Search

In order to reduce amount of computation, speed up convergence and restrain premature phenomena of quantum evolutionary algorithm, a hybrid chaotic quantum evolutionary algorithm is presented. The algorithm uses the chaotic initialization method to generate initial population that have better diversity, the simple quantum rotation gate to update non-optimal individuals of population to reduce amount of computation, and the hybrid chaotic search strategy to speed up its convergence and enhance its global search ability. A large number of tests show that the proposed algorithm has higher convergence speed and better optimizing ability than quantum evolutionary algorithm, real-coded quantum evolutionary algorithm and hybrid quantum genetic algorithm. Tests also show that when chaos is introduced to quantum evolutionary algorithm, the hybrid chaotic search strategy is superior to the carrier chaotic strategy, and has better comprehensive performance than the chaotic mutation strategy in most of cases. The proposed algorithm is the only one all of whose tests are convergent, and is easily implemented and applied in practice. It is satisfied in solving traffic signal timing optimization problem of urban road. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between the characteristics of the intestinal microbiota and cytokine levels in individuals with different degrees of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) as well as to investigate intestinal microbiota imbalances in patients with OSAHS and the associated mechanisms., Methods: Based on their sleep apnea hypopnea index (AHI), a total of 37 adults were assigned to a control group, a mild OSAHS group, or a moderate-to-severe OSAHS group. Fecal samples were collected to characterize the intestinal microbiota using metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS), while blood samples were collected to detect levels of interleukin-17a (IL-17a), interleukin-10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in each group., Results: 1. There was no significant difference in the Shannon index among the three groups ( P > 0.05). The three groups showed significant difference in the relative abundance of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Bifidobacterium adolescentis (with F values of 3.955 and 7.24, respectively, P < 0.05), while showed no significant difference in the relative abundance of B. pseudocatenulatum, Bifidobacterium longum, Klebsiella pneumoniae , and Haemophilus parainfluenzae ( P > 0.05). 2. The three groups showed significant difference in the expression of serum IL-17A and TNF-α levels (with F values of 18.119 and 10.691, respectively, P < 0.05), while showed no significant difference in the expression of IL-10, IL-6, and CRP levels ( P > 0.05). 3. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the relative abundance of F. prausnitzii was correlated with changes in BMI and AHI (with β values of 2.585 and -0.157, respectively, P < 0.05), while the relative abundance of B. adolescentis was correlated with changes in IL-17a (with β value of -0.161, P < 0.05)., Conclusion: The study revealed a significant correlation between intestinal microbiota abundance and cytokine levels, suggesting that gut microbiota disruption in OSAHS patients may be linked to systemic chronic inflammation., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest regarding this work., (© 2024 Liu et al.)

Due to its high reactivity and oxidative strength, singlet oxygen ( 1 O 2 ) is used in a variety of fields including organic synthesis, biomedicine, photodynamic therapy and materials science. Despite its importance, the controlled trapping and release of 1 O 2 is extremely challenging. Herein, we describe a one-dimensional coordination polymer, CP1, which upon irradiation with visible light, transforms 3 O 2 (triplet oxygen) to 1 O 2 . CP1 consists of Cd II centers bridged by 9,10-bis((E)-2-(pyridin-4-yl)vinyl)anthracene ligands which undergo a [4+2] cycloaddition reaction with 1 O 2 , resulting in the generation of CP1- 1 O 2 . Using microwave irradiation, CP1- 1 O 2 displays efficient release of 1 O 2 , over a period of 30 s. In addition, CP1 exhibits enhanced fluorescence and has an oxygen detection limit of 97.4 ppm. Theoretical calculations reveal that the fluorescence behaviour is dominated by unique through-space conjugation. In addition to describing a highly efficient approach for the trapping and controlled release of 1 O 2 , using coordination polymers, this work also provides encouragement for the development of efficient fluorescent oxygen sensors., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Aim: To identify the pathogenic gene variant in a family with lacrimo-auriculo-dento-digital syndrome [LADD (MIM 149730)] showing congenital lacrimal duct dysplasia as the main clinical manifestation and lay the foundation for future research on the pathogenic gene., Methods: Ophthalmological examinations, including slit-lamp biomicroscopy and lacrimal duct probing, and computed tomography dacryocystography (CT-DCG) were performed for all participants. The family pedigree was drawn, genetic features were analyzed, and the genomic DNA of the subjects was extracted. Pathogenic genes were screened via whole exome sequencing (WES) and confirmed using Sanger sequencing., Results: Six patients belonged to this three-generation family, and their clinical manifestations included congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction, congenital absence of lacrimal puncta and canaliculi, lacrimal fistulae, and limb deformities. This pattern indicates autosomal dominant inheritance. Diagnosis was based on the clinical characteristics of LADD syndrome, which presented in all the patients in this family. A novel frameshift mutation in the FGF10 gene (NM&#95;004465.1), c.234dupC (p.Trp79Leus*15), was identified in all patients via WES. The variant was confirmed by Sanger sequencing and classified as a "pathogenic mutation" according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) variant interpretation guidelines., Conclusion: A novel frameshift mutation in the FGF10 gene is found in all patients. This finding helps this family with LADD syndrome receiving a more accurate clinical diagnosis and genetic counseling by extending the mutation range of the FGF10 gene., (International Journal of Ophthalmology Press.)

Objective: To analyze the proliferation potential of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)., Methods: The MSC derived from the 24 patients with newly diagnosed MDS (MDS-MSC group) and MSC derived from 15 patients with nutritional anemia (control group) in the Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University were used as the research objects. The proliferation potential of MSC was analyzed by colony-forming unit assay, doubling time, cumulative passaging, cell number after 10 days of culture with equal amount of MSC and MTT experiment. The mechanism of abnormal proliferation was analyzed by cell cycle experiment, apoptosis experiment and p21 gene expression assay., Results: In the colony forming unit assay, the number of MDS-MSC colonies was 4.44±2.51, which was significantly lower than that of the control group (12.44±2.55)(P<0.01); the doubling time of MDS-MSC group was significantly longer than that of the control group (7.80±3.26 vs 3.63±0.85) (P<0.01); the number of MDS-MSC in 5×10 4 culture for 10 days was (39.40±14.18)×10 4 , which was significantly lower than that of the control group ［(85.30±9.49)×10 4 ］(P<0.01); the number of cumulative passages in MDS-MSC group was 5.20±1.40, which was significantly lower than that in control group (11.60±1.96)(P<0.01); MTT results showed that the proliferation capability of MSC in MDS-MSC group was lower than that in the control group. The cell proportion of G 0 /G 1 phase in MDS-MSC group was higher than that in the control group, while the cell proportion of S phase was lower (P<0.05). The percentage of early apoptotic cells in MDS-MSC group was higher than that in control group (P<0.05); the relative expression level of p21 mRNA in MDS-MSC group was significantly higher than that in control group(P<0.01)., Conclusion: The proliferative capability of MDS-MSC is significantly reduced, which relates with the arrest of cell cycle in G 0 /G 1 phase, the increase of early apoptotic cells and senescent cells of the MDS-MSC.

Objective: To explore the effect of dynamic scalp acupuncture combined with task-oriented mirror therapy (TOMT) for upper limb motor function and activity ability of daily living in patients with hemiplegia after ischemic stroke., Methods: Seventy-eight patients with hemiplegia after ischemic stroke were randomly divided into a dynamic scalp acupuncture group, a TOMT group, and a scalp acupuncture group, 26 cases in each group (1 case dropped off in the TOMT group and the scalp acupuncture group respectively). All three groups received routine rehabilitation training and medication treatment. The TOMT group was treated with TOMT for 40 min a day, 5 days a week for 8 weeks. The scalp acupuncture group was treated with TOMT after the scalp acupuncture, and the dynamic scalp acupuncture group was treated with TOMT during the scalp acupuncture treatment. The scalp acupuncture treatment was applied at ipsilateral up 1/5 and mid 2/5 of Dingnie Qianxiexian and Dingnie Houxiexian , and the needles were retained for 40 min. The scalp acupuncture treatment was given once a day, 5 days a week for 8 weeks. Before treatment and after 4 weeks and 8 weeks of treatment, the functions of upper limb and hand were evaluated by simplified Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) scale upper limb part and functional test for the hemiplegic upper extremity-Hong Kong version (FTHUE-HK) grade, the muscle tension of the upper extremity flexor elbow muscle group was assessed by modified Ashworth scale (MAS) and the activity ability of daily living was assessed by modified Barthel index (MBI)., Results: After 4 weeks and 8 weeks of treatment, the FMA scores, FTHUE-HK grades and MBI scores in the three groups were better than those before treatment ( P <0.01, P <0.05), and MAS scores after 4 weeks of treatment in the three groups were better than those before treatment ( P <0.05). After 4 weeks and 8 weeks of treatment, the FMA scores, FTHUE-HK grades and MBI scores in the dynamic scalp acupuncture group were better than those in the TOMT group and the scalp acupuncture group ( P <0.05), and these items in the scalp acupuncture group were better than those in the TOMT group ( P <0.05)., Conclusion: The dynamic scalp acupuncture combined with TOMT treatment can effectively improve the upper limb function and the activities ability of daily living in patients with hemiplegia after ischemic stroke, which is better than TOMT after scalp acupuncture and simple TOMT treatment.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), encoded by SERPINE1 , is highly expressed in various types of tumor tissues, which contributes to cancer progression. The present study explored the role and underlying mechanisms of PAI-1 in ESCC. We found that the PAI-1 protein was extracellularly secreted more from ESCC cells with high PAI-1 expression using Western blotting and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Knockdown of SERPINE1 expression significantly inhibited the invasion and migration of ESCC KYSE150 and KYSE450 cell lines, which could be restored when adding exogenous human recombinant PAI-1 into the culture medium of the cells stably expressing SERPINE1 shRNA. In vivo experiments showed that SERPINE1 knockdown significantly inhibited xenograft growth and lung metastasis of ESCC cells. Molecular analysis demonstrated that PAI-1 activated AKT and ERK signaling pathways. Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assays identified that PAI-1 may interact with the membrane receptor LDL receptor related protein 1 (LRP1). These results indicated that overexpression of PAI-1, through interacting with LRP1, might enhance invasion and migration of ESCC cells as well as promote ESCC progression.

Background/aims: To investigate the possible clinical risk factors contributing to PGS after subtotal gastrectomy., Methodology: The clinical data of 422 patients administering subtotal gastrectomy in our hospital were reviewed retrospectively from Jan, 1, 2005 to May, 1, 2012., Results: The higher morbility of PGS were found in the patients whose age were over 65 years, combining with anxiety disorder or diabetes mellitus, with low-albuminemia in perioperative period or having pyloric obstruction in preoperative period, administering Billroth II gastroenterostomy, whose operation time over 4 hours, using patient-controlled analgesia, injecting liquid per day over 3500 ml., Conclusion: The clinical factors referred previously maybe the identified risk factors of PGS after subtotal gastrectomy, avoiding these clinical factors in perioperative period would reduce the occurrences of PGS after subtotal gastrectomy.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the expression of immune suppression factors and the mechanisms of antitumor effects of cord blood dendritic cells (DCs) stimulated by soluble cluster of differentiation 40 ligand (sCD40L) and cytokines in vitro in ovarian cancer patients., Methods: The expression levels of interleukin (IL)-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β messenger RNA in peripheral blood were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; expression levels of CD80 and CD86 in DCs stimulated by sCD40L were detected using flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy., Results: Expression levels of IL-10 and TGF-β genes in the peripheral blood of ovarian cancer patients were significantly increased compared with patients with benign ovarian tumors (P < 0.05). The expression levels of CD80 and CD86 in DCs cultured in the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor + IL-4 + stem cell factor + Flt-3 ligand + sCD40L group were significantly increased compared with those in the control group, as assessed by flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: A variety of cytokines in combination with sCD40L can promote the proliferation of cord blood-derived DCs and induce their maturation as well as stimulating a specific antitumor response.

Aim: To determine whether mild hypothermia could protect liver against ischemia and reperfusion injury in pigs., Methods: Twenty-four healthy pigs were randomly divided into normothermia, mild hypothermia and normal control groups. The experimental procedure consisted of temporary interruption of blood flow to total hepatic lobe for different lengths of time and subsequent reperfusion. Hepatic tissue oxygen pressure (PtiO2) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) values were evaluated, and ultrastructural analysis was carried out for all samples., Results: Serum AST was significantly lower, and hepatic PtiO2 values were significantly higher in the mild hypothermia group than in the normothermia group during liver ischemia-reperfusion periods (P=0.032, P=0.028). Meanwhile, the histopathologic injury of liver induced by ischemia-reperfusion was significantly improved in the mild hypothermia group, compared with that in the normothermia group., Conclusion: Mild hypothermia can protect the liver from ischemia-reperfusion injury in pigs.