The Effects of Light Therapy on Sleep, Depression, Neuropsychiatric Behaviors, and Cognition Among People Living With Dementia: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

OBJECTIVE

Alterations in the suprachiasmatic nucleus due to underlying pathologies disrupt the circadian rhythms in people living with dementia (PLWD). Circadian rhythms significantly impact sleep, emotional, and cognitive functions, with its synchronization depending on light exposure. We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of light therapy on sleep, depression, neuropsychiatric behaviors, and cognition among PLWD.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted in Cochrane, ClinicalTrials.gov, Embase, EBSCOhost, Ovid-MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL databases. The pooled effect size was calculated using the Hedges' g with random-effects model adopted in comprehensive meta-analysis software. The Cochrane risk of bias (RoB 2.0) tool evaluated the quality of studies, while Cochrane's Q and I² tests assessed heterogeneity.

RESULTS

A total of 24 studies with 1,074 participants were included. Light therapy demonstrated small-to-medium effects on improving sleep parameters: total sleep time (Hedges' g = 0.19), wake after sleep onset (Hedges' g = 0.24), sleep efficiency (Hedges' g = 0.31), sleep latency (Hedges' g = 0.35), circadian rhythm (acrophase: Hedges' g = 0.36; amplitude: Hedges' g = 0.43), number of night awakenings (Hedges' g = 0.37), sleep disturbance (Hedges'g = 0.45), and sleep quality (Hedges' g = 0.60). Light therapy showed small-to-medium effect on reducing depression (Hedges' g = -0.46) with medium-to-large effect on cyclical function (Hedges' g = -0.68) and mood-related signs and symptoms (Hedges' g = -0.84) subscales. Light therapy also demonstrated small effect on reducing neuropsychiatric behaviors (Hedges' g = -0.34) with medium-to-large effect on agitation (Hedges' g = -0.65), affective symptom (Hedges' g = -0.70), psychosis (Hedges' g = -0.72), and melancholic behavior (Hedges' g = -0.91) subscales. Additionally, light therapy also improved cognition (Hedges' g = 0.39).

CONCLUSION

Light therapy could be used as a supportive therapy to improve sleep, depression, cognition, and neuropsychiatric behaviors among PLWD.

Association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D with cardiovascular mortality and kidney outcome in patients with early stages of CKD

PURPOSE

While serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) deficiency is prevalent in chronic kidney disease (CKD), the effects of 25(OH)D deficiency on cardiovascular mortality and kidney outcomes in patients with early-stage CKD remain incompletely understood.

METHODS

This multicenter retrospective cohort study included adult patients with stages 1-3 CKD from 19 medical centers across China between January 2000 and May 2021. The primary outcome was cardiovascular mortality. The secondary study outcome included CKD progression (defined as a sustained > 40% eGFR decrease from baseline or progress to end-stage kidney disease), and annual percentage change of eGFR.

RESULTS

Of 9229 adults with stages 1-3 CKD, 27.0% and 38.9% had severe (< 10 ng/mL) and moderate (10 to < 20 ng/mL) serum 25(OH)D deficiency, respectively. Compared with patients having 25(OH)D ≥ 20 ng/mL, a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.90, 95% CI 1.37-2.63), CKD progression (HR 2.20, 95% CI 1.68-2.88), and a steeper annual decline in eGFR (estimate - 7.87%; 95% CI - 10.24% to - 5.51% per year) was found in those with serum 25(OH)D < 10 ng/mL. Similar results were obtained in subgroups and by sensitivity analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

25(OH)D deficiency is associated with increased risks of cardiovascular mortality and CKD progression in patients with early-stage CKD. Studies are needed to determine whether early intervention for 25(OH)D deficiency could improve the prognosis of patients with early-stage CKD.

Efficacy of resilience-related psychological interventions in patients with long-term diseases: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Patients with long-term disease experience low resilience, emphasising the importance of psychological interventions to improve resilience. However, there is no comprehensive evidence on the efficacy of resilience-related psychological interventions (RRPIs) in this population. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate and extend knowledge from previous meta-analyses on the efficacy of RRPIs on resilience, stress, anxiety, depression and quality of life among patients with long-term disease. Cochrane Library, Embase, Ovid-MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and CINAHL electronic databases were searched until 3 February 2023. The pooled effect size of the efficacy of RRPIs was calculated using the Hedges' g (g) with random-effects model, while Cochrane Q-statistics and I2 tests assessed heterogeneity in Comprehensive Meta-Analysis 3.0 software. The Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool evaluated the quality of studies. Moderator analysis was used to explore sources of heterogeneity. Twenty randomised controlled trial studies were identified, representing a total of 1388 individuals with long-term disease. RRPIs significantly enhance resilience (g = 0.79), alleviate stress (g = -0.78), decrease anxiety (g = -1.14), mitigate depression (g = -0.96) and improve quality of life (g = 0.48). Positive psychology, mindfulness, cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment-based intervention exhibited medium effects in strengthening resilience. Short-term effects of RRPIs on enhancing resilience were observed at 3-month follow-up period (g = 0.50). The incorporation of RRPIs into the management of patients with long-term disease shows a positive impact on their resilience, stress, anxiety, depression and quality of life. The results offer an evidence-based foundation for nurses in promoting resilience among patients with long-term disease.

Dual-task training in older adults with cognitive impairment: A meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis of randomized controlled trials

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effects of simultaneous dual-task training on cognitive function, physical function, and depression in older adults with mild cognitive impairment or dementia.

METHODS

Comprehensive database searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Ovid-Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus up to December 2022. Randomized controlled trials were included to assess the efficacy of simultaneous dual-task training for older adults with mild cognitive impairment or dementia. The analysis utilized Comprehensive Meta-Analysis version 3.0, presenting Hedges' g and the corresponding 95 % confidence interval (CI) for the pooled effect size and, applying a random-effects model. The I2 and Cochran's Q tests were employed to evaluate heterogeneity. The Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool was employed to assess study quality. The Copenhagen Trial Unit (version 0.9.5.10 Beta) was employed for trial sequential analysis, providing a rigorous methodology for evaluating cumulative evidence from multiple studies.

RESULTS

Of the 1676 studies identified, 20 studies involving 1477 older adults with cognitive impairment were included. Dual-task training significantly enhanced global cognition (0.477, 95 % CI: 0.282 to 0.671), executive function (-0.310, 95 % CI: -0.586 to -0.035), working memory (0.714, 95 % CI: 0.072 to 1.355), gait (0.418, 95 % CI: 0.252 to 0.583), physical activity (0.586, 95 % CI: 0.012 to 1.16), and depression (-0.703, 95 % CI: -1.253 to -0.153). Trial sequential analyses revealed the robustness of this meta-analysis, which was based on a sufficient sample size from the included studies. Moreover, dual-task training demonstrated beneficial effects on global cognition, executive function, working memory, and gait.

CONCLUSIONS

Dual-task training improved cognition, physical function, and depression among older adults with cognitive impairment. Accordingly, dual-task training should be considered a clinical nonpharmacological intervention for older adults with mild cognitive impairment or dementia. Nevertheless, the trial sequential analysis results were consistent with those of the pairwise meta-analysis but only global cognition reached significance by crossing the trial sequential analysis boundary. Future studies with higher-quality designs and larger sample sizes are required to obtain more conclusive results regarding other outcomes.

REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42023418598.

Changes in menopausal symptoms comparing oral estradiol versus transdermal estradiol

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of oral and transdermal estradiol in alleviating menopausal symptoms.

METHOD

A total of 257 recently menopausal women were randomized into two groups. The t-E2 group received transdermal estradiol (2.5 g per day) (n = 128) and the o-E2V group received oral estradiol valerate (2 mg per day) (n = 129) for 24 weeks; both groups received micronized progesterone (200 mg per day). The primary outcome measure is the change in the modified Kupperman Menopausal Index (KMI) after 24 weeks of treatment. Menopausal symptoms were recorded at screening and at 4, 12 and 24 weeks using both the KMI and the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS).

RESULTS

Significant amelioration was observed by KMI and MRS scores for both groups after treatment (p < 0.001). The mean KMI scores showed no difference between the two groups. The mean MRS scores were similar between the two groups at baseline and after 4 weeks of treatment. The results showed statistical differences after 12 weeks and 24 weeks of treatment (p = 0.005 and p = 0.011). Both the after-treatment scores minus the baseline scores of KMI and MRS and the incidence of adverse effects showed no difference between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that both transdermal and oral estradiol are effective in relieving menopausal symptoms, with little difference in treatment efficacy and safety.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER

ChiCTR2300073146.

[Cancer incidence and mortality in China, 2022]

Objective: The National Central Cancer Registry estimates the number of new cancer cases and deaths in China in 2022, using incidence and mortality data collected by the National Cancer Center. Methods: According to the data of 700 cancer registries in 2018 and the data of 106 cancer registries from 2010 to 2018, the age-period-cohort model was used to estimate the incidence rate and mortality rate of all cancers and 23 types of cancer in 2022, stratified by gender and urban and rural areas. We estimated the number of new cancer cases and deaths in China in 2022 based on the estimated rate and population data in 2022. Results: The estimated results showed that in 2022, there were approximately 4 824 700 new cancer cases in China (2 533 900 in males and 2 290 800 in females), with an age-standardized incidence rate of Chinese population (ASIR) of 208.58 per 100 000 (212.67 per 100 000 for males and 208.08 per 100 000 for females). Approximately 2 903 900 new cancer cases occurred in urban areas, with an ASIR of 212.95 per 100 000. It was estimated about 1 920 800 new cancer cases in rural areas, and the ASIR was 199.65 per 100 000. The top five cancers (lung cancer 1 060 600, colorectal cancer 517 100, thyroid cancer 466 100, liver cancer 367 700 and female breast cancer 357 200) accounted for 57.4% of all new cases. The estimated number of deaths from cancer in China in 2022 was 2 574 200 (1 629 300 in males and 944 900 in females), with an age-standardized mortality rate of Chinese population (ASMR) of 97.08 per 100 000 (127.70 per 100 000 in males and 68.67 per 100 000 in females). The number of deaths from cancer in urban and rural areas was about 1 400 600 and 1 173 400, with the ASMR of 92.37 and 103.97 per 100 000 in urban and rural areas, respectively. The top five leading cause of cancers death (lung cancer 733 300, liver cancer 316 500, gastric cancer 260 400, colorectal cancer 240 000 and esophageal cancer 187 500) accounted for 67.5% of all cancer deaths. Lung cancer ranked first in the incidence and mortality in men and women. The incidence rate in urban areas was higher than that in rural areas, while the mortality rate was lower than that in rural areas. Conclusions: The burden of cancer in China is still relatively heavy, with significant differences in cancer patterns in gender, urban-rural, and regional. The burden of cancer presents a coexistence of developed and developing countries, and the situation of cancer prevention and control is still serious in China.

Comparison of conventional and endoscope-assisted partial clretain-->superficial parotidectomy for benign neoplasms of the parotid gland: a matched case-control study

Long-term tumour recurrence rates and complications of endoscope-assisted partial superficial parotidectomy (PSP) are rarely reported compared to traditional open approaches. This retrospective study included 306 patients with superficial parotid benign neoplasms who were divided into an endoscopy group (endoscope-assisted PSP, n = 102) and a control group (conventional PSP, n = 204). There were no significant differences in clinical and pathological characteristics between the two groups, except age (P = 0.001). Three patients had confirmed recurrence during a mean follow-up duration of 125.1 months. Ten (9.8%) patients in the endoscopy group and 22 (10.8%) in the control group developed transient facial nerve palsy (P = 0.792), and recovered 6 months after the operation. Nine (8.8%) and 19 (9.3%) patients, respectively, suffered from Frey syndrome (P = 0.889). A sensory deficit of the auricle occurred in 24 (23.5%) and 57 (27.9%) patients respectively (P = 0.410). Patients in the endoscopy group were more satisfied with the postoperative scar than those in the control group (P < 0.001). This study demonstrated that the endoscope-assisted PSP can be curative, with better cosmetic outcomes than the conventional approach, and does not increase the incidence of postoperative complications or the local recurrence rate.

Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG Improves Periodontal Bone Repair via Gut-Blood Axis in Hyperlipidemia

Periodontal bone regeneration remains a clinical challenge, and hyperlipidemia can aggravate alveolar bone resorption. Probiotics have recently been reported to improve bone mass. We aimed to determine the role of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) in periodontal bone regeneration improvement within the context of periodontitis with hyperlipidemia. A Sprague Dawley rat model for periodontitis, hyperlipidemia, and periodontal fenestration defect was constructed (n = 36) and administered LGG gavage for 6 wk (the rats were subsequently sacrificed). Fecal microbiota from donor rats 3 wk after LGG gavage was transplanted into recipient rats to evaluate the role of LGG-modulated gut microbiota in periodontal bone regeneration. Regenerated bone mass was detected using micro-computerized tomography and hematoxylin and eosin stain. Gut microbiota was analyzed using 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing. Serum metabolites were detected by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (6 wk after LGG gavage). The pro-osteogenic effects of screened serum metabolite were verified in vitro on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs). We found that the bone mineral density, bone volume (BV), trabecular bone volume fraction (BV/TV), and trabecular thickness of the regenerated periodontal bone increased after LGG gavage (P < 0.05) but had little effect on oral flora. After LGG gavage, Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium, and Collinsella in the gut of donors were significantly changed, and these differences were maintained in recipients, who also showed increased trabecular thickness of the regenerated periodontal bone (P < 0.05). These key genera were correlated with BV/TV and BV (P < 0.05). In addition, LGG gavage significantly regulated bone-related blood metabolites, of which selenomethionine promoted BMMSC osteogenesis. Notably, selenomethionine was associated with key gut genera (P < 0.05). Collectively, LGG improved periodontal bone regeneration in the context of periodontitis with hyperlipidemia by modulating gut microbiota and increasing pro-osteogenic metabolites in the blood. These results reveal new insights into the use of probiotics to promote periodontal bone regeneration via the gut-blood-bone axis.

First demonstration of 30 eVee ionization energy resolution with Ricochet germanium cryogenic bolometers

The future Ricochet experiment aims to search for new physics in the electroweak sector by measuring the Coherent Elastic Neutrino-Nucleus Scattering process from reactor antineutrinos with high precision down to the sub-100 eV nuclear recoil energy range. While the Ricochet collaboration is currently building the experimental setup at the reactor site, it is also finalizing the cryogenic detector arrays that will be integrated into the cryostat at the Institut Laue Langevin in early 2024. In this paper, we report on recent progress from the Ge cryogenic detector technology, called the CryoCube. More specifically, we present the first demonstration of a 30 eVee (electron equivalent) baseline ionization resolution (RMS) achieved with an early design of the detector assembly and its dedicated High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT) based front-end electronics with a total input capacitance of about 40 pF. This represents an order of magnitude improvement over the best ionization resolutions obtained on similar phonon-and-ionization germanium cryogenic detectors from the EDELWEISS and SuperCDMS dark matter experiments, and a factor of three improvement compared to the first fully-cryogenic HEMT-based preamplifier coupled to a CDMS-II germanium detector with a total input capacitance of 250 pF. Additionally, we discuss the implications of these results in the context of the future Ricochet experiment and its expected background mitigation performance.

Meta-analysis and moderator analysis of the prevalence of malnutrition and malnutrition risk among older adults with dementia

BACKGROUND

Aging and dementia are common and closely related health problems in older adults, affecting their ability to maintain a healthy diet and ultimately resulting in malnutrition.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we estimated the global prevalence of malnutrition and malnutrition risk in older adults with dementia.

DESIGN

Meta-analysis.

DATA SOURCES

Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science were comprehensively searched for articles published from database inception to October 2022.

METHODS

Pooled prevalence analysis was conducted using a generalized linear mixed model and a random-effects model. I2 and Cochran's Q statistics were used for identifying heterogeneity. Publication bias was evaluated using Peters' regression test and a funnel plot. Moderator analyses were conducted to investigate variations in the prevalence estimates of the included studies. All statistical analyses were conducted using R software.

RESULTS

A total of 16 studies involving a total of 6513 older adults with dementia were included in the analysis. The results indicated that 32.52 % (95 % confidence interval: 19.55-45.49) of all included older adults with dementia had malnutrition, whereas 46.80 % (95 % confidence interval: 38.90-54.70) had a risk of malnutrition. The prevalence of malnutrition was found to be high among older patients living in institutionalized settings (46.59 %) and those with Alzheimer's disease (12.26 %). The factors moderating the prevalence of malnutrition included adequate vitamin B12 consumption, risk behaviors, medical comorbidities, and certain neuropsychiatric symptoms. The prevalence of malnutrition risk was high among women (29.84 %) and patients with Alzheimer's disease (26.29 %). The factors moderating the prevalence of malnutrition risk included total cholesterol level, vitamin B12 consumption, risk behaviors, medical comorbidities, and certain neuropsychiatric symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Approximately one-third of older adults with dementia are malnourished and nearly half of older adults are at a risk of malnutrition. Encouraging collaboration among health-care professionals and ensuring early assessment and effective management of malnutrition are crucial for maintaining a favorable nutritional status in older adults with dementia.

REGISTRATION

This study was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO: CRD42022369329).

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

Globally, approximately 32.52 % of older adults with dementia are malnourished and approximately 46.80 % are at a risk of malnutrition.

Field-induced Bose-Einstein condensation in zigzag spin chain KGaCu(PO4)2

Single crystals of GaKCu(PO4)2were synthesized using the hydrothermal method, and subsequent measurements of specific heat, magnetic susceptibility, and high-field magnetization were performed. A broad peak is observed in the magnetic susceptibility and specific heat curves, with the maximum values appearing at about 11.5 K and 5.29 K, respectively. The highest maximum peak value of susceptibility is observed when the magnetic field is applied along thec-axis, followed by thea-axis,b-axis, and polycrystalline samples. These indicate that the system exhibits one-dimensional magnetism and the magnetic easy axis is thecaxis. The magnetization at 2 K reveals the occurrence of a field-induced Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) phase within the magnetic field range of approximately 8-12 T. High-field magnetization up to 40 T indicates that the compound reaches magnetization saturation as the field exceedsHs= 12 T. Through systematic measurements, a field-temperature (H-T) phase diagram was constructed, and dome-like phase boundaries were observed. The findings suggest that GaKCu(PO4)2is a spin gap system and a promising candidate for studying BEC of magnons due to its phase transition boundary occurring at low magnetic fields.

Anticipatory grief prevalence among caregivers of persons with a life-threatening illness: A meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

Caring for a family member with a life-threatening illness may lead to increased levels of psychological morbidity. Given the lack of recognition of caregivers' grief, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of anticipatory grief disorders in caregivers of persons with a life-threatening illness for better intervention and management.

METHODS

CINAHL, Cochrane, Embase, Medline, PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO and Web of Science were searched up to 21 March 2021 without language and time restrictions. The quality of the included studies was assessed with Hoy's criteria. A random-effects model was applied to calculate pooled prevalence rates, and multi-regression was performed to examine heterogeneity among studies.

RESULTS

A total of 3278 citations were retrieved, and 18 studies met the eligibility criteria involving 5470 caregivers. The pooled prevalence of anticipatory grief was 24.78% (95% CI 19.04% to 30.99%). The prevalence rates were significantly higher in female caregivers (16.64%; 95% CI 12.24% to 21.53%) compared with male caregivers (6.11%; 95% CI 4.55% to 7.87%). The married group also had a higher risk (14.66%; 95% CI 10.66% to 19.16%) than single group (5.47%; 95% CI 4.31% to 6.76%).

CONCLUSIONS

The overall pooled prevalence is substantially higher compared with after-loss grief in the general population and supported the presumptions that preloss grief has a greater magnitude compared with after-loss grief. Bereavement support, educational programmes and relevant resources should be delivered even before the actual loss to address the burden of caregivers.

The Effects of Different Exercise Interventions on Patients with Subjective Cognitive Decline: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Exercise is a promising non-pharmacological therapy for subjective cognitive decline, but it is unclear which type of exercise is most effective. The objective was to assess the comparative effects and ranks of all exercise-based interventions on cognitive function in patients with subjective cognitive decline (SCD).

METHOD

In this network meta-analysis, Online databases for Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, Medline, Cochrane Library and PsycINFO were searched from inception to April 30, 2023. The included studies are randomized controlled trials assessing the efficacy of exercise interventions for individuals with SCD. The primary outcome measure is memory, while secondary outcome measures encompass executive function, attention, verbal fluency, and global cognitive function. Represented using Standardized Mean Differences (SMDs) along with their 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs). Bias assessment was conducted in accordance with the 'Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool, 2nd Edition' (RoB 2). Pairwise meta-analysis was carried out using the 'meta-analysis' module within STATA 14.0, and network meta-analysis was performed using the 'mvmeta' and 'network' packages available in STATA 14.0. Registration number CRD42023289687.

RESULT

This study included a total of 11 randomized controlled trials, encompassing 1,166 patients. Mind-body exercise was found to be efficacious in enhancing or sustaining memory (SMD: 0.58, 95%CI: 0.06 ~ 1.10) and executive function (SMD: 0.41, 95%CI: 0.09 ~ 0.73) in individuals with subjective cognitive decline. Furthermore, mind-body exercise exhibited the highest probability of being the most effective measures for improving or preventing the decline in memory (surface under cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) value: 90.4) and executive function (SUCRA value: 91.8). The second-ranked moderate-intensity aerobic exercise has also shown a positive effect on the improvement of executive function in patients with subjective cognitive decline (SMD: 0.23, 95%CI: 0.03 ~ 0.43, SUCRA value: 68.2). However, we did not observe a significant effectiveness of exercise interventions on verbal fluency, attention, and overall cognitive function in subjective cognitive decline.

CONCLUSION

Mind-body exercise may potentially be the optimal strategies for enhancing memory and executive function in individuals with subjective cognitive decline. Additionally, moderate-intensity aerobic exercise has shown a modest positive effect on executive function in subjective cognitive decline. When resources permit, practical application of these findings may be considered. Nevertheless, further support for the conclusions of this study is warranted through larger sample sizes and well-designed multicenter trials.

[Analysis of dynamic functional connectivity states and influencing factors of brain network in male patients with obstructive sleep apnea]

Objective: To analyze dynamic functional connectivity (dFNC) states and influencing factors of brain network in male patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Methods: A total of 111 male patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea or presenting with simple snoring, who visited the Sleep Clinic at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University between August 2020 and December 2021, were prospectively selected for this study. General information was collected, and polysomnography (PSG) was performed. Based on the oxygen desaturation index (ODI), the participants were divided into three groups: primary snoring group (ODI<5 events/hour, n=34), mild to moderate OSA group (5 events/hour≤ODI<30 events/hour, n=43), and sever OSA group (ODI≥30 events/hour, n=34). Cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale, and daytime sleepiness was evaluated using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data were collected and preprocessed. dFNC matrices were constructed using a sliding time window approach. The number of dFNC states was determined using k-means clustering analysis. Three parameters, namely, fractional time (FT), mean dwell time (MDT), and number of transitions (NT), were used to characterize the temporal properties of dFNC states. Differences in the temporal properties of dFNC states among the groups were compared. The correlations between temporal properties and PSG parameters, as well as MoCA and ESS scores, were further analyzed. Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis was performed to identify the influencing factors of the temporal properties of dFNC states. Results: The age of the patients was (40.2±8.6) years (range: 25-65 years). There were no significant differences in age, smoking history and alcohol history, and MoCA scores among the three groups (all P>0.05). Three dFNC states were extracted through k-means clustering analysis: state 1, characterized by strong connections within the visual and sensorimotor networks with a frequency of 31.7% (4 611/14 541); state 2, characterized by strong connections within the default mode network, attention network, and other cognitive networks, with the lowest frequency of 22.1% (3 213/14 541); state 3, characterized by weaker connections across the whole brain, with the highest frequency of 46.2% (6 717/14 541). The FT [0.28 (0.05, 0.35) vs 0.39 (0.26, 0.53)] and MDT [8.20 (4.35, 12.54) vs 11.68 (8.50, 16.69)] of state 2 in the sever OSA group were lower than those in the primary snoring group (both P<0.05), while there were no significant differences in the temporal properties of states 1 and 3 among the three groups (all P>0.05). The FT and MDT of state 2 were correlated with body mass index (BMI), apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), ODI, and minimum oxygen saturation (MinSaO2) (FT: r values were -0.218, -0.230, -0.249, 0.198, respectively; MDT: r values were 0.269, -0.253, -0.265, 0.209, respectively; all P<0.05). There were no significant correlations between the temporal properties and MoCA or ESS scores (all P>0.05). ODI was found to be an influencing factor for the temporal properties of state 2 (FT: β=-0.225, 95%CI:-0.227 to -0.223; MDT: β=-0.241, 95%CI:-0.289 to -0.195). Conclusions: Male patients with OSA exhibit alterations in specific temporal properties of brain network dynamic functional connectivity, which are associated with nocturnal oxygen parameters. This may be one of the mechanisms underlying brain functional damage in patients with OSA.

[Effects of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome on myocardial work and prognosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction]

Objective: To investigate the influence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) on myocardial work and prognosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: Patients with complete follow-up data diagnosed with AMI who were admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Suzhou University due to chest pain within 24 hours attacks from February 2020 to January 2022 were retrospective enrolled in the study and were split into two groups based on sleep apnea hypoventilation index (AHI): OSAS group (AHI≥5/h) and non-OSAS group (AHI<5/h). Follow up for (12.4±0.1) months. There were finally 210 AMI patients including 130 males and 80 females with (69.6±9.4) years, ranging from 36 to 83 years. The general characteristics, haematological index, echocardiographic parameters, myocardial work (MW) and the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in 1 year between the two groups were quantified. Logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used to assess the risk of MACE in patients with AMI. Results: There were 50 cases in the OSAS group and 160 cases in the non-OSAS group. Compared with the non-OSAS group, OSAS group demonstrated higher BMI,neck circumference, Killip grade,GRACE score,ESS score,SYNTAX score, the number of diseased vessels and higher prevalence of hypertension, hyperlipidemia and smoking history. The differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). There were also statistically significant differences in sleep study result and hematological indexesof of cTnT, NT-ProBNP, and creatinine between the two groups (P<0.05). The general work index (GWI) of the OSAS group was lower than that of the non-OSAS group [(870.1±435.6) vs (1 005.0±313.6) mmHg% (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), P=0.017]; The general myocardial active work (GCW) of the OSAS group was lower than that of the non-OSAS group [(1 046.7±472.2) vs (1 262.7±274.9) mmHg%, P=0.003]; The general work efficiency (GWE) of the OSAS group was lower than that of the non-OSAS group [(79.8±14.2)% vs (84.5±5.8)%, P=0.001]; The general reactive power (GWW) of the OSAS group was higher than that of the non-OSAS group [(312.2±163.2) vs (264.0±85.1) mmHg%, P=0.007]. There were 10 cases (20.0%) of MACE in the OSAS group and 13 cases (8.1%) in the non OSAS group, with a statistically significant difference (P=0.001).The combination of decreased OSAS (OR=4.039, 95%CI: 1.159-6.918), decreased myocardial work, including GCW [OR=0.850 (95%CI: 0.742-0.958)], GWE [OR=0.871 (95%CI: 0.818-0.924)], GWI (OR=0.862, 95%CI: 0.732-0.991), increased GWW (OR=2.425, 95%CI: 1.482-3.368), and increased GRACE score (OR=3.775, 95%CI: 2.314-5.236) increased the risk of MACE in AMI patients (all P<0.05). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for predicting MACE in AMI using OSAS+myocardial work+GRACE score was 0.779 (95%CI: 0.717-0.834), with a sensitivity of 65.2% and a specificity of 84.5%. After the combination of the three, there were statistically significant differences compared to the AUC of combined OSAS, GRACE score, and myocardial work (all P<0.05). Conclusions: The MW of AMI patients with OSAS decreased compared to those without OSAS. The combination of OSAS and MW can improve the predictive value of MACE in patients with AMI.

[The pulmonary toxicity of e-cigarette vaping exposure and the benefits of air cleaner application]

To evaluate e-cigarette vaping-induced respiratory toxicity and the interventional effects of air cleaners. A randomized controlled trial study of toxic vaping by the respiratory tract were conducted at the Key Laboratory of Environmental Medical Engineering, Ministry of Education, the School of Public Health, Southeast University from January to December 2022. 8-week-old male C57BL/6JGpt mice selected with a random number table method were used to establish a vaping-exposure model at different periods (0 d, 3 d, 7 d or 14 d), or exposed to clean air as a control group. Mice were exposed to regular heated vaping (200 ℃) and high-temperature heated vaping (280 ℃). Total lung RNA was extracted from control and e-cigarette exposed mice for transcriptome sequencing analysis. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) generation and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were detected by flow cytometry. Total superoxide dismutase (SOD) and superoxide (O2-) were evaluated using a microplate reader. Real-Time Quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to detect gene expression. Air filter and ionizer were used to intervene the toxicity of vaping. Data were expressed as (x¯±s), differences between multiple groups were compared using one-way or two-way ANOVA. The results showed that, RNA sequencing assays suggested that the differential genes between the control and vaping exposure groups were significantly enriched in the oxidative stress (Fold Enrichment=3.18) and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) (Fold Enrichment=5.74) pathways. Both types of heated vaping exposure caused significantly increased the score of alveolitis (F=10.8, P<0.001), increased endogenous ROS generation (F=16.8, P<0.001), decreased MMP (F=13.6, P<0.01), and gene expression of mitochondrial complex I dysfunction. The toxic effects of high-temperature heated vaping were stronger compared to regular heated vaping (F=2.9, P<0.05). The filter demonstrated better protective effects against vaping than the ionizer by reducing pulmonary alveolitis (F=7.4, P<0.01). Air cleaners could partially alleviate oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. In conclusion, this study demonstrate that vaping brings potential health risks. Air cleaners could partially reverse mitochondrial dysfunction, but cannot completely prevent the toxic effects, effective interventions remain to be investigated.

[Efficacy and safety of endoscopic submucosal dissection with additional radiotherapy for T1a-MM/T1b-SM esophageal squamous cell carcinoma]

Objective: To clarify the efficacy and safety of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) with additional radiotherapy in T1a-MM/T1b-SM esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 71 patients with T1a-MM/T1b-SM ESCC admitted to Southeast University Affiliated Zhongda Hospital from January 2015 to December 2019. The patients were divided into two groups based on the treatment method: the ESD group (ESD therapy alone) and the ESD-radiotherapy group (ESD combined radiotherapy). The follow-up duration after ESD was (44±17) months. The difference of disease-free survival (DFS) rate and overall survival (OS) rate between the two groups was compared by survival analysis, and the occurrence of complications was compared. Baseline variables of the two groups were compared and the influencing factors of DFS rate were analyzed by Cox proportional risk regression model. Results: There were 44 patients in the ESD-radiotherapy group [28 males, 16 females, aged (65±7) years] and 27 patients in the ESD group [18 males, 9 females, aged (67±9) years]. The results of survival analysis show that the 1, 3 and 5-year DFS rates of ESD-radiotherapy group were 95.5%, 92.9% and 77.4%, respectively, which were higher than those of ESD group 85.2%, 73.2% and 62.7% (all P<0.05). The 1, 3 and 5-year OS rates of the ESD-radiotherapy group were 100%, 94.7% and 94.7%, while those of the ESD group were 96.3%, 96.3% and 79.4%, respectively. The difference was not statistically significant (all P>0.05). Cox proportional hazard regression model analysis showed that ESD combined with radiotherapy (HR=0.19, 95%CI: 0.04-0.90, P=0.037), complete tumor resection (HR=0.25, 95%CI: 0.07-0.86, P=0.027), and vascular invasion (HR=12.06, 95%CI: 1.61-90.26, P=0.015) were the influencing factors of DFS rates. The most common complication of ESD was esophageal stenosis, and no grade 3 or higher radiation adverse reactions occurred after combined radiotherapy. Conclusion: ESD combined radiotherapy is an effective and safe therapeutic strategy for patients with T1a-MM/T1b-SM ESCC.

Diagnostic accuracy of magnifying chromoendoscopy in the assessment of tumor invasion depth in early colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

The aim of the study was to evaluate the ability of magnifying chromoendoscopy (MCE) to correctly differentiate early colorectal cancer (CRC) lesions with massively invasive submucosal cancer (SMm) from lesions without submucosal massive invasion (polyp, adenoma, dysplasia, intramucosal cancer, slightly invasive submucosal cancer (SMs)).

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library from the time of the establishment of each database to 5 April 2023. Stata 15 software was used to perform the meta-analysis for sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (LR), and negative LR, diagnostic odds ratio, and 95% CI. A summary receiver-operating characteristic (SROC) curve was constructed, the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated, and the diagnostic value was evaluated. Furthermore, to explore the potential sources of heterogeneity, we used meta-regression to estimate the influencing factors of these studies and their impact on the diagnostic accuracy. MCE was used to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy in differentiating CRC lesions with SMm from lesions without submucosal massive invasion (polyp, adenoma, dysplasia, intramucosal cancer, SMs). Subgroup analysis was conducted as well. Deeks' funnel plots were also used to assess publication bias.

RESULTS

A total of 11,387 colorectal lesions were included in 19 articles, including polyp, adenoma, dysplasia, and early cancer (intramucosal cancer, SMs, and SMm). The aggregate sensitivity, specificity, positive LR, negative LR, and diagnostic advantage scores of MCE in the diagnosis of differentiating CRC lesions with SMm from lesions without submucosal massive invasion (polyp, adenoma, dysplasia, intramucosal cancer, SMs) were 0.78 (95% CI 0.72-0.83), 0.95 (0.95% CI 0.91-0.97), 15.4 (0.95% CI 8.7-27.4), 0.23 (0.95% CI 0.18-0.30), and 66 (0.95% CI 32-136), respectively. The AUC of the SROC curve was 0.91 (0.95% CI 0.88-0.93). No significant publication bias was found with Deeks' funnel plot. The results showed significant heterogeneity due to the different objects included.

CONCLUSION

MCE can differentiate CRC lesions with SMm from lesions without submucosal massive invasion (polyp, adenoma, dysplasia, intramucosal cancer, SMs) with high accuracy and it can guide assessment of invasion depth of SMm in T1 early CRCs to help us select the most appropriate treatment.

An Innovative Regimen Basing on HFRT/SBRT and RC48-ADC Coactivation for Salvage Therapy in Patients with HER2-Expressing Advanced Solid Tumors

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

It is now widely accepted that radiotherapy, especially hypofractionated radiation therapy (HFRT) or stereotactic radiotherapy (SBRT), can modulate tumor phenotypes, enhance antigen presentation and provoke a systemic immune response which gives a strong rationale for the combination of RT and immunotherapy (iRT). The PRaG therapy is an innovative iRT, when combined with HFRT/SBRT, PD-1/L1 inhibitor and GM-CSF to activate the immune response and modulate the tumor microenvironment to exert the desired in abscopal effect. Previous studies have demonstrated encouraging efficacy of the PRaG regimen in the treatment of advanced refractory tumors. RC48-ADC is a promising anti-HER2 antibody-drug conjugate with inducing immunogenic cell death and widespread release of cancer cell antigens, synergize with immunotherapy by promoting effector T-cell activation. The aim of this study is to explore efficacy and safety of RC48-ADC combined with radiotherapy, PD-1/L1 inhibitor sequential GM-CSF and IL-2(PRaG3.0 regimen) for treatment of HER2-expressing advanced solid tumors.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Participants with advanced, confirmed HER2-expressing (IHC3+, 2+ or 1+) solid tumors that had progressed after standard treatment, or intolerance were enrolled. In a PRaG3.0 regimen cycle, those received RC48-ADC (2.0 mg/kg d1, every 3 weeks), then HFRT (2-3 doses of 5-8 Gy) was delivered for one metastatic lesion every other day, followed by GM-CSF (200 μg d3-7), sequential IL-2(2million IU d8-12), and PD-1/L1 inhibitor was dosing within one week after completion of HFRT. After RC48-ADC combined with PD-1/L1 inhibitor sequential GM-CSF and IL-2 for at least 6 cycles, then maintenance with PD-1/L1 inhibitor was administered until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR). This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT05115500.

RESULTS

With the cutoff date of 31 December 2022, a total of 30 patients (n = 6 for gynecological cancer, n = 5 for pancreatic cancer, n = 19 for other cancers) were enrolled, in which 21 patients completed at least 1 tumor assessment. The objective response rate (ORR) was 42.9%, and the disease control rate was 71.4% by RECIST1.1. The ORR was 66.7% in gynecological cancer, 25.3% in pancreatic cancer, and 36.4% in other cancers. Median progression-free survival (PFS) for all patients was 7.0 months (95% CI: 3.4, 10.7). The most common treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) included fatigue, fever, alopecia and anorexia. Grade ≥3 TRAEs occurred in two patients (6.7%).

CONCLUSION

These preliminary results show that of PRaG3.0 regimen has a manageable safety profile and encouraging antitumor activity in heavily pretreated patients with HER2- expressing cancers. Ultimately the regimen achieved the accurate integration of RT, immunotherapy and targeted therapy.

Trends in the Use of Hypofractionation in Treatment of Breast Cancer in Botswana

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Clinical trials have shown that moderate hypofractionation (HF) is clinically effective as adjuvant treatment to breast conserving surgery or following mastectomy with advanced disease. ASTRO issued updated guidelines in 2018, expanding the population eligible to receive HF to all patients, regardless of age and tumor stage. Use of HF can promote efficient resource utilization for over-burdened health care systems; however, global adoption of HF has been previously only reported via ESTRO survey of individual physicians. These data note that HF following lumpectomy is 40% in Africa vs. >90% in North America, with limited data on the uptake of HF within individual African countries. In this study, we characterize temporal trends and clinical, socio-demographic factors associated with the use of HF in breast cancer in Botswana.

MATERIALS/METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed a cohort of breast cancer patients receiving curative intent radiation between 2015 and 2022 at the only radiation clinic in Botswana. We compared patients' characteristics between those who received HF vs. standard fractionation (SF) and report chi-square statistics when appropriate. We fit a multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression model with a random intercept for district while adjusting for fixed effects such as HIV infection status, laterality, hormone receptor status, and marital status.

RESULTS

A total of 234 patients were prescribed curative intent radiation between 2015 and 2022 in Gaborone, Botswana. Median age at diagnosis was 51 years old, and the majority of patients presented with stage III disease (61.9%, 109/234). 26.9% of this population were women living with HIV (WLWH), and 71% lived >100km from the hospital. HF was utilized overall in 59.4% (139/234) of patients. Most common fractionation patterns included: 4005cGy/15fx and 4267cG/16fx. One patient received ultra-HF (2600cGy/5fx). In unadjusted chi-square analysis, a higher proportion of HF was seen in right vs left-sided breast cancer (65.8% vs. 50.9%, p = 0.02), increasing year of diagnosis from 2015 - 2022 (p<0.001), and among patients >/ = 40 years of age vs. those <40 years of age (62.8% vs 42.1%, p = 0.017). Temporal trends show a significant increase in the utilization of HF starting from 23.8% (5/21) in 2015, to 61.5% (32/52) in 2018, and finally 100% (11/11) of cases in 2022. Our regression analysis shows that there is no statistically significant between-district variance or patient-level factors that associate with the uptake of HF. The overall utilization rate for HF between 2015-2022 was 59.4% (95% CI: 53.0%-65.5%).

CONCLUSION

Based on recent survey results the uptake of HF among African countries is lower than that of North America. To our knowledge, this is the first quantitative analysis of the utilization of HF over 5 years in an African country. Further analysis on factors related to physician prescription of hypofractionation is warranted, including influence of breast laterality, age, and primary surgery type.

Recombinant Treponema pallidum protein Tp47 promoted the phagocytosis of macrophages by activating NLRP3 inflammasome induced by PKM2-dependent glycolysis

BACKGROUND

Glycolysis is a critical pathway in cellular glucose metabolism that provides energy and participates in immune responses. However, whether glycolysis is involved in NOD-like receptor family protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation and phagocytosis of macrophages in response to Treponema pallidum infection remains unclear.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the role of glycolysis in activating the NLRP3 inflammasome for regulating phagocytosis in macrophages in response to T. pallidum protein Tp47 and its associated mechanisms.

METHODS

Interactions between activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and phagocytosis and the role of glycolysis in Tp47-treated macrophages were investigated through experiments on peritoneal macrophages and human monocytic cell line-derived macrophages.

RESULTS

Activation of phagocytosis and NLRP3 inflammasome were observed in Tp47-treated macrophages. Treatment with NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950 or si-NLRP3 attenuated Tp47-induced phagocytosis. Glycolysis and glycolytic capacity were enhanced by Tp47 stimulation in macrophages, and a change in the levels of glycolytic metabolites (phosphoenolpyruvate, citrate and lactate) was induced by Tp47 in macrophages. Inhibition of glycolysis with 2-deoxy-D-glucose, a glycolysis inhibitor, decreased the activation of NLRP3. Expression of M2 isoform of pyruvate kinase (PKM2), an enzyme catalysing a rate-limiting reaction in the glycolytic pathway, was upregulated in Tp47-stimulated macrophages. Inhibition of PKM2 with shikonin or si-PKM2 decreased glycolysis and NLRP3 activation.

CONCLUSION

Tp47 promotes phagocytosis in macrophages by activating the NLRP3 inflammasome, which is induced by the enhancement of PKM2-dependent glycolysis.

Comparative effectiveness of psychotherapies in adults with posttraumatic stress disorder: a network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Evidence on the long-term comparative effectiveness of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) psychotherapies in adults remains unknown. Therefore, we performed an extensive network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to determine the comparative effectiveness of psychotherapies for people diagnosed with PTSD.

METHODS

A comprehensive search was conducted in Cochrane library, Embase, Medline-OVID, PubMed, Scopus, and Psych-Info until March 2021. Studies on the effectiveness of cognitive processing therapy (CPT), cognitive therapy (CT), eye movement desensitisation reprocessing (EMDR), narrative exposure therapy (NET), prolonged exposure (PE), cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), present-centred therapy (PCT), brief eclectic psychotherapies (BEP), psychodynamic therapy (PDT) or combination therapies compared to no treatment (NT) or treatment as usual (TAU) in adults with PTSD were included. Frequentist and Bayesian approaches were used for analysis in R-software.

RESULTS

We included 98 RCTs with 5567 participants from 18 897 studies. CPT, EMDR, CT, NET, PE, CBT, and PCT were significant to reduce PTSD symptoms (SMD range: -1.53 to -0.75; Certainty: very low to high) at immediate post-treatment and ranked accordingly. Longitudinal analysis found EMDR (1.02) and CPT (0.85) as the significant therapies with large effect size in short-term and long-term follow-up, respectively. NET and CPT showed higher proportion of loss of PTSD diagnosis (RR range: 5.51-3.45) while there were no significant psychotherapies for retention rate compared to NT.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings provide evidence for improving current guidelines and informing clinical decision-making for PTSD management. However, the best PTSD treatment plan should be tailored to patients' needs, characteristics, and clinician expertise.

REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42020162143.

[Analysis of the serum bile acid profile to facilitate diagnosis and differential diagnosis of NA(+)-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide deficiency]

Objective: This study focuses on Na(+)-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) deficiency to analyze and investigate the value of the serum bile acid profile for facilitating the diagnosis and differential diagnosis. Methods: Clinical data of 66 patients with cholestatic liver diseases (CLDs) diagnosed and treated in the Department of Pediatrics of the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University from early April 2015 to the end of December 2021 were collected, including 32 cases of NTCP deficiency (16 adults and 16 children), 16 cases of neonatal intrahepatic cholestasis caused by citrin deficiency (NICCD), 8 cases of Alagille syndrome, and 10 cases of biliary atresia. At the same time, adult and pediatric healthy control groups (15 cases each) were established. The serum bile acid components of the study subjects were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The data were plotted and compared using statistical SPSS 19.0 and GraphPad Prism 5.0 software. The clinical and bile acid profiles of children with NTCP deficiency and corresponding healthy controls, as well as differences between NTCP deficiency and other CLDs, were compared using statistical methods such as t-tests, Wilcoxon rank sum tests, and Kruskal-Wallis H tests. Results: Compared with the healthy control, the levels of total conjugated bile acids, total primary bile acids, total secondary bile acids, glycocholic acid, taurocholic acid, and glycochenodeoxycholic acid were increased in NTCP deficiency patients (P < 0.05). Compared with adults with NTCP deficiency, the levels of total conjugated bile acids and total primary bile acids were significantly increased in children with NTCP deficiency (P < 0.05). The serum levels of taurochenodeoxycholic acid, glycolithocholate, taurohyocholate, and tauro-α-muricholic acid were significantly increased in children with NTCP deficiency, but the bile acid levels such as glycodeoxycholic acid, glycolithocholate, and lithocholic acid were decreased (P < 0.05). The serum levels of secondary bile acids such as lithocholic acid, deoxycholic acid, and hyodeoxycholic acid were significantly higher in children with NTCP deficiency than those in other CLD groups such as NICCD, Alagille syndrome, and biliary atresia (P < 0.05). Total primary bile acids/total secondary bile acids, total conjugated bile acids/total unconjugated bile acids, taurocholic acid, serum taurodeoxycholic acid, and glycodeoxycholic acid effectively distinguished children with NTCP deficiency from other non-NTCP deficiency CLDs. Conclusion: This study confirms that serum bile acid profile analysis has an important reference value for facilitating the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of NTCP deficiency. Furthermore, it deepens the scientific understanding of the changing characteristics of serum bile acid profiles in patients with CLDs such as NTCP deficiency, provides a metabolomic basis for in-depth understanding of its pathogenesis, and provides clues and ideas for subsequent in-depth research.

First Measurement of the Nuclear-Recoil Ionization Yield in Silicon at 100 eV

We measured the nuclear-recoil ionization yield in silicon with a cryogenic phonon-sensitive gram-scale detector. Neutrons from a monoenergetic beam scatter off of the silicon nuclei at angles corresponding to energy depositions from 4 keV down to 100 eV, the lowest energy probed so far. The results show no sign of an ionization production threshold above 100 eV. These results call for further investigation of the ionization yield theory and a comprehensive determination of the detector response function at energies below the keV scale.

[Application of novel non-endoscopic device in the screening and early diagnosis of esophageal cancer]

Esophageal cancer (EC) is a dreadful disease with a poor prognosis and poses heavy health burden worldwide. Developing effective methods to identify high-risk individuals is urgently needed for preliminary screening before endoscopy. The novel non-endoscopic device has the potential advantages of low cost, simple operation, and minimal invasiveness. Approximately 90% of participants can swallow the device successfully with high safety profiles, and sufficient esophageal exfoliated cells can be collected for cytological examination and biomarker detection. Cytological examination based on the device combined with trefoil factor 3 (TFF3) protein or DNA methylation examinations could effectively screen Barrett's esophagus-associated dysplasia and early esophageal adenocarcinoma, but large prospective studies are needed to further validate the diagnostic value of this device to improve the quality of evidence. Although the device-based cytological examination in combination with biomarker detection holds promise in the early screening of esophageal squamous dysplasia and early esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, related research is still in its infancy, and there is still a lack of sufficient evidence for population screening in China. Active research into the application of this novel non-endoscopic device in EC screening and early diagnosis is of great significance for optimizing EC screening strategies and improving the early diagnosis of EC.

Efficacy of Blue LED Phototherapy on Sleep Quality and Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

INTRODUCTION

People with dementia often experience behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), which are a major cause of caregiver burden and institutionalization. Therefore, we conducted a double-blind, parallel-group randomized controlled trial to examine the efficacy of blue-enriched light therapy for BPSD in institutionalized older adults with dementia.

METHODS

Participants were enrolled and randomly allocated into blue-enriched light therapy (N = 30) or the conventional light group (N = 30) for 60 min in 10 weeks with five sessions per week. The primary outcome was sleep quality measured by actigraphy and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The secondary outcome was overall BPSD severity (Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory [CMAI] and Neuropsychiatric Inventory [NPI-NH]). The outcome indicators were assessed at baseline, mid-test, immediate posttest, 1-month, 3-month, and 6-month follow-up. The effects of the blue-enriched light therapy were examined by the generalized estimating equation model.

RESULTS

Blue-enriched light therapy revealed significant differences in the objective sleep parameters (sleep efficiency: β = 5.81, Waldχ2 = 32.60, CI: 3.82; 7.80; sleep latency: β = -19.82, Waldχ2 = 38.38, CI:-26.09; -13.55), subjective sleep quality (PSQI: β = -2.07, Waldχ2 = 45.94, CI: -2.66; -1.47), and overall BPSD severity (CMAI: β = -0.90, Waldχ2 = 14.38, CI: -1.37; -0.44) (NPI-NH: β = -1.67, Waldχ2 = 30.61, CI: -2.26; -1.08) compared to conventional phototherapy immediate posttest, 1-month, 3-month, and 6-month follow-up. Furthermore, the effects for sleep efficiency and sleep latency lasted for up to 6 months. In the subscale analysis, the differences of the behavioral symptoms changed significantly between the groups in physical/nonaggressive (CI: -1.01; -0.26) and verbal/nonaggressive (CI: -0.97; -0.29).

CONCLUSIONS

Blue-enriched light therapy is a feasible low-cost intervention that could be integrated as a comprehensive therapy program for BPSD among older adults with dementia.

Global prevalence of low resilience among the general population and health professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic: A meta-analysis

Objective

To estimate the global prevalence of low resilience among the general population and health professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Embase, Ovid-MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, WHO COVID-19 databases, and grey literature were searched for studies from January 1, 2020, to August 22, 2022. Hoy's assessment tool was used to assess for risk of bias. Meta-analysis and moderator analysis was performed using the Generalized Linear Mixed Model with a corresponding 95 % confidence interval (95 % CI) adopting the random-effect model in R software. Between-study heterogeneity was measured using I² and τ² statistics.

Results

Overall, 44 studies involving 51,119 participants were identified. The pooled prevalence of low resilience was 27.0 % (95 % CI: 21.0 %–33.0 %) with prevalence among the general population being 35.0 % (95 % CI: 28.0 %–42.0 %) followed by 23.0 % (95 % CI: 16.0 %–30.9 %) for health professionals. The 3-month trend analysis of the prevalence of low resilience beginning January 2020 to June 2021 revealed upward then downward patterns among overall populations. The prevalence of low resilience was higher in females, studied during the delta variant dominant period, frontline health professionals, and undergraduate degree education.

Limitations

Study outcomes showed high heterogeneity; however, sub-group and meta-regression analyses were conducted to identify potential moderating factors.

Conclusions

Globally, 1 out of 4 people among the general population and health professionals experienced low resilience due to COVID-19 adversity. The prevalence of low resilience was twice as much among the general population compared to health professionals. These findings provide information for policymakers and clinicians in the development and implementation of resilience-enhancing programs.

The effect of cognitive training on domains of attention in older adults with mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Background

Attention is essential to daily life and cognitive functioning, and attention deficits can affect daily functional and social behaviour, such as falls, risky driving, and accidental injuries. However, attention function is important yet easily overlooked in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, and evidence is limited. We aimed to explore the pooled effect of cognitive training on domains of attention in older adults with mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia using a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) up to 3 November 2022. We included participants aged ≥50 years diagnosed with cognitive impairment, with various cognitive training interventions as the intervention measures. The primary outcome was overall attention and the secondary outcomes were attention in different domains and global cognitive function. We calculated the Hedges' g and confidence intervals (CIs) using a random-effects model to evaluate the effect size of the outcome measures and evaluated heterogeneity using the χ² test and I² value.

Results

We included 17 RCTs and found that cognitive training interventions improve overall attention (Hedges' g = 0.41; 95% CI = 0.13, 0.70), selective attention (Hedges' g = 0.37; 95% CI = 0.19, 0.55), divided attention (Hedges' g = 0.38; 95% CI = 0.03, 0.72), and global cognitive function (Hedges' g = 0.30; 95% CI = 0.02, 0.58) in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, but with relatively low effectiveness.

Conclusions

Cognitive training intervention can improve some attention functions in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Attention function training should also be incorporated into routine activities and long-term sustainability planning to delay the deterioration of attention function in older adults. Besides reducing their risk of abnormal events in daily life (such as falls), it can also improve their quality of life and help reduce the progression of cognitive impairment, achieving early detection of secondary prevention.

Registration

PROSPERO (CRD42022385211).

[Alertness and task processing speed impairment status and influencing factors of young-middle aged men with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome]

Objective: To investigate the alertness and task processing speed impairment status in young-mild aged men with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), and analyze its influencing factors. Methods: This prospective study recruited 251 snoring patients aged 18 to 59 (38.9±7.6) years in the Sleep Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from July 2020 to September 2021 and all patients were diagnosed by polysomnography (PSG). Clinical information, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and PSG date were collected. All patients were assessed with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) questionnaires, Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) and Computerized Neurocognitive Assessment System which includes the reaction time of Motor Screening Task (MOT) for alertness, the reaction time of pattern recognition memory (PRM), spatial span (SSP) and spatial working memory (SWM) for task processing speed. Based on AHI tertiles, all patients were divided into Q1 group (AHI<15 times/h, n=79), Q2 group (15 times/h≤AHI<45 times/h, n=88), and Q3 group (AHI≥45 times/h, n=84). The characteristics of clinical information, ESS, PSG parameters and cognitive scores among three groups were compared. Multiple linear stepwise regression was conducted to analyze the influencing factors of cognitive impairment. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in age, years of education, history of smoking and drinking, and past disease history (except for the prevalence of hypertension) among the 3 groups (P>0.05). There were statistically significant among-group differences in the body mass index (BMI), ESS, prevalence of hypertension and complaints of daytime sleepiness (P<0.05). Compared with Q1 and Q2 group, the arousal index (ArI), oxygen desaturation index (ODI),the proportion of non-rapid eye movement phase 1 and 2 (N1+N2) and percentage of total sleep time with oxygen saturation level<90% (TS90) of Q3 group were higher (all P<0.05). In the cognitive assessment, there was no statistically significant difference in the MoCA total and individual scores and MMSE scores among the three groups (P>0.05). Compared with the Q1 group, the task processing speed and alertness were worse in Q3 group, as shown by slower PRM immediate and delayed reaction time, SSP reaction time and MOT reaction time (all P<0.05). The total time of SWM in Q2 group was slower than that in Q1 group (P<0.05). Multiple linear stepwise regression showed that years of education (β=-40.182, 95%CI:-69.847--10.517), ODI (β=3.539, 95%CI: 0.600-6.478) were the risk factors of PRM immediate reaction time. Age(β=13.303,95%CI: 2.487-24.119), years of education(β=-32.329, 95%CI:-63.162--1.497), ODI (β=4.515, 95%CI: 1.623-7.407) were the risk factors of PRM delayed reaction time. ODI was the risk factor of SSP reaction time (β=1.258, 95%CI: 0.379-2.137). TS90 was the risk factor of MOT reaction time (β=1.796, 95%CI: 0.664-2.928). Conclusions: The early cognitive impairment in young-mild aged OSAHS patients was manifested in decreased alertness and task processing speed, and intermittent nocturnal hypoxia was its influencing factor in addition to age and years of education.

[Circular RNA hsa_circ_0087893 participates in intraventricular hemorrhage occurrence and progression possibly as a competitive endogenous RNA in preterm infants]

OBJECTIVE

To screen for differentially expressed circular RNAs (circRNAs) in the serum of preterm infants with intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and explore the competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) mechanism of circRNAs in IVH in these infants.

METHODS

Fifty preterm infants (gestational age of 28 to 34 weeks) admitted in our department between January, 2019 and January, 2020 were enrolled in this study, including 25 with a MRI diagnosis of IVH and 25 without IVH. Serum samples were collected from 3 randomly selected infants from each group for profiling differentially expressed circRNAs using circRNA array technique. Gene ontology (GO) and pathway analyses were performed to reveal the function of the identified circRNAs. The circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network was constructed to identify the co-expression network of hsa_circ_ 0087893.

RESULTS

A total of 121 differentially expressed circRNAs were identified in the infants with IVH, including 62 up-regulated and 59 down-regulated circRNAs. GO and pathway analyses showed that these circRNAs were involved in multiple biological processes and pathways, including cell proliferation, activation and death, DNA damage and repair, retinol metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, cell adhesion molecules. Among these circRNAs, hsa_circ_0087893 was found to have significant down-regulation in IVH group and co-express with 41 miRNAs and 15 mRNAs (such as miR-214-3p, miR-761, miR-183-5p, AKR1B1, KRT34, PPP2CB, and HPRT1).

CONCLUSION

The circRNA hsa_circ_0087893 may function as a ceRNA and play an important role in the occurrence and progression of IVH in preterm infants.

[Effect of sleep spindle density on memory function in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome]

Objective: To explore the characteristics of sleep spindle density in nonrapid eye movement (NREM) stage 2 (N2) sleep and its effect on memory function in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). Methods: Patients who underwent polysomnography (PSG) examination due to snoring in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January to December 2021 were prospectively collected. A total of 119 male patients, aged 23-60 (37.4±7.3) years, were enrolled finally. According to the apnea hyponea index (AHI), the subjects were divided into a control group (AHI<15 times/h) of 59 cases and an OSAHS group (AHI≥15 times/h) of 60 cases. The basic information, general clinical data and PSG parameters were collected. Memory function scores were evaluated by using logical memory test (LMT), digit ordering test (DOT) and pattern recognition memory (PRM), spatial recognition memory (SRM) and spatial working memory (SWM) in CANTAB test. The number of N2 sleep spindles in leads left central area (C3) and right central area (C4) was counted by hand and the sleep spindle density (SSD) was calculated. The differences in the above indexes and N2 SSD were compared between the two groups. Shapiro-Wilk method, chi-squared test, Spearman correlation analysis and stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to investigate the influencing factors of memory scores in patients with OSAHS. Results: Compared with the control group, the proportion of the slow-wave sleep, the minimum blood oxygen saturation, the SSD in C3 of NREM2 stage and the SSD in C4 of NREM2 stage were lower in the OSAHS group. The body mass index (BMI), proportion of N2 sleep, oxygen reduction index, percentage of time with oxyhemoglobin saturation below 90% (TS90), maximum duration of apnea and respiratory effort-related arousal(RERA) were higher in the OSAHS group (all P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the immediate LMT score was lower, while the time for immediately completing PRM test, the total time for immediately completing SRM test and the time for delayed completing PRM test were longer in the OSAHS group, suggesting that the immediate logical memory, immediate visual memory, spatial recognition memory and delayed visual memory were worse in the OSAHS group. Stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the number of years of education (OR=0.744, 95%CI 0.565-0.979, P=0.035), maximum duration of apnea (OR=0.946, 95%CI 0.898-0.997, P=0.038) and N2-C3 SSD (OR=0.328, 95%CI 0.207-0.618, P=0.012) and N2-C4 SSD (OR=0.339, 95%CI 0.218-0.527, P=0.017) were independent factors affecting the immediate visual memory. The AHI (OR=1.449, 95%CI 1.057-1.985, P=0.021), N2-C3 SSD (OR=0.377, 95%CI 0.246-0.549, P=0.009), and N2-C4 SSD (OR=0.400, 95%CI 0.267-0.600, P=0.010) were independent factors affecting delayed visual memory. Conclusions: The decrease in SSD is associated with impaired memory function in patients with moderate-severe OSAHS, which is manifested as impairment of immediate visual memory and delayed visual memory. This suggests that changes of sleep spindle wave in N2 may be an electroencephalographic biomarker for assessing cognitive impairment in OSAHS patients.

[Neoadjuvant therapy in locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma]

The efficacy of surgery alone for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is limited. In-depth studies concerning combined therapy for ESCC have been carried out worldwide, especially the neoadjuvant treatment model, including neoadjuvant chemotherapy (nCT), neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT), neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy (nICT), neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy combined with immunotherapy (nICRT), etc. With the advent of the immunity era, nICT and nICRT have attracted much attention from researchers. An attempt was thus made to take an overview of the evidence-based research advance regarding the neoadjuvant therapy of ESCC.

Comparative Effectiveness of Combined and Single Neurostimulation and Traditional Dysphagia Therapies for Post-Stroke Dysphagia: A Network Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Comparative therapeutic benefits of combined and single neurostimulation therapies including neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), pharyngeal electrical stimulation (PES), repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and traditional dysphagia therapy (TDT) remain unknown in post-stroke dysphagia (PSD) rehabilitation. Therefore, we performed the first network meta-analysis (NMA) to determine comparative effectiveness of combined and single neurostimulation and traditional dysphagia therapies for PSD.

METHODS

A frequentist NMA model was performed with therapy effect sizes presented as standardized mean differences (SMD) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for therapy comparisons while netrank function ranked the therapies in R-Software. Meta-regression models for study characteristics were analyzed using Bayesian NMA Model.

RESULTS

Overall, 50 randomized controlled studies with 2250 participants were included. NMES + TDT 3.82 (95% CI, 1.62-6.01), tDCS + TDT 3.34 (95% CI, 1.09-5.59), rTMS + TDT 3.32 (95% CI, 1.18-5.47), NMES 2.69 (95% CI, 0.44-4.93), and TDT 2.27 (95% CI, 0.12-4.41) demonstrated very large effect in improving swallowing function. NMES + TDT -0.50 (95% CI, -0.68 to -0.32, rTMS + TDT -0.44 (95% CI, -0.67 to -0.21), TDT -0.28 (95% CI, -0.46 to -0.10), and NMES -0.19 (95% CI, -0.34 to -0.04) demonstrated medium to small effect in reducing pharyngeal transit time (PTT). rTMS -0.51 (95% CI, -0.93 to -0.08) demonstrated medium effect in reducing oral transit time (OTT). No significant therapy comparison differences were found for reducing aspiration/penetration. The highest ranked therapy was NMES + TDT for better swallowing function and reduction of PTT, rTMS for reduction of OTT, and tDCS + TDT for reduction of aspiration/penetration. Therapeutic effects of the therapies were moderated by frequency, sessions, and duration.

CONCLUSION

Combined therapies including NMES + TDT, tDCS + TDT, and rTMS + TDT demonstrate better therapeutic effect for improved swallowing function and reduction of PTT, OTT, and aspiration/penetration for PSD.

Comparison of static and dynamic in vitro digestibility and bioaccessibility of palm-based emulsions and correlation to a human study: effects of triacylglycerol crystallinity

The static and dynamic TIM-1 in vitro digestibility of similarly sized Span 60 o/w emulsions containing either liquid palm olein droplets (PO) or palm stearin (PS) droplets tempered to contain different levels of crystallinity (i.e., PS-SE (maximum), PS-SE-INT (intermediate), and PS-LE (undercooled)) were explored. Static in vitro digestion experiments included particle size analysis, and emulsion digestibility and bioaccessibility were compared between the static and dynamic models, respectively. β-carotene (BC, 0.1 wt%) was also incorporated in the emulsions to determine the influence of triacylglycerol (TAG) crystallinity on BC bioaccessibility and stability during storage under accelerated lighting conditions. TAG crystallinity altered the colloidal fat crystal network properties and ultimately impacted lipid digestion, attenuating early static in vitro lipolysis for the PS emulsions compared to the PO emulsion. This correlated well with TIM-1 bioaccessibility trends and with results from our results of a previous human study wherein the rise in postprandial TAG was delayed when healthy men consumed PS-SE versus PS-LE. The presence of crystalline TAG modestly accelerated BC degradation, and did not improve preservation nor alter BC in vitro bioaccessibility.

[Cancer statistics in China, 2016]

Objective: Data for 2016 from cancer registries were used to estimate cancer incidence and mortality in China in 2016. Methods: According to the quality control process of the National Central Cancer Registry, the data from 683 cancer registries submitted by each province were evaluated, and the data of 487 cancer registries were qualified and included in the final analysis. Age-specific incidence and mortality rates were calculated by area (urban/rural), sex, age and cancer site, combined with national population data to estimate cancer incidence and mortality in China in 2016. Chinese population census in 2000 and Segi's population were used for age-standardized incidence and mortality rates. Results: Total population covered by 487 cancer registries was 381 565 422 (192 628 370 in urban and 188 937 052 in rural areas). The percentages of morphologically verified (MV%) and death certificate-only cases (DCO%) accounted for 68.31% and 1.40%, respectively, and the mortality to incidence ratio was 0.61. It was estimated about 4 064 000 new cases occurred in China in 2016, with the crude incidence rate being 293.91/100 000 (the rates of males and females were 315.52/100 000 and 271.23/100 000), age-standardized incidence rates by Chinese standard population (ASIRC) and by world standard population (ASIRW) were 190.76/100 000 and 186.46/100 000, with the cumulative incidence rate (0-74 years old) being 21.42%. The crude incidence and ASIRC were 314.74/100 000 and 196.38/100 000 in urban areas, whereas in rural areas, they were 265.90/100 000 and 182.21/100 000, respectively. It was estimated about 2 413 500 cancer deaths occurred in China in 2016, the crude mortality rate was 174.55/100 000 (216.16/100 000 in males and 130.88/100 000 in females), the age-standardized mortality rates by Chinese standard population (ASMRC) and by world standard population (ASMRW) were 106.00/100 000 and 105.19/100 000, and the cumulative mortality rate (0-74 years old) was 11.85%. The crude mortality and ASMRC were 180.31/100 000 and 104.44/100 000 in urban areas, whereas in rural areas, they were 166.81/100 000 and 108.01/100 000, respectively. The most common cancer cases include lung, colorectal, stomach, liver and female breast cancers. The top five cancers accounted for about 57.27% of all cancer cases. The most common cancer deaths included lung, liver, stomach, colorectal and esophageal cancers. The top five cancers accounted for about 69.25% of all cancer deaths. Conclusions: The burden of cancer shows a continuous increasing trend in China. Regional and gender differences in cancer burden are obvious. The cancer patterns still show the coexistence of cancer patterns in developed countries and developing countries. The situation of cancer prevention and control is still serious in China.

Effectiveness of respiratory rehabilitation in patients with COVID-19: A meta-analysis

AIM

Examine effectiveness of respiratory rehabilitation and moderating factors on lung function and exercise capacity in post-COVID-19 patients.

DESIGN

Meta-analysis.

METHODS

R software 4.0.2 assessed the effectiveness of respiratory rehabilitation adopting the random-effects model and presenting standardised mean differences (SMDs). Heterogeneity was determined by Cochran's Q and I² . The Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 and MINORS evaluated quality of the included studies.

DATA SOURCES

A comprehensive search was undertaken in Cochrane, Embase, Ovid-MEDLINE, Scopus, NCBI SARS-CoV-2 Resources, ProQuest, Web of Science and CINAHL until March 2022.

RESULTS

Of the 5703 identified studies, 12 articles with 596 post-COVID-19 patients were included. Eleven of our twelve studies had moderate to high quality and one study had high risk of bias assessed with MINORS and RoB 2 tool. Overall, respiratory rehabilitation was effective in improving forced expiratory volume in 1 s (1.14; 95%CI 0.39-1.18), forced vital capacity (0.98; 95%CI 0.39-1.56), total lung capacity (0.83; 95%CI 0.22-1.44), 6-minute walk distance (1.56; 95%CI 1.10-2.02) and quality of life (0.99; 95%CI 0.38-1.60). However, no significant differences were observed for ratio of the forced expiratory volume in 1 s to the forced vital capacity of the lungs, anxiety and depression. Respiratory rehabilitation for post-COVID-19 patients was effective in those without comorbidities, performed four types of exercise programs, frequency ≥3 times/week and rehabilitation time 6 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

Respiratory rehabilitation improved lung function, exercise capacity and quality of life in post-COVID-19 patients. The findings suggest rehabilitation programs for post-COVID-19 patients should use multiple respiratory exercise programs with frequency of ≥3 times per week for longer than 6 weeks.

IMPACT

These findings will help improve the implementation of respiratory rehabilitation programs for post-COVID-19 patients.

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION

Our findings can be used to develop patient-centred respiratory rehabilitation interventions by nurses and clinicians for post-COVID-19 patients.

REPORTING METHOD

PRISMA guideline was followed.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

No patient or public contribution.

[Evaluation of thermal environment and human thermal comfort in 8 types of public places from 2019 to 2021]

Objective: To evaluate the thermal environment of different types of public places and the thermal comfort of employees, so as to provide scientific basis for the establishment of microclimate standards and health supervision requirements. Methods: From June 2019 to December 2021, 50 public places (178 times) of 8 categories in Wuxi were selected, including hotels, swimming pools (gymnasiums), bathing places, shopping malls (supermarkets), barber shops, beauty shops, waiting rooms (bus station) and gyms. In summer and winter, microclimate indicators such as temperature and wind speed were measured in all kinds of places, combined with the work attire and physical activity of employees in the places. Fanger thermal comfort equation and center for the built environment (CBE) thermal comfort calculation tool were used to evaluate the predicted mean vote (PMV), predicted percent dissatisfied (PPD) and standard effective temperature (SET) according to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) 55-2020. The modification effects of seasonal and temperature control conditions on thermal comfort were analyzed. The consistency of GB 37488-2019 "Hygienic Indicators and Limits in Public Places" and ASHRAE 55-2020 evaluation results on thermal environment was compared. Results: The thermal sensation of hotel, barber shop staff and the gym front-desk staff were moderate, while the thermal sensation of swimming place lifeguard, bathing place cleaning staff and gym trainer were slightly warm in summer and winter. Waiting room (bus station) cleaning and working staff, shopping mall staff felt slightly warm in summer and moderate in winter. Service staff in bathing places felt slightly warm in winter, while staff in beauty salons felt slightly cool in winter. The thermal comfort compliance of hotel cleaning staff and shopping mall staff in summer was lower than that in winter (χ(2)=7.01, 7.22, P=0.008, 0.007). The thermal comfort compliance of shopping mall staff in the condition of air conditioning off was higher than that in the condition of air conditioning on (χ(2)=7.01, P=0.008). The SET values of front-desk staff in hotels with different health supervision levels were significantly different (F=3.30, P=0.024). The PPD value and SET value of the front-desk staff, and the PPD value of cleaning staff of hotels above three stars were lower than those of hotels below three stars (P<0.05). The thermal comfort compliance of front-desk staff and cleaning staff in hotels above three stars was higher than that in hotels below three stars (χ(2)=8.33, 8.09, P=0.016, 0.018). The consistency of the two criteria was highest among waiting room (bus station) staff (100.0%, 1/1) and lowest among gym front-desk staff (0%, 0/2) and waiting room (bus station) cleaning staff (0%, 0/1) . Conclusion: There are different degrees of thermal discomfort in different seasons, under the condition of air conditioning and health supervision, and the microclimate indicators can not fully reflect the thermal comfort of human body. The health supervision of microclimate should be strengthened, the applicability of health standard limit value should be evaluated in many aspects, and the thermal comfort of occupational group should be improved.

High-field magnetization and electronic spin resonance study in the twisted honeycomb latticeα-Mn2V2O7

We report the single-crystal growth of Mn₂V₂O₇and the results of magnetic susceptibility, high-field magnetization up to 55 T and high-frequency electric spin resonance (ESR) measurements for its low-temperatureαphase. Two antiferromagnetic (AFM) ordering at 17.5 K and 3 K and obvious magnetic anisotropy are observed inα-Mn₂V₂O₇upon cooling. In pulsed high magnetic fields, the compound reaches the saturation magnetic moment of ∼10.5μ_Bfor each molecular formula at around 45 T after two undergoing AFM phase transitions atH_c1≈ 16 T,H_c2≈ 34.5 T forH//[11-0] andH_sf1= 2.5 T,H_sf2= 7 T forH//[001]. In these two directions, two and seven resonance modes are detected by ESR spectroscopy, respectively. Theω₁andω₂modes ofH//[11-0] can be well described by two-sublattice AFM resonance mode with two zero-field gaps at 94.51 GHz and 169.28 GHz, indicating a hard-axis feature. The seven modes forH//[001] are partially separated by the critical fields ofH_sf1andH_sf2, displaying the two signs of spin-flop transition. The fittings ofω_c1andω_c2modes yield zero-field gaps at 69.50 GHz and 84.73 GHz forH//[001], confirming the axis-type anisotropy. The saturated moment and gyromagnetic ratio indicate the Mn²⁺ion inα-Mn₂V₂O₇is in a high spin state with orbital moment completely quenched. A quasi-one-dimensional magnetism with a zig-zag-chain spin configuration is suggested inα-Mn₂V₂O₇, due to the special neighbor interactions caused by a distorted network structure with honeycomb layer.

A polynomial-time hybrid solver for multi-agent motion navigation against deadlocks

In the cooperative multi-agent pathfinding and motion planning, given a unique start position and a unique goal position for each agent, all agents are able to pursue their own goals without colliding with each other. To aim at realizing the collision-free motion of the agents within the tractable time, this work proposes a polynomial-time solver, called the HBD-AOI, hybridizing centralized and decentralized schemes. Firstly, an algorithm of centralized pathfinding is utilized to plan the optimal paths of all agents. Afterwards, each of the agents updates the local motion pattern to tracks its own planned waypoints with the obstacle avoidance in a decentralized manner. Furthermore, to resolve unavoidable egoistic conflicts occurring in the decentralized scheme, a centralized intervener with the route replanning is invoked to coach the involved agents to abort the existing deadlocks. Bounded by an amount of time, the performances of the proposed and benchmarked algorithms are simulated on the same instance, from the evaluated testbeds that consists of various maps and scenarios. In the simulations, it is proved that this work outperforms other benchmarked algorithms for all presented instances in the term of the success rate. The experimental results are also demonstrated to verify the feasibility of the proposed methodology.

Prevalence of grief symptoms and disorders in the time of COVID-19 pandemic: A meta-analysis

Millions of people worldwide are mourning the loss of loved ones due to the COVID-19 epidemic, which may adversely impact their mental health. This meta-analysis aimed to investigate pandemic grief symptoms and disorders for developing policy, practice, and research priorities. The databases of Cochrane, Embase, Ovid-MEDLINE, WHO COVID-19, NCBI SARS-CoV-2, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Science Direct were comprehensively searched until July 31, 2022. The Joanna Briggs Institute's and Hoy's criteria were used to evaluate the studies. A pooled prevalence was presented in a forest plot figure with a corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) and prediction interval. Between-study heterogeneity was measured using the I² and Q statistics. Variations in the prevalence estimates in different subgroups were examined by moderator meta-analysis. The search identified 3677 citations, of which 15 studies involving 9289 participants were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence rate of grief symptoms was 45.1% (95%CI: 32.6%-57.5%), and grief disorder was 46.4% (95%CI: 37.4%-55.5%). Grief symptoms were significantly higher in <6 months (45.8%; 95%CI: 26.3%-65.3%) compared to the period of more than 6 months. Unfortunately, moderator analyses for grief disorders could not be performed due to limited studies. The prevalence of grief problems during the pandemic was substantially higher than in non-pandemic conditions; therefore, it is crucial to strengthen bereavement support to reduce psychological distress. The results provide a foundation for nurses and healthcare workers to anticipate a heightened need for support and provision of bereavement care in the post-pandemic era.

Prevalence of sleep-related breathing disorders and associated risk factors among people with dementia: A meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD) have shown to cause worsened cognitive impairment among people with dementia. Therefore, we conducted the first meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence of SRBD among people with dementia.

METHODS

Comprehensive searches were conducted in Embase, Ovid-MEDLINE, PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL. The generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) was used for the pooled prevalence analysis and heterogeneity using I² test and Cochran's Q-statistic in R-software. Study quality was assessed by Hoy's risk of bias assessment tool. Overall, 20 studies from 1282 studies were included with 1461 participants.

RESULTS

The pooled prevalence of SRBD among dementia was 59% (95%CI: 44%-73%) with 55% (95%CI: 34%-74%) for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), 49% (95%CI: 25%-73%) for unspecified SRBD, and 11% (95%CI: 5%-21%) for central sleep apnea (CSA). Regarding dementia subtypes, the prevalence of SRBD was 89% (95%CI: 61%-97%) for Alzheimer's dementia, 56% (95%CI: 48%-63%) for Parkinson's and Idiopathic Parkinson's dementia, and 16% (95%CI: 8%-30%) for Huntington's dementia. Significant moderator variables were male, body mass index, larger waist and hip circumference, waist-hip ratio, and comorbidities including hypertension, dyslipidemia, renal disease, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

CONCLUSIONS

There is considerable high prevalence of SRBD among dementia people, with OSA and unspecified SRBD being fivefold higher than CSA. Regarding dementia subtypes, Parkinson's and Idiopathic Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's dementia had four to sixfold increased risk of presenting with SRBD than Huntington's dementia. Therefore, assessment and management of SRBD in Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's and Idiopathic Parkinson's dementia deserves more attention in future research.

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of SlRR genes in response to abiotic stress in tomato

The cytokinin two-component signal transduction system (TCS) is involved in many biological processes, including hormone signal transduction and plant growth regulation. Although cytokinin TCS has been well characterized in Arabidopsis thaliana, its role in tomato remains elusive. In this study, we characterized the diversity and function of response regulator (RR) genes, a critical component of TCS, in tomato. In total, we identified 31 RR genes in the tomato genome. These SlRR genes were classified into three subgroups (type-A, type-B and type-C). Various stress-responsive cis-elements were present in the tomato RR gene promoters. Their expression responses under pesticide treatment were evaluated by transcriptome analysis. Their expression under heat, cold, ABA, salinity and NaHCO₃ treatments was further investigated by qRT-PCR and complemented with the available transcription data under these treatments. Specifically, SlRR13 expression was significantly upregulated under salinity, drought, cold and pesticide stress and was downregulated under ABA treatment. SlRR23 expression was induced under salt treatment, while the transcription level of SlRR1 was increased under cold and decreased under salt stress. We also found that GATA transcription factors played a significant role in the regulation of SlRR genes. Based on our results, tomato SlRR genes are involved in responses to abiotic stress in tomato and could be implemented in molecular breeding approaches to increase resistance of tomato to environmental stresses.

Primary school mobile dental program in New South Wales, Australia: protocol for the evaluation of a state government oral health initiative

BACKGROUND

Socioeconomically disadvantaged children are disproportionately affected by oral disease. Mobile dental services help underserved communities overcome barriers to accessing health care, including time, geography, and trust. The NSW Health Primary School Mobile Dental Program (PSMDP) is designed to provide diagnostic and preventive dental services to children at their schools. The PSMDP is mainly targeted toward high-risk children and priority populations. This study aims to evaluate the program's performance across five local health districts (LHDs) where the program is being implemented.

METHODS

The evaluation will use routinely collected administrative data, along with other program-specific data sources, from the district public oral health services to conduct a statistical analysis that determines the reach and uptake of the program, its effectiveness, and the associated costs and cost-consequences. The PSMDP evaluation program utilises data from Electronic Dental Records (EDRs) and other data sources, including patient demographics, service mix, general health, oral health clinical data and risk factor information. The overall design includes cross-sectional and longitudinal components. The design combines comprehensive output monitoring across the five participating LHDs and investigates the associations between socio-demographic factors, service patterns and health outcomes. Time series analysis using difference-in-difference estimation will be conducted across the four years of the program, involving services, risk factors, and health outcomes. Comparison groups will be identified via propensity matching across the five participating LHDs. An economic analysis will estimate the costs and cost-consequences for children who participate in the program versus the comparison group.

DISCUSSION

The use of EDRs for oral health services evaluation research is a relatively new approach, and the evaluation works within the limitations and strengths of utilising administrative datasets. The study will also provide avenues to improve the quality of data collected and system-level improvements to better enable future services to be aligned with disease prevalence and population needs.

Enhancing gosling growth and secretion of somatotrophic and thyrotrophic axis hormones through egg turning during incubation

1. Growth performance of Yangzhou geese hatched from eggs with turning angles of 50° or 70° was evaluated in association with serum hormones and somatotrophic gene mRNA expression.2. Egg turning at 70° significantly (P< 0.05) increased hatchability, gosling quality and hatching weight. Gosling post-hatch body weight, leg and breast muscle weight in the 70° turning group was significantly heavier until 50 d of age.3. Serum concentrations of GH were significantly higher until 30 d of age in the 70° turning group goslings, and those of IGF-I and T3 were higher from hatching to 50 d of age.4. The mRNA expression of GHRH, pituitary GH, liver and leg muscle IGF-I were all significantly higher at 1 and 30 d of age after hatch, but not at 70 d after hatch, in the 70° turning group.5. Egg turning at 70° during incubation improves embryo and gosling quality and growth performance through up-regulation of gene expression and secretion of somatotrophic axis hormones, GHRH, GH and IGF-I, as well as T3.

Prevalence of oropharyngeal dysphagia and risk of mortality among hospitalized COVID-19 patients: A meta-analysis

Background

Post-extubation and neurologic complications in COVID-19 patients have been shown to cause oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD). We performed the first meta-analysis to explore and estimate the pooled prevalence of OD, risk of mortality, and associated factors among hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Methods

We searched Scopus, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, WHO COVID-19 database, and Web of Science for literature on dysphagia in COVID-19 patients. We used the generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) to determine the prevalence estimates of OD in the R software and the DerSimonian-Lard random-effects model in the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software to explore the risk of mortality and associated factors of OD, presented as odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We used Cochran's Q, τ², and the I² statistic to assess heterogeneity and conducted a moderator analysis to identify moderator variables.

Results

We included eighteen studies with a total of 2055 participants from the 910 studies retrieved from electronic databases. The prevalence of OD among hospitalized COVID-19 patients was estimated at 35% (95% CI = 21-52; low certainty of evidence) associated with a high risk of mortality (OR = 6.41; 95% CI = 1.48-27.7; moderate certainty of evidence). Intubation (OR = 16.3; 95% CI = 7.10-37.3; high certainty of evidence), use of tracheostomies (OR = 8.09; 95% CI = 3.05-21.5; high certainty of evidence), and proning (OR = 4.97; 95% CI = 1.34-18.5; high certainty of evidence) among hospitalized COVID-19 patients were highly associated with developing OD. The prevalence of OD was higher among hospitalized COVID-19 patients who were admitted in intensive care units (ICU), intubated, and mechanically ventilated.

Conclusions

The prevalence of OD among hospitalized COVID-19 patients is estimated at 35% associated with a high risk of mortality. OD assessment among hospitalized COVID-19 patients who are managed in an ICU, prone position, intubated, and mechanical ventilated deserves more attention.

Registration

PROSPERO CRD42022337597.

Accelerated Fatigue Model for Predicting Composite Restoration Failure

An empirical method is proposed to predict the clinical performance of resin composite dental restorations by using laboratory data derived from simple specimens subjected to chemical degradation and accelerated cyclic fatigue. Three resin composites were used to fill dentin disks (2-mm inner diameter, 5-mm outer diameter, and 2 mm thick) made from bovine incisor roots. The specimens (n = 30 per group) were aged with different durations of a low-pH challenge (0, 24, and 48 h under pH 4.5) before being subjected to diametral compression with either a monotonically increasing load (fast fracture) or a cyclic load with a continuously increasing amplitude (accelerated fatigue). The data from 1 material were used to establish the relationship between laboratory time (number of cycles) and clinical time to failure (years) via the respective survival probability curves. The temporal relationship was then used to predict the clinical rates of failure for restorations made of the other 2 materials, and the predictions were compared with the clinical data to assess their accuracy. Although there were significant differences in the fast fracture strength among the groups of materials or durations of chemical challenge, fatigue testing was much better at separating the groups. Linear relationships were found between the laboratory and clinical times to failure for the first material (R2 = 0.90, 0.90, and 0.62 for the 0-, 24-, and 48-h low-pH groups, respectively). The clinical life of restorations made of the other 2 materials was best predicted with data from the 48-h low-pH groups. In conclusion, an accelerated fatigue model was successfully calibrated and applied to predict the clinical failure of resin composite restorations, and the predictions based on data obtained from chemically aged specimens provided the best agreement with clinical data.