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PurposeMethodsResultsConclusionsPurtscher-like retinopathy is a rare microvascular occlusive disease that has been reported in few literature especially in pediatric patients. The ocular manifestation is associated with various systemic disorders, though its distinct pathophysiology and appropriate therapies remain unclear. This research presents three cases of Purtscher-like retinopathy secondary to febrile illnesses in pediatric patients.Medical history and clinical findings were retrospectively collected.We report a series of three pediatric patients (age range, 7–13 years) who developed Purtscher-like retinopathy, secondary to febrile illnesses, including systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis, thrombotic microangiopathy, and COVID-19 infection. All patients received steroidal therapy to control underlying conditions and ocular disease, with visual improvement in different degrees.Clinician awareness of Purtscher-like retinopathy is crucial for the prompt diagnosis and treatment of pediatric patients with protracted high fevers and febrile viral illnesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is positively and independently associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). Insulin resistance is independently associated with CAC and is an important risk factor for CVD. The triglyceride–glucose (TyG) index is a reliable biomarker of insulin resistance. This cross-sectional, observational study aimed to investigate the relationship between the TyG index and CAC in asymptomatic non-diabetic patients undergoing MHD. The quantitative coronary artery calcification score (CACS) was calculated and expressed using the Agatston score. The TyG index was calculated as ln [fasting triglyceride (mg/dL) × fasting glucose (mg/dL)/2]. Multiple Poisson regression analysis, Spearman correlation analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to investigate the relationship between the TyG index and CAC. The 151 patients were divided into three groups according to the tertiles of the TyG index. With an increase in the TyG index, the CACS significantly increased (Spearman's rho = 0.414, p < 0.001). Poisson regression analysis indicated that the TyG index was independently related to the presence of CAC (prevalence ratio, 1.281 [95% confidence interval, 1.121–1.465], p < 0.001). Furthermore, ROC curve analysis showed that the TyG index was of value in predicting the CAC in asymptomatic non-diabetic patients undergoing MHD, with an area under the curve of 0.667 (p = 0.010). The TyG index is independently related to the presence of CAC in asymptomatic, non-diabetic patients undergoing MHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, piperazine phosphoramide derivatives (PPDO) and titanium carbide modified by hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (c-Ti3C2) were blended with epoxy resin (EP) to fabricate EP/c-Ti3C2/PPDO nanocomposites. According to thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) results and pyrolysis kinetic analysis, EP/c-Ti3C2/PPDO nanocomposites can improve the thermal stability and the activation energy of EP. Furthermore, thermal degradation mechanism of EP and its nanocomposites with conversion between 0.55 and 0.99 conforms to the F3 model. With 1 wt% c-Ti3C2 and 3 wt% PPDO incorporated, the LOI value of EP/c-Ti3C2-1/PPDO-3 can reach up to 32% while achieves V-0 rating in the UL-94 test. Based on the cone calorimeter results, the peak heat release rate of EP/c-Ti3C2-1/PPDO-3 reduced by 40.1%. More continuous and dense phosphorus-rich char residues were produced for EP/c-Ti3C2-1/PPDO-3 nanocomposites, which can act as a physical barrier to hinder the heat transfer, protect the underlying polymers from further decomposition and isolate the diffusion of combustible gases. The synergistic effect between c-Ti3C2 and PPDO in catalytic carbonization obviously accounts for the improved flame retardant performance. This work provides an insight into the flame retardant mechanism and the thermal degradation mechanism of c-Ti3C2 and PPDO on EP, showing a promising application potential of c-Ti3C2 and PPDO in enhancing the thermal stability and flame retardancy of EP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been a growing concern about heavy metal contamination in sediments. In this study, iron-based granular biochar (MGB) is prepared to remediate Cu and Pb contaminated sediments. Characterizations via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) show that the rough surface of MGB with abundant pore structures and a large number of oxygen-containing functional groups that facilitate stabilization of Cu and Pb in sediments. Potential mobility and bioavailability of Cu and Pb are investigated using BCR sequential extraction in the 35 day remediation experiment. The XPS results indicate that FeOOH and C-OH play a crucial part in stabilizing heavy metals. Large affinity of FeOOH for Pb allows it to occupy a proportion in F2 while C–OH is attractive to Cu. Changes of pH, organic matter (OM), and available phosphorus (AP) in sediments after adding MGB as well as the relationship between changes and the stable solidification of Cu and Pb are explored. The stable solidification of heavy metals effectively reduces the available phosphorus in sediments. Magnetic and particle properties of the material are used to reduce the impact of MGB aging on sediment environment and separate it from the remediated sediment. Finally, 3% of MGB significantly enhanced the sediment catalase activity in the biological enzyme activity experiment. All findings indicate that MGB is a green and environmentally friendly sediment remediation material with satisfactory potential in synergistically stabilizing heavy metals and phosphorus. Highlights The complexation of FeOOH with Pb on the surface of MGB fixes it to the reduced state The C-OH on the surface of MGB is more attractive to Cu than Pb MGB effectively mitigates the release of bioavailable phosphorus from sediments to overlying water [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epimedium sagittatum (Sieb. et Zucc.) Maxim., a traditional medicinal plant in Asia, is widely used in clinical settings but its safety in vivo is unclear. This study investigated the sub-chronic toxicity of E. sagittatum aqueous extract to rats with a 13-week daily intragastric administration of 7.5, 15, or 30 g/kg. Nine constituents of the aqueous extract were identified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). Organ weights, organ coefficients, serum biochemistry parameters, histopathology, and metabolomic analysis were performed. In female rats, treatment increased the liver, thymus, and adrenal gland coefficients (p < 0.05). Liver, pancreas, and adrenal gland injury were observed. The levels of six metabolites were altered by the treatment (p < 0.05). In male rats, treatment altered liver, heart, and thymus coefficients (p < 0.05) and liver, adrenal gland, and heart injury were observed. The levels of 11 metabolites were altered (p < 0.05). The no-observed-adverse-effect level was not determined but would be below 7.5 g/kg in rats treated for 13 weeks. In female rats, E. sagittatum may injure the liver and pancreas and dysregulate the biosynthesis of phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, valine, leucine, and isoleucine and the metabolism of phenylalanine. In male rats, the extract may injure the liver and adrenal gland and dysregulate the biosynthesis of valine, leucine, and isoleucine and the metabolism of pyruvate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five new triterpenoids, including four ursane types (1–4) and one oleanane type (5), together with 15 known ursane types pentacyclic triterpenoids (6–20) were isolated from the fruit spikes of Prunella vulgaris L., a traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Their structures were elucidated based on IR, HR-ESI-MS, and NMR spectroscopic data. The SW579 cell line was used to evaluate anti-thyroid cancer activities of (1–20). The results indicated that (7–9), (16), and (19) exhibited apparent inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 25.73–71.41 μM (cisplatin as positive control, IC50 14.49 ± 0.97 μM). Network pharmacology and molecular docking were also used for the prediction of the synergistic actions and the underlying mechanisms. Accordingly, four potential targets have been characterized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermal decomposition behaviors of corn and its main components have been investigated by applying thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) under nitrogen atmosphere. As two different simulation methods, the GA (Genetic Algorithm)-based parallel reaction model and linear combination model are proposed in the study, both of which show good agreement with the experimental curves. This indicates that pyrolysis of corn is a process of gradual degradation of its main components. The starch content (64.4%) in corn is much higher than that in other components, and the thermal weight loss caused by starch decomposition is as high as 70%. Moreover, the pyrolysis products of corn and its components were studied by TG-FTIR and TG-GC/MS. The results show that the pyrolysis process of corn is not only the process of independent degradation of its components but also the interaction between different components, which leads to the formation of several new kinds of compounds and the difference in the linear combination model. It provides a reference for the research of grain pyrolysis and gives a model for prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of finite-time mean-nonovershooting control is investigated for a class of stochastic nonlinear systems in this paper. For general stochastic strict-feedback nonlinear systems, a new controller is designed, which uses the framework of the backstepping technique, to assure that the mean of overshoot can be adjusted arbitrarily small (by changing controller gains) while all the states of the closed-loop system in finite-time to get bounded in probability. In contrast with corresponding deterministic systems, it has better performance that control gains did not rely on the initial conditions of system states and derivatives of the reference trajectory. Finally, a simulation example is showing the appealing performance of the proposed scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two undescribed stilbenoid diglycosides, dendrosonside A and dendrosonside B (1 and 2), were isolated from the stems of Dendrobium 'Sonia'. Their structures were elucidated based on 1 D/2D NMR and HRESIMS. The glycosyls contained in the two isolates were determined as D-glucose by acid hydrolysis and GC-MS analyses. In addition, 1 and 2 were further tested for the inhibition of nitric oxide production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thrombopoietin mimetic peptide for injection is a second-generation thrombopoietin receptor agonist (TPO-RA) used in the treatment of patients with immune thrombocytopenia. The aim of the present study was to assess the safety, tolerance, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of thrombopoietin mimetic peptide for injection in Chinese healthy volunteers. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, dose-escalation study was conducted in healthy Chinese subjects aged 18–50 years. Thirty subjects received single subcutaneous injection of 0.3 μg/kg, 1.0 μg/kg, 2.0 μg/kg thrombopoietin mimetic peptide or placebo. Thrombopoietin mimetic peptide was safe and well tolerated at doses of 0.3–2.0 μg/kg. There was no significant change in mean platelet count (PLT) from baseline at the 0.3 μg/kg or placebo groups. The mean PLT of subjects in the 1.0 μg/kg and 2.0 μg/kg groups peaked at day 12 (± 1), began to decline around day 17, and returned to the baseline level at day 28 (± 1). Platelet aggregation rates of the three dose groups showed no significant change before and after administration. Serum concentrations of thrombopoietin mimetic peptide in all subjects were below the quantization limit. This was the first study to demonstrate that subcutaneous injection of thrombopoietin mimetic peptide at doses of 0.3–2.0 μg/kg was safe and well tolerated in Chinese healthy subjects. As a second-generation TPO-RA, thrombopoietin mimetic peptide is effective at improving PLT after single subcutaneous injection at dose of ≥1 μg/kg. P lain l anguage s ummary What is the context? ● Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a rare, serious autoimmune disorder characterized by low platelet count (PLT) without an alternate cause. The treatment goal of ITP is to increase the platelet count to a safe level that can stop active bleeding and reduce the risks of future bleeding. ● Thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RAs, e.g. eltrombopag, avatrombopag, hetrombopag, and romiplostim) have shown high response rates in stimulating platelet production and reducing the risk of bleeding. TPO-RAs provide ITP patients with well-tolerated, long-term treatment choices. What is new? ● The thrombopoietin mimetic peptide for injection is a new TPO-RAs developed by Shandong Quangang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (China). ● This study showed that thrombopoietin mimetic peptide is effective at improving PLT after a single subcutaneous injection. ● The thrombopoietin mimetic peptide is safe and well-tolerated in Chinese healthy subjects. What is the impact? ● This study provides evidence for the further development potential of the thrombopoietin mimetic peptide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore prognostic value of pretreatment Glasgow prognostic score (GPS) and modified Glasgow prognostic score (mGPS) in ovarian cancer patients. The PubMed, EMBASE (via OVID), and Web of Science databases were comprehensively searched for eligible studies. The hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were combined to evaluate the association of pretreatment GPS/mGPS with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of ovarian cancer patients. STATA 12.0 version software was applied for statistical analysis. A total of eight retrospective studies involving 2260 were included into this systematic review and meta-analysis. The pooled results indicated that patients with elevated pretreatment GPS or mGPS had poorer OS (HR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.38–1.91, P＜.001) and PFS (HR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.02–1.93, P =.039) than patients with pretreatment GPS or mGPS 0. Subgroup analysis based on the type of score (GPS or mGPS) and tumor stage for OS were also performed and the results were consistent with above findings. Pretreatment GPS/mGPS might serve as promising prognostic indexes for ovarian cancer patients. More prospective studies with high-quality are needed to verify our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psoralen is the main coumarin component of Fructus psoraleae. Previously, we have found that psoralen induced hepatocytes apoptosis via PERK and ATF6 related ER stress pathways in vitro. In this study, we investigated the toxicity and ER stress induced by psoralen in female C57 mice. Mice were fed with 80 mg/kg of psoralen intra-gastrically for either 3, 7, or 21 days. Liver and kidney were weighed and their coefficients were calculated. The serum was isolated to examine the biochemical parameters including alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), total bile acid (TBA), total bilirubin (TBIL), and creatinine (CRE). The transcription and expression of ER stress-related markers were determined by Wes-automated Protein Simple system, Western blot and RT-PCR. Psoralen administration for 3 days significantly increased liver coefficients but decreased kidney coefficients of mice. Histopathological examination showed minimal inflammatory cell foci and vacuolar degeneration in the liver. Besides, serum levels of ALT, TBA, BUN, and CRE were markedly altered by psoralen. Moreover, psoralen significantly increased expression and transcription levels of ER stress related markers, including Grp78, PERK, eIF2α, ATF4, IRE1α, ATF6, and XBP1. These results illustrated that psoralen induced liver injuries through ER stress signaling in female mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomass Fuel (BF) is a new clean fuel which widely used as an alternative to fossil fuel. In this work, moldy wheat (MW) and normal wheat (NW) are investigated to analyze the influences of mildew on combustion and emission characteristics of wheat. Cone calorimeter results confirm that the fire performance index (FPI) of MW is lower than that of NW and the fire growth index (FGI) of MW has an opposite trend. Smoldering investigation shows MW tends to be self-sustained and easily transfers to flame. It is observed from steady-state tube furnace (SSTF) results that MW has higher smoke toxicity risk. Meanwhile, the smoke toxicity of wheat increases with sample mass and decreases with primary air intake. Besides, main flammable or toxic pyrolysis products, 2-methoxyisopropyl cyanoacetate, furan derivatives, and pentanal, are observed in both NW and MW (higher state) using Thermogravimetry–Gas Chromatography and Single Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry (TG–GC/MS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice, as one of the most valuable bio-resources, is combustible in nature, which poses an inevitable fire risk for the storage and transport processes. The propensity of rice mold could change the fire hazard and endangers the food security of human beings. In this work, the smoldering spread of normal rice, mildly and severely molded rice were studied under the forced opposed airflow. As the rice molding degree increased, the particle pore surface area increased to enhance the char oxidation. Consequently, the smoldering temperature was higher, the propagation rate became larger, and smoldering was more likely to transition to flame, showing a significant fire hazard and explosion risk. Results also showed that as the moisture content increased, both the smoldering temperature and the propensity to flaming increased, probably because of the increased airflow speed after the expansion of rice particles. This research proves that the molding degree has a significant impact on the fire risk and hazard of rice storage and drying process, thus helping provide a scientific guideline for the safe storage and transportation of rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maximizing the use of solar energy to increase the indoor temperature of greenhouse is of great significance to the green and energy-saving intensive greenhouse production in China. In this study, an active solar heating system (ASHS) was developed and analyzed, consisting of five solar water heaters equipped with vacuum tube solar collectors, one heat storage tank and heating system including booster pump and heating pipes. During the day, the water was heated in the solar collectors and stored in tanks before being placed into circulation in the heating pipes to distribute the heat to the aerial and root zones of plants. To evaluate the performance of ASHS and the feasibility of practical application, climate and plant growth parameters were monitored in two Chinese Solar Greenhouses (CSGs) located in Yangling, China. Results revealed that under the operating condition with the flow rate of 5.4 L/min, the effective heat collection, average heat collection efficiency and energy-saving efficiency of ASHS were 1.9 MJ/(m2•h), 64% and 84%, respectively. The coefficient of performance (COP) was between 4.5 and 6.2, and the payback period was 12.0 years. Furthermore, the results revealed that the ASHS successfully provided 76% of its annual heating needs, heated the CSG for 4 months and maintained the nocturnal temperature above 8 ℃. The actual application effect proved that it increased average indoor air temperature by 2.2 ℃ and substrate temperature by 3.3 ℃ in heated greenhouse. The growth rate of tomato plant height in the heated greenhouse was 0.7427 cm/d, greater than that in the unheated greenhouse (0.6 cm/d). The novel system proposed in this study adopting particular location enables the rise of the ambient and the substrate temperatures with lower energy consumption, improvement of the environmental conditions in CSG, and a more suitable growing environment for plants in the cold season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new phenylpropanoid derivatives (1-2), together with eight known compounds (3-10) were isolated from the stems of Dendrobium sonia. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses, including HRESIMS, 1 D and 2 D NMR experiments. All of the isolated compounds were tested for their Nitric Oxide (NO) Inhibitory Activities. The results of bioactive screening showed that compounds 2, 8, 9 and 10 exerted inhibitory effects on NO production with IC50 values in the range of 26.3 to 31.6 μM. Compound 8 and 9 exhibited stronger anti-inflammatory activities with IC50 values 26.3 and 27.7 μM, comparable to that of the positive control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ulansuhai River is polluted by heavy metals and faces a serious problem of eutrophication. According to a previous study, biochar-supported nanoscale zero-valent iron composite (BC-nZVI) can be used to effectively immobilize heavy metals, converting Cd from labile to a stable fraction. The present study aimed to evaluate the immobilization of Cd in sediments of eutrophic rivers by BC-nZVI and investigate the effects of phosphorus on Cd immobilization in BC-nZVI immobilized sediments. The immobilization of Cd with BC-nZVI as a stabilizer at different KH2PO4 solution concentrations, the available phosphorus in the sediments, the total phosphorus in the overlying water, and the changes in the pH of the sediments were investigated. The changes of available phosphorus in sediments after the addition of BC, nZVI and BC-nZVI stabilizers were also studied. Results showed that the presence of phosphorus could promote the immobilization of Cd in sediments. The content of total phosphorus in overlying water was reduced, precipitates of phosphate and Cd were produced, and the available phosphorus in sediments was increased after the addition of BC-nZVI. The pH of sediments increased along with the increase in incubation time, which is beneficial for Cd immobilization. This study proved that (1) BC-nZVI can effectively immobilize Cd in eutrophic river sediments, (2) the presence of phosphorous in overlying water is conductive to the conversion of Cd from labile fractions to stable fraction in the sediment, and (3) adsorption and precipitation may be the main mechanisms in Cd immobilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article showed that a higher serum triglyceride level increased the risk of major kidney function decline in Chinese men with normal kidney function. Dear Editor, We read with great interest the recently published study by Huang et al. [[1]] entitled "Elevated atherogenic index and higher triglyceride increase risk of kidney function decline: a 7-year cohort study in Chinese adults". [Extracted from the article]

Tachysurus vachellii are commercially important edible fish due to delicious taste, little bone in muscle, and high nutritional value especially in Asia. The complete mitochondrial genome of Tachysurus vachellii has been sequenced. The mitochondrial genome is 16,529 bp in length, with the base composition of 31.6% A, 26.6% T, 26.9% C, and 14.9% G, containing two ribosomal RNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and a major non-coding control region (D-loop region). The gene order and orientation are similar with some typical fish species. The data will provide useful molecular information for phylogenetic studies concerning T. vachellii and its related species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractWith the development of offshore wind power projects worldwide, the stability of deep and shallow sea wind power sites has become a crucial concern. Internal solitary waves (ISWs) are nonlinear and large amplitude waves in the stratified ocean. Their strong vertical and horizontal motion and vorticity and turbulence caused by fragmentation have an important impact on the marine environment, seabed sediments, and marine engineering. This study focuses on the interaction between ISWs and the seabed of wind power sites in deep and shallow seas. Specifically, we investigate the interaction between ISWs and monopile foundations or floating fan plate anchor structures in the seabed. Through the simulation of CFD software and Comsol software, a law of seabed pore pressure variation during the effect of ISWs on the structure can be well demonstrated. Our results demonstrate that ISWs induce the accumulation of excess pore water pressure around the structures. The monopile foundation experiences negative excess pore water pressure at its bottom and the plate anchor at its top. The pore water pressure at the bottom of the monopile foundation initially decreases and then increases. In contrast, the pore water pressure at the right side of the monopile foundation increases, decreases, and then increases. This phenomenon promotes the settlement of the structure. At the bottom of the plate anchor, there is a sharp increase in positive excess pore water pressure by ISW. The pore water pressure above the plate anchor structure initially decreases and then increases, while below the plate anchor, it increases and then decreases. This phenomenon leads to the movement of the anchorage structure and instability of the surrounding soil. The influence of ISWs on the seabed bottom intensifies with the obstruction of the structure, resulting in significant positive pressure at the bottom. Between the two anchoring structures, there is increased seepage of pore water, making the seabed more prone to instability. Through the study of this article, we know that ISW has different effects on the force of monopile foundation and plate anchor structure, which provides a favorable basis for its design and maintenance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]