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Liver fibrosis is a key contributor to hepatic disease-related mortality. Exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been revealed to improve liver fibrosis. To explore the effect and mechanism of MSC-derived exosomal miR-26a on liver fibrosis, exosomes were separated from bone marrow-derived MSCs (BMSCs) and used to treat with LX2 cells. The miR-26a level was decreased in BMSC-derived exosomes. Treatment with exosomes isolated from human BMSCs transfected with miR-26a mimics (miR-26a mimic-Exo) decreased the 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine-positive cell rate, the protein level of α-SMA and collagen I, and the glutathione (GSH) level but enhanced the apoptosis rate and the reactive oxide species (ROS) level in LX2 cells, which were reversed by the treatment of deferoxamine. Mechanically, miR-26a directly bound SLC7A11 mRNA and negatively modulated the level of SLC7A11 in LX2 cells. Overexpression of SLC7A11 reversed the miR-26a mimic-Exo-induced alterations in the level of ROS, Fe2+, malonaldehyde, and GSH in LX2 cells. In vivo, miR-26a mimic-Exo decreased the level of SLC7A11 and attenuated CCL4-induced liver fibrosis. Collectively, miR-26a mimic-Exo induced ferroptosis to alleviate liver fibrosis by regulating SLC7A11, which may provide new strategies for the treatment of liver fibrosis, and even other relevant diseases.

There are trillions of different microorganisms in the human digestive system. These gut microbes are involved in the digestion of food and its conversion into the nutrients required by the body. In addition, the gut microbiota communicates with other parts of the body to maintain overall health. The connection between the gut microbiota and the brain is known as the gut–brain axis (GBA), and involves connections via the central nervous system (CNS), the enteric nervous system (ENS), and endocrine and immune pathways. The gut microbiota regulates the central nervous system bottom-up through the GBA, which has prompted researchers to pay considerable attention to the potential pathways by which the gut microbiota might play a role in the prevention and treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Studies with animal models of ALS have shown that dysregulation of the gut ecology leads to dysregulation of brain–gut signaling. This, in turn, induces changes in the intestinal barrier, endotoxemia, and systemic inflammation, which contribute to the development of ALS. Through the use of antibiotics, probiotic supplementation, phage therapy, and other methods of inducing changes in the intestinal microbiota that can inhibit inflammation and delay neuronal degeneration, the clinical symptoms of ALS can be alleviated, and the progression of the disease can be delayed. Therefore, the gut microbiota may be a key target for effective management and treatment of ALS.

The repeated freeze-thaw cycles with seasonal alternations have an obvious effect on soil structure. To reduce the temperature sensitivity of saline soil and then use it in engineering, a combined treatment method is proposed, where lime, fly ash and modified polyvinyl alcohol (MPA) are used as solidified materials. Unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests and microstructure characterization are firstly used to evaluate the solidified effect and obtain the parameters range of solidified materials. Then, the shear strength tests for determining cohesion and internal friction angle are conducted. Experiments are conducted by considering separate and combined treatments of materials mentioned above. The results indicate that the combined treatment with lime, fly ash and MPA can improve the strength of saline soil. After combined treatment, the UCS is 1130.25 kPa, which is 5.18 times than that of saline soil (218 kPa). The strength of combined solidified saline soil meets the requirements of engineering specification (JTG 3430-2020). The stable value of UCS of combined solidified saline soil is 700 kPa under freeze-thaw cycles. The fluctuation is about 5% after three freeze-thaw cycles. The cohesion and the internal friction angle of combined solidified saline under the optimal proportion can be 208.2 kPa and 38.56°, respectively after three freeze-thaw cycles. The sensitivity of the factors is in an order of decreasing importance: curing time, lime content, MPA content, dry density, salt content, and freeze-thaw cycles. With an increase of lime, fly ash and MPA content, the strength of combined solidified saline soil increases and then tends to become stable. The optimization of solidification parameters can effectively weaken the influence of freeze-thaw on coastal saline soil. Based on tests results of compressive strength and shear strength, it can be concluded that the optimal combination of solidified parameters is 14% of lime, 30% of fly ash, 1% of MPA, 28 days of curing time, and a dry density of 1.65 g/cm3.

Abstract Background Tetanus remains common in many low- and middle-income countries, but as critical care services improve, mortality from tetanus is improving. Nevertheless, patients develop severe syndromes associated with autonomic nervous system disturbance (ANSD) and the requirement for mechanical ventilation (MV). Understanding factors associated with worse outcome in such settings is important to direct interventions. In this study, we investigate risk factors for disease severity and long-term physical outcome in adults with tetanus admitted to a Vietnamese intensive care unit. Methods Clinical and demographic variables were collected prospectively from 180 adults with tetanus. Physical function component scores (PCS), calculated from Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), were assessed in 79 patients at hospital discharge, 3 and 6 months post discharge. Results Age, temperature, heart rate, lower peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) and shorter time from first symptom to admission were associated with MV (OR 1.03 [ 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00, 1.05], p = 0.04; OR 2.10 [95% CI 1.03, 4.60], p = 0.04; OR 1.04 [ 95% CI 1.01, 1.07], p = 0.02); OR 0.80 [95% CI 0.66, 0.94], p = 0.02 and OR 0.65 [95% CI 0.52, 0.79, p

BackgroundCritically ill patients often require complex clinical care by highly trained staff within a specialized intensive care unit (ICU) with advanced equipment. There are currently limited data on the costs of critical care in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study aims to investigate the direct-medical costs of key infectious disease (tetanus, sepsis, and dengue) patients admitted to ICU in a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam, and explores how the costs and cost drivers can vary between the different diseases.MethodsWe calculated the direct medical costs for patients requiring critical care for tetanus, dengue and sepsis. Costing data (stratified into different cost categories) were extracted from the bills of patients hospitalized to the adult ICU with a dengue, sepsis and tetanus diagnosis that were enrolled in three studies conducted at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in HCMC from January 2017 to December 2019. The costs were considered from the health sector perspective. The total sample size in this study was 342 patients.ResultsICU care was associated with significant direct medical costs. For patients that did not require mechanical ventilation, the median total ICU cost per patient varied between US$64.40 and US$675 for the different diseases. The costs were higher for patients that required mechanical ventilation, with the median total ICU cost per patient for the different diseases varying between US$2,590 and US$4,250. The main cost drivers varied according to disease and associated severity.ConclusionThis study demonstrates the notable cost of ICU care in Vietnam and in similar LMIC settings. Future studies are needed to further evaluate the costs and economic burden incurred by ICU patients. The data also highlight the importance of evaluating novel critical care interventions that could reduce the costs of ICU care.

Whole potato flour has high nutritional value, but it is limited in the processing of vermicelli because it cannot form a good gluten structure. In this study, single factor test and double factor test were used to optimize the vacuum and noodles process of whole potato flour noodle. The results showed that the water content had the greatest influence on the overall quality of whole potato flour, followed by the mixing time, the vacuum degree and rotation speed had little influence. The optimum parameters are 36% water addition, 12 minutes mixing time, 0.06 MPa vacuum degree and 60 R/min rotating speed. It provides practical data support for further industrial production of high proportion potato noodle products.

Artificial electromagnetic medium can effectively expand the absorption bandwidth of the absorber,which has aroused wide attention of researchers at home and abroad. The main typical structure and application of broadband absorbers based on artificial electromagnetic medium were reviewed in recent years. The mechanism of artificial electromagnetic medium structure in improving the absorption rate of the absorber was analyzed. The theoretical model of widening the bandwidth of the absorber based on lumped elements was introduced. The important role of artificial electromagnetic medium in expanding the absorbing bandwidth was emphasized. Finally, the application prospect of electromagnetic medium in the field of science and technology was prospected, and it was pointed out that the future development trend of broadband electromagnetic absorbers mainly focuses on coordinability, multi-physics coupling and low-cost production, especially the efficient large-area low-cost production process will become important for the future.

Nowadays,water shortage has become a severe issue all over the world, especially in some arid and undeveloped areas. In nature, many creatures can collect water from fog which can provide a source of inspiration to develop novel and functional water-collecting materials. Recently, as an increasingly hot research topic, bioinspired materials with water collection have captured vast scientific attentions into both practical applications and fundamental researches. In this paper, the mechanism of water collection of Namib desert beetle, cactus and spider silk was summarized, and the synthesis, function and water collection efficiency of corresponding biomimetic materials were described, as well as new developments in recent years. Finally, conclusions and outlook concerning the main problems and development trends of bionic water-collecting materials in the process of preparation and application were presented.

In order to study the band gap performance of structural color films under different conditions, Monodisperse submicron silica microspheres with different particle sizes were prepared by the modified Stöber method, and a photonic crystal structure color film with silica as a structural element was prepared on the surface of the glass by vertical deposition self-assembly. The morphology and optical properties of microspheres and films were analyzed by scanning electron microscope, infrared spectrometer and UV-vis spectrophotometer. The results show that during the synthesis process, with the increase of the reaction temperature, the particle size of silica microspheres gradually reduces; with the increase of the diameter of SiO2 microspheres, the corresponding photonic band gap of photonic crystals occurs red shifting. It is found through further study that as the angle between the incident light and the normal line of color film increases, the center wavelength corresponding to the photonic band gap becomes shorter, then blue shifting occurs.

Background: Tetanus remains common in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) yet the evidence base guiding management of this disease is extremely limited, particularly with respect to contemporary management options. Sharing knowledge about practice may facilitate improvement in outcomes elsewhere. Methods: We describe clinical interventions and outcomes of 180 adult patients ≥16 years-old with tetanus enrolled in prospective observational studies at a specialist infectious diseases hospital in Southern Vietnam. Patients were treated according to a holistic management protocol encompassing wound-care, antitoxin, antibiotics, symptom control, airway management, nutrition and de-escalation criteria. Results: Mortality rate in our cohort was 2.8%, with 90 (50%) patients requiring mechanical ventilation for a median 16 [IQR 12-24] days. Median [IQR] duration of ICU stay was 15 [8-23] days. Autonomic nervous system dysfunction occurred in 45 (25%) patients. Hospital acquired infections occurred in 77 (43%) of patients. Conclusion: We report favourable outcomes for patients with tetanus in a single centre LMIC ICU, treated according to a holistic protocol. Nevertheless, many patients required prolonged intensive care support and hospital acquired infections were common.

Background: Tetanus remains common in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) yet the evidence base guiding management of this disease is extremely limited, particularly with respect to contemporary management options. Sharing knowledge about practice may facilitate improvement in outcomes elsewhere. Methods: We describe clinical interventions and outcomes of 180 adult patients ≥16 years-old with tetanus enrolled in prospective observational studies at a specialist infectious diseases hospital in Southern Vietnam. Patients were treated according to a holistic management protocol encompassing wound-care, antitoxin, antibiotics, symptom control, airway management, nutrition and de-escalation criteria. Results: Mortality rate in our cohort was 2.8%, with 90 (50%) patients requiring mechanical ventilation for a median 16 [IQR 12-24] days. Median [IQR] duration of ICU stay was 15 [8-23] days. Autonomic nervous system dysfunction occurred in 45 (25%) patients. Hospital acquired infections occurred in 77 (43%) of patients. Conclusion: We report favourable outcomes for patients with tetanus in a single centre LMIC ICU, treated according to a holistic protocol. Nevertheless, many patients required prolonged intensive care support and hospital acquired infections were common.

Nowadays,water shortage has become a severe issue all over the world, especially in some arid and undeveloped areas. In nature, many creatures can collect water from fog which can provide a source of inspiration to develop novel and functional water-collecting materials. Recently, as an increasingly hot research topic, bioinspired materials with water collection have captured vast scientific attentions into both practical applications and fundamental researches. In this paper, the mechanism of water collection of Namib desert beetle, cactus and spider silk was summarized, and the synthesis, function and water collection efficiency of corresponding biomimetic materials were described, as well as new developments in recent years. Finally, conclusions and outlook concerning the main problems and development trends of bionic water-collecting materials in the process of preparation and application were presented.

The paper gave rough formula of distance between deceleration point of integrated backup protection device of hoist and stop point, and calculation formulas of safe braking distance between a section or a point and stop point, safe braking distance of continual over speed judgment between a section or a point and stop point, and safe braking distance of continual over speed judgment between deceleration point and stop point successively. The point which is away pithead with the safe braking distance of continual over speed judgment between deceleration point and stop point is set as deceleration point. The setting method of deceleration point is fit for setting deceleration point of backup protection when deceleration point of electrical control system of hoist adjusts automatically according to loads. The application shows that deceleration point set by the method can ensure hoisting container stop under pithead safely when deceleration point of electrical control system of hoist loses efficacy with high reliability.