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In the last decade, fuzzy community detection has received increasing attention, since it} can not only uncover community structure of a network, but also reflect the membership degrees of each node to multiple communities. Although some pioneers proposed a few algorithms for finding fuzzy communities, there is still room for further improvement in the quality of detected fuzzy communities. In this study, a metaheuristic-based modularity optimization algorithm, named Symbiotic Organisms Search Fuzzy Community Detection (SOSFCD) is proposed. On the one hand, an improved bio-inspired metaheuristic algorithm, Elite Symbiotic Organisms Search (Elite-SOS), is designed as optimization strategy to improve the global convergence of fuzzy modularity optimization. On the other hand, a Neighbor-based Membership Modification (NMM) operation is proposed to intensify exploitation ability and speed up convergence, by efficiently utilizing local information (i.e., node neighborhood) of network topology. Experimental results on both of synthetic and real-life networks with different scales and characteristics show that SOSFCD can find max-modularity fuzzy partitions and coverings, which outperforms many state-of-the-art algorithms in terms of accuracy and stability.

Aristolochic acids (AAs) have long been considered as a potent carcinogen due to its nephrotoxicity. Aristolochic acid I (AAI) reacts with DNA to form covalent aristolactam (AL)–DNA adducts, leading to subsequent A to T transversion mutation, commonly referred as AA mutational signature. Previous research inferred that AAs were widely implicated in liver cancer throughout Asia. In this study, we explored whether AAs exposure was the main cause of liver cancer in the context of HBV infection in mainland China. Totally 1256 liver cancer samples were randomly retrieved from 3 medical centers and a refined bioanalytical method was used to detect AAI–DNA adducts. 5.10% of these samples could be identified as AAI positive exposure. Whole genome sequencing suggested 8.41% of 107 liver cancer patients exhibited the dominant AA mutational signature, indicating a relatively low overall AAI exposure rate. In animal models, long-term administration of AAI barely increased liver tumorigenesis in adult mice, opposite from its tumor-inducing role when subjected to infant mice. Furthermore, AAI induced dose-dependent accumulation of AA–DNA adduct in target organs in adult mice, with the most detected in kidney instead of liver. Taken together, our data indicate that AA exposure was not the major threat of liver cancer in adulthood.

Background Fascial autografts, which are easily available grafts, have provided a promising option in patients with massive rotator cuff tears. However, no fascial autografts other than the fascia lata have been reported, and the exact healing process of the fascia-to-bone interface is not well understood. The objective of this study is to histologically and biomechanically evaluate the effect of the thoracolumbar fascia (TLF) on fascia-to-bone healing. Methods A total of 88 rats were used in this study. Eight rats were sacrificed at the beginning to form an intact control group, and the other rats were divided randomly into 2 groups (40 rats per group): the thoracolumbar fascia augmentation group (TLF group) and the repair group (R group). The right supraspinatus was detached, and a 3*5 mm defect of the supraspinatus was created. The thoracolumbar fascia was used to augment the torn supraspinatus in the TLF group, whereas in the R group, the torn supraspinatus was repaired in only a transosseous manner. Histology and biomechanics were assessed at 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 weeks postoperatively. Results The modified tendon maturation score of the TLF group was higher than that of the R group at 8 weeks (23.00 ± 0.71 vs. 24.40 ± 0.89, P=.025) and 16 weeks (24.60 ± 0.55 vs. 26.40 ± 0.55, P≤.001). The TLF group showed a rapid vascular reaction, and the peak value appeared at 1 week. Later, the capillary density decreased, and almost no angiogenesis was observed at 8 weeks postoperatively. Immunohistochemistry results demonstrated a significantly higher percentage of collagen I in the TLF group at 4, 8 and 16 weeks (24.78% ± 2.76% vs. 20.67% ± 2.11% at 4 weeks, p=.046; 25.46% ± 1.77% vs. 21.49% ± 2.33% at 8 weeks, p=.026; 34.77% ± 2.25% vs. 30.01% ± 3.17% at 16 weeks, p=.040) postoperatively. Biomechanical tests revealed that the ultimate failure force in the TLF group was significantly higher than that in the R group at the final evaluation (29.13 ± 2.49 N vs. 23.10 ± 3.47 N, p=.022). Conclusions The TLF autograft can promote a faster biological healing process and a better fixation strength. It could be used as an alternative reinforcement or bridging patch when the fascia lata is not appropriate or available for SCR. Level of evidence Basic Science Study; Histology and Biomechanics

Objective To evaluate the impact of staying up late (SUL) on the risk of intracranial aneurysm (IA) rupture. Methods This case-control study included 452 patients diagnosed with IA. They were divided into ruptured and unruptured groups. Staying up late was categorized in three levels (11–12 o’clock, 12-1 o’clock, after 1 o’clock) according to the time of falling asleep. To explore the relationship between staying up late and risk of IA rupture, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Results Multivariate analysis found a significant difference in the percentage of patients falling asleep at 12-1 o’clock (OR, 2.25; 95% CI, 1.10–4.59) or after 1 o’clock (OR, 4.68; 95% CI, 1.74–12.55) between the ruptured and unruptured groups. The following risk factors differed significantly between the two groups: hypertension (OR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.33–3.17), current smoking (OR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.09–2.71), irregular IA (OR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.15–3.00), IA size ≥8 mm (OR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.22–3.02), MCA location (OR, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.19–5.02), and aspect ratio (OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.02–1.73). Conclusion Patients who fell asleep later than 12 midnight on average showed higher risk of IA rupture. The reasons for this are not very clear. A review of the literature suggests that this association may be related to a series of physiological, pathophysiological, endocrine and metabolic changes.

Background Computed tomography (CT)‐guided percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) is a very common ablation method that shows a good local tumor control rate in primary and secondary lung tumors. At present, few reports have explored the safety and efficacy of MWA for lung metastases from breast cancer. Methods From January 2012 to January 2018, 32 breast cancer patients with 46 pulmonary metastases received CT‐guided percutaneous MWA. The study was approved by the local institutional review board. The clinical efficacy and complications of MWA were investigated. Results The median follow‐up time was 32 months and the main effective rate was 97.8% (45/46). Five of 46 lesions had local progression (10.9%), with a median progression time of 10 months. The 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year overall survival (OS) rates were 96.9%, 53.3%, and 17.8%, respectively. The median OS time was 36 months. Among 46 MWA treatments, 11 (23.9%) had massive pneumothorax, two (4.3%) had massive pleural effusion, and two (4.3%) had a pulmonary infection. Conclusion CT‐guided percutaneous MWA may be safe and effective for treating lung metastases from breast cancer., Most patients with lung metastases from breast cancer, especially those with multiple metastases, are ineligible for operation. Thirty‐two patients who underwent microwave ablation (MWA) for lung metastases from breast cancer over a 6‐year period were examined. Computed tomography‐guided percutaneous MWA may be safe and effective for treating lung metastases from breast cancer.

Background As the use of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) in the international market increases, the number of clinical studies including randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of CHM which published in international journals has also increased. Using bibliometrics, we systematically and comprehensively analyzed the research status of CHM RCTs published in English during the period of 2010 to 2019. Methods Electronic searches in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were undertaken. CHM RCTs published in English between January 2010 and December 2019 were included. We randomly selected 20% from the eligible articles. Descriptive statistical analysis was carried out by extracting information on general information, characteristics of the study participants, interventions, outcomes, and risk of bias assessment of included RCTs. Results Two hundred and twenty-seven CHM RCTs published in English were included in our study. Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine was the journal which published most of the relevant papers (22.0%). A total of 45,774 participants were included, sample size ranged from 12 to 3,143 (median: 115). The most common disease was the circulatory diseases (n=36, 15.9%). Decoction was the most common dosage form (28.2%), and "CHM vs. placebo" was the most common type of control (36.1%). The median of the total number of outcomes was 4 (range: 1-14), 92 (40.5%) did not clearly specify any primary outcome, 56 (24.7%) did not report any adverse event, 41 (18.1%) and 68 (30.0%) reported traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)- specific outcomes and quality of life, respectively. Eighty-five (37.4%) did not report sufficient information about the random sequence generation process, 100 (44.1%) used the adequate allocation concealment, 92 (40.5%) blinded participants and key study personnel, and 24 (10.6%) blinded outcome assessors. Conclusions Our results provided insight into the research status regarding CHM RCTs published in English during the past decade, this study may be helpful in understanding research trends in this field.

PURPOSE This study aimed to investigate the effect of prophylactic uterine artery embolization (UAE) on reproductive outcomes in patients with cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP). METHODS A retrospective case-control study was conducted using the hospital records of all women diagnosed with CSP during a period of 6 years, between January 2014 and December 2019, at Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University. The clinical characteristics and different treatment modalities were analyzed. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 181 patients with reproductive needs were selected and divided into a UAE group (n = 51) and a non-UAE group (n = 130) according to whether they received preventive UAE before their hysteroscopic or laparoscopic operation. The basic characteristics and pregnancy outcomes of patients in each group were compared, and a propensity score-matched (PSM) analysis was used to produce 37 matched pairs. RESULTS Before PSM, the UAE group had a thinner muscle layer, larger mass size, and higher serum human chorionic gonadotropin level than the non-UAE group. The pregnancy rate and live birth rate of the UAE group were 54.9% and 61.9%, respectively, which were lower than those of the non-UAE group (61.5% and 66.7%), but no statistical differences were observed. Post-PSM, no significant differences between basic characteristics of the groups were observed. The pregnancy rate of the UAE group was 51.4%, which was lower than that of the non-UAE group (73.0%); the live birth rate of the UAE group was 64.3%, which was also lower than that of the non-UAE group (72.7%); however, the differences were not statistically significant with the P value of 0.077 and 0.716. CONCLUSION Prophylactic UAE did not induce a significant difference in pregnancy rate and live birth rate between the UAE group and the non-UAE group.

The onset and progression of ovarian cancer (OC) are closely related to dysregulated gene expression. Current treatments for OC are mainly limited to surgery and chemotherapy. However, due to low drug sensitivity, the prognosis OC is exceptionally poor and the recurrence rate remains high. Hence, it is vital to develop new treatment strategies. Gene editing for site-specific genomic modification is a powerful novel tool for the treatment of OC. In this article, current gene editing research for the treatment of OC is reviewed to provide a reference for the clinical application of new approaches to improve treatment outcomes and prognosis.

Purpose: To observe the changes of gait behavior and the expression of wound healing factors of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), TGF-β3 and cAMP response element binding protein-1 (CREB-1) during the healing of Achilles tendon in a rat model, and to investigate whether gait analysis can be used to evaluate the tendon healing. Methods: Achilles tendon of 40 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were transected and sutured to establish the Achilles tendon injury (ATI) model. They were randomly divided into 4 groups based on the observational time point at 1, 2, 4 and 6 weeks after injury (n = 10 for each group). Before modeling, 9 rats were randomly selected for CatWalk gait analysis, which contained step cycle, single stance time and average speed. Data were recorded as the normal controls. After then, ATI models were established in the left hind limbs of the all 40 rats (ATI group), while the right hind limbs were only cut and sutured without injury of the Achilles tendon (sham operation group). At 1, 2, 4 and 6 weeks after injury, the gait behavior of the corresponding group of rats (n = 9) as observed and recorded by CatWalk platform. After then, the rats were sacrificed and Achilles tendon of both limbs was harvested. The tendon healing was observed by gross anatomy and histological examination, and the protein and mRNA expression of TGF-β1, TGF-β3, CREB-1 were observed by immunohistochemistry and qPCR. The results of tendon gross grading were analyzed by Wilcoxon rank sum test, and other data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance among multiple groups. Results: Compared with normal controls, all gait indexes (step cycle, single stance time and average speed) were greatly affected following ATI, which however improved with time. The step cycle was significantly lower at 1, 2 and 4 weeks after ATI (compared with normal controls, all p 0.05). The single stance time of the ATI group was significantly shorter at 1 and 2 weeks after operation ((0.078 ± 0.010) s at 1 week, (0.078 ± 0.020) s at 2 weeks, all p

Purpose To evaluate the incidence rate and risk factors for status epilepticus (SE) after stroke (PSSE), including ischaemic stroke (IS), intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Methods A meta-analysis was performed using relevant research from databases such as PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Online Library, and Clinicaltrials.gov. The quality of the studies was evaluated by using the quality evaluation criteria of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). All data were pooled by STATA 12.0 software for meta-analysis. Results The review considered 1650 articles, and 17 articles with 2821 instances of SE among 1088087 instances of stroke were included. The incidence rate of SE after stroke was 6.90 per 1000 total strokes (95% CI: 5.58-8.22). By subgroup analysis of SE, the rates were 33.85‰ (95% CI: 13.77-53.94) for non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) and 2.42‰ (95%CI: 1.66-3.19) for generalized convulsive status epilepticus (GCSE). Age, sex, and presence of atrial fibrillation showed no significant difference between the SE group and the non-SE group after stroke. Hypertension and diabetes are associated with a decreased rate of SE. However, African American race, alcohol abuse, and renal disease are associated with an increased rate of SE. Significance There were approximately 6.9 patients with status epilepticus per 1000 strokes. NCSE is more common after stroke and needs more attention. African American race, alcohol abuse and renal disease may be risk factors for PSSE.

The association of poor pulmonary function (PF) with cognitive trajectories and structural brain differences remains unclear. Within the Rush Memory and Aging Project, 1377 dementia-free subjects were followed up to 21 years. PF was assessed with a composite score measured at baseline. Global and domain-specific cognitive function was assessed annually constructed from 19 cognitive tests. A subsample of 351 participants underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the cross-sectional association between PF and structural brain volumes. We found that low PF was related to faster decline in global cognition, and domain-specific function including episodic memory, semantic memory, working memory, visuospatial ability, and perceptual speed. In addition, low PF was associated with smaller volumes of total brain, white matter and gray matter, and larger white matter hyperintensities volume. Our results suggest that low PF is associated with faster cognitive decline, and both neurodegeneration and vascular brain lesions may underlie the association.

Calcyphosine (CAPS) was initially identified from the canine thyroid. It also exists in many types of tumor, but its expression and function in glioma remain unknown. Here we explored the clinical significance and the functional mechanisms of CAPS in glioma. We found that CAPS was highly expressed in glioma and high expression of CAPS was correlated with poor survival, in glioma patients and public databases. Cox regression analysis showed that CAPS was an independent prognostic factor for glioma patients. Knockdown of CAPS suppressed the proliferation, whereas overexpression of CAPS promoted the proliferation of glioma both in vitro and in vivo. CAPS regulated the G2/M phase transition of the cell cycle, but had no obvious effect on apoptosis. CAPS affected PLK1 phosphorylation through interaction with MYPT1. CAPS knockdown decreased p-MYPT1 at S507 and p-PLK1 at S210. Expression of MYPT1 S507 phosphomimic rescued PLK1 phosphorylation and the phenotype caused by CAPS knockdown. The PLK1 inhibitor volasertib enhanced the therapeutic effect of temozolomide in glioma. Our data suggest that CAPS promotes the proliferation of glioma by regulating the cell cycle and the PLK1 inhibitor volasertib might be a chemosensitizer of glioma. © 2021 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

Context Diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia accelerates the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. However, data regarding the association between main cardiometabolic morbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia and the subsequent risk of CVD events in Chinese adults are still limited. Objective To investigate the associations between individual and combined cardiometabolic morbidities and incident cardiovascular events in Chinese adults. Methods Baseline data were obtained from a prospective, nationwide, and population-based cohort study in China during 2011–2012. A total of 133 572 participants aged ≥40 years were included in the study. The main outcome measures were CVD events. Results Compared with participants without diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia, participants with only diabetes (hazard ratio [HR], 1.58; 95% CI, 1.32-1.90) or only hypertension (2.04; 1.82-2.28) exhibited significantly higher risk for CVD events, while participants with only dyslipidemia (0.97; 0.84-1.12) exhibited no significantly higher risk for CVD events. When analyzed collectively, participants with diabetes plus hypertension (HR, 2.67; 95% CI, 2.33-3.06), diabetes plus dyslipidemia (1.57; 1.32-1.87), and hypertension plus dyslipidemia (2.12; 1.88-2.39) exhibited significantly higher risk for CVD. Moreover, participants with the combination of diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia exhibited the highest risk for CVD events (HR, 3.06; 95% CI, 2.71-3.46). Multivariable-adjusted HRs (95% CIs) for CVD associated with diabetes based on fasting glucose ≥7.0 mmol/L, oral glucose tolerance test 2-hour glucose ≥11.1 mmol/L, and hemoglobin A1c ≥6.5% were 1.64 (1.51-1.78), 1.57 (1.45-1.69), and 1.54 (1.42-1.66), respectively; associated with hypertension based on systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg were 1.89 (1.76-2.03) and 1.74 (1.60-1.88), respectively; associated with dyslipidemia based on total cholesterol ≥6.22 mmol/L, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ≥4.14 mmol/L, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol Conclusion Diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia showed additive associations with the risk of CVD events in middle-aged and elderly Chinese adults.

Nonalcoholic fatty pancreas disease (NAFPD) is an emerging disease that has gained an increasing amount of attention in recent years. It describes fat accumulation in the pancreas with insignificant alcohol consumption, but the pathogenesis is largely unknown. A wide range of terms have been used to describe the phenomenon of pancreatic fat accumulation, but NAFPD remains an under-recognized and non-independent disorder. Obesity, age, sex, race, and unhealthy lifestyle are established independent risk factors for NAFPD, which is strongly associated with metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, pancreatitis, pancreatic fistula, pancreatic cancer, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. At present, imaging techniques are common diagnostic aids, but uniform criteria and consensus are lacking. Therapeutically, healthy diet, weight loss, and exercise are the mainstays to reduce pancreatic fat accumulation. It can be seen that there is a limited understanding of NAFPD at this stage and further exploration is needed. Previous studies have revealed that NAFPD may directly affect diagnosis and clinical decision-making. Therefore, exploring the pathophysiological mechanism and clinical associations of NAFPD is a major challenge for researchers and clinicians.

OBJECTIVE To characterize the features of thalamocortical functional connectivity during seizure recurrence at the time of antiseizure medication (ASM) withdrawal. METHODS Patients with chronic epilepsy who attempted to discontinue medications were prospectively registered and followed up; 19 patients remained seizure-free (SF-group), 18 patients had seizure relapses (SR-group) after ASM withdrawal, and 28 healthy controls were recruited. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging was performed before ASM withdrawal. Thalamus subdivisions were set as seeds to calculate voxelwise functional connectivity. Partial correlation analysis between functional connectivity and clinical variables was performed. A support vector machine was used to assess the predictive ability of the specific functional connectivity for seizure relapse. RESULTS The within-group comparison indicated that the SR-group had more extensive functional connectivity than the SF-group; the left inferior pulvinar, left medial pulvinar, and right anterior pulvinar showed a significantly stronger functional connection with the precuneus in the SR-group than in the SF-group (Gaussian random field correction, voxel-level p

Recent trends in 5G and beyond wireless networks have encouraged the migration from the already congested radio frequency (RF) spectrum to higher frequency bands. In this context, the ubiquitous presence of lighting systems supports wide scale deployment of wireless communication links via light. However, the susceptibility of light to user mobility hinders its wide adoption. Hence, the coexistence of RF and light-based wireless communications has the potential to offer seamless heterogeneous network (HetNet) coverage through intelligent vertical handover policies in the presence of users' mobility. In this article, we first present new insights on the implementation of realistic indoor mobile optical channels and the impact of crowd mobility on relevant channel statistics. Then, an artificial intelligence (AI)-based framework for efficient resource management in mobile multi-user RF-light HetNets is proposed using a deep learning-empowered optical link predictor and a multiagent reinforcement learning-based link assignment strategy. The proposed AI-based framework helps to lay down the foundations of smart resource management in mobile multi-user HetNets.

The carrier recombination was one of the factors limiting the further improvement of the Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin film solar cells. In this paper, a proper bandgap structure was designed to solve this problem. The effects of the different bandgap structure on the CZTS thin film solar cells were studied by the solar cell performance simulation software wxAMPS. A graded bandgap structure was designed and optimized. The bandgap with a front bandgap gradient and a flat bandgap gradient had a favorable effect on the CZTS thin film solar cells. Finally, the fill factor (FF) and conversion efficiency (η) of the CZTS thin film solar cell were increased from 36.41% to 42.73% and from 6.85% to 10.03%, respectively. In addition, the effect of donor and acceptor defect densities in CZTS absorber layer near the CdS/CZTS interface on the device performance was studied, η of the CZTS thin film solar cell was increased from 5.99% to 7.55% when the acceptor defect concentration was 1012–1013 cm−3. Moreover, the thicknesses of the CZTS absorber layer were optimized. The FF and η of the CZTS thin film solar cell were increased to 63.41% and 15.04%, respectively.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic increased the burden on many healthcare systems and in the process, exposed the need for medical resources and physical space. While few studies discussed the efficient utilization of medical resources and physical space so far. Therefore, this study aimed to summarize experiences related to facilities used for centralized isolation for medical observation and treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic in China and to provide suggestions to further improve the management of confirmed cases, suspected cases, and close contacts. In China, three types of facilities for centralized isolation (Fangcang shelter hospitals, refitted non-designated hospitals, and quarantine hotels) underwent retrofitting for the treatment and isolation of confirmed and suspected cases. These facilities mitigated the immediate high demand for space. Moreover, in order to minimize infection risks in these facilities, regulators and governmental agencies implemented new designs, management measures, and precautionary measures to minimize infection risk. Other countries and regions could refer to China's experience in optimally allocating social resources in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a conclusion, government should allocate social resources and construct centralized isolation and quarantine facilities for an emergency response, health authorities should issue regulations for centralized isolation facilities and pay strict attention to the daily management of these facilities, a multidisciplinary administration team is required to support the daily operation of a centralized isolation facility, in-depth studies and international collaboration on the centralized isolation policy are encouraged.

Objective To explore the clinical efficacy of collateral-pricking and blood-letting cupping combined with surrounding needling technique electroacupuncture in the treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). Methods Seventy-two patients with post-herpetic neuralgia were randomized into observation group and control group. Of the 72 cases, 12 cases fell off, so finally 30 cases in each group. The observation group was treated with collateral-pricking and blood-letting cupping combined with surrounding needling technique electroacupuncture, while the control group was treated simply with pregabalin capsules for 20 consecutive days. On the basis of the western medication pregabalin capsules, the same as that of the control group, collateral-pricking and blood-letting cupping combined with electroacupuncture in a surrounding needling technique, was adopted for the observation group, once every two days, ten days as one course of treatment, a total of two courses. The immediate visual analogue scale (VAS) before and after treatment were observed in the two groups, and their clinical effects were compared. Results The VAS scores of PHN patients in the two groups after treatment were lower than those before treatment (both P Conclusion The clinical effect of collateral-pricking and blood-letting cupping combined with electroacupuncture is relatively satisfactory in the treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia.

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease. One of the pathologies of AD is the accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) to form senile plaques, leading to a decline in cognitive ability and a lack of learning and memory. However, the cause leading to Aβ aggregation is not well understood. Dendritic cell factor 1 (Dcf1) shows a high expression in the entorhinal cortex neurons and neurofibrillary tangles in AD patients. Objective: Our goal is to investigate the effect of Dcf1 on Aβ aggregation and memory deficits in AD development. Methods: The mouse and Drosophila AD model were used to test the expression and aggregation of Aβ, senile plaque formation, and pathological changes in cognitive behavior during dcf1 knockout and expression. We finally explored possible drug target effects through intracerebroventricular delivery of Dcf1 antibodies. Results: Deletion of Dcf1 resulted in decreased Aβ42 level and deposition, and rescued AMPA Receptor (GluA2) levels in the hippocampus of APP-PS1-AD mice. In Aβ42 AD Drosophila, the expression of Dcf1 in Aβ42 AD flies aggravated the formation and accumulation of senile plaques, significantly reduced its climbing ability and learning-memory. Data analysis from all 20 donors with and without AD patients aged between 80 and 90 indicated a high-level expression of Dcf1 in the temporal neocortex. Dcf1 contributed to Aβ aggregation by UV spectroscopy assay. Intracerebroventricular delivery of Dcf1 antibodies in the hippocampus reduced the area of senile plaques and reversed learning and memory deficits in APP-PS1-AD mice. Conclusion: Dcf1 causes Aβ-plaque accumulation, inhibiting dcf1 expression could potentially offer therapeutic avenues.

Background This study aimed to evaluate blood pressure alterations after microvascular decompression (MVD) surgery in patients with hemifacial spasm (HFS) with coexisting hypertension (HTN). Methods A total of 56 patients with HFS with concurrent HTN who underwent MVD surgery in our center between 2015 and 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into control and experimental groups: patients who received MVD treatment for only the facial nerve and those who received MVD for the affected facial nerve, ipsilateral vagus nerve, and adjacent ventrolateral medulla, respectively. Preoperative (3 days) and postoperative (7 days and 6 months) blood pressure measurements were analyzed. Results No statistically significant differences were observed in gender, age, HFS course, HTN course, HTN grade, and preoperative blood pressure between the two groups. No significant difference was observed between pre- and postoperative blood pressure in the control group. In the experimental group, systolic blood pressure significantly differed between 3 preoperative days and 7 postoperative days (p Conclusion Vascular decompression of the ipsilateral vagus nerve roots may improve blood pressure management in patients with HFS with coexisting HTN who undergo MVD. Laterality of involvement (left vs. right) did not significantly differ.

Objective Diabetes is the fifth leading cause of death in the People's Republic of China. The aim of the article is to compare the effects of nursing care on the laboratory findings and ultrasound results of diabetic patients with chronic liver diseases (CLD) who were treated with antiglycemic drugs. Methods Diabetic were patients treated with metformin hydrochloride in combination with gliclazide, pioglitazone hydrochloride, sitagliptin, exenatide or liraglutide. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was evaluated by abdominal ultrasound, and fibrosis stages were evaluated at baseline and 8 months. All the patients were equally divided into two groups depending on the therapeutic approach. Results The first group of patients additionally received nursing care, and the second group adhered to the prescribed therapy on their own. In total 90 patients, or 55.6%, had NAFLD at baseline, and its course was dependent upon changes in the weight (P = 0.009) and waist circumference (P = 0.012). The proportions of patients who demonstrated an ultrasonographic improvement in the control group were: 24 (56.8%) with gliclazide, 15 (41.3%) with pioglitazone hydrochloride, 28 (66.1%) with sitagliptin, 16 (79%) with exenatide and 15 (66.7%) with liraglutide (P = 0.2). For the group that received nursing care an ultrasonographic improvement was in: 29 (68.16%) with gliclazide, 18 (49.56%) with pioglitazone hydrochloride, 33 (79.32%) with sitagliptin, 19 (94.8%) with exenatide and 21 80.04% with liraglutide (P = 0.2). Conclusions Outcomes from the type 2 diabetes treatment paralleling of CLD were presented. Treatment of type 2 diabetes with pioglitazone hydrochloride, gliclazide, sitagliptin, liraglutide and exenatide was proven effective.

Hypertension is the most prevalent chronic disease and a risk factor for various diseases. Although its mechanisms and therapies are constantly being updated and developed, they are still not fully clarified. In recent years, novel gut microbiota and its metabolites have attracted widespread attention. It is strongly linked with physiological and pathological systems, especially TMA and TMAO. TMA is formed by intestinal microbial metabolism of choline and L-carnitine and converted into TMAO by FMO3. This paper collected and collated the latest researches and mainly discussed the following four parts. It introduced gut microbiota; provided a focus on TMA, TMA-producing bacteria, and TMAO; summarized the alternations in hypertensive patients and animals; discussed the mechanisms of TMAO with two respects; and summarized the regulatory factors may be as new interventions and therapies of hypertension. And, more relevant studies are still prospected to be accomplished between hypertension and TMA/TMAO for further clinical services.

Optical wireless networks, especially those relying on visible light communications, suffer from severe deterioration in signal’s quality when the line-of-sight (LOS) link is absent due to user’s mobility. In order to enable efficient resource management within such networks, reliable prediction of LOS link outage is essential. Towards this objective, this article proposes a data-driven approach based on deep machine learning techniques to predict the outage events in an LOS link. First, we present a framework to generate sufficient data representing the channel gain in mobile optical wireless networks that consist of visible light communications in the downlink and infrared communications in the uplink. Using the developed dataset, we propose a channel predictor that forecasts the burst outages or signal recoveries in the upcoming frames using a deep recurrent neural network that implements long-short-term-memory (LSTM) units. To achieve this goal, we propose a low-complexity approach to reduce the data sparsity due to the user’s mobility by abstracting and densifying the channel state sequence. For a one second prediction interval, the proposed prediction framework achieves an event hit rate of 91.55% for abrupt outages with an average event timing error of 79 ms, and 83.19% for recoveries from outages with 145 ms timing error. This timing error is on the same order of magnitude with the coherence time of the optical wireless channel. Therefore, this predictor is very useful in developing efficient resource management strategies in such optical networks.

Background To establish and validate a nomogram and corresponding web-based calculator to predict the survival of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods In this cohort study, we retrospectively evaluated patients (n=497) with PD using a two-stage design, from March 2004 to November 2007 and from July 2005 to July 2015. Predictive variables included in the model were identified by univariate and multiple Cox proportional hazard analyses in the training set. Results Independent prognostic factors including age, PD duration, and Hoehn and Yahr stage were determined and included in the model. The model showed good discrimination power with the area under the curve (AUC) values generated to predict 4-, 6-, and 8-year survival in the training set being 0.716, 0.783, and 0.814, respectively. In the validation set, the AUCs of 4- and 6-year survival predictions were 0.85 and 0.924, respectively. Calibration plots and decision curve analysis showed good model performance both in the training and validation sets. For convenient application, we established a web-based calculator (https://tangyl.shinyapps.io/PDprognosis/). Conclusions We developed a satisfactory, simple-to-use nomogram and corresponding web-based calculator based on three relevant factors to predict prognosis and survival of patients with PD. This model can aid personalized treatment and clinical decision-making.

CdSe/Cu core/shell nanowires (NWs) are successfully synthesized by a wet chemical method for the first time. By utilizing the solution-liquid-solid (SLS) mechanism, CdSe NWs are fabricated by Bi seeds, which act as catalysts. In the subsequent radial overcoating of the Cu shell on the CdSe NWs, Fe ions have been proven to be an indispensable and efficient catalyzer. The thickness of the Cu shell could be well controlled in the range of 3 to 6 nm by varying the growth temperature (from 300 to 360 °C). Our synthetic strategy pioneers a new possibility for the controlled synthesis of semiconductor-metal heterostructure NWs (especially for II-VI semiconductors), such as CdS/Cu, ZnS/Au, and ZnO/Ag, which had broad application prospects in photoconductors, thin-film transistors, and light-emitting diodes. Theoretically, electrons flow from a higher Fermi-level material to the bottom Fermi-level at the metal-semiconductor heterojunction interface, which aligns the Fermi level and establishes the Schottky barrier. It leads to excess negative charges in metals and excess positive charges in semiconductors. Therefore, those effective electron traps reduce the probability of photogenerated electron-hole pair recombination efficiently, which has been widely applied in solar cells, sensors, photocatalysis, and energy storage. The breakthrough and innovation of this synthesis method have opened up a new synthetic route with a mild reaction environment, low energy consumption, and convenience.

A deficiency in the photoelectrical dynamics at the interface due to the surface traps of the TiO2 electron transport layer (ETL) has been the critical factor for the inferiority of the power conversion efficiency (PCE) in the perovskite solar cells. Despite its excellent energy level alignment with most perovskite materials, its large density of surface defect as a result of sub lattice vacancies has been the critical hurdle for an efficient photovoltaic process in the device. Here, we report that atoms thick 2D TiS2 layer grown on the surface of a (001) faceted and single-crystalline TiO2 nanograss (NG) ETL have effectively passivated the defects, boosting the charge extractability, carrier mobility, external quantum efficiency, and the device stability. These properties allow the perovskite solar cells (PSCs) to produce a PCE as high as 18.73% with short-circuit current density (Jsc), open-circuit voltage (Voc), and fill-factor (FF) values as high as 22.04 mA/cm2, 1.13 V, and 0.752, respectively, a 3.3% improvement from the pristine TiO2-NG-based PSCs. The present approach should find an extensive application for controlling the photoelectrical dynamic deficiency in perovskite solar cells.

Background: We sought to investigate whether the expression of the gene EIF2S2 is related to 18F-FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Materials and methods: The expression of EIF2S2 in CRC and its relationship with clinicopathological features were obtained through the ONCOMINE, UALCAN and GEPIA databases. EIF2S2 and GLUT1 expression were examined by immunohistochemistry in 42 CRC patients undergoing preoperative PET-CT examination. Spearman correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship between EIF2S2 and GLUT1 levels and clinical parameters. Correlation analysis between EIF2S2 and Reactome-Glycolysis signatures was performed using GEPIA2. We describe the effect of EIF2S2 knockdown on lactate production and the mRNA levels of glycolysis-related genes in human colon cancer SW480 cells. Results: Immunohistochemistry revealed an upregulation of EIF2S2 protein expression in tumor tissues of colorectal cancer patients, which is consistent with the significant upregulation of EIF2S2 transcript levels in the database. These colorectal cancer patients included 24 cases of colon cancer and 18 cases of rectal cancer, ranging in age from 31 to 78 years. The transcription was significantly related to histological subtypes and TP53 mutations (P

A tunable triple-band absorber based on bulk-Dirac-semimetal (BDS) metasurface is proposed in the terahertz (THz) range. The design is comprised of a BDS film with a pattern of dual ring slots and a dielectric layer stacked on a fully reflective gold ground. And the electric or magnetic resonances result in the incident plane waves at different frequencies to be effectively absorbed by the BDS film, which leads to the high absorption at 1.56 THz, 3.28 THz, and 3.95 THz resonant frequencies. The tunability of the resonant frequencies depends on various Fermi levels. Moreover, the physical mechanisms of the absorber with good stability over wide incident angles and polarization insensitivity are expounded. The proposed BDS-based absorber has great potentials in sensors, thermal emitters, and energy harvesting, etc.

Because of direct π–π interactions and excessive energy resonance transfer, it is very challenging to prepare carbon dots (CDs) with a high fluorescence quantum yield (QY) in the solid state. In this study, novel CDs which gave solid-state fluorescence (SSF) with high brightness were successfully prepared via a simple microwave-assisted method. The prepared ScCDs can emit strong blue fluorescence in the solid state, and the absolute QY of this ScCDs powder reaches 51.7%. Such a high QY means that the ScCDs powder could be successfully applied in rapid latent fingerprint (LFP) detection. The LFP detection performance of this ScCDs powder was studied in detail, and the results show that the LFPs developed using the ScCDs powder can be visualized with high definition and contrast under different conditions. This research not only developed a new type of SSF-emitting CDs, but it also proved that the developed CDs have great potential for applications in LFP detection, and this research may also provide inspiration and ideas for the design of new SSF-emitting CDs.

AIM: To obtain the baseline data on presenting visual acuity (PVA) and evaluate the prevalence and associated factors for visual impairment based on PVA in 9070 Chinese college students. METHODS: The freshmen at a university in southern China, including 6527 undergraduate students and 2543 graduate students, were investigated for some socio-demographic characteristics and underwent routine medical examination, including measuring PVA, height, and weight. Visual impairment was defined according to the new World Health Organization criteria for blindness and visual impairment. RESULTS: In 9070 college students, the mean PVA in the better eye was 0.094±0.163 logMAR. The prevalence of visual impairment based on PVA was 2.7%. Only 38.3% college students had normal visual acuity [PVA equal to 0 logMAR (20/20) in both eyes]. There were 69.8% of students wearing spectacles. Logistic regression showed that home region (non-Guangdong provinces, P

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been shown to be linked to a poor prognosis, particularly in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer. Nevertheless, little is known regarding the existence of EMT-related gene signatures and their prognostic values in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). In the current study, we systematically profiled the mRNA expression data of patients with LUAD in The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus databases using a total of 1,184 EMT-related genes. The prognostic values of the EMT-related genes used to develop risk score models for overall survival were determined using LASSO and Cox regression analyses. A prognostic signature that consisted of nine unique EMT-related genes was generated using a training set. A nomogram, incorporating this EMT-related gene signature and clinical features of patients with LUAD, was constructed for potential clinical use. Calibration plots, decision-making curves, and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that this model had a good ability to predict the survival of patients with LUAD. The EMT-associated gene signature and prognostic nomogram established in this study were reliable in predicting the survival of patients with LUAD. Thus, we first identified a novel EMT-related gene signature and developed a nomogram for predicting the prognosis of patients with LUAD.

The operations‐finance interface (OFI) jointly optimizes material, monetary, and information flows under intricate sources of uncertainty. To sketch the broad landscape in this emerging and interdisciplinary field, this study synthesizes literature across diverse themes and dispersed methodologies, screens systematically the research progression from original foundations to recent contributions in each major research stream, and thereby advocates future research innovations on prospective topics in light of the interconnections and potential reciprocity between operations and finance from risk management aspects.

We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of resting myocardial blood flow (rMBF), quantified with dynamic 13 N-Ammonia (NH3) PET, for identifying myocardial viability and predicting improvement of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Ninety-three patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and chronic LVEF < 45%, scheduled for CABG, had dynamic 13NH3 PET and 18F-FDG PET imaging. The perfusion/metabolism polar maps were categorized in four patterns: normal (N), mismatch (M1), match (M2) and reverse mismatch (RM). The value of rMBF for identifying viable myocardium (M1, RM) and post CABG improvement of LVEF≥8% was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Correlations of rMBF in segments to ΔLVEF post CABG were verified. Mean rMBFs were significantly different (N=0.60±0.14; M1=0.44±0.07, M2=0.34±0.08, RM=0.53±0.09 ml/min/g, P

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a multi-system disease featured by movement disorder. Studies on ALS using static neuroimaging indexes demonstrated inconsistent results. However, recent work indicated that the intrinsic brain activity was time-varying, and the abnormal temporal dynamics of brain activity in ALS remains unknown. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were first obtained from 54 patients with ALS and 54 healthy controls (HCs). Then the dynamic regional homogeneity (d-ReHo) was calculated and compared between the two groups. Correlation analyses between altered d-ReHo and clinical scores were further performed. Compared with HCs, ALS patients showed higher d-ReHo in the left lingual gyrus while lower d-ReHo in the left rectus gyrus and left parahippocampal gyrus. Moreover, the d-ReHo in the left lingual gyrus exhibited correlation with disease progression rate in ALS at a trend level. Our findings suggested that altered dynamics in intrinsic brain activity might be a potential biomarker for diagnosing of ALS.

Kun Zhou1 ,* Yutian Lai1,2 ,* Yan Wang,1 Xin Sun,3 Chunmei Mo,4 Jiao Wang,5 Yanming Wu,1 Jue Li,1 Shuai Chang,1 Guowei Che1 1Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, People’s Republic of China; 2Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, People’s Republic of China; 3Chinese Evidence-Based Medicine Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, People’s Republic of China; 4Medical Record Department, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, People’s Republic of China; 5Rehabilitation Department, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Guowei Che Tel +86 281 898 060 1890Fax +86 288 542 2494Email hx_guowei_che@foxmail.comBackground: To investigate the effectiveness and cost minimization of comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation (CPR) in lung cancer patients who underwent surgery.Patients and Methods: A retrospective observational study based on medical records was conducted, with 2410 lung cancer patients who underwent an operation with/without CPR during the peri-operative period. Variables including clinical characteristics, length of stay (LOS), postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs), and hospitalization expenses were compared between the intervention group (IG) and control group (CG). The CPR regimen consists of inspiratory muscle training (IMT), aerobic endurance training, and pharmacotherapy.Results: Propensity score matching analysis was performed between two groups, and the ratio of matched patients was 1:4. Finally, 205 cases of IG and 820 cases of CG in the matched cohort of our study were identified. The length of postoperative hospital stay [median: 5 interquartile (4– 7) vs 7 (4– 8) days, P < 0.001] and drug expenses [7146 (5411– 8987) vs 8253 (6048– 11,483) ¥, P < 0.001] in the IG were lower compared with the CG. Additionally, the overall incidence of PPCs in the IG was reduced compared with the CG (26.8% vs 36.7%, P = 0.008), including pneumonia (10.7% vs 16.8%, P = 0.035) and atelectasis (8.8% vs 14.0%, P = 0.046). Multivariable analysis showed that CPR intervention (OR = 0.655, 95% CI: 0.430– 0.865, P = 0.006), age ≥ 70 yr (OR = 1.919, 95% CI: 1.342– 2.744, P < 0.001), smoking (OR = 2.048, 95% CI: 1.552– 2.704, P < 0.001) and COPD (OR = 1.158, 95% CI: 1.160– 2.152, P = 0.004) were related to PPCs.Conclusion: The retrospective cohort study revealed a lower PPC rate and the shorter postoperative length of stay in the patients receiving CPR, demonstrating the clinical value of CRP as an effective strategy for surgical lung cancer patients with risk factors.Keywords: pulmonary rehabilitation, thoracic surgery, lobectomy, lung cancer

Background Malignant arrhythmias require drug therapy. However, most of the currently available anti-arrhythmic drugs have significant side effects. Ginsenoside Rg2 exhibits excellent cardioprotective effects and appears to be a promising candidate for cardiovascular drug development. So far, the oral toxicity and anti-arrhythmic effects of Rg2 have not been evaluated. Methods Acute oral toxicity of Rg2 was assessed by the Limit Test method in mice. Sub-chronic oral toxicity was determined by repeated dose 28-day toxicity study in rats. Anti-arrhythmic activity of Rg2 were evaluated in calcium chloride-induced arrhythmic rats. Anti-arrhythmic mechanism of Rg2 was investigated in arrhythmic rats and H9c2 cardiomyocytes, respectively. Results The results of toxicity studies indicated that Rg2 exhibited no single dose (10 g/kg) acute oral toxicity. And 28-day repeated dose treatment with Rg2 (1.75, 3.5 and 5 g/kg/d) demonstrated minimal, if any, sub-chronic toxicity. Serum biochemical examination showed that total cholesterol in the high-dose cohort was dramatically decreased, whereas prothrombin time was increased at day 28, suggesting that Rg2 might regulate lipid metabolism and have a potential anticoagulant effect. Moreover, pre-treatment with Rg2 showed anti-arrhythmic effects on the rat model of calcium chloride induced arrhythmia, in terms of the reduced duration time, mortality and incidence of malignant arrhythmias. The antiarrhythmic mechanism of Rg2 might be the inhibition of calcium influx through L-type calcium channels by suppressing the phosphorylation of Ca 2+ /calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II. Conclusion Our findings support the development of Rg2 as a promising anti-arrhythmic drug with less side effects for clinic use.

miR‐744‐5p has been demonstrated to play an important role in cancer progression. However, the functions of miR‐744‐5p in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) are not well clarified. In this study, our aim was to investigate the role of miR‐744‐5p and its underlying molecular mechanism in cell progression of EOC. EOC clinical tissues and matched adjacent ovarian epithelial tissues were collected from 18 patients. Tissues and cell lines were analyzed by qPCR or Western blot to investigate the expression of miR‐744‐5p and ARF1 in EOC. Cell proliferative capacity was assessed by CCK8 and colony formation assays. Wound healing and transwell assays were performed to evaluate cell migration and invasion. The potential binding relation between miR‐744‐5p and IRF1 was demonstrated by dual luciferase report assay. The results showed that expression of miR‐744‐5p was low in EOC clinical tissues and cells. Overexpression of miR‐744‐5p inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion of EOC cells. Further mechanistic study identified that ARF1 is a target of miR‐744‐5p, which is negatively correlated with the expression of miR‐744‐5p, and overexpression of ARF1 could reverse the inhibition of miR‐744‐5p on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of EOC cells. Taken together, our results indicated that miR‐744‐5p attenuated EOC progression via targeting IRF1, providing potential guidance for the clinical treatment of ovarian cancer.

The blanket boron implant (BBI) in the sigma-shaped trench before the embedded SiGe (eSiGe) source/drain (S/D) formation for 28-nm PMOSFET is proposed in this letter. It is demonstrated that the BBI can significantly reduce the S/D junction capacitance with little influence on On/Off characteristic. In addition, the 1/ ${f}$ noise is also effectively lowered.

This article investigates a heterogeneous network (HetNet) consisting of an overlapped coverage of radio frequency (RF) and optical wireless communication (OWC) to support human connectivity to the Internet of Things (IoT) in the fifth generation and beyond (5G+) mobile networks. Such a HetNet-based IoT benefits from the high throughput of the OWC and the high reliability of the RF communications. To ensure a reliable link with Quality-of-Service (QoS) guarantee in terms of network delay and throughput, vertical handovers are triggered within the HetNet. A cross-layer data-driven approach is adopted to reach optimal handover decisions and tackle the challenges associated with the mobility and reliability of IoT. As mobile time-varying wireless channel gains in optical links are not publicly available, we first present a realistic model for the mobile optical channel that reflects the nature of human mobility, and hence, a useful model that features the spatial–temporal patterns of indoor mobile channels is proposed. Using the created data set, we then present a data-driven algorithm that predicts abrupt outages in Line-of-Sight (LOS) optical links and evaluates the optical channel quality through deep learning. Given the resulting LOS link outage prediction in OWC, a reinforcement-learning-based approach is proposed to implement optimal vertical handover decisions with the QoS guarantee. The proposed handover decision algorithm learns to make a tradeoff between the outage risk and the cost of excessive handovers. The numerical results demonstrate considerable improvement in overall latency and handover rate under indoor mobility for bidirectional links.

Among a variety of traditional Chinese medicines, Shuanghuanglian injection (SHLI), has the highest incidence of injection-induced immediate hypersensitivity reactions (IHRs). However, the precise mechanisms of SHLI-induced IHRs remain to be understood. In the present study, we characteriszed IHRs as induced by SHLI by recording changes in physiological and hemodynamic indicators following intravenous injections of SHLI in rats and dogs. The results indicate that SHLI induced the release of histamine, decreased mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), increased SC5b-9 in rats and dogs, increased C4d and Bb in dogs without any changes in IgE. n vitro incubation of SHLI with serum from dogs in the presence of an inhibitor of complement activation (EGTA/Mg2+) resulted in an increase in C4d. These results suggest that SHLI induces anaphylactoid reactions in rats and dogs. Furthermore, SHLI appears to activate the complement system through classical and alternative pathways in dogs in vivo. Additional experiments in mice demonstrated that SHLI induces locus coeruleus infiltration and results in significant increase in vascular permeability within the skin of mice. We established a reliable method for the evaluation of anaphylactoid reactions induced by complex compounds, using multiple physiological indicators, different experimental models in vivo and in vitro.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of acupuncture for non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) through systematic review of published randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Methods: Studies were identified in electronic databases from their inception to February 2018, and were grouped according to the control interventions. The outcomes of interest were pain intensity and disability. Methodological quality was evaluated using the Cochrane risk-of-bias criteria and the Standards for Reporting Interventions in Controlled Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA) checklist. The review was reported according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Results: 25 trials (n=7587 participants) were identified and included in a meta-analysis. The results showed that acupuncture was more effective at inducing pain relief than: no treatment (standardised mean difference (SMD) −0.69, 95% CI −0.99 to −0.38); sham acupuncture in the immediate term (SMD −0.33, 95% CI −0.49 to −0.18), short term (SMD −0.47, 95% CI −0.77 to −0.17), and intermediate term (SMD −0.17, 95% CI −0.28 to −0.05); and usual care in the short term (SMD −1.07, 95% CI −1.81 to −0.33) and intermediate term (SMD −0.43, 95% CI −0.77 to −0.10). Also, adjunctive acupuncture with usual care was more effective than usual care alone at all time points studied. With regard to functional improvement, the analysis showed a significant difference between acupuncture and no treatment (SMD −0.94, 95% CI −1.57 to −0.30), whereas the other control therapies could not be assessed. Conclusion: We draw a cautious conclusion that acupuncture appears to be effective for NSLBP and that acupuncture may be an important supplement to usual care in the management of NSLBP.

Background To explore the safety and efficacy of direct antiviral therapy in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection after renal transplantation. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical information of 15 cases of HCV+ patients treated with direct antiviral therapy after renal transplantation in our center. The effectiveness of direct antiviral therapy was evaluated by analyzing the HCV-RNA levels of patients at 1, 4, 12, 24, and 48 weeks before and after antiviral therapy. In addition, parameters including the rejection rate, the blood concentration of anti-rejection drugs, liver function level [alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST)], estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and serum creatinine (CREA) levels were used to assess its safety. Results A total of 15 patients were enrolled in the study. All patients turned HCV-RNA negative after 12 weeks of direct-antiviral therapy; the serological test of all patients demonstrated an 100% response rate in rapid virological response (RVR) (15/15), 12-week sustained virological response (SVR12), and 24-week sustained virological response (SVR24). In addition, compared to pre-treatment, the liver function within 12, 24, and 48 weeks after treatment was significantly improved. Moreover, eGFR, CREA, and anti-rejection drug concentration remained stable while acute rejection reaction and other obvious side effects were not observed throughout the treatment period. Conclusions The direct antiviral therapy was well-tolerated and effective for patients with chronic hepatitis C after renal transplantation.

Local therapy including surgery or radiotherapy has been reported for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with synchronous solitary metastasis, while studies with other local ablative treatment are rare. Here, we summarized our single-center experience of microwave ablation (MWA) for both primary and metastatic lesions in NSCLC patients with synchronous solitary extracranial metastases. We retrospectively screened our institute database from January 2014 to Jun 2019. NSCLC patients with synchronous extracranial solitary metastasis with primary and metastatic lesions that were treated with MWA were identified and analyzed. Of the 1472 stage IV NSCLC patients found, 38 were diagnosed with synchronous extracranial solitary metastasis and 29 of them received MWA for primary and metastatic lesions. The most common distant metastases were contralateral lung metastases (14 cases), followed by bone (6), liver (4), adrenal gland (3) and pleura metastases (1). Median OS and PFS was 21.5 and 12.5 months, respectively. Patients with N0 had significantly longer PFS (median 18.5 vs. 8.0 months) and OS (median 42.7 vs. 19.0 months). In addition, systemic therapy was showed to be a prognostic factor for better PFS (12.9 vs. 7.5 months). Clinical pathological factors including age, histology, T stage, PS score, and metastasis locations are not significantly associated with survival. MWA may serve as an alternative treatment for NSCLCs with synchronous solitary extracranial metastases.

Most types of spinal cord injury (SCI) observed in humans can be replicated in adult rat models, which are widely used for laboratory studies of SCI rehabilitation. To ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of an SCI rat model, the minimal time spent performing the laminectomy procedure and the damage caused to the body are of great importance. We describe and evaluate the effectiveness and advantages of a laminectomy auxiliary device (LAD) for removing the rat vertebral lamina without injuring the spinal cord. The incision size, success rate, operation duration, body weight, BBB score, step detection, latency and amplitude of transcranial electrical motor-evoked potentials (tceMEPs), and serum MDA and SOD levels were recorded in 8 normal rats, 8 rats treated with traditional laminectomy and 8 rats treated with LAD laminectomy. Compared with traditional laminectomy, in our LAD, the surgical incision was smaller (approximately 2.2 and 1.3 cm, respectively), the success rate was higher (88.89% and 100%, respectively) and the duration shorter (14.644±1.617 and 4.821±0.668 minutes, respectively). Compared with normal rats, those treated with either laminectomy using LAD or the traditional method showed slower body weight gain and temporarily increased oxidative stress levels. However, there were no significant differences between these two groups. Our results show that laminectomy using this LAD provides three main advantages in rats: a high success rate, time savings, small incisions and reduced trauma. We believe this LAD can be used as an effective assistant tool for rodent laminectomy.

Primary hyperparathyroidism is the third most common endocrine disease, while primary hyperparathyroidism associated with non-Hodgkin lymphoma(NHL) is extremely rare. We report a case of primary hyperparathyroidism associated with NHL. The first symptom of this patient was hypercalcemia. Hypercalcemia is the primary first clinical manifestation of primary hyperparathyroidism, while NHL may also be diagnosed by hypercalcemia. Clinically, patients with hypercalcemia as the first symptom should be alert to the coexistence of their two diseases. As primary hyperparathyroidism and NHL occur simultaneously, the relationship between the two diseases requires further study. A review of the literature regarding primary hyperparathyroidism associated with NHL was performed, focusing on clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and the connection.

We proposed a prototype which can directly be powered by portable electricity for the catalytic removal of formaldehyde and CO. A compact air cleaner equipped with a conductive Ag–SnO2 catalyst and the corresponding reaction system were assembled, featuring a circuit to allow electric current to pass through the catalyst with Joule heating. The removal performances were superior to the thermal heating counterpart and the electricity was found to suppress CO poisoning, which was preliminarily attributed to the electron transport between Ag and SnO2.