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In this experiment, a series of poly(propylene 2,5-furan dicarboxylate)-b-poly(ethylene glycol) (PPFEG) copolymers with different ratios were synthesized using melt polycondensation of dimethylfuran-2,5-dicarboxylate (DMFD), 1,3-propanediol (PDO) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). The effect of PEG content on the crystallization behavior of the poly(propylene 2,5-furan dicarboxylate) (PPF) copolymers was investigated. For PPF, the nucleation density of the β-crystals was higher than that of α-crystals. As Tc increases, the β crystals are suppressed more, but at Tc = 140 °C, the bulk of PPF has already been converted to α crystals, which crystallize faster at higher nucleation densities, resulting in a difference in polymer properties. For this case, we chose to add a soft segment material, PEG, which led to an early multi–melt crystallization behavior of the PPF. The addition of PEG led to a decrease in the crystallization temperature of PPF, as well as a decrease in the cold crystallization peak of PPF. From the crystalline morphology, it can be seen that the addition of PEG caused the transformation of the PPF crystalline form to occur earlier. From the crystalline morphology of PPF at 155 °C, it can be observed that the ring-banded spherical crystals of the PPF appear slowly with increasing time. With the addition of PEG, spherical crystals of the ring band appeared earlier, and even appeared first, and then disappeared slowly.

The consequences of COVID-19 infecting pregnant women and the potential risks of vertical transmission have become a major issue. Since little is currently known about COVID-19 in pregnancy, the understanding of COVID-19 in this particular group will be updated in time, and a comprehensive review will be useful to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 in pregnancy. Based on recently published literature and official documents, this review provides an introduction to the pathogenesis, pathology, and clinical features of COVID-19 and has focused on the current researches on clinical features, pregnancy outcomes and placental histopathological analysis from pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 in comparison with SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. These viruses trigger a cytokine storm in the body, produce a series of immune responses, and cause changes in peripheral leukocytes and immune system cells leading to pregnancy complications that may be associated with viral infections. The expression of ACE2 receptors in the vascular endothelium may explain the histological changes of placentas from pregnant women infected by SARS-CoV-2. Pregnant women with COVID-19 pneumonia show similar clinical characteristics compared with non-pregnant counterparts. Although there is no unequivocal evidence to support the fetal infection by intrauterine vertical transmission of SARS, MERS and SARS-CoV-2 so far, more and more articles began to report maternal deaths due to COVID-19. In particular, from February 26, 2020 (date of the first COVID-19 case reported in Brazil) until June 18, 2020, Brazil reported 124 maternal deaths. Therefore, pregnant women and neonates require special attention regarding the prevention, diagnosis and management of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the microwave-assisted molten salt method (MAMSS) and molten salt method (MSS) were used to synthesize SrBi4Ti4O15 (SBT). The phase constitution was determined by powder X-ray diffraction and the microstructure of powder was examined by scanning electron microscopy. In contrast to the conventional MSS method, MAMSS produces more distinct plate-like grains and synthesizes both SBT and Bi4Ti3O12 (BTO) at 600°C with a 30-min soaking time. The increase of temperature and soaking time can make the plate-like grains of BTO more distinct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postpartum elevation of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in mothers with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) presents a significant clinical challenge. However, the existing literature demonstrates inconsistencies regarding its incidence and predictors in mothers infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Recent advancements in antiviral prophylaxis against mother-to-child transmission of HBV and postpartum cessation of antiviral therapy further complicate this issue. Our literature review, spanning PubMed, and two Chinese-language databases (CNKI and Wanfang) from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2023 aimed to consolidate and analyse available data on the frequency and severity of postpartum ALT flares, identify risk factors, and propose a management algorithm. Data from 23 eligible studies involving 8,077 pregnant women revealed an overall incidence of postpartum ALT elevation: 25.7% for mild cases, 4.4% for moderate cases, and 1.7% for severe cases. In the subgroup of mothers who were HBeAg-positive and on antiviral prophylaxis for preventing mother-to-child transmission, postpartum intermediate and severe ALT elevations were reported with pooled rates of 5.9% and 0.8%, respectively. Importantly, none resulted in mortality or necessitated liver transplantation. Identified risk factors for postpartum ALT flares in mothers with CHB included HBV DNA levels, ALT levels during pregnancy, postpartum cessation of antiviral treatment, and HBeAg status. By leveraging this evidence and recent data on predictors of intermediate or severe postpartum ALT flares, we propose a risk-stratified algorithm for managing postpartum ALT elevation and selecting therapy in mothers with CHB, tailoring different approaches for treatment-naive vs treatment-experienced populations. These recommendations aim to provide guidance for clinical decision-making and enhance patient outcomes., Competing Interests: C.Q.P. received institutional research grants from Gilead Sciences and Wuxi Hisky Medical Technologies Co., Ltd. Other authors have no financial interests to be disclosed., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press and Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University.)

Acute liver failure (ALF) is a severe liver disease caused by disruptions in the body's immune microenvironment. In the early stages of ALF, Kupffer cells (KCs) become depleted and recruit monocytes derived from the bone marrow or abdomen to replace the depleted macrophages entering the liver. These monocytes differentiate into mature macrophages, which are activated in the immune microenvironment of the liver and polarized to perform various functions. Macrophage polarization can occur in two directions: pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages and anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages. Controlling the ratio and direction of M1 and M2 in ALF can help reduce liver injury. However, the liver damage caused by pyroptosis should not be underestimated, as it is a caspase-dependent form of cell death. Inhibiting pyroptosis has been shown to effectively reduce liver damage induced by ALF. Furthermore, macrophage polarization and pyroptosis share common binding sites, signaling pathways, and outcomes. In the review, we describe the role of macrophage polarization and pyroptosis in the pathogenesis of ALF. Additionally, we preliminarily explore the relationship between macrophage polarization and pyroptosis, as well as their effects on ALF., 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 © 2023 Xie and Ouyang.)

Xpert Xpress Flu/RSV is a fast and automated real-time nucleic acid amplification tool for detecting influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The aim of this study was to verify the accuracy of Xpert Xpress Flu/RSV for detecting influenza virus and RSV. PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were searched up to October 2020. The quality of the original research was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 guidelines. Meta-DiSc 1.4 software was used to analyze the sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, diagnostic odds ratio, and summary receiver operating characteristic curve. Deek's funnel plot asymmetry test was used to evaluate the publication bias using the Stata 12.0 software. Ten studies with 25 fourfold tables were included in the analysis. The sensitivity of Xpert Xpress Flu/RSV for detecting influenza A, influenza B, and RSV were 0.97, 0.98, and 0.96, respectively, and the specificities were 0.97, 1.00, and 1.00, respectively. Compared with other common clinical real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Xpert Xpress Flu/RSV is a valuable tool for diagnosing influenza virus and RSV with high sensitivity and specificity.

Background: To date, studies have shown inconsistent results of treatment with bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMDSC) for patients with liver cirrhosis. This study aims to compare the efficacy and safety of BMDSC and standard therapy for liver cirrhosis., Methods: Articles from PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane library were searched from inception to April 2018. The index included Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), albumin, total bilirubin (TBIL), prothrombin time (PT), Child-Pugh score, and all-cause mortality., Results: A total of 9 studies with a total of 424 patients with liver cirrhosis were included in final meta-analysis. BMDSC therapy was associated with lower MELD within 3 months (P = .010), while it had no significant impact on MELD after 6 months (P = .074). There were no differences between BMDSC and standard therapy for ALT within 3 months (P = .336) and after 6 months (P = .379). BMDSC did not affect albumin level within 3 months (P = .196) and after 6 months (P = .840). BMDSC reduced the TBIL level within 3 months (P = .037) and was not associated with the TBIL level after 6 months (P = .914). There were no differences between BMDSC and standard therapy for PT within 3 months (P = .167) and after 6 months (P = .484). The Child-Pugh scores within 3 months (P = .342) and after 6 months (P = .133) were not associated with BMDSC treatment for liver cirrhosis patients. Finally, the BMDSC was not associated with the risk of all-cause mortality, as compared with standard therapy (P = .622)., Conclusions: BMDSC treatment for patients with liver cirrhosis could improve short-term MELD and TBIL, but not the risk of mortality, as compared with standard therapy.

Objective: To investigate the changes in the expressions of p53, DKK (the inhibitor of Wnt pathway) and phosphorylated tau in rat bilateral hippocampus after beta-amyloid peptide (beta-AP) (25-35) injection, and observe the effect of saponin B from Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge (SAaB) in this model., Methods: After bilateral injection of beta-AP (25-35) into the hippocampus of rats, RT-PCR was performed for observing the changes in p53 and DKK mRNA expressions and immunochemistry carried out to detect the changes in phosphorylated tau protein., Results: RT-PCR showed increased p53 and DKK mRNA expression and immunochemistry revealed increased phosphorylated tau-positive cells in rat hippocampus after beta-AP (25-35) injection, and administration of SAaB significantly ameliorated these changes., Conclusion: SAaB can significantly ameliorate beta-AP-induced tau hyperphosphorylation by inhibiting increased p53 and DKK mRNA expressions in response to beta-AP injection.