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Hepatic fibrosis (HF) refers to the pathophysiological process of connective tissue dysplasia in the liver caused by various pathogenic factors. Nowadays, HF is becoming a severe threat to the health of human being. However, the drugs available for treating HF are limited. Currently, increasing natural agents derived from traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) have been found to be beneficial for HF. A systemic literature search was conducted from PubMed, GeenMedical, Sci-Hub, CNKI, Google Scholar and Baidu Scholar, with the keywords of “traditional Chinese medicine,” “herbal medicine,” “natural agents,” “liver diseases,” and “hepatic fibrosis.” So far, more than 76 natural monomers have been isolated and identified from the TCMs with inhibitory effect on HF, including alkaloids, flavones, quinones, terpenoids, saponins, phenylpropanoids, and polysaccharides, etc. The anti-hepatic fibrosis effects of these compounds include hepatoprotection, inhibition of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) activation, regulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis & secretion, regulation of autophagy, and antioxidant & anti-inflammation, etc. Natural compounds and extracts from TCMs are promising agents for the prevention and treatment of HF, and this review would be of great significance to development of novel drugs for treating HF.

BackgroundBiological agents have been used with extreme caution in children because of their possible adverse effects.ObjectivesThis study used high-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to provide high-level evidence to assess the effectiveness and safety of biological agents for treating children with psoriasis.MethodsWe searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases through October 31, 2021. We included trials reporting at least one adverse event after treatment with biological agents of patients less than 18-year-old diagnosed with psoriasis. RevMan 5.3 and Stata 15.0 software were used for meta and Bayesian analyses.ResultsSix trials with 864 participants were included in the analysis. The results showed a 2.37-fold higher response rate in all biologics groups than in the control group for psoriasis area and severity index 75 (PASI75) (RR= 2.37, P-value < 0.01, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.22, 4.62]). Compared with placebo, the PASI75 response rates of etanercept (RR= 2.82, 95% [CI] [1.10, 7.21]), ustekinumab low dose (RR= 7.45, 95%[CI] [1.25, 44.58]), and ustekinumab high dose (RR= 7.25, 95%[CI] [1.21, 43.41]) were superior. Additionally, the incidence of total adverse reactions was 1.05 times higher for biologics than for controls, indicating a good safety profile (RR= 1.05, P-value = 0.53, 95%[CI] [0.92, 1.19]). Overall, these six high-quality randomized controlled trials suggest that biologics are effective and safe for pediatric patients with psoriasis.LimitationsInclusion of few relevant, high-quality RCTs.ConclusionThe results of this study indicate that biologics can be used to treat children with moderate-to-severe psoriasis without the risk of adverse effects. Ustekinumab showed the best efficacy and the fewest adverse effects.

A new species of the genus Gammarus Fabricius, 1775 is described and illustrated from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. Gammarus zhouqiongi sp. nov. is characterized by pereopods III--IV with long straight setae on posterior margins; inner ramus of uropod III more than twice as long as peduncle, reaching 0.7 times the length of outer ramus; inner ramus with plumose setae, and outer ramus with both plumose setae and long simple setae. Detailed morphological comparisons with related species are discussed. The K2P distances for each marker (CO1, 16S, 28S, and EF1α) of the new species differ from those of other Gammarus species in Xinjiang. Both phylogenetic trees based on separate (CO1, 16S, 28S, and EF1α) and combined (CO1+16S+28S+EF1α) markers show that the new species is an independent branch. A key to identify Gammarus species in Xinjiang is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several lines of evidence indicate the instability of CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs). We have therefore investigated means of promoting the stability of Tregs. In this study, we found that the proportion of Tregs in mouse strains deficient in TNFR2 or its ligands was reduced in the thymus and peripheral lymphoid tissues, suggesting a potential role of TNFR2 in promoting the sustained expression of Foxp3. We observed that upon in vitro activation with plate-bound anti-CD3 Ab and soluble anti-CD28 Ab, Foxp3 expression by highly purified mouse Tregs was markedly downregulated. Importantly, TNF partially abrogated this effect of TCR stimulation and stabilized Foxp3 expression. This effect of TNF was blocked by anti-TNFR2 Ab, but not by anti-TNFR1 Ab. Furthermore, TNF was not able to maintain Foxp3 expression by TNFR2-deficient Tregs. In a mouse colitis model induced by transfer of naive CD4 cells into Ragl-/- mice, the disease could be inhibited by cotransfer of wild-type Tregs, but not by cotransfer of TNFR2-deficient Tregs. Furthermore, in the lamina propria of the colitis model, most wild-type Tregs maintained Foxp3 expression. In contrast, an increased number of TNFR2-deficient Tregs lost Foxp3 expression. Thus, our data clearly show that TNFR2 is critical for the phenotypic and functional stability of Tregs in the inflammatory environment. This effect of TNF should be taken into account when designing future therapy of autoimmunity and graft-versus-host disease by using TNF inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the prevalence rates of bully victimization and risk for repeated victimization among students with disabilities using the Special Education Elementary Longitudinal Study and the National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 longitudinal datasets. Results revealed that a prevalence rate ranging from 24.5% in elementary school to 34.1% in middle school. This is one to one and a half times the national average for students without disabilities. The rate of bully victimization was highest for students with emotional disturbance across school levels. Findings from this study also indicated that students with disabilities who were bullied once were at high risk of being bullied repeatedly. Elementary and middle school students with autism and high school students with orthopedic impairments were at the greatest risk of experiencing repeated victimization. Implications of the findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Traditional Chinese medicine is effective in the treatment of psoriasis and can significantly reduce skin inflammation and psoriatic lesions with minimal side effects. Shikonin (SHI) and β,β-dimethylacryloyl alkannin (DMA), the main active components of Lithospermum erythrorhizon, have strong anti-inflammatory effects. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Lithospermum erythrorhizon and its main active components and to elucidate the potential mechanisms of their action in psoriasis treatment.Methods: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Scientific Journals, Wan Fang, and Chinese Biomedicine databases were systematically searched for articles published between 1 January 1970, and 31 February 2021. We included clinical and preclinical studies that examined the effects of Lithospermum erythrorhizon and its active components on psoriasis. All data were analyzed using RevMan 5.3 software. The Cochrane and SYRCLE’s risk-of-bias tools were used to assess the quality of all studies.Results: Eleven clinical trials including 1024 participants and 23 preclinical studies were assessed. Meta-analysis showed that when treating patients with psoriasis, the Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) formulas with Lithospermum erythrorhizon as the sovereign herb can significantly improve psoriatic dermatitis, which can significantly reduce the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score (mean difference [MD] = -2.00, 95% confidence interval [CI] [-3.19, -0.80], p = 0.001; I2 = 85%). The incidence rates of diarrhea (risk ratio = 0.21, 95% CI [0.06, 0.81], p = 0.02) were higher in the CHM formulas group than in the control group, whereas other adverse events were not significantly different between the two groups (p > 0.05). We evaluated the PASI score of mice on day 7 and found that SHI and DMA also alleviated psoriatic lesions (MD = -3.36, 95% CI [-4.67, -2.05], p < 0.00001, I2 = 94%). Furthermore, the epidermal thickness decreased more after SHI or DMA treatment than in the control group (MD = -34.42, 95%CI [-41.25, -27.59], p < 0.00001, I2 = 93%). Based on preclinical studies, we also summarized and mapped the mechanisms of SHI and DMA in the treatment of psoriasis.Conclusion: Available findings demonstrated that Lithospermum erythrorhizon combined with other conventional treatments is useful in treating psoriasis. Preclinical evidence has shown that the active components of Lithospermum erythrorhizon exhibit a potential anti-inflammatory effect, promote keratinocyte apoptosis, inhibit keratinocyte proliferation and angiogenesis, and block the cell cycle. In summary, our findings suggest that Lithospermum erythrorhizon and its active components can be used to treat psoriasis.

AIM: To quantitatively investigate the retinal vascular diameter changes, analyzing the early and long-term effects on the retinal circulation, with 6-month follow-up. METHODS: Patients underwent horizontal strabismus surgery were enrolled prospectively. Retinal vessel diameters on color fundus photographs were assessed before and 1, 7d, 6mo after surgery, using a computer-assisted quantitative assessment software. To evaluate the retinal vascular caliber changes, retinal vascular diameters were calculated by means of the Parr–Hubbard formula as the central retinal arteriolar equivalent (CRAE) and central retinal venular equivalent (CRVE). The arteriovenous ratio (AVR) was calculated as CRAE divided by CRVE. RESULTS: A total of 154 eyes of 104 consecutive patients were included. Compared with the data before surgery (121.55±24.67), the mean CRAE (131.18±28.29) significantly increased 1d after surgery (P=0.003), but went back to baseline level at 7d (118.89±30.35, P=0.15), and 6mo (123.22±15.32, P=0.60), so did the AVR (P

Abstract. Background:. The programmed intermittent epidural bolus (PIEB) technique is widely used in labor analgesia, but the parameter settings of PIEB have not yet been standardized. We designed a study to identify the optimal interval duration for PIEB using 10 mL of ropivacaine 0.08% and sufentanyl 0.3 μg/mL, a regimen commonly used to control labor pain in China, to provide effective analgesia in 90% of women during the first stage of labor without breakthrough pain. Methods:. We conducted a double-blind sequential allocation trial to obtain the effective interval 90% (EI90%) during the first stage of labor between April 2019 and May 2019. This study included the American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status II–III nulliparous parturients at term, who requested epidural analgesia. The bolus volume was fixed at 10 mL of ropivacaine 0.08% with sufentanyl 0.3 μg/mL. Participants were divided into four groups (groups 60, 50, 40, and 30) according to the PIEB intervals (60, 50, 40, and 30 min, respectively). The interval duration of the first parturient was set at 60 min and that of subsequent parturients varied according to a biased-coin design. The truncated Dixon and Mood method and the isotonic regression analysis method were used to estimate the EI90% and its 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results:. Forty-four women were enrolled in this study. The estimated optimal interval was 44.1 min (95% CI 41.7–46.5 min) and 39.5 min (95% CI 32.5–50.0 min), using the truncated Dixon and Mood method and isotonic regression analysis, respectively. The maximum sensory block level above T6 was in nearly 20% of parturients in group 30; however, 5.3%, 0%, and 0% of the parturients presented with sensory block level above T6 in groups 40, 50, and 60, respectively. There were no cases of hypotension and only one parturient complained of motor block. Conclusion:. With a fixed 10 mL dose of ropivacaine 0.08% with sufentanyl 0.3 μg/mL, the optimal PIEB interval is about 42 min. Further studies are warranted to define the efficacy of this regimen throughout all stages of labor. Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR1900022199; http://www.chictr.org.cn/com/25/historyversionpuben.aspx?regno=ChiCTR1900022199.

BackgroundPsoriasis is an autoimmune skin disease associated with lipid metabolism. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive lipid that plays a key role in the development of autoimmune diseases. However, there is currently a lack of comprehensive evidence of the effectiveness of S1P on psoriasis.ObjectiveTo assess the efficacy and possible mechanism of S1P and its signal modulators in the treatment of psoriasis-like dermatitis.MethodsSix databases were searched through May 8, 2021, for studies reporting S1P and its signal modulators. Two reviewers independently extracted information from the enrolled studies. Methodological quality was assessed using SYRCLE’s risk of bias tool. RevMan 5.3 software was used to analyze the data. For clinical studies, the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score were the main outcomes. For preclinical studies, we clarified the role of S1P and its regulators in psoriasis in terms of phenotype and mechanism.ResultsOne randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial and nine animal studies were included in this study. The pooled results showed that compared with control treatment, S1P receptor agonists [mean difference (MD): −6.80; 95% confidence interval (CI): −8.23 to −5.38; p

Abstract Background Understanding genetic diversity of wild plant germplasm and the relationships between ecogeographic and genetic characteristics may provide insights for better utilizing and conserving genetic resources. Elymus tangutorum (Nevski) Hand.-Mazz, a cool-season hexaploid perennial, is an important pasture bunchgrass species used for forages and grassland restoration in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and northwest China. In this study, 27 E. tangutorum accessions from diverse origins of western China were evaluated using AFLP markers in an effort to delve into the genetic relationships among them. The effects of eco-environmental factors and geographical isolation on the genetic diversity and population structure were also elucidated. Results On account of 554 polymorphic fragments amplified with 14 primer combinations, the mean values of some marker parameters including polymorphic information content, resolving power and marker index were 0.2504, 14.10 and 23.07, respectively, validating the high efficiency and reliability of the markers selected. Genetic dissimilarity index values among accessions ranged from 0.1024 to 0.7137 with a mean of 0.2773. STRUCTURE, UPGMA clustering and PCoA analyses showed that all accessions could be divided into the three main clusters; however, this results do not exactly coincide with geographic groups. We found medium differentiation (F ST = 0.162) between Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) and Xinjiang (XJC), and high differentiation (F ST = 0.188) among three Bayesian subgroups. A significant correlation (r = 0.312) between genetic and geographical distance was observed by Mantel test in the species level, while the weak correlation was detected between genetic and environmental distance for all accessions and most of geographical groups. In addition, a significant ecological influence of average annual precipitation on genetic distance was revealed in XJC group and the Bayesian subgroup A. Conclusion This study indicates that AFLP technique are a useful tool to measure genetic diversity in E. tangutorum, showing that geographical and environmental factors (especially precipitation) together, play a crucial role in genetic differentiation patterns. These findings underline the importance of local adaptation in shaping patterns of genetic variability and population structure in E. tangutorum germplasm collected in Western China.

Objective Ovarian cancer (OC) affects nearly 22,000 women annually in the United States and ranks fifth in cancer deaths, largely because of being diagnosed at an advanced stage. Autophagy is the cellular process of self-degrading damaged or degenerate proteins and organelles. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a group of RNA molecules whose transcripts are greater than 200 nt but are not translated into proteins. However, just a small number of autophagy-related lncRNAs have been explored in depth. Methods We used RNA sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and autophagy datasets to identify dysfunctional autophagy-related lncRNAs and provide potential useful biomarkers for OC diagnosis and prognosis. Results Seventeen differentially expressed lncRNAs (AC010186.3, AC006001.2, LBX2-AS1, SNHG17, AC011445.1, AC083880.1, MIR193BHG, AC025259.3, HCG14, AC007114.1, AC108673.2, USP30-AS1, AC010336.5, LINC01132, AC006333.2, LINC00665 and AC027348.1) were selected as independent prognostic factors for OC patients. Functional annotation of the data was performed through gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). The results suggested that the high-risk group was mainly enriched in specific tumor-related and metabolism pathways. Conclusion Based on the online databases, we identified novel autophagy-related lncRNAs for the prognosis of ovarian cancer.

Background: Psoriasis and dementia are both inflammatory diseases. The association between psoriasis and dementia has rarely been investigated, and the existing results are conflicting. Thus, we conducted this study to evaluate whether an association exists between psoriasis and dementia.Methods: We searched for studies from six databases from inception to July 30, 2020, using subject and free words. RevMan 5.4 was used to calculate the risk ratio (RR) of dementia in the subjects with psoriasis. When heterogeneity was present, a random-effects model was used. Subgroup, sensitivity, and meta-regression analyses were performed using Stata 15.1.Results: Nine studies were identified and included in the study, of which seven that involved a total of 3,638,487 participants were included in the meta-analysis. We found that among the patients with psoriasis (RR: 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06–1.24, p = 0.0009) and psoriatic arthritis (RR: 2.20, 95% CI: 1.29–3.78, p = 0.004), the proportions of those with non-vascular dementia (RR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.11–1.15, p < 0.00001) and vascular dementia (RR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.09–1.82, p = 0.009) were higher than that among the patients without psoriasis. Those with dementia were also more likely to develop psoriasis, and those with severe psoriasis were less likely to die from dementia (RR: 1.88, 95% CI: 0.72–4.90, p = 0.020). The meta-regression analysis did not show any significant sources of heterogeneity.Conclusions: The patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis show high prevalence of different types of dementia. Based on the findings of this study, dementia may not be considered a high-risk factor of death from severe psoriasis. However, identification of this potential risk allows for early intervention, thereby reducing comorbidities and deaths.

Long-term imbalance between fatigue and recovery may eventually lead to muscle weakness or even atrophy. We previously reported that excessive exercise induces pathological cardiac hypertrophy. However, the effect of excessive exercise on the skeletal muscles remains unclear. In the present study, we successfully established an excessive-exercise-induced skeletal muscle atrophy zebrafish model, with decreased muscle fiber size, critical swimming speed, and maximal oxygen consumption. High-throughput RNA-seq analysis identified differentially expressed genes in the model system compared with control zebrafish. Gene ontology and KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that the upregulated genes were enriched in autophagy, homeostasis, circadian rhythm, response to oxidative stress, apoptosis, the p53 signaling pathway, and the FoxO signaling pathway. Protein–protein interaction network analysis identified several hub genes, including keap1b, per3, ulk1b, socs2, esrp1, bcl2l1, hsp70, igf2r, mdm2, rab18a, col1a1a, fn1a, ppih, tpx2, uba5, nhlrc2, mcm4, tac1, b3gat3, and ddost, that correlate with the pathogenesis of skeletal muscle atrophy induced by excessive exercise. The underlying regulatory pathways and muscle-pressure-response-related genes identified in the present study will provide valuable insights for prescribing safe and accurate exercise programs for athletes and the supervision and clinical treatment of muscle atrophy induced by excessive exercise.

Abstract Glucocorticoids have been used to treat hearing loss and vestibular dysfunction for many years. However, some reports have indicated that a subset of patients with these disorders exhibit glucocorticoid insensitivity or resistance. A reduction in histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) activity and expression has been reported to play a critical role in glucocorticoid resistance. Here, we investigated the protective effects of aminophylline on HDAC2 expression and glucocorticoid sensitivity in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sudden sensorineural hearing loss in guinea pigs. We assessed hearing recovery in LPS-applied guinea pigs, which were either left untreated or were systemically treated with either dexamethasone, aminophylline, or a combination of the two. We utilized fluorescence microscopy and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to analyze the distribution patterns of HDAC2 and detect its levels in the cochlea. We used hematoxylin-eosin staining to examine cochlear histopathological changes. In the absence of treatment, significant hearing loss was detected in LPS-exposed animals. A synergistic effect was observed between aminophylline and dexamethasone in maintaining HDAC2 expression levels, preventing hearing loss in LPS-exposed animals and reducing cochlear damage. This study indicates that aminophylline can restore glucocorticoid sensitivity, which provides a new approach to treating patients with hearing disorders who are refractory to glucocorticoids.

The cellphone based localization system for search and rescue in complex high density ruins has attracted a great interest in recent years, where the radio channel characteristics are critical for design and development of such a system. This paper presents a spatial smoothing estimation via rotational invariance technique (SS-ESPRIT) for radio channel characterization of high density ruins. The radio propagations at three typical mobile communication bands (0.9, 1.8, and 2 GHz) are investigated in two different scenarios. Channel parameters, such as arrival time, delays, and complex amplitudes, are statistically analyzed. Furthermore, a channel simulator is built based on these statistics. By comparison analysis of average excess delay and delay spread, the validation results show a good agreement between the measurements and channel modeling results.

OBJECTIVES: Frequent outbreaks of dengue are considered to be associated with an increased risk for endemicity of the disease. The occurrence of a large number of indigenous dengue cases in consecutive years indicates the possibility of a changing dengue epidemic pattern in Guangdong, China. METHODS: To have a clear understanding of the current dengue epidemic, a retrospective study of epidemiological profile, serological response, and virological features of dengue infections from 2005-2011 was conducted. Case data were collected from the National Notifiable Infectious Diseases Reporting Network. Serum samples were collected and prepared for serological verification and etiological confirmation. Incidence, temporal and spatial distribution, and the clinical manifestation of dengue infections were analyzed. Pearson's Chi-Square test was used to compare incidences between different age groups. A seroprevalence survey was implemented in local healthy inhabitants to obtain the overall positive rate for the specific immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibody against dengue virus (DENV). RESULTS: The overall annual incidence rate was 1.87/100000. A significant difference was found in age-specific incidence (Pearson's Chi-Square value 498.008, P

PurposeTo determine prevalence and associations of incomplete posterior vitreous detachment (PVD).MethodsThe population-based cross-sectional Beijing Eye Study 2011 included 3468 individuals with a mean age of 64.6±9.8 years (range: 50-93 years). A detailed ophthalmic examination was performed including spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Incomplete PVD was differentiated into type 1 (shallow PVD with circular perifoveal vitreous attachment), type 2 (PVD reaching fovea but not foveola), type 3 (shallow PVD with pinpoint vitreous attachment at the foveola), and type 4 (PVD completely detached from the macula, attached to the optic disc).ResultsAn incomplete PVD was detected in 3948 eyes (prevalence: 60.5±0.6%; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 59.3%,61.7%) of 2198 subjects (67.1±0.8%;95%CI: 65.6%,68.7%). Type 1 PVD was seen in 3090 (78.3%) eyes, type 2 PVD in 504 (12.8%) eyes, type 3 PVD in 70 (1.8%) eyes, and type 4 PVD in 284 (7.2%) eyes. Prevalence of incomplete PVD was associated with younger age (PConclusionsIn adult Chinese in Greater Beijing, prevalence of an incomplete PVD (detected in 67.1% subjects) was associated with younger age, male gender, rural region of habitation, larger corneal diameter, better best corrected visual acuity and hyperopic refractive error.

In this study, the mechanical properties and structure orientation of pure polyamide 1212 (PA1212) were compared with those of PA1212-carbon nanofibers (CNFs) nanocomposites. The tensile strength of the composite containing 0.3 wt.% modified CNFs was improved from 328 MPa (pure PA1212) to 373 MPa after drawing. The reinforcing effect was investigated in terms of crystallization behavior, crystal morphology, alignment of CNFs, and crystal orientation degree. Spherulites developed into oriented crystals after drawing, and the CNFs aligned along the drawing direction. The heterogeneous nucleation effect of the aligned CNFs improved the crystal orientation degree, which produced the reinforcing effect. The oriented fibril structures with rigid nanofibers acting as nuclei reinforced the entire oriented crystals in the composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging evidence has shown the potential of marked improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with recent-onset cardiomyopathy (ROCM) on medical therapy. This study was designed to determine the frequency and to identify predictors of normalization of LVEF in a cohort of Chinese patients with ROCM receiving contemporary medication. A consecutive series of patients admitted from October 2008 to November 2012 with the clinical diagnosis of ROCM and LVEF £40% by echocardiography at presentation were followed up at least 12 months to identify those with normalization of LVEF, defined as an increase in LVEF to a final level of ‡50%. An array of clinical and echocardiographic variables regarded as potentially relevant to normalization was evaluated to identify predictors using logistic regression analysis. After a mean follow-up of 31 - 13 months, 48% of 128 patients had normalized their LVEF, showing a significant increase in LVEF from 32 - 6% to 58 - 5%, of which 68% occurred within 1 year after initial diagnosis. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that normalization of LVEF was associated with a history of hypertension, higher systolic blood pressure at presentation, shorter electrocardiographic QRS duration, smaller left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, and higher LVEF by echocardiography at baseline. In conclusion, nearly 1/2 of a relatively large number of Chinese patients with ROCM have shown normalization of LVEF on current medical therapy after a medium-term follow-up, which was associated with some clinical and echocardiographic parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the discovery of giant and anisotropic magnetoresistance due to the orbital rearrangement in a non magnetic correlated metal. In particular, we measured the magnetoresistance under fields up to 31.4 T in the cubic Pr-based heavy fermion superconductor PrV2Al20 with a non magnetic Γ3 doublet ground state, exhibiting antiferroquadrupole ordering below 0.7 K. For the [100] direction, we find that the high-field phase appears between 12 and 25 T, accompanied by a large jump at 12 T in the magnetoresistance (ΔMR∼100%) and in the anisotropic magnetoresistivity ratio by ∼20%. These observations indicate that the strong hybridization between the conduction electrons and anisotropic quadrupole moments leads to the Fermi surface reconstruction upon crossing the field-induced antiferroquadrupole (orbital) rearrangement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a systematic study of the ejected charge dynamics surrounding laser-produced 30-nm warm dense gold films using single-shot femtosecond electron shadow imaging and deflectometry. The results reveal a two-step dynamical process of the ejected electrons under high pump fluence conditions: an initial emission and accumulation of a large amount of electrons near the pumped surface region, followed by the formation of hemispherical clouds of electrons on both sides of the film, which escape into the vacuum at a nearly isotropic and constant velocity with an unusually high kinetic energy of more than 300 eV. We also developed a model of the escaping charge distribution that not only reproduces the main features of the observed charge expansion dynamics but also allows us to extract the number of ejected electrons remaining in the cloud. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trivalent oral poliovirus vaccine (tOPV) has been withdrawn and instead an inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) and bivalent type 1 and type 3 OPV (bOPV) sequential immunization schedule has been implemented since 2016, but no immune persistence data are available for this polio vaccination strategy. This study aimed to assess immune persistence following different polio sequential immunization schedules. Venous blood was collected at 24, 36, and 48 months of age from participants who had completed sequential schedules of combined IPV and OPV in phase III clinical trials. The serum neutralizing antibody titers against poliovirus were determined, and the poliovirus-specific antibody-positive rates were evaluated. A total of 1104 participants were enrolled in this study. The positive rates of poliovirus type 1- and type 3-specific antibodies among the sequential immunization groups showed no significant difference at 24, 36, or 48 months of age. The positive rates of poliovirus type 2-specific antibody in the IPV-IPV-tOPV group at all time points were nearly 100%, which was significantly higher than the corresponding rates in other immunization groups (IPV-bOPV-bOPV and IPV-IPV-bOPV). Immunization schedules involving one or two doses of IPV followed by bOPV failed to maintain a high positive rate for poliovirus type 2-specific antibody., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

To provide a basis for further optimization of the polio sequential immunization schedule, this study evaluated the effectiveness of booster immunization with one dose of bivalent oral poliovirus vaccine (bOPV) at 48 months of age after different primary polio immunization schedules. At 48 months of age, one dose of bOPV was administered, and their poliovirus types 1-3 (PV1, PV2, and PV3, respectively)-specific neutralizing antibody levels were determined. Participants found to be negative for any type of PV-specific neutralizing antibody at 24, 36, or 48 months of age were re-vaccinated with inactivated polio vaccine (IPV). The 439 subjects who received a bOPV booster immunization at the age of 48 months had lower PV2-specific antibody levels compared with those who received IPV. One dose of IPV during basic polio immunization induced the lowest PV2-specific antibody levels. On the basis of our findings, to ensure that no less than 70% of the vaccinated have protection efficiency, we recommend the following: if basic immunization was conducted with 1IPV + 2bOPV (especially Sabin strain-based IPV), a booster immunization with IPV is recommended at 36 months of age, whereas if basic immunization was conducted with 2IPV + 1bOPV, a booster immunization with IPV is recommended at 48 months of age. A sequential immunization schedule of 2IPV + 1bOPV + 1IPV can not only maintain high levels of antibody against PV1 and PV3 but also increases immunity to PV2 and induces early intestinal mucosal immunity, with relatively good safety. Thus, this may be the best sequential immunization schedule for polio in countries or regions at high risk for polio., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Objective: To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of mumps in mainland China from 2004 to 2018, and to provide data for the key population for prevention and control of mumps., Methods: The epidemiological characteristics of mumps were analyzed with reference to the data of the cases of mumps reported in the National Scientific Data Sharing Platform for Population and Health and Disease Prevention and Control Bureau of National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China. Descriptive epidemiology was used to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of mumps., Results: A total of 4 272 368 cases of mumps were reported in China during 2004-2018, with an average annual reported incidence rate of 21.44/100 000. A single dose of mumps-containing vaccine was added to the national Expanded Program of Immunization in 2008, but the annual incidence rate ranged from 12.84/100 000 to 35.59/100 000. The second dose of measles, mumps and rubella combined attenuated live vaccine was included in the routine immunization in Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai, and then the average incidence rate of mumps reported in these three regions dropped to about 10/100 000. From 2004 to 2016, the population aged 3-14 years accounted for 81.16% of all patients with mumps. The children aged 6 years had the highest incidence rate of mumps during 2004-2013., Conclusions: A single dose of mumps-containing vaccine has no obvious effect on the incidence rate of mumps. Children aged 6 years have the highest incidence rate of mumps. A booster dose of mumps-containing vaccine should be given to preschool children.

Aim: To compare the efficacy and safety of a hook knife (HO) with a hybrid knife (HK) during endoscopic submucosal tunnel dissection (ESTD) procedure., Methods: Between August 2012 and December 2015, the ESTD procedure was performed for 83 upper GI submucosal lesions, which originated from the muscularis propria layer identified by upper endoscopy and endoscopic ultrasonography. Of these, 34 lesions were treated by a HO, whereas 49 lesions were treated by a HK. Data regarding age, gender, presenting symptoms, tumor location and size, procedure time, complications, en bloc resection rate and others were analyzed and compared between the two groups., Results: There were no significant differences in the age, gender, presenting symptoms and tumor location between the two groups. ESTD was successfully completed in all the patients, and no case was converted to laparoscopy. The mean procedure time was significantly shorter in the HK group than in the HO group (41.3 ± 20.3 min vs 57.2 ± 28.0 min, P = 0.004). The mean frequency of device exchange was 1.4 ± 0.6 in the HK group and significantly less than 3.3 ± 0.6 in the HO group ( P < 0.001). The differences in tumor size and histopathological diagnoses were not significant between the two groups ( P = 0.813, P = 0.363, respectively). Both groups had an equal en bloc resection rate and complete resection rate. Additionally, the complication rate was similar between the two groups ( P = 0.901). During the follow-up, no recurrence occurred in either group., Conclusion: We demonstrate for the first time that HO and HK do not differ in efficacy or safety, but HK reduces the frequency of device exchange and procedure time., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declared that there are no conflicts of interest in this study.

Aim: To investigate the feasibility and efficacy of the combination of S-1 with gemcitabine followed by oral S-1 with concurrent radiotherapy (intensity modulated radiotherapy, IMRT) and maintenance therapy with S-1 for locally advanced pancreatic cancer., Methods: Subjects selected in the study were patients who had unresectable and locally advanced pancreatic cancer without distant metastases, adequate organ and marrow functions, an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-1 and no prior anticancer therapy. Initially the subjects received two cycles of chemotherapy, oral administration of S-1 40 mg/m(2) twice daily from day 1 to day 14 of a 21-d cycle, with 30-min intravenous infusions of gemcitabine 1000 mg/m(2) on day 1 and day 8. Two weeks after the completion of chemotherapy, S-1 was administered orally with concurrent IMRT. Oral S-1 was administered at a dose of 80 mg/m(2) per day twice daily from day 1 to day 14 and from day 22 to day 35. Radiation was concurrently delivered at a dose of 50.4 Gy (1.8 Gy/d, 5 times per week, 28 fractions). One month after the completion of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, S-1 was administered orally at a dose of 80 mg/m(2) per day twice daily for 14 d, followed by a 14-d rest period. This cycle was repeated as maintenance therapy, until unacceptable toxicity occurred or the disease worsened. Thirty-two patients were involved in this study. The median follow-up was 15.6 mo (range: 8.6-32.3 mo)., Results: Thirty-two patients completed the scheduled course of chemotherapy, while 30 patients (93.8%) received chemoradiotherapy with two patients ceasing to continue with radiotherapy. The major toxic effects were nausea and leukopenia. There was no grade 4 toxicity or treatment-related death. According to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors criteria, the objective tumor response was partial response in 17 (53.1%) patients, stable disease in 9 (28.1%), and progressive disease in 6 (18.8%). The median overall survival and median progression-free survival were 15.2 mo and 9.3 mo, respectively. The survival rates at 1 year and 2 years were 75% and 34.4%, respectively., Conclusion: The combination of S-1 with gemcitabine followed by oral S-1 with IMRT and maintenance therapy with S-1 alone in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer may be considered a well-tolerated, promising treatment regimen.