prognostic marker has not been identified for lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), the most common malignancy. Recent studies demonstrated that lysosomal rupture is involved in cancer migration, progression, and immune microenvironment formation. We performed a bioinformatics analysis of lysosomal rupture to investigate whether lysosome-related genes (LRGs) are key in LUAD. The analysis identified 23 LRGs. Cytoscape visualization identified 10 core genes (CCNA2, DLGAP5, BUB1B, KIF2C, PBK, CDC20, NCAPG, ASPM, KIF4A, ANLN). With the 23 LRGs, we established a new risk scoring rule to classify patients with LUAD into high- and low-risk groups and verified the accuracy of the risk score by receiver operating characteristic curves and established a nomogram to evaluate clinical patients. Immunotherapy effectiveness between the high- and low-risk groups was evaluated based on the tumor mutational burden and analyses of immune cell infiltration and drug sensitivity. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed that lysosomes were closely associated with glucose metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and the immune response in patients with LUAD. Lysosomes are a likely new therapeutic target and provide new directions and ideas for treating and managing patients with LUAD.

[Effects of advanced platelet-rich fibrin on deep partial-thickness burn wounds in nude mice]

Objective: To explore the effects of advanced platelet-rich fibrin (A-PRF) on deep partial-thickness burn wounds in nude mice and its mechanism. Methods: The experimental study method was adopted. Forty healthy volunteers in Subei People's Hospital were recruited, including 32 females and 8 males, aged 60 to 72 years. Leukocyte platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF) and A-PRF membranes were prepared after venous blood was extracted from them. The microstructure of two kinds of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) membranes was observed by field emission scanning electron microscope. The number of samples was 3 in the following experiments. The L-PRF and A-PRF membranes were divided into L-PRF group and A-PRF group and cultured, and then the release concentrations of platelet-derived growth factor-AB (PDGF-AB) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in culture supernatant were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on culture day 1, 3, 7, and 14. Mice L929 fibroblasts (Fbs) were divided into L-PRF group and A-PRF group, and cultured with L-PRF or A-PRF conditioned medium, respectively. On culture day 1, 3, and 7, the cell proliferation activity was detected by thiazole blue method. The cell migration rate was detected and calculated at 24 h after scratching by scratch test. Thirty-six male BALB/c nude mice aged 6-8 weeks were selected to make a deep partial-thickness burn wound on one hind leg, and then divided into normal saline group, L-PRF group, and A-PRF group, according to the random number table, with 12 mice in each group. The wounds of nude mice in normal saline group were only washed by normal saline, while the wounds of nude mice in L-PRF group and A-PRF group were covered with the corresponding membranes in addition. The wounds of nude mice in the 3 groups were all bandaged and fixed with dressings. On treatment day 4, 7, and 14, the wound healing was observed and the wound healing rate was calculated. Masson staining was used to observe the new collagen in wound tissue, and immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the percentage of CD31 positive cells in the wound. Data were statistically analyzed with independent sample t test, analysis of variance for repeated measurement, analysis of variance for factorial design, one-way analysis of variance, and least significant difference test. Results: L-PRF membrane's dense network structure was composed of coarse fibrin bundles, with scattered white blood cells and platelets with complete morphology. A-PRF membrane's loose network structure was composed of fine fibrin bundles, with scattered small amount of deformed white blood cells and platelets. On culture day 1, the release concentration of PDGF-AB in PRF culture supernatant in A-PRF group was significantly higher than that in L-PRF group (t=5.73, P<0.05), while the release concentrations of VEGF in PRF culture supernatant in the two groups were similar (P>0.05). On culture day 3, 7, and 14, the release concentrations of PDGF-AB and VEGF in PRF culture supernatant in A-PRF group were significantly higher than those in L-PRF group (with t values of 6.93, 7.45, 5.49, 6.97, 8.97, and 13.64, respectively, P<0.05). On culture day 3, 7, and 14, the release concentrations of PDGF-AB and VEGF in PRF culture supernatant in the two groups were all significantly higher than those in the previous time points within the group (P<0.05). On culture day 1, 3, and 7, the proliferation activity of mice Fbs in A-PRF group was 0.293±0.034, 0.582±0.054, and 0.775±0.040, respectively, which were significantly stronger than 0.117±0.013, 0.390±0.036, and 0.581±0.037 in L-PRF group (with t values of 8.38, 5.14, and 6.16, respectively, P<0.05). At 24 h after scratching, the migration rate of mice Fbs in A-PRF group was (60.9±2.2)%, which was significantly higher than (39.1±2.3)% in L-PRF group (t=11.74, P<0.05). On treatment day 4, the wound exudates of nude mice in L-PRF group and A-PRF group were less with no obvious signs of infection, while the wounds of nude mice in normal saline group showed more exudation. On treatment day 7, the wounds of nude mice in L-PRF group and A-PRF group were dry and crusted, while there was still a small amount of exudate in the wounds of nude mice in normal saline group. On treatment day 14, the wounds of nude mice in A-PRF group tended to heal; a small portion of wounds remained in nude mice in L-PRF group; the wound of nude mice was still covered with eschar in normal saline group. On treatment day 4, 7, and 14, the wound healing rate and percentage of CD31 positive cells of nude mice in L-PRF group were all significantly higher than those in normal saline group (P<0.05); compared with those in normal saline group and L-PRF group, the wound healing rate of nude mice in A-PRF group was significantly increased (P<0.05), the newborn collagen was orderly and evenly distributed, with no excessive deposition, and the percentage of CD31 positive cells was significantly increased (P<0.05). Conclusions: The stable fibrin network structure of A-PRF can maintain the sustained release of growth factors, accelerate cell proliferation, and promote cell migration, so as to shorten the healing time and improve the healing quality of deep partial-thickness burn wounds in nude mice.

Computed Tomography-based Radiomics Nomogram for the Preoperative Prediction of Tumor Deposits and Clinical Outcomes in Colon Cancer: a Multicenter Study

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

To develop and validate a computed tomography (CT)-based radiomics nomogram for the preoperative prediction of tumor deposits (TDs) and clinical outcomes in patients with colon cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study included 383 consecutive patients with colon cancer from two centers. Radiomics features were extracted from portal venous phase CT images. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression was applied for feature selection and radiomics signature construction. The multivariate logistic regression model was used to establish a radiomics nomogram. The performance of the nomogram was assessed by using receiver operating characteristic curves, calibration curves and decision curve analysis. Kaplan‒Meier survival analysis was used to assess the difference of the overall survival (OS) in the TDs-positive and TDs-negative groups.

RESULTS

The radiomics signature was composed of 11 TDs status related features. The AUCs of the radiomics model in the training cohort, internal validation and external validation cohorts were 0.82, 0.78 and 0.78, respectively. The radiomics nomogram that incorporated the radiomics signature and clinical independent predictors (CT-N, CEA and CA199) showed good calibration and discrimination with AUCs of 0.88, 0.80 and 0.81 in the training cohort, internal validation and external validation cohorts, respectively. The radiomics nomogram-predicted high-risk groups had a worse OS than the low-risk groups (p < 0.001). The radiomics nomogram-predicted TDs was an independent preoperative predictor of OS.

CONCLUSION

The radiomics nomogram based on CT radiomics features and clinical independent predictors could effectively predict the preoperative TDs status and OS of colon cancer.

IMPORTANT FINDINGS

CT-based radiomics nomogram may be applied in the individual preoperative prediction of TDs status in colon cancer. Additionally, there was a significant difference in OS between the high-risk and low-risk groups defined by the radiomics nomogram, in which patients with high-risk TDs had a significantly worse OS, compared with those with low-risk TDs.

Semi-Interpenetrating Network Anion Exchange Membranes by Thiol-Ene Coupling Reaction for Alkaline Fuel Cells and Water Electrolyzers

In this work, a thiol-ene coupling reaction was employed to prepare the semi-interpenetrating polymer network AEMs. The obtained QP-1/2 membrane exhibits high hydroxide conductivity (162.5 mS cm^-1 at 80 °C) with a relatively lower swelling ratio, demonstrating its mechanical strength of 42 MPa. This membrane is noteworthy for its improved alkaline stability, as the semi-interpenetrating network effectively limits the attack of hydroxide. Even after being treated in 2 M NaOH at 80 °C for 600 h, 82.5% of the hydroxide conductivity is maintained. The H₂/O₂ fuel cell with QP-1/2 membrane displays a peak power density of 521 mW cm^-2. Alkaline water electrolyzers based on QP-1/2 membrane demonstrated a current density of 1460 mA cm^-2 at a cell voltage of 2.00 V using NiCoFe catalysts in the anode. All the results demonstrate that a semi-interpenetrating structure is a promising way to enhance the mechanical property, ionic conductivity, and alkaline stability of AEMs for the application of alkaline fuel cells and water electrolyzers.

LncRNA PVT1 Confers Cisplatin Resistance of Esophageal Cancer Cells through Modulating the miR-181a-5p-Glutaminase (GLS) Axis

Esophageal carcinoma (ESCA) is one of the prevalent malignancies worldwide. Cisplatin (CDDP) is a conventional chemotherapy drug. However, the acquired cisplatin resistance limits its extensively clinical applications. In this study, the roles and underlying mechanisms of lncRNA PVT1 in cisplatin-resistant ESCA are investigated. PVT1 was significantly upregulated in ESCA patient specimens and cell lines. Higher PVT1 level was associated with a poor survival rate of ESCA patients. Silencing PVT1 effectively increased cisplatin sensitivity of ESCA cells. We established cisplatin-resistant ESCA cell line (EC109 CDDP Res) and detected that PVT1 and glutamine metabolism were remarkedly elevated in CDDP-resistant esophageal cancer cells. Bioinformatical analysis and luciferase assay illustrated that PVT1 sponged miR-181a-5p to form a ceRNA network, resulting in the downregulation of miR-181a-5p expression in ESCA cells. Glutaminase (GLS), which is a key enzyme in the glutamine metabolism, was identified and validated as a direct target of miR-181-5p in ESCA cells. Inhibiting glutamine metabolism effectively re-sensitized CDDP-resistant cells. Rescue experiments demonstrated that restoration of miR-181a-5p in PVT1-overexpressing CDDP-resistant ESCA cells successfully overcame the PVT1-promoted cisplatin resistance through targeting GLS. Summarily, our study revealed molecular mechanisms of the lncRNA PVT1-promoted cisplatin resistance in ESCA by modulating the miR-181a-5p-GLS axis.

[Association between vitamin D level and blood eosinophil count in healthy population and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its association with blood eosinophil count in healthy population and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

METHODS

We analyzed the data of a total 6163 healthy individuals undergoing routine physical examination in our hospital between October, 2017 and December, 2021, who were divided according to their serum 25(OH)D level into severe vitamin D deficiency group (< 10 ng/mL), deficiency group (< 20 ng/mL), insufficient group (< 30 ng/mL) and normal group (≥30 ng/mL). We also retrospectively collected the data of 67 COPD patients admitted in our department from April and June, 2021, with 67 healthy individuals undergoing physical examination in the same period as the control group. Routine blood test results, body mass index (BMI) and other parameters were obtained from all the subjects, and logistic regression models were used to investigate the association between 25(OH)D levels and eosinophil count.

RESULTS

The overall abnormal rate of 25(OH)D level (< 30 ng/mL) in the healthy individuals was 85.31%, and the rate was significantly higher in women (89.29%) than in men. Serum 25(OH)D levels in June, July, and August were significantly higher than those in December, January, and February. In the healthy individuals, blood eosinophil counts were the lowest in severe 25(OH)D deficiency group, followed by the deficiency group and insufficient group, and were the highest in the normal group (P < 0.05). Multivariable regression analysis showed that an older age, a higher BMI, and elevated vitamin D levels were all risk factors for elevated blood eosinophils in the healthy individuals. The patients with COPD had lower serum 25(OH)D levels than the healthy individuals (19.66±7.87 vs 26.39±9.28 ng/mL) and a significantly higher abnormal rate of serum 25(OH)D (91% vs 71%; P < 0.05). A reduced serum 25(OH)D level was a risk factor for COPD. Blood eosinophils, sex and BMI were not significantly correlated with serum 25(OH)D level in patients with COPD.

CONCLUSION

Vitamin D deficiency is common in both healthy individuals and COPD patients, and the correlations of vitamin D level with sex, BMI and blood eosinophils differ obviously between healthy individuals and COPD patients.

Computed tomography-based radiomics nomogram for the pre-operative prediction of BRAF mutation and clinical outcomes in patients with colorectal cancer: a double-center study

OBJECTIVE

To develop and validate a radiomics nomogram based on CT for the pre-operative prediction of BRAF mutation and clinical outcomes in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).

METHODS

A total of 451 CRC patients (training cohort = 190; internal validation cohort = 125; external validation cohort = 136) from 2 centers were retrospectively included. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression was used to select radiomics features and the radiomics score (Radscore) was calculated. Nomogram was constructed by combining Radscore and significant clinical predictors. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, calibration curve and decision curve analysis were used to evaluate the predictive performance of the nomogram. Kaplan‒Meier survival curves based on the radiomics nomogram were used to assess overall survival (OS) of the entire cohort.

RESULTS

The Radscore consisted of nine radiomics features which were the most relevant to BRAF mutation. The radiomics nomogram integrating Radscore and clinical independent predictors (age, tumor location and cN stage) showed good calibration and discrimination with AUCs of 0.86 (95% CI: 0.80-0.91), 0.82 (95% CI: 0.74-0.90) and 0.82 (95% CI: 0.75-0.90) in the training cohort, internal validation and external validation cohorts, respectively. Furthermore,the performance of nomogram was significantly better than that of the clinical model (p < 0.05). The radiomics nomogram-predicted BRAF mutation high-risk group had a worse OS than the low-risk group (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

The radiomics nomogram showed good performance in predicting BRAF mutation and OS of CRC patients, which could provide valuable information for individualized treatment.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

The radiomics nomogram could effectively predict BRAF mutation and OS in patients with CRC. High-risk BRAF mutation group identified by the radiomics nomogram was independently associated with poor OS.

Diagnostic Value of Seven Autoantibodies Combined with CEA and CA199 in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to analyze the diagnostic value of seven autoantibodies (7-AABs) combined with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen-199 (CA199) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and provide a new method for early screening of NSCLC.

METHODS

The serum levels of 7-AABs, CEA, and CA199 were determined in the NSCLC group (n = 615), benign lung disease group (n = 183), healthy control group (n = 236), and the other tumor group (n = 226). The receiver operating characteristic area under the curve (AUC) analyses were conducted to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of 7-AABs combined with CEA and CA199 in NSCLC.

RESULTS

The positive rate of 7-AABs detection was higher than that of a single antibody detection. The positive rate of the combination of 7-AABs in NSCLC group (27.8%) was significantly higher than that of the benign lung disease group (15.8%) and healthy control group (11.4%). The positive rate of MAGE A1 was higher in patients with squamous cell carcinoma than adenocarcinoma. The levels of CEA and CA199 in the NSCLC group were significantly higher than those of the healthy control group, but had no statistical differences compared with those of benign lung disease group. The sensitivity, specificity, and AUC of the 7-AABs were 27.8%, 86.6%, and 0.665, respectively. The combination of 7-AABs with CEA and CA199 increased the sensitivity to 34.8% and AUC to 0.689.

CONCLUSIONS

The diagnostic efficiency was enhanced by a combination of 7-AABs, CEA, and CA199 in NSCLC, which was helpful in the screening of NSCLC.

Quantitatively biomechanical response analysis of posterior musculature reconstruction in cervical single-door laminoplasty

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The current trend of laminoplasty is developing toward the goal of muscle preservation and minimum tissue damage. Given this, muscle-preserving techniques in cervical single-door laminoplasty have been modified with protecting the spinous processes at the sites of C2 and/or C7 muscle attachment and reconstruct the posterior musculature in recent years. To date, no study has reported the effect of preserving the posterior musculature during the reconstruction. The purpose of this study is to quantitatively evaluate the biomechanical effect of multiple modified single-door laminoplasty procedures for restoring stability and reducing response level on the cervical spine.

METHODS

Different cervical laminoplasty models were established for evaluating kinematics and response simulations based on a detailed finite element (FE) head-neck active model (HNAM), including ① C3 - C7 laminoplasty (LP_C37), ② C3 - C6 laminoplasty with C7 spinous process preservation (LP_C36), ③ C3 laminectomy hybrid decompression with C4 - C6 laminoplasty (LT_C3 + LP_C46) and ④ C3 - C7 laminoplasty with unilateral musculature preservation (LP_C37 + UMP). The laminoplasty model was validated by the global range of motion (ROM) and percentage changes relative to the intact state. The C2 - T1 ROM, axial muscle tensile force, and stress/strain levels of functional spinal units were compared among the different laminoplasty groups. The obtained effects were further analysed by comparison with a review of clinical data on cervical laminoplasty scenarios.

RESULTS

Analysis of the locations of concentration of muscle load showed that the C2 muscle attachment sustained more tensile loading than the C7 muscle attachment, primarily in flexion-extension (FE) and in lateral bending (LB) and axial rotation (AR), respectively. Simulated results further quantified that LP_C36 primarily produced 10% decreases in LB and AR modes relative to LP_C37. Compared with LP_C36, LT_C3 + LP_C46 resulted in approximately 30% decreases in FE motion; LP C37 + UMP also showed a similar trend. Additionally, when compared to LP_C37, LT_C3 + LP_C46 and LP C37 + UMP reduced the peak stress level at the intervertebral disc by at most 2-fold as well as the peak strain level of the facet joint capsule by 2-3-fold. All these findings were well correlated with the result of clinical studies comparing modified laminoplasty and classic laminoplasty.

CONCLUSIONS

Modified muscle-preserving laminoplasty is superior to classic laminoplasty due to the biomechanical effect of the posterior musculature reconstruction, with a retained postoperative ROM and loading response levels of the functional spinal units. More motion-sparing is beneficial for increasing cervical stability, which probably accelerates the recovery of postoperative neck movement and reduces the risk of the complication for eventual kyphosis and axial pain. Surgeons are encouraged to make every effort to preserve the attachment of the C2 whenever feasible in laminoplasty.

Evaluation of safety and efficacy of rapamycin-eluting balloon in patients with intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis: a cohort study

OBJECTIVE

The safety and efficacy of drug-eluting balloon on the treatment of intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) remain unclear. Here, we present our observation in a cohort study on the safety and efficacy of rapamycin-eluting balloon for patients with ICAS.

METHODS

A total of 80 ICAS patients with stenosis degree of 70-99% were included. All patients were treated with rapamycin-eluting balloon and were followed up for 12 months after operation.

RESULTS

All patients were successfully treated, where the mean stenosis severity reduced from 85.1 ± 7.6 to 6 ± 4.9%. 8 patients experienced immediate post-operational complications. Two patients passed away during the first month of the follow-up period. Recurrent ischemic syndrome and angiographic restenosis only appeared 7 days after operation. During later follow-up period, none of the patients had clinical angiographic restenosis or needed target vessel revascularization.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest that intracranial stenting with rapamycin-eluting balloon seems to be safe and effective, although more clinical data are needed to support this notion.

[DTX2 overexpression promotes migration and invasion of colorectal cancer cells through the Notch2/Akt axis]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of changes in DTX2 expression level on migration and invasion of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells and explore the mechanism.

METHODS

Two CRC cell lines SW620 and LoVo were transfected with a specific shRNA targeting DTX2 (DTX2-shRNA) or a DTX2-overexpressing plasmid (pcDNA-DTX2), and the transfection efficiency was evaluated with RT-qPCR and Western blotting. Scratch and Transwell assays were used to assess the changes in migration and invasion ability of the transfected cells, and the cellular expression levels of Notch2, NICD, AKT, p-Akt and MMP-2/9 proteins were detected with Western blotting. The CRC cells were co-transfected with pcDNA-DTX2 and Notch2 siRNA to assess the effect of Notch2 knockdown on DTX2 overexpression-induced enhancement of cell migration and invasion.

RESULTS

The expression levels of DTX2 at both the mRNA and protein levels were significantly decreased in CRC cells transfected with DTX2- shRNA (P < 0.01) and increased in cells transfected with pcDNA-DTX2 (P < 0.01). Scratch and Transwell assays showed that the migration and invasion abilities of CRC cells were significantly lowered following DTX2 knockdown (P < 0.01) and were enhanced in cells with DTX2 overexpression (P < 0.01). The expression levels of Notch2, NICD, p-Akt and MMP-2 proteins decreased significantly in CRC cells with DTX2 knockdown (P < 0.05) and increased obviously in DTX2-overexpressing cells (P < 0.05). In both of the two CRC cell lines, transfection with Notch2 siRNA obviously reversed the effect of DTX2 overexpression in promoting cell migration and invasion (P < 0.01) and expressions of the related proteins.

CONCLUSION

DTX2 overexpression promotes migration and invasion of CRC cells through the Notch2/Akt axis, suggesting the potential of DTX2 as a new biological indicator of CRC.

IKZF3 is a novel prognostic biomarker for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: A study based on bioinformatics analysis

In the past few years, immunotherapy of tumors has become an extensive research hotspot, and the value of IKZF family genes in the tumor microenvironment has also been increasingly recognized. However, the expression of the IKAROS family zinc finger 3 (IKZF3) gene in human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and its prognostic value were not reported for the main subset until now. In the present study, we analyzed the relationship between IKZF3 gene expression and the survival of HNSCC patients. To evaluate the potential of IKZF3 as a prognostic biomarker for HNSCC comprehensively, multiple online analysis tools, including UALCAN, cBioPortal, GEPIA, WebGestalt, String, Genomic Data Commons, and TIMER databases were utilized in our study. We observed that the HNSCC patients with higher IKZF3 expression tended to exhibit longer overall survival. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses indicated that age and grade were independent prognostic indicators in HNSCC. Moreover, Gene Ontology and KEGG function enrichment analyses showed that several pathways in HNSCC might be pivotal pathways regulated by IKZF3, which revealed that IKZF3 was probably participating in the occurrence and development of HNSCC. Furthermore, the hypomethylation of the IKZF3 gene was closely associated with genes that observed mutation in HNSCC. IKZF3 was significantly correlated with several immune cells in HNSCC (e.g., CD8+ T cell, CD4+ cell, and dendritic cell). We explored the potential prognostic values and roles of the IKZF3 in HNSCC, revealing that IKZF3 was probably a novel and reliable prognostic biomarker for patients with HNSCC.

Association between secondhand smoke exposure and negative emotions among 12-15-year-old non-smoking adolescents from 63 low- and middle-income countries

BACKGROUND

Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure is associated with negative emotions in adolescents, but the association between SHS exposure and negative emotions has been understudied, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Hence, we studied the association between SHS exposure and negative emotions among 12-15-year-old non-smoking adolescents from 63 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

METHODS

We calculated the pooled prevalence of SHS exposure, loneliness, and anxiety in 12-15-year-old non-smoking adolescents. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate country-specific associations between SHS exposure and negative emotions, after adjusting for important confounders. Meta-analyses were performed to evaluate the overall, regional, and country-income level pooled associations.

RESULTS

Of the adolescents included in the analysis, 34.88 % had less than daily SHS exposure and 13.41 % were exposed to SHS daily. The overall prevalence of loneliness and anxiety in the adolescents was 10.51 % and 8.95 %, respectively. Exposure to SHS in the past 7 days was associated with loneliness and anxiety, with odds ratios (95 % confidence intervals) of 1.15 (1.09-1.21) and 1.24 (1.17-1.31), respectively. These positive associations were observed in girls, but not in boys. In addition, there was a positive dose-response relationship between the day of exposure to SHS and loneliness and anxiety.

LIMITATIONS

The GSHS data were obtained from a self-report questionnaire and the participants were only adolescents in school.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study revealed a positive association between SHS exposure and negative emotions among non-smoking adolescents from LMICs.

The past, present, and future of sleep quality assessment and monitoring

Sleep quality is considered to be an individual's self-satisfaction with all aspects of the sleep experience. Good sleep not only improves a person's physical, mental and daily functional health, but also improves the quality-of-life level to some extent. In contrast, chronic sleep deprivation can increase the risk of diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, metabolic dysfunction and cognitive and emotional dysfunction, and can even lead to increased mortality. The scientific evaluation and monitoring of sleep quality is an important prerequisite for safeguarding and promoting the physiological health of the body. Therefore, we have compiled and reviewed the existing methods and emerging technologies commonly used for subjective and objective evaluation and monitoring of sleep quality, and found that subjective sleep evaluation is suitable for clinical screening and large-scale studies, while objective evaluation results are more intuitive and scientific, and in the comprehensive evaluation of sleep, if we want to get more scientific monitoring results, we should combine subjective and objective monitoring and dynamic monitoring.

Unsupervised Learning-Guided Accelerated Discovery of Alkaline Anion Exchange Membranes for Fuel Cells

Without insight into the correlation between the structure and properties, anion exchange membranes (AEMs) for fuel cells are developed usually using the empirical trial and error method or simulation methods. Here, a virtual module compound enumeration screening (V-MCES) approach, which does not require the establishment of expensive training databases and can search the chemical space containing more than 4.2×105 candidates was proposed. The accuracy of the V-MCES model was considerably improved when the model was combined with supervised learning for the feature selection of molecular descriptors. Techniques from V-MCES, correlating the molecular structures of the AEMs with the predicted chemical stability, generated a ranking list of potential high stability AEMs. Under the guidance of V-MCES, highly stable AEMs were synthesized. With understanding of AEM structure and performance by machine learning, AEM science may enter a new era of unprecedented levels of architectural design.

Effectiveness of Guiding Catheter Retrieval Balloon Technique in the Treatment of Acute Anterior Circulation Tandem Occlusion: A Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND

Tandem occlusion accounts for 10%-20% of all large vessel occlusion strokes and often yields a poor recanalization rate. The endovascular treatment of tandem lesions is still controversial. This study uses an endovascular treatment strategy, "guided catheter recovery balloon (GRB)" for the treatment of acute anterior circulation tandem occlusion.

METHODS

A retrospective design was adopted. The population included patients with acute tandem occlusion who received emergency GRB endovascular treatment. And the choice of stenting was made based on intraoperative radiography imaging. Recanalization was evaluated by the thrombolysis in cerebral infarction score after the operation. Three-month modified Rankin Scale follow-up results were recorded, and modified Rankin Scale ≤2 was considered favorable recovery.

RESULTS

A total of 55 patients aged 66.9 ± 8.5 years were enrolled, 37 of whom received stenting. The mean overall recanalization time was 46 minutes. Fifty (90.9%) patients achieved successful recanalization with a thrombolysis in cerebral infarction score of 2b-3. At the 3-month follow-up, the number of patients with favorable functional recovery was 28 (50.9%). The presence of hypertension was correlated with a favorable recovery outcome: 82.1% of the favorable recovery population had hypertension, and 55.6% of the unfavorable outcome population had hypertension (P = 0.033). There was no statistically significant association between stent application and favorable recovery outcomes (P = 0.504).

CONCLUSIONS

GRB technique showed a high recanalization rate when applied to the treatment of acute anterior circulation tandem occlusion.

X-view: Non-egocentric Multi-View 3D Object Detector

3D object detection algorithms for autonomous driving reason about 3D obstacles either from 3D birds-eye view or perspective view or both. Recent works attempt to improve the detection performance via mining and fusing from multiple egocentric views. Although the egocentric perspective view alleviates some weaknesses of the birds-eye view, the sectored grid partition becomes so coarse in the distance that the targets and surrounding context mix together, which makes the features less discriminative. In this paper, we generalize the research on 3D multi-view learning and propose a novel multi-view-based 3D detection method, named X-view, to overcome the drawbacks of the multi-view methods. Specifically, X-view breaks through the traditional limitation about the perspective view whose original point must be consistent with the 3D Cartesian coordinate. X-view is designed as a general paradigm that can be applied on almost any 3D detectors based on LiDAR with only little increment of running time, no matter it is voxel/grid-based or raw-point-based. We conduct experiments on KITTI [1] and NuScenes [2] datasets to demonstrate the robustness and effectiveness of our proposed X-view. The results show that X-view obtains consistent improvements when combined with mainstream state-of-the-art 3D methods.

[Bushen Huoxue Fang improves recurrent miscarriage in mice by down-regulating the JAK2/STAT3 pathway]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the efficacy of Bushen Huoxue Fang (BSHXF, a traditional Chinese medicine formula) for improving recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) in mice and the role of tyrosine kinase (JAK2) and transcriptional activator (STAT3) signaling pathway in its therapeutic mechanism.

METHODS

Female CBA/J mice were caged with male DBA/2 mice to establish RSA mouse models, which were randomly divided into model group, dydrogesterone group and BSHXF group, with the female mice caged with male BALB/c mice as the control group (n=6). From the first day of pregnancy, the mice were subjected to daily intragastric administration of BSHXF, dydrogesterone, or distilled water (in control and model groups) for 12 days. After the treatments, serum levels of antithrombin III (AT-III), activated protein C (APC), tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), progesterone, human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), and estradiol (E2) were detected in each group using ELISA. HE staining was used to observe the morphological changes of the endometrium of the mice. Western blotting was performed to determine the expressions of p-JAK2, p-Stat3 and Bcl-2 in the placenta of the mice.

RESULTS

Compared with the control mice, the mouse models of RSA showed a significantly increased embryo loss rate with decreased serum levels of AT-III, T-PA, progesterone, APC and HCG, increased placental expressions of p-JAK2, p-STAT3 and Bax, and decreased expression of Bcl-2 (P < 0.05). Treatments with BSHXF and dydrogesterone both increased serum levels of AT-III, t-PA and HCG in the mouse models; Serum APC level was significantly reduced in BSHXF group and serum progesterone level was significantly increased in dydrogesterone group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

BSHXF can improve the prethrombotic state and inhibit cell apoptosis by downregulating the JAK2/STAT3 pathway to increase the pregnancy rate in mouse models of RSA.

Self-Powered Biosensors for Monitoring Human Physiological Changes

Human physiological signals have an important role in the guidance of human health or exercise training and can usually be divided into physical signals (electrical signals, blood pressure, temperature, etc.) and chemical signals (saliva, blood, tears, sweat). With the development and upgrading of biosensors, many sensors for monitoring human signals have appeared. These sensors are characterized by softness and stretching and are self-powered. This article summarizes the progress in self-powered biosensors in the past five years. Most of these biosensors are used as nanogenerators and biofuel batteries to obtain energy. A nanogenerator is a kind of generator that collects energy at the nanoscale. Due to its characteristics, it is very suitable for bioenergy harvesting and sensing of the human body. With the development of biological sensing devices, the combination of nanogenerators and classical sensors so that they can more accurately monitor the physiological state of the human body and provide energy for biosensor devices has played a great role in long-range medical care and sports health. A biofuel cell has a small volume and good biocompatibility. It is a device in which electrochemical reactions convert chemical energy into electrical energy and is mostly used for monitoring chemical signals. This review analyzes different classifications of human signals and different forms of biosensors (implanted and wearable) and summarizes the sources of self-powered biosensor devices. Self-powered biosensor devices based on nanogenerators and biofuel cells are also summarized and presented. Finally, some representative applications of self-powered biosensors based on nanogenerators are introduced.

The role of mitochondrial fission in intervertebral disc degeneration

Low back pain (LBP) is an extremely common disorder and is a major cause of disability globally. Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is the main contributor to LBP. Nevertheless, the specific mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of IVDD remain unclear. Mitochondria are highly dynamic organelles that continuously undergo fusion and fission, known as mitochondrial dynamics. Accumulating evidence has revealed that aberrantly activated mitochondrial fission leads to mitochondrial fragmentation and dysfunction, which are involved in the development and progression of IVDD. To date, research into mitochondrial dynamics in IVDD is at an early stage. The present narrative review aims to summarize the most recent findings about the role of mitochondrial fission in the pathogenesis of IVDD.

Identification of novel characteristic biomarkers and immune infiltration profile for the anaplastic thyroid cancer via machine learning algorithms

PURPOSE

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is a rare and lethal malignant cancer. In recent years, the application of molecular-driven targeted therapy and immunotherapy has markedly improved the prognosis of ATC. This study aimed to identify characteristic genes for ATC diagnosis and revealed the role of ATC characteristic genes in drug sensitivity and immune cell infiltration.

METHODS

We downloaded ATC RNA-sequencing data from the GEO database. Following the combination and normalization of the dataset, we first divided the combined datasets into the training cohort and the validation cohort. We identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in ATC by differential expression analysis in the training cohort. We used two machine learning algorithms, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and support vector machine-recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE) to identify ATC characteristic genes. The CIBERSORT algorithm was performed to calculate the abundance of various immune cells in ATC. Finally, we validated the expression of ATC characteristic genes by quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) in ATC cell lines and immunohistochemistry (IHC).

RESULTS

A total of 425 DEGs were identified in the training cohort, including 240 upregulated genes and 185 downregulated genes. Four ATC characteristic genes (ADM, PXDN, MMP1, and TFF3) were identified, and their diagnostic value was validated in the validation cohort (AUC in ROC analysis > 0.75). We established a practical gene expression-based nomogram to accurately predict the probability of ATC. We also found that ATC characteristic biomarkers are associated with the tumor immune microenvironment and drug sensitivity.

CONCLUSION

ADM, PXDN, MMP1, and TFF3 might serve as potential ATC diagnostic biomarkers and may be helpful for ATC molecular targeted therapy and immunotherapy.

Inhibition of GPR30 sensitized gefitinib to NSCLC cells via regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition

Introduction: G-protein coupled receptor 30 (GPR30) is associated with cell metastasis and drug resistance in many different cancer cells. The present study aimed to reveal the sensitivity of GPR30 to gefitinib in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells.Methods: Cell viability and proliferation were detected using cell counting kit 8 and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assays, respectively. Western blotting and quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR were used to detect GPR30 or epithelial-mesenchyme transition (EMT)-related mRNA and protein expression.Results: The results showed that GPR30 expression is associated with gefitinib sensitivity. G15, as a GPR30 antagonist, reduced GPR30 expression. We chose the maximum concentration of G15 with minimal cytotoxicity to detect cell viability after combined treatment with gefitinib in NSCLC cells, which indicated that G15 could increase sensitivity to gefitinib. However, the effect of G15 on gefitinib sensitivity disappeared after treatment with a small interfering RNA targeting GPR30. Further research showed that G15 or GPR30 siRNA treatment could upregulate E-cadherin and downregulate vimentin levels.Conclusion: Taken together, these data suggested that G15 could enhance NSCLC sensitivity to gefitinib by inhibition of GPR30 and EMT.

Potential Value and Application of Liquid Biopsy in Tumor, Neurodegeneration, and Muscle Degenerative Diseases

Liquid biopsy provides a promising alternative for the detection of disease-specific markers due to its superior noninvasive and original tissue representativeness. Liquid biopsies have a wide range of health and disease applications involving components ranging from circulating cells to acellular nucleic acid molecules and other metabolites. Here, we review the different components of liquid biopsy and investigate the most advanced noninvasive methods for detecting these components as well as their existing problems and trends. In particular, we emphasize the importance of analyzing liquid biopsy data from extracellular vesicles and small nucleic acids in neurological and muscle degeneration, with the aim of using this technique to enhance personalized healthcare. Although previous reviews have focused on cancer, this review mainly emphasizes the potential application of extracellular vesicles and microRNAs in liquid biopsy in neurodegeneration and muscle degeneration.

Comparison of the sensitivity between indigenous and exotic aquatic species for fluoranthene and derivation of water quality criteria (WQC)

Fluoranthene (FLU) has shown relatively high toxicity to aquatic life as a priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH). Considering the toxic effects of FLU on aquatic organisms and its high detection frequency in the aquatic environment, it is necessary and critical to derive FLU water quality criteria (WQC) for the protection of aquatic organisms and ecological risk assessment. However, due to the lack of toxicity data at different classification levels, there has been no research about the WQC of FLU. In this study, nine acute and three chronic toxicity tests were carried out on 9 Chinese indigenous aquatic species from different classification levels to obtain toxicity data. According to the US EPA guidelines, the criterion maximum concentration of 0.570 mg/L and the criterion continuous concentration of 0.174 mg/L were developed. There is no significant difference when comparing the species sensitivity distributions between indigenous and exotic species. Therefore, it is possible to use toxicity data from organisms in different areas for ecological risk assessment of FLU. CAPSULE: We compared the sensitivity between indigenous and exotic aquatic species for fluoranthene and derived its water quality criteria.

Number of Teeth and Denture Use Are Associated with Frailty among Chinese Older Adults: A Cohort Study Based on the CLHLS from 2008 to 2018

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to determine the association between oral health and the development of frailty over a 10-year period in older Chinese adults.

DESIGN

This was a cohort study.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

The data in this study were derived from the 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2018 waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Health Longevity Survey (CLHLS). The final analysis included 1155 older adults who had complete data for the Frailty Index (FI) and the other factors(oral health, sociodemographics, etc) that were analyzed in the study.

MEASUREMENTS

Frailty was assessed by the FI, which consists of 40 deficits(self-health assessments, diseases, physical functions,etc). Multivariable logistic regression was carried out to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) of the independent variables,which were obtained from investigator surveys and self-reports, in association with the development of frailty.

RESULTS

The prevalence of frailty at baseline was 22.94%, and the 10-year incidence of frailty was 24.16% (215/890). Age, number of natural teeth, use of dentures, toothache and sex were independent risk factors for frailty at baseline. After full adjustment, multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that compared with having ≥21 teeth, edentulism (ORs 3.575; 95% CI 2.095,6.101) and partial tooth loss (ORs 2.448; 95% CI 1.592,3.766) were associated with progression to frailty. Compared with those with ≥21 teeth, those with <21 teeth and without dentures (ORs 2.617; 95% CI 1.713,3.999) were more likely to progress to frailty.

CONCLUSION

The loss of natural teeth is associated with the progression of frailty in older Chinese adults and denture using can help lower the odds of being frailty. Further research on maintain natural teeth and the appropriate use of dentures may help to establish effective frailty prevention strategies for the older adults.

Application and progress of blood flow restriction training in improving muscle mass and strength in the elderly

As an emerging training method, blood flow restriction training has been proved to promote the growth of muscle mass and strength. In recent years, it has been gradually applied in different populations. However, there are few studies on how blood flow restriction training affects muscle mass and strength in the elderly. The relevant literature is compiled and summarized in this study. Through the comparison of blood flow restriction training with traditional training methods and its application in the elderly, it shows that blood flow restriction training can effectively increase muscle mass and strength, prevent muscle atrophy, improve cardiopulmonary function, facilitate injury and postoperative rehabilitation, and intervene in related degenerative diseases as a training method suitable for the elderly,. The main mechanism of blood flow restriction training promoting muscle mass and strength growth is metabolic stress response, including muscle fiber recruitment, protein synthesis signal pathway activation, hormone secretion, etc., and is also related to cell swelling caused by pressure. At present, although the application of blood flow restriction training in the elderly population is increasing, there is a lack of personalized programs. In the future, more research on the dose effect and safety of blood flow restriction training is needed to develop more accurate personalized training programs.

Construction of BiOIO3/AgIO3 Z-Scheme Photocatalysts for the Efficient Removal of Persistent Organic Pollutants under Natural Sunlight Illumination

The efficient removal of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in natural waters is vital for human survival and sustainable development. Photocatalytic degradation is a feasible and cost-effective strategy to completely disintegrate POPs at room temperature. Herein, we develop a series of direct Z-scheme BiOIO₃/AgIO₃ hybrid photocatalysts via a facile deposition-precipitation method. Under natural sunlight irradiation, the light intensity of which is ∼40 mW/cm², a considerable rate constant of 0.185 min^-1 for photodecomposing 40 mg/L MO is obtained over 0.5 g/L Bi@Ag-5 composite photocatalyst powder, about 92.5 and 5.3 times higher than those of pristine AgIO₃ and BiOIO₃. The photoactivity of Bi@Ag-5 for photodecomposing MO under natural sunlight illumination surpasses most of the reported photocatalysts under Xe lamp illumination. After natural sunlight irradiation for 20 min, 95% of MO, 82% of phenol, 78% of 2,4-DCP, 54% of ofloxacin, and 88% of tetracycline hydrochloride can be photodecomposed over Bi@Ag-5. Relative to the commercial photocatalyst TiO₂ (P25), Bi@Ag-5 exhibits greatly higher photoactivity for the treatment of MO-phenol-tetracycline hydrochloride mixture pollutants in the scale-up experiment of 500 mL of solution, decreasing COD, TOC, and chromaticity value by 52, 19, and 76%, respectively, after natural sunlight irradiation for 40 min. The photodegradation process and mechanism of MO have been systematically investigated and proposed. This work provides an archetype for designing efficient photocatalysts to remove POPs.

Early outcomes of primary repair versus reconstruction for acute anterior cruciate ligament injury: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Contemporary techniques for repair of acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture have been receiving renewed interest recently because of reports of good outcomes.

METHODS

A literature search of PUBMED, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Only RCTs published in English and comparing clinical outcomes of ACL repair versus reconstruction were included. Outcomes were evaluated using the International Knee Documentation Committee subjective score, Lysholm score, Tegner activity scale, visual analog scale pain score, anterior laxity, Lachman test, hop tests, knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score, extension deficit, revision rate, and re-rupture rate. Statistical analysis was performed with Review Manager 5.4 and Stata 14.0. Two-tailed P < .05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Four RCTs (with a total of 293 patients) that met the eligibility criteria were included in this review. Over short-term follow-up, none of the studies found significant differences between the repair groups and reconstruction groups with respect to International Knee Documentation Committee, Lysholm, Tegner, visual analog scale, anterior laxity, Lachman test, re-rupture rate, extension deficit, and performance of 3 hop tests (P > .05). In both groups, the hop tests scores were >90%.

CONCLUSION

ACL repair and ACL reconstruction appear to provide comparable short-term outcomes. The low revision rate after primary repair is encouraging. For patients with ACL injury, current repair techniques such as dynamic intraligamentary stabilization and bridge-enhanced ACL repair may be an effective alternative to reconstruction.

[Research advances on the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers with autologous platelet-rich fibrin]

Diabetic foot is one of the serious complications of diabetic patients, which makes the society and public health bear a huge economic burden. In recent years, more and more studies at home and abroad have been conducted on the treatment of chronic wounds with autologous platelet-rich fibrin, and the therapeutic concepts and methods have been updated constantly. In this paper, we reviewed the general situation of autologous platelet-rich fibrin, the mechanism of autologous platelet-rich fibrin in promoting the healing of diabetic foot ulcers and the new progress in its application, so as to provide a new strategy for the repair of diabetic foot ulcers.

[The influence of two kinds of transnasal endoscopic surgery on the outcome status of sinus cavity in patients with eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps]

Objective: To investigate the trend of postoperative cavity status in patients with eosinophilic chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps (eCRSwNP) who underwent total nasalization surgery and partial reboot surgery. And to discuss the relationship between tissue eosinophil counts and status of postoperative cavity. Methods: Patients with eCRSwNP in four tertiary medical centers (Longgang ENT Hospital, Xiamen Humanity Hospital, Guangdong Clifford Hospital and the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University) from March 2018 to October 2021 were divided into 2 groups. The group without previous surgery history was performed for the nasalization surgery, and another group with previous surgery history underwent the part-reboot surgery. The follow-up time after operation was defined as the following 5 stages: 6, 12, 20-24, 36 and more than 42 months. According to FESS-95 Guangzhou standard, status of sinus cavity was assessed and classified into 3 categories: good, better and bad. The association between the sinus cavity status and tissue eosinophil counts in the above 5 stages was analyzed by one-way ANOVA, and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 72 eCRSwNP patients finished the follow-up in this study. There were 47 males and 25 females in these patients, aged from 11 to 67 years. A total of 50 cases underwent nasalization surgery and 22 cases underwent partial reboot surgery. With the follow-up time from 6 to 48 months, there were 72 cases (100.0%) who completed 6 months and 12 months follow up, 46 cases (63.9%) for 20-24 months, 36 cases (50.0%) for 32-36 months and 16 cases (22.2%) with the follow-up time more than 42 months. No matter what kind of surgery, there was no "bad" situation of the surgical cavity status 6 months after the operation, and the differentiation gradually occurred more than 12 months after the surgery. Moreover, the rates of "good" cavity status for the 5 stages in the group of nasalization surgery were 78.0%, 66.0%, 56.7%, 47.6% and 42.9%, and were 63.6%, 45.5%, 25.0%, 20.0% and 11.1% in the partial reboot surgery group, respectively, suggesting that the status of nasal cavity in nasalization surgery group was always better than that in partial reboot surgery group in every period. In addition, the "bad" rate was 0, 8.0%, 10.0%, 14.3% and 28.6% in the group of nasalization surgery, and was 0, 27.3%, 18.8%, 33.3% and 55.6% in the partial reboot surgery group, respectively. The average percentage of tissue eosinophil counts in the 72 cases was 42.1%, which had no obvious effect on the status of the surgical cavity (P>0.05). Conclusions: For eCRSwNP patients, the operative cavity status in the patients without previous operation history treated with nasalization surgery is good. The time of 1-2 years after surgery is the main period for sinus lesions. The counts of tissue eosinophils has no significant influence on surgical sinus cavity status in the eCRSwNP patients.

Posterior cerebral artery embolism resulting in bilateral paramedian thalamic infarction: A case report

RATIONALE

Bilateral thalamic infarcts are not easily recognized, it have diverse clinical manifestations and relatively severe symptoms. It may leave long-term drowsiness, cognitive impairment, and speech impairment. We report a case of bilateral paramedian thalamic infarction with impaired consciousness as the main symptom. The digital subtraction angiography suggested that the left superior cerebellar artery and posterior cerebral artery (PCA) were occluded.

PATIENTS CONCERN

A previously 67-year-old man was taken to our hospital after 9.5 hours of acute dizziness and loss of consciousness.

DIAGNOSIS

The cranial DWI + MRA suggested acute cerebral infarction in bilateral thalamus and bilateral midbrain, and the left posterior cerebral artery was not clearly visualized. The patient was diagnosed with posterior cerebral artery embolism.

INTERVENTIONS

A mechanical thrombectomy was performed.

OUTCOME

The patient's symptoms did not completely improve after revascularization, followed by fluctuating consciousness.

LESSONS

Recurrent lethargy in patients after endovascular treatment may be a clinical manifestation of damage to thalamic structures or due to the presence of ineffective recanalization.