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Abstract Objective The associations between the ratio of blood high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (hs-CRP/HDL-C ratio) and outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) have yet to be established. This study is the first to examine the relationship between the hs-CRP/HDL-C ratio and three-month unfavorable outcomes in patients with AIS. Methods This secondary analysis utilized data from a prospective cohort study involving 1559 AIS patients recruited at a South Korean hospital between January 2010 and December 2016. We constructed a binary logistic regression model to explore the association between the hs-CRP/HDL-C ratio and unfavorable outcomes in patients with AIS. An attempt was made to use a generalized additive model (GAM) with smooth curve fitting to elucidate potential nonlinear interactions. Furthermore, inflection points were identified via a recursive method, and binary logistic regression models were developed for each side of these inflection points. Ultimately, a log-likelihood ratio test was used to identify the most appropriate model for explaining the connection between the hs-CRP/HDL-C ratio and unfavorable outcomes in patients with AIS. Results The incidence of unfavorable outcomes was 24.5%, with a median hs-CRP/HDL-C ratio of 3.64. After accounting for other factors, the binary logistic regression model revealed a statistically significant positive association between the hs-CRP/HDL-C ratio and the likelihood of poor outcomes in AIS patients (OR = 1.013, 95% CI: 1.005–1.022; P = 0.002). A nonlinear relationship was observed, with the first inflection point of the hs-CRP/HDL-C ratio at 42.74. Each 1-unit increase in the hs-CRP/HDL-C ratio was associated with a 2.4% greater risk of unfavorable outcomes (OR = 1.024, 95% CI: 1.011–1.038, P

Aim Blue pigments have broad applications in foods, cosmetics, and clothing. However, natural blue pigments are rare. At present, the majority of blue pigments for sale are chemically synthetic. Owing to the safety risks of chemical pigments, it is an urgent demand to develop novel natural blue pigments. Methods and Results The fermentation medium and culture conditions of blue pigment produced by Quambalaria cyanescens QY229 were optimized by Plackett–Burman (PB) experimental design and response surface methodology (RSM) for the first time. The stability, bioactivity, and toxicity of the obtained blue pigment were studied after isolation and purification. Conclusion The results showed that the optimal fermentation parameters were 34.61 g·L−1 of peptone concentration, 31.67°C of growing temperature, and 72.33 mL of medium volume in a 250-mL flask, and the yield of blue pigment reached 348.2 ± 7.1 U·mL−1. QY229 blue pigment is stable to light, heat, pH, most metal ions, and additives, and has certain antioxidant and inhibitory activity of α-glucosidase in vitro. QY229 blue pigment at concentrations of 0–1.25 mg·mL−1 was nontoxic to Caenorhabditis elegans in an acute toxicity trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]