Search

Auto-thermal reforming (ATR) of acetic acid (HAc) offers a feasible, carbon-neutral way to produce hydrogen, and Ni-based catalysts were found effective in ATR, while catalytic deactivation by sintering and carbon deposition needs to be addressed. Therefore, novel Mn-doped NiTiO3 catalysts were prepared by evaporation induced self-assembly method and tested in ATR; characterizations were used to explore the internal catalytic relationship between the carrier and active metals. The experimental results indicated the NiTiO3 catalyst doped with 10 wt.% of MnO exhibited the highest activity and enhanced stability: the conversion of HAc was stable at 100% and the yield of hydrogen was recorded near 2.5 mol-H2/mol-HAc. The characterization results showed that the NiTiO3 catalyst presented the highest specific surface area at 7.5 m2/g. After reduction and activation, NiTiO3 was transformed into Ni0, while Mn replaced Ni in NiTiO3 and formed a stable phase of MnTiO3 perovskite, which presented confinement effect on Ni0, preventing migration of Ni0 at high temperature with a relatively stable particle size within 41.6-44.5nm. These MnTiO3-supported nickel species effectively promoted the conversion of intermediate products such as CH3CO*, inhibited carbon deposition and improved hydrogen selectivity, showing application potential for hydrogen production via ATR of HAc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The x%Ni/Sm2O3-MnO (x = 0, 10, 15, 20) catalysts derived from SmMn2O5 mullite were prepared by solution combustion and impregnation method; auto-thermal reforming (ATR) of acetic acid (HAc) for hydrogen production was used to explore the metal-support effect induced by Ni loadings on the catalytic reforming activity and product distribution. The 15%Ni/Sm2O3-MnO catalyst exhibited optimal catalytic performance, which can be due to the appropriate Ni loading inducing a strong metal–support interaction to form a stable Ni/Sm2O3-MnO active center, while side reactions, such as methanation and ketonization, were well suppressed. According to characterizations, Sm2O3-MnO mixed oxides derived from SmMn2O5 mullite were formed with oxygen vacancies; nevertheless, loading of Ni metal further promoted the formation of oxygen vacancies, thus enhancing adsorption and activation of oxygen-containing intermediate species and resulting in higher reactivity with HAc conversion near 100% and hydrogen yield at 2.62 mol-H2/mol-HAc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen, as a promising energy carrier, can be extracted from renewable biomass derived acetic acid (HAc). Ni-based catalysts supported on solid solution of Sm2−xPrxO3±δ were prepared using a coprecipitation method and evaluated in auto-thermal reforming (ATR) of HAc for hydrogen production. The results revealed that Pr species infiltrated the Sm2O3 lattice and formed a solid solution structure with oxygen vacancy defects, in which the redox process of Sm3+ + Pr3+ Sm2+ + Pr4+ enhanced oxygen mobility, facilitating gasification of the coking precursor and suppressing carbon deposition. DFT analysis also confirmed that Pr doping into the Sm2−xPrxO3±δ solid solution significantly lowered the energy barrier by 112 kJ mol−1 for formation of oxygen vacancies. Additionally, the interaction between Ni0 and Sm2−xPrxO3±δ effectively improved the dispersion of Ni0 metal particles, inhibiting sintering of Ni species. Consequently, the NSP10 catalyst (Ni0.80Sm1.72Pr0.24O3.74±δ) exhibited outstanding catalytic performance for hydrogen production: the conversion of HAc approached 100%, while the hydrogen yield remained stable at 2.75 mol-H2/mol-HAc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mild photothermal therapy (mPTT) has emerged as a highly promising approach for tumor ablation. However, the heat‐induced overexpression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) limits its efficacy by increasing cellular temperature tolerance. Herein, a self‐catalytically enhanced mild PTT strategy that directly disrupts the structure of HSPs to restore tumor cell sensitivity is proposed. In the proof‐of‐concept study, AgFeCu nanoparticles (AgFeCu NPs) with dual‐active catalytic centers (Fe‐Cu) and near‐infrared photothermal properties are developed. The AgFeCu NPs can efficiently catalyze the conversion of endogenous hydrogen peroxide into hydroxyl radicals in situ, leading to the degradation of HSPs and enhancing the therapeutic effects of mild PTT mediated by their Ag‐based substrates. Furthermore, AgFeCu NPs can also induce oxidative stress by depleting intracellular glutathione and promoting lipid peroxidation, thereby triggering tumor ferroptosis and resulting in significant tumor elimination in a U87MG murine tumor model. This self‐catalytically enhanced strategy maximizes the efficacy of mild PTT while minimizing damage to healthy tissues, which is expected to provide valuable insights for the development of next‐generation photothermal nanoagents for improved tumor therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To obtain high yields of hydrogen, a series of ZrxPr1–xOy‐supported cobalt catalysts were synthesized by the sol‐gel method and tested in autothermal reforming (ATR) of acetic acid (HAc) derived from bio‐oil. X‐ray diffraction, nitrogen physisorption, H2‐temperature‐programmed reduction, and thermogravimetric analysis were conducted to investigate the factors affecting the activities of the catalysts. Over the Co‐Zr‐Pr‐O catalyst, a ZrxPr1–xOy solid solution was formed after calcination; meanwhile, the active component of Co0 was highly dispersed over the solid solution after reduction in hydrogen for 1 h at 700 °C. As a result, stable reactivity was recorded in the ATR process of HAc: the hydrogen yield reached 2.58 molH2molHAc-1 with near 100 % HAc conversion, while better resistance to coking was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: No accurate predictive models were identified for hormonal prognosis in non-functioning pituitary adenoma (NFPA). This study aimed to develop machine learning (ML) models to facilitate the prognostic assessment of pituitary hormonal outcomes after surgery. Methods: A total of 215 male patients with NFPA, who underwent surgery in four medical centers from 2015 to 2021, were retrospectively reviewed. The data were pooled after heterogeneity assessment, and they were randomly divided into training and testing sets (172:43). Six ML models and logistic regression models were developed using six anterior pituitary hormones. Results: Only thyroid-stimulating hormone (p < 0.001), follicle-stimulating hormone (p < 0.001), and prolactin (PRL; p < 0.001) decreased significantly following surgery, whereas growth hormone (GH) (p < 0.001) increased significantly. The postoperative GH (p = 0.07) levels were slightly higher in patients with gross total resection, but the PRL (p = 0.03) level was significantly lower than that in patients with subtotal resection. The optimal model achieved area-under-the-receiver-operating-characteristic-curve values of 0.82, 0.74, and 0.85 in predicting hormonal hypofunction, new deficiency, and hormonal recovery following surgery, respectively. According to feature importance analyses, the preoperative levels of the same type and other hormones were all important in predicting postoperative individual hormonal hypofunction. Conclusion: Fluctuation in anterior pituitary hormones varies with increases and decreases because of transsphenoidal surgery. The ML models could accurately predict postoperative pituitary outcomes based on preoperative anterior pituitary hormones in NFPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meningioma (MEN) is a common central nervous system disease. Accumulating evidence indicated that long non-coding RNA maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) participated in the progression of MEN. However, the potential mechanisms of MEG3 in altering the aggressive phenotypes of MEN need further exploration. Levels of MEG3, microRNA (miR)-29c, and A-kinase anchor protein 12 (AKAP12) were determined using quantitative real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) assay. Dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays were performed to verify the relationship between miR-29c and MEG3 or AKAP12. The protein level of AKAP12 was detected by western blot. Moreover, cell-cycle arrest, migration, invasion, and proliferation were assessed by flow cytometry, wound healing, transwell assays, and CCK-8 assay, respectively. Levels of MEG3 and AKAP12 were downregulated, while miR-29c was effectively increased in MEN tissues and cell line. Mechanically, MEG3 was a sponge of miR-29c to regulate the expression of AKAP12. Functionally, increase of MEG3 diminished cell-cycle, migration, invasion, and proliferation in MEN cells, and reintroduction of miR-29c could eliminate these effects. In addition, AKAP12 depletion overturned the inhibitory effects of miR-29c absence on cell-cycle, migration, invasion, and proliferation in vitro. Also, AKAP12 was co-regulated by MEG3/miR-29c axis. MEG3 mediated the aggressive behaviors of MEN cells via miR-29c/AKAP12 axis, supporting that MEG3 served as a promising biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of human MEN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the correlation and clinical significance of preoperative fibrinogen and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (F-NLR) scoring system with 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with atypical meningioma. Materials and Methods: Clinical, pathological, radiological, and laboratory variables were collected to analyze their correlation with 3-year PFS in the training set with 163 patients. Patients were classified by different F-NLR scores (0, 1, or 2). External validation for the predictive value of F-NLR scoring system was performed in the validation set with 105 patients. Results: Overall, 37.3% (100 of 268) of the enrolled patients were male. The scoring system showed good performance in predicting 3-year PFS (AUC = 0.872, 95%CI = 0.811–0.919, sensitivity = 66.1%, specificity = 93.3%, and Youden index = 0.594). DeLong's test indicated that the AUC of F-NLR scoring system was significantly greater than that of fibrinogen level and NLR (Z = 2.929, P = 0.003; Z = 3.376, P < 0.001). Multivariate Cox analysis revealed that tumor size (HR = 1.39, 95%CI = 1.10–1.76, P = 0.007), tumor location (HR = 3.11, 95%CI = 1.60–6.95, P = 0.001), and F-NLR score (score of 1: HR = 12.78, 95%CI = 3.78–43.08, P < 0.001; score of 2: HR = 44.58, 95%CI = 13.02–152.65, P < 0.001) remained significantly associated with 3-year PFS. The good predictive performance of F-NLR scoring system was also demonstrated in the validation set (AUC = 0.824, 95%CI = 0.738–0.891, sensitivity = 62.5%, specificity = 87.9%, and Youden index = 0.504). Conclusion: Our study confirmed the correlation and clinical significance of preoperative F-NLR scoring system with 3-year PFS of patients with atypical meningioma. A prospective and large-scale study is required to validate our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies investigating the change in distance between the bilateral internal carotid arteries (ICAs) in acromegalic patients have provided ambiguous results. The influencing factors of these changes have not been well-identified. Objective: To further investigate the change in distance between bilateral ICAs in acromegaly patients and identify the influencing factors of the change. Method: Patients diagnosed as acromegaly from Jan 2016 to Sep 2019 in the Department of Neurosurgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, were included in this study. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) data were obtained for all patients for three-dimensional reconstruction of the ICAs. Distance between bilateral ICAs was measured and recorded for assessment. Result: 172 patients including 86 cases with acromegaly in the study group and 86 cases with non-functional pituitary adenoma in the control group were enrolled in this study. The difference of adenoma sizes between two groups was not statistically significant. Patients in acromegaly group had significantly larger maximum distances between bilateral siphon carotid ectasias (25.5 ± 4.1 vs. 23.4 ± 3.5 mm, P = 0.001) and between bilateral lacerum segments (26.2 ± 3.2 vs. 24.1 ± 4.3 mm, P < 0.001) compared with those of patients with non-functional pituitary adenomas. Multivariate analysis showed that the increased bilateral ICAs distance was associated with disease duration (odds ratio = 1.01, 95% confidence interval = 1.01–1.02, P = 0.005) and refractory pituitary adenoma (odds ratio = 9.8, 95% confidence interval = 1.1–88.7, P = 0.043) but not with level of growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and adenoma size in acromegaly. Conclusion: Our study showed significant change in distance between the bilateral ICAs in acromegalic patients, comparing to patients with non-functional pituitary adenomas. The increased intercarotid artery distance is associated with disease duration but not with preoperative level of GH and IGF-1. Refractory pituitary adenoma and longer disease duration are the both risk factors of the increased ICAs distance in patient with acromegly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of chemotherapy resistance remains a major obstacle for glioma management. Exosome-mediated transfer of circular RNAs (circRNAs) are being found to have relevance to many human cancers, including glioma. The purpose of this study is to explore the effect and underlying mechanism of exosomal circRNA nuclear factor I X (CircNFIX) on temozolomide (TMZ) chemoresistance in glioma. Our results indicated that exosomal CircNFIX was up-regulated in the serum of TMZ-resistant patients and predicted poor prognosis. Exosomal CircNFIX from TMZ-resistant cells conferred TMZ resistance to recipient sensitive cells through the enhancement of cell migration and invasion and the repression of cell apoptosis under TMZ exposure. CircNFIX directly interacted with miR-132 by binding to miR-132. CircNFIX knockdown enhanced TMZ sensitivity in resistant glioma cells by up-regulating miR-132. Additionally, exosomal CircNFIX promoted tumor growth and its depletion enhanced TMZ sensitivity in glioma cells in vivo. Taken together, our study suggests that exosome-mediated transfer of CircNFIX enhances TMZ resistance in glioma at least partially through sponging miR-132, highlighting a potentially prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for improving the clinical benefits of TMZ treatment in patients with glioma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The neuroglobin (Ngb) is well recognized as a potential biomarker for the hypoxic‐ischemic brain injury. However, connection between Ngb and delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is still unclear. Objective: To investigate the relationship between early stage Ngb level of aSAH patient and the occurrence of DCI. Methods: We evaluated 126 aSAH patients who were enrolled into a prospective observational cohort study. Serum Ngb level on days 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 after aSAH were determined using a commercial enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay kit. The relationship between Ngb level and DCI was analyzed. Results: Forty‐six (36.5%) aSAH patients experienced DCI. Patients with DCI had significantly higher Ngb levels than those without (p <.001). Multivariate model analysis revealed that day 3 Ngb level remained a significant factor after adjusting for World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) grade, modified Fisher grade, clipping and Ngb levels on days 1, 2, 5, and 7. Sensitivity, specificity, and Youden index of day 3 Ngb level for identifying DCI were derived as 73.9%, 72.5%, and 0.46, respectively, based on the best threshold of 8.4 ng/ml. Regardless in good‐grade group or in poor‐grade group, patients having day 3 Ngb level > 8.4 ng/ml has a significantly worse DCI survival rate than those having day 3 Ngb level <=8.4 ng/ml (p =.026 and.009, respectively). Conclusions: Serum Ngb level was significantly elevated in DCI patients. Early stage aSAH Ngb level has the potential of being used as a novel DCI occurrence predictor, especially when Ngb level was combined with WFNS grade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ventricular system is a set of brain cavities without solid tissues and the basis of surgical brain anatomy. To the best of our knowledge, the effect of using 3-dimensional (3D) printed models (3DPMs) on anatomy education of the ventricular system has not been reported. We established 3DPMs for the ventricular system and performed a randomized controlled study to evaluate the educational effect of 3DPMs, 3D images (3DIs), and 2-dimensional images (2DIs). We randomly divided 60 second-year medical students into 3 groups, with 3DPMs, 3DIs, and 2DIs used as teaching aids, 1 for each group. Before and after the anatomy class on the features of ventricular system, all students completed the same test. No statistical significant differences were detected between the mean values of the pretest scores of the 3 groups (P > 0.05). For the post-test scores, the students in the 3DPM and 3DI groups performed significantly better than those in the 2DI group in terms of the practice test score (3DPM group vs. 2DI group, P < 0.001; 3DPM group vs. 2DI group, P = 0.009) and total score (3DPM group vs. 2DI group, P = 0.001; 3DI group vs. 2DI group, P = 0.025). From the students' evaluation results, the 3DPM group performed better than the 3DI group for "enjoyment" and "attitude" (P = 0.039 and P = 0.025, respectively). Compared with 2DIs, use of 3DPMs and 3DIs could improve the effectiveness of teaching the anatomy of the complex ventricular system. In addition, 3DPMs could markedly increase the interest and enthusiasm of students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to investigate the function of the prolactin/adenoma maximum diameter (PRL/MD) and the prolactin/adenoma volume (PRL/V) in the differential diagnosis of prolactinomas and other types of pituitary adenomas. A total of 118 patients with pituitary adenoma, hyperprolactinemia and a plasma PRL <250 µg/l were enrolled. Clinical data from these patients were retrospectively analyzed. A receiver operating characteristic curve was plotted. The function of PRL, PRL/MD and PRL/V in the differential diagnosis of prolactinomas and other types of pituitary adenomas was compared. The results revealed that a PRL of 55.65 µg/l was the most accurate [sensitivity (SE), 0.800; specificity (SP), 0.716; positive predictive value (PPV), 0.857; negative predictive value (NPV), 0.933; and Youden index (YI), 0.516]. The PRL/MD with the highest diagnostic value was 4.03 µg/(l x mm) (SE, 0.800; SP, 0.898; PPV, 0.727; NVP, 0.929; and YI, 0.698). The PRL/V with the highest diagnostic value was 54.00 µg/(l x cm³) (SE, 0.900; SP, 0.966; PPV, 0.900; NVP, 0.966; and YI, 0.866). The PRL/MD tended to be of higher diagnostic accuracy than PRL, but this difference was not statistically significant (P=0.097). The differentiation ability of PRL/V was significantly stronger than that of PRL (P=0.028). Thus, serum PRL, PRL/MD and PRL/V levels may be able to differentiate prolactinomas from other types of hyperprolactinemia-causing pituitary adenomas prior to treatment. PRL/V may be better than the PRL level in achieving a differential diagnosis, and the optimal PRL/V ratio for differentiating prolactinomas from other types of hyperprolactinemia-causing pituitary adenomas was 54.00 µg/(l x cm³). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The well-dispersed Co species which partly incorporated into the lattice of CeO 2 (nanorod) was successfully synthesized, and a higher proportion of Ce3+/(Ce3+ + Ce4+) and enhanced oxygen mobility were thus obtained, which accounts for the high reactivity in auto-thermal reforming of acetic acid. [Display omitted] • Well-dispersed Co species partly doped into the lattice of CeO 2 (nanorod). • Enhanced oxygen mobility and higher Ce3+ was observed over Co-Ce-O (nanorod). • Co-Ce-O (nanorod) presents high hydrogen yield of 2.69 mol-H 2 /mol-HAc at 600 °C. As the preparation method was vital to modify the structure of catalysts, Co-Ce-O oxides were fabricated via different hydrothermal methods and evaluated in auto-thermal reforming (ATR) of acetic acid (HAc) for hydrogen production. Results of characterizations, including XRD, BET, H 2 -TPR, SEM and XPS, indicated the structure and electronic characteristics of each catalyst varied with different synthesis methods. In the case of CC-R with the morphology of nanorod, well-dispersed Co species were partly incorporated into the lattice of CeO 2 support, resulting in a higher proportion of Ce3+/(Ce3+ + Ce4+) and enhanced oxygen mobility. Consequently, it exhibited a promising catalytic performance in a 10-h testing in ATR of HAc: HAc conversion maintained at 96.8% with hydrogen yield recorded at 2.69 mol-H 2 /mol-HAc at 600 °C, while almost no by-product was detected, demonstrating its potential for hydrogen production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroxylamine, an intermediate product in the nitrification process, is widely found in nature. However, hydroxylamine accumulation can decrease the biological nitrogen removal efficiency by reducing the activities, inhibiting the reproductions, and even causing the death of microorganisms. In this study, a novel heterotrophic nitrification bacterium was separated from biogas digester and identified as Glutamicibacter arilaitensis EM-H8. Strain EM-H8 exhibited efficient hydroxylamine removal (93.75%). The optimal conditions for hydroxylamine removal were as follows: Carbon source, glucose; C/N ratio, 25; temperature, 20 °C; inoculum size, 0.53 × 108 CFU; and shaking speed, 150 rpm. The nitrogen balance results using strain EM-H8 showed that about 26.86% of the initial nitrogen was removed as nitrogenous gas, while 4.6% was converted into biomass under aerobic conditions, confirming that strain EM-H8 possessed the capacity for heterotrophic nitrification. Furthermore, the successful expression of hydroxylamine oxidase (0.065 U/mg protein) showed that strain EM-H8 had the ability to transform hydroxylamine from wastewater. [Display omitted] • Glutaminibacter arilaitensis was firstly reported as a nitrification bacteria. • Strain EM-H8 could effectively remove hydroxylamine and reproduce rapidly with it. • Approximately 26.86% of the initial hydroxylamine was converted to nitrogenous gas. • The specific activity of HAO enzyme was evaluated as 0.065 U/mg protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological nitrogen removal is primarily conducted by bacteria and fungi rather than actinomycetes. However, accumulations of nitrite and hydroxylamine could significantly impair the biological nitrogen removal process. A strain of Streptomyces mediolani , termed EM-B2, was isolated from a cow dung fermentation biogas digester. The strain removed more than 99% of ammonium and 78% of total nitrogen in the presence of glucose and under environmental conditions of 30 °C, a carbon/nitrogen ratio of 15, 7.4 mg/L dissolved oxygen and a pH range of 7.5–9.0. Maximal removal rates were 2.29 mg/L/h for ammonium, 1.90 mg/L/h for nitrate and 2.01 mg/L/h for nitrite. The removal efficiencies of hydroxylamine and total nitrogen peaked at 81.48% and 60.38%, respectively. Notably, hydroxylamine and nitrite were never detected during the heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification. Nitrate rather than nitrite was accumulated from the process of hydroxylamine oxidation. These findings indicate that S. mediolani strain EM-B2 performs heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification, and can be used to remove hydroxylamine and nitrite from wastewater. • S. mediolani EM-B2 was reported as a nitrification and denitrification bacterium. • Multiple inorganic nitrogen were effectively removed by S. mediolani EM-B2. • Hydroxylamine and nitrite was never detected during nitrogen removal process. • Nitrate rather than nitrite was generated from hydroxylamine oxidation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To evaluate the changes in the global burden of foreign body aspiration (FBA) among children under 5 years old at regional, age, sex, and socio-demographic index (SDI) levels between 1990 and 2019., Methods: Data on FBA was derived from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2019 database on pulmonary aspiration and foreign body in airway. The means and 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) were calculated for incidence, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs). The temporal trends were represented by estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) using Joinpoint regression., Results: Globally, FBA caused 109.6 (95% UI: 69.5, 175.7) per 100,000 incidence and 317.9 (95% UI: 270.7, 372.4) per 100,000 DALYs under 5 years old in 2019. Many European countries (such as Italy, Netherlands, Iceland, etc.) showed a high incidence rate, but did not cause a large disease burden (DALYs all less than 200 per 100,000). Compared to 1990, although a decrease in both incidence and DALYs occurred in 2019, the Joinpoint regression showed an increasing trend in incidence rate from 2014 to 2019 [APC: both (2.10), female (2.25), male (1.98), P  < 0.05)], especially China, Netherlands, and Malta. Despite the lower incidence rate in early neonatal group and middle SDI areas, they instead resulted in higher DALYs than other age groups and areas., Conclusion: Although declines occurred in incidence and DALYs of FBA among children under 5 years of age from 1990 to 2014, an upward trend began to emerge from 2014 to 2019. The incidence and DALY rates were correlated with age and SDI. Increased efforts are needed to improve the necessary monitoring and reporting systems, hazard assessment, and public education activities., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2023 Wu, Zhang, Lin, Ding, Wu, Chen, Wang, Yi and Chen.)

Background: Neurological disorders are a major and increasing global health challenge, which accounts for a substantial portion of the disease burden worldwide. The aim of this systematic analysis is to present the most comprehensive and up-to-date estimates of disease burden, epidemiological trends, and attributable risk factors of neurological disorders at global, regional, and national levels., Methods: We extracted data of 18 neurological disorders from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 study database. The burden of neurological disorders was measured using the incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and further described according to age, sex, year, geographical location and socio-demographic Index (SDI). All estimates were presented with corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs)., Findings: Globally, in 2019, there were nearly 10 million deaths and 349 million DALYs due to neurological disorders. Among the 18 neurological disorders, stroke was the biggest contributor to DALYs (143232.18 [95%UI 133095.81-153241.82] in thousands) and deaths (6552.72 [95%UI 5995.20-7015.14] in thousands), followed by neonatal encephalopathy due to birth asphyxia and trauma. From 1990 to 2019, the DALYs of neurological diseases belonging to the communicable, maternal, neonatal and nutritional categories showed a sharp decrease, while Alzheimer's disease and other dementias and Parkinson's disease showed a large increase. Neurological disorders exhibited different profiles in different regions and age groups. A significant correlation between the SDI and the age-standardized DALY rates was also found except for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. In addition, risk factors such as high systolic blood pressure, low birth weight and short gestation period, and metabolic risk contribute significantly to neurological disorders., Interpretation: The overall burden of neurological disorders has increased from 1990 to 2019, especially for non-communicable neurological disorders. The substantial variations of burden across regions emphasize the need for region-specific interventional strategies and allocation of resources based on priorities., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Ding, Wu, Chen, Chen, Wu, Lin, Kang, Fang and Chen.)

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) is an emerging and promising therapeutic strategy that suppresses tumor growth by catalytically converting intracellular hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) into highly-reactive hydroxyl radicals (•OH). However, the inherent substrate of H 2 O 2 is relatively insufficient to achieve desirable CDT efficacy. Therefore, searching for integrated therapeutic methods with synergistic therapeutic modality is especially vital to augment therapeutic outcomes. Herein, we reported nanodot- Cu x Mn y S z @BSA@ICG (denoted as CMS@B@I) and bovine serum albumin (BSA)-based biomineralization Cu x Mn y S z (CMS) loaded with photodynamic agent-indocyanine green (ICG). CMS@B@I converts endogenous hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) into highly active hydroxyl radical (•OH) via Fenton reaction, and effectively produces reactive oxygen species (ROS) after being exposed to 808 nm laser irradiation, attributable to the excellent photodynamic agent-ICG. This results in eliciting a ROS storm. Additionally, CMS@B@I exhibits a superior photothermal effect under NIR-II 1064 nm laser irradiation to enhance tumor CDT efficacy. The NIR-II fluorescence imaging agent of ICG and the excellent photothermal effect of CMS@B@I are highly beneficial to NIR-II fluorescence and infrared thermal imaging, respectively, resulting in tracing the fate of CMS@B@I. This study attempts to design a bimodal imaging-guided and photothermal-enhanced CDT nanoagent for augmenting tumor catalytic therapy., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Niu, Wei, Sun, Lin, Chen, Ding, Zhu and Kang.)

BACKGROUND The aim was to develop and assess a general pituitary hormone score to evaluate the function of the anterior pituitary (adenohypophysis) in patients following resection of pituitary adenomas. MATERIAL AND METHODS Sixty-six patients with pituitary null cell macroadenoma (1-3 cm diameter) (N=38) and pituitary null cell giant adenoma (≥3 cm diameter) (N=28) had preoperative and postoperative data including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and measurement of six pituitary hormones levels, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), growth hormone (GH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), prolactin (PRL), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH). The postoperative general pituitary hormone score, for 57 patients who underwent subtotal resection (>60%) and nine patients who underwent partial resection (≤60%), was 1-5 for each hormone level (score range, 6-30). RESULTS ACTH, GH, TSH, PRL, FSH, and LH levels in 38 patients with pituitary null cell macroadenoma were not statistically different from the 28 patients with pituitary null cell giant adenoma; the general pituitary hormone score in the former group was significantly increased compared with the latter group (P<0.05). ACTH, GH, TSH, PRL, FSH, and LH levels in the 57 patients with subtotal tumor resection were not significantly different from the nine patients with partial tumor resection; the general pituitary hormone score in the former group was significantly reduced compared with the latter group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS A general pituitary hormone score was developed that might be relevant to the evaluation of pituitary function following surgical resection of pituitary null cell macroadenoma and giant adenoma.

The larval phase of the fish life cycle has the highest mortality, particularly during the transition from endogenous to exogenous feeding. However, the transcriptional events underlying these processes have not been fully characterized. To understand the molecular mechanisms underlying mouth-opening acclimation, RNA-seq was used to investigate the transcriptional profiles of the endogenous feeding, mixed feeding and exogenous feeding stages of zebrafish larvae. Differential expression analysis showed 2172 up-regulated and 2313 down-regulated genes during this stage. Genes associated with the assimilation of exogenous nutrients such as the arachidonic acid metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism, fat digestion and absorption, and lipogenesis were activated significantly, whereas dissimilation including the cell cycle, homologous recombination, and fatty acid metabolism were inhibited, indicating a physiological switch for energy storage occurred during the mouth-opening stage. Moreover, the immune recognition involved in the antigen processing and presentation pathway was activated and nutritional supply seemed to be required in this event confirmed by qPCR. These results suggested the energy utilization during the mouth-opening stage is more tended to be reserved or used for some important demands, such as activity regulation, immune defense, and lipid deposition, instead of rapid growth. The findings of this study are important for understanding the physiological switches during the mouth-opening stage., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the value of identifying fluid-fluid level via preoperative magnetic resonance (MR) images in differentiating pituitary adenomas from craniopharyngioma, Rathke's cleft cyst (RCC), and other cystic sellar-suprasellar lesions. The data of 293 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for sellar-suprasellar lesions between July 2010 and December 2012 was retrospectively reviewed, and a total of 133 cystic cases were included in the present study. MR images and pathological features of all subjects were examined. Among the 133 cystic sellar-suprasellar masses, there were 78 cases of pituitary adenomas, 31 cases of craniopharyngioma, 21 cases of RCC, one case of epidermoid cyst and two cases of abscess. Fluid-fluid levels were identified n 43 cases (55.13%) of cystic pituitary adenomas, with a single fluid level in 23 cases, two fluid levels in 8 cases, and three levels or more in 12 cases. Two cases (6.45%) of craniopharyngioma, and one case (4.76%) of RCC presented single fluid level. No instances of fluid-fluid levels were observed in epidermoid cyst or abscess. Fluid-fluid levels were typically exhibited on axial T2-weighted images. The identification of fluid-fluid level in cysts provides useful diagnostic value in distinguishing pituitary adenoma from other sellar-suprasellar lesions. The findings of the present study suggest that a sellar-suprasellar mass with a fluid-fluid level inside the tumor is most likely a pituitary adenoma, particularly if multiple fluid levels are observed in the same tumor. The fluid-fluid level is typically clearly depicted on axial or sagittal MR images, suggesting subacute or chronic hemorrhage in pituitary adenomas.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences between pre- and postoperative pituitary hormone levels in patients undergoing surgical resection of pituitary adenoma and to identify factors associated with preoperative hypopituitarism. Data from 81 patients with histologically confirmed functioning and non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPA) who underwent transsphenoidal resection from January 2011 to December 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Logistic regression was applied to analyze factors associated with preoperative hypopituitarism. In patients with functioning pituitary adenomas, GH and PRL levels declined after the operation; TSH, FSH and LH levels returned to preoperative values after an initial decline at postoperative day 1. In contrast, with the exception of a postoperative reduction in PRL level, NFPA patients had postoperative ACTH, TSH, FSH and LH levels at 4 months follow-up that were similar to preoperative levels. Similarly, a decrease in total hormone index was observed following surgery irrespective of NFPA type and in null-cell type NFPA patients with values increasing over the 4-month follow-up period. A higher percentage of patients receiving partial resection had high PRL levels (≥200 ng/ mL) compared to those receiving complete resection. Age ( P = 0.041) and male sex ( P = 0.004) were significantly associated with preoperative hypopituitarism. In conclusion, the postoperative total hormone index decreased immediately following surgery in all patients with pituitary adenoma who underwent resection, and then increased over the follow-up period. The extent of surgical resection correlated with PRL levels >200 ng/mL. Age and male sex were also independent risk factors for preoperative hypopituitarism., Competing Interests: CONFLICTS OF INTEREST The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Objective: The prevalence of hyperprolactinemia in non-functioning pituitary macroadenomas (NFPMAs) is not well known, and hyperprolactinemia caused by a NFPMA is currently associated with diagnostic uncertainty. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of hyperprolactinemia in NFPMAs., Methods: A meta-analysis of all existing articles in PubMed was conducted. The search string was designed as "(non-functioning pituitary tumor OR non-functioning pituitary tumor OR non-functioning pituitary macroadenomas OR non-functioning pituitary macroadenomas OR non-functioning pituitary adenomas OR non-functioning pituitary adenomas) and hyperprolactinemia". References of the articles found were also reviewed. Study selection and data extraction were performed independently by two reviewers. Data were analyzed with STATA 11.0 software (StataCorp LP, USA). The fixed effects model was used to evaluate these studies., Results: The search identified 57 published studies, seven of which were accepted for the final meta-analysis. The authors found an overall estimated 40.2% prevalence of (95% CI, 36.6%-43.7%) hyperprolactinemia in NFPMAs., Conclusions: Given the high frequency of hyperprolactinemia in NFPMAs, a diagnosis of NFPMA or prolactinoma should be made more carefully.