Search

Qianfeng Liu,* Kangbi Wu, Xiaofang Lin, Kali Xiang,* Jing Wang* Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Central Hospital of Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Enshi City, Hubei, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Kali Xiang; Jing Wang, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Central Hospital of Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, No. 158 Wuyang Avenue, Enshi City, Hubei, 445000, People’s Republic of China, Email xkl18963926688@163.com; 366413620@qq.comBackGround: Considerable studies have demonstrated a significant association between red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and clinical adverse events in cardiovascular or respiratory diseases, infections, and pulmonary embolism. However, there are limited data on prognostic predictions for patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods: This study conducted a retrospective cohort analysis using data gathered from patients who diagnosed with COPD in the respiratory department of The Central hospital of Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture between 2018 and 2021. Specifically, the RDW was recorded on their first admission. Multivariate logistic regression analysis were employed to examine the correlation between RDW and deterioration of COPD within one-year period.Results: The cohort of 1799 patients in the study comprised 74.7% male and had an average age of 68.9 ± 9.9 years. The fully adjusted model revealed that, the RDW-middle group (≤ 13.7,> 12.8; OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.0– 2.3, p=0.055) and the RDW-high group (> 13.7; OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1– 2.6, p=0.013) had a 50% and 70% increased risk of deterioration within 1 year, respectively, in comparison with the RDW-low group (≤ 12.8). Subgroup analysis indicated that this trend was more significant in patients with hypertension (p for interaction = 0.016), and the probability of deterioration within 1 year in the RDW-high group was 3.3 times higher compared to the RDW-low group (OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.4– 7.9, p=0.008).Conclusion: A significant association was observed between the increase in RDW and the heightened risk of deterioration within a year in patients diagnosed with COPD. Most importantly, our findings suggested the importance of RDW in enhancing the risk stratification and prevention of deterioration of COPD.Keywords: red blood cell distribution width, COPD, prognosis, deterioration, risk stratification

Junhai Zhen,1 Chuan Liu,2 Jixiang Zhang,2 Fei Liao,2 Huabing Xie,1 Cheng Tan,2 Ping An,2 Zhongchun Liu,3 Changqing Jiang,4 Jie Shi,5 Kaichun Wu,6 Weiguo Dong2 1Department of General Practice, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430060, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430060, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Clinical Psychology, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100088, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Medical Psychology, Chinese People’s Liberation Army Rocket Army Characteristic Medical Center, Beijing, 100032, People’s Republic of China; 6Department of Gastroenterology, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, 710032, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Kaichun Wu, Department of Gastroenterology, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, 710032, People’s Republic of China, Tel/Fax +8629-84771600, Email kaicwu@fmmu.edu.cn Weiguo Dong, Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 99 Zhangzhidong Road, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430060, People’s Republic of China, Tel/Fax +8627-88041911, Email dongweiguo@whu.edu.cnPurpose: Impaired quality of life (QOL) is common in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A tool to more quickly identify IBD patients at high risk of impaired QOL improves opportunities for earlier intervention and improves long-term prognosis. The purpose of this study was to use a machine learning (ML) approach to develop risk stratification models for evaluating IBD-related QOL impairments.Patients and Methods: An online questionnaire was used to collect clinical data on 2478 IBD patients from 42 hospitals distributed across 22 provinces in China from September 2021 to May 2022. Eight ML models used to predict the risk of IBD-related QOL impairments were developed and validated. Model performance was evaluated using a set of indexes and the best ML model was explained using a Local Interpretable Model-Agnostic Explanations (LIME) algorithm.Results: The support vector machine (SVM) classifier algorithm-based model outperformed other ML models with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and an accuracy of 0.80 and 0.71, respectively. The feature importance calculated by the SVM classifier algorithm revealed that glucocorticoid use, anxiety, abdominal pain, sleep disorders, and more severe disease contributed to a higher risk of impaired QOL, while longer disease course and the use of biological agents and immunosuppressants were associated with a lower risk.Conclusion: An ML approach for assessing IBD-related QOL impairments is feasible and effective. This mechanism is a promising tool for gastroenterologists to identify IBD patients at high risk of impaired QOL.Keywords: clinical research, artificial intelligence, model development, clinical decision support system

Qiming Gan,1,* Quanzhen Liu,1,2,* Yanjuan Wu,1,* Xiaofeng Zhu,1,2 Jingcun Wang,1 Xiaofen Su,1 Dongxing Zhao,1 Nuofu Zhang,1 Kang Wu1 1State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, National Center for Respiratory Disease, Department of Sleep Medicine Center, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510160, People’s Republic of China; 2Nanshan School, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 511436, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Kang Wu; Nuofu Zhang, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Sleep Medicine Center, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, No. 28 Qiaozhong Mid Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510160, People’s Republic of China, Email d102_wk@126.com; nfzhanggird@163.comPurpose: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) had been associated with asthma in observational studies, but the effect of OSA on the onset of asthma in childhood or adulthood remains unclear, and the causal inferences have not been confirmed. This study aims to investigate the potential causal association between OSA with asthma, including different age-of-onset subtypes, providing reliable basis for the clinical treatment of OSA and asthma.Patients and Methods: Causality between OSA and asthma was assessed using a two-sample bi-directional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. OSA data were obtained from the FinnGen consortium R9, while asthma and its subtypes (adult-onset asthma, child-onset asthma, and moderate-to-severe asthma) were sourced from the IEU OpenGWAS project. The inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method was chosen as the primary analysis and was complemented by various sensitivity analyses. The MR-PRESSO outlier test was employed to systematically identify and remove outlier variants, mitigating heterogeneity and potential effects of horizontal pleiotropy.Results: The MR analyses provided evidence of genetically predicted OSA having a promoting effect on child-onset asthma (OR,1.49; 95% CI, 1.05– 2.11; P=0.025) and moderate-to-severe asthma (OR,1.03; 95% CI, 1.00– 1.06; P=0.046). However, no causal association between OSA with asthma and adult-onset asthma was observed.Conclusion: Our study revealed a causal association between OSA and child asthma, but not in adults. Moderate-to-severe asthma may have a potential promoting effect on OSA. These findings underscore the importance of age-specific considerations in managing asthma and suggests the need for personalized approaches in clinical practice.Keywords: asthma, obstructive sleep apnea, Mendelian randomization, genetic

Shulin Wei,1,2,* Mingxing Li,1,2,* Qin Wang,1,2,* Yueshui Zhao,1,2 Fukuan Du,1,2 Yu Chen,1,2 Shuai Deng,1,2 Jing Shen,1,2 Ke Wu,1,2 Jiayue Yang,1,2 Yuhong Sun,1 Li Gu,1 Xiaobing Li,1 Wanping Li,1 Meijuan Chen,1 Xiao Ling,3 Lei Yu,3 Zhangang Xiao,1,2 Lishu Dong,3 Xu Wu1,2 1Cell Therapy & Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646100, People’s Republic of China; 2South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646100, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Obstetrics, Luzhou Maternal & Child Health Hospital (Luzhou Second People’s Hospital), Luzhou, Sichuan, 646100, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Lishu Dong, Department of Obstetrics, Luzhou Maternal & Child Health Hospital (Luzhou Second People’s Hospital), Luzhou, Sichuan, 646100, People’s Republic of China, Email 1275607519@qq.com Xu Wu, Cell Therapy & Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646100, People’s Republic of China, Email wuxulz@126.comAbstract: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract, which has a high recurrence rate and is incurable due to a lack of effective treatment. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are a class of pluripotent stem cells that have recently received a lot of attention due to their strong self-renewal ability and immunomodulatory effects, and a large number of experimental and clinical models have confirmed the positive therapeutic effect of MSCs on IBD. In preclinical studies, MSC treatment for IBD relies on MSCs paracrine effects, cell-to-cell contact, and its mediated mitochondrial transfer for immune regulation. It also plays a therapeutic role in restoring the intestinal mucosal barrier through the homing effect, regulation of the intestinal microbiome, and repair of intestinal epithelial cells. In the latest clinical trials, the safety and efficacy of MSCs in the treatment of IBD have been confirmed by transfusion of autologous or allogeneic bone marrow, umbilical cord, and adipose MSCs, as well as their derived extracellular vesicles. However, regarding the stable and effective clinical use of MSCs, several concerns emerge, including the cell sources, clinical management (dose, route and frequency of administration, and pretreatment of MSCs) and adverse reactions. This article comprehensively summarizes the effects and mechanisms of MSCs in the treatment of IBD and its advantages over conventional drugs, as well as the latest clinical trial progress of MSCs in the treatment of IBD. The current challenges and future directions are also discussed. This review would add knowledge into the understanding of IBD treatment by applying MSCs.Keywords: mesenchymal stem cells, immunomodulation, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, cell therapy

Jing-Chun Xia,1,2,* Yu-Cheng Huang,1,2,* Ke Wu,1,2 Jian Pang,1,2 Ying Shi1,2 1Shi’s Center of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 2Institute of Traumatology & Orthopedics, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Jian Pang; Ying Shi, Email pangjian@shutcm.edu.cn; shiying1974@126.comPurpose: Chinese herbal medicine and electroacupuncture (EA) have been used to control pain for many decades in China. We aim to explore the efficacy of intervening patients whose discogenic sciatica symptoms lasting longer than 3 months with these conservative treatments.Patients and Methods: This is a single-center, parallel-group, patient-unblinded Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) with blinded outcome assessment and statistician. One hundred and twenty-four patients will be assigned randomly into 2 groups including conservative treatment group (Shenxie Zhitong capsule combined with EA treatment) and Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs, NSAIDs) control group (Celecoxib) in a 1:1 ratio. The trial involves a 4-week treatment along with follow-up for 6 months. The primary outcome is the leg pain intensity measured by the visual analogue scale (VAS) at 6 months after randomization. Secondary outcomes include leg pain intensity at other time points, back pain intensity, leg pain and back pain frequency, functional status, quality of life, return to work status and satisfaction of patients. Adverse events will also be recorded.Strengths and Limitations of This Study: Through this study, we want to observe the efficacy of electroacupuncture combined with Chinese herbal medicine on pain intensity for chronic sciatica secondary to Lumbar Disc Herniation. If the final results are favorable, it is expected to be a safe, economical, and effective treatment for patients. The study design has the following limitations: the setup of control group was less than perfect; patients and doctors could not be blinded in this trial; we skipped the feasibility study. We have tried our best to minimize adverse impacts.Trial Registration: ChiCTR2300070884 (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, http://www.chictr.org.cn, registered on 25th April 2023).Keywords: sciatica of lumbar disc herniation, shenxie zhitong capsule, electroacupuncture treatment, celecoxib, single-center randomized controlled trial, protocol

Kangze Wu, Feizhuan Lin Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Shaoxing People’s Hospital, Shaoxing, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Feizhuan Lin, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Shaoxing People’s Hospital, Shaoxing, People’s Republic of China, Email linfeizhuan@163.comAbstract: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) stands as a severe malignant tumor with a profound impact on overall health, often accompanied by an unfavorable prognosis. Despite some advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease, improving the prognosis of HCC remains a formidable challenge. It is noteworthy that lipid metabolism plays a pivotal role in the onset, development, and progression of tumor cells. Existing research indicates the potential application of targeting lipid metabolism in the treatment of HCC. This review aims to thoroughly explore the alterations in lipid metabolism in HCC, offering a detailed account of the potential advantages associated with innovative therapeutic strategies targeting lipid metabolism. Targeting lipid metabolism holds promise for potentially enhancing the prognosis of HCC.Keywords: cholesterol, fatty acid, hepatocellular carcinoma, lipid uptake, lipid catabolism, lipid synthesis

Enyi Zhu,1,2,* Ming Zhong,3,* Tiantian Liang,4,* Yu Liu,3,* Keping Wu,1,2 Zhijuan Zhang,1,2 Shuping Zhao,1,2 Hui Guan,5 Jiasi Chen,6 Li-Zhen Zhang,7 Yimin Zhang1,2 1The Division of Nephrology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510000, People’s Republic of China; 2Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510000, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Nephrology, Center of Kidney and Urology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 517108, People’s Republic of China; 4Nephrology Division, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510630, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450000, People’s Republic of China; 6Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510030, People’s Republic of China; 7Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Yimin Zhang, The Division of Nephrology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China, Email zhangyim@mail.sysu.edu.cn Li-Zhen Zhang, Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China, Email zhanglzh3@mail2.sysu.edu.cnObjective: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) represents the principal cause of end-stage renal diseases worldwide, lacking effective therapies. Fatty acid (FA) serves as the primary energy source in the kidney and its dysregulation is frequently observed in DN. Nevertheless, the roles of FA metabolism in the occurrence and progression of DN have not been fully elucidated.Methods: Three DN datasets (GSE96804/GSE30528/GSE104948) were obtained and combined. Differentially expressed FA metabolism-related genes were identified and subjected to DN classification using “ConsensusClusterPlus”. DN subtypes-associated modules were discovered by “WGCNA”, and module genes underwent functional enrichment analysis. The immune landscapes and potential drugs were analyzed using “CIBERSORT” and “CMAP”, respectively. Candidate diagnostic biomarkers of DN were screened using machine learning algorithms. A prediction model was constructed, and the performance was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA). The online tool “Nephroseq v5” was conducted to reveal the clinical significance of the candidate diagnostic biomarkers in patients with DN. A DN mouse model was established to verify the biomarkers’ expression.Results: According to 39 dysregulated FA metabolism-related genes, DN samples were divided into two molecular subtypes. Patients in Cluster B exhibited worse outcomes with a different immune landscape compared with those in Cluster A. Ten potential small-molecular drugs were predicted to treat DN in Cluster B. The diagnostic model based on PRKAR2B/ANXA1 was created with ideal predictive values in early and advanced stages of DN. The correlation analysis revealed significant association between PRKAR2B/ANXA1 and clinical characteristics. The DN mouse model validated the expression patterns of PRKAR2B/ANXA1.Conclusion: Our study provides new insights into the role of FA metabolism in the classification, immunological pathogenesis, early diagnosis, and precise therapy of DN.Keywords: diabetic nephropathy, fatty acid metabolism, molecular subtypes, immune landscape, pharmacotherapy, diagnostic model

Wei W, Mo X, Yan L, et al. Cancer Manag Res. 2020;12:15–30. We, the Editor and Publisher of the journal Cancer Management and Research have retracted the published article. Following publication, concerns were raised regarding the use of non-verifiable cell lines described in the article. The concerns related specifically to the use of cell lines which were found to be either contaminated, wrongly identified, improperly indexed, unavailable through external cell line repositories, and/or lacking publications describing their establishment. Overall, these concerns raised doubts about the validity of the findings described in the article. The corresponding author did not respond to our queries and was unable to provide information relating to the use of these cell lines or provide original data relating to the study. As verifying the validity of published work is core to the integrity of the scholarly record, the Publisher and Editor requested to retract the article and the corresponding author was notified of this decision. We have been informed in our decision-making by our editorial policies and COPE guidelines. The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as “Retracted”.

Despite high hepatitis B (HBV) prevalence among people of Vietnamese ethnicity in Australia and elsewhere, there is limited research on levels of HBV knowledge and factors associated with such knowledge. The aim of this study was to examine HBV knowledge and associated demographic and attitudinal factors among people of Vietnamese ethnicity in Australia. People of Vietnamese ethnicity (n = 966) were recruited through community events and social media groups to complete online surveys measuring HBV knowledge, attitudes towards HBV, levels of mistrust in Western medicine, and demographic characteristics. Findings of this study indicate that levels of knowledge are mixed, with gaps in knowledge related to transmission and treatment of the virus. Those with greater knowledge of HBV tended to be older, have higher levels of formal education, have been tested for HBV, and know someone living with HBV. Those with lower levels of knowledge tended to have more negative attitudes towards the virus and greater levels of mistrust in Western medicine. Given that health literacy is connected to effective communication from health providers, we suggest that there is a need for the development of health promotion and education resources targeted at people of Vietnamese ethnicity and translated into Vietnamese. We propose that such resources be developed in consultation with Vietnamese communities and health providers to ensure that they are culturally appropriate and sensitive to people of Vietnamese ethnicity living in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ruthenium nanoparticles stabilised by an amine‐modified Ordered Mesoporous Silica Immobilized Ionic Liquid (OMSIIL) are efficient catalysts for the partial reduction of nitrobenzene to hydrazobenzene with 100 % selectivity as well as the complete reduction to aniline. High selectivity for the partial reduction of nitrobenzene to hydrazobenzene was obtained when the reaction was conducted in ethanol with 0.5 mol% catalyst and NaBH4 as the hydrogen donor whereas aniline was obtained as the sole product in water when dimethylamine borane (DMAB) was used as the hydrogen donor. Interestingly, while a range of electron poor nitroarenes were reduced to the corresponding hydrazoarene with high selectivities and good conversions, nitroarenes substituted with electron donating groups resulted in complete reduction to the aniline. Composition‐time profiles suggest that reductions conducted in ethanol with sodium borohydride occur via the condensation pathway while those conducted in water using dimethylamine borane as the hydrogen source may well go via the direct pathway. This is the first example of the selective reduction of nitrobenzene to hydrazobenzene using a ruthenium nanoparticle‐based catalyst and the initial TOF of 320 mol nitrobenzene converted mol Ru−1 h−1 for the partial reduction of nitrobenzene to hydrazobenzene is markedly higher than previous literature reports. A study of the catalyst performance as a function of the surface modification revealed that each component has a direct and dramatic effect on the efficacy as RuNPs stabilised by COK‐12 modified with imidazolium‐based ionic liquid and a primary amine gave the highest conversion while selective removal of either component or replacement of the primary amine with a tertiary amine resulted in a marked reduction in efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the perforating characteristics of Zr-based bulk metallic glass fragments against thin steel target, ballistic experiments were carried out to measure ballistic the limit velocities of fragments perforating against different thicknesses of targets. The fragments were driven by a 57 mm one-stage light gas gun to impact the thin steel target. The numerical model of Zr-based bulk metallic glass fragments perforating against thin steel target was established using Autodyn2D commercial software, and the perforating process and perforating mechanism were analyzed by numerical simulation. The semi-empirical model to predict the ballistic limit velocity was fitted. An energy model for calculating the residual velocity of a fragment was derived based on the conservation of energy. The theoretical results of the semi-empirical model and the energy model are in good agreement with experiment results and simulation results. And the energy model has good applicability without fitting the parameters for different target thicknesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have investigated space and astrophysical phenomena in nonrelativistic laboratory plasmas with long high-power lasers, such as collisionless shocks and magnetic reconnections, and have been exploring relativistic regimes with intense short pulse lasers, such as energetic ion acceleration using large-area suspended graphene. Increasing the intensity and repetition rate of the intense lasers, we have to handle large amounts of data from the experiments as well as the control parameters of laser beamlines. Artificial intelligence (AI) such as machine learning and neural networks may play essential roles in optimizing the laser and target conditions for efficient laser ion acceleration. Implementing AI into the laser system in mind, as the first step, we are introducing machine learning in ion etch pit analyses detected on plastic nuclear track detectors. Convolutional neural networks allow us to analyze big ion etch pit data with high precision and recall. We introduce one of the applications of laser-driven ion beams using AI to reconstruct vector electric and magnetic fields in laser-produced turbulent plasmas in three dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has shown that there are significant gaps in hepatitis B knowledge among migrant communities who are at risk of hepatitis B, such as Chinese and Vietnamese communities. Many students studying within Australia come from countries with high prevalence of hepatitis B. However, there is very little research examining hepatitis B knowledge, screening, or vaccination among university students in Australia or worldwide. The aim of this paper was to measure both levels of and demographic differences in hepatitis B screening and knowledge among Chinese and Vietnamese students in Australia. Online surveys were completed by 112 Chinese- and 95 Vietnamese-identifying students in Australia, measuring knowledge of hepatitis B, engagement in screening and vaccination, and demographic characteristics. Results show that although engagement in screening and vaccination for hepatitis B was high, there were significant gaps in knowledge around transmission of hepatitis B. There were also some key demographic differences in screening and knowledge. For instance, those born in Australia were more likely to have been screened compared to those born Mainland China, Hong Kong, or Vietnam. Chinese students born in Australia had lower levels of knowledge compared to those born in Mainland China or Hong Kong. Among both samples, knowing someone living with hepatitis B was associated with higher levels of knowledge. Findings underscore the need for education-based interventions to address the significant gaps that exist in knowledge around hepatitis B, with a specific need for culturally appropriate resources in a range of languages to cater to the diverse communities who may be at risk of hepatitis B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new spectral conjugate subgradient method is presented to solve nonsmooth unconstrained optimization problems. The method combines the spectral conjugate gradient method for smooth problems with the spectral subgradient method for nonsmooth problems. We study the effect of two different choices of line search, as well as three formulas for determining the conjugate directions. In addition to numerical experiments with standard nonsmooth test problems, we also apply the method to several image reconstruction problems in computed tomography, using total variation regularization. Performance profiles are used to compare the performance of the algorithm using different line search strategies and conjugate directions to that of the original spectral subgradient method. Our results show that the spectral conjugate subgradient algorithm outperforms the original spectral subgradient method, and that the use of the Polak–Ribière formula for conjugate directions provides the best and most robust performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The standard treatment for patients with large or symptomatic brain metastases and limited intracranial disease is surgical resection followed by post-operative (post-op) stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). However, SRS can lead to elevated rates of radiation necrosis (RN), meningeal disease (MD), and local failure (LF). Fractionated treatments can deliver a higher biological effective dose and may reduce the risk of LF, and pre-operative (pre-op) treatments may reduce the risk of RN and MD through treating smaller volumes and tumor sterilization. We hypothesize that pre-op fractionated stereotactic radiation therapy (FSRT) will reduce the incidence rate of RN, MD, and LF when compared to patients who receive post-op FSRT. A retrospective analysis was performed at a single institution and included patients who had surgical resection and radiation to at least one brain metastasis. Patients who received pre-op or post-op radiation were eligible for inclusion. Patients with multiple metastases resected, either during the same surgery or at different times in the disease course, were eligible for inclusion. All included patients received FSRT. Outcomes were evaluated on a per-lesion basis. Relevant demographic, clinical, radiation, surgical, and follow up data were collected for each patient. The primary outcome was a composite endpoint defined by 1) LF, 2) MD, and/or 3) Grade 2 or higher (symptomatic) RN. 458 patients with 534 resected brain metastases were eligible for analysis. The median follow up was 11 months. 235 metastases received pre-op FSRT, and 299 metastases received post-op FSRT. Overall, 15% of patients had multiple brain metastases resected. The most common metastasis locations were frontal (33%), parietal (22%), and cerebellar (19%) with no significant differences between groups. The median planning target volumes were 16 ccs and 36ccs for pre-op and post-op FSRT, respectively (p <0.001). Overall, 6 (2.6%) pre-op and 13 (4.3%) post-op patients experienced LF. 21 (8.9%) pre-op and 38 (12.7%) post-op patients experienced symptomatic RN. 11 (4.7%) pre-op and 29 (9.7%) post-op patients were diagnosed with MD (p=0.031). Overall, 14% of metastases that received pre-op FSRT experienced the composite endpoint, and 24% of metastases receiving post-op FSRT experienced the composite endpoint (p=0.005). In our study, pre-op FSRT compares favorably to post-op FSRT primarily due to a 50% reduction in the incidence of MD. Differences in symptomatic RN or LF were small on adjusted analyses. Prospective validation of pre-op FSRT is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knee Osteoarthritis (OA knee) is a common degenerative disease particularly affecting the elderly population, resulting in limited mobility and impaired overall quality of life. Studies have shown that the pathogenesis of OA involves various factors, including inflammation, metabolic disorders, and mechanical forces. Moreover, synovial fluid in OA contains proinflammatory factors, leading to collagen damage and cartilage degradation. Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) exhibit not only low immunogenicity characteristics but also participate in tissue repair and the restoration of biological functions by secreting secretomes, which result in the promotion of angiogenesis, immune modulation, and cell proliferation. This study aims to assess the therapeutic effects and potency of the allogeneic ADSC product ELIXCYTE® through an OA knee animal model. The OA knee animal model conducted on rats and rabbits, evaluated whether ELIXCYTE® improves knee activity. The potency analysis of ELIXCYTE® not only elucidates the anti-inflammatory mechanism but also identifies compelling biomarkers associated with efficacy, presenting new avenues for potential OA treatment. This study established OA animal models using both methods. In rat animal model, OA knee was induced using the Monosodium Iodoacetate (MIA), followed by an analysis of rat pain score, joint structure, and biomarkers. The injection of ELIXCYTE® led to a significant decrease in the knee pain, OARSI score, and an increase in type II collagen expression, along with decreased CD68 and MMP13 expression. The hematological analysis detected a reduction in the OA biomarker CTXII following ELIXCYTE® injection, suggesting that ELIXCYTE® can alleviate local inflammatory responses and protect cartilage integrity. Additionally, the anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) animal model confirmed that the injection of ELIXCYTE® effectively increased type II collagen and reduced proinflammatory factors IL1β and TNFα. Significant improvements were also observed in MRI, histological, and ICRS scoring. Moreover, ELIXCYTE® expressed indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO) in an inflammatory environment to inhibit T cell proliferation, with a positive correlation between IDO expression and T cell suppression. Also, coculturing ELIXCYTE® with naive macrophages reduced M1 polarization. In summary, ELIXCYTE® can improve the joint activity by modulating inflammatory responses and alleviating pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]