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Multi-element array photoelectric detector is the core devices to form a photoelectric detection target with a large field of view. This photoelectric detection target brings about the problem of uneven detection sensitivity distribution in the detection screen. To improve the uneven detection sensitivity of this photoelectric detection target, this paper analyzes the distribution law of the uneven detection sensitivity of the photoelectric detection target using the multi-element array photoelectric detector, dissects the main factors affecting the detection sensitivity according to the photoelectric detection principle, establishes the calculation model of detection sensitivity of the photoelectric detection target in the different detection areas and proposes a method to improve the detection sensitivity by compensating the gain of each unit photoelectric detector. The analysis of simulation and experimental results show that the proposed method of photoelectric detection target can effectively improve the output signal amplitude of the projectile under the certain detection distance, in particular, the output signal amplitude of the projectile is significantly increased when the projectile passes through the detection blind area. The experimental results are consistent with the simulation results, which verify the effectiveness of the proposed improvement method.

This paper presents a stochastic model to quantify the impact of the electric vehicle (EV) on China’s electricity load profiles. Most of the existing literature utilized travel data to model EV charging behavior and ignored the influence of people’s social attributes that are significant for the accuracy of EV charging behavior. Based on the dataset of the national household travel survey, the most significant influencing factors, e.g. age, location, and weekday/weekend, are identified. Markov-chain is used to construct a sequence of destinations of each vehicle trip, depending on EV’s driver, day of the week, and time of day. Vehicle-driven distance, driving time, and parking duration are used to model electricity demand and potential EV charging flexibility. The charging infrastructure accessibility in a certain parking location has an influence on EV charging decisions. The model’s outputs are used to assess the impacts of various EV charging strategies on electricity load profiles on a national scale. It is found that at 60% gasoline vehicle replacement with EVs by 2050, the electricity demand of EV will be 510 TWh, accounting for 4.5% of the national demand in 2050. The national peak loads will further increase by 8.2% under the unmanaged charging strategy of EV. In contrast, implying last-minute charging strategy only increases peak demand by 2.6% relative to the unmanaged charging strategy.

Background Docetaxel (DTX) exhibits antitumor effects against breast cancer by stabilizing microtubules and increasing the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). DTX extravasation during infusion often causes skin injury. The present study aimed to investigate the effects and mechanisms of icaritin (ICT) on DTX‐induced skin injury. Methods The effects of ICT on the viability and apoptosis of HaCaT cells were measured by SRB assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Endogenous LC3 puncta and microtubules were determined by immunofluorescence. The number of mitochondria was measured by MitoTracker orange staining. ROS were determined by dihydroethidium staining. The expression of markers of ROS and autophagy were measured by western blotting. Chloroquine, compound D, and tamoxifen were employed as the inhibitor for autophagy and AMPK, estrogen receptors (ERs) modulator, respectively. Results DTX inhibited the viability and decreased apoptosis of HaCaT cells, which can be rescued by ICT. ICT decreased microtubule bundles, increased the number of mitochondria, and attenuated ROS of HaCaT cells induced by DTX. ICT blocks autophagy and the autophagic flux. Compound C or tamoxifen diminished the protection effects of ICT on DTX‐treated HaCaT cells. Conclusion ICT alleviates DTX‐induced skin injury by suppressing ROS, reducing microtubule bundles, and blocking autophagy via ERs. Our study indicated that ICT may be a potential candidate for DTX‐induced skin injury., ICT alleviates DTX‐induced skin injury by alleviating the microtubule bundles, while the specific mechanism is unknown. At the same time, ICT, as an ER modulator, promotes the phosphorylation of the α subunit of AMPK to activate AMPK, thereby regulating the level of autophagy. ICT also reduces the level of ROS by acting as an ER modulator to reduce cell apoptosis.

Background. Probiotic supplements may be seen as a promising way to improve glucose metabolism. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of probiotic supplements on blood glucose, insulin resistance/sensitivity, and prevention of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) among pregnant women. Methods. Eleven electronic databases were searched from inception to May 2020. Two authors independently identified randomized controlled trials (RCTs), assessed the eligibility and quality of the included studies, and then extracted data. The primary outcomes were fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 1 h and 2 h plasma glucose after 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), HbA1c, fasting plasma insulin, insulin resistance, and insulin sensitivity. Fixed and random effect models were used to pool the results. Results. A total of 20 RCTs involving 2972 participants were included according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The pooled results of this research showed that probiotic supplements could reduce the level of FPG (mean difference (MD) = −0.11; 95% CI = −0.15 to −0.04; P = 0.0007 ), serum insulin (MD = −1.68; 95% CI = −2.44 to −0.92; P < 0.00001 ), insulin resistance (MD = −0.36; 95% CI = −0.53 to −0.20; P < 0.00001 ), and insulin sensitivity (MD = −21.80; 95% CI = −31.92 to −11.67; P < 0.00001 ). Regarding the subgroup analysis of different pregnant women, the effects of probiotics on FPG, insulin, and insulin resistance were more obvious among GDM and healthy women than among overweight/obese women. Furthermore, the differences were not significant in HbA1c (MD = −0.05; 95% CI = −0.12 to 0.03; P = 0.23 ), 1 h OGTT (MD = −0.07; 95% CI = −0.25 to 0.10; P = 0.42 ), and 2 h OGTT (MD = −0.03; 95% CI = −0.17 to 0.12; P = 0.72 ). Conclusion. This review found that probiotic supplements had certain functions to reduce the level of FPG and improve insulin, insulin resistance, and insulin sensitivity, especially for GDM and healthy pregnant women.

Sonographic features are associated with pathological and immunohistochemical characteristics of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). To predict the biological property of TNBC, the performance using quantitative high-throughput sonographic feature analysis was compared with that using qualitative feature assessment. We retrospectively reviewed ultrasound images, clinical, pathological, and immunohistochemical (IHC) data of 252 female TNBC patients. All patients were subgrouped according to the histological grade, Ki67 expression level, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) score. Qualitative sonographic feature assessment included shape, margin, posterior acoustic pattern, and calcification referring to the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS). Quantitative sonographic features were acquired based on the computer-aided radiomics analysis. Breast cancer masses were manually segmented from the surrounding breast tissues. For each ultrasound image, 1688 radiomics features of 7 feature classes were extracted. The principal component analysis (PCA), least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), and support vector machine (SVM) were used to determine the high-throughput radiomics features that were highly correlated to biological properties. The performance using both quantitative and qualitative sonographic features to predict biological properties of TNBC was represented by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). In the qualitative assessment, regular tumor shape, no angular or spiculated margin, posterior acoustic enhancement, and no calcification were used as the independent sonographic features for TNBC. Using the combination of these four features to predict the histological grade, Ki67, HER2, axillary lymph node metastasis (ALNM), and lymphovascular invasion (LVI), the AUC was 0.673, 0.680, 0.651, 0.587, and 0.566, respectively. The number of high-throughput features that closely correlated with biological properties was 34 for histological grade (AUC 0.942), 27 for Ki67 (AUC 0.732), 25 for HER2 (AUC 0.730), 34 for ALNM (AUC 0.804), and 34 for LVI (AUC 0.795). High-throughput quantitative sonographic features are superior to traditional qualitative ultrasound features in predicting the biological behavior of TNBC. • Sonographic appearances of TNBCs showed a great variety in accordance with its biological and clinical characteristics. • Both qualitative and quantitative sonographic features of TNBCs are associated with tumor biological characteristics. • The quantitative high-throughput feature analysis is superior to two-dimensional sonographic feature assessment in predicting tumor biological property.

Background/Purpose: The global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) resulted in significant mortality, social disorder and economic hardships. We set out to understand why certain individuals could resolve the disease successfully without serious complications by immune profiling of PBMCs from convalescent COVID-19 patients (n = 14) with mild disease trajectory. Methods: We designed 7 peptides targeting the receptor binding region (RBD) of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, that encompass broad HLA class I / II alleles, with the aid of the Immune Epitope Database and Analysis Resource (IEDB) website. The RBD site was chosen as it was shown to be protective when neutralising antibodies against this region could negate binding of viral spike protein to host cell ACE-2 receptor. Convalescent COVID-19 patients enrolled in this study were screened and selected for positive antibody titre against the RBD region. PBMCs from convalescent COVID-19 patients were stimulated with/without the peptides for 72hrs and immune profiled (n = 70 markers across two panels) with the high dimensional single cell mass cytometry platform (CyToF). Results: Convalescent COVID-19 patients elicited a robust recall memory T follicular helper response (CD3 + CD4 + CD45RO + CXCR5 + Tigit + ;∗∗∗∗ p < 0.0001) demonstrating peptide efficacy. Unsupervised clustering (FlowSOM) of the CD4 T cell immune landscape reaffirmed increase in memory T follicular subsets and additionally CD4 + CD45RO + CXCR5 -subsets. Further gating of antigen specific memory cells (CD45RO + CD69 + ) revealed an increase in Tbet + CXCR3 + T effectors in both CD4 and CD8 compartments. Strikingly we detected a parallel increase in CD4 + Treg (CD25 + FoxP3 + ) CXCR3 + Tbet + CD45RO + CD152 + Tigit + expression. Conclusions: COVID-19 patients that successfully resolve the viral infection not only mount a robust T effector and follicular response but also in tandem a similar T regulatory profile.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common primary malignant brain tumor without curable therapy. Surgical resection remains the first choice of patients with GBM but tumors relapse rapidly even combined with conventional chemoradiotherapy. The mechanism of GBM rapid recurrence is poorly understood, which is largely due to the lack of an appropriate animal model, thus heavily impedes the improvement of postoperative therapy. Here we established a highly reproducible mouse GBM surgical model by using the syngeneic G422TN-GBM cells, which faithfully recapitulates the features of rapid recurrence of human GBM after surgery. Implanting 2 × 103–5 × 104 of G422TN-GBM cells in mouse cerebral cortex caused death in all animal within 23 days, while surgery was an effective therapy but not curable. After complete removal of visible tumors on day 5–9 of tumor growth, the tumors recurred macroscopically within 5 days accompanied by increasing infiltrative cancer foci. Mechanistically, the rapid recurrence of resected tumors was positively correlated to early Akt activation, which subsequently upregulated PD-L1/Vimentin and promoted proliferation/migration of cancer cells. In addition, environmental astrocytic activation with strong PD-L1 signal was prominent. Taken together, we provided a novel GBM surgical recurrence model for preclinical studies and suggested complicated recurring mechanisms involving in strong oncogenic signaling as well as immune inhibitory signals from both GBM cells and their neighboring astrocytes.

Big data technology has had a significant impact on new business and financial services: for example, GPS and Bluetooth inspire location-based services, and search and web technologies motivate online shopping, reviews, and payments. These business services have become more connected than ever, and as a result, financial frauds have become a significant challenge. Therefore, combating financial risks in the big data era requires breaking the borders of traditional data, algorithms, and systems. An increasing number of studies have addressed these challenges and proposed new methods for risk detection, assessment, and forecasting. As a key contribution, we categorize these works in a rational framework: first, we identify the data that can be used to identify risks. We then discuss how big data can be combined with the emerging tools to effectively learn or analyze financial risk. Finally, we highlight the effectiveness of these methods in real-world applications. Furthermore, we stress on the importance of utilizing multi-channel information, graphs, and networks of long-range dependence for the effective identification of financial risks. We conclude our survey with a discussion on the new challenges faced by the financial sector, namely, deep fake technology, adversaries, causal and interpretable inference, privacy protection, and microsimulations.

We aimed to assess the feeding pattern and influencing factors within six weeks postpartum on exclusive breastfeeding duration among Chinese mothers. This study was conducted using 2:1 matched case-control study. Cases and controls were matched for maternal age, parity and mode of birth. A total of 210 women were included. Approximately 67.9% of women stopped exclusive breastfeeding within the first six weeks postpartum. Maternal non-exclusive breastfeeding intention, lower maternal educational level, mother-infant skin to skin contact over one hour, unsatisfied breastfeeding self-evaluation and maternal unhealthy condition within the first six weeks were risk factors for creasing exclusive breastfeeding early.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by progressive synaptic dysfunction, neuronal death, and brain atrophy, with amyloid-β (Aβ) plaque deposits and hyperphosphorylated tau neurofibrillary tangle accumulation in the brain tissue, which all lead to loss of cognitive function. Pathogenic mutations in the well-known AD causal genes including APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2 impair a variety of pathways, including protein processing, axonal transport, and metabolic homeostasis. Here we identified a missense variant rs117916664 (c.896T>C, p.Asn299Ser [p.N299S]) of the acetyl-CoA acyltransferase 1 (ACAA1) gene in a Han Chinese AD family by whole-genome sequencing and validated its association with early-onset familial AD in an independent cohort. Further in vitro and in vivo evidence showed that ACAA1 p.N299S contributes to AD by disturbing its enzymatic activity, impairing lysosomal function, and aggravating the Aβ pathology and neuronal loss, which finally caused cognitive impairment in a murine model. Our findings reveal a fundamental role of peroxisome-mediated lysosomal dysfunction in AD pathogenesis.

Background The majority of clinical trials of first-line systemic treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) used placebo or sorafenib as comparators, and there are limited data providing a cross comparison of treatments in this setting, especially for newly-approved immune checkpoint inhibitor and vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor combination treatments. Aim To systematically review and compare response rates, survival outcomes, and safety of first-line systemic therapies for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods We searched PubMed, Science Direct, the Cochrane Database, Excerpta Medica Database, and abstracts from the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2020 annual congress. Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials of systemic therapy enrolling adults with advanced/unresectable HCC. Risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized controlled trials. A network meta-analysis was used to synthesize data and perform direct and indirect comparisons between treatments. P value, a frequentist analog to the surface under the cumulative ranking curve, was used to rank treatments. Results In total, 1398 articles were screened and 27 included. Treatments compared were atezolizumab plus bevacizumab, brivanib, donafenib, dovitinib, FOLFOX4, lenvatinib, linifanib, nintedanib, nivolumab, sorafenib, sunitinib, vandetanib, 11 sorafenib combination therapies, and three other combination therapies. For overall response rate, lenvatinib ranked 1/19, followed by atezolizumab plus bevacizumab and nivolumab. For progression-free survival (PFS), atezolizumab + bevacizumab was ranked 1/15, followed by lenvatinib. With the exception of atezolizumab + bevacizumab [hazard ratios (HR)PFS = 0.90; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.64-1.25], the estimated HRs for PFS for all included treatments vs lenvatinib were > 1; however, the associated 95%CI passed through unity for bevacizumab plus erlotinib, linifanib, and FOLFOX4. For overall survival, atezolizumab plus bevacizumab was ranked 1/25, followed by vandetanib 100 mg/d and donafinib, with lenvatinib ranked 6/25. Atezolizumab + bevacizumab was associated with a lower risk of death vs lenvatinib (HRos = 0.63; 95%CI: 0.44-0.89), while the HR for overall survival for most other treatments vs lenvatinib had associated 95%CIs that passed through unity. Vandetanib 300 mg/d and 100 mg/d were ranked 1/13 and 2/13, respectively, for the lowest incidence of treatment terminations due to adverse events, followed by sorafenib (5/13), lenvatinib (10/13), and atezolizumab + bevacizumab (13/13). Conclusion There is not one single first-line treatment for advanced HCC associated with superior outcomes across all outcome measurements. Therefore, first-line systemic treatment should be selected based on individualized treatment goals.

Background Adding clomiphene citrate (CC) and/or letrozole (LE) to in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles for mild ovarian stimulation is a general approach. Although lots of researches have demonstrated partial benefits of the strategy, all-around effects of oral medications remained deficient. This paper aims to assess whether an addition of oral medication will result in considerable outcomes on T-Gn (total dose of gonadotropin), Gn days, total retrieved ova, high quality embryos, blastocyst number, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) rate, clinical pregnancy rate and cumulative pregnancy rate, even if it was not conventional mild/minimal stimulations. Results Participants were categorized to three diverse populations as high responders, normal responders and poor responders according to basal antral follicle count. T-Gn in patients treated with CC/LE distinctly decreased from 2496.96 IU/d to 1827.68 IU/d, from 2860.28 IU/d to 2119.99 IU/d, and from 3182.15 IU/d to 1802.84 IU/d, respectively. For high ovary responders and normal responders, the OHSS incidence rate also declined from 29.2 to 4.3% (P P = 0.090). Other, there was no statistical difference with respect to the T-retrieved ova (total retrieved ova), high quality embryos, cultured blastocyst and blastocyst number in high responders. For normal responders and poor ovary responders, T-Gn, Gn days, T-retrieved ova, high quality embryos, cultured blastocyst and blastocysts number in oral medications group all apparently decreased. Clinical pregnancy rate per fresh cycle of poor responders with prior oral medications was significantly decreased (25.7% vs. 50.8%, P = 0.005), and no significant differences in high responders and normal responders were expressed (52.5% vs. 44.2%, P = 0.310; 51.9% vs. 42.4%, P = 0.163) between two groups of participants. The numbers of cumulative pregnancy rates were lower in the conventional group compared to the add group for high (75.90% versus 81.03%, P = 0.279), normal (62.69% versus 71.36%, P = 0.016) and poor (39.74% versus 68.21%, P Conclusions The addition of CC/LE to the ovulation induction during IVF has certain efficacy in terms of low cost, low OHSS incidence. CC/LE deserves more recommendations as a responsible strategy in high responders due to advantageous pregnancy outcomes. For normal responders, the strategy needs to be considered with more comprehensive factors.

Hydrogenation reactions are an important process in today's chemical industry. Typically, hydrogenation reactions involve the removal of an unsaturated bond in olefins or other polyenes via thermal catalysis using hydrogen. As hydrogenation reactions are often carried out at temperatures up to several hundred degrees, they require significant energy input which typically comes from burning fossil fuels. In order to conserve fossil fuels and reduce CO2 emissions, researchers are now developing photothermal catalysts for hydrogenation reactions, which harness concentrated sunlight to achieve the required reaction temperatures or introduce sunlight into thermal-driven reaction systems to reduce the reaction temperatures. Photothermal catalysts thus need to be able to efficiently absorb sunlight, whilst also being able to drive the desired hydrogenation reaction with high activity and selectivity. In this review, we summarize recent research aimed at the development of photothermal catalysts for CO2/CO hydrogenation and alkene/alkyne/aromatic hydrogenation. Particular emphasis is placed on uncovering the reaction mechanisms at the molecular level, which in turn guides the rational design of photothermal catalysts with better performance.

The deployment of renewable electricity and electric vehicles (EVs) provides a synergistic opportunity to accelerate both the decarbonization of the power system and the transportation sectors. This study investigates the consequences of integrating electric vehicles (EVs) in the Chongqing thermal–hydro–wind power system by using the unit commitment model. We focus on how EVs integration strategies (smart charging and unmanaged charging) impact the power system, in terms of operating costs, CO2 emissions, and curtailment of renewables of the power system. We choose the year 2030 as a study year, and the future electricity demand, installed capacity, and EVs population in Chongqing are projected in this study. Monte Carlo simulations are applied to model EV’s charging behaviors based on the statistics of private vehicles. The results show that EVs could reduce CO2 emissions from the power system if coupled with active integration strategies, whereas a passive integration strategy is likely to increase CO2 emissions. Furthermore, CO2 emissions of EVs when running the power system can be 74.2 % lower than the emissions from gasoline-driven vehicles (220 g/km). Economically, the results show that a smart charging strategy saves $201 per EV more annually than does a case where the charging is unmanaged.

Transfusion of autologous blood is a timesaving, convenient, safe, and effective therapy from a clinical perspective, and often employed for the treatment of diabetic patients. Stabilization of HIF-1α has been widely reported to be a critical factor in the improvement of wound healing in diabetes. Therefore, our study reveals the roles of improved autologous blood in wound healing in diabetes, through autologous blood transfusion in a mouse model. Initially, BALB/c mice were subjected to streptozotocin for diabetic mouse model establishment. Diabetic mice were transfused with improved or standard autologous blood in perfusion culture system. Roles of improved autologous blood in mediating HIF-1α pathway were determined by measuring expression of VEGF, EGF, HIF-1α, and HSP-90. In order to assess the detailed regulatory mechanism of improved autologous blood in perspective of wound healing, cell proliferation, migration and cell cycle, fibroblasts isolated from diabetic mice were transfected with HIF-1α siRNA. Mice transfused with improved autologous blood exhibited increased levels of CD31 and α-SMA in skin tissues, and reduced TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels, indicating that improved autologous blood promoted wound healing ability and reduced the release of inflammatory factors. Diabetic mice transfused with improved autologous blood presented activated HIF-1α pathway. The survival rate, proliferation, and migration of fibroblasts were elevated via activation of the HIF-1α pathway. Taken together, improved blood preservation solution could enhance the oxygen carrying capacity of red blood cells and wound healing in mice with diabetes, which is achieved through regulation of HIF-1α pathway.

Bladder cancer (BCa) is the fourth most common urological malignancy in the world, it has become the costliest cancer to manage due to its high rate of recurrence and lack of effective treatment modalities. As a natural byproduct of cellular metabolism, reactive oxygen species (ROS) have an important role in cell signaling and homeostasis. Although up-regulation of ROS is known to induce tumorigenesis, growing evidence suggests a number of agents that can selectively kill cancer cells through ROS induction. In particular, accumulation of ROS results in oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in cancer cells. So, ROS is a double-edged sword. A modest level of ROS is required for cancer cells to survive, whereas excessive levels kill them. This review summarizes the up-to-date findings of oxidative stress-regulated signaling pathways and transcription factors involved in the etiology and progression of BCa and explores the possible therapeutic implications of ROS regulators as therapeutic agents for BCa.

Background: Nipple discharge cytology is a simple non-invasive method that may provide valuable information for detecting underlying malignancy. Several studies have investigated the diagnostic value of cytology in breast cancer patients with pathological nipple discharge, but the results have been highly variable. Herein we presented a systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies pertaining to the diagnostic capacity of nipple discharge cytology in patients with breast cancer. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed (Medline/PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library databases, and Google Scholar) to identify studies that investigated the diagnostic capacity of cytology with regard to breast cancer in patients with pathologic nipple discharge. Two independent researchers identified articles that assessed the sensitivity and specificity of cytological evaluation for breast cancer detection in patients with pathologic nipple discharge published between January 2000 and October 2018. Articles were only included in the meta-analysis if they met predetermined criteria. The characteristics of each study and the data they yielded were summarized. Quality assessment of all articles included was performed using the Methodological Index for Non-randomized Studies Criteria (MINORS) and the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Study 2 (QUADAS-2). Heterogeneity was tested via Cochran Q test and the I2 statistic using Stata 12.0 and Meta-DiSc 1.4 software, and meta-analysis was performed. Results: A total of 286 articles were identified, of which 12 articles including a total of 1476 patients were deemed eligible for inclusion in the meta-analysis. A random-effects model assessing the capacity of nipple discharge cytology to predict breast cancer yielded pooled sensitivity 63% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 53%-72%), specificity 95% (95% CI: 87%-98%), positive likelihood ratio 12.35 (95% CI: 4.87-31.34), and negative likelihood ratio 0.39 (95% CI: 0.30-0.50). The diagnostic odds ratio was 31.88 (95% CI: 11.30-89.98). The area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.79 (95% CI: 0.75-0.82). Conclusion: The current meta-analysis suggests that nipple discharge cytology is a useful diagnostic modality for detection of breast cancer in patients with pathological nipple discharge, with moderate sensitivity and high specificity. Key words: Breast carcinoma; Cytology; Diagnosis; Meta-analysis; Nipple discharge

During the implantation of embryo, apoptosis is inevitable. These apoptotic cells (AC) are removed by efferocytosis, which fills the macrophage with a metabolite load nearly equal to the phagocyte itself. A timely question pertains to the interrelationship between efferocytosis metabolism and the immune behavior of decidual macrophages (dMΦs) and its effect on pregnancy outcome. Here we report a positive feedback of IL-33/ST2-AXL-efferocytosis leading to pregnancy failure through metabolic reprogramming of dMΦs. We compared the serum level of IL-33, sST2, along with IL-33, ST2, efferocytosis and metabolism of dMΦs from both normal gravidas and unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) patients. And we revealed the disturbance of IL-33/ST2 axis, increased apoptotic cells and elevated efferocytosis of dMΦs from the patients with RPL. Afterwards the dMΦs swallowing so many apoptotic cells secreted more sST2 and less TGF-β, which polarized dMΦs towards M1 phenotype. Moreover, the elevated sST2 biased the efferocytosis metabolism of RPL dMΦs towards oxidative phosphorylation and exacerbated the disruption of IL-33/ST2 signaling pathway. The metabolic disorders also led to the dysfunction of efferocytosis, resulting in more uncleared apoptotic cells and the secondary necrosis occurred. We also screened efferocytotic molecule AXL regulated by IL-33/ST2. This positive feedback of IL-33/ST2-AXL-efferocytosis led to pregnancy failure. And the IL-33 knockout mice demonstrated poor pregnancy outcomes, and exogenous supplementation of mouse IL-33 could partially alleviate the fate of embryo losses. These findings highlight a new etiological mechanism whereby dMΦs leverage immunometabolism for the homeostasis of microenvironment at the maternal-fetal interface.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2(SGLT2) inhibitors show prominent renal protective effect in diabetic kidney disease (DKD), anti-inflammatory effect being one of its key mechanisms. Over-activation of the complement system, a crucial part of innate immunity, plays an important role in DKD. We aimed to investigate the effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on alleviating complement over-activation in DKD. Db/db mice were randomly divided into two groups, with 7 mice in each group treated with dapagliflozin and vehicle respectively, and 7 mice in m/m mice group. Laboratory and renal pathological parameters were evaluated. Mouse proximal tubular epithelial cells (MPTECs) were cultured and treated with high glucose. Dapagliflozin and dimethyloxallyl glycine (DMOG) were added as conditional treatment. Dapagliflozin-treated db/db mice showed significantly lower urinary albumin than vehicle-treated ones. Besides typical glomerular and tubulointerstitial injury, both C3b and membrane attack complex (MAC) depositions were significantly attenuated in dapagliflozin-treated db/db mice. The expression of complement receptor type 1-related protein y (Crry), a key complement regulator which inhibits complement over-activation, was significantly upregulated by dapagliflozin. Dapagliflozin-mediated Crry upregulation was associated with inhibition of HIF-1α accumulation under high glucose. When HIF-1α expression was stabilized by DMOG, the protective effect of dapagliflozin via upregulating Crry was blocked. In conclusion, dapagliflozin could attenuate complement over-activation in diabetic mice via upregulating Crry, which is associated with the suppression of HIF-1α accumulation in MPTECs.

Background: The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence and characteristics of infections as well as the use of antimicrobials among hemodialysis outpatients. Methods: We used the dialysis event surveillance protocol to conduct a prospective study in 2019. Results: Totally 180 outpatients who received maintenance hemodialysis were included in the cohort study. The total number of dialysis events was 53 in 38 patients. Among the collected events, 42 (79.25%) events used intravenous antimicrobial treatments; five (9.43%) had positive blood cultures; and six (11.32%) had pus, redness, or swelling at the access site. Type of vascular access was an influencing factor for infection among hemodialysis outpatients. Blood flow rate on dialysis was another factor influencing infection events, the risk of infection increased in patients who had lower blood flow rate. Additional analysis showed that lower blood flow rate was also observed as adverse impact in patients who used central lines, but not in those with fistulas. And Erythropoietin use was higher in the infection group. Conclusions: Patients who used central lines, and especially patients both with central lines and low blood flow rate, were more vulnerable to infection. Using Erythropoietin was another risk factor for infection in hemodialysis outpatients.

Nerve block is usually performed before surgery because it inhibits reflection of the skin incision and reduces the amount of intraoperative anesthetic used. We hypothesized that performing rectus sheath block (RSB) after surgery would result in a longer duration of the analgesic effects and have a subtle influence on sleep time after surgery but that it would not decrease the perioperative cytokine levels of patients undergoing gynecological surgery. A randomized, double-blinded, controlled trial was conducted from October 2015 to June 2016. Seventy-seven patients undergoing elective transabdominal gynecological surgery were randomly assigned to the following two groups: a general anesthesia group who received 0.5% ropivacaine hydrochloride RSB preoperatively and saline RSB postoperatively, and another group who received the opposite sequence. The objective of the trial was to evaluate the postoperative pain, sleep and changes in cytokine levels of patients during the postoperative 48 h. A total of 61 female patients (mean age: 50 years; range: 24–65 years) were included in the final study sample. There was no significant difference in the pain, consumption of oxycodone, or time to first administration of patient-controlled intravenous analgesia between the two groups. The postoperative sleep stages N2 and N3 were increased by 52.9 and 29.1 min per patient, respectively, in the preoperative RSB group compared with those in the postoperative group. The preoperative IL-6 concentration in the preoperative RSB group was lower than that in the same group at the end of surgery and 24 h postoperatively. We concluded that preoperative RSB might preserve postoperative sleep by inhibiting the increase of IL-6 without shortening the analgesia time compared with postoperative RSB in female patients undergoing elective midline incision transabdominal gynecological surgery. ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT02477098 , registered on 15 June 2015.

To investigate post-traumatic growth induced by COVID-19 pandemic in certain Yunnan residents and to analyze its influencing factors. A total of 581 permanent residents of Yunnan province completed the electronic questionnaire from 18 April 2020 to 26 April 2020. Logistic regression analysis showed that the educational levels, self-perceived health status, family history of infectious diseases, family history of infectious diseases, personality and frequency of going through COVID-19 related news were influencing factors of PTG (P

Following the publication of the above article, the authors have realized that Fig. 2 was published with an incorrect data panel: Essentially, Fig. 2D was erroneously selected from the representative images of the Fig. 1C data group during figure compilation. The authors were able to locate their original data, and the corrected version of Fig. 2, featuring the corrected data panel for Fig. 2D, is shown below. All the authors agree with this Corrigendum, and are grateful to the Editor of Molecular Medicine Reports for allowing them to publish it. The authors also regret that this inadvertent error was included in the paper, even though it did not substantially alter any of the major conclusions reported in the study, and apologize to the readership for any inconvenience caused. [the original article was published in Molecular Medicine Reports 11: 1160‑1166, 2014; DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2014.2783].

The pump-jet propulsor consists of a duct, a rotor and stators which are installed upstream of the rotor to provide pre-swirl flow or downstream of rotor to absorb the kinetic energy in the flow. The strong interactions between the three components and the vehicle are closely related to their design and exert great effect on noise and hydrodynamic performance. This paper attempts to develop an effective and efficient method for the optimal design of the duct and the pre-swirl stators under the influence of vehicle and rotor via viscous flow CFD simulations. In this paper, the two key parameters, attack angle of the duct and pitch angle of pre-swirl stators, are investigated. The numerical simulations are based on the solution of the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations using a two-layer realizable k-ε model for turbulence closure. The computational domain is discretized into mixed unstructured cells. The software package STAR-CCM+ is used for both grid generations and flow simulations. The rotor is replaced by the body-force model which is proposed according to the load distribution of the rotor in pump-jet propulsor. Total thrust of body force balances the resistance of a fully-appended underwater vehicle and its propulsor in the self-propulsion simulations and torque is determined by assuming that the propulsive efficiency is 80%. To the end of the optimal design, the total resistance, as the main consideration, and detailed flow field, such as pressure distribution, are numerically investigated for varied attack angles of the duct and pitch angles of pre-swirl stator. It is shown that the two parameters have significant impact on the performance of the propulsor and the recommended design is given.

The gestational weight gain (GWG) range of Chinese women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) still remains unclear. Our objective was to identify the ranges of GWG in Chinese women with GDM, and to investigate the associations between pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), GWG and maternal-infant adverse outcomes. GDM Women delivering singleton from 2013 to 2018 in a tertiary public hospital were collected. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the joint effects of pre-pregnancy BMI and GWG on maternal-infant adverse outcomes. Finally, 14,578 women were collected. The ranges of GWG of Chinese women with GDM in the underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese groups were 5.95-21.95kg, 4.23-21.83kg, 0.88-21.12kg and-1.76-19.95kg, respectively. The risks of large for gestational age (LGA), macrosomia and cesarean delivery were significantly increased with the increase of pre-pregnancy BMI. Furthermore, the risks of LGA, macrosomia and cesarean delivery were significantly higher in normal weight group with GWG higher than the National Academy of Medicine’s (NAM) recommendation. Similarly, in overweight group with GWG higher than NAM recommendation, the risks of LGA were significantly higher, while, the risks of macrosomia were significantly lower. In conclusion, the ranges of GWG in GDM women were different with NAM recommendation.

Background The tumor microenvironment (TME) has received an increasing amount of attention. CXC chemokines can regulate immune cell transport and tumor cell activity to exert anti-tumor immunity. However, studies on the expression and prognosis of CXC chemokines in cervical cancer (CC) are more limited. Methods The study investigated the role of CXC chemokines in TME of CC by using public databases. Moreover, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) of CXC chemokines were performed to further verify. Results The transcriptional levels of CXCL1/3/5/6/8/9/10/11/13/16/17 in CC tissues were significantly elevated while the transcriptional levels of CXCL12/14 were significantly reduced. We reached a consistent conclusion that the expression of CXCL9/10/11/13 was verified by quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. Moreover, CC patients with low transcriptional levels of CXCL1/2/3/4/5/8 were significantly associated with longer overall survival (OS). The CCL family was related to CXC chemokines neighboring alteration. RELA, NFKB1, LCK and PAK2 were the key transcription factors and kinase targets of CXC chemokines, respectively. We also found there were significant correlations between the expression of CXCL9/10/11 and the infiltration of immune cells (CD8+ T cell, CD4+ T cell, neutrophils and dendritic cells). Conclusions In brief, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of CXC chemokines via clinical data and some online public databases. Our results may provide a new idea for the selection of immunotherapeutic targets and prognostic biomarkers for cervical cancer.

Purpose: Calcitonin gene-related peptide monoclonal antibodies (CGRPmAbs) are new agents approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for preventive treatment of chronic migraine. Comparison between CGRPmAbs and previously approved Botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT-A) will inform optimal preventive treatment of chronic migraine, but head-to-head trials are lacking. We therefore aimed to perform adjusted indirect comparison between CGRPmAbs and BoNT-A through a meta-analysis.Methods: OVID MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane central register of controlled trials, clinical registries, and government websites were searched from inception to September 2019. Randomized controlled trials comparing CGRPmAbs or BoNT-A with placebo in the preventive treatment of chronic migraine were included. The primary outcomes were headache days and migraine days measured at week 12. Data were synthesized by using a frequentist approach; and the treatments were ranked by P-score.Results: We included 10 trials (n = 4,678) after screening 1049 candidates. Six trials were with low risk of bias. Fremanezumab had an effect similar to BoNT-A in the reduction of headache days at week 12 (standard mean difference [SMD] 0.08, 95%CI -0.55 to -0.7). Galcanezumab reduced more migraine days than BoNT-A at week 12 (SMD, -0.94, 95%CI −1.24 to −0.63); fremanezumab showed similar findings (SMD, −0.55, 95%CI −0.85 to −0.24). Galcanezumab and fremanezumab had better effect in mitigating headache impact at week 12. CGRPmAbs and BoNT-A had similar adverse event rate.Conclusion: CGRPmAbs and BoNT-A had similar effect in the preventive treatment of chronic migraine. BoNT-A might be preferentially selected owing to its cost-effectiveness profiles. Further studies with direct comparison of the two treatments are warranted.

With an increasing understanding of hepatitis B, the antiviral indications have been broadening gradually. To evaluate the effectiveness of tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and detectable hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA, those who are ineligible for broader antiviral criteria from the Chinese CHB prevention guide (2019).A total of 117 patients were recruited and their data were collected from paper or electronic medical records. HBV DNA and liver function were measured at baseline and throughout the 24-week follow-up. The effectiveness endpoint was complete virological response. The safety endpoint was the first occurrence of any clinical adverse event during the treatment.Among the 117 patients, 45 had normal ALT as well as detectable HBV DNA and they were not recommended for antiviral therapy according to Chinese Guidelines (2019). After TAF antiviral therapy, the rates of patients who achieved HBV DNA20 IU/mL at 4, 12 and 24 weeks were 77.1%, 96.7% and 96.8% respectively. Among them, the undetectable rates of HBV DNA in patients with low baseline viral load at 4, 12 and 24 weeks were 92.3%, 100% and 100%, while the rates of those with high baseline viral load were 68.2%, 94.1% and 94.4%. Compared with 71.4%, 94.4% and 94.7% in the high baseline group, the undetectable rates of HBV DNA at 4, 12 and 24 weeks in the low baseline liver stiffness group were 85.7%, 100% and 100%. There was no statistical significance among the above groups.CHB patients who had normal ALT and detectable HBV DNA and did not meet "CHB prevention guide (2019)", could achieve complete virological response in 24 weeks after antiviral treatment by TAF.

OBJECTIVES Obesity is a serious disorder that may lead to numerous difficulties in endotracheal tube (ETT) management. This study investigated the potential of tracheal ultrasound (TUS) for the accurate confirmation of the ETT position in obese patients. METHODS A total of 68 obese patients undergoing tracheal intubation were enrolled in this study from January 2017 to June 2018. All patients received auscultation and TUS to evaluate the ETT position, which was ultimately verified by bronchoscopy. A correct position of the ETT was defined as placement at the trachea, whereas placement at the right/left main bronchus was classified as an incorrect position. RESULTS We found 58 correct placements of the ETT at the trachea, 8 incorrect placements at the right main bronchus, and 2 incorrect placements at the left main bronchus. Compared with auscultation, TUS showed higher accuracy (85.29% versus 67.65%; P = .005), sensitivity (84.48% versus 67.24%; P = .005), and specificity (90.00% versus 70.00%; P

OBJECTIVE Fracture is a common consequence of osteoporosis and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Recently, increasing evidence has suggested that polymorphisms in tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) gene were associated with osteoporosis risk and bone mineral density (BMD), but results remain conflicting. We herein performed a meta-analysis based on evidence currently available from the literature to make a more precise estimation of these relationships. METHODS The PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) and Wan Fang databases were searched for eligible studies. Articles meeting the inclusion criteria were comprehensively reviewed and all available data were accumulated. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) or mean differences (MDs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were applied to assess the strength of the relationships. RESULTS A total of 15 studies involving 5273 subjects were included in our meta-analysis. The GG genotype of TNF-α G308A was associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis under a mutant model (GG vs GA+AA: OR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.51-0.77, P

Depression and transient ischaemic attack represent the common psychological and neurological diseases, respectively, and are tightly associated. However, studies of depression-affected ischaemic attack have been limited to epidemiological evidences, and the neural circuits underlying depression-modulated ischaemic injury remain unknown. Here, we find that chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) and chronic footshock stress (CFS) exacerbate CA1 neuron loss and spatial learning/memory impairment after a short transient global ischaemia (TGI) attack in mice. Whole-brain mapping of direct outputs of locus coeruleus (LC)-tyrosine hydroxylase (TH, Th:) positive neurons reveals that LC-CA1 projections are decreased in CSDS or CFS mice. Furthermore, using designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs)-based chemogenetic tools, we determine that Th:LC-CA1 circuit is necessary and sufficient for depression-induced aggravated outcomes of TGI. Collectively, we suggest that Th:LC-CA1 pathway plays a crucial role in depression-induced TGI vulnerability and offers a potential intervention for preventing depression-related transient ischaemic attack., Depression and transient ischaemic attacks are tightly regulated but the neural circuits underlying depression-modulated ischaemic injury are not known. Here, the authors show that the locus coeruleus-CA1 pathway is involved in depression-associated ischaemia susceptibility.

Impaired wound healing is a debilitating complication of diabetes. The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) has been recognized to be differentially expressed in various diseases. However, its underlying mechanism in diabetes has not been fully understood. Notably, we aim to examine the expression of MALAT1 in diabetic mice and its role in wound healing involving the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) signaling pathway with a modified autologous blood preservative solution reported. A mouse model of diabetes was established. MALAT1 was identified to promote the activation of the HIF-1α signaling pathway and to be enriched in autologous blood through modified preservation, which might facilitate the improvement of physiological function of blood cells. Through gain- or loss-of-function approaches, viability of fibroblasts cultured in high glucose, wound healing of mice, and collagen expression in wound areas were enhanced by MALAT1 and HIF-1α. Taken together, the present study demonstrated that the physiological status of mouse blood was effectively improved by modified autologous blood preservation, which exhibited upregulated MALAT1, thereby accelerating the fibroblast activation and wound healing in diabetic mice via the activation of the HIF-1α signaling pathway. The upregulation of MALAT1 activating the HIF-1α signaling pathway provides a novel insight into drug targets against diabetes., Graphical Abstract

Although little is known about the current situation regarding autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in mainland China, psychiatric disorders are common among Chinese mothers of preschool children with ASD. Previous studies showed ASD child's behavioral symptoms, maternal anxiety, and maternal depressive symptoms were associated with overall parenting stress in northern China. In the present study, we retrospectively analyzed medical records at the hospital related to neuropsychiatric symptoms, parenting stress and social support in mothers of children with ASD from southern China. A total of 80 mothers of children with ASD were screened. Among them, 34 mothers were in low-functioning ASD group (L-ASD group) and 46 mothers were in high-functioning ASD group (H-ASD group). Identification of the ASD cases was confirmed with a Revised Autism Diagnostic Inventory. Neuropsychiatric symptoms, parenting stress and social support were measured by neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI), parenting stress index short form (PSI-SF), and multi-dimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS). Total mean score of the NPI in the L-ASD group was significantly higher than that in the H-ASD group (P

Accumulating evidences indicates that chronic neuropathic pain is a kind of neuro-immune disorder with enhanced activation of the immune system. Although the prevalence is very high, neuropathic pain remains extremely difficult to cure. miRNAs are a group of short nonprotein coding RNAs, regulating target genes expression via targeting 3'-untranslated region. More and more research indicates that altered miRNAs expression profile relates to the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain. In this study, we firstly detected the expression of six candidate miRNAs in the plasma samples from 23 patients with neuropathic pain and 10 healthy controls. Subsequently, the level of miR-132 and miR-101 was detected in the sural nerve biopsies. We found miR-101 level was significantly repressed in both the plasma samples and sural nerve biopsies from neuropathic pain patients. Predicted by bioinformatics tools and confirmed by dual luciferase assay and immunoblotting, we identified that KPNB1 is a direct target of miR-101. The negative correlation between miR-101 and KPNB1 was also confirmed in the sural nerve biopsies, and miR-101 reduction relates to the activation of NF-κB signaling in vivo and in vitro which contributes to the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain.

Objective This study was performed to assess the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Snizek-revised Hall’s Professionalism Inventory Scale (C-SR-HPIS). Methods Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were used to evaluate the construct validity of the C-SR-HPIS. The average variance extracted (AVE) and square root of the AVE were calculated and correlation analyses were performed to test the convergent validity and discriminant validity, respectively. Cronbach’s alpha (α) coefficient was used to test the internal consistency reliability. Results Data for 355 clinical nurses in mainland China were collected. Five factors were extracted, accounting for 58.86% of the total explained variance, and 20 items were selected for the C-SR-HPIS. The confirmatory factor analysis suggested good fitness of the modified model. The AVE was acceptable for convergent validity. The square roots of the AVE of the five factors were larger than their correlation coefficients with other factors, showing suitable discriminant validity. Cronbach’s α coefficient of internal consistency reliability of the overall scale was 0.76, indicating good reliability of the scale. Conclusions This study demonstrated good reliability and validity of the C-SR-HPIS and provides a quantitative tool for the assessment of nursing professionalism in China.

Background: Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is an ACE homolog that converts angiotensin II into angiotensin-(1–7) (Ang-[1–7]). Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-1 β, and interleukin-6 are plasma inflammatory cytokines that play a role in the development of hypertension and chronic heart failure (CHF). However, the relationship between soluble ACE2 (sACE2), Anti-ACE2, Ang-(1–7), and the plasma inflammatory cytokines during the development of CHF remains unclear. Methods and Results: A total of 135 patients with CHF were enrolled in this study (63 males and 72 females), with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus is one of the most frequent metabolic complications of pregnancy. Previous studies have reported that using either probiotic yogurt or a probiotic supplement reduces the incidence of gestational diabetes. However, the results were inconsistent. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the association between gestational diabetes mellitus and probiotic yogurt intake during pregnancy and pre-pregnancy in Chinese women. Methods: This was a case-control study involving 123 cases with gestational diabetes mellitus and 126 controls matched for age and pre-pregnancy body mass index. Each participant was interviewed face-to-face using a structured questionnaire to collect socio-demographic characteristics, diet and exercise habits, as well as probiotic yogurt consumption (containing Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium) during pregnancy and pre-pregnancy. An unconditional logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the data. Results: Mothers in both groups had similar socio-demographic backgrounds. Probiotic yogurt intake during pregnancy was significantly higher in normal pregnant women than that in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (adjusted odds ratio: 0.292, 95% confidence interval: 0.148 - 0.577, P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in probiotic yogurt consumption before pregnancy between cases and controls. Conclusion: Probiotic yogurt intake before pregnancy was not associated with gestational diabetes mellitus, but probiotic yogurt consumption during pregnancy was effective in reducing the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus in Chinese women. The findings from the present study may have implications for the future care of pregnant Chinese women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

Estrogen receptors (ERs) are thought to be associated with the onset and progression of neurodegenerative injuries and diseases, but the relationship and mechanisms underlying between ERs and cognition in type 2 diabetes remain elusive. In the current study, we investigated the effects of ERα and ERβ on the cognition, neurogenesis and apoptosis in high-fat diet and streptozocin-induced diabetic mice. We found that ERα and/or ERβ activation using their agonists (0.5 mg/kg E2, PPT or DPN) ameliorate memory impairment in the Morris water maze and Y-maze tests, increase hippocampal neurogenesis and prevent hippocampal apoptotic responses. Importantly, treatment with the pharmacologic ERs agonists caused significant increases in the membrane ERα and ERβ expression and subsequent PI3K/Akt, CREB and BDNF activation in the hippocampus of type 2 diabetes mellitus mice. Our data indicate that ERα and ERβ are involved in the cognitive impairment in type 2 diabetes, and that activated ERs, such as application of ERs agonists, could be a novel and promising strategy for the treatment of diabetic cognitive impairment.

Background Recent studies break with traditional opinion that the lower respiratory tract is sterile, and increasingly focus on the lung microbiome and disease. Smoking, as an important etiology of inflammatory lung disease, was considered as a factor influencing lung microbiome variations in our study, and we aimed to study the effect of smoking on inflammation and microbial diversity and community. Methods Forty male mice were selected and randomly divided into a smoking and a non-smoking group. Mice in the smoking group were exposed to smoke smog for 2 h/day for 90 days. Blood and lung tissues were obtained after the experiment, and ELISA was used to measure interleukin-6 and C reactive protein concentrations. 16S rRNA gene quantification and sequencing technology were used to compare microbial diversity and community between the two groups. SAS 9.1 and R software were used to analyze the data. Results Thirty-six mice survived, and the weight of the smoking group increased more slowly than that of the non-smoking group. Denser inflammation and congestion were observed in the lungs of the smoking mice compared with the non-smoking group Higher microbial diversity was observed in the smoking group, and Enterobacter, Acidimicrobiales_norank, and Caulobacteraceae_Unclassified genus were significantly more abundant in the non-smoking group (P

Esophageal cancer is one of the most prevalent malignant tumors worldwide. Because of its challenging clinical characteristics, esophageal cancer is a major disease burden on the economy, society, and individuals. There is an urgent need to establish a beneficial policy to reduce the burden and to improve the health-related quality of life of patients. Primary prevention with smoking cessation and reduction of drinking alcohol are highly recommended. Screening, early diagnosis and treatment are suggested. This study intended to establish a modified future screening model from the social perspective that deploys different strategies for different populations. Risk assessment and community-based screening are proposed for high-risk populations. Health education in low-risk areas could help promote primary prevention to mitigate lifestyle factors and to increase public awareness and potentially to increase screening and early detection.

Poststroke depression (PSD) is the most frequent and important neuropsychiatric problem afflicting these patients. Anemia is common in many of these individuals presenting with acute stroke. This study determined whether there is a relationship between anemia on hospital admission and PSD. Two hundred eighty-four acute stroke patients were included in the study. Among them, there were 88 PSD patients, whereas another 196 were non-PSD patients. Clinical depression symptoms were diagnosed according to DSM-4 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition) criteria and a HAMD-17 (the 17-item Hamilton Depression Scale) score ≥8 at 1 month after stroke. In the PSD patients, 27.3% of them presented with anemia, whereas only 12.8% of the non-PSD patients had this condition. There was a negative correlation between hemoglobin level and HAMD-17 score in all patients. A binary logistic regression analysis revealed that anemia was independently associated with PSD after adjustment for sex, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores, mRS (modified Rankin Scale) scores, BI (Barthel Index) scores, RBC (red blood cell), and hematocrit. In conclusion, anemia at admission is associated with PSD seen in these patients 1 month later. Therefore, anemia is a possible predictor of PSD.

A multicenter study of sharps injuries (SIs) and other blood or body fluid (OBBF) exposures was conducted among 33,156 healthcare workers (HCWs) from 175 hospitals in Anhui, China. In total, 12,178 HCWs (36.7%) had experienced at least 1 SI in the previous 12 months and 8,116 HCWs (24.5%) had experienced at least 1 OBBF exposure during the previous 12 months.

Spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is an unresolved complication and its mechanisms are still not completely understood. Here, we studied the neuroprotective effects of dexmedetomidine (DEX) postconditioning against spinal cord I/R injury in rats and explored the possible mechanisms.In the study, rats were randomly divided into five groups: sham group, I/R group, DEX0.5 group, DEX2.5 group, and DEX5 group. I/R injury was induced in experimental rats; 0.5 μg/kg, 2.5 μg/kg, 5 μg/kg DEX were intravenously injected upon reperfusion respectively. Neurological function, histological assessment, and the disruption of blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) were evaluatedDEX postconditioning preserved neurological assessment scores, improved histological assessment scores, attenuated BSCB leakage after spinal cord I/R injury. Neutrophil infiltration, microglia activation and reactive gliosis were also inhibited by DEX postconditioning. The expression of CXCL13, CXCR5, caspase-3, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β were reduced by DEX postconditioning.DEX postconditioning alleviated spinal cord I/R injury, which might be mediated

This paper presents designing and implementing an Automatic room temperature control system using the Arduino and DHT11 sensor. The fan speed control system has also been proposed. Here, the user sets the minimum and the maximum reference temperature range from the keypad. The DHT11 sensor senses the surrounding room temperature and gives the result in degrees Celsius. Both the reference and the measured values are displayed on the Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). The Arduino microcontroller, being the processing unit of the system, gets the sensor's measured value and compares it with the set threshold. The results are: when the measured room temperature is less than the minimum of the threshold value; then, the microcontroller turns on the heater. If the measured room temperature is greater than the maximum threshold value, then the fan triggered on. The speed of the fan will be controlled by the pulse width modulation (PWM) technique based upon the temperature difference between the sensor reading and the maximum threshold. The larger the temperature difference, the larger the fan's duty cycles, and the faster its speed. Finally, if the room's measured temperature is between the setpoint range, all the loads are turned off. That means the room temperature is maintained normal.

Purpose This study aims to evaluate the clinical, occlusal and biomechanical performance of 1-piece and 3-piece designs for implant-supported fixed dentures in the edentulous mandible. Materials and methods A total of 65 patients with edentulous mandibles who underwent fixed implant-supported restorations were recruited and subsequently assigned to 1 of 2 groups based on the framework design (1-piece or 3-piece). The participants underwent clinical and occlusal examination using a periodontal probe, T-Scan III system, and electromyography 12 months after prosthesis delivery. Two mandibular finite element models were created to evaluate stress values and their distribution during function. Results Ninety-five point four percent (n = 62) of participants in the follow-up period underwent clinical and occlusal examination after prosthesis delivery. Clinical examination revealed a trend towards increased inflammation around the implants in the 1-piece prostheses. Occlusal parameters indicated that the 1-piece design was superior for the masticatory system than the 3-piece design. Biomechanical analysis revealed the highest stress values in the posterior region of the 3-piece design. Conclusions On the basis of ease of ensuring oral hygiene, when compared to the 3-piece design, the 1-piece framework design might be the superior therapy for restoring an edentulous mandible, based on occlusal and biomechanical outcomes.