Search

To develop and validate a nomogram for predicting postoperative pulmonary infection (PPI) in patients undergoing lung surgery. Single-center retrospective cohort analysis. A university-affiliated cancer hospital A total of 1,501 adult patients who underwent lung surgery from January 2018 to December 2020. Observation for PPI within 7 days after lung surgery. A complete set of demographics, preoperative variables, and postoperative follow-up data was recorded. The primary outcome was PPI; a total of 125 (8.3%) out of 1,501 patients developed PPI. The variables with p < 0. 1 in univariate logistic regression were included in the multivariate regression, and multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that surgical procedure, surgical duration, the inspired fraction of oxygen in one-lung ventilation, and postoperative pain were independent risk factors for PPI. A nomogram based on these factors was constructed in the development cohort (area under the curve: 0.794, 95% CI 0.744-0.845) and validated in the validation cohort (area under the curve: 0.849, 95% CI 0.786-0.912). The calibration slope was 1 in the development and validation cohorts. Decision curve analysis indicated that when the threshold probability was within a range of 0.02-to-0.58 and 0.02-to-0.42 for the development and validation cohorts, respectively, the nomogram model could provide a clinical net benefit. The authors developed and validated a nomogram for predicting PPI in patients undergoing lung surgery. The prediction model can predict the development of PPI and identify high-risk groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Lipase from Burkholderia cepacia was encapsulated inside zirconia particles by biomimetic mineralization of K2ZrF6 induced with protamine, a natural cationic protein. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) were employed for the characterization of the novel immobilized lipase. SEM and TEM images showed that both the zirconia particles with and without lipase have good spherical structures with average particle sizes of 150nm. Fluorescence microscopy demonstrated that the lipase was indeed encapsulated inside the zirconia particles. The maximum immobilization capacity of the zirconia particles was 0.15units/mg under optimum immobilization conditions. Biochemical characterization showed that the encapsulated lipase could retain most of its initial activity. Compared with free lipase, the encapsulated lipase exhibited improved thermal, pH, and recycling stabilities. After 8 weeks of storage, no substantial loss in catalytic activity was observed for the encapsulated lipase. The conversion of the kinetic resolution of (R,S)-1-phenylethanol with vinyl acetate as acetyl donor catalyzed by zirconia-immobilized lipase reached 49.9% with higher ees of 99.9% under the following optimal conditions: octane as solvent, 0.1M (R,S)-1-phenylethanol, 70mg immobilized lipase, 180rpm, 50°C for 48h. After 6 cycles (288h), the conversion and ees were still 43% and 85%, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A new quinone compound, p-hydroxymethoxybenzobijuglone (HMBBJ), isolated from Juglans mandshurica by bioassay-guided fractionation, showed cytotoxic activity against HeLa cell line. Its chemical structure was determined by NMR and HREIMS spectra. In this paper, its ability to induce apoptosis in HeLa cells was studied for the first time. After treated with HMBBJ, the growth of HeLa cells was inhibited and cells displayed typical morphological apoptotic characteristics. Data from flow cytometry analysis showed that the HeLa cell cycle was arrested in the G2/M phase by HMBBJ, and the apoptotic rate of HeLa cells increased in a dose-dependent manner. Meanwhile, HMBBJ increased the expression of caspase-8, -3 and Bax, decreased the expression of Bcl-2, and lowered the ΔΨ m. These findings reveal that HMBBJ could efficiently induce HeLa cells apoptosis through mitochondria dependent pathway and activation of the caspase cascade, and it may be a potential chemotherapeutic candidate for the treatment of cancer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To compare the live birth rate of the first frozen embryo transfer (FET) after ovarian stimulation by the progestin-primed ovarian stimulation (PPOS) protocol vs. the antagonist protocol in women with an anticipated high ovarian response who were undergoing in vitro fertilization. Randomized controlled trial. A tertiary assisted reproduction center. Women with infertility aged <43 years undergoing the first in vitro fertilization cycle and having antral follicle count of >15. Medroxyprogesterone 10 mg daily was given from the start of ovarian stimulation until the day of ovulation trigger in the PPOS protocol. In the antagonist protocol, an antagonist 0.25 mg daily was given from the sixth day of ovarian stimulation until the day of ovulation trigger. Blinding was not possible for women or physicians but the biostatistician was blinded to the group assignment. Live birth rate of the first FET cycle. A total of 784 women were recruited from June 2020 and October 2021 and assigned randomly in a 1:1 ratio into two groups: PPOS group (n = 392) and antagonist group (n = 392). Embryo transfer was either cancelled or postponed in 62 women (62/392, 15.8%) in the PPOS group and 65 (65/392, 16.6%) in the antagonist group because of no transferable embryos or no FET within 6 months after randomization. The two groups were similar in demographic characteristics and the numbers of oocytes obtained or fertilized, cleaving embryos, good-quality embryos at day 3, blastocysts developed, and embryos or blastocysts frozen. There was no statistically significant difference in the live birth rate of the first FET cycle between the PPOS and antagonist groups on the basis of both the intention-to-treat analysis (37.5.0% [147/392] vs. 32.7% [128/392]; relative risk, 1.148 [95% confidence interval, 0.949–1.390]) and per-protocol analysis (44.5% [147/330] vs. 39.1% [128/327]; relative risk, 1.138 [95% confidence interval, 0.950–1.364]). Both groups showed comparable clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy, miscarriage, multiple pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy, and cumulative live birth rates. The live birth rates of the first FET following the PPOS and antagonist protocols were comparable in women with an anticipated high ovarian response. NCT04414761 (ClinicalTrials.gov). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The carboxylative coupling of aryl/alkyl terminal alkynes, CO 2 and benzyl halides was investigated using silver iodide as the catalyst and Cs 2 CO 3 as the base in CH 3 CN under ligand-free conditions. This reaction protocol shows a wide substrate scope and high functional group tolerance ability for benzyl halides, in which various functionalized benzyl 2-alkynoates were achieved in good yields. This one-pot, ligand-free and CH 3 CN mediated reaction proved to be easy to handle and could be facilitated under atmospheric CO 2 pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A novel rhodamine spirolactam derivative 3′,6′-Bis(diethylamino)-2-(2-hydroxyethylamino) spiro[isoindoline-1,9′-xanthen]-3-one (RO1) was synthesized, and characterized by high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), X-ray crystallography, Infrared spectroscopy (IR), and 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopy. RO1 exhibited highly sensitive and exclusively selective fluorescence response toward Cu2+ over other metal ions with a detection limit of 0.56ppb in mixed aqueous solution. The fluorescence was pH-independent in the wide range pH 3.1–11.6. The turn-on fluorescence enhancement of the probe is based on Cu2+ induced ring-opening mechanism of the rhodamine spirolactam. Moreover, by means of fluorescence microscopy experiments, it was demonstrated that RO1 could monitor trace Cu2+ changes by live cell imaging. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The neuroprotective effects of catalpol, an iridoid glycoside isolated from the fresh rehmannia roots, on the behavior and brain energy metabolism in senescent mice induced by d-galactose were assessed. Except control group, mice were subcutaneously injected with d-galactose (150mg/kg body weight) for 6 weeks. From the fifth week, drug group mice were treated with catalpol (2.5, 5, 10mg/kg body weight) and piracetam (300mg/kg body weight) for the last 2 weeks. Behavioral changes including open field test and passive avoidance were examined after drug administration. To determine the brain damage, pathological alterations were measured by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. The activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glutathione S-transferase (GSH–ST), glutamine synthetase (GS), creatine kinase (CK) in brain cortex and hippocampus were determined using different biochemical methods. Consistent with the cognition deficits, the activities of GSH–ST, GS and CK decreased while the activity of LDH increased in aging mice brain. Administration of catalpol for 2-weeks not only ameliorated cognition deficit, but also reversed the biochemical markers mentioned above and reduced the histological lesions in mouse brain. These results suggest that catalpol has protective effects on memory damage and energy metabolism failure in aging model mice and is worth testing for further preclinical study aimed for senescence or neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]