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The East Kunlun Orogenic Belt (EKOB), northwestern China, recording long-term and multiple accretionary and collisional events of the Tethyan Ocean, belongs to a high-pressure to ultra-high-pressure (HP-UHP) metamorphic belt that underwent complex metamorphic overprinting in the early Paleozoic. In this contribution, we carry out an integrated study, including field investigations, petrographic observations, whole-rock analyses, zircon U-Pb dating, and P-T condition modeling using THERMOCALC in the NCKFMASHTO system for the eclogites, especially for the newly discovered UHP eclogite in the eastern part of EKOB. The eclogites exhibit geochemistry ranging from normal mid-ocean ridge basalt (N-MORB) to enriched mid-ocean ridge basalt (E-MORB). Zircons from the eclogites yield metamorphic ages of 416–413 Ma, indicating the eclogite facies metamorphism. Coesite inclusions in garnet and omphacite and quartz exsolution in omphacite and pseudosection calculation suggest that some eclogites experienced UHP eclogite facies metamorphism. The eclogites from the eastern part of EKOB record peak conditions of 29–33 kbar/705–760 °C, first retrograde conditions of 10 kbar at 9.5–12.5 kbar/610–680 °C, and second retrograde conditions at ~6 kbar/<600 °C. New evidence of the early Paleozoic UHP metamorphism in East Kunlun is identified in our study. Thus, we suggest that these eclogites were produced by the oceanic crust subducting to the depth of 100 km and exhumation. The presence of East Gouli and Gazhima eclogites in this study and other eclogites (430–414 Ma) in East Kunlun record the final closure of the local branch ocean of the Proto-Tethys and the evolution from subduction to collision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aging slows down the mechanisms behind skeletal muscle weakening and mobility. Increases in inflammation brought on by aging may contribute to some characteristics of sarcopenia. As a result of population aging worldwide, sarcopenia, an age-related disease, has become a huge burden on both individuals and society as a whole. The study of the morbidity mechanism and available sarcopenia treatments has received more attention. The inflammatory response may be one of the most important methods behind the pathophysiology of sarcopenia in the aged, according to the background of the study. This anti-inflammatory cytokine inhibits the ability of human monocytes and macrophages to induce inflammation as well as the production of cytokines like IL-6. Here, we investigate the association between sarcopenia and interleukin-17 (IL-17), an inflammatory cytokine in the aged. There were 262 subjects aged 61-90 years who were screened for sarcopenia in Hainan General Hospital. The subjects were divided into 45 males and 60 females aged 65-79 years (average age: 72.00 ± 4.31 years). 105 patients without sarcopenia were randomly selected among 157 participants. It included 50 males and 55 females, aged 61-76 years (mean age: 69.10 ± 4.55 years) as per the standard definition of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS). The "skeletal muscle index" (SMI), "hand grip strength" (HGS), "gait speed" (GS), "biochemical indexes," "serum IL-17 level," nutritional status, and past medical history of the two groups were evaluated and compared. Compared with the participants without sarcopenia, sarcopenia patients had higher average age; less physical exercise; lower total scores of BMI, pre-ALB, IL-17, and SPPB; and a higher proportion of malnutrition risk (all P < 0.05). By "ROC curve analysis," the best critical point was IL-17 in the growth of sarcopenia. The area that comes under ROC (AUROC) value was 0.627 (95% CI = 0.552 , 0.702, P = 0.002). The ideal threshold value for IL-17 to estimate sarcopenia was 18.5 pg/mL. In the unadjusted model, IL-17 was considerably linked to sarcopenia (OR = 1.123 , 95% CI = 1.037 -1.215, P = 0.004). After the covariate adjustment observed in the complete adjustment model (OR = 1.111 , 95% CI = 1.004 -1.229, P = 0.002), this significance still exists. The results of this study suggest a strong relationship between sarcopenia and IL-17. This study will look at IL-17's potential to serve as a key sarcopenia indicator. This trial is registered with ChiCTR2200022590. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With improving vehicle stability as objective, an in-wheel motors / hydraulic brake system combined-control strategy is designed for four-wheel motor driven vehicles. The controller adopts layered control structure : the upper layer applies sliding mode variable structure theory to obtain the generalized force, while the lower layer uses quadratic programming method to optimize torque distribution, with consideration of the position and speed constraints of actuators. A CARSIM / MATLAB co-simulation is conducted for algorithm verification. The results show that under critical conditions, vehicles without control or controlled only with in-wheel motors can not complete the simulated operation, while the vehicle with in-wheel motor / hydraulic brake system combined-control strategy can assure the handling stability of vehicle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ion exchange adsorption method is the most promising technique for lithium recovery from low-grade brines, and the main adsorbents are titanium-based and manganese-based ion-sieves. Their expensive cost and poor cycling performance, which have limited their industrial applications, need to be solved fundamentally by finding a new ion-sieve. Hence, in this work, a high-stability and low-priced lithium ion-sieve with aluminosilicate framework was successfully synthesized by solid-phase sintering. The cheap silicon and aluminum raw materials make this ion-sieve have a low synthesis cost. The adsorption behavior of ion-sieves fits the Langmuir model and pseudo-second-order kinetics, indicating that the adsorption of lithium is mainly monolayer adsorption, and the process is chemisorption. After ten cycles, the lithium adsorption capacity is still over 27 mg/g. Moreover, it can recover lithium in the brine of West Taijinar Salt Lake in China even at 160 °C due to the excellent stability of the aluminosilicate framework, which can effectively improve its industrial production efficiency. Therefore, it has great potential to extract lithium from liquid lithium resources with a high Mg/Li ratio. • The ion-sieves with aluminosilicate framework can be easily synthesized by solid phase method. • Silicon and aluminum can effectively reduce the cost of the ion sieves. • The adsorbents exhibit excellent selectivity and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Numerous studies have suggested that Baduanjin, a traditional Chinese exercise, can alleviate fatigue symptoms in patients with various illnesses. The aim of this review was to evaluate the efficacy of Baduanjin in reducing fatigue symptoms., Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using several databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Medline, China Biology Medicine disc, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang, from inception to June 2023. Relevant studies reporting on the effects of Baduanjin on fatigue symptoms were included. A random-effects meta-analysis model with standardized mean differences was used to estimate the treatment effects. Moderator analyses were conducted using continuous variables and meta-regression. This review was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (identifier CRD42023411532). Grading of recommendations, assessment, development and evaluations framework was used to assess the certainty of evidence., Results: Ten randomized controlled trials with patients diagnosed with 9 different diseases were included in the meta-analysis. The Baduanjin intervention groups showed significant improvements in total fatigue intensity (standard mean difference = -0.49, 95% confidence interval = -0.69 to -0.30, P = .000; I2 = 56%, P = .009). The statistically significant differences in the subgroup analyses, including intervention durations, age of participants, fatigue types, and practice location, remained unchanged. Meta-regression showed that practice place might have significant effect on the results. The certainty of the evidence was moderate for participants 55-year younger or in hospital training. However, fatigue, different groups, participants 55-year or older, training at home, and different fatigue types had lower evidence certainty., Conclusion: Baduanjin can effectively alleviate fatigue symptoms with relatively flexible requirements. However, studies investigating the same disease types and including non-Chinese populations are scarce. Therefore, further studies with long-term interventions, larger sample sizes, and well-designed methodologies are warranted., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Including posterior corneal astigmatism (PCA) into consideration may increase the accuracy of astigmatism correction after corneal refractive surgery. In the present study we aim to investigate the distribution pattern of PCA in a large number of myopic patients from multiple ophthalmic centers. There were 7829 eyes retrospectively included in the study. Pentacam data of the eyes were retrieved from the machine and only results with image quality labelled with 'OK' were included. Distribution of PCA was slightly positively skewed (Skewness = 0.419, Kurtosis = 0.435, KS P < 0.0001). Mean PCA was 0.34 ± 0.14 D (range: 0.00 D-0.99 D). PCA was ≥ 0.25 D in 74.91% of the eyes and was ≥ 0.50 D in 11.61% of the eyes. In 97.55% of the eyes the steep meridian of PCA was vertical (SMV). PCA magnitude was significantly higher in eyes with SMV PCA (P < 0.0001) or high manifest astigmatism (MA, P < 0.0001). There was a significant correlation between anterior corneal astigmatism (ACA) magnitude and PCA magnitude in all of the eyes (r = 0.704, P < 0.0001). There was also a trend of decreasing frequency and magnitude of SMV PCA with aging (both P < 0.0001). In conclusion, PCA is present in myopic patients having corneal refractive surgery and PCA magnitude is increased with higher MA or ACA. Consideration of the impact of PCA on laser astigmatism correction may be necessary.

Plantar heel pain is a common disease with a high incidence in different races. It significantly reduced the quality of life of patients. However, the cause of PHP is still controversial and there were varieties of physiological factors associated with PHP. The most common pathological factor in the population was plantar fasciitis. Some existing research studies had found a correlation between calcaneal spurs and plantar fasciitis, and this study had found the correlation in Chinese population. It is invaluable not only to understand the relationship between different types of plantar calcaneal spurs and plantar fasciitis but also to identify the most appropriate treatment strategies. A total of 71 patients with calcaneal spurs were chosen from the Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University. All 71 patients had completed X-rays and MRI scans; then, surgeons had removed their plantar calcaneal spurs. After surgery, all patients were followed up for 12 months; their prognosis was tested by the VAS and AOFAS scores. Type II (29, 40.8%) had the highest incidence in Chinese population, followed with type I (24, 33.8%) and type III (18, 25.4%). Preoperative VAS scores showed that type II (7.72 ± 1.10) was significantly higher than the other two types ( P < 0.001). Postoperative VAS scores of type II were higher than those of type I and type III ( P < 0.001). Postoperative AOFAS scores of type II were the lowest ( P < 0.001). Researchers had proved that type II was more likely to cause PF., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2020 Lei Zhang et al.)

Background: Although many studies have reported the effects of dexmedetomidine on cognitive function (CF) in elderly patients after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LCT), to this date, its effects are still not well understood. The aim of this study is to produce a qualitative synthesis of assessing the effects of dexmedetomidine on CF in elderly patients after LCT., Methods: We will conduct a comprehensive search in Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, VIP Database, WANGFANG Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure from the commencement to March 31, 2020 without restrictions of language and publication status. In addition, we will also search grey literature, including conference abstracts, dissertations, reference lists of included studies and relevant reviews. All potential studies will be identified independently by 2 authors to determine their inclusion against previously defined eligibility criteria. The quality of selected papers will be assessed using Cochrane risk of bias tool. All statistical analysis will be performed using RevMan 5.3 software., Results: This study will provide a synthesis of the current available data on assessing the effects of dexmedetomidine on CF in elderly patients after LCT., Conclusions: Its findings will provide qualitative evidence to better understand the effects of dexmedetomidine on CF in elderly patients after LCT.INPLASY Registration Number: INPLASY202040030.

Background/aims: Different genotypes of HCV may differ in both disease progression and response to antiviral therapies. Hainan Island has been inhabited by the "Li" aboriginal minority for centuries. We aimed to provide a better understanding of HCV infection on Hainan Island, so that the information would help improve strategies for HCV prevention and control on the island and in the wider country., Methods: Using RT-PCR and DNA sequencing, we determined HCV sequences from 100 patients living on Hainan Island., Results: Phylogenetic analysis classified these sequences into six subtypes: 6a (n=35), 1b (n=31), 3b (n=16), 2a (n=8), 3a (n=6), and 1a (n=4). By including reference sequences reported from elsewhere in China, phylogeographic trees were reconstructed to indicate their migration patterns. While the predominant 6a isolates were estimated to have origins in Guangdong and Guangxi provinces, the increase in 3b strains must have resulted from IDU network transmission from the southwest. A Bayesian Skyline Plot for subtype 1a, which is rare in China, showed a rapid population growth since 1998. Although slowed in rate around 2005, this growth continued to the present. Not found for any other HCV lineage., Conclusions: Overall, a delayed growth pattern may indicate the unique history of 1a dissemination in China and its recently increasing prevalence, despite measures taken to improve HCV prevention., (© 2016 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.)