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Ji-Yeon Park,1 Hae-Jin Ko,1,2 Ji-Eun Song,3 Sang-Min Ji,4 So-Yun Kim4 1Department of Family Medicine, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Korea; 2Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea; 3Department of Family Medicine, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, Daegu, Korea; 4Department of Agricultural Biology, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju, KoreaCorrespondence: Hae-Jin Ko, Kyungpook National University Hospital, 130 Dongdeok-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, Korea, Tel +82-53-200-6578, Fax +82-53-200-5480, Email liveforme@knu.ac.krPurpose: Animal-assisted intervention (AAI) is an effective intervention that improves the mental and physical health. However, few have examined the efficacy of pet insects as a form of AAI for prefrail and frail elderly. This study aimed to ascertain the effects of pet insects on physical performance and psychological health in community-dwelling frail elderly individuals with a chronic disease.Patients and Methods: This study was an 8 week prospective single-arm interventional pilot study that enrolled prefrail and frail community-dwelling adults aged 70 years and older, all of whom had a chronic disease and attended a daycare facility. Pet insects and appropriate equipment were provided, and supporting programs were used to educate participants about how to rear the insects and how to get close to them. Pre- and post-interventional physical and psychological functions were evaluated.Results: A total of 23 subjects (mean age, 82.78 years) were enrolled in the final analysis. The timed up-and-go-test (TUG) was used to measure functional mobility, and grip strength was used as a measure of muscle strength; both showed significant changes after the 8-week intervention (Δ = − 0.35± 0.73 sec, P = 0.034; and Δ = 0.73± 0.99 kg, P = 0.002, respectively). In addition, the insomnia severity index (ISI) and average sleep duration improved significantly (Δ = − 2.91± 5.64, P = − 0.021; and Δ = 0.87± 1.98, P = 0.047, respectively). There were no significant changes in the results of other psychometric tests. Logistic regression analysis using the forward stepwise selection method revealed that the baseline ISI score and the absence of other comorbidities were significantly associated with the probability of positive changes in both the TUG and HS tests after the intervention.Conclusion: Pet insects may be an effective and easily applicable type of AAI, which improves physical function and sleep in prefrail and frail elderly individuals.Keywords: animal-assisted therapy, frail elderly, human-animal interaction, physical functional performance, sleep disorders

Previous studies have shown that melatonin induces adipocyte browning in vivo. However, the underlying mechanisms of melatonin action at the cellular level remain elusive. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying melatonin-induced browning in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and RAW 264.7 macrophages. Melatonin caused the transdifferentiation of fully differentiated white adipocytes into beige adipocytes, which involves the activation of melatonin receptor 1, followed by increased phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and Akt. Both luzindole (LZ), a non-selective melatonin receptor antagonist, and selective melatonin receptor 1 knockdown attenuated the browning effects of melatonin. Melatonin also induced M2 polarization in RAW 264.7, involving the melatonin receptor 1-Src-STAT3/STAT6 phosphorylation signaling cascade. Melatonin-treated M2-conditioned medium (CM) contained increased levels of catecholamine (CA) and induced beige adipocytes when treated with differentiated 3T3-L1 white adipocytes. In vivo oral administration of melatonin to high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese (DIO) mice reduced body weight, accompanied by increased expression of uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) in subcutaneous adipose tissues. Moreover, arginase-1 (Arg1) and mannose receptor C type-1 (MRC1) levels were markedly higher in the melatonin-treated groups, suggesting that melatonin induces adipose browning and M2 polarization in vivo. Collectively, melatonin-induced adipocyte browning appeared to be reflected by the sum of melatonin receptor 1-activated direct browning effects and indirect M2 polarization-mediated effects., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest All authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The application of environmentally friendly and sustainable catalysts requires efficient and safe preparation methods using cheap and renewable materials. Although many metal nanoparticles (NPs) have low colloidal stability, they are still very effective as catalysts. Using a straightforward method, we developed a bacterial cellulose-glycol chitosan-silver (BC-GCS-Ag) nanocomposite, by introducing both AgNPs and self-crosslinked GCS within the BC network. Self-crosslinking of GCS occurred during the formation of AgNPs by employing the glycol moieties for reduction to produce aldehyde functionalities, thereby forming Schiff's base bonds within the GCS structure. Using GCS, well-defined AgNPs within the BC matrix. The formation of AgNPs and the self-crosslinking of GCS were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that spherical AgNPs with a mean diameter of 10 nm exhibited a well-organized structure within the BC-GCS matrix. The BC-GCS-Ag nanocomposite was applied as dip catalyst for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4NP) to 4-aminophenol (4AP), chosen as a model reaction. The results showed that the catalytic reaction was completed within 4 min, with high reusability (10 times) and without loss of catalyst. The reaction followed pseudo-first-order kinetics with a high rate constant of 0.582 min -1 . Therefore, the BC-GCS-Ag dip catalyst is an attractive alternative for environmentally friendly and sustainable catalysis, owing to its exceptional catalytic performance, high recyclability, and stability, as well as the minimal environmental footprint of the supporting materials., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder affecting the sacroiliac joints and axial spine. Along with pharmacotherapy, non-pharmacological interventions for axSpA are crucial and constitute the cornerstone of treatment. Here, we review the evidence for non-pharmacological treatment of axSpA as a basis for the 2023 Korean treatment recommendations for patients with axSpA. The effectiveness of the core non-pharmacological approaches, such as education, smoking cessation, and exercise, has been reaffirmed. High-quality research on surgical treatment is limited. However, total hip replacement is advised in patients with ongoing pain or disability and visible structural damage to the hip on imaging. Urgent spinal intervention should be considered in cases of acute spinal pain with neurological deficiency or concurrent unstable fractures. Evidence for complementary therapies, including spas and acupuncture, remains insufficient.

Since the 1990s, genetic clinics have been established in South Korea, enabling the provision of clinical genetics services. However, genetic counseling services are not widely used in the medical system. In contrast, recently, the demand for genetic counseling has increased due to the rapid development of genomic medicine. Therefore, it is important for medical geneticists and genetic counselors to collaboratively provide genetic counseling services. This study aimed to evaluate the perception and satisfaction of patients with rare genetic diseases and their families regarding genetic counseling services provided by a genetics team at the medical genetics center of a tertiary general hospital for rare genetic diseases. From April to November 2021, a survey was conducted with 203 individuals, including 111 and 92 individuals in the patient and family groups, respectively. Overall, 164 individuals (80.8%) responded that they were aware of genetic counseling services, and 135 individuals (66.5%) responded that they were aware of the role of genetic counselors. Patients and their families wanted to receive information about the following from genetic counseling: clinical manifestation and prognosis of the diagnosed disease (78.8%), treatment and management of the disease (60.6%), risk of recurrence within the family (55.7%), treatment options and alternatives for family and prenatal testing, and various support services. The score of satisfaction with genetic counseling services provided by the genetics team was 8.19 ± 1.68 out of 10. Patients with rare genetic diseases and their families were satisfied with genetic counseling services regarding their diseases, test results, and treatment options. Moreover, the patients could receive psychosocial support and referrals to other medical service providers and support services. As a genetic team approach, collaboration between medical geneticists and certified genetic counselors would be useful in providing information and in diagnosing, treating, and managing patients., (© 2024 The Authors. Journal of Genetic Counseling published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of National Society of Genetic Counselors.)

Despite advances in emergency transfer systems and trauma medicine, the incidence of preventable deaths due to massive hemorrhage remains high. Recent immunological research has elucidated key mechanisms underlying trauma-induced coagulopathy in the early stages of trauma, including sympathoadrenal stimulation, shedding of the glycocalyx, and endotheliopathy. Consequently, the condition progresses to fibrinogen depletion, hyperfibrinolysis, and platelet dysfunction. Coexisting factors such as uncorrected acidosis, hypothermia, excessive crystalloid administration, and a history of anticoagulant use exacerbate coagulopathy. This study introduces damage-control anesthetic management based on recent insights into damage-control resuscitation, emphasizing the importance of rapid transport, timely bleeding control, early administration of antifibrinolytics and fibrinogen concentrates, and maintenance of calcium levels and body temperature. Additionally, this study discusses brain-protective strategies for trauma patients with brain injuries and the utilization of cartridge-based viscoelastic assays for goal-directed coagulation management in trauma settings. This comprehensive approach may provide potential insights for anesthetic management in the fast-paced field of trauma medicine.

The treatment of various organic pollutants from industrial wastewater using bio-based materials has gained significant attention owing to their excellent properties such as low-cost, eco-friendly, non-toxic, and biodegradability. In this perspective, casein (Cn), a protein-based biopolymer, was extracted from the cow milk as a low-cost adsorbent, and the adsorption performances were determined for the pristine Cn. The adsorbent was employed for the removal of two different classes of targeted pollutant anionic dyes such as Congo red (CR), Eriochrome Black T (EBT), Eosin Y (EY), and pharmaceutical waste i.e., diclofenac sodium (DS) and displayed better adsorption performances with the maximum adsorption capacity of 85.54, 31.72, 70.42 and 358.42 mg g -1 respectively. The interactions between Cn and pollutants are mainly ascribed to the electrostatic interaction, hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interaction, and π-π interactions. Furthermore, to validate with realistic application the adsorbent proved with an excellent removal efficiency of 91.43% for fabric whitener i.e., Ujala Supreme®. These obtained results suggest that the Cn could be the potential adsorbent to effectively eliminate toxic pollutants from the aqueous solutions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

We aimed to develop evidence-based recommendations for treating axial spondylarthritis (axSpA) in Korea. The development committee was constructed, key clinical questions were determined, and the evidence was searched through online databases including MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, KoreaMed, and Kmbase. Systematic literature reviews were conducted, quality of evidence was determined, and draft recommendations were formulated according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluations methodology. Recommendations that reached 80% consensus among a voting panel were finalized. Three principles and 21 recommendations were determined. Recommendations 1 and 2 pertain to treatment strategies, regular disease status assessment, and rheumatologist-steered multidisciplinary management. Recommendations 3 and 4 strongly recommend patient education, exercise, and smoking cessation. Recommendations 5-12 address pharmacological treatment of active disease using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticoids, sulfasalazine, biologics, and Janus kinase inhibitors. Recommendations 13-16 address treatment in stable disease. We suggest against spa and acupuncture as therapies (Recommendation 17). Recommendations 18 and 19 pertain to total hip arthroplasty and spinal surgery. Monitoring of comorbidities and drug toxicities are recommended (Recommendations 20 and 21). Recommendations for axSpA treatment in a Korean context were developed based on comprehensive clinical questions and evidence. These are intended to guide best practice in the treatment of axSpA.

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with public health problems worldwide. Especially, PM2.5 induces epigenetic and microenvironmental changes in lung cancer. Angiogenesis is important for the development and growth of cancer and is mediated by angiogenic factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor. However, the effects of mild PM2.5 exposure on angiogenesis in lung cancer remain unclear. In this study, we examined angiogenic effects using relatively lower concentrations of PM2.5 than in other studies and found that PM2.5 increased angiogenic activities in both endothelial cells and non-small cell lung carcinoma cells. PM2.5 also promoted the growth and angiogenesis of lung cancer via the induction of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) in a xenograft mouse tumor model. Angiogenic factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), were highly expressed in lung cancer patients in countries with high PM2.5 levels in the atmosphere, and high expression of VEGF in lung cancer patients lowered the survival rate. Collectively, these results provide new insight into the mechanisms by which mild exposure to PM2.5 is involved in HIF-1α-mediated angiogenesis in lung cancer patients., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The use of metal nanoparticles (M-NPs) in cancer therapy has gained significant consideration owing to their exceptional physical and chemical features. However, due to the limitations, such as specificity and toxicity towards healthy cells, their application in clinical translations has been restricted. Hyaluronic acid (HA), a biocompatible and biodegradable polysaccharide, has been extensively used as a targeting moiety, due to its ability to selectively bind to the CD44 receptors overexpressed on cancer cells. The HA-modified M-NPs have demonstrated promising results in improving specificity and efficacy in cancer therapy. This review discusses the significance of nanotechnology, the state of cancers, and the functions of HA-modified M-NPs, and other substituents in cancer therapy applications. Additionally, the role of various types of selected noble and non-noble M-NPs used in cancer therapy are described, along with the mechanisms involved in cancer targeting. Additionally, the purpose of HA, its sources and production processes, as well as its chemical and biological properties are described. In-depth explanations are provided about the contemporary applications of HA-modified noble and non-noble M-NPs and other substituents in cancer therapy. Furthermore, potential obstacles in optimizing HA-modified M-NPs, in terms of clinical translations, are discussed, followed by a conclusion and future prospects.

The electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a key process in many renewable energy systems. The development of low-cost, long-lasting alternatives to precious-metal catalysts, particularly functional electrocatalysts with high activity for OER processes, is crucial for reducing the operating expense and complexity of renewable energy generating systems. This work describes a concise method for generating marigold flower-like metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) aided manganese vanadium oxide via a hydrothermal procedure for increased OER activity. As synthesized MOF MnV oxide has a higher surface area due to the 3D flower-like structure, which is reinvented with enhanced electrocatalytic active sites. These distinctive structural features result in remarkable catalytic activity for MOF MnV oxide microflowers towards OER with a low overpotential of 310 mV at 50 mA cm -2 and a Tafel slope with only 51.4 mV dec -1 in alkaline conditions. This study provides a concise method for developing an optimized catalytic material with greater morphology and beneficial features for potential energy and environmental applications., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are recognised as hazardous air pollutants threatening human health. Disposable filters are generally used for air purification despite frequent replacement and waste generation problems. However, the development of a novel regenerable and robust filter for long-term use is a huge challenge. Here, we report on a new class of facile water-washing regenerable ceramic catalyst filters (CCFs), developed to simultaneously remove PM (>95%) and VOCs (>82%) in single-pass and maximized space efficiency by coating the inner and outer filter channels with an inorganic membrane and a Cu 2 O/TiO 2 photocatalyst, respectively. The CCFs reveal four-fold increase in the maximum dust loading capacity (approximately 20 g/L) in relation to conventional filters (5 g/L), and can be reused after ten regeneration capability with simple water washing retaining initial PM and VOC removal performances. Thus, the CCFs can be well-suited for indoor and outdoor air purification for 20 years, which shows a huge increase in lifetime compared to the 6-month lifespan of conventional filters. Finally, we believe that the development and implementation of CCFs for air purification can open new avenues for sustainable technology through renewability and zero-waste generation., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Over the past few decades, hydrogel systems using natural polymers have been expansively employed in drug delivery applications. Among the various reported biopolymer-based hydrogel drug delivery systems, pectin (Pec) is an exceptional natural polymer due to its unique functionalities and excellent properties such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, low-cost, and simple gelling capability, which has received considerable interest in the drug delivery fields. Since there is an increasing need for biomaterials with unique properties for drug delivery applications, in this review, hydrogels fabricated from natural pectin polymers were thoroughly investigated. Additionally, the present mini review aims to bring collectively more concise ways such as sources, extraction, properties, and various forms of Pec based hydrogel drug delivery systems and their toxicity concerns are summarized. Finally, the potential objectives and challenges based on pectin-based hydrogel drug delivery systems are also discussed.

The flow behaviors of metallic materials are sensitive to state variables, including strain, strain rate, and temperature. In particular, the temperature effect on the flow behavior is of great importance. The flow information is usually obtained at the sample strain rates and temperatures from the hot cylinder compression test. However, this test is inevitably exposed to undesirable effects of friction and temperature on flow characterization. This study reveals their impact on the flow curve of an A6082 alloy. The unique features of its flow behavior and the inaccuracy of as-received, primitive flow information are emphasized. Using a systematic way of correcting the friction and temperature effects, the flow curves with high accuracy in terms of the compression load-stroke curve obtained from the test are calculated. It was revealed that the both the friction and temperature compensation of the primitive flow curves bring a minor change in the flow curves of the A6082 alloy, which is quite different from other commercial light metals. This phenomenon caused by the unique features of the flow behavior of the A6082 or other aluminum alloys will be critical to solving various process and quality matters confronted by the engineers in the hot metal forming industry.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) based nanocomposites are considered excellent for improving wound healing. HA is biocompatible, biodegradable, non-toxic, biologically active, has hemostatic ability, and resists bacterial adhesion. HA-based nanocomposites promote wound healing in four different sequential phases hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and maturation. The unique biological characteristics of HA enable it to serve as a drug, an antibacterial agent, and a growth factor, which combine to accelerate the healing process. In this review, we focus on the use of HA-based nanocomposites for wound healing applications and we describe the importance of HA for the wound healing process in each sequential phase, such as hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and maturation. Metal nanoparticles (MNPs) or metal oxide nanoparticles (MO-NPs) loaded with HA nanocomposite are used for wound healing applications. Insights into important antibacterial mechanisms are described in HA nanocomposites. Furthermore, we explain antibiotics loaded with HA nanocomposite and its combination with the MNPs/MO-NPs used for wound healing applications. In addition, HA derivatives are discussed and used in combination with the other polymers of the composite for the wound healing process, as is the role of the polymer in wound healing applications. Finally, HA-based nanocomposites used for clinical trials in animal models are presented for wound healing applications.

(1) Background: Previous studies reported limited performance of arterial pressure waveform-based cardiac output (CO) estimation (FloTrac/Vigileo system; CO-FloTrac) compared with the intermittent thermodilution technique (CO int ). However, errors due to bolus maneuver and intermittent measurements of CO int could limit its use as a reference. The continuous thermodilution technique (CO cont ) may relieve such limitations. (2) Methods: The performance of CO-FloTrac was retrospectively assessed using continuous recordings of intraoperative physiological data acquired from patients who underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass graft (OPCAB) surgery with CO monitoring using both CO-FloTrac and CO cont . Optimal time adjustments between the two measurements were determined based on R-squared values. (3) Results: A total of 134.2 h of data from 30 patients was included in the final analysis. The mean bias was -0.94 (95% CI, -1.35 to -0.52) L/min and the limits of agreements were -3.64 (95% CI, -4.44 to -3.08) L/min and 1.77 (95% CI, 1.21 to 2.57) L/min. The percentage error was 66.1% (95% CI, 52.4 to 85.8%). Depending on the time scale and the size of the exclusion zone, concordance rates ranged from 61.0% to 75.0%. (4) Conclusion: Despite the time adjustments, CO-FloTrac showed non-negligible overestimation, clinically unacceptable precision, and poor trending ability during OPCAB surgery.

Background: Current data indicates the incidence of neuropathic pain after surgical nerve injury is as high as 50%, thus representing a major problem for patients and for the medical system. Triptolide, a traditional Chinese herb, has anti-inflammatory effects on various neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases. This agent also reduces peripheral nerve injury-induced neuropathic pain, although the mechanism underlying this effect is still unknown., Materials and Methods: The effects of triptolide on spinal nerve ligation (SNL) injury-induced neuropathic pain was studied in an animal model using behavioral, morphological and molecular biological methods., Results: Repeated administration of intrathecal triptolide was found to alleviate SNL- or Poly(I:C) (toll-like receptor 3 agonist) injection-induced mechanical allodynia without any motor impairment. The mechanism by which triptolide reduces SNL- and Poly(I:C) injection-induced microglial activation appears to be via the inhibition of OX42 expression, which is a microglial-specific marker. Intrathecal triptolide also suppressed SNL- and Poly(I:C) injection-induced expression of spinal TRIF. TRIF transmits signals from activated TLR3 and is the downstream adaptor of TLR3 in microglia. In addition, intrathecal triptolide inhibited the expression of spinal pro-inflammatory IL-1 β following SNL or Poly(I:C) injection., Conclusions: Intrathecal triptolide can suppress the TLR3/TRIF/IL-1 β pathway in spinal microglia following SNL. This could be the underlying mechanism by which triptolide alleviate neuropathic pain induced by peripheral nerve injury., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2022 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.)

The quest to develop state-of-the-art hydrogels for bone tissue engineering has accompanied substantial innovation and significant progression in the field of bioactive hydrogels. Still, there is scope for advancement in this cell-friendly and biocompatible scaffold system. The crosslinking approaches used for hydrogel synthesis plays a decisive role in guiding and regulating the mechanical stability, network framework, macroscopic architect, immunological behaviors, and cellular responses. Until recently, enzyme-based crosslinking strategies were considered as the pinnacle in designing efficient hybrid hydrogel systems. A variety of enzymes have been explored for manufacturing hydrogels while taking the advantage of the biocompatible nature, specificity, ability to produce nontoxic by products and high efficiency of enzymes. The current review focuses on the utility of different enzymes as crosslinking agents for hydrogel formation with their application in bone tissue engineering. The field of enzyme crosslinked hydrogel synthesis is rapidly maturing with a lot of opportunities to be explored in bone tissue engineering. Enzyme-based in situ and externally crosslinked hydrogels for bone regeneration is an attractive field, and with innovation in using engineered enzymes this field will continue to flourish with clinical orientation.

The water oxidation process, which comprises the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), is a critical catalytic mechanism for sustainable technologies like water electrolysis and fuel cells. Herein, we develop a unique metal-organic framework aided vanadium pentoxide nanorods (MOF-V 2 O 5 NRs-500) that can be used as an OER electrocatalyst under alkaline solutions. The crystal structure, surface chemical state, and porosity of MOF-V 2 O 5 NRs-500 can be altered by annealing in an oxygen atmosphere. The resultant MOF-V 2 O 5 NRs-500 demonstrate high catalytic activity against OER in basic conditions, with a low overpotential of 300 mV at a derived current density of 50 mA cm -2 , and extraordinary durability of more than 50 h. Superior electrochemical performance might be attributed to the high exposure level of active sites emanating from porous MOF-V 2 O 5 NRs-500. Furthermore, the porous MOF-V 2 O 5 NRs-500 skeleton may provide homogenous mass transport channels as well as quick electron transfer., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Traditional fatigue fracture theory and practice focus principally on structural design. It is thus too conservative and inappropriate when used to predict the high-cycle fatigue life of dies used for metal forming, especially cold forging. We propose a novel mean stress correction model and diagram to predict the high-cycle fatigue lives of cold forging dies, which focuses on the upper part of the equivalent fatigue strength curve. Considering the features of die materials characterized by high yield strength and low ductility, a straight line is assumed for the tensile yield line. To the contrary, a general curve is used to represent the fatigue strength. They are interpolated, based on the distance ratio, when finding an appropriate equivalent fatigue strength curve at the mean stress and stress amplitude between the line and curve. The approach is applied to a well-defined literature example to verify its validity and shed light on the characteristics of die fatigue life. The approach is also applied to practical forging and useful qualitative results are obtained.

Sustainable biomass has attracted a great attention in developing green renewable energy storage devices (e.g., supercapacitors) with low-cost, flexible and lightweight characteristics. Therefore, cellulose has been considered as a suitable candidate to meet the requirements of sustainable energy storage devices due to their most abundant nature, renewability, hydrophilicity, and biodegradability. Particularly, cellulose-derived nanostructures (CNS) are more promising due to their low-density, high surface area, high aspect ratio, and excellent mechanical properties. Recently, various research activities based on CNS and/or various conductive materials have been performed for supercapacitors. In addition, CNS-derived carbon nanofibers prepared by carbonization have also drawn considerable scientific interest because of their high conductivity and rational electrochemical properties. Therefore, CNS or carbonized-CNS based functional materials provide ample opportunities in structure and design engineering approaches for sustainable energy storage devices. In this review, we first provide the introduction and then discuss the fundamentals and technologies of supercapacitors and utilized materials (including cellulose). Next, the efficacy of CNS or carbonized-CNS based materials is discussed. Further, various types of CNS are described and compared. Then, the efficacy of these CNS or carbonized-CNS based materials in developing sustainable energy storage devices is highlighted. Finally, the conclusion and future perspectives are briefly conferred.

Background: Postoperative pain occurring after cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is difficult to control because of extensive surgical injuries and long incisions. We assessed whether the addition of a four-quadrant transabdominal plane (4Q-TAP) block could help in analgesic control., Methods: Seventy-two patients scheduled to undergo elective CRS with HIPEC and intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV PCA) were enrolled. The patients received 4Q-TAP blocks in a 10 ml mixture of 2% lidocaine and 0.75% ropivacaine per site (4Q-TAP group, n = 36) or normal saline (control group, n = 33). Oxycodone in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and pethidine or tramadol in the ward were used as rescue analgesics. The primary outcome was less than 3 times of rescue analgesic administration (%) in the ward for 5 postoperative days. Secondary endpoints included oxycodone requirement in PACU, fentanyl doses of IV PCA, morphine milligram equivalent (MME) of total opioid use, hospital stay, and postoperative complications., Results: During 5 postoperative days, there was no difference in pain scores and total rescue analgesic administration between two groups. However, the use of oxycodone in PACU (P = 0.011), fentanyl requirement in IV PCA (P = 0.029), and MME/kg of total opioid use (median, 2.35 vs. 3.21 mg/kg, P = 0.009) were significantly smaller in the 4Q-TAP group. Hospital stay and incidence of postoperative morbidity were similar in both groups., Conclusions: The 4Q-TAP block enhanced multimodal analgesia and decreased opioid requirements in patients with CRS with HIPEC, but did not change postoperative recovery outcomes.

(1) Objective: This study examined the incidence and risk factors contributing to the progression to diabetes mellitus (DM) in a seven-year follow-up study of non-diabetic National Health Examinees. (2) Methods: For this retrospective observational cohort study, we used two national representative databases: the National Health Screening (HEALS) database 2009 and the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database 2009-2015. The eligible subjects without DM with blood sugar levels of <126 mg/dL were selected using the HEALS database. The subsequent follow-up and clinical outcomes were evaluated using the NHIS database. Cox proportional hazard regression was applied to examine the effects of the covariates on progression to diabetes. (3) Results: Among those who took part in the national health screening in 2009, 4,205,006 subjects who met the eligibility criteria were selected. Of these, 587,015 were diagnosed with DM during the follow-up by 2015. The incidence of progression from non-diabetes to DM was 14.0%, whereas that from impaired fasting glucose (IFG) to DM was 21.9%. Compared to the normal group, the newly diagnosed DM group was more likely to comprise older, female, currently smoking, and high-risk drinking participants and participants with IFG, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome. (4) Conclusions: This epidemiological study in the Republic of Korea found risk factors similar to those of other studies, but the incidence of progression to DM was 22.8 per 1000 person-years, which is higher than that previously reported. Hence, more care is needed to prevent DM.

Although several studies have reported the effect of exercise therapy for adhesive capsulitis (AC), studies on the comparison of different exercise types on shoulder muscle strength and function in patients with AC are lacking. This study aimed to investigate the effect of different exercise types on shoulder muscle strength and function in patients with AC. Thirty female patients with AC were categorized into an eccentric contraction exercise group (ECG, n = 15; age, 51.53 ± 4.73 years) and a concentric contraction exercise group (CCG, n = 15; age, 52.40 ± 4.03 years). The participants in each group performed a different exercise program three times per week for 60 min per session for 12 weeks. The range of motion (ROM) of the shoulder joint, visual analog scale, shoulder muscle strength, and Constant-Murley score (CMS) were measured before the intervention and after 12 weeks of the exercise intervention. Shoulder ROM in flexion (increase of 31%) and external rotation (ER) (increase of 54%) showed a significant improvement in the ECG ( p < 0.05). Muscle strength in ER was significantly different between the two groups ( p < 0.05). Pain severity showed improvement in the ECG (decrease of 61%) after the intervention ( p < 0.01). The CMS in the ECG (increase of 48%) showed a greater improvement than that in the CCG after the intervention ( p < 0.01). This study showed that eccentric contraction exercise had a more beneficial effect than concentric contraction exercise for improving shoulder muscle strength and function in females with AC.

This retrospective cohort study was done to investigate the incidence of hypertension and its relation to the fasting blood glucose level in Korea. The eligible non-hypertensive subjects ( n = 3,396,187) among the National Health Insurance Service-National Health Screening (NHIS-HEALS) examinees ( n = 10,644,911) in 2009 were followed up until 2015. A Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate the risk of the high blood glucose level for the incident hypertension while controlling for covariates' confounding effect. The cumulative incidence rate was 10.6% for seven years (11.6% in men and 8.3% in women). The incidence density was 1474.8 per 100,000 person-years. High fasting blood glucose (adjusted Hazard Ratio (aHR), 1.836; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.810 to 1.862), prediabetes (aHR, 1.249; 95% CI, 1.237 to 1.260), a history of diabetes mellitus (aHR, 1.635; 95% CI, 1.605 to 1.666), high triglyceride (aHR, 1.292; 95% CI, 1.280 to 1.303), a history of dyslipidemia (aHR, 1.279; 95% CI, 1.253 to 1.305) and prehypertension group (aHR, 1.964; 95% CI, 1.948 to 1.979) were significantly related to the incident hypertension after adjusting for covariates. Among real-world data in Korea, high blood glucose level was the independent risk factor for developing hypertension.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of comorbidities and their effect on physical function, quality of life (QOL), and pain, in patients with end-stage knee osteoarthritis (OA)., Design: A cross-sectional study., Setting: A rehabilitation facility at university hospital., Participants: Patients (N=577; 503 women and 74 men) diagnosed with end-stage knee OA between October 2013 and June 2018., Intervention: Not applicable., Main Outcome Measures: Comorbidities were as follows: osteoporosis, presarcopenia, degenerative spine disease, diabetes, and hypertension. All patients completed the following performance-based physical function tests: stair-climbing test (SCT), 6-minute walk test (6MWT), timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and gait analysis. Self-reported physical function and pain were measured using Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and a visual analog scale (VAS), respectively, and self-reported QOL was measured using EuroQoL 5 dimensions (EQ-5D) questionnaire., Results: Univariate analyses revealed that patients with osteoporosis had significantly higher scores in SCT ascent, SCT descent, TUG, WOMAC pain tests, and lower scores in 6MWT, gait speed, and cadence tests than those without osteoporosis. Patients with presarcopenia recorded higher scores in SCT ascent, TUG, EQ-5D, and lower scores in 6MWT and gait speed tests than those without presarcopenia. Patients with degenerative spine disease showed higher scores in WOMAC pain and lower scores in gait speeds than those without degenerative spine disease. Patients with diabetes showed higher scores in SCT ascent than those without diabetes, and patients with hypertension showed lower scores in 6MWT than those without hypertension. After adjusting age, sex, and body mass index, SCT descent retained significant association with osteoporosis, SCT ascent showed independent association with presarcopenia and diabetes, and WOMAC pain revealed significant association with degenerative spine disease., Conclusion: The results confirm associations between comorbidities, performance-based and self-reported physical functions, and QOL in patients with end-stage knee OA., (Copyright © 2019 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Bacterial cellulose nanofiber (BCNF) with high thermal stability produced by an ecofriendly process has emerged as a promising solution to realize safe and sustainable materials in the large-scale battery. However, an understanding of the actual thermal behavior of the BCNF in the full-cell battery has been lacking, and the yield is still limited for commercialization. Here, we report the entire process of BCNF production and battery manufacture. We systematically constructed a strain with the highest yield (31.5%) by increasing metabolic flux and improved safety by introducing a Lewis base to overcome thermochemical degradation in the battery. This report will open ways of exploiting the BCNF as a "single-layer" separator, a good alternative to the existing chemical-derived one, and thus can greatly contribute to solving the environmental and safety issues., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Objective: To observe the clinicopathologic features and prognostic of patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) superimposed on transplant glomerulopathy (TG+ IgAN). Methods: Electronic medical records of Jinling Hospital were searched for TG+ IgAN patients that was diagnosed during January 2004 to December 2016. Clinicopathologic features and prognoses information were retrieved and analyzed. The primary outcome was initiation of replacement therapy or an eGFR declined to<15 ml·min(-1)·(1.73m(2))(-1). Results: A total of 49 patients with pathologically confirmed TG+ IgAN were enrolled in this study. The median time from renal transplantation to allograft biopsy was 85 months. There were 131 patients with TG in the control group. There was no statistical difference in the age, gender, and immunosuppressive regimen during renal biopsy in the two groups. In TG+ IgAN patients, the median serum creatinine level was 175 μmol/L, the median urinary protein was 1.45 g/24 h, and 16.3% of the patients had nephrotic range proteinuria, the incidence of microscopic hematuria was 40.8%, and the average hemoglobin was 105 g/L. In terms of pathology, the degree of glomerular mesangial matrix hyperplasia in the TG+ IgAN group was significantly heavier compared with TG group ( P= 0.004), and the degree of hyaline degeneration of the small arteries was lighter ( P= 0.043). There was no significant difference in interstitial inflammation (i), tubulitis (t), glomerulitis (g), peritubular capillaritis (ptc) and intimal arteritis (v). Calculated by Kaplan-Meier method, the median survival time of 49 patients with TG+ IgAN was 36.9 months, and there was no difference in survival rate of allografts compared with TG group. Conclusions: Compared with TG patients without IgA, TG+ IgAN patients had higher incidence of microscopic hematuria, more severe glomerular mesangial matrix hyperplasia, and no significant differences in other clinicopathological features. The prognosis of TG+ IgAN patients was not significantly different from those without IgAN.

Melanoma is a skin tumor with a high degree of malignancy, poor prognosis and few effective therapies. Deprivation of the arginine from cancer cells through transport inhibition and arginine depletion is a novel strategy for cancer therapy. In this study, we have investigated the effect of SLC25A15, which encodes the mitochondrial ornithine carrier 1, on melanoma progression. Using bioinformatics methods to screen the data from TCGA and GEO, we found that SLC25A15 is overexpressed in patients with melanoma and negatively related with the overall and disease-free survival rates. Knockdown the expression of SLC25A15 by siRNA could effectively inhibit the proliferation of A375 melanoma cells, as detected by CCK8 and colony formation. Furthermore, SLC25A15 siRNA was able to promote apoptosis of A375 cells, which exhibited decreased expression levels of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 while showing increased pro-apoptotic protein Bax and cleaved caspase-3. All these results suggest that the overexpression of SLC25A15 is involved in the progression of melanoma and may predict the prognosis of melanoma. This may shed new lights on the diagnosis and therapy of melanoma in the future., (© 2018 médecine/sciences – Inserm.)

Background: Prediction of difficult airway is critical in the airway management of trauma patients . A LEMON method which consists of following assessments; Look-Evaluate-Mallampati-Obstruction-Neck mobility is a fast and easy technique to evaluate patients' airways in the emergency situation. And a modified LEMON method, which excludes the Mallampati classification from the original LEMON score, also can be used clinically. We investigated the relationship between modified LEMON score and intubation difficulty score in adult trauma patients undergoing emergency surgery., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed electronic medical records of 114 adult trauma patients who underwent emergency surgery under general anesthesia. All patients' airways were evaluated according to the modified LEMON method before anesthesia induction and after tracheal intubation; the intubating doctor self-reported the intubation difficulty scale (IDS) score. A difficult intubation group was defined as patients who had IDS scores > 5 ., Results: The modified LEMON score was significantly correlated with the IDS score ( P  < 0.001). The difficult intubation group showed higher modified LEMON score than the non-difficult intubation group (3 [2-5] vs. 2 [1-3], respectively, P  = 0.017). Limited neck mobility was the only independent predictor of intubation difficulty (odds ratio, 6.15; P  = 0.002)., Conclusion: The modified LEMON score is correlated with difficult intubation in adult trauma patients undergoing emergency surgery., Competing Interests: The present study was approved by Dankook University Hospital Institutional Review Board (approval number: 2016-11-014). A written informed consent from the patient was waived because the present study was performed retrospectively.A written informed consent from the participants for publication of this article and any accompanying tables/images was waived.The authors declare that they have no competing interests.Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical effectiveness of rocuronium in low doses on conditions during rapid tracheal intubation using video laryngoscope., Methods: Ninety-eight patients undergoing otolaryngologic surgery were randomly divided into 2 groups: group L using 0.3 mg/kg of rocuronium intravenously (n = 49) and group C using 0.6 mg/kg of rocuronium (n = 49). Sixty seconds after rocuronium administration, tracheal intubation was performed using a video laryngoscope. The overall intubation condition was evaluated along with specific conditions, including laryngoscopy condition, vocal cord position, and intubation response. Intubation profiles, including Cormack-Lehane grade, 1st attempt success rate, and intubation time, were also evaluated., Results: Overall intubation conditions showed a significant difference between group L and group C (P = .003). Although the incidence of vigorous response after tracheal intubation was higher in group L than in group C (P = .022), laryngoscopy condition and vocal cord position were similar between the 2 groups (P = .145 and .070, respectively). Intubation profiles showed no differences between the 2 groups. The frequency and amount of additional rocuronium administration during surgery were also similar., Conclusions: Low-dose rocuronium provided significantly worse overall intubation conditions compared to the conventional dose of rocuronium for rapid tracheal intubation. However, when using a video laryngoscope, it may provide clinically acceptable laryngeal muscle relaxation.

Vancomycin, a glycopeptide antibiotic for the treatment of grampositive infections, is mainly eliminated via glomerular filtration. Thus, its therapeutic effects are affected predominantly by renal function. The aim of this study was to develop a population pharmacokinetic model of vancomycin for Chinese adult patients and to investigate the influence of different renal function descriptors on the predictability of the model. A retrospective analysis was performed based on the blood concentrations of vancomycin in 218 Chinese adult patients. Among these patients, the data from 160 were used to establish the population pharmacokinetic model, and the data from the remaining 58 patients were used for external model validation. A simulation was employed to determine the appropriate initial vancomycin dosage regimens in adult Chinese patients for reaching the target steady-state trough concentrations of 10-15 mg/L and 15-20 mg/L. We developed a one-compartment model with first-order absorption to characterize the concentration-time profile of vancomycin. There was a positive correlation between the body clearance of vancomycin and renal function; both creatinine clearance (CL Cr ) and age were the covariates that influenced the PK of vancomycin, and the excretion of vancomycin decreased as renal function diminishing with age. The typical clearance (CL) value was 2.829 L/h for 75-year-old patients with CL Cr values of 80 mL/min, and the rate constant of CL with the CL Cr changing at 1 mL/min was 0.00842. The influence coefficient of age on CL was 0.08143. The external validation results revealed that the current different descriptors of renal function behaved similarly to the predicted performance of the models. In conclusion, the developed model is appropriate for Bayesian dose predictions of vancomycin concentrations in the population of Chinese adult patients. Furthermore, the simulation provides a reference for clinical optimized antibacterial therapy with vancomycin.

The CANON process has the disadvantages of long start-up periods and unstable operation. In the SBAF system, under strictly controlled conditions of dissolved oxygen (DO) and temperature, a CANON process is started up in 51 days and is operated stably for 278 days using a new method of independent research and development. The results show that the maximum and average ARR are 98.9% and 95.1%, respectively. The maximum and average TNR are 85.9% and 75.1%, respectively. Furthermore, a small quantity of nitratenitrogen exists in this system. The microbial structure features of the sludge are analyzed by 16S rDNA macro high-throughput genome sequencing. It is verified that Proteobacteria is the main microorganism in the AOB, and Planctomycete Candidatus Brocadia is the main microorganism in the AnAOB. Both of them collaborate on total nitrogen removal in the CANON process.

Background: The aim of this study was to estimate the optimal depth of nasotracheal tube placement., Methods: We enrolled 110 patients scheduled to undergo oral and maxillofacial surgery, requiring nasotracheal intubation. After intubation, the depth of tube insertion was measured. The neck circumference and distances from nares to tragus, tragus to angle of the mandible, and angle of the mandible to sternal notch were measured. To estimate optimal tube depth, correlation and regression analyses were performed using clinical and anthropometric parameters., Results: The mean tube depth was 28.9 ± 1.3 cm in men (n = 62), and 26.6 ± 1.5 cm in women (n = 48). Tube depth significantly correlated with height (r = 0.735, P < 0.001). Distances from nares to tragus, tragus to angle of the mandible, and angle of the mandible to sternal notch correlated with depth of the endotracheal tube (r = 0.363, r = 0.362, and r = 0.546, P < 0.05). The tube depth also correlated with the sum of these distances (r = 0.646, P < 0.001). We devised the following formula for estimating tube depth: 19.856 + 0.267 × sum of the three distances (R 2 = 0.432, P < 0.001)., Conclusion: The optimal tube depth for nasotracheally intubated adult patients correlated with height and sum of the distances from nares to tragus, tragus to angle of the mandible, and angle of the mandible to sternal notch. The proposed equation would be a useful guide to determine optimal nasotracheal tube placement., Competing Interests: CONFLICT OF INTEREST: The authors have no conflicts of interest.

B cells are involved in chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) pathogenesis, and Rituximab may have a therapeutic effect on cGVHD in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) patients. Herein, we retrospectively evaluated the prophylactic effect of Rituximab on cGVHD in a group of Chinese allo-HSCT patients. A total of 102 patients, who suffered Epstein Barr virus (EBV) viremia within 100 days after allo-HSCT, were included in this study. Fifty patients received Rituximab (375 mg/m 2 weekly) for EBV viremia, while fifty-two patients did not receive Rituximab. A competing risk model was adopted to compare cumulative incidence of cGVHD, cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) and transplantation-related mortality (TRM) between two groups. Cumulative incidence of cGVHD in the Rituximab group was lower than in controls ( P  = 0.0579). Multivariate analyses confirmed that Rituximab was an independent factor for the reduction of cumulative cGVHD incidence ( P  = 0.0069). No significant difference was observed in CIR ( P  = 0.39) or TRM ( P  = 0.48) between two groups and 2-year OS and DFS were comparable (OS, P  = 0.667; DFS, P  = 0.571). Administration of Rituximab in the early post-transplantation phase may protect against cGVHD in allo-HSCT patients without increasing CIR or TRM.

The traditional biochemical treatment of printing and dyeing wastewater has limited efficiency. This study investigated whether H 2 O 2 could strengthen the biological ability of the hydrolytic acidification/biological contact oxidation process (A/O), which effectively treats the printing and dyeing wastewater. After biofilm formation and the biochemical system startup and operation by H 2 O 2 , the system was successfully started and steadily operated when H 2 O 2 was added into reactor A with the H 2 O 2 voluve fraction of 3 mL·L -1 , doses of 100.0 mL, the flow velocity of 0.67 mL·min -1 , and dosing frequency of once a day. The experimental results showed that the average removal efficiencies of COD, ammonia nitrogen, PVA, and color of printing and dyeing wastewater were 89.8%, 96.7%, 87.4%, and 92.1%, respectively. The microorganism community structures of reactor A and reactor O in this system were analyzed by high-throughput sequencing of 16S rDNA amplicon. The results demonstrated that the three dominant microbial strains in reactor A were Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Verrucomicrobia, and in reactor O were Planctomycetes, Proteobacteria, and Acidobacteria.

Purpose: The study aims to establish population pharmacokinetic (PPK) models of lamotrigine (LTG) in different age groups of epileptic children by nonlinear mixed effect modelling(NONMEM), and provide essential tools and theoretical basis for individualised optimal drug dose., Methods: Cases of 473 epileptic children were divided into infant, toddler and preschool age (≤6 years) (n = 211), school age (6-12 years) (n = 171) and adolescence age (>12 years) (n = 81). A total of 625 steady-state serum trough concentration samples were extracted. The clinical information included demography, medication, serum concentration data and blood biochemical parameters. PPK models of LTG were established by NONMEM program, using first-order absorption and elimination. Demography and drug combination was investigated for influence on apparent clearance (CL) and apparent volume of distribution (Vd). To assess the accuracy and precision of the different ages and whole-age model, the mean prediction error (MPE), mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean squared error (RMSE) were compared., Results: The final model of LTG in different ages stage and whole age was as follows: (1) infant, toddler and preschool age CL = 0.715 × [(WEIG/16.25) 0.655 ] × (0.458 VPA ) × (1.99 IND ), V = 10.4; (2) school age CL(L/h) = 1.01 × (WEIG/30) 0.399  × 0.465 VPA  × 1.98 IND , Vd(L) = 17.7; (3) adolescence age CL(L/h) = 1.49 × (WEIG/51.5) 0.509  × 0.498 VPA  × 1.7 IND , Vd(L) = 23.1; (4) whole age CL = 0.945 × [(WEIG/25) 0.645 ] × (0.463 VPA ) × (1.94 IND ), V = 16.7 × (WEIG/25) 0.919 (WEIG, total body weight; VPA, combination with valproate, yes = 1, no = 0; IND, combination with enzyme inducer, yes = 1, no = 0). The values of MPE, MAE and RMSE in age-stage-specific models were less than the ones in the whole-age model, which suggests the age-stage-specific models have better precision and accuracy than the whole-age model., Conclusion: PPK models of LTG in different age groups of epileptic children were successfully established. Weight and combination therapy were identified as significant covariates on LTG clearance. Compared with the whole-age model, the age-specific models are more reliable.

Thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) is a component of several redox-sensitive signaling cascades that mediate important biological processes such as cell survival, maturation, growth, migration and inhibition of apoptosis. The expression levels of TrxR1 in some human carcinoma cell lines are nearly 10 times higher than those in normal cells. Ethaselen is a novel antitumor candidate that exerts potent inhibition on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by targeting TrxR. In this study we explored the relationship between the ethaselen dose and TrxR activity level and the relationship between TrxR degradation and tumor apoptosis in a human lung carcinoma A549 xenograft model. BALB/c nude mice implanted with human NSCLC cell line A54 were administered ethaselen (36, 72, 108 mg·kg -1 ·d -1 , ig) or vehicle for 10 d. The tumor size and TrxR activity levels in tumor tissues were daily recorded and detected. Based on the experimental data, NONMEM 7.2 was used to develop an integrated dose-biomarker-response model for describing the quantitative relationship between ethaselen dose and tumor eradication effects. The time course of TrxR activity levels was modeled using an indirect response model (IDR model), in which the influence of the tumor growth rates on K in with the linear correction factor γ1 (0.021 d/mm). The drug binding-inhibition effects on K out was described using a sigmoidal E max model with S max (5.95), SC 50 (136 mg/kg) and Hill's coefficient γ2 (2.29). The influence of TrxR activity inhibition on tumor eradication was characterized by an E max model with an E max (130 mm 3 /d) and EC 50 (0.0676). This model was further validated using a visual predictive check (VPC) and was used to predict the efficacy of different doses. In conclusion, the properties and characteristics of ethaselen acting on TrxR degradation and subsequently resulting in tumor apoptosis are characterized by the IDR model and integrated dose-biomarker-response model with high goodness-of-fit and great predicative ability. This approach shed new light on the detailed processes and mechanism of ethaselen action and may offer a valuable reference for an appropriate dosing regimen for use in further clinical applications.

Background/aims: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has been an established treatment for indicated early gastric cancer (EGC) without deterioration of quality of life (QOL) compared with surgical resection. The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term QOL in patients undergoing ESD for EGC., Methods: Patients scheduled to undergo curative ESD for EGC were prospectively enrolled from 12 institutions between May 2010 and December 2011. Assessments of QOL with Korean versions of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QOL questionnaire-core (QLQ-C30) and a gastric cancer-specific questionnaire (STO22) were performed at baseline and at 7 days, 3 months, and 6 months after ESD., Results: A total of 666 subjects were assessed for QLQ-C30 and QLQ-STO22. The mean QLQ-C30 score was 69.5 at baseline, 68.8 at 7 days, 73.1 at 3 months, and 73.2 at 6 months. The global health status on the EORTC QLQ-C30 was significantly improved after 3 and 6 months (p=0.0003 and p<0.0001, respectively). The QLQ-C30 and STO22 scores were not significantly different, or they only slightly deteriorated between before and immediately after ESD, but they were significantly improved after 3 and 6 months (p<0.05)., Conclusions: QOL did not deteriorate immediately after ESD, and it improved more significantly at up to 6 months in patients who underwent curative ESD for EGC without significant complications.

Long period start-up is one of the main restraining factors of the single-stage completely autotrophic nitrogen removal over nitrite (CANON) process.This study investigated the fast start-up of the CANON process initiated by a submerged biological aerated filter (SBAF) method.With conventional activated sludge from the secondary sedimentation tank of municipal waste water treatment plants as the seed sludge,the CANON process was successfully started up after the acclimation of sludge microorganisms for 48 days under the experimental conditions of (30±2)℃,organic carbon free and controlled dissolved oxygen (stage Ⅰ:0.3-0.5mg·L -1 ;stage Ⅱ-Ⅳ:0.1-0.2mg·L -1 ),with the maximum removal rates of ammonia nitrogen and total nitrogen achieved at 99.9% and 86.5%,respectively.The population structure characteristics of microorganisms in the system were studied using high-throughput sequencing of 16S rDNA amplicon.The results demonstrated that the two dominant microbial strains in the system were Proteobacteria and Planctomycetes,accounting for 26.6% and 17.8%,respectively.The major contributors of nitrogen removal were Nitrosomonas in β -Proteobacteria and Candidatus brocadia in Brocadiae.Through the above experiments,it was revealed that the investigated SBAF based CANON possesses had the advantages of fast start-up,efficient biological nitrogen removal and stable operation process.

Currently, aripiprazole, olanzapine and risperidone are three anti-psychiatry agents commonly used in the treatment of schizophrenia. Although the efficacy of these drugs is good, schizophrenia cannot be completely cured yet. Patients need long-term medication. The family members of patients may play a key role to understand the disease status of patients after patient discharge from hospital. PANSS is a commonly used scale in the clinic to evaluate the disease status and drug effects of anti-psychiatry agents. It was professionally written, and is not user friendly to amateurs. In the previous study, we developed a questionnaire for patient’s family members to monitor the disease status. In this study, we explored the correlations between the results of questionnaire and 5 kinds of disease state corresponding to different PANSS score interval using the cumulative odds Logit model. The final results show that the model had relatively good prediction ability for aripiprazole, olanzapine and risperidone, suggesting that the questionnaire has an extensive prospect of clinical applications.